RESOLUTION 55/100 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bolivia, Cuba, El Salvador, Ghana and Honduras. by a recorded vote of 106 to 1, with 67 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstentions: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 55/100. Respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recalling the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Stressing that, as stated in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. family reunification of documented migrants is an important factor in international migration and that remittances by documented migrants to their countries of origin often constitute a very important source of foreign exchange and are instrumental in improving the well-being of relatives left behind, Recalling its resolution 54/169 of 17 December 1999, 1. Once again calls upon all States to guarantee the universally recognized freedom of travel to all foreign nationals legally residing in their territory; 2. Reaffirms that all Governments, in particular those of receiving countries, must recognize the vital importance of family reunification and promote its incorporation into national legislation in order to ensure protection of the unity of families of documented migrants; 3. Calls upon all States to allow, in conformity with international legislation, the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to their relatives in the country of origin; 4. Also calls upon all States to refrain from enacting, and to repeal if it already exists, legislation intended as a coercive measure that discriminates against individuals or groups of legal migrants by adversely affecting family reunification and the right to send financial remittance to relatives in the country of origin; 5. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/101 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, Burundi, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Sudan and United Republic of Tanzania. by a recorded vote of 104 to 52, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Guatemala, Nauru, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay 55/101. Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of a humanitarian character The General Assembly, Recalling that, in accordance with Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55, including universal respect for and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be considered a priority objective of the United Nations in accordance with its purposes and principles, in particular the purpose of international cooperation, and that, within the framework of these purposes and principles, the promotion and protection of all human rights are a legitimate concern of the international community, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples to an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recognizing that the international community should devise ways and means to remove current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world, as well as continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations and that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, the protection and promotion of such rights and freedoms being the first responsibility of Governments, Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Reaffirming further the various articles of the Charter setting out the respective powers and functions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as the paramount framework for the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations under other important instruments of international law, in particular those of international human rights and humanitarian law, Taking into account that, in accordance with Article 103 of the Charter, in the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the Charter shall prevail, 1. Affirms the solemn commitment of all States to enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights and in the solution to international problems of a humanitarian character in full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, inter alia, by the strict observance of all the purposes and principles set forth in Articles 1 and 2 thereof; 2. Stresses the vital role of the work of United Nations and regional arrangements, acting consistently with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter, in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as in solving international problems of a humanitarian character, and affirms that all States in these activities must fully comply with the principles set forth in Article 2 of the Charter, in particular respecting the sovereign equality of all States and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or acting in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the United Nations shall promote universal respect for and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; 4. Calls upon all States to cooperate fully, through constructive dialogue, in order to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights for all and in promoting peaceful solutions to international problems of a humanitarian character and, in their actions towards that purpose, to comply strictly with the principles and norms of international law, inter alia, by fully respecting international human rights and humanitarian law; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, organs, bodies and other components of the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 6. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/102 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 112 to 46, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Argentina, Armenia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Micronesia (Federated States of), Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 55/102. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing in particular the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolutions S-23/2, annex, and S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held, respectively, in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, including in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process but also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Recognizing that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Deeply concerned that the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 3. Also reaffirms the commitment to create an environment at both the national and global levels that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 4. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs are unevenly distributed, an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 5. Also recognizes that, only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 6. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 7. Also affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 8. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 9. Takes note of the preliminary report of the Secretary-General on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights,A/55/342. and requests the Secretary-General, taking into account the different views of Member States, to submit a comprehensive report on this subject to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/103 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/103. Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the other relevant international human rights instruments, Recalling its resolution 33/173 of 20 December 1978 concerning disappeared persons and its previous resolutions on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances, in particular resolution 53/150 of 9 December 1998, Recalling also its resolution 47/133 of 18 December 1992 proclaiming the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance as a body of principles for all States, Expressing concern that, according to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights, the practice of a number of States can run counter to the Declaration, Deeply concerned, in particular, by the intensification of enforced disappearances in various regions of the world and by the growing number of reports concerning the harassment, ill-treatment and intimidation of witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared, Emphasizing that impunity with regard to enforced disappearances contributes to the perpetuation of this phenomenon and constitutes one of the obstacles to the elucidation of its manifestations, Taking note with interest of the initiatives taken at the national and international levels in order to end impunity, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/37 of 20 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note of the transmission by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human RightsFormerly known as the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities (see Economic and Social Council decision 1999/256). to the Commission on Human Rights of a draft international convention on the protection of all persons from forced disappearance,E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/19, annex. Convinced that further efforts are needed to promote wider awareness of and respect for the Declaration, and taking note in this regard of the report of the Secretary-General on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances,A/55/289. 1. Reaffirms that any act of enforced disappearance is an offence to human dignity and a grave and flagrant violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and reaffirmed and developed in other international instruments in this field, as well as a violation of the rules of international law; 2. Urges all Governments to take appropriate legislative or other steps to prevent and suppress the practice of enforced disappearances, in keeping with the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, and to take action to that end at the national and regional levels and in cooperation with the United Nations, including through the provision of technical assistance; 3. Calls upon Governments to take steps to ensure that, when a state of emergency is introduced, the protection of human rights is ensured, in particular as regards the prevention of enforced disappearances; 4. Reminds Governments that impunity with regard to enforced disappearances contributes to the perpetuation of this phenomenon and constitutes one of the obstacles to the elucidation of its manifestations, and in this respect also reminds them of the need to ensure that their competent authorities conduct prompt and impartial inquiries in all circumstances in which there is a reason to believe that an enforced disappearance has occurred in territory under their jurisdiction, and that, if allegations are confirmed, perpetrators should be prosecuted; 5. Once again urges the Governments concerned to take steps to protect the families of disappeared persons against any intimidation or ill-treatment to which they may be subjected; 6. Encourages States, as some have already done, to provide concrete information on measures taken to give effect to the Declaration, as well as obstacles encountered; 7. Requests all States to consider the possibility of disseminating the text of the Declaration in their respective national languages and to facilitate its dissemination in local languages; 8. Notes the action taken by non-governmental organizations to encourage implementation of the Declaration, and invites them to continue to facilitate its dissemination and to contribute to the work of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights; 9. Requests the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights, in the continued exercise of its mandate, to take into account the provisions of the Declaration and to modify its working methods, if necessary; 10. Recalls the importance of the Working Group, the primary role of which is, as described in its reports, to act as a channel of communication between the families of disappeared persons and the Governments concerned, with a view to ensuring that sufficiently documented and clearly identified individual cases are investigated, and to ascertain whether such information falls under its mandate and contains the required elements, and invites the Group to continue to seek the views and comments of all concerned, including Member States, in preparing its reports; 11. Invites the Working Group to identify obstacles to the realization of the provisions of the Declaration, to recommend ways of overcoming those obstacles and, in this regard, to continue a dialogue with Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 12. Encourages the Working Group to continue to consider the question of impunity, in the light of the relevant provisions of the Declaration and of the final reports submitted by the special rapporteursE/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/8 and E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/20/Rev.1. appointed by the Subcommission; 13. Requests the Working Group to pay the utmost attention to cases of children subjected to enforced disappearance and children of disappeared persons and to cooperate closely with the Governments concerned to search for and identify those children; 14. Appeals to the Governments concerned, in particular those which have not yet replied to the communications transmitted by the Working Group, to cooperate fully with it and, in particular, to reply promptly to its requests for information so that, while respecting its working methods based on discretion, it may perform its strictly humanitarian role; 15. Encourages the Governments concerned to give serious consideration to inviting the Working Group to visit their countries so as to enable the Group to fulfil its mandate even more effectively; 16. Expresses its profound thanks to the many Governments that have cooperated with the Working Group and replied to its requests for information and to the Governments that have invited the Group to visit their countries, requests them to give all necessary attention to the recommendations of the Group, and invites them to inform the Group of any action they take on those recommendations; 17. Calls upon the Commission on Human Rights to continue to study this question as a matter of priority and to take any steps it may deem necessary to the pursuit of the task of the Working Group and to the follow-up to its recommendations when it considers the report to be submitted by the Group to the Commission at its fifty-seventh session; 18. Renews its requests to the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Working Group with all of the facilities it requires to perform its functions, especially for carrying out missions and following them up; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to keep it informed of the steps he takes to secure the widespread dissemination and promotion of the Declaration; 20. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-seventh session a report on the steps taken to implement the present resolution; 21. Decides to consider the question of enforced disappearances, and in particular the implementation of the Declaration, at its fifty-seventh session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 55/104 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/104. Strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations are those of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and taking other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, as well as achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Desirous of achieving further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that such international cooperation should be based on the principles embodied in international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant instruments, Deeply convinced that United Nations action in this field should be based not only on a profound understanding of the broad range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect for the political, economic and social realities of each of them, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through international cooperation, Recalling its previous resolutions in this regard, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence and discretion of the special rapporteurs and representatives on thematic issues and on countries, as well as of the members of the working groups, in carrying out their mandates, Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote and protect human rights and to carry out the responsibilities that they have undertaken under international law, especially the Charter, as well as various international instruments in the field of human rights, 1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions of the Charter, including respect for territorial integrity; 2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur; 3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the development of further international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with that international framework; 4. Considers that international cooperation in this field should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security; 5. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends; 6. Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations system, as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups, to take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates; 7. Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach to human rights issues contributes to the promotion of international cooperation as well as to the effective promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 9. Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate, within the framework of their respective legal systems and in accordance with their obligations under international law, especially the Charter, and international human rights instruments, the measures that they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 10. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take duly into account the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity; 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/213 and Add.1 and 2. and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States to present practical proposals and ideas that would contribute to the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights, through the promotion of international cooperation based on the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and to submit a comprehensive report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 12. Decides to consider this matter at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/105 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela. 55/105. Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 32/127 of 16 December 1977 and all its subsequent resolutions concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/51 of 9 March 1993See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1993/23 and Corr.2, 4 and 5), chap. II, sect. A. and its subsequent resolutions in this regard, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Commission concerning advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights, including its most recent on that subject, resolution 2000/80 of 26 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Bearing in mind also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reiterates, inter alia, the need to consider the possibility of establishing regional and subregional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights where they do not already exist, Recalling that the World Conference recommended that more resources should be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Reaffirming that regional arrangements play a fundamental role in promoting and protecting human rights and should reinforce universal human rights standards, as contained in international human rights instruments, and their protection, Noting the progress achieved so far in the promotion and protection of human rights at the regional level under the auspices of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the regional intergovernmental organizations, Considering that cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements in the field of human rights continues to be both substantive and supportive and that possibilities exist for increased cooperation, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/279. 2. Welcomes the continuing cooperation and assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the further strengthening of the existing regional arrangements and regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular through technical cooperation which is aimed at national capacity-building, public information and education, with a view to exchanging information and experience in the field of human rights; 3. Also welcomes, in that respect, the close cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner in the organization of regional and subregional training courses and workshops in the field of human rights, high-level governmental expert meetings and regional conferences of national human rights institutions, aimed at creating greater understanding in the regions of issues concerning the promotion and protection of human rights, improving procedures and examining the various systems for the promotion and protection of universally accepted human rights standards, and identifying obstacles to ratification of the principal international human rights treaties and strategies to overcome them; 4. Recognizes, therefore, that progress in promoting and protecting all human rights depends primarily on efforts made at the national and local levels and that the regional approach should imply intensive cooperation and coordination with all partners involved; 5. Stresses the importance of the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights, renews its appeal to all Governments to consider making use of the possibilities offered by the United Nations under this programme of organizing information or training courses at the national level for government personnel on the application of international human rights standards and the experience of relevant international bodies, and notes with satisfaction, in that respect, the establishment of technical cooperation projects with Governments of all regions; 6. Welcomes the growing exchanges between the United Nations and the bodies created by the United Nations in accordance with the treaties dealing with human rights, on the one hand, and regional intergovernmental organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, on the other; 7. Also welcomes the appointment by the High Commissioner of four human rights personalities to serve as regional advisors, who will play a significant role in the promotion of human rights and human rights advocacy through the design of strategies and the development of partnerships for human rights, facilitate coordination of human rights technical cooperation in the region and assist regional cooperation at large, for example, among national institutions, parliamentary human rights bodies, bar associations and non-governmental organizations; 8. Recalls in this regard the positive experience of the presence of the Office of the High Commissioner in southern Africa, which will serve as guidance in the development of the regional approach of the Office of the High Commissioner; 9. Notes with interest the programme for Africa of the Office of the High Commissioner and the objective of strengthening cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and the Organization of African Unity with a view to reviewing, on a regular basis, needs in the area of human rights in the various subregions; 10. Also notes with interest the further developments in the implementation of the Framework for Regional Technical Cooperation for the Asia-Pacific Region, which is enhancing technical cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights in the region;Ibid., sect. III.B. 11. Takes note with interest of the Quito Framework for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, which serves as a basis for the regional strategy of the Office of the High Commissioner and aims at strengthening national capacities for the promotion of human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean; 12. Welcomes the continued cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and regional organizations in Europe and Central Asia, in particular in the development, as a priority, of a regional approach to preventing trafficking in persons; 13. Invites States in areas in which regional arrangements in the field of human rights do not yet exist to consider concluding agreements with a view to establishing, within their respective regions, suitable regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, as foreseen in programme 19 (Human rights) of the medium-term plan for the period 1998-2001,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/53/6/Rev.1). to continue to strengthen exchanges between the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organizations dealing with human rights and to make available adequate resources from within the regular budget of technical cooperation to the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner to promote regional arrangements; 15. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to pay special attention to the most appropriate ways of assisting, at their request, countries of the various regions under the programme of technical cooperation and to make, where necessary, relevant recommendations; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights and to include therein the results of action taken in pursuance of the present resolution; 17. Decides to consider this question further at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 55/106 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam. 55/106. Human rights and extreme poverty The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations, Considering the relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, adopted by the World Summit on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", adopted at Geneva on 1 July 2000,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Recalling its resolutions 47/196 of 22 December 1992, by which it declared 17 October the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 48/183 of 21 December 1993, by which it proclaimed 1996 the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, 50/107 of 20 December 1995, by which it proclaimed the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), 51/97 of 12 December 1996 on human rights and extreme poverty, 52/193 of 18 December 1997, in which it emphasized the follow-up to the Decade, and 53/146 of 9 December 1998 on human rights and extreme poverty, Recalling also its resolution 52/134 of 12 December 1997, in which it recognized that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights was essential for the understanding, promotion and protection of all human rights, Recalling further its resolution 54/232 of 22 December 1999, in which it expressed its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected group, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1992/11 of 21 February 1992,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A. 1993/13 of 26 February 1993,Ibid., 1993, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1993/23 and Corr.2, 4 and 5), chap. II, sect. A. 1994/12 of 25 February 1994,Ibid., 1994, Supplement No. 4 and corrigendum (E/1994/24 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1995/16 of 24 February 1995,Ibid., 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 1996/10 of 11 April 1996,Ibid., 1996, Supplement No. 3 (E/1996/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1997/11 of 3 April 1997,Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1998/25 of 17 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1999/26 of 26 April 1999,Ibid., 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2000/12 of 17 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. as well as resolution 1996/23 of 29 August 1996See E/CN.4/1997/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1996/41, chap. II, sect. A. of the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,Subsequently renamed the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (see Economic and Social Council decision 1999/256). Recalling its resolution 47/134 of 18 December 1992, in which it reaffirmed that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constituted a violation of human dignity and stressed the need for a complete and in-depth study of extreme poverty, based on the experience and the thoughts of the poorest people, Recognizing that the eradication of extreme poverty is a major challenge within the process of globalization and requires coordinated and continued policies through decisive national action and international cooperation, Reaffirming that, as the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and might, in some situations, constitute a threat to the right to life, its immediate alleviation and eventual eradication must remain a high priority for the international community, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Taking note with satisfaction of the interimE/CN.4/1999/48. and progressE/CN.4/2000/52. reports submitted to the Commission on Human Rights by the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty and the recommendations contained therein, 1. Reaffirms that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them; 2. Also reaffirms that it is essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the decision-making process in the societies in which they live, in the promotion of human rights and in efforts to combat extreme poverty, and for people living in poverty and vulnerable groups to be empowered to organize themselves and to participate in all aspects of political, economic and social life, in particular the planning and implementation of policies that affect them, thus enabling them to become genuine partners in development; 3. Emphasizes that extreme poverty is a major issue to be addressed by Governments, civil society and the United Nations system, including international financial institutions, and in this context reaffirms that political commitment is a prerequisite for the eradication of poverty; 4. Recognizes that surmounting extreme poverty constitutes an essential means to the full enjoyment of political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights, and reaffirms the interrelationship among these goals; 5. Reaffirms that the existence of widespread absolute poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and renders democracy and popular participation fragile; 6. Also reaffirms the commitments on development and poverty eradication contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 7. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, within the framework of the implementation of the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, to continue to give appropriate attention to the question of human rights and extreme poverty; 8. Notes with appreciation the specific actions taken by the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to mitigate the effects of extreme poverty on children and the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme to give priority to the search for some means of alleviating poverty within the framework of the relevant resolutions, and urges them to continue this work; 9. Calls upon States, United Nations bodies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to continue to give appropriate attention to the links between human rights and extreme poverty; 10. Decides to consider this question further at its fifty-seventh session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 55/107 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guinea, Iraq, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 109 to 52, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal 55/107. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order The General Assembly, Noting the adoption by the Commission on Human Rights of its resolution 2000/62 of 26 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights and international law, Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights should continue to be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law as set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter and, inter alia, with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, Recalling the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Reaffirming also the determination expressed in the Preamble to the Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practise tolerance and good-neighbourliness, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Considering also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Emphasizing that democracy is not only a political concept but also has economic and social dimensions, Recognizing that democracy, respect for all human rights, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society, and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development, Underlining the fact that it is imperative for the international community to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, and that only through broad and sustained efforts, based on common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable, Stressing that efforts to make globalization fully inclusive and equitable must include policies and measures, at the global level, that correspond to the needs of developing countries and economies in transition and are formulated and implemented with their effective participation, Resolved, on the eve of a new century and millennium, to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and equitable international order, 1. Affirms that everyone is entitled to a democratic and equitable international order; 2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the full respect for and realization of all human rights for all; 3. Further affirms that a democratic and equitable international order requires, inter alia, the realization of the following: (a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; (b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources; (c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development; (d) The right of all peoples to peace; (e) The promotion of an international economic order based on equal participation in the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, solidarity and cooperation among all States; (f) Solidarity, as a fundamental value, by virtue of which global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes costs and burdens fairly in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice and ensures that those who suffer or who benefit the least receive help from those who benefit the most; (g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular through the implementation of the principles of full and equal participation in their respective decision-making mechanisms; (h) The principle of equitable regional and gender-balanced representation in the composition of the staff of all bodies within the United Nations system; (i) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international information and communication order, based on international cooperation for the establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international flow of information, in particular, correcting the inequalities in the flow of information to and from developing countries; (j) The respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all, since this enhances cultural pluralism, contributes to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural backgrounds, advances the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights across the world and fosters stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; (k) The entitlement of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment; (l) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in particular in economic, commercial and financial international relations; (m) The enjoyment by everyone of the common heritage of mankind; 4. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of the international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; 5. Also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 6. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries; 7. Recalls the proclamation by the General Assembly of the determination to work urgently for the establishment of a new international economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all States, irrespective of their economic and social systems, which shall correct inequalities and redress existing injustices, make it possible to eliminate the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries and ensure steadily accelerating economic and social development and peace and justice for present and future generations;See resolution 3201 (S-VI). 8. Reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and means to remove the current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world; 9. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international cooperation, towards the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 10. Requests the Commission on Human Rights, the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to pay due attention, within their respective mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions for its implementation; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components, intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 12. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/108 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China), Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/108. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, expressing in particular the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling that the Declaration on the Right to DevelopmentResolution 41/128, annex. confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, Noting that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of all fundamental human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recognizing that the Declaration on the Right to Development constitutes an integral link between the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. through its elaboration of a holistic vision integrating economic, social and cultural rights with civil and political rights, Expressing its concern that, more than fifty years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the unacceptable situation of absolute poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, illiteracy and hopelessness remains the lot of over one billion people, Emphasizing that the promotion, protection and realization of the right to development are an integral part of the promotion and protection of all human rights, Noting that the human person is the central subject of development and that development policy should therefore make the human being the main participant in and beneficiary of development, Stressing the importance of creating an economic, political, social, cultural and legal environment that will enable people to achieve social development, Affirming the need to apply a gender perspective in the implementation of the right to development, inter alia, by ensuring that women play an active role in the development process, Emphasizing that the empowerment of women and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society is fundamental for development, Underlining the fact that the realization of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level, as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level, Welcoming in this regard the adoption by the General Assembly of the Agenda for Development,Resolution 51/240, annex. which declares that development is one of the main priorities of the United Nations and which aims at invigorating a renewed and strengthened partnership for development, based on the imperatives of mutual benefits and genuine interdependence, Noting with concern that the Declaration on the Right to Development is insufficiently disseminated and should be taken into account, as appropriate, in bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes, national development strategies and policies and activities of international organizations, Recalling the need for coordination and cooperation throughout the United Nations system for a more effective promotion and realization of the right to development, Underlining the important role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and protection of the right to development, as mandated in paragraph 4 (c) of General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, Recalling its resolution 54/175 of 17 December 1999, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/5 of 13 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Welcoming the report of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on the Right to Development on its second session,E/CN.4/1998/29. including the proposed strategy contained therein, and welcoming in particular the recommendation that a follow-up mechanism should be established to ensure promotion and implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the right to development for every human person and all peoples in all countries, in particular the developing countries, as an integral part of their fundamental human rights, as well as the potential contribution that its realization could make to the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Recognizes that the passage of more than fifty years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). demands the strengthening of efforts to place all human rights and, in this context, the right to development in particular, at the top of the global agenda; 3. Reiterates that: (a) The essence of the right to development is the principle that the human person is the central subject of development and that the right to life includes within it existence in human dignity with the minimum necessities of life; (b) The existence of widespread absolute poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and renders democracy and popular participation fragile; (c) For peace and stability to endure, national action and international action and cooperation are required to promote a better life for all in larger freedom, a critical element of which is the eradication of poverty; 4. Reaffirms that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and in this context affirms that: (a) The development experiences of countries reflect differences with regard to both progress and setbacks, and that the development spectrum has a wide range, not only between countries but also within countries; (b) A number of developing countries have experienced rapid economic growth in the recent past and have become dynamic partners in the international economy; (c) At the same time, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide and developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process, and many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; (d) Democracy, which is spreading everywhere, has raised development expectations everywhere, that their non-fulfilment risks rekindling non-democratic forces, and that structural reforms that do not take social realities into account could destabilize democratization processes; (e) Effective popular participation is an essential component of successful and lasting development; (f) Democracy, respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society, and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development; (g) The participation of developing countries in the international economic decision-making process needs to be broadened and strengthened; 5. Urges all States to eliminate all obstacles to development at all levels by pursuing the promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, implementing comprehensive development programmes at the national level, integrating those rights into development activities and promoting effective international cooperation; 6. Reaffirms that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the universality, objectivity, impartiality and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues must be ensured; 7. Affirms that international cooperation is acknowledged more than ever as a necessity deriving from recognized mutual interest and, therefore, that such cooperation should be strengthened in order to support the efforts of developing countries to solve their economic and social problems and to fulfil their obligations to promote and protect all human rights; 8. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to give high priority to the right to development, and urges all States to promote further the right to development as a vital element in a balanced human rights programme; 9. Also welcomes the high priority assigned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to activities relating to the right to development, and urges the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to implement Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 10. Further welcomes Economic and Social Council decision 1998/269 of 30 July 1998 authorizing the establishment by the Commission on Human Rights of a follow-up mechanism, consisting of an open-ended working group on the right to development and an independent expert with a mandate to submit to the working group at each of its sessions a study on the current state of progress in the implementation of the right to development, as provided for in Commission resolution 1998/72; 11. Welcomes the holding at Geneva from 18 to 22 September 2000 of the first session of the Open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development under the chairmanship of Mr. M. S. Dembri (Algeria), and encourages the Working Group to proceed with its second session, scheduled for January 2001; 12. Takes note of the coordination mechanisms and initiatives within the United Nations system in which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights participates to promote the implementation of the right to development; 13. Also takes note of the second report of the independent expert on the right to development,See A/55/306. which focuses on poverty eradication as a priority area requiring attention in the realization of the right to development; 14. Further takes note of the Human Development Report 2000, of the United Nations Development Programme,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.III.B.8. and the World Development Report 2000/2001: Attacking Poverty, of the World Bank,Published for the World Bank by Oxford University Press, New York, 2000. which cover issues relevant to human rights and the right to development, and welcomes the participation in the Working Group of representatives of international financial institutions, as well as that of relevant United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes and non-governmental organizations, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council; 15. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit a report to the Commission on Human Rights each year for the duration of the mechanism, to provide interim reports to the Working Group and to make those reports available to the independent expert, with each report covering: (a) The activities of her Office relating to the implementation of the right to development, as contained in her mandate; (b) The implementation of resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission with regard to the right to development; (c) Inter-agency coordination within the United Nations system for the implementation of relevant resolutions of the Commission in that regard; 16. Urges the United Nations system to continue to support the implementation of the recent resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights regarding the right to development; 17. Calls upon the Secretary-General to ensure that the Working Group and the independent expert receive all necessary assistance, in particular the staff and resources required to fulfil their mandates; 18. Calls upon the Working Group to take note of the deliberations on the right to development during the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly and the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Human Rights, and any other issue relevant to the right to development; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-seventh session a comprehensive report on the implementation of the various provisions of the present resolution; 20. Decides to continue consideration of this question, as a matter of priority, at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/109 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Botswana (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China) and El Salvador. 55/109. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/181 of 17 December 1999, taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/70 of 26 April 2000 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling also Assembly resolution 54/113 of 10 December 1999 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Recognizing also the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues, and underlining the importance of the promotion of dialogue on human rights issues, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, in particular, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 1999/25 of 26 August 1999, entitled "Promotion of dialogue on human rights issues", by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-first session,See E/CN.4/2000/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/54, chap. II, sect. A. and noting its consideration of the question of a dialogue among civilizations at its fifty-second session, 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Considers that international cooperation in this field, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and of fundamental freedoms for all; 3. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 4. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 5. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 6. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/10 Adopted at the 44th plenary meeting, on 30 October 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.18 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine 55/10. Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States,A/55/401. Recalling article 3 of the Pact of the League of Arab States,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 70, No. 241. which entrusts the Council of the League with the function of determining the means whereby the League will collaborate with the international organizations which may be created in the future to guarantee peace and security and organize economic and social relations, Noting the desire of both organizations to consolidate, develop and enhance further the ties existing between them in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, technical and administrative fields, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular section VII, concerning cooperation with regional arrangements and organizations, and the "Supplement to An Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. Convinced of the need for more efficient and coordinated utilization of available economic and financial resources in order to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, Acknowledging the need for closer cooperation between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in achieving the goals and objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/401. 2. Commends the continued efforts of the League of Arab States to promote multilateral cooperation among Arab States, and requests the United Nations system to continue to lend its support; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the follow-up action taken by him to implement the proposals adopted at the meetings between the representatives of the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, including the sectoral meeting on youth and employment held in Beirut, from 23 to 25 May 2000; 4. Requests the Secretariat of the United Nations and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, within their respective fields of competence, to intensify further their cooperation for the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the strengthening of international peace and security, economic and social development, disarmament, decolonization, self-determination and the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in order to enhance their capacity to serve the mutual interests and objectives of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and administrative fields; 6. Calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system: (a) To continue to cooperate with the Secretary-General and among themselves, as well as with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, in the follow-up of multilateral proposals aimed at strengthening and expanding cooperation in all fields between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; (b) To strengthen the capacity of the League of Arab States and of its institutions and specialized organizations to benefit from globalization and information technology and to meet the development challenges of the new millennium; (c) To step up cooperation and coordination with the specialized organizations of the League of Arab States in the organization of seminars and training courses and in the preparation of studies; (d) To maintain and increase contacts and improve the mechanism of consultation with the counterpart programmes, organizations and agencies concerned regarding projects and programmes in order to facilitate their implementation; (e) To participate whenever possible with organizations and institutions of the League of Arab States in the execution and implementation of development projects in the Arab region; (f) To inform the Secretary-General, not later than 30 June 2001, of the progress made in their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations and, in particular, of the follow-up action taken on the multilateral and bilateral proposals adopted at the previous meetings between the two organizations; 7. Also calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to increase their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in the priority sectors of energy, rural development, desertification and green belts, training and vocational education, technology, environment and information and documentation; 8. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to encourage periodic consultation between representatives of the Secretariat of the United Nations and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in order to review and strengthen coordination mechanisms with a view to accelerating implementation of, and follow-up action on, the multilateral projects, proposals and recommendations adopted at the meetings between the two organizations; 9. Recommends that the United Nations and all organizations of the United Nations system make the greatest possible use of Arab institutions and technical expertise in projects undertaken in the Arab region; 10. Reaffirms that, in order to enhance cooperation and for the purpose of review and appraisal of progress, a general meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States should be held once every two years and that joint inter-agency sectoral meetings should also be convened on a biennial basis to address priority areas of major importance to the development of the Arab States, on the basis of agreement between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; 11. Also reaffirms the importance of holding the next general meeting on cooperation between the representatives of the secretariats of organizations of the United Nations system and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations during 2001; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States". RESOLUTION 55/110 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, and Botswana (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China). by a recorded vote of 117 to 49, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Azerbaijan, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 55/110. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/103 of 12 December 1996, 52/120 of 12 December 1997, 53/141 of 9 December 1998 and 54/172 of 17 December 1999, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/11 of 9 April 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. and taking note of Commission resolution 2000/11 of 17 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report submitted by the Secretary-General,E/CN.4/2000/46 and Add.1. pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 52/120,A/53/293 and Add.1. Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and, in this regard, reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, called upon States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect I, para. 31. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda, adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures in the field of international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly and recent major United Nations conferences and contrary to general international law and the Charter of the United Nations, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Noting the continuing efforts of the Open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, and reaffirming in particular its criteria according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. 1. Urges all States to refrain from adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Invites all States to consider adopting administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial application or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 3. Rejects unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, because of their negative effects on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 4. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest time possible; 5. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 6. Urges the Commission on Human Rights to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, including the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 7. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, highlighting the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 9. Decides to examine this question on a priority basis at its fifty-sixth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 55/111 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 55/111. Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person, and the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling also its resolutions 47/136 of 18 December 1992, 51/92 of 12 December 1996 and 53/147 of 9 December 1998, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1992/72 of 5 March 1992See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A. and 1998/68 of 21 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. and taking note of Commission resolution 2000/31 of 20 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984 and the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty annexed thereto and Council resolution 1989/64 of 24 May 1989 on their implementation, as well as the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985, Deeply alarmed at the persistence, on a large scale, of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in all parts of the world, Dismayed that in a number of countries impunity, the negation of justice, continues to prevail and often remains the main cause of the continuing occurrence of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in those countries, Recognizing the contribution of the establishment of the International Criminal Court with regard to ensuring effective prosecution concerning executions in serious violation of article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. without previous judgement pronounced by a regularly constituted court affording all judicial guarantees that are generally recognized as indispensable, Convinced of the need for effective action to combat and eliminate the abhorrent practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which represent a flagrant violation of the fundamental right to life, 1. Strongly condemns once again all the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that continue to take place throughout the world; 2. Notes that impunity continues to be a major cause of the perpetuation of violations of human rights, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 3. Acknowledges the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,A/CONF.183/9. and the fact that a significant number of States have already signed and/or ratified the Statute, and calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Statute; 4. Demands that all Governments ensure that the practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions be brought to an end and that they take effective action to combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms; 5. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions,See A/55/288. including the attention given therein to various aspects and situations involving violations of the right to life by extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 6. Reiterates the obligation of all Governments to conduct exhaustive and impartial investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to identify and bring to justice those responsible, while ensuring the right of every person to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to grant adequate compensation to the victims or their families and to adopt all necessary measures, including legal and judicial measures, in order to bring an end to impunity, to prevent the recurrence of such executions; 7. Calls upon Governments concerned to investigate promptly and thoroughly cases in various parts of the world of killings committed in the name of passion or in the name of honour, persons killed for reasons related to their peaceful activities as human rights defenders or as journalists, racially motivated violence leading to the death of the victim as well as other persons whose right to life has been violated, and to bring those responsible to justice before an independent and impartial judiciary, and to ensure that such killings are neither condoned nor sanctioned by government officials or personnel; 8. Urges Governments to undertake all necessary and possible measures to prevent loss of life, in particular that of children, during public demonstrations, internal and communal violence, civil unrest and public emergencies or armed conflict, and to ensure that the police and security forces receive thorough training in human rights matters, in particular with regard to restrictions on the use of force and firearms in the discharge of their functions; 9. Stresses the importance for States to take effective measures to end impunity with regard to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, inter alia, through the adoption of preventive measures, and calls upon Governments to ensure that such measures are included in post-conflict peace-building efforts; 10. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue, within the framework of her mandate, to collect information from all concerned and to seek the views and comments of Governments so as to be able to respond effectively to reliable information that comes before her and to follow up communications and country visits; 11. Reaffirms Economic and Social Council decision 1998/265 of 30 July 1998, in which the Council endorsed the decision of the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 1998/68, to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for three years; 12. Notes the important role the Special Rapporteur has played in the elimination of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 13. Also notes that the Commission, in its resolution 2000/31, requested the Special Rapporteur, in carrying out her mandate: (a) To continue to examine situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and to submit her findings on an annual basis, together with conclusions and recommendations, to the Commission, as well as such other reports as the Special Rapporteur deems necessary in order to keep the Commission informed about serious situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that warrant its immediate attention; (b) To respond effectively to information that comes before her, in particular when an extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution is imminent or seriously threatened or when such an execution has occurred; (c) To enhance further her dialogue with Governments, as well as to follow up on recommendations made in reports after visits to particular countries; (d) To continue to pay special attention to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of children and to allegations concerning violations of the right to life in the context of violence against participants in demonstrations and other peaceful public manifestations or against persons belonging to minorities; (e) To pay special attention to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions where the victims are individuals carrying out peaceful activities in defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms; (f) To continue monitoring the implementation of existing international standards on safeguards and restrictions relating to the imposition of capital punishment, bearing in mind the comments made by the Human Rights Committee in its interpretation of article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as the Second Optional Protocol thereto;Resolution 44/128, annex. (g) To apply a gender perspective in her work; 14. Strongly urges all Governments, in particular those that have not yet done so, to respond without undue delay to the communications and requests for information transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur, and urges them and all others concerned to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur so that she may carry out her mandate effectively, including, where appropriate, by issuing invitations to the Special Rapporteur when she so requests; 15. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have invited the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, asks them to examine carefully the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur and invites them to report to the Special Rapporteur on the actions taken on those recommendations, and requests other Governments to cooperate in a similar way; 16. Encourages Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to organize training programmes and to support projects with a view to training or educating military forces, law enforcement officers and government officials, as well as members of United Nations peacekeeping or observer missions, in human rights and humanitarian law issues connected with their work, and appeals to the international community to support endeavours to that end; 17. Urges the Special Rapporteur to continue to bring to the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights such situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions as are of particularly serious concern to her or where early action might prevent further deterioration; 18. Welcomes the cooperation established between the Special Rapporteur and other United Nations mechanisms and procedures relating to human rights, as well as with medical and forensic experts, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue efforts in that regard; 19. Calls upon the Governments of all States in which the death penalty has not been abolished to comply with their obligations under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, keeping in mind the safeguards and guarantees referred to in Economic and Social Council resolutions 1984/50 and 1989/64; 20. Again requests the Secretary-General to continue to use his best endeavours in cases where the minimum standard of legal safeguards provided for in articles 6, 9, 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights appears not to have been respected; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with an adequate and stable level of human, financial and material resources to enable her to carry out her mandate effectively, including through country visits; 22. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue, in close collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with the High Commissioner's mandate established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to ensure that personnel specialized in human rights and humanitarian law issues form part of United Nations missions, where appropriate, in order to deal with serious violations of human rights, such as extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 23. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the situation worldwide in regard to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and her recommendations for more effective action to combat that phenomenon. RESOLUTION 55/112 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 55/112. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as stated in the Charter of the United Nations and elaborated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments, Aware that, in accordance with the Charter, the United Nations promotes and encourages respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government, and therefore expressing its grave concern that the Government of Myanmar has still not implemented its commitment to take all necessary steps towards democracy in the light of the results of the elections held in 1990, Recalling its resolution 54/186 of 17 December 1999 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/58 of 3 March 1992,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission, inter alia, decided to nominate a special rapporteur with a given mandate, and taking note of Commission resolution 2000/23 of 18 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission decided to extend for one year the mandate of its Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Recalling also the observation made by the Special Rapporteur that the absence of respect for the rights pertaining to democratic governance is at the root of all major violations of human rights in Myanmar, Still gravely concerned at the deterioration of the human rights situation in Myanmar, especially the unabated suppression of the exercise of political rights and freedom of thought, expression, association and movement in Myanmar, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, and deeply concerned that new restrictions have been placed on Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy, Also gravely concerned that the legal system is effectively used as an instrument of oppression and at the increasing intimidation and detention of lawyers, Recognizing that the systematic violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by the Government of Myanmar have had a significant adverse effect on the health and welfare of the people of Myanmar, Noting with interest the two recent visits to Myanmar by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and the cooperation extended by the Government of Myanmar in that regard, Deeply regretting the failure of the Government of Myanmar to cooperate fully with the relevant United Nations mechanisms, in particular the Special Rapporteur, who still has not been invited to Myanmar, despite assurances by the Government of Myanmar in 1999 that it would seriously consider a visit, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar for his interim report,See A/55/359. and calls upon the Government of Myanmar to implement fully the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur; 2. Urges the Government of Myanmar to cooperate fully and without further delay with the Special Rapporteur, and to allow him urgently, without preconditions, to conduct a field mission and to establish direct contacts with the Government and all other relevant sectors of society, thus enabling him fully to discharge his mandate; 3. Notes with satisfaction the continued cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, allowing the Committee to communicate with and visit detainees in accordance with its modalities of work, and hopes that the programme will be pursued further; 4. Deplores the continued violations of human rights in Myanmar, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, enforced disappearances, rape, torture, inhuman treatment, mass arrests, forced labour, including the use of children, forced relocation and denial of freedom of assembly, association, expression and movement, as reported by the Special Rapporteur; 5. Expresses its grave concern at the increasingly systematic policy of the Government of Myanmar to persecute the democratic opposition, members of the National League for Democracy, sympathizers and their families, and ethnic opposition parties, and at the use by the Government of intimidatory methods such as arbitrary arrest and detention and abuse of the legal system, including harsh long-term prison sentences, mass rallies and media campaigns, which have forced many to refrain from exercising their legitimate political rights; 6. Urges the Government of Myanmar to cease, without delay, all activities aimed at preventing the free exercise of internationally recognized human rights, including freedom of association, assembly, movement and speech, and in particular to remove all restrictions on the freedom of movement of Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy and on their freedom to communicate with the outside world; 7. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to release immediately and unconditionally detained political leaders and all political prisoners, including journalists, to ensure their physical integrity and to permit them to participate in the process of national reconciliation; 8. Expresses its concern that the composition and working procedures of the National Convention do not permit either Members of Parliament-elect or representatives of the ethnic minorities to express their views freely, and urges the Government of Myanmar to seek new and constructive ways to promote national reconciliation and to restore democracy, through, inter alia, the establishment of a time frame for action; 9. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar, taking into account the assurances it has given on various occasions, to take all necessary steps towards the restoration of democracy, in accordance with the will of the people, as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990 and, to that end, without delay, to engage in a substantive political dialogue with political leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and representatives of ethnic groups, and, in that context, notes the existence of the committee representing the People's Parliament; 10. Notes with grave concern that the Government of Myanmar has failed to cease its widespread and systematic use of forced labour of its own people and to meet all three recommendations of the International Labour Organization on that issue; this failure has compelled the International Labour Organization to limit strictly further cooperation with the Government and has prompted the International Labour Conference to adopt, subject to certain conditions, a number of measures to secure compliance by the Government of Myanmar with the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry established to examine the observance of International Labour Organization Convention No. 29 concerning forced or compulsory labour, of 1930; 11. Notes the recent visit by the technical cooperation mission of the International Labour Organization to Myanmar and the cooperation extended to the mission, while awaiting the results of the mission; 12. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to implement fully concrete legislative, executive and administrative measures to eradicate the practice of forced labour, in conformity with the relevant recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry; 13. Welcomes the reopening of most university courses, but remains concerned that the right to education continues to be a right that is exercised only by those willing to refrain from exercising their civil and political rights and concerned at the reduction in the length of the academic year, the division of the student population and its dispersal to distant campuses and the lack of adequate resources; 14. Deplores the continued violations of human rights, in particular those directed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, including summary executions, rape, torture, forced labour, forced portering, forced relocations, use of anti-personnel landmines, destruction of crops and fields and dispossession of land and property, which deprives those persons of all means of subsistence and results in large-scale displacement of persons and flows of refugees to neighbouring countries, with negative effects for those countries, and an increasing number of internally displaced persons; 15. Urges the Government of Myanmar to end the systematic enforced displacement of persons and other causes of refugee flows to neighbouring countries and to create conditions conducive to their voluntary return and full reintegration in conditions of safety and dignity and to allow the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to assist in the return and reintegration process; 16. Deplores the continued violations of the human rights of women, especially women who are refugees, are internally displaced or belong to ethnic minorities or the political opposition, in particular forced labour, trafficking, sexual violence and exploitation, including rape, as reported by the Special Rapporteur;See A/55/359. 17. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to implement fully the recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in particular the request to prosecute and punish those who violate the human rights of women, and to carry out human rights education and gender-sensitization training, in particular for military personnel; 18. Deplores the recruitment of children as soldiers, in particular children belonging to ethnic minorities, and strongly urges the Government of Myanmar and all other parties to the hostilities in Myanmar to end the use of children as soldiers; 19. Expresses its concern at the growing incidence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection, and urges the Government of Myanmar urgently to address this issue, which will have a serious long-term impact on the development of the country, and to ensure that the health system receives sufficient funding to enable health workers to meet the right of all people to the highest possible standard of health care; 20. Expresses its grave concern at the high rates of malnutrition among pre-school-aged children, which constitute serious violations of their rights to adequate food and the highest attainable standard of health and may have serious repercussions for the health and development of the affected children; 21. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including economic and social rights, and to fulfil its obligation to restore the independence of the judiciary and due process and to end the impunity of and bring to justice any perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military, and to investigate and prosecute alleged violations committed by government agents in all circumstances; 22. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the visit of his Special Envoy to Myanmar,A/55/509. endorses the appeal of the Special Envoy for the initiation of a process of dialogue that would lead to national reconciliation, and supports his efforts to achieve such a dialogue; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government of Myanmar, to submit additional reports to the General Assembly during its fifty-fifth session on the progress of those discussions, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 24. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/113 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 55/113. Situation of human rights in parts of South-Eastern Europe The General Assembly, Bearing in mind all relevant resolutions on this subject, in particular Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/26 of 18 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and all Security Council resolutions and presidential statements, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of warIbid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Taking note of the principles and commitments undertaken by participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Reaffirming the territorial integrity of all States in the region, within their internationally recognized borders, taking fully into account all relevant Security Council resolutions, Expressing its full support for the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement"),S/1995/999, annex. which, inter alia, committed the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to respect human rights fully, in particular issues surrounding the return of refugees, Expressing its support for the democratic forces and non-governmental organizations in the promotion and protection of human rights and in strengthening civil society, and noting in this regard the opportunities afforded by the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, which was adopted at Cologne, Germany, on 10 June 1999, Welcoming the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into the framework of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe at the extraordinary session of the Regional Table of the Pact, held at Bucharest on 26 October 2000, Noting the importance of the respect for the rights of all persons belonging to minorities, Welcoming all contributions of the Office of the High Representative, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights and other entities of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the European Community Monitoring Mission, Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the area in 2000, Recalling Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998) of 31 March 1998, 1199 (1998) of 23 September 1998, 1203 (1998) of 24 October 1998, 1239 (1999) of 14 May 1999 and 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999, and the general principles annexed to that resolution, as well as the statement made on 24 March 1998 by the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights at the fifty-fourth session of the Commission,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. III, sect. E, para. 28. Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1998/79 of 22 April 1998Ibid., chap. II, sect. A. and 1999/2 of 13 April 1999,Ibid., 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of 27 September 1999 on the situation of human rights in Kosovo,E/CN.4/2000/10. Recalling also its condemnation of the Serbian military offensive against the civilian population of Kosovo, which resulted in war crimes and gross violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law being inflicted upon the Kosovars, Condemning all violations of human rights in Kosovo, which have affected all ethnic groups in Kosovo, in particular the harassment and murder of ethnic Serb, Roma and other minorities of Kosovo by ethnic Albanian extremists, Expressing concern that the entire population of Kosovo has been affected by the conflict there and its aftermath, and stressing that all of the national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities there must benefit from their full and equal rights, without discrimination, Stressing, in this context, the importance of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, Distressed by the detention in Serbia of political prisoners of Kosovar Albanian or other origin, in violation of international human rights law and standards, but welcoming the pledge of authorities there to abide by international norms in carrying out judicial procedures in this and all other areas of judicial responsibility, 1. Reiterates its call for the full and consistent implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement")S/1995/999, annex. by all parties; 2. Stresses the crucial role of human rights in the successful implementation of the Peace Agreement, and underlines the obligations of all parties under the Peace Agreement to comply with international human rights law and to secure for all persons within their jurisdiction the highest level of international norms and standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rule of law and effective administration of justice at all levels of government, the freedom and independence of the media, freedom of expression, freedom of association, including with respect to political parties, freedom of religion and freedom of movement; 3. Also stresses the need for enhanced international efforts to foster and effect the prompt and voluntary return of displaced persons and refugees in safety and with dignity; 4. Condemns the growing problem of trafficking in women in the region, and calls upon all concerned authorities to combat actively this criminal practice; 5. Urges all States and parties to the Peace Agreement that have not done so to meet their obligations to cooperate fully with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, as required by Security Council resolution 827 (1993) of 25 May 1993 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, and in particular to comply with their obligations to arrest and transfer to the custody of the Tribunal those indicted persons present in their territories or under their control; 6. Notes that varying degrees of progress have been made in the human rights situation in all States and by all parties to the Peace Agreement, but that substantial efforts remain to be made in several areas; 7. Reiterates its call upon all States and parties to the Peace Agreement to ensure that the promotion and protection of human rights and effective, functioning democratic institutions will be central elements in developing civilian structures; 8. Notes the progress made by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the implementation of the Peace Agreement; 9. Also notes the progress made with regard to refugee returns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while calling upon all authorities actively to support the return process for minority refugees and internally displaced persons, inter alia, through the eviction of illegal occupants of housing intended for internally displaced persons and refugees, in particular in areas of the Republika Srpska with a majority population of Bosnian Serbs and areas of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a majority population of Bosnian Croats; 10. Welcomes the "Constituent Peoples" decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which reflects the commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to meeting the highest standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 11. Condemns the harassment of returning minority refugees and internally displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the destruction of their homes, in particular in areas of the Republika Srpska with a majority population of Bosnian Serbs and areas of the Federation with a majority population of Bosnian Croats; 12. Also condemns recurrent instances of religious discrimination and the denial to religious minorities of their right to rebuild religious sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular in the territory of the Republika Srpska; 13. Further condemns the manipulation of the press by political parties and government officials, including the selective application of slander and tax laws to harass journalists and editors; 14. Calls upon all authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular those within the Republika Srpska, to cooperate fully with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; 15. Calls upon the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including those of the Republika Srpska and the Federation: (a) To implement the decisions of the High Representative and to fulfil their obligations under the Peace Agreement and the declarations of the Peace Implementation Council; (b) To implement the decisions of the Commission on Human Rights on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman and the Human Rights Chamber, and the decisions of the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees; (c) To establish a fully staffed and funded judiciary which effectively protects the rights of all citizens; (d) To adopt an effective and fair election law, in cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; (e) To implement fully all the provisions of the New York Declaration adopted on 15 November 1999;S/1999/1179, annex. (f) To support the work of the common institutions and implement fully the actions mandated by the Peace Implementation Council at its ministerial meeting held at Brussels on 23 and 24 May 2000; 16. Welcomes the political change following the recent elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which shows the clear decision of the people to choose democracy, respect for human rights and integration into the international community over dictatorship and isolation, and looks forward to the new authorities ensuring respect for the rule of law and for the promotion and protection of human rights; 17. Also welcomes the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to membership in the United Nations; 18. Further welcomes the commitment of, and encourages efforts by, the new democratic authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to investigate past abuses of human rights, including violations of the human rights of ethnic groups in Kosovo, the repression and harassment of peaceful political activists, illegal and/or hidden detentions, and other violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 19. Welcomes the appointment by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of the Special Envoy on persons deprived of liberty in connection with the Kosovo crisis in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and calls upon all authorities to cooperate with the Special Envoy; 20. Also welcomes the commitment of the new democratic authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to promoting and protecting free and independent media, and looks forward to welcoming the repeal of any laws that hinder the full and free exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; 21. Calls upon all authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to respect the rights of all persons belonging to any of its national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 22. Welcomes the commitment by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to implement fully and in good faith its obligations under the Peace Agreement and to abide by the terms of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999), and calls upon the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations to alleviate the suffering of refugees and internally displaced persons, to protect them, and to assist their voluntary return to their homes in safety and with dignity; 23. Encourages States to consider providing additional voluntary contributions to support the new democratic authorities so that they may meet the pressing human rights and humanitarian needs in the area; 24. Calls upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to comply with their obligation to cooperate fully with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and welcomes the announced reopening of the Office of the International Tribunal in Belgrade and the pledge of the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to cooperate with it; 25. Underlines the obligation of the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to abide by the terms of Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the general principles on a political solution to the Kosovo crisis adopted on 6 May 1999 and annexed to that resolution; 26. Reaffirms that the human rights and humanitarian situation in Kosovo shall be addressed within the framework of a political solution based and built upon the general principles set out in the annex to Council resolution 1244 (1999); 27. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the Kosovo Force, and calls upon all parties in Kosovo and the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to cooperate fully with the Mission and the Force in the fulfilment of their respective mandates; 28. Encourages States to consider providing additional voluntary contributions to support the Mission in meeting the pressing administrative, human rights and humanitarian needs in the area; 29. Welcomes the work in Kosovo of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 30. Recognizes the strong efforts of the Mission, the United Nations civilian police and the Kosovo Police Service in developing and training the core of a multi-ethnic local police force throughout Kosovo; 31. Calls upon all parties in Kosovo to cooperate with the Mission to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and democratic norms in Kosovo; 32. Urges all parties in Kosovo to support and strengthen a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo that respects the rights of all persons belonging to minorities and that includes them in all provisional and new civil administration institutions in Kosovo, and to support the Mission fully in this regard; 33. Welcomes the recent holding of peaceful municipal elections in Kosovo, which is a landmark in the democratic development of Kosovo and in the implementation of Council resolution 1244 (1999), and commends in this regard the support by all parties of the efforts of the Mission; 34. Commends the Mission for its efforts to create an independent and impartial judiciary system in Kosovo, and urges all local Serb and Albanian leaders, and the leaders of other minorities in Kosovo, to take all steps necessary to support these efforts; 35. Calls upon all local Kosovar officials, ethnic representatives and all individuals to respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression for all points of view, the right to a free, independent media and the right to freedom of religion; 36. Calls upon the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the representatives of all ethnic groups in Kosovo, to condemn all acts of terrorism and forced evictions from homes or places of work of any resident of Kosovo, whatever the ethnic background of the victim and whoever the perpetrators, to refrain from all acts of violence and to use their influence and leadership to bring all parties to cooperate fully with the Force and the Mission in stopping these incidents and in bringing the perpetrators to justice; 37. Stresses the importance of the return of refugees and of all displaced persons, whatever their ethnic background, and expresses its concern about reports of continuing harassment or other impediments in this regard; 38. Also stresses the importance for, and the responsibility of, all parties in Kosovo to suppress all harassment of individuals or groups of any background and to create a secure environment that will offer to all those who wish to remain in Kosovo, irrespective of ethnic origin, a genuine possibility of doing so; 39. Further stresses the urgent need for all ethnic groups to cooperate with the Mission and the Force to rebuild and strengthen common institutions for all and to desist from creating any sort of parallel institutions; 40. Calls upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to release those persons detained and transferred from Kosovo to other parts of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, or to specify the charge under which each individual is detained and to afford them due process of law, and to guarantee their families and non-governmental organizations and international observers unimpeded and regular access to those who remain in detention, and, in this regard, welcomes as a first important step the release of the prominent human rights activist, Flora Brovina, and the release of twenty-three additional detainees; 41. Calls upon the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and all local Kosovo ethnic Serb and Albanian leaders, to provide information on the fate and whereabouts of the high number of missing persons from Kosovo, and encourages the International Committee of the Red Cross, in this regard, to continue its clarification efforts, in cooperation with other organizations; 42. Expresses its concern about the forced ethnic division of any part of Kosovo as being contrary to Council resolution 1244 (1999) and to the guiding principles of the Rambouillet accords,S/1999/648, annex. and stresses the need for all parties in Kosovo to take all necessary measures to prevent or reverse any action that de facto or de jure permits such ethnic cantonization; 43. Condemns all trafficking in women by any party in Kosovo, and calls upon the local authorities and the Mission to take all steps necessary to prevent and stop it; 44. Requests the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to continue to monitor closely the situation of human rights in Kosovo, and to report his findings to the Commission at its fifty-seventh session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 45. Decides to continue its examination of this question at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/114 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 67 to 54, with 46 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstentions: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guinea, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay 55/114. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 54/177 of 17 December 1999, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/28 of 18 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No.3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1. Welcomes: (a) The interim report of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran;A/55/363. (b) The broad participation in the parliamentary elections held during February and March 2000, which expressed the true commitment of the Iranian people to the democratic process in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (c) The commitment made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to promote respect for the rule of law, including the elimination of arbitrary arrest and detention, and to reform the judicial and penitentiary system and bring it into line with international human rights standards in this field; (d) The visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran of a technical cooperation needs assessment mission of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and encourages the follow-up to that mission; 2. Notes: (a) The provisions of the new code of penal procedure, which provide for the attendance of lawyers for all kinds of lawsuits, and the judiciary reform project, which aims, in particular, at re-establishing a distinction between the offices of the judge and the prosecutor; (b) The legal changes recently put into effect within the Iranian judicial system by which members of religious minorities are no longer obliged to state their religion when applying for a marriage licence; (c) Developments observed with regard to the status of women in areas such as education, training and health; (d) The bill currently under consideration that aims at raising the age of marriage; (e) The work of the Islamic Human Rights Commission on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran and, in particular, its efforts to investigate illegal detentions and disappearances; 3. Expresses its concern: (a) At the fact that, since 1996, no invitation has yet been extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Special Representative to visit the country; (b) At the deterioration of the situation with regard to freedom of opinion and expression, in particular at restrictions on the freedom of the press, judiciary suspension of numerous newspapers, prohibition of publications and the arrest of journalists, political activists and intellectuals on the basis of laws related to national security, which are used as a pretext to deny or restrict freedom of expression, opinion and thought; (c) At the continuing violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular executions, in the apparent absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and cases of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (d) At the failure to comply fully with international standards in the administration of justice and the absence of guarantees of due process of law and respect for internationally recognized legal safeguards, inter alia, with respect to persons belonging to religious minorities; (e) At the discrimination against persons belonging to religious minorities, in particular the unabated pattern of persecution of the Baha'is, including the continuing detention and the sentencing to death of some of them; (f) At the continuing discrimination, in law and in practice, against women, who still lack full and equal enjoyment of their human rights, as reported by the Special Representative; 4. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: (a) To invite the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on religious intolerance to visit the country and to resume its full cooperation with him, in particular so that he may study the evolution of the human rights situation in the country, including through direct contacts with all sectors of society, and to make full use of technical cooperation programmes in the field of human rights; (b) To give effect, in the near future, to its invitation to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran; (c) To consolidate respect for human rights and the rule of law and to abide by its freely undertaken obligations under the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and under other international human rights instruments; (d) To make efforts to ensure the full application of due process of law and fair and transparent procedures by the judiciary and, in this context, to ensure the respect for the rights of the defence and the equity of the verdicts in all instances, including for members of religious minority groups; (e) To ensure that capital punishment will not be imposed for crimes other than the most serious and will not be pronounced in disregard of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and United Nations safeguards and to provide the Special Representative with relevant statistics on this matter; (f) To accelerate the process of the investigation into the suspicious deaths and killings of intellectuals and political activists and to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice; (g) To eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds or against persons belonging to minorities; (h) To implement fully the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Representative with regard to religious intolerance relating to the Baha'is and other minority religious groupsIbid., para. 110. until they are completely emancipated; (i) To take all necessary steps to end the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in particular the practice of amputation; (j) To take further measures to promote full and equal enjoyment by women of their human rights; 5. Decides to continue the examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the situation of minority groups such as the Baha'is, at its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 55/115 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 102 to 3, with 60 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu Against: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Sudan Abstentions: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam 55/115. Human rights situation in Iraq The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that Iraq is a party to the International Covenants on Human Rights, other international human rights instruments and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling its previous resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, and taking note of the most recent, Commission resolution 2000/17 of 18 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap II, sect. A. Recalling also Security Council resolution 686 (1991) of 2 March 1991, in which the Council called upon Iraq to release all Kuwaitis and nationals of other States who might still be held in detention, Council resolution 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, Council resolution 688 (1991) of 5 April 1991, in which the Council demanded an end to the repression of the Iraqi civilian population and insisted that Iraq cooperate with humanitarian organizations and that the human rights of all Iraqi citizens be respected, Council resolutions 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995, 1111 (1997) of 4 June 1997, 1129 (1997) of 12 September 1997, 1143 (1997) of 4 December 1997, 1153 (1998) of 20 February 1998, 1175 (1998) of 19 June 1998, 1210 (1998) of 24 November 1998, 1242 (1999) of 21 May 1999, 1266 (1999) of 4 October 1999, 1281 (1999) of 10 December 1999 and 1302 (2000) of 8 June 2000, in which the Council authorized States to permit imports of Iraqi oil in order to allow Iraq to purchase humanitarian supplies, and Council resolution 1284 (1999) of 17 December 1999, in which the Council, by means of a comprehensive approach to the situation in Iraq, inter alia, raised the ceiling for the allowable import of Iraqi oil in order to increase the amount of revenue available for the purchase of humanitarian supplies, laid down new provisions and procedures designed to improve the implementation of the humanitarian programme and to further achievements in meeting the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi population, and reiterated the obligation of Iraq to facilitate the repatriation of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals referred to in paragraph 30 of Council resolution 687 (1991), Taking note of the concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/53/40), vol. I, paras. 90-111. the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/54/18), paras. 337-361. the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsOfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 2 (E/1998/22), paras. 245-283. and the Committee on the Rights of the ChildOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/55/41), paras. 304-333. on the recent reports submitted to them by Iraq, in which these treaty-monitoring bodies point to a wide range of human rights problems and hold the view that the Government of Iraq remains bound by its treaty obligations, while pointing to the adverse effect of sanctions on the daily life of the population, in particular children, Recalling the reports of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of Security Council resolutions 986 (1995),S/1996/1015. 1111 (1997),S/1997/935. 1143 (1997),S/1998/90, S/1998/194 and Corr.1 and S/1998/477. 1175 (1998),S/1998/823 and S/1998/1100. 1210 (1998)S/1999/187 and S/1999/573 and Corr.2. and 1242 (1999),S/1999/896 and Corr.1 and S/1999/1162 and Corr.1. and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1302 (2000),S/2000/857. Reaffirming that it is the responsibility of the Government of Iraq to ensure the well-being of its entire population and the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Iraq, which particularly affects certain vulnerable groups, including children, as stated in the reports of several United Nations human rights treaty bodies, and appealing to all concerned to fulfil their mutual obligations in the management of the humanitarian programme established by the Security Council in its resolution 986 (1995), 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in IraqSee A/55/294. and the observations, conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 2. Notes with dismay that there has been no improvement in the situation of human rights in the country; 3. Strongly condemns: (a) The systematic, widespread and extremely grave violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by the Government of Iraq, resulting in an all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror; (b) The suppression of freedom of thought, expression, information, association, assembly and movement through fear of arrest, imprisonment, execution, expulsion, house demolition and other sanctions; (c) The repression faced by any kind of opposition, in particular the harassment and intimidation of and threats against Iraqi opponents living abroad and members of their families; (d) The widespread use of the death penalty in disregard of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the United Nations safeguards; (e) Summary and arbitrary executions, including political killings and the continuing so-called clean-out of prisons, as well as enforced or involuntary disappearances, routinely practised arbitrary arrests and detention and consistent and routine failure to respect due process and the rule of law; (f) Widespread, systematic torture and the maintaining of decrees prescribing cruel and inhuman punishment as a penalty for offences; 4. Calls upon the Government of Iraq: (a) To abide by its freely undertaken obligations under international human rights treaties and international humanitarian law and to respect and ensure the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their origin, ethnicity, gender or religion, within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction; (b) To bring the actions of its military and security forces into conformity with the standards of international law, in particular those of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (c) To cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms, in particular by inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit the country and allowing the stationing of human rights monitors throughout Iraq pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights; (d) To establish the independence of the judiciary and abrogate all laws granting impunity to specified forces or persons killing or injuring individuals for any purpose beyond the administration of justice under the rule of law as prescribed by international standards; (e) To abrogate all decrees that prescribe cruel and inhuman punishment or treatment, including mutilation, and to ensure that torture and cruel punishment and treatment no longer occur; (f) To abrogate all laws and procedures, including Revolution Command Council Decree No. 840 of 4 November 1986, that penalize free expression, and to ensure that the genuine will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the State; (g) To ensure free exercise of political opposition and to prevent intimidation and repression of political opponents and their families; (h) To respect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups and to cease immediately its repressive practices aimed at the Iraqi Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmen, in particular their deportation from the regions of Kirkuk and Khanaqin, and at the population of the southern marsh areas, where drainage projects have provoked environmental destruction and a deterioration of the situation of the civilian population, as well as to ensure the physical integrity of all citizens, including the Shi'a population, and to guarantee their freedoms; (i) To cooperate with the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee to establish the whereabouts and resolve the fate of the remaining several hundred missing persons, including prisoners of war, Kuwaiti nationals and third-country nationals, victims of the illegal Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, to cooperate with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights for that purpose, to cooperate with the high-level coordinator of the Secretary-General for Kuwaitis and third-country nationals and Kuwaiti property, to pay compensation to the families of those who died or disappeared in the custody of the Iraqi authorities, through the mechanism established by the Security Council in resolution 692 (1991) of 20 May 1991, to release immediately all Kuwaitis and nationals of other States who may still be held in detention and inform families about the whereabouts of arrested persons, to provide information about death sentences imposed on prisoners of war and civilian detainees, and to issue death certificates for deceased prisoners of war and civilian detainees; (j) To cooperate further with international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance and monitoring in the northern and southern areas of the country; (k) To continue to cooperate in the implementation of Security Council resolutions 986 (1995), 1111 (1997), 1143 (1997), 1153 (1998), 1210 (1998), 1242 (1999), 1266 (1999), 1281 (1999) and 1302 (2000), and to cooperate, together with all concerned, in the implementation of the sections on humanitarian questions of Council resolution 1284 (1999), to ensure fully the timely and equitable distribution, without discrimination, to the Iraqi population, including the population in remote areas, of all humanitarian supplies purchased under the oil-for-humanitarian-goods programme, to address effectively the needs of vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, the disabled, the elderly and the mentally ill, among others, to facilitate the work of United Nations humanitarian personnel in Iraq by ensuring the free and unobstructed movement of observers throughout the country, as well as their free access, without any discrimination, to all the population, and to ensure that involuntarily displaced persons receive humanitarian assistance without the need to demonstrate that they have resided for six months at their places of temporary residence; (l) To cooperate in the identification of minefields existing throughout Iraq with a view to facilitating their marking and eventual clearing; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all necessary assistance in carrying out his mandate, and decides to continue the examination of the situation of human rights in Iraq at its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 55/116 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 85 to 32, with 49 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe Against: Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam Abstentions: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Palau, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America 55/116. Situation of human rights in the Sudan The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments and to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Sudan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the African Charter on Human and Peoples' RightsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1520, No. 26363. and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/27 of 18 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Aware of the urgent need for the Government of the Sudan to implement effective additional measures in the field of human rights and humanitarian relief in order to protect the civilian population from the effects of armed conflicts, Expressing its firm belief that progress towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict in southern Sudan within the peace initiative of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development will contribute greatly to the creation of a better environment to encourage respect for human rights in the Sudan, Condemning the murder of four Sudanese relief workers in April 1999 while in the custody of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, 1. Welcomes: (a) The interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan;See A/55/374. (b) The visit by the Special Rapporteur to the Sudan in February and March 2000 at the invitation of the Government of the Sudan and the very good cooperation extended by the Government in this regard, as well as the stated willingness of the Government to continue to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur; (c) The signing of the agreement of 29 March 2000 between the Government of the Sudan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; (d) The activities of the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children as a constructive response on the part of the Government of the Sudan, the cooperation extended to the Committee by the local communities and the support of the international community and non-governmental organizations; (e) The expressed commitment of the Government of the Sudan to respect and promote human rights and the rule of law and its expressed commitment to a process of democratization with a view to establishing a representative and accountable government, reflecting the aspirations of the people of the Sudan; (f) Recent additional efforts by the Government of the Sudan to improve freedom of expression, association, the press and assembly, in particular the adoption of the Political Organization Act of 2000, and the announcement relating to the creation of a high commission to review the law on public order; (g) The stipulation of basic human rights and freedoms in the Constitution of the Sudan and the establishment of the Constitutional Court, which has been in operation since April 1999; (h) The efforts to implement the right to education; (i) The renewed invitation extended by the Government of the Sudan to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on religious intolerance and the efforts of the Government of the Sudan to promulgate a new law on religious liberties and activities after an open and transparent process of consultation with high representatives of all religions; (j) Leniency measures taken by the Government of the Sudan, which led to the release of a large number of imprisoned women; (k) The release of political prisoners and the measures taken to allow the return of exiled opposition members; (l) The recent shelter given by the Sudan to new groups of refugees; (m) The commitments undertaken by the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement during the visit to Rumbek, southern Sudan, of the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund, not to recruit into its armed forces children under the age of eighteen and to demobilize all child soldiers still remaining in the military and hand them over to the competent civil authorities for reintegration; (n) The convening of the fourth meeting of the Technical Committee on Humanitarian Assistance at Geneva on 2 and 3 November 2000, attended by delegations of the Government of the Sudan, the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement and the United Nations, and its final communiqué; (o) The repeated statements by the Government of the Sudan in favour of a global, lasting and effectively monitored ceasefire in southern Sudan; 2. Expresses its deep concern: (a) At the impact of the current armed conflict, worsened by the breakdown of the ceasefire in June 2000 and by the upsurge of armed confrontations, on the situation of human rights and its adverse effects on the civilian population, in particular women and children, and the continuing serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties, in particular: (i) The occurrence of cases of summary or arbitrary execution resulting from conflict between members of the armed forces and their allies and armed insurgent groups within the country, including the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement; (ii) The occurrence, within the framework of the conflict in southern Sudan, of cases of enforced or involuntary disappearance, the use of children as soldiers and combatants, forced conscription, forced displacement of populations, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of civilians; (iii) The abduction of women and children to be subjected to forced labour or similar conditions; (iv) The indiscriminate aerial bombardments, which seriously and recurrently affect civilian populations and installations, in particular the bombings of schools and hospitals, as well as the use of civilian premises for military purposes; (v) The use of weapons, including indiscriminate artillery shelling and landmines, against the civilian population; (vi) The conditions imposed by the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement on humanitarian organizations working in southern Sudan, which have seriously affected their safety and led to the withdrawal of many of them, with potentially grave consequences for the already endangered situation of thousands of people living in areas under its control; (vii) The difficulties encountered by United Nations and humanitarian staff in carrying out their mandate because of harassment, indiscriminate aerial bombings and the reopening of hostilities; (b) At continuing violations of human rights in areas under the control of the Government of the Sudan, in particular: (i) Precarious conditions of detention, frequent use of torture, arbitrary detentions, interrogations, and violations of human rights by the security organs; (ii) Acts of intimidation and harassment against the civilian population; (iii) Restrictions on freedom of religion, as well as the obstacles remaining to the freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly; (iv) Information that all means of avoiding the execution of severe, inhuman punishments have not been fully utilized; 3. Urges all parties to the continuing conflict in the Sudan: (a) To work immediately to put in place a global, lasting and effectively monitored ceasefire as a first necessary step to a negotiated settlement to the conflict; (b) To respect and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to respect fully international humanitarian law, thereby facilitating the voluntary return, repatriation and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes, and to ensure that those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are brought to justice; (c) To stop immediately the use of weapons, including indiscriminate artillery shelling and landmines, in particular by the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, against the civilian population, which runs counter to principles of international humanitarian law; (d) To stop attacks on sites that usually have a significant presence of children as well as during the "days of tranquillity" which had been agreed upon for the purpose of ensuring peaceful polio vaccination campaigns; (e) To stop immediately the use of civilian premises for military purposes, in particular by the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, particularly sites that usually have a significant presence of children; (f) To grant full, safe and unhindered access to international agencies and humanitarian organizations so as to facilitate by all means possible the delivery of humanitarian assistance, in conformity with international humanitarian law, to all civilians in need of protection and assistance, in particular in Bahr el-Ghazal, the Nuba Mountains, the Western Upper Nile and areas in need throughout the country, and to continue to cooperate in this regard with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and Operation Lifeline Sudan in the delivery of such assistance, and urges the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to resume negotiations as soon as possible with a view to the withdrawal of the conditions imposed on the work of international agencies and humanitarian organizations; (g) In particular the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, not to misappropriate humanitarian assistance; (h) To continue to cooperate with the peace efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and, in this context, urges the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to commit itself to a permanent ceasefire; (i) Not to use or recruit children under the age of eighteen as soldiers, and urges the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement not to use or recruit children under the age of eighteen as soldiers and to refrain from the practice of forced conscription; (j) To fulfil their commitments concerning the protection of children affected by war, including their commitments to cease the use of anti-personnel landmines, the abduction and exploitation of children and the recruitment of children by the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement as soldiers, to advance the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers, and to ensure access to displaced and unaccompanied minors; (k) To allow an independent investigation of the case of the four Sudanese nationals who were abducted on 18 February 1999 while travelling with a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross on a humanitarian mission and subsequently killed while in the custody of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, and urges the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to return the bodies to their families; 4. Calls upon the Government of the Sudan: (a) To comply fully with its obligations under the international human rights instruments to which the Sudan is a party and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law; (b) To strengthen its efforts to ensure the rule of law by bringing legislation into line with the Constitution and by the effective practice of law enforcement; (c) To continue its efforts to bring its national legislation into conformity with the applicable international human rights instruments to which the Sudan is a party and to ensure that all individuals in its territory enjoy fully the rights recognized in those instruments; (d) To take all effective measures to prevent and end all acts of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, to ensure that all accused persons are held in ordinary custody and receive prompt, just and fair trials under internationally recognized standards, to investigate all reported human rights violations, including acts of torture, brought to its attention and to prosecute those responsible for the violations; (e) To seriously consider ratifying, as a matter of priority, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;Resolution 39/46, annex. (f) To make sure that all means of avoiding the execution of severe, inhuman punishments are fully utilized; (g) To reinforce the action taken to prevent and stop abductions of women and children within the framework of the conflict in southern Sudan, to bring to trial any persons suspected of supporting or participating in such activities and not cooperating with the efforts of the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children in addressing and preventing those activities, to facilitate the safe return of affected children to their families as a matter of priority and to take further measures, in particular through the Committee, with which all concerned have the responsibility and the duty to cooperate; (h) To stop definitively the indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian and humanitarian targets, which runs counter to fundamental principles of human rights and humanitarian law; (i) To make further efforts to address effectively the growing problem of internally displaced persons, whose number has increased, including ensuring their right to effective protection and assistance; (j) To continue to implement its commitment to the democratization process and the rule of law and to create, in this context, conditions that would allow for a democratization process that is genuine and wholly reflects the aspirations of the people of the country and ensures their full participation; (k) To continue efforts to implement the commitment made to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict not to recruit children under the age of eighteen as soldiers; (l) To implement the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of PrisonersSee Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, volume I (First Part), (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XIV.1 (Vol. I, Part 1)). and to raise the age of criminal responsibility for children in order to take into account the observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child; 5. Encourages the Government of the Sudan to continue to pursue its dialogue with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the basis of the agreement of 29 March 2000 between the Government and the High Commissioner, with a view to establishing a permanent representation of the High Commissioner; 6. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to take into consideration requests for assistance by the Government of the Sudan, inter alia, with a view to establishing a permanent representation of the High Commissioner as a matter of priority; 7. Calls upon the international community to expand its support for activities, in particular those of the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children, aimed at improving respect for human rights and humanitarian law during the conflict; 8. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in the Sudan at its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of further elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 55/117 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 102 to 2, with 63 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia Against: Rwanda, Uganda Abstentions: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe 55/117. Situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments, Mindful that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1520, No. 26363. Recalling its previous resolutions on this subject, including the most recent, resolution 54/179 of 17 December 1999, taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/15 of 18 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and Security Council resolution 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000, and mindful of previous resolutions and presidential statements of the Security Council on the subject, Recalling the Ceasefire Agreement signed at LusakaS/1999/815, annex. and the Kampala disengagement plan,See S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. the obligations of all signatories to those agreements and the obligations deriving from Security Council resolution 1304 (2000), Taking note of the outcome of the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State or Government of the Southern African Development Community, held at Maputo on 16 January 2000S/2000/36, annex. and of the holding of the summit meeting of the heads of State of Central Africa at Kinshasa on 27 October 2000,S/2000/1050, annex. Concerned at all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by parties to the conflict, as mentioned in the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,See A/55/403. including acts of and incitement to ethnic hatred and violence, Recognizing that the promotion and the protection of human rights for all are essential for achieving stability and security in the region and will contribute to the creation of the environment necessary for cooperation among States in the region, Taking into account the regional dimension of the human rights issues in the Great Lakes region, while underlining the primary responsibility of States for the promotion and protection of human rights, and stressing the importance of technical cooperation with a view to strengthening regional cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the decision of the Commission on Human Rights to request the Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to carry out a joint mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and encouraging the mission to begin its work as soon as possible, with the cooperation of the Government and all other parties concerned, Encouraging the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to fulfil its earlier commitments, including to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to restore and reform the judicial system, in accordance with the relevant international conventions, and noting in this regard the declared intention of the Government progressively to abolish the death penalty and to put an end to the trying of civilians by the Military Court, 1. Welcomes: (a) The report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;See A/55/403. (b) The visit made to the country by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the invitation of the Government and the cooperation of the Government and of all Congolese parties to the Ceasefire Agreement signed at LusakaS/1999/815, annex. in this regard; (c) The visit made to the country by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1 to 3 October 2000; (d) The activities of the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and encourages the Government to continue to work in close cooperation with the office; (e) The efforts of the Ministry of Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to improve the human rights situation in the country and, in particular, the adoption in December 1999, in concert with non-governmental organizations, of the national action plan for the promotion and protection of human rights; (f) The general amnesty ordered by President Kabila on 19 February 2000, as a timely and significant step towards reconciliation and towards preparation for the inter-Congolese dialogue called for in the Ceasefire Agreement, but deplores the fact that many other political prisoners continue to be detained and the arrests made since that date; (g) The commitment by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cooperate with the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations in ensuring the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers and the holding at Kinshasa, on 10 December 1999, in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund, of the Forum on the Demobilization of Child Soldiers and the Protection of Human Rights, and measures of demobilization of children taken by the Government and by the Congolese Rally for Democracy, and encourages other parties to the conflict to do the same; (h) The repatriation carried out under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in conformity with international humanitarian law, of persons at risk because of their ethnic origin, but regrets, however, that the Government was apparently unable to provide adequate protection in the first place; (i) The release of prisoners of war, and calls for the acceleration of exchanges of prisoners; (j) The decision of the Security Council in its resolution 1291 (2000) of 24 February 2000 to authorize the expansion of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (k) The work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (l) The appointment by the Secretary-General of the Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2. Expresses its concern at: (a) The adverse impact of the conflict on the situation of human rights and its severe consequences for the security and well-being of the civilian population throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (b) the continuing violations of the Ceasefire Agreement and the continuing use of hate speech; (c) the preoccupying situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the eastern part of the country, and the continuing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, often with impunity, and, with that in view, condemns: (i) The massacres of civilians perpetrated in the course of the conflict, which constitute a disproportionate response to attacks, in particular those occurring recently on the Lisenda-8 road and at Katogata, Kamanyola, Lurbarika, Luberezi, Ngenge, Kalehe, Kilambo, Cidaho, Uvira, Shabunda and Lusenda-Lubumba; (ii) The fighting in Kisangani between Ugandan and Rwandan forces, most recently in May and June 2000, which resulted in many civilian victims; (iii) The bombings of the hospital at Libenge and at Gemena and elsewhere, which affected civilian populations; (iv) The conflicts between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups in the eastern province, where thousands of Congolese have already been killed; (v) The occurrence of cases of summary and arbitrary execution, disappearance, torture, beating, harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention without trial, including of journalists, opposition politicians and human rights defenders, reports of sexual violence against women and children, and the continuing recruitment and use of child soldiers, as well as, in the eastern part of the country in particular, reprisals against people who have cooperated with the United Nations mechanisms; (vi) The trying of civilians and the imposition of the death penalty by the Military Court; (d) the excessive accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons and the illicit distribution, circulation and trafficking of arms in the region and their negative impact on human rights; (e) the breaches of fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, opinion, association and assembly, in the whole territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the eastern part of the country; (f) the acts of intimidation against representatives of the Churches and civil society, throughout the Congolese territory, as well as the killings of those persons in the eastern part of the country; (g) the severe insecurity, which minimizes the ability of humanitarian organizations to secure access to affected populations; (h) reports of the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 3. Urges all parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To implement fully the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement and to facilitate the re-establishment of the authority of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo throughout the territory, as agreed in the inter-Congolese political negotiations provided for in the Ceasefire Agreement, and stresses, in the context of a lasting peaceful settlement, the need for the engagement of the Congolese in an all-inclusive process of political dialogue, with a view to achieving national reconciliation and the holding of democratic, free, transparent and fair elections; (b) To cease all military activity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which breaches the ceasefire provided for in the Ceasefire Agreement and the Kampala disengagement plan;See S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. (c) To protect human rights and to respect international humanitarian law, in particular, as applicable to them, the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of warUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 18 October 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of GenocideResolution 260 A (III). and other relevant provisions of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and in particular to respect the rights of women and children and to ensure the safety of all civilians, including refugees and internally displaced persons within the territory of that country, regardless of their origin; (d) To cease all forms of repression against people exercising their fundamental freedoms; (e) To establish the conditions necessary for the safe and speedy deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (f) To ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel and humanitarian personnel within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, in this regard, to ensure safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (g) To put an immediate end to the use of child soldiers, which is in contravention of international human rights standards, and to demobilize them; (h) To define and implement all necessary measures to create conditions conducive to the voluntary return, in safety and with dignity, of all refugees and displaced persons and to ensure their protection and fair and lawful treatment; 4. Calls upon the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights law and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout its entire territory; (b) To fulfil its responsibility to ensure the full protection of the human rights of the population in its territory, as well as to take a leading part in efforts to prevent conditions that might lead to further flows of internally displaced persons and refugees within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and across its border; (c) To fulfil its commitment to reform and restore the judicial system, and, in particular, to reform military justice, and to stop using it to try civilians, in conformity with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. (d) To ensure full respect for freedom of opinion and expression, including freedom of the press in relation to all types of mass media, as well as freedom of association and assembly; (e) To remove the restrictions that still affect the work of non-governmental organizations and to promote human rights awareness, including by strengthening cooperation with civil society, including all human rights organizations; (f) To implement fully its commitment to the democratization process, in particular the national dialogue, as stipulated in the Ceasefire Agreement, and to create, in this context, conditions that would allow for a democratization process that is genuine and all-inclusive and that fully reflects the aspirations of all people in the country, including by lifting restrictions on political parties and their activities and ensuring political pluralism, in order to lead the way for the holding of democratic, free and fair elections; (g) To put an end to impunity and to fulfil its responsibility to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice; (h) To cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 in ensuring that all those responsible for the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and other grave violations of human rights are brought to justice in accordance with international principles of due process; (i) To work closely and strengthen further its cooperation with the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (j) To implement fully its commitment to cooperate with United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations in ensuring the demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration of child soldiers; 5. Decides to continue to examine the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requests the Special Rapporteur to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/118 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela. 55/118. Situation of human rights in Haiti The General Assembly, Guided by the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. Recalling its resolution 54/187 of 17 December 1999, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/78 of 26 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council decision 2000/277 of 28 July 2000, Taking note of the report of the independent expert of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Haiti, Adama Dieng,See A/55/335. Bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General on the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti,A/55/154. and considering the statement by the President of the Security Council of 15 March 2000,S/PRST/2000/8; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. Taking note of the report on the visit to Haiti of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2000/68/Add.3. and encouraging the Government of Haiti to follow up actively the recommendations contained therein, Recognizing the interdependent relations and mutual reinforcement between democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the commitment of the international community to supporting, strengthening and promoting this principle, Noting the establishment of the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti with the mandate to support the democratization process and assist the Haitian authorities with the development of democratic institutions; to assist the Haitian authorities in the reform and the strengthening of the Haitian system of justice, including its penal institutions, and to promote the Office of the Ombudsman; to support the efforts of the Government of Haiti to professionalize the Haitian National Police through a special training and technical assistance programme and to help the Government to coordinate bilateral and multilateral aid in this area; to support the efforts of the Government of Haiti aimed at the full observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to provide technical assistance for the organization of democratic elections and to collaborate with the Government of Haiti in the coordination of bilateral and multilateral assistance, Commending the work of the Organization of American States in Haiti, in particular the efforts to promote a dialogue among Haitian political actors and civil society groups following the legislative elections held on 21 May 2000, Expressing concern at the fact that no solution has yet been found with regard to the deficiencies of the elections of 21 May 2000, most notably those identified by national and international observers and by the electoral observation mission of the Organization of American States, Underlining the importance of the legitimate election of parliament for the institution of democracy, for the rule of law and for the progress of civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights in favour of all Haitians, Noting with satisfaction the efforts made by the Haitian authorities in the fight against impunity, which resulted in the convictions of the police officers responsible for the Carrefour-Feuilles massacre and the opening of the trial relating to the Raboteau massacre, Deploring the increasing difficulties met by the press in expressing itself freely since the serious incidents of April 2000, Recalling the statements made by the Haitian authorities to the effect that the Government remains committed to upholding human rights, and encouraging further actions to improve the promotion, defence and guarantee of those rights, Underlining the need for the Provisional Electoral Council to be fully representative of the Haitian political scene, including the opposition, impartial, neutral and effective in the preparations for, and during, the forthcoming presidential and senatorial elections, 1. Expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General, his Representative for Haiti and the independent expert of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Haiti for their continuing efforts in favour of the consolidation of democratic institutions in Haiti and respect for human rights in that country; 2. Commends the United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti for its training and supervising of the Haitian National Police, and the International Civilian Mission in Haiti for monitoring the situation of human rights and for its activities in support of democratic institutions, the mandates of which Missions concluded on 15 March 2000, opening the way for the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti, with its mandate to consolidate and build on the results obtained in this regard; 3. Stresses the need for the Haitian National Police to continue to undertake more effective efforts to improve its performance through, inter alia, technical assistance, training and education, in order to function efficiently, within a framework of respect for human rights, to curb the alarming increase in insecurity in the country; 4. Renews its invitation to the Government of Haiti to ratify, as soon as possible, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 39/46, annex. and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;See resolutions 2200 A (XXI), annex, and 44/128, annex. 5. Requests all interested Governments to make available to the Government of Haiti information and documentation to enable it to prosecute the perpetrators of human rights violations, in order to reinforce the efforts already made by the Haitian authorities to fight against impunity and to facilitate the reconciliation process; 6. Calls upon the Government of Haiti to continue structural reforms in the police and the judicial system and the improvement of the prison sector, to investigate properly politically motivated crimes and to prosecute the perpetrators of such crimes in accordance with Haitian law, to take vigorous action to eliminate any continuing human rights violations, including illegal arrests and detentions and the detention by authorities of individuals in violation of court orders for their release, and to ensure due process, including reasonable timeframes; 7. Reaffirms the importance, for combating impunity and for the realization of a genuine and effective process of transition and national reconciliation, of investigations undertaken by the National Commission for Truth and Justice, and encourages the Government of Haiti to continue legal proceedings against perpetrators of human rights violations identified by the National Commission and to create effective facilities for providing support to the victims, in particular women, children and members of their families; 8. Welcomes the decision of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States to the effect that that Organization, acting in conjunction with the Caribbean Community and other political actors and civil society groups, should give support to the Government of Haiti and all other actors involved in order to identify, as soon as possible, any options and make recommendations for resolving the difficulties resulting from the conflicting interpretations of the electoral law, and expresses the hope that that will result in concrete corrective actions by the Government of Haiti and other authorities and continue to strengthen the democratic process in that country; 9. Notes with interest the forthcoming presidential elections and elections for the renewal of one third of the Senate, and urges the Government of Haiti and other authorities to ensure the necessary guarantees for holding those elections in a transparent, secure and credible environment in agreement with Haiti's political actors and civil society groups, inter alia, by restoring the credibility of the Provisional Electoral Council, and through a true dialogue, with the support of the international community, including the Organization of American States; 10. Recalls with appreciation the initiative of the Government of Haiti, in collaboration with the international community and women's groups, to adopt measures to promote the human rights of women and to fight against the violence of which they are victims, through the training of judicial staff and the dissemination of information on the rights of women at all levels of the education system, and encourages Haiti to continue these efforts; 11. Encourages the Government of Haiti further to promote the rights of children, in particular their right to education; 12. Invites the international community, including the Bretton Woods institutions, to consider, when conditions permit, continuing its involvement in the reconstruction and development of Haiti; 13. Encourages the Government of Haiti to contribute to the strengthening of the Office for the Protection of Citizens, inter alia, through regional representation as appropriate, incorporating a gender perspective, and through the establishment of a programme of technical cooperation, in close collaboration with, and with the assistance of, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti; 14. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Haiti at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/119 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.3, para. 49)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairperson of the Committee. 55/119. Question of human rights in Afghanistan The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and accepted humanitarian rules, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have freely undertaken under the various international instruments, Recalling that Afghanistan is a party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,Resolution 260 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of WarUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and that it has signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. Recalling also all its relevant resolutions, as well as the resolutions and presidential statements of the Security Council, the decisions of the Economic and Social Council, the resolutions and decisions of the Commission on Human Rights and the resolutions of the Commission on the Status of Women, Recalling further that the United Nations continues to play its central and impartial role in international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, and encouraging all efforts at the national, regional and international levels aimed at finding a solution to the continuing conflict through a broad-based dialogue involving all concerned actors, Expressing deep concern at the lack of reconstruction in Afghanistan, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in AfghanistanSee A/55/346. and of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to fulfil his mandate; 2. Strongly condemns the mass killings and systematic human rights violations perpetrated against civilians and prisoners of war, including in the areas of Mazar-e Sharif and Bamian, and notes with alarm the resumption of the wider conflict by the Taliban during the past summer, especially in the Taloqan area, resulting in the massive, forced displacement of the civilian population, in particular of women and children; 3. Condemns the widespread violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the right to life, liberty and security of person, freedom from torture and from other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, freedom of opinion, expression, religion, association and movement, the forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict and, in particular, the grave human rights violations committed against women and girls; 4. Reiterates its condemnation of the killings of Iranian diplomats and the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency by the Taliban, which constituted flagrant violations of established international law, as well as the attacks on and killings of United Nations personnel in Taliban-held territories of Afghanistan, and calls upon the Taliban to fulfil their stated commitment to cooperate in urgent investigations of these heinous crimes with a view to bringing to justice those responsible; 5. Notes with deep concern: (a) The persisting pattern of human rights violations in Afghanistan; (b) The continuing and substantiated reports of human rights violations against women and girls, including all forms of discrimination against them, notably in areas under the control of the Taliban; (c) The intensification of armed hostilities in Afghanistan and the complex nature of the conflict, including its ethnic, religious and political aspects, which have resulted in extensive human suffering and forced displacement, inter alia, on the grounds of ethnicity; (d) The continued displacement of millions of Afghan refugees to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan and other countries; (e) The deliberate destruction of life-sustaining activities; (f) The substantial restrictions introduced by the Taliban authorities on the operations of the United Nations and the specialized agencies that provide assistance in Afghanistan, and notes the negative impact that those restrictions have on providing women, children, in particular girls, and other most vulnerable groups with assistance; 6. Also notes with deep concern the sharp deterioration of the humanitarian situation in many areas of Afghanistan, including the Shamali Plains, the Panjshir Valley and the north-east, and calls for the full implementation of the agreement on the security of United Nations personnel in Afghanistan; 7. Urges all States to respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs and to end immediately the supply of arms, ammunition, military equipment, including fuel for military purposes where identifiable, training or any other military support, including the provision of foreign military personnel, to all parties to the conflict; 8. Stresses the need for national reconciliation and for the establishment of the rule of law, good governance and democracy in Afghanistan and, concurrently, the need for extensive rehabilitation and reconstruction; 9. Urges all the Afghan parties: (a) To respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with international human rights instruments; (b) To cease hostilities immediately, to work and cooperate fully with the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan with a view to achieving a ceasefire and to implement the Tashkent Declaration on Fundamental Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict in Afghanistan of 19 July 1999,A/54/174-S/1999/812, annex. thus laying the foundation for a comprehensive political solution leading to the voluntary return of displaced persons to their homes in safety and with dignity and to the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic, fully representative Government through the full exercise of the Afghan people of the right to self-determination; (c) To reaffirm publicly their commitment to international human rights and principles and to recognize, protect and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms; (d) To respect fully international humanitarian law, to protect civilians, to halt the use of weapons against the civilian population, to refrain from the wanton destruction of food crops and civilian property, in particular homes, to stop the laying of landmines, especially anti-personnel mines, to fulfil their duty to cooperate with the United Nations mine action programme and to protect its personnel, to prohibit conscripting or enlisting children or using them to participate in hostilities in violation of international law and to ensure the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of children into society; (e) To provide efficient and effective remedies to the victims of grave violations and abuses of human rights and of international humanitarian law and to bring the perpetrators to trial; (f) To treat all suspects and convicted or detained persons in accordance with relevant international instruments and to refrain from arbitrary detention, including detention of civilian foreign nationals, and urges their captors to release them as well as non-criminal civilian prisoners; 10. Demands that all the Afghan parties fulfil their obligations regarding the safety of all personnel of diplomatic missions, the United Nations and other international organizations, as well as their premises in Afghanistan, and to cooperate fully and without discrimination on grounds of gender, nationality or religion with the United Nations and associated bodies and with other humanitarian organizations, agencies and non-governmental organizations; 11. Urges all the Afghan parties, in particular the Taliban, to bring to an end without delay all violations of the human rights of women and girls and to take urgent measures to ensure: (a) The repeal of all legislative and other measures that discriminate against women and girls and those that impede the realization of all their human rights; (b) The effective participation of women in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life throughout the country; (c) Respect for the right of women to work and their reintegration into employment, including in the specialized agencies and human rights organizations; (d) The equal right of women and girls to education without discrimination, the reopening of schools and the admission of women and girls to all levels of education; (e) Respect for the equal right of women to security of person, and to ensure that those responsible for physical attacks on women are brought to justice; (f) Respect for the freedom of movement of women; (g) Respect for the effective and equal access of women and girls to the facilities necessary to protect their right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 12. Takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2000/68/Add.4. on her mission to Afghanistan; 13. Urges all Afghan parties to respect all international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. to bring to an end without delay all violations of the human rights of women and girls, to take urgent measures to ensure respect for all fundamental freedoms and to respect international humanitarian law with regard to the conduct of hostilities; 14. Notes with appreciation the activities carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as by non-governmental organizations, throughout the territory of Afghanistan; 15. Recalls its invitation extended to the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to proceed without delay to investigate fully reports of mass killings of prisoners of war and civilians, rape and cruel treatment in Afghanistan, expresses deep regret for the lack of cooperation by Afghan parties, calls upon the United Front and the Taliban to fulfil their stated commitment to cooperate with such investigations, and, noting the summary of the report on the investigations,A/54/626, annex. expresses its deep regret to all the parties for the unsatisfactory results; 16. Notes with grave concern the recent reports of summary executions of prisoners in Taliban-held areas in the north of Afghanistan, which have been denied by the Taliban, and calls upon the Taliban to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur in fully investigating those allegations; 17. Invites the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to ensure that the ongoing process of deployment of the civilian affairs observers in Afghanistan is completed as soon as possible and that gender issues and the rights of children are fully taken into account in their mission; 18. Appeals to all States, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, specialized agencies and other international organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to all in need, and urges all Afghan parties to ensure free, safe and unhindered access to all humanitarian personnel, as part of an overall effort to achieve peace; 19. Expresses its deep concern at reports of attacks on and looting of cultural artifacts in Afghanistan, emphasizes that all parties share the responsibility to protect their common heritage, and requests all Member States to take appropriate measures to prevent the looting of cultural artifacts and to ensure their return to Afghanistan; 20. Urges all the Afghan parties to extend their cooperation to the Commission on Human Rights and to all those special rapporteurs who are seeking invitations, and, in particular, calls upon the Taliban to accommodate the forthcoming visit of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to give all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur; 22. Decides to keep the situation of human rights in Afghanistan under consideration at its fifty-sixth session, in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council. RESOLUTION 55/11 Adopted at the 45th plenary meeting, on 31 October 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.14 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 55/11. Peace, security and reunification on the Korean peninsula The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, Convinced that inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation are essential for consolidating peace and security on the Korean peninsula and also contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond, in conformity with the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter, Recognizing that the historic summit meeting, held in Pyongyang from 13 to 15 June 2000, between the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea and their joint declaration represent a major breakthrough in inter-Korean relations and in realizing eventual peaceful reunification, Commending the positive developments on the Korean peninsula taking place in the wake of the inter-Korean summit, Recalling the statement welcoming the inter-Korean summit and the follow-up measures made on 6 September 2000 by the Co-Chairpersons of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Plenary Meetings, 4th meeting (A/55/PV.4), and corrigendum. 1. Welcomes and supports the inter-Korean summit and the joint declaration adopted on 15 June 2000 by the two leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea; 2. Encourages the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to continue to implement fully and in good faith the joint declaration and other agreements reached between the two sides, thereby consolidating peace on the Korean peninsula and laying a solid foundation for peaceful reunification; 3. Invites Member States to support and assist, as appropriate, the process of inter-Korean dialogue, reconciliation and reunification so that it may contribute to peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the world as a whole. RESOLUTION 55/120 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.44/Rev.2 and Corr.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Zambia 55/120. Assistance in mine action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/7 of 19 October 1993, 49/215 of 23 December 1994, 50/82 of 14 December 1995, 51/149 of 13 December 1996 and 52/173 of 18 December 1997, on assistance in mine clearance, and its resolutions 53/26 of 17 November 1998 and 54/191 of 17 December 1999, on assistance in mine action, all adopted without a vote, Considering mine action to be an important component of United Nations humanitarian and development activities, Reaffirming its deep concern at the tremendous humanitarian and development problems caused by the presence of mines and other unexploded devices that constitute an obstacle to the return of refugees and other displaced persons, to humanitarian aid operations and to reconstruction and economic development, as well as to the restoration of normal social conditions, and that have serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the populations of mine-affected countries, Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and other unexploded devices pose to the safety, health and lives of local civilian populations, as well as of personnel participating in humanitarian, peacekeeping and rehabilitation programmes and operations, Reiterating its dismay at the high number of victims of mines, especially among civilian populations, including women and children, and recalling in this context Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1995/79 of 8 March 1995,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 1996/85 of 24 April 1996,Ibid., 1996, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1996/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1997/78 of 18 April 1997,Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1998/76 of 22 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1999/80 of 28 April 1999Ibid., 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2000/85 of 27 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. on the rights of the child, and resolutions 1996/27 of 19 April 1996,Ibid., 1996, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1996/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1998/31 of 17 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2000/51 of 25 April 2000Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and decision 1997/107 of 11 April 1997,Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the human rights of persons with disabilities, Deeply alarmed by the number of mines that continue to be laid each year, as well as the presence of a large number of mines and other unexploded devices as a result of armed conflicts, and thus convinced of the necessity and urgency of a significant increase in mine-clearance efforts by the international community with a view to eliminating the threat of landmines to civilians as soon as possible, Noting the decisions taken at the First Annual Conference of the States Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, held at Geneva from 15 to 17 December 1999,See CCW/AP.II/CONF.I/2. particularly with respect to Protocol II to the Convention, and the inclusion in Amended Protocol IICCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. of a number of provisions of importance for mine-clearance operations, notably the requirement of detectability, Noting also the entry into force of Amended Protocol II to the Convention on 3 December 1998, Recalling that the States parties at the Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention declared their commitment to keep the provisions of the Protocol under review in order to ensure that the concerns regarding the weapons it covers are addressed, and that they would encourage the efforts of the United Nations and other organizations to address all problems related to landmines, Noting that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. entered into force on 1 March 1999 and that the Convention has been signed or acceded to by one hundred and thirty-nine States and ratified by one hundred and nine States, noting also the conclusions of the Second Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, held at Geneva from 11 to 15 September 2000,See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1. taking note of the reaffirmed commitments that were made, among other things, to provide assistance for mine clearance and rehabilitation, the social and economic reintegration of mine victims and mine-awareness programmes, and taking note also of the work of the inter-sessional programme established by States parties to the Convention, Stressing the need to convince mine-affected States to halt new deployments of anti-personnel mines in order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of mine-clearance operations, Recognizing the important role that the international community, in particular States involved in the deployment of mines, can play in assisting mine clearance in mine-affected countries by providing necessary maps and information and appropriate technical and material assistance to remove or otherwise render ineffective existing minefields, mines and booby traps, Concerned about the limited availability of safe and cost-effective mine-detection and mine-clearance equipment, as well as the need for effective global coordination in research and development to improve the relevant technology, and conscious of the need to promote further and more rapid progress in this field and to foster international technical cooperation to this end, Concerned also about the limited availability of the technical, material and financial resources needed to meet the cost associated with mine-clearance activities in mine-affected countries, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has an important role to play in the field of assistance in mine action, Reaffirming the need to reinforce international cooperation in the area of mine action and to devote the necessary resources to that end, Concerned about the critical financial situation of the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, Welcoming the mine-action coordination centres already established under the auspices of the United Nations, as well as the creation of international trust funds for mine clearance and mine assistance, Noting with satisfaction the inclusion in the mandates of several peacekeeping operations of provisions relating to mine-action work carried out under the direction of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in the context of such operations, Commending the action already taken by the United Nations system, donor and recipient Governments, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations to coordinate their efforts and seek solutions to the problems related to the presence of mines and other unexploded devices, as well as their assistance to victims of mines, Commending also the role of the Secretary-General in increasing public awareness of the problem of landmines, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations in assistance in mine action;A/55/542. 2. Calls, in particular, for the continuation of the efforts of the United Nations, with the assistance of States and institutions as appropriate, to foster the establishment of mine-action capacities in countries where mines constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population or an impediment to social and economic development efforts at the national and local levels, emphasizes the importance of developing national mine-action capacities, and urges all Member States, in particular those that have the capacity to do so, to assist mine-affected countries in the establishment and development of national capacities in mine clearance, mine awareness and victim assistance; 3. Invites Member States to develop national programmes, in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations system where appropriate, to promote awareness of landmines, especially among women and children; 4. Expresses its appreciation to Governments, regional organizations and other donors for their financial and in-kind contributions to mine action, including contributions for emergency operations and for national capacity-building programmes; 5. Appeals to Governments, regional organizations and other donors to continue their support to mine action through further contributions, including contributions through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action, to allow for the timely delivery of mine-action assistance in emergency situations; 6. Encourages all relevant multilateral and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine action in their humanitarian, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development assistance activities, where appropriate, bearing in mind the need to ensure national ownership, sustainability and capacity-building; 7. Stresses the importance of international support for emergency assistance to victims of mines and for the care and rehabilitation, and social and economic reintegration, of the victims, and also stresses that such assistance should be integrated into broader public health and socio-economic strategies; 8. Encourages Governments, relevant United Nations bodies and other donors to take further action to promote gender- and age-appropriate mine-awareness programmes, victim assistance and child-centred rehabilitation, thereby reducing the number of child victims and relieving their plight; 9. Emphasizes again the important role of the United Nations in the effective coordination of mine-action activities, including those by regional organizations, and especially the role of the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat on the basis of the policy on mine action and effective coordination developed by the Secretary-General,See A/53/496, annex II, and A/55/542. and stresses the need for the continuous assessment by the General Assembly of the United Nations in this regard; 10. Emphasizes in this regard the role of the Mine Action Service as the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system and its ongoing collaboration with and coordination of all the mine-related activities of the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes; 11. Encourages the Secretary-General to develop further a comprehensive mine-action strategy, taking into consideration the impact of the landmine problem on rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of assistance in mine action by the United Nations, emphasizes in this respect the importance of further multisectoral assessments and surveys, notes in this regard the ongoing development by the United Nations of standards and certification guidelines for such surveys, and emphasizes the need for an inclusive process to be followed in the development of such standards and guidelines; 12. Emphasizes in this respect the importance of developing a comprehensive information management system for mine action, under the overall coordination of the Mine Action Service and with the support of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, in order to facilitate the setting of priorities and the coordination of field activities; 13. Welcomes recent approaches with regard to the establishment of mine-action coordination centres, encourages the further establishment of such centres, especially in emergency situations, and also encourages States to support the activities of mine-action coordination centres and trust funds established to coordinate assistance in mine action under the auspices of the Mine Action Service; 14. Encourages, whenever appropriate, the use of the United Nations Office for Project Services by the United Nations, including in peacekeeping operations, in order to ensure the unity and continuity of implementation required for integrated mine-action programmes; 15. Urges Member States and regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General and, in particular, to provide him with information and data, as well as other appropriate resources that could be useful in strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in mine action, in particular in the fields of mine awareness, training, surveying, detection and clearance, scientific research on mine-detection and mine-clearance technology and information on and distribution of medical equipment and supplies; 16. Emphasizes in this regard the importance of recording the location of mines, of retaining all such records and making them available to concerned parties upon cessation of hostilities, and welcomes the strengthening of the relevant provisions in international law; 17. Calls upon Member States, especially those that have the capacity to do so, to provide the necessary information and technical, financial and material assistance, as appropriate, and to locate, remove, destroy or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines, booby traps and other devices in accordance with international law, as soon as possible; 18. Urges Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations that have the ability to do so to provide, as appropriate, technological assistance to mine-affected countries and to promote scientific research and development on humanitarian mine-action techniques and technology so that mine-action activities may be carried out more effectively at lower costs and through safer means and to promote international collaboration in this regard; 19. Encourages Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to support ongoing activities to promote appropriate technology, as well as international operational and safety standards for humanitarian mine-action activities, and in this context welcomes the initiation of the revision of international mine-clearance standards and the development of guidelines for the use of mine-detection dogs and mechanical mine-clearance equipment, as well as the development of an international test and evaluation programme; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a comprehensive report on the United Nations mine-action policy, including the progress achieved on relevant issues outlined both in his previous reports to the Assembly on assistance in mine clearance and mine action and in the present resolution, as well as the progress made by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international and regional organizations as well as national programmes, and on the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action and other mine-action programmes; 21. Invites the Secretary-General to study how to secure a more sound financial basis for the Mine Action Service and to present options to this effect to the General Assembly; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Assistance in mine action". RESOLUTION 55/121 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/568, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 55/121. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 54/66 of 6 December 1999, in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific CommitteeSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 46 (A/55/46). and of the release of its extensive report, entitled Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2000 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes,United Nations publications, Sales Nos. E.00.IX.3 and E.00.IX.4. Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its fifty-fifth session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past forty-five years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific CommitteeSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 46 (A/55/46). and of the release of its extensive report,United Nations publications, Sales Nos. E.00.IX.3 and E.00.IX.4. which provides the scientific and world community with the Committee's latest evaluations of the sources and effects of ionizing radiation on human beings and their environment; 3. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee, including its present reporting arrangements; 4. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources, and invites the Scientific Committee to submit its programme of work to the General Assembly; 5. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for its future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly; 6. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 7. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 8. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 9. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports; 10. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 11. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly. RESOLUTION 55/122 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/569, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the representative of Chile (on behalf of the Working Group on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 55/122. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996 and 54/67 and 54/68 of 6 December 1999, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations contained in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III,A/55/153. Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education and Earth observation contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-third session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-third session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20). 2. Encourages States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). to give consideration to ratifying those treaties or acceding to them; 3. Notes that, at its thirty-ninth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/67;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), chap. II.C. 4. Notes with satisfaction the agreement reached by the Legal Subcommittee on the question of the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit and the subsequent endorsement of that agreement by the Committee;Ibid., para. 129, and A/AC.105/738, annex III. 5. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its fortieth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space and the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) The draft convention of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law on international interests in mobile equipment and the preliminary draft protocol thereto on matters specific to space property; (c) Continue its review of the concept of the "launching State", in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/54/20 and Corr.1), para. 114. 6. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its fortieth session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-first session, in 2002; 7. Notes also that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (iv) above, and in accordance with the agreement referred to in paragraph 4 above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its working group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; 8. Notes further that, in the context of paragraph 5 (c) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its working group to consider the item; 9. Takes note of the agreement reached by the Committee at its fortieth session on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the second term starting in 2000, in the context of the implementation of the measures relating to the working methods of those bodies,Ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I. which were endorsed by the General Assembly in paragraph 11 of its resolution 52/56 of 10 December 1997; 10. Notes with satisfaction that consensus decisions were reached on the composition of the bureaux for the second term, and agrees that, in accordance with those consensus decisions, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee should elect their chairmen for the second term at the beginning of their thirty-eighth and fortieth sessions respectively; 11. Notes that, in accordance with the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies, mentioned in paragraph 9 above, consultations will be held among the regional groups at the forty-fourth session of the Committee to determine which group will be responsible for which office for the third term, starting in 2003; 12. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-seventh session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/67;Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), chap. II.B. 13. Notes with satisfaction that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-seventh session continued to consider, on a priority basis, the agenda item on space debris; 14. Agrees that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee should assess the effectiveness of existing space debris mitigation practices and the extent to which they are being implemented and that efforts to model and characterize the debris environment should continue; 15. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-eighth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications, following the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (iii) Matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the work plans adopted by the Committee at its forty-third session:See A/AC.105/697 and Corr.1, annex III, appendix, for the work plan for item (i), and A/AC.105/736, annex II, paras. 40 and 41 for items (ii) and (iii) respectively. (i) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (ii) Means and mechanisms for strengthening inter-agency cooperation and increasing the use of space applications and services within and among entities of the United Nations system; (iii) Implementation of an integrated, space-based global natural disaster management system; (c) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Space debris, on a priority basis, consistent with paragraph 370 of the report of UNISPACE III;Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3). (ii) Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and of its utilization and applications, including, inter alia, in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; (iii) Government and private activities to promote education in space science and engineering; 16. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the thirty-ninth session of the Subcommittee, in 2002; 17. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation, in liaison with Member States, be invited to arrange a symposium on the theme "Terrestrial hazards from outer space objects and phenomena", with as wide a participation as possible, to be held during the first week of the thirty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee; 18. Notes with satisfaction that an industry symposium, with the participation of Member States, on emerging applications of global navigation satellite systems in improving the productivity of national and regional infrastructure will be organized during the thirty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee; 19. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 15 (a) (ii) and 16 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session should reconvene its Working Group of the Whole and that the Subcommittee should consider, through the Working Group of the Whole, the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 20. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 15 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space; 21. Encourages all the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to contribute to the work of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in the context of paragraph 15 (b) (ii) above by, inter alia, providing the Subcommittee with appropriate information in response to the list of questions approved by the Committee at its forty-third session;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 113. 22. Agrees that, in the context of paragraph 15 (c) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session should conduct its work in accordance with the agreement of the Committee at its forty-third session;Ibid., para. 119. 23. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2001, as proposed to the Committee by the United Nations Expert on Space Applications;See A/AC.105/730, sect. II. 24. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria respectively, began their first educational activities in April 2000, that the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific continued its education programme in 2000 and that progress has been achieved in furthering the goals of the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in establishing regional centres for space science and technology education in the other regions; 25. Also notes with satisfaction that Member States concerned in Asia and the Pacific are holding further consultations, with the assistance of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, with a view to making the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific grow into a network of nodes; 26. Recognizes the usefulness and significance of the space conferences of the Americas for the Latin American countries, encourages the convening of a Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, and also encourages other regions to convene periodically regional conferences with a view to achieving convergence of positions on issues of common concern in the field of the peaceful uses of outer space among States Members of the United Nations; 27. Urges all Governments, organs, organizations and programmes within the United Nations system as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities to take the action necessary for the effective implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular its resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 28. Notes that, pursuant to paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 54/68, the Office for Outer Space Affairs had submitted to the Committee for its review at its forty-third session a plan of action to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 71. 29. Requests the Secretary-General to begin implementing those measures and activities that are contained in the above-mentioned plan of action and are currently within the programme of work of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, based on the recommendations of UNISPACE III, and to ensure the full implementation of the plan with the necessary resources in 2002; 30. Agrees that the Committee should include in the agendas of its forty-fourth to forty-seventh sessions, in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, an item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III;Ibid., para. 76. 31. Requests the Committee to prepare a report under the agenda item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III for submission to the General Assembly in order for the Assembly to review and appraise, at its fifty-ninth session, in 2004, in accordance with paragraph 16 of General Assembly resolution 54/68, the implementation of the outcome of UNISPACE III and to consider further actions and initiatives; 32. Encourages all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to support activities to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular the priority project proposals as recommended by the Committee at its forty-third session;Ibid., para. 87. 33. Notes with satisfaction that, in connection with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 54/68, special events of the United Nations were held at Headquarters and at the United Nations Office at Vienna on 4 October 2000 to launch the first World Space Week and that other events were also held by interested Member States to celebrate World Space Week, and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as well as space-related industries to make voluntary contributions to support activities to celebrate World Space Week; 34. Recommends that more attention be paid to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment; 35. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 36. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 37. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to the orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 38. Agrees that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of conferences organized within the United Nations system to address global issues relating to social, economic and cultural development and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 39. Takes note of the interest of certain countries, including Saudi Arabia and Slovakia, that submitted requests to become members of the Committee, as well as the requests of those countries that have been sharing seats on a rotating basis, namely, Cuba, Malaysia, Peru and the Republic of Korea, to have that practice terminated and to become full members, and requests the Committee to include in the agenda of its forty-fourth session an item on the enlargement of its membership to consider including as full members those countries requesting membership; 40. Encourages Member States to hold informal consultations on the enlargement of membership of the Committee during the thirty-eighth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and, if necessary, during the fortieth session of the Legal Subcommittee, with a view to reaching a consensus agreement on the matter at the forty-fourth session of the Committee; 41. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 42. Also requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-fourth session, its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 43. Agrees that a symposium on the theme "The human dimension in space science and technology applications" should be organized during the forty-fourth session of the Committee; 44. Invites the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimension in space science and technology applications; 45. Requests the specialized agencies and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with progress reports on their work relating to the peaceful uses of outer space; 46. Requests the Committee to continue its work, in accordance with the present resolution, to consider, as appropriate, new projects in outer space activities and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, including its views on which subjects should be studied in the future; 47. Also requests the Committee to consider and identify new mechanisms of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, in accordance with the preamble to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/123 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/570, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland., by a recorded vote of 156 to 1, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America 55/123. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/69 of 6 December 1999 and all its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/55/13). Stressing the importance of the Middle East peace process, Welcoming the signature in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the people of Palestine, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government ArrangementsA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware that the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process has an important role to play in the peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the refugees continues to be a matter of concern; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and requests the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2001; 3. Expresses its thanks to the Commissioner-General and to all the staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, recognizing that the Agency is doing all it can within the limits of available resources, and also expresses its thanks to the specialized agencies and to private organizations for their valuable work in assisting refugees; 4. Notes the significant success of the Peace Implementation Programme of the Agency since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and stresses the importance that contributions to this Programme not be at the expense of the General Fund; 5. Welcomes the increased cooperation between the Agency and international and regional organizations, States and relevant agencies and non-governmental organizations, which is essential to enhancing the contributions of the Agency towards improved conditions for the refugees and thereby the social stability of the occupied territory; 6. Urges all Member States to extend and expedite aid and assistance with a view to the economic and social development of the Palestinian people and the occupied territory; 7. Reiterates its deep concern regarding the persisting critical financial situation of the Agency, as outlined in the report of the Commissioner-General;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/55/13). 8. Commends the efforts of the Commissioner-General to move towards budgetary transparency and internal efficiency, and welcomes in this respect the new, unified budget structure for the biennium 2000-2001, which can contribute significantly to improved budgetary transparency of the Agency; 9. Welcomes the consultative process between the Agency, host Governments, the Palestinian Authority and donors on management reforms; 10. Notes with profound concern that the continuing shortfall in the finances of the Agency has a significant negative influence on the living conditions of the Palestine refugees most in need and that it therefore has possible consequences for the peace process; 11. Calls upon all donors, as a matter of urgency, to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including the remaining costs of moving the headquarters to Gaza, encourages contributing Governments to contribute regularly and to consider increasing their regular contributions, and urges non-contributing Governments to contribute. RESOLUTION 55/124 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/570, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/124. Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2656 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, 2728 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, 2791 (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 54/70 of 6 December 1999 and the previous resolutions on this question, Recalling also its decision 36/462 of 16 March 1982, by which it took note of the special report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,A/36/866 and Corr.1; see also A/37/591. Having considered the report of the Working Group,A/55/456. Taking into account the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/55/13). Deeply concerned about the continuing financial situation of the Agency, which has affected and affects the continuation of the provision of necessary Agency services to Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related programmes, Emphasizing the continuing need for extraordinary efforts in order to maintain, at least at the current minimum level, the activities of the Agency, as well as to enable the Agency to carry out essential construction, 1. Commends the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency; 2. Takes note with approval of the report of the Working Group;A/55/456. 3. Requests the Working Group to continue its efforts, in cooperation with the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General, to find a solution to the financial situation of the Agency; 4. Welcomes the new, unified budget structure for the biennium 2000-2001, which can contribute significantly to improved budgetary transparency of the Agency; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work. RESOLUTION 55/125 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/570, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of) 55/125. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 54/71 of 6 December 1999,A/55/391. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/55/13). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, signed in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government ArrangementsA/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been effected, and expresses the hope for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its fifty-sixth session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/126 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/570, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 160 to none, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Israel 55/126. Offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 212 (III) of 19 November 1948 on assistance to Palestine refugees, Recalling also its resolutions 35/13 B of 3 November 1980, 36/146 H of 16 December 1981, 37/120 D of 16 December 1982, 38/83 D of 15 December 1983, 39/99 D of 14 December 1984, 40/165 D of 16 December 1985, 41/69 D of 3 December 1986, 42/69 D of 2 December 1987, 43/57 D of 6 December 1988, 44/47 D of 8 December 1989, 45/73 D of 11 December 1990, 46/46 D of 9 December 1991, 47/69 D of 14 December 1992, 48/40 D of 10 December 1993, 49/35 D of 9 December 1994, 50/28 D of 6 December 1995, 51/127 of 13 December 1996, 52/60 of 10 December 1997, 53/49 of 3 December 1998 and 54/72 of 6 December 1999, Cognizant of the fact that Palestine refugees have, for the last five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/402. Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/55/13). 1. Urges all States to respond to the appeal in its resolution 32/90 F of 13 December 1977 and reiterated in subsequent relevant resolutions in a manner commensurate with the needs of Palestine refugees for higher education, including vocational training; 2. Strongly appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East; 3. Expresses its appreciation to all Governments, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations that responded favourably to its resolutions on this question; 4. Invites the relevant specialized agencies and other organizations of the Untied Nations system to continue, within their respective spheres of competence, to extend assistance for higher education to Palestine refugee students; 5. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and the United Nations University to contribute generously to the Palestinian universities in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including, in due course, the proposed University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for Palestine refugees; 6. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and other international bodies to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees; 7. Requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships and to award them to qualified Palestine refugee candidates; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/127 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/570, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 157 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of) 55/127. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/55/13). Taking note of the letter dated 28 September 2000 from the Chairman of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General, contained in the report of the Commissioner-General,Ibid., p. viii. Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolutions 48/40 E,A/49/440. 48/40 HA/49/442. and 48/40 JA/49/443. of 10 December 1993 and 49/35 CA/50/451. of 9 December 1994, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, Aware of the fact that Palestine refugees have, for over five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Also aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely, in Lebanon, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, Further aware of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the increased suffering of the Palestine refugees, including loss of life and injury, during the recent tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, Deeply concerned about the continuing critical financial situation of the Agency and its effect on the continuity of provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related programmes, Aware of the work of the Peace Implementation Programme of the Agency, Recalling the signing in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. Aware of the establishment of a working relationship between the Advisory Commission of the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization in accordance with General Assembly decision 48/417 of 10 December 1993, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of decision 48/417; 3. Takes note of the functioning of the headquarters of the Agency in Gaza City on the basis of the Headquarters Agreement between the Agency and the Palestinian Authority; 4. Acknowledges the support of the host Governments and the Palestine Liberation Organization for the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 5. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to abide scrupulously by its provisions; 6. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). with regard to the safety of the personnel of the Agency and the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of the facilities of the Agency in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; 7. Further calls upon Israel to particularly cease obstructing the movement of the personnel, vehicles and supplies of the Agency, which has a detrimental impact on the Agency's operations; 8. Calls once again upon the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damages to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side; 9. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 10. Notes that the new context created by the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and subsequent implementation agreements has had major consequences for the activities of the Agency, which is henceforth called upon, in close cooperation with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, the specialized agencies and the World Bank, to continue to contribute towards the development of economic and social stability in the occupied territory; 11. Notes also that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation; 12. Notes further the significant success of the Peace Implementation Programme of the Agency; 13. Expresses concern about those remaining austerity measures due to the financial crisis, which have affected the quality and level of some of the services of the Agency; 14. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency; 15. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease current financial constraints and to support the Agency in maintaining the provision of the most basic and effective assistance to the Palestine refugees. RESOLUTION 55/128 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/570, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of) 55/128. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 54/74 of 6 December 1999,A/55/428. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2000,A/55/329, annex. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine Arab refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No.11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine Arab refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of justice and equity; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records of the Commission; 4. Calls once more upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/129 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/570, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru 55/129. University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/146 G of 16 December 1981, 37/120 C of 16 December 1982, 38/83 K of 15 December 1983, 39/99 K of 14 December 1984, 40/165 D and K of 16 December 1985, 41/69 K of 3 December 1986, 42/69 K of 2 December 1987, 43/57 J of 6 December 1988, 44/47 J of 8 December 1989, 45/73 J of 11 December 1990, 46/46 J of 9 December 1991, 47/69 J of 14 December 1992, 48/40 I of 10 December 1993, 49/35 G of 9 December 1994, 50/28 G of 6 December 1995, 51/130 of 13 December 1996, 52/63 of 10 December 1997, 53/52 of 3 December 1998 and 54/75 of 6 December 1999, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/425. Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July1999 to 30 June 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/55/13). 1. Emphasizes the need for strengthening the educational system in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 5 June 1967, including Jerusalem, and specifically the need for the establishment of the proposed university; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary measures for establishing the University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds", in accordance with General Assembly resolution 35/13 B of 3 November 1980, giving due consideration to the recommendations consistent with the provisions of that resolution; 3. Calls once more upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cooperate in the implementation of the present resolution and to remove the hindrances that it has put in the way of establishing the University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds"; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/12 Adopted at the 48th plenary meeting, on 1 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.23 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Yemen 55/12. Admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to membership in the United Nations The General Assembly, Having received the recommendation of the Security Council of 31 October 2000 that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should be admitted to membership in the United Nations,A/55/535. Having considered the application for membership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,A/55/528-S/2000/1043, annex. Decides to admit the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to membership in the United Nations. RESOLUTION 55/130 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/571, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine., by a recorded vote of 91 to 2, with 61 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia 55/130. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by the principles of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968, and relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Aware of the lasting impact of the uprising (intifada) of the Palestinian people, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the recent tragic events that have taken place since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesA/55/373 and Add.1 and A/55/453 and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/55/261-265. Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. and the signing of the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum on 4 September 1999, Expressing the hope that, with the progress of the peace process, the Israeli occupation will be brought to an end and therefore violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Demands that Israel cooperate with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the reports of the Special Committee covering the reporting period; 4. Expresses grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, as a result of Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns the excessive use of force in the past few weeks which has resulted in more than one hundred and sixty Palestinian deaths and thousands of injuries; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli lack of compliance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate the Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such additional staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 55/131 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/571, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 152 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe Against: Israel and United States of America Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of) 55/131. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,A/55/373 and Add.1 and A/55/453. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/55/261-265. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the convening of the meeting of experts of the high contracting parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. in Geneva from 27 to 29 October 1998, at the initiative of the Government of Switzerland in its capacity as the depositary of the Convention, concerning general problems of application of the Convention in general and, in particular, in occupied territories, Noting also the convening for the first time, on 15 July 1999, of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., Nos. 970-973. and aware of the statement adopted by the Conference, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four General Conventions,Ibid., Nos. 970-973. to exert all efforts in order to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the recommendations contained in its resolutions ES-10/3 of 15 July 1997, ES-10/4 of 13 November 1997, ES-10/5 of 17 March 1998, ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999 and ES-10/7 of 20 October 2000 with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/132 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/571, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 152 to 4, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstentions: None 55/132. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Aware of the Middle East peace process started at Madrid and the agreements reached between the parties, in particular the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel of settlement activities, including the ongoing construction of the settlement in Jabal Abu-Ghneim, in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, Taking into consideration the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on the Middle East peace process, Gravely concerned in particular about the dangerous situation resulting from actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, as illustrated by the massacre of Palestinian worshippers by an illegal Israeli settler in Al-Khalil on 25 February 1994, and during recent weeks, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/263. 1. Reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Demands complete cessation of the construction of the settlement in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 4. Stresses the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including, inter alia, confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 5. Reiterates its call for the prevention of illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, particularly in the light of recent developments; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/133 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/571, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 150 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstentions: Micronesia (Federated States of) 55/133. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, and the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, the most recent of which are resolutions 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, 1073 (1996) of 28 September 1996 and 1322 (2000) of 7 October 2000, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesA/55/373 and Add.1 and A/55/453. and the reports of the Secretary-General,A/55/261-265. Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Stressing the need for compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, Noting the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area, and the subsequent Israeli redeployments in accordance with the agreements reached between the parties, and noting that the third agreed-upon phase of redeployment has not been implemented, Concerned about the continuing violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including the use of collective punishment, closure of areas, annexation and establishment of settlements and the continuing actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, Deeply concerned by the tragic events that have occurred since 28 September 2000 and have led to numerous deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinians, Gravely concerned about the severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian persons and goods, Expressing support for the understandings reached at the summit convened at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and urging all parties concerned to implement those understandings honestly and without delay, Convinced of the positive impact of a temporary international or foreign presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the safety and protection of the Palestinian people, Expressing its appreciation to the countries that participated in the Temporary International Presence in Hebron for their positive contribution, Convinced of the need for the full implementation of Security Council resolutions 904 (1994), 1073 (1996) and 1322 (2000), 1. Determines that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity and that such measures should cease immediately; 2. Condemns acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians, resulting in injury and loss of human life; 3. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people; 4. Stresses the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world; 5. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to accelerate the release of all remaining Palestinians arbitrarily detained or imprisoned, in line with agreements reached; 6. Calls for complete respect by Israel, the occupying Power, of all fundamental freedoms of the Palestinian people; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/134 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/571, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 150 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United States of America 55/134. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,A/55/373 and Add.1 and A/55/453. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan occupied since 1967 has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the last of which was resolution 54/80 of 6 December 1999, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 54/80,A/55/265. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening at Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and from repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/135 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/572, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Canada, Egypt, Japan, Nigeria and Poland. 55/135. Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2006 (XIX) of 18 February 1965 and all other relevant resolutions, Recalling in particular its resolution 54/81 B of 25 May 2000, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 1 (A/55/1). the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace OperationsSee A/55/305-S/2000/809. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the report of the Panel,A/55/502. 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations;A/C.4/55/6. 2. Endorses the proposals, recommendations and conclusions of the Special Committee, contained in its report; 3. Urges Member States, the Secretariat and relevant organs of the United Nations to take all necessary steps to implement the proposals, recommendations and conclusions of the Special Committee; 4. Decides that the Special Committee, in accordance with its mandate, shall continue its efforts for a comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects and shall review the implementation of its previous proposals and consider any new proposals so as to enhance the capacity of the United Nations to fulfil its responsibilities in this field; 5. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session; 6. Decides to keep open during its fifty-fifth session the item entitled "Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects". RESOLUTIONS 55/136 A and B Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/573, para. 10)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Committee on Information. 55/136. Questions relating to information A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/55/21). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/55/452. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of CommunicationSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September to 28 October 1980, vol. 1, Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media. B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Reiterating its decision to consolidate the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Concurring with the view of the Secretary-General that public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations, and that a culture of communications should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, in which it established the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat; 2. Expresses its concern that the gap in the information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that most developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and technology revolution, and, in this regard, underlines the necessity of rectifying the imbalances of the global information and technology revolution in order to make it more just, equitable and effective; 3. Welcomes Liberia and Mozambique to membership in the Committee on Information; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of its resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the General Assembly; 5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications,A/AC.198/2000/2. and encourages him to continue the reorientation exercise, while stressing the need to take into account the views of Member States, and requests him to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session; 6. Welcomes the initiatives that have been taken by the Department of Public Information to strengthen the public information system of the United Nations, and, in this regard, stresses the importance of a coherent and results-oriented approach being undertaken by the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the programmes and funds of the United Nations system involved in public information activities and the provision of resources for their implementation; 7. Emphasizes that, through its reorientation, the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, including countries in transition, and that such reorientation should contribute to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 8. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-GeneralA/AC.198/2000/8. on programme 23 (Public information) of the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, and, emphasizing that the implementation of the broad objectives outlined in the proposal should be in accordance with the objectives set forth in relevant General Assembly resolutions regarding questions relating to information, requests the Secretary-General to proceed with the submission of the proposal to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for consideration, taking into account the amendments made by the Committee on Information at its twenty-second session, in accordance with section I of Assembly resolution 53/207 of 18 December 1998; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to focus, in particular, on educational institutions as key and indispensable partners of the United Nations in its efforts fully to inform the peoples of the world of its aims and activities; 10. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen further consultative arrangements between the Department of Public Information and other substantive departments of the Secretariat, in particular those dealing with development issues; 11. Reaffirms that United Nations information centres should continue to publicize United Nations activities and accomplishments in the areas of economic and social development, poverty eradication, debt relief, health, education, elimination of illiteracy, women's rights, children's rights, the plight of children in armed conflict, the sexual exploitation of children, the eradication of drug trafficking and environmental issues, as well as other issues of relevance; 12. Welcomes the contribution of the Department of Public Information to the efforts of the Secretary-General in closing the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, and, in this context, requests the Department further to enhance its role; 13. Recalls its resolution 54/113 of 10 December 1999 concerning the proclamation of 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information with a view to disseminating information on and drawing international attention to the dialogue among civilizations and the impact it could have on promoting mutual understanding, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and international cooperation; 14. Welcomes the decision taken by the Department of Public Information to launch a new web site to publicize the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement the promotional campaign to ensure that the Year enjoys the broadest international support and to report thereon and also on all follow-up activities in this respect to the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session; 15. Recalls its resolutions 53/202 of 17 December 1998 and 54/254 of 15 March 2000, concerning the designation of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly as the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations and the convening, as an integral part of the Millennium Assembly, of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the millennium promotional campaign,A/AC.198/2000/10. and encourages him to continue to implement effective public information programmes in this regard so as to ensure that the outcome of the Summit is widely disseminated and enjoys broad international support; 16. Appreciates and encourages the efforts of the Department of Public Information in disseminating information to Member States regarding the promotion of women 's rights and gender equality; 17. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information for the formation and day-to-day functioning of the information components of peacekeeping and other field operations of the United Nations, and requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department from the planning stage of such future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other substantive departments of the Secretariat; 18. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role in the selection process of spokespersons for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and, in this regard, encourages the Department to second spokespersons who have the necessary skills for fulfilling the tasks of the operations or missions; 19. Emphasizes that all publications of the Department of Public Information, in accordance with existing mandates, should fulfil an identifiable need, should not duplicate other publications of the United Nations system and should be produced in a cost-effective manner; 20. Takes note of the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General to make the Dag Hammarskjöld Library a virtual library with world outreach, making United Nations information and other acquired materials accessible electronically to a growing number of readers and users, and, at the same time, requests him to enrich the stock of books and journals in the Library, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, to ensure that it continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 21. Welcomes the development of the United Nations News Service by the Department of Public Information, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations web site and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 22. Takes note of the efforts of the Secretary-General in ensuring access for the representatives of Member States to the briefings organized at Headquarters by the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General and in ensuring wider outreach of the outcome of such briefings, and requests him to consider taking further measures in this regard; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that information presented to the media is made available to delegations fully and in a timely fashion; 24. Reaffirms the importance attached by Member States to the role of United Nations information centres and information components in effectively and comprehensively disseminating information in all parts of the world, in particular in developing countries and countries in transition, and especially in those countries where there is need for a better understanding of United Nations activities; 25. Also reaffirms the importance of all United Nations information centres meeting the primary objectives outlined by the Committee on Information in its report on its ninth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-second Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/42/21), sect. III.D. 26. Emphasizes that resources should be commensurate with the mandated programmes and activities of the United Nations information centres to ensure their full and effective implementation, expresses deep disappointment at the reduction of more than 40 per cent in the staffing of the information centres between the early and closing years of the last decade, and, in this context, acknowledges the generous contributions by several host Governments, as well as the partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and other United Nations system and local partners, to maintain the present level of operations of the information centres; 27. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations information centresA/AC.198/2000/3-A/AC.198/2000/5. and requests him to continue, if feasible and on a case-by-case basis, the integration policy in a cost-effective manner, taking into account the views of the host countries to ensure that the information functions and the autonomy of United Nations information centres are not adversely affected, to meet the policy's stated objective of improving the provision of information by the United Nations, and, in this regard, requests him to continue his efforts to address the problems that affect the centres; 28. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the integration of United Nations information centres with field offices of the United Nations Development Programme,A/AC.198/2000/3. requests him to implement the views and opinions of the host Governments concerned, as expressed in their replies to the questionnaire provided by the Secretariat, and also requests him to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session on the steps taken in this regard; 29. Further takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the guidelines for the functioning of the United Nations information centres integrated with the field offices of the United Nations Development Programme;A/AC.198/2000/4. 30. Reaffirms the role of the General Assembly in relation to the opening of new United Nations information centres, invites the Secretary-General to make such recommendations as he may consider necessary regarding the establishment and location of such centres, and, in this regard, welcomes the requests by Croatia, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Jamaica and Kyrgyzstan for information centres or information components; 31. Stresses the need to revitalize the centres that are currently not operational, for which requests have already been made by the countries concerned; 32. Recalls its resolution 54/82 B of 6 December 1999, in which it requested the Secretary-General to continue to study ways and means of rationalizing and effecting equitable disbursement of available resources to United Nations information centres, notes with great concern the existing imbalance in the available resources to the information centres in developing and developed countries and that, given the importance of this matter, more information is needed, and requests the Secretary-General to examine the situation thoroughly, taking into account all relevant factors, and to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to look into the possibility of appointing directors to those United Nations information centres that are not yet integrated and are under the temporary management of offices of the United Nations Development Programme to ensure the autonomous status of the centres; 34. Welcomes the action taken by some Member States with regard to providing financial and material support to United Nations information centres in their respective capitals, and invites the Secretary-General, through the Department of Public Information, to consult Member States, where appropriate, on the possibility of providing the information centres with additional voluntary support on a national basis, bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial requirements for the United Nations information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 35. Recognizes the continuing enhanced cooperation between the Department of Public Information and the University for Peace in Costa Rica as a focal point for promoting United Nations activities and disseminating United Nations information materials, and requests the Secretary-General to report on those activities; 36. Expresses its full support for wide, accurate, equal and prompt coverage of United Nations activities through the continuation and improvement of United Nations press releases, which should bring out the intergovernmental aspect of the Organization's work and deliberations, stresses the importance of having these press releases issued in all official languages of the United Nations, and requests other relevant bodies of the General Assembly to give due consideration to this matter; 37. Stresses that radio is one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, such as development and peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 48/44 B; 38. Encourages an increase in the number of programmes of United Nations Radio, in all available languages, on the United Nations web site; 39. Takes note of the efforts under way by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages, and, in that regard, stresses the need for impartiality and objectivity concerning information activities of the United Nations; 40. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to include in its radio and television programming specific programmes addressing the needs of developing nations; 41. Requests the Secretary-General to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 9 of General Assembly resolution 38/82 B of 15 December 1983 with regard to the introduction of full programming in French and Creole in the work programme of the Caribbean Unit of United Nations Radio; 42. Welcomes the progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the pilot project for the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United NationsA/AC.198/2000/6. and the redeployment of the necessary resources for this purpose; 43. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session a progress report on the results of the implementation of the pilot project, and declares its intention to examine before the end of 2001 and upon submission by the Secretary-General of his report, the final report on the results of the project with a view to taking a decision on the matter during its fifty-sixth session; 44. Urges the Secretary-General to maintain and strengthen the managerial capacity, staff resources, programme output and means of delivery of United Nations Radio in the six official languages and, if feasible, in other languages, in order to ensure the success of the radio pilot project and, to this end, enhance coordination with the United Nations News Centre and the United Nations information centres, as well as the cooperation with national and international radio organizations in Member States; 45. Underlines the continuing importance of using traditional and mass media channels to disseminate information on the United Nations, and encourages the Secretary-General, through the Department of Public Information, to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technologies, including the Internet, in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by the General Assembly and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 46. Takes note of the efforts by some United Nations information centres to establish their own web pages in local languages, and, in this respect, encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to United Nations information centres whose web pages are not yet operational, to develop web pages in the respective local languages in their host countries; 47. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts to coordinate and rationalize the content of web pages of United Nations information centres using the same language in order to enhance the information services with a view to avoiding overlap and repetition; 48. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment of United Nations web sites,A/AC.198/2000/7-A/AC.172/2000/4. encourages the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to develop and enhance the United Nations web sites in all the official languages of the Organization, and requests him to continue to develop proposals for consideration by the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session, keeping in mind the building of modular parity, which should ultimately lead to achieving full parity among the official languages of the United Nations; 49. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report, in accordance with paragraph 48 above, guidelines for content planning and publication on the United Nations web sites; 50. Stresses the importance of access to the United Nations treaty collection and the United Nations parliamentary documentation for the public, and commends the Secretary-General on his initiative to make parliamentary documentation of the Organization available through the United Nations web site in all the official languages; 51. Expresses its appreciation to the Department of Public Information for conducting the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries in transition, and calls for its further expansion so as to include a larger number of trainees from those countries; 52. Acknowledges the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues; 53. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue to ensure the greatest possible access for United Nations guided tours and to ensure that displays in public areas are kept as informative, up-to-date, relevant and technologically innovative as possible; 54. Recalls its resolutions concerning the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular resolutions 51/138 B of 13 December 1996 and 52/172 of 16 December 1997, and encourages the Department of Public Information, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of the consequences of that disaster; 55. Also recalls its resolution 53/1 H of 16 November 1998, concerning international cooperation and coordination for the human and ecological rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan, which has been affected by nuclear tests, and encourages the Department of Public Information, in cooperation with relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region; 56. Further recalls its resolutions 53/59 B of 3 December 1998 and 54/82 B, and urges the Department of Public Information to take the necessary measures, through the provision of relevant and objective information, towards achieving the major objectives set forth in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and to publicize the activities of the open-ended working group established for that purpose; 57. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-third session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 58. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 59. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 55/137 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/574, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 153 to none, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 55/137. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United NationsA/55/23 (Part II), chap. VIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. and the action taken by the Special Committee in respect of that information, Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/77 and Add.1. Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 54/83 of 6 December 1999, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, 1. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations;A/55/23 (Part II), chap. VIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. 2. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 3. Requests the administering Powers concerned to transmit or continue to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 5. Requests the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/138 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/575, para. 11),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 151 to 2, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Croatia, France, Georgia, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 55/138. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/55/23 (Part II), chap. V. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23 . Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions, including, in particular, resolution 46/181 of 19 December 1991, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when done in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and could also make a valid contribution to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, as well as their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Affirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities which adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Reiterates that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, is a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to the mass media, trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/139 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/576, para. 9),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 109 to none, with 50 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 55/139. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General on the item,A/55/72 and Corr.1. Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/55/23 (Part II), chap. VII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23 . Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/52 of 29 July 1999, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the current participation in the capacity of observer of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, and in the special session of the General Assembly on the overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, held at Headquarters from 30 June to 2 July 1999, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continued cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded assistance programmes for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Organization of African Unity, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of assistance programmes to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling its relevant resolutions, Recalling its resolution 54/85 of 6 December 1999 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/72 and Corr.1. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions; 4. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) The illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the continuing initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Encourages Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies; 14. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 15. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 17. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 18. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement it, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/13 Adopted at the 51st plenary meeting, on 3 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.13 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe 55/13. Review of the problem of human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/283 of 5 September 2000 and resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, entitled "United Nations Millennium Declaration", in particular paragraphs 19, 20 and 28 thereof, as well as other relevant resolutions, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/36 of 28 July 1999, as well as Security Council resolution 1308 (2000) of 17 July 2000, Recalling also the relevant provisions of the final document adopted at its twenty-first special session on 2 July 1999 on key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Resolution S-21/2, annex. the final document adopted at its twenty-third special session on 10 June 2000 on further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. and the final document adopted at its twenty-fourth special session on 1 July 2000 on further initiatives for social development,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Taking note of the statement of thirteen women Ministers for Foreign Affairs concerning the worldwide threat of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), issued on 12 September 2000A/55/394, annex. and the Ouagadougou Declaration adopted at the fifth Pan-African Conference of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which was held at Ouagadougou from 21 to 25 September 2000,A/55/480, annex. 1. Decides to convene, as a matter of urgency, a special session of the General Assembly, from 25 to 27 June 2001, to review and address the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in all its aspects, as well as to secure a global commitment to enhancing coordination and the intensification of national, regional and international efforts to combat it in a comprehensive manner; 2. Confirms that the special session will be open for participation to all States Members of the United Nations and observers, in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly, and urges Member States and observers to ensure their representation at the special session at the highest political level; 3. Decides to invite States members of the specialized agencies that are not members of the United Nations to participate in the work of the special session in the capacity of observers; 4. Also decides that the special session shall be composed of plenary meetings, as well as interactive round-table meetings, the organization, number and themes of which will be finalized during the preparatory process, to discuss, inter alia, issues such as HIV/AIDS in Africa, international funding and cooperation, the social and economic impact of the epidemic, human rights and AIDS, including reduction of the stigma related to AIDS, the gender-specific impacts of AIDS, especially on women and girls, HIV/AIDS prevention, including development of microbicides, improved access to care and treatment including drugs, protection and care of children affected by AIDS, in particular orphans, scientific research and vaccine development, expanded public/private sector partnerships and the building and strengthening of national capacities to combat HIV/AIDS, including the development of national action plans and their implementation, with each interactive meeting to be held in concurrence with a plenary meeting; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary administrative arrangements towards the convening of the special session; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to make available all necessary documentation in a timely manner for the special session; 7. Encourages all entities of the United Nations system, including programmes, funds, the specialized agencies and the regional commissions, to be involved actively in the preparatory activities and to participate at the highest level in the special session, including through presentations on best practices and different experiences in addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS, obstacles encountered and possible strategies for overcoming them, as well as further initiatives, methods, practical activities and specific measures to strengthen national, regional and international efforts and cooperation, taking into account the different ways of addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS; 8. Decides to convene, within the framework of the preparatory process for the special session, open-ended informal consultations of the plenary, chaired by the President of the General Assembly, to undertake, as appropriate, preparations for the special session, including elaboration of a draft declaration of commitment and other relevant documents for consideration during the special session, to further address the modalities and other organizational matters of the special session, with a view to submitting proposals for final decision by the Assembly, and to organize other relevant activities to contribute to the preparations for the special session, and invites the President of the General Assembly to appoint, in consultation with Member States, two facilitators to assist in carrying out these consultations with the effective participation of all countries; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, with the support of the Joint United Nations Programme on the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), acting as the substantive secretariat of the special session, to provide substantive input to the preparatory process; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to present, in a timely manner, in order to facilitate and focus the preparatory consultations, a comprehensive report describing both the status of the epidemic and the status and level of national, regional and international response and cooperation as well as other issues, including the developmental impact of the epidemic, its long-term social and economic manifestations, national achievements to date, best practices in prevention and care and identification of major gaps and challenges, taking into account all relevant information and inputs, including relevant findings from previous appropriate conferences; 11. Encourages regional bodies and organizations, as well as the regional commissions, to make available to the preparatory process and to the special session the outcomes of respective subregional, regional and global level initiatives addressing a range of HIV/AIDS issues; 12. Recognizes the importance of the contribution of civil society actors in the response to the epidemic at all levels, and in this regard underlines the need for the active involvement of civil society representatives in the preparatory process and the special session; 13. Invites to the special session and to the preparatory process activities, apart from the informal consultations of the General Assembly to which only Member States and observers are invited, in accordance with paragraph 14 below, non-governmental organizations which enjoy consultative status in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996, or are members of the Programme Coordination Board of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, requests the Executive Director of the Joint Programme to prepare, not later than 15 February 2001, for consideration by Member States, on a non-objection basis during the preparatory process, for final decision by the Assembly, a list of other relevant civil society actors, in particular associations of people living with HIV/AIDS, non-governmental organizations and the business sector, including pharmaceutical companies, along with relevant background information to be made available to Member States, and invites those civil society actors to the special session and to the preparatory process activities for the special session, according to the modalities defined above; 14. Invites, in this context, the President of the General Assembly to make recommendations, for consideration by Member States during the preparatory process, for final decision by the Assembly as soon as possible, but not later than 2 March 2001, as to the form of the involvement of such civil society actors, in particular associations of people living with HIV/AIDS, non-governmental organizations and the business sector, including pharmaceutical companies, in the special session and, to the extent possible, in the preparatory process; 15. Stresses the importance of the full and active participation of all States, including the least developed countries, in the preparatory consultations in order to provide substantive input to the special session, invites Governments to make appropriate voluntary contributions to a trust fund to be established by the Secretary-General for that purpose, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure mobilization of resources to the fund; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure an effective and coordinated system-wide response to preparations for the special session and to carry out, particularly in the most affected countries, in cooperation with the Joint Programme, a comprehensive public information programme to raise global HIV/AIDS awareness while also building broad international support for the special session and its goals; 17. Decides that the provisions contained in paragraphs 8, 12, 13 and 14 above will in no way create a precedent for other special sessions of the General Assembly; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the relevant specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations, international financial and trade institutions, other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and other relevant civil society actors, as well as the business sector, including pharmaceutical companies; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Review of the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 55/140 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/577, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 55/140. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/86 of 6 December 1999, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/55/81 and Add.1. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/81 and Add.1. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/141 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/578, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/141. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 54/87 of 6 December 1999, Recalling also the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro to the proposals of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in the context of their joint mission of good offices, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara,See S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. Recalling all the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions relating to the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in accordance with the proposal of the Secretary-General, and stressing the importance it attaches to the maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan, Noting also with satisfaction the agreementsS/1997/742 and Add.1. reached by the two parties during their private direct talks aimed at the implementation of the settlement plan, and stressing the importance it attaches to a full, fair and faithful implementation of the settlement plan and the agreements aimed at its implementation, Noting that, despite the progress achieved, difficulties remain in the implementation of the settlement plan which must be overcome, Taking note of the Security Council resolutions relating to the question, including resolutions 1301 (2000) of 31 May 2000 and 1309 (2000) of 25 July 2000, Welcoming the acceptance by the two parties of the detailed modalities for the implementation of the Secretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification of voters and the appeals process,See S/1999/483/Add.1. Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/55/23 (Part II), chap. IX. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/303. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/303. 2. Commends the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for their outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provided for those efforts; 3. Takes note of the agreementsS/1997/742 and Add.1. reached between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro for the implementation of the settlement planSee S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. during their private direct talks under the auspices of James Baker III, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, and urges the parties to implement those agreements fully and in good faith; 4. Urges the two parties to continue their cooperation with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, as well as with his Special Representative, and to refrain from undertaking anything that would undermine the implementation of the settlement plan and the agreements reached for its implementation as well as the continued efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy; 5. Calls upon the two parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General, his Personal Envoy and his Special Representative in implementing the various phases of the settlement plan and in overcoming the difficulties that remain despite the progress so far achieved; 6. Urges the two parties to implement faithfully and loyally the Secretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification of voters and the appeals process; 7. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan; 8. Reiterates its support for further efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and the supervision by the United Nations, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara that is impartial and free of all constraints, in conformity with Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), by which the Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara; 9. Takes note of the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1301 (2000) and 1309 (2000); 10. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara, bearing in mind the positive ongoing implementation of the settlement plan, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 11. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/142 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/578, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 55/142. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,A/55/23 (Part II), chap. IX. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of an act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia as exemplified by the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 between the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and also those provisions of the Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment; 4. Also notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, according to their regulations; 5. Further notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 6. Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information that comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 7. Calls upon the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of New Caledonia to the Secretary-General; 8. Invites all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 9. Welcomes measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 10. Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 11. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous culture of New Caledonia; 12. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia, including preliminary studies relating to hydrocarbons; 13. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 14. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 15. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/143 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/578, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 55/143. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the question of Tokelau,A/55/23 (Part II), chap. XI. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling the solemn declaration on the future status of Tokelau, delivered by the Ulu-o-Tokelau (the highest authority on Tokelau) on 30 July 1994, that an act of self-determination in Tokelau is now under active consideration, together with the constitution of a self-governing Tokelau, and that the present preference of Tokelau is for a status of free association with New Zealand, Recalling also its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular General Assembly resolution 54/89 of 6 December 1999, Recalling further the emphasis placed in the solemn declaration on the terms of Tokelau's intended free association relationship with New Zealand, including the expectation that the form of help that Tokelau could continue to expect from New Zealand in promoting the well-being of its people, besides its external interests, would be clearly established in the framework of that relationship, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Noting also with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and the International Telecommunication Union, Recalling the dispatch in 1994 of a United Nations visiting mission to Tokelau, Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting also that, as a case study pointing to successful decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Also notes the desire of Tokelau to move at its own pace towards an act of self-determination; 3. Further notes the inauguration in 1999 of a national Government based on village elections by universal adult suffrage; 4. Acknowledges the participation of the Ulu-o-Tokelau in the Pacific regional seminar, held at Majuro, from 16 to 18 May 2000,A/55/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 30. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. and his account of how the Modern House of Tokelau project, in both its governance and its economic development dimensions, is seen by Tokelauans as the means to achieving its act of self-determination; 5. Welcomes the statement of the Council of Faipule of July 2000 that, following consultations in each village and a meeting of the General Fono in June 2000, full and overwhelming support has been given to the implementation of the project; 6. Notes the confirmation by the Council of Faipule that in the twelve months from July 2000 there will be significant movement in implementing the project, in conjunction with New Zealand; 7. Acknowledges that New Zealand has committed substantial additional funding to the project in 2000-2001, and its intention to collaborate with Tokelau in ways that can produce a significant momentum; 8. Notes the changes being made in arrangements for the delivery of public services, within an environment in which the institution of the village is truly recognized as the foundation of the nation, and the expectation that the New Zealand State Services Commissioner may be able to withdraw from his role as employer of the Tokelau Public Service at a time to be set by mutual agreement when Tokelau has established a suitable local employment framework; 9. Also notes that the constitution of a self-governing Tokelau will continue to develop as a part and as a consequence of the building of the Modern House of Tokelau, and that both have national and international importance for Tokelau; 10. Acknowledges Tokelau's need for reassurance, given that local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self-determination, and the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau's external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance; 11. Notes the special challenge inherent in the situation of Tokelau, among the smallest of the small Territories, and how a Territory's exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination may be brought closer, as in the case of Tokelau, by the meeting of that challenge in innovative ways; 12. Welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 13. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue their assistance to Tokelau, as it further develops its economy and governance structures within the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTIONS 55/144 A and B Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/578, para. 24)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the representative of Papua New Guinea (on behalf of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples). 55/144. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/55/23 (Part II), chap. X. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Recalling its resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing its concern that even forty years after the adoption of the Declaration there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Acknowledging the significant achievements by the international community towards the eradication of colonialism in accordance with the Declaration, and conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by the year 2000 and the plan of action for the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,See A/46/634/Rev.1 and Corr.1, annex. Noting the positive constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories about which the Special Committee has received information, while also acknowledging the need for recognition to be given to expressions of self-determination by the peoples of the Territories consistent with practice under the Charter, Recognizing that in the decolonization process there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination as enunciated by the General Assembly in its resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions, Welcoming the stated position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that it continues to take seriously its obligations under the Charter to develop self-government in the dependent Territories and, in cooperation with the locally elected Governments, to ensure that their constitutional frameworks continue to meet the wishes of the people, and the emphasis that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories to decide their future status, Welcoming also the stated position of the Government of the United States of America that it supports fully the principles of decolonization and takes seriously its obligations under the Charter to promote to the utmost the well-being of the inhabitants of the Territories under United States administration, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the necessity of promoting economic stability and diversifying and strengthening further the economies of the respective Territories as a matter of priority, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation and, in this connection, bearing in mind Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation, containing the Principles, the Strategy and the Plan of Action,A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and other relevant world conferences, Aware of the usefulness both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of appointed and elected representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must not be held without the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions of the General Assembly, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and considering that the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers should be kept under review, Noting that the Special Committee held a Pacific regional seminar at Majuro from 16 to 18 May 2000 to hear the views of the representatives of the Territories, as well as Governments and organizations in the region, in order to review the political, economic and social conditions in the Territories, Mindful that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Mindful also in this connection that the Special Committee regards the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, as a helpful means to fulfil its mandate, while recognizing the need for reviewing the role of those seminars in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful further that some Territories have not had any United Nations visiting mission for a long period of time and that no such visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, Noting that some territorial Governments have made efforts towards achieving the highest standards of financial supervision, but that some others have been listed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as having met the criteria of the Organisation defining a tax haven, and noting that some territorial Governments have expressed concern about insufficient dialogue between them and the Organisation, Noting also the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, including, if they so wish, independence, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Reaffirms also that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to facilitate programmes of political education in the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 3. Requests the administering Powers to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter and other updated information and reports, including reports on the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories regarding their future political status as expressed in fair and free referendums and other forms of popular consultation, as well as the results of any informed and democratic processes consistent with practice under the Charter that indicate the clear and freely expressed wish of the people to change the existing status of the Territories; 4. Stresses the importance for the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to be apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and to enhance its understanding of their conditions; 5. Reaffirms that United Nations visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and requests the administering Powers and the elected representatives of the peoples of the Territories to assist the Special Committee in this regard; 6. Reaffirms also the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 7. Requests the administering Powers, in consultation with the peoples of the Territories, to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories under their administration against any environmental degradation, and requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in those Territories; 8. Calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the respective territorial Governments, to continue to take all necessary measures to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money-laundering and other offences; 9. Notes with concern that the plan of action for the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism cannot be concluded by the year 2000; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to enter into constructive dialogue with the Special Committee before the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly to develop a framework for the implementation of the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for the period beyond 2000; 11. Notes the particular circumstances that prevail in the Territories concerned, and encourages the political evolution in them towards self-determination; 12. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in the twenty-first century in a world free of colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 13. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to initiate or to continue to take all necessary measures to accelerate progress in the social and economic life of the Territories, and calls for closer cooperation between the Special Committee and the Economic and Social Council in the furtherance of the provision of assistance to the Territories; 14. Takes note of statements made by the elected representatives of the Territories concerned emphasizing their willingness to cooperate with all international efforts aimed at preventing abuse of the international financial system and to promote regulatory environments with highly selective licensing procedures, robust supervisory practices and well-established anti-money-laundering regimes; 15. Calls for an enhanced and constructive dialogue between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the concerned territorial Governments with a view to bringing about the changes needed to meet the highest standards of transparency and information exchange in order to facilitate the removal of those Non-Self-Governing Territories from the list of jurisdictions classified as tax havens, and requests the administering Power to assist those Territories in resolving this matter; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of resolutions concerning decolonization adopted since the declaration of the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; 17. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the small Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session with recommendations on appropriate ways to assist the peoples of the Territories in exercising their right to self-determination. B Individual territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I. American Samoa Taking note of the report by the administering Power that most American Samoan leaders express satisfaction with the island's present relationship with the United States of America, Taking note with interest of the statement made and the information on the political and economic situation in American Samoa provided by the Governor of American Samoa to the Pacific regional seminar held at Nadi, Fiji, from 16 to 18 June 1998,See A/AC.109/2121, para. 28. Noting that the territorial Government continues to have significant financial, budgetary and internal control problems and that the Territory's deficit and financial condition are compounded by the high demand for government services from the rapidly growing population, a limited economic and tax base and recent natural disasters, Noting also that the Territory, similar to isolated communities with limited funds, continues to experience a lack of adequate medical and other infrastructural facilities, Aware of the efforts of the territorial Government to control and reduce expenditures while continuing its programme of expanding and diversifying the local economy, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other functions of the territorial Government; 3. Welcomes the invitation extended by the Governor of American Samoa to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to send a visiting mission to the Territory; II. Anguilla Conscious of the commitment of both the Government of Anguilla and the administering Power to a new and closer policy of dialogue and partnership through the Strategic Country Programme 2000-2003, Aware of the efforts of the Government of Anguilla to continue to develop the Territory as a viable and well-regulated offshore financial centre for investors by enacting modern company and trust laws, as well as partnership and insurance legislation, and computerizing the company registry system, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in tackling the problems of drug trafficking and money-laundering, Noting also that general elections were held on 3 March 2000, resulting in a new coalition government in the House of Assembly, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power and all States, organizations and United Nations agencies to continue to assist the Territory in its social and economic development; 3. Welcomes the country cooperation framework of the United Nations Development Programme for the period 1997-1999 currently being implemented following consultations with the territorial Government and key development partners in the United Nations system and the donor community; 4. Also welcomes the assessment by the United Nations Development Programme that the Territory has made considerable progress in the domain of sustainable human development and in its sound management and preservation of the environment, which has been incorporated into the National Tourism Plan; 5. Further welcomes the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report on the Territory that, despite economic contraction in the first quarter, the economy rebounded to reach 6 per cent growth during 1999; III. Bermuda Noting the results of the independence referendum held on 16 August 1995, and conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties of the Territory on the future status of the Territory, Noting also the functioning of the democratic process and the smooth transition of government in November 1998, Noting further the comments made by the administering Power in its recently published White Paper on Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories,See A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to work with the Territory for its socio-economic development; 3. Requests the administering Power to elaborate, in consultation with the territorial Government, programmes specifically intended to alleviate the economic, social and environmental consequences of the closure of the military bases and installations of the United States of America in the Territory; IV. British Virgin Islands Noting the completion of a constitutional review in the Territory and the coming into force of the amended Constitution, and noting also the results of the general elections held on 17 May 1999, Noting also the results of the constitutional review of 1993-1994, which made it clear that a prerequisite to independence must be a constitutionally expressed wish by the people as a result of a referendum, Taking note of the statement made in 1995 by the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands that the Territory was ready for constitutional and political advancement towards full internal self-government and that the administering Power should assist through the gradual transfer of power to elected territorial representatives, Noting that the Territory is emerging as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, Noting also the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Noting further that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 27 May 2000 in official ceremonies in Tortola, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions to continue to provide assistance to the Territory for socio-economic development and the development of human resources, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors; 3. Welcomes the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report that the Territory enjoyed continued expansion of the financial services sector and tourism industries, and also welcomes the provision to the Territory of 21.1 million United States dollars in technical assistance loans by the Bank, including 19.9 million dollars to assist with the financing of the Beef Island Airport; V. Cayman Islands Noting the constitutional review of 1992-1993, according to which the population of the Cayman Islands expressed the sentiment that the existing relations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should be maintained and that the current status of the Territory should not be altered, Aware that the Territory has one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, a stable political climate and virtually no unemployment, Noting the actions taken by the territorial Government to implement its localization programme to promote increased participation by the local population in the decision-making process in the Cayman Islands, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking, money-laundering and related activities, Noting the measures taken by the authorities to deal with those problems, Noting also that the Territory has emerged as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, Noting further the approval by the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Territory's Vision 2008 Development Plan, which aims to promote development that is consistent with the aims and values of Caymanian society, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to provide the territorial Government with all required expertise to enable it to achieve its socio-economic aims; 3. Calls upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate to counter problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking; 4. Requests the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, to continue to facilitate the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the local population, in particular at the decision-making level; 5. Welcomes the implementation of the country cooperation framework of the United Nations Development Programme for the Territory, which is designed to ascertain national development priorities and need for United Nations assistance; VI. Guam Recalling that, in the referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular General Assembly resolutions 54/90 A and B of 6 December 1999, Recalling further the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established a process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Aware of the potential for diversifying and developing the economy of Guam through commercial fishing and agriculture and other viable activities, Noting the proposed closing and realigning of four United States Navy installations on Guam and the request for the establishment of a transition period to develop some of the closed facilities as commercial enterprises, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam,See A/AC.109/2058, para. 33 (20). Noting with interest the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Guam provided by the representatives of the Territory to the Pacific regional seminar, held at Majuro from 16 to 18 May 2000,A/55/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 27. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. 1. Requests the administering Power to work with Guam's Commission on Decolonization for the Implementation and Exercise of Chamorro Self-Determination with a view to facilitating the decolonization of Guam and to keep the Secretary-General informed of progress to that end; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the referendum of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 3. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 4. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory; 5. Further requests the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 6. Requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 7. Also requests the administering Power to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial Government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities; VII. Montserrat Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the elected representatives of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at Castries, from 25 to 27 May 1999,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/54/23), annex II, para. 30. Taking note of the statement made by the Chief Minister of Montserrat on 22 May 1998 on the occasion of the observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of All Colonial Territories Fighting for Freedom, Independence and Human Rights,See A/AC.109/SR.1486. Noting that the last visiting mission to the Territory was dispatched in 1982, Noting also the functioning of a democratic process in Montserrat and that general elections were held in the Territory in November 1996, Taking note of the reported statement of the Chief Minister that his preference was for independence within a political union with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and that self-reliance was more of a priority than independence, Noting with concern the dire consequences of the eruptions of the Montsoufriere volcano, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the population of the Territory to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, in particular Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and which continues to have a negative impact upon the economy of the island, Noting the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial Government to meet the emergency situation caused by the volcanic eruptions, including the implementation of a wide range of contingency measures for both the private and the public sectors in Montserrat, Noting also the coordinated response measures taken by the United Nations Development Programme and the assistance of the United Nations disaster management team, Noting with concern that a number of the inhabitants of the Territory continue to live in shelters because of volcanic activity, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruptions; 3. Welcomes the support of the Caribbean Community in the construction of housing in the safe zone to alleviate a shortage caused by the environmental and human crisis of the eruptions of the Montsoufriere volcano, as well as the material and financial support of the international community to help alleviate the suffering caused by the crisis; VIII. Pitcairn Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Expressing its satisfaction with the continued economic and social advancement of the Territory, as well as with the improvement of its communications with the outside world and its management plan to address conservation issues, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Also requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory; 3. Calls upon the administering Power to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; IX. St. Helena Taking into account the unique character of St. Helena, its population and its natural resources, Noting that the Commission of Inquiry into the Constitution appointed at the request of the Legislative Council of St. Helena reported its recommendations in March 1999, and that the Legislative Council is currently considering the recommendations, Also noting the administering Power's commitment to consider carefully suggestions for specific proposals for constitutional change from the territorial Governments, as stated in its White Paper on Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories,See A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. Welcoming the participation of an expert from the Legislative Council of St. Helena for the first time in the Pacific regional seminar, held at Majuro from 16 to 18 May 2000,A/55/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 39. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Aware of the establishment by the territorial Government of the Development Agency in 1995 to encourage private sector commercial development on the island, Also aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of St. Helena, in particular in the spheres of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, and calls for continuing negotiations to allow access to Ascension Island by civilian charter flights, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island, and noting the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Notes that the administering Power has taken note of various statements made by members of the Legislative Council of St. Helena about the Constitution and is prepared to discuss them further with the people of St. Helena; 2. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant regional and international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including high unemployment and the problems of limited transport and communications; X. Turks and Caicos Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands provided by the Cabinet Minister as well as a member of the legislature from the opposition of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at St. John's, from 21 to 23 May 1997,See A/AC.109/2089, para. 29. Noting that the People's Democratic Movement was elected to power in the Legislative Council elections held in March 1999, Also noting the efforts by the territorial Government to strengthen financial management in the public sector, including efforts to increase revenue, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Welcoming the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report that the economic performance of the Territory remained strong, with an increase in gross domestic product estimated at 8.7 per cent, reflecting strong growth in the tourism and construction sectors, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Invites the administering Power to take fully into account the wishes and interests of the Government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the governance of the Territory; 3. Calls upon the administering Power and the relevant regional and international organizations to continue to provide assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory; 4. Calls upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate in countering problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking; 5. Welcomes the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report that the economy continued to expand with considerable output and low inflation; 6. Also welcomes the first country cooperation framework approved by the United Nations Development Programme for the period 1998-2002, which should, inter alia, assist in the development of a national integrated development plan that will put into place procedures for determining the national development priorities over ten years, with the focus of attention on health, population, education, tourism and economic and social development; 7. Takes note of the statement made by the elected Chief Minister in May 2000 that the Territory was in the process of developing diversified resource mobilization strategies, including joint ventures with the private sector, and that external assistance would be welcomed as part of that process; XI. United States Virgin Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the Territory to the Pacific regional seminar, held at Majuro from 16 to 18 May 2000,A/55/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 31. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Noting that although 80.4 per cent of the 27.5 per cent of the electorate that voted in the referendum on the political status of the Territory held on 11 October 1993 supported the existing territorial status arrangements with the administering Power, the law required the participation of 50 per cent of the registered voters for the results to be declared legally binding and therefore the status was left undecided, Noting also the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States, Noting further the necessity of further diversifying the economy of the Territory, Noting the efforts of the territorial Government to promote the Territory as an offshore financial services centre, Noting with satisfaction the interest of the Territory in joining the United Nations International Drug Control Programme as a full participant, Recalling the dispatch in 1977 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, Noting that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 27 May 2000 in official ceremonies in Tortola, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Also requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Further requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 4. Expresses concern that the Territory, which is already heavily indebted, had to borrow 21 million United States dollars from a commercial bank to carry out its year 2000 computer compliance programme, and calls for the United Nations year 2000 programme to be made available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 5. Notes that the general elections held in the Territory in November 1998 resulted in the orderly transfer of power; 6. Expresses concern that the territorial Government is facing severe fiscal problems, which has resulted in an accumulated debt of more than one billion dollars; 7. Welcomes the measures being taken by the newly elected territorial Government in addressing the crisis, including the adoption of a five-year operating and strategic financial plan, and calls upon the administering Power to provide every assistance required by the Territory to alleviate the fiscal crisis, including, inter alia, the provision of debt relief and loans; 8. Notes that the 1994 report of the United States Virgin Islands Commission on Status and Federal Relations concluded that, owing to the insufficient level of voter participation, the results of the 1993 referendum were declared legally null and void. RESOLUTION 55/145 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 153 to 2, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/55/23) * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of) 55/145. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,A/55/23 (Part II), chap. III. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular resolution 54/92 of 6 December 1999, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to achieving complete decolonization by 2000, Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat; 2. Considers it important to continue its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options of self-determination available for the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to take into account the suggestions of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To continue to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To maintain a working relationship with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, by holding periodic consultations and exchanging information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to continue to extend their cooperation in the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 5. Requests the Special Committee to follow the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/146 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 125 to 2, with 30 abstentions,* on the basis of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/55/23) * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey 55/146. Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism The General Assembly, Recalling that 2000 marks the fortieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Resolution 1514 (XV). Recalling also its resolution 43/47 of 22 November 1988, by which the General Assembly declared the period 1990-2000 as the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and recalling further resolution 46/181 of 19 December 1991, by which it adopted a plan of action for the Decade,See A/46/634/Rev.1, annex. Bearing in mind the related recommendations of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. which proposed, inter alia, the declaration of a new decade for the elimination of colonialism, and which supported the effective implementation of the related plan of action, Bearing in mind also the endorsement of the proposed declaration of a new decade for the eradication of colonialism by the participants in the Pacific regional seminar organized by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to review the political, economic and social conditions in the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories, held in Majuro, Marshall Islands, from 16 to 18 May 2000,See A/55/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Taking into account its resolution 54/90 A of 6 December 1999, in which it noted with concern that the plan of action for the International Decade could not be concluded by 2000, Guided by the fundamental and universal principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Having examined the relevant reports of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of the plan of action for the International Decade, Taking into account the important contribution of the United Nations in the field of decolonization, in particular through the Special Committee, 1. Declares the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; 2. Calls upon Member States to redouble their efforts to implement the plan of action, as contained in the annex to the report of the Secretary-General,See A/46/634/Rev.1, annex. updated where necessary, to serve as the plan of action for the Second International Decade; 3. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to develop a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 4. Invites Member States, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations, actively to support and participate in the implementation of the plan of action during the Second International Decade; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources for the successful implementation of the plan of action; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/147 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 138 to 2, with 18 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.58 and Add.1, sponsored by: Cambodia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Fiji, Kenya, Madagascar, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, Syrian Arab Republic * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Turkey 55/147. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/55/23 (Parts I-III). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, most recently resolution 54/91 of 6 December 1999, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind the end of the first International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the declaration of the period 2001-2010 as the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and that it is necessary to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the Organization and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that begins in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism before 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as of racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with concern that the non-participation of certain administering Powers has adversely affected the implementation of the mandate and work of the Special Committee, Noting with satisfaction the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting that the other administering Powers have now agreed to work informally with the Special Committee, Taking note of the consultations and agreements between the parties concerned in some Non-Self-Governing Territories and the action taken by the Secretary-General in relation to certain Non-Self-Governing Territories, Aware of the pressing need of newly independent and emerging States for assistance from the United Nations and its system of organizations in the economic, social and other fields, Aware also of the pressing need of many of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, including in particular small island Territories, for economic, social and other assistance from the United Nations and the organizations of its system, Taking special note of the fact that the Special Committee held a Pacific regional seminar to review the situation in the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories, particularly their political evolution towards self-determination for the year 2000 and beyond, in Majuro, Marshall Islands, from 16 to 18 May 2000,See A/55/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, in which it declares the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism;A/55/497. 3. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 4. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 5. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 6. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2000, including the programme of work envisaged for 2001;See A/55/23 (Part I), chap. I, sect. J. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23. 7. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to finalize before the end of 2001 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out those actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to pay special attention to the small Territories, including through the dispatch of visiting missions, and to recommend to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; (d) To finalize before the end of 2001 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 2911 (XXVII). 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that all economic activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Reiterates that military activities and arrangements by administering Powers in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration should not run counter to the rights and interests of the peoples of the Territories concerned, especially their right to self-determination, including independence, calls upon the administering Powers concerned to terminate such activities and to eliminate the remaining military bases in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and also calls upon the administering Powers to promote alternative sources of livelihood for the peoples of the Territories concerned; 13. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests that the administering Powers take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 14. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 15. Calls upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2001; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as of the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 55/148 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/605, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.. 55/148. Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 32/44 of 8 December 1977, 34/51 of 23 November 1979, 37/116 of 16 December 1982, 39/77 of 13 December 1984, 41/72 of 3 December 1986, 43/161 of 9 December 1988, 45/38 of 28 November 1990, 47/30 of 25 November 1992, 49/48 of 9 December 1994, 51/155 of 16 December 1996 and 53/96 of 8 December 1998, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/173 and Corr.1 and 2 and Add.1. Thanking Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their contribution to the report of the Secretary-General, Convinced of the continuing value of established humanitarian rules relating to armed conflicts and the need to respect and ensure respect for these rules in all circumstances within the scope of the relevant international instruments, pending the earliest possible termination of such conflicts, Stressing the possibility of making use of the International Fact-Finding Commission in relation to an armed conflict, pursuant to article 90 of Protocol I,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. and recalling that the International Fact-Finding Commission may, where necessary, facilitate, through its good offices, the restoration of an attitude of respect for the Geneva ConventionsIbid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Protocol, Stressing also the need for consolidating the existing body of international humanitarian law through its universal acceptance and the need for wide dissemination and full implementation of such law at the national level, and expressing concern about all violations of the Geneva Conventions and the two additional Protocols,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Noting with satisfaction the increasing number of national commissions and other bodies involved in advising authorities at the national level on the implementation, dissemination and development of international humanitarian law, Mindful of the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in offering protection to the victims of armed conflicts, Noting with appreciation the continuing efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross to promote and disseminate knowledge of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and the two additional Protocols, Recalling that the Twenty-sixth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent endorsed the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on the Protection of War Victims, including the recommendation that the depositary of the Geneva Conventions should organize periodic meetings of States parties to the Conventions to consider general problems regarding the application of international humanitarian law, Welcoming the adoption, at The Hague on 26 March 1999, of a second ProtocolInternational Legal Materials, vol. XXXVIII, p. 769. to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. Noting the celebration in 1999 at The Hague and at St. Petersburg of the centennial of the first International Peace Conference which highlighted the importance of the Geneva Conventions for the protection of victims of armed conflicts and the additional Protocols, Acknowledging the fact that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17 July 1998,A/CONF.183/9. includes the most serious crimes of international concern under international humanitarian law, and that the Statute, while recalling that it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for such crimes, shows the determination of the international community to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes and thus to contribute to their prevention, Noting that international humanitarian law has been an important topic in the United Nations Decade for International Law, which came to an end in 1999, fifty years after the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, and acknowledging the usefulness of discussing in the General Assembly the status of international humanitarian law instruments relevant to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, 1. Appreciates the virtually universal acceptance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and notes the trend towards a similarly wide acceptance of the two additional Protocols of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 2. Appeals to all States parties to the Geneva Conventions that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the additional Protocols at the earliest possible date; 3. Calls upon all States that are already parties to Protocol I,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. or those States not parties, on becoming parties to Protocol I, to make the declaration provided for under article 90 of that Protocol; 4. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed ConflictUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, and to other relevant treaties on international humanitarian law relating to the protection of victims of armed conflict; 5. Calls upon all States parties to the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions to ensure their wide dissemination and full implementation; 6. Notes with appreciation the Plan of Action adopted by the Twenty-seventh International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, in particular the reiteration of the importance of universal adherence to treaties on humanitarian law and their effective implementation at the national level; 7. Affirms the necessity of making the implementation of international humanitarian law more effective; 8. Welcomes the advisory service activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in supporting efforts undertaken by Member States to take legislative and administrative action to implement international humanitarian law and in promoting the exchange of information on those efforts between Governments; 9. Welcomes also the increasing numbers of national commissions or committees for the implementation of international humanitarian law and for promoting the incorporation of treaties on international humanitarian law into national law and disseminating the rules of international humanitarian law; 10. Welcomes further the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts; Resolution 54/263, annex I. 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the status of the additional Protocols relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, as well as on measures taken to strengthen the existing body of international humanitarian law, inter alia, with respect to its dissemination and full implementation at the national level, based on information received from Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts". RESOLUTION 55/149 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/606, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lesotho, Malta, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/149. Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General,A/55/164 and Add.1-3 and A/INF/54/5 and Add.1 and 2. Conscious of the need to develop and strengthen friendly relations and cooperation among States, Convinced that respect for the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations is a basic prerequisite for the normal conduct of relations among States and for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Alarmed by the recent acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, as well as against representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, which have endangered or taken innocent lives and seriously impeded the normal work of such representatives and officials, Expressing sympathy for the victims of such illegal acts, Recalling the Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Security Council in relation to flagrant violations of the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as missions and representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, Concerned at the failure to respect the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, Recalling that, without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State, Recalling also that diplomatic and consular premises must not be used in any manner incompatible with the diplomatic or consular functions, Emphasizing the duty of States to take all appropriate measures as required by international law, including measures of a preventive nature, and to bring offenders to justice, Welcoming measures already taken by States to this end in conformity with their international obligations, Convinced that the role of the United Nations, which includes the reporting procedures established under General Assembly resolution 35/168 of 15 December 1980 and further elaborated in subsequent Assembly resolutions, is important in promoting efforts to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General;A/55/164 and Add.1-3 and A/INF/54/5 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Strongly condemns acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and emphasizes that such acts can never be justified; 3. Also strongly condemns the recent acts of violence against such missions, representatives and officials, referred to in relevant reports under this item; 4. Urges States to strictly observe, implement and enforce the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations and, in particular, to ensure, in conformity with their international obligations, the protection, security and safety of the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above officially present in territories under their jurisdiction, including practical measures to prohibit in their territories illegal activities of persons, groups and organizations that encourage, instigate, organize or engage in the perpetration of acts against the security and safety of such missions, representatives and officials; 5. Also urges States to take all necessary measures at the national and international levels to prevent any acts of violence against the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above and to ensure, with the participation of the United Nations where appropriate, that such acts are fully investigated with a view to bringing offenders to justice; 6. Recommends that States cooperate closely through, inter alia, contacts between the diplomatic and consular missions and the receiving State with regard to practical measures designed to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives and with regard to the exchange of information on the circumstances of all serious violations thereof; 7. Urges States to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law, at the national and international levels, to prevent any abuse of diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities, in particular serious abuses, including those involving acts of violence; 8. Recommends that States cooperate closely with the State in whose territory abuses of diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities may have occurred, including by exchanging information and providing assistance to its juridical authorities in order to bring offenders to justice; 9. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the instruments relevant to the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives; 10. Also calls upon States, in cases where a dispute arises in connection with a violation of their international obligations concerning the protection of the missions or the security of the representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above, to make use of the means for peaceful settlement of disputes, including the good offices of the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General, when he deems it appropriate, to offer his good offices to the States directly concerned; 11. Requests all States to report to the Secretary-General in accordance with paragraph 9 of resolution 42/154 of 7 December 1987; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to issue a report on the item, in accordance with paragraph 12 of resolution 42/154, containing also an analytical summary of the reports received under paragraph 11 above, on an annual basis, as well as to proceed with his other tasks pursuant to the same resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives". RESOLUTION 55/14 Adopted at the 51st plenary meeting, on 3 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.19, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 55/14. Amendment to rule 1 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997, by which it adopted the recommendations of the Open-ended High-level Working Group on the Strengthening of the United Nations System as contained in the annex to the resolution, Recalling in particular paragraph 17 of the annex to resolution 51/241, in which it decided, inter alia, that the plenary meetings of the General Assembly should be formally opened every year on the first Tuesday following 1 September, Noting that the Monday immediately preceding the first Tuesday following 1 September falls on a United Nations holiday at Headquarters, Mindful that, for practical reasons, the closing of the regular sessions of the General Assembly should be on a Monday, which should not be a holiday, and the opening of the regular sessions should be on the following day, that is to say, on a Tuesday, Recalling its resolutions 52/232 of 4 June 1998, 53/224 of 7 April 1999 and 53/239 of 8 June 1999, by which it took ad hoc decisions concerning the opening and/or closing dates of the fifty-second, fifty-third, fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth sessions of the General Assembly, Recalling also paragraph 2 of resolution 52/232, in which it decided that the International Day of Peace would continue to be observed on the opening day of the regular sessions, 1. Decides to amend rule 1 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly to read: "The General Assembly shall meet every year in regular session commencing on the Tuesday following the second Monday in September"; 2. Also decides that this amendment shall take effect as from 2001 and that, therefore, for that year, the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly shall close on Monday, 10 September 2001, and the fifty-sixth session of the Assembly shall open on Tuesday, 11 September 2001. RESOLUTION 55/150 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/607, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Malta, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Sudan, Uganda and Ukraine. 55/150. Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/101 of 9 December 1999, Having considered the report of the Working Group on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property of the International Law Commission, set forth in the annex to the report of the Commission on the work of its fifty-first session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No 10 and corrigenda (A/54/10 and Corr.1 and 2). Having considered also the reports presented to the Sixth Committee by the Chairman of the open-ended working group of the Committee established under resolutions 53/98 of 8 December 1998 and 54/101,See A/C.6/54/L.12 and A/C.6/55/L.12; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/54/SR.30), and corrigendum; and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/55/SR.30), and corrigendum. Having considered further the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/298. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property of the International Law Commission, set forth in the annex to the report of the Commission on the work of its fifty-first session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No 10 and corrigenda (A/54/10 and Corr.1 and 2). 2. Urges States, if they have not yet done so, to submit their comments to the Secretary-General in accordance with General Assembly resolution 49/61 of 9 December 1994, and also invites States to submit in writing to the Secretary-General, by 1 August 2001, their comments on the reports of the open-ended working group of the Sixth Committee established under resolutions 53/98 and 54/101;See A/C.6/54/L.12 and A/C.6/55/L.12; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/54/SR.30), and corrigendum; and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/55/SR.30), and corrigendum. 3. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property, open also to participation by States members of the specialized agencies, to further the work done, consolidate areas of agreement and resolve outstanding issues with a view to elaborating a generally acceptable instrument based on the draft articles on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property adopted by the International Law Commission at its forty-third session,Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 1991, vol. II, Part Two (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.V.9 (Part 2)), document A/46/10, chap. II, para. 28. and also on the discussions of the open-ended working group of the Sixth Committee and their results;See A/C.6/54/L.12 and A/C.6/55/L.12; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/54/SR.30), and corrigendum; and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/55/SR.30), and corrigendum. 4. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet for two weeks in March 2002; 5. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property". RESOLUTION 55/151 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/608, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela. 55/151. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-third session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it created the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its conviction that the progressive harmonization and unification of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity and common interest and to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to the well-being of all peoples, Emphasizing the need for higher priority to be given to the work of the Commission in view of the increasing value of the modernization of international trade law for global economic development and thus for the maintenance of friendly relations among States, Stressing the value of participation by States at all levels of economic development and from different legal systems in the process of harmonizing and unifying international trade law, Having considered the report of the Commission on the work of its thirty-third session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/55/17). Concerned that activities undertaken by other bodies of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law without coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, as stated in its resolution 37/106 of 16 December 1982, Stressing the importance of the further development of case law on United Nations Commission on International Trade Law texts in promoting the uniform application of the legal texts of the Commission and its value for government officials, practitioners and academics, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-third session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/55/17). 2. Commends the Commission for the work on privately financed infrastructure projects, which culminated in the adoption of the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects,Ibid., para. 372. as well as the important progress made in its work on receivables financing; 3. Appeals to Governments that have not yet done so to reply to the questionnaire circulated by the Secretariat in relation to the legal regime governing the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and, in particular, to the legislative implementation of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York on 10 June 1958;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 330, No. 4739. 4. Invites States to nominate persons to work with the private foundation established to encourage assistance to the Commission from the private sector; 5. Reaffirms the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field and, in this connection: (a) Calls upon all bodies of the United Nations system and invites other international organizations to bear in mind the mandate of the Commission and the need to avoid duplication of effort and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law; (b) Recommends that the Commission, through its secretariat, continue to maintain close cooperation with the other international organs and organizations, including regional organizations, active in the field of international trade law; 6. Also reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with training and technical assistance in the field of international trade law, such as assistance in the preparation of national legislation based on legal texts of the Commission; 7. Expresses the desirability for increased efforts by the Commission, in sponsoring seminars and symposia, to provide such training and technical assistance, and, in this connection: (a) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for organizing seminars and briefing missions in Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Peru, the Russian Federation and South Africa; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the seminars and briefing missions to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in financing and organizing seminars and symposia, in particular in developing countries, and in the award of fellowships to candidates from developing countries to enable them to participate in such seminars and symposia; 8. Appeals to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the training and technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission; 9. Appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund for travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 10. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the secretariat of the Commission within the bounds of the resources available so as to ensure and enhance the effective implementation of the programme of the Commission; 12. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and to this end urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implications of increasing the membership of the Commission, and invites Member States to submit their views on this issue; 14. Expresses its appreciation to Gerold Herrmann, Secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law since 1991, who will retire on 31 January 2001, for his outstanding and devoted contribution to the process of unification and harmonization of international trade law in general and to the Commission in particular. RESOLUTION 55/152 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/609, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the representative of Colombia. 55/152. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-second session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-second session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/55/10). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the codification and progressive development of international law as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to further enhance their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Stressing the usefulness of structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report, Wishing to enhance further the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the International Law Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two organs, 1. Takes note of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-second session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/55/10). 2. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the work accomplished at its fifty-second session, in particular with respect to the topic "State responsibility", and encourages the Commission to complete its work on this topic during its fifty-third session, taking into account the views expressed by Governments during the debates in the Sixth Committee at the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly, and any written comments that may be submitted by 31 January 2001; 3. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report; 4. Reiterates its invitation to Governments, within the context of paragraph 3 above, to respond, to the extent possible, in writing by 28 February 2001 to the questionnaire and requests for materials on unilateral acts of States circulated by the Secretariat to all Governments on 30 September 1999 and 2 October 2000; 5. Also reiterates its invitation to Governments to submit the most relevant national legislation, decisions of domestic courts and State practice relevant to diplomatic protection in order to assist the International Law Commission in its work on the topic "Diplomatic protection"; 6. Recommends that, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly, the International Law Commission continue its work on the topics in its current programme; 7. Notes with appreciation the work done by the International Law Commission at its fifty-second session on the topic "International liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law", and requests the Commission to resume consideration of the liability aspects of the topic as soon as the second reading of the draft articles on the prevention of transboundary damage from hazardous activities is completed, bearing in mind the interrelationship between the prevention and the liability aspects of the topic and taking into account developments in international law and comments by Governments; 8. Takes note of paragraphs 726 to 733 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to its long-term programme of work, and the syllabuses on new topics annexed to the report; 9. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity; 10. Takes note of paragraphs 734 and 735 of the report with regard to the length, nature and place of future sessions of the International Law Commission, in which specific recommendations are made to continue to increase the efficiency and productivity of its work, to facilitate the attendance by its members and to enhance the relationship between the Commission and the Sixth Committee; 11. Also takes note of paragraph 736 of the report, and decides that the next session of the International Law Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 23 April to 1 June and from 2 July to 10 August 2001; 12. Stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the holding of informal discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and those members of the Commission attending the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly; 13. Reiterates its request in paragraph 11 of its resolution 54/111 of 9 December 1999, and emphasizes the need to implement cost-saving measures such as those described in paragraph 639 of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-first session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigenda (A/54/10 and Corr.1 and 2). 14. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 15. Also requests the International Law Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation, and in that regard takes note with appreciation of comments made by the Commission in paragraphs 737 to 741 of its report; 16. Notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 17. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat and those concerning the summary records and other documentation of the International Law Commission; 18. Notes with appreciation the inclusion of information about the work of the International Law Commission on its web site;The Internet address of the International Law Commission is www.un.org/law/ilc/index.htm. 19. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 22. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 23. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly commence on 29 October 2001. RESOLUTION 55/153 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/610, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the representative of Ecuador. 55/153. Nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States The General Assembly, Having considered chapter IV of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-first session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigenda (A/54/10 and Corr.1 and 2). which contains final draft articles on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States, Noting that the International Law Commission decided to recommend the draft articles to the General Assembly for their adoption in the form of a declaration, Recalling its resolution 54/112 of 9 December 1999, in which it decided to consider at its fifty-fifth session the draft articles on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States with a view to their adoption as a declaration, Considering that the work of the International Law Commission on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States would provide a useful guide for practice in dealing with this issue, Acknowledging that the work of the International Law Commission on this topic could contribute to the elaboration of a convention or other appropriate instrument in the future, and reiterating its invitation, contained in its resolution 54/112, for Governments to submit comments and observations on the question of a convention on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for its valuable work on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States; 2. Takes note of the articles on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States, presented by the International Law Commission in the form of a declaration, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution; 3. Invites Governments to take into account, as appropriate, the provisions contained in the articles in dealing with issues of nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States; 4. Recommends that all efforts be made for the wide dissemination of the text of the articles; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States". Annex Nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States Preamble Considering that problems of nationality arising from succession of States concern the international community, Emphasizing that nationality is essentially governed by internal law within the limits set by international law, Recognizing that in matters concerning nationality, due account should be taken both of the legitimate interests of States and those of individuals, Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948Resolution 217 A (III). proclaimed the right of every person to a nationality, Recalling also that the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989Resolution 44/25, annex. recognize the right of every child to acquire a nationality, Emphasizing that the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons whose nationality may be affected by a succession of States must be fully respected, Bearing in mind the provisions of the Convention on the reduction of statelessness of 1961,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 989, No. 14458. the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties of 1978Ibid., vol. 1946, No. 33356. and the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of State Property, Archives and Debts of 1983,See A/CONF.117/14. Convinced of the need for the codification and progressive development of the rules of international law concerning nationality in relation to the succession of States as a means for ensuring greater juridical security for States and for individuals, Part I. General provisions Article 1 Right to a nationality Every individual who, on the date of the succession of States, had the nationality of the predecessor State, irrespective of the mode of acquisition of that nationality, has the right to the nationality of at least one of the States concerned, in accordance with the present articles. Article 2 Use of terms For the purposes of the present articles: (a) "Succession of States" means the replacement of one State by another in the responsibility for the international relations of territory; (b) "Predecessor State" means the State which has been replaced by another State on the occurrence of a succession of States; (c) "Successor State" means the State which has replaced another State on the occurrence of a succession of States; (d) "State concerned" means the predecessor State or the successor State, as the case may be; (e) "Third State" means any State other than the predecessor State or the successor State; (f) "Person concerned" means every individual who, on the date of the succession of States, had the nationality of the predecessor State and whose nationality may be affected by such succession; (g) "Date of the succession of States" means the date upon which the successor State replaced the predecessor State in the responsibility for the international relations of the territory to which the succession of States relates. Article 3 Cases of succession of States covered by the present articles The present articles apply only to the effects of a succession of States occurring in conformity with international law and, in particular, with the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. Article 4 Prevention of statelessness States concerned shall take all appropriate measures to prevent persons who, on the date of the succession of States, had the nationality of the predecessor State from becoming stateless as a result of such succession. Article 5 Presumption of nationality Subject to the provisions of the present articles, persons concerned having their habitual residence in the territory affected by the succession of States are presumed to acquire the nationality of the successor State on the date of such succession. Article 6 Legislation on nationality and other connected issues Each State concerned should, without undue delay, enact legislation on nationality and other connected issues arising in relation to the succession of States consistent with the provisions of the present articles. It should take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons concerned will be apprised, within a reasonable time period, of the effect of its legislation on their nationality, of any choices they may have thereunder, as well as of the consequences that the exercise of such choices will have on their status. Article 7 Effective date The attribution of nationality in relation to the succession of States, as well as the acquisition of nationality following the exercise of an option, shall take effect on the date of such succession, if persons concerned would otherwise be stateless during the period between the date of the succession of States and such attribution or acquisition of nationality. Article 8 Persons concerned having their habitual residence in another State 1. A successor State does not have the obligation to attribute its nationality to persons concerned who have their habitual residence in another State and also have the nationality of that or any other State. 2. A successor State shall not attribute its nationality to persons concerned who have their habitual residence in another State against the will of the persons concerned unless they would otherwise become stateless. Article 9 Renunciation of the nationality of another State as a condition for attribution of nationality When a person concerned who is qualified to acquire the nationality of a successor State has the nationality of another State concerned, the former State may make the attribution of its nationality dependent on the renunciation by such person of the nationality of the latter State. However, such requirement shall not be applied in a manner which would result in rendering the person concerned stateless, even if only temporarily. Article 10 Loss of nationality upon the voluntary acquisition of the nationality of another State 1. A predecessor State may provide that persons concerned who, in relation to the succession of States, voluntarily acquire the nationality of a successor State shall lose its nationality. 2. A successor State may provide that persons concerned who, in relation to the succession of States, voluntarily acquire the nationality of another successor State or, as the case may be, retain the nationality of the predecessor State shall lose its nationality acquired in relation to such succession. Article 11 Respect for the will of persons concerned 1. States concerned shall give consideration to the will of persons concerned whenever those persons are qualified to acquire the nationality of two or more States concerned. 2. Each State concerned shall grant a right to opt for its nationality to persons concerned who have appropriate connection with that State if those persons would otherwise become stateless as a result of the succession of States. 3. When persons entitled to the right of option have exercised such right, the State whose nationality they have opted for shall attribute its nationality to such persons. 4. When persons entitled to the right of option have exercised such right, the State whose nationality they have renounced shall withdraw its nationality from such persons, unless they would thereby become stateless. 5. States concerned should provide a reasonable time limit for the exercise of the right of option. Article 12 Unity of a family Where the acquisition or loss of nationality in relation to the succession of States would impair the unity of a family, States concerned shall take all appropriate measures to allow that family to remain together or to be reunited. Article 13 Child born after the succession of States A child of a person concerned, born after the date of the succession of States, who has not acquired any nationality, has the right to the nationality of the State concerned on whose territory that child was born. Article 14 Status of habitual residents 1. The status of persons concerned as habitual residents shall not be affected by the succession of States. 2. A State concerned shall take all necessary measures to allow persons concerned who, because of events connected with the succession of States, were forced to leave their habitual residence on its territory to return thereto. Article 15 Non-discrimination States concerned shall not deny persons concerned the right to retain or acquire a nationality or the right of option upon the succession of States by discriminating on any ground. Article 16 Prohibition of arbitrary decisions concerning nationality issues Persons concerned shall not be arbitrarily deprived of the nationality of the predecessor State, or arbitrarily denied the right to acquire the nationality of the successor State or any right of option, to which they are entitled in relation to the succession of States. Article 17 Procedures relating to nationality issues Applications relating to the acquisition, retention or renunciation of nationality or to the exercise of the right of option, in relation to the succession of States, shall be processed without undue delay. Relevant decisions shall be issued in writing and shall be open to effective administrative or judicial review. Article 18 Exchange of information, consultation and negotiation 1. States concerned shall exchange information and consult in order to identify any detrimental effects on persons concerned with respect to their nationality and other connected issues regarding their status as a result of the succession of States. 2. States concerned shall, when necessary, seek a solution to eliminate or mitigate such detrimental effects by negotiation and, as appropriate, through agreement. Article 19 Other States 1. Nothing in the present articles requires States to treat persons concerned having no effective link with a State concerned as nationals of that State, unless this would result in treating those persons as if they were stateless. 2. Nothing in the present articles precludes States from treating persons concerned, who have become stateless as a result of the succession of States, as nationals of the State concerned whose nationality they would be entitled to acquire or retain, if such treatment is beneficial to those persons. Part II. Provisions relating to specific categories of succession of States Section 1. Transfer of part of the territory Article 20 Attribution of the nationality of the successor State and withdrawal of the nationality of the predecessor State When part of the territory of a State is transferred by that State to another State, the successor State shall attribute its nationality to the persons concerned who have their habitual residence in the transferred territory and the predecessor State shall withdraw its nationality from such persons, unless otherwise indicated by the exercise of the right of option which such persons shall be granted. The predecessor State shall not, however, withdraw its nationality before such persons acquire the nationality of the successor State. Section 2. Unification of States Article 21 Attribution of the nationality of the successor State Subject to the provisions of article 8, when two or more States unite and so form one successor State, irrespective of whether the successor State is a new State or whether its personality is identical to that of one of the States which have united, the successor State shall attribute its nationality to all persons who, on the date of the succession of States, had the nationality of a predecessor State. Section 3. Dissolution of a State Article 22 Attribution of the nationality of the successor States When a State dissolves and ceases to exist and the various parts of the territory of the predecessor State form two or more successor States, each successor State shall, unless otherwise indicated by the exercise of a right of option, attribute its nationality to: (a) Persons concerned having their habitual residence in its territory; and (b) Subject to the provisions of article 8: (i) Persons concerned not covered by subparagraph (a) having an appropriate legal connection with a constituent unit of the predecessor State that has become part of that successor State; (ii) Persons concerned not entitled to a nationality of any State concerned under subparagraphs (a) and (b) (i) having their habitual residence in a third State, who were born in or, before leaving the predecessor State, had their last habitual residence in what has become the territory of that successor State or having any other appropriate connection with that successor State. Article 23 Granting of the right of option by the successor States 1. Successor States shall grant a right of option to persons concerned covered by the provisions of article 22 who are qualified to acquire the nationality of two or more successor States. 2. Each successor State shall grant a right to opt for its nationality to persons concerned who are not covered by the provisions of article 22. Section 4. Separation of part or parts of the territory Article 24 Attribution of the nationality of the successor State When part or parts of the territory of a State separate from that State and form one or more successor States while the predecessor State continues to exist, a successor State shall, unless otherwise indicated by the exercise of a right of option, attribute its nationality to: (a) Persons concerned having their habitual residence in its territory; and (b) Subject to the provisions of article 8: (i) Persons concerned not covered by subparagraph (a) having an appropriate legal connection with a constituent unit of the predecessor State that has become part of that successor State; (ii) Persons concerned not entitled to a nationality of any State concerned under subparagraphs (a) and (b) (i) having their habitual residence in a third State, who were born in or, before leaving the predecessor State, had their last habitual residence in what has become the territory of that successor State or having any other appropriate connection with that successor State. Article 25 Withdrawal of the nationality of the predecessor State 1. The predecessor State shall withdraw its nationality from persons concerned qualified to acquire the nationality of the successor State in accordance with article 24. It shall not, however, withdraw its nationality before such persons acquire the nationality of the successor State. 2. Unless otherwise indicated by the exercise of a right of option, the predecessor State shall not, however, withdraw its nationality from persons referred to in paragraph 1 who: (a) Have their habitual residence in its territory; (b) Are not covered by subparagraph (a) and have an appropriate legal connection with a constituent unit of the predecessor State that has remained part of the predecessor State; (c) Have their habitual residence in a third State, and were born in or, before leaving the predecessor State, had their last habitual residence in what has remained part of the territory of the predecessor State or have any other appropriate connection with that State. Article 26 Granting of the right of option by the predecessor and the successor States Predecessor and successor States shall grant a right of option to all persons concerned covered by the provisions of article 24 and paragraph 2 of article 25 who are qualified to have the nationality of both the predecessor and successor States or of two or more successor States. RESOLUTION 55/154 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/611 and Corr.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, France and Spain. 55/154. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/55/26). Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 62 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/55/26). 2. Notes that the Committee has taken note of the opinion of the Legal Counsel of 1 September 2000 concerning the issuance of visas to participants in United Nations-related meetingsSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/55/26), para. 51. and that, in this connection, the Committee has recommended that the host country take that opinion into consideration in the future; 3. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations is in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 5. Notes that during the reporting period the travel controls previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities remained in effect, and requests the host country to consider removing such travel controls, and in this regard notes the positions of affected States, of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 6. Also notes that the Committee anticipates that the host country will continue to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,See resolution 169 (II). inter alia, for the purpose of their attending official United Nations meetings; 7. Requests the host country to continue to take steps to resolve the problem relating to the parking of diplomatic vehicles in a fair, balanced and non-discriminatory way, with a view to responding to the growing needs of the diplomatic community, and to continue to consult with the Committee on this important issue; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 9. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 55/155 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/612, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the representative of the Netherlands. 55/155. Establishment of the International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/33 of 25 November 1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11 December 1995, 51/207 of 17 December 1996, 52/160 of 15 December 1997, 53/105 of 8 December 1998 and 54/105 of 9 December 1999, Noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted on 17 July 1998A/CONF.183/9. and is open for signature in New York at United Nations Headquarters until 31 December 2000, and taking note of the Final Act of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court done at Rome on 17 July 1998,A/CONF.183/10. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted at the Millennium Assembly,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government stressed the importance of the International Criminal Court, Noting in particular that the Conference decided to establish a Preparatory Commission for the Court,See A/CONF.183/10, annex I. and that the Commission held three sessions in 1999, from 16 to 26 February, 26 July to 13 August and 29 November to 17 December, and three sessions in 2000, from 13 to 31 March, 12 to 30 June and 27 November to 8 December, Bearing in mind the mandate of the Preparatory Commission, as set out in resolution F adopted by the Conference,See A/CONF.183/10, annex I. with regard to the preparation of proposals for practical arrangements for the establishment and coming into operation of the Court, Recalling, with regard to future work of the Preparatory Commission and related working groups, the decision agreed upon by the Commission, referred to in paragraph 14 of the summary of the proceedings of its fifth session,See PCNICC/2000/L.3/Rev.1. to establish three new working groups, in addition to the working group on the crime of aggression, Recognizing the continuing need for making available adequate resources and secretariat services to the Preparatory Commission in order to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and expeditiously, Emphasizing the need to make the necessary arrangements for the commencement of the functions of the International Criminal Court in order to ensure its effective operation, Noting that a growing number of States have deposited their instruments of ratification and that a significant number of States have signed the Statute, 1. Reiterates the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;A/CONF.183/9. 2. Calls upon all States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as appropriate, and encourages efforts aimed at promoting awareness of the results of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court and of the provisions of the Statute; 3. Welcomes the important work accomplished by the Preparatory Commission in the completion of the part of the mandate relating to the draft texts of the rules of procedure and evidence and the elements of crimes, as required under resolution F,See A/CONF.183/10, annex I. and notes in this respect the importance of the growing participation in the work of the working group on the crime of aggression; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to reconvene the Preparatory Commission, in accordance with resolution F, from 26 February to 9 March and from 24 September to 5 October 2001, to continue to carry out the mandate of that resolution and, in that connection, to discuss ways to enhance the effectiveness and acceptance of the Court; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to make available to the Preparatory Commission secretariat services, including the preparation of working documents if so requested by the Commission, to enable it to perform its functions; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to invite, as observers to the Preparatory Commission, representatives of organizations and other entities that have received a standing invitation from the General Assembly, pursuant to its relevant resolutions,Resolutions 253 (III), 477 (V), 2011 (XX), 3208 (XXIX), 3237 (XXIX), 3369 (XXX), 31/3, 33/18, 35/2, 35/3, 36/4, 42/10, 43/6, 44/6, 45/6, 46/8, 47/4, 48/2, 48/3, 48/4, 48/5, 48/237, 48/265, 49/1, 49/2, 50/2, 51/1, 51/6, 51/204, 52/6, 53/5, 53/6, 53/216, 54/5, 54/10 and 54/195. to participate in the capacity of observers in its sessions and work, and also to invite as observers to the Commission representatives of interested regional intergovernmental organizations and other interested international bodies, including the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal for Rwanda; 7. Notes that non-governmental organizations may participate in the work of the Preparatory Commission by attending its plenary and its other open meetings, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Commission, receiving copies of the official documents and making available their materials to delegates; 8. Encourages States to make voluntary contributions to the trust funds established pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 51/207 and 52/160, the mandates of which were expanded pursuant to Assembly resolution 53/105, towards meeting the costs of the participation in the work of the Preparatory Commission of the least developed countries and of those developing countries not covered by the trust fund established pursuant to resolution 51/207; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Establishment of the International Criminal Court". RESOLUTION 55/156 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/613 and Corr.1, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 55/156. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/54/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolutions 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Recalling further that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Considering the desirability of finding practical ways and means to strengthen the Court, taking into consideration, in particular, the needs resulting from its increased workload, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/55/340. Recalling its resolution 54/106 of 9 December 1999, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/55/33). 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/55/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 2 to 12 April 2001; 3. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2001, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2001; (b) To continue to consider on a priority basis the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter, taking into consideration the reports of the Secretary-General,A/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1 and A/55/295 and Add.1. the proposals submitted on this subject, the debate on the question which was held by the Sixth Committee at the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly and the text on the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations contained in annex II to Assembly resolution 51/242, and also the implementation of the provisions of Assembly resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998 and 54/107 of 9 December 1999; (c) To continue its work on the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States and, in this context, to continue its consideration of proposals relating to the peaceful settlement of disputes between States, including the proposal on the establishment of a dispute settlement service offering or responding with its services early in disputes and those proposals relating to the enhancement of the role of the International Court of Justice; (d) To continue to consider proposals concerning the Trusteeship Council in the light of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 50/55 of 11 December 1995,A/50/1011. the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform"A/51/950 and Add.1-7. and the views expressed by States on this subject at the previous sessions of the General Assembly; (e) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 4. Takes note of subparagraphs (a) to (h) of paragraph 33 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/340. commends the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to reduce the backlog in the publication of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, and endorses the efforts of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 5. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2001 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations, to discuss how to offer its assistance to the working groups of the General Assembly in this field and, in this regard, to consider ways and means of improving coordination between the Special Committee and other working groups dealing with the reform of the Organization, including the role of the Chairperson of the Special Committee for this purpose; 6. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at the fifty-sixth session; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 55/157 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/613 and Corr.1, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the representative of Nigeria. 55/157. Implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions The General Assembly, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Security Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recognizing the desirability of the consideration of further appropriate procedures for consultations to deal in a more effective manner with the problems referred to in Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling: (a) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular paragraph 41 thereof, (b) Its resolution 47/120 A of 18 December 1992, entitled "An Agenda for Peace: preventive diplomacy and related matters", its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, entitled "An Agenda for Peace", in particular section IV thereof, entitled "Special economic problems arising from the implementation of preventive or enforcement measures", and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", in particular annex II thereto, entitled "Question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations", (c) The position paper of the Secretary-General entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. (d) The statement by the President of the Security Council of 22 February 1995,S/PRST/1995/9; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1995. (e) The report of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705. prepared pursuant to the statement by the President of the Security CouncilS/25036; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1992. regarding the question of special economic problems of States as a result of sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter, (f) The annual overview reports of the Administrative Committee on Coordination for the period from 1992 to 2000,E/1993/81, E/1994/19, E/1995/21, E/1996/18 and Add.1, E/1997/54 and Corr.1, E/1998/21, E/1999/48 and E/2000/53. in particular the sections therein on assistance to countries invoking Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations , (g) The reports of the Secretary-General on economic assistance to States affected by the implementation of the Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against the Federal Republic of YugoslaviaA/49/356, A/50/423, A/51/356, A/52/535 and A/54/534. and General Assembly resolutions 48/210 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 A of 2 December 1994, 50/58 E of 12 December 1995, 51/30 A of 5 December 1996, 52/169 H of 16 December 1997 and 54/96 G of 15 December 1999, (h) The reports of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization on the work of its sessions held in the years 1994 to 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/49/33); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/50/33); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/51/33); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/52/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/53/33); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/54/33 and Corr.1); and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/55/33). (i) The reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter,A/50/361, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and A/55/295 and Add.1. (j) The report of the Secretary-General to the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations,A/54/2000. in particular section IV.E thereof, entitled "Targeting sanctions", (k) The United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 9 thereof, Taking note of the most recent report of the Secretary-General, submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/107 of 9 December 1999,A/55/295 and Add.1. Taking note also of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the in-depth evaluation of the United Nations programmes relating to global development trends, issues and policies, and global approaches to social and microeconomic issues and policies, and the corresponding subprogrammes in the regional commissions,E/AC.51/2000/2. in particular recommendation 3 contained therein, as approved by the Committee for Programme and Coordination, at its fortieth session,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/55/16 and Corr.1), chap. II.C.1, para. 243. Recalling that the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions has been addressed recently in several forums, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary organs, Recalling also the measures taken by the Security Council, in accordance with the statement by the President of the Security Council of 16 December 1994,See S/PRST/1994/81; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. that, as part of the effort of the Council to improve the flow of information and the exchange of ideas between members of the Council and other States Members of the United Nations, there should be increased recourse to open meetings, in particular at an early stage in its consideration of a subject, Recalling further the measures taken by the Security Council in accordance with the note by the President of the Security Council of 29 January 1999S/1999/92; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. aimed at improving the work of the sanctions committees, including increasing the effectiveness and transparency of the those committees, Stressing that, in the formulation of sanctions regimes, due account should be taken of the potential effects of sanctions on third States, Stressing also, in this context, the powers of the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter and the primary responsibility of the Council under Article 24 of the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, Recalling that, under Article 31 of the Charter, any Member of the United Nations that is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected, Recognizing that the imposition of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter has been causing special economic problems in third States and that it is necessary to intensify efforts to address those problems effectively, Taking into consideration the views of third States which could be affected by the imposition of sanctions, Recognizing that assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions would further contribute to an effective and comprehensive approach by the international community to sanctions imposed by the Security Council, Recognizing also that the international community at large and, in particular, international institutions involved in providing economic and financial assistance should continue to take into account and address in a more effective manner the special economic problems of affected third States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, in view of their magnitude and of the adverse impact on the economies of those States, Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998 and 54/107 of 9 December 1999, 1. Renews its invitation to the Security Council to consider the establishment of further mechanisms or procedures, as appropriate, for consultations as early as possible under Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations with third States which are or may be confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, with regard to a solution of those problems, including appropriate ways and means for increasing the effectiveness of its methods and procedures applied in the consideration of requests by the affected States for assistance; 2. Welcomes the measures taken by the Security Council since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 50/51, most recently the note by the President of the Security Council of 17 April 2000,S/2000/319; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. whereby the members of the Security Council decided to establish an informal working group of the Council to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions, looks forward to the findings of the working group, in particular to those regarding the issues of unintended impacts of sanctions and assistance to States in implementing sanctions, and strongly recommends that the Council continue its efforts to further enhance the effectiveness and transparency of the sanctions committees, to streamline their working procedures and to facilitate access to them by representatives of States that find themselves confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of sanctions; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107 and 54/107 and to ensure that the competent units within the Secretariat develop the adequate capacity and appropriate modalities, technical procedures and guidelines to continue, on a regular basis, to collate and coordinate information about international assistance available to third States affected by the implementation of sanctions, to continue developing a possible methodology for assessing the adverse consequences actually incurred by third States and to explore innovative and practical measures of assistance to the affected third States; 4. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting on developing a methodology for assessing the consequences incurred by third States as a result of preventive or enforcement measures and on exploring innovative and practical measures of international assistance to the affected third States,A/53/312. and renews its invitation to States and relevant international organizations within and outside the United Nations system which have not yet done so to provide their views regarding the report of the ad hoc expert group meeting; 5. Renews its request to the Secretary-General to present to the General Assembly any further views that he may have, as appropriate, on the deliberations and main findings, including the recommendations, of the ad hoc expert group on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, taking into account the views of States, the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and other international organizations, as well as the forthcoming report of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues relating to sanctions; 6. Reaffirms the important role of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in mobilizing and monitoring, as appropriate, the economic assistance efforts by the international community and the United Nations system on behalf of States confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Security Council and, as appropriate, in identifying solutions to the special economic problems of those States; 7. Takes note of the decision of the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2000/32 of 28 July 2000, to continue consideration of the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, invites the Council, at its organizational session for 2001, to make appropriate arrangements for this purpose within its programme of work for 2001, and decides to transmit the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions,A/55/295 and Add.1. together with the relevant background materials, to the Council at its substantive session of 2001; 8. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions, other international organizations, regional organizations and Member States to address more specifically and directly, where appropriate, special economic problems of third States affected by sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter and, for this purpose, to consider improving procedures for consultations to maintain a constructive dialogue with such States, including through regular and frequent meetings as well as, where appropriate, special meetings between the affected third States and the donor community, with the participation of United Nations agencies and other international organizations; 9. Requests the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, at its session in 2001, to continue to consider on a priority basis the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter, taking into consideration all of the related reports of the Secretary-General, in particular the 1998 report containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting convened pursuant to paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 52/162,A/53/312. together with the most recent report of the Secretary-General on this question,A/55/295 and Add.1. the forthcoming report of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues relating to sanctions, the proposals submitted on the question, the debate on the question in the Sixth Committee during the fifty-fifth session of the Assembly and the text on the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations contained in annex II to Assembly resolution 51/242, as well as the implementation of the provisions of Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107 and 54/107 and the present resolution; 10. Decides to consider, within the Sixth Committee, or a working group of the Committee, at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, further progress in the elaboration of effective measures aimed at the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 55/158 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/614, para. 11),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the representative of Canada. by a recorded vote of 151 to none, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Lebanon and Syrian Arab Republic 55/158. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling all General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation between States and between international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, wherein the General Assembly encouraged States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there was a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Taking note of the final document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed the previous initiative of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. and other relevant initiatives, Recalling its decision in resolution 54/110 of 9 December 1999 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 should address the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/179 and Add.1. the report of the Ad Hoc CommitteeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/55/37). and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to resolution 54/110,A/C.6/55/L.2. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 3. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 4. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 5. Reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 6. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 7. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority, becoming parties to relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings,Resolution 52/164, annex. and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,Resolution 54/109, annex. and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 8. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, during the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly and the Millennium Assembly, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 7 above, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions; 9. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism contained in the annex to resolution 49/60 and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism contained in the annex to resolution 51/210, and calls upon all States to implement them; 10. Welcomes the efforts of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Centre for International Crime Prevention in Vienna, after reviewing existing possibilities within the United Nations system, to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism; 11. Invites States that have not yet done so to submit to the Secretary-General information on their national laws and regulations regarding the prevention and suppression of acts of international terrorism; 12. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism; 13. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 shall continue to elaborate a comprehensive convention on international terrorism and shall continue its efforts to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, as a means of further developing a comprehensive legal framework of conventions dealing with international terrorism, and that it shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 14. Also decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 12 to 23 February 2001 to continue the elaboration of a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, with appropriate time allocated to the continued consideration of outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, that it shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and that the work shall continue during the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly between 15 and 26 October 2001, within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 16. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session in the event of the completion of the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism; 17. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". RESOLUTION 55/159 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/615, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: France, Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/159. Review of the Statute of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal The General Assembly, Acknowledging with gratitude the important contribution which the United Nations Administrative Tribunal ("the Tribunal") has made to the functioning of the United Nations system, and commending the members of the Tribunal on their valuable work, Desiring to assist the Tribunal in carrying out its future work as effectively as possible, Taking note of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the administration of justice at the United Nations,See A/55/57. Noting the need to consider the appropriateness of the establishment of an appeals mechanism in relation to the decisions of the Tribunal, Recognizing that, in appointing members of the Tribunal, the General Assembly should take into account the need to ensure adequate representation on the Tribunal of the principal legal systems of the world and fair geographical representation, and bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Decides to amend the Statute of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal ("the Statute"), with effect from 1 January 2001, as follows: (a) Article 3, paragraph 1, shall be amended to read as follows: "The Tribunal shall be composed of seven members, no two of whom may be nationals of the same State. Members shall possess the requisite qualifications and experience, including, as appropriate, legal qualifications and experience. Only three members shall sit in any particular case"; (b) Article 3, paragraph 2, shall be amended to read as follows: "The members shall be appointed by the General Assembly for four years and may be reappointed once. A member appointed to replace a member whose term of office has not expired shall hold office for the remainder of his or her predecessor's term, and may be reappointed once"; (c) A new article shall be inserted as article 8, to read as follows: "Where the three members of the Tribunal sitting in any particular case consider that the case raises a significant question of law, they may, at any time before they render judgement, refer the case for consideration by the whole Tribunal. The quorum for a hearing by the whole Tribunal shall be five members"; (d) Former articles 8 to 13 of the Statute shall be renumbered 9 to 14, and references to those articles shall be amended accordingly; (e) The pronouns "he" and "his", wherever they appear in the Statute, shall be amended to read "he or she" or "his or her", respectively; (f) In article 7, paragraph 7, and in renumbered article 11, paragraph 4, references to "five official languages" shall be amended to read "six official languages"; 2. Also decides that members serving on the Tribunal as at 1 January 2001 shall have their current term of office extended by one year, and that thereafter, provided that they have not served on the Tribunal for more than seven years, they may be reappointed once; 3. Further decides that the Statute, with effect from 1 January 2001, shall read as it appears in the annex to the present resolution. Annex Statute of the Administrative Tribunal of the United Nations Article 1 A Tribunal is established by the present Statute to be known as the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. Article 2 1. The Tribunal shall be competent to hear and pass judgement upon applications alleging non-observance of contracts of employment of staff members of the Secretariat of the United Nations or of the terms of appointment of such staff members. The words "contracts" and "terms of appointment" include all pertinent regulations and rules in force at the time of alleged non-observance, including the staff pension regulations. 2. The Tribunal shall be open: (a) To any staff member of the Secretariat of the United Nations even after his or her employment has ceased, and to any person who has succeeded to the staff member's rights on his or her death; (b) To any other person who can show that he or she is entitled to rights under any contract or terms of appointment, including the provisions of staff regulations and rules upon which the staff member could have relied. 3. In the event of a dispute as to whether the Tribunal has competence, the matter shall be settled by the decision of the Tribunal. 4. The Tribunal shall not be competent, however, to deal with any applications where the cause of complaint arose prior to 1 January 1950. Article 3 1. The Tribunal shall be composed of seven members, no two of whom may be nationals of the same State. Members shall possess the requisite qualifications and experience, including, as appropriate, legal qualifications and experience. Only three members shall sit in any particular case. 2. The members shall be appointed by the General Assembly for four years and may be reappointed once. A member appointed to replace a member whose term of office has not expired shall hold office for the remainder of his or her predecessor's term, and may be reappointed once. 3. The Tribunal shall elect its President and its two Vice-Presidents from among its members. 4. The Secretary-General shall provide the Tribunal with an Executive Secretary and such other staff as may be considered necessary. 5. No member of the Tribunal can be dismissed by the General Assembly unless the other members are of the unanimous opinion that he or she is unsuited for further service. 6. In case of a resignation of a member of the Tribunal, the resignation shall be addressed to the President of the Tribunal for transmission to the Secretary-General. This last notification makes the place vacant. Article 4 The Tribunal shall hold ordinary sessions at dates to be fixed by its rules, subject to there being cases on its list which, in the opinion of the President, justify holding the session. Extraordinary sessions may be convoked by the President when required by the cases on the list. Article 5 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall make the administrative arrangements necessary for the functioning of the Tribunal. 2. The expenses of the Tribunal shall be borne by the United Nations. Article 6 1. Subject to the provisions of the present Statute, the Tribunal shall establish its rules. 2. The rules shall include provisions concerning: (a) Election of the President and Vice-Presidents; (b) Composition of the Tribunal for its sessions; (c) Presentation of applications and the procedure to be followed in respect to them; (d) Intervention by persons to whom the Tribunal is open under paragraph 2 of article 2, whose rights may be affected by the judgement; (e) Hearing, for purposes of information, of persons to whom the Tribunal is open under paragraph 2 of article 2, even though they are not parties to the case; and generally, (f) Other matters relating to the functioning of the Tribunal. Article 7 1. An application shall not be receivable unless the person concerned has previously submitted the dispute to the joint appeals body provided for in the Staff Regulations and the latter has communicated its opinion to the Secretary-General, except where the Secretary-General and the applicant have agreed to submit the application directly to the Administrative Tribunal. 2. In the event of the joint body's recommendations being favourable to the application submitted to it, and insofar as this is the case, an application to the Tribunal shall be receivable if the Secretary-General has: (a) Rejected the recommendations; (b) Failed to take any action within thirty days following the communication of the opinion; (c) Failed to carry out the recommendations within thirty days following the communication of the opinion. 3. In the event that the recommendations made by the joint body and accepted by the Secretary-General are unfavourable to the applicant, and insofar as this is the case, the application shall be receivable, unless the joint body unanimously considers that it is frivolous. 4. An application shall not be receivable unless it is filed within ninety days reckoned from the respective dates and periods referred to in paragraph 2 above, or within ninety days reckoned from the date of the communication of the joint body's opinion containing recommendations unfavourable to the applicant. If the circumstance rendering the application receivable by the Tribunal, pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 above, is anterior to the date of announcement of the first session of the Tribunal, the time limit of ninety days shall begin to run from that date. Nevertheless, the said time limit on his or her behalf shall be extended to one year if the heirs of a deceased staff member or the trustee of a staff member who is not in a position to manage his or her own affairs files the application in the name of the said staff member. 5. In any particular case, the Tribunal may decide to suspend the provisions regarding time limits. 6. The filing of an application shall not have the effect of suspending the execution of the decision contested. 7. Applications may be filed in any of the six official languages of the United Nations. Article 8 Where the three members of the Tribunal sitting in any particular case consider that the case raises a significant question of law, they may, at any time before they render judgement, refer the case for consideration by the whole Tribunal. The quorum for a hearing by the whole Tribunal shall be five members. Article 9 The oral proceedings of the Tribunal shall be held in public unless the Tribunal decides that exceptional circumstances require that they be held in private. Article 10 1. If the Tribunal finds that the application is well founded, it shall order the rescinding of the decision contested or the specific performance of the obligation invoked. At the same time, the Tribunal shall fix the amount of compensation to be paid to the applicant for the injury sustained should the Secretary-General, within thirty days of the notification of the judgement, decide, in the interest of the United Nations, that the applicant shall be compensated without further action being taken in his or her case, provided that such compensation shall not exceed the equivalent of two years' net base salary of the applicant. The Tribunal may, however, in exceptional cases, when it considers it justified, order the payment of a higher indemnity. A statement of the reasons for the Tribunal's decision shall accompany each such order. 2. Should the Tribunal find that the procedure prescribed in the Staff Regulations or Staff Rules has not been observed, it may, at the request of the Secretary-General and prior to the determination of the merits of the case, order the case remanded for institution or correction of the required procedure. Where a case is remanded, the Tribunal may order the payment of compensation, which is not to exceed the equivalent of three months' net base salary, to the applicant for such loss as may have been caused by the procedural delay. 3. In all applicable cases, compensation shall be fixed by the Tribunal and paid by the United Nations or, as appropriate, by the specialized agency participating under article 14. Article 11 1. The Tribunal shall take all decisions by a majority vote. 2. Subject to the provisions of article 12, the judgements of the Tribunal shall be final and without appeal. 3. The judgements shall state the reasons on which they are based. 4. The judgements shall be drawn up, in any of the six official languages of the United Nations, in two originals, which shall be deposited in the archives of the Secretariat of the United Nations. 5. A copy of the judgement shall be communicated to each of the parties in the case. Copies shall also be made available on request to interested persons. Article 12 The Secretary-General or the applicant may apply to the Tribunal for a revision of a judgement on the basis of the discovery of some fact of such a nature as to be a decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgement was given, unknown to the Tribunal and also to the party claiming revision, always provided that such ignorance was not due to negligence. The application must be made within thirty days of the discovery of the fact and within one year of the date of the judgement. Clerical or arithmetical mistakes in judgements, or errors arising therein from any accidental slip or omission, may at any time be corrected by the Tribunal either of its own motion or on the application of any of the parties. Article 13 The present Statute may be amended by decision of the General Assembly. Article 14 1. The competence of the Tribunal shall be extended to the staff of the Registry of the International Court of Justice upon the exchange of letters between the President of the Court and the Secretary-General of the United Nations establishing the relevant conditions. 2. The Tribunal shall be competent to hear and pass judgement upon applications alleging non-observance of the regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund arising out of the decision of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board submitted to the Tribunal by: (a) Any staff member of a member organization of the Pension Fund which has accepted the jurisdiction of the Tribunal in Pension Fund cases who is eligible under article 21 of the regulations of the Fund as a participant in the Fund, even if his or her employment has ceased, and any person who has acceded to such staff member's rights upon his or her death; (b) Any other person who can show that he or she is entitled to rights under the regulations of the Pension Fund by virtue of the participation in the Fund of a staff member of such member organization. 3. The competence of the Tribunal may be extended to any specialized agency brought into relationship with the United Nations in accordance with the provisions of Articles 57 and 63 of the Charter upon the terms established by a special agreement to be made with each such agency by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Each such special agreement shall provide that the agency concerned shall be bound by the judgements of the Tribunal and be responsible for the payment of any compensation awarded by the Tribunal in respect of a staff member of that agency and shall include, inter alia, provisions concerning the agency's participation in the administrative arrangements for the functioning of the Tribunal and concerning its sharing the expenses of the Tribunal. 4. The competence of the Tribunal may also be extended, with the approval of the General Assembly, to any other international organization or entity established by a treaty and participating in the common system of conditions of service, upon the terms set out in a special agreement between the organization or entity concerned and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Each such special agreement shall provide that the organization or entity concerned shall be bound by the judgements of the Tribunal and be responsible for the payment of any compensation awarded by the Tribunal in respect of a staff member of that organization or entity and shall include, inter alia, provisions concerning its participation in the administrative arrangements for the functioning of the Tribunal and concerning its sharing the expenses of the Tribunal. RESOLUTION 55/15 Adopted at the 51st plenary meeting, on 3 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.21 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, United States of America, Venezuela 55/15. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/9 of 22 October 1998 relating to the promotion of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States,A/55/184. Recalling that the purposes of the United Nations are, inter alia, to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends, Recalling also that the Charter of the Organization of American States reaffirms these purposes and principles and provides that that organization is a regional agency under the terms of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling further its resolutions 47/20 A of 24 November 1992, 47/20 B of 20 April 1993, 48/27 B of 8 July 1994, 49/5 of 21 October 1994, 49/27 B of 12 July 1995, 50/86 B of 3 April 1996, 51/4 of 24 October 1996 and 53/9 of 22 October 1998, Welcoming the upcoming Summit of the Americas to be held in Quebec City, Canada, from 20 to 22 April 2001, Welcoming also resolution AG/RES.1733 (XXX-O/00), adopted by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States at its thirtieth regular session, by which it declared 2001 as the Inter-American Year of the Child and the Adolescent, and related efforts in the Americas to address emerging issues for children in the twenty-first century, during lead-up to the special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2001 for follow-up to the World Summit for Children, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American StatesA/55/184. and his efforts to strengthen that cooperation; 2. Also takes note with satisfaction of the exchanges of information between the United Nations and the Organization of American States in the context of the work of the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti and of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala; 3. Recognizes the work of the Organization of American States towards the promotion of democracy in the Americas, in the field of regional cooperation and in connection with its task of coordination with the United Nations; 4. Welcomes the efforts of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen cooperation with inter-American institutions in various fields, including hemispheric integration, statistics and women and development; 5. Recommends that a general meeting of representatives of the United Nations system and of the Organization of American States be held in 2001 for the continued review and appraisal of cooperation programmes and of other matters to be mutually decided upon; 6. Expresses its satisfaction at the exchange with the Organization of American States of information and substantive reports on the advancement in the status of women, on matters relating to youth and on the eradication of poverty; 7. Emphasizes that the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States should be undertaken in accordance with their respective mandates, scope and composition and be suited to each specific situation, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States". RESOLUTION 55/160 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/616, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela. 55/160. Observer status for the Inter-American Development Bank in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-American Development Bank, 1. Decides to invite the Inter-American Development Bank to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/161 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/648, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Mauritania, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Spain. 55/161. Observer status for the Economic Community of Central African States in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States, 1. Decides to invite the Economic Community of Central African States to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/162 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.56/Rev.1, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 55/162. Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, Having considered the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Expressing satisfaction that, for the first time in history, so many heads of State and Government gathered at a summit in New York, which reached a successful conclusion with the adoption of the Millennium Declaration, Stressing the need for maintaining the political will and momentum of the Millennium Summit at the national, regional and international levels in order to translate commitments into concrete action, Recognizing the necessity for creating a framework for the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Stressing the importance of a comprehensive and balanced approach in implementation and follow-up, 1. Calls for an integrated, coordinated, comprehensive and balanced approach in the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration at the national, regional and international levels; 2. Recognizes that Governments bear the main responsibility, individually and collectively, for action and implementation of the Millennium Declaration; 3. Calls upon the entire United Nations system to assist Member States in every way possible in the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; 4. Decides to use existing structures and mechanisms and upcoming events and special sessions of the General Assembly, as well as related conferences and events, to the maximum extent possible in the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, and requests the President of the General Assembly to follow up these processes; 5. Requests the Main Committees of the General Assembly to ensure that the outcome of the Millennium Summit is taken into account in their work; 6. Calls upon all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up to the Summit, and invites specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen and adjust their activities, programmes and medium-term strategies, as appropriate, to take into account the follow-up to the Summit; 7. Invites the regional commissions, in cooperation with regional intergovernmental organizations and regional development banks, to review progress made towards implementing the Millennium Declaration; 8. Requests the United Nations system to take action to meet the special needs of Africa and to strengthen the broad range of its engagement in Africa, with a view to intensifying support for poverty eradication and sustainable development, for combating diseases and pandemics and for the process of conflict prevention and the consolidation of democracy; 9. Recognizes that the implementation of the Millennium Declaration will require resources and adequate financing at the national, regional and international levels and that additional financial resources are needed, in particular in Africa and the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States; 10. Requests the appropriate bodies to consider urgently how the implementation of the Millennium Declaration should relate to the biennial budget process and the medium-term plan; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure system-wide coordination to assist with the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, and invites him to identify, within the framework of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, innovative ways of enhancing cooperation and coherence throughout the United Nations system; 12. Invites the Bretton Woods institutions to become involved actively in the implementation of and follow-up to the Summit and to enhance their cooperation with other parts of the United Nations system for coherent implementation of the Millennium Declaration; 13. Invites the World Trade Organization to contribute to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; 14. Calls for enhanced partnership and cooperation with national parliaments as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as set out in the Millennium Declaration, to ensure their contribution to the implementation of the Declaration; 15. Requests the specialized agencies, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization to keep the General Assembly informed about how they contribute to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; 16. Requests that the events and conferences referred to in paragraph 4 above keep the General Assembly informed about how they contribute to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; 17. Reiterates the call to assess, on a regular basis, progress towards implementing the Millennium Declaration; 18. Requests the Secretary-General urgently to prepare a long-term "road map" towards the implementation of the Millennium Declaration within the United Nations system and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report every five years, supplemented by an annual report on progress achieved towards implementing the Millennium Declaration, taking into account the following: (a) The annual reports should reflect the broad array of specific goals and commitments enunciated in the Millennium Declaration, though each could explore in greater depth one or two areas covered in the Declaration; (b) All reports should focus, in this respect, on the results and benchmarks achieved, identify gaps in implementation and strategies for reducing them, and highlight in particular cross-sectoral issues and cross-cutting themes on development and peace and security; (c) Reports should draw on the work of the entire United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization; (d) The reporting system should be appraised with a view to strengthening its coherence and integration; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit". RESOLUTION 55/163 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.38/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Argentina, Belize, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 55/163. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, which contains in its annex the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, and its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997 and 54/219 and 54/233 of 22 December 1999, and recalling agreed conclusions 1999/1 of the Economic and Social CouncilOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. and Council resolution 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations,A/55/82-E/2000/61. Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory, and in the faciliatation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, Emphasizing further, in this regard, the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected State in dealing with natural disasters in all its phases, Stressing the need to optimize and disseminate the listings of organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant humanitarian and scientific organizations, as well as the need to develop further a directory of the specialized national, regional and international institutions and agencies working in the field of international response to natural disasters, together with an inventory of national capacities, in order to lay the foundation for an efficient and effective use of resources available and collaborative efforts, Noting the establishment of the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the need to strengthen cooperation and coordination among all relevant bodies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, in dealing with all phases of natural disasters, 1. Expresses deep concern at the increasing number and scale of natural disasters, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disaster; 2. Stresses that humanitarian assistance for natural disasters should be provided in accordance with and with due respect for the guiding principles contained in the annex to resolution 46/182 and should be determined on the basis of the human dimension and needs arising out of the particular natural disasters; 3. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, inter alia, by disaster prevention, including building regulations and appropriate land use, as well as disaster preparedness and capacity-building in disaster response, and requests the international community in this context to continue to assist developing countries, where appropriate; 4. Stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the provision of humanitarian assistance for all phases of a disaster, from relief and mitigation to development, including through the provision of adequate resources; 5. Recognizes that economic growth and sustainable development contribute to improving the capacity of States to mitigate, respond to and prepare for natural disasters; 6. Stresses the need to strengthen efforts at all levels, including at the domestic level, to improve natural disaster awareness, prevention, preparedness and mitigation, including early warning systems, as well as international cooperation in response to emergencies, from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, bearing in mind the overall negative impact of natural disasters, the resulting humanitarian need and requests from affected countries, as appropriate; 7. Recognizes efforts by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and other members of the United Nations system in promoting preparedness for response at the national, regional and international levels and in strengthening the mobilization and coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system in the field of natural disasters, and in this context welcomes the expansion of the United Nations disaster assessment and coordination teams to include experts from all areas of the world; 8. Notes that the transition phase after natural disasters is often excessively long and characterized by a number of gaps and that Governments, in cooperation with relief agencies, as appropriate, when planning for meeting immediate needs, should place these needs in the perspective of sustainable development whenever such an approach is possible, and in this context takes note of the work of the United Nations disaster assessment and coordination teams; 9. Encourages enhanced cooperation among Governments, in particular through the United Nations and regional organizations, in order to strengthen early warning and preparedness mechanisms for natural disasters; 10. Encourages Governments, in particular through their disaster management or response agencies, as appropriate, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, to continue to cooperate with the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator to maximize the effectiveness of the international response to natural disasters, based, inter alia, on humanitarian need, from relief to development, and also to maximize the effectiveness of disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts at all levels; 11. Encourages further cooperation between the United Nations system and regional organizations in order to increase the capacity of those organizations to respond to natural disasters; 12. Encourages States that have not signed or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, adopted at Tampere, Finland, on 18 June 1998,United Nations Treaty registration No. 27688. to consider doing so; 13. Stresses the need for partnership among Governments of the affected countries, relevant humanitarian organizations and specialized companies to promote training in, access to and use of technologies to strengthen preparedness for and response to natural disasters and to enhance the transfer of current technologies and corresponding know-how, in particular to developing countries, on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed; 14. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 15. Also encourages in such operations the sharing of geographical data, including remotely sensed images and geographic information system and global positioning system data among Governments, space agencies and relevant international humanitarian organizations, as appropriate, and also notes in this context the work being done by the Global Disaster Information Network; 16. Further encourages compatibility and complementarity of telecommunications and other technological equipment required in humanitarian and disaster relief operations; 17. Stresses the need to ensure close links, as set out in resolution 54/219, between disaster prevention activities and the improvement of natural disaster preparedness and response; 18. Encourages Governments in natural-disaster-prone countries to establish, with the support of the international community, in particular the donors, national spatial information infrastructures relating to natural disaster preparedness, early warning, response and mitigation, including the necessary training of personnel; 19. Encourages innovative efforts that link various phases of international assistance, from relief to development, such as the joint Disaster Response and Recovery Mission undertaken by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization in all countries affected by hurricane Mitch, and reiterates the need to ensure adequate assessment of and follow-up to these approaches, with a view to further developing and applying them, as appropriate, in other natural disasters; 20. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with relevant bodies of the United Nations system, to prepare recommendations on how to improve the potential of the United Nations to mitigate natural disasters including, in particular, through the development of an inventory of the existing capacities at the national, regional and international levels; 21. Notes the submission by the Secretary-General of his note on enhancing the functioning and utilization of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund,A/55/649. pursuant to the request contained in resolutions 54/95 of 8 December 1999 and 54/233 for concrete proposals for enhancing the functioning and utilization of the Fund and the invitation to consider more active use of the Fund for timely and adequate natural disaster response, and decides to consider the note comprehensively at its fifty-sixth session; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider innovative mechanisms to improve the international response to natural disasters, inter alia, by addressing any geographical and sectoral imbalances in such a response where they exist, as well as more effective use of national emergency response agencies, taking into account their comparative advantages and specializations, as well as existing arrangements, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", with a view, inter alia, to contributing towards the comprehensive report on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, to be submitted to the Assembly at that session under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 55/164 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.54 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela 55/164. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council of 1998 and 1999, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/82-E/2000/61. Welcoming the progress made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, Noting the efforts made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to implement fully the recommendations set forth in agreed conclusions 1998/1Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum and addendum (A/53/3 and Corr.1 and Add.1), chap. VII, para. 5. and 1999/1Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. of the Council, 1. Welcomes the holding of the third humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council during its substantive session of 2000; 2. Invites the Economic and Social Council to continue to consider ways to further enhance the humanitarian affairs segment of future sessions of the Council; 3. Emphasizes the importance of discussion of humanitarian policies and activities in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council; 4. Calls upon relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other relevant international organizations, Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate with the Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator to ensure timely implementation of and follow-up to agreed conclusions 1998/1Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum and addendum (A/53/3 and Corr.1 and Add.1), chap. VII, para. 5. and 1999/1;Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the 2001 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council, on progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, including the implementation of and follow-up to agreed conclusions 1998/1 and 1999/1. RESOLUTION 55/165 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.35/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela 55/165. Emergency assistance to Belize The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/169 of 11 December 1987, 43/202 of 20 December 1988, 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 45/185 of 21 December 1990, 46/149 of 18 December 1991, 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 48/188 of 21 December 1993 and 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, Having been made aware of the extensive damage caused by powerful hurricane Keith during its landfall and passage through Belize from 1 to 3 October 2000, Mindful of the human suffering caused by the displacement of thousands of people due to the loss of homes, Aware of the devastating effect that the continuing emergency, due to flooding, is having on the infrastructure of the country, its agricultural and fisheries sectors and the delivery of health and social services, Noting the enormous efforts required to alleviate the devastation caused by this natural disaster, Cognizant of the efforts of the Government and people of Belize to relieve the suffering of the victims of hurricane Keith, Conscious of the rapid response being made by the Government of Belize, the agencies and bodies of the United Nations system, international and regional agencies, non-governmental organizations and private individuals to provide relief, Underlining the importance of efforts aimed at strengthening early warning, prevention and preparedness mechanisms for natural disasters and measures to strengthen capacity-building at the local, national and regional levels, with an emphasis on risk reduction, Aware that the extent of the disaster and its medium-term and long-term effects will require, as a complement to the efforts being made by the Government and people of Belize, a demonstration of international solidarity and humanitarian concern to ensure broad multilateral cooperation in order to facilitate the transition from the immediate emergency situation in the affected areas to the process of reconstruction, 1. Expresses its solidarity and support to the Government and people of Belize; 2. Expresses its appreciation to all States of the international community, international agencies and non-governmental organizations that are providing emergency relief assistance to Belize; 3. Urges Member States, as a matter of urgency, to contribute generously to the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of Belize; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the international financial institutions, agencies and bodies of the United Nations system, to assist the Government of Belize in identifying medium-term and long-term needs and in mobilizing resources, as well as to help with the efforts towards rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas in Belize; 5. Encourages the Government of Belize, in conjunction with relevant partners, further to develop strategies aimed at preventing and mitigating natural disasters; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to make all necessary arrangements to continue mobilizing and coordinating humanitarian assistance from the specialized agencies and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with a view to supporting the efforts of the Government of Belize. RESOLUTION 55/166 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.36 and Add.1, sponsored by: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Madagascar, Mauritania, Namibia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe 55/166. Special assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/169 A of 16 December 1997, 53/1 L of 7 December 1998 and 54/96 B of 8 December 1999, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 1234 (1999) of 9 April 1999, 1258 (1999) of 6 August 1999, 1273 (1999) of 5 November 1999, 1279 (1999) of 30 November 1999, 1291 (2000) of 24 February 2000, 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000, 1316 (2000) of 23 August 2000 and 1323 (2000) of 13 October 2000, the statement adopted by the Council at its meeting of 7 September 2000, held at the level of heads of State and Government,S/PRST/2000/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and all previous statements by its President relating to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling further the Ceasefire Agreement signed in LusakaS/1999/815, annex. and the Kampala disengagement planSee S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. and the obligations of all signatories to those agreements and the obligations deriving from Security Council resolution 1304 (2000), Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all States in the region, Alarmed at the plight of the civilian population throughout the country, and calling for its protection, Gravely concerned at the deteriorating economic and social situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the eastern Congo, and at the effect of the continued fighting on the inhabitants of the country, Expressing its deep concern at the dire consequences of the conflict for the humanitarian and human rights situation, as well as at the reports of the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Urging all parties to respect and protect human rights and respect international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Deeply concerned about the continuing extensive destruction of life and property, as well as the severe damage to infrastructure and the environment suffered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bearing in mind that the Democratic Republic of the Congo also suffers from the problems encountered by a country that has received thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries, Recalling that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a least developed country with severe economic and social problems arising from its weak economic infrastructure and aggravated by the ongoing conflict, Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between ensuring peace and security and the ability of the country to meet the humanitarian needs of its people and to take effective steps towards the rapid revitalization of the economy, and reaffirming the urgent need to assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of its damaged economy and in its efforts to restore basic services and the infrastructure of the country, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/319. 2. Urges all parties concerned in the region to cease all military activity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which breaches the ceasefire provided for in the Ceasefire Agreement signed in LusakaS/1999/815, annex. and the Kampala disengagement planSee S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. and to implement fully those agreements and create the conditions necessary for the speedy and peaceful resolution of the crisis, and also urges all parties to engage in a process of political dialogue and negotiation; 3. Encourages the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to pursue sound macroeconomic policies and to promote good governance and the rule of law, and urges the Government to exert all efforts for economic recovery and reconstruction despite the ongoing armed conflict; 4. Renews its invitation to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cooperate with the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other organizations in addressing the need for rehabilitation and reconstruction, and stresses the need for the Government to assist and protect the civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons within the territory of that country regardless of their origin; 5. Urges all parties to respect fully the provisions of international humanitarian law and, in this regard, to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the safety of United Nations and humanitarian personnel; 6. Renews its urgent appeal to the executive boards of the United Nations funds and programmes to continue to keep under consideration the special needs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 7. Invites Governments to continue to provide support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to consult urgently with regional leaders, in coordination with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, about ways to bring about a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict; (b) To continue to consult with regional leaders, in coordination with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, in order to convene, when appropriate, an international conference on peace, security and development in Central Africa and in the Great Lakes region, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, to address the problems of the region in a comprehensive manner; (c) To keep under review the economic situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to promoting participation in and support for a programme of financial and material assistance to the country to enable it to meet its urgent needs in terms of economic recovery and reconstruction; (d) To submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the actions taken pursuant to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/167 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.53 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe 55/167. Assistance to Mozambique The General Assembly, Recalling Security Council resolution 386 (1976) of 17 March 1976, Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 45/227 of 21 December 1990, 47/42 of 9 December 1992, 49/21 D of 20 December 1994, 51/30 D of 5 December 1996 and 53/1 G of 16 November 1998, in which it urged the international community to respond effectively and generously to the call for assistance to Mozambique, Reaffirming the principles for humanitarian assistance contained in the annex to its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, Recalling its resolutions 48/7 of 19 October 1993, 49/215 of 23 December 1994, 50/82 of 14 December 1995, 51/149 of 13 December 1996 and 52/173 of 18 December 1997 on assistance in mine clearance, and stressing the need to foster the establishment of national mine-clearance capacity with a view to enabling the Government of Mozambique to deal more effectively with the adverse effects of those weapons within the framework of the efforts for national reconstruction, Recalling also its resolution 54/96 L of 10 March 2000 on assistance to Mozambique following the devastating floods, Deeply concerned at the unprecedented floods in Mozambique, which have resulted in tragic loss of human lives and extensive destruction of property and infrastructure, Deeply concerned also at the impact of the disaster on the economic, social and humanitarian situation in Mozambique, Recognizing that natural disasters constitute one of the major problems for the development of Mozambique, Aware that, to prevent and manage natural disasters, strategies at local, national and regional levels are required, in addition to international assistance, Bearing in mind the Paris Declaration and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1990s, adopted by the Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries on 14 September 1990,A/CONF.147/18, part one. and the mutual commitment entered into on that occasion, Noting with appreciation the mobilization and allocation of resources by States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist national efforts, Noting with satisfaction the full support by the international community of the post-emergency reconstruction programme presented by the Government of Mozambique at the International Reconstruction Conference for Mozambique, organized by the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of Mozambique, which was held in Rome on 3 and 4 May 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on assistance to Mozambique,A/55/317. and his report on assistance to Mozambique following the devastating floods,A/55/123-E/2000/89. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on assistance to MozambiqueA/55/317. and his report on assistance to Mozambique following the devastating floods;A/55/123-E/2000/89. 2. Welcomes the assistance rendered to Mozambique by various States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and private individuals and groups to assist national development efforts, and their full support for the post-emergency reconstruction programme presented by the Government of Mozambique at the International Reconstruction Conference for Mozambique; 3. Also welcomes the progress made in the consolidation of a lasting peace and tranquillity, the enhancement of democracy and the promotion of national reconciliation in Mozambique; 4. Notes the importance of the International Reconstruction Conference for funding for the reconstruction programme, welcomes the pledges made by the development partners for the post-emergency programme, expresses its gratitude to the development partners that have already disbursed the pledged funds, and urges others to speed up the process; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to make all necessary arrangements to continue to mobilize and coordinate, with a view to supporting the efforts of the Government of Mozambique: (a) Humanitarian assistance from the specialized agencies, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system; (b) International assistance for the national reconstruction and development of Mozambique; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it, for consideration at its fifty-seventh session, under the item on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance, through the Economic and Social Council at the humanitarian segment of its substantive session in 2002, on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/168 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.55/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Belgium, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 55/168. Assistance for humanitarian relief and the economic and social rehabilitation of Somalia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 43/206 of 20 December 1988, 44/178 of 19 December 1989, 45/229 of 21 December 1990, 46/176 of 19 December 1991, 47/160 of 18 December 1992, 48/201 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 L of 20 December 1994, 50/58 G of 20 December 1995, 51/30 G of 13 December 1996, 52/169 L of 16 December 1997, 53/1 M of 8 December 1998 and 54/96 D of 8 December 1999 as well as the resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council on emergency assistance to Somalia, Recalling also Security Council resolution 733 (1992) of 23 January 1992 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, in which the Council, inter alia, urged all parties, movements and factions in Somalia to facilitate the efforts of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected population in Somalia, and reiterated the call for the full respect of the security and safety of the personnel of those organizations and guarantee of their complete freedom of movement in and around Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, Recalling further the statement by the President of the Security Council of 29 June 2000S/PRST/2000/22; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. in which, inter alia, the Security Council expressed its full support for the efforts exerted by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to find a political solution to the situation in Somalia, underlined the importance of the widest participation of the representatives of all parts of Somali society, strongly urged representatives of all social and political forces of Somali society to participate actively, urged the warlords and faction leaders to desist from obstructing and undermining efforts to achieve peace, and also urged all States to stop providing those individuals with the means to carry on their destructive activities, Noting the cooperation between the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the countries members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and its Partners Forum, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and others in their efforts to resolve the humanitarian, security and political crisis in Somalia, Noting with appreciation the continued efforts made by the Secretary-General to assist the Somali people in their efforts to promote peace, stability and national reconciliation, Commending the initiative of the President of the Republic of Djibouti aiming at restoring peace and stability in Somalia, and noting with appreciation the efforts of the Government and people of Djibouti in hosting and facilitating the Somalia National Peace Conference, held in Arta, Republic of Djibouti, Welcoming the outcome of the Arta peace process, led by Djibouti and sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which provides for the establishment of a transitional national parliament and the formation of a transitional national government, Noting with appreciation that the mandate provided in the three-year transitional national charter emphasizes priorities, including reconciliation, demobilization of armed militia, restitution of properties to their lawful owners, holding of a national census, formulation of a new constitution, democratization, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction, Welcoming the efforts of the transitional Government of Somalia to promote national reconciliation within Somalia, recognizing that progress has been achieved in some regions in re-establishing economic and administrative stability and encouraging the peaceful cooperation of all political groups with the new transitional Government towards this end, Noting with concern that the lack of effective civil institutions in Somalia continues to impede sustained comprehensive development and that, while the environment has become more conducive to some reconstruction and development-oriented work in certain parts of the country, the humanitarian and security situation has remained fragile in other parts, Reaffirming its support for the joint strategy for targeted assistance of the United Nations system that is focused on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure and on sustainable community-based activities, as well as for the importance it attaches to the need for effective coordination and cooperation among the United Nations agencies and their partners, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/415. Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation support rendered by a number of States and relevant organizations to alleviate the hardship and suffering of the affected Somali population, Recognizing that, while the humanitarian situation remains fragile in some parts of Somalia, there is a need to continue the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction process alongside the national reconciliation process, without prejudice to the provision of emergency relief assistance wherever and whenever required, as security allows, Noting with appreciation that the prospects for humanitarian, rehabilitation and development activities have been more favourable in some parts of the country, owing to the formation of stronger administrative structures, the commitment shown to re-establishing the rule of law in general, and the leadership shown by some regional authorities and by civil society groups in attempting to establish an inclusive alternative to the faction-ridden past of Somalia, Noting with appreciation also the efforts of the United Nations system aimed at working directly with Somali communities at the local level, whenever possible, and emphasizing the need for coordination with the transitional Government and with local and regional authorities, Welcoming the continued focus of the United Nations, in partnership with Somali elders, other local leaders and skilled local counterparts at the grass-roots level and non-governmental organizations, on a programme of assistance, including both humanitarian and developmental approaches, given the varying conditions in different areas, Re-emphasizing the importance of the further implementation of its resolution 47/160 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services at the local and regional levels throughout the country, 1. Expresses its gratitude to all States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have responded to the appeals of the Secretary-General and others by extending assistance to Somalia; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued and tireless efforts to mobilize assistance to the Somali people; 3. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the countries members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and its Partners Forum, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and others to resolve the situation in Somalia; 4. Also welcomes the strategy of the United Nations focusing on the implementation of community-based interventions aimed at rebuilding local infrastructures and increasing the self-reliance of the local population, and the ongoing efforts by the United Nations agencies, their Somali counterparts and their partner organizations to establish and maintain close coordination and cooperation mechanisms available for the implementation of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes; 5. Notes with appreciation the holistic and prioritized approach of the United Nations system to addressing the continuing crisis in some parts of Somalia, while making long-term commitments to rehabilitation, recovery and development activities in more stable parts; 6. Emphasizes the principle that the Somali people have the primary responsibility for their own development and for the sustainability of rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance programmes, and reaffirms the importance it attaches to the creation of workable arrangements for collaboration between the United Nations system and its partner organizations and their Somali counterparts for the effective execution of rehabilitation and development activities in those parts of the country in which peace and security prevail; 7. Urges all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to continue to implement further its resolution 47/160 in order to assist the Somali people in embarking on the rehabilitation of basic social and economic services, as well as institution-building aimed at the restoration of civil administration at all levels in all parts of the country in which peace and security prevail; 8. Strongly urges all political groups in Somalia, in particular those which have remained outside the Arta peace process, to participate in the ongoing peace process and to establish a constructive dialogue with the new transitional Government, in order to achieve national reconciliation that allows for transition from relief to reconstruction and development and preserves economic and administrative progress achieved in many regions; 9. Calls upon all parties, individual political leaders and factions in Somalia to respect fully the security and safety of personnel of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and of non-governmental organizations, and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and safe access throughout Somalia; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize international humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 11. Calls upon the international community to provide continuing and increased assistance in response to the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia, covering the period from October 2000 to December 2001; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation in Somalia, to take all necessary measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/169 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.57 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 55/169. Humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, and reaffirming that humanitarian assistance should be provided in accordance with the guiding principles contained in the annex to that resolution, Recalling also its resolution 54/96 F of 15 December 1999, Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance and the rehabilitation support rendered by a number of States, in particular major contributors, international agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the affected population in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in particular emergency assistance packages provided by the European Union, participants in the FOCUS humanitarian relief initiative and other countries, Deeply concerned about the continuing urgency of the humanitarian situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, aware of the magnitude of the humanitarian requirements of the country, and recognizing the need to ensure effective links between relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Aware of the persisting gravity of the situation of socially and economically vulnerable segments of the population, including refugees and displaced persons, coupled with significantly decreased social services capacity, especially in the health sector, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/416. Taking note also of the report prepared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in Belgrade entitled "Background on the Energy Sector in Serbia for Winter 2000-2001",See www.reliefweb.int. Recognizing the role of the United Nations in solving the humanitarian problems facing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and in coordinating the efforts of the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the country, Welcoming the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe on 26 October 2000, Welcoming also the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to membership in the United Nations on 1 November 2000, 1. Calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the affected population in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, especially during the coming winter months, bearing in mind in particular the special situation of women, as well as children and other vulnerable groups; 2. Also calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to offer support to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its efforts to ensure the transition from relief to the longer-term goals of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the country; 3. Welcomes the commitment of, and encourages the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to continue to cooperate with the United Nations system and humanitarian organizations to address the humanitarian needs of the affected population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and urges the relevant authorities and the international community to support programmes to ensure that the humanitarian needs of refugees and internally displaced persons in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are met and to pursue durable solutions to their plight, in particular voluntary repatriation and reintegration, stresses the need to create conditions conducive to their safe return, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of regional cooperation in the search for solutions to the plight of refugees; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize the timely provision of international humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; 5. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, inter alia, through the mechanisms of a consolidated inter-agency appeal, and recognizes in this regard especially the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; 6. Requests the United Nations and the specialized agencies to continue their efforts to assess the humanitarian needs, in cooperation with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, relevant international and regional organizations and bodies and interested States, with a view to ensuring effective links between relief and longer-term assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, taking into account the work already carried out in this field and the need to avoid duplication and the overlapping of efforts; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 55/16 A and B 55/16. Credentials of representatives to the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly Resolution A Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 6 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of the first report of the Credentials Committee (A/55/537 and Corr.1) A The General Assembly, Having considered the first report of the Credentials Committee and the recommendation contained therein,A/55/537 and Corr.1. Approves the first report of the Credentials Committee. Resolution B Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of the second report of the Credentials Committee (A/55/537/Add.1) B The General Assembly, Having considered the second report of the Credentials Committee and the recommendation contained therein,A/55/537/Add.1. Approves the second report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 55/170 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.59 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United States of America, Ukraine, Yugoslavia 55/170. Economic assistance to the Eastern European States affected by the developments in the Balkans The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/96 G of 15 December 1999, Recalling also the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, adopted in Cologne, Germany, on 10 June 1999, and endorsed at the Sarajevo Summit of 30 July 1999, and emphasizing the crucial importance of its implementation, Stressing the importance of the regional cooperation initiatives, assistance arrangements and organizations, such as the Process of Stability and Good-Neighbourliness in South-East Europe (Royaumont Initiative), the South-East European Cooperative Initiative, the South-East European Cooperation Process, the Central European Initiative, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Danube Commission, Noting the leading role played by the high-level steering group for South-Eastern Europe, under the joint chairmanship of the European Commission and the World Bank, in guiding the donor coordination process for the economic reconstruction, stabilization, reform and development of the region, in close cooperation with the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, Mindful of the positive results of the regional funding conference for South-Eastern Europe organized by the European Commission and the World Bank, held in Brussels on 29 and 30 March 2000, and of the progress achieved in mobilizing and coordinating support of the donor community and international financial institutions for reconstruction and development efforts in South-Eastern Europe, Welcoming the democratic changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and their positive effects on peace, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on economic assistance to the Eastern European States affected by the developments in the Balkans and the conclusions contained therein,A/55/620 and Corr.1. 1. Expresses concern at the persistence of special economic problems confronting the Eastern European States affected by the developments in the Balkans, in particular their impact on regional trade and economic relations and on the navigation along the Danube and on the Adriatic Sea; 2. Welcomes the support already provided by the international community, in particular by the European Union and other major donors, to the affected States to assist them in coping with their special economic problems during the transition period following the developments in the Balkans, as well as in the longer-term process of economic recovery, structural adjustment and development in the region; 3. Stresses the importance of the effective implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, the objective of which is to strengthen countries in South-Eastern Europe in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity, in order to achieve stability in the whole region, and welcomes its follow-up activities, aimed, inter alia, at economic reconstruction, development and cooperation, including economic cooperation in the region and between the region and the rest of Europe; 4. Invites all States and the relevant international organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system, in particular the international financial institutions, to continue to take into account the special needs and situations of the affected States in providing support and assistance to their efforts for economic recovery, structural adjustment and development; 5. Emphasizes the importance of a well-coordinated and timely donor response to the external funding requirements of the process for economic reconstruction, stabilization, reform and development in the Balkans, as well as financial support to other affected countries of Eastern Europe; 6. Encourages the affected States of the region to continue and enhance the process of multilateral regional cooperation in the fields of transport and infrastructure development, including the resumption of navigation on the Danube, as well as to foster conditions favourable to trade, investment and private sector development in all the countries of the region; 7. Invites the relevant international organizations to take appropriate steps, consistent with the principle of efficient and effective procurement and with the agreed measures for procurement reform, in order to broaden access for interested local and regional vendors and to facilitate their participation in the international assistance efforts for reconstruction, recovery and development of the region; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/171 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.60 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan 55/171. Closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/190 of 21 December 1990, 46/150 of 18 December 1991, 47/165 of 18 December 1992, 48/206 of 21 December 1993, 50/134 of 20 December 1995, 52/172 of 16 December 1997 and 54/97 of 8 December 1999, Conscious of the long-term nature of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was a major technological catastrophe in terms of its scope and created humanitarian, environmental, social, economic and health consequences in the affected countries, Appreciative of the efforts made by the organizations of the United Nations system and Member States to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular, the contributions of the members of the Group of Seven and the European Union and others to the Shelter Implementation Plan aimed at securing the environmental safety of the sarcophagus covering the destroyed Chernobyl reactor in accordance with the memorandum of understanding between the Governments of the members of the Group of Seven and the Commission of the European Communities and the Government of Ukraine, Noting with concern the gravity of economic and social problems arising for Ukraine as a result of the closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 1. Welcomes the decision of Ukraine to close the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on 15 December 2000; 2. Calls upon the international community to continue to assist the Government of Ukraine in coping with the range of newly emerging economic and social problems arising as a result of the closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant; 3. Invites all States and the relevant international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide support to Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as the most affected countries, in mitigating and minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. RESOLUTION 55/172 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.65 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay 55/172. Assistance for humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development for East Timor The General Assembly, Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in East Timor, in particular resolutions 54/96 H of 15 December 1999 and 54/194 of 17 December 1999, Recalling also its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex to that resolution, Recalling further all of the relevant Security Council resolutions and decisions on the situation in East Timor, in particular resolutions 1272 (1999) of 25 October 1999 and 1319 (2000) of 8 September 2000, Recalling the establishment by Security Council resolution 1272 (1999) of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, whose mandate includes the coordination and delivery of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance, Welcoming the response of the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, with the coordination of the Transitional Administration since 1 January 2000, and in cooperation with the East Timorese people, in terms of addressing the humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development needs of East Timor, Acknowledging the progress made in the transition from relief to development in East Timor and, in this regard, the important role played by the Transitional Administration in supporting the resilient and determined efforts of the East Timorese people themselves, Welcoming the progress that has been made in alleviating the humanitarian assistance needs of East Timor, while noting continuing requirements for food and shelter assistance, Welcoming also the efforts of the Government of Indonesia and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance to the East Timorese refugees in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, West Timor, and in this respect recognizing the importance of the international community in assisting the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to implement resettlement and repatriation programmes of East Timorese refugees, Emphasizing the need for continued international assistance to East Timor to support the transition from relief and rehabilitation to development, in preparation for independence, and recognizing the significant challenges that are to be faced in this regard, inter alia, in the education, health, agriculture and infrastructure sectors, Deploring the killing of three personnel of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Atambua on 6 September 2000, which resulted in the withdrawal from West Timor of United Nations and other international humanitarian personnel, and welcoming in this respect the steps taken by the Government of Indonesia towards conducting a full-scale investigation, taking firm measures against those found guilty and ensuring a safe and secure environment, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/418. 2. Encourages the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, with the coordination of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, and in close consultation and cooperation with the East Timorese people, to continue to collaborate to address the remaining humanitarian relief needs of East Timor, and to support the transition from relief and rehabilitation to development in preparation for independence; 3. Emphasizes the importance of continuing close consultation with and participation of East Timorese institutions and civil society, including local non-governmental organizations, in the planning and delivery of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development assistance to East Timor; 4. Welcomes the establishment of the East Timor National Council as an interim step towards a democratic legislative institution as well as the appointment of a joint cabinet to increase Timorese participation in the Administration; 5. Urges United Nations organizations, the international community and non-governmental organizations to continue their efforts aimed at the enhanced ownership and participation of the East Timorese, known as "Timorization" in East Timor, of the social, economic and administrative infrastructure, and in this regard stresses the need for capacity-building, inter alia, in areas such as education, health, agriculture and rural development, the judiciary, governance and public administration, security and law and order; 6. Commends Member States for their prompt response to the United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for the East Timor crises, which was launched on 27 October 1999, and urges Member States to fulfil their pledges to meet the external financing requirements for humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development activities for East Timor; 7. Welcomes in this regard the convening of the Donors Meetings for East Timor in Tokyo on 16 and 17 December 1999, and in Lisbon on 22 and 23 June 2000, as well as the meeting in Brussels on 5 and 6 December 2000 which focused on the transition towards independence in East Timor in four key areas: political, public administration, public finances, and economic and social reconstruction; 8. Encourages continued international support in all sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, health and education to assist the efforts of East Timor towards sustainable development, particularly in its transition to independence; 9. Welcomes the immediate response to food aid needs by the international community, urges it to continue to ensure food security for the remaining vulnerable groups in need, and calls upon the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations to assist the East Timorese in ensuring sustainable development in the areas of agriculture, livestock and fisheries; 10. Recommends that outstanding infrastructure needs remain an essential focus of international assistance in such areas as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of public buildings, educational facilities, roads and public services; 11. Commends the rapid international response in terms of providing health services to the general population, including the early deployment of immunization and disease prevention programmes, and reproductive health care and child nutrition programmes, while recognizing the need for further assistance to rebuild hospitals and for training health-care professionals; 12. Welcomes the ongoing reopening of schools, the supply and distribution of education materials, and teacher training, while emphasizing the need for capacity-building, particularly in the area of secondary and higher education, and for continued attention to the rehabilitation needs, including psychosocial support, of children affected by the violence; 13. Stresses the urgent need for sustained and enhanced efforts by the Government of Indonesia, the Transitional Administration and the international community effectively and comprehensively to resolve the question of the East Timorese refugees by the repatriation or resettlement of all those refugees, in conditions of safety and security at all stages, and based on their voluntary decisions, through the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to guarantee effective security in the West Timor camps, by the promotion of a credible and internationally observed registration process, and by the promotion of and support for reconciliation among all East Timorese; 14. Acknowledges the efforts of the Government of Indonesia, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and other humanitarian organizations, to facilitate organized and spontaneous returns of East Timorese refugees from West Timor, including the repatriation of the former Indonesian military reservists known as Milsas, and underscores the importance of continued international assistance to support the efforts of the Government of Indonesia and relevant organizations to meet the needs of East Timorese refugees in West Timor, inter alia, by assisting their voluntary repatriation or resettlement; 15. Reaffirms the need to ensure safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and assistance to all those in need and to ensure the safety and security of all humanitarian personnel in West Timor, recognizes in this regard the steps taken and the efforts being made by the Government of Indonesia to implement Security Council resolution 1319 (2000), such as the ongoing disarming and disbanding of the militias, the deploying of additional security apparatus and the bringing to justice of those found guilty, and calls upon the Government to continue to strengthen such efforts in full cooperation with Member States, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations; 16. Urges the United Nations to continue to address the humanitarian, rehabilitation and development needs of East Timor; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/173 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.63 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 55/173. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/116 of 15 December 1999, Recalling also previous resolutions on the question, Welcoming the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the signing of the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. and the signing of the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum on 4 September 1999, Gravely concerned about the difficult economic and employment conditions facing the Palestinian people throughout the occupied territory, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory and the living conditions of the Palestinian people, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Noting the convening of the United Nations seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people, entitled "Prospects for Palestinian economic development and the Middle East peace process",A/55/144-E/2000/87, annex. held in Cairo on 20 and 21 June 2000, Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, including assistance in the fields of elections, police training and public administration, Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, and the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat, as well as the establishment of the Consultative Group, Welcoming also the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Welcoming further the results of the Ministerial Conference to Support Middle East Peace and Development, held in Washington, D.C., on 30 November 1998, and expressing appreciation for the pledges of the international donor community, Welcoming the meeting of the Consultative Group in Frankfurt, Germany, on 4 and 5 February 1999, in particular the pledges of the international donor community and the presentation of the Palestinian Development Plan for the years 1999-2003, Welcoming also the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee held in Lisbon on 7 and 8 June 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/137-E/2000/95. Expressing grave concern over the continuation of the recent tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/137-E/2000/95. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 5. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 6. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with Palestinian priorities set forth by the Palestinian Authority, with emphasis on national execution and capacity-building; 7. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 8. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 9. Stresses in this context the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 10. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to counter the impact of the current crisis; 11. Stresses the need to implement the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,See A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. in particular with regard to the full and prompt clearance of Palestinian indirect tax revenues; 12. Suggests the convening in 2001 of a United Nations-sponsored seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTIONS 55/174 A and B Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.62/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 55/174. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/195 B of 17 December 1996, 52/211 B of 19 December 1997, 53/203 A of 18 December 1998 and 54/189 A of 17 December 1999, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 1193 (1998) of 28 August 1998, 1214 (1998) of 8 December 1998 and 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999 and all statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, Noting all recent declarations by participants of regional international meetings and by international organizations on the situation in Afghanistan, Reaffirming its continued strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Reiterating that the United Nations, as a universally recognized and impartial intermediary, must continue to play its central role in international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, and expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts made in this regard by the Secretary-General, by his Personal Representative and by the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan, Convinced that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and that only a political settlement aimed at the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative government acceptable to the Afghan people can lead to peace and reconciliation, Stressing the importance of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, and deeply concerned at all forms of continued external support, which is causing the prolongation and intensification of the conflict, Expressing its grave concern at the failure of all Afghan parties, in particular the Taliban, to put an end to the conflict, which seriously threatens stability and peace in the region, despite the repeated demands by the Security Council to the warring sides to desist from fighting, Strongly condemning the resumption of major offensives by the Taliban in summer 2000, especially in the Taloqan area, and the resulting negative humanitarian consequences, including the loss of human life, the deliberate abuse, indiscriminate bombing and arbitrary detention of civilians, refugee flows, the recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, harassment, the forcible displacement of innocent civilians, in particular of women and children, in the Shomali Plains and north-eastern Afghanistan, and the indiscriminate destruction of their homes and agricultural land, thereby eliminating their source of income, Expressing its grave concern at persistent violations of human rights and at breaches of international humanitarian law in Afghanistan as well as at the continuing and substantiated reports of systematic human rights violations against women and girls, including all forms of discrimination against them, notably in areas under the control of the Taliban, Expressing concern at the growing spread of the Afghan conflict beyond its borders and at actions undermining the security of States' frontiers, Deeply disturbed by the continuing use of Afghan territory in areas controlled by the Taliban for the recruitment, sheltering and training of terrorists, including international terrorists, and the planning of terrorist acts within and outside Afghanistan, Deeply disturbed also by the continuing use of Afghan territory, especially areas controlled by the Taliban, for the continuing cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs, which contribute to the war-making capabilities of the Afghans and have dangerous repercussions reaching Afghanistan's neighbours and far beyond, Welcoming the written agreement communicated by the Taliban and the United Front in separate letters dated 30 October 2000A/55/548-S/2000/1077, annexes. to enter into a process of dialogue, without preconditions and under the good offices of the Secretary-General or his Personal Representative, aimed at achieving a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, Stressing that a lasting cessation of hostilities is essential for meaningful dialogue, and welcoming in particular the stated commitment of the two sides to negotiate with serious intent and in good faith and not to abandon the process unilaterally until the negotiating agenda is exhausted, Welcoming the high-level meetings of the "six plus two" group, held at United Nations Headquarters in September and November 2000, and the active role played by the group, leading, inter alia, to the adoption of a regional action plan aimed at eliminating illicit drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan, Welcoming also the contacts between the Special Mission and various non-warring Afghan parties and personalities, and supporting calls by these independent Afghans for an end to the fighting and any proposals that might advance the cause of peace, including the efforts of independent Afghan personalities, many of whom support the proposal of the former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, for the convening of a loya jirgah to promote a political settlement, Expressing its appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in support of and in coordination with the United Nations, to facilitate the convening of talks between the two Afghan parties, held in Jeddah in March and May 2000, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/633-S/2000/1106. 2. Stresses that the main responsibility for finding a political solution to the conflict lies with the Afghan parties, and urges all of them to respond to the repeated calls for peace by the United Nations; 3. Reiterates its position that the United Nations must continue to play its central and impartial role in international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, and reaffirms its full support for the efforts of the United Nations in facilitating the political process towards the goal of national reconciliation and a lasting political settlement with the participation of all parties to the conflict and all segments of Afghan society; 4. Urges the Taliban and the United Front to honour the written agreement communicated to the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General in separate letters dated 30 October 2000A/55/548-S/2000/1077, annexes. to enter into a process of dialogue, without preconditions and under the good offices of the Secretary-General or his Personal Representative, aimed at achieving a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan; 5. Calls upon the Afghan parties, in particular the Taliban, to cease immediately all armed hostilities, to renounce the use of force and to pursue without delay the political dialogue under United Nations auspices aimed at achieving a lasting political settlement of the conflict, leading to the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative government which would protect the rights of all Afghans and observe the international obligations of Afghanistan; 6. Strongly urges the Taliban and other Afghan parties to refrain from all acts of violence against civilians, in particular women and children; 7. Strongly condemns the resumption of major hostilities by the Taliban starting in July 2000, and strongly calls upon all Afghan parties to end all armed hostilities and not to pursue a military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan; 8. Notes with alarm reports indicating that a significant number of non-Afghan personnel, mainly on the side of the Taliban forces and largely from religious schools, are actively involved in various military activities; 9. Strongly condemns the fact that foreign military support to the Afghan parties continued unabated through 2000, and calls upon all States to refrain strictly from any outside interference and to end immediately the supply of arms, ammunition, military equipment, training or any other military support to all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan; 10. Calls upon all States to take resolute measures to prohibit their military personnel from planning and participating in combat operations in Afghanistan and immediately to withdraw their personnel, and to assure that the supply of ammunition and other war-making materials is halted; 11. Supports the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan with a view to assuring its primary role in United Nations peacemaking activities in Afghanistan, especially by the resumption of a dialogue between the Afghan parties through a negotiating process based on a comprehensive agenda to be agreed by the two sides that addresses the core problems of the Afghan situation and leads to a durable ceasefire and the formation of a broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative government; 12. Also supports the continuing cooperation of the Special Mission with all countries that are willing to help find a peaceful solution to the Afghan conflict, in particular with the members of the "six plus two" group, while continuing to monitor closely and to encourage the various peace initiatives of non-warring Afghan parties and personalities; 13. Welcomes the deployment of the Civil Affairs Unit of the Special Mission to Faizabad, Herat, Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar and Mazar-e Sharif and its ongoing dialogue on political and human rights issues with high-ranking representatives of the local and regional authorities of both Afghan sides, and supports the intention of the Secretary-General to strengthen the political capacity of the Special Mission and increase the number of military advisers from two to four; 14. Supports the activities of groups of interested States to coordinate their efforts as well as the activities of international organizations, in particular the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and encourages these organizations and States, in particular the "six plus two" group, to use their influence in a constructive manner in support of and in close coordination with the United Nations to promote peace in Afghanistan; 15. Encourages the international community to support the Afghan people in their right to express themselves on their main needs and their future through democratic or traditional means by developing a framework for institution and capacity-building that could lead to the eventual structure for a broad-based government; 16. Calls upon all signatories to the Tashkent Declaration on Fundamental Principles for a Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict in AfghanistanA/54/174-S/1999/812, annex. and the Afghan parties to implement the principles contained in that Declaration in support of the efforts of the United Nations towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, in particular the agreement not to provide military support to any Afghan party and to prevent the use of their territories for such purposes, and recalls their appeal to the international community to take identical measures to prevent the delivery of weapons to Afghanistan; 17. Strongly condemns the armed attacks on and the killing of United Nations and other humanitarian personnel, strongly calls upon the Taliban to fulfil their stated commitment to cooperate in urgent investigations of these heinous crimes with a view to bringing those responsible to justice, and urges all Afghan parties to demonstrate their full commitment to the safety and security of all United Nations and other humanitarian personnel so as to facilitate their continued work in support of the affected population; 18. Reiterates its strong condemnation of the killing of the diplomatic and consular staff of the Consulate-General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Mazar-e Sharif and the correspondent of the Islamic Republic News Agency in August 1998, stresses that these unacceptable acts which constitute flagrant violations of established international law must not go unpunished, expresses deep concern at the lack of progress in the Taliban investigation of the murders, and once again urges the Taliban to carry out, without further delay, a credible investigation with a view to prosecuting the guilty parties and to inform the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Nations about the results thereof; 19. Strongly condemns the widespread violations and abuses of human rights, including summary executions and an alleged mass killing of detainees in Samangan in May 2000, and strongly urges all Afghan parties to recognize, protect and promote all human rights and freedoms, including the right to life, liberty and security of persons, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion; 20. Calls upon all Afghan parties, in particular the Taliban, to bring an end without delay to all violations of human rights and discriminatory policies against women and girls and to recognize, protect and promote the equal rights and dignity of men and women, especially in the fields of education, work and equal health care; 21. Condemns the continuing widespread violations of international humanitarian law in Afghanistan, and urgently calls upon all Afghan parties to respect strictly all its provisions that provide essential protection for the civilian population in armed conflicts; 22. Reiterates its concerns that the continuing conflict in Afghanistan poses a growing risk to peace and stability in the region; 23. Condemns the acts of terrorists based in Afghanistan, including those in support of extremist groups operating against the interests of Member States and against their citizens, and strongly demands that in particular the Taliban refrain from providing safe haven to international terrorists and their organizations, cease the recruitment of terrorists, close down terrorist training camps inside Afghanistan, take effective measures to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to sponsor international terrorist operations and take the necessary steps to cooperate with efforts to bring indicted terrorists to justice without delay; 24. Strongly urges the Taliban to comply without preconditions and without further delay with its obligations under Security Council resolution 1267 (1999) and other relevant resolutions; 25. Reiterates its call to all Afghan parties, in particular the Taliban, to halt all illegal drug activities and to support international efforts to ban illicit drug production and trafficking, and calls upon all Member States and all parties concerned to undertake concerted measures to stop the trafficking of illegal drugs from Afghanistan; 26. Notes with interest in this regard the decree issued by the Taliban in July 2000 imposing a total ban on opium poppy cultivation, and calls upon the Taliban to implement fully this decree; 27. Notes the severe impact of illicit drug production and trafficking on Afghanistan's immediate neighbours, and calls for further international cooperation in support of the efforts of the neighbouring States to stop the trafficking of illegal drugs from Afghanistan and to cope with its adverse social and economic consequences; 28. Requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to continue its crop monitoring work inside Afghanistan, within the context of the United Nations common programme and, with particular regard to assessing the impact of the July 2000 decree, to consider enlarging its alternative development work there should the assessment show significant implementation of the decree, and further to develop international measures against drug trafficking; 29. Calls upon the international community to continue providing financial resources to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme for the implementation of the above activities; 30. Reiterates that the cultural and historic relics and monuments of Afghanistan belong to the common heritage of humankind, calls upon all Afghan parties to protect the cultural and historic relics and monuments of Afghanistan from acts of vandalism, damage and theft, and requests all Member States to take appropriate measures to prevent the looting of cultural artefacts and to ensure their return to Afghanistan; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every four months during its fifty-fifth session on the progress of the Special Mission and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 32. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security". B Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/195 A of 17 December 1996, 52/211 A of 19 December 1997, 53/203 B of 18 December 1998 and 54/189 B of 17 December 1999, Expressing its grave concern about the continuation of the military confrontation in Afghanistan, threatening regional peace and security and causing massive loss of life and extensive human suffering, further destruction of property, serious damage to the economic and social infrastructure, refugee flows and other forcible displacements of large numbers of people, as well as the failure of all warring parties, in particular the Taliban, to stop the fighting, Noting with deep concern the worst drought for decades, which affects large parts of Afghanistan and risks dramatically exacerbating the already fragile humanitarian situation, Remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance as well as the continued laying of new anti-personnel landmines in Afghanistan, which continue to prevent many Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons from returning to their villages and working in their fields, Noting with deep concern that the majority of the Afghan people are unable to enjoy fully their human rights and fundamental freedoms owing to the accumulated effects of warfare, further aggravated by ongoing fighting and destruction, in particular by the Taliban, searing poverty, profound underdevelopment, and the policies and practices of the authorities, Expressing its grave concern at the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, in particular by the Taliban, in Afghanistan and at the inadequacy of measures taken by the warring factions to reverse the situation, Deeply concerned by the continuing and substantiated reports of violations of human rights, in particular of women and girls, including all forms of discrimination against them, notably in areas under the control of the Taliban, Welcoming the ongoing work of gender and human rights advisers appointed by the United Nations, who form an integral part of the office of the United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2000/68/Add.4. Noting with alarm that the resumption of fighting by the Taliban during the past summer led to further displacement of civilian populations, especially in the provinces of Baghlan and Takhar, Expressing its grave concern for the well-being of internally displaced persons and other vulnerable sections of the civilian population, who face a long winter possibly deprived of basic foods as a result of the drought and the recent fighting, as well as the repeated denial by the warring factions of adequate conditions for the delivery of aid by humanitarian organizations, Affirming the urgent need to continue international humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan for the restoration of basic services, as well as the need for the conflicting parties to guarantee the safety and security of the personnel of all international organizations, Welcoming the principle-centred approach towards humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation in Afghanistan, as outlined in the Strategic Framework for Afghanistan, and the consolidated appeals as tools to promote greater effectiveness and coherence in international aid programmes, and welcoming also the establishment of the independent strategic monitoring unit, Deeply disturbed by the continuing security threat to United Nations personnel and other humanitarian personnel, including locally engaged staff, and by the fact that the authorities continue to limit their access to affected populations in certain areas, Noting with deep concern the substantial restrictions introduced by the Taliban authorities on the operations of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations that provide humanitarian, economic rehabilitation and development assistance in Afghanistan, and noting in particular the negative impact these restrictions have on the provision of assistance to groups in need of special protection, especially women and children, Noting with deep concern also that a significant number of Afghan refugees remain in neighbouring countries, as conditions in many parts of Afghanistan are currently not conducive to a safe and sustainable return, and acknowledging that those refugees constitute a continuing socio-economic burden for the host countries, Expressing its gratitude to all Governments that have rendered assistance to Afghan refugees, in particular those of neighbouring countries that continue to host Afghan refugee populations, and at the same time again calling upon all parties to continue to honour their obligations for the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons and to allow international access for their protection and care, Recognizing the need for continuing international assistance for the maintenance abroad and the voluntary repatriation and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, and welcoming the voluntary return of refugees to rural districts in Afghanistan that are relatively stable and secure and not severely affected by the drought, Expressing its appreciation to the United Nations system, and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations that have responded positively, and continue to respond, where conditions permit, to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary-General for his efforts in mobilizing and coordinating the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General, and endorses the observations contained therein;A/55/348. 2. Stresses that the responsibility for the humanitarian crisis lies with all warring parties, in particular with the Taliban; 3. Strongly condemns the resumption of major fighting by the Taliban during the past summer, especially in the Taloqan area and the Shomali Plains, resulting in further forcible displacement of civilian populations and destruction of infrastructure; 4. Notes with alarm numerous reports of the Taliban troops deliberately destroying, burning and looting homes and assets of civilians essential for their survival in the battle zones; 5. Urges all parties, in particular the Taliban, to end immediately all armed hostilities, and calls upon the leaders of all Afghan parties to place the highest priority on national reconciliation, acknowledging the desire of the Afghan people for rehabilitation, reconstruction and economic and social development; 6. Calls upon all relevant organizations of the United Nations system to continue to coordinate closely their humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan on the basis of the principles laid out in the Strategic Framework for Afghanistan, in particular to assure a consistent approach to the implementation of these principles, human rights and security, and appeals to donor countries as well as other humanitarian organizations to cooperate closely within the framework of the United Nations, taking into account the inter-agency consolidated appeal for emergency humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to Afghanistan for 2001; 7. Strongly condemns the killing of seven Afghan employees of the United Nations-supported mine awareness programme by unidentified gunmen, as well as recent acts of violence and intimidation against United Nations personnel and offices; 8. Urges all Afghan parties, in particular the Taliban, to respect international humanitarian law, to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations and humanitarian personnel as well as their safe and unimpeded access to all affected populations, and to protect the property of the United Nations and of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, so as to facilitate their work; 9. Calls upon the Taliban authorities to implement fully the Supplementary Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding of 13 May 1998, signed by the United Nations and the Taliban, on the security of United Nations personnel in Afghanistan; 10. Demands that all Afghan parties cooperate fully with the United Nations and associated bodies as well as with other agencies and humanitarian organizations in their efforts to respond to the humanitarian needs of the people of Afghanistan; 11. Condemns all interference in the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies, and demands the secure and uninterrupted supply of humanitarian aid to all in need of it, especially in the Panjshir valley; 12. Strongly condemns substantial restrictions introduced by the Taliban authorities on the operations of the United Nations, in particular the recent decree of law banning the employment of Afghan women in the United Nations and non-governmental programmes, except in the health sector; 13. Calls upon the Taliban authorities to cooperate fully and without discrimination on grounds of gender, nationality or religion with the United Nations and associated bodies and with other humanitarian organizations, agencies and non-governmental organizations; 14. Denounces the continuing discrimination against girls and women as well as ethnic and religious groups, including minorities, and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan, notably in areas under the control of the Taliban, notes with deep concern their adverse effects on international relief and reconstruction programmes in Afghanistan, and calls upon all parties within Afghanistan to respect fully the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with international human rights instruments, inter alia, the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and to refrain from all attempts to single out minorities; 15. Strongly urges all the Afghan parties to end discriminatory policies and to recognize, protect and promote the equal rights and dignity of women and men, including their rights to full and equal participation in the life of the country, freedom of movement, access to education and health facilities, employment outside the home, personal security and freedom from intimidation and harassment, in particular with respect to the implications of discriminatory policies for the distribution of aid, notwithstanding some progress made with respect to access to education and health care for girls and women; 16. Urges all Afghan parties to prohibit conscripting or enlisting children or using them to participate in hostilities in violation of the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict;Resolution 54/263, annex I. 17. Appeals to all States and to the international community to ensure that all humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan integrates a gender perspective, that it actively attempts to promote the participation of both women and men and that women benefit equally with men from such assistance; 18. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, appeals to the Governments concerned to reaffirm their commitment to international refugee law on the rights of asylum and protection, and calls upon the international community to do likewise; 19. Recognizes the high number of refugees in neighbouring countries, and calls upon the international community to consider providing further assistance to Afghan refugees; 20. Expresses concern over the continued laying of anti-personnel landmines, which continues to take a heavy toll on civilians and seriously impedes the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and urges all Afghan parties to call a complete halt to the use of landmines, as well as to fulfil their duties to cooperate with the United Nations mine action programme and to protect their personnel; 21. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, when conditions on the ground permit, all possible financial, technical and material assistance for the Afghan population, especially in the areas most affected by the drought, and the voluntary, safe and secure return of refugees and internally displaced persons; 22. Calls upon the international community to respond to the inter-agency consolidated appeal for emergency humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance for Afghanistan, launched by the Secretary-General on 29 November 2000 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2001, bearing in mind the availability also of the Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the actions taken pursuant to the present resolution; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session, under the cluster of items on coordination of humanitarian assistance, the sub-item entitled "Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan". RESOLUTION 55/175 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.64 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 55/175. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 53/87 of 7 December 1998 and 54/192 of 17 December 1999 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, as well as resolutions 52/167 of 16 December 1997 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and 52/126 of 12 December 1997 on protection of United Nations personnel, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on protection of civilians in armed conflicts,A/54/619 and S/1999/957. and of Security Council resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 and the recommendations made therein, as well as the statements by the President of the Security Council of 30 November 1999 on the role of the Security Council in the prevention of armed conflicts,S/PRST/1999/34; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. of 13 January 2000 on humanitarian assistance to refugees in Africa,S/PRST/2000/1; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. of 9 February 2000 on protection of United Nations personnel, associated personnel and humanitarian personnel in conflict zones,S/PRST/2000/4; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and of 9 March 2000 on humanitarian aspects of issues before the Security Council,S/PRST/2000/7; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and in this context also noting the range of views expressed during all open debates of the Security Council on these issues, Taking note also of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping OperationsA/C.4/55/6. on the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace OperationsSee A/55/305-S/2000/809. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the report of the Panel,A/55/502. Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Deeply concerned by the growing number of complex humanitarian emergencies in the past few years, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, which have dramatically increased the loss of human lives, in particular of civilians, the suffering of victims, flows of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as material destruction, which disrupt the development efforts of the countries affected, in particular those of developing countries, Concerned by the increasingly difficult context in which humanitarian assistance takes place in some areas, in particular the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to improve the current security management system in order to improve their safety and security, Strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among national and international humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Strongly condemning the acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault, intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of their property, Strongly condemning also all recent incidents in many parts of the world in which humanitarian personnel have been deliberately targeted, and expressing profound regret at the deaths of all United Nations and other personnel involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter of the United Nations or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with their obligations under the 1949 Geneva ConventionsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian and United Nations and its associated personnel, Expressing concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the ability of the Organization to provide assistance and protection to civilians in fulfilment of its mandate and Charter, Welcoming the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17 July 1998,A/CONF.183/9. and noting the role that the Court could play in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Noting that the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, which entered into force on 15 January 1999,Resolution 49/59, annex. has been ratified by 46 Member States as at the present date, Reaffirming the fundamental requirement that appropriate modalities for the safety and security of humanitarian and United Nations and its associated personnel be incorporated into all new and ongoing United Nations field operations, Emphasizing the need to give further consideration to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who account for the majority of casualties, and United Nations and its associated personnel, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part in humanitarian operations, often at great personal risk, Guided by the relevant provisions on protection contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947,Resolution 179 (II). the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and the Additional Protocols,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. and Amended Protocol IICCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. to the Convention on Prohibitions and Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary General on safety and security of United Nations personnel;A/55/494. 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international humanitarian law, as well as relevant provisions of human rights law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Also urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 5. Strongly condemns any act or failure to act which obstructs or prevents humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel from discharging their humanitarian functions, or which entails being subjected to threats, the use of force or physical attack frequently resulting in injury or death, and affirms the need to hold accountable those who commit such acts and, for that purpose, the need to enact national legislation, as appropriate; 6. Urges all States to ensure that any threat or act of violence committed against humanitarian personnel on their territory is fully investigated and to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law and national legislation, to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are prosecuted; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation and to continue to consider ways and means in which to strengthen the protection of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, notably by seeking the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarter and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and its associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized AgenciesResolution 179 (II). and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel;Resolution 49/59, annex. 8. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations personnel, to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation who have been arrested or detained in violation of their immunity, in accordance with the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 9. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with their obligations under the 1949 Geneva ConventionsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the safety and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, to refrain from abducting or detaining them in violation of their immunity under relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm, any abductee or detainee; 10. Calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;A/CONF.183/9. 11. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel to observe and respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 12. Calls upon all States to promote a climate of respect for the security of United Nations and humanitarian personnel; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, falling within his responsibilities, to ensure that security matters are an integral part of the planning for existing and newly mandated United Nations operations and that such precautions extend to all United Nations and its associated personnel; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called to operate, including relevant customs and traditions in the host country, and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant domestic and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights and humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 15. Stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training prior to their deployment to the field, the need to attach a high priority to the improvement of stress counselling services available to United Nations staff members, including through the implementation of a comprehensive security and stress management training programme for United Nations staff throughout the system, and the need to make available to the Secretary-General the means for this purpose; 16. Encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System; 17. Reaffirms the need to strengthen the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator, and in this regard expresses its appreciation for the recommendation of the Secretary-General to appoint a full-time Security Coordinator so as to enable the Office to enhance its capacity in the discharge of its duties, in consultation with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and appropriate agencies within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, and calls for expeditious consideration of the recommendation; 18. Recognizes the need for a strengthened and comprehensive security management system for the United Nations system, both at headquarter and field level, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures needed to that end; 19. Encourages all States to become parties to and respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, including the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 20. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,A/55/637. and decides that the Sixth Committee shall consider the report at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, under an item entitled "Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel"; 21. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, which have been ratified so far by 140 States and 106 States, respectively; 22. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, calls upon States to consider signing and ratifying the 1998 Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations,United Nations Treaty registration No. 27688. and encourages them, pending the entry into force of the Convention, to facilitate, consistent with their national laws and regulations, the use of communications equipment in such operations; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-sixth session a comprehensive, updated report on the safety and security situation of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution, including an account of the measures taken by Governments and the United Nations to prevent and respond to all individual security incidents that involve United Nations and its associated personnel. RESOLUTION 55/176 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.66 and Add.1, sponsored by: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia 55/176. Assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/232 of 21 December 1990, 46/147 of 17 December 1991, 47/154 of 18 December 1992, 48/197 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 E of 20 December 1994, 50/58 A of 12 December 1995, 51/30 B of 5 December 1996, 52/169 E of 16 December 1997 and 53/1 I of 16 November 1998, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/90-E/2000/81. Commending the Economic Community of West African States and the United Nations for their collaborative efforts with the Government of Liberia in its peace-building objectives, Realizing that the restoration of peace has not brought rapid and sustainable social and economic recovery, despite programmes initiated by the Government aimed at reconciliation and reconstruction, 1. Expresses its gratitude to all donor countries, the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, the European Union, the Bretton Woods institutions and non-governmental organizations for their participation in a joint mission held in Monrovia from 15 to 19 November 1999 to assess the National Reconstruction Programme and the use of donor funds committed at the 1998 Donors' Conference for the reconstruction of Liberia, and urges those that have not yet honoured their pledges and commitment to do so; 2. Also expresses its gratitude to all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for their assistance and support for the peace-building process in Liberia, and urges that such assistance be continued; 3. Calls upon all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide assistance to Liberia to facilitate the implementation of its National Reconstruction Programme submitted at the Donors' Conference; 4. Urges the Government of Liberia to provide an enabling environment for the promotion of socio-economic development and a culture of sustained peace in the country, including a commitment to upholding the rule of law, national reconciliation and human rights and to implementing ways and means of reducing tension and promoting sustainable and peaceful political development in the subregion; 5. Urges the United Nations system and all States, in working towards the reconstruction and development of Liberia, to direct their assistance to or through intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 6. Renews its appeal to the Government of Liberia to cooperate with the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other organizations in addressing the need for rehabilitation and reconstruction, and stresses the need for the Government of Liberia to assist and protect the civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, regardless of their origin; 7. Calls upon all parties to respect fully the provisions of international humanitarian law and in this regard to ensure safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of Liberia and the safety of United Nations and humanitarian personnel; 8. Commends the Secretary-General for his continuing efforts to mobilize international assistance for the development and reconstruction of Liberia, and requests him to continue his efforts to mobilize all possible assistance within the United Nations system to help in the reconstruction and development of Liberia, including the return and reintegration of refugees, displaced persons and demobilized soldiers; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to consider at its fifty-seventh session the question of international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia. RESOLUTION 55/177 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.33/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela 55/177. United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/99 of 8 December 1999, in which it decided to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala from 1 January to 31 December 2000, Taking into account that, for the first time since the signing of the peace agreements, Guatemala held general elections during the period from November to December 1999 and that the peaceful transfer of power signals significant progress towards the consolidation of an inclusive and democratic political system, Underlining the fact that substantive aspects of the agenda of the peace agreements are yet to be implemented and that their implementation requires a revised calendar prepared by the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements, Taking into account that the parties have requested the United Nations to support the consolidation of the peace-building process until 2003,See A/55/389, para. 9. Taking into account also the tenthA/54/688, annex. and eleventhA/55/174, annex. reports of the Mission on human rights, Taking into account further the fourthA/54/526. and fifthA/55/175. reports of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements, Taking into account the report of the Commission for Historical Clarification,A/53/928, annex. Stressing the positive role played by the Mission in support of the Guatemala peace process, and emphasizing the need for the Mission to continue to enjoy the full support of all parties concerned, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Mission,A/55/389. 1. Welcomes the tenthA/54/688, annex. and eleventhA/55/174, annex. reports of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala on human rights; 2. Also welcomes the fourthA/54/526. and fifthA/55/175. reports of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements; 3. Recalls the report of the Commission for Historical Clarification and the recommendations contained therein;A/53/928, annex. 4. Welcomes the commitment made by the new Government of Guatemala in January 2000 to the implementation of the peace agreements and to reinvigorating the peace process through the adoption of social policies anchored to the agreements; 5. Takes note of the agreement reached by the parties regarding the importance of the continuing presence of the Mission in Guatemala until 2003; 6. Also takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/389. which are aimed at ensuring that the Mission can respond adequately to the demands of the peace process until 31 December 2001, as well as of his proposals relating to the changes in the structure and staffing of the Mission for the period 2001-2003; 7. Notes with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the peace agreements, in particular the process towards the finalization of the Fiscal Pact for a Future with Peace and Development which establishes the basis for increased public spending on the peace agenda and paves the way for the modernization of the economic system, the reinforcement of the operational capacities and training of the National Civil Police and the establishment by decree of the Women's Secretariat; 8. Welcomes the rescheduling of pending commitments by the Commission to Follow Up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements and the inclusion of commitments not initially scheduled in a revised calendar for implementation, and urges the rapid approval of the new timetable; 9. Notes that the consolidation of the peace-building process remains a significant challenge that requires the strengthening of achievements to date and the completion of the outstanding agenda; 10. Underlines with concern that key reforms envisaged in the peace agreements remain outstanding, including the fiscal, judicial, military, electoral and land reforms, as well as decentralization and rural development, and therefore urges the finalization of the Fiscal Pact, notes the need to strengthen the institutions established under the agreements, and stresses the importance of continued compliance with the peace agreements; 11. Notes that the present Government has assigned priority to national and international human rights obligations; 12. Encourages the Government to implement the recommendations contained in the reports of the Mission on human rights, in particular in view of the persistent shortcomings in the overall human rights situation and the troubling increase in incidents directed at people working on such issues; 13. Underlines the importance of implementing fully the Agreement on identity and rights of indigenous peoplesA/49/882-S/1995/256, annex. as a key to achieving peace in Guatemala, and highlights the need to implement fully the Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects and Agrarian SituationA/50/956, annex. as a means of addressing the root causes of the armed conflict; 14. Calls upon the Government to follow up the recommendations of the Commission for Historical Clarification, with a view to promoting national reconciliation, upholding the right to truth and providing redress, in accordance with Guatemalan law, for the victims of human rights abuses and violence committed during the thirty-six-year conflict, and calls upon Congress to establish the Commission for Peace and Harmony; 15. Encourages the parties and all sectors of Guatemalan society to intensify their efforts to achieve the goals of the peace agreements, in particular the observance of human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples, equitable development, participation and national reconciliation; 16. Invites the international community and, in particular, the agencies, programmes and funds of the United Nations, to continue to support the consolidation of the peace-building process and to consider the implementation of the peace agreements as the framework for their technical and financial assistance programmes and projects, and stresses the continued importance of close cooperation among them in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Guatemala; 17. Urges the international community to support financially the strengthening of the capacities of the United Nations agencies and programmes as they assume a more active role in working in a closely coordinated relationship with the Mission in order to ensure the consolidation of the peace process in Guatemala; 18. Stresses that the Mission has a key role to play in promoting the consolidation of peace and the observance of human rights and in verifying compliance with the newly approved timetable for the implementation of pending commitments under the peace agreements; 19. Decides to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the Mission from 1 January to 31 December 2001; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, as early as possible, an updated report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, together with his recommendations regarding the continuation of the peace-building phase after 31 December 2001; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly fully informed of the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/178 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.42/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela 55/178. The situation in Central America: procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development The General Assembly, Considering the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, particularly resolution 637 (1989) of 27 July 1989, and its own resolutions, particularly resolution 43/24 of 15 November 1988, in which it requests the Secretary-General to continue his good offices and to afford the fullest possible support to the Central American Governments in their efforts to achieve the objectives of peace, reconciliation, democracy, development and justice established in the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America" of 7 August 1987,A/42/521-S/19085, annex. Reaffirming its resolutions in which it recognizes and stresses the importance of international economic, financial and technical cooperation and assistance, both bilateral and multilateral, aimed at promoting economic and social development in the region with a view to furthering and supplementing the efforts of the Central American peoples and Governments to achieve peace and democratization, particularly resolution 52/169 G of 16 December 1997, concerning international assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America,A/49/580-S/1994/1217, annex I. as well as its resolution 53/1 C of 2 November 1998, concerning emergency assistance to Central America, owing to the destruction caused by hurricane Mitch, Emphasizing the importance of the development of the Central American Integration System, which has as its main objective the promotion of the integration process, the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America as the integrated programme for national and regional development, which contains the commitments and priorities of the countries of the area for the promotion of sustainable development, the establishment of the subsystem and of the regional social policy, the model of democratic Central American security, and the implementation of other agreements adopted at the presidential summit meetings, which taken together constitute the global frame of reference for consolidating peace, freedom, democracy and development and the basis for the promotion of mutually advantageous relations between Central America and the international community, Recognizing the considerable success achieved in the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the Guatemala Peace Agreements, implementation of which is being verified by the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala, Noting at the same time the delays in the fulfilment of some of the commitments contained in the Guatemala Peace Agreements, which has led the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements to reschedule its fulfilment for the period 2001-2004, and having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala and the recommendations contained thereinA/55/389. aimed at ensuring that the Mission is able to respond adequately to the demands of the peace process until December 2001, Taking note with satisfaction of the successful implementation of the Peace Agreements and the continuous consolidation of the process of democratization in El Salvador, as a result of the efforts of its people and Government, Recognizing with satisfaction the role played by the peacekeeping operations and observer and monitoring missions of the United Nations, which carried out successfully their mandate in Central America pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, respectively, Recognizing with satisfaction also the organization and holding of general elections in Guatemala at the end of 1999, of municipal and parliamentary elections in El Salvador in March 2000 and of municipal elections in Nicaragua in November 2000, Emphasizing the importance of the end of a critical period in Central American history and the start of a new phase free from armed conflict, with freely elected Governments in each country and with political, economic, social and other changes which are creating a climate conducive to the promotion of economic growth and further progress towards the consolidation and further development of democratic, just and equitable societies, Noting with gratification that the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. will be held in Nicaragua in September 2001, Reaffirming that the consolidation and establishment of firm and lasting peace and democracy in Central America is a dynamic and ongoing process that faces serious structural challenges, Stressing the importance of progress in human development, especially the alleviation of extreme poverty, the promotion of economic and social justice, judicial reform, the safeguarding of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for minorities and the satisfaction of the basic needs of the most vulnerable groups among the peoples in the region, issues which have been a primary source of tension and conflict and which deserve to be discussed with the same urgency and dedication as was the case in the settlement of armed conflicts, Considering with concern that it has not yet been possible to overcome the devastating effects of hurricanes Mitch and Keith on sectors of Central American countries and which are causing setbacks in the efforts of the peoples and the Governments of Central America, Emphasizing the solidarity of the international community with the victims of hurricane Mitch, as demonstrated by the Stockholm Declaration,See www.iadb.org. the subsequent meetings of the Consultative Group for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America and the next meeting of the Group in Madrid in January 2001, Bearing in mind the efforts made by the Central American Governments to reduce the risks and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters in the region, as demonstrated by the adoption, by the Presidents of the Isthmus, of the Declaration of Guatemala II of 19 October 1999,A/54/630, annex. the subsequent adoption of the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central America, as well as the adoption of the Central American Five-Year Plan for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Disasters, 2000 to 2004, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/465. 2. Commends the efforts of the peoples and the Governments of the Central American countries to re-establish peace and democracy throughout the region and promote sustainable development by implementing the commitments adopted at the summit meetings in the region, and supports the decision of the Presidents that Central America should become a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development; 3. Reaffirms the need to continue to improve the electoral processes that have been taking place in Central America, which are conducive to the consolidation of democracy in the region, and encourages greater participation of citizens in elections; 4. Recognizes the need to continue to follow closely the situation in Central America according to the objectives and principles established in the Stockholm DeclarationSee www.iadb.org. in order to support national and regional efforts to overcome the underlying causes that have led to armed conflicts, avoid setbacks and consolidate peace and democratization in the area and promote the objectives of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America;A/49/580-S/1994/1217, annex I. 5. Stresses the importance of lending support to the meeting of the Consultative Group for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America, which will be held in Madrid in January 2001, in order to continue to help to consolidate the modernization and improvement of the principal structures of the region in accordance with the model established by the Alliance for Sustainable Development; 6. Welcomes the Declaration of Guatemala IIA/54/630, annex. which provides for the necessary measures to prevent vulnerability to and mitigate the effects of natural disasters; 7. Also welcomes the progress achieved in implementing the Guatemala Peace Agreements, calls upon all parties to take further measures to implement the commitments in the Peace Agreements, and urges all sectors of society to combine efforts and work with courage and determination to consolidate peace; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, the bodies and programmes of the United Nations system and the international community to continue to support and verify in Guatemala the implementation of all the peace agreements signed under United Nations auspices, compliance with which is an essential condition for a firm and lasting peace in that country, and to consider the implementation of the Peace Agreements as the framework for their technical and financial assistance programmes and projects, stressing the importance of constant and close cooperation among them in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Guatemala; 9. Expresses its appreciation with satisfaction to the people and the Government of El Salvador for their efforts to fulfil the commitments set forth in the Peace Agreements, which has made a substantial contribution to the strengthening of the process of democratization in that country; 10. Recognizes the importance of the Central American Integration System as the body set up to coordinate and harmonize efforts to achieve integration, and calls upon the international community, the United Nations system and other international organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, to extend generous and effective cooperation with a view to improving the competence and efficiency of the Integration System in the fulfilment of its mandate; 11. Underlines the efforts carried out in the Central American region towards integration, such as the Trinational Declaration between Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, as well as the Customs Union between those countries, as means for promoting integration while respecting different stages of development, through a pragmatic mechanism open to the participation of the other countries of the region; 12. Encourages the Central American Governments to continue to carry out their historic responsibilities by fully implementing the commitments they have assumed under national, regional or international agreements, especially the commitments to implement the social programme to overcome poverty and unemployment, establish a more just and equitable society, improve public safety, strengthen the judiciary, consolidate a modern and transparent public administration and eliminate corruption, impunity, acts of terrorism and drug and arms trafficking, all of which are necessary and urgent measures for establishing a firm and lasting peace in the region; 13. Reiterates its deep appreciation to the Secretary-General, his special representatives, the groups of countries for the peace processes in El Salvador (Colombia, Mexico, Spain, United States of America and Venezuela), and Guatemala (Colombia, Mexico, Norway, Spain, United States of America and Venezuela), to the Support Group for Nicaragua (Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden), to the European Union and to other countries that have contributed significantly and to the international community in general for its support and solidarity in the building of peace, democracy and development in Central America; 14. Reaffirms the importance of international cooperation, in particular cooperation with the bodies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and the donor community in the new stage of consolidating firm and lasting peace and democracy in Central America, and urges them to continue to support Central American efforts to achieve those goals; 15. Notes with satisfaction the determination of the Central American Governments to settle their disputes through peaceful means, thereby avoiding any setback in the efforts to consolidate firm and lasting peace in the region; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to lend his full support to the initiatives and activities of the Central American Governments, particularly their efforts to consolidate peace and democracy through the promotion of integration and the implementation of the comprehensive sustainable development programme, emphasizing, inter alia, the potential repercussions of natural disasters, in particular the persisting effects of hurricane Mitch, for the peace processes and the vulnerable economies of the region, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "The situation in Central America: procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development". RESOLUTION 55/179 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 147 to 1, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.69 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia and the amendment in document A/55/L.70, sponsored by Azerbaijan * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Armenia Abstentions: None 55/179. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the framework for cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed on 26 May 1993,A/48/185, annex II, appendix. as well as its resolutions on cooperation between the two organizations, Recalling also the principles embodied in the Helsinki Final Act and in the declaration at the 1992 Helsinki Summit by the heads of State or Government of the participating States of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe of their understanding that the Conference is a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and as such provides an important link between European and global security,See A/47/361-S/24370, annex. Acknowledging the increasing contribution of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security in its region through activities in early warning and preventive diplomacy, including through the activities of the High Commissioner on National Minorities, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as arms control and disarmament, Recalling the Charter for European Security adopted at the Summit in Istanbul in November 1999, which reaffirms the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as a primary organization for the peaceful settlement of disputes within its region and as a key instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, Recalling also the special ties between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, as well as between that organization and the Asian Partners for Cooperation, Japan and the Republic of Korea, which have been further enhanced in 2000, Underlining the continued importance of enhanced cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/98. 2. Notes with appreciation the further improvement of cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and its agencies and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including at the level of activities in the field; 3. Welcomes, in this context, the participation of the Deputy Secretary-General in the meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which was held in Vienna in November 2000, and the participation of high-level United Nations representatives in meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 4. Encourages further efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to foster security and stability in its region through early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as through continued promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms; 5. Also encourages the intention of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to create an environment in which the dignity, well-being, safety and human rights of all people are ensured; 6. Welcomes the documents of the meeting of the Ministerial Council held in Vienna on enhancing the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to combat trafficking in human beings and on the illicit trafficking in and the destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons; 7. Also welcomes the continued close cooperation between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 8. Further welcomes the admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 10 November 2000 after the vivid demonstration of the commitment of the people of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to democracy, and commends the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for its commitment to the principles and standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and its readiness to cooperate with European institutions and with its neighbours offering new perspectives for peace and prosperity in South-Eastern Europe; 9. Notes with appreciation the readiness of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to assist the Yugoslav people to this end and the preparedness of the Yugoslav Government to have a presence of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the country, and welcomes the steps undertaken by the Government to ensure an early amnesty for all political prisoners; 10. Expresses its appreciation for the contribution by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in implementing Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999, including the establishment, pursuant to that resolution, of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mission in Kosovo as an essential part of the broader United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, responsible for institution-building, including the training of a new Kosovo police service, judicial personnel and civil administrators, the development of free media, democratization and governance, the organization and supervision of elections and the monitoring, protection and promotion of human rights, in cooperation with, inter alia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and stresses the commitment of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the full implementation of resolution 1244 (1999); 11. Commends the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for its substantial role in the preparation and organization of the local elections in Kosovo in view of the consolidation of stability and prosperity in Kosovo on the basis of substantial autonomy, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, pending a final settlement in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999); 12. Welcomes the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, initialled in Dayton, United States of America, on 21 November 1995,See A/50/790-S/1995/999. in particular in the fields of human rights and judicial and police reform, and commends the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for its substantial role in the preparation and organization of elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 13. Underlines the importance of regional cooperation as a means of fostering good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, welcomes the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as an important long-term and comprehensive initiative to promote good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, and also welcomes the commitment of participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to contribute further to the goals of the Stability Pact; 14. Welcomes the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in assisting in the implementation of articles II and IV of annex 1-B to the General Framework Agreement and its contribution to the creation of a framework for peace and stability in South-Eastern Europe; 15. Fully supports the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in and around the Nagorny-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and welcomes cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in this regard; 16. Welcomes, in view of lack of progress in the peace process of the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict, the intention of the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to intensity their efforts in fulfilling their mandates and to further an atmosphere of mutual trust between all parties to the conflict, also welcomes the direct dialogue between the Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, and encourages them to continue their efforts in working with the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group to expedite agreements that would serve as a basis for the resumption of full-scale negotiations within the Group; 17. Stresses the importance of all parties doing their utmost to ensure that the ceasefire along the line of contact is strictly observed until a comprehensive agreement resolving the conflict is signed, and commends the efforts taken by the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group since the Istanbul Summit to diminish tensions in the region and to prepare, in coordination with the United Nations and other international agencies, support measures that would facilitate the implementation of a political settlement; 18. Welcomes efforts undertaken in 2000 to strengthen cooperation between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations in Georgia, and with regard to Abkhazia, Georgia, welcomes the completion of the joint assessment mission to the Gali district in November 2000 to evaluate conditions for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their former places of permanent residence; 19. Fully supports the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe aimed at achieving a settlement of the problems in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova, recalls the commitment by the Russian Federation to complete the withdrawal of the Russian forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova by the end of 2002, as agreed at the Istanbul Summit, and welcomes the willingness of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe together with the Republic of Moldova to facilitate this process, within their respective abilities, by the agreed deadline; 20. Welcomes the establishment of enhanced dialogue between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Central Asian participating States and the readiness of that organization to contribute, inter alia, together with the United Nations, to strengthening cooperation in the region, as well as the commitment of that organization to promote democratic institutions and assist the Central Asian countries in addressing security issues, the problem of organized crime and economic and environmental concerns, and takes note in this respect of the international conference on enhancing security and stability in Central Asia, held in Tashkent on 19 and 20 October 2000, which was organized jointly by the Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention with the assistance of the Government of Uzbekistan; 21. Also welcomes the in-depth discussions on cooperation of the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe with regard to interaction and complementarity of rapid response mechanisms at the meeting of the Ministerial Council held in Vienna, and requests the Secretary-General to continue exploring with the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe possibilities for further enhancement of cooperation, information exchange and coordination between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 22. Further welcomes the fact that Thailand has become a new Partner for Cooperation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/17 Adopted at the 54th plenary meeting, on 7 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.24/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 55/17. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/8 of 16 October 1991, 49/141 of 20 December 1994, 51/16 of 11 November 1996 and 53/17 of 29 October 1998, Noting with satisfaction the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community,A/55/215. Bearing in mind the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action and other activities consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Bearing in mind also the assistance given by the United Nations towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Caribbean region, Noting with satisfaction that the first general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system was held in New York on 27 and 28 May 1997, and that the second general meeting was held in Nassau on 27 and 28 March 2000, Bearing in mind that, in its resolution 54/225 of 22 December 1999, it recognized the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, Bearing in mind also that in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, heads of State and Government resolved to address the special needs of small island developing States by implementing the Barbados Programme of ActionProgramme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II). and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General AssemblySee resolution S-22/2. rapidly and in full, Affirming the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between entities of the United Nations system and the Caribbean Community in the areas of economic and social development, as well as of political and humanitarian affairs, Convinced of the need for the coordinated utilization of available resources to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community,A/55/215. as well as efforts to strengthen that cooperation; 2. Welcomes the signing on 27 May 1997 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community of a cooperation agreement between the secretariats of the two organizations; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, to continue to assist in furthering the development and maintenance of peace and security within the Caribbean region; 4. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community in order to increase the capacity of the two organizations to attain their objectives; 5. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community in order to initiate, maintain and increase consultations and programmes with the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions in the attainment of their objectives, with special attention to the areas and issues identified at the second general meeting, as set out in the report of the Secretary-General, as well as resolutions 54/225 and 55/2; 6. Welcomes the initiatives of Member States in assisting in the cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community; 7. Recommends that the third general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system be held in 2002 in New York in order to review and appraise progress in the implementation of the agreed areas and issues and to hold consultations on such additional measures and procedures as may be required to facilitate and strengthen cooperation between the two organizations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community". RESOLUTION 55/180 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/681, para. 11),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 140 to 3, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstentions: None 55/180. Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in LebanonA/55/482. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/516. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, by which the Council established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Force, the latest of which was resolution 1310 (2000) of 27 July 2000, Recalling its resolution S-8/2 of 21 April 1978 on the financing of the Force and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 54/267 of 15 June 2000, Reaffirming its resolutions 51/233 of 13 June 1997, 52/237 of 26 June 1998, 53/227 of 8 June 1999 and 54/267, Reaffirming also that the costs of the Force are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member Sates in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by the Force, a different procedure is required from that applied to meet expenditures of the regular budget of the United Nations, Taking into account the fact that the economically more developed countries are in a position to make relatively larger contributions and that the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards such operations, Bearing in mind the special responsibilities of the States permanent members of the Security Council, as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, in the financing of such operations, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Force, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Force with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Concerned that the Secretary-General continues to face difficulties in meeting the obligations of the Force on a current basis, including reimbursement to current and former troop-contributing States, Concerned also that the surplus balances in the Special Account for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon have been used to meet expenses of the Force in order to compensate for the lack of income resulting from non-payment and late payment by Member States of their contributions, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon as at 31 October 2000, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 139.4 million United States dollars, representing some 3.9 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Force to the period ending 31 December 2000, notes that some 21 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure the payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Express its deep concern that Israel did not comply with its resolutions 51/233, 52/237, 53/227 and 54/267; 3. Stresses once again that Israel should strictly abide by its resolutions 51/233, 52/237, 53/227 and 54/267; 4. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full; 5. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 6. Urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Force in full and on time; 7. Expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 8. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 9. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Force, and for this purpose requests the Secretary-General to speed up the implementation of the asset management system at all peacekeeping missions in accordance with its resolution 52/1 A of 15 October 1997; 11. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/55/516. 12. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Force is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Force against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Force; 14. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of paragraph 8 of its resolution 51/233, paragraph 5 of its resolution 52/237, paragraph 11 of its resolution 53/227 and paragraph 14 of its resolution 54/267, stresses once again that Israel shall pay the amount of 1,284,633 dollars resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996, and requests the Secretary-General to report on this matter to the Assembly at its resumed fifty-fifth session; 15. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon the amount of 86,758,400 dollars gross (86,301,300 dollars net) for the expansion of the Force for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, in addition to the amount of 146,833,694 dollars gross (141,889,841 dollars net) already appropriated by the Assembly in its resolution 54/267; 16. Decides also, as an ad hoc arrangement, taking into account the amount of 85,652,987 dollars gross (82,769,071 dollars net) already apportioned in accordance with its resolution 54/267 for the period from 1 July 2000 to 31 January 2001, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 50,609,069 dollars gross (50,342,425 dollars net), in accordance with the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolutions 44/192 B of 21 December 1989, 45/269 of 27 August 1991, 46/198 A of 20 December 1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 49/249 A of 20 July 1995, 49/249 B of 14 September 1995, 50/224 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 A to C of 18 December 1996 and 52/230 of 31 March 1998 and its decisions 48/472 A of 23 December 1993, 50/451 B of 23 December 1995 and 54/456 to 54/458 of 23 December 1999, the scale of assessments for the year 2000See resolutions 52/215 A and 54/237 A. to be applied against a portion thereof, that is, 43,379,202 dollars gross (43,150,650 dollars net), which is the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000, and the scale of assessments for the year 2001,To be adopted by the General Assembly. to be applied against the balance, that is, 7,229,867 dollars gross (7,191,775 dollars net) for the period from 1 to 31 January 2001; 17. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated additional staff assessment income of 266,644 dollars approved for the Force for the period from 1 July 2000 to 31 January 2001, 228,552 dollars being the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000 and the balance, that is, 38,092 dollars, pertaining to the period from 1 to 31 January 2001; 18. Decides, as an ad hoc arrangement, and taking into account the amount of 61,180,707 dollars gross (59,120,770 dollars net) already apportioned in accordance with its resolution 54/267 for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2001, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 36,149,331 dollars gross (35,958,875 dollars net), at a monthly rate of 7,229,867 dollars gross (7,191,775 dollars net), in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution, taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2001,To be adopted by the General Assembly. subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Force beyond 31 January 2001; 19. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 18 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated additional staff assessment income of 190,456 dollars approved for the Force for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2001; 20. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 21. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Force; 22. Invites voluntary contributions to the Force in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 23. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-fifth session, under the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East", the sub-item entitled "United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon". RESOLUTION 55/181 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/579/Add.1, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Georgia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Swaziland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. 55/181. Transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/169 and 48/170 of 21 December 1993, 49/102 of 19 December 1994, 51/168 of 16 December 1996, 53/171 of 15 December 1998 and 55/2 of 8 September 2000, Recalling also the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation between Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor CommunityTD/B/42(1)/11-TD/B/LDC/AC.1/7, annex I. and other relevant international legal instruments, Recognizing that the overall socio-economic development efforts of the landlocked States in Central Asia, seeking to enter world markets through the establishment of a multicountry transit system, are impeded by a lack of territorial access to the sea and by remoteness and isolation from world markets as well as by a lack of adequate infrastructure in the transport sector in their transit developing neighbours owing to their economic problems, Reaffirming that transit States, in the exercise of full sovereignty over their territory, have the right to take all measures necessary to ensure that the rights and facilities provided for landlocked States in no way infringe upon their legitimate interests, Expressing its support for the current efforts being undertaken by the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, through relevant multilateral, bilateral and regional arrangements, to address issues regarding the development of a viable transit infrastructure in the region, Taking note of the report prepared by the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours,A/53/331, annex. and considering that the problems of transit transport facing the Central Asian region need to be seen against the backdrop of increased trade and capital flows and advancement in technology in the region, Recognizing that, to be effective, a transit transport strategy for the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours should incorporate actions that address both the problems inherent in the use of existing transit routes and those associated with the early development and smooth functioning of new alternative routes, and welcoming in this context the further cooperation of landlocked States with all interested countries, Noting that there have been a number of important developments at the subregional and regional levels, including the signing at Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 9 May 1998, of a transit transport framework agreement among States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the signing on 26 March 1998 by the heads of State of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the Tashkent Declaration on the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia,A/53/96, annex II. the implementation of the expanded Transport Corridor-Europe-Caucasus-Asia programme and the signing on 8 September 1998 of the Baku Declaration,A/C.2/53/4, annex. Welcoming the presentation of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, held at Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 27 April 2000, the adoption of the concept of the Special Programme and the joint statement by the Governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Emphasizing once again the importance of strengthening international support measures to address further the problems of the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, 1. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to improving the efficiency of the transit transport system in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours; 2. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Governments concerned, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Economic Commission for Europe and relevant regional and international organizations and in accordance with approved programme priorities and within existing financial resources, to continue to elaborate a programme for improving the efficiency of the current transit environment in the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours; 3. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in close cooperation with the regional commissions within their respective mandates and current resources, as well as with other relevant international organizations, to provide technical assistance and advisory services to the newly independent landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, taking into account the relevant transit transport agreements; 4. Invites donor countries and multilateral financial and development institutions, within their mandates, to continue to provide the newly independent and developing landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours with appropriate financial and technical assistance for the improvement of the transit environment, including construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities and improved communications; 5. Calls upon the United Nations system to continue to study, within the scope of the implementation of the present resolution, possible ways of promoting more cooperative arrangements between the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, and to encourage a more active supportive role on the part of the donor community; 6. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in close cooperation with the regional commissions, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution, to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 55/182 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/579/Add.1, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/182. International trade and development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/95 and 50/98 of 20 December 1995, 51/167 of 16 December 1996, 52/182 of 18 December 1997, 53/170 of 15 December 1998 and 54/198 of 22 December 1999, as well as relevant international agreements concerning trade, economic growth and development, Taking note of the outcome of the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held at Bangkok from 12 to 19 February 2000,TD/390. specifically the Bangkok Declaration: global dialogue and dynamic engagementIbid., part I. and the Plan of Action,Ibid., part II. which provide an important framework for promoting a partnership for growth and development, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted by the South Summit of the Group of 77, held at Havana from 10 to 14 April 2000,A/55/74, annexes I and II. Emphasizing that a favourable and conducive international economic and financial environment and a positive investment climate are necessary for the growth of the world economy, including the creation of employment with equal opportunities for women and men, in particular for the growth and development of developing countries, and emphasizing also that each country is responsible for its own economic policies for sustainable development, Noting the need for multilateral trade liberalization, and noting also that a large number of developing countries have assumed the rights and obligations of the World Trade Organization without being able to reap the full benefits of, and participate fully in, the multilateral trading system, and that there is a need for progress towards liberalization and enhanced market access, including in areas and products of particular interest to developing countries, Noting also the importance of assisting developing countries in building their capacity, in accordance with their national priorities, to engage effectively in international trade, Stressing that full and faithful implementation of the commitments and obligations in multilateral trade agreements is important to the equitable and sustainable development and stability of the world economy, Strongly emphasizing the importance of providing all members of the World Trade Organization with the opportunity to engage fully and effectively in the process of multilateral trade negotiations and in other activities within the multilateral trading system in order to facilitate the attainment of balanced results with respect to the interests of all members, Taking note of the report of the Trade and Development Board on its forty-seventh session,A/55/15 (Part IV). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 15. the report of the Secretary-General on international trade and development and on the developments in the multilateral trading system,A/55/396. and the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the transit environment in the landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours,See A/55/320. Noting, in the context of international trade and development, the ongoing work of the Commonwealth Secretariat/World Bank Joint Task Force on Small States, 1. Recognizes the importance of the expansion of international trade as an engine of growth and development and, in this context, the need for expeditious and complete integration of developing countries and countries with economies in transition into the international trading system, in full cognizance of the opportunities and challenges of globalization and liberalization and taking into account the circumstances of individual countries, in particular the trade interests and development needs of developing countries; 2. Renews its commitment to uphold and strengthen an open, rule-based, equitable, secure, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable multilateral trade system which contributes to the economic and social advancement of all countries and peoples, including equal opportunities for women and for men, by promoting the liberalization and expansion of trade, employment and stability and by providing a framework for the conduct of international trade relations; 3. Expresses concern at the declining terms of trade in most primary commodities, in particular for net exporters of such commodities, as well as the lack of progress in many developing countries in diversification, and, in this regard, strongly emphasizes the need for action at both the national and the international levels, inter alia, through improved market access conditions, addressing supply-side constraints and support for capacity-building, including in areas that actively involve women; 4. Recognizes that the substantial improvement of market access for exports of goods and services from developing countries through, inter alia, the reduction or removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers should be assigned high priority in multilateral trade negotiations; 5. Urges those countries that have announced market-access initiatives in favour of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and have not yet fulfilled them to expedite the implementation of those initiatives, and calls upon other countries that have not yet done so to undertake similar initiatives; 6. Deplores any attempt to bypass or undermine multilaterally agreed procedures on the conduct of international trade by taking unilateral actions that are inconsistent with the multilateral trade rules and regulations, including those agreed upon in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations; 7. Expresses concern about the proliferation of anti-dumping and countervailing measures, and stresses that they should not be used as protectionist measures; 8. Reaffirms the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of development and related issues in the areas of trade, finance, technology, investment and sustainable development; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and in line with the successful outcome of the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to take the necessary measures to strengthen the management and enhance the programme delivery capacity and performance of the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in order to enable it to implement fully and effectively the outcome of its tenth session; 10. Reiterates the importance of continued trade liberalization in developed and developing countries, including in sectors of export interest to developing countries, through, inter alia: (a) Substantial reductions of tariffs, the rolling back of tariff peaks and the removal of tariff escalation; (b) The elimination of trade-distorting policies, protectionist practices and non-tariff barriers in international trade relations; (c) Ensuring that resort to anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, phytosanitary regulations and technical standards is subject to effective multilateral surveillance so that such measures respect and are consistent with multilateral trading rules and obligations and are not used for protectionist purposes; (d) The improvement and renewal, by preference-giving countries, of their Generalized System of Preferences schemes with the objective of integrating developing countries, especially the least developed countries, into the international trading system and of finding ways and means to ensure more effective utilization of those schemes; and, in this context, reiterates its original principles, namely, non-discrimination, universality, burden-sharing and non-reciprocity; 11. Also reiterates that it is an ethical imperative for the international community to arrest and to reverse the marginalization of the least developed countries and to promote their expeditious integration into the world economy and that all countries should work together towards further enhancement of duty- and quota-free market access for exports from the least developed countries within the context of supporting their own efforts at capacity-building; recognizes that the full implementation of the Plan of Action for the Least Developed Countries adopted at the first Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Singapore from 9 to 13 December 1996, provides for further and expeditious progress towards duty-free imports from the least developed countries; invites the relevant international organizations to provide the enhanced technical assistance required to help to strengthen the supply and institutional capacity of the least developed countries so as to help them to take the fullest possible advantage of the trading opportunities that arise from globalization and liberalization, and, in this regard, reiterates the need for a speedy implementation of the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries; takes note of the preparatory activities being undertaken for the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, to be held at Brussels in May 2001; and, in this connection, calls upon development partners, in particular industrialized countries, to make efforts towards the adoption of a policy of duty- and quota-free access for essentially all exports originating in the least developed countries; 12. Notes the need to better coordinate trade-related technical assistance and, in this regard, to implement the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries in order to promote coordination among the six core agencies, bearing in mind that the resources made available should be utilized in line with their respective roles; 13. Stresses the urgent need to facilitate the integration of the countries of Africa into the world economy, and, in this context, takes note with appreciation of the action-oriented agenda for the development of Africa contained in the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in AfricaOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/55/45). and the recommendations contained therein; calls for continued efforts to increase market access for products of export interest to African economies and support for their efforts to diversify and build supply capacity, and, in this context, requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to continue to enhance its contribution to the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s,Resolution 46/151, annex, sect. II. taking into account the agreed conclusions of the Trade and Development Board on Africa;A/54/15 (Part V), chap. I, sect. C, agreed conclusions 458 (XLVI). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 15. further encourages the Secretary-General of the United Nations to establish a new subprogramme on Africa, as agreed in the Plan of Action;Ibid., part II. and emphasizes the importance of increased inter-agency cooperation, which has proven its relevance through the joint integrated technical assistance programmes for selected least developed and other African countries; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the initiation by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in the areas falling within its mandate, of the preparatory process for the final review and appraisal of the implementation of the New Agenda, to be held in 2002, in particular focusing on market access, diversification and supply capacity, resource flows and external debt, foreign direct and portfolio investment and access to technology, and, in this context, also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report, based on the recommendations of the Trade and Development Board on Africa, on measures taken in this regard, with a special emphasis on African trade issues, for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session under the agenda item entitled "International trade and development"; 15. Stresses the need to give special attention, within the context of international cooperation on trade and development issues, to the implementation of the many international development commitments geared to meeting the special development needs and problems of small island developing States and of landlocked developing countries and to recognize that those developing countries that provide transit services need adequate support for the maintenance and improvement of their transit infrastructure; 16. Reiterates the need for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to enhance its contribution to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the review documentSee resolution S-22/2, annex. in addressing the specific concerns of small island developing States in their efforts aimed at diversification, capacity-building and benefiting from improved market access opportunities for their effective integration into the global economy; 17. Also reiterates the importance of the effective application by all members of the World Trade Organization of all provisions of the Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). taking into account the specific interests of developing countries, so as to maximize economic growth and development benefits for all, and the need to address implementation issues seriously, as well as to implement effectively all of the special provisions in the multilateral trade agreements and related ministerial decisions in favour of developing countries, in particular by making operational and ensuring fuller implementation of the previously agreed special and differential provisions, including the strengthening of these concepts, taking into account the changing realities of world trade and globalization, and urges Governments and concerned international organizations to apply effectively the Ministerial Decisions on Measures in Favour of Least Developed Countries and on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least Developed and Net Food-importing Developing Countries;See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). 18. Recognizes the importance of increasing trade liberalization, in particular as regards areas and products of interest to developing countries, and that further liberalization should be sufficiently broad-based to respond to the range of interests and concerns of all members within the framework of the World Trade Organization, and, in this regard, welcomes the activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development aimed at assisting developing countries in developing a positive agenda for future multilateral trade negotiations, and invites the secretariat of the Conference to continue to provide analytical support and technical assistance, including capacity-building activities, to those countries for their effective participation in the negotiations; 19. Invites members of the international community to consider the interests of non-members of the World Trade Organization in the context of trade liberalization; 20. Invites the international financial institutions to ensure that, in their development cooperation activities with developing countries, the obligations of the latter with regard to their development policies, strategies and programmes in trade and trade-related areas are consistent with their commitments under the framework of rules agreed upon within the multilateral trading system; 21. Emphasizes the importance of the strengthening of, and the attainment of greater universality by, the international trading system and of accelerating the process directed towards accession to the World Trade Organization of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, also emphasizes the necessity for Governments that are members of the World Trade Organization and relevant international organizations to assist non-members of the World Trade Organization so as to facilitate their efforts with respect to accession in an expeditious and transparent manner, on the basis of undertaking balanced World Trade Organization rights and obligations, and further emphasizes the necessity for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Trade Organization to provide technical assistance, within their mandates, that will contribute to the rapid and full integration of those countries into the multilateral trading system; 22. Stresses the need for improved measures to address the volatility of short-term capital flows as well as the effects of financial crises on the international trading system and the development prospects of developing countries and countries affected by such crises, emphasizing the fact that keeping all markets open and maintaining continued growth in world trade are key elements in overcoming such crises, and, in this context, rejects the use of any protectionist measures; also stresses, at a broader level, the need for greater coherence between the development objectives agreed to by the international community and the functioning of the international trading and financial system, and, in this context, calls for close cooperation between the members and observers of the organizations of the United Nations system and of the multilateral trade and financial institutions, with participation in accordance with their established rules, procedures and practices; 23. Requests the Secretary-General, in scheduling and organizing mandated events on trade and trade-related issues, to promote complementarity in the work of the relevant bodies of the United Nations system and with the work of other international organizations, as appropriate, bearing in mind the mandate of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 24. Recognizes the importance of open regional economic integration in the creation of new opportunities for expanding trade and investment, stresses the importance of those initiatives being in conformity with the rules of the World Trade Organization, where applicable, and, bearing in mind the primacy of the multilateral trading system, affirms that regional trade agreements should be outward-oriented and supportive of the multilateral trading system, and, in this context, invites Governments and intergovernmental and multilateral institutions to continue to provide support for economic integration among developing countries and among countries with economies in transition; 25. Requests the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to continue to identify and analyse the implications for development of issues relevant to investment and to identify ways and means of promoting foreign direct and portfolio investment directed to all developing countries, taking into account their interests, in particular to those most in need, as well as to those countries with economies in transition with similar needs, and bearing in mind the work undertaken by other organizations, including the regional commissions; 26. Emphasizes the fact that, in line with Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Ibid., annex I. Governments should have the objective of ensuring that trade and environmental policies are mutually supportive so as to achieve sustainable development, and also emphasizes that, in so doing, their environmental policies and measures with a potential trade impact should not be used for protectionist purposes; 27. Reaffirms the role of competition law and policy for sound economic development, takes note of the important and useful work of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in this field, and, in this regard, decides to convene in 2005 a fifth United Nations Conference to Review All Aspects of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices, under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development;See TD/RBP/CONF.5/15. 28. Emphasizes that the dispute settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organization is a key element with regard to the integrity and credibility of the multilateral trading system and the full realization of the benefits anticipated from the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations; 29. Strongly emphasizes the need for technical assistance, including legal assistance, to developing countries through, inter alia, the Advisory Centre on World Trade Organization Law and other mechanisms, to enable those countries to take the fullest possible advantage of the dispute settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organization, based on multilaterally agreed rules and regulations, and, in this context, also emphasizes that it is important for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to continue to strengthen its technical assistance to developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States in this area; 30. Notes the increasing importance and application of electronic commerce in international trade and the need to strengthen the capacities of developing countries to participate effectively in electronic commerce; urges the organizations of the United Nations system, within their mandates and in cooperation with other relevant bodies, with the participation of their secretariats and the States Members of the United Nations and observer States, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Telecommunication Union, the International Trade Centre and the regional commissions, to continue to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition; emphasizes in this regard the need for analysis of the fiscal, legal and regulatory aspects of electronic commerce, as well as its implications for the trade and development prospects of developing countries; and, in this connection, welcomes the Ministerial Declaration entitled "Development and international cooperation in the twenty-first century: the role of information technology in the context of a knowledge-based global economy" adopted by the Economic and Social Council during the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2000;A/55/3, chap. III, para. 17. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3. 31. Stresses the importance of assisting developing countries and interested countries with economies in transition in improving the efficiency of trade-supporting services, inter alia, through the elimination of procedural barriers and by greater use of trade facilitating mechanisms, in particular in the areas of transport, customs, banking and insurance, and business information, especially in the case of small and medium-sized enterprises, and, in this respect, invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandate and in collaboration with other relevant bodies of the United Nations, including the regional commissions, to continue to assist developing countries in those areas; 32. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution and developments in the multilateral trading system. RESOLUTION 55/183 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/579/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/183. Commodities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/200 of 21 December 1990, 47/185 of 22 December 1992, 48/214 of 23 December 1993, 51/169 of 16 December 1996 and 53/174 of 15 December 1998, and stressing the urgent need to ensure their full implementation, Taking note of the outcome of the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held at Bangkok from 12 to 19 February 2000,TD/390. and the Plan of Action adopted by the Conference, Ibid., part II. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted by the South Summit of the Group of 77, held at Havana from 10 to 14 April 2000, A/55/74, annexes I and II. Taking note with concern of the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the declining trend of most commodity prices,See A/55/332. Taking note of the report of the Trade and Development Board on its forty-seventh session, held at Geneva from 9 to 20 October 2000, TD/B/47/11 (Vol. I and Corr.1). The report will appear in final form, together with the reports on the twenty-third to twenty-fifth executive sessions, as Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 15. Recognizing that many developing countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries, are highly dependent on the commodity sector, which still remains the principal source of export revenues and the primary source of the creation of employment, income-generation and domestic savings, as well as a driving force of investment and a contributor to economic growth and social development, Expressing deep concern about the negative effects of unfavourable weather conditions on the supply side of most commodity-dependent countries and any continuing effects of the 1997-1998 financial crisis on the demand for commodities, as well as the continuing depressed levels of most commodity prices, which adversely affect the economic growth of commodity-dependent countries, especially in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as commodity-dependent small island developing States, Concerned about the difficulties experienced by the developing countries in financing and implementing viable diversification programmes and in attaining access to markets for their commodities, Emphasizing the necessity for a domestic industrial transformation of commodity production in the developing countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries, with a view to enhancing productivity and stabilizing and increasing their export earnings, thus promoting the sustainable economic growth of developing countries and their integration into the global economy, 1. Emphasizes the need for the developing countries that are heavily dependent on primary commodities to continue to promote a domestic policy and an institutional environment that encourage diversification and liberalization of the trade and export sectors and enhance competitiveness; 2. Expresses the urgent need for supportive international policies and measures to improve the functioning of commodity markets through efficient and transparent price formation mechanisms, including commodity exchanges, and through the use of commodity price risk management instruments; 3. Expresses concern at the declining terms of trade in most primary commodities, in particular for net exporters of such commodities, as well as the lack of progress in many developing countries in achieving diversification, and, in this regard, strongly emphasizes the need for actions at both the national and international levels, inter alia, to improve market access conditions, address supply-side constraints and provide support for capacity-building, including in areas that actively involve women; 4. Urges the developed countries to continue to support the commodity diversification and liberalization efforts of commodity-dependent developing countries, especially in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as commodity-dependent small island developing States, in a spirit of common purpose and efficiency, inter alia, by providing technical and financial assistance for the preparatory phase of their commodity diversification programmes; 5. Urges producers and consumers of individual commodities to intensify their efforts to reinforce mutual cooperation and assistance; 6. Reiterates the importance of maximizing the contribution of the commodity sector to economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing with diversification efforts in developing countries, especially in commodity-dependent countries, and, in this respect, stresses that: (a) International support for the efforts of developing countries in the industrial transformation of their commodities is required to increase their export revenues and improve their competitiveness with a view to facilitating their integration into the global economy; (b) In the context of the process of trade liberalization, tariff peaks should be minimized and the use of trade-distorting policies and protectionist practices and non-tariff barriers should be eliminated as they have negative effects on the ability of developing countries to diversify their exports and undertake the required restructuring of their commodity sector and have an adverse impact on liberalization measures taken by commodity-dependent developing countries and their efforts to eliminate poverty; (c) In line with Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution I, annex II. and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Ibid., annex I. Governments should make it their objective to ensure that trade and environmental policies are mutually supportive so as to achieve sustainable development; in so doing, their environmental policies and measures with a potential trade impact should not be used for protectionist purposes; (d) In the light of the process of multilateral trade liberalization, which has led to the diminution of differentials accorded by preferred trade regimes, there is a need to take measures, as appropriate and consistent with international obligations, to address the diminution, in particular by strengthening technical assistance, by continuing to provide financial assistance to commodity-dependent developing countries and by addressing supply-side constraints faced by such countries, in order to improve the competitiveness of their commodity sectors and to overcome difficulties encountered in their diversification programmes; (e) Timely and effective financial cooperation to facilitate the management by commodity-dependent countries of excessive fluctuations in commodity export earnings should be maintained and further pursued; (f) Strengthening technical cooperation in the areas of transfer of new technologies and know-how in production processes and training for technical, managerial and commercial staff in developing countries is of paramount importance for quality improvements in the commodity sector; (g) Expansion of South-South trade and investment in commodities enhances complementarities and offers opportunities for intersectoral linkages within and among exporting countries; (h) There is a need to promote, expand and intensify research and development, to provide infrastructure and support services and to encourage investment, including joint ventures in developing countries engaged in the commodity and commodity-processing sectors; 7. Encourages the Common Fund for Commodities, in cooperation with the International Trade Centre, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant bodies, to continue to expand the activities of its Second Account with the necessary and effective support for research and development and extension services in developing countries, including adaptive research on production and processing aimed at smallholders and small-sized and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, in order to widen the scope of activities and thus ensure the effective participation of all stakeholders; 8. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, within its mandate, to provide assistance to developing countries in the financing of commodity diversification and to include issues related to commodities in the provision of analytical support and technical assistance to developing countries in their preparation for effective participation in multilateral trade negotiations and in formulating a positive agenda for future trade negotiations; 9. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on world commodity trends and prospects; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "Commodities". RESOLUTION 55/184 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/579/Add.3, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/184. Enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problem of developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/164 of 16 December 1996, 52/185 of 18 December 1997, 53/175 of 15 December 1998 and 54/202 of 22 December 1999 on enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problems of developing countries, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on recent developments in the debt situation of developing countries,A/55/422. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Noting with concern the continuing debt and debt-servicing problems of heavily indebted developing countries as constituting an element that adversely affects their development efforts and economic growth, and stressing the importance of alleviating once and for all, where applicable, their onerous debt and debt-service burden with the aim of attaining a sustainable level of debt and debt service, Noting with great concern the continuing high debt burden borne by most African countries and the least developed countries, as exacerbated, inter alia, by the declining trend in commodity prices, and noting that the financial crisis has aggravated the debt-service burdens of many developing countries, including low- and middle-income countries, in particular in the context of meeting their international debt and debt-servicing obligations in a timely fashion despite serious external and domestic financial constraints, Reaffirming the need to consider further measures, as appropriate, for dealing with the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries in an effective, equitable and development-oriented manner, in order to help them to exit from the rescheduling process and unsustainable debt burdens, and welcoming the efforts already made in this regard, Welcoming and emphasizing the importance of the efforts of debtor countries to pursue, despite the great social cost often involved, economic reforms and structural adjustment programmes that are aimed at achieving stability, raising domestic savings and investment, attaining competitiveness to take advantage of market access opportunities where available, reducing inflation, improving economic efficiency and addressing the social aspects of development, including the eradication of poverty and the development of social safety nets for the vulnerable and poorer strata of their populations, and encouraging them to continue in these efforts, Recognizing that close attention should be paid to the impact of economic reforms on the poor and, in this context, that the country-owned poverty reduction strategy papers linked to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative should contribute to poverty reduction, Stressing the need for continuing global economic growth, equitable distribution of the opportunities and benefits of globalization and a continuing supportive international economic environment with regard to, inter alia, terms of trade, commodity prices, improved market access, trade practices, access to technology, exchange rates and international interest rates, and noting the continued need for resources for sustained economic growth and sustainable development of the developing countries, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and the results of recent United Nations conferences, Noting that mechanisms such as debt rescheduling and debt conversions alone are not sufficient to resolve all of the problems relating to long-term debt sustainability, and, in this connection, stressing the continuing need for sound macroeconomic policies as well as the need for full, swift and effective implementation of initiatives that will further assist developing countries, in particular the poorest and most heavily indebted countries, especially in Africa, in their efforts to improve their debt situation, in view of their continued very high levels of total debt stock and debt-service burdens, Welcoming the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, launched by the Group of Seven major industrialized countries at their meeting held at Cologne, Germany, from 18 to 20 June 1999, and the decisions on the enhanced initiative taken by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in October 1999 that are designed to provide deeper, broader and faster relief, Welcoming also the actions taken by creditor countries within the framework of the Paris Club and by some creditor countries through the cancellation of bilateral debts, and urging all creditor countries to participate in efforts to remedy the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, Welcoming further the adoption by the Executive Boards of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank of a number of measures to speed up the implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, including greater flexibility on track record with a focus on policy implementation, as well as the emphasis that the decision point may be reached and that debt relief may be provided before the finalization of full poverty reduction strategy papers, as long as interim poverty reduction strategy papers are agreed, and noting with appreciation their approval of proposals to streamline preliminary heavily indebted poor countries documents, Recognizing that the full implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative will require substantial financial resources, and, in this regard, stressing the need for fair, equitable and transparent burden-sharing among the international public creditor community and other donor countries, and also stressing the need to fund adequately the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Trust Fund and the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility/Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Trust Fund, and, in this regard, welcoming the contributions and pledges made by donors to the trust funds, Noting with concern that some highly indebted middle-income developing countries are facing serious difficulties in meeting their external debt-servicing obligations owing, inter alia, to liquidity constraints, Stressing that the effective management of the debt of developing countries, including middle-income countries, is an important factor, among others, in their sustained economic growth and in the smooth functioning of the world economy, Stressing also the importance of a sound enabling environment for effective debt management, 1. Recognizes that effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to the external debt and debt-service burdens of developing countries can contribute substantially to the strengthening of the global economy and to the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and the results of recent global conferences; 2. Reaffirms the need, as expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. for the international community to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of low- and middle-income developing countries, through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term; 3. Calls for the full, speedy and effective implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and, in this regard, stresses the need for the donor community to provide the additional resources necessary to fulfil the future financial requirements of the Initiative, hence welcomes the agreement that financing for heavily indebted poor countries should be reviewed analytically and separately from International Development Association replenishment requirements but back to back with meetings for the thirteenth replenishment of the Association, and calls upon all donors to participate fully in this process; 4. Calls upon the heavily indebted poor countries to take, as soon as possible, the policy measures necessary to become eligible for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and to reach the decision point; 5. Reiterates its call upon industrialized countries, as expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration in the context of addressing the special needs of the least developed countries, to agree to cancel all bilateral official debts of the heavily indebted poor countries in return for their making demonstrable commitments to poverty reduction; 6. Stresses the importance of continuing to implement the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative flexibly, noting the provision of significant interim debt relief between the decision and completion points and taking due account of the policy performance of the countries concerned in a transparent manner and with the full involvement of the debtor countries, including for the setting of the floating completion point, and in this regard stresses the importance of country-owned poverty reduction strategy papers; 7. Also stresses the importance of continued flexibility with regard to the eligibility criteria for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, in particular for countries in post-conflict situations; 8. Notes that it is important for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to continue their efforts to strengthen the transparency and integrity of debt sustainability analysis, and also notes the importance of cooperation with debtor countries in order to obtain relevant information; 9. Welcomes the framework for strengthening the link between debt relief and poverty eradication, and stresses the need for its continued flexible implementation, recognizing that, while the poverty reduction strategy papers should be in place by the decision point, on a transitional basis the decision point could be reached with agreement on an interim poverty reduction strategy paper, but that in all cases demonstrable progress in implementing a poverty reduction strategy would be required by the completion point; 10. Emphasizes that poverty reduction programmes as linked to the implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative must be country-driven and in accordance with the priorities and programmes of countries eligible under the Initiative, and stresses the importance of a participatory process that involves civil society in this regard; 11. Welcomes the decision of those countries that have cancelled bilateral official debt, and urges creditor countries that have not done so to consider the full cancellation and equivalent relief of the bilateral official debts of countries eligible under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and, as appropriate, action to address the needs of post-conflict countries, in particular those with protracted arrears, developing countries affected by serious natural disasters and poor countries with very low social and human development indicators, including the possibility of debt-relief measures, and stresses the importance of building coalitions with civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations in all countries to ensure in the shortest possible time the implementation of pronouncements of debt forgiveness; 12. Notes that the multilateral debt-relief funds can have a positive impact in assisting Governments in safeguarding or increasing expenditures on priority social sectors, and encourages donors and other countries in a position to do so to continue their efforts in this regard in the context of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; 13. Emphasizes the need to secure adequate funding for an overall financing plan for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, including in particular the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Trust Fund and the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility/Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Trust Fund in the context of fair, equitable and transparent burden-sharing; 14. Stresses the principle that funding of any debt relief should not affect adversely the support for other development activities in favour of developing countries, including the level of funding for United Nations funds and programmes; welcomes, in this regard, the decision of the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries that financing of debt relief should not compromise the financing made available through concessional windows such as the International Development Association; and expresses its appreciation to those developed countries that have reached, gone beyond or recently made commitments towards reaching the agreed target for official development assistance of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product, and at the same time calls upon other developed countries to meet the target for official development assistance as soon as possible; 15. Expresses its appreciation for the action taken by creditor countries of the Paris Club with regard to the debts of developing countries that are affected by natural disasters, and, in this regard, reiterates the need for relief promises to be fulfilled within the shortest possible time frame in order to free the requisite resources for national reconstruction efforts; 16. Encourages the international creditor community to consider appropriate measures for countries with a very high level of debt overhang, including, in particular, the poorest African countries, in order to make an appropriate and consistent contribution to the common objective of debt sustainability; 17. Recognizes the difficulties of highly indebted middle-income developing countries and other highly indebted middle-income countries in meeting their external debt and debt-servicing obligations, and notes the serious situation in some of them in the context, inter alia, of significant liquidity constraints, which may require debt treatment, including, as appropriate, debt-reduction measures; 18. Calls for concerted national and international action to address effectively the debt problems of middle-income developing countries with a view to resolving their potential long-term debt-sustainability problems through various debt-treatment measures, including, as appropriate, existing orderly mechanisms for debt reduction, and encourages all creditors, both public and private, and debtor countries to utilize to the fullest extent possible, where appropriate, the mechanisms for debt reduction; 19. Recognizes the need for countries, even when experiencing a debt problem, to continue to work with creditors in order to facilitate continued access to international capital markets, and, in the event that extraordinary circumstances preclude a country from temporarily meeting its debt-servicing commitments, urges creditors and Governments to work together in a transparent and timely fashion towards an orderly and equitable resolution of the repayment problem, including consideration of temporary debt standstill arrangements in exceptional cases; 20. Notes the importance of an orderly, gradual and well-sequenced liberalization of capital accounts to strengthen the ability of countries to sustain its consequences so as to mitigate the adverse impact of the volatility of short-term capital flows; 21. Stresses that debt relief should contribute to development objectives, including poverty reduction, and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 22. Notes that debt relief alone will not lead to poverty reduction and economic growth, and, in this regard, emphasizes the need for an enabling environment, including sound economic management as well as an efficient, transparent and accountable public service and administration, and stresses the need to mobilize financial resources from all sources, in addition to debt-relief measures and continued concessional financial assistance, in particular to the least developed countries, in order to support their efforts for achieving economic growth and sustainable development; 23. Underlines the absolute importance of implementing the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty, inter alia, through good governance within each country as well as good governance at the international level and transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems; 24. Stresses the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of developing countries in debt management, calls upon the international community to support the efforts made towards this end, and, in this regard, stresses the importance of initiatives such as the Debt Management and Financial Analysis SystemThe Debt Management and Financial Analysis System is a computerized system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition in developing appropriate administrative, institutional and legal structures for effective foreign and domestic public debt management. By June 1999, the system had been installed in the debt offices of fifty countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. and the debt-management capacity-building programme; 25. Notes the importance of providing adequate resources for debt-relief measures in the light of the difficulties that many developing countries, especially those in Africa and the least developed countries, are facing with respect to mobilizing both domestic and external resources for their development, and, in accordance with the United Nations Millennium Declaration, calls for special measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa, including debt cancellation; 26. Stresses the importance for developing countries to continue their efforts to promote a favourable environment for attracting foreign investment, thereby promoting economic growth and sustainable development, so as to favour their exit from debt and debt-servicing problems, and also stresses the need for the international community to promote a conducive external environment through, inter alia, improved market access, efforts aimed at the stabilization of exchange rates and the effective stewardship of interest rates, increased resource flows, access to international financial markets, flow of financial resources and improved access to technology for developing countries; 27. Calls upon the international community, including the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as the private sector, to take appropriate measures and actions for the implementation of the commitments, agreements and decisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits on development organized since the beginning of the 1990s, as well as of the results of review processes, in particular those related to the question of the external debt problem of developing countries; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, including, inter alia, those resulting from global financial instability. RESOLUTION 55/185 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/579/Add.4, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/185. Strengthening the coordination of the mechanisms on the Commission for Science and Technology for Development: promoting complementarity of activities in the area of new and innovative technologies within the United Nations system The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 54/201 of 22 December 1999, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration entitled "Development and international cooperation in the twenty-first century: the role of information technology in the context of a knowledge-based global economy", adopted by the Economic and Social Council during the high-level segment of its substantive session of 2000,A/55/3, chap. III, para. 17. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3. Taking note also of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/29 of 28 July 2000 on the information and communication technologies task force, Recognizing the role of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in coordinating the activities of the United Nations system in the area of science and technology for development, noting the work being undertaken by the Commission in its work programme for Member States, especially the developing countries, and its work with some countries with economies in transition, emphasizing the importance of the activities that are to be pursued within the framework of the Commission, including a broad spectrum of new global challenges in science and technology, and encouraging support for those undertakings, Cognizant of the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as the secretariat responsible for the substantive servicing of the Commission, Taking note of the Plan of Action adopted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at its tenth session, held at Bangkok from 12 to 19 February 2000,TD/390, part II. in which the Conference noted, inter alia, the growing technology gap between developed and developing countries, and stressed that actions were required by both developed and developing countries, among others, including the establishment of appropriate policy and legal frameworks, human resource development and the provision of technical assistance and, where possible, financial assistance and other incentives in order to narrow that gap and promote greater access, transfer and diffusion of technology to developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, Recognizing the need to address the obstacles faced by developing countries in accessing new technologies, while taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights and the special needs of developing countries, Recognizing also the importance of establishing and strengthening partnership and networking among the public and private sectors and academic institutions of the South and the North to build and strengthen the technological capabilities and skills needed for developing countries to compete in the international markets, Bearing in mind the cross-cutting nature of science and technology within the United Nations system and the need, inter alia, for effective policy guidance and better coordination, Noting that the theme of the coordination segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council will be "The role of the United Nations in promoting development, particularly with respect to access to and transfer of knowledge and technology, especially information and communication technologies, inter alia, through partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including the private sector", Recalling that the next biennial session of the Commission will be held in 2001, Recognizing the need for adequate resources, including the provision of new and additional resources from all sources, to be devoted to fostering science and technology for development, Recognizing also the need for strengthening the role of the Commission, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on proposals for strengthening the coordination of the mechanisms on the Commission on Science and Technology for Development within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development with the objective of promoting complementarity of activities within the United Nations system;A/55/96-E/2000/84. 2. Welcomes the recommendations regarding the establishment of a knowledge and technology for development network contained in the report of the Secretary-General; 3. Requests the Commission to report on its biennial session, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, in particular regarding proposals aimed at promoting complementarity of activities in the area of new and innovative technologies within the United Nations system; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to strengthen the Commission and its secretariat within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, by providing it with the necessary resources, in order to enable it to carry out better its mandate of assisting the developing countries with their national development efforts in the field of science and technology; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Economic and Social Council, an analytical report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, containing, in particular, concrete proposals for strengthening the critical role of the Commission in coordinating the activities of the United Nations system in support of the efforts of developing countries to obtain, effectively utilize and benefit from science and technology for their development; 6. Decides that, as from the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, the item entitled "Science and technology for development" will normally be included in its agenda on a biennial basis. RESOLUTION 55/186 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/579/Add.5, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/186. Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/197 of 22 December 1999, entitled "Towards a stable international financial system, responsive to the challenges of development, especially in the developing countries", Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000, See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the high-level regional meetings on financing for development held at Jakarta from 2 to 5 August 2000, Bogotá on 9 and 10 November 2000, Addis Ababa from 15 to 22 November 2000, Beirut on 23 and 24 November 2000 and Geneva on 6 and 7 December 2000, which addressed issues of, inter alia, domestic resources mobilization, external private flows, reform of the international financial architecture, regional cooperation and collaboration, innovative sources of financing and issues relating to the external sector, including official development assistance and trade, from the regional perspective, in order to contribute to the preparatory process for the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development, Emphasizing the importance of mobilizing in a coherent manner all sources available for the provision of financing for development, inter alia, domestic resources, international private capital flows, official development assistance, market access for goods and services from developing countries and external debt relief, and emphasizing also the importance of utilizing those resources in an efficient way, Expressing concern that net financial flows to developing countries continued in 1999 the contraction that had begun with the onset of the financial crisis in 1997, and regretting the continued marginalization of the least developed countries from private capital flows, Emphasizing the importance of long-term investment flows, in particular foreign direct investment, in complementing the development efforts of all developing countries as well as economies in transition and the need for all countries to develop stable access to private capital and for regional and international cooperation to promote the mobilization of new and additional capital for development, Concerned about the excessive volatility of speculative short-term capital flows and the contagion effects in financial markets in times of crisis, Deeply concerned by the low levels of official development assistance, Stressing the need for increased access to markets, in particular for goods and services that are of export interest to developing countries, inter alia, through multilateral trade negotiations, Emphasizing the importance of finding a durable solution for those developing countries that have difficulties in meeting their external debt and debt-servicing obligations, Encouraging the efforts to enhance the stabilizing role of regional and subregional financial institutions and arrangements in supporting the management of monetary and financial issues, Underlining the urgent need to continue to work on a wide range of reforms for a strengthened and more stable international financial system with a view to enabling it to deal more effectively and in a timely manner with the new challenges of development in the context of global financial integration, Stressing that the process of reform for a strengthened and stable international financial architecture should be based on broad participation in a genuine multilateral approach, involving all members of the international community, to ensure that the diverse needs and interests of all countries are adequately represented, Reaffirming that the United Nations, in fulfilling its role in the promotion of development, in particular of developing countries, plays an important part in the international efforts to build up the necessary international consensus for the reforms needed for a strengthened and stable international financial system, taking into account the mandate of all relevant international institutions, especially the international financial institutions, Noting that the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development will provide a unique opportunity to consider, in an integrated manner, all sources of financing for development, and mindful that in the United Nations Millennium Declaration the heads of State and Government decided to make every effort to ensure its success, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Towards a stable international financial system, responsive to the challenges of development, especially in the developing countries",A/55/187. the addendum thereto on regional perspectives and developments provided by the regional commissionsA/55/187/Add.1. and the addendum thereto provided by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the work it has undertaken on the involvement of the private sector in the prevention and resolution of financial crises;A/55/187/Add.2. 2. Underlines the utmost importance of implementing the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty, inter alia, through good governance within each country, as well as good governance at the international level and transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems; 3. Also underlines the utmost importance of implementing the commitment in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 4. Stresses the special importance of creating an enabling international economic environment through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to promote equitable economic development in a world economy that benefits all people, and, in this context, invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized countries, which have significant weight in influencing world economic growth, when formulating their macroeconomic policies, to take into account their effects in terms of the external economic environment favourable to growth and development, in particular of developing countries; 5. Also stresses the special importance of creating an enabling domestic environment through, inter alia, the rule of law, capacity-building, including institutional capacity-building, and the implementation of appropriate economic and social policies, so that domestic and international resources may be effectively mobilized and used for development; 6. Reiterates the urgent need to accelerate the growth and development prospects of the least developed countries, which remain the poorest and most vulnerable of the international community, and calls upon development partners, in particular industrialized countries, to facilitate the financing of their development, inter alia, through public and private financial flows, increased official development assistance, strengthened debt relief, the adoption of a policy of duty- and quota-free access for essentially all of their exports and enhanced balance-of-payments support, and in this context welcomes the holding at Brussels in May 2001 of the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries; 7. Recognizes the stability of the international financial system as an important global public good and a necessary condition for positive financial flows for development, and, in this context, calls upon all countries, including major industrialized countries, whose policies have significant impact on most economies, to adopt and to pursue policies that promote international financial stability and facilitate financial flows for development, and requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, to provide information to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the analysis it has undertaken of international financial stability as a global public good; See Global public goods: international cooperation in the 21st century, edited by Inge Kaul, Isabelle Grunberg and Marc A. Stern, published for the United Nations Development Programme by Oxford University Press, New York, 1999. 8. Emphasizes, in this regard, the need to continue national, regional and international efforts to promote international financial stability and, to this end, to improve surveillance, early warning, prevention and response capabilities for dealing with the emergence and spread of financial crises in a timely manner, taking a comprehensive and long-term perspective while remaining responsive to the challenges of development and the protection of the most vulnerable countries and social groups; 9. Stresses the importance of strong domestic institutions to promote financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the financial and banking sectors, including considering arrangements in destination and source countries to reduce the risks of excessive international financial volatility and measures to ensure orderly, gradual and well-sequenced capital-account liberalization processes, and invites in this connection all relevant international institutions to continue to provide, upon the request of concerned countries, policy advice and technical assistance so as to strengthen their capacity in the above-mentioned areas; 10. Emphasizes the importance of deepening the convergence of the efforts of all international institutions able to contribute to the strengthening of an international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity; 11. Reiterates the need for broadening and strengthening the participation of developing countries in the international economic decision-making process; 12. Emphasizes the importance of the improved participation of developing countries in the work of the international institutions dealing with the reform of the international financial architecture, in particular the International Monetary Fund, as well as in relevant norm-setting processes; 13. Expresses the need for multilateral surveillance by the International Monetary Fund and regional and subregional institutions of all countries in a symmetrical manner; 14. Emphasizes that the international financial institutions, in providing policy advice and supporting adjustment programmes, should ensure that they are sensitive to the specific circumstances and implementing capacities of concerned countries and to the special needs of developing countries and should work towards the best possible outcomes in terms of growth and development, inter alia, through gender-sensitive employment and poverty eradication policies and strategies, and stresses the importance of national ownership of programmes supported by the International Monetary Fund for their sustained implementation; 15. Encourages the continuing efforts undertaken by the Bretton Woods institutions, the regional development banks and the International Labour Organization to help Governments to address the social consequences of crisis, and welcomes, in this regard, the commitments made by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development, to ensure that, when structural adjustment programmes are agreed to, they include social development goals, in particular those of eradicating poverty, promoting full and productive employment and enhancing social integration; 16. Emphasizes that the international financial institutions should, when invited by national Governments, provide assistance and advice, as appropriate, to the countries in their efforts to promote development and reduce poverty through national programmes, including, where relevant, nationally owned and developed poverty reduction strategy papers that integrate macroeconomic, structural and social policies; 17. Underlines the continuing importance of providing the international institutions, in particular the International Monetary Fund, with adequate resources to provide emergency financing in a timely and accessible manner to countries affected by financial crises, and notes the regional and subregional efforts to facilitate emergency financing in time of crisis; 18. Welcomes the progress made in developing early warning capacities to address in a timely manner the threat of financial crisis, and in this regard encourages the International Monetary Fund and other relevant international and regional institutions to continue their efforts to contribute to this process; 19. Calls upon the international community, in particular the World Bank and the regional development banks, and other relevant international and regional institutions, including the regional commissions, working with the private sector, to support the promotion of long-term private financial flows, especially foreign direct investments, inter alia, through enhanced technical cooperation, to all developing countries as well as economies in transition, in particular the least developed countries and other developing countries with special difficulties in attracting private financial flows, including those in Africa, as well as the small island developing countries, and, in this context, requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to provide information to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the work it has undertaken on this matter; 20. Reiterates its invitation to the International Monetary Fund to facilitate the dialogue among relevant actors to consider the possibility of establishing regulatory frameworks for short-term capital flows and trade in currencies; 21. Emphasizes that it is important for sovereign risk assessments made by private sector agencies to be based on objective and transparent parameters; 22. Reaffirms the need to consider appropriate frameworks for the involvement of the private sector in the prevention and resolution of financial crises, including the need to implement and further refine the framework laid down by the International Monetary and Financial Committee at its meeting held on 16 April 2000, and underlines the importance of an equitable distribution of the cost of adjustments between the public and private sectors and among debtors, creditors and investors, concerning, inter alia, highly leveraged operations, as well as the consideration, in exceptional cases, of debt standstill arrangements; 23. Emphasizes the important supportive role that stronger regional and subregional financial institutions and arrangements can play in the reform of the international financial system and the enhancement of financing for development; 24. Encourages the deepening of the dialogue between the Economic and Social Council and the Bretton Woods institutions, and in this regard recommends that at their next high-level meeting they consider the modalities needed to consolidate further a broader global agenda for a strengthened and stable international financial system that is responsive to the priorities of growth and development, in particular of developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity in the global economy; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to make the present resolution available to the Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development, at its second substantive session, as an input for its work on the systemic issues contained in its preliminary substantive agenda; 26. Also requests the Secretary-General, in close cooperation with all relevant entities of the United Nations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the regional commissions, within their respective mandates, and in consultation with the Bretton Woods institutions, and taking into account the progress made at the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution under a sub-item entitled "International financial system and development", with an analysis of the current trend in global financial flows, including net transfer of resources between developed and developing countries, and recommendations to consolidate further a broader global agenda for a strengthened and stable international financial system that is responsive to the priorities of growth and development, in particular of developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity in the global economy; 27. Requests the President of the General Assembly to present this resolution to the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank and the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund, before their joint annual spring meeting, in order to bring it to their attention as an input to their discussions on the matters addressed herein. RESOLUTION 55/187 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/580, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/187. Industrial development cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/151 of 18 December 1991, 49/108 of 19 December 1994, 51/170 of 16 December 1996 and 53/177 of 15 December 1998 on industrial development cooperation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recognizing the increasing role of the business community, including the private sector, in enhancing the dynamic process of the development of the industrial sector, Recognizing also the importance of the transfer of technology to the developing countries as an effective means of international cooperation in the field of industrial development, Taking note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization,See A/55/356. 1. Reiterates that industrialization is a key element in the promotion of the sustainable development of developing countries, as well as in the creation of productive employment, eradication of poverty and facilitation of social integration, including the integration of women into the development process; 2. Stresses the importance of domestic industrial transformation in developing countries as a way of increasing the value added of their export earnings, so that they may benefit fully from the process of globalization and trade liberalization; 3. Recognizes the need for industry to play an enhanced role in fighting the marginalization of developing countries; 4. Underlines the importance of industrial development cooperation and a positive investment and business climate at the international, regional, subregional and national levels in promoting the expansion, diversification and modernization of productive capacities in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 5. Reaffirms the need, within the existing service modules of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, for initiatives stretching beyond those associated with economic adjustment and stabilization to support the survival and expansion of manufacturing activity in developing countries, especially in the least developed countries; 6. Emphasizes the necessity of a favourable international and national environment for the industrialization of developing countries, and urges all Governments to adopt and to implement development policies and strategies that promote, within a framework of transparent and accountable industrialization policies, inter alia, enterprise development, foreign direct investment, technological adaptation and innovation, expanded access to markets and effective use of official development assistance to enable developing countries to enhance an environment that is attractive to investment so as to augment and supplement domestic resources for the expansion, diversification and modernization of their industrial production capacity in the context of an open, equitable, non-discriminatory, transparent, multilateral and rule-based international trading system; 7. Acknowledges the interlinkage of globalization and interdependence, and reiterates the importance of the transfer of technology to the developing countries as an effective means of international cooperation in the field of industrial development; 8. Confirms the contribution of industry to social development, especially in the context of the linkages between industry and agriculture, and notes that within the totality of these interlinkages, industry serves as a powerful source of the employment generation, income creation and social integration required for the eradication of poverty; 9. Recognizes the continuing use of official development assistance also for industrial development in the developing countries, and calls upon donor countries and recipient countries to continue to cooperate in their efforts to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness of official development assistance resources devoted to industrial development cooperation; 10. Emphasizes the importance, for developing countries, of financing for industrial development, including market-based mechanisms and instruments as well as innovative funding modalities, such as co-financing schemes and trust funds, debt-equity swaps and, as appropriate, other debt relief measures and official development assistance specifically designed to strengthen the industrial capacities of developing countries through, inter alia, the facilitation of private capital flows, and, in this regard, requests relevant entities of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in the context of their strategic partnership, to support developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their efforts to mobilize resources for industrial development, especially by means of investment promotion activities, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, an increase in the competitiveness of their exports, the encouragement of practices to promote employment in industries and various forms of business partnerships, such as industrial joint venture schemes, enterprise-to-enterprise cooperation and venture capital funds for industrial development; 11. Reiterates the importance of cooperation and coordination within the United Nations system in providing effective support for the sustainable industrial development of developing countries, calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to carry out its central coordinating role within the United Nations system in that respect, and welcomes its efforts to strengthen its cooperation with the rest of the United Nations system at both the headquarters and field levels by, inter alia, actively participating in the resident coordinator system, so as to enhance the effectiveness, relevance and development impact of such support; 12. Calls upon the international community and the relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, to support the efforts of the developing countries to intensify and expand industrial cooperation among themselves with respect to, among other things, trade in manufactured products, industrial investments and business partnerships, and industrial technology and scientific exchanges; 13. Requests the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in cooperation with the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, as appropriate, to continue to undertake an in-depth assessment, analysis and dissemination of best practices in the area of industrial policies and strategies and of lessons learned in industrial development, taking into account the effects of financial crises and the impact of globalization on the industrial structure of the developing countries, so as to support and boost South-South cooperation by providing practical insights and ideas for international industrial development cooperation and for economic and technical cooperation among developing countries; 14. Emphasizes the need for financial support to enable the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to implement its technical cooperation programmes and to strengthen its global forum activities, and, at the same time, strongly urges present and former member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without conditions; 15. Welcomes the structural transformation and revitalization of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization as well as its new approach in providing comprehensive and integrated services to its member States and the strengthening of its field representation, and requests it to continue to support the industrialization efforts of developing countries and to continue to accord priority to the needs of the least developed countries and countries in the African region; 16. Also welcomes the focus of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization both on the strengthening of industrial capacities and on cleaner and sustainable industrial development, in the context of its new programme orientation, as well as its cooperation with the relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/188 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/580, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/188. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/176 of 15 December 1998 on action against corruption and bribery in international commercial transactions, 54/205 of 22 December 1999 on the prevention of corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and 55/61 of 4 December 2000 on an effective international legal instrument against corruption, Concerned about the seriousness of problems posed by corruption, which may endanger the stability and security of societies, undermine the values of democracy and morality and jeopardize social, economic and political development, Recognizing the importance of international cooperation and existing international and national laws for combating corruption in international commercial transactions, Noting with appreciation the recent adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its two protocols,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III. Recognizing the important role of the business community, including, in particular, the private sector, in enhancing the dynamic process of the development of the agricultural, industrial and service sectors and the need to create an enabling environment at the national and international levels for business in order to facilitate economic growth and sustainable development of developing countries, most especially African countries, taking into account the development priorities of Governments, Mindful of the very important role that the private sector can play in fostering economic growth and development and of the active involvement of the United Nations system in facilitating the constructive participation and orderly interaction of the private sector in the development process by embracing universal principles and norms, such as honesty, transparency and accountability, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the prevention of corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds,A/55/405. 1. Reiterates its condemnation of corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the illegal transfer of funds; 2. Calls for further international and national measures to combat corrupt practices and bribery in international transactions and for international cooperation in support of those measures; 3. Also calls for, while recognizing the importance of national measures, increased international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in regard to devising ways and means of preventing and addressing illegal transfers, as well as repatriating illegally transferred funds to the countries of origin, and calls upon all countries and entities concerned to cooperate in this regard; 4. Requests the international community to support the efforts of all countries to strengthen institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks for preventing corruption, bribery, money-laundering and illegal transfer of funds, as well as for the repatriation of those funds to the countries of origin; 5. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, as contained in resolution 55/61, to convene an intergovernmental open-ended expert group to examine and prepare, on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General and of recommendations of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its tenth session, draft terms of reference for the negotiation of the future legal instrument against corruption, and invites the expert group on the same basis to examine the question of illegally transferred funds and the repatriation of such funds to the countries of origin; 6. Decides to keep this matter under review, and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and relevant bodies of the United Nations system, to prepare, without duplicating material contained in the report requested by the Assembly in resolution 55/61, an analytical report containing information on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution and, bearing in mind resolution 54/205, concrete recommendations, inter alia, with regard to the repatriation of illegally transferred funds to the countries of origin, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Sectoral policy questions: business and development". RESOLUTION 55/189 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/581/Add.6, para. 5)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia. 55/189. Status of preparation for the International Year of Mountains, 2002 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/24 of 10 November 1998 on the International Year of Mountains, 2002, Recalling also the relevant provisions of Agenda 21,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. .93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. in particular chapter 13 concerning mountain ecosystems and their conservation and sustainable development, Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolutions 1997/45 of 22 July 1997 and 1998/30 of 29 July 1998, Recalling the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Coordination, programme and other questions: proclamation of an international year of mountains",E/1998/68. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of preparations for the International Year of Mountains, 2002,A/55/218. Noting with appreciation the work already undertaken to achieve sustainable mountain development by States, organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations,See E/1998/80 and A/54/767. 1. Welcomes the activities undertaken by States, United Nations organizations, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations in preparation for the observance of the International Year of Mountains, and encourages them to continue their efforts; 2. Encourages all States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the International Year of Mountains to ensure the present and future well-being of mountain communities by promoting conservation and sustainable development in mountain areas; to increase awareness and knowledge of mountain ecosystems, their dynamics and functioning, and their overriding importance in providing a number of crucial goods and services essential to the well-being of both rural and urban, highland and lowland people, in particular water supply, food security; and to promote and defend the cultural heritage of mountain communities and societies; 3. Encourages States and relevant United Nations funds and programmes, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to support local, national and international programmes and projects for the International Year of Mountains, inter alia, through voluntary financial contributions; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session an interim report on the activities of the International Year of Mountains and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the outcome of the Year and the further implementation of efforts to achieve sustainable mountain development, taking into account any relevant decisions adopted during the ten-year review of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 2002. RESOLUTION 55/18 Adopted at the 54th plenary meeting, on 7 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.3 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Panama, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela, Palestine 55/18. Bethlehem 2000 The General Assembly, Recalling the fact that the Palestinian city of Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus Christ and one of the most historic and significant sites on earth, Noting that the world is continuing to celebrate in Bethlehem, a city of peace, the onset of the new millennium in a global vision of hope for all peoples, Stressing again the monumental importance of the event for the Palestinian people, for the peoples of the region and for the international community as a whole, as it comprises significant religious, historical and cultural dimensions, Aware of the Bethlehem 2000 Project as a multifaceted undertaking for commemoration of the event, which began at Christmas, 1999, and will come to a close at Easter, 2001, Aware also of the assistance needed with regard to the above-mentioned Project, and expressing appreciation for the steps already taken towards increasing the engagement and participation of the international community, including donor countries, and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, as well as the European Commission, religious institutions and others, Recalling the convening of the Bethlehem 2000 International Conference in Rome, on 18 and 19 February 1999, and its impact on the promotion of the Bethlehem 2000 Project and the mobilization of public awareness in all regions in support of this endeavour, Welcoming the participation in the Bethlehem celebrations of several heads of State and Government and many other eminent personalities, including religious leaders, and expressing appreciation for the Palestinian preparations for this event, Welcoming also the historic Jubilee 2000 pilgrimage of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the Holy Land, his landmark visit to the holy sites in Bethlehem and the important message delivered by the Pontiff at Manger Square, Expressing the need for immediate change in the situation on the ground in the vicinity of Bethlehem, especially with regard to ensuring freedom of movement, Stressing the need for ensuring free and unhindered access to the holy places in Bethlehem to the faithful of all religions and the citizens of all nationalities, Expressing the renewed hope for a successful outcome of the Middle East peace process and the achievement of a final settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, so that the millennium may be celebrated in an atmosphere of peace and reconciliation, 1. Welcomes this global and historic celebration in Bethlehem and the onset of the third millennium as a symbol of the shared hope for peace among all peoples of the world; 2. Expresses support for the Bethlehem 2000 Project, and commends the efforts undertaken by the Palestinian Authority in this regard; 3. Notes with appreciation the worldwide support for the Bethlehem 2000 Project, and calls for sustained assistance and engagement by the international community as a whole, including private sector participation, in ensuring the success of the Project and of this monumental commemoration; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize the pertinent organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to increase their efforts to ensure the successful completion of the Bethlehem 2000 Project; 5. Decides to conclude, at the current session, consideration by the General Assembly of the item entitled "Bethlehem 2000". RESOLUTION 55/190 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/581/Add.1, para. 5)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Kyrgyzstan, and Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 55/190. Implementation of the commitments and policies agreed upon in the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance and continuing validity of the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, contained in the annex to its resolution S-18/3 of 1 May 1990, and of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 45/199 of 21 December 1990, Recalling the results of all the major United Nations conferences and summit meetings held since the beginning of the 1990s, Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the targets and commitments relating to development and poverty eradication, Emphasizing the importance of the several other development-oriented meetings being convened under the auspices of the United Nations over the next two years, including the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development, the special session of the General Assembly to review and address the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, the special session of the General Assembly on children, the ten-year review of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/209. and the draft text of an international development strategy for the first decade of the new millennium, submitted by the Secretary-General,A/55/89-E/2000/80. 1. Expresses regret that the consultations foreseen in resolution 54/206 of 22 December 1999 could not be held; 2. Decides to postpone the further development of a new international development strategy until after the aforementioned meetings have been held; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session with an overview of the challenges and constraints as well as progress made towards achieving the major development goals and objectives adopted by the United Nations during the decade of the 1990s; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the sub-item entitled "Sustainable development and international economic cooperation: implementation of the commitments and policies agreed upon in the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Decade". RESOLUTION 55/191 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/581/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Union), Georgia, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 55/191. Integration of the economies in transition into the world economy The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 47/187 of 22 December 1992, 48/181 of 21 December 1993, 49/106 of 19 December 1994, 51/175 of 6 December 1996 and 53/179 of 15 December 1998, Reaffirming also the need for the full integration of the countries with economies in transition into the world economy, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/188. Noting the progress made in those countries towards achieving macroeconomic and financial stability and economic growth in the course of structural reforms and the need to sustain those positive trends in the future, Recognizing the difficulties faced by the countries with economies in transition in responding adequately to the challenges of globalization, including in the field of information and communication technologies, and the need to enhance their capacity to utilize effectively the benefits and mitigate the negative implications of globalization, Recognizing also the continuing need to ensure favourable conditions for market access of exports from countries with economies in transition, in accordance with multilateral trade agreements, Recognizing further the important role foreign investment should play in those countries, and stressing the need to create an enabling environment to attract more foreign direct investment, Noting the aspiration of the countries with economies in transition towards the further development of regional and interregional cooperation, 1. Welcomes the measures taken by the organizations of the United Nations system to implement General Assembly resolutions on the integration of the economies in transition into the world economy; 2. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, in collaboration with relevant non-United Nations multilateral and regional institutions, to continue to conduct analytical activities and provide policy advice and technical assistance to the Governments of the countries with economies in transition aimed at strengthening the social and political framework for completing market-oriented reforms with a view to sustaining the positive trends in the economic and social development of those countries, and, in this regard, emphasizes the importance of their further integration into the knowledge-based world economy through the effective utilization of information and communication technologies; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution with particular focus on an analysis that would determine the progress achieved in the integration of countries with economies in transition into the world economy. RESOLUTION 55/192 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/581/Add.3, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/192. Culture and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/187 of 8 December 1986, 46/158 of 19 December 1991, 51/179 of 16 December 1996, 52/197 of 18 December 1997 and 53/184 of 15 December 1998 on cultural development, Encouraged by the positive international response to the results of the work of the World Commission on Culture and Development and of the Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at Stockholm from 30 March to 2 April 1998, Noting the steps taken by Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to implement the recommendations in the Action Plan on Cultural Policies for Development adopted at the Conference,A/53/321, appendix. Bearing in mind the importance of cultural values and cultural diversity as elements of sustainable development, Underlining the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and universal promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, are mutually supportive, Emphasizing the need to enhance the potential of culture as a means of prosperity, sustainable development and global coexistence, 1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;See A/55/339. 2. Invites all Member States, intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations: (a) To ensure, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, continuous and effective implementation of the Action Plan on Cultural Policies for Development;A/53/321, appendix. (b) To intensify further their efforts to integrate cultural factors into their development programmes and projects, so as to ensure sustainable development that fully respects cultural diversity; (c) To implement fully the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace adopted by the General Assembly on 13 September 1999;Resolutions 53/243 A and B. (d) To commit themselves to promoting the dialogue among civilizations as an essential process for human development and mutual understanding and for strengthening international cooperation; (e) To analyse the connection between culture and development and the elimination of poverty in the context of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), as recommended in the Action Plan; (f) To safeguard cultural and linguistic diversity in the context of globalization and to support action by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in this regard; 3. Encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue its work to promote a greater awareness of the crucial relationship between culture and development; 4. Also encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in conjunction, as appropriate, with other relevant United Nations bodies and multilateral development institutions, to continue to provide support, upon request, to developing countries, in particular in national capacity-building, for the implementation of international cultural conventions, including conservation of heritage and protection of cultural property, and for the restitution of cultural property, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/190 of 17 December 1999, as well as support and opportunities for the promotion and enhancement of cultural goods and services and of cultural tourism respectful of the integrity of cultural and natural heritage; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/193 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/581/Add.4, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/193. High-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/165 of 21 December 1993, 49/95 of 19 December 1994, 50/122 of 20 December 1995, 51/174 of 16 December 1996, 52/186 of 18 December 1997, 53/181 of 15 December 1998 and 54/213 of 22 December 1999, Recalling also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, entitled "United Nations Millennium Declaration", Recalling further the Agenda for DevelopmentResolution 51/240, annex. and the relevant provisions on its follow-up and implementation, and the need to give impetus to international economic cooperation for development so as to follow up on the Agenda effectively, Reaffirming the importance of continuing the dialogue to be conducted in response to the imperative of solidarity, mutual interests and benefits, genuine interdependence, shared responsibility and the partnership in promoting international economic cooperation for development, Recognizing, in this context, the importance of an enabling environment and sound economic policy at both the national and the international levels, Taking note of the need to ensure the integrated and coordinated follow-up and implementation by the United Nations system of the outcome of major United Nations conferences and summits, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renewal of the dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership",A/55/314. concerning the past experience of the high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership, 1. Reaffirms the importance of continued constructive dialogue and genuine partnership to promote further international economic cooperation for development in the twenty-first century; 2. Reiterates the overall theme adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/213, namely, "Responding to globalization: facilitating the integration of developing countries into the world economy in the twenty-first century"; 3. Endorses the agreement reached at the intergovernmental consultations, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/314. whereby the two sub-themes of the second high-level dialogue would be (a) "Promoting the integration of developing countries into the world economy and generating new public and private financing resources to complement development efforts" and (b) "Enhancing the integration of developing countries in the emerging global information network, facilitating access to information and communication technology for developing countries", and decides that the high-level dialogue will be convened for two days immediately prior to the commencement of the general debate at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, that the high-level dialogue shall consist of plenary meetings, ministerial round-table meetings and informal panels, with the participation of non-governmental actors, and that the final outcome of the dialogue will be a summary by the President, to be presented at the closure of the event; 4. Requests the President of the General Assembly to continue preparations for the second high-level dialogue, in close collaboration with Member States and taking into account the experience of the first high-level dialogue, as well as recent experience in the preparation and organization of high-level events; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, in close cooperation with Governments, all relevant parts of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders, to prepare for the second high-level dialogue, taking into account the results of major United Nations conferences and summits, General Assembly resolution 54/213, the outcome of the consultations held by the Chairman of the Second Committee, any further guidance provided by Member States and the outcome of the consideration of the relevant item by the General Assembly at its current session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development and international economic cooperation", the sub-item entitled "High-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at that session a consolidated report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/194 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/581/Add.5, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/194. Scope to be covered by the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) The General Assembly, Recalling paragraph 218 of the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and its resolutions 51/177 of 16 December 1996 on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and 53/180 of 15 December 1998 in which it decided that its special session for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the Conference would be held in June 2001 and that the Commission on Human Settlements should serve as the Preparatory Committee for the special session, Taking into account its resolutions 54/208 and 54/209 of 22 December 1999 on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and on the follow-up to the Conference, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Settlements resolutions 17/1 and 17/14 of 14 May 1999 on the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and on the preparations for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No 8 (A/54/8), annex I, sect. A. Taking note of the report of the Commission on Human Settlements acting as the Preparatory Committee for the special session, on its first substantive session, held at Nairobi from 8 to 12 May 2000,A/55/121. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the coordinated implementation by the United Nations system of the Habitat Agenda,A/55/83-E/2000/62. I Outcome of the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda 1. Confirms that the special session should result in: (a) Reconfirmation of the goals and commitments of the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and review of the status of implementation, including the identification of progress, gaps, obstacles and challenges; (b) The setting of global priorities for future action; 2. Emphasizes the role of the Commission on Human Settlements, as a standing body of the Economic and Social Council, as a central monitoring and coordinating body within the United Nations system for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; 3. Also emphasizes the existing role of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) in supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; 4. Further emphasizes, while recognizing that the implementation of the Habitat Agenda is the sovereign right and responsibility of each State, that international cooperation as stipulated in the Agenda remains an important component in the implementation of the Agenda; II Arrangements regarding participation of Habitat Agenda partners and observers in the special session 1. Decides that representatives of local authorities, non-governmental organizations and other Habitat Agenda partners may make statements in the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole and in the thematic committee of the special session for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II); 2. Also decides that, given the time available, a limited number of representatives of local authorities, non-governmental organizations and other Habitat Agenda partners may also make statements in the debate in plenary meeting, and requests the President of the General Assembly to submit the list of selected Habitat Agenda partners to the Member States in a timely manner for approval and to ensure that the selection of speakers is made on an equal and transparent basis, taking into account the geographical representation and diversity of Habitat Agenda partners; 3. Further decides that observers may make statements during the debate in plenary meeting in accordance with the rules and procedures of the General Assembly; 4. Decides that arrangements concerning the accreditation and participation of Habitat Agenda partners in the special session shall in no way create a precedent for other special sessions of the General Assembly; III Arrangements regarding accreditation of Habitat Agenda partners to the special session 1. Decides that accreditation to the special session shall be open to: (a) Habitat Agenda partners that were accredited to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II); (b) Non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, with the exception of those whose application for consultative status with the Council has been rejected or whose consultative status has been withdrawn or suspended; 2. Also decides that accreditation of other interested and relevant Habitat Agenda partners that were not accredited to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) should be considered by the Preparatory Committee, provided that those partners submit to the Committee composed of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee and the Secretariat by 9 February 2001 an application for accreditation containing the following information: (a) The purpose of the organization; (b) Information identifying the programmes and activities of the organization in areas relevant to the subject of the special session and indicating in which country or countries they are carried out; (c) Confirmation of the activities of the organization at the national, regional or international levels; (d) Copies of annual or other reports of the organization, with financial statements and a list of financial sources and contributions, including governmental contributions; (e) A list of the members of the governing body of the organization and their country of nationality; (f) A description of the membership of the organization, indicating the total number of members, the names or organizations that are members and their geographical distribution; (g) A copy of the constitution and/or by-laws of the organization; and further decides that the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee should submit by 19 February 2001 to the Preparatory Committee at its second session a list of partners that have submitted their application containing information on each partner's competence and relevance to the subject of the special session, and that the Preparatory Committee at its second session shall decide on a no-objection basis regarding the accreditation of those partners; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate widely all available information on accreditation procedures for the special session; 4. Decides that the arrangements set out above concerning accreditation to the special session shall in no way create a precedent for other special sessions of the General Assembly; IV Action at the local, national and regional levels 1. Calls upon all States to strengthen broad-based, participatory, gender-balanced national habitat committees, or similar consultative mechanisms, to review and report on local and national plans of action and, through consultative mechanisms, to coordinate and support further the implementation of the Habitat Agenda at the local and national levels; 2. Urges States to focus their assessment and monitoring of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda at the local, national and regional levels on key commitments related to policies and methods of evaluation, and recommends that States identify best practices, including enabling policies, legislation and exemplary plans of action, in implementing the Habitat Agenda in a gender-sensitive way, that they promote research on low-cost building technology for affordable housing and that they support the transfer of all such knowledge to ensure sustainability; 3. Confirms that the special session should facilitate sharing views on local, national and regional experiences in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; V Partnership and the role of civil society 1. Encourages Member States to integrate contributions made by different partner groups towards further implementation of the Habitat Agenda in their national reports and to consider the inclusion of partner groups in broad-based, gender-balanced national delegations; 2. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) to report to the Preparatory Committee at its second session on the activities of the Advisory Committee of Local Authorities; VI Monitoring and assessment 1. Encourages Member States and Habitat Agenda partners to provide support for the preparation of the Global Report on Human Settlements and the State of the World's Cities report on a biennial basis so as to raise awareness of human settlements and to provide information on urban conditions and trends around the world; 2. Recommends that the Commission on Human Settlements pursue agreement by all Member States on a pool of common and easy-to-measure indicators applicable for national reporting and evaluation; 3. Encourages all relevant United Nations organizations and agencies and other development partners to support the efforts of national Governments to coordinate data collection and analysis and to develop a monitoring system at the local level on sustainable human settlements, with appropriate strengthening at all levels; 4. Encourages all Governments and partners to submit to the Secretariat examples of enabling urban policies and legislation relating to key items selected for country reporting to allow the Secretariat to combine best practices, enabling policies, legislation and action plans; VII International cooperation 1. Requests the Preparatory Committee, at its second session, to prepare a draft declaration on cities and other human settlements in the new millennium; 2. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) to report to the special session on the implementation of the twin goals of the Habitat Agenda, namely, adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, as well as on the actions and achievements of the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure and the Global Campaign for Urban Governance; 3. Calls upon the international community to support developing countries in the preparatory process for the special session, the second session of the Preparatory Committee and the special session itself; 4. Requests the international community to support urban poverty eradication in developing countries as well as reconstruction programmes following conflicts and natural disasters in order to allow affected countries to implement the Habitat Agenda effectively. RESOLUTION 55/195 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/581/Add.5, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/195. Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993, 50/227 of 24 May 1996, 51/177 of 16 December 1996, 52/190 of 18 December 1997, 53/180 of 15 December 1998, 54/207 of 22 December 1999 and 54/209 of 22 December 1999, Recalling also Economic and Social Council decision 1999/281 of 30 July 1999, and taking note of agreed conclusions 2000/1 of the Economic and Social Council concerning the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)A/55/3, chap. V, para. 6. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Acknowledging the efforts made to secure extrabudgetary resources to defray the costs of the participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in the sessions of the Preparatory Committee for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the special session itself in June 2001, as requested in paragraph 14 of resolution 53/180, and noting with concern that the response has not been adequate, Taking note of the report of the Commission on Human Settlements acting as the Preparatory Committee for the special session, on its first substantive session, held at Nairobi from 8 to 12 May 2000,A/55/121. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the coordinated implementation by the United Nations system of the Habitat Agenda,A/55/83-E/2000/62. 1. Welcomes the appointment of the new Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat); 2. Requests the Secretary-General to consider further strengthening of the Centre through the provision of the requisite support and stable, adequate and predictable financial resources, including by proposing additional regular budget resources and sufficient human resources, as envisaged by the General Assembly in its resolutions 52/220 of 22 December 1997 and 53/242 of 28 July 1999, for the consideration of the Assembly, with due regard for proper United Nations budgetary procedures; 3. Decides that the special session shall be held from 6 to 8 June 2001 at United Nations Headquarters in New York; 4. Also decides that the special session shall have a plenary, an ad hoc committee of the whole and a thematic committee, the details of which shall be worked out by the Preparatory Committee at its second session; 5. Further decides that the provisional agenda shall include the following items: (a) Review and appraisal of progress made in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda;Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. (b) Further actions and initiatives for overcoming obstacles to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; (c) A declaration on cities and other human settlements in the new millennium; 6. Reiterates its invitation to Member States to participate in the special session at the highest political level possible and, in the meantime, to continue to extend support to the preparatory process; 7. Also reiterates its invitation to States members of the specialized agencies of the United Nations that are not members of the United Nations, as well as Palestine, in their capacity as observers, to participate in the special session in accordance with the rules and procedures of the General Assembly; 8. Invites other entities having a standing invitation to participate in the United Nations as observers to participate in the special session in accordance with the rules and procedures of the General Assembly; 9. Decides to invite the footnoted associate membersAmerican Samoa, Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Niue, Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands. of the regional commissions to participate as observers in the special session and its preparatory process, subject to the rules of the General Assembly; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to consider defraying the costs not covered by General Assembly resolution 1798 (XVII) of 11 December 1962 of the participation of one governmental representative from each least developed country in the special session and the cost of their participation in the second session of the Preparatory Committee through the use of extrabudgetary resources and, in the event that those resources prove to be insufficient, requests the Secretary-General to seek extrabudgetary funding from all possible sources; 11. Calls upon all States in a position to do so to make voluntary financial contributions to the Secretariat to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and their civil society partners to prepare adequately for, and be fully involved in, the preparatory process and the special session itself; 12. Reiterates its invitation to all relevant organs, funds and programmes, as well as the agencies of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, to continue to contribute to and be actively involved in the preparatory process and the special session; 13. Welcomes the launching of the Cities Alliance initiative by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the World Bank to implement effectively the Cities without Slums programme of action as part of the efforts to achieve the twin goals of the Habitat Agenda, namely, adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world, requests the Executive Director of the Centre to take a leadership and coordinating role in this initiative, and urges the Cities Alliance to include national Governments of developing countries as well as relevant United Nations organizations and specialized agencies in this initiative; 14. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) to report to the special session on the Cities Alliance initiative, including on its contribution to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; 15. Requests the Preparatory Committee and the special session to take into account the outcome of the coordination segment of the Economic and Social Council on the implementation of the Habitat Agenda within the United Nations system;A/55/3, chap. V. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3. 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-sixth session a report on the special session; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session an item entitled "Implementation of the Habitat Agenda and outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on this topic". RESOLUTION 55/196 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.8, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/196. International Year of Freshwater, 2003 The General Assembly, Recalling the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted at its nineteenth special sessionResolution S-19/2, annex. and decisions of the Economic and Social Council and those of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 9 (E/1998/29). relating to freshwater, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries, in which the Council recognized the contribution that the celebration of international years could make to the furtherance of international cooperation and understanding, Recalling further its resolution 53/199 of 15 December 1998 on the proclamation of international years, Noting the ongoing work in the United Nations system and the work of other intergovernmental organizations on freshwater, 1. Proclaims the year 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater; 2. Invites the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Administrative Committee on Coordination to serve as the coordinating entity for the Year and to develop relevant preliminary proposals for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on possible activities, including possible sources of funding, that could take place at all levels, as appropriate; 3. Calls upon Member States, national and international organizations, major groups and the private sector to make voluntary contributions in accordance with the guidelines for international years and anniversaries; 4. Encourages all Member States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Year to increase awareness of the importance of freshwater and to promote action at the local, national, regional and international levels; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a progress report on the preparations for the International Year of Freshwater. RESOLUTION 55/197 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.8, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/197. International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/200 of 18 December 1997, 53/185 of 15 December 1998 and 54/220 of 22 December 1999 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46 of 28 July 1999 and 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, and taking note of Council resolution 2000/33 of 28 July 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/99-E/2000/86. Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation for a better scientific understanding of the El Niño phenomenon and that international cooperation and solidarity with the affected countries are indispensable, Reaffirming also the importance of developing strategies at the national, subregional, regional and international levels that aim to prevent, mitigate and rehabilitate the damage caused by natural disasters resulting from the El Niño phenomenon, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/99-E/2000/86. 2. Also takes note with appreciation of the measures adopted in order to ensure the continuity of international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, within the framework of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and reiterates its invitation to Member States, organs and organizations of the United Nations system, contained in paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of its resolution 52/200; 3. Welcomes the establishment of the working group on the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon within the framework of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General and the relevant United Nations organs, funds and programmes, in particular those taking part in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and the international community to adopt, as appropriate, the necessary measures for the prompt establishment of the international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon at Guayaquil, Ecuador, and invites the international community to provide scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for that purpose, in accordance with resolution 54/220; 5. Invites the Government of the host country to facilitate the process for the prompt establishment of the international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the full implementation of its resolutions 52/200, 53/185, 54/219 and 54/220 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46, 1999/63 and 2000/33; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2001, on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 55/198 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.8, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/198. Enhancing complementarities among international instruments related to environment and sustainable development The General Assembly, Recalling Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. .93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21adopted at its nineteenth special session,Resolution S-19/2, annex. and its resolutions 53/186 of 15 December 1998, 53/242 of 28 July 1999 and 54/217 of 22 December 1999, Reaffirming the need, as stipulated in the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, for greater coherence in various intergovernmental organizations and processes by means of better policy coordination at the intergovernmental level, as well as for continued and more concerted efforts to enhance collaboration among the secretariats of relevant decision-making bodies, within their respective mandates, Emphasizing the need for the conferences of the parties and the secretariats of the environmental conventions to continue to pursue sustainable development objectives that are consistent with those conventions and with Agenda 21, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on international institutional arrangements related to environment and sustainable development;A/55/357. 2. Welcomes the work undertaken by the secretariats of the instruments related to environment and sustainable development and other relevant organizations to implement resolution 54/217; 3. Encourages the conferences of the parties to, and the secretariats of, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the Convention on Biological DiversitySee United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity (Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and other international instruments related to environment and sustainable development, as well as relevant organizations, especially the United Nations Environment Programme, including, as appropriate, the involvement of the environmental management group, to continue their work for enhancing complementarities among them with full respect for the status of the secretariats of the conventions and the autonomous decision-making prerogatives of the conferences of the parties to the conventions concerned, and to strengthen cooperation with a view to facilitating progress in the implementation of those conventions at the international, regional and national levels and to report thereon to their respective conferences of the parties; 4. Also encourages the conferences of the parties, assisted by their secretariats, to coordinate the timing of their sessions and the sessions of their subsidiary bodies, taking into account the organization of work of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development; 5. Further encourages the conferences of the parties to promote the streamlining of national reporting; 6. Invites the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, and other international instruments related to environment and sustainable development, as well as relevant organizations, to provide further information on their work to implement resolution 54/217 and other complementary activities in their contributions to the preparatory process for the review of the implementation of Agenda 21, to be carried out in 2002; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to take into account the above-mentioned work in the preparation of documentation and other preparatory activities for the review of the implementation of Agenda 21, to be carried out in 2002. RESOLUTION 55/199 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/199. Ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992, and the nineteenth special session of the General Assembly for the purpose of an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of Agenda 21, held in New York from 23 to 28 June 1997, Recalling also that Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentIbid., annex I. should constitute the framework within which the other results of the Conference are reviewed, and from within which new challenges and opportunities that have emerged since the Conference are addressed, Recalling further its resolutions 53/188 of 15 December 1998 and 54/218 of 22 December 1999 on the implementation of and follow-up to the outcome of the Conference and the special session, as well as its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, Recalling Commission on Sustainable Development decision 8/1 on preparations for the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the Conference,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 9 (E/2000/29), chap. I, sect. B. Recalling also that chapter 33 of Agenda 21 identified the Global Environment Facility as one source of financing for the implementation of Agenda 21, Recalling further the importance for developing countries of chapter 34 of Agenda 21, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on ensuring effective preparations for the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,A/55/120. Taking note with appreciation also of the Malmö Ministerial Declaration adopted by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme at its sixth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/55/25), annex I, decision SS.VI/1, annex. Deeply concerned that, despite the many successful and continuing efforts of the international community since the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held at Stockholm from 5 to 16 June 1972, and the fact that some progress has been achieved, the environment and the natural resource base that support life on earth continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate, Reaffirming the political importance of the forthcoming ten-year review of progress achieved since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and stressing that the review should focus on the implementation of Agenda 21 and the other results of the Conference, as well as the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted by the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session,Resolution S-19/2, annex. Bearing in mind that the substantive activities of the review should take into account, as appropriate, the results relevant to sustainable development of other United Nations conferences and summits and their follow-up activities, Bearing in mind also that national reports prepared by Governments since 1992 on national implementation of Agenda 21, to which major groups have contributed, could provide a fair basis for guiding national preparatory processes, Reaffirming that Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development should not be renegotiated and that the review should identify measures for the further implementation of Agenda 21 and the other results of the Conference, including sources of funding, 1. Decides to organize the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 2002 at the summit level to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable development, and accepts with gratitude the generous offer of the Government of South Africa to host the summit; 2. Also decides to call the summit the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 3. Further decides that the review should focus on the identification of accomplishments and areas where further efforts are needed to implement Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the other results of the Conference, and on action-oriented decisions in those areas, should address, within the framework of Agenda 21, new challenges and opportunities, and should result in renewed political commitment and support for sustainable development, consistent, inter alia, with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; 4. Decides that the Summit, including its preparatory process, should ensure a balance between economic development, social development and environmental protection, as these are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development; 5. Stresses the importance of early and effective preparations for the Summit and a comprehensive assessment of progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the other results of the Conference to be carried out at the local, national, regional and international levels by Governments and the United Nations system so as to ensure high-quality inputs to the review process, and welcomes the preparatory activities carried out so far; 6. Welcomes the work undertaken at the regional level, in close collaboration with the respective regional commissions, to implement action programmes for sustainable development that could provide substantive inputs to the preparatory process and the Summit itself; 7. Also welcomes the work undertaken by the United Nations Secretariat in close cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the regional commissions and the secretariats of conventions related to the Conference, as well as other relevant organizations, agencies and programmes within and outside the United Nations system and international and regional financial institutions, including the Global Environment Facility, to support preparatory activities, in particular at the national and regional levels, in a coordinated and mutually reinforcing way; 8. Further welcomes the report of the Global Environment Facility to the General Assembly on its contributions to the implementation of Agenda 21,See A/55/94. and notes the assistance provided by the Facility to the national implementation of Agenda 21; 9. Welcomes the decision of the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its last meeting, held from 1 to 3 November 2000,See ICCD/COP(4)/11/Add.1, decision 9/COP.4, para. 2. to request the Chief Executive Officer to explore the best options for enhancing the support of the Facility in assisting affected countries, especially those in Africa, in implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. taking into account the third replenishment; 10. Also welcomes the initiation of the third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund, invites all donor countries and other countries in a position to do so to make contributions to the third replenishment and ensure its successful conclusion, and invites the Facility to submit a report to the Summit on the status of the replenishment negotiations; 11. Invites relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations and international financial institutions involved with the implementation of Agenda 21, including the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme, and of conventions related to the Conference, to participate fully in the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21, including in the preparation of reports for submission to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its tenth session and the Summit, in order to reflect their experiences and the lessons learned and to provide ideas and proposals for the way forward for the further implementation of Agenda 21 in relevant areas; 12. Encourages effective contributions from, and the active participation of, all major groups, as identified in Agenda 21, at all stages of the preparatory process, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Commission on Sustainable Development, as well as its established practices related to the participation and engagement of major groups; 13. Decides that the Commission on Sustainable Development at its tenth session shall meet as an open-ended Preparatory Committee that will provide for the full and effective participation of all States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies, as well as other participants in the Commission on Sustainable Development, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council and the supplementary arrangements established for the Commission on Sustainable Development by the Council in its decisions 1993/215 of 12 February 1993 and 1995/201 of 8 February 1995; 14. Invites regional groups to nominate their candidates for the Bureau of the tenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development by the end of 2000 so that they can be involved in its preparations in advance of the first session of the Preparatory Committee; 15. Decides that the Commission, acting as the Preparatory Committee, should: (a) Undertake the comprehensive review and assessment of the implementation of Agenda 21 and the other results of the Conference on the basis of the results of national assessments and subregional and regional preparatory meetings, the documentation to be prepared by the Secretary-General in collaboration with the task managers, and other inputs from relevant international organizations, as well as on the basis of contributions from major groups; (b) Identify major accomplishments and lessons learned in the implementation of Agenda 21; (c) Identify major constraints hindering the implementation of Agenda 21, propose specific time-bound measures to be taken and institutional and financial requirements, and identify the sources of such support; (d) Address new challenges and opportunities that have emerged since the Conference, within the framework of Agenda 21; (e) Address ways of strengthening the institutional framework for sustainable development and evaluate and define the role and programme of work of the Commission on Sustainable Development; (f) Consider and decide on accreditation for the participation in the preparatory process and the Summit of relevant non-governmental organizations that are not in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council; (g) Propose a provisional agenda and possible main themes for the Summit based on the results of the preparatory activities carried out at the national, subregional, regional and international levels, taking into account also the input of major groups; (h) Propose rules and procedures for the participation of representatives of major groups in the Summit, taking into account the rules and procedures applied at the Conference; (i) Undertake any other functions that may be required by the preparatory process; 16. Also decides to hold, as recommended by the Commission on Sustainable Development in its decision 8/1,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 9 (E/2000/29), chap. I, sect. B. a three-day meeting of the tenth session of the Commission, so that the Commission can start its work as the Preparatory Committee for the Summit, and, in this context, invites the Commission to start its organizational work in order to do the following: (a) Elect, from among all States, a Bureau composed of ten members, with two representatives from each of the geographical groups, one of whom would be elected Chairperson and the others Vice-Chairpersons, one of whom would also act as the Rapporteur; (b) Consider progress in preparatory activities carried out at the local, national, subregional, regional and international levels, as well as by major groups; (c) Decide, taking into account the provisions of paragraph 17 below, on the specific modalities of the future sessions of the Preparatory Committee; (d) Consider a process for setting the agenda and determining possible main themes for the Summit in a timely manner; 17. Further decides that, in 2002, the Commission on Sustainable Development, acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Summit, shall hold three additional sessions, organized as follows: (a) At its first and second sessions, to be held in January and March 2002, respectively, the Preparatory Committee shall undertake the comprehensive review and assessment of progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21; at its second session, the Preparatory Committee shall agree on the text of a document containing the results of the review and assessment, as well as conclusions and recommendations for further action; (b) Drawing upon the agreed text of such a document, the Preparatory Committee at its third and final session, to be held at the ministerial level in May 2002, shall prepare a concise and focused document that should emphasize the need for a global partnership to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, reconfirm the need for an integrated and strategically focused approach to the implementation of Agenda 21, and address the main challenges and opportunities faced by the international community in this regard; the document submitted for further consideration and adoption by the Summit should reinvigorate, at the highest political level, the global commitment to a North/South partnership and a higher level of international solidarity and to the accelerated implementation of Agenda 21 and the promotion of sustainable development; 18. Decides to organize the third and final session of the Preparatory Committee at the ministerial level in Indonesia, and accepts with gratitude the generous offer of the Government of Indonesia to host it; 19. Stresses that the preparatory meetings and the Summit itself should be transparent and provide for effective participation and inputs from Governments and regional and international organizations, including financial institutions, and for contributions from and the active participation of major groups, as identified in Agenda 21; 20. Welcomes the establishment of a trust fund, urges international and bilateral donors and other countries in a position to do so to support the preparations for the ten-year review through voluntary contributions to the trust fund and to support the participation of representatives of developing countries in the regional and international preparatory process and the Summit itself, and encourages voluntary contributions to support the participation of major groups of developing countries in the regional and international preparatory processes and the Summit itself; 21. Invites the Secretary-General to submit a progress report on the state of preparations for the Summit for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, taking into account, inter alia, the inputs of the various regional meetings; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21". RESOLUTION 55/19 Adopted at the 55th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.20 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia 55/19. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/12 of 27 October 1999, in which it expressed the wish that the cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union be strengthened further, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/409. which takes stock of such cooperation over the last twelve months, Noting with appreciation the resolutions adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and its activities during the past year in support of the United Nations, as well as the recommendation contained in the aforementioned report that the increasingly close and productive relationship between the two organizations be recognized through a new and formalized relationship between the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the General Assembly, Welcoming the Conference of Presiding Officers of National Parliaments which was held at United Nations Headquarters from 30 August to 1 September 2000 and which concluded with the unanimous adoption of the Declaration entitled "The Parliamentary vision for international cooperation at the dawn of the third millennium", Recalling with satisfaction the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to strengthen further cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments through their world organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in various fields, including peace and security, economic and social development, international law and human rights and democracy and gender issues, Recalling the unique inter-State character of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1. Welcomes the efforts made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to provide for a greater parliamentary contribution and enhanced support to the United Nations, and calls for the cooperation between the two organizations to be consolidated further; 2. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, to explore ways in which a new and strengthened relationship may be established between the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the General Assembly and its subsidiary organs, and to report thereon to the Assembly by May 2001; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the various aspects of cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union". RESOLUTION 55/1 Adopted at the 1st plenary meeting, on 5 September 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago 55/1. Admission of Tuvalu to membership in the United Nations The General Assembly, Having received the recommendation of the Security Council of 17 February 2000 that Tuvalu should be admitted to membership in the United Nations,A/54/758. Having considered the application for membership of Tuvalu,A/54/699-S/2000/5. Decides to admit Tuvalu to membership in the United Nations. RESOLUTION 55/200 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/200. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its sixth special session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, by which it decided to establish the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recalling also its resolutions 54/216 of 22 December 1999 on the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twentieth session and 53/242 of 28 July 1999 on the report of the Secretary-General on environment and human settlements, Recalling further the Nairobi Declaration on the Role and Mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme, adopted by the Governing Council of the Programme at its nineteenth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/52/25), annex, decision 19/1, annex. Underlining the fact that the forthcoming ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development will provide the international community with a unique opportunity to take action to implement its commitments and to strengthen the international cooperation urgently required to address the challenges of sustainable development in the twenty-first century, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Environment Programme in the preparations for the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the Conference, as reflected in the decisions taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eighth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 9 (E/2000/29). 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its sixth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/55/25). takes note of the decisions contained therein as well as the consultations among member States in preparation for the twenty-first session, and, in this regard, also takes note of the ongoing consultations contributing to the further elaboration and implementation of the water policy and strategy of the Programme; 2. Welcomes the convening of the First Global Ministerial Environment Forum, and, in this regard, expresses its deep appreciation to the Government of Sweden for the generous manner in which it hosted and provided facilities for the Forum, and takes note with appreciation of the Malmö Ministerial DeclarationIbid., annex I, decision SS.VI/1, annex. as one of the contributions to the Millennium Summit and to the preparations for the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development; 3. Stresses the importance of the section of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on protecting our common environment,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government reaffirmed the principles of sustainable development as set out in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and in particular resolved to adopt a new ethic of conservation and stewardship in all our environmental actions; 4. Welcomes the decisionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/55/25), annex I, decision SS.VI/3. of the Governing Council on the contribution of the United Nations Environment Programme to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21;Resolution S-19/2, annex. 5. Stresses that the United Nations Environment Programme, as the principal body in the field of the environment within the United Nations system, should continue to play an important role in the implementation of Agenda 21 and in the preparations for the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the Conference; 6. Underlines the need for sufficient financial resources, on a stable and predictable basis, to ensure the full implementation of the mandate of the Programme, in particular with a view to ensuring its strong involvement in the preparatory process for the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the Conference at its various levels, and in the implementation of the outcome of the review; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to the United Nations Environment Programme for the biennium 2002-2003, in accordance with current budgetary practices, and to consider other ways to support the strengthening of the Programme in view of the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. RESOLUTION 55/201 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/201. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/221 of 22 December 1999 on the Convention on Biological DiversitySee United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity (Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. and other relevant resolutions, including its resolution 49/119 of 19 December 1994, in which it proclaimed 29 December, the date of the entry into force of the Convention, the International Day for Biological Diversity, Recalling also the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Reaffirming that the conservation of biological diversity is a common concern of humankind, Recalling that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, Recalling also Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. .93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. in particular its chapter 15 on the conservation of biological diversity, chapter 16 on the environmentally sound management of biotechnology and related chapters, Having considered the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity as submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session,See A/55/211. Emphasizing the importance of public education and awareness for the implementation of the Convention at all levels, Noting the recommendation of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its fifth meeting that the date of the International Day for Biological Diversity be changed to give it greater visibility, Deeply concerned about the continuing loss of the world's biological diversity, and, on the basis of the provisions of the Convention, reaffirming the commitment to the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and technologies, and by appropriate funding, Recognizing the contribution of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles, and women within those communities, to the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources, Noting the continuing dialogue in the Committee on Trade and Environment of the World Trade Organization on the provisions of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). Encouraged by the work carried out to date under the Convention, and satisfied that most States and one regional economic integration organization are parties to the Convention, Recognizing the importance of the adoption by the Conference of the Parties, in its decision EM-I/3 of 29 January 2000,See UNEP/CBD/ ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the subsequent signature of the Protocol by seventy-five parties to the Convention, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Kenya for hosting the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, held at Nairobi from 15 to 26 May 2000, Also expressing its appreciation to the Government of Spain for hosting the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-sessional Working Group on article 8 (j) of the Convention regarding the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities, held at Seville from 27 to 31 March 2000, Welcoming the generous offer of the Government of France, accepted by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting, to host the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol, held at Montpellier from 11 to 15 December 2000, Welcoming also the generous offer of the Government of the Netherlands, accepted by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting, to host the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol, which will be held at The Hague from 8 to 26 April 2002, Urging the parties to the Convention to undertake thorough preparations to advance progress at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Recalling its invitation to the Executive Secretary of the Convention to report to the General Assembly on the results of future meetings of the Conference of the Parties, 1. Urges Member States that have not joined the Convention on Biological DiversitySee United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity (Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. to become parties to it, without further delay; 2. Calls upon Member States that are parties to the Convention to sign and ratify the Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetySee UNEP/CBD/ ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. as soon as possible; 3. Takes note of the results of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, held at Nairobi from 15 to 26 May 2000;See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23 and Corr.1, annex III. 4. Reaffirms the importance of the decision of the Conference of the Parties on the adoption of its programme of work and the thematic approach to guide its work in the development of the Convention for the foreseeable future, including its in-depth consideration of ecosystems and other cross-cutting issues;See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23 and Corr.1, annex III. 5. Notes the decision by the Conference of the Parties to undertake a limited number of pilot scientific assessments in preparation for the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, to be involved in the proposed millennium ecosystem assessment, and its request to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to identify opportunities for collaboration; 6. Stresses the importance of capacity-building activities, especially in developing countries, for the implementation of the Convention and the Cartagena Protocol, particularly the development of systems to allow parties to implement the Convention and the Protocol, and encourages developed countries to provide adequate support for those activities; 7. Urges developed countries to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound biotechnology for the effective implementation of the Cartagena Protocol, in accordance with relevant articles of the Convention and the Protocol; 8. Decides to proclaim 22 May, the date of the adoption of the text of the Convention, as the International Day for Biological Diversity henceforth; 9. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Executive Secretary of the Convention to take all steps necessary to ensure the successful observance of the International Day for Biological Diversity; 10. Welcomes the decision of the Conference of the Parties to contribute to the ten-year review of the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. .93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. and decides to invite the Executive Secretary and, if appropriate, the President of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to report to it at its relevant session; 11. Recognizes the importance of the rapid development and implementation of the Strategic Plan for the Convention, and encourages States parties to provide to the Executive Secretary, in accordance with decision V/20 adopted by the Conference of the Parties,See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23 and Corr.1, annex III. their detailed views on the matter as soon as possible; 12. Welcomes the collaborative work between the Convention and related conventions, in particular the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, adopted at Ramsar, Islamic Republic of Iran, on 2 February 1971;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 996, No. 14583. 13. Also welcomes the decision of the Conference of the Parties regarding its programme of work for forest biological diversity, and encourages the parties to cooperate with the United Nations Forum on Forests, in particular with regard to respecting, preserving and maintaining the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles, in accordance with article 8 (j) and related provisions of the Convention; 14. Takes note of the fact that the provisions of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsSee Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). and the Convention are interrelated, in particular with respect to intellectual property rights and relevant provisions of the Convention, and invites the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization, within their respective mandates, to explore this relationship, taking into account the ongoing work in other relevant forums and bearing in mind decision V/26 B of the Conference of the Parties;See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23 and Corr.1, annex III. 15. Encourages Member States that are members of the World Trade Organization to support the request by the Executive Secretary for observer status at the meetings of the Council for the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and the Committee on Agriculture; 16. Welcomes the progress made in implementing cooperation with the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeIbid., vol. 1771, No. 30822. and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and encourages further cooperation; 17. Stresses the need to enhance complementarities between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in order to ensure that their activities are mutually supportive; 18. Invites all funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations, to cooperate with the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the implementation of the programme of work; 19. Notes the work of the Global Environment Facility in assisting developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the implementation of the Convention, and urges the Facility to enhance its support for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity within the context of national sustainable development, and, within its mandate, in identifying and coordinating additional financial resources from bilateral and international organizations as well as the private sector for this purpose; 20. Welcomes the initiatives of the Facility in the area of capacity development to assess the capacity-building needs and priorities of developing countries, relating to the conservation of biological diversity, and to develop a strategy and implement a multi-year plan for responding to such needs and priorities, and calls upon other multilateral and bilateral organizations to cooperate with the Facility in strengthening the capacity of developing countries for the conservation and management of biodiversity; 21. Notes the efforts that the Facility is making towards developing programmes for assisting developing countries in capacity-building activities relating to the Cartagena Protocol; 22. Calls upon States parties to the Conventiony to settle urgently any arrears and to pay their contributions in full and in a timely manner so as to ensure continuity in the cash flows required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat; 23. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention to report to the General Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention; 24. Requests the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development when setting the dates of meetings of the conferences of the parties so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 55/202 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.4, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/202. Further implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Recalling also its resolutions 51/183 of 16 December 1996, 52/202 of 18 December 1997, 53/189 of 15 December 1998 and 54/224 of 22 December 1999, Recognizing that small island developing States, given their size, limited resources, geographic dispersion and, in most cases, isolation from markets, face special challenges and unique vulnerabilities of an environmental and economic nature in their efforts to achieve sustainable development and the need to enhance their capacity to effectively benefit from the opportunities presented by trade liberalization and globalization, while minimizing their negative impact on small island developing States, Recalling the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesIbid., annex II. of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Recalling also the DeclarationSee resolution S-22/2, annex. and review documentSee resolution S-22/2, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special session, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/185. Having also considered the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on its tenth session,TD/390. Taking note of the report of the second Alliance of Small Island States workshop on climate change negotiations, management and strategy, which was held at Apia, Samoa, from 26 July to 4 August 2000,A/C.2/55/3. Noting the significant efforts to implement the Programme of Action at the national, regional and international levels and the need for regional and global institutions to continue to supplement the efforts being made at the national level, including through effective financial support, Acknowledging the efforts of small island developing States to convene, in cooperation with the Small Island Developing States Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, a series of capacity-building workshops targeted at issues of specific relevance to small island developing States, Welcoming the offer of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to host the first Alliance of Small Island States workshop on the Cartegena Protocol on BiosafetySee UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. in December 2000 and the offer of the Government of Cyprus to host the third Alliance of Small Island States workshop on climate change, energy and preparations for the ninth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in January 2001, Bearing in mind the continued need for the financing of projects that were presented within the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action, inter alia, at the meeting of representatives of donor countries and small island developing States held in New York from 24 to 26 February 1999,See A/S-22/4. Noting with appreciation the contribution by some donor countries towards further implementation of the Programme of Action, and underlining the need for those efforts to be intensified and supplemented by other donor countries and agencies, Noting the work being undertaken by the Committee for Development Policy and other international organizations on a vulnerability index, which incorporates, inter alia, environmental and economic vulnerability factors, 1. Reiterates the urgent need for strong and effective implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesIbid., annex II. and of the DeclarationSee resolution S-22/2, annex. and review documentSee resolution S-22/2, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special session; 2. Welcomes efforts at the national, subregional and regional levels to implement the Programme of Action; 3. Invites the relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations system and the regional commissions and organizations, within their respective mandates, to reflect measures for the implementation of the Programme of Action in their programmes; 4. Invites the relevant agencies within the United Nations system, in the preparation of the ten-year review of the progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, to identify measures that would ensure the effective implementation of the Programme of Action; 5. Calls upon Member States, in particular the donor community, as well as the relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations system and the regional commissions and organizations, to support the efforts of small island developing States in the further implementation of the Programme of Action through, inter alia, the provision of adequate technical and financial resources, taking into account the Declaration and review document for further implementation and effective follow-up; 6. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations system to assist small island developing States in their efforts to enhance their capacities to effectively utilize the benefits and mitigate the implications of globalization, including by bridging the digital divide and fostering digital opportunities in the field of information and communication technologies; 7. Invites all relevant stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to participate fully in the activities identified for the further implementation of and effective follow-up to the Programme of Action; 8. Urges all relevant organizations to finalize, as a matter of urgency, the work on the development of a vulnerability index; 9. Welcomes the strengthened Small Island Developing States Unit, and requests the Secretary-General to consider ways to further strengthen the Unit, inter alia, by establishing the Small Island Developing States Information Network within the Unit and by assisting small island developing States with, inter alia, project implementation advice and assistance in the identification of short and long-term capacity needs through coordination with regional and international institutions, and to make proposals in that regard; 10. Welcomes the contributions of Germany, Italy, Japan and Norway to the strengthening of the Small Island Developing States Unit, and encourages other Member States to make contributions, in particular, in support of the Small Island Developing States Information Network; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States"; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/203 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.4, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/203. Promoting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development The General Assembly, Reaffirming the principles and commitments enshrined in the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. and the principles embodied in the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. as well as other relevant declarations and international instruments, Recalling the DeclarationSee resolution S-22/2, annex. and review documentSee resolution S-22/2, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special session, Taking into account all other relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, including resolution 54/225 of 22 December 1999, Reaffirming the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and emphasizing the fundamental character of the Convention, Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and that they need to be considered as a whole, Recalling the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, signed at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 24 March 1983, which contains the definition of the wider Caribbean region of which the Caribbean Sea is part,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1506, No. 25974. Welcoming the adoption, on 16 October 1999 in Aruba, of the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and ActivitiesSee www.cep.unep.org/law. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, Welcoming also the entry into force, on 18 June 2000, of the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and WildlifeSee www.cep.unep.org/law. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, Recalling the relevant work done by the International Maritime Organization, Considering that the Caribbean Sea area includes a large number of States, countries and territories, most of which are developing countries and small island developing States that are ecologically fragile, structurally weak and economically vulnerable and are also affected, inter alia, by their limited capacity, narrow resource base, need for financial resources, high levels of poverty and the resulting social problems and the challenges and opportunities of globalization and trade liberalization, Recognizing that the Caribbean Sea has a unique biodiversity and highly fragile ecosystem, Emphasizing that the Caribbean countries have a high degree of vulnerability occasioned by climate change and variability, associated phenomena, such as the rise in sea level, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation phenomenon and the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters caused by hurricanes, floods and droughts, and that they are also subject to natural disasters, such as those caused by volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes, Welcoming the establishment of the working group on the El Niño/La Niña phenomenon within the framework of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, Bearing in mind the heavy reliance of most of the Caribbean economies on their coastal areas, as well as on the marine environment in general, to achieve their sustainable development needs and goals, Recognizing the Caribbean Environment Outlook process currently being undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme, and welcoming the support being provided by the Caribbean Environment Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme towards its implementation, Acknowledging that the intensive use of the Caribbean Sea for maritime transport, as well as the considerable number and interlocking character of the maritime areas under national jurisdiction where Caribbean countries exercise their rights and duties under international law, present a challenge for the effective management of the resources, Noting the problem of marine pollution caused, inter alia, by land-based sources and the continuing threat of pollution from ship-generated waste and sewage as well as from the accidental release of hazardous and noxious substances in the Caribbean Sea area, Taking note of resolution GC(44)/RES/17 of 22 September 2000 of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on safety of transport of radioactive materials,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC(2000). Mindful of the diversity and dynamic interaction and competition among socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources, Mindful also of the efforts of the Caribbean countries to address in a more holistic manner the sectoral issues relating to the management of the Caribbean Sea area and, in so doing, to promote an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, through a regional cooperative effort among Caribbean countries, Noting the efforts of the Caribbean countries, within the framework of the Association of Caribbean States, to develop further support for their concept of the Caribbean Sea as an area of special importance, in the context of sustainable development and in conformity with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). Cognizant of the importance of the Caribbean Sea to present and future generations and its importance to the heritage, the continuing economic well-being and sustenance of people living in the area, and the urgent need for the countries of the region to take appropriate steps for its preservation and protection, with the support of the international community, 1. Recognizes the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development; 2. Encourages the further promotion of an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, in accordance with the recommendations contained in resolution 54/225, as well as the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General AssemblySee resolution S-22/2, annex. and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and in conformity with relevant international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 3. Also encourages the continued efforts of the Caribbean countries to develop further an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development and, in this regard, to continue to develop regional cooperation in the management of their ocean affairs in the context of sustainable development, to address such issues as land-based pollution, pollution from ships and the diversity and dynamic interaction of, and competition among, socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources; 4. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to assist Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution from ships, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, from illegal dumping or accidental release of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, in violation of relevant international rules and standards, as well as pollution from land-based activities; 5. Calls upon all relevant States to take the necessary steps to bring into force, and to support the implementation of, the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities,See www.cep.unep.org/law. in order to protect the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from land-based pollution and degradation; 6. Calls upon all States to become contracting parties to relevant international agreements to promote the protection of the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from pollution and degradation from ships; 7. Invites intergovernmental organizations within the United Nations system to continue efforts to assist Caribbean countries to become parties to the relevant conventions and protocols and to implement them effectively; 8. Calls upon the international community, the United Nations system and the multilateral financial institutions, including the Global Environment Facility, within its mandate, to support actively the above-mentioned approach; 9. Calls upon Member States to improve as a matter of priority their emergency response capabilities and the containment of environmental damage, particularly in the Caribbean Sea, in the event of natural disasters or of an accident or incident relating to maritime navigation; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-seventh session, under the sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States" of the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account the views expressed by relevant regional organizations. RESOLUTION 55/204 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.5, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/204. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/223 of 22 December 1999 and other relevant resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Noting with satisfaction that the third session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention was held at Recife, Brazil, from 15 to 26 November 1999, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Brazil for the generous manner in which it hosted and provided facilities for the third session of the Conference of the Parties, Acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension in that they affect all regions of the world and that joint action of the international community is needed to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought, including the integration of strategies for poverty eradication, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/331. 1. Welcomes the convening of the fourth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, at Bonn, Germany, from 11 to 22 December 2000; 2. Also welcomes the very large number of ratifications of the Convention, and calls upon all remaining countries that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so as soon as possible; 3. Further welcomes the progress made in producing a draft additional regional implementation annex to the Convention for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe,ICCD/COP(3)/16, annex. and invites the Conference of the Parties to consider adopting it at its fourth session; 4. Stresses the importance of a coherent and timely implementation of the provisions of the Convention at all levels, including the general provisions and obligations of all States parties, in accordance with the provisions of part II of the Convention; 5. Notes with satisfaction the steps being taken by affected developing country parties to the Convention, with the assistance of international organizations and bilateral development partners, to implement the Convention, and the efforts being made to promote the participation of all actors of society in the elaboration of national action programmes to combat desertification, and in this regard encourages countries to cooperate at the subregional and regional levels, as appropriate; 6. Welcomes the strengthened cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and the Global Mechanism, and encourages further efforts in this regard for the effective implementation of the Convention; 7. Also welcomes the financial support already provided on a voluntary basis by some countries, and urges Governments, the private sector and all relevant organizations, including non-governmental organizations, to make or continue to make voluntary contributions to the Global Mechanism to enable it to implement its mandate effectively and fully; 8. Calls upon the Global Environment Facility to continue to enhance, within its mandate, its ongoing support for land degradation activities in developing countries; 9. Welcomes the decision of the Council of the Global Environment Facility, at its meeting held from 1 to 3 November 2000, to request the Chief Executive Officer to explore the best options for enhancing the support of the Facility in assisting affected countries, especially those in Africa, in implementing the Convention, taking into account the third replenishment;See ICCD/COP(4)/11/Add.1, decision 9/COP.4, para. 2. 10. Calls upon the Global Environment Facility and its implementing agencies to strengthen their cooperation with the Global Mechanism and the secretariat of the Convention; 11. Encourages the parties to the Convention to provide the necessary support to the secretariat so as to enable it to discharge effectively its responsibilities to the Convention; 12. Welcomes decision 2000/23 of 29 September 2000 of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme aimed at developing cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and the United Nations Development Programme in order to mainstream activities to combat desertification at the national, subregional and regional levels;See DP/2001/1, para. 231. 13. Urges all parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to pay promptly and in full their contributions to the core budget of the Convention so as to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies, the secretariat and the Global Mechanism; 14. Calls upon Governments, multilateral financial institutions, regional development banks, regional economic integration organizations and all other interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously to the General Fund, the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund, in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties;ICCD/COP(1)/11/Add.1 and Corr.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, paras. 7-11. 15. Requests the Secretary-General to make a provision in the proposed calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 2002-2003 for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies, including the sixth ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties and meetings of its subsidiary bodies; 16. Invites the Conference of the Parties to contribute towards the preparation of the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro,3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and other outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, inter alia, by elaborating proposals, including options for funding, aimed at enhancing the implementation of the Convention at the national, subregional and regional levels, and requests the Executive Secretary to report to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its tenth session to this end; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution, as well as on the outcome of the fourth session of the Conference of the Parties; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 55/205 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/582/Add.6, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/205. World Solar Programme 1996-2005 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/7 of 16 October 1998 and 54/215 of 22 December 1999 on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Recalling also resolution 14 concerning the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its twenty-ninth session in November 1997,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-ninth Session, Paris, 21 October-12 November 1997, vol. 1: Resolutions. Reaffirming that the convening at Harare on 16 and 17 September 1996 of the World Solar Summit, at which the Harare Declaration on Solar Energy and Sustainable DevelopmentA/53/395, annex, sect. II. was adopted and preparation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005Ibid., annex, sect. V.D. approved, was a step in pursuance of the implementation of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3 -14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. which is a multifaceted and, at the same time, fundamental programme of action for achieving sustainable development, Recalling resolution 19 adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirtieth session in November 1999,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirtieth Session, Paris, 26 October-17 November 1999, vol. 1: Resolutions. concerning the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005, which constitutes one of the major programmes of universal value of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Reiterating that mutually supportive efforts at the national and international levels are imperative in the pursuit of sustainable development, which includes the provision of financial resources and the transfer of technology for the application of cost-effective energy and the wider use of environment-friendly, renewable energies, Acknowledging that the General Assembly continues to play an important role in promoting the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Acknowledging also that the Commission on Sustainable Development and the Economic and Social Council play a pivotal role as forums for the discussions on new and renewable sources of energy and sustainable development, Expressing its appreciation of the continued efforts of the Secretary-General in bringing the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 to the attention of relevant sources of funding and technical assistance, Calling for further action to ensure that the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 is fully integrated into the mainstream of the efforts of the United Nations system towards attaining the objective of sustainable development, Emphasizing that the achievement of more substantive results in the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 will require the active involvement of all concerned parties, including Governments, multilateral funding agencies and relevant bodies within the United Nations system, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programmme 1996-2005;A/55/91. 2. Notes with appreciation the role that the World Solar Commission continues to play in the mobilization of international support and assistance for the implementation of many of the national high-priority projects on renewable sources of energy included in the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, many of which are being executed with national funding; 3. Notes that although significant financial support has been provided by some developed countries that are Members of the United Nations and some intergovernmental organizations, within and outside the United Nations system, in the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, more action still needs to be taken in this regard; 4. Invites the international community to support, as appropriate, including by providing financial resources, the efforts of developing countries to move towards sustainable patterns of energy production and consumption; 5. Recognizes that rural energy services, including their financing, should be designed to maximize local ownership, as appropriate; 6. Reiterates its call upon all relevant funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations, to support, as appropriate, the efforts being made for the development of the renewable energy sector in developing countries on the basis of environment-friendly, renewable sources of energy of demonstrated viability, while taking fully into account the development structure of energy-based economies of developing countries, and to assist in the attainment of the levels of investment necessary to expand energy supplies beyond urban areas; 7. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to promote the mobilization of adequate technical assistance and funding and to enhance the effectiveness and the full utilization of existing international funds for the effective implementation of national and regional high-priority projects in the area of renewable sources of energy; 8. Emphasizes the need to intensify research and development in support of sustainable energy development, which will require increased commitment on the part of all stakeholders, including Governments and the private sector, to deploy financial and manpower resources for accelerating research efforts; 9. Recognizes that the wider use of available renewable energy technologies requires the diffusion of available technologies on a global scale, including through North-South and South-South cooperation; 10. Takes note of the decision of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization regarding the contribution of the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005 in attaining the objective of sustainable development,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirtieth Session, Paris, 26 October-17 November 1999, vol. 1: Resolutions. and encourages the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in this context, to mobilize resources, both human and financial, as mandated, to ensure the effective implementation of the Programme and make efforts to promote public awareness in all Member States in this regard, with the support of international, regional and national institutions, both public and private; 11. Invites the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to make effective the implementation of the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005 in the different regions and to strengthen the implementation of its African chapter; 12. Encourages the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Task Force on Energy to continue its efforts to ensure that the work of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 is fully integrated into the mainstream of the efforts of the United Nations system to achieve the objectives of sustainable development and to coordinate the contributions of all relevant organizations of the United Nations system to the consideration of the theme of energy by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its ninth session, to be held in 2001, and at the ten-year review of progress achieved in the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, to be held in 2002; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Programme and other relevant organizations, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on concrete action being taken for the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the effective implementation of, and mobilization of resources for, the World Solar Programme 1996-2005; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005". RESOLUTION 55/206 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/584, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 55/206. United Nations University The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the United Nations University, including resolution 53/194 of 15 December 1998, Having considered the report of the Council of the United Nations University,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 31 (A/55/31). as presented by the Rector of the University on 31 October 2000, and the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/412. Bearing in mind the need to continue to ensure a coordinated, system-wide approach to training and training-related research issues and to continue to pursue a coherent strategy for building on common fields of interest and complementarities among the various training and research institutions in the United Nations system, Expressing its deep appreciation for the voluntary contributions made to date by Governments and other public and private entities in support of the University, Noting with satisfaction that, since its creation twenty-five years ago, the University has developed a distinctive identity in the United Nations system and the international academic and scientific community, 1. Welcomes the adoption by the Governing Council of the United Nations University of the "Strategic Plan, 2000: Advancing Knowledge for Human Security and Development", which has a programmatic focus on research, policy studies, capacity-building and dissemination of information in the two thematic areas of peace and governance and environment and sustainable development, in line with the priority concerns of the United Nations; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the steps taken by the Council and the Rector of the University to promote the work and the visibility of the University, in particular among Member States, the United Nations and its agencies, through such measures as organizing a series of public forums for the purpose of disseminating the results of its research, and requests them to further intensify such efforts; 3. Welcomes the contribution made by the University to the work of the United Nations, both in intergovernmental processes, including United Nations global conferences, and in analytical work, and requests the Rector to intensify his efforts to extend the policy studies programme of the University; 4. Emphasizes the continuing need of the University to strengthen the capacity of scholarly and scientific institutions in developing countries by extending its capacity-building programmes and through innovative partnerships and networking, involving the United Nations system, academic entities, professional associations, private sector bodies and other elements of civil society that will bring additional input to the work of the University; 5. Welcomes the progress made by the University in improving interaction and communication between the University and the rest of the United Nations system, noted in the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/412. requests the Rector to intensify his efforts in this regard, and also requests the Secretary-General to encourage other bodies of the United Nations system to improve their interaction and communication with the University so that it may serve as a think tank for the system; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in this connection, to continue his consideration of innovative measures to improve interaction and communication between the University and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system and, in the light of resolution 53/194, to ensure that the work of the University is taken into account in all relevant activities of the system so that the system may draw more extensively upon the work of the University, and to submit a report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 7. Welcomes the progress made with regard to the participation of the University in the work of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, and encourages the University to play an active role in this regard in order to better understand and respond to the needs of the United Nations system as it carries out its work; 8. Also welcomes the initiative taken by the University, together with the United Nations Office at Geneva, in bringing together United Nations research entities, and invites the Secretary-General to use those annual meetings to develop greater synergy among them, and between them and other bodies of the United Nations system; 9. Takes note of the important ongoing cooperation between the University and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in particular in the follow-up activities to the World Conference on Higher Education, held in Paris from 5 to 9 October 1998, the preparation of the World Water Development Report and the initiation of the programme on dialogue among civilizations; 10. Recognizes the importance of the creation of linkages, collaboration and cooperation with other research institutions and universities throughout the world, in particular in developing countries, in order to facilitate the exchange of information, experience and best practice so as to mainstream the perspective of developing countries in the activities of the University; 11. Requests the University to broaden the reach of its dissemination activities by using innovative methods, including new information and communication technologies, to ensure that the knowledge developed by the University is made available to all those to whom it may be of benefit; 12. Requests the Council and the Rector, taking into account the previous resolutions of the Assembly and the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the University,See A/53/392. to continue to make further efforts to ensure the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the activities of the University, as well as its financial transparency and accountability, to intensify efforts to augment its Endowment Fund and to find innovative ways to mobilize operating contributions and other programme and project support; 13. Invites the international community to make voluntary contributions to the University, including its research and training centres and programmes, and in particular to its Endowment Fund. RESOLUTION 55/207 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/584, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. 55/207. United Nations Staff College in Turin, Italy The General Assembly, Recalling the decision taken by the Secretary-General in January 1996 to establish in Turin, Italy, the United Nations Staff College project for an initial period of five years, Recalling also its resolution 54/228 of 22 December 1999, Reaffirming the importance of a coordinated United Nations system-wide approach to research and training based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of labour among the relevant institutions and bodies, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/369. and the report of the Independent Evaluation Team,A/55/369/Add.1. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the United Nations Staff College project, in particular with regard to strengthening the performance of the United Nations in the areas of economic and social development and international peace and security and in promoting a common United Nations management culture; 2. Expresses its deep appreciation to the International Labour Organization for the technical, logistical and administrative contributions provided by its International Training Centre in Turin; 3. Decides to establish the United Nations System Staff College, as at 1 January 2002 after the approval of its statute, as an institution for system-wide knowledge management, training and learning for the staff of the United Nations system, aimed, in particular, at the areas of economic and social development, peace and security and internal management of the system; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue consultations on an urgent basis with the Administrative Committee on Coordination and relevant United Nations organizations and to submit, as early as possible, a final draft of the statute for the College, reflecting, as appropriate, the outcome of those consultations on functions, governance and funding for review and approval by the General Assembly, preferably at its fifty-fifth session; 5. Decides that, after the establishment of the Staff College, a biennial report should be submitted to the General Assembly on the work, activities and accomplishments of the College, including its collaboration with other relevant United Nations institutions. RESOLUTION 55/208 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/584, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/208. United Nations Institute for Training and Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/125 of 19 December 1994, 50/121 of 20 December 1995, 51/188 of 16 December 1996, 52/206 of 18 December 1997, 53/195 of 15 December 1998 and 54/229 of 22 December 1999, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/510. and the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 14 (A/55/14). Welcoming the efforts made towards consolidation of the restructuring process of the Institute and the recent progress made by the Institute in its various programmes and activities, including the improved cooperation that has been established with other organizations of the United Nations system and with regional and national institutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Governments and private institutions that have made or pledged financial and other contributions to the Institute, Noting that contributions to the General Fund have not increased and that the participation of the developed countries in training programmes in New York and Geneva is increasing, Noting also that the bulk of the resources contributed to the Institute are directed to the Special Purpose Grants Fund rather than to the General Fund, and stressing the need to address that unbalanced situation, Noting further that the Institute receives no subsidy from the United Nations regular budget, that it provides training programmes to all Member States free of charge and that similar United Nations institutions based at Geneva are not charged rent or maintenance costs, Reiterating that training activities should be accorded a more visible and larger role in support of the management of international affairs and in the execution of the economic and social development programmes of the United Nations system, 1. Reaffirms the importance of a coordinated, United Nations system-wide approach to research and training based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of labour among the relevant institutions and bodies; 2. Also reaffirms the relevance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in view of the growing importance of training within the United Nations and the training requirements of States and the relevance of training-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 3. Stresses the need for the Institute to strengthen further its cooperation with other United Nations institutes and relevant national, regional and international institutes; 4. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training programmes, and, in this context, underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of these partnerships, in particular at the country level; 5. Welcomes also the decisions taken so far by the Secretary-General to ensure continuity in the management of the Institute and to consider the proper grade for the post of Executive Director; 6. Requests the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to intensify its efforts to attract experts from developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the preparation of relevant training materials for the programmes and activities of the Institute, and stresses that the courses of the Institute should focus primarily on development issues; 7. Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed countries, and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or otherwise to the Institute, to give it their generous financial and other support, and urges the States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider resuming them in view of the successful restructuring and revitalization of the Institute; 8. Calls upon developed countries, which are increasingly participating in the training programmes conducted in New York and Geneva, to make contributions or consider increasing their contributions to the General Fund; 9. Encourages the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue its efforts to resolve the critical financial situation of the Institute, in particular with a view to broadening its donor base and increasing the contributions made to the General Fund; 10. Also encourages the Board of Trustees to consider diversifying further the venues of the events organized by the Institute and to include the cities hosting regional commissions, in order to promote greater participation and reduce costs; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Institute and United Nations funds and programmes, to continue to explore ways and means of systematically utilizing the Institute in the execution of training and capacity-building programmes for the economic and social development of developing countries; 12. Notes with appreciation the services rendered by the Executive Director of the Institute in the light of the challenges emanating from the increased responsibilities encountered by his office; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to consider reclassifying the rental rates and maintenance costs charged to the Institute with a view to alleviating its current financial difficulties, which are aggravated by the current practice of charging commercial rates, taking into account that other organizations affiliated with the United Nations enjoy such privileges; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/209 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/585, para. 11),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 147 to 2, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru 55/209. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/230 of 22 December 1999, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/31 of 28 July 2000, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Aware of the additional detrimental economic and social impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, Reaffirming the need for an immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, and the principle of land for peace, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, 1. Takes note of the report transmitted by the Secretary-General;A/55/84-E/2000/16, annex. 2. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 3. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 4. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 55/20 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 9 November 2000, by a recorded vote of 167 to 3, with 4 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.7, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstentions: El Salvador, Latvia, Morocco, Nicaragua 55/20. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned about the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of regulations of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998 and 54/21 of 9 November 1999, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4 and 54/21, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also about the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 54/21;A/55/172 and Add.1. 2. Reiterates its call on all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 55/210 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/586 and Corr.1, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/210. Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the initiative to establish a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, by which it established the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, as well as its resolution 48/183 of 21 December 1993, by which it proclaimed 1996 the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, Recalling also its resolution 50/107 of 20 December 1995 on the observance of the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty and the proclamation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), as well as the declarations and programmes of action of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s as they relate to the eradication of poverty, Expressing its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected group, in particular in African countries and the least developed countries, Recognizing that, while the rate of poverty in some countries has been reduced, some developing countries and disadvantaged groups are being marginalized and others are at risk of being marginalized and effectively excluded from the benefits of globalization, resulting in increased income disparity among and within countries, thereby constraining efforts to eradicate poverty, Also recognizing that for the poverty eradication strategy to be effective it is imperative for developing countries to be integrated into the world economy and equitably share the benefits of globalization, Bearing in mind the Copenhagen Declaration on Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Ibid., annex II. and the Political DeclarationResolution S-24/2, annex, sect. I. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 to 30 June 2000, as well as the objectives of the World Food Summit, held at Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996, Bearing in mind also the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. particularly section III, "Development and poverty eradication", and its emphasis on solidarity as a fundamental value in international relations in the twenty-first century, Recalling the commitment made by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit to eradicate extreme poverty, in particular the commitment to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Recognizing that, while it is the primary responsibility of States to attain social development, the international community should support the efforts of the developing countries to eradicate poverty and to ensure basic social protection, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/407. 1. Stresses that the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty should contribute to achieving the targets of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, through decisive national action and strengthened international cooperation; 2. Calls for strengthened efforts at all levels to implement fully and effectively the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations and all agreements and commitments adopted at the major United Nations conferences and summits organized since 1990, as well as the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. as they relate to the eradication of poverty, with a view to achieving tangible results; 3. Stresses the importance of tackling the root causes of poverty and the necessity of meeting the basic needs of all, and, in this context, emphasizes the fundamental role in the eradication of poverty of strong and sustained economic growth that favours the poor, creates substantive expansion in productive opportunities and employment, increases incomes, promotes equitable income distribution and minimizes environmental degradation; 4. Reaffirms that the causes of poverty should be addressed in an integrated way, taking into account the importance of sectoral strategies in such areas as education, development of human resources, health, human settlements, rural development, productive employment, population, environment, freshwater, food security and migration, and the specific needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, in such a way as to increase opportunities and choices for people living in poverty and to enable them to build and to strengthen their assets so as to achieve social and economic development; 5. Stresses the importance of increasing access to and control by the poor over resources, including land, skills, knowledge, capital and social connections, and of improving access for all to basic social services; 6. Recognizes the importance of the adoption of appropriate policy responses to the challenges of globalization at the national level, in particular by pursuing sound and stable domestic policies, including sound macroeconomic and social policies, in order to realize the objective of the eradication of poverty; 7. Reaffirms that, within the context of overall action for the eradication of poverty, special attention should be given to the multidimensional nature of poverty and the national and international conditions and policies that are conducive to its eradication, fostering, inter alia, the social and economic integration of people living in poverty, thus empowering them to participate in decision-making with regard to the policies that affect them, the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development, bearing in mind the relationship between all human rights and development, and an efficient, transparent and accountable public service and administration; 8. Also reaffirms, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends, inter alia, on good governance within each country; it also depends on good governance at the international level, on transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and on commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 9. Calls upon all countries to formulate and implement outcome-oriented national strategies and programmes, setting time-bound targets for poverty reduction, including the target of halving, by 2015, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty, which requires strengthening of national action and international cooperation; 10. Urges the strengthening of international assistance to developing countries in their efforts to alleviate poverty, including by creating an enabling environment that would facilitate the integration of developing countries into the world economy, improving their market access, facilitating the flow of financial resources and implementing fully and effectively all initiatives already launched regarding debt relief for developing countries, and emphasizes that the international community should consider further measures that would lead to effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries so that they can share equally in the benefits of globalization, cope with its negative effects, avoid being marginalized in the process of globalization and achieve full integration into the world economy; 11. Reaffirms that all Governments and the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty, at both the national and international levels, and encourages the use of gender analysis as a tool for the integration of a gender dimension into planning the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for the eradication of poverty; 12. Expresses its appreciation to the developed countries that have agreed to and have reached the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall official development assistance, and calls upon the developed countries that have not yet done so to strengthen their efforts to achieve the agreed target as soon as possible and, where agreed, within that target, to earmark 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product for the least developed countries; 13. Reaffirms the role of United Nations funds and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, in assisting the national efforts of developing countries, including in the eradication of poverty, and the need for their funding in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 14. Welcomes favourably the proposal submitted regarding the establishment of a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication, which will contribute to the eradication of poverty and the promotion of social and human development in the poorest regions of the world, and requests the Secretary-General to undertake the necessary consultations with Member States and all relevant stakeholders on this issue, bearing in mind the voluntary nature of the contributions, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 15. Emphasizes the role of microcredit as an important anti-poverty tool that promotes the generation of production and self-employment and empowers people living in poverty, especially women, and therefore encourages Governments to adopt policies that support the development of microcredit institutions and their capacities, and calls upon the international community, in particular the relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and international and regional financial institutions involved in the eradication of poverty, to support and explore the incorporation of the microcredit approach into their programmes and the further development, as appropriate, of other microfinance instruments; 16. Calls upon the developed countries, by means of intensified and effective cooperation with developing countries, to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the special needs of developing countries, by identifying and implementing practical steps to ensure the achievement of progress in this regard and to assist developing countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty in an era influenced in large measure by technology; 17. Emphasizes the critical role of both formal and non-formal education, particularly basic education, and training, in particular for girls, in the empowerment of those living in poverty, and, in this context, welcomes the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2000. including the reconfirmation of the mandate of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to coordinate Education for All partners and maintain their collective momentum, and invites the organs and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to promote the inclusion of education in anti-poverty strategies; 18. Recalls the commitments of the United Nations conferences and summits to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005 and to promote universal primary education in all countries by 2015, and, in this regard, urges Member States to take immediate measures to remove obstacles to young girls' school attendance and to reduce drop-out rates; 19. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations system to assign priority to the eradication of poverty and to enhance coordination, and, in this regard, encourages the organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, and other partners in development to continue to support all Member States in carrying forward their own strategy for the achievement of the objectives of the Decade; 20. Reaffirms the importance of agreeing on a mutual commitment of interested developed and developing country partners to allocate, on average, 20 per cent of official development assistance and 20 per cent of the national budget, respectively, to basic social programmes, and welcomes the efforts made to implement the 20/20 initiative,See A/51/140, annex, and A/53/684, annex. which emphasizes that promoting access for all to basic social services is essential for sustainable and equitable development and is an integral part of the strategy for the eradication of poverty; 21. Recognizes the devastating effect of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic on human development, economic growth and poverty reduction efforts in many countries, in particular African countries, and urges Governments and the international community to give urgent priority to the HIV/AIDS crisis, in particular addressing the special needs of developing countries by strengthening the relevant commitments through partnerships as agreed by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session, and, in this regard, welcomes the convening of a special session of the General Assembly to review and address the problem of HIV/AIDS in all its aspects; 22. Urges the implementation of the enhanced programme of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries without delay and the cancellation of all official bilateral debts of those countries, in the context of poverty eradication, in return for their making demonstrable commitments to poverty reduction as part of their overall development strategy; 23. Recognizes the difficulties of heavily indebted middle-income developing countries in meeting their external debt and debt-servicing obligations, and notes the worsening situation in some of them in the context, inter alia, of greater liquidity constraints, which may require debt treatment through various national and international measures designed to assist those countries to make their debt burden sustainable in the long term and to combat poverty effectively; 24. Encourages the continuing examination in all relevant intergovernmental forums of ways and means to integrate poverty reduction objectives and strategies into discussions on international financial and development issues; 25. Requests the Secretary-General, in the context of the follow-up to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, to submit to it at its fifty-sixth session a comprehensive report containing an evaluation of progress made towards achieving the goals of the Decade, as well as in the achievement of the 2015 targets on poverty reduction, and recommendations for further action to achieve the 2015 targets, including the identification of resource requirements and possible sources of funding; 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 55/211 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/587, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Fiji, France (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Union), Georgia, Greece, Israel, Malta, Morocco, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. 55/211. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/5 of 8 October 1999, by which it granted observer status to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social or humanitarian nature, Recalling further the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Bearing in mind that the Charter signed at the summit meeting at Yalta, Ukraine, on 5 June 1998, which transformed the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization into a regional economic organization with a legal identity on the international scene,See www.bsec.gov.tr. and the Istanbul Summit Declaration, adopted on 17 November 1999 by the heads of State or Government of the States members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization,See www.bsec.gov.tr. confirmed the commitment of the Organization to the promotion of effective economic, social and democratic reforms in the region by application of the pragmatic concept that economic cooperation is an effective confidence-building measure, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the Istanbul Summit Declaration adopted on 17 November 1999 by the heads of State or Government of the States members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation OrganizationSee www.bsec.gov.tr. and of the desirability expressed therein of strengthening cooperation between the United Nations Secretariat and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization; 2. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to undertake consultations with the Secretary-General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, with a view to promoting cooperation and coordination between the two Secretariats; 3. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in order to initiate consultations and programmes with that Organization and its associated institutions for the attainment of their objectives; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session an item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 55/212 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/587, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/212. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998 and 54/231 of 22 December 1999, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the Plan of Action adopted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at its tenth session, held at Bangkok from 12 to 19 February 2000,TD/390, part II. Taking note also of the Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted at the South Summit of the Group of 77, held at Havana from 10 to 14 April 2000,A/55/74, annexes I and II. Taking note further of the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2000 of the Economic and Social Council, held in New York from 5 to 7 July 2000,A/55/3, chap. III, para. 17. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3. Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/29 of 28 July 2000, in which the Council called for the establishment of a United Nations information and communication technologies task force, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/381. Recognizing the challenges and opportunities of globalization and interdependence, Expressing concern about the marginalization of a large number of developing countries from the benefits of globalization, the additional vulnerability of those developing countries that are integrating into the world economy and the general accentuation of the income and technological gap between developed and developing countries, as well as within countries, Recognizing that globalization and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy, development and the improvement of living standards around the world, and recognizing also that some countries have made progress in successfully adapting to the changes and have benefited from globalization, Recognizing also the importance of appropriate policy responses at the national level by all countries to the challenges of globalization, in particular by pursuing sound macroeconomic and social policies, noting the need for support from the international community for the efforts of the least developed countries, in particular, to improve their institutional and management capacities, and recognizing further that all countries should pursue policies conducive to economic growth and to promoting a favourable global economic environment, Stressing that such national macroeconomic and social policies can yield better results with international support and with an enabling international economic environment, Emphasizing the need to address those imbalances and asymmetries in international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have a negative impact on development prospects for developing countries, with a view to minimizing those impacts, Noting with serious concern that a large number of developing countries have not yet been able to reap the full benefits of the existing multilateral trading system, and underlining the importance of promoting the integration of developing countries into the world economy so as to enable them to take the fullest possible advantage of the trading opportunities arising from globalization and liberalization, Stressing that the process of reform for a strengthened and stable international financial architecture should be based on broad participation in a genuine multilateral approach, involving all members of the international community, to ensure that the diverse needs and interests of all countries are adequately represented, Underlining the urgent need to mitigate the negative consequences of globalization and interdependence for all developing countries, including landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and, in particular, African countries and the least developed countries, Reiterating that the United Nations, as a universal forum, is in a unique position to achieve international cooperation in addressing the challenges of promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, including, in particular, promoting a more equitable sharing of the benefits of globalization, 1. Reaffirms that the United Nations has a central role in promoting international cooperation for development and in promoting policy coherence on global development issues, including in the context of globalization and interdependence; 2. Re-emphasizes the urgency of coherent action by the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, as appropriate, along with the action of Governments, to promote equitable and broad sharing in the benefits of globalization, taking into account the specific vulnerabilities, concerns and needs of developing countries; 3. Calls for the effective addressing of globalization through, inter alia, making the decision-making process of international economic and financial policy more participatory, especially with regard to developing countries, the integrated consideration of trade, finance, investment, technology transfer and developmental issues by the relevant international institutions, the continuation of a wide range of reforms in the international financial system and further progress towards liberalization and enhanced market access in areas and for products of particular interest to developing countries, and, to this end, also calls for coherence and close cooperation among the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization; 4. Calls upon all countries, in particular the major developed economies, to enhance coherence among their financial, investment, trade and development cooperation policies, with a view to enhancing the development prospects of developing countries; 5. Stresses the importance, at the national level, of maintaining sound macroeconomic policies and developing effective institutional and regulatory frameworks and human resources, so as to realize the mutually reinforcing objectives of poverty eradication and development, including through national poverty reduction strategies; 6. Urges the international community to promote international development cooperation aimed at enhancing growth, stability, equity and the participation of developing countries in the globalizing world economy; 7. Encourages developing countries to continue to pursue appropriate development policies to promote economic development and poverty eradication, and, in this regard, invites the international community to pursue strategies that support those policies through continued efforts to address the problems of market access, persistent external debt, transfer of resources, financial vulnerability and declining terms of trade; 8. Strongly urges the international community to take all necessary and appropriate measures, including support for structural and macroeconomic reform, foreign direct investment, enhanced official development assistance, the search for a durable solution to the external debt problem, market access, capacity-building and the dissemination of knowledge and technology, in order to achieve the sustainable development of Africa and to promote the participation of all African countries in the global economy; 9. Reaffirms its resolve to give greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the United Nations and thereby to enhance opportunities and offset the negative economic and social consequences of globalization; 10. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the International Trade Centre and other multilateral and bilateral efforts to help developing countries, including landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and, in particular, African countries and the least developed countries, in addressing their specific concerns within the globalizing economy, in particular through technology-related assistance in the fields of trade and policy, in the improvement of trade efficiency and policies and trade in services, and in electronic commerce; 11. Stresses the need for good governance within each country as well as at the international level; 12. Emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the specific concerns of countries with economies in transition so as to help them to benefit from globalization, with a view to their full integration into the world economy; 13. Emphasizes also the technology-led dimension of globalization and the need to promote universal access to knowledge and information as well as the need to strive to bridge the digital divide and to bring information and communication technologies to the service of development and all the peoples of the world so as to enable the developing countries and the countries with economies in transition to benefit effectively from globalization by full and effective integration into the emerging global information network; 14. Encourages the Secretary-General, in this regard, to continue the ongoing consultations on the establishment of a United Nations information and communication technologies task force, and looks forward to the submission to the Economic and Social Council of the report requested by the Council in its resolution 2000/29; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, in close collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant organizations, an analytical report on the effect of increasing linkages and interdependencies among trade, finance, knowledge, technology and investment on growth and development in the context of globalization, containing action-oriented recommendations, including on appropriate development strategies at both the national and international levels, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 55/213 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/588, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development. 55/213. Preparations for the substantive preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event The General Assembly, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Preparatory Committee for the High-level International Intergovernmental Event on Financing for Development on its organizational and first sessions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 28 (A/55/28). Welcoming the continuing progress made in the consultations with the major institutional stakeholders with regard to their involvement in the process of financing for development, Encouraging Governments and all other relevant stakeholders to consider taking concrete initiatives in support of the financing for development preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event, within the framework of its substantive agenda, Welcoming the regional consultative meetings being held to provide the regional input to the financing for development process, and encouraging the deepening of regional efforts in support of the financing for development preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event, within the framework of its substantive agenda, Also welcoming the hearings held with civil society to support the financing for development process, looking forward to the contribution of the forthcoming hearings with the private sector, and encouraging the deepening of those efforts in support of the financing for development preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event, within the framework of its substantive agenda, Expressing its appreciation to Governments for the support they have provided to the trust fund for extrabudgetary contributions for the financing for development process, 1. Decides that the high-level international intergovernmental event should be scheduled for the first quarter of 2002, at a date to be agreed upon, and extends its invitation to interested countries to consider hosting or confirming existing offers to host the high-level international intergovernmental event; 2. Also decides that the Preparatory Committee should hold a final session from 14 to 25 January 2002, on the understanding that the second session will be held from 12 to 23 February 2001 and the third session from 30 April to 11 May 2001; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to address a letter to all Governments further sensitizing them to the high profile and high level of participation that the substantive preparatory process and the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development deserve. RESOLUTION 55/214 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/589, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/214. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/187 of 18 December 1997, in which it decided to convene the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries at a high level in 2001, as well as its resolutions 53/182 of 15 December 1998 and 54/235 of 23 December 1999, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000 by the heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the Declaration and the Programme of Action adopted at the South Summit of the Group of 77, held at Havana from 10 to 14 April 2000,A/55/74, annexes I and II. the Declaration adopted by the Tenth Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Least Developed Countries, held in New York on 18 September 2000,A/C.2/55/4, annex. and the Ministerial Statement adopted at the twenty-fourth annual meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77, held in New York on 15 September 2000,A/55/459, annex. Noting the progress made in the preparatory process for the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries at the country, regional and global levels, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of preparations for the Conference,A/55/222. the report of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Conference on its first session, held in New York from 24 to 28 July 2000,A/CONF.191/2. and the outcome of the forty-seventh session of the Trade and Development Board on the preparatory process of the Conference,See A/55/15. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 15. Taking note also of The Least Developed Countries 2000 Report,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.II.D.21. 1. Recalls that the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries will convene from 14 to 20 May 2001 and will be hosted by the European Union at Brussels; 2. Decides, in the light of the recommendation of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee for the Conference at its first session, to convene, within existing resources, the second session of the Committee from 5 to 9 February 2001 in New York, at which the Committee will undertake the first formal reading of the draft programme of action and consider other relevant matters, while noting that the final session of the Committee will be held in New York from 2 to 6 April 2001; 3. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to defray the cost of participation of two government representatives from each least developed country in the second and final sessions of the Preparatory Committee through the use of extrabudgetary resources, and also requests that the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee keep the matter under regular review on the basis of information provided by the Secretary-General of the Conference; 4. Notes that sufficient extrabudgetary resources will need to be mobilized to defray the cost of participation of the least developed countries in the third session of the Preparatory Committee, and, in this regard, invites additional contributions from multilateral and bilateral donors, and requests the Secretary-General of the Conference to seek funding from all possible sources for this purpose; 5. Welcomes the contributions already made by multilateral and bilateral donors for the participation of representatives from the least developed countries in the sessions of the Preparatory Committee and in the Conference; 6. Emphasizes the importance of the effective participation of all relevant stakeholders from the least developed countries and their development partners, as well as of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other relevant multilateral organizations; 7. Recognizes the importance of the contribution of civil society actors at the Conference and its preparatory process, stresses, in this regard, the need for their active participation, including those from the least developed countries, and invites donors to make appropriate contributions for that purpose; 8. Invites the participation in the Conference and in its preparatory process of (a) the relevant non-governmental organizations that are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council in accordance with Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996, (b) the non-governmental organizations that were accredited to the Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held from 3 to 14 September 1990 and (c) the non-governmental organizations that are in consultative status with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, decides that the accreditation of other interested civil society actors, in particular non-governmental organizations and the business sector, to the Conference and its preparatory process shall be considered by the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee on a no-objection basis before 31 January 2001 for final decision by the Committee at its second session, provided that requests for accreditation are submitted to the secretariat of the Conference before 15 January 2001 and are accompanied by the relevant information, and requests the Secretary-General of the Conference to inform the community of civil society actors appropriately about this accreditation process; 9. Also invites the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee to make recommendations for the consideration of Member States during the second session of the Committee as to the form of involvement of civil society actors in the final session of the Committee and at the Conference; 10. Emphasizes the importance of country-level preparations as a critical input to the preparatory process for the Conference and the implementation of and follow-up to its outcome; 11. Requests the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, in his capacity as convenor of the United Nations Development Group, to continue to ensure the full involvement of the United Nations resident coordinators and country teams in the least developed countries in the preparations for the Conference, in particular at the country level; 12. Welcomes the statement of the Administrative Committee on Coordination on the Conference,ACC/2000/20, para. 28. and calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Conference, to convene inter-agency consultations, within the context of the machinery of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, to ensure the full mobilization and coordination of all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other relevant multilateral intergovernmental organizations, during the preparatory process for the Conference and the implementation of and follow-up to its outcome; 13. Emphasizes the importance of an effective arrangement for follow-up, review and monitoring of the new programme of action for the least developed countries, and requests the Secretary-General to recommend to the General Assembly concrete steps in this regard; 14. Stresses that the intergovernmental follow-up, review and monitoring of the new programme of action should be undertaken in a more effective manner, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, particularly the least developed countries, as well as with the involvement of concerned organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and other relevant multilateral intergovernmental organizations, and emphasizes the need to explore innovative approaches in this regard; 15. Notes the current level of regular budget resources available to the Office of the Special Coordinator for Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Developing Countries, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient resources are made available throughout the remainder of the current biennium, through judicious management of the resources at his disposal, and to report on the matter at its fifty-sixth session; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-sixth session a report on the outcome of the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. RESOLUTION 55/215 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.71 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 55/215. Towards global partnerships The General Assembly, Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly, in the promotion of partnerships in the context of globalization, Underlining the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations, Recalling the priorities and objectives formulated in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. particularly in regard to developing strong partnerships in pursuit of development and poverty eradication, Stressing that efforts to meet the challenges of globalization could benefit from enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, in order to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all, Taking into account ideas expressed in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "We the peoples: the role of the United Nations in the twenty-first century" of 27 March 2000A/54/2000. with regard to enhanced cooperation with the private sector, 1. Stresses the need for Member States further to discuss partnerships and consider, in appropriate intergovernmental consultations, ways and means to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, inter alia, from the developing countries, to give them greater opportunities to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the Organization; 2. Requests the Secretary-General in this regard to seek the views of all Member States on ways and means to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector; 3. Invites the Secretary-General also to seek the views of relevant partners, in particular the private sector, on how to enhance their cooperation with the United Nations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on this matter, containing a compilation of views of Member States, views of other relevant partners, and his recommendations in this regard, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 5. Decides to include in the agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Towards global partnerships". RESOLUTION 55/216 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.68 and Add.1, sponsored by: India, Madagascar, Singapore 55/216. Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s The General Assembly, Having considered the progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, and its addendum on mobilization of additional resources for African development, a study on overall resource flows to Africa,A/55/350 and Add.1. Recalling its resolution 46/151 of 18 December 1991, the annex to which contains the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, its resolutions 48/214 of 23 December 1993 and 49/142 of 23 December 1994, 53/90 of 7 December 1998 on the implementation of the New Agenda, as well as its resolution 51/32 of 6 December 1996 on the mid-term review of the implementation of the New Agenda, Bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa submitted to the Security Council and the General Assembly in 1998A/52/871-S/1998/318. and its resolution 54/234 of 22 December 1999 on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, as well as the recommendations of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/55/45). established by the General Assembly to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General, Recalling that, while the primary responsibility for the development of Africa remains with African countries, the international community has a stake in it and in supporting the efforts of those countries in that regard, Welcoming recent efforts and initiatives of the United Nations on Africa, in particular, the meeting of the Security Council on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Africa, held in January 2000, section VII of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. on meeting the special needs of Africa, the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council to be held in July 2001, as well as other events on development that will address issues of particular importance for Africa, such as the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries to be hosted by the European Union in Brussels in May 2001, the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS scheduled for June 2001, the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development and the ten-year review of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Welcoming also the strong partnership between European Union and African countries through the Cairo Declaration and Plan of Action,A/54/855-E/2000/44, annexes I and II. as well as the Cotonou Agreement of 23 June 2000,See www.acpsec.org. with its financial commitments, between the members of the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, which is mainly composed of African countries, Welcoming further the support by the international community, including the Beijing Declaration and Programme for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development, adopted by the China-Africa Cooperation Forum on 12 October 2000, the United States of America Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, as well as the Ministerial Conference of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development on the follow-up of the implementation of the Tokyo Agenda for Action,A/53/559-S/1998/1015, annex I. scheduled for 2001 or early 2002, Taking note with great concern of the debt burden of many African countries, as debt servicing continues to drain the limited resources for development, Reaffirming the need for the integration of African countries into the international trading system by highlighting the importance of creating, at the national and international levels, an environment that is conducive to attracting foreign direct investment and promoting international trade as engines of growth and development, Expressing its concern at the overall declining trends of resource flows to Africa, in particular the low levels of foreign direct investment and official development assistance, which have seriously constrained, among other things, the timely implementation of the New Agenda, Recognizing the crucial need for a substantial increase in financial resource flows to Africa to support the implementation of development activities of African countries, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and its addendum on the mobilization of additional resources for African development, a study on overall resource flows to Africa;A/55/350 and Add.1. 2. Recognizes and calls for further broadening and strengthening of efforts by many African countries to enhance progress in areas covering economic reforms, including the putting in place of sound macroeconomic policies, promotion of the private sector, enhancement of the democratization process and strengthening of civil society and participatory, transparent and accountable governance and the rule of law, as well as increased attention to the human dimension, especially education, gender, population, health and south-south cooperation; 3. Expresses its grave concern at the limited progress in many other areas, such as poverty eradication, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and, in particular, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the combating of drought and desertification, agriculture and food production, food security, infrastructure development, institutional capacity for regional cooperation and integration, environment and development and conflict prevention, management and resolution; 4. Urges the implementation of the enhanced programme of debt relief to heavily indebted poor countries without delay and the cancellation of all the official bilateral debt of those countries in the context of poverty eradication, in return for a demonstrable commitment by them to poverty reduction as part of their overall development strategy, and requests the support of the international community for debt relief for African countries in a comprehensive and effective manner; 5. Stresses the urgent need to facilitate the full integration of African countries into the world economy, and in this context calls for continued efforts to enhance market access for products of export interest to African economies and support for the efforts towards diversification and the building of supply capacity, and in this regard welcomes the efforts of the European Union and the United States, in particular through the Cotonou Agreement of the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of StatesSee www.acpsec.org. and the United States Africa Growth and Opportunity Act; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the developed countries that have agreed to and have reached the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall official development assistance, and calls upon the developed countries that have not yet done so to strengthen their efforts to achieve, as soon as possible, the agreed target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall official development assistance, taking into account the special development needs of the least developed countries in Africa; 7. Urges all States, international financial institutions, in particular the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, multilateral organizations and development funds and programmes of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to pursue with renewed vigour, and as a matter of urgency, the realization of the goals and objectives embodied in the New Agenda; 8. Calls upon the United Nations system, as well as other multilateral and bilateral development cooperation institutions, including international financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations, to ensure that development assistance activities in Africa are carried out in a more coordinated manner for greater efficiency, impact and tangible results under the leadership of recipient countries; 9. Reaffirms its resolution 51/32, recognizing the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa as an implementing arm of the New Agenda, and notes with satisfaction the progress achieved so far, and invites the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to strengthen this mechanism with a view to enabling it to advance coordination and harmonization of initiatives among development actors in Africa, and in this regard stresses the importance of establishing an integrated United Nations approach to Africa; 10. Also reaffirms its decision contained in resolution 51/32 to conduct in 2002 the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda in line with the provisions of section II, paragraph 43 (e), of the annex to resolution 46/151; 11. Invites the Secretary-General to encourage the closer involvement of the Organization of African Unity in the implementation, follow-up and evaluation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and beyond, including the holding of the final review of the implementation of the New Agenda in 2002; 12. Stresses the importance, in preparation of the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda, of an independent and high-level quality evaluation; 13. Reiterates, in this regard, the importance of establishing a set of performance indicators to measure the progress made in the implementation of the New Agenda; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, taking into account these indicators, to submit an independent and objective evaluation of the New Agenda to the General Assembly not later than 31 May 2002; 15. Reaffirms its decision contained in resolution 54/234 to consider at its fifty-sixth session the modalities for undertaking the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda, taking into account the mid-term review of the New Agenda, agreed conclusions 1999/2Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), Chap. V, para. 6. and decision 1999/270 adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1999, and section VII of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.See resolution 55/2. RESOLUTION 55/217 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.37/Rev.1 and Corr.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Mali, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden 55/217. Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/92 of 7 December 1998 and 54/234 of 22 December 1999 on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, Having considered the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session Supplement No. 45 (A/55/45). as well as the note by the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 54/234,A/55/431. Recalling its resolution 46/151 of 18 December 1991, the annex to which contains the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, its resolutions 48/214 of 23 December 1993, 49/142 of 23 December 1994 and 51/32 of 6 December 1996, on the mid-term review of the New Agenda, as well as its resolution 53/90 of 7 December 1998 on the implementation of the New Agenda, as well as chapter VII of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the close linkage between peace, security and sustainable development and the need for a comprehensive implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Expressing deep concern about the obstacles to the effective implementation of the recommendations of the Secretary-General, including the lack of financial and technical resources for development in Africa, Emphasizing the need to strengthen further the political will that is indispensable for the successful implementation of the recommendations of the Secretary-General and the proposals of the Working Group, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa;Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session Supplement No. 45 (A/55/45). 2. Endorses the proposals of the Working Group contained in paragraphs 25 to 57 of chapter IV of its report, entitled "Modalities for further action", and the follow-up action proposed in paragraph 60 of the report; 3. Encourages Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant international and regional institutions, within their respective mandates, to take necessary measures to implement fully the proposals made by the Working Group in its report; 4. Decides to extend the mandate of the Working Group until the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, to enable it to continue to monitor the implementation of all of the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report;A/52/871-S/1998/318. 5. Requests the Working Group, in devising the modalities for its work, to consider the need for a comprehensive follow-up to the recommendations of the Secretary-General and the necessity of ensuring efficiency by focusing on selected thematic areas; 6. Invites the Security Council to pursue its consideration of the follow-up to the recommendations in the areas of peace and security, with a view to ensuring coordinated and integrated implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General; 7. Requests the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2001, to consider the proposals of the Working Group contained in chapter IV of its report, including the creation of an ad hoc advisory group on countries emerging from conflict, with a view to assessing their humanitarian and economic needs and elaborating a long-term programme of support for implementation that begins with the integration of relief into development; 8. Requests that, where applicable, benchmarks be developed by the Secretary-General to assess the impact of and measure performance in the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report and that he submit them to the Working Group for its consideration; 9. Requests the Working Group to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report. RESOLUTION 55/218 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.67, as orally revised, sponsored by Togo 55/218. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/498. Recalling the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and the agreement on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 548, No. 614 (Part II). as well as all its resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, including resolution 54/94 of 8 December 1999, Taking note of the declarations and decisions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex II. in particular the decision relating to the adoption of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the declaration on the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa, Mindful of the need for continued and closer cooperation between the United Nations and its specialized agencies and the Organization of African Unity in the peace and security, political, economic, social, technical, cultural and administrative fields, Acknowledging the contribution of the United Nations Liaison Office in strengthening coordination and cooperation between the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations since its establishment in Addis Ababa in April 1998, Emphasizing the importance of the effective implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and welcoming in this regard the commitments of Member States to respond to the special needs of Africa, Noting the efforts being made by the Organization of African Unity and its member States in the area of economic integration and the need to accelerate the process of implementation of the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community,A/46/651, annex. Noting also the progress made by the Organization of African Unity in developing the capacity of its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, including with the assistance of the United Nations and the international community, Stressing the urgent need to address the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa, and noting in this context the efforts made to implement the recommendations of the Organization of African Unity Ministerial Meeting on Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Africa, held in Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998, as well as the endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, at its seventy-second session, of the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted at the special meeting of governmental and non-governmental technical experts organized by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000, Recognizing the importance of developing and maintaining a culture of peace, tolerance and harmonious relationships based on the promotion of economic development, democratic principles, good governance, the rule of law, human rights, social justice and international cooperation, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/498. 2. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Liaison Office with the Organization of African Unity; 3. Welcomes the continuing participation in and constructive contribution of the Organization of African Unity to the work of the United Nations, its organs and specialized agencies, and calls upon the two organizations to enhance the involvement of the Organization of African Unity in all United Nations activities concerning Africa; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General closely to involve the Organization of African Unity in the implementation of the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. especially those that relate to meeting the special needs of Africa; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to implement the recommendations of the annual meeting of the two organizations held in Addis Ababa on 10 and 11 April 2000, in particular those relating to priority programmes of the Organization of African Unity as specified in section III of the report of the Secretary-General; 6. Requests the United Nations to intensify its assistance to the Organization of African Unity in strengthening the institutional and operational capacity of its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, in particular in the following areas: (a) Development of its early warning system; (b) Technical assistance and training of civilian and military personnel, including a staff exchange programme; (c) Exchange and coordination of information, including between the early warning systems of the two organizations; (d) Logistical support, including in the area of mine clearance; (e) Mobilization of financial support, including through the trust funds of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity; 7. Urges the United Nations to encourage donor countries, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity, to contribute to adequate funding, training and logistical support for African countries in their efforts to enhance their peacekeeping capabilities, with a view to enabling those countries to participate actively in peacekeeping operations within the framework of the United Nations; 8. Requests the agencies of the United Nations system working in Africa to include in their programmes at the national, subregional and regional levels activities to support African countries in their efforts to enhance regional economic cooperation and integration; 9. Calls upon the United Nations agencies to intensify the coordination of their regional programmes in Africa to ensure the effective harmonization of their programmes with those of the African regional and subregional economic organizations and contribute to creating a positive environment for economic development and investment; 10. Calls upon the international community to support and enhance the capacity of African countries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization and to overcome the challenges it poses, as a means of ensuring sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 11. Calls upon the United Nations to support actively the efforts of the Organization of African Unity in urging the donor community and, where appropriate, multilateral institutions to strive to meet the agreed target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance, to implement fully, speedily and effectively the enhanced programme of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries, and to achieve the goal of securing debt relief in a comprehensive and effective manner in favour of African countries through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term; 12. Calls upon all Member States and regional and international organizations, in particular those of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations, to provide additional assistance to the Organization of African Unity and those Governments in Africa concerned with the problems of refugees, returnees and displaced persons; 13. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the effective and equitable representation of African men and women at senior and policy levels at their respective headquarters and in their regional field of operations; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/219 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/595 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Portugal, Romania, Spain and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 55/219. The critical situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/140 of 17 December 1999, in which it, inter alia, took note with appreciation of the proposal for a new working method of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women through the establishment of an electronic Gender Awareness Information and Networking System, and urged Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute or consider increasing their contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, Reiterating paragraph 85 (c) of the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. which called for support for national efforts, particularly in developing countries, for enlarged access to new information technology as part of the efforts to develop collaborative research, training and information dissemination, including through the Gender Awareness Information and Networking System developed by the Institute, while at the same time supporting traditional methods of information dissemination, research and training, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/24 of 28 July 2000, in which article VI, paragraph 1, of the statute of the InstituteA/39/511, annex. was amended with the aim of allowing the Institute to fund its activities on the basis of voluntary contributions from States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, foundations, including the United Nations Foundation, private sources and other sources, in accordance with article VII of the statute, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/385. which provides an overview of the current situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; 2. Acknowledges with appreciation that, despite severe limitations, and in compliance with the request of the General Assembly in its resolution 54/140, the Institute translated the Gender Awareness Information and Networking System into Spanish and is in the process of initiating translation into other official languages of the United Nations; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the current efforts being made by the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women of the Secretariat for the revitalization of the Institute; 4. Expresses grave concern over the following matters: (a) Despite the revitalization and fund-raising efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and the Institute, contributions have not reached the level required to enable the Institute to operate beyond 31 December 2000; (b) The lack of resources to ensure the future of the only research and training institute for the advancement of women within the United Nations system; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly during its fifty-fifth session on additional possibilities to support the Institute in fulfilling its personnel and administrative needs in conformity with article VII of its statute; 6. Decides, in view of the difficult financial situation of the Institute, to provide it with financial assistance on a non-recurrent basis, in a manner to be determined, in order to enable it to continue its activities throughout 2001; 7. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that continue to contribute to and support the activities of the Institute; 8. Urges Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to or consider increasing their contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to facilitate the ongoing programmes and activities of the Institute; 9. Invites the Institute to intensify its campaign to raise funds and attract support from, inter alia, private sector foundations and corporations for its activities; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in his reports on the activities of the Institute detailed information on the financial flows of the Trust Fund and the utilization of the resources of the Institute, in keeping with similar reports on such institutes as the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. RESOLUTION 55/21 Adopted at the 58th plenary meeting, on 10 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.28 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Australia, Bahamas, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cyprus, Estonia, Gabon, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mali, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Romania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 55/21. Global implications of the year 2000 date conversion problem of computers The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/233 of 26 June 1998, 53/86 of 7 December 1998 and 54/114 of 15 December 1999 on the global implications of the year 2000 date conversion problem of computers, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the evaluation of the outcome of the steps taken within the United Nations system and with Member States to resolve the year 2000 problem,A/55/387. Recognizing that the effective operation of Governments, companies and other organizations was threatened by the year 2000 date conversion problem of computers, or "millennium bug", Recognizing also the serious impact that the year 2000 problem could have had in all countries whose economies are increasingly interdependent, Appreciating the establishment of a trust fund by the World Bank to assist in the efforts to resolve the year 2000 problem and the voluntary contributions made to it by the Member States, Appreciating also the efforts of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Informatics of the Economic and Social Council in raising the level of awareness of the year 2000 problem, Noting that, as a result of the concerted international effort, the "millennium bug" caused no serious destruction of critical services on a national, regional or global level, 1. Expresses its satisfaction with the efforts of all Member States to solve the year 2000 problem before the rollover date of 31 December 1999, including by working to ensure that the private sector was fully engaged in addressing the problem and by tackling it in those systems under their own control; 2. Commends the unprecedented international cooperation which contributed to the successful outcome and the interest in providing mutual assistance so that all could succeed, created by the realization of the interdependence among nations; 3. Also commends the public-private partnerships that were forged and which showed that, faced with a threat that affected entire industries, private and public interest converged; 4. Urges the international community to draw lessons from the experience of the initiative to address the year 2000 problem in dealing with complex global technical problems. RESOLUTION 55/220 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/689, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/220. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/222 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 E of 17 June 1997, 52/212 B of 31 March 1998, 53/204 of 18 December 1998, 53/221, section VIII, of 7 April 1999 and 54/13 B of 23 December 1999, Having considered, for the period ended 31 December 1999, the financial reports and audited financial statements of the United Nations,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/55/5), vol. I. the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO,Ibid., vol. III. the United Nations University,Ibid., vol. IV. the United Nations Development Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5A (A/55/5/Add.1). the United Nations Children's Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5B (A/55/5/Add.2). the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,Ibid., Supplement No. 5C and corrigendum (A/55/5/Add.3 and Corr.1). the United Nations Institute for Training and Research,Ibid., Supplement No. 5D (A/55/5/Add.4). the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,Ibid., Supplement No. 5E (A/55/5/Add.5). the Fund of the United Nations Environment Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5F (A/55/5/Add.6). the United Nations Population Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5G (A/55/5/Add.7). the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation,Ibid., Supplement No. 5H (A/55/5/Add.8). the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5I (A/55/5/Add.9). the United Nations Office for Project Services,Ibid., Supplement No. 5J (A/55/5/Add.10). the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994,Ibid., Supplement No. 5K (A/55/5/Add.11). the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991,Ibid., Supplement No. 5L (A/55/5/Add.12). the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors,Ibid., Supplement No. 5 (A/55/5), vol. I, chaps. II and III; vol. III, chaps. II and III; and vol. IV, chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5A (A/55/5/Add.1), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5B (A/55/5/Add.2), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5C and corrigendum (A/55/5/Add.3 and Corr.1), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5D (A/55/5/Add.4), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5E (A/55/5/Add.5), chaps. I and II; ibid., Supplement No. 5F (A/55/5/Add.6), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5G (A/55/5/Add.7), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5H (A/55/5/Add.8), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5I (A/55/5/Add.9), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5J (A/55/5/Add.10), chaps. II and III; ibid., Supplement No. 5K (A/55/5/Add.11), chaps. II and III; and ibid., Supplement No. 5L (A/55/5/Add.12), chaps. II and III. the concise summary of principal findings, conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports prepared by the Board of Auditors on the audit of the accounts,See A/55/364. the reports of the Secretary-General on the measures taken to implement the recommendations of the Board of AuditorsA/55/80 and Add.1 and A/55/380 and Add.1. and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/487. 1. Accepts the financial reports and audited financial statements and the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors regarding the above-mentioned organizations, subject to the provisions of the present resolution, with the exception of the financial statements of the United Nations Development Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5A (A/55/5/Add.1). the United Nations Population FundIbid., Supplement No. 5G (A/55/5/Add.7). and the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme;Ibid., Supplement No. 5I (A/55/5/Add.9). 2. Approves all the recommendations and conclusions contained in the reports of the Board of Auditors, and endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/55/487. 3. Decides to defer action on the financial statements of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme for the period ended 31 December 1999, pending certification by the Board of Auditors that satisfactory progress is being made towards removing the reasons for the qualified opinions or that the matter has been resolved, and decides to revert to this matter at its resumed fifty-fifth session; 4. Commends the Board of Auditors for the quality of its reports, in particular with respect to its comments on the management of resources; 5. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to present their financial statements on time so that the Board of Auditors can audit them and submit its reports to the General Assembly in accordance with the six-week rule; 6. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors;A/55/80 and Add.1 and A/55/380 and Add.1. 7. Notes that the first report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations for the biennium ended 31 December 1999A/55/380. did not comply with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 54/248 of 23 December 1999 regarding the inclusion of a footnote giving the reason for the late submission of a report; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to review the question of the term of office of the Board of Auditors and to report to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-fifth session under the item entitled "Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations"; 9. Decides to consider the reports of the Board of Auditors on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991Ibid., Supplement No. 5L (A/55/5/Add.12). and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994Ibid., Supplement No. 5K (A/55/5/Add.11). also under the agenda items relating to the financing of the Tribunals; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare the financial reports and audited financial statements for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in line with their budget cycles; 11. Calls upon the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to improve their procurement practices, as appropriate, using the Procurement Division of the Office of Central Support Services of the Secretariat as a model in such areas as the posting of bids on the Internet and inviting all registered suppliers to bid; 12. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations, in conjunction with the Board of Auditors, to continue to evaluate what financial information should be presented in the financial statements and schedules and what should be presented in annexes to the statements in accordance with the United Nations accounting standards. RESOLUTION 55/221 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/690, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 55/221. Proposed regulations governing the status, basic rights and duties of officials other than Secretariat officials and experts on mission and regulations governing the status, basic rights and duties of the Secretary-General The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the proposed regulations governing the status, basic rights and duties of officials other than Secretariat officials and experts on missionA/54/695 and Corr.1. and on the regulations governing the status, basic rights and duties of the Secretary-General,A/54/710 and Corr.1. 1. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake consultations on the proposed regulations with the officials referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of his report on proposed regulations governing the status, basic rights and duties of officials other than Secretariat officials and experts on mission,A/54/695 and Corr.1. in particular those who are elected by the General Assembly and its subsidiary organs, and to report thereon to the Assembly at its resumed fifty-fifth session, including on the following elements: (a) The compatibility of the proposed regulations with the statutes governing the officials referred to above; (b) The possible impact, if any, of the proposed regulations on the independence of those expert bodies; (c) The accountability mechanisms envisaged to enforce the proposed regulations; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General, in the context of the report mentioned in paragraph 1 above, to submit additional information on whether the proposed regulations ensure the impartiality, neutrality, objectivity and accountability of the personnel referred to in paragraph 1 (b) of the report. RESOLUTION 55/222 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/702, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/222. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 47/202 A to D of 22 December 1992, 48/222 A and B of 23 December 1993, 49/221 A to D of 23 December 1994, 50/11 of 2 November 1995, 50/206 A to F of 23 December 1995, 51/211 A to E of 18 December 1996, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 53/208 A to E of 18 December 1998 and 54/248 of 23 December 1999 and its decisions 38/401 of 23 September 1983 and 52/468 of 31 March 1998, Having considered the report of the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/55/32). the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/54/849, A/55/134, A/55/182, A/55/259 and A/55/410. and the note by the Secretariat on the distribution of documentation,A/AC.172/2000/6. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/430. I Calendar of conferences and meetings 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Committee on Conferences, and takes note of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/55/32). subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Approves the draft revised calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2001, as submitted by the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/55/32), annex. also subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2001 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session; 4. Reaffirms its decision that the headquarters rule shall be adhered to by all bodies, and decides that waivers to the headquarters rule shall be granted solely on the basis of the calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations recommended by the Committee on Conferences for adoption by the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Committee on Conferences and the Secretary-General, when planning the calendar of conferences and meetings, to avoid simultaneous peak periods at the various duty stations and to avoid scheduling meetings of related intergovernmental bodies too close together; 6. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretariat took into account the arrangements referred to in General Assembly resolutions 53/208 A and 54/248 concerning Orthodox Good Friday and the official holidays of Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha, and requests all intergovernmental bodies to observe those decisions when planning their meetings; 7. Reaffirms the provisions established by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/11 and reaffirmed in its resolution 54/64 of 6 December 1999 regarding multilingualism; II Utilization of conference-servicing resources and facilities 1. Reiterates its request to the Committee on Conferences to consult with those bodies that consistently utilized less than the applicable benchmark figure of their allocated resources for the past three sessions with a view to making appropriate recommendations in order to achieve the optimum utilization of conference-servicing resources; 2. Requests duty stations away from Headquarters to keep statistics of requests for servicing of meetings; 3. Reiterates that meetings of Charter and mandated bodies must be serviced as a priority; 4. Decides to include all necessary resources in the budget for the biennium 2002-2003 to provide interpretation services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States upon request by those groups, on an ad hoc basis, in accordance with established practice, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Committee on Conferences, a report on the implementation of this decision; 5. Notes the importance of meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States for the smooth functioning of the sessions of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, as far as possible, all requests for conference services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States are met; 6. Notes with appreciation, in particular in view of the increased requests for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States, that services were provided for 84 per cent of the meetings requested by those groups, in spite of the difficulties experienced in the meetings programme in 2000, and that 100 per cent of the requests for facilities only were met; 7. Notes with concern the difficulties experienced by some Member States owing to the lack of conference services for some meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States; 8. Urges intergovernmental bodies to spare no effort at the planning stage to take into account meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States, to make provision for such meetings in their programmes of work and to notify the conference services, well in advance, of any cancellations so that unutilized conference-servicing resources may, to the extent possible, be reassigned to meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide information on meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States not serviced by conference services in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, when preparing budget proposals for conference services, to ensure that the level of resources proposed for temporary assistance is commensurate with the full demand for services, estimated on the basis of current experience; 11. Notes the initial steps taken by the Secretariat to establish a permanent interpretation service at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and reaffirms that its decisions in section B, paragraph 24, of resolution 54/248 and in paragraph 180 of resolution 54/249 of 23 December 1999 should be fully implemented by January 2001; 12. Notes with satisfaction that the creation of a permanent interpretation service at Nairobi offers great potential for Nairobi as a venue for United Nations conferences and meetings, and takes note with appreciation of the efforts being made by the United Nations Office at Nairobi to attract more meetings to its facilities; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report on the utilization rates of interpretation services and conference facilities at all duty stations; 14. Takes note of the information in paragraphs 20 and 21 of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the improved utilization of conference facilities at the United Nations Office at NairobiA/55/259. and the successful experience with respect to the events and meetings held there in April and May 2000; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to consider improving and modernizing the conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in order to accommodate adequately major meetings and conferences, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Committee on Conferences; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to issue a revision of administrative instruction ST/AI/342 on the guidelines for the preparation of host government agreements falling under General Assembly resolution 40/243 prior to the substantive session of the Committee on Conferences in 2001, and to take into account administrative arrangements with respect to the United Nations Office at Nairobi; 17. Welcomes the fact that, despite various constraints, steps have been taken to increase the utilization of conference centres at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Economic Commission for Africa, and notes the plans for the future in this regard; 18. Notes with concern the lack of sufficient operational guidance in the management of the conference centres at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Economic Commission for Africa; 19. Notes with deep concern the inadequate staff structure and the insufficient financial resources allocated for the marketing of the conference centre of the Economic Commission for Africa; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore all possible options to increase further the utilization of the conference centres at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Economic Commission for Africa, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Committee on Conferences; III Documentation- and publication-related matters 1. Notes with deep concern the low rate of compliance with the six-week rule for the issuance of documentation, and encourages the Secretary-General, in view of the impact of late submissions on the timely issuance of documents, to intensify recent efforts with respect to planning meetings and forecasting documentation; 2. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that documentation is available in accordance with the six-week rule for the distribution of documents simultaneously in the six official languages of the General Assembly; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen accountability and responsibility measures, where applicable, as requested in section C, paragraph 11, of its resolution 54/248, to correct the alarming situation concerning the submission of documentation consistent with the six-week rule, and requests him to submit a report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 4. Invites intergovernmental bodies, during their organizational sessions or other appropriate periods before the commencement of their substantive work, to review with author departments the question of the availability of documentation for the proper functioning of those bodies, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session through the Committee on Conferences; 5. Decides that there should not be any exemption to the rule that documents must be distributed in all official languages, and emphasizes the principle that all documents must be distributed simultaneously in all official languages before they are made available on United Nations web sites; 6. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General direct all departments to include, where appropriate, the following elements in reports originating in the Secretariat: (a) A summary of the report; (b) Consolidated conclusions, recommendations and other proposed actions; (c) Relevant background information; 7. Reiterates that all documents submitted to legislative organs by the Secretariat and expert bodies for consideration and action should have conclusions and recommendations in bold print; 8. Reiterates its request to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions to submit its reports in accordance with paragraph 12 of General Assembly resolution 53/208 B; 9. Reaffirms its decision that, if a report is issued late, the reasons for the delay should be indicated when the report is introduced; 10. Reiterates its decision that, if a report is submitted late to conference services, the reasons therefor should be included in a footnote to the document; 11. Encourages chairpersons of intergovernmental bodies to institute time limits, when appropriate, for the introduction of standard documents by the Secretariat; 12. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents, in all six official languages, and information materials of the United Nations are made available through the United Nations web site daily and are accessible to Member States without delay; 13. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to publish, prior to the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, an updated version of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations in the six official languages of the Organization; 14. Further reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to publish, as a matter of priority, the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations in the six official languages of the Organization, once their consolidation has been completed; 15. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, and requests him to publish the current and future issues of the Repertoire in all six official languages; 16. Notes the recent progress in reducing delays in the issuance of summary records, and requests the Secretary-General to consider means, including increased cooperation within the Secretariat, to continue efforts to accelerate their issuance; 17. Notes with concern the comments of the Committee on Conferences contained in paragraph 112 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/55/32). and requests the Secretary-General to implement, as a matter of priority, the provision contained in paragraph 45 of annex II to its resolution 52/220 of 22 December 1997 and reiterated in paragraph 7 of its resolution 54/259 of 7 April 2000, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; IV Translation- and interpretation-related matters 1. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to continue the efforts to utilize new technologies, such as computer-assisted translation, remote translation, terminology databases and speech recognition, in the six official languages so as to enhance further the productivity of conference services, and to keep the General Assembly informed of the introduction and use of any other new technology; 2. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that training opportunities in the six official languages are equally available to all language staff, including those at duty stations away from Headquarters; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in exceptional cases where an interpreter is assigned to an interpretation booth for which he or she has not passed the requisite competitive examination of the Interpretation Service, to set up an internal examination with standards similar to those of the competitive examinations of the Interpretation Service, which the interpreter must pass before such assignment; 4. Reiterates its understanding that the introduction of remote interpretation is not intended to replace traditional interpretation systems without the explicit approval of the General Assembly; 5. Reaffirms its decision that, in the absence of a decision of the General Assembly to the contrary, the use of remote interpretation shall not constitute an alternative to the current institutionalized system of interpretation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that trials of remote interpretation are not confined to specific duty stations and that each duty station is considered as both recipient and provider; 7. Reaffirms its decision that the use of remote interpretation should not affect the quality of interpretation or in itself lead to any further reduction in language posts, nor will it affect the equal treatment of the six official languages; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that future reports on the question of remote interpretation include an analysis of all costs of any proposed system, its impact on the working conditions of interpreters, the level of service provided to delegates, the satisfaction of delegations with the interpretation and the technical aspects of this method of interpretation; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that efforts continue to be made to improve the quality control of language services at all duty stations; 10. Takes note of the technical difficulties and timing problems, referred to in paragraph 9 of the report of the Advisory Committee,A/55/430. regarding remote interpretation, and requests the Secretary-General to clarify further the technical issues involved; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to comply with paragraphs 33 to 36 of its resolution 53/208 A, and also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Committee on Conferences and the Advisory Committee, a report on possible measures to alleviate the excessive vacancy rates in language services at some duty stations and to ensure the required quality of conference services Secretariat-wide; 12. Urges the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to implement the system of incentives to attract language staff to duty stations with high vacancy rates, and requests him to submit a comprehensive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session analysing problems relating to recruitment in language services at all duty stations and proposing actions to address them; 13. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that translation, in principle, reflects the specificity of each language; 14. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in order to improve further the quality of translation of documents issued in the six official languages, to ensure continuous dialogue between translation staff and interpretation staff, among United Nations headquarters at New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, and between translation divisions and Member States with regard to the standardization of the terminology used; 15. Further reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to hold informational meetings in order to brief Member States periodically on the terminology used; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct consultations, with Member States concerned, on the improvement of translation services; V Information technology 1. Urges the Secretary-General to fill expeditiously the three official posts in the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat relating to web sites in Arabic, Chinese and Russian, in accordance with paragraph 151 of General Assembly resolution 54/249; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on policy issues regarding the translation of non-parliamentary and public information material into all official languages and the possibility of providing those materials on the United Nations web site in all official languages; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the new re-engineered optical disk system, referred to in paragraph 9 of his report;A/54/849. VI 1. Reaffirms its decision 38/401 concerning the prohibition of smoking in small conference rooms and the discouragement of smoking in large conference rooms; 2. Calls upon representatives of Member States to abide strictly by its decision 38/401, and strongly encourages all users of United Nations conference facilities to refrain from smoking in order to avoid exposing non-smokers to involuntary passive smoking; 3. Strongly discourages smoking in the immediate vicinity of conference rooms. RESOLUTION 55/223 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/709, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/223. United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Civil Service Commission for the year 2000Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). and the statement submitted by the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the Commission,A/55/629. Reaffirming its commitment to a single unified United Nations common system as the cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Convinced that the common system constitutes the best instrument to secure staff of the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for the international civil service, as stipulated under the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the central role of the Commission in the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Reaffirming also the statute of the Commission, I Conditions of service applicable to both categories of staff A. Framework for human resources management Recalling its resolutions 51/216 of 18 December 1996, 52/216 of 22 December 1997, 53/209 of 18 December 1998 and 54/238 of 23 December 1999, 1. Welcomes with appreciation the work of the Commission with regard to the integrated framework for human resources management, which would assist organizations of the common system to carry forward human resources management reforms; 2. Endorses the conclusions of the Commission as contained in paragraph 19 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). 3. Requests the Commission to use the integrated framework as a guide to its future programme of work as contained in paragraph 18 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). 4. Encourages the organizations of the United Nations common system to use the integrated framework as a basis for their future work in human resources policies and procedures and to bring it to the attention of their governing bodies; B. Standards of conduct for the international civil service Recalling its resolutions 52/252 of 8 September 1998 and 54/238, Takes note of the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraph 31 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). urges organizations to reach consensus on the draft standards of conduct for the international civil service in sufficient time so as to enable the Commission to finalize the text to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, and emphasizes that the proposed standards should ensure that the staff uphold the principles of integrity, impartiality and independence; C. Review of pay and benefits system Recalling its resolutions 51/216, 52/216 and 53/209, 1. Takes note of the work of the Commission in respect of the review of the pay and benefits system in the context of the integrated framework for human resources management; 2. Takes note also of the decision of the Commission to move forward with the review of the pay and benefits system in accordance with the modalities described in annex III to its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). D. Recognition of language knowledge Recalling section II.E of its resolution 48/224 of 23 December 1993 and section II.B of its resolution 53/209, Takes note of the decision of the Commission to address the issue of recognition of language knowledge within the context of the comprehensive review of the pay and benefits system; E. Education grant Recalling section III.C of its resolution 54/238, by which it requested the Commission to complete the review of the methodology for the education grant and report the results to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session, 1. Takes note of the decisions and recommendations of the Commission in respect of the review of the methodology for the education grant as contained in paragraph 81 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). 2. Urges the organizations of the United Nations common system to harmonize their rules and regulations to ensure that the education grant is treated as a benefit payable to internationally recruited staff with expatriate status only; 3. Approves increases in the maximum reimbursement levels in five currency areas, as well as other adjustments to the management of expenses under the education grant, as contained in paragraph 93 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). 4. Takes note of the decisions of the Commission as contained in paragraphs 94 and 95 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). F. Common scale of staff assessment Recalling its resolutions 48/225 of 23 December 1993 and 51/216, Takes note of the decisions of the Commission as contained in paragraph 102 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). II Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories A. Noblemaire principle and its application Recalling its resolution 44/198 of 21 December 1989 and other relevant resolutions, 1. Reaffirms the continued application of the Noblemaire principle; 2. Also reaffirms the need to continue to ensure the competitiveness of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system; B. Grade equivalencies between the United States federal civil service and the United Nations common system Recalling section I.A of its resolution 50/208 of 23 December 1995, 1. Takes note of the updated grade equivalency study undertaken in 2000 by the Commission with the United States federal civil service; 2. Also takes note of the decisions of the Commission in respect of the grade equivalency study undertaken in 2000 with the comparator civil service as contained in paragraph 149 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). C. Evolution of the margin Recalling section I.B of its resolution 52/216 and the standing mandate from the General Assembly, in which the Commission is requested to continue its review of the relationship between the net remuneration of the United Nations staff in the Professional and higher categories in New York and that of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service) employees in comparable positions in Washington, D.C. (referred to as "the margin"), Recalling also section IX, paragraph 3, of its resolution 46/191 A of 20 December 1991, in which it requested the Commission to include in its work a review of the differences between the United Nations and the United States net remuneration at individual grade levels, 1. Notes that the margin between the net remuneration of United Nations staff in grades P-1 to D-2 in New York and that of officials in comparable positions in the United States federal civil service for 2000 is 113.3, based on the results of the grade equivalency study between the United Nations and the United States carried out in 2000; 2. Also notes from annex V to the report of the Commission that the United Nations/United States remuneration ratios range from 119.9 at the P-2 level to 105.5 at the D-2 level, and considers that this imbalance should be addressed in the context of the overall margin considerations established by the General Assembly; D. Base/floor salary scale Recalling section I.H of its resolution 44/198, by which it established a floor net salary level for staff in the Professional and higher categories by reference to the corresponding base net salary levels of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service), 1. Approves, with effect from 1 March 2001, the revised base scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories, contained in the annex to the present resolution; 2. Requests the Commission, in the context of the review of the pay and benefits system, to review the firm linkage between the base/floor salary scale and the mobility and hardship allowance; E. Dependency allowances Recalling section II.F, paragraph 2, of its resolution 47/216 of 23 December 1992, in which it noted that the Commission would review the level of dependency allowances every two years, Recalling also section I.F, paragraph 4, of its resolution 53/209, in which it requested the Commission to examine the methodology, rationale and scope of the allowances, Noting that the review of dependency allowances carried out by the Commission reflected relevant changes in tax abatement and social legislation at the seven headquarters duty stations since 1998, 1. Takes note of the decision of the Commission with regard to the methodology, rationale and scope of the allowances; 2. Approves, with effect from 1 January 2001, an increase of 11.89 per cent in the children's allowance, including that for disabled children, and in the secondary dependant's allowance; 3. Takes note of the updated list of hard-currency duty stations for which the allowances are specified in local currency, as contained in annex VIII to the report of the Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). 4. Notes that dependency allowances payable to eligible United Nations common system staff should be reduced by the amount of any direct payments received from a Government in respect of dependants; F. Post adjustment matters Recalling its request in section II.G of its resolution 48/224 regarding the conduct of place-to-place surveys at headquarters duty stations, 1. Welcomes the review of the operation of the post adjustment system carried out by the Commission; 2. Takes note of the decisions reached by the Commission as contained in paragraph 157 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). III Conditions of service of the General Service and other locally recruited categories A. Survey of best prevailing conditions of employment in New York and Montreal Recalling section II.A of its resolution 52/216, in which it reaffirmed that the Flemming principle should continue to serve as the basis for determining the conditions of service of the General Service and related categories and endorsed the revised methodology for surveys of best prevailing conditions of employment for these categories, Takes note of the results of the salary surveys conducted in New York and Montreal, as reported in chapter V of the report of the Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). B. Review of the headquarters salary survey methodology: decisions of the International Labour Organization Administrative Tribunal regarding the phasing out of the language factor in Rome and Vienna Recalling section III, paragraph 2, of its resolution 47/216 and section II.E of its resolution 48/224, Takes note of the decision of the Commission with regard to the treatment of the language factor, as contained in paragraph 192 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/55/30). IV Strengthening the international civil service Decides to defer consideration of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/526 and A/54/483. with a view to taking a decision on strengthening the international civil service at the first part of its resumed fifty-fifth session. Annex Salary scale for staff in the Professional and higher categories showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessmenta (United States dollars) Effective 1 March 2001 TABLE REMOVED D = Rate applicable to staff members with a dependent spouse or child. S = Rate applicable to staff members with no dependent spouse or child. a This scale will be implemented in conjunction with a consolidation of 5.1 per cent of post adjustment. There will be consequential adjustments in post adjustment indices and multipliers at all duty stations effective 1 March 2001. Thereafter, changes in post adjustment classifications will be implemented on the basis of the movements of the consolidated post adjustment indices. RESOLUTION 55/224 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/703, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/224. United Nations pension system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/217 of 18 December 1996 and 53/210 of 18 December 1998, and section V of its resolution 54/251 of 23 December 1999, Having considered the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board for 2000 to the General Assembly and to the member organizations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the FundA/C.5/55/3. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/481. I Actuarial matters Recalling section I of its resolution 53/210, Having considered the results of the valuation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund as at 31 December 1999 and the observations thereon of the Consulting Actuary of the Fund, the Committee of Actuaries and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9), sect. III.A. 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the improvement in the actuarial situation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, from an actuarial surplus of 0.36 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1997 to an actuarial surplus of 4.25 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1999, and, in particular, of the opinions provided by the Consulting Actuary and the Committee of Actuaries, as reproduced in annexes IV and V, respectively, to the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 2. Takes note of the decision of the Board, in accordance with article 11 (a) of the Regulations of the Fund, to lower the interest rate used to determine lump-sum commutations, from the current 6.5 per cent to 6 per cent, with respect to contributory service performed as from 1 January 2001; 3. Takes note also that the Board has established a working group to undertake a fundamental review of the benefit provisions of the Fund, taking into account developments in staffing and remuneration policies in the member organizations and in pension arrangements at the national and international levels, and to make proposals to the Standing Committee of the Board in 2001 and subsequently to the Board in 2002, on the future long-term needs of the Fund and its constituent groups, for eventual submission by the Board to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 4. Takes note further of the observations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraph 8 of its report;A/55/481. 5. Concurs with the Transfer Agreement with the World Trade Organization, approved by the Board under article 13 of the Regulations of the Fund, with a view to securing continuity of pension rights between the Fund and the World Trade Organization, as set out in annex VII to the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 6. Takes note of the intention of the Board and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to pursue a new transfer agreement in the light of the changes made in the pension plan of the Bank and of the interim procedures that will be followed until a new agreement is concluded; II Pension adjustment system Recalling section II of its resolution 53/210, Having considered the reviews carried out by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, as set out in paragraphs 186 to 200 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). of various aspects of the pension adjustment system, 1. Takes note of the results of the monitoring of the costs/savings of recent modifications of the two-track feature of the pension adjustment system and the intention of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board to continue to monitor those costs/savings every two years, on the occasion of the actuarial valuations of the Fund; 2. Approves changes in the pension adjustment system, as set out in annex I to the present resolution: (a) To lower the threshold for implementing cost-of-living adjustments of pensions in award from 3 per cent to 2 per cent, with effect from the adjustment due on 1 April 2001; (b) To modify, provisionally, paragraphs 4 and 5 of the provisions of the pension adjustment system, in order to implement Judgement No. 942 of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal, as described in section X, paragraphs 263 to 272, of the report of the Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). pending possible future proposals made by the Board to the General Assembly for changes in the pension adjustment system as regards adjustments of deferred retirement benefits; III Financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and report of the Board of Auditors Having considered the financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 1999, the audit opinion and report of the Board of Auditors thereon, the information provided on the internal audits of the Fund and the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 1. Notes with satisfaction that the report of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 1999 indicated that the financial statements presented fairly, in all respects, the financial position of the Fund and that the transactions tested as part of the audit were, in all significant respects, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the United Nations and legislative authority; 2. Takes note of the observations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraph 13 of its report;A/55/481. IV Longer-term administrative arrangements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Recalling section VII of its resolution 51/217, section V of its resolution 52/222, section V of its resolution 53/210 and section V of its resolution 54/251 concerning the administrative arrangements and expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, Having considered section VI of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). on the longer-term administrative arrangements of the Fund, 1. Takes note of the information, set out in paragraphs 117 to 154 of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). on the strategic plan for the operations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, which addresses computer systems, process re-engineering and technological improvements, the progress report on the enhancement of the role of the Geneva office of the Fund, the delegation of personnel and procurement decisions to the Fund and office space needs; 2. Welcomes the efforts under way to effect improvements in the administrative operations of the Fund through greater use of the latest developments in information technology, including electronic exchanges of information between the Fund and its member organizations, as well as with participants and beneficiaries of the Fund, using Internet/Intranet web sites; 3. Requests the Standing Committee of the Board, in submitting the budget proposals of the Fund for the biennium 2002-2003 and, if necessary, revised estimates for the current biennium, to provide detailed information on the costs and benefits related to phase I and phase II of the project, including timetables and the prioritizing of the various initiatives; V Entitlement to survivors' benefits for spouses and former spouses Recalling paragraph 4 of section VIII of its resolution 51/217 and section VI of its resolution 53/210, Having considered the further review undertaken by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board of issues related to the pension entitlements of spouses and former spouses, as set out in paragraphs 155 to 185 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 1. Approves the amendment to article 35 bis of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, as set out in annex II to the present resolution, which would extend the provision for a divorced surviving spouse's benefit to divorced spouses of former participants who separated before 1 April 1999 and who meet all the other eligibility conditions in subparagraph (b) of article 35 bis; 2. Also approves the amendment to article 34 of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex II to the present resolution, which would restore the surviving spouse's benefit that had been eliminated for those who had remarried prior to 1 April 1999, subject to recovery (with interest) of the lump-sum payment made at the time of remarriage; 3. Further approves an amendment to article 45 of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex II to the present resolution, which would modify the payment facility approved in resolution 53/210 along the lines set out in paragraphs 172 to 177 of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 4. Approves, with effect from 1 April 2001, the amendment to article 34 (b) of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex II to the present resolution, which would eliminate the partial commutation option for participants electing to receive a deferred retirement benefit for the reasons set out in paragraphs 178 to 183 of the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 5. Takes note of the responses to the arrangements approved in resolution 53/210 for the optional purchase of surviving spouses' benefits, on cost-neutral terms, in respect of marriage after separation from service; 6. Requests the Board to continue to monitor the experience with these issues and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 7. Also requests the Board to replace the study of benefits for domestic partnerships, as referred to in paragraphs 184 and 185 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). with a study on the existing rules and practices governing entitlements to survivors' pension benefits in international organizations, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; VI Status of the proposed agreement between the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and the Government of the Russian Federation Recalling section IV of its resolution 51/217 and section III of its resolution 53/210, Noting the information provided by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board in paragraphs 201 to 232 of its reportOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). and the additional information contained in official communications from the Government of the Russian Federation to the Chief Executive Officer of the Fund after the fiftieth session of the Board, 1. Takes note of the information provided by the Government of the Russian Federation on internal solutions being prepared with a view to addressing the concerns of Russian former participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; 2. Appreciates the efforts of the Board in addressing this issue; VII Other matters 1. Takes note of the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, as set out in paragraphs 233 to 240 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). on the review and conclusions reached by the International Civil Service Commission on the changes in average tax rates at the seven headquarters duty stations which formed the basis for the development of the current common scale of staff assessment for pensionable remuneration; 2. Also takes note of the review of the size and composition of the Board and the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and, in particular, the provisional allocation of the seat vacated by the former Interim Commission for the International Trade Organization effected upon the termination of its membership in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund as at 31 December 1998, as described in paragraphs 241 to 252 of the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 3. Notes that a further review of the size and composition of the Board and the Standing Committee will be undertaken in the first instance by the Standing Committee in 2001 and subsequently by the Board in 2002, addressing the issues set out in paragraph 252 of the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 4. Approves, with effect from 1 January 2001, an amendment to article 6 of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex II to the present resolution, which would set the terms of office for the elected members and alternate members of the United Nations Staff Pension Committee at four years, instead of the current three years; 5. Also approves, with effect from 1 January 2001, an amendment to article 14 of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex II to the present resolution, which would set the frequency for audits of the operations of the Fund to be annual and for audit reports on the accounts of the Fund by the Board of Auditors to be submitted to the General Assembly every two years, instead of annually; 6. Further approves, with effect from 1 January 2001, an amendment to article 43 of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex II to the present resolution, which would provide for the recovery of indebtedness to the Fund pursuant to observations made by the Board of Auditors and to the comments thereon by the Board, for the reasons given in paragraphs 257 to 262 of the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 7. Takes note of the consequent amendment that would be made to administrative rule J.9 (a) of the Fund, as set out in paragraph 261 of the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). VIII Investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,A/C.5/55/3. as well as the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board thereon in its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General and to the members of the Investments Committee for the investment performances of the Fund, which contributed significantly to the actuarial surplus of the Fund as at 31 December 1999; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore investment possibilities by the Fund in the developing countries, taking into consideration General Assembly resolutions 36/119 A to C of 10 December 1981, and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 4. Takes note of the observations of the Board of Auditors on the outstanding tax refunds due to the Fund from some Member States in respect of direct taxes imposed on the investment income of the Fund, as set out in paragraphs 20 to 24 of its report, which is reproduced in annex III to the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/55/9). 5. Urges once again those Member States which have outstanding balances on foreign tax accounts receivable to provide the reimbursement due to the Fund; 6. Reiterates its request to those Member States which do not grant tax exemptions to make all possible efforts to do so as soon as possible. Annex I Changes in the pension adjustment system of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund 1. At the beginning of paragraph 4, after the words "Except as otherwise noted", add the following phrase within parentheses: "(e.g., in paragraphs 5 (d), 10 and 27 below with regard to deferred retirement benefits)." 2. In paragraph 5, add the following new subparagraph (d): "(d) The cost-of-living differential factor in subparagraph 5 (b) (i) above shall not apply to deferred retirement benefits." 3. In paragraph 18, replace the words "3 per cent" with the words "2 per cent". Annex II Amendments to the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Article 6 Staff pension committees In paragraph (b), replace the words "three years" with the words "four years." Article 14 Annual report and audit Replace paragraph (b) with the following: "(b) There shall be annual audits of the operations of the Fund, in a manner agreed between the United Nations Board of Auditors and the Board. An audit report on the accounts of the Fund shall be made every two years by the United Nations Board of Auditors; a copy of the audit report shall be included in the report under (a) above." Article 30 Deferred retirement benefit Replace paragraph (c) with the following: "(c) The benefit may be commuted by the participant into a lump sum if the rate of the benefit at the normal retirement age is less than 300 dollars. Such commutation shall be equivalent to the full actuarial value of the benefit." Article 34 Widow's benefit 1. In paragraph (b), delete the following phrase at the end of the paragraph: ", or had commuted a deferred retirement benefit under article 30 (c)". 2. Add the following new paragraph (h): "(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of (a) and (f) above, with respect to a surviving spouse who had remarried prior to 1 April 1999 the benefit under (a) above shall be payable as from 1 January 2001, subject to recovery (with interest) of the lump sum payment that had been made to that surviving spouse upon remarriage, as provided for in the Regulations then in effect." Article 35 bis Divorced surviving spouse's benefit Add the following new paragraph (e): "(e) The divorced spouse of a former participant who separated before 1 April 1999 and, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, met all the other eligibility conditions in (a) and (b) above shall be entitled as from 1 April 1999 to a benefit equal to twice the minimum surviving spouse's benefit under article 34 (c), subject to the proviso that the amount of such benefit cannot exceed the amount payable to a surviving spouse of the former participant." Article 43 Recovery of indebtedness to the Fund Add the following text at the end of the article: ", including interest and costs, where appropriate." Article 45 Non-assignability of rights Replace the text of article 45 with the following: "(a) A participant or beneficiary may not assign his or her rights under these Regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may, to satisfy a legal obligation on the part of a participant or former participant arising from a marital or parental relationship and evidenced by an order of a court or by a settlement agreement incorporated into a divorce or other court order, remit a portion of a benefit payable by the Fund to such participant for life to one or more former spouses and/or a current spouse from whom the participant or former participant is living apart. Such payment shall not convey to any person a benefit entitlement from the Fund or (except as provided herein) provide any rights under the Regulations of the Fund to such person or increase the total benefits otherwise payable by the Fund. "(b) To be acted upon, the requirement under the court order must be consistent with the Regulations of the Fund, as determined by the Chief Executive Officer of the Fund to be beyond any reasonable doubt, and on the basis of the available evidence. Once implemented, the assignment shall normally be irrevocable; however, a participant or former participant may request, upon satisfactory evidence based on a court order or a provision of a settlement agreement incorporated into a court decree, a new decision by the Chief Executive Officer that would alter or discontinue the payment or payments. Furthermore, such payment or payments shall cease following the death of the participant or former participant. If a designee predeceases the participant or former participant, the payments shall not commence, or if they have commenced, shall cease upon the designee's death. In the event that the payment or payments have been diminished, discontinued, or have failed to commence or have ceased, the amount of the benefit payable to the participant or former participant shall be duly adjusted." RESOLUTION 55/225 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/691, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/225. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991,A/55/517 and Corr.1 and Add.1. the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsA/55/642. and the oral statement made by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Fifth Committee on 6 December 2000,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Fifth Committee, 35th meeting (A/C.5/55/SR.35), and corrigendum. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 54/239 A of 23 December 1999 and 54/239 B of 15 June 2000, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the budget performance of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for 1999A/55/623. and the comments of the Advisory Committee thereon in its report,A/55/642. Taking note also of Security Council resolution 1329 (2000) of 30 November 2000 concerning the establishment of a pool of ad litem judges in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/642. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Decides that the budget of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 shall be biennialized, on an experimental basis, for the period 2002-2003, also decides to keep the matter of the biennialization under review, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the results of the experiment and the impact on the functioning of the Tribunal; 3. Notes with satisfaction that the benefits of this provisional reform could include the use of two-year employment contracts at the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; 4. Welcomes recent improvements in the functioning of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and encourages continued efforts to address areas where improvement is needed; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide in his proposed budget, with the involvement of all organs of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, workload data for the budget period so as to give more justification for its resource requirements, and also requests the Secretary-General to include in his budget presentation information on budgetary requirements, including targets for recruitment, training, judicial scheduling and performance standards for support activities; 6. Welcomes the actions taken so far to address the issue of dilatory motions and pleadings, which have the effect of lengthening trial proceedings, and encourages the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to take further measures to improve the monitoring and oversight of defence counsel; 7. Endorses the recommendation of the Advisory Committee that judicial activities of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia should have priority over public relations activities and attendance at external meetings; 8. Decides to revert, at its resumed fifty-fifth session, to the consideration of resource requirements for the implementation of modifications to the statute of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, without prejudice to the nomination and election of the ad litem judges; 9. Decides also to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 a total amount of 108,487,700 United States dollars gross (96,443,900 dollars net) for 2001; 10. Decides further that the financing of the appropriation for 2001 under the Special Account shall take into account the unused unencumbered balance of 5,873,600 dollars gross (5,414,300 dollars net) for 1999, interest and miscellaneous income of 3,412,000 dollars recorded for the biennium 1998-1999, the estimated unencumbered balance of 2.5 million dollars gross (2,227,000 dollars net) for 2000 and the estimated income of 77,200 dollars for 2001, which shall be set off against the aggregate amount of the appropriation, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 11. Decides to apportion the amount of 48,312,450 dollars gross (42,695,300 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2001, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 12. Decides also to apportion the amount of 48,312,450 dollars gross (42,695,300 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2001; 13. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 11 and 12 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 11,234,300 dollars approved for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for 2001. Annex Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED a The amount does not include provisions sought for ad litem judges (A/55/517/Add.1). RESOLUTION 55/226 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/692, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/226. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994,A/55/512 and Corr.1 and Add.1. the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsA/55/643. and the oral statement made by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Fifth Committee on 6 December 2000,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Fifth Committee, 35th meeting (A/C.5/55/SR.35), and corrigendum. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 54/240 A of 23 December 1999 and 54/240 B of 15 June 2000, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the budget performance of the International Tribunal for Rwanda for 1999A/55/622. and the comments of the Advisory Committee thereon in its report,A/55/643. Taking note also of Security Council resolution 1329 (2000) of 30 November 2000 concerning the election of two judges of the International Tribunal for Rwanda and the assignment of two of the judges elected or appointed in accordance with article 12 of the statute of the International Tribunal for Rwanda to be members of the Appeals Chamber of the International Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/643. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Decides that the budget of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 shall be biennialized, on an experimental basis, for the period 2002-2003, also decides to keep the matter of the biennialization under review, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the results of the experiment and the impact on the functioning of the Tribunal; 3. Notes with satisfaction that the benefits of this provisional reform could include the use of two-year employment contracts at the International Tribunal for Rwanda; 4. Welcomes recent improvements in the functioning of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, and encourages continued efforts to address areas where improvement is needed; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide in his proposed budget, with the involvement of all organs of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, workload data for the budget period so as to give more justification for its resource requirements, and also requests the Secretary-General to include in his budget presentation information on budgetary requirements, including targets for recruitment, training, judicial scheduling and performance standards for support activities; 6. Welcomes the actions taken so far to address the issue of dilatory motions and pleadings, which have the effect of lengthening trial proceedings, and encourages the International Tribunal for Rwanda to take further measures to improve the monitoring and oversight of defence counsel; 7. Endorses the recommendation of the Advisory Committee that the judicial activities of the International Tribunal for Rwanda should have priority over public relations activities and attendance at external meetings; 8. Also endorses the recommendation of the Advisory Committee in paragraph 23 of its report,A/55/643. and requests the Secretary-General to undertake a study, with the involvement of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, to indicate whether it is possible to state the likely date or dates for the completion of the mandate of the Tribunal, and to report thereon in the context of the next proposed budget; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the likely long-term financial obligations of the United Nations with regard to the enforcement of sentences; 10. Approves the budgetary recommendations of the Advisory Committee as contained in paragraph 66 of its reportA/55/643. and the additional budgetary recommendations of the Advisory Committee arising from Security Council resolution 1329 (2000), as presented orally by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Fifth Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Fifth Committee, 35th meeting (A/C.5/55/SR.35), and corrigendum. 11. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 a total amount of 93,974,800 United States dollars gross (85,607,600 dollars net) for 2001; 12. Decides also that the financing of the appropriation for 2001 under the Special Account shall take into account the actual unencumbered balance of 2,937,000 dollars gross (1,988,700 dollars net) as at the end of 1999, and the estimated unencumbered balance of 2 million dollars gross (1,816,000 dollars net) which was taken into account in resolution 54/240 A, as well as the amount of 2,667,000 dollars gross (2,667,000 dollars net), being the interest and other miscellaneous income recorded for the biennium 1998-1999, which shall be set off against the aggregate amount of the appropriation, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 13. Decides further that the financing of the appropriation for 2001 under the Special Account shall also take into account an amount of 4,237,100 dollars gross (3,851,900 dollars net), being the estimated unencumbered balance as at the end of 2000, which shall also be set off against the aggregate amount of the appropriation, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 14. Decides to apportion the amount of 43,066,850 dollars gross (39,458,000 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2001, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 15. Decides also to apportion the amount of 43,066,850 dollars gross (39,458,000 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2001; 16. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 14 and 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 7,217,700 dollars approved for the International Tribunal for Rwanda for 2001. Annex Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 55/227 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/663, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 55/227. Financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in KosovoA/55/477. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/624. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Recalling its resolution 53/241 of 28 July 1999 on the financing of the Mission and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 54/245 B of 15 June 2000, Acknowledging the complexity of the Mission, Reaffirming that the costs of the Mission are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by the Mission, a different procedure is required from that applied to meet expenditures of the regular budget of the United Nations, Taking into account the fact that the economically more developed countries are in a position to make relatively larger contributions and that the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards such operations, Bearing in mind the special responsibilities of the States permanent members of the Security Council, as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, in the financing of such operations, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission by certain Governments, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo as at 31 October 2000, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 125 million United States dollars, representing 20 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Mission to the period ending 31 December 2000, notes that some 19 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full; 3. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full and on time; 5. Expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission, and for this purpose requests the Secretary-General to speed up the implementation of the asset management system at all peacekeeping missions in accordance with its resolution 52/1 A of 15 October 1997; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/55/624. 10. Notes the increase in the number of high-level posts, and requests the Secretary-General to review this matter and to report thereon in the context of his next budget presentation; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to provide information, in the context of future budget submissions, on the level of interaction between the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and the Mission; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in future budget submissions information on the guidelines applied to determine the financing through assessed contributions and other sources of income; 13. Further requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 15. Decides to appropriate the amount of 450 million dollars gross (422,053,500 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, inclusive of the amount of 220 million dollars gross (207,407,400 dollars net) authorized by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/245 B; 16. Decides also, as an ad hoc arrangement, and taking into account the amount of 220 million dollars gross (207,407,400 dollars net) already apportioned in accordance with its resolution 54/245 B for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2000, to apportion the additional amount of 230 million dollars gross (214,646,100 dollars net) for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2001 among Member States in accordance with the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of General Assembly resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolutions 44/192 B of 21 December 1989, 45/269 of 27 August 1991, 46/198 A of 20 December 1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 49/249 A of 20 July 1995, 49/249 B of 14 September 1995, 50/224 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 A to C of 18 December 1996, 52/230 of 31 March 1998 and 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and its decisions 48/472 A of 23 December 1993, 50/451 B of 23 December 1995 and 54/456 to 54/458 of 23 December 1999, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2001, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 17. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated additional staff assessment income of 15,353,900 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2001; 18. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 19. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 20. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 21. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-fifth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo". RESOLUTION 55/228 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/664, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/228. Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East TimorA/55/443 and Corr.1-3. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/531. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1272 (1999) of 25 October 1999 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, Recalling its resolution 54/246 A of 23 December 1999 on the financing of the Transitional Administration and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 54/246 C of 15 June 2000, Reaffirming that the costs of the Transitional Administration are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its previous decisions regarding the fact that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by the Transitional Administration, a different procedure is required from that applied to meet expenditures of the regular budget of the United Nations, Taking into account the fact that the economically more developed countries are in a position to make relatively larger contributions and that the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards such operations, Bearing in mind the special responsibilities of the States permanent members of the Security Council, as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, in the financing of such operations, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the trust fund for the multinational force, Also noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, and inviting further such contributions to the Fund, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Transitional Administration with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor as at 31 October 2000, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 149 million United States dollars, representing some 28 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Transitional Administration to the period ending 31 December 2000, notes that some 21 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full; 3. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Transitional Administration in full and on time; 5. Expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Transitional Administration, and for this purpose requests the Secretary-General to speed up the implementation of the asset management system at all peacekeeping missions in accordance with its resolution 52/1 of 15 October 1997; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/531. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 10. Decides to retain the post of the Chief of Staff to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General at the level of Assistant Secretary-General; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in future budget proposals and pending further guidance by the Advisory Committee, to consider using United Nations Volunteers for the fourteen posts mentioned in paragraph 60 of his report,A/55/443 and Corr.1-3. taking into account the opinion of the Advisory Committee in paragraph 38 of its report, and bearing in mind the need of the Transitional Administration for human rights officers in the light of the evolution of the situation in the territory; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Transitional Administration is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 13. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Transitional Administration against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Transitional Administration; 14. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor the amount of 563 million dollars gross (546,051,600 dollars net) for the operation of the Transitional Administration for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, inclusive of the amount of 292,069,000 dollars gross (283,688,500 dollars net) authorized by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/246 C; 15. Decides also, as an ad hoc arrangement and taking into account the amount of 200 million dollars gross (194,261,300 dollars net) already apportioned in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/246 C for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2000, to apportion the additional amount of 128,416,670 dollars gross (124,268,800 dollars net) for the period from 1 July 2000 to 31 January 2001 among Member States in accordance with the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolutions 44/192 B of 21 December 1989, 45/269 of 27 August 1991, 46/198 A of 20 December 1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 49/249 A of 20 July 1995, 49/249 B of 14 September 1995, 50/224 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 A to C of 18 December 1996, 52/230 of 31 March 1998 and 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and its decisions 48/472 A of 23 December 1993, 50/451 B of 23 December 1995 and 54/456 to 54/458 of 23 December 1999, the scale of assessments for the year 2000See resolutions 52/215 A and 54/237 A. to be applied against a portion thereof, that is, 81.5 million dollars gross (78,764,500 dollars net), which is the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000, and the scale of assessments for the year 2001See resolution 55/5 B. to be applied against the balance, that is, 46,916,670 dollars gross (45,504,300 dollars net) for the period from 1 to 31 January 2001; 16. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated additional staff assessment income of 4,147,870 dollars approved for the Transitional Administration for the period from 1 July 2000 to 31 January 2001, 2,735,500 dollars being the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000, and the balance, that is, 1,412,370 dollars, for the period from 1 to 31 January 2001; 17. Decides, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion among Member States the amount of 234,583,330 dollars gross (227,521,500 dollars net) for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2001, at a monthly rate of 46,916,666 dollars gross (45,504,300 dollars net), in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2001,See resolution 55/5 B. subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Transitional Administration beyond 31 January 2001; 18. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 17 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 7,061,830 dollars approved for the Transitional Administration for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2001; 19. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 20. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Transitional Administration; 21. Invites voluntary contributions to the Transitional Administration in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 22. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-fifth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor". RESOLUTION 55/229 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/534, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/229. Review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing StatesA/54/763. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/54/859. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the rates of reimbursement to the Governments of troop-contributing States and of the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 2. Decides to request the post-Phase V Working Group on reform procedures for determining reimbursement of contingent-owned equipment to consider the current methodology underlying the calculations of standard rates of reimbursement to troop-contributing States, including ways to produce timely and more representative data; 3. Requests the post-Phase V Working Group to report on the results of the review to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-fifth session through the Advisory Committee. RESOLUTION 55/22 Adopted at the 58th plenary meeting, on 10 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.6/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 55/22. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the charter establishing the Economic Community of Central African States, by which the Central African countries have agreed to work for the economic development of their subregion, to promote economic cooperation and to establish a Common Market of Central Africa, Welcoming the establishment by the Secretary-General, at the initiative of the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States, of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa on 28 May 1992, pursuant to resolution 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, and recalling its subsequent resolutions on the programme of work of the Committee, Bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in AfricaA/52/871-S/1998/318. and resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998) pertaining thereto, adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, Noting that, at the ninth regular session of the Economic Community of Central African States, held in Malabo on 24 June 1999, the heads of State and Government of the member States decided to resume the activities of the Community, inter alia, by providing it with sufficient financial and human resources to enable it to become a real tool for the integration of their economies and to foster the development of cooperation between their peoples, with the ultimate aim of making it one of the five pillars of the African Economic Community and of helping Central Africa to meet the challenges of globalization, Welcoming the fact that, in their desire to instil a climate of peace and security and to strengthen democratic institutions and practice, together with respect for the rule of law and human rights in their subregion, the States of the Economic Community of Central African States have established the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and have decided to set up an early warning mechanism in Central Africa as a tool for preventing armed conflicts, a subregional parliament and a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa to promote democratic values and experience and human rights, Bearing in mind the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. adopted on 8 September 2000 by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, and especially chapter VII thereof, Aware of the importance of the support of the United Nations system and the international community, which is essential to ensuring that the members of the Economic Community of Central African States are successful in promoting economic development and integration and in consolidating peace, democracy and human rights in their subregion, 1. Recognizes that the purposes and objectives of the Economic Community of Central African States are in conformity with the principles and ideals embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the appropriate steps to establish cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States; 3. Welcomes the support provided by the Secretary-General to the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States in strengthening confidence-building measures at the subregional level and promoting human rights, the rule of law and democratic institutions, in implementation of the programme of work of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue this support and, within the existing United Nations budget, extend it to all the fields to be covered in the framework of cooperation between the United Nations system and the Economic Community of Central African States, especially the reinforcement of the structures of the Community and the attainment of its objectives in favour of peace and security, democracy and human rights, so as to facilitate the operation of the early warning mechanism in Central Africa as a tool for preventing armed conflicts and to establish a subregional parliament and a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa to promote democratic values and experience and human rights; 5. Emphasizes the importance of appropriate coordination between the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, and the Economic Community of Central African States; 6. Urges all Member States and the international community to contribute to the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States to achieve economic integration and development, promote democracy and human rights and consolidate peace and security in Central Africa; 7. Welcomes and calls for the continuation of the efforts made by a number of States, notably in the form of multinational exercises, to enhance the peacekeeping capacities of the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States, so as to enable them to play a larger part in United Nations operations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States". RESOLUTION 55/230 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/532, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 55/230. Reports of the Joint Inspection Unit The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/16 of 29 October 1999, 1. Takes note of the annual report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 1999;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/55/34). 2. Also takes note of the programme of work of the Unit for 2000 and the preliminary list of potential reports for 2001 and beyond;See A/54/960. 3. Stresses the importance of timely consideration of the reports of the Unit by all participating organizations; 4. Looks forward to the report requested in paragraph 6 of its resolution 54/16 concerning progress made in the implementation of the system of follow-up to the recommendations of the Unit; 5. Recognizes the critical role of legislative bodies, their secretariats and the Unit in the success of the implementation of the system; 6. Takes note of paragraphs 19 and 20 of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 1998Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/54/34). and reaffirms article 20 of the statute of the Unit and paragraph 182 of General Assembly resolution 54/249 of 23 December 1999, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to submit the report of the Administrative Committee on Coordination on the budget proposals made by the Unit as required by the statute; 7. Invites the Unit to continue to develop interaction with other United Nations oversight bodies and to intensify relations with the oversight bodies of other participating organizations with a view to achieving better coordination and sharing best practices; 8. Decides to consider the annual reports of the Unit on an annual basis. RESOLUTION 55/231 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/532/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/231. Results-based budgeting The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997 and 53/205 of 18 December 1998, Recalling also the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on results-based budgeting and the related addenda,A/54/456 and Add.1-5. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsA/55/543. on the report of the Secretary-General Having further considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the experience of United Nations system organizations with results-based budgeting techniques,See A/54/287. as well as the comments of the Secretary-General thereon,See A/54/287/Add.1. Bearing in mind the intergovernmental, multilateral and international character of the United Nations, 1. Reaffirms its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986; 2. Also reaffirms the role of the General Assembly in carrying out a thorough analysis and approval of posts and financial resources, of resource allocation to all sections of the programme budget and of human resources policies, with a view to ensuring full and efficient implementation of all mandated programmes and activities and the implementation of policies in this regard; 3. Further reaffirms the respective mandates of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in the consideration of the proposed programme budget; 4. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee,A/55/543. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 5. Notes that the measures proposed by the Secretary-General and recommended by the Advisory Committee are intended to provide, in essence, a management tool that should enhance responsibility and accountability in the implementation of programmes and budgets; 6. Decides that these measures, as approved by the General Assembly in the present resolution, should be implemented in a gradual and incremental manner, in full compliance with the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation and the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement are directly and clearly linked to the objectives of the programmes and in accordance with the different nature of the activities of the programmes, taking into account rules 104.7 (a) and 105.4 (a) of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that expected accomplishments, indicators of achievement and objectives are defined, bearing in mind the direct link between inputs and outputs, and that inputs are commensurate with the needs of programmes, and taking into consideration the international character of the United Nations, the purposes of its Charter and its legislative mandates, as well as the fact that the objectives of the Organization may not be realized in one medium-term plan only; 9. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, in presenting the programme budget, expected accomplishments and, where possible, indicators of achievement are included to measure achievements in the implementation of the programmes of the Organization and not those of individual Member States; 10. Stresses in this regard the need for continued improvement in the formulation of objectives, expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement with the full involvement of the relevant intergovernmental bodies; 11. Decides that the design of programme objectives in the context of the medium-term plan and in the programme budget should be enhanced as a key element of results-based budgeting, in order to reflect in a more accurate manner the mandates, policy objectives, orientation and priorities of the Organization, taking into account regulation 4.2 and rule 104.7 (e) of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the definition of terms and guidelines under review and to bring the question of definitions to the attention of the Consultative Committee on Administrative Questions of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, with a view to obtaining the views and comments of the appropriate bodies of the United Nations system of organizations in order to arrive at an agreed set of key terms and guidelines pertaining to the results-based format of the budget within the United Nations system; 13. Stresses that external factors specific to the objectives and expected accomplishments should be identified in the proposed programme budget and that assessment of performance should reflect, and not be distorted by, the impact of unforeseen external factors; 14. Decides that significant external factors should also be identified in the context of future medium-term plans in order to illustrate their impact on the achievements obtained by the different programmes; 15. Also decides that the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 shall contain input data at the same level of detail as that provided in the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/54/6/Rev.1), vols. I-III; ibid., Supplement No. 6A (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.1); and ibid., Supplement No. 6B (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.2). in keeping with the responsibility of the Secretary-General to provide complete information in support of the financial aspects of his budget proposals; 16. Notes the observation of the Advisory Committee, in paragraph 16 of its report,A/55/543. that the Secretary-General already enjoys delegation of authority in programme delivery, in particular in the transfer of resources within sections of the budget; 17. Decides that any transfer of resources between post and non-post objects of expenditure would require the prior approval of the General Assembly; 18. Stresses that the use of indicators of achievement in the proposed programme budget and assessment of the performance of the Organization in terms of all the expected accomplishments should not constitute a method by which to adjust the level of approved resources, or of staff, and that requested resources should continue to be justified in terms of the requirements of output delivery; 19. Emphasizes that resources proposed by the Secretary-General should be commensurate with all mandated programmes and activities to ensure their full, effective and efficient implementation; 20. Notes that, in order to implement the present resolution, no revisions to the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations or to the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation are currently required, and, in this regard, also notes that the application of rule 105.6 (a) of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning should continue to reflect the understanding that approval of the medium-term plan and the programme budget constitutes the reaffirmation of mandates reflected therein; 21. Recognizes the difficulty of achieving the results of complex and long-standing political activities within specific time frames; 22. Reaffirms that, in accordance with rule 104.7 (b) of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, when an objective for Secretariat action cannot be achieved by the end of the plan period, both this longer-term objective and more specific objectives to be achieved within the plan period shall be set; 23. Emphasizes the need for the Secretariat to continue to improve its programme evaluation capacity, in order to implement fully the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning by, inter alia, strengthening standard evaluation methodologies in accordance with article VII of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning; 24. Stresses that any proposals for additional flexibility in managing inputs during budget implementation, if approved by the General Assembly, should always be accompanied by increased accountability; 25. Also stresses that flexibility in terms of the use of resources should be exercised with strict respect for the norms and decisions established by the General Assembly and the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, in particular in regard to the limits imposed by the General Assembly in the allocation of resources for every section, the staffing table and the rules and procedures for personnel matters; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake a detailed analysis of the information, management control and evaluation systems required to implement the proposals contained in his report,A/54/456 and Add.1-5. and of the capacity and limitations of existing systems, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly, through the Advisory Committee, at the time of submitting his proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 27. Stresses that the intention of the Secretary-General to focus the evaluation of programme delivery on expected accomplishments should be implemented in a manner that is flexible and complementary to the existing evaluation system; 28. Invites the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to develop on a continuous basis and to implement an adequate training programme to ensure that staff, as appropriate, are proficient in the concepts and techniques, including the formulation of expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement, as described in his report. RESOLUTION 55/232 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/532/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/232. Outsourcing practices The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/256 of 7 April 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on outsourcing practicesA/55/301. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/479. 1. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that programme managers are guided by the following four basic reasons for outsourcing: (a) To acquire technical skills not readily available within the Organization, including accessing state-of-the-art technologies and expertise or acquiring needed flexibility to meet quickly changing circumstances; (b) To achieve cost savings; (c) To provide a source more effectively, efficiently or expeditiously; (d) To provide an activity or service not needed on a long-term basis; 2. Affirms that at least the following three significant goals must be considered with regard to the use of outsourcing by the United Nations: (a) To respect the international character of the Organization; (b) To avoid a possible negative impact on staff; (c) To ensure appropriate management and/or control over the activities or services that have been outsourced; 3. Affirms also the firm commitment of the United Nations to provide fair treatment on as wide a geographical basis as possible to all participants involved in United Nations procurement activities, including outsourcing; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider outsourcing actively in accordance with the guidance and goals mentioned above and to ensure that programme managers satisfy all of the following criteria in their assessment of whether or not an activity of the Organization could be fully, or even partially, outsourced: (a) Cost-effectiveness and efficiency: this is considered to be the most basic criterion; unless it can be adequately demonstrated that an activity can be done significantly more economically and, at the very least, equally efficiently, by an external party, outsourcing may not be considered; (b) Safety and security: activities that could compromise the safety and security of delegations, staff and visitors may not be considered for outsourcing; (c) Maintaining the international character of the Organization: outsourcing may be considered for activities where the international character of the Organization is not compromised; (d) Maintaining the integrity of procedures and processes: outsourcing may not be considered if it will result in any breach of established procedures and processes; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the following: (a) Progress achieved with regard to the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution, including information on the location and type of outsourced activities and the reason therefor; (b) The activities outsourced during the years 1999-2000, by providing similar detailed information as mentioned in paragraph 5 (a) of the present resolution; 6. Requests the Joint Inspection Unit to conduct a management audit review of outsourcing in the United Nations and the United Nations funds and programmes in accordance with existing practice and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 55/233 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/532/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/233. Proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986 in which it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to submit in off-budget years an outline of the proposed programme budget for the following biennium, Reaffirming also section VI of its resolution 45/248 B of 21 December 1990, Recalling its resolution 53/214 of 18 December 1998, Reaffirming rule 153 of its rules of procedure, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2002-2003,A/55/186. the related recommendations of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/55/16), part two, chap. II, paras. 50-70. and the recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/685 and Corr.1. 1. Takes note of the report of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/55/16). and the report and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/55/685 and Corr.1. 2. Reaffirms that the proposed programme budget outline shall contain an indication of the following: (a) Preliminary estimate of resources to accommodate the proposed programme of activities during the biennium; (b) Priorities reflecting general trends of a broad sectoral nature; (c) Real growth, positive or negative, compared with the previous budget; (d) Size of the contingency fund expressed as a percentage of the overall level of resources; 3. Also reaffirms that the budget outline should provide a greater level of predictability of resources required for the following biennium, promote greater involvement of Member States in the budgetary process and thereby facilitate the broadest possible agreement on the programme budget; 4. Notes that the budget outline is a preliminary estimate of resources; 5. Endorses the recommendation of the Advisory Committee contained in paragraph 8 of its report,A/55/685 and Corr.1. that provision should be made in the budget outline for expenditures for special political missions related to peace and security expected to be extended or approved in the course of the biennium; 6. Decides that the preliminary estimate of resources for the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 should therefore include a provision for special political missions, in the amount of 93.7 million United States dollars at revised 2000-2001 rates, which should be reflected in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, and that additional requirements shall continue to be treated in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 41/213; 7. Notes that the preliminary estimates of the Secretary-General for the proposed programme budget did not include provision for the requirements for the biennium 2002-2003 for the implementation of the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations,See A/55/305-S/2000/809. that those requirements remain under discussion by the General Assembly and that the requirements pertinent to the regular budget should be reflected in the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, subject to approval by the Assembly; 8. Notes also that the preliminary estimates of the Secretary-General for the proposed programme budget did not include provision for the requirements for the biennium 2002-2003 for safety and security of personnel, that those requirements remain under discussion by the General Assembly, and that the requirements pertinent to the regular budget should be reflected in the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, subject to approval by the Assembly; 9. Invites the Secretary-General to prepare his proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 on the basis of a total preliminary estimate of 2,515.3 million dollars at revised 2000-2001 rates; 10. Decides that the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 shall contain provisions for recosting on the basis of the existing methodology; 11. Decides also that the priorities for the biennium 2002-2003 are the following: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, having considered his preliminary indicative estimates contained in the proposed budget outline, when presenting the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, to reflect the priorities as outlined in paragraph 11 above; 13. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to submit, in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, the total amount of resources that he should have at his disposal, from all sources of financing, in order to implement fully all mandated programmes and activities; 14. Decides that the contingency fund shall be set at the level of 0.75 per cent of the preliminary estimate, namely at 18.9 million dollars, and that this amount is in addition to the overall level of the preliminary estimate and is to be used in accordance with the procedures for the use and operation of the contingency fund. RESOLUTION 55/234 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/710, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/234. Programme planning The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/234 of 21 December 1982, 38/227 A of 20 December 1983, 41/213 of 19 December 1986 and 51/219 of 18 December 1996, Having examined the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,A/55/6 (Introduction) and A/55/6 (Prog. 1-25). Having considered the views expressed by Member States in the context of the review by the Main Committees of the General Assembly of the relevant programmes of the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,A/C.5/55/17-A/C.5/55/20 and Add.1. Having also considered the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its fortieth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/55/16). Having further considered the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 1998-1999,A/55/73. the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on strengthening the role of evaluation findings in programme design, delivery and policy directives,A/55/63. the report of the Secretary-General on ways in which the full implementation and the quality of mandated programmes and activities could be ensured and could be better assessed by and reported to Member States,A/55/85. as well as the report of the Secretary-General on the impact of the format of the medium-term plan on the programme planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation cycle,A/C.5/55/14. I Medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 1. Reaffirms that the medium-term plan is the principal policy directive of the United Nations and shall serve as the framework for the next biennial programme budget; 2. Also reaffirms the importance of ensuring that the medium-term plan reflects all mandated programmes and activities; 3. Stresses the importance of ensuring that all legislative mandates are accurately translated into programmes; 4. Also stresses the need to continue considering the impact of the new format of the medium-term plan for 2002-2005 on the rest of the cycle; 5. Notes that some of the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its thirty-ninth session, as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/236 of 23 December 1999, regarding revisions to the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation had not been fully reflected in the Secretary-General's bulletin containing the revised editionST/SGB/2000/8. of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, in presenting the medium-term plan, expected accomplishments and, where possible, indicators of achievement are included to measure achievements in the implementation of the programmes of the Organization, not those of individual Member States; 7. Stresses that the Secretary-General, in formulating the strategy components of future medium-term plans, should clearly present the approach that will be taken, the type of activities to be carried out and the course of action proposed to achieve the objective desired and to ensure that in subsequent programme budgets planned activities are programmed and reflected in the outputs to be produced; 8. Adopts the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,A/55/6 (Introduction) and A/55/6 (Prog. 1-25). together with the relevant recommendations of the Committee and the additional conclusions and recommendations contained in the annex to the present resolution; II Programme performance report 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 1998-1999;A/55/73. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/55/16), part two, chap. II, paras. 21 and 22. regarding the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 1998-1999; 3. Takes note of the recommendations of the CommitteeIbid., para. 30. on the report of the Secretary-General on ways in which the full implementation and the quality of mandated programmes and activities could be ensured and could be better assessed by and reported to Member States;A/55/85. 4. Recognizes the need for clear statements of objectives, expected accomplishments and corresponding indicators of achievement in future medium-term plans and programme budgets in order to ensure better assessment of the implementation of programmes in the context of the biennial programme performance reports, in accordance with the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning; III Other conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination Endorses all other conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its fortieth session. Annex Conclusions and recommendations on the proposed medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 Programme 19 should read as follows: Programme 19 Human rights Overall orientation 19.1 The purpose of the United Nations human rights programme is to promote universal enjoyment of all human rights by giving practical effect to the will and resolve of the world community as expressed by the United Nations. Its mandate derives from Articles 1, 13 and 55 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/121 of 20 December 1993, the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as defined in Assembly resolution 48/141 of the same date, international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations and the resolutions and decisions of policy-making bodies. The programme is based on the principles and recommendations of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. 19.2 The programme is under the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who performs her or his functions under the direction and authority of the Secretary-General in accordance with resolution 48/141. Its objectives are to provide the leading role on human rights issues and to emphasize the importance of human rights on the international and national agendas; to promote international cooperation for human rights; to stimulate and coordinate action across the whole United Nations system; to promote universal ratification and implementation of international standards and to assist in the development of new norms; to support human rights organs and treaty-monitoring bodies; to anticipate serious violations and react to violations; to emphasize preventive human rights action and to promote the establishment of national human rights infrastructures; to undertake human rights field activities and operations; and to provide education, information, advisory services and technical assistance in the field of human rights. 19.3 By the end of the period covered by the present medium-term plan, it is expected that the following will have been accomplished: (a) A significant enhancement and strengthening of international cooperation in the field of human rights leading to increased effectiveness of international machinery, improved respect for human rights at the national level, through, inter alia, universal ratification of all international human rights treaties, the incorporation of those standards into the domestic legislation of States and the continuing adaptation of the United Nations human rights machinery to current and future needs in the promotion and protection of human rights, as reflected in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; (b) Major strengthening of coordination for human rights across the United Nations system, leading to a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of human rights based on the contribution of each of the United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies whose activities deal with human rights and on improved inter-agency cooperation and coordination; (c) The adoption and implementation of an integrated and multidimensional strategy for the promotion and protection of the right to development, accompanied by a significant enhancement of support from relevant United Nations bodies for that purpose; (d) Provision of the appropriate assistance by the Secretariat and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the promotion and protection of all human rights are guided by the principles of impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, in the spirit of constructive international dialogue and cooperation; (e) Compliance by the Office of the High Commissioner with the paramount consideration of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and with due regard to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible, bearing in mind that the principle of equitable geographical distribution is compatible with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity; (f) A significant increase in the recognition of economic, social and cultural rights and in activities for their protection, including the integration of economic, social and cultural rights as human rights into the strategies and programmes of international organizations, agencies and financial and developmental institutions, the identification of measures of achievement showing success in respecting those rights and the adoption of a communication procedure relating to non-compliance with economic, social and cultural rights; (g) The adoption and progressive implementation of an improved treaty-monitoring system dealing with multiple reporting obligations and based on a comprehensive national approach; (h) The implementation of a strengthened system of special procedures based on harmonization and rationalization of work; (i) The reinforcement of the United Nations as the unique worldwide forum for the discussion and resolution of human rights matters of international concern, with the participation of all relevant actors; (j) The adoption of more efficient methods within the United Nations to promote and protect human rights, including by preventing human rights violations throughout the world and removing obstacles to the full realization of human rights; (k) The implementation of a comprehensive United Nations programme to assist States, at their request, in developing and implementing national human rights plans of action strengthening, inter alia, national structures having an impact on democracy and the rule of law; to establish national institutions to give effect to the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights; and to assist States, at their request, within the respective mandates of the Secretariat and the Office of the High Commissioner, in the process of ratifying United Nations human rights instruments; (l) Fulfilment of the mandates given to the Secretariat for giving appropriate assistance, according to the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, to treaty bodies, intergovernmental and expert bodies, as well as the existing relevant voluntary trust funds; (m) The full integration of the human rights of women and the girl child into the activities of the United Nations system as a whole and its human rights machinery in particular; (n) The implementation of effective measures to promote equality, dignity and tolerance, to fight racism and xenophobia and to protect minorities, indigenous populations, migrant workers, the disabled and others, taking into account also the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in 2001; (o) The establishment of effective programmes of education and public information and the strengthened contribution of non-governmental organizations, national institutions, grass-roots organizations and civil society in United Nations human rights activities at all levels, according to the legislative mandates in effect regarding these issues; (p) The provision to States, United Nations bodies, experts and the academic community of high-quality research and analysis on human rights issues, including that dealing with emerging problems and the development of new standards and instruments. Subprogramme 1 Right to development, research and analysis Objectives and strategy 19.4 The primary objectives of this subprogramme will include the promotion and protection of the right to development. In this regard, the objectives will be to develop an integrated and multidimensional strategy for the implementation, coordination and promotion of the right to development in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to DevelopmentResolution 41/128, annex. and subsequent mandates and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, aimed at facilitating action to be taken by relevant bodies of the United Nations system, including treaty bodies, international development and financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, for the implementation of the right to development as an integral part of fundamental human rights, ensuring the realization of the right to development across the human rights programme and by specialized agencies and United Nations treaty bodies; to promote national implementation of the right to development through coordination with State-appointed officials; to identify obstacles at the national and international levels; and to promote awareness about the content and importance of the right to development, including through information and educational activities. 19.5 With regard to research and analysis, the objectives will be to strengthen respect for human rights by increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding of human rights issues through data collection, research and analysis. These objectives will be pursued within the framework of the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and will be aimed at facilitating the implementation of standards, the work of treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and other bodies and the preparation of new standards; ensuring the recognition on the national and international levels of economic, social and cultural rights; promoting democracy and strengthening national human rights institutions and procedures for the rule of law; contributing to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and new forms of discrimination; and strengthening the recognition of the human rights of women and children and the protection of vulnerable groups such as minorities, migrant workers and indigenous people. Expected accomplishments 19.6 Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include: (a) Wider integration and/or inclusion of the promotion and protection of the right to development, in particular across the human rights programme and the relevant programmes of work of the United Nations departments and/or offices and specialized agencies and of major international organizations and forums related to this issue; (b) Major strengthening of coordination for human rights across the United Nations system, leading to a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of human rights based on the contribution of each of the United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies whose activities deal with human rights and also based on improved inter-agency cooperation and coordination; (c) Strengthened efforts which will contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (d) Enhanced awareness, knowledge and understanding of all human rights, including the right to development; (e) Wider recognition of the rights of women, children and persons belonging to minorities, migrant workers, indigenous people and persons with disabilities, and strengthening the protection of vulnerable groups. Measurements of achievement 19.7 Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or expected accomplishments have been achieved. 19.8 Measures of achievement of the Secretariat would include: (a) The extent to which the right to development had been included in the work programmes of the departments and offices of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, providing compiled examples of concrete steps in that regard; (b) The extent to which the mandates given to the Secretariat contained in resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, had been fulfilled; (c) The holding of seminars and workshops organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, or in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, and the extent to which they contributed to the fulfilment of the objectives of the subprogramme; (d) The extent to which the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner contributed to increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding in order to advance the full realization of the right to development, in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to Development; (e) Increased number of visitors to the web site of the Office of the High Commissioner; (f) The number of new publications of the Office of the High Commissioner as well as their distribution, and the assessment by users of their quality and usefulness. Subprogramme 2 Supporting human rights bodies and organs Objectives and strategy 19.9 The objectives are to support the United Nations human rights bodies and organs and to facilitate their deliberations by ensuring and enhancing their effective functioning; to contribute to increasing the knowledge, expanding the awareness and promoting the importance of all international human rights treaties; to improve existing procedures through rationalization and streamlining, and the coordination of the participation of Governments, experts, specialized agencies, other international organizations, national institutions and non-governmental organizations in their work; and to ensure the analytical capacity of human rights treaty bodies for the review of State party reports under international treaties and for the processing of communications. Expected accomplishments 19.10 Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include: (a) The timely delivery of required and appropriate support to intergovernmental bodies, expert bodies and treaty bodies, inter alia, in order to contribute to reducing the backlog in the consideration by the reviewing mechanisms of the States parties' reports; (b) The timely delivery of required and appropriate support to intergovernmental bodies, expert bodies and treaty bodies, inter alia, in order to contribute to reducing the backlog in the consideration by the reviewing mechanisms of complaints. Measurements of achievement 19.11 Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or expected accomplishments have been achieved. 19.12 Measures of achievement of the Secretariat would include: (a) The quality and timeliness of services provided by the Office of the High Commissioner; (b) A reduction in the time lag between the submission of a State party report and its examination by the relevant treaty body; (c) A reduction in the time lag between the submission of a complaint and its review, as appropriate, by the relevant mechanisms; (d) The number of reports prepared by the Secretariat in accordance with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, and the extent to which they were presented in a timely manner, in compliance with the six-week rule for the issuance of documentation, for consideration by organs dealing with human rights. Subprogramme 3 Advisory services, technical cooperation, support to human rights fact-finding procedures and field activities Objectives and strategy 19.13 In the area of advisory services and technical cooperation, the objectives are to assist countries, at their request, in developing comprehensive national plans of action to promote and protect human rights and to provide advice and support to specific projects to promote respect for human rights; to develop a comprehensive and coordinated United Nations programme to help States in building and strengthening national structures for human rights promotion and protection; and to raise awareness and promote specialized knowledge about human rights through the organization of training courses, seminars and workshops, and the production of a wide range of educational, training and information material. 19.14 In the area of support to fact-finding bodies, the objectives are to ensure the effective functioning of human rights monitoring mechanisms by assisting special rapporteurs and representatives, experts and working groups mandated by policy-making bodies, including through the preparation of information regarding alleged violations and situations for review and the provision of support for missions and meetings; and to enhance the efficiency of action by policy-making bodies by providing analytical information on human rights situations. 19.15 With respect to field activities, the objective is to ensure the efficiency of field missions and presences through the maintenance of contacts with Governments, appropriate sectors of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and others by supporting and developing such activities through the development of training programmes and materials for human rights field staff and training in human rights for the appropriate components of other United Nations field operations. Expected accomplishments 19.16 Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include: (a) Provision of advisory services and technical and financial assistance, at the request of the State concerned and, where appropriate, the regional human rights organizations, with a view to supporting actions and programmes in the field of human rights; (b) Fulfilment of the mandates given to the Office of the High Commissioner in resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights to support human rights monitoring mechanisms, such as special rapporteurs/representatives and expert and working groups mandated by policy-making bodies; (c) Enhanced awareness, knowledge and understanding of all human rights, including the right to development. Measurements of achievement 19.17 Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or expected accomplishments have been achieved. 19.18 Measures of achievement of the Secretariat would include: (a) The number of seminars, workshops and training courses held or supported by the Office of the High Commissioner; and the number of persons trained, participants in seminars and workshops and fellowships granted, as well as data on their geographical distribution, and the extent to which they contributed to the fulfilment of the objectives of the subprogramme; (b) The number of requests from Member States and, where appropriate, from the regional human rights organizations, received and fulfilled by the Office of the High Commissioner for the provision of advisory services and technical and financial assistance, with a view to supporting actions and programmes in the field of human rights; (c) The timeliness, significance and relevance of the advisory services and technical cooperation. Legislative mandates Programme 19 Human rights General Assembly resolutions RESOLUTION 55/235 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/712, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/235. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations The General Assembly, I Reaffirming the principles set out in its resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963 and 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973, 1. Reaffirms the following general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations: (a) The financing of such operations is the collective responsibility of all States Members of the United Nations and, accordingly, the costs of peacekeeping operations are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations; (b) In order to meet the expenditures caused by such operations, a different procedure is required from that applied to meet expenditures under the regular budget of the United Nations; (c) Whereas the economically more developed countries are in a position to make relatively larger contributions to peacekeeping operations, the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards peacekeeping operations involving heavy expenditures; (d) The special responsibilities of the permanent members of the Security Council for the maintenance of peace and security should be borne in mind in connection with their contributions to the financing of peace and security operations; (e) Where circumstances warrant, the General Assembly should give special consideration to the situation of any Member States which are victims of, and those which are otherwise involved in, the events or actions leading to a peacekeeping operation; 2. Recognizes the need to reform the current methodology for apportioning the expenses of peacekeeping operations; 3. Notes with appreciation voluntary contributions made to peacekeeping operations and, without prejudice to the principle of collective responsibility, invites Member States to consider making such contributions; II 4. Decides that assessment rates for the financing of peacekeeping operations should be based on the scale of assessments for the regular budget of the United Nations, with an appropriate and transparent system of adjustments based on levels of Member States, consistent with the principles outlined above; 5. Decides also that the permanent members of the Security Council should form a separate level and that, consistent with their special responsibilities for the maintenance of peace and security, they should be assessed at a higher rate than for the regular budget; 6. Decides further that all discounts resulting from adjustments to the regular budget assessment rates of Member States in levels C through J shall be borne on a pro rata basis by the permanent members of the Security Council; 7. Decides that the least developed countries should be placed in a separate level and receive the highest rate of discount available under the scale; 8. Decides also that the statistical data used for setting the rates of assessment for peacekeeping should be the same as the data used in preparing the regular budget scale of assessments, subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 9. Decides further to create levels of discount to facilitate automatic, predictable movement between categories on the basis of the per capita gross national product of Member States; 10. Decides that, as from 1 July 2001, the rates of assessment for peacekeeping should be based on the ten levels of contribution and parameters set forth in the table below: Peacekeeping scale levels based on average per capita gross national product (PCGNP) of all Member States TABLE REMOVED 11. Decides also that Member States will be assigned to the lowest level of contribution with the highest discount for which they are eligible, unless they indicate a decision to move to a higher level; 12. Decides further that for purposes of determining the eligibility of Member States for contribution in particular levels during the 2001-2003 scale period, the average per capita gross national product of all Member States will be 4,797 United States dollars and the per capita gross national product of Member States will be the average of 1993 to 1998 figures; 13. Decides that transitions as specified above will occur in equal increments over the transition period as designated above; 14. Decides also that after 2001-2003, transition periods of two years will apply to countries moving up by two levels, and that transition periods of three years will apply to countries moving up by three levels or more without prejudice to paragraph 11 above; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to update the composition of the levels described above on a triennial basis, in conjunction with the regular budget scale of assessment reviews, in accordance with the criteria established above, and to report thereon to the General Assembly; 16. Decides that the structure of levels to be implemented from 1 July 2001 shall be reviewed after nine years; 17. Decides also that Member States may agree upon adjustments to their assessment rates under the ad hoc scale in the light of the special transitional circumstances applying during the period 1 January to 30 June 2001; III 18. Decides that, as an ad hoc arrangement until 30 June 2001, in respect of the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by subsequent relevant resolutions and decisions, for the apportionment of peacekeeping appropriations, Tuvalu should be included in the group of Member States set out in paragraph 3 (d) of resolution 43/232 and that its contributions to peacekeeping operations should be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions adopted and to be adopted by the General Assembly regarding the scale of assessments; 19. Decides also that, as an ad hoc arrangement until 30 June 2001, in respect of the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232, as adjusted by subsequent relevant resolutions and decisions, for the apportionment of peacekeeping appropriations, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should be included in the group of Member States set out in paragraph 3 (c) of resolution 43/232 and that its contributions to peacekeeping operations should be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions adopted and to be adopted by the General Assembly regarding the scale of assessments; 20. Decides further that, as an ad hoc arrangement until 30 June 2001, in respect of the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232, as adjusted by subsequent relevant resolutions and decisions, for the apportionment of peacekeeping appropriations, as from 1 January 2001, South Africa should be included in the group of Member States set out in paragraph 3 (c) of resolution 43/232 and that its contributions to peacekeeping operations should be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions adopted and to be adopted by the General Assembly regarding the scale of assessments; 21. Decides that, as an ad hoc arrangement until 30 June 2001, in respect of the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232, as adjusted by subsequent relevant resolutions and decisions, for the apportionment of peacekeeping appropriations, as from 1 January 2001, Cambodia should be included in the group of Member States set out in paragraph 3 (d) of resolution 43/232 and that its contributions to peacekeeping operations should be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions adopted and to be adopted by the General Assembly regarding the scale of assessments; 22. Decides also, as an ad hoc arrangement, to assess the share of the Republic of Korea, which currently belongs to Group C, in the costs of peacekeeping operations in the following manner: 36 per cent of the regular budget assessment beginning on 1 July 2001, 52 per cent in 2002, 68 per cent in 2003, 84 per cent in 2004 and 100 per cent in 2005. Annex Assignment of contribution levels for 2001-2003 Level A Permanent members of the Security Council: China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Level B Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden Level C Brunei Darussalam, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore, United Arab Emirates Level D Bahamas, Republic of Korea Level E Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Malta, Slovenia Level F Argentina, Barbados, Seychelles Level G Oman, Palau, Saudi Arabia Level H Saint Kitts and Nevis, Uruguay Level I Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe Level J The least developed countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia RESOLUTION 55/236 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/712, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/236. Voluntary movements in connection with the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/235 of 23 December 2000, 1. Welcomes with appreciation the commitment of certain Member States to undertake voluntarily to contribute to peacekeeping operations at a rate higher than required by their per capita income; 2. Welcomes the voluntary decision made by Estonia and Israel to be reclassified for the purpose of the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations; 3. Decides that, as an ad hoc arrangement until 30 June 2001, in respect of the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by subsequent relevant resolutions and decisions, for the apportionment of peacekeeping appropriations, from 1 January 2001 Estonia should be included in the group of Member States set out in paragraph 3 (b) of resolution 43/232, and that its contributions to peacekeeping operations should be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions adopted and to be adopted by the General Assembly regarding the scale of assessments; 4. Decides also that, as an ad hoc arrangement until 30 June 2001, in respect of the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232, as adjusted by subsequent relevant resolutions and decisions, for the apportionment of peacekeeping appropriations, from 1 January 2001 Israel should be included in the group of Member States set out in paragraph 3 (b) of resolution 43/232, and that its contributions to peacekeeping operations should be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the relevant resolutions adopted and to be adopted by the General Assembly regarding the scale of assessments; 5. Welcomes the following voluntary commitments: Bulgaria: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Czech Republic: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Estonia: to move to Level B immediately upon the effective date of the new scale, forgoing its transition time; Hungary: from Level I to Level B, with a transition time of five years, starting from 1 July 2001 as follows: from Level I to Level HLevel H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. from 1 July 2001; from Level H to Level F from 1 July 2002; from Level F to Level E from 1 July 2003; from Level E to Level D from 1 July 2004; and from Level D to Level B from 1 July 2005; Israel: to move to Level B immediately upon the effective date of the new scale, forgoing its transition time; Latvia: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Lithuania: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Malta: from Level E to Level B; Philippines: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Poland: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Romania: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Slovakia: from Level I to Level H;Level H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. Slovenia: from Level E to Level B immediately upon the effective date of the new scale, forgoing its transition time; Turkey: from Level I to Level HLevel H means 70 per cent discount for voluntary movement. from the effective date of the new scale until 2002, and from Level H to Level F for the remainder of the scale period; 6. Decides that, at any time during the scale period, a Member State may make a voluntary commitment to contribute at a rate higher than its current rate by informing the General Assembly through the Secretary-General, and the Assembly may take note of that decision. RESOLUTION 55/237 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/711, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/237. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaA/55/666. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/688. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1312 (2000) of 31 July 2000 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, Recognizing that the costs of the Mission are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Recognizing also that, in order to meet the expenditures caused by the Mission, a different procedure is required from that applied to meet expenditures of the regular budget of the United Nations, Taking into account the fact that the economically more developed countries are in a position to make relatively larger contributions and that the economically less developed countries have a relatively limited capacity to contribute towards such operations, Bearing in mind the special responsibilities of the States permanent members of the Security Council, as indicated in General Assembly resolution 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, in the financing of such operations, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 2. Urges all Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea in full and on time; 3. Expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 4. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 5. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission, and for this purpose requests the Secretary-General to speed up the implementation of the asset management system at all peacekeeping missions in accordance with its resolution 52/1 A of 15 October 1997; 7. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/55/688. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 10. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the establishment and operation of the Mission for the period from 31 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 in an amount not exceeding 150 million United States dollars gross (148,220,200 dollars net), inclusive of the amount of 50 million dollars gross (49,715,100 dollars net) authorized by the Advisory Committee under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994, and of the costs related to the dispatch of reconnaissance and liaison teams to the Mission area, and requests the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the Mission; 11. Decides, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion among Member States the amount of 102,192,982 dollars gross (100,980,428 dollars net) for the period from 31 July 2000 to 15 March 2001, in accordance with the composition of groups set out in paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 43/232 of 1 March 1989, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolutions 44/192 B of 21 December 1989, 45/269 of 27 August 1991, 46/198 A of 20 December 1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 49/249 A of 20 July 1995, 49/249 B of 14 September 1995, 50/224 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 A to C of 18 December 1996, 52/230 of 31 March 1998 and 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and its decisions 48/472 A of 23 December 1993, 50/451 B of 23 December 1995 and 54/456 to 54/458 of 23 December 1999, the scale of assessments for 2000See resolutions 52/215 A and 54/237 A. to be applied against a portion thereof, that is, 68,421,052 dollars gross (67,609,214 dollars net), which is the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000, and the scale of assessments for 2001See resolution 55/5 B, annex II. to be applied against the balance, that is, 33,771,930 dollars gross (33,371,214 dollars net) for the period from 1 January to 15 March 2001; 12. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 11 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 1,212,554 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 31 July 2000 to 15 March 2001, 811,838 dollars being the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000 and the balance, that is, 400,716 dollars, pertaining to the period from 1 January to 15 March 2001; 13. Decides further, as an ad hoc arrangement, to apportion among Member States the amount of 47,807,018 dollars gross (47,239,772 dollars net) for the period from 16 March to 30 June 2001 at a monthly rate of 13,596,491 dollars gross (13,435,164 dollars net), in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2001,See resolution 55/5 B, annex II. subject to any decision by the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission beyond 15 March 2001; 14. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 13 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 567,246 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 16 March to 30 June 2001; 15. Decides also to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea the additional amount of 9,190,200 dollars gross (8,741,600 dollars net) for the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, to be apportioned, as an ad hoc arrangement, among Member States in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution, the scale of assessments for the year 2000See resolutions 52/215 A and 54/237 A. to be applied against a portion thereof, that is 4,595,100 dollars gross (4,370,800 dollars net), which is the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000, and the scale of assessments for the year 2001See resolution 55/5 B, annex II. to be applied against the balance, that is, 4,595,100 dollars gross (4,370,800 dollars net) for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2001; 16. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 448,600 dollars approved for the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001, 224,300 dollars being the amount pertaining to the period ending 31 December 2000 and the balance, that is, 224,300 dollars, pertaining to the period from 1 January to 30 June 2001; 17. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 18. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 19. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 20. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-fifth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea". RESOLUTION 55/238 Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/713, para. 37)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/238. Questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 The General Assembly, I Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on resource requirements for implementation of the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace OperationsA/55/507 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/676. Taking full account of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspectsA/C.4/55/6. and General Assembly resolution 55/135 of 8 December 2000, endorsing the proposals, recommendation and conclusions of the Special Committee contained in its report, Recalling its resolutions 45/258 of 3 May 1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 48/226 A of 23 December 1993, 48/226 B of 5 April 1994, 48/226 C of 29 July 1994, 49/250 of 20 July 1995, 50/11 of 2 November 1995, 50/221 A of 11 April 1996, 50/221 B of 7 June 1996, 51/226 of 3 April 1997, 51/239 A of 17 June 1997, 51/239 B and 51/243 of 15 September 1997, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 52/234 and 52/248 of 26 June 1998, 53/12 A of 26 October 1998, 53/208 B of 18 December 1998, 53/12 B of 8 June 1999, 54/243 A of 23 December 1999 and 54/243 B of 15 June 2000 and its decisions 48/489 of 8 July 1994, 49/469 of 23 December 1994 and 50/473 of 23 December 1995, Recalling also its resolutions 54/249 and 54/250 of 23 December 1999, Recalling further its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, 1. Reaffirms rule 153 of its rules of procedure; 2. Agrees with the views expressed by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations in paragraphs 34 and 35 of its report on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects;A/C.4/55/6. 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/676. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 4. Decides to appropriate an additional amount of 363,000 United States dollars under section 3, Political affairs, 37,200 dollars under section 27, Management and central support services, and 19,200 dollars under section 32, Staff assessment, to be offset by a corresponding amount (19,200 dollars) under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/54/6/Rev.1), vols I-III; ibid., Supplement No. 6A (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.1); and ibid., Supplement No. 6B (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.2). 5. Approves the support account post and non-post requirements in the amount of 9,190,200 dollars gross (8,741,600 dollars net) for the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001; 6. Agrees with paragraph 36 of the report of the Special CommitteeA/C.4/55/6. relating to proper representation of troop-contributing countries in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat; 7. Underscores the importance of consultation with troop-contributing countries from the early stages of mission planning; 8. Expresses deep concern over the delay in reimbursement of troop contributors, which can cause hardship to all troop- and equipment-contributing countries, and requests the Secretariat to expedite the processing of all claims and present a progress report in this regard during the first part of the resumed fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly; 9. Notes that the related resource requirements presented by the Secretary-General in his report on resource requirements for implementation of the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace OperationsA/55/507 and Add.1. have been described by him as an emergency request, whereas, in terms of paragraph 11 of the report of the Advisory Committee,A/55/676. it was acknowledged that not all the proposals in the report of the Secretary-General on resource requirements for implementation of the report of the Panel could be classified as emergency requests; 10. Regrets that the report of the Secretary-General on resource requirements for implementation of the report of the Panel was not presented in accordance with rule 153 of its rules of procedures and with established practices, as pointed out in paragraph 3 of the report of the Advisory Committee,A/55/676. and requests the Secretary-General to comply strictly with those rules in the future; 11. Notes that the report of the Secretary-General on resource requirements for implementation of the report of the Panel has not been issued in compliance with the six-week rule; 12. Takes note of the intention of the Secretary-General to submit future reports to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth and fifty-sixth sessions on the implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Panel, including the comprehensive review, requested by the Special Committee, of the management, structure, recruitment processes and interrelationships of all relevant elements within the Secretariat that play a role in peacekeeping operations; II Safety and security of United Nations personnel Reaffirming its resolutions 54/249 and 54/250 of 23 December 1999 and its other relevant resolutions, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on safety and security of United Nations personnel,A/55/494. in particular its administrative and budgetary aspects, and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/658. 1. Endorses the recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/658. subject to the provisions set forth in the present section; 2. Decides to consider the reclassification of the post of Deputy Security Coordinator from the D-1 level to the D-2 level in the context of its review of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 3. Also decides to establish, effective 1 January 2001, eight additional Professional posts (two P-5 and six P-4) in the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator at Headquarters; 4. Further decides to establish, effective 1 January 2001, eight additional security officer (Field Service) posts (four P-4 and four P-3) and sixteen additional Local level posts; 5. Decides to appropriate the amount of 2,210,000 dollars under section 30, Special expenses, and the amount of 238,400 dollars under section 32, Staff assessment, to be offset by an equivalent amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/54/6/Rev.1), vols I-III; ibid., Supplement No. 6A (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.1); and ibid., Supplement No. 6B (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.2). for the Secretary-General to undertake the immediate measures for the strengthening of the security management system of the United Nations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, to develop, in coordination with executive heads of the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes, an effective mechanism for cost-sharing arrangements and, in this connection, to ensure that in future the costs of the security management system are included in the regular budget, to be managed by the United Nations, contingent upon a formal arrangement with the concerned agencies, funds and programmes for participation in the funding of security arrangements and reimbursement to the United Nations for services provided, under income section 2, General income, of the programme budget, and to submit proposals thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session through the Advisory Committee, and decides that, in the meantime, the established cost-sharing arrangements between the United Nations and its specialized agencies, funds and programmes will remain in place until the Assembly decides otherwise; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General, when presenting future reports under these agenda items, to continue to ensure that separate reports are presented; III Revised estimates in respect of matters of which the Security Council is seized Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates in respect of matters of which the Security Council is seized,A/C.5/55/30. and concurs with the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraph 7 of its related report;A/55/7/Add.6. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 7. IV Capital master plan 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the capital master plan;A/55/117 and Add.1. 2. Also takes note of the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/7/Add.4. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 7. and endorses the observations and recommendations contained therein; 3. Authorizes the Secretary-General, without prejudice to a final decision by the General Assembly on this issue, to proceed with the preparation of a comprehensive design plan and detailed cost analysis for the capital master plan, and decides to appropriate an amount of 8 million dollars under section 31, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/54/6/Rev.1), vols I-III; ibid., Supplement No. 6A (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.1); and ibid., Supplement No. 6B (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.2). for this purpose; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the outcome of the comprehensive design plan and detailed cost analysis to the General Assembly as soon as possible, including details of measures designed to protect the Organization from cost overruns; 5. Calls upon the Secretary-General to ensure that the preparation of a comprehensive design plan and detailed cost analysis for the capital master plan will identify all viable alternatives in the most cost-effective and efficient manner; V International Court of Justice 1. Approves an additional appropriation of 591,900 dollars under section 7, International Court of Justice, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/54/6/Rev.1), vols I-III; ibid., Supplement No. 6A (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.1); and ibid., Supplement No. 6B (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.2). and an additional appropriation of 128,800 dollars under section 32, Staff assessment, offset by the same amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment; 2. Requests the Joint Inspection Unit to expedite its report on the review of the management and administration of the International Court of JusticeSee A/53/841, annex, para. 5. and to submit it, together with the comments of the Court thereon, for consideration by the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-fifth session; VI Request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research resulting from the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Institute on the programme of work of the Institute for 2001 Approves the recommendation for a subvention of 213,000 dollars for 2001 from the regular budget of the United Nations, on the understanding that no additional appropriation would be required under section 4, Disarmament, of the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/54/6/Rev.1), vols I-III; ibid., Supplement No. 6A (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.1); and ibid., Supplement No. 6B (A/54/6/Rev.1/Add.2). VII Conditions of service and compensation for officials, other than Secretariat officials, serving the General Assembly: full-time members of the International Civil Service Commission and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Conditions of service and compensation for officials, other than Secretariat officials, serving the General Assembly: full-time members of the International Civil Service Commission and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions",A/C.5/55/29. and approves the suggestions outlined in paragraphs 8 to 10 and in paragraph 19 of the report; 2. Decides to undertake a detailed examination of the issue of compensation relativity in the context of the next five-year review of the conditions of service and compensation for the three officials; 3. Reaffirms the principle that the conditions of service of the three officials should be separate and distinct from those of the Secretariat; VIII Review of the Information Systems Coordination Committee Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the Information Systems Coordination Committee,A/55/619. and concurs with the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in paragraph 9 of its related report;A/55/7/Add.3. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 7. IX First performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 Having considered the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001A/55/645 and Corr.1 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/55/7/Add.5 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 7. 1. Reaffirms the budgetary process as approved in its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986 and as reaffirmed in its subsequent resolutions; 2. Reaffirms also its resolution 54/249 of 23 December 1999; 3. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001A/55/645 and Corr.1 and Add.1. and the related report and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/55/7/Add.5 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 7. 4. Notes the higher than budgeted vacancy rate relative to the rate approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/249, and requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate measures to rectify this situation in an expeditious manner; 5. Approves a net decrease of 34,642,200 dollars in the appropriation approved for the biennium 2000-2001 and a net increase of 19,097,000 dollars in the estimates of income for the biennium, to be apportioned among expenditure and income sections, as indicated in the report of the Secretary-General; X Contingency fund Notes that a balance of 224,300 dollars remains in the contingency fund; XI Recosting of outstanding statements of programme budget implications and revised estimates Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on recosting of outstanding statements of programme budget implications and revised estimates,A/C.5/55/35. and decides that the recosting and the related adjustments should be reflected in the revised appropriation for the biennium 2000-2001. RESOLUTIONS 55/239 A to C Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/713, para. 37)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 55/239. Programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 A Revised budget appropriations for the biennium 2000-2001 The General Assembly Resolves that for the biennium 2000-2001 the amount of 2,535,689,200 United States dollars appropriated by it in its resolution 54/250 A of 23 December 1999 shall be adjusted by 2,563,800 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED B Revised income estimates for the biennium 2000-2001 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2000-2001, the estimates of income of 361,298,900 United States dollars approved by it in its resolution 54/250 B of 23 December 1999 shall be increased by 19,523,800 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED C Financing of the appropriations for the year 2001 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the year 2001: 1. Budget appropriations totalling 1,265,280,800 United States dollars and consisting of 1,267,844,600 dollars, being half of the appropriations initially approved for the biennium 2000-2001 in its resolution 54/250 C of 23 December 1999, less 2,563,800 dollars, being the reduction approved by the General Assembly in resolution A above, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 5.1 and 5.2 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations as follows: (a) 51,899,313 dollars, consisting of: (i) 21,193,700 dollars, being half of the estimated income other than income from staff assessment approved for the biennium 2000-2001 by the Assembly in its resolution 54/250 B of 23 December 1999; (ii) Plus 5,310,100 dollars, being the increase approved by the Assembly in resolution B above; (iii) 25,395,513 dollars, being the balance in the surplus account as at 31 December 1999; (b) 1,213,381,487 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 on the scale of assessments for the year 2001; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 179,097,566 dollars, consisting of: (a) 159,455,750 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved by the Assembly in its resolution 54/250 B; (b) Plus 14,213,700 dollars, being the estimated increase in income from staff assessment approved by the Assembly in resolution B above; (c) Plus 5,428,116 dollars, being the increase in income from staff assessment for the biennium 1998-1999 compared with the revised estimates approved by the Assembly in its resolution 54/247 B of 23 December 1999. RESOLUTION 55/23 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 13 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.30 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America 55/23. United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/22 of 4 November 1998 and 54/113 of 10 December 1999 entitled "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations", Reaffirming the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, which, inter alia, call for collective effort to strengthen friendly relations among nations, remove threats to peace and foster international cooperation in resolving international issues of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, Noting that civilizations are not confined to individual nation-States, but rather encompass different cultures within the same civilization, and reaffirming that civilizational achievements constitute the collective heritage of humankind, providing a source of inspiration and progress for humanity at large, Bearing in mind the specificities of each civilization and the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,Ibid. which considers, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another, in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity, Noting that globalization brings greater interrelatedness among people and increased interaction among cultures and civilizations, and encouraged by the fact that the celebration of the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, will provide the opportunity to emphasize that globalization not only is an economic, financial and technological process which could offer great benefit, but also constitutes a profoundly human challenge that invites us to embrace the interdependence of humankind and its rich cultural diversity, Recognizing the diverse civilizational achievements of humankind, crystallizing cultural pluralism and creative human diversity, Bearing in mind the valuable contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Stressing the need for the universal protection and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Underlining the fact that tolerance and respect for diversity and universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive, and recognizing that tolerance and respect for diversity effectively promote and are supported by, inter alia, the empowerment of women, Emphasizing the need to acknowledge and respect the richness of all civilizations, to seek common grounds among and within civilizations in order to address threats to global peace and common challenges to human values and achievements, taking into consideration, inter alia, cooperation, partnership and inclusion, Welcoming the collective endeavour of the international community to enhance understanding through constructive dialogue among civilizations, Encouraged by the positive reception of Governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and international public opinion to the proclamation of the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and welcoming the initiatives undertaken by governmental and non-governmental actors to promote dialogue, Expressing its firm determination to facilitate and promote dialogue among civilizations, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/492/Rev.1. 2. Welcomes the convening, at the level of heads of State, of a round table on dialogue among civilizations, organized by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, held at United Nations Headquarters on 5 September 2000 and which further contributed to the promotion of dialogue among civilizations; 3. Invites Governments, the United Nations system, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other relevant international and non-governmental organizations to continue and further intensify planning and organizing appropriate cultural, educational and social programmes to promote the concept of dialogue among civilizations, inter alia, through organizing conferences and seminars and disseminating information and scholarly material on the subject, and to inform the Secretary-General of their activities; 4. Calls upon Governments to encourage all members of society to take part in promoting dialogue among civilizations and provide them with an opportunity to make contributions to the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations; 5. Encourages all Governments to expand their educational curricula relative to the teaching of respect for various cultures and civilizations, human rights education, the teaching of languages, the history and philosophy of various civilizations as well as the exchange of knowledge, information and scholarships among Governments and civil society in order to promote a better understanding of all cultures and civilizations; 6. Encourages all Member States, regional and international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations to continue to develop appropriate initiatives at all levels to promote dialogue in all fields with a view to fostering mutual recognition and understanding among and within civilizations; 7. Notes with interest the activities undertaken and proposals made by Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and international and regional organizations, including the Organization of the Islamic Conference and non-governmental organizations, for the preparation of the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations; 8. Decides to devote two days of plenary meetings at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, on 3 and 4 December 2001, to the consideration of the item, including consideration of any follow-up measures, and commemoration of the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and encourages Member States and observers to be represented at the highest possible political level; 9. Invites all Governments, funding institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector to consider contributing to the Trust Fund established by the Secretary-General in 1999 to promote dialogue among civilizations; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support for strengthening the activities pertaining to dialogue among civilizations; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a substantive report on the prospect of dialogue among civilizations and the activities pertaining to the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations". RESOLUTION 55/24 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 14 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.31 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 55/24. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/242 of 25 August 1992, 47/1 of 22 September 1992, 47/121 of 18 December 1992, 48/88 of 20 December 1993, 49/10 of 3 November 1994, 51/203 of 17 December 1996, 52/150 of 15 December 1997, 53/35 of 30 November 1998, 54/119 of 16 December 1999 and all relevant resolutions of the Security Council regarding the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Reaffirming its support for the independence, sovereignty, legal continuity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within its internationally recognized borders, Reaffirming its support also for the equality of the three constituent peoples and others in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a united country, with two multi-ethnic entities, Welcoming the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement"), signed in Paris on 14 December 1995,A/50/790-S/1995/999. Welcoming also the accomplishments achieved in implementation of the Peace Agreement, including the stabilization of the security situation, major reconstruction, the acceleration of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, including to minority areas, the establishment of the Brcko District and the strengthening of political pluralism, Welcoming further the efforts for the respect, promotion and protection of human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the development of the common institutions that will ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina functions as an integrated modern State, accountable to its citizens, Supporting those institutions and organizations of Bosnia and Herzegovina that are engaged in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the process of reconciliation and reintegration, and noting, however, the slow progress in the development of efficient common institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Concerned by the continuing obstructions faced by refugees and displaced persons wishing to return to their pre-war homes, in particular in areas where they would be an ethnic minority, emphasizing the need for an unreserved commitment by all political authorities, including at the entity and local levels, also emphasizing the need for all parties and the relevant States and international organizations to create the conditions necessary to facilitate a secure and dignified return, particularly in urban areas such as Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar, and stressing the need for a regional approach to the issue of refugees and displaced persons, Supporting fully the efforts of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, stressing the importance and urgency of the work of the International Tribunal as an element of the process of reconciliation and as a factor contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region as a whole, demanding that States and parties to the Peace Agreement meet their obligations to cooperate fully with the Tribunal, as required by Security Council resolutions 827 (1993) of 25 May 1993, 1022 (1995) of 22 November 1995 and 1207 (1998) of 17 November 1998, including with respect to surrendering persons sought by the Tribunal, and welcoming the efforts to secure compliance with the orders of the Tribunal, consistent with the Security Council mandate, Noting improved cooperation between the International Tribunal and the States and entities in the region, as stated in the seventh annual report of the Tribunal,See A/55/273-S/2000/777. also noting that a number of individuals named in public indictments still remain at large, calling upon all the States and entities in the region to continue to improve cooperation and to comply fully with their obligations, and welcoming the efforts of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Commander of the multinational Stabilization Force in implementing the provisions of the Peace Agreement, Welcoming the mutual recognition among all the successor States of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia within their internationally recognized borders, and stressing the importance of full normalization of relations among those States, including the unconditional establishment of diplomatic relations in accordance with the Peace Agreement and the settlement of all issues relating to the succession of the former Yugoslavia on the basis of the legal equality of all five successor States, in order to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace and stability in the area, Noting the significant improvement of relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia following the elections held in Croatia in January 2000, Welcoming the important political change following the recent elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and noting the significance of this change for the region as a whole, Welcoming also the successful summit meeting of heads of State and Government to launch the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe in Sarajevo on 29 and 30 July 1999, and stressing that the Stability Pact offers a broad regional framework for further progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Noting that democratization in the region will enhance the prospects for a lasting peace and help to guarantee full respect for human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region, Stressing the importance of full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for the success of the peace efforts for the region, and calling upon the Governments and authorities in the region, as well as the relevant international organizations, to facilitate such full respect, Concerned about the plight of thousands of families of missing persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and supporting fully the efforts of the International Commission on Missing Persons to resolve the fate of the missing persons, Reaffirming the importance of the early adoption of a permanent electoral law, consistent, inter alia, with the ruling of the Constitutional Court on the equality of the three constituent peoples throughout the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, calling upon the Parliamentary Assembly elected in November to adopt this law expeditiously, noting that such adoption is a prerequisite of membership of the Council of Europe, and reaffirming the importance of genuine democratic representation of all three constituent peoples in all common institutions, Stressing the importance of faster integration of the countries of the region into the political and economic mainstream of Europe, on the basis of individual merits and achievements, also stressing in particular the positive impact that the early admission to the Council of Europe could have on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region in search of sustainable economic and political stability, and noting the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina establishing its place in Euro-Atlantic institutions, Noting the positive impact of the five pledging conferences, held on 21 December 1995, 13 and 14 April 1996, 25 July 1997, 8 and 9 May 1998 and 30 May 1999 and chaired by the World Bank and the European Union, on the peace process and reintegration of the country as well as the reconstruction effort, stressing the importance and urgency of providing the financial assistance and technical cooperation pledged for reconstruction efforts, and stressing the role of economic revitalization in the process of reconciliation, in the improvement of living conditions and in the maintenance of a durable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region, Stressing that the provision of reconstruction aid and financial assistance is conditional upon the parties meeting their obligations under the Peace Agreement, Recognizing the importance of demining for the normalization of life and for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, Welcoming the achievements, and encouraging further efforts at reducing the military assets in line with the Agreement on Subregional Arms Control, Noting with appreciation that Bosnia and Herzegovina is beginning to participate in the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations, Welcoming the important efforts of the European Union to promote reform and stability through its stabilization and association process, and recognizing the work of the European Union and other donors in providing humanitarian and economic assistance for reconstruction, 1. Expresses its full support for the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement"),A/50/790-S/1995/999. which constitute the key mechanism for the achievement of a durable and just peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to stability and cooperation in the region and the reintegration of Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels; 2. Reaffirms its support for the New York Declaration, adopted on 15 November 1999,S/1999/1179, annex. in which the Joint Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina agreed to important steps for moving forward the process of fully implementing the Peace Agreement, notes that the progress of its implementation has been slow, and urges the parties to take the additional steps necessary to comply with all of its aspects; 3. Notes the progress that has been made towards the implementation of the Peace Agreement, and reiterates its demands for the full, comprehensive and consistent implementation thereof; 4. Supports fully the efforts of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent Peace Implementation Council declarations, and calls upon all parties to cooperate fully and in good faith with him; 5. Stresses the importance for the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region as a whole of the activities related to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe launched in Sarajevo, and urges the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take concrete steps to play an active role in it; 6. Welcomes the Zagreb summit to be held on 24 November 2000; 7. Notes the progress achieved with the concept of "ownership" as presented by the High Representative,S/1999/1115. also notes the continuing need for the High Representative to use fully the authority of his office to deal with obstructionists, and stresses the need for the political leaders to assume more responsibility in the process of the implementation of the Peace Agreement; 8. Recognizes that the role of the international community remains essential, welcomes the readiness of the international community to continue its efforts towards a self-sustaining peace, and recalls that the responsibility for consolidating peace and security primarily lies with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 9. Welcomes the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the equality of all three constituent peoples throughout the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, urges the entity parliaments and cantonal assemblies to implement it accordingly, and also urges the Constitutional Court to rule further on the status of those other than the three constituent peoples; 10. Also welcomes the vital contribution of the multinational Stabilization Force in providing a secure environment for the implementation of civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement, calls for the fullest cooperation by all parties in this regard, expresses its full support for the efforts of the United Nations International Police Task Force in carrying out its mandate, and commends its efforts in the establishment of the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 11. Underlines the fact that the assistance provided by the international community remains strictly conditional upon compliance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent obligations, including in particular cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and facilitation of the return of refugees and displaced persons; 12. Insists upon the need to surrender all indictees to the International Tribunal for trial, notes that the Tribunal has the authority to address individual responsibility for the perpetration of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and demands that all the parties fulfil their obligations to hand over to the Tribunal all indicted persons in territories under their control and otherwise to comply fully with the orders of the Tribunal and to cooperate with the work of the Tribunal, including with exhumations and other investigative acts, in accordance with article 29 of the statute of the Tribunal, with all relevant Security Council resolutions and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Peace Agreement, in particular the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 13. Welcomes the support given by Member States so far, and urges Member States, taking into account the orders and requests of the International Tribunal, to offer the Tribunal their full support, including financial support, in order to ensure the achievement of the purpose of the Tribunal, and to carry out their obligations under the statute of the Tribunal and all relevant Security Council resolutions; 14. Reaffirms once again the right of refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily to their homes of origin in secure and dignified conditions in accordance with the Peace Agreement, in particular annex 7 thereof, and the realization of the same in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and host countries, calls upon all parties to improve substantially their cooperation with the international community at the State, entity and local levels, in order to establish immediately the conditions necessary for the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes and for the freedom of movement and communication of all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, encourages the relevant international organizations to enhance the conditions to facilitate both spontaneous and organized return, in accordance with relevant provisions of the Peace Agreement, in particular the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and welcomes continued and new efforts by the United Nations agencies, the European Union, bilateral and other donors and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to establish and implement projects designed to facilitate the accelerated voluntary and orderly return of refugees and displaced persons to all regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including projects that would help to create a safe and secure environment with increased economic opportunity; 15. Encourages the acceleration of the peaceful, orderly and phased return of refugees and displaced persons, including in areas where they would be the ethnic minority, strongly condemns all acts of intimidation, violence and killings, including those acts designed to discourage the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons, and demands that such acts be investigated and prosecuted; 16. Welcomes the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations,See A/55/305-S/2000/809. and takes note of the recommendations stemming from and relevant to the report of the Secretary-General pursuant to General Assembly resolution 53/35 on the fall of Srebrenica;A/54/549. 17. Reaffirms the previous conclusions of the Peace Implementation Council on the importance of reform of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reiterates its support for the decision of the High Representative of 30 July 1999 on the restructuring of the public broadcasting system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, notes that its implementation remains behind schedule, and calls upon the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement that decision in full; 18. Stresses the importance of establishing, strengthening and expanding throughout all of Bosnia and Herzegovina free and pluralistic media, deplores any action that seeks to intimidate or restrict the freedom of the media, and condemns violent acts of intimidation against journalists; 19. Reaffirms once again its support for the principle that all statements and commitments made under duress, particularly those regarding land and property, are wholly null and void, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Peace Agreement, and in that regard supports the effective engagement of the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees, and calls upon all sides to implement the property laws imposed on 27 October 1999, in particular by evicting illegal occupants from the homes of returning refugees, and to ensure respect for individual rights to return and the establishment of the rule of law; 20. Emphasizes the importance of economic revitalization and reconstruction for the successful consolidation of the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, recognizes the important contribution of the international community in this regard, and invites it to continue its efforts; 21. Notes that corruption and the lack of transparency seriously hamper the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizes the importance of combating corruption, welcomes the important contribution made in this regard by the Customs and Fiscal Assistance Office, and expresses its full support for the efforts of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its local bodies and of others that are supportive in this regard; 22. Supports the efforts by the High Representative and the Commander of the multinational Stabilization Force, in accordance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent Peace Implementation Council declarations, to weaken the continued political and economic influence of remaining parallel nationalist structures obstructing the peace implementation; 23. Stresses the need for a more comprehensive approach to implementing economic reforms, and underlines the fact that a self-sustainable, market-oriented economy operating in a single economic space, expeditious and transparent privatization, improved banking and capital markets, reformed financial systems, the provision of adequate social protection and the adoption by both entities of a law on pension reforms that meet sound economic standards are crucial for achieving lasting peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 24. Welcomes the proclamation of the Brcko District and the appointment of an interim government and District Assembly, expresses its support for implementation of the final arbitration award in accordance with the Peace Agreement, and stresses that the obligation to cooperate fully with the Supervisor for Brcko is an essential obligation for both of the entities; 25. Also welcomes the Mostar Document adopted on 12 July 2000 by the representatives of the city of Mostar and its six city municipalities under the auspices of the European Union, and calls for its implementation; 26. Notes that the pledged reduction of 15 per cent in the military assets of each entity was achieved in 1999, urges the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to fulfil their commitment to a further 15 per cent reduction in 2000 in the areas of military budgets, personnel, equipment and structure, and encourages the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to redefine their defence policies with particular reference to ensuring that the size and structure of the military is affordable, that it is consistent with the legitimate security needs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and contributes to regional security; 27. Stresses the need for timely information about the level of cooperation and compliance with the International Tribunal and its orders, the status and programme for the return of refugees and displaced persons to and within Bosnia and Herzegovina and the status and implementation of the Agreement on Subregional Arms Control; 28. Welcomes the establishment of the Missing Persons Institute on 15 August 2000 in Sarajevo by the International Commission on Missing Persons, and supports the programmes put in place to resolve the continuing problem of missing persons within five to seven years; 29. Also welcomes the efforts of international regional organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, including through the Board of Donors, and the Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and invites Member States to continue to support the mine-action activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 30. Commends the efforts of the international community, including the Council of Europe, the European Union, the European Community Monitoring Mission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Monetary Fund, the multinational Stabilization Force, non-governmental organizations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Peace Implementation Council and the World Bank, in their roles in the implementation of the Peace Agreement; 31. Commends, in particular, the efforts of the International Tribunal, the Office of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Office of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations International Police Task Force, the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Nations Development Programme and the other United Nations agencies in the peace process, and encourages their further engagement in the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 32. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina". RESOLUTION 55/25 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 15 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (A/55/383) 55/25. United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, in which it decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime and of discussing the elaboration, as appropriate, of international instruments addressing trafficking in women and children, combating the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, and illegal trafficking in and transporting of migrants, including by sea, Recalling also its resolution 54/126 of 17 December 1999, in which it requested the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to continue its work, in accordance with resolutions 53/111 and 53/114 of 9 December 1998, and to intensify that work in order to complete it in 2000, Recalling further its resolution 54/129 of 17 December 1999, in which it accepted with appreciation the offer of the Government of Italy to host a high-level political signing conference in Palermo for the purpose of signing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and the protocols thereto, and requested the Secretary-General to schedule the conference for a period of up to one week before the end of the Millennium Assembly in 2000, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Poland for submitting to it at its fifty-first session a first draft United Nations convention against transnational organized crimeA/C.3/51/7, annex. and for hosting the meeting of the inter-sessional open-ended intergovernmental group of experts, established pursuant to resolution 52/85 of 12 December 1997, on the elaboration of a preliminary draft of a possible comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime, held in Warsaw from 2 to 6 February 1998, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Argentina for hosting the informal preparatory meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee, held in Buenos Aires from 31 August to 4 September 1998, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Thailand for hosting the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Seminar on Building Capacities for Fighting Transnational Organized Crime, held in Bangkok on 20 and 21 March 2000, Deeply concerned by the negative economic and social implications related to organized criminal activities, and convinced of the urgent need to strengthen cooperation to prevent and combat such activities more effectively at the national, regional and international levels, Noting with deep concern the growing links between transnational organized crime and terrorist crimes, taking into account the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Determined to deny safe havens to those who engage in transnational organized crime by prosecuting their crimes wherever they occur and by cooperating at the international level, Strongly convinced that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime will constitute an effective tool and the necessary legal framework for international cooperation in combating, inter alia, such criminal activities as money-laundering, corruption, illicit trafficking in endangered species of wild flora and fauna, offences against cultural heritage and the growing links between transnational organized crime and terrorist crimes, 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,A/AC.254/34. which carried out its work at the headquarters of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention in Vienna, and commends the Ad Hoc Committee for its work; 2. Adopts the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime annexed to the present resolution, and opens them for signature at the High-level Political Signing Conference to be held in Palermo, Italy, from 12 to 15 December 2000 in accordance with resolution 54/129; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report on the High-level Political Signing Conference to be held in Palermo in accordance with resolution 54/129; 4. Notes that the Ad Hoc Committee has not yet completed its work on the draft Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; 5. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to continue its work in relation to this draft Protocol, in accordance with resolutions 53/111, 53/114 and 54/126, and to finalize such work as soon as possible; 6. Calls upon all States to recognize the links between transnational organized criminal activities and acts of terrorism, taking into account the relevant General Assembly resolutions, and to apply the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in combating all forms of criminal activity, as provided therein; 7. Recommends that the Ad Hoc Committee established by the General Assembly in its resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996, which is beginning its deliberations with a view to developing a comprehensive convention on international terrorism, pursuant to resolution 54/110 of 9 December 1999, should take into consideration the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; 8. Urges all States and regional economic organizations to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the protocols thereto as soon as possible in order to ensure the speedy entry into force of the Convention and the protocols thereto; 9. Decides that, until the Conference of the Parties to the Convention established pursuant to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime decides otherwise, the account referred to in article 30 of the Convention will be operated within the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, and encourages Member States to begin making adequate voluntary contributions to the above-mentioned account for the provision to developing countries and countries with economies in transition of the technical assistance that they might require for implementation of the Convention and the protocols thereto, including for the preparatory measures needed for that implementation; 10. Also decides that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime will complete its tasks arising from the elaboration of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime by holding a meeting well before the convening of the first session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, in order to prepare the draft text of the rules of procedure for the Conference of the Parties and other rules and mechanisms described in article 32 of the Convention, which will be communicated to the Conference of the Parties at its first session for consideration and action; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to designate the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention to serve as the secretariat for the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in accordance with article 33 of the Convention; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide the Centre for International Crime Prevention with the resources necessary to enable it to promote in an effective manner the expeditious entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and to discharge the functions of secretariat of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, and to support the Ad Hoc Committee in its work pursuant to paragraph 10 above. Annex I United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Article 1 Statement of purpose The purpose of this Convention is to promote cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crime more effectively. Article 2 Use of terms For the purposes of this Convention: (a) "Organized criminal group" shall mean a structured group of three or more persons, existing for a period of time and acting in concert with the aim of committing one or more serious crimes or offences established in accordance with this Convention, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit; (b) "Serious crime" shall mean conduct constituting an offence punishable by a maximum deprivation of liberty of at least four years or a more serious penalty; (c) "Structured group" shall mean a group that is not randomly formed for the immediate commission of an offence and that does not need to have formally defined roles for its members, continuity of its membership or a developed structure; (d) "Property" shall mean assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, and legal documents or instruments evidencing title to, or interest in, such assets; (e) "Proceeds of crime" shall mean any property derived from or obtained, directly or indirectly, through the commission of an offence; (f) "Freezing" or "seizure" shall mean temporarily prohibiting the transfer, conversion, disposition or movement of property or temporarily assuming custody or control of property on the basis of an order issued by a court or other competent authority; (g) "Confiscation", which includes forfeiture where applicable, shall mean the permanent deprivation of property by order of a court or other competent authority; (h) "Predicate offence" shall mean any offence as a result of which proceeds have been generated that may become the subject of an offence as defined in article 6 of this Convention; (i) "Controlled delivery" shall mean the technique of allowing illicit or suspect consignments to pass out of, through or into the territory of one or more States, with the knowledge and under the supervision of their competent authorities, with a view to the investigation of an offence and the identification of persons involved in the commission of the offence; (j) "Regional economic integration organization" shall mean an organization constituted by sovereign States of a given region, to which its member States have transferred competence in respect of matters governed by this Convention and which has been duly authorized, in accordance with its internal procedures, to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to it; references to "States Parties" under this Convention shall apply to such organizations within the limits of their competence. Article 3 Scope of application 1. This Convention shall apply, except as otherwise stated herein, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of: (a) The offences established in accordance with articles 5, 6, 8 and 23 of this Convention; and (b) Serious crime as defined in article 2 of this Convention; where the offence is transnational in nature and involves an organized criminal group. 2. For the purpose of paragraph 1 of this article, an offence is transnational in nature if: (a) It is committed in more than one State; (b) It is committed in one State but a substantial part of its preparation, planning, direction or control takes place in another State; (c) It is committed in one State but involves an organized criminal group that engages in criminal activities in more than one State; or (d) It is committed in one State but has substantial effects in another State. Article 4 Protection of sovereignty 1. States Parties shall carry out their obligations under this Convention in a manner consistent with the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States and that of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other States. 2. Nothing in this Convention entitles a State Party to undertake in the territory of another State the exercise of jurisdiction and performance of functions that are reserved exclusively for the authorities of that other State by its domestic law. Article 5 Criminalization of participation in an organized criminal group 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) Either or both of the following as criminal offences distinct from those involving the attempt or completion of the criminal activity: (i) Agreeing with one or more other persons to commit a serious crime for a purpose relating directly or indirectly to the obtaining of a financial or other material benefit and, where required by domestic law, involving an act undertaken by one of the participants in furtherance of the agreement or involving an organized criminal group; (ii) Conduct by a person who, with knowledge of either the aim and general criminal activity of an organized criminal group or its intention to commit the crimes in question, takes an active part in: a. Criminal activities of the organized criminal group; b. Other activities of the organized criminal group in the knowledge that his or her participation will contribute to the achievement of the above-described criminal aim; (b) Organizing, directing, aiding, abetting, facilitating or counselling the commission of serious crime involving an organized criminal group. 2. The knowledge, intent, aim, purpose or agreement referred to in paragraph 1 of this article may be inferred from objective factual circumstances. 3. States Parties whose domestic law requires involvement of an organized criminal group for purposes of the offences established in accordance with paragraph 1 (a) (i) of this article shall ensure that their domestic law covers all serious crimes involving organized criminal groups. Such States Parties, as well as States Parties whose domestic law requires an act in furtherance of the agreement for purposes of the offences established in accordance with paragraph 1 (a) (i) of this article, shall so inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the time of their signature or of deposit of their instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. Article 6 Criminalization of the laundering of proceeds of crime 1. Each State Party shall adopt, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) (i) The conversion or transfer of property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime, for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the property or of helping any person who is involved in the commission of the predicate offence to evade the legal consequences of his or her action; (ii) The concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of or rights with respect to property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime; (b) Subject to the basic concepts of its legal system: (i) The acquisition, possession or use of property, knowing, at the time of receipt, that such property is the proceeds of crime; (ii) Participation in, association with or conspiracy to commit, attempts to commit and aiding, abetting, facilitating and counselling the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with this article. 2. For purposes of implementing or applying paragraph 1 of this article: (a) Each State Party shall seek to apply paragraph 1 of this article to the widest range of predicate offences; (b) Each State Party shall include as predicate offences all serious crime as defined in article 2 of this Convention and the offences established in accordance with articles 5, 8 and 23 of this Convention. In the case of States Parties whose legislation sets out a list of specific predicate offences, they shall, at a minimum, include in such list a comprehensive range of offences associated with organized criminal groups; (c) For the purposes of subparagraph (b), predicate offences shall include offences committed both within and outside the jurisdiction of the State Party in question. However, offences committed outside the jurisdiction of a State Party shall constitute predicate offences only when the relevant conduct is a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State where it is committed and would be a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State Party implementing or applying this article had it been committed there; (d) Each State Party shall furnish copies of its laws that give effect to this article and of any subsequent changes to such laws or a description thereof to the Secretary-General of the United Nations; (e) If required by fundamental principles of the domestic law of a State Party, it may be provided that the offences set forth in paragraph 1 of this article do not apply to the persons who committed the predicate offence; (f) Knowledge, intent or purpose required as an element of an offence set forth in paragraph 1 of this article may be inferred from objective factual circumstances. Article 7 Measures to combat money-laundering 1. Each State Party: (a) Shall institute a comprehensive domestic regulatory and supervisory regime for banks and non-bank financial institutions and, where appropriate, other bodies particularly susceptible to money-laundering, within its competence, in order to deter and detect all forms of money-laundering, which regime shall emphasize requirements for customer identification, record-keeping and the reporting of suspicious transactions; (b) Shall, without prejudice to articles 18 and 27 of this Convention, ensure that administrative, regulatory, law enforcement and other authorities dedicated to combating money-laundering (including, where appropriate under domestic law, judicial authorities) have the ability to cooperate and exchange information at the national and international levels within the conditions prescribed by its domestic law and, to that end, shall consider the establishment of a financial intelligence unit to serve as a national centre for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information regarding potential money-laundering. 2. States Parties shall consider implementing feasible measures to detect and monitor the movement of cash and appropriate negotiable instruments across their borders, subject to safeguards to ensure proper use of information and without impeding in any way the movement of legitimate capital. Such measures may include a requirement that individuals and businesses report the cross-border transfer of substantial quantities of cash and appropriate negotiable instruments. 3. In establishing a domestic regulatory and supervisory regime under the terms of this article, and without prejudice to any other article of this Convention, States Parties are called upon to use as a guideline the relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations against money-laundering. 4. States Parties shall endeavour to develop and promote global, regional, subregional and bilateral cooperation among judicial, law enforcement and financial regulatory authorities in order to combat money-laundering. Article 8 Criminalization of corruption 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The promise, offering or giving to a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties; (b) The solicitation or acceptance by a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties. 2. Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences conduct referred to in paragraph 1 of this article involving a foreign public official or international civil servant. Likewise, each State Party shall consider establishing as criminal offences other forms of corruption. 3. Each State Party shall also adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence participation as an accomplice in an offence established in accordance with this article. 4. For the purposes of paragraph 1 of this article and article 9 of this Convention, "public official" shall mean a public official or a person who provides a public service as defined in the domestic law and as applied in the criminal law of the State Party in which the person in question performs that function. Article 9 Measures against corruption 1. In addition to the measures set forth in article 8 of this Convention, each State Party shall, to the extent appropriate and consistent with its legal system, adopt legislative, administrative or other effective measures to promote integrity and to prevent, detect and punish the corruption of public officials. 2. Each State Party shall take measures to ensure effective action by its authorities in the prevention, detection and punishment of the corruption of public officials, including providing such authorities with adequate independence to deter the exertion of inappropriate influence on their actions. Article 10 Liability of legal persons 1. Each State Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary, consistent with its legal principles, to establish the liability of legal persons for participation in serious crimes involving an organized criminal group and for the offences established in accordance with articles 5, 6, 8 and 23 of this Convention. 2. Subject to the legal principles of the State Party, the liability of legal persons may be criminal, civil or administrative. 3. Such liability shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural persons who have committed the offences. 4. Each State Party shall, in particular, ensure that legal persons held liable in accordance with this article are subject to effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal or non-criminal sanctions, including monetary sanctions. Article 11 Prosecution, adjudication and sanctions 1. Each State Party shall make the commission of an offence established in accordance with articles 5, 6, 8 and 23 of this Convention liable to sanctions that take into account the gravity of that offence. 2. Each State Party shall endeavour to ensure that any discretionary legal powers under its domestic law relating to the prosecution of persons for offences covered by this Convention are exercised to maximize the effectiveness of law enforcement measures in respect of those offences and with due regard to the need to deter the commission of such offences. 3. In the case of offences established in accordance with articles 5, 6, 8 and 23 of this Convention, each State Party shall take appropriate measures, in accordance with its domestic law and with due regard to the rights of the defence, to seek to ensure that conditions imposed in connection with decisions on release pending trial or appeal take into consideration the need to ensure the presence of the defendant at subsequent criminal proceedings. 4. Each State Party shall ensure that its courts or other competent authorities bear in mind the grave nature of the offences covered by this Convention when considering the eventuality of early release or parole of persons convicted of such offences. 5. Each State Party shall, where appropriate, establish under its domestic law a long statute of limitations period in which to commence proceedings for any offence covered by this Convention and a longer period where the alleged offender has evaded the administration of justice. 6. Nothing contained in this Convention shall affect the principle that the description of the offences established in accordance with this Convention and of the applicable legal defences or other legal principles controlling the lawfulness of conduct is reserved to the domestic law of a State Party and that such offences shall be prosecuted and punished in accordance with that law. Article 12 Confiscation and seizure 1. States Parties shall adopt, to the greatest extent possible within their domestic legal systems, such measures as may be necessary to enable confiscation of: (a) Proceeds of crime derived from offences covered by this Convention or property the value of which corresponds to that of such proceeds; (b) Property, equipment or other instrumentalities used in or destined for use in offences covered by this Convention. 2. States Parties shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to enable the identification, tracing, freezing or seizure of any item referred to in paragraph 1 of this article for the purpose of eventual confiscation. 3. If proceeds of crime have been transformed or converted, in part or in full, into other property, such property shall be liable to the measures referred to in this article instead of the proceeds. 4. If proceeds of crime have been intermingled with property acquired from legitimate sources, such property shall, without prejudice to any powers relating to freezing or seizure, be liable to confiscation up to the assessed value of the intermingled proceeds. 5. Income or other benefits derived from proceeds of crime, from property into which proceeds of crime have been transformed or converted or from property with which proceeds of crime have been intermingled shall also be liable to the measures referred to in this article, in the same manner and to the same extent as proceeds of crime. 6. For the purposes of this article and article 13 of this Convention, each State Party shall empower its courts or other competent authorities to order that bank, financial or commercial records be made available or be seized. States Parties shall not decline to act under the provisions of this paragraph on the ground of bank secrecy. 7. States Parties may consider the possibility of requiring that an offender demonstrate the lawful origin of alleged proceeds of crime or other property liable to confiscation, to the extent that such a requirement is consistent with the principles of their domestic law and with the nature of the judicial and other proceedings. 8. The provisions of this article shall not be construed to prejudice the rights of bona fide third parties. 9. Nothing contained in this article shall affect the principle that the measures to which it refers shall be defined and implemented in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the domestic law of a State Party. Article 13 International cooperation for purposes of confiscation 1. A State Party that has received a request from another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence covered by this Convention for confiscation of proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 12, paragraph 1, of this Convention situated in its territory shall, to the greatest extent possible within its domestic legal system: (a) Submit the request to its competent authorities for the purpose of obtaining an order of confiscation and, if such an order is granted, give effect to it; or (b) Submit to its competent authorities, with a view to giving effect to it to the extent requested, an order of confiscation issued by a court in the territory of the requesting State Party in accordance with article 12, paragraph 1, of this Convention insofar as it relates to proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 12, paragraph 1, situated in the territory of the requested State Party. 2. Following a request made by another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence covered by this Convention, the requested State Party shall take measures to identify, trace and freeze or seize proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 12, paragraph 1, of this Convention for the purpose of eventual confiscation to be ordered either by the requesting State Party or, pursuant to a request under paragraph 1 of this article, by the requested State Party. 3. The provisions of article 18 of this Convention are applicable, mutatis mutandis, to this article. In addition to the information specified in article 18, paragraph 15, requests made pursuant to this article shall contain: (a) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1 (a) of this article, a description of the property to be confiscated and a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party sufficient to enable the requested State Party to seek the order under its domestic law; (b) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1 (b) of this article, a legally admissible copy of an order of confiscation upon which the request is based issued by the requesting State Party, a statement of the facts and information as to the extent to which execution of the order is requested; (c) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 2 of this article, a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party and a description of the actions requested. 4. The decisions or actions provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article shall be taken by the requested State Party in accordance with and subject to the provisions of its domestic law and its procedural rules or any bilateral or multilateral treaty, agreement or arrangement to which it may be bound in relation to the requesting State Party. 5. Each State Party shall furnish copies of its laws and regulations that give effect to this article and of any subsequent changes to such laws and regulations or a description thereof to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 6. If a State Party elects to make the taking of the measures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article conditional on the existence of a relevant treaty, that State Party shall consider this Convention the necessary and sufficient treaty basis. 7. Cooperation under this article may be refused by a State Party if the offence to which the request relates is not an offence covered by this Convention. 8. The provisions of this article shall not be construed to prejudice the rights of bona fide third parties. 9. States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral treaties, agreements or arrangements to enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation undertaken pursuant to this article. Article 14 Disposal of confiscated proceeds of crime or property 1. Proceeds of crime or property confiscated by a State Party pursuant to articles 12 or 13, paragraph 1, of this Convention shall be disposed of by that State Party in accordance with its domestic law and administrative procedures. 2. When acting on the request made by another State Party in accordance with article 13 of this Convention, States Parties shall, to the extent permitted by domestic law and if so requested, give priority consideration to returning the confiscated proceeds of crime or property to the requesting State Party so that it can give compensation to the victims of the crime or return such proceeds of crime or property to their legitimate owners. 3. When acting on the request made by another State Party in accordance with articles 12 and 13 of this Convention, a State Party may give special consideration to concluding agreements or arrangements on: (a) Contributing the value of such proceeds of crime or property or funds derived from the sale of such proceeds of crime or property or a part thereof to the account designated in accordance with article 30, paragraph 2 (c), of this Convention and to intergovernmental bodies specializing in the fight against organized crime; (b) Sharing with other States Parties, on a regular or case-by-case basis, such proceeds of crime or property, or funds derived from the sale of such proceeds of crime or property, in accordance with its domestic law or administrative procedures. Article 15 Jurisdiction 1. Each State Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences established in accordance with articles 5, 6, 8 and 23 of this Convention when: (a) The offence is committed in the territory of that State Party; or (b) The offence is committed on board a vessel that is flying the flag of that State Party or an aircraft that is registered under the laws of that State Party at the time that the offence is committed. 2. Subject to article 4 of this Convention, a State Party may also establish its jurisdiction over any such offence when: (a) The offence is committed against a national of that State Party; (b) The offence is committed by a national of that State Party or a stateless person who has his or her habitual residence in its territory; or (c) The offence is: (i) One of those established in accordance with article 5, paragraph 1, of this Convention and is committed outside its territory with a view to the commission of a serious crime within its territory; (ii) One of those established in accordance with article 6, paragraph 1 (b) (ii), of this Convention and is committed outside its territory with a view to the commission of an offence established in accordance with article 6, paragraph 1 (a) (i) or (ii) or (b) (i), of this Convention within its territory. 3. For the purposes of article 16, paragraph 10, of this Convention, each State Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences covered by this Convention when the alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite such person solely on the ground that he or she is one of its nationals. 4. Each State Party may also adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences covered by this Convention when the alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite him or her. 5. If a State Party exercising its jurisdiction under paragraph 1 or 2 of this article has been notified, or has otherwise learned, that one or more other States Parties are conducting an investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding in respect of the same conduct, the competent authorities of those States Parties shall, as appropriate, consult one another with a view to coordinating their actions. 6. Without prejudice to norms of general international law, this Convention does not exclude the exercise of any criminal jurisdiction established by a State Party in accordance with its domestic law. Article 16 Extradition 1. This article shall apply to the offences covered by this Convention or in cases where an offence referred to in article 3, paragraph 1 (a) or (b), involves an organized criminal group and the person who is the subject of the request for extradition is located in the territory of the requested State Party, provided that the offence for which extradition is sought is punishable under the domestic law of both the requesting State Party and the requested State Party. 2. If the request for extradition includes several separate serious crimes, some of which are not covered by this article, the requested State Party may apply this article also in respect of the latter offences. 3. Each of the offences to which this article applies shall be deemed to be included as an extraditable offence in any extradition treaty existing between States Parties. States Parties undertake to include such offences as extraditable offences in every extradition treaty to be concluded between them. 4. If a State Party that makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty receives a request for extradition from another State Party with which it has no extradition treaty, it may consider this Convention the legal basis for extradition in respect of any offence to which this article applies. 5. States Parties that make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall: (a) At the time of deposit of their instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval of or accession to this Convention, inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations whether they will take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention; and (b) If they do not take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition, seek, where appropriate, to conclude treaties on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention in order to implement this article. 6. States Parties that do not make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall recognize offences to which this article applies as extraditable offences between themselves. 7. Extradition shall be subject to the conditions provided for by the domestic law of the requested State Party or by applicable extradition treaties, including, inter alia, conditions in relation to the minimum penalty requirement for extradition and the grounds upon which the requested State Party may refuse extradition. 8. States Parties shall, subject to their domestic law, endeavour to expedite extradition procedures and to simplify evidentiary requirements relating thereto in respect of any offence to which this article applies. 9. Subject to the provisions of its domestic law and its extradition treaties, the requested State Party may, upon being satisfied that the circumstances so warrant and are urgent and at the request of the requesting State Party, take a person whose extradition is sought and who is present in its territory into custody or take other appropriate measures to ensure his or her presence at extradition proceedings. 10. A State Party in whose territory an alleged offender is found, if it does not extradite such person in respect of an offence to which this article applies solely on the ground that he or she is one of its nationals, shall, at the request of the State Party seeking extradition, be obliged to submit the case without undue delay to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution. Those authorities shall take their decision and conduct their proceedings in the same manner as in the case of any other offence of a grave nature under the domestic law of that State Party. The States Parties concerned shall cooperate with each other, in particular on procedural and evidentiary aspects, to ensure the efficiency of such prosecution. 11. Whenever a State Party is permitted under its domestic law to extradite or otherwise surrender one of its nationals only upon the condition that the person will be returned to that State Party to serve the sentence imposed as a result of the trial or proceedings for which the extradition or surrender of the person was sought and that State Party and the State Party seeking the extradition of the person agree with this option and other terms that they may deem appropriate, such conditional extradition or surrender shall be sufficient to discharge the obligation set forth in paragraph 10 of this article. 12. If extradition, sought for purposes of enforcing a sentence, is refused because the person sought is a national of the requested State Party, the requested Party shall, if its domestic law so permits and in conformity with the requirements of such law, upon application of the requesting Party, consider the enforcement of the sentence that has been imposed under the domestic law of the requesting Party or the remainder thereof. 13. Any person regarding whom proceedings are being carried out in connection with any of the offences to which this article applies shall be guaranteed fair treatment at all stages of the proceedings, including enjoyment of all the rights and guarantees provided by the domestic law of the State Party in the territory of which that person is present. 14. Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as imposing an obligation to extradite if the requested State Party has substantial grounds for believing that the request has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing a person on account of that person's sex, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin or political opinions or that compliance with the request would cause prejudice to that person's position for any one of these reasons. 15. States Parties may not refuse a request for extradition on the sole ground that the offence is also considered to involve fiscal matters. 16. Before refusing extradition, the requested State Party shall, where appropriate, consult with the requesting State Party to provide it with ample opportunity to present its opinions and to provide information relevant to its allegation. 17. States Parties shall seek to conclude bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements to carry out or to enhance the effectiveness of extradition. Article 17 Transfer of sentenced persons States Parties may consider entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on the transfer to their territory of persons sentenced to imprisonment or other forms of deprivation of liberty for offences covered by this Convention, in order that they may complete their sentences there. Article 18 Mutual legal assistance 1. States Parties shall afford one another the widest measure of mutual legal assistance in investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences covered by this Convention as provided for in article 3 and shall reciprocally extend to one another similar assistance where the requesting State Party has reasonable grounds to suspect that the offence referred to in article 3, paragraph 1 (a) or (b), is transnational in nature, including that victims, witnesses, proceeds, instrumentalities or evidence of such offences are located in the requested State Party and that the offence involves an organized criminal group. 2. Mutual legal assistance shall be afforded to the fullest extent possible under relevant laws, treaties, agreements and arrangements of the requested State Party with respect to investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences for which a legal person may be held liable in accordance with article 10 of this Convention in the requesting State Party. 3. Mutual legal assistance to be afforded in accordance with this article may be requested for any of the following purposes: (a) Taking evidence or statements from persons; (b) Effecting service of judicial documents; (c) Executing searches and seizures, and freezing; (d) Examining objects and sites; (e) Providing information, evidentiary items and expert evaluations; (f) Providing originals or certified copies of relevant documents and records, including government, bank, financial, corporate or business records; (g) Identifying or tracing proceeds of crime, property, instrumentalities or other things for evidentiary purposes; (h) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons in the requesting State Party; (i) Any other type of assistance that is not contrary to the domestic law of the requested State Party. 4. Without prejudice to domestic law, the competent authorities of a State Party may, without prior request, transmit information relating to criminal matters to a competent authority in another State Party where they believe that such information could assist the authority in undertaking or successfully concluding inquiries and criminal proceedings or could result in a request formulated by the latter State Party pursuant to this Convention. 5. The transmission of information pursuant to paragraph 4 of this article shall be without prejudice to inquiries and criminal proceedings in the State of the competent authorities providing the information. The competent authorities receiving the information shall comply with a request that said information remain confidential, even temporarily, or with restrictions on its use. However, this shall not prevent the receiving State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information that is exculpatory to an accused person. In such a case, the receiving State Party shall notify the transmitting State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the transmitting State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the receiving State Party shall inform the transmitting State Party of the disclosure without delay. 6. The provisions of this article shall not affect the obligations under any other treaty, bilateral or multilateral, that governs or will govern, in whole or in part, mutual legal assistance. 7. Paragraphs 9 to 29 of this article shall apply to requests made pursuant to this article if the States Parties in question are not bound by a treaty of mutual legal assistance. If those States Parties are bound by such a treaty, the corresponding provisions of that treaty shall apply unless the States Parties agree to apply paragraphs 9 to 29 of this article in lieu thereof. States Parties are strongly encouraged to apply these paragraphs if they facilitate cooperation. 8. States Parties shall not decline to render mutual legal assistance pursuant to this article on the ground of bank secrecy. 9. States Parties may decline to render mutual legal assistance pursuant to this article on the ground of absence of dual criminality. However, the requested State Party may, when it deems appropriate, provide assistance, to the extent it decides at its discretion, irrespective of whether the conduct would constitute an offence under the domestic law of the requested State Party. 10. A person who is being detained or is serving a sentence in the territory of one State Party whose presence in another State Party is requested for purposes of identification, testimony or otherwise providing assistance in obtaining evidence for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in relation to offences covered by this Convention may be transferred if the following conditions are met: (a) The person freely gives his or her informed consent; (b) The competent authorities of both States Parties agree, subject to such conditions as those States Parties may deem appropriate. 11. For the purposes of paragraph 10 of this article: (a) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall have the authority and obligation to keep the person transferred in custody, unless otherwise requested or authorized by the State Party from which the person was transferred; (b) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall without delay implement its obligation to return the person to the custody of the State Party from which the person was transferred as agreed beforehand, or as otherwise agreed, by the competent authorities of both States Parties; (c) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall not require the State Party from which the person was transferred to initiate extradition proceedings for the return of the person; (d) The person transferred shall receive credit for service of the sentence being served in the State from which he or she was transferred for time spent in the custody of the State Party to which he or she was transferred. 12. Unless the State Party from which a person is to be transferred in accordance with paragraphs 10 and 11 of this article so agrees, that person, whatever his or her nationality, shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in the territory of the State to which that person is transferred in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the State from which he or she was transferred. 13. Each State Party shall designate a central authority that shall have the responsibility and power to receive requests for mutual legal assistance and either to execute them or to transmit them to the competent authorities for execution. Where a State Party has a special region or territory with a separate system of mutual legal assistance, it may designate a distinct central authority that shall have the same function for that region or territory. Central authorities shall ensure the speedy and proper execution or transmission of the requests received. Where the central authority transmits the request to a competent authority for execution, it shall encourage the speedy and proper execution of the request by the competent authority. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the central authority designated for this purpose at the time each State Party deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. Requests for mutual legal assistance and any communication related thereto shall be transmitted to the central authorities designated by the States Parties. This requirement shall be without prejudice to the right of a State Party to require that such requests and communications be addressed to it through diplomatic channels and, in urgent circumstances, where the States Parties agree, through the International Criminal Police Organization, if possible. 14. Requests shall be made in writing or, where possible, by any means capable of producing a written record, in a language acceptable to the requested State Party, under conditions allowing that State Party to establish authenticity. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the language or languages acceptable to each State Party at the time it deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. In urgent circumstances and where agreed by the States Parties, requests may be made orally, but shall be confirmed in writing forthwith. 15. A request for mutual legal assistance shall contain: (a) The identity of the authority making the request; (b) The subject matter and nature of the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding to which the request relates and the name and functions of the authority conducting the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding; (c) A summary of the relevant facts, except in relation to requests for the purpose of service of judicial documents; (d) A description of the assistance sought and details of any particular procedure that the requesting State Party wishes to be followed; (e) Where possible, the identity, location and nationality of any person concerned; and (f) The purpose for which the evidence, information or action is sought. 16. The requested State Party may request additional information when it appears necessary for the execution of the request in accordance with its domestic law or when it can facilitate such execution. 17. A request shall be executed in accordance with the domestic law of the requested State Party and, to the extent not contrary to the domestic law of the requested State Party and where possible, in accordance with the procedures specified in the request. 18. Wherever possible and consistent with fundamental principles of domestic law, when an individual is in the territory of a State Party and has to be heard as a witness or expert by the judicial authorities of another State Party, the first State Party may, at the request of the other, permit the hearing to take place by video conference if it is not possible or desirable for the individual in question to appear in person in the territory of the requesting State Party. States Parties may agree that the hearing shall be conducted by a judicial authority of the requesting State Party and attended by a judicial authority of the requested State Party. 19. The requesting State Party shall not transmit or use information or evidence furnished by the requested State Party for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings other than those stated in the request without the prior consent of the requested State Party. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the requesting State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information or evidence that is exculpatory to an accused person. In the latter case, the requesting State Party shall notify the requested State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the requested State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the requesting State Party shall inform the requested State Party of the disclosure without delay. 20. The requesting State Party may require that the requested State Party keep confidential the fact and substance of the request, except to the extent necessary to execute the request. If the requested State Party cannot comply with the requirement of confidentiality, it shall promptly inform the requesting State Party. 21. Mutual legal assistance may be refused: (a) If the request is not made in conformity with the provisions of this article; (b) If the requested State Party considers that execution of the request is likely to prejudice its sovereignty, security, ordre public or other essential interests; (c) If the authorities of the requested State Party would be prohibited by its domestic law from carrying out the action requested with regard to any similar offence, had it been subject to investigation, prosecution or judicial proceedings under their own jurisdiction; (d) If it would be contrary to the legal system of the requested State Party relating to mutual legal assistance for the request to be granted. 22. States Parties may not refuse a request for mutual legal assistance on the sole ground that the offence is also considered to involve fiscal matters. 23. Reasons shall be given for any refusal of mutual legal assistance. 24. The requested State Party shall execute the request for mutual legal assistance as soon as possible and shall take as full account as possible of any deadlines suggested by the requesting State Party and for which reasons are given, preferably in the request. The requested State Party shall respond to reasonable requests by the requesting State Party on progress of its handling of the request. The requesting State Party shall promptly inform the requested State Party when the assistance sought is no longer required. 25. Mutual legal assistance may be postponed by the requested State Party on the ground that it interferes with an ongoing investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding. 26. Before refusing a request pursuant to paragraph 21 of this article or postponing its execution pursuant to paragraph 25 of this article, the requested State Party shall consult with the requesting State Party to consider whether assistance may be granted subject to such terms and conditions as it deems necessary. If the requesting State Party accepts assistance subject to those conditions, it shall comply with the conditions. 27. Without prejudice to the application of paragraph 12 of this article, a witness, expert or other person who, at the request of the requesting State Party, consents to give evidence in a proceeding or to assist in an investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding in the territory of the requesting State Party shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in that territory in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the requested State Party. Such safe conduct shall cease when the witness, expert or other person having had, for a period of fifteen consecutive days or for any period agreed upon by the States Parties from the date on which he or she has been officially informed that his or her presence is no longer required by the judicial authorities, an opportunity of leaving, has nevertheless remained voluntarily in the territory of the requesting State Party or, having left it, has returned of his or her own free will. 28. The ordinary costs of executing a request shall be borne by the requested State Party, unless otherwise agreed by the States Parties concerned. If expenses of a substantial or extraordinary nature are or will be required to fulfil the request, the States Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the request will be executed, as well as the manner in which the costs shall be borne. 29. The requested State Party: (a) Shall provide to the requesting State Party copies of government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are available to the general public; (b) May, at its discretion, provide to the requesting State Party in whole, in part or subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate, copies of any government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are not available to the general public. 30. States Parties shall consider, as may be necessary, the possibility of concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements that would serve the purposes of, give practical effect to or enhance the provisions of this article. Article 19 Joint investigations States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements whereby, in relation to matters that are the subject of investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in one or more States, the competent authorities concerned may establish joint investigative bodies. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements, joint investigations may be undertaken by agreement on a case-by-case basis. The States Parties involved shall ensure that the sovereignty of the State Party in whose territory such investigation is to take place is fully respected. Article 20 Special investigative techniques 1. If permitted by the basic principles of its domestic legal system, each State Party shall, within its possibilities and under the conditions prescribed by its domestic law, take the necessary measures to allow for the appropriate use of controlled delivery and, where it deems appropriate, for the use of other special investigative techniques, such as electronic or other forms of surveillance and undercover operations, by its competent authorities in its territory for the purpose of effectively combating organized crime. 2. For the purpose of investigating the offences covered by this Convention, States Parties are encouraged to conclude, when necessary, appropriate bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements for using such special investigative techniques in the context of cooperation at the international level. Such agreements or arrangements shall be concluded and implemented in full compliance with the principle of sovereign equality of States and shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the terms of those agreements or arrangements. 3. In the absence of an agreement or arrangement as set forth in paragraph 2 of this article, decisions to use such special investigative techniques at the international level shall be made on a case-by-case basis and may, when necessary, take into consideration financial arrangements and understandings with respect to the exercise of jurisdiction by the States Parties concerned. 4. Decisions to use controlled delivery at the international level may, with the consent of the States Parties concerned, include methods such as intercepting and allowing the goods to continue intact or be removed or replaced in whole or in part. Article 21 Transfer of criminal proceedings States Parties shall consider the possibility of transferring to one another proceedings for the prosecution of an offence covered by this Convention in cases where such transfer is considered to be in the interests of the proper administration of justice, in particular in cases where several jurisdictions are involved, with a view to concentrating the prosecution. Article 22 Establishment of criminal record Each State Party may adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to take into consideration, under such terms as and for the purpose that it deems appropriate, any previous conviction in another State of an alleged offender for the purpose of using such information in criminal proceedings relating to an offence covered by this Convention. Article 23 Criminalization of obstruction of justice Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation or the promise, offering or giving of an undue advantage to induce false testimony or to interfere in the giving of testimony or the production of evidence in a proceeding in relation to the commission of offences covered by this Convention; (b) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation to interfere with the exercise of official duties by a justice or law enforcement official in relation to the commission of offences covered by this Convention. Nothing in this subparagraph shall prejudice the right of States Parties to have legislation that protects other categories of public officials. Article 24 Protection of witnesses 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures within its means to provide effective protection from potential retaliation or intimidation for witnesses in criminal proceedings who give testimony concerning offences covered by this Convention and, as appropriate, for their relatives and other persons close to them. 2. The measures envisaged in paragraph 1 of this article may include, inter alia, without prejudice to the rights of the defendant, including the right to due process: (a) Establishing procedures for the physical protection of such persons, such as, to the extent necessary and feasible, relocating them and permitting, where appropriate, non-disclosure or limitations on the disclosure of information concerning the identity and whereabouts of such persons; (b) Providing evidentiary rules to permit witness testimony to be given in a manner that ensures the safety of the witness, such as permitting testimony to be given through the use of communications technology such as video links or other adequate means. 3. States Parties shall consider entering into agreements or arrangements with other States for the relocation of persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article. 4. The provisions of this article shall also apply to victims insofar as they are witnesses. Article 25 Assistance to and protection of victims 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures within its means to provide assistance and protection to victims of offences covered by this Convention, in particular in cases of threat of retaliation or intimidation. 2. Each State Party shall establish appropriate procedures to provide access to compensation and restitution for victims of offences covered by this Convention. 3. Each State Party shall, subject to its domestic law, enable views and concerns of victims to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of criminal proceedings against offenders in a manner not prejudicial to the rights of the defence. Article 26 Measures to enhance cooperation with law enforcement authorities 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to encourage persons who participate or who have participated in organized criminal groups: (a) To supply information useful to competent authorities for investigative and evidentiary purposes on such matters as: (i) The identity, nature, composition, structure, location or activities of organized criminal groups; (ii) Links, including international links, with other organized criminal groups; (iii) Offences that organized criminal groups have committed or may commit; (b) To provide factual, concrete help to competent authorities that may contribute to depriving organized criminal groups of their resources or of the proceeds of crime. 2. Each State Party shall consider providing for the possibility, in appropriate cases, of mitigating punishment of an accused person who provides substantial cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of an offence covered by this Convention. 3. Each State Party shall consider providing for the possibility, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, of granting immunity from prosecution to a person who provides substantial cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of an offence covered by this Convention. 4. Protection of such persons shall be as provided for in article 24 of this Convention. 5. Where a person referred to in paragraph 1 of this article located in one State Party can provide substantial cooperation to the competent authorities of another State Party, the States Parties concerned may consider entering into agreements or arrangements, in accordance with their domestic law, concerning the potential provision by the other State Party of the treatment set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article. Article 27 Law enforcement cooperation 1. States Parties shall cooperate closely with one another, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems, to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement action to combat the offences covered by this Convention. Each State Party shall, in particular, adopt effective measures: (a) To enhance and, where necessary, to establish channels of communication between their competent authorities, agencies and services in order to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information concerning all aspects of the offences covered by this Convention, including, if the States Parties concerned deem it appropriate, links with other criminal activities; (b) To cooperate with other States Parties in conducting inquiries with respect to offences covered by this Convention concerning: (i) The identity, whereabouts and activities of persons suspected of involvement in such offences or the location of other persons concerned; (ii) The movement of proceeds of crime or property derived from the commission of such offences; (iii) The movement of property, equipment or other instrumentalities used or intended for use in the commission of such offences; (c) To provide, when appropriate, necessary items or quantities of substances for analytical or investigative purposes; (d) To facilitate effective coordination between their competent authorities, agencies and services and to promote the exchange of personnel and other experts, including, subject to bilateral agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the posting of liaison officers; (e) To exchange information with other States Parties on specific means and methods used by organized criminal groups, including, where applicable, routes and conveyances and the use of false identities, altered or false documents or other means of concealing their activities; (f) To exchange information and coordinate administrative and other measures taken as appropriate for the purpose of early identification of the offences covered by this Convention. 2. With a view to giving effect to this Convention, States Parties shall consider entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on direct cooperation between their law enforcement agencies and, where such agreements or arrangements already exist, amending them. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the Parties may consider this Convention as the basis for mutual law enforcement cooperation in respect of the offences covered by this Convention. Whenever appropriate, States Parties shall make full use of agreements or arrangements, including international or regional organizations, to enhance the cooperation between their law enforcement agencies. 3. States Parties shall endeavour to cooperate within their means to respond to transnational organized crime committed through the use of modern technology. Article 28 Collection, exchange and analysis of information on the nature of organized crime 1. Each State Party shall consider analysing, in consultation with the scientific and academic communities, trends in organized crime in its territory, the circumstances in which organized crime operates, as well as the professional groups and technologies involved. 2. States Parties shall consider developing and sharing analytical expertise concerning organized criminal activities with each other and through international and regional organizations. For that purpose, common definitions, standards and methodologies should be developed and applied as appropriate. 3. Each State Party shall consider monitoring its policies and actual measures to combat organized crime and making assessments of their effectiveness and efficiency. Article 29 Training and technical assistance 1. Each State Party shall, to the extent necessary, initiate, develop or improve specific training programmes for its law enforcement personnel, including prosecutors, investigating magistrates and customs personnel, and other personnel charged with the prevention, detection and control of the offences covered by this Convention. Such programmes may include secondments and exchanges of staff. Such programmes shall deal, in particular and to the extent permitted by domestic law, with the following: (a) Methods used in the prevention, detection and control of the offences covered by this Convention; (b) Routes and techniques used by persons suspected of involvement in offences covered by this Convention, including in transit States, and appropriate countermeasures; (c) Monitoring of the movement of contraband; (d) Detection and monitoring of the movements of proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities and methods used for the transfer, concealment or disguise of such proceeds, property, equipment or other instrumentalities, as well as methods used in combating money-laundering and other financial crimes; (e) Collection of evidence; (f) Control techniques in free trade zones and free ports; (g) Modern law enforcement equipment and techniques, including electronic surveillance, controlled deliveries and undercover operations; (h) Methods used in combating transnational organized crime committed through the use of computers, telecommunications networks or other forms of modern technology; and (i) Methods used in the protection of victims and witnesses. 2. States Parties shall assist one another in planning and implementing research and training programmes designed to share expertise in the areas referred to in paragraph 1 of this article and to that end shall also, when appropriate, use regional and international conferences and seminars to promote cooperation and to stimulate discussion on problems of mutual concern, including the special problems and needs of transit States. 3. States Parties shall promote training and technical assistance that will facilitate extradition and mutual legal assistance. Such training and technical assistance may include language training, secondments and exchanges between personnel in central authorities or agencies with relevant responsibilities. 4. In the case of existing bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements, States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent necessary, efforts to maximize operational and training activities within international and regional organizations and within other relevant bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements. Article 30 Other measures: implementation of the Convention through economic development and technical assistance 1. States Parties shall take measures conducive to the optimal implementation of this Convention to the extent possible, through international cooperation, taking into account the negative effects of organized crime on society in general, in particular on sustainable development. 2. States Parties shall make concrete efforts to the extent possible and in coordination with each other, as well as with international and regional organizations: (a) To enhance their cooperation at various levels with developing countries, with a view to strengthening the capacity of the latter to prevent and combat transnational organized crime; (b) To enhance financial and material assistance to support the efforts of developing countries to fight transnational organized crime effectively and to help them implement this Convention successfully; (c) To provide technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to assist them in meeting their needs for the implementation of this Convention. To that end, States Parties shall endeavour to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions to an account specifically designated for that purpose in a United Nations funding mechanism. States Parties may also give special consideration, in accordance with their domestic law and the provisions of this Convention, to contributing to the aforementioned account a percentage of the money or of the corresponding value of proceeds of crime or property confiscated in accordance with the provisions of this Convention; (d) To encourage and persuade other States and financial institutions as appropriate to join them in efforts in accordance with this article, in particular by providing more training programmes and modern equipment to developing countries in order to assist them in achieving the objectives of this Convention. 3. To the extent possible, these measures shall be without prejudice to existing foreign assistance commitments or to other financial cooperation arrangements at the bilateral, regional or international level. 4. States Parties may conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on material and logistical assistance, taking into consideration the financial arrangements necessary for the means of international cooperation provided for by this Convention to be effective and for the prevention, detection and control of transnational organized crime. Article 31 Prevention 1. States Parties shall endeavour to develop and evaluate national projects and to establish and promote best practices and policies aimed at the prevention of transnational organized crime. 2. States Parties shall endeavour, in accordance with fundamental principles of their domestic law, to reduce existing or future opportunities for organized criminal groups to participate in lawful markets with proceeds of crime, through appropriate legislative, administrative or other measures. These measures should focus on: (a) The strengthening of cooperation between law enforcement agencies or prosecutors and relevant private entities, including industry; (b) The promotion of the development of standards and procedures designed to safeguard the integrity of public and relevant private entities, as well as codes of conduct for relevant professions, in particular lawyers, notaries public, tax consultants and accountants; (c) The prevention of the misuse by organized criminal groups of tender procedures conducted by public authorities and of subsidies and licences granted by public authorities for commercial activity; (d) The prevention of the misuse of legal persons by organized criminal groups; such measures could include: (i) The establishment of public records on legal and natural persons involved in the establishment, management and funding of legal persons; (ii) The introduction of the possibility of disqualifying by court order or any appropriate means for a reasonable period of time persons convicted of offences covered by this Convention from acting as directors of legal persons incorporated within their jurisdiction; (iii) The establishment of national records of persons disqualified from acting as directors of legal persons; and (iv) The exchange of information contained in the records referred to in subparagraphs (d) (i) and (iii) of this paragraph with the competent authorities of other States Parties. 3. States Parties shall endeavour to promote the reintegration into society of persons convicted of offences covered by this Convention. 4. States Parties shall endeavour to evaluate periodically existing relevant legal instruments and administrative practices with a view to detecting their vulnerability to misuse by organized criminal groups. 5. States Parties shall endeavour to promote public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by transnational organized crime. Information may be disseminated where appropriate through the mass media and shall include measures to promote public participation in preventing and combating such crime. 6. Each State Party shall inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the name and address of the authority or authorities that can assist other States Parties in developing measures to prevent transnational organized crime. 7. States Parties shall, as appropriate, collaborate with each other and relevant international and regional organizations in promoting and developing the measures referred to in this article. This includes participation in international projects aimed at the prevention of transnational organized crime, for example by alleviating the circumstances that render socially marginalized groups vulnerable to the action of transnational organized crime. Article 32 Conference of the Parties to the Convention 1. A Conference of the Parties to the Convention is hereby established to improve the capacity of States Parties to combat transnational organized crime and to promote and review the implementation of this Convention. 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the Conference of the Parties not later than one year following the entry into force of this Convention. The Conference of the Parties shall adopt rules of procedure and rules governing the activities set forth in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this article (including rules concerning payment of expenses incurred in carrying out those activities). 3. The Conference of the Parties shall agree upon mechanisms for achieving the objectives mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article, including: (a) Facilitating activities by States Parties under articles 29, 30 and 31 of this Convention, including by encouraging the mobilization of voluntary contributions; (b) Facilitating the exchange of information among States Parties on patterns and trends in transnational organized crime and on successful practices for combating it; (c) Cooperating with relevant international and regional organizations and non-governmental organizations; (d) Reviewing periodically the implementation of this Convention; (e) Making recommendations to improve this Convention and its implementation. 4. For the purpose of paragraphs 3 (d) and (e) of this article, the Conference of the Parties shall acquire the necessary knowledge of the measures taken by States Parties in implementing this Convention and the difficulties encountered by them in doing so through information provided by them and through such supplemental review mechanisms as may be established by the Conference of the Parties. 5. Each State Party shall provide the Conference of the Parties with information on its programmes, plans and practices, as well as legislative and administrative measures to implement this Convention, as required by the Conference of the Parties. Article 33 Secretariat 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary secretariat services to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. 2. The secretariat shall: (a) Assist the Conference of the Parties in carrying out the activities set forth in article 32 of this Convention and make arrangements and provide the necessary services for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties; (b) Upon request, assist States Parties in providing information to the Conference of the Parties as envisaged in article 32, paragraph 5, of this Convention; and (c) Ensure the necessary coordination with the secretariats of relevant international and regional organizations. Article 34 Implementation of the Convention 1. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, including legislative and administrative measures, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to ensure the implementation of its obligations under this Convention. 2. The offences established in accordance with articles 5, 6, 8 and 23 of this Convention shall be established in the domestic law of each State Party independently of the transnational nature or the involvement of an organized criminal group as described in article 3, paragraph 1, of this Convention, except to the extent that article 5 of this Convention would require the involvement of an organized criminal group. 3. Each State Party may adopt more strict or severe measures than those provided for by this Convention for preventing and combating transnational organized crime. Article 35 Settlement of disputes l. States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention through negotiation. 2. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court. 3. Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation. 4. Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 36 Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession 1. This Convention shall be open to all States for signature from 12 to 15 December 2000 in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002. 2. This Convention shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organizations provided that at least one member State of such organization has signed this Convention in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. 3. This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organization may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Convention. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. 4. This Convention is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organization of which at least one member State is a Party to this Convention. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Convention. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. Article 37 Relation with protocols 1. This Convention may be supplemented by one or more protocols. 2. In order to become a Party to a protocol, a State or a regional economic integration organization must also be a Party to this Convention. 3. A State Party to this Convention is not bound by a protocol unless it becomes a Party to the protocol in accordance with the provisions thereof. 4. Any protocol to this Convention shall be interpreted together with this Convention, taking into account the purpose of that protocol. Article 38 Entry into force 1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organization. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Convention after the deposit of the fortieth instrument of such action, this Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument. Article 39 Amendment 1. After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Convention, a State Party may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The Conference of the Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties. 2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to this Convention. Such organizations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs and vice versa. 3. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties. 4. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party ninety days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment. 5. When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Convention and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved. Article 40 Denunciation 1. A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. 2. A regional economic integration organization shall cease to be a Party to this Convention when all of its member States have denounced it. 3. Denunciation of this Convention in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall entail the denunciation of any protocols thereto. Article 41 Depositary and languages 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Convention. 2. The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention. Annex II Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Preamble The States Parties to this Protocol, Declaring that effective action to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children, requires a comprehensive international approach in the countries of origin, transit and destination that includes measures to prevent such trafficking, to punish the traffickers and to protect the victims of such trafficking, including by protecting their internationally recognized human rights, Taking into account the fact that, despite the existence of a variety of international instruments containing rules and practical measures to combat the exploitation of persons, especially women and children, there is no universal instrument that addresses all aspects of trafficking in persons, Concerned that, in the absence of such an instrument, persons who are vulnerable to trafficking will not be sufficiently protected, Recalling General Assembly resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, in which the Assembly decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime and of discussing the elaboration of, inter alia, an international instrument addressing trafficking in women and children, Convinced that supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime with an international instrument for the prevention, suppression and punishment of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, will be useful in preventing and combating that crime, Have agreed as follows: I. General provisions Article 1 Relation with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime 1. This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It shall be interpreted together with the Convention. 2. The provisions of the Convention shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Protocol unless otherwise provided herein. 3. The offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol shall be regarded as offences established in accordance with the Convention. Article 2 Statement of purpose The purposes of this Protocol are: (a) To prevent and combat trafficking in persons, paying particular attention to women and children; (b) To protect and assist the victims of such trafficking, with full respect for their human rights; and (c) To promote cooperation among States Parties in order to meet those objectives. Article 3 Use of terms For the purposes of this Protocol: (a) "Trafficking in persons" shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs; (b) The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth in subparagraph (a) of this article shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) have been used; (c) The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered "trafficking in persons" even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in subparagraph (a) of this article; (d) "Child" shall mean any person under eighteen years of age. Article 4 Scope of application This Protocol shall apply, except as otherwise stated herein, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of the offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol, where those offences are transnational in nature and involve an organized criminal group, as well as to the protection of victims of such offences. Article 5 Criminalization 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences the conduct set forth in article 3 of this Protocol, when committed intentionally. 2. Each State Party shall also adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences: (a) Subject to the basic concepts of its legal system, attempting to commit an offence established in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article; (b) Participating as an accomplice in an offence established in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article; and (c) Organizing or directing other persons to commit an offence established in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. II. Protection of victims of trafficking in persons Article 6 Assistance to and protection of victims of trafficking in persons 1. In appropriate cases and to the extent possible under its domestic law, each State Party shall protect the privacy and identity of victims of trafficking in persons, including, inter alia, by making legal proceedings relating to such trafficking confidential. 2. Each State Party shall ensure that its domestic legal or administrative system contains measures that provide to victims of trafficking in persons, in appropriate cases: (a) Information on relevant court and administrative proceedings; (b) Assistance to enable their views and concerns to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of criminal proceedings against offenders, in a manner not prejudicial to the rights of the defence. 3. Each State Party shall consider implementing measures to provide for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of trafficking in persons, including, in appropriate cases, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society, and, in particular, the provision of: (a) Appropriate housing; (b) Counselling and information, in particular as regards their legal rights, in a language that the victims of trafficking in persons can understand; (c) Medical, psychological and material assistance; and (d) Employment, educational and training opportunities. 4. Each State Party shall take into account, in applying the provisions of this article, the age, gender and special needs of victims of trafficking in persons, in particular the special needs of children, including appropriate housing, education and care. 5. Each State Party shall endeavour to provide for the physical safety of victims of trafficking in persons while they are within its territory. 6. Each State Party shall ensure that its domestic legal system contains measures that offer victims of trafficking in persons the possibility of obtaining compensation for damage suffered. Article 7 Status of victims of trafficking in persons in receiving States 1. In addition to taking measures pursuant to article 6 of this Protocol, each State Party shall consider adopting legislative or other appropriate measures that permit victims of trafficking in persons to remain in its territory, temporarily or permanently, in appropriate cases. 2. In implementing the provision contained in paragraph 1 of this article, each State Party shall give appropriate consideration to humanitarian and compassionate factors. Article 8 Repatriation of victims of trafficking in persons 1. The State Party of which a victim of trafficking in persons is a national or in which the person had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party shall facilitate and accept, with due regard for the safety of that person, the return of that person without undue or unreasonable delay. 2. When a State Party returns a victim of trafficking in persons to a State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she had, at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party, the right of permanent residence, such return shall be with due regard for the safety of that person and for the status of any legal proceedings related to the fact that the person is a victim of trafficking and shall preferably be voluntary. 3. At the request of a receiving State Party, a requested State Party shall, without undue or unreasonable delay, verify whether a person who is a victim of trafficking in persons is its national or had the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party. 4. In order to facilitate the return of a victim of trafficking in persons who is without proper documentation, the State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she had the right of permanent residence at the time of entry into the territory of the receiving State Party shall agree to issue, at the request of the receiving State Party, such travel documents or other authorization as may be necessary to enable the person to travel to and re-enter its territory. 5. This article shall be without prejudice to any right afforded to victims of trafficking in persons by any domestic law of the receiving State Party. 6. This article shall be without prejudice to any applicable bilateral or multilateral agreement or arrangement that governs, in whole or in part, the return of victims of trafficking in persons. III. Prevention, cooperation and other measures Article 9 Prevention of trafficking in persons 1. States Parties shall establish comprehensive policies, programmes and other measures: (a) To prevent and combat trafficking in persons; and (b) To protect victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, from revictimization. 2. States Parties shall endeavour to undertake measures such as research, information and mass media campaigns and social and economic initiatives to prevent and combat trafficking in persons. 3. Policies, programmes and other measures established in accordance with this article shall, as appropriate, include cooperation with non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society. 4. States Parties shall take or strengthen measures, including through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, to alleviate the factors that make persons, especially women and children, vulnerable to trafficking, such as poverty, underdevelopment and lack of equal opportunity. 5. States Parties shall adopt or strengthen legislative or other measures, such as educational, social or cultural measures, including through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, to discourage the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, that leads to trafficking. Article 10 Information exchange and training 1. Law enforcement, immigration or other relevant authorities of States Parties shall, as appropriate, cooperate with one another by exchanging information, in accordance with their domestic law, to enable them to determine: (a) Whether individuals crossing or attempting to cross an international border with travel documents belonging to other persons or without travel documents are perpetrators or victims of trafficking in persons; (b) The types of travel document that individuals have used or attempted to use to cross an international border for the purpose of trafficking in persons; and (c) The means and methods used by organized criminal groups for the purpose of trafficking in persons, including the recruitment and transportation of victims, routes and links between and among individuals and groups engaged in such trafficking, and possible measures for detecting them. 2. States Parties shall provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other relevant officials in the prevention of trafficking in persons. The training should focus on methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of the victims, including protecting the victims from the traffickers. The training should also take into account the need to consider human rights and child- and gender-sensitive issues and it should encourage cooperation with non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society. 3. A State Party that receives information shall comply with any request by the State Party that transmitted the information that places restrictions on its use. Article 11 Border measures 1. Without prejudice to international commitments in relation to the free movement of people, States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent possible, such border controls as may be necessary to prevent and detect trafficking in persons. 2. Each State Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of offences established in accordance with article 5 of this Protocol. 3. Where appropriate, and without prejudice to applicable international conventions, such measures shall include establishing the obligation of commercial carriers, including any transportation company or the owner or operator of any means of transport, to ascertain that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required for entry into the receiving State. 4. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with its domestic law, to provide for sanctions in cases of violation of the obligation set forth in paragraph 3 of this article. 5. Each State Party shall consider taking measures that permit, in accordance with its domestic law, the denial of entry or revocation of visas of persons implicated in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Protocol. 6. Without prejudice to article 27 of the Convention, States Parties shall consider strengthening cooperation among border control agencies by, inter alia, establishing and maintaining direct channels of communication. Article 12 Security and control of documents Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, within available means: (a) To ensure that travel or identity documents issued by it are of such quality that they cannot easily be misused and cannot readily be falsified or unlawfully altered, replicated or issued; and (b) To ensure the integrity and security of travel or identity documents issued by or on behalf of the State Party and to prevent their unlawful creation, issuance and use. Article 13 Legitimacy and validity of documents At the request of another State Party, a State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law, verify within a reasonable time the legitimacy and validity of travel or identity documents issued or purported to have been issued in its name and suspected of being used for trafficking in persons. IV. Final provisions Article 14 Saving clause 1. Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in particular, where applicable, the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees and the principle of non-refoulement as contained therein. 2. The measures set forth in this Protocol shall be interpreted and applied in a way that is not discriminatory to persons on the ground that they are victims of trafficking in persons. The interpretation and application of those measures shall be consistent with internationally recognized principles of non-discrimination. Article 15 Settlement of disputes l. States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol through negotiation. 2. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court. 3. Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Protocol, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation. 4. Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 16 Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession 1. This Protocol shall be open to all States for signature from 12 to 15 December 2000 in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002. 2. This Protocol shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organizations provided that at least one member State of such organization has signed this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. 3. This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organization may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Protocol. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. 4. This Protocol is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organization of which at least one member State is a Party to this Protocol. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Protocol. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. Article 17 Entry into force 1. This Protocol shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that it shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organization. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the fortieth instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocol enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later. Article 18 Amendment 1. After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Protocol, a State Party to the Protocol may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The States Parties to this Protocol meeting at the Conference of the Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties to this Protocol present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties. 2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to this Protocol. Such organizations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs and vice versa. 3. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties. 4. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party ninety days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment. 5. When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Protocol and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved. Article 19 Denunciation 1. A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. 2. A regional economic integration organization shall cease to be a Party to this Protocol when all of its member States have denounced it. Article 20 Depositary and languages 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Protocol. 2. The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol. Annex III Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Preamble The States Parties to this Protocol, Declaring that effective action to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air requires a comprehensive international approach, including cooperation, the exchange of information and other appropriate measures, including socio-economic measures, at the national, regional and international levels, Recalling General Assembly resolution 54/212 of 22 December 1999, in which the Assembly urged Member States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation in the area of international migration and development in order to address the root causes of migration, especially those related to poverty, and to maximize the benefits of international migration to those concerned, and encouraged, where relevant, interregional, regional and subregional mechanisms to continue to address the question of migration and development, Convinced of the need to provide migrants with humane treatment and full protection of their rights, Taking into account the fact that, despite work undertaken in other international forums, there is no universal instrument that addresses all aspects of smuggling of migrants and other related issues, Concerned at the significant increase in the activities of organized criminal groups in smuggling of migrants and other related criminal activities set forth in this Protocol, which bring great harm to the States concerned, Also concerned that the smuggling of migrants can endanger the lives or security of the migrants involved, Recalling General Assembly resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, in which the Assembly decided to establish an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime and of discussing the elaboration of, inter alia, an international instrument addressing illegal trafficking in and transporting of migrants, including by sea, Convinced that supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime with an international instrument against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air will be useful in preventing and combating that crime, Have agreed as follows: I. General provisions Article 1 Relation with the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime 1. This Protocol supplements the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It shall be interpreted together with the Convention. 2. The provisions of the Convention shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Protocol unless otherwise provided herein. 3. The offences established in accordance with article 6 of this Protocol shall be regarded as offences established in accordance with the Convention. Article 2 Statement of purpose The purpose of this Protocol is to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants, as well as to promote cooperation among States Parties to that end, while protecting the rights of smuggled migrants. Article 3 Use of terms For the purposes of this Protocol: (a) "Smuggling of migrants" shall mean the procurement, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit, of the illegal entry of a person into a State Party of which the person is not a national or a permanent resident; (b) "Illegal entry" shall mean crossing borders without complying with the necessary requirements for legal entry into the receiving State; (c) "Fraudulent travel or identity document" shall mean any travel or identity document: (i) That has been falsely made or altered in some material way by anyone other than a person or agency lawfully authorized to make or issue the travel or identity document on behalf of a State; or (ii) That has been improperly issued or obtained through misrepresentation, corruption or duress or in any other unlawful manner; or (iii) That is being used by a person other than the rightful holder; (d) "Vessel" shall mean any type of water craft, including non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, except a warship, naval auxiliary or other vessel owned or operated by a Government and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service. Article 4 Scope of application This Protocol shall apply, except as otherwise stated herein, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of the offences established in accordance with article 6 of this Protocol, where the offences are transnational in nature and involve an organized criminal group, as well as to the protection of the rights of persons who have been the object of such offences. Article 5 Criminal liability of migrants Migrants shall not become liable to criminal prosecution under this Protocol for the fact of having been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. Article 6 Criminalization 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally and in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit: (a) The smuggling of migrants; (b) When committed for the purpose of enabling the smuggling of migrants: (i) Producing a fraudulent travel or identity document; (ii) Procuring, providing or possessing such a document; (c) Enabling a person who is not a national or a permanent resident to remain in the State concerned without complying with the necessary requirements for legally remaining in the State by the means mentioned in subparagraph (b) of this paragraph or any other illegal means. 2. Each State Party shall also adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences: (a) Subject to the basic concepts of its legal system, attempting to commit an offence established in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article; (b) Participating as an accomplice in an offence established in accordance with paragraph 1 (a), (b) (i) or (c) of this article and, subject to the basic concepts of its legal system, participating as an accomplice in an offence established in accordance with paragraph 1 (b) (ii) of this article; (c) Organizing or directing other persons to commit an offence established in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. 3. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as aggravating circumstances to the offences established in accordance with paragraph 1 (a), (b) (i) and (c) of this article and, subject to the basic concepts of its legal system, to the offences established in accordance with paragraph 2 (b) and (c) of this article, circumstances: (a) That endanger, or are likely to endanger, the lives or safety of the migrants concerned; or (b) That entail inhuman or degrading treatment, including for exploitation, of such migrants. 4. Nothing in this Protocol shall prevent a State Party from taking measures against a person whose conduct constitutes an offence under its domestic law. II. Smuggling of migrants by sea Article 7 Cooperation States Parties shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible to prevent and suppress the smuggling of migrants by sea, in accordance with the international law of the sea. Article 8 Measures against the smuggling of migrants by sea 1. A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel that is flying its flag or claiming its registry, that is without nationality or that, though flying a foreign flag or refusing to show a flag, is in reality of the nationality of the State Party concerned is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea may request the assistance of other States Parties in suppressing the use of the vessel for that purpose. The States Parties so requested shall render such assistance to the extent possible within their means. 2. A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel exercising freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and flying the flag or displaying the marks of registry of another State Party is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea may so notify the flag State, request confirmation of registry and, if confirmed, request authorization from the flag State to take appropriate measures with regard to that vessel. The flag State may authorize the requesting State, inter alia: (a) To board the vessel; (b) To search the vessel; and (c) If evidence is found that the vessel is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea, to take appropriate measures with respect to the vessel and persons and cargo on board, as authorized by the flag State. 3. A State Party that has taken any measure in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article shall promptly inform the flag State concerned of the results of that measure. 4. A State Party shall respond expeditiously to a request from another State Party to determine whether a vessel that is claiming its registry or flying its flag is entitled to do so and to a request for authorization made in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article. 5. A flag State may, consistent with article 7 of this Protocol, subject its authorization to conditions to be agreed by it and the requesting State, including conditions relating to responsibility and the extent of effective measures to be taken. A State Party shall take no additional measures without the express authorization of the flag State, except those necessary to relieve imminent danger to the lives of persons or those which derive from relevant bilateral or multilateral agreements. 6. Each State Party shall designate an authority or, where necessary, authorities to receive and respond to requests for assistance, for confirmation of registry or of the right of a vessel to fly its flag and for authorization to take appropriate measures. Such designation shall be notified through the Secretary-General to all other States Parties within one month of the designation. 7. A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea and is without nationality or may be assimilated to a vessel without nationality may board and search the vessel. If evidence confirming the suspicion is found, that State Party shall take appropriate measures in accordance with relevant domestic and international law. Article 9 Safeguard clauses 1. Where a State Party takes measures against a vessel in accordance with article 8 of this Protocol, it shall: (a) Ensure the safety and humane treatment of the persons on board; (b) Take due account of the need not to endanger the security of the vessel or its cargo; (c) Take due account of the need not to prejudice the commercial or legal interests of the flag State or any other interested State; (d) Ensure, within available means, that any measure taken with regard to the vessel is environmentally sound. 2. Where the grounds for measures taken pursuant to article 8 of this Protocol prove to be unfounded, the vessel shall be compensated for any loss or damage that may have been sustained, provided that the vessel has not committed any act justifying the measures taken. 3. Any measure taken, adopted or implemented in accordance with this chapter shall take due account of the need not to interfere with or to affect: (a) The rights and obligations and the exercise of jurisdiction of coastal States in accordance with the international law of the sea; or (b) The authority of the flag State to exercise jurisdiction and control in administrative, technical and social matters involving the vessel. 4. Any measure taken at sea pursuant to this chapter shall be carried out only by warships or military aircraft, or by other ships or aircraft clearly marked and identifiable as being on government service and authorized to that effect. III. Prevention, cooperation and other measures Article 10 Information 1. Without prejudice to articles 27 and 28 of the Convention, States Parties, in particular those with common borders or located on routes along which migrants are smuggled, shall, for the purpose of achieving the objectives of this Protocol, exchange among themselves, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems, relevant information on matters such as: (a) Embarkation and destination points, as well as routes, carriers and means of transportation, known to be or suspected of being used by an organized criminal group engaged in conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol; (b) The identity and methods of organizations or organized criminal groups known to be or suspected of being engaged in conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol; (c) The authenticity and proper form of travel documents issued by a State Party and the theft or related misuse of blank travel or identity documents; (d) Means and methods of concealment and transportation of persons, the unlawful alteration, reproduction or acquisition or other misuse of travel or identity documents used in conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and ways of detecting them; (e) Legislative experiences and practices and measures to prevent and combat the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol; and (f) Scientific and technological information useful to law enforcement, so as to enhance each other's ability to prevent, detect and investigate the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and to prosecute those involved. 2. A State Party that receives information shall comply with any request by the State Party that transmitted the information that places restrictions on its use. Article 11 Border measures 1. Without prejudice to international commitments in relation to the free movement of people, States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent possible, such border controls as may be necessary to prevent and detect the smuggling of migrants. 2. Each State Party shall adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent, to the extent possible, means of transport operated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of the offence established in accordance with article 6, paragraph 1 (a), of this Protocol. 3. Where appropriate, and without prejudice to applicable international conventions, such measures shall include establishing the obligation of commercial carriers, including any transportation company or the owner or operator of any means of transport, to ascertain that all passengers are in possession of the travel documents required for entry into the receiving State. 4. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, in accordance with its domestic law, to provide for sanctions in cases of violation of the obligation set forth in paragraph 3 of this article. 5. Each State Party shall consider taking measures that permit, in accordance with its domestic law, the denial of entry or revocation of visas of persons implicated in the commission of offences established in accordance with this Protocol. 6. Without prejudice to article 27 of the Convention, States Parties shall consider strengthening cooperation among border control agencies by, inter alia, establishing and maintaining direct channels of communication. Article 12 Security and control of documents Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, within available means: (a) To ensure that travel or identity documents issued by it are of such quality that they cannot easily be misused and cannot readily be falsified or unlawfully altered, replicated or issued; and (b) To ensure the integrity and security of travel or identity documents issued by or on behalf of the State Party and to prevent their unlawful creation, issuance and use. Article 13 Legitimacy and validity of documents At the request of another State Party, a State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law, verify within a reasonable time the legitimacy and validity of travel or identity documents issued or purported to have been issued in its name and suspected of being used for purposes of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. Article 14 Training and technical cooperation 1. States Parties shall provide or strengthen specialized training for immigration and other relevant officials in preventing the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and in the humane treatment of migrants who have been the object of such conduct, while respecting their rights as set forth in this Protocol. 2. States Parties shall cooperate with each other and with competent international organizations, non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society as appropriate to ensure that there is adequate personnel training in their territories to prevent, combat and eradicate the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and to protect the rights of migrants who have been the object of such conduct. Such training shall include: (a) Improving the security and quality of travel documents; (b) Recognizing and detecting fraudulent travel or identity documents; (c) Gathering criminal intelligence, relating in particular to the identification of organized criminal groups known to be or suspected of being engaged in conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol, the methods used to transport smuggled migrants, the misuse of travel or identity documents for purposes of conduct set forth in article 6 and the means of concealment used in the smuggling of migrants; (d) Improving procedures for detecting smuggled persons at conventional and non-conventional points of entry and exit; and (e) The humane treatment of migrants and the protection of their rights as set forth in this Protocol. 3. States Parties with relevant expertise shall consider providing technical assistance to States that are frequently countries of origin or transit for persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. States Parties shall make every effort to provide the necessary resources, such as vehicles, computer systems and document readers, to combat the conduct set forth in article 6. Article 15 Other prevention measures 1. Each State Party shall take measures to ensure that it provides or strengthens information programmes to increase public awareness of the fact that the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol is a criminal activity frequently perpetrated by organized criminal groups for profit and that it poses serious risks to the migrants concerned. 2. In accordance with article 31 of the Convention, States Parties shall cooperate in the field of public information for the purpose of preventing potential migrants from falling victim to organized criminal groups. 3. Each State Party shall promote or strengthen, as appropriate, development programmes and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, taking into account the socio-economic realities of migration and paying special attention to economically and socially depressed areas, in order to combat the root socio-economic causes of the smuggling of migrants, such as poverty and underdevelopment. Article 16 Protection and assistance measures 1. In implementing this Protocol, each State Party shall take, consistent with its obligations under international law, all appropriate measures, including legislation if necessary, to preserve and protect the rights of persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol as accorded under applicable international law, in particular the right to life and the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 2. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to afford migrants appropriate protection against violence that may be inflicted upon them, whether by individuals or groups, by reason of being the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. 3. Each State Party shall afford appropriate assistance to migrants whose lives or safety are endangered by reason of being the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. 4. In applying the provisions of this article, States Parties shall take into account the special needs of women and children. 5. In the case of the detention of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol, each State Party shall comply with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,Ibid., vol. 596, Nos. 8638-8640. where applicable, including that of informing the person concerned without delay about the provisions concerning notification to and communication with consular officers. Article 17 Agreements and arrangements States Parties shall consider the conclusion of bilateral or regional agreements or operational arrangements or understandings aimed at: (a) Establishing the most appropriate and effective measures to prevent and combat the conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol; or (b) Enhancing the provisions of this Protocol among themselves. Article 18 Return of smuggled migrants 1. Each State Party agrees to facilitate and accept, without undue or unreasonable delay, the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and who is its national or who has the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of return. 2. Each State Party shall consider the possibility of facilitating and accepting the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and who had the right of permanent residence in its territory at the time of entry into the receiving State in accordance with its domestic law. 3. At the request of the receiving State Party, a requested State Party shall, without undue or unreasonable delay, verify whether a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol is its national or has the right of permanent residence in its territory. 4. In order to facilitate the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol and is without proper documentation, the State Party of which that person is a national or in which he or she has the right of permanent residence shall agree to issue, at the request of the receiving State Party, such travel documents or other authorization as may be necessary to enable the person to travel to and re-enter its territory. 5. Each State Party involved with the return of a person who has been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol shall take all appropriate measures to carry out the return in an orderly manner and with due regard for the safety and dignity of the person. 6. States Parties may cooperate with relevant international organizations in the implementation of this article. 7. This article shall be without prejudice to any right afforded to persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol by any domestic law of the receiving State Party. 8. This article shall not affect the obligations entered into under any other applicable treaty, bilateral or multilateral, or any other applicable operational agreement or arrangement that governs, in whole or in part, the return of persons who have been the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. IV. Final provisions Article 19 Saving clause 1. Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the other rights, obligations and responsibilities of States and individuals under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in particular, where applicable, the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees and the principle of non-refoulement as contained therein. 2. The measures set forth in this Protocol shall be interpreted and applied in a way that is not discriminatory to persons on the ground that they are the object of conduct set forth in article 6 of this Protocol. The interpretation and application of those measures shall be consistent with internationally recognized principles of non-discrimination. Article 20 Settlement of disputes l. States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol through negotiation. 2. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court. 3. Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Protocol, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation. 4. Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 21 Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession 1. This Protocol shall be open to all States for signature from 12 to 15 December 2000 in Palermo, Italy, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 12 December 2002. 2. This Protocol shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organizations provided that at least one member State of such organization has signed this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. 3. This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organization may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Protocol. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. 4. This Protocol is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organization of which at least one member State is a Party to this Protocol. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Protocol. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. Article 22 Entry into force 1. This Protocol shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that it shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organization. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the fortieth instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocol enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later. Article 23 Amendment 1. After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Protocol, a State Party to the Protocol may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The States Parties to this Protocol meeting at the Conference of the Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties to this Protocol present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties. 2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to this Protocol. Such organizations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs and vice versa. 3. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties. 4. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party ninety days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment. 5. When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Protocol and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved. Article 24 Denunciation 1. A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. 2. A regional economic integration organization shall cease to be a Party to this Protocol when all of its member States have denounced it. Article 25 Depositary and languages 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Protocol. 2. The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Protocol. RESOLUTION 55/26 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.34/Rev.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia 55/26. Preparations for the special session on children The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/217 of 21 December 1990, in which it welcomed the adoption by the World Summit for Children of the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s,A/45/625, annex. 51/186 of 16 December 1996, 53/193 of 15 December 1998 and 54/93 of 7 December 1999, Bearing in mind the nearly universal ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and, in particular, the paragraphs relevant to the situation of children, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the state of the preparations for the special session of the General Assembly in 2001 for follow-up to the World Summit for Children,A/55/429. Taking note also of the reports of the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session on its organizational and first substantive sessionsA/55/43 (Parts I and II). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 43. and of the decisions contained therein, 1. Reaffirms the commitments adopted by the heads of State and Government at the World Summit for Children on 30 September 1990, as contained in the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s,A/45/625, annex. and their appeal to give every child a better future; 2. Also reaffirms that the special session of the General Assembly in 2001, while reviewing the achievements in the implementation and results of the World Declaration and Plan of Action, will make a renewed commitment and consider future action for children in the forthcoming decade; 3. Stresses that the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. contributes to the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children, and recommends that a thorough assessment of the ten years of implementation of the Convention be an essential element in the preparations for the special session; 4. Welcomes the initiatives and actions taken by Governments and relevant organizations, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, as well as regional and subregional organizations, to review the progress achieved since the World Summit for Children, and in this regard encourages appropriate national, regional and international preparatory activities with a view to contributing to the preparations for the special session and building partnerships for and with children; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking into account the national reports to be submitted by Member States, to submit to the General Assembly at its special session, through the Preparatory Committee for the Special Session, a review of the implementation and results of the World Declaration and Plan of Action, including appropriate recommendations for further actions, which also elaborates on the best practices noted and obstacles encountered in the implementation process, as well as on measures to overcome those obstacles; 6. Reaffirms the need for the full and effective participation of Member States, and in this regard reiterates its invitation to heads of State and Government to participate in the special session; 7. Welcomes the assignment by heads of State and Government of personal representatives to the Preparatory Committee, and reiterates the invitation to heads of State and Government who have not assigned personal representatives to consider doing so; 8. Reiterates its invitation to States members of the specialized agencies that are not Members of the United Nations to participate in the work of the special session, in the capacity of observers; 9. Reaffirms the important role of all relevant actors, including non-governmental organizations, in implementing the Plan of Action, and stresses the need for their active involvement in the preparatory process, including in the work of the Preparatory Committee, and at the special session, the modalities for which are being addressed by the Preparatory Committee; 10. Reiterates the importance of a participatory process at the national, regional and international levels with a view, inter alia, to establishing partnerships among a broad range of actors, including children and young people, in order to raise momentum for the rights and needs of children; 11. Highlights the important role of children and young people in this process, and in this regard encourages States to facilitate and promote their active contribution to the preparatory process, including in the work of the Preparatory Committee, and the special session; 12. Urges all relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, including the funds and programmes, specialized agencies and the international financial institutions, actively to participate in the preparations for the special session; 13. Reiterates its invitation to the Committee on the Rights of the Child to provide its input to the preparatory process and at the special session; 14. Reiterates its invitation also to all relevant experts, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to participate in the preparatory process and the special session, in accordance with the established practice; 15. Decides to convene the special session of the General Assembly for follow-up to the World Summit for Children from 19 to 21 September 2001, and to refer to it as the "special session on children"; 16. Decides also to convene two substantive sessions of the Preparatory Committee in New York during 2001, one from 29 January to 2 February and the other from 11 to 15 June; 17. Decides further to invite the associate members of the regional commissions listed in the footnoteAmerican Samoa, Anguilla, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Niue, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands. to participate as observers in the special session and its preparatory process, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 18. Reaffirms the importance of the full participation of the least developed countries in the special session and the preparations for the session, and in this regard expresses its appreciation to the Governments which have made financial contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General for that purpose, and invites the Governments which have not yet contributed to do so; 19. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments which have made financial contributions towards the preparatory activities undertaken by the United Nations Children's Fund as the substantive secretariat of the special session, and encourages Governments which have not yet contributed to do so; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session an item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the special session on children". RESOLUTION 55/27 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/552, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 55/27. Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed at Helsinki on 1 August 1975, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Welcoming the democratic changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and their positive effects on the peace, stability and development of South-Eastern Europe, Recalling its resolutions 48/84 B of 16 December 1993, 50/80 B of 12 December 1995, 51/55 of 10 December 1996, 52/48 of 9 December 1997, 53/71 of 4 December 1998 and 54/62 of 1 December 1999, Recalling also the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe initiated by the European Union, adopted at Cologne, Germany, on 10 June 1999 and endorsed at the Sarajevo Summit of 30 July 1999, and stressing the crucial importance of its implementation, Recalling further the Sarajevo Summit Declaration, in which the participants affirm their collective and individual readiness to give concrete meaning to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe by promoting political and economic reforms, development and enhanced security in the region and also their commitment to make every effort to assist countries in the region in making speedy and measurable progress along this road, Emphasizing the crucial importance of the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 on Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Noting the importance of the activities of the international organizations, such as the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the contribution of the Central European Initiative and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation for the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, Noting also the importance of the Charter on Good-Neighbourly Relations, Stability, Security and Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe, signed by the States participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process at Bucharest on 12 February 2000,See A/54/781. and the joint statement of the heads of State and Government adopted at Skopje on 25 October 2000,A/55/522-S/2000/1028, annex. Noting further the convening of the International Conference on War-Affected Children at Winnipeg, Canada, from 10 to 17 September 2000, Emphasizing the importance of regional efforts in South-Eastern Europe on arms control, demining, disarmament and confidence-building measures, and concerned that, in spite of ongoing efforts, the illicit traffic in and circulation of small arms continue to persist, Mindful of the importance of national and international activities by all relevant organizations aimed at the creation of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation, economic development, the observance of human rights and good-neighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe, Affirming its determination that all nations should live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, 1. Affirms the urgency of consolidating South-Eastern Europe as a region of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and for the promotion of good-neighbourliness and the observance of human rights, thus contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security and enhancing the prospects for sustained development and prosperity for all peoples in the region as an integral part of Europe; 2. Calls upon all participants in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, and all concerned international organizations, to support the efforts of South-Eastern European States to overcome the negative effects of the Kosovo crisis and other recent crises so as to enable them to pursue sustainable development and their integration into the European structures, and welcomes the results of the third meeting of the Working Table on Security Issues of the Stability Pact, held at Sofia on 4 and 5 October 2000; 3. Encourages all States to contribute to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) on Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and welcomes the efforts and supports the role of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the Kosovo Force in the implementation of their mandates under that resolution; 4. Calls upon all States, the relevant international organizations and competent organs of the United Nations to respect the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States and the inviolability of international borders, to continue to take measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, as appropriate, to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to help to prevent conflicts which can lead to the violent disintegration of States; 5. Stresses the importance of good-neighbourliness and the development of friendly relations among States, and calls upon all States to resolve their disputes with other States by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 6. Urges strengthening of the relations among the States of South-Eastern Europe on the basis of respect for international law and agreements, in accordance with the principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect; 7. Stresses the importance of regional efforts aimed at preventing conflicts that endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and, in this regard, notes with satisfaction the role of the Multinational Peace Force for South-Eastern Europe; 8. Emphasizes the importance of regional efforts in South-Eastern Europe for arms control, disarmament and confidence-building measures; 9. Recognizes the seriousness of the problem of anti-personnel mines in South-Eastern Europe and, in this context, welcomes the efforts of the international community in support of mine action and encourages States to join and support these efforts; 10. Urges all States to take effective measures against illicit traffic in and circulation of small arms and to help programmes and projects aimed at the safe destruction of surplus stocks of small arms and light weapons, and stresses the importance of closer cooperation among States, inter alia, in crime prevention, combating illicit trade of people, drug trafficking and money-laundering; 11. Stresses that closer engagement of the South-Eastern European States in furthering cooperation on the European continent will favourably influence the security, political and economic situation in the region, as well as good-neighbourly relations among the States; 12. Calls upon all States and the relevant international organizations to communicate to the Secretary-General their views on the subject of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session an item entitled "Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe". RESOLUTION 55/28 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/554, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation. 55/28. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998 and 54/49 of 1 December 1999, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of mankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling in this connection the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held at Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations it made,See A/51/261, annex. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the security of States in both civil and military fields, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70 and 54/49, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213 and A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts at Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Definition of basic notions related to information security, including unauthorized interference with or misuse of information and telecommunications systems and information resources; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 of the present resolution; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report based on replies received from Member States to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 55/29 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/555, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 97 to 46, with 21 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 55/29. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapon systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that the international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. it was noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persist, Emphasizing that internationally negotiated guidelines for the transfer of high technology with military applications should take into account the legitimate defence requirements of all States and the requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, while ensuring that access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful purposes is not denied, 1. Affirms that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted; 2. Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States; 3. Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications; 4. Encourages United Nations bodies to contribute, within existing mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful purposes; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament". RESOLUTION 55/2 Adopted at the 8th plenary meeting, on 8 September 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.2, referred by the General Assembly at its fifty-fourth session 55/2. United Nations Millennium Declaration The General Assembly Adopts the following Declaration: United Nations Millennium Declaration I. Values and principles 1. We, heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000, at the dawn of a new millennium, to reaffirm our faith in the Organization and its Charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. 2. We recognize that, in addition to our separate responsibilities to our individual societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level. As leaders we have a duty therefore to all the world's people, especially the most vulnerable and, in particular, the children of the world, to whom the future belongs. 3. We reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which have proved timeless and universal. Indeed, their relevance and capacity to inspire have increased, as nations and peoples have become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. 4. We are determined to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter. We rededicate ourselves to support all efforts to uphold the sovereign equality of all States, respect for their territorial integrity and political independence, resolution of disputes by peaceful means and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, the right to self-determination of peoples which remain under colonial domination and foreign occupation, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for the equal rights of all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion and international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character. 5. We believe that the central challenge we face today is to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people. For while globalization offers great opportunities, at present its benefits are very unevenly shared, while its costs are unevenly distributed. We recognize that developing countries and countries with economies in transition face special difficulties in responding to this central challenge. Thus, only through broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future, based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable. These efforts must include policies and measures, at the global level, which correspond to the needs of developing countries and economies in transition and are formulated and implemented with their effective participation. 6. We consider certain fundamental values to be essential to international relations in the twenty-first century. These include: • Freedom. Men and women have the right to live their lives and raise their children in dignity, free from hunger and from the fear of violence, oppression or injustice. Democratic and participatory governance based on the will of the people best assures these rights. • Equality. No individual and no nation must be denied the opportunity to benefit from development. The equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured. • Solidarity. Global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes the costs and burdens fairly in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice. Those who suffer or who benefit least deserve help from those who benefit most. • Tolerance. Human beings must respect one other, in all their diversity of belief, culture and language. Differences within and between societies should be neither feared nor repressed, but cherished as a precious asset of humanity. A culture of peace and dialogue among all civilizations should be actively promoted. • Respect for nature. Prudence must be shown in the management of all living species and natural resources, in accordance with the precepts of sustainable development. Only in this way can the immeasurable riches provided to us by nature be preserved and passed on to our descendants. The current unsustainable patterns of production and consumption must be changed in the interest of our future welfare and that of our descendants. • Shared responsibility. Responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally. As the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role. 7. In order to translate these shared values into actions, we have identified key objectives to which we assign special significance. II. Peace, security and disarmament 8. We will spare no effort to free our peoples from the scourge of war, whether within or between States, which has claimed more than 5 million lives in the past decade. We will also seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction. 9. We resolve therefore: • To strengthen respect for the rule of law in international as in national affairs and, in particular, to ensure compliance by Member States with the decisions of the International Court of Justice, in compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, in cases to which they are parties. • To make the United Nations more effective in maintaining peace and security by giving it the resources and tools it needs for conflict prevention, peaceful resolution of disputes, peacekeeping, post-conflict peace-building and reconstruction. In this context, we take note of the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations,A/55/305-S/2000/809. and request the General Assembly to consider its recommendations expeditiously. • To strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter. • To ensure the implementation, by States Parties, of treaties in areas such as arms control and disarmament and of international humanitarian law and human rights law, and call upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.A/CONF.183/9. • To take concerted action against international terrorism, and to accede as soon as possible to all the relevant international conventions. • To redouble our efforts to implement our commitment to counter the world drug problem. • To intensify our efforts to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, including trafficking as well as smuggling in human beings and money laundering. • To minimize the adverse effects of United Nations economic sanctions on innocent populations, to subject such sanctions regimes to regular reviews and to eliminate the adverse effects of sanctions on third parties. • To strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers. • To take concerted action to end illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons, especially by making arms transfers more transparent and supporting regional disarmament measures, taking account of all the recommendations of the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. • To call on all States to consider acceding to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. as well as the amended mines protocol to the Convention on conventional weapons.Amended protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of mines, booby-traps and other devices (CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B). 10. We urge Member States to observe the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, now and in the future, and to support the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic Ideal. III. Development and poverty eradication 11. We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected. We are committed to making the right to development a reality for everyone and to freeing the entire human race from want. 12. We resolve therefore to create an environment - at the national and global levels alike - which is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty. 13. Success in meeting these objectives depends, inter alia, on good governance within each country. It also depends on good governance at the international level and on transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems. We are committed to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system. 14. We are concerned about the obstacles developing countries face in mobilizing the resources needed to finance their sustained development. We will therefore make every effort to ensure the success of the high-level international intergovernmental event on financing for development, to be held in 2001. 15. We also undertake to address the special needs of the least developed countries. In this context, we welcome the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries to be held in May 2001 and will endeavour to ensure its success. We call on the industrialized countries: • To adopt, preferably by the time of that Conference, a policy of duty- and quota-free access for essentially all exports from the least developed countries; • To implement the enhanced programme of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries without further delay and to agree to cancel all official bilateral debts of those countries in return for their making demonstrable commitments to poverty reduction; and • To grant more generous development assistance, especially to countries that are genuinely making an effort to apply their resources to poverty reduction. 16. We are also determined to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of low- and middle-income developing countries, through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term. 17. We also resolve to address the special needs of small island developing States, by implementing the Barbados Programme of ActionProgramme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II). and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly rapidly and in full. We urge the international community to ensure that, in the development of a vulnerability index, the special needs of small island developing States are taken into account. 18. We recognize the special needs and problems of the landlocked developing countries, and urge both bilateral and multilateral donors to increase financial and technical assistance to this group of countries to meet their special development needs and to help them overcome the impediments of geography by improving their transit transport systems. 19. We resolve further: • To halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger and, by the same date, to halve the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water. • To ensure that, by the same date, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education. • By the same date, to have reduced maternal mortality by three quarters, and under-five child mortality by two thirds, of their current rates. • To have, by then, halted, and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS, the scourge of malaria and other major diseases that afflict humanity. • To provide special assistance to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. • By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers as proposed in the "Cities Without Slums" initiative. 20. We also resolve: • To promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable. • To develop and implement strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work. • To encourage the pharmaceutical industry to make essential drugs more widely available and affordable by all who need them in developing countries. • To develop strong partnerships with the private sector and with civil society organizations in pursuit of development and poverty eradication. • To ensure that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies, in conformity with recommendations contained in the ECOSOC 2000 Ministerial Declaration,E/2000/L.9. are available to all. IV. Protecting our common environment 21. We must spare no effort to free all of humanity, and above all our children and grandchildren, from the threat of living on a planet irredeemably spoilt by human activities, and whose resources would no longer be sufficient for their needs. 22. We reaffirm our support for the principles of sustainable development, including those set out in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. agreed upon at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. 23. We resolve therefore to adopt in all our environmental actions a new ethic of conservation and stewardship and, as first steps, we resolve: • To make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, preferably by the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 2002, and to embark on the required reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. • To intensify our collective efforts for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. • To press for the full implementation of the Convention on Biological DiversitySee United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity (Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. and the Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa.United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. • To stop the unsustainable exploitation of water resources by developing water management strategies at the regional, national and local levels, which promote both equitable access and adequate supplies. • To intensify cooperation to reduce the number and effects of natural and man-made disasters. • To ensure free access to information on the human genome sequence. V. Human rights, democracy and good governance 24. We will spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect for all internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development. 25. We resolve therefore: • To respect fully and uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Resolution 217 A (III). • To strive for the full protection and promotion in all our countries of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all. • To strengthen the capacity of all our countries to implement the principles and practices of democracy and respect for human rights, including minority rights. • To combat all forms of violence against women and to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.Resolution 34/180, annex. • To take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies. • To work collectively for more inclusive political processes, allowing genuine participation by all citizens in all our countries. • To ensure the freedom of the media to perform their essential role and the right of the public to have access to information. VI. Protecting the vulnerable 26. We will spare no effort to ensure that children and all civilian populations that suffer disproportionately the consequences of natural disasters, genocide, armed conflicts and other humanitarian emergencies are given every assistance and protection so that they can resume normal life as soon as possible. We resolve therefore: • To expand and strengthen the protection of civilians in complex emergencies, in conformity with international humanitarian law. • To strengthen international cooperation, including burden sharing in, and the coordination of humanitarian assistance to, countries hosting refugees and to help all refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily to their homes, in safety and dignity and to be smoothly reintegrated into their societies. • To encourage the ratification and full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and its optional protocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. VII. Meeting the special needs of Africa 27. We will support the consolidation of democracy in Africa and assist Africans in their struggle for lasting peace, poverty eradication and sustainable development, thereby bringing Africa into the mainstream of the world economy. 28. We resolve therefore: • To give full support to the political and institutional structures of emerging democracies in Africa. • To encourage and sustain regional and subregional mechanisms for preventing conflict and promoting political stability, and to ensure a reliable flow of resources for peacekeeping operations on the continent. • To take special measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa, including debt cancellation, improved market access, enhanced Official Development Assistance and increased flows of Foreign Direct Investment, as well as transfers of technology. • To help Africa build up its capacity to tackle the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other infectious diseases. VIII. Strengthening the United Nations 29. We will spare no effort to make the United Nations a more effective instrument for pursuing all of these priorities: the fight for development for all the peoples of the world, the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease; the fight against injustice; the fight against violence, terror and crime; and the fight against the degradation and destruction of our common home. 30. We resolve therefore: • To reaffirm the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations, and to enable it to play that role effectively. • To intensify our efforts to achieve a comprehensive reform of the Security Council in all its aspects. • To strengthen further the Economic and Social Council, building on its recent achievements, to help it fulfil the role ascribed to it in the Charter. • To strengthen the International Court of Justice, in order to ensure justice and the rule of law in international affairs. • To encourage regular consultations and coordination among the principal organs of the United Nations in pursuit of their functions. • To ensure that the Organization is provided on a timely and predictable basis with the resources it needs to carry out its mandates. • To urge the Secretariat to make the best use of those resources, in accordance with clear rules and procedures agreed by the General Assembly, in the interests of all Member States, by adopting the best management practices and technologies available and by concentrating on those tasks that reflect the agreed priorities of Member States. • To promote adherence to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.Resolution 49/59, annex. • To ensure greater policy coherence and better cooperation between the United Nations, its agencies, the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organization, as well as other multilateral bodies, with a view to achieving a fully coordinated approach to the problems of peace and development. • To strengthen further cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments through their world organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in various fields, including peace and security, economic and social development, international law and human rights and democracy and gender issues. • To give greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society, in general, to contribute to the realization of the Organization's goals and programmes. 31. We request the General Assembly to review on a regular basis the progress made in implementing the provisions of this Declaration, and ask the Secretary-General to issue periodic reports for consideration by the General Assembly and as a basis for further action. 32. We solemnly reaffirm, on this historic occasion, that the United Nations is the indispensable common house of the entire human family, through which we will seek to realize our universal aspirations for peace, cooperation and development. We therefore pledge our unstinting support for these common objectives and our determination to achieve them. RESOLUTION 55/30 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/556, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 55/30. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998 and 54/51 of 1 December 1999 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 54/51,A/55/388. 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(44)/RES/28, adopted on 22 September 2000 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fourth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC(2000)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/388. 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his reportA/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTION 55/31 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/557, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 111 to none, with 54 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: None Abstentions: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu 55/31. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect III C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998 and 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be further explored in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Recommends also that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 55/32 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/558, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Togo. by a recorded vote of 163 to none, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America 55/32. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling in this context its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space by itself does not guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that this legal regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness, and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during the 2001 session of the Conference; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTIONS 55/33 A to Y 55/33. General and complete disarmament Resolution A Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Islamic Republic of Iran. by a recorded vote of 97 to none, with 65 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu A Missiles The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/54 F of 1 December 1999, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in the field of arms regulation and disarmament and the commitment of Member States to take concrete steps to strengthen that role, Realizing the need to promote regional and international peace and security in a world free from the scourge of war and the burden of armaments, Convinced of the need for a comprehensive approach towards missiles, in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner, as a contribution to international peace and security, Bearing in mind that the security concerns of Member States at the international and regional levels should be taken into consideration in addressing the issue of missiles, Underlining the complexities involved in considering the issue of missiles in the conventional context, Expressing its support for the international efforts against the development and proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General, submitted pursuant to resolution 54/54 F,A/55/116 and Add.1. 2. Requests the Secretary-General further to seek the views of Member States on the issue of missiles in all its aspects and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a panel of governmental experts to be established in 2001 on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to prepare a report for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the issue of missiles in all its aspects; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Missiles". Resolution B Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, China and Russian Federation. by a recorded vote of 88 to 5, with 66 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Honduras, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstentions: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela B Preservation of and compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/60 of 12 December 1995 and 52/30 of 9 December 1997 on compliance with arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements and its resolution 54/54 A of 1 December 1999 on preservation of and compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. Recognizing the historical role of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems of 26 May 1972 between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a cornerstone for maintaining global peace and security and strategic stability, and reaffirming its continued validity and relevance, especially in the current international situation, Stressing the paramount importance of full and strict compliance with the Treaty by the parties, Recalling that the provisions of the Treaty are intended as a contribution to the creation of more favourable conditions for further negotiations on limiting strategic arms, Mindful of the obligations of the parties to the Treaty under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. Concerned that the implementation of any measures undermining the purposes and provisions of the Treaty affects not only the security interests of the parties, but also those of the whole international community, Recalling the widespread concern about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, 1. Calls for continued efforts to strengthen the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile SystemsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. and to preserve its integrity and validity so that it remains a cornerstone in maintaining global strategic stability and world peace and in promoting further strategic nuclear arms reductions; 2. Calls also for renewed efforts by each of the States parties to preserve and strengthen the Treaty through full and strict compliance; 3. Calls upon the parties to the Treaty, in accordance with their obligations under the Treaty, to limit the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems, to refrain from the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems for the defence of the territory of their country, not to provide a base for such a defence and not to transfer to other States or deploy outside their national territory anti-ballistic missile systems or their components limited by the Treaty; 4. Considers that the implementation of any measure undermining the purposes and the provisions of the Treaty also undermines global strategic stability and world peace and the promotion of further strategic nuclear arms reductions; 5. Urges all Member States to support efforts aimed at stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 6. Supports further efforts by the international community, in the light of emerging developments, towards safeguarding the inviolability and integrity of the Treaty, which is in the strongest interest of the international community; 7. Welcomes the decision taken by the United States of America on 1 September 2000 not to authorize deployment of a national missile defence at this time, and considers that it constitutes a positive step for the preservation of strategic stability and security; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Preservation of and compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems". Resolution C Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 154 to 3, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India, Israel, Pakistan Abstentions: Bhutan, France, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Monaco, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan C Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: the need for a new agenda The General Assembly, Noting its resolutions 53/77 Y of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 G of 1 December 1999, Expressing its deep concern at the continued risk for humanity represented by the possibility that nuclear weapons could be used, Noting the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued at The Hague on 8 July 1996,Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Noting also that three States continue to operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities and have not acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. and concerned at the continued retention of the nuclear-weapons option by those three States, Declaring that nuclear test explosions carried out in 1998 by two of the States that have not renounced the nuclear-weapons option do not in any way confer a nuclear-weapon State status or any special status whatsoever, Noting that, despite achievements in bilateral and unilateral arms reductions, the total number of nuclear weapons deployed and stockpiled still amount to many thousands, Welcoming the significant progress achieved in nuclear weapon reductions made unilaterally or bilaterally under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) process, as a step towards nuclear disarmament, Welcoming also the ratification of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II)The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 18: 1993 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.IX.1), appendix II. by the Russian Federation as an important step in the efforts to reduce strategic offensive weapons, and noting that completion of ratification of START II by the United States of America remains a priority, Concerned that negotiations on nuclear arms reductions are not actively under way, Welcoming the significant unilateral reduction measures taken by other nuclear-weapon States, including the closing down and dismantling of nuclear-weapon-related facilities, Welcoming also the efforts of several States to cooperate in making nuclear disarmament measures irreversible, in particular through the adoption of initiatives on the verification, management and disposition of fissile material declared excess to military purposes, Noting the declaration by the nuclear-weapon States that none of their nuclear weapons are targeted at any State, Underlining the necessity of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Noting the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which the heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Welcoming the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty,Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VI, para. 15:6. Underlining the need for action to achieve a world free from nuclear weapons, Determined to pursue practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. 1. Agrees on the importance and urgency of signatures and ratifications, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 2. Calls for the upholding of a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending entry into force of the above-mentioned Treaty; 3. Agrees on the necessity for negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995CD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives, and urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty, with a view to their conclusion within five years; 4. Agrees also on the necessity of establishing within the context of the Conference on Disarmament an appropriate subsidiary body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament, and urges the Conference to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate establishment of such a body; 5. Calls for the principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 6. Calls also for the early entry into force and full implementation of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II)The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 18: 1993 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.IX.1), appendix II. and the conclusion of START III as soon as possible, while preserving and strengthening the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile SystemsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. as a cornerstone of strategic stability and as a basis for further reductions of strategic offensive weapons, in accordance with the provisions of that Treaty; 7. Calls further for the completion and implementation of the Trilateral Initiative between the United States of America, the Russian Federation and the International Atomic Energy Agency; 8. Calls for steps to be taken by all nuclear-weapon States that would lead to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability and, based upon the principle of undiminished security for all, for: (a) Further efforts to be made by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (b) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to nuclear weapons capabilities, and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsIbid., vol. 729, No. 10485. and as a voluntary confidence-building measure to support further progress in nuclear disarmament; (c) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (d) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (e) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies so as to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (f) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; 9. Calls also for arrangements by all nuclear-weapon States to place, as soon as practicable, the fissile material designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes in order to ensure that such material remains permanently outside military programmes; 10. Reaffirms that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control; 11. Calls for regular reports, within the framework of the strengthened review process for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, by all States parties on the implementation of article VI of the Treaty and paragraph 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. and, in this regard, recalls the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996;Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. 12. Agrees to pursue the further development of the verification capabilities that will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 13. Calls upon all States not yet party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States, promptly and without condition, in particular those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, and also calls upon those States to bring into force the required comprehensive safeguards agreements, together with additional protocols, consistent with the Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 15 May 1997,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). for ensuring nuclear non-proliferation, and to reverse clearly and urgently any policies to pursue any nuclear weapons development or deployment and refrain from any action that could undermine regional and international peace and security and the efforts of the international community towards nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation; 14. Calls upon those States that have not yet done so to conclude full-scope safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol; 15. Notes the paramount importance of effective physical protection of all nuclear material, and calls upon all States to maintain the highest possible standards of security and physical protection of nuclear materials; 16. Notes also that the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreed that legally binding security assurances by the five nuclear-weapon States to the non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and that it called upon the Preparatory Committee to make recommendations on this issue to the 2005 Review Conference;2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VII, para. 2. 17. Reaffirms the conviction that the establishment of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned enhances global and regional peace and security, strengthens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and contributes towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament, and supports proposals for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones where they do not yet exist, such as in the Middle East and South Asia; 18. Affirms that a nuclear-weapon-free world will ultimately require the underpinning of a universal and multilaterally negotiated legally binding instrument or a framework encompassing a mutually reinforcing set of instruments; 19. Acknowledges the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 54/54 G,A/55/217. and requests him, within existing resources, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: the need for a new agenda", and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. Resolution D Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Algeria. by a recorded vote of 163 to 1, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstentions: Cuba, Israel, Pakistan D 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, in which it was agreed that Review Conferences should continue to be held every five years and that, accordingly, the next Review Conference should be held in the year 2000,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 1, para. 2. Recalling also its resolutions 50/70 Q of 12 December 1995 and 51/45 A of 10 December 1996, Recalling further that the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons met in New York from 24 April to 19 May 2000 to review the operation of the Treaty, as provided for in its article VIII, paragraph 3, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference,Ibid., annex. Welcomes the adoption by consensus on 19 May 2000 of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). including in particular the documents entitled "Review of the operation of the Treaty, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference" and "Improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty".2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. Resolution E Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Mozambique, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and Ukraine. E United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education The General Assembly, Desirous of stressing the urgency of promoting concerted international efforts at disarmament and non-proliferation, especially in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, with a view to strengthening international security and enhancing sustainable economic and social development, Conscious of the need, more than a decade after the end of the cold war and at the start of the twenty-first century, to combat the negative effects of cultures of violence and complacency in the face of current dangers in this field through long-term programmes of education and training, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, with the assistance of a group of qualified governmental experts, a study on disarmament and non-proliferation, that would have the following aims: (a) To define contemporary disarmament and non-proliferation education and training, taking into account the need to promote a culture of non-violence and peace; (b) To assess the current situation of disarmament and non-proliferation education and training at the primary, secondary, university and postgraduate levels of education, in all regions of the world; (c) To recommend ways to promote education and training in disarmament and non-proliferation at all levels of formal and informal education, in particular the training of educators, parliamentarians, municipal leaders, military officers and government officials; (d) To examine ways to utilize more fully evolving pedagogic methods, particularly the revolution in information and communications technology, including distance learning, to enhance efforts in disarmament education and training at all levels, in the developed and the developing world; (e) To recommend ways in which organizations of the United Nations system with special competence in disarmament or education or both can harmonize and coordinate their efforts in disarmament and non-proliferation education; (f) To devise ways to introduce disarmament and non-proliferation education into post-conflict situations as a contribution to peace-building; and considers that the group of experts should invite representatives of organizations of the United Nations system with special competence in disarmament or education or both to participate in its work, and should also invite university educators, disarmament and peace-related institutes and non-governmental organizations that have special qualifications in education and training or in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation to make written and oral presentations to it; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on this question. Resolution F Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. F Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them The General Assembly, Considering that the proliferation, illicit circulation of and traffic in small arms constitute an impediment to development, and a threat to populations and to national and regional security and are a factor contributing to the destabilization of States, Gravely concerned at the extent of the proliferation, illicit circulation of and traffic in small arms in the States of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion, Welcoming the conclusions of the United Nations advisory missions sent to the affected countries of the subregion by the Secretary-General to study the best way of curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting them, Welcoming also the designation of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat as the coordination centre for all United Nations activities concerning small arms, Thanking the Secretary-General for his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and bearing in mind the statement on small arms made by the President of the Security Council on 24 September 1999,S/PRST/1999/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. Welcoming the recommendations made at the meetings of the States of the subregion held at Banjul, Algiers, Bamako, Yamoussoukro and Niamey to establish close regional cooperation with a view to strengthening security, Welcoming also the initiative taken by the Economic Community of West African States concerning the declaration of a moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, Recalling the Algiers Declaration adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Decl.1 (XXXV). and bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity on the proliferation, illicit circulation of and traffic in small arms, Emphasizing the need to advance efforts towards wider cooperation and better coordination in the struggle against the stockpiling, proliferation and widespread use of small arms, inter alia, through the common understanding reached at the meeting on small arms held at Oslo on 13 and 14 July 1998See CD/1556. and the Brussels Call for Action adopted by the International Conference on Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development, held at Brussels on 12 and 13 October 1998,A/53/681, annex. as adopted in document A/53/681, paragraph 4, 1. Welcomes with satisfaction the Declaration of the Ministerial Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa, held at Abuja on 8 and 9 May 2000,A/55/286, annex II, decision AHG/Decl.4 (XXXVI). encourages the Secretary-General to continue his efforts, in the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and of the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions, to curb the illicit circulation of small arms and to collect such arms in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the Organization of African Unity; 2. Encourages the setting up in the countries in the Saharo-Sahelian subregion of national commissions against the proliferation of small arms, and invites the international community to support as far as possible the smooth functioning of the national commissions where they have been set up; 3. Welcomes the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, adopted by the heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States at Abuja on 31 October 1998,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. and urges the international community to give its support to the implementation of the moratorium; 4. Recommends the involvement of organizations and associations of civil society in efforts to combat the illicit circulation of small arms in the context of the national commissions and their participation in the implementation of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms; 5. Takes note of the conclusions of the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Economic Community of West African States, held at Bamako on 24 and 25 March 1999, on the modalities for the implementation of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, and welcomes the adoption by the meeting of a plan of action; 6. Expresses its full support for the appeal launched by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session for a coordinated African approach, under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity, to the problems posed by the proliferation, illicit circulation of and traffic in small arms, bearing in mind the experiences and activities of the various regions in this regard;A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec.137 (XXXV), para. 10. 7. Encourages cooperation among State bodies, international organizations and civil society in combating the illicit circulation of small arms and supporting operations at the subregional level; 8. Expresses its full support for the convening of a United Nations conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects in June/July 2001, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/54 V of 15 December 1999; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to examine the question and to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them". Resolution G Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. G Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 52/38 G of 9 December 1997, 53/77 M of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 H of 1 December 1999, Convinced that a comprehensive and integrated approach towards certain practical disarmament measures, such as arms control, particularly with regard to small arms and light weapons, confidence-building measures, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants, demining and conversion, often is a prerequisite to maintaining and consolidating peace and security and thus provides a basis for effective rehabilitation and social and economic development in areas that have suffered from conflict, Noting with satisfaction that the international community is more than ever aware of the importance of such practical disarmament measures, especially with regard to the growing problems arising from the excessive and destabilizing accumulation and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which pose a threat to peace and security and reduce the prospects for economic development in many regions, particularly in post-conflict situations, Stressing that further efforts are needed in order to develop and effectively implement programmes of practical disarmament in affected areas, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms,A/54/258. and in particular the recommendations contained therein, as an important contribution to the consolidation of the peace process through practical disarmament measures, Taking into account the deliberations at the 2000 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission in Working Group II on agenda item 5, entitled "Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/55/42), para. 29. and encouraging the Disarmament Commission to continue its efforts aimed at the identification of such measures, 1. Stresses, in the context of the present resolution, the particular relevance of the "Guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace in the context of General Assembly resolution 51/45 N",Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex III. adopted by the Disarmament Commission by consensus at its 1999 substantive session; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures, submitted pursuant to resolution 51/45 N,A/52/289. and once again encourages Member States, as well as regional arrangements and agencies, to lend their support to the implementation of the recommendations contained therein; 3. Welcomes the activities undertaken by the group of interested States that was formed in New York in March 1998, and invites the group to continue to analyse lessons learned from previous disarmament and peace-building projects, as well as to promote new practical disarmament measures to consolidate peace, especially as undertaken or designed by affected States themselves; 4. Encourages Member States, including the group of interested States, to lend their support to the Secretary-General in responding to requests by Member States to collect and destroy small arms and light weapons in post-conflict situations; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures". Resolution H Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Canada and Poland. H Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 54/54 E of 1 December 1999, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that since the adoption of resolution 54/54 E, fourteen additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and forty, 1. Emphasizes the necessity of universal adherence to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 2. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties; 3. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 4. Also stresses the vital importance of full and effective implementation of and compliance with all provisions of the Convention; 5. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 6. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 7. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the signature of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". Resolution I Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 159 to 4, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, Monaco, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Andorra, India, Israel, Russian Federation, Spain I Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, Welcoming the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and Pelindaba,A/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Calls for the ratification of the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba by all States of the region concerned, and calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet done so; 3. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 4. Convinced of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 5. Calls upon the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, in order to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 6. Welcomes the vigorous efforts being made among States parties and signatories to those treaties to promote their common objectives, and considers that an international conference of States parties and signatories to the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties might be held to support the common goals envisaged in those treaties; 7. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to such treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of these goals; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". Resolution J Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 163 to none, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Republic of Korea, United States of America J Measures to uphold the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 53/77 L of 4 December 1998, Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling the long-standing determination of the international community to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical and biological weapons as well as the continuing support for measures to uphold the authority of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. as expressed by consensus in many previous resolutions, Welcoming the end of the cold war, the ensuing easing of international tension and the strengthening of trust between States, Welcoming also the initiatives by some States parties to withdraw their reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol, 1. Renews its previous call to all States to observe strictly the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. and reaffirms the vital necessity of upholding its provisions; 2. Notes with appreciation the recent withdrawal of reservations by two State parties to the Geneva Protocol;See A/55/115 and Add.1. 3. Calls upon those States that continue to maintain reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol to withdraw those reservations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. Resolution K Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 165 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: France, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America K Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should fully contribute to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress in the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;See A/55/129. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing this information to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". Resolution L Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). L Relationship between disarmament and development The General Assembly, Recalling the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. concerning the relationship between disarmament and development, Recalling also the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 December 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 T of 1 December 1999, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. and the final document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Welcoming the different activities organized by the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/258. Stressing the growing importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development in current international relations, 1. Calls upon the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development to strengthen and enhance its programme of activities, in accordance with the mandate set out in the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8, para. 35. 2. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries; 3. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General, by 15 April 2001, their views and proposals for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, as well as any other views and proposals with a view to achieving the goals of the action programme, within the framework of current international relations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the International Conference; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development". Resolution M Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). M Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 I of 15 December 1994, 50/70 F of 12 December 1995, 51/45 C of 10 December 1996, 52/38 F of 9 December 1997, 53/77 AA of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 U of 1 December 1999, Recalling also that, there being a consensus to do so in each case, three special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament were held in 1978, 1982 and 1988, respectively, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. adopted by consensus at the first special session devoted to disarmament, which included the Declaration, the Programme of Action and the Machinery for disarmament, Bearing in mind also the objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Taking note of paragraph 145 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. which supported the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, which would offer an opportunity to review, from a perspective more in tune with the current international situation, the most critical aspects of the process of disarmament and to mobilize the international community and public opinion in favour of the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and of the control and reduction of conventional weapons, Taking note also of the report of the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament CommissionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42). and of the fact that no consensus was reached on the item entitled "Fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament", Desiring to build upon the substantive exchange of views on the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission, Reiterating its conviction that a special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament can set the future course of action in the field of disarmament, arms control and related international security matters, Emphasizing the importance of multilateralism in the process of disarmament, arms control and related international security matters, Noting that, with the recent accomplishments made by the international community in the field of weapons of mass destruction as well as conventional arms, the following years would be opportune for the international community to start the process of reviewing the state of affairs in the entire field of disarmament and arms control in the post-cold-war era, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/130 and Add.1. regarding the views of States Members of the United Nations on the objectives, agenda and timing of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, 1. Decides, subject to the emergence of a consensus on its objectives and agenda, to convene the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of States Members of the United Nations on the objectives, agenda and timing of the special session and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament". Resolution N Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bhutan, Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 110 to 45, with 14 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan N Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the imperative need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to detargeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that reduction of tensions brought about by a change in nuclear doctrines would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling that in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear WeaponsLegality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. it is stated that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Welcoming the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 of the present resolution; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the reportSee A/55/324. prepared by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and submitted by the Secretary-General in pursuance of paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 54/54 K of 1 December 1999, including the need for the Board to continue its discussions on the subject; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to continue to seek inputs from the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters on information with regard to specific measures that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war, including the proposal contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration for convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of the fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". Resolution O Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia and Turkey. O Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 N of 1 December 1999 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels in order to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". Resolution P Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 163 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstentions: Bhutan P Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament, as a first step, to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". Resolution Q Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Q Illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/54 R of 1 December 1999, Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report,A/55/323 and Add.1. Recognizing the human suffering caused by illicit trafficking in small arms and that Governments bear the responsibility of intensifying their efforts by developing an understanding of the issues and practical ways of addressing the problem, Bearing in mind the interface among violence, criminality, drug trafficking, the illicit trade in diamonds, terrorism and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, Stressing the importance of the efforts to elaborate an international convention against transnational organized crime, including a protocol to combat the illicit manufacturing of and illicit trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, within the framework of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Convinced of the importance of national, regional and international measures to combat illicit trafficking in and illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons, including those suited to indigenous regional approaches, Welcoming, in this regard, the decision by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, to convene an African ministerial conference on the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons at Bamako in November 2000, the establishment of the Consultative Committee by the States parties to the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, the decision by the Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community to conclude its negotiations on a protocol on the control of firearms, ammunition and other related materials in the region of the Southern African Development Community, the decision by the States members of the Economic Community of West African States to implement their Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. and the adoption by the European Union of the Programme for Preventing and Combating Illicit Trafficking in Conventional Arms and the other initiatives it has taken, such as the Joint Action on Small ArmsA/54/374, annex. that has been endorsed by several Member States not members of the European Union, Noting, in this regard, the commitments made by the Foreign Ministers of the Group of Eight industrialized countries, contained in the Miyazaki Initiatives for Conflict Prevention,A/55/161-S/2000/714, annex. the Foreign Ministers of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the members of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe in the Joint Declaration on Responsible Arms Transfers, the members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe at the Istanbul Summit, the members of the South Pacific Forum in the Nadi Framework of principles, and by participants in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa Conference on the Proliferation of Small Arms in the Nairobi Declaration on the Problem of the Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa,A/54/860-S/2000/385, annex. Noting also that several regional and subregional workshops, seminars and conferences were held and that individual States have undertaken initiatives to promote measures to combat illicit trafficking in and illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons, Welcoming the assistance provided by States in support of bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives aimed at addressing illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and, in this regard, welcoming also the establishment of the United Nations Development Programme Trust Fund for Support to Prevention and Reduction of the Proliferation of Small Arms, the United Nations Trust Fund for the Consolidation of Peace through Practical Disarmament Measures and the United Nations Global and Regional Disarmament Trust Fund, Welcoming also the preparatory process for the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, bearing in mind the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report on small arms,A/54/258. prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, as well as the views of Member States on the objectives, scope, agenda, dates and venue of the Conference, A/54/260 and Add.1-3. Recalling the presidential statement issued by the Security Council on 24 September 1999S/PRST/1999/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. and the request of the Council therein to the Secretary-General to develop, with the assistance of technical experts and the support of Member States, a reference manual for use in the field on ecologically safe methods of weapons, ammunition and explosives destruction in order better to enable Member States to ensure the disposal of weapons, ammunition and explosives voluntarily surrendered by civilians or retrieved from former combatants, Considering that the United Nations could, through a coordinated approach, collect, share and disseminate information to Member States on useful and successful practices to prevent the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, and mindful of the role of the mechanism for coordinating action on small arms in this regard, Recalling that the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, respectively, held workshops on illicit trafficking in small arms at Lomé and Lima in 1999, and noting with appreciation the regional seminar held at Jakarta on 3 and 4 May 2000 under the auspices of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, Mindful of the impact of surplus small arms and light weapons on the illicit trade in these weapons, and welcoming the practical measures taken by States to destroy surplus weapons and confiscated or collected weapons, in accordance with the recommendations of the Secretary-General in his report on small arms,A/54/258. 1. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his broad-based consultations, within available financial resources and with any other assistance provided by States in a position to do so, and to provide the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects with information on the magnitude and scope of illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, measures to combat illicit trafficking in and circulation of small arms and light weapons, and the role of the United Nations in collecting, collating, sharing and disseminating information on illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons; 2. Encourages States to promote regional and subregional initiatives and requests the Secretary-General, within available financial resources, and those States in a position to do so, to assist States in undertaking such initiatives to address the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons in affected regions, and invites the Secretary-General to utilize these initiatives as part of his consultations; 3. Encourages also States in a position to do so to take appropriate national measures to destroy surplus, confiscated or collected small arms and light weapons, and to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to the Secretary-General on the types and quantities of arms destroyed as well as the methods of their destruction, and requests the Secretary-General to circulate this information annually to all States; 4. Invites States in a position to do so to continue to provide assistance, bilaterally, regionally and through multilateral channels, such as the United Nations, in support of measures associated with combating illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, including assistance, in response to requests by States, in collecting and destroying surplus, confiscated or collected small arms and light weapons; 5. Invites the Secretary-General to provide advisory and financial assistance, within available financial resources and with any other assistance provided by States in a position to do so, in response to requests by States, in support of measures associated with combating illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, including assistance in collecting and destroying surplus, confiscated or collected small arms and light weapons; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session an item entitled "Illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons". Resolution R Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Australia and Japan. by a recorded vote of 155 to 1, with 12 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstentions: Bhutan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, France, Israel, Mauritius, Monaco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russian Federation R A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 H of 15 December 1994, 50/70 C of 12 December 1995, 51/45 G of 10 December 1996, 52/38 K of 9 December 1997, 53/77 U of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 D of 1 December 1999, Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament mutually complement and strengthen each other, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsIbid., vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and as an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, Recalling the progress made by the nuclear-weapon States in the reduction of their nuclear weapons unilaterally or through negotiation, and the efforts made towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation by the international community, Reaffirming the conviction that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation, ensuring international peace and security, Bearing in mind the recent nuclear tests, as well as the regional situations, which pose a challenge to international efforts to strengthen the global regime for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, Taking note of the report of the Tokyo Forum for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament,A/54/205-S/1999/853, annex. bearing in mind the various views of Member States on the report, Welcoming the successful adoption of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). which contains, inter alia, an unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 1. Reaffirms the importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions; 2. Also reaffirms the importance for all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty; 3. Stresses the central importance of taking the following practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty:1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. (a) The early signature and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. by all States, especially by those States whose ratification is required for its entry into force, with a view to its early entry into force before 2003, as well as a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending its entry into force; (b) The immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament and the conclusion as early as possible before 2005 of a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995CD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives and, pending its entry into force, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; (c) The establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body of the Conference on Disarmament in the context of establishing a programme of work, with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament; (d) The inclusion of the principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; (e) The early entry into force and full implementation of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II)The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 18: 1993 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.IX.1), appendix II. and the conclusion of START III as soon as possible, while preserving and strengthening the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems of 26 May 1972 between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist RepublicsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. as a cornerstone of strategic stability and as a basis for further reductions of strategic offensive weapons, in accordance with its provisions; (f) Steps by all nuclear-weapon States leading to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all: (i) Further efforts by all nuclear-weapon States to continue to reduce their nuclear arsenals, unilaterally or through negotiation; (ii) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to their nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and as voluntary confidence-building measures to support further progress in nuclear disarmament; (iii) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (iv) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (v) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies so as to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (vi) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; 4. Recognizes that the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons will require further steps by the nuclear-weapon States, including: (a) The continuation of the nuclear disarmament process beyond START III; (b) Deeper reductions by all nuclear-weapon States, unilaterally or through negotiation, in nuclear weapons in the process of working towards their elimination; 5. Invites the nuclear-weapon States to keep the States Members of the United Nations duly informed of the progress or efforts made towards nuclear disarmament; 6. Welcomes the ongoing efforts in the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, notes the importance of the safe and effective management of the resultant fissile materials and calls for arrangements by all nuclear-weapon States to place, as soon as practicable, the fissile material designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under the International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes in order to ensure that such material remains permanently outside military programmes; 7. Stresses the importance of further development of the verification capabilities, including International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, that will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 8. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, including their means of delivery, confirming and strengthening, if necessary, their policies not to transfer equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to the proliferation of those weapons; 9. Also calls upon all States to maintain the highest possible standards of security, safe custody, effective control and physical protection of all materials that could contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; 10. Stresses the importance of the Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of SafeguardsInternational Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). with a view to enhancing nuclear non-proliferation, and encourages all States which have not done so to conclude an additional protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency as soon as possible; 11. Welcomes the adoption by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 22 September 2000 of resolution GC(44)/RES/19,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC(2000)). which contains elements of a plan of action to promote and facilitate the conclusion and entry into force of safeguards agreements and additional protocols, and calls for the early and full implementation of that resolution; 12. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Resolution S Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Mongolia. S Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/77 D of 4 December 1998, Recalling also the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Bearing in mind its resolution 49/31 of 9 December 1994 on the protection and security of small States, Proceeding from the fact that nuclear-weapon-free status is one of the means of ensuring the national security of States, Convinced that the internationally recognized status of Mongolia will contribute to enhancing stability and confidence-building in the region as well as promote Mongolia's security by strengthening its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders and the preservation of its ecological balance, Welcoming the measures taken to implement resolution 53/77 D at the national and international levels,See A/55/166 and A/55/181. Recalling that in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held at Headquarters from 24 April to 19 May 2000, the Conference welcomed the declaration by Mongolia of its nuclear-weapon-free status and took note of the adoption by the Mongolian parliament of legislation defining and regulating that status,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VII, para. 8. Taking note of the efforts undertaken by the five nuclear-weapon States and Mongolia to implement the provisions of the resolution concerning Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status, Taking note also of the joint statement of the five nuclear-weapon States made on 5 October 2000See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, First Committee, 6th meeting, and corrigendum. on security assurances in connection with Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status, including their commitment to Mongolia to cooperate in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 53/77 D with respect to Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, Noting that the joint statement has been transmitted to the Security Council by the five nuclear-weapon States,A/55/530-S/2000/1052, annex. Welcoming Mongolia's active and positive role in developing peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the States of the region and other States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 53/77 D,A/55/166. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 53/77 D entitled "Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status";A/55/166. 2. Takes note also of the adoption by the Mongolian parliament of legislation defining and regulating its nuclear-weapon-free status as a concrete step towards promoting the aims of nuclear non-proliferation; 3. Welcomes the joint statement of the five nuclear-weapon StatesSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, First Committee, 6th meeting, and corrigendum. providing security assurances to Mongolia in connection with its nuclear-weapon-free status as a contribution to implementing resolution 53/77 D; 4. Endorses and supports Mongolia's good-neighbourly and balanced relationship with its neighbours as an important element of strengthening regional peace, security and stability; 5. Invites Member States to continue to cooperate with Mongolia in taking the necessary measures to consolidate and strengthen Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders, its economic security, its ecological balance and its nuclear-weapon-free status, as well as its independent foreign policy; 6. Appeals to the Member States of the Asia and Pacific region to support Mongolia's efforts to join the relevant regional security and economic arrangements; 7. Requests the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations bodies to continue to provide assistance to Mongolia in taking the necessary measures mentioned in paragraph 5 above; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status". Resolution T Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Panama, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 109 to 39, with 20 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sweden, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan T Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 P of 1 December 1999 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time-frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Noting the reiteration by the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsIbid., vol. 729, No. 10485. of their conviction that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the reaffirmation by the States parties of the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on the extension of the Treaty1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the resolution on the Middle East,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Recognizing that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. and any proposed treaty on fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices must constitute disarmament measures, and not only non-proliferation measures, Welcoming the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Welcoming also the ratification of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II)The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 18: 1993 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.IX.1), appendix II. by the Russian Federation, and looking forward to its early entry into force and its full implementation and to an early commencement of START III negotiations, Noting with appreciation the unilateral measures by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 114 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to commence negotiations in 1998 on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament and for the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Recalling paragraph 72 of the final document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. 1. Recognizes that, in view of recent political developments, the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to the elimination of these weapons; 2. Also recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 3. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 4. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear weapon systems; 5. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to the total elimination of these weapons; 6. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on the joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 7. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 8. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 9. Welcomes the positive outcome of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the Review Conference, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VI, para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VII, para. 2. and calls for the full and effective implementation of the steps set out in the Final Document; 10. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament, on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 11. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 12. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 13. Calls also for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 14. Expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament at its 2000 session, as called for in General Assembly resolution 54/54 P; 15. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2001 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons; 16. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". Resolution U Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 149 to none, with 16 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Algeria, Bahrain, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates U Transparency in armaments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 47/52 L of 15 December 1992, 48/75 E of 16 December 1993, 49/75 C of 15 December 1994, 50/70 D of 12 December 1995, 51/45 H of 10 December 1996, 52/38 R of 9 December 1997, 53/77 V of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 O of 1 December 1999 entitled "Transparency in armaments", Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional ArmsSee resolution 46/36 L. constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters, Welcoming the consolidated report of the Secretary-General on the Register,A/55/299 and Add.1-5. which includes the returns of Member States for 1999, Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available background information regarding their military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies, Welcoming further the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development,See A/55/281. Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure a Register that is capable of attracting the widest possible participation, 1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,See resolution 46/36 L. as provided for in paragraphs 7 to 10 of resolution 46/36 L; 2. Endorses the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and the recommendations contained therein;See A/55/281. 3. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General by 31 May annually with the requested data and information for the Register, including nil reports if appropriate, on the basis of resolutions 46/36 L and 47/52 L, the recommendations contained in paragraph 64 of the 1997 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further developmentA/52/316 and Corr.2. and the recommendations contained in paragraph 94 of the 2000 report of the Secretary-General and the appendices and annexes thereto; See A/55/281. 4. Invites Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings and to make use of the "Remarks" column in the standardized reporting form to provide additional information such as types or models; 5. Reaffirms its decision, with a view to further development of the Register, to keep the scope of and participation in the Register under review and, to that end: (a) Recalls its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction; (b) Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 2003, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, taking into account the work of the Conference on Disarmament, the views expressed by Member States and the reports of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, with a view to a decision at its fifty-eighth session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the recommendations in his 2000 report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register; 7. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work undertaken in the field of transparency in armaments; 8. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooperate at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion, with a view to enhancing and coordinating international efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on progress made in implementing the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Transparency in armaments". Resolution V Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 143 to none, with 22 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam V Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Welcoming the entry into force on 1 March 1999 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem, Recalling the First Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, held at Maputo from 3 to 7 May 1999, and the reaffirmation made in the Maputo DeclarationAPLC/MSP.1/1999/1, part II. of a commitment to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines, Recalling also the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Geneva from 11 to 15 September 2000, and the Declaration of the Second Meeting of States Parties reaffirming the commitment to implement completely and fully all provisions of the Convention,APLC/MSP/2/2000/1, part II. Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and eight, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention; 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information, as required in article 7 of the Convention, in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine awareness programmes, and the removal of anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and the assurance of their destruction; 7. Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate in the programme of inter-sessional work established at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and further developed at the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention; 8. Welcomes the generous offer of the Government of Nicaragua to host the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention at Managua, from 18 to 21 September 2001, and, on behalf of States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the Meeting as observers; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction". Resolution W Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. W Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/38 S of 9 December 1997 and 53/77 A of 4 December 1998 and its decision 54/417 of 1 December 1999, Recalling also paragraphs 60, 61, 62 and 64 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. and recalling further the relevant paragraphs of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. and of the report of its Main Committee II2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document., vol. II (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Part III)), sect. 6, document NPT/CONF.2000/MC.II/1. related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, Convinced that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones is conducive to the achievement of general and complete disarmament, Emphasizing the importance of internationally recognized agreements on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in various parts of the world and on the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime, Welcoming the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of principles and guidelines for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Believing that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regionKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. and bearing in mind the specific characteristics of the region, can enhance the security of the States involved and strengthen global and regional peace and security, Recalling the Almaty Declaration of the heads of State of the Central Asian States of 28 February 1997A/52/112, annex. on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, the statement issued at Tashkent on 15 September 1997 by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central AsiaA/52/390, annex. and the Communiqué of the Consultative Meeting of Experts of the Central Asian Countries, the Nuclear-Weapon States and the United Nations, held at Bishkek on 9 and 10 July 1998,A/53/183, annex. on the elaboration of acceptable ways and means of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, Reaffirming the universally recognized role of the United Nations in the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, 1. Notes with appreciation the support of all States for the initiative to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia; 2. Welcomes the desire of all five States of the Central Asian region to finalize work on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia and the concrete steps that they have taken to that end to prepare the legal groundwork for the initiative and the progress that they have achieved in this regard; 3. Calls upon all five Central Asian States to continue their dialogue with the five nuclear-weapon States on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to continue to provide assistance to the Central Asian States in the elaboration of an agreement on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia; 5. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia at its fifty-sixth session under the agenda item entitled "General and complete disarmament". Resolution X Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 119 to 28, with 22 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan X Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998 and 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Welcoming the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Noting the efforts by the States possessing the largest inventories of nuclear weapons to reduce their stockpiles of such weapons through bilateral agreements or arrangements and unilateral decisions, and calling for the intensification of such efforts to accelerate the significant reduction of nuclear-weapon arsenals, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference on Disarmament during its 2000 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the note by the Secretary-GeneralA/55/131 and Add.1. relating to the implementation of resolution 54/54 Q, 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations in 2001 leading to an early conclusion of a convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its fifty-sixth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". Resolution Y Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/559, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mali, Monaco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Y The Conference on Disarmament decision (CD/1547) of 11 August 1998 to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 L of 16 December 1993 and 53/77 I of 4 December 1998, Convinced that a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices would be a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Recalling the 1998 report of the Conference on Disarmament, in which, inter alia, the Conference records that, in proceeding to take a decision on this matter, that decision is without prejudice to any further decisions on the establishment of further subsidiary bodies under agenda item 1 and that intensive consultations will be pursued to seek the views of the members of the Conference on Disarmament on appropriate methods and approaches for dealing with agenda item 1, taking into consideration all proposals and views in that respect,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. 1. Recalls the decision by the Conference on DisarmamentSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee which shall negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; 2. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty. RESOLUTIONS 55/34 A to H 55/34. Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly Resolution A Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, South Africa and Togo. A United Nations Disarmament Information Programme The General Assembly, Recalling its decision taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, the second special session devoted to disarmament, by which the World Disarmament Campaign was launched,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolution 47/53 D of 9 December 1992, in which it decided, inter alia, that the World Disarmament Campaign should be known thereafter as the "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme" and the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust Fund as the "Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme", Recalling its resolutions 49/76 A of 15 December 1994, 51/46 A of 10 December 1996 and 53/78 E of 4 December 1998, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme,A/55/128 and Add.1. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme;A/55/128 and Add.1. 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to make effective use of the limited resources available to him in disseminating as widely as possible, including by electronic means, information on arms limitation and disarmament to Governments, the media, non-governmental organizations, educational communities and research institutes, and in carrying out a seminar and conference programme; 3. Stresses the importance of the Programme, as a significant instrument in enabling all Member States to participate fully in the deliberations and negotiations on disarmament in the various United Nations bodies, and in assisting them in complying with treaties, as required, and in contributing to agreed mechanisms for transparency; 4. Notes with appreciation the cooperation of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and its information centres in pursuit of the objectives of the Programme; 5. Recommends that the Programme focus its efforts: (a) To inform, to educate and to generate public understanding of the importance of multilateral action and support for it, including action by the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, in the field of arms limitation and disarmament, in a factual, balanced and objective manner, and, inter alia, to continue to publish in all official languages The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, periodic hard copy and regular electronic updates of the Status of Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements and ad hoc publications in hard copy and electronic form; (b) To continue to coordinate, produce and manage the disarmament Internet web site as a part of the United Nations web site with a view to maintaining an updated source of accessible information, and, within available resources, to produce versions of the site in as many official languages as feasible; (c) To continue to intensify United Nations interaction with the public, principally non-governmental organizations and research institutes, to help further an informed debate on topical issues of arms limitation, disarmament and security; (d) To continue to organize discussions on topics of interest in the field of arms limitation and disarmament with a view to broadening understanding and facilitating an exchange of views and information among Member States and civil society; 6. Emphasizes the importance of contributions to the Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme to sustain a strong outreach programme, and invites all Member States to make contributions to the Fund; 7. Commends the Secretary-General for supporting the efforts of universities, other academic institutions and non-governmental organizations active in the education field in widening the worldwide availability of disarmament education, invites him to continue to support and cooperate with educational institutions and non-governmental organizations engaged in such efforts, without cost to the regular budget to the United Nations, and takes note of the proposal made by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters in July 2000 for a study on disarmament and non-proliferation education;See A/55/349, para. 24. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report covering both the implementation of the activities of the Programme by the United Nations system during the two previous years and the activities of the Programme contemplated by the system for the following two years; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme". Resolution B Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. B Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December 1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992, 48/76 A of 16 December 1993, 49/76 C of 15 December 1994, 50/71 B of 12 December 1995, 51/46 C of 10 December 1996, 52/39 B of 9 December 1997, 53/78 A of 4 December 1998 and 54/55 A of 1 December 1999, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international security, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recalling the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central Africa,A/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, Recalling the decision of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in favour of establishing, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on regional confidence-building measures, which deals with the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in the period since the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 54/55 A;A/55/170. 2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further peace, stability and sustainable development in the subregion; 3. Also reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held at Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 4. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing the programme of activities for the period 1999-2000, in particular by: (a) Holding the Subregional Conference on the Proliferation of and Illicit Traffic in Small Arms in Central Africa at N'Djamena from 25 to 27 October 1999; (b) Holding the twelfth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at N'Djamena from 27 to 30 October 1999; (c) Holding a meeting of experts of the countries of the subregion to draft the Protocol on the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and the Mutual Assistance Pact between countries of Central Africa at Malabo from 14 to 17 February 2000; (d) Holding the thirteenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at N'Djamena from 2 to 6 May 2000; (e) Holding the Subregional Conference on the Question of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Central Africa at Bujumbura from 14 to 16 August 2000; (f) Holding the fourteenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Bujumbura from 17 to 19 August 2000; 5. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 6. Welcomes the creation of a mechanism for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, to be known as the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa, by the summit Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Central African countries, held at Yaoundé on 25 February 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to give his full support to the effective realization of that important mechanism; 7. Emphasizes the need to make the early-warning mechanism in Central Africa operational so that it will serve, on the one hand, as an instrument for analysing and monitoring political situations in the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with a view to preventing the outbreak of future armed conflicts and, on the other hand, as a technical body through which the member States will carry out the programme of work of the Committee, adopted at its organizational meeting held at Yaoundé in 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to provide it with the assistance necessary for it to function properly; 8. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to lend all their support to the effective establishment and smooth functioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the implementation and smooth functioning of the early-warning mechanism and the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a network of parliamentarians with a view to the creation of a subregional parliament in Central Africa; 11. Requests the Secretary-General and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to provide increased assistance to the countries of Central Africa for coping with the problems of refugees in their territories; 12. Welcomes with satisfaction the decision taken by the Standing Advisory Committee at its fourteenth ministerial meeting to organize a subregional conference on the protection of women and children in armed conflicts, and requests the Secretary-General to lend all the necessary support for the holding of the conference; 13. Thanks the Secretary-General for having established the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 14. Appeals to Member States and to governmental and non-governmental organizations to make additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the implementation of the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with assistance to ensure that they are able to carry on their efforts; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". Resolution C Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Japan, Liberia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tunisia, United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe. C United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services programme,A/55/152 and Corr.1. Recalling its decision, contained in paragraph 108 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, to establish a programme of fellowships on disarmament, as well as its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. the second special session devoted to disarmament, in which it decided, inter alia, to continue the programme, Noting with satisfaction that the programme has already trained an appreciable number of public officials selected from geographical regions represented in the United Nations system, most of whom are now in positions of responsibility in the field of disarmament affairs in their respective countries or Governments, Recalling all the annual resolutions on the matter since the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly, in 1982, including resolution 50/71 A of 12 December 1995, Noting with satisfaction that the programme as designed continues to enable an increasing number of public officials, in particular from the developing countries, to acquire more expertise in the sphere of disarmament, Believing that the forms of assistance available to Member States, in particular to developing countries, under the programme will enhance the capabilities of their officials to follow ongoing deliberations and negotiations on disarmament, both bilateral and multilateral, 1. Reaffirms its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General AssemblyOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. and the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/33/305. approved by the Assembly in its resolution 33/71 E of 14 December 1978; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments of Germany and Japan for inviting the 1999 and 2000 fellows to study selected activities in the field of disarmament, and to the Government of the United States of America for having organized in 1999 a specific study programme in the field of disarmament thereby contributing to the fulfilment of the overall objectives of the programme; 3. Expresses its appreciation also to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the Monterey Institute of International Studies for having organized specific study programmes in the field of disarmament in their respective areas of competence, thereby contributing to the objectives of the programme; 4. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with which the programme has continued to be carried out; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement annually the Geneva-based programme within existing resources and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services". Resolution D Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Lesotho (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). D United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998 and 54/55 B of 1 December 1999, Aware of the widespread support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre and the important role that the Centre can play in the present context in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken in the framework of the revitalization of the activities of the Regional Centre for the mobilization of the resources necessary for its operational costs, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the Organization of African Unity, in conformity with the relevant decision adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec.138 (XXXV). 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/171. and commends the activities carried out by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, in particular in support of the efforts made by the African States in the areas of peace and security; 2. Reaffirms its strong support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre, and emphasizes the need to provide it with resources to enable it to strengthen its activities and carry out its programmes; 3. Appeals once again to all States, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and the foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate the establishment of close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Organization of African Unity, in particular in the area of peace, security and development, and to continue to assist the Director of the Regional Centre in his efforts to stabilize the financial situation of the Centre and revitalize its activities; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". Resolution E Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Belize (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States). E United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997 and 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, Recalling especially its resolution 54/55 F of 1 December 1999, in which it welcomed the revitalization of the Regional Centre, the efforts made by the Government of Peru to that end and the appointment of the Director of the Centre by the Secretary-General, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/169. which concludes that the Regional Centre has launched projects aimed at furthering the understanding of the relationship between security and development, enhanced the role of the United Nations as a regional catalyst for activities on peace and disarmament and acted as a politically neutral platform for discussions on security and development issues, Noting that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Bearing in mind the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Also bearing in mind the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of activities of the United Nations at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its Member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction with the vast range of activities carried out by the Regional Centre in the last year; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Invites all States of the region to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its agenda, making greater and better use of the Centre's potential to meet the current challenges facing the international community and with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the fields of peace, disarmament and development; 5. Appeals to Member States, in particular the States of the Latin American and Caribbean region, and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and to foundations, to make voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities and achieve better results; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". Resolution F Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). F United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/55 E of 1 December 1999 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/55/171. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/55/181. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/55/169. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among the States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 146 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, the heads of State or Government welcomed the decision adopted by the General Assembly on maintaining and revitalizing the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their programmes of activities and implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". Resolution G Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 109 to 43, with 16 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan G Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that, in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2000 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 54/55 D of 1 December 1999, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. Resolution H Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/560, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam. H United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/181. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre could be a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation in the post-cold-war era, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as the "Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of the twelfth regional disarmament meeting in Asia and the Pacific, held at Kathmandu from 15 to 17 February 2000, the United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues, held at Akita, Japan, from 22 to 25 August 2000, and the regional seminar on illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, held at Jakarta on 3 and 4 May 2000, Welcoming the idea of the possible creation of an educational and training programme for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for young people with different backgrounds, to be financed from voluntary contributions, Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, including its assistance in the work related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, Appreciating highly the important role that Nepal has played as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Expresses its appreciation for the generous offer of His Majesty's Government of Nepal to bear the operational cost of the Centre for it to function from Kathmandu; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to expedite his ongoing consultations with other concerned Member States and interested organizations, and urges him to conclude them by 31 July 2001 to assess the possibility of enabling the Centre to operate effectively from Kathmandu as soon as possible; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTIONS 55/35 A to C 55/35. Review of the implementation of the recommendations and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session Resolution A Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/561, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. A Twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 34/83 M of 11 December 1979, in which it requested the Secretary-General to establish the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research on the basis of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/34/589. Reaffirming its resolution 39/148 H of 17 December 1984, in which it approved the statute of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, renewed the invitation to Governments to consider making voluntary contributions to the Institute and requested the Secretary-General to continue to give the Institute administrative and other support, Recalling its resolution 45/62 G of 4 December 1990 adopted on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Institute, Considering the continuing need for the international community to have access to independent and in-depth research on security issues and prospects for disarmament, taking note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the in-depth evaluation of the disarmament programme,See E/AC.51/1999/2. in which the Office indicated the erosion of the value of the United Nations subvention to the Institute in real terms and recommended the development of proposals for alleviating difficulties regarding the current financial and organizational arrangements adopted in implementation of the statute of the Institute and that those proposals should be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration at its fifty-fifth session, and having considered the annual report of the Director of the Institute and report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters in its capacity as the Board of Trustees of the Institute,See A/55/267. in which hope was expressed that the United Nations subvention to the Institute would be restored to its pre-1996 level and adjusted for inflation, 1. Welcomes the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research; 2. Recognizes the importance and high quality of the work of the Institute; 3. Reiterates its conviction that the Institute should continue to conduct independent research on problems relating to disarmament and security and to undertake specialized research requiring a high degree of expertise; 4. Requests all Member States to consider making financial contributions to the Institute in order to ensure its viability and the quality of its work over the long term; 5. Recommends that the Secretary-General seek ways to increase the funding of the Institute, within existing resources. Resolution B Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/561, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Bulgaria. B Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth-fifth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/55/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching concrete agreements, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Urges the Conference to fulfil that role in the light of the evolving international situation, with a view to making early substantive progress on priority items on its agenda; 3. Welcomes the strong collective interest of the Conference in commencing substantive work as soon as possible during its 2001 session; 4. Also welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its President to conduct jointly with the incoming President intensive consultations during the inter-sessional period in order to try to achieve this goal, as expressed in paragraph 35 of the report of the Conference;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth-fifth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/55/27). 5. Encourages the Conference to continue the ongoing review of its membership, agenda and methods of work; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 7. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". Resolution C Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/561, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Luxembourg, Monaco, Sierra Leone and Venezuela. C Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/55/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998 and 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, Bearing in mind its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/55/42). 2. Reaffirms the importance of further enhancing dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 3. Also reaffirms the role of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 4. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items of its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission";A/CN.10/137. 5. Recommends that the Disarmament Commission, at its 2000 organizational session, adopt the following items for consideration at its 2001 substantive session: (a) Ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament; (b) Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2001 and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth-fifth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/55/27). together with all the official records of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". RESOLUTION 55/36 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/562, para. 10),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, and Egypt (on behalf of some of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the League of Arab States). by a recorded vote of 157 to 3, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstentions: Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Marshall Islands, Singapore, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago 55/36. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(44)/RES/28, adopted on 22 September 2000,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC(2000)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 11 May 1995,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty, Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and sixty States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VII, para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 55/37 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/563, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 55/37. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/58 of 1 December 1999 and previous resolutions referring to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. Recalling with satisfaction the adoption, on 10 October 1980, of the Convention, together with the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. which entered into force on 2 December 1983, Also recalling with satisfaction the adoption by the Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, on 13 October 1995 of the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex A. and on 3 May 1996 of the amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II),Ibid., annex B. Recalling that the States parties at the Review Conference declared their commitment to keeping the provisions of Protocol II under review in order to ensure that the concerns regarding the weapons it covers are addressed, and that they would encourage the efforts of the United Nations and other organizations to address all problems of landmines, Recalling also the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, Welcoming the additional ratifications and acceptances of or accessions to the Convention, as well as the ratifications and acceptances of or accessions to amended Protocol II and Protocol IV, Noting that, in conformity with article 8 of the Convention, conferences may be convened to examine amendments to the Convention or to any of the Protocols thereto, to examine additional protocols concerning other categories of conventional weapons not covered by existing Protocols or to review the scope and application of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and to examine any proposed amendments or additional protocols, Noting also that, in accordance with article 13 of amended Protocol II, a conference of States parties to that Protocol shall be held annually for the purpose of consultations and cooperation on all issues in relation to the Protocol, Noting further that the provisional rules of procedure of the First Annual Conference of the States Parties to Amended Protocol II provide for the invitation of States not parties to the Protocol, the International Committee of the Red Cross and interested non-governmental organizations to take part in the Conference, Welcoming the results of the First Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II, held at Geneva from 15 to 17 December 1999,See CCW/AP.II/CONF.1/2 (Part I). Commending the efforts of the Secretary-General and the President of the Conference towards the promotion of the goal of universality of amended Protocol II, Welcoming the holding of an informal meeting of experts of the States parties to amended Protocol II and other interested States at Geneva on 31 May and 2 June 2000, which provided for structured discussion on several items under amended Protocol II, 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocols thereto, in particular the amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II),Ibid., annex B. with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to this instrument at an early date, and calls upon successor States to take appropriate measures so that ultimately adherence to these instruments will be universal; 2. Calls upon States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention; 3. Welcomes the convening, from 11 to 13 December 2000, of the Second Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II, in accordance with article 13 thereof, and calls upon all States parties to amended Protocol II to address at that meeting, inter alia, the issue of holding the third annual conference in 2001; 4. Recalls the decision of the States parties to the Convention to convene the next review conference no later than 2001, preceded by a preparatory committee, and recommends that the review conference be held at Geneva in December 2001; 5. Welcomes the convening of the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Second Review Conference at Geneva on 14 December 2000, and decides to convene the second session from 2 to 6 April 2001 and the third session from 24 to 28 September 2001; 6. Notes that, in conformity with article 8 of the Convention, the next review conference may consider any proposal for amendments to the Convention or the Protocols thereto as well as any proposal for additional protocols relating to other categories of conventional weapons not covered by existing Protocols to the Convention; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention and the Preparatory Committee for the Second Review Conference; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects". RESOLUTION 55/38 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/564, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/38. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 54/59 of 1 December 1999, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/254. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, and encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles, as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures, in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, international crime and illicit arms transfers, and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 55/39 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/565, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. 55/39. Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) The General Assembly, Recalling that, in its resolution 1911 (XVIII) of 27 November 1963, it expressed the hope that the States of Latin America would take appropriate measures to conclude a treaty that would prohibit nuclear weapons in Latin America, Recalling also that, in the same resolution, it voiced its confidence that, once such a treaty was concluded, all States, and in particular the nuclear-weapon States, would lend it their full cooperation for the effective realization of its peaceful aims, Considering that, in its resolution 2028 (XX) of 19 November 1965, it established the principle of an acceptable balance of mutual responsibilities and obligations between nuclear-weapon States and those that do not possess such weapons, Recalling that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. was opened for signature at Mexico City on 14 February 1967, Noting with satisfaction the holding on 14 February 1997 of the eleventh special session of the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, Recalling that, in its preamble, the Treaty of Tlatelolco states that military denuclearized zones are not an end in themselves but rather a means for achieving general and complete disarmament at a later stage, Recalling also that, in its resolution 2286 (XXII) of 5 December 1967, it welcomed with special satisfaction the Treaty of Tlatelolco as an event of historic significance in the efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security, Recalling further that in 1990, 1991 and 1992 the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean approved and opened for signature a set of amendmentsA/47/467, annex. to the Treaty of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. with the aim of enabling the full entry into force of that instrument, Recalling resolution C/E/RES.27 of the Council of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean,See CD/1392. in which the Council called for the promotion of cooperation and consultations with other nuclear-weapon-free zones, Noting with satisfaction that the Treaty of Tlatelolco is now in force for thirty-two sovereign States of the region, Also noting with satisfaction that on 8 November 1999 Nicaragua deposited its instrument of ratification of the amendment to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in its resolution 290 (E-VII) of 26 August 1992; that on 8 August 2000 Panama deposited its instrument of accession to the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference in its resolutions 267 (E-V) of 3 July 1990, 268 (XII) of 10 May 1991 and 290 (E-VII); and that on 30 August 2000 Ecuador deposited its instrument of ratification of the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference in its resolutions 268 (XII) and 290 (E-VII), Further noting with satisfaction that the amended Treaty of Tlatelolco is fully in force for Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela, 1. Welcomes the concrete steps taken by some countries of the region during the past year for the consolidation of the regime of military denuclearization established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco);United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. 2. Urges the countries of the region that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification of the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in its resolutions 267 (E-V), 268 (XII) and 290 (E-VII); 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)". RESOLUTION 55/3 Adopted at the 38th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.8 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 55/3. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the Agreement between the Council of Europe and the Secretariat of the United Nations signed on 15 December 1951 and the Arrangement on Cooperation and Liaison between the secretariats of the United Nations and the Council of Europe of 19 November 1971, Acknowledging the contribution of the Council of Europe to the protection and strengthening of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on the European continent, including its activities against racism and intolerance, the promotion of gender equality, social development and a common cultural heritage, Acknowledging also that, with its significant expertise in the field of human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law, the Council of Europe is also promoting the prevention of conflict and long-term post-conflict peace-building through political and institutional reform, Stressing the importance of adherence to the standards and principles of the Council of Europe and its contribution to the solution of conflicts throughout the whole of Europe, 1. Notes with appreciation the further improvement of cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and its agencies and the Council of Europe, both at the level of headquarters and in the field; 2. Welcomes the increasingly close cooperation between the Council of Europe, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 3. Welcomes also the close and fruitful cooperation between the Council of Europe and the International Law Commission of the United Nations, and the contribution of the Council of Europe to the United Nations Decade of International Law; 4. Welcomes further the contributions of the Council of Europe to the twenty-third and twenty-fourth special sessions of the General Assembly entitled, respectively, "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", which was held in New York from 5 to 9 June 2000, and "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", which was held in Geneva from 26 to 30 June 2000; 5. Expresses its appreciation to the Council of Europe for its organization of the European Conference against Racism, which was held in Strasbourg, France, from 11 to 13 October 2000, in preparation for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which will be held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001; 6. Welcomes the participation of the Council of Europe in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999, in its cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, notably with regard to the reform of the judiciary, the protection of minorities, property rights, registration and local democracy, as well as the observation of the electoral process in Kosovo, as requested by the United Nations; 7. Welcomes also the readiness of the Council of Europe to continue to fulfil the role assigned to it, under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina,See A/50/790-S/1995/999. with regard to the protection and promotion of human rights as well as in the field of judicial reform; 8. Welcomes further the major contribution of the Council of Europe to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, launched at the initiative of the European Union, and to the development of regional projects to support its aims; 9. Welcomes the active role of the Council of Europe in the tripartite meetings between the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue exploring, with the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, possibilities for further enhancement of cooperation, information exchange and coordination between the United Nations and the Council of Europe; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe in implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/40 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/566, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 55/40. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the complete and effective prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and to their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that there are one hundred and forty-three States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. including all of the permanent members of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conferences, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. and to provide such information and data in conformity with standardized procedure to the Secretary-General on an annual basis and no later than 15 April, Recalling the provisions of the Convention related to scientific and technological cooperation and the related provisions of the final report of the Ad Hoc Group of Governmental Experts to Identify and Examine Potential Verification Measures from a Scientific and Technical Standpoint,BWC/CONF.III/VEREX/9 and Corr 1. the final report of the Special Conference of the States Parties to the Convention held from 19 to 30 September 1994,BWC/SPCONF/1. and the final documents of the Review Conferences, Welcoming the reaffirmation made in the Final Declaration of the Fourth Review ConferenceBWC/CONF.IV/9, part II. that under all circumstances the use of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and their development, production and stockpiling are effectively prohibited under article I of the Convention, Recalling its resolution 49/86, adopted without a vote on 15 December 1994, in which it welcomed the final report of the Special Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, adopted by consensus on 30 September 1994,BWC/SPCONF/1. in which the States parties agreed to establish an ad hoc group, open to all States parties, whose objective should be to consider appropriate measures, including possible verification measures, and draft proposals to strengthen the Convention, to be included, as appropriate, in a legally binding instrument to be submitted for the consideration of the States parties, 1. Notes with satisfaction the increase in the number of States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. reaffirms the call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay, and calls upon those States that have not signed the Convention to become parties thereto at an early date, thus contributing to the achievement of universal adherence to the Convention; 2. Welcomes the information and data provided to date, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention;BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. 3. Welcomes also the progress achieved so far in the negotiation of a protocol to strengthen the Convention, and reaffirms the decision of the Fourth Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention urging the conclusion of the negotiations by the Ad Hoc Group of Governmental Experts to Identify and Examine Potential Verification Measures from a Scientific and Technical Standpoint as soon as possible before the commencement of the Fifth Review Conference and urging it to submit its report, which shall be adopted by consensus, to the States parties for consideration at a Special Conference; 4. Calls upon all States parties, in this context, to accelerate the negotiations, and to redouble their efforts within the Ad Hoc Group to formulate an efficient, cost-effective and practical regime and to seek early resolution of the outstanding issues through renewed flexibility in order to complete the protocol in accordance with the decision of the Fourth Review Conference; 5. Notes that, at the request of the States parties, the Fifth Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention will be held at Geneva from 19 November to 7 December 2001, and that, after appropriate consultation, a Preparatory Committee for that Conference, open to all States parties to the Convention, was established and will meet at Geneva from 25 to 27 April 2001; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention, to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences, as well as the decisions contained in the final report of the 1994 Special Conference of the States Parties to the Convention,BWC/SPCONF/1. including all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Group and the Special Conference, which is to consider the report of the Ad Hoc Group, in accordance with its mandate, as confirmed by the Fourth Review Conference, and to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services as may be required for the Fifth Review Conference and the preparations for it; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 55/41 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/567, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 161 to none, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Bhutan, India, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania 55/41. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996 and opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Noting that, in its resolution 54/63 of 1 December 1999, it decided to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-fifth session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty", Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and sixty States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of sixty-five States, including thirty of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, Recalling its endorsement, in resolution 54/63, of the Final Declaration of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,A/54/514-S/1999/1102, annex. held at Vienna from 6 to 8 October 1999 to promote the entry into force of the Treaty at the earliest possible date, 1. Stresses the importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular to its efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Urges States to maintain their moratoria on nuclear weapons test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, pending the entry into force of the Treaty; 4. Calls upon all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible and to refrain from acts that would defeat its object and purpose in the meanwhile; 5. Calls upon all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their early successful conclusion; 6. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". RESOLUTION 55/42 Adopted at the 70th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.22/Rev.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 55/42. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by which it granted observer status to the Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also the resolutions previously adopted by the General Assembly on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, and inviting various specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and relevant international financial institutions to join in their efforts towards implementation of economic programmes and projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Bearing in mind the progress attained by the Economic Cooperation Organization in its reorganizational endeavours as well as in launching and implementing various regional development projects and programmes over the past decade, Welcoming the endeavours of the Economic Cooperation Organization in regard to consolidating its ties with the United Nations system and with relevant international and regional organizations towards the furtherance of its objectives, Taking note of the Tehran Declaration issued at the sixth summit meeting of the heads of State or Government of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held in Tehran on 10 June 2000, Taking note with appreciation of the decision of the Economic Cooperation Organization at its sixth summit meeting to welcome the initiative of Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on dialogue among civilizations, the United Nations having designated 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, in order to promote this concept through planning and implementation of appropriate cultural, educational and social activities in the regional and global context, Recalling that one of the main objectives of the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization is to promote international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, Expressing grave concern over the human casualties caused by natural disasters and their devastating impact on the socio-economic situation of some States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Noting with appreciation the decision of the Economic Cooperation Organization to hold ministerial-level meetings in the areas of energy, agriculture, industry and human development, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 54/100 of 9 December 1999,A/55/122. and expresses satisfaction at the enhanced pace of mutually beneficial interaction between the two organizations; 2. Stresses the importance of cooperation between the United Nations system and the Economic Cooperation Organization to address the challenges and opportunities of globalization in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization by promoting the integration of States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, as appropriate, into the world economy, particularly in areas of concern to States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, inter alia, trade, finance and transfer of technology; 3. Notes the holding of ministerial-level meetings in the transport and communications sector and in commerce/foreign trade, which, inter alia, resulted in the adoption of annexes to the Economic Cooperation Organization Transit Transport Framework Agreement and a framework agreement on trade, respectively; 4. Welcomes the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in November 1999, and expresses the hope that their mutual cooperation will add impetus to the ongoing trade/transit trade and transport arrangements in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 5. Notes with satisfaction the increasing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the World Trade Organization which has accorded observer status to the former, and the increasing involvement of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the relevant forums and ministerial conferences of the World Trade Organization, and also notes the holding of joint Economic Cooperation Organization and World Trade Organization seminars on trade negotiation simulation; 6. Welcomes the growing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and relevant international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank, in particular the financial assistance extended by the latter in the fields of transport, trade, energy and agriculture; 7. Expresses satisfaction at the regional arrangements made by the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization for transporting the oil and gas of the region to different parts of the world; 8. Welcomes the holding of a joint Economic Cooperation Organization and United Nations Population Fund Conference on Expanding Contraceptive Choice and Improving Quality of Reproductive Health Programmes, held in Istanbul in May 2000, and calls upon the Fund and other relevant United Nations entities, in cooperation with the Economic Cooperation Organization, to continue activities in the field of public health and social development in the future; 9. Notes the increasing problem of the production, transit and abuse of narcotic drugs and their ill effects in the region, expresses its appreciation for the operations of the joint Economic Cooperation Organization and United Nations International Drug Control Programme project on a drug control coordination unit established within the secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization in July 1999, and calls upon the other international and regional organizations to assist, as appropriate, the Economic Cooperation Organization in its efforts against the drug menace in the region of that organization; 10. Also notes the expansion of cultural ties in the region under the aegis of the Cultural Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and requests support for efforts to promote, and promote awareness of, the rich cultural and literary heritage of the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization through the launching of appropriate projects and programmes dealing with, inter alia, the issues regarding the initiative of President Khatami on dialogue among civilizations, with possible assistance from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant entities; 11. Invites the United Nations system, its relevant bodies and the international community to continue to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization and its secretariat in strengthening their early warning system, preparedness, capacity for timely response and rehabilitation with a view to reducing the incidence of human casualties and mitigating the socio-economic impact of natural disasters; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 55/43 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 27 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.32/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Yemen 55/43. Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the indissoluble links between the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the foundations of any democratic society, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraphs 6 and 24, Recalling also the Manila DeclarationA/43/538, annex. adopted by the First International Conference of New or Restored DemocraciesThen called the International Conference of Newly Restored Democracies. in June 1988, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and other important principles, such as respect for the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recalling its resolution 49/30 of 7 December 1994 in which it recognized the importance of the Managua DeclarationA/49/713, annex I. and Plan of ActionIbid., annex II. adopted by the Second International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in July 1994, as well as its resolutions 50/133 of 20 December 1995, 51/31 of 6 December 1996, 52/18 of 21 November 1997, 53/31 of 23 November 1998 and 54/36 of 29 November 1999, Recalling also the document entitled "Progress Review and Recommendations", adopted by the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development, held in Bucharest from 2 to 4 September 1997,A/52/334, appendix. in which guidelines, principles and recommendations were addressed to Governments, civil society, the private sector, donor countries and the international community, Taking note with satisfaction of the seminars, workshops and conferences on democratization and good governance organized in 2000, as well as those held under the auspices of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Taking note of the views of Member States expressed in the debate on this question at its forty-ninth, fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second, fifty-third, fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth sessions, Bearing in mind that the activities of the United Nations carried out in support of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned, Bearing in mind also that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and on their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Noting that a considerable number of societies have recently undertaken significant efforts to achieve their social, political and economic goals through democratization and the reform of their economies, pursuits that are deserving of the support and recognition of the international community, Noting with satisfaction that the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies will be held in Cotonou, Benin, from 4 to 6 December 2000, Stressing the importance of support by Member States, the United Nations system, the specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations for the holding of the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/489. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/489. and invites Member States to consider the proposals contained therein; 2. Commends the Secretary-General, and through him the United Nations system, for the activities undertaken at the request of Governments to support the efforts to consolidate democracy and for his contribution to the preparatory process and success of the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 3. Welcomes the work carried out by the follow-up mechanism to the Third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies on Democracy and Development; 4. Invites the Secretary-General, Member States, the relevant specialized agencies, programmes, funds and other bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other intergovernmental organizations, to collaborate in the holding of the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 5. Recognizes that the Organization has an important role to play in providing timely, appropriate and coherent support to the efforts of Governments to achieve democratization within the context of their development efforts; 6. Stresses that activities undertaken by the Organization must be in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 7. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the Organization to respond effectively to the requests of Member States through coherent, adequate support of their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization; 8. Encourages Member States to promote democratization and to make additional efforts to identify possible steps to support the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies". RESOLUTION 55/44 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 27 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.16 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 55/44. International cooperation and coordination for the human and ecological rehabilitation and economic development of the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/169 M of 16 December 1997 and 53/1 H of 16 November 1998, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/212. Recognizing that the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground, inherited by Kazakhstan and closed in 1991, remains a matter of serious concern for the people and Government of Kazakhstan with regard to its consequences for the lives and health of the people, especially children and other vulnerable groups, as well as for the environment of the region, Conscious that the international community should pay due attention to the issue of the human, ecological and socio-economic dimensions of the situation in the Semipalatinsk region, Recognizing the need to coordinate national and international efforts aimed at the rehabilitation of the health of the affected population and the environment in this region, Bearing in mind the need for know-how in minimizing and mitigating radiological, health, socio-economic, psychological and environmental problems in the Semipalatinsk region, Recalling the Almaty DeclarationA/52/112, annex. of the heads of the Central Asian States of 28 February 1997, proclaiming 1998 as the Year of Environmental Protection in the region of Central Asia, Taking into consideration the results of the international conference on the problems of the Semipalatinsk region, held in Tokyo in 1999, which have promoted the effectiveness of the assistance provided to the population of the region, Recognizing the contribution of different organizations of the United Nations system, donor States, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to humanitarian assistance and the implementation of the projects aimed at the rehabilitation of the region, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/212. and the information about the measures taken to solve the health, ecological, economic and humanitarian problems and to meet the needs of the Semipalatinsk region; 2. Stresses the need for continuing international attention and extra efforts in solving problems with regard to the Semipalatinsk region and its population; 3. Urges the international community to provide assistance in the formulation and implementation of special programmes and projects of treatment and care for the affected population in the Semipalatinsk region; 4. Invites all States, relevant multilateral financial organizations and other entities of the international community, including non-governmental organizations, to share their knowledge and experience in order to contribute to the human and ecological rehabilitation and economic development of the Semipalatinsk region; 5. Invites all Member States, in particular donor States, relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system, including the funds and programmes, to participate in the rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region; 6. Invites the Secretary-General to pursue a consultative process, with the participation of interested States and relevant United Nations agencies, on modalities for mobilizing the necessary support to seek appropriate solutions to the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region, including those prioritized in the report of the Secretary-General; 7. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to enhance world public awareness of the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on progress made in the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance". RESOLUTION 55/45 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 27 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.41 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan 55/45. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and rehabilitation in Tajikistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/30 J of 25 April 1997, 52/169 I of 16 December 1997, 53/1 K of 7 December 1998 and 54/96 A of 8 December 1999, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 1113 (1997) of 12 June 1997, 1128 (1997) of 12 September 1997, 1138 (1997) of 14 November 1997, 1167 (1998) of 14 May 1998, 1206 (1998) of 12 November 1998, 1240 (1999) of 15 May 1999 and 1274 (1999) of 12 November 1999, and the statements by the President of the Security Council of 21 MarchS/PRST/2000/9; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and 12 May 2000,S/PRST/2000/17; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/347. Welcoming the implementation of the main provisions of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan,A/52/219-S/1997/510, annex I. Recognizing with satisfaction that the United Nations has played a successful and important role in the peace process and was instrumental in assisting the negotiation and implementation processes conducted under its aegis, believing that the United Nations should continue the assistance to Tajikistan in post-conflict peace-building, and welcoming in this regard the establishment of the United Nations Tajikistan Office for Peace-building, Noting with satisfaction the efforts of the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan, which should be regarded as a successful operation, supported by the Contact Group of Guarantor States and International Organizations, the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in assisting the parties in the implementation of the General Agreement, Noting that, despite the conclusion of the peace process and significant progress in the security environment, the humanitarian situation has not improved, owing to the severe economic deterioration and the prevailing drought, and that significant humanitarian needs continue to exist throughout Tajikistan, Recognizing that until the economy is able to support the Tajik population, humanitarian operations will remain a critical factor in strengthening the achievements of the peace process in Tajikistan, Expressing regret that, despite the importance of humanitarian operations for contributing to peace and stability, donor response to both the 1999 and the 2000 consolidated inter-agency appeals has been insufficient, Stressing that international funding for humanitarian operations is particularly important since such operations remain the principal means by which hundreds of thousands of Tajiks meet their basic needs, Noting with concern the lack of support for food assistance and health programmes, which aim to save lives and must receive immediate funding if social catastrophe is to be avoided in Tajikistan, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/347. and endorses the observations and recommendations set out therein; 2. Welcomes the implementation of the main provisions of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan,A/52/219-S/1997/510, annex I. and the end of the transition period; 3. Also welcomes the continued role of the United Nations in post-conflict peace-building in Tajikistan and the establishment of the United Nations Tajikistan Office for Peace-building; 4. Stresses that Tajikistan has entered a new phase of post-conflict peace-building, which requires continued international economic assistance; 5. Recognizes that humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance remains crucial, not only to sustain life but also to promote development and prevent renewed conflict; 6. Welcomes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General in drawing the attention of the international community to the acute humanitarian problems of Tajikistan and in mobilizing assistance for the post-conflict rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of the country; 7. Expresses its appreciation to the States, the United Nations, the World Bank and other intergovernmental organizations and all relevant humanitarian organizations, agencies and non-governmental organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, that have responded and continue to respond positively to the humanitarian needs of Tajikistan; 8. Encourages Member States and others concerned to continue assistance to alleviate the urgent humanitarian needs of Tajikistan and to offer support to Tajikistan for the post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction of its economy; 9. Warmly welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to continue the United Nations humanitarian programme in Tajikistan by issuing a consolidated inter-agency appeal for humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan for 2001, as a strategic document that will guide a gradual transition to a more development-oriented focus, and invites Member States to fund programmes included in the appeal; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General to re-evaluate in 2001 all humanitarian assistance activities in Tajikistan with a view to addressing longer-term developmental issues; 11. Stresses the need to ensure the security and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel, and of United Nations and associated personnel, as well as the safety and security of their premises, equipment and supplies; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to give special attention, in the dialogue with the multilateral lending institutions, to the humanitarian implications of their adjustment programmes in Tajikistan; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Tajikistan and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to consider at its fifty-sixth session the question of the situation in Tajikistan under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance". RESOLUTION 55/46 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.40 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam 55/46. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the special session of the General Assembly in this regard The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Stressing the importance of the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly which reviewed and assessed the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of ActionIbid., annex II. and adopted further actions and initiatives to implement the commitments made at the Summit,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: Gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolutions S-23/2 and S-23/3. 1. Reaffirms the commitments made by heads of State and Government at the World Summit for Social Development, contained in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action,Ibid., annex II. which established a new consensus to place people at the centre of the concerns for sustainable development and pledged to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration so as to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all, and the decisions on further action and initiatives to accelerate social development for all, adopted at the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly and contained in the further initiatives for social development;Resolution S-24/2, annex. 2. Also reaffirms that the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and the further initiatives for social development adopted at the twenty-fourth special session will constitute the basic framework for the further promotion of social development in the forthcoming years; 3. Emphasizes the vital importance of placing the goals of social development, as contained in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session, at the centre of economic policy-making, including in policies that influence domestic and global market forces and the global economy; 4. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development, the regional commissions, the relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to take on a priority basis all steps necessary to ensure the effective implementation of all commitments and undertakings contained in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session; 5. Expresses its appreciation to the Government and people of Switzerland for contributing to the successful outcome of the twenty-fourth special session; 6. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session;A/55/344. 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session an item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on this question. RESOLUTION 55/47 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.43/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Suriname, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia 55/47. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially its dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed, Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace, and resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/55/377. Taking note also of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000, entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing the particular relevance of the special session of the General Assembly for follow-up to the World Summit for Children, to be held in New York in 2001, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, Taking into account the Manifesto 2000 initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over sixty million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, 1. Recognizes that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World is to further strengthen the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Notes with satisfaction the engagement of Member States, the United Nations system and civil society during the International Year for the Culture of Peace at the national, regional and global levels, and in this context recognizes the role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the focal point during the year; 3. Invites Member States to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence is fostered at all levels; 4. Welcomes the establishment of national committees and national focal points in over one hundred and sixty countries in the context of the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace, stresses the importance of their continued close involvement in furthering the objectives of the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace and in the effective observance of the Decade, and encourages the establishment of such bodies in the remaining countries; 5. Designates the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the lead agency for the Decade with responsibility for coordinating the activities of the organizations of the United Nations system to promote a culture of peace, as well as liaison with the other organizations concerned in this matter; 6. Recognizes the important role of relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund and the University for Peace, in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, particularly by means of special activities during the Decade at national, regional and international levels; 7. Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to disseminate widely in various languages the Declaration and Programme of Action and related materials, in particular throughout the Decade; 8. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to promote both formal and non-formal education at all levels that foster a culture of peace and non-violence; 9. Invites civil society at the local, regional and national levels to widen the scope of their activities to promote a culture of peace and non-violence, engaging in partnerships and sharing information, thus contributing to a global movement for a culture of peace, and encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to further the objectives of the Decade by adopting their own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other global and regional organizations; 10. Stresses the importance of the media and of new information and communications technology in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, especially among children and young people; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session in 2005 a report on the observance of the Decade at its mid-point and on the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action, taking into account the views of Member States and in consultation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system; 12. Invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to provide information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 13. Decides to devote one day of plenary meetings at its sixtieth session to consideration of the item, including a review of the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as the observance of the Decade at its mid-point, with the participation of all relevant actors, as appropriate; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 55/48 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.15/Rev.2 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Cambodia, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nauru, Pakistan, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela 55/48. The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and the role of the United Nations in promoting international economic and social cooperation, Recognizing that the well-being of people and the full development of their potential is the overall goal of sustainable development, Deeply concerned about the growing disparities between rich and poor, both within and among countries, and about the adverse implications thereof for the promotion of human development throughout the world, Determined to promote the economic and social advancement of all peoples, and convinced of the urgency of revitalizing international cooperation towards that end, Emphasizing that countries are responsible for their development processes, and in this context stressing the responsibility of the international community, in partnership, to assist developing countries in their development efforts, Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. adopted by the heads of State and Government at the conclusion of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, in particular the goals and targets agreed therein for promoting development and poverty eradication, Taking note of the Declaration of the South Summit adopted in Havana on 14 April 2000,A/55/74, annex I. on, inter alia, the need for a new global human order aimed at reversing the growing disparities between rich and poor both among and within countries through the promotion of growth with equity, the eradication of poverty, the expansion of productive employment and the promotion of gender equality and social integration, 1. Stresses the need for a broad-based consensus for action within a comprehensive and holistic framework towards the achievement of the goals of development and poverty eradication involving all actors, namely Governments, the United Nations system and other international organizations, and relevant actors of civil society, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations; 2. Notes with interest the proposal regarding a new global human order; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States and of the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system on the promotion of a new global human order, and to prepare a report thereon for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 4. Decides to include in the agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled, "The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order". RESOLUTION 55/49 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2000, by a recorded vote of 119 to none, with 1 abstention,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.39, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uruguay * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia Against: None Abstentions: United States of America 55/49. Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 41/11 of 27 October 1986, in which it solemnly declared the Atlantic Ocean, in the region between Africa and South America, a zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Recalling also its subsequent resolutions on the matter, including resolution 45/36 of 27 November 1990, in which it reaffirmed the determination of the States of the zone to enhance and accelerate their cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, cultural and other spheres, Reaffirming that the questions of peace and security and those of development are interrelated and inseparable and that cooperation for peace and development among States of the region will promote the objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Aware of the importance that the States of the zone attach to the protection of the environment of the region, and recognizing the threat that pollution from any source poses to the marine and coastal environment, its ecological balance and its resources, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the purposes and objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic as a basis for the promotion of cooperation among the countries of the region; 2. Calls upon all States to cooperate in the promotion of the objectives established in the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic and to refrain from any action inconsistent with those objectives and with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions of the Organization, in particular actions that may create or aggravate situations of tension and potential conflict in the region; 3. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with its resolution 54/35 of 24 November 1999;A/55/476. 4. Recalls the agreement reached at the third meeting of the States members of the zone, held in Brasilia in 1994, to encourage democracy and political pluralism and, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. to promote and defend all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to cooperate towards the achievement of those goals; 5. Welcomes with satisfaction the holding of the fifth meeting of the States members of the zone in Buenos Aires, on 21 and 22 October 1998, and takes note of the Final Declaration and Plan of Action adopted at the meeting;A/53/650, annex. 6. Welcomes the progress towards the full entry into force of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. and of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba);See A/50/426, annex. 7. Also welcomes the entry into force of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, adopted in November 1997,A/53/78, annex. and the adoption of the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions by the Organization of American States in June 1999; 8. Further welcomes the decision on the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons taken by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held in Algiers in July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec.137 (XXXV). as well as the decisions on the prevention and combating of illicit trafficking in small arms and related crimes taken by the Council of the Southern African Development Community at its nineteenth Summit of Heads of State or Government, held in Maputo in August 1999,A/54/488-S/1999/1082, annex. and the initiatives taken by States members of the Economic Community of West African States to conclude their agreement on a moratorium on the importing, exporting and manufacture of light weapons; 9. Underlines the fact that sustainable peace and security in Sierra Leone can only be achieved through the fulfilment of the broad objectives of the Peace Agreement signed in Lomé on 7 July 1999,S/1999/777, annex. including full disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, the legitimate exploitation of natural resources of Sierra Leone for the benefit of its people, full respect for the human rights of all, national reconciliation, effective action on the issues of impunity and accountability, the full extension of the authority of the State of Sierra Leone, and a free and inclusive democratic process leading to elections; 10. Reaffirms the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of all States in the region, and calls upon all the parties to the conflict to cease the hostilities and to fulfil their obligations under the Ceasefire Agreement signed in Lusaka;S/1999/815, annex. 11. Also reaffirms the importance for Member States to contribute by all means at their disposal to an effective and lasting peace in Angola, and in that context reiterates that the primary cause of the present situation in Angola is the failure of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, under the leadership of Jonas Savimbi, to comply with its obligations under the Peace Accords,S/22609. the Lusaka ProtocolS/1994/1441. and relevant Security Council resolutions; 12. Views with concern the humanitarian effects on the civilian population of the present situation in Angola, commends in this regard the efforts of Member States, including the Government of Angola, and humanitarian organizations in rendering humanitarian assistance to Angola, and urges them to continue to provide and to increase such assistance; 13. Welcomes the return to constitutional and democratic order in Guinea-Bissau following the holding of free and fair presidential and legislative elections on 16 January 2000, and calls upon the international community and the Government of Guinea-Bissau to support the economic reconstruction of Guinea-Bissau and promote the consolidation of democracy there; 14. Affirms the importance of the South Atlantic to global maritime and commercial transactions and its determination to preserve the region for all peaceful purposes and activities protected by international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 15. Calls upon Member States to continue their efforts towards the achievement of appropriate regulation of maritime transport of radioactive and toxic wastes, taking into account the interests of coastal States and in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the regulations of the International Maritime Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency; 16. Views with concern the increase in drug trafficking and related crimes, including drug abuse, and calls upon the international community and the States members of the zone to promote regional and international cooperation to combat all aspects of the problem of drugs and related offences; 17. Recognizes, in the light of the number, magnitude and complexity of natural disasters and other emergencies, the need to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance by States members of the zone, so as to ensure a timely and effective response; 18. Welcomes the offer by Benin to host the sixth meeting of the States members of the zone; 19. Requests the relevant organizations, organs and bodies of the United Nations system to render all appropriate assistance that States members of the zone may seek in their joint efforts to implement the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the implementation of resolution 41/11 and subsequent resolutions on the matter under review and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, taking into account, inter alia, the views expressed by Member States; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic". RESOLUTION 55/4 Adopted at the 39th plenary meeting, on 25 October 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.12 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: China, Cyprus, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka 55/4. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/38 of 18 November 1981, 37/8 of 29 October 1982, 38/37 of 5 December 1983, 39/47 of 10 December 1984, 40/60 of 9 December 1985, 41/5 of 17 October 1986, 43/1 of 17 October 1988, 45/4 of 16 October 1990, 47/6 of 21 October 1992, 49/8 of 25 October 1994, 51/11 of 4 November 1996 and 53/14 of 29 October 1998, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee,A/55/221. Having heard the statement made by the Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee on the steps taken by the Consultative Committee to ensure continuing, close and effective cooperation between the two organizations,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Plenary Meetings, 39th meeting (A/55/PV.39), and corrigendum. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/221. 2. Notes with satisfaction the continuing efforts of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee towards strengthening the role of the United Nations and its various organs, including the International Court of Justice, through programmes and initiatives undertaken by the Consultative Committee; 3. Also notes with satisfaction the commendable progress achieved towards enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and the Consultative Committee in wider areas; 4. Notes with appreciation the decision of the Consultative Committee to participate actively in the programmes of the United Nations Decade of International Law and programmes on environment and sustainable development, as well as in the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of the International Criminal Court; 5. Also notes with appreciation the initiative and efforts the Consultative Committee will undertake to promote the objectives and principles set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. including wider acceptance of multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Consultative Committee; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee". RESOLUTION 55/50 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 145 to 1, with 5 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.49 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstentions: Angola, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United States of America 55/50. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/120 E of 10 December 1981, 37/123 C of 16 December 1982, 38/180 C of 19 December 1983, 39/146 C of 14 December 1984, 40/168 C of 16 December 1985, 41/162 C of 4 December 1986, 42/209 D of 11 December 1987, 43/54 C of 6 December 1988, 44/40 C of 4 December 1989, 45/83 C of 13 December 1990, 46/82 B of 16 December 1991, 47/63 B of 11 December 1992, 48/59 A of 14 December 1993, 49/87 A of 16 December 1994, 50/22 A of 4 December 1995, 51/27 of 4 December 1996, 52/53 of 9 December 1997, 53/37 of 2 December 1998 and 54/37 of 1 December 1999, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling also Security Council resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" and called upon those States which had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/538. 1. Determines that the decision of Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem is illegal and therefore null and void and has no validity whatsoever; 2. Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980) and their refusal to comply with the provisions of that resolution; 3. Calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/51 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 96 to 2, with 55 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.50 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Andorra, Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia 55/51. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,Ibid. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/52 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 106 to 2, with 48 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.45 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia 55/52. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of 2 December 1977, 33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and 34/65 C of 12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980, 36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989, 45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of 11 December 1992, 48/158 A of 20 December 1993, 49/62 A of 14 December 1994, 50/84 A of 15 December 1995, 51/23 of 4 December 1996, 52/49 of 9 December 1997, 53/39 of 2 December 1998 and 54/39 of 1 December 1999, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35). Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. and the Memorandum signed at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 4 September 1999, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly; 2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and positive contribution to international efforts to promote the Middle East peace process and the full implementation of the agreements reached and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people during the transitional period; 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee contained in chapter VII of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35). 4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate; 5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session and thereafter; 6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other non-governmental organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to involve additional non-governmental organizations in its work; 7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee, and expresses appreciation for the cooperation between the Commission and the Committee with regard to the modernization and preservation of the records of the Commission; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 55/53 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 107 to 2, with 48 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.46 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia 55/53. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/55/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 33/28 C of 7 December 1978, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, 35/169 D of 15 December 1980, 36/120 B of 10 December 1981, 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, 38/58 B of 13 December 1983, 39/49 B of 11 December 1984, 40/96 B of 12 December 1985, 41/43 B of 2 December 1986, 42/66 B of 2 December 1987, 43/175 B of 15 December 1988, 44/41 B of 6 December 1989, 45/67 B of 6 December 1990, 46/74 B of 11 December 1991, 47/64 B of 11 December 1992, 48/158 B of 20 December 1993, 49/62 B of 14 December 1994, 50/84 B of 15 December 1995, 51/24 of 4 December 1996, 52/50 of 9 December 1997, 53/40 of 2 December 1998 and 54/40 of 1 December 1999, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 54/40; 2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the organization of meetings in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine, and the provision of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee and the Division in the performance of their tasks; 6. Notes with appreciation the action taken by Member States to observe annually on 29 November the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, requests them to continue to give the widest possible publicity to the observance, and requests the Committee and the Division to continue to organize, as part of the observance of the Day of Solidarity, an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. RESOLUTION 55/54 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 151 to 2, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.47 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of) 55/54. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 54/41 of 1 December 1999, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of non-governmental organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Aware of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements signed by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and of the subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. and the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum of 4 September 1999, and their positive implications, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 54/41; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East in general, including the achievements of the peace process, and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2000-2001, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard, in particular the prospects for peace; (c) To expand its collection of audiovisual material on the question of Palestine and to continue the production of such material, including the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the area, including the territories under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and the occupied territories; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists initiated in 1995; 4. Requests the Department of Public Information to promote the Bethlehem 2000 Project, within existing resources and until the Bethlehem 2000 commemoration comes to a close, including the preparation and dissemination of publications, audiovisual material and further development of the "Bethlehem 2000" site on the United Nations Internet home page. RESOLUTION 55/55 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2000, by a recorded vote of 149 to 2, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.48 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru 55/55. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions adopted at the tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, Aware that it has been more than fifty years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-three years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/639-S/2000/1113. submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 54/42 of 1 December 1999, Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects, Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in those areas, as well as the subsequent redeployments of the Israeli army in the rest of the West Bank, Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general elections, Noting the signing of the Memorandum at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 4 September 1999, Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, and its positive contribution, Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, including the donor meeting held in Tokyo on 15 October 1999, Expressing its deep concern over the tragic events in Occupied East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 28 September 2000, which have resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, and concerned also about the clashes between the Israeli armed forces and the Palestinian police and the casualties on both sides, Expressing its deep concern also over the serious deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the difficulties facing the Middle East peace process, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects; 2. Expresses its full support for the ongoing peace process which began in Madrid and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 1995A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. and the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum of 1999, and expresses the hope that the process will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East; 3. Stresses the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace and the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the Middle East peace process, and the need for the immediate and scrupulous implementation of the agreements reached between the parties, including the redeployment of the Israeli forces from the West Bank, and calls for the speedy conclusion of the final settlement agreement between the two sides; 4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process and other interested parties, as well as the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts and initiatives to reverse immediately all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, in implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings and in order to ensure a successful and speedy conclusion of the peace process; 5. Stresses the need for: (a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination; (b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; 6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period; 8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the Declaration of Principles; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter. RESOLUTION 55/56 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.52 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 55/56. The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts The General Assembly, Expressing its concern over the problem of conflict diamonds fuelling conflicts in a number of countries and the devastating impact of these conflicts on peace, safety and security for people in affected countries, Understanding conflict diamonds to be rough diamonds which are used by rebel movements to finance their military activities, including attempts to undermine or overthrow legitimate Governments, Recognizing that the vast majority of rough diamonds produced in the world are from legitimate sources, Recognizing also that the legitimate trade in diamonds makes a critical contribution to economic development in many countries worldwide, Acknowledging that the problem of conflict diamonds is of serious international concern, and that measures to address the problem should involve all concerned parties, including producing, processing, exporting and importing countries, as well as the diamond industry, Recognizing the need to address the problem of rough diamonds originating from territories of diamond-producing countries under military occupation by another country, Emphasizing that these measures should be effective and pragmatic, consistent with international law, including relevant trade provisions and commitments, and should not impede the current legitimate trade in diamonds or impose an undue burden on Governments or industry, particularly smaller producers, and not hinder the development of the diamond industry, Recalling all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including its resolutions 1173 (1998) of 12 June 1998, 1295 (2000) of 18 April 2000 and 1306 (2000) of 5 July 2000, as well as resolution 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000, Highlighting the additional important initiatives already taken to address this problem, in particular by the Governments of Angola and Sierra Leone and by other key producing, processing, exporting and importing countries, as well as by the diamond industry and civil society, including the creation by the industry of the World Diamond Council, Welcoming with appreciation the initiative by the African diamond-producing countries to launch an inclusive consultation process of Governments, industry and civil society, referred to as the Kimberley Process, to deal with the issue, Taking note of the ministerial statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting on diamonds held in Pretoria on 21 September 2000,A/55/638, annex. Also taking note of the communiqué issued by the London Intergovernmental Meeting on Conflict Diamonds, held on 25 and 26 October 2000,A/55/628, annex. 1. Calls upon all States to implement fully Security Council measures targeting the link between the trade in conflict diamonds and the supply to rebel movements of weapons, fuel or other prohibited materiel; 2. Urges all States to support efforts of the diamond producing, processing, exporting and importing countries and the diamond industry to find ways to break the link between conflict diamonds and armed conflict, and encourages other appropriate initiatives to this end, including improved international cooperation on law enforcement; 3. Expresses the need to give urgent and careful consideration to devising effective and pragmatic measures to address the problem of conflict diamonds, the elements of which would include: (a) The creation and implementation of a simple and workable international certification scheme for rough diamonds; (b) Basing the scheme primarily on national certification schemes; (c) The need for national practices to meet internationally agreed minimum standards; (d) The aim of securing the widest possible participation; (e) The need for diamond processing, exporting and importing States to act in concert; (f) The need for appropriate arrangements to help to ensure compliance, acting with respect for the sovereignty of States; (g) The need for transparency; 4. Welcomes the offer by the Government of Namibia to convene a workshop of the world's leading diamond processing, exporting and importing countries, continuing the momentum of the Kimberley Process to consider technical aspects pertaining to the envisaged international certification scheme for rough diamonds; 5. Encourages the countries participating in the Kimberley Process to consider expanding the membership of the Process in order to allow all key States with a significant interest in the world diamond industry to participate in further meetings, and to move ahead with the intergovernmental negotiating process to develop detailed proposals for the envisaged international certification scheme for rough diamonds, in close collaboration with the diamond industry and taking into account the views of relevant elements of civil society; 6. Requests the countries participating in the Kimberley Process to submit to the General Assembly, no later than at its fifty-sixth session, a report on progress made; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict". RESOLUTION 55/57 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/591, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 55/57. International Year of Volunteers The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/17 of 20 November 1997, in which it proclaimed the year 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers, and also recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1997/44 of 22 July 1997, Recalling also the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, in which the General Assembly recommended the promotion of the involvement of volunteers in social development, inter alia, by encouraging Governments, taking into account the views of all actors, to develop comprehensive strategies and programmes by raising public awareness about the value and opportunities of voluntarism and by facilitating an enabling environment for individuals and other actors of civil society to engage in, and the private sector to support, voluntary activities, Welcoming the decision of the Commission for Social Development, at its thirty-eighth session, to include the subject of volunteering in the provisional agenda for its thirty-ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 6 and corrigendum (E/2000/26 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. B. Taking into account the valuable contribution of volunteering to both economic and social development, Bearing in mind that volunteering is one of the important ways in which people participate in societal development, 1. Welcomes the activities undertaken by States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations and the United Nations system for the promotion of volunteerism and, specifically, in preparation for the observance of the International Year of Volunteers, and encourages them to continue their efforts; 2. Calls upon States to promote, especially during the Year, an environment conducive to the discussion, at the national and local levels, of the characteristics and trends of volunteer action in their own societies, including the major challenges which the Year can help to address, and to incorporate the subject of volunteering into high-level and other meetings and events during 2001; 3. Invites States to consider all means available for more people to become involved in voluntary action and to be drawn from a broader cross-section of society, especially from groups, including young people, older people and people with disabilities, in view of the benefits accruing to volunteers through volunteer action; 4. Encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, eminent persons and other relevant actors to take all possible measures to promote volunteer action, especially during the Year, in particular at the local level, and in cooperation with, inter alia, local authorities, community leaders, the media and schools; 5. Encourages organizations of the United Nations system to pay attention to the Year in their regular work and in their relevant meetings and to continue to collaborate with the United Nations Volunteers programme as focal point for the Year to ensure that the contributions of volunteers in their own areas of concern are fully recognized; 6. Requests the Commission for Social Development to make appropriate suggestions and recommendations to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, to further the contribution of volunteering to social development; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit his noteA/AC.253/16/Add.7. transmitting the contribution of the United Nations Volunteers programme to the preparations for the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", as a document of the thirty-ninth session of the Commission for Social Development, and requests him, furthermore, to disseminate it widely within the United Nations system, including by making it available to the Commission on Human Settlements acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the Habitat Agenda, the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly for follow-up to the World Summit for Children, the preparatory committee for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-fifth session; 8. Decides that two plenary meetings of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly shall be devoted to volunteering, to coincide with the close of the International Year of Volunteers on 5 December 2001, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on ways in which Governments and the United Nations system could support volunteering for discussion on that occasion; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the outcome of the International Year of Volunteers and its follow-up. RESOLUTION 55/58 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/592, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela and Viet Nam. 55/58. Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/24 of 10 November 1999, and its resolution 54/262 of 25 May 2000, by which it decided to convene the Second World Assembly on Ageing, to be held in Spain in April 2002, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/1 of 3 May 2000, as well as Commission for Social Development decision 38/100 of 17 February 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 6 and corrigendum (E/2000/26 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. C. Acknowledging the initiatives undertaken and the momentum generated, at all levels, towards addressing the challenges of the ageing of populations and the concerns and contributions of older persons by the celebration of the International Year of Older Persons, Bearing in mind that, in its resolution 54/262, the General Assembly decided that the Commission for Social Development would serve as the preparatory committee for the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Reiterating that the Second World Assembly on Ageing should give particular attention, inter alia, to linkages between ageing and development, with particular attention to the needs, priorities and perspectives of developing countries, Reaffirming the necessity of ensuring that the Second World Assembly on Ageing will provide an action-oriented follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons, and recognizing the importance of an adequate preparatory process, Reaffirming also that the revised plan of action and the long-term strategy on ageing will contain realistic financial recommendations for implementation, Recognizing the continuing process of elaboration of the United Nations research agenda on ageing for the twenty-first century, which is aimed at providing a background for policy responses to ageing, in particular in developing countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons;A/55/167. 2. Decides that the Second World Assembly on Ageing shall be held at Madrid from 8 to 12 April 2002; 3. Invites Member States, where appropriate, to consider extending the mandate of national committees or other mechanisms established on the occasion of the International Year of Older Persons in order to undertake national preparations for the Second World Assembly on Ageing, and also invites Member States currently without them to consider appropriate ways or mechanisms for their preparations for the Second World Assembly; 4. Notes the encouraging responses of Member States, United Nations entities and non-governmental organizations to the request by the Secretariat eliciting their views on the progress in and obstacles to the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing,See Report of the World Assembly on Ageing, Vienna, 26 July-6 August 1982 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.I.16) chap. VI, sect. A. as well as on priority issues to be addressed in a revised plan of action, and encourages those that have not yet responded to consider doing so; 5. Invites the regional commissions to explore the feasibility of holding regional activities with Member States, non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors of civil society in their region, in preparation for and as follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing; 6. Invites the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to launch, in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the host country, an information campaign for the Second World Assembly on Ageing; 7. Welcomes the establishment by the United Nations programme on ageing of the Internet-accessible database on policies and programmes on ageing, and invites Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the Secretariat in updating and maintaining the database through the provision of timely information; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/59 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/593, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 55/59. Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century The General Assembly, Recalling that, in its resolution 54/125 of 17 December 1999, it requested the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders to submit, through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Economic and Social Council, its declaration to the Millennium Assembly for consideration and action and requested the Commission to give priority attention at its ninth session to the conclusions and recommendations of the Tenth Congress, with a view to recommending, through the Economic and Social Council, appropriate follow-up by the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session, Endorses the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, adopted by the States Members of the United Nations and the other States participating in the high-level segment of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). as contained in the annex to the present resolution. Annex Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century We the States Members of the United Nations, Concerned about the impact on our societies of the commission of serious crimes of a global nature, and convinced of the need for bilateral, regional and international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, Concerned in particular about transnational organized crime and the relationships between its various forms, Convinced that adequate prevention and rehabilitation programmes are fundamental to an effective crime control strategy and that such programmes should take into account social and economic factors that may make people more vulnerable to and likely to engage in criminal behaviour, Stressing that a fair, responsible, ethical and efficient criminal justice system is an important factor in the promotion of economic and social development and of human security, Aware of the promise of restorative approaches to justice that aim to reduce crime and promote the healing of victims, offenders and communities, Having assembled at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in Vienna from 10 to 17 April 2000 to decide to take more effective concerted action, in a spirit of cooperation, to combat the world crime problem, Declare as follows: 1. We note with appreciation the results of the regional preparatory meetings for the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.See A/CONF.187/RPM.1/1 and Corr.1, A/CONF.187/RPM.2/1, A/CONF.187/RPM.3/1 and A/CONF.187/RPM.4/1. 2. We reaffirm the goals of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality, more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and promotion of the highest standards of fairness, humanity and professional conduct. 3. We emphasize the responsibility of each State to establish and maintain a fair, responsible, ethical and efficient criminal justice system. 4. We recognize the necessity of closer coordination and cooperation among States in combating the world crime problem, bearing in mind that action against it is a common and shared responsibility. In this regard, we acknowledge the need to develop and promote technical cooperation activities to assist States in their efforts to strengthen their domestic criminal justice systems and their capacity for international cooperation. 5. We shall accord high priority to the completion of the negotiation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the protocols thereto, taking into account the concerns of all States. 6. We support efforts to assist States in capacity-building, including in obtaining training and technical assistance and in developing legislation, regulations and expertise, with a view to facilitating the implementation of the Convention and the protocols thereto. 7. Consistent with the goals of the Convention and the protocols thereto, we shall endeavour: (a) To incorporate a crime prevention component into national and international development strategies; (b) To intensify bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including technical cooperation, in the areas to be covered by the Convention and the protocols thereto; (c) To enhance donor cooperation in areas with crime prevention aspects; (d) To strengthen the capability of the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention, as well as the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, to assist States, at their request, in building capacity in areas to be covered by the Convention and the protocols thereto. 8. We welcome the efforts being made by the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention to develop, in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, a comprehensive global overview of organized crime as a reference tool and to assist Governments in policy and programme development. 9. We reaffirm our continued support for and commitment to the United Nations and to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, especially the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and the institutes of the Programme network, and resolve to strengthen the Programme further through sustained funding, as appropriate. 10. We undertake to strengthen international cooperation in order to create a conducive environment for the fight against organized crime, promoting growth and sustainable development and eradicating poverty and unemployment. 11. We commit ourselves to taking into account and addressing, within the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, as well as within national crime prevention and criminal justice strategies, any disparate impact of programmes and policies on women and men. 12. We also commit ourselves to the development of action-oriented policy recommendations based on the special needs of women as criminal justice practitioners, victims, prisoners and offenders. 13. We emphasize that effective action for crime prevention and criminal justice requires the involvement, as partners and actors, of Governments, national, regional, interregional and international institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and various segments of civil society, including the mass media and the private sector, as well as the recognition of their respective roles and contributions. 14. We commit ourselves to the development of more effective ways of collaborating with one another with a view to eradicating the scourge of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and the smuggling of migrants. We shall also consider supporting the global programme against trafficking in persons developed by the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, which is subject to close consultation with States and review by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and we establish 2005 as the target year for achieving a significant decrease in the incidence of those crimes worldwide and, where that is not attained, for assessing the actual implementation of the measures advocated. 15. We also commit ourselves to the enhancement of international cooperation and mutual legal assistance to curb illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, and we establish 2005 as the target year for achieving a significant decrease in their incidence worldwide. 16. We further commit ourselves to taking enhanced international action against corruption, building on the United Nations Declaration against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial Transactions,Resolution 51/191, annex. the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials,Resolution 51/59, annex. relevant regional conventions and regional and global forums. We stress the urgent need to develop an effective international legal instrument against corruption, independent of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and we invite the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to request the Secretary-General to submit to it at its tenth session, in consultation with States, a thorough review and analysis of all relevant international instruments and recommendations as part of the preparatory work for the development of such an instrument. We shall consider supporting the global programme against corruption developed by the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, which is subject to close consultation with States and review by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. 17. We reaffirm that combating money-laundering and the criminal economy constitutes a major element of the strategies against organized crime, established as a principle in the Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan against Organized Transnational Crime, adopted by the World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational Crime, held at Naples, Italy, from 21 to 23 November 1994.A/49/748, annex, sect. I.A. We are convinced that the success of this action rests upon setting up broad regimes and coordinating appropriate mechanisms to combat the laundering of the proceeds of crime, including the provision of support to initiatives focusing on States and territories offering offshore financial services that allow the laundering of the proceeds of crime. 18. We decide to develop action-oriented policy recommendations on the prevention and control of computer-related crime, and we invite the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to undertake work in this regard, taking into account the ongoing work in other forums. We also commit ourselves to working towards enhancing our ability to prevent, investigate and prosecute high-technology and computer-related crime. 19. We note that acts of violence and terrorism continue to be of grave concern. In conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and taking into account all the relevant General Assembly resolutions, we shall together, in conjunction with our other efforts to prevent and to combat terrorism, take effective, resolute and speedy measures with respect to preventing and combating criminal activities carried out for the purpose of furthering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. With this in view, we undertake to do our utmost to foster universal adherence to the international instruments concerned with the fight against terrorism. 20. We also note that racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance continue, and we recognize the importance of taking steps to incorporate into international crime prevention strategies and norms measures to prevent and combat crime associated with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. 21. We affirm our determination to combat violence stemming from intolerance on the basis of ethnicity, and we resolve to make a strong contribution, in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, to the planned World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. 22. We recognize that the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice contribute to efforts to deal with crime effectively. We also recognize the importance of prison reform, the independence of the judiciary and the prosecution authorities, and the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials. We shall endeavour, as appropriate, to use and apply the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice in national law and practice. We undertake to review relevant legislation and administrative procedures, as appropriate, with a view to providing the necessary education and training to the officials concerned and ensuring the necessary strengthening of institutions entrusted with the administration of criminal justice. 23. We also recognize the value of the model treaties on international cooperation in criminal matters as important tools for the development of international cooperation, and we invite the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to call upon the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention to update the Compendium of United Nations Standards and Norms in Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticeUnited Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IV.1 and corrigendum. in order to provide the most up-to-date versions of the model treaties to States seeking to utilize them. 24. We further recognize with great concern that juveniles in difficult circumstances are often at risk of becoming delinquent or easy candidates for recruitment by criminal groups, including groups involved in transnational organized crime, and we commit ourselves to undertaking countermeasures to prevent this growing phenomenon and to including, where necessary, provisions for juvenile justice in national development plans and international development strategies and to including the administration of juvenile justice in our funding policies for development cooperation. 25. We recognize that comprehensive crime prevention strategies at the international, national, regional and local levels must address the root causes and risk factors related to crime and victimization through social, economic, health, educational and justice policies. We urge the development of such strategies, aware of the proven success of prevention initiatives in numerous States and confident that crime can be reduced by applying and sharing our collective expertise. 26. We commit ourselves to according priority to containing the growth and overcrowding of pre-trial and detention prison populations, as appropriate, by promoting safe and effective alternatives to incarceration. 27. We decide to introduce, where appropriate, national, regional and international action plans in support of victims of crime, such as mechanisms for mediation and restorative justice, and we establish 2002 as a target date for States to review their relevant practices, to develop further victim support services and awareness campaigns on the rights of victims and to consider the establishment of funds for victims, in addition to developing and implementing witness protection policies. 28. We encourage the development of restorative justice policies, procedures and programmes that are respectful of the rights, needs and interests of victims, offenders, communities and all other parties. 29. We invite the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to design specific measures for the implementation of and follow-up to the commitments that we have undertaken in the present Declaration. RESOLUTIONS 55/5 A to F 55/5. Scale of assessments for apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations Resolution A Adopted at the 41st plenary meeting, on 26 October 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/521, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. A The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/215 B of 22 December 1997, 53/36 C of 18 December 1998 and 54/237 C of 23 December 1999, Having considered the letter dated 17 July 2000 from the President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee transmitting a letter dated 30 June 2000 from the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions regarding the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions,A/C.5/55/2. Having also considered the letter dated 26 September 2000 from the President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee transmitting a letter dated 25 September 2000 from the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the United Nations appending a letter from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan,A/C.5/55/12. Reaffirming the obligation of Member States under Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations to bear the expenses of the Organization as apportioned by the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 2. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing conditions, in order to avoid difficulties being experienced by the United Nations; 3. Decides that Burundi, the Comoros, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until 30 June 2001; 4. Decides also that Kyrgyzstan would be permitted to vote from 1 January until 30 June 2001 should it fall at that time in arrears under Article 19 of the Charter; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to ensure the sound financing of the Organization, to review the implications of the calculation of assessed contributions in arrears for the purpose of the application of Article 19 of the Charter at the beginning of each calendar year and at the beginning of the financial peacekeeping period on 1 July of each year, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at the first part of its resumed fifty-fifth session; 6. Decides, subject to the outcome of negotiations in the General Assembly on the report of the Secretary-General and the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions thereon, as requested in paragraph 5 above, at the main part of its fifty-sixth session and subject to further decision on its implementation by the General Assembly, to compare arrears with the amount actually assessed and payable for the preceding two full years for the purpose of the application of Article 19 of the Charter; 7. Requests the Committee on Contributions to consider further the indexation of arrears, interest on arrears, multi-year payment plans, early reimbursement to troop-contributing countries and further suggestions for measures to encourage the timely, full and unconditional payment of assessed contributions, taking into account the experience with incentives and sanctions for the payment of assessed contributions of other United Nations organizations and other multilateral and regional organizations, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 8. Calls upon the Committee on Contributions to give more detailed information and adequate reasons and rationale when making its recommendations. Resolutions B to F Adopted at the 89th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/521/Add.1, para. 7)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. B The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which the Assembly resolved, inter alia, to ensure that the Organization is provided on a timely and predictable basis with the resources it needs to carry out its mandates, Having considered the report of the Committee on Contributions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 11 and corrigendum (A/55/11 and Corr.1). 1. Decides that the scale of assessments for the period 2001-2003 shall be based on the following elements and criteria: (a) Estimates of the gross national product; (b) Average statistical base periods of six and three years; (c) Conversion rates based on market exchange rates, except where that would cause excessive fluctuations and distortions in the income of some Member States, when price-adjusted rates of exchange or other appropriate conversion rates should be employed, taking due account of General Assembly resolution 46/221 B of 21 December 1991; (d) The debt-burden approach employed in the scale of assessments for the period 1995-1997; (e) A low per capita income adjustment of 80 per cent, with the threshold per capita income limit of the average per capita gross national product of all Member States for the statistical base periods; (f) A minimum assessment rate of 0.001 per cent; (g) A maximum assessment rate for the least developed countries of 0.01 per cent; (h) A maximum assessment rate of 22 per cent; 2. Decides also that the elements of the scale of assessments contained in paragraph 1 above will be fixed until 2006, subject to the provisions of resolution C below, in particular paragraph 2 of that resolution, and without prejudice to rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 3. Notes that the application of the methodology outlined in paragraph 1 above will lead to a substantial increase in the rate of assessment of some Member States; 4. Decides to apply transitional measures to address those substantial increases; 5. Notes that the United States of America has decided to pay to the United Nations in 2001 an amount equal to 3 per cent of the amount assessed on Member States pursuant to General Assembly resolution 55/239 of 23 December 2000; 6. Decides, as an exceptional measure and notwithstanding the provisions of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, that this amount should be credited against the assessed contributions of the other Member States for the programme budget for 2001, as reflected in annex I to the present resolution; 7. Resolves that the scale of assessments for the contribution of Member States to the regular budget of the United Nations for the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 shall be as contained in annex II to the present resolution; 8. Resolves also that: (a) Notwithstanding the terms of financial regulation 5.5, the Secretary-General shall be empowered to accept, at his discretion and after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions, a portion of the contributions of Member States for the calendar years 2001, 2002 and 2003 in currencies other than United States dollars; (b) In accordance with financial regulation 5.9, States which are not Members of the United Nations but which participate in certain of its activities shall be called upon to contribute towards the 2001, 2002 and 2003 expenses of the Organization on the basis of the following rates: TABLE REMOVED These rates represent the basis for the calculation of the flat annual fees to be charged to non-member States in accordance with General Assembly resolution 44/197 B of 21 December 1989. Annex I TABLE REMOVED a 3 per cent additional payment by the United States of America. Annex II TABLE REMOVED C The General Assembly, Noting that the financial burdens resulting from the reformed scale of assessments for the regular budget for calendar year 2001 will be borne in part by a voluntary donation from the major contributor, Urging and expecting all Member States currently in arrears to fulfil their duties under international law and to settle those arrears promptly and in full, 1. Establishes, as from 1 January 2001, a reduced ceiling of 22 per cent for the assessed contribution of any individual Member State; 2. Decides to review the position at the end of 2003 and, depending on the status of contributions and arrears, to determine all appropriate measures to remedy the situation, including adjustments of the ceiling in keeping with its resolution 52/215 A to D of 22 December 1997; 3. Stresses that the reduction of the maximum assessment rate referred to in paragraph 1 of resolution B above shall apply to the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations and should have no automatic implication for the apportionment of the expenses of the specialized agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency. D The General Assembly, Recalling the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions contained in its reports on its fifty-ninthIbid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/54/11). and sixtiethOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 11 and corrigendum (A/55/11 and Corr.1). sessions, 1. Takes note of the decision of the Committee on Contributions to consider the system of assessment of non-member States further at its sixty-first session; 2. Decides that, from 2001, the flat annual fee percentage for the Holy See should be set at 25 per cent of the approved notional rate of assessment. E The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/217 of 23 December 1992, 51/218 E of 17 June 1997, 55/1 of 5 September 2000 and 55/12 of 1 November 2000, Recalling also the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions with respect to the assessment of Tuvalu as a non-member State, 1. Decides that the rate of assessment for Tuvalu, admitted to membership in the United Nations on 5 September 2000, should be 0.001 per cent for the year 2000; 2. Decides also that the rate of assessment for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, admitted to membership in the United Nations on 1 November 2000, should be 0.026 per cent for the year 2000; 3. Decides further that the contributions of Tuvalu and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for the regular budget and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994, for the year 2000 should be calculated on the basis of one twelfth of their relevant rates of assessment for the year 2000 per full calendar month of membership; 4. Decides that Tuvalu should be credited with a corresponding proportion of its non-member State assessment for the year 2000; 5. Decides also that the contributions of Tuvalu and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for the year 2000 should otherwise be applied to the same basis of assessment as for other Member States, except that, in the case of appropriations or apportionments approved by the General Assembly for the financing of peacekeeping operations, the contributions of Tuvalu and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as determined by the group of Member States to which they may be assigned by the Assembly, should be calculated in proportion to the calendar year; 6. Decides further that the assessments of Tuvalu and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for the year 2000 should be taken into account as miscellaneous income in accordance with regulation 5.2 (c) of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 7. Decides that, in accordance with financial regulation 5.8, the advances of Tuvalu and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the Working Capital Fund should be calculated by the application of their rates of assessment for the year 2000 to the authorized level of the Fund and should be added to the Fund, pending their incorporation in a 100 per cent scale for the Fund for 2002-2003; 8. Notes that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia can be said to have a share in the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund, established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/217;See also A/51/778. 9. Notes also that, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/217, the assessment of Tuvalu for the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund should be calculated by the application of its first rate of assessment for peacekeeping operations to the authorized level of the Fund. F The General Assembly 1. Decides to continue the review of other matters to be considered at the sixty-first session of the Committee on Contributions during the resumed fifty-fifth session; 2. Decides also to continue consideration of the proposal for the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Working Group on the Implementation of the Principle of Capacity to Pay during its resumed fifty-fifth session. RESOLUTION 55/60 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/593, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 55/60. Follow-up to the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/125 of 17 December 1999, Taking note with appreciation of the results of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). including the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, adopted by the Tenth Congress during its high-level segment, which were considered by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its ninth session, held in Vienna from 18 to 20 April 2000, 1. Urges Governments, in their efforts to prevent and combat crime, especially transnational crime, and to maintain well-functioning criminal justice systems, to be guided by the results of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders;See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). 2. Requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to continue at its tenth session its consideration of the findings and recommendations embodied in the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century adopted by the Tenth Congress and, as appropriate, the report of the Tenth Congress, and to take appropriate action; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, in consultation with Member States, draft plans of action to include specific measures for the implementation of and follow-up to the commitments undertaken in the Declaration for consideration and action by the Commission at its tenth session. RESOLUTION 55/61 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/593, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 55/61. An effective international legal instrument against corruption The General Assembly, Noting the corrosive effect that corruption has on democracy, development, the rule of law and economic activity, Recalling its resolutions 53/111 of 9 December 1998, by which it established the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and 54/126 of 17 December 1999, in which it requested the Ad Hoc Committee to complete its work in 2000, Recalling also its resolution 54/128 of 17 December 1999, in which it requested the Ad Hoc Committee to explore the desirability of an international instrument against corruption, either ancillary to or independent of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000 (annex I). Taking note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on its seventh session,A/AC.254/25. during which it considered the implementation of resolution 54/128, Recalling the debates and especially the statements made at the high-level segment and the results of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). in particular the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, Bearing in mind the need to prepare a broad instrument that takes into account existing international conventions against corruption, 1. Recognizes that an effective international legal instrument against corruption, independent of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000 (annex I). is desirable; 2. Decides to begin the elaboration of such an instrument in Vienna at the headquarters of the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report analysing all relevant international legal instruments, other documents and recommendations addressing corruption,See the annex to the present resolution for an indicative list of such legal instruments, documents and recommendations. considering, inter alia, obligations as regards criminalization of all forms of corruption and international cooperation, regulatory aspects of corruption and the relationship between corruption and money-laundering, and to submit it to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at an inter-sessional meeting in order to allow Member States to provide comments to the Commission prior to its tenth session; 4. Requests the Commission, at its tenth session, to review and assess the report of the Secretary-General and, on that basis, to provide recommendations and guidance as to future work on the development of a legal instrument against corruption; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, upon completion of the negotiation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the related protocols, an intergovernmental open-ended expert group to examine and prepare, on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General and of the recommendations of the Commission at its tenth session, draft terms of reference for the negotiation of the future legal instrument against corruption; 6. Requests the intergovernmental open-ended expert group to submit the draft terms of reference for the negotiation of the future legal instrument, through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session for adoption; 7. Decides to establish an ad hoc committee for the negotiation of such an instrument to start its work in Vienna as soon as the draft terms of reference for such negotiation are adopted; 8. Invites donor countries to assist the United Nations in ensuring the effective participation of developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in the work of the intergovernmental open-ended expert group and the ad hoc committee, including travel and local expenses; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Commission and the intergovernmental open-ended expert group with the required facilities and resources to support their work. Annex Indicative list of international legal instruments, documents and recommendations against corruption (a) International Code of Conduct for Public Officials;Resolution 51/59, annex. (b) United Nations Declaration against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial Transactions;Resolution 51/191, annex. (c) General Assembly resolution 54/128, in which the Assembly subscribed to the conclusions and recommendations of the Expert Group Meeting on Corruption and its Financial Channels, held in Paris from 30 March to 1 April 1999;E/CN.15/1999/10, paras. 1-14. (d) Report of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders; See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). (e) Inter-American Convention against Corruption adopted by the Organization of American States on 29 March 1996;See E/1996/99. (f) Recommendation 32 of the Senior Experts Group on Transnational Organized Crime endorsed by the Political Group of Eight in Lyon, France, on 29 June 1996;See Economic and Social Council resolution 1997/22, annex I. (g) The Twenty Guiding Principles for the Fight against Corruption adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 6 November 1997;See Council of Europe, Texts adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, 1997, Strasbourg, France, 1998, resolution (97) 24. (h) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions adopted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on 21 November 1997;See Corruption and Integrity Improvement Initiatives in Developing Countries (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.III.B.18). (i) Agreement Establishing the Group of States against Corruption adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 1 May 1999,See Official Gazette of the Council of Europe: Committee of Ministers part-volume, No. V - May 1999, resolution (99) 5. and the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 November 1998;Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No. 173. (j) Joint Action on corruption in the private sector adopted by the Council of the European Union on 22 December 1998;See Official Journal of the European Communities, No. L 358, 31 December 1998. (k) Declarations made by the first Global Forum on Fighting Corruption, held in Washington, D.C., from 24 to 26 February 1999,E/CN.15/1999/WP.1/Add.1. and the second Global Forum, to be held in The Hague in 2001; (l) Civil Law Convention on Corruption adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 9 September 1999;Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No. 174. (m) Model Code of Conduct for Public Officials adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 11 May 2000;See Official Gazette of the Council of Europe: Committee of Ministers part-volume, No. V - May 2000, recommendation R (2000) 10. (n) Principles to Combat Corruption in African Countries of the Global Coalition for Africa;See www.gca-cma.org. (o) Conventions and related protocols of the European Union on corruption; (p) Best practices such as those compiled by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the Financial Action Task Force on Money-Laundering and the International Organization of Securities Commissions. RESOLUTION 55/62 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/593, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Lesotho (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 55/62. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/130 of 17 December 1999 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/156. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Also commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 4. Urges the States members of the Institute to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 5. Calls upon all Member States and non-governmental organizations to adopt concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to deploy his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to work closely with the Institute; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to make concrete proposals, including the provision of additional core professional staff, in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/63 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/593, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 55/63. Combating the criminal misuse of information technologies The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to ensure that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies, in conformity with recommendations contained in the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2000 of the Economic and Social Council,See A/55/3, chap. III. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3. are available to all, Recalling also its resolution 45/121 of 14 December 1990, in which it endorsed the recommendations of the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, 27 August-7 September 1990: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.91.IV.2), chap I. and noting in particular the resolution on computer-related crimes,Ibid., sect. C, resolution 9. in which the Eighth Congress called upon States to intensify their efforts to combat computer-related abuses more effectively, Emphasizing the contributions that the United Nations, in particular the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, can make in the promotion of more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice and of the highest standards of fairness and human dignity, Recognizing that the free flow of information can promote economic and social development, education and democratic governance, Noting significant advancements in the development and application of information technologies and means of telecommunication, Expressing concern that technological advancements have created new possibilities for criminal activity, in particular the criminal misuse of information technologies, Noting that reliance on information technologies, while it may vary from State to State, has resulted in a substantial increase in global cooperation and coordination, with the result that the criminal misuse of information technologies may have a grave impact on all States, Recognizing that gaps in the access to and use of information technologies by States can diminish the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, and noting the need to facilitate the transfer of information technologies, in particular to developing countries, Noting the necessity of preventing the criminal misuse of information technologies, Recognizing the need for cooperation between States and private industry in combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, Underlining the need for enhanced coordination and cooperation among States in combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, and, in this context, stressing the role that can be played by both the United Nations and regional organizations, Welcoming the work of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). Noting the work of the Committee of Experts on Crime in Cyberspace of the Council of Europe on a draft convention on cybercrime, the principles agreed to by the Ministers of Justice and the Interior of the Group of Eight in Washington, D.C., on 10 December 1997, which were endorsed by the heads of State of the Group of Eight in Birmingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on 17 May 1998, the work of the Conference of the Group of Eight on a dialogue between government and industry on safety and confidence in cyberspace, held in Paris from 15 to 17 May 2000, and the recommendations approved on 3 March 2000 by the Third Meeting of Ministers of Justice or of Ministers or Attorneys General of the Americas, convened in San José, Costa Rica, from 1 to 3 March 2000 within the framework of the Organization of American States,See REMJA-III/doc.14/00 rev. 2, chap. IV. 1. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the above-mentioned bodies to prevent the criminal misuse of information technologies, and also notes the value of, inter alia, the following measures to combat such misuse: (a) States should ensure that their laws and practice eliminate safe havens for those who criminally misuse information technologies; (b) Law enforcement cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of international cases of criminal misuse of information technologies should be coordinated among all concerned States; (c) Information should be exchanged between States regarding the problems that they face in combating the criminal misuse of information technologies; (d) Law enforcement personnel should be trained and equipped to address the criminal misuse of information technologies; (e) Legal systems should protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and computer systems from unauthorized impairment and ensure that criminal abuse is penalized; (f) Legal systems should permit the preservation of and quick access to electronic data pertaining to particular criminal investigations; (g) Mutual assistance regimes should ensure the timely investigation of the criminal misuse of information technologies and the timely gathering and exchange of evidence in such cases; (h) The general public should be made aware of the need to prevent and combat the criminal misuse of information technologies; (i) To the extent practicable, information technologies should be designed to help to prevent and detect criminal misuse, trace criminals and collect evidence; (j) The fight against the criminal misuse of information technologies requires the development of solutions taking into account both the protection of individual freedoms and privacy and the preservation of the capacity of Governments to fight such criminal misuse; 2. Invites States to take into account the above-mentioned measures in their efforts to combat the criminal misuse of information technologies; 3. Decides to maintain the question of the criminal misuse of information technologies on the agenda of its fifty-sixth session, as part of the item entitled "Crime prevention and criminal justice". RESOLUTION 55/64 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/593, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 55/64. Strengthening of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action annexed to that resolution, Emphasizing the role of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality, more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice, respect for human rights and promotion of the highest standards of fairness, humanity and professional conduct, Convinced of the desirability of closer coordination and cooperation among States in combating crime, including drug-related crimes such as money-laundering, illicit arms trade and terrorist crimes, bearing in mind the role that could be played by both the United Nations and regional organizations in this respect, Recognizing the urgent need to increase technical cooperation activities to assist countries, in particular developing countries and countries with economies in transition, with their efforts in translating United Nations policy guidelines into practice, Recognizing also the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention between the immediate priority of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeAdopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000 (annex I). and the protocols thereto and other priorities identified by the Economic and Social Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions in which it requested the Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandate, in conformity with the high priority attached to the Programme, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, which was adopted by the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). and endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/59 of 4 December 2000, in which Member States renewed their commitment to combat organized crime in all its forms and manifestations and to promote crime prevention in all its areas, Welcoming the successful completion of the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, established by its resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, and the progress achieved in the elaboration of the three supplementary protocols, namely the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,Resolution 55/25, annex III. the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Ibid., annex II. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 54/131 of 17 December 1999;A/55/119. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, in responding to the needs of the international community in the face of both national and transnational criminality and in assisting Member States in achieving the goals of preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime; 3. Also reaffirms the role of the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention in providing to Member States, upon request, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the area of prevention and control of organized crime; 4. Notes the programme of work of the Centre, including the three global programmes addressing, respectively, trafficking in human beings, corruption and organized crime, formulated on the basis of close consultations with Member States and review by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and calls upon the Secretary-General further to strengthen the Centre by providing it with the resources necessary for the full implementation of its mandate; 5. Supports the high priority given to technical cooperation and advisory services in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the area of prevention and control of transnational organized crime, and stresses the need to enhance the operational activities of the Centre to assist, in particular, developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 6. Welcomes the increased number of technical assistance projects in the field of juvenile justice, reflecting an increased awareness among Member States of the importance of juvenile justice reform in establishing and maintaining stable societies and the rule of law; 7. Invites all States to support, through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 8. Encourages relevant programmes, funds and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank, and regional and national funding agencies to support the technical operational activities of the Centre; 9. Urges States and funding agencies to review, as appropriate, their funding policies for development assistance and to include a crime prevention and criminal justice component in such assistance; 10. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to exercise more vigorously its mandated function of resource mobilization, and calls upon the Commission to strengthen further its activities in this direction; 11. Expresses its appreciation to non-governmental organizations and other relevant sectors of civil society for their support to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 12. Welcomes the efforts of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention to enhance the synergies between the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention, in conformity with the reform proposals of the Secretary-General; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to assist the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the principal policy-making body in this field, in performing its activities, including cooperation and coordination with other relevant bodies, such as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Commission on Human Rights, the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission for Social Development; 14. Invites States to make adequate voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund in order to strengthen the capacity of the Centre to provide technical assistance to requesting States for the implementation of the commitments entered into at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders and, in particular, to implement programmes designed to combat and prevent the trafficking in human beings, the smuggling of migrants and corruption, and to study and bring about action to combat and prevent transnational organized crime; 15. Encourages States to begin making adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeAdopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000 (annex I). and the protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annex III., Ibid., annex II. which will be open for signature in Palermo, Italy, on 12 December 2000, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures and provide adequate support to the Centre during the biennium 2002-2003 so as to enable it to promote the speedy entry into force of the Convention and the protocols thereto; 17. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to mainstream a gender perspective into its activities and its request to the Secretariat that a gender perspective be integrated into all activities of the Centre; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/65 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/594, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/65. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/92 of 12 December 1997, 53/115 of 9 December 1998 and 54/132 of 17 December 1999, Reaffirming its commitment to the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly devoted to countering the world drug problem together, held in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998, and welcoming the continued determination of Governments to overcome the world drug problem by a full and balanced application of national, regional and international strategies to reduce the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, as reflected in the Political Declaration,Resolution S-20/2, annex. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem,Resolution S-20/4. Gravely concerned that, despite continued increased efforts by States, relevant international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, the drug problem is still a challenge of a global dimension, which constitutes a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of all mankind, in particular young people, in all countries, undermines development, including efforts to reduce poverty, socio-economic and political stability and democratic institutions, entails an increasing economic cost for Governments, also threatens the national security and sovereignty of States, as well as the dignity and hope of millions of people and their families, and causes irreparable loss of human lives, Concerned that the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs and psychotropic substances continue to threaten seriously the socio-economic and political systems, stability, national security and sovereignty of many States, especially those involved in conflicts and wars, and that trafficking in drugs could make conflict resolution more difficult, Deeply alarmed by the violence and economic power of criminal organizations and terrorist groups engaged in drug-trafficking activities and other criminal activities, such as money-laundering and illicit traffic in arms, precursors and essential chemicals, and by the increasing transnational links between them, and recognizing the need for international cooperation and implementation of effective strategies on the basis of the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, which are essential to achieving results against all forms of transnational criminal activities, Noting with grave concern the global increase in the use of minors in the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as in the number of children and young people starting to use drugs at an earlier age and in their access to substances not previously used, Alarmed by the rapid and widespread increase in the illicit manufacture, trafficking and consumption, in particular by young people, of synthetic drugs in many countries and by the high probability that amphetamine-type stimulants, in particular methamphetamine and amphetamine, may become drugs of choice among abusers in the twenty-first century, Deeply convinced that the special session made a significant contribution to a new comprehensive framework for international cooperation, based on an integrated and balanced approach with strategies, measures, methods, practical activities, goals and specific targets to be met, that all States, the United Nations system and other international organizations must implement them with concrete actions and that the international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, and the regional development banks should be invited to include action against the world drug problem in their programmes, taking into account the priorities of States, Reaffirming the importance of the commitments of Member States in meeting the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, and welcoming the guidelines for reporting on the follow-up to the twentieth special session adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its reconvened forty-second session,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, annex. Emphasizing the importance of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, which introduces a global approach, recognizing a new balance between illicit supply and demand reduction, under the principle of shared responsibility, aims at preventing the use of drugs and at reducing the adverse consequences of drug abuse, ensuring that special attention is paid to vulnerable groups, in particular children and young people, and constitutes one of the pillars of the new global strategy, and reaffirming the need for demand reduction programmes, Emphasizing equally the importance of supply reduction as an integral part of a balanced drug control strategy under the principles enshrined in the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development,Resolution S-20/4 E. reaffirming the need for alternative development programmes that are sustainable, welcoming the achievements of some States on their way to eradicating illicit drug crops, and inviting all other States to make similar efforts, Underlining the role of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as the principal United Nations policy-making body on drug control issues, the leadership role and commendable work of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme as the main focus for concerted multilateral action and the important role of the International Narcotics Control Board as an independent monitoring authority, as set out in the international drug control treaties, Recognizing the efforts of all countries, in particular those that produce narcotic drugs for scientific and medical purposes, and of the International Narcotics Control Board in preventing the diversion of such substances to illicit markets and in maintaining production at a level consistent with licit demand, in line with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of l961United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. Recognizing also that the problem of the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is often related to development problems and that those links and the promotion of the economic development of countries affected by the illicit drug trade require, within the context of shared responsibility, appropriate measures, including strengthened international cooperation in support of alternative and sustainable development activities, in the affected areas of those countries, that have as their objectives the reduction and elimination of illicit drug production, Stressing that respect for all human rights is and must be an essential component of measures taken to address the drug problem, Ensuring that women and men benefit equally, and without any discrimination, from strategies directed against the world drug problem, through their involvement in all stages of programmes and policy-making, Recognizing that the use of the Internet poses new opportunities and challenges to international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking, and recognizing also the need for increased cooperation among States and the exchange of information, including with reference to national experiences, on how to counter the promotion of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking through this instrument and on ways to use the Internet for information concerning drug demand reduction, Convinced that civil society, including non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, should continue to play an active role and make an effective contribution to countering the world drug problem, Acknowledging with appreciation the increased efforts and achievements of many States, relevant international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations in countering drug abuse and illicit production of and trafficking in drugs, and that international cooperation has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, I Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law in countering the world drug problem 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility which must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requiring an integrated and balanced approach, and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Calls upon all States to take further action to promote effective cooperation at the international and regional levels in the efforts to counter the world drug problem so as to contribute to a climate conducive to achieving that end, on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 3. Urges all States to ratify or accede to and implement all the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,Ibid., vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of l988;See Official Records of the United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Vienna, 25 November-20 December 1988, vol. I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XI.5). II International cooperation to counter the world drug problem 1. Welcomes the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to counter the world drug problem; 2. Urges competent authorities, at the international, regional and national levels, to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session, within the agreed time frames, in particular the high-priority practical measures at the international, regional or national level, as indicated in the Political Declaration,Resolution S-20/2, annex. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem,Resolution S-20/4. including the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors,Resolution S-20/4 A. the measures to prevent the illicit manufacture, import, export, trafficking, distribution and diversion of precursors used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,See resolution S-20/4 B. the measures to promote judicial cooperation,Resolution S-20/4 C. the measures to counter money-launderingResolution S-20/4 D. and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development;Resolution S-20/4 E. 3. Urges all Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction in their respective national, regional and international actions and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs among their population, in particular among children and young people; 4. Recognizes the role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in developing action-oriented strategies to assist Member States in the implementation of the Declaration, and requests the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fourth session on the follow-up to the Action Plan; 5. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and the International Narcotics Control Board in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 of 28 July 1999, and notes the measures taken by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-third session aimed at the enhancement of its functioning;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 8 (E/2000/28), chap VII, sect. B, paras. 152-154. 6. Renews its commitment to further strengthening international cooperation and substantially increasing efforts to counter the world drug problem, in accordance with the obligations of States under the United Nations drug control conventions, on the basis of the general framework given by the Global Programme of Action,See resolution S-17/2, annex. and the outcome of the special session, and taking into account experience gained; 7. Calls upon all States to adopt effective measures, including national laws and regulations, to implement the mandates and recommendations of the Global Programme of Action and the outcome and the goals of the special session, within the agreed time frame, to strengthen national judicial systems and to carry out effective drug control activities in cooperation with other States in accordance with those international instruments; 8. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions and other concerned intergovernmental and international organizations, within their mandates, and all actors of civil society, notably non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, sports associations, the media and the private sector, to continue their close cooperation with Governments in their efforts to promote and implement the Global Programme of Action, the outcome of the special session and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, including through public information campaigns, resorting, inter alia, where available, to the Internet; 9. Urges Governments, the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and other international organizations to assist and support States, upon request, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support, with the aim of enhancing their capacity to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, taking into account national plans and initiatives, and emphasizes the importance of subregional, regional and international cooperation in countering illicit drug trafficking; 10. Reaffirms that preventing the diversion of chemicals from legitimate commerce to illicit drug manufacture is an essential component of a comprehensive strategy against drug abuse and trafficking, which requires the effective cooperation of exporting, importing and transit States, notes the progress made in developing practical guidelines to prevent such diversion of chemicals, including those of the International Narcotics Control Board and the recommendations on implementing article 12 of the 1988 Convention, and calls upon all States to adopt and implement measures to prevent the diversion of chemicals to illicit drug manufacture, in cooperation with competent international and regional bodies and, if necessary and to the extent possible, with the private sector in each State, in accordance with the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008 in the Political DeclarationResolution S-20/2, annex. and the resolution on the control of precursors adopted at the special session;See resolution S-20/4 B. 11. Calls upon States in which cultivation and production of illicit drug crops occur to establish or reinforce, where appropriate, national mechanisms to monitor and verify illicit crops, and requests the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fourth session, in March 2001, on the follow-up to the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development; 12. Calls upon all States to report biennially to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted at the special session, in accordance with the terms established in the guidelines adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its reconvened forty-second session;Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, annex. 13. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to submit a report to the General Assembly in 2003 and 2008Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, para. 8. on the progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets set out in the Political Declaration; 14. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 15. Calls upon the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to mainstream a gender perspective into all its policies, programmes and activities, and requests the Secretariat to integrate a gender perspective into all documentation prepared for the Commission; 16. Recalls the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond adopted by the General Assembly on 14 December 1995,Resolution 50/81, annex. notes with satisfaction the commitment of young people to a drug-free society made at various forums, and stresses the importance of young people continuing to contribute their experiences and to participate in the decision-making processes and, in particular, putting into effect the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction; 17. Urges all States to assign priority to activities aimed at preventing drug and inhalant abuse among children and young people, inter alia, through the promotion of information and education programmes aimed at raising awareness of the risks of drug abuse with a view to giving effect to the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction; 18. Calls upon States to adopt effective measures, including possible national legislative measures, and to enhance cooperation to stem the illicit trade in small arms, which, as a result of its close link to the illicit drug trade, is generating extremely high levels of crime and violence within the societies of some States, threatening the national security and the economies of those States; 19. Welcomes the elaboration of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and notes the progress achieved in the elaboration of the three related international instruments, within the framework of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;The Convention, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air were adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000. 20. Acknowledges the efforts made by Member States, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the United Nations system during the United Nations Decade against Drug Abuse, 1991-2000, under the theme "A global response to a global challenge"; III Action by the United Nations system 1. Reaffirms the role of the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in coordinating and providing effective leadership for all United Nations drug control activities so as to increase cost-effectiveness and ensure coherence of action, as well as coordination, complementarity and non-duplication of such activities throughout the United Nations system; 2. Emphasizes that the multidimensional nature of the world drug problem calls for the promotion of integration and coordination of drug control activities throughout the United Nations system, including in the follow-up to major United Nations conferences; 3. Invites Governments and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to attach high priority to the improvement of the coordination of United Nations activities related to the world drug problem so as to avoid duplication of such activities, strengthen efficiency and accomplish the goals approved by Governments; 4. Urges the specialized agencies, programmes and funds, including humanitarian organizations, and invites multilateral financial institutions, to include action against the world drug problem in their programming and planning processes in order to ensure that the integral and balanced strategy that emerged from the special session devoted to countering the world drug problem together is being addressed; IV United Nations International Drug Control Programme 1. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to implement its mandate within the framework of the international drug control treaties, the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control,See Report of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Vienna, 17-26 June 1987 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.I.18), chap. I, sect. A. the Global Programme of Action,See resolution S-17/2, annex. the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly devoted to countering the world drug problem together and relevant consensus documents; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Programme for the support provided to different States in meeting the objectives of the Global Programme of Action and of the special session, especially in cases where significant and anticipated progress was achieved regarding the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008; 3. Requests the Programme to continue: (a) To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, on request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the special session; (b) To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;Resolution S-20/3, annex. (c) To strengthen dialogue and cooperation with multilateral development banks and with international financial institutions so that they may undertake lending and programming activities related to drug control in interested and affected countries to implement the outcome of the special session, and to keep the Commission on Narcotic Drugs informed of further progress made in this area; (d) To take into account the outcome of the special session, to include in its report on illicit traffic in drugs an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to deal with all aspects of the drug problem; (e) To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all official languages; 4. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities; 5. Calls upon the International Narcotics Control Board to increase efforts to implement all its mandates under international drug control conventions and to continue to cooperate with Governments, inter alia, by offering advice to Member States that request it; 6. Notes that the Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, and emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the Programme; 7. Stresses the importance of the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, in all regions of the world, and the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and encourages them to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcome of the special session; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/126. and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a comprehensive report on the implementation of the outcome of the twentieth special session, including on the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, and the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/66 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/595 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 35),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Venezuela. by a recorded vote of 146 to 1, with 26 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Lesotho Abstentions: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates 55/66. Working towards the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming also their obligations under human rights instruments, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Bearing in mind the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. as well as the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, and recalling the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Bearing in mind also that crimes against women committed in the name of honour are a human rights issue and that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of such crimes and to provide protection to the victims, and that the failure to do so constitutes a human rights violation, Aware that inadequate understanding of the root causes of all violence against women, including crimes committed in the name of honour, and inadequate data on such violence hinder informed policy analysis, at both the domestic and the international levels, and efforts to eliminate such violence, Noting general recommendation 19 concerning violence against women adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/47/38), sect. I. Noting also relevant paragraphs in recent reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2000/68 and Add.1-5. the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executionsSee A/55/288. and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the independence of judges and lawyers,E/CN.4/2000/61 and Corr.1. and of the Special Rapporteur of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl child,E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/11, E/CN.4/Sub.2/1999/14 and E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/17. Bearing in mind relevant paragraphs in Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2000/31 and 2000/45, of 20 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. as well as in resolution 2000/10 of 17 August 2000 of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,See E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/L.11/Add.1, chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing that the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour requires greater efforts and commitment from Governments and the international community, inter alia, through international cooperation efforts, and civil society, including non-governmental and community organizations, and that fundamental changes in societal attitude are required, and underlining the importance of the empowerment of women as a tool, 1. Expresses its concern at the fact that women continue to be victims of various forms of violence, including those that are identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. and at the continuing occurrence in all regions of the world of such violence, including crimes against women committed in the name of honour, which take many different forms, and also expresses its concern at the fact that some perpetrators assume that they have some justification for committing such crimes; 2. Welcomes the activities of States aimed at the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, including the adoption of amendments to relevant national laws relating to such crimes, the effective implementation of such laws and national campaigns, all of which have already led to a decrease in the incidence of these crimes in some countries; 3. Also welcomes the efforts, such as concrete projects, undertaken by United Nations bodies, programmes and organizations, including the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, to address the issue of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, and encourages them to coordinate their efforts, and further welcomes the work carried out by civil society, including non-governmental organizations, such as women's organizations, grass-roots movements and individuals, in raising awareness of such crimes and their harmful effects; 4. Calls upon all States: (a) To implement their relevant obligations under international human rights law and to implement specific international commitments, inter alia, under the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly; (b) To intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate crimes against women committed in the name of honour, which take many different forms, by using legislative, educational, social and other measures, including the dissemination of information, and to involve, among others, public opinion leaders, educators, religious leaders, chiefs, traditional leaders and the media in awareness-raising campaigns; (c) To encourage, support and implement measures and programmes aimed at increasing the knowledge and the understanding of the causes and consequences of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, among those responsible for enforcing the law and implementing policies, such as police personnel, judicial workers and health personnel; (d) To establish, strengthen or facilitate, where possible, support services to respond to the needs of actual and potential victims by, inter alia, providing for them the appropriate protection, safe shelter, counselling, legal aid, rehabilitation and reintegration into society; (e) To create, strengthen or facilitate institutional mechanisms so that victims and others can report such crimes in a safe and confidential environment, and encourages States to gather and disseminate statistical information on the occurrence of such crimes; 5. Invites the international community, including United Nations bodies, programmes and organizations, inter alia, through the technical assistance and advisory services programmes of the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, to support the efforts of all countries, at their request, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity for preventing crimes against women committed in the name of honour and at addressing their root causes; 6. Encourages the relevant human rights treaty bodies to continue to address this issue, where appropriate; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the subject of the present resolution, including on initiatives taken by States to work towards the elimination of the crimes in question. RESOLUTION 55/67 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/595 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam. 55/67. Traffic in women and girls The General Assembly, Reaffirming the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. Welcoming the adoption by the General Assembly of the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. in particular the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and the increasing number of Member States that have signed and ratified these Optional Protocols, Recalling all previous resolutions on the problem of the traffic in women and girls adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as well as the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others,Resolution 317 (IV). as well as the conclusions on violence against womenSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/1998/27 and Corr.1), chap. I. adopted on 13 March 1998 by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-second session and the recommendations of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of SlaveryE/CN.4/1999/4-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/45, chap. II, sect. A, resolution 1998/19, and E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/14, sect. VI.B. adopted on 21 August 1998 by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of MinoritiesSubsequently renamed the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (see Economic and Social Council decision 1999/256). at its fiftieth session, Reaffirming the provisions of the outcomes of the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", held in New York from 5 to 9 June 2000,Resolution S-23/3, annex. and the twenty-fourth special session of the Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000,Resolution S-24/2, annex. as well as the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held in Cairo from 29 April to 8 May 1995,See A/CONF.169/16/Rev.1. and the Tenth Congress,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). pertaining to the traffic in women and girls, Welcoming the inclusion of gender-related crimes in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17 July 1998 by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court,See A/CONF.183/9, art. 8. Noting the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, in particular the elaboration of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000 (annex II). Reaffirming that sexual violence and trafficking in women and girls for purposes of economic exploitation, sexual exploitation through prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation and contemporary forms of slavery are serious violations of human rights, Seriously concerned at the increasing number of women and girl children, in particular from developing countries and from some countries with economies in transition, who are being trafficked to developed countries, as well as within and between regions and States, and acknowledging that the problem of trafficking also includes the victimizing of boys, Welcoming bilateral and regional cooperation mechanisms and initiatives to address the problem of trafficking in women and girls, Welcoming also the efforts of Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations participating in the meeting of the Asian Regional Initiative against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, held in Manila from 29 to 31 March 2000, to develop a regional action plan against trafficking in persons, especially women and children,See A/C.3/55/3, annex. Welcoming further the efforts of the European Union to develop a comprehensive European policy and programmes on trafficking in human beings, as expressed in the conclusions of the European Council at its meeting held in Tampere, Finland, on 15 and 16 October 1999,See Tampere European Council, Presidency Conclusions (SN 200/99). and the activities of the Council of Europe and of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in this field, Acknowledging the work being done by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in compiling information on the scale and complexity of the problem of trafficking, in providing shelter for trafficked women and children and in effecting their voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin, Recognizing that global efforts, including international cooperation and technical assistance programmes, to eradicate trafficking in persons, in particular women and children, demand strong political commitment by and the active cooperation of all Governments of countries of origin, transit and destination, Deeply concerned about the unabated use of new information technologies, including the Internet, for purposes of prostitution, child pornography, paedophilia and any other forms of sexual exploitation of children, trafficking in women as brides and sex tourism, Gravely concerned at the increasing activities of transnational criminal organizations and others that profit from international trafficking in women and children without regard to dangerous and inhumane conditions and in flagrant violation of domestic laws and international standards, Stressing once again the need for Governments to provide standard humanitarian treatment to trafficked persons consistent with human rights standards, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on activities of United Nations bodies and other international organizations pertaining to the problem of trafficking in women and girls;A/55/322. 2. Welcomes the steps taken by human rights treaty bodies, the special rapporteurs and subsidiary bodies of the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, other United Nations bodies, and international, intergovernmental and governmental organizations, within their mandates, as well as non-governmental organizations, to address the problem of trafficking in women and girls, and encourages them to continue doing so and to share their knowledge and best practices as widely as possible; 3. Urges Governments to take appropriate measures to address the root factors, including external factors, that encourage trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and other forms of commercialized sex, forced marriages and forced labour, in order to eliminate trafficking in women, including by strengthening existing legislation with a view to providing better protection of the rights of women and girls and to punishing perpetrators, through both criminal and civil measures; 4. Also urges Governments to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in women and girls through a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy consisting of, inter alia, legislative measures, prevention campaigns, information exchange, assistance and protection for and reintegration of the victims and prosecution of all the offenders involved, including intermediaries; 5. Encourages Member States to conclude bilateral, subregional, regional and international agreements, as well as undertake initiatives, including regional initiatives, to address the problem of trafficking in women and girls, such as the Action Plan for the Asia-Pacific region of the Asian Regional Initiative against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,See A/C.3/55/3, annex. the European Union initiatives on a comprehensive European policy and programmes on trafficking in human beings as expressed in the conclusions of the European Council at its meeting held in Tampere,See Tampere European Council, Presidency Conclusions (SN 200/99). and the activities of the Council of Europe and of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in this field; 6. Calls upon all Governments to criminalize trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, in all its forms, to condemn and penalize all those offenders involved, including intermediaries, whether their offence was committed in their own or in a foreign country, while ensuring that the victims of those practices are not penalized, and to penalize persons in authority found guilty of sexually assaulting victims of trafficking in their custody; 7. Invites Governments to consider setting up or strengthening a national coordinating mechanism, for example, a national rapporteur or an inter-agency body, with the participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to encourage the exchange of information and to report on data, root causes, factors and trends in violence against women, in particular trafficking; 8. Urges concerned Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to support and allocate resources for programmes to strengthen preventive action, in particular education and campaigns to increase public awareness of the issue at the national and grass-roots levels; 9. Calls upon concerned Governments to allocate resources to provide comprehensive programmes designed to heal, rehabilitate and reintegrate into society and communities victims of trafficking, including through job training, legal assistance and health care, and by taking measures to cooperate with non-governmental organizations to provide for the social, medical and psychological care of the victims; 10. Encourages Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to undertake campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration so as to enable women to make informed decisions and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking; 11. Also encourages Governments to intensify collaboration with non-governmental organizations to develop and implement programmes for effective counselling, training and reintegration into society of victims of trafficking, and programmes that provide shelter and helplines to victims or potential victims; 12. Invites Governments to take steps, including witness protection programmes, to enable women who are victims of trafficking to make complaints to the police and to be available when required by the criminal justice system, and to ensure that during this time women have access to social, medical, financial and legal assistance, and protection, as appropriate; 13. Also invites Governments to consider preventing, within the legal framework and in accordance with national policies, victims of trafficking, in particular women and girls, from being prosecuted for their illegal entry or residence, taking into account that they are victims of exploitation; 14. Further invites Governments to encourage Internet service providers to adopt or strengthen self-regulatory measures to promote the responsible use of the Internet with a view to eliminating trafficking in women and children, in particular girls; 15. Stresses the need for a global approach to eradicate trafficking in women and children and the importance, in this regard, of systematic data collection and comprehensive studies, and encourages Governments to develop systematic data-collection methods and to update continuously information on trafficking in women and girls, including the analysis of the modus operandi of trafficking syndicates; 16. Urges Governments to strengthen national programmes to combat trafficking in women and girls through sustained bilateral, regional and international cooperation, taking into account innovative approaches and best practices, and invites Governments, United Nations bodies and organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to undertake collaborative and joint research and studies on trafficking in women and girls that can serve as a basis for policy formulation or change; 17. Invites Governments, once again, with the support of the United Nations, to formulate training manuals for law enforcement and medical personnel and judicial officers who handle cases of trafficked women and girls, taking into account current research and materials on traumatic stress and gender-sensitive counselling techniques, with a view to sensitizing them to the special needs of victims; 18. Invites State parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. to include information and statistics on trafficking in women and girls as part of their national reports to their respective committees; 19. Encourages Governments as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the human rights treaty bodies, the special rapporteurs, especially the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants, and subsidiary bodies of the Commission on Human Rights and other relevant United Nations bodies, within their respective mandates, to participate in and contribute to the work of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its twenty-sixth session, in 2001, which will focus on the issue of trafficking; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to compile, as reference and guidance, successful interventions and strategies in addressing the various dimensions of the problem of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, based on reports, research and other materials from within the United Nations, including the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, as well as from outside the United Nations, and to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 55/68 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/595 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/68. Elimination of all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which, inter alia, calls for international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,See resolution 2263 (XXII). the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,See resolution 1904 (XVIII). the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted on 25 June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enunciated in the Charter, and reaffirming also the obligations of States parties under international human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 39/46, annex. and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. Reaffirming also the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Reaffirming further the call for the elimination of violence against women and girls, especially all forms of commercial sexual exploitation as well as economic exploitation, including trafficking in women and children, female infanticide, crimes committed in the name of honour, crimes committed in the name of passion, racially motivated crimes, the abduction and sale of children, dowry-related violence and deaths, acid attacks and harmful traditional or customary practices, such as female genital mutilation and early and forced marriages, Stressing the importance of the empowerment of women as a tool to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, 1. Expresses deep concern at the persistence of various forms of violence and crimes against women in all parts of the world, especially all forms of commercial sexual exploitation as well as economic exploitation, including trafficking in women and children, female infanticide, crimes committed in the name of honour, crimes committed in the name of passion, racially motivated crimes, the abduction and sale of children, dowry-related violence and deaths, acid attacks and harmful traditional or customary practices, such as female genital mutilation and early and forced marriages; 2. Stresses that all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-23/3, annex. are obstacles to the advancement and empowerment of women, and reaffirms that violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; 3. Also stresses the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls of all ages as a criminal offence punishable by law, including violence based on all forms of discrimination; 4. Reaffirms that there is increased awareness of and commitment to preventing and combating violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, and in this context welcomes various legal, administrative and other measures taken by Governments for their prevention and elimination, and calls for high priority to be attached to the further strengthening of such measures; 5. Urges Member States to strengthen awareness and preventive measures for the elimination of all forms of violence against women, whether occurring in public or private life, by encouraging and supporting public campaigns to enhance awareness about the unacceptability and the social costs of violence against women, inter alia, through educational and media campaigns in cooperation with educators, community leaders and the electronic and print media; 6. Expresses its appreciation of the work being done by non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations, community-based organizations and individuals, in raising awareness about the economic, social and psychological costs of all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, and in this regard encourages Governments to continue their support to the work of the non-governmental organizations in addressing this issue; 7. Calls upon States to fulfil their obligations under the relevant human rights instruments and implement the Beijing Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. as well as the outcome document of the twenty-third special session; 8. Encourages States parties to include in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and other relevant treaty bodies, wherever possible, sex-disaggregated data and information on measures taken or initiated to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session; 9. Urges relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, to assist countries, upon their request, in their efforts aimed at preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, and in this regard expresses its appreciation of the work being done by the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Fund for Women and other relevant funds and programmes aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls; 10. Invites the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, to further devote equal attention to all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, in her work and her reports, within her mandate, to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on this matter to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 55/69 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/595 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Venezuela. 55/69. Improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 1 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as Article 8, which provides that the United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs, Recalling also the goal, contained in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. of the achievement of overall gender equality, particularly at the Professional level and above, by the year 2000, Recalling further its resolution 54/139 of 17 December 1999 on the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/46 of 20 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. on integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system, in particular paragraph 11, in which the Commission recognizes that gender mainstreaming will strongly benefit from the enhanced and full participation of women, including at the higher levels of decision-making in the United Nations system, Taking note also of the recommendations made by the women heads of State and Government and women heads of United Nations agencies at their meeting, held on 5 September 2000, just prior to the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, to improve female representation within the United Nations system, especially at senior levels,See www.womenworldleaders.org. Welcoming the decision of the Secretary-General to include, in the performance appraisal of managers, information on the opportunities presented for the selection of women candidates and on progress made in improving women's representation, including efforts made to identify women candidates, Taking into account the continuing lack of representation or under- representation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, including least developed countries and small island developing States, and from countries with economies in transition, Taking note with appreciation of those departments and offices that have achieved the goal of gender balance, as well as of those departments that have met or exceeded the goal of 50 per cent in the selection of women candidates for vacant posts in the past year, Welcoming progress made in improving the representation of women at some levels of the Secretariat, but expressing concern that progress in improving the representation of women at the senior and policy-making levels has slowed, that the percentage of women appointed and promoted to one particular level has declined, and also expressing concern at the slow incremental pace at which the overall representation of women in the Secretariat has increased, Expressing concern that there are currently no women acting as special representatives or envoys, Noting that the statistics on the representation of women in the organizations of the United Nations system are not fully up to date, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General and the actions contained therein;A/55/399 and Corr.1. 2. Reaffirms the urgent goal of achieving 50/50 gender distribution in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at the senior and policy-making levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and also taking into account the continuing lack of representation or under-representation of women from certain countries, in particular developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 3. Welcomes: (a) The ongoing personal commitment of the Secretary-General to meeting the goal of gender equality and his assurance that gender balance will be given the highest priority in his continuing efforts to bring about a new management culture in the Organization, including full implementation of the special measures for the achievement of gender equality;ST/AI/1999/9. (b) The pledge of the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their efforts to meet the gender equality goals set out in the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for Action;Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. (c) The actions agreed upon by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", to ensure the full and equal participation of women at all levels of decision-making in the United Nations system;See resolution S-23/3, annex. (d) The inclusion of the objective of improving gender balance in action plans on human resources management for individual departments and offices, and encourages further cooperation between heads of departments and offices, the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat in the implementation of these plans, which include specific targets and strategies for improving the representation of women in individual departments; (e) The designation of focal points for women in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the focal points are designated at a sufficiently high level and enjoy full access to senior management in the mission area; (f) The continued provision of specific training programmes on gender mainstreaming and gender issues in the workplace, tailored to meet the special needs of individual departments, commends those heads of departments and offices who have launched gender training for their managers and staff, and strongly encourages those who have not yet organized such training to do so by the end of the biennium; 4. Regrets that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution will not be met by the end of the year 2000, and urges the Secretary-General to redouble his efforts to realize significant progress towards this goal in the near future; 5. Expresses concern that, in five departments and offices of the Secretariat, women still account for less than 30 per cent of staff, and encourages the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to meet the goal of gender balance within all departments and offices of the Secretariat; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in order, inter alia, to achieve the goal of 50/50 gender distribution with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter: (a) To identify and attract suitably qualified women candidates, in particular in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in other Member States that are unrepresented or under-represented in the Secretariat and in occupations in which women are under-represented; (b) To continue to monitor closely the progress made by departments and offices in meeting the goal of gender balance and to ensure that the appointment and promotion of suitably qualified women will be no less than 50 per cent of all appointments and promotions until the goal of 50/50 gender distribution is met, inter alia, through full implementation of the special measures for women and the further development of monitoring and assessment mechanisms to meet targets for improving women's representation; (c) To enable the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women to monitor effectively and facilitate progress in the implementation of the departmental action plans for the achievement of gender balance and the special measures for women, inter alia, by ensuring access to the information required to carry out that work; (d) To intensify his efforts to create, within existing resources, a gender-sensitive work environment supportive of the needs of his staff, both women and men, including the development of policies for flexible working time, flexible workplace arrangements and child-care and elder-care needs, as well as the provision of more comprehensive information to prospective candidates and new recruits on employment opportunities for spouses and the expansion of gender-sensitivity training in all departments, offices and duty stations; (e) To strengthen further the policy against harassment, including sexual harassment, inter alia, by ensuring the full implementation of the guidelines for its application at Headquarters and in the field; 7. Strongly encourages the Secretary-General to appoint more women as special representatives and envoys to pursue good offices on his behalf, especially in matters related to peacekeeping, peace-building, preventive diplomacy and economic and social development, as well as in operational activities, including appointment as resident coordinators, and to appoint more women to other high-level positions; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to continue to develop common approaches for retaining women, inter-agency mobility and the improvement of career development opportunities; 9. Strongly encourages Member States: (a) To support the efforts of the United Nations and the specialized agencies to achieve the goal of 50/50 gender distribution, especially at senior and policy-making levels, by identifying and regularly submitting more women candidates for appointment to intergovernmental, judicial and expert bodies, by identifying and proposing national recruitment sources that will assist the organizations of the United Nations system in identifying suitable women candidates, in particular from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and by encouraging more women to apply for positions within the Secretariat, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes and the regional commissions, including positions in areas in which women are under-represented, such as peacekeeping, peace-building and other non-traditional areas; (b) To identify women candidates for assignment to peacekeeping missions and to improve the representation of women in military and civilian police contingents; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution, inter alia, by providing up-to-date statistics on the number and percentage of women in all organizational units and at all levels throughout the United Nations system, and on the implementation of departmental action plans for the achievement of gender balance, to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-fifth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/6 Adopted at the 41st plenary meeting, on 26 October 2000, by a recorded vote of 136 to 2, with 10 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.9/Rev.1, sponsored by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Albania, Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Nauru, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Tonga, Uruguay 55/6. Elimination of unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures as a means of political and economic compulsion The General Assembly, Guided by the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, particularly those that call for the development of friendly relations among nations and the strengthening of cooperation in solving problems of an economic and social character, Taking note of the opposition of the international community to unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures, Recalling its resolutions in which it has called upon the international community to take urgent and effective steps to end unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures, Gravely concerned over the continued application of unilateral extraterritorial coercive measures whose effects have an impact on the sovereignty of other States and the legitimate interests of their entities and individuals in violation of the norms of international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Believing that the prompt elimination of such measures would be consistent with the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of the Agreement on the World Trade Organization, Recalling its resolutions 51/22 of 27 November 1996 and 53/10 of 26 October 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 53/10;A/55/300 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Reaffirms that all peoples have the right to self-determination and that by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 3. Expresses its deep concern at the negative impact of unilaterally imposed extraterritorial coercive economic measures on trade and financial and economic cooperation, including at the regional level, because they are contrary to the recognized principles of international law and pose serious obstacles to the freedom of trade and the free flow of capital at the regional and international levels; 4. Reiterates its call for the repeal of unilateral extraterritorial laws that impose coercive economic measures contrary to international law on corporations and nationals of other States; 5. Again calls upon all States not to recognize or apply unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures imposed by any State, which are contrary to recognized principles of international law; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session an item entitled "Elimination of unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures as a means of political and economic compulsion". RESOLUTION 55/70 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/595 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela. 55/70. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/4 of 6 October 1999 and 54/137 of 17 December 1999, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles 1 and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind, including distinction as to sex, Affirming that women and men should participate equally in social, economic and political development, should contribute equally to such development and should share equally in improved conditions of life, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the human rights of women and the girl child were an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, Acknowledging the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, which includes the integration of the human rights of women into the mainstream of United Nations activities system-wide, Welcoming the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and the outcome documentResolution S-23/3, annex. of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", in particular paragraph 68 (c) and (d) concerning the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol thereto, Recalling that in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. heads of State and Government resolved to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. Welcoming the progress made in the implementation of the Convention, but concerned about the remaining challenges, Welcoming also the growing number of States parties to the Convention, which now stands at one hundred and sixty-six, Welcoming further the adoption and opening for signature, ratification and accession of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 54/4, annex. and the subsequent entry into force of the Optional Protocol, thereby fulfilling a goal of the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that national reports should include information on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, in accordance with paragraph 323 of the Platform, Having considered the report of the Committee on its twenty-second and twenty-third sessions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/55/38), parts one and two. Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue and that continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/308. on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 34/180, annex. 2. Expresses disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention has not been achieved by the year 2000, and urges all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so; 3. Emphasizes the importance of full compliance by States parties with their obligations under the Convention; 4. Welcomes the fact that, as at 22 September 2000, ten States had become parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 54/4, annex. thereby allowing it to enter into force on 22 December 2000; 5. Urges States parties to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol; 6. Notes that some States parties have modified their reservations, expresses satisfaction that some reservations have been withdrawn, and urges States parties to limit the extent of any reservations they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention or otherwise incompatible with international treaty law, to review their reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention or that are otherwise incompatible with international treaty law; 7. Urges States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on the implementation of the Convention in accordance with article 18 thereof and with the guidelines provided by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and to cooperate fully with the Committee in the presentation of their reports; 8. Encourages the Secretariat to extend further technical assistance to States parties, upon their request, in the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports, and invites Governments to contribute to these efforts; 9. Commends the Committee on its contributions to the effective implementation of the Convention; 10. Urges States parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible in order for the amendment to enter into force; 11. Expresses its appreciation for the additional meeting time that allows the Committee to hold two sessions annually, each session of three weeks' duration and each preceded by a pre-session working group of the Committee; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with resolution 54/4, to provide the resources, including staff and facilities, necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, in particular taking into account the entry into force of the Optional Protocol; 13. Urges Governments, agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental as well as non-governmental organizations to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 14. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, as well as Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate, to continue to assist States parties, upon their request, in implementing the Convention, and in this regard encourages States parties to pay attention to the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee; 15. Encourages all relevant parts of the United Nations system to continue to build women's knowledge and understanding of and capacity to utilize human rights instruments, in particular the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 16. Welcomes the submission of reports by the specialized agencies at the invitation of the Committee on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities and the contribution of non-governmental organizations to the work of the Committee, and encourages the agencies to continue to submit reports; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 55/71 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/596, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairperson of the Committee. 55/71. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/203 of 22 December 1995, 51/69 of 12 December 1996, 52/100 of 12 December 1997, 53/120 of 9 December 1998 and 54/141 of 17 December 1999, Welcoming the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", namely the "Political declaration"Resolution S-23/2, annex. and "Further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Stressing the importance of the outcome of the twenty-third special session, which has assessed the implementation of the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for Action,Ibid., annex II. identified obstacles and challenges thereto and proposed actions and initiatives to overcome them and achieve full and accelerated implementation, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session are important contributions to the advancement of women worldwide in the achievement of gender equality and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, as well as by non-governmental organizations, Stressing the importance of strong, sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels in order to achieve full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for the effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, 1. Reaffirms the commitments contained in the "Political declaration"Resolution S-23/2, annex. and "Further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action",Resolution S-23/3, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionA/55/293. and on the implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century";A/55/341. 3. Calls upon Governments, the relevant entities of the United Nations system within their respective mandates and all other relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to take effective action to achieve full and effective implementation of the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as elaborated in the above-mentioned documents; 4. Calls upon Governments, in collaboration with relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to facilitate the translation and dissemination of the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as broadly and as accessibly as possible; 5. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 6. Reaffirms further its decision that the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, in accordance with their respective mandates and with General Assembly resolution 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and other relevant resolutions, constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism that plays the primary role in the overall policy-making and follow-up and in coordinating the implementation and monitoring of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 7. Invites the Economic and Social Council to continue to promote a coordinated and integrated follow-up to and implementation of the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits and their reviews, and requests the Council to intensify further its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of all its activities concerning integrated and coordinated follow-up to United Nations conferences, building upon agreed conclusions 1997/2 adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. 8. Also invites the Council to continue to further policy coordination and inter-agency cooperation towards the achievement of the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, including by considering the dedication of specific segments of the Council to the advancement of women and implementation of the above-mentioned documents and by mainstreaming a gender perspective in all its work; 9. Encourages the Council to request the regional commissions, within their respective mandates and resources, to build up a database, to be updated regularly, in which all programmes and projects carried out in their respective regions by agencies or organizations of the United Nations system are listed, and to facilitate their dissemination, as well as the evaluation of their impact on the empowerment of women through the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 10. Reaffirms that the Commission on the Status of Women has a central role in assisting the Council in monitoring, assessing progress made in and accelerating, within the United Nations system, the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and in advising the Council thereon; 11. Notes that, at its forty-fifth session, in 2001, the Commission will develop a new multi-year programme of work, and in this respect requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission with recommendations for the effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, including by enhancing the effectiveness of its work and its catalytic role in mainstreaming a gender perspective in United Nations activities; 12. Recognizes the importance attached to the regional and subregional monitoring of the global and regional platforms for action and of the implementation of the outcome of the twenty-third special session by regional commissions and other regional or subregional structures, within their mandates, in consultation with Governments, and calls for the promotion of further cooperation in that respect among Governments and, where appropriate, national machineries of the same region; 13. Reaffirms that, in order to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, in particular those in Africa and the least developed countries, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources, will also be required; 14. Recognizes that the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session in the countries with economies in transition requires continued national efforts and international cooperation and assistance; 15. Reaffirms that in order to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session a reformulation of policies and reallocation of resources may be needed, but that some policy changes may not necessarily have financial implications; 16. Also reaffirms that in order to ensure the effective implementation of the strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective, including through the work of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and through the maintenance of gender units and focal points; 17. Further reaffirms that United Nations bodies that focus on gender issues, such as the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, have an important role to play in the implementation of the objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly on the full range of tasks of the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, including those that might arise from the implementation of the outcome of the twenty-third special session and from the entry into force of the Optional ProtocolResolution 54/4, annex. to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. with a view to ensuring that the Division can effectively fulfil its tasks; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all United Nations personnel and officials at Headquarters and in the field, especially in field operations, receive training so that they mainstream a gender perspective in their work, including gender impact analysis, and to ensure appropriate follow-up to such training; 20. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that all programmes, medium-term plans and programme budgets visibly mainstream a gender perspective; 21. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women to include information on measures taken to implement the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as well as the Beijing Platform for Action, in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 18 of the Convention; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate the outcome of the twenty-third special session as widely as possible in all official languages of the United Nations; 23. Also requests the Secretary-General to report annually to the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women on follow-up to and progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session an item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled 'Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century'". RESOLUTION 55/72 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/597, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Mexico. 55/72. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decision 2000/302 of 28 July 2000 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the request regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the letter dated 11 July 2000 from the Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2000/92. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from fifty-seven to fifty-eight States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional member at its resumed organizational session for 2001. RESOLUTION 55/73 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/597, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan, Kuwait, Panama and Thailand. 55/73. New international humanitarian order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/124 of 9 December 1998 and other pertinent resolutionsResolutions 36/136, 37/201, 38/125, 40/126, 42/120, 42/121, 43/129, 43/131, 45/100, 45/102, 47/106, 49/170 and 51/74. relating to the promotion of the new international humanitarian order and international cooperation in the humanitarian field, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the new international humanitarian orderA/55/545. and his previous reportsA/37/145, A/38/450, A/40/358 and Add.1 and 2, A/41/472, A/43/734 and Add.1, A/45/524, A/47/352, A/49/577 and Corr.1, A/51/454 and A/53/486. containing comments and views of Governments as well as of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, pertaining to humanitarian assistance, and the annex thereto, Bearing in mind the reports of the Secretary-GeneralS/1999/957 and A/54/2000. submitted in the context of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, Noting the importance of adherence to internationally accepted norms and principles as well as the need to promote, as required, national and international legislation to meet actual and potential humanitarian challenges, Noting with deep concern the continuing trend of systematic violations of refugee law, international humanitarian law and human rights instruments, which can lead ultimately to emergency situations, Noting with appreciation the increased attention of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to addressing the security needs of personnel responding to these emergencies, Noting with appreciation also the emphasis placed by the Secretary-General on promoting strict adherence to refugee law, international humanitarian law and human rights instruments, Recognizing that the ultimate aim of all humanitarian assistance should be to save human lives and facilitate the transition, at the appropriate time, to rehabilitation and reconstruction and to facilitate local capacity-building and institution-building, as necessary, in the affected countries and regions, Recognizing, in addition, the urgent need further to strengthen international cooperation and coordination in the humanitarian field, 1. Notes the Secretary-General's continuing support of efforts to promote a new international humanitarian order; 2. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to promote strict adherence to refugee law, international humanitarian law, human rights instruments and internationally accepted norms and principles in situations of armed conflict and complex emergencies; 3. Urges Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and others concerned to extend cooperation and provide support to the efforts of the Secretary-General, inter alia, through the relevant United Nations agencies and organizational mechanisms set up to address the assistance and protection needs of victims of complex emergencies as well as the safety and security of United Nations and other humanitarian workers; 4. Calls upon all Governments and parties involved in complex humanitarian emergencies to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel so as to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian populations; 5. Invites Governments to make available to the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, information and expertise on humanitarian problems of concern to them, in order to identify opportunities for future action; 6. Invites the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues to continue and to strengthen further its activities, including cooperation with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and the other relevant bodies of the United Nations system; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to remain in contact with Governments and the relevant international and non-governmental organizations and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made concerning the promotion of a new international humanitarian order and compliance with refugee law, international humanitarian law and human rights instruments in armed conflicts and emergency situations. RESOLUTION 55/74 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/597, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/74. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of her OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/55/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-first sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/55/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its resolution 54/146 of 17 December 1999, Commending the High Commissioner, her staff and their implementing partners for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, paying tribute to those staff members whose lives have been endangered in the course of their duties, and strongly condemning the deaths and injuries and other forms of physical and psychological violence experienced by staff members as a consequence of generalized as well as targeted violence, Expressing appreciation, in this year which marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for the work accomplished since its establishment in responding to the protection and assistance needs of refugees and in promoting durable solutions to their plight, and commending States for their cooperation and support, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-first session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/55/12/Add.1). 2. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to the problem of refugees, and reiterates the need for Governments to continue to facilitate the effective exercise of this function; 3. Expresses sincere appreciation and gratitude to Sadako Ogata for her unrelenting efforts throughout her tenure as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to promote innovative humanitarian solutions to the refugee problem in various parts of the world, and for her inspiring example in performing her functions in an effective and dedicated manner; 4. Reaffirms that the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees remain the foundation of the international refugee regime and recognizes the importance of their full application by States parties, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty States are now parties to one instrument or to both, welcomes the fact that an intergovernmental event involving those States is planned on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention, and encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and States to strengthen their efforts to promote broader accession to those instruments and their full implementation; 5. Notes that fifty-two States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsIbid., vol. 360, No. 5158. and that twenty-three States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the reduction of statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. and encourages the High Commissioner to continue her activities on behalf of stateless persons; 6. Reaffirms that, as set out in article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution, and calls upon all States to refrain from taking measures that jeopardize the institution of asylum, in particular by returning or expelling refugees or asylum-seekers contrary to international standards; 7. Emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions, welcomes the proposal of the Office of the High Commissioner to commence a process of global consultations on international protection, and requests a report thereon; 8. Welcomes measures taken by the Office of the High Commissioner to make protection effective, recognizing that international protection is a dynamic and action-oriented function, carried out in cooperation with States and other partners, inter alia, to promote and facilitate the admission, reception and treatment of refugees and to ensure protection-oriented solutions; 9. Stresses the importance of international solidarity, burden-sharing and international cooperation to share responsibilities and partnerships in reinforcing the international protection of refugees, urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to reducing the heavy burden borne by States, in particular developing countries, that have received large numbers of asylum-seekers and refugees, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations, especially in developing countries; 10. Condemns all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, and calls upon all States of refuge, in cooperation with international organizations where appropriate, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the humane treatment of asylum-seekers; 11. Urges States to uphold the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps and settlements, inter alia, through effective measures to prevent the infiltration of armed elements, to identify and separate any such armed elements from refugee populations, to settle refugees in secure locations and to afford the Office of the High Commissioner and other appropriate humanitarian organizations prompt, unhindered and safe access to asylum-seekers, refugees and other persons of concern; 12. Calls upon States and all concerned parties to take urgently all possible measures to safeguard the physical security and property of the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian personnel, to investigate fully any crime committed against them and to bring to justice persons responsible for such crimes; l3. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner, in cooperation with host countries and in coordination with other relevant United Nations bodies, further to develop and integrate appropriate security arrangements in its operations, and to allocate adequate resources for the safety and security of its staff and the persons under its mandate; 14. Notes that the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated PersonnelResolution 49/59, annex. is now in force, calls upon those States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying the Convention, but notes in this regard that the Convention does not automatically apply to most humanitarian personnel, and therefore invites States to provide a timely response to the recommendation of the Secretary-General to extend the scope of legal protection to all United Nations and associated personnel through the development of a protocol to the 1994 Convention or by other appropriate means;See S/1999/957, para. 43, and A/54/154/Add.1-E/1999/94/Add.1, para. 13. 15. Urges all States and relevant organizations to support the High Commissioner's search for durable solutions to refugee problems, including voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement in a third country, as appropriate, reaffirms that voluntary repatriation is the preferred solution to refugee problems, and calls upon countries of origin, countries of asylum, the Office of the High Commissioner and the international community to act in a spirit of burden-sharing and partnership to enable refugees to exercise their right to return home in safety and with dignity; 16. Calls upon all States to promote conditions conducive to the voluntary repatriation of refugees in safety and with dignity, including conditions furthering reconciliation and long-term development in countries of return, and to support the sustainable reintegration of returnees by providing countries of origin with necessary rehabilitation and development assistance in conjunction, as appropriate, with the Office of the High Commissioner, relevant mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system, and development agencies; 17. Reiterates the right of all persons to return to their country of origin, emphasizes in this regard the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon all States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have sought asylum and have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 18. Acknowledges the desirability of comprehensive approaches by the international community, notably at the regional level, to the problems of refugees and displaced persons, and notes in this regard that capacity-building in countries of origin and countries of asylum can play an important role in addressing the root causes of refugee flows, strengthening emergency preparedness and response, promoting and building peace, and developing regional standards for the protection of refugees; 19. Urges States, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant organizations, to explore and support fully capacity-building initiatives as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing refugee issues and to take necessary measures to promote sustainable development and to ensure the success of capacity-building activities, and reiterates that such initiatives may include those which strengthen legal and judicial institutions and civil society, those which promote services for refugees, the observance of human rights, the rule of law and accountability and those which enhance the capacity of States to fulfil their responsibilities with respect to persons under the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner; 20. Reiterates its support for the role of the Office of the High Commissioner in providing humanitarian assistance and protection to internally displaced persons on the basis of criteria enumerated in paragraph 16 of its resolution 53/125 of 9 December 1998, and underlines the continuing relevance of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement;E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. 21. Calls upon States to adopt an approach that is sensitive to gender-related concerns and to ensure that women whose claims to refugee status are based upon a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons enumerated in the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol, including persecution through sexual violence or other gender-related persecution, are recognized as refugees, and encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue and to strengthen its efforts for the protection of refugee women; 22. Urges States and relevant parties to respect and observe principles of international human rights and humanitarian and refugee law that are of particular relevance to safeguarding the rights of the child and adolescent refugees whose situation is particularly vulnerable to abuse, welcomes in this regard the adoption of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflictResolution 54/263, annex I. and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., annex II. and calls upon States to consider signing and ratifying them as a matter of priority; 23. Underlines the particular role of elderly refugees within the refugee family, welcomes the development by the Office of the High Commissioner of guidelines to address their special needs, and calls upon States and the Office of the High Commissioner to make renewed efforts to ensure that the rights, needs and dignity of elderly and disabled refugees are fully respected and that programmes are designed bearing in mind their special vulnerabilities; 24. Recalls that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and that it is entitled to protection by society and the State, and calls upon States, working in close collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner and other concerned organizations, to take measures to ensure that the refugee's family is protected, including through measures aimed at reuniting family members separated as a result of refugee flight; 25. Calls upon Governments and other donors to demonstrate their international solidarity and burden-sharing with countries of asylum, in particular developing countries, countries with economies in transition and countries with limited resources that, owing to their location, host large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and urges Governments to respond promptly and adequately to the global appeal issued by the Office of the High Commissioner, presenting requirements under its annual programme budget, to support efforts to widen the donor base so as to achieve greater burden-sharing among donors and to assist the High Commissioner in securing additional and timely income from traditional governmental sources, other Governments and the private sector so as to ensure that the needs of persons under the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner are fully met. RESOLUTION 55/75 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/597, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Chad, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Zambia. 55/75. Ad hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the announcement of voluntary contributions to the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 1556 A (XV) of 18 December 1960 and 1729 (XVI) of 20 December 1961 on the convening of an ad hoc Committee of the Whole, under the chairmanship of the President of the General Assembly, as soon as practicable after the opening of each regular session of the Assembly, for the purpose of announcing pledges of voluntary contributions to the refugee programmes for the following year, Recalling also that the ad hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the announcement of voluntary contributions to the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been convened annually, under the chairmanship of the President of the General Assembly or his or her designated representative, at United Nations Headquarters, immediately following the debate on the report of the High Commissioner in the Third Committee, Noting that the General Assembly, in its resolution 54/146 of 17 December 1999, endorsed the presentation of a unified annual programme budget of the Office of the High Commissioner, Noting also that financial requirements under the annual programme budget for the programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner are presented in the global appeal issued late in November or early in December each year at Geneva, forming the basis for pledges in response to the information provided in the global appeal, Decides, in order to improve and rationalize the funding mechanism following the adoption of the annual programme budget, that the ad hoc Committee of the General Assembly may be convened as from 2001 at Geneva, the headquarters of the Office of the High Commissioner. RESOLUTION 55/76 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/597, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/76. Fiftieth anniversary of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and World Refugee Day The General Assembly 1. Commends the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for its leadership and coordination of international action for refugees, and acknowledges the tireless efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner to provide international protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern and to promote durable solutions for their problems during the past fifty years; 2. Pays tribute to the dedication of United Nations humanitarian workers and associated personnel, the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner in the field, including local staff, who risk their lives in the performance of their duties; 3. Reaffirms its support for the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions, on behalf of returnees, stateless persons and internally displaced persons; 4. Notes the crucial role of partnerships with Governments and international, regional and non-governmental organizations, as well as of the participation of refugees in decisions that affect their lives; 5. Recognizes that, by virtue of its activities on behalf of refugees and other persons of concern, the Office of the High Commissioner also contributes to promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations, in particular those related to peace, human rights and development; 6. Notes that 2001 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. which sets out the fundamental concepts for international refugee protection; 7. Also notes that the Organization of African Unity has agreed that an international refugee day may coincide with Africa Refugee Day on 20 June; 8. Decides that, as from 2001, 20 June will be celebrated as World Refugee Day. RESOLUTION 55/77 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/597, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mauritania (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela. 55/77. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/147 of 17 December 1999, Recalling also the provisions of its resolution 2312 (XXII) of 14 December 1967, by which it adopted the Declaration on Territorial Asylum, Recalling further the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Recalling the Khartoum DeclarationA/54/682, annex I. and the Recommendations on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in AfricaIbid., annex II. adopted by the Organization of African Unity at the ministerial meeting held at Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998, Welcoming decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session, held at Lomé from 6 to 8 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex I. Welcoming also the convening by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa, commending the comprehensive implementation plan adopted by the Special Meeting, and noting its endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session,Ibid., decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. Commending the First Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa of the Organization of African Unity, held at Grand-Baie, Mauritius, from 12 to 16 April 1999, and recalling the attention paid to issues relevant to refugees and displaced persons in the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the Conference, Recalling the sixth Seminar on International Humanitarian Law, convened by the Organization of African Unity and the International Committee of the Red Cross at Addis Ababa on 15 and 16 May 2000, and noting the endorsement of the recommendations of the Seminar by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session,Ibid., decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. Recognizing the contributions made by African States to the development of regional standards for the protection of refugees and returnees, and noting with appreciation that countries of asylum are hosting refugees in a humanitarian spirit and in a spirit of African solidarity and brotherhood, Recognizing also the need for States to address resolutely the root causes of forced displacement and to create conditions that facilitate durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons, and stressing in this regard the need for States to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent, Convinced of the need to strengthen the capacity of States to provide assistance and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons and of the need for the international community, within the context of burden-sharing, to increase its material, financial and technical assistance to the countries affected by refugees, returnees and displaced persons, Acknowledging with appreciation that some assistance is already rendered by the international community to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and host countries in Africa, Noting with great concern that, despite all the efforts deployed so far by the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa, especially in the West African and Great Lakes regions and in the Horn of Africa, remains precarious, Stressing that the provision of relief and assistance to African refugees by the international community should be on an equitable, non-discriminatory basis, Considering that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict and bear the brunt of atrocities and other consequences of conflict, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/471. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/55/12). 2. Notes with concern that the declining socio-economic situation, compounded by political instability, internal strife, human rights violations and natural disasters, has led to increased numbers of refugees and displaced persons in some countries of Africa, and remains particularly concerned about the impact of large-scale refugee populations on the security, socio-economic situation and environment of countries of asylum; 3. Recalls the commemoration in 1999 of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and commends the convening by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000 to mark that anniversary; 4. Encourages African States to ensure the full implementation of and follow-up to the comprehensive implementation plan adopted by the Special Meeting and endorsed by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity;Ibid., decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. 5. Also encourages African States to ensure the full implementation of and follow-up to the recommendations of the sixth Seminar on International Humanitarian Law, convened by the Organization of African Unity and the International Committee of the Red Cross at Addis Ababa on 15 and 16 May 2000; 6. Calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and the spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa; 7. Expresses its sincere appreciation and gratitude to Sadako Ogata for her tireless efforts, throughout her tenure as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to address the plight of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa and for her inspiring example in performing her functions in an exemplary and dedicated manner; 8. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation, in this year which marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, for the work accomplished since its establishment, with the support of the international community, in assisting African countries of asylum and responding to the needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa for assistance and protection; 9. Notes the intergovernmental event planned in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. in 2001, and encourages African States parties to the Convention to participate actively in the event; 10. Reaffirms that the 1951 Convention and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees, as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remain the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, encourages African States that have not yet done so to accede to those instruments, and calls upon States parties to the Conventions to reaffirm their commitment to their ideals and to respect and observe their provisions; 11. Notes the need for States to address the root causes of forced displacement in Africa, and calls upon African States, the international community and relevant United Nations organizations to take concrete action to meet the needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons for protection and assistance and to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight; 12. Also notes the link, inter alia, between human rights violations, poverty, natural disasters and environmental degradation and population displacement, and calls for redoubled and concerted efforts by States, in collaboration with the Organization of African Unity, to promote and protect human rights for all and to address these problems; 13. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, within their respective mandates, in the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 14. Notes with appreciation the ongoing mediation and conflict resolution efforts carried out by African States, the Organization of African Unity and subregional organizations, as well as the establishment of regional mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, and urges all relevant parties to address the humanitarian consequences of conflicts; 15. Expresses its appreciation and strong support for those African Governments and local populations that, in spite of the general deterioration of socio-economic and environmental conditions and overstretched national resources, continue to accept the additional burden imposed upon them by increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, in compliance with the relevant principles of asylum; 16. Expresses its concern about instances in which the fundamental principle of asylum is jeopardized by unlawful expulsion or refoulement or by threats to the life, physical security, integrity, dignity and well-being of refugees; 17. Calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements; 18. Notes the proposal of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to commence a process of global consultations on the international refugee protection regime, and in this context invites African States to participate actively in this process so as to bring their regional perspective to bear, thus ensuring that adequate attention is paid to concerns that are specific to Africa; 19. Deplores the deaths and injuries and other forms of violence sustained by staff members of the Office of the High Commissioner and urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, to prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and to ensure their safety and security, calls upon States to investigate fully any crimes committed against humanitarian personnel and bring to justice persons responsible for such crimes, and calls upon organizations and aid workers to abide by the national laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate; 20. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the Organization of African Unity, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the international refugee protection system; 21. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities; 22. Reaffirms the right of return and also the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, and recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, as appropriate, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home; 23. Notes with satisfaction the voluntary return of millions of refugees to their homelands following the successful repatriation and reintegration operations carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner, with the cooperation and collaboration of countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, and looks forward to other programmes to assist the voluntary repatriation and reintegration of all refugees in Africa; 24. Reiterates that the Plan of Action adopted by the Regional Conference on Assistance to Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in the Great Lakes Region, held at Bujumbura from 15 to 17 February 1995, as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/149 of 21 December 1995, continues to be a viable framework for the resolution of the refugee and humanitarian problems in that region; 25. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to the third-country resettlement requests of African refugees, and notes with appreciation that some African countries have offered resettlement places for refugees; 26. Welcomes the programmes carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner with host Governments, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and the international community to address the environmental impact of refugee populations; 27. Calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 28. Expresses its concern about the long stay of refugees in certain African countries, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to keep its programmes under review, in conformity with its mandate in the host countries, taking into account the increasing needs of refugees; 29. Emphasizes the need for the Office of the High Commissioner to collate statistics, on a regular basis, on the number of refugees living outside refugee camps in certain African countries, with a view to evaluating and addressing the needs of those refugees; 30. Urges the international community, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 31. Requests all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to meeting the special needs of refugee women and children and displaced persons, including those with special protection needs; 32. Calls upon States and the Office of the High Commissioner to make renewed efforts to ensure that the rights, needs and dignity of elderly refugees are fully respected and addressed through appropriate programme activities; 33. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 34. Expresses grave concern about the plight of internally displaced persons in Africa, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in this regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and urges the international community, led by relevant United Nations organizations, to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating the plight of internally displaced persons; 35. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", and to present an oral report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2001. RESOLUTION 55/78 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/598, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/78. The girl child The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/148 of 17 December 1999 and all previous relevant resolutions, including the agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women, in particular those relevant to the girl child, Recalling also all relevant United Nations conferences and the Declaration and Agenda for Action adopted by the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Stockholm from 27 to 31 August 1996,A/51/385, annex. as well as the outcome documents of the recent five-year reviews of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and DevelopmentResolution S-21/2, annex. and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access for girls to education, nutrition, physical and mental health care and in girls enjoying fewer of the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence than boys and often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual and economic exploitation and to violence and harmful practices, such as female infanticide, incest, early marriage, prenatal sex selection and female genital mutilation, Recognizing the need to achieve gender equality so as to ensure a just and equitable world for girls, Deeply concerned that, in situations of poverty, war and armed conflict, girl children are among the victims most affected and that thus their potential for full development is limited, Concerned that the girl child has furthermore become a victim of sexually transmitted diseases and the human immunodeficiency virus, which affects the quality of her life and leaves her open to further discrimination, Reaffirming the equal rights of women and men as enshrined, inter alia, in the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Reaffirming also the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", Reaffirming further the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2000. 1. Stresses the need for full and urgent implementation of the rights of the girl child as guaranteed to her under all human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. as well as the need for universal ratification of those instruments; 2. Urges States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 54/4, annex. 3. Welcomes the adoption of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflictResolution 54/263, annex I. and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., annex II. and invites States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocols as a matter of priority with a view to their entry into force as soon as possible; 4. Also welcomes the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative launched by the Secretary-General at the World Education Forum; 5. Urges all Governments and the United Nations system to strengthen efforts bilaterally and with international organizations and private sector donors in order to achieve the goals of the World Education Forum, in particular that of eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and for the implementation of the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative as a means of reaching this goal, and reaffirms the commitment contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 6. Calls upon all States to take measures to address the obstacles that continue to affect the achievement of the goals set forth in the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. as contained in paragraph 33 of the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. where appropriate, including the strengthening of national mechanisms to implement policies and programmes for the girl child and, in some cases, to enhance coordination among responsible institutions for the realization of the human rights of girls, as indicated in the further actions and initiatives; 7. Urges all States to take all necessary measures and to institute legal reforms to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to take effective action against violations of those rights and freedoms and to base programmes and policies for the girl child on the rights of the child; 8. Urges States to enact and enforce strictly laws to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, to enact and enforce strictly laws concerning the minimum legal age of consent and the minimum age for marriage and to raise the minimum age for marriage where necessary; 9. Urges all States to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women as well as the commitment to implement the Beijing Platform for Action; 10. Also urges all States to enact and enforce legislation to protect girls from all forms of violence, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, female genital mutilation, rape, domestic violence, incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child prostitution and child pornography, and to develop age-appropriate safe and confidential programmes and medical, social and psychological support services to assist girls who are subjected to violence; 11. Calls upon all States and international and non-governmental organizations, individually and collectively, to implement further the Beijing Platform for Action, in particular the strategic objectives relating to the girl child and including the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 12. Urges States to take special measures for the protection of war-affected girls and in particular to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and gender-based violence, including rape and sexual abuse, torture, sexual exploitation, abduction and forced labour, paying special attention to refugee and displaced girls, and to take into account the special needs of the war-affected girl child in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes; 13. Urges all States and the international community to respect, protect and promote the rights of the child, taking into account the particular vulnerabilities of the girl child in pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict situations, and calls for special initiatives designed to address all of the rights and needs of war-affected girls; 14. Welcomes the holding of the International Conference on War-Affected Children at Winnipeg, Canada, from 10 to 17 September 2000, and takes note with appreciation of the Winnipeg Agenda for War-Affected Children;A/55/467-S/2000/973, annex. 15. Urges States to formulate comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, which should be widely disseminated and should provide targets and timetables for implementation, as well as effective domestic enforcement procedures through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms involving all parties concerned, including consultations with women's organizations, giving attention to the recommendations relating to the girl child of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences; 16. Calls upon Governments, civil society, including the media, and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights education and the full respect for and enjoyment of the human rights of the girl child, inter alia, through the translation, production and dissemination of age-appropriate information material on those rights to all sectors of society, in particular to children; 17. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, to ensure that all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, individually and collectively, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, take into account the rights and the particular needs of the girl child in the country programme of cooperation in accordance with the national priorities, including through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework;See A/53/226, paras. 72-77, and A/53/226/Add.1, paras. 88-98. 18. Requests all human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other human rights mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to adopt regularly and systematically a gender perspective in the implementation of their mandates and to include in their reports information on the qualitative analysis of violations of the human rights of women and girls, and encourages the strengthening of cooperation and coordination in that regard; 19. Calls upon States and international and non-governmental organizations to mobilize all necessary resources, support and efforts to realize the goals, strategic objectives and actions set out in the Beijing Platform for Action and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 20. Stresses the importance of a substantive assessment of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action with a life-cycle perspective so as to identify gaps and obstacles in the implementation process and to develop further actions for the achievement of the goals of the Platform; 21. Welcomes the convening of the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children at Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001, and invites Member States and observers to participate in the Congress; 22. Encourages the regional commissions and other regional organizations to carry out activities in support of the preparations for the Second World Congress; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that a gender perspective and the needs and rights of the girl child are integrated into the preparatory work for the special session of the General Assembly on the follow-up to the World Summit for Children in 2001, inter alia, by providing the General Assembly with a comprehensive report drawing on the experiences and outcomes of the five-year reviews of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the World Summit for Social Development, and the World Education Forum. RESOLUTION 55/79 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/598, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. 55/79. The rights of the child The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/148 and 54/149 of 17 December 1999, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/85 of 27 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Bearing in mind the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. emphasizing that the provisions of the Convention and other relevant human rights instruments must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and reaffirming that the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration in all actions concerning children, Reaffirming the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which, inter alia, states that national and international mechanisms and programmes for the defence and protection of children, in particular those in especially difficult circumstances, should be strengthened, including through effective measures to combat exploitation and abuse of children, such as female infanticide, harmful child labour, sale of children and organs, child prostitution and child pornography, and which reaffirms that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, Recalling its resolution 54/93 of 7 December 1999, by which it decided to convene a special session in September 2001 to follow up the World Summit for Children, and stressing the importance of addressing the rights and needs of the child in the preparatory process of the special session and the special session itself, Profoundly concerned that the situation of girls and boys in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions in an increasingly globalized world economy, pandemics, in particular human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, natural disasters, armed conflict, displacement, exploitation, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Underlining the need for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes relating to children, Recognizing the need for the realization of a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development, the protection of the child from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the provision of universal and equal access to primary education and the implementation of the commitments on the education of children contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2, para. 19. Concerned at the number of illegal adoptions, of children growing up without parents and of child victims of family and social violence, neglect and abuse, Welcoming the adoption of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. Recognizing that partnership among Governments, international organizations and all sectors of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations, is important to realizing the rights of the child, Stressing the importance of integrating child-related issues into the work of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the special session of the General Assembly on the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in all its aspects, to be held in 2001, I Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1. Once again urges the States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. as a matter of priority with a view to reaching the goal of universal adherence as soon as possible; 2. Invites States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocols to the ConventionResolution 54/263, annexes I and II. as a matter of priority with a view to their entry into force as soon as possible, bearing in mind the convening of the special session of the General Assembly to follow up the World Summit for Children in September 2001; 3. Reiterates its concern at the great number of reservations to the Convention, and urges States parties to withdraw reservations that are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and to review on a regular basis any reservations with a view to withdrawing them; 4. Calls upon States parties to implement fully the Convention, stresses that the implementation of the Convention contributes to the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children, and recommends that a thorough assessment of ten years of implementation of the Convention be an essential element in the preparation of the special session to follow up the Summit; 5. Urges States to assure the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters that affect him or her, the views being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child, and in this regard to involve children and young people in their efforts to implement the goals of the Summit and the Convention, as well as in other programmes relating to children and young people, as appropriate; 6. Calls upon States parties to cooperate closely with the Committee on the Rights of the Child and to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee, and encourages States parties to take into account the recommendations made by the Committee in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of appropriate staff and facilities for the effective and expeditious performance of the functions of the Committee, notes the temporary support given by the plan of action of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen the important role of the Committee in advancing the implementation of the Convention, and also requests the Secretary-General to make available information on the follow-up to the plan of action; 8. Calls upon States parties urgently to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to paragraph 2 of article 43 of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible in order for the amendment to enter into force, thus increasing the membership of the Committee from ten to eighteen experts, bearing in mind, inter alia, the additional workload of the Committee when the two Optional Protocols to the Convention enter into force; 9. Invites the Committee to continue to enhance its constructive dialogue with the States parties and its transparent and effective functioning; 10. Recommends that, within their mandates, all relevant human rights mechanisms and all other relevant organs and mechanisms of the United Nations system and the supervisory bodies of the specialized agencies pay attention to particular situations in which children are in danger and in which their rights are violated and that they take into account the work of the Committee, and encourages the further development of the rights-based approach adopted by the United Nations Children's Fund and further steps to increase system-wide coordination and inter-agency cooperation for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child; 11. Encourages the Committee, in monitoring the implementation of the Convention, to continue to pay attention to the needs of children in especially difficult circumstances; 12. Urges all States to assign priority to activities and programmes aimed at preventing the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants as well as preventing other addictions, in particular addiction to alcohol and tobacco, among children and young people, especially those in vulnerable situations, and urges all States to counter the use of children and young people in the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 13. Reaffirms the importance of ensuring adequate and systematic training in the rights of the child for professional groups working with and for children, including specialized judges, law enforcement officials, lawyers, social workers, medical doctors, health professionals and teachers, and of coordination among various governmental bodies involved in children's rights, and encourages States and relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to promote education and training in this regard; 14. Encourages Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations and child rights advocates, to contribute, as appropriate, to the web-based database launched by the United Nations Children's Fund so as to continue the provision of information on laws, structures, policies and processes adopted at the national level to translate the Convention into practice, and in this regard commends the Fund for its work to disseminate lessons learned in the implementation of the Convention; II Protection and promotion of the rights of children Identity, family relations and birth registration 1. Calls upon all States to intensify efforts to ensure the registration of all children immediately after birth, including through the consideration of simplified, expeditious and effective procedures; 2. Also calls upon all States to undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law, without unlawful interference and, where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, to provide appropriate assistance and protection with a view to re-establishing speedily his or her identity; 3. Urges all States to ensure, as far as possible, the right of the child to know and be cared for by his or her parents; 4. Also urges all States to ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when the competent authorities, subject to judicial review, determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary in the best interest of the child, and, where alternative care is necessary, to promote family and community-based care in preference to placement in institutions, recognizing that such determination may be necessary in a particular case, such as one involving abuse or neglect of the child by the parents or one in which the parents are living separately and a decision must be made as to the child's place of residence; 5. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure that the best interest of the child is the primary consideration in adoptions of children and to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat illegal adoptions and adoptions which do not follow the normal procedures; 6. Also calls upon States to take all necessary measures to address the problem of children growing up without parents, in particular orphaned children and children who are victims of family and social violence, neglect and abuse; Health 7. Calls upon all States and relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to pay particular attention to the development of sustainable health systems and social services to ensure the effective prevention of diseases, malnutrition, disabilities and infant and child mortality, including through prenatal and post-natal health care, as well as the provision of necessary medical treatment and health care to all children, taking into consideration the special needs of young children and girls, including prevention of common infectious diseases, the special needs of adolescents, including those relating to reproductive and sexual health and threats from substance abuse and violence, and the particular needs of children living in poverty, children in situations of armed conflict and children in other vulnerable groups, and to strengthen ways of empowering families and communities; 8. Calls upon all States to adopt all necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children affected by disease and malnutrition, including protection from all forms of discrimination, abuse or neglect, in particular in the access to and provision of health care; 9. Welcomes the attention given by the Committee on the Rights of the Child to the realization of the highest attainable standards of health and access to health care and to the rights of children affected by human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); 10. Urges States to give particular emphasis to the prevention of HIV infection in young children and strengthen efforts to prevent adolescents and women from becoming HIV-infected, inter alia, by including HIV/AIDS prevention in educational curricula and educational programmes consistent with the epidemiology of the diseases in each State, and by supporting wide-scale voluntary HIV testing and counselling programmes for pregnant women, together with services for HIV-infected pregnant women to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus from HIV/AIDS-infected pregnant women to their children; 11. Urges all States to take all necessary measures to protect children infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS from all forms of discrimination, stigma, abuse and neglect, in particular in the access to and provision of health, education and social services, with a view to the realization of their rights; 12. Calls upon the international community, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify their support of national efforts against HIV/AIDS aimed at providing assistance to children infected or affected by the epidemic, including those orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, focusing in particular on the worst-hit regions of Africa and areas in which the epidemic is severely setting back national development gains, calls upon them also to give importance to the treatment, care and support of children infected with HIV/AIDS, and invites them to consider further involving the private sector; Education 13. Calls upon States to recognize the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity by making primary education compulsory and ensuring that all children have access to free and relevant primary education, as well as by making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education; 14. Reaffirms the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education ForumSee Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2000. and calls for its full implementation, and in this regard invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue to implement its mandated role in coordinating Education for All partners and maintaining their collaborative momentum; 15. Calls upon all States to eliminate the gender gap in education, reaffirms the commitment contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to ensure equal access for girls and boys to all levels of education and the completion of a full course of primary schooling by children everywhere, boys and girls alike, by 2015,See resolution 55/2, para. 19. and in this regard encourages the implementation of the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative launched by the Secretary-General at the World Education Forum; 16. Calls upon States to ensure that emphasis is given to the qualitative aspects of education, that the education of the child is carried out, that States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. develop and implement programmes for the education of the child, in accordance with articles 28 and 29 of the Convention, and that education is directed, inter alia, to the development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to the preparation of the child for a responsible life in a free society in a spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin, and to ensure that children, from an early age, benefit from education on values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that will enable them to resolve any dispute peacefully and in a spirit of respect for human dignity and of tolerance and non-discrimination, bearing in mind the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;Resolution 53/243. 17. Calls upon all States to take all appropriate measures to prevent racist, discriminatory and xenophobic attitudes and behaviour by means of education, keeping in mind the important role that children have to play in changing such practices; 18. Also calls upon all States to remove educational disparities and make education accessible to children living in poverty, children living in remote areas, children with special educational needs, children affected by armed conflict and children requiring special protection, including refugee children, migrant children, street children, children deprived of their liberty, indigenous children and children belonging to minorities; 19. Calls upon States, educational institutions and the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to develop and implement gender-sensitive strategies to address the particular needs of the girl child in education; Freedom from violence 20. Reaffirms the obligation of States to protect children from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 21. Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence, including physical, mental and sexual violence, torture, child abuse, abuse by police, other law enforcement authorities and employees and officials in detention centres or welfare institutions, including orphanages, and domestic violence; 22. Also calls upon States to investigate and submit cases of torture and other forms of violence against children to the competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution and to impose appropriate disciplinary or penal sanctions against those responsible for such practices; 23. Requests all relevant human rights mechanisms, in particular special rapporteurs and working groups, within their mandates, to pay attention to the special situations of violence against children, reflecting their experiences in the field; 24. Takes note of the general discussion on State violence against children held by the Committee on the Rights of the Child on 22 September 2000,See CRC/C/SR.649 and 650. as well as its recommendation to undertake a comprehensive study on the issue of violence against children, exploring its different forms and identifying its causes, its extent and its impact on children, and welcomes the forthcoming general discussion on violence suffered by children in schools and within the family to be held in September 2001; III Promotion and protection of the rights of children in particularly vulnerable situations and non-discrimination against children Plight of children working and/or living on the streets 1. Calls upon Governments to seek comprehensive solutions to the problems that cause children to work and/or live on the streets and to implement appropriate programmes and policies for the protection and the rehabilitation and reintegration of those children, bearing in mind that such children are particularly vulnerable to all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect; 2. Calls upon all States to ensure that basic social services, notably education, are provided for children in order to divert them from and to address the economic imperatives that lead to involvement in harmful, exploitative and abusive activity; 3. Strongly urges all Governments to guarantee respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the right to life, to take urgent and effective measures to prevent the killing of children working and/or living on the streets, to combat torture and abusive treatment and violence against them and to bring the perpetrators to justice; 4. Calls upon all States to take the situation of children working and/or living on the streets into account when preparing reports for submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and encourages the Committee and other relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, within their existing mandates, to pay increased attention to the question of children working and/or living on the streets; 5. Calls upon the international community to support, through effective international cooperation, including technical advice and assistance, the efforts of States to improve the situation of children working and/or living on the streets; Refugee and internally displaced children 6. Urges Governments to improve the implementation of policies and programmes for the protection, care and well-being of refugee and internally displaced children and for the provision of basic social services, including access to education, with the necessary international cooperation, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children's Fund and the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons, in accordance with the obligations of States under the Convention on the Rights of the Child;Resolution 44/25, annex. 7. Calls upon all States and other parties to armed conflict, as well as United Nations bodies and organizations, to give urgent attention, in terms of protection and assistance, to the fact that refugee and internally displaced children are particularly exposed to risks in connection with armed conflict, such as being forcibly recruited or subjected to sexual violence, abuse or exploitation; 8. Expresses its deep concern about the growing number of unaccompanied and/or separated refugee and internally displaced children, and calls upon all States and United Nations bodies and agencies and other relevant organizations to give priority to programmes for family tracing and reunification and to continue to monitor the care arrangements for unaccompanied and/or separated refugee and internally displaced children; Children with disabilities 9. Encourages the working group on the rights of children with disabilities established pursuant to the decision of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to put into practice as soon as possible the recommendations arising from the day of general discussion on the rights of children with disabilities, held on 6 October 1997,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/53/41), sect. IV.C.2; and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/55/41), sect. IV.C.2. including the drafting of a plan of action on children with disabilities, in close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission for Social Development on Disability and other relevant parts of the United Nations system; 10. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with disabilities, and to develop and enforce legislation against their discrimination so as to ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child's active participation in the community, including effective access to educational and health services; Migrant children 11. Calls upon States to protect all human rights of migrant children, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, and to ensure that the best interest of the child shall accordingly be a primary consideration, and encourages the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Children's Fund and other relevant United Nations bodies, within their respective mandates, to pay particular attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, as appropriate, to make recommendations to strengthen their protection; 12. Also calls upon States to cooperate fully with and to assist the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in addressing the particularly vulnerable conditions of migrant children; IV Prevention and eradication of the sale of children and of their sexual exploitation and abuse, including child prostitution and child pornography 1. Welcomes the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,See A/55/297. and expresses its support for her work; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all necessary human and financial assistance to enable her to discharge her mandate fully; 3. Calls upon States to continue to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give full consideration to all of her recommendations; 4. Invites further voluntary contributions through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and support for the work of the Special Rapporteur for the effective fulfilment of her mandate; 5. Welcomes the large number of signatories to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annex II. and calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying it as a matter of priority with a view to its entry into force as soon as possible, bearing in mind the convening of the special session of the General Assembly to follow up the World Summit for Children in September 2001; 6. Reaffirms the obligation of States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. to prevent the abduction of, the sale of or the trafficking in children for any purpose or in any form, including the transfer of the organs of the child for profit, and to protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, in accordance with articles 35 and 34 of the Convention; 7. Calls upon States to take all appropriate steps to combat the misuse of new information and communication technologies, including the Internet, for trafficking in children and for purposes of all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, in particular the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and notes that the use of such technologies can also contribute to preventing and eradicating such phenomena; 8. Also calls upon States to criminalize and to penalize effectively all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse of children, including within the family or for commercial purposes, paedophilia, child pornography and child prostitution, including child sex tourism, while ensuring that the children who are victims of such practices are not penalized, and to take effective measures to ensure the prosecution of offenders, whether local or foreign, by the competent national authorities, either in the country of origin of the offender or in the country in which the abuse takes place, in accordance with due process of law; 9. Calls upon all Member States to take all necessary steps to strengthen international cooperation by means of multilateral, regional and bilateral arrangements for the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and punishment of those responsible for acts involving the sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism, and in this regard calls upon Member States to promote international cooperation and coordination among their authorities, national and international non-governmental organizations and international organizations, as appropriate; 10. Requests States to increase cooperation and concerted action at the national, regional and international levels to prevent and dismantle networks that traffick in children; 11. Stresses the need to combat the existence of a market that encourages such criminal practices against children, including through preventive and enforcement measures that target customers or individuals who sexually exploit or abuse children; 12. Calls upon States to enact, enforce, review and revise, as appropriate, laws and to implement policies, programmes and practices to protect children from and to eliminate all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, including commercial sexual exploitation, taking into account the particular problems posed by the use of the Internet in this regard; 13. Encourages Governments to facilitate the active participation of child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse in the development and implementation of strategies to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse; 14. Encourages continued regional and interregional efforts, with the objective of identifying best practices and issues requiring particularly urgent action, and notes the convening of the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children at Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001, which is to be hosted by the Government of Japan in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund and which is aimed at reviewing progress in implementing the Declaration and Agenda for Action adopted by the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Stockholm from 27 to 31 August 1996;A/51/385, annex. 15. Invites States and relevant United Nations bodies and agencies to allocate appropriate resources for the rehabilitation of child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse and to take all appropriate measures to promote their full recovery and social reintegration; V Protection of children affected by armed conflict 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the impact of armed conflict on children,See A/55/442. and takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict;A/55/163-S/2000/712. 2. Expresses its support for the work of the Special Representative in the fulfilment of his mandate, as established in paragraphs 35 to 37 of General Assembly resolution 51/77 of 12 December 1996, in particular in raising worldwide awareness and mobilizing official and public opinion for the protection of children affected by armed conflict in order to promote respect for the rights and needs of children in conflict and post-conflict situations; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General and all relevant parts of the United Nations system, including the Special Representative and the United Nations Children's Fund, to intensify further their efforts to continue to develop a concerted approach to the rights, protection and welfare of children affected by armed conflict, including, as appropriate, in the preparations for the field visits of the Special Representative and in the follow-up to such visits; 4. Calls upon all States and other parties concerned to continue to cooperate with the Special Representative in implementing the commitments that they have undertaken and to consider carefully all of the recommendations of the Special Representative and address the issues identified; 5. Welcomes the continued support for and voluntary contributions to the work of the Special Representative in the fulfilment of his mandate; 6. Also welcomes the large number of signatories to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. and calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying it as a matter of priority with a view to its entry into force as soon as possible, bearing in mind the convening of the special session of the General Assembly to follow up the World Summit for Children in September 2001; 7. Urges all States and other parties to armed conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to put an end to any form of targeting of children and to attacking sites that usually have a significant presence of children, calls upon States parties to respect fully the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to take all measures required to protect children from acts that constitute violations of international humanitarian law, including prosecution by States, within their national legal framework, of those responsible for such violations; 8. Recognizes, in this regard, the contribution of the establishment of the International Criminal Court to ending impunity for perpetrators of certain crimes committed against children, as defined in the Statute of the Court,See A/CONF.183/9, art. 8. which include those involving sexual violence or child soldiers, and thus to the prevention of such crimes; 9. Stresses the importance of all relevant United Nations actors in the field improving their reporting, within their respective mandates, concerning the situation of children affected by armed conflict and giving additional attention to this question; 10. Condemns the abduction of children in situations of armed conflict and into armed conflict, urges States, international organizations and other concerned parties to take all appropriate measures to secure the unconditional release, rehabilitation, reintegration and reunification with their families of all abducted children, and urges States to bring the perpetrators to justice; 11. Calls upon States to ensure that the adoption of children in situations of armed conflict is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and that the best interest of the child is always envisaged as a paramount consideration; 12. Urges States and all other parties to armed conflict to end the use of children as soldiers, to ensure their demobilization and effective disarmament and to implement effective measures for their rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society, further encourages efforts by, inter alia, regional organizations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to bring an end to the use of children as soldiers in armed conflict, and emphasizes that no support shall be given to those who systematically abuse or violate the rights of children during armed conflicts; 13. Underlines the importance of including measures to ensure the rights of the child, inter alia, in the areas of health and nutrition, formal, informal or non-formal education, physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration, in emergency and other humanitarian assistance policies and programmes; 14. Notes the importance of the third open debate held in the Security Council, on 26 July 2000, on children and armed conflict and the undertaking provided by the Council to give special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of children when taking action aimed at maintaining peace and security, and reaffirms the essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children; 15. Calls upon all parties to armed conflict to ensure the full, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all children affected by armed conflict; 16. Welcomes agreed conclusions 1999/1 adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 23 July 1999, in which the Council, inter alia, calls for systematic, concerted and comprehensive inter-agency efforts on behalf of children, as well as adequate and sustainable resource allocation, to provide both immediate emergency assistance to and long-term measures for children throughout all the phases of an emergency;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. 17. Urges States to implement effective measures for the rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society of all child victims in cases of armed conflict, invites the international community to assist in this endeavour, and further emphasizes the importance of giving systematic consideration to the special needs and particular vulnerability of the girl child during conflicts and in post-conflict situations; 18. Calls upon States and relevant United Nations bodies to continue to support national and international mine-action efforts, including by means of financial contributions, mine-awareness programmes, victim assistance and child-centred rehabilitation, and welcomes the positive effects on children of concrete legislative measures with respect to anti-personnel mines; 19. Invites States, multilateral donors and the private sector to cooperate and to commit the resources necessary for the early development of new and more efficient mine-detection and mine-clearance technologies for assistance in mine action; 20. Notes with concern the impact of small arms and light weapons on children in situations of armed conflict, in particular as a result of their illicit production and traffic, and calls upon States to address this problem, inter alia, during the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, to be held in 2001; 21. Recommends that, whenever sanctions are imposed, their impact on children be assessed and monitored and that humanitarian exemptions be child-focused and formulated with clear guidelines for their application; 22. Calls upon States, relevant United Nations bodies and agencies and regional organizations to integrate the rights of the child into all activities in conflict and post-conflict situations, including training programmes and emergency relief operations, country programmes and field operations aimed at promoting peace and preventing and resolving conflict, as well as the negotiation and implementation of peace agreements, and, given the long-term consequences for society, underlines the importance of including specific provisions for children, including resourcing, in peace agreements and in arrangements negotiated by parties; 23. Calls upon all States, in accordance with the norms of international humanitarian law, to integrate in the training and gender-sensitized education programmes of their armed forces, including those for peacekeeping, instruction on responsibilities towards the civilian population, in particular women and children; 24. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to encourage the involvement of young people in activities concerning the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including programmes for reconciliation, peace consolidation, peace-building and children-to-children networks; 25. Welcomes the holding of the International Conference on War-Affected Children at Winnipeg, Canada, from 10 to 17 September 2000, and notes with appreciation the Winnipeg Agenda for War-Affected ChildrenA/55/467-S/2000/973, annex. and efforts by regional organizations, in particular the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Organization of American States and the Organization of African Unity, to include prominently the rights and protection of children affected by armed conflict in their policies and programmes; VI Progressive elimination of child labour 1. Reaffirms the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development; 2. Welcomes the adoption by the International Labour Organization, at the eighty-seventh session of the International Labour Conference, held at Geneva from 1 to 17 June 1999, of the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Convention No. 182), and calls upon all States to consider ratifying it; 3. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying the conventions of the International Labour Organization relating to child labour, in particular the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, 1930 (Convention No. 29) and the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138), and to implement those conventions; 4. Calls upon all States to translate into concrete action their commitment to the progressive and effective elimination of child labour contrary to accepted international standards, and urges them, inter alia, to eliminate immediately the worst forms of child labour as set out in the 1999 International Labour Organization Convention No. 182; 5. Also calls upon all States to assess and examine systematically the magnitude, nature and causes of child labour and to elaborate and implement strategies for the elimination of child labour contrary to accepted international standards, giving special attention to specific dangers faced by girls, as well as to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of the children concerned; 6. Recognizes that primary education is one of the main instruments for reintegrating child workers, calls upon all States to recognize the right to education by making primary education compulsory and to ensure that all children have equal access to free primary education as a key strategy to prevent child labour, and recognizes, in particular, the important role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund in this regard; 7. Calls upon all States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation as a means of assisting Governments in preventing or combating violations of the rights of the child and in attaining the objective of eliminating child labour contrary to accepted international standards; 8. Calls upon all States to strengthen cooperation and coordination at the national and international levels to address effectively the problem of child labour, in close cooperation with, inter alia, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund; VII Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the rights of the child containing information on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the problems addressed in the present resolution; (b) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the impact of armed conflict on children to submit to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights reports containing relevant information on the situation of children affected by armed conflict, bearing in mind existing mandates and reports of relevant bodies; (c) To continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of the child". RESOLUTION 55/7 Adopted at the 44th plenary meeting, on 30 October 2000, by a recorded vote of 143 to 2, with 4 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.10 and Corr.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Turkey Abstentions: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela 55/7. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/31 and 54/33 of 24 November 1999 and other relevant resolutions adopted subsequent to the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention")See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). on 16 November 1994, Recalling also its resolution 2749 (XXV) of 17 December 1970, and considering that the Convention, together with the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement"),Resolution 48/263, annex. provides the regime to be applied to the Area and its resources as defined in the Convention, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention and its fundamental importance for the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security, as well as for the sustainable use and development of the seas and oceans and their resources, Reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Conscious of the importance of increasing the number of States parties to the Convention and the Agreement in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, Conscious also that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole, Convinced of the need, building on arrangements established in accordance with the Convention, to improve coordination at the national level and cooperation and coordination at both intergovernmental and inter-agency levels, in order to address all aspects of oceans and seas in an integrated manner, Recognizing the important role that the competent international organizations have in relation to ocean affairs, in implementing the Convention and in promoting sustainable development of the oceans and seas and their resources, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/61. and reaffirming the importance of the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review, Taking note also of the outcome of the first meeting of the United Nations open-ended informal consultative process ("the Consultative Process"),See A/55/274. established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 in order to facilitate the annual review by the Assembly of developments in ocean affairs, Mindful of the importance of the oceans and seas for the earth's ecosystem and for providing the vital resources for food security and for sustaining economic prosperity and the well-being of present and future generations, Bearing in mind the contribution that major groups, as identified in Agenda 21, can make to raising awareness of the goal of the sustainable development of the oceans and seas and their resources, Underlining the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of their marine resources, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Expressing serious concern at the increase in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and recognizing the importance of strengthening cooperation to combat such activities, particularly through the relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, Recalling that the role of international cooperation and coordination on a bilateral basis and, where applicable, within a subregional, interregional, regional or global framework is to support and supplement the national efforts of coastal States to promote the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, Expressing its deep concern at the degradation of the marine environment, particularly from land-based activities, and emphasizing the need for international cooperation and for a coordinated approach at the national level to this problem, bringing together the many different economic sectors involved and protecting the ecosystems, and in this context reaffirming the importance of ensuring full implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,A/51/116, annex II. Reiterating its concern at the degradation of the marine environment as a result of pollution from ships, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, and as a result of pollution by dumping of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, Recalling the importance of marine science in promoting the sustainable management of the oceans and seas, including in the assessment, conservation, management and sustainable use of fish stocks, Emphasizing the need to ensure access of decision makers to advice and information on marine science and technology, as well as to the transfer of technology and support for the production and diffusion of factual information and knowledge for end-users, as appropriate, Expressing concern once again at the continuing threat from piracy and armed robbery at sea, and in this context noting the letter from the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization to the Secretary-General of the United Nations drawing attention to the increasing number and seriousness of incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea, A/55/311, annex. Reaffirming the importance of enhancing the safety of navigation, as well as the necessity for cooperation in this regard, Emphasizing the importance of the protection of the underwater cultural heritage, and recalling in this context the provisions of article 303 of the Convention, Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and in this context the expected increase in responsibilities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in view of the progress in the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission") and the anticipated receipt of submissions from States, 1. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the ConventionSee The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and the Agreement;Resolution 48/263, annex. 2. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention; 3. Calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention are in conformity therewith and, otherwise, to withdraw any of their declarations or statements that are not in conformity; 4. Encourages States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts and lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 5. Urges the international community to assist, as appropriate, developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, in the acquisition of data and the preparation of charts or lists of geographical coordinates for publication under articles 16, 22, 47, 75 and 84 of the Convention and in the preparation of information under article 76 and annex II to the Convention; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York from 14 to 18 May 2001 and to provide the services required; 7. Notes with satisfaction the continued contribution of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, underlines its important role and authority concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, encourages States parties to the Convention to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, and invites States to note the provisions of annexes V, VI, VII and VIII to the Convention concerning, respectively, conciliation, the Tribunal, arbitration and special arbitration; 8. Recalls the obligations of parties to cases before a court or a tribunal referred to in article 287 of the Convention to ensure prompt compliance with the decisions rendered by such court or tribunal; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary trust fund to assist States in the settlement of disputes through the Tribunal, and to report annually to the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on the status of the fund;Terms of reference are annexed to the present resolution (see annex I). 10. Invites States, intergovernmental organizations, national institutions, non-governmental organizations, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial contributions to the fund; 11. Encourages States that have not yet done so to nominate conciliators and arbitrators in accordance with annexes V and VII to the Convention, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to update and circulate lists of these conciliators and arbitrators on a regular basis; 12. Welcomes the adoption of the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area by the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority") on 13 July 2000,ISBA/6/A/18, annex. and notes with satisfaction that the Authority is now in a position to proceed to issue contracts to the registered pioneer investors in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement and those Regulations; 13. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and the Tribunal in full and on time, and appeals also to all former provisional members of the Authority to pay any outstanding contributions; 14. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalSPLOS/25. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;ISBA/4/A/8, annex. 15. Notes the continuing progress in the work of the Commission, including the successful open meeting on 1 May 2000See CLCS/21. aimed at assisting States in implementing the provisions of the Convention related to the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission by coastal States regarding the outer limits of their continental shelf; 16. Also notes that the Commission has issued a basic flow chart on the preparation of submissionsCLCS/22. and has adopted an outline for a five-day training course on the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and for the preparation of submissions,CLCS/24. and encourages concerned States and relevant international organizations and institutions to consider developing and making available such training courses; 17. Recalls that under article 4 of annex II to the Convention, a State intending to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles is to submit particulars of such limits to the Commission within ten years of the entry into force of the Convention for that State; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary trust fund to provide training for technical and administrative staff, and technical and scientific advice, as well as personnel, to assist developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, for the purpose of desktop studies and project planning, and preparing and submitting information under article 76 and annex II to the Convention in accordance with the procedures of the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, and to report annually to the General Assembly on the status of the fund;Terms of reference are annexed to the present resolution (see annex II). 19. Invites States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions as well as natural and juridical persons to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the fund; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary trust fund for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission,Covering both travel expenses and daily subsistence allowance. and invites States to contribute to the fund; 21. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the ninth session of the Commission in New York from 21 to 25 May 2001 and a tenth session, if necessary, starting on 27 August 2001 of a duration of three weeks in the event of a submission being filed, or of one week, depending on the workload of the Commission; 22. Calls upon bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to keep their programmes under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical capacities and skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the sustainable development of the oceans and seas and their resources nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the rights of landlocked developing States; 23. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the competent international organizations and programmes, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, the International Hydrographic Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Meteorological Organization and the World Bank, as well as representatives of regional development banks and the donor community, to review the efforts being made to build capacity as well as to identify the duplications that need to be avoided and the gaps that may need to be filled for ensuring consistent approaches, both nationally and regionally, with a view to implementing the Convention, and to include a section on this subject in his annual report on oceans and the law of the sea; 24. Urges States to continue the development of an international plan of action on illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as a matter of priority, and in this context recognizes the central role that regional and subregional fisheries organizations and arrangements will have in addressing this issue;See resolution 55/8. 25. Emphasizes the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment, including coastal areas, and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation; 26. Acknowledges the need to build national capacity for the integrated management of the coastal zone and for the protection of its ecosystem, and invites relevant parts of the United Nations system to promote these aims, including through the provision of the training and institutional support needed to achieve them; 27. Calls upon States to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and local Agenda 21 programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, as a means of enhancing their support for the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,A/51/116, annex II. and calls for their active collaboration to ensure that the 2001 intergovernmental review will enhance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action; 28. Calls upon United Nations agencies and programmes identified in General Assembly resolution 51/189 of 16 December 1996 to fulfil their roles in support of the Global Programme of Action and to provide information to Governments for their consideration at the 2001 intergovernmental review of the Global Programme of Action and to the Secretary-General for his annual report on oceans and the law of the sea on their action in this regard and on other steps which could be taken to protect the marine environment; 29. Invites the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank, as part of the preparations for the 2001 review of the Global Programme of Action, to consult with Governments, representatives of the private sector, financial institutions and bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to review their involvement in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and to consider, inter alia, what international support is needed to help overcome the obstacles to the preparation and implementation of national and local action programmes and how they can participate actively in partnership-building with developing countries for the transfer of the requisite technology in accordance with the Convention and taking into account the relevant parts of Agenda 21, capacity-building and funding for the implementation of the Global Programme of Action; 30. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring that adverse impacts on the marine environment are taken into account when assessing and evaluating development programmes and projects; 31. Urges States to take all practicable steps, in accordance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, to prevent pollution of the marine environment from ships and, in accordance with the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1046, No. 15749. to prevent pollution of the marine environment by dumping, and further calls upon States to become parties to and to implement the 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention;IMO/LC.2/Circ.380. 32. Stresses the need to consider as a matter of priority the issues of marine science and technology and to focus on how best to implement the many obligations of States and competent international organizations under Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention, and calls upon States to adopt, as appropriate and in accordance with international law, the necessary national laws, regulations, policies and procedures to promote and facilitate marine scientific research and cooperation; 33. Urges all States, in particular coastal States, in affected regions to take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent and combat incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea, including through regional cooperation, and to investigate or cooperate in the investigation of such incidents wherever they occur and bring the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law; 34. Calls upon States, in this context, to cooperate fully with the International Maritime Organization, including by submitting reports on incidents to the organization and by implementing its guidelines on preventing attacks of piracy and armed robbery; 35. Urges States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and its Protocol,International Maritime Organization publication, Sales No. 462.88.12E. and to ensure its effective implementation; 36. Notes the continued work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization towards a convention for the implementation of the provisions of the Convention, relating to the protection of the underwater cultural heritage, and re-emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the instrument to be elaborated is in full conformity with the relevant provisions of the Convention; 37. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Programme on the Law of the Sea established by the General Assembly in resolution 35/116 of 10 December 1980 and to support the training activities under the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat; 38. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea,A/55/61. prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as for the other activities of the Division, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the mandate set forth in resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33; 39. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to him in the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for the performance of such responsibilities under the approved budget for the Organization; 40. Reaffirms its decision to undertake an annual review and evaluation of the implementation of the Convention and other developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, taking into account resolution 54/33 establishing the consultative process to facilitate the review of developments in ocean affairs, and requests the Secretary-General to convene the second meeting of the Consultative Process in New York from 7 to 11 May 2001; 41. Recommends that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea at its second meeting, the Consultative Process organize its discussions around the following areas: (a) Marine science and the development and transfer of marine technology as mutually agreed, including capacity-building in this regard; (b) Coordination and cooperation in combating piracy and armed robbery at sea; 42. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure more effective collaboration and coordination between the relevant parts of the Secretariat of the United Nations and the United Nations as a whole, in particular in ensuring the effectiveness, transparency and responsiveness of the Subcommittee on Oceans and Coastal Areas of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, and also requests the Secretary-General to include in his report suggestions on initiatives to improve coordination, in accordance with resolution 54/33, and encourages all United Nations bodies to help this process by drawing to the attention of the Secretariat and the Subcommittee those areas of their work which may, directly or indirectly, affect the work of other United Nations bodies; 43. Also requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, and the Subcommittee on Oceans and Coastal Areas of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, drawing their attention to paragraphs of particular relevance to them, and underlines the importance of their input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 44. Invites the competent international organizations, as well as funding institutions, to take specific account of the present resolution in their programmes and activities, and to contribute to the preparation of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea; 45. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary trust fund for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing States, in attending the meetings of the Consultative Process, and invites States to contribute to this fund; 46. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including other developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, in connection with his annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, and to provide the report in accordance with the modalities set out in resolution 54/33; 47. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". Annex I International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea Trust Fund Terms of reference Reasons for establishing the Trust Fund 1. Part XV of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention") provides for the settlement of disputes. In particular, article 287 specifies that States are free to choose one or more of the following means: (a) The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; (b) The International Court of Justice; (c) An arbitral tribunal; (d) A special arbitral tribunal. 2. The Secretary-General already operates a Trust Fund for the International Court of Justice (see A/47/444). The Permanent Court of Arbitration has established a Financial Assistance Fund. The burden of costs should not be a factor for States, in making the choices under article 287, in deciding whether a dispute should be submitted to the Tribunal or in deciding upon the response to an application made to the Tribunal by others. For these reasons, it was decided to create a Trust Fund for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal"). Object and purpose of the Trust Fund 3. This Trust Fund ("the Fund") is established by the Secretary-General in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/7 and pursuant to the Agreement on Cooperation and Relationship between the United Nations and the Tribunal of 18 December 1997 (resolution 52/251, annex). 4. The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial assistance to States parties to the Convention for expenses incurred in connection with cases submitted, or to be submitted, to the Tribunal, including its Seabed Disputes Chamber and any other Chamber. 5. Assistance, which will be provided in accordance with the following terms and conditions, should only be provided in appropriate cases, principally those proceeding to the merits where jurisdiction is not an issue, but in exceptional circumstances may be provided for any phase of the proceedings. Contributions to the Fund 6. The Secretary-General invites States, intergovernmental organizations, national institutions, non-governmental organizations, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial contributions to the Fund. Application for assistance 7. An application for assistance from the Fund may be submitted by any State party to the Convention. The application should describe the nature of the case which is to be, or has been, brought by or against the State concerned and should provide an estimate of the costs for which financial assistance is requested. The application should contain a commitment to supply a final statement of account of the expenditures made from approved amounts, to be certified by an auditor acceptable to the United Nations. Panel of experts 8. The Secretary-General will establish a panel of experts, normally three persons of the highest professional standing, to make recommendations on each request. The task of each panel is to examine the application and to recommend to the Secretary-General the amount of the financial assistance to be given, the phase or phases of the proceedings in respect of which assistance is to be given and the types of expenses for which the assistance may be used. Granting of assistance 9. The Secretary-General will provide financial assistance from the Fund on the basis of the recommendations of the panel of experts. Payments will be made against receipts showing expenditures made in respect of approved costs. The latter may include: (a) Preparing the application and the written pleadings; (b) Professional fees of counsel and advocates for written and oral pleadings; (c) Travel and expenses of legal representation in Hamburg during the various phases of a case; (d) Execution of an Order of Judgment of the Tribunal, such as marking a boundary in the territorial sea. Application of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations 10. The Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations will apply to the administration of the Fund, including the procedures for audit. Reporting 11. An annual report on the activities of the Fund, including details of the contributions to and disbursements from the Fund, will be made to the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention. Implementing office 12. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs is the implementing office for this Fund and provides the services for the operation of the Fund. Offers of professional assistance 13. The implementing office also maintains a list of offers of professional assistance which may be made on a reduced fee basis by suitably qualified persons or bodies. If an applicant for assistance so requests, the implementing office will make the list of offers available to it for its consideration and decision; both financial and other assistance may be extended in respect of the same case or phase thereof. Revision 14. The General Assembly may revise the above if circumstances so require. Annex II Trust fund for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Terms of reference, guidelines and rules 1. Reasons for establishing the Trust Fund 1. Promoting and developing the marine scientific and technological capacity of developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island States, with a view to accelerating their social and economic development, is essential for the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Convention"). 2. Coastal States intending to establish the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of their territorial sea is measured are required by article 76 of the Convention to submit the relevant data and information to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission"). In accordance with article 4 of annex II to the Convention, the particulars of such limits should be submitted to the Commission within ten years of the entry into force of the Convention for that State. For some States a submission should be made by 16 November 2004. 3. Developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, may face difficulties in complying with the time limit for submissions to the Commission. The Trust Fund is intended to assist these States in complying with the requirements relating to a submission to the Commission. 4. Under article 3, paragraph 1 (b), of annex II to the Convention, the Commission may provide scientific and technical advice, if requested by the coastal States concerned, during the preparation of the data to be submitted in accordance with article 76. 5. The Commission has adopted an outline for a five-day training course in order to facilitate the preparation of submissions in accordance with its Scientific and Technical Guidelines. The course is to be developed and delivered by interested Governments, international organizations and institutions which possess the necessary expertise and facilities. The Commission has likewise prepared a basic flow chart illustrating the preparation of submissions by coastal States. 6. The delineation of the continental shelf of a coastal State in accordance with article 76 and annex II to the Convention and annex II to the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea ("the Final Act") requires a programme for hydrographic and geoscientific surveying and mapping of the continental margin. The complexity and scale, and hence the costs involved, of such a programme will vary greatly from State to State according to the different geographical and geophysical circumstances. A first approach will always involve an assessment of the particular case at hand, followed by planning of appropriate projects for further data acquisition. Such projects require the contracting of high-level scientific/technical expertise and modern technology. By nature, the costs involved in such data acquisition projects are substantial. In addition to contributing to the Voluntary Fund herein established, the international community should make every effort to facilitate the full implementation of article 76 both financially and in any other possible way or capacity. 7. The initial assessment and the project planning itself will require qualifications in hydrography and geosciences in addition to a full understanding of the relevant provisions of the Convention. The final preparation of a submission to the Commission also requires high-level expertise in geosciences and hydrography. 8. The United Nations has extensive experience in providing assistance to countries for their industrial and economic development. This experience could be extended and utilized to assist States in implementing their rights and obligations under article 76 of the Convention. 2. Objects and purpose of the Trust Fund 9. The Secretary-General, under the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, establishes the present Trust Fund ("the Fund"). The object of the Fund is to enable developing States, in particular the least developed coastal countries and small island developing States, to make an initial assessment of their particular case, make appropriate plans for further investigations and data acquisition, and to prepare the final submission documents when the necessary data have been acquired. 10. The data acquisition campaigns themselves are not the object of the Fund. 11. An initial assessment of the nature of the continental shelf of a coastal State is often made in the form of a desktop study, which is a review and compilation of all existing data and information. Decisions for further action and/or planning for further data acquisition and mapping projects will be based on such a study. 12. The purpose of the Fund is to provide, in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations: (a) Training to the appropriate technical and administrative staff of the coastal State in question, in order to enable them to perform initial desktop studies and project planning, or at least to take full part in these activities; (b) Funds for such studies and planning activities, including funds for advisory/consultancy assistance if needed. 13. The preparation of the final submission documents will have to meet the requirements of article 76 and annex II to the Convention (and for some States, annex II to the Final Act) and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission. The training should take this into account and aim at enabling the State's personnel also to prepare most of these documents themselves. The preparation of the submission may induce costs that may be met by funds from the Fund (e.g. software and hardware equipment, technical assistance, etc.). 3. Contributions to the Fund 14. The Secretary-General invites States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions as well as natural and juridical persons to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the Fund. 4. Application for financial assistance 15. An application for financial assistance from the Fund may be submitted by any developing State, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, who are Members of the United Nations and party to the Convention. 16. The purpose of the financial assistance applied for should be specified. Financial assistance may be sought for the following purposes: (a) Training of technical and administrative staff; (b) Desktop study or other means to make an initial assessment of the nature of the continental shelf and its limits; (c) Working out of plans for the acquisition of necessary additional data and mapping projects; (d) Preparation of final submission documents; (e) Advisory/consultancy assistance related to the above points. 17. Detailed information under each of these purposes should be provided as follows: (a) Training of technical and administrative staff: The application shall be accompanied by: (i) A specification of the goal of the training and which positions the trainees are intended to fill afterwards; (ii) Information on the training institute(s) in question; (iii) A copy of the training course(s); (iv) The curriculum vitae of the trainees; (v) An itemized statement of the estimated costs for which assistance is requested. (b) Desktop study or other means to make an assessment of the nature of the continental shelf and its limits: The application shall be accompanied by: (i) A short description of the aim of the study; (ii) An overview map of the area in question; (iii) An overview, as complete as possible, of the database already available to the State; (iv) An outline of how the work will be done and what tools are available (software and hardware); (v) A specification of what will be done by the State's own staff, and what will be contracted for; (vi) An itemized statement of the estimated costs for which assistance is requested. (c) Working out of plans for the acquisition of necessary additional data and mapping projects: The application shall be accompanied by: (i) A summary of the status of knowledge of the continental margin, preferably based on a previous desktop study; (ii) A preliminary assessment of the needs for specific additional data and/or information in accordance with the requirements of article 76 and annex II to the Convention, and annex II to the Final Act; (iii) An itemized statement of the estimated costs for which assistance is requested. (d) Preparation of final submission documents: The application shall be accompanied by: (i) A specification of what kind of assistance is needed; (ii) An itemized statement of the estimated costs for which assistance is requested. (e) Advisory/consultancy assistance related to the above points: The application shall be accompanied by: (i) A copy of the contract between the Government and the technical or scientific expert in question; (ii) An itemized statement of the costs for which assistance is requested. 18. In all these cases the application shall be accompanied by an undertaking that the requesting State shall supply a final statement of account providing details of the expenditures made from the approved amounts, to be certified by an auditor acceptable to the United Nations. 5. Consideration of applications 19. Each request for financial assistance shall be considered by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs ("the Division"), which acts as the secretariat of the Commission. 20. The Division may engage an independent panel of experts of the highest moral standing to assist in the examination of applications on the basis of section 4 above and to recommend the amount of financial assistance to be given. However, no sitting Commission member should serve on this panel of experts. The Division shall prepare and circulate to Member States a list of prospective members of the panel of experts. Any member of the expert panel opposed by a Member State should not be included in the panel. The Division shall on an annual basis provide a list of the panel of experts as an annex to the annual report of the Secretary-General. 21. In considering the application, the Division shall be guided solely by the financial needs of the requesting developing State and availability of funds, with priority given to least developed countries and small island developing States, taking into account the imminence of pending deadlines. 22. Travel expenses and subsistence allowance are payable to independent experts engaged by the Division to consider applications. 6. Granting of assistance 23. The Secretary-General will provide financial assistance from the Fund on the basis of the evaluation and recommendations of the Division. Payments will be made against receipts evidencing actual expenditures for approved costs. 7. Application of article 5 of annex II to the Convention 24. Nationals of the coastal State making the submission who are members of the Commission and any Commission member who has assisted a coastal State by providing scientific and technical advice with respect to the delineation shall not be a member of the subcommission dealing with that submission but has the right to participate as a member in the proceedings of the Commission concerning the said submission. In an effort to promote transparency and to give full effect to article 5 of annex II to the Convention there should be full disclosure by Commission members, Trust Fund recipients and training sponsors to the Division of any pre-submission contacts. 8. Reporting requirements for full disclosure 25. Interested Governments, international organizations and institutions who provide any training for which any costs are reimbursed by this Fund are strongly encouraged to provide the complete list of participants to the Division. 26. Commission members who participate in any activities pursuant to this Fund shall disclose this information to the Division. 27. Upon submission to the Commission of its information on the limits of its continental shelf pursuant to article 76 of the Convention, a coastal State that has received assistance from this Fund shall disclose this information, including the involvement of any Commission members. 9. Application of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations 28. The Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations shall apply to the administration of the Fund. The Fund shall be subject to the auditing procedures provided therein. 10. Reporting to the General Assembly 29. An annual report on the activities of the Fund, including details of the contributions to and disbursements from the Fund, will be made to the General Assembly. 11. Implementing office 30. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs is the implementing office for the Fund and will provide the services required for the operation of the Fund. 12. Revision 31. The General Assembly may revise the above if circumstances so require. RESOLUTION 55/80 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/599, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela. 55/80. International Decade of the World's Indigenous People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/150 of 17 December 1999 and previous resolutions on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, Recalling also that the goal of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health and that the theme of the Decade is "Indigenous people: partnership in action", Recognizing the importance of consultation and cooperation with indigenous people in planning and implementing the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People,Resolution 50/157, annex. the need for adequate financial support from the international community, including support from within the United Nations system, and the need for adequate coordination and communication channels, Urging all parties to continue to intensify their efforts to achieve the goals of the Decade, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People;A/55/268. 2. Affirms its conviction of the value and diversity of the cultures and forms of social organization of indigenous people and its conviction that the development of indigenous people within their countries will contribute to the socio-economic, cultural and environmental advancement of all the countries of the world; 3. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening the human and institutional capacity of indigenous people to develop their own solutions to their problems; 4. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as coordinator for the Decade: (a) To continue to promote the objectives of the Decade, taking into account, in the fulfilment of her functions, the special concerns of the indigenous people; (b) To give due regard to the dissemination, from within existing resources and voluntary contributions, of information on the situation, cultures, languages, rights and aspirations of indigenous people and, in that context, to consider the possibility of organizing projects, special events, exhibitions and other activities addressed to the public, in particular to young people; (c) To submit, through the Secretary-General, an annual report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade; 5. Reaffirms the adoption of a declaration on the rights of indigenous people as a major objective of the Decade, and underlines the importance of effective participation by indigenous representatives in the open-ended inter-sessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with developing a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people, established pursuant to Commission resolution 1995/32 of 3 March 1995;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 6. Welcomes the decision of the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2000/22 of 28 July 2000, to establish a Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues as a subsidiary organ of the Council, thereby fulfilling an important objective of the Decade, and encourages all parties concerned to engage in the necessary preparations for the establishment of the Forum; 7. Encourages Governments to support the Decade by: (a) Preparing relevant programmes, plans and reports in relation to the Decade, in consultation with indigenous people; (b) Seeking means, in consultation with indigenous people, of giving indigenous people greater responsibility for their own affairs and an effective voice in decisions on matters that affect them; (c) Establishing national committees or other mechanisms involving indigenous people to ensure that the objectives and activities of the Decade are planned and implemented on the basis of full partnership with indigenous people; (d) Contributing to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People; (e) Contributing, together with other donors, to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations in order to assist indigenous representatives in participating in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the open-ended inter-sessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with elaborating a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people; (f) Considering contributing, as appropriate, to the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean, in support of the goals of the Decade; (g) Identifying resources for activities designed to implement the goals of the Decade, in cooperation with indigenous people and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 8. Invites United Nations financial and development institutions, operational programmes and the specialized agencies and secretariats, as well as other regional and international organizations, in accordance with the existing procedures of their governing bodies: (a) To give increased priority and resources to improving the conditions of indigenous people, with particular emphasis on the needs of those people in developing countries, including through the preparation of specific programmes of action for the implementation of the goals of the Decade, within their areas of competence; (b) To launch special projects, through appropriate channels and in cooperation with indigenous people, to strengthen their community-level initiatives and to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among indigenous people and other relevant experts; (c) To designate focal points for the coordination of activities related to the Decade with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and commends those institutions, programmes, agencies and regional and international organizations that have already done so; 9. Recommends that the Secretary-General ensure coordinated follow-up to the recommendations concerning indigenous people of relevant United Nations conferences, namely, the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992, the International Conference on Population and Development, held at Cairo from 5 to 13 September 1994, the Fourth World Conference on Women, held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held at Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to 14 June 1996, and the World Food Summit, held at Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996, and other relevant international conferences; 10. Emphasizes the importance of the participation of indigenous people in United Nations world conferences and their national, regional and other preparatory processes, in particular the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in South Africa in 2001, and encourages Member States to facilitate the participation of their indigenous people, inter alia, by considering including representatives of indigenous people in their delegations; 11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit, through the Secretary-General, a report on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People". RESOLUTION 55/81 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/600, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/81. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions concerning the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and its resolutions on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. most recently resolution 53/131 of 9 December 1998, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in particular section II.B of the Declaration, relating to equality, dignity and tolerance, Reiterating the need to intensify the struggle to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination throughout the world, especially its most brutal forms, Recalling its resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997, in which it decided to convene the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance no later than 2001, Recalling also its resolution 53/132 of 9 December 1998, in which it decided to observe 2001 as the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/14 of 17 April 2000 on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Reiterating the importance of the Convention, which is one of the most widely accepted human rights instruments adopted under the auspices of the United Nations, Stressing the importance of achieving universal ratification of the Convention, which will contribute to the fight against racism and racial discrimination, Mindful of the importance of the contributions of the Committee to the effective implementation of the Convention and to the efforts of the United Nations to combat racism and all other forms of discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, Noting that the reports submitted by States parties under the Convention contain, inter alia, information about the causes of, as well as measures to combat, contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Emphasizing the obligation of all States parties to the Convention to take legislative, judicial and other measures in order to secure full implementation of the provisions of the Convention, Recalling its resolution 47/111 of 16 December 1992, in which it welcomed the decision, taken on 15 January 1992 by the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,See CERD/SP/45, annex. to amend paragraph 6 of article 8 of the Convention and to add a new paragraph, as paragraph 7 of article 8, with a view to providing for the financing of the Committee from the regular budget of the United Nations, and reiterating its deep concern that the amendment to the Convention has not yet entered into force, Stressing the importance of enabling the Committee to function smoothly and to have all necessary facilities for the effective performance of its functions under the Convention, I Reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its fifty-fourth and fifty-fifthOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 18 and addendum (A/54/18 and Add.1). and its fifty-sixth and fifty-seventh sessions;Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 18 and addendum (A/55/18 and Add.1). 2. Commends the Committee for its continuing efforts to contribute to the effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. especially the examination of reports under article 9 and action on communications under article 14 of the Convention, which contribute to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 3. Calls upon States parties to fulfil their obligation, under paragraph 1 of article 9 of the Convention, to submit their periodic reports on measures taken to implement the Convention in due time; 4. Expresses its concern at the fact that a great number of reports are overdue and continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention; 5. Encourages States parties to the Convention whose reports are seriously overdue to avail themselves of the advisory services and technical assistance that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights can provide, upon their request, for the preparation of the reports; 6. Commends the Committee for its continuing contribution to the prevention of racial discrimination, and welcomes its relevant action thereon; 7. Encourages the Committee to continue to contribute fully to the implementation of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and its revised Programme of Action,Resolution 49/146, annex. including by continuing to cooperate and exchange information with United Nations bodies and mechanisms and intergovernmental organizations, in particular with the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as with non-governmental organizations; 8. Encourages States parties to continue to include a gender perspective in their reports to the Committee, and invites the Committee to take into account a gender perspective in the implementation of its mandate; 9. Takes note with interest of the contributions by the Committee to the preparatory process for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, including undertaking a series of studies, making suggestions for the agenda and draft programme of action of the World Conference, and preparing an assessment of the best practices of States parties in combating racial discrimination; 10. Invites the Committee to continue to participate actively in the preparatory process for the World Conference and at the Conference itself; 11. Encourages all States, relevant United Nations bodies, international and regional organizations and non-governmental organizations to draw attention to the Convention and to the work of the Committee during the information and awareness-raising campaign for the World Conference and the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; II Financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;A/55/266. 2. Expresses its profound concern about the fact that a number of States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. have still not fulfilled their financial obligations, as shown in the report of the Secretary-General, and strongly appeals to all States parties that are in arrears to fulfil their outstanding financial obligations under article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention; 3. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures with regard to the amendment to the Convention concerning the financing of the Committee and to notify the Secretary-General expeditiously in writing of their agreement to the amendment, as decided upon at the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 15 January 1992,See CERD/SP/45, annex. endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/111 and further reiterated at the Sixteenth Meeting of States Parties on 16 January 1996; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure adequate financial arrangements and to provide the necessary support, including an adequate level of Secretariat assistance, in order to ensure the functioning of the Committee and to enable it to cope with its increasing amount of work; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite those States parties to the Convention that are in arrears to pay the amounts in arrears, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; III Status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/203. on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the number of States that have ratified the Convention or acceded thereto, which now stands at one hundred and fifty-six; 3. Reaffirms once again its conviction that ratification of or accession to the Convention on a universal basis and the implementation of its provisions are necessary for the realization of the objectives of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and for action beyond the Decade; 4. Urges all States that have not yet become parties to the Convention to ratify it or accede thereto as soon as possible, bearing in mind the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001; 5. Urges States to limit the extent of any reservation they lodge to the Convention and to formulate any reservation as precisely and as narrowly as possible in order to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention or otherwise contrary to international treaty law, to review their reservations on a regular basis with a view to withdrawing them, and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention or that are otherwise incompatible with international treaty law; 6. Requests the States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider the possibility of making the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention; 7. Decides to consider, at its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination", the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth and its sixtieth and sixty-first sessions, the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee and the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention. RESOLUTION 55/82 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/600, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan and Russian Federation. 55/82. Measures to be taken against political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including, in particular, neo-Nazism The General Assembly, Recalling that the United Nations emerged from the struggle against nazism, fascism, aggression and foreign occupation, and that the people expressed their resolve in the Charter of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Aware of the determination proclaimed by the peoples of the world in the Charter to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere, Noting with appreciation the efforts undertaken by various regional organizations against political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including, in particular, neo-Nazism, Noting with regret that in the contemporary world there continue to exist various manifestations of neo-Nazi activities, as well as other political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, which entail contempt for the individual or a denial of the intrinsic dignity and equality of all human beings and of equality of opportunity in the civil, political, economic and social and cultural spheres and in social justice, Deeply alarmed at the recent intensification of activities of neo-Nazi groups and organizations, Noting with concern the widening use by such groups and organizations of the opportunities provided by scientific and technological progress, including the Internet global computer network, to promote racist and xenophobic propaganda aimed at inciting racial hatred and to collect funds to sustain violent campaigns against multi-ethnic societies throughout the world, Noting that the use of such technologies can also contribute to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Expressing its serious concern at the rise in many parts of the world of doctrines based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and at the growing coordination of activities based on such doctrines in society at large, Recalling its resolutions 2331 (XXII) of 18 December 1967, 2545 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969, 35/200 of 15 December 1980, 36/162 of 16 December 1981, 37/179 of 17 December 1982, 38/99 of 16 December 1983, 39/114 of 14 December 1984, 41/160 of 4 December 1986 and 43/150 of 8 December 1988, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1983/28 of 7 March 1983,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1983, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1983/13 and Corr.1), chap. XXVII, sect. A. 1984/42 of 12 March 1984,Ibid., 1984, Supplement No. 4 and corrigendum (E/1984/14 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1985/31 of 13 March 1985,Ibid., 1985, Supplement No. 2 (E/1985/22), chap. II, sect. A. 1986/61 of 13 March 1986,Ibid., 1986, Supplement No. 2 (E/1986/22), chap. II, sect. A. 1988/63 of 10 March 1988Ibid., 1988, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/1988/12 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and 1990/46 of 6 March 1990,Ibid., 1990, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/1990/22 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking into consideration the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,See A/55/304. Welcoming the convening of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001, 1. Again resolutely condemns political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including, in particular, neo-Nazism, which entail abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Expresses its determination to resist such political platforms and activities which can undermine the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and of equality of opportunity; 3. Urges States to take all available measures in accordance with their obligations under international human rights instruments to combat political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including, in particular, neo-Nazism; 4. Calls upon all Governments to promote and encourage, especially among young people, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to promote awareness of and oppose political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including, in particular, neo-Nazism; 5. Urges all States to consider the adoption, as a matter of high priority, of appropriate measures to eradicate activities that lead to violence and condemn any dissemination of ideas based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including, in particular, neo-Nazism, consistent with their national legal systems and in accordance with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. 6. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance information on the measures taken by Member States against political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including, in particular, neo-Nazism. RESOLUTION 55/83 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/600, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/83. Measures to combat contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/153 of 17 December 1999, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/14 of 17 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. attaches importance to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, Convinced that racism, as one of the exclusionist phenomena plaguing many societies, requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Having examined the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including its conclusions and recommendations,See A/55/304. Deeply concerned that, despite continued efforts, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and acts of violence persist and even grow in magnitude, incessantly adopting new forms, including tendencies to establish policies based on racial, religious, ethnic, cultural and national superiority or exclusivity, Particularly alarmed at the increase in racist violence in many parts of the world, inter alia, as a result of resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, as reflected in the report of the Special Rapporteur, and at the persisting use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Deeply concerned that those advocating racism and racial discrimination misuse new communication technologies, including the Internet, to disseminate their repugnant views, Noting that the use of such technologies can also contribute to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Conscious of the fundamental difference between, on the one hand, racism and racial discrimination as governmental policy or resulting from official doctrines of racial superiority or exclusivity and, on the other hand, other manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance that are increasingly visible in segments of many societies and are perpetrated by individuals or groups, some of which manifestations are directed against migrant workers and members of their families, Reaffirming, in this regard, the responsibility of Governments for safeguarding and protecting the rights of individuals within their jurisdiction against crimes perpetrated by racist or xenophobic individuals or groups, Recognizing both the challenges and the opportunities in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in an increasingly globalized world, Noting with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion, Deeply concerned that racism and racial discrimination against migrant workers continue to increase despite the efforts undertaken by the international community to protect the human rights of migrant workers and members of their families, Noting that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in its general recommendation XV (42) of 17 March 1993See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/48/18), chap. VIII, sect. B. concerning article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and in article 5 of the Convention, Noting also that the reports that the States parties submit under the Convention contain, inter alia, information about the causes of, as well as measures to combat, contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Noting with concern the existence of multiple discrimination, in particular against women, Particularly alarmed at the rise of racist and xenophobic ideas in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, Noting with appreciation that the Special Rapporteur will continue to pay attention to the rise of racist and xenophobic ideas in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating growing and violent trends of racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy and tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes, and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Recognizing that failure to combat racial discrimination and xenophobia, especially by public authorities and politicians, is a factor encouraging their perpetuation in society, Emphasizing the importance of creating conditions that foster greater harmony and tolerance within societies, 1. Reaffirms the proclamation of 2001 as the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;Resolution 53/132, sect. III. 2. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to carry out, promote and disseminate activities and action within the framework of the commemorative year in order to strengthen its impact and ensure its success, in particular the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; 3. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, encourages its continuation, and takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur;See A/55/304. 4. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue his exchange of views with Member States, United Nations organs and the specialized agencies, other relevant mechanisms and non-governmental organizations in order to further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 5. Endorses the request by the Commission on Human Rights to the Special Rapporteur to examine the issue of political platforms which promote or incite racial discrimination and the violation of human rights and to submit recommendations thereon to the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference at its second session; See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A, resolution 2000/14. 6. Welcomes the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur on the need to hold international consultations at the governmental level with a view to combating the misuse of the Internet for racist purposes, and stresses the importance of international law enforcement cooperation in this area; 7. Commends the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for its role in the effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. which contributes to the fight against contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 8. Reaffirms that acts of violence against others stemming from racism do not constitute expressions of opinion but rather offences; 9. Declares that racism and racial discrimination are among the most serious violations of human rights in the contemporary world and must be combated by all available means; 10. Expresses its profound concern about and unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular all racist violence, including related acts of random and indiscriminate violence; 11. Also expresses its profound concern about and unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including propaganda, activities and organizations based on doctrines of superiority of one race or group of persons that attempt to justify or promote racism and racial discrimination in any form; 12. Further expresses its profound concern about and condemnation of manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against, and stereotyping of, migrant workers and members of their families, persons belonging to minorities and members of vulnerable groups in many societies; 13. Notes with great concern that, despite the efforts undertaken by the international community at various levels, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other related forms of intolerance, ethnic antagonism and acts of violence are showing signs of increase in many parts of the world, and that the number of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic charters is increasing, as reflected in the report of the Special Rapporteur; 14. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries; 15. Recognizes that the increasing gravity of different manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia in various parts of the world requires a more integrated and effective approach on the part of the relevant mechanisms of United Nations human rights machinery; 16. Encourages Governments to take appropriate measures to eradicate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 17. Calls upon all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration policies with a view to eliminating all discriminatory policies and practices against migrants that are inconsistent with relevant international human rights instruments; 18. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred; 19. Recognizes that Governments should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislation to prevent acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 20. Calls upon all Governments and intergovernmental organizations, with the assistance of non-governmental organizations, as appropriate, to continue to supply relevant information to the Special Rapporteur to enable him to fulfil his mandate; 21. Commends non-governmental organizations for the action that they have taken against racism and racial discrimination and for the continuous support and assistance that they have provided to the victims of racism and racial discrimination; 22. Urges all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur with a view to enabling him to fulfil his mandate, including the examination of incidents of contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination, inter alia, against blacks, Arabs and Muslims, xenophobia, Negrophobia, anti-Semitism and related intolerance; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all of the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/84 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/600, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 55/84. Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the convening of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance The General Assembly, Reaffirming its objectives, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, of achieving international cooperation in solving problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Reaffirming also its firm determination and its commitment to eradicate totally and unconditionally racism in all its forms and racial discrimination and its conviction that racism and racial discrimination constitute a total negation of the purposes and principles of the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention against Discrimination in Education adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 14 December 1960,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 429, No. 6193. Noting the efforts of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination since its establishment in 1970 to promote the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Recalling the outcome of the two World Conferences to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held at Geneva in 1978See Report of the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, Geneva, 14-25 August 1978 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.79.XIV.2). and in 1983,See Report of the second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, Geneva, 1-12 August 1983 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.83.XIV.4 and corrigendum). Welcoming the outcome of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, and, in particular, the attention given in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, Stressing the importance and sensitivity of the activities of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Recalling with satisfaction the proclamation, in resolution 48/91 of 20 December 1993, of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, which began in 1993, and the adoption, in resolution 49/146 of 23 December 1994, of the revised Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, Noting with grave concern that, despite the efforts of the international community, the principal objectives of the two previous Decades have not been attained and that millions of human beings continue to the present day to be the victims of varied forms of racism and racial discrimination, Noting with great concern that, despite the efforts undertaken by the international community at various levels, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, ethnic antagonism and acts of violence are showing signs of increase in many parts of the world and that the number of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters is increasing, as reflected in the report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/55/304. Deeply concerned that, despite continuing efforts, contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination, many forms of discrimination against, inter alia, blacks, Arabs, Muslims and Christians, xenophobia, Negrophobia, anti-Semitism and related intolerance persist or are even growing in magnitude, incessantly adopting new forms, including tendencies to establish policies based on racial, religious, ethnic, cultural and national superiority or exclusivity, Noting with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion, Recognizing that the promotion of tolerance and respect for cultural diversity is an important factor, among others, in eliminating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Alarmed that technological developments in the field of communications, including the Internet, continue to be utilized by various groups engaged in violent activity to promote racist and xenophobic propaganda aimed at inciting racial hatred and to collect funds to sustain violent campaigns against multi-ethnic societies throughout the world, Noting that the use of such technologies can also contribute to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Having considered the report submitted by the Secretary-GeneralA/55/285. within the framework of the implementation of the Programme of Action, Recalling its resolution 54/154 of 17 December 1999, in which it requested the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session concrete proposals on how to ensure the financial and personnel resources required for the implementation of the Programme of Action, Recognizing the importance of strengthening national legislation and institutions for the promotion of racial harmony and for the effective enforcement of such legislation, Remaining firmly convinced of the need to take more effective and sustained measures at the national and international levels for the elimination of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, Deeply concerned that the phenomenon of racism and racial discrimination against migrant workers continues to increase, despite the efforts made by the international community to improve the protection of the human rights of migrant workers and members of their families, Recalling the adoption at its forty-fifth session of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. Acknowledging that indigenous people are at times victims of particular forms of racism and racial discrimination, Noting with concern the existence of multiple discrimination, in particular against women, Stressing the importance of urgently eliminating growing and violent trends of racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy and tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes, and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, I Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and coordination of activities 1. Welcomes the report submitted by the Secretary-General;A/55/285. 2. Reaffirms that racism and racial discrimination are among the most serious violations of human rights in the contemporary world, and expresses its firm determination and its commitment to eradicate, by all available means, racism in all its forms and racial discrimination; 3. Recognizes that Governments implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislation to prevent acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 4. Urges all Governments to take all necessary measures to combat new forms of racism, in particular by constantly adapting the means provided to combat them, especially in the legislative, judicial, administrative, educational and information fields; 5. Calls upon all States resolutely to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes motivated by racism, and calls upon those that have not done so to consider including racist motivation as an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing; 6. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to assign high priority to the follow-up to programmes and activities for combating racism and racial discrimination, consistent with the need to ensure the effective preparation of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; 7. Requests the Secretary-General in his reports on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to accord special attention to and provide information on the situation of migrant workers and members of their families in this regard; 8. Calls upon all Member States to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesResolution 45/158, annex. as a matter of priority; 9. Commends all States that have ratified or acceded to the international instruments to combat racism and racial discrimination, especially the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention against Discrimination in Education;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 429, No. 6193. 10. Urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in order to achieve its universal ratification; 11. Urges States to limit the extent of any reservation that they lodge to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to formulate any reservation as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the objective and purpose of the Convention or otherwise incompatible with international treaty law, to review their reservations on a regular basis with a view to withdrawing them and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the objective and purpose of the Convention or that are otherwise incompatible with international treaty law; 12. Emphasizes the importance of the full compliance of States parties with the obligations that they have accepted under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; 13. Urges all States parties to intensify efforts to meet the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, with due regard to the principles contained in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and to article 5 of the Convention, with respect to: (a) Declaring an offence punishable by law any dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination and all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof; (b) Declaring illegal and prohibited organizations and organized and all other propaganda activities that promote and incite racial discrimination, and recognizing participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law; (c) Not permitting public authorities or public institutions, whether national or local, to promote or incite racial discrimination; 14. Encourages the mass media to promote ideas of tolerance and understanding among peoples and different cultures; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to draw attention to the effects of racial discrimination on minorities and migrant workers and members of their families, especially children and women, in the fields of education, training and employment and to submit in his report specific recommendations for the implementation of measures to combat such discrimination; 16. Recognizes the need for adequate support and financial resources for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, and requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session concrete proposals on how to ensure the financial and personnel resources required for the implementation of the Programme of Action, including through the regular budget of the United Nations and extrabudgetary sources; 17. Expresses its appreciation to those that have made contributions to the Trust Fund for the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, strongly appeals to all Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals in a position to do so to contribute generously to the Fund, and to this end requests the Secretary-General to continue to establish the appropriate contacts and undertake the appropriate initiatives; 18. Welcomes the establishment of the racism project team in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with a view to coordinating all activities of the Third Decade; 19. Urges all Governments, the Secretary-General, United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, in implementing the Programme of Action, to pay particular attention to the situation of indigenous people; 20. Requests States to consider the relevant decisions of the Economic and Social Council on the integrated follow-up to previous world conferences and the need to make optimum use of all available mechanisms in the struggle against racism; 21. Strongly underlines the importance of education as a significant means of preventing and eradicating racism and racial discrimination and of creating awareness of the principles of human rights, in particular among young people, and in this regard requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue its work on the preparation and dissemination of teaching materials and teaching aids to promote teaching, training and educational activities on human rights and against racism and racial discrimination, with particular emphasis on activities at the primary and secondary levels of education; 22. Considers that, in order to attain the objectives of the Third Decade, all parts of the Programme of Action should be given equal attention; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to accord high priority to the activities of the Programme of Action and, in this regard, to ensure that the necessary financial resources are provided for the implementation of the activities of the Third Decade during the biennium 2002-2003; 24. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit each year to the Economic and Social Council a detailed report on all activities of United Nations bodies and the specialized agencies to combat racism and racial discrimination, containing an analysis of information received on such activities; 25. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly proposals which would assist in the full implementation of the Programme of Action; 26. Reiterates its calls upon all Governments, United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, intergovernmental and regional organizations and interested non-governmental organizations to contribute fully to the effective implementation of the Programme of Action; II World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance 1. Recalls its resolutions 52/111 of 12 December 1997 and 53/132 of 9 December 1998, in which it established that the Commission on Human Rights would act as the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and its resolution 54/154, and takes note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/14 of 17 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/21 of 28 July 2000; 2. Welcomes the slogan for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance adopted by the Preparatory Committee, namely, "United to combat racism: equality, justice, dignity";A/55/307, annex I, decision PC.1/10. 3. Also welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerence,See A/55/304. and recommends that the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference give due consideration to the recommendations and suggestions contained therein; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate financial resources are made available for the preparatory process for the World Conference, including from the regular budget of the United Nations; 5. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to make every effort to ensure the mobilization of resources for the voluntary fund for the World Conference to cover the participation of the least developed countries in the preparatory process and in the Conference itself, and requests all Governments, international and non-governmental organizations and private individuals to contribute to the fund; 6. Calls upon the High Commissioner to help States and regional organizations, upon request, to convene and finalize inclusive national and regional meetings, in close consultation with the regional groups concerned, or to take other initiatives, including activities at the expert level, to prepare for the World Conference, and urges the specialized agencies and the regional commissions, in coordination with the High Commissioner, to contribute to the convening of regional preparatory meetings; 7. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and the regional commissions to provide financial and technical assistance for the organization of the regional preparatory meetings planned in the context of the World Conference, and stresses that such assistance should be supplemented by voluntary contributions; 8. Stresses the importance of the widest possible participation of non-governmental organizations in the World Conference and the sessions of the Preparatory Committee, as well as in the regional meetings, regional expert seminars and other initiatives, including activities at the expert level, held in preparation for the World Conference; 9. Decides to convene the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001; 10. Welcomes the holding by the Council of Europe of the regional preparatory meeting at Strasbourg, France, from 11 to 13 October 2000, and the offers made by the Governments of Chile, Senegal and the Islamic Republic of Iran to convene regional preparatory meetings, within the framework of the World Conference, at, respectively, Santiago, from 4 to 7 December 2000, Dakar, from 22 to 24 January 2001, and Tehran, from 19 to 21 February 2001; 11. Requests the High Commissioner: (a) To help States, upon request, and regional organizations to convene national and regional meetings or to take other initiatives, including activities at the expert level, to prepare for the World Conference; (b) To undertake appropriate consultations with non-governmental organizations on the possibility that they might hold a forum before and partly during the World Conference and, as far as possible, to provide them with technical assistance for that purpose; (c) To continue fund-raising activities in order to increase the resources of the voluntary fund established specifically to cover all aspects of the preparatory process for the World Conference and the participation of non-governmental organizations, in particular those from developing countries, with special emphasis on those from least developed countries; 12. Also requests the High Commissioner, in her capacity as Secretary-General of the World Conference, to continue and intensify the activities already initiated within the framework of the world information campaign with a view to ensuring mobilization and support for the objectives of the World Conference by all sectors of political, economic, social and cultural life, as well as other interested sectors, to inform the Preparatory Committee of developments in this regard and to assist the Preparatory Committee in: (a) Reviewing the political, historical, economic, social, cultural and any other factors leading to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance with a view to reaching a better understanding of and appraising these problems; (b) Reviewing progress made in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and reappraising the obstacles to further progress in the field and ways in which to overcome them; (c) Considering ways and means to better the application of existing standards and the implementation of existing instruments to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (d) Increasing the level of awareness about the scourges of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (e) Formulating concrete recommendations on ways in which to increase the effectiveness of the activities and mechanisms of the United Nations through programmes aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (f) Formulating concrete recommendations to further action-oriented national, regional and international measures to combat all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 13. Requests the regional preparatory processes to identify trends, priorities and obstacles at the national and regional levels, and to formulate specific recommendations for the action to be carried out in the future to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 14. Calls upon the regional preparatory meetings to submit to the Preparatory Committee, at its second session, through the High Commissioner, reports on the results of their deliberations, with concrete and pragmatic recommendations aimed at combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, which will be duly reflected in the texts of the draft final documents of the World Conference, to be prepared by the Committee; 15. Invites Governments to promote the participation of national institutions and local non-governmental organizations in the preparations for the World Conference and in the regional meetings and to organize debates in national parliaments on the objectives of the World Conference; 16. Encourages all parliaments to participate actively in the preparation of the World Conference, and requests the High Commissioner to explore ways and means of effectively involving parliaments through the relevant international organizations; 17. Reiterates that the World Conference should be action-oriented and should adopt a declaration and a programme of action containing concrete and practical recommendations to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 18. Stresses the importance of systematically taking a gender perspective into account throughout the preparations for and in the outcome of the World Conference; 19. Recommends that the particular situation of children and young people should receive special attention during the preparations for and during the World Conference, especially in its outcome; 20. Encourages Governments, to that end and to ensure further the engagement of young people on the broader issues of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to include youth delegates in their official delegations to the World Conference and its preparatory processes; 21. Recommends that special attention be accorded, during the preparations for and during the World Conference, especially in its outcome, to the particular situation of migrants; 22. Also recommends that the particular situation of indigenous people receive special attention during the preparations for and during the World Conference, especially in its outcome, and encourages Member States to facilitate the participation of their indigenous people, inter alia, by considering including representatives of indigenous people in their delegations; 23. Welcomes the report of the Commission on Human Rights acting as the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on its first session,A/55/307. and requests the Preparatory Committee to develop in a comprehensive manner the provisional agenda, the draft declaration and the draft programme of action of the World Conference, taking into account the themes as adopted and all outstanding issues from its first session as covered in the report, as well as the contributions of all of the regional preparatory processes and other relevant initiatives; 24. Decides to establish an inter-sessional working group which will meet for five working days to develop further the draft agenda, the draft declaration and the draft programme of action of the World Conference; 25. Also decides to authorize the Preparatory Committee to extend its second session for up to five working days; 26. Appeals to Member States to contribute generously to the voluntary fund for the World Conference to cover the preparatory process and the Conference and the participation of non-governmental organizations from developing countries; 27. Requests Governments, the specialized agencies, other international organizations, concerned United Nations bodies, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants and other human rights mechanisms to participate actively in the preparatory process with a view to ensuring the success of the World Conference and to coordinate their activities in this regard with the assistance of the High Commissioner; 28. Calls upon States and regional organizations to continue the process of convening inclusive national and regional meetings or taking other initiatives, such as public information campaigns, to raise awareness of the World Conference as part of the preparations for the Conference; III Proclamation of 2001 as the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance 1. Strongly reaffirms the proclamation of 2001 as the International Year of Mobilization against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and in this context calls upon Governments, all relevant entities of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to observe the International Year in a suitable manner, including by means of programmes of action; 2. Emphasizes that the activities to be implemented within the framework of the International Year should be directed towards the preparation of the World Conference and the realization of its objectives; IV General Decides to keep the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination" on its agenda and to consider it as a matter of high priority at its fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 55/85 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/601, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Togo, United Arab Emirates and Viet Nam. 55/85. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of sovereign peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-sixthSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 54/155 of 17 December 1999, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self-determination,A/55/176 and Add.1. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 55/86 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/601, para. 17),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bolivia, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 119 to 19, with 35 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstentions: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 55/86. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/151 of 17 December 1999, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/3 of 7 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions, in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit and use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, and recalling further the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the Organization of African Unity, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and the self-determination of peoples, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, as developed in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development and every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Recognizing that mercenary activities continue to increase in many parts of the world and take on new forms, permitting mercenaries to operate in a better organized way, with increased pay, and that their numbers have grown and more persons are prepared to become mercenaries, Alarmed and concerned about the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, and also elsewhere, Deeply concerned about the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from mercenary aggression and criminal activities, Convinced that it is necessary for Member States to ratify the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries adopted by the General Assembly on 4 December 1989Resolution 44/34, annex. and to develop and maintain international cooperation among States for the prevention, prosecution and punishment of mercenary activities, Convinced also that, notwithstanding the way in which mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, they are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by peoples, 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;See A/55/334. 2. Reaffirms that the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 4. Urges all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take the necessary legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or threaten the territorial integrity and political unity of sovereign States, or to promote secession or to fight the national liberation movements struggling against colonial or other forms of alien domination or occupation; 5. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider signing or ratifying the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries;Resolution 44/34, annex. 6. Welcomes the cooperation extended by those countries that have received visits from the Special Rapporteur; 7. Also welcomes the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 8. Invites States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary assistance, both professional and financial; 10. Recommends that the Commission on Human Rights renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a period of three years; 11. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate; 12. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as a matter of priority to be programmed in its immediate activities, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by the activities of mercenaries; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to invite Governments to make proposals towards a clearer legal definition of mercenaries, and in this regard strongly urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a workshop on the traditional and new forms of activities of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination before the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on Human Rights, so that a report on the outcome of the workshop may be submitted to the Commission at its fifty-seventh session; 14. Requests the Special Rapporteur to report his findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the right of peoples to self-determination, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 15. Decides to consider at its fifty-sixth session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 55/87 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/601, para. 17),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 170 to 2, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstentions: Canada, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Tonga 55/87. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Expressing hope for an immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a final settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including their right to a State; 2. Expresses the hope that the Palestinian people will soon be exercising their right to self-determination, which is not subject to any veto, in the current peace process; 3. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and the organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination. RESOLUTION 55/88 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.1, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay and Yemen. 55/88. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families The General Assembly, Reaffirming once more the permanent validity of the principles and norms set forth in the basic instruments regarding the international protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Bearing in mind the principles and norms established within the framework of the International Labour Organization and the importance of the work done in connection with migrant workers and members of their families in other specialized agencies and in various organs of the United Nations, Reiterating that, despite the existence of an already established body of principles and norms, there is a need to make further efforts to improve the situation and to guarantee respect for the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers and members of their families, Aware of the situation of migrant workers and members of their families and the marked increase in migratory movements that has occurred, especially in certain parts of the world, Considering that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. all States are urged to guarantee the protection of the human rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, Underlining the importance of the creation and promotion of conditions to foster greater harmony and tolerance between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the State in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia perpetrated in segments of many societies by individuals or groups against migrant workers, Recalling its resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Bearing in mind that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, States are invited to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible time, 1. Expresses its deep concern at the growing manifestations of racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman or degrading treatment directed against migrant workers in different parts of the world; 2. Welcomes the signature or ratification of or accession to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families by some Member States; 3. Calls upon all Member States, in particular in view of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention, to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, expresses the hope that it will enter into force at an early date, and notes that, pursuant to article 87 of the Convention, only six ratifications or accessions are still needed for it to enter into force; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all the facilities and assistance necessary for the promotion of the Convention through the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 5. Welcomes the global campaign for the entry into force of the Convention, and invites the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify further their efforts with a view to disseminating information on and promoting understanding of the importance of the Convention; 6. Also welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in relation to the Convention, and encourages her to continue in this endeavour; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/205. and requests him to submit an updated report on the status of the Convention to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 8. Decides to consider the report of the Secretary-General at its fifty-sixth session under the sub-item entitled "Implementation of human rights instruments". RESOLUTION 55/89 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.1, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela. 55/89. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Recalling article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 3452 (XXX), annex. and its resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, Recalling that freedom from torture is a right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of internal or international disturbance or armed conflict, Recalling also that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, firmly declared that efforts to eradicate torture should, first and foremost, be concentrated on prevention and called for the early adoption of an optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which is intended to establish a preventive system of regular visits to places of detention,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 61. Urging all Governments to promote the speedy and full implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,Ibid., chap. III. in particular the section relating to freedom from torture, in which it is stated that States should abrogate legislation leading to impunity for those responsible for grave violations of human rights, such as torture, and prosecute such violations, thereby providing a firm basis for the rule of law,Ibid., sect. II, paras. 54-61. Recalling its resolution 36/151 of 16 December 1981, in which it noted with deep concern that acts of torture took place in various countries, recognized the need to provide assistance to the victims in a purely humanitarian spirit and established the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, Recalling also the recommendation in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action that high priority should be given to providing the necessary resources to assist victims of torture and effective remedies for their physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, inter alia, through additional contributions to the Fund,Ibid., para. 59. Noting with satisfaction the existence of a considerable international network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, which plays an important role in providing assistance to victims of torture, and the collaboration of the Fund with the centres, Commending the persistent efforts by non-governmental organizations to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, Mindful of the proclamation by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/149 of 12 December 1997 of 26 June as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 1. Condemns all forms of torture, including through intimidation, as described in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; 2. Stresses that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention where the prohibited act is found to have taken place, and that national legal systems should ensure that the victims of such acts obtain redress and are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation; 3. Draws the attention of Governments to the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment annexed to the present resolution, and strongly encourages Governments to reflect upon the Principles as a useful tool in efforts to combat torture; 4. Notes with appreciation that one hundred and twenty-two States have become parties to the Convention; 5. Urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as a matter of priority; 6. Invites all States ratifying or acceding to the Convention and those States that are parties to the Convention and have not yet done so to consider joining the States parties that have already made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention and to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20; 7. Urges all States parties to the Convention to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 8. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19, in view of the high number of reports not submitted, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles when submitting reports to the Committee against Torture; 9. Emphasizes the obligation of States parties under article 10 of the Convention to ensure education and training for personnel who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment; 10. Stresses, in this context, that States must not punish personnel referred to in paragraph 9 above for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 11. Welcomes the work of the Committee, and takes note of the report of the Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/55/44). submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention; 12. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with her mandate established in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of Governments, advisory services for the preparation of national reports to the Committee and for the prevention of torture, as well as technical assistance in the development, production and distribution of teaching material for this purpose; 13. Urges States parties to take fully into account the conclusions and recommendations made by the Committee after its consideration of their reports; 14. Urges the inter-sessional open-ended working group of the Commission on Human Rights on the development of a draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to complete as soon as possible a final text for submission to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, for consideration and adoption; 15. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,See A/55/290. describing the overall trends and developments with regard to his mandate, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture; 16. Invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to examine questions of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment directed against women, and conditions conducive to such torture, and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention and redress of gender-specific forms of torture, including rape or any other form of sexual violence, and to exchange views with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 17. Also invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider questions relating to the torture of children and conditions conducive to such torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention of such torture; 18. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his task, in particular by supplying all necessary information requested by him, to react appropriately and expeditiously to his urgent appeals and to give serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur with respect to the follow-up to his recommendations; 19. Approves the methods of work employed by the Special Rapporteur, in particular with regard to urgent appeals, reiterates the need for him to be able to respond effectively to credible and reliable information that comes before him, invites him to continue to seek the views and comments of all concerned, in particular Member States, and expresses its appreciation for the discreet and independent way in which he continues to carry out his work; 20. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his report information on the follow-up by Governments to his recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered; 21. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views between the Committee, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 22. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Governments, organizations and individuals that have already contributed to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; 23. Stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and appeals to all Governments and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably by 1 March before the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, if possible with a substantial increase in the level of contributions, so that consideration may be given to the ever-increasing demand for assistance; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to all Governments the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund and to continue to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to assist the Board of Trustees of the Fund in its appeal for contributions and in its efforts to make better known the existence of the Fund and the financial means currently available to it, as well as in its assessment of the global need for international funding of rehabilitation services for victims of torture and, in this effort, to make use of all existing possibilities, including the preparation, production and dissemination of information materials; 26. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in combating torture and assisting victims of torture, commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 27. Invites donor countries and recipient countries to consider including in their bilateral programmes and projects relating to the training of armed forces, security forces, prison and police personnel, as well as health-care personnel, matters relating to the protection of human rights and the prevention of torture and to keep in mind a gender perspective; 28. Calls upon all Governments, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-seventh session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the status of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and a report on the operations of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for the Victims of Torture; 30. Decides to consider at its fifty-sixth session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Annex Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1. The purposes of effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (hereinafter "torture or other ill-treatment") include the following: (a) Clarification of the facts and establishment and acknowledgement of individual and State responsibility for victims and their families; (b) Identification of measures needed to prevent recurrence; (c) Facilitation of prosecution and/or, as appropriate, disciplinary sanctions for those indicated by the investigation as being responsible and demonstration of the need for full reparation and redress from the State, including fair and adequate financial compensation and provision of the means for medical care and rehabilitation. 2. States shall ensure that complaints and reports of torture or ill-treatment are promptly and effectively investigated. Even in the absence of an express complaint, an investigation shall be undertaken if there are other indications that torture or ill-treatment might have occurred. The investigators, who shall be independent of the suspected perpetrators and the agency they serve, shall be competent and impartial. They shall have access to, or be empowered to commission investigations by, impartial medical or other experts. The methods used to carry out such investigations shall meet the highest professional standards and the findings shall be made public. 3. (a) The investigative authority shall have the power and obligation to obtain all the information necessary to the inquiry.Under certain circumstances, professional ethics may require information to be kept confidential. These requirements should be respected. The persons conducting the investigation shall have at their disposal all the necessary budgetary and technical resources for effective investigation. They shall also have the authority to oblige all those acting in an official capacity allegedly involved in torture or ill-treatment to appear and testify. The same shall apply to any witness. To this end, the investigative authority shall be entitled to issue summonses to witnesses, including any officials allegedly involved, and to demand the production of evidence. (b) Alleged victims of torture or ill-treatment, witnesses, those conducting the investigation and their families shall be protected from violence, threats of violence or any other form of intimidation that may arise pursuant to the investigation. Those potentially implicated in torture or ill-treatment shall be removed from any position of control or power, whether direct or indirect, over complainants, witnesses and their families, as well as those conducting the investigation. 4. Alleged victims of torture or ill-treatment and their legal representatives shall be informed of, and have access to, any hearing, as well as to all information relevant to the investigation, and shall be entitled to present other evidence. 5. (a) In cases in which the established investigative procedures are inadequate because of insufficient expertise or suspected bias, or because of the apparent existence of a pattern of abuse or for other substantial reasons, States shall ensure that investigations are undertaken through an independent commission of inquiry or similar procedure. Members of such a commission shall be chosen for their recognized impartiality, competence and independence as individuals. In particular, they shall be independent of any suspected perpetrators and the institutions or agencies they may serve. The commission shall have the authority to obtain all information necessary to the inquiry and shall conduct the inquiry as provided for under these Principles.Under certain circumstances, professional ethics may require information to be kept confidential. These requirements should be respected. (b) A written report, made within a reasonable time, shall include the scope of the inquiry, procedures and methods used to evaluate evidence as well as conclusions and recommendations based on findings of fact and on applicable law. Upon completion, the report shall be made public. It shall also describe in detail specific events that were found to have occurred and the evidence upon which such findings were based and list the names of witnesses who testified, with the exception of those whose identities have been withheld for their own protection. The State shall, within a reasonable period of time, reply to the report of the investigation and, as appropriate, indicate steps to be taken in response. 6. (a) Medical experts involved in the investigation of torture or ill-treatment shall behave at all times in conformity with the highest ethical standards and, in particular, shall obtain informed consent before any examination is undertaken. The examination must conform to established standards of medical practice. In particular, examinations shall be conducted in private under the control of the medical expert and outside the presence of security agents and other government officials. (b) The medical expert shall promptly prepare an accurate written report, which shall include at least the following: (i) Circumstances of the interview: name of the subject and name and affiliation of those present at the examination; exact time and date; location, nature and address of the institution (including, where appropriate, the room) where the examination is being conducted (e.g., detention centre, clinic or house); circumstances of the subject at the time of the examination (e.g., nature of any restraints on arrival or during the examination, presence of security forces during the examination, demeanour of those accompanying the prisoner or threatening statements to the examiner); and any other relevant factors; (ii) History: detailed record of the subject's story as given during the interview, including alleged methods of torture or ill-treatment, times when torture or ill-treatment is alleged to have occurred and all complaints of physical and psychological symptoms; (iii) Physical and psychological examination: record of all physical and psychological findings on clinical examination, including appropriate diagnostic tests and, where possible, colour photographs of all injuries; (iv) Opinion: interpretation as to the probable relationship of the physical and psychological findings to possible torture or ill-treatment. A recommendation for any necessary medical and psychological treatment and/or further examination shall be given; (v) Authorship: the report shall clearly identify those carrying out the examination and shall be signed. (c) The report shall be confidential and communicated to the subject or his or her nominated representative. The views of the subject and his or her representative about the examination process shall be solicited and recorded in the report. It shall also be provided in writing, where appropriate, to the authority responsible for investigating the allegation of torture or ill-treatment. It is the responsibility of the State to ensure that it is delivered securely to these persons. The report shall not be made available to any other person, except with the consent of the subject or on the authorization of a court empowered to enforce such a transfer. RESOLUTION 55/8 Adopted at the 44th plenary meeting, on 30 October 2000, by a recorded vote of 103 to none, with 44 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.11 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, United States of America * In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 55/8. Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 and 49/118 of 19 December 1994, 50/25 of 5 December 1995, 51/36 of 9 December 1996, 52/29 of 26 November 1997 and 53/33 of 24 November 1998, as well as other resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments, Welcoming the Rome Declaration on the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in March 1999, Noting that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries sets out principles and global standards of behaviour for responsible practices to conserve, manage and develop fisheries, including guidelines for fishing on the high seas and in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, and on fishing gear selectivity and practices, with the aim of reducing by-catch and discards, Recognizing that coordination and cooperation at the global, regional, subregional as well as national levels in the areas, inter alia, of data collection, information-sharing, capacity-building and training are crucial for the conservation, management and sustainable development of marine living resources, Noting the conclusion of negotiations to establish new regional organizations and arrangements in several heretofore unmanaged fisheries, in particular the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-east Atlantic Ocean, and highlighting that these agreements were concluded pursuant to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks,A/CONF.164/37; see also A/50/550, annex I. Noting also the adoption by the States members of the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific of the Framework Agreement for the Conservation of Living Marine Resources in High Seas of the South-east Pacific, Recognizing the importance of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks and the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, and noting with concern that neither of these agreements has yet entered into force, Noting with satisfaction that the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in February 1999 adopted international plans of action for the management of fishing capacity, for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries and for the conservation and management of sharks, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/386. and emphasizing the useful role that the report plays in bringing together information relating to the sustainable development of the world's marine living resources provided by States, relevant international organizations, regional and subregional fisheries organizations and non-governmental organizations, Noting with satisfaction that, while significant work remains to be done, interested parties have made real progress towards sustainable fisheries management, Noting that while there has been generally a marked decrease in the reporting of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing activities in most regions of the world's oceans and seas, large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources in some areas,Ibid., paras. 12-64. Expressing its continuing concern that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift-nets that contravene the resolution, Noting with concern that unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas/illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains as one of the most severe problems currently affecting world fisheries and the sustainability of marine living resources, and noting also that unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas/illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has a detrimental impact on the food security and the economies of many States, particularly developing States, Noting the significance of the work being undertaken under the aegis of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop a comprehensive international plan of action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, involving consideration of the range of possibilities for action in accordance with international law, and acknowledging the work done by certain regional fisheries organizations, Welcoming the efforts in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to address the causes of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, through a comprehensive and integrated approach which involves all relevant States and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in the deterrence of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing which encourages all States to take measures, to the greatest extent possible, or to cooperate to ensure that their nationals, in accordance with article 117 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and vessels flying their flag do not support or engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Welcoming also the cooperation being undertaken with the International Labour Organization and other relevant international organizations in the joint Ad Hoc Working Group on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, Recognizing the need for the International Maritime Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to address the issue of marine debris derived from land-based and ship-generated sources of pollution, including derelict fishing gear, which can cause mortality and habitat destruction of marine living resources, Expressing concern at the significant level of by-catch and discards in several of the world's commercial fisheries, and recognizing that the development and use of selective, environmentally safe and cost-effective fishing gear and techniques will be important for reducing by-catch and discards, Expressing concern also at the reports of continued loss of seabirds, particularly albatrosses, as a result of incidental mortality from longline fishing operations, and the loss of other marine species, including sharks and fin-fish species, as a result of incidental mortality, and noting the recent initiative to develop a convention for the protection of southern hemisphere albatrosses and petrels, 1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in part V and part VII, section 2, of the Convention regarding straddling stocks, highly migratory species, marine mammals, anadromous stocks and marine living resources of the high seas; 2. Also reaffirms the importance it attaches to compliance with its resolutions 46/215, 49/116, 49/118, 50/25, 52/29 and 53/33, and urges States and other entities to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions; 3. Encourages all States to implement directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and regional and subregional fisheries organizations and arrangements, the international plans of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for reducing the incidental take of seabirds in longline fisheries, for the conservation and management of sharks and for the management of fishing capacity, since the state of progress in the implementation of all three plans will be reported to the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations at the twenty-fourth session of the Committee, to be held from 26 February to 2 March 2001; 4. Takes note with satisfaction of the activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations aimed at providing assistance to developing countries in upgrading their capabilities in monitoring, control and surveillance, through its Interregional Programme of Assistance to Developing Countries for the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; 5. Also takes note with satisfaction of the activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility, aimed at promoting the reduction of by-catch and discards in fisheries activities; 6. Reiterates the importance of continued or strengthened efforts by States directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional and subregional organizations, and by other international organizations, to make it a high priority to support, including through financial and/or technical assistance, with a particular emphasis on capacity-building, the efforts of developing States, in particular the least developed countries and the small island developing States, to achieve the goals and implement the actions called for in the present resolution, including to improve the monitoring and control of fishing activities and the enforcement of fishing regulations; 7. Urges States, relevant international organizations and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements that have not done so to take action to reduce by-catch, fish discards and post-harvest losses, consistent with international law and relevant international instruments, including the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; 8. Calls upon States and other entities referred to in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish StocksA/CONF.164/37; see also A/50/550, annex I. that have not done so to ratify or accede to the Agreement and to consider applying it provisionally; 9. Calls upon States and other entities referred to in article 10, paragraph 1, of the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas that have not deposited instruments of acceptance of the Agreement to do so; 10. Recalls that Agenda 21, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. calls upon States to take effective action, consistent with international law, to deter reflagging of vessels by their nationals as a means of avoiding compliance with applicable conservation and management measures for fishing vessels on the high seas; 11. Calls upon States that have not done so to take measures to deter reflagging of fishing vessels flying their flag to avoid compliance with applicable obligations and to ensure that fishing vessels entitled to fly their flag do not fish in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States unless duly authorized by the authorities of the States concerned and in accordance with the conditions set out in the authorization, and that they do not fish on the high seas in contravention of the applicable conservation and management measures; 12. Urges States to continue the development of an international plan of action on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as a matter of priority, so that its Committee on Fisheries can be in a position to adopt elements for inclusion in a comprehensive and effective plan of action at its twenty-fourth session; 13. Appeals to States and regional fisheries organizations, including regional fisheries management bodies and regional fisheries arrangements, to promote the application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries within their areas of competence; 14. Reaffirms the rights and duties of coastal States to ensure proper conservation and management measures with respect to the living resources in zones under their national jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 15. Invites regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that all States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participate in such arrangements; 16. Encourages the International Maritime Organization and other relevant agencies, organizations and States to continue working constructively with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to combat unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas/illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 17. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its cooperative arrangements with United Nations agencies on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his annual report on oceans and the law of the sea, on priorities for cooperation and coordination in this work; 18. Affirms the need to strengthen, where necessary, the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in a manner consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and taking into account the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and other relevant principles of international law; 19. Also affirms the central role that regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements have in intergovernmental cooperation to assess marine living resources within their competence, to manage their conservation and sustainable use and thus to promote food security and sustain the economic base of many States and communities, and further affirms that they also will play a key role in implementing applicable international law including, as appropriate, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Fish Stocks Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, and in promoting the application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; 20. Calls upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations to take up, as a matter of priority, the issue of marine debris as it relates to fisheries and, where appropriate, to promote better coordination and help States to implement fully relevant international agreements, including annex V to and the Guidelines of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto; 21. Invites all relevant parts of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and multilateral and bilateral donor agencies to take into account the importance of marine science, including the importance of protecting the ecosystem, and the precautionary approach, with the aim of providing support to subregional and regional organizations and arrangements and their member States, for sustainable fisheries management and conservation, and notes that, for developing countries, capacity-building is essential for the sustainable development of marine living resources; 22. Recommends that the biennial conference of regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations consider measures to strengthen further the role of these organizations in all aspects of fisheries conservation and management; 23. Also recommends that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations consider inviting the intergovernmental organizations relevant to its work to join the biennial conference of regional fisheries organizations; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and to invite them to provide the Secretary-General with information relevant to the implementation of the present resolution; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including the status and implementation of the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, the implementation of the international plans of action for the management of fishing capacity, for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries, and for the conservation and management of sharks, and efforts undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, taking into account the information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements and other relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", a sub-item entitled "Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas/illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments". RESOLUTION 55/90 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.1, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 55/90. Effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/138 of 9 December 1998, as well as other relevant resolutions, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/75 of 26 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the relevant paragraphs of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Reaffirming that the full and effective implementation of United Nations human rights instruments is of major importance to the efforts of the Organization, pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that the effective functioning of the human rights treaty bodies established pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments is indispensable for the full and effective implementation of such instruments, Conscious of the importance of coordination of the human rights promotion and protection activities of the United Nations bodies active in the field of human rights, Recalling that the effectiveness of the human rights treaty bodies in encouraging the realization by States parties of their obligations under United Nations human rights instruments requires constructive dialogue aimed at assisting States parties in identifying solutions to human rights problems, which should be based on the reporting process supplemented by information from all relevant sources, which should be shared with all interested parties, Recalling also the initiatives taken by a number of human rights treaty bodies to elaborate early warning measures and urgent procedures, within their mandates, with a view to preventing the occurrence or recurrence of serious human rights violations, Reaffirming its responsibility for the effective functioning of human rights treaty bodies, and reaffirming also the importance of: (a) Promoting the effective functioning of the periodic reporting by States parties to those instruments, (b) Securing sufficient financial, human and information resources for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to enable the human rights treaty bodies to carry out their mandates effectively, including in regard to their ability to work in the applicable working languages, (c) Promoting greater efficiency and effectiveness through better coordination of the activities of the United Nations bodies active in the field of human rights, taking into account the need to avoid unnecessary duplication and overlapping of their mandates and tasks, (d) Addressing questions of both reporting obligations and financial implications when elaborating any further instruments on human rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/278. 1. Welcomes the submission of the reports of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies on their eleventhA/54/805, annex. and twelfthA/55/206, annex. meetings, held at Geneva from 31 May to 4 June 1999 and 5 to 8 June 2000, respectively, and takes note of their conclusions and recommendations; 2. Encourages each treaty body to continue to give careful consideration to the relevant conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies, and in this context also encourages enhanced cooperation and coordination between the treaty bodies; 3. Welcomes the initiative of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies of inviting representatives of Member States to participate in a dialogue within the framework of their meetings, and encourages them to continue this practice in the future; 4. Also welcomes the comments by Governments, United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and interested persons on the final report of the independent expert on enhancing the long-term effectiveness of the United Nations human rights treaty systemE/CN.4/1997/74, annex. and the report of the Secretary-General thereon;E/CN.4/2000/98 and Add.1. 5. Emphasizes the need to ensure financing and adequate staff and information resources for the operations of the human rights treaty bodies, and with this in mind: (a) Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide adequate resources in respect of each human rights treaty body, while making the most efficient use of existing resources, in order to give the human rights treaty bodies adequate administrative support and better access to technical expertise and relevant information; (b) Calls upon the Secretary-General to seek, in the next biennium, the resources within the regular budget of the United Nations necessary to give the human rights treaty bodies adequate administrative support and better access to technical expertise and relevant information without diverting resources from the development programmes and activities of the United Nations; (c) Welcomes the plans of action prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to enhance the resources available to all the human rights treaty bodies and thereby strengthen the implementation of the human rights treaties, and encourages all Governments, United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and interested persons to consider contributing to the appeal for extrabudgetary resources for the treaty bodies made by the High Commissioner until the regular budget funding meets their needs; 6. Encourages ongoing efforts to identify measures for more effective implementation of the United Nations human rights instruments; 7. Takes note of the measures taken by each of the human rights treaty bodies to improve their functioning, as reflected in their respective annual reports, and encourages continuing efforts by the treaty bodies and the Secretary-General to assist States parties in meeting their reporting obligations and to reduce the backlog in the consideration of reports by the treaty bodies; 8. Welcomes the continuing efforts by the human rights treaty bodies and the Secretary-General aimed at streamlining, rationalizing, rendering more transparent and otherwise improving reporting procedures, and encourages the Secretary-General, the treaty bodies and the persons chairing the treaty bodies at their next meeting to continue to examine ways of reducing the duplication of reporting required under the different instruments, without impairing the quality of reporting, and of generally reducing the reporting burden on States parties, including through an ongoing examination of proposals for reports focused on a limited range of issues, the harmonization of the general guidelines regarding the form and content of reports, the possibility of consolidating overdue reports, the timing of consideration of reports and the methods of work of the treaty bodies; 9. Calls upon the Secretary-General to complete as soon as possible the detailed analytical study comparing the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. which is being prepared with a view to identifying duplication of reporting required under those instruments; 10. Urges States parties to contribute, individually and through meetings of States parties, to identifying practical proposals and ideas for improving the functioning of the human rights treaty bodies; 11. Welcomes the publication of the revised Manual on Human Rights Reporting,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.GV.97.0.16. and encourages the updating of the Manual to reflect new developments in the field of human rights, including the adoption of new instruments; 12. Underlines the importance of providing technical assistance to a State, upon its request, in the process of ratifying human rights instruments and in the preparation of its initial and subsequent reports; 13. Welcomes the work done by the Secretary-General to compile in a single volume all the general guidelines regarding the form and content of reports to be submitted by States parties that have been issued by the human rights treaty bodies, and encourages the Secretary-General also to compile the rules of procedure for the treaty bodies; 14. Reiterates its concern about the persistent backlog of reports on the implementation by States parties of certain United Nations instruments on human rights and about delays in the consideration of reports of the human rights treaty bodies; 15. Also reiterates its concern about the large number of overdue reports, and again urges States parties to make every effort to meet their reporting obligations; 16. Urges all States parties whose reports have been examined by human rights treaty bodies to provide adequate follow-up to the observations and final comments of the treaty bodies on their reports; 17. Encourages the human rights treaty bodies to continue to identify specific possibilities for technical assistance, to be provided at the request of the State concerned, in the regular course of their work of reviewing the periodic reports of States parties, and encourages States parties to consider carefully the concluding observations of the treaty bodies in identifying their needs for technical assistance; 18. Urges each State party to translate, publish and make widely available in its territory the full text of the concluding observations on its reports to the human rights treaty bodies; 19. Welcomes the contribution to the work of the human rights treaty bodies made by the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies, and encourages the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies, the Commission on Human Rights, including its special procedures, and the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies to continue to explore specific measures to intensify this cooperation between them and to improve communication and information flow in order to improve further the quality of their work, including by avoiding unnecessary duplication; 20. Recognizes the important role played by non-governmental organizations in all parts of the world in the effective implementation of all human rights instruments, and encourages the exchange of information between the human rights treaty bodies and such organizations; 21. Recalls, with regard to the election of the members of the human rights treaty bodies, the importance of giving consideration to equitable geographical distribution and gender balance of the membership and to the representation of the principal legal systems and of bearing in mind that the members shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged independence and recognized competence in the field of human rights, and encourages States parties, individually and through meetings of States parties, to consider how to give better effect to these principles; 22. Takes note of the discussion of the payment of honorariums to the members of the human rights treaty bodies included in the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/278. and of other work being done by the Secretary-General on this subject, and encourages Member States to consider possible follow-up; 23. Encourages the Economic and Social Council, as well as its functional commissions and their subsidiary bodies, other United Nations bodies and the specialized agencies to consider the feasibility of participation by representatives of the human rights treaty bodies in their meetings; 24. Welcomes the continuing emphasis by the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies on closely monitoring the enjoyment of the human rights of women within their mandates; 25. Also welcomes the contributions of the human rights treaty bodies, within their mandates, to the prevention of violations of human rights, in the context of their consideration of reports submitted under their respective treaties; 26. Invites the Secretary-General to submit the reports of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies on their periodic meetings to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on measures taken to implement the present resolution, on obstacles to its implementation and on measures taken or planned to ensure financing and adequate staff and information resources for the effective operation of the human rights treaty bodies; 28. Decides to continue to give priority consideration at its fifty-seventh session to the conclusions and recommendations of the periodic meetings of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies, in the light of the deliberations of the Commission on Human Rights, under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/91 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Uganda and United Arab Emirates. 55/91. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation, proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on human rights and cultural diversity,A/55/296 and Add.1. Welcoming the proclamation of 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/22 of 4 November 1998, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic and religious diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value which deserves recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 3. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 4. Also affirms that inter-cultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 5. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 6. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 7. Also emphasizes the fact that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all; 8. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies, and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the present resolution, to prepare a report on human rights and cultural diversity, taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as the considerations in the present resolution regarding the recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 10. Decides to continue consideration of this question at its fifty-sixth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 55/92 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Togo and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 165 to none, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: India, Israel, Malaysia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Myanmar, Palau, Singapore, United States of America 55/92. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/166 of 17 December 1999, Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Reaffirming the provisions concerning migrants adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Bearing in mind the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants,E/CN.4/2000/82. Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/48 of 25 April 2000, on the human rights of migrants,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling its resolution 40/144 of 13 December 1985, by which it approved the Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live, Recognizing the positive contributions that migrants frequently make, including through their eventual integration into their host society, Bearing in mind the situation of vulnerability in which migrants frequently find themselves, owing, inter alia, to their absence from their States of origin and to the difficulties they encounter because of differences of language, custom and culture, as well as the economic and social difficulties and obstacles for the return to their States of origin of migrants who are non-documented or in an irregular situation, Bearing in mind also the need for a focused and consistent approach towards migrants as a specific vulnerable group, in particular migrant women and children, Deeply concerned at the manifestations of violence, racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman and degrading treatment against migrants, especially women and children, in different parts of the world, Underlining the importance of the creation of conditions that foster greater harmony between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the States in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia perpetrated in segments of many societies by individuals or groups against migrants, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the effective and full protection of the human rights of all migrants, and underlining the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, Taking note with appreciation of the recommendations on strengthening the promotion, protection and implementation of the human rights of migrants of the working group of intergovernmental experts on the human rights of migrantsE/CN.4/1999/80, paras. 102-124. established by the Commission on Human Rights, Noting the efforts made by States to penalize the international trafficking of migrants and to protect the victims of this illegal activity, Taking note of the decisions of the relevant international juridical bodies on questions relating to migrants, in particular advisory opinion OC-16/99, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 1 October 1999, regarding the right to information about consular assistance within the framework of due process guarantees, 1. Welcomes the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies; 2. Requests all Member States, in conformity with their respective constitutional systems, effectively to promote and protect the human rights of all migrants, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the international instruments to which they are party, which may include the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and other applicable international human rights instruments; 3. Strongly condemns all forms of racial discrimination and xenophobia with regard to access to employment, vocational training, housing, schooling, health services and social services, as well as services intended for use by the public, and welcomes the active role played by governmental and non-governmental organizations in combating racism and assisting individual victims of racist acts, including migrant victims; 4. Calls upon all States to review and, where necessary, revise immigration policies with a view to eliminating all discriminatory policies and practices against migrants and to provide specialized training for government policy-making and law enforcement, immigration and other concerned officials, thus underlining the importance of effective action to create conditions that foster greater harmony and tolerance within societies; 5. Reiterates the need for all States to protect fully the universally recognized human rights of migrants, especially women and children, regardless of their legal status, and to provide humane treatment, in particular with regard to assistance and protection, including those under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638. regarding the right to receive consular assistance from the country of origin; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of Governments to safeguard and protect the rights of migrants against illegal or violent acts, in particular acts of racial discrimination and crimes perpetrated with racist or xenophobic motivation by individuals or groups, and urges them to reinforce measures in this regard; 7. Urges all States to adopt effective measures to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of migrants, including by individuals or groups; 8. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in the performance of her mandated tasks and duties and to furnish all information requested, including by reacting promptly to her urgent appeals; 9. Encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact domestic criminal legislation to combat international trafficking of migrants, which should take into account, in particular, trafficking that endangers the lives of migrants or includes different forms of servitude or exploitation, such as any form of debt bondage, sexual or labour exploitation, and to strengthen international cooperation to combat such trafficking; 10. Welcomes the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur that close links be established between her work and that of the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, within the framework of the objectives of the Conference, and encourages her to assist in the identification of the main issues that the Conference should address; 11. Calls upon all States to protect the human rights of migrant children, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring that the best interests of the children are the paramount consideration, and encourages the relevant United Nations bodies, within the framework of their respective mandates, to pay special attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, where necessary, to put forward recommendations for strengthening their protection; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 55/93 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Senegal, Togo, Yemen, South Africa, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela. 55/93. Proclamation of 18 December as International Migrants Day The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decision 2000/288 of 28 July 2000, Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the effective and full protection of the human rights of all migrants, and underlining the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, 1. Decides to proclaim 18 December International Migrants Day; 2. Invites Member States, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to observe International Migrants Day, through, inter alia, the dissemination of information on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, the sharing of experience and the design of actions to ensure their protection; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments and appropriate intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. RESOLUTION 55/94 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Vanuatu and Venezuela. 55/94. United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the fundamental and universal principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Reaffirming article 26 of the Declaration, which states that "education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms", Recalling the provisions of other international human rights instruments, including article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. article 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. article 7 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. article 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. article 10 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 39/46, annex. and paragraphs 78 to 82 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reflect the aims of article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Recalling the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights concerning the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization entitled "Towards a culture of peace", and the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum, which, inter alia, reconfirmed the mandated role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of coordinating Education For All partners and maintaining their collective momentum within the process of securing quality basic education,See Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2000. Believing that the World Public Information Campaign is a valuable complement to the activities of the United Nations aimed at the further promotion and protection of human rights, and recalling the importance attached by the World Conference on Human Rights to human rights education and information, Believing also that human rights education constitutes an important vehicle for the elimination of gender-based discrimination and for ensuring equal opportunities through the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, Convinced that every woman, man and child, in order to realize their full human potential, must be made aware of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Convinced also that human rights education should involve more than the provision of information and should constitute a comprehensive, lifelong process by which people at all levels of development and in all societies learn respect for the dignity of others and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all societies, Recognizing that human rights education and information are essential to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and that carefully designed training, dissemination and information programmes can have a catalytic effect on national, regional and international initiatives to promote and protect human rights and prevent human rights violations, Convinced that human rights education and information contribute to a holistic concept of development consistent with the dignity of women and men of all ages, which takes into account particularly vulnerable segments of society such as children, young persons, older persons, indigenous people, minorities, the rural and urban poor, migrant workers, refugees, persons with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and disabled persons, Taking into account the efforts to promote human rights education made by educators and non-governmental organizations in all parts of the world, as well as by intergovernmental organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Programme, Recognizing the invaluable and creative role that non-governmental and community-based organizations can play in disseminating public information and engaging in human rights education, especially at the grass-roots level and in remote and rural communities, Aware of the potential supportive role of the private sector in implementing at all levels of society the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and the World Public Information Campaign, through creative initiatives and financial support for governmental and non-governmental activities, Convinced that the effectiveness of existing human rights education and public information activities would be enhanced by better coordination and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, Recalling that it is within the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate relevant United Nations education and public information programmes in the field of human rights, Noting with appreciation the increased efforts undertaken so far by the Office of the High Commissioner to disseminate human rights information through its web sitewww.unhchr.ch. and its publications and external relations programmes, Welcoming the initiative of the Office of the High Commissioner to develop further the project entitled "Assisting Communities Together", launched in 1998, supported by voluntary funds and designed to provide small grants to grass-roots and local organizations carrying out practical human rights activities, Recalling that, according to the Plan of Action, in 2000 a mid-term global evaluation of progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade shall be undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner, in cooperation with all other principal actors in the Decade, Acknowledging with appreciation the mid-term global evaluation undertaken from April to August 2000 by the Office of the High Commissioner, which included the launching of a worldwide survey, the organization of an online forum, the convening of an expert meeting and the preparation of the High Commissioner's mid-term evaluation report, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the mid-term global evaluation of the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,See A/55/360. which contains an analysis of available information on the progress made in the first five years of the Decade at the national, regional and international levels and recommendations for action during the remaining years of the Decade; 2. Welcomes the steps taken by Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to implement the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and to develop public information activities in the field of human rights, as indicated in the report of the High Commissioner on the mid-term global evaluation; 3. Urges all Governments to contribute further to the implementation of the Plan of Action, in particular by encouraging the establishment, in accordance with national conditions, of broadly representative national committees for human rights education responsible for the development of comprehensive, effective and sustainable national plans of action for human rights education and information, taking into consideration the guidelines for national plans of action for human rights education developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsA/52/469/Add.1 and Corr.1. within the framework of the Decade; 4. Urges Governments to encourage, support and involve national and local non-governmental and community-based organizations in the implementation of their national plans of action; 5. Encourages Governments to consider, within the national plans of action mentioned in paragraphs 3 and 4 above, the establishment of public access human rights resource and training centres capable of engaging in research, the gender-sensitive training of trainers, the preparation, collection, translation and dissemination of human rights education and training materials, the organization of courses, conferences, workshops and public information campaigns and assistance in the implementation of internationally sponsored technical cooperation projects for human rights education and public information; 6. Encourages States, where such national public access human rights resource and training centres exist, to strengthen their capacity to support human rights education and public information programmes at the international, regional, national and local levels; 7. Calls upon Governments, in accordance with national conditions, to accord priority to the dissemination, in the relevant national and local languages, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, human rights materials and training manuals, as well as reports of States parties submitted under international human rights treaties, and to provide information and education in those languages on the practical ways in which national and international institutions and procedures may be utilized to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments; 8. Encourages Governments to support further, through voluntary contributions, the education and public information efforts undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner within the framework of the Plan of Action; 9. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to coordinate and harmonize human rights education and information strategies within the United Nations system, including the implementation of the Plan of Action, in cooperation, inter alia, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the use, processing, management and distribution of human rights information and educational materials, including through electronic means; 10. Encourages Governments to contribute to the further development of the web site of the Office of the High Commissioner,www.unhchr.ch. in particular with respect to the dissemination of human rights education materials and tools, and to continue and expand the publications and external relations programmes of the Office; 11. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to support national capacities for human rights education and information through its technical cooperation programme in the field of human rights, including the organization of training courses and the development of targeted training materials for professional audiences, as well as the dissemination of human rights information materials as a component of technical cooperation projects, and to continue to monitor developments in human rights education; 12. Urges the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to continue to utilize United Nations information centres for the timely dissemination, within their designated areas of activity, of basic information, reference and audio-visual materials on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the reports of States parties submitted under international human rights instruments and, to this end, to ensure that the information centres are supplied with adequate quantities of those materials; 13. Stresses the need for close collaboration between the Office of the High Commissioner and the Department of Public Information in the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign, and the need to harmonize their activities with those of other international organizations, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with regard to its project entitled "Towards a culture of peace" and the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations with regard to the dissemination of information on international humanitarian law; 14. Invites the specialized agencies and relevant United Nations programmes and funds to continue to contribute, within their respective spheres of competence, to the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign and to cooperate and coordinate with each other and with the Office of the High Commissioner in that regard; 15. Encourages the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system, all human rights bodies of the United Nations system, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide training in human rights for all United Nations personnel and officials; 16. Encourages the human rights treaty bodies, when examining reports of States parties, to place emphasis on the obligations of States parties in the area of human rights education and information and to reflect this emphasis in their concluding observations; 17. Calls upon international, regional and national non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations, in particular those concerned with women, labour, development, food, housing, education, health care and the environment, as well as all other social justice groups, human rights advocates, educators, religious organizations and the media, to undertake specific activities of formal, non-formal and informal education, including cultural events, alone and in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in implementing the Plan of Action; 18. Encourages Governments, regional organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to explore the potential support and contribution to human rights education of all relevant partners, including the private sector, development, trade and financial institutions and the media, and to seek their cooperation in the development of human rights education strategies; 19. Encourages regional organizations to develop strategies for the wider distribution of materials on human rights education through regional networks and to develop region-specific programmes to maximize the participation of national entities, whether governmental or non-governmental, in programmes on human rights education; 20. Encourages intergovernmental organizations to assist, upon request, collaboration between governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations at the national level; 21. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue implementation of and to expand the "Assisting Communities Together" project and to consider other appropriate ways and means to support human rights education activities, including those undertaken by non-governmental organizations; 22. Requests the High Commissioner to bring the recommendations contained in the mid-term global evaluation report and the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community and of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights education and public information, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/95 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 55/95. Situation of human rights in Cambodia The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict, signed in Paris on 23 October 1991,A/46/608-S/23177. including part III thereof, relating to human rights, Recalling also its resolution 54/171 of 17 December 1999, taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/79 of 26 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling further previous relevant resolutions, Recognizing that the tragic history of Cambodia requires special measures to ensure the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and the non-return to the policies and practices of the past, as stipulated in the Agreement signed in Paris on 23 October 1991, Desiring that the international community continue to respond positively to assist efforts to investigate the tragic history of Cambodia, including responsibility for past international crimes, such as acts of genocide and crimes against humanity during the regime of Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979, Bearing in mind the request made in June 1997 by the Cambodian authorities for assistance in responding to past serious violations of Cambodian and international law, the letter dated 15 March 1999 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security CouncilA/53/850-S/1999/231. and the report of the Group of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General annexed thereto, and the discussions held between the Government of Cambodia and the United Nations Secretariat on standards and procedures for bringing to justice the Khmer Rouge leaders most responsible for the most serious violations of human rights in the years 1975-1979, Recognizing the legitimate concern of the Government and people of Cambodia in the pursuit of internationally accepted principles of justice and of national reconciliation, Recognizing also that accountability of individual perpetrators of grave human rights violations is one of the central elements of any effective remedy for victims of human rights violations and a key factor in ensuring a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability within a State, Welcoming the continuing role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cambodia, 1. Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia, in collaboration with the office in Cambodia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist the Government of Cambodia in ensuring the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure adequate resources for the continued functioning of the operational presence in Cambodia of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and to enable the Special Representative to continue to fulfil his tasks expeditiously; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the situation of human rights in Cambodia;A/55/291. 3. Requests the Government of Cambodia and the office in Cambodia of the High Commissioner to exchange the memorandum of understanding for the extension of the mandate of the office after March 2000, and encourages the Government of Cambodia to continue to cooperate with the office; 4. Commends and expresses its deep appreciation for the work of the former Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia, Thomas Hammarberg, in promoting and protecting human rights in Cambodia; 5. Welcomes the appointment by the Secretary-General of Peter Leuprecht as his new Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia, and requests the Special Representative, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner, to continue the work of his predecessors by evaluating the extent to which the recommendations in his forthcoming reports, and those contained in the reports of his predecessors, are followed up and implemented, while maintaining contact with the Government and people of Cambodia; 6. Notes with concern the continued problems related to the rule of law and the functioning of the judiciary, including interference by the executive with the independence of the judiciary, inter alia, through rearrests, and welcomes statements by the Government committing itself to judicial reform, the work currently being done to prepare the laws and codes that are essential components of the basic legal framework, meetings of the Supreme Council of Magistracy and the establishment of the Council of Judicial Reform; 7. Urges the Government of Cambodia to continue to take the necessary measures to develop an independent, impartial and effective judicial system, including through the early adoption of the draft statute on magistrates, a penal code and a code on criminal procedures, and the reform of the administration of justice, and appeals to the international community to assist the Government to this end; 8. Welcomes the draft governance action plan prepared by the Government of Cambodia, encourages the early adoption and implementation thereof, and appeals to the international community to assist the Government in its efforts to implement the plan; 9. Commends the initial efforts of the Government of Cambodia with regard to the review and the stated commitment to the downsizing of the police and the military, urges the Government to take further measures to carry out effective reform aimed towards professional and impartial police and military forces, and invites the international community to continue to assist the Government to this end; 10. Recognizes the importance of human rights education and training in Cambodia, commends the efforts of the Government of Cambodia, the Office of the High Commissioner and civil society in this field, encourages further strengthening and wider dissemination of these programmes, and invites the international community to continue to assist these efforts; 11. Commends the vital and valuable role played by non-governmental organizations in Cambodia, inter alia, in the development of civil society, and encourages the Government of Cambodia to continue to work closely and cooperatively with non-governmental organizations in efforts to strengthen and uphold human rights in Cambodia; 12. Notes with interest the activities undertaken by the governmental Cambodian Human Rights Committee, the National Assembly Commission on Human Rights and Reception of Complaints and the Senate Commission on Human Rights and Reception of Complaints, and welcomes preliminary efforts to establish an independent national human rights commission, which should be based on the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, known as the Paris principles,See resolution 48/134, annex. and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to provide advice and technical assistance in these efforts; 13. Expresses grave concern about continued violations of human rights, including torture, extrajudicial killings, excessive pre-trial detention, violation of labour rights, illegal confiscation of land and forced relocation, as well as the apparent lack of protection from mob killings, as detailed in the report of the Special Representative to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-sixth session,E/CN.4/2000/109. and notes some progress made by the Government of Cambodia in addressing these issues; 14. Expresses serious concern about the continued prevalence of impunity in Cambodia, commends the initial commitment and efforts of the Government of Cambodia to tackle this question, and calls upon the Government to take further measures, as a matter of critical priority, to investigate urgently and prosecute, in accordance with due process of law and international human rights standards, all those who have perpetrated violations of human rights; 15. Welcomes the investigations into some cases of politically motivated violence, while remaining concerned at the continued reports of politically motivated violence and intimidation, and urges the Government of Cambodia to undertake further investigations in line with its stated commitments and to take appropriate measures to prevent politically motivated violence and intimidation in the future; 16. Also welcomes the commitment and efforts made by the Government of Cambodia with respect to tackling the question of human rights violations, and notes with interest the investigations undertaken by the governmental Cambodian Human Rights Committee and by the national police in order to bring to justice those responsible for such violations and to ensure security of persons and rights of association, assembly and expression; 17. Reaffirms that the most serious human rights violations in Cambodia in recent history have been committed by the Khmer Rouge, welcomes the final collapse of the Khmer Rouge, which has paved the way for the restoration of peace, stability and national reconciliation in Cambodia and the investigation and prosecution of the leaders of the Khmer Rouge, and notes with interest the progress made by the Government of Cambodia in bringing to justice the Khmer Rouge leaders most responsible for the most serious violations of human rights; 18. Welcomes the successful conclusion of the talks between the Government of Cambodia and the United Nations Secretariat on the question of the trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders who are most responsible for the most serious violations of human rights, appeals strongly to the Government to ensure, including by facilitating the expedited completion of the necessary legislative process as soon as possible, that those Khmer Rouge leaders are brought to account in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness and due process of law, encourages the Government to continue to cooperate with the United Nations on this issue, and welcomes the efforts of the Secretariat and the international community in assisting the Government to this end; 19. Takes note with interest of the signing by Cambodia of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;A/CONF.183/9. 20. Reaffirms the importance of the upcoming communal elections being conducted in a free and fair manner, takes note with interest of the draft legislation for preparing for communal elections, and urges the Government of Cambodia to continue to prepare for them accordingly; 21. Welcomes the initial progress made under the five-year action plan by the Government of Cambodia, in particular by the Ministry of Women's and Veterans' Affairs, to improve the status of women, and urges the Government to continue to take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, to combat violence against women in all its forms, including grave violations of the rights of women perpetrated by elements of law enforcement and armed forces personnel, and to take all steps to meet its obligations as a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. including by seeking technical assistance; 22. Calls upon the Government of Cambodia to continue to take further measures to ensure adequate health conditions, with emphasis on ensuring such conditions for women and children and minority groups and on the problem of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and encourages the international community to continue to support the Government to this end; 23. Commends the continued efforts of the Government of Cambodia, together with non-governmental organizations, local authorities and United Nations bodies, to improve the quality of and access to education, calls for further measures to be taken in order to ensure the right of Cambodian children to education, especially at the primary level, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. and requests the international community to provide assistance for the achievement of this goal; 24. Welcomes the signing of the United Nations inter-agency memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of the Interior on Law Enforcement against Sexual Exploitation of Children, and encourages the Government of Cambodia to ensure the necessary law enforcement and other measures to tackle the problem of child prostitution and trafficking in Cambodia; 25. Notes with serious concern the problem of child labour in its worst forms, calls upon the Government of Cambodia to ensure adequate health and safety conditions for children and to outlaw, in particular, the worst forms of child labour, invites the International Labour Organization to continue to extend the necessary assistance in this regard, and encourages the Government of Cambodia to consider ratifying the 1999 International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Convention No. 182); 26. Also notes with serious concern the prison conditions in Cambodia, notes with interest some improvements in the prison system, commends the continued international assistance to improve the material conditions of detention, and calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take the further measures necessary to improve prison conditions, especially with regard to providing the minimum standard of food and health care and meeting the special needs of women and children, including by strengthening the coordinating role of the Prison Health Department with the Ministry of Health, provincial authorities and non-governmental organizations working in this field; 27. Urges an end to racial violence against and vilification of ethnic minorities, including the ethnic Vietnamese, and also urges the Government of Cambodia to take all steps to prevent such violence, as well as to meet its obligations as a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. inter alia, by seeking technical assistance; 28. Welcomes the actions taken by the Government of Cambodia to combat illicit logging, which has seriously threatened the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by many Cambodians, including indigenous people, expects these efforts by the Government to continue, and welcomes the progress made on the drafting of the new law on land; 29. Also welcomes the consideration by the Committee on the Rights of the Child of the initial report of Cambodia submitted under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, asks the Government of Cambodia to follow up the recommendations made by the international human rights treaty bodies regarding the reports submitted by it, calls upon the Government to meet its reporting obligations under all other international human rights instruments, and requests the office in Cambodia of the High Commissioner to continue to provide assistance in this regard; 30. Expresses grave concern at the devastating consequences and destabilizing effects of the use of anti-personnel landmines on Cambodian society, encourages the Government of Cambodia to continue its support and efforts for the removal of those mines and for victim assistance and mine-awareness programmes, and commends donor countries and other actors of the international community for their contributions and assistance to mine action; 31. Expresses concern about the large number of small arms in society and commends the efforts of the Government of Cambodia to control the spread of weapons; 32. Notes with appreciation the use by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia to finance the programme of activities of the office in Cambodia of the High Commissioner, as defined in resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, and invites Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, foundations and individuals to consider contributing to the Trust Fund; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the role and achievements of the Office of the High Commissioner in assisting the Government and people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights and on the recommendations made by the Special Representative on matters within his mandate; 34. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in Cambodia at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/96 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 157 to none, with 16 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstentions: Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Viet Nam 55/96. Promoting and consolidating democracy The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming also that everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1999/57 of 27 April 1999See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2000/47 of 25 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the indissoluble link between human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the international human rights treaties and the foundation of any democratic society, and reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which states that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, Recalling that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Recalling also that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that priority should be given to national and international action to promote democracy, development and human rights and that the international community should support the strengthening and promotion of democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire world, Recalling further its resolutions 53/243 A and B of 13 September 1999, containing, respectively, the Declaration and the Programme of Action for a Culture of Peace, Recognizing and respecting the rich and diverse nature of the community of the world's democracies, which arise out of all of the world's social, cultural and religious beliefs and traditions, Recognizing that, while all democracies share common features, there is no one universal model of democracy, Reaffirming its commitment to the process of democratization of States, and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Reaffirming that good governance, as referred to in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. is among the indispensable factors for building and strengthening peaceful, prosperous and democratic societies, Aware of the crucial importance of the active involvement and contribution of civil society in processes of governance that affect the lives of people, Recalling commitments undertaken by Member States for the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations, Welcoming measures, such as decision AHG/Dec.141 (XXXV) adopted in 1999 by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity,See A/54/424, annex II. resolution AG/RES.1080 (XXI-091) adopted in 1991 by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States and the Moscow Document on the Human Dimension adopted in 1991 by the Conference on the Human Dimension of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which commit Member States to taking certain steps in the event of an interruption of democratic government, as well as the Commonwealth Declaration adopted at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held at Harare in 1991,A/46/708, annex. which commits members to fundamental democratic principles, Commending the wish of an increasing number of countries all over the world to devote their energy, means and political will to the building of democratic societies in which individuals have the opportunity to shape their own destiny, Noting the initiatives taken by the countries that participated in the first, second and third International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, held, respectively, at Manila in June 1988, Managua in July 1994 and Bucharest in September 1997, Noting also the ministerial conference entitled "Towards a Community of Democracies", hosted by the Government of Poland at Warsaw on 26 and 27 June 2000, Noting further the Forum on Emerging Democracies, held at Sana'a from 27 to 30 June 1999, Noting that the fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies is scheduled to be held at Cotonou, Benin, from 4 to 6 December 2000, and also noting the initiative of the Government of Mali to host, at Bamako from 1 to 3 November 2000, following the Moncton Declaration adopted in September 1999 at Moncton, Canada, by the Eighth Summit of la Francophonie,A/54/453, annex I. an international symposium at the ministerial level on the status of the practices of democracy, rights and freedoms in the French-speaking community, 1. Calls upon States to promote and consolidate democracy, inter alia, by: (a) Promoting pluralism, the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, maximizing the participation of individuals in decision-making and the development of effective public institutions, including an independent judiciary, accountable legislature and public service and an electoral system that ensures periodic, free and fair elections; (b) Promoting, protecting and respecting all human rights, including the right to development, and fundamental freedoms, in particular: (i) Freedom of thought, conscience, religion, belief, peaceful assembly and association, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, and free, independent and pluralistic media; (ii) The rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, including the right freely to express, preserve and develop their identity without any discrimination and in full equality before the law; (iii) The rights of indigenous people; (iv) The rights of children, the elderly and persons with physical or mental disabilities; (v) Actively promoting gender equality with the aim of achieving full equality between men and women; (vi) Taking appropriate measures to eradicate all forms of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; (vii) Considering becoming parties to international human rights instruments; (viii) Fulfilling their obligations under the international human rights instruments to which they are parties; (c) Strengthening the rule of law by: (i) Ensuring equality before the law and equal protection under the law; (ii) Ensuring the right to liberty and security of person, the right to equal access to justice, and the right to be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power in the case of detention with a view to avoiding arbitrary arrest; (iii) Guaranteeing the right to a fair trial; (iv) Ensuring due process of law and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law; (v) Promoting the independence and integrity of the judiciary and, by means of appropriate education, selection, support and allocation of resources, strengthening its capacity to render justice with fairness and efficiency, free from improper or corrupt outside influence; (vi) Guaranteeing that all persons deprived of their liberty are treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person; (vii) Ensuring appropriate civil and administrative remedies and criminal sanctions for violations of human rights, as well as effective protection for human rights defenders; (viii) Including human rights education in the training for civil servants and law enforcement and military personnel; (ix) Ensuring that the military remains accountable to the democratically elected civilian government; (d) Developing, nurturing and maintaining an electoral system that provides for the free and fair expression of the will of the people through genuine and periodic elections, in particular by: (i) Guaranteeing that everyone can exercise his or her right to take part in the government of his or her country, directly or through freely chosen representatives; (ii) Guaranteeing the right to vote freely and to be elected in a free and fair process at regular intervals, by universal and equal suffrage, conducted by secret ballot and with full respect for the right to freedom of association; (iii) Taking measures, as appropriate, to address the representation of under-represented segments of society; (iv) Ensuring, through legislation, institutions and mechanisms, the freedom to form democratic political parties that can participate in elections, as well as the transparency and fairness of the electoral process, including through appropriate access under the law to funds and free, independent and pluralistic media; (e) Creating and improving the legal framework and necessary mechanisms for enabling the wide participation of all members of civil society in the promotion and consolidation of democracy, by: (i) Respecting the diversity of society by promoting associations, dialogue structures, mass media and their interaction as a means of strengthening and developing democracy; (ii) Fostering, through education and other means, awareness and respect for democratic values; (iii) Respecting the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and the exercise of the right freely to form, join and participate in non-governmental organizations or associations, including trade unions; (iv) Guaranteeing mechanisms for consultations with and the contribution of civil society in processes of governance and encouraging cooperation between local authorities and non-governmental organizations; (v) Providing or improving the legal and administrative framework for non-governmental, community-based and other civil society organizations; (vi) Promoting civic education and education on human rights, inter alia, in cooperation with organizations of civil society; (f) Strengthening democracy through good governance as referred to in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. by, inter alia: (i) Improving the transparency of public institutions and policy-making procedures and enhancing the accountability of public officials; (ii) Taking legal, administrative and political measures against corruption, including by disclosing and investigating and punishing all those involved in acts of corruption and by criminalizing payment of commissions and bribes to public officials; (iii) Bringing government closer to the people by appropriate levels of devolution; (iv) Promoting the widest possible public access to information about the activities of national and local authorities, as well as ensuring access by all to administrative remedies, without discrimination; (v) Fostering high levels of competence, ethics and professionalism within the civil service and its cooperation with the public, inter alia, by providing appropriate training for members of the civil service; (g) Strengthening democracy by promoting sustainable development, in particular by: (i) Taking effective measures aimed at the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights, such as the right to education and the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services, individually and through international cooperation; (ii) Taking effective measures aimed at overcoming social inequalities and creating an environment that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty; (iii) Promoting economic freedom and social development and pursuing active policies to provide opportunities for productive employment and sustainable livelihoods; (iv) Ensuring equal access to economic opportunities and equal pay and other rewards for work of equal value; (v) Creating a legal and regulatory framework with a view to promoting sustained economic growth and sustainable development; (h) Enhancing social cohesion and solidarity by: (i) Developing and strengthening, at the local and national levels, institutional and educational capabilities to resolve conflicts and disputes peacefully, including through mediation, and to prevent and eliminate the use of violence in addressing societal tensions and disagreements; (ii) Improving social protection systems and ensuring access for all to basic social services; (iii) Encouraging social dialogue and tripartite cooperation with respect to labour relations among government, trade unions and employer organizations, as reflected in the core Conventions of the International Labour Organization; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate the present resolution as widely as possible. RESOLUTION 55/97 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela. 55/97. Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Recalling article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Reaffirming its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 4 thereof, Emphasizing that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is far-reaching and profound and that it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief, whether manifested individually or in community with others, and in public or private, Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, for all Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. Calling upon all Governments to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on religious intolerance to enable him to carry out his mandate fully, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, occur in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Deeply concerned that, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, the rights violated on religious grounds include the right to life, the right to physical integrity and to liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or detained,E/CN.4/1994/79, para. 103. Believing that further efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, 1. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination; 2. Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, including the provision of effective remedies in cases in which the right to freedom of religion or belief is violated; 3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of his or her religion or belief, deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and security of person, or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention; 4. Further urges States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to prevent such instances, to take all appropriate measures to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance and to encourage, through the educational system and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; 5. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if those limitations that are prescribed by law are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 6. Urges States to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement bodies, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs; 7. Calls upon all States to recognize, as provided for in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,See resolution 36/55. the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes; 8. Expresses its grave concern at any attack upon religious places, sites and shrines, and calls upon all States, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights standards, to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that such places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected; 9. Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, and that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by persons and groups is necessary for the full realization of the aims of the Declaration; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on religious intolerance,See A/55/280 and Add.1 and 2. and encourages continued efforts on the part of the Special Rapporteur, who was appointed to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration and to recommend remedial measures, as appropriate; 11. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Human Rights in resolution 2000/33 of 20 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. to change the title of the Special Rapporteur from Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance to Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; 12. Takes note of the study presented by the Special Rapporteur to the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance at its first session, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to contribute to the preparations for the Conference, which is to be held at Durban, South Africa, in 2001, on matters relating to religious intolerance that have a bearing on the World Conference; 13. Encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively; 14. Welcomes the initiatives of Governments and non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur, including by the convening of an international consultative conference on school education in relation to freedom of religion and belief, tolerance and non-discrimination, to be held at Madrid in November 2001, and encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties to participate actively in that conference; 15. Encourages Governments, when seeking the assistance of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, to consider, where appropriate, including requests for assistance for the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 16. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation and dissemination of the Declaration, and encourages their work in promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 17. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its consideration of measures for the implementation of the Declaration; 18. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the resources necessary to enable him to discharge his mandate fully; 20. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/98 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela. 55/98. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which is annexed to that resolution, Reiterating the importance of the Declaration and its promotion and implementation, Taking note of the decision of the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2000/61 of 26 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. to request the Secretary-General to appoint, for a period of three years, a special representative who shall report on the situation of human rights defenders in all parts of the world and on possible means to enhance their protection in full compliance with the Declaration, Welcoming the appointment by the Secretary-General of a special representative on human rights defenders, Noting with deep concern that, in many countries, persons and organizations engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give effect to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; 2. Invites all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders in fulfilling her mandate; 3. Requests all concerned United Nations agencies and organizations, within their mandates, to provide all possible assistance and support to the Special Representative in the implementation of her programme of activities; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders;A/55/292. 5. Invites the Commission on Human Rights to consider, at its fifty-seventh session, the report to be prepared by the Special Representative pursuant to Commission resolution 2000/61; 6. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 55/99 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 4 December 2000, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/602/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 55/99. Strengthening of the rule of law The General Assembly, Recalling that, by adopting the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). fifty-two years ago, Member States pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Firmly convinced that the rule of law is an essential factor in the protection of human rights, as stressed in the Declaration, and should continue to attract the attention of the international community, Convinced that, through their own national legal and judicial systems, States must provide appropriate civil, criminal and administrative remedies for violations of human rights, Recognizing the importance of the role that can be played by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in supporting national efforts to strengthen the institutions of the rule of law, Bearing in mind that, in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, the General Assembly entrusted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with, inter alia, providing advisory services and technical and financial assistance in the field of human rights, enhancing international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights and coordinating human rights activities throughout the United Nations system, Recalling the recommendation of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, that a comprehensive programme should be established within the United Nations with a view to helping States in the task of building and strengthening adequate national structures that have a direct impact on the overall observance of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 69. Recalling also its resolution 53/142 of 9 December 1998 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/74 of 28 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/177. 2. Notes with appreciation the increasing number of Member States seeking assistance in strengthening and consolidating the rule of law and the support provided to these States through the technical cooperation programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as outlined in the above-mentioned report of the Secretary-General; 3. Praises the efforts made by the Office of the High Commissioner to accomplish its ever-increasing tasks with the limited financial and personnel resources at its disposal; 4. Expresses its deep concern at the scarcity of means at the disposal of the Office of the High Commissioner for the fulfilment of its tasks; 5. Notes with concern that the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights does not have sufficient funds to provide any substantial financial assistance to national projects that have a direct impact on the realization of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law in countries that are committed to those ends but are lacking the necessary means and resources; 6. Welcomes the deepening of the ongoing cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant bodies and programmes of the United Nations system, with a view to enhancing system-wide coordination of assistance in human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and in this context notes the cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the High Commissioner in providing technical assistance, at the request of States, in the promotion of the rule of law; 7. Affirms that the Office of the High Commissioner remains the focal point for coordinating system-wide attention for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; 8. Encourages the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue the dialogue between her Office and other organs and agencies of the United Nations system, taking into account the need to explore new synergies with a view to obtaining increased financial assistance for human rights and the rule of law and to promoting inter-agency coordination, funding and allocation of responsibilities in order to improve efficiency and complementarity of action concerning, inter alia, assistance to States in strengthening the rule of law; 9. Also encourages the High Commissioner to continue to explore the possibility of further contact with and support from the international financial institutions, acting within their mandates, with a view to obtaining the technical and financial means to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner to provide assistance to national projects aiming at the realization of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law; 10. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to accord high priority to the technical cooperation activities undertaken by her Office with regard to the rule of law and to continue to act as a catalyst in the system by, inter alia, helping other United Nations agencies and programmes, within their respective mandates, to include in their work, as appropriate, attention to institution-building in the area of the rule of law; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution and the above-mentioned recommendation of the World Conference on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 55/9 Adopted at the 44th plenary meeting, on 30 October 2000, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/55/L.17, sponsored by Malaysia 55/9. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/4 of 22 October 1982, 38/4 of 28 October 1983, 39/7 of 8 November 1984, 40/4 of 25 October 1985, 41/3 of 16 October 1986, 42/4 of 15 October 1987, 43/2 of 17 October 1988, 44/8 of 18 October 1989, 45/9 of 25 October 1990, 46/13 of 28 October 1991, 47/18 of 23 November 1992, 48/24 of 24 November 1993, 49/15 of 15 November 1994, 50/17 of 20 November 1995, 51/18 of 14 November 1996, 52/4 of 22 October 1997, 53/16 of 29 October 1998 and 54/7 of 25 October 1999, Recalling also its resolution 3369 (XXX) of 10 October 1975, by which it decided to invite the Organization of the Islamic Conference to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs in the capacity of observer, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference,A/55/368. Taking into account the desire of both organizations to continue to cooperate closely in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and technical fields and in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights and economic and technical development, Recalling the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage the activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations, its funds and programmes and specialized agencies and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, its subsidiary organs and its specialized and affiliated institutions, Noting also the encouraging progress made in the ten priority areas of cooperation between the two organizations, as well as in the identification of other areas of cooperation between them, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its organs and institutions contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the results of the general meeting of the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions, held in Vienna from 11 to 13 July 2000, Noting with appreciation the determination of both organizations to strengthen further the existing cooperation by developing specific proposals in the designated priority areas of cooperation, as well as in the political field, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/55/368. 2. Takes note of the conclusions and recommendations adopted by the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions; 3. Notes with satisfaction the active participation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the work of the United Nations towards the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Requests the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to cooperate in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights, social and economic development and technical cooperation; 5. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common concern and to review the ways and means for enhancing the actual mechanisms of such cooperation; 6. Welcomes with appreciation the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the field of peacemaking and preventive diplomacy, and takes note of the close cooperation between the two organizations in continuing the search for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Afghanistan; 7. Welcomes the efforts of the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen information exchange, coordination and cooperation between them in areas of mutual interest in the political field and their ongoing consultations with a view to developing the modalities of such cooperation; 8. Also welcomes the periodic high-level meetings between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as between senior secretariat officials of the two organizations, and encourages their participation in important meetings of the two organizations; 9. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to expand their cooperation with the subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, particularly by negotiating cooperation agreements, and invites them to multiply the contacts and meetings of the focal points for cooperation in priority areas of interest to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 10. Urges the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, especially the lead agencies, to provide increased technical and other forms of assistance to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions in order to enhance cooperation; 11. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social and cultural fields; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the state of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference". RESOLUTION 56/100 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.39 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Honduras, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 56/100. Special assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/169 A of 16 December 1997, 53/1 L of 7 December 1998, 54/96 B of 8 December 1999 and 55/166 of 14 December 2000, Recalling also all resolutions of the Security Council and all statements by its President relating to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling further the Ceasefire Agreement signed in LusakaS/1999/815, annex. and the Kampala disengagement planSee S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. and the obligations of all signatories to those agreements and the obligations deriving from Security Council resolution 1304 (2000), Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all States in the region, Alarmed at the plight of the civilian population throughout the country, and calling for its protection, Gravely concerned at the deteriorating economic, social and humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the eastern Congo, and at the effect of the continued fighting on the inhabitants of the country, especially women and children, Deeply concerned at the increased rate of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), in particular among women and girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Expressing its deep concern at the dire consequences of the conflict for the humanitarian and human rights situations, Gravely concerned at the negative impact of war on the promotion of the sustainable and overall development of the country, Urging all parties to respect and protect human rights and respect international humanitarian law, in particular, the Geneva Conventions of 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Deeply concerned at the continued extensive destruction of life and property and the severe damage to infrastructure and the environment suffered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the reports of the illegal exploitation of its natural resources, Bearing in mind the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo hosts thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries, which places a great burden on its limited resources, and hoping that conditions will be created that will facilitate a safe and voluntary return of refugees, Recalling that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a least developed country with severe economic and social problems arising from its weak economic infrastructure and aggravated by the ongoing conflict, Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between ensuring peace and security and the ability of the country to meet the humanitarian needs of its people and to take effective steps towards the rapid revitalization of the economy, and reaffirming the urgent need to assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of its damaged economy and in its efforts to restore basic services and the infrastructure of the country, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/269. 2. Welcomes the opening of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue on 15 October 2001, and calls upon all Congolese parties to make every effort to promote the process and ensure the success of a fully inclusive dialogue in a spirit of consensus; 3. Urges all parties concerned in the region to cease military activities, cease any support for armed groups and any recruitment, training and use of child soldiers, calls upon those States which have not done so to withdraw from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in accordance with the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement,S/1999/815, annex. the Kampala disengagement planSee S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. and relevant Security Council resolutions, and urges all parties to engage in a process of political dialogue and negotiation and to create the conditions necessary for the speedy and peaceful resolution of the crisis; 4. Encourages the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to continue and develop its cooperation with the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other organizations in addressing the need for rehabilitation and reconstruction; 5. Also encourages the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to pursue sound macroeconomic policies and to promote good governance and the rule of the law, and urges it to exert all efforts for economic recovery and reconstruction despite the ongoing armed conflict; 6. Stresses the link between the peace process and the economic recovery of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, welcomes economic reforms undertaken by its Government, and encourages it to carry on with this process for the benefit of the entire Congolese people; 7. Also stresses the importance of the restoration of river traffic, welcomes in this regard the reopening of the Congo and the Oubangi Rivers, and expresses its support for the establishment of the Congo River Basin Commission; 8. Renews its urgent appeal to the executive boards of the United Nations funds and programmes to continue to keep under consideration the special needs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 9. Welcomes the continued and increased efforts of the Secretary-General, the United Nations system and its agencies, programmes and funds in ensuring that the gender perspective is mainstreamed in the reconstruction agenda of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 10. Urges all parties to respect fully international humanitarian law and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the safety of United Nations and humanitarian personnel, and in that regard stresses that the reopening of the Kisangani-Kindu rail and river link would facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as the resupplying of humanitarian personnel; 11. Calls upon the international community to continue to provide support to the humanitarian relief activities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 12. Invites Governments to continue to provide support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 13. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to consult urgently with regional leaders, in coordination with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, about ways to bring about a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict, in accordance with the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and relevant Security Council resolutions; (b) To continue to consult with regional leaders, in coordination with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, in order to convene, when appropriate, an international conference on peace, security and development in Central Africa and in the Great Lakes region, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, to address the problems of the region in a comprehensive manner; (c) To keep under review the economic situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to promoting participation in and support for a programme of financial and material assistance to the country to enable it to meet its urgent needs in terms of economic recovery and reconstruction; (d) To submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the actions taken pursuant to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/101 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.49 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 56/101. Humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, and reaffirming that humanitarian assistance should be provided in accordance with the guiding principles contained in the annex to that resolution, Recalling also its resolutions 54/96 F of 15 December 1999 and 55/169 of 14 December 2000, concerning humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance and the rehabilitation support rendered by a number of States, in particular major contributors, international agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the affected population in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in particular the emergency assistance provided by the European Union and various countries, Recognizing the role of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and the stabilization and association process for the western Balkans in assisting the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its efforts in further promoting democratic and economic reforms and in intensifying regional cooperation, Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance given to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia through the United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for South-Eastern Europe, and the humanitarian assistance provided by many Member States outside the framework of the consolidated appeal, through non-governmental organizations, regional organizations and initiatives and bilateral channels, Welcoming the fact that, at the donor conference hosted jointly by the World Bank and the European Commission in Brussels on 29 June 2001, the programme for reform and development of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia received strong support and confirmed that meeting the basic needs of vulnerable groups within the refugee, displaced and resident populations remains a priority for humanitarian agencies, Deeply concerned at the continuing urgency of the humanitarian situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, aware of the magnitude of the humanitarian requirements of the country, and recognizing the need to ensure effective links between relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development efforts in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Aware of the weakness of the economy and basic services, which exacerbates further the situation of socially and economically vulnerable segments of the population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and which is coupled with a continuing decrease in basic social services capacity, especially in the health sector, Acknowledging that a large number of refugees remain in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that assistance requirements will include, as appropriate, local integration, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/361. Taking note also of the biweekly reports on the humanitarian situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, prepared in Belgrade by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat,See www.reliefweb.int. Recognizing the role of the United Nations in helping the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to resolve the humanitarian problems that confront it and in coordinating the efforts of the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the country, 1. Calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the affected population in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, bearing in mind in particular the special situation of women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups; 2. Also calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to offer support to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its efforts to ensure the transition from relief to the long-term goals of the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the country; 3. Welcomes the continued commitment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and encourages it to cooperate further with the United Nations system and humanitarian organizations to address the humanitarian needs of the affected population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and urges the relevant authorities and the international community to support programmes that will ensure that the humanitarian needs of refugees and internally displaced persons in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are met and to pursue durable solutions to their plight, in particular voluntary repatriation and reintegration, stresses the need to create conditions that are conducive to their safe return, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of regional cooperation in the search for solutions to the plight of refugees; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize the timely provision of international humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; 5. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, inter alia, through the mechanisms of a consolidated inter-agency appeal, and recognizes in this regard especially the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat; 6. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and other organizations to enhance their cooperation in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; 7. Requests the United Nations and the specialized agencies to continue their efforts to assess the humanitarian needs, in cooperation with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, relevant international and regional organizations and bodies and interested States, with a view to ensuring effective links between relief and longer-term assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, taking into account the work already carried out in this field and the need to avoid duplication and the overlapping of efforts; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/102 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.50 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Yugoslavia 56/102. Participation of volunteers, "White Helmets", in the activities of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/19 of 28 November 1995, 52/171 of 16 December 1997 and 54/98 of 8 December 1999, Reaffirming also its resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 47/168 of 22 December 1992, 48/57 of 14 December 1993, 49/139 A and B of 20 December 1994, 50/57 of 12 December 1995 and 51/194 of 17 December 1996 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1995/56 of 28 July 1995 and 1996/33 of 25 July 1996, Recognizing that recent events emphasize the need for the international community, in addressing the growing magnitude and complexity of natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies, to rely not only on the formulation of a well-coordinated global response within the framework of the United Nations but also on the promotion of a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, Recalling that prevention, preparedness and contingency planning for emergencies at the global level depend, for the most part, on the strengthened local and national response capacities as well as on the availability of financial resources, both domestic and international, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/308. prepared in pursuance of its resolution 54/98 on the participation of volunteers, "White Helmets", in activities of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development; 2. Encourages voluntary national and regional actions aimed at making available to the United Nations system, through the United Nations Volunteers and other agencies, national volunteer corps such as the White Helmets on a standby basis, in accordance with accepted United Nations procedures and practices, in order to provide specialized human and technical resources for emergency relief and rehabilitation; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the commendable progress of the White Helmets initiative as a singular voluntary international effort to provide the United Nations system with voluntary expertise to respond, in a quick and coordinated manner, to humanitarian relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, while preserving the non-political, neutral and impartial character of humanitarian action; 4. Recognizes that the White Helmets, in close cooperation with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and as an operational partner of the United Nations system, are an efficient and viable mechanism for making pre-identified and trained homogeneous teams available to the United Nations, in support of immediate relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development activities, in the light of the increasing number, growing magnitude and complexity of natural disasters and other emergencies; 5. Calls upon Member States to promote the facilitation of cooperative actions between the United Nations system and civil society, through national volunteer corps, in order to strengthen the United Nations capacities for early and effective response to humanitarian emergencies, and invites them to make the commensurate financial resources available through the special financing window of the Special Voluntary Fund of the United Nations Volunteers, or in coordination with it; 6. Encourages Member States to identify and support their respective national focal points for the White Helmets in order to continue to provide the United Nations system with an accessible global network of rapid response facilities in case of humanitarian emergencies; 7. Recognizes with appreciation the progress made by the States members of the Common Market of the South and associated partners in the strengthening and broadening of the White Helmets humanitarian assistance concept within a regional framework, and encourages Member States in other regional associations to consider implementing that concept in their efforts aimed at extending humanitarian assistance cooperation; 8. Invites Member States, international financial institutions, regional organizations and the United Nations system to consider ways and means to ensure the integration of the White Helmets initiative into their programme activities, particularly those related to humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; 9. Invites the Secretary-General, on the basis of the experience acquired, to consider further the potential use of White Helmets as a resource for preventing and mitigating the effects of emergencies and post-conflict humanitarian emergencies and, in this context, to maintain an adequate structure for the White Helmets liaison functions, taking into account the outgoing reforms process; 10. Recommends that the Secretary-General encourage relevant agencies of the United Nations system to explore opportunities for collaboration with White Helmets, taking into account the success of coordinated actions carried out, inter alia, with the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Volunteers; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the consideration of the possible strengthening and broadening of consultative mechanisms to promote further and operationalize the concept, as referred to in paragraphs 9 and 10 above, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", on the actions taken in conformity with the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/103 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.51 and Corr.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Uruguay 56/103. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, and its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 54/219 and 54/233 of 22 December 1999 and 55/163 of 14 December 2000, and recalling agreed conclusions 1999/1 of the Economic and Social CouncilOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. and Council resolution 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory, and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, Welcoming the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among developing countries of the capacities existing at the national, regional and international levels that could be deployed to assist them, Emphasizing also the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, including prevention, preparedness, mitigation and recovery and reconstruction, and of strengthening the response capacity of affected countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to developmentA/56/307. and on strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations;A/56/95-E/2001/85. 2. Expresses deep concern at the increasing number and scale of natural disasters, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disasters; 3. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, inter alia, by disaster prevention, including building regulations and appropriate land use, as well as disaster preparedness and capacity-building in disaster response, and requests the international community in that context to continue to assist developing countries, where appropriate; 4. Stresses, in that context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the provision of humanitarian assistance in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, from relief and mitigation to development, including through the provision of adequate resources, and encourages the effective use of multilateral mechanisms; 5. Also stresses that humanitarian assistance for natural disasters should be provided in accordance with and with due respect for the guiding principles contained in the annex to resolution 46/182, and should be determined on the basis of the human dimension and needs arising out of the particular natural disasters; 6. Recognizes that economic growth and sustainable development contribute to improving the capacity of States to mitigate, respond to and prepare for natural disasters; 7. Reaffirms that disaster reduction forms an integral part of sustainable development strategies and needs to be considered in the development plans of all vulnerable countries and communities, and also reaffirms that within such preventive strategies, disaster preparedness and early warning systems must be strengthened further at the country and regional levels, inter alia, through better coordination among relevant United Nations bodies and cooperation with Governments of affected countries and regional and other relevant organizations with the aim of maximizing the effectiveness of natural disaster response and reducing the impact of natural disasters, particularly in developing countries; 8. Emphasizes the importance of enhanced international cooperation, including with the United Nations and regional organizations, to assist developing countries in their efforts to build capacities, and to predict, prepare and respond to natural disasters; 9. Stresses the need for partnership among Governments of the affected countries, relevant humanitarian organizations and specialized companies to promote training in, access to and use of technologies to strengthen preparedness for and response to natural disasters, and to enhance the transfer of current technologies and corresponding know-how, in particular to developing countries, on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed; 10. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 11. Also encourages in such operations the sharing of geographical data, including remotely sensed images and geographic information system and global positioning system data among Governments, space agencies and relevant international humanitarian organizations, as appropriate, and notes in that context the work being done by the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and the Global Disaster Information Network; 12. Stresses that particular international cooperation efforts should be undertaken to enhance and broaden further the utilization of national and local capacities and, where appropriate, regional and subregional capacities of developing countries for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, more efficiently and at lower cost; 13. Welcomes the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for the promotion and coordination of disaster response preparedness among the United Nations humanitarian agencies and other humanitarian partners; 14. Also welcomes the establishment of the positions of regional disaster response advisers by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as well as the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme to establish regional disaster reduction adviser positions, and encourages the further development of those initiatives in a coordinated and complementary manner in order to assist developing countries in capacity-building for disaster prevention, preparedness mitigation and response; 15. Takes note of the initiatives taken by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of international urban search and rescue assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters; 16. Encourages the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to continue its efforts to promote greater international cooperation to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of urban search and rescue assistance; 17. Encourages further cooperation between the United Nations system and regional organizations in order to increase the capacity of those organizations to respond to natural disasters; 18. Encourages States that have not signed or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, adopted at Tampere, Finland, on 18 June 1998,United Nations Treaty registration No. 27688. to consider doing so; 19. Invites the United Nations system to explore further the concept of transitional recovery teams for providing assistance for bridging relief assistance and development cooperation; 20. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with relevant organization partners, to continue progress on compiling a directory of disaster mitigation capacity existing at the national, regional and international levels and developing the Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response as a new part of the Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to complete the project of issuing a global report on disaster reduction as undertaken by the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; 22. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider mechanisms to improve the international response to natural disasters, inter alia, by addressing any geographical and sectoral imbalances in such a response, where they exist, as well as by more effective use of national emergency response agencies, taking into account their comparative advantages and specializations, as well as existing arrangements, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", with a view, inter alia, to contributing towards the comprehensive report on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, to be submitted to the Assembly at that session under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 56/104 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.52 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu 56/104. Assistance for humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development for East Timor The General Assembly, Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in East Timor, Recalling also its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex to that resolution, Recalling further all of the relevant Security Council resolutions and decisions on the situation in East Timor, in particular resolutions 1272 (1999) of 25 October 1999, 1319 (2000) of 8 September 2000 and 1338 (2001) of 31 January 2001, Recalling the establishment by Security Council resolution 1272 (1999) of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, whose mandate includes the coordination and delivery of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance, support for capacity-building for self-government and assistance in the establishment of conditions for sustainable development, Welcoming the response of the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, with the coordination of the Transitional Administration since 1 January 2000, and in cooperation with the East Timorese people, in terms of addressing the humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development needs of East Timor, Welcoming also the passing of the immediate emergency and humanitarian phase in East Timor, while noting continuing vulnerabilities, including the need to strengthen the preparedness and response capacity for addressing humanitarian emergencies, and the remaining challenges of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, Acknowledging the continuing progress made in the transition from relief to development in East Timor and, in this regard, the important role played by the Transitional Administration in supporting the resilient and determined efforts of the East Timorese people themselves, Emphasizing the need for continued international assistance to East Timor to support the transition from relief and rehabilitation to development, and recognizing the significant challenges that are to be faced in this regard in preparation for independence and in the post-independence period, inter alia, in the sectors of public administration, education, health, agriculture and infrastructure, Welcoming the efforts of the Government of Indonesia and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance to the East Timorese refugees in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, West Timor, and in facilitating their return to East Timor, and in this respect recognizing the importance of the international community in assisting the efforts of the Government of Indonesia to implement programmes for the resettlement and repatriation of East Timorese refugees, Welcoming also the initiation by Indonesia of criminal proceedings against the perpetrators of the deplorable killing of three personnel of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Atambua on 6 September 2000, bearing in mind the importance of the independence of the national judiciary, and expressing the hope that the final sentences for those found guilty will be commensurate with the serious nature of the crimes, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/338. 2. Encourages the United Nations, other inter-governmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, with the coordination of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, and in close consultation and cooperation with the East Timorese people, to continue to collaborate to address the remaining longer-term vulnerabilities of East Timor, including in the area of preparedness and response capacity for addressing humanitarian emergencies, and to support the transition from relief and rehabilitation to development; 3. Emphasizes the importance of continuing close consultation with and participation of East Timorese institutions and civil society, including local non-governmental organizations, in the planning and delivery of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development assistance to East Timor; 4. Urges United Nations organizations, the international community and non-governmental organizations to continue their efforts aimed at the enhanced ownership and participation of all East Timorese, including women and vulnerable groups, in the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of East Timor, and in this regard stresses the need for continued international assistance to support local capacity-building, inter alia, in areas such as education, health, agriculture and rural development, the judiciary, governance and public administration, security and law and order; 5. Welcomes the convening of donor meetings for East Timor in Tokyo in December 1999, Lisbon in June 2000, Brussels in December 2000, Canberra in June 2001 and Oslo in December 2001, which focused on the national budget and the transition towards independence in East Timor in four key areas, political, public administration, public finances, and economic and social reconstruction, and urges the international community to fulfil its pledges to meet the external requirements for rehabilitation, reconstruction and development activities for East Timor; 6. Also welcomes the official launching of the joint appeal for East Timorese refugees, presented by the Government of Indonesia and the United Nations in Jakarta on 27 November 2001; 7. Further welcomes the successful holding, on 30 August 2001, of the elections for the East Timor Constituent Assembly and the appointment, on 20 September 2001, of the all-East Timorese Second Transitional Government; 8. Acknowledges that the establishment of an effective and functioning governmental administration is crucial to fostering a stable and secure social, economic and political environment in East Timor, and in this regard urges the international community to continue to support efforts aimed at institution-building and the training of civil servants, in particular in the areas of public finances, the judiciary, senior management and the development and maintenance of the central administrative systems of government; 9. Welcomes the continuing response to food aid needs by the international community, and calls upon the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations to assist the East Timorese in ensuring sustainable development in the areas of agriculture, livestock and fisheries; 10. Recommends that outstanding infrastructure needs remain an essential focus of international assistance in such areas as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of public buildings, educational facilities, roads and public services, including water and sanitation and the supply of electricity; 11. Commends the rapid international response in terms of providing health services to the general population, including the early deployment of immunization and disease prevention programmes, and reproductive health care and child nutrition programmes, while recognizing the need for further assistance to rebuild hospitals and train health-care professionals and enhance capacity-building to meet the challenge to public health posed by diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); 12. Welcomes the ongoing reopening of schools, the supply and distribution of educational materials, and teacher training, while emphasizing the need for capacity-building, particularly in the area of secondary and higher education, and for continued attention to the rehabilitation needs, including psychosocial support, of children affected by the violence; 13. Acknowledges the efforts of the Government of Indonesia, in cooperation with the Transitional Administration, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and other humanitarian organizations, to facilitate organized and spontaneous returns of East Timorese refugees from West Timor, and encourages the Government of Indonesia to continue its efforts to establish effective security in and around the refugee camps in West Timor in order to facilitate safe and voluntary returns of refugees; 14. Reaffirms the need to ensure safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and assistance to all those in need, recognizes in this regard the continuing implementation by the Government of Indonesia of Security Council resolution 1319 (2000), encourages the Government to continue its efforts in that regard in full cooperation with Member States, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, and underscores the importance of continued international assistance to support the efforts of the Government of Indonesia and relevant organizations to meet the needs of East Timorese refugees in West Timor, inter alia, by assisting their voluntary repatriation or resettlement, and by contributing to humanitarian assistance needs in the camps in West Timor; 15. Urges the United Nations to continue to address the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development needs of East Timor; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/105 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.53 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United States of America 56/105. International assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America The General Assembly, Reaffirming the resolutions in which it emphasizes and acknowledges the importance of international, bilateral and multilateral economic, financial and technical support, cooperation and assistance for peacekeeping and peace-building in Central America following the armed conflicts in the region, in particular its resolutions 49/21 I of 20 December 1994, 50/58 B of 12 December 1995, 50/132 of 20 December 1995, 52/169 G of 16 December 1997 and 54/96 E of 15 December 1999, which provide a frame of reference for international assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America,See A/49/580-S/1994/1217, annex I. in support of national efforts to make the region a zone of peace, freedom, democracy and development, Noting that the Central American countries have achieved significant progress towards the consolidation of democracy and good governance, the strengthening of civilian Governments, respect for human rights and the rule of law and the promotion of State and economic reforms, sustainable development and regional integration, reflecting the desire of the Central American peoples to live and prosper in a climate of peace and solidarity, Stressing the importance and effectiveness of the commitments undertaken by the Central American Presidents at various regional presidential summits, in particular those which constitute the global framework for promoting and consolidating peace, freedom, democracy and sustainable human development in Central America, Stressing also the consolidation of the Centre for Coordination of the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America, which is of great value for the subregion in the development of more effective strategies to mitigate the impact of natural disasters, Recognizing the extreme vulnerability of the poorest sectors of the population, in particular women and children, and the inadequacy of existing local and national institutions to deal with recurrent natural disasters, Noting that the various natural phenomena which have affected the region are one of the factors that have put at risk the biodiversity of Central America, Noting also the holding of the meeting of the Regional Consultative Group for the transformation and modernization of Central America, co-hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Spain, in Madrid on 8 and 9 March 2001, at which the main theme was the revision of the regional strategy for strengthening regional integration and cooperation and their contribution to poverty reduction and the acceleration of sustainable growth, Taking into account that the Governments of the region have designated the period 2000-2004 as the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America and that the Presidents of the region adopted the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central America, on 19 October 1999, in the Declaration of Guatemala IISee A/54/630, annex. which contains guidelines for the elaboration, updating, improvement and development of regional plans for the reduction of vulnerability to and the impact of natural disasters, the integrated management and conservation of water resources and the prevention and control of forest fires, Stressing that the achievement of the national priorities in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, public safety and regional integration fields, which are set out in the programme of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, is essential for reducing the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters and for promoting sustainable development, Considering the necessity of ensuring the elimination of anti-personnel mines from Central American territory as well as the rehabilitation and reintegration of mine victims in their communities in order to restore normal conditions for the integral development of that region, Recognizing the valuable and effective contribution made by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and by the various governmental and non-governmental mechanisms, the donor community and the Regional Consultative Group for the transformation and modernization of Central America and the importance of the political dialogue and cooperation taking place between the European Union and Central America and the joint initiative of the industrialized countries of the Group of Twenty-four and the Group of Three (Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) in the progress made towards consolidating peace, freedom, democracy and the implementation of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, Reaffirming the need to continue focusing attention on the situation in Central America, with a view to overcoming the underlying causes of the armed conflicts which have impeded the development of the region and avoiding a reversal of the achievements, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/158. 2. Reiterates the importance of supporting and strengthening the efforts of the Central American countries to implement the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central America,See A/54/630, annex. and the projects and programmes of the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America, in accordance with the process of transformation and sustainable development for the region, which contain basic guidelines for the prevention and mitigation of damage, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups and sectors, as identified by levels of poverty and marginality; 3. Notes the efforts and achievements relating to mine clearance in Central America, and appeals to the organs of the United Nations system, in particular the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, the Organization of American States, as well as the international community, to continue providing the material, technical and financial support needed by the Central American Governments to complete mine-clearance, mine-awareness and victim assistance activities in the region, in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and with the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. that relate to international cooperation and assistance; 4. Stresses the need for the international community to maintain its cooperation and assistance, including provision of financial resources, both bilateral and multilateral, with the Central American countries to support the promotion of sustainable development and the consolidation of peace, freedom and democracy in the region; 5. Notes with appreciation the revision of the subregional cooperation programme in Central America of the United Nations Development Programme, launched in 1996, and of the national programmes of other United Nations agencies on the basis of the regional strategy entitled "Strategy for the transformation and modernization of Central America", the main objectives of which are the reduction of social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities, the transformation of productive sectors, sustainable management of natural resources, and the increased participation of civil society in development; 6. Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved in the establishment of a Meso-American Biological Corridor, which is being developed with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme's own funds, the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and the United States Agency for International Development; 7. Supports the decision of the Central American Governments to concentrate their efforts on the implementation of updated programmes with strategies to achieve sustainable human development in previously determined priority areas, which help to consolidate democracy and resolve social inequalities and extreme poverty; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and all States, international financial institutions and regional and subregional organizations to continue providing the support needed to attain the objectives of the programme for the sustainable development of Central America, including those which are being pursued within the framework of the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to consider at its fifty-eighth session the question of international assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America. RESOLUTION 56/106 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.54 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, France, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 56/106. Assistance for humanitarian relief and the economic and social rehabilitation of Somalia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/160 of 18 December 1992, 48/201 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 L of 20 December 1994, 50/58 G of 20 December 1995, 51/30 G of 13 December 1996, 52/169 L of 16 December 1997, 53/1 M of 8 December 1998, 54/96 D of 8 December 1999 and 55/168 of 14 December 2000 as well as the resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council on emergency assistance to Somalia, Recalling also Security Council resolution 733 (1992) of 23 January 1992 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, in which the Council, inter alia, urged all parties, movements and factions in Somalia to facilitate the efforts of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected population in Somalia, and reiterated the call for the full respect of the security and safety of the personnel of those organizations and guarantee of their complete freedom of movement in and around Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, Recalling further the statement by the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2001,S/PRST/2001/30. in which the Security Council reiterated its support for the outcome of the Somalia National Peace Conference, held in Arta, Republic of Djibouti, and the establishment of the Transitional National Assembly and the Transitional National Government, and encouraged the Government to continue, in the spirit of constructive dialogue, the process of engaging all groups in the country, including in the north-eastern and north-western areas, with a view to preparing for the installation of permanent governance arrangements through the democratic process, Noting the cooperation between the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the countries members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and its Partners Forum, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and others in their efforts to resolve the humanitarian, security and political crisis in Somalia, and bearing in mind the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Somalia, Noting with appreciation the continued efforts made by the Secretary-General to assist the Somali people in their efforts to promote peace, stability and national reconciliation, Commending the initiative of the President of the Republic of Djibouti aimed at restoring peace and stability in Somalia, and noting with appreciation the efforts of the Government and people of Djibouti in hosting and facilitating the Somalia National Peace Conference, Welcoming the outcome of the Arta peace process, led by Djibouti and sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which provides for the establishment of a transitional national parliament and the formation of a transitional national government, Noting with appreciation that the mandate provided in the three-year transitional national charter emphasizes priorities, including reconciliation, demobilization of armed militia, restitution of properties to their lawful owners, holding of a national census, formulation of a new constitution, democratization, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction, Welcoming the efforts of the Transitional National Government of Somalia to promote national reconciliation within Somalia, recognizing that progress has been achieved in some regions in re-establishing economic and administrative stability, and urging the Government, political and traditional leaders and factions to make every effort to complete, without preconditions, the peace and reconciliation process through dialogue and the involvement of all parties in a spirit of mutual accommodation and tolerance, Noting with concern that the lack of effective civil institutions in Somalia continues to impede sustained comprehensive development and that, while the environment has become more conducive to some reconstruction and development-oriented work in certain parts of the country, the humanitarian and security situation has remained fragile in other parts, Reaffirming its support for the joint strategy for targeted assistance of the United Nations system that is focused on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure and on sustainable community-based activities, as well as for the importance it attaches to the need for effective coordination and cooperation among the United Nations agencies and their partners, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/389. Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation support rendered by a number of States and relevant organizations to alleviate the hardship and suffering of the affected Somali population, Recognizing that, while the humanitarian situation remains fragile in some parts of Somalia, there is a need to continue the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction process alongside the national reconciliation process, without prejudice to the provision of emergency relief assistance wherever and whenever required, as security allows, Noting with appreciation that the prospects for humanitarian, rehabilitation and development activities have been more favourable in some parts of the country, owing to the formation of stronger administrative structures, the commitment shown to re-establishing the rule of law in general and the leadership shown by some regional authorities and by civil society groups in attempting to establish an inclusive alternative to the faction-ridden past of Somalia, Noting with appreciation also the efforts of the United Nations system aimed at working directly with Somali communities at the local level, whenever possible, and emphasizing the need for coordination with the Transitional National Government and with local and regional authorities, Welcoming the continued focus of the United Nations, in partnership with Somali elders, other local leaders and skilled local counterparts at the grass-roots level, concerned Somali organizations and professionals in the diaspora and non-governmental organizations, on a programme of assistance, including both humanitarian and developmental approaches, given the varying conditions in different areas, Re-emphasizing the importance of the further implementation of its resolution 47/160 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services at the local and regional levels throughout the country, 1. Expresses its gratitude for the further implementation of its resolution 47/160 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services at the local and regional levels throughout the country; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued and tireless efforts to mobilize assistance to the Somali people; 3. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the countries members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and its Partners Forum, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and others to contribute positively to the reconciliation process in Somalia; 4. Also welcomes the strategy of the United Nations focusing on the implementation of community-based interventions aimed at rebuilding local infrastructures and increasing the self-reliance of the local population, and the ongoing efforts by the United Nations agencies, their Somali counterparts and their partner organizations to establish and maintain close coordination and cooperation mechanisms available for the implementation of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes; 5. Notes with appreciation the holistic and prioritized approach of the United Nations system to addressing the continuing crisis in some parts of Somalia, while making long-term commitments to rehabilitation, recovery and development activities in more stable parts; 6. Emphasizes the principle that the Somali people have the primary responsibility for their own development and for the sustainability of rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance programmes, and reaffirms the importance it attaches to the creation of workable arrangements for collaboration between the United Nations system and its partner organizations and their Somali counterparts for the effective execution of rehabilitation and development activities in those parts of the country in which peace and security prevail; 7. Urges all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to continue to implement further its resolution 47/160 in order to assist the Somali people in embarking on the rehabilitation of basic social and economic services, as well as institution-building aimed at the restoration of civil administration at all levels in all parts of the country in which peace and security prevail; 8. Strongly urges all political groups in Somalia, in particular those which have remained outside the Arta peace process, to participate in the ongoing peace process and to establish a constructive dialogue with the Transitional National Government in order to achieve national reconciliation that allows for transition from relief to reconstruction and development and preserves economic and administrative progress achieved in many regions; 9. Calls upon all parties, individual political leaders and factions in Somalia to respect fully the security and safety of personnel of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and of non-governmental organizations, and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and safe access throughout Somalia; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize international humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 11. Calls upon the international community to provide continuing and increased assistance in response to the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation in Somalia, to take all necessary measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/107 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.55 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 56/107. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/95-E/2001/85. Taking note also of the note by the Secretary-General on enhancing the functioning and utilization of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund,A/55/649. submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session pursuant to its resolution 54/95 of 8 December 1999, Recognizing the importance of the Revolving Fund as a cash-flow mechanism for a timely, prompt, effective and coordinated response by the organizations of the United Nations system, Recognizing also that the pattern of utilization has been uneven in recent years and that there is a need to ensure that the Revolving Fund is used where the needs are greatest and most urgent, 1. Welcomes the holding of the fourth humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council during its substantive session of 2001; 2. Invites the Economic and Social Council to continue to consider ways to enhance further the humanitarian affairs segment of future sessions of the Council; 3. Emphasizes the importance of discussion of humanitarian policies and activities in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council; 4. Calls upon relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other relevant international organizations, Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate with the Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator to ensure timely implementation of and follow-up to agreed conclusions of the humanitarian affairs segment of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council; 5. Welcomes the progress made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations; 6. Expresses its deepest appreciation to those Governments that have contributed to the Central Emergency Revolving Fund; 7. Encourages better use of the Revolving Fund, and in that context endorses the proposal of the Secretary-General to expand the utilization of the Fund to include humanitarian assistance for natural disasters, humanitarian assistance for new requirements in protracted emergencies and emergency staff safety arrangements for United Nations and associated personnel; 8. Decides that the expanded utilization of the Revolving Fund shall follow the same procedures and terms of reference that have been established in resolution 46/182 for advances and reimbursement of the resources of the Fund; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to inform Governments regularly about the use of the Revolving Fund and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the utilization of the Fund and on further possible improvements in its terms of reference in order to enhance its functioning and utilization, inter alia, in relation to the great need for urgent assistance in many underfunded, so-called forgotten emergencies; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, through the 2002 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council, on progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, including the implementation of and follow-up to relevant agreed conclusions of the Council and progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/108 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.56 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Guinea, India, Italy, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia 56/108. Economic assistance for the reconstruction and development of Djibouti The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/96 C of 8 December 1999 and its previous resolutions on economic assistance to Djibouti, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/11. adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries on 20 May 2001, as well as the mutual commitments undertaken on that occasion and the importance attached to follow-up and the implementation of the Programme of Action, Aware that Djibouti is included in the list of least developed countries and that it is ranked 137th out of the 162 countries studied in the Human Development Report 2001,Published for the United Nations Development Programme by Oxford University Press, New York, 2001. Noting that the economic and social development efforts of Djibouti are constrained by the extremes of the local climate, in particular cyclical droughts, and that the implementation of reconstruction and development programmes requires the deployment of substantial resources which exceed the capacity of the country, Noting also that the situation in Djibouti has been made worse by the drought situation in the Horn of Africa, and noting further the presence of tens of thousands of refugees and persons displaced from their countries, which has placed serious strains on the fragile economic, social and administrative infrastructure of Djibouti and caused security problems in the country, in particular in the city of Djibouti, Noting with satisfaction that the Government of Djibouti is continuing to implement a structural adjustment programme, and convinced of the necessity to support that financial recovery programme and to take effective measures to alleviate the consequences, in particular the social consequences, of that adjustment policy, so that the country may achieve lasting economic results, Noting with gratitude the support provided to relief, demobilization and rehabilitation operations by various countries and by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/264. 2. Declares its solidarity with the Government and the people of Djibouti, who continue to face critical challenges owing, in particular, to the scarcity of natural resources, harsh climatic conditions and the continuing critical situation in the Horn of Africa; 3. Notes with concern the cyclical drought phenomenon in Djibouti, which is wreaking a major humanitarian disaster upon tens of thousands of people, particularly those who are vulnerable, and requests the international community to respond to the appeal launched by the Government; 4. Encourages the Government of Djibouti, despite difficult economic and regional situations, to continue its serious efforts towards the consolidation of democracy; 5. Notes with satisfaction the implementation of a structural adjustment programme by Djibouti, and in that context appeals to all Governments, international financial institutions, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to respond adequately to the financial and material needs of the country; 6. Also notes with satisfaction the general peace agreement concluded between the Government and the opposition on 12 May 2001; 7. Considers that the process of demobilization, reintegration and employment of demobilized soldiers is essential not only for national rehabilitation but also for the success of agreements with the international financial institutions and for the consolidation of peace, and that it requires substantial resources that exceed the capacity of the country; 8. Expresses its gratitude to the intergovernmental organizations and the specialized agencies of the United Nations for their contributions to the national rehabilitation of Djibouti, and invites them to continue their efforts; 9. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to make the international community aware of the difficulties faced by Djibouti; 10. Notes with gratitude Djibouti's support for regional peace efforts and its commitment to worldwide efforts to fight terrorism; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, in close cooperation with the Government of Djibouti, his efforts to mobilize resources necessary for an effective programme of financial, technical and material assistance to Djibouti; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the progress made with regard to economic assistance to Djibouti and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/109 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.57 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Honduras, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Panama, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan 56/109. Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 45/190 of 21 December 1990, 46/150 of 18 December 1991, 47/165 of 18 December 1992, 48/206 of 21 December 1993, 50/134 of 20 December 1995, 52/172 of 16 December 1997 and 54/97 of 8 December 1999, as well as resolution 55/171 of 14 December 2000 on closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and taking note of the decisions adopted by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system in the implementation of those resolutions, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 1990/50 of 13 July 1990, 1991/51 of 26 July 1991 and 1992/38 of 30 July 1992 and Council decision 1993/232 of 22 July 1993, Conscious of the long-term nature of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was a major technological catastrophe in terms of its scope and complexity and created humanitarian, environmental, social, economic and health consequences and problems of common concern, requiring for their solution wide and active international cooperation and coordination of efforts in this field at the international and national levels, Expressing profound concern at the ongoing effects of the consequences of the accident on the lives and health of people, in particular children, in the affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as in other affected countries, Acknowledging the importance of the national efforts being undertaken by the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Emphasizing that it is important for the authorities of the affected countries to cooperate fully in and facilitate efforts to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, including the efforts by non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance, and appreciating the progress already made in this regard, Noting with appreciation the contribution made by States and by organizations of the United Nations system to the development of cooperation to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, the activities of regional and other organizations and those of non-governmental organizations, as well as bilateral activities, Recognizing the importance of continuing international support to the national efforts of the Governments and civil societies of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as the most affected countries, to mitigate and minimize the persisting negative effects of the Chernobyl disaster on the sustainable development of the affected areas as a result of the radiological, health, socio-economic, psychological and environmental consequences of the disaster, Welcoming the increased role played by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations resident coordinators and the United Nations country teams in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine in helping to address both the developmental and the humanitarian consequences of the catastrophe, Noting the United Nations needs-assessment mission to the affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine in July and August 2001, as well as the visit of the Deputy United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl to those countries in October 2001, and emphasizing the need to consider incorporation of their findings and outcomes into the new United Nations strategy to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of resolution 54/97,A/56/447. 1. Reaffirms that the United Nations plays an important catalytic and coordinating role in the strengthening of international cooperation to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and commends the contribution made by all other relevant multilateral mechanisms to this end; 2. Welcomes the practical measures that have been taken by the Secretary-General and the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl to strengthen coordination of the international efforts in that area, especially the appointment by the Secretary-General of the Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and Regional Director for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States as Deputy United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl; 3. Also welcomes the efforts undertaken by the agencies of the United Nations system, members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl to implement a new developmental approach to studying, mitigating and minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and requests the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl to continue further its activities to that end; 4. Emphasizes the importance of full cooperation and assistance by the authorities of the affected countries in facilitating the work of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, notes the measures already taken by the Governments of the affected countries in this regard, and encourages them to take further measures to simplify their relevant internal procedures and to identify ways in which their systems of granting exemption from customs and other duties can be made more effective with regard to goods provided free of charge as humanitarian assistance by humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations; 5. Acknowledges the difficulties faced by the most affected countries in minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and invites States, in particular donor States and all relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, to continue to provide support to the ongoing efforts of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, including through the allocation of additional funds to support medical, social, economic and ecological programmes related to the disaster; 6. Notes the appeal by the United Nations Coordinator to the donor community to consider allocating additional resources to the humanitarian aspects of the Chernobyl disaster; 7. Stresses the need for coordinated international cooperation in studying the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, and invites Member States and all interested parties to take part in and to promote the activities of the International Chernobyl Centre for nuclear safety, radioactive waste and radioecology as an important mechanism of scientific research in the unique conditions of the Chernobyl zone and the Shelter facility; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in the implementation of the relevant General Assembly resolutions and, through existing coordination mechanisms, in particular the United Nations Coordinator, to continue to maintain close cooperation with the agencies of the United Nations system, as well as with regional and other relevant organizations, while implementing specific Chernobyl-related programmes and projects; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider possible ways to strengthen further the coordination, analytical and technical capacities of the United Nations in the field, as well as at Headquarters, as described in the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/447. with due regard to the existing administrative and budgetary procedures of the Organization; 10. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, under a separate sub-item, a report containing a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of all aspects of the present resolution and proposals for innovative measures for optimizing the effectiveness of the response of the international community to the Chernobyl disaster. RESOLUTION 56/10 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 27 November 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.15 and Add.1, sponsored by: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan 56/10. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and rehabilitation in Tajikistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/30 J of 25 April 1997, 52/169 I of 16 December 1997, 53/1 K of 7 December 1998, 54/96 A of 8 December 1999 and 55/45 of 27 November 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/470. Welcoming the progress made by Tajikistan in consolidating peace and stability, and noting the significantly improved security environment in the country, Recognizing with satisfaction that the United Nations has played a successful and important role in the peace process, and believing that the Organization should continue to provide assistance to Tajikistan in post-conflict peace-building, Welcoming in this regard the efforts of the United Nations Tajikistan Office for Peace-building aimed at the consolidation of peace, national recovery and reconstruction, promotion of the rule of law and the strengthening of democratic institutions, Noting with regret that the humanitarian situation has not improved, owing to the severe economic deterioration and the prevailing drought, and that significant humanitarian needs continue to exist throughout Tajikistan, Recognizing that, until the economy is able to support the Tajik population, humanitarian operations will remain a critical factor in consolidating the achievements of the peace-building process in Tajikistan, Expressing regret that, despite the widely recognized importance of humanitarian assistance in maintaining and consolidating the achievements of the peace-building efforts, the donor response to the 2001 consolidated inter-agency appeal has not yet reached its target, Stressing that international funding for humanitarian operations is particularly important since such operations remain the principal means by which hundreds of thousands of Tajiks meet their basic needs, Noting with concern the lack of support especially for important sectors such as health, education, water and sanitation, which must receive immediate funding if social catastrophe is to be avoided in Tajikistan, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/470. 2. Welcomes the continued role of the United Nations in post-conflict peace-building in Tajikistan and the efforts of the United Nations Tajikistan Office for Peace-building in this regard; 3. Stresses that Tajikistan has entered a new phase of post-conflict peace-building, which requires continued international economic assistance; 4. Recognizes that humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance remains crucial, not only to sustain life but also to promote development and prevent renewed conflict; 5. Welcomes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General in drawing the attention of the international community to the acute humanitarian problems of Tajikistan and in mobilizing assistance for the post-conflict rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of the country; 6. Welcomes the results achieved at the consultative group meeting of donor countries, held in Tokyo on 16 May 2001; 7. Expresses its appreciation to the States, the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank and other intergovernmental organizations and all relevant humanitarian organizations, agencies and non-governmental organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, that have responded and continue to respond positively to the humanitarian needs of Tajikistan; 8. Encourages Member States and others concerned to continue to provide assistance to alleviate the urgent humanitarian needs of Tajikistan and to offer support to Tajikistan for the post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction of its economy; 9. Emphasizes the importance of further cooperation and assistance from the authorities in facilitating the work of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, welcomes in this regard the establishment of the National Coordination Committee on Humanitarian Assistance by the Government of Tajikistan, and urges the authorities to simplify and streamline without delay the relevant internal bureaucratic procedures and requirements for the delivery of humanitarian assistance; 10. Warmly welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to continue the United Nations humanitarian programme in Tajikistan by issuing a consolidated inter-agency appeal for humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan for 2002, taking into account current developments in the region, and urges Member States to fund fully programmes included in the appeal; 11. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to re-evaluate all United Nations humanitarian assistance activities in Tajikistan with a view to preparing a common humanitarian strategy that would support the relief and recovery operations during the transitional period from relief to development, with a major focus on promoting self-reliance and sustainable development; 12. Stresses the need to ensure the security and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel, and of United Nations and associated personnel, as well as the safety and security of their premises, equipment and supplies; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Tajikistan and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to consider at its fifty-seventh session the question of the situation in Tajikistan under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance". RESOLUTION 56/110 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.58 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Japan, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United States of America, Yugoslavia 56/110. Economic assistance to the Eastern European States affected by the developments in the Balkans The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/96 G of 15 December 1999 and 55/170 of 14 December 2000, Recalling also the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, adopted in Cologne, Germany, on 10 June 1999, and endorsed at the Sarajevo Summit of 30 July 1999, and emphasizing the crucial importance of its implementation, Stressing the importance of the regional cooperation initiatives, assistance arrangements and organizations, such as the South-East European Cooperative Initiative, the South-East European Cooperation Process, the Central European Initiative, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the Danube Commission, as well as the Stabilization and Association process and other arrangements for the Eastern European States with the European Union, Noting the leading role played by the high-level steering group for South-Eastern Europe, under the joint chairmanship of the European Commission and the World Bank, in guiding the donor coordination process for the economic reconstruction, stabilization, reform and development of the region, in close cooperation with the Stability Pact, Mindful of the positive results of the two regional funding conferences for South-Eastern Europe organized by the European Commission and the World Bank in cooperation with the Stability Pact, held in Brussels on 29 and 30 March 2000 and in Bucharest on 25 and 26 October 2001, and of the progress achieved in mobilizing and coordinating support of the donor community and international financial institutions for reconstruction and development efforts in South-Eastern Europe, Welcoming the democratic changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and their positive effects on peace, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe, Welcoming also the positive results of the International Donors Conference for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, co-hosted by the World Bank and the European Commission in Brussels on 29 June 2001, and the progress achieved in mobilizing and coordinating support of the donor community and international financial institutions for the reconstruction and development of Yugoslavia, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/632. and the conclusions contained therein, 1. Expresses concern at the persistence of special economic problems confronting the Eastern European States affected by the developments in the Balkans, in particular their impact on regional trade and economic relations and on the navigation along the Danube and on the Adriatic Sea; 2. Welcomes the support already provided by the international community, in particular by the European Union and other major donors, to the affected States to assist them in coping with their special economic problems during the transition period following the developments in the Balkans, as well as in the longer-term process of economic recovery, structural adjustment and development in the region; 3. Also welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, the objective of which is to strengthen countries in South-Eastern Europe in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity, in order to achieve stability in the whole region, and in its follow-up activities, aimed, inter alia, at economic reconstruction, development and cooperation, including economic cooperation in the region and between the region and the rest of Europe; 4. Invites all States and the relevant international organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system, in particular the international financial institutions, to continue to take into account the special needs and situations of the affected States in providing support and assistance to their efforts for economic recovery, structural adjustment and development; 5. Emphasizes the importance of a well-coordinated and timely donor response to the external funding requirements of the process for economic reconstruction, stabilization, reform and development in the Balkans, as well as financial support to other affected countries of Eastern Europe; 6. Encourages the affected States of the region to continue and enhance the process of multilateral regional cooperation in the fields of transport and infrastructure development, including the resumption of full navigation on the Danube, as well as to foster conditions favourable to trade, in such areas as customs, investment and private sector development, including privatization, in all the countries of the region; 7. Invites the relevant international organizations to take appropriate steps, consistent with the principle of efficient and effective procurement and with the agreed measures for procurement reform, in order to broaden access for interested local and regional vendors and to facilitate their participation in the international assistance efforts for the reconstruction, recovery and development of the region; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/111 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.59 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/111. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/173 of 14 December 2000, Recalling also previous resolutions on the question, Welcoming the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the signing of the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. and the signing of the Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum on 4 September 1999, Gravely concerned at the difficult economic and employment conditions facing the Palestinian people throughout the occupied territory, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory and the living conditions of the Palestinian people, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Noting the convening of the United Nations seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people, held in Vienna on 20 and 21 February 2001, to review the state of the Palestinian economy,See A/56/89-E/2001/89, annex. Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, including assistance in the fields of elections, police training and public administration, Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, and the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat, as well as the establishment of the Consultative Group, Welcoming also the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Welcoming further the results of the Ministerial Conference to Support Middle East Peace and Development, held in Washington, D.C., on 30 November 1998, and expressing appreciation for the pledges of the international donor community, Welcoming the meeting of the Consultative Group in Frankfurt, Germany, on 4 and 5 February 1999, in particular the pledges of the international donor community and the presentation of the Palestinian Development Plan for the years 1999-2003, Welcoming also the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee held in Lisbon on 7 and 8 June 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/123-E/2001/97 and Corr.1. Expressing grave concern at the continuation of the recent tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/123-E/2001/97 and Corr.1. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 5. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 6. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with Palestinian priorities set forth by the Palestinian Authority, with emphasis on national execution and capacity-building; 7. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 8. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 9. Stresses in this context the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 10. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to counter the impact of the current crisis; 11. Stresses the need to implement the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. in particular with regard to the full and prompt clearance of Palestinian indirect tax revenues; 12. Suggests the convening in 2002 of a United Nations-sponsored seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTION 56/112 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.60 and Add.1, sponsored by: Burkina Faso, Guinea, India, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen 56/112. Emergency assistance to the Sudan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/96 J of 17 December 1999 and its previous resolutions on emergency assistance to the Sudan, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Bearing in mind its resolution 55/175 of 19 December 2000 on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, Welcoming agreed conclusions 1998/1 of the Economic and Social Council, adopted by the Council at the humanitarian segment of its substantive session of 1998,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/53/3), chap. VII, para. 5. in which, among other things, the Council reaffirmed that international cooperation to address emergency situations should be provided in accordance with international law and national laws, and that the affected State has the primary role in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory, Welcoming also agreed conclusions 1999/1 of the Economic and Social Council,Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. in which the Council addressed the theme of "International cooperation and coordinated responses to humanitarian emergencies, in particular in the transition from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development", during its second humanitarian segment, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on humanitarian assistance to the Sudan,A/56/412. Welcoming the decision of the Government of the Sudan to provide access to the Nuba Mountains and recent efforts towards its implementation, noting in that regard the results of the inter-agency needs-assessment mission undertaken by the United Nations, and calling upon all parties to continue to cooperate with the United Nations in meeting the needs identified in that assessment, Noting with concern existing obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, welcoming the agreements reached by the parties to Operation Lifeline Sudan, among them the Rome protocol, and noting the arrangements reached on 15 August 2001 between the Government of the Sudan and the United Nations inter-agency mission on the modalities of access for the Operation, aimed at facilitating delivery of relief assistance to affected populations, as well as the progress made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in strengthening the coordination of the Operation, Urging United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and donor countries to continue contributing and channelling their humanitarian assistance to all affected populations in the Sudan through Operation Lifeline Sudan, Expressing concern at the continued conflict in the Sudan and its negative impact on the humanitarian situation, Noting the ongoing peace efforts under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the initiative of Egypt and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for achieving a negotiated and lasting peace in the Sudan, Noting with appreciation the contributions for the inter-agency appeal for Operation Lifeline Sudan and the progress made in the Operation, and noting also that considerable relief needs still remain to be addressed, including assistance to combat diseases such as malaria and assistance for logistic needs, emergency recovery, rehabilitation and development, Expressing concern at the damaging consequences of floods and drought that have occurred in various parts of the Sudan in recent years, Calling for an early resolution to the conflict, and expressing concern that its continuation further increases the suffering of the civilian population and undermines the effectiveness of international, regional and national humanitarian assistance, Reaffirming the need for all parties to continue to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations in implementing emergency assistance, in particular the supply of food, medicine, shelter and health care, and to ensure safe and unhindered access to all affected populations, Recognizing the need in emergency situations to ensure the smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation and development so as to reduce dependence on external food aid and other relief services, 1. Acknowledges with appreciation the cooperation by the Government of the Sudan with the United Nations, including the agreements and arrangements achieved to facilitate relief operations with a view to improving the conditions for United Nations assistance to the population in the affected areas, encourages the continuation of that cooperation, and calls upon all parties to the conflict to agree to comprehensive and permanent humanitarian ceasefire arrangements in order to ensure the delivery of relief assistance; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the donor community, United Nations agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations for the contributions so far made to the humanitarian needs of the Sudan, and calls upon them to continue their assistance, in particular by responding to the consolidated appeal and providing support for programmes in the Nuba Mountains; 3. Stresses the need for Operation Lifeline Sudan to be operated and managed with a view to ensuring its efficiency, transparency and effectiveness, with the full involvement and cooperation of the Government of the Sudan, taking cognizance of the relevant Operation Lifeline Sudan agreements reached by the parties, as well as consultations in the preparation of the consolidated annual inter-agency appeal for the Operation; 4. Recognizes the need for Operation Lifeline Sudan to be conducted in strict adherence to the principles of neutrality and impartiality and within the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan, and within the framework of international cooperation, in accordance with the relevant provisions of international law; 5. Calls upon the international community to continue to contribute generously to the emergency needs, recovery and development of the Sudan, and urges all parties to the conflict to facilitate the achievement of those objectives; 6. Urges the international community to give assistance for the rehabilitation of transportation means and infrastructure vital for the provision of relief supplies in the Sudan and their cost-effectiveness, and in that context stresses the importance of continued cooperation by all the parties involved so as to facilitate and improve the delivery of relief supplies; 7. Calls upon the donor community and the organizations of the United Nations system to provide financial, technical and medical assistance, guided by the actions called for by the General Assembly in its relevant resolutions, to combat such diseases as malaria and other epidemics in the Sudan; 8. Welcomes the recent visit, upon invitation from the Government of the Sudan, of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons, as well as the commitment of the Government to continue its efforts to address the problem of internally displaced persons; 9. Urges the international community to continue to support national and international programmes of rehabilitation, voluntary resettlement and reintegration of returnees and internally displaced persons, as well as assistance to refugees; 10. Stresses the imperative of ensuring the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, as well as safe and unhindered access for providing relief assistance to all affected populations, and the importance of strict observance of the principles and guidelines of Operation Lifeline Sudan, and of international humanitarian law reaffirming the necessity for humanitarian personnel to respect the national laws of the Sudan; 11. Recognizes the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and urges the parties to work towards that end; 12. Urges all parties involved to continue to offer all feasible and necessary assistance, including facilitating the movement of relief supplies and personnel, so as to guarantee the success of Operation Lifeline Sudan in all affected parts of the country, with special emphasis on national capacity-building in the humanitarian field for governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as on meeting emergency relief needs; 13. Calls upon all parties to respect international humanitarian law on the protection of civilians during times of war, and in that connection condemns attacks against civilians and attacks against and detention of humanitarian personnel, including the incidents leading to the deaths of fifteen humanitarian workers in the last two years, and calls for appropriate investigations into all allegations surrounding such incidents; 14. Recalls the signing by the Government of the Sudan of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. urges all parties to the conflict to desist from using them, calls upon the international community to refrain from supplying mines to the region, and urges the international community and United Nations agencies to provide appropriate assistance related to mine action in the Sudan; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize and coordinate resources and support for Operation Lifeline Sudan, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the emergency situation in the affected areas and the recovery, rehabilitation and development of the Sudan. RESOLUTION 56/113 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/572, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 56/113. Preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 47/237 of 20 September 1993, 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997 and 54/124 of 17 December 1999 concerning the proclamation, preparations for and observance of the International Year of the Family, Recognizing that the preparation for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family provides a useful opportunity for drawing further attention to the objectives of the Year for increasing cooperation at all levels on family issues and for undertaking concerted actions to strengthen family-centred policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development, Recognizing also that the follow-up to the International Year of the Family is an integral part of the agenda and of the multi-year programme of work of the Commission for Social Development until 2004, Recognizing further that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the world conferences of the 1990s continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development, Noting with concern the devastating effects of difficult social and economic conditions, armed conflicts, natural disasters and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria and of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic on family life, Emphasizing that equality between women and men and respect for the human rights of all family members is essential to family well-being and to society at large, Noting the active role of the United Nations in enhancing international cooperation in family-related issues, in particular in the area of research and information, Emphasizing that it is necessary to intensify and improve coordination of the activities of the United Nations system on family-related issues so as to contribute fully to the effective preparation for and celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the International Year of the Family and the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the FamilyE/CN.5/2001/4. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Urges Governments to view 2004 as a target year by which concrete achievements should be made to identify and elaborate issues of direct concern to families and also to set up and strengthen, where appropriate, mechanisms to plan and coordinate activities of governmental bodies and non-governmental organizations; 3. Encourages the regional commissions, within their respective mandates and resources, to participate in the preparatory process of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and to play an active role in facilitating regional cooperation in this regard; 4. Requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to review annually the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family as part of its agenda and of its multi-year programme of work until 2004; 5. Invites Member States to consider organizing activities in preparation for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at the national level; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to facilitate contributions by Governments, to include the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities, on an annual basis, among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council on the implementation of the present resolution, including a description of the state of preparation for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at all levels. RESOLUTION 56/114 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/572, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Burkina Faso, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Panama, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Thailand. 56/114. Cooperatives in social development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/90 of 16 December 1992, 49/155 of 23 December 1994 and 51/58 of 12 December 1996 and its resolution 54/123 of 17 December 1999, in which it requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Governments on the draft guidelines aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of cooperativesA/54/57, annex. and to provide, if necessary, a revised version for adoption, Recognizing that cooperatives, in their various forms, promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of all people, including women, youth, older persons and people with disabilities, and are becoming a major factor of economic and social development, Recognizing also the important contribution and potential of all forms of cooperatives to the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women, held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, and the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held at Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to 14 June 1996, and their five-year reviews, as well as the World Food Summit, held at Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/73-E/2001/68 and Add.1. 2. Draws the attention of Member States to the draft guidelines aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives,A/56/73-E/2001/68, annex. to be considered by them in developing or revising their national policies on cooperatives; 3. Encourages Governments to keep under review, as appropriate, the legal and administrative provisions governing the activities of cooperatives, with a view to ensuring a supportive environment for them and to protecting and advancing the potential of cooperatives to help them to achieve their goals; 4. Urges Governments, relevant international organizations and specialized agencies, in collaboration with national and international cooperative organizations, to give due consideration to the role and contribution of cooperatives in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and their five-year reviews, as well as the World Food Summit, by, inter alia: (a) Utilizing and developing fully the potential and contribution of cooperatives for the attainment of social development goals, in particular the eradication of poverty, the generation of full and productive employment and the enhancement of social integration; (b) Encouraging and facilitating the establishment and development of cooperatives, including taking measures aimed at enabling people living in poverty or belonging to vulnerable groups to engage on a voluntary basis in the creation and development of cooperatives; (c) Taking appropriate measures aimed at creating a supportive and enabling environment for the development of cooperatives by, inter alia, developing an effective partnership between Governments and the cooperative movement; 5. Invites Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative movement, to develop programmes to promote and strengthen the education of members, the elected leadership and professional cooperative management, where appropriate, and to create or improve statistical databases on the development of cooperatives and on their contribution to national economies; 6. Invites Governments, relevant international organizations, specialized agencies and local, national and international cooperative organizations to continue to observe the International Day of Cooperatives annually, on the first Saturday of July, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/90; 7. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant United Nations and other international organizations and national, regional and international cooperative organizations, to render support to Member States, as appropriate, in their efforts to create a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives and to promote an exchange of experience and best practices, through, inter alia, conferences, workshops and seminars at the national and regional levels; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 56/115 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/572, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Zimbabwe. 56/115. Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: towards a society for all in the twenty-first century The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling also its resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 49/153 of 23 December 1994, 50/144 of 21 December 1995, 52/82 of 12 December 1997 and 54/121 of 17 December 1999, Recalling further all of its relevant resolutions on the equalization of opportunities for and the human rights of persons with disabilities, and those of the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000 by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations,See resolution 55/2. and recognizing the need to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of people with disabilities, Noting with appreciation the actions of Governments to implement relevant sections of the Standard Rules and of relevant resolutions that give special attention to accessible environments and information and communications technologies, health, education and social services, employment and sustainable livelihoods, including the relevant activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their respective follow-up reviews, Noting with appreciation the assessment by the Secretary-General of the implementation of the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities, ensuring their full participation and equality, as well as the measures undertaken by the United Nations system aimed at preventing disabling conditions,See A/56/169 and Corr.1, paras. 25 and 26. Noting the invitation made to the General Assembly by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to consider elaborating an integral and comprehensive international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of disabled people, including, in particular, provisions that address the discriminatory practices and treatment affecting them, Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations in the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities, and noting in this regard their work in promoting the elaboration of an international convention on the rights of disabled persons, Noting with appreciation the valuable work of the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability in supporting the building of national capacities to promote the Standard Rules in order to create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods by, for and with persons with disabilities, Noting with appreciation also the important contributions of subregional, regional and international seminars and conferences related to persons with disabilities, Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and strategies to promote the rights and the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in economic, social, cultural and political life, on the basis of equality, to achieve a society for all, Welcoming initiatives to hold international conferences relating to persons with disabilities, including the Sixth World Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International, to be held in Japan in 2002, Concerned that improvement of awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues and respect for the human rights of disabled persons has not been significant enough to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities worldwide, Expressing grave concern that situations of armed conflict continue to have especially devastating consequences for the human rights of persons with disabilities, Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disability-sensitive topics, programme planning and evaluation and the need for further development of practical statistical methodology for the collection and compilation of data on populations with disabilities, Reiterating that technology, in particular information and communications technology, provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and employment for persons with disabilities and for facilitating their full and effective participation and equality, and welcoming the initiatives of the United Nations in promoting information and communications technology as a means of achieving the universal goal of a society for all, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/169 and Corr.1. on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). 2. Welcomes the many initiatives and actions of Governments and relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, including relevant Bretton Woods institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, to enhance the rights of persons with disabilities and the further equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities in all sectors of society; 3. Notes with appreciation the valuable work undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development in monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities under his third mandate for the period 2000-2002, and also notes with appreciation the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in supporting the work of the Special Rapporteur; 4. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as appropriate, to continue to take concrete measures to promote the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions and agreed international standards concerning persons with disabilities, in particular the Standard Rules, and for the further equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities by focusing on accessibility, health, education, social services, including training and rehabilitation, safety nets, employment and sustainable livelihoods, in the design and implementation of strategies, policies and programmes to promote a more inclusive society; 5. Calls upon Governments to undertake all necessary measures to advance beyond the adoption of national plans for people with disabilities through, inter alia, the creation or reinforcement of arrangements for the promotion and awareness of disability issues and the allocation of sufficient resources for the full implementation of existing plans and initiatives, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of supporting national efforts through international cooperation; 6. Encourages Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to take practical actions, including public information campaigns, by, for and with persons with disabilities, with a view to increasing awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues, combating and overcoming discrimination against persons with disabilities and furthering their full and effective participation in society; 7. Encourages Governments to continue their support to non-governmental organizations contributing to the fulfilment of the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons; 8. Also encourages Governments to involve persons with disabilities in the formulation of strategies and plans aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting education and enhancing employment; 9. Urges relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, including relevant human rights treaty bodies and the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, to continue to work closely with the programme on disability of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Secretariat in the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, including activities at the field level, by sharing experiences, findings and recommendations on persons with disabilities; 10. Urges Governments to cooperate with the Statistics Division of the Secretariat in the continued development of global statistics and indicators on disability, and encourages them to avail themselves of the technical assistance of the Division to build national capacities for national data collection systems, including the compilation and dissemination of data on disabled persons, as well as the development of methods for data collection and disability statistics, as appropriate; 11. Urges Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to provide special protection to girls and women with disabilities, elderly people with disabilities and persons with developmental and psychiatric disabilities, with special emphasis on integrating them into society and protecting and promoting their human rights; 12. Urges Governments, in collaboration with the United Nations system, to give special attention to the rights, needs and well-being of children with disabilities and their families in the development of policies and programmes, including the implementation of the Standard Rules; 13. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental organizations, concerned non-governmental organizations and the private sector to continue to support the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability with a view to strengthening its capacity to support catalytic and innovative activities to implement fully the World Programme of Action and the Standard Rules, including the work of the Special Rapporteur, and to support activities to build national capacities, with emphasis on priorities for action identified in the present resolution; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support initiatives of relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as those of regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, for the promotion of all human rights of, and non-discrimination in respect of, persons with disabilities and the further implementation of the World Programme of Action, as well as their efforts to integrate persons with disabilities in technical cooperation activities, both as beneficiaries and as decision makers; 15. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts in improving the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with disabilities, and urges him to continue to implement plans to provide a barrier-free environment; 16. Welcomes the preparations proposed by the Secretary-General in his current reportA/56/169 and Corr.1. for the fourth quinquennial review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action in 2002, including the proposed framework for that review, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council, a report on the findings and recommendations based on the review and appraisal, including a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/116 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/572, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia. 56/116. United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all The General Assembly, Recalling that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. the right of every individual to education is recognized as inalienable, Recalling also its resolutions 42/104 of 7 December 1987, by which it proclaimed 1990 as International Literacy Year, and 54/122 of 17 December 1999, in which it requested the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and Member States and with other relevant organizations and bodies, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session a proposal for a United Nations literacy decade, with a draft plan of action and possible time frame for such a decade, on the basis of the outcome of the World Education Forum and the special session of the General Assembly for the five-year review of the World Summit for Social Development, Reaffirming its resolution 49/184 of 23 December 1994, by which it proclaimed the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 1995 the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education and appealed to all Governments to intensify their efforts to eradicate illiteracy and to direct education towards the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/29 of 20 April 2001 on the right to education,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to ensure that, by the year 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, would be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys would have equal access to all levels of education, which requires a renewed commitment to promote literacy for all, Recalling also the Copenhagen Declaration on Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentIbid., annex II. and the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world",Resolution S-24/2, annex. Convinced that literacy is crucial to the acquisition, by every child, youth and adult, of essential life skills that enable them to address the challenges they can face in life, and represents an essential step in basic education, which is an indispensable means for effective participation in the societies and economies of the twenty-first century, Affirming that the realization of the right to education, especially for girls, contributes to the eradication of poverty, Acknowledging the activities undertaken at the national and regional levels for the Education for All 2000 assessment of progress towards achieving the goals of education for all, and stressing further the need to redouble efforts in order to meet the basic needs of people of all age groups, in particular girls and women, Recognizing that, despite the significant progress in basic education, especially the increase in primary school enrolment coupled with a growing emphasis on the quality of education, major problems, both emerging and continuing, still persist, which require even more forceful and concerted action at the national and international levels so as to achieve the goal of education for all, Deeply concerned about the persistence of the gender gap in education, which is reflected by the fact that nearly two thirds of the world's adult illiterates are women, Urging Member States, in close partnership with international organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, to promote the right to education for all and to create conditions for all for learning throughout life, 1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization entitled "Draft proposal and plan for a United Nations literacy decade";See A/56/114-E/2001/93 and Add.1. 2. Proclaims the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2003 the United Nations Literacy Decade; 3. Reaffirms the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). in which commitments were made to achieve a 50 per cent improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015 and to improve the quality of education; 4. Appeals to all Governments to redouble their efforts to achieve their own goals of education for all by developing national plans in accordance with the Dakar Framework for Action, setting firm targets and timetables, including gender-specific education targets and programmes, to eliminate gender disparities at all levels of education, to combat the illiteracy of women and girls and to ensure that girls and women have full and equal access to education, and by working in active partnership with communities, associations, the media and development agencies to reach those targets; 5. Also appeals to all Governments to reinforce political will and develop more inclusive policy-making environments and devise innovative strategies for reaching the poorest and most marginalized groups and for seeking alternative formal and non-formal approaches to learning with a view to achieving the goals of the Decade; 6. Urges all Governments to take the lead in the coordination of the Decade activities at the national level, bringing all relevant national actors together in sustained dialogue on policy formulation, implementation and evaluation of literacy efforts; 7. Reaffirms that literacy for all is at the heart of basic education for all and that creating literate environments and societies is essential for achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy; 8. Appeals to all Governments and to economic and financial organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend greater financial and material support to the efforts to increase literacy and achieve the goals of education for all and those of the Decade through, inter alia, the 20/20 initiative, as appropriate; 9. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify further their efforts to implement effectively the World Declaration on Education for All,Final Report of the World Conference on Education for All: Meeting Basic Learning Needs, Jomtien, Thailand, 5-9 March 1990, Inter-Agency Commission (UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank) for the World Conference on Education for All, New York, 1990, appendix I. the Dakar Framework for Action and the relevant commitments and recommendations to promote literacy made at recent major United Nations conferences and at their five-year reviews with a view to better coordinating their activities and increasing their contribution to development within the framework of the Decade in a manner that is complementary to and coordinated with the ongoing education for all process; 10. Decides that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization should take a coordinating role in stimulating and catalysing the activities at the international level within the framework of the Decade; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to seek and take into account comments and proposals from Governments and the relevant international organizations on the draft plan for the Decade in order to develop and finalize a well targeted and action-oriented plan of action to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session a question entitled "United Nations Literacy Decade". RESOLUTION 56/117 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/572, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela. 56/117. Policies and programmes involving youth The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, annexed thereto, as an integral part of that resolution, Recalling also its resolutions 32/135 of 16 December 1977 and 36/17 of 9 November 1981, by which it adopted guidelines for the improvement of the channels of communication between the United Nations and youth and youth organizations, and 40/14 of 18 November 1985, entitled "International Youth Year: Participation, Development, Peace", by which it endorsed the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth as contained in the report of the Advisory Committee for the International Youth Year on its fourth session, held at Vienna from 25 March to 3 April 1985,A/40/256, annex. Recalling further its resolution 54/120 of 17 December 1999, in which it took note with appreciation of the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 1998,See WCMRY/1998/28, chap. I, resolution 1. Welcoming the adoption of the Dakar Framework for Action at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. and recognizing that the Declaration includes important goals and targets pertaining to youth, Recalling and reaffirming the commitments made at the major United Nations conferences and summits since 1990 and their follow-up processes, Noting in particular that, in the World Programme of Action, regional and interregional conferences of ministers responsible for youth affairs in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and Western Asia were invited to intensify their cooperation and to consider meeting regularly at the international level under the aegis of the United Nations to provide an effective forum for a focused global dialogue on youth-related issues, Recalling that, in the World Programme of Action, the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System was invited to contribute to the implementation of the Programme through the identification and promotion of joint initiatives to further its objectives so that they could better reflect the interests of youth, Welcoming the support of the Government of Senegal for the holding of the fourth session of the World Youth Forum at Dakar from 6 to 10 August 2001, Acknowledging that poverty, among other factors, represents a serious challenge to the full and effective participation and contribution of young people to society, Recognizing that global cross-sectoral youth policies should take into consideration the empowerment and full and effective participation of young people, and their role as a resource and as independent decision-makers in all sectors of society, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond;A/56/180. 2. Calls upon all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible effort towards the implementation of the World Programme of Action, aiming at cross-sectoral youth policies by integrating a youth perspective into all planning and decision-making processes relevant to youth; 3. Also calls upon all parties concerned, as mentioned in paragraph 2 above, within the framework of the World Programme of Action, to consider the appropriate ways and means to provide follow-up to the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth;See WCMRY/1998/28, chap. I, resolution 1. 4. Takes note with appreciation of the work by the regional commissions to implement the World Programme of Action and to follow up the World Conference in their respective regions, in coordination with regional meetings of ministers responsible for youth and regional non-governmental youth organizations, and to provide advisory services to support national youth policies and programmes in each region, and encourages them to continue to do so; 5. Invites all relevant programmes and funds, the specialized agencies and other bodies within the United Nations system, as well as other intergovernmental organizations and regional financial institutions, to give greater support to national youth policies and programmes within their country programmes as a way to follow up the World Conference; 6. Calls upon all States, all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, in particular youth organizations, to exchange knowledge and expertise on youth-related issues, upon setting up the ways and means to do so; 7. Welcomes the public information activities organized by the Secretariat for International Youth Day, 12 August, as a way to promote better awareness, especially among youth, of the World Programme of Action; 8. Recognizes that information and communications technology plays a crucial role as a potential means of promoting participation, access to information and education and networking possibilities for young people; 9. Welcomes the fact that the special session of the General Assembly on children will also discuss issues relevant to youth; 10. Expresses its appreciation to the Government of Senegal for its support to the fourth session of the World Youth Forum of the United Nations System, held at Dakar from 6 to 10 August 2001, where, once again, youth delegates had the opportunity to meet and debate strategies for youth empowerment;See A/C.3/56/2, concerning the fourth session of the World Youth Forum. 11. Affirms that future sessions of the World Youth Forum should integrate an active and representative involvement of youth organizations and young people into all planning, reviewing and decision-making processes, and invites the Secretary-General to conduct a thorough review of and provide recommendations on the Forum's structure, organization, participation, including to ensure that it is fully representative of all geographical regions and of a diversity of views, and processes, taking into account the views of Member States and youth organizations, and, in this context, to include this matter in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, through the Commission for Social Development at its forty-first session; 12. Recognizes the importance of the full and effective participation of youth and youth organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels in promoting and implementing the World Programme of Action and in evaluating the progress achieved and the obstacles encountered in its implementation and of the need to support the activities of youth mechanisms that have been set up by youth and youth organizations, bearing in mind that young people are active agents for positive change and development in society; 13. Also recognizes the great importance of the empowerment of youth through building the capacity of young people to achieve greater independence, overcoming constraints to their participation and providing them with opportunities to make decisions that affect their life and well-being; 14. Reaffirms the decision of the heads of State and Government, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to develop and implement strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work, welcomes in this context the Secretary-General's initiative to create a Youth Employment Network, and invites the Secretary-General to continue with these initiatives; 15. Expresses deep concern over the fact that, currently, approximately half of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are in youth aged 15 to 24 years and that no fewer than 6,500 young people are infected by the virus each day, and reiterates the need to achieve the goals and commitments contained in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session, held at Headquarters from 25 to 27 June 2001;Resolution S-26/2, annex. 16. Reaffirms the importance of schooling and education, in particular for girls and young women, and recognizes the value of all forms of life-long learning, including formal education and training and non-formal education; 17. Calls upon Member States, all United Nations bodies and non-governmental organizations to continue to implement fully the guidelines for further planning and suitable follow-up in the field of youth endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 40/14, and the guidelines for the improvement of the channels of communication between the United Nations and youth and youth organizations which the Assembly adopted by its resolutions 32/135 and 36/17, and in particular to facilitate, in accordance with these resolutions, the activities of youth mechanisms that have been set up by youth and youth organizations; 18. Takes note with appreciation of the important role of the United Nations Youth Fund in the implementation of agreed programmes and mandates on youth, including the provision of support for youth activities promoting South-South cooperation, and support for the participation of young delegates from the least developed countries at the fourth session of the World Youth Forum; 19. Invites all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the Fund, and requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate actions to encourage contributions; 20. Reiterates the call made in the World Programme of Action to Member States to consider including youth representatives in their delegations to the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations meetings, thus broadening the channels of communication and enhancing the discussion of youth-related issues, and requests the Secretary-General to convey this invitation again to Member States; 21. Welcomes Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/7 of 24 July 2001, in which the Council decided that the Commission for Social Development would review the relevant United Nations plans and programmes of action pertaining to the situation of social groups and the global situation of youth in 2003, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to present a comprehensive report on this issue, with concrete and action-oriented recommendations, to the Commission at its forty-first session, bearing in mind the need for Member States to develop more holistic and cross-sectoral youth policies and the need to enhance, inter alia, the channels of communication between the United Nations system and youth and youth organizations; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on progress made in the implementation of the World Programme of Action. RESOLUTION 56/118 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/573, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 56/118. United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing The General Assembly, Noting the importance of the participation of developing countries and the least developed countries in the preparatory process for the Second World Assembly on Ageing and in the World Assembly itself, Recalling its resolution 54/262 of 25 May 2000, in which it encouraged Member States and other actors to, inter alia, provide voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing in support of preparatory activities for the Second World Assembly, including the participation of the least developed countries, 1. Urges all Member States and other actors to contribute generously to the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing, to support preparatory activities for the Second World Assembly on Ageing, in particular to facilitate the fullest participation of the least developed countries, and to support public information activities to promote the Second World Assembly and its outcome; 2. Urges all States and public and private organizations to contribute to the Trust Fund to support public information activities to promote the Second World Assembly and its outcome. RESOLUTION 56/119 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/574, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 56/119. Role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders The General Assembly, Recalling that, in its resolution 53/110 of 9 December 1998, it requested the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to review the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, including the issue of regional preparatory meetings for the congresses, Taking note with appreciation of the results of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). Bearing in mind that the congresses are a consultative body of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in accordance with paragraph 29 of the statement of principles and programme of action of the Programme, annexed to General Assembly resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991, Recognizing the significant contributions of the congresses to the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, Recognizing also that the congresses have been a forum for promoting the exchange of experiences in research, law and policy development and the identification of emerging trends and issues in crime prevention and criminal justice among States, intergovernmental organizations and individual experts representing various professions and disciplines, Recognizing further the role played by the congresses in preparing suggestions, for consideration by the Commission, on possible subjects for its programme of work, Aware of the need to review the functioning and method of work of the congresses in order to improve their effectiveness, Noting with appreciation the offers made by the Governments of Mexico and Thailand to host the next congress, 1. Decides to continue holding the United Nations congresses in accordance with paragraphs 29 and 30 of the statement of principles and programme of action of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme,Resolution 46/152, annex. following a dynamic, interactive and cost-effective method of work and a focused programme of work, and to call them the United Nations congresses on crime prevention and criminal justice; 2. Also decides that, beginning in 2005, the congresses, pursuant to paragraphs 29 and 30 of the statement of principles and programme of action of the Programme, shall be held in accordance with the following guidelines: (a) Each congress shall discuss specific topics, including, where appropriate, a main topic, all of which shall be determined by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; (b) Each congress shall include one session of pre-congress consultations; (c) Each congress shall include a high-level segment in which States will be represented at the highest possible level and will be given an opportunity to make statements on the topics of the congress; (d) As part of the high-level segment, the heads of delegations or their representatives shall participate in a number of thematic interactive round tables in order to further the discussion on the topics of the congress through open dialogue; (e) Panels of experts, to be selected by the Commission with due regard for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, shall hold workshops dealing with the topics of the congress, maintaining an open dialogue with the participants and avoiding the reading of statements; (f) Institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network shall be invited to assist in the preparations for the workshops; (g) The Secretary-General shall facilitate, within existing resources, the organization of ancillary meetings of non-governmental organizations and professional organizations at each congress; (h) Each congress shall adopt a single declaration containing recommendations derived from the deliberations of the high-level segment, the round tables and the workshops, to be submitted to the Commission for its consideration; (i) Any action suggested to the Commission regarding its programme of work, contained in the declaration of the congress, shall be undertaken through individual resolutions of the Commission; (j) The Commission, as the preparatory body for the congress, shall request the Secretary-General to prepare only those background documents which are absolutely necessary for implementing the programme of work of the congress; (k) Each congress shall be preceded by regional preparatory meetings, when necessary, and the costs of the regional preparatory meetings for each congress shall be streamlined by holding them in conjunction with other regional meetings, shortening their duration and limiting the preparation of background documents; 3. Requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to continue to act as the preparatory body for the congresses and to follow the guidelines contained in paragraph 2 above in organizing future congresses; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the staff required to serve as secretariat for the congresses and the regional preparatory meetings for the congresses; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat with the necessary resources, within the overall appropriations of the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, for the preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and to ensure that adequate resources are provided in the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 to support the holding of the Eleventh Congress; 6. Requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to formulate, at its eleventh session, recommendations regarding the Eleventh Congress, including recommendations on the main topic, the organization of round tables and workshops to be held by panels of experts and the venue and duration of the Eleventh Congress, and to submit those recommendations, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 7. Also requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to formulate, at its eleventh session, appropriate recommendations to enable the Economic and Social Council to introduce the necessary amendments to the rules of procedure for the congresses to reflect the guidelines contained in paragraph 2 above; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the proper follow-up to the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly, through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its eleventh session. RESOLUTION 56/11 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 27 November 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.16 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/11. Emergency assistance to Belize The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/169 of 11 December 1987, 43/202 of 20 December 1988, 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 45/185 of 21 December 1990, 46/149 of 18 December 1991, 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 48/188 of 21 December 1993, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994 and 55/165 of 14 December 2000, Having been made aware of the extensive damage caused by powerful hurricane Iris during its landfall and passage through Belize on 8 October 2001, Mindful of the human suffering caused by the displacement of thousands of people and the disrupted delivery of health and social services, Aware of the devastation to the infrastructure of southern Belize and to the agricultural, fisheries and tourism sectors of Belize, Conscious of the negative ecological impact of the hurricane on the coastal region and the inland rainforest, Noting the enormous efforts required to alleviate the devastation caused by this natural disaster, Cognizant of the efforts of the Government and people of Belize to relieve the suffering of the victims of hurricane Iris, Conscious of the rapid response being made by the Government of Belize, the agencies and bodies of the United Nations system, international and regional agencies, non-governmental organizations and private individuals to provide relief, Recalling the International Strategy For Disaster Reduction, and in this regard underlining the importance of efforts aimed at strengthening early warning, prevention and preparedness mechanisms for natural disasters and measures to strengthen capacity-building at the local, national and regional levels, with an emphasis on risk reduction, Aware that the extent of the disaster and its medium-term and long-term effects will require, as a complement to the efforts being made by the Government and people of Belize, a demonstration of international solidarity and humanitarian concern to ensure broad multilateral cooperation in order to facilitate the transition from the immediate emergency situation in the affected areas to the process of reconstruction, 1. Expresses its solidarity and support to the Government and people of Belize; 2. Expresses its appreciation to all States of the international community, international agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that are providing emergency relief assistance to Belize; 3. Urges Member States, as a matter of urgency, to contribute generously to the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of Belize; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the international financial institutions, agencies and bodies of the United Nations system, to assist the Government of Belize in identifying medium-term and long-term needs and in mobilizing resources, as well as to help with the efforts towards rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas in Belize; 5. Encourages the Government of Belize, in conjunction with relevant partners, further to develop strategies aimed at preventing and mitigating natural disasters, in accordance with the International Strategy For Disaster Reduction; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to make all necessary arrangements to continue mobilizing and coordinating humanitarian assistance from the specialized agencies and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with a view to supporting the efforts of the Government of Belize. RESOLUTION 56/120 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/574, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 56/120. Action against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto The General Assembly, Deeply concerned at the impact of transnational organized crime on the political, social and economic stability and development of societies, Bearing in mind that the fight against transnational organized crime is a common and shared responsibility of the international community, necessitating cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels, Reaffirming its support and commitment to the goals of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, in particular, the objectives set forth in the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, in which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto and urged all States and regional economic organizations to sign and ratify those international legal instruments, Noting with appreciation the initiative of those States which have pledged financial contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund in order to enable developing countries and countries with economies in transition to initiate measures to implement the Convention and the Protocols thereto, 1. Welcomes the signing of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto; 2. Expresses its appreciation for the offers of a number of Governments to host regional conferences at the ministerial level and for the financial contributions of a number of States for the purpose of holding pre-ratification seminars on facilitating the entry into force of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and their future implementation; 3. Encourages Member States to make adequate voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund for the provision to developing countries and countries with economies in transition of the technical assistance they may require for implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, including assistance for the preparatory measures needed for that implementation, taking into account article 30 of the Convention; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, inter alia, through the provision of assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for building capacity in the areas covered by the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its eleventh session. RESOLUTION 56/121 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/574, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. 56/121. Combating the criminal misuse of information technologies The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to ensure that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications technologies, in conformity with the recommendations contained in the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2000 of the Economic and Social Council,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/55/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 17. are available to all, and its resolution 55/63 of 4 December 2000, in which it invited Member States to take into account measures to combat the criminal misuse of information technologies, Recognizing that the free flow of information can promote economic and social development, education and democratic governance, Noting the significant advances in the development and application of information technologies and means of telecommunication, Expressing concern that technological advances have created new possibilities for criminal activity, in particular the criminal misuse of information technologies, Noting that reliance on information technologies, while it may vary from State to State, has resulted in a substantial increase in global cooperation and coordination, with the result that the criminal misuse of information technologies may have a grave impact on all States, Recognizing that gaps in the access to and use of information technologies by States can diminish the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, and recognizing also the need to facilitate the transfer of information technologies, in particular to developing countries, Noting the necessity of preventing the criminal misuse of information technologies, Recognizing the need for cooperation between States and the private sector in combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, Underlining the need for enhanced coordination and cooperation among States in combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, and, in this context, stressing the role that can be played by the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, Welcoming the work of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Recognizing with appreciation the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its ninth and tenth sessions and the subsequent preparation of a plan of action against high-technology and computer-related crime, which recognizes, inter alia, the need for effective law enforcement and the need to maintain effective protections for privacy and other related basic rights, as well as the need to take into account ongoing work in other forums,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 10 (E/2001/30/Rev.1), part two, chap. I. Noting the work of international and regional organizations in combating high-technology crime, including the work of the Council of Europe in elaborating the Convention on Cybercrime,Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No. 185. as well as the work of those organizations in promoting dialogue between government and the private sector on safety and confidence in cyberspace, 1. Invites Member States, when developing national law, policy and practice to combat the criminal misuse of information technologies, to take into account, as appropriate, the work and achievements of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and of other international and regional organizations; 2. Takes note of the value of the measures set forth in its resolution 55/63, and again invites Member States to take them into account in their efforts to combat the criminal misuse of information technologies; 3. Decides to defer consideration of this subject, pending work envisioned in the plan of action against high-technology and computer-related crime of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 10 (E/2001/30/Rev.1), part two, chap. I. RESOLUTION 56/122 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/574, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Sudan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States) and Suriname. 56/122. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/62 of 4 December 2000 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/151. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Also commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 4. Urges the States members of the Institute to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 5. Calls upon all Member States and non-governmental organizations to adopt concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to deploy his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to work closely with the Institute; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to make concrete proposals, including the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/123 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/574, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United Republic of Tanzania. 56/123. Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action annexed to that resolution, Emphasizing the role of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality, more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice, respect for human rights and promotion of the highest standards of fairness, humanity and professional conduct, Recognizing that action against global criminal activity is a common and shared responsibility, Convinced of the desirability of closer coordination and cooperation among States in combating crime, including the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, especially women and children, drug-related crimes such as money-laundering, illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, and criminal activities carried out for the purpose of furthering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, bearing in mind the role that could be played by both the United Nations and regional organizations in this respect, Recognizing the urgent need to increase technical cooperation activities to assist countries, in particular developing countries and countries with economies in transition, with their efforts in translating United Nations policy guidelines into practice, Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, and its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001, by which it adopted the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, Welcoming the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto as a milestone to fight and prevent organized crime, one of the most serious contemporary threats to democracy and peace, Emphasizing the importance of the expeditious entry into force of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, Recognizing the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat between the immediate priority of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and other priorities identified by the Economic and Social Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions, in which it requested the Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandate, in conformity with the high priority attached to the Programme, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/59 of 4 December 2000, and the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration proposed by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 10 (E/2001/30/Rev.1), part two, chap. I. Welcoming the report of the Meeting of the Intergovernmental Open-ended Expert Group to Prepare Draft Terms of Reference for the Negotiation of an International Legal Instrument against Corruption, held at Vienna from 30 July to 3 August 2001,See A/56/402-E/2001/105. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 55/64 of 4 December 2000;A/56/155. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, in responding to the needs of the international community in the face of both national and transnational criminality, and in assisting Member States in achieving the goals of preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime; 3. Also reaffirms the role of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat in providing to Member States, upon request, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime and terrorism; 4. Welcomes the programme of work of the Centre, including the three global programmes addressing, respectively, the trafficking in human beings, corruption and organized crime, formulated on the basis of close consultations with Member States and review by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and calls upon the Secretary-General further to strengthen the Centre by providing it with the resources necessary for the full implementation of its mandate; 5. Supports the high priority given to technical cooperation and advisory services in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime and terrorism, and stresses the need to enhance the operational activities of the Centre to assist, in particular, developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 6. Urges States and relevant international organizations to develop national, regional and international strategies and other necessary measures which complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in addressing effectively the significant problems posed by the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons and related activities; 7. Welcomes the increased number of technical assistance projects in the field of juvenile justice, reflecting an increased awareness among Member States of the importance of juvenile justice reform in establishing and maintaining stable societies and the rule of law; 8. Invites all States to support, through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 9. Encourages relevant programmes, funds and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank, and regional and national funding agencies, to support the technical operational activities of the Centre; 10. Urges States and funding agencies to review, as appropriate, their funding policies for development assistance and to include a crime prevention and criminal justice component in such assistance; 11. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to exercise more vigorously its mandated function of resource mobilization, and calls upon the Commission to strengthen further its activities in this direction; 12. Expresses its appreciation to non-governmental organizations and other relevant sectors of civil society for their support to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 13. Welcomes the efforts of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention to enhance the synergies between the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, in conformity with the reform proposals of the Secretary-General; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to provide adequate support to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the principal policy-making body in this field, in performing its activities, including cooperation and coordination with other relevant bodies; 15. Invites States to make adequate voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund in order to strengthen the capacity of the Centre to provide technical assistance to requesting States for the implementation of the commitments entered into at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, including the measures outlined in the plans of action to implement the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 10 (E/2001/30/Rev.1), part two, chap. I. 16. Urges all States and regional economic organizations that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto as soon as possible in order to ensure the speedy entry into force of the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 17. Welcomes the voluntary contributions already made, and encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures and provide adequate support to the Centre during the biennium 2002-2003 so as to enable it to promote the speedy entry into force of the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 19. Invites the Secretary-General to consider, in consultation with Member States and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the ways in which the Centre could contribute to the efforts of the United Nations system against terrorism, in accordance with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions; 20. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to mainstream a gender perspective into its activities and its request to the Secretariat that a gender perspective be integrated into all activities of the Centre; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/124 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/575, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/124. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/92 of 12 December 1997, 53/115 of 9 December 1998, 54/132 of 17 December 1999 and 55/65 of 4 December 2000, Recalling also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, entitled "United Nations Millennium Declaration", in which the world leaders resolved to redouble efforts to counter the world drug problem, Reaffirming its commitment to the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, devoted to countering the world drug problem together, held in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998, and welcoming the continued determination of Governments to overcome the world drug problem by a full and balanced application of national, regional and international strategies to reduce the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, as reflected in the Political Declaration,Resolution S-20/2, annex. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem,Resolution S-20/4. Gravely concerned that, despite continued increased efforts by States, relevant international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, the drug problem is still a challenge of a global dimension which constitutes a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of all mankind, in particular young people, in all countries, undermines development, including efforts to reduce poverty, socio-economic and political stability and democratic institutions, entails an increasing economic cost for Governments, also threatens the national security and sovereignty of States, as well as the dignity and hope of millions of people and their families, and causes irreparable loss of human lives, Concerned that the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs and psychotropic substances continue to threaten seriously the socio-economic and political systems, stability, national security and sovereignty of many States, especially those involved in conflicts and wars, and that trafficking in drugs could make conflict resolution more difficult, Deeply alarmed by the violence and economic power of criminal organizations and terrorist groups engaged in drug-trafficking activities and other criminal activities, such as money-laundering and illicit traffic in arms, precursors and essential chemicals, and by the increasing transnational links between them, and recognizing the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation and implementation of effective strategies on the basis of the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, which are essential to achieving results against all forms of transnational criminal activities, Welcoming the call on States and appropriate international and regional organizations in a position to do so to provide assistance, upon request, to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons linked to drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and terrorism, as expressed in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See A/CONF.192/15, chap. IV. Noting with grave concern the global increase in the use of minors in the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as in the number of children and young people starting to use drugs at an earlier age and in their access to substances not previously used, Alarmed by the rapid and widespread increase in the illicit manufacture, trafficking and consumption, in particular by young people, of synthetic drugs in many countries and by the high probability that amphetamine-type stimulants, in particular methamphetamine and amphetamine, may become drugs of choice among abusers in the twenty-first century, Deeply convinced that the special session made a significant contribution to a new comprehensive framework for international cooperation, based on an integrated and balanced approach with strategies, measures, methods, practical activities, goals and specific targets to be met, that all States, the United Nations system and other international organizations must implement them with concrete actions and that the international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, and the regional development banks should be invited to include action against the world drug problem in their programmes, taking into account the priorities of States, Reaffirming the importance of the commitments of Member States in meeting the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, and welcoming the guidelines for reporting on the follow-up to the twentieth special session adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its reconvened forty-second session,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, annex. as well as the elements recommended to the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme by the Commission at its forty-fourth session for the preparation of subsequent reports,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 44/2. Welcoming the inclusion in the provisional agenda of the forty-fifth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs of an item on the preparations for the ministerial segment to be held in 2003, in line with Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 of 28 July 1999, to focus on the progress made by States in implementing the action plan and measures adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, Emphasizing the importance of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, which introduces a global approach, recognizing a new balance between illicit supply and demand reduction, under the principle of shared responsibility, aims at preventing the use of drugs and at reducing the adverse consequences of drug abuse, ensuring that special attention is paid to vulnerable groups, in particular children and young people, and constitutes one of the pillars of the new global strategy, and reaffirming the need for demand reduction programmes, Emphasizing equally the importance of supply reduction as an integral part of a balanced drug control strategy under the principles enshrined in the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development,Resolution S-20/4 E. reaffirming the need for alternative development programmes that are sustainable, welcoming the achievements of some States on their way to eradicating illicit drug crops, and urging all other States to make similar efforts, Underlining the role of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as the principal United Nations policy-making body on drug control issues and as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, the leadership role and commendable work of the Programme as the main focus for concerted multilateral action and the important role of the International Narcotics Control Board as an independent monitoring authority, as set out in the international drug control treaties, Recognizing the efforts of all countries, in particular those that produce narcotic drugs for scientific and medical purposes, and of the International Narcotics Control Board in preventing the diversion of such substances to illicit markets and in maintaining production at a level consistent with licit demand, in line with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of l961United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. Recognizing also that the problem of the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is often related to development problems and that those links and the promotion of the economic development of countries affected by the illicit drug trade require, within the context of shared responsibility, appropriate measures, including strengthened international cooperation in support of alternative and sustainable development activities, in the affected areas of those countries, that have as their objectives the reduction and elimination of illicit drug production, Stressing that respect for all human rights is and must be an essential component of measures taken to address the drug problem, Ensuring that women and men benefit equally, and without any discrimination, from strategies directed against the world drug problem, through their involvement in all stages of programmes and policy-making, Recognizing that the use of the Internet poses new opportunities for and challenges to international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking, and recognizing also the need for increased cooperation among States and the exchange of information, including with reference to national experiences, on how to counter the promotion of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking through this instrument and on ways to use the Internet for information concerning drug demand reduction, Convinced that civil society, including non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, play an active role and make an effective contribution to countering the world drug problem, and should be encouraged to continue to do so, Acknowledging with appreciation the increased efforts and achievements of many States, relevant international organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in countering drug abuse and illicit production of and trafficking in drugs, and that international cooperation has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, I Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law in countering the world drug problem 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility which must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requiring an integrated and balanced approach, and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Calls upon all States to take further action to promote effective cooperation at the international and regional levels in the efforts to counter the world drug problem so as to contribute to a climate conducive to achieving that end, on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 3. Urges all States to ratify or accede to and implement all the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,Ibid., vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of l988;See Official Records of the United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Vienna, 25 November-20 December 1988, vol. I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XI.5). II International cooperation to counter the world drug problem 1. Urges all States to take appropriate action to address the linkages between the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and the illicit trade in narcotic drugs through, inter alia, increased international cooperation and by ensuring full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See A/CONF.192/15, chap. IV. 2. Welcomes the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to counter the world drug problem; 3. Urges competent authorities, at the international, regional and national levels, to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session, within the agreed time frames, in particular the high-priority practical measures at the international, regional or national level, as indicated in the Political Declaration,Resolution S-20/2, annex. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem,Resolution S-20/4. including the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors,Resolution S-20/4 A. the measures to prevent the illicit manufacture, import, export, trafficking, distribution and diversion of precursors used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances,See resolution S-20/4 B. the measures to promote judicial cooperation,Resolution S-20/4 C. the measures to counter money-launderingResolution S-20/4 D. and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development;Resolution S-20/4 E. 4. Urges all Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction in their respective national, regional and international actions and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs among their population, in particular among children and young people; 5. Recognizes the role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in developing action-oriented strategies to assist Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration, and requests the Executive Director of the Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fifth session on the follow-up to the Action Plan; 6. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 and the measures taken and recommendations adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fourth session aimed at the enhancement of its functioning, in particular regarding Commission resolution 44/16;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28), chap. I, sect. C. 7. Renews its commitment to further strengthening international cooperation and substantially increasing efforts to counter the world drug problem, in accordance with the obligations of States under the United Nations drug control conventions, on the basis of the general framework given by the outcome of the special session, and taking into account experience gained; 8. Calls upon all States to adopt effective measures, including national laws and regulations, to implement the outcome and the goals of the special session, within the agreed time frame, to strengthen national judicial systems and to carry out effective drug control activities in cooperation with other States and in accordance with United Nations drug control conventions; 9. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions and other concerned intergovernmental and international organizations, within their mandates, and all actors of civil society, notably non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, sports associations, the media and the private sector, to continue their close cooperation with Governments in their efforts to promote and implement the outcome of the special session and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, including through public information campaigns, resorting, inter alia, where available, to the Internet; 10. Urges Governments, the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and other international organizations to assist and support States, upon request, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support, with the aim of enhancing their capacity to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, taking into account national plans and initiatives, and emphasizes the importance of subregional, regional and international cooperation in countering illicit drug trafficking; 11. Reaffirms that preventing the diversion of chemicals from legitimate commerce to illicit drug manufacture is an essential component of a comprehensive strategy against drug abuse and trafficking, which requires the effective cooperation of exporting, importing and transit States, notes the progress made in developing practical guidelines to prevent such diversion of chemicals, including those of the International Narcotics Control Board and the recommendations on implementing article 12 of the 1988 Convention, and calls upon all States to adopt and implement measures to prevent the diversion of chemicals to illicit drug manufacture, in cooperation with competent international and regional bodies and, if necessary and to the extent possible, with the private sector in each State, in accordance with the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008 in the Political Declaration and the resolution on the control of precursors adopted at the special session;See resolution S-20/4 B. 12. Calls upon States in which cultivation and production of illicit drug crops occur to establish or reinforce, where appropriate, national mechanisms to monitor and verify illicit crops, and requests the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fifth session, in March 2002, on the follow-up to the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development; 13. Encourages States to open their markets to products that are the object of alternative development programmes, and which are necessary for the creation of employment and the eradication of poverty; 14. Calls upon States, the international community, international organizations, regional organizations, international financial institutions and regional development banks to support the implementation of the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development by States affected by illicit crop cultivation to enable them to apply fully measures for drug eradication and sustainable alternative development; 15. Encourages States further to cooperate through bilateral, regional and multilateral means to avoid displacement of illicit drug crop cultivation from one area, region or country to another; 16. Calls upon all States to report biennially to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted at the special session, in accordance with the terms established in the guidelines adopted by the Commission at its forty-second and forty-fourth sessions; 17. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to submit a report to the General Assembly in 2003 and 2008Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, para. 8. on the progress achieved in meeting the goals and targets set out in the Political Declaration; 18. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 19. Calls upon the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue mainstreaming a gender perspective into all its policies, programmes and activities, and requests the Secretariat to continue integrating a gender perspective into all documentation prepared for the Commission; 20. Recalls the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond adopted by the General Assembly on 14 December 1995,Resolution 50/81, annex. notes with satisfaction the commitment of young people to a drug-free society made at various forums, and stresses the importance of young people continuing to contribute their experiences and to participate in the decision-making processes and, in particular, putting into effect the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction; 21. Urges all States to assign priority to activities aimed at preventing drug and inhalant abuse among children and young people, inter alia, through the promotion of information and education programmes aimed at raising awareness of the risks of drug abuse with a view to giving effect to the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction; 22. Welcomes the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted on 27 June 2001 at the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. including the acknowledgement of the link between drug-using behaviour and HIV infection; 23. Calls upon States to adopt effective measures, including possible national legislative measures, and to enhance cooperation to stem the illicit trade in small arms, which, as a result of its close link to the illicit drug trade, is generating extremely high levels of crime and violence within the societies of some States, threatening the national security and the economies of those States; 24. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the three Protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Ibid., annex II. the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and AirIbid., annex III. and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition,Resolution 55/255, annex. and encourages universal signature and ratification of these legal instruments; 25. Stresses the need for coordinated action to reduce the demand for illicit drugs, in the context of a comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approach encompassing supply control and demand reduction, as set out in the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, noting, inter alia, the links between drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism; 26. Welcomes the thematic debate on the theme "Building partnerships to address the world drug problem", which allowed a useful exchange of ideas on the topics "Approaches to building partnerships within and across sectors, including health, education, law enforcement and justice" and "Prevention, education and early intervention strategies and trends in drug abuse among children and young people" at the forty-fourth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the continuation of a focused thematic debate; 27. Recognizes the desirability of providing support to the States that are most affected by the transit of drugs and are willing to implement plans to eliminate such transit, and in this regard requests the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to extend technical assistance, from available voluntary contributions for that purpose, to those States that are most affected by the transit of drugs, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support; 28. Urges all States to develop and implement policies and programmes for children, including adolescents, aimed at preventing the use of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants, except for medical purposes, and at reducing the adverse consequences of their abuse, as well as support preventive policies and programmes, especially against tobacco and alcohol; 29. Also urges all States to make appropriate treatment and rehabilitation accessible for children, including adolescents, dependent on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, inhalants and alcohol; III Action by the United Nations system 1. Emphasizes the role of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as the principal United Nations policy-making body on drug control issues and as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme; 2. Reaffirms the role of the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in coordinating and providing effective leadership for all United Nations drug control activities so as to increase cost-effectiveness and ensure coherence of action, as well as coordination, complementarity and non-duplication of such activities throughout the United Nations system, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 3. Emphasizes that the multidimensional nature of the world drug problem calls for the promotion of integration and coordination of drug control activities throughout the United Nations system, including in the follow-up to major United Nations conferences; 4. Invites Governments and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to attach high priority to the improvement of the coordination of United Nations activities related to the world drug problem so as to avoid duplication of such activities, strengthen efficiency and accomplish the goals approved by Governments; 5. Urges the specialized agencies, programmes and funds, including humanitarian organizations, and invites multilateral financial institutions, to include action against the world drug problem in their programming and planning processes in order to ensure that the integral and balanced strategy that emerged from the special session devoted to countering the world drug problem together is being addressed; IV United Nations International Drug Control Programme 1. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to implement its mandate within the framework of the international drug control treaties, the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control,See Report of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Vienna, 17-26 June 1987 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.I.18), chap. I, sect. A. the Global Programme of Action,See resolution S-17/2, annex. the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly devoted to countering the world drug problem together and relevant consensus documents; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Programme for the support provided to different States in meeting the objectives of the Global Programme of Action and of the special session, especially in cases where significant and anticipated progress was achieved regarding the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008; 3. Requests the Programme to continue: (a) To strengthen dialogue with Member States and also to ensure continued improvement in management, so as to contribute to enhanced and sustainable programme delivery and further encourage the Executive Director to maximize the effectiveness of the Programme, inter alia, through the full implementation of resolution 44/16 of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in particular the recommendations contained therein; (b) To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, on request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the special session; (c) To increase its technical assistance, within the available voluntary resources, to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes; (d) To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;Resolution S-20/3, annex. (e) To strengthen dialogue and cooperation with multilateral development banks and with international financial institutions so that they may undertake lending and programming activities related to drug control in interested and affected countries to implement the outcome of the special session, and to keep the Commission on Narcotic Drugs informed of further progress made in this area; (f) To take into account the outcome of the special session, to include in its report on illicit traffic in drugs an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to deal with all aspects of the drug problem; (g) To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all official languages; 4. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities; 5. Calls upon the International Narcotics Control Board to increase efforts to implement all its mandates under international drug control conventions and to continue to cooperate with Governments, inter alia, by offering advice to Member States that request it; 6. Notes that the Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, and emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the Programme; 7. Stresses the importance of the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, in all regions of the world, and the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and encourages them to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcome of the special session; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/157. and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the outcome of the twentieth special session, including on the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, and the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/125 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Greece, Iran (Islamic Republic of) (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Italy, Portugal and Spain. 56/125. Critical situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/219 of 23 December 2000, in which it decided to provide the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women with financial assistance on a non-recurrent basis, enabling the Institute to continue its activities throughout 2001, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/40 of 26 July 2001 and the recommendation contained therein that the General Assembly consider the transfer of any balance remaining from the $800,000 advance for 2001 to the Institute as a reserve for 2002, Recognizing that, despite the persistent difficulties and uncertainties that the Institute has confronted during the past two years, it has managed to secure the minimal resources with which to respond to the mandates given by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/279. 2. Commends the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women for the successive implementation of phases I and II of the Gender Awareness Information and Networking System and the initiation of phase III; 3. Expresses its concern that, since the departure of the Director in July 2001, and notwithstanding the severe predicament of the Institute, a new Director has not yet been appointed; 4. Decides: (a) To establish a working group composed of two governmental representatives from each of the five regional groups of the United Nations and one representative of the host country, the mandate of the working group being to make recommendations to the General Assembly before the end of the fifty-sixth session, for its consideration by the end of 2002, on the future operation of the Institute; (b) To examine ways, within the framework of General Assembly resolution 55/219 and Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/40, in which the Institute could be provided with resources to enable it to continue its operation until the Assembly has considered the recommendations of the working group; 5. Urges the Secretary-General: (a) To appoint a Director of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women as soon as possible in order to provide the Institute with the required leadership; (b) To continue to encourage Member States to support the Institute by making voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2002, on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/126 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Netherlands, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda. 56/126. Situation of older women in society The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, and emphasizing also their obligations under the human rights instruments, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Resolution 54/4, annex. Recalling its resolution 44/76 of 8 December 1989 on elderly women, Economic and Social Council resolutions 1982/23 of 4 May 1982 on elderly women and the World Assembly on Ageing and 1986/26 of 23 May 1986 and 1989/38 of 24 May 1989 on elderly women, and resolution 36/4 of 20 March 1992 of the Commission on the Status of Women, on the integration of elderly women into development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 4 (E/1992/24), chap. I, sect. C. Recalling also the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. in particular their provisions regarding older women, Welcoming the convening of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, to be held at Madrid in April 2002, Aware that women constitute the majority of older populations in all regions of the world and represent an important human resource, whose contribution to society has not been fully recognized, Recognizing the increasing role of older women in taking the responsibility of providing care and assistance to victims of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in various regions of the world, particularly in developing countries, Affirming the dual challenges of ageing and disability, and affirming also that older persons have specific health needs and that, with the increase in life expectancy and the growing number of older women, their health concerns require particular attention and further research, Aware that few statistics are available on the situation of older women, and recognizing the importance of data, including data disaggregated by age and sex, as an essential element of planning and policy evaluations, Recognizing that women of all ages, in particular older women, continue to suffer from discrimination and lack of opportunities, Emphasizing that Governments bear the primary responsibility for creating an enabling environment for the economic and social development of their citizens, and noting with appreciation the valuable contributions of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in calling attention to the specific needs of older women, 1. Stresses the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective, taking into account the needs of older women, in policy and planning processes at all levels; 2. Also stresses the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of gender and age and ensure equal rights and their full enjoyment for women of all ages; 3. Urges Governments and regional and international organizations, including the United Nations system in cooperation with civil society, including the non-governmental organizations concerned, to promote programmes for healthy active ageing that stress the independence, equality, participation and security of older women and undertake gender-specific research and programmes to address their needs; 4. Emphasizes the need for Governments and regional and international organizations, including the United Nations system and the international financial institutions, to develop and improve the collection, analysis and dissemination of data disaggregated by age and sex; 5. Urges Governments to take measures to enable all older women to be engaged actively in all aspects of life, as well as to assume a variety of roles in communities, public life and decision-making, and to develop and implement policies and programmes in cooperation with civil society, including the non-governmental organizations concerned, to ensure their full enjoyment of human rights and quality of life, as well as to address their needs, with a view to contributing to the realization of a society for all ages; 6. Invites Governments, the United Nations system and international organizations to consider, in their development planning, the increasing responsibilities of older women in providing care and assistance to victims of HIV/AIDS; 7. Invites Governments and the United Nations system to give attention to the situation of older women in the context of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, to be held at Madrid in April 2002, including the integration of a gender perspective into the outcome document. RESOLUTION 56/127 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zambia. 56/127. Improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 1 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as Article 8, which provides that the United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs, Recalling also the goal, contained in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. of achieving overall gender equality, particularly at the Professional level and above, by 2000 and the further actions and initiatives set out in the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Recalling further its resolution 55/69 of 4 December 2000 on the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/50 of 24 April 2001 on integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. in particular paragraph 13, in which the Commission recognizes that gender mainstreaming will strongly benefit from the enhanced and full participation of women, including at the higher levels of decision-making in the United Nations system, Welcoming the decision of the Secretary-General to include, in the performance appraisal of managers, information on the opportunities presented for the selection of women candidates and on progress made in improving women's representation, including efforts made to identify women candidates, Welcoming also the proposed system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women, 2002-2005, as recommended to the Economic and Social Council by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-fifth session,Ibid., Supplement No. 7 (E/2001/27), chap. I, sect. B, resolution 45/3. Taking into account the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, including least developed countries and small island developing States, and from countries with economies in transition, Noting with appreciation those departments and offices that have achieved the goal of gender balance, as well as those departments that have met or exceeded the goal of 50 per cent in the selection of women candidates for vacant posts in the past year, Welcoming the progress made in maintaining and improving the representation of women at some levels of the Secretariat, in particular in the category of geographical appointments, and welcoming the fact that the percentage of women appointed and promoted in the Secretariat has been maintained or increased, but expressing concern that progress in improving the representation of women at the senior and policy-making levels has been negligible, Expressing concern that there are currently no women acting as special representatives or envoys, Noting that the statistics on the representation of women in the organizations of the United Nations system are not fully up to date, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/472. and the actions described therein; 2. Reaffirms the urgent goal of achieving 50/50 gender distribution in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at senior and policy-making levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and also taking into account the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 3. Welcomes: (a) The ongoing personal commitment of the Secretary-General to meeting the goal of gender equality and his assurance that gender balance will be given the highest priority in his continuing efforts to bring about a new management culture in the Organization, including full implementation of the special measures for the achievement of gender equality;ST/AI/1999/9. (b) The pledge of the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their efforts to meet the gender equality goals set out in the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for Action;Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. (c) The inclusion of the objective of improving gender balance in action plans on human resources management for individual departments and offices, and encourages further cooperation, including the sharing of best-practice initiatives, between heads of departments and offices, the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat in the implementation of those plans, which include specific targets and strategies for improving the representation of women in individual departments; (d) The continuing designation of focal points for women in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the focal points are designated at a sufficiently high level and enjoy full access to senior management in the mission area and at Headquarters; (e) The continued provision of specific training programmes on gender mainstreaming and gender issues in the workplace, tailored to meet the special needs of individual departments, commends those heads of departments and offices who have launched gender training for their managers and staff, and strongly encourages those who have not yet organized such training to do so by the end of the biennium; 4. Regrets that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution was not met by the end of 2000, and urges the Secretary-General to redouble his efforts to realize significant progress towards this goal in the near future; 5. Expresses concern that, in five departments and offices of the Secretariat, women still account for less than 30 per cent of staff, and encourages the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to meet the goal of gender balance within all departments and offices of the Secretariat; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to achieve and maintain the goal of 50/50 gender distribution with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter: (a) To develop innovative recruitment strategies to identify and attract suitably qualified women candidates, particularly from and in developing countries and countries with economies in transition and other Member States that are unrepresented or underrepresented in the Secretariat, and in occupations in which women are underrepresented; (b) To encourage the United Nations system and its agencies and departments to make more effective use of existing information technology resources and systems and other established methods to disseminate information about employment opportunities for women and to better coordinate rosters of potential women candidates; (c) To continue to monitor closely the progress made by departments and offices in meeting the goal of gender balance, to ensure that the appointment and promotion of suitably qualified women will be no less than 50 per cent of all appointments and promotions until the goal of 50/50 gender distribution is met, including through full implementation of the special measures for women, and to effectively encourage, monitor and assess the performance of managers in meeting targets for improving women's representation; (d) To enable the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women to monitor effectively and facilitate progress in the implementation of the strategic action plans for the achievement of gender balance and the special measures for women, including by ensuring access to the information required to carry out that work; (e) To intensify his efforts to create, within existing resources, a gender-sensitive work environment supportive of the needs of his staff, both women and men, including through the development of policies for flexible working time, flexible workplace arrangements and childcare and elder-care needs, as well as through the provision of more comprehensive information to prospective candidates and new recruits on employment opportunities for spouses, the provision of support for the activities of women's networks and organizations within the United Nations system and the expansion of gender-sensitivity training in all departments, offices and duty stations; (f) To strengthen further the policy against harassment, including sexual harassment, by, inter alia, ensuring the full implementation of the guidelines for its application at Headquarters and in the field, including in peacekeeping operations; 7. Strongly encourages the Secretary-General to renew his efforts to appoint more women as special representatives and envoys to pursue good offices on his behalf, especially in matters related to peacekeeping, peace-building, preventive diplomacy and economic and social development, as well as in operational activities, including appointment as resident coordinators, and to appoint more women to other high-level positions; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to continue to develop common approaches for retaining women, promoting inter-agency mobility and improving career development opportunities; 9. Encourages the United Nations and Member States to continue to implement the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" pertaining to the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system;Resolution S-23/3, annex. 10. Strongly encourages Member States: (a) To support the efforts of the United Nations and the specialized agencies to achieve the goal of 50/50 gender distribution, especially at senior and policy-making levels, by identifying and regularly submitting more women candidates for appointment to positions in the United Nations system, by identifying and proposing national recruitment sources that will assist the organizations of the United Nations system in identifying suitable women candidates, in particular from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and by encouraging more women to apply for positions within the Secretariat, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes and the regional commissions, including in areas in which women are underrepresented, such as peacekeeping, peace-building and other non-traditional areas; (b) To identify women candidates for assignment to peacekeeping missions and to improve the representation of women in military and civilian police contingents; (c) To identify and submit regularly more women candidates for appointment or election to intergovernmental, expert and treaty bodies; (d) To identify and nominate more women candidates for appointment or election as judges or other senior officials in international courts and tribunals; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution, including by providing up-to-date statistics on the number and percentage of women in all organizational units and at all levels throughout the United Nations system, and on the implementation of departmental action plans for the achievement of gender balance, to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-sixth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/128 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/128. Traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 54/133 of 17 December 1999 and its other relevant resolutions and decisions, and bearing in mind those of the Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Taking note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl childE/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/27. and of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2001/73 and Add.1 and 2. Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, and emphasizing the obligations contained in human rights instruments, in particular articles 5 and 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Bearing in mind article 2 (a) of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. and article 5, paragraph 5, of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,See resolution 36/55. Recalling the provisions pertaining to traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls contained in the outcome of the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-first,Resolution S-21/2, annex. twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-sixthResolution S-26/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, Recalling also general recommendation 14 concerning female circumcision adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women at its ninth session,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 38 and corrigendum (A/45/38 and Corr.1), chap. IV, para. 438. paragraphs 11, 20 and 24 (l) of general recommendation 19 concerning violence against women adopted by the Committee at its eleventh session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/47/38), chap. I. paragraphs 15 (d) and 18 of general recommendation 24 concerning article 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on women and health adopted by the Committee at its twentieth session,Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/54/38/Rev.1), part one, chap. I, sect. A. and taking note of paragraphs 21, 35 and 51 of general comment No. 14 (2000) concerning article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its twenty-second session,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 2 (E/2001/22), annex IV. Reaffirming that harmful traditional or customary practices, including female genital mutilation, constitute a serious threat to the health of women and girls, and may have fatal consequences, Expressing concern at the continuing large-scale existence of these practices, Reaffirming that such harmful traditional or customary practices constitute a definite form of violence against women and girls and a serious violation of their human rights, Emphasizing that the elimination of harmful traditional or customary practices will contribute to reducing the vulnerability of women and girls to the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections, Stressing that the elimination of such practices requires greater efforts and commitment from Governments, the international community and civil society, including non-governmental and community-based organizations, and that fundamental changes in societal attitudes are required, Noting with appreciation the work done in the context of the Organization of African Unity to prepare a draft protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' RightsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1520, No. 26363. on the rights of women in Africa, Welcoming the call for the elimination of all harmful traditional practices which are detrimental to girls' and women's rights and health made by the Pan-African Forum on the Future of Children, held in Cairo from 28 to 31 May 2001,See A/S-27/4, annex, para. 32 (g). 1. Welcomes: (a) The report of the Secretary-General,A/56/316. which provides encouraging examples of national and international developments; (b) The efforts undertaken by United Nations bodies, programmes and organizations, including the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, to address the issue of traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, and encourages them to continue to coordinate their efforts; (c) The work carried out by the Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation of the United Nations Population Fund and her continuing contribution to the campaign to eliminate female genital mutilation; (d) The work carried out by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children and other non-governmental and community organizations, including women's organizations, in raising awareness of the harmful effects of such practices, in particular of female genital mutilation; (e) The fact that the elimination of harmful traditional or customary practices will be considered during the special session of the General Assembly on children; 2. Emphasizes the need for technical and financial assistance to those developing countries working to achieve the elimination of traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls from United Nations funds and programmes, international and regional financial institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as the need for assistance to non-governmental organizations and community-based groups active in this field from the international community; 3. Calls upon all States: (a) To ratify or accede to, if they have not yet done so, the relevant human rights treaties, in particular the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 54/4, annex. and to respect and implement fully their obligations under any such treaties to which they are parties; (b) To implement the international commitments made at relevant major United Nations conferences and special sessions and summit meetings of the General Assembly held since 1990 and their follow-up processes; (c) To collect and disseminate basic data about the occurrence of traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, including female genital mutilation; (d) To develop, adopt and implement national legislation, policies, plans and programmes that prohibit traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, including female genital mutilation, and to prosecute the perpetrators of such practices; (e) To establish, if they have not done so, a concrete national mechanism for the implementation and monitoring of relevant legislation, law enforcement and national policies; (f) To establish or strengthen support services to respond to the needs of victims by, inter alia, developing comprehensive and accessible sexual and reproductive health services and by providing training to health-care providers at all levels on the harmful health consequences of such practices; (g) To address specifically in the training of health and other relevant personnel traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, also addressing the increased vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections due to such practices; (h) To take all necessary measures to empower women and strengthen their economic independence and protect and promote the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to allow women and girls better to protect themselves from, inter alia, traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls; (i) To intensify efforts to raise awareness of and to mobilize international and national public opinion concerning the harmful effects of traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, including female genital mutilation, inter alia, by involving public opinion leaders, educators, religious leaders, chiefs, traditional leaders, medical practitioners, teachers, women's health and family planning organizations, social workers, childcare agencies, relevant non-governmental organizations, the arts and the media in awareness-raising campaigns, in order to achieve the total elimination of those practices; (j) To address traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls in education curricula, as appropriate; (k) To promote men's understanding of their roles and responsibilities with regard to promoting the elimination of harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation; (l) To continue to take specific measures to increase the capacity of communities, including immigrant and refugee communities, in which female genital mutilation is practised, to engage in activities aimed at preventing and eliminating such practices; (m) To explore, through consultations with communities and religious and cultural groups and their leaders, alternatives to harmful traditional or customary practices, in particular where those practices form part of a ritual ceremony or rite of passage, as well as through alternative training and education possibilities for traditional practitioners; (n) To cooperate closely with the Special Rapporteur of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on traditional practices affecting the health of women and the girl child, in particular by supplying all necessary information requested by her and by giving serious consideration to inviting her to visit their countries; (o) To cooperate closely with relevant specialized agencies and United Nations funds and programmes, as well as with regional intergovernmental organizations, as appropriate, and relevant community and non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations, in a joint effort to eradicate traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls; (p) To include in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and other relevant treaty bodies specific information on measures taken to eliminate traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls, including female genital mutilation, and to prosecute the perpetrators of such practices; 4. Invites: (a) Relevant specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to exchange information on the subject of the present resolution, and encourages the exchange of such information between non-governmental organizations active in this field and the bodies monitoring the implementation of relevant human rights treaties; (b) The Commission on the Status of Women to address this subject at its forty-seventh session under the priority theme "Women's human rights and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls as defined in the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly"; (c) Governments, organizations and individuals that are in a position to do so to contribute to the trust fund that supports the work of the Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation of the United Nations Population Fund; 5. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to make his report available to relevant meetings within the United Nations system; (b) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, with a special focus on recent national and international developments, including examples of national best practices and international cooperation. RESOLUTION 56/129 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/129. Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/135 of 17 December 1999, Recalling also the importance attached to the problems of rural women by the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.85.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. Welcoming the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", namely, the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved, inter alia, to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable, Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, Noting that some effects of globalization may deepen the socio-economic marginalization of rural women, Noting also that the globalization process has had some benefits by providing opportunities for wage employment for rural women in new sectors, Mindful of the fact that the available data and existing tools of measurement and analysis are insufficient for a full understanding of the gender implications of the processes of globalization and rural change, and their impact on rural women, Recognizing the urgent need to take appropriate measures aimed at further improving the situation of women in rural areas, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/268. 2. Welcomes the holding, from 4 to 8 June 2001 at Ulaanbaatar, of the expert group meeting on the situation of rural women within the context of globalization; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a user-friendly publication based, inter alia, on case studies presented at the expert group meeting referred to in paragraph 2 above in order to raise awareness of the situation of rural women in the context of globalization; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the desirability of convening a high-level policy consultation at the governmental level with a view to setting priorities and developing critical strategies that would meet the manifold challenges faced by rural women; 5. Welcomes the convening of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in September 2002, including the review of chapter 24 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. entitled "Global action for women towards sustainable and equitable development", entailing, inter alia, measures to improve the situation of women in rural areas, and the World Food Summit: five years later, to be held in Italy in June 2002, and urges Governments to integrate a gender perspective, with attention to the improvement of the situation of women in rural areas, in the respective processes and outcome documents; 6. Invites Member States, in collaboration with the organizations of the United Nations and civil society, as appropriate, to continue their efforts to implement the outcome of and to ensure an integrated and coordinated follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including their five-year reviews, and to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women in their national, regional and global development strategies by, inter alia: (a) Creating an enabling environment for improving the situation of rural women, including integrating a gender perspective in macroeconomic policies and developing appropriate social support systems; (b) Designing and revising laws to ensure that, where private ownership of land and property exists, rural women are accorded full and equal rights to own land and other property, including through the right to inheritance, and undertaking administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital, appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; (c) Taking steps towards ensuring that women's unpaid work and contributions to on-farm and off-farm production, including income generated in the informal sector, are visible, and assessing the feasibility of developing and improving mechanisms, such as time-use studies, to measure in quantitative terms unpaid work, recognizing the potential for it to be reflected in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes at the national and regional levels; (d) Investing in and strengthening efforts to meet the basic needs of rural women through capacity-building and human resources development measures and the provision of a safe and reliable water supply, health services, including family planning services, and nutritional programmes as well as education and literacy programmes and social support measures; (e) Pursuing the political and socio-economic empowerment of rural women by supporting their full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels, including in rural institutions through, inter alia, the provision of training and capacity-building programmes, including legal literacy; (f) Promoting programmes to enable rural women and men to reconcile their work and family responsibilities and to encourage men to share equally with women household and childcare responsibilities; (g) Integrating a gender perspective into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development policies and programmes with an emphasis on reducing the disproportionate number of rural women living in poverty; (h) Designing and implementing policies that promote and protect the enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and creating an environment that does not tolerate violations of the rights of women and girls; (i) Developing specific assistance programmes and advisory services to promote economic skills of rural women in banking, modern trading and financial procedures and providing microcredit and other financial and business services to a greater number of women in rural areas for their economic empowerment; 7. Invites the Commission on the Status of Women to pay due attention to the situation of rural women in the consideration of the priority themes identified in its multi-year programme of work for the period 2002-2006; 8. Invites the relevant organizations of the United Nations system dealing with issues of development to address and support the empowerment of rural women and their specific needs in their programmes and strategies, including in the context of globalization; 9. Stresses the need to identify the best practices for ensuring that rural women have access to and full participation in the area of information and communications technologies, inter alia, through specific studies, and invites the International Telecommunication Union to consider this matter in connection with the preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/12 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 28 November 2001, by a recorded vote of 121 to 1, with 4 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.17 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Turkey Abstaining: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela 56/12. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33 of 24 November 1999, 55/7 of 30 October 2000 and other relevant resolutions adopted subsequent to the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention")See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). on 16 November 1994, Recalling also its resolution 2749 (XXV) of 17 December 1970, and considering that the Convention, together with the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement"),Resolution 48/263, annex. provides the regime to be applied to the Area and its resources as defined in the Convention, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention and its fundamental importance for the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security, as well as for the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Conscious of the importance of increasing the number of States parties to the Convention and the Agreement in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, Conscious also that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Convinced of the need, building on arrangements established in accordance with the Convention, to improve coordination at the national level and cooperation and coordination at both intergovernmental and inter-agency levels, in order to address all aspects of oceans and seas in an integrated manner, Recognizing the important role that the competent international organizations have in relation to ocean affairs, in implementing the Convention and in promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Recalling that the role of international cooperation and coordination on a bilateral basis and, where applicable, within a subregional, interregional, regional or global framework is to support and supplement the national efforts of all States, including coastal States, to promote the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, Mindful of the importance of the oceans and seas for the earth's ecosystem and for providing the vital resources for food security and for sustaining economic prosperity and the well-being of present and future generations, Bearing in mind the contribution that major groups, as identified in Agenda 21, can make to raising awareness of the goal of the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Underlining once again the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/58 and Add.1. and reaffirming the importance of the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review, Taking note also of the report on the work of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process ("the Consultative Process") established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 in order to facilitate the annual review by the Assembly of developments in ocean affairs at its second meeting,See A/56/121. Bearing in mind that marine science, by improving knowledge, through sustained research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world's marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict, mitigate the effects of and respond to natural events, and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reaffirming the need to achieve the effective application of marine scientific knowledge and technology, through cooperation at the regional and global levels, by ensuring access of decision makers to relevant advice and information, as well as to the transfer of technology and support for the production and diffusion of factual data and knowledge for end-users, as appropriate, taking fully into account socio-economic factors and traditional ecological knowledge, Emphasizing the urgent need for cooperation at the international level to address the issue of the acquisition, generation and transfer of marine scientific data to assist coastal developing States, Convinced of the need to develop, where appropriate, a strong regional focus in marine scientific research and technology, through existing regional organizations, arrangements and programmes, so as to ensure the most effective use of the available resources and the protection and preservation of the marine environment, particularly by avoiding duplication and by achieving a holistic approach to the scientific study of the oceans and their resources, Expressing deep concern once again at the continued increase in the number of incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea, the harm they cause to seafarers, and the threats they pose to the safety of shipping and to the other uses of the sea, including marine scientific research and, consequently, to the marine and coastal environment, which are exacerbated further by the involvement of transnational organized crime, Emphasizing, in this context, the need for the capacity-building and cooperation of all States and relevant international bodies at both the regional and global levels, as well as the business sectors, to prevent and combat piracy and armed robbery at sea, Recognizing the importance of enhancing the safety of navigation, the need to provide accurate and up-to-date charts of world oceans in order to promote maritime safety, and the need to build hydrographic capacity, in particular for those States that do not yet have adequate hydrographic services, Reiterating its serious concern at the increase in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and recognizing the importance of combating such activities, particularly by strengthening bilateral cooperation, as well as through the relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and through the implementation of appropriate enforcement measures, Expressing its deep concern once again at the degradation of the marine environment, particularly from land-based activities, and emphasizing the need for international cooperation and for a coordinated approach at the national and regional levels to this problem, bringing together the many different economic sectors involved and protecting the ecosystems, and in this context reaffirming the importance of ensuring the full implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,A/51/116, annex II. Reiterating its concern also at the adverse impacts on the marine environment from ships, including pollution, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances and by the dumping of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, as well as the physical impacts on coral, Welcoming resolution GC(45)/RES/10 adopted on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fifth regular session, concerning measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety, including those aspects relating to maritime transport safety,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17-21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). Bearing in mind the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, and emphasizing the importance, in the preparations for the Summit, of addressing the sustainable development of oceans and seas, Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and in this context the expected increase in responsibilities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in view of the progress in the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission") and the anticipated receipt of submissions from States, I. Implementation of the Convention 1. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the ConventionSee The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and the Agreement;Resolution 48/263, annex. 2. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention; 3. Calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention are in conformity therewith and, otherwise, to withdraw any of their declarations or statements that are not in conformity; 4. Encourages States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts and lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 5. Takes note of the imminent entry into force of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks;International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. II. Capacity-building 6. Urges the international community to assist, as appropriate, developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, in the acquisition of data and the preparation of charts or lists of geographical coordinates for publication under articles 16, 22, 47, 75 and 84 of the Convention and in the preparation of information under article 76 and annex II to the Convention; 7. Calls upon bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the rights of landlocked developing States; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the competent international organizations and programmes, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, the International Hydrographic Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Meteorological Organization and the World Bank, as well as representatives of regional development banks and the donor community, to review the efforts being made to build capacity as well as to identify the duplications that need to be avoided and the gaps that may need to be filled for ensuring consistent approaches, both nationally and regionally, with a view to implementing the Convention, and to include a section on this subject in his annual report on oceans and the law of the sea; III. Meeting of States Parties 9. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the twelfth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York from 16 to 26 April 2002 and to provide the services required; IV. Settlement of disputes 10. Notes with satisfaction the continued contribution of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, underlines its important role and authority concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, encourages States parties to the Convention to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, and invites States to note the provisions of annexes V, VI, VII and VIII to the Convention concerning, respectively, conciliation, the Tribunal, arbitration and special arbitration; 11. Recalls the obligations of parties under article 296 of the Convention, in cases before a court or a tribunal referred to in article 287 of the Convention, to ensure prompt compliance with the decisions rendered by such court or tribunal; 12. Encourages States that have not yet done so to nominate conciliators and arbitrators in accordance with annexes V and VII to the Convention, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to update and circulate lists of these conciliators and arbitrators on a regular basis; V. The Area 13. Notes with satisfaction the ongoing work of the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority"), including the issuance of contracts for exploration in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement and the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area;The contract with the remaining registered pioneer investor is expected to be issued in the very near future. 14. Notes the ongoing elaboration of recommendations for the guidance of contractors to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area, and notes that the Council of the Authority will continue to consider issues relating to regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts in the Area at the next session of the Authority, to be held in Kingston from 5 to 16 August 2002; VI. Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 15. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and to the Tribunal in full and on time, and appeals also to all former provisional members of the Authority to pay any outstanding contributions; 16. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalSPLOS/25. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;ISBA/4/A/8, annex. VII. The continental shelf 17. Notes with satisfaction the work of the Commission and its readiness to receive submissions by coastal States regarding the establishment of the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, and encourages concerned States and relevant international organizations and institutions to consider developing and making available training courses to assist States in the preparation of such submissions; 18. Takes note of the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention that, in the case of a State party for which the Convention entered into force before 13 May 1999, it is understood that the ten-year time period referred to in article 4 of annex II to the Convention shall be taken to have commenced on 13 May 1999;SPLOS/72. 19. Encourages States parties that are in a position to do so to make every effort to make submissions to the Commission within the time period established by the Convention; 20. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the tenth session of the Commission in New York starting on 25 March 2002, of a duration of three weeks in the event of a submission being filed, or of one week, depending on the workload of the Commission, of the eleventh session from 24 to 28 June 2002, and of the twelfth session from 26 to 30 August 2002; VIII. Marine science and technology 21. Stresses the importance of the issues of marine science and technology and the need to focus on how best to implement the many obligations of States and competent international organizations under Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention, and calls upon States to adopt, as appropriate and in accordance with international law, such national laws, regulations, policies and procedures as are necessary to promote and facilitate marine scientific research and cooperation, especially those relating to consent for marine scientific research projects as provided for in the Convention; 22. Calls upon States, through national and regional institutions, to ensure that, in respect of marine scientific research conducted pursuant to Part XIII of the Convention in areas over which a coastal State has jurisdiction, the rights of the coastal State under the Convention are respected and that, at the request of the coastal State, information, reports, results, conclusions and assessments of data, samples and research results are made available, and access to data and samples are provided, to that coastal State; 23. Invites the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to request its Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea to work, in close cooperation with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat and in consultation with relevant regional or subregional organizations as appropriate, on the development of procedures under Part XIII of the Convention; 24. Invites the relevant United Nations agencies to continue to promote various ocean science programmes, strengthen the coordination among such programmes and develop rules, regulations and procedures within the framework of the Convention so as to facilitate the effective implementation of the programmes; 25. Urges relevant bodies of the United Nations system to develop, with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission acting as a focal point, appropriate interactions in the field of marine science with regional fisheries organizations, environmental and scientific bodies or regional centres foreseen by Part XIV of the Convention, and encourages States to establish, where appropriate, such regional centres; 26. Calls upon States, through national and regional institutions engaged in marine scientific research, to ensure that the knowledge resulting from marine scientific research and monitoring is made available in a user-friendly data format, especially to developing countries, so that it can be employed by decision makers and resource managers with a view to the effective application of marine research knowledge and technology; 27. Stresses the importance of increasing the scientific understanding of the oceans/atmosphere interface and other factors required for an integrated ecosystem-based approach to the management of oceans and coastal areas, including through participation in ocean observing programmes and geographic information systems; 28. Calls upon States, through bilateral, regional and international financial organizations and technical partnerships, to continue to strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training the necessary skilled personnel, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels, and transferring environmentally sound technologies; IX. Piracy and armed robbery 29. Urges all States and relevant international bodies to prevent and combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including assisting with capacity-building, for prevention, for reporting and investigating incidents, and for bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, in particular through training seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel, providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 30. Welcomes initiatives of the International Maritime Organization and Governments aimed at enhancing international cooperation, particularly at the regional level, and encourages the development by Governments, based on mutual trust, of a common approach to enforcement, investigation and prosecution in dealing with piracy and armed robbery at sea; 31. Calls upon States and private entities concerned to cooperate fully with the International Maritime Organization, including by submitting reports on incidents to the organization and by implementing its guidelines on preventing attacks of piracy and armed robbery; 32. Urges States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and its Protocol,International Maritime Organization publication, Sales No. 462.88.12E. and to ensure its effective implementation, in particular through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate, aimed at ensuring that there is a proper framework for responses to incidents of armed robbery at sea; X. Safety of navigation 33. Invites the International Hydrographic Organization, in cooperation with other relevant international organizations and interested Member States, to provide the necessary assistance to States, in particular to developing countries, in order to enhance hydrographic capability to ensure, in particular, the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment; XI. Marine environment, marine resources and sustainable development 34. Welcomes the adoption by the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, and urges States to take, as a matter of priority, all necessary steps to implement it effectively, including through relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 35. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 36. Calls upon States to continue to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, as a means of implementing the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,A/51/116, annex II. and takes note of the review by the intergovernmental meeting in Montreal, Canada, from 26 to 30 November 2001; 37. Calls upon United Nations agencies and programmes identified in General Assembly resolution 51/189 of 16 December 1996 to continue to fulfil their roles in support of the Global Programme of Action, as well as to consult with Governments, representatives of the private sector, financial institutions and bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to review their involvement in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and to consider, inter alia, what international support is needed to help overcome the obstacles to the preparation and implementation of national and local action programmes and how they can participate actively in partnership-building with developing countries for the transfer of the requisite technology in accordance with the Convention, and taking into account the relevant parts of Agenda 21, capacity-building and funding for the implementation of the Global Programme of Action; 38. Calls upon States to take measures for the protection and preservation of coral reefs and to support international efforts in this regard, in particular the measures outlined in the 1998 Renewed Call to Action of the International Coral Reef Initiative and in decision V/3 adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its fifth meeting, held in Nairobi from 15 to 26 May 2000;See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23, annex III. 39. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring that adverse impacts on the marine environment are taken into account when assessing and evaluating development programmes and projects; 40. Once again urges States to take all practicable steps, in accordance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1340, No. 22484. to prevent pollution of the marine environment from ships and, in accordance with the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter,Ibid., vol. 1046, No. 15749. to prevent pollution of the marine environment by dumping, and further calls upon States to become parties to and to implement the 1996 Protocol to the 1972 Convention;IMO/LC.2/Circ.380. 41. Urges States to continue to work, through the International Maritime Organization, on issues relating to the protection of the marine environment from degradation resulting from ship-based activities, including the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens through ships' ballast water, and notes the adoption of the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships;International Maritime Organization, document AFS/CONF.26. 42. Encourages coastal States to enhance their national capacity and establish or improve their marine management systems in order to promote integrated marine management, the protection of the marine environment and ecosystem, and the sustainable development and utilization of marine resources, and invites the relevant agencies of the United Nations system and regional organizations to take effective measures to assist the coastal States in this regard; XII. Underwater cultural heritage 43. Takes note of the adoption by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; XIII. Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 44. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Programme on the Law of the Sea established by the General Assembly in its resolution 35/116 of 10 December 1980 and to support the training activities under the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 45. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea,A/56/58 and Add.1. prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as for the other activities of the Division, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the mandate set forth in resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33; 46. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to him in the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for the performance of such responsibilities under the approved budget for the Organization; XIV. International coordination and cooperation 47. Reaffirms its decision to undertake an annual review and evaluation of the implementation of the Convention and other developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, taking into account resolution 54/33 establishing the consultative process to facilitate the review of developments in ocean affairs, and requests the Secretary-General to convene the third meeting of the Consultative Process in New York from 8 to 15 April 2002; 48. Recommends that, in view of the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea at its third meeting, the Consultative Process organize its discussions around the following areas: (a) Protection and preservation of the marine environment; (b) Capacity-building, regional cooperation and coordination, and integrated ocean management, as important cross-cutting issues to address ocean affairs, such as marine science and the transfer of technology, sustainable fisheries, the degradation of the marine environment and the safety of navigation; 49. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure more effective collaboration and coordination between the relevant parts of the Secretariat of the United Nations and the United Nations as a whole, in particular in ensuring the effectiveness, transparency and responsiveness of the mechanism for coordination on ocean issues,The mechanism for coordination at this time is the Subcommittee on Oceans and Coastal Areas of the Administrative Committee on Coordination, the status of which is currently under review as part of the reform of the machinery of the Administrative Committee on Coordination as a whole. and also requests the Secretary-General to include in his report specific suggestions on initiatives to improve coordination, in particular at the inter-agency level, in accordance with resolution 54/33, and encourages all United Nations bodies to help this process by drawing to the attention of the Secretariat and the Subcommittee on Oceans and Coastal Areas of the Administrative Committee on Coordination those areas of their work which may, directly or indirectly, affect the work of other United Nations bodies; 50. Also requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, drawing their attention to paragraphs of particular relevance to them, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 51. Invites the competent international organizations, as well as funding institutions, to take specific account of the present resolution in their programmes and activities, and to contribute to the preparation of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea; XV. Trust funds 52. Recognizes the importance of the trust funds established by the Secretary-General pursuant to General Assembly resolution 55/7 for the purpose of assisting States in the settlement of disputes through the Tribunal,See resolution 55/7, para. 9. and of assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission in compliance with article 76 of the Convention,Ibid., para. 18. in defraying the cost of participation of Commission members in the meetings of the Commission,Ibid., para. 20. and in attending the meetings of the Consultative Process;Ibid., para. 45. and invites States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to these trust funds; XVI. Fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly 53. Decides to devote two days of plenary meetings at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, on 9 and 10 December 2002, to the consideration of the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea" and the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Convention, and encourages Member States and observers to be represented at the highest possible level; 54. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution, including other developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, in connection with his annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, and to provide the report in accordance with the modalities set out in resolution 54/33; 55. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". RESOLUTION 56/130 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. 56/130. United Nations Development Fund for Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 39/125 of 14 December 1984, in which it established the United Nations Development Fund for Women as a separate and identifiable entity in autonomous association with the United Nations Development Programme, as well as its resolutions 52/94 of 12 December 1997 and 54/136 of 17 December 1999, Recalling also the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. which recognizes the special role of the Fund in the promotion of the empowerment of women and calls upon the Fund to review and strengthen its work programme in the light of the Platform for Action, focusing on the political and economic empowerment of women, Welcoming the contributions that the Fund has made in supporting initiatives of Member States, United Nations organizations and non-governmental organizations to formulate and implement activities that promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, concentrating on three thematic areas, namely, strengthening women's economic capacity, engendering governance and leadership and promoting women's human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence against women, Recalling and reaffirming the commitments made at United Nations world conferences and summit meetings and special sessions of the General Assembly held since 1990 and their follow-up processes, Noting the importance of the work of the Consultative Committee on the United Nations Development Fund for Women in policy and programme directions, as stipulated in the annex to resolution 39/125, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the note by the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women;A/56/174. 2. Encourages the Fund to continue to assist, in its areas of expertise, in the implementation of commitments made at the Fourth World Conference on Women and at the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"; 3. Commends the focus by the Fund on strategic programmes in its three thematic areas and on supporting innovative and experimental activities in implementing its strategy and business plan (2000-2003)DP/2000/15 and Add.1. within the context of the Beijing Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;Resolution S-23/3, annex. 4. Notes with appreciation the increased synergy between the United Nations Development Fund for Women and other funds, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Secretariat, and calls upon these entities to continue their collaborative efforts; 5. Notes the ability of the Fund to execute projects and programmes on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme in order to fulfil their respective mandates as well as their individual and common purposes; 6. Also notes the activities undertaken by the Fund in follow-up to General Assembly resolution 54/136, including activities relating to the impact of armed conflict on women and the role of women in peace-building, and the support it provides for the participation of women in peace processes, and in this regard encourages the Fund to continue to consult with Member States on these activities; 7. Emphasizes the importance of the Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women and its learning component in extracting and sharing good practices with respect to the elimination of violence against women, and reiterates the call to Governments, non-governmental organizations and the public and private sectors to consider contributing or increasing contributions to the Trust Fund; 8. Encourages the Fund to continue to contribute to ensuring that a gender perspective is integrated into a comprehensive approach to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at all levels of the three thematic areas of the Fund, in particular in the follow-up to the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, building on its partnerships within the United Nations system, in particular with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; 9. Also encourages the Fund to support the development or strengthening of mechanisms to increase accountability for gender equality, at the request of countries, including by building the capacity of Governments to undertake gender-responsive budget analysis; 10. Urges the Fund to continue its efforts to mainstream a gender perspective in United Nations operational activities, including through the resident coordinator system and the common country assessment and United Nations Development Assistance Framework processes; 11. Welcomes the role of the Fund in promoting the strategic importance of the empowerment of women in all of the regions in which it operates, and notes with appreciation the enhanced programme activities of the Fund in the African region; 12. Encourages the Fund to continue to assist Governments in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. in order to advance gender equality at all levels, including by reinforcing the cooperation between Governments and civil society, especially women's organizations; 13. Recognizes that the Fund has been able to secure increased contributions for its work, and expresses its appreciation to Member States and private organizations and foundations, whose increased contributions demonstrate their commitment to the issues on which the Fund is working; 14. Expresses its appreciation for the work of the national committees for the Fund, and encourages them, with appropriate support from the Fund, to increase their capacity and intensify their outreach to civil society and the private sector in terms of building broad-based visibility and mobilizing resources for the work of the Fund; 15. Urges Member States, non-governmental organizations and members of the private sector that have contributed to the Fund to continue to contribute and to consider increasing their financial contributions, and urges others to consider contributing to the Fund. RESOLUTION 56/131 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Republic of Tanzania. 56/131. Violence against women migrant workers The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on violence against women migrant workers and those adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. Reaffirming the outcome of the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, specifically as the results pertain to women migrant workers, Noting the various activities initiated by entities in the United Nations system, such as the expert group meeting organized by the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the International Organization for Migration, held at Geneva in August 1999, the international workshop on best practices concerning migrant workers and their families initiated by the International Organization for Migration, held at Santiago in June 2000, and the seminar on women immigrants organized by the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the Argentine National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, held at Buenos Aires in July 2001, as well as other activities that continue to assess and alleviate the plight of women migrant workers, Emphasizing the need for objective, comprehensive, broad-based information, possibly including a database for research and analysis, and a wide exchange of experience and lessons learned by individual Member States and civil society in the formulation of policies and concrete strategies to address the problem of violence against women migrant workers, Encouraging the continuing participation of civil society in developing and implementing appropriate measures to support innovative partnerships among public agencies, non-governmental organizations and other members of civil society for combating violence against women migrant workers, Noting the large numbers of women from developing countries and some countries with economies in transition who continue to venture forth to more affluent countries in search of a living for themselves and their families as a consequence of poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic conditions, and acknowledging the duty of the countries of origin to try to create conditions that provide employment and economic security for their citizens, Expressing deep concern at the continuing reports of grave abuses and acts of violence committed against women migrant workers, Realizing that the movement of a significant number of women migrant workers may be facilitated and made possible by means of fraudulent or irregular documentation and sham marriages with the object of migration, that this may be facilitated through, among others, the Internet, and that these women migrant workers are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, Acknowledging the economic benefits that accrue to both the country of origin and the country of destination from the employment of women migrant workers, Recognizing the importance of joint and collaborative approaches and strategies at the bilateral, regional, interregional and international levels in protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of women migrant workers, Recognizing also the importance of exploring the link between migration and trafficking, Encouraged by some measures adopted by some countries of destination to alleviate the plight of women migrant workers residing in their areas of jurisdiction, Underlining the important role of relevant United Nations treaty bodies in monitoring the implementation of human rights conventions and the relevant special procedures, within their respective mandates, in addressing the problem of violence against women migrant workers and in protecting and promoting their rights and welfare, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/329. 2. Also takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrantsE/CN.4/2001/83 and Add.1. and of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2001/73 and Add.1 and 2. with regard to violence against women migrant workers, and encourages them to continue to address the issue of violence against women migrant workers and their human rights, in particular the problem of gender-based violence and of discrimination, and trafficking in women; 3. Requests all Governments to continue to cooperate fully with both Special Rapporteurs in the performance of their tasks and mandated duties and to furnish all information requested, including by reacting promptly to the urgent appeals of the Special Rapporteurs; 4. Encourages Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to make available to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants information on violence against women migrant workers, with a view to requesting the Special Rapporteur to recommend concrete measures and actions to address the problem; 5. Also encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to enable her to fulfil the mandate effectively; 6. Urges concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to strengthen further their national efforts to protect and promote the rights and welfare of women migrant workers, including through sustained bilateral, regional, interregional and international cooperation, by developing strategies and joint action and taking into account the innovative approaches and experiences of individual Member States, and to establish and maintain continuing dialogues to facilitate the exchange of information; 7. Also urges concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to support and allocate appropriate resources for programmes aimed at strengthening preventive action, in particular information for target groups, education and campaigns to increase public awareness of this issue at the national and grass-roots levels, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations; 8. Notes with appreciation the adoption by Member States, including countries of origin, transit and destination, of measures to inform women migrant workers of their rights and the benefits to which they are entitled, and encourages other Member States to adopt appropriate measures in this regard; 9. Calls upon concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, if they have not done so, to put in place penal and criminal sanctions to punish perpetrators of violence against women migrant workers and, to the extent possible, to provide, and to encourage non-governmental organizations to provide, victims of violence with the full range of immediate assistance and protection, such as counselling, legal and consular assistance, temporary shelter and other measures that will allow them to be present during the judicial process, as well as to establish reintegration and rehabilitation schemes for returning women migrant workers to their countries of origin; 10. Encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to support and, if they have not done so, to formulate and implement training programmes for their law enforcers, prosecutors and service providers with a view to instilling among those public sector workers the necessary skills and attitude to ensure the delivery of proper and professional interventions for women migrant workers who are subjected to abuse and violence; 11. Also encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to adopt measures or strengthen existing ones to regulate the recruitment and deployment of women migrant workers, and to consider the adoption of appropriate legal measures against intermediaries who deliberately encourage the clandestine movement of workers and who exploit women migrant workers; 12. Invites Governments to identify the causes of undocumented migration and its economic, social and demographic impact, as well as its implications for the formulation and application of social, economic and migration policies, including those relating to women migrant workers; 13. Encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin, transit and destination, to avail themselves of the expertise of the United Nations, including the Statistics Division of the Secretariat and other relevant bodies, such as the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, to develop appropriate national data-collection methodologies that will generate comparable data on violence against women migrant workers as bases for research and analyses of the subject; 14. Encourages Member States to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to relevant International Labour Organization conventions and to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. as well as the Slavery Convention of 1926;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 212, No. 2861. 15. Welcomes the adoption by the General Assembly of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and ChildrenResolution 55/25, annex II. and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,Ibid., annex III. supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex I. and encourages Governments to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Protocols; 16. Encourages the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to consider developing a general recommendation on the situation of women migrant workers; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the problem of violence against women migrant workers and on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account updated information from the organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, as well as the International Organization for Migration and other relevant sources, including non-governmental organizations. RESOLUTION 56/132 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/577, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/132. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/203 of 22 December 1995, 51/69 of 12 December 1996, 52/100 of 12 December 1997, 53/120 of 9 December 1998, 54/141 of 17 December 1999 and 55/71 of 4 December 2000, Welcoming the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and stressing the importance of the outcome of the special session, which has assessed the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. identified obstacles and challenges thereto and proposed actions and initiatives to overcome them and achieve full and accelerated implementation, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session are important contributions to the advancement of women worldwide in the achievement of gender equality and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, as well as by non-governmental organizations, Stressing the importance of strong, sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels in order to achieve full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for the effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Welcoming the increased integration of a gender perspective in the work of the United Nations, in particular in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences, special sessions, summit conferences and their follow-up processes, Welcoming also the integration of a gender perspective in the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly, on the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), held in New York from 25 to 27 June 2001,Resolution S-26/2, annex. in particular the emphasis on the gender dimensions of the epidemic, and the recognition that gender equality and the empowerment of women are fundamental elements in the reduction of the vulnerability of women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, Welcoming further the integration of a gender perspective in the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, which recognized, inter alia, the multiple forms of discrimination faced by women and the need to apply a gender perspective in measures to eradicate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Emphasizing the importance of the decision by the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2001/41 of 26 July 2001, to devote the coordination segment of one of its substantive sessions, before 2005, to the review and appraisal of the system-wide implementation of agreed conclusions 1997/2 on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system, adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. Welcoming the ministerial declaration on the role of the United Nations system in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development, adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 18 July 2001 at the high-level segment of its substantive session of 2001,See A/56/3, chap. III, para. 29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. in which the Council recognized, inter alia, the need to promote the role of women in social and economic development, including by assuring their participation in political and economic life, Reaffirming the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality, while noting the importance of the open debate entitled "Women and peace and security", held in the Security Council on 24 October 2000, and its outcome, Welcoming the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto,Ibid., annexes II and III, and resolution 55/255, annex. 1. Reaffirms the goals, objectives and commitments contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and also in the political declaration and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session;Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;A/56/319 and Add.1. 3. Calls upon Governments, the relevant entities of the United Nations system within their respective mandates and all other relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to take effective action to achieve full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as elaborated in the above-mentioned documents; 4. Calls upon Governments, in collaboration with relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue to facilitate the translation and dissemination of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session as broadly and as accessibly as possible; 5. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 6. Welcomes the integration of a gender perspective in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and emphasizes the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in the implementation of and follow-up to the Millennium Declaration and in future reports on this subject; 7. Reaffirms its decision that the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, in accordance with their respective mandates and with General Assembly resolution 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and other relevant resolutions, constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism that plays the primary role in the overall policy-making and follow-up and in coordinating the implementation and monitoring of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 8. Also reaffirms that the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the twenty-third special session will be undertaken within the framework of an integrated and coordinated follow-up to major international conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, and in this regard takes note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/21 of 26 July 2001 on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits; 9. Requests the Economic and Social Council to intensify further its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of all United Nations activities, building upon agreed conclusions 1997/2 adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. 10. Invites the Council to continue to further policy coordination and inter-agency cooperation towards the achievement of the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, including by considering the dedication of specific segments of the Council to the advancement of women and implementation of the above-mentioned documents and by mainstreaming a gender perspective in all its work; 11. Encourages the Council to request the regional commissions, within their respective mandates and resources, to intensify efforts to build up a database, to be updated regularly, in which all programmes and projects carried out in their respective regions by agencies or organizations of the United Nations system are listed, and to facilitate their dissemination, as well as the evaluation of their impact on the empowerment of women through the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 12. Reaffirms that the Commission on the Status of Women has a central role in assisting the Council in monitoring, assessing progress made in and accelerating, within the United Nations system, the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and in advising the Council thereon, encourages the Commission, in this regard, further to enhance its working methods in order to improve the effectiveness of its work and its catalytic role in ensuring the integration of a gender perspective in United Nations activities, taking into consideration the adoption by the Council of the multi-year programme of work of the Commission for 2002-2006,See Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/4. and calls on the Commission and all involved to implement the programme of work; 13. Recognizes the importance attached to the regional and subregional monitoring of the global and regional platforms for action and of the implementation of the outcome of the twenty-third special session by regional commissions and other regional or subregional structures, within their mandates, in consultation with Governments, and calls for the promotion of further cooperation in that respect among Governments and, where appropriate, national machineries of the same region; 14. Reaffirms that, in order to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, in particular those in Africa and the least developed countries, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources, will also be required; 15. Recognizes that the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session in the countries with economies in transition requires continued national efforts and international cooperation and assistance; 16. Reaffirms that, in order to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, a reformulation of policies and reallocation of resources may be needed, but that some policy changes may not necessarily have financial implications; 17. Recognizes that the creation of an enabling environment at the national and international levels, including through the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making, is necessary to ensure the full participation of women in economic activities, and calls upon States to remove obstacles to the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 18. Reaffirms that, in order to ensure the effective implementation of the strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective, including through the work of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the maintenance of gender units and focal points; 19. Also reaffirms that United Nations bodies that focus on gender issues, such as the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, have an important role to play in the implementation of the objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 20. Welcomes the convening, in 2002, of the International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held at Monterrey, Mexico, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, to be held at Madrid, and the special session of the General Assembly on children, and urges Governments to integrate a gender perspective in the respective processes and outcome documents; 21. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by all relevant organizations of the United Nations system in promoting the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution; 22. Recognizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution, and urges the United Nations system and Governments to make further efforts in this regard and to take steps to ensure and support the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making and implementation in development activities and peace processes, including conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict reconstruction, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building, as well as through the integration of a gender perspective into those United Nations processes; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all United Nations personnel and officials at Headquarters and in the field, especially in field operations, receive training so that they mainstream a gender perspective in their work, including gender impact analysis, and to ensure appropriate follow-up to such training; 24. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that all programmes, medium-term plans and programme budgets visibly mainstream a gender perspective; 25. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. to include information on measures taken to implement the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as well as the Beijing Platform for Action, in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 18 of the Convention; 26. Welcomes the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 54/4, annex. and urges States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 27. Urges Member States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto,Ibid., annexes II and III, and resolution 55/255, annex. in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to disseminate the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session as widely as possible in all the official languages of the United Nations; 29. Also requests the Secretary-General to report annually to the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women on follow-up to and progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, with an assessment of progress made in mainstreaming a gender perspective within the United Nations system, including by providing information on key achievements, lessons learned and best practices, and to recommend further measures and strategies for future action within the United Nations system; 30. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled 'Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century' ". RESOLUTION 56/133 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/578, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname and Yugoslavia. 56/133. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decisions 2001/217 of 3 May 2001 and 2001/298 of 25 July 2001 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the requests regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the annex to the note verbale dated 21 January 1999 from the Permanent Mission of Guinea to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/1999/13. in the letter dated 3 November 2000 from the Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2001/4. in the annex to the letter dated 20 April 2001 from the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-GeneralE/2001/49. and in the note verbale dated 27 April 2001 from the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2001/52. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from fifty-seven to sixty-one States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session for 2002. RESOLUTION 56/134 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/578, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 56/134. Follow-up to the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/113 of 20 December 1993, 49/173 of 23 December 1994, 50/151 of 21 December 1995, 51/70 of 12 December 1996, 52/102 of 12 December 1997, 53/123 of 9 December 1998 and, in particular, 54/144 of 17 December 1999, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/472. Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/56/12). Reaffirming the importance and continuing validity of the Programme of Action, adopted in 1996 by the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States,A/51/341 and Corr.1, appendix. as a basic guiding tool for future activities, Recognizing the ongoing acuteness of the migration and displacement problems in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the necessity to follow up the Conference, Recalling the decision of the Steering Group of the Conference at its fifth meeting to continue activities in the process entitled "Follow-up to the 1996 Geneva Conference on the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Migration and Asylum Issues" for a period of five years, Welcoming the Work Plan for the Thematic Issues, prepared jointly by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe in accordance with the recommendations adopted by the Steering Group at its fifth meeting, Welcoming also the convening, at Kiev from 11 to 13 December 2000, of the first meeting of experts within the framework of the newly launched thematic process on citizenship and statelessness, as well as international efforts aimed at improving migration and border management, with due respect to refugee protection matters, and encouraging all lead agencies to continue to implement the Work Plan, Reaffirming the view of the Conference that the primary responsibility for tackling population displacement problems lies with the affected countries themselves and that these issues are to be regarded as national priorities, while at the same time recognizing the need for enhancing international support for the national efforts of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States aimed at the effective implementation of such responsibilities within the framework of the Programme of Action adopted by the Conference, Noting with satisfaction the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in developing strategies and practical tools for more effective capacity-building in countries of origin and enhancing programmes to address the needs of various categories of concern to the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Taking note of positive results emanating from the implementation of the Programme of Action, Convinced of the necessity of further strengthening practical measures and of continuing to maintain the regional approach for the achievement of effective implementation of the Programme of Action, Recalling that the protection and promotion of human rights and the strengthening of democratic institutions are essential to prevent mass population displacement, Mindful that adherence to the principles and the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action should be facilitated and can be ensured only through cooperation and coordinated activities undertaken in this respect by all interested States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other actors, 1. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/56/12). 2. Calls upon the Governments of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to strengthen their efforts and mutual cooperation relating to the follow-up to the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States, and welcomes the positive results achieved by them in the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the Conference;A/51/341 and Corr.1, appendix. 3. Invites all States that have not yet done so to accede to and implement fully the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees; 4. Calls upon States and interested international organizations, in a spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to provide appropriate forms and levels of support for activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 5. Invites international financial and other institutions to contribute to the financing of projects and programmes within the framework of such follow-up activities; 6. Invites the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States to intensify bilateral, subregional and regional cooperation in maintaining the balance of commitments and interests in such activities; 7. Calls upon the Governments of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States to continue to strengthen their commitment to the principles underpinning the Programme of Action, in particular principles of human rights and refugee protection, and to lend high-level political support to ensure the implementation of activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 8. Invites the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration to enhance their mutual relationship with other key international actors, such as the Council of Europe, the European Commission and human rights, development and financial institutions, in order better to address the wide-ranging and complex issues in activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 9. Welcomes the progress made in building civil society, in particular through the development of the non-governmental sector and the development of cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the Governments of a number of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and notes in this regard the relationship between adherence to the principles of the Programme of Action and success in promoting civil society, especially in the field of human rights; 10. Encourages the involvement of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the follow-up to the Conference, and invites them to demonstrate stronger support for the process of multinational constructive dialogue among a wide range of countries concerned; 11. Emphasizes the necessity of undertaking follow-up activities to the Programme of Action in relation to ensuring respect for human rights as an important factor in the management of migration flows, the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and stability; 12. Recognizes the importance of taking measures, on the basis of strict adherence to all of the principles of international law, including humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, to prevent situations that lead to new flows of refugees, displaced persons and other forms of involuntary displacement; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the progress achieved in the implementation of activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 14. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 56/135 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/578, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Uganda (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 56/135. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/77 of 4 December 2000, Recalling also the provisions of its resolution 2312 (XXII) of 14 December 1967, by which it adopted the Declaration on Territorial Asylum, Recalling further the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Recalling the Khartoum DeclarationA/54/682, annex I. and the Recommendations on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in AfricaIbid., annex II. adopted by the Organization of African Unity at the ministerial meeting held at Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998, Welcoming decision CM/Dec.598 (LXXIV) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-fourth ordinary session, held at Lusaka from 5 to 8 July 2001,See A/56/457, annex II. Welcoming also decision AHG/Dec.165 (XXXVII) on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held at Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001,Ibid., annex I. Noting that 2001 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. which, together with the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, Recognizing that the fundamental principles and rights embodied in those Conventions have provided a resilient protection regime within which millions of refugees have been able to find safety from armed conflicts and persecution, Recalling the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted by the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts convened by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000 on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention, and noting its endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session,See A/55/286, annex I, decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. Commending the First Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa of the Organization of African Unity, held at Grand-Baie, Mauritius, from 12 to 16 April 1999, and recalling the attention paid to issues relevant to refugees and displaced persons in the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the Conference, Recognizing the contributions made by African States to the development of regional standards for the protection of refugees and returnees, and noting with appreciation that countries of asylum are hosting refugees in a humanitarian spirit and in a spirit of African solidarity and brotherhood, Recognizing also the need for States to address resolutely the root causes of forced displacement and to create conditions that facilitate durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons, and stressing in this regard the need for States to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent, Convinced of the need to strengthen the capacity of States to provide assistance to and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons and of the need for the international community, within the context of burden-sharing, to increase its material, financial and technical assistance to countries affected by refugees, returnees and displaced persons, Acknowledging with appreciation that some assistance is already rendered by the international community to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and host countries in Africa, Noting with great concern that, despite all the efforts deployed so far by the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, Stressing that the provision of relief and assistance to African refugees by the international community should be on an equitable, non-discriminatory basis, Considering that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict and bear the brunt of atrocities and other consequences of conflict, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/335. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/56/12). 2. Notes with concern that the declining socio-economic situation, compounded by political instability, internal strife, human rights violations and natural disasters, has led to increased numbers of refugees and displaced persons in some countries of Africa, and remains particularly concerned about the impact of large-scale refugee populations on the security, socio-economic situation and environment of countries of asylum; 3. Encourages African States to ensure the full implementation of and follow-up to the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted by the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts convened by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. 4. Calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and the spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa; 5. Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since he assumed office in January 2001, and commends the Office of the High Commissioner for the ongoing efforts, with the support of the international community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 6. Notes the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, to be held at Geneva on 12 and 13 December 2001, and encourages African States parties to the Convention to participate actively in the event; 7. Welcomes the process of the Global Consultations on International Protection launched by the Office of the High Commissioner, which provides an important forum for open discussion on complex legal and operational protection issues, and in this context invites African States to continue to participate actively in this process so as to bring their regional perspective to bear, thus ensuring that adequate attention is paid to concerns that are specific to Africa; 8. Reaffirms that the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees, as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remain the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, encourages African States that have not yet done so to accede to those instruments, and calls upon States parties to the Conventions to reaffirm their commitment to their ideals and to respect and observe their provisions; 9. Notes the need for States to address the root causes of forced displacement in Africa, and calls upon African States, the international community and relevant United Nations organizations to take concrete action to meet the needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons for protection and assistance and to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight; 10. Notes also the link, inter alia, between human rights violations, poverty, natural disasters and environmental degradation and population displacement, and calls for redoubled and concerted efforts by States, in collaboration with the Organization of African Unity, to promote and protect human rights for all and to address these problems; 11. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, within their respective mandates, in the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 12. Notes with appreciation the ongoing mediation and conflict resolution efforts carried out by African States, the Organization of African Unity and subregional organizations, as well as the establishment of regional mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, and urges all relevant parties to address the humanitarian consequences of conflicts; 13. Expresses its appreciation and strong support for those African Governments and local populations that, in spite of the general deterioration of socio-economic and environmental conditions and overstretched national resources, continue to accept the additional burden imposed upon them by increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, in compliance with the relevant principles of asylum; 14. Expresses its concern about instances in which the fundamental principle of asylum is jeopardized by unlawful expulsion or refoulement or by threats to the life, physical security, integrity, dignity and well-being of refugees; 15. Calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements; 16. Deplores the deaths and injuries and other forms of violence sustained by staff members of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, to prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and to ensure their safety and security, calls upon States to investigate fully any crimes committed against humanitarian personnel and bring to justice persons responsible for such crimes, and calls upon organizations and aid workers to abide by the national laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate; 17. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the Organization of African Unity, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the international refugee protection system; 18. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities; 19. Reaffirms the right of return and also the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, and recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, as appropriate, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home; 20. Notes with satisfaction the voluntary return of millions of refugees to their homelands following the successful repatriation and reintegration operations carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner with the cooperation and collaboration of countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, and looks forward to other programmes to assist the voluntary repatriation and reintegration of all refugees in Africa; 21. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in a spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to the third-country resettlement requests of African refugees, and notes with appreciation that some African countries have offered resettlement places for refugees; 22. Welcomes the programmes carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner with host Governments, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and the international community to address the environmental impact of refugee populations; 23. Calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 24. Expresses its concern about the long stay of refugees in certain African countries, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to keep its programmes under review, in conformity with its mandate in the host countries, taking into account the increasing needs of refugees; 25. Emphasizes the need for the Office of the High Commissioner to collate statistics, on a regular basis, on the number of refugees living outside refugee camps in certain African countries, with a view to evaluating and addressing the needs of those refugees; 26. Urges the international community, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 27. Requests all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to meeting the special needs of refugee women and children and displaced persons, including those with special protection needs; 28. Calls upon States and the Office of the High Commissioner to make renewed efforts to ensure that the rights, needs and dignity of elderly refugees are fully respected and addressed through appropriate programme activities; 29. Expresses grave concern about the plight of internally displaced persons in Africa, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in this regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and urges the international community, led by relevant United Nations organizations, to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating the plight of internally displaced persons; 30. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", and to present an oral report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2002. RESOLUTION 56/136 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/578, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey and Yemen. 56/136. Assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/172 of 23 December 1994, 50/150 of 21 December 1995, 51/73 of 12 December 1996, 52/105 of 12 December 1997, 53/122 of 9 December 1998 and 54/145 of 17 December 1999, Aware of the fact that the majority of refugees are children and women, Bearing in mind that unaccompanied refugee minors are among the most vulnerable refugees and the most at risk of neglect, violence, forced military recruitment and sexual assault and therefore require special assistance and care, Mindful of the fact that the ultimate solution to the plight of unaccompanied minors is their return to and reunification with their families, Noting the revised Guidelines on Refugee Children issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in May 1994 and the development of an emergency kit to facilitate coordination and enhance the quality of responses to the needs of unaccompanied minors by the Office of the High Commissioner, the United Nations Children's Fund and non-governmental organizations, Noting with appreciation the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner and the United Nations Children's Fund in the identification and tracing of unaccompanied minors, and welcoming their efforts in reunifying families of refugees, Welcoming the efforts exerted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to reunite refugees with their families, Noting the efforts of the High Commissioner to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, including children and unaccompanied minors, and that further enhanced efforts need to be exerted to this effect, Recalling the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. and the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/333 and Corr.1. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict;See A/56/453. 3. Expresses its deep concern at the continuing plight of unaccompanied refugee minors, and emphasizes once again the urgent need for their early identification and for timely, detailed and accurate information on their number and whereabouts; 4. Stresses the importance of providing adequate resources for programmes of identification and tracing of unaccompanied minors; 5. Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in cooperation with other relevant United Nations bodies, to incorporate into its programmes policies that aim at preventing the separation of refugee families, conscious of the importance of family unity; 6. Calls upon all Governments, the Secretary-General, the Office of the High Commissioner, all United Nations organizations, other international organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned to exert the maximum effort to assist and protect refugee minors and to expedite the return and reunification with their families of unaccompanied refugee minors; 7. Urges the Office of the High Commissioner, all United Nations organizations, other international organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned to take appropriate steps to mobilize resources commensurate with the needs and interests of unaccompanied refugee minors and for their reunification with their families; 8. Calls upon all States and other parties to armed conflict to respect international humanitarian law, and in this regard calls upon States parties to respect fully the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and related instruments, bearing in mind resolution 2 adopted at the twenty-sixth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held at Geneva in December 1995, and to respect the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. which accord children affected by armed conflict special protection and treatment; 9. Condemns all acts of exploitation of unaccompanied refugee minors, including their use as soldiers or human shields in armed conflict and their forced recruitment into military forces, and any other acts that endanger their safety and personal security; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Children's Fund, other United Nations organizations and other international organizations to mobilize adequate assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors in the areas of relief, education, health and psychological rehabilitation; 11. Encourages the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in his efforts to raise awareness worldwide and mobilize official and public opinion for the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including refugee minors; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution and to give special attention in his report to the girl-child refugee. RESOLUTION 56/137 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/578, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/137. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/56/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-second sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/56/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees adopted since its establishment by the General Assembly,Resolution 428 (V). Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner since he assumed office in January 2001, and commending the staff and implementing partners of the Office of the High Commissioner for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-second session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/56/12/Add.1). 2. Welcomes the fiftieth anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. notes that the Convention and the 1967 Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. have continuously served as the cornerstone of the international refugee protection regime, and welcomes in this context the convening of a ministerial meeting of States parties as an expression of their collective commitment to full and effective implementation of the Convention and Protocol and the values they embody; 3. Reaffirms that the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol remain the foundation of the international refugee regime and recognizes the importance of their full application by States parties, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty-one States are now parties to one or both instruments, encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and States to strengthen their efforts to promote broader accession to those instruments and their full implementation, and underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement; 4. Notes that fifty-three States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsIbid., vol. 360, No. 5158. and that twenty-five States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his activities on behalf of stateless persons; 5. Welcomes the process of Global Consultations on International Protection launched by the Office of the High Commissioner, and acknowledges their importance as a forum for open discussion on complex legal and operational protection issues; 6. Reiterates that international protection is a dynamic and action-oriented function, carried out in cooperation with States and other partners, inter alia, to promote and facilitate the admission, reception and treatment of refugees and to ensure durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups; 7. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions; 8. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to enhancing the capacity of States and reducing the heavy burden borne by them, in particular by developing countries and countries with economies in transition that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations, especially in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 9. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to refugee problems, recalls that these solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, reaffirming that voluntary repatriation remains the preferred solution, supported by necessary rehabilitation and development assistance, to facilitate sustainable reintegration; 10. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon all States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 11. Recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential to the High Commissioner to discharge effectively his mandated functions on an equitable basis, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to the global appeal issued by his Office for requirements under its annual programme budget; 12. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, with that sustained support, to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it by its statute and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions regarding refugees and other persons of concern, in close cooperation with its relevant partners; 13. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his activities to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, and to include in his report the results of the Global Consultations on International Protection. RESOLUTION 56/138 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/579, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/138. The rights of the child The General Assembly, Reaffirming all of its resolutions on the rights of the child,Resolutions 50/153, 51/77, 52/107, 53/128 and 54/149. in particular resolutions 55/78 and 55/79 of 4 December 2000, and taking note with appreciation of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/75 of 25 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Considering the postponement of the special session of the General Assembly on children due to exceptional circumstances, Welcoming the progress made so far in the preparation of the special session of the General Assembly on children, including its outcome document, and reaffirming that the Assembly, at its special session, while reviewing the achievements in the implementation and results of the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. will make a renewed commitment and consider future action for children in the forthcoming decade, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "We the children: end-decade review of the follow-up to the World Summit for Children"A/S-27/3. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildA/56/203. and on children and armed conflict,A/56/342-S/2001/852. as well as the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict;See A/56/453. 2. Welcomes the fact that, as at 18 October 2001, ten States had become parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annex II. thereby allowing it to enter into force on 18 January 2002, and that, as at 12 November 2001, ten States had become parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Ibid., annex I. thereby allowing it to enter into force on 12 February 2002; 3. Welcomes also the adoption of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. as well as the large number of ratifications of International Labour Organization Convention No. 138, concerning the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and Convention No. 182, concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour; 4. Welcomes the convening of the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children at Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001, and the regional consultative meetings for its preparation, and invites Member States and observers to ensure their participation in the Congress at a high political level; 5. Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the rights of the child, containing information on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocols thereto; (b) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to submit to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights reports containing relevant information on the situation of children affected by armed conflict, bearing in mind the existing mandates and reports of relevant bodies; (c) To request the Secretary-General to conduct an in-depth study on the question of violence against children, taking into account the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on children, and to put forward recommendations for consideration by Member States for appropriate action, including effective remedies and preventive and rehabilitative measures; (d) To revert to its comprehensive consideration of this question at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children". RESOLUTION 56/139 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/579, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/139. The girl child The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/78 of 4 December 2000 and all relevant resolutions, including the agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women, in particular those relevant to the girl child, Recalling also all relevant United Nations conferences and the Declaration and Agenda for Action adopted by the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Stockholm from 27 to 31 August 1996,A/51/385, annex. as well as the outcome documents of the recent five-year reviews of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and DevelopmentResolution S-21/2, annex. and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access for girls to education, nutrition and physical and mental health care and in girls enjoying fewer of the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence than boys and often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual and economic exploitation and to violence and harmful practices, such as female infanticide, incest, early marriage, prenatal sex selection and female genital mutilation, Recognizing the need to achieve gender equality so as to ensure a just and equitable world for girls, Deeply concerned that, in situations of poverty, war and armed conflict, girl children are among the victims most affected and that thus their potential for full development is limited, Concerned that the girl child has furthermore become a victim of sexually transmitted diseases and the human immunodeficiency virus, which affect the quality of her life and leave her open to further discrimination, Reaffirming the equal rights of women and men as enshrined, inter alia, in the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Reaffirming also the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", Reaffirming further the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). Reaffirming the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session, Resolution S-26/2, annex. 1. Stresses the need for full and urgent implementation of the rights of the girl child as guaranteed to her under all human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. as well as the need for universal ratification of those instruments; 2. Urges States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 54/4, annex. 3. Welcomes the adoption of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflictResolution 54/263, annex I. and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., annex II. and invites States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocols as a matter of priority with a view to their entry into force as soon as possible; 4. Welcomes also the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative launched by the Secretary-General at the World Education Forum; 5. Urges all Governments and the United Nations system to strengthen efforts bilaterally and with international organizations and private sector donors in order to achieve the goals of the World Education Forum, in particular that of eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and to implement the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative as a means of reaching this goal, and reaffirms the commitment contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 6. Calls upon all States to take measures to address the obstacles that continue to affect the achievement of the goals set forth in the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. as contained in paragraph 33 of the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. where appropriate, including the strengthening of national mechanisms to implement policies and programmes for the girl child and, in some cases, to enhance coordination among responsible institutions for the realization of the human rights of girls, as indicated in the further actions and initiatives; 7. Urges all States to take all necessary measures and to institute legal reforms to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to take effective action against violations of those rights and freedoms and to base programmes and policies for the girl child on the rights of the child; 8. Urges States to enact and enforce strictly laws to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, to enact and enforce strictly laws concerning the minimum legal age of consent and the minimum age for marriage and to raise the minimum age for marriage where necessary; 9. Urges all States to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the commitment to implement the Beijing Platform for Action; 10. Also urges all States to enact and enforce legislation to protect girls from all forms of violence, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, female genital mutilation, rape, domestic violence, incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child prostitution and child pornography, and to develop age-appropriate safe and confidential programmes and medical, social and psychological support services to assist girls who are subjected to violence; 11. Calls upon all States and international and non-governmental organizations, individually and collectively, to implement further the Beijing Platform for Action, in particular the strategic objectives relating to the girl child and including the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 12. Urges States to take special measures for the protection of war-affected girls and in particular to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and gender-based violence, including rape and sexual abuse, torture, sexual exploitation, abduction and forced labour, paying special attention to refugee and displaced girls, and to take into account the special needs of the war-affected girl child in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes; 13. Urges all States and the international community to respect, protect and promote the rights of the child, taking into account the particular vulnerabilities of the girl child in pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict situations, and calls for special initiatives designed to address all of the rights and needs of war-affected girls; 14. Welcomes the holding of the International Conference on War-Affected Children at Winnipeg, Canada, from 10 to 17 September 2000, and takes note with appreciation of the Winnipeg Agenda for War-Affected Children;A/55/467-S/2000/973, annex. 15. Urges States to formulate comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, which should be widely disseminated and should provide targets and timetables for implementation, as well as effective domestic enforcement procedures through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms involving all parties concerned, including consultations with women's organizations, giving attention to the recommendations relating to the girl child of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences; 16. Calls upon Governments, civil society, including the media, and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights education and the full respect for and enjoyment of the human rights of the girl child, inter alia, through the translation, production and dissemination of age-appropriate information material on those rights to all sectors of society, in particular to children; 17. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination,Formerly known as the Administrative Committee on Coordination (see Economic and Social Council decision 2001/321 of 24 October 2001). to ensure that all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, individually and collectively, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, take into account the rights and the particular needs of the girl child in the country programme of cooperation in accordance with the national priorities, including through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework;See A/53/226, paras. 72-77, and A/53/226/Add.1, paras. 88-98. 18. Requests all human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other human rights mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to adopt regularly and systematically a gender perspective in the implementation of their mandates and to include in their reports information on the qualitative analysis of violations of the human rights of women and girls, and encourages the strengthening of cooperation and coordination in that regard; 19. Calls upon States and international and non-governmental organizations to mobilize all necessary resources, support and efforts to realize the goals, strategic objectives and actions set out in the Beijing Platform for Action and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 20. Stresses the importance of a substantive assessment of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action with a life-cycle perspective so as to identify gaps and obstacles in the implementation process and to develop further actions for the achievement of the goals of the Platform; 21. Welcomes the convening of the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, at Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001, and the regional consultative meetings for the preparation thereof, which aim to review the progress made in implementing the Declaration and Agenda for Action adopted by the first World CongressA/51/385, annex. and to strengthen actions to eradicate commercial sexual exploitation of children, and invites Member States and observers to ensure their representation at the Second World Congress at a high political level; 22. Encourages the regional commissions and other regional organizations to carry out activities in support of the Second World Congress; 23. Stresses the importance of integrating a gender perspective and of considering the needs and rights of the girl child in the work of the special session of the General Assembly on children. RESOLUTION 56/13 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 28 November 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.18 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay 56/13. Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). including Part VII, section 2, Recognizing that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement")International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. sets forth provisions concerning the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including provisions on subregional and regional cooperation in enforcement, binding dispute settlement and the rights and obligations of States in authorizing the use of vessels flying their flags for fishing on the high seas, Recognizing also the duty provided in the Agreement and reiterated as a principle in the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas ("the Compliance Agreement")International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsIbid., sect. III. for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag and vessels flying their flag which provide support to such vessels, and to ensure that the activities of such vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Noting with satisfaction the imminent entry into force of the Agreement due to the fact that thirty States have ratified or acceded to it, and noting also that the entry into force of the Agreement entails responsibilities for States parties and other important considerations as outlined in the Agreement, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, Conscious of the need to promote and facilitate international cooperation, in particular at the regional and subregional levels, in order to ensure the conservation, management and long-term sustainability of the living marine resources of the world's oceans and seas, consistent with the present resolution, and deploring the fact that the straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to heavy and sparsely regulated fishing efforts, mainly as a result of, inter alia, unauthorized fishing, inadequate regulatory measures and excess fishing capacity, Conscious also that the Agreement requires States and entities to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, taking into account the specific characteristics of the subregion or region, to ensure the effective conservation, management and long-term sustainability of such stocks, and to establish such organizations or arrangements where none exist, Recognizing the importance of the Agreement for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and the need for the regular consideration by the General Assembly and review by the parties to the Agreement pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement, once in force, of developments relating thereto, Welcoming the conclusion of negotiations, and the commencement of preparatory work, to establish new regional instruments, arrangements and organizations in several heretofore unmanaged fisheries, and noting the role of the Convention and the Agreement in the elaboration of these instruments, arrangements and organizations, Welcoming also the fact that a growing number of States and other entities, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, have enacted legislation, established regulations, adopted conventions or taken other measures as steps towards implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, even before its entry into force, Taking into account that, in accordance with the Convention, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the Agreement, States fishing for straddling fish stocks or highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, shall give effect to their duty to cooperate by becoming members of the subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or participants in arrangements of that nature, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such organizations or arrangements, and that States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, Recognizing the obligation of States to cooperate, either directly or through subregional, regional or global organizations, to enhance the ability of developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to conserve and manage straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and to develop their own fisheries for such stocks, Recognizing also the importance of the Compliance Agreement, which builds upon the legal framework established by the Convention, and noting that while twenty-two States have accepted it, the Compliance Agreement has not yet entered into force, Concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, including that noted in the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/58/Add.1, para. 61. threatens seriously to deplete populations of certain fish species, and in that regard urging States and entities to collaborate in efforts to address these types of fishing activities, Welcoming the adoption by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations of an International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, which focuses on the primary responsibility of the flag State and the use of all available jurisdiction in accordance with international law, including port State measures, coastal State measures, market-related measures and measures to ensure that nationals do not support or engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Noting that the objective of the International Plan of Action is to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by providing all States with comprehensive, effective and transparent measures by which to act, including through appropriate regional fisheries management organizations established in accordance with international law, Recalling that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1999 adopted international plans of action for the management of fishing capacity, for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries and for the conservation and management of sharks, Noting the importance of the wide application of the precautionary approach to the conservation, management and exploitation of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in accordance with the Agreement, Noting also the importance of implementing the principles elaborated in article 5 of the Agreement, including ecosystem considerations, in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, Noting further the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine Ecosystem, adopted on 4 October 2001,E/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on recent developments and the current status of the Agreement,A/56/357. 1. Calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the AgreementInternational Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. that have not done so to ratify or accede to it and to consider applying it provisionally; 2. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement; 3. Emphasizes the importance of the entry into force and effective implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, including those provisions relating to bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation in enforcement, and urges continued efforts in this regard; 4. Urges all States and other entities referred to in the Agreement to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to ensure the effective conservation, management and long-term sustainability of such stocks, to agree upon measures necessary to coordinate and, where there are no subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in respect of particular straddling or highly migratory fish stocks, to cooperate to establish such organizations or enter into other appropriate arrangements; 5. Welcomes the initiation of negotiations to establish regional and subregional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in several fisheries, and urges participants in those negotiations to apply provisions of the Convention and the Agreement to their work; 6. Anticipates the entry into force of the Agreement, and requests the Secretary-General, once the Agreement enters into force, to consult with States that have either ratified or acceded to the Agreement, for the purposes and objectives of, inter alia, considering the regional, subregional and global implementation of the Agreement; making any appropriate recommendation to the General Assembly on the scope and content of the annual report of the Secretary-General relating to the Agreement; and preparing for the review conference to be convened by the Secretary-General pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement; 7. Calls upon States to provide assistance to developing States as outlined in the Agreement, notes the importance of participation by representatives of developing States in forums in which fisheries issues are discussed, and once the Agreement enters into force, agrees to review the implementation of the provisions calling for assistance to developing States and to facilitate the establishment of a programme of assistance within the Agreement; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his next report on the status and implementation of the Agreement a background study on the provisions of Part VII of the Agreement concerning requirements of developing States, taking into account existing arrangements and assistance to developing States that may be relevant under the Agreement, as well as suggesting possible forms of assistance; 9. Invites States and international financial institutions and organizations of the United Nations system to provide assistance according to Part VII of the Agreement, including, if appropriate, the development of special financial mechanisms or instruments to assist developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to enable them to develop their national capacity to exploit fishery resources, including developing their domestically flagged fishing fleet, value-added processing and expansion of their economic base in the fishing industry, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of those fisheries resources; 10. Calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article X, paragraph 1, of the Compliance AgreementInternational Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. that have not done so to accept that instrument and afterwards to implement it effectively; 11. Calls upon all States to ensure that their vessels comply with the conservation and management measures in accordance with the Agreement that have been adopted by subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 12. Calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas without having effective control over their activities and to take specific measures, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, to control fishing operations by vessels flying their flag; 13. Takes note of the outcome of the first meeting of the Joint Ad Hoc Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and Related Matters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, held in Rome from 9 to 11 October 2000, which contained a number of recommendations aimed at enhancing flag State and port State control over fishing vessels, with a view to eliminating the roots of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 14. Calls upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its members, in cooperation with States and entities, with regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other competent international organizations, such as the International Maritime Organization, to address possible key issues constituting effective fishery-related flag State control of a fishing vessel; 15. Urges States, as a matter of priority, to coordinate their activities and cooperate directly and, as appropriate, through relevant regional fisheries management organizations, in the implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing recently adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,See Report of the Committee on Fisheries, Twenty-fourth session, Rome, 26 February-2 March 2001. to develop national plans of action on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and management of fishing capacity, to promote information-sharing, to encourage the full participation of all stakeholders, and in all efforts to coordinate all the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with other international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization; 16. Encourages States and other entities to integrate in an appropriate manner, including through subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to which they are party or in which they are participants, the requirements for the protection of the environment, in particular those resulting from multilateral environmental agreements, in the management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks; 17. Encourages States to give effect to the principles elaborated in article 5 of the Agreement, including ecosystem considerations, in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and to incorporate those principles in fisheries management at the national level and in subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to which they are party or in which they are participants, or as appropriate at the global level; 18. Urges all States to apply the precautionary approach widely to the conservation, management and exploitation of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and calls upon States parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the Agreement as a matter of priority; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the status and implementation of the Agreement and on the impact of the entry into force of the Agreement on related or proposed instruments and programmes throughout the United Nations system relating to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and including further developments relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and other aspects of the present resolution; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", the sub-item entitled "Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks". RESOLUTION 56/140 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/580, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 56/140. International Decade of the World's Indigenous People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/80 of 4 December 2000 and previous resolutions on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, Recalling also its resolution 40/131 of 13 December 1985, by which it established the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, Recalling further that the goal of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health, and that the theme of the Decade is "Indigenous people: partnership in action", Welcoming, in this respect, the contribution made through the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the realization of the goals of the Decade, Welcoming also the appointment of a special rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, with the mandate spelled out in Commission resolution 2001/57 of 24 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the importance of consultation and cooperation with indigenous people in planning and implementing the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People,Resolution 50/157, annex. the need for adequate financial support from the international community, including support from within the United Nations system, and the need for adequate coordination and communication channels, Urging all parties to continue to intensify their efforts to achieve the goals of the Decade, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People;A/56/206. 2. Affirms its conviction of the value and diversity of the cultures and forms of social organization of indigenous people and its conviction that the development of indigenous people within their countries will contribute to the socio-economic, cultural and environmental advancement of all the countries of the world; 3. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening the human and institutional capacity of indigenous people to develop their own solutions to their problems; 4. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as coordinator for the Decade: (a) To continue to promote the objectives of the Decade, taking into account, in the fulfilment of her functions, the special concerns of indigenous people; (b) To give due regard to the dissemination, from within existing resources and voluntary contributions, of information on the situation, cultures, languages, rights and aspirations of indigenous people and, in that context, to consider the possibility of organizing projects, special events, exhibitions and other activities addressed to the public, in particular to young people; (c) To submit, through the Secretary-General, an annual report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade; 5. Reaffirms the adoption of a declaration on the rights of indigenous people as a major objective of the Decade, and underlines the importance of effective participation by indigenous representatives in the open-ended inter-sessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with developing a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people, established pursuant to Commission resolution 1995/32 of 3 March 1995;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 6. Welcomes Economic and Social Council decision 2001/316 of 26 July 2001 concerning the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; 7. Encourages Governments to support the Decade by: (a) Preparing relevant programmes, plans and reports in relation to the Decade, in consultation with indigenous people; (b) Seeking means, in consultation with indigenous people, of giving indigenous people greater responsibility for their own affairs and an effective voice in decisions on matters that affect them; (c) Establishing national committees or other mechanisms involving indigenous people to ensure that the objectives and activities of the Decade are planned and implemented on the basis of full partnership with indigenous people; (d) Contributing to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People; (e) Contributing, together with other donors, to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations in order to assist indigenous representatives in participating in the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the open-ended inter-sessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with elaborating a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people; (f) Considering contributing, as appropriate, to the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean, in support of the goals of the Decade; (g) Identifying resources for activities designed to implement the goals of the Decade, in cooperation with indigenous people and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 8. Invites United Nations financial and development institutions, operational programmes and the specialized agencies and secretariats, as well as other regional and international organizations, in accordance with the existing procedures of their governing bodies: (a) To give increased priority and resources to improving the conditions of indigenous people, with particular emphasis on the needs of those people in developing countries, including through the preparation of specific programmes of action for the implementation of the goals of the Decade, within their areas of competence; (b) To launch special projects, through appropriate channels and in cooperation with indigenous people, to strengthen their community-level initiatives and to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among indigenous people and other relevant experts; (c) To designate focal points for the coordination of activities related to the Decade with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and commends those institutions, programmes, agencies and regional and international organizations that have already done so; 9. Decides that the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations should also be used to assist representatives of indigenous communities and organizations in attending, as observers, the sessions of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; 10. Appeals to all Governments and organizations to consider contributing to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, if possible with a substantial increase in the level of contributions; 11. Recommends that the Secretary-General ensure coordinated follow-up to the recommendations concerning indigenous people of relevant United Nations conferences, namely, the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992, the International Conference on Population and Development, held at Cairo from 5 to 13 September 1994, the Fourth World Conference on Women, held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held at Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to 14 June 1996, and the World Food Summit, held at Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996, and other relevant international conferences; 12. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit, through the Secretary-General, a report on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People". RESOLUTION 56/141 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/582, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, United Arab Emirates and Viet Nam. 56/141. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of sovereign peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-seventhSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 55/85 of 4 December 2000, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, containing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which, inter alia, upholds the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination and foreign occupation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self-determination,A/56/295. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 56/142 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/582, para. 17),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 161 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 56/142. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Expressing hope for an immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a final settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State; 2. Expresses the hope that the Palestinian people will soon be exercising their right to self-determination, which is not subject to any veto, in the current peace process; 3. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and the organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in their quest for self-determination. RESOLUTION 56/143 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.1, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 56/143. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Recalling article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 3452 (XXX), annex. and its resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, Recalling also that freedom from torture is a right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of internal or international disturbance or armed conflict, Recalling further that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, firmly declared that efforts to eradicate torture should, first and foremost, be concentrated on prevention and called for the early adoption of an optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which is intended to establish a preventive system of regular visits to places of detention, Urging all Governments to promote the speedy and full implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in particular the section relating to freedom from torture, in which it is stated that States should abrogate legislation leading to impunity for those responsible for grave violations of human rights, such as torture, and prosecute such violations, thereby providing a firm basis for the rule of law, Recalling its resolution 36/151 of 16 December 1981, in which it noted with deep concern that acts of torture took place in various countries, recognized the need to provide assistance to the victims in a purely humanitarian spirit and established the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, Recalling also the recommendation contained in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action that high priority should be given to providing the necessary resources to assist victims of torture and effective remedies for their physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, inter alia, through additional contributions to the Fund, Noting with satisfaction the existence of a considerable international network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, which plays an important role in providing assistance to victims of torture, and the collaboration of the Fund with the centres, Commending the persistent efforts by non-governmental organizations to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, Mindful of its proclamation, in its resolution 52/149 of 12 December 1997, of 26 June as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 1. Condemns all forms of torture, including through intimidation, as described in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;Resolution 39/46, annex. 2. Stresses that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention at which the prohibited act is found to have taken place, and that national legal systems should ensure that the victims of such acts obtain redress, are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation; 3. Recalls the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 55/89, annex. and strongly encourages Governments to reflect upon the Principles as a useful tool in efforts to combat torture; 4. Notes with appreciation that one hundred and twenty-six States have become parties to the Convention; 5. Urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as a matter of priority; 6. Invites all States ratifying or acceding to the Convention and those States that are parties to the Convention and have not yet done so to consider joining the States parties that have made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention and to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20; 7. Urges all States parties to the Convention to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 8. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including, in view of the high number of reports not submitted, their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19 of the Convention, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles when submitting reports to the Committee against Torture; 9. Emphasizes the obligation of States parties under article 10 of the Convention to ensure education and training for personnel who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment; 10. Stresses, in this context, that States must not punish personnel referred to in paragraph 9 above for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 11. Calls upon all Governments to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export and use of equipment that is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; 12. Welcomes the work of the Committee, and takes note of the report of the Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/56/44). submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention; 13. Acknowledges the number of reports and communications awaiting consideration by the Committee, and in this regard decides to authorize the Committee to establish a pre-sessional working group composed of four of its members to meet for a five-day session during the week preceding each session of the Committee, and invites the Committee to continue to enhance its methods of work; 14. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with her mandate established in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of Governments, advisory services for the preparation of national reports to the Committee and for the prevention of torture, as well as technical assistance in the development, production and distribution of teaching material for these purposes; 15. Urges States parties to take fully into account the conclusions and recommendations made by the Committee after its consideration of their reports; 16. Welcomes the progress made by the open-ended working group of the Commission on Human Rights on a draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and urges the working group to complete as soon as possible a final text for submission to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, for consideration and adoption; 17. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture,See A/56/156. describing the overall trends and developments with regard to his mandate, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture; 18. Invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to examine questions of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment directed against women, and conditions conducive to such torture, and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention and redress of gender-specific forms of torture, including rape or any other form of sexual violence, and to exchange views with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, with the aim of enhancing further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 19. Also invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider questions relating to the torture of children and conditions conducive to such torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention of such torture; 20. Calls upon Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his or her task, to provide all necessary information requested by the Special Rapporteur, to respond appropriately and expeditiously to the urgent appeals of the Special Rapporteur and to give serious consideration to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in following up his or her recommendations; 21. Reiterates the need for the Special Rapporteur to be able to respond effectively, in particular to urgent appeals, to credible and reliable information that comes before him or her, and invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to seek the views and comments of all concerned, in particular Member States; 22. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his or her reports information on the follow-up by Governments to his or her recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered; 23. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views among the Committee, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 24. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Governments, organizations and individuals that have contributed to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; 25. Stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and appeals to all Governments and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably by 1 March prior to the annual meeting of the Board, if possible with a substantial increase in the level of contributions, so that consideration may be given to the ever-increasing demand for assistance; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to all Governments the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund and to continue to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to assist the Board of Trustees of the Fund in its appeal for contributions and in its efforts to make better known the existence of the Fund and the financial means currently available to it, as well as in its assessment of the global need for international funding of rehabilitation services for victims of torture and, in this effort, to make use of all existing possibilities, including the preparation, production and dissemination of information materials; 28. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in combating torture and assisting victims of torture, commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 29. Invites donor countries and recipient countries to consider including in their bilateral programmes and projects relating to the training of armed forces, security forces, prison and police personnel and health-care personnel matters relating to the protection of human rights and the prevention of torture, while bearing in mind a gender perspective; 30. Calls upon all Governments, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-eighth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the status of the Convention and a report on the operations of the Fund; 32. Decides to consider at its fifty-seventh session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture. RESOLUTION 56/144 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.1, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and Venezuela. 56/144. International Covenants on Human Rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/157 of 17 December 1999 and 55/90 of 4 December 2000 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/67 of 26 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Mindful that the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. constitute the first all-embracing and legally binding international treaties in the field of human rights and, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). form the core of the International Bill of Human Rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/178. on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the promotion and protection of one category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of the other rights, Recognizing the important role of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in examining the progress made by States parties in fulfilling the obligations undertaken in the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in providing recommendations to States parties on their implementation, Considering that the effective functioning of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is indispensable for the full and effective implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, Recognizing the importance of regional human rights instruments and monitoring mechanisms in complementing the universal system of promotion and protection of human rights, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as major components of international efforts to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General at the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations to invite heads of State and Government to sign, ratify or accede to the International Covenants on Human Rights, and expresses its appreciation to those States that have done so; 3. Strongly appeals to all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as to accede to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. and to make the declaration provided for in article 41 of the Covenant; 4. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to intensify systematic efforts to encourage States to become parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights and, through the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights, to assist such States, at their request, in ratifying or acceding to the Covenants and to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with a view to achieving universal adherence; 5. Emphasizes the importance of the strictest compliance by States parties with their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, where applicable, the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 6. Stresses the importance of avoiding the erosion of human rights by derogation, and underlines the necessity of strict observance of the agreed conditions and procedures for derogation under article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, bearing in mind the need for States parties to provide the fullest possible information during states of emergency so that the justification for the appropriateness of measures taken in those circumstances can be assessed, and in this regard takes note of General Comment No. 29 adopted by the Human Rights Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI. 7. Encourages States parties to consider limiting the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the International Covenants on Human Rights, to formulate any reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible and to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty; 8. Also encourages States parties to review regularly any reservations made in respect of the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with a view to withdrawing them; 9. Takes note with appreciation of the annual reports of the Human Rights Committee submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifthIbid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/55/40). and fifty-sixthIbid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40). sessions, and takes note of General Comments Nos. 27,Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/55/40), vol. I, annex VI A. 28Ibid., annex VI B. and 29Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI.adopted by the Committee; 10. Welcomes the reports of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its twentieth and twenty-first sessionsOfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1). and on its twenty-second, twenty-third and twenty-fourth sessions,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 2 (E/2001/22). and takes note of General Comments Nos. 11,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex IV. 12,Ibid., annex V. 13Ibid., annex VI. and 14Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 2 (E/2001/22), annex IV. adopted by the Committee; 11. Urges States parties to fulfil in good time such reporting obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights as may be requested and to make use in their reports of gender-disaggregated data, and stresses the importance of taking fully into account a gender perspective in the implementation of the Covenants at the national level, including in the national reports of States parties and in the work of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 12. Calls upon States parties that have not yet submitted core documents to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to do so, and invites all States parties regularly to review and update their core documents; 13. Urges States parties to take duly into account, in implementing the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights, the recommendations and observations made during the consideration of their reports by the Human Rights Committee and by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the views adopted by the Human Rights Committee under the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 14. Invites States parties to give particular attention to the dissemination at the national level of their reports submitted to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the summary records relating to the examination of those reports by the Committees and the recommendations and observations made by the Committees after the examination of those reports; 15. Urges all States to publish the texts of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in as many local languages as possible and to distribute them and make them known as widely as possible in their territories; 16. Urges each State party to translate, publish and make widely available in its territory by appropriate means the full text of the concluding observations on its reports to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 17. Reiterates that States parties should take into account, in their nomination of members to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, that the Committees shall be composed of persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience, and that members serve in their personal capacity, and also reiterates that, in the elections of the Committees, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems; 18. Invites the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, when considering the reports of States parties, to continue to identify specific needs that might be addressed by United Nations departments, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, including through the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 19. Stresses the need for improved coordination among relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies in supporting States parties, upon their request, in implementing the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and encourages continued efforts in this direction; 20. Takes note of the adoption by the Human Rights Committee of its revised rules of procedure,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex III B. and welcomes the efforts of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights regularly to review their working methods in order to increase their efficiency and effectiveness; 21. Welcomes the meeting between the Human Rights Committee and States parties, held on 30 October 2000, to exchange ideas on how to render the working methods of the Committee more efficient, expresses appreciation for the decision of the Committee to organize similar consultations in 2002, and encourages all States parties to continue to contribute to the dialogue with practical and concrete proposals and ideas on ways to improve the effective functioning of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 22. Also welcomes the continuing efforts of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to strive for uniform standards in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights, and appeals to other bodies dealing with similar human rights questions to respect those uniform standards, as expressed in the general comments of the Committees; 23. Stresses the need for further efforts towards developing indicators and benchmarks to measure progress in the national implementation by States parties of the rights protected by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 24. Welcomes Economic and Social Council decision 2001/220 of 4 June 2001, in which the Council authorized the appointment by the Commission on Human Rights of an independent expert to examine the question of a draft optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and invites the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to consider contributing to the work of the independent expert; 25. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to assist States parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights in the preparation of their reports, including by convening seminars or workshops at the national level for the training of government officials engaged in the preparation of such reports and by exploring other possibilities available under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights effectively assists the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the implementation of their respective mandates by providing, inter alia, adequate Secretariat staff resources and conference and other relevant support services; 27. Decides to endorse the request by the Human Rights Committee to hold an additional week of meetings at Geneva in 2002 in order to reduce further the existing backlog; 28. Welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General, taking into account the suggestions of the Human Rights Committee, to take determined steps, in particular through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to give more publicity to the work of that Committee and, similarly, to the work of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", a report on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including all reservations and declarations. RESOLUTION 56/145 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.1, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay. 56/145. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families The General Assembly, Reaffirming once more the permanent validity of the principles and norms set forth in the basic instruments regarding the international protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Bearing in mind the principles and norms established within the framework of the International Labour Organization and the importance of the work done in connection with migrant workers and members of their families in other specialized agencies and in various organs of the United Nations, Reiterating that, despite the existence of an already established body of principles and norms, there is a need to make further efforts to improve the situation and to guarantee respect for the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers and members of their families, Aware of the situation of migrant workers and members of their families and the marked increase in migratory movements that has occurred, especially in certain parts of the world, Considering that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. all States are urged to guarantee the protection of the human rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, Underlining the importance of the creation and promotion of conditions to foster greater harmony and tolerance between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the State in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia perpetrated in segments of many societies by individuals or groups against migrant workers, Recalling its resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Bearing in mind that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, States are invited to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible time, 1. Expresses its deep concern at the growing manifestations of racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman or degrading treatment directed against migrant workers in various parts of the world; 2. Welcomes the signature or ratification of or accession to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesResolution 45/158, annex. by some Member States; 3. Calls upon all Member States to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, expresses the hope that it will enter into force at an early date, and notes that, pursuant to article 87 of the Convention, only four more ratifications or accessions are needed for it to enter into force; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all the facilities and assistance necessary for the promotion of the Convention through the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 5. Welcomes the global campaign for the entry into force of the Convention, and invites the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify further their efforts with a view to disseminating information on and promoting understanding of the importance of the Convention; 6. Also welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in relation to the Convention, and encourages her to continue in this endeavour; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/179. and requests him to submit an updated report on the status of the Convention to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 8. Decides to consider the report of the Secretary-General at its fifty-seventh session under the sub-item entitled "Implementation of human rights instruments". RESOLUTION 56/146 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.1, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 113 to 47, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Gambia, Slovakia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 56/146. Equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies The General Assembly, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/76 of 25 April 2001See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council decision 2001/275 of 24 July 2001, Reaffirming the importance of the goal of universal ratification of the United Nations human rights instruments, Welcoming the significant increase in the number of ratifications of United Nations human rights instruments, which has especially contributed to their universality, Reiterating the importance of the effective functioning of treaty bodies established pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments for the full and effective implementation of those instruments, Recalling that, with regard to the election of the members of the human rights treaty bodies, the Commission on Human Rights has recognized the importance of giving consideration in their membership to equitable geographical distribution, gender balance and representation of the principal legal systems, and of bearing in mind that the members shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity, and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights, Recalling also that the Commission on Human Rights has encouraged States parties to United Nations human rights treaties, individually and through meetings of States parties, to consider how to give better effect, inter alia, to the principle of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of treaty bodies, Expressing concern at the clear regional imbalance in the current composition of the membership of the human rights treaty bodies, with the exception of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which is applying a quota system in the distribution of its seats by regional groups, Noting in particular that the status quo tends to be particularly detrimental to the election of experts from some regional groups, Convinced that the goal of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of human rights treaty bodies is perfectly compatible and can be fully realized and achieved in harmony with the need to ensure gender balance and the representation of the principal legal systems in those bodies and the high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights of their members, 1. Encourages States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments to establish quota distribution systems by geographical region for the election of the members of the treaty bodies; 2. Calls upon the States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments to include, as an agenda item at their forthcoming meetings, the establishment of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies, based on the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council and the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Recommends, when establishing the quota for each geographical region in each treaty body, the introduction of flexible procedures that encompass the following criteria: (a) Each of the five regional groups established by the General Assembly must be assigned a quota of the membership of each treaty body in equivalent proportion to the number of States parties to the instrument that it represents; (b) There must be provision for periodic revisions that reflect the relative changes in the geographical distribution of States parties; (c) Automatic periodic revisions should be envisaged in order to avoid amending the text of the instrument when the quotas are revised; 4. Stresses that the process needed to achieve the goal of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of human rights treaty bodies can contribute to raising awareness of the importance of gender balance, the representation of the principal legal systems and the principle that the members of the treaty bodies shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity, and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights. RESOLUTION 56/147 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Suriname and Togo. 56/147. Human rights education The General Assembly, Taking into account Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/61 of 25 April 2001See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. regarding the importance of human rights education as a priority in education policies, Considering Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/38 of 26 July 2001 on human rights education, Convinced that human rights education and information contribute to the concept of development consistent with the dignity of women and men of all ages, which takes into account particularly vulnerable segments of society of all ages, such as children, youth, older persons, indigenous people, minorities, rural and urban poor, migrant workers, refugees, persons with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and disabled persons, Considering the importance of human rights education, Convinced that human rights education is a key to development, Taking note with appreciation of the mid-term global evaluation of the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, contained in the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/55/360. Taking into account the recommendations of the mid-term global evaluation of the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, 1. Invites all Governments to reaffirm their commitments and obligations to develop national strategies for human rights education which are comprehensive, participatory and effective and which can be embodied in a national plan of action for human rights education as part of their national development plan; 2. Invites the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, to adopt a system-wide approach to the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004; 3. Invites relevant regional human rights organizations, agencies and networks to develop human rights education programmes and human rights training programmes and strategies for wider distribution of material on human rights education in all possible languages; 4. Recognizes the role that non-governmental organizations play in developing and implementing strategies to assist Governments to integrate human rights education into all levels of education for children, youth and adults. RESOLUTION 56/148 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China). by a recorded vote of 114 to 51, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan 56/148. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/103 of 12 December 1996, 52/120 of 12 December 1997, 53/141 of 9 December 1998, 54/172 of 17 December 1999 and 55/110 of 4 December 2000, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1998/11 of 9 April 1998See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2000/11 of 17 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and taking note of Commission resolution 2001/26 of 20 April 2001,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report submitted by the Secretary-GeneralE/CN.4/2001/50. pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 52/120 and 55/110,A/56/207 and Add.1. Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and in this regard reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, called upon States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. I, para. 31. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures in the field of international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly and recent major United Nations conferences and contrary to general international law and the Charter of the United Nations, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Noting the continuing efforts of the Open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, and reaffirming in particular its criteria according to which coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. 1. Urges all States to refrain from adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Invites all States to consider adopting administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial application or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 3. Rejects unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, because of their negative effects on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 4. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest possible time; 5. Reaffirms in this context the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 6. Urges the Commission on Human Rights to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, including the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 7. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, highlighting the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 9. Decides to examine this question on a priority basis at its fifty-seventh session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 56/149 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China). 56/149. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recalling its adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its resolution 55/109 of 4 December 2000, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/67 of 25 April 2001 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, and recalling its decision to proclaim the year 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, as well as its resolution 55/23 of 13 November 2000 and its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001 entitled "Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations", Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 2000/22 of 18 August 2000, entitled "Promotion of dialogue on human rights issues", by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-second session,See E/CN.4/2001/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/46, chap. II, sect. A. 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Also reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard the holding of several conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on dialogue among civilizations, as well as the meetings of the General Assembly under the agenda item entitled "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations", held on 8 and 9 November 2001; 3. Considers that international cooperation in this field, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and of fundamental freedoms for all; 4. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 5. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 6. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 7. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/14 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/526, para. 7 )The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 56/14. Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/72 of 4 December 1998 and 54/43 of 1 December 1999 on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures, Also recalling its resolution 35/142 B of 12 December 1980, which introduced the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, and its resolutions 48/62 of 16 December 1993, 49/66 of 15 December 1994, 51/38 of 10 December 1996 and 52/32 of 9 December 1997, calling upon all Member States to participate in it, and its resolution 47/54 B of 9 December 1992, endorsing the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters and inviting Member States to provide the Secretary-General with relevant information regarding their implementation, Noting that since then national reports on military expenditures and on the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters have been submitted by a number of Member States belonging to different geographic regions, Convinced that the improvement of international relations forms a sound basis for promoting further openness and transparency in all military matters, Also convinced that transparency in military matters is an essential element for building a climate of trust and confidence between States worldwide and that a better flow of objective information on military matters can help relieve international tension and is therefore an important contribution to conflict prevention, Noting the role of the standardized reporting system, as instituted through its resolution 35/142 B, as an important instrument to enhance transparency in military matters, Conscious that the value of the standardized reporting system would be enhanced by a broader participation of Member States, Welcoming, therefore, the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/54/298. on ways and means to implement the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters, including, in particular, how to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, Recalling that the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters recommended certain areas for further consideration, such as the improvement of the standardized reporting system, Noting the efforts of several regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures, including standardized annual exchanges of relevant information among their member States, 1. Calls upon Member States to report annually, by 30 April, to the Secretary-General their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data are available, using, preferably and to the extent possible, the reporting instrument as recommended in its resolution 35/142 B or, as appropriate, any other format developed in conjunction with similar reporting on military expenditures to other international or regional organizations, and, in the same context, encourages Member States that have no information to provide to submit nil returns; 2. Recommends the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Member States for implementation, fully taking into account specific political, military and other conditions prevailing in a region, on the basis of initiatives and with the agreement of the States of the region concerned; 3. Encourages relevant international bodies and regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to enhance complementarity among reporting systems, taking into account the particular characteristics of each region, and to consider the possibility of an exchange of information with the United Nations; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures;A/56/267. 5. Requests the Secretary-General, within available resources: (a) To continue the practice of sending an annual note verbale to Member States requesting the submission of data to the standardized reporting system, together with the reporting format and related instructions, and to publish in a timely fashion in appropriate United Nations media the due date for transmitting data on military expenditures; (b) To circulate annually the reports on military expenditures as received from Member States; (c) To continue consultations with relevant international bodies with a view to ascertaining requirements for adjusting the present instrument, with a view to encouraging wider participation, and to make recommendations, based on the outcome of those consultations and taking into account the views of Member States, on necessary changes to the content and structure of the standardized reporting system; (d) To encourage relevant international bodies and organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to consult with those bodies and organizations with emphasis on examining possibilities for enhancing complementarity among international and regional reporting systems and for exchanging related information between those bodies and the United Nations; (e) To encourage the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament in Africa, in Asia and the Pacific, and in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist Member States in their regions in enhancing their knowledge of the standardized reporting system; (f) To promote international and regional/subregional symposia and training seminars to explain the purpose of the standardized reporting system and to give relevant technical instructions; (g) To report on experiences gained during such symposia and training seminars; 6. Encourages Member States: (a) To inform the Secretary-General about possible problems with the standardized reporting system and their reasons for not submitting the requested data; (b) To provide the Secretary-General, in time for deliberation by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, with their views and suggestions on ways and means to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, including necessary changes to its content and structure; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures". RESOLUTION 56/150 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Costa Rica, Mexico, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China) and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 123 to 4, with 44 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Denmark, Israel, Japan, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia 56/150. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, Recalling also that the outcome of the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, namely the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of all fundamental human rights, Recalling further the outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000,Resolution S-24/2, annex. especially as they relate to the realization of the right to development, Recalling its resolution 55/279 of 12 July 2001, in which it endorsed the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/CONF.191/11. adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001, and in this regard emphasizing the importance of implementation and follow-up to the Brussels commitments, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/AC.257/12. in preparation for the International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and expressing its hope that the Conference will set a new partnership for financing sustainable development and for the implementation of the goals set out in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and other internationally agreed development targets, Taking note of the three studies prepared by the independent expert on the right to development and his proposed possible approaches to the operationalization of the right to development, Taking note also of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development established to monitor and review progress made in the promotion and implementation of the right to developmentE/CN.4/2001/26. and of the Chairperson's conclusions on the issue, as well as the comments submitted thereon, Welcoming the commitment made by the heads of State and Government in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to make the right to development a reality for everyone and their resolve to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, which is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty, and their commitment to spare no effort to promote good governance and democracy and to strengthen the rule of law as well as respect for all universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, Underlining the fact that meeting the objectives of good governance also depends on good governance at the international level and on transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and an open, equitable, rules-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system, Underlining also the fact that the realization of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level, Underlining further the important role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and protection of the right to development, Recalling the need for coordination and cooperation throughout the United Nations system for a more effective promotion and realization of the right to development, Taking note of the outcome of the South Summit of the Group of Seventy-seven, held in Havana from 10 to 14 April 2000, relating to the realization of the right to development,See A/55/74, annexes I and II. 1. Welcomes the holding of two sessions of the Open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development from 18 to 22 September 2000 and from 29 January to 2 February 2001, which focused on certain issues, as reflected in the report of the Working Group,E/CN.4/2001/26. and emphasizes the need to continue deliberations on the right to development in all its aspects, inter alia, on the basis of the report of the Working Group and the Chairperson's conclusions, as well as comments submitted thereon; 2. Emphasizes that, on the basis of the text of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. several resolutions and declarations adopted by consensus at subsequent international conferences and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. it should now be possible to reach consensus on the full implementation of the right to development; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the reports of the independent expert on the right to development and his additional work on and clarifications of the "development compact" proposal, which contributed to a better understanding of that proposal, while recognizing that further clarification is still needed; 4. Recognizes that any development compact would be of a voluntary nature for all parties involved and that its content would be defined on a case-by-case basis and be adapted to the priorities and realities of any country willing to conclude such a compact, which would need the adherence and the support of all international actors involved in its implementation; 5. Notes the request by the Commission on Human Rights that the independent expert clarify further the proposed development compact, taking into consideration views expressed during the two sessions of the Working Group and in broad consultation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies, relevant international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and, in particular, those actors and States interested in developing pilot projects in this regard, keeping in mind: (a) The ongoing bilateral, regional and multilateral development cooperation programmes; (b) The formulation of an operational model for a development compact; (c) The views of concerned international organizations and agencies and relevant regional institutions and actors; (d) The need to ensure the added value of a development compact to and its complementarity with the relevant existing mechanisms; (e) The need to address and remedy the national and international dimensions of corruption; (f) The need for country-specific studies from both a national and an international perspective; 6. Reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for the creation of national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development and that they are committed to cooperating with each other to that end; 7. Also reaffirms that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and which also places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 8. Recognizes that, in order to realize the right to development, national action and international cooperation must reinforce each other in a manner that goes beyond the measures for realizing each individual right, and also recognizes that international cooperation for the realization of the right to development should be conducted in the spirit of a partnership, in full respect for all human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated; 9. Also recognizes that, for many developing countries, the realization of the rights to, inter alia, food, health and education may be important development entry points to the realization of the right to development and that, in this context, the concept of a development compact proposed by the independent expert intends to give expression to some basic tenets of the interdependence of all human rights and national ownership of development strategies and programmes, as well as the importance of international cooperation; 10. Notes the ongoing discussion on the question of a suitable permanent follow-up mechanism and the different views expressed thereon in the Working Group, and recognizes the need for a discussion on this issue; 11. Stresses the necessity of establishing, at the national level, an enabling legal, political, economic and social environment for the realization of the right to development, and emphasizes the importance of democratic, participatory, transparent and accountable governance, as well as the need for efficient national mechanisms, such as national human rights commissions, to ensure respect for civil, economic, cultural, political and social rights, without any distinction; 12. Also stresses the need to prevent, address and take effective action against corruption, at both the national and international levels, including by establishing a firm legal structure for eradicating corruption, and urges States to take all necessary measures to that end; 13. Recognizes the importance of the role of the State, civil society, free and independent media, national institutions, the private sector and other relevant institutions in the realization of the right to development, and also recognizes the need to continue discussion on this subject; 14. Affirms the role of women in the process of the realization of the right to development, including their role as active participants in and beneficiaries of development, and the need for further actions in this context to ensure the participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields in the realization of the right to development; 15. Also affirms the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective means to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate sustainable development, as well as the importance of equal rights and opportunities for women and men, including property rights for women and their access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit, taking into account the best practices of microcredit in different parts of the world; 16. Underlines the fact that, in the process of the realization of the right to development, special attention should be given to persons belonging to minorities, whether national, ethnic, religious or linguistic, as well as to persons belonging to vulnerable groups, such as elderly people, indigenous people, persons facing discrimination on multiple grounds, Roma, migrants, persons with disabilities and children and persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and that such attention should have a gender perspective; 17. Affirms in this context that attention should also be given to the right to development of children, with special attention to the rights of the girl child; 18. Acknowledges the need to continue discussion on the role of civil society in the realization of the right to development and the role of national institutions in this respect; 19. Reaffirms the need for States to cooperate with each other in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development, recognizes the importance of the international community in promoting effective international cooperation for the realization of the right to development, and also recognizes that lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level, as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level; 20. Reiterates that the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide, that developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process, and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 21. Recognizes, while bearing in mind the existing efforts in this respect, that it is necessary to enhance efforts to consider and evaluate the impact on the enjoyment of human rights of international economic and financial issues, such as: (a) International trade issues; (b) Access to technology; (c) Good governance and equity at the international level; (d) Debt burden; 22. Notes the request by the Commission on Human Rights that the independent expert prepare, in consultation with all relevant United Nations agencies and the Bretton Woods institutions, a preliminary study on the impact of those issues on the enjoyment of human rights, starting with an analysis of the existing efforts and means of assessing and evaluating that impact, for consideration by the Working Group at its future sessions; 23. Also notes the request by the Commission on Human Rights that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes, the international financial institutions and other relevant actors collaborate with the independent expert in the fulfilment of his mandate, and encourages further cooperation; 24. Further notes the request by the Commission on Human Rights that the Working Group and the independent expert consider, as appropriate, the relevant economic and development outcomes of the international conferences, inter alia, the South Summit of the Group of Seventy-seven,See A/55/74, annexes I and II. and the follow-up thereto, in elaborating their recommendations for the implementation of the right to development; 25. Decides to continue consideration of the issue of the right to development, as a matter of priority, at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/151 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Haiti, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 109 to 53, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa 56/151. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/107 of 4 December 2000, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/65 of 25 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights and international law, Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights should continue to be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law as set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter and, inter alia, with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, Recalling the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Reaffirming also the determination expressed in the Preamble to the Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practise tolerance and good-neighbourliness, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Considering also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Emphasizing that democracy is not only a political concept but that it also has economic and social dimensions, Recognizing that democracy, respect for all human rights, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society, and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development, Underlining the fact that it is imperative for the international community to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, and that only through broad and sustained efforts, based on common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable, Stressing that efforts to make globalization fully inclusive and equitable must include policies and measures, at the global level, that correspond to the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and are formulated and implemented with their effective participation, Resolved, at the beginning of a new century and millennium, to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and equitable international order, 1. Affirms that everyone is entitled to a democratic and equitable international order; 2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the full realization of all human rights for all; 3. Further affirms that a democratic and equitable international order requires, inter alia, the realization of the following: (a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; (b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources; (c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development; (d) The right of all peoples to peace; (e) The promotion of an international economic order based on equal participation in the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, solidarity and cooperation among all States; (f) Solidarity, as a fundamental value, by virtue of which global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes costs and burdens fairly in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice and ensures that those who suffer or who benefit the least receive help from those who benefit the most; (g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular through the implementation of the principles of full and equal participation in their respective decision-making mechanisms; (h) The principle of equitable regional and gender-balanced representation in the composition of the staff of the United Nations system; (i) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international information and communications order, based on international cooperation for the establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international flow of information, in particular, correcting the inequalities in the flow of information to and from developing countries; (j) Respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all, since this enhances cultural pluralism, contributes to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural backgrounds, advances the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights across the world and fosters stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; (k) The entitlement of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment; (l) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in particular in economic, commercial and financial international relations; (m) The enjoyment by everyone of ownership of the common heritage of mankind; (n) The shared responsibility of the nations of the world for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security that should be exercised multilaterally; 4. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of the international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; 5. Also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 6. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries; 7. Recalls the proclamation by the General Assembly of its determination to work urgently for the establishment of an international economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all States, irrespective of their economic and social systems, which shall correct inequalities and redress existing injustices, make it possible to eliminate the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries and ensure steadily accelerating economic and social development and peace and justice for present and future generations;See resolution 3201 (S-VI). 8. Reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and means to remove the current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world; 9. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international cooperation, towards the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 10. Requests the Commission on Human Rights, the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to pay due attention, within their respective mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions towards its implementation; 11. Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to build upon the issue of the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order and to take into account the present resolution when convening any seminar, workshop or any other activity in relation to the issue of democracy; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components, intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 13. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its fifty-seventh session under the agenda item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/152 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Somalia, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 100 to 54, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay 56/152. Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of a humanitarian character The General Assembly, Recalling that, in accordance with Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55, including universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be considered a priority objective of the United Nations in accordance with its purposes and principles, in particular the purpose of international cooperation, and that, within the framework of these purposes and principles, the promotion and protection of all human rights are a legitimate concern of the international community, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples to an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recognizing that the international community should devise ways and means to remove current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world, as well as continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations and that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, the promotion and protection of such rights and freedoms being the first responsibility of Governments, Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Reaffirming further the various articles of the Charter setting out the respective powers and functions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as the paramount framework for the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations under other important instruments of international law, in particular those of international human rights and humanitarian law, Taking into account that, in accordance with Article 103 of the Charter, in the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the Charter shall prevail, 1. Affirms the solemn commitment of all States to enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights and in the solution to international problems of a humanitarian character in full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, inter alia, by the strict observance of all the purposes and principles set forth in Articles 1 and 2 thereof; 2. Stresses the vital role of the work of United Nations and regional arrangements, acting consistently with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter, in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as in solving international problems of a humanitarian character, and affirms that all States, in these activities, must fully comply with the principles set forth in Article 2 of the Charter, in particular respecting the sovereign equality of all States and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or acting in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the United Nations shall promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; 4. Calls upon all States to cooperate fully, through constructive dialogue, in order to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights for all and in promoting peaceful solutions to international problems of a humanitarian character and, in their actions towards that purpose, to comply strictly with the principles and norms of international law, inter alia, by fully respecting international human rights and humanitarian law; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, organs, bodies and other components of the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 6. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/153 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Peru, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/153. Strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations are those of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and taking other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, as well as achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Desirous of achieving further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that such international cooperation should be based on the principles embodied in international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant instruments, Deeply convinced that United Nations action in this field should be based not only on a profound understanding of the broad range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect for the political, economic and social realities of each of them, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through international cooperation, Recalling its previous resolutions in this regard, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence and discretion of the special rapporteurs and representatives on thematic issues and on countries, as well as of the members of the working groups, in carrying out their mandates, Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote and protect human rights and to carry out the responsibilities that they have undertaken under international law, especially the Charter, as well as various international instruments in the field of human rights, 1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions of the Charter, including respect for territorial integrity; 2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur; 3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the development of further international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with that international framework; 4. Considers that international cooperation in this field should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security; 5. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends; 6. Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations system, as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups, to take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates; 7. Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach to human rights issues contributes to the promotion of international cooperation as well as to the effective promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 9. Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate, within the framework of their respective legal systems and in accordance with their obligations under international law, especially the Charter, and international human rights instruments, the measures that they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 10. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take duly into account the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity; 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/292 and Add.1. and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States to present practical proposals and ideas that would contribute to the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights, through the promotion of international cooperation based on the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and to submit a comprehensive report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 12. Decides to consider this matter at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/154 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 99 to 10, with 59 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Samoa, Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 56/154. Respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States in electoral processes as an important element for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purpose of the United Nations to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling also its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, by which it approved the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the right to self-determination, by virtue of which all peoples can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Recognizing that the principles enshrined in Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular respect for national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of any State, should be respected in the holding of elections, Recognizing also the richness and diversity of democratic political systems and models of free and fair electoral processes in the world, based on national and regional particularities and various backgrounds, Stressing the responsibility of States in ensuring ways and means to facilitate full and effective popular participation in their electoral processes, Recognizing the contribution made by the United Nations of electoral assistance provided to numerous States upon their request, Reaffirming the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter, other instruments relating to human rights, and international law, Welcoming the commitment of all Member States, expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to work collectively for more inclusive political processes allowing genuine participation by all citizens in all countries, 1. Reaffirms that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reiterates that periodic, fair and free elections are important elements for the promotion and protection of human rights; 3. Reaffirms the right of peoples to determine methods and to establish institutions regarding electoral processes and that, consequently, States should ensure the necessary mechanisms and means to facilitate full and effective popular participation in those processes; 4. Also reaffirms that free development of the national electoral process in each State should be fully honoured in a manner that fully respects the principles established in the Charter and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. 5. Further reaffirms that United Nations electoral assistance is provided at the specific request of the Member State concerned; 6. Calls upon all States to refrain from financing political parties or other organizations in any other State in a way that is contrary to the principles of the Charter and that undermines the legitimacy of its electoral processes; 7. Condemns any act of armed aggression or threat or use of force against peoples, their elected Governments or their legitimate leaders; 8. Reaffirms that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government and that this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. RESOLUTION 56/155 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 169 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, New Zealand 56/155. The right to food The General Assembly, Recalling all Commission on Human Rights resolutions in this regard, in particular resolution 2000/10 of 17 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and taking note of Commission resolution 2001/25 of 20 April 2001,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for her/his health and well-being, including food, Recalling further the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. in which the fundamental right of every person to be free from hunger is recognized, Recalling the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition,Report of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. Bearing in mind the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action of the World Food Summit,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recognizing that the problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and that they are likely to persist and even to increase dramatically in some regions unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world's population and the stress on natural resources, Reaffirming that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment, at both the national and the international level, is the essential foundation which will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication, Reiterating, as did the Rome Declaration, that food should not be used as an instrument of political or economic pressure, and reaffirming in this regard the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security, Convinced that each State must adopt a strategy consistent with its resources and capacities to achieve its individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration and Plan of Action of the World Food Summit and, at the same time, cooperate regionally and internationally in order to organize collective solutions to global issues of food security in a world of increasingly interlinked institutions, societies and economies where coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities are essential, Stressing the importance of reversing the continuing decline of official development assistance devoted to agriculture, both in real terms and as a share of total official development assistance, 1. Reaffirms that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity and therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures at the national, regional and international levels for its elimination; 2. Also reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger so as to be able fully to develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities; 3. Considers it intolerable that 826 million people, most of them women and children, throughout the world and particularly in developing countries, do not have enough food to meet their basic nutritional needs, which infringes upon their fundamental human rights and at the same time can generate additional pressures on the environment in ecologically fragile areas; 4. Encourages all States to take steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right to food, including steps to promote the conditions for everyone to be free from hunger and, as soon as possible, to enjoy fully the right to food, and to elaborate and adopt national plans to combat hunger; 5. Stresses the need to make efforts to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, and to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies; 6. Urges States to give adequate priority in their development strategies and expenditures to the realization of the right to food; 7. Takes note of the report of the United Nations Children's Fund on early childhood entitled The State of the World's Children, 2001,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.XX.1. and in this context recalls that the nurturing of young children merits the highest priority; 8. Takes note with appreciation of the preliminary report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food,See A/56/210. submitted in accordance with Commission resolution 2001/25, and commends the Special Rapporteur for his valuable work in the promotion of the right to food; 9. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolutions 2000/10 and 2001/25; 10. Emphasizes the request of the Commission on Human Rights to the Special Rapporteur to contribute effectively to the medium-term review of the implementation of the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action of the World Food SummitFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. by submitting to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights his recommendations on all aspects of the right to food; 11. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to mainstream a gender perspective in the activities relating to his mandate; 12. Requests the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 13. Welcomes the work already done by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in promoting the right to adequate food, in particular its General Comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food (article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), in which the Committee affirmed, inter alia, that the right to adequate food is indivisibly linked to the inherent dignity of the human person and is indispensable for the fulfilment of other human rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and is also inseparable from social justice, requiring the adoption of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, at both the national and international levels, oriented to the eradication of poverty and the fulfilment of all human rights for all;Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex V, para. 4. 14. Also welcomes the convening by the High Commissioner at Bonn, from 12 to 14 March 2001, of the Third Expert Consultation on the Right to Food, with a focus on implementation mechanisms at the country level, hosted by the Government of Germany, and takes note with interest of the report of this meeting;E/CN.4/2001/148. 15. Supports the recommendation that the High Commissioner organize a fourth expert consultation on the right to food, with a focus on the realization of this right as part of strategies and policies for the eradication of poverty, inviting experts from all regions; 16. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit a comprehensive report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-eighth session and an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Invites Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate, inter alia, through the submission of comments and suggestions on ways and means of realizing the right to food; 18. Decides to continue the consideration of this matter at its fifty-seventh session under the agenda item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/156 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, United Arab Emirates and United Republic of Tanzania. 56/156. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Recalling also its resolutions 54/160 of 17 December 1999 and 55/91 of 4 December 2000, and recalling further its resolutions 54/113 of 10 December 1999 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/204 and Add.1. Welcoming the adoption of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, Welcoming also the contribution made through the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the promotion of respect for cultural diversity, Welcoming further the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, together with its Action Plan, adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1, Resolutions, resolution 25, annexes I and II. in which member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan with a view to enhancing the synergy of actions in favour of cultural diversity, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserves recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Welcomes the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. which considers, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and that it should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity; 3. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 4. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 5. Also affirms that intercultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 6. Welcomes the recognition at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the necessity of respecting and maximizing the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within and between communities and nations, in particular through public information and education programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes where the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society; 7. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 8. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national, regional and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 9. Also emphasizes the fact that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all; 10. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 11. Urges States to work to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 12. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies, and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the present resolution, to prepare a report on human rights and cultural diversity, taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as the considerations in the present resolution regarding the recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 14. Decides to continue consideration of this question at its fifty-seventh session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 56/157 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela. 56/157. Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Recalling article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and paragraph 4 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, and noting that 2001 marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration, Emphasizing that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is far-reaching and profound and that it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief, whether manifested individually or in community with others, and in public or in private, Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, for all Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Calling upon all States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief to enable him to carry out his mandate fully, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, occur in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Deeply concerned that, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, the rights violated on religious grounds include the right to life, the right to physical integrity and to liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or detained,See E/CN.4/1994/79, para. 103. Believing that intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as also emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, 1. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination; 2. Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, including the provision of effective remedies in cases in which the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is violated; 3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of their religion or belief, deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and security of person or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention; 4. Further urges States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, with particular regard to persons belonging to religious minorities, and to devote particular attention to practices which violate the human rights of women and discriminate against women; 5. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if those limitations that are prescribed by law are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 6. Urges States to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement bodies and the military, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 7. Calls upon all States to recognize, as provided for in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,See resolution 36/55. the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes; 8. Expresses its grave concern at any attack upon religious places, sites and shrines, and calls upon all States, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights standards, to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that such places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction; 9. Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, and that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by persons and groups is necessary for the full realization of the aims of the Declaration, and in this regard invites States, religious bodies and civil society to undertake dialogue at all levels to promote greater tolerance, respect and understanding of freedom of religion or belief and to encourage and promote, through the education system and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief,See A/56/253. and encourages his continued efforts to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration and to recommend remedial measures, as appropriate; 11. Encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively; 12. Welcomes the initiatives of Governments and non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur, including the convening of the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation to Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination in Madrid from 23 to 25 November 2001, in which Governments, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties were encouraged to participate actively; 13. Encourages Governments, when seeking the assistance of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, to consider, where appropriate, including requests for assistance in the field of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 14. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation and dissemination of the Declaration, and further encourages their work in relation to promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 15. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its consideration of measures to implement the Declaration; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary resources to enable him to discharge his mandate; 17. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Human rights questions", and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly on the question. RESOLUTION 56/158 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela and Zambia. 56/158. National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights concerning national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Welcoming the rapidly growing interest throughout the world in the creation and strengthening of independent, pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Convinced of the important role that such national institutions play and will continue to play in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and in developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights and freedoms, Recognizing that the United Nations has played an important role and should continue to play a more important role in assisting the development of national institutions, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June l993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reaffirmed the important and constructive role played by national human rights institutions, in particular in their advisory capacity to the competent authorities and their role in remedying human rights violations, in disseminating information on human rights and in education in human rights, Recalling also the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. in which Governments were urged to create or strengthen independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the human rights of women, Noting the diverse approaches adopted throughout the world for the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level, emphasizing the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights, and emphasizing and recognizing the value of such approaches in promoting universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Noting with satisfaction the constructive participation of representatives of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in, and their positive contribution to, the deliberations of the World Conference on Human Rights, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the Commission on Human Rights, as well as international seminars and workshops on human rights organized or sponsored by the United Nations, Welcoming the strengthening in all regions of regional cooperation among national human rights institutions and between national human rights institutions and other regional human rights forums, Welcoming also the strengthening of international cooperation among national human rights institutions, including through the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/255. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the development of effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993; 3. Recognizes that, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. it is the right of each State to choose the framework for the national institutions that is best suited to its particular needs at the national level in order to promote human rights in accordance with international human rights standards; 4. Encourages Member States to establish or, where they already exist, to strengthen national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, as outlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; 5. Welcomes the growing number of States establishing or considering the establishment of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; 6. Encourages national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights established by Member States to continue to play an active role in preventing and combating all violations of human rights as enumerated in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and relevant international instruments; 7. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of those States that have provided their national institutions with more autonomy and independence, including by giving them an investigative role or enhancing such a role, and encourages other Governments to consider taking similar steps; 8. Reaffirms the role of national institutions, where they exist, as appropriate agencies, inter alia, for the dissemination of human rights materials and other public information activities, including those of the United Nations, in particular in the context of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004; 9. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions as part of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights; 10. Commends the high priority given by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to work on national institutions, and, in view of the expanded activities relating to national institutions, encourages the High Commissioner to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made and budgetary resources provided to continue and further extend activities in support of national human rights institutions, and invites Governments to contribute additional, earmarked funds to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights for that purpose; 11. Notes with appreciation the increasingly active and important role of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, as recognized in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/54 of 4 March l994,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994, Supplement No. 4 and corrigendum (E/1994/24 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. in close cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, in assisting Governments and national institutions, when requested, to follow up on relevant resolutions and recommendations concerning the strengthening of national institutions; 12. Also notes with appreciation the holding of regular meetings of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions and the arrangements for the participation of national human rights institutions in the annual sessions of the Commission on Human Rights; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary assistance for holding meetings of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions during the sessions of the Commission on Human Rights, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner; 14. Welcomes the continuation of the practice of national institutions convening regional meetings in some regions, and its initiation in others, and encourages national institutions, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to organize similar events with Governments and non-governmental organizations in their own regions; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide, including from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, the necessary assistance for holding international and regional meetings of national institutions; 16. Recognizes the important and constructive role that non-governmental organizations may play, in cooperation with national institutions, for better promotion and protection of human rights; 17. Encourages all Member States to take appropriate steps to promote the exchange of information and experience concerning the establishment and effective operation of national institutions; 18. Encourages all United Nations entities, funds and agencies to work in close cooperation with national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/159 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 162 to none, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: none Abstaining: Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Syrian Arab Republic, Viet Nam 56/159. Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 54/173 of 17 December 1999, Reaffirming that United Nations electoral assistance and support for the promotion of democratization are provided only at the specific request of the Member State concerned, Noting with satisfaction that increasing numbers of Member States are using elections as peaceful means of discerning the will of the people and of confidence-building, thereby contributing to greater national peace and stability, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on 10 December 1948,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the principle that the will of the people as expressed through periodic and genuine elections shall be the basis of government authority, as well as the right freely to choose representatives through periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures, Taking note with interest of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2001/41 of 23 April 2001 and 2001/72 of 25 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the need for strengthening democratic processes, electoral institutions and national capacity-building, including the capacity to administer fair elections, increase citizen participation and provide civic education, in requesting countries in order to consolidate and regularize the achievements of previous elections and support subsequent elections, Welcoming the support provided by States to the electoral assistance activities of the United Nations, inter alia, through the provision of electoral experts, including electoral commission staff, and observers, as well as through contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation, Welcoming also the contributions made by international and regional organizations and also by non-governmental organizations to enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on United Nations activities aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections,A/56/344. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/344. 2. Commends the electoral assistance provided upon request to Member States by the United Nations, and requests that such assistance continue on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the evolving needs of requesting countries to develop, improve and refine their electoral institutions and processes, recognizing that the fundamental responsibility of organizing free and fair elections lies with Governments; 3. Requests the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in its role as coordinator of United Nations electoral assistance, to continue to inform Member States regularly about the requests received and the nature of any assistance provided; 4. Requests that the United Nations continue its efforts to ensure, before undertaking to provide electoral assistance to a requesting State, that there is adequate time to organize and carry out an effective mission for providing such assistance, including the provision of long-term technical cooperation, that conditions exist to allow free and fair elections and that the results of the mission will be reported comprehensively and consistently; 5. Recommends that, throughout the entire electoral process time-span, including before and after elections, as appropriate, based on needs assessment missions, the United Nations continue to provide technical advice and other assistance to requesting States and electoral institutions in order to help to strengthen their democratic processes; 6. Notes with satisfaction the comprehensive coordination between the Electoral Assistance Division and the United Nations Development Programme, and encourages further engagement of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in this context; 7. Requests the United Nations Development Programme to continue its governance assistance programmes in cooperation with other relevant organizations, in particular those that strengthen democratic institutions and linkages between civil society and Governments; 8. Reiterates the importance of reinforced coordination within and outside the United Nations system in this regard; 9. Notes with appreciation additional efforts being made to enhance cooperation with other international, governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to facilitate more comprehensive and needs-specific responses to requests for electoral assistance, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations that have provided observers or technical experts in support of United Nations electoral assistance efforts; 10. Recalls the establishment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation, and calls upon Member States to consider contributing to the Fund; 11. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the Electoral Assistance Division, to continue responding to the evolving nature of requests for assistance and the growing need for specific types of medium-term expert assistance aimed at supporting and strengthening the existing capacity of the requesting Government, in particular by enhancing the capacity of national electoral institutions; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Electoral Assistance Division with adequate human and financial resources to allow it to carry out its mandate and to continue to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is able to respond, within its mandate and in close coordination with the Division, to the numerous and increasingly complex and comprehensive requests from Member States for advisory services; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on the status of requests from Member States for electoral assistance, and on his efforts to enhance the support by the Organization for the democratization process in Member States. RESOLUTION 56/15 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/527, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 56/15. Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification The General Assembly, Noting the critical importance of, and the vital contribution that has been made by, effective verification measures in arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other similar obligations, Reaffirming its support for the sixteen principles of verification drawn up by the Disarmament Commission,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/S-15/3), para. 60 (para. 6, sect. I, of the quoted text). Recalling its resolutions 40/152 O of 16 December 1985, 41/86 Q of 4 December 1986, 42/42 F of 30 November 1987, 43/81 B of 7 December 1988, 45/65 of 4 December 1990, 47/45 of 9 December 1992, 48/68 of 16 December 1993, 50/61 of 12 December 1995, 52/31 of 9 December 1997 and 54/46 of 1 December 1999, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General of 11 July 1986, 28 August 1990, 16 September 1992, 26 July 1993, 22 September 1995, 6 August 1997, 9 July 1999 and 10 September 2001, and the addenda thereto,A/41/422 and Add.1 and 2, A/45/372 and Corr.1, A/47/405 and Add.1, A/48/227 and Add.1 and 2, A/50/377 and Corr.1, A/52/269, A/54/166 and A/56/347. 1. Reaffirms the critical importance of, and the vital contribution that has been made by, effective verification measures in arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other similar obligations; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on further views received from Member States pursuant to resolutions 50/61, 52/31 and 54/46; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification". RESOLUTION 56/160 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname and Turkey. by a recorded vote of 102 to none, with 69 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen Against: none Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia 56/160. Human rights and terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United NationsResolution 2625 (XXV), annex. and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. as well as the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism,Resolution 49/60, annex. Recalling also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as its linkage in some countries to drug trafficking, are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity and the security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/2. Recalling its resolutions 48/122 of 20 December 1993, 49/185 of 23 December 1994, 50/186 of 22 December 1995, 52/133 of 12 December 1997 and 54/164 of 17 December 1999, Recalling in particular that, in its resolution 52/133, it requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the implications of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations for the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling previous resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, and taking note in particular of Commission resolution 2001/37 of 23 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. as well as the relevant resolutions of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in particular its resolution 2001/18, adopted unanimously on 16 August 2001,See E/CN.4/2002/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/40, chap. II, sect. A. Bearing in mind all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, Bearing in mind also relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware that, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, the world is witness to historic and far-reaching transformations, in the course of which forces of aggressive nationalism and religious and ethnic extremism continue to produce fresh challenges, Alarmed that acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations aimed at the destruction of human rights have continued despite national and international efforts, Bearing in mind that the right to life is the basic human right, without which a human being can exercise no other right, Bearing in mind also that terrorism creates an environment that destroys the right of people to live in freedom from fear, Reiterating that all States have an obligation to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms and that every individual should strive to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, Seriously concerned about the gross violations of human rights perpetrated by terrorist groups, Profoundly deploring the increasing number of innocent persons, including women, children and the elderly, killed, massacred and maimed by terrorists in indiscriminate and random acts of violence and terror, which cannot be justified under any circumstances, Expressing its deepest sympathy and condolences to all the victims of terrorism and their families, Noting with great concern the growing connection between terrorist groups and other criminal organizations engaged in the illegal traffic in arms and drugs at the national and international levels, as well as the consequent commission of serious crimes such as murder, extortion, kidnapping, assault, the taking of hostages and robbery, Alarmed in particular at the possibility that terrorist groups may exploit new technologies to facilitate acts of terrorism, which may cause massive damage, including huge loss of human life, Emphasizing the need to intensify the fight against terrorism at the national level, to enhance effective international cooperation in combating terrorism in conformity with international law and to strengthen the role of the United Nations in this respect, Emphasizing also the importance of Member States taking appropriate steps to deny safe haven to those who plan, finance or commit terrorist acts by ensuring their apprehension and prosecution or extradition, Reaffirming that all measures to counter terrorism must be in strict conformity with the relevant provisions of international law, including international human rights standards, Mindful of the need to protect the human rights of and guarantees for the individual in accordance with the relevant human rights principles and instruments, in particular the right to life, Noting the growing consciousness within the international community of the negative effects of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations on the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and on the establishment of the rule of law and democratic freedoms as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the International Covenants on Human Rights, 1. Expresses its solidarity with the victims of terrorism; 2. Strongly condemns the violations of the right to live free from fear and of the right to life, liberty and security; 3. Reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and security of States, destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, undermining pluralistic civil society and having adverse consequences for the economic and social development of States; 4. Reaffirms the decision of the heads of State and Government, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to take concerted action against international terrorism and to accede as soon as possible to all the relevant regional and international conventions; 5. Urges the international community to enhance cooperation at the regional and international levels in the fight against terrorism, in accordance with relevant international instruments, including those relating to human rights, with the aim of its eradication; 6. Calls upon States to take all necessary and effective measures, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law, including international human rights standards, to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever it is committed, and also calls upon States to strengthen, where appropriate, their legislation to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 7. Urges all States to deny safe haven to terrorists; 8. Calls upon States to take appropriate measures, in conformity with relevant provisions of national and international law, including international human rights standards, before granting refugee status, for the purpose of ensuring that an asylum-seeker has not planned, facilitated or participated in the commission of terrorist acts, including assassinations, and in this context urges those States that have granted refugee status or asylum to persons involved in or claiming to have committed acts of terrorism to review these situations; 9. Condemns the incitement to ethnic hatred, violence and terrorism; 10. Commends those Governments that have communicated their views on the implications of terrorism in response to the notes verbales by the Secretary-General dated 16 August 1999 and 4 September 2000; 11. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/190. and requests him to continue to seek the views of Member States on the implications of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations for the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and on the possible establishment of a voluntary fund for the victims of terrorism, as well as on ways and means to rehabilitate the victims of terrorism and to reintegrate them into society, with a view to incorporating his findings in his report to the General Assembly; 12. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/161 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia. 56/161. Human rights in the administration of justice The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the principles embodied in articles 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols thereto,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. in particular article 6 of the Covenant, which states, inter alia, that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life and prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age, and article 10, which provides that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, Bearing in mind also the relevant provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. in particular the right to equal treatment before the tribunals and all other organs administering justice, the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. in particular article 37, according to which every child deprived of liberty shall be treated in a manner which takes into account the needs of persons of his or her age, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. in particular the obligation to treat men and women equally in all stages of procedures in courts and tribunals, Calling attention to the numerous international standards in the field of the administration of justice, Emphasizing that the right to access to justice as contained in applicable international human rights instruments forms an important basis for strengthening the rule of law through the administration of justice, Mindful of the importance of ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights in the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict situations, as a crucial contribution to building peace and justice and ending impunity, Recalling the Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice SystemEconomic and Social Council resolution 1997/30, annex. and the establishment and subsequent meetings of the coordination panel on technical advice and assistance in juvenile justice, Calling attention to the relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. and of the plans of action for its implementation and follow-up,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 10 (E/2001/30/Rev.1), part two, chap. I. Recalling its resolution 54/163 of 17 December 1999, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/39 of 20 April 2000Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/28 of 28 July 1999, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the full and effective implementation of all United Nations standards on human rights in the administration of justice; 2. Reiterates its call to all Member States to spare no effort in providing for effective legislative and other mechanisms and procedures, as well as adequate resources, to ensure the full implementation of those standards; 3. Invites Governments to provide training, including gender-sensitive training, in human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, to all judges, lawyers, prosecutors, social workers, immigration and police officers, and other professionals concerned, including personnel deployed in international field presences; 4. Invites States to make use of technical assistance offered by the relevant United Nations programmes in order to strengthen national capacities and infrastructures in the field of the administration of justice; 5. Appeals to Governments to include in their national development plans the administration of justice as an integral part of the development process and to allocate adequate resources for the provision of legal-aid services with a view to promoting and protecting human rights, and invites the international community to respond favourably to requests for financial and technical assistance for the enhancement and strengthening of the administration of justice; 6. Encourages the regional commissions, the specialized agencies and United Nations institutes in the areas of human rights and crime prevention and criminal justice, and other relevant parts of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including national professional associations concerned with promoting United Nations standards in this field, and other segments of civil society, including the media, to continue to develop their activities in promoting human rights in the administration of justice; 7. Invites the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat, to coordinate closely their activities relating to the administration of justice; 8. Calls upon mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiary bodies, including special rapporteurs, special representatives and working groups, to continue to give special attention to questions relating to the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, and to provide, where appropriate, specific recommendations in this regard, including proposals for advisory services and technical assistance measures; 9. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to reinforce, within her mandate, her activities relating to national capacity-building in the field of the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict situations; 10. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue organizing training courses and other relevant activities aimed at enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights in the field of the administration of justice, and commends the Office for its work on the development of a human rights manual for judges, prosecutors and lawyers within the framework of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004; 11. Welcomes the increased attention paid to the issue of juvenile justice by the High Commissioner, in particular through technical assistance activities, and, taking into account that international cooperation to promote juvenile justice reform has become a priority within the United Nations system, encourages further activities, within her mandate, in this regard; 12. Calls upon the coordination panel on technical advice and assistance in juvenile justice further to increase cooperation among the partners involved, to share information and to pool their capacities and interests in order to increase the effectiveness of programme implementation; 13. Underlines the importance of rebuilding and strengthening structures for the administration of justice and respect for the rule of law and human rights in post-conflict situations, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure system-wide coordination and coherence of programmes and activities of the relevant parts of the United Nations system in the field of the administration of justice in post-conflict situations, including assistance provided through United Nations field presences; 14. Stresses the special need for national capacity-building in the field of the administration of justice, in particular through reform of the judiciary, the police and the penal system, as well as juvenile justice reform, in order to establish and maintain stable societies and the rule of law in post-conflict situations, and in this context welcomes the role of the Office of the High Commissioner in supporting the establishment and functioning of transitional justice mechanisms in post-conflict situations; 15. Decides to consider the question of human rights in the administration of justice at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/162 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Yugoslavia. 56/162. Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, as well as its subsequent resolutions on the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, Considering that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society as a whole in the States in which such persons live, Concerned by the frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts concerning minorities in many countries and their often tragic consequences, and concerned also that persons belonging to minorities are particularly vulnerable to displacement through, inter alia, population transfers, refugee flows and forced relocation, Recognizing that the effective promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities is a fundamental part of the promotion and protection of human rights, and acknowledging that measures in this area can also contribute significantly to conflict prevention, Emphasizing the importance of human rights education as an effective tool to promote an inclusive society and understanding of and tolerance towards and among persons belonging to minorities, Acknowledging that the United Nations has an important role to play regarding the protection of minorities by, inter alia, taking due account of and giving effect to the Declaration, Noting that the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held its sixth and seventh sessions from 22 to 26 May 2000E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/27 and Corr.1. and 14 to 18 May 2001,E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/22. respectively, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/258. 2. Recognizes that respect for human rights and the promotion of understanding and tolerance by Governments as well as between and among minorities are central to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities; 3. Reaffirms the obligation of States to ensure that persons belonging to minorities may exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law, in accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,Resolution 47/135, annex. and as emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001; 4. Urges States and the international community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as set out in the Declaration, including through the provision of adequate education and the facilitation of their participation in all aspects of the political, economic, social, religious and cultural life of society and in the economic progress and development of their country, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so; 5. Calls upon States to give special attention to the promotion and protection of the human rights of children, girls as well as boys, belonging to minorities; 6. Urges States to take, as appropriate, all necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the Declaration, and appeals to States to cooperate bilaterally and multilaterally, in accordance with the Declaration, in order to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 7. Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to protect the cultural and religious sites of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 8. Calls upon the Secretary-General to make available, at the request of Governments concerned, qualified expertise on minority issues, including the prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities; 9. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote, within her mandate, the implementation of the Declaration and to continue to engage in a dialogue with Governments for that purpose, and in this regard draws attention to the work on the United Nations Guide for Minorities; 10. Requests the High Commissioner to continue her efforts to improve the coordination and cooperation among United Nations programmes and agencies on activities related to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities and to take the work of relevant regional organizations active in the field of human rights into account in her endeavours; 11. Welcomes the inter-agency consultation of the High Commissioner with United Nations programmes and agencies on minority issues, and calls upon those programmes and agencies to contribute actively to this process; 12. Invites the human rights treaty bodies, when considering reports submitted by States parties, as well as the reports of special representatives, special rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights, to continue to give attention, within their respective mandates, to situations and rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 13. Encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 14. Calls upon the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to implement further its mandate with the involvement of a wide range of participants; 15. Invites the High Commissioner to seek voluntary contributions to facilitate the effective participation, including through training seminars, in the work of the Working Group on Minorities of representatives of non-governmental organizations and persons belonging to minorities, in particular those from developing countries; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, and to continue to include examples of good practices in the field of education and of the effective participation of minorities in decision-making processes; 17. Decides to continue consideration of this question at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/163 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. 56/163. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Reiterating the importance of the Declaration and its promotion and implementation, Noting with deep concern that, in many countries, persons and organizations engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities, Noting also with deep concern the considerable number of communications received by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the special procedure mechanisms, indicate the serious nature of the risks faced by human rights defenders, Noting further with deep concern that, in a number of countries in all regions of the world, impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on the work and safety of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the important role that individuals, non-governmental organizations and groups play in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in combating impunity, Welcoming the cooperation between the Special Representative and other special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights rests with the State, and noting with deep concern that the activities of non-State actors pose a major threat to the security of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the need for strong and effective measures for the protection of human rights defenders, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give full effect to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;Resolution 53/144, annex. 2. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders;A/56/341 and E/CN.4/2001/94. 3. Emphasizes the importance of combating impunity, and in this regard urges States to take appropriate measures to address the question of impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders; 4. Urges all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative in the performance of her tasks and to furnish upon request all information in the fulfilment of her mandate; 5. Requests all concerned United Nations agencies and organizations, within their mandates, to provide all possible assistance and support to the Special Representative in the implementation of her programme of activities; 6. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders; 7. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/164 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Yugoslavia. 56/164. Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons The General Assembly, Deeply disturbed by the alarmingly high numbers of internally displaced persons throughout the world who receive inadequate protection and assistance, and conscious of the serious problem that this is creating for the international community, Conscious of the human rights and the humanitarian dimensions of the problem of internally displaced persons and the responsibilities that this poses for States and the international community to explore methods and means better to address the protection and assistance needs of those persons, Noting the growing awareness of the international community of the issue of internally displaced persons worldwide and the urgency of addressing the root causes of their displacement and finding durable solutions, including voluntary return in safety and with dignity or local integration, Emphasizing that national authorities have the primary responsibility to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction as well as to address the root causes for the displacement problem in cooperation with the international community, Recalling the relevant norms of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and analogous refugee law, and recognizing that the protection of internally displaced persons has been strengthened by identifying, reaffirming and consolidating specific standards for their protection, in particular through the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/54 of 24 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. regarding the need to develop global strategies to address the problem of internal displacement, Deploring practices of forced displacement and their negative consequences for the enjoyment of fundamental human rights by large groups of populations, Noting with appreciation the work of the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons in developing a normative framework, in particular a compilation and analysis of legal norms and the development of guiding principles, analysing institutional arrangements, undertaking dialogue with Governments and issuing a series of reports on particular country situations together with proposals for remedial measures, Welcoming the cooperation established between the Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, in particular the participation of the Representative of the Secretary-General in the meetings of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and its subsidiary bodies, and encouraging further strengthening of this collaboration in order to promote better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, Recognizing the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, and in this regard welcoming the establishment of the Senior Inter-Agency Network on Internal Displacement and the decision to set up within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat a unit for coordinating activities regarding internally displaced persons in order to promote better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, as well as to enhance further accountability by the United Nations system, Acknowledging with appreciation the independent coordination within, as well as the independent work of, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian agencies in protecting and assisting internally displaced persons in cooperation with relevant international bodies, Recalling its resolution 54/167 of 17 December 1999, 1. Welcomes the report of the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons;See A/56/168. 2. Commends the Representative of the Secretary-General for the activities undertaken so far, for the catalytic role that he continues to play in raising the level of consciousness about the plight of internally displaced persons and for his efforts to promote a comprehensive strategy that focuses on prevention as well as better protection, assistance and development for internally displaced persons; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have provided protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and have supported the work of the Representative of the Secretary-General; 4. Encourages the Representative of the Secretary-General, through continuous dialogue with Governments and all intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, to continue his analysis of the causes of internal displacement, the needs and rights of those displaced, measures of prevention and ways to strengthen protection, assistance and solutions for internally displaced persons, taking into account specific situations, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 5. Welcomes the specific attention paid by the Representative of the Secretary-General to the special protection, assistance and development needs of internally displaced women, children and other groups with specific needs and his commitment to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to their needs; 6. Also welcomes the fact that the Representative of the Secretary-General has made use of the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. in his dialogue with Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and requests him to continue his efforts in that regard, including considering strategies for addressing such concerns; 7. Notes with appreciation that an increasing number of States, United Nations agencies and regional and non-governmental organizations are making use of the Guiding Principles, encourages the further dissemination and application of the Guiding Principles, expresses its appreciation for the dissemination and promotion of the Guiding Principles at regional and other seminars on displacement, and encourages the Representative of the Secretary-General to continue to initiate or support such seminars in consultation with regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant institutions, and to provide support for efforts to promote capacity-building and use of the Guiding Principles; 8. Calls upon all Governments to continue to facilitate the activities of the Representative of the Secretary-General, in particular Governments with situations of internal displacement, encourages them to give serious consideration to inviting the Representative to visit their countries so as to enable him to study and analyse more fully the issues involved, and thanks those Governments that have already done so; 9. Invites Governments to give due consideration, in dialogue with the Representative of the Secretary-General, to the recommendations and suggestions addressed to them, in accordance with his mandate, and to inform him of measures taken thereon; 10. Calls upon Governments to provide protection and assistance, including reintegration and development assistance, to internally displaced persons, and to facilitate the efforts of relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations in these respects, including by further improving access to internally displaced persons; 11. Notes with appreciation the increased attention paid to the issue of internally displaced persons in the consolidated inter-agency appeals process, and encourages further efforts to improve the integration of the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons in consolidated appeals; 12. Emphasizes the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, and in this regard urges the Senior Inter-Agency Network on Internal Displacement and all relevant United Nations humanitarian assistance, human rights and development organizations concerned to enhance further their collaboration and coordination, especially through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, in order to promote and better carry out protection, assistance and development activities for internally displaced persons and to enhance further their accountability, as well as to provide all possible assistance and support to the Representative of the Secretary-General, and invites the Network better to inform Member States of its activities; 13. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by regional organizations, such as the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of American States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the Economic Community of West African States, to address the protection, assistance and development needs of internally displaced persons, and encourages them and other regional organizations to strengthen their activities and their cooperation with the Representative of the Secretary-General; 14. Notes the establishment of the global internally displaced persons database, as advocated by the Representative of the Secretary-General, and encourages the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and Governments to continue to collaborate on and support this effort, including by providing financial resources; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to provide his Representative, from within existing resources, with all necessary assistance to carry out his mandate effectively, and encourages the Representative to continue to seek the contribution of States, relevant organizations and institutions in order to put the work of the Representative on a more stable basis; 16. Requests the Representative of the Secretary-General to prepare, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 56/165 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 116 to 46, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Guatemala, Micronesia (Federated States of), Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 56/165. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing in particular the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held, respectively, in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Recalling also its resolution 55/102 of 4 December 2000, Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, including in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process but that it also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Recognizing that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Deeply concerned that the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 3. Also reaffirms the commitment to create an environment at both the national and the global level that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 4. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs are unevenly distributed, an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 5. Also recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 6. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 7. Also affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 8. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 9. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/254 and Add.1. and requests the Secretary-General to seek further the views of Member States and to submit a comprehensive report on this subject to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/166 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 56/166. Human rights and mass exoduses The General Assembly, Deeply disturbed by the scale and magnitude of exoduses and displacements of people in many regions of the world and by the human suffering of refugees and displaced persons, a high proportion of whom are women and children, Recalling its previous resolutions on this subject, as well as those of the Commission on Human Rights, and the conclusions of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which recognized, inter alia, that gross violations of human rights, persecution, political and ethnic conflicts, famine and economic insecurity, poverty and generalized violence were among the root causes leading to mass exoduses and displacements of people, Mindful of the three open debates that have taken place within the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and the two reports of the Secretary-General on that subject,S/1999/957 and S/2001/331. Welcoming the fiftieth anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and noting the continuing relevance of the provisions of the Convention to the situation of people in mass exoduses, Welcoming also the process of the Global Consultations on International Protection launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and in particular the discussions that took place in March 2001 on the protection of refugees in mass influx situations, Welcoming further the increased attention being given by the United Nations, including the Office of the High Commissioner, to the problem of camp security, including through the development of operational guidelines on the separation of armed elements from refugee populations, Stressing the importance of adherence to international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law in order to avert mass exoduses and to protect refugees and internally displaced persons, and expressing its deep concern at the lack of respect for those laws and principles, especially during armed conflict, including the denial of safe and unimpeded access to the displaced, Reaffirming the primary responsibility of States to ensure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons, Noting with satisfaction the efforts by the United Nations system to develop a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes and effects of movements of refugees and other displaced persons and strengthening emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, Recognizing that the human rights machinery of the United Nations, including the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the human rights treaty bodies, has important capabilities to address human rights violations that cause movements of refugees and displaced persons or prevent durable solutions to their plight, Recognizing also the complementarity between the systems for the protection of human rights and for humanitarian action, in particular the mandates of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as the work of the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and that cooperation between them, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as coordination between the human rights, political and security components of United Nations operations, make important contributions to the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons forced into mass exodus and displacement, Acknowledging with appreciation the coordination within, as well as the independent work of, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in protecting and assisting refugees and internally displaced persons, in cooperation with relevant United Nations bodies, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/334. 2. Strongly deplores ethnic and other forms of intolerance as one of the major causes of forced migratory movements, and urges States to take all necessary steps to ensure respect for human rights, especially the rights of persons belonging to minorities; 3. Reaffirms the need for all Governments, intergovernmental bodies and relevant international organizations to intensify their cooperation and assistance in worldwide efforts to address human rights situations that lead to, as well as the serious problems that result from, mass exoduses of refugees and displaced persons; 4. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to the consolidation and strengthening of emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, including early warning activities in the humanitarian area, so that, inter alia, effective action is taken to identify all human rights abuses that contribute to mass exoduses of persons; 5. Encourages States that have not already done so to consider acceding to the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees and to other regional instruments concerning refugees, as applicable, and relevant international instruments of human rights and humanitarian law, and to take appropriate measures to disseminate and implement those instruments domestically to encourage compliance with provisions against arbitrary and forcible displacement and greater respect for the rights of those who flee; 6. Emphasizes the responsibility of all States and international organizations to cooperate with those countries affected by mass exoduses of refugees and displaced persons, in particular developing countries; 7. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant parts of the United Nations system, as well as relevant international and non-governmental organizations, to continue to respond to the assistance and protection needs of refugees and other displaced persons worldwide, including to promote durable solutions to their plight; 8. Urges States to uphold the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps and settlements, consistent with international law, inter alia, through effective measures to prevent the infiltration of armed elements, to identify and separate any such armed elements from refugee populations, to settle refugees at safe locations, where possible away from the border, and to ensure prompt and unhindered access to them by humanitarian personnel; 9. Encourages the special rapporteurs, special representatives and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, acting within their mandates, to seek information, where appropriate, on human rights problems that may result in mass exoduses of populations or impede their voluntary return home and, where appropriate, to include such information, together with recommendations thereon, in their reports and to bring such information to the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for appropriate action in fulfilment of her mandate, in consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; 10. Requests all United Nations bodies, acting within their mandates, the specialized agencies and governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with all mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and, in particular, to provide them with all relevant information in their possession on the human rights situations creating or affecting refugees and displaced persons; 11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the exercise of her mandate, as set out in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to coordinate human rights activities throughout the United Nations system and, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to pay particular attention to situations that cause or threaten to cause mass exoduses or displacements and to contribute to efforts to address such situations effectively and promote sustainable returns through promotion and protection measures, including human rights monitoring in respect of those who fled or have returned as part of mass exoduses, emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, early warning and information-sharing, technical advice, expertise and cooperation in countries of origin as well as host countries; 12. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to contribute to the creation of an environment viable for return in post-conflict societies through initiatives such as the rehabilitation of the justice system, the creation of national institutions capable of defending human rights and broad-based programmes of human rights education and the strengthening of local non-governmental organizations through field presences and programmes of advisory services and technical cooperation; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare and submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution as it pertains to all aspects of human rights and mass exoduses, with particular emphasis on efforts by the United Nations system to enhance the protection of those who become displaced during mass exoduses and to facilitate their return and reintegration, as well as information on efforts to continue to enhance the capacity of the United Nations to avert new flows of refugees and other displaced persons and to tackle the root causes of such flows; 14. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 56/167 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Zambia. 56/167. United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education The General Assembly, Guided by the fundamental and universal principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Reaffirming article 26 of the Declaration, which states that "education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms", and recalling the provisions of other relevant international human rights instruments that reflect the aims of this article, Recalling the high importance attached to human rights education by the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, Recalling also the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights concerning the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, Believing that human rights education constitutes an important vehicle for the elimination of gender-based discrimination and for ensuring equal opportunities through the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, Convinced that every woman, man and child, in order to realize their full human potential, must be made aware of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Convinced also that human rights education should involve more than the provision of information and should constitute a comprehensive, lifelong process by which people at all levels of development and in all societies learn respect for the dignity of others and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all societies, Recognizing that human rights education is essential to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and that carefully designed training, dissemination and information programmes can have a catalytic effect on national, regional and international initiatives to promote and protect human rights and prevent human rights violations, Convinced that human rights education contributes to a holistic concept of development consistent with the dignity of women and men of all ages, which takes into account particularly vulnerable segments of society, such as children, young persons, older persons, indigenous people, minorities, the rural and urban poor, migrant workers, refugees, persons with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and disabled persons, Affirming that human rights education is a key to changing attitudes and behaviour based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promoting tolerance and respect for diversity in societies, and that such education is a determining factor in the promotion, dissemination and protection of the democratic values of justice and equity, which are essential to prevent and combat the spread of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as was recognized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, Welcoming the holding of the International Consultative Conference on School Education in Relation to Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination in Madrid from 23 to 25 November 2001, Welcoming also the efforts to promote human rights education made by educators and non-governmental organizations in all parts of the world, as well as by intergovernmental organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Programme, Recognizing the invaluable and creative role that non-governmental and community-based organizations play in the promotion and protection of human rights by disseminating public information and engaging in human rights education, especially at the grass-roots level and in remote and rural communities, Aware of the potential role of the private sector in implementing at all levels of society the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights through financial support for governmental and non-governmental activities as well as their own creative initiatives, Convinced that the effectiveness of existing human rights education and public information activities would be enhanced by better coordination and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, Recalling that it is within the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate relevant United Nations education and public information programmes in the field of human rights, Noting with appreciation the efforts undertaken so far by the Office of the High Commissioner to increase information-sharing in the area of human rights education through the development of a database and resource collection on the human rights education and to disseminate human rights information through its web sitewww.unhchr.ch. and its publications and external relations programmes, Welcoming the initiative of the Office of the High Commissioner to develop further the project entitled "Assisting Communities Together", launched in 1998, supported by voluntary funds and designed to provide small grants to grass-roots and local organizations carrying out practical human rights activities, Welcoming also other United Nations public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization entitled "Towards a culture of peace", and the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). which, inter alia, reconfirmed the mandated role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in coordinating Education for All partners and maintaining their collective momentum within the process of securing quality basic education, Recognizing the value of information and communications technologies in human rights education to promote dialogue and understanding of human rights, and in that context welcoming, inter alia, the "CyberSchoolBus"See www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/humanrights. and the United Nations Children's Fund "Voices of Youth"See www.unicef.org/voy. initiatives, Recalling the mid-term global evaluation of progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner, in cooperation with all other principal actors in the Decade, which was presented in the relevant report of the High Commissioner to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session,See A/55/360. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights;See A/56/271. 2. Urges all Governments to promote the development of comprehensive, participatory and sustainable national strategies for human rights education and to establish and strengthen, as a priority in education policies, knowledge of human rights in both its theoretical dimension and its practical application; 3. Welcomes the steps taken by Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to implement the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and to develop public information activities in the field of human rights, as indicated in the report of the High Commissioner; 4. Urges all Governments to contribute further to the implementation of the Plan of Action, in particular by: (a) Encouraging the establishment, in accordance with national conditions, of broadly representative national committees for human rights education responsible for the development of comprehensive, effective and sustainable national plans of action for human rights education and information, taking into consideration the recommendations of the mid-term global evaluation of the DecadeSee A/55/360. and the guidelines for national plans of action for human rights education developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;A/52/469/Add.1 and Corr.1. (b) Encouraging, supporting and involving national and local non-governmental and community-based organizations in the implementation of their national plans of action; (c) Initiating and developing cultural and educational programmes aimed at countering racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and supporting and implementing public information campaigns and specific training programmes in the field of human rights, as emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; 5. Encourages Governments to consider, within their national plans of action for human rights education: (a) The establishment of public access human rights resource and training centres capable of engaging in research, including the gender-sensitive training of trainers; (b) The preparation, collection, translation and dissemination of human rights education and training materials; (c) The organization of courses, conferences, workshops and public information campaigns and assistance in the implementation of internationally sponsored technical cooperation projects for human rights education and public information; 6. Encourages States, where such national public access human rights resource and training centres exist, to strengthen their capacity to support human rights education and public information programmes at the international, regional, national and local levels; 7. Calls upon Governments, in accordance with national conditions, to accord priority to the dissemination, in the relevant national local and indigenous languages, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, human rights materials and training manuals, including information on human rights mechanisms and complaint procedures and reports of States parties submitted under international human rights treaties, and to provide information and education in those languages on the practical ways in which national and international institutions and procedures may be utilized to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments; 8. Encourages Governments to support further, through voluntary contributions, the education and public information efforts undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner within the framework of the Plan of Action; 9. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to coordinate and harmonize human rights education and information strategies within the United Nations system, including the implementation of the Plan of Action, in cooperation, inter alia, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the collection, use, processing, management and distribution of human rights information and educational materials, including through electronic means; 10. Encourages Governments to contribute to the further development of the web site of the Office of the High Commissioner,www.unhchr.ch. in particular with respect to the dissemination of human rights education materials and tools, and to continue and expand the publications and external relations programmes of the Office; 11. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to support national capacities for human rights education and information through its technical cooperation programme in the field of human rights, including the organization of training courses and peer education initiatives and the development of targeted training materials for professional audiences, as well as the dissemination of human rights information materials as a component of technical cooperation projects, to develop further its databases and resource collection on human rights education and to continue to monitor developments in human rights education; 12. Urges the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to continue to utilize United Nations information centres for the timely dissemination, within their designated areas of activity, of basic information, reference and audio-visual materials on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the reports of States parties submitted under international human rights instruments, and, to that end, to ensure that the information centres are supplied with adequate quantities of those materials; 13. Stresses the need for close collaboration between the Office of the High Commissioner and the Department of Public Information in the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights, and the need to harmonize their activities with those of other international organizations, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with regard to its project entitled "Towards a culture of peace" and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and relevant non-governmental organizations with regard to the dissemination of information on international humanitarian law; 14. Invites the specialized agencies and relevant United Nations programmes and funds to continue to contribute, within their respective spheres of competence, to the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign and to cooperate and coordinate with each other and with the Office of the High Commissioner in that regard; 15. Encourages the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system, all human rights bodies of the United Nations system, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide training in human rights for all United Nations personnel and officials; 16. Encourages the human rights treaty bodies, when examining reports of States parties, to place emphasis on the obligations of States parties in the area of human rights education and to reflect that emphasis in their concluding observations; 17. Calls upon international, regional and national non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations, in particular those concerned with children and youth, women, labour, development, food, housing, education, health care and the environment, as well as all other social justice groups, human rights advocates, educators, religious organizations, the private sector and the media, to undertake specific activities of formal, non-formal and informal education, including cultural events, alone and in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in implementing the Plan of Action; 18. Welcomes, in that context, initiatives to include civil society, non-governmental organizations, children and youth in national delegations to world conferences, summits and other meetings, as well as the work of non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental agencies in organizing parallel non-governmental organization and youth satellite meetings, as an important component of human rights education; 19. Encourages Governments, regional organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to explore the potential support and contribution to human rights education of all relevant partners, including the private sector, development, trade and financial institutions and the media, and to seek their cooperation in the development of human rights education strategies; 20. Encourages regional organizations to develop strategies for the wider distribution of materials on human rights education through regional networks and to develop region-specific programmes to maximize the participation of national entities, whether governmental or non-governmental, in programmes on human rights education; 21. Encourages intergovernmental organizations to assist, upon request, collaboration between governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations at the national level; 22. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue the implementation of and to expand the "Assisting Communities Together" project and to consider other appropriate ways and means to support human rights education activities, including those undertaken by non-governmental organizations; 23. Requests the High Commissioner to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community and of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights education and public information, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/168 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Suriname and Uruguay. 56/168. Comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the obligations contained in the relevant human rights instruments, Reaffirming also that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Recalling its resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). its resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and its resolution 54/121 of 17 December 1999, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/10 of 27 July 2000 on further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities, as well as other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the functional commissions of the Council, Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their respective follow-up reviews, in particular as they pertain to the promotion of the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities on an equal and participatory basis, Noting with satisfaction that the Standard Rules play an important role in influencing the promotion, formulation and evaluation of policies, plans, programmes and actions at the national, regional and international levels to further the equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities, Recognizing that, despite different efforts made to increase cooperation and integration and increasing awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues since the adoption of the World Programme of Action by Governments, bodies and relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, these efforts have not been sufficient to promote full and effective participation by and opportunities for persons with disabilities in economic, social, cultural and political life, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in the world under a comprehensive and integral approach, Deeply concerned about the disadvantaged and vulnerable situation faced by 600 million persons with disabilities around the world, and conscious of the need to advance in the elaboration of an international instrument, Looking forward to the final reports of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development to be presented to that Commission, and also the outcome of the study currently being undertaken pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/51 of 25 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. on the adequacy of instruments in respect of the protection and monitoring of the human rights of persons with disabilities, Taking into account the recommendation of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the General Assembly to consider elaborating a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, including special provisions that address the discriminatory practices and treatment that affect them,See A/CONF.189/12, chap. I, para. 180. 1. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of all Member States and observers of the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on the holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development; 2. Also decides that, prior to the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly the Ad Hoc Committee shall hold at least one meeting of a duration of ten working days; 3. Invites States, relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, including relevant human rights treaty bodies, the regional commissions, the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations with an interest in the matter to make contributions to the work entrusted to the Ad Hoc Committee, based on the practice of the United Nations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, to submit to the Ad Hoc Committee prior to its first session a compilation of existing international legal instruments, documents and programmes which directly or indirectly address the situation of persons with disabilities, including, inter alia, those of conferences, summits, meetings or international or regional seminars convened by the United Nations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the outcome of the study undertaken pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/51 and the final reports that will be presented by the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development to that Commission; 6. Calls upon States, in cooperation with regional commissions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Division for Social Policy and Development and the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development, to hold regional meetings or seminars to contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee by making recommendations regarding the content and practical measures that should be considered in the international convention; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made by the Ad Hoc Committee. RESOLUTION 56/169 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 56/169. Situation of human rights in Cambodia The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict, signed in Paris on 23 October 1991,A/46/608-S/23177. including part III thereof, relating to human rights, Recalling also its resolution 55/95 of 4 December 2000, taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/82 of 25 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling further previous relevant resolutions, Recognizing that the tragic history of Cambodia requires special measures to ensure the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and the non-return to the policies and practices of the past, as stipulated in the Agreement signed in Paris on 23 October 1991, Desiring that the international community continue to respond positively to assisting efforts to investigate the tragic history of Cambodia, including responsibility for past international crimes, such as acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the regime of Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979, Bearing in mind the request made in June 1997 by the Cambodian authorities for assistance in responding to past serious violations of Cambodian and international law, the letter dated 15 March 1999 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security CouncilA/53/850-S/1999/231. and the report of the Group of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General annexed thereto, and the discussions held between the Government of Cambodia and the United Nations Secretariat on standards and procedures for bringing to justice the Khmer Rouge leaders most responsible for the most serious violations of human rights in the years 1975 to 1979, Recognizing the legitimate concern of the Government and people of Cambodia in the pursuit of internationally accepted principles of justice and of national reconciliation, Recognizing also that the accountability of individual perpetrators of grave human rights violations is one of the central elements of any effective remedy for victims of human rights violations and a key factor in ensuring a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability within a State, Welcoming the continuing role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and protection of human rights in Cambodia, I Support of and cooperation with the United Nations 1. Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia, in collaboration with the office in Cambodia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist the Government of Cambodia in ensuring the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure adequate resources for the continued functioning of the operational presence in Cambodia of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and to enable the Special Representative to continue to fulfil his tasks expeditiously; 2. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the role and achievements of the Office of the High Commissioner in assisting the Government and people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights;A/56/230. 3. Also welcomes the report of the Special Representative,See A/56/209. commends the Government of Cambodia on its openness and spirit of cooperation during the visits of the Special Representative, encourages the Government to continue its cooperation at all levels of government, supports the appeals of the Government and the Special Representative to increase international assistance to Cambodia and to continue working towards the reduction of poverty, commends the international community for the interest and support demonstrated at the Consultative Group Meeting on Cambodia, held in Tokyo on 12 and 13 June 2001, and encourages donor countries and other relevant parties to follow up their pledges of assistance and commitments; 4. Requests the Government of Cambodia to continue to cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner to resolve outstanding issues in accordance with international standards so that both parties, without further delay, can sign the memorandum of understanding for the extension of the mandate of the office in Cambodia of the High Commissioner, notes with regret the delays encountered in the process thus far, and encourages the Government to continue to cooperate with the office; 5. Notes with appreciation the use by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia to finance the programme of activities of the office in Cambodia of the High Commissioner, as defined in resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, and invites Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, foundations and individuals to consider contributing to the Trust Fund; II Administrative, legislative and judicial reform 1. Notes with concern the continued problems related to the rule of law and the functioning of the judiciary resulting from, inter alia, corruption, including interference by the executive with the independence of the judiciary, welcomes the continued commitment of the Government of Cambodia to reforming the judiciary, and urges the Government to continue to take the necessary measures to promote the independence, impartiality and effectiveness of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy and the judicial system as a whole and to increase its budgetary allocation to the judiciary, which is expected to result, inter alia, in a decrease in the number of excessive pre-trial detentions; 2. Urges the Government of Cambodia to continue its efforts towards the early adoption of the laws and codes that are essential components of the basic legal framework, including the draft statute on magistrates, a penal code, a code of criminal procedures, a new civil code and a code of civil procedure, as well as its efforts to reform the administration of justice and to enhance the training of judges and lawyers, appeals to the international community to assist the Government to this end, and welcomes, inter alia, the drafting of the forestry and fishery laws; 3. Welcomes the enactment of the Land Law, notes with concern the problems related to land, inter alia, land grabbing, forced evictions and further displacement, and urges the Government of Cambodia to continue its efforts to implement an effective, efficient and transparent land registration system, as envisaged in the Law, to solve these problems; 4. Also welcomes the efforts of the Government of Cambodia to implement its reform programme, including the adoption of the Governance Action Plan, encourages the timely and effective implementation of the Plan, and appeals to the international community to assist the Government in its efforts towards that end; 5. Expresses serious concern that the situation of impunity still exists in Cambodia, recognizes the commitment and efforts of the Government of Cambodia to respond to this problem, calls upon the Government, as a matter of critical priority, to take further measures to investigate urgently and to prosecute, in accordance with due process of law and international human rights standards, all of those who have perpetrated serious crimes, including violations of human rights, and encourages the international community to provide means, such as technical assistance or expertise, to help the Government to meet its own commitments to bring perpetrators to justice more effectively; 6. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Cambodia to demobilize its armed forces, including the launching of the first part of the demobilization programme, encourages the Government to implement the contents of the White Paper on National Defence and to continue to carry out effective reform, including the implementation of a full-scale demobilization programme that includes the disarming of demobilized soldiers based on the experience gained from a pilot project, aimed at professional and impartial police and military forces, and invites the international community to continue to assist the Government to this end; 7. Also welcomes the enactment of the Law on the Administration and Management of Communes/Sangkat and the Law on the Election of Commune/Sangkat Councils and the elections scheduled for 3 February 2002, strongly urges the Government of Cambodia, including at local and provincial levels, to conduct free and fair elections without violence to any party and encourages the international community to assist the Government to this end, strongly urges all political parties to participate in the elections in a democratic and peaceful manner, and in this regard welcomes the agreement of the two parties in power to abstain from violence, urges the Government to investigate thoroughly any instances of violence and intimidation that occur, and stresses the importance of independent and transparent national, provincial and commune election committees; 8. Notes with serious concern the prison conditions in Cambodia, notes with interest some important efforts to improve the prison system, recommends the continuation of international assistance to improve the material conditions of detention, and calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take further measures to improve the conditions of detention, to provide proper health care to detainees, including by strengthening the coordinating role of the Prison Health Department with the Ministry of Health, provincial authorities and non-governmental organizations working in this field, and to prevent any form of torture; III Human rights violations and violence 1. Expresses grave concern about the continued violations of human rights, including torture, excessive pre-trial detention, violation of labour rights and forced evictions, as well as political violence, police involvement in violence and the apparent lack of protection from mob killings, as detailed in the reports of the Special Representative, notes some progress made by the Government of Cambodia in addressing these issues, and urges the Government to take all necessary measures to prevent such violations; 2. Urges an end to racial violence against and vilification of ethnic minorities, and urges the Government of Cambodia to take all steps to prevent such violence, as well as to meet its obligations as a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. inter alia, by seeking technical assistance; IV Khmer Rouge tribunal 1. Reaffirms that the most serious human rights violations in Cambodia in recent history have been committed by the Khmer Rouge, and acknowledges that the final collapse of the Khmer Rouge and the continued efforts of the Government of Cambodia have paved the way for the restoration of peace, stability and national reconciliation in Cambodia and the investigation and prosecution of the leaders of the Khmer Rouge; 2. Welcomes the promulgation of the Law on the Establishment of Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea, noting with appreciation the general provisions and competence of the Law and its provision for a role for the United Nations, appeals to the Government of Cambodia to ensure that the senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian penal law, international humanitarian law and custom and international conventions recognized by Cambodia are brought to trial in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness and due process of law, encourages the Government to continue to cooperate with the United Nations on this issue, welcomes the efforts of the Secretariat and the international community in assisting the Government to this end, urges the Government and the United Nations to conclude an agreement without delay so that the Extraordinary Chambers can start to function promptly, and appeals to the international community to provide assistance in this regard, including financial and personnel support to the Chambers; V Protection of women and children 1. Welcomes the progress made in improving the status of women, and urges the Government of Cambodia to take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, to combat violence against women in all its forms and to take all steps to meet its obligations as a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. including by seeking technical assistance; 2. Notes with grave concern the continued and growing phenomenon of trafficking in and sexual exploitation of women and children and the increasing incidence of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and requests the Government of Cambodia comprehensively to address these problems and their underlying causes; 3. Urges the Government of Cambodia to improve further the health conditions of children and their access to education, to provide and promote free and accessible birth registration and to establish an effective juvenile justice system that is consistent with international human rights standards, and invites the international community to continue to assist the Government to this end; 4. Notes with serious concern the problem of child labour in its worst forms, calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take immediate and effective measures to protect children from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous, to interfere with their education or to be harmful to their health, safety or morals, inter alia, by enforcing Cambodian laws on child labour, the existing Labour Law and anti-trafficking law provisions on behalf of children and prosecuting those who violate these laws, invites the International Labour Organization to continue to extend the necessary assistance in this regard, and encourages the Government to consider ratifying the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Convention No. 182) adopted in 1999; VI Enhancement of human rights 1. Recognizes the importance of human rights education and training in Cambodia, commends the efforts of the Government of Cambodia, the Office of the High Commissioner and civil society in this field, encourages further strengthening and wider dissemination of these programmes, and invites the international community to continue to assist these efforts; 2. Commends the vital and valuable role played by non-governmental organizations in Cambodia, inter alia, in the development of civil society, and encourages the Government of Cambodia to ensure the protection of those human rights organizations and their members and to continue to work closely and cooperatively with non-governmental organizations in efforts to strengthen and uphold human rights in Cambodia, in particular in the lead-up to the communal elections; 3. Notes with interest the activities undertaken by the governmental Cambodian Human Rights Committee, the National Assembly Commission on Human Rights and Reception of Complaints and the Senate Commission on Human Rights and Reception of Complaints, stresses the importance of further promoting trust in those institutions and enhancing their activities, and invites the international community to extend its technical assistance to this end; 4. Encourages the Government of Cambodia in its efforts to establish an independent national mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights which should be based on the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights known as the Paris Principles,See resolution 48/134, annex. working in close cooperation with civil society, and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to provide advice and technical assistance in these efforts; 5. Requests the Government of Cambodia to follow up the recommendations made by the international human rights treaty bodies regarding the reports submitted by the Government, calls upon the Government to meet its reporting obligations under all international human rights instruments to which Cambodia is a party, and requests the office in Cambodia of the High Commissioner to continue to provide assistance in this regard; VII Landmines and small arms 1. Expresses grave concern at the devastating consequences and destabilizing effects of anti-personnel landmines on Cambodian society, welcomes the progress made by the Government of Cambodia in the removal of these mines and for victim assistance and mine-awareness programmes, encourages the Government to continue its efforts in this regard, and commends donor countries and other actors of the international community for their contributions and assistance to mine action; 2. Expresses concern at the substantial number of small arms still existing in society, commends the progress made by the Government of Cambodia and the cooperation of the international community in dealing with issues of small arms, and encourages the Government to cooperate in regional and international efforts to reduce the number of illicit small arms, including implementation of the existing programmes; VIII Conclusion 1. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the role and achievements of the Office of the High Commissioner in assisting the Government and the people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights and on the recommendations made by the Special Representative on matters within his mandate; 2. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in Cambodia at its fifty-seventh session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 56/16 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/528, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 110 to 3, with 41 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Yugoslavia 56/16. Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, contained in its resolution 2832 (XXVI) of 16 December 1971, and recalling also its resolution 54/47 of 1 December 1999 and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the report of the Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland States of the Indian Ocean held in July 1979,Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 45 and corrigendum (A/34/45 and Corr.1). Recalling further paragraph 148 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. in which it was noted, inter alia, that the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean would continue his informal consultations on the future work of the Committee, Emphasizing the need to foster consensual approaches that are conducive to the pursuit of such endeavours, Noting the initiatives taken by countries of the region to promote cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, in the Indian Ocean area and the possible contribution of such initiatives to overall objectives of a zone of peace, Convinced that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would assist the progress of a mutually beneficial dialogue to develop conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Considering that greater efforts and more time are required to develop a focused discussion on practical measures to ensure conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/56/29). 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/56/29). 2. Reiterates its conviction that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region; 3. Requests the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee to continue his informal consultations with the members of the Committee and to report through the Committee to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render, within existing resources, all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Committee, including the provision of summary records; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace". RESOLUTION 56/170 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay. 56/170. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/92 of 4 December 2000, Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Reaffirming the provisions concerning migrants adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Taking note of the positive treatment of the issue of migrants at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and recognizing the economic, social and cultural contributions of migrants to the countries of destination and origin, Bearing in mind the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants,E/CN.4/2001/83 and Add.1. Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2001/52 on the human rights of migrants and 2001/56 on the protection of migrants and their families, of 24 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling its resolution 40/144 of 13 December 1985, by which it approved the Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live, Recognizing the positive contributions that migrants frequently make, including through their eventual integration into their host society, Bearing in mind the situation of vulnerability in which migrants frequently find themselves, owing, inter alia, to their absence from their States of origin and to the difficulties they encounter because of differences of language, custom and culture, as well as the economic and social difficulties and obstacles to the return to their States of origin of migrants who are non-documented or in an irregular situation, Bearing in mind also the need for a focused and consistent approach towards migrants as a specific vulnerable group, in particular migrant women and children, Deeply concerned at the manifestations of violence, racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman and degrading treatment against migrants, especially women and children, in different parts of the world, Underlining the importance of the creation of conditions that foster greater harmony between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the States in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia perpetrated in segments of many societies by individuals or groups against migrants, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the effective and full protection of the human rights of all migrants, and underlining the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, Noting the efforts made by States to penalize the international trafficking of migrants and to protect the victims of this illegal activity, Taking note of Advisory Opinion OC-16/99, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 1 October 1999, on The Right to Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law, in the case of foreign nationals detained by the authorities of a receiving State, 1. Welcomes the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies; 2. Requests all Member States, in conformity with their respective constitutional systems, effectively to promote and protect the human rights of all migrants, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the international instruments to which they are party, which may include the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and other applicable international human rights instruments; 3. Strongly condemns all forms of racial discrimination and xenophobia with regard to access to employment, vocational training, housing, schooling, health services and social services, as well as services intended for use by the public, and welcomes the active role played by governmental and non-governmental organizations in combating racism and assisting individual victims of racist acts, including migrant victims; 4. Calls upon all States to review and, where necessary, revise immigration policies with a view to eliminating all discriminatory practices against migrants and to provide specialized training for government policy-making and law enforcement, immigration and other concerned officials, thus underlining the importance of effective action to create conditions that foster greater harmony and tolerance within societies; 5. Reiterates the need for all States parties to protect fully the universally recognized human rights of migrants, especially women and children, regardless of their legal status, and to treat them humanely, in particular with regard to assistance and protection; 6. Reaffirms emphatically the duty of States parties to ensure full respect for and observance of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638. in particular with regard to the right of foreign nationals, regardless of their immigration status, to communicate with a consular official of their own State in the case of detention, and the obligation of the State in whose territory the detention occurs to inform the foreign national of that right; 7. Reaffirms the responsibility of Governments to safeguard and protect the rights of migrants against illegal or violent acts, in particular acts of racial discrimination and crimes perpetrated with racist or xenophobic motivation by individuals or groups, and urges them to reinforce measures in this regard; 8. Urges all States to adopt effective measures to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of migrants, including by individuals or groups; 9. Expresses its support for the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants, and requests her to take into account the recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionSee A/CONF.189/12, chap. I. in the performance of her mandate, tasks and duties; 10. Encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact domestic criminal legislation to combat the international trafficking of migrants, which should take into account, in particular, trafficking that endangers the lives of migrants or includes different forms of servitude or exploitation, such as any form of debt bondage or sexual or labour exploitation, and to strengthen international cooperation to combat such trafficking; 11. Encourages all Governments to remove obstacles that may prevent the safe, unrestricted and expeditious transfer of earnings, assets and pensions of migrants to their country of origin or to any other countries, in conformity with applicable legislation, and to consider, as appropriate, measures to solve other problems that may impede such transfers; 12. Welcomes immigration programmes, adopted by some countries, that allow migrants to integrate fully into the host countries, facilitate family reunification and promote a harmonious and tolerant environment, and encourages States to consider the possibility of adopting these types of programmes; 13. Calls upon all States to protect the human rights of migrant children, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring that the best interests of the children and the importance of reuniting them with their parents, when possible and appropriate, are the paramount consideration, and encourages the relevant United Nations bodies, within the framework of their respective mandates, to pay special attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, where necessary, to put forward recommendations for strengthening their protection; 14. Welcomes the proclamation of 18 December as International Migrants Day and the invitation to Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe it through, inter alia, the dissemination of information on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants and on their economic, social and cultural contributions to their host and home countries, the sharing of experience and the design of actions to ensure their protection; 15. Encourages States to participate in regional dialogues on problems of migration, and invites them to design and implement programmes with States of other regions in order to protect the rights of migrants; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 56/171 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.3, para. 48),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 72 to 49, with 46 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia 56/171. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 55/114 of 4 December 2000, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/17 of 20 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1. Welcomes: (a) The interim report of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran;See A/56/278. (b) The broad participation of the electorate in the presidential elections held in June 2001, which expressed the true commitment of the Iranian people to the democratic process in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (c) The reports that religion will no longer be requested in the registration of births, marriages, divorces or deaths; (d) The positive developments regarding the situation of Iranian children in the fields of education, health and juvenile justice, as reported by the United Nations Children's Fund and the Special Representative; (e) The process of legal reform under way in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to continue this process; (f) The re-establishment of the Majilis Human Rights Commission, and expresses the hope that it will complement the work carried out by the Islamic Human Rights Commission to enhance the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (g) The public and serious debate, which is taking place within society and in the media, on the validity and utility of the imposition of public flogging and other harsh punishments; (h) The efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in accepting and caring for large numbers of Afghan refugees; 2. Notes: (a) The commitment made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to strengthen respect for human rights in the country and to promote the rule of law; (b) The assessment of the Special Representative that some improvements have taken place, inter alia, in such areas as women's education; (c) The establishment of the National Committee for the Promotion of the Rights of Religious Minorities, and encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to expedite its launching; 3. Expresses its concern at: (a) The continuing violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (b) The fact that, since 1996, no invitation has been extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Special Representative to visit the country; (c) The continued deterioration of the situation with regard to freedom of opinion and expression, especially attacks against the freedom of the press, the imprisonment of journalists and members of Parliament, the harsh sentences imposed on those who participated in the Berlin conference or its preparation,Ibid., paras. 53-58; see also E/CN.4/2001/39, paras. 88-94. and the harsh reactions to student demonstrations, including the imprisonment and mistreatment of those who participated; (d) The growing number of executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and in particular deplores public and especially cruel executions, such as stoning; (e) The still unsatisfactory compliance with international standards in the administration of justice, the absence of due process of law and the use of national security laws to deny the rights of the individual; (f) The use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in particular the practice of amputation and the growing number of cases of public flogging; (g) The systemic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice, and at the recent rejection of legislation to raise the age of marriage for women; (h) The continuing discrimination against persons belonging to minorities, in particular against Baha'is, Christians, Jews and Sunnis; (i) The ongoing lack of clarity concerning all the circumstances surrounding the suspicious deaths and killings of intellectuals and political activists in late 1998 and early 1999; 4. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: (a) To abide by its obligations freely undertaken under the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international instruments on human rights and to continue its efforts to consolidate respect for human rights and the rule of law; (b) To take further measures to promote full and equal enjoyment by women and girls of their human rights and to undertake major educational programmes to promote women's rights; (c) To implement the recommendations made by the Committee on the Rights of the ChildSee CRC/C/15/Add.123. as a matter of priority, as well as to consider ratifying the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Convention No. 182); (d) To eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds or against persons belonging to minorities and to address this matter in an open manner, with the full participation of the minorities themselves, as well as to implement fully the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of religious intolerance relating to the Baha'is and other minority groupsSee E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.2. until they are completely emancipated; (e) To ensure full respect for freedom of expression; (f) To end the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons under the age of 18, and to ensure that capital punishment will not be imposed for crimes other than the most serious and will not be pronounced in disregard of the obligations it has assumed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the provisions of United Nations safeguards, and to provide the Special Representative with relevant statistics on this matter; (g) To take all necessary measures to end the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, in particular the practices of amputation and public flogging, and to pursue vigorously penitentiary reform; (h) To implement judicial reform speedily and completely, to guarantee the dignity of the individual and to ensure the full application of due process of law and fair and transparent procedures by an independent and impartial judiciary, and in this context to ensure respect for the rights of the defence and the equity of verdicts in all instances, including for members of religious minority groups; (i) To enact as soon as possible legislation to ensure that people are not punished for exercising their political freedoms; (j) To invite the Special Representative to visit the country and cooperate fully with him, in particular so that he can, through direct contacts with all sectors of society, observe the evolution of the human rights situation in the country and assess future needs, including in the area of technical cooperation in the field of human rights; (k) To give effect, in the near future, to its invitation to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as to consider extending invitations to other relevant thematic mechanisms to visit the country; 5. Decides to continue the examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, paying particular attention to further developments, including the situation of the Baha'is and other minority groups, at its fifty-seventh session, under the agenda item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 56/172 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.3, para. 48)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 56/172. Situation of human rights in parts of South-Eastern Europe The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,Resolution 260 A (III). the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,Resolution 47/135, annex. the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,See resolution 36/55. the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. accepted humanitarian rules, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and, for participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Helsinki Final Act of 1 August 1975, Bearing in mind all resolutions on this subject, in particular Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/12 of 18 April 2001See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. and General Assembly resolution 55/113 of 4 December 2000, as well as all Security Council resolutions and presidential statements, Recalling Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998) of 31 March 1998, 1199 (1998) of 23 September 1998, 1203 (1998) of 24 October 1998, 1239 (1999) of 14 May 1999, 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 and the general principles annexed thereto, 1345 (2001) of 21 March 2001, 1367 (2001) of 10 September 2001, all previous General Assembly resolutions on the subject, as well as the statement made on 24 March 1998 by the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights at the fifty-fourth session of the Commission,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. III, sect. E, para. 28. Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1998/79 of 22 April 1998,Ibid., chap. II, sect. A. 1999/2 of 13 April 1999Ibid., 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2000/26 of 18 April 2000Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of 27 September 1999 on the situation of human rights in Kosovo,E/CN.4/2000/10. and taking note of the periodic report of 11 October 2001 of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,See A/56/460. Underlining the obligation of all authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and all parties in Kosovo to cooperate fully in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the general principles on a political solution to the Kosovo crisis adopted on 6 May 1999, annexed to that resolution, and welcoming the Common Document signed on 5 November 2001 by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Expressing its full support for and encouraging efforts towards the full implementation of commitments contained in the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement"),A/50/790-S/1995/999. 1. Emphasizes the need to ensure respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to do everything possible to further the process of reconciliation and regional cooperation; 2. Welcomes all efforts by countries of the region to overcome the effects of past conflicts, and also the efforts of the international community, which have helped the countries of the region to make great strides towards peace and stability; 3. Also welcomes moves by all parties in the region to establish and maintain a constructive dialogue with their neighbours, an essential element of regional stability, and urges them to continue these efforts; 4. Notes that varying degrees of progress have been made in the human rights situation in all States, but that further efforts are required in several areas; 5. Also notes the progress in the region, and encourages further free, fair, inclusive and democratic elections throughout the region as an important element of the rule of law and the promotion and protection of human rights; 6. Urges all parties to condemn ethnic violence and intolerance and to oppose actively, in a manner consistent with internationally recognized human rights standards, advocates or perpetrators of any form of violence as a means to secure peace and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages parties to use dialogue to address their differences; 7. Urges all authorities in the region to cooperate fully with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, and in particular to comply with their obligation to arrest immediately and transfer to the custody of the Tribunal all indicted persons, as well as to comply with requests by the Tribunal for access to information and witnesses; 8. Emphasizes the need to prevent and end violations of human rights, including cases of arbitrary detention, as well as the continued detention of political prisoners and cases of discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin, nationality, language or religion; 9. Also emphasizes the need for sustained progress on all issues that have an impact on the enjoyment of human rights, in particular, legal reform, impunity, protection of all persons belonging to minorities and the fight against organized crime and trafficking in persons; 10. Stresses the need for enhanced efforts to foster and effect the prompt and voluntary return and integration of displaced persons and refugees in safety and with dignity; 11. Underlines the importance of consistent efforts to establish the fate of missing persons, and encourages all States and parties to provide information to organizations involved in this effort, including through the tracing mechanisms of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and to cooperate fully with organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Commission on Missing Persons that are involved in the effort to determine the identities, whereabouts and fate of missing persons; 12. Encourages the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe to enhance their cooperation in the region, including within the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe; 13. Encourages the international community to continue providing voluntary contributions to meet the pressing human rights and humanitarian needs of the region; 14. Welcomes the appointment of the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and calls upon all authorities and all concerned parties to cooperate fully with the Special Representative as he carries out his work. RESOLUTION 56/173 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.3, para. 48),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 90 to 3, with 69 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia Against: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Rwanda, Uganda Abstaining: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia 56/173. Situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all Member States are required to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments, Aware that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of warUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the first Additional Protocol thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 55/117 of 4 December 2000, and those of the Commission on Human Rights, as well as Security Council resolutions 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000, 1332 (2000) of 14 December 2000, 1341 (2001) of 22 February 2001, 1355 (2001) of 15 June 2001 and 1376 (2001) of 9 November 2001, Recalling also the Ceasefire Agreement signed at Lusaka,S/1999/815, annex. as well as the Kampala disengagement planSee S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. and the Harare sub-plans for disengagement and redeployment, and welcoming the decision of the Security Council to authorize the start-up of phase III of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Concerned at all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by parties to the conflict, including acts of and incitement to ethnic hatred and violence, as noted in the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,A/56/327 and E/CN.4/2001/40/Add.1. Noting that the promotion and the protection of human rights for all are essential for achieving stability and security in the region and will contribute to the creation of the environment necessary for cooperation among States in the region, Reiterating its support for the continuation of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, which, requiring the cooperation and full participation of all the Congolese parties, is an essential process for the future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the entire region, Acknowledging the need to expand the presence and full participation of women in the peace process, Recalling its decision to request the Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to carry out a joint mission of investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while regretting that the security situation in the country is still preventing such a mission, Encouraging the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to give effect to its earlier commitment, including to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to restore and reform its judicial system, in accordance with the relevant international conventions, and to put an end to the trying of civilians by the Military Court, 1. Welcomes: (a) The meeting between the Political Committee for the Implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and the Security Council on 9 November 2001, and urges all parties to take the necessary measures to implement phase III of the deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (b) The reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;A/56/327 and E/CN.4/2001/40/Add.1. (c) The visits made by the Special Rapporteur to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 11 to 21 March 2001 and from 20 July to 1 August 2001 for the purpose of evaluating the existing situation in the country; (d) The holding in Gaborone from 20 to 24 August 2001 of the preparatory meeting for the Inter-Congolese Dialogue and the signature by all the parties concerned of a declaration of commitment providing for the release of all prisoners of conscience, the free movement of goods and persons and the protection of the civilian populations; (e) The effective release by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of several human rights defenders; (f) The adoption by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of Law No. 001 of 17 May 2001, on political parties, and the promise of openness and tolerance which it offers, inviting the Government to continue on that path and to enforce the law fully for the benefit of all political tendencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (g) The action undertaken by the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while encouraging the Government to collaborate and further strengthen its cooperation with the office; (h) The statements by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the effect that child soldiers would in future no longer be recruited and, in that context, the ratification by the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. and the commitment made by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cooperate with United Nations organs and non-governmental organizations in order to ensure the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers, as well as the measures taken by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to that end, while urging other parties to the conflict to do the same; (i) The release and repatriation carried out under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in conformity with international humanitarian law, of persons at risk because of their ethnic origin, and of prisoners of war; (j) The continuing presence and wider deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in support of the implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement; (k) The commitments made by the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to improve the human rights situation, particularly those given when he attended the fifty-seventh session of the Commission on Human Rights, while encouraging him to give concrete effect to those commitments; (l) The organization of the National Human Rights Conference, held in June 2001, while expressing the hope that its results will lead to an improvement of the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (m) The consent of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Special Rapporteur's plan to undertake, within the framework of his mandate and in the coming months, an initial joint mission to investigate the massacres in the province of South Kivu and other atrocities referred to by the Special Rapporteur in his latest and previous reports, with a view to bringing to justice those responsible and reporting thereon to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, and the agreement given by the rebel groups to that mission of investigation; 2. Expresses its concern at: (a) The resumption of fighting in the eastern part of the country and the adverse impact of the conflict on the situation of human rights and its severe consequences for the security and well-being of the civilian population throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the increase in the number of refugees and internally displaced persons, particularly in the eastern part of the country; (b) The missed opportunity for the implementation of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue at the meeting which was held for that purpose in Addis Ababa on 15 October 2001, while welcoming the scheduled resumption of the process in South Africa; (c) The situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in the zones held by the rebel groups and under foreign occupation, and the persistent violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the atrocities against the civilian populations, usually committed with complete impunity, while emphasizing in this regard that the occupying forces should be held accountable for the violations of human rights in the territories under their control. It condemns in particular: (i) All the massacres and atrocities still being committed throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the zones held by the armed rebels and under foreign occupation, including Bugobe, Nyatende, Kamisimbi, Lurhala, Nyangesi, Biambwe, Nbingi, Bunyatenge, Kaghumo, Banyuke, and Kirima, Kalemié, Pweto, Rutshuru, Kibumba, Kimia Kimia, Dungo Mulunga and Kasese Bolanga; (ii) The occurrence of cases of summary and arbitrary execution, disappearance, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention without trial of, among others, journalists, opposition politicians, human rights defenders and people who have cooperated with the United Nations mechanisms; (iii) The numerous instances of rape and sexual violence against women and children, including as a means of warfare; (iv) The continuing recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed forces and groups, including the enlistment and kidnapping of children throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in North and South Kivu and in the eastern province; (v) The sentencing to death of civilians tried before the Military Court, in violation of the obligations assumed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as the prolonged and arbitrary detentions ordered by the Court; (vi) The death sentences and summary executions by the Congolese Rally for Democracy-Goma; (vii) The indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations, including against hospitals in the zones held by rebel forces and the zones held by foreign forces; (d) The conflicts between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups in the eastern province, where thousands of Congolese have already been killed and where Uganda, which controls the zone de facto, is responsible for ensuring respect for human rights; (e) The excessive accumulation and spread of small arms and the distribution, circulation and illicit trafficking of arms in the region and their negative impact on human rights; (f) The breaches of freedom of expression, opinion, association and assembly throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the eastern part of the country; (g) The harassment and persecution of human rights defenders and other members of civil society; (h) The acts of intimidation and persecution against representatives of the Churches, as well as the killings of those persons in the eastern part of the country; (i) The severe insecurity, which seriously hampers the ability of humanitarian organizations to secure access to affected populations, particularly in the zones held by armed rebels and under the control of foreign forces, and condemns the killing of six humanitarian workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 26 April 2001 in Ituri Province, for which those responsible must be brought to justice; (j) The illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, demands that such exploitation cease, and emphasizes that the natural resources of the country should not be used to finance the conflict there; 3. Urges all parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To permit the restoration without delay of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in accordance with the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council; (b) To implement fully the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement; (c) To cease all military and logistic support as well as all strategic collaboration with the armed groups, particularly those operating in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (d) To do everything possible to create the prerequisites for further meetings with a view to advancing the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, with emphasis on ensuring the full participation of women in this process; (e) To protect human rights and respect international humanitarian law, in particular, as applicable to them, the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of warUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 18 October 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of GenocideResolution 260 A (III). and other relevant provisions of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and in particular to respect the rights of women and children and to ensure the safety of all civilians, including refugees and internally displaced persons, regardless of their origin; (f) To ensure the safety and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel and to ensure full, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (g) To cease all military activity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which breaches the ceasefire provided for in the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement and the Kampala disengagement plan, including the Harare sub-plans, and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and urges all foreign forces to withdraw without delay from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (h) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers, which are in contravention of the international human rights standards, and to extend unreserved cooperation to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and humanitarian organizations in order to ensure the rapid demobilization of child soldiers, their return home and their rehabilitation; (i) To define and implement all measures necessary to create conditions conducive to the voluntary return, in safety and with dignity, of all refugees and displaced persons and to ensure their fair and lawful treatment; (j) To authorize access, in complete freedom and security, to the zones which they control in order to permit investigations into violations of human rights and international human rights law; (k) To cooperate fully with the National Commission responsible for investigating allegations concerning the massacre of a large number of refugees and displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as with the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in considering the allegations in question, with a view to submitting to the Secretary-General, through the National Commission, a further progress report on the investigations concerning this matter; 4. Calls upon the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take specific measures in order: (a) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights law and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to fulfil its responsibility to protect the human rights of the population in its territory, as well as to take a leading part in efforts to prevent conditions that might lead to further flows of internally displaced persons and refugees within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and at its borders; (b) To fulfil its commitment to reform and restore the judicial system and, in particular, its declared intention progressively to abolish the death penalty, as well as to reform military justice, in conformity with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. while encouraging the continuation of the moratorium on executions in force; (c) To put an end to impunity and to fulfil its responsibility to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice; (d) To create, in accordance with its undertakings as stipulated in the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, and particularly the articles concerning the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, conditions that would allow for a democratization process that is genuine and all-inclusive and that fully responds to the aspirations of all people in the country, and to complete the administrative procedures required to permit activities by political parties and prepare for the holding of democratic, free and transparent elections; (e) To ensure full respect for freedom of opinion and expression, including freedom of the press in relation to all types of mass media, as well as freedom of association and assembly; (f) To remove the restrictions that still affect the work of non-governmental organizations and to promote human rights awareness, particularly by strengthening cooperation with civil society, including all human rights organizations; (g) To continue to facilitate and strengthen further its cooperation with the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (h) To cooperate fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 in ensuring that all those responsible for the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and other violations of article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and Additional Protocol II thereto,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17513. are brought to justice in accordance with international principles of due process; (i) To continue to facilitate the creation of the necessary prerequisites for the deployment, in conditions of security, of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of its personnel and associated personnel; 5. Decides: (a) To continue to examine the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to request the Special Rapporteur to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, incorporating a gender perspective; (b) To request the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to undertake, if appropriate in cooperation with the National Commission responsible for investigating violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (ex-Zaire) between 1996 and 1997, a joint mission to investigate all the massacres perpetrated in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly the massacres committed in the province of South Kivu and other atrocities referred to by the Special Rapporteur in his latest and previous reports on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a view to bringing to justice those responsible, and to report on this matter to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-eighth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; (c) To request the Secretary-General to give the Special Rapporteurs and the joint mission all necessary assistance to enable them fully to discharge their mandate; (d) To request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the technical skills needed by the joint mission in order to discharge its mandate; (e) To request the international community to extend support to the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular to enable it: (i) To expand its participation in technical cooperation programmes, advisory services and activities to increase awareness of human rights, in particular by supporting the efforts made by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to strengthen the judicial system; (ii) To increase its support to non-governmental organizations defending human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continue and develop cooperation with them and facilitate the activities of the joint mission, particularly through financial support. RESOLUTION 56/174 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.3, para. 48),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 100 to 2, with 63 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Yugoslavia Against: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Sudan Abstaining: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia 56/174. Situation of human rights in Iraq The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that Iraq is a party to the International Covenants on Human Rights, other international human rights instruments and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling its previous resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, and taking note of the most recent, Commission resolution 2001/14 of 18 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also Security Council resolution 686 (1991) of 2 March 1991, in which the Council called upon Iraq to release all Kuwaitis and nationals of other States who might still be held in detention, Council resolution 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, Council resolution 688 (1991) of 5 April 1991, in which the Council demanded an end to repression of the Iraqi civilian population and insisted that Iraq cooperate with humanitarian organizations and that the human rights of all Iraqi citizens be respected, Council resolutions 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995, 1111 (1997) of 4 June 1997, 1129 (1997) of 12 September 1997, 1143 (1997) of 4 December 1997, 1153 (1998) of 20 February 1998, 1175 (1998) of 19 June 1998, 1210 (1998) of 24 November 1998, 1242 (1999) of 21 May 1999, 1266 (1999) of 4 October 1999, 1281 (1999) of 10 December 1999, 1302 (2000) of 8 June 2000, 1330 (2000) of 5 December 2000, 1352 (2001) of 1 June 2001 and 1360 (2001) of 3 July 2001, in which the Council authorized States to permit imports of Iraqi oil in order to allow Iraq to purchase humanitarian supplies, and Council resolution 1284 (1999) of 17 December 1999, in which the Council, by means of a comprehensive approach to the situation in Iraq, inter alia, removed the ceiling for the allowable import of Iraqi oil in order to increase the amount of revenue available for the purchase of humanitarian supplies, laid down new provisions and procedures designed to improve the implementation of the humanitarian programme and to further achievement in meeting the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi population and reiterated the obligation of Iraq to facilitate the repatriation of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals referred to in paragraph 30 of Council resolution 687 (1991), Taking note of the concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/53/40), vol. I, paras. 90-111. the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/54/18), paras. 337-361. the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 2 (E/1998/22), paras. 245-283. the Committee on the Rights of the ChildOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/55/41), paras. 304-333. and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against WomenIbid., Supplement No. 38 (A/55/38), part two, chap. IV, sect. B, paras. 166-210. on the recent reports submitted to them by Iraq, in which these treaty-monitoring bodies point to a wide range of human rights problems and express the view that the Government of Iraq remains bound by its treaty obligations, while pointing to the adverse effect of sanctions on the daily life of the population, in particular women and children, Reaffirming that it is the responsibility of the Government of Iraq to ensure the well-being of its entire population and the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, concerned about the dire situation in Iraq, which affects the population, in particular children, as stated in the reports of several United Nations human rights treaty bodies, and appealing to all concerned to fulfil their mutual obligations in the management of the humanitarian programme established by the Security Council in its resolution 986 (1995), 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in IraqSee A/56/340. and the observations, conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 2. Notes with dismay that there has been no improvement in the situation of human rights in the country; 3. Strongly condemns: (a) The systematic, widespread and extremely grave violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by the Government of Iraq, resulting in all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror; (b) The suppression of freedom of thought, expression, information, association, assembly and movement through fear of arrest, imprisonment, execution, expulsion, house demolition and other sanctions; (c) The repression faced by any kind of opposition, in particular the harassment and intimidation of and threats against Iraqi opponents living abroad and members of their families; (d) The widespread use of the death penalty in disregard of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the United Nations safeguards; (e) Summary and arbitrary executions, including political killings and the continued so-called clean-out of prisons, the use of rape as a political tool, as well as enforced or involuntary disappearances, routinely practised arbitrary arrests and detention and consistent and routine failure to respect due process and the rule of law; (f) Widespread, systematic torture and the maintaining of decrees prescribing cruel and inhuman punishment as a penalty for offences; 4. Calls upon the Government of Iraq: (a) To abide by its freely undertaken obligations under international human rights treaties and international humanitarian law to respect and ensure the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their origin, ethnicity, gender or religion, within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction; (b) To put an end to all summary and arbitrary executions and to ensure that capital punishment will not be imposed for crimes other than the most serious and will not be pronounced in disregard of the obligations assumed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the provisions of United Nations safeguards; (c) To bring the actions of its military and security forces into conformity with the standards of international law, in particular those of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (d) To cooperate with United Nations human rights mechanisms, in particular by inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit the country and allowing the stationing of human rights monitors throughout Iraq pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights; (e) To establish the independence of the judiciary and abrogate all laws granting impunity to specified forces or persons killing or injuring individuals for any purpose beyond the administration of justice under the rule of law as prescribed by international standards; (f) To abrogate all decrees that prescribe cruel and inhuman punishment or treatment, including mutilation, and to ensure that torture and cruel punishment and treatment no longer occur; (g) To abrogate all laws and procedures, including Revolution Command Council Decree No. 840 of 4 November 1986, that penalize free expression, and to ensure that the genuine will of the people shall be the basis of authority of the State; (h) To ensure free exercise of political opposition and to prevent intimidation and repression of political opponents and their families; (i) To respect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups and to cease immediately its continued repressive practices aimed at the Iraqi Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmen, including the practice of forced deportation and relocation, and to ensure the personal integrity and freedoms of all citizens, including the Shi'a population; (j) To cooperate with the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee to establish the whereabouts and resolve the fate of the remaining several hundred missing persons, including prisoners of war, Kuwaiti nationals and third-country nationals, victims of the illegal Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, to cooperate with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights for that purpose, to cooperate with the high-level coordinator of the Secretary-General for Kuwaitis and third-country nationals and Kuwaiti property, to pay compensation to the families of those who died or disappeared in the custody of the Iraqi authorities, through the mechanism established by the Security Council in resolution 692 (1991) of 20 May 1991, to release immediately all Kuwaitis and nationals of other States who may still be held in detention and inform families about the whereabouts of arrested persons, to provide information about death sentences imposed on prisoners of war and civilian detainees and to issue death certificates for deceased prisoners of war and civilian detainees; (k) To cooperate further with international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian assistance and monitoring in the northern and southern areas of the country; (l) To continue to cooperate in the implementation of Security Council resolutions 986 (1995), 1111 (1997), 1143 (1997), 1153 (1998), 1210 (1998), 1242 (1999), 1266 (1999), 1281 (1999), 1302 (2000), 1330 (2000), 1352 (2001) and 1360 (2001), as well as to cooperate, together with all concerned, in the implementation of the humanitarian sections of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999), to continue its efforts to ensure fully the timely and equitable distribution, without discrimination, to the Iraqi population, including in remote areas, of all humanitarian supplies purchased under the oil-for-food programme, to address effectively the needs of persons requiring special attention, such as children, pregnant women, the disabled, the elderly and the mentally ill, among others, further to facilitate the work of United Nations humanitarian personnel in Iraq by ensuring the free and unobstructed movement of observers throughout the country, as well as their free access, without any discrimination, to all the population, and to ensure that involuntarily displaced persons receive humanitarian assistance without the need to demonstrate that they have resided for six months at their places of temporary residence; (m) To cooperate in the identification of the minefields existing throughout Iraq, with a view to facilitating their marking and eventual clearing; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all necessary assistance in carrying out his mandate, and decides to continue the examination of the situation of human rights in Iraq at its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 56/175 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.3, para. 48),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 79 to 37, with 48 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia Against: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Vanuatu, Zambia 56/175. Situation of human rights in the Sudan The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments and the duty to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Sudan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the African Charter on Human and Peoples' RightsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1520, No. 26363. and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/18 of 20 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Deeply concerned at the impact of the continuing conflict in the Sudan between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement on the situation of human rights and at the disregard by all parties to the conflict of relevant rules of international humanitarian law, while welcoming the repeated declarations by the Government of the Sudan of a comprehensive ceasefire, Deeply concerned also at the lack of progress in the peace process, the repeated offensives of the Sudanese army and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, the general upsurge in fighting and the continued aerial bombings by the Government of the Sudan, Aware of the urgent need for the Government of the Sudan to implement effective additional measures in the field of human rights and humanitarian relief in order to protect the civilian population from the effects of armed conflict, Expressing its firm belief that progress towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict in southern Sudan within the context of the peace initiative of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development will contribute greatly to the creation of a better environment for the respect of human rights in the Sudan, Taking note of the initiative by Egypt and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya aiming at a negotiated and lasting peace in the country, and encouraging close coordination with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Condemning the murder of four Sudanese relief workers in April 1999 while in the custody of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, 1. Welcomes: (a) The appointment of a new Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Sudan and his interim report;See A/56/336. (b) The good cooperation extended by the Government of the Sudan to the former Special Rapporteur and to the new Special Rapporteur during his visits to the Sudan in March and October 2001 and the cooperation extended to other United Nations mandate-holders in the field of human rights, as well as the stated willingness of the Government of the Sudan to continue to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur; (c) The expressed commitment of the Government of the Sudan to respect and promote human rights and the rule of law and its expressed commitment to a process of democratization with a view to establishing a representative and accountable Government, reflecting the aspirations of the people of the Sudan; (d) The activities of the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children as a constructive response on the part of the Government of the Sudan, the cooperation extended to the Committee by the local communities and the support of the international community and non-governmental organizations; (e) The stipulation of basic human rights and freedoms in the Constitution of the Sudan and the establishment of the Constitutional Court, which has been in operation since April 1999; (f) The repeated statements by the Government of the Sudan in favour of a comprehensive, lasting and effectively monitored ceasefire in southern Sudan; (g) The proposal to create a broad-based national council to evaluate foreign peace initiatives to end the conflict and make relevant recommendations; (h) Recent additional efforts by the Government of the Sudan to improve freedom of association and assembly, in particular the adoption of the Associations and Political Parties Act of 2000 and the announcement relating to the creation of a high commission to review the law on public order; (i) The recent visit, upon the invitation of the Government of the Sudan, of the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons, as well as the commitment of the Government to continue its efforts to address the problem of internally displaced persons and to follow up effectively the visit of the Representative, including by holding a conference on the subject of internal displacement in the near future; (j) The people-to-people peace process at the grass-roots level, including the Nuer conference, held at Kisumu, Kenya, from 16 to 22 June 2001, which led to the Kisumu Declaration for Nuer Unity and Peace, and which, like other conferences held at the local level, should contribute to a comprehensive peace settlement in the context of the existing peace initiatives; (k) Recent measures to drop lawsuits against some political detainees as well as the liberation of some political detainees, while expressing its deep concern at the fact that at least some of the detainees were re-arrested shortly thereafter on the basis of the National Security Forces Act, thereby perpetuating their detention; (l) The steps taken by the Government of the Sudan towards the ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Convention No. 182); (m) The reconvening of the National Assembly in April 2001; (n) The improved role of the National Press Council in monitoring complaints about the press; (o) The technical cooperation agreement signed by the Government of the Sudan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 29 March 2000 and the posting of an expert from the Office to the Sudan with the task of advising the Government on the development of national capacity to promote and protect human rights; (p) The demobilization and repatriation of more than 3,500 child soldiers in close cooperation between the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement and the United Nations Children's Fund; (q) The recent signature by the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement of an agreement to prohibit the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines throughout the territories under its control, and at the same time encourages the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to implement the agreement swiftly; (r) The efforts to implement the right to education; 2. Expresses its deep concern at: (a) The impact of the ongoing armed conflict on the situation of human rights and its adverse effects on the civilian population, in particular women and children, and at the continuing serious violations of human rights, fundamental freedoms and international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict, in particular: (i) The occurrence of cases of extrajudicial summary or arbitrary execution resulting from armed conflicts between members of the armed forces and their allies and armed insurgent groups within the country, including the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement; (ii) The retention of the state of emergency until the end of 2001; (iii) The occurrence, within the framework of the conflict in southern Sudan, of the use of children as soldiers and combatants, forced conscription, forced displacement, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment of civilians as well as the still unresolved cases of enforced or involuntary disappearances; (iv) The plight of internally displaced persons in the Sudan, whose numbers are among the highest in the world, in particular with regard to women and children, and the harassment of these groups; (v) The forced displacement of populations, in particular in areas surrounding the oilfields, and notes the invitation extended by the Government of the Sudan to the Special Rapporteur to visit the oil-producing areas; (vi) The continued abduction of women and children by Murahaleen groups and other government militias and their subjection to forced labour or similar conditions; (vii) The lack of efforts to restrain the establishment by certain groups directly sponsored by the Government, including the Murahaleen, of militias that commit serious human rights abuses such as killings, torture, rape, abduction and the destruction of shelter and livelihood; (viii) The negative role of undisciplined southern militias, armed by the Sudanese army and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, which are responsible for killings, torture, rape, the burning of villages, the destruction of crops and the stealing of cattle; (ix) The continuation of indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian targets by the Government of the Sudan, in particular the bombing of schools, hospitals, churches, food distribution areas and market places, which seriously and repeatedly affects the civilian population and civilian installations; (x) The use by both the Sudanese army and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement of civilian premises for military purposes; (xi) The use of weapons, including landmines, and indiscriminate artillery shelling against the civilian population; (xii) The conditions, in contravention of humanitarian principles, imposed by both the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement on humanitarian organizations working in the Sudan, especially the denial of access to them, which have seriously affected their safety and led to the withdrawal of many such organizations, with grave consequences for the already dangerous situation of thousands of people living in areas under their control; (xiii) The difficulties encountered by United Nations and humanitarian staff in carrying out their mandate because of abductions and harassment by both parties to the conflict, indiscriminate aerial bombings and the reopening of hostilities; (xiv) The attacks on and use of force against United Nations as well as humanitarian personnel by the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement; (xv) The measures taken by the leadership of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to prevent tribal elders, women and youths from participating in civil society gatherings such as the Nuer conference; (b) Continuing violations of human rights in areas under the control of the Government of the Sudan, in particular: (i) Restrictions on freedom of religion, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression, in particular the significant censorship of the press; (ii) The restriction of political freedom, in spite of the replacement, in March 2000, of the Political Associations Act of 1998 by the Associations and Political Parties Act and the increased activity by some opposition parties; (iii) The arbitrary arrest and detention without trial of political opponents, human rights defenders and journalists, in particular, as well as acts of intimidation and harassment against the population by the security organs; (iv) The new amendment to the National Security Forces Act, approved by Parliament and endorsed by the President, which allows the security forces to arrest and detain individuals for a period of up to six months and three days without proper judicial review and to renew the detention as a preventive measure, practically without limits; (v) Detention in precarious conditions, the use of torture and violations of human rights by security organs, intelligence agencies and the police, while encouraging the judiciary to exercise more control over such agencies; (vi) The use of the cruelest forms of corporal punishment in contravention of human rights norms and standards; (vii) The use of the death penalty in disregard of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and United Nations safeguards; 3. Urges all parties to the continuing conflict in the Sudan: (a) To respect and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to respect fully international humanitarian law, in particular the need to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian premises, thereby facilitating the voluntary return, repatriation and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes, and to ensure that those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are brought to justice; (b) To work immediately to put in place a global, lasting and effectively monitored ceasefire as a necessary first step to a negotiated settlement to the conflict, and to commit themselves to a permanent ceasefire; (c) To take immediate steps to implement the 1994 Declaration of Principles, in particular to take all necessary steps towards the negotiation of a ceasefire agreement as agreed upon in point 6 of the Declaration of Principles; (d) To resume the peace talks immediately and to continue to cooperate fully with the peace efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development; (e) To stop immediately the use of weapons, including landmines and indiscriminate artillery shelling, against the civilian population, which runs counter to principles of international humanitarian law; (f) To stop the use of tribal militias that commit serious human rights abuses; (g) In particular the Government of the Sudan, to cease immediately and unconditionally all indiscriminate aerial bombardment of the civilian population and civilian installations, including schools, hospitals, churches, food distribution areas and market places, which runs counter to fundamental principles of human rights and humanitarian law; (h) In particular the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, to stop using civilian premises for military purposes, misappropriating humanitarian assistance and diverting relief supplies, including food, from their civilian recipients; (i) To grant full, safe and unhindered access to all international agencies and humanitarian organizations in order to facilitate by all possible means the delivery of humanitarian assistance, in conformity with international humanitarian law, to all civilians in need of protection and assistance, in particular in the Nuba Mountains, the Western Upper Nile, Blue Nile State, Bahr-el-Ghazal and other areas in need throughout the country, to continue to cooperate with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and Operation Lifeline Sudan to deliver such assistance, to take measures against those who are responsible for abductions of United Nations and humanitarian staff, urges in particular the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to lift as soon as possible the conditions it has imposed on the work of international agencies and humanitarian organizations, and also urges in particular the Government of the Sudan to end the use of the denial of humanitarian assistance flights for political purposes; (j) Not to use or recruit children under the age of 18 as soldiers, encourages the continuation of the process of demobilization of child soldiers currently being undertaken by the United Nations Children's Fund, with the cooperation of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, and urges both parties to the conflict not to use or recruit children under the age of 18 as soldiers and to refrain from the practice of forced conscription; (k) To fulfil their commitments concerning the protection of children affected by the conflict, such as to cease the use of anti-personnel landmines and attacks on sites where there is usually a significant presence of children as well as the abduction and exploitation of children and the recruitment of children as soldiers, to advance the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers and to ensure access to displaced and unaccompanied minors and reunite them with their families; (l) To allow an independent investigation of the case of the four Sudanese nationals who were abducted on 18 February 1999 while travelling with a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross on a humanitarian mission and subsequently killed while in custody of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, and urges the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to return the bodies to their families; 4. Calls upon the Government of the Sudan: (a) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights instruments to which the Sudan is a party and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law; (b) To ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;Resolution 39/46, annex. (c) To sign and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 34/180, annex. (d) To ratify the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction;See CD/1478. (e) To undertake efforts towards promoting an environment that is more conducive to democratization and to improvements in the field of human rights; (f) To continue to strengthen its efforts to ensure the rule of law by bringing legislation more into line with the Constitution and into conformity with the applicable international human rights instruments to which the Sudan is a party, and to ensure that all individuals in its territory enjoy fully the rights recognized in those instruments; (g) To liberalize the legal provisions on public order and to continue assimilation into a regular criminal justice system; (h) To ensure full respect for freedom of religion and, in this respect, to consult fully with religious leaders and other parties concerned when considering any new legislation on religious activities, to remove obstacles to obtaining permission to construct religious buildings, to respect the sanctity of religious buildings and to resolve church property issues; (i) To implement fully existing legislation, including the appeals procedures, that safeguards human rights and democracy, in particular the Associations and Political Parties Act; (j) To raise the age of criminal responsibility for children in order to take into account the observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child; (k) To implement the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of PrisonersSee Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, volume I (First Part) (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XIV.1 (Vol. I, Part 1)). and to continue to give special consideration to imprisoned women and juveniles; (l) To take all effective measures to end and to prevent all acts of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, to take into account extenuating circumstances to the maximum extent possible, to ensure that all accused persons are held in ordinary custody and receive prompt, just and fair trials under internationally recognized standards, to investigate all reported human rights violations, including acts of torture, brought to its attention and to bring to justice those responsible for such violations; (m) To ensure that capital punishment will not be imposed for crimes other than the most serious and will not be pronounced in disregard of the obligations assumed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the provisions of United Nations safeguards; (n) To take concrete measures to prevent and stop the abductions of women and children taking place within the framework of the conflict in southern Sudan, to bring to trial any persons suspected of supporting or participating in such activities, to support more strongly and more effectively the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children and to facilitate the safe return of affected children to their families as a matter of priority, in particular through the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children, with which all concerned have the responsibility and the duty to cooperate; (o) To make concerted efforts to restrain the activities of the Murahaleen and to end the grave human rights abuses against civilians associated with their activities, to refrain from integrating them in the Sudanese army's military action and to stop financing and equipping them; (p) To ensure full respect for the freedom of expression, opinion, thought, conscience and religion, as well as the freedom of association and assembly, throughout the territory of the Sudan; (q) To continue to implement fully its commitment to the democratization process and the rule of law and to create, in this context, conditions that would allow for a democratization process that is genuine and that wholly reflects the aspirations of the people of the country and ensures their full participation; (r) To make further efforts to implement the commitment made to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict not to recruit children under the age of 18 as soldiers; (s) To make further efforts to address effectively the problem of internally displaced persons, including ensuring their access to effective protection and assistance; (t) To consider the establishment of an independent national institution on human rights; 5. Encourages: (a) The Government of the Sudan to continue its cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights through the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its expert in Khartoum entrusted with the task of advising the Government on the development of national capacity to promote and protect human rights, and to consider how to strengthen the role of the Office; (b) The Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to allow the people-to-people peace process to develop freely and unhindered, and to consider it an important contribution to the peace process; 6. Calls upon the international community to expand its support for activities aimed at improving respect for human rights and humanitarian law, in particular those of the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children, and to consider how to expand the Office of the High Commissioner to include a monitoring role; 7. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in the Sudan at its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of further elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 56/176 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.3, para. 48)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/176. Question of human rights in Afghanistan The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and accepted humanitarian rules, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have freely undertaken under the various international instruments, Recalling that Afghanistan is a party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,Resolution 260 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of WarUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and the conventions of the International Labour Organization on equal remuneration (Convention No. 100) and on the abolition of forced labour (Convention No. 105), and recalling that it has signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. Recalling also all its relevant resolutions, as well as the resolutions and presidential statements of the Security Council, the decisions of the Economic and Social Council, the resolutions and decisions of the Commission on Human Rights and the resolutions of the Commission on the Status of Women, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 1333 (2000) of 19 December 2000 and 1378 (2001) of 14 November 2001 on the situation in Afghanistan, Recalling Security Council resolutions 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 on the protection of civilians, 1379 (2001) of 20 November 2001 on children and armed conflict and 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 and the statement by the President of the Council of 31 October 2001,S/PRST/2001/31. on women, peace and security, Expressing grave concern about the appalling proportions of the humanitarian crisis affecting the country, Warmly welcoming the appointment by the Secretary-General of a Special Representative for Afghanistan, and endorsing the approach outlined by the Special Representative at the meeting of the Security Council on 13 November 2001,See S/PV.4414. Affirming the essential role of the United Nations in supporting the efforts of the Afghan people to establish a new transitional administration leading to the formation of a Government, both of which: (a) Should be broad-based, multi-ethnic and fully representative of all the Afghan people and committed to peace with the neighbours of Afghanistan, (b) Should respect the human rights of all Afghan people, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion, (c) Should respect Afghanistan's international obligations, including by cooperating fully in international efforts to combat terrorism and illicit drug trafficking within and from Afghanistan, (d) Should facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance and the orderly return of refugees and internally displaced persons, when the situation permits, Recognizing that the accountability of perpetrators, including their accomplices, of grave human rights violations is one of the central elements of any effective remedy for victims of human rights violations and a key factor in ensuring a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability within a State, Stressing the importance of ensuring the full and effective participation of women in all decision-making processes regarding the future of Afghanistan, 1. Welcomes the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in AfghanistanSee A/56/409 and Add.1. and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences on her mission to AfghanistanE/CN.4/2000/68/Add.4. and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 2. Strongly condemns: (a) The cases of summary execution committed by the Taliban at Yakawlang in January, May and June 2001; (b) The widespread violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan, mainly by the Taliban, including the right to life, liberty and security of person, freedom from torture and from other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, freedom of opinion, expression, religion, association and movement, and the recruitment and use of children in hostilities, contrary to international standards; (c) The civilian massacres involving reprisal killings and summary executions following, in recent years, the taking and retaking of particular areas by warring parties; (d) The frequent Taliban practice of arbitrary arrest and detention and of summary trials, which have resulted in summary executions throughout the country; (e) The gross violations of the human rights of women and girls, including all forms of discrimination against them, notably in areas under the control of the Taliban where findings of further gross violations of the human rights of women and girls include abductions and kidnappings, as well as accounts of many instances of forced marriage and of trafficking; 3. Strongly condemns also the killing of foreign correspondents which occurred in Afghanistan in November 2001, reiterates its firm condemnation of the killing of Iranian diplomats and the correspondents of the Islamic Republic News Agency by the Taliban, as well as the attacks on and the killing of United Nations personnel in territories of Afghanistan at that moment under Taliban control, and calls upon all Afghan parties to cooperate in urgent investigations of those heinous crimes with a view to bringing to justice those responsible; 4. Condemns the Taliban authorities for allowing the continued use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities; 5. Notes with deep concern the existence of millions of Afghan refugees and their increased flow, while recognizing the huge burden shouldered by neighbouring countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan, and appreciating the efforts undertaken in these host countries to ease the plight of Afghan refugees; 6. Underlines the importance of the fulfilment of obligations under international law, including human rights law, with regard to asylum-seekers; 7. Expresses its concern at the large number of internally displaced persons in Afghanistan and their situation, and encourages efforts to meet their protection and assistance needs in Afghanistan; 8. Supports the early development of a comprehensive strategy aimed at ensuring respect for human rights and humanitarian law, which would, inter alia, provide for a smooth transition from humanitarian assistance to rehabilitation and long-term sustainable development as well as for a durable solution for refugees and internally displaced persons, including their voluntary return in safety and with dignity, and calls upon the international community to provide additional assistance in this regard; 9. Urges all parties to work and cooperate fully with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan; 10. Stresses the need for national reconciliation and for the establishment of the rule of law, good governance and democracy in Afghanistan and, concurrently, the need for extensive rehabilitation and reconstruction; 11. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation against humanitarian personnel, and urges all Afghan parties to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations and associated personnel, as well as of the personnel of humanitarian organizations, to ensure their safe and unimpeded access to all affected populations and to guarantee the access of all Afghans to aid and to education and health facilities without discrimination on any grounds, including gender, ethnicity or religion; 12. Calls upon all Afghan parties: (a) To respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination on any grounds, including gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with international law; (b) To refrain from summary and arbitrary executions and from acts of reprisal and to adhere strictly to their obligations under human rights instruments and international humanitarian law; (c) To reaffirm publicly their commitment to respect fully humanitarian law and international human rights standards and to take all measures to protect the civilian population; (d) To refrain from the recruitment or use of children in hostilities contrary to international standards and to take all necessary measures for the demobilization and social reintegration of war-affected children; (e) To facilitate the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims of grave violations and abuses of human rights and of international humanitarian law and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards; (f) To fulfil their obligations and commitments regarding the safety and security of all personnel and premises of diplomatic missions, the United Nations and other international organizations and non-governmental organizations, as well as all humanitarian supplies in Afghanistan, and to cooperate, fully and without discrimination on any grounds, including gender, nationality or religion, with the personnel of United Nations and associated bodies, as well as with those of other humanitarian organizations, agencies and non-governmental organizations; (g) To treat all suspects and convicted or detained persons in accordance with relevant international law and to refrain from arbitrary detention in violation of international law; 13. Also calls upon all Afghan parties to respect fully the equal human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in accordance with international human rights law and, in particular, consistent with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to bring to an end, without delay, all violations of the human rights of women and girls and to take urgent measures to ensure: (a) The repeal of any legislative and other measures in place that discriminate against women and girls and those that impede the realization of all their human rights; (b) The full, equal and effective participation of women in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life throughout the country at all levels; (c) Respect for the right of women to work and their reintegration into employment, including in the United Nations system and human rights organizations; (d) The equal right of women and girls to education without discrimination, the reopening of schools and the admission of women and girls to all levels of education; (e) Respect for the equal right of women and girls to security of person, and ensure that those responsible for physical attacks on women are brought to justice; (f) Respect for the freedom of movement of women and girls; (g) Respect for the effective and equal access of women and girls to the facilities necessary to protect their right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 14. Notes with appreciation the activities carried out by the United Nations system, international and non-governmental organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross throughout the territory of Afghanistan; 15. Recalls its invitation extended to the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to proceed without delay to investigate fully reports of summary executions and of rape and cruel treatment in Afghanistan, expresses deep regret for the lack of cooperation by Afghan parties which prevented effective investigations, and calls upon all parties to fulfil their stated commitment to cooperate with United Nations investigations; 16. Invites the relevant bodies of the United Nations to offer, as appropriate, advisory services and technical assistance in the area of human rights; 17. Appeals to Member States, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, specialized agencies and other international organizations: (a) To ensure that all United Nations operations integrate a gender perspective, including in the selection of personnel for their management, and that women will benefit equally with men from such programmes; (b) To implement the recommendations of the inter-agency gender mission to Afghanistan under the leadership of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and to provide specific programmes for all Afghan women and girls to address their special needs and promote their human rights; (c) To support the elements of civil society active in the field of human rights, in particular women's rights; 18. Calls upon the Afghan parties to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and all other special rapporteurs who request invitations to visit Afghanistan, and to facilitate their access to all sectors of society and to all parts of the country; 19. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To give all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur; (b) To ensure, in consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the integration of a human rights capacity in the context of United Nations activities in Afghanistan; 20. Invites the Special Rapporteur to provide updates, as appropriate, of his reports on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights; 21. Decides to keep the situation of human rights in Afghanistan under consideration at its fifty-seventh session, in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council. RESOLUTION 56/177 Adopted at the 88th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/585, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/177. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special sessionResolution S-24/2, annex. constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling also and reaffirming the commitments made at major United Nations conferences, special sessions, summit conferences and their follow-up processes, and the principles expressed in relevant United Nations declarations, Recalling further its resolution 55/46 of 29 November 2000 on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms the commitments made by heads of State and Government at the World Summit for Social Development, contained in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. which established a new consensus to place people at the centre of the concerns for sustainable development and pledged to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration so as to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all; 2. Also reaffirms the decisions on further action and initiatives to accelerate social development for all, adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session and contained in the further initiatives for social development;Resolution S-24/2, annex. 3. Stresses the vital importance of placing the goals of social development, as contained in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the further initiatives for social development, at the centre of economic policy-making, including in policies that influence domestic and global market forces and the global economy; 4. Encourages coordinated and mutually reinforcing follow-up to the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action, the further initiatives for social development and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, emphasizing the strong interrelatedness in respect of social development issues; 5. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development, the regional commissions, the relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to take on a priority basis and in a coordinated manner all steps necessary to ensure the effective implementation of all commitments and undertakings contained in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the further initiatives for social development, and to continue to be actively involved in their follow-up; 6. Recognizes that the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly calls for the strengthening of cooperation at the regional level through, inter alia, the promotion of dialogue among regional and subregional groups and organizations, encouragement of the implementation of regional social development agendas where they exist, and encouragement of recipient countries, donor Governments and agencies and multilateral financial institutions to take greater account of the regional social development agendas of the regional commissions and of regional and subregional organizations, inter alia, in their funding policies and programmes; 7. Reaffirms that a strong political commitment by the international community is needed to implement strengthened and effective international cooperation and assistance for development, including social development, and that the mobilization of domestic and international resources for development from all sources is an essential component of the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and of the further initiatives for social development; 8. Welcomes the convening of the International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, which will consider the mobilization of national and international resources for social development, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2 to 11 September 2002, and encourages their preparatory committees and other relevant intergovernmental bodies involved in the preparations for and follow-up to those conferences to give consideration to the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly; 9. Reaffirms that the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly will be undertaken on the basis of an integrated approach to social development and within the framework of a coordinated follow-up to major international and summit conferences in the economic, social and related fields, and in this regard takes note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/21 of 26 July 2001 on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits; 10. Also reaffirms the need for effective partnership and cooperation between Governments and the relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, in the implementation of and follow-up to the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and the further initiatives for social development, and the need for ensuring their involvement in the planning, elaboration, implementation and evaluation of social policies at the national level; 11. Further reaffirms that the Commission for Social Development, as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council, will continue to have the primary responsibility for the follow-up to and review of the further implementation of the commitments made at Copenhagen and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly; 12. Invites Governments to support the work of the Commission for Social Development, inter alia, through the participation of high-level representatives on social development issues and policies, and to continue to assess on a regular basis the progress made at the national level towards the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, and to submit such information on a voluntary basis to the Commission; 13. Takes into account the fact that the Commission for Social Development will consider the priority theme "Integration of social and economic policy" at its fortieth session, in 2002, and emphasizes the importance of the active participation in and contribution to the work of the Commission by the relevant funds and programmes and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system; 14. Takes note of the Report on the World Social Situation, 2001,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.IV.5. and requests the Secretary-General to submit future reports on a biennial basis; 15. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/140. 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/178 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/558/Add.1, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/178. International trade and development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 55/182 of 20 December 2000 on international trade and development, Taking into account the ongoing preparations for the International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 28 (A/55/28), part two; ibid., Supplement No. 28A (A/55/28/Add.1); ibid., Supplement No. 28B and corrigendum (A/55/28/Add.2 and Corr.1); and ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 28 and corrigendum (A/56/28 and Corr.1). which will consider, inter alia, trade in the context of financing for development, Noting the outcome of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 13 November 2001,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. Welcoming the outcome of the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/11 and 12. in particular with regard to trade and development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on international trade and development,A/56/376. the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries,A/56/473. the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries,See A/56/427. the report of the Trade and Development Board on its forty-eighth sessionA/56/15 (Part III). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 15. and the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on measures taken to initiate the preparatory process for the final review and appraisal of the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s,A/56/435. 1. Welcomes the decision by the Trade and Development Board to conduct the midterm review of the outcome of the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at Bangkok from 29 April to 3 May 2002, and, in this regard, expresses deep appreciation to the Government of Thailand for offering to host the meeting; 2. Stresses the importance of continued substantive consideration of the sub-item on trade and development, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions"; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", a sub-item entitled "International trade and development"; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution and developments in the multilateral trading system. RESOLUTION 56/179 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/558/Add.1, para. 18),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Islamic Republic of Iran (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 100 to 1, with 46 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/179. Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. which states, inter alia, that no State may use or encourage the use of unilateral economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Bearing in mind the general principles governing the international trading system and trade policies for development contained in relevant resolutions, rules and provisions of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, Recalling its resolutions 44/215 of 22 December 1989, 46/210 of 20 December 1991, 48/168 of 21 December 1993, 50/96 of 20 December 1995, 52/181 of 18 December 1997 and 54/200 of 22 December 1999, Gravely concerned that the use of unilateral coercive economic measures adversely affects the economy and development efforts of developing countries in particular and has a general negative impact on international economic cooperation and on worldwide efforts to move towards a non-discriminatory and open multilateral trading system, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/473. 2. Urges the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries that are not authorized by relevant organs of the United Nations or are inconsistent with the principles of international law as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and that contravene the basic principles of the multilateral trading system; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the imposition of measures of this nature and to study the impact of such measures on the affected countries, including the impact on trade and development; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/17 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/529, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Sudan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 56/17. African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/48 of 1 December 1999 and all its other relevant resolutions, as well as those of the Organization of African Unity, Recalling also the successful conclusion of the signing ceremony of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. that was held at Cairo on 11 April 1996, Recalling further the Cairo Declaration adopted on that occasion,A/51/113-S/1996/276, annex. which emphasized that nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in regions of tension, such as the Middle East, enhance global and regional peace and security, Noting the statement made by the President of the Security Council on behalf of the members of the Council on 12 April 1996,S/PRST/1996/17; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1996. in which it was stated that the signature of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty constituted an important contribution by the African countries to the maintenance of international peace and security, Considering that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in the Middle East, would enhance the security of Africa and the viability of the African nuclear-weapon-free zone, 1. Calls upon African States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. as soon as possible so that it may enter into force without delay; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the nuclear-weapon States that have signed the Protocols that concern them, and calls upon those that have not yet ratified the Protocols concerning them to do so as soon as possible; 3. Calls upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to the Treaty that have not yet done so to take all necessary measures to ensure the speedy application of the Treaty to territories for which they are, de jure or de facto, internationally responsible and which lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Treaty; 4. Calls upon the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that have not yet done so to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency pursuant to the Treaty, thereby satisfying the requirements of article 9 (b) of and annex II to the Treaty of Pelindaba when it enters into force, and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency on 15 May 1997;International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). 5. Expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the diligence with which they have rendered effective assistance to the signatories to the Treaty; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty". RESOLUTION 56/180 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/558/Add.1, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/180. Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 44/214 of 22 December 1989, 46/212 of 20 December 1991, 48/169 of 21 December 1993, 50/97 of 20 December 1995, 52/183 of 18 December 1997 and 54/199 of 22 December 1999 and the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation between Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community,TD/B/42(1)/11-TD/B/LDC/AC.1/7, annex I. as well as the relevant parts of the Agenda for Development,Resolution 51/240, annex. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government recognized the particular needs and problems of the landlocked developing countries and urged both bilateral and multilateral donors to increase financial and technical assistance to this group of countries to meet their particular development needs and to help them to overcome the impediments of geography by improving their transit transport systems, and resolved to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty, Recognizing that the lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by remoteness and isolation from world markets, and prohibitive transit costs and risks impose serious constraints on the overall socio-economic development efforts of the landlocked developing countries, Recognizing also that sixteen of the landlocked developing countries are also classified by the United Nations as least developed countries and that their geographical situation is an added constraint on their overall ability to cope with the challenges of development, Recognizing further that most transit countries are themselves developing countries facing serious economic problems, including the lack of adequate infrastructure in the transport sector, Noting the importance of continuing to strengthen the existing international support measures with a view to addressing further the problems of landlocked developing countries, Emphasizing the importance of further strengthening effective and close cooperation and collaboration between landlocked developing countries and their transit neighbours, at regional, subregional and bilateral levels, inter alia, through cooperative arrangements in developing efficient transit transport systems in landlocked and transit developing countries, and noting the important role of the activities of the regional commissions in that regard, Welcoming the holding in New York from 30 July to 3 August 2001 of the fifth Meeting of Governmental Experts from Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Representatives of Donor Countries and Financial and Development Institutions, Expressing its appreciation to donor countries for participating in the fifth Meeting of Governmental Experts and for the generous contribution that facilitated the participation of experts from landlocked and transit developing countries, Taking note of the Vientiane Plan of ActionUNCTAD/LDC/Misc.53, annex I. on measures designed to improve the transit transport systems of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, adopted at the first Specific Consultative Meeting on the Transit Transport Systems of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, held at Vientiane on 14 and 15 December 2000 under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Noting the outcome of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 13 November 2001,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the progress report of the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries;A/56/427. 2. Welcomes the agreed conclusions and recommendations for future action adopted by the fifth Meeting of Governmental Experts from Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Representatives of Donor Countries and Financial and Development Institutions;Ibid., sect. II. 3. Reaffirms the right of access of landlocked countries to and from the sea and freedom of transit through the territory of transit countries by all means of transport, as set forth in article 125 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 4. Also reaffirms that transit countries, in the exercise of their full sovereignty over their territory, have the right to take all measures necessary to ensure that the rights and facilities provided for landlocked countries, including landlocked developing countries, in no way infringe upon their legitimate interests; 5. Calls upon the landlocked developing countries and their transit neighbours to implement measures to strengthen further their cooperative and collaborative efforts to deal with transit transport issues, including bilateral and, as appropriate, subregional cooperation, inter alia, by improving the physical infrastructure and non-physical aspects of transit transport systems, strengthening and concluding, where appropriate, bilateral and subregional agreements to govern transit transport operations, developing joint ventures in the area of transit transport and strengthening institutions and human resources dealing with transit transport, and, in this respect, notes that South-South cooperation also plays an important role in this field; 6. Appeals once again to all States, international organizations and financial institutions to implement, as a matter of urgency and priority, the specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries agreed upon in the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the outcomes of recent major United Nations conferences relevant to landlocked developing countries and the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation between Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor CommunityTD/B/42(1)/11-TD/B/LDC/AC.1/7, annex I. and to take fully into account the agreed conclusions and recommendations of the fifth Meeting of Governmental Experts from Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Representatives of Donor Countries and Financial and Development Institutions; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the financial and technical assistance made available by some donors to landlocked and transit developing countries in the form of grants or concessional loans for the construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities, including alternative routes and improved communications; 8. Invites donor countries, the United Nations Development Programme and multilateral financial and development institutions to provide landlocked and transit developing countries with appropriate financial and technical assistance in the form of grants or concessional loans for the construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities, including alternative routes and improved communications, to promote subregional, regional and interregional projects and programmes, and, in this regard, to consider, inter alia, improving the availability and optimal use of different transport modes and intermodal efficiency along transport corridors; 9. Emphasizes that assistance for the improvement of transit transport facilities and services should be integrated into the overall economic development strategies of the landlocked and transit developing countries and that donor countries should consequently take into account the requirements for the long-term restructuring of the economies of the landlocked developing countries; 10. Notes the important role that the simplification, harmonization and standardization of transit procedures and documentation as well as the application of information technologies have played in enhancing the efficiency of transit systems, and calls upon the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in close cooperation with other relevant organizations of the United Nations system, to continue to assist landlocked and transit developing countries in those areas, in accordance with their mandates; 11. Invites those countries that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to international agreements and conventions related to transit trade and transport, and invites landlocked and transit countries to consider concluding bilateral or subregional intergovernmental agreements regarding various aspects of transit transport; 12. Invites the international community to continue to provide technical and financial support to landlocked and transit developing countries to assist with effective implementation of their cooperation agreements and arrangements on transit transport, taking into account the fact that many landlocked and transit developing countries have concluded bilateral and regional arrangements and are making efforts to implement them; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to convene in 2003 an International Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, within the existing resources of the budget for the biennium 2002-2003 and with voluntary contributions, to review the current situation of transit transport systems, including the implementation of the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation of 1995, and to formulate, inter alia, appropriate policy measures and action-oriented programmes aimed at developing efficient transit transport systems, which would be held for two days and would be preceded by a three-day meeting of senior officials to finalize the substantive preparations; 14. Invites Member States, members of the specialized agencies and United Nations observers, including landlocked and transit developing countries and donor countries, and international financial and development institutions, including relevant regional and subregional economic organizations and commissions, to participate in the International Ministerial Meeting and its preparatory process; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, in close cooperation with and with the full involvement of the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as appropriate, to provide substantive and organizational support, within the existing resources of the budget for the biennium 2002-2003 and with voluntary contributions, for the International Ministerial Meeting, and requests that, in this context, the necessary preparations be undertaken at the subregional and regional levels, as appropriate, with the involvement of all major stakeholders, including the private sector; 16. Decides to consider the precise timing and venue of the International Ministerial Meeting at its fifty-seventh session, taking into consideration the generous offer made by the Government of Kazakhstan to host the meeting; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to convene in 2003, prior to the International Ministerial Meeting and within the existing resources for the biennium 2002-2003, the sixth Meeting of Governmental Experts from Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Representatives of Donor Countries and Financial and Development Institutions, including relevant regional and subregional economic organizations and commissions, and decides that that meeting shall serve as a preparatory committee for the International Ministerial Meeting, in both substantive and organizational aspects; 18. Also requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in close cooperation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as appropriate, to seek voluntary contributions to facilitate the preparations for the International Ministerial Meeting, including the participation of representatives of landlocked and transit developing countries at the meeting; 19. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to formulating international policies and measures dealing with the particular problems of landlocked developing countries, inter alia, through technical cooperation programmes, and urges the Conference, inter alia, to keep under constant review the evolution of transit transport infrastructure facilities, institutions and services, to monitor the implementation of agreed measures, inter alia, by means of a case study as necessary, to promote regional and subregional cooperation, to build consensus on cooperative arrangements, to mobilize international support measures, to collaborate in all relevant initiatives, including those of the private sector and non-governmental organizations, and to serve as a focal point for cross-regional issues of landlocked developing countries; 20. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as appropriate, to take appropriate measures, within the existing resources of the budget for the biennium 2002-2003 and with voluntary contributions, for the effective implementation of the activities called for in the present resolution, and to provide the Office of the Special Coordinator for Least Developed, Landlocked and Island Developing Countries of the Conference with adequate resources so as to allow it to continue to support landlocked developing countries, to the extent of its mandate, including in the effective preparations for the International Ministerial Meeting; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to submit it to the Trade and Development Board and to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", a sub-item entitled "Preparations for the International Ministerial Meeting on Transit Transport Cooperation"; 23. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", a sub-item entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries". RESOLUTION 56/181 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/558/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/181. Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/186 of 20 December 2000, entitled "Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity", 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "International financial architecture and development, including net transfer of resources between developing and developed countries";A/56/173 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Takes note also of the deliberations of the Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 28 (A/55/28), part two; ibid., Supplement No. 28A (A/55/28/Add.1); ibid., Supplement No. 28B and corrigendum (A/55/28/Add.2 and Corr.1); and ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 28 and corrigendum (A/56/28 and Corr.1). which is to be held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002; 3. Stresses the importance of continued substantive consideration of the sub-item on the international financial system and development; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the international financial system and development, bearing in mind, inter alia, the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "International financial system and development". RESOLUTION 56/182 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/558/Add.3, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/182. Science and technology for development The General Assembly, Recognizing the role of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in coordinating the activities of the United Nations system in the area of science and technology for development, Cognizant of the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as the secretariat responsible for the substantive servicing of the Commission, Bearing in mind the cross-cutting nature of science and technology within the United Nations system and the need, inter alia, for effective policy guidance and better coordination, Recognizing the importance of establishing and strengthening partnership and networking among the public and private sectors and academic institutions of all countries to build, transfer and strengthen the technological capabilities and skills needed, in particular for developing countries, Stressing that the pace of globalization is influenced in large measure by the development of science and technology and that developing countries and countries with economies in transition need to become well equipped, inter alia, through international assistance, with the knowledge of science and technology and the practical skills and institutional structures associated with technology management, which are among the essential tools for enabling them to benefit from the opportunities offered by globalization and avoid the risk of marginalization in the process of globalization, Recognizing the need to address the obstacles faced by developing countries in accessing technologies, while taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights and the special needs of developing countries, Recognizing also that information and communication technologies are among the critical determinants for creating a global knowledge-based economy, accelerating growth, increasing competitiveness, promoting sustainable development, eradicating poverty and facilitating the effective integration of all countries into the global economy, Recognizing further the need for dissemination of research knowledge, technologies and expertise in the field of biotechnology, in particular in the areas of agriculture, pharmaceuticals and health care, that could benefit mankind, Welcoming the establishment of the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, which will provide overall leadership in the United Nations role in helping to formulate strategies for the development of information and communication technologies, and under whose initiative the United Nations will lend a truly global dimension to efforts to bridge the global digital divide, foster digital opportunity and thus firmly put information and communication technologies in the service of development for all, while bearing in mind the power of information and communication technologies for advancing the internationally agreed development goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the coordinating role of the Commission in support of efforts by developing countries to benefit from science and technology,A/56/96-E/2001/87. 1. Invites the Economic and Social Council to consider, no later than at its substantive session of 2002, ways and means to strengthen the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, inter alia, through increasing the frequency of its meetings, including their annualization, and through the implementation of the recommendations set out in the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/96-E/2001/87. while taking its mandate and budgetary constraints into consideration, and in that regard takes note of the recommendation of the Commission to the Council that the Commission should meet annually;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 11 (E/2001/31), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution III, para. 1. 2. Also invites the Economic and Social Council to consider favourably the request of the Commission to establish a working group, to meet during the regular sessions of the Commission, for the purpose of evaluating the work of the Commission, with a view to strengthening the role of the Commission in the United Nations system in the area of science and technology for development and increasing its effectiveness; 3. Stresses the importance of facilitating access to and transfer of knowledge and technology on concessional, preferential and favourable terms to the developing countries, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights and the special needs of developing countries, with the objective of enhancing their technological capacities, capabilities, productivity and competitiveness in the world market; 4. Also stresses the need for all Governments to ensure the necessary conditions, including the creation of transparent legal and regulatory frameworks, to facilitate the acquisition and development of technology, to enhance innovation capacity, to improve the absorptive capacity of local enterprises and to build up supply capabilities; 5. Further stresses the importance of identifying and tackling barriers to and unjustifiable restrictions on the transfer of technologies, in particular to developing countries, inter alia, with a view to addressing such constraints while creating specific incentives for the transfer of technologies, including new and innovative ones; 6. Encourages the United Nations system to take advantage of the coordinating role and expertise of the Commission in the area of science and technology for development, where possible, in the follow-up to and preparation for major international conferences and summits; 7. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that the Commission and its secretariat within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development are provided with the necessary resources to enable it to better carry out its mandate; 8. Takes note of the proposal of the Commission for a study regarding the feasibility of establishing an international mechanism for supporting and enhancing research and development within the developing countries and in areas critical to the developing countries, especially in the fields of health, education and agriculture;Ibid., para. 3. 9. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to strengthen South-South cooperation initiatives, as well as subregional and regional cooperation, in the field of science and technology; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, at its fifty-eighth session, a report on the impact of new biotechnologies, with particular attention to sustainable development, including food security, health and economic productivity, with the inclusion of proposals on the aspects of the transfer of such technologies, in particular to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, while taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights and the special needs of developing countries, as well as on addressing constraints on the adequate utilization of such technologies. RESOLUTION 56/183 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/558/Add.3, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/183. World Summit on the Information Society The General Assembly, Recognizing the urgent need to harness the potential of knowledge and technology for promoting the goals of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and to find effective and innovative ways to put this potential at the service of development for all, Recognizing also the pivotal role of the United Nations system in promoting development, in particular with respect to access to and transfer of technology, especially information and communication technologies and services, inter alia, through partnerships with all relevant stakeholders, Convinced of the need, at the highest political level, to marshal the global consensus and commitment required to promote the urgently needed access of all countries to information, knowledge and communication technologies for development so as to reap the full benefits of the information and communication technologies revolution, and to address the whole range of relevant issues related to the information society, through the development of a common vision and understanding of the information society and the adoption of a declaration and plan of action for implementation by Governments, international institutions and all sectors of civil society, Recalling the contributions to international consensus in this field achieved by the Millennium Declaration and the agreements reached at other international conferences and summits in recent years, Taking note of the action plan presented by the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union to the Administrative Committee on CoordinationThe Administrative Committee on Coordination was renamed the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination pursuant to Economic and Social Council decision 2001/321 of 24 October 2001. for the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society and the creation, by the Administrative Committee on Coordination, of a high-level Summit organizing committee, chaired by the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union and consisting of the heads of United Nations bodies and other international organizations interested in participating in the process leading to the Summit, Considering that the Summit is to be convened under the patronage of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the International Telecommunication Union taking the lead role in its preparation, in cooperation with interested United Nations bodies and other international organizations as well as the host countries, Recalling the ministerial declaration concerning information and communication technologies, adopted by the Economic and Social Council at the high-level segment of its substantive session of 2000,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/55/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 17. and the subsequent work done in this regard, including the creation of the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, as well as the welcoming of the forthcoming Summit by the Council in its agreed conclusions 2001/1,A/56/3, chap. V, agreed conclusions 2001/1, para 7. For the final text see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth session, Supplement No. 3. Recognizing the need to harness synergies and to create cooperation among the various information and communication technologies initiatives, at the regional and global levels, currently being undertaken or planned to promote and foster the potential of information and communication technologies for development by other international organizations and civil society, 1. Welcomes the resolution adopted by the Council of the International Telecommunication Union at its 2001 session, in which the Council endorsed the proposal of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union to hold the World Summit on the Information Society at the highest possible level in two phases, the first in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second in Tunis in 2005, pursuant to resolution 73 adopted by the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union at its 1998 session, held in Minneapolis, United States of America; 2. Recommends that the preparations for the Summit take place through an open-ended intergovernmental preparatory committee, which would define the agenda of the Summit, finalize both the draft declaration and the draft plan of action, and decide on the modalities of the participation of other stakeholders in the Summit; 3. Invites the International Telecommunication Union to assume the leading managerial role in the executive secretariat of the Summit and its preparatory process; 4. Invites Governments to participate actively in the preparatory process of the Summit and to be represented in the Summit at the highest possible level; 5. Encourages effective contributions from and the active participation of all relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, and encourages other intergovernmental organizations, including international and regional institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to contribute to, and actively participate in, the intergovernmental preparatory process of the Summit and the Summit itself; 6. Invites the international community to make voluntary contributions to the special trust fund established by the International Telecommunication Union to support the preparations for and the holding of the Summit, as well as to facilitate the effective participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in the regional meetings to be held in the second half of 2002, in the preparatory meetings to be held in the first half of 2002 and in 2003, and in the Summit itself; 7. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to inform all heads of State and Government of the adoption of the present resolution; 8. Invites the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union to submit to the General Assembly, at its fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth sessions, through the Economic and Social Council, for information, a report on the preparations for the Summit. RESOLUTION 56/184 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/558/Add.4, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/184. Enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problems of developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/164 of 16 December 1996, 52/185 of 18 December 1997, 53/175 of 15 December 1998, 54/202 of 22 December 1999 and 55/184 of 20 December 2000 on enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problems of developing countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, including those resulting from global financial instability;A/56/262. 2. Takes note also of the deliberations of the Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 28 (A/55/28), part two; ibid., Supplement No. 28A (A/55/28/Add.1); ibid., Supplement No. 28B and corrigendum (A/55/28/Add.2 and Corr.1); and ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 28 and corrigendum (A/56/28 and Corr.1). which is to be held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002; 3. Stresses the importance of the continued substantive consideration of the sub-item on external debt crisis and development; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the external debt crisis and development, bearing in mind, inter alia, the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "External debt crisis and development". RESOLUTION 56/185 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/559, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the United States of America. 56/185. Business and development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 54/204 of 22 December 1999, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/442. 1. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Business and development"; 2. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant United Nations organizations, to submit to it at its fifty-seventh session a follow-up report on the continuing implementation of resolution 54/204. RESOLUTION 56/186 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/559, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/186. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/205 of 22 December 1999 on the prevention of corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds, 55/61 of 4 December 2000 on an effective international legal instrument against corruption and 55/188 of 20 December 2000 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to the countries of origin, as well as the report of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Open-Ended Expert Group to Prepare Draft Terms of Reference for the Negotiation of an International Legal Instrument against Corruption,See A/56/402-E/2001/105. which will be considered by the Economic and Social Council at its next session, Concerned about the seriousness of problems posed by corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin, which may endanger the stability and security of societies, undermine the values of democracy and morality and jeopardize social, economic and political development, Recognizing the need to create an enabling environment for business at the national and international levels in order to promote economic growth and sustainable development, taking into account the development priorities of Governments, Recognizing also the responsibilities of Governments to adopt policies at the national and international levels aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin, Mindful of the catalytic role of the United Nations system in facilitating the constructive participation and orderly interaction of the private sector in the development process by embracing universal principles and norms, such as honesty, transparency and accountability, Underlining the fact that preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds is an important element in mobilizing resources for development, Recognizing the importance of international cooperation and existing international and national laws for combating corruption in international commercial transactions, Noting that the International Conference on Financing for Development will be held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, Stressing the need to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of funds of illicit origin and to return such funds so as to enable countries to design and fund development projects, in accordance with their national priorities, Noting that such corrupt practices include State funds being illegally acquired, transferred and invested abroad, Noting also that the problem of corrupt practices and the transfer of funds of illicit origin, as well as the need to prevent the transfer of such funds, and to return them, have social, economic and legal implications that require comprehensive, holistic examination at the national and international levels, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the prevention of corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds;A/56/403 and Add.1. 2. Reiterates its condemnation of corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of funds of illicit origin, and stresses its belief that those practices need to be prevented and that funds of illicit origin transferred abroad need to be returned after request and due process; 3. Calls, while recognizing the importance of national measures, for increased international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in support of efforts by Governments to prevent and address the transfer of funds of illicit origin as well as to return such funds to the countries of origin; 4. Requests the international community to support the efforts of all countries to strengthen institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks for preventing corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of funds of illicit origin, as well as for returning such funds to the countries of origin; 5. Invites the Economic and Social Council to finalize its consideration of the draft terms of reference for the negotiation of a United Nations convention against corruption,See A/56/402-E/2001/105. by which an ad hoc committee would be requested to consider, inter alia, the elements of prevention and combating the transfer of funds of illicit origin derived from acts of corruption, including the laundering and returning of such funds, expeditiously; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General, upon the completion of the work of the ad hoc committee referred to above, to submit recommendations on options for further consideration by the Assembly regarding this question; 7. Decides to keep the matter under review and to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session a sub-item entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin" under the item entitled "Sectoral policy questions". RESOLUTION 56/187 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/559, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/187. Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1993-2002) The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits, the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990sResolution 46/151, annex, sect. II. and its resolutions 54/203 of 22 December 1999, 55/187 of 20 December 2000 and 55/216 of 21 December 2000, Recalling also Economic and Social Council decision 1999/270 of 28 July 1999 concerning the implementation and coordinated follow-up by the United Nations system of initiatives on African development, and taking note of the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council on the role of the United Nations in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development, adopted on 18 July 2001,A/56/3, chap. III, para. 29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. Taking note of the Plan of Action of the Alliance for Africa's Industrialization, adopted by the Conference of African Ministers of Industry at its thirteenth meeting, held at Accra in May 1997,See A/52/480, sect. IV.C. the outcome of the Conference on Industrial Partnerships and Investment in Africa, held at Dakar on 20 and 21 October 1999, and the outcome of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of African Ministers of Industry, held at Yaoundé on 29 and 30 October 2001, Taking note also of the statement of the Conference of African Ministers of Trade, held at Abuja in September 2001, to the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, and recalling resolution 2 (XIV) on the African common position on globalization, adopted by the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of African Ministers of Industry, held at Dakar on 22 and 23 October 1999,See E/ECA/CAMI.14/99/10, annex IV. both of which recognize the critical need for support for African countries in addressing the supply-side constraints on their integration into the world economy, Welcoming the New Partnership for Africa's Development, which is a pledge by African leaders, based on a common vision and a firm and shared conviction, that they have a pressing duty to eradicate poverty and to place their countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development and at the same time to participate actively in the world economy and body politic, bearing in mind that the Partnership is anchored in the determination of Africans to extricate themselves and the continent from the malaise of underdevelopment and exclusion in a globalizing world, and urging that further steps be taken to operationalize it, Recognizing the importance of industrialization as a key element in promoting sustained economic growth and sustainable development in Africa and its role in facilitating efforts to eradicate poverty, inter alia, through the enhancement of agro-based industries, the promotion of competitiveness, productive employment, capacity-building, gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women and effective and efficient management systems, Recognizing also the commendable efforts of African countries to engage their respective private sectors and civil society in policy dialogue at the highest levels and the need to continue such efforts to improve further the capacity of the private sector, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, Recognizing further the need for African countries to continue their efforts to create a climate favourable to private sector development and foreign direct investment and the commitment of African countries to using both human and financial resources more efficiently in the process of industrialization, and emphasizing the continuing need for the mobilization of adequate resources through domestic initiatives and international support, inter alia, through enhanced official development assistance, investment guarantees, debt relief, as appropriate, and enhanced market access, Recognizing the opportunities for and challenges of exploiting information and communication technologies and e-commerce for the overall industrial development of Africa, and in that regard noting the establishment of the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, Welcoming the progress made in the consolidation and programmatic reform of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, including through the instrument of integrated programmes to promote sustainable industrial development in African countries, and its approach to field activities through joint programming with the United Nations resident coordinator system in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1993-2002);A/56/139. 2. Notes with concern that, despite the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, which ends in 2002, little progress has been made in the overall industrialization of the continent and in some countries industrialization has regressed, and in that regard reaffirms the need for continuing domestic and international efforts towards Africa's industrialization; 3. Reaffirms the need for the African countries that have not yet done so to integrate the objectives of the Alliance for Africa's Industrialization, as appropriate, into their national plans for the establishment of institutional capacity for monitoring programmes and related projects; 4. Emphasizes the need for support for the implementation of the sectoral priorities in the New Partnership for Africa's Development concerning diversification of African production and exports, specifically with regard to promotion of the manufacturing sector and agro-based industries and for enhancing productive capacities and enabling African countries to participate more effectively in global trade; 5. Underlines the need for national Governments to improve the regulatory and policy environment in which micro, small and medium-sized enterprises operate, inter alia, to facilitate their access to credit and improve transport, energy and communications infrastructures, in order to foster their economic performance and competitiveness, and in that regard invites development partners to provide the appropriate technical assistance; 6. Invites the Economic Commission for Africa to work in cooperation with the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force and to play a more active role in the promotion of new information and communication technologies and e-commerce; 7. Also invites the Economic Commission for Africa to play a more active role in the development of African micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and industries, in coordination with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and other United Nations bodies concerned with the development of such enterprises, paying particular attention to enterprises owned by women and to women entrepreneurs; 8. Invites the international community, the World Bank, United Nations funds and programmes, the African Development Bank and other relevant regional institutions, in accordance with their respective mandates, to give full effect to the relevant provisions of the New Partnership for Africa's Development by supporting the implementation of the programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa and the Plan of Action of the Alliance for Africa's Industrialization,See A/52/480, sect. IV.C. as well as the outcome of the Conference on Industrial Partnerships and Investment in Africa and the outcome of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of African Ministers of Industry; 9. Appeals to the international community, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and United Nations funds and programmes, in accordance with their respective mandates, to support the efforts of the African countries to intensify and expand industrial cooperation among themselves; 10. Commends the United Nations Industrial Development Organization for its work related to the provision of technical assistance to African countries, in particular the least developed among them, so as to enhance their capacity to overcome technical barriers to trade in industrial and other products, including improving quality standards to alleviate supply-side constraints, and to promote industrial competitiveness, and calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to work closely with the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant multilateral institutions in the provision of technical assistance to African countries, in order to enable them to integrate fully into the world economy; 11. Calls upon the international community to support Africa in strengthening its private sector through, in particular, the promotion of investment and exports, the promotion and creation of small and medium-sized enterprises, increased productivity, improved quality assurance and standardization, and financing, and welcomes in that context the trade facilitation initiatives of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization; 12. Also calls upon the international community to support the efforts of African countries to enhance the development of their human resources in the fields of health, basic education and vocational and technical training through, inter alia, South-South cooperation utilizing triangular arrangements; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to complete a review of the implementation of the programme for the Decade, including identification of lessons learned, before the end of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, with a view to including the outcome of such a review in the overall review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990sResolution 46/151, annex, sect. II. and the ongoing processes under the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the establishment of the African Union; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session under an item entitled "United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa", a sub-item entitled "Implementation of the programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa"; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/188 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/560/Add.1, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/188. Women in development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/195 of 18 December 1997, 54/210 of 22 December 1999 and all its other resolutions on the integration of women in development, and the relevant resolutions and agreed conclusions, including those on women in the economy,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1997, Supplement No. 7 (E/1997/27), chap. I, sect. C.1, agreed conclusions 1997/3. adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, Reaffirming the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolutions S-23/2, annex, and S-23/3, annex. as well as the outcomes of other recent major United Nations conferences and summits and other relevant special sessions of the General Assembly and their follow-up processes, Reaffirming also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which affirms that the equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured, and calls for, inter alia, the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable, Reaffirming further that gender equality is of fundamental importance for achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and recent United Nations conferences, and that investing in the development of women and girls has a multiplier effect, in particular on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth, Recognizing the significant contribution that women make to the economy and the major force that they represent for change and development in all sectors of the economy, especially in key areas such as agriculture, industry and services, Reaffirming that women are key contributors to the economy and to combating poverty through both remunerated and unremunerated work at home, in the community and in the workplace, and that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty, Recognizing that population and development issues, education and training, health, nutrition, the environment, water supply, sanitation, housing, communications, science and technology and employment opportunities are important elements for effective poverty eradication and the advancement and empowerment of women, Recognizing also, in this context, the importance of respect for all human rights, including the right to development, and of a national and international environment that promotes, inter alia, justice, gender equality, equity, popular participation and political freedom for the advancement and empowerment of women, Recognizing further that education and training, in particular in business, trade, administration, information and communication technologies and other new technologies, are essential for gender equality, the empowerment of women and poverty eradication, Recognizing that the difficult socio-economic conditions that exist in many developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, have resulted in the acceleration of the feminization of poverty and that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty, Recognizing also that poverty eradication and the achievement and preservation of peace are mutually reinforcing, and recognizing further that peace is inextricably linked to equality between women and men and to development, Aware that, although globalization and liberalization processes have created employment opportunities for women in many countries, they have made women, especially in developing countries and in particular in the least developed countries, more vulnerable to problems caused by increased economic volatility, Recognizing that some effects of market liberalization may deepen the socio-economic marginalization of women in the agricultural sector, including through the loss of employment among small-scale farmers who are more likely to be women than men, and emphasizing that women who are small-scale farmers need special support and empowerment so as to be able to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities of agricultural market liberalization, Recognizing also that enhanced trade opportunities for developing countries, including through trade liberalization, will improve the economic condition of those societies, including women, which is of particular importance in rural communities, Aware that, while women represent an important and growing proportion of business owners, their contribution to economic and social development is constrained by, inter alia, the lack of equal access of women and men to, and control over, credit, technology, support services, land and information, Concerned that the continuing discrimination against women, the denial or lack of equal rights and access to education, training and credit facilities and the lack of control over land, capital, technology and other areas of production impede their full and equal contribution to, and equal opportunity to benefit from, development, Emphasizing the promotion of programmes aimed at financial intermediation with a view to ensuring the access of rural women to credit and to agricultural inputs and implements and, in particular, to easing collateral requirements for access to finance by women, Expressing its concern about the under-representation of women in economic decision-making, and stressing the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of all policies, Noting the importance of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular its funds and programmes, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women, in facilitating the advancement of women in development, and recognizing the work done by the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, Welcoming the fact that the Commission on the Status of Women will take up the theme of eradicating poverty, including through the empowerment of women throughout their life cycle in a globalizing world, at its forty-sixth session, in 2002, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Women in development: access to financial resources: a gender perspective";A/56/321 and Corr.1. 2. Calls for the accelerated and effective implementation of the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the relevant provisions of the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolutions S-23/2, annex, and S-23/3, annex. as well as the outcomes of all other major United Nations conferences and summits and other relevant special sessions of the General Assembly and their follow-up processes; 3. Stresses that a favourable and conducive national and international environment in all fields of life is necessary for the effective integration of women in development; 4. Urges Governments to develop and promote methodologies for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all aspects of policy-making, including economic policy-making; 5. Recognizes the mutually reinforcing links between gender equality and poverty eradication, as well as the need to elaborate and implement, where appropriate, in consultation with civil society, comprehensive gender-sensitive poverty eradication strategies that address social, structural and macroeconomic issues; 6. Stresses the importance of developing national strategies for the promotion of sustainable and productive entrepreneurial activities that will generate income among disadvantaged women and women living in poverty; 7. Urges all Governments to ensure women's equal rights with men and their full and equal access to education, training, employment, technology and economic and financial resources, including credit, in particular for rural women and women in the informal sector, and to facilitate, where appropriate, the transition of women from the informal to the formal sector; 8. Encourages Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other actors of civil society to promote and protect the rights of women workers and to take action to remove structural and legal barriers as well as stereotypical attitudes to gender equality at work, and to initiate positive steps to promote equal pay for equal work or work of equal value; 9. Urges all Governments to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women with regard to their access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit, giving special attention to poor, uneducated women, and to support women's access to legal assistance; 10. Calls upon Governments and entrepreneurial associations to facilitate the access of women, including young women and women entrepreneurs, to education and training in business, administration and information and communication technologies; 11. Recognizes the role of microfinance, including microcredit, in the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of women and the generation of employment, and in this regard notes the importance of sound national financial systems and encourages the strengthening of existing and emerging microcredit institutions and their capacities, including through the support of international financial institutions; 12. Stresses the need for assistance to enable women in developing countries, particularly grass-roots women's groups, to have full access to and use of new technologies, including information technologies, for their empowerment; 13. Urges States to design and revise laws that ensure that women are accorded full and equal rights to own land and other property, including through inheritance, and to undertake administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital and appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; 14. Calls upon Governments to encourage the financial sector to mainstream a gender perspective in its policies and programmes, in particular by: (a) Exploring viable options to reach people living in poverty, in particular women, including through international public and/or private funds; (b) Designing savings schemes that are attractive to the poor and to poor women in particular; (c) Undertaking research to learn more about the characteristics, financial needs and performance of businesses owned by women; (d) Working towards equal treatment for women clients through comprehensive gender-awareness training for staff at all levels and better representation of women in decision-making positions; 15. Requests Governments to ensure the full participation of women in decision-making and in policy formulation and implementation at all levels so that their priorities, skills and potentials can be adequately reflected in national policy; 16. Calls upon Governments to promote, inter alia, through legislation, family-friendly and gender-sensitive work environments and also to promote the facilitation of breastfeeding for working mothers as well as the provision of the necessary care for working women's children and other dependants; 17. Calls upon the international community to make efforts to mitigate the effects of excess volatility and economic disruption, which have a disproportionately negative impact on women, and to enhance trade opportunities for developing countries in order to improve the economic conditions of women; 18. Urges the international community, the United Nations system and relevant organizations to give priority to assisting the efforts of developing countries to ensure the full and effective participation of women in deciding and implementing development strategies and integrating gender concerns into national programmes, including by providing adequate resources to operational activities for development in support of the efforts of Governments to ensure, inter alia, full and equal access of women to health care, capital, education, training and technology, as well as full and equal participation in all decision-making; 19. Expresses its appreciation to the developed countries that have agreed to and have reached the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall official development assistance, and calls upon the developed countries that have not yet done so to strengthen their efforts to achieve the agreed target as soon as possible and, where agreed, within that target, to earmark 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of gross national product for the least developed countries; 20. Encourages the international community, the United Nations system, the private sector and civil society to provide the necessary financial resources to assist national Governments in their efforts to meet the development targets and benchmarks agreed upon at the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the International Conference on Population and Development, the twenty-third and twenty-fourth special sessions of the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations conferences and summits; 21. Encourages the United Nations system and international and regional organizations, as appropriate, to assist Governments, at their request, in building institutional capacity and developing national action plans or further implementing existing action plans for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 22. Urges multilateral donors, international financial institutions and regional development banks to review and implement policies to support national efforts to ensure that a higher proportion of resources reach women, in particular in rural and remote areas; 23. Encourages the International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, to examine all aspects of financing for development from a gender perspective; 24. Encourages Governments to integrate fully a gender perspective in their preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002; 25. Calls upon the United Nations system to integrate gender mainstreaming into all its programmes and policies, including in the integrated follow-up to United Nations conferences, in accordance with agreed conclusions 1997/2 on gender mainstreaming adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1997;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV.A, para. 4. 26. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to update the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; as in the past, the survey should focus on selective emerging development issues that have an impact on the role of women in the economy at the national, regional and international levels; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, including the impact of globalization on the empowerment of women and their integration in development; 28. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the sub-item entitled "Women in development". RESOLUTION 56/189 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/560/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/189. Human resources development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 45/191 of 21 December 1990, 46/143 of 17 December 1991, 48/205 of 21 December 1993, 50/105 of 20 December 1995, 52/196 of 18 December 1997 and 54/211 of 22 December 1999, as well as the relevant sections of the Agenda for Development,Resolution 51/240, annex. Reaffirming also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recalling Economic and Social Council decision 2001/299 of 19 July 2001, by which the Council adopted "The contribution of human resources development, including in the areas of health and education, to the process of development" as the theme for the high-level segment of its substantive session of 2002, Recognizing that human beings are at the centre of concern in sustainable development, Stressing that Governments have the primary responsibility for defining and implementing appropriate policies for human resources development and that there is a need for continuing support from the international community to complement the efforts of developing countries, Stressing also that there is a need for an enabling national and international environment that will enhance human resources development in developing countries and promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development, Stressing further that health and education are at the core of human resources development, and the need to ensure that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education, as expressed at the World Education Forum, held at Dakar from 26 to 28 April 2000, and in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Emphasizing that human resources development should be an essential component of international development cooperation and that there is a need to promote continuous training and capacity-building within projects and programmes as a means of advancing such development, Recognizing that there is a need to integrate human resources development into comprehensive strategies that mainstream a gender perspective, taking into account the needs of all people, in particular the needs of women and girls, Recognizing also the vital role of South-South cooperation in supporting national efforts at human resources development, Expressing concern at the increasing development gap between developed and developing countries, including the gap in knowledge, information and communication technologies, and the increasing disparity of income in and among nations and its adverse impact on the development of human resources, in particular in the developing countries, Stressing that developing countries should be assisted in their efforts to develop capacity in and be well equipped with the knowledge of information technologies that would enable them to benefit from the opportunities offered by globalization and to avoid the risk of marginalization in the process of globalization, Expressing deep concern at the devastating impact of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and of other major diseases on human resources development, in particular in developing countries, Emphasizing the continuing need for coordination and integration among the organs and organizations of the United Nations system in assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed among them, to foster the development of their human resources, especially that of the most vulnerable groups, and for the United Nations to continue to give priority to human resources development in developing countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/162. 2. Recognizes the importance of developing human resources as a means, inter alia, of promoting economic growth and eradicating poverty as well as of participating more effectively in the world economic system and benefiting from globalization; 3. Urges increased investments by all countries, the United Nations system, international organizations, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in all aspects of human development, such as health, nutrition, education, training and further capacity-building, with a view to achieving sustainable development and the well-being of all; 4. Encourages all countries to accord priority to human resources development in the context of the adoption of national economic and social policies, including their financing, taking into account their financial constraints; 5. Urges the adoption of comprehensive approaches to human resources development which combine, among other factors, economic growth, poverty eradication, provision of basic social services, sustainable livelihoods, empowerment of women, involvement of young people, the needs of vulnerable groups of society, the needs of local indigenous communities, political freedom, popular participation and respect for human rights, justice and equity, all of which are essential for enhancing human capacity to meet the challenge of development; 6. Encourages all countries to ensure local and community-level engagement in policy issues of human resources development; 7. Emphasizes the need to ensure the full participation of women in the formulation and implementation of national and local policies to promote human resources development; 8. Recognizes the need to direct concerted efforts at enhancing the technical skills and know-how of people living in rural and agricultural areas, with a view to improving their means of livelihood and material well-being, and in this regard encourages the allocation of more resources for that purpose so as to facilitate access to appropriate technology and know-how from within and from other countries, in particular the developed countries, as well as through South-South cooperation; 9. Encourages the adoption of policies, approaches and measures that serve to narrow the increasing gap between developed and developing countries in information and communication technologies in particular and in technology in general by, inter alia: (a) Encouraging the private sector, in collaboration with the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, to donate voluntarily to designated centres in developing countries literary materials, information and communications technology equipment and training which, together with the enabling policies and institutions both at the national and international levels, will facilitate improved access; (b) Taking advantage of the rapid turnaround in both the educational institutions and corporations in developed countries of literary material and information and communications technology equipment, through coordinated efforts involving the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and recipients in interested developing countries; (c) Promoting transparent, efficient regulatory regimes and other policies that encourage investment; (d) Supporting targeted investments in infrastructure that would establish the physical foundation for the operation of Internet services and pave the way for commercial and development applications; (e) Developing training in information technologies for users such as non-governmental organizations, universities and business service organizations, as well as key governmental agencies; 10. Calls upon the United Nations system to harmonize further its collective human resources development efforts, in accordance with national policies and priorities; 11. Encourages the United Nations system to take a comprehensive view of human resources development in its initiatives, relating it to the acquisition of broader knowledge, with a view to enabling human resources to respond to the new demands associated with the technology revolution and to take advantage of emerging opportunities in a globalized world; 12. Also encourages the United Nations system to promote strategies for human resources development that facilitate access by developing countries to new information and communication technologies so as to bridge the digital divide; 13. Further encourages the United Nations system to focus in its cooperation activities on building human and institutional capacity, with specific attention given to women, girls and vulnerable groups; 14. Encourages the United Nations system to continue to engage, where appropriate, in partnerships with the private sector, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions, so as to contribute further to the building of human resources development capacity in developing countries; 15. Invites international organizations, including international financial institutions, to continue to give priority to supporting the objectives of human resources development and to integrating them into their policies, projects and operations; 16. Calls upon developed countries and the United Nations system to increase support to programmes and activities in developing countries for advancing human resources development and capacity-building, in particular those geared towards harnessing information and communication technologies; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development and international economic cooperation", the sub-item entitled "Human resources development". RESOLUTION 56/18 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/530, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swedenthe former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia. 56/18. Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed at Helsinki on 1 August 1975, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further its resolutions 48/84 B of 16 December 1993, 50/80 B of 12 December 1995, 51/55 of 10 December 1996, 52/48 of 9 December 1997, 53/71 of 4 December 1998, 54/62 of 1 December 1999 and 55/27 of 20 November 2000, Convinced of the necessity of enhancing the overall conflict prevention and resolution capability of the United Nations system and other relevant regional organizations to prevent the outbreak of conflicts, Emphasizing the crucial importance of the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 on Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and stressing, inter alia, the role and responsibility of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union, and of the Kosovo Force in that regard, as well as the importance of the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1345 (2001) of 21 March 2001 and 1371 (2001) of 26 September 2001, Commending the significant progress made by the people and the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia towards establishing democracy and the important steps taken to cooperate with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, Recalling the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, and stressing the importance of the implementation of its objectives, with emphasis on regional cooperation, Noting the importance of the activities of international organizations, such as the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe, as well as the contribution of the Central European Initiative and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, for the implementation of the Stability Pact, Welcoming the normalization of relations among all States of the Balkan region, and noting, in this respect, the Agreement for the delineation of the borderline between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, signed at Skopje on 23 February 2001,A/56/60-S/2001/234, annex. as well as the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Welcoming also the agreement of 29 June 2001 on succession issues among the States successors to the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Welcoming further the signing of stabilization and association agreements and/or European agreements between the countries of the region and the European Union and its member States, Reiterating the importance of the South-East European Cooperation Process and its contribution to security, stability and good-neighbourly relations in South-Eastern Europe, and recalling in particular the Summit Declaration and the Action Plan for Regional Economic Cooperation, adopted by the heads of State and Government of the participating and observer countries of the South-East European Cooperation Process at Skopje on 23 February 2001,A/55/809-S/2001/172, annex. Emphasizing the crucial importance of strengthening regional efforts in South-Eastern Europe on arms control, demining, disarmament and confidence-building measures, and concerned that, in spite of the ongoing efforts, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects persists, Mindful of the importance of national and international activities of all relevant organizations aimed at the creation of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and the observance of human rights and good-neighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe, Taking note of the Declaration of Solidarity adopted by the heads of State participating in the Summit Meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization candidate countries held at Sofia on 5 October 2001,A/56/466, annex. Reaffirming its determination that all nations should live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, 1. Reaffirms the need for full observance of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Calls upon all States, the relevant international organizations and the competent organs of the United Nations to respect the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States and the inviolability of international borders, to continue to take measures in accordance with the Charter and the commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and through further development of regional arrangements, as appropriate, to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to help to prevent conflicts in South-Eastern Europe, which can lead to the violent disintegration of States; 3. Reaffirms the urgency of consolidating South-Eastern Europe as a region of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and for the promotion of good-neighbourliness and the observance of human rights, thus contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security and enhancing the prospects for sustained development and prosperity for all peoples in the region as an integral part of Europe, and recognizes the role of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union in promoting regional disarmament; 4. Calls upon all participants in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, as well as all concerned international organizations, to continue to support the efforts of the States of South-Eastern Europe towards regional stability and cooperation so as to enable them to pursue sustainable development and integration into European structures; 5. Calls upon all States and relevant international organizations to contribute to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) on Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as Council resolutions 1345 (2001) and 1371 (2001); 6. Rejects the use of violence in pursuit of political aims, and stresses that only peaceful political solutions can assure a stable and democratic future for South-Eastern Europe; 7. Welcomes the signing of the Framework Agreement at Ohrid, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on 13 August 2001, and supports its full and timely implementation by the parties to the Agreement; 8. Stresses the importance of good-neighbourliness and the development of friendly relations among States, and calls upon all States to resolve their disputes with other States by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter; 9. Urges the strengthening of relations among the States of South-Eastern Europe on the basis of respect for international law and agreements, in accordance with the principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect; 10. Recognizes the efforts of the international community, and welcomes in particular the assistance already provided by the European Union, other contributors and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe in promoting the long-term process of democratic and economic development of the region; 11. Stresses that the rapprochement of the South-Eastern European States with the European Union will favourably influence the security, political and economic situation in the region, as well as good-neighbourly relations among the States; 12. Stresses also the importance of regional efforts aimed at preventing conflicts that endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and, in this regard, notes with satisfaction the role of the Multinational Peace Force for South-Eastern Europe; 13. Emphasizes the importance of continuous regional efforts and intensified dialogue in South-Eastern Europe aimed at arms control, disarmament and confidence-building measures as well as strengthening cooperation and undertaking appropriate measures at the national, subregional and regional levels to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism; 14. Welcomes the adoption, on 18 July 2001, of the Concluding Document of the negotiations under article V of annex 1.B to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina;See A/50/790-S/1995/999. 15. Recognizes the seriousness of the problem of anti-personnel mines in some parts of South-Eastern Europe, welcomes, in this context, the efforts of the international community in support of mine action, and encourages States to join and support these efforts; 16. Urges all States to take effective measures against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to help programmes and projects aimed at the collection and safe destruction of surplus stocks of small arms and light weapons, and stresses the importance of closer cooperation among States, inter alia, in crime prevention, combating terrorism, illicit trade in people, organized crime, drug trafficking and money-laundering; 17. Calls upon all States and the relevant international organizations to communicate to the Secretary-General their views on the subject of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe". RESOLUTION 56/190 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/560/Add.3, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/190. High-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/165 of 21 December 1993, 49/95 of 19 December 1994, 50/122 of 20 December 1995, 51/174 of 16 December 1996, 52/186 of 18 December 1997, 53/181 of 15 December 1998, 54/213 of 22 December 1999 and 55/193 of 20 December 2000, Reaffirming its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, entitled "United Nations Millennium Declaration", Recalling the Agenda for DevelopmentResolution 51/240, annex. and the relevant provisions regarding its follow-up and implementation, and the need to give impetus to international economic cooperation for development so as to follow up on the Agenda effectively, Reaffirming the importance of continuing the dialogue to be conducted in response to the imperative of solidarity, mutual interests and benefits, genuine interdependence, shared responsibility and the partnership in promoting international economic cooperation for development, Recognizing, in this context, the importance of an enabling environment and sound economic policy at both the national and the international level, Noting the need to ensure the integrated and coordinated follow-up and implementation by the United Nations system of the outcome of major United Nations conferences and summits, 1. Reaffirms the importance of continued constructive dialogue and genuine partnership to promote further international economic cooperation for development; 2. Requests the Secretary-General, in close consultation with Governments, all relevant parts of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders, to propose the modalities, the nature and the timing of such constructive dialogue and genuine partnership for the promotion of international economic cooperation for development for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development and international economic cooperation", the sub-item entitled "High-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at that session a consolidated report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/191 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/560/Add.4, para. 5)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Islamic Republic of Iran (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 56/191. Implementation of the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance and continuing validity of the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, contained in the annex to its resolution S-18/3 of 1 May 1990, and of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 45/199 of 21 December 1990, Recalling its resolutions 45/234 of 21 December 1990, 46/144 of 17 December 1991, 47/152 of 18 December 1992, 48/185 of 21 December 1993, 49/92 of 19 December 1994, 51/173 of 16 December 1996, 53/178 of 15 December 1998, 54/206 of 22 December 1999 and 55/190 of 20 December 2000, and the Agenda for Development,Resolution 51/240, annex. Recalling also the results of all the major United Nations conferences and summit meetings held since the beginning of the 1990s, Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the targets and commitments relating to development and poverty eradication, Recalling the outcomes of the special session of the General Assembly to review and address the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS),Resolution S-26/2, annex. the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries,A/CONF.191/11. and the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda,Resolution S-25/2, annex. Emphasizing the importance of the other development-oriented meetings to be convened under the auspices of the United Nations in 2002, including the International Conference on Financing for Development, the special session of the General Assembly on children and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 1. Expresses regret that the consultations foreseen in resolution 54/206 could not be held; 2. Decides to consider the issue of further development of a new international development strategy during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, on the basis of the outcomes of the aforementioned meetings and keeping in mind the outcome of the review of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s;Resolution 46/151, annex, sect. II. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session with an overview of the challenges and constraints as well as progress made towards achieving the major development goals and objectives adopted by the United Nations during the past decade; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development and international economic cooperation", a sub-item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade". RESOLUTION 56/192 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.8, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/192. Status of preparations for the International Year of Freshwater, 2003 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/196 of 20 December 2000, in which it proclaimed 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater, Recalling also the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted at its nineteenth special sessionResolution S-19/2, annex. and decisions of the Economic and Social Council and those of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 9 (E/1998/29). relating to freshwater, Recalling further its resolution 53/199 of 15 December 1998 on the proclamation of international years, Reaffirming the goal of reducing by half, between 2000 and 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water, Noting the efforts for the preparations for the Third World Water Forum, to be held in Japan in March 2003, and for the elaboration of the World Water Development Report, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/189. 1. Welcomes the activities undertaken by States, the Secretariat, organizations of the United Nations system that are engaged in inter-agency work related to freshwater and major groups in preparation for the observance of the International Year of Freshwater, 2003, and encourages them to continue their efforts; 2. Encourages all Member States, the United Nations system and major groups to take advantage of the Year to raise awareness of the essential importance of freshwater resources for satisfying basic human needs and for health and food production and the preservation of ecosystems, as well as for economic and social development in general, and to promote action at the local, national, regional and international levels, and in this context calls for high priority to be given to the serious freshwater problems facing many regions, especially in the developing countries; 3. Also encourages all States, relevant international organizations and major groups to support activities related to the Year, inter alia, through voluntary contributions; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session an interim report on the activities undertaken in preparation for the International Year of Freshwater, 2003. RESOLUTION 56/193 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.8, para. 12 )The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/193. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-first session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, by which it decided to establish the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recalling also its resolution 55/200 of 20 December 2000 on the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its sixth special session, Recalling further the Nairobi Declaration on the Role and Mandate of the United Nations Environment ProgrammeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/52/25), annex, decision 19/1, annex. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Taking note with appreciation of the progress being made by the United Nations Environment Programme in the preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-first session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/56/25). 2. Welcomes the efforts already made to realize the objectives of the Nairobi Declaration on the Role and Mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/52/25), annex, decision 19/1, annex. supports the early and full implementation of General Assembly resolution 53/242 of 28 July 1999, and requests that the reports on the work of the Environmental Management Group be made available to Member States and members of specialized agencies; 3. Reiterates the invitation to the international environmental governance process initiated by decision 21/21 of 9 February 2001 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment ProgrammeIbid., chap. III. to submit its progress report to the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development at its second session, to be held in New York from 28 January to 8 February 2002, and to submit the final results to the Committee at its third session, to be held in New York from 25 March to 5 April 2002, so that it may be fully considered in the preparatory process, and notes with interest the ongoing work of the open-ended intergovernmental group of ministers or their representatives on international environmental governance with respect to the comprehensive policy-oriented assessment of existing institutional weaknesses, as well as future needs and options for strengthened international environmental governance; 4. Underlines the need for sufficient financial resources on a stable and predictable basis to ensure the full implementation of the mandate of the Programme, and, within this context, notes ongoing related deliberations; 5. Notes the proposal of the Secretary-General to increase United Nations funding for the cost of servicing the Programme secretariat and the Governing Council from the regular budget; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under continuous review and to make proposals as needed in the context of the United Nations regular budget, with a view to strengthening the Programme and the Office. RESOLUTION 56/194 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.2, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/194. International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/200 of 18 December 1997, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/220 of 22 December 1999 and 55/197 of 20 December 2000 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46 of 28 July 1999 and 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, and taking note of Council resolution 2000/33 of 28 July 2000, Noting that the signing of the memorandum of cooperation between Ecuador and the World Meteorological OrganizationA/C.2/56/2, appendix. constitutes a major step in the process for the establishment of an international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon, Noting also the contributions made by regional and global climate-study organizations and specialized Internet information services, which have led to improved scientific understanding and prediction capabilities in the area of climate variability, Reaffirming the importance of developing strategies at the national, subregional, regional and international levels that aim to prevent, mitigate and repair the damage caused by natural disasters that result from the El Niño phenomenon, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/76-E/2001/54. 2. Commends the measures adopted by the host country for the establishment of an international centre for the study of the El Niño phenomenon, and encourages the Government of Ecuador to continue its efforts aimed at the completion of that process; 3. Encourages the centre, once established, to strengthen its links with other relevant regional and global climate-study organizations, as well as with Internet information services, in order to ensure an effective and efficient use of the available resources; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General and the relevant United Nations organs, funds and programmes, in particular those taking part in the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and encourages the international community, to adopt, as appropriate, the necessary measures to support the establishment of the above-mentioned research centre at Guayaquil, Ecuador, and invites the international community to provide scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for that purpose, as well as to strengthen, as appropriate, other centres devoted to the study of the El Niño phenomenon; 5. Welcomes the establishment of the working group on climate and disasters, and invites the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction and the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction to ensure functional synergies among the working groups dealing with climate variability, social and economic vulnerability, and the effectiveness of early warning systems; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the full implementation of its resolutions 52/200, 53/185, 54/220 and 55/197 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46, 1999/63 and 2000/33; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 56/195 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.2, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/195. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, 49/22 B of 20 December 1994, 53/185 of 15 December 1998 and 54/219 of 22 December 1999 and Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, and taking note of Council resolution 2001/35 of 26 July 2001, Recalling also the forward-looking platform for international concerted disaster reduction, as developed by the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction and as expressed in the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action,A/CONF.172/9, resolution 1, annex I. as well as the Geneva mandate on disaster reduction and the strategy document entitled "A safer world in the twenty-first century: risk and disaster reduction",Adopted by the programme forum on the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, held at Geneva from 5 to 9 July 1999. Emphasizing the multisectoral, interdisciplinary and cross-cutting nature of natural disaster reduction, and stressing that continued interaction, cooperation and partnerships among the institutions concerned are considered essential to achieve jointly agreed objectives and priorities, Having considered the current institutional arrangements, as established in its resolution 54/219, with the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction and the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and taking into account the assessment after the first period of operations,A/56/68-E/2001/653, paras. 54-59. Recognizing that disaster reduction is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development and that it should be taken into account in the preparatory process for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, Reiterating that natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, although the long-term consequences of natural disasters are especially severe for developing countries and hamper their sustainable development, Welcoming the emphasis placed on natural disaster reduction in the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,A/CONF.191/11. Recognizing that disaster reduction should be regarded as an important function of the United Nations and should receive continued attention, Stressing the need for the international community to demonstrate the firm political determination required to utilize scientific and technical knowledge to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and environmental hazards, taking into account the particular needs of developing countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;A/56/68-E/2001/63 and Corr.1. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the increasing number and scale of natural disasters, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries; 3. Reaffirms that the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction should perform the functions as indicated in the report of the Secretary-General, in particular those of serving as a main forum within the United Nations system for devising strategies and policies for disaster reduction and ensuring complementarity of action by agencies involved in disaster reduction, mitigation and preparedness, decides to review the activities of the Task Force in 2003, and decides also that the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction should develop collaborative links with appropriate regional disaster reduction organizations; 4. Decides that the Task Force should be modified in order to provide for the increased participation and continued membership of regional intergovernmental organizations and key United Nations agencies; 5. Recognizes that the framework for action for the implementation of the Strategy,Ibid., para. 14; see also www.unisdr.org. as endorsed by the Task Force, constitutes the basic guide for the implementation of the Strategy, and that the framework shall be periodically reviewed, according to the evolving needs in the field of natural disaster reduction, and urges all relevant bodies within the United Nations system to cooperate fully within the context of the framework; 6. Stresses that the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy should be consolidated and enhanced to perform its functions effectively, in particular to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster-reduction activities of the United Nations system and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields; 7. Calls upon Governments to continue to cooperate and coordinate their efforts with the United Nations system, other international organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, in order to ensure effective synergies in the field of natural disasters, and urges the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy to develop such synergies, as appropriate; 8. Invites, therefore, all Governments and relevant international organizations to give appropriate consideration to the issue of natural disaster reduction in their preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 9. Underlines the importance of adequate financial and administrative resources for the effective functioning of the Task Force and the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy, under the direct authority of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; 10. Calls upon Governments to establish national platforms or focal points for disaster reduction, urges the United Nations system to provide appropriate support for those mechanisms, and invites the Secretary-General to strengthen the regional outreach of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy in order to ensure such support; 11. Invites Governments and relevant organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen national participation, in particular of disaster-prone countries, in the implementation of the Strategy, including through national multisectoral and interdisciplinary platforms, in order to achieve sustainable development goals and objectives, with the full utilization of scientific and technical knowledge, including through capacity-building at all levels and the development and strengthening of global and regional approaches that take into account regional, subregional, national and local circumstances and needs, as well as the need to strengthen the coordination of national emergency response agencies; 12. Calls upon Governments to continue to cooperate and coordinate their efforts in the field of natural disasters within the framework for action for the implementation of the Strategy, in line with their respective skills and capacities, from prevention to early warning, response, mitigation, rehabilitation and reconstruction, including through capacity-building at all levels, and the development and strengthening of global and regional approaches that take into account regional, subregional, national and local circumstances and needs, as well as the need to strengthen the coordination of national emergency response agencies in natural disasters; 13. Recognizes the urgent need to develop further and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, and emphasizes the need for developing countries to have access to technology so as to tackle natural disasters effectively; 14. Calls upon Governments and United Nations agencies to collaborate more closely in the sharing of disaster response and mitigation information, to take full advantage of United Nations emergency information services such as ReliefWeb, as well as the Internet, and to consider other methods for the sharing of information; 15. Calls upon the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to facilitate the development of better linkages with all relevant actors, including the private sector and financial institutions, in the development of disaster management strategies; 16. Encourages the international community to provide the necessary financial resources to the Trust Fund for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and to provide adequate scientific, technical, human and other resources to ensure adequate support for the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy and for the Task Force and its working groups; 17. Requests the relevant organizations of the United Nations system to support the implementation of the goals of the Strategy, including by seconding technical staff to the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy; 18. Endorses the proposal of the Secretary-General to review the implementation of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action,A/CONF.172/9, resolution 1, annex I. within the context of the framework for action for the implementation of the Strategy; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to optimize further and disseminate through all available channels, including handbooks and information systems, the information necessary for the effective management of international cooperation in the fields of disaster prevention, early warning, response, mitigation, rehabilitation and reconstruction; 20. Reiterates the need to continue international cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, within the framework for action for the implementation of the Strategy, as requested by the Economic and Social Council in its resolutions 1999/46 of 28 July 1999 and 2000/33 of 28 July 2000 and by the Assembly in its resolutions 52/200 of 18 December 1997, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/220 of 22 December 1999 and 55/197 of 20 December 2000; 21. Recognizes the importance of early warning as an essential element in the culture of prevention, and encourages renewed efforts at all levels to contribute to natural hazard monitoring and impact prediction, the development and transfer of technology, capacity-building for disaster preparedness, the detection of natural hazards and the issuance and communication of early warning, as well as education and professional training, public information and awareness-raising activities, and stresses the need for appropriate action in response to early warning; 22. Reaffirms the need to strengthen the international framework for the improvement of early warning systems and disaster preparedness by developing an effective international mechanism for early warning, including the transfer of technology related to early warning to developing countries, which ensures that vulnerable people receive appropriate and timely information, and by expanding and improving existing systems, in particular those under the auspices of the United Nations, as an integral part of the Strategy; 23. Decides to maintain the annual observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the second Wednesday of October, as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including prevention, mitigation and preparedness; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including criteria and modalities for the selection of the non-permanent members of the Task Force, and on the progress made in the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 56/196 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.3, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/196. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/204 of 20 December 2000 and other resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Germany for the generous manner in which it hosted and provided facilities for the fourth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, Noting with satisfaction that the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties was held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1 to 12 October 2001, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Switzerland for the organization of the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties and its special events in Geneva, Welcoming the decision taken by the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its May 2001 session to pursue the designation of land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation, as a focal area of the Facility, as a means of enhancing its support for the successful implementation of the Convention, Acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension in that they affect all regions of the world and that joint actions of the international community are needed to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought, including the integration of strategies for poverty eradication, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/175. 2. Welcomes the outcome of the fourth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, in particular the adoption of the Declaration on the Commitments to Enhance the Implementation of the Obligations under the Convention;ICCD/COP(4)/11/Add.1, decision 8/COP.4, annex. 3. Also welcomes the outcome of the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties; 4. Notes the establishment of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention as a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties, and invites parties and other actors to participate in the first session of the Committee, which shall be held at Bonn, Germany, from 18 to 29 November 2002, in accordance with Conference of the Parties decision 2/COP.5 of 12 October 2001;See ICCD/COP (5)/11/Add.1. 5. Also notes that the mandate and functions of the Committee shall be subject to renewal at the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties, in the light of lessons learned during the overall review of the Committee;Ibid., decision 1/COP.5, para. 3. 6. Encourages the conferences of the parties to and the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the Convention on Biological Diversity,See United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity (Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. the Convention to Combat Desertification and other international instruments related to environment and sustainable development, as well as relevant organizations, especially the United Nations Environment Programme, with, as appropriate, the involvement of the Environmental Management Group, to continue their work on enhancing mutual complementarities, with full respect for the status of the secretariats of the conventions and the autonomous decision-making prerogatives of the conferences of the parties to the conventions concerned, to strengthen cooperation with a view to facilitating progress in the implementation of those conventions at the international, regional and national levels and to report thereon to their respective conferences of the parties; 7. Welcomes the decision of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification to submit to the preparatory process of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, as inputs, the Chairman's summary of the Ministerial and High-level Interactive Dialogue sessions held at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties, including the challenges of and opportunities in combating desertification, controlling land degradation and mitigating the effects of drought in affected developing countries, as well as those relating to financial resources and achieving sustainable development,ICCD/COP(5)/11/Add.1, decision 8/COP.5, annex. and the comprehensive report of the Ad Hoc Working Group for the in-depth review and analysis of reports submitted at the third and fourth sessions of the Conference of the Parties;Ibid., decision 3/COP.5, annex. 8. Also welcomes the decision taken by the Council of the Global Environment Facility, under item 7 of the agenda of its meeting in December 2001, to consider at its next meeting proposed amendments to the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global Environment FacilityDP/1994/60, annex. to designate land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation, as a focal area of the Facility, as a means of enhancing its support for the successful implementation of the Convention, with a view to the Council recommending approval of such amendments by the Assembly of States participating in the Facility at its meeting in October 2002; 9. Encourages the Conference of the Parties and the Council and Assembly of the Global Environment Facility to work cooperatively and effectively to facilitate the financing of the full implementation of the Convention by the Facility to achieve the objectives of the Convention in the area of land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation; 10. Notes with appreciation that some affected developing countries have adopted their national, subregional and regional action programmes, and urges affected developing countries that have not yet done so to accelerate the process of elaboration and adoption of their action programmes, with a view to finalizing them as soon as possible; 11. Calls upon the international community to contribute to the implementation of those programmes through, inter alia, the conclusion of partnership agreements and through the bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes that are available to implement the Convention, including contributions from non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and to support the efforts of the developing countries to implement the Convention; 12. Invites affected developing countries to place the implementation of their action programmes to combat desertification high among their priorities in their dialogue with their development partners; 13. Notes with satisfaction the steps being taken by affected developing countries that are parties to the Convention, with the assistance of international organizations and bilateral development partners, to implement the Convention, and the efforts being made to promote the participation of all actors of civil society in the elaboration and implementation of national action programmes to combat desertification, and in that regard encourages countries to cooperate at the subregional and regional levels, as appropriate; 14. Welcomes the strengthened cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and the Global Mechanism, and encourages further efforts in that regard for the effective implementation of the Convention; 15. Invites all parties to pay promptly and in full the contributions required for the core budget of the Convention for the biennium 2002-2003, and urges all parties that have not yet paid their contributions for the year 1999 and/or the biennium 2000-2001 to do so as soon as possible in order to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the secretariat and the Global Mechanism; 16. Calls upon Governments, multilateral financial institutions, regional development banks, regional economic integration organizations and all other interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously to the General Fund, the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund, in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties,ICCD/COP(1)/11/Add.1 and Corr.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, paras. 7-11. and welcomes the financial support already provided by some countries; 17. Decides to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 2002-2003 the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies, including the sixth ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties and the meetings of its subsidiary bodies; 18. Encourages the United Nations Development Programme to continue implementing decision 2000/23 of 29 September 2000 of its Executive Board pertaining to the cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and the United Nations Development Programme in order to mainstream activities to combat desertification at the national, subregional and regional levels;See DP/2000/1, para. 231. 19. Approves the continuation of the current institutional linkage and related administrative arrangements between the United Nations Secretariat and the secretariat of the Convention for a further five-year period, to be reviewed by the General Assembly and the Conference of the Parties not later than 31 December 2006; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 56/197 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.4, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/197. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/201 of 20 December 2000 on the Convention on Biological Diversity,See United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. in which it, inter alia, decided to proclaim 22 May, the date of the adoption of the text of the Convention, as the International Day for Biological Diversity, Recognizing the importance of the adoption by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, in its decision EM-I/3 of 29 January 2000,See UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the subsequent signature of the Protocol by one hundred and three parties to the Convention by 5 June 2001, and the ratification thereof or accession thereto by nine parties to date, Expressing its appreciation for the generous offer of the Government of the Netherlands to host the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, and the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol, which will be held at The Hague from 8 to 26 April 2002, Urging the parties to the Convention to undertake thorough preparations to advance progress on all issues that are included in the agenda of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, 1. Takes note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, as submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session;See A/56/126. 2. Notes the outcome of the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing, which addresses the appropriate access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of its utilization, hosted by the Government of Germany from 22 to 26 October 2001; 3. Also notes the outcome of the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held at Nairobi from 1 to 5 October 2001; 4. Welcomes the fact that one hundred and eighty-one States and one regional economic integration organization have become parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,See United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. and urges States that have not joined the Convention to become parties to it, without further delay; 5. Calls upon parties to the Convention to become parties to the Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetySee UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. as soon as possible; 6. Encourages the conferences of the parties to, and the secretariats of, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and other international instruments related to the environment and sustainable development, as well as relevant organizations, especially the United Nations Environment Programme, including, as appropriate, the involvement of the Environmental Management Group, to continue their work on enhancing mutual complementarities, with full respect for the status of the secretariats of the conventions and the autonomous decision-making prerogatives of the conferences of the parties to the conventions concerned, to strengthen cooperation with a view to facilitating progress in the implementation of those conventions at the international, regional and national levels and to report thereon to their respective conferences of the parties; 7. Welcomes the decision of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity regarding its programme of work for forest biological diversity, and encourages the parties to and the secretariat of the Convention to cooperate with the United Nations Forum on Forests, inter alia, with regard to respecting, preserving and maintaining the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles, in accordance with article 8 (j) and related provisions of the Convention; 8. Takes note of the fact that the provisions of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsIbid., vol. 1869, No. 31874. and the Convention on Biological Diversity are interrelated, in particular with respect to intellectual property rights and relevant provisions of the Convention, and invites the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization, within their respective mandates, to continue to explore this relationship, taking into account the ongoing work in other relevant forums and bearing in mind decision V/26 B of the Conference of the Parties;See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23 and Corr.1, annex III. 9. Invites all funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations, to cooperate with the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the implementation of the programme of work; 10. Requests the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 11. Calls upon parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to settle urgently any arrears and to pay their contributions in full and in a timely manner so as to ensure continuity in the cash flows required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the subsidiary bodies and the Convention secretariat; 12. Looks forward to the contribution of the Convention on Biological Diversity to the preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, bearing in mind the decisions taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its tenth session; 13. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to report to the General Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 56/198 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.5, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/198. Further implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Recalling also its resolutions 51/183 of 16 December 1996, 52/202 of 18 December 1997, 53/189 of 15 December 1998, 54/224 of 22 December 1999 and 55/202 of 20 December 2000, Recalling further the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesIbid., annex II. adopted by the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Recalling the Declaration and review document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special session,See resolution S-22/2, annex. Recalling also the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on its tenth session,TD/390. Recognizing that, within the context of the challenges of development, small island developing States can experience specific problems arising from small size, remoteness, geographical dispersion, vulnerability to natural disasters, fragile ecosystems, constraints on transport and communication, isolation from markets, vulnerability to exogenous economic and financial shocks, limited internal markets, lack of natural resources, limited freshwater supply, heavy dependence on imports and limited commodities, depletion of non-renewable resources and migration, Recognizing also the efforts of small island developing States to achieve sustainable development and the need to continue to enhance their capacities to participate effectively in the multilateral trading system, Noting the report of the first workshop of the Alliance of Small Island States on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,See UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. held in Saint Kitts and Nevis from 4 to 6 December 2000,A/55/765, annex. and the report of the third workshop of the Alliance of Small Island States on climate change, energy and preparations for the ninth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, held in Cyprus from 15 to 19 January 2001,E/CN.17/2001/11, annex. Noting also the significant efforts to implement the Programme of Action at the local, national, regional and international levels and the need for regional and global institutions to continue to supplement the efforts being made at the national level, including through necessary financial support in partnership with the international community, Acknowledging the efforts of small island developing States to convene, in cooperation with the Small Island Developing States Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, a series of capacity-building workshops targeted at issues of specific relevance to small island developing States, Welcoming the preparatory activities undertaken at the national and regional levels for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Jamaica for hosting the first workshop of the Alliance of Small Island States on trade, sustainable development and small island developing States from 12 to 15 December 2001, Noting the current efforts of the Alliance of Small Island States to organize an interregional preparatory meeting of small island developing States for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Singapore from 7 to 11 January 2002, and calls upon all relevant international organizations actively to support the meeting, Emphasizing the continuing need for the financing of projects that were presented within the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action, inter alia, at the meeting of representatives of donor countries and small island developing States, held in New York from 24 to 26 February 1999,See A/S-22/4. Noting with appreciation the contribution made by some donor countries towards further implementation of the Programme of Action, and underlining the need for those efforts to be intensified and supplemented by other donor countries and agencies, Emphasizing the need to complete, without delay, the quantitative and analytical work on the vulnerability index mandated in the review document of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly, taking into account Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/43 of 24 October 2001, in particular paragraph 6 thereof, and emphasizing the relevance of such work to the work of the Committee for Development Policy on criteria for the identification, including designation and graduation, of least developed countries and its importance to relevant small island developing States, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/170. 2. Reiterates the urgent need for strong and effective implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesIbid., annex II. and of the Declaration and review document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special sessionSee resolution S-22/2, annex. to assist those States in their efforts to enhance their capacities to achieve sustainable development; 3. Welcomes efforts made at the national, subregional and regional levels to implement the Programme of Action; 4. Invites the relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations system and the regional commissions and organizations, within their respective mandates, to reflect measures for the implementation of the Programme of Action in their programmes; 5. Invites donors, as well as all relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations and other regional and international organizations, to provide appropriate support to the interregional preparatory meeting of small island developing States for the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 6. Invites all relevant stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to participate fully in the activities identified for the further implementation of and effective follow-up to the Programme of Action; 7. Urges all relevant organizations to finalize, as a matter of urgency, the work on the development of a vulnerability index, taking into account the particular circumstances and needs of small island developing States; 8. Welcomes the strengthened Small Island Developing States Unit, and requests the Secretary-General to consider ways to strengthen the Unit further, inter alia, by establishing the Small Island Developing States Information Network within the Unit and by assisting small island developing States with, inter alia, project implementation advice and assistance in the identification of short- and long-term capacity needs through coordination with regional and international institutions, and to make proposals in that regard; 9. Calls upon the Secretary-General to consider further cost-effective ways and means of increasing and improving the United Nations system-wide coordination and dissemination of information on activities in support of small island developing States and the Programme of Action, through the Small Island Developing States Unit, including concrete measures for improving coordination within the United Nations system; 10. Welcomes the contributions of donor countries to the strengthening of the Small Island Developing States Unit and the Small Island Developing States Information Network, and encourages other Member States to make contributions, in particular in support of the Network; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States"; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/199 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.6, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/199. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/115 of 20 December 1995, 51/184 of 16 December 1996, 52/199 of 18 December 1997 and 54/222 of 22 December 1999, its decision 55/443 of 20 December 2000 and other resolutions relating to the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, Noting that most States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified or acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. Remaining deeply concerned that all countries, in particular developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island States, face increased risk from the negative impacts of climate change, Noting that, to date, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3. has attracted forty-five ratifications, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Morocco for hosting the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at Marrakesh, Morocco, from 29 October to 9 November 2001, Noting the adoption of the Bonn AgreementsFCCC/CP/2001/5, decision 5/CP.6. on the implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of ActionFCCC/CP/1998/16/Add.1, decision 1/CP.4. by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, at the second part of its sixth session, held at Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 27 July 2001, Expressing its appreciation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for its excellent work in preparing the Third Assessment Report, and encouraging parties to make full use of the information contained therein, Taking note of the decision of the Conference of the Parties at its sixth sessionFCCC/CP/2001/5, decision 6/CP.6. to approve the continuation of the current institutional linkage of the secretariat of the Convention to the United Nations and related administrative arrangements for a further five-year period, to be reviewed by both the General Assembly and the Conference of the Parties no later than 31 December 2006, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the continuation of the institutional linkage of the secretariat of the Convention to the United Nations,A/56/385. Taking note further of the decision of the Conference of the PartiesFCCC/CP/2001/5, decision 6/CP.6. inviting the General Assembly to decide at its fifty-sixth session on the question of meeting the conference-servicing expenses of the Convention from its regular budget, taking into account the views expressed by Member States, Noting that, by paragraph (c) of its decision 55/443, it decided to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 2002-2003 the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies envisaged for the biennium, in accordance with the decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties, Taking note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,See A/56/509. which was prepared in response to the invitation of the General Assembly in paragraph (d) of its decision 55/443, 1. Recalls the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,FCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3. preferably by the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 2002, and to embark on the required reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases, and calls upon States to work cooperatively towards achieving the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 2. Calls upon all States parties to continue to take effective steps to implement their commitments under the Convention, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities; 3. Stresses the importance of capacity-building, as well as of developing and disseminating innovative technologies in respect of key sectors of development, in particular energy, and of investment in that regard, including through private sector involvement, market-oriented approaches and supportive public policies, as well as international cooperation, emphasizes that climate change and its adverse impacts have to be addressed through cooperation at all levels, and welcomes the efforts of all parties to implement the Convention; 4. Takes note of the Marrakesh Accords,See FCCC/CP/2001/13/Add.1. adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its seventh session, complementing the Bonn AgreementsFCCC/CP/2001/5, decision 5/CP.6. on the implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action,FCCC/CP/1998/16/Add.1, decision 1/CP.4. paving the way for the timely entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol; 5. Takes note with appreciation of the Marrakesh Ministerial Declaration,See FCCC/CP/2001/13/Add.1. adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session as a contribution to the preparatory process for the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 6. Encourages the conferences of the parties to and the secretariats of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological DiversitySee United Nations Environment Programme, Convention on Biological Diversity (Environmental Law and Institution Programme Activity Centre), June 1992. and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in AfricaUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and other international instruments related to the environment and sustainable development, as well as relevant organizations, especially the United Nations Environment Programme, including, as appropriate, the involvement of the Environmental Management Group, to continue their work for enhancing mutual complementarities with full respect for the status of the secretariats of the conventions and the autonomous decision-making prerogatives of the conferences of the parties to the conventions concerned, to strengthen cooperation with a view to facilitating progress in the implementation of those conventions at the international, regional and national levels and to report thereon to their respective conferences of the parties; 7. Approves the continuation of the institutional linkage of the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to the United Nations, and related administrative arrangements, for a further five-year period; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to review the functioning of that institutional linkage not later than 31 December 2006, in consultation with the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a view to making such modifications as may be considered desirable by both parties, and to report thereon to the General Assembly; 9. Invites the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 10. Invites the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the work of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind". RESOLUTION 56/19 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/533, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation. 56/19. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999 and 55/28 of 20 November 2000, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of mankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling, in this connection, the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held at Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations that it made,See A/51/261, annex. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the security of States in both civil and military fields, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70, 54/49 and 55/28, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213, A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1, and A/56/164 and Add.1. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts at Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field, consistent with the need to preserve the free flow of information; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Definition of basic notions related to information security, including unauthorized interference with or misuse of information and telecommunications systems and information resources; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 of the present resolution; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them, and to conduct a study on the concepts referred to in paragraph 2 of the present resolution, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts, to be established in 2004, appointed by him on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and with the help of Member States in a position to render such assistance, and to submit a report on the outcome of the study to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 56/1 Adopted at the 1st plenary meeting, on 12 September 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.1, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 56/1. Condemnation of terrorist attacks in the United States of America The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Strongly condemns the heinous acts of terrorism, which have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage in the cities of New York, host city of the United Nations, and Washington, D.C., and in Pennsylvania; 2. Expresses its condolences and solidarity with the people and Government of the United States of America in these sad and tragic circumstances; 3. Urgently calls for international cooperation to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the outrages of 11 September 2001; 4. Also urgently calls for international cooperation to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism, and stresses that those responsible for aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of such acts will be held accountable. RESOLUTION 56/200 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.7, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/200. Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/7 of 16 October 1998, 54/215 of 22 December 1999 and 55/205 of 20 December 2000 on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Recalling also resolution 14 concerning the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its twenty-ninth session in November 1997,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-ninth session, Paris, 21 October-12 November 1997, vol. 1: Resolutions. Reaffirming that the convening at Harare on 16 and 17 September 1996 of the World Solar Summit, at which the Harare Declaration on Solar Energy and Sustainable DevelopmentA/53/395, annex, sect. II. was adopted and preparations for the World Solar Programme 1996-2005Ibid., annex, sect. V.D. approved, was a step in pursuance of the implementation of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. which is a multifaceted and, at the same time, fundamental programme of action for achieving sustainable development, Emphasizing that the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 is aimed at encompassing all forms of new and renewable energy, including solar, thermal, photovoltaic, biomass, wind, mini-hydro, tidal, ocean and geothermal forms, Recalling resolution 19 adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirtieth session in November 1999,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirtieth Session, Paris, 26 October-17 November 1999, vol. 1: Resolutions. concerning the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005, which constitutes one of the major programmes of universal value of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Reiterating that mutually supportive efforts at the national and international levels are imperative in the pursuit of sustainable development, which includes the provision of financial resources and the transfer of technology for the application of cost-effective energy and the wider use of environment-friendly, renewable energies, Acknowledging that the General Assembly continues to play an important role in promoting the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Acknowledging also that the Commission on Sustainable Development and the Economic and Social Council continue to play a pivotal role as forums for the discussion of new and renewable sources of energy and sustainable development, Noting the role that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization continues to play in the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, in particular its efforts, in association with multilateral partners and national specialized institutions, to enhance bilateral and regional cooperation through the joint organization of regional and subregional business and investment forums, Welcoming the recommendations of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 9 (E/2001/29). in particular the references to renewable energy, Expressing its appreciation for the continued efforts of the Secretary-General in bringing the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 to the attention of relevant sources of funding and technical assistance, Calling for further action to ensure that the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 is fully integrated into the mainstream of the efforts of the United Nations system towards attaining the objective of sustainable development, Emphasizing that the achievement of more substantive results in the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 will require the active involvement of all concerned parties, including Governments, multilateral funding agencies and relevant bodies in the United Nations system, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General concerning concrete action being taken to implement General Assembly resolutions 53/7, 54/215 and 55/205,A/56/129. and welcomes, in particular, the attempt therein to analyse and discuss the obstacles and constraints impeding the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy and options for action to overcome them; 2. Notes with appreciation the role that the World Solar Commission continues to play in the mobilization of international support and assistance for the implementation of many of the national high-priority projects on renewable sources of energy included in the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, many of which are being executed with national funding; 3. Notes that although significant financial support has been provided by some developed countries that are Members of the United Nations and some intergovernmental organizations, within and outside the United Nations system, in the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, more action still needs to be taken in this regard; 4. Encourages national Governments and relevant stakeholders to make more use of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 as one of the vehicles to boost the development and utilization of solar energy technologies and all forms of new and renewable energy, including biomass, wind, mini-hydro, tidal, ocean and geothermal forms; 5. Invites the international community to support, as appropriate, by, inter alia, providing financial resources, the efforts of developing countries to move towards sustainable patterns of energy production and consumption; 6. Recognizes that rural energy services, including their financing, should be designed to maximize local ownership, as appropriate; 7. Reiterates its call upon all relevant funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations, to support, as appropriate, the efforts being made for the development of the renewable energy sector in developing countries on the basis of environment-friendly renewable sources of energy of demonstrated viability, while taking fully into account the development structure of energy-based economies of developing countries, and to assist in the attainment of the levels of investment necessary to expand energy supplies beyond urban areas; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to promote the mobilization of adequate technical assistance and funding and to enhance the effectiveness and the full utilization of existing international funds for the effective implementation of national and regional high-priority projects in the area of renewable sources of energy; 9. Emphasizes the need to intensify research and development in support of energy for sustainable development, which will require increased commitment on the part of all stakeholders, including Governments and the private sector, to deploy financial and manpower resources for accelerating research efforts; 10. Recognizes that the wider use of available renewable energy technologies requires the diffusion of available technologies on a global scale, including through North-South and South-South cooperation; 11. Takes note of the decision of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization regarding the contribution of the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005 in attaining the objective of sustainable development,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirtieth Session, Paris, 26 October-17 November 1999, vol. 1: Resolutions. and in this context encourages the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to mobilize resources, both human and financial, as mandated, to ensure the effective implementation of the Programme and to make efforts to promote public awareness in all Member States in this regard, with the support of international, regional and national institutions, both public and private; 12. Invites the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to make effective the implementation of the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005 in the various regions and to strengthen the implementation of its African chapter; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Environment Programme and other relevant organizations, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the concrete action being taken for the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the effective implementation of and the mobilization of resources for the World Solar Programme 1996-2005; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005". RESOLUTION 56/201 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/562/Add.1, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 56/201. Triennial policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/211 of 22 December 1989, 47/199 of 22 December 1992, 50/120 of 20 December 1995, 52/203 of 18 December 1997, 52/12 B of 19 December 1997 and 53/192 of 15 December 1998, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/5 and 1999/6 of 23 July 1999, and 2000/19 and 2000/20 of 28 July 2000, and taking note of agreed conclusions 2001/1 of the Council of 4 July 2001,A/56/3, chap. V. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of the Council of 18 July 2001,Ibid., chap. III, para. 29. Council resolution 2001/41 of 26 July 2001 and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its importance for international development cooperation, including the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and in particular the development and poverty eradication goals and targets contained therein, Reaffirming that the operational activities for development of the United Nations system have an important role to play in enabling developing countries to continue to take a lead role in the management of their own development process in a continuously changing global context, Reaffirming also that the fundamental characteristics of the operational activities of the United Nations system should be, inter alia, their universal, voluntary and grant nature, their neutrality and their multilateralism, as well as their ability to respond to the development needs of developing countries in a flexible manner, and that the operational activities of the United Nations system are carried out for the benefit of recipient countries, at the request of those countries and in accordance with their own policies and priorities for development, Stressing that national plans and priorities constitute the only viable frame of reference for the national programming of operational activities for development of the United Nations system and that programmes should be based on such development plans and priorities and should therefore be country-driven, Bearing in mind that the effectiveness of operational activities should be assessed by their impact on poverty eradication, economic growth and sustainable development of recipient countries as set out in the commitments, goals and targets of the Millennium Declaration and of the major United Nations conferences, Welcoming the efforts undertaken so far to rationalize and improve the functioning and impact of United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, Recognizing that globalization, technological change and the need for the integration of the developing countries and other recipient countries into the world economy represent major challenges and, at the same time, opportunities for their development, Recognizing also that new technologies, including information and communication technologies, present an opportunity to accelerate development, especially in developing countries, but that the access to those technologies is uneven and that a digital divide still prevails, Noting that, while the scope of operational activities of the organizations of the United Nations system includes situations where a more flexible response capacity of the system is required, the focus of operational activities should be on actions that have a long-term impact on poverty eradication, economic growth and sustainable development, Recognizing the urgent and specific needs of low-income countries, in particular the least developed countries, Emphasizing that developing countries are responsible for their development processes, and in this context stressing the responsibility of the international community, in partnership, to assist developing countries in their national development efforts, Recognizing that the United Nations development system should take into account the specific needs and requirements of the countries with economies in transition and other recipient countries, Recalling the role of the Economic and Social Council in providing coordination and guidance to the United Nations system to ensure that policies formulated by the General Assembly, in particular during the triennial policy review of operational activities, are implemented on a system-wide basis in accordance with Assembly resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and 50/227 of 24 May 1996, Noting with deep concern the failure to provide the United Nations development system with a critical mass of the core resources required to enable long-term development cooperation towards attaining development goals and targets and towards providing a more integrated development support, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations systemA/56/320 and Add.1. and on progress in the implementation of the multi-year funding frameworks and evaluation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework;A/56/70-E/2001/58 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Reaffirms its resolutions 47/199, 50/120, 53/192 and the parts relevant to operational activities for development of its resolution 52/12 B, and stresses the need to implement fully, on the basis of lessons learned, all the elements of those resolutions in a coherent and timely manner, keeping in mind their interlinkages; 3. Stresses the primary responsibility of national Governments for their countries' development, and recognizes the importance of national ownership of development programmes; 4. Emphasizes that recipient Governments have the primary responsibility for coordinating, on the basis of national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance, including that provided by multilateral organizations, in order to integrate effectively such assistance into their development process; 5. Emphasizes also the need for all organizations of the United Nations development system to enhance their coordination in accordance with their mandates, mission statements and the relevant decisions of their governing bodies, in order to avoid overlapping and duplication and to enhance their complementarity; 6. Emphasizes further the need to fulfil the commitments, goals and targets set in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and by the major United Nations conferences, and in that context reiterates the importance of continuously monitoring progress made in that direction; 7. Stresses that the United Nations development system, in order to ensure national ownership of its operational activities for development, should integrate its country-level operations with national policies and programmes for development and poverty eradication, including, as appropriate, national poverty reduction strategies, under the leadership of the Government; 8. Also stresses that the United Nations development system should assist programme countries in addressing the goals and targets identified in the Millennium Declaration and in the outcomes and commitments of relevant major United Nations conferences, in the context of the current challenges and opportunities of globalization; 9. Welcomes the efforts undertaken so far to improve the functioning and the impact of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and in this regard encourages the organizations of the United Nations system to continue those efforts, with a view to improving further the effectiveness and increasing the relevance of such activities; I Role of operational activities in the context of a globalizing world 10. Stresses the need for all organizations of the United Nations development system, in accordance with their respective mandates, to focus their efforts at the field level in accordance with the priorities identified by recipient countries and the goals, targets and commitments set in the Millennium Declaration and by the major United Nations conferences; 11. Recognizes, in this context, the need for all organizations of the United Nations system to assist programme countries to respond more effectively to the economic and social impact of globalization and to support their efforts to integrate into the world economy, to accelerate their economic growth and development and to reduce their poverty; 12. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen and adapt their strategies and activities and enhance their coordination and collaboration, in order to enhance their supportive role in meeting the commitments, goals and targets of the Millennium Assembly and major United Nations conferences, in particular the development and poverty eradication goals and targets; 13. Encourages the United Nations system to support national efforts to acquire the capacities and infrastructure required to mobilize information and communication technologies and put them at the service of development, and encourages all organizations of the system to collaborate with the recently established Information and Communication Technologies Task Force; II Funding for operational activities for development of the United Nations system 14. Stresses that core resources, inter alia, because of their untied nature, are the bedrock of the operational activities of the United Nations system, and in this regard notes with serious concern the overall decline or stagnation in core resources available to many United Nations funds and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme; 15. Strongly reaffirms that the impact of operational activities for development of the United Nations system must be enhanced by, inter alia, a substantial increase in core or regular resources on a predictable, continuous and sustained basis, commensurate with the increasing needs of developing countries, as well as through the full implementation of resolutions 47/199, 48/162, 50/120, 53/192 and the parts relevant to operational activities for development of resolution 52/12 B; 16. Notes the efforts of the executive boards and secretariats of the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Population Fund and of the United Nations Children's Fund to establish multi-year funding frameworks that integrate programme objectives, resources, budgets and outcomes, with the objective of increasing core resources and enhancing their predictability, and in this regard invites them to continue to develop and refine the frameworks as a strategic resource management tool; 17. Stresses, in this regard, the continued need for funds, programmes and agencies of the United Nations development system to continue to report on the overall results achieved to their executive boards or governing bodies and to the Economic and Social Council; 18. Notes with regret that, although significant progress has been achieved with regard to the governance and functioning of the United Nations development system, there has not been, as part of that overall process of change, a significant increase in core resources for operational activities for development; 19. Underlines the need to avoid over-dependence on a limited number of donors, emphasizes the importance of shared responsibility in a spirit of partnership, taking into account established official development assistance targets, including targets established at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, and calls upon donors and countries in a position to do so to increase their contributions to the core or regular resources of United Nations funds and programmes; 20. Appreciates, in this context, the efforts of countries, including donor and programme countries, that have increased or maintained their high level of contributions to the core resources of United Nations funds and programmes, and of those that have made multi-year pledges to core resources; 21. Notes the increase in non-core resources, including cost-sharing, trust funds and non-traditional sources of financing, as a mechanism to supplement the means of operational activities for development, contributing to an increase in total resources, while recognizing that non-core resources are not a substitute for core resources; 22. Reaffirms the need for priority allocation of scarce grant resources to programmes and projects in low-income countries, in particular the least developed countries; 23. Requests that the establishment of new trust funds by United Nations funds and programmes be done in accordance with their mandates, mission statements and the relevant decisions of their governing bodies, and that such new trust funds, to the extent possible, be multi-donor in nature and not detrimental to core or regular resources; 24. Notes, in this context, the contributions of private sources, which can supplement but cannot substitute for contributions of Governments, to finance or extend programmes implemented within existing guidelines of United Nations funds and programmes; 25. Stresses the need for continuous overall improvement in the effectiveness, efficiency, management and impact of the United Nations system in delivering its development assistance, and welcomes steps that have been taken to that end; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, a report presenting options alternative to the current modality of the annual United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities, including a regular pledging event, taking into account the funding sessions convened under the multi-year funding frameworks, the needs of other agencies of the United Nations system, appropriate timing and options to enhance public support for operational activities for development of the United Nations system, including through the proposed options; 27. Requests the Economic and Social Council to consider, at its substantive session of 2003, the conclusions reached at the present triennial policy review on resources for operational activities for development, reviewing the progress made on the issue of funding of development cooperation activities of the United Nations system; III Capacity-building 28. Stresses that capacity-building and its sustainability should be explicitly articulated as a goal of technical assistance provided by operational activities of the United Nations system, with the aim of strengthening national capacities, and that the technical skills profiles of country offices should be regularly assessed to ensure effective capacity-building of the recipient countries, and requests United Nations organizations to review their efforts in the field of capacity-building and to report, through the Secretary-General, to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2002, on the results achieved in this area; 29. Also stresses the importance of disseminating, to the fullest extent possible, the expertise acquired through the technical assistance provided by operational activities for development of the United Nations system in the programme countries; 30. Reiterates that the United Nations system should use, to the fullest extent possible and practicable, available national expertise and indigenous technologies in the implementation of operational activities, and also reiterates its call for the development of common guidelines at the field level for the recruitment, remuneration and training of national project personnel, including national consultants, for the formulation and implementation of development projects and programmes supported by the United Nations development system; 31. Requests the United Nations system to enhance the capacity of national Governments to coordinate the external assistance received from the international community, including from the United Nations system; 32. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations development system to support the strengthening of the capacity of Governments to establish databanks and carry out poverty assessments at the country level; IV Common country assessment and United Nations Development Assistance Framework 33. Notes that, while progress has been made since the introduction of the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework in its pilot phase, there still is a need to continue to improve the preparatory process and the quality of those instruments, inter alia, on the basis of the recommendations of the external evaluation of the common country assessment and the Framework, as reflected in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/70-E/2001/58 and Add.1 and 2. and his recommendations,See A/56/320. with a view to ensuring their effectiveness; 34. Requests the United Nations system to conduct the common country assessment and the Framework processes as efforts to improve support for national development priorities and policies, and stresses that full governmental participation and leadership is required at all stages of those processes; 35. Stresses the need to ensure the full and active participation of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system in the preparation of the common country assessment and the Framework; 36. Encourages the United Nations system to ensure full and active system-wide collaboration and coherence in developing the common country assessment and the Framework processes; 37. Recognizes the need to ensure that lessons learned in the elaboration of the common country assessment and the Framework are systematically shared within the United Nations system and with Governments of programme countries as well as other development partners; 38. Also recognizes the common country assessment as a common analytical instrument for the United Nations development system which takes into account national priorities and needs as well as the commitments, goals and targets set in the Millennium Declaration and by the major United Nations conferences; 39. Further recognizes that the common country assessment can also be used by recipient countries in formulating their own national policies; 40. Recognizes that the Framework, where it exists, is the common planning framework for the development operations of the United Nations system at the country level, consisting of common objectives and strategies of cooperation, a programme resource framework and proposals for follow-up, monitoring and evaluation; 41. Urges the organizations of the United Nations system to ensure consistency and complementarity of country programmes and other similar instruments used in individual organizations of the system with the approved Framework; 42. Notes the role that the Framework should play to facilitate the contribution of the United Nations system to the integrated and coordinated implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits at the country level and to provide a more coherent and integrated response by the United Nations system to national development priorities; 43. Also notes the importance of closer consultation in the formulation of the common country assessment and the Framework, among national Governments, relevant United Nations development agencies, including specialized agencies, and other relevant stakeholders; 44. Encourages greater cooperation among the World Bank, regional development banks and all funds and programmes, taking into account their respective competencies, mandates and comparative advantages, with a view to achieving increased complementarity and better division of labour, as well as enhanced coherence in their sectoral activities, building on the existing arrangements and in full accordance with the priorities of the recipient Government, and in this regard emphasizes the importance of ensuring, under the leadership of national Governments, greater consistency between the strategic frameworks developed by the United Nations funds, programmes and agencies and the Bretton Woods institutions, and the national poverty reduction strategies, including the poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; 45. Urges the organizations of the United Nations system, when the common country assessment and the Framework are undertaken, to ensure that measures are adopted to simplify and harmonize country assessment procedures and programming so as to reduce transaction costs and avoid additional procedural requirements and workload for recipient countries and United Nations country teams; 46. Encourages bilateral donors and the United Nations system to coordinate their efforts more actively at the field level, under the leadership of recipient Governments, inter alia, by using the common country assessment; 47. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States, to undertake an evaluation of the progress of the common country assessment and Framework processes and their impact on the field of operational activities, as an integral part of the next triennial policy review of operational activities, and to submit a report, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2004, on the results of such an evaluation, including lessons learned and recommendations made, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; V Evaluation of operational activities for development 48. Emphasizes the importance of the monitoring and evaluation of operational activities of the United Nations system in order to enhance their effectiveness and impact, and reiterates that the monitoring and evaluation process of operational activities, including, where appropriate, joint evaluations by the United Nations system, should be impartial and independent, under the overall leadership of the Government; 49. Reiterates the need to strengthen the capacities of the recipient countries to perform effective programme, project and financial monitoring, as well as impact evaluations of operational activities funded by the United Nations, and underlines the importance of promoting, under the leadership of Governments, greater collaboration on questions relating to evaluation among recipient Governments and the United Nations development system, in particular the members of the United Nations Development Group, at the country level; 50. Recognizes that a comprehensive and participatory approach to monitoring and evaluation calls for a closer involvement of national authorities and civil society in the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of operational activities, in order to ensure that the results of those evaluations are utilized to improve operational activities for development and their impact; 51. Notes that coordination activities, though beneficial, represent transaction costs that are borne by both recipient countries and the organizations of the United Nations system, and emphasizes the need for their continuous evaluation and for an analysis and assessment of costs compared with the total programme expenditures on operational activities for development in order to ensure maximum efficiency and feasibility; 52. Takes note of the impact evaluations of capacity-building and poverty eradication undertaken according to resolution 53/192, and requests the organizations of the United Nations system to review the conclusions of those evaluations and the lessons learned and to incorporate them, in the light of their own experience, into their operational activities for development; 53. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide, in the context of the triennial comprehensive policy review, an overall assessment of the effectiveness of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system and of the functioning of the United Nations development system at the country level, and to submit to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2002, in consultation with Member States and on the basis of the experience acquired with the impact evaluation studies, suggestions on how to strengthen the modalities and enhance the approach for such an assessment, in particular in the areas identified in the present resolution; 54. Reiterates the need for recipient Governments concerned to be fully and effectively involved in the assessment of the effectiveness of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system; 55. Requests the United Nations system at the country level to support those Governments that intend to undertake capacity-building impact evaluations themselves, as and when required; 56. Reiterates the need for the United Nations system to strengthen its efforts, in consultation with recipient countries, to ensure that the lessons learned from both monitoring and evaluation exercises are systematically applied to programming processes at the operational level and that evaluation criteria are built into all projects and programmes at their design stage, requests the Secretary-General to carry out an impartial and independent assessment of the extent to which the United Nations funds, programmes and agencies at the field level learn lessons from their evaluations and to formulate proposals on how to improve the feed-back mechanisms at the field level, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2003 in this regard; VI Simplification and harmonization of rules and procedures 57. Reaffirms that simplification and harmonization of procedures, as well as their decentralization, should support improved organizational efficiency and effectiveness and be responsive to the needs of recipient countries; 58. Notes the progress achieved in the harmonization of programming cycles, the harmonization of the programme approval process and the simplification and harmonization of rules and procedures, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Group, and calls upon the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to continue to improve coordination efforts by taking further steps to enhance and ensure the sustainability of that process; 59. Emphasizes that the simplification and harmonization of rules and procedures should aim at reducing, where appropriate, the complexities and diversity of requirements, which still place an enormous burden on the recipient countries through high transaction costs, and that innovations in this area should achieve, in their implementation, the objective of reducing the administrative and financial costs to the recipient country as well as to the United Nations system; 60. Requests the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to examine ways to simplify further their rules and procedures and, in this context, to accord the issue of simplification and harmonization high priority and to take concrete steps in the following areas: the decentralization and delegation of authority; the financial regulations; the procedures for implementing programmes and projects and, in particular, the requirements in terms of monitoring and reporting; the common shared services at country offices; and the recruitment, training and remuneration of national project personnel; 61. Requests the funds and programmes of the United Nations system to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2002 a programme of work for full simplification and harmonization in the above-mentioned areas, to be completed before the end of 2004, including provisions to phase out redundant rules and procedures, benchmarks, responsibilities, as well as a timetable to monitor the progress made towards reaching that target; 62. Requests the Executive Committee of the United Nations Development Group to facilitate the definition of the above-mentioned agenda and its implementation; 63. Requests the funds and programmes to provide, in their annual reports to the Economic and Social Council, specific information on the progress achieved in reaching the above-mentioned target; 64. Invites the executive boards and governing bodies of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies to assess regularly the progress achieved in the area of simplification and harmonization of rules and procedures; 65. Requests the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for CoordinationFormerly known as the Administrative Committee on Coordination (see Economic and Social Council decision 2001/321 of 24 October 2001). to address the requirements for further simplification and harmonization of procedures; VII Resident coordinator system 66. Reaffirms that the resident coordinator system, within the framework of national ownership, has a key role to play in the effective and efficient functioning of the United Nations system at the country level, including in the formulation of common country assessments and United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks, and is a key instrument for the efficient and effective coordination of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and requests the United Nations system, including the funds and programmes, the specialized agencies and the Secretariat, to enhance support to the resident coordinator system; 67. Appreciates efforts, including through the United Nations Development Group, to improve further the resident coordinator system and the progress achieved so far in broadening the pool of resident coordinators, improving their gender balance, using competency assessments to select resident coordinator candidates, and implementing improved staff training and annual performance appraisals, and urges the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to make further efforts in that direction, including through appropriate training and recruitment of qualified staff with the required professional skills and backgrounds; 68. Encourages the funds, programmes and specialized agencies to make full use of the United Nations Staff College as an institution for system-wide knowledge management, training and learning; 69. Encourages enhanced dialogue, feedback, participation and interaction between the resident coordinator on the one hand, and the specialized agencies, small technical agencies, the regional commissions and organizations of the United Nations system without field level representation on the other, including through a wider use of information and communication technologies; 70. Encourages the international financial institutions and other development partners to support the resident coordinator system, including through enhanced dialogue, in addressing national development objectives; 71. Recognizes the need for the resident coordinator system to interact more effectively and substantively with the Government of the recipient country, as well as with civil society and other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate; 72. Requests the resident coordinator system to assist Governments in their efforts towards implementation of the commitments, goals and targets set in the Millennium Declaration and by the major United Nations conferences, and encourages further work by the country-level theme groups; 73. Requests all organizations of the United Nations system, including those with no field-level representation and the regional commissions, to continue to improve and strengthen the resident coordinator system through their support to and active participation in that system, on the basis of their respective mandates and in close consultation with the national Government; VIII United Nations Development Group 74. Recognizes the progress achieved towards a more coherent United Nations performance in the development field in the past three years, as reflected by a new culture of shared responsibility, cooperation and coordination among the members of the United Nations Development Group, and in particular the role of the Executive Committee of the Group; 75. Requests the member organizations of the United Nations Development Group, in particular the member organizations represented in its Executive Committee, to continue to support and actively participate in the work of the Group; IX Planning, programming and implementation 76. Decides that, with the agreement of the host country, the United Nations development system should assist national Governments in creating an enabling environment in which the links among national Governments, the United Nations development system, civil society, national non-governmental organizations and the private sector involved in the development process are strengthened, with a view to seeking new and innovative solutions to development problems, in accordance with national policies and priorities; 77. Encourages greater cooperation among the World Bank, regional development banks and all funds and programmes with a view to achieving increased complementarity and better division of labour as well as enhanced coherence in their sectoral activities, building on the existing arrangements and in full accordance with the priorities of the recipient Government; 78. Recognizes that the diversity of programming procedures of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system results from the diversity of their mandates and the decisions of their respective governing bodies, and, that notwithstanding, calls upon those organizations to intensify their efforts to utilize all avenues for stronger cooperation and coordination at the headquarters level, which should complement similar coordination efforts at the country level, and urges them to keep countries fully informed of decisions taken at headquarters; 79. Notes the progress achieved in the area of common premises and shared services at the country level within the United Nations system, reaffirms the need to take fully into account cost-benefit studies as called for in relevant resolutions, and encourages further implementation of such initiatives, where appropriate, while ensuring that there will be no additional burden imposed on host countries; 80. Recognizes that the utilization of advanced information and communication technologies could also provide the necessary platform for more coordination and cohesion at the field level; 81. Encourages the use of information technologies as a means to support more effectively the delivery of development cooperation by the United Nations system, and therefore calls for the urgent harmonization of the information technology platforms utilized by the United Nations system, at both the field and headquarters levels; X Humanitarian assistance 82. Reiterates that the phases of relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development are generally not consecutive but often overlap and occur simultaneously, and notes the urgent need to develop, through a strategic framework, when appropriate, a comprehensive approach to countries in crisis, notes that the development of such a comprehensive approach must involve national authorities as well as the United Nations system, donors and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and that national authorities must take a leading role in all aspects of the recovery plan, notes in this context the need for an early application of developmental tools in humanitarian emergencies, and takes note with appreciation of the recommendations included in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/320 and Add.1. in this regard; 83. Expresses its appreciation to those countries which have substantially contributed to humanitarian assistance during natural and man-made disasters; 84. Stresses that contributions to humanitarian assistance should not be provided at the expense of development assistance and that sufficient resources for humanitarian assistance should be made available by the international community; XI Gender 85. Welcomes the progress achieved in gender mainstreaming in operational activities, and encourages further work in the areas of equitable access to financial and productive resources to ensure a reversal in the feminization of poverty; 86. Encourages the continuing efforts to improve the gender balance on appointments within the United Nations system at the headquarters and the country level in positions that affect operational activities; 87. Calls for renewed and accelerated efforts in gender mainstreaming in the framework of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system in all fields, in particular in support of poverty eradication, and encourages the empowerment of women as a priority for operational activities for development; XII Regional dimensions of operational activities 88. Reiterates the growing need for incorporating the regional and subregional dimensions, where appropriate, in the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and encourages the resident coordinators, in close consultation with Governments, to secure the greater involvement of the regional commissions, taking into account their agreed mandates and work programmes, in the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, as appropriate; XIII South-South cooperation/economic and technical cooperation among developing countries 89. Reiterates that South-South cooperation, including technical and economic cooperation among developing countries, offers viable opportunities for the development of developing countries, and in this context requests the executive boards of the funds and programmes to review, with a view to considering an increase, the allocation of resources for activities involving technical cooperation among developing countries; 90. Requests the United Nations system to take appropriate measures to improve the effective incorporation of technical cooperation among developing countries into their programmes and projects, and to intensify efforts towards mainstreaming the modality of technical cooperation among developing countries, including through support for the activities of the Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, and encourages other relevant international institutions to take similar measures; XIV Follow-up 91. Reaffirms that the governing bodies of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system should take appropriate action for the full implementation of the present resolution, and requests the executive heads of those funds, programmes and specialized agencies to submit a yearly progress report to their governing bodies on measures taken and envisaged for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as appropriate recommendations; 92. Invites the executive boards of the funds and programmes of the United Nations system to ensure that the heads of those funds and programmes include in their annual reports to the Economic and Social Council, prepared in accordance with Council resolution 1994/33 of 28 July 1994, a thorough analysis of problems encountered and lessons learned, with emphasis on issues arising from the implementation of the reform programme of the Secretary-General, the triennial policy review and the follow-up to the Millennium Declaration and major United Nations conferences, so as to allow the Council to fulfil its coordinating role; 93. Reiterates the provisions of its resolutions 48/162, 50/227 and 52/12 B which detail the respective functions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the executive boards of the funds and programmes of the United Nations system, and encourages the Economic and Social Council, within the context of its institutional role, to provide overall guidance to the United Nations system on operational activities for development; 94. Requests the Secretary-General, after consultation with the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to submit a progress report to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2002, on an appropriate management process, containing clear guidelines, targets, benchmarks and time frames for the full implementation of the present resolution; 95. Invites the Economic and Social Council, during the operational activities segment of its substantive sessions of 2002 and 2003, to examine the operational activities of the United Nations system in order to evaluate the implementation of the present resolution with a view to ensuring its full implementation; 96. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, through the Economic and Social Council, a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the present resolution in the context of the triennial policy review, and to make appropriate recommendations. RESOLUTION 56/202 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/562/Add.2, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/202. Economic and technical cooperation among developing countries The General Assembly, Stressing that South-South cooperation, as an important element of international cooperation for development, offers viable opportunities for developing countries in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and recent United Nations conferences, and for ensuring their effective and meaningful participation in the newly emerging global economic system, Recognizing that developing countries have the primary responsibility for promoting and implementing economic and technical cooperation among themselves, and reiterating the need for the international community to support the efforts of the developing countries to expand South-South cooperation through the modality of economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, Reaffirming its resolution 33/134 of 19 December 1978, in which it endorsed the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries,Report of the United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, Buenos Aires, 30 August-12 September 1978 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.II.A.11 and corrigendum), chap. I. resolution 46/159 of 19 December 1991 on technical cooperation among developing countries, resolution 49/96 of 19 December 1994 on a United Nations conference on South-South cooperation and resolutions 50/119 of 20 December 1995, 52/205 of 18 December 1997 and 54/226 of 22 December 1999 on economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, as well as other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on economic and technical cooperation among developing countries, Recalling the principles and objectives embodied in the Caracas Programme of Action, adopted at the High-level Conference on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries, held at Caracas in May 1981,A/36/333 and Corr.1, annex. the San José Declaration and Plan of Action, adopted by the Group of 77 at the South-South Conference on Trade, Investment and Finance, held at San José from 13 to 15 January 1997,A/C.2/52/8, annex. the Bali Declaration and the Bali Plan of Action on Regional and Subregional Economic Cooperation of the Developing Countries, adopted by the Group of 77 High-level Conference on Regional and Subregional Economic Cooperation of the Developing Countries, held in Bali, Indonesia, from 2 to 5 December 1998,A/53/739, annexes I and II. and the Declaration of the South Summit and the Havana Programme of Action, adopted by the South Summit of the Group of 77, held at Havana from 10 to 14 April 2000,A/55/74, annexes I and II. which accorded South-South cooperation high priority in order for developing countries to meet new development challenges, as well as other relevant declarations and plans of action, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Group of 77 at their twenty-fifth annual meeting, held in New York on 16 November 2001,A/56/647, annex. in which the increased importance and relevance of South-South cooperation was emphasized, Taking note also of the Tehran Consensus, adopted at the Tenth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Follow-up and Coordination Committee on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries of the Group of 77, held at Tehran from 18 to 22 August 2001,A/56/358 and Corr.1, annex. which called for consolidating the South-South platform, building stronger South institutions at the global level, bridging the knowledge and information gap, building broad-based partnerships and mobilizing global support for South-South cooperation, 1. Endorses the report of the High-level Committee on the Review of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries on its twelfth sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 39 (A/56/39). and the decisions adopted by the High-level Committee at that session;Ibid., annex I. 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the state of South-South cooperation;A/56/465. 3. Notes with satisfaction the significant increase and expanded use of South-South cooperation by developing countries as an important and effective instrument of international cooperation, and in this connection urges developing countries in a position to do so to intensify technical and economic cooperation initiatives at the regional and interregional levels in areas such as health, education, training, agriculture, science and new technologies, and in particular information and communication technologies; 4. Reiterates that South-South cooperation should be viewed not as a substitute for but rather as a complement to North-South cooperation, and, in that connection, notes with appreciation the increasing number of developed countries and development foundations supporting South-South cooperation activities through a variety of triangular arrangements, including direct support or cost-sharing arrangements, joint research and development projects and third-country training programmes; 5. Emphasizes the need for concerted action by developing countries and their development partners, including relevant international organizations, with a view to strengthening cooperation and collaboration among developing countries at the subregional, regional and interregional levels; 6. Notes with appreciation the contributions made by a number of countries to the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation and to the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, and invites all countries to contribute to the trust funds in support of a revitalized South-South platform that is designed to benefit developing countries, especially the least developed, landlocked and small island developing countries; 7. Recognizes the need to strengthen institutions of the South, including policy research and development institutions and centres of excellence, especially at the regional and interregional levels, with a view to making more effective use of the institutional capacity of the South through, inter alia, improved South-South knowledge-sharing, networking, capacity-building and flow of information and policy analysis and coordination among developing countries on major development issues of common concern; 8. Requests all organizations and agencies of the United Nations development system to make concerted and intensified efforts to effectively mainstream the use of South-South cooperation by giving such cooperation appropriate consideration in the design, formulation and implementation of their regular programmes; 9. Calls upon all relevant United Nations organizations and multilateral institutions to consider increasing allocations of human, technical and financial resources for South-South cooperation, and in this context takes note of decision 2001/2 of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund,[1] See DP/2001/11, para. 155. in which the Board requested the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to consider reviewing, in the context of the successor programming arrangements, the allocation of additional resources for activities involving technical cooperation among developing countries, taking into account the overall financial situation and the need for appropriate resources for other activities; 10. Recognizes the need for raising public awareness of and support for South-South cooperation as a dynamic form of international development cooperation which can give real content to the concept of ownership and partnership, and, for this reason, takes note of the Tehran Consensus proposal to launch the first international decade on South-South cooperation and the United Nations day for South-South cooperation;See A/56/358 and Corr.1, annex, sect. 5. 11. Requests the Secretary-General, through coordination of the Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries of the United Nations Development Programme and in consultation with relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and other relevant institutions in the South, to include in the report to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session concrete measures for promoting and facilitating South-South cooperation, taking into account all relevant initiatives and proposals in this regard; 12. Reiterates its request to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to ensure that the separate identity of the Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries is maintained and that the Unit is supported so that it may fully implement its mandate and responsibilities as a focal point of the United Nations system for South-South cooperation; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the sub-item entitled "Economic and technical cooperation among developing countries", and requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to submit to it at that session a comprehensive report on the state of South-South cooperation and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/203 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/563, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/203. International migration and development The General Assembly, Recalling the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development adopted at Cairo,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. in particular chapter X on international migration, and the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, set out in the annex to General Assembly resolution S-21/2 of 2 July 1999, in particular section II.C on international migration, as well as the relevant provisions contained in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Ibid., annex II. the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. and twenty-fifthResolution S-25/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, Recalling also its resolutions 49/127 of 19 December 1994, 50/123 of 20 December 1995, 52/189 of 18 December 1997 and 54/212 of 22 December 1999 on international migration and development, as well as Economic and Social Council decision 1995/313 of 27 July 1995, Reaffirming the continuing validity of the principles set forth in the international instruments regarding the protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling that heads of State and Government, gathered at the United Nations Millennium Summit from 6 to 8 September 2000, committed themselves to respect for all internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development,See resolution 55/2. Recalling also that heads of State and Government at the United Nations Millennium Summit resolved to take measures, inter alia, to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies, Reaffirming that the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council should carry out their respective responsibilities as entrusted to them in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as by the relevant United Nations conferences of the 1990s, in the formulation of policies and the provision of guidance to and coordination of United Nations activities in the field of population and development, including activities on international migration, Noting the need for the relevant United Nations organizations and other international organizations to enhance their financial and technical support to developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition to ensure that migration contributes to development, Recognizing the diversity of views expressed by the respondents to the survey regarding the question of convening a United Nations conference on international migration, its scope, form and agenda,See A/54/207. which represented 41 per cent of the full United Nations membership, and that forty-seven respondents were in favour of convening a conference, five were partially in favour and twenty-six were against, Noting in particular the need for more migration data, analysis of factors influencing international migration and of its impact, and a better understanding of the complex interrelationships between migration and development, Noting the critical role of the existing forums within the United Nations system in addressing the issues of international migration and development, including through the Commission on Population and Development, the Commission on Human Rights, the Committee for Development Policy, the International Labour Organization and other relevant key organizations, Noting with appreciation the numerous meetings and conferences convened relating to migration and development,Including the European Conference on Migration, held at Brussels on 16 and 17 October 2001; the International Symposium on Migration: Towards Regional Cooperation on Irregular/Undocumented Migration, held at Bangkok from 21 to 23 April 1999, which adopted the Bangkok Declaration on Irregular Migration (see A/C.2/54/2, annex); the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States, held at Geneva on 30 and 31 May 1996; the Regional Conference on Migration in North and Central America; regional migration policy capacity-building and cooperation meetings organized and planned by the International Migration Policy Programme; the Mediterranean Conference on Population, Migration and Development, held at Palma de Mallorca, Spain, from 15 to 17 October 1996; and the Technical Symposium on International Migration and Development of the Administrative Committee on Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All, held at The Hague from 29 June to 3 July 1998. in particular in the context of regional cooperation, Noting the work undertaken, under the International Migration Policy Programme, by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Population Fund, in partnership with the International Labour Office, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant international and regional institutions, with a view to strengthening the capacity of Governments to manage migration flows at national and regional levels and thus to foster greater cooperation among States towards orderly migration, Noting also the work of the Secretariat in the field of migration and development, Aware that, among other important factors, both domestic and international, the widening economic and social gap between and among many countries and the marginalization of some countries in the global economy, due in part to the uneven impact of the benefits of globalization and liberalization, have contributed to large flows of people between and among countries and to the intensification of the complex phenomenon of international migration, Aware also that, in spite of the existence of an already established body of principles, there is a need to make further efforts to ensure that the human rights and dignity of all migrants and their families are respected and protected and that it is desirable to improve the situation of all documented migrants and their families, Recognizing the importance, from an analytical and operational point of view, of identifying the existing linkages among the social, economic, political and cultural factors related to international migration and development and of the need for comprehensive, coherent and effective policies on international migration based on the spirit of genuine partnership and common understanding, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/167. 2. Urges Member States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation in the area of international migration and development in order to address the root causes of migration, especially those related to poverty, and to maximize the benefits of international migration to those concerned; 3. Encourages, where relevant, interregional, regional and subregional mechanisms to continue to address the question of migration and development; 4. Calls upon all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations, within their continuing mandated activities, to continue to address the issue of international migration and development and to provide appropriate support for interregional, regional and subregional processes and activities on international migration and development, with a view to integrating migration issues in a more coherent way within the broader context of the implementation of agreed economic and social development programmes; 5. Encourages Governments of countries of origin, countries of transit and countries of destination to increase cooperation on issues related to migrations and to engage in further dialogue, including through relevant subregional, regional and international processes and organizations, as appropriate, including on the question of the convening of a United Nations conference on international migration and development; 6. Calls upon the United Nations, in collaboration with other relevant organizations and agencies, to provide support for dialogue involving Governments and other relevant stakeholders on international migration and development issues; 7. Encourages the international community, including donor countries, relevant United Nations bodies and other relevant international organizations and the private sector to provide support, including financial and technical support, for data collection and greater empirical research by Member States, in particular developing countries, and the relevant bodies of the United Nations system and other relevant international organizations on the causes and patterns of migration, including on irregular migration and trafficking, as well as its social, economic and demographic impacts, and for documenting and disseminating information on the successful management of all aspects of migration; 8. Invites Governments, with the assistance of the international community, where appropriate, to seek to make the option of remaining in one's country viable for all people, in particular through efforts to achieve sustainable development, leading to a better economic balance between developed and developing countries; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to solicit, one additional time, the views of Member States that have not responded to the survey requested in pursuance of resolution 52/189, as well as those of the International Labour Organization, the International Organization for Migration and other relevant organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system, and their views on his report submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session,A/56/167. bearing in mind various regional processes, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to initiate or continue appropriate action in consultation with regional commissions in order to ensure the carrying out of interregional activities, with the contribution of the relevant actors on issues relating to international migration and development, taking into account, inter alia, the report of the Secretary-General, and encourages the United Nations bodies and other appropriate international organizations to provide support to such activities; 11. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution that will, inter alia, update the lessons learned, as well as best practices on migration management and policies, from the various activities relating to international migration and development that have been carried out at the regional and interregional levels, and submit action-oriented recommendations for the consideration of the Assembly; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session a sub-item entitled "International migration and development". RESOLUTION 56/204 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/564, para. 10),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 148 to 4, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Fiji, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea 56/204. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/209 of 20 December 2000, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/19 of 25 July 2001, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Aware of the additional detrimental economic and social impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, Reaffirming the need for an immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the principle of land for peace, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan;A/56/90-E/2001/17. 2. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 3. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, to cause loss or depletion of or to endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 4. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 56/205) Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/565, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/205. Special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II The General Assembly, Recalling the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Istanbul Declaration on Human SettlementsIbid., annex I. adopted in Istanbul in 1996, Recalling also the report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the twenty-fifth special session of the General Assembly, on an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held in New York from 6 to 8 June 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-fifth Special Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/S-25/7/Rev.1). Stressing the importance of the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,See resolution S-25/2, annex. which was adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fifth special session, Recognizing the need for renewed political will and for the mobilization and allocation of new and additional resources at the national and international levels in order to achieve full and accelerated implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, Reiterating that strengthened international cooperation is an essential element for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, Recalling the goal contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020, as proposed in the "Cities without Slums" initiative, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/477. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the full implementation of all the commitments undertaken in the Habitat Agenda;Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. 3. Emphasizes the importance, at all levels of policy-making and in the context of sustainable development, of giving high priority to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,See resolution S-25/2, annex. including achieving the goals of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world, particularly in developing countries; 4. Recognizes that the overall thrust of the new strategic vision of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)Formerly known as the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) (see resolution 56/206 of 21 December 2001). and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially for guiding international cooperation in respect of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development; 5. Recognizes also that Governments have the primary responsibility for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and stresses that the international community should fully implement its commitments to support Governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their efforts, by providing the requisite means of implementation and through the creation of an international enabling environment; 6. Requests the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, including the specialized agencies, programmes, funds and regional commissions, as well as the World Bank and regional development banks, consistent with their respective mandates, to support fully the effective implementation at all levels of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium; 7. Invites local authorities and other Habitat Agenda partners to contribute to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and encourages them to participate, as appropriate, in the Urban Forum and the Advisory Committee of Local Authorities, in their roles as advisory bodies to the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), bearing in mind the decisions of the Commission on Human Settlements on the establishment of those two bodies; 8. Urges the Executive Director of the Programme to assess the role and funding of the regional programme activity centres of the Programme with a view to providing improved technical cooperation services to Governments to implement the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium at all levels; 9. Invites Governments and the Habitat Agenda partners, including local authorities, to facilitate the dissemination of the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium; 10. Invites the Executive Director of the Programme to transmit the outcomes of the relevant intergovernmental processes relating to sustainable human settlements development to the preparatory processes of the International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, bearing in mind the relevant decisions of the preparatory processes of those two conferences; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session an item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and of the twenty-fifth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/206) Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/565, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/206. Strengthening the mandate and status of the Commission on Human Settlements and the status, role and functions of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat The General Assembly, Recalling relevant resolutions on human settlements, in particular its resolutions 3327 (XXIX) of 16 December 1974, 32/162 of 19 December 1977 and 34/115 of 14 December 1979, Recalling also the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements,Ibid., annex I. Aware of rapid urbanization trends in developing countries and related challenges in shelter provision, eradicating poverty and sustainable human settlements development, Convinced of the need for urgent action to advance the quality of life of all people in cities and other human settlements, Conscious of the need to achieve greater coherence and effectiveness in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda within the United Nations system, Recognizing that urgent steps should be taken to ensure a better mobilization of financial resources at all levels, to enhance the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, particularly in developing countries, with a view to improving human settlements, Recalling the commitments of Governments to, inter alia, promoting broad access to appropriate housing financing, increasing the supply of affordable housing and creating an enabling environment for sustainable development that will attract investment, Recalling also its resolution 51/177 of 16 December 1996, in which it, inter alia, designated the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) as a focal point for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and called for a comprehensive and in-depth assessment of the Centre with a view to its revitalization, Recalling further its resolutions 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/242 of 28 July 1999 and 55/195 of 20 December 2000, in which it requested the Secretary-General to consider further strengthening the Centre through the provision of requisite support and stable, adequate and predictable financial resources, including additional regular budget and human resources, Recalling agreed conclusions 2000/1 of the Economic and Social Council adopted at the coordination segment of the substantive session of 2000 of the Council,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/55/3/Rev.1), chap. V, para. 6. and taking note of the conclusions of the Council at its substantive session of 2001 regarding improving inter-agency coordination in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, Bearing in mind the responsibilities of the Centre, as set out in paragraph 228 of the Habitat Agenda, and the establishment of the Habitat task manager system, Recalling the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. in particular paragraph 67 thereof, in which the Secretary-General was invited to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on options for reviewing and strengthening the mandate and status of the Commission on Human Settlements and the status, role and functions of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), in accordance with the relevant decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Encouraged by the resumption by several Member States of voluntary contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation in response to the work undertaken by the management of the Centre to revitalize the Centre and give it a new impetus to advance the Habitat Agenda, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on options for reviewing and strengthening the mandate and status of the Commission on Human Settlements and the status, role and functions of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat),A/56/618. including their financial implications, I United Nations Human Settlements Programme Decides to transform the Commission on Human Settlements and its secretariat, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), including the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, with effect from 1 January 2002, into the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, to be known as UN-Habitat, which will have the elements described below: A. Governing body Status, composition, objectives, functions and responsibilities 1. Decides to transform, with effect from 1 January 2002, the Commission on Human Settlements into the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, to be known as UN-Habitat, a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly; 2. Also decides that the Governing Council shall propose its rules of procedure on the basis of the rules of procedure of the Commission on Human Settlements, bearing in mind the provisions of the present resolution, for consideration by the General Assembly;The first meeting of the Governing Council shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of procedure and practices of the Commission on Human Settlements. 3. Further decides that the practices regarding the participation of Habitat Agenda partners shall be according to the relevant rules of the Economic and Social Council with regard to participation and accreditation, that the established practices of the Commission on Human Settlements shall be utilized and that such practices shall in no way create a precedent for other governing bodies of the subsidiary organs of the General Assembly; 4. Decides that the Governing Council shall be composed of fifty-eight members, to be elected by the Economic and Social Council for four-year terms on the following basis:Existing members of the Commission on Human Settlements shall continue as members of the Governing Council until the expiration of their original terms of office. (a) Sixteen seats for African States; (b) Thirteen seats for Asian and Pacific States; (c) Six seats for Eastern European States; (d) Ten seats for Latin American and Caribbean States; (e) Thirteen seats for Western European and other States; 5. Confirms that the Governing Council shall have the objectives, functions and responsibilities set out in resolution 32/162 and in paragraph 222 of the Habitat Agenda; 6. Decides that the Governing Council shall be the intergovernmental decision-making body for the Programme; 7. Also decides that the Governing Council shall meet biennially and report to the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council; 8. Further decides that the Committee of Permanent Representatives to UN-Habitat shall serve as the Governing Council's intersessional subsidiary body; B. Secretariat of the Programme 1. Decides to transform, with effect from 1 January 2002, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) into the secretariat of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and confirms that the secretariat of the Programme, under the direction of the Executive Director, shall be entrusted with the responsibilities set out in paragraph 228 of the Habitat Agenda and in resolution 32/162. The UN-Habitat secretariat shall service the Governing Council and serve as the focal point for human settlements and for the coordination of human settlements activities within the United Nations system; 2. Also decides, bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 54/249 of 23 December 1999, that the UN-Habitat secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director at the level of Under-Secretary-General, to be elected by the General Assembly for a term of four years upon nomination by the Secretary-General after consultation with Member States;The current Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) shall continue as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) until the expiration of her original term of office. 3. Affirms that the Urban Forum is a non-legislative technical forum in which experts can exchange views in the years when the Governing Council does not meet, and that the Advisory Committee of Local Authorities is an advisory body to the Executive Director; 4. Decides that the resources for managing the Programme shall comprise the posts and budgetary resources of the Centre, without prejudice to additional regular budget and extrabudgetary resources that may become available; II Financing human settlements 1. Confirms that the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) shall be responsible for the management of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, with due regard to the terms of reference of the Foundation as stipulated in General Assembly resolution 3327 (XXIX); 2. Encourages the Executive Director to strengthen the Foundation in order to achieve its primary operative objective, as set out in resolution 3327 (XXIX), of supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, including supporting shelter, related infrastructure development programmes and housing finance institutions and mechanisms, particularly in developing countries; 3. Invites all Governments to increase their contributions to the Foundation to enhance the capacity of the Programme to support the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium;Resolution S-25/2, annex. 4. Encourages the Executive Director of the Programme to continue her fund-raising appeals and initiatives for a substantial increase of Foundation resources; 5. Calls for the active participation and collaboration of organizations and bodies within and outside the United Nations system, including the World Bank and regional development banks, in the activities of the Programme and its Foundation, in particular with regard to the provision of seed capital and the financing of operational human settlements projects and programmes, as well as developing appropriate and innovative approaches for financing its projects and programmes; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the Programme through the provision of adequate regular budget resources; III Policy coordination 1. Reaffirms that the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, in accordance with relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions, including General Assembly resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and 50/227 of 24 May 1996, together with the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), constitute the three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism to oversee the coordination of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; 2. Emphasizes the role and importance of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, in particular achieving the goals of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements, in the activities and programmes of the United Nations system, in particular in the context of common country assessments and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, as well as the poverty reduction strategy papers process led by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; 3. Welcomes the fact that the Programme, as the United Nations focal point for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, will participate in the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for CoordinationFormerly known as the Administrative Committee on Coordination (see Economic and Social Council decision 2001/321 of 24 October 2001). at all levels of its machinery; 4. Decides that the Programme should strengthen its collaboration with the Commission on Sustainable Development and other relevant bodies in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda as it relates to sustainable development; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/207 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/566, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/207. Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the proposal to establish a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, by which it established the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, as well as its resolution 48/183 of 21 December 1993, by which it proclaimed 1996 the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, Recalling also its resolution 50/107 of 20 December 1995 on the observance of the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty and the proclamation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), as well as the declarations and programmes of action of the major United Nations conferences and summits, their follow-up and the need for their implementation, as they relate to the eradication of poverty, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. adopted by heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit, Recalling its resolution 55/210 of 20 December 2000, entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the initiative to establish a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication", Expressing its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected group, in particular in African countries and the least developed countries, Recognizing that, while the rate of poverty in some countries has been reduced, some developing countries and disadvantaged groups are being marginalized and others are at risk of being marginalized and effectively excluded from the benefits of globalization, resulting in increased income disparity among and within countries, thereby constraining efforts to eradicate poverty, Recognizing also that for the poverty eradication strategy to be effective it is imperative for developing countries to be integrated into the world economy and equitably share the benefits of globalization, Recalling the commitment made by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit to eradicate extreme poverty, in particular the commitment to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Bearing in mind the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentIbid., annex II. and the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000,Resolution S-24/2, annex, sect. I. as well as the objectives of the World Food Summit, held at Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996, Recognizing that, while it is the primary responsibility of States to attain economic and social development and to achieve the development and poverty eradication goals as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the international community should support the efforts of the developing countries to eradicate poverty and ensure basic social protection and to promote an enabling international environment, Expressing concern at the recent economic slowdown, particularly its adverse impact on the economies of developing countries, which could hinder the realization of agreed development goals, in particular the eradication of poverty, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006),A/56/229 and Corr.1 and Add.1. 1. Stresses that the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) should contribute to achieving the targets of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, through decisive national action and strengthened international cooperation; 2. Reaffirms, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends, inter alia, on good governance within each country, and that it also depends on good governance at the international level, on transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and on commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 3. Recognizes that success in meeting the objective of poverty eradication requires an enabling environment that encourages, inter alia, sustainable development, including economic growth that favours the poor and that upholds human rights, including the right to development, democratic principles and the rule of law, at all levels; 4. Also recognizes the responsibility of Governments to adopt policies aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices at the national and international levels; 5. Calls upon all countries to formulate and implement outcome-oriented national strategies and programmes, setting time-bound targets for poverty reduction, including the target of halving, by 2015, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty, which requires the strengthening of national action and international cooperation; 6. Calls for strengthened efforts at all levels to implement fully and effectively the United Nations Millennium Declaration, as well as the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations and all agreements and commitments adopted at the major United Nations conferences and summits and their follow-up, as they relate to the eradication of poverty, with a view to achieving tangible results; 7. Stresses the importance of tackling the root causes of poverty and the necessity of meeting the basic needs of all, and in this context emphasizes the fundamental role in the eradication of poverty of strong and sustained economic growth that favours the poor, creates substantive expansion in productive opportunities and employment, increases incomes, promotes equitable income distribution and minimizes environmental degradation; 8. Also stresses the importance of increasing access to and control over resources, including land, skills, knowledge, capital and social connections, for the poor, in particular women, and of improving access for all to basic social services; 9. Recognizes the importance of the adoption of appropriate policy responses to the challenges of globalization at the national level, in particular by pursuing sound and stable domestic policies, including sound macroeconomic and social policies, inter alia, those contributing to increased income of the poor, in order to realize the objective of the eradication of poverty; 10. Urges the strengthening of international assistance to developing countries in their efforts to alleviate poverty, inter alia, by creating an enabling environment that would facilitate the integration of developing countries into the world economy, improving their market access, facilitating the flow of financial resources and implementing fully and effectively all initiatives already launched regarding debt relief for developing countries, and emphasizes that the international community should consider further measures that would lead to effective, equitable, development-oriented and durable solutions to the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries so that they can share equally in the benefits of globalization, cope with its negative effects, avoid being marginalized in the process of globalization and achieve full integration into the world economy; 11. Reaffirms that, within the context of overall action for the eradication of poverty, special attention should be given to the multidimensional nature of poverty and the national and international conditions and policies that are conducive to its eradication, fostering, inter alia, the social and economic integration of people living in poverty, thus empowering them to participate in decision-making with regard to the policies that affect them, the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development, bearing in mind the relationship between all human rights and development, and an efficient, transparent and accountable public service and administration; 12. Recognizes that the eradication of poverty and the achievement and preservation of peace are mutually reinforcing; 13. Reaffirms that the causes of poverty should be addressed in an integrated way, taking into account the importance of the need for the empowerment of women and sectoral strategies in such areas as education, development of human resources, health, human settlements, rural development, productive employment, population, environment, freshwater, food security and migration, and the specific needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, and in such a way as to increase opportunities and choices for people living in poverty and to enable them to build and strengthen their assets so as to achieve social and economic development; and in this regard encourages countries to develop their national poverty reduction policies in accordance with their national priorities including, where appropriate, through poverty reduction strategy papers; 14. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations system to assign priority to the eradication of poverty and to enhance coordination, and in this regard encourages the organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, and other partners in development to continue to support all Member States, members of specialized agencies and United Nations observers in carrying forward their own strategy for the achievement of the objectives of the Decade; 15. Also welcomes the holding of the International Conference on Financing for Development at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and encourages Governments and stakeholders to take concrete initiatives and actions in support of financing for development; 16. Further welcomes the convening of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, as a significant opportunity to renew our commitment to sustainable development, the international development goals, Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the principles contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development;Ibid., annex I. 17. Notes the outcome of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 13 November 2001;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 18. Recognizes the importance of the expansion of international trade as an engine of growth and development and, in this context, the need for expeditious and complete integration of developing countries and countries with economies in transition into the international trading system, in full cognizance of the opportunities and challenges of globalization and liberalization and taking into account the circumstances of individual countries, in particular the trade interests and development needs of developing countries; 19. Also recognizes the critical need for countries to undertake economic, institutional and regulatory reforms to support wide trade liberalization and to create an enabling environment in which trade can truly serve as an engine for economic growth and development, and in this regard calls upon the international community to continue to support the capacity-building efforts of developing countries, taking into account their national circumstances; 20. Reaffirms that all Governments and the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty, at both the national and the international level, and encourages the use of gender analysis as a tool for the integration of a gender dimension into planning the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for the eradication of poverty; 21. Expresses its appreciation to the developed countries that have agreed to and have reached the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for overall official development assistance, and calls upon the developed countries that have not yet done so to strengthen their efforts to achieve the agreed target as soon as possible and, where agreed, within that target, to earmark 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product for the least developed countries; 22. Stresses the important role played by official development assistance in complementing domestic efforts to meet the development needs of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and in this regard acknowledges the official development assistance made available to developing countries and the efforts that developing countries have made to eradicate poverty; 23. Calls for the full, speedy and effective implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and in this regard stresses the need for the donor community to provide the additional resources necessary to fulfil the future financial requirements of the Initiative, welcomes the agreement that financing for heavily indebted poor countries should be reviewed analytically and separately from International Development Association replenishment requirements but immediately after meetings for the thirteenth replenishment of the Association, and calls upon all donors to participate fully in this process; 24. Calls upon the heavily indebted poor countries to take, as soon as possible, the policy measures necessary to become eligible for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and to reach the decision point; 25. Welcomes the recognition by the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries of the need to take into account worsening global growth prospects and declines in terms of trade, when updating Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative debt sustainability analysis at completion point;See para. 8 of the communiqué of the Joint Ministerial Committee at its 64th meeting, held at Ottawa on 18 November 2001. 26. Recognizes the difficulties faced by heavily indebted middle-income developing countries in meeting their external debt and debt-servicing obligations, and notes the worsening situation in some of them in the context, inter alia, of greater liquidity constraints, which may require debt treatment through various national and international measures designed to assist those countries in making their debt burden sustainable in the long term and in combating poverty effectively; 27. Calls upon the developed countries, by means of intensified and effective cooperation with developing countries, to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the special needs of developing countries, by identifying and implementing practical steps to ensure the achievement of progress in this regard and to assist developing countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty in an era influenced in large measure by technology; 28. Stresses that the goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015 will not be achieved without serious efforts to address the development needs of the least developed countries and to support their efforts in improving the lives of their people, and in this regard welcomes the adoption of the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/11. at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001, and calls upon the national Governments of the least developed countries and their development partners to implement fully the commitments undertaken in Brussels; 29. Emphasizes the role of microcredit as an important anti-poverty tool that promotes production and self-employment and empowers people living in poverty, especially women, and therefore encourages Governments to adopt policies that support microcredit schemes and the development of microfinance institutions and their capacities, and calls upon the international community, in particular the relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and international and regional financial institutions involved in the eradication of poverty, to support and explore the incorporation of the microcredit approach into their programmes and the further development, as appropriate, of other microfinance instruments; 30. Welcomes the New Partnership for Africa's Development launched at Abuja in October 2001, whose objectives are, inter alia, to promote sustained economic growth and development, including human development, so as to eradicate poverty in Africa on the basis of African leadership and enhanced partnership with the international community, and calls upon the developed countries and the United Nations system to support this partnership and complement the efforts undertaken by Africa to overcome the challenges it faces; 31. Emphasizes the critical role of both formal and non-formal education, particularly basic education, and training, in particular for girls, in the empowerment of those living in poverty, and in this context welcomes the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). as well as the strategy for poverty eradication of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,Adopted at the thirty-first session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001. and invites the organs and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to continue to promote the inclusion of education in anti-poverty strategies; 32. Recalls the commitments of the United Nations conferences and summits to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005 and to promote universal primary education in all countries by 2015, and in this regard urges Member States to take immediate measures to remove obstacles to young girls' school attendance and to reduce drop-out rates; 33. Reaffirms the role of United Nations funds and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, in assisting the national efforts of developing countries, inter alia, in the eradication of poverty, and the need for their funding in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions; 34. Also reaffirms the importance of agreeing on a mutual commitment of interested developed and developing country partners to allocate, on average, 20 per cent of official development assistance and 20 per cent of the national budget, respectively, to basic social programmes, and welcomes the efforts made to implement the 20/20 initiative, which emphasizes that promoting access for all to basic social services is essential for sustainable and equitable development and is an integral part of the strategy for the eradication of poverty; 35. Recognizes the devastating effect of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic on human development, economic growth and poverty reduction efforts in many countries, in particular sub-Saharan African countries, and urges Governments and the international community to give urgent priority to the HIV/AIDS crisis, in particular addressing the special needs of developing countries through strengthened cooperation and assistance as well as through the implementation of commitments undertaken, as agreed in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session in June 2001; See resolution S-26/2, annex. 36. Calls upon Member States and the international community to support and participate in the global efforts for poverty eradication at the global, regional and country levels in order to ensure that the development and poverty reduction goals, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, are realized, and also calls upon the international community to support those efforts and to strengthen the resources available to the United Nations in order to enhance its capacity to support and coordinate all relevant initiatives in this regard and play its role of facilitator and advocate; 37. Encourages the continuing examination in all relevant intergovernmental forums of ways and means to integrate poverty reduction objectives and strategies into discussions on international financial and development issues; 38. Welcomes favourably the proposal to establish a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication and the promotion of human and social development in developing countries, in particular among the poorest segments of their population; 39. Requests the Secretary-General, with a view to establishing the fund, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report containing his recommendations on mechanisms, modalities, terms of reference, mandates and governance for the operationalization of the fund, bearing in mind the voluntary nature of contributions from Member States, international organizations, the private sector, relevant institutions, foundations and individuals and the need to avoid duplication of existing United Nations funds; 40. Also requests the Secretary-General, in the context of the follow-up to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a comprehensive report containing an evaluation of progress made towards achieving the goals of the Decade, including best practices, lessons learned and obstacles, as well as in the achievement of the 2015 targets for poverty reduction, and recommendations for further action to achieve the 2015 targets, including the identification of resource requirements and possible sources of funding; 41. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 56/208 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/567, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/208. United Nations Institute for Training and Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/121 of 20 December 1995, 51/188 of 16 December 1996, 52/206 of 18 December 1997, 53/195 of 15 December 1998, 54/229 of 22 December 1999 and 55/208 of 20 December 2000, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/615. Welcoming the recent progress made by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in its various programmes and activities, including the improved cooperation that has been established with other organizations of the United Nations system and with regional and national institutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Governments and private institutions that have made or pledged financial and other contributions to the Institute, Noting that contributions to the General Fund have not increased and that the participation of the developed countries in training programmes in New York and Geneva is increasing, Noting also that the bulk of the resources contributed to the Institute are directed to the Special Purpose Grants Fund rather than to the General Fund, and stressing the need to address that unbalanced situation, Noting further that the Institute receives no subsidy from the United Nations regular budget, that it provides training programmes to all Member States free of charge and that similar United Nations institutions based at Geneva are not charged rent or maintenance costs, Welcoming the decisions taken by the Secretary-General to ensure continuity in the management of the Institute and to establish the proper grade for the post of Executive Director with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Reiterating that training activities should be accorded a more visible and larger role in support of the management of international affairs and in the execution of the economic and social development programmes of the United Nations system, 1. Reaffirms the importance of a coordinated, United Nations system-wide approach to research and training based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of labour among the relevant institutions and bodies; 2. Also reaffirms the relevance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in view of the growing importance of training within the United Nations and the training requirements of States and the relevance of training-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 3. Stresses the need for the Institute to strengthen further its cooperation with other United Nations institutes and relevant national, regional and international institutes; 4. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training programmes, and in this context underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of those partnerships, in particular at the country level; 5. Requests the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to continue to ensure fair geographical distribution and transparency in the preparation of the programmes and in the employment of experts, and in this regard stresses that the courses of the Institute should focus primarily on development issues; 6. Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed countries, and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or otherwise to the Institute, to give it their generous financial and other support, and urges the States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider resuming them in view of the successful restructuring and revitalization of the Institute; 7. Calls upon developed countries, which are increasingly participating in the training programmes conducted in New York and Geneva, to make contributions or consider increasing their contributions to the General Fund; 8. Encourages the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue its efforts to resolve the critical financial situation of the Institute, in particular with a view to broadening its donor base and increasing the contributions made to the General Fund; 9. Also encourages the Board of Trustees to consider diversifying further the venues of the events organized by the Institute and to include the cities hosting regional commissions, in order to promote greater participation and reduce costs; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Institute and United Nations funds and programmes, to continue to explore ways and means of systematically utilizing the Institute in the execution of training and capacity-building programmes for the economic and social development of developing countries; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to clarify the reason why the United Nations Institute for Training and Research does not benefit from rental rates and maintenance costs similar to those enjoyed by other organizations affiliated with the United Nations, such as the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, and further requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals on how to waive or reduce the rental rates and maintenance costs charged to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research with a view to alleviating its current financial difficulties, which are aggravated by the current practice of charging commercial rates; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution, including details on the status of contributions to, and the financial situation of, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, as well as on the use of its services by Member States. RESOLUTION 56/209 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/568, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/209. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998, 54/231 of 22 December 1999 and 55/212 of 20 December 2000 on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/445. 2. Takes note also of the deliberations of the Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 28 (A/55/28), part two; ibid., Supplement No. 28A (A/55/28/Add.1); ibid., Supplement No. 28B and corrigendum (A/55/28/Add.2 and Corr.1); and ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 28 and corrigendum (A/56/28 and Corr.1). 3. Stresses the importance of continued substantive consideration of the item on globalization and interdependence; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on globalization and interdependence, bearing in mind, inter alia, the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 56/20 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/531, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 92 to 46, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay 56/20. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapons systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that the international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. it was noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persist, Emphasizing that internationally negotiated guidelines for the transfer of high technology with military applications should take into account the legitimate defence requirements of all States and the requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, while ensuring that access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful purposes is not denied, 1. Affirms that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted; 2. Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States; 3. Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications; 4. Encourages United Nations bodies to contribute, within existing mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful purposes; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament". RESOLUTION 56/210 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/570, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/210. International Conference on Financing for Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/205 of 20 December 1991, 48/187 of 21 December 1993, 50/93 of 20 December 1995, 52/179 of 18 December 1997, 53/173 of 15 December 1998, 54/196 of 22 December 1999 and 55/213 of 20 December 2000 on the high-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development, Recalling also its resolution 55/245 A of 21 March 2001, on convening an International Conference on Financing for Development, in which it accepted with gratitude the generous offer of Mexico to host the Conference, which is to be held at Monterrey from 18 to 22 March 2002, 1. Takes note of the deliberations of the Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Financing for Development at its first, second and third substantive sessions;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 28 (A/55/28), part two; ibid., Supplement No. 28A (A/55/28/Add.1); ibid., Supplement No. 28B and corrigendum (A/55/28/Add.2 and Corr.1); and ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 28 and corrigendum (A/56/28 and Corr.1). 2. Stresses the importance of continued substantive consideration of the item on financing for development; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "High-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development". RESOLUTION 56/211 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/571, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Japan. 56/211. Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields The General Assembly, Welcoming Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/21 of 26 July 2001, 1. Decides to examine how best to address the reviews of the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s, in the economic and social fields, including their format and periodicity; 2. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session an item entitled "Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields"; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to make available to the Assembly the report requested by the Economic and Social Council for consideration at its substantive session of 2002 on the implementation of Council resolution 2001/21. RESOLUTION 56/212 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/571, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 56/212. Global Code of Ethics for Tourism The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 32/156 of 19 December 1977, by which it approved the Agreement on Cooperation and Relationships between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization, Reaffirming paragraph 5 of its resolution 36/41 of 19 November 1981, in which it decided that the World Tourism Organization might participate, on a continuing basis, in the work of the General Assembly in areas of concern to that organization, Recalling the Manila Declaration on World Tourism of 10 October 1980 adopted under the auspices of the World Tourism Organization,A/36/236, annex, appendix I. the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. and Agenda 21Ibid., annex II. adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development on 14 June 1992, and taking note of the Amman Declaration on Peace through Tourism adopted at the Global Summit on Peace through Tourism on 11 November 2000,See A/55/640. Considering that the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its seventh session, held in April 1999, expressed interest in a global code of ethics for tourism and invited the World Tourism Organization to consider the participation of informed major groups in the development, implementation and monitoring of its global code of ethics for tourism,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 9 (E/1999/29), decision 7/3. Recalling its resolution 53/200 of 15 December 1998 on the proclamation of 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed Economic and Social Council resolution 1998/40 of 30 July 1998, recognizing the support of the World Tourism Organization for the importance of ecotourism, in particular the designation of the year 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism, in fostering better understanding among peoples everywhere, in leading to greater awareness of the rich heritage of various civilizations and in bringing about a better appreciation of the inherent values of different cultures, thereby contributing to the strengthening of world peace, Recognizing the important dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the alleviation of poverty and the improvement of the quality of life for all people, its potential to make a contribution to economic and social development, especially of the developing countries, and its emergence as a vital force for the promotion of international understanding, peace and prosperity, 1. Takes note with interest of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism adopted at the thirteenth session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization,See E/2001/61, annex. which outlines principles to guide tourism development and to serve as a frame of reference for the different stakeholders in the tourism sector, with the objective of minimizing the negative impact of tourism on environment and on cultural heritage while maximizing the benefits of tourism in promoting sustainable development and poverty alleviation as well as understanding among nations; 2. Emphasizes the need for the promotion of a responsible and sustainable tourism that could be beneficial to all sectors of society; 3. Invites Governments and other stakeholders in the tourism sector to consider introducing, as appropriate, the contents of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism in relevant laws, regulations and professional practices, and, in this regard, recognizes with appreciation the efforts made and measures already undertaken by some States; 4. Encourages the World Tourism Organization to promote effective follow-up to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the tourism sector; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to follow up developments related to the implementation of the present resolution based on the reports of the World Tourism Organization and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 56/213 Adopted at the 90th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/571, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Islamic Republic of Iran (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 56/213. Public administration and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 50/225 of 19 April 1996, adopted at the resumed fiftieth session on the question of public administration and development, Recognizing that efficient, effective and transparent public administration, at both the national and international levels, has a pivotal role to play in the implementation of the key objectives of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. 1. Welcomes the establishment of the United Nations Public Administration Online Network as a powerful tool made available to Member States for the exchange of information and experience in public administration; 2. Recommends that the Network be expanded to strengthen the capacity of national ministries and institutions of public administration, to access information, experience and practice in public administration, and to receive online training; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist Member States, in particular developing countries and countries with economies in transition, upon their request, in their process of reform, by fostering information-sharing, as appropriate, and the exchange of experience; assisting in building essential capacity and essential skills; providing assistance in institution-building; and improving the coordination of development assistance in this field; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to study the possibility of periodically bringing together high-level policy makers responsible for public administration reform, under the auspices of the United Nations, to discuss issues of common interest and share valuable experience and practice, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the results of that study; 5. Further requests the Secretary-General to keep under constant review the developments in this field in Member States and to highlight changes and trends as well as successes in this area, with particular emphasis on the role of public administration in the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and to summarize his findings in a report to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, through the Economic and Social Council. RESOLUTION 56/214 Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/722, para. 11),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored by the Islamic Republic of Iran (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 123 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu 56/214. Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002A/56/431 and Corr.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/510 and Corr.1. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, by which the Council established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Force, the most recent of which was resolution 1365 (2001) of 31 July 2001, Recalling its resolution S-8/2 of 21 April 1978 on the financing of the Force and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the most recent of which was resolution 55/180 B of 14 June 2001, Reaffirming its resolutions 51/233 of 13 June 1997, 52/237 of 26 June 1998, 53/227 of 8 June 1999, 54/267 of 15 June 2000, 55/180 A of 19 December 2000 and 55/180 B, Reaffirming also the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Force, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Force with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Concerned that the Secretary-General continues to face difficulties in meeting the obligations of the Force on a current basis, including reimbursement to current and former troop-contributing States, Concerned also that the surplus balances in the Special Account for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon have been used to meet expenses of the Force in order to compensate for the lack of income resulting from non-payment and late payment by Member States of their contributions, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon as at 15 November 2001, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 179.4 million United States dollars, representing 4 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Force up to the period ending 31 December 2001, notes that some 15.5 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have paid their assessed contributions in full and on time, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Force in full and on time; 3. Expresses its deep concern that Israel did not comply with General Assembly resolutions 51/233, 52/237, 53/227, 54/267, 55/180 A and 55/180 B; 4. Stresses once again that Israel should strictly abide by General Assembly resolutions 51/233, 52/237, 53/227, 54/267, 55/180 A and 55/180 B; 5. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 6. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 7. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 8. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 9. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Force; 10. Takes note of paragraph 11 of, and endorses the remaining conclusions and recommendations contained in, the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/510 and Corr.1. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure full implementation; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Force is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Force against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Force; 13. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of paragraph 8 of its resolution 51/233, paragraph 5 of its resolution 52/237, paragraph 11 of its resolution 53/227, paragraph 14 of its resolution 54/267, paragraph 14 of its resolution 55/180 A and paragraph 15 of its resolution 55/180 B, stresses once again that Israel shall pay the amount of 1,284,633 dollars resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996, and requests the Secretary-General to report on this matter to the Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session; 14. Decides to appropriate the amount of 137,257,440 dollars gross (133,375,991 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Force for the twelve-month period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, inclusive of the amount of 642,540 dollars gross (594,091 dollars net) for the support account for peacekeeping operations, in addition to the amount of 6,021,721 dollars gross (5,284,652 dollars net) already appropriated for the support account for peacekeeping operations and the amount of 629,045 dollars gross (564,879 dollars net) already appropriated for the United Nations Logistics Base in its resolution 55/180 B, and inclusive of the amount of 99,548,960 dollars gross (97,558,500 dollars net) authorized in its resolution 55/180 B; 15. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 99,548,960 dollars gross (97,558,500 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001 and the amount of 6,650,766 dollars gross (5,849,531 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 55/180 B, to apportion among Member States the amount of 6,820,197 dollars gross (6,464,658 dollars net) for the period from 1 to 31 January 2002 in accordance with the levels set out in its resolution 55/235, as adjusted in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2002, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 16. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated additional staff assessment income of 355,539 dollars approved for the Force for the period from 1 to 31 January 2002; 17. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 30,888,283 dollars gross (29,352,833 dollars net) for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2002, at a monthly rate of 6,177,656 dollars gross (5,870,566 dollars net) in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2002, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B, subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Force beyond 31 January 2002; 18. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 17 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated additional staff assessment income of 1,535,450 dollars net approved for the Force for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2002; 19. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 20. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Force; 21. Invites voluntary contributions to the Force in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 22. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-sixth session, under the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East", the sub-item entitled "United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon". RESOLUTION 56/215 Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.65 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America, Yugoslavia 56/215. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/24 of 14 November 2000 and all previously adopted resolutions, as well as all relevant resolutions of the Security Council, regarding the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Reaffirming its support for the independence, sovereignty, legal continuity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within its internationally recognized borders, and also reaffirming its support for the equality of the three constituent peoples and others in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a united country, with two multi-ethnic entities, according to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement"), signed in Paris on 14 December 1995,A/50/790-S/1995/999. which constitute the key mechanism for the achievement of a durable and just peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Noting the significant progress that has been made since 1995 in implementing the provisions of the Peace Agreement, strengthening the rule of law in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and consolidating Bosnia and Herzegovina as a modern democratic State and civic society, fully respectful of the rule of law and committed to encouraging economic growth and promoting well-being for all its citizens, Welcoming the commitment of the Government to speeding up the overall process of the reconstruction and democratization of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and noting the gradual progress that has been made in the development of efficient common institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Noting that corruption and the lack of transparency seriously hamper the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reiterating the need to combat all corruption, welcoming the important contribution made in that regard by the Customs and Fiscal Assistance Office, and expressing its full support for the efforts of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and local bodies and of others that are supportive in that regard, Welcoming the overall progress that has been made in supporting the return of refugees to all parts of the country, and reaffirming the most important principle that all who were forced to leave should feel free and secure to return to their homes, Noting the importance for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina for prosecutors to conclude successfully their investigation of war crimes and the whereabouts of those still missing after the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the importance of full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, especially with regard to surrendering all already indicted war criminals to the Tribunal, Welcoming the efforts of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirming the fundamental importance of strengthening all aspects of the rule of law, and noting in that regard the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the equality of the three constituent peoples throughout the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and progress made by the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in ensuring a fully representative police force, free of corruption and dedicated to enforcing the laws of the country in an impartial way, Reaffirming the importance for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina of its successful integration into Europe, noting in that regard the progress made in fulfilling the conditions for entry into the Council of Europe, especially the adoption of the electoral law, welcoming the progress made in fulfilling conditions towards participation in the European Union Stabilization and Association Agreement, and stressing that the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe provides an additional contribution to the improvement of regional cooperation, Welcoming the significant improvement of the overall mutual cooperation among the successor States of former Yugoslavia and the region as a whole, also welcoming the Memorandum of Understanding on intraregional trade liberalization signed on 27 June 2001 in Brussels, the agreement reached in Vienna regarding the succession of former Yugoslavia and its implementation, and underlining the importance of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Reaffirming the need to combat corruption, smuggling, human trafficking, organized crime, and extremism and other illegal activities, and noting in that regard the establishment of the State Border Service, which is expected to be completed in 2002, Recognizing the importance of demining and assistance to mine victims for the safety of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, Welcoming the achievements, and encouraging further efforts, in reducing military assets in line with the Agreement on Subregional Arms Control, welcoming the finalizing of the negotiations led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe within the framework of article V of annex 1-B of the Peace Agreement, and emphasizing the importance of the declaration issued by the Joint Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to commence the process of the formal admission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Partnership for Peace, 1. Notes that it is the people and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are ultimately responsible for the future of the country, and urges them to work rapidly and intently on economic reform, refugee returns, joint State institution-building and full respect for the rule of law; 2. Calls for the full and early implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement")A/50/790-S/1995/999. which is essential for stability and cooperation in the region and the reintegration of Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels; 3. Welcomes the progress that has been made towards the implementation of the Peace Agreement by the Government and its commitment to the full, comprehensive and consistent implementation thereof; 4. Also welcomes the prompt action of the State and entity institutions in adopting the comprehensive plan of action to prevent terrorist activities, increase security and protect people and property in Bosnia and Herzegovina, further welcomes the active role of Bosnia and Herzegovina in global efforts against terrorism, and in that regard calls upon Bosnia and Herzegovina to work with the international community to establish the State Border Service and have it fully deployed by the end of 2002, in accordance with the time frame of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 5. Supports fully the efforts of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Peace Agreement and subsequent declarations of the Peace Implementation Council, and notes the continuing need for the High Representative to use fully the authority of his office to deal with obstructionists, reaffirming the concept of "partnership" between the newly elected authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the international community; 6. Encourages the political leadership of Bosnia and Herzegovina to extend cooperation with the States of South-Eastern Europe so as to promote and strengthen stability and confidence in the region; 7. Urges the entity parliaments and cantonal assemblies to implement promptly and fully the provisions of the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the equality of all three constituent peoples throughout the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also urges the Constitutional Court to rule further on the status of those other than the three constituent peoples; 8. Demands that all the parties to the Peace Agreement fulfil their obligations towards the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, and encourages the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop, in close cooperation with the international community, national court capacities to investigate and prosecute cases of war crimes; 9. Urges Member States, taking into account the orders and requests of the International Tribunal, to cooperate fully with it, in particular with regard to surrendering indictees, and to provide adequate financial support to the Tribunal; 10. Reaffirms the right of refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily to their homes of origin in accordance with annex 7 of the Peace Agreement, encourages the acceleration of the peaceful, orderly and phased return of refugees and displaced persons, including in areas where they would be the ethnic minority, strongly condemns all acts of intimidation, violence and killings, including those acts designed to discourage the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons, demands that such acts be investigated and prosecuted, supporting the effective engagement of the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees, and calls upon all sides to implement the property laws imposed on 27 October 1999, in particular by evicting illegal occupants from the homes of returning refugees, and to ensure respect for individual rights to return and the establishment of the rule of law; 11. Encourages all concerned parties to provide information on all persons unaccounted for through the tracing mechanisms of the International Committee of the Red Cross and to cooperate fully with the Committee in its efforts to determine the identities, whereabouts and fate of those persons; 12. Welcomes the efforts of international and regional organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including through the Board of Donors and the Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance, and calls upon Member States to continue to support mine-action activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 13. Stresses the importance of establishing, strengthening and expanding throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina a free and pluralistic media, and deplores any actions that seek to intimidate or restrict the freedom of the media; 14. Also stresses the importance of the restoration and rebuilding of the historical and cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in its original form; 15. Further stresses the need for a more comprehensive approach to implementing economic reforms, and underlines the fact that a self-sustainable, market-oriented economy operating in a single economic space, expeditious and transparent privatization, improved banking and capital markets, reformed financial systems, the provision of adequate social protection and the adoption by both entities of a law on pension reforms that meet economic standards are crucial for achieving lasting peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16. Supports the efforts by the High Representative and the Commander of the multinational Stabilization Force to weaken the continued political and economic influence of remaining parallel structures obstructing peace implementation; 17. Notes that the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina have defined the common defence policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, affirming the importance for the national development of Bosnia and Herzegovina of creating, on the basis of agreed principles, a joint military command and seeking to establish a military structure of the appropriate size based on future projections and the legitimate security needs of Bosnia and Herzegovina which will contribute to regional security, and encourages them to carry out its conclusions promptly, fully and in full accordance with the Peace Agreement; 18. Commends the efforts of the international community, recognizes the continued importance of its role, welcomes its readiness to continue and streamline its efforts towards a self-sustainable peace, and recalls that the responsibility for consolidating peace and security lies with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina". RESOLUTION 56/216 Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 123 to none, with 4 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.66 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia, and the amendment in document A/56/L.67, submitted by Azerbaijan * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Armenia, Belarus, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania 56/216. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the framework for cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which was signed on 26 May 1993,A/48/185, annex II, appendix. as well as its resolutions on cooperation between the two organizations, Recalling also the principles embodied in the Helsinki Final Act and in the declaration at the 1992 Helsinki Summit by the heads of State or Government of the participating States of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe of their understanding that the Conference is a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and as such provides an important link between European and global security,See A/47/361-S/24370, annex. Acknowledging the increasing contribution of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security in its region through activities in early warning and preventive diplomacy, including through the activities of the High Commissioner on National Minorities, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as arms control and disarmament, Recalling the Charter for European Security adopted at the Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, in November 1999, which reaffirms the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as a primary organization for the peaceful settlement of disputes within its region and as a key instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, Recalling also the special ties between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, as well as between that organization and the Asian Partners for Cooperation, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, which have been enhanced further in 2001, Underlining the continued importance of enhanced cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/125. 2. Notes with appreciation the further improvement of cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and its agencies and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including at the level of activities in the field; 3. Welcomes, in this context, the meetings of the Secretary-General of the United Nations with the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the participation of the Chairman-in-Office at a meeting of the Security Council in January 2001, the participation of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva in a meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which was held in Bucharest on 3 and 4 December 2001, and the participation of high-level United Nations representatives in meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 4. Encourages further efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to foster security and stability in its region through early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as through continued promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms; 5. Welcomes the documents of the meeting of the Ministerial Council in Bucharest confirming the determination of the participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to strengthen and deepen their cooperation with a view to protecting their citizens from new challenges to their security while safeguarding the rule of law, individual liberties and the right to equal justice under the law; 6. Commends the adoption of the decision and Action Plan on Terrorism, whereby participating States pledged to reinforce and develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation among themselves, with the United Nations and with other international and regional organizations in order to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever committed, to contribute to the fulfilment of international obligations as enshrined, inter alia, in Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, to act in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and to become parties to all twelve United Nations conventions and protocols related to terrorism as soon as possible; 7. Notes the review of the structures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, undertaken at the initiative of the Romanian Chairmanship, with the goal of strengthening its efficiency, and the adoption of decisions to foster its role as a forum for political dialogue on issues of security and cooperation in Europe which promotes a more effective use of the means and mechanisms of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to counter threats and challenges to security and stability in its region; 8. Welcomes the decisions to strengthen cooperation in the economic and environmental sphere and to enhance the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in police-related activities; 9. Also welcomes the documents of the Ministerial Council meeting in Bucharest on enhancing the effectiveness of the human dimension meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, combating trafficking in human beings, improving the situation of Roma and Sinti, and on promoting equal opportunities for women and men and the continued close cooperation between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 10. Notes with appreciation the active involvement of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and its commitment to continue to contribute substantially to conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict stabilization in the region, thereby fostering peace and stability in the area; 11. Welcomes the establishment and the work of the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to assist further progress in the consolidation of democracy, the strengthening of the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities; 12. Expresses its appreciation for the contribution by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to implementing Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999, in particular for its substantial role in the preparation and organization of the Kosovo-wide election on 17 November 2001, in view of the consolidation of stability and prosperity in Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on the basis of substantial autonomy, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, pending a final settlement, in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999); 13. Salutes the commitment of participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unitary character of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and their offer to assist and support strongly the full and timely implementation of the Framework Agreement concluded on 13 August 2001, including the programmes on police training and reform, media and inter-ethnic relations; 14. Supports the priorities of the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the continuous development of civil society and for increasing local ownership of the reform process in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 15. Commends the efforts to improve the coordination and efficiency of international engagement in the field of civilian implementation of the Dayton/Paris peace accords,General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the annexes thereto, initialled in Dayton, United States of America, on 21 November 1995 and signed in Paris on 14 December 1995 (A/50/790-S/1995/999). as well as a timely decision on the best options for the succession of the United Nations International Police Task Force to allow for a smooth and comprehensive transition; 16. Underlines the importance of regional cooperation as a means of fostering good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, welcomes the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as an important long-term and comprehensive initiative to promote good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, and also welcomes the commitment of participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to contribute further to the goals of the Stability Pact; 17. Notes the efforts undertaken in 2001 by the Republic of Moldova and the mediators of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Russian Federation and Ukraine towards negotiation for a comprehensive political settlement of the Transdniestrian issue, based on full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, welcomes the fulfilment by the Russian Federation, ahead of the agreed time, of the commitments undertaken at the summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe held in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1999 on the withdrawal and disposal of the equipment limited by the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in EuropeCD/1064. located in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova by the end of 2001, and encourages the timely fulfilment of other commitments concerning the Republic of Moldova undertaken by the participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Istanbul in 1999; 18. Welcomes the developments in the peace process in the Tshkhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia, and the steps to reduce the quantities of small arms and light weapons in that region, as well as the progress made in 2001 towards meeting the commitments made in Istanbul on the future of Russian forces in Georgia, including the closure of the Russian base at Vaziani and the withdrawal of the equipment from the Russian base at Gudauta, encourages the implementation of the other Istanbul commitments, and with regard to Abkhazia, Georgia, calls for the resumption of a constructive dialogue aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement, including a definition of the political status of Abkhazia as a sovereign entity within the State of Georgia; 19. Acknowledges the significant contribution to stability and confidence in the region made by the border monitoring operation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe along the border between Georgia and the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation; 20. Notes with satisfaction the engagement of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe towards cooperation with the five participating States of Central Asia, which has continued to grow in all dimensions, thus contributing to stability and prosperity in the region, as well as the commitment of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to assist in addressing specific threats to stability and security for the Central Asian participating States, and appreciates the valuable contribution of the Bishkek International Conference on enhancing security and stability in Central Asia, held on 13 and 14 December 2001, to addressing those problems, which are shared concerns among the participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 21. Fully supports the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in and around the Nagorny-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and welcomes cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in this regard; 22. Expresses deep concern at the failure to achieve a settlement of the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict despite the intensified dialogue between the parties and the active support of the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, reaffirms that the prompt resolution of that protracted conflict will contribute to lasting peace, security, stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus region, reiterates the importance of continuing the peace dialogue, calls upon the sides to continue their efforts to achieve an early resolution of the conflict based on the norms and principles of international law, encourages the parties to explore further measures that would enhance mutual confidence and trust, including the release of prisoners of war, welcomes the commitment of the parties to the ceasefire and to achieving a peaceful and comprehensive settlement, and encourages the parties to continue their efforts, with the active support of the Co-Chairmen, to reach a just and enduring settlement; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/217 Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.64 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia 56/217. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 53/87 of 7 December 1998, 54/192 of 17 December 1999 and 55/175 of 19 December 2000 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, as well as resolutions 52/167 of 16 December 1997 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and 52/126 of 12 December 1997 on protection of United Nations personnel, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflictS/2001/331. and of Security Council resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 and the recommendations made therein, as well as the statements by the President of 30 November 1999, on the role of the Security Council in the prevention of armed conflicts,S/PRST/1999/34; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. 13 January 2000, on humanitarian assistance to refugees in Africa,S/PRST/2000/1; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. 9 February 2000, on protection of United Nations personnel, associated personnel and humanitarian personnel in conflict zones,S/PRST/2000/4; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and 9 March 2000, on humanitarian aspects of issues before the Security Council,S/PRST/2000/7; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and in this context also noting the range of views expressed during all open debates of the Security Council on these issues, Taking note also of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations,A/55/1024 and Corr.1. as well as the report of the Special Committee A/C.4/55/6. on the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace OperationsSee A/55/305-S/2000/809. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the report of the Panel,A/55/502. Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Deeply concerned by the growing number of complex humanitarian emergencies in the past few years, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, which have dramatically increased the loss of human lives, in particular of civilians, the suffering of victims, flows of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as material destruction, which disrupt the development efforts of the countries affected, in particular those of developing countries, Concerned by the increasingly difficult context in which humanitarian assistance takes place in some areas, in particular the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to improve the current security management system in order to improve their safety and security, Strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among national and international humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Strongly condemning the acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault, intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of their property, Strongly condemning also all incidents in many parts of the world in which humanitarian personnel have been deliberately targeted, and expressing profound regret at the deaths of all United Nations and other personnel involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, Reaffirming that ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel constitutes an underlying duty of the Organization, which must be based on a necessary cost-sharing arrangement with the relevant agencies, funds and programmes within the United Nations system, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter of the United Nations or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, Expressing concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the ability of the Organization to provide assistance and protection to civilians in fulfilment of its mandate and Charter, Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17 July 1998,A/CONF.183/9. and noting the role that the Court could play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Noting that the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, which entered into force on 15 January 1999,Resolution 49/59, annex. has been ratified by fifty-five Member States as at the present date, Mindful of the need to promote universality of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Reaffirming the fundamental requirement that appropriate modalities for the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel be incorporated into all new and ongoing United Nations field operations, Increasingly concerned at the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and humanitarian personnel and a culture of accountability at all levels, from the highest to the lowest, throughout the United Nations system, and in this regard commending the recent efforts by the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes aimed at the improvement of security management and training of their personnel, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part, often at great personal risk, in humanitarian operations, especially of locally recruited staff, Guided by the relevant provisions on protection contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947,Resolution 179 (II). the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. to the Convention on Prohibitions and Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5, 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel;A/56/384 and Corr.1. 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as the relevant provisions of human rights and refugee law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Also urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 5. Strongly condemns any act or failure to act, contrary to international law, which obstructs or prevents humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel from discharging their humanitarian functions, or which entails being subjected to threats, the use of force or physical attack, frequently resulting in injury or death, and affirms the need to hold accountable those who commit such acts and, for that purpose, the need to enact national legislation, as appropriate; 6. Urges all States to ensure that any threat or act of violence committed against humanitarian personnel on their territory is fully investigated and to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law and national law, to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are duly prosecuted; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation and to continue to consider ways and means in which to strengthen the protection of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, notably by seeking the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarter and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized AgenciesResolution 179 (II). and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel;Resolution 49/59, annex. 8. Emphasizes the importance of paying special attention to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and peace-building operations; 9. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of relevant provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel in the status-of-forces or status-of-mission agreements concluded by the United Nations; 10. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations personnel, to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation who have been arrested or detained in violation of their immunity, in accordance with the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 11. Underlines the need to allocate adequate and predictable resources to the safety and security of United Nations personnel; 12. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the 1949 Geneva ConventionsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the safety and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, to refrain from abducting or detaining them in violation of their immunity under relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm, any abductee or detainee; 13. Encourages all States to become parties to and respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, including the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 14. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;A/CONF.183/9. 15. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to observe and respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 16. Calls upon all States to promote a climate of respect for the security of United Nations and humanitarian personnel; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, falling within his responsibilities, to ensure that security matters are an integral part of the planning for existing and newly mandated United Nations operations and that such precautions extend to all United Nations and associated personnel; 18. Also requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called upon to operate, including relevant customs and traditions in the host country, and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant domestic and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights and international humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 19. Emphasizes the need to give further consideration to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who account for the majority of casualties, and United Nations and associated personnel; 20. Requests the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator to continue to play a central role in promoting increased cooperation and collaboration among agencies, funds and programmes in the planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security training and awareness; 21. Stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training, including physical and psychological training, prior to their deployment to the field, the need to attach a high priority to the improvement of stress and trauma counselling services available to United Nations staff members, including through the implementation of a comprehensive security and stress and trauma management training, support and assistance programme for United Nations staff throughout the system, before, during and after missions, and the need to make available to the Secretary-General the means for this purpose; 22. Encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System; 23. Reaffirms the need to strengthen the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator, and in this regard reiterates the need for the appointment of a full-time Security Coordinator, at the appropriate level, so as to enable the Office to enhance its capacity in the discharge of its duties, in consultation with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and appropriate agencies within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, and calls for expeditious consideration of this recommendation; 24. Recognizes the need for a strengthened and comprehensive security management system for the United Nations system, both at the headquarters and the field level, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures needed to that end; 25. Also recognizes the need for enhanced coordination and cooperation, both at the headquarters and the field level, between the United Nations security management system and non-governmental organizations on matters relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, with a view to addressing mutual security concerns in the field; 26. Welcomes the establishment, in accordance with resolution 56/89 of 12 December 2001, of an Ad Hoc Committee open to all Member States or members of the specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to consider the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report on measures to strengthen and enhance the protective legal regime for United Nations and associated personnel;See A/55/637. 27. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, which have been ratified so far by one hundred and forty-five States and one hundred and seven States, respectively; 28. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, calls upon States to consider signing and ratifying the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998,United Nations Treaty registration No. 27688. and encourages them, pending the entry into force of the Convention, to facilitate, consistent with their national laws and regulations, the use of communications equipment in such operations; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-seventh session a comprehensive, updated report on the safety and security situation of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution, including the progress made by the Secretary-General in pursuing accountability and assessing responsibility for all individual security incidents that involve United Nations and associated personnel at all levels throughout the United Nations system, as well as an account of the measures taken by Governments and the United Nations to prevent and respond to such incidents. RESOLUTION 56/218 Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.61 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe 56/218. Final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s The General Assembly, Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the final review and appraisal of the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s,A/56/270. Reaffirming its resolutions 46/151 of 18 December 1991, the annex to which contains the New Agenda, and 51/32 of 6 December 1996, which states that the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda will be conducted in 2002, Reaffirming also its resolutions 48/214 of 23 December 1993, 49/142 of 23 December 1994, 53/90 of 7 December 1998 and 55/216 of 21 December 2000 on the implementation of the New Agenda, Reaffirming further its resolutions 54/234 of 22 December 1999 and 55/217 of 21 December 2000 on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, and recalling its requests in resolutions 54/234 and 55/216 to conduct the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda and related initiatives on the basis of a report by the Secretary-General on an independent high-level quality evaluation, Mindful of the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council on the role of the United Nations in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development, adopted on 18 July 2001,A/56/3, chap. III, para. 29. For the final text see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. with particular reference to paragraph 26, and the agreed conclusions 1999/2 adopted by the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 1999, on coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other bodies of the United Nations system related to the theme "Development of Africa: implementation and coordinated follow-up by the United Nations system of initiatives on African development",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. V, para. 6. Mindful also of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. in particular paragraph 60, 1. Decides to establish an ad hoc committee of the whole of the General Assembly as the most appropriate mechanism to conduct the final review and appraisal of the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and related initiatives; 2. Decides also to convene an organizational session of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole in June 2002 for one working day to consider and adopt the necessary arrangements for its work regarding, inter alia, the final review and appraisal of the implementation of the New Agenda and related initiatives on Africa, and decides that the Ad Hoc Committee should establish its bureau at the highest appropriate level, to be composed of a chairman, the President of the General Assembly, assisted by three vice-chairmen and a rapporteur, appointed by the President in consultation with Member States; 3. Decides further that the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole should meet in substantive session for a period of five working days, from 9 to 13 September 2002, and for three working days from 7 to 9 October 2002, during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, to conduct the final review and appraisal of the implementation of the New Agenda and related initiatives on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General on the independent high-level quality evaluation, as mandated in Assembly resolutions 54/234 and 55/216 and in agreed conclusions 1999/2 of the Economic and Social Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. V, para. 6. and on other documents that the Ad Hoc Committee will have decided to make use of at its organizational session in June 2002, as well as on proposals by the Secretary-General on the modalities of the United Nations future engagement with the New Partnership for Africa's Development; 4. Decides that a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly should be held on 16 September 2002 to consider how to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development, in line with paragraph 5 of the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council,A/56/3, chap. III, para. 29. For the final text see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. which called on the United Nations system and the international community to support the New African Initiative, now called the New Partnership for Africa's Development, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held at Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001,See A/56/457, annex I, AHG/Decl. 1 (XXXVII). and that preparations for the plenary meeting should be made during the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly; 5. Urges Member States and organs and bodies of the United Nations system to ensure that they are represented at the highest appropriate level on, and to participate actively in the work of, the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole and in the plenary meeting; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the organs and organizations of the United Nations system concerned, to ensure the necessary preparations for the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole, including on the plenary meeting, and on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/219 Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.63/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia, Zambia 56/219. Assistance in mine action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/7 of 19 October 1993, 49/215 of 23 December 1994, 50/82 of 14 December 1995, 51/149 of 13 December 1996 and 52/173 of 18 December 1997, on assistance in mine clearance, and its resolutions 53/26 of 17 November 1998, 54/191 of 17 December 1999 and 55/120 of 6 December 2000, on assistance in mine action, all adopted without a vote, Considering mine action to be an important component of United Nations humanitarian and development activities, Reaffirming its deep concern at the tremendous humanitarian and development problems caused by the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance that constitute an obstacle to the return of refugees and other displaced persons, to humanitarian aid operations and to reconstruction and economic development, as well as to the restoration of normal social conditions, and that have serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the populations of mine-affected countries, Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and other unexploded ordnance pose to the safety, health and lives of local civilian populations, as well as of personnel participating in humanitarian, peacekeeping and rehabilitation programmes and operations, Reiterating its dismay at the high number of victims of mines, especially among civilian populations, including women and children, and recalling in this context Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1995/79 of 8 March 1995,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 1996/85 of 24 April 1996,Ibid., 1996, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1996/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1997/78 of 18 April 1997,Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1998/76 of 22 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1999/80 of 28 April 1999,Ibid., 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2000/85 of 27 April 2000Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and 2001/75 of 25 April 2001,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the rights of the child, and resolutions 1996/27 of 19 April 1996,Ibid., 1996, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1996/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1998/31 of 17 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2000/51 of 25 April 2000Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and decision 1997/107 of 11 April 1997,Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. B. on the human rights of persons with disabilities, Deeply alarmed by the number of mines that continue to be laid each year, as well as the presence of a large number of mines and other unexploded ordnance as a result of armed conflicts, and thus convinced of the necessity and urgency of a significant increase in mine-clearance efforts by the international community with a view to eliminating the threat of landmines to civilians as soon as possible, Noting the inclusion in Amended Protocol IICCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. of a number of provisions of importance for mine-clearance operations, notably the requirement of detectability, and provision of information and technical and material assistance necessary to remove or otherwise render ineffective existing minefields, mines and booby traps, and noting also that Amended Protocol II to the Convention entered into force on 3 December 1998, Noting also the conclusions and recommendations adopted at the Second Annual Conference of the States Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention, held in Geneva from 11 to 13 December 2000,See CCW/AP.II/CONF.2/1. Recalling that the States parties at the First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention declared their commitment to keep the provisions of the Protocol under review in order to ensure that the concerns regarding the weapons it covers are addressed, and that they would encourage the efforts of the United Nations and other organizations to address all problems related to landmines, Noting that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. entered into force on 1 March 1999 and that the Convention has been accepted formally by one hundred and twenty-two States and signed but not yet ratified by an additional twenty States, Noting also the conclusions of the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Managua from 18 to 21 September 2001, taking note of the reaffirmed commitments that were made, among other things, to provide assistance for mine clearance and rehabilitation, the social and economic reintegration of mine victims and mine-awareness programmes and to eradicate anti-personnel mines, and taking note also of the work of the intersessional programme established by States parties to the Convention, Stressing the need to convince mine-affected States to halt new deployments of anti-personnel mines in order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of mine-clearance operations, Recognizing the important role that the international community, in particular States involved in the deployment of mines, can play in assisting mine clearance in mine-affected countries by providing necessary maps and information and appropriate technical and material assistance to remove or otherwise render ineffective existing minefields, mines and booby traps, Concerned at the limited availability of safe and cost-effective mine-detection and mine-clearance equipment, as well as the need for effective global coordination in research and development to improve the relevant technology, and conscious of the need to promote further and more rapid progress in this field and to foster international technical cooperation to this end, Concerned also at the limited availability of the technical, material and financial resources needed to meet the cost associated with mine-clearance activities in mine-affected countries, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has an important role to play in the field of assistance in mine action, Reaffirming the need to reinforce international cooperation in the area of mine action and to devote the necessary resources to that end, Concerned at the critical financial situation of the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, Welcoming the mine-action coordination centres already established under the auspices of the United Nations, as well as the creation of international trust funds for mine clearance and other mine-action activities, Noting with satisfaction the inclusion in the mandates of several peacekeeping operations of provisions relating to mine-action work carried out under the direction of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in the context of such operations, Commending the action already taken by the United Nations system, donor and recipient Governments, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations to coordinate their efforts and seek solutions to the problems related to the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance, as well as their assistance to victims of mines, Welcoming the role of the Secretary-General in increasing public awareness of the problem of landmines, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on assistance in mine action;A/56/448 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Calls, in particular, for the continuation of the efforts of the United Nations, with the assistance of States and institutions as appropriate, to foster the establishment of mine-action capacities in countries where mines constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population or an impediment to social and economic development efforts at the national and local levels, emphasizes the importance of developing national mine-action capacities, and urges all Member States, in particular those that have the capacity to do so, to assist mine-affected countries in the establishment and development of national capacities in mine clearance, mine awareness and victim assistance; 3. Invites Member States to develop and support national programmes, in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations system where appropriate, to promote awareness of landmines, especially among women and children; 4. Expresses its appreciation to Governments, regional organizations and other donors for their financial and in-kind contributions to mine action, including contributions for emergency operations and for national capacity-building programmes; 5. Appeals to Governments, regional organizations and other donors to continue, and whenever possible increase, their support to mine action through further contributions, including contributions through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action, to allow for the timely delivery of mine-action assistance in emergency situations; 6. Encourages all relevant multilateral and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine action in their humanitarian, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development assistance activities, where appropriate, bearing in mind the need to ensure national ownership, sustainability and capacity-building; 7. Stresses the importance of international support for emergency assistance to victims of mines and for the care and rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of the victims, and also stresses that such assistance should be integrated into broader public health and socio-economic strategies; 8. Encourages Governments, relevant United Nations bodies and other donors to take further action to promote gender- and age-appropriate mine-awareness programmes, victim assistance and child-centred rehabilitation, thereby reducing the number of child victims and relieving their plight; 9. Emphasizes again the important role of the United Nations in the effective coordination of mine-action activities, including those by regional organizations, and especially the role of the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, and stresses the need for the continuous assessment of this role by the General Assembly; 10. Emphasizes in this regard the role of the Mine Action Service as the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system and its ongoing collaboration with and coordination of all the mine-related activities of the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes; 11. Notes with appreciation the mine-action strategy covering the period 2001-2005 submitted by the Secretary-General,A/56/448/Add.1. requests him to optimize it by seeking and taking into account the views of Member States and taking into consideration the impact of the landmine problem on rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of assistance in mine action by the United Nations, emphasizes in this respect the importance of further multisectoral assessments and surveys better to define the nature, scope and impact of the landmine problem in affected countries and to support the establishment of clear priorities and national plans of action, notes with appreciation in this regard the ongoing development by the United Nations of International Mine Action Standards to support the safe and effective conduct of mine-action activities, emphasizes the need for an inclusive process to be followed in the development of such standards, and encourages the Secretary-General to circulate the completed standards as a United Nations document to all Member States; 12. Takes note with appreciation of the Information Management Policy For Mine Action submitted by the Secretary-General, and emphasizes in this context the importance of developing a comprehensive information management system for mine action, following an inclusive process, under the overall coordination of the Mine Action Service and with the support of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, in order to facilitate the coordination of field activities and the setting of priorities therein; 13. Welcomes in this respect the development of an Electronic Mine Information Network to support the role of the United Nations as a repository of mine-related information and to serve as a gateway to all relevant data made available by Member States and regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations for mine action; 14. Also welcomes recent approaches with regard to the establishment of mine-action coordination centres, encourages the further establishment of such centres, especially in emergency situations, and also encourages States to support the activities of mine-action coordination centres and trust funds established to coordinate assistance in mine action under the auspices of the Mine Action Service; 15. Encourages the ongoing development of an emergency response plan by the United Nations to respond to emergency mine-action requirements, and emphasizes the need for such a plan to build upon all existing capacities; 16. Urges Member States and regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General and, in particular, to provide him with information and data, as well as other appropriate resources that could be useful in strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in mine action, in particular in the fields of mine awareness, training, surveying, detection and clearance, scientific research on mine-detection and mine-clearance technology and information on and distribution of medical equipment and supplies; 17. Emphasizes in this regard the importance of recording the location of mines, of retaining all such records and making them available to concerned parties upon cessation of hostilities, and welcomes the strengthening of the relevant provisions in international law; 18. Calls upon Member States, especially those that have the capacity to do so, to provide the necessary information and technical, financial and material assistance, as appropriate, and to locate, remove, destroy or otherwise render ineffective existing minefields, mines, booby traps and other devices in accordance with international law, as soon as possible; 19. Urges Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations that have the ability to do so to provide, as appropriate, technological assistance to mine-affected countries and to promote scientific research and development on humanitarian mine-action techniques and technology so that mine-action activities may be carried out more effectively at lower costs and through safer means and to promote international collaboration in this regard; 20. Encourages Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to support ongoing activities to promote appropriate technology, as well as international operational and safety standards for humanitarian mine-action activities; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the progress achieved on all relevant issues outlined both in his previous reports to the Assembly on assistance in mine clearance and mine action and in the present resolution, including the progress made by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international and regional organizations as well as national programmes, and on the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action and other mine-action programmes; 22. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to study how to secure a more sound financial basis for the Mine Action Service and to present options to this effect to the General Assembly; 23. Also invites the Secretary-General further to study ways and means of increasing public awareness of the impact of the problem of landmines and other unexploded ordnance on affected countries and to present options to this effect to the General Assembly; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Assistance in mine action". RESOLUTION 56/21 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/532, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 56/21. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999 and 55/30 of 20 November 2000 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 55/30,A/56/187. 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(45)/RES/18, adopted on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fifth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17-21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/187. 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his report of 10 October 1990A/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTIONS 56/220 A and B Adopted at the 91st plenary meeting, on 21 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.62 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia 56/220. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/174 A of 19 December 2000 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular resolutions 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999, 1333 (2000) of 19 December 2000, 1378 (2001) of 14 November 2001 and 1383 (2001) of 6 December 2001, Reaffirming its continued strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Reaffirming its condemnation of the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities and the exporting of international terrorism from Afghanistan, and welcoming the successful efforts of the Afghan people to remove the Taliban regime, as well as the terrorist organizations it hosted, and to decide their own future, Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative and the head of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan to promote peace and a lasting political settlement in Afghanistan, Convinced that the main responsibility for finding a political solution lies ultimately with the Afghan people themselves, and strongly welcoming and endorsing therefore the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). Convinced also that only a political settlement aimed at the establishment of a broad-based, gender-sensitive, multi-ethnic and fully representative government, which respects the human rights of all Afghans and the international obligations of Afghanistan and is committed to peace with its neighbours, can lead to durable peace and reconciliation, Reiterating that the United Nations must continue to play its central and impartial role in the international efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict as well as in efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, to provide for rehabilitation and reconstruction and to facilitate the orderly return of refugees, and therefore endorsing the request to the United Nations by the participants at the United Nations-sponsored talks on Afghanistan contained in annex III to the Bonn agreement, Recognizing that the collapse of the Afghan economy requires, in addition to emergency assistance, integrated and multi-sectoral programmes of rehabilitation and reconstruction with a view to ensuring economic and social recovery and the sustainable development of the country, and that a strong international commitment to this end can serve as an incentive for the Afghan groups to implement the Bonn agreement, Deeply concerned by the grave humanitarian situation and the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan, especially against women and children, committed, in particular, by the Taliban, and recognizing that the accountability of perpetrators of grave human rights violations is a key factor in ensuring reconciliation and stability, Deeply disturbed by the use of Afghan territory for the cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs, which has dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/681-S/2001/1157. 2. Expresses its concern that the unstable situation in Afghanistan poses a continuing risk to peace and stability in the region, and expresses its determination to assist the efforts of the interim authority to prevent the use of Afghan territory for international terrorism; 3. Calls upon all Afghan groups to cooperate fully with the United Nations and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to promote peace and a lasting political settlement in Afghanistan; 4. Strongly supports the efforts of the Afghan people, consistent with the agreement reached in Bonn, Germany,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). to establish an interim authority, leading, through the convening of loya jirgas and free and fair elections, to the formation of a new government, which should all be broad-based, multi-ethnic, fully representative and committed to peace with Afghanistan´s neighbours; 5. Calls upon all Afghan groups, in particular the interim authority, to implement the Bonn agreement fully; 6. Strongly supports the enhanced role of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan in helping the interim authority to implement the Bonn agreement until it is integrated in a new United Nations mission in Afghanistan; 7. Supports the efforts of groups of interested States and international organizations, underlines the importance of ensuring complementarity among these efforts, and towards this end calls upon all parties to coordinate closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; 8. Strongly urges all Afghan groups to refrain from acts of reprisal, to respect human rights and to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law; 9. Stresses the importance of the full, equal and effective participation of women in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life and decision-making processes throughout the country at all levels, and calls upon all Afghan groups to protect and promote the equal rights of men and women, especially in the fields of education, work and health care; 10. Calls upon the international community to reinforce assistance to alleviate the urgent humanitarian needs of Afghanistan and, as long as the interim authority fulfils its commitments, to support generously post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction; 11. Calls upon all concerned countries to continue to provide assistance and protection to Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons in need of it and to work with the United Nations to facilitate their orderly return and effective reintegration, in safety and dignity, as soon as conditions permit; 12. Calls upon the interim authority to respect fully the international obligations of Afghanistan with regard to narcotic drugs, and calls upon the international community to increase its assistance for programmes aimed at reducing poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, including capacity-building for drug control, drug control monitoring systems and crop substitution programmes, as part of a comprehensive food security strategy and drug demand reduction support; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every three months during its fifty-sixth session on the progress of the United Nations and the efforts of his Special Representative to promote peace in Afghanistan, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security". B Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/174 B of 19 December 2000 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Strongly welcoming the successful conclusion of the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). Expressing its grave concern at the decades of conflict in Afghanistan, which has caused massive loss of life, extensive human suffering, destruction of property, serious damage to the economic and social infrastructure, refugee flows and other forcible displacements of large numbers of people, Mindful of the fact that Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and that it is currently affected by the worst drought in living memory, Remaining deeply concerned at the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance, which constitutes a great danger for the civilian population and a major obstacle to the return of refugees and displaced populations, to the resumption of agricultural activities, to the provision of humanitarian assistance and to future rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, Noting with deep concern that the majority of the Afghan people are still unable to enjoy fully their human rights and fundamental freedoms owing to policies and practices, particularly of the Taliban, aimed at discriminating against or marginalizing parts of the population, in particular women and children, a situation which is exacerbated by the effects of war, poverty and profound underdevelopment, Expressing its deep concern at widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by Afghan groups, and in this regard reminding all Afghan groups of their commitment to respect human rights in the country as contained in the Bonn agreement, Deeply disturbed by the continuing security threat to humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, including locally recruited staff, Expressing its appreciation to the Afghan staff of the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations, who have continued to provide assistance to vulnerable populations throughout the current crisis, Noting with grave concern that limited access to certain areas of Afghanistan and inadequate conditions for the delivery of aid threatens the well-being of internally displaced persons and vulnerable sections of the civilian population, Recognizing that a secure environment is absolutely necessary for the safe and effective delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance, Welcoming the timely preparation of operational plans by the United Nations in response to the latest humanitarian crisis, and affirming the urgent need to reinforce international emergency assistance to Afghanistan in order to alleviate the human suffering and restore basic services, Recognizing the need to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy and process for a seamless connection between humanitarian relief and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan in a timely manner, with particular emphasis on all aspects of sustainable development, including vulnerability reduction and mitigation, and the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Stressing the importance of a well-coordinated approach to implementing such a strategy, and welcoming in this respect the appointment of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan as the coordinator for the United Nations system, Noting with deep concern that a significant number of Afghan refugees remain in neighbouring countries, as conditions in many parts of Afghanistan are still not conducive to a safe and sustainable return of the majority of refugees, and acknowledging that those refugees constitute a continuing socio-economic burden for the host countries, Expressing its gratitude to all Governments that have rendered assistance to Afghan refugees, as well as to the Governments of neighbouring countries that continue to host Afghan refugee populations, and at the same time once again calling upon all parties to continue to fulfil their obligations for the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons and to allow international access for their protection and care, Expressing its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations that have responded positively and continue to respond, where conditions permit, to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary-General for his efforts in mobilizing and coordinating the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/687. and endorses the observations contained therein; 2. Stresses that the responsibility for the solution of the humanitarian crisis lies above all with the Afghan people themselves, and urges them to attach the highest priority to national reconciliation; 3. Urges all Afghan groups to call a complete halt to the use of landmines and to cooperate fully with the United Nations Mine Action Programme; 4. Calls upon all relevant organizations of the United Nations system to continue to coordinate closely their humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan on the basis of the principles laid out in the Strategic Framework for Afghanistan, and appeals to donor countries as well as other humanitarian organizations to cooperate closely with the United Nations, taking into account the priorities and requirements outlined in the donor alert and subsequent appeals; 5. Stresses the coordinating role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan for the United Nations system in the development and implementation of a strategy and process for a seamless connection between humanitarian relief and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan, including the cooperation of the United Nations system with the international community, in particular those countries actively engaged in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, as well as the international financial institutions; 6. Supports the efforts of the Emergency Relief Coordinator in coordinating humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, underlines the continuing relevance of coordination structures in place for Afghanistan, encourages agencies to build upon them in response to the current crisis, and also encourages the humanitarian community to strengthen the coordination of their assistance to Afghanistan through existing mechanisms, including donor coordination through the Afghan Support Group; 7. Welcomes the designation by the Secretary-General of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to lead the early recovery efforts in Afghanistan, and invites the relevant United Nations organizations and agencies, as well as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank and relevant non-governmental organizations, to develop jointly, in close collaboration with the interim authority and Afghan civil society, a comprehensive strategy and process for the early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, to be implemented where and when conditions permit; 8. Encourages, in this regard, all parts of the United Nations system to work together closely on the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in order to ensure a smooth transition from relief to development in Afghanistan; 9. Calls upon the international community to ensure, within the implementation of such a comprehensive strategy for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan, adequate and effective measures, inter alia, for demining, disaster reduction and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants; 10. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation directed against United Nations and other humanitarian personnel, and regrets the loss of life and physical harm suffered among the Afghan staff; 11. Urges all Afghan groups to respect international humanitarian law, to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations and humanitarian personnel, as well as their safe and unimpeded access to all affected populations, and to protect the property of the United Nations and of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, against, inter alia, looting and theft, so as to facilitate their work; 12. Encourages the Afghan groups to facilitate the operations of the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations, and urges them to cooperate fully and without discrimination on grounds of gender, nationality or religion with the United Nations and associated bodies, as well as with other agencies and humanitarian organizations, to refrain from all interference in the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies and to guarantee the secure and uninterrupted supply of humanitarian aid to all vulnerable populations; 13. Strongly condemns discrimination against women and girls as well as ethnic and religious groups, including minorities, which adversely affects, inter alia, international relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, and emphasizes the importance of actively involving all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes; 14. Calls upon all Afghan groups to respect fully the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, and in accordance with their obligations under international law, and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men; 15. Urges all Afghan groups to refrain from the recruitment or use of children in armed conflicts contrary to international standards and to take all necessary measures for the demobilization and social reintegration of war-affected children; 16. Stresses the responsibility of all Afghan groups to facilitate the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims of grave violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards; 17. Appeals to all States and to the international community to ensure that all humanitarian assistance and future rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes integrate a gender perspective, that they actively attempt to promote the participation of both women and men, and that women benefit equally with men from those programmes; 18. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, urges the Governments concerned to fulfil their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees and the right to seek asylum, and calls upon the international community to do likewise; 19. Recognizes the large number of refugees in neighbouring countries, and calls upon the international community to consider providing further assistance in support of Afghan refugees; 20. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments of neighbouring States hosting United Nations agencies for their cooperation, and calls upon them to continue to facilitate the work of those United Nations humanitarian operations which are temporarily based on their territory in order to ensure an efficient delivery of emergency aid into Afghanistan; 21. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close collaboration with the interim authority and Afghan civil society, when conditions on the ground permit, all possible humanitarian, financial, technical and material assistance for the Afghan population, especially in the areas most affected by the drought, as well as assistance to promote the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons; 22. Calls upon the international community to respond generously to the donor alert, future consolidated appeals as well as long-term interventions towards rehabilitation and reconstruction, and in this respect invites Member States to participate actively in the ministerial level meeting on reconstruction assistance to be held in Japan in January 2002; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the actions taken pursuant to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/221 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Credentials Committee (A/56/724) 56/221. Credentials of representatives to the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Credentials CommitteeA/56/724. and the recommendation contained therein, Approves the report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 56/222 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.7, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 56/222. Special session of the General Assembly on children The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/26 of 20 November 2000, in which it decided to convene the special session of the General Assembly for follow-up to the World Summit for Children from 19 to 21 September 2001, and to refer to it as the "special session on children", Recalling also its decision 56/401 of 12 September 2001, by which it decided to postpone the special session on children until a date to be decided by the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, 1. Decides to convene the special session of the General Assembly on children from 8 to 10 May 2002; 2. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the special session on children". RESOLUTION 56/223 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.42/Rev.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela 56/223. United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/177 of 19 December 2000, in which it decided to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala from 1 January to 31 December 2001, Taking into account the fact that the Government of Guatemala has expressed its commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreements, Underlining the fact that substantive aspects of the peace agreements have yet to be implemented and that the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements has approved a new schedule for their implementation from 2000 until the end of 2004, Taking into account that the parties have requested the United Nations to support the consolidation of the peace-building process until 2003,See A/55/389, para. 9. Taking into account also the twelfth report of the Mission on human rights,A/56/273, annex. Taking into account further the sixth report of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements, A/55/973. Taking into account the report of the Commission for Historical Clarification, A/53/928, annex. Stressing the positive role played by the Mission in support of the Guatemala peace process, and emphasizing the need for the Mission to continue to enjoy the full support of all parties concerned, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Mission,A/56/391. 1. Welcomes the twelfth report of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala on human rights;A/56/273, annex. 2. Also welcomes the sixth report of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements;A/55/973. 3. Recalls the report of the Commission for Historical ClarificationA/53/928, annex. and the recommendations contained therein; 4. Welcomes the commitment made by the Government of Guatemala to the full implementation of the peace agreements through the adoption of social policies anchored to the agreements; 5. Recalls that the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements has rescheduled the pending commitments and included others not initially scheduled; 6. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/391. aimed at ensuring that the Mission can respond adequately to the demands of the peace process until 31 December 2002, as well as of his proposals relating to the changes in the structure and staffing of the Mission for the period 2001-2003; 7. Also takes note of the agreement reached by the parties regarding the importance of the continuing presence of the Mission in Guatemala until 2003; 8. Notes with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the peace agreements, in particular the partial fulfilment of the Fiscal Pact for a Future with Peace and Development which establishes the basis for increased public spending on the peace agenda and paves the way for the modernization of the economic system, and stresses the need to complete its implementation, in particular as regards measures to enhance public confidence in Government spending; 9. Also notes with satisfaction the significant reforms introduced in labour laws and the reinforcement of the operational capacities, training and full deployment of the National Civil Police; 10. Underlines with concern the fact that key commitments remain outstanding in the areas of fiscal, judicial, military, electoral and land reform, as well as decentralization and rural development, and therefore urges that those commitments be implemented without further delay; 11. Notes that the consolidation of the peace-building process remains a significant challenge that requires a concerted national effort to guarantee the irreversibility of the peace process; 12. Also notes that the present Government has taken a significant step forward by signing and ratifying various important international human rights instruments; 13. Encourages the Government to implement the recommendations contained in the reports of the Mission on human rights, in particular those related to the systematic impunity for crimes and human rights violations and the alarming increase in incidents directed at individuals working on human rights and judicial issues; 14. Underlines the importance of implementing fully the Agreement on identity and rights of indigenous peoplesA/49/882-S/1995/256, annex. as a key to fighting discrimination and consolidating peace and equality in Guatemala, and highlights the need to implement fully the Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects and Agrarian SituationA/50/956, annex. as a means of addressing the root causes of the armed conflict; 15. Calls upon the Government to implement the recommendations of the Commission for Historical Clarification with a view to promoting national reconciliation, upholding the right to truth and providing redress for the victims of human rights abuses and violence committed during the thirty-six-year conflict, and calls upon Congress to establish, as recommended, the Commission for Peace and Harmony; 16. Invites the international community and, in particular, the agencies, programmes and funds of the United Nations, to continue to support the consolidation of the peace-building process, with the peace agreements as the framework for their technical and financial assistance programmes and projects, and stresses the continued importance of close cooperation among them in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Guatemala; 17. Urges the international community to support financially, through existing mechanisms of international cooperation, the strengthening of national capacities to ensure the consolidation of the peace process in Guatemala; 18. Also urges the international community to support financially the strengthening of the capacities of the United Nations agencies and programmes as the Mission will transfer some of its activities and projects to these agencies to support the national efforts to comply with the commitments of the peace agreements; 19. Stresses that the Mission has a key role to play in promoting the consolidation of peace and the observance of human rights and in verifying compliance with the revised timetable for the implementation of pending commitments under the peace agreements; 20. Decides to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the Mission from 1 January to 31 December 2002; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, as early as possible, an updated report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, together with his recommendations regarding the continuation of the peace-building phase after 31 December 2002; 22. Also requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly fully informed of the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/224 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.45/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/224. The situation in Central America: procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development The General Assembly, Considering the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, particularly resolution 637 (1989) of 27 July 1989, and its own resolutions, particularly resolution 43/24 of 15 November 1988, in which it requests the Secretary-General to continue his good offices and to afford the fullest possible support to the Central American Governments in their efforts to achieve the objectives of peace, reconciliation, democracy, development and justice established in the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America" of 7 August 1987,A/42/521-S/19085, annex. Reaffirming its resolutions in which it recognizes and stresses the importance of international economic, financial and technical cooperation and assistance, both bilateral and multilateral, aimed at promoting economic and social development in the region with a view to furthering and supplementing the efforts of the Central American peoples and Governments to achieve peace and democratization, particularly resolution 52/169 G of 16 December 1997, concerning international assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, and the relevant resolutions concerning emergency assistance to the Central American countries, as a consequence of the destruction caused by natural disasters, Emphasizing the importance of the development of the Central American Integration System, which has as its main objective the promotion of the integration process, the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America as the integrated programme for national and regional development, which contains the commitments and priorities of the countries of the area for the promotion of sustainable development, the establishment of the subsystem and of the regional social policy, the model of democratic Central American security, and the implementation of other agreements adopted at the presidential summit meetings, which taken together constitute the global frame of reference for consolidating peace, freedom, democracy and development and the basis for the promotion of mutually advantageous relations between Central America and the international community, Recognizing the considerable success achieved in the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the Guatemala peace agreements, implementation of which is being verified by the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala, Noting with concern the deterioration in the Central American economies, mainly due to an unfavourable international economic climate and its negative effects on the efforts of the peoples and Governments of the region to achieve sustainable economic development, Noting at the same time the delays in the fulfilment of some of the commitments contained in the Guatemala peace agreements, which have led the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the peace agreements to reschedule its fulfilment for the period 2001-2004, and having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala and the recommendations contained thereinA/56/391. aimed at ensuring that the Mission is able to respond adequately to the demands of the peace process until December 2002, Taking note with satisfaction of the successful implementation of the peace agreements and the continuous consolidation of the process of democratization in El Salvador, as a result of the efforts of its people and Government, Recognizing with satisfaction the role played by the peacekeeping operations and observer and monitoring missions of the United Nations, which carried out successfully their mandate in Central America pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, respectively, Recognizing with satisfaction also the organization and holding of general elections in 2001, in Nicaragua on 4 November and in Honduras on 25 November, Emphasizing the importance of the end of a critical period in Central American history and the start of a new phase free from armed conflict, with freely elected Governments in each country and with political, economic, social and other changes which are creating a climate conducive to the promotion of economic growth and further progress towards the consolidation and further development of democratic, just and equitable societies, Noting that the Third Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. was held in Nicaragua in September 2001, Reaffirming that the consolidation and establishment of firm and lasting peace and democracy in Central America is a dynamic and ongoing process that faces serious structural challenges, Stressing the importance of progress in human development, especially the alleviation of extreme poverty, the promotion of economic and social justice, judicial reform, the promotion and safeguarding of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for minorities and the satisfaction of the basic needs of the most vulnerable groups among the peoples in the region, issues which have been a primary source of tension and conflict and which deserve to be discussed with the same urgency and dedication as was the case in the settlement of armed conflicts, Considering with concern that it has not yet been possible to overcome the devastating effects of hurricanes Mitch and Keith on certain countries of the region, which are causing setbacks in the progress made by the peoples and Governments of Central America, a situation which is aggravated by the earthquakes in El Salvador and the drought afflicting the entire region in 2001, especially Honduras and Nicaragua, Emphasizing the solidarity of the international community with the victims of Hurricane Mitch, as demonstrated by the Stockholm Declaration,See www.iadb.org. the subsequent meetings of the Regional Consultative Group for the transformation and modernization of Central America and, in particular, by the meeting of the Group, held in Madrid on 8 and 9 March 2001, at which the requirements of the Central American countries affected by natural disasters, including the earthquakes in El Salvador early in 2001, were considered, Bearing in mind the efforts made by the Central American Governments to reduce the risks and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters in the region, as demonstrated by the adoption, by the Presidents of the Isthmus, of the Declaration of Guatemala II of 19 October 1999,A/54/630, annex. the subsequent adoption of the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central America, as well as the adoption of the Central American Five-Year Plan for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Disasters, 2000 to 2004, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Central America;A/56/416. 2. Commends the efforts of the peoples and the Governments of the Central American countries to re-establish peace and democracy throughout the region and promote sustainable development by implementing the commitments adopted at the summit meetings in the region, and supports the decision of the Presidents that Central America should become a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development; 3. Reaffirms the need to continue to improve the electoral processes that have been taking place in Central America, which are conducive to the consolidation of democracy in the region; 4. Recognizes the need to continue to follow closely the situation in Central America according to the objectives and principles established in the Stockholm DeclarationSee www.iadb.org. in order to support national and regional efforts to overcome the underlying causes that have led to armed conflicts, avoid setbacks and consolidate peace and democratization in the area and promote the objectives of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America; 5. Takes note with satisfaction of the results of the meeting of the Regional Consultative Group for the transformation and modernization of Central America which will continue to help to consolidate the transformation and modernization of Central America through the implementation of measures to reform and harmonize the legislation and institutions of the region, and through specific development projects; 6. Reaffirms the importance of the Puebla-Panama Plan as a means of promoting the economic and social development of the Mesoamerican region, and in that connection recognizes the progress made in implementing the Plan and invites the friendly countries of the Mesoamerican region, international agencies and international businessmen and investors to support the Mesoamerican countries in the implementation of the projects prioritized in the Plan; 7. Recognizes the efforts made by the Government of El Salvador to deal effectively with the requirements deriving from the earthquakes in that country early in 2001; 8. Welcomes the valuable and speedy response of the international community to the serious natural disasters which have affected the region, in particular the earthquakes in El Salvador early in 2001, which demonstrates the permanent solidarity that unites the peoples of the world, and also urges the cooperating international community to continue to make the necessary contributions to supplement national efforts to reconstruct the country; 9. Also welcomes the Declaration of Guatemala IIA/54/630, annex. which provides for the necessary measures to prevent vulnerability to and mitigate the effects of natural disasters; 10. Further welcomes the progress achieved in implementing the Guatemala peace agreements, calls upon all parties to take further measures to implement the commitments in the peace agreements, in particular with regard to the Fiscal Pact for a Future with Peace and Development, the Agreement on identity and rights of indigenous peoples,A/49/882-S/1995/256, annex. and the recommendations of the Commission for Historical Clarification,See A/53/928, annex. and urges all sectors of society to combine efforts and work with courage and determination to consolidate peace; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, the bodies and programmes of the United Nations system and the international community to continue to support and verify in Guatemala the implementation of all the peace agreements signed under United Nations auspices, compliance with which is an essential condition for a firm and lasting peace in that country, and to consider the implementation of the peace agreements as the framework for their technical and financial assistance programmes and projects, stressing the importance of constant and close cooperation among them in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Guatemala; 12. Expresses its appreciation and satisfaction to the people and the Government of El Salvador for their successful efforts to fulfil the commitments set forth in the peace agreements, which have made a substantial contribution to the strengthening of the process of democratization in that country; 13. Recognizes the importance of the Central American Integration System as the body set up to coordinate and harmonize efforts to achieve integration, and calls upon the international community, the United Nations system and other international organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, to extend effective cooperation with a view to improving the competence and efficiency of the Integration System in the fulfilment of its mandate; 14. Underlines the efforts carried out in the Central American region towards integration, such as the Trinational Declaration between Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, as well as the Customs Union between those countries, as means for promoting integration while respecting different stages of development, through a pragmatic mechanism open to the participation of the other countries of the region; underlines also the most recent progress in the form of the frontier post in Peñas Blancas, Nicaragua, common to four countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua), which became operational in October 2001; this customs unification, involving twelve frontier posts, entailed bilateral, trinational and quadrinational unifications; 15. Encourages the Central American Governments to continue to carry out their historic responsibilities by implementing fully the commitments they have assumed under national, regional or international agreements, especially the agreements for the promotion and safeguarding of human rights, and the commitments to implement the social programme to overcome poverty and unemployment, establish a more just and equitable society, improve public safety, strengthen the judiciary, consolidate a modern and transparent public administration and eliminate corruption, impunity, acts of terrorism and drug and arms trafficking, all of which are necessary and urgent measures for consolidating a firm and lasting peace in the region; 16. Reiterates its deep appreciation to the Secretary-General, his special representatives, the groups of countries for the peace processes in El Salvador (Colombia, Mexico, Spain, United States of America and Venezuela), and Guatemala (Colombia, Mexico, Norway, Spain, United States of America and Venezuela), to the Support Group for Nicaragua (Canada, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden), to the European Union and to other countries that have contributed significantly and to the international community in general for its support and solidarity in the building of peace, democracy and development in Central America; 17. Reaffirms the importance of international cooperation, in particular cooperation with the bodies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and the donor community in the new stage of consolidating firm and lasting peace and democracy in Central America, and urges them to continue to support Central American efforts to achieve those goals; 18. Notes with satisfaction the firm determination of the Central American Governments to settle their disputes through peaceful means, thereby avoiding any setback in the efforts to consolidate firm and lasting peace in the region; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to lend his full support to the initiatives and activities of the Central American Governments, particularly their efforts to consolidate peace and democracy through the promotion of integration and the implementation of the comprehensive sustainable development programme, emphasizing, inter alia, the potential repercussions of natural disasters, in particular the persisting effects of hurricane Mitch, for the peace processes and the vulnerable economies of the region, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "The situation in Central America: procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development". RESOLUTION 56/225 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/55/572/Add.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Canada, Egypt, Japan, Nigeria and Poland. 56/225. Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2006 (XIX) of 18 February 1965 and all other relevant resolutions, Recalling in particular its resolutions 54/81 B of 25 May 2000 and 55/135 of 8 December 2000, Affirming that the efforts of the United Nations in the peaceful settlement of disputes, inter alia, through its peacekeeping operations, are indispensable, Convinced of the need for the United Nations to continue to improve its capabilities in the field of peacekeeping and to enhance the effective and efficient deployment of its peacekeeping operations, Considering the contribution that all States Members of the Organization make to peacekeeping, Noting the widespread interest in contributing to the work of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations expressed by many Member States, in particular troop-contributing countries, Bearing in mind the continuous necessity of preserving the efficiency and strengthening the effectiveness of the work of the Special Committee, 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations;A/55/1024 and Corr.1. 2. Endorses the proposals, recommendations and conclusions of the Special Committee, contained in paragraphs 33 to 136 of its report; 3. Urges Member States, the Secretariat and relevant organs of the United Nations to take all necessary steps to implement the proposals, recommendations and conclusions of the Special Committee; 4. Reiterates that those Member States that become personnel contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations in years to come or that participate in the future in the Special Committee for three consecutive years as observers shall, upon request in writing to the Chairman of the Special Committee, become members at the following session of the Special Committee; 5. Decides that the Special Committee, in accordance with its mandate, shall continue its efforts for a comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects and shall review the implementation of its previous proposals and consider any new proposals so as to enhance the capacity of the United Nations to fulfil its responsibilities in this field; 6. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects". RESOLUTION 56/226 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/561/Add.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/226. World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/199 of 20 December 2000 and the decisions adopted by the Commission on Sustainable Development acting as the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development at its organizational session,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/56/19), chap. VIII, sect. B. Encouraging countries and relevant regional and international organizations to support the preparatory processes, Welcoming national preparations for the Summit, including those at the local level, through the establishment of preparatory committees, with the participation of Governments and other stakeholders, the undertaking of national assessments and the initiation of other preparatory activities, encouraging all countries to intensify that work, and calling upon the United Nations system to support such activities, Welcoming also the activities of major groups related to the preparations for the Summit, and encouraging them to carry out further preparatory activities, Welcoming further the valuable contributions from the preparatory activities undertaken at the subregional and the regional level, as well as from other relevant initiatives undertaken at the international level, Encouraging new initiatives that would contribute to the full implementation of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentIbid., annex I. and other relevant outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development by strengthening commitments at all levels, including by reinvigorating, at the highest political level, global commitment and partnerships, especially between Governments of the North and the South, on the one hand, and between Governments and major groups on the other, Expressing its appreciation for the work undertaken by South Africa and Indonesia as the host Governments, respectively, of the Summit and the fourth session of the Preparatory Committee at the ministerial level, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on progress in preparatory activities for the World Summit on Sustainable Development;A/56/379. 2. Approves the provisional rules of procedure of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, as recommended by the Commission on Sustainable Development acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Summit at its organizational session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/56/19), chap. VIII, sect. A, draft resolution, annex. 3. Decides that the Summit shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations and States members of the specialized agencies, with the participation of observers in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly and its conferences and with the rules of procedure of the Summit; 4. Also decides that the Summit shall be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, with the participation of heads of State and Government during the period 2 to 4 September; 5. Reiterates that the Summit, including its preparatory process, should ensure a balance between economic development, social development and environmental protection since they are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development; 6. Invites countries to be represented at the highest political level at the Summit; 7. Requests the Commission on Sustainable Development acting as the Preparatory Committee for the Summit to decide on all remaining issues related to the organization of work of the Summit, including specific details of the series of events to be held in partnership with stakeholders, the short multi-stakeholder event involving the highest level of representation from major groups and Governments, and the round-table meetings to be held at the level of heads of State or Government; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to launch a public information campaign to raise global awareness of the Summit, including through reprioritization of the budget of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and voluntary contributions; 9. Invites donors to continue providing extrabudgetary resources, in particular through voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund, in support of the preparatory activities for the Summit and the Summit itself, and to support the travel and participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular from the least developed countries, and encourages voluntary contributions to support the participation of major groups from developing countries; 10. Encourages all countries to complete their national assessment reports, and in that regard calls upon relevant regional and international organizations to further step up their efforts to assist developing countries in the elaboration of those assessment reports; 11. Encourages, at the national level, the active involvement of all Government agencies responsible for economic development, social development and environmental protection, and invites them to provide coordinated inputs and contributions to the preparatory process of the Summit; 12. Encourages the active involvement of all relevant regional and international agencies and organizations, and invites them to provide inputs and contributions to the preparatory process of the Summit; 13. Encourages effective contributions from and the active participation of all major groups, as identified in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. at all stages of the preparatory process, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Commission on Sustainable Development, as well as its established practices for the participation and engagement of major groups; 14. Reiterates the invitation to all intergovernmental processes relevant to the Summit to submit their progress reports to the Commission acting as the Preparatory Committee at its second session, to be held from 28 January to 8 February 2002, and their final results to the Commission acting as the Preparatory Committee at its third session, to be held from 25 March to 5 April 2002, so that they can be fully considered in the preparatory process; 15. Reiterates the role of the Commission on Sustainable Development acting as the Preparatory Committee in the global intergovernmental process for the preparations for the Summit, and in that context recalls the mandate and role of its Bureau, as stipulated by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/199 and by the Commission on Sustainable Development acting as the Preparatory Committee in the decisions adopted at its organizational session;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/56/19), chap. VIII, sect. B. 16. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General to raise international awareness on the Summit; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the outcome of the Summit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21", taking into account the outcome of the Summit. RESOLUTION 56/227 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/569, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/227. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/279 of 12 July 2001, in which it endorsed the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/11. Emphasizing the importance of a highly visible, efficient and effective follow-up and monitoring arrangement for the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, as well as of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation between Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community,TD/B/42(1)/11-TD/B/LDC/AC.1/7, annex I. and relevant paragraphs of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. for those countries, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up mechanism for coordinating, monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/56/645 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and 2. 1. Decides to establish the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, having the functions recommended by the Secretary-General in his report;A/56/645, para. 17. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take immediate measures to make the Office of the High Representative operational as soon as possible; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General to enhance the operational capacity of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as well as that of other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system in their activities aimed at supporting recipient countries, especially developing countries, and in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States; 4. Reiterates its invitation to the organizations of the United Nations system and other multilateral organizations to mainstream the implementation of the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/CONF.191/11. within their programmes of work as well as in their intergovernmental processes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to review the title and functions of its current Office of the Special Coordinator; 6. Invites Member States to extend all necessary support and cooperation to the Office of the High Representative; 7. Underlines the importance of optimal coordination between the Office of the High Representative and the various organizations of the United Nations system and other multilateral organizations; 8. Invites the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, and other relevant multilateral organizations, to provide full support to and cooperation with the Office of the High Representative; 9. Decides that the provisions of the present resolution shall be implemented within the approved level of the budget for the biennium 2002-2003, and requests the Secretary-General to seek voluntary contributions for the Office of the High Representative; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/228 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/573, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran (Islamic Republic of) (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and Viet Nam. 56/228. Follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons: Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/24 of 10 November 1999 and its resolution 54/262 of 25 May 2000, by which it decided to convene the Second World Assembly on Ageing, to be held in Spain in April 2002, as well as its resolution 55/58 of 4 December 2000 on the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Bearing in mind that, in its resolution 54/262, the General Assembly decided that the Commission for Social Development would serve as the preparatory committee for the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Reiterating that the Second World Assembly should give particular attention, inter alia, to linkages between ageing and development, with particular attention to the needs, priorities and perspectives of developing countries, Reaffirming the necessity of ensuring that the Second World Assembly will provide an action-oriented follow-up to the International Year of Older Persons, and recognizing the importance of an adequate preparatory process, Affirming that the long-term strategy and revised plan of action on ageing to be adopted at the Second World Assembly should be realistic and relevant so that its implementation can be followed up effectively, Reaffirming that the strategy and plan of action will contain realistic financial recommendations for implementation, Aware of the need for the relevant bodies and agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to collaborate among themselves to support and follow up the implementation of the strategy and plan of action, Recognizing the importance of the contributions of the relevant bodies and agencies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to the preparations for the Second World Assembly, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on preparations for the Second World Assembly on Ageing;A/56/152. 2. Recommends that the preparatory committee give due consideration to the period to be covered by the long-term strategy and revised plan of action on ageing to be adopted at the Second World Assembly; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the full range of tasks of the United Nations programme on ageing of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, with a view to ensuring, as a matter of urgency, that the programme can effectively fulfil its tasks, including those that might arise from the implementation of the outcome of the Second World Assembly; 4. Invites all relevant agencies and bodies of the United Nations system to coordinate better their response to the global ageing of populations and to integrate within their respective mandates their programmes and activities related to older persons, taking into account the importance of the perspective of older persons; 5. Invites the Second World Assembly to address, inter alia, the question of abuse of and discrimination against older persons; 6. Invites Member States, where appropriate, to consider extending the mandate of national committees or other mechanisms established on the occasion of the International Year of Older Persons in order to undertake national preparations for the Second World Assembly, and invites those Member States currently without such mechanisms to consider appropriate ways or mechanisms for their preparations for the Second World Assembly; 7. Invites the regional commissions, within their respective mandates, to explore the feasibility of undertaking regional activities with Member States, non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors of civil society in their region to participate in and follow up the Second World Assembly; 8. Invites the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to continue, in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the host country, the information campaign for the Second World Assembly; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/229 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/576, para. 36)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 56/229. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/70 of 4 December 2000 and its previous resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles 1 and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind, including distinction as to sex, Affirming that women and men should participate equally in social, economic and political development, should contribute equally to such development and should share equally in improved conditions of life, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the human rights of women and the girl child were an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, Acknowledging the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, which includes the integration of the human rights of women into the mainstream of United Nations activities system-wide, Reaffirming the commitments made in the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and the outcome documentResolution S-23/3, annex. of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", in particular paragraphs 68 (c) and (d) concerning the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Resolution 54/4, annex. Recalling that, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. heads of State and Government resolved to implement the Convention, Welcoming the progress made in the implementation of the Convention, but expressing concern about the remaining challenges, Welcoming also the growing number of States parties to the Convention, which now stands at one hundred and sixty-eight, Welcoming further the entry into force on 22 December 2000 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that national reports should contain information on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. in accordance with paragraph 323 of the Platform, Having considered the report of the Committee on its twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth sessions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/56/38). Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue and that continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/328. on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 34/180, annex. 2. Expresses disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention was not achieved by 2000, and urges all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so; 3. Emphasizes the importance of full compliance by States parties with their obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto;Resolution 54/4, annex. 4. Welcomes the rapidly growing number of State parties to the Optional Protocol, which now stands at twenty-eight, and urges other States parties to the Convention to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 5. Also welcomes the fact that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has adopted the rules governing its work under the Optional Protocol as part of its revised rules of procedure;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/56/38), annex I. 6. Notes that some States parties have modified their reservations, expresses satisfaction that some reservations have been withdrawn, and urges States parties to limit the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention or otherwise incompatible with international treaty law, to review their reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention or that are otherwise incompatible with international treaty law; 7. Urges States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on the implementation of the Convention in accordance with article 18 thereof and with the guidelines provided by the Committee and to cooperate fully with the Committee in the presentation of their reports; 8. Encourages the Secretariat to extend further technical assistance to States parties, upon their request, in the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports, and invites Governments to contribute to these efforts; 9. Commends the Committee on its contributions to the effective implementation of the Convention; 10. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible so that the amendment may enter into force; 11. Expresses its appreciation for the additional meeting time that allows the Committee to hold two sessions annually, each session of three weeks' duration and each preceded by a pre-sessional working group of the Committee; 12. Also expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the Committee to improve the efficiency of its working methods, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 13. Acknowledges the number of reports awaiting consideration by the Committee, and in this regard decides to authorize the Committee to hold, on an exceptional basis, an extraordinary session of three weeks' duration in 2002 to be used entirely for the consideration of the reports of the States parties in order to reduce the backlog of reports, and to enlarge the membership of the pre-sessional working group in 2002 to prepare for the exceptional session of the Committee, taking into account decision 25/I of the Committee;Ibid., part two, chap. I, sect. A. 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/4 of 6 October 1999, to provide the resources, including staff and facilities, necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, in particular taking into account the entry into force of the Optional Protocol; 15. Urges Governments, agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 16. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, as well as Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, in particular women's organizations, as appropriate, to continue to assist States parties, upon their request, in implementing the Convention, and in this regard encourages States parties to pay attention to the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee; 17. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system to continue to build women's knowledge and understanding of and capacity to utilize human rights instruments, in particular the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 18. Welcomes the submission by the specialized agencies, at the invitation of the Committee, of reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities and the contribution of non-governmental organizations to the work of the Committee, and encourages the specialized agencies to continue to submit reports; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/22 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/534, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 105 to none, with 54 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 56/22. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect. III. C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III.F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III.F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para. 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999 and 55/31 of 20 November 2000, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be further explored in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Recommends also that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 56/230 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.2, para. 109)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Haiti, Madagascar, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal and Sierra Leone. 56/230. Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/105 of 4 December 2000 concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also its resolutions 55/34 B of 20 November 2000 and 55/233 of 23 December 2000 and section III of its resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000, Recalling further the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,A/56/36/Add.1. 1. Welcomes the creation of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé; 2. Notes with satisfaction the support given to the establishment of the Centre by the host country; 3. Invites the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, under the direction of the Secretary-General, to provide appropriate assistance to the Centre to ensure its efficiency and smooth functioning in accordance with section III of General Assembly resolution 55/234; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/231 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/583/Add.3, para. 48)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 56/231. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as stated in the Charter of the United Nations and elaborated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments, Aware that, in accordance with the Charter, the United Nations promotes and encourages respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government, and therefore expressing its grave concern that the Government of Myanmar has still not implemented its commitment to take all necessary steps towards democracy in the light of the results of the elections held in 1990, Recalling its resolution 55/112 of 4 December 2000 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/58 of 3 March 1992,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission, inter alia, decided to nominate a special rapporteur with a given mandate, and taking note of Commission resolution 2001/15 of 18 April 2001,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission decided to extend for one year the mandate of its Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Recalling also the observation made by the former Special Rapporteur that the absence of respect for the rights pertaining to democratic governance is at the root of all major violations of human rights in Myanmar, Still gravely concerned about the human rights situation in Myanmar, especially the suppression of the exercise of political rights and freedom of thought, expression, association and movement in Myanmar, and about restrictions placed on Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy, inter alia, on their freedom to function and to communicate with the outside world, Gravely concerned that the legal system is effectively used as an instrument of oppression, inter alia, through the intimidation and detention of lawyers, Recognizing that the systematic violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by the Government of Myanmar have had a significant adverse effect on the health and welfare of the people of Myanmar, Welcoming the three visits to Myanmar by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General during the past year, and the visits by the Special Rapporteur, as well as by the high-level team of the International Labour Organization, and the cooperation extended to them by the Government of Myanmar, Cautiously encouraged by signs of progress in the ongoing political process in Myanmar, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, especially the release of political prisoners and the relaxation of some of the constraints governing the operation of legal political parties, but still concerned at the slow speed of the process, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar for his interim reportSee A/56/312. as well as his oral presentation;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Third Committee, 35th meeting (A/C.3/56/SR.35), and corrigendum. 2. Welcomes the assistance extended to the Special Rapporteur by the Government of Myanmar during his exploratory visit in April 2001 and his first fact-finding mission in October 2001, which enabled him to establish direct contacts with the Government and all other relevant sectors of society, and calls upon the Government to continue to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur, to allow him to conduct further field missions, without preconditions, and to implement fully his recommendations; 3. Also welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/505. on the visits to the country of his Special Envoy for Myanmar, strongly endorses his efforts to help facilitate the national reconciliation process among all interested parties in Myanmar, and encourages the Government of Myanmar to establish a constructive and regular dialogue with the Secretary-General in order to make better use of his good offices; 4. Deplores the continued violations of human rights in Myanmar, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, enforced disappearances, rape, torture, inhuman treatment, forced labour, including the use of children, forced relocation and denial of freedom of assembly, association, expression, religion and movement; 5. Welcomes the initiation of confidence-building contacts between the Government and Aung San Suu Kyi, General-Secretary of the National League for Democracy, and hopes that such talks will be extended at an appropriate time to include, among others, representatives of ethnic minorities, thereby facilitating broad-based and inclusive national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy; 6. Expresses its concern at the slow progress in the talks between the Government of Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi, General-Secretary of the National League for Democracy, and urges that the increasing development and progress of the confidence-building measures ensure the irreversibility of the process towards democracy; 7. Recognizes the steps taken by the Government of Myanmar to allow some political functions to be resumed by the opposition, including the reopening of some branch offices of political parties and the cessation of the negative media campaign, but expresses deep concern at the unnecessary and discriminatory stringent restrictions that continue to hamper political parties' freedom of assembly, association, expression, information and movement, as noted by the Special Rapporteur, as well as at the use by the Government of intimidatory methods such as arbitrary detention and abuse of the legal system, and calls for an early restoration of political rights and freedoms; 8. Notes the dissemination of human rights standards for public officials through a series of human rights workshops, and encourages the Government of Myanmar to widen participation in these workshops to ensure that this information, and its practical implementation, can benefit all citizens of Myanmar; 9. Also notes the establishment by the Government of Myanmar of a national human rights committee, and encourages it to bring this committee into conformity with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights annexed to General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993 (the Paris Principles); 10. Welcomes the release from detention of a number of democratic political activists, and strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to release all remaining detained political leaders and all political prisoners, including journalists, to ensure their physical integrity and to permit them to participate in the process of national reconciliation; 11. Notes with satisfaction the continued cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, allowing the Committee to communicate with and visit detainees in accordance with its modalities of work, and hopes that the programme will be pursued further; 12. Welcomes the reopening of most university courses, but remains concerned that enjoyment of the right to education continues to be limited, often for political reasons, by the reduction in the length of the academic year, the division of the student population and its dispersal to distant campuses and the inadequate allocation of resources; 13. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to take urgent and concrete measures to ensure the establishment of democracy in accordance with the will of the people as expressed in the democratic elections held in 1990 and, to this end, to extend the talks initiated with Aung San Suu Kyi, General-Secretary of the National League for Democracy, to encompass a genuine and substantive dialogue with all the leaders of political parties and of ethnic minorities, with the aim of achieving national reconciliation and the restoration of democracy, and to ensure that political parties and non-governmental organizations can function freely, and, in this context notes the existence of the committee representing the People's Parliament; 14. Recalls the resolution adopted by the International Labour Conference at its eighty-eighth session, held from 30 May to 15 June 2000, recommending that international organizations reconsider any cooperation with Myanmar and that Governments, employers and workers take appropriate measures to ensure that the Government of Myanmar could not take advantage of such relations to perpetuate or extend the system of forced or compulsory labour referred to by the Commission of Inquiry established to examine the observance by Myanmar of the International Labour Organization Convention concerning forced or compulsory labour (Convention No. 29) of 1930; 15. Welcomes the recent visit to Myanmar undertaken by the high-level team of the International Labour Organization, with the objective of assessing the practical implications and impact of measures taken by the Government to eradicate the practice of forced labour and the cooperation that was extended to the team by the Government of Myanmar; 16. Notes with regret that the conclusion of the high-level team was that there was only moderately positive evolution in the situation, since there have been only uneven efforts to disseminate the orders, since the orders have not been observed by the military at the local level and since, despite widespread instances of forced labour, there have been no criminal prosecutions, and that much more will have to be done to address adequately the situation, including movement towards national reconciliation; 17. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to implement, in close cooperation with the International Labour Organization, concrete legislative, executive and administrative measures to eradicate the practice of forced labour, in conformity with the relevant recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, and in this context endorses the recommendations of the high-level team, including the establishment of a long-term representation of the International Labour Organization in Myanmar and the creation of an ombudsman, and encourages the Government of Myanmar to pursue the dialogue with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization to this end; 18. Deplores the continued violations of human rights, in particular those directed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, including summary executions, rape, torture, forced labour, forced porterage, forced relocations, use of anti-personnel landmines, destruction of crops and fields and dispossession of land and property, which deprives those persons of all means of subsistence and results in large-scale displacement of persons and flows of refugees to neighbouring countries, with negative effects for those countries, and an increasing number of internally displaced persons; 19. Urges the Government of Myanmar to end the systematic enforced displacement of persons and other causes of refugee flows to neighbouring countries and to create conditions conducive to their voluntary return and full reintegration in conditions of safety and dignity and to allow the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to assist in the return and reintegration process; 20. Deplores the continued violations of the human rights of women, especially women who are internally displaced or belong to ethnic minorities or the political opposition, in particular forced labour, trafficking, sexual violence and exploitation, including rape; 21. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to implement fully the recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in particular the request to prosecute and punish those who violate the human rights of women, and to carry out human rights education and gender-sensitization training, in particular for military personnel; 22. Deplores the recruitment of children as soldiers, in particular children belonging to ethnic minorities, and strongly urges the Government of Myanmar and all other parties to the hostilities in Myanmar to end the use of children as soldiers; 23. Notes that the Government of Myanmar is starting to address the growing incidence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), while recognizing that much still needs to be done, particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, and urges the Government of Myanmar to recognize fully the severity of the situation and the need to take necessary action against the disease, in cooperation with all relevant political and ethnic groups, and through the development of the United Nations joint plan of action on HIV/AIDS, to be delivered through non-governmental organizations or international agencies with a view to reaching the communities most affected and most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection; 24. Urges the Government of Myanmar to promote and protect the human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and guard against the marginalization and discrimination that they may experience and to ensure that the health-care system receives sufficient funding to enable health workers to provide the highest possible standard of health care; 25. Expresses its grave concern at the high rates of malnutrition among pre-school-aged children, which constitutes serious violations of their rights to adequate food and the highest attainable standard of health and may have serious repercussions for the health and development of the affected children; 26. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including economic and social rights, and to fulfil its obligation to restore the independence of the judiciary and due process and to end the impunity of and bring to justice any perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military, and to investigate and prosecute alleged violations committed by government agents in all circumstances; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government of Myanmar, to submit additional reports to the General Assembly during its fifty-sixth session on the progress of those discussions, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-seventh session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-eighth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 28. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/232 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/582, para. 17),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Viet Nam and Yemen. by a recorded vote of 77 to 20, with 20 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Yugoslavia 56/232. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/86 of 4 December 2000, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/3 of 6 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions, in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit and use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Convention of the Organization of African Unity on the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by peoples, 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;See A/56/224. 2. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 4. Urges all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Welcomes the recent entry into force of the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries,Resolution 44/34, annex. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the necessary action to sign or ratify it, as a matter of priority; 6. Welcomes also the cooperation extended by those countries that have received visits from the Special Rapporteur; 7. Welcomes further the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 8. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with domestic law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 9. Welcomes the convening by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of a meeting of experts on the question of traditional and new forms of mercenary activities as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, and takes note of its report,E/CN.4/2001/18, annex. as a valuable contribution to the process of formulating a clearer legal definition of mercenaries that would make more efficient the prevention and punishment of mercenary activities; 10. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene, before the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on Human Rights, a second meeting of experts, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 54/151 of 17 December 1999, to continue studying and updating the international legislation and to make recommendations for a clearer legal definition of mercenaries that would make more efficient the prevention and punishment of mercenary activities; 11. Requests the Special Rapporteur to propose a clearer definition of mercenaries, including clear nationality criteria, based on his findings, the proposals of States and the outcomes of the meetings of experts, and to make suggestions on the procedure to be followed for international adoption of a new definition; 12. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by the activities of mercenaries; 13. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue taking into account in the discharge of his mandate the fact that mercenary activities continue to occur in many parts of the world and are taking on new forms, manifestations and modalities; 14. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate; 15. Requests the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary assistance and support for the fulfilment of his mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary-related activities; 16. Requests the Special Rapporteur to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session his findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the right of peoples to self-determination; 17. Decides to consider at its fifty-seventh session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 56/233 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/651, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/233. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Having considered the audited financial statements and the report of the Board of Auditors on voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the year ended 31 December 2000,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/56/5/Add.5). the report of the Board of Auditors on the implementation of its recommendationsA/56/132, appendix. relating to the biennium 1998-1999, the second report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations and on the United Nations funds and programmes for the biennium ended 31 December 1999,A/56/66 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/436. 1. Accepts the financial report and audited financial statements and the report and audit opinion of the Board of Auditors regarding the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2000;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/56/5/Add.5). 2. Endorses the recommendations of the Board of Auditors contained in its reportSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/56/5/Add.5), chap. I. and the recommendations and conclusions contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/56/436. 3. Welcomes the second report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations and on the United Nations funds and programmes for the biennium ended 31 December 1999A/56/66 and Add.1. and the report of the Board of Auditors on the implementation of its recommendations;A/56/132, appendix. 4. Requests the audited organizations to take all necessary steps to implement expeditiously the outstanding audit recommendations; 5. Notes with concern the qualified audit opinion on the financial statements of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and requests the audited organizations to cooperate fully with the Board of Auditors and to submit the requested information and documentation in a comprehensive and timely manner so that this does not lead in future to similar qualified opinions. RESOLUTION 56/234 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/652, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/234. Management of buildings: practices of selected United Nations system organizations relevant to the renovation of the United Nations Headquarters The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled "Management of buildings: practices of selected United Nations system organizations relevant to the renovation of the United Nations Headquarters"See A/56/274. and the comments of the Secretary-General thereon,See A/56/274/Add.1. 1. Welcomes the comprehensive and timely preparation of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit;See A/56/274. 2. Endorses the report of the Unit, and requests the Secretary-General to take full account of its recommendations and findings when elaborating the capital master plan, without prejudice to the future consideration by the General Assembly of the report of the Secretary-General on the capital master plan; 3. Decides to revert to the consideration of the report of the Unit and the comments of the Secretary-General thereonSee A/56/274/Add.1. within the context of its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the capital master plan, requested by the General Assembly in section IV of its resolution 55/238 of 23 December 2000. RESOLUTION 56/235 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/652, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/235. Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on policies and practices in the use of the services of private management consulting firms in the organizations of the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/232 of 23 December 2000 and 55/247 of 12 April 2001, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on policies and practices in the use of the services of private management consulting firms in the organizations of the United Nations systemSee A/54/702. and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments as well as those of the Administrative Committee on Coordination thereon,A/55/979. 1. Endorses the elements contained in paragraphs (b) and (d) of recommendation 1, and recommendations 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Joint Inspection Unit;See A/54/702. 2. Invites the Secretary-General and participating organizations of the United Nations system, when addressing the issues raised in paragraphs (a) and (c) of recommendation 1, and in recommendations 6, 7 and 8 of the Unit and using the services of private management consulting firms, to take fully into account the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolutions 55/232 and 55/247. RESOLUTION 56/236 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/653, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/236. Enhancing the United Nations experience for visitors The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General containing his proposal for enhancing the United Nations experience for visitors,A/55/835. Having also considered the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No.7 (A/56/7), chap. I, sect. E.8, paras. 103-113. 1. Welcomes the initiatives of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, the prospective donor, as described in the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/835. to mobilize resources in order to provide new facilities for the visitors' experience in the form of a donation in kind to the United Nations; 2. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No.7 (A/56/7), chap. I, sect. E.8, paras. 103-113. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the development of the proposed visitors' experience project is fully integrated with the capital master plan, including necessary security measures; 4. Decides that a decision on this question should be taken in the light of any further decision on the capital master plan; 5. Authorizes the Secretary-General to invite the United Nations Association of the United States of America to proceed with the preparation of a schematic design for the new visitors' experience, taking into account the four conditions set out in the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/835, para. 20. which are highlighted in the report of the Advisory Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No.7 (A/56/7), chap. I, sect. E.8, para. 107. on the understanding that it will be for the General Assembly to declare itself satisfied with the fulfilment of these conditions; 6. Notes the desirability of expanding the number of potential contributors to the project by including the United Nations Associations of other countries; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to evaluate the proposed financial and fiscal aspects of the donation, in view of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and in the light of the capital master plan, taking into account the eventual financial implications for the Organization, and to report thereon to the General Assembly; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit, when practicable, for the consideration of the General Assembly, a comprehensive report on the outcome of the schematic design; options for deciding on the final scale of the project; projected revenues and the cost of operating and maintaining the new visitors' experience; proposals for expanded commercial activities; options for operating methodologies; means of adjusting to changing situations; procedures for the operation of the proposed capital improvement fund; and a time-line for implementation. RESOLUTION 56/237 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/653, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/237. Development Account The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997 and 52/220 and 52/221 A of 22 December 1997, Reaffirming its resolutions 52/235 of 26 June 1998, 53/220 A of 7 April 1999, 53/220 B of 8 June 1999 and 54/15 of 29 October 1999, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of projects financed from the Development Account,A/55/913. including the observations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services in section V thereof, and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No.7 (A/56/7), chap. II, sect. A, paras. XIII.1-XIII.5. 1. Expresses concern at the low implementation rate of the projects undertaken through the Development Account; 2. Urges a more expeditious and effective rate of implementation of projects, and requests that project proposals include all costs, including support costs, and whether or not they are financed from the Development Account; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his next report the date of commencement, the implementing agency and the anticipated dates of completion of all ongoing projects and to provide explanations for any schedule changes in the completion of these projects; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to enhance efficiency measures that may result in sustainable savings, with a view to augmenting the Development Account, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 54/15; 5. Reaffirms that projects financed from the Development Account should be implemented in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 53/220 A and 53/220 B; 6. Welcomes the fact that the implementation of the approved projects financed from the Development Account has a developmental impact on a country, is cost-effective, in particular through the use of information and communication technology, and is jointly designed and carried out by several entities of the United Nations; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to monitor the implementation rate of the projects, with a view to identifying those projects that are underperforming and the causes, and to submit proposals to correct this situation or to redeploy funds from such projects to those that are delivering results; 8. Decides to continue to keep the implementation of the Development Account under review, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the subject to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/238 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/653, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 56/238. Proposed measures to improve the profitability of the commercial activities of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/232 of 23 December 2000, Recalling also the international and non-commercial character of the Organization, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the proposed measures to improve the profitability of the commercial activities of the United NationsA/55/546. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7), chap. II, sect. B, paras. IS3.5-13. 1. Notes with satisfaction the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/546. and endorses the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7), chap. II, sect. B, paras. IS3.5-13. 2. Notes the proposal to separate the management of the commercial activities from the other activities of the Organization, and requests the Secretary-General to submit detailed information on this proposal and its administrative and financial implications; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to elaborate on this proposal by means of a blueprint concerning the specific commercial goals of the Organization and the steps that should be taken to achieve them, in particular the use of outsourcing, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 55/232 and its resolution 55/247 of 12 April 2001, and the optimum use of space within the United Nations buildings; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to make proposals to streamline and simplify the administration and management structure underpinning those activities; 5. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a single report containing the information requested in the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/239 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/653, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/239. Information technology The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/249 of 23 December 1999, by which it requested the Secretary-General to develop a comprehensive strategy for the development and implementation of information technology, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Information technology in the Secretariat: a plan of action",A/55/780. and endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7), chap. I, sect. E, paras. 80-94. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to resubmit the plan of action, taking into account the provisions of paragraph 1 above and: (a) Developing a specific plan to improve efficiency through the application of information technology in the Secretariat and the action required to implement it; (b) Defining clearly the responsibilities of the different bodies in the application and integration of information technology within the United Nations; (c) Addressing the objective of improving decision-making with respect to information technology in the Secretariat by improving coordination and reducing duplication; (d) Developing a cost-benefit analysis for use in identifying information technology priorities; (e) Developing an implementation plan for those priorities; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a single report containing the information requested in the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/23 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/535, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Togo. by a recorded vote of 156 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Georgia, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America 56/23. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling in this context its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space does not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during its 2002 session; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTIONS 56/240 A and B Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/735, para. 6)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/240. Programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001 A Final budget appropriations for the biennium 2000-2001 The General Assembly 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001A/56/674. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/56/694. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to keep Member States informed of regular budget expenditures on a quarterly basis; 3. Decides, in the light of the critical financial situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, to retain in the programme budget for the biennium 2000-2001, 650,000 United States dollars of the original provision of 800,000 dollars made pursuant to General Assembly resolution 55/219 of 23 December 2000, and requests the Secretary-General to disburse the provision in December 2001 as a subvention to be credited to the United Nations Trust Fund for the Institute, so as to ensure the continuation of its operations in 2002; 4. Resolves that, for the biennium 2000-2001, the amount of 2,533,125,400 United States dollars appropriated under its resolution 55/239 A of 23 December 2000 shall be augmented by a commitment authority of 28,452,600 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED 5. Notes the request of the Secretary-General that the revised appropriation should be increased by 28,452,600 dollars, and decides, keeping in mind the need for precision in determining the required final level of appropriations and assessments, that it will revert to consideration of the final appropriation at its resumed fifty-sixth session in March 2002; 6. Resolves that: (a) The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget, with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee; (b) In addition to the commitment authority approved under paragraph 4 above, an amount of 250,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2000-2001 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the Library at the Palais des Nations as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment. B Final income estimates for the biennium 2000-2001 The General Assembly Resolves that for the biennium 2000-2001: (a) The estimates of income of 380,822,700 United States dollars approved under its resolution 55/239 B of 23 December 2000 shall provisionally be decreased by 1,149,200 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED (b) The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; (c) Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, catering and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications, not provided for under the budget appropriations, shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. RESOLUTION 56/241 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/738, para. 5)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/241. Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects The General Assembly, Having considered the statement submitted by the Secretary-General on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operationsA/C.5/55/46 and Corr.1 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/478. Taking account of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects,A/55/1024 and Corr.1. Recalling its resolutions 45/258 of 3 May 1991, 47/218 A of 23 December 1992, 48/226 A of 23 December 1993, 48/226 B of 5 April 1994, 48/226 C of 29 July 1994, 49/250 of 20 July 1995, 50/11 of 2 November 1995, 50/221 A of 11 April 1996, 50/221 B of 7 June 1996, 51/226 of 3 April 1997, 51/239 A of 17 June 1997, 51/239 B and 51/243 of 15 September 1997, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 52/234 and 52/248 of 26 June 1998, 53/12 A of 26 October 1998, 53/208 B of 18 December 1998, 53/12 B of 8 June 1999, 54/243 A of 23 December 1999, 54/243 B of 15 June 2000, 55/238 of 23 December 2000 and 55/271 of 14 June 2001 and its decisions 48/489 of 8 July 1994, 49/469 of 23 December 1994 and 50/473 of 23 December 1995, Noting with appreciation the comments and observations contained in paragraph 6 of the report of the Advisory Committee,A/56/478. concerning the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations and the determination of resources, and in paragraph 26, concerning the role and responsibilities of the head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat and his senior staff in the area of management, 1. Attaches great importance to the provision of adequate resources for peacekeeping operations and their backstopping as well as for all priority activities of the Organization, in particular activities in the area of development, and underlines the need for genuine and meaningful partnership between the Security Council, the troop-contributing Governments and other Member States and the Secretariat; 2. Reaffirms that the expenses of the Organization, including the backstopping of peacekeeping operations, shall be borne by Member States; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, when making first-time use of the results-based budgeting technique in the presentation of the support account budget estimates for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003, to undertake a complete rethinking of how post and non-post resources for the support account are justified and presented and, in this regard, to take full account of paragraphs 9 and 10 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/56/478. 4. Reaffirms the decision in paragraph 2 of its resolution 49/250 that the support account funds shall be used for the sole purpose of financing human and non-human resource requirements for backstopping and supporting peacekeeping operations at Headquarters, and that any changes to this limitation will require the prior approval of the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to review the issue of capacity in the Peacekeeping Best Practices Unit for policy support in peacekeeping operations in the area of demobilization, disarmament and reintegration, taking into account the views of the Advisory Committee; 6. Stresses that the creation of small units in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to fulfil various functions which duplicate the responsibilities of other departments must be avoided, and shares the caution expressed by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions that an increase in the number of organizational units in the Department does not necessarily facilitate coordination or enhance administrative and management capacity; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to prevent duplication of work between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat and to further clarify the relationships and interactions between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and other offices in the Department of Management of the Secretariat, especially those dealing with personnel, financial administration and control, management of procurement activities and monitoring of delegated authority; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report, in the context of the annual support account budget estimates, on action taken by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to develop and implement a comprehensive information technology systems strategy that integrates field missions with the Secretariat's overall information and communication technology strategy; 9. Expresses concern about the effect of scattering the units of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in a number of different physical locations on its operational effectiveness, and requests the Secretary-General to investigate and report on ways and means of achieving co-location of such units; 10. Also expresses concern over the delay in the recruitment and staffing of the 93 support account posts approved in December 2000 on an urgent basis; 11. Reaffirms section I, paragraph 6, of its resolution 55/238, in which it agreed with paragraph 36 of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping OperationsA/C.4/55/6. relating to proper representation of troop-contributing countries in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 12. Expresses concern over the imbalance in the geographical representation of Member States in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and urges the Secretary-General to take immediate measures to improve the representation of under-represented and unrepresented Member States in future recruitment; 13. Also expresses concern over the lack of compliance by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations with the rules, regulations and procedures pertaining to human resources management, and in this regard reaffirms the role of the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat as set out in General Assembly resolutions 53/221 of 7 April 1999 and 55/258 of 14 June 2001, in particular the General Assembly decision that the Office of Human Resources Management should remain the central authority for the monitoring and approval of the recruitment and placement of staff and for the interpretation of the regulations and rules of the Organization and their enforcement; 14. Welcomes the emphasis on training, planning and establishment of rosters, which would provide the capacity to manage and monitor personnel actions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office of Human Resources Management, and encourages the utilization of information technology in reducing the current recruitment period below 180 days; 15. Regrets the inordinate delay in the certification of write-off claims from some liquidated peacekeeping operations, and requests the Secretary-General to finalize the certification of those claims by 30 June 2002 and to submit a progress report on this issue to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session; 16. Urges the Secretary-General to give priority to the reimbursement of claims from liquidated missions, including maintaining adequate reserves to settle claims once certified; 17. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee,A/56/478. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and decides not to establish at this time the D-2 post of Director of Change Management mentioned in paragraph 28 of the report of the Advisory Committee and to keep the matter under review for consideration at the second part of its resumed fifty-sixth session, and, in the light of the development of a coherent policy, to review the P-5 post for gender issues at the second part of its resumed fifty-sixth session; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat with the task of conducting an evaluation of the impact of the recent restructuring of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations on its backstopping of peacekeeping operations performance, and the impact on efficient and effective use of the resources of the Department, and to report to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session; 19. Decides to appropriate an additional amount of 1,575,700 United States dollars under the following sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003: 376,400 dollars under section 3, Political affairs; 888,800 dollars under section 22, Human rights; 127,900 dollars under section 27, Management and central support services; and 182,600 dollars under section 32, Staff assessment, to be offset by a corresponding amount (182,600 dollars) under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 20. Approves an additional 121 support account-funded posts and their related post and non-post requirements in the amount of 16,103,750 dollars gross (14,889,500 dollars net) for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct, through the Office of Internal Oversight Services, an audit of the policies and procedures of the Organization for recruiting staff for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and to report thereon to the General Assembly for its consideration at its resumed fifty-sixth session. RESOLUTION 56/242 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/737, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/242. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 50/11 of 2 November 1995, 54/248 of 23 December 1999 and 55/222 of 23 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Committee on ConferencesOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/56/32). and the reports of the Secretary-General,A/56/120/Rev.1, A/56/133 and Corr.1, A/56/188, A/56/213 and Corr.1, A/56/277, A/56/293, A/56/299, A/56/300, A/56/339 and A/AC.198/2001/8. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/475. Reiterates the provisions of its resolutions 51/211 A to E of 18 December 1996, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 53/208 A to E of 18 December 1998, 54/248 and 55/222; I Calendar of conferences and meetings 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Committee on Conferences, and endorses the recommendations contained in its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/56/32). subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Approves the draft biennial calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2002-2003, as submitted by the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/56/32), annex. taking into account the observations of the Committee,Ibid., paras. 22 and 23. and subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make any adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2002-2003 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretariat took into account the arrangements referred to in General Assembly resolutions 53/208 A, 54/248 and 55/222 concerning Orthodox Good Friday and the official holidays of Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha, and requests all intergovernmental bodies to observe those decisions when planning their meetings; 5. Reaffirms its decision that the headquarters rule shall be adhered to by all bodies, and decides that waivers to the headquarters rule shall be granted solely on the basis of the calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations as recommended by the Committee on Conferences for adoption by the General Assembly; 6. Also reaffirms the general principle established in the headquarters rule and, in particular, that all meetings related to the environment and to human settlements that are organized by the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), respectively, should be held at Nairobi, headquarters of the Programme and Habitat; 7. Further reaffirms the relevant provisions established by the General Assembly in its resolution 50/11 on multilingualism; 8. Requests the Committee on Conferences and the Secretary-General, when planning the calendar of conferences and meetings, to avoid simultaneous peak periods at the various duty stations and to avoid scheduling meetings of related intergovernmental bodies too closely together; II Utilization of conference-servicing resources and facilities 1. Approves the guidelines on limiting meeting duration contained in the annex to the present resolution; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance further the established practice of workload sharing among duty stations in documentation services as a means to improve the utilization of conference-servicing resources, and to include information on these efforts in the context of a single, comprehensive report to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General, bearing in mind the recent organizational changes, to ensure that the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services of the Secretariat is considered the appropriate executive authority to oversee, coordinate and enhance the global management and delivery of United Nations conference services, under the legislative authority of the General Assembly and through oversight and examination by the Committee on Conferences; 4. Reaffirms the terms of reference and main functions of the Committee on Conferences as formulated in section I, paragraph 1, of resolution 41/213 and in resolution 43/222 B; 5. Welcomes the improved participation of observers in the work of the Committee on Conferences, the changes in the procedure governing the participation of observers and the decision of the Committee to keep this procedure under review; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the mechanisms available for addressing the concerns of Member States about the efficiency, quality and delivery of conference services, including information about the way in which the concerns of Member States are recorded and reported, and on the grouping of these issues in reports to the General Assembly; 7. Welcomes the establishment of a permanent interpretation service at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and notes with satisfaction that the conference-servicing facility at the United Nations Office at Nairobi is becoming organizationally, functionally and in terms of the budget an integral part of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services; 8. Notes with appreciation the increase in the number of multilingual meetings to be held at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and with the participation of the Nairobi interpretation team elsewhere in 2001 and 2002, as well as the cost-saving effect of the establishment of the Nairobi interpretation service for the regular budget in terms of temporary assistance; 9. Emphasizes the importance of providing adequate conference-servicing resources to all United Nations conference centres, for the effective and efficient discharge of their mandates; 10. Notes the improvement in the rate of utilization of conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, as recorded during the most recent reporting period; 11. Urges all subsidiary bodies of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Commission on Human Settlements, and encourages Member States, intergovernmental bodies and regional and other major groupings, to increase their use of the conference facilities at Nairobi; 12. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to assist the bodies mentioned in paragraph 11 of the present section in improving this situation, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, through the Committee on Conferences, on the actions taken to that end; 13. Encourages all United Nations bodies and expert groups not subject to the headquarters rule to hold some of their meetings at the United Nations Office at Nairobi; 14. Strongly discourages any invitation for hosting meetings which would violate the headquarters rule, in particular for United Nations centres with a low utilization level; 15. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to intensify efforts being made by the United Nations Office at Nairobi to attract more meetings to its facilities; 16. Reiterates its request to the Committee on Conferences to consult with those bodies that consistently utilized less than the applicable benchmark figure of their allocated resources for the past three sessions with a view to making appropriate recommendations in order to achieve the optimum utilization of conference-servicing resources; 17. Reiterates that meetings of Charter and mandated bodies must be serviced as a priority; 18. Decides to include all necessary resources in the budget for the biennium 2002-2003 to provide interpretation services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States upon request by those groups, on an ad hoc basis, in accordance with established practice, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, through the Committee on Conferences, a report on the implementation of this decision; 19. Notes the importance of meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States for the smooth functioning of the sessions of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, as far as possible, all requests for conference services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States are met; 20. Notes with concern the difficulties experienced by some Member States owing to the lack of conference services for some meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to provide information on meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States not serviced by conference services in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 22. Also requests the Secretary-General, when preparing budget proposals for conference services, to ensure that the level of resources proposed for temporary assistance is commensurate with the full demand for services, estimated on the basis of current experience; 23. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to report on the utilization rates of interpretation services and conference facilities at all duty stations; 24. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to consider improving and modernizing the conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in order to accommodate adequately major meetings and conferences, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session, through the Committee on Conferences; III Documentation- and publication-related matters 1. Notes with deep concern the low rate of compliance with the six-week rule for the issuance of documentation, and encourages the Secretary-General, in view of the impact of late submissions on the timely issuance of documents, to deal with this alarming situation; 2. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that documentation is available in accordance with the six-week rule for the distribution of documents simultaneously in the six official languages of the General Assembly; 3. Deeply regrets the failure of author departments to abide by section III, paragraph 5, of its resolution 55/222, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to take corrective measures to ensure the full implementation of this provision and to report to the General Assembly in the first part of its resumed fifty-sixth session; 4. Notes that the failure to abide by that provision also connotes failure to abide by the six-week rule for the availability of documents as well as General Assembly resolution 50/11 on multilingualism, in which the Assembly recalled the need to ensure the simultaneous distribution of documents in the six official languages of the United Nations; 5. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to direct all departments to include, where appropriate, the following elements in reports originating in the Secretariat: (a) A summary of the report; (b) Consolidated conclusions, recommendations and other proposed actions; (c) Relevant background information; 6. Reiterates that all documents submitted to legislative organs by the Secretariat and expert bodies for consideration and action should have conclusions and recommendations in bold print; 7. Requests the Office of Internal Oversight Services to submit its reports in accordance with paragraph 12 of General Assembly resolution 53/208 B; 8. Regrets that, if a report is issued late, some departments of the Secretariat still do not indicate the reasons for the delay when the report is introduced; 9. Reiterates its decision that, if a report is submitted late to conference services, the reasons therefor should be included in a footnote to the document; 10. Decides to approve the report of the Secretary-General on measures taken by the Secretariat to strengthen responsibility and accountability in the submission of documentation,A/56/300. with the exception of those described in paragraph 12 of the present section, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on measures taken to ensure full implementation of the report; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to develop an effective accountability and responsibility system within the Secretariat in order to ensure timely submission of documents for processing, and to report thereon, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of the organs concerned, when they are taking action on draft resolutions and decisions, rules 78 and 120 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 13. Notes with concern the delay in the issuance of verbatim and summary records, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to ameliorate the situation; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to study the possibility of further measures in this regard, including enhanced cooperation between the production of press releases by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and the preparation of summary records by the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, bearing in mind the different nature of press releases and summary records; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the communication of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly to the States Members of the United Nations within fifteen days of the close of each session; 16. Welcomes the new format for the issuance of the Official Records of the resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session, in accordance with the request contained in resolution 54/248, section C, paragraph 3; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure fully the issuance of all documents and publications of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in Arabic, which is most relevant to the requirements of the Member States of the region, as well as in the other working languages of the Commission to meet the requirements of readers outside the region, as appropriate, and to report thereon to the General Assembly by its fifty-seventh session; IV Translation- and interpretation-related matters 1. Requests the Secretary-General not to conduct further pilot projects on remote interpretation until technological developments so warrant; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide a comprehensive comparative cost-benefit analysis on the use of remote interpretation at all United Nations duty stations, as recipients and as providers of that service, covering, inter alia, direct and indirect related costs and utilization rates, as well as issues pertaining to the working conditions of interpreters; 3. Decides to approve, for an initial period of one year, the training initiative for interpreters who, on the first competitive examination, scored higher than the benchmark of 55 per cent and who possess those language combinations that are insufficiently represented on the roster of successful candidates, subject to the submission to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session of information on the results of the training activities, the continuing need for the programme and related financial arrangements; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide updated information to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, under the agenda item entitled "Human resources management," on current practices related to the special ceiling on the United Nations annual earnings for United Nations retirees employed on a short-term basis in language services, as established by the Assembly in its decision 51/408 of 4 November 1996, with a view to reviewing this issue; 5. Decides to conduct a comprehensive review of the current norms and standards of productivity in the language services and the impact of ongoing technological innovations on their work, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a detailed report on the subject, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 6. Reiterates its concern at the high rate of self-revision in the translation services, which exceeded the benchmark, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to accord high priority to the post of reviser and to reduce reliance on self-revision to the maximum extent, and to take these considerations into account when filling vacancies in the translation services; 7. Notes with deep concern that some official documents are not translated into all the official languages of the Organization; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Secretariat undertakes to translate all United Nations documents into all the other official languages of the Organization simultaneously, including documents for which circulation is requested under agenda items of the principal deliberative bodies of the United Nations, regardless of their length; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to fill expeditiously the remaining vacancies in the interpretation service at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session; 10. Further requests the Secretary-General to accelerate his efforts to fill vacant posts in interpretation and translation at Headquarters and at all other United Nations duty stations; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to refrain from using the terms "different languages" or "multilingual" in official documents when referring to the six official languages of the United Nations; 12. Expresses concern about the quality of interpretation services provided to intergovernmental meetings, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the highest standards of quality for interpretation services provided to these meetings; 13. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that training opportunities in the six official languages are equally available to all language staff, including those at duty stations away from Headquarters; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that efforts continue to be made to improve the quality control of language services at all duty stations; 15. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that translation, in principle, reflects the specificity of each language; 16. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in order to improve further the quality of translation of documents issued in the six official languages, to ensure continuous dialogue between translation staff and interpretation staff, among United Nations headquarters at New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, and between translation divisions and Member States with regard to the standardization of the terminology used; 17. Further reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to hold informational meetings in order to brief Member States periodically on the terminology used; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct consultations, with Member States concerned, on the improvement of translation services; V Information technology 1. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a progress report on the use of information technology in the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, including voice recognition, remote translation, computer-assisted translation, the Electronic Documents Registration, Information and Tracking System, the new stock control system for documents and publications, digitization of meeting recording systems, electronic planning and servicing of meetings, and computerized terminology data banks, specifying in particular the impact of these technologies on the working methods and productivity of the personnel of the Department; 2. Notes with concern the content of paragraph 7 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/AC.198/2001/8. which stresses that progress in the development of the United Nations web site on the Internet in the six official languages has been slower than expected, and that the realization of a truly equal multilingual web site will remain elusive. Annex Guidelines on limiting meeting duration 1. Meetings normally should be held during regular meeting hours, namely, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., on working days; 2. The Secretariat should intensify coordination between its relevant units with a view to planning for the provision of conference services; 3. Intergovernmental bodies should undertake a review of their meeting patterns and, in coordination with the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services of the Secretariat, adjust their meeting requests for subsequent sessions accordingly; 4. Requests for the extension of sessions beyond the originally scheduled dates, resumed sessions and other inter-sessional departures would continue to be submitted to the Committee on Conferences and handled in accordance with General Assembly resolution 43/222 B and with past practice as agreed by the Committee. RESOLUTION 56/243 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/728, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/243. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Contributions, Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/56/11); ibid., Supplement No. 11A and corrigendum (A/56/11/Add.1 and Corr.1). 1. Recalls its resolution 55/5 A of 26 October 2000; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to update the information contained in the annexes to his report on the application of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations;A/55/789. 3. Recognizes that multi-year payment plans, subject to careful formulation, could be helpful in allowing Member States to demonstrate their commitment under Article 19 of the Charter to pay their arrears, thereby facilitating consideration of applications for exemption by the Committee on Contributions, and requests the Secretary-General to propose guidelines for such multi-year payment plans through the Committee on Contributions; 4. Recognizes also that it would be helpful for the Secretariat to be equipped with input from Member States on a schedule of payments or other information about their intentions to clear their accumulated arrears, and encourages Member States in a position to do so to provide such information; 5. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing conditions, in order to avoid the difficulties being experienced by the United Nations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to propose or consider further measures to encourage Member States in arrears to reduce and eventually pay their arrears, and to report thereon to the General Assembly during the main part of its fifty-seventh session for subsequent consideration at its resumed fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/244 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/729, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/244. United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Civil Service Commission for the year 2001Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/56/30). and the statement submitted by the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the Commission,A/56/485. Reaffirming its commitment to a single, unified United Nations common system as the cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Convinced that the common system constitutes the best instrument to secure staff of the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for the international civil service, as stipulated under the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the statute of the Commission and the central role of the Commission in the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Takes note of the report of the International Civil Service Commission for the year 2001;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/56/30). I Conditions of service applicable to both categories of staff A. Standards of conduct for the international civil service Recalling its resolutions 52/252 of 8 September 1998, 54/238 of 23 December 1999 and 55/223 of 23 December 2000, Welcomes the standards of conduct as set out in annex II to the report of the Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/56/30). B. Introduction of the euro 1. Approves the recommendation of the Commission that: (a) Effective 1 January 2002, the euro should be used as the official currency for those emoluments which are currently set in the national currencies of the twelve euro-zone countries, and that the national currency amounts would be converted by applying the respective fixed conversion rates and then rounded up or down to the nearest euro; (b) The converted values of the education grant for nine currency areas, and of the children's and secondary dependant's allowances for nine locations, will change over to the euro effective 1 January 2002, as reflected in annexes I and II to the present resolution; 2. Invites organizations to convert officially into euros, where applicable, their respective General Service salary scales and allowances effective 1 January 2002, on the basis of the approach referred to in paragraph 1 (a) above; II Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories A. Evolution of the margin Recalling section I.B of its resolution 52/216 of 22 December 1997 and the standing mandate from the General Assembly, in which the Commission is requested to continue its review of the relationship between the net remuneration of the United Nations staff in the Professional and higher categories in New York and that of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service) employees in comparable positions in Washington, D.C. (referred to as "the margin"), Recalling also section IX, paragraph 3, of its resolution 46/191 A of 20 December 1991, in which it requested the Commission to include in its work programme a review of the differences between the United Nations and the United States net remuneration at individual grade levels, 1. Notes that the margin between the net remuneration of United Nations staff in grades P-1 to D-2 in New York and that of officials in comparable positions in the United States federal civil service for 2001 is 111.0, as reflected in annex III to the present resolution; 2. Also notes that the United Nations/United States net remuneration ratios range from 117.1 at the P-2 level to 104.4 at the D-2 level, and considers that this imbalance should be addressed in the context of the overall margin considerations established by the General Assembly; B. Base/floor salary scale Recalling section I.H of its resolution 44/198 of 21 December 1989, by which it established a floor net salary level for staff in the Professional and higher categories by reference to the corresponding base net salary levels of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service), 1. Notes the increasing number of duty stations where the post adjustment classification is equal or close to zero, and requests the Commission to review the methodology to ensure that purchasing power equivalence is appropriately reflected; 2. Approves, with effect from 1 March 2002, as recommended by the Commission, the revised base scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories, as contained in annex IV to the present resolution; III Strengthening of the international civil service Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the review of the International Civil Service CommissionA/54/483. and the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the international civil service,A/55/526. Requests the Secretary-General, in close consultation with the Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission, to submit a timetable for the implementation of the review of the strengthening of the international civil service to the General Assembly at the main part of its fifty-seventh session. Annex I Education grant amounts for euro-zone currency areas effective 1 January 2002 (In euros) TABLE REMOVED Annex II Children's and secondary dependant's allowance amounts for euro-zone currency areas effective 1 January 2002 (In euros) TABLE REMOVED Annex III Comparison of average net remuneration of United Nations officials in the Professional and higher categories in New York and United States officials in Washington, D.C., by equivalent grades (margin for calendar year 2001) TABLE REMOVED a Average United Nations salary at dependency level by grade reflecting two months at multiplier 48.4 (on the basis of the salary scale effective through 28 February 2001), eight months at multiplier 41.2 and two months at multiplier 46.4 (on the basis of the salary scale in effect from 1 March 2001). b For the calculation of the average United Nations salaries, Personnel Statistics of the Consultative Committee on Administrative Questions as at 31 December 1999 were used. c These weights correspond to United Nations common system staff in grades P-1 to D-2 inclusive, serving at headquarters and established offices as at 31 December 1999. Annex IV Salary scale for the Professional and higher categories, showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessmenta effective 1 March 2002 (United States dollars) TABLE REMOVED D = Rate applicable to staff members with a dependent spouse or child. S = Rate applicable to staff members with no dependent spouse or child. a This scale will be implemented in conjunction with a consolidation of 3.87 per cent of post adjustment. There will be consequential adjustments in post adjustment indices and multipliers at all duty stations effective 1 March 2002. Thereafter, changes in post adjustment classifications will be implemented on the basis of the movement of the consolidated post adjustment indices. RESOLUTION 56/245 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/655, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/245. Joint Inspection Unit The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Joint Inspection Unit, in particular resolutions 50/233 of 7 June 1996, 54/16 of 29 October 1999 and 55/230 of 23 December 2000, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2000;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 34 and corrigendum (A/56/34 and Corr.1). 2. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the programme of work of the Unit for 2001 and the preliminary listing of potential reports for 2002 and beyond,A/56/84. as well as the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Unit on experience with the follow-up system on Joint Inspection Unit reports and recommendations;A/56/356. 3. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Unit;A/56/135. 4. Takes note in particular that, as noted in the preliminary listing of potential reports for 2002 and beyond and reaffirmed by the Chairman of the Unit, the preliminary listing is of a tentative nature and does not necessarily imply that the Unit is committed to taking up these subjects; 5. Invites the Unit to improve the presentation of the listing of potential reports for the following year and beyond by providing information on the source, including legislative basis, objectives, problems to be addressed, duration and expected date of completion, and to present such information before the final quarter of each year; 6. Requests the executive heads of participating organizations to observe fully the time frame for submitting their comments, as called for in article 11, paragraphs 4 (d) and (e), of the statute of the Unit; 7. Requests the Unit to consider including in its reports, where possible, the comments of the participating organizations on its findings and recommendations and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 8. Stresses the need for the Unit to place emphasis in its work on well-defined and timely items of high priority, identifying concrete managerial, administrative and programming questions aimed at providing the General Assembly and other legislative organs of participating organizations with practical and action-oriented recommendations; 9. Stresses also that the compliance with the provisions of paragraph 4 of the system of follow-up to the reports of the Unit, endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/16 and contained in the annual report of the Unit for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/52/34), annex I. is a responsibility of the Unit as a whole, and, in this regard, requests the Unit to exercise fully its collective wisdom in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the statute; 10. Requests the Chairman of the Unit, in accordance with article 18 of the statute, to ensure compliance by the Unit with the provisions of its statute as well as the internal standards, guidelines and procedures as approved by the Unit; 11. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the other participating organizations to ensure that the Unit is provided with the information requested by it in due time, in accordance with article 6, paragraph 2, of the statute; 12. Welcomes the initial steps taken by the Unit with other external and internal oversight bodies of the United Nations system to develop interaction and intensify relations with a view to achieving better coordination among them with respect, in particular, to the oversight coverage and sharing of best practices, thus enhancing the impact of oversight activities as a whole and endeavouring to avoid duplication, and requests the Unit to report thereon, in the context of its report for 2001, to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 13. Requests the executive heads of those participating organizations that have not yet done so to take the necessary steps to facilitate the consideration of and action on the system of follow-up to the reports of the Unit,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/52/34), annex I. and invites the legislative organs concerned to consider and act upon it; 14. Requests the Unit to submit, as part of its annual report, additional comments and recommendations on its experience with the system of follow-up to the reports of the Unit, focusing in particular on legislative actions and implementation of the approved recommendations, to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, including measures the Unit has taken to achieve a punctual and systematic follow-up of its recommendations as approved by the legislative organs of participating organizations; 15. Decides to review the current state of coordination and cooperation among the United Nations oversight bodies with a view to ensuring greater synergy and mutual complementarity in their joint efforts to improve the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations; 16. Requests that the Unit place more emphasis on the evaluation aspects of its work, in accordance with recommendation 63 contained in the report of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations,Ibid., Forty-first Session, Supplement No. 49 (A/41/49). as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986; 17. Underlines the fact that the evaluation function is envisaged in the statute of the Unit, and stresses the need for the Unit to pay special attention to the preparation of reports that are more evaluation-oriented; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the executive heads of the other participating organizations for their attention. RESOLUTION 56/246 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/739, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/246. Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, Recalling also its decision 55/488 of 7 September 2001, Having considered the annual reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat for the periods from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000A/55/436. and from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,A/56/381. 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 2. Takes note of the annual reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services for the periods from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000A/55/436. and from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001;A/56/381. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of Internal Oversight Services includes in its annual reports information regarding the implementation rate of the recommendations of the previous three reporting periods; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of Internal Oversight Services includes, in its next annual report, information regarding the impact of its reorganization on its work; 5. Welcomes the initiative to include in the report of the Office of Internal Oversight ServicesA/56/381. qualitative assessments of the implementation of recommendations defined as critical, and invites the Secretary-General to entrust the Office with refining the criteria referred to in paragraph 8 of that report, taking into account the relevant provisions of resolutions 48/218 B and 54/244, and to report thereon in the context of the next annual report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of Internal Oversight Services, when providing information on the implementation rate of critical recommendations in its future annual reports, deals separately with those recommendations which have been implemented, those which are in the process of being implemented and those for which no implementation process is under way, and the reasons for their non-implementation; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to present an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on mission liquidation activities at the United Nations, in particular with regard to write-offs, to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session; 8. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, with regard to the new mission subsistence allowance referred to in paragraphs 88 and 89 of its reportA/56/381. are fully and expeditiously implemented, and to report on the matter in the context of the budget performance reports of the relevant peacekeeping operations; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of Internal Oversight Services submits an update on the status of the oversight activities referred to in paragraphs 71 to 81 and in paragraphs 52 to 60, respectively, of its two most recent annual reports,A/55/436 and A/56/381. for further consideration by the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session; 10. Recalls section III, paragraph 7, of its resolution 55/222 of 23 December 2000, by which it reiterated that all documents submitted to legislative organs by the Secretariat and expert bodies for consideration and action should have conclusions and recommendations in bold print. RESOLUTION 56/247 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/730, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/247. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/56/495 and Corr.1 and Add.1; and A/C.5/56/30. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/665 and A/56/717. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 55/225 A of 23 December 2000 and 55/225 B of 12 April 2001, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the budget performance of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2000A/56/501. and the comments of the Advisory Committee thereon in its report,A/56/665. Taking note also of Security Council resolution 1329 (2000) of 30 November 2000 concerning the establishment of a pool of ad litem judges in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/665 and A/56/717. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Deeply regrets the delay in the submission of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; 3. Reaffirms paragraph 3 of its resolution 54/239 A of 23 December 1999, and emphasizes that future reports on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia should be submitted by 1 October of the year in which they are to be considered; 4. Notes that gratis personnel were still used in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in 2000, and emphasizes that the provisions of General Assembly resolution 51/243 of 15 September 1997 on this issue must be strictly adhered to; 5. Notes also that a large total number of interns were used, and stresses that the acceptance of such interns should be consistent with the established guidelines, rules and regulations, in particular as regards the exceptional nature of a six-month assignment; 6. Notes with great concern the high vacancy rate in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; 7. Notes with concern the absence of a firm exit strategy for the completion of the work of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; 8. Welcomes all efforts that contribute to the determination of a firm exit strategy for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and, in this context, notes the comment of the Advisory Committee on empowering special national courts to undertake trials, as stated in paragraph 5 of the report of the Advisory Committee;A/56/665. 9. Notes the issues raised by the Advisory Committee in paragraphs 32, 80 and 82 of its report,A/56/665. and decides to revert to these issues at the resumed fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly; 10. Decides that the staffing table for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia shall remain at levels approved for 2001 until the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session in March 2002 determines appropriate levels for the biennium 2002-2003; 11. Authorizes the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to utilize the general temporary assistance resources necessary to provide the equivalent of up to the ninety new posts recommended by the Advisory Committee for the purposes and functions intended, it being understood that this utilization of general temporary assistance is to ensure the ability of the Court to assume an accelerated schedule of trials, as foreseen in the budget proposal, and would be without prejudice to the decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its resumed fifth-sixth session as regards an authorized staffing table for the biennium 2002-2003; 12. Welcomes recent improvements in the functioning of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and encourages continued efforts to address areas where improvement is needed; 13. Decides to appropriate, on a provisional basis, subject to further review at its resumed fifty-sixth session, to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, a total amount of 242,791,600 United States dollars gross (218,216,300 dollars net) for the biennium 2002-2003; 14. Requests the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to submit, on an annual basis, a financial and programme performance report to the General Assembly; 15. Decides that the financing of the appropriation for the biennium 2002-2003 under the Special Account shall take into account the unused unencumbered balance of 3,183,700 dollars gross (4,154,500 dollars net) for 2000, interest and miscellaneous income of 3,559,600 dollars recorded for the biennium 2000-2001, the estimated additional requirementsProvision for expenditures charged against the commitment authority as per resolution 55/225 B. of 4,854,700 dollars gross (3,571,900 dollars net) for 2001 and the estimated income of 154,400 dollars for the biennium 2002-2003, which shall be set off against the aggregate amount of the appropriation, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 16. Decides also to apportion for the year 2002 the amount of 60,187,150 dollars gross (53,518,525 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for the biennium 2002-2003 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 17. Decides further to apportion for the year 2002 the amount of 60,187,150 dollars gross (53,518,525 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2002; 18. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 16 and 17 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 13,337,250 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2002-2003. Annex Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED a To provide for internal oversight functions for the first six months of 2002 as detailed in document A/C.5/56/30. b For the year 2003 equivalent amounts will be assessed by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/248 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/731, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/248. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/56/497 and Add.1; and A/C.5/56/30. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/666 and A/56/717. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 55/226 of 23 December 2000, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the budget performance of the International Tribunal for Rwanda for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2000A/56/500. and the comments of the Advisory Committee thereon in its report,A/56/666. Taking note also of Security Council resolution 1329 (2000) of 30 November 2000 concerning the election of two judges of the International Tribunal for Rwanda and the assignment of two of the judges elected or appointed in accordance with article 12 of the statute of the International Tribunal for Rwanda to be members of the Appeals Chamber of the International Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/666 and A/56/717. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Deeply regrets the delay in the submission of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda; 3. Reaffirms paragraph 3 of its resolution 54/240 A of 23 December 1999, and emphasizes that future reports on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda should be submitted by 1 October of the year in which they are to be considered; 4. Notes that a large total number of interns were used, and stresses that the acceptance of such interns should be consistent with the established guidelines, rules and regulations, in particular as regards the exceptional nature of a six-month assignment; 5. Notes with great concern that the high vacancy rate, particularly at the higher level of the administrative hierarchy, affects the effectiveness of the activities of the International Tribunal for Rwanda; 6. Notes the issues raised by the Advisory Committee in paragraphs 12, 16, 18, 29, 30, 44, and 49 of its report,A/56/666. and decides to revert to these issues at the resumed fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly; 7. Decides that the staffing table for the International Tribunal for Rwanda shall remain at levels approved for 2001 until the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session in March 2002 determines appropriate levels for the biennium 2002-2003; 8. Authorizes the International Tribunal for Rwanda to utilize the general temporary assistance resources necessary to provide the equivalent of up to seventy-seven new posts recommended by the Advisory Committee for the purposes and functions intended, it being understood that this utilization of general temporary assistance is to ensure the ability of the Tribunal to assume an accelerated schedule of trials, as foreseen in the budget proposal, and would be without prejudice to the decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-sixth session as regards an authorized staffing table for the biennium 2002-2003; 9. Decides to appropriate, on a provisional basis, subject to further review at its resumed fifty-sixth session, to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for Rwanda, a total amount of 192,312,400 United States dollars gross (173,611,600 dollars net) for the biennium 2002-2003; 10. Decides also that the financing of the appropriation for the biennium 2002-2003 under the Special Account shall take into account the actual unencumbered balance of 3,010,100 dollars gross (2,352,900 dollars net) as at the end of 2000 and the estimated unencumbered balance of 4,237,100 dollars gross (3,851,900 dollars net), which was taken into account in resolution 55/226, as well as the amount of 2,160,000 dollars gross (2,160,000 dollars net), being the interest and other miscellaneous income recorded for the biennium 2000-2001, which shall be set off against the aggregate amount of the appropriation, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 11. Requests the International Tribunal for Rwanda to submit, on an annual basis, a financial and programme performance report to the General Assembly; 12. Notes the proposed maintenance costs for prisoners,A/56/497, para. 13. and requests the Secretary-General to include this item in the context of the requested report on the long-term financial implications of the International Tribunal for Rwanda at the resumed fifty-sixth session; 13. Decides to apportion for the year 2002 the amount of 47,844,850 dollars gross (43,237,650 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for the biennium 2002-2003 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 14. Decides also to apportion for the year 2002 the amount of 47,844,850 dollars gross (43,237,650 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2002; 15. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 13 and 14 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 9,214,400 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the International Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2002-2003. Annex Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED a Includes resources for internal oversight functions as detailed in documents A/C.5/56/30 and A/56/717. b For the year 2003 equivalent amounts will be assessed by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/249 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/715, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/249. Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East TimorA/56/624. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/685. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1272 (1999) of 25 October 1999 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and Council resolution 1338 (2001) of 31 January 2001, by which the Council extended the mandate of the Transitional Administration, Recalling its resolution 54/246 A of 23 December 1999 on the financing of the Transitional Administration and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 55/228 B of 14 June 2001, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the trust fund for the multinational force, Also noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, and inviting further such contributions to the Trust Fund, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Transitional Administration with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor as at 15 November 2001, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 239.9 million United States dollars, representing some 20 per cent of the total assessed contributions from the inception of the Transitional Administration to the period ending 31 December 2001, notes that some 19 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure the payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full and on time, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Transitional Administration in full and on time; 3. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Transitional Administration; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/685. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Transitional Administration is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Transitional Administration against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Transitional Administration; 11. Decides to appropriate the amount of 458,000,128 dollars gross (445,193,514 dollars net) for the operation of the Transitional Administration for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, inclusive of the amount of 3,000,128 dollars gross (2,773,914 dollars net) for the support account for peacekeeping operations, in addition to the amount of 17,027,947 dollars gross (14,943,699 dollars net) already appropriated for the support account and the amount of 1,778,786 dollars gross (1,597,340 dollars net) already appropriated for the United Nations Logistics Base by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/228 B, and inclusive of the amount of 282 million dollars gross (273,025,800 dollars net) authorized by the Assembly in resolution 55/228 B; 12. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 282 million dollars gross (273,025,800 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001 and the amount of 18,806,733 dollars gross (16,541,039 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 55/228 B, to apportion among Member States the amount of 23,000,128 dollars gross (22,220,931 dollars net) for the period from 1 to 31 January 2002, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2002, as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 13. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 12 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 779,197 dollars approved for the Transitional Administration for the period from 1 to 31 January 2002; 14. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 100 million dollars gross (97,235,083 dollars net) for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2002, at a monthly rate of 20 million dollars gross (19,447,016 dollars net), in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2002, as set out in General Assembly resolution 55/5 B, subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Transitional Administration beyond 31 January 2002; 15. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 14 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 2,764,917 dollars approved for the Transitional Administration for the period from 1 February to 30 June 2002; 16. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 17. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Transitional Administration; 18. Invites voluntary contributions to the Transitional Administration in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 19. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor". RESOLUTIONS 56/24 A to V 56/24. General and complete disarmament Resolution A Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Haiti and Russian Federation. by a recorded vote of 82 to 5, with 62 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Barbados, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Benin, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia A Preservation of and compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/60 of 12 December 1995 and 52/30 of 9 December 1997 on compliance with arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements and its resolutions 54/54 A of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 B of 20 November 2000 on preservation of and compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. Recognizing the historical role of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems of 26 May 1972 between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a cornerstone for maintaining global peace and security and strategic stability, and reaffirming its continued validity and relevance, especially in the current international situation, Stressing the paramount importance of full and strict compliance with the Treaty by the parties, Recalling that the provisions of the Treaty are intended as a contribution to the creation of more favourable conditions for further negotiations on limiting strategic arms, Mindful of the obligations of the parties to the Treaty under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. Concerned that the implementation of any measures undermining the purposes and provisions of the Treaty affects not only the security interests of the parties, but also those of the whole international community, Recalling the widespread concern about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, 1. Calls for continued efforts to strengthen the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile SystemsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. and to preserve its integrity and validity so that it remains a cornerstone in maintaining global strategic stability and world peace and in promoting further strategic nuclear arms reductions; 2. Calls also for renewed efforts by each of the States parties to preserve and strengthen the Treaty through full and strict compliance; 3. Calls upon the parties to the Treaty, in accordance with their obligations under the Treaty, to limit the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems, to refrain from the deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems for the defence of the territory of their country, not to provide a base for such a defence and not to transfer to other States or deploy outside their national territory anti-ballistic missile systems or their components limited by the Treaty; 4. Considers that the implementation of any measure undermining the purposes and the provisions of the Treaty also undermines global strategic stability and world peace and the promotion of further strategic nuclear arms reductions; 5. Urges all Member States to support efforts aimed at stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 6. Supports further efforts by the international community, in the light of emerging developments, towards safeguarding the inviolability and integrity of the Treaty, which is in the strongest interest of the international community; 7. Welcomes the ongoing dialogue between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on a new strategic framework premised on openness, mutual confidence and real opportunities for cooperation, which is of paramount importance, especially in a changing security environment, and hopes that this dialogue will successfully lead to substantial reductions in offensive nuclear forces and contribute to the maintenance of international stability; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Preservation of and compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems". Resolution B Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Islamic Republic of Iran. by a recorded vote of 98 to none, with 58 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Yugoslavia B Missiles The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 F of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 A of 20 November 2000, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in the field of arms regulation and disarmament and the commitment of Member States to take concrete steps to strengthen that role, Realizing the need to promote regional and international peace and security in a world free from the scourge of war and the burden of armaments, Convinced of the need for a comprehensive approach towards missiles, in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner, as a contribution to international peace and security, Bearing in mind that the security concerns of Member States at the international and regional levels should be taken into consideration in addressing the issue of missiles, Underlining the complexities involved in considering the issue of missiles in the conventional context, Expressing its support for the international efforts against the development and proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction, Considering that the Secretary-General has been requested, with the assistance of a panel of governmental experts, to prepare a report for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, 1. Notes with satisfaction that the panel of governmental experts established by the Secretary-General held its first session in New York in 2001 and that it intends to convene two more sessions in 2002 in order to complete its mandate; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 55/33 A;A/56/136 and Add.1 and 2. 3. Requests the Secretary-General further to seek the views of Member States on the issue of missiles in all its aspects and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Missiles". Resolution C Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, Haiti, India, Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 98 to 45, with 14 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine C Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the imperative need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to detargeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that reduction of tensions brought about by a change in nuclear doctrines would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling that in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear WeaponsA/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. it is stated that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Welcoming the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 of the present resolution; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the reportSee A/56/400. prepared by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and submitted by the Secretary-General in pursuance of paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 55/33 N of 20 November 2000, in particular the seven recommendations highlighted for further action; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to take steps towards the implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war, including the proposal contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration for convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". Resolution D Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). D Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 I of 15 December 1994, 50/70 F of 12 December 1995, 51/45 C of 10 December 1996, 52/38 F of 9 December 1997, 53/77 AA of 4 December 1998, 54/54 U of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 M of 20 November 2000, Recalling also that, there being a consensus to do so in each case, three special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament were held, in 1978, 1982 and 1988, respectively, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. adopted by consensus at the first special session devoted to disarmament, which included the Declaration, the Programme of Action and the Machinery for disarmament, Bearing in mind also the objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Taking note of paragraph 145 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. which supported the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, which would offer an opportunity to review, from a perspective more in tune with the current international situation, the most critical aspects of the process of disarmament and to mobilize the international community and public opinion in favour of the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and of the control and reduction of conventional weapons, Taking note also of the report of the Disarmament Commission on its 1999 substantive sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42). and of the fact that no consensus was reached on the item entitled "Fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament", Desiring to build upon the substantive exchange of views on the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission, Reiterating its conviction that a special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament can set the future course of action in the field of disarmament, arms control and related international security matters, Emphasizing the importance of multilateralism in the process of disarmament, arms control and related international security matters, Noting that, with the recent accomplishments made by the international community in the field of weapons of mass destruction as well as conventional arms, the following years would be opportune for the international community to start the process of reviewing the state of affairs in the entire field of disarmament and arms control in the post-cold-war era, Taking note of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving that aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/166. regarding the views of Member States on the objectives, agenda and timing of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, 1. Decides, subject to the emergence of a consensus on its objectives and agenda, to convene the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the objectives, agenda and timing of the special session and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament". Resolution E Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). E Relationship between disarmament and development The General Assembly, Recalling the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. concerning the relationship between disarmament and development, Recalling also the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 December 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998, 54/54 T of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 L of 20 November 2000, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. and the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Welcoming the different activities organized by the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development, as described in the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/183. Stressing the growing importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development in current international relations, 1. Calls upon the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development to strengthen and enhance its programme of activities, in accordance with the mandate set out in the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8, para. 35. 2. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries; 3. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General, by 15 April 2002, their views and proposals for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, as well as any other views and proposals with a view to achieving the goals of the action programme, within the framework of current international relations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development". Resolution F Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Alighed Contries). by a recorded vote of 154 to none, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America F Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 K of 20 November 2000, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/165 and Add.1. Mindful of the detrimental environment effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should fully contribute to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress in the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;A/56/165 and Add.1. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing this information to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". Resolution G Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 148 to 4, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: France, Monaco, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: India, Israel, Russian Federation, Spain G Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 I of 20 November 2000, Welcoming the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and Pelindaba,A/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Calls for the ratification of the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba by all States of the region, and calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet done so; 3. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 4. Convinced of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 5. Calls upon the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, in order to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 6. Welcomes the vigorous efforts being made among States parties and signatories to those treaties to promote their common objectives, and considers that an international conference of States parties and signatories to the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties might be held to support the common goals envisaged in those treaties; 7. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of these goals; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". Resolution H Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. H Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 O of 20 November 2000 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". Resolution I Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Fiji, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 151 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstaining: Bhutan I Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". Resolution J Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. J The Conference on Disarmament decision (CD/1547) of 11 August 1998 to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 L of 16 December 1993, 53/77 I of 4 December 1998 and 55/33 Y of 20 November 2000, Convinced that a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices would be a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Recalling the 1998 report of the Conference on Disarmament, in which, inter alia, the Conference records that, in proceeding to take a decision on this matter, that decision is without prejudice to any further decisions on the establishment of further subsidiary bodies under agenda item 1 and that intensive consultations will be pursued to seek the views of the members of the Conference on Disarmament on appropriate methods and approaches for dealing with agenda item 1, taking into consideration all proposals and views in that respect,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. 1. Recalls the decision of the Conference on DisarmamentSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee which shall negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; 2. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty. Resolution K Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Canada, Poland and Uruguay. K Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 55/33 H of 20 November 2000, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that since the adoption of resolution 55/33 H, three additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and forty-three, 1. Emphasizes the necessity of universal adherence to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 2. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties; 3. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 4. Also stresses the vital importance of full and effective implementation of and compliance with all provisions of the Convention; 5. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 6. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 7. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the signature of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". Resolution L Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Sudan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). L Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes The General Assembly, Bearing in mind resolutions CM/Res.1153 (XLVIII) of 1988See A/43/398, annex I. and CM/Res.1225 (L) of 1989,See A/44/603, annex I. adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, concerning the dumping of nuclear and industrial wastes in Africa, Welcoming resolution GC(XXXIV)/RES/530 establishing a Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste, adopted on 21 September 1990 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its thirty-fourth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Thirty-fourth Regular Session, 17-21 September 1990 (GC(XXXIV)/RESOLUTIONS (1990)). Taking note of the commitment by the participants in the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, held in Moscow on 19 and 20 April 1996, to ban the dumping at sea of radioactive wastes,A/51/131, annex I, para. 20. Considering its resolution 2602 C (XXIV) of 16 December 1969, in which it requested the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament,The Conference of the Committee on Disarmament became the Committee on Disarmament as from the tenth special session of the General Assembly. The Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. inter alia, to consider effective methods of control against the use of radiological methods of warfare, Aware of the potential hazards underlying any use of radioactive wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and its implications for regional and international security, in particular for the security of developing countries, Recalling all its resolutions on the matter since its forty-third session in 1988, including its resolution 51/45 J of 10 December 1996, Also recalling resolution GC(45)/RES/10 adopted by consensus on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fifth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17- 21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). in which States shipping radioactive materials are invited to provide, as appropriate, assurances to concerned States, upon their request, that the national regulations of the shipping State take into account the Agency's transport regulations and to provide them with relevant information relating to the shipment of such materials; the information provided should in no case be contradictory to the measures of physical security and safety, Welcoming the adoption at Vienna, on 5 September 1997, of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management,See GOV/INF/821-GC(41)/INF/12, appendix 1. as recommended by the participants at the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, Noting with satisfaction that the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management entered into force on 18 June 2001, and noting also that the Secretariat has convened a preparatory meeting of the Contracting Parties, to be held from 10 to 14 December 2001, to prepare for the first Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties, Desirous of promoting the implementation of paragraph 76 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, 1. Takes note of the part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to a future convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/54/27), chap. III, sect. E. 2. Expresses grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States; 3. Calls upon all States to take appropriate measures with a view to preventing any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States; 4. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to take into account, in the negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons, radioactive wastes as part of the scope of such a convention; 5. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify efforts towards an early conclusion of such a convention and to include in its report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session the progress recorded in the negotiations on this subject; 6. Takes note of resolution CM/Res.1356 (LIV) of 1991, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity,See A/46/390, annex I. on the Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa; 7. Expresses the hope that the effective implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste will enhance the protection of all States from the dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories; 8. Appeals to all Member States that have not yet taken the necessary steps to become party to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementSee GOV/INF/821-GC(41)/INF/12, appendix 1. to do so in time to attend the first Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes". Resolution M Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 138 to none, with 19 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America, Viet Nam M Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to ensure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Welcoming the entry into force on 1 March 1999 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem, Recalling the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Maputo from 3 to 7 May 1999, and the reaffirmation made in the Maputo Declaration of a commitment to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines,See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1, part II. Recalling also the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Geneva from 11 to 15 September 2000, and the Declaration of the Second Meeting of States Parties reaffirming the commitment to implement completely and fully all provisions of the Convention,See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1, part II. Recalling further the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Managua from 18 to 21 September 2001, and the Declaration of the Third Meeting of States Parties reaffirming the unwavering commitment both to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines and to addressing the insidious and inhumane effects of those weapons,See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1, part II. Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and twenty-two, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention; 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information, as required under article 7 of the Convention, in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine awareness programmes, and the removal of anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and the assurance of their destruction; 7. Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate in the programme of inter-sessional work established at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and further developed at the Second and Third Meetings of States Parties to the Convention; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention at Geneva from 16 to 20 September 2002, and, on behalf of States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the Meeting as observers; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction". Resolution N Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Fiji, Japan, Lebanon and Papua New Guinea. by a recorded vote of 139 to 3, with 19 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Belarus, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Russian Federation, San Marino, South Africa, Sweden N A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 H of 15 December 1994, 50/70 C of 12 December 1995, 51/45 G of 10 December 1996, 52/38 K of 9 December 1997, 53/77 U of 4 December 1998, 54/54 D of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 R of 20 November 2000, Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament mutually complement and strengthen each other, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsIbid., vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and as an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, Recognizing the progress made by the nuclear-weapon States in the reduction of their nuclear weapons unilaterally or through negotiations, including the START process, and the efforts made towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation by the international community, Reaffirming the conviction that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation, ensuring international peace and security, Bearing in mind the recent nuclear tests, as well as the regional situations, which pose a challenge to international efforts to strengthen the global regime for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, Taking note of the report of the Tokyo Forum for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament,A/54/205-S/1999/853, annex. bearing in mind the various views of Member States on the report, Welcoming the successful adoption of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). and stressing the importance of implementing its conclusions, Also welcoming the successful convening of the International Symposium for the Further Reinforcement of International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards in the Asia-Pacific Region: Towards Universalization of Additional Protocol, recently held in Tokyo, and sharing the hope for continued efforts to hold similar symposiums in other regions for strengthening the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards system, including universalization of its safeguards agreements, and the additional protocols thereto, Encouraging the Russian Federation and the United States of America to continue their intensive consultations on the interrelated subjects of offensive and defensive systems and to complete them with a view to enhancing international peace and security, Calling for efforts towards the success of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, to be convened in accordance with article XIV of the Treaty,See resolution 50/245. 1. Reaffirms the importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions; 2. Also reaffirms the importance for all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty; 3. Stresses the central importance of the following practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty:1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. (a) The importance and urgency of signatures and ratifications, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. as well as a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of that Treaty; (b) The establishment of an ad hoc committee in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2002 session to negotiate a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995CD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives, with a view to its conclusion within five years and, pending its entry into force, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; (c) The establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2002 session in the context of establishing a programme of work; (d) The inclusion of the principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; (e) An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, as agreed at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty; (f) Deep reductions by the Russian Federation and the United States of America in their strategic offensive arsenals, while placing great importance on the existing multilateral treaties, with a view to maintaining and strengthening strategic stability and international security; (g) Steps by all the nuclear-weapon States leading to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all: (i) Further efforts by all the nuclear-weapon States to continue to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (ii) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to their nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as voluntary confidence-building measures to support further progress on nuclear disarmament; (iii) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (iv) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (v) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (vi) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; (h) Reaffirmation that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control; 4. Recognizes that the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons will require further steps, including deeper reductions in nuclear weapons by all nuclear-weapon States in the process of working towards achieving their elimination; 5. Invites the nuclear-weapon States to keep the States Members of the United Nations duly informed of the progress or efforts made towards nuclear disarmament; 6. Emphasizes the importance of a successful Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2005 as the first session of the Preparatory Committee is convened in 2002; 7. Welcomes the ongoing efforts in the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, notes the importance of the safe and effective management of the resultant fissile materials and calls for arrangements by all the nuclear-weapon States to place, as soon as practicable, the fissile material designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under the International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes in order to ensure that such material remains permanently outside military programmes; 8. Stresses the importance of further development of the verification capabilities, including International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, that will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 9. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, confirming and strengthening, if necessary, their policies not to transfer equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to the proliferation of those weapons, while ensuring that such policies are consistent with the obligations of States under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 10. Also calls upon all States to maintain the highest possible standards of security, safe custody, effective control and physical protection of all materials that could contribute to the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in order, inter alia, to prevent those materials from falling into the hands of terrorists; 11. Welcomes the adoption and stresses the importance of resolution GC(45)/RES/13,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17- 21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). adopted on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which it is recommended that the Director General of the Agency, its Board of Governors and member States continue to consider implementing the elements of the plan of action outlined in resolution GC(44)/RES/19,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC (2000)). adopted on 22 September 2000 by the General Conference of the Agency, to promote and facilitate the conclusion and entry into force of safeguards agreements and additional protocols, and calls for the early and full implementation of that resolution; 12. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Resolution O Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Algeria. by a recorded vote of 156 to 1, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstaining: Cuba, Israel, Pakistan O 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its Preparatory Committee The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2373 (XXII) of 12 June 1968, the annex to which contains the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. Noting the provisions of article VIII, paragraph 3, of the Treaty regarding the convening of review conferences at five-year intervals, Recalling the decision of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. which reaffirmed the provisions in the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 1. Noting the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 1. in which it was agreed that Review Conferences should continue to be held every five years, and noting that, accordingly, the next Review Conference should be held in 2005, Recalling the decision of the 2000 Review Conference that three sessions of the Preparatory Committee should be held in the years prior to the Review Conference,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. Recalling also its resolution 55/33 D of 20 November 2000, in which it welcomed the adoption by consensus of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). 1. Takes note of the decision of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, following appropriate consultations, to hold the first session of the Preparatory Committee in New York from 8 to 19 April 2002; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its Preparatory Committee. Resolution P Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Zambia. P Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 52/38 G of 9 December 1997, 53/77 M of 4 December 1998, 54/54 H of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 G of 20 November 2000, Convinced that a comprehensive and integrated approach towards certain practical disarmament measures often is a prerequisite to maintaining and consolidating peace and security and thus provides a basis for effective post-conflict peace-building, namely the rehabilitation and social and economic development in areas that have suffered from conflict; such measures are, inter alia, collection and responsible disposal, preferably through destruction, of weapons obtained through illicit trafficking or illicit manufacture as well as of weapons and ammunition declared by competent national authorities to be surplus to requirements, particularly with regard to small arms and light weapons, unless another form of disposition or use has been officially authorized and provided that such weapons have been duly marked and registered; confidence-building measures; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; demining; and conversion, Noting with satisfaction that the international community is more than ever aware of the importance of such practical disarmament measures, especially with regard to the growing problems arising from the excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons, which pose a threat to peace and security and reduce the prospects for economic development in many regions, particularly in post-conflict situations, Stressing that further efforts are needed in order to develop and effectively implement programmes of practical disarmament in affected areas so as to complement, on a case-by-case basis, peacekeeping and peace-building efforts, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms,A/54/258. and in particular the recommendations contained therein, as an important contribution to the consolidation of the peace process through practical disarmament measures, Taking into account the deliberations at the 2001 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission in Working Group II on agenda item 5, entitled "Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/56/42). and encouraging the Disarmament Commission to continue its efforts aimed at the identification of such measures, Welcoming the Programme of Action adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. which should be implemented expeditiously, 1. Stresses, in the context of the present resolution, the particular relevance of the "Guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace in the context of General Assembly resolution 51/45 N",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex III. adopted by the Disarmament Commission by consensus at its 1999 substantive session; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures, submitted pursuant to resolution 51/45 N,A/52/289. and once again encourages Member States, as well as regional arrangements and agencies, to lend their support to the implementation of recommendations contained therein; 3. Welcomes the activities undertaken by the group of interested States that was formed in New York in March 1998, and invites the group to continue to analyse lessons learned from previous disarmament and peace-building projects, as well as to promote new practical disarmament measures to consolidate peace, especially as undertaken or designed by affected States themselves; 4. Encourages Member States, including the group of interested States, to lend their support to the Secretary-General in responding to requests by Member States to collect and destroy small arms and light weapons in post-conflict situations; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into consideration the activities of the group of interested States in this regard; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures". Resolution Q Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 135 to none, with 23 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, China, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Yemen Q Transparency in armaments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 47/52 L of 15 December 1992, 48/75 E of 16 December 1993, 49/75 C of 15 December 1994, 50/70 D of 12 December 1995, 51/45 H of 10 December 1996, 52/38 R of 9 December 1997, 53/77 V of 4 December 1998, 54/54 O of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 U of 20 November 2000 entitled "Transparency in armaments", Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional ArmsSee resolution 46/36 L. constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters, Welcoming the consolidated report of the Secretary-General on the Register,A/56/257 and Add.1. which includes the returns of Member States for 2000, Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available background information regarding their military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies, Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure a Register that is capable of attracting the widest possible participation, 1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,See resolution 46/36 L. as provided for in paragraphs 7 to 10 of resolution 46/36 L; 2. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General by 31 May annually with the requested data and information for the Register, including nil reports if appropriate, on the basis of resolutions 46/36 L and 47/52 L, the recommendations contained in paragraph 64 of the 1997 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further developmentA/52/316 and Corr.2. and the recommendations contained in paragraph 94 of the 2000 report of the Secretary-General and the appendices and annexes thereto;A/55/281. 3. Invites Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings and to make use of the "Remarks" column in the standardized reporting form to provide additional information such as types or models; 4. Reaffirms its decision, with a view to further development of the Register, to keep the scope of and participation in the Register under review and, to that end: (a) Recalls its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction; (b) Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 2003, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, taking into account the work of the Conference on Disarmament, the views expressed by Member States and the reports of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, with a view to a decision at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to implement the recommendations contained in his 2000 report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work undertaken in the field of transparency in armaments; 7. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooperate at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion, with a view to enhancing and coordinating international efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on progress made in implementing the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Transparency in armaments". Resolution R Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Panama, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 103 to 41, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Sweden, Ukraine R Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 T of 20 November 2000 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Noting the reiteration by the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsIbid., vol. 729, No. 10485. of their conviction that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the reaffirmation by the States parties of the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on the extension of the TreatySee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the resolution on the Middle East,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Recognizing that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. and any proposed treaty on fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices must constitute disarmament measures, and not only non-proliferation measures, Welcoming the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Welcoming also the ratification of the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START II)Ibid., vol. 18: 1993 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.IX.1), appendix II. by the Russian Federation, and looking forward to its early entry into force and its full implementation and to an early commencement of START III negotiations, Noting with appreciation the unilateral measures by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 114 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to commence negotiations in 1998 on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament and for the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Recalling paragraph 72 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Bearing in mind the principles and guidelines on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its substantive session of 1999,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Welcoming the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that, in view of recent political developments, the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to the elimination of these weapons; 2. Also recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 3. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 4. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclearweapon systems; 5. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to the total elimination of these weapons; 6. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on the joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 7. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 8. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 9. Welcomes the positive outcome of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the Review Conference, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VI, para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,Ibid., art. VII, para. 2. and calls for the full and effective implementation of the steps set out in the Final Document; 10. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament, on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 11. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 12. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 13. Calls also for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 14. Expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament at its 2001 session, as called for in General Assembly resolution 55/33 T; 15. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2002 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons; 16. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". Resolution S Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 111 to 29, with 21 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Micronesia (Federated States of), Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Yugoslavia S Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 X of 20 November 2000, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear-arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Welcoming the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, adopted at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VI, para. 15:6. Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Noting the efforts by the States possessing the largest inventories of nuclear weapons to reduce their stockpiles of such weapons through bilateral agreements or arrangements and unilateral decisions, and calling for the intensification of such efforts to accelerate the significant reduction of nuclear-weapon arsenals, Stressing the importance of strengthening all existing nuclear-related disarmament, arms control and reduction measures, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference during its 2001 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the note by the Secretary-GeneralA/56/130 and Add.1. relating to the implementation of resolution 55/33 X, 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations in 2002 leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its fifty-seventh session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". Resolution T Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. T Multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling that the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. stated that the responsibility for managing threats to international peace and security must be shared among the nations of the world, Recognizing that disarmament and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Emphasizing that all General Assembly and Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism, in particular General Assembly resolutions 49/60 of 9 December 1994 and 56/1 of 12 September 2001 and Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001 and 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, demonstrate the unity and solidarity of the international community in the face of the common threat of terrorism and its determination to combat it, Recognizing the close connection between international terrorism and illicit arms-trafficking and the illegal movement of nuclear, chemical, biological and other potentially deadly materials, Reaffirming the importance of taking all necessary steps to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Noting with concern the lack of sufficient progress in multilateral disarmament diplomacy, Determined to build a common response to global threats in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, 1. Reaffirms multilateralism as a core principle in negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope; 2. Emphasizes that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism; 3. Calls upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursuing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation. Resolution U Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali (on behalf of States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Economic Community of West African States), Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. U Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them The General Assembly, Considering that the proliferation and illicit circulation of and traffic in small arms impede development, constitute a threat to populations and to national and regional security and are a factor contributing to the destabilization of States, Deeply disturbed by the magnitude of the proliferation, illicit circulation and traffic of small arms in the States of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion, Noting with satisfaction the conclusions of the United Nations advisory missions dispatched by the Secretary-General to the affected countries of the subregion to study the most appropriate way of halting the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting them, Welcoming the designation of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat as a centre for the coordination of all activities of United Nations bodies concerned with small arms, Thanking the Secretary-General for his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and bearing in mind the statement on small arms made by the President of the Security Council on 24 September 1999,S/PRST/1999/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. Welcoming the recommendations resulting from the meetings of the States of the subregion held at Banjul, Algiers, Bamako, Yamoussoukro and Niamey to establish close regional cooperation with a view to strengthening security, Welcoming also the initiative taken by the Economic Community of West African States concerning the declaration of a moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, Recalling the Algiers Declaration adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 1 (XXXV). Emphasizing the need to advance efforts towards wider cooperation and better coordination in the struggle against the accumulation, proliferation and widespread use of small arms through the common understanding reached at the meeting on small arms held at Oslo on 13 and 14 July 1998See CD/1556. and the Brussels Call for Action adopted by the International Conference on Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development, held at Brussels on 12 and 13 October 1998,A/53/681, annex. Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted at Bamako on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. Taking note of the millennium report of the Secretary-General,A/54/2000. Welcoming the Programme of Action of the first United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. Recognizing the important role that the organizations of civil society play in detection, prevention and arousing public awareness in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms, 1. Notes with satisfaction the Declaration of the Ministerial Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa, held in Abuja on 8 and 9 May 2000,A/55/286, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 4 (XXXVI). encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his action in the context of the implementation of resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and of the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions, aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting such arms in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the Organization of African Unity; 2. Encourages the establishment in the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion of national commissions to combat the proliferation of small arms, and invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible to ensure the smooth functioning of the said commissions; 3. Welcomes the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, adopted by the heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States in Abuja on 31 October 1998,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. and encourages the international community to support the implementation of the said moratorium; 4. Encourages the involvement of civil society organizations and associations in the efforts of the national committees to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and their participation in the implementation of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa; 5. Takes note of the conclusions of the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Economic Community of West African States, held in Bamako on 24 and 25 March 1999, with respect to the modalities for implementing the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, and welcomes the adoption by the meeting of a plan of action; 6. Encourages cooperation between State organs, international organizations and civil society in combating the illicit traffic in small arms and supporting operations to collect the said arms in the subregions; 7. Invites the Secretary-General and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them; 8. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to take action to combat the illicit trade in small arms; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the matter and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them". Resolution V Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/536, para. 73)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Zambia. V The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 B of 12 December 1995, 52/38 J of 9 December 1997, 53/77 E and 53/77 T of 4 December 1998, 54/54 R of 1 December 1999, 54/54 V of 15 December 1999 and 55/33 Q of 20 November 2000, Recalling also its decision 55/415 of 20 November 2000 to convene the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001, Welcoming the adoption by consensus of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects by the Conference, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. 1. Decides to convene a conference, no later than 2006, to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, the date and venue to be decided by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 2. Also decides to convene a meeting of States on a biennial basis, commencing in 2003, to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action; 3. Calls upon all States to implement the Programme of Action; 4. Encourages the United Nations and other appropriate international and regional organizations to undertake initiatives to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action; 5. Encourages non-governmental organizations and civil society to engage, as appropriate, in all aspects of international, regional, subregional and national efforts to implement the Programme of Action; 6. Encourages all States to promote and strengthen regional and subregional initiatives to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects; 7. Continues to encourage States to take appropriate national measures to destroy surplus, confiscated or collected small arms and light weapons, subject to any legal constraint associated with the preparation of criminal prosecutions, unless another form of disposition or use has been officially authorized and provided that such weapons have been duly marked and registered, and to submit, on a voluntary basis, information to the Secretary-General on types and quantities destroyed as well as the methods of their destruction or disposition; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that resources and expertise are made available to the Secretariat to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action; 9. Encourages all initiatives to mobilize resources and expertise to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action and to provide assistance to States in their implementation of the Programme of Action; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake a United Nations study, commencing during the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, within available financial resources and with any other assistance provided by States in a position to do so, and with the assistance of governmental experts appointed by him on the basis of equitable geographical representation, while seeking the views of States, to examine the feasibility of developing an international instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons and to submit the study to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 11. Decides to consider at its fifty-seventh session further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, through the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, to collate and circulate data and information provided by States on a voluntary basis, including national reports, on the implementation by those States of the Programme of Action; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session an item entitled "The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 56/250 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/714 and Corr.1, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/250. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaA/56/610. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/661. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1312 (2000) of 31 July 2000, by which the Council established the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1369 (2001) of 14 September 2001, Recalling its resolution 55/237 of 23 December 2000 on the financing of the Mission and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 55/252 B of 14 June 2001, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea as at 15 November 2001, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 100.3 million United States dollars, representing, regrettably, 36 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes that some 12 per cent of the Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have paid their assessed contributions in full and on time and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full and on time; 3. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors, that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/661. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 11. Decides to appropriate the amount of 200,279,308 dollars gross (196,227,505 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Mission for the twelve-month period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, inclusive of the amount of 1,879,308 dollars gross (1,737,605 dollars net) for the support account for peacekeeping operations, in addition to the amount of 5,444,104 dollars gross (4,777,737 dollars net) already appropriated for the support account, and the amount of 568,706 dollars gross (510,695 dollars net) already appropriated for the United Nations Logistics Base by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/252 B, and inclusive of the amount of 90 million dollars gross (88,933,450 dollars net) authorized by the Assembly in resolution 55/252 B; 12. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 90 million dollars gross (88,933,450 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001 and the amount of 6,012,810 dollars gross (5,288,432 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 55/252 B, to apportion among Member States the amount of 52,412,641 dollars gross (50,567,834 dollars net) for the period from 1 July 2001 to 15 March 2002 in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235 , as adjusted by its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the years 2001 and 2002 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000, the scale of assessments for the year 2001 to be applied against a portion thereof, that is, 9.2 million dollars gross (8,311,500 dollars net) for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001, and the scale of assessment for the year 2002 to be applied against the balance, that is, 43,212,641 dollars gross (42,256,334 dollars net) for the period from 1 January to 15 March 2002; 13. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 12 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 1,844,807 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 1 July 2001 to 15 March 2002, 888,500 dollars being the amount pertaining to the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001, and the balance, that is, 956,307 dollars, pertaining to the period from 1 January to 15 March 2002; 14. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 57,866,667 dollars gross (56,726,221 dollars net) for the period from 16 March to 30 June 2002, at a monthly rate of 16,533,333 dollars gross (16,207,492 dollars net) in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2002 as set out in General Assembly resolution 55/5 B, subject to any decision by the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission beyond 15 March 2002; 15. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 14 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 1,140,446 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 16 March to 30 June 2002; 16. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 17. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 18. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 19. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea". RESOLUTION 56/251 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/712, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/251. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra LeoneA/56/487. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/621. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1270 (1999) of 22 October 1999, by which the Council established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council revised and extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1370 (2001) of 18 September 2001, Recalling its resolution 53/29 of 20 November 1998 on the financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone and subsequent resolutions on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, the latest of which was resolution 55/251 B of 14 June 2001, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone as at 15 November 2001, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 317.1 million United States dollars, representing, regrettably, some 30 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes that some 11 per cent of Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full and on time, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure the payment of their assessed contributions to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone in full and on time; 3. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/621. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 11. Decides to appropriate the amount of 699,230,584 dollars gross (693,126,185 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Mission for the twelve-month period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, inclusive of the amount of 7,230,584 dollars gross (6,685,385 dollars net) for the support account for peacekeeping operations, in addition to the amount of 16,634,763 dollars gross (14,598,640 dollars net) already appropriated for the support account, and the amount of 1,737,712 dollars gross (1,560,456 dollars net) already appropriated for the United Nations Logistics Base by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/251 B, inclusive also of the amount of 275 million dollars gross (273,375,000 dollars net) authorized by the Assembly in resolution 55/251 B; 12. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 275 million dollars gross (273,375,000 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001 and the amount of 18,372,475 dollars gross (16,159,096 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 55/251 B, to apportion among Member States the amount of 251,230,584 dollars gross (248,140,985 dollars net) for the period from 1 July 2001 to 31 March 2002, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the years 2001 and 2002 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000, the scale of assessments for the year 2001 to be applied against a portion thereof, that is, 71 million dollars gross (69,845,400 dollars net) for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001, and the scale of assessments for the year 2002 to be applied against the balance, that is, 180,230,584 dollars gross (178,295,585 dollars net) for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2002; 13. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 12 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 3,089,599 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 1 July 2001 to 31 March 2002, 1,154,600 dollars being the amount pertaining to the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001, and the balance, that is, 1,934,999 dollars pertaining to the period from 1 January to 31 March 2002; 14. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 132 million dollars gross (130,938,600 dollars net) for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2002, at a monthly rate of 44 million dollars gross (43,646,200 dollars net) in accordance with the scheme set out in the present resolution and taking into account the scale of assessments for the year 2002 as set out in General Assembly resolution 55/5 B, subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission beyond 31 March 2002; 15. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 14 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 1,061,400 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2002; 16. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 17. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 18. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 19. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone". RESOLUTION 56/252 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/713, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/252. Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the CongoA/56/660. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/688. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1258 (1999) of 6 August 1999, by which the Council established the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council revised and extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1376 (2001) of 9 November 2001, Recalling its resolution 54/260 A of 7 April 2000 as well as subsequent resolutions on the financing of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 55/275 of 14 June 2001, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Reiterates paragraph 1 of its resolution 55/275; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as at 15 November 2001, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 152.6 million United States dollars, representing, regrettably, some 40 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes that some 22 per cent of Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States concerned, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have paid their assessed contributions in full and on time, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 4. Expresses concern about the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/56/688. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 12. Decides to appropriate the additional amount of 196,593,590 dollars gross (193,819,705 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Mission for the nine-month period from 1 July 2001 to 31 March 2002, inclusive of the amount of 3,351,190 dollars gross (3,098,505 dollars net) for the support account for peacekeeping operations, in addition to the amount of 8,260,509 dollars gross (7,249,409 dollars net) already appropriated for the support account, the amount of 862,915 dollars gross (774,893 dollars net) already appropriated for the United Nations Logistics Base and the amount of 200 million dollars gross (194,823,300 dollars net) for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001 appropriated and assessed by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/275; 13. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 200 million dollars gross (194,823,300 dollars net) already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2001 in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 55/275, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 196,593,590 dollars gross (193,819,705 dollars net) for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2002 in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235 as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the years 2001 and 2002 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000; 14. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 13 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 2,773,885 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2002; 15. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 16. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 17. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 18. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo". RESOLUTION 56/253 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/736, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 56/253. Questions relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly, I Reaffirming its resolutions 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 42/211 of 21 December 1987 and section VI of its resolution 45/248 B of 21 December 1990, Recalling its resolution 55/233 of 23 December 2000, Recalling also its resolutions 54/249 of 23 December 1999 and 55/234 of 23 December 2000, Recalling the relevant paragraphs of resolutions 52/12 A and 52/12 B of 12 November and 19 December 1997, respectively, as well as resolutions 52/235 of 26 June 1998, 53/220 A of 7 April 1999, 53/220 B of 8 June 1999 and 54/15 of 29 October 1999, relating to the Development Account, Recalling also paragraph 2 (a) of its resolution 1798 (XVII) of 11 December 1962, Reaffirming the respective mandates of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in the consideration of the proposed programme budget, Reaffirming also the requirement of all Member States to fulfil their financial obligations as set out in the Charter of the United Nations on time, in full and without conditions, Having considered the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003,The proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 is contained in documents A/56/6 and Corr.1 and Add.1 (Introduction, sections. 1-33 and Income sections 1-3). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 6. the relevant reports of the Advisory CommitteeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7); and A/56/7/Add.1-7 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session Supplement No.7A). and the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-first session,Ibid., Supplement No. 16 (A/56/16). Recognizing the detrimental effect of the withholding of assessed contributions on the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations, Recognizing also that late payments of assessed contributions adversely affect the financial situation of the Organization, Stressing that the established procedures for the formulation, implementation and approval of the programme budget must be maintained and strictly followed, 1. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 2. Reaffirms also rule 153 of its rules of procedure; 3. Reaffirms further the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of EvaluationST/SGB/2000/8. and the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 4. Recalls section III, paragraph 13, of its resolution 55/222 of 23 December 2000, and requests the Secretary-General to submit, in a consolidated form, the long overdue and delayed revisions to the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations approved by the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to take steps to ensure proper compliance with all regulations and rules of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, as well as the relevant resolutions that establish the budgetary procedures, as part of the preparation of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, reporting thereon to the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-second session; 6. Decides that no changes to the budget methodology, to established budgetary procedures and practices or to the financial regulations may be implemented without prior review and approval by the General Assembly, in accordance with established budgetary procedures; 7. Reaffirms the role of the General Assembly in carrying out a thorough analysis and approval of posts and financial resources, as well as of human resources policies, with a view to ensuring the full implementation of all mandated programmes and activities and the implementation of policies in this regard; 8. Welcomes the timely submission of the proposed programme budget and the continued efforts made by the Secretary-General to improve the format of the proposed programme budget; 9. Notes with satisfaction the clarity of the presentation of the proposed programme budget, including through the provision of organization charts, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, in the presentation of such charts in the future, complete information on proposals for additional posts, conversions and reclassifications is reflected; 10. Decides that the staffing table for each year of the biennium 2002-2003 shall be as contained in annex II to the present resolution; 11. Notes with concern the late submission of section 11B, International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/WTO), of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 12. Commends the efforts and initiatives of the Secretary-General aimed at reforming the United Nations; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, in the implementation of approved reform proposals, there is no adverse impact on the fulfilment of legislative mandates; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to review the format currently used for the presentation of estimates, gross and net, of staff assessment, with a view to enhancing comparability with other organizations of the United Nations system, and to report on options in this regard to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 15. Further requests the Secretary-General, in preparing the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, to ensure full compliance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 55/231 of 23 December 2000 and with the relevant approved recommendations made by the Committee for Programme and Coordination in paragraphs 35 to 40 of its report,Ibid., Supplement No. 16 (A/56/16). as well as those of the Advisory Committee in paragraphs 10 to 18 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7). bearing in mind the intergovernmental, multilateral and international character of the United Nations; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to make proposals for the incorporation in the proposed revisions to the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1). of a medium-term plan chapter to cover the activities of section 1 of the budget to be considered by the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-second session; 17. Reiterates that indicators of achievement should be used, where appropriate, to measure the performance of the Secretariat and not of Member States; 18. Emphasizes that the resources proposed by the Secretary-General should be commensurate with all mandated programmes and activities in order to ensure their full, efficient and effective implementation; 19. Renews its appeal to Member States to demonstrate their commitment to the United Nations by, inter alia, meeting their financial obligations on time, in full and without conditions, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; II 20. Reaffirms that the medium-term plan, as approved by the General Assembly, shall continue to constitute the principal policy directive of the United Nations; 21. Reiterates that the priorities for the biennium 2002-2003 are the following: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 22. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the programme narrative of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 contained in the report of the Committee on the work of its forty-first session,Ibid., Supplement No. 16 (A/56/16). subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 23. Emphasizes that programmes and activities mandated by the General Assembly must be respected and implemented fully in the most effective and efficient manner; 24. Reaffirms that changes in mandated programmes and activities are the prerogative of the General Assembly; 25. Notes with concern that some sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 are not consistent with the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, and requests the Secretary-General to prepare the next biennial proposed programme budget in full conformity with the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/234, in particular with regard to the expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement and, taking into account mandates specific to the biennium; 26. Reiterates that the allocation of resources should reflect fully the priorities established in the medium-term plan, and notes the importance of adopting efficient and effective management practices within the United Nations system, in particular by promoting cooperation, learning and comparison of experience between United Nations duty stations, so that optimal practices are widely adopted, as appropriate; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the necessary management improvement measures as indicated in paragraph 26 above, and to report thereon to the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-second session; 28. Recalls paragraph 28 of General Assembly resolution 54/249, in which it requested the Secretary-General to provide a better explanation in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 on the use of standard costs and unit rates, notes with regret the absence of such explanations and requests the Secretary-General to address this matter in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 29. Emphasizes that cost accounting and the system of costing outputs are an important part of an effective and transparent decision-making process, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on this subject; 30. Reaffirms the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. and requests the Secretary-General to implement regulation 5.6 of the regulations and rules and to report to the General Assembly on his effort, and also reaffirms that the application of rule 105.6 (a) should continue to reflect the understanding that approval of the medium-term plan and the programme budget constitute the reaffirmation of the mandate reflected therein; 31. Notes with concern the high cost of information technology-related equipment at some duty stations away from Headquarters; 32. Recalls its resolution 56/239 of 24 December 2001, in which it requested the Secretary-General to resubmit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session his proposed information technology strategy to improve efficiency, clarify responsibilities in the Secretariat, improve decision-making and identify information technology priorities; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure a more consistent presentation of proposed expenditure on information technology-related services and equipment for the biennium 2004-2005, detailing the maintenance and unit costs for equipment and making a full distinction between internal and external costs; 34. Also requests the Secretary-General to conduct a review of library services covering the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, the libraries of the United Nations Offices at Geneva and at Vienna, libraries in the regional commissions, departmental libraries, libraries at information centres and depositary libraries, with a view to defining the purpose of United Nations library services and identifying primary clients or users and the relationships and roles of the libraries, including the best way to achieve their mandates through the relevant intergovernmental bodies, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 35. Further requests the Secretary-General to implement as soon as possible new and more efficient ways of providing library services; 36. Decides to make changes, as contained in annex I to the present resolution, to the programme narratives in the final published version of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, as reflected in the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-first session and the provisions of the present resolution; 37. Requests the Secretary-General to study the possibility of introducing a practice whereby user departments within the United Nations Secretariat are responsible from their own budgets for the consumption and payment of those central services currently borne centrally under section 27, Common support services, of the regular budget, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; III 38. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee contained in its reports on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7); and A/56/7/Add.1-7 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session Supplement No.7A). subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 39. Reaffirms paragraph 6 of its resolution 55/233, whereby the General Assembly decided, inter alia, that additional requirements in the amount of 93.7 million United States dollars (before recosting) included in the proposed programme budget for the financing of special political missions should be financed in conformity with the provisions of resolution 41/213; 40. Reaffirms its support for maintaining the international character of the Organization and for the principles of efficiency, competence and integrity enshrined in Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations; 41. Reaffirms the role of the General Assembly with regard to the structure of the Secretariat, including the creation, conversion, suppression and redeployment of posts, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the General Assembly with comprehensive information on all decisions involving established and temporary high-level posts, including equivalent positions financed from the regular budget and from extrabudgetary resources; 42. Emphasizes that there shall be no arbitrary ceiling on the budget of the United Nations, and that resources proposed by the Secretary-General, in the context of the proposed programme budget, should be commensurate with all mandated programmes and activities, in order to ensure their full, effective and efficient implementation; 43. Requests the Secretary-General, in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, to submit estimates of the total amount of resources, from all sources of financing, that he should have at his disposal to be able to implement fully the mandated programmes and activities efficiently and effectively; 44. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session an updated study on a comprehensive solution to the problem of additional expenditures deriving from inflation and currency fluctuations, taking into account its resolution 41/213; 45. Reaffirms its role in carrying out a thorough analysis and approval of human and financial resources, with a view to ensuring the full, efficient and effective implementation of all mandated programmes and activities and the implementation of policies in this regard; 46. Emphasizes the need for Member States to provide adequate resources for the full, efficient and effective implementation of all mandated programmes and activities; 47. Reiterates the need for the Secretary-General to ensure that resources are utilized strictly for the purposes approved by the General Assembly; 48. Notes the substantial reliance on extrabudgetary resources in some sections of the proposed programme budget, in view of the mandated programmes and activities, of some programmes, and reiterates that core functions of the United Nations, as a principle, should be financed through apportionment among Member States; 49. Notes with concern the current and projected potential decreasing trend in extrabudgetary resources and that this decrease in some sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 could have an adverse impact on the effective implementation of programmes and activities, especially those programmes that are still heavily funded primarily through such resources; 50. Notes that the bulk of extrabudgetary funds are tied to specific operations and utilized on the basis of donor wishes, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that this does not affect the nature of the programme or the orientation of its mandates; 51. Requests the Secretary-General to select consultants and experts, as well as staff charged against general temporary assistance, on as wide a geographical basis as possible, in accordance with the principles of the Charter and the provisions of General Assembly resolution 53/221 of 7 April 1999; 52. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, in future programme budget proposals, requests for consultants and experts groups are clearly and separately identified in the programme narratives; 53. Reaffirms that the vacancy rate is a tool for budgetary calculations and should not be used to achieve budgetary savings; 54. Also reaffirms that deliberate management decisions should not be taken to keep a certain number of posts vacant, as this action makes the budget process less transparent and management of human and financial resources less efficient; 55. Decides that a vacancy rate of 6.5 per cent for Professional staff and 3.1 per cent for General Service staff shall be used as a basis for the calculation of the budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 56. Notes that, should the realized vacancy rates be lower than those budgeted, the General Assembly would provide additional resources, if required, in the first and/or second performance report, so as to preclude the need for any constraint on recruitment of staff; 57. Requests the Secretary-General to recruit staff expeditiously through proper planning and by streamlining personnel practices and procedures, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 55/238 of 23 December 2000, in order to avoid any adverse impact of a high vacancy rate on the effective and efficient implementation and delivery of mandated programmes and activities; 58. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that posts are not deliberately left vacant to provide a cushion for absorbing the costs of special missions and other activities authorized "within available resources"; 59. Reaffirms paragraphs 62 and 63 of the annex to its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997; 60. Regrets that the Secretary-General did not undertake a comprehensive review of the post structure of the Secretariat and did not make proposals in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 to address the top-heavy nature of the Organization; 61. Decides not to approve the upward reclassifications of the posts requested by the Secretary-General in the proposed budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 62. Notes with concern that the comprehensive review of the post structure of the Secretariat requested in its resolution 54/249 to address the top-heavy post structure of the Organization was not submitted, and reiterates that the comprehensive review be submitted to it at its fifty-seventh session; 63. Also notes with concern the number of reclassifications and new posts at senior levels proposed by the Secretary-General, which could lead to a further distortion in the pyramid staff structure of an Organization that is already top-heavy; 64. Further notes with concern the inadequacies of existing mechanisms for proposing and filling the reclassified posts, and requests the Secretary-General to establish a new mechanism centralizing within the auspices of the Office of Human Resources Management all proposals for reclassification, provided that all such proposals meet the following criteria: (a) Proposals are of an exceptional nature; (b) There is justification in terms of a change in the nature or scope of the work; (c) There are full details outlining the increase in the responsibility; (d) Such proposals are accompanied by justifiable and verifiable workload statistics; (e) Any request involving the grading of a post must be justified solely in relation to the post itself and without reference to the incumbent or potential incumbent; (f) The potential incumbent of the post being proposed for reclassification has encumbered that post for at least three years; 65. Emphasizes that the reclassification of posts should not be used as a promotion tool and that reclassified posts, as approved by the General Assembly, should be filled only in full conformity with the established procedures for recruitment and placement; 66. Notes with concern cases in which incumbents of posts are being paid at a level other than the one provided for in the budget, and requests the Secretary-General to provide a comprehensive report on this matter to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 67. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to comply strictly with the approved travel policies, standards, and regulations and rules, particularly with respect to ensuring that travel is undertaken by the most direct and economical route; 68. Notes the current use of videoconferencing as a means of communication within the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to study comprehensively this issue and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 69. Requests the Secretary-General to further enhance cooperation between relevant headquarters departments and regional commissions in order to ensure the quality of output and services to Member States and address the duplication and overlap of services, where they exist, and to improve the efficiency of programme support activities, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 70. Decides to reduce the resources proposed by the Secretary-General for allocation for specific operational requirements, as follows: (a) Travel of staff, by 2.8 million dollars; (b) Contractual services, by 6.4 million dollars; (c) General operating expenses, by 19.7 million dollars; (d) Supplies and materials, by 1.4 million dollars; (e) Furniture and equipment, by 7.2 million dollars; (f) Consultants and experts, with exception of resources allocated under section 9 for the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and under sections 1 to 20 for the regional commissions, by 2 million dollars; (g) Information technology, with exception of resources for the Economic Commission for Africa allocated under section 16, by 10 million dollars; IV 71. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure a more balanced proportion of staff costs devoted to programme support in comparison with those devoted to the programme of work itself in all the regional commissions, in particular in the Economic Commission for Africa; 72. Notes with concern the high proportion of General Service posts compared to Professional posts in the regional commissions, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on efforts undertaken, as appropriate; 73. Notes paragraph VI.14 of the report of the Advisory Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7). and requests the Secretary-General, as a general principle, to keep under review the ratio between General Service staff and Professional staff, taking into account the impact on the Organization of the investments in new technologies and bearing in mind the differentiated mandates and programmes of work of the various duty stations; 74. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. to review the publications and information materials of the United Nation to ensure that: (a) They do not duplicate other United Nations publications; (b) They have an identified target group; (c) They are targeted to the appropriate audience; (d) They have a significant impact on that audience; (e) Recommendations are made on methods to strengthen the publication activities; (f) The direct and indirect costs of producing, translating and disseminating the materials are identified; and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 75. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure equal treatment for the six official languages in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library in both the traditional means of publication and in the electronic media, including the Internet; 76. Further requests the Secretary-General to consider the importance of specialists available at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library to provide services in cataloguing and collection maintenance in all six official languages, to facilitate the use of reference works and documents by delegations and to upgrade the Library's holdings of reference works and books in all relevant categories in all six official languages; 77. Requests the Secretary-General to accelerate his efforts to fill all posts currently vacant in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and to ensure the prompt and efficient processing of materials in all six official languages; Part I Overall policy-making, direction and coordination Section 1 Overall policy-making, direction and coordination 78. Notes with concern the potential for duplication in some functions between sections of the Office of External Relations and the Department of Public Information, both of which have functions that include outreach, promotion and maintenance of the relations of the United Nations with important actors in civil society and non-governmental organizations; 79. Decides to establish the position of Ombudsman at the level of Assistant Secretary-General in the Office of the Secretary-General, to be supported by a legal officer at the P-4 level, in place of the D-2 and the P-4 posts originally proposed under section 27A, Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the adequate level of the post in the future; Section 2 General Assembly affairs and conference services 80. Notes with concern that productivity standards for interpreters have not been reviewed since 1974 and that workload standards and processes for translation have not changed substantially, as well as the complaints about the quality of the interpretation and translation; 81. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that conference services are managed in an integrated manner throughout all duty stations in the Organization; 82. Emphasizes that all duty stations shall be given equal treatment in respect of conference services and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to provide adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their mandates; 83. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, or no later than its fifty-seventh session, through the relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies, specific proposals for the conversion of some of the temporary assistant posts requested in section 2 into established posts wherever that would measurably lead to higher efficiency and better quality of services; 84. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on working methods, functions and productivity standards, and on the quality and quantity of those functions of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, and on the backstopping functions within the Secretariat, bearing in mind the need to make proposals for the efficient use of resources and to consider the best way to fulfil its mandates; 85. Notes the information contained in paragraph I.76 of the report of the Advisory CommitteeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7). that the billing arrangement used by the United Nations Office at Nairobi for conference services was working fairly well, and requests the Secretary-General to take further measures to address instances of irregular cash flow; 86. Requests the Secretary-General to include in the budget performance reports comprehensive information (in tabular form) on the use of temporary assistance in the United Nations language services at duty stations under the responsibility of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services, with the breakdown for languages, number of staff (local and non-local), number of workdays and expenditures (on local and non-local staff); 87. Decides to reduce the allocation of resources proposed for travel costs under subprogramme 2 in New York by 20,000 dollars; Part II Political affairs Section 3 Political affairs 88. Notes with concern the potential for duplication of some activities under subprogramme 4 with the Department of Public Information; 89. Decides to reduce the allocation of resources proposed for travel of representatives under policy-making organs by 10,000 dollars; Section 4 Disarmament 90. Decides to establish two new posts in the Professional category (1 P-5 and 1 P-4) and one new General Service (Other level) post; Part III International justice and law Section 7 International Court of Justice 91. Recalls its resolution 55/257 of 14 June 2001; 92. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the International Court of Justice to review its management functions, with a view to introducing a system of results-based budgeting, modernizing work-flow processes and enhancing the use of information technology for, inter alia, remote translation and the introduction of a performance appraisal system for staff; Section 8 Legal affairs 93. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue increased timeliness and availability of international law codification documents and legal instruments in all six official languages of the United Nations; Part IV International cooperation for development Section 9 Economic and social affairs 94. Requests the Secretary-General to consider, in consultation with relevant intergovernmental bodies, with respect to the delivery of advisory services to Member States, avoiding duplication and achieving optimum and effective use of resources, and to report thereon to the relevant intergovernmental bodies at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly; 95. Decides to establish seven new P-2 posts as recommended by the Advisory Committee as well as two further P-2 posts as submitted in the proposed programme budget; Section 10 Africa: New Agenda for Development 96. Reaffirms once again the decision contained in paragraph 95 of its resolution 54/249 to assign priority to the development of Africa, and reiterates its previous request to the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize additional resources for the implementation of the programme of action contained in the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s; 97. Notes with appreciation African-led and African-owned development plans, such as the New Partnership for Africa's Development; Section 11A Trade and development 98. Emphasizes that management restructuring should produce clearly defined gains in productivity and/or economies; Section 12 Environment 99. Notes that the activities undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme continue to depend heavily on extrabudgetary resources for their implementation, requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure stability and predictability in funding the activities of the United Nations Environment Programme, and, in this regard, reiterates paragraph 110 of its resolution 54/249; Section 13 Human settlements 100. Notes that the activities undertaken by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) continue to depend heavily on extrabudgetary resources for their implementation, requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure stability and predictability in funding the activities of the Centre, and, in this regard, reiterates paragraph 114 of its resolution 54/249; 101. Emphasizes the need for the Centre to be provided with adequate human and financial resources to enable it to implement effectively the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fifth special session; 102. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General contained in paragraph 111 of its resolution 54/249, in accordance with paragraph 229 of the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and in consultation with the Commission on Human Settlements, to continue to ensure more effective functioning of the Centre by, inter alia, providing sufficient human and financial resources within the regular budget of the United Nations; Section 14 Crime prevention and criminal justice 103. Requests the Secretary-General to make proposals to strengthen the Terrorism Prevention Branch at the United Nations Office at Vienna to enable it to carry out its mandate as approved by the General Assembly, and to report thereon to the General Assembly for its consideration; Section 15 International drug control 104. Notes with deep concern the reports of serious management irregularities in the United Nations drug-control activities, as documented in recent reports of the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 105. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary actions to correct immediately the management problems; Part V Regional cooperation for development Section 16 Economic and social development in Africa 106. Notes with concern the high vacancy rate in the Economic Commission for Africa, and in this regard reiterates paragraph 50 of its resolution 54/249; 107. Regrets that the request contained in paragraph 123 of its resolution 54/249 to achieve a vacancy rate of no more than 5 per cent within the biennium 2000-2001 was not met and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to take immediate steps to decrease substantially the persistently high vacancy rate which negatively affects programme delivery in the Commission; 108. Recalls paragraph 123 of its resolution 54/249, in which it requested the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, as a matter of priority, to achieve a vacancy rate of no more than 5 per cent; 109. Expresses its deep concern that the Economic Commission for Africa is still suffering from a significantly high vacancy rate at the Professional level, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all posts budgeted for the biennium 2002-2003 are filled; 110. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to redeploy to the subregional development centres any savings realized during the biennium as a result of reform measures and efficiency gains from within the Economic Commission for Africa; 111. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide the African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders with the core Professional staff required to enable it to function effectively towards the fulfilment of its mandates; 112. Expresses concern about the inadequate connectivity between the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa and the five subregional development centres and between the Commission and the rest of the United Nations system, and, in this regard, decides to exempt the Commission from the proposed reductions in information technology referred to in paragraph 70 (g) of the present resolution; 113. Emphasizes the need to improve the capacity of the Economic Commission for Africa to disseminate information effectively through the use of electronic methods, and, in this regard, shares the opinion of the Advisory Committee contained in paragraph V.20 of its reportOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/56/7). that the programme of modernization of operations of the Commission is important and that the provision of resources therefor should not be dependent upon the possibility of absorption within the Commission's appropriations, and requests the Secretary-General to report in the context of the budget performance report on the additional expenditure that might be incurred; 114. Requests the Secretary-General to report on progress in implementing new communications technologies and resulting efficiencies in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 115. Recognizes that the Economic Commission for Africa will have a major role to play in the implementation of the new African initiatives, such as the New Partnership for Africa's Development; Section 17 Economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific 116. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue his efforts to maximize the use of the Conference Centre, including its external use, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; Section 18 Economic development in Europe 117. Notes with concern the lack of detail in the proposed programme budget of unit costs for the replacement or acquisition of information technology-related equipment; 118. Notes the increase in proposed resources for external support for strengthening the information technology platform; Section 19 Economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean 119. Commends the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean for the implementation of the reform programme for the Commission; 120. Expresses its deep concern at the decreasing trend in extrabudgetary resources and at its impact on the level of technical cooperation activities; 121. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session concrete proposals to address the impact of declining extrabudgetary resources for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; 122. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all the necessary means are provided for the full implementation of all subprogrammes and their respective activities; 123. Notes with concern that consultants and experts are also used for verifying the views of the Secretariat; Section 20 Economic and social development in Western Asia 124. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure fully the issuance of all documents and publications of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in Arabic, which is most relevant to the requirements of the Member States of the region, as well as in the other working languages of the Commission, to meet the requirements of readers outside the region, as appropriate, and to report thereon to the General Assembly by its fifty-seventh session; Part VI Human rights and humanitarian affairs Section 22 Human rights 125. Notes with concern that section 22 of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 was prepared prior to the adoption of the medium-term plan by the General Assembly and that it was not reformulated in its submission in accordance with the medium-term plan approved by the Assembly; 126. Notes that resources proposed for activities related to the right to development, research and analysis are not clearly differentiated in subprogramme 1, and requests the Secretary-General to submit concrete proposals to address this issue in the context of the revisions of the medium-term plan to be considered by the Committee for Programme and Coordination; 127. Notes also that there are twenty-two subcommissions, committees and other groups involved in the programme of work of human rights, and requests the Secretary-General to make proposals through the relevant intergovernmental bodies with a view to rationalizing and streamlining the human rights machinery, as well as the establishment of rapporteurs and the number of meetings, reports and publications, in order to avoid duplication and promote efficiency and effectiveness, and to report thereon in the context of the next programme budget; 128. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust to the Office of Internal Oversight Services a comprehensive management review of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including its working methods and functions, bearing in mind the need to make proposals for the efficient and effective use of resources as well as its organizational structure, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the actions taken thereon; 129. Notes that the bulk of extrabudgetary funds are tied to specific operations and are utilized on the basis of donor wishes, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the practice of tied funds does not affect the policies of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights or the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiary bodies as impartial international instruments for the advancement of human rights; 130. Decides to establish one new P-3 post and one new General Service (Other level) post for the functions in the Office; 131. Decides also to reduce the proposed allocation of resources for furniture and equipment under programme support by 40,200 dollars; 132. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that funding for the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa will be formally made an integral part of the regular budget for human rights in future bienniums; Section 23 Protection of and assistance to refugees 133. Deeply regrets that some amounts previously funded under posts, other staff costs, general operating expenses and supplies and materials have been presented in a less transparent manner under the provision of grants and contributions; 134. Requests the Secretary-General to reinstate resource requirements by object of expenditure with provisions other than grants and contributions, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; 135. Also requests the Secretary-General to review the funding of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from the regular budget in a transparent manner; 136. Further requests the Secretary-General to present resource requirements by object of expenditure with provisions other than grants and contributions in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; Section 24 Palestine refugees 137. Welcomes the efforts of a number of donors during the past year to the programme; 138. Notes with concern the direct impact of the decrease in extrabudgetary resources on the quality of services provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East; 139. Decides to restore to the regular budget five additional international posts (one P-5 and four P-4) currently financed from the Agency's extrabudgetary resources, in line with General Assembly resolution 3331 B (XXIX) of 17 December 1974; Section 25 Humanitarian assistance 140. Decides to establish three P-4 posts for the functions of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Part VII Public information Section 26 Public information 141. Decides to establish a P-3 post in the News and Media Division for a Portuguese-language radio producer; 142. Also decides to establish a P-3 post at the United Nations Information Centre at Dar es Salaam; 143. Requests the Secretary-General to make available web site language assistance in the Information Technology Section of the Department of Public Information, in Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish, and to make proposals as he deems appropriate so that all official languages are equally serviced; 144. Emphasizes the need for the United Nations to have a coordinated public information strategy in order to bring the activities of different parts of the Secretariat together in an integrated way; 145. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session concrete proposals on strengthening the Department of Public Information within the existing capacity in order to support and enhance the United Nations web site in all the official languages of the Organization; 146. Emphasizes that the public information resources of the Organization must be targeted properly to ensure that the United Nations delivers a consistent message, through a variety of outlets, to the largest possible worldwide audience; 147. Recognizes the critical role of the Official Document System as a primary tool for accessing all forms of United Nations documentation and the United Nations web site as the public gateway to the activities of the Organization; 148. Requests the Secretary-General to improve the justification provided for the resources requested for the United Nations information centres in the context of the next proposed programme budget; 149. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the financial implications of redressing the imbalance among the six official languages of the United Nations on the United Nations web site; 150. Further requests the Secretary-General to conduct a comprehensive review of the management and operations of the Department of Public Information, taking into account the medium-term plan, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, addressing, among other things: (a) Ways to carry out these activities in the most effective and efficient manner; (b) Focusing of the activities of the Department to reflect better the substantive priorities and relevant mandates of the Organization; (c) The need for greater coordination of public information activities among departments of the Secretariat to avoid duplication of efforts and to strengthen complementarity, where appropriate; (d) Assessment of the impact of United Nations information centres, taking into account their mandates; (e) The option and benefit of funding the United Nations information centres on a cost-shared basis with other United Nations entities that benefit from the services of the information centres in each location; 151. Notes with concern the fact that the post of the Director of the Office of the United Nations Information Centre for Central Africa is still vacant despite several appeals by Member States of the subregion to ensure that a person is appointed to fill it; 152. Decides to resume publication of the United Nations Chronicle in all official languages, as proposed by the Secretary-General, and allocates 700,000 dollars for this purpose, and welcomes the intention of using a co-publishing mechanism in publishing the Chronicle; Part VIII Common support services Section 27 Management and central support services 153. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct an evaluation through the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the implementation of all provisions of resolutions 55/231 on results-based budgeting and 55/258 of 14 June 2001 on human resources management by the Department of Management, including the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management, and to report thereon to the General Assembly; Section 27A Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management 154. Expresses concern about the large number of posts and amount of resources that are devoted to management activities and programme support in the Department of Management and all the other departments; 155. Stresses the need for the Integrated Management Information System to be enabled to manage and execute its administrative tasks, as foreseen when it was first proposed to the General Assembly;See A/C.5/43/24, para. 54. 156. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, to review administrative tasks, procedures and policies with a view to eliminating duplication, and unnecessary and complex bureaucratic procedures and practices within all departments and entities of the Secretariat, and to ensure that the Organization is managed in an integrated manner in order to eliminate duplication; 157. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the necessary equipment is available for the work of the Main Committees of the General Assembly so as to make the Secretariat more efficient, effective and modern; Section 27D Office of Central Support Services 158. Decides to reduce general operating expenditures as explained in paragraph A.27D.16 of the proposed programme budgetSee A/56/6 (Sect. 27D). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No 6. by 100,000 dollars and to eliminate the maintenance and support of Dictaphones in the Organization, as it is incompatible with the goals of an "e-Organization"; 159. Also decides not to approve the increase of 2,116,800 dollars for furniture and equipment in the Information Technology Services Division; 160. Invites the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to expand free access to the Official Document System, taking into account the technical capacity of the Office on the Internet in the six official languages of the United Nations, without affecting the quality of the service provided; Section 27G Administration, Nairobi 161. Welcomes the commitment of the Secretary-General to increase gradually the regular budget component of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, with a view to easing the administrative costs levied on the substantive programmes of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on his plan for the upcoming bienniums; 162. Also welcomes the establishment of a permanent interpretation service at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and notes with satisfaction that the conference services facility at the United Nations Office at Nairobi is becoming organizationally, functionally and in terms of the budget an integral part of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services and that the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 for the Division of Conference Services is programmed in the context of section 2; 163. Reaffirms paragraph 178 of its resolution 54/249, in which it requested the Secretary-General to bring the financial arrangements of the United Nations Office at Nairobi into line with those of similar United Nations administrative offices; 164. Notes the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the need to determine more accurately the level of services that the United Nations Office at Nairobi is required to provide to the organizations at Nairobi and the rates for reimbursing the cost of those services, and requests the Secretary-General to expedite the completion of the agreements between the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi to this effect; Part X Jointly financed administrative activities and special expenses Section 29 Jointly financed administrative activities 165. Stresses the need to ensure that the independence of the Joint Inspection Unit, as the only system-wide external oversight body, is not compromised through the budgetary process; 166. Reiterates its decision 54/454 of 23 December 1999; 167. Reaffirms the statute of the Unit, in particular article 20, paragraph 1; Income section 2 General income 168. Requests the Secretary-General to continue with the current arrangement regarding rental charges for the Office of the Group of 77 and China located at United Nations Headquarters. Annex I Changes to the programme narratives of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003The proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 is contained in documents A/56/6 and Corr.1 and Add.1 (Introduction, sections. 1-33 and Income sections 1-3). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 6. as reflected in the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination in its report on the work of its forty-first session,Ibid., Supplement No. 16 (A/56/16). and additional modifications Section 2 General Assembly affairs and conference services 1. In paragraph 2.7, at the end of the last sentence, replace "on an as-available basis from within the existing capacity of the Department" with "in accordance with paragraph 4 of section I of General Assembly resolution 55/222 of 23 December 2000". 2. In paragraph 2.8, at the end of the fourth sentence, insert ", without prejudice to the mandates of the General Assembly". 3. In paragraph 2.19 (d), at the end of the subparagraph, replace "within available resources" with ", in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and the relevant United Nations resolutions on decolonisation." 4. In paragraph 2.46 (a), after "Translation and writing of summary records." add "Translation and publishing of the Repertoire of Practice of the Security Council in the six official languages;". 5. In paragraph 2.48, at the end of the fourth sentence, insert ", in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 54/248 and 55/222". Section 3 Political affairs 6. In paragraph 3.3, after "while fully respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Member States", in accordance with paragraph 1.3 of the medium-term plan for 2002-2005,Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1). add the following: "and the principles of non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State and of consent". 7. In table 3.12: (a) At the end of the text under "Expected accomplishments", add ", in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council"; (b) Under "Indicators of achievement", replace the existing text of subparagraph (i) with "Provision of electoral assistance to Member States in response to their request". 8. In paragraph 3.26: (a) Replace "a fair and free" with "an"; (b) At the end of the paragraph add ", in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions". 9. In paragraph 3.27: (a) In subparagraph (a) (i) a., delete "the principle of periodic and genuine", and add at the end ", in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions"; (b) In subparagraph (d) (ii), replace "authorities at the regional, national or local level" with "national electoral institutions". 10. In paragraph 3.38, after the first sentence, in accordance with paragraph 1.26 of the medium-term plan, add the following sentence: "Assistance will be provided to the Committee in promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine in accordance with all relevant United Nations resolutions, as well as the full and effective implementation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements." Section 4 Disarmament 11. Replace paragraph 4.1, with the following: "General and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control remains the ultimate goal of all efforts exerted in the field of disarmament. The main responsibilities for disarmament lie with Member States, and the United Nations, in accordance with its Charter, has a central role and primary responsibility in supporting Member States in this sphere. The Department for Disarmament Affairs, headed by an Under-Secretary-General, is responsible for the implementation of the programme." 12. Replace paragraph 4.2 with the following: "The mandate for the programme derives from the priorities established in General Assembly resolutions and decisions in the field of disarmament, including the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament (resolution S-10/2). While weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, continue to be the primary concern, the Organization would also continue its work in the field of conventional disarmament." 13. In paragraph 4.4, in the first sentence, replace the phrase "as well as to expert groups on disarmament studies" with "as well as review conferences, other meetings of States parties to multilateral agreements on disarmament and related matters and expert groups assisting the Secretary-General in undertaking disarmament studies". 14. After paragraph 4.4, insert a new paragraph 4.5 to read as follows: "4.5 Training and advisory services will continue to be provided through the United Nations disarmament fellowships, training and advisory services programme and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research for Member States, in particular developing countries, to enhance their expertise with a view to participating more effectively in international deliberating and negotiating forums. The Department will also assist Member States in increasing understanding among them of the relationship between disarmament and development." and renumber the subsequent paragraphs. 15. In former paragraph 4.6, delete "and landmine issues". 16. In former paragraph 4.14: (a) In the second sentence, after "international disarmament agenda", delete "in order to make them conform to the new international political and security environment"; (b) Replace the third and fourth sentences with the following: "The Conference on Disarmament will be finalizing its work programme, which will include resuming negotiations on a number of disarmament issues and continuing the promotion of global disarmament, in accordance with its agenda." 17. In table 4.7: (a) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) In paragraph (a), after "effectiveness of", add "the services provided by the Secretariat to facilitate"; (ii) Replace paragraph (c) with the following: "An increase in the number of applicants for the United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services programme, wider representation of Member States in the programme and greater support for the disarmament fellowship programme from Member States." 18. In table 4.9: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments": (i) In paragraph (a), replace the text after "disarmament issues" with the following: "and on matters related to weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, by Member States,"; (ii) In paragraph (b), replace "including the issue of missiles" with "on specific issues related to weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons". (b) Under "Indicators of achievement", subparagraph (a) (i) should read: "A record of appreciation for assistance provided, including substantive and organizational support, for the implementation of agreements in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons. This would include sessions of the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 Review Conference and ad hoc meetings;". 19. In former paragraph 4.25: (a) In subparagraph (a) (iv), delete "and the panel of governmental experts on missiles (2 sessions, 40 meetings, 2000)"; (b) In subparagraph (a) (v), after "2 sessions", add ", 40 meetings, 2002" within the parentheses; (c) In all instances where the phrase "weapons of mass destruction" appears, if it has not already been done, add ", in particular nuclear weapons". Section 5 Peacekeeping operations 20. In paragraph 5.3: (a) Replace the first sentence with the entire text of paragraph 3.1 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as follows: "The overall purpose of the programme is the maintenance of peace and security through the deployment of peacekeeping operations in accordance with the principles and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. The legislative authority for the programme derives from the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. The mandates of the programme are provided in resolutions of the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects on the administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations and on assistance in mine clearance. In respect of peacekeeping operations, legislative authority derives from decisions and resolutions of the Security Council related to particular operations." (b) In the seventh sentence, replace "on a broad geographic basis" with "and on as wide a geographical basis as possible"; (c) After the seventh sentence, add the following sentence: "However, this will not affect the troop-contributing countries in taking their sovereign decisions on the composition of their units deployed to peacekeeping operations within the mission's specific guidelines, as agreed upon by troop-contributing countries." 21. In paragraph 5.8, at the end of the penultimate sentence, replace "peace operations" with "peacekeeping operations". 22. In paragraph 5.24, after "Security Council mandates", delete "and that other parties … their role". 23. In paragraph 5.25 (c), after "and provision of support to meetings with Member States," replace the remainder of the subparagraph with the following: "by other Organizations within the United Nations system, as well as with other regional organizations and actors, in accordance with legislative mandates". 24. In table 5.11, under "Indicators of achievement" in paragraph (b), add two additional indicators, as follows: "(i) Reduction in the duration of the liquidation process; "(ii) Timeliness of the processing and settling of claims of troop-contributing countries by the Claims and Information Management Section of the Finance Management and Support Service." 25. In paragraph 5.32, after "required military and civilian police components", add "that meet the relevant prerequisites of the peacekeeping missions", and delete the words "to peacekeeping missions". 26. In paragraph 5.33, in subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d), replace "peace operations" with "peacekeeping operation(s)". Section 6 Peaceful uses of outer space 27. In table 6.3: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", paragraph (c) should read: "Increased access and use of space technologies by developing countries in their efforts to promote economic, social and cultural development." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) Reletter paragraph (c) as (c) (i), which should read: "(c) (i) An increase in the number of projects and activities carried out by developing countries to promote economic, social and cultural development through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, with access to and use of space technologies." (ii) Insert the following text as paragraph (c) (ii): "(ii) An increase in and further enhancement of training opportunities for developing countries, including fellowships provided to individuals from developing countries to participate in workshops, expert meetings and training courses on various topics of space science and technology and its application." Section 8 Legal affairs 28. In table 8.8: (a) Replace the entire text under "Expected accomplishments" with the following: "Provision of quality legal advice to the principal and subsidiary organs of the United Nations, leading to an increased understanding of international law, including the United Nations legal regime." (b) Replace the entire text under "Indicators of achievement" with the following: "(a) Quality, timeliness and accuracy of advice. "(b) Number of instruments finalized. "(c) Number and impact of opinions rendered on violations of international legal instruments for the conduct of United Nations operations." 29. In table 8.10: (a) Replace the entire text under "Expected accomplishments" with the following: "(a) Greater protection of the Organization's legal rights and minimization of its legal liabilities, through the provision of quality legal advice to the principal and subsidiary organs of the United Nations, leading to an increased understanding of the Organization's legal rights and obligations. "(b) Provision of legal advice and support aimed at enabling offices, departments and subsidiary organs to maximize their compliance with regulations, rules and administrative issuances consistent with the Organization's policies and purposes." (b) Replace the entire text under "Indicators of achievement" with the following: "(a) Quality, accuracy and timeliness of legal advice and support. "(b) Number and impact of legal opinions and other legal advice such that the United Nations offices are in a better position to interpret and apply provisions of the United Nations legal regime to specific cases and to comply with such provisions." 30. In table 8.12: Under "Indicators of achievement", replace paragraphs (a) and (b) with the following: "(a) Increase in the number of new legal instruments emanating from the process of codification, adherence by States to existing instruments; and satisfaction expressed by Member States with the quality, volume and timeliness of documentation prepared by the Codification Division. "(b) The quality of publications and seminars dealing with issues of international law and an increase in the number of visitors to the Division's web site." 31. In table 8.14: (a) Replace the entire text under "Expected accomplishments" with the following: "(a) Greater respect for and acceptance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the related Agreements and a higher degree of uniformity and consistency in their application. "(b) Increased opportunities for States to derive benefits from the oceans and seas in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." (b) Replace the entire text under "Indicators of achievement" with the following: "(a) An increase in the number of legal instruments developed by States and international organizations in the field of the law of the sea and ocean affairs. "(b) The degree of satisfaction on the part of Member States, reflected in: "(i) Acknowledgement by Member States that the products and services provided through the subprogramme assisted their maritime programmes; "(ii) Increased participation of Member States in bodies and processes relating to oceans and the law of the sea." 32. In table 8.16: (a) Replace the entire text under "Expected accomplishments" with: "(a) Modernization of trade practices. "(b) Reduction of legal uncertainties and obstacles posed by inadequate and disparate laws. "(c) More efficient trade negotiations. "(d) Simplification of the administration of transaction and lower transaction costs. "(e) Reduction of disputes in international trade." (b) Replace the entire text under "Indicators of achievement" with the following: "(a) A higher number of transactions or a higher volume of international trade carried out under the regime of UNCITRAL legislative and non-legislative texts. "(b) An increase in the number of legislative decisions based on UNCITRAL texts. "(c) An increase in the number of merchants using or relying on harmonized international trade law in conducting trade." 33. In table 8.18: (a) Replace the entire text under "Expected accomplishments" with the following: "(a) Improved access to international treaties deposited with the Secretary-General, including their status, and to treaties registered with the Secretariat. "(b) Respect for the international treaty framework and the advancement of the international rule of law." (b) Replace the entire text under "Indicators of achievement" with the following: "(a) Timely processing, registration and publication of international treaties deposited with the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter, and of actions relating to treaties deposited with the Secretary-General, including the United Nations Treaty Series, multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General, the monthly Statement of Treaties and International Agreements and the United Nations Treaty Series Cumulative Index; and the timely availability of such information through electronic services. "(b) Increased application of information obtained through services provided under this subprogramme, including electronic services. "(c) Greater satisfaction of users with the services provided by the Treaty Section, including electronic services." Section 9 Economic and social affairs 34. In table 9.9: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", add new paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) as follows: "(e) Establishment of an expanded framework for information exchange and communication with Governments and civil society. "(f) Increased efficiency and effectiveness of the Inter-Agency Committee on Women and Gender Equality. "(g) An increased number of ratifications of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol thereto, increased compliance by States parties with reporting obligations under the Convention and improved coordination between the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in contributing to the development and strengthening of human rights mechanisms to ensure the enjoyment by women of their human rights." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement", add new paragraphs (e) and (f) as follows: "(e) The number of ratifications of the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto, the number of States parties submitting their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on time and the number of reports examined by the Committee. "(f) The development of tools and methodologies and the promotion of good practices with respect to system-wide gender mainstreaming by the Inter-Agency Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the United Nations System Chief Executive Board for Coordination, including enhancement of the capabilities of the regional economic commissions to work as focal points for inter-agency coordination on gender issues within the United Nations system." 35. In paragraph 9.62 (a) (iii) b.: After "Reports on:" add "existing studies, information and documentation on abuse against older persons;". 36. In table 9.13: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", reletter paragraph (c) as (c) (i) and insert a new subparagraph (c) (ii), reading as follows: "(ii) Improved coordination of the implementation of the World Solar Programme." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement", paragraph (c), after the phrase "sustainable development", insert the phrase ", including the World Solar Programme". 37. In paragraph 9.69 (a) (vi), in the last sentence, after the word, "development", add ", including solar energy". 38. In table 9.21, under "Expected accomplishments", replace paragraph (e) with the following text: "Improved access by Governments and international bodies to analytical tools, options and adequate methodologies regarding the linkages between political and economic issues and policies, such as economic sanctions, imposition of coercive economic measures, the relationship between disarmament and development and relevant aspects of post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction." Section 10 Africa: New Agenda for Development 39. In table 10.4: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", replace paragraph (b) with the following: "Greater awareness and understanding of African development issues, including those related to post-conflict situations." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) In paragraph (b), after "The contribution" add "and impact"; (ii) After paragraph (d), add the following paragraphs (e) to (i): "(e) An assessment of the quality and timeliness of reports submitted to intergovernmental policy-making and review bodies to facilitate deliberations on Africa. "(f) The number and usefulness of briefing sessions on issues concerning African development. "(g) The number and usefulness of South-South forums sponsored or co-sponsored. "(h) The number of visits to the Africa web page. "(i) The use of databases on the activities of non-governmental organizations and other non-governmental partners contributing to African development." 40. In table 10.6: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", add paragraphs (d) and (e) as follows: "(d) Improved reporting on and dissemination of experiences in the implementation of programmes and initiatives on Africa. "(e) Strengthened national economic management capacity as an integral component of peace-building and post-conflict resolution." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) Add the following paragraph (a) and reletter the subsequent paragraphs accordingly: "(a) Expression of satisfaction over the support provided to Member States in implementing the programme of action." (ii) In new paragraphs (c) and (d), add "and impact" after "The number"; (iii) Add paragraphs (e) and (f) after paragraph (d) as follows: "(e) The number and impact of forums and expert meetings organized to access and monitor the rate of implementation of the action programme. "(f) The number and impact of training activities organized and development personnel benefiting from them." 41. In table 10.8, replace the two indicators of achievement with the following: "(a) Assessment by users of the quality and volume of information disseminated regionally and internationally through the print and electronic media outlets. "(b) The timely and regular issuance of Africa Recovery. "(c) The number and quality of informational materials prepared and media events organized in order to maintain the international spotlight on Africa." Section 11A Trade and development 42. In paragraph 11A.2, after the last sentence, insert the following sentence: "It is foreseen that the Trade and Development Board will mainstream the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 within the work programme of UNCTAD, as well as in the UNCTAD intergovernmental process. It is also foreseen that similar efforts will be undertaken by the governing bodies of all United Nations system organizations, as appropriate." Section 12 Environment 43. In paragraph 12.21: (a) In the second sentence, replace "collection, analysis and interpretation of data" with the words "collection and analysis of data"; (b) In the third sentence, after "reporting arrangements", add "invited it to submit its programme of work to the Assembly". 44. In paragraph 12.22, at the end of the last sentence, add "in consultation with scientists and experts from interested Member States". 45. In table 12.10: (a) Insert a new expected accomplishment (e) as follows: "(e) The implementation of a new strategic environmental law programme for the first decade of the millennium." (b) Insert a new indicator of achievement (e) as follows: "(e) The adoption by the Governing Council of a new strategic environmental law programme." 46. In table 12.14: (a) Insert a new expected accomplishment (f) as follows: "(f) Adherence to the goals of the International Declaration on Cleaner Production." (b) Insert a new indicator of achievement (f) as follows: "(f) The number of signatures to the International Declaration on Cleaner Production." Section 13 Human settlements 47. In table 13.9, under "Expected accomplishments", replace "city authorities" with "local authorities". Section 14 Crime prevention and criminal justice 48. In table 14.5: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", replace paragraph (b) with paragraph 12.7 (b) of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as follows: "The expansion of global knowledge of and expertise to deal with crime problems such as those posed by transnational organized crime, trafficking in persons, economic and financial crime, including money-laundering, corruption, illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as to promote fair and efficient criminal justice systems." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) Replace paragraph (b) with paragraph 12.8 (b) of the medium-term plan, as modified below: "Awareness of best practices and information disseminated, research undertaken and new techniques developed and shared among Member States to respond to crime problems as well as to promote fair and efficient criminal justice systems." (ii) In subparagraphs (c) (i) and (iii), replace "transnational organized crime, trafficking in persons, corruption and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations" with the words "crime problems". 49. In paragraph 14.18 (a), replace "Readiness of Governments to ratify" with "Cooperation of Member States in ratifying". 50. In paragraph 14.18 (b), delete "including from sensitive government data sources". 51. In paragraph 14.19 (a), add a new subparagraph (vi), reading: "(vi) Ad Hoc Committee for the negotiation of a legal instrument against corruption: "a. Substantive servicing of meetings. Six sessions of two weeks' duration (120 meetings); "b. Parliamentary documentation. Six reports to the Ad Hoc Committee, including annotated agendas with the transmission of a draft text, contributions and proposals by States; six reports on each session of the Ad Hoc Committee." 52. Paragraph 14.19 (a) (v) should read: "Ad hoc expert groups (RB/XB): Four regional expert group meetings on technical issues of common regional concern on the ratification and/or implementation of the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three protocols; one expert group meeting each on: the criminal misuse of information technologies; best practices to combat trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air, with attention given to the gender dimensions; best practices in combating corruption, with attention given to the gender dimensions; hostage situations and rescue operations; recognizing early warning signals of terrorist escalation; and legal approaches to combating terrorism;". 53. Delete paragraph 14.19 (d) (ii). Section 15 International drug control 54. In table 15.7: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", add new paragraphs (e) and (f), as follows: "(e) Improved coordination of drug control-related activities throughout the United Nations system, with UNDCP providing leadership. "(f) Progress made towards the adoption and implementation of measures to strengthen national legislation and progress giving effect to the action plan against the illicit manufacture, trafficking and abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants and their precursors; measures to eliminate or reduce significantly the illicit manufacture, marketing and trafficking of other psychotropic substances, including synthetic drugs, and the diversion of precursors; national legislation and programmes to counter money-laundering; and measures to promote and strengthen judicial cooperation." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement", add new paragraphs (e) and (f), as follows: "(e) The completion of needs assessments for multilateral cooperation on drug control. "(f) Measures taken to strengthen national legislation and to give effect to the action plan against the illicit manufacture, trafficking and abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants and their precursors; to eliminate or reduce significantly the illicit manufacture, marketing and trafficking of other psychotropic substances, including synthetic drugs, and the diversion of precursors; and national legislation and programmes to counter money-laundering; and to promote and strengthen judicial cooperation." 55. In table 15.10, under "Indicators of achievement", delete in paragraph (c) "(conclusion of agreements and memoranda of understanding)". 56. In table 15.12: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", in paragraph (a), between "meeting" and "goals", insert "by 2003 the"; (b) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) In paragraph (a), add "by 2003" after "society" (ii) Paragraph (e) should read: "Number of guides on prevention and treatment issues developed during seminars and workshops and expert group meetings, and actually in use by Member States, to determine what constitutes effective prevention among school-based youth, youth at risk and women, and the design of treatment responses based on needs assessment and evaluation results." 57. In table 15.14, objective 2, under "Expected accomplishments", in paragraph (a), add "by 2003" between "to meet" and "the goals". 58. In paragraph 15.35 (a) (iv), delete "one ad hoc expert group meeting on international cooperation against drug trafficking at sea; and". Section 16 Economic and social development in Africa 59. In paragraph 16A.1, the last sentence of the paragraph should read: "The main objective of development in Africa is the reduction of poverty, an objective that was reaffirmed in Copenhagen in 1995 at the World Summit for Social Development, which set a target of reducing poverty by half by 2015." 60. In table 16A.9: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", add the following: "Increased mobilization of financial resources for the development of Africa." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement", add new subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) as follows: "(iii) A substantial increase in financial flows to the countries of the region; "(iv) The number of countries that have adopted investment and trade liberalization policies, including the removal of physical and non-physical barriers." 61. In table 16A.13, at the beginning of paragraph (b) under "Indicators of achievement", add the words "An increase in". 62. In table 16A.15: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", add the following paragraph (d): "(d) Increased Internet connectivity of African countries." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) At the end of paragraph (b), add the following: "Number of countries that, with the support of ECA, have improved their statistical systems, leading to the collection and dissemination of timely and reliable data." (ii) Add paragraph (d) as follows: "(d) An increase in the number of African Internet hosts and countries with direct connections." 63. In table 16A.17: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments", add the following paragraphs (c) and (d): "(c) Increased, effective and harmonized utilization of transboundary water resources. "(d) Substantial implementation of the Framework of Action adopted by the Conference of African Ministers of Transport and Communications." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement", add paragraph (c) as follows: "(c) An increase in positive results of the implementation of the Framework for Action for transport and communications." Section 19 Economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean 64. In table 19.7, under "Indicators of achievement", in paragraph (a), delete the phrase "in particular with respect to the ongoing negotiations on a Free Trade Area of the Americas". 65. In table 19.19, under "Expected accomplishments", in paragraph (b), delete the phrase "democratic governance". 66. In table 19.21, under "Expected accomplishments", paragraph (b) should read: "Increased technical capacity to incorporate an environmental dimension into the design of economic policies and the innovative use of economic instruments in environmental management, including a better understanding of the uneven effects of such policies on men and women." Section 22 Human rights 67. Replace paragraphs 22.1 to 22.8 with paragraphs 19.1 to 19.3 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as follows: "22.1 The purpose of the United Nations human rights programme is to promote universal enjoyment of all human rights by giving practical effect to the will and resolve of the world community as expressed by the United Nations. Its mandate derives from Articles 1, 13 and 55 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993 (A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III) and subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/121 of 20 December 1993, the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as defined in Assembly resolution 48/141 of the same date, international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations and the resolutions and decisions of policy-making bodies. The programme is based on the principles and recommendations of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. "22.2 The programme is under the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who performs her or his functions under the direction and authority of the Secretary-General in accordance with General Assembly resolution 48/141. Its objectives are to provide the leading role on human rights issues and to emphasize the importance of human rights on the international and national agendas; to promote international cooperation for human rights; to stimulate and coordinate action across the whole United Nations system; to promote universal ratification and implementation of international standards and to assist in the development of new norms; to support human rights organs and treaty monitoring bodies; to anticipate serious violations and react to violations; to emphasize preventive human rights action and to promote the establishment of national human rights infrastructures; to undertake human rights field activities and operations; and to provide education, information, advisory services and technical assistance in the field of human rights. "22.3 By the end of the period covered by the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, it is expected that the following will have been accomplished: "(a) A significant enhancement and strengthening of international cooperation in the field of human rights leading to increased effectiveness of international machinery, improved respect for human rights at the national level, through, inter alia, universal ratification of all international human rights treaties, the incorporation of those standards into the domestic legislation of States and the continuing adaptation of the United Nations human rights machinery to current and future needs in the promotion and protection of human rights, as reflected in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; "(b) Major strengthening of coordination for human rights across the United Nations system, leading to a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of human rights based on the contribution of each of the United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies whose activities deal with human rights and on improved inter-agency cooperation and coordination; "(c) The adoption and implementation of an integrated and multidimensional strategy for the promotion and protection of the right to development, accompanied by a significant enhancement of support from relevant United Nations bodies for that purpose; "(d) Provision of the appropriate assistance by the Secretariat and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that the promotion and protection of all human rights are guided by the principles of impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, in the spirit of constructive international dialogue and cooperation; "(e) Compliance by the Office of the High Commissioner with the paramount consideration of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and with due regard to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible, bearing in mind that the principle of equitable geographical distribution is compatible with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity; "(f) A significant increase in the recognition of economic, social and cultural rights and in activities for their protection, including the integration of economic, social and cultural rights as human rights into the strategies and programmes of international organizations, agencies and financial and developmental institutions, the identification of measurements of achievement showing success in respecting those rights and the adoption of a communication procedure relating to non-compliance with economic, social and cultural rights; "(g) The adoption and progressive implementation of an improved treaty monitoring system dealing with multiple reporting obligations and based on a comprehensive national approach; "(h) The implementation of a strengthened system of special procedures based on harmonization and rationalization of work; "(i) The reinforcement of the United Nations as the unique worldwide forum for the discussion and resolution of human rights matters of international concern, with the participation of all relevant actors; "(j) The adoption of more efficient methods within the United Nations to promote and protect human rights, including by preventing human rights violations throughout the world and removing obstacles to the full realization of human rights; "(k) The implementation of a comprehensive United Nations programme to assist States, at their request, in developing and implementing national human rights plans of action strengthening, inter alia, national structures having an impact on democracy and the rule of law; to establish national institutions to give effect to the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights; and also to assist States, at their request, within the respective mandates of the Secretariat and the Office of the High Commissioner, in the process of ratifying United Nations human rights instruments; "(l) Fulfilment of the mandates given to the Secretariat for giving appropriate assistance, according to the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, to treaty bodies, intergovernmental and expert bodies, as well as the existing relevant voluntary trust funds; "(m) The full integration of the human rights of women and the girl child into the activities of the United Nations system as a whole and its human rights machinery in particular; "(n) The implementation of effective measures to promote equality, dignity and tolerance, to fight racism and xenophobia, and to protect minorities, indigenous populations, migrant workers, the disabled and others, taking into account also the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to be held in 2001; "(o) The establishment of effective programmes of education and public information and the strengthened contribution of non-governmental organizations, national institutions, grass-roots organizations and civil society in United Nations human rights activities at all levels, according to the legislative mandates in effect regarding those issues; "(p) The provision to States, United Nations bodies, experts and the academic community of high-quality research and analysis on human rights issues, including that dealing with emerging problems and the development of new standards and instruments." and renumber the subsequent paragraphs accordingly. 68. In former paragraph 22.27, after the words "the Council also decided that", insert the phrase ", once the Permanent Forum had been established and had held its first annual session," and replace the words "that it would" with "to". 69. In table 22.7: (a) Replace the text of Objectives 1 and 2 with paragraphs 19.4 and 19.5 of the medium-term plan, as follows: "Objective 1: The primary objectives of this subprogramme will include the promotion and protection of the right to development. In this regard, the objectives will be to develop an integrated and multidimensional strategy for the implementation, coordination and promotion of the right to development in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to Development (General Assembly resolution 41/128, annex) and subsequent mandates and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, aimed at facilitating action to be taken by relevant bodies of the United Nations system, including treaty bodies, international development and financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, for the implementation of the right to development as an integral part of fundamental human rights, ensuring the realization of the right to development across the human rights programme and by specialized agencies and United Nations treaty bodies; to promote national implementation of the right to development through coordination with State-appointed officials; to identify obstacles at the national and international levels; and to promote awareness about the content and importance of the right to development, including through information and educational activities. "Objective 2: With regard to research and analysis, the objectives will be to strengthen respect for human rights by increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding of human rights issues through data collection, research and analysis. These objectives will be pursued within the framework of the indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and will be aimed at facilitating the implementation of standards, the work of treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and other bodies and the preparation of new standards; ensuring the recognition on the national and international levels of economic, social and cultural rights; promoting democracy and strengthening national human rights institutions and procedures for the rule of law; contributing to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and new forms of discrimination; and strengthening the recognition of the human rights of women and children and the protection of vulnerable groups such as minorities, migrant workers and indigenous people." (b) Under "Expected accomplishments", replace the existing text with paragraph 19.6 of the medium-term plan, as follows: "Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include: "(a) Wider integration and/or inclusion of the promotion and protection of the right to development, in particular across the human rights programme and the relevant programmes of work of the United Nations departments and/or offices and specialized agencies and of major international organizations and forums related to this issue; "(b) Major strengthening of coordination for human rights across the United Nations system, leading to a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of human rights based on the contribution of each of the United Nations organs, bodies and specialized agencies whose activities deal with human rights and also based on improved inter-agency cooperation and coordination; "(c) Strengthened efforts that will contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; "(d) Enhanced awareness, knowledge and understanding of all human rights, including the right to development; "(e) Wider recognition of the rights of women, children and persons belonging to minorities, migrant workers, indigenous people and persons with disabilities, and strengthening the protection of vulnerable groups." (c) Under "Measurements of achievement", replace the existing text with paragraphs 19.7 and 19.8 of the medium-term plan, as modified below: "Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or have been achieved. "Measures of achievement of the Secretariat to be applied to each expected accomplishment, as appropriate, would include: "(a) The extent to which the right to development had been included in the work programmes of the departments and offices of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, providing compiled examples of concrete steps in that regard; "(b) The extent to which the mandates given to the Secretariat contained in resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights had been fulfilled; "(c) The holding of seminars and workshops organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, or in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, and the extent to which they contributed to the fulfilment of the objectives of the subprogramme; "(d) The extent to which the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner contributed to increasing knowledge, awareness and understanding in order to advance the full realization of the right to development, in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to Development; "(e) An increased number of visitors to the web site of the Office of the High Commissioner; "(f) The number of new publications of the Office of the High Commissioner as well as their distribution, and the assessment by users of their quality and usefulness." 70. In table 22.9: (a) Replace the text of the objective with paragraph 19.9 of the medium-term plan, as follows: "Objective: The objectives are to support the United Nations human rights bodies and organs and to facilitate their deliberations by ensuring and enhancing their effective functioning; to contribute to increasing the knowledge, expanding the awareness and promoting the importance of all international human rights treaties; to improve existing procedures through rationalization and streamlining, and the coordination of the participation of Governments, experts, specialized agencies, other international organizations, national institutions and non-governmental organizations in their work; and to ensure the analytical capacity of human rights treaty bodies for the review of State party reports under international treaties and for the processing of communications." (b) Under "Expected accomplishments", replace the existing text with paragraph 19.10 of the medium-term plan, as follows: "Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include: "(a) The timely delivery of required and appropriate support to intergovernmental bodies, expert bodies and treaty bodies, inter alia, in order to contribute to reducing the backlog in the consideration by the reviewing mechanisms of the States parties' reports; "(b) The timely delivery of required and appropriate support to intergovernmental bodies, expert bodies and treaty bodies, inter alia, in order to contribute to reducing the backlog in the consideration by the reviewing mechanisms of complaints." (c) Under "Measurements of achievement", replace the existing text with paragraphs 19.11 and 19.12 of the medium-term plan, as modified below: "Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or have been achieved. "Measures of achievement of the Secretariat to be applied to each expected accomplishment, as appropriate, would include: "(a) The quality and timeliness of services provided by the Office of the High Commissioner; "(b) A reduction in the time lag between the submission of a State party report and its examination by the relevant treaty body; "(c) A reduction in the time lag between the submission of a complaint and its review, as appropriate, by the relevant mechanisms; "(d) The number of reports prepared by the Secretariat in accordance with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, and the extent to which they were presented in a timely manner, in compliance with the six-week rule for the issuance of documentation, for consideration by organs dealing with human rights." 71. In table 22.11: (a) Replace the text of Objective 1 with paragraphs 19.13 to 19.15 of the medium-term plan, as follows: "Objective: In the area of advisory services and technical cooperation, the objectives are to assist countries, at their request, in developing comprehensive national plans of action to promote and protect human rights and to provide advice and support to specific projects to promote respect for human rights; to develop a comprehensive and coordinated United Nations programme to help States in building and strengthening national structures for human rights promotion and protection; and to raise awareness and promote specialized knowledge about human rights through the organization of training courses, seminars and workshops, and the production of a wide range of educational, training and information material. "In the area of support to fact-finding bodies, the objectives are to ensure the effective functioning of human rights monitoring mechanisms by assisting special rapporteurs and representatives, experts and working groups mandated by policy-making bodies, including through the preparation of information regarding alleged violations and situations for review and the provision of support for missions and meetings; and to enhance the efficiency of action by policy-making bodies by providing analytical information on human rights situations. "With respect to field activities, the objective is to ensure the efficiency of field missions and presences through the maintenance of contacts with Governments, appropriate sectors of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and others by supporting and developing such activities through the development of training programmes and materials for human rights field staff and training in human rights for the appropriate components of other United Nations field operations." and delete the text of Objectives 2 and 3. (b) Under "Expected accomplishments", replace the existing text with paragraph 19.16 of the medium-term plan, as follows: "Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat would include: "(a) Provision of advisory services and technical and financial assistance, at the request of the State concerned and, where appropriate, the regional human rights organizations, with a view to supporting actions and programmes in the field of human rights; "(b) Fulfilment of the mandates given to the Office of the High Commissioner in resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights to support human rights monitoring mechanisms, such as special rapporteurs and representatives and expert and working groups mandated by policy-making bodies; "(c) Enhanced awareness, knowledge and understanding of all human rights, including the right to development." (c) Under "Measurements of achievement", replace the existing text with paragraphs 19.17 and 19.18 of the medium-term plan, as modified below: "Measures of achievement are elements used as tools for determining, where possible, the extent to which the objectives and/or have been achieved. "Measures of achievement of the Secretariat to be applied to each expected accomplishment, as appropriate, would include: "(a) The number of seminars, workshops and training courses held or supported by the Office of the High Commissioner; and the number of persons trained, participants in seminars and workshops and fellowships granted as well as data on their geographical distribution and the extent to which they contributed to the fulfilment of the objectives of the subprogramme; "(b) The number of requests from Member States and, where appropriate, from the regional human rights organizations, received and fulfilled by the Office of the High Commissioner for the provision of advisory services and technical and financial assistance, with a view to supporting actions and programmes in the field of human rights; "(c) The timeliness, significance and relevance of the advisory services and technical cooperation." Section 23 Protection of and assistance to refugees 72. In paragraph 23.2, after the first sentence, insert the following sentence, based on the last sentence of paragraph 21.1 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005: "The pursuit of permanent solutions to the problems of refugees is at the heart of protection and the principal purpose of this section." 73. In paragraph 23.3, in paragraph (e), replace "in these activities, due consideration will be given to the interests both of Member States and of the United Nations" with the following text from the end of paragraph 21.5 (f) of the medium-term plan: "in this regard, due consideration should be given to the obligation of United Nations officials, in the conduct of their duties, to observe fully both the laws and regulations of Member States and their duties and responsibilities to the Organization". 74. In table 23.4, under "Indicators of achievement" at the end of paragraph (e), add the following phrase, based on paragraph 21.17 (d) of the medium-term plan: "; the number of refugees repatriated and resettled". 75. In paragraph 23.11 delete paragraph (a),"UNHCR staff are trained as to the need for, and most effective design of, programme initiatives;" and reletter the remaining paragraphs accordingly. 76. In paragraph 23.14, paragraph (c) should read: "a sufficient level of extrabudgetary funding is raised to allow for the funding of planned capacity-building projects." Section 24 Palestine refugees 77. In paragraph 24.14 (b), insert the word "some" between "by" and "host" in the first line. Section 25 Humanitarian assistance 78. In table 25.6: (a) Delete paragraphs (b) and (c) under "Expected accomplishments"; (b) Delete paragraphs (b) and (c) under "Indicators of achievement"; (c) Delete "Increased attention to and respect for an active and visible policy of" in paragraph (d) under "Expected accomplishments". 79. In paragraph 25.18: (a) In subparagraph (b) (iii), replace the words "human rights and international humanitarian law" with "international humanitarian law and human rights instruments"; (b) Subparagraph (b) (vi) should read "Paper requested by the Security Council on protection for humanitarian assistance to refugees and others in conflict situations (1);" (c) Subparagraph (b) (vii) should read: "Study on the application of the guiding principles of humanitarian assistance to all populations in need, as contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 46/182 (1);" (d) At the end of subparagraph (b) (viii), add "in strict conformity with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality and to ensure that they are not working at cross-purposes"; (e) Subparagraph (c) (iv) should read: "Production of inter-agency training package on enhancing the provision of humanitarian assistance to all populations in need;" (f) Add a new subparagraph after (c) (iv), reading: "(v) Collaboration with other agencies to support and to promote the efforts of Governments of affected countries upon their request to assist and to protect internally displaced persons;" (g) Delete subparagraph (c) (vi) and reletter the subsequent subparagraphs accordingly. 80. In paragraph 25.27, in the second sentence, add "where appropriate" after "Framework". 81. In table 25.10: (a) Under "Expected accomplishments": (i) Paragraph (a) should read: "Increased capacity of developing countries for preparedness in disaster prevention and mitigation." (ii) Add a new paragraph (b), reading: "(b) Increased participation by developing countries in disaster reduction-related training and seminars." (b) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) Paragraph (a) should read: "Increase in the number of developing countries having the technical capacity to deal with disaster prevention and mitigation." (ii) Add a new paragraph (b), reading: "The number of experts from developing countries participating in training seminars on disaster prevention." (c) Reletter former paragraphs (b) and (c) as (c) and (d) respectively. (d) Under "Expected accomplishments": (i) Delete (d); (ii) Add a new paragraph (e) reading: "(e) Better and more effective coordination in the mobilization of international support to contribute to preventive management and rehabilitation related to natural disasters." (e) Under "Indicators of achievement", reletter former paragraph (d) as (e). 82. At the end of paragraph 25.30 (c) (i), add a new item, reading: "n. Update inventory of the resources available to help deal with natural disasters;". 83. In table 25.12: (a) Delete (a) under "Expected accomplishments"; (b) Delete (a) under "Indicators of achievement"; (c) Under both headings, reletter paragraphs (b) and (c) as (a) and (b) respectively; (d) Under "Expected accomplishments", add a new paragraph (c), as follows: "(c) Increased capacity of developing countries to deal with disaster relief." (e) Under "Indicators of achievement" add a new paragraph (c), as follows: "(c) Increased participation in training seminars on disaster management, improved field and regional cooperation in disaster management and increased donor response to inter-agency appeals." (f) Under "Expected accomplishments", in paragraphs (a) and (d), after "environmental disasters", add "as well as technological accidents". 84. In table 25.14, under "Expected accomplishments", in paragraph (b), after "United Nations", delete the remainder of the paragraph. Section 27C Office of Human Resources Management 85. In paragraph 27C.1, at the end of the last sentence, add the following text: ", as well as meet the expectations of Member States as set forth in General Assembly resolution 55/258 of 14 June 2001". 86. After paragraph 27C.4, add a new paragraph, reading: "27C.5. At its fifty-fifth session, the General Assembly considered the report of the Secretary-General and adopted resolution 55/258. In implementing all the activities under this subprogramme, the Office of Human Resources Management will take fully into account the provisions of resolution 55/258." and renumber subsequent paragraphs accordingly. 87. In former paragraph 27C.5: (a) In the first line, replace "resolution 53/221" with "resolution 55/258"; (b) In the fourth line, insert the word "robust" before the word "monitoring". 88. In former paragraph 27C.6 (a), replace "monitoring" with "robust monitoring mechanisms". 89. In former paragraph 27C.12, replace the second sentence with the following text: "In accordance with the decisions of the General Assembly contained in its resolution 55/258, the Division will concentrate on the implementation of human resources management reform in the areas of its expertise and will work on improving and enhancing its control and monitoring mechanisms and procedures." 90. In former paragraph 27C.16, at the beginning of the paragraph, insert the following text: "In line with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 55/258 and". 91. In former paragraph 27C.20, at the beginning of the paragraph, insert the following text: "In line with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 55/258,". 92. In former paragraph 27C.21, at the beginning of the paragraph, insert the following text: "In accordance with the decisions of the General Assembly, including resolution 55/258,". 93. In former paragraph 27C.26, the beginning of the paragraph, insert the following text: "In line with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 55/258,". Section 28 Internal oversight 94. In table 28.6, under Objective 1, replace paragraph (b) under "Indicators of achievement" with the following: "The number of joint meetings, agreements and assignments with external oversight bodies." 95. In table 28.8: (a) Under "Indicators of achievement": (i) Merge subparagraphs (b) (i) and (ii) to read "(b) Clear delegation of authority and the existence and effective use of mechanisms to ensure accountability at all levels of the Organization." (ii) Replace paragraph (d) with the following: "The number of joint meetings, agreements and assignments with external oversight bodies." Annex II Staffing table for 2002 and 2003 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTIONS 56/254 A to C Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/736, para. 35)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 56/254. Programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 A Budget appropriations for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly Resolves that for the biennium 2002-2003: 1. Appropriations totalling 2,625,178,700 United States dollars are hereby approved for the following purposes: TABLE REMOVED 2. The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 3. The total net provision made under the various sections of the budget for contractual printing shall be administered as a unit under the direction of the United Nations Publications Board; 4. In addition to the appropriations approved under paragraph 1 above, an amount of 125,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2002-2003 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the Library at the Palais des Nations as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment. B Income estimates for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly Resolves that for the biennium 2002-2003: 1. Estimates of income other than assessments on Member States totalling 404,295,400 United States dollars are approved as follows: TABLE REMOVED 2. The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; 3. Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, sales of statistical products, catering operations and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications not provided for under the budget appropriations, shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. C Financing of appropriations for the year 2002 The General Assembly Resolves that for the year 2002: 1. Budget appropriations consisting of 1,312,589,350 United States dollars, being half of the appropriations of 2,625,178,700 dollars approved for the biennium 2002-2003 by the General Assembly under paragraph 1 of resolution A above, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 5.1 and 5.2 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations, as follows: (a) 25,878,800 dollars, being the net of half of the estimated income other than staff assessment approved for the biennium 2002-2003 under resolution B above; (b) 1,286,710,550 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 on the scale of assessments for the year 2002; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 176,268,900 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the biennium 2002-2003 under resolution B above. RESOLUTION 56/255 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/736, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 56/255. Special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly I Request for subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research resulting from the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Institute contained in the report of the Director of the InstituteA/56/359, paras. 10-12. Approves the recommendation of a subvention of 213,000 United States dollars from the regular budget of the United Nations for 2002, on the understanding that no additional appropriation would be required under section 4, Disarmament, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003;A/56/6 (Sect. 4). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 6. II Joint Inspection Unit Approves a gross budget for the Joint Inspection Unit for the biennium 2002-2003 in the amount of 7,546,100 dollars;A/56/6 (Sect. 29). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 6. III International Civil Service Commission Approves a gross budget for the International Civil Service Commission for the biennium 2002-2003 in the amount of 12,813,400 dollars;A/56/6 (Sect. 29). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 6. IV Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2001 Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/C.5/56/4. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsA/56/518. on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2001, on the understanding that such appropriations as may be necessary (and not exceeding 1,444,200 dollars) will be requested by the Secretary-General in the context of a consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates to be submitted to the General Assembly; V Administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Having considered the report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board to the General Assembly and to the member organizations of the Fund,A/56/289. and the related report of the Advisory Committee,A/56/7/Add.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Concurs with the recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; 2. Approves expenses, chargeable directly to the Fund, totalling 74,322,400 dollars net for the biennium 2002-2003, and a decrease of 3,098,900 dollars net for the biennium 2000-2001; 3. Authorizes the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board to supplement voluntary contributions to the Emergency Fund for the biennium 2002-2003 by an amount not exceeding 200,000 dollars; VI Contingency fund Notes that a balance of 2,192,100 dollars remains in the contingency fund;See A/C.5/56/33. VII Special political missions 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of matters of which the Security Council is seized,A/C.5/56/25 and Add.1 and 2. and concurs with the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee contained in its reports;See A/56/7/Add.5, para. 7, A/56/7/Add.6, para. 11 and A/56/7/Add.7, para. 7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Approves the charge of 8 million dollars for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2002 for the 15 missions dealt with in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/C.5/56/25. against the provision for special political missions requested under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 3. Also approves the charge of 1.7 million dollars for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2002 for the United Nations Office in BurundiSee A/C.5/56/25/Add.1. against the provision for special political missions requested under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 4. Further approves the charge of 1,413,400 dollars for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2002 for the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus against the provision for special political missions requested under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 5. Decides to resume its consideration of the reports of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of which the Security Council is seizedA/C.5/56/25 and Add.1 and 2. in March 2002; 6. Notes that an unallocated balance of 64,648,400 dollars remains against the provision of 98,338,700 dollars for special political missions;See A/C.5/56/32. VIII Safety and security of United Nations personnel Recalling section II of its resolution 55/238 of 23 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Inter-organizational security measures: implementation of section II, Safety and security of United Nations personnel, of General Assembly resolution 55/238 of 23 December 2000,"A/56/469 and Corr.1 and 2. and the related report of the Advisory Committee,A/56/619. 1. Endorses the recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee;A/56/619. 2. Welcomes the agreed inter-agency cost-sharing arrangement, and requests that the apportionment of expenses be updated in 2003; 3. Notes with concern the lack of an accountability and responsibility mechanism in the area of field security, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a comprehensive report on the establishment of a clear mechanism of accountability and responsibility, including such provisions as its scope, depth and common standards and methods of enforcing them in an inter-agency structure; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct an evaluation of the United Nations security system, including the new security arrangements and the relationship and interaction between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat and the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator, and to report his findings and recommendations to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; IX International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO Having considered section 11B, International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003,A/56/6 and Add.1 (Sect. 11B). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No 6. and the related report of the Advisory Committee,A/56/7/Add.3. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No.7A. Decides to approve the resources in the amount of 18,022,600 dollars proposed for the biennium 2002-2003 under section 11B; X Effect of changes in rates of exchange and inflation Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates of the effect of changes in rates of exchange and inflationA/56/659. and the related report of the Advisory Committee,A/56/7/Add.4. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Takes note of the revised estimates arising from the recosting of the effects of changes in the rates of exchange and inflation; XI Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects Having considered the statement of the Secretary-General on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspectsA/C.5/55/46 and Corr.1 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee,A/56/478. Decides to appropriate an additional amount of 1,575,700 dollars under the following sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003: 376,400 dollars under section 3, Political affairs; 888,800 dollars under section 22, Human rights; 127,900 dollars under section 27, Management and central support services; and 182,600 dollars under section 32, Staff assessment, to be offset by a corresponding amount (182,600 dollars) under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003. RESOLUTION 56/256 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/736, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 56/256. Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly 1. Authorizes the Secretary-General, with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and subject to the Financial Regulations of the United Nations and the provisions of paragraph 3 below, to enter into commitments in the biennium 2002-2003 to meet unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising either during or subsequent to the biennium, provided that the concurrence of the Advisory Committee shall not be necessary for: (a) Such commitments, not exceeding a total of 8 million United States dollars in any one year of the biennium 2002-2003, as the Secretary-General certifies relate to the maintenance of peace and security; (b) Such commitments as the President of the International Court of Justice certifies relate to expenses occasioned by: (i) The designation of ad hoc judges (Statute of the International Court of Justice, Article 31), not exceeding a total of 330,000 dollars; (ii) The calling of witnesses and the appointment of experts (Statute, Article 50) and the appointment of assessors (Statute, Article 30), not exceeding a total of 50,000 dollars; (iii) The maintenance in office for the completion of cases of judges who have not been re-elected (Statute, Article 13, paragraph 3), not exceeding a total of 40,000 dollars; (iv) The payment of pensions and travel and removal expenses of retiring judges, and travel and removal expenses and installation grant of members of the Court (Statute, Article 32, paragraph 7), not exceeding a total of 410,000 dollars; (v) The work of the Court or its Chambers away from The Hague (Statute, Article 22), not exceeding a total of 25,000 dollars; (c) Such commitments, not exceeding a total of 500,000 dollars in the biennium 2002-2003, as the Secretary-General certifies are required for inter-organizational security measures pursuant to section IV of General Assembly resolution 36/235 of 18 December 1981; 2. Resolves that the Secretary-General shall report to the Advisory Committee and to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth sessions all commitments made under the provisions of the present resolution, together with the circumstances relating thereto, and shall submit supplementary estimates to the Assembly in respect of such commitments; 3. Decides that for the biennium 2002-2003, if a decision of the Security Council results in the need for the Secretary-General to enter into commitments relating to the maintenance of peace and security in an amount exceeding 10 million dollars in respect of the decision, that matter shall be brought to the General Assembly, or, if the General Assembly is suspended or not in session, a resumed or special session of the Assembly shall be convened by the Secretary-General to consider the matter. RESOLUTION 56/257 Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/736, para. 35)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 56/257. Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly Resolves that: 1. The Working Capital Fund shall be established for the biennium 2002-2003 in the amount of 100 million United States dollars; 2. Member States shall make advances to the Working Capital Fund in accordance with the scale adopted by the General Assembly for contributions of Member States to the budget for the year 2002; 3. There shall be set off against this allocation of advances: (a) Credits to Member States resulting from transfers made in 1959 and 1960 from the surplus account to the Working Capital Fund in an adjusted amount of 1,025,092 dollars; (b) Cash advances paid by Member States to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2000-2001 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/253 of 23 December 1999; 4. Should the credits and advances paid by any Member State to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2000-2001 exceed the amount of that Member State's advance under the provisions of paragraph 2 above, the excess shall be set off against the amount of the contributions payable by the Member State in respect of the biennium 2002-2003; 5. The Secretary-General is authorized to advance from the Working Capital Fund: (a) Such sums as may be necessary to finance budgetary appropriations pending the receipt of contributions; sums so advanced shall be reimbursed as soon as receipts from contributions are available for that purpose; (b) Such sums as may be necessary to finance commitments that may be duly authorized under the provisions of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, in particular resolution 56/256 of 24 December 2001 relating to unforeseen and extraordinary expenses; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates for reimbursing the Working Capital Fund; (c) Such sums as may be necessary to continue the revolving fund to finance miscellaneous self-liquidating purchases and activities, which, together with net sums outstanding for the same purpose, do not exceed 200,000 dollars; advances in excess of the total of 200,000 dollars may be made with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; (d) With the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee, such sums as may be required to finance payments of advance insurance premiums where the period of insurance extends beyond the end of the biennium in which payment is made; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates of each biennium, during the life of the related policies, to cover the charges applicable to each biennium; (e) Such sums as may be necessary to enable the Tax Equalization Fund to meet current commitments pending the accumulation of credits; such advances shall be repaid as soon as credits are available in the Tax Equalization Fund; 6. Should the provision in paragraph 1 above prove inadequate to meet the purposes normally related to the Working Capital Fund, the Secretary-General is authorized to utilize, in the biennium 2002-2003, cash from special funds and accounts in his custody, under the conditions approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 1341 (XIII) of 13 December 1958, or the proceeds of loans authorized by the Assembly. RESOLUTIONS 56/25 A to F 56/25. Review and implementation of the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly Resolution A Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/537, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe and Zambia. A Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December 1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992, 48/76 A of 16 December 1993, 49/76 C of 15 December 1994, 50/71 B of 12 December 1995, 51/46 C of 10 December 1996, 52/39 B of 9 December 1997, 53/78 A of 4 December 1998, 54/55 A of 1 December 1999 and 55/34 B of 20 November 2000, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recalling the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central Africa,A/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, Recalling the decision of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in favour of establishing, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on regional confidence-building measures, which deals with the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in the period since the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 55/34 B;A/56/285. 2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further peace, stability and sustainable development in the subregion; 3. Also reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held at Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 4. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing the programme of activities for the period 2000-2001, in particular by: (a) Holding the Subregional Conference on the Question of Refugees and Displaced Persons in Central Africa at Bujumbura from 14 to 16 August 2000; (b) Holding the fourteenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Bujumbura on 17 and 18 August 2000; (c) Holding the fifteenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Bujumbura from 16 to 20 April 2001; (d) Holding the meeting of experts on the texts governing the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa at Libreville from 2 to 5 July 2001; (e) Holding the sixteenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Kinshasa from 13 to 17 August 2001; 5. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 6. Welcomes the creation of a mechanism for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, to be known as the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa, by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States, held at Yaoundé on 25 February 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to give his full support to the effective realization of that important mechanism; 7. Emphasizes the need to make the early-warning mechanism in Central Africa operational so that it will serve, on the one hand, as an instrument for analysing and monitoring political situations in the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with a view to preventing the outbreak of future armed conflicts and, on the other hand, as a technical body through which the member States will carry out the programme of work of the Committee, adopted at its organizational meeting held at Yaoundé in 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to provide it with the assistance necessary for it to function properly; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the implementation and smooth functioning of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and the early-warning mechanism; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a network of parliamentarians with a view to the creation of a subregional parliament in Central Africa; 10. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to provide increased assistance to the countries of Central Africa for coping with the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories; 11. Welcomes with satisfaction the decision taken at the fourteenth ministerial meeting to organize a subregional conference on the protection of women and children in armed conflict, and requests the Secretary-General to lend all the necessary support for the holding of the conference; 12. Thanks the Secretary-General for having established the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 13. Appeals to Member States and to governmental and non-governmental organizations to make additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the implementation of the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with assistance to ensure that they are able to carry on their efforts; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". Resolution B Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/537, para. 21),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 104 to 46, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Ukraine B Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that, in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2001 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 55/34 G of 20 November 2000, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. Resolution C Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/537, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). C United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/34 F of 20 November 2000 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/56/137. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/56/266. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/56/154. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, lst meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 146 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, the heads of State or Government welcomed the decision adopted by the General Assembly on maintaining and revitalizing the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the principles and purposes of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their programmes of activities and implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". Resolution D Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/537, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Sudan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). D United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998, 54/55 B of 1 December 1999 and 55/34 D of 20 November 2000, Aware of the widespread support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre and the important role that the Centre can play in the present context in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken in the framework of the revitalization of the activities of the Regional Centre for the mobilization of the resources necessary for its operational costs, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the Organization of African Unity, in conformity with the relevant decision adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec. 138 (XXXV). Welcoming the adoption by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001, of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. and emphasizing the need for the appropriate implementation of the Programme of Action by all States, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/137. and commends the activities which the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa is continuing to carry out, in particular in support of the efforts made by the African States in the areas of peace and security; 2. Reaffirms its strong support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre, and emphasizes the need to provide it with the necessary resources to enable it to strengthen its activities and carry out its programmes; 3. Appeals once again to all States, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and the foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate the establishment of close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Organization of African Unity, in particular in the area of peace, security and development, and to continue to assist the Director of the Regional Centre in his efforts to stabilize the financial situation of the Centre and revitalize its activities; 6. Appeals in particular to the Regional Centre, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, regional and subregional organizations and the African States, to take steps to promote the consistent implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". Resolution E Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/537, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Haiti (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States). E United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, 54/55 F of 1 December 1999 and 55/34 E of 20 November 2000, Underlining the revitalization of the Regional Centre, the efforts made by the Government of Peru to that end and the appointment of the Director of the Centre by the Secretary-General, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/154. which concludes that the Regional Centre has launched projects aimed at furthering the understanding of the relationship between security and development, enhanced the role of the United Nations as a regional catalyst for activities on peace and disarmament and acted as a politically neutral platform for discussions on security and development issues, Noting the agreement between the Regional Centre and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control CommissionMemorandum of understanding dated 26 January 2001 between the United Nations and the Organization of American States on cooperation in respect of measures to reduce illegal trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition and other related matters. to strengthen their cooperation with respect to their mutual interest in reducing firearms trafficking and related activities among States under their respective mandates, as well as to strengthen the capacity of those countries to deal with those problems, Noting also that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Bearing in mind the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Also bearing in mind the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction and congratulates the Regional Centre for the vast range of activities carried out last year; 3. Encourages the Regional Centre to continue to provide assistance for the States of the region in all issues related to disarmament, including the effective implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its AspectsSee Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. and, in this connection, welcomes the holding of a regional seminar in Santiago, from 19 to 21 November 2001; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 5. Invites all States of the region to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its agenda, making greater and better use of the Centre's potential to meet the current challenges facing the international community and with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the fields of peace, disarmament and development; 6. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the relationship between disarmament and development,A/56/183. and supports the role that the Regional Centre plays to promote those issues in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament; 7. Appeals to Member States, in particular the States of the Latin American and Caribbean region, and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and to foundations, to make voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support, within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". Resolution F Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/537, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. F United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/266. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre could be a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation in the post-cold-war era, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as the "Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of the thirteenth regional disarmament meeting in Asia and the Pacific, held at Kathmandu from 9 to 11 March 2001, the United Nations regional disarmament meeting on the theme "A Pacific Way to Disarmament", held at Wellington from 27 to 30 March 2001, and the meeting of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues on the theme "The Asia-Pacific region: evolution of the scope of security and disarmament in the twenty-first century", held at Kanazawa, Japan, from 28 to 31 August 2001, Welcoming the idea of the possible creation of an educational and training programme for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for young people with different backgrounds, to be financed from voluntary contributions, Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, including its assistance in the work related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, as well as to Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status, including the organization of a United Nations-sponsored non-governmental expert group meeting on the theme "Ways and means of strengthening Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status", held at Sapporo, Japan, on 5 and 6 September 2001, Appreciating highly the important role that Nepal has played as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and voluntary financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Urges the Secretary-General to ensure the physical operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu within six months of the date of signature of the host country agreement and to enable the Centre to function effectively; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTIONS 56/26 A and B 56/26. Review of the implementation of the recommendations and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session Resolution A Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/538, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Jamaica, Myanmar, Nepal, South Africa, Sweden and Ukraine. A Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/56/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999 and 55/35 C of 20 November 2000, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, Bearing in mind its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/56/42). 2. Reaffirms the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 3. Also reaffirms the role of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 4. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items of its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission";A/CN.10/137. 5. Notes that the Disarmament Commission, at its 2001 organizational session, adopted the following items for consideration at its 2002 substantive session: (a) Ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament; (b) Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2002 and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/56/27). together with all the official records of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". Resolution B Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/538, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Ecuador. B Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/56/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete issues for negotiation, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Urges the Conference to fulfil that role in the light of the evolving international situation, with a view to making early substantive progress on priority items on its agenda; 3. Welcomes the strong collective interest of the Conference in commencing substantive work as soon as possible during its 2002 session; 4. Also welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its President to conduct appropriate consultations with its incoming President during the inter-sessional period to try to achieve this goal, as expressed in paragraph 40 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/56/27). 5. Further welcomes the recommendation of the Conference, as expressed in paragraph 41 of its report, to reappoint the Special Coordinator on Review of the Agenda of the Conference on Disarmament, the Special Coordinator on Expansion of Membership of the Conference on Disarmament and the Special Coordinator on Improved and Effective Functioning of the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2002 session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 7. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 56/27 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/539, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the League of Arab States). by a recorded vote of 153 to 3, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago 56/27. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(45)/RES/18, adopted on 21 September 2001,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17-21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty, Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and sixty-one States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, art. VII, para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 56/28 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/540, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. 56/28. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/37 of 20 November 2000 and previous resolutions referring to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. Recalling with satisfaction the adoption, on 10 October 1980, of the Convention, together with the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. which entered into force on 2 December 1983, Also recalling with satisfaction the adoption by the Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, on 13 October 1995 of the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex A. and on 3 May 1996 of the amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II),Ibid., annex B. which entered into force on 30 July 1998 and 3 December 1998, respectively, Welcoming the additional ratifications and acceptances of or accessions to the Convention, as well as the ratifications and acceptances of or accessions to amended Protocol II and Protocol IV, Recalling the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, Recalling also that the States parties at the Review Conference declared their commitment to keeping the provisions of Protocol II under review in order to ensure that the concerns regarding the weapons it covers are addressed, and that they would encourage the efforts of the United Nations and other organizations to address all problems of landmines, Commending the efforts of the Secretary-General and the President of the First Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II towards the promotion of the goal of universality of amended Protocol II, Noting that, in conformity with article 8 of the Convention, conferences may be convened to examine amendments to the Convention or to any of the Protocols thereto, to examine additional protocols concerning other categories of conventional weapons not covered by existing Protocols or to review the scope and application of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and to examine any proposed amendments or additional protocols, Noting also that, in accordance with article 13 of amended Protocol II, a conference of States parties to that Protocol shall be held annually for the purpose of consultations and cooperation on all issues in relation to the Protocol, Noting further that the rules of procedure of the First Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II provide for the invitation of States not parties to the Protocol, the International Committee of the Red Cross and interested non-governmental organizations to take part in the Conference, Welcoming the particular efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross in raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of explosive remnants of war, Welcoming also the results of the Second Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II, held at Geneva from 11 to 13 December 2000,See CCW/AP.II/CONF.2/1. Recalling the decision of States parties to the Convention to convene the next review conference from 11 to 21 December 2001, preceded by three sessions of the preparatory committee for the review conference, on 14 December 2000, from 2 to 6 April 2001 and from 24 to 28 September 2001, respectively, Welcoming the convening, in the context of the preparatory process, of the informal open-ended consultations of the States parties to the Convention and other interested States at Geneva from 27 to 31 August 2001, which provided for structured discussions, building on work by the respective Friends of Chair on several issues pertaining to the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention and the Preparatory Committee for the Second Review Conference, 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocols thereto, in particular the amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II),Ibid., annex B. with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to this instrument at an early date, and calls upon successor States to take appropriate measures so that ultimately adherence to these instruments will be universal; 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention; 3. Welcomes the convening, on 10 December 2001, of the Third Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II, in accordance with article 13 thereof, and calls upon all States parties to amended Protocol II to address at that meeting, inter alia, the question of holding the fourth annual conference in 2002; 4. Welcomes also the proposal contained in the Final Declaration of the Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, adopted by consensus on 3 May 1996,CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex C. that the next review conference consider the question of eventual further measures in relation to other conventional weapons which may be deemed to cause unnecessary suffering or to have indiscriminate effects; 5. Notes, therefore, the proposals put forward by States parties and the International Committee of the Red Cross for consideration by the 2001 Review Conference, concerning, inter alia, the following issues: (a) Compliance procedures and mechanisms; (b) Explosive remnants of war; (c) Extension of the scope of application of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to non-international armed conflicts; (d) Landmines other than anti-personnel mines; (e) Small-calibre ammunitions; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention as well as for any possible continuation of work after the Conference, should the States parties deem it appropriate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects". RESOLUTION 56/29 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/541, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia. 56/29. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 55/38 of 20 November 2000, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/153. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, and encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles, as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 56/2 Adopted at the 29th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.4 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ecuador, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Ireland, Israel, Madagascar, Malawi, Monaco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Venezuela 56/2. University for Peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/29 of 18 November 1999, in which it recalled that, in its resolution 34/111 of 14 December 1979, it had approved the idea of establishing the University for Peace as a specialized international centre for postgraduate studies, research and the dissemination of knowledge specifically aimed at training and education for peace and its universal promotion within the United Nations system, Recalling also that in its resolution 35/55 of 5 December 1980 it approved the establishment of the University for Peace in conformity with the International Agreement for the Establishment of the University for Peace,See resolution 35/55, annex. Recalling further its resolutions 45/8 of 24 October 1990, 46/11 of 24 October 1991 and 48/9 of 25 October 1993, Recalling that in its resolution 46/11 it decided to include in the agenda of its forty-eighth session and biennially thereafter an item entitled "University for Peace", Recalling also its resolution 50/41 of 8 December 1995, in which it decided to request the Secretary-General to consider ways of strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the University for Peace and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session, Recalling further its adoption on 13 September 1999 of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace,Resolutions 53/243 A and B. Noting that in 1991 the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme, established a Trust Fund for Peace consisting of voluntary contributions in order to provide the University with the means necessary to extend its sphere of activity to the whole world, taking full advantage of its potential capacity for education, research and support of the United Nations and to carry out its mandate of promoting peace in the world, Noting with appreciation that the Government of Uruguay, by agreement with the University for Peace, established in 1997 a World Centre for Research and Information on Peace as regional subheadquarters of the University for South America, Noting also with appreciation the vigorous actions taken by the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and with the encouragement and support of the Government of Costa Rica, to revitalize the University,See A/54/312, para. 2. Noting that the University has placed special emphasis on the area of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peace-building and peaceful settlement of disputes, and that it has launched programmes in the areas of democratic consensus-building and training of academic experts in the techniques of peaceful settlement of conflicts, which is highly relevant to the promotion of universal peace, Noting also that the University has launched a broad programme for building a culture of peace in Central America and the Caribbean in the context of the efforts being made by the United Nations and by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the development and promotion of a culture of peace, Noting with appreciation that the University organized a symposium in celebration of the International Year of Older Persons, 1999, at which it emphasized the valuable contribution that older persons can make to the promotion of peace, solidarity, tolerance and the culture of peace, Recognizing the important and varied activities carried out by the University during the period 1999-2000, within its financial limitations and with the valuable assistance and contributions of Governments, foundations and non-governmental organizations, Considering the importance of promoting education for peace that fosters respect for the values inherent in peace and universal coexistence among persons, including respect for the life, dignity and integrity of human beings, as well as friendship and solidarity among peoples irrespective of their nationality, race, sex, religion or culture, Considering that, by its resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997, the General Assembly proclaimed the year 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and that it should be ushered in with One Day in Peace, 1 January 2000, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 54/29 on ways of strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the University for Peace;A/56/314. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to consider using the services of the University in his conflict-resolution and peace-building efforts and in the promotion of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;Resolutions 53/243 A and B. 3. Invites Member States, intergovernmental bodies, non-governmental organizations and interested individuals to contribute directly to the Trust Fund for Peace or to the budget of the University; 4. Invites Member States to accede to the International Agreement for the Establishment of the University for Peace,See resolution 35/55, annex. thereby demonstrating their support for an educational institution devoted to the promotion of a universal culture of peace; 5. Invites Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and all the peoples of the world to celebrate One Day in Peace, 1 January 2002, and every year thereafter; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "University for Peace". RESOLUTION 56/30 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/542, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. 56/30. Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) The General Assembly, Recalling that, in its resolution 1911 (XVIII) of 27 November 1963, it expressed the hope that the States of Latin America would take appropriate measures to conclude a treaty that would prohibit nuclear weapons in Latin America, Recalling also that, in the same resolution, it voiced its confidence that, once such a treaty was concluded, all States, and in particular the nuclear-weapon States, would lend it their full cooperation for the effective realization of its peaceful aims, Considering that, in its resolution 2028 (XX) of 19 November 1965, it established the principle of an acceptable balance of mutual responsibilities and obligations between nuclear-weapon States and those that do not possess such weapons, Recalling that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. was opened for signature at Mexico City on 14 February 1967, Noting with satisfaction the holding on 14 February 1997 of the eleventh special session of the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, Recalling that, in its preamble, the Treaty of Tlatelolco states that military denuclearized zones are not an end in themselves but rather a means for achieving general and complete disarmament at a later stage, Recalling also that, in its resolution 2286 (XXII) of 5 December 1967, it welcomed with special satisfaction the Treaty of Tlatelolco as an event of historic significance in the efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security, Recalling further that in 1990, 1991 and 1992 the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean approved and opened for signature a set of amendmentsA/47/467, annex. to the Treaty of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. with the aim of enabling the full entry into force of that instrument, Recalling resolution C/E/RES.27 of the Council of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean,See CD/1392. in which the Council called for the promotion of cooperation and consultations with other nuclear-weapon-free zones, Noting with satisfaction that the Treaty of Tlatelolco is now in force for thirty-two sovereign States of the region, Also noting with satisfaction that the amended Treaty of Tlatelolco is fully in force for Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela, 1. Welcomes the concrete steps taken by some countries of the region during recent years for the consolidation of the regime of military denuclearization established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco);United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. 2. Urges the countries of the region that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification of the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in its resolutions 267 (E-V), 268 (XII) and 290 (E-VII); 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)". RESOLUTION 56/31 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 3 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 130 to 2, with 10 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.23 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Nauru Abstaining: Australia, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu 56/31. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/120 E of 10 December 1981, 37/123 C of 16 December 1982, 38/180 C of 19 December 1983, 39/146 C of 14 December 1984, 40/168 C of 16 December 1985, 41/162 C of 4 December 1986, 42/209 D of 11 December 1987, 43/54 C of 6 December 1988, 44/40 C of 4 December 1989, 45/83 C of 13 December 1990, 46/82 B of 16 December 1991, 47/63 B of 11 December 1992, 48/59 A of 14 December 1993, 49/87 A of 16 December 1994, 50/22 A of 4 December 1995, 51/27 of 4 December 1996, 52/53 of 9 December 1997, 53/37 of 2 December 1998, 54/37 of 1 December 1999 and 55/50 of 1 December 2000, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling also Security Council resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" and called upon those States which had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/480. 1. Determines that the decision of Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem is illegal and therefore null and void and has no validity whatsoever; 2. Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980) and their refusal to comply with the provisions of that resolution; 3. Calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/32 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 3 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 90 to 5, with 54 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.24 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 56/32. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,Ibid. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/33 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 3 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 106 to 5, with 48 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.19 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 56/33. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 A of 2 December 1977, 33/28 A and B of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A of 29 November 1979 and 34/65 C of 12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 A and C of 15 December 1980, 36/120 A and C of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, 38/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989, 45/67 A of 6 December 1990, 46/74 A of 11 December 1991, 47/64 A of 11 December 1992, 48/158 A of 20 December 1993, 49/62 A of 14 December 1994, 50/84 A of 15 December 1995, 51/23 of 4 December 1996, 52/49 of 9 December 1997, 53/39 of 2 December 1998, 54/39 of 1 December 1999 and 55/52 of 1 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/56/35). Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, including its Annexes and Agreed Minutes, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly; 2. Considers that the Committee can continue to make a valuable and positive contribution to international efforts to promote the Middle East peace process and the full implementation of the agreements reached and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people during the transitional period; 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee contained in chapter VII of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/56/35). 4. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate; 5. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session and thereafter; 6. Requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to involve additional civil society organizations in its work; 7. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 56/34 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 3 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 107 to 5, with 47 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.20 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 56/34. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/56/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 33/28 C of 7 December 1978, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, 35/169 D of 15 December 1980, 36/120 B of 10 December 1981, 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, 38/58 B of 13 December 1983, 39/49 B of 11 December 1984, 40/96 B of 12 December 1985, 41/43 B of 2 December 1986, 42/66 B of 2 December 1987, 43/175 B of 15 December 1988, 44/41 B of 6 December 1989, 45/67 B of 6 December 1990, 46/74 B of 11 December 1991, 47/64 B of 11 December 1992, 48/158 B of 20 December 1993, 49/62 B of 14 December 1994, 50/84 B of 15 December 1995, 51/24 of 4 December 1996, 52/50 of 9 December 1997, 53/40 of 2 December 1998, 54/40 of 1 December 1999 and 55/53 of 1 December 2000, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 55/53; 2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the organization of meetings in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine, and the provision of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee and the Division in the performance of their tasks; 6. Notes with appreciation the action taken by Member States to observe annually on 29 November the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, requests them to continue to give the widest possible publicity to the observance, and requests the Committee and the Division to continue to organize, as part of the observance of the Day of Solidarity, an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. RESOLUTION 56/35 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 3 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 153 to 4, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.21 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Nauru, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 56/35. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 55/54 of 1 December 2000, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Aware of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements signed by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and of the subsequent implementation agreements, in particular the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. Recalling with satisfaction the important contribution made by the United Nations towards the promotion of the Bethlehem 2000 Project, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 55/54; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East in general, including the achievements of the peace process, and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2002-2003, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard, in particular the prospects for peace; (c) To expand its collection of audiovisual material on the question of Palestine and to continue the production and preservation of such material, and the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the area, including the territory under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and the Occupied Territory; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists initiated in 1995. RESOLUTION 56/36 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 3 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 131 to 6, with 20 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.22 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Rwanda, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/36. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions adopted at the tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, Aware that it has been more than fifty years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-four years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 55/55 of 1 December 2000,A/56/642-S/2001/1100. Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects, Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the signing by the two parties of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in those areas, as well as the subsequent redeployments of the Israeli army in the rest of the West Bank, Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general elections, Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, and its positive contribution, Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, including the donor meetings held in Lisbon on 7 and 8 June 2000 and in Stockholm on 11 April 2001, Expressing its deep concern over the tragic events in Occupied East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 28 September 2000, which have resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, and concerned also about the clashes between the Israeli armed forces and the Palestinian police and the casualties on both sides, Expressing its deep concern also over the continued imposition of closures and restrictions by Israel on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, as well as the serious incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and actions against Palestinian institutions, Expressing its grave concern over the serious deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the difficulties facing the Middle East peace process, Affirming the urgent need for the parties to implement the recommendations of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell Committee) and to resume negotiations towards a final peaceful settlement, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects; 2. Expresses its full support for the peace process, which began in Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, and expresses the hope that the process will be reinvigorated and will soon lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East; 3. Stresses the necessity for commitment to the principle of land for peace and the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), which form the basis of the Middle East peace process; 4. Calls upon the concerned parties, the co-sponsors of the peace process and other interested parties, as well as the entire international community to exert all the efforts and initiatives necessary to reverse immediately all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, in implementation of the recommendations of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell Committee), and in order to ensure a successful and speedy resumption of negotiations and conclusion of the peace process; 5. Stresses the need for: (a) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to establish their independent State; (b) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; 6. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 7. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic and technical assistance to the Palestinian people during this critical period; 8. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the current peace process and in the implementation of the Declaration of Principles; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter. RESOLUTION 56/37 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.28 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Togo, Tunisia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 56/37. Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in AfricaOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45). and the progress report of the Secretary-General,A/56/371. Recalling its resolutions 53/92 of 7 December 1998, 54/234 of 22 December 1999 and 55/217 of 21 December 2000 on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, Recalling also its resolution 46/151 of 18 December 1991, the annex to which contains the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, its resolutions 48/214 of 23 December 1993, 49/142 of 23 December 1994 and 51/32 of 6 December 1996, on the mid-term review of the New Agenda, and its resolution 53/90 of 7 December 1998 on the implementation of the New Agenda, as well as chapter VII of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming that the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/52/871-S/1998/318. constitutes a priority that must remain high on the agenda of the United Nations system and Member States, Reaffirming also that the General Assembly, as the chief policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations, must continue to play the primary role in monitoring the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General and assessing the progress made, Emphasizing the need to strengthen further the political will to ensure the political, financial, technical and other support critical for the effective implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General not only in the two thematic areas - education and conflict prevention and post-conflict peace-building - of the deliberations of the Working Group in 2001, but also in all the areas mentioned in the report, Welcoming the adoption by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held at Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001, of the New African Initiative (now called New Partnership for Africa's Development),See A/56/457, annex I, AHG/Decl. 1 (XXXVII). Mindful of the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council, on the role of the United Nations system in supporting the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development,A/56/3, chap. III, para. 29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in AfricaOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45). and the progress report of the Secretary-General;A/56/371. 2. Notes with deep concern that access to education at all levels in Africa remains low, despite the recognition that education plays a central role in conflict prevention and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development; 3. Also notes with deep concern that, while some efforts have been made in the prevention and settlement of conflicts, such efforts have not often brought positive results; 4. Endorses the recommendations entitled "Suggestions for further action and measures", contained in paragraphs 35 to 56 of the report of the Working Group; 5. Decides to suspend the activities of the Working Group during the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly in order to consider further measures for the implementation and monitoring of initiatives on Africa, including the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council, in the light of the forthcoming review of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990sSee resolution 46/151, annex. and related initiatives, all of which should be guided by the New Partnership for Africa's Development; 6. Invites the Working Group to re-examine its mandate during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, including the most appropriate way to proceed with the deliberations of the Working Group as well as the scope and nature of its work; 7. Decides to continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa;A/52/871-S/1998/318. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a comprehensive report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report, including concrete measures needed to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to the full and early implementation of the recommendations; 9. Requests that the Secretary-General designate the already established interdepartmental/inter-agency task force as the permanent focal point within the Secretariat mandated to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report, and also requests that the task force be strengthened with the necessary human, managerial and administrative resources effectively to carry out this task; 10. Also requests that the task force provide Member States, on an annual basis, with updated matrices indicating the current status of implementation of the various recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General. RESOLUTION 56/38 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 5 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.27 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe 56/38. Recommendations on support for volunteering The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/17 of 20 November 1997, in which it proclaimed the year 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers, based on Economic and Social Council resolution 1997/44 of 22 July 1997, and its resolution 55/57 of 4 December 2000, in which it requested the Secretary-General to prepare a report on ways in which Governments and the United Nations system could support volunteering, and bearing in mind Commission for Social Development resolution 39/2 of 23 February 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 6 and corrigendum (E/2001/26 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. E. Recalling also the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world",See resolution S-24/2, annex. in which the General Assembly recommended the promotion of the involvement of volunteers in social development, inter alia, by encouraging Governments, taking into account the views of all actors, to develop comprehensive strategies and programmes by raising public awareness about the value and opportunities of volunteerism and by facilitating an enabling environment for individuals and other actors of civil society to engage in voluntary activities, and the private sector to support such activities, Recalling further paragraphs 73 and 179 (f) of the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. paragraph 42 of the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium adopted at the twenty-fifth special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in June 2001,See resolution S-25/2, annex. and paragraphs 32 (i) (b) and 41 (ii) (a) of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in May 2001,A/CONF.191/11. Recognizing the valuable contribution of volunteering, including traditional forms of mutual aid and self-help, formal service delivery and other forms of civic participation, to economic and social development, benefiting society at large, communities and the individual volunteer, Recognizing also that volunteerism is an important component of any strategy aimed at, inter alia, such areas as poverty reduction, sustainable development, health, disaster prevention and management and social integration and, in particular, overcoming social exclusion and discrimination, Recognizing further the existing contribution of the organizations of the United Nations system to supporting volunteering, including the work of United Nations Volunteers around the world, by promoting volunteerism, including by placing volunteers, Aware of the need to approach voluntary activities strategically as a means of enhancing resources, addressing global issues and improving the quality of life for everyone, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on support for volunteering;A/56/288. 2. Also welcomes the work of the United Nations Volunteers as the focal point for the International Year of Volunteers in supporting national International Year of Volunteers committees and in collecting and disseminating information on the Year, including through its web site;www.iyv2001.org. 3. Expresses its appreciation regarding the support to the International Year of Volunteers extended by States, international organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, especially at the local, national and regional levels; 4. Commends the ongoing contributions of all volunteers to society, including in extraordinary conditions such as disasters; 5. Encourages all people to become more engaged in voluntary activities; 6. Lays down in the annex to the present resolution the recommendations on ways in which Governments and the United Nations system could support volunteering; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to take specific measures, in particular within the mandates of the United Nations Volunteers and the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to disseminate widely the present resolution and the annex; 8. Calls upon all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to give these recommendations due consideration; 9. Decides that on 5 December 2002, International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, two plenary meetings at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly shall be devoted to the outcome of the International Year of Volunteers and its follow-up under the agenda item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family"; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the outcome of the International Year of Volunteers and its followup, to include proposals for an integrated and coordinated follow-up, to be pursued in the relevant parts of the United Nations system, as well as on cross-cutting issues, building on his report to the Assembly at the present session and taking into account the present resolution, the discussions held during the present session and other relevant contributions. Annex Recommendations on ways in which Governments and the United Nations system could support volunteering I. General considerations 1. In these recommendations, the terms volunteering, volunteerism and voluntary activities refer to a wide range of activities, including traditional forms of mutual aid and self-help, formal service delivery and other forms of civic participation, undertaken of free will, for the general public good and where monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor. 2. Actions by Governments and the United Nations system are mutually reinforcing but are treated separately below for the sake of clarity. 3. There is not one universal model of best practice, since what works well in one country may not work in another with very different cultures and traditions. 4. Support for voluntary activities does not imply support for government downsizing or for replacing paid employment. 5. It is not just targeted measures that have an impact on volunteering; general social and economic policy measures can also influence citizens' opportunities and willingness to volunteer. 6. Neglecting to factor volunteering into the design and implementation of policies could entail the risk of overlooking a valuable asset and undermine traditions of cooperation that bind communities together. 7. It is important to ensure that opportunities for volunteering in all sectors are open both to women and men, given their different levels of participation in different areas, and recognizing the potential positive effect of volunteering on the empowerment of women. II. Government support 1. It is recommended that Governments further support voluntary activities by creating a favourable environment, including through the following policies and measures, and taking into account the local cultural context. (a) Increasing public awareness of the vital contribution of volunteerism to the social and economic functioning of their communities through, inter alia, public information activities and public events (i) Highlight the contribution of volunteering; organize briefings and seminars for policy makers and the media. Official papers on the status of volunteering and the issues that need to be addressed can be published and widely disseminated. High-profile events and campaigns can be organized on national days and on International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on 5 December. Negative stereotyping of volunteers can be challenged. The promotion of volunteering can be achieved through special programmes and public service announcements or by joint initiatives such as award schemes; (ii) Encourage the media to play a supportive role in public awareness-raising activities; (iii) Disseminate the results of studies and surveys on the contribution of volunteerism, where they exist, through the media, schools, non-governmental organizations and other channels. (b) Taking general measures concerning encouragement and facilitation, preparation, training and recognition of volunteers (i) Provide, in a way complementary to the support from other sources, an adequate human and physical infrastructure for volunteering. This could include, inter alia, awareness-raising campaigns, development of a volunteer centre infrastructure, establishment of focal points or the use of pilot schemes and the promotion of online volunteering. Specific campaigns in the area of, for example, mass immunization, literacy, or low-cost housing, could include budgetary provision for the encouragement and facilitation, orientation and training, monitoring and recognition of volunteers; (ii) Facilitate the establishment and functioning of volunteer centres, which provide a valuable stimulus to formal service volunteering through advocacy, monitoring and encouraging new initiatives. National volunteer centres provide effective leadership in the formal volunteer movement, while regional and local centres ensure linkages with the grass-roots communities and organizations. Legal and fiscal frameworks are important factors in the sustainability of such centres and financial support may also be desirable; (iii) Provide or facilitate specialized training and the formation of professional volunteer managers and trainers in the area of formal service volunteering, including by introducing formal credentials and standards; (iv) Encourage public sector workers to volunteer, for instance by facilitating measures, recognition, career enhancement incentives and the establishment of a dedicated special unit. This sets a positive example for society and helps to strengthen the sense of collective responsibility. (c) Enabling fiscal, legislative and other frameworks, including for community-based organizations and not-for-profit organizations engaged in volunteering (i) Introduce enabling legislation. The goal is to encourage or inspire citizens to volunteer but allow the choice to rest with the individual or organization; it can also facilitate employee volunteering. It can provide tax incentives and subsidies for organizations, as well as coverage and protection against risks, in a way fitting the particular society; (ii) Facilitate partnership-building around volunteer-based activities of civil society, including arrangements for joint planning, implementation and monitoring. This could incorporate employee volunteer activities of the private sector. (d) Encouraging and undertaking research in the various aspects of volunteerism and its impact on society (i) Ensure that consideration of the issues regarding volunteering is based on a sound appreciation and analysis of the parameters, profile and trends of volunteering in the particular country context. Studies on volunteering can be undertaken by independent public policy research and/or academic institutions. Governments can also initiate research themselves, in partnership with other stakeholders; (ii) Establish the economic value of volunteering to help to highlight one important aspect of its overall contribution to society and thereby assist in the development of informed policies which take into account the different levels of participation of women and men, youth and older people in different fields of volunteering. (e) Ensuring citizens' access to information on opportunities for volunteering (i) Facilitate the establishment of national databases on volunteer opportunities in collaboration with community-based organizations and not-for-profit organizations; (ii) Disseminate information through the media, schools, and other channels with particular attention given to ensuring that information is accessible also to disadvantaged segments of the population. Encourage media companies to support and expand the concept of pro bono public service announcements on behalf of volunteer-based organizations and activities. (f) Addressing the possible impact of general social and economic policy measures upon citizens' opportunities and willingness to volunteer (i) Take into account the possible impact of general social and economic policy upon citizens' opportunities to volunteer. Such a "volunteer check" could pertain to measures related to labour, for example, such as the length of the work week and the age of retirement, which have an impact on the profile of volunteering. Legal and fiscal measures could also be reviewed to assess whether they impinge negatively on the status of volunteer-involving organizations, including issues related to juridical status, rights to associational activities, and resource mobilization. Subsequently, legal and administrative hindrances to volunteering, where they exist, can be reduced; (ii) Give due weight to local ownership and citizen participation, to bring public services closer to communities and to open space for greater citizen engagement expressed through channels such as parental involvement in schools and community involvement in natural resource management; (iii) Recognize that transport, communication and other infrastructure, such as public spaces, enhance the capacity of people to organize for voluntary activities. This is especially true of geographically dispersed populations and of people living in poverty, as well as older persons and people with disabilities. It is desirable that the impact of such infrastructure on levels of volunteering be factored into the planning process. (g) Integrating volunteerism into national development planning, recognizing the potential contribution of volunteerism to the achievement of sustainable development goals (i) Extend the notion of volunteerism as an additional valuable component of national development planning to development cooperation policy. Recognizing and building strategically on rich, local traditions of voluntary self-help and mutual aid can open the way to building up a new constituency in support of development efforts. Forging a link in the mind of the general public in countries providing development assistance between domestic volunteering in those countries and volunteering in countries receiving assistance can also help enlist public support for development cooperation. (h) Participation of all population groups (i) Consider all means available for more people to become involved in voluntary activities and to be drawn from a broader cross-section of society, including youth, older persons and people with disabilities and persons belonging to minorities, targeting opportunities for voluntary activities to facilitate the active participation of those groups which have little or no access to the benefits of engaging in volunteering; (ii) Promote volunteering within educational establishments and youth services; develop specific programmes to encourage youth volunteering; put in place systems to recognize and accredit volunteering by youth; and work with the media to present an attractive image of volunteering. This can have a significant impact on the level of youth participation and constitute a sound investment in a country's human resources. III. Support by the United Nations system 1. It is recommended that the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, further support voluntary activities by creating a favourable environment, including through: (a) Awareness-raising (i) Raise awareness internally and with their partners as regards the role of volunteerism in the various areas in which they are active and can sensitize their constituencies as to the implications in terms of activities undertaken. At the political level, strategically manage and support volunteering and incorporate it into the agenda of their meetings; (ii) Undertake research and disseminate information about the cross-cutting link between volunteerism and major global concerns, including through technical and popular publications, workshops and Internet sites. This would serve also to extend recognition to volunteers and their organizations, which could be complemented by awards and other measures, including raising the profile of International Volunteer Day. (b) Recognition of the contributions of volunteers (i) Enhance and expand the current practice of extending special recognition to volunteers and volunteer-involving organizations across the United Nations system. (c) Involving volunteers in their programmes, interlinking with national initiatives (i) Include volunteers in their activities, supporting, inter alia, the establishment of volunteer schemes to address a range of global concerns. Where they exist, national and local volunteer centres could benefit substantially from the specialized expertise and networks of the United Nations system; (ii) Actively encourage staff of the United Nations system to volunteer, utilizing their special skills and experiences. (d) Long-term planning for the enhancement of social capital by including all segments of society in volunteering (i) Make a strategic choice for the involvement of all segments of society, including youth, older persons and people with disabilities and persons belonging to minorities, targeting opportunities for voluntary activities to facilitate the participation of those groups that have little or no access to the benefits of engaging in volunteering. In this way, building on societal norms and networks will enhance the social capital of the society concerned, strengthen its capacity for development and have a lasting impact on its well-being. (e) Assisting in building national capacities, including in the field of training (i) Assist countries, upon request, in building national capacities, including in the field of training, and further support Governments in their actions to promote volunteerism as a strategic tool to enhance economic and social development; (ii) Recognize the continuing role of the United Nations Volunteers as the volunteer arm of the United Nations system, placing volunteers in development and humanitarian programmes and promoting online volunteering. Build on the acquired experience of the United Nations Volunteers in enhancing the recognition, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteering, deriving from its role as focal point for the International Year of Volunteers. RESOLUTION 56/39 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.25/Rev.2 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/39. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/22 of 10 November 2000 and 55/161 of 12 December 2000 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States, Bearing in mind the charter establishing the Economic Community of Central African States, by which the Central African countries have agreed to work for the economic development of their subregion, to promote economic cooperation and to establish a Common Market of Central Africa, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted on 8 September 2000 by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations,See resolution 55/2. and especially chapter VII thereof, Noting that, at the ninth regular session of the Economic Community of Central African States, held in Malabo on 24 June 1999, the heads of State and Government of the member States decided to resume the activities of the Community by providing it with sufficient financial and human resources to enable it to become a real tool for the integration of their economies and to foster the development of cooperation between their peoples, with the ultimate aim of making it one of the five pillars of the African Economic Community and of helping Central Africa to meet the challenges of globalization, Bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Welcoming the establishment of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa with a view to creating a climate of peace and security in the subregion and strengthening the rule of law essential to its development, Welcoming also the launching of the activities of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, in accordance with the recommendations of the General Assembly in its resolutions 53/78 A of 4 December 1998 and 54/55 A of 1 December 1999, with a view to strengthening democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in the subregion, Commending the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States for their undertaking to strengthen arrangements for cooperation within the Community, Noting that, owing to the conflicts, loss of human lives and destruction of the economic and social infrastructure in Central Africa, it is essential to continue and strengthen the recovery programmes in order to restart the economy of the countries of the subregion, Noting with deep concern the danger of an increase in poverty, in particular in rural areas, due to the conflicts, loss of human lives and destruction of the economic and social infrastructure, Stressing the need for continued and strengthened recovery programmes in order to restart the economy of the countries of the subregion, Welcoming the contribution made by the United Nations system to supplement the efforts made at the national and subregional levels with a view to promoting the process of democratization, recovery and development in Central Africa, Aware of the opportunities and challenges which may result from the process of globalization and liberalization for the economies of the countries of the subregion, Noting with satisfaction the measures taken by the Economic Community of Central African States to combat the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), Noting the important contribution of women in the development process, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States;A/56/301. 2. Commends those States Members of the United Nations and United Nations organs, organizations and agencies which have maintained or strengthened their cooperation with the Economic Community of Central African States or have begun to cooperate with it with a view to achieving peace, security and development; 3. Invites those States Members of the United Nations and United Nations organs, organizations and agencies which have not yet established contact or relations with the Economic Community of Central African States to consider doing so; 4. Welcomes the financial, technical and material support given to the Economic Community of Central African States by the international community; 5. Emphasizes the importance of appropriate cooperation between the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, and the Economic Community of Central African States; 6. Once again requests the international community to consider seriously increases in its financial, technical and material support to the Economic Community of Central African States to enable it to implement fully its programme of action and to respond to the needs of the subregion for reconstruction and recovery; 7. Urges all Member States and the international community to contribute to the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States to achieve economic integration and development, promote democracy and human rights and consolidate peace and security in Central Africa and to implement the goals, targets and commitment of the United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular, to strengthen the role of women in the development process; 8. Welcomes the reforms which the Economic Community of Central African States is carrying out, in particular the implementation of its programme of action, so that it may be in a better position to tackle the problems of cooperation and regional integration; 9. Urges the international community and the United Nations agencies to continue to provide those countries of the Economic Community of Central African States in which a process of national reconstruction is taking place with appropriate assistance to consolidate their efforts towards democratization and the consolidation of the rule of law and to support their national development programmes; 10. Declares itself convinced of the importance of well-conceived global development strategies in order to avoid conflicts and disturbances and aware of the value of international cooperation and efforts to restore and maintain peace, and emphasizes that the international community should continue to help those countries which receive refugees to meet the resulting economic, social, humanitarian and environmental challenges; 11. Urges the United Nations and the international community to help to strengthen the means existing in the region to ensure that the Economic Community of Central African States has the necessary capacity with regard to prevention, monitoring, early warning and peacekeeping operations; 12. Invites the international community to consider supporting the creation of special economic zones and development corridors in the Economic Community of Central African States, with the active participation of the private sector; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to enhance contacts with the Economic Community of Central African States, with a view to encouraging and harmonizing cooperation between the United Nations and the Community; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/3 Adopted at the 33rd plenary meeting, on 30 October 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.6, sponsored by the Islamic Republic of Iran 56/3. United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/23 of 13 November 2000, in which it decided to devote two days of plenary meetings at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, on 3 and 4 December 2001, to the consideration of the item entitled "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations", Decides to convene the plenary meetings devoted to the item entitled "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations" on 8 and 9 November 2001. RESOLUTION 56/40 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.26 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 56/40. Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States,A/56/474. Recalling article 3 of the Pact of the League of Arab States,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 70, No. 241. which entrusts the Council of the League with the function of determining the means whereby the League will collaborate with the international organizations which may be created in the future to guarantee peace and security and organize economic and social relations, Noting the desire of both organizations to consolidate, develop and enhance further the ties existing between them in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, technical and administrative fields, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular section VII, concerning cooperation with regional arrangements and organizations, and the "Supplement to An Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. Convinced of the need for more efficient and coordinated utilization of available economic and financial resources in order to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/474. 2. Commends the continued efforts of the League of Arab States to promote multilateral cooperation among Arab States, and requests the United Nations system to continue to lend its support; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the follow-up action taken by him to implement the proposals adopted at the meetings between the representatives of the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, including the general meeting on cooperation between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations held in Vienna, from 17 to 19 July 2001; 4. Requests the Secretariat of the United Nations and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, within their respective fields of competence, to intensify further their cooperation for the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the strengthening of international peace and security, economic and social development, disarmament, decolonization, self-determination and the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in order to enhance their capacity to serve the mutual interests and objectives of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and administrative fields; 6. Calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system: (a) To continue to cooperate with the Secretary-General and among themselves, as well as with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, in the follow-up of multilateral proposals aimed at strengthening and expanding cooperation in all fields between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; (b) To strengthen the capacity of the League of Arab States and of its institutions and specialized organizations to benefit from globalization and information technology and to meet the development challenges of the new millennium; (c) To step up cooperation and coordination with the specialized organizations of the League of Arab States in the organization of seminars and training courses and in the preparation of studies; (d) To maintain and increase contacts and improve the mechanism of consultation with the counterpart programmes, organizations and agencies concerned regarding projects and programmes in order to facilitate their implementation; (e) To participate whenever possible with organizations and institutions of the League of Arab States in the execution and implementation of development projects in the Arab region; (f) To inform the Secretary-General, not later than 30 June 2002, of the progress made in their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations and, in particular, of the follow-up action taken on the multilateral and bilateral proposals adopted at the previous meetings between the two organizations; 7. Also calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to increase their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in the priority sectors of energy, rural development, desertification and green belts, training and vocational education, technology, environment and information and documentation; 8. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to encourage periodic consultation between representatives of the Secretariat of the United Nations and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in order to review and strengthen coordination mechanisms with a view to accelerating implementation of, and follow-up action on, the multilateral projects, proposals and recommendations adopted at the meetings between the two organizations; 9. Recommends that the United Nations and all organizations of the United Nations system make the greatest possible use of Arab institutions and technical expertise in projects undertaken in the Arab region; 10. Reaffirms that, in order to enhance cooperation and for the purpose of the review and appraisal of progress, a general meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States should be held once every two years and that joint inter-agency sectoral meetings should also be convened on a biennial basis to address priority areas of major importance to the development of the Arab States, on the basis of agreement between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; 11. Recommends that a sectoral meeting between the United Nations and the League of Arab States be held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo during 2002 on the use of information technology in development; 12. Also recommends that the next general meeting on cooperation between the representatives of the secretariats of organizations of the United Nations system and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations be held during 2003; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States". RESOLUTION 56/41 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.29 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Barbados, Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Vanuatu 56/41. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/1 of 17 October 1994, by which it granted observer status to the South Pacific Forum, Taking note of the communiqué of the thirtieth meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Koror from 3 to 5 October 1999, which, inter alia, agreed to change the name of the organization from the "South Pacific Forum" to the "Pacific Islands Forum", Recalling that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in addressing international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the Pacific Islands Forum, established in 1971, is to promote regional cooperation among its members through trade, investment, economic development and political and international affairs, Welcoming the ongoing efforts towards closer cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum, Bearing in mind the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action and other activities consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the assistance given by the United Nations towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Pacific Islands Forum region, Welcoming also the fact that in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, heads of State and Government resolved to address the special needs of small island developing States by implementing the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-22/2. Taking note of the communiqué of the thirty-second meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Yaren from 16 to 18 August 2001,See A/56/388. Affirming the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between entities of the United Nations system and the Pacific Islands Forum in the areas of economic and social development, as well as in political and humanitarian affairs, Mindful of the need for the coordinated utilization of available resources to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note of the decision of the heads of Government of the Pacific Islands Forum on the pursuit of a closer and cooperative relationship between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum; 2. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to take the necessary measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the two secretariats in order to increase the capacity of the organizations to attain their common objectives; 3. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, to promote, as a matter of priority, meetings between their representatives for consultations on policies, projects and procedures that will facilitate, broaden and, if necessary, formalize, cooperation and coordination between the two organizations; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, to assist in the development of long-term peace-building programmes to address new security threats in the Pacific Islands Forum region; 5. Urges specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in order to initiate, maintain and increase consultations and programmes with the Pacific Islands Forum and its associated institutions in the attainment of their objectives; 6. Invites initiatives from Member States to assist in the cooperation efforts between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum". RESOLUTION 56/42 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.30, sponsored by the Netherlands 56/42. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/283 of 7 September 2001, in which it approved the Agreement concerning the Relationship between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the decision of 17 May 2001 of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction to approve the Agreement,See A/55/988. Having received the annual report for 2000 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the implementation of the Convention,See A/56/490. 1. Welcomes the entry into force of the Agreement concerning the Relationship between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; 2. Takes note of the annual report for 2000 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons submitted by its Director-General on its behalf;See A/56/490. 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons". RESOLUTION 56/43 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.31 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/43. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the Agreement between the Council of Europe and the Secretariat of the United Nations signed on 15 December 1951 and the Arrangement on Cooperation and Liaison between the secretariats of the United Nations and the Council of Europe of 19 November 1971, Acknowledging the contribution of the Council of Europe to the protection and strengthening of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on the European continent, including its activities against racism and intolerance, the promotion of gender equality, social development and a common cultural heritage, Acknowledging also that, with its significant expertise in the field of human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law, the Council of Europe is contributing to conflict prevention, confidence-building and long-term post-conflict peace-building through political, legal and institutional reform, Stressing the importance of adherence to the standards and principles of the Council of Europe and its contribution to the solution of conflicts throughout the whole of Europe, Acknowledging the contribution of the Council of Europe to the development of international law, inter alia, international criminal law, Noting the increasing openness of the Council of Europe, through its legal instruments, to the participation of States of other regions, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/302. 2. Notes with appreciation the further improvement of cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and its agencies and the Council of Europe, both at the level of headquarters and in the field; 3. Welcomes the increasingly close cooperation between the Council of Europe, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; 4. Welcomes also the efforts of the Council of Europe to assist States in the ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,A/CONF.183/9. in particular the most recent meeting, held in Strasbourg, France, on 13 and 14 September 2001; 5. Expresses its appreciation to the Council of Europe for its contribution to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001; 6. Welcomes the contribution of the Council of Europe to the preparations for the special session of the General Assembly on children, to be held in 2002; 7. Commends strongly the contribution of the Council of Europe to international action against terrorism, as defined by the Committee of Ministers of the Council in the conclusions of its session of 7 and 8 November 2001 in Strasbourg, taking into account Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001 and 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, including the intensification of legal cooperation to combat terrorism; 8. Welcomes the participation of the Council of Europe in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999, in its cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, notably with regard to the reform of the judiciary, the promotion and protection of human rights, including the rights of minorities, property rights, population registration, childhood and youth programmes, education policies and the protection and restoration of cultural heritage; 9. Commends the role of the Council of Europe in the capacity-building programme of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, especially with regard to the electoral process in preparation for the Kosovo Assembly elections on 17 November 2001; 10. Welcomes the activities of the Council of Europe aimed at fulfilling the role assigned to it, under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina,See A/50/790-S/1995/999. with regard to the protection and promotion of human rights, and judicial and prison reform; 11. Welcomes also the major contribution of the Council of Europe to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, launched at the initiative of the European Union, and to the development of regional projects to support its aims; 12. Welcomes further the active role of the Council of Europe in the tripartite meetings between the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue exploring, with the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, possibilities for further enhancement of cooperation, information exchange and coordination between the United Nations and the Council of Europe; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe in implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/44 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.32, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 56/44. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by which it granted observer status to the Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also the resolutions previously adopted by the General Assembly on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, and inviting various specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and relevant international financial institutions to join in their efforts towards implementation of economic programmes and projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Bearing in mind the progress attained by the Economic Cooperation Organization both in its reorganization endeavours and in launching and implementing various regional development projects and programmes over the past decade, Welcoming the endeavours of the Economic Cooperation Organization in regard to consolidating its ties with the United Nations system and with relevant international and regional organizations towards the furtherance of its objectives, Recalling that one of the main objectives of the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization is to promote international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, Expressing grave concern at the prevalent drought and its devastating impact on the socio-economic situation of some States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 55/42 of 21 November 2000,A/56/122. and expresses satisfaction at the enhanced pace of mutually beneficial interaction between the two organizations; 2. Takes note of the Dushanbe communiqué, issued at the eleventh meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, held on 4 May 2001, in which the States members reiterated their common aspirations and resolve for a prosperous region of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 3. Stresses the importance of cooperation between the United Nations system and the Economic Cooperation Organization to address the challenges and opportunities of globalization in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization by promoting the integration of States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, as appropriate, into the world economy, particularly in areas of concern to States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, inter alia, trade, finance and transfer of technology; 4. Notes the holding in Islamabad on 8 November 2000 of a ministerial-level meeting on energy and petroleum, which, inter alia, resulted in a joint statement and the adoption of a plan of action for energy/petroleum cooperation in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization for 2001-2005; 5. Notes with satisfaction the ongoing cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme and the Economic Cooperation Organization through the implementation of the capacity-building project of the secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and welcomes the decision of the two institutions to expand the scope of existing cooperation in priority areas of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 6. Notes the concern of the Economic Cooperation Organization with respect to agriculture, industry and the health sector in the region, and appreciates the due cognizance taken by the organization of the development of the region, and in this regard welcomes the fact that the Economic Cooperation Organization decided to hold a ministerial meeting on agriculture in Islamabad in October 2001; 7. Welcomes the signing in March 2001 of a memorandum of understanding between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the International Trade Centre, expresses its confidence that their mutual cooperation will add impetus to the ongoing trade transactions among States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and notes with appreciation the successful implementation of the ongoing project of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the International Trade Centre on expanding intraregional trade; 8. Notes with satisfaction the increasing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the World Trade Organization, including the fact that the latter has accorded observer status to the former, and the increasing involvement of the Economic Cooperation Organization in relevant forums and ministerial conferences of the World Trade Organization, and appreciates the holding in Bishkek in 2002 of a joint Economic Cooperation Organization and World Trade Organization seminar on regionalism; 9. Welcomes the growing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and relevant international financial institutions in regard to financial assistance extended by them in the fields of transport, trade, energy, agriculture and privatization, particularly by the Islamic Development Bank in the joint projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Islamic Development Bank, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the introduction of multimodal transport operations in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the interconnection and parallel functioning of power systems in the region; 10. Also welcomes the efforts of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in opening international passenger traffic and the launching of a demonstration container train on the Almaty-Tashkent-Tehran-Istanbul route of the Trans-Asian Railway main line; 11. Appreciates the fact that General Assembly resolution 55/181 of 20 December 2000, on the transit environment in landlocked States in Central Asia and their transit developing neighbours, has implications for the whole region of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 12. Welcomes the holding in Tehran in June 2001 of a joint Economic Cooperation Organization and United Nations Industrial Development Organization training course on technology management and technology transfer negotiations, which will enhance cooperation among the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in industry, particularly in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises; 13. Notes the increasing problem of the production, transit and abuse of narcotic drugs and their ill effects in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization, notes with appreciation the commencement of phase II of the joint project of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme on the Drug Control Coordination Unit established in the secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization in July 1999, and calls upon the other international and regional organizations to assist, as appropriate, the Economic Cooperation Organization in its efforts against the drug menace in the region; 14. Appreciates the cooperation of the Economic Cooperation Organization with the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat in jointly organizing the regional seminar on the fight against supranational organized crime; 15. Notes with satisfaction the expansion of cultural ties in the region under the auspices of the Cultural Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and supports the endeavours to promote the rich cultural and literary heritage of the region through the launching of appropriate projects and programmes, with possible assistance from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant entities; 16. Also notes with satisfaction the efforts of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the field of science and technology for the development of the region and endeavours in this regard, including the establishment of the Science Foundation of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 17. Accentuates the significance of environmental issues, such as air and water pollution, in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies to cooperate, as appropriate, with the Economic Cooperation Organization to implement joint plans and projects to improve the situation in the region; 18. Invites the United Nations system, its relevant bodies and the international community to continue to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization and its secretariat in strengthening their early warning systems, preparedness, capacity for timely response and rehabilitation, with a view to reducing human casualties and mitigating the socio-economic impact of natural disasters; 19. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the implementation of the United Nations programmes for the development of transit transport facilities in the landlocked countries of the region; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 56/45 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.34 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Viet Nam 56/45. Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 33/18 of 10 November 1978, 50/3 of 16 October 1995, 52/2 of 17 October 1997 and 54/25 of 15 November 1999, as well as its decision 53/453 of 18 December 1998, Recalling also the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations which encourage the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations through regional cooperation, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/390. Noting the desire of the two organizations to consolidate, develop and tighten the ties that exist between them in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, Noting with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in cooperation between the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies and programmes and the International Organization of la Francophonie, Convinced that strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie serves the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Considering that the International Organization of la Francophonie brings together a considerable number of States Members of the United Nations, among which it promotes multilateral cooperation in areas of interest to the United Nations, Noting with appreciation the will shown by the heads of State and Government of countries that use French as a common language at their eighth summit session, held in Moncton, Canada, from 3 to 5 September 1999, to play an active part in resolving the main political and economic problems of the contemporary world and to consolidate the partnership with the United Nations to that end, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/390. 2. Notes with satisfaction the positive evolution and development of cooperation between the two organizations; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie for their sustained efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two organizations, thereby serving their mutual interests in the political, economic, social and cultural fields; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the International Organization of la Francophonie is participating more frequently in the work of the United Nations, to which it makes a valuable contribution; 5. Welcomes the involvement of the countries that use French as a common language, particularly through the International Organization of la Francophonie, in United Nations activities, including the preparation for, conduct of and follow-up to international conferences organized under United Nations auspices; 6. Emphasizes the importance of the steps taken by the International Organization of la Francophonie during the past two years to promote dialogue between cultures and civilizations; 7. Commends the International Organization of la Francophonie for its efforts in relation to conflict prevention, management and resolution, the promotion of human rights and the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law, as well as its action in favour of the development of multilateral cooperation among countries with French as a common language, particularly in the areas of economic, social and cultural development, and the promotion of new information technologies, and requests United Nations bodies to give it their support; 8. Also commends the high-level meetings held periodically between the secretariats of the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie, and advocates the participation of those secretariats in major meetings of the two organizations; 9. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for including the International Organization of la Francophonie in the periodic meetings he holds with the heads of regional organizations, and invites him to continue to do so, taking into account the role played by the International Organization of la Francophonie in conflict prevention and support for democracy and the rule of law; 10. Recommends to the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie that they should continue and intensify their consultations with a view to ensuring greater coordination in the areas of conflict prevention, peace-building, support for the rule of law and democracy and the promotion of human rights; 11. Notes with satisfaction the strengthening of collaboration between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie in the area of electoral monitoring and assistance, and advocates the strengthening of cooperation between the two organizations in that area; 12. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to encourage the holding of periodic meetings between representatives of the United Nations Secretariat and representatives of the secretariat of the International Organization of la Francophonie in order to promote the exchange of information, coordination of activities and identification of new areas of cooperation; 13. Invites the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to continue to promote cooperation between the two organizations; 14. Invites the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations, as well as the regional commissions, including the Economic Commission for Africa, to collaborate to this end with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie by identifying new synergies in favour of development, in particular in the areas of poverty elimination, energy, sustainable development, education, training and the development of new information technologies; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie". RESOLUTION 56/46 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.35 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe 56/46. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/19 of 8 November 2000, in which it expressed the wish that the cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union be strengthened further, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/449. which takes stock of such cooperation over the last twelve months, Noting with appreciation the resolutions adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and its activities during the past year in support of the United Nations, Recalling with satisfaction the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to strengthen further cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments through their world organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in various fields, including peace and security, economic and social development, international law and human rights and democracy and gender issues, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 26 June 2001,A/55/996. Taking into consideration the Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union of 1996,A/51/402, annex. which provides the foundation for current cooperation between the two organizations, Recalling the unique inter-State character of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1. Welcomes the ongoing efforts to explore ways in which a new and strengthened relationship may be established between the General Assembly and its subsidiary organs on the one hand and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the other, and encourages Member States to continue their consultations with a view to adopting a decision thereon during the fifty-seventh session of the Assembly; 2. Also welcomes the efforts made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to provide for a greater parliamentary contribution and enhanced support to the United Nations, and calls for the cooperation between the two organizations to be consolidated further; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the various aspects of cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union". RESOLUTION 56/47 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.36 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Niger, Pakistan, Senegal, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Arab Emirates 56/47. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/4 of 22 October 1982, 38/4 of 28 October 1983, 39/7 of 8 November 1984, 40/4 of 25 October 1985, 41/3 of 16 October 1986, 42/4 of 15 October 1987, 43/2 of 17 October 1988, 44/8 of 18 October 1989, 45/9 of 25 October 1990, 46/13 of 28 October 1991, 47/18 of 23 November 1992, 48/24 of 24 November 1993, 49/15 of 15 November 1994, 50/17 of 20 November 1995, 51/18 of 14 November 1996, 52/4 of 22 October 1997, 53/16 of 29 October 1998, 54/7 of 25 October 1999 and 55/9 of 30 October 2000, Recalling also its resolution 3369 (XXX) of 10 October 1975, by which it decided to invite the Organization of the Islamic Conference to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs in the capacity of observer, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/398. Taking into account the desire of both organizations to continue to cooperate closely in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific fields and in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights and economic and social development, Recalling the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations, its funds and programmes and specialized agencies and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, its subsidiary organs and its specialized and affiliated institutions, Noting also the encouraging progress made in the ten priority areas of cooperation between the two organizations, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its organs and institutions contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting with appreciation the determination of both organizations to strengthen further the existing cooperation by developing specific proposals in the designated priority areas of cooperation, as well as in the political field, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/398. 2. Notes with satisfaction the active participation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the work of the United Nations towards the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Requests the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to cooperate in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights, social and economic development and technical cooperation; 4. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common concern and to review the ways and means of enhancing the actual mechanisms of such cooperation; 5. Welcomes with appreciation the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the field of peacemaking and preventive diplomacy, and notes the close cooperation between the two organizations in continuing the search for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Afghanistan; 6. Welcomes the efforts of the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen information exchange, coordination and cooperation between them in areas of mutual interest in the political field and their ongoing consultations with a view to developing the modalities of such cooperation; 7. Also welcomes the periodic high-level meetings between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as between senior secretariat officials of the two organizations, and encourages their participation in important meetings of the two organizations; 8. Recommends that, in accordance with its resolution 50/17, in order to enhance cooperation and for the purpose of review and appraisal of progress, a general meeting of representatives of the secretariats of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference be held in 2002; 9. Also recommends that, in accordance with its resolution 50/17, coordination meetings of focal points of the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions be held concurrently with the general meeting in 2002; 10. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to expand their cooperation with the subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in priority areas of interest to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 11. Urges the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, especially the lead agencies, to provide increased technical and other forms of assistance to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions in order to enhance cooperation; 12. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific fields; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the state of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference". RESOLUTION 56/48 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.37 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Chile, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Zambia 56/48. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/489. Bearing in mind the decisions and declarations adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held in Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001,See A/56/457, annex I. in particular decision AHG/Dec.160 (XXXVII) on the establishment of the African Union on the basis of the Constitutive Act and a period of transition from Organization of African Unity and African Economic Community to African Union, to allow for the creation of the organs of the African Union, Taking note of declaration AHG/Decl.1 (XXXVII), adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, concerning the adoption of the New African Initiative, now called New Partnership for Africa's Development, following the review by the Implementation Committee of Heads of State and Government in Abuja on 23 October 2001 on sustainable development in Africa, Recalling the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and the agreement on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 548, No. 614 (Part II). as well as all its resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, including resolutions 54/94 of 8 December 1999 and 55/218 of 21 December 2000, Taking note of the declarations and decisions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000, in particular declaration AHG/Decl.4 (XXXVI), the Solemn Declaration on the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa,See A/55/286, annex II. Emphasizing the importance of the effective, coordinated and integrated implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and welcoming in this regard the commitments of Member States to respond to the special needs of Africa, Taking note of the Organization of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held in Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,See A/54/424, annex II, AHG/Dec.132 (XXXV). and the communiqué issued by the Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the Organization of African Unity, at its fifth extraordinary session, at the ministerial level, held in New York on 11 November 2001,See S/2001/1061, annex. Taking note also of the declaration of the extraordinary summit meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases, held in Abuja from 24 to 27 April 2001,OAU/SPS/ABUJA/3. Acknowledging the need for continued and closer cooperation between the United Nations and its specialized agencies and the Organization of African Unity and its specialized agencies in the peace and security, political, economic, social, technical, cultural and administrative fields, Acknowledging also the contribution of the United Nations Liaison Office in strengthening coordination and cooperation between the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations since its establishment in Addis Ababa in April 1998 and the need for its consolidation in order to enhance its performance, Emphasizing the need to implement the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council of 18 July 2001 on the role of the United Nations in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development,A/56/3, chap. III, para. 29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. Emphasizing also the need to implement urgently its resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001 containing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted at its special session on HIV/AIDS, and acknowledging in this respect the commitments of Member States to address the special needs of Africa, Noting the efforts being made by the Organization of African Unity and its specialized agencies and member States in the area of economic integration, and the need to accelerate the process of implementation of the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community,A/46/651, annex. Noting also the progress made by the Organization of African Unity in developing the capacity of its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, and acknowledging in this regard the assistance of the United Nations and the international community, Stressing the urgent need to address the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa, and noting in this context the efforts made to implement the recommendations of the Organization of African Unity Ministerial Meeting on Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Africa, held in Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998,A/54/682, annex II. as well as the endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second session of the Comprehensive Implementation Plan, adopted at the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts organized by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000,A/55/286, annex I, CM/Dec. 531 (LXXII), para. 8. Recognizing the importance of developing and maintaining a culture of peace, tolerance and harmonious relationships based on the promotion of economic development, democratic principles, good governance, the rule of law, human rights, social justice and international cooperation, Recognizing also the need to improve coordination and harmonization among the various United Nations initiatives established to assist the development of Africa, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/489. 2. Welcomes the cooperation existing between the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations and, in this respect, the continuing participation in and constructive contribution of the Organization of African Unity and its specialized agencies to the work of the United Nations, its organs and specialized agencies, and calls upon the two organizations to enhance the involvement of the Organization of African Unity in all United Nations activities concerning Africa; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General closely to involve the Organization of African Unity and its specialized agencies in the implementation of the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. especially those that relate to meeting the special needs of Africa; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, together with the Organization of African Unity, to take the necessary measures for the speedy and effective implementation of the recommendations of the biennial meeting of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations, held in Addis Ababa on 10 and 11 April 2000, in particular those priority areas specified in section III of the report of the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session;See A/55/498. 5. Stresses the need for closer cooperation and coordination between the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations in the area of peace and security, particularly with regard to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peace-making, post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building and support for the democratization processes and good governance; 6. Requests the United Nations to extend full cooperation and support to the Organization of African Unity in the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa,See A/55/286, annex II. an initiative which creates a synergy between the various activities currently undertaken by the Organization of African Unity and provides a policy development forum for the elaboration and advancement of common values within the policy organs of the Organization of African Unity; 7. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Liaison Office with the Organization of African Unity; 8. Requests the United Nations, while acknowledging its primary role in the promotion of international peace and security, to intensify its assistance to the Organization of African Unity in strengthening the institutional and operational capacity of its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, in particular in the following areas: (a) Development of its early warning system, including the Situation Room of the Conflict Management Centre; (b) Technical assistance and training of civilian and military personnel, including a staff exchange programme; (c) Regular and continued exchange and coordination of information, including between the early warning systems of the two organizations; (d) Provision of assistance to field missions of the Organization of African Unity in its various member States, in particular, in the area of communication and other related logistical support; (e) Mobilization of financial support, including through the trust funds of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity; 9. Urges the United Nations to encourage donor countries, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity, to contribute to adequate funding, training and logistical support for African countries in their efforts to enhance their peacekeeping capabilities, with a view to enabling those countries to participate actively in peacekeeping operations within the framework of the United Nations; 10. Also urges the United Nations to contribute, where appropriate, to the enhancement of the capacity of the Organization of African Unity to deploy peace support missions; 11. Requests the agencies of the United Nations system working in Africa to include in their programmes at the national, subregional and regional levels activities to support African countries in their efforts to enhance regional economic cooperation and integration; 12. Stresses the urgent need for the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity to develop close cooperation and concrete programmes, aimed at addressing the problems posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and anti-personnel mines, within the framework of the relevant declarations and resolutions adopted by the two organizations, including the Plan of Action on Landmines, adopted at the First Continental Conference of African Experts on Landmines, held at Kempton Park, South Africa, from 19 to 21 May 1997, the Bamako Declaration of 1 December 2000 on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light WeaponsSee A/CONF.192/PC/23. and the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001;See A/CONF.192/15, para. 24. 13. Welcomes the intention of the United Nations, set out in section I of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/489. to review the programme of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity in order to address the needs of the African Union during the transitional period; 14. Calls upon United Nations agencies to continue to cooperate with the Organization of African Unity in order to facilitate the transition from the Organization of African Unity to the African Union, to intensify the coordination of their regional programmes in Africa to ensure the effective harmonization of their programmes with those of the African regional and subregional economic organizations and to contribute to creating a positive environment for economic development and investment; 15. Welcomes the leadership efforts of African leaders to develop an African-owned and African-led framework for action towards the sustainable development of the African continent, and calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to support the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentSee A/56/457, annex I. and the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council,A/56/3, chap. III, para. 29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3. and the enhancement of the capacity of African countries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization and overcome the challenges it poses, as a means of ensuring sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 16. Encourages the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity to collaborate closely in the global fight against terrorism and the implementation of the Organization of African Unity Convention on the Prevention and Combating of TerrorismSee A/54/424, annex II, AHG/Dec.132 (XXXV). and the communiqué issued by the Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution;See S/2001/1061, annex. 17. Calls upon the United Nations to support actively the efforts of the Organization of African Unity in urging the donor community and, where appropriate, multilateral institutions to strive to meet the agreed target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance, to implement fully, speedily and effectively the enhanced programme of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries, and to achieve the goal of securing debt relief in a comprehensive and effective manner in favour of African countries through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term; 18. Calls upon all Member States and regional and international organizations, in particular those of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations, to provide additional assistance to the Organization of African Unity and those Governments in Africa concerned with the problems of refugees, returnees and displaced persons; 19. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the effective and equitable representation of African men and women at senior and policy levels at their respective headquarters and in their regional fields of operation; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/49 Adopted at the 80th plenary meeting, on 7 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 134 to 1, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.38 and Add.1, sponsored by Indonesia and Suriname * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: United States of America Abstaining: India, Pakistan 56/49. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization The General Assembly, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,A/56/317. Taking note also of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,See A/56/317; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Plenary Meetings, 77th meeting (A/56/PV.77), and corrigendum. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization". RESOLUTION 56/4 Adopted at the 37th plenary meeting, on 5 November 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.8 and Add.1, sponsored by: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia 56/4. Observance of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which emphasized the necessity of safeguarding nature for the sake of future generations and working for the protection of our common environment, Considering that damage to the environment in times of armed conflict impairs ecosystems and natural resources long beyond the period of conflict, and often extends beyond the limits of national territories and the present generation, Recalling Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations, which states that all Member States shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any State in their international relations, 1. Declares 6 November each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict; 2. Invites Member States, entities of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations to observe 6 November each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the implementation of the present resolution and to promote it in the international community. RESOLUTION 56/50 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/547, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 56/50. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 55/121 of 8 December 2000,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 49 and corrigendum (A/55/49 (vol. I) and Corr.1), sect. III. in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific CommitteeIbid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 46 (A/56/46). and of the release of its extensive report, entitled Hereditary Effects of Radiation: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2001 Report to the General Assembly, with Scientific Annex,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.IX.2. Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its fifty-sixth session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past forty-six years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific CommitteeIbid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 46 (A/56/46). and of the release of its extensive report,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.IX.2. which provides the scientific and world community with the Committee's latest evaluations of the hereditary effects of radiation; 3. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee, including its present reporting arrangements; 4. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources, and invites the Scientific Committee to submit its programme of work to the General Assembly; 5. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for its future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly; 6. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 7. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 8. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 9. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports; 10. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 11. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly. RESOLUTION 56/51 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/548, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Chile (on behalf of the Working Group on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 56/51. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996, 54/68 of 6 December 1999 and 55/122 of 8 December 2000, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further developing the legal framework to strengthen international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III,A/56/394 and Corr.1. Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications, in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education and Earth observation, contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, inter alia, poverty eradication, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-fourth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-fourth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1). 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties; 3. Notes that, at its fortieth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/122;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), chap. II.D. 4. Notes with satisfaction the agreement reached by the Legal Subcommittee on the question of the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit and the subsequent endorsement of that agreement by the Committee;A/AC.105/738, annex III; and Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 129. 5. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-first session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to: a. The definition and delimitation of outer space; b. The character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) Consideration of the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, which was opened for signature at Cape Town, South Africa, on 16 November 2001, and the preliminary draft protocol on matters specific to space property; (c) Continue its review of the concept of the "launching State", in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/54/20 and Corr.1), chap. II.C, para. 114. 6. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-first session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-second session, in 2003; 7. Agrees that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (ii) above, the Legal Subcommittee should establish a working group with the terms of reference as agreed upon by the Legal Subcommittee at its fortieth session,See A/AC.105/763 and Corr.1, para. 118. to be convened for three years, from 2002 to 2004; 8. Notes that the Committee would invite interested member States to designate experts to identify which aspects of the report on the ethics of space policy of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization might need to be studied by the Committee and to draft a report, in consultation with other international organizations and in close liaison with the World Commission, with a view to making a presentation on the matter at the forty-second session of the Legal Subcommittee, under the agenda item entitled "Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law"; 9. Notes also that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (iv) above and in accordance with the agreement referred to in paragraph 4 above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its working group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; 10. Endorses the agreement of the Legal Subcommittee, in the context of paragraph 5 (b) (ii) above, concerning the establishment of an ad hoc consultative mechanism to review the relevant issues;Ibid., para. 94; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), paras. 172 and 173. 11. Notes that, in the context of paragraph 5 (c) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its working group to consider the item; 12. Agrees that, in accordance with the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I. which were endorsed by the General Assembly in paragraph 11 of its resolution 52/56 of 10 December 1997, the Committee should reach consensus agreement at its forty-fifth session, in 2002, on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the third term, starting in 2003; 13. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-eighth session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/122;Ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), chap. II.C. 14. Notes with satisfaction that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-eighth session continued to consider, on a priority basis, the agenda item on space debris; 15. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-ninth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications; (iii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (iv) Matters relating to remote-sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the work plans adopted by the Committee;See A/AC.105/697 and Corr.1, annex III, appendix, for the work plan for item (i); A/AC.105/736, annex II, paras. 40 and 41, for items (ii) and (iii), respectively; and A/AC.105/761, para. 130, for item (iv). (i) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (ii) Means and mechanisms for strengthening inter-agency cooperation and increasing the use of space applications and services within and among entities of the United Nations system; (iii) Implementation of an integrated, space-based global natural disaster management system; (iv) Space debris; (c) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including, inter alia, in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; (ii) International cooperation in limiting obtrusive space advertising that could interfere with astronomical observations; (iii) Mobilization of financial resources to develop capacity in space science and technology applications; 16. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-ninth session will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the fortieth session of the Subcommittee, in 2003; 17. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation, in liaison with member States, be invited to arrange a symposium on the theme "Remote sensing for water management in arid and semi-arid countries", with as wide a participation as possible, to be held during the first week of the thirty-ninth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee; 18. Notes with satisfaction that an industry symposium, with the participation of member States, will be organized during the thirty-ninth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, focusing on the promising area of very high resolution remote sensing and its impact on operational applications and also discussing the new space market situation; 19. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 15 (a) (ii) and (iii) and 16 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-ninth session should reconvene the Working Group of the Whole; 20. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 15 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-ninth session should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space; 21. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to contribute to the work of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in the context of paragraph 15 (b) (ii) above by, inter alia, considering the barriers to greater use of space applications and services within the United Nations system and suggesting means and mechanisms to eliminate those barriers;See A/AC.105/761, para. 81. 22. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2002, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications;See A/AC.105/750, sects. II-IV. 23. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria, respectively, and the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific continued their education programmes in 2001 and that progress has been achieved in furthering the goals of the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in establishing regional centres for space science and technology education in the other regions; 24. Notes that Member States concerned in Asia and the Pacific continued to hold further consultations, with the assistance of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, with a view to making the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific grow into a network of nodes; 25. Recognizes the usefulness and significance of the Space Conferences of the Americas for the Latin American countries, notes with satisfaction that Colombia offered to host a Fourth Space Conference of the Americas in 2003, for which a Preparatory Conference will be convened during the International Air and Space Fair, known as FIDAE, to be held in Santiago in April 2002, and encourages other regions to convene periodically regional conferences with a view to achieving convergence of positions on issues of common concern in the field of the peaceful uses of outer space among States Members of the United Nations; 26. Urges all Governments, organs, organizations and programmes within the United Nations system as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities to take the necessary action for the effective implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular its resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 27. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee at its forty-fourth session established action teams under the voluntary leadership of Member States to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, which had been assigned highest priority by Member States and for which Member States had offered to lead activities, and that those action teams would report on the work conducted and submit work plans to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its thirty-ninth session for approval;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), paras. 50-62. 28. Notes that, in accordance with paragraph 29 of General Assembly resolution 55/122, the resources necessary to carry out measures and activities contained in the plan of action submitted by the Office for Outer Space Affairs to implement recommendations of UNISPACE III had been included in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003Ibid., Supplement No. 6 (A/56/6/Rev.1), sect. 6. and that the Committee stressed the importance of the full implementation of the plan of action with the necessary resources in 2002;Ibid., Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), para. 64. 29. Agrees that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 55/122, the Committee should include in the agendas of its forty-fifth to forty-seventh sessions an item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 30. Requests the Committee to prepare a report under the agenda item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III for submission to the General Assembly, in order for the Assembly to review and appraise, at its fifty-ninth session, in 2004, in accordance with paragraph 16 of General Assembly resolution 54/68, the implementation of the outcome of UNISPACE III and to consider further actions and initiatives, and agrees that in this context, it would be advisable to establish a working group of the Committee which would take into account the work of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the matter; 31. Also requests the Committee to submit for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session recommendations on the format, scope and organizational aspects of the above-mentioned review by the Assembly; 32. Urges all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to support activities to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular the priority project proposals as recommended by the Committee at its forty-third session;Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 87. 33. Recommends that more attention be paid and political support be provided to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment; 34. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 35. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 36. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 37. Agrees that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of conferences organized within the United Nations system to address global issues relating to social, economic and cultural development and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 38. Notes that the Chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space submitted a letter to the Secretary-General,A/56/306. as requested by the Committee at its forty-fourth session,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), para. 113. bringing to his attention the need to consider the contributions of space science and technology to a greater extent in achieving the objectives of major United Nations conferences, taking particular account of the needs of developing countries; 39. Invites all the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, particularly those that participate in the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, to identify recommendations of major United Nations conferences that could be implemented with the use of space science and technology; 40. Decides that the practice of sharing seats on a rotating basis between Cuba and Peru as well as Malaysia and the Republic of Korea shall be terminated, that those four countries shall become full members of the Committee, and that Saudi Arabia and Slovakia shall become members of the Committee; 41. Agrees that, after the current enlargement of the membership of the Committee, there would be no need to expand its membership further for the next seven years, except in special circumstances meriting consideration before that period has elapsed; 42. Also agrees that each regional group should hold consultations among its members that are also members of the Committee, for the purpose of urging them to participate in the work of the Committee and its two subcommittees, and that the regional groups would report to the Committee at its forty-fifth session on the results of their consultations; 43. Endorses the decision of the Committee to grant permanent observer status to the European Association for the International Space Year, the National Space Society and the Space Generation Advisory Council; 44. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 45. Also requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-fifth session, its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 46. Agrees that a new item entitled "Space and society" should be included in the agenda of the Committee at its forty-fifth and forty-sixth sessions; 47. Also agrees that the Committee should consider a report on the activities of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue as a part of its consideration of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee", and invites Member States to report on their activities regarding the System; 48. Invites the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimension in space science and technology applications; 49. Requests the specialized agencies and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with progress reports on their work relating to the peaceful uses of outer space; 50. Requests the Committee to continue its work, in accordance with the present resolution, to consider, as appropriate, new projects in outer space activities and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, including its views on which subjects should be studied in the future; 51. Also requests the Committee to consider and identify new mechanisms of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, in accordance with the preamble to the present resolution. * * * As a result of the decision taken by the General Assembly in paragraph 40 of the above resolution, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is composed of the following sixty-four Member States: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam. RESOLUTION 56/52 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/549, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 151 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America 56/52. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/123 of 8 December 2000 and all its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/56/13 and Add.1). Stressing the importance of the Middle East peace process, Welcoming the signature in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the people of Palestine, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government ArrangementsA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware that the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process has an important role to play in the peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the refugees continues to be a matter of concern; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and requests the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2002; 3. Expresses its thanks to the Commissioner-General and to all the staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, recognizing that the Agency is doing all it can within the limits of available resources, and also expresses its thanks to the specialized agencies and to private organizations for their valuable work in assisting refugees; 4. Notes the significant success of the Peace Implementation Programme of the Agency since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and stresses the importance that contributions to this Programme not be at the expense of the General Fund; 5. Welcomes the increased cooperation between the Agency and international and regional organizations, States and relevant agencies and non-governmental organizations, which is essential to enhancing the contributions of the Agency towards improved conditions for the refugees and thereby the social stability of the occupied territory; 6. Urges all Member States to extend and expedite aid and assistance with a view to the economic and social development of the Palestinian people and the occupied territory; 7. Reiterates its deep concern regarding the persisting critical financial situation of the Agency, as outlined in the report of the Commissioner-General;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/56/13 and Add.1). 8. Commends the efforts of the Commissioner-General to move towards budgetary transparency and internal efficiency, and welcomes in this respect the unified budget for the biennium 2002-2003;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13, addendum (A/56/13/Add.1). 9. Welcomes the consultative process between the Agency, host Governments, the Palestinian Authority and donors on management reforms; 10. Notes with profound concern that the continuing shortfall in the finances of the Agency, in particular at this time of acute crisis, has a significant negative influence on the living conditions of the Palestine refugees most in need and that it therefore has possible consequences for the peace process; 11. Expresses deep concern about the continuing problem of restrictions on the freedom of movement of Agency staff, vehicles and goods in the occupied territory, which has an adverse impact on the operational effectiveness of the Agency's programmes; 12. Calls upon all donors, as a matter of urgency, to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including the remaining costs of moving the headquarters to Gaza, encourages contributing Governments to contribute regularly and to consider increasing their regular contributions, and urges non-contributing Governments to contribute; 13. Decides to extend the mandate of the Agency until 30 June 2005, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III). RESOLUTION 56/53 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/549, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 56/53. Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2656 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, 2728 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, 2971 (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 55/124 of 8 December 2000 and the previous resolutions on this question, Recalling also its decision 36/462 of 16 March 1982, by which it took note of the special report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,A/36/866 and Corr.1; see also A/37/591. Having considered the report of the Working Group,A/56/430. Taking into account the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/56/13 and Add.1). Deeply concerned about the continuing financial situation of the Agency, which has affected and affects the continuation of the provision of necessary Agency services to Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related and humanitarian programmes, Emphasizing the continuing need for extraordinary efforts in order to maintain, at least at the current level, the activities of the Agency, as well as to enable the Agency to carry out essential construction, 1. Commends the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency; 2. Takes note with approval of the report of the Working Group;A/56/430. 3. Requests the Working Group to continue its efforts, in cooperation with the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General, to find a solution to the financial situation of the Agency; 4. Welcomes the new, unified budget structure for the biennium 2002-2003,Ibid., Supplement No. 13, addendum (A/56/13/Add.1). which can contribute significantly to improved budgetary transparency of the Agency; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work. RESOLUTION 56/54 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/549, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 151 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 56/54. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 55/125 of 8 December 2000,A/56/382. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/56/13 and Add.1). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, signed in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government ArrangementsA/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been effected, and expresses the hope for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its fifty-seventh session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/55 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/549, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 154 to none, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Israel 56/55. Offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 212 (III) of 19 November 1948 on assistance to Palestine refugees, Recalling also its resolutions 35/13 B of 3 November 1980, 36/146 H of 16 December 1981, 37/120 D of 16 December 1982, 38/83 D of 15 December 1983, 39/99 D of 14 December 1984, 40/165 D of 16 December 1985, 41/69 D of 3 December 1986, 42/69 D of 2 December 1987, 43/57 D of 6 December 1988, 44/47 D of 8 December 1989, 45/73 D of 11 December 1990, 46/46 D of 9 December 1991, 47/69 D of 14 December 1992, 48/40 D of 10 December 1993, 49/35 D of 9 December 1994, 50/28 D of 6 December 1995, 51/127 of 13 December 1996, 52/60 of 10 December 1997, 53/49 of 3 December 1998, 54/72 of 6 December 1999 and 55/126 of 8 December 2000, Cognizant of the fact that the Palestine refugees have, for the last five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/375. Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/56/13 and Add.1). 1. Urges all States to respond to the appeal made in its resolution 32/90 F of 13 December 1977 and reiterated in subsequent relevant resolutions in a manner commensurate with the needs of Palestine refugees for higher education, including vocational training; 2. Strongly appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East; 3. Expresses its appreciation to all Governments, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations that responded favourably to its resolutions on this question; 4. Invites the relevant specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue, within their respective spheres of competence, to extend assistance for higher education to Palestine refugee students; 5. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and the United Nations University to contribute generously to the Palestinian universities in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including, in due course, the proposed University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for Palestine refugees; 6. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and other international bodies to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees; 7. Requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships and to award them to qualified Palestine refugee candidates; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/56 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/549, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 151 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 56/56. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/56/13 and Add.1). Taking note of the letter dated 25 September 2001 from the Chairman of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Ibid., p. viii. contained in the report of the Commissioner-General, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolutions 48/40 E,A/49/440. 48/40 HA/49/442. and 48/40 JA/49/443. of 10 December 1993 and 49/35 CA/50/451. of 9 December 1994, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, Aware of the fact that Palestine refugees have, for over five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Also aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely, in Lebanon, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, Further aware of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the increased suffering of the Palestine refugees, including loss of life and injury, during the recent tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, Gravely concerned also about the policies of closure and severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees, Deeply concerned about the negative impact of these closures and restrictions on the staff and services of the Agency, Deeply concerned also about the continuing critical financial situation of the Agency and its effect on the continuity of provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related programmes, Aware of the work of the Peace Implementation Programme of the Agency, Recalling the signing in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993 of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. Aware of the establishment of a working relationship between the Advisory Commission of the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization in accordance with General Assembly decision 48/417 of 10 December 1993, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, including and particularly during the difficult situation of the past year; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of decision 48/417; 3. Takes note of the functioning of the headquarters of the Agency in Gaza City on the basis of the Headquarters Agreement between the Agency and the Palestinian Authority; 4. Acknowledges the support of the host Government and the Palestine Liberation Organization for the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 5. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to abide scrupulously by its provisions; 6. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). with regard to the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of the facilities of the Agency in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; 7. Calls once again upon the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side; 8. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the personnel, vehicles and supplies of the Agency, which has a detrimental impact on the Agency's operations; 9. Also calls upon Israel to cease its policies of closure and of placing restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian population, in particular the Palestine refugees; 10. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 11. Notes that the context created by the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and subsequent implementation agreements has had major consequences for the activities of the Agency, which is henceforth called upon, in close cooperation with the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, the specialized agencies and the World Bank, to continue to contribute towards the development of economic and social stability in the occupied territory; 12. Notes also that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation; 13. Notes further the significant success of the Peace Implementation Programme of the Agency, as well as the microfinance and enterprise programmes; 14. Expresses concern about those remaining austerity measures due to the financial crisis, which have affected the quality and level of some of the services of the Agency; 15. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency; 16. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the current financial constraints and to support the Agency in maintaining the provision of the most basic and effective assistance to the Palestine refugees. RESOLUTION 56/57 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/549, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 150 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 56/57. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 55/128 of 8 December 2000,A/56/420. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2000 to 31 August 2001,A/56/290, annex. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine Arab refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine Arab refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of justice and equity; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records of the Conciliation Commission; 4. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/58 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/549, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 151 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 56/58. University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/146 G of 16 December 1981, 37/120 C of 16 December 1982, 38/83 K of 15 December 1983, 39/99 K of 14 December 1984, 40/165 D and K of 16 December 1985, 41/69 K of 3 December 1986, 42/69 K of 2 December 1987, 43/57 J of 6 December 1988, 44/47 J of 8 December 1989, 45/73 J of 11 December 1990, 46/46 J of 9 December 1991, 47/69 J of 14 December 1992, 48/40 I of 10 December 1993, 49/35 G of 9 December 1994, 50/28 G of 6 December 1995, 51/130 of 13 December 1996, 52/63 of 10 December 1997, 53/52 of 3 December 1998, 54/75 of 6 December 1999 and 55/129 of 8 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/421. Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 13 and addendum (A/56/13 and Add.1). 1. Emphasizes the need for strengthening the educational system in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 5 June 1967, including Jerusalem, and specifically the need for the establishment of the proposed university; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary measures for establishing the University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds", in accordance with General Assembly resolution 35/13 B of 3 November 1980, giving due consideration to the recommendations consistent with the provisions of that resolution; 3. Calls once again upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cooperate in the implementation of the present resolution and to remove the hindrances that it has put in the way of establishing the University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds"; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/59 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/550, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 83 to 4, with 58 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia 56/59. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by the principles of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968, and relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Aware of the lasting impact of the uprising (intifada) of the Palestinian people, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuation of the tragic events that have taken place since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/56/428 and Add.1 and A/56/491. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/56/214-219. Recalling the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. Expressing the hope that, with the progress of the peace process, the Israeli occupation will be brought to an end and therefore violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Demands that Israel cooperate with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the reports of the Special Committee covering the reporting period; 4. Expresses grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, as a result of Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns the excessive use of force in the past year which has resulted in more than seven hundred Palestinian deaths and tens of thousands of injuries; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli lack of compliance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate the Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such additional staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 56/5 Adopted at the 37th plenary meeting, on 5 November 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.5 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gabon, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Senegal, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo 56/5. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially the dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed, Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace, resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and resolution 55/47 of 29 November 2000, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. which calls for the active promotion of a culture of peace, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/56/349. including paragraph 28 thereof which indicates that each of the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme related to the Programme of Action, Taking note also of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000, entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing the particular relevance of the special session of the General Assembly on children, to be held in New York during the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, Taking into account the "Manifesto 2000" initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over seventy-four million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, 1. Reiterates that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World is to further strengthen the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Invites Member States to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels; 3. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognizing the promotion of a culture of peace as the expression of its fundamental mandate, and requests it, as the lead agency for the Decade, to further strengthen the activities it has undertaken for promoting a culture of peace; 4. Also commends the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund and the University for Peace, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;Resolution 53/243 B. 5. Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue its efforts to disseminate in various languages, inter alia, through its national commissions, the Declaration on a Culture of PeaceResolution 53/243 A. and the Programme of Action and related materials, in particular throughout the Decade; 6. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to continue to promote both formal and non-formal education at all levels that foster a culture of peace and non-violence; 7. Encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue and strengthen its efforts in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade, inter alia, by adopting its own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other global and regional organizations; 8. Also encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; 9. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue the communication and networking arrangements established during the International Year for providing an instant update of developments related to the observance of the Decade; 10. Invites Member States as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to provide information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 56/60 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/550, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 148 to 4, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Angola, Nicaragua 56/60. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/56/428 and Add.1 and A/56/491. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/56/215 and A/56/218. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the convening of the meeting of experts of the high contracting parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. at Geneva from 27 to 29 October 1998, at the initiative of the Government of Switzerland in its capacity as the depositary of the Convention, concerning general problems of application of the Convention in general and, in particular, in occupied territories, Noting also the convening for the first time, on 15 July 1999, of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., Nos. 970-973. and aware of the statement adopted by the Conference, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., Nos. 970-973. to exert all efforts in order to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the recommendations contained in its resolutions ES-10/3 of 15 July 1997, ES-10/4 of 13 November 1997, ES-10/5 of 17 March 1998, ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999 and ES-10/7 of 20 October 2000 with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/61 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/550, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 145 to 4, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands 56/61. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Aware of the Middle East peace process started at Madrid and the agreements reached between the parties, in particular the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel of settlement activities, including the ongoing construction of the settlement in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and in Ras Al-Amud in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, Taking into consideration the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on the Middle East peace process, Gravely concerned in particular about the dangerous situation resulting from actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, as illustrated by the massacre of Palestinian worshippers by an illegal Israeli settler in Al-Khalil on 25 February 1994, and during the past year, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/216. 1. Reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Demands complete cessation of the construction of the settlement in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 4. Stresses the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 5. Reiterates its call for the prevention of illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, particularly in the light of recent developments; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/62 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/550, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 145 to 4, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea 56/62. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, and the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, the most recent of which are resolutions 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, 1073 (1996) of 28 September 1996 and 1322 (2000) of 7 October 2000, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/56/428 and Add.1 and A/56/491. and the reports of the Secretary-General,A/56/214-219. Taking note of the report of the Human Rights Inquiry Commission established by the Commission on Human RightsE/CN.4/2001/121. and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,E/CN.4/2001/30. Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Stressing the need for compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, as well as for the immediate and full implementation of the recommendations of the Sharm El-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell report), Noting that during the reporting period, the third agreed-upon phase of redeployment of the Israeli army has not been implemented, and that serious incursions into the areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority have occurred, Concerned about the continuing violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including the use of collective punishment, closure of areas, annexation of land, establishment of settlements and the continuing actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, Deeply concerned by the tragic events that have occurred since 28 September 2000 and that have led to numerous deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinians, the severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, and the widespread destruction, including of agricultural land, Convinced of the positive impact of a temporary international or foreign presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the safety and protection of the Palestinian people, Convinced also of the need for third-party monitoring to help the parties to implement the recommendations of the Sharm El-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, Expressing its appreciation to the countries that participated in the Temporary International Presence in Hebron for their positive contribution, Convinced of the need for the full implementation of Security Council resolutions 904 (1994), 1073 (1996) and 1322 (2000), 1. Determines that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that the measures and actions taken in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. cease immediately, including the practice of extrajudicial killings; 3. Condemns acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction; 4. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people; 5. Stresses the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world; 6. Calls for complete respect by Israel, the occupying Power, of all fundamental freedoms of the Palestinian people; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/63 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/550, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 147 to 2, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of), Nicaragua, United States of America 56/63. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,See A/56/428 and Add.1 and A/56/491. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the last of which was resolution 55/134 of 8 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 55/134,A/56/219. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening in Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and from taking repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 56/64 A and B 56/64. Questions relating to information Resolution A Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/552, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Committee on Information. A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/56/21); and ibid., Supplement No. 21 A (A/56/21/Add.1). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/56/411. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of CommunicationSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September to 28 October 1980, vol. 1, Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media. Resolution B Adopted at the 92nd plenary meeting, on 24 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/552, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Committee on Information. B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Reiterating its decision to consolidate the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Concurring with the view of the Secretary-General that public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations, and that a culture of communications should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create broad-based global support for the United Nations, Stressing that the primary mission of the Department of Public Information is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive and timely information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, Expressing its concern that the gap in the information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that vast segments of the population in developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and technology revolution and, in this regard, underlining the necessity of rectifying the imbalances of the global information and technology revolution in order to make it more just, equitable and effective, Recognizing that developments in the information and communication technology revolution open vast new opportunities for economic growth and social development and can play an important role in the eradication of poverty in developing countries and, at the same time, emphasizing that it also poses challenges and risks and could lead to further widening of disparities between and within countries, Stating that the present developments and rapid changes in the field of information and communication technology have a tremendous impact on the functioning of the United Nations and the Department of Public Information in particular, which may necessitate suitable adjustments in the manner in which the mandate of the Department is implemented, Noting other initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide, including those by the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the Digital Opportunity Task Force of the Group of Eight Nations and the Group of 77 South Summit, Recalling its resolutions 50/11 of 2 November 1995, 52/23 of 25 November 1997 and 54/64 of 6 December 1999 on multilingualism, and emphasizing the importance of making appropriate use of the official languages in the activities of the Department of Public Information, seeking to reduce the gap between the use of English and the other five official languages, Stating that the Secretary-General should continue to enhance the effectiveness of the activities of the Department of Public Information, Welcoming Armenia and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to membership in the Committee on Information, I Introduction 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, in which it established the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions related to the activities of the Department; 2. Calls upon the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of its resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the General Assembly; 3. Emphasizes the importance of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000, as a guideline that sets out the overall orientation of the public information programme for the Organization's goals through effective communication; 4. Welcomes the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the ministerial declaration adopted by the Economic and Social Council at the high-level segment of its substantive session of 2000See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/55/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 17. and the Secretary-General's millennium report,A/54/2000. which indicate clearly that there is a great amount of hope and concern in the field of information and communications; 5. Calls upon States, in accordance with their laws, to make every effort to prevent the use of the traditional media and new information and communication technologies that undermine legitimate Governments and democracy, fan ethnic strife and xenophobia, incite hatred and violence and contribute to any manifestations of extremism; 6. Acknowledges the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues; II General activities of the Department of Public Information 7. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the focal point for information policies of the United Nations and the primary news centre for information about the United Nations and its activities and those of the Secretary-General; 8. Welcomes the development of the United Nations News Service by the Department of Public Information, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations web site and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 9. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications,A/AC.198/2001/2. encourages him to continue the reorientation exercise, while stressing the need to take into account the views of Member States, and requests him to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session; 10. Emphasizes that, through its reorientation, the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, including countries in transition, and that such reorientation contributes to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 11. Concurs with the view of the Secretary-General that the development of a strategic vision linking all the components of the Secretariat with emphasis on planning cooperation within the Organization constitutes the central element for continuing reorientation, and encourages the Department of Public Information to maintain, improve and expand its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries; 12. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the cooperation between the Department of Public Information and other departments of the Secretariat, in particular those dealing with priority issues; 13. Welcomes the initiatives that have been taken by the Department of Public Information to strengthen the public information system of the United Nations, and, in this regard, stresses the importance of a coherent and results-oriented approach being undertaken by the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the programmes and funds of the United Nations system involved in public information activities and the provision of resources for their implementation, and that this be done taking into account feedback from Member States on the relevance and effectiveness of its programme delivery; 14. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue to ensure the greatest possible access for United Nations guided tours and to ensure that displays in public areas are kept as informative, up-to-date, relevant and as technologically innovative as possible; 15. Recognizes the need for the Department of Public Information to increase its outreach activities in all regions, requests the Secretary-General to include, in his next report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications, an analysis of the present reach and scope of the Department's activities, identifying the widest possible spectrum of audiences and geographical areas which are not covered adequately and which may require special attention, including the appropriate means of communication, and bearing in mind local language requirements; III Multilingualism and public information 16. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all activities of the Department of Public Information, and stresses the importance of fully implementing its resolution 52/214 of 22 December 1997, in section C of which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents in all six official languages, and information materials of the United Nations, are made available through the United Nations web site daily and are accessible to Member States without delay; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit updated figures on the use and command of all six official languages by the staff of the Department of Public Information to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session; 18. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department of Public Information has appropriate staffing capacity in all official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities; 19. Reminds the Secretary-General of the need to include in future programme budget proposals for the Department of Public Information the importance of using all six official languages in its activities; 20. Takes note of the Internet Publishing Guidelines,See ST/AI/2001/5. and in this regard requests the Department of Public Information and the Working Group on Internet Matters to include in these guidelines specific recommendations towards achieving the goal of making all documentation on the web sites available in all six official languages of the Organization; IV Promotional campaigns 21. Recalls its resolutions 53/202 of 17 December 1998 and 54/254 of 15 March 2000, concerning the designation of the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly as the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations and the convening, as an integral part of the Millennium Assembly, of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the millennium promotional campaign,A/AC.198/2000/10. and commends the Department of Public Information for the important role that it played in implementing the promotional campaign; 22. Appreciates the Secretary-General's initiatives in promoting 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations and, mindful of the importance of drawing international attention to the impact that dialogue among civilizations could have on promoting mutual understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, encourages the Secretary-General to intensify the promotional campaign through the use of as many broadcasters and languages, in addition to the official languages, as possible, to spread coverage, with special emphasis on publicizing the findings of the Group of Eminent Persons for the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session; 23. Recalls paragraph 10 of General Assembly resolution 55/47 of 29 November 2000, entitled "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010", and, in this context, encourages the Department of Public Information to undertake specific dissemination of information on a culture of peace, keeping in mind the ongoing Decade; 24. Recognizes the need for enhanced publicity through a targeted strategy to be developed by the Department of Public Information on the special sessions and conferences, including on the least developed countries, children, illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), racism, the environment, financing for development, sustainable development, and ageing, which will address issues crucial to the international community, particularly the developing countries, as well as on the ongoing Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action in this regard and report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session in the context of his report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications; 25. Recalls its resolutions 53/59 B of 3 December 1998 and 54/82 B of 6 December 1999, and urges the Department of Public Information to take the necessary measures, through the provision of relevant and objective information, towards achieving the major objectives set forth in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and to publicize the activities of the open-ended working group established for that purpose; 26. Also recalls its resolutions concerning the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular resolutions 51/138 B of 13 December 1996 and 52/172 of 16 December 1997, and encourages the Department of Public Information, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of the consequences of that disaster; 27. Further recalls its resolution 55/44 of 27 November 2000, concerning international cooperation and coordination for the human and ecological rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan, which has been affected by nuclear tests, and encourages the Department of Public Information, in cooperation with relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region; V Bridging the digital divide 28. Commends the Secretary-General for the establishment of the United Nations Information Technology Service, the Health InterNetwork and the Information and Communications Technology Task Force with a view to bridging the digital divide and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, welcomes the contribution of the Department of Public Information in publicizing the efforts of the Secretary-General in closing the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, and, in this context, requests the Department further to enhance its role; VI United Nations information centres 29. Stresses that the United Nations information centres and information components should continue to play a significant role in disseminating information about the work of the Organization to the peoples of the world, in particular in the areas of economic and social development; 30. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Integration of United Nations information centres with field offices of the United Nations Development Programme: implementation of the views of host Governments",A/AC.198/2001/4. welcomes the action taken by the Department of Public Information to implement the views of those host Governments as expressed in their replies to the questionnaire provided by the Secretariat, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps for the continued implementation of those views and to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session on any possible proposal to continue, if feasible and on a case-by-case basis, the integration policy in a cost-effective manner, while maintaining the operational and functional independence of United Nations information centres, taking into account the views of the host countries to ensure that the information functions and the autonomy of United Nations information centres are not adversely affected, to meet the policy's stated objective of improving the provision of information by the United Nations; 32. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in his report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications, to be submitted to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session, information on the involvement of the Department of Public Information in the context of the implementation of his recommendations on the establishment of United Nations houses; 33. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the equitable disbursement of resources to United Nations information centres,A/AC.198/2001/5. emphasizes that further efforts are needed to ensure the most equitable disbursement possible of resources to United Nations information centres, and stresses that particular attention should be paid to the concerns of developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, including countries in transition; 34. Emphasizes that the United Nations information centres, as the "field voice" of the Department of Public Information, should promote public awareness and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, and recognizes the appeal made by the Secretary-General to the host Governments of United Nations information centres to facilitate the work of the centres in their countries by providing rent-free or rent-subsidized office space, while taking into account the economic condition of the host Governments and bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial requirements for the United Nations information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 35. Reaffirms that the United Nations information centres should continue to publicize United Nations activities and accomplishments in the areas of economic and social development, poverty eradication, debt relief, health, education, the elimination of illiteracy, women's rights, children's rights, the plight of children in armed conflict, the sexual exploitation of children, the eradication of drug trafficking, environmental issues, peace and security, and other relevant issues; 36. Also reaffirms the role of the General Assembly in relation to the opening of new United Nations information centres, invites the Secretary-General to make such recommendations as he may consider necessary regarding the establishment and location of such centres, and, in this regard, welcomes the requests by the Governments of Croatia, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Jamaica and Kyrgyzstan for information centres or information components; 37. Takes note of the efforts by some United Nations information centres to develop their own web pages in local languages, and, in this respect, encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to United Nations information centres whose web pages are not yet operational, to develop web pages in the respective local languages of their host countries, and encourages host Governments to respond to the needs of United Nations information centres; VII Role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping 38. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information for the establishment and day-to-day functioning of the information components of peacekeeping and other field operations of the United Nations, and requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department from the planning stage of such future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session, including any possible proposals for enhancing the role of the Department of Public Information in this regard; 39. Notes the ongoing discussion on the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/507 and Add.1. on resource requirements for implementation of the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, and, in this regard, stresses that the Department of Public Information should continue its efforts to strengthen its capacity to contribute significantly to the functioning of information components in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session in the report requested in paragraph 38 above; 40. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role in the selection process of spokespersons for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and, in this regard, encourages the Department to second spokespersons who have the necessary skills to fulfil the tasks of the operations or missions, and to consider views expressed, especially by host countries, when appropriate, in this regard; VIII Dag Hammarskjöld Library 41. Takes note of the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General to make the Dag Hammarskjöld Library a virtual library with world outreach, making United Nations information and other acquired materials accessible electronically to a growing number of readers and users, and, at the same time, requests the Secretary-General to enrich on a multilingual basis the stock of books and journals in the Library, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, to ensure that the Library continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 42. Encourages the Dag Hammarskjöld Library to alert its clientele, including Member States through their missions, for example, via electronic mail, of any new publications and collections; 43. Welcomes the training courses conducted by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library for the representatives of Member States and Secretariat staff on Cyberseek, web search, the Intranet, United Nations documentation, UN-I-QUE and the Official Document System of the United Nations, and, in that regard, encourages the Library to further develop such courses; 44. Also welcomes the role of the Department of Public Information in fostering increased collaboration among libraries of the United Nations system, particularly in establishing one central system-wide online catalogue that will allow for the searching of the bibliographic records of all print holdings of all United Nations system libraries and the searching of all electronic holdings and electronic databases maintained by all United Nations system libraries, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session in the context of his report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications; 45. Requests the Department of Public Information to ensure the continued development of the integrated library system in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session in the context of his report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications; IX Traditional means of communication: radio, television and publications 46. Welcomes the progress reportA/AC.198/2001/7. and the final reportA/AC.198/2001/10. of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the pilot project on the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations, and also welcomes the extensive network of partnerships established with local, national and regional broadcasters in Member States, and concurs with the Secretary-General that the project has contributed to the overall goal of the Department of Public Information of generating understanding about the United Nations among millions of listeners across the globe and has been one of the more successful examples of the reorientation of the Department; 47. Decides, building upon the success of the pilot project as well as the scope of its programme distribution and established partnerships, to expand the international radio broadcasting capacity of the United Nations in all six official languages; 48. Requests the Secretary-General to convey the necessary justification of the resource requirements, including information on the possibility of extrabudgetary financing and/or the redeployment of resources, concerning the expansion of the international radio broadcasting capacity for the biennium 2002-2003 for consideration by the relevant committees of the General Assembly; 49. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the United Nations international radio broadcasting capacity to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session, including information that can be obtained from the local, national and regional radio partners about the estimated number of listeners reached, in order for the Committee to decide on the future of this capacity; 50. Stresses that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, such as development and peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 48/44 B; 51. Takes note of the efforts under way by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages as well as in other languages, and, in that regard, stresses the need for impartiality and objectivity concerning information activities of the United Nations; 52. Requests the Department of Public Information, in view of the need for efficiency and for a wider dissemination of information services of the United Nations Radio, to enhance where necessary the use of non-official languages to meet the information needs of its audiences; 53. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to include in its radio and television programming specific programmes addressing the needs of developing nations; 54. Expresses its appreciation to the Department of Public Information for the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries in transition, and calls for its further continuation along the lines of its current implementation, while including a larger number of trainees from those countries; 55. Emphasizes that all publications of the Department of Public Information, in accordance with existing mandates, should fulfil an identifiable need, should not duplicate other publications of the United Nations system and should be produced in a cost-effective manner; X United Nations web site 56. Notes, while appreciating current efforts, that there is a need for the Secretary-General to continue to develop proposals for the multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations web site in order to lead ultimately to achieving full parity among the official languages of the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session; 57. Requests the Secretary-General in the meantime and until a decision has been taken on the proposals to be submitted for the multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations web site, to ensure, to the extent possible, while maintaining an up-to-date and accurate web site, the equitable distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the United Nations web site among all official languages on a continuous basis; 58. Requests the Department of Public Information, as the manager of the Organization's web site, to take the lead in developing a proposal for the establishment of one central Internet portal that will encompass all web sites of the United Nations system, preferably through system-wide cooperation, and that will allow for the search and retrieval of information from all web sites in the United Nations system from one central search facility, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session in the context of his report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications; 59. Stresses the importance of access to United Nations Treaty Collection and United Nations parliamentary documentation for the public; 60. Commends the efforts of the Information Technology Services Division of the Office of Central Support Services in ensuring that the required technological infrastructure is in place to accommodate the imminent linkage of the Official Document System to the United Nations web site; 61. Recognizes the far-reaching impact that the linking of the Official Document System with the United Nations web site will have in furthering the goals of the Organization by making all parliamentary documents in the six official languages publicly available, and stresses that the integration of the Official Document System with the United Nations web site will represent one of the steps towards significantly enhancing the multilingual nature of the United Nations web site and will lead to efficiencies in all Secretariat departments; 62. Takes note with interest of the electronic mail-based news alert service distributed worldwide by the Department of Public Information, and emphasizes that extra care needs to be taken to ensure that news-breaking stories and news alerts are accurate, impartial and free of any bias; 63. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the Department of Public Information, to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology, including the Internet, in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the expeditious dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by the General Assembly and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 64. Encourages an increase in the number of programmes of United Nations Radio, in all available languages, on the United Nations web site; XI Final remarks 65. Recognizes the need for constructive interaction between the management of the Department of Public Information and members of the Committee on Information, and requests the Department to arrange, in consultation with the Chairman, informal meetings with the members of the Committee every three months to discuss the ongoing work of the Department, and in this regard requests the Department, in preparation for these meetings, to invite members of the Committee, no later than two weeks prior to their convening, to propose topics for discussion; 66. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 67. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 68. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 56/65 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/553, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 149 to none, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: France, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 56/65. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United NationsA/56/23 (Part II), chap. VIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. and the action taken by the Special Committee in respect of that information, Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/67. Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 55/137 of 8 December 2000, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, 1. Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations;A/56/23 (Part II), chap. VIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. 2. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 3. Requests the administering Powers concerned to transmit or continue to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 5. Requests the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. RESOLUTION 56/66 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/554, para. 9),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 147 to 2, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: France, Georgia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 56/66. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/56/23 (Part II), chap. V. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when done in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and could also make a valid contribution to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, as well as their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Affirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities which adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Reiterates that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, is a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to the mass media, trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/67 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/555, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 106 to none, with 50 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 56/67. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General on the item,A/56/65. Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/56/23 (Part II), chap. VII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/30 of 28 July 2000, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the current participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories which are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, and in the special session of the General Assembly on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, held at Headquarters from 30 June to 2 July 1999, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance for Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continued cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded assistance programmes for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Organization of African Unity, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of assistance programmes to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/139 of 8 December 2000 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/65. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions; 4. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance for Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) The illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the continuing initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and in providing assistance for the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Encourages Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies; 14. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 15. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance for the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 17. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 18. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/68 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/556, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 56/68. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/140 of 8 December 2000, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/56/88. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/88. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/69 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/557, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 56/69. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 55/141 of 8 December 2000, Recalling also the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro to the proposals of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in the context of their joint mission of good offices, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara,See S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan, Recalling all Security Council and General Assembly resolutions relating to the question of Western Sahara, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in accordance with the proposal of the Secretary-General, and stressing the importance it attaches to the maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan, Noting also with satisfaction the agreementsS/1997/742 and Add.1. reached by the two parties during their private direct talks aimed at the implementation of the settlement plan, and stressing the importance it attaches to a full, fair and faithful implementation of the settlement plan and the agreements aimed at its implementation, Noting that, despite the progress achieved, difficulties remain in the implementation of the settlement plan which must be overcome, Taking note of the resolutions of the Security Council relating to the question, including resolution 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001, Taking note also of the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in search of a mutually acceptable political solution on the question of Western Sahara, Welcoming the acceptance by the two parties of the detailed modalities for the implementation of the Secretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification of voters and the appeals process,See S/1999/483/Add.1. Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/56/23 (Part II), chap. IX. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/159. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/159. 2. Commends the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for their outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provide for those efforts; 3. Takes note of the agreementsS/1997/742 and Add.1. reached between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro for the implementation of the settlement planSee S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. during their private direct talks under the auspices of James Baker III, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, and urges the parties to implement those agreements fully and in good faith; 4. Urges the two parties to continue their cooperation with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, as well as with his Special Representative, and to refrain from undertaking anything that would undermine the implementation of the settlement plan and the agreements reached for its implementation and the continued efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy; 5. Calls upon the two parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General, his Personal Envoy and his Special Representative in implementing the various phases of the settlement plan and in overcoming the difficulties that remain despite the progress so far achieved; 6. Encourages the parties to continue their discussions under the auspices of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement on the question of Western Sahara; 7. Urges the two parties to implement faithfully and loyally the Secretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification of voters and the appeals process; 8. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan; 9. Reiterates its support for further efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and supervision by the United Nations, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara that is impartial and free of all constraints, in conformity with Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), by which the Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara; 10. Takes note of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolutions 1349 (2001) of 27 April 2001 and 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001; 11. Urges the parties to solve the problem of the fate of people unaccounted for, and calls on the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release without further delay all those held since the start of the conflict; 12. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara, bearing in mind the positive ongoing implementation of the settlement plan, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 13. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/6 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 9 November 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.3 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen 56/6. Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/22 of 4 November 1998, 54/113 of 10 December 1999 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 entitled "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations", Reaffirming the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, which are, inter alia, to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, and to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Underlining the fact that all Members have undertaken to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming their commitment to the fulfilment of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations and as a source of inspiration for the further promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms - political, social, economic, civil and cultural - including the right to development, Underlining the fact that all civilizations celebrate the unity and diversity of humankind and are enriched and have evolved through dialogue with other civilizations and that, despite obstacles of intolerance and aggression, there has been constructive interaction throughout history among various civilizations, Emphasizing that a common humanity unites all civilizations and allows for the celebration of the variegated splendour of the highest attainments of this civilizational diversity, and reaffirming that the civilizational achievements constitute the collective heritage of humankind, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. which considers, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another, in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity, Noting that globalization brings greater interrelatedness among people and increased interaction among cultures and civilizations, and encouraged by the fact that the celebration of the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, has underscored that globalization is not only an economic, financial and technological process which could offer great benefit but that it also presents the challenge of preserving and celebrating the rich intellectual and cultural diversity of humankind and of civilization, Bearing in mind the valuable contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Recognizing that human rights and fundamental freedoms derive from the dignity and worth inherent in the human person and are thus universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and that the human person is the central subject of human rights and fundamental freedoms and, consequently, should be the principal beneficiary and should participate actively in the realization of these rights and freedoms, Reaffirming that all peoples have the right of self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Emphasizing that promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression and a collective commitment to listen to and learn from each other and to respect cultural heritage and diversity are essential for dialogue, progress and human advancement, Underlining the fact that tolerance and respect for diversity and universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive, and recognizing that tolerance and respect for diversity effectively promote and are supported by, inter alia, the empowerment of women, Recalling its resolution 55/254 of 31 May 2001, which calls upon all States to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that religious sites are fully respected and protected, Emphasizing the need to acknowledge and respect the richness of all civilizations and to seek common ground among civilizations in order to address comprehensively common challenges facing humanity, Welcoming the endeavours of Governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and countless individuals to enhance understanding through constructive dialogue among civilizations, Welcoming also the efforts of the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations and of the Group of Eminent Persons established by the Secretary-General, Expressing its firm determination to facilitate and promote dialogue among civilizations, Proclaims the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations: A. Objectives, principles and participants Article 1 Dialogue among civilizations is a process between and within civilizations, founded on inclusion, and a collective desire to learn, uncover and examine assumptions, unfold shared meaning and core values and integrate multiple perspectives through dialogue. Article 2 Dialogue among civilizations constitutes a process to attain, inter alia, the following objectives: • Promotion of inclusion, equity, equality, justice and tolerance in human interactions; • Enhancement of mutual understanding and respect through interaction among civilizations; • Mutual enrichment and advancement of knowledge and appreciation of the richness and wisdom found in all civilizations; • Identification and promotion of common ground among civilizations in order to address common challenges threatening shared values, universal human rights and achievements of human society in various fields; • Promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and enrichment of common understanding of human rights; • Development of a better understanding of common ethical standards and universal human values; • Enhancement of respect for cultural diversity and cultural heritage. Article 3 Pursuit of the above-mentioned objectives will be enhanced by collective commitment to the following principles: • Faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small; • Fulfilment in good faith of the obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). • Respect for fundamental principles of justice and international law; • Recognition of diversified sources of knowledge and cultural diversity as fundamental features of human society and as indispensable and cherished assets for the advancement and material and spiritual welfare of humanity at large; • Recognition of the right of members of all civilizations to preserve and develop their cultural heritage within their own societies; • Commitment to inclusion, cooperation and the search for understanding as the mechanisms for the promotion of common values; • Enhancement of participation by all individuals, peoples and nations in local, national and international decision-making processes. Article 4 Dialogue among civilizations provides important contributions to progress in the following areas: • Promotion of confidence-building at local, national, regional and international levels; • Enhancing mutual understanding and knowledge among different social groups, cultures and civilizations in various areas, including culture, religion, education, information, science and technology; • Addressing threats to peace and security; • Promotion and protection of human rights; • Elaboration of common ethical standards. Article 5 Participation in dialogue among civilizations shall be global in scope and shall be open to all, including: • People from all civilizations; • Scholars, thinkers, intellectuals, writers, scientists, people of arts, culture and media and the youth, who play an instrumental role in initiation and sustainment of dialogue among civilizations; • Individuals from civil society and representatives of non-governmental organizations, as instrumental partners in promoting dialogue among civilizations. Article 6 Governments shall promote, encourage and facilitate dialogue among civilizations. Article 7 Regional and international organizations should take appropriate steps and initiatives to promote, facilitate and sustain dialogue among civilizations. Article 8 The media has an indispensable and instrumental role in the promotion of dialogue among civilizations and in the fostering of greater understanding among various civilizations and cultures. Article 9 The United Nations should continue to promote and strengthen the culture of dialogue among civilizations. B. Programme of Action 1. States, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, are invited to consider the following as a means of promoting dialogue among civilizations in all domains, within existing resources and also drawing upon voluntary contributions: • Facilitating and encouraging interaction and exchange among all individuals, inter alia, intellectuals, thinkers and artists of various societies and civilizations; • Promoting of mutual visits and meetings of experts in various fields from different civilizations, cultures and backgrounds, which provide an opportunity for discovering commonalities among various civilizations and cultures; • Exchange of visits among representatives of the arts and culture and the organization of cultural festivals through which people will have a chance of getting acquainted with other cultures; • Sponsorship of conferences, symposiums and workshops to enhance mutual understanding, tolerance and dialogue among civilizations; • Planning sports competitions, Olympiads and scientific competitions, with a view to encouraging positive interaction among youth from different backgrounds and cultures; • Reinvigorating and encouraging translation and dissemination of basic manuscripts and books and studies representing different cultures and civilizations; • Promotion of historical and cultural tourism; • Incorporation of programmes to study various cultures and civilizations in educational curriculums, including the teaching of languages, history and socio-political thoughts of various civilizations, as well as the exchange of knowledge, information and scholarship among academia; • Advancement of research and scholarship to achieve an objective understanding of the characteristics of each civilization and the differences, as well as ways and means to enhance constructive interaction and understanding among them; • Utilization of communication technologies, including audio, video, printed press, multimedia and the Internet, to disseminate the message of dialogue and understanding throughout the globe and depict and publicize historical instances of constructive interaction among different civilizations; • Provision of equitable opportunities for participation in the dissemination of information, with a view to achieving an objective understanding of all civilizations and enhancing constructive interaction and cooperative engagement among civilizations; • Implementation of programmes to enhance the spirit of dialogue, understanding and rejection of intolerance, violence and racism among people, particularly the youth; • Utilizing the existence of migrants in various societies in bridging the gap of understanding between cultures; • Consultation to articulate effective mechanisms to protect the rights of all people to maintain their cultural identity, while facilitating their integration into their social environment. 2. States should encourage and support initiatives taken by civil society and non-governmental organizations for the promotion of dialogue among civilizations. 3. States, international and regional organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, are invited to develop appropriate ways and means at the local, national, regional and international levels to further promote dialogue and mutual understanding among civilizations, and to report their activities to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 4. Governments, funding institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector are invited to mobilize the necessary resources to promote dialogue among civilizations, including by contributing to the Trust Fund established by the Secretary-General in 1999 for that purpose. 5. The United Nations system, including, in particular, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, are invited to continue to encourage and facilitate dialogue among civilizations and formulate ways and means to promote dialogue among civilizations in the activities of the United Nations in various fields. 6. The Secretary-General is requested to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of this Global Agenda and Programme of Action. RESOLUTION 56/70 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/557, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 56/70. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,A/56/23 (Part II), chap. IX. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia as exemplified by the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 between the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all parties involved, in the interest of all of the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and also those provisions of the Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment; 4. Also notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or an associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, in accordance with their regulations; 5. Further notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 6. Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 7. Calls upon the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of New Caledonia to the Secretary-General; 8. Invites all parties involved to continue to promote a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 9. Welcomes measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 10. Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 11. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous culture of New Caledonia; 12. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia; 13. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 14. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 15. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/71 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/557, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 56/71. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the question of Tokelau,A/56/23 (Part II), chap. XI. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling the solemn declaration on the future status of Tokelau, delivered by the Ulu-o-Tokelau (the highest authority on Tokelau) on 30 July 1994, which states that an act of self-determination in Tokelau is now under active consideration, together with the constitution of a self-governing Tokelau, and that the present preference of Tokelau is for a status of free association with New Zealand, Recalling also its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular General Assembly resolution 55/143 of 8 December 2000, Recalling further the emphasis placed in the solemn declaration on the terms of Tokelau's special relationship with New Zealand, including the expectation that the form of help that Tokelau could continue to expect from New Zealand in promoting the well-being of its people, besides its external interests, would be clearly established within the framework of that relationship, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Noting also with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization, Recalling the dispatch in 1994 of a United Nations visiting mission to Tokelau, Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting also that, as a case study pointing to successful decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Also notes the desire of Tokelau to move at its own pace towards an act of self-determination; 3. Further notes the inauguration in 1999 of a national Government based on village elections by universal adult suffrage; 4. Acknowledges Tokelau's goal to return authority to its traditional leadership, and its wish to provide that leadership with the necessary support to carry out its functions in the contemporary world; 5. Also acknowledges the progress made towards that goal under the Modern House of Tokelau project, and Tokelau's view that that project, in its governance and economic development dimensions, is seen by its people as the means to achieving their act of self-determination; 6. Notes that, consistent with the expressed desires of past traditional leaders and the principles of the Modern House of Tokelau, Tokelau has established a local public service employer which enabled the New Zealand State Services Commissioner to withdraw from his role as employer of the Tokelau Public Service as from 30 June 2001; 7. Also notes the positive outcomes of the visit by the elected village and national leaders to New Zealand in May 2001; 8. Welcomes the initiation of the dialogue with the administering Power and the Territory in June 2001 with a view to the development of a programme of work for Tokelau in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/147 of 8 December 2000; 9. Acknowledges the continuing support which New Zealand has committed to the Modern House of Tokelau project in the period 2001-2002, and the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme in aligning its programmes under the project; 10. Notes that the Constitution of a self-governing Tokelau will continue to develop as a part and as a consequence of the building of the Modern House of Tokelau, and that both have national and international importance for Tokelau; 11. Acknowledges Tokelau's need for continued reassurance given the cultural adjustments that are taking place with the strengthening of its capacity for self-government and, given that local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self-determination, the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau's external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance; 12. Notes the special challenge inherent in the situation of Tokelau, among the smallest of the small Territories, and how a Territory's exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination may be brought closer, as in the case of Tokelau, by the meeting of that challenge in innovative ways; 13. Welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 14. Also welcomes the application by Tokelau, with the full support of New Zealand, for associate membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and its application for full membership in the Forum Fisheries Agency; 15. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures in the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution; 16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTIONS 56/72 A and B Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/557, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 56/72. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/56/23 (Part II), chap. X. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options for self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Recalling its resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing its concern that, even forty-one years after the adoption of the Declaration, there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Acknowledging the significant achievements by the international community towards the eradication of colonialism in accordance with the Declaration, and conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. Noting the positive constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories about which the Special Committee has received information, while also acknowledging the need for recognition to be given to expressions of self-determination by the peoples of the Territories consistent with practice under the Charter, Recognizing that in the decolonization process there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination as enunciated by the General Assembly in its resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions, Welcoming the stated position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that it continues to take seriously its obligations under the Charter to develop self-government in the dependent Territories and, in cooperation with the locally elected Governments, to ensure that their constitutional frameworks continue to meet the wishes of the people, and the emphasis that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories to decide their future status, Welcoming also the stated position of the Government of the United States of America that it supports fully the principles of decolonization and takes seriously its obligations under the Charter to promote to the utmost the well-being of the inhabitants of the Territories under United States administration, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the necessity of promoting economic stability and diversifying and strengthening further the economies of the respective Territories as a matter of priority, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation and, in this connection, bearing in mind the programmes of action of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference. the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction,See A/CONF.172/9, chap. I. the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesSee Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I. and other relevant world conferences, Aware of the usefulness both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of appointed and elected representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must not take place without the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions of the General Assembly, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and considering that the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers should be kept under review, Mindful also that, by holding a Caribbean regional seminar at Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001, the Special Committee was able to hear the views of the representatives of the Territories, as well as Governments and organizations in the region, in order to review the political, economic and social conditions in the Territories, Mindful further that, in order for it to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for the Special Committee to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, while recognizing the need for reviewing the role of those seminars in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long period of time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, Noting that some territorial Governments have made efforts towards achieving the highest standards of financial supervision, but that some others have been listed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as having met the criteria of a tax haven according to its definition, and noting also that some territorial Governments have expressed concern about insufficient dialogue between them and the Organisation, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, including, if they so wish, independence, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Reaffirms also that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to facilitate programmes of political education in the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 3. Requests the administering Powers to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter and other updated information and reports, including reports on the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories regarding their future political status as expressed in fair and free referendums and other forms of popular consultation, as well as the results of any informed and democratic processes consistent with practice under the Charter that indicate the clear and freely expressed wish of the people to change the existing status of the Territories; 4. Stresses the importance for it to be apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and to enhance its understanding of their conditions; 5. Reaffirms that United Nations visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and requests the administering Powers and the elected representatives of the peoples of the Territories to assist the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in this regard; 6. Reaffirms also the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 7. Requests the administering Powers, in consultation with the peoples of the Territories, to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories under their administration against any environmental degradation, and requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in those Territories; 8. Calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the respective territorial Governments, to continue to take all necessary measures to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money-laundering and other offences; 9. Calls upon the administering Powers to enter into constructive dialogue with the Special Committee before the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly to develop a framework for the implementation of provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to the Colonial Countries and Peoples for the period 2001-2010; 10. Notes the particular circumstances that prevail in the Territories concerned, and encourages the political evolution in them towards self-determination; 11. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in the twenty-first century in a world free of colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 12. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to initiate or to continue to take all necessary measures to accelerate progress in the social and economic life of the Territories, and calls for closer cooperation between the Special Committee and the Economic and Social Council in furtherance of the provision of assistance to the Territories; 13. Takes note of statements made by the elected representatives of the Territories concerned emphasizing their willingness to cooperate with all international efforts aimed at preventing abuse of the international financial system and to promote regulatory environments with highly selective licensing procedures, robust supervisory practices and well-established anti-money-laundering regimes; 14. Calls for an enhanced and constructive dialogue between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the concerned territorial Governments with a view to bringing about the changes needed to meet the highest standards of transparency and information exchange in order to facilitate the removal of those Non-Self-Governing Territories from the list of jurisdictions classified as tax havens, and requests the administering Powers to assist those Territories in resolving the matter; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of decolonization resolutions since the declaration of the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; 16. Requests the Special Committee to continue its examination of the question of the small Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session with recommendations on appropriate ways to assist the peoples of the Territories in exercising their right to self-determination. B Individual territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the report by the administering Power that most American Samoan leaders express satisfaction with the Territory's present relationship with the United States of America, Taking note with interest of the statement made and the information on the political and economic situation in American Samoa provided by the Governor of American Samoa and the delegate of American Samoa to the United States Congress to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001,A/56/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 31. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Noting that the Government of the Territory continues to have significant financial, budgetary and internal control problems and that the Territory's deficit and financial condition are compounded by the high demand for governmental services from the rapidly growing population, a limited economic and tax base and recent natural disasters, Noting also that the Territory, similar to isolated communities with limited funds, continues to experience a lack of adequate medical facilities and other infrastructural requirements, Aware of the efforts of the Government of the Territory to control and reduce expenditures, while continuing its programme of expanding and diversifying the local economy, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the Government of the Territory; 3. Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the Governor of American Samoa to send a visiting mission to the Territory; II Anguilla Conscious of the commitment of both the Government of Anguilla and the administering Power to a new and closer policy of dialogue and partnership through the Strategic Country Programme 2000-2003, Aware of the efforts of the Government of Anguilla to continue to develop the Territory as a viable offshore centre and well-regulated financial centre for investors, by enacting modern company and trust laws, as well as partnership and insurance legislation, and computerizing the company registry system, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in tackling the problems of drug trafficking and money-laundering, Noting also that general elections were held on 3 March 2000, resulting in a new coalition government in the House of Assembly, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power and all States, organizations and United Nations agencies to continue to assist the Territory in social and economic development; 3. Welcomes the Country Cooperation Framework of the United Nations Development Programme for the period 1997-1999 currently being implemented following consultations with the territorial Government and key development partners in the United Nations system and the donor community; 4. Also welcomes the assessment by the United Nations Development Programme that the Territory has made considerable progress in the domain of sustainable human development and in its sound management and preservation of the environment, which has been incorporated into the National Tourism Plan; 5. Further welcomes the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report on the Territory that, despite economic contraction in the first quarter, the economy rebounded to reach 6 per cent growth during 1999; III Bermuda Noting the results of the independence referendum held on 16 August 1995, and conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties of the Territory on the future status of the Territory, Noting also the functioning of the democratic process and the smooth transition of government in November 1998, Noting further the comments made by the administering Power in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories",A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to work with the Territory for its socio-economic development; 3. Requests the administering Power to elaborate, in consultation with the territorial Government, programmes specifically intended to alleviate the economic, social and environmental consequences of the closure of the military bases and installations of the United States of America in the Territory; IV British Virgin Islands Noting the completion of the constitutional review in the Territory and the coming into force of the amended Constitution, and noting also the results of the general elections held on 17 May 1999, Noting also the results of the constitutional review of 1993-1994, which made it clear that a prerequisite to independence must be a constitutionally expressed wish by the people as a result of a referendum, Taking note of the statement made in 1995 by the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands that the Territory was ready for constitutional and political advancement towards full internal self-government and that the administering Power should assist through the gradual transfer of power to elected territorial representatives, Noting that the Territory is emerging as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, Noting also the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Noting further that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 27 May 2000 in official ceremonies on Tortola, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions to continue to provide assistance to the Territory for socio-economic development and the development of human resources, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors; V Cayman Islands Noting the constitutional review of 1992-1993, according to which the population of the Cayman Islands expressed the sentiment that the existing relations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland should be maintained and that the current status of the Territory should not be altered, Aware that the Territory has one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, a stable political climate and virtually no unemployment, Noting the actions taken by the territorial Government to implement its localization programme to promote increased participation by the local population in the decision-making process in the Cayman Islands, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking, money-laundering and related activities, Noting the measures taken by the authorities to deal with those problems, Noting also that the Territory has emerged as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, Noting further the approval by the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Territory's Vision 2008 Development Plan, which aims to promote development that is consistent with the aims and values of Caymanian society, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to provide the territorial Government with all required expertise to enable it to achieve its socio-economic aims; 3. Calls upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate to counter problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking; 4. Requests the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, to continue to facilitate the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the local population, in particular at the decision-making level; 5. Welcomes the implementation of the Country Cooperation Framework of the United Nations Development Programme for the Territory, which is designed to ascertain national development priorities and United Nations assistance needs; VI Guam Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular, General Assembly resolutions 55/144 A and B of 8 December 2000, Recalling further the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam had established the process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Aware of the potential for diversifying and developing the economy of Guam through commercial fishing and agriculture and other viable activities, Noting the proposed closing and realigning of four United States Navy installations on Guam and the request for the establishment of a transition period to develop some of the closed facilities as commercial enterprises, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam,See A/AC.109/2058, para. 33 (20). Noting with interest the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Guam provided by the representatives of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001,A/56/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 33. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. 1. Requests the administering Power to work with Guam's Commission on Decolonization for the Implementation and Exercise of Chamorro Self-Determination with a view to facilitating Guam's decolonization and to keep the Secretary-General informed of the progress to that end; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 3. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 4. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory; 5. Further requests the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 6. Requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 7. Also requests the administering Power to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial Government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities; VII Montserrat Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the elected representative of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001,A/56/23 (Part I), chap.II, annex, para. 34. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Taking note of the statement made by the Chief Minister of Montserrat on 22 May 1998 on the occasion of the observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of All Colonial Territories Fighting for Freedom, Independence and Human Rights,See A/AC.109/SR.1486. Noting that the last visiting mission to the Territory took place in 1982, Noting also the functioning of a democratic process in Montserrat and that general elections were held in the Territory in November 1996, Taking note of the reported statement of the Chief Minister that his preference was for independence within a political union with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and that self-reliance was more of a priority than independence, Noting with concern the dire consequences of a volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory's population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, in particular Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and which continues to have a negative impact upon the economy of the island, Noting the efforts of the administering Power and the Government of the Territory to meet the emergency situation caused by the volcanic eruption, including the implementation of a wide range of contingency measures for both the private and the public sectors in Montserrat, Noting also the coordinated response measures taken by the United Nations Development Programme and the assistance of the United Nations Disaster Management Team, Noting with concern that a number of the inhabitants of the Territory continue to live in shelters because of volcanic activity, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system as well as regional and other organizations to continue to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; 3. Welcomes the support of the Caribbean Community in the construction of housing in the safe zone to alleviate a shortage caused by the environmental and human crisis of the eruption of the Montsoufriere volcano, as well as the material and financial support from the international community to help alleviate the suffering caused by the crisis; VIII Pitcairn Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Expressing its satisfaction with the continued economic and social advancement of the Territory, as well as with the improvement of its communications with the outside world and its management plan to address conservation issues, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Also requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory; 3. Calls upon the administering Power to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; IX St. Helena Taking into account the unique character of St. Helena, its population and its natural resources, Noting that a Commission of Inquiry into the Constitution appointed at the request of the Legislative Council of St. Helena reported its recommendations in March 1999, and that the Legislative Councillors are currently considering its recommendations, Also noting the administering Power's commitment to consider carefully suggestions for specific proposals for constitutional change from territorial Governments as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories",A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. Welcoming the participation of an expert from the St. Helena Legislative Council for the first time in the Pacific regional seminar held at Majuro, from 16 to 18 May 2000,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/55/23), chap. II, annex, para. 39. Aware of the establishment by the Government of the Territory of the Development Agency in 1995 to encourage private sector commercial development on the island, Also aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of St. Helena, in particular with regard to food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, and calls for continuing negotiations to allow access to Ascension Island by civilian charter flights, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Notes that the administering Power has taken note of various statements made by members of the Legislative Council of St. Helena about the Constitution and that it is prepared to discuss them further with the people of St. Helena; 2. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant regional and international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the limited transport and communications problems; X Turks and Caicos Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands provided by the Cabinet Minister as well as a member of the legislature from the opposition of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at St. John's from 21 to 23 May 1997,See A/AC.109/2089, para. 29. Noting that the People's Democratic Movement was elected to power in the Legislative Council elections held in March 1999, Also noting the efforts by the Government of the Territory to strengthen financial management in the public sector, including efforts to increase revenue, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Welcoming the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report that the economic performance of the Territory remained strong, with an increase in gross domestic product estimated at 8.7 per cent, reflecting strong growth in the tourism and construction sectors, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Invites the administering Power to take fully into account the wishes and interests of the Government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the governance of the Territory; 3. Calls upon the administering Power and the relevant regional and international organizations to continue to provide assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory; 4. Calls upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate in order to counter problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking; 5. Welcomes the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 1999 report that the economy continued to expand with considerable output and low inflation; 6. Also welcomes the first Country Cooperation Framework approved by the United Nations Development Programme for the period 1998-2002, which should, inter alia, assist in the development of a national integrated development plan that will put into place procedures for determining the national development priorities over ten years, with the focus of attention on health, population, education, tourism and economic and social development; 7. Takes note of the statement made by the elected Chief Minister in May 2000 that the Territory is in the process of developing diversified resource mobilization strategies, including joint ventures with the private sector, and that external assistance would be welcomed as part of that process; XI United States Virgin Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001,A/56/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 37. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Noting that although 80.4 per cent of the 27.5 per cent of the electorate that voted in the referendum on the political status of the Territory held on 11 October 1993 supported the existing territorial status arrangements with the administering Power, the law required the participation of 50 per cent of the registered voters for the results to be declared legally binding and therefore the status was left undecided, Noting also the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States, Noting further the necessity of further diversifying the economy of the Territory, Noting the efforts of the Government of the Territory to promote the Territory as an offshore financial services centre, Noting with satisfaction the interest of the Territory in joining the United Nations International Drug Control Programme as a full participant, Recalling the dispatch in 1977 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, Noting that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 27 May 2000 in official ceremonies on Tortola, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Also requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Further requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 4. Expresses concern that the Territory, which is already heavily indebted, had to borrow 21 million United States dollars from a commercial bank to carry out its year 2000 computer compliance programme, and calls for the United Nations year 2000 programme to be made available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 5. Notes that the general elections held in the Territory in November 1998 resulted in the orderly transfer of power; 6. Expresses concern that the territorial Government is facing severe fiscal problems, which has resulted in an accumulated debt of more than 1 billion dollars; 7. Welcomes the measures being taken by the newly elected territorial Government in addressing the crisis, including the adoption of a five-year operating and strategic financial plan, and calls upon the administering Power to provide every assistance required by the Territory to alleviate the fiscal crisis, including, inter alia, the provision of debt relief and loans; 8. Notes that the 1994 report of the United States Virgin Islands Commission on Status and Federal Relations concluded that, owing to the insufficient level of voter participation, the results of the 1993 referendum were declared legally null and void. RESOLUTION 56/73 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 147 to 2, with 4 abstentions,* on the basis of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/56/23) * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of) 56/73. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,A/56/23 (Part II), chap. III. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular General Assembly resolution 55/145 of 8 December 2000, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to achieving the goals of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat; 2. Considers it important to continue its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options of self-determination available for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to take into account the suggestions of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To continue to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To maintain a working relationship with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, by holding periodic consultations and exchanging information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to continue to extend their cooperation in the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 5. Requests the Special Committee to follow the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session. RESOLUTION 56/74 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 10 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 132 to 2, with 21 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.40, sponsored by: Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahraïn, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India , Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama , Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey 56/74. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/56/23 (Parts I-III). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, most recently resolution 55/147 of 8 December 2000, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind the declaration of the period 2001-2010 as the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the Organization and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism before 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as of racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with concern that the non-participation of certain administering Powers has adversely affected the implementation of the mandate and work of the Special Committee, Noting with satisfaction the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting that the other administering Powers have now agreed to work informally with the Special Committee, Taking note of the consultations and agreements between the parties concerned in some Non-Self-Governing Territories and the action taken by the Secretary-General in relation to certain Non-Self-Governing Territories, Aware of the pressing need of newly independent and emerging States for assistance from the United Nations and its system of organizations in the economic, social and other fields, Aware also of the pressing need of many of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, including in particular small island Territories, for economic, social and other assistance from the United Nations and the organizations of its system, Taking special note of the fact that the Special Committee held a Caribbean regional seminar to review the situation in the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories, particularly their political evolution towards self-determination for the year 2001 and beyond, in Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001,See A/56/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, in which it declares the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2001, including the programme of work envisaged for 2002;See A/56/23 (Part I), chap. I, sect. J. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23. 6. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to finalize before the end of 2002 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 7. Welcomes the ongoing consultations between the Special Committee and New Zealand, as administering Power for Tokelau, with the participation of representatives of the people of Tokelau, with a view to formulating a programme of work on the question of Tokelau; 8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out those actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to pay special attention to the small Territories, including through the dispatch of visiting missions, and to recommend to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; (d) To finalize before the end of 2002 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 2911 (XXVII). 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the economic activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Reiterates that military activities and arrangements by administering Powers in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration should not run counter to the rights and interests of the peoples of the Territories concerned, especially their right to self-determination, including independence, calls upon the administering Powers concerned to terminate such activities and to eliminate the remaining military bases in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and also calls upon the administering Powers to promote alternative sources of livelihood for the peoples of the Territories concerned; 13. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests that the administering Powers take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 14. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 15. Calls upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2002; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as of the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 56/75 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.47 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 56/75. Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal The General Assembly, Recalling its decision to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" and to consider this item every two years in advance of each Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Recalling also its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, which, inter alia, revived the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria or "Olympic Truce" with the aim of ensuring the safe passage and participation of athletes and others at the Games, Taking into account the inclusion in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce now and in the future and support for the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal, Recognizing that the goal of the Olympic movement is to build a peaceful and better world by educating the youth of the world through sport, practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding, promoted by friendship, solidarity and fair play, Recognizing also the valuable contribution that the appeal launched by the International Olympic Committee for an Olympic Truce, with which the National Olympic Committees of the Member States are associated, could make towards advancing the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting with satisfaction the flying of the United Nations flag at all competition sites of the Olympic Games, and the joint endeavours of the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations system in fields such as development, humanitarian assistance, health promotion, education, women, the eradication of poverty, the fight against the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), drug abuse and juvenile delinquency, Noting also with satisfaction the organization by the International Olympic Committee, with the cooperation of the Secretary-General, of round tables on sport for a culture of peace on different continents for countries that have been or are still in a conflict situation, in the framework of the International Year for the Culture of Peace and in accordance with General Assembly resolution 52/13 of 20 November 1997, Welcoming the setting up by the International Olympic Committee, with the adherence of Member States and intergovernmental organizations, of a World Anti-Doping Agency, 1. Requests Member States to observe, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Olympic Truce during the XIX Olympic Winter Games to be held in Salt Lake City, United States of America, from 8 to 24 February 2002, by ensuring the safe passage and participation of athletes at the Games; 2. Welcomes the decision of the International Olympic Committee to mobilize all international sports organizations and that of the National Olympic Committees of the Member States to undertake concrete action at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the observance of the Olympic Truce among Member States, drawing the attention of world public opinion to the contribution such a truce would make to the promotion of international understanding, peace and goodwill, and to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee in the realization of this objective; 4. Welcomes the participation of the President in office of the General Assembly and also the representatives of the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the International Olympic Truce Foundation; 5. Urges the International Olympic Committee to devise a special programme of assistance for the development of physical education and sport for countries affected by conflicts and poverty; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" and to consider this item before the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, to be held in Athens in 2004. RESOLUTION 56/76 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 11 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.33 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay 56/76. Towards global partnerships The General Assembly, Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly, in the promotion of partnerships in the context of globalization, Underlining the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations, Reaffirming its resolve to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to development and the elimination of poverty, Recalling the objectives formulated in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,Ibid. particularly in regard to developing partnerships through the provision of greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general so as to enable them to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the Organization, in particular in the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty, Stressing that efforts to meet the challenges of globalization could benefit from enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, in order to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all, Encouraging the private sector to accept and implement the principle of good corporate citizenship, that is, bringing sustainable development principles, which are based on the three pillars of economic development, social development and environmental protection, to bear on a conduct and policy that are premised on profit incentives, in conformity with national laws and regulations, and in this context drawing the attention of Member States to multi-stakeholder initiatives, in particular, the Global Compact Initiative of the Secretary-General, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, the multi-stakeholder dialogue process of the Commission on Sustainable Development and the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, Recalling the central role and responsibility of Governments in national and international policy-making, Underlining the fact that cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, shall serve the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and make concrete contributions to the realization of the goals contained in the Millennium Declaration and in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits and their reviews, in particular in the area of development and the eradication of poverty, and shall be undertaken in a manner that maintains the integrity, impartiality and independence of the Organization, Emphasizing that all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, can contribute in several ways to addressing the obstacles confronted by developing countries in mobilizing the resources needed to finance their sustainable development, and to the realization of the development goals of the United Nations through, inter alia, financial resources, access to technology, management expertise, and support for programmes, including through the reduced pricing of drugs, where appropriate, for the prevention, care and treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other diseases, Underlining the fact that the resources contributed by the relevant partners, in particular the private sector, should be a complement to, not a substitute for, governmental resources, Taking into account ideas expressed in the report of the Secretary-General of 27 March 2000, entitled "We the peoples: the role of the United Nations in the twenty-first century",A/54/2000. with regard to enhanced cooperation with the private sector, Recalling its resolution 55/215 of 21 December 2000, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/323. and its numerous valuable examples of cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, which have contributed and should continue to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the Organization, in particular in the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty; 2. Stresses that the principles and approaches that govern such partnerships and arrangements should be built on the firm foundation of United Nations purposes and principles, as set out in the Charter, and invites the United Nations system to continue to adhere to a common approach to partnership which, without imposing undue rigidity in partnership agreements, includes the following principles: common purpose, transparency, bestowing no unfair advantages upon any partner of the United Nations, mutual benefit and mutual respect, accountability, respect for the modalities of the United Nations, striving for balanced representation of relevant partners from developed and developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and not compromising the independence and neutrality of the United Nations system in general and the agencies in particular; 3. Stresses also the need for international cooperation to strengthen the participation of enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, business associations, foundations and non-governmental organizations from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular in partnerships with the United Nations system; 4. Stresses further the need for Member States further to discuss partnerships and to consider, in appropriate intergovernmental consultations, ways and means to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, inter alia, from the developing countries, to give them greater opportunities to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the Organization; 5. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to seek the views of relevant partners, in particular the private sector, on how to enhance their cooperation with the United Nations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution, containing proposals of modalities for enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 7. Decides to include in the agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Towards global partnerships". RESOLUTION 56/77 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/586, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Ghana. 56/77. United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law The General Assembly, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International LawA/56/484. and the guidelines and recommendations on future implementation of the Programme which were adopted by the Advisory Committee on the Programme and are contained in section III of the report, Considering that international law should occupy an appropriate place in the teaching of legal disciplines at all universities, Noting with appreciation the efforts made by States at the bilateral level to provide assistance in the teaching and study of international law, Convinced, nevertheless, that States and international organizations and institutions should be encouraged to give further support to the Programme and increase their activities to promote the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, in particular those activities which are of special benefit to persons from developing countries, Reaffirming its resolutions 2464 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968, 2550 (XXIV) of 12 December 1969, 2838 (XXVI) of 18 December 1971, 3106 (XXVIII) of 12 December 1973, 3502 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, 32/146 of 16 December 1977, 36/108 of 10 December 1981 and 38/129 of 19 December 1983, in which it stated or recalled that in the conduct of the Programme it was desirable to use as far as possible the resources and facilities made available by Member States, international organizations and others, as well as its resolutions 34/144 of 17 December 1979, 40/66 of 11 December 1985, 42/148 of 7 December 1987, 44/28 of 4 December 1989, 46/50 of 9 December 1991 and 48/29 of 9 December 1993, in which, in addition, it expressed or reaffirmed the hope that, in appointing lecturers for the seminars to be held within the framework of the fellowship programme in international law, account would be taken of the need to secure the representation of major legal systems and balance among various geographical regions, Welcoming the establishment of the United Nations Audiovisual Library in International Law, 1. Approves the guidelines and recommendations contained in section III of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/56/484. and adopted by the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, in particular those designed to achieve the best possible results in the administration of the Programme within a policy of maximum financial restraint; 2. Authorizes the Secretary-General to carry out in 2002 and 2003 the activities specified in his report, including the provision of: (a) A number of international law fellowships in both 2002 and 2003, to be determined in the light of the overall resources for the Programme and to be awarded at the request of Governments of developing countries; (b) A minimum of one scholarship in both 2002 and 2003 under the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, subject to the availability of new voluntary contributions made specifically to the fellowship fund; (c) Subject to the overall resources for the Programme, assistance in the form of a travel grant for one participant from each developing country, who would be invited to possible regional courses to be organized in 2002 and 2003; and to finance the above activities from provisions in the regular budget, when appropriate, as well as from voluntary financial contributions earmarked for each of the activities concerned, which would be received as a result of the requests set out in paragraphs 12 to 14 below; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his constructive efforts to promote training and assistance in international law within the framework of the Programme in 2000 and 2001, in particular for the organization of the thirty-sixthSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/55/10), chap. IX, sect. E. and thirty-seventhIbid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/56/10 and Corr. 1), chap. IX, sect. E. sessions of the International Law Seminar, held at Geneva in 2000 and 2001, respectively, and for the activities of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat related to the fellowship programme in international law and to the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, carried out, respectively, through its Codification Division and its Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the possibility of admitting, for participation in the various components of the Programme, candidates from countries willing to bear the entire cost of such participation; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider the relative advantages of using available resources and voluntary contributions for regional, subregional or national courses, as against courses organized within the United Nations system; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary resources to the programme budget for the Programme for the next and the future bienniums with a view to maintaining the effectiveness of the Programme; 7. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Office of Legal Affairs to bring up to date the United Nations Treaty Series and the United Nations Juridical Yearbook, as well as efforts made to place on the Internet the Treaty Series and other legal information; 8. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research for its participation in the Programme through the activities described in the report of the Secretary-General; 9. Also expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its participation in the Programme through the activities described in the report of the Secretary-General; 10. Further expresses its appreciation to The Hague Academy of International Law for the valuable contribution it continues to make to the Programme, which has enabled candidates under the fellowship programmes in international law to attend and participate in the Programme in conjunction with the Academy courses; 11. Notes with appreciation the contributions of The Hague Academy to the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, and calls upon Member States and interested organizations to give favourable consideration to the appeal of the Academy for a continuation of support and a possible increase in their financial contributions, to enable the Academy to carry out its activities, particularly those relating to the summer courses, regional courses and programmes of the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to publicize the Programme and periodically to invite Member States, universities, philanthropic foundations and other interested national and international institutions and organizations, as well as individuals, to make voluntary contributions towards the financing of the Programme or otherwise to assist in its implementation and possible expansion; 13. Reiterates its request to Member States and to interested organizations and individuals to make voluntary contributions, inter alia, for the International Law Seminar, the fellowship programme in international law, the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Audiovisual Library in International Law, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, institutions and individuals which have made voluntary contributions for this purpose; 14. Urges in particular all Governments to make voluntary contributions for the organization of regional refresher courses in international law by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, especially with a view to covering the amount needed for the financing of the daily subsistence allowance for up to twenty-five participants in each regional course, thus alleviating the burden on prospective host countries and making it possible for the Institute to continue to organize the regional courses; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the Programme during 2002 and 2003 and, following consultations with the Advisory Committee on the Programme, to submit recommendations regarding the execution of the Programme in subsequent years; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law". RESOLUTION 56/78 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/587 and Corr.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/78. Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/150 of 12 December 2000, wherein it was decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property, open also to participation by States members of the specialized agencies, to further the work done, consolidate areas of agreement and resolve outstanding issues with a view to elaborating a generally acceptable instrument based on the draft articles on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property adopted by the International Law Commission at its forty-third session,Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 1991, vol. II, Part Two (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.V.9 (Part 2)), document A/46/10, chap. II, para. 28. and also on the discussions of the open-ended working group of the Sixth Committee and their results,See A/C.6/54/L.12 and A/C.6/55/L.12; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/54/SR.30), and corrigendum; and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th and 31st meetings (A/C.6/55/SR.30 and 31), and corrigendum. 1. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property shall meet from 4 to 15 February 2002; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee the comments submitted by States in accordance with General Assembly resolution 49/61 of 9 December 1994 and on the reports of the open-ended working group of the Sixth Committee established under Assembly resolutions 53/98 of 8 December 1998 and 54/101 of 9 December 1999;See A/C.6/54/L.12 and A/C.6/55/L.12; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/54/SR.30), and corrigendum; and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th and 31st meetings (A/C.6/55/SR.30 and 31), and corrigendum. 3. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the outcome of its work; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property". RESOLUTION 56/79 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/588 and Corr.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. 56/79. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-fourth session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its conviction that the progressive harmonization and unification of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity and common interest and to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to the well-being of all peoples, Emphasizing the need for higher priority to be given to the work of the Commission in view of the increasing value of the modernization of international trade law for global economic development and thus for the maintenance of friendly relations among States, Stressing the value of the participation by States at all levels of economic development and from different legal systems in the process of harmonizing and unifying international trade law, Having considered the report of the Commission on the work of its thirty-fourth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/56/17 and Corr.3). Concerned that activities undertaken by other bodies of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law without coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, as stated in its resolution 37/106 of 16 December 1982, Stressing the importance of the further development of case law on United Nations Commission on International Trade Law texts in promoting the uniform application of the legal texts of the Commission and its value for government officials, practitioners and academics, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-fourth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/56/17 and Corr.3). 2. Takes note with satisfaction of the completion and adoption by the Commission of the draft Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International TradeIbid., annex I. and of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on Electronic Signatures;Ibid., annex II. 3. Takes note of the progress made in the work of the Commission on arbitration and insolvency law and of its decision to commence work on electronic contracting, privately financed infrastructure projects, security interests and transport law, and expresses its appreciation to the Commission for its decision to adjust its working methods in order to accommodate its increased workload without endangering the high quality of its work; 4. Expresses its appreciation to the secretariat of the Commission for the publication and distribution of the Legislative Guide on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.V.4. calls upon the secretariat to ensure, in a joint effort with intergovernmental organizations such as the regional commissions of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, organizations of the World Bank Group and regional development banks, wide dissemination of the Legislative Guide, and invites States to give favourable consideration to its provisions when revising or adopting legislation in that area; 5. Appeals to Governments that have not yet done so to reply to the questionnaire circulated by the Secretariat in relation to the legal regime governing the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and, in particular, to the legislative implementation of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York on 10 June 1958;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 330, No. 4739. 6. Invites States to nominate persons to work with the private foundation established to encourage assistance to the Commission from the private sector; 7. Reaffirms the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field and, in this connection: (a) Calls upon all bodies of the United Nations system and invites other international organizations to bear in mind the mandate of the Commission and the need to avoid duplication of effort and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law; (b) Recommends that the Commission, through its secretariat, continue to maintain close cooperation with the other international organs and organizations, including regional organizations, active in the field of international trade law; 8. Also reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with training and technical assistance in the field of international trade law, such as assistance in the preparation of national legislation based on legal texts of the Commission; 9. Expresses the desirability of increased efforts by the Commission, in sponsoring seminars and symposia, to provide such training and technical assistance, and in this connection: (a) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for organizing seminars and briefing missions in Belarus, Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Kenya, Lithuania, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Tunisia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the seminars and briefing missions to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in financing and organizing seminars and symposia, in particular in developing countries, and in the award of fellowships to candidates from developing countries to enable them to participate in such seminars and symposia; 10. Appeals to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the training and technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission; 11. Appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 12. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 13. Reiterates, in view of the increased work programme of the Commission, its request to the Secretary-General to strengthen the secretariat of the Commission within the bounds of the resources available in the Organization so as to ensure and enhance the effective implementation of the programme of the Commission; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to adjust the terms of reference of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia so as to make it possible for the resources in the Trust Fund to be used also for the financing of training and technical assistance activities undertaken by the Secretariat; 15. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and to this end urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions. RESOLUTION 56/7 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 21 November 2001, by a recorded vote of 93 to none, with 1 abstention,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.12 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uruguay * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: United States of America 56/7. Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 41/11 of 27 October 1986, in which it solemnly declared the Atlantic Ocean, in the region between Africa and South America, a zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Recalling also its subsequent resolutions on the matter, including resolution 45/36 of 27 November 1990, in which it reaffirmed the determination of the States of the zone to enhance and accelerate their cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, cultural and other spheres, Reaffirming the importance of the purposes and objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic as a basis for the promotion of cooperation among the countries of the region, Reaffirming also that the questions of peace and security and those of development are interrelated and inseparable and that cooperation for peace and development among States of the region will promote the objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Recalling the agreement reached at the third meeting of the States members of the zone, held in Brasilia in 1994, to encourage democracy and political pluralism and, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. to promote and defend all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to cooperate towards the achievement of these goals, Aware of the importance that the States of the zone attach to the protection of the environment of the region, and recognizing the threat that pollution from any source poses to the marine and coastal environment, its ecological balance and its resources, Welcoming the adoption of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects at the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001,See A/CONF.192/15, para. 24. Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General, submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/49 of 29 November 2000,A/56/454 and Add.1. 1. Calls upon all States to cooperate in the promotion of the objectives established in the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic and to refrain from any action inconsistent with those objectives and with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions of the Organization, in particular actions that may create or aggravate situations of tension and potential conflict in the region; 2. Welcomes the progress towards the full entry into force of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. and of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba);See A/50/426, annex. 3. Encourages all States, in particular the members of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, to cooperate in promoting and strengthening global, regional, subregional and national initiatives to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; 4. Welcomes in this regard the entry into force of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, adopted in November 1997,A/53/78, annex. and the adoption of the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions by the Organization of American States in June 1999;CD/1591. 5. Also welcomes the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted by the Ministers of the States members of the Organization of African Unity on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. the Declaration concerning Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials in the Southern African Development Community, adopted by the Heads of State or Government of the States members of the Community at Windhoek on 9 March 2001,A/CONF.192/PC/35, annex. as well as the Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials in the Southern African Development Community Region, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the States members of the Community at Blantyre, Malawi, in August 2001, and the initiatives taken by States members of the Economic Community of West African States to further extend their agreement on a moratorium on the import, export and manufacture of light weapons; 6. Reaffirms the importance for Member States to contribute by all means at their disposal to an effective and lasting peace in Angola, and in that context reiterates that the primary cause of the present situation in Angola is the failure of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, under the leadership of Jonas Savimbi, to comply with its obligations under the Peace Accords,See S/22609. the Lusaka ProtocolSee S/1994/1441. and relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Affirms the importance of the South Atlantic to global maritime and commercial transactions and its determination to preserve the region for all peaceful purposes and activities protected by international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 8. Calls upon Member States to continue their efforts towards the achievement of appropriate regulation of maritime transport of radioactive and toxic wastes, taking into account the interests of coastal States and in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the regulations of the International Maritime Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency; 9. Views with concern the increase in drug trafficking and related crimes, including drug abuse, and calls upon the international community and the States members of the zone to promote regional and international cooperation to combat all aspects of the problem of drugs and related offences; 10. Recognizes, in the light of the number, magnitude and complexity of natural disasters and other emergencies, the need to continue to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance by States members of the zone, so as to ensure a timely and effective response; 11. Welcomes the offer by Benin to host the sixth meeting of the States members of the zone; 12. Requests the relevant organizations, organs and bodies of the United Nations system to render all appropriate assistance that States members of the zone may seek in their joint efforts to implement the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the implementation of resolution 41/11 and subsequent resolutions on the matter under review and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, taking into account, inter alia, the views expressed by Member States; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic". RESOLUTION 56/80 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/588 and Corr.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/80. Model Law on Electronic Signatures of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, particularly those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Noting that an increasing number of transactions in international trade are carried out by means of communication commonly referred to as electronic commerce, which involves the use of alternatives to paper-based forms of communication, storage and authentication of information, Recalling the recommendation on the legal value of computer records adopted by the Commission at its eighteenth session, in 1985, and paragraph 5 (b) of General Assembly resolution 40/71 of 11 December 1985, in which the Assembly called upon Governments and international organizations to take action, where appropriate, in conformity with the recommendation of the Commission,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/40/17), chap. VI, sect. B. so as to ensure legal security in the context of the widest possible use of automated data processing in international trade, Recalling also that the Model Law on Electronic Commerce was adopted by the Commission at its twenty-ninth session, in 1996,Ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/51/17), chap. III, sect. F, para. 209. and complemented by an additional article, 5 bis, adopted by the Commission at its thirty-first session, in 1998,Ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/53/17), chap. III, sect. B. and recalling paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 51/162 of 16 December 1996, in which the Assembly recommended that all States should give favourable consideration to the Model Law when enacting or revising their laws, in view of the need for uniformity of the law applicable to alternatives to paper-based methods of communication and storage of information, Convinced that the Model Law on Electronic Commerce is of significant assistance to States in enabling or facilitating the use of electronic commerce, as demonstrated by the enactment of the Model Law in a number of countries and its universal recognition as an essential reference in the field of electronic commerce legislation, Mindful of the great utility of new technologies used for personal identification in electronic commerce and commonly referred to as electronic signatures, Desiring to build on the fundamental principles underlying article 7 of the Model Law on Electronic CommerceResolution 51/162, annex. with respect to the fulfilment of the signature function in an electronic environment, with a view to promoting reliance on electronic signatures for producing legal effect where such electronic signatures are functionally equivalent to handwritten signatures, Convinced that legal certainty in electronic commerce will be enhanced by the harmonization of certain rules on the legal recognition of electronic signatures on a technologically neutral basis and by the establishment of a method to assess in a technologically neutral manner the practical reliability and the commercial adequacy of electronic signature techniques, Believing that the Model Law on Electronic Signatures will constitute a useful addition to the Model Law on Electronic Commerce and significantly assist States in enhancing their legislation governing the use of modern authentication techniques and in formulating such legislation where none currently exists, Being of the opinion that the establishment of model legislation to facilitate the use of electronic signatures in a manner acceptable to States with different legal, social and economic systems could contribute to the development of harmonious international economic relations, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for completing and adopting the Model Law on Electronic Signatures contained in the annex to the present resolution, and for preparing the Guide to Enactment of the Model Law; 2. Recommends that all States give favourable consideration to the Model Law on Electronic Signatures, together with the Model Law on Electronic Commerce adopted in 1996 and complemented in 1998, when they enact or revise their laws, in view of the need for uniformity of the law applicable to alternatives to paper-based forms of communication, storage and authentication of information; 3. Recommends also that all efforts be made to ensure that the Model Law on Electronic Commerce and the Model Law on Electronic Signatures, together with their respective Guides to Enactment, become generally known and available. Annex Model Law on Electronic Signatures of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Article 1 Sphere of application This Law applies where electronic signatures are used in the contextThe Commission suggests the following text for States that might wish to extend the applicability of this Law: "This Law applies where electronic signatures are used, except in the following situations: [...]." of commercialThe term "commercial" should be given a wide interpretation so as to cover matters arising from all relationships of a commercial nature, whether contractual or not. Relationships of a commercial nature include, but are not limited to, the following transactions: any trade transaction for the supply or exchange of goods or services; distribution agreement; commercial representation or agency; factoring; leasing; construction of works; consulting; engineering; licensing; investment; financing; banking; insurance; exploitation agreement or concession; joint venture and other forms of industrial or business cooperation; carriage of goods or passengers by air, sea, rail or road. activities. It does not override any rule of law intended for the protection of consumers. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of this Law: (a) "Electronic signature" means data in electronic form in, affixed to or logically associated with, a data message, which may be used to identify the signatory in relation to the data message and to indicate the signatory's approval of the information contained in the data message; (b) "Certificate" means a data message or other record confirming the link between a signatory and signature creation data; (c) "Data message" means information generated, sent, received or stored by electronic, optical or similar means including, but not limited to, electronic data interchange (EDI), electronic mail, telegram, telex or telecopy; (d) "Signatory" means a person that holds signature creation data and acts either on its own behalf or on behalf of the person it represents; (e) "Certification service provider" means a person that issues certificates and may provide other services related to electronic signatures; (f) "Relying party" means a person that may act on the basis of a certificate or an electronic signature. Article 3 Equal treatment of signature technologies Nothing in this Law, except article 5, shall be applied so as to exclude, restrict or deprive of legal effect any method of creating an electronic signature that satisfies the requirements referred to in article 6, paragraph 1, or otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law. Article 4 Interpretation 1. In the interpretation of this Law, regard is to be had to its international origin and to the need to promote uniformity in its application and the observance of good faith. 2. Questions concerning matters governed by this Law which are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in conformity with the general principles on which this Law is based. Article 5 Variation by agreement The provisions of this Law may be derogated from or their effect may be varied by agreement, unless that agreement would not be valid or effective under applicable law. Article 6 Compliance with a requirement for a signature 1. Where the law requires a signature of a person, that requirement is met in relation to a data message if an electronic signature is used that is as reliable as was appropriate for the purpose for which the data message was generated or communicated, in the light of all the circumstances, including any relevant agreement. 2. Paragraph 1 applies whether the requirement referred to therein is in the form of an obligation or whether the law simply provides consequences for the absence of a signature. 3. An electronic signature is considered to be reliable for the purpose of satisfying the requirement referred to in paragraph 1 if: (a) The signature creation data are, within the context in which they are used, linked to the signatory and to no other person; (b) The signature creation data were, at the time of signing, under the control of the signatory and of no other person; (c) Any alteration to the electronic signature, made after the time of signing, is detectable; and (d) Where a purpose of the legal requirement for a signature is to provide assurance as to the integrity of the information to which it relates, any alteration made to that information after the time of signing is detectable. 4. Paragraph 3 does not limit the ability of any person: (a) To establish in any other way, for the purpose of satisfying the requirement referred to in paragraph 1, the reliability of an electronic signature; or (b) To adduce evidence of the non-reliability of an electronic signature. 5. The provisions of this article do not apply to the following: [...]. Article 7 Satisfaction of article 6 1. [Any person, organ or authority, whether public or private, specified by the enacting State as competent] may determine which electronic signatures satisfy the provisions of article 6 of this Law. 2. Any determination made under paragraph 1 shall be consistent with recognized international standards. 3. Nothing in this article affects the operation of the rules of private international law. Article 8 Conduct of the signatory 1. Where signature creation data can be used to create a signature that has legal effect, each signatory shall: (a) Exercise reasonable care to avoid unauthorized use of its signature creation data; (b) Without undue delay, utilize means made available by the certification service provider pursuant to article 9 of this Law, or otherwise use reasonable efforts, to notify any person that may reasonably be expected by the signatory to rely on or to provide services in support of the electronic signature if: (i) The signatory knows that the signature creation data have been compromised; or (ii) The circumstances known to the signatory give rise to a substantial risk that the signature creation data may have been compromised; (c) Where a certificate is used to support the electronic signature, exercise reasonable care to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all material representations made by the signatory that are relevant to the certificate throughout its life cycle or that are to be included in the certificate. 2. A signatory shall bear the legal consequences of its failure to satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1. Article 9 Conduct of the certification service provider 1. Where a certification service provider provides services to support an electronic signature that may be used for legal effect as a signature, that certification service provider shall: (a) Act in accordance with representations made by it with respect to its policies and practices; (b) Exercise reasonable care to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all material representations made by it that are relevant to the certificate throughout its life cycle or that are included in the certificate; (c) Provide reasonably accessible means that enable a relying party to ascertain from the certificate: (i) The identity of the certification service provider; (ii) That the signatory that is identified in the certificate had control of the signature creation data at the time when the certificate was issued; (iii) That signature creation data were valid at or before the time when the certificate was issued; (d) Provide reasonably accessible means that enable a relying party to ascertain, where relevant, from the certificate or otherwise: (i) The method used to identify the signatory; (ii) Any limitation on the purpose or value for which the signature creation data or the certificate may be used; (iii) That the signature creation data are valid and have not been compromised; (iv) Any limitation on the scope or extent of liability stipulated by the certification service provider; (v) Whether means exist for the signatory to give notice pursuant to article 8, paragraph 1 (b), of this Law; (vi) Whether a timely revocation service is offered; (e) Where services under subparagraph (d) (v) are offered, provide a means for a signatory to give notice pursuant to article 8, paragraph 1 (b), of this Law and, where services under subparagraph (d) (vi) are offered, ensure the availability of a timely revocation service; (f) Utilize trustworthy systems, procedures and human resources in performing its services. 2. A certification service provider shall bear the legal consequences of its failure to satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1. Article 10 Trustworthiness For the purposes of article 9, paragraph 1 (f), of this Law in determining whether, or to what extent, any systems, procedures and human resources utilized by a certification service provider are trustworthy, regard may be had to the following factors: (a) Financial and human resources, including existence of assets; (b) Quality of hardware and software systems; (c) Procedures for processing of certificates and applications for certificates and retention of records; (d) Availability of information to signatories identified in certificates and to potential relying parties; (e) Regularity and extent of audit by an independent body; (f) The existence of a declaration by the State, an accreditation body or the certification service provider regarding compliance with or existence of the foregoing; or (g) Any other relevant factor. Article 11 Conduct of the relying party A relying party shall bear the legal consequences of its failure: (a) To take reasonable steps to verify the reliability of an electronic signature; or (b) Where an electronic signature is supported by a certificate, to take reasonable steps: (i) To verify the validity, suspension or revocation of the certificate; and (ii) To observe any limitation with respect to the certificate. Article 12 Recognition of foreign certificates and electronic signatures 1. In determining whether, or to what extent, a certificate or an electronic signature is legally effective, no regard shall be had: (a) To the geographic location where the certificate is issued or the electronic signature created or used; or (b) To the geographic location of the place of business of the issuer or signatory. 2. A certificate issued outside [the enacting State] shall have the same legal effect in [the enacting State] as a certificate issued in [the enacting State] if it offers a substantially equivalent level of reliability. 3. An electronic signature created or used outside [the enacting State] shall have the same legal effect in [the enacting State] as an electronic signature created or used in [the enacting State] if it offers a substantially equivalent level of reliability. 4. In determining whether a certificate or an electronic signature offers a substantially equivalent level of reliability for the purposes of paragraph 2 or 3, regard shall be had to recognized international standards and to any other relevant factors. 5. Where, notwithstanding paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, parties agree, as between themselves, to the use of certain types of electronic signatures or certificates, that agreement shall be recognized as sufficient for the purposes of cross-border recognition, unless that agreement would not be valid or effective under applicable law. RESOLUTION 56/81 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/588 and Corr.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 56/81. United Nations Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Considering that problems created by uncertainties as to the content and the choice of the legal regime applicable to the assignment of receivables constitute an obstacle to international trade, Convinced that the adoption of a convention on the assignment of receivables in international trade will enhance transparency, contribute to overcoming the problems of uncertainties in this field and promote the availability of capital and credit at more affordable rates, while protecting existing assignment practices and facilitating the development of new practices, as well as ensuring adequate protection of the interests of debtors in assignments of receivables, Recalling that, at its twenty-eighth session in 1995, the Commission decided to prepare uniform legislation on assignment in receivables financing and entrusted the Working Group on International Contract Practices with the preparation of a draft,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/50/17), para. 381. Noting that the Working Group on International Contract Practices devoted nine sessions, from 1995 to 2000, to the preparation of the draft Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade, and that the Commission considered the draft Convention at its thirty-third session in 2000Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/55/17), chap. III. and at its thirty-fourth session in 2001,Ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/56/17 and Corr.3), chap. III. Being aware that all States and interested international organizations were invited to participate in the preparation of the draft Convention at all the sessions of the Working Group and at the thirty-third and thirty-fourth sessions of the Commission, either as members or as observers, with a full opportunity to speak and make proposals, Noting with satisfaction that the text of the draft Convention was circulated for comments once before the thirty-third session of the Commission and a second time in its revised version before the thirty-fourth session of the Commission to all Governments and international organizations invited to attend the meetings of the Commission and the Working Group as observers, and that the comments received were before the Commission at its thirty-thirdSee A/CN.9/472 and Add.1-5. and thirty-fourthSee A/CN.9/490 and Add.1-5. sessions, Taking note with satisfaction of the decision of the Commission at its thirty-fourth session to submit the draft Convention to the General Assembly for its consideration,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/56/17 and Corr.3), para. 200. Taking note of the draft Convention adopted by the Commission,Ibid., annex I. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for preparing the draft Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade;Ibid., annex I. 2. Adopts and opens for signature or accession the United Nations Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade, contained in the annex to the present resolution; 3. Calls upon all Governments to consider becoming party to the Convention. Annex United Nations Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade Preamble The Contracting States, Reaffirming their conviction that international trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit is an important element in the promotion of friendly relations among States, Considering that problems created by uncertainties as to the content and the choice of legal regime applicable to the assignment of receivables constitute an obstacle to international trade, Desiring to establish principles and to adopt rules relating to the assignment of receivables that would create certainty and transparency and promote the modernization of the law relating to assignments of receivables, while protecting existing assignment practices and facilitating the development of new practices, Desiring also to ensure adequate protection of the interests of debtors in assignments of receivables, Being of the opinion that the adoption of uniform rules governing the assignment of receivables would promote the availability of capital and credit at more affordable rates and thus facilitate the development of international trade, Have agreed as follows: Chapter I Scope of application Article 1 Scope of application 1. This Convention applies to: (a) Assignments of international receivables and to international assignments of receivables as defined in this chapter, if, at the time of conclusion of the contract of assignment, the assignor is located in a Contracting State; and (b) Subsequent assignments, provided that any prior assignment is governed by this Convention. 2. This Convention applies to subsequent assignments that satisfy the criteria set forth in paragraph 1 (a) of this article, even if it did not apply to any prior assignment of the same receivable. 3. This Convention does not affect the rights and obligations of the debtor unless, at the time of conclusion of the original contract, the debtor is located in a Contracting State or the law governing the original contract is the law of a Contracting State. 4. The provisions of chapter V apply to assignments of international receivables and to international assignments of receivables as defined in this chapter independently of paragraphs 1 to 3 of this article. However, those provisions do not apply if a State makes a declaration under article 39. 5. The provisions of the annex to this Convention apply as provided in article 42. Article 2 Assignment of receivables For the purposes of this Convention: (a) "Assignment" means the transfer by agreement from one person ("assignor") to another person ("assignee") of all or part of or an undivided interest in the assignor's contractual right to payment of a monetary sum ("receivable") from a third person ("the debtor"). The creation of rights in receivables as security for indebtedness or other obligation is deemed to be a transfer; (b) In the case of an assignment by the initial or any other assignee ("subsequent assignment"), the person who makes that assignment is the assignor and the person to whom that assignment is made is the assignee. Article 3 Internationality A receivable is international if, at the time of conclusion of the original contract, the assignor and the debtor are located in different States. An assignment is international if, at the time of conclusion of the contract of assignment, the assignor and the assignee are located in different States. Article 4 Exclusions and other limitations 1. This Convention does not apply to assignments made: (a) To an individual for his or her personal, family or household purposes; (b) As part of the sale or change in the ownership or legal status of the business out of which the assigned receivables arose. 2. This Convention does not apply to assignments of receivables arising under or from: (a) Transactions on a regulated exchange; (b) Financial contracts governed by netting agreements, except a receivable owed on the termination of all outstanding transactions; (c) Foreign exchange transactions; (d) Inter-bank payment systems, inter-bank payment agreements or clearance and settlement systems relating to securities or other financial assets or instruments; (e) The transfer of security rights in, sale, loan or holding of or agreement to repurchase securities or other financial assets or instruments held with an intermediary; (f) Bank deposits; (g) A letter of credit or independent guarantee. 3. Nothing in this Convention affects the rights and obligations of any person under the law governing negotiable instruments. 4. Nothing in this Convention affects the rights and obligations of the assignor and the debtor under special laws governing the protection of parties to transactions made for personal, family or household purposes. 5. Nothing in this Convention: (a) Affects the application of the law of a State in which real property is situated to either: (i) An interest in that real property to the extent that under that law the assignment of a receivable confers such an interest; or (ii) The priority of a right in a receivable to the extent that under that law an interest in the real property confers such a right; or (b) Makes lawful the acquisition of an interest in real property not permitted under the law of the State in which the real property is situated. Chapter II General provisions Article 5 Definitions and rules of interpretation For the purposes of this Convention: (a) "Original contract" means the contract between the assignor and the debtor from which the assigned receivable arises; (b) "Existing receivable" means a receivable that arises upon or before conclusion of the contract of assignment and "future receivable" means a receivable that arises after conclusion of the contract of assignment; (c) "Writing" means any form of information that is accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference. Where this Convention requires a writing to be signed, that requirement is met if, by generally accepted means or a procedure agreed to by the person whose signature is required, the writing identifies that person and indicates that person's approval of the information contained in the writing; (d) "Notification of the assignment" means a communication in writing that reasonably identifies the assigned receivables and the assignee; (e) "Insolvency administrator" means a person or body, including one appointed on an interim basis, authorized in an insolvency proceeding to administer the reorganization or liquidation of the assignor's assets or affairs; (f) "Insolvency proceeding" means a collective judicial or administrative proceeding, including an interim proceeding, in which the assets and affairs of the assignor are subject to control or supervision by a court or other competent authority for the purpose of reorganization or liquidation; (g) "Priority" means the right of a person in preference to the right of another person and, to the extent relevant for such purpose, includes the determination whether the right is a personal or a property right, whether or not it is a security right for indebtedness or other obligation and whether any requirements necessary to render the right effective against a competing claimant have been satisfied; (h) A person is located in the State in which it has its place of business. If the assignor or the assignee has a place of business in more than one State, the place of business is that place where the central administration of the assignor or the assignee is exercised. If the debtor has a place of business in more than one State, the place of business is that which has the closest relationship to the original contract. If a person does not have a place of business, reference is to be made to the habitual residence of that person; (i) "Law" means the law in force in a State other than its rules of private international law; (j) "Proceeds" means whatever is received in respect of an assigned receivable, whether in total or partial payment or other satisfaction of the receivable. The term includes whatever is received in respect of proceeds. The term does not include returned goods; (k) "Financial contract" means any spot, forward, future, option or swap transaction involving interest rates, commodities, currencies, equities, bonds, indices or any other financial instrument, any repurchase or securities lending transaction, and any other transaction similar to any transaction referred to above entered into in financial markets and any combination of the transactions mentioned above; (l) "Netting agreement" means an agreement between two or more parties that provides for one or more of the following: (i) The net settlement of payments due in the same currency on the same date whether by notation or otherwise; (ii) Upon the insolvency or other default by a party, the termination of all outstanding transactions at their replacement or fair market values, conversion of such sums into a single currency and netting into a single payment by one party to the other; or (iii) The set-off of amounts calculated as set forth in subparagraph (l) (ii) of this article under two or more netting agreements; (m) "Competing claimant" means: (i) Another assignee of the same receivable from the same assignor, including a person who, by operation of law, claims a right in the assigned receivable as a result of its right in other property of the assignor, even if that receivable is not an international receivable and the assignment to that assignee is not an international assignment; (ii) A creditor of the assignor; or (iii) The insolvency administrator. Article 6 Party autonomy Subject to article 19, the assignor, the assignee and the debtor may derogate from or vary by agreement provisions of this Convention relating to their respective rights and obligations. Such an agreement does not affect the rights of any person who is not a party to the agreement. Article 7 Principles of interpretation 1. In the interpretation of this Convention, regard is to be had to its object and purpose as set forth in the preamble, to its international character and to the need to promote uniformity in its application and the observance of good faith in international trade. 2. Questions concerning matters governed by this Convention that are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in conformity with the general principles on which it is based or, in the absence of such principles, in conformity with the law applicable by virtue of the rules of private international law. Chapter III Effects of assignment Article 8 Effectiveness of assignments 1. An assignment is not ineffective as between the assignor and the assignee or as against the debtor or as against a competing claimant, and the right of an assignee may not be denied priority, on the ground that it is an assignment of more than one receivable, future receivables or parts of or undivided interests in receivables, provided that the receivables are described: (a) Individually as receivables to which the assignment relates; or (b) In any other manner, provided that they can, at the time of the assignment or, in the case of future receivables, at the time of conclusion of the original contract, be identified as receivables to which the assignment relates. 2. Unless otherwise agreed, an assignment of one or more future receivables is effective without a new act of transfer being required to assign each receivable. 3. Except as provided in paragraph 1 of this article, article 9 and article 10, paragraphs 2 and 3, this Convention does not affect any limitations on assignments arising from law. Article 9 Contractual limitations on assignments 1. An assignment of a receivable is effective notwithstanding any agreement between the initial or any subsequent assignor and the debtor or any subsequent assignee limiting in any way the assignor's right to assign its receivables. 2. Nothing in this article affects any obligation or liability of the assignor for breach of such an agreement, but the other party to such agreement may not avoid the original contract or the assignment contract on the sole ground of that breach. A person who is not party to such an agreement is not liable on the sole ground that it had knowledge of the agreement. 3. This article applies only to assignments of receivables: (a) Arising from an original contract that is a contract for the supply or lease of goods or services other than financial services, a construction contract or a contract for the sale or lease of real property; (b) Arising from an original contract for the sale, lease or licence of industrial or other intellectual property or of proprietary information; (c) Representing the payment obligation for a credit card transaction; or (d) Owed to the assignor upon net settlement of payments due pursuant to a netting agreement involving more than two parties. Article 10 Transfer of security rights 1. A personal or property right securing payment of the assigned receivable is transferred to the assignee without a new act of transfer. If such a right, under the law governing it, is transferable only with a new act of transfer, the assignor is obliged to transfer such right and any proceeds to the assignee. 2. A right securing payment of the assigned receivable is transferred under paragraph 1 of this article notwithstanding any agreement between the assignor and the debtor or other person granting that right, limiting in any way the assignor's right to assign the receivable or the right securing payment of the assigned receivable. 3. Nothing in this article affects any obligation or liability of the assignor for breach of any agreement under paragraph 2 of this article, but the other party to that agreement may not avoid the original contract or the assignment contract on the sole ground of that breach. A person who is not a party to such an agreement is not liable on the sole ground that it had knowledge of the agreement. 4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article apply only to assignments of receivables: (a) Arising from an original contract that is a contract for the supply or lease of goods or services other than financial services, a construction contract or a contract for the sale or lease of real property; (b) Arising from an original contract for the sale, lease or licence of industrial or other intellectual property or of proprietary information; (c) Representing the payment obligation for a credit card transaction; or (d) Owed to the assignor upon net settlement of payments due pursuant to a netting agreement involving more than two parties. 5. The transfer of a possessory property right under paragraph 1 of this article does not affect any obligations of the assignor to the debtor or the person granting the property right with respect to the property transferred existing under the law governing that property right. 6. Paragraph 1 of this article does not affect any requirement under rules of law other than this Convention relating to the form or registration of the transfer of any rights securing payment of the assigned receivable. Chapter IV Rights, obligations and defences Section I Assignor and assignee Article 11 Rights and obligations of the assignor and the assignee 1. The mutual rights and obligations of the assignor and the assignee arising from their agreement are determined by the terms and conditions set forth in that agreement, including any rules or general conditions referred to therein. 2. The assignor and the assignee are bound by any usage to which they have agreed and, unless otherwise agreed, by any practices they have established between themselves. 3. In an international assignment, the assignor and the assignee are considered, unless otherwise agreed, implicitly to have made applicable to the assignment a usage that in international trade is widely known to, and regularly observed by, parties to the particular type of assignment or to the assignment of the particular category of receivables. Article 12 Representations of the assignor 1. Unless otherwise agreed between the assignor and the assignee, the assignor represents at the time of conclusion of the contract of assignment that: (a) The assignor has the right to assign the receivable; (b) The assignor has not previously assigned the receivable to another assignee; and (c) The debtor does not and will not have any defences or rights of set-off. 2. Unless otherwise agreed between the assignor and the assignee, the assignor does not represent that the debtor has, or will have, the ability to pay. Article 13 Right to notify the debtor 1. Unless otherwise agreed between the assignor and the assignee, the assignor or the assignee or both may send the debtor notification of the assignment and a payment instruction, but after notification has been sent only the assignee may send such an instruction. 2. Notification of the assignment or a payment instruction sent in breach of any agreement referred to in paragraph 1 of this article is not ineffective for the purposes of article 17 by reason of such breach. However, nothing in this article affects any obligation or liability of the party in breach of such an agreement for any damages arising as a result of the breach. Article 14 Right to payment 1. As between the assignor and the assignee, unless otherwise agreed and whether or not notification of the assignment has been sent: (a) If payment in respect of the assigned receivable is made to the assignee, the assignee is entitled to retain the proceeds and goods returned in respect of the assigned receivable; (b) If payment in respect of the assigned receivable is made to the assignor, the assignee is entitled to payment of the proceeds and also to goods returned to the assignor in respect of the assigned receivable; and (c) If payment in respect of the assigned receivable is made to another person over whom the assignee has priority, the assignee is entitled to payment of the proceeds and also to goods returned to such person in respect of the assigned receivable. 2. The assignee may not retain more than the value of its right in the receivable. Section II Debtor Article 15 Principle of debtor protection 1. Except as otherwise provided in this Convention, an assignment does not, without the consent of the debtor, affect the rights and obligations of the debtor, including the payment terms contained in the original contract. 2. A payment instruction may change the person, address or account to which the debtor is required to make payment, but may not change: (a) The currency of payment specified in the original contract; or (b) The State specified in the original contract in which payment is to be made to a State other than that in which the debtor is located. Article 16 Notification of the debtor 1. Notification of the assignment or a payment instruction is effective when received by the debtor if it is in a language that is reasonably expected to inform the debtor about its contents. It is sufficient if notification of the assignment or a payment instruction is in the language of the original contract. 2. Notification of the assignment or a payment instruction may relate to receivables arising after notification. 3. Notification of a subsequent assignment constitutes notification of all prior assignments. Article 17 Debtor's discharge by payment 1. Until the debtor receives notification of the assignment, the debtor is entitled to be discharged by paying in accordance with the original contract. 2. After the debtor receives notification of the assignment, subject to paragraphs 3 to 8 of this article, the debtor is discharged only by paying the assignee or, if otherwise instructed in the notification of the assignment or subsequently by the assignee in a writing received by the debtor, in accordance with such payment instruction. 3. If the debtor receives more than one payment instruction relating to a single assignment of the same receivable by the same assignor, the debtor is discharged by paying in accordance with the last payment instruction received from the assignee before payment. 4. If the debtor receives notification of more than one assignment of the same receivable made by the same assignor, the debtor is discharged by paying in accordance with the first notification received. 5. If the debtor receives notification of one or more subsequent assignments, the debtor is discharged by paying in accordance with the notification of the last of such subsequent assignments. 6. If the debtor receives notification of the assignment of a part of or an undivided interest in one or more receivables, the debtor is discharged by paying in accordance with the notification or in accordance with this article as if the debtor had not received the notification. If the debtor pays in accordance with the notification, the debtor is discharged only to the extent of the part or undivided interest paid. 7. If the debtor receives notification of the assignment from the assignee, the debtor is entitled to request the assignee to provide within a reasonable period of time adequate proof that the assignment from the initial assignor to the initial assignee and any intermediate assignment have been made and, unless the assignee does so, the debtor is discharged by paying in accordance with this article as if the notification from the assignee had not been received. Adequate proof of an assignment includes but is not limited to any writing emanating from the assignor and indicating that the assignment has taken place. 8. This article does not affect any other ground on which payment by the debtor to the person entitled to payment, to a competent judicial or other authority, or to a public deposit fund discharges the debtor. Article 18 Defences and rights of set-off of the debtor 1. In a claim by the assignee against the debtor for payment of the assigned receivable, the debtor may raise against the assignee all defences and rights of set-off arising from the original contract, or any other contract that was part of the same transaction, of which the debtor could avail itself as if the assignment had not been made and such claim were made by the assignor. 2. The debtor may raise against the assignee any other right of set-off, provided that it was available to the debtor at the time notification of the assignment was received by the debtor. 3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, defences and rights of set-off that the debtor may raise pursuant to article 9 or 10 against the assignor for breach of an agreement limiting in any way the assignor's right to make the assignment are not available to the debtor against the assignee. Article 19 Agreement not to raise defences or rights of set-off 1. The debtor may agree with the assignor in a writing signed by the debtor not to raise against the assignee the defences and rights of set-off that it could raise pursuant to article 18. Such an agreement precludes the debtor from raising against the assignee those defences and rights of set-off. 2. The debtor may not waive defences: (a) Arising from fraudulent acts on the part of the assignee; or (b) Based on the debtor's incapacity. 3. Such an agreement may be modified only by an agreement in a writing signed by the debtor. The effect of such a modification as against the assignee is determined by article 20, paragraph 2. Article 20 Modification of the original contract 1. An agreement concluded before notification of the assignment between the assignor and the debtor that affects the assignee's rights is effective as against the assignee, and the assignee acquires corresponding rights. 2. An agreement concluded after notification of the assignment between the assignor and the debtor that affects the assignee's rights is ineffective as against the assignee unless: (a) The assignee consents to it; or (b) The receivable is not fully earned by performance and either the modification is provided for in the original contract or, in the context of the original contract, a reasonable assignee would consent to the modification. 3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article do not affect any right of the assignor or the assignee arising from breach of an agreement between them. Article 21 Recovery of payments Failure of the assignor to perform the original contract does not entitle the debtor to recover from the assignee a sum paid by the debtor to the assignor or the assignee. Section III Third parties Article 22 Law applicable to competing rights With the exception of matters that are settled elsewhere in this Convention and subject to articles 23 and 24, the law of the State in which the assignor is located governs the priority of the right of an assignee in the assigned receivable over the right of a competing claimant. Article 23 Public policy and mandatory rules 1. The application of a provision of the law of the State in which the assignor is located may be refused only if the application of that provision is manifestly contrary to the public policy of the forum State. 2. The rules of the law of either the forum State or any other State that are mandatory irrespective of the law otherwise applicable may not prevent the application of a provision of the law of the State in which the assignor is located. 3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this article, in an insolvency proceeding commenced in a State other than the State in which the assignor is located, any preferential right that arises, by operation of law, under the law of the forum State and is given priority over the rights of an assignee in insolvency proceedings under the law of that State may be given priority notwithstanding article 22. A State may deposit at any time a declaration identifying any such preferential right. Article 24 Special rules on proceeds 1. If proceeds are received by the assignee, the assignee is entitled to retain those proceeds to the extent that the assignee's right in the assigned receivable had priority over the right of a competing claimant in the assigned receivable. 2. If proceeds are received by the assignor, the right of the assignee in those proceeds has priority over the right of a competing claimant in those proceeds to the same extent as the assignee's right had priority over the right in the assigned receivable of that claimant if: (a) The assignor has received the proceeds under instructions from the assignee to hold the proceeds for the benefit of the assignee; and (b) The proceeds are held by the assignor for the benefit of the assignee separately and are reasonably identifiable from the assets of the assignor, such as in the case of a separate deposit or securities account containing only proceeds consisting of cash or securities. 3. Nothing in paragraph 2 of this article affects the priority of a person having against the proceeds a right of set-off or a right created by agreement and not derived from a right in the receivable. Article 25 Subordination An assignee entitled to priority may at any time subordinate its priority unilaterally or by agreement in favour of any existing or future assignees. Chapter V Autonomous conflict-of-laws rules Article 26 Application of chapter V The provisions of this chapter apply to matters that are: (a) Within the scope of this Convention as provided in article 1, paragraph 4; and (b) Otherwise within the scope of this Convention but not settled elsewhere in it. Article 27 Form of a contract of assignment 1. A contract of assignment concluded between persons who are located in the same State is formally valid as between them if it satisfies the requirements of either the law which governs it or the law of the State in which it is concluded. 2. A contract of assignment concluded between persons who are located in different States is formally valid as between them if it satisfies the requirements of either the law which governs it or the law of one of those States. Article 28 Law applicable to the mutual rights and obligations of the assignor and the assignee 1. The mutual rights and obligations of the assignor and the assignee arising from their agreement are governed by the law chosen by them. 2. In the absence of a choice of law by the assignor and the assignee, their mutual rights and obligations arising from their agreement are governed by the law of the State with which the contract of assignment is most closely connected. Article 29 Law applicable to the rights and obligations of the assignee and the debtor The law governing the original contract determines the effectiveness of contractual limitations on assignment as between the assignee and the debtor, the relationship between the assignee and the debtor, the conditions under which the assignment can be invoked against the debtor and whether the debtor's obligations have been discharged. Article 30 Law applicable to priority 1. The law of the State in which the assignor is located governs the priority of the right of an assignee in the assigned receivable over the right of a competing claimant. 2. The rules of the law of either the forum State or any other State that are mandatory irrespective of the law otherwise applicable may not prevent the application of a provision of the law of the State in which the assignor is located. 3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this article, in an insolvency proceeding commenced in a State other than the State in which the assignor is located, any preferential right that arises, by operation of law, under the law of the forum State and is given priority over the rights of an assignee in insolvency proceedings under the law of that State may be given priority notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this article. Article 31 Mandatory rules 1. Nothing in articles 27 to 29 restricts the application of the rules of the law of the forum State in a situation where they are mandatory irrespective of the law otherwise applicable. 2. Nothing in articles 27 to 29 restricts the application of the mandatory rules of the law of another State with which the matters settled in those articles have a close connection if and insofar as, under the law of that other State, those rules must be applied irrespective of the law otherwise applicable. Article 32 Public policy With regard to matters settled in this chapter, the application of a provision of the law specified in this chapter may be refused only if the application of that provision is manifestly contrary to the public policy of the forum State. Chapter VI Final provisions Article 33 Depositary The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the depositary of this Convention. Article 34 Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval, accession 1. This Convention is open for signature by all States at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York until 31 December 2003. 2. This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the signatory States. 3. This Convention is open to accession by all States that are not signatory States as from the date it is open for signature. 4. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval and accession are to be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 35 Application to territorial units 1. If a State has two or more territorial units in which different systems of law are applicable in relation to the matters dealt with in this Convention, it may at any time declare that this Convention is to extend to all its territorial units or only one or more of them, and may at any time substitute another declaration for its earlier declaration. 2. Such declarations are to state expressly the territorial units to which this Convention extends. 3. If, by virtue of a declaration under this article, this Convention does not extend to all territorial units of a State and the assignor or the debtor is located in a territorial unit to which this Convention does not extend, this location is considered not to be in a Contracting State. 4. If, by virtue of a declaration under this article, this Convention does not extend to all territorial units of a State and the law governing the original contract is the law in force in a territorial unit to which this Convention does not extend, the law governing the original contract is considered not to be the law of a Contracting State. 5. If a State makes no declaration under paragraph 1 of this article, the Convention is to extend to all territorial units of that State. Article 36 Location in a territorial unit If a person is located in a State which has two or more territorial units, that person is located in the territorial unit in which it has its place of business. If the assignor or the assignee has a place of business in more than one territorial unit, the place of business is that place where the central administration of the assignor or the assignee is exercised. If the debtor has a place of business in more than one territorial unit, the place of business is that which has the closest relationship to the original contract. If a person does not have a place of business, reference is to be made to the habitual residence of that person. A State with two or more territorial units may specify by declaration at any time other rules for determining the location of a person within that State. Article 37 Applicable law in territorial units Any reference in this Convention to the law of a State means, in the case of a State which has two or more territorial units, the law in force in the territorial unit. Such a State may specify by declaration at any time other rules for determining the applicable law, including rules that render applicable the law of another territorial unit of that State. Article 38 Conflicts with other international agreements 1. This Convention does not prevail over any international agreement that has already been or may be entered into and that specifically governs a transaction otherwise governed by this Convention. 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this article, this Convention prevails over the Unidroit Convention on International Factoring ("the Ottawa Convention"). To the extent that this Convention does not apply to the rights and obligations of a debtor, it does not preclude the application of the Ottawa Convention with respect to the rights and obligations of that debtor. Article 39 Declaration on application of chapter V A State may declare at any time that it will not be bound by chapter V. Article 40 Limitations relating to Governments and other public entities A State may declare at any time that it will not be bound or the extent to which it will not be bound by articles 9 and 10 if the debtor or any person granting a personal or property right securing payment of the assigned receivable is located in that State at the time of conclusion of the original contract and is a Government, central or local, any subdivision thereof, or an entity constituted for a public purpose. If a State has made such a declaration, articles 9 and 10 do not affect the rights and obligations of that debtor or person. A State may list in a declaration the types of entity that are the subject of a declaration. Article 41 Other exclusions 1. A State may declare at any time that it will not apply this Convention to specific types of assignment or to the assignment of specific categories of receivables clearly described in a declaration. 2. After a declaration under paragraph 1 of this article takes effect: (a) This Convention does not apply to such types of assignment or to the assignment of such categories of receivables if the assignor is located at the time of conclusion of the contract of assignment in such a State; and (b) The provisions of this Convention that affect the rights and obligations of the debtor do not apply if, at the time of conclusion of the original contract, the debtor is located in such a State or the law governing the original contract is the law of such a State. 3. This article does not apply to assignments of receivables listed in article 9, paragraph 3. Article 42 Application of the annex 1. A State may at any time declare that it will be bound by: (a) The priority rules set forth in section I of the annex and will participate in the international registration system established pursuant to section II of the annex; (b) The priority rules set forth in section I of the annex and will effectuate such rules by use of a registration system that fulfils the purposes of such rules, in which case, for the purposes of section I of the annex, registration pursuant to such a system has the same effect as registration pursuant to section II of the annex; (c) The priority rules set forth in section III of the annex; (d) The priority rules set forth in section IV of the annex; or (e) The priority rules set forth in articles 7 and 9 of the annex. 2. For the purposes of article 22: (a) The law of a State that has made a declaration pursuant to paragraph 1 (a) or (b) of this article is the set of rules set forth in section I of the annex, as affected by any declaration made pursuant to paragraph 5 of this article; (b) The law of a State that has made a declaration pursuant to paragraph 1 (c) of this article is the set of rules set forth in section III of the annex, as affected by any declaration made pursuant to paragraph 5 of this article; (c) The law of a State that has made a declaration pursuant to paragraph 1 (d) of this article is the set of rules set forth in section IV of the annex, as affected by any declaration made pursuant to paragraph 5 of this article; and (d) The law of a State that has made a declaration pursuant to paragraph 1 (e) of this article is the set of rules set forth in articles 7 and 9 of the annex, as affected by any declaration made pursuant to paragraph 5 of this article. 3. A State that has made a declaration pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article may establish rules pursuant to which contracts of assignment concluded before the declaration takes effect become subject to those rules within a reasonable time. 4. A State that has not made a declaration pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article may, in accordance with priority rules in force in that State, utilize the registration system established pursuant to section II of the annex. 5. At the time a State makes a declaration pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article or thereafter, it may declare that: (a) It will not apply the priority rules chosen under paragraph 1 of this article to certain types of assignment or to the assignment of certain categories of receivables; or (b) It will apply those priority rules with modifications specified in that declaration. 6. At the request of Contracting or Signatory States to this Convention comprising not less than one third of the Contracting and Signatory States, the depositary shall convene a conference of the Contracting and Signatory States to designate the supervising authority and the first registrar and to prepare or revise the regulations referred to in section II of the annex. Article 43 Effect of declaration 1. Declarations made under articles 35, paragraph 1, 36, 37 or 39 to 42 at the time of signature are subject to confirmation upon ratification, acceptance or approval. 2. Declarations and confirmations of declarations are to be in writing and to be formally notified to the depositary. 3. A declaration takes effect simultaneously with the entry into force of this Convention in respect of the State concerned. However, a declaration of which the depositary receives formal notification after such entry into force takes effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months after the date of its receipt by the depositary. 4. A State that makes a declaration under articles 35, paragraph 1, 36, 37 or 39 to 42 may withdraw it at any time by a formal notification in writing addressed to the depositary. Such withdrawal takes effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months after the date of the receipt of the notification by the depositary. 5. In the case of a declaration under articles 35, paragraph 1, 36, 37 or 39 to 42 that takes effect after the entry into force of this Convention in respect of the State concerned or in the case of a withdrawal of any such declaration, the effect of which in either case is to cause a rule in this Convention, including any annex, to become applicable: (a) Except as provided in paragraph 5 (b) of this article, that rule is applicable only to assignments for which the contract of assignment is concluded on or after the date when the declaration or withdrawal takes effect in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 1 (a); (b) A rule that deals with the rights and obligations of the debtor applies only in respect of original contracts concluded on or after the date when the declaration or withdrawal takes effect in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 3. 6. In the case of a declaration under articles 35, paragraph 1, 36, 37 or 39 to 42 that takes effect after the entry into force of this Convention in respect of the State concerned or in the case of a withdrawal of any such declaration, the effect of which in either case is to cause a rule in this Convention, including any annex, to become inapplicable: (a) Except as provided in paragraph 6 (b) of this article, that rule is inapplicable to assignments for which the contract of assignment is concluded on or after the date when the declaration or withdrawal takes effect in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 1 (a); (b) A rule that deals with the rights and obligations of the debtor is inapplicable in respect of original contracts concluded on or after the date when the declaration or withdrawal takes effect in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 3. 7. If a rule rendered applicable or inapplicable as a result of a declaration or withdrawal referred to in paragraph 5 or 6 of this article is relevant to the determination of priority with respect to a receivable for which the contract of assignment is concluded before such declaration or withdrawal takes effect or with respect to its proceeds, the right of the assignee has priority over the right of a competing claimant to the extent that, under the law that would determine priority before such declaration or withdrawal takes effect, the right of the assignee would have priority. Article 44 Reservations No reservations are permitted except those expressly authorized in this Convention. Article 45 Entry into force 1. This Convention enters into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months from the date of deposit of the fifth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the depositary. 2. For each State that becomes a Contracting State to this Convention after the date of deposit of the fifth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, this Convention enters into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months after the date of deposit of the appropriate instrument on behalf of that State. 3. This Convention applies only to assignments if the contract of assignment is concluded on or after the date when this Convention enters into force in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 1 (a), provided that the provisions of this Convention that deal with the rights and obligations of the debtor apply only to assignments of receivables arising from original contracts concluded on or after the date when this Convention enters into force in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 3. 4. If a receivable is assigned pursuant to a contract of assignment concluded before the date when this Convention enters into force in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 1 (a), the right of the assignee has priority over the right of a competing claimant with respect to the receivable to the extent that, under the law that would determine priority in the absence of this Convention, the right of the assignee would have priority. Article 46 Denunciation 1. A Contracting State may denounce this Convention at any time by written notification addressed to the depositary. 2. The denunciation takes effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of one year after the notification is received by the depositary. Where a longer period is specified in the notification, the denunciation takes effect upon the expiration of such longer period after the notification is received by the depositary. 3. This Convention remains applicable to assignments if the contract of assignment is concluded before the date when the denunciation takes effect in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 1 (a), provided that the provisions of this Convention that deal with the rights and obligations of the debtor remain applicable only to assignments of receivables arising from original contracts concluded before the date when the denunciation takes effect in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 3. 4. If a receivable is assigned pursuant to a contract of assignment concluded before the date when the denunciation takes effect in respect of the Contracting State referred to in article 1, paragraph 1 (a), the right of the assignee has priority over the right of a competing claimant with respect to the receivable to the extent that, under the law that would determine priority under this Convention, the right of the assignee would have priority. Article 47 Revision and amendment 1. At the request of not less than one third of the Contracting States to this Convention, the depositary shall convene a conference of the Contracting States to revise or amend it. 2. Any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited after the entry into force of an amendment to this Convention is deemed to apply to the Convention as amended. Annex to the Convention Section I Priority rules based on registration Article 1 Priority among several assignees As between assignees of the same receivable from the same assignor, the priority of the right of an assignee in the assigned receivable is determined by the order in which data about the assignment are registered under section II of this annex, regardless of the time of transfer of the receivable. If no such data are registered, priority is determined by the order of conclusion of the respective contracts of assignment. Article 2 Priority between the assignee and the insolvency administrator or creditors of the assignor The right of an assignee in an assigned receivable has priority over the right of an insolvency administrator and creditors who obtain a right in the assigned receivable by attachment, judicial act or similar act of a competent authority that gives rise to such right, if the receivable was assigned, and data about the assignment were registered under section II of this annex, before the commencement of such insolvency proceeding, attachment, judicial act or similar act. Section II Registration Article 3 Establishment of a registration system A registration system will be established for the registration of data about assignments, even if the relevant assignment or receivable is not international, pursuant to the regulations to be promulgated by the registrar and the supervising authority. Regulations promulgated by the registrar and the supervising authority under this annex shall be consistent with this annex. The regulations will prescribe in detail the manner in which the registration system will operate, as well as the procedure for resolving disputes relating to that operation. Article 4 Registration 1. Any person may register data with regard to an assignment at the registry in accordance with this annex and the regulations. As provided in the regulations, the data registered shall be the identification of the assignor and the assignee and a brief description of the assigned receivables. 2. A single registration may cover one or more assignments by the assignor to the assignee of one or more existing or future receivables, irrespective of whether the receivables exist at the time of registration. 3. A registration may be made in advance of the assignment to which it relates. The regulations will establish the procedure for the cancellation of a registration in the event that the assignment is not made. 4. Registration or its amendment is effective from the time when the data set forth in paragraph 1 of this article are available to searchers. The registering party may specify, from options set forth in the regulations, a period of effectiveness for the registration. In the absence of such a specification, a registration is effective for a period of five years. 5. Regulations will specify the manner in which registration may be renewed, amended or cancelled and regulate such other matters as are necessary for the operation of the registration system. 6. Any defect, irregularity, omission or error with regard to the identification of the assignor that would result in data registered not being found upon a search based on a proper identification of the assignor renders the registration ineffective. Article 5 Registry searches 1. Any person may search the records of the registry according to identification of the assignor, as set forth in the regulations, and obtain a search result in writing. 2. A search result in writing that purports to be issued by the registry is admissible as evidence and is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof of the registration of the data to which the search relates, including the date and hour of registration. Section III Priority rules based on the time of the contract of assignment Article 6 Priority among several assignees As between assignees of the same receivable from the same assignor, the priority of the right of an assignee in the assigned receivable is determined by the order of conclusion of the respective contracts of assignment. Article 7 Priority between the assignee and the insolvency administrator or creditors of the assignor The right of an assignee in an assigned receivable has priority over the right of an insolvency administrator and creditors who obtain a right in the assigned receivable by attachment, judicial act or similar act of a competent authority that gives rise to such right, if the receivable was assigned before the commencement of such insolvency proceeding, attachment, judicial act or similar act. Article 8 Proof of time of contract of assignment The time of conclusion of a contract of assignment in respect of articles 6 and 7 of this annex may be proved by any means, including witnesses. Section IV Priority rules based on the time of notification of assignment Article 9 Priority among several assignees As between assignees of the same receivable from the same assignor, the priority of the right of an assignee in the assigned receivable is determined by the order in which notification of the respective assignments is received by the debtor. However, an assignee may not obtain priority over a prior assignment of which the assignee had knowledge at the time of conclusion of the contract of assignment to that assignee by notifying the debtor. Article 10 Priority between the assignee and the insolvency administrator or creditors of the assignor The right of an assignee in an assigned receivable has priority over the right of an insolvency administrator and creditors who obtain a right in the assigned receivable by attachment, judicial act or similar act of a competent authority that gives rise to such right, if the receivable was assigned and notification was received by the debtor before the commencement of such insolvency proceeding, attachment, judicial act or similar act. DONE at ..., this ... day of ... two thousand one, in a single original, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed the present Convention. RESOLUTION 56/82 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/589 and Corr.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Colombia. 56/82. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-third session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-third session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/56/10 and Corr.1). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the codification and progressive development of international law as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to further enhance their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Wishing to enhance further the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the International Law Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two organs, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Stressing the usefulness of structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report, 1. Takes note of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-third session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/56/10 and Corr.1). 2. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the work accomplished at its fifty-third session, in particular for the completion of the final draft articles on "Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts" and for the valuable work done on the issue of prevention on the topic of "International liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law (prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities)"; 3. Requests the International Law Commission, taking into consideration its decision at its forty-ninth session to proceed with its work on the topic of "International liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law", undertaking, as a first step, the issue of prevention,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/52/10), chap. VII, para. 168. to resume, during its fifty-fourth session, its consideration of the liability aspects of the topic, bearing in mind the interrelationship between prevention and liability and taking into account the developments in international law and comments by Governments; 4. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report; 5. Reiterates its invitation to Governments, within the context of paragraph 4 above, to respond, to the extent possible, in writing by 28 February 2002 to the questionnaire and requests for materials on unilateral acts of States circulated by the Secretariat to all Governments on 31 August 2001; 6. Also reiterates its invitation to Governments to submit the most relevant national legislation, decisions of domestic courts and State practice relevant to diplomatic protection in order to assist the International Law Commission in its work on the topic "Diplomatic protection"; 7. Recommends that the International Law Commission, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly, continue its work on the topics in its current programme; 8. Requests the International Law Commission, taking into account paragraph 259 of its report, to begin its work on the topic "Responsibility of international organizations" and to give further consideration to the remaining topics to be included in its long-term programme of work, having due regard to comments made by Governments; 9. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity; 10. Takes note of paragraph 260 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to the cost-saving measures taken by the Commission in organizing its programme of work, and encourages the Commission to continue taking such measures at its future sessions; 11. Takes note also of paragraph 261 of the report, and decides that the next session of the International Law Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 29 April to 7 June and from 22 July to 16 August 2002; 12. Stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the holding of informal discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and those members of the Commission attending the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly; 13. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 14. Also requests the International Law Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation; 15. Notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 16. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat and those concerning the summary records and other documentation of the International Law Commission; 17. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 20. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 21. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly commence on 28 October 2002. RESOLUTION 56/83 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/589 and Corr.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Ecuador. 56/83. Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts The General Assembly, Having considered chapter IV of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-third session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/56/10 and Corr.1). which contains the draft articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts, Noting that the International Law Commission decided to recommend to the General Assembly that it should take note of the draft articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts in a resolution and annex the draft articles to that resolution, and that it should consider at a later stage, in the light of the importance of the topic, the possibility of convening an international conference of plenipotentiaries to examine the draft articles with a view to concluding a convention on the topic,Ibid., paras. 72 and 73. Emphasizing the continuing importance of the codification and progressive development of international law, as referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 a, of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the subject of responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts is of major importance in the relations of States, 1. Welcomes the conclusion of the work of the International Law Commission on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts and its adoption of the draft articles and a detailed commentary on the subject; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for its continuing contribution to the codification and progressive development of international law; 3. Takes note of the articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts, presented by the International Law Commission, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution, and commends them to the attention of Governments without prejudice to the question of their future adoption or other appropriate action; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts". Annex Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts Part one The internationally wrongful act of a State Chapter I General principles Article 1 Responsibility of a State for its internationally wrongful acts Every internationally wrongful act of a State entails the international responsibility of that State. Article 2 Elements of an internationally wrongful act of a State There is an internationally wrongful act of a State when conduct consisting of an action or omission: (a) Is attributable to the State under international law; and (b) Constitutes a breach of an international obligation of the State. Article 3 Characterization of an act of a State as internationally wrongful The characterization of an act of a State as internationally wrongful is governed by international law. Such characterization is not affected by the characterization of the same act as lawful by internal law. Chapter II Attribution of conduct to a State Article 4 Conduct of organs of a State 1. The conduct of any State organ shall be considered an act of that State under international law, whether the organ exercises legislative, executive, judicial or any other functions, whatever position it holds in the organization of the State, and whatever its character as an organ of the central Government or of a territorial unit of the State. 2. An organ includes any person or entity which has that status in accordance with the internal law of the State. Article 5 Conduct of persons or entities exercising elements of governmental authority The conduct of a person or entity which is not an organ of the State under article 4 but which is empowered by the law of that State to exercise elements of the governmental authority shall be considered an act of the State under international law, provided the person or entity is acting in that capacity in the particular instance. Article 6 Conduct of organs placed at the disposal of a State by another State The conduct of an organ placed at the disposal of a State by another State shall be considered an act of the former State under international law if the organ is acting in the exercise of elements of the governmental authority of the State at whose disposal it is placed. Article 7 Excess of authority or contravention of instructions The conduct of an organ of a State or of a person or entity empowered to exercise elements of the governmental authority shall be considered an act of the State under international law if the organ, person or entity acts in that capacity, even if it exceeds its authority or contravenes instructions. Article 8 Conduct directed or controlled by a State The conduct of a person or group of persons shall be considered an act of a State under international law if the person or group of persons is in fact acting on the instructions of, or under the direction or control of, that State in carrying out the conduct. Article 9 Conduct carried out in the absence or default of the official authorities The conduct of a person or group of persons shall be considered an act of a State under international law if the person or group of persons is in fact exercising elements of the governmental authority in the absence or default of the official authorities and in circumstances such as to call for the exercise of those elements of authority. Article 10 Conduct of an insurrectional or other movement 1. The conduct of an insurrectional movement which becomes the new Government of a State shall be considered an act of that State under international law. 2. The conduct of a movement, insurrectional or other, which succeeds in establishing a new State in part of the territory of a pre-existing State or in a territory under its administration shall be considered an act of the new State under international law. 3. This article is without prejudice to the attribution to a State of any conduct, however related to that of the movement concerned, which is to be considered an act of that State by virtue of articles 4 to 9. Article 11 Conduct acknowledged and adopted by a State as its own Conduct which is not attributable to a State under the preceding articles shall nevertheless be considered an act of that State under international law if and to the extent that the State acknowledges and adopts the conduct in question as its own. Chapter III Breach of an international obligation Article 12 Existence of a breach of an international obligation There is a breach of an international obligation by a State when an act of that State is not in conformity with what is required of it by that obligation, regardless of its origin or character. Article 13 International obligation in force for a State An act of a State does not constitute a breach of an international obligation unless the State is bound by the obligation in question at the time the act occurs. Article 14 Extension in time of the breach of an international obligation 1. The breach of an international obligation by an act of a State not having a continuing character occurs at the moment when the act is performed, even if its effects continue. 2. The breach of an international obligation by an act of a State having a continuing character extends over the entire period during which the act continues and remains not in conformity with the international obligation. 3. The breach of an international obligation requiring a State to prevent a given event occurs when the event occurs and extends over the entire period during which the event continues and remains not in conformity with that obligation. Article 15 Breach consisting of a composite act 1. The breach of an international obligation by a State through a series of actions or omissions defined in aggregate as wrongful occurs when the action or omission occurs which, taken with the other actions or omissions, is sufficient to constitute the wrongful act. 2. In such a case, the breach extends over the entire period starting with the first of the actions or omissions of the series and lasts for as long as these actions or omissions are repeated and remain not in conformity with the international obligation. Chapter IV Responsibility of a State in connection with the act of another State Article 16 Aid or assistance in the commission of an internationally wrongful act A State which aids or assists another State in the commission of an internationally wrongful act by the latter is internationally responsible for doing so if: (a) That State does so with knowledge of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act; and (b) The act would be internationally wrongful if committed by that State. Article 17 Direction and control exercised over the commission of an internationally wrongful act A State which directs and controls another State in the commission of an internationally wrongful act by the latter is internationally responsible for that act if: (a) That State does so with knowledge of the circumstances of the internationally wrongful act; and (b) The act would be internationally wrongful if committed by that State. Article 18 Coercion of another State A State which coerces another State to commit an act is internationally responsible for that act if: (a) The act would, but for the coercion, be an internationally wrongful act of the coerced State; and (b) The coercing State does so with knowledge of the circumstances of the act. Article 19 Effect of this chapter This chapter is without prejudice to the international responsibility, under other provisions of these articles, of the State which commits the act in question, or of any other State. Chapter V Circumstances precluding wrongfulness Article 20 Consent Valid consent by a State to the commission of a given act by another State precludes the wrongfulness of that act in relation to the former State to the extent that the act remains within the limits of that consent. Article 21 Self-defence The wrongfulness of an act of a State is precluded if the act constitutes a lawful measure of self-defence taken in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. Article 22 Countermeasures in respect of an internationally wrongful act The wrongfulness of an act of a State not in conformity with an international obligation towards another State is precluded if and to the extent that the act constitutes a countermeasure taken against the latter State in accordance with chapter II of part three. Article 23 Force majeure 1. The wrongfulness of an act of a State not in conformity with an international obligation of that State is precluded if the act is due to force majeure, that is the occurrence of an irresistible force or of an unforeseen event, beyond the control of the State, making it materially impossible in the circumstances to perform the obligation. 2. Paragraph 1 does not apply if: (a) The situation of force majeure is due, either alone or in combination with other factors, to the conduct of the State invoking it; or (b) The State has assumed the risk of that situation occurring. Article 24 Distress 1. The wrongfulness of an act of a State not in conformity with an international obligation of that State is precluded if the author of the act in question has no other reasonable way, in a situation of distress, of saving the author's life or the lives of other persons entrusted to the author's care. 2. Paragraph 1 does not apply if: (a) The situation of distress is due, either alone or in combination with other factors, to the conduct of the State invoking it; or (b) The act in question is likely to create a comparable or greater peril. Article 25 Necessity 1. Necessity may not be invoked by a State as a ground for precluding the wrongfulness of an act not in conformity with an international obligation of that State unless the act: (a) Is the only way for the State to safeguard an essential interest against a grave and imminent peril; and (b) Does not seriously impair an essential interest of the State or States towards which the obligation exists, or of the international community as a whole. 2. In any case, necessity may not be invoked by a State as a ground for precluding wrongfulness if: (a) The international obligation in question excludes the possibility of invoking necessity; or (b) The State has contributed to the situation of necessity. Article 26 Compliance with peremptory norms Nothing in this chapter precludes the wrongfulness of any act of a State which is not in conformity with an obligation arising under a peremptory norm of general international law. Article 27 Consequences of invoking a circumstance precluding wrongfulness The invocation of a circumstance precluding wrongfulness in accordance with this chapter is without prejudice to: (a) Compliance with the obligation in question, if and to the extent that the circumstance precluding wrongfulness no longer exists; (b) The question of compensation for any material loss caused by the act in question. Part two Content of the international responsibility of a State Chapter I General principles Article 28 Legal consequences of an internationally wrongful act The international responsibility of a State which is entailed by an internationally wrongful act in accordance with the provisions of part one involves legal consequences as set out in this part. Article 29 Continued duty of performance The legal consequences of an internationally wrongful act under this part do not affect the continued duty of the responsible State to perform the obligation breached. Article 30 Cessation and non-repetition The State responsible for the internationally wrongful act is under an obligation: (a) To cease that act, if it is continuing; (b) To offer appropriate assurances and guarantees of non-repetition, if circumstances so require. Article 31 Reparation 1. The responsible State is under an obligation to make full reparation for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act. 2. Injury includes any damage, whether material or moral, caused by the internationally wrongful act of a State. Article 32 Irrelevance of internal law The responsible State may not rely on the provisions of its internal law as justification for failure to comply with its obligations under this part. Article 33 Scope of international obligations set out in this part 1. The obligations of the responsible State set out in this part may be owed to another State, to several States, or to the international community as a whole, depending in particular on the character and content of the international obligation and on the circumstances of the breach. 2. This part is without prejudice to any right, arising from the international responsibility of a State, which may accrue directly to any person or entity other than a State. Chapter II Reparation for injury Article 34 Forms of reparation Full reparation for the injury caused by the internationally wrongful act shall take the form of restitution, compensation and satisfaction, either singly or in combination, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Article 35 Restitution A State responsible for an internationally wrongful act is under an obligation to make restitution, that is, to re-establish the situation which existed before the wrongful act was committed, provided and to the extent that restitution: (a) Is not materially impossible; (b) Does not involve a burden out of all proportion to the benefit deriving from restitution instead of compensation. Article 36 Compensation 1. The State responsible for an internationally wrongful act is under an obligation to compensate for the damage caused thereby, insofar as such damage is not made good by restitution. 2. The compensation shall cover any financially assessable damage including loss of profits insofar as it is established. Article 37 Satisfaction 1. The State responsible for an internationally wrongful act is under an obligation to give satisfaction for the injury caused by that act insofar as it cannot be made good by restitution or compensation. 2. Satisfaction may consist in an acknowledgement of the breach, an expression of regret, a formal apology or another appropriate modality. 3. Satisfaction shall not be out of proportion to the injury and may not take a form humiliating to the responsible State. Article 38 Interest 1. Interest on any principal sum due under this chapter shall be payable when necessary in order to ensure full reparation. The interest rate and mode of calculation shall be set so as to achieve that result. 2. Interest runs from the date when the principal sum should have been paid until the date the obligation to pay is fulfilled. Article 39 Contribution to the injury In the determination of reparation, account shall be taken of the contribution to the injury by wilful or negligent action or omission of the injured State or any person or entity in relation to whom reparation is sought. Chapter III Serious breaches of obligations under peremptory norms of general international law Article 40 Application of this chapter 1. This chapter applies to the international responsibility which is entailed by a serious breach by a State of an obligation arising under a peremptory norm of general international law. 2. A breach of such an obligation is serious if it involves a gross or systematic failure by the responsible State to fulfil the obligation. Article 41 Particular consequences of a serious breach of an obligation under this chapter 1. States shall cooperate to bring to an end through lawful means any serious breach within the meaning of article 40. 2. No State shall recognize as lawful a situation created by a serious breach within the meaning of article 40, nor render aid or assistance in maintaining that situation. 3. This article is without prejudice to the other consequences referred to in this part and to such further consequences that a breach to which this chapter applies may entail under international law. Part three The implementation of the international responsibility of a State Chapter I Invocation of the responsibility of a State Article 42 Invocation of responsibility by an injured State A State is entitled as an injured State to invoke the responsibility of another State if the obligation breached is owed to: (a) That State individually; or (b) A group of States including that State, or the international community as a whole, and the breach of the obligation: (i) Specifically affects that State; or (ii) Is of such a character as radically to change the position of all the other States to which the obligation is owed with respect to the further performance of the obligation. Article 43 Notice of claim by an injured State 1. An injured State which invokes the responsibility of another State shall give notice of its claim to that State. 2. The injured State may specify in particular: (a) The conduct that the responsible State should take in order to cease the wrongful act, if it is continuing; (b) What form reparation should take in accordance with the provisions of part two. Article 44 Admissibility of claims The responsibility of a State may not be invoked if: (a) The claim is not brought in accordance with any applicable rule relating to the nationality of claims; (b) The claim is one to which the rule of exhaustion of local remedies applies and any available and effective local remedy has not been exhausted. Article 45 Loss of the right to invoke responsibility The responsibility of a State may not be invoked if: (a) The injured State has validly waived the claim; (b) The injured State is to be considered as having, by reason of its conduct, validly acquiesced in the lapse of the claim. Article 46 Plurality of injured States Where several States are injured by the same internationally wrongful act, each injured State may separately invoke the responsibility of the State which has committed the internationally wrongful act. Article 47 Plurality of responsible States 1. Where several States are responsible for the same internationally wrongful act, the responsibility of each State may be invoked in relation to that act. 2. Paragraph 1: (a) Does not permit any injured State to recover, by way of compensation, more than the damage it has suffered; (b) Is without prejudice to any right of recourse against the other responsible States. Article 48 Invocation of responsibility by a State other than an injured State 1. Any State other than an injured State is entitled to invoke the responsibility of another State in accordance with paragraph 2 if: (a) The obligation breached is owed to a group of States including that State, and is established for the protection of a collective interest of the group; or (b) The obligation breached is owed to the international community as a whole. 2. Any State entitled to invoke responsibility under paragraph 1 may claim from the responsible State: (a) Cessation of the internationally wrongful act, and assurances and guarantees of non-repetition in accordance with article 30; and (b) Performance of the obligation of reparation in accordance with the preceding articles, in the interest of the injured State or of the beneficiaries of the obligation breached. 3. The requirements for the invocation of responsibility by an injured State under articles 43, 44 and 45 apply to an invocation of responsibility by a State entitled to do so under paragraph 1. Chapter II Countermeasures Article 49 Object and limits of countermeasures 1. An injured State may only take countermeasures against a State which is responsible for an internationally wrongful act in order to induce that State to comply with its obligations under part two. 2. Countermeasures are limited to the non-performance for the time being of international obligations of the State taking the measures towards the responsible State. 3. Countermeasures shall, as far as possible, be taken in such a way as to permit the resumption of performance of the obligations in question. Article 50 Obligations not affected by countermeasures 1. Countermeasures shall not affect: (a) The obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force as embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; (b) Obligations for the protection of fundamental human rights; (c) Obligations of a humanitarian character prohibiting reprisals; (d) Other obligations under peremptory norms of general international law. 2. A State taking countermeasures is not relieved from fulfilling its obligations: (a) Under any dispute settlement procedure applicable between it and the responsible State; (b) To respect the inviolability of diplomatic or consular agents, premises, archives and documents. Article 51 Proportionality Countermeasures must be commensurate with the injury suffered, taking into account the gravity of the internationally wrongful act and the rights in question. Article 52 Conditions relating to resort to countermeasures 1. Before taking countermeasures, an injured State shall: (a) Call upon the responsible State, in accordance with article 43, to fulfil its obligations under part two; (b) Notify the responsible State of any decision to take countermeasures and offer to negotiate with that State. 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 (b), the injured State may take such urgent countermeasures as are necessary to preserve its rights. 3. Countermeasures may not be taken, and if already taken must be suspended without undue delay if: (a) The internationally wrongful act has ceased; and (b) The dispute is pending before a court or tribunal which has the authority to make decisions binding on the parties. 4. Paragraph 3 does not apply if the responsible State fails to implement the dispute settlement procedures in good faith. Article 53 Termination of countermeasures Countermeasures shall be terminated as soon as the responsible State has complied with its obligations under part two in relation to the internationally wrongful act. Article 54 Measures taken by States other than an injured State This chapter does not prejudice the right of any State, entitled under article 48, paragraph 1, to invoke the responsibility of another State, to take lawful measures against that State to ensure cessation of the breach and reparation in the interest of the injured State or of the beneficiaries of the obligation breached. Part four General provisions Article 55 Lex specialis These articles do not apply where and to the extent that the conditions for the existence of an internationally wrongful act or the content or implementation of the international responsibility of a State are governed by special rules of international law. Article 56 Questions of State responsibility not regulated by these articles The applicable rules of international law continue to govern questions concerning the responsibility of a State for an internationally wrongful act to the extent that they are not regulated by these articles. Article 57 Responsibility of an international organization These articles are without prejudice to any question of the responsibility under international law of an international organization, or of any State for the conduct of an international organization. Article 58 Individual responsibility These articles are without prejudice to any question of the individual responsibility under international law of any person acting on behalf of a State. Article 59 Charter of the United Nations These articles are without prejudice to the Charter of the United Nations. RESOLUTION 56/84 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/590 and Corr.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire and Cyprus. 56/84. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/56/26). Expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims of the heinous acts of terrorism of 11 September 2001, as well as solidarity with the Government and people of the host country, Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 37 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/56/26). 2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is an issue of great importance to them, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 4. Notes that during the reporting period the travel controls previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities remained in effect, and requests the host country to consider removing such travel controls, and in this regard notes the positions of affected States, of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 5. Notes also that the Committee anticipates that the host country will continue to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,See resolution 169 (II). inter alia, for the purpose of their attending official United Nations meetings; 6. Requests the host country to continue to take steps to resolve the problem relating to the parking of diplomatic vehicles in a fair, balanced and non-discriminatory way, with a view to responding to the growing needs of the diplomatic community, and to continue to consult with the Committee on this important issue; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 8. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 56/85 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/591, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Netherlands. 56/85. Establishment of the International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/33 of 25 November 1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11 December 1995, 51/207 of 17 December 1996, 52/160 of 15 December 1997, 53/105 of 8 December 1998, 54/105 of 9 December 1999 and 55/155 of 12 December 2000, Noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted on 17 July 1998,A/CONF.183/9. and taking note of the Final Act of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court done at Rome on 17 July 1998,A/CONF.183/10. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted at the Millennium Assembly,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government stressed the importance of the International Criminal Court, Noting in particular that the Conference decided to establish a Preparatory Commission for the Court,See A/CONF.183/10, annex I. and that the Commission held two sessions in 2001, from 26 February to 9 March and from 24 September to 5 October, Bearing in mind the mandate of the Preparatory Commission, as set out in resolution F adopted by the Conference,See A/CONF.183/10, annex I. with regard to the preparation of the proposals for practical arrangements for the establishment and coming into operation of the Court, Noting, with regard to the work of the Preparatory Commission and related working groups, the adoption by the Commission on 5 October 2001 of the report on its sixth to eighth sessions,PCNICC/2001/1 and Add.1-4. containing the draft texts of the Relationship Agreement between the Court and the United Nations, the Financial Regulations, the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Court and the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of States Parties, Noting also the progress made in regard to the necessary arrangements for the commencement of the functions of the International Criminal Court in order to ensure its effective operation, and taking note in particular of the statement of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Preparatory Commission at its eighth session, on the preparatory work that the Government of the Netherlands was undertaking for the establishment of the Court,PCNICC/2001/INF/3. Recognizing the continuing need for making available adequate resources and secretariat services to the Preparatory Commission in order to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and expeditiously, Noting in particular that one hundred and thirty-nine States have signed the Rome Statute and that the number of States that have deposited their instruments of ratification has grown significantly, Taking into consideration the probability that the first meeting of the Assembly of States Parties will be held by September 2002, as well as article 112, paragraph 1, of the Rome Statute, 1. Reiterates the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;A/CONF.183/9. 2. Calls upon all States that have signed the Rome Statute to consider ratifying or acceding to it, as appropriate, without delay, and encourages efforts aimed at promoting awareness of the results of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, held in Rome from 15 June to 17 July 1998, and of the provisions of the Statute; 3. Welcomes the important work accomplished by the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court in the completion of a great number of parts of its mandate under resolution F adopted by the Conference,See A/CONF.183/10, annex I. and notes in this respect in particular the importance of the growing participation in the work of the working group on the crime of aggression; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to reconvene the Preparatory Commission, in accordance with resolution F, from 8 to 19 April and from 1 to 12 July 2002, to continue to carry out the mandate of that resolution and, in that connection, to discuss ways to enhance the effectiveness and acceptance of the Court; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to make available to the Preparatory Commission secretariat services, including the preparation of working documents if so requested by the Commission, to enable it to perform its functions; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to invite, as observers to the Preparatory Commission, representatives of organizations and other entities that have received a standing invitation from the General Assembly, pursuant to its relevant resolutions,Resolutions 253 (III), 477 (V), 2011 (XX), 3208 (XXIX), 3237 (XXIX), 3369 (XXX), 31/3, 33/18, 35/2, 35/3, 36/4, 42/10, 43/6, 44/6, 45/6, 46/8, 47/4, 48/2, 48/3, 48/4, 48/5, 48/237, 48/265, 49/1, 49/2, 50/2, 51/1, 51/6, 51/204, 52/6, 53/5, 53/6, 53/216, 54/5, 54/10, 54/195, 55/160 and 55/161. to participate in the capacity of observers in its sessions and work, and also to invite as observers to the Commission representatives of interested regional intergovernmental organizations and other interested international bodies, including the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States, between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994; 7. Notes that non-governmental organizations may participate in the work of the Preparatory Commission by attending its plenary and its other open meetings, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Commission, receiving copies of the official documents and making available their materials to delegates; 8. Encourages States to make voluntary contributions to the trust funds established pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 51/207 and 52/160, the mandates of which were expanded pursuant to Assembly resolution 53/105, towards meeting the costs of the participation in the work of the Preparatory Commission of the least developed countries and of those developing countries not covered by the trust fund established pursuant to resolution 51/207; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake the preparations necessary to convene, in accordance with article 112, paragraph 1, of the Rome Statute, the meeting of the Assembly of States Parties to be held at United Nations Headquarters upon the entry into force of the Statute in accordance with article 126, paragraph 1, of the Statute; 10. Decides that expenses that may accrue to the United Nations as a result of the implementation of the request contained in paragraph 9 above, as well as expenses resulting from the provision of facilities and services for the meeting of the Assembly of States Parties and any consequent follow-up shall be paid in advance to the Organization, for which an appropriate mechanism will be set up in the near future; 11. Notes that the United Nations and the Secretary-General may participate, without the right to vote, in the work of the Assembly of States Parties; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to invite, as observers to the meeting of the Assembly of States Parties, representatives of intergovernmental organizations and other entities that have received a standing invitation from the General Assembly, pursuant to its relevant resolutions,Resolutions 253 (III), 477 (V), 2011 (XX), 3208 (XXIX), 3237 (XXIX), 3369 (XXX), 31/3, 33/18, 35/2, 35/3, 36/4, 42/10, 43/6, 44/6, 45/6, 46/8, 47/4, 48/2, 48/3, 48/4, 48/5, 48/237, 48/265, 49/1, 49/2, 50/2, 51/1, 51/6, 51/204, 52/6, 53/5, 53/6, 53/216, 54/5, 54/10, 54/195, 55/160 and 55/161. to participate in the capacity of observers in its sessions and work, and also to invite as observers to the Assembly representatives of interested regional intergovernmental organizations and other international bodies invited to the Rome Conference or accredited to the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court; 13. Notes that non-governmental organizations invited to the Rome Conference, registered to the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court or having consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations whose activities are relevant to the activities of the Court may participate in the work of the Assembly of States Parties in accordance with agreed rules; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the implementation of the present resolution; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Establishment of the International Criminal Court". RESOLUTION 56/86 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/592, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 56/86. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/55/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Recalling further that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Considering the desirability of finding practical ways and means to strengthen the Court, taking into consideration, in particular, the needs resulting from its increased workload, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/56/330. Recalling its resolution 55/156 of 12 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/56/33). 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/56/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 18 to 28 March 2002; 3. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2002, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2002; (b) To continue to consider on a priority basis the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter by commencing a substantive debate on all of the related reports of the Secretary-General,A/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1 and A/56/303. the proposals submitted on this subject, taking into consideration the debate on the question held by the Sixth Committee at the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly and the text on the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations contained in annex II to Assembly resolution 51/242, and also the implementation of the provisions of Assembly resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999 and 55/157 of 12 December 2000; (c) To continue its work on the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States and, in this context, to continue its consideration of proposals relating thereto, including the proposal on the establishment of a dispute settlement service offering or responding with its services early in disputes and those proposals relating to the enhancement of the role of the International Court of Justice, with a view to completing, if possible, its consideration of these proposals; (d) To continue to consider proposals concerning the Trusteeship Council in the light of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 50/55 of 11 December 1995,A/50/1011. the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform"A/51/950 and Add.1-7. and the views expressed by States on this subject at previous sessions of the General Assembly; (e) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 4. Takes note of paragraph 47 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/330. commends the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to reduce the backlog in the publication of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, and endorses the efforts of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 5. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2002 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations; 6. Takes note of the readiness of the Special Committee, in the context of its consideration of the subject of assistance to working groups on the revitalization of the work of the United Nations and coordination between the Special Committee and other working groups dealing with the reform of the Organization, to provide, within its mandate, such assistance as may be sought at the request of other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly in relation to any issues before them; 7. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 56/87 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/592, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine. 56/87. Implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions The General Assembly, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Security Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recognizing the desirability of the consideration of further appropriate procedures for consultations to deal in a more effective manner with the problems referred to in Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling: (a) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular paragraph 41 thereof, (b) Its resolution 47/120 A of 18 December 1992 entitled "An Agenda for Peace: preventive diplomacy and related matters", its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, entitled "An Agenda for Peace", in particular section IV thereof, entitled "Special economic problems arising from the implementation of preventive or enforcement measures", and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", in particular annex II thereto, entitled "Question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations", (c) The position paper of the Secretary-General entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. (d) The statement by the President of the Security Council of 22 February 1995,S/PRST/1995/9; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1995. (e) The report of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705. prepared pursuant to the statement by the President of the Security CouncilS/25036; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1992. regarding the question of special economic problems of States as a result of sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter, (f) The annual overview reports of the Administrative Committee on Coordination for the period from 1992 to 2000,E/1993/81, E/1994/19, E/1995/21, E/1996/18 and Add.1, E/1997/54 and Corr.1, E/1998/21, E/1999/48, E/2000/53 and E/2001/55. in particular the sections therein on assistance to countries invoking Article 50 of the Charter, (g) The reports of the Secretary-General on economic assistance to States affected by the implementation of the Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against the Federal Republic of YugoslaviaA/49/356, A/50/423, A/51/356, A/52/535, A/54/534, A/55/620 and Corr.1 and A/56/361. and General Assembly resolutions 48/210 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 A of 2 December 1994, 50/58 E of 12 December 1995, 51/30 A of 5 December 1996, 52/169 H of 16 December 1997, 54/96 G of 15 December 1999 and 55/170 of 14 December 2000, (h) The reports of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization on the work of its sessions held in the years 1994 to 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/49/33); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/50/33); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/51/33); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/52/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/53/33); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/54/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/55/33) and ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/56/33). (i) The reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter,A/50/361, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383, A/55/295 and Add.1 and A/56/303. (j) The report of the Secretary-General to the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations,A/54/2000. in particular section IV.E thereof, entitled "Targeting sanctions", (k) The United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 9 thereof, (l) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "Road map towards implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration",A/56/326. in particular paragraphs 56 to 61 thereof, Taking note of the most recent report of the Secretary-General, submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/157 of 12 December 2000,A/56/303. Taking note also of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the in-depth evaluation of United Nations programmes relating to global development trends, issues and policies and global approaches to social and microeconomic issues and policies, and the corresponding subprogrammes in the regional commissions,E/AC.51/2000/2. in particular recommendation 3 contained therein, as approved by the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its fortieth session,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/55/16 and Corr.1), chap. II.C.1, para. 243. Recalling that the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions has been addressed recently in several forums, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary organs, Recalling also the measures taken by the Security Council, in accordance with the statement by the President of the Security Council of 16 December 1994,See S/PRST/1994/81; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. that, as part of the effort of the Council to improve the flow of information and the exchange of ideas between members of the Council and other States Members of the United Nations, there should be increased recourse to open meetings, in particular at an early stage in its consideration of a subject, Recalling further the measures taken by the Security Council in accordance with the note by the President of the Security Council of 29 January 1999S/1999/92; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. aimed at improving the work of the sanctions committees, including increasing the effectiveness and transparency of those committees, Stressing that, in the formulation of sanctions regimes, due account should be taken of the potential effects of sanctions on third States, Stressing also, in this context, the powers of the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter and the primary responsibility of the Council under Article 24 of the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, Recalling that, under Article 31 of the Charter, any Member of the United Nations that is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected, Recognizing that the imposition of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter has been causing special economic problems in third States and that it is necessary to intensify efforts to address those problems effectively, Taking into consideration the views of third States which could be affected by the imposition of sanctions, Recognizing that assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions would further contribute to an effective and comprehensive approach by the international community to sanctions imposed by the Security Council, Recognizing also that the international community at large and, in particular, international institutions involved in providing economic and financial assistance should continue to take into account and address in a more effective manner the special economic problems of affected third States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, in view of their magnitude and of the adverse impact on the economies of those States, Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999 and 55/157 of 12 December 2000, 1. Renews its invitation to the Security Council to consider the establishment of further mechanisms or procedures, as appropriate, for consultations as early as possible under Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations with third States which are or may be confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, with regard to a solution of those problems, including appropriate ways and means for increasing the effectiveness of its methods and procedures applied in the consideration of requests by the affected States for assistance; 2. Welcomes the measures taken by the Security Council since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 50/51, most recently the note by the President of the Security Council of 17 April 2000,S/2000/319; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. whereby the members of the Security Council decided to establish an informal working group of the Council to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions, looks forward to the adoption of the Chairman's proposed outcome of the working group, in particular those provisions thereof regarding the issues of the unintended impact of sanctions and assistance to States in implementing sanctions, and strongly recommends that the Council continue its efforts to enhance further the effectiveness and transparency of the sanctions committees, to streamline their working procedures and to facilitate access to them by representatives of States that find themselves confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of sanctions; 3. Invites the Security Council, its sanctions committees and the Secretariat to continue to ensure, as appropriate, that: (a) Both pre-assessment reports and ongoing assessment reports include as part of their analysis the likely and actual unintended impact of the sanctions on third States and recommend ways in which the negative impact of sanctions can be mitigated; (b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions; (c) The Secretariat continues to provide, upon request, advice and information to third States to help them to pursue means to mitigate the unintended impact of sanctions, for example, on invoking Article 50 of the Charter for consultation with the Security Council; (d) Where economic sanctions have had severe effects on third States, the Security Council is able to request the Secretary-General to consider appointing a special representative or dispatching, as necessary, fact-finding missions on the ground to undertake necessary assessments and to identify, as appropriate, possible means of assistance; (e) The Security Council is able, in the context of situations referred to in subparagraph (d) above, to consider establishing working groups to consider such situations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107 and 55/157 and to ensure that the competent units within the Secretariat develop the adequate capacity and appropriate modalities, technical procedures and guidelines to continue, on a regular basis, to collate and coordinate information about international assistance available to third States affected by the implementation of sanctions, to continue developing a possible methodology for assessing the adverse consequences actually incurred by third States and to explore innovative and practical measures of assistance to the affected third States; 5. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting on developing a methodology for assessing the consequences incurred by third States as a result of preventive or enforcement measures and on exploring innovative and practical measures of international assistance to the affected third States,A/53/312. and renews its invitation to States and relevant international organizations within and outside the United Nations system which have not yet done so to provide their views regarding the report of the ad hoc expert group meeting; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to expedite the preparation of a report to the General Assembly containing his views on the deliberations and main findings, including the recommendations, of the ad hoc expert group on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, taking into account the views of States, the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and other international organizations, as well as the Chairman's proposed outcome of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues relating to sanctions; 7. Reaffirms the important role of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in mobilizing and monitoring, as appropriate, the economic assistance efforts of the international community and the United Nations system on behalf of States confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Security Council and, as appropriate, in identifying solutions to the special economic problems of those States; 8. Takes note of the decision of the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2000/32 of 28 July 2000, to continue its consideration of the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, invites the Council, at its organizational session for 2002, to make appropriate arrangements for this purpose within its programme of work for 2002, and decides to transmit the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions,A/56/303. together with the relevant background materials, to the Council at its substantive session of 2002; 9. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions, other international organizations, regional organizations and Member States to address more specifically and directly, where appropriate, the special economic problems of third States affected by sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter and, for this purpose, to consider improving procedures for consultations to maintain a constructive dialogue with such States, including through regular and frequent meetings as well as, where appropriate, special meetings between the affected third States and the donor community, with the participation of United Nations agencies and other international organizations; 10. Requests the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, at its session in 2002, to continue to consider on a priority basis the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter by commencing a substantive debate on all of the related reports of the Secretary-General, in particular the 1998 report containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting convened pursuant to paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 52/162,A/53/312. together with the most recent report of the Secretary-General on this question,A/56/303. taking into consideration the forthcoming report of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues relating to sanctions, the proposals submitted on the question, the debate on the question in the Sixth Committee during the fifty-sixth session of the Assembly and the text on the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations contained in annex II to Assembly resolution 51/242, as well as the implementation of the provisions of Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107, 55/157 and the present resolution; 11. Decides to consider, within the Sixth Committee or a working group of the Committee, at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, further progress in the elaboration of effective measures aimed at the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 56/88 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/593, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Canada. 56/88. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further all General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage in the cities of New York, host city of the United Nations, and Washington, D.C., and in Pennsylvania, which prompted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, as well as Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001, Recalling its debate on the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism", held in plenary meeting from 1 to 5 October 2001, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation among States and among international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, wherein the General Assembly encouraged States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there was a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Taking note of the final document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed the previous initiative of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and other relevant initiatives, Recalling its decision in resolutions 54/110 of 9 December 1999 and 55/158 of 12 December 2000 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 should address, and keep on its agenda, the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/160 and Corr.1 and Add.1. the report of the Ad Hoc CommitteeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/56/37). and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to resolution 55/158,A/C.6/56/L.9. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 3. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 4. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 5. Further reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 6. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 7. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority, and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), becoming parties to relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist BombingsResolution 52/164, annex. and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,Resolution 54/109, annex. and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 8. Urges States to cooperate with the Secretary-General and with one another, as well as with interested intergovernmental organizations, with a view to ensuring, where appropriate within existing mandates, that technical and other expert advice is provided to those States requiring and requesting assistance in becoming parties to the conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 7 above; 9. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, consistent with the call contained in paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 55/158, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to therein, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions; 10. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 49/60, and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 51/210, and calls upon all States to implement them; 11. Urges all States and the Secretary-General, in their efforts to prevent international terrorism, to make best use of the existing institutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the efforts of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Centre for International Crime Prevention in Vienna, after reviewing existing possibilities within the United Nations system, to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism; 13. Invites States that have not yet done so to submit to the Secretary-General information on their national laws and regulations regarding the prevention and suppression of acts of international terrorism; 14. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism; 15. Welcomes the important progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 55/158; 16. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall continue to elaborate a comprehensive convention on international terrorism as a matter of urgency, and shall continue its efforts to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism as a means of further developing a comprehensive legal framework of conventions dealing with international terrorism, and that it shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 17. Also decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 28 January to 1 February 2002 to continue the elaboration of a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, with appropriate time allocated to the continued consideration of outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, that it shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and that the work shall continue, if necessary, during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 19. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism or the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism; 20. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". RESOLUTION 56/89 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/594 and Corr.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and United States of America. 56/89. Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/175 of 19 December 2000 on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, Recalling also its resolution 49/59 of 9 December 1994, by which it adopted the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Recalling further the letter dated 24 October 2000 addressed to the President of the Security Council on behalf of the global staff of the United Nations system,S/2000/1133, annex. drawing attention to the safety and security problems faced by United Nations and associated personnel, Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as the relevant provisions of human rights and refugee law, Deeply concerned by the increasing dangers and security risks faced by United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to provide the fullest possible protection for their security, Expressing concern that locally recruited personnel are particularly vulnerable to attacks, Welcoming the recent increase in the number of States that have become parties to the Convention, which entered into force on 15 January 1999, and noting that the Convention has been ratified or acceded to by fifty-five States as at the date of the present resolution, Mindful of the need to promote the universality of the Convention, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,A/55/637. and takes note of the recommendations contained therein; 2. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, in particular the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 3. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations with regard to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel and the scope of existing legal protection and its recommendations;A/55/1024 and Corr.1, sect. III.F. 4. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of relevant provisions of the Convention in the status-of-forces or status-of-mission agreements concluded by the United Nations; 5. Encourages the Secretary-General and relevant bodies within the United Nations system to continue to take such other practical measures as are within their authority and existing institutional mandates to strengthen protection for United Nations and associated personnel; 6. Recognizes the need to consider the safety and security of locally recruited personnel, who are particularly vulnerable and account for the majority of casualties; 7. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee open to all States Members of the United Nations or members of the specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency to consider the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report on measures to strengthen and enhance the protective legal regime for United Nations and associated personnel; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the International Committee of the Red Cross to participate as an observer in the deliberations of the Ad Hoc Committee; 9. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 1 to 5 April 2002, and recommends that, following the submission of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee, the Sixth Committee consider whether to continue this work during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly from 7 to 11 October 2002 within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 10. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel". RESOLUTION 56/8 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 21 November 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.13 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Cambodia, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Spain, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States of America, Uruguay 56/8. United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, 2002 The General Assembly, Recalling the international conventions dealing with the protection of cultural and natural heritage, including the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict adopted at The Hague in 1954United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,Ibid., vol. 823, No. 11806. and the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage,Ibid., vol. 1037, No. 15511. and recalling also the 1989 Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-fifth Session, Paris, 17 October-16 November 1989, vol. 1: Resolutions, annex IB. Welcoming the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage by one hundred and sixty-seven States parties, and noting the inscription of more than six hundred and ninety sites on the World Heritage List, Mindful of the importance of protecting the world cultural tangible and intangible heritage as a common ground for the promotion of mutual understanding and enrichment among cultures and civilizations, Noting the work already undertaken to protect the world cultural and natural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, including international campaigns, Welcoming the decisions adopted at the twenty-ninth and thirty-first sessions of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the one hundred and sixty-first session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization envisaging and calling for the proclamation of a United Nations year for cultural heritage, Taking into consideration the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2002, 1. Proclaims 2002 as the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage; 2. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to serve as the lead agency for the year; 3. Also invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in collaboration with States, observers, relevant United Nations bodies, within their respective mandates, other international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, to intensify the implementation of programmes, activities and projects aimed at the promotion and protection of the world cultural heritage; 4. Invites Member States and observers to promote education and raise public awareness to foster respect for the national and world cultural heritage; 5. Calls upon Member States, observers, national and international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to make voluntary contributions to finance and support activities aimed at the promotion and protection of the national and world cultural heritage, including relevant activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 6. Decides to devote one day of plenary meetings at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, on 4 December 2002, to mark the end of the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, and encourages Member States and observers to be represented in those meetings at the highest level possible; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the activities carried out during the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session an item entitled "United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage". RESOLUTION 56/90 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/596, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, China, Ecuador, France, Italy, Netherlands, Philippines, Senegal, Tunisia and Turkey. 56/90. Observer status for the International Development Law Institute in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the International Development Law Institute, 1. Decides to invite the International Development Law Institute to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/91 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/597 and Corr.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. 56/91. Observer status for the International Hydrographic Organization in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the International Hydrographic Organization, 1. Decides to invite the International Hydrographic Organization to participate in its sessions and its work in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/92 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/598 and Corr.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan and Tunisia. 56/92. Observer status for the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Considering the importance of the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States, an intergovernmental organization that addresses the common interests of its members and takes account of the diverse links that unite their peoples, and given the determination of the organization to confront the factors that have caused economic backwardness and instability in its member States, its conviction that joint action in a framework of complementarity is the best way to integrate its countries and peoples, its commitment to the maintenance of international peace and security in the Sahelo-Saharan region and its determination to satisfy the wish for economic, cultural, political and social integration in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Charter of the Organization of African Unity, the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community of 3 June 1991 (the Abuja Treaty)A/46/651, annex. and the constitutive documents of the regional organizations to which its member States belong, Considering also the need, frequently noted by the United Nations, to promote and support every effort towards the development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the basis of international law, Noting that the treaty establishing the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States stresses regional cooperation as part of the process of achieving African unity on the basis of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the promotion of social justice and stability, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States, 1. Decides to invite the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/93 Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2001, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/56/599, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia. 56/93. International convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-ninth Session, vol. 1, Resolutions, resolution 16. adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 11 November 1997, in particular article 11 thereof, in which the Conference specified that practices which are contrary to human dignity, such as reproductive cloning of human beings, shall not be permitted and invited States and international organizations to cooperate in taking, at the national or international level, the measures necessary in that regard, Recalling also its resolution 53/152 of 9 December 1998, by which it endorsed the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/71 of 25 April 2001, entitled "Human rights and bioethics",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II. sect. A. adopted at the fifty-seventh session of the Commission, Noting the resolution on bioethics adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, vol. 1, Resolutions, resolution 22. in which the Conference approved the recommendations by the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee towards the possible elaboration, within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, of universal norms on bioethics, Aware that the rapid development of the life sciences opens up tremendous prospects for the improvement of the health of individuals and mankind as a whole, but also that certain practices pose potential dangers to the integrity and dignity of the individual, Particularly concerned, in the context of practices which are contrary to human dignity, at recently disclosed information on the research being conducted with a view to the reproductive cloning of human beings, Determined to prevent such an attack on the human dignity of the individual, Aware of the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the elaboration by the international community of an appropriate response to this problem, 1. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to all States Members of the United Nations or members of specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, for the purpose of considering the elaboration of an international convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the specialized agencies that work and have substantial interest in the field of bioethics, including, in particular, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, to participate as observers in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 3. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 25 February to 1 March 2002 to consider the elaboration of a mandate for the negotiation of such an international convention, including a list of the existing international instruments to be taken into consideration and a list of legal issues to be addressed in the convention, with the understanding that the Ad Hoc Committee will open with an exchange of information and technical assessments provided by experts on genetics and bioethics, and recommends that the work continue during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly from 23 to 27 September 2002, within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 5. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 6. Recommends that, upon the adoption of a negotiation mandate by the General Assembly, it may decide, taking into account the acute nature of the problem, to reconvene the Ad Hoc Committee, in order to open negotiations on the international convention referred to in paragraph 1 above; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "International convention against the reproductive cloning of human beings". RESOLUTION 56/94 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, by a recorded vote of 150 to 1, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.10 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Abstaining: Côte d'Ivoire, Lao People's Democratic Republic 56/94. Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency The General Assembly, Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the year 2000,International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2000 (Austria, July 2001) (GC(45)/4); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/56/313). Taking note of the statement of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Plenary Meetings, 30th meeting (A/56/PV.30), and corrigendum. in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 2001, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency in promoting the further application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as envisaged in the statute of the Agency and in accordance with the inalienable right of States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and other relevant internationally legally binding agreements that have concluded relevant safeguards agreements with the Agency to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with articles I and II and other relevant articles of the Treaty, and with the objectives and purposes thereof, Conscious of the importance of the safeguards system of the Agency and of the importance of the work of the Agency in the implementation of the safeguards provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other international treaties, conventions and agreements designed to achieve similar objectives, as well as in ensuring, as far as it is able, that the assistance provided by the Agency or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose, as stated in article II of its statute, Reaffirming that the Agency is the competent authority responsible for verifying and assuring, in accordance with the statute and the safeguards system of the Agency, compliance with its safeguards agreements with States parties undertaken in fulfilment of their obligations under article III, paragraph 1, of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, and also reaffirming that nothing should be done to undermine the authority of the Agency in this regard and that States parties that have concerns regarding non-compliance with the safeguards agreement of the Treaty by the States parties should direct such concerns, along with supporting evidence and information, to the Agency to consider, investigate, draw conclusions and decide on necessary actions in accordance with its mandate, Stressing the need for the highest standards of safety in the design and operation of nuclear installations and in peaceful nuclear activities so as to minimize risks to life, health and the environment, and recognizing that a good safety record relies on good technology, good regulatory practices and well-qualified and trained staff, as well as international cooperation, Noting that a demonstrated global record of safety is a key element for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and that continuous efforts are necessary to ensure that the human and technical elements of safety are maintained at the optimal level, and also noting that, although safety is a national responsibility, international cooperation on safety-related matters is indispensable, Considering that an expansion of technical cooperation activities relating to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy will contribute to the well-being of the peoples of the world, recognizing the special needs of the developing countries for technical assistance from the Agency and the importance of funding in order to benefit effectively from the transfer and application of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes as well as from the contribution of nuclear energy to their economic development, and desiring that the resources of the Agency for technical cooperation activities be assured, predictable and sufficient to meet the objectives mandated in article II of its statute, Conscious that the work done by the Agency in the field of nuclear sciences and applications in the non-power sector contributes to sustainable development, especially with programmes aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and food security, improving human health, increasing the availability of drinking water supplies and protecting the terrestrial and marine environment, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency on nuclear power, the fuel cycle and nuclear science, nuclear techniques for development and environmental protection and nuclear safety and protection against radiation, including its work directed towards assisting developing countries in all these fields, Welcoming the convening of the fourth Scientific Forum, on the theme "Serving human needs: nuclear technology for sustainable development", during the forty-fifth regular session of the General Conference of the Agency, Taking note of the report of the Director General to the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on the implementation of Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq,GC(45)/18. of his reports to the Security Council of 10 December 1999See S/2000/120. and 11 October 2000,See S/2000/983. of 9 January,See S/2001/26. 12 February,See S/2001/129. 6 AprilSee S/2001/337. and 5 October 2001,See S/2001/945. and of resolution GC(45)/RES/17 of 21 September 2001 of the General Conference,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17-21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC/(2001)). Taking note also of resolution GC(45)/RES/16 in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/403. the statements by the President of the Security Council of 31 March,S/PRST/1994/13; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. 30 MayS/PRST/1994/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. and 4 November 1994S/PRST/1994/64; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. and the authorization of the Board of Governors, on 11 November 1994, to the Director General, to carry out all the tasks requested of the Agency in the statement by the President of the Security Council of 4 November 1994, noting recent political developments in north-east Asia, and expressing the hope that they will open the way to progress towards full implementation of the relevant agreements, Taking note further of resolutions GC(45)/RES/10A on measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and waste safety, GC(45)/RES/10B on transport safety, GC(45)/RES/10C on education and training, GC(45)/RES/11 on the strengthening of the technical cooperation activities of the Agency, GC(45)/RES/12A on the plan for producing potable water economically using small and medium-sized nuclear reactors, GC(45)/RES/12B on the use of isotope hydrology for water resources management, GC(45)/RES/12C on servicing immediate human needs, GC(45)/RES/12D on support to the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign of the Organization of African Unity, GC(45)/RES/12E on drought in Central America, GC(45)/RES/12F on Agency activities in the development of innovative nuclear technology, GC(45)/RES/13 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and the application of the Model Additional Protocol, GC(45)/RES/14A on measures against illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and other radioactive materials, GC(45)/RES/14B on the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities and GC(45)/RES/18 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East, adopted on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the Agency at its forty-fifth regular session, Taking note of resolution GC(45)/RES/15A on the staffing of the secretariat of the Agency, in which the General Conference called on developing and under-represented member States to encourage well-qualified candidates to apply for vacant posts in the Agency, and considering the related resolution GC(45)/RES/15B on women in the secretariat, in which the General Conference called on the Director General to make every effort to rectify the present gender imbalance, Recalling resolution GC(43)/RES/19 on the amendment to article VI of the statute and the statement by the President of the forty-third regular session of the General Conference of the Agency with respect to article VI, adopted on 1 October 1999 by the General Conference, Taking note of the statement by the President of the forty-fifth regular session of the General Conference of the Agency, that: "During the Conference, widespread condolences were expressed to the victims and their families as well as to the Government of the United States of America for the terrorist attacks that took place on 11 September 2001 in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The delegates were unequivocal in their condemnation of these terrorists acts. As called for in General Assembly resolution 56/1 and Security Council resolution 1368 (2001), the urgent need to work together to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these terrorist attacks and to hold accountable those responsible for aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these acts was supported. With particular regard to the Agency's mandate, the Conference expressed its concern about the possible impact of terrorism on the security of nuclear material and other radioactive materials. In this regard, the Conference requested the Director General to review thoroughly the activities and programmes of the Agency with a view to strengthening the Agency work relevant to preventing acts of terrorism involving nuclear materials and other radioactive materials. It further urged all member States to cooperate fully with the Director General and to support the Agency's efforts in this regard", Taking note also of the statement by the President of the forty-fifth regular session of the General Conference of the Agency, which was endorsed by the General Conference at its tenth plenary meeting and issued under the item concerning Israeli nuclear capabilities and threat, that: "The General Conference recalls the statement by the President of the thirty-sixth session in 1992 concerning the item entitled 'Israeli nuclear capabilities and threat'. That statement considered it desirable not to consider that item at the thirty-seventh session. The General Conference also recalls the statement by the President of the forty-third session, in 1999, concerning the same agenda item. At the forty-fourth and forty-fifth sessions, the item was, at the request of certain member States, included again in the agenda. The item was discussed. The President notes that certain member States intend to include the item in the provisional agenda of the forty-sixth regular session of the General Conference", Noting with appreciation that the General Conference, in resolution GC(45)/RES/3, approved the appointment of Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei as the Director General until 30 November 2005, 1. Takes note of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2000 (Austria, July 2001) (GC(45)/4); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/56/313). 2. Affirms its confidence in the role of the Agency in the application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; 3. Encourages all States members of the Agency that have not yet done so to ratify the amendment to article VI of the statute of the Agency, recalling the adoption by the General Conference of the Agency of resolution GC(43)/RES/19 on the amendment to article VI of the statute and the accompanying statement by the President of the forty-third regular session of the General Conference; 4. Also encourages all States members of the Agency that have not yet done so to ratify the amendment of article XIV.A of the statute of the Agency, recalling the adoption by the General Conference of the Agency of resolution GC(43)/RES/8 on the amendment of article XIV.A of the statute, which will provide for biennial budgeting by the Agency; 5. Consistent with the respective safeguards undertakings of member States and bearing in mind the importance of achieving the universal application of the safeguards system of the Agency, urges all States which have yet to bring into force comprehensive safeguards agreements to do so as soon as possible, affirms that measures to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the efficiency of the safeguards system with a view to detecting undeclared nuclear material and activities must be implemented rapidly and universally by all concerned States and other parties in compliance with their respective international commitments, stresses the importance of the safeguards system of the Agency, including comprehensive safeguards agreements and the Model Additional Protocol, which are among the essential elements of the system, requests all concerned States and other parties to safeguards agreements which have not yet done so promptly to sign additional protocols, requests the States and other parties to safeguards agreements having signed additional protocols to take the necessary measures to bring them into force as soon as their national legislation allows, and recommends that the Director General, the Board of Governors and member States continue to consider implementing the elements of the plan of action outlined in resolution GC(44)/RES/19, as appropriate and subject to available resources, with the aim of facilitating the entry into force of safeguards agreements and additional protocols and review the progress in this regard, and notes the important work being undertaken by the Agency, on an ongoing priority basis, in the conceptualization and development of integrated and cost-effective safeguards; 6. Urges all States to strive for effective and harmonious international cooperation in carrying out the work of the Agency, pursuant to its statute, in promoting the use of nuclear energy and the application of the necessary measures to strengthen further the safety of nuclear installations and to minimize risks to life, health and the environment, in strengthening technical assistance and cooperation for developing countries and in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards system of the Agency; 7. Recalls resolution GC(45)/RES/12F on the activities of the Agency in the development of innovative nuclear technology, emphasizes the unique role that the Agency can play in developing user requirements and in addressing safeguards, safety and environmental questions for innovative reactors and their fuel cycles, within available extrabudgetary resources, and stresses the need for international collaboration in the development of innovative nuclear technology; 8. Stresses the need, in conformity with the statute of the Agency, to continue to pursue activities in the areas of nuclear science, technology and applications for meeting the basic sustainable development needs of member States, and also stresses the need to strengthen technical cooperation activities, including the provision of sufficient resources, and to enhance continually the effectiveness and efficiency of the programmes; 9. Recalls resolution GC(45)/RES/11 on the strengthening of the technical cooperation activities of the Agency, welcomes the measures and decisions taken by the Agency to strengthen and fund its technical cooperation activities, which should contribute to achieving sustainable development in developing countries, and calls upon States to cooperate in contributing to and in implementing the measures and decisions pursuant thereto; 10. Reaffirms the importance of all the measures contained in resolution GC(45)/RES/18 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East, and calls upon all States in the region to implement all the provisions contained therein, including the application of full-scope Agency safeguards to all their nuclear activities, adherence to international non-proliferation regimes and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region; 11. Commends the Director General and the secretariat of the Agency for their continuing, impartial efforts to implement the safeguards agreement still in force between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, recognizes the important role of the Agency in monitoring the freeze of nuclear facilities in that country as requested by the Security Council, notes with continuing concern that, although the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Agency continues to be unable to verify the accuracy and completeness of the initial declaration of nuclear material it made and is therefore unable to conclude that there has been no diversion of nuclear material in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, expresses deep concern about the continuing non-compliance of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with the safeguards agreement between that country and the Agency, again urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to comply fully with its safeguards agreement, including all steps the Agency deems necessary to preserve all information relevant to verifying the accuracy and completeness of its initial declaration, and strongly encourages the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to respond positively and at an early date to the detailed proposal of the Agency for the first concrete steps needed for the implementation of the generic requirements for the verification of the accuracy and completeness of its initial declaration; 12. Also commends the Director General of the Agency and his staff for their strenuous efforts to implement Security Council resolutions 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, 707 (1991) of 15 August 1991, 715 (1991) of 11 October 1991, 1051 (1996) of 27 March 1996, 1060 (1996) of 12 June 1996, 1115 (1997) of 21 June 1997, 1154 (1998) of 2 March 1998, 1194 (1998) of 9 September 1998, 1205 (1998) of 5 November 1998 and 1284 (1999) of 17 December 1999, and calls upon Iraq to implement in full all relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1284 (1999), and in this regard to cooperate fully with the Agency and to provide the necessary access to enable it to carry out its mandate; 13. Welcomes the entry into force on 24 October 1996 of the Convention on Nuclear Safety,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/449. appeals to all States, particularly those operating, constructing, or planning nuclear power reactors, which have not yet taken the necessary steps to become parties to the Convention to do so, and looks forward to the second review meeting, due to take place in April 2002, expecting safety improvements in all areas, particularly in areas where the first review meeting found that there was room for improvement; 14. Notes with satisfaction that the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementInternational Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/546. entered into force on 18 June 2001, and appeals to all States which have not yet taken the necessary steps to become parties to it to do so in time to attend the first review meeting of the contracting parties; 15. Recalls resolution GC(45)/RES/10B on transport safety, and urges States to ensure that their national regulatory documents governing the transport of radioactive material are in conformity with the latest edition of the Agency's Transport Regulations; 16. Welcomes the measures taken by the Agency in support of efforts to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and other radioactive materials, and in this context decides to bear in mind, in its continued elaboration of an international convention on the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, those activities of the Agency, and urges all States to cooperate fully with the Director General and to support the efforts of the Agency in reviewing thoroughly the activities and programmes of the Agency with a view to strengthening its work relevant to preventing acts of terrorism involving nuclear materials and other radioactive materials; 17. Appeals to States that have not yet done so to accede to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1456, No. 24631. also appeals to States to apply relevant physical protection recommendations and introduce and enforce appropriate measures and legislation to combat illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and other radioactive materials, welcomes the endorsement of the Physical Protection Objectives and Fundamental Principles referred to in document GC(45)/INF/14 by the Board of Governors of the Agency, encourages States to apply these principles in designing, implementing and regulating their national systems for the physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes, and welcomes the decision of the Director General to convene an open-ended group of legal and technical experts in order to prepare a draft of a well-defined amendment, to be subsequently reviewed by the States parties, aimed at strengthening the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and encouraging States to become parties to the Convention; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency. RESOLUTION 56/95 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.48, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 56/95. Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration as the outcome of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, held at Headquarters from 6 to 8 September 2000, Recalling also its resolution 55/162 of 14 December 2000, in which it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to prepare a long-term "road map" towards the implementation of the Millennium Declaration within the United Nations system and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, Reaffirming the need to maintain the will and momentum of the Millennium Summit, as well as the importance of a comprehensive and balanced approach in the implementation of and follow-up to the Millennium Declaration, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Road map towards the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration";A/56/326. 2. Recommends that the "road map" be considered as a useful guide in the implementation of the Millennium Declaration by the United Nations system, and invites Member States, as well as the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and other interested parties to consider the "road map" when formulating plans for implementing goals related to the Declaration; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare an annual report and a comprehensive report every five years on progress achieved by the United Nations system and Member States towards implementing the Millennium Declaration, drawing upon the "road map" and in accordance with resolution 55/162, and requests that the annual reports focus on cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues, as well as on the major areas set forth in the "road map", while the quinquennial comprehensive reports examine progress achieved towards implementing all the commitments made in the Declaration; 4. Invites the United Nations system, in cooperation with Member States, to adopt specific measures to give widespread publicity to the Millennium Declaration and to increase the dissemination of information on the Declaration; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit". RESOLUTION 56/96 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.46 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Yemen 56/96. Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the indissoluble links between the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the foundations of any democratic society, Recalling its resolution 49/30 of 7 December 1994, in which it recognized the importance of the Managua Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the Second International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in July 1994,A/49/713, annexes I and II. as well as its resolutions 50/133 of 20 December 1995, 51/31 of 6 December 1996, 52/18 of 21 November 1997, 53/31 of 23 November 1998, 54/36 of 29 November 1999 and 55/43 of 27 November 2000, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraphs 6 and 24 thereof, Recalling further the declarations and plans of action of the four international conferences of new or restored democracies adopted in Manila in 1988, Managua in 1994, Bucharest in 1997 and Cotonou in 2000, Recalling that the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies focused on peace, security, democracy and development, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and other important principles, such as respect for the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Benin for the generous manner in which it hosted and provided facilities for the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Bearing in mind that the activities of the United Nations carried out in support of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the Charter and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned, Taking note with satisfaction of the seminars, workshops and conferences on democratization and good governance convened in 2001, as well as those held under the auspices of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Taking note of the views expressed by Member States in the debate on this question at its forty-ninth to fifty-sixth sessions, Bearing in mind that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and on their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Noting that a considerable number of societies have recently undertaken significant efforts to achieve their social, political and economic goals through democratization and the reform of their economies, pursuits that are deserving of the support and recognition of the international community, Expressing its deep appreciation for the support provided by Member States, the United Nations system, including the specialized agencies, and other intergovernmental organizations to the Government of Benin for the holding of the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/499. and its focus on the Cotonou Declaration, and the final report adopted by the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in Cotonou on 6 December 2000,See A/55/889, annex. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/499. 2. Encourages Member States to promote democratization and to make additional efforts to identify possible steps to support the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies; 3. Welcomes the work carried out by the intergovernmental follow-up mechanism to the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 4. Invites Member States, the relevant specialized agencies and bodies of the United Nations system, and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute actively to the follow-up to the Fourth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 5. Recognizes that the United Nations has an important role to play in providing timely, appropriate and coherent support to the efforts of Governments to achieve democratization within the context of their development efforts; 6. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the Organization to respond effectively to the requests of Member States by providing coherent and adequate support for their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization; 7. Stresses that the activities of the Organization must be undertaken in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 8. Commends the Secretary-General, and through him the United Nations system, for the activities undertaken at the request of Governments to support efforts to consolidate democracy; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to examine options for strengthening the support provided by the United Nations system for the efforts of Member States to consolidate democracy, including the designation of a focal point; 10. Welcomes the decision of the Government of Mongolia to host the Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in 2003; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies". RESOLUTION 56/97 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.41/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iraq, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Ukraine, United States of America, Uruguay, Yemen, Yugoslavia 56/97. Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Reaffirming the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 3026 A (XXVII) of 18 December 1972, 3148 (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973, 3187 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973, 3391 (XXX) of 19 November 1975, 31/40 of 30 November 1976, 32/18 of 11 November 1977, 33/50 of 14 December 1978, 34/64 of 29 November 1979, 35/127 and 35/128 of 11 December 1980, 36/64 of 27 November 1981, 38/34 of 25 November 1983, 40/19 of 21 November 1985, 42/7 of 22 October 1987, 44/18 of 6 November 1989, 46/10 of 22 October 1991, 48/15 of 2 November 1993, 50/56 of 11 December 1995, 52/24 of 25 November 1997 and 54/190 of 17 December 1999, Bearing in mind its resolution 56/8 of 21 November 2001 on the proclamation of 2002 as the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, Recalling the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, adopted at The Hague on 14 May 1954,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. Recalling also the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, adopted on 14 November 1970 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Sixteenth Session, Paris, 12 October-14 November 1970, vol. 1: Resolutions. Recalling further the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted on 16 November 1972 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1037, No. 15511. Recalling the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, adopted in Rome on 24 June 1995 by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law,See www.unidroit.org. Recalling also the Medellin Declaration for Cultural Diversity and Tolerance and the Plan of Action on Cultural Cooperation, adopted at the first Meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Medellin, Colombia, on 4 and 5 September 1997,A/52/432, annex I. Noting the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and the Action Plan for its implementation, adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions. Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General submitted in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See A/56/413. Aware of the importance attached by some countries of origin to the return of cultural property that is of fundamental spiritual and cultural value to them, so that they may constitute collections representative of their cultural heritage, Expressing concern at the illicit traffic in cultural property and its damage to the cultural heritage of nations, Expressing concern also at the loss, destruction, removal, theft, pillage, illicit movement or misappropriation of and any acts of vandalism or damage directed against cultural property in areas of armed conflict and territories that are occupied, whether such conflicts are international or internal, 1. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation on the work they have accomplished, in particular through the promotion of bilateral negotiations, for the return or restitution of cultural property, the preparation of inventories of movable cultural property and the implementation of the Object-ID standard related thereto, as well as for the reduction of illicit traffic in cultural property and the dissemination of information to the public; 2. Reaffirms the importance of the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and invites Member States that have not already done so to become parties to the Convention and to promote its implementation; 3. Welcomes the adoption of the Second Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, adopted at The Hague on 26 March 1999, and invites all States Parties to the Convention to consider becoming parties to the Second Protocol; 4. Invites Member States to consider adopting and implementing the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property;See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Sixteenth Session, Paris, 12 October-14 November 1970, vol. 1: Resolutions. 5. Reaffirms the importance of the provisions of the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects,See www.unidroit.org. and invites Member States that have not already done so to consider becoming parties to it; 6. Urges Member States to introduce effective national and international measures to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking in cultural property; 7. Calls upon all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations to work in coordination with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, within their mandates and in cooperation with Member States, in order to continue to address the issue of return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin, and to provide appropriate support accordingly; 8. Invites Member States to continue drawing up, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, systematic inventories of their cultural property; 9. Reaffirms the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to promote the use of identification systems, in particular the application of the Object-ID standard, and to encourage the linking of identification systems and existing databases, including the one developed by the International Criminal Police Organization, to allow for the electronic transmission of information in order to reduce the illicit trafficking in cultural property, and encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to make further efforts in this regard in cooperation with Member States, where appropriate; 10. Welcomes the adoption of the International Code of Ethics for Dealers in Cultural Property by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 16 November 1999,See United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirtieth Session, Paris, 26 October-17 November 1999, vol. 1: Resolutions. and takes note of the creation by the General Conference at the same session of the International Fund for the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation, which was launched in November 2000 on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property; 11. Encourages the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to define and implement a strategy for the effective promotion of the International Fund, and invites Member States, intergovernmental bodies, the private sector and other interested donors of the international community to make voluntary contributions to the Fund; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its efforts to develop all possibilities, including any further initiatives, for bringing about the attainment of the objectives of the present resolution; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin". RESOLUTION 56/98 Adopted at the 86th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.43 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela 56/98. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/8 of 25 October 1999 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/56/171. Bearing in mind the Agreement between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 1061. in which the parties agree to strengthen and expand their cooperation in matters that are of common concern in the field of their respective competence pursuant to their constitutional instruments, Considering that the Latin American Economic System is developing joint activities with the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Welcoming the continued monitoring of changes in the treatment of topics relating to the United Nations system, in close contact with the delegations of the Member States participating in such deliberations, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/56/171. 2. Urges the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to continue deepening its coordination and mutual support activities with the Latin American Economic System; 3. Urges the United Nations Development Programme, within its new overall framework and high-priority development objectives in support of sustainable development, to continue its financial and technical cooperation with the programmes that the Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American Economic System is carrying out in areas of mutual interest and concern, aimed at complementing the technical assistance activities conducted by the Latin American Economic System; 4. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to continue and intensify their support for, and cooperation in the activities of, the Latin American Economic System; 5. Reiterates its request to both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Permanent Secretary of the Latin American Economic System to assess, at the appropriate time, the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic SystemUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 1061. and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/99 Adopted at the 87th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2001, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.14 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yugoslavia 56/99. Emergency response to disasters The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, including the guiding principles of humanitarian assistance contained therein, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 54/30 of 22 November 1999 and 54/219 of 22 December 1999, Welcoming the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Deeply concerned by the fact that natural disasters in every corner of the globe continue to claim high numbers of casualties and cause immense material damage and that the frequency and magnitude of these catastrophes place an ever-increasing material and moral burden on nations, Reiterating the importance of mounting prompt and effective relief operations in the aftermath of such deadly calamities in the future, Welcoming the ongoing efforts, led by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, aimed at promoting preparedness for disaster response at the international, regional and national levels, including, in collaboration with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of international urban search and rescue assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters, 1. Expresses its solidarity with the peoples of the countries that have been struck by natural calamities as they cope with the consequences of these disasters; 2. Expresses its appreciation to all States of the international community, international agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations and individuals that are providing emergency relief to the areas affected by natural disasters; 3. Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved by the Governments of Turkey and Greece, in cooperation with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, on the formation of a joint Hellenic-Turkish standby disaster response unit, which will be operational in the near future, with no financial implications for the programme budget of the United Nations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, through the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to continue work on the modalities for the utilization of the standby disaster relief unit by the United Nations system; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 56/9 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 27 November 2001, by a recorded vote of 167 to 3, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/56/L.9, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Latvia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nicaragua 56/9. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned at the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of regulations of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999 and 55/20 of 9 November 2000, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21 and 55/20, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also at the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 55/20;A/56/276 and Add.1. 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 57/100 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/517, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela. by a recorded vote of 164 to 1, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: United States of America Abstaining: Colombia, India, Lebanon, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic 57/100. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measure, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and sixty-six States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of ninety-six States, including thirty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, among which there are three nuclear-weapon States, Recalling its resolution 55/41 of 20 November 2000, Welcoming the Final Declaration of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in New York from 11 to 13 November 2001,CTBT-ART.XIV/2001/6, annex. 1. Stresses the importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular to its efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Urges States to maintain their moratoria on nuclear-weapons test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, pending the entry into force of the Treaty; 4. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible and to refrain from acts that would defeat its object and purpose in the meanwhile; 5. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their earliest successful conclusion; 6. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". RESOLUTION 57/101 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 25 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.33 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan 57/101. International cooperation and coordination for the human and ecological rehabilitation and economic development of the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/169 M of 16 December 1997, 53/1 H of 16 November 1998 and 55/44 of 27 November 2000, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/256. Recognizing that the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground, inherited by Kazakhstan and closed in 1991, remains a matter of serious concern for the people and Government of Kazakhstan with regard to its consequences for the lives and health of the people, especially children and other vulnerable groups, as well as for the environment of the region, Conscious that the international community should pay due attention to the issue of the human, ecological and socio-economic dimensions of the situation in the Semipalatinsk region, Recognizing the need to coordinate national and international efforts aimed at the rehabilitation of the health of the affected population and the environment in this region, Bearing in mind the need for know-how in minimizing and mitigating radiological, health, socio-economic, psychological and environmental problems in the Semipalatinsk region, Taking into consideration the results of the international conference on the problems of the Semipalatinsk region, held in Tokyo in 1999, which have promoted the effectiveness of the assistance provided to the population of the region, Also taking into consideration the outcome of the international conference entitled "The Twenty-first Century: Towards a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World", held in Almaty on 29 and 30 August 2001,A/56/348, annex. which confirmed the necessity of urgent measures to be taken to improve the severe ecological and economic situation in the Semipalatinsk region, Recognizing the contribution of different organizations of the United Nations system, donor States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to humanitarian assistance and the implementation of the projects aimed at the rehabilitation of the region, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/256. and the information about the measures taken to solve the health, ecological, economic and humanitarian problems and to meet the needs of the Semipalatinsk region; 2. Stresses the need for continuing international attention and extra efforts in solving problems with regard to the Semipalatinsk region and its population; 3. Urges the international community to provide assistance in the formulation and implementation of special programmes and projects of treatment and care for the affected population in the Semipalatinsk region; 4. Invites all States, relevant multilateral financial organizations and other entities of the international community, including non-governmental organizations, to share their knowledge and experience in order to contribute to the human and ecological rehabilitation and economic development of the Semipalatinsk region; 5. Invites all Member States, in particular donor States, relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system, including the funds and programmes, to participate in the rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region; 6. Invites the Secretary-General to pursue a consultative process, with the participation of interested States and relevant United Nations agencies, on modalities for mobilizing the necessary support to seek appropriate solutions to the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region, including those prioritized in the report of the Secretary-General; 7. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to enhance world public awareness of the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, under a separate sub-item, on progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/102 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 25 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.41 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guinea, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/102. International assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola The General Assembly, Recalling all previous resolutions in which it called upon the international community to continue to render material, technical and financial assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola, Recalling also that the Security Council, in resolution 922 (1994) of 31 May 1994 and in subsequent resolutions adopted as from 2001, the President of the Security Council, in statements on Angola, and the General Assembly, in all of its resolutions on international assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola, have, inter alia, called upon the international community to provide economic assistance to Angola, Noting that the signing by the Government of Angola and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola of the Memorandum of Understanding additional to the Lusaka ProtocolSee S/2002/483, annex. on 4 April 2002 resulted in the cessation of all hostilities and created unprecedented conditions for the resolution of all pending questions in respect of the Lusaka ProtocolS/1994/1441, annex. and full compliance with its provisions, Bearing in mind that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating the conditions for long-term development and poverty reduction in Angola lies with the Government of Angola, together with, where appropriate, the participation of the international community, Taking into account the initiatives taken by the Government of Angola to allocate the human, material and financial resources to improve the social and economic situation of the population and to address the humanitarian situation, and stressing the need to allocate more means to that end, with the cooperation of the international community, Bearing in mind that the measures taken by the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation towards reconstruction, rehabilitation, social and economic stabilization, including the emergency measures, need to be strengthened in order to improve the precarious situation of some 4 million internally displaced people and other vulnerable groups, some 1.54 million of whom have having critical food needs, Noting the urgent need to address as well as to increase national efforts and international support for humanitarian mine-action activities, the resettlement of internally displaced persons and the return of refugees, and the disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants, as well as the reintegration of other vulnerable groups, so as to allow the country to tackle the social, economic and humanitarian crisis, Recalling the first Round-Table Conference of Donors, held in Brussels from 25 to 27 September 1995, with a view to mobilizing funds for the Community Rehabilitation and National Reconciliation Programme and supporting the efforts made by the Government of Angola, Welcoming the efforts made by donors and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to provide humanitarian, economic and financial assistance to Angola, Welcoming also the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Angola, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1433 (2002) of 15 August 2002, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the situation in Angola,S/2002/834. Noting the logistical difficulties in the distribution of relief supplies to vulnerable populations, and urging the Government of Angola to ensure that humanitarian donations are cleared through the customs services in an expeditious manner, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary General to the Security Council on the situation in Angola;S/2002/834. 2. Welcomes the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding additional to the Lusaka Protocol,See S/2002/483, annex. which ended hostilities in the country and created unprecedented conditions for the reestablishment and consolidation of peace in Angola; 3. Calls upon the Government of Angola to continue to contribute to and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to continue to work towards ensuring the maintenance of the peace and national security that are so necessary for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and economic stabilization of the country, and encourages the Government to continue to allocate the necessary financial resources for the achievement of these objectives; 4. Appeals to Member States and in particular the donor community to support the projects foreseen in the mid-term review of the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for 2002, estimated at 171,057,107 United States dollars, which are to be completed between September and December 2002 in order to assist, inter alia, the 4 million internally displaced people, 1.54 million of whom have critical food needs, and to be especially generous in their support for the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for 2003; 5. Notes the commitment of the Government of Angola towards improving transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, and encourages the Government to increase its efforts to that end; 6. Requests all countries and international, regional and subregional financial institutions to provide their support to the Government of Angola, with a view to alleviating the humanitarian situation, consolidating peace, democracy and economic stability throughout the country, and permitting the successful implementation of the economic development programmes of the Government; 7. Welcomes the assistance provided by the Government of Angola and the international community to the quartering areas, and reiterates the importance of continuing to assist the demobilized population and their families, many of whom continue to require life-saving assistance; 8. Urges the Government of Angola to strengthen public administration, including the National Commission for Social and Productive Reintegration of the Displaced and Demobilized, to develop further a comprehensive resettlement and reintegration strategy, in cooperation with the international community, and to continue to implement its urban and rural poverty alleviation programmes, with a view towards eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development; 9. Requests the Government of Angola, the United Nations and the international financial institutions to take all necessary steps for the preparation and successful organization of an international donors conference in order to strengthen humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, including special economic assistance; 10. Expresses its appreciation to the international community, the United Nations system, funds and programmes, and the governmental and non-governmental organizations that are participating in humanitarian assistance programmes in Angola, including in mine-action activities, and appeals for their continued contribution in a manner complementary to that of the Government to humanitarian mine-action activities; 11. Urges the Government of Angola to take the lead in mobilizing funding for the expansion of programmes for humanitarian mine-action activities, and encourages international donors to contribute to these efforts; 12. Expresses its profound gratitude to donors and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes for the substantial assistance provided to Angola for the successful implementation of its economic development programme; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/103 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 25 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.42 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan 57/103. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and rehabilitation in Tajikistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/30 J of 25 April 1997, 52/169 I of 16 December 1997, 53/1 K of 7 December 1998, 54/96 A of 8 December 1999, 55/45 of 27 November 2000 and 56/10 of 27 November 2001, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/136. Welcoming the further progress made by Tajikistan during the past year in consolidating peace, stability and a secure environment in the country, Recognizing with satisfaction that the United Nations played a successful and important role in the peace process, expressing the belief that the Organization should continue to provide assistance to Tajikistan in post-conflict peace-building, and welcoming in this regard the efforts of the United Nations Tajikistan Office for Peace-building, Noting with regret that the humanitarian situation has not improved, owing to the severe economic situation and the effects of drought, and that significant humanitarian needs continue to exist throughout Tajikistan, Recognizing that the efforts of the Government and the assistance provided by the United Nations have been critical to covering immediate emergency needs and to mitigating the effects of the two-year drought on vulnerable households, Recognizing also that the main humanitarian and rehabilitation objectives of the United Nations are to initiate a sustainable improvement in food security, improve access to primary health care and other basic social services, contribute to social rehabilitation, in particular through capacity-building within communities and the creation of employment opportunities, and combat drug trafficking and drug abuse, Expressing concern that, despite the serious humanitarian situation in Tajikistan, the donor response to the 2002 consolidated appeals process has not yet reached its target, especially in such vital sectors as health, education and water sanitation in which needs are most crucial and for which urgent funding is needed, Stressing that international funding for humanitarian operations is particularly important since such operations remain the principal means by which hundreds of thousands of Tajiks meet their basic needs, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/136. 2. Welcomes the continued role of the United Nations in post-conflict peace-building in Tajikistan and the efforts of the United Nations Tajikistan Office for Peace-building in this regard; 3. Stresses that the current phase of post-conflict peace-building requires continued international assistance for Tajikistan; 4. Recognizes that humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance remains crucial, not only to sustain life but also to promote development and prevent renewed conflict; 5. Welcomes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General in drawing the attention of the international community to the acute humanitarian problems of Tajikistan and in mobilizing assistance for the post-conflict rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction of the country; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the Member States, the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank and other intergovernmental organizations and all relevant humanitarian organizations, agencies and non-governmental organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, that have responded and continue to respond positively to the humanitarian needs of Tajikistan; 7. Encourages Member States and others concerned to continue to provide assistance to alleviate the urgent humanitarian needs of Tajikistan through the consolidated appeals process and to offer support to Tajikistan for the post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction of its economy; 8. Emphasizes the importance of further cooperation and assistance from the authorities in facilitating the work of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, welcomes in this regard the establishment of the Aid Coordination Unit in the Executive Office of the President of Tajikistan for the purpose of tracking international humanitarian assistance, and urges the authorities to continue to simplify and streamline without delay the relevant internal bureaucratic procedures and requirements for the delivery of humanitarian assistance; 9. Warmly welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to continue the United Nations humanitarian programme in Tajikistan by issuing a consolidated inter-agency appeal for humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan for 2003, taking into account current developments in the region, and urges Member States to fund fully and in a timely manner programmes included in the appeal in order to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations in Tajikistan while the country moves ahead with peace-building and economic development; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to re-evaluate all United Nations humanitarian assistance activities in Tajikistan with a view to preparing a common humanitarian strategy that would support the relief and recovery operations during the transitional period from relief to development, with a major focus on promoting self-reliance and sustainable development; 11. Stresses the need to ensure the security and freedom of movement of humanitarian personnel, and of United Nations and associated personnel, as well as the safety and security of their premises, equipment and supplies; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Tajikistan and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to consider at its fifty-ninth session the question of the situation in Tajikistan under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance". RESOLUTION 57/104 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 25 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.46 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/104. Assistance to Mozambique The General Assembly, Recalling Security Council resolution 386 (1976) of 17 March 1976, Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/227 of 21 December 1990, 47/42 of 9 December 1992, 49/21 D of 20 December 1994, 51/30 D of 5 December 1996, 53/1 G of 16 November 1998 and 55/167 of 14 December 2000, in which it urged the international community to respond effectively and generously to the call for assistance to Mozambique, Recalling further the ten years of peace, stability, economic growth and development in Mozambique and the holding of a special high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council on 4 October 2002 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the signing of the General Peace Agreement,S/24635 and Corr.1, enclosure, annex. which ended the civil war in the country, Reaffirming the principles for humanitarian assistance contained in the annex to its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, Recalling its resolutions 48/7 of 19 October 1993, 49/215 of 23 December 1994, 50/82 of 14 December 1995, 51/149 of 13 December 1996 and 52/173 of 18 December 1997 on assistance in mine action, and stressing the need to foster the establishment of national mine action capacity with a view to enabling the Government of Mozambique to deal more effectively with the adverse effects of those weapons within the framework of the efforts for national reconstruction, Recalling also its resolution 54/96 L of 10 March 2000 on assistance to Mozambique following the devastating floods, Deeply concerned at the unprecedented floods in Mozambique in 2000 and 2001, which have resulted in the tragic loss of human lives, extensive destruction of property and infrastructure and the dislodging and scattering of landmines, Deeply concerned also at the severe drought affecting Mozambique and other countries of southern Africa, resulting in famine and poverty, Deeply concerned further at the impact of natural disasters on the economic, social and humanitarian situation in Mozambique and at the aggravating effects of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic, Recognizing that natural disasters constitute one of the major problems for the development of Mozambique, Aware that, to prevent and manage natural disasters, strategies at the local, national and regional levels are required, in addition to international assistance, Bearing in mind the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/11. adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001, and the mutual commitments entered into on that occasion, Noting with appreciation the mobilization and allocation of resources by States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist national efforts, Noting with satisfaction the support by the international community of the post-emergency reconstruction programme presented by the Government of Mozambique, Taking note of the donor conferences held in Rome on 3 and 4 May 2000 and in Maputo on 12 and 13 July 2001, with the aim of mobilizing financial resources for the reconstruction of the socio-economic infrastructure and assistance to the people affected by the floods, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/97-E/2002/76. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/97-E/2002/76. 2. Welcomes the positive role of the Government of Mozambique in the relief operations, in particular the close coordination between United Nations and Government efforts; 3. Also welcomes the assistance rendered to Mozambique by various States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and private individuals and groups to support national development efforts and post-emergency reconstruction programmes; 4. Further welcomes the ten years of peace, stability, economic growth and development in Mozambique, as well as the progress made in the consolidation of lasting peace and tranquillity, the enhancement of democracy and the promotion of national reconciliation in the country; 5. Notes the importance of international assistance for the reconstruction and development programmes in Mozambique, welcomes the pledges made by the development partners for those programmes, expresses its gratitude to the development partners that have already disbursed the pledged funds, and urges others to speed up the process; 6. Urges the international community to render its assistance to the drought victims and for setting up national, subregional, regional and international disaster prevention, preparedness and management mechanisms, including early warning systems; 7. Also urges the international community to continue supporting the efforts of the Government to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to make all necessary arrangements to continue to mobilize and coordinate, with a view to supporting the efforts of the Government of Mozambique: (a) Humanitarian assistance from the specialized agencies, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system; (b) International assistance for the national reconstruction and development of Mozambique; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it, for consideration at its fifty-ninth session, under the item on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance, through the Economic and Social Council at the humanitarian segment of its substantive session in 2004, on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/105 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 25 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.47 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu 57/105. Assistance for humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development for Timor-Leste The General Assembly, Welcoming the independence of Timor-Leste on 20 May 2002, and commending its people and its leadership for achieving independence through peaceful and democratic means, Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in Timor-Leste, Recalling with satisfaction its resolution 57/3 of 27 September 2002 on the admission of Timor-Leste to membership in the United Nations, Recalling all of the relevant Security Council resolutions and decisions on the situation in Timor-Leste, in particular resolution 1410 (2002) of 17 May 2002, which established the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor, Acknowledging the crucial role of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in assisting the people of Timor-Leste in the transition towards independence, Recognizing the essential role played by the international community, including the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, in supporting the nation-building process of Timor-Leste leading towards independence, Acknowledging the progress made in the transition from relief and rehabilitation to development in Timor-Leste, while noting continuing vulnerabilities, including the need to strengthen the preparedness and response capacity of the Government of Timor-Leste for addressing humanitarian emergencies, and the significant challenges of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, in particular in the initial years of independence, Emphasizing the need for continued international assistance to support the development of Timor-Leste in, inter alia, the education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, judicial, public administration and law enforcement sectors, Welcoming the efforts of the Government of Indonesia and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees of Timor-Leste in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, West Timor, in facilitating their return to and reintegration in Timor-Leste or in assisting with their local integration and resettlement, as appropriate, in Indonesia, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/353. 2. Also welcomes the commitment of the international community to meet the external requirements for rehabilitation, reconstruction and development activities for Timor-Leste; 3. Urges the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations to continue to support the Government and people of Timor-Leste in their endeavours towards self-sustainable nation-building and in facing the remaining vulnerabilities and challenges, such as nationwide capacity-building in all sectors, national reconciliation and the return of refugees to Timor-Leste and sustainable development; 4. Welcomes, in this regard, the adoption of the first national development plan of Timor-Leste on 6 May 2002, which was the result of a participatory process and reflects the commitment of the Government of Timor-Leste to develop sustainable basic services; 5. Acknowledges that a transparent, effective and functioning democratic governmental administration is crucial to fostering a stable and secure social, economic and political environment in Timor-Leste, and in this regard urges the international community to continue to support efforts aimed at institution-building and the training of civil servants, in particular in the areas of public finances and senior management and in the development and maintenance of central and local administrative systems of government; 6. Also acknowledges the need to expedite the development of the justice sector of Timor-Leste, and in this regard urges further international support in the areas of law enforcement, the judiciary and the prison system; 7. Welcomes the continuing response of the international community to the need for food aid, and calls upon the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations to assist Timor-Leste in ensuring sustainable development in the areas of agriculture, livestock and fisheries; 8. Takes note with appreciation of the progress made in rehabilitating infrastructure, and recommends that outstanding infrastructure needs remain a focus of international assistance in such areas as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of public buildings, educational facilities, roads and public services, including water and sanitation and the supply of electricity; 9. Commends the continuous international response in providing health services to the general population, including the early deployment of immunization and disease prevention programmes and reproductive health-care and child nutrition programmes, while recognizing the need for further assistance to rebuild hospitals, train health-care professionals and enhance capacity-building to meet the challenges to public health posed by such diseases as tuberculosis, malaria and the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; 10. Welcomes the progress made in the rehabilitation of schools, the supply and distribution of educational materials and teacher training, while emphasizing the need for capacity-building, particularly in the area of secondary and higher education, and for continued attention to the rehabilitation needs, including psychosocial support, of children affected by violence; 11. Also welcomes the growing participation of the women of Timor-Leste in all aspects of society, and encourages further efforts to address gender issues, including the needs for research, services and appropriate legislation in order to combat domestic violence and other gender-related crimes; 12. Further welcomes the continuing efforts made by the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation to facilitate national reconciliation and the return of refugees to Timor-Leste; 13. Welcomes the decision by the United Nations Development Programme to start disbursing funds from the Special Fund established for former employees and pensioners of the Government of Indonesia in East Timor, also welcomes the financial commitments and contributions made by the international community and the Government of Indonesia to it, and encourages them to consider increasing their contributions; 14. Also welcomes the establishment by Timor-Leste and Indonesia of the Joint Ministerial Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, which will facilitate consultation and cooperation between the two countries in all areas of common interest; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly for consideration at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/106 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 26 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.8 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/106. Follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 40/212 of 17 December 1985, in which it invited Governments to observe annually, on 5 December, an International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, Recalling also its resolution 52/17 of 20 November 1997, in which it proclaimed the year 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers, and its resolution 55/57 of 4 December 2000 on the observance of the International Year of Volunteers, Recalling further and reaffirming its resolution 56/38 of 5 December 2001, which lays down recommendations for ways in which Governments and the United Nations system could support volunteering, Recognizing the valuable contribution of volunteering, including traditional forms of mutual aid and self-help, formal service delivery and other forms of civic participation, to economic and social development, benefiting society at large, communities and the individual volunteer, Recognizing also that volunteerism is an important component of any strategy aimed at, inter alia, such areas as poverty reduction, sustainable development, health, disaster prevention and management and social integration and, in particular, overcoming social exclusion and discrimination, Recognizing further that volunteering, particularly at the community level, will help to achieve the development goals and objectives set out in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and at other major United Nations conferences, summits, special sessions and their follow-up meetings, Noting with appreciation the efforts to increase awareness of volunteerism through global information sharing and education, including efforts to develop an effective network for volunteers through, inter alia, the International Year of Volunteers web sitewww.iyv2001.org. and linked national sites, Acknowledging the existing contribution of the organizations of the United Nations system to supporting volunteering, including the work of United Nations Volunteers around the world, Bearing in mind the need for an integrated and coordinated follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers to be pursued in the relevant parts of the United Nations system, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of and follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers, 2001;A/57/352. 2. Welcomes also the successful observance of the International Year of Volunteers, 2001, with the support of one hundred and twenty-three national International Year of Volunteers committees and the many regional and city International Year of Volunteers committees with broad representation from Governments, international organizations, civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, recognizes the contribution of States and civil society organizations and alliances at the international, regional, national and local levels to such a success, and encourages this network to be maintained and expanded, as appropriate, with a view to further engaging all stakeholders, undertaking volunteer-related research, disseminating information and experiences, providing preparation and training to volunteers, particularly from developing countries, and forging new partnerships at all levels; 3. Welcomes further the various developments of policies and the enactment of legislations for the growth and development of volunteerism taken up as a result of the international year, and recommends that Governments continue to acknowledge the valuable role of volunteers and further support voluntary activities, including through appropriate policies and enabling legislation; 4. Calls upon Governments and the United Nations system to implement further the recommendations contained in the annex to its resolution 56/38, bearing in mind the economic significance of volunteering; 5. Calls upon Governments, with the active support of the media, civil society and the private sector, to observe 5 December, International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, and to include activities focused on following up on the achievements of the International Year of Volunteers in its public awareness-raising campaigns; 6. Reaffirms the need to recognize and promote all forms of volunteerism as an issue that involves and benefits all segments of society, including children, young persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, minorities and immigrants and those who remain excluded for social or economic reasons; 7. Invites all stakeholders, especially from the private sector community and from private foundations, to support volunteerism as a strategic tool to enhance economic and social development, including by expanding corporate volunteering; 8. Welcomes the work of the United Nations Volunteers, as the focal point for the International Year of Volunteers, as well as their role in the preparations and implementation of the Year, and requests them to continue their efforts, together with other stakeholders, to raise awareness of volunteerism, increase reference and networking resources available and provide technical cooperation to developing countries, upon their request, in the field of volunteerism; 9. Invites the United Nations Volunteers to develop a global Internet volunteer resource based on the International Year of Volunteers web sitewww.iyv2001.org. and on national web sites with a view to enhancing network capabilities and to expanding information, knowledge and resource management, and encourages Governments and all stakeholders, in particular the private sector, to contribute on a voluntary basis to this initiative; 10. Calls for the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to integrate volunteerism in its various forms into their policies, programmes and reports, and encourages the recognition and inclusion of volunteer contributions in future United Nations and other relevant international conferences, such as the World Summit on the Information Society; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to factor such contributions made by volunteers in his reports on the implementation of the Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and of other major United Nations conferences, summits, special sessions and their follow-up meetings; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to take measures, in particular within the mandates and the existing resources of the United Nations Volunteers and the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to ensure that the potential of the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development in follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers is fully realized; 13. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family". RESOLUTION 57/107 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 109 to 4, with 56 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.34 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 57/107. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its emergency special sessions and resolution 56/33 of 3 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35). Recalling the commencement of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the existing agreements between the two sides, beginning with the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35). including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session and thereafter; 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to involve additional civil society organizations in its work; 5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 57/108 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 108 to 4, with 56 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.35 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 57/108. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/57/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 56/34 of 3 December 2001, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 56/34; 2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the organization of meetings in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine, and the provision of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee and the Division in the performance of their tasks; 6. Requests the Committee and the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity. RESOLUTION 57/109 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 159 to 5, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.36 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, United States of America Abstaining: None 57/109. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 56/35 of 3 December 2001, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Recalling the commencement of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the existing agreements between the two sides, beginning with the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 56/35; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2002-2003, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard, in particular the prospects for peace; (c) To expand its collection of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine and to continue the production and preservation of such material and the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the area, including the territory under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and the Occupied Territory; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists initiated in 1995. RESOLUTION 57/10 Adopted at the 47th plenary meeting, on 11 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.15/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 57/10. The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/215 of 21 December 2001 and all previously adopted resolutions, as well as all relevant resolutions of the Security Council, regarding the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Reaffirming its support for the independence, sovereignty, legal continuity and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within its internationally recognized borders, and also reaffirming its support for the equality of the three constituent peoples and others in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a united country, with two multi-ethnic entities, according to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement"),A/50/790-S/1995/999. Reiterating the importance of strengthening the rule of law, the functionality of the State institutions and the creation of a competitive, self-sustainable economy as the preconditions for the consolidation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a modern democratic State and civic society working for the well-being of all its citizens, Recognizing the results of the general elections at the State and entity level as the genuine and free choice of the electorate, looking forward to the swift formation of the new Government, and mindful of the fact that the parties participating in the elections are committed to the continuation of reforms, the strengthening of the rule of law and the determination of Bosnia and Herzegovina to fulfil its international obligations, Welcoming the prioritizing and streamlining of the involvement of the international community in the reform process, Noting the importance for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina that prosecutors successfully conclude their investigation of war crimes and the whereabouts of those still missing, as well as the importance of full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, especially with regard to surrendering all indicted war criminals to the Tribunal, Reaffirming the importance for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina of its successful integration into Europe, noting in that regard its admission into the Council of Europe in April 2002, welcoming the progress made to date in meeting the conditions of the European Union Stabilization and Association Process, and stressing that the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe continues to provide an additional contribution to the improvement of regional cooperation, Welcoming the further improvement of overall mutual cooperation and the positive evolution of bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and its neighbouring States, Yugoslavia and Croatia, as set forth at the trilateral summit of the heads of State held in Sarajevo on 15 July 2002, Noting that corruption and a lack of transparency seriously hamper the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reaffirming the need to combat corruption, smuggling, human trafficking, organized crime and other illegal activities, welcoming in that regard the fact that the State Border Service recently took over the control of the entire border, and noting the preparations for the Conference on Organized Crime in South-Eastern Europe, which is to be held in London on 25 November 2002, Welcoming the achievements, and encouraging further efforts, in reducing military assets, in continued cooperation with the multinational Stabilization Force, in view of enhanced security and with the aim of the future admission of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the Partnership for Peace, Welcoming also the forthcoming transition from the International Police Task Force to the European Union Police Mission, 1. Notes that the ultimate responsibility for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies with the State and entity authorities duly elected by its people, urges them to work jointly, rapidly and intently on judicial and economic reforms and the functioning of State institutions, refugee returns and all other issues of vital interest to all the citizens, with full respect for the rule of law, and welcomes the programme "Justice and Jobs" of the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina; 2. Commends the Independent Electoral Commission, the joint State institutions and all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina for completing successfully the first post-war self-organized elections, as a positive example of the State's ability to function in a successful manner; 3. Calls for the full and early implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the annexes thereto (collectively the "Peace Agreement")A/50/790-S/1995/999. which is essential for stability and cooperation in the region and the reintegration of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 4. Commends the achievements of the former High Representative in implementing the Peace Agreement and for initializing and overseeing the negotiations for constitutional reforms in order to ensure the equality of the three constituent peoples throughout the country, and supports unreservedly the new High Representative, especially in his efforts to implement radical judicial and economic reforms and the rule of law, as well as his efforts in other areas, under the guidance of the Peace Implementation Council and in close cooperation with the State and entity authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 5. Demands that all the parties to the Peace Agreement fulfil their obligations to the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, urges the States committed to cooperation with the Tribunal as parties to the Peace Agreement, in collaboration with the international security presence, to take decisive action to apprehend and extradite to the Tribunal all indicted, and encourages the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop, in close cooperation with the international community, national court capacities to investigate and prosecute cases of lower profile war criminals; 6. Welcomes the prompt action of the State and entity institutions in adopting the comprehensive plan of action to prevent terrorist activities, increase security and protect people and property in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to secure sufficient funding for the State Border Service and the State Information Protection Agency, welcomes the active role of Bosnia and Herzegovina in global efforts against terrorism, and calls upon Bosnia and Herzegovina to work with the international community in that regard; 7. Also welcomes the steps already taken by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the breach of Security Council resolutions dealing with sanctions against Iraq, and demands the investigation and prosecution of those responsible in accordance with the obligations of the State deriving from all relevant Council resolutions; 8. Reaffirms the right of refugees and displaced persons to return voluntarily to their homes of origin in accordance with annex 7 of the Peace Agreement, encourages the acceleration of the peaceful, orderly and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons to their place of pre-war residence, including to areas where they would be the ethnic minority, and calls upon all sides to ensure respect for individual rights to return and the establishment of the rule of law; 9. Also reaffirms the right of families to know the fate of their relatives, and urges the authorities concerned to do everything in their power to help elucidate the fate of all persons unaccounted for; 10. Commends the International Police Task Force for all its efforts, welcomes the successful completion of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 31 December 2002, and also welcomes the smooth transition to the European Union Police Mission, which will also work on reforming the police management structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 11. Stresses the need for a more comprehensive approach to implementing economic reforms, and underlines the fact that a self-sustainable, market-oriented economy operating in a single economic space, expeditious and transparent privatization, improved banking and capital markets, reformed financial systems and the elimination of bureaucratic obstacles, which deter private investment and private initiative, are of the utmost importance; 12. Notes the importance of defining the common defence policy and common command-control military structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the grounds of agreed principles, and affirms the importance of civilian control of the armies and the formation of a standing committee for military matters of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a step towards the establishment of a military structure of an appropriate size, based on future projections and the legitimate security needs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will contribute to regional security and stability; 13. Welcomes the efforts of international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, working on mine-action activities, and calls upon Member States to continue to support those activities; 14. Stresses the importance of strengthening the free and pluralistic media, and deplores actions that seek to intimidate or restrict the freedom of the media; 15. Also stresses the importance of the restoration and rebuilding of the historical and cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in its original form; 16. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring the rights of all national minorities in the country; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on United Nations activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period from 1992 to 2002, in view of the experience gained and lessons learned, as a positive contribution to future United Nations operations, within existing resources. RESOLUTION 57/110 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 160 to 4, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.37 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu 57/110. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting that it has been fifty-five years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-five years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 56/36 of 3 December 2001,A/57/621-S/2002/1268. Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects, Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Affirming also the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. as well as the existing agreements concluded between the two sides, and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Noting with satisfaction the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and the holding of the first Palestinian general elections, as well as the preparations being undertaken for the second elections, Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, and its positive contribution, Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Expressing its grave concern at the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000 and the continued deterioration of the situation, including the rising number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and infrastructure, both private and public, including many institutions of the Palestinian Authority, Expressing its grave concern also at the repeated incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and the reoccupation of many Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, Gravely concerned at the increased suffering and casualties on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, the loss of confidence on both sides and the dire situation facing the Middle East peace process, Affirming the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all international efforts, including the efforts of the Quartet of the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the United Nations, to end the current tragic situation and to resume negotiations towards a final peace settlement, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects and of intensifying all efforts to that end; 2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the efforts of the Quartet; 3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 4. Stresses the necessity for a commitment to the vision of the two-State solution and the principle of land for peace, as well as the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 1397 (2002); 5. Also stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 6. Calls upon the concerned parties, the Quartet and other interested parties to exert all efforts and initiatives necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation and to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, and to ensure the successful and speedy resumption of the peace process and the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement; 7. Stresses the need for: (a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; (b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; 8. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 9. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter. RESOLUTION 57/111 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 154 to 5, with 6 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.44 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Costa Rica, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 57/111. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all subsequent resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling further Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" and called upon those States which had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City, Expressing its grave concern at any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions, Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and the protection of the unique spiritual and religious dimension of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/470. 1. Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever; 2. Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980), and calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/112 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 109 to 4, with 57 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.45 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 57/112. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,Ibid. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern at the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 57/113 A and B Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.56 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yugoslavia 57/113. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/220 A of 21 December 2001 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular resolutions 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999, 1378 (2001) of 14 November 2001, 1383 (2001) of 6 December 2001, 1386 (2001) of 20 December 2001, 1390 (2002) of 16 January 2002, 1401 (2002) of 28 March 2002 and 1419 (2002) of 26 June 2002, Welcoming the recent initiative of the President of the General Assembly to hold a panel discussion on Afghanistan,See resolution 57/8. Reaffirming its continued strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Reaffirming its condemnation of the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities and the exporting of international terrorism from Afghanistan, and welcoming the ongoing successful efforts of the Afghan people and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition to combat terrorism on their territory, Convinced that the main responsibility for finding a political solution lies with the Afghan people themselves, and reaffirming therefore its continued support for the implementation of the provisions of the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). including the holding of free and fair elections for a representative government in 2004, Convinced also that political consolidation aimed at the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic, fully representative and gender-sensitive government, which respects the human rights of all Afghans and the international obligations of Afghanistan and is committed to peace with all countries, can lead to durable peace and reconciliation, Welcoming the successful convening of the Emergency Loya Jirga, held from 11 to 19 June 2002, the election of President Hamid Karzai as head of State, by secret ballot, and the establishment of the Transitional Authority, and expressing its full support for President Karzai and the Transitional Authority, Welcoming also the establishment of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Judicial Commission, and recognizing that a functioning justice system and the accountability of perpetrators of grave human rights violations are key factors in ensuring reconciliation and stability and that the ongoing difficult humanitarian situation and the ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Afghanistan remain a grave concern, Taking note of the positive developments in Afghanistan in recent months, in particular the return of a large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, the progress in implementing education and health programmes, the establishment of the commissions mandated under the Bonn Agreement and the introduction of the new currency, Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative for Afghanistan and the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, Reiterating that the United Nations must continue to play its central and impartial role in the international efforts to assist the Afghan people in consolidating peace in Afghanistan and rebuilding their country and its institutions, as well as in efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, provide for rehabilitation and reconstruction and facilitate the orderly return of refugees, Recognizing the need for continued strong international commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programmes, under the ownership of the Transitional Authority, of rehabilitation and reconstruction, and noting that visible progress in this regard can further enhance the authority of the central government and greatly contribute to the peace process, Commending the international efforts to help the Transitional Authority to provide a secure environment in Afghanistan, and stressing the need for a coordinated approach across all parts of the security sector and the importance of a national army and police force that are ethnically balanced, professional and accountable to legitimate civilian authorities, Welcoming, in this regard, the important role played by the International Security Assistance Force and its respective lead nations in improving security conditions in and around Kabul, Noting that, despite improvements in the security sector, the lack of security remains the most serious challenge facing Afghanistan and Afghans today, expressing its deep concern at a number of recent security incidents in Afghanistan, in particular the assassination attempt against President Karzai, noting the necessity of enhancing the capacity of the Transitional Authority to exercise its authority nationwide, and commending the steps already taken in that regard, Deeply disturbed by the increase in the cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, which has dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, and welcoming, in this context, the commitment of the Transitional Authority to rid Afghanistan of this pernicious production and trade, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/487-S/2002/1173. 2. Stresses that the fragile situation in Afghanistan poses a continuing risk to peace and stability in the region, and expresses its determination to assist the efforts of the Transitional Authority to prevent the use of Afghan territory for international terrorism; 3. Reiterates its strong support for the Transitional Authority in the full implementation of the Bonn Agreement,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and endorses its priorities, as presented in the National Development Framework and in its budget, which are the restoration of the economic infrastructure; the strengthening of the central government; the building of a national army and police force under civilian control; demobilization/reintegration, as well as demining activities; the rebuilding of the justice system; respect for human rights; and combating illicit drug production and trafficking; 4. Calls upon all Afghan groups to renounce the use of violence, respect human rights, adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, respect the authority of the Transitional Authority and implement fully the provisions of the Bonn Agreement, culminating in a constitutional loya jirga and national elections in 2004; 5. Stresses the importance of the full and equal participation of women in political, economic, cultural and social life throughout the country, and calls upon the Transitional Authority to protect and promote the equal rights of men and women; 6. Commends and strongly supports the important role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in support of efforts of the Transitional Authority to fully implement the Bonn Agreement, and endorses the concept of the Assistance Mission as a fully integrated Mission under the authority of the Special Representative and with a light international footprint; 7. Supports the efforts of groups of interested States and international organizations, underlines the importance of ensuring complementarity among these efforts, and calls upon all parties to coordinate closely with the Special Representative; 8. Calls upon donor countries that pledged financial aid at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held in Tokyo on 21 and 22 January 2002, to fulfil their assumed commitments promptly, and also calls upon all Member States to provide humanitarian assistance and to support the Transitional Authority, including through the provision of direct budgetary support as well as through long-term assistance for the economic and social reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan, especially in the provinces, based on the Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People 2002; 9. Calls for continued international assistance to the vast number of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their safe and orderly return and sustainable reintegration into society so as to contribute to the stability of the entire country; 10. Welcomes the efforts of the Transitional Authority to respect fully the international obligations of Afghanistan with regard to narcotic drugs, and calls upon it to strengthen further its efforts to eradicate the annual poppy crop; 11. Calls upon the international community to assist the Transitional Authority in the development and implementation of comprehensive, coordinated programmes aimed at eliminating illicit poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, including through crop substitution programmes and capacity-building for drug control; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every four months during its fifty-seventh session on the progress of the United Nations and the efforts of his Special Representative to promote peace in Afghanistan, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security". B Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/220 B of 21 December 2001 and all other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held in Tokyo on 21 and 22 January 2002, Welcoming the recent initiative of the President of the General Assembly to hold a panel discussion on Afghanistan,See resolution 57/8. Expressing its grave concern about the continuing effects of decades of conflict in Afghanistan, which has caused massive loss of life, extensive human suffering, destruction of property, serious damage to the economic and social infrastructure, refugee flows and other forcible displacements of large numbers of people, Mindful that Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and that some parts of its territory continue to be affected by serious drought, Noting the accession of Afghanistan to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. Remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance, which constitutes a great danger for the civilian population and a major obstacle for the return of refugees and displaced populations and for the resumption of agricultural activities, the provision of humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, Welcoming the positive steps taken so far towards an improvement in the situation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of many Afghans, in particular women and children, however noting with grave concern that there remain discriminatory practices that hinder the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Expressing its deep concern about reports of abuses of human rights and of international humanitarian law in parts of the country, and in this regard reminding the Transitional Authority and all Afghan groups of their commitment to respect human rights in the country, as contained in the Bonn Agreement, Reiterating the importance of the safety and security of the humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel in Afghanistan, Noting with concern that limited access to certain areas of Afghanistan and inadequate conditions for the delivery of aid threaten the well-being of internally displaced persons and vulnerable sections of the civilian population, Recognizing that a secure environment is necessary for the safe and effective delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance and is a precondition for rehabilitation, reconstruction efforts and long-term development, Welcoming the ongoing implementation by the United Nations of the Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People 2002 in response to continuing humanitarian needs, Welcoming also the presentation of the National Development Framework and budget by the Transitional Authority as an important coordination concept for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and in this context welcoming also the introduction of the new Afghan currency, Noting that economic recovery and reconstruction in Afghanistan and the security and improvement of the lives of the Afghan people are interrelated, Reiterating the importance of a seamless connection between humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and welcoming the important contribution that the integrated approach of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has made in this regard, Expressing its appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for their continued efforts in coordinating, planning and implementing humanitarian and other assistance in cooperation with the Transitional Authority, Welcoming the return of a large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, while noting with concern that internal displacement remains a widespread phenomenon and that the conditions in certain parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive to the safe and sustainable return of a significant number of internally displaced persons and refugees to their places of origin, particularly in the northern part of the country, Acknowledging that those refugees constitute a continuing socio-economic burden for the neighbouring host countries, expressing its gratitude to those countries that continue to host Afghan refugee populations, and at the same time once again calling upon all groups to continue to fulfil their obligations for the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons and to allow international access for their protection and care, Expressing its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations whose international and local staff have responded positively and continue to respond to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary-General for his efforts in mobilizing and coordinating the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/410. 2. Stresses that the responsibility for the solution of the humanitarian crisis lies above all with the Afghan people themselves, and urges them to continue their efforts to achieve national reconciliation; 3. Urges all Afghan groups to actively support the Transitional Authority in meeting the responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. to cooperate fully with the mine action programme coordinated by the United Nations and to effect the destruction of all existing stocks of landmines; 4. Welcomes the determination of the Transitional Authority to take the lead in reconstruction efforts, and welcomes the contribution of donors to meet the requirements of the Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People 2002, urges them to fulfil promptly the funding commitments made at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, and invites them to provide additional resources beyond those pledged in Tokyo; 5. Stresses the coordinating role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan for the United Nations system in ensuring a seamless connection between humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and the reconstruction of Afghanistan, including the cooperation of the United Nations system with other actors in the international community, in particular with the international financial institutions; 6. Commends the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Afghanistan Support Group for the work accomplished, as well as the Implementation Group for coordinating the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and encourages such coordination efforts to continue so as to facilitate the effective and efficient delivery of assistance; 7. Also commends the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in supporting the national development budget process, which will play an important role in increasing the integration of the programmes of United Nations agencies, their partners and the Transitional Authority; 8. Welcomes the establishment of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and the Law and Order Trust Fund as mechanisms for mobilizing international support to Afghanistan; 9. Encourages the international community to actively participate and financially contribute to these rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and also encourages the international community to channel assistance through the national development budget of the Afghan Transitional Authority and to focus attention on building the capacity of Afghans; 10. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation directed against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, and regrets the loss of life and physical harm suffered among the staff; 11. Urges the Transitional Authority and local authorities to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations and humanitarian personnel, as well as their safe and unimpeded access to all affected populations, and to protect the property of the United Nations and of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations; 12. Strongly condemns continuing discrimination against women and girls as well as ethnic and religious groups, including minorities, wherever such discrimination takes place; 13. Emphasizes the importance of actively involving all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes; 14. Reminds all Afghan groups of their commitment to the Bonn Agreement,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and calls upon them to respect fully the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, and in accordance with their obligations under international law, and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men; 15. Calls upon the international community to assist the Transitional Authority in demobilizing and reintegrating war-affected children and in providing Afghan children with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, and urges all Afghan groups to refrain from the recruitment or use of children contrary to international standards; 16. Calls upon the Transitional Authority to facilitate the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims of grave violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law; 17. Appeals to the Transitional Authority and the international community to mainstream gender issues into all humanitarian assistance and future rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes, and to actively attempt to promote the full and equal participation and benefit to both women and men of those programmes; 18. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, and reminds them of their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees and the right to seek asylum; 19. Calls upon the international community to consider providing further assistance in support of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons, including for their voluntary and safe return and reintegration; 20. Expresses its appreciation to the Governments of neighbouring States hosting United Nations agencies for their cooperation, and calls upon them to continue to facilitate the work of United Nations humanitarian operations on their territory in order to ensure the continued efficient delivery of emergency aid into Afghanistan; 21. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close collaboration with the Transitional Authority and Afghan civil society, all possible humanitarian, financial, technical and material assistance for the Afghan population; 22. Calls upon the international community to respond generously and without delay to the Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People 2002 as well as to long-term interventions towards rehabilitation and reconstruction; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every four months during its fifty-seventh session on the progress of the United Nations and the efforts of his Special Representative to promote peace in Afghanistan, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/114 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Credentials Committee (A/57/634) 57/114. Credentials of representatives to the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Credentials CommitteeA/57/634, para. 11. and the recommendation contained therein, Approves the report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 57/115 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/518, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 57/115. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 56/50 of 10 December 2001, in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 46 (A/57/46). Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its fifty-seventh session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Fourth Committee, 10th and 11th meetings (A/C.4/57/SR.10 and 11), and corrigendum Noting with satisfaction that some Member States have expressed particular interest in becoming members of the Scientific Committee, and expressing its intention to consider the issue further at its next session, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, Noting with concern that, owing to insufficient resources, the Scientific Committee was not able to hold a regular session in 2002, and that, as a result, it was not able to address its new programme of work effectively, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past forty-seven years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee; 3. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources, and invites the Scientific Committee to submit its programme of work to the General Assembly; 4. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for its future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 6. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 8. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports; 9. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 10. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly; 11. Urges the United Nations Environment Programme to review and strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee, pursuant to paragraph 7 of resolution 56/50, so that the Committee can discharge the responsibilities and mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly; 12. Emphasizes the need for the Scientific Committee to hold regular sessions on an annual basis so that its report can reflect the latest developments and findings in the field of ionizing radiation and thereby provide updated information for dissemination among all States. RESOLUTION 57/116 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/519, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Chile (on behalf of the Working Group on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 57/116. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996, 54/68 of 6 December 1999 and 56/51 of 10 December 2001, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further developing the legal framework to strengthen international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III,A/57/213. Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications, in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education and Earth observation, contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, inter alia, poverty eradication, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-fifth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-fifth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20). 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties as well as incorporating them in their national legislation; 3. Notes that, at its forty-first session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/51;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20), chap. II.D. 4. Notes with satisfaction the successful completion of the three-year work planIbid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/54/20 and Corr.1), annex I, para. 3 (b) (iii). by the Working Group of the Legal Subcommittee concerning the review of the concept of the "launching State", and takes note of its recommendations;Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20), para. 169. 5. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-second session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to: a. The definition and delimitation of outer space; b. The character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) Examination of the preliminary draft protocol on matters specific to space assets to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, opened for signature at Cape Town, South Africa, on 16 November 2001: a. Considerations relating to the possibility of the United Nations serving as supervisory authority under the preliminary draft protocol; b. Considerations relating to the relationship between the terms of the preliminary draft protocol and the rights and obligations of States under the legal regime applicable to outer space; 6. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-second session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-third session, in 2004; 7. Notes also that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (ii) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group, which will meet for three years, from 2002 to 2004, with the terms of reference as agreed upon by the Legal Subcommittee;See A/AC.105/763 and Corr.1, para. 118, and A/AC.105/787, para. 138. 8. Notes further that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (iii) above, the group of experts designated by interested Member States to identify which aspects of the report on the ethics of space policy of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization might need to be studied by the Committee and to draft a report, in consultation with other international organizations and in close liaison with the World Commission, will submit its report to the Legal Subcommittee at its forty-second session; 9. Notes that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (iv) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its working group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; 10. Notes with appreciation that, in the context of paragraph 5 (b) (ii) above, the Governments of France and Italy hosted the intersessional meetings within the framework of the ad hoc consultative mechanism established in accordance with paragraph 10 of General Assembly resolution 56/51; 11. Agrees that the Legal Subcommittee should establish a working group to consider the questions reflected in paragraphs 5 (b) (ii) a and b above separately; 12. Notes that, in accordance with the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I. which were endorsed by the General Assembly in paragraph 11 of its resolution 52/56 of 10 December 1997, the Committee, at its forty-fifth session, considered the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the third term, starting in 2003, and held informal consultations on the matter; 13. Notes also that, in accordance with the agreement of the Committee at its forty-fifth session,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20), para. 209. the Government of Austria convened and facilitated and will continue to convene and facilitate intersessional informal consultations, including the chairpersons of the regional groups, on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the third term with a view to reaching consensus before the forty-sixth session of the Committee; 14. Agrees that, on the basis of agreements to be reached among the members of the Committee on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the third term, the election of the officers of the Committee for the third term should be conducted at the beginning of the forty-sixth session of the Committee; 15. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its thirty-ninth session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/51;Ibid., chap. II.C. 16. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its fortieth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications; (iii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (iv) Matters relating to remote-sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the work plans adopted by the Committee:See A/AC.105/697 and Corr.1, annex III, appendix, for the work plan for item (i); A/AC.105/736, annex II, paras. 40 and 41, for items (ii) and (iii), respectively; and A/AC.105/761, para. 130, for item (iv). (i) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (ii) Means and mechanisms for strengthening inter-agency cooperation and increasing the use of space applications and services within and among entities of the United Nations system; (iii) Implementation of an integrated, space-based global natural disaster management system; (iv) Space debris; (c) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including, inter alia, in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; (ii) Mobilization of financial resources to develop capacity in space science and technology applications; (iii) The use of space technology for the medical sciences and public health; 17. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its fortieth session will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the forty-first session of the Subcommittee, in 2004; 18. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation, in liaison with member States, be invited to arrange a symposium on applications of satellite navigation and their benefits to developing countries, with as wide a participation as possible, to be held during the first week of the fortieth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee; 19. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 16 (a) (ii) and (iii) and 17 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its fortieth session should reconvene the Working Group of the Whole; 20. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 16 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its fortieth session should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space; 21. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to contribute to the work of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee in the context of paragraph 16 (b) (ii) above, and agrees that the Inter-Agency Meeting should continue to report to the Subcommittee and the Committee on the work conducted at its annual session; 22. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2003, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications;See A/AC.105/773, sects. II-IV. 23. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria, respectively, and the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific continued their education programmes in 2002 and that progress has been achieved in furthering the goals of the Network of Space Science and Technology Education and Research Institutions of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in establishing the regional centres for space science and technology education in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a result of the substantive progress achieved during the meetings held in Mexico and Brazil in 2002, as well as in Western Asia; 24. Recognizes the agreement reached at the Space Conferences of the Americas for the Latin American countries as a mechanism to promote cooperation and coordination in space activities in the region, notes with satisfaction the success of the Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, held at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from 14 to 17 May 2002, which adopted the Declaration of Cartagena de Indias and the Plan of Action,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20), annex II. and encourages other regions to convene periodically regional conferences with a view to achieving convergence of positions on issues of common concern in the field of the peaceful uses of outer space among States Members of the United Nations; 25. Urges all Governments, entities of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities to take the necessary action for the effective implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular its resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 26. Notes with satisfaction the work conducted by the eleven action teams that the Committee had established at its forty-fourth session under the voluntary leadership of Member States to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, and agrees that Member States should provide full support to the action teams in conducting their work;Ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), paras. 50 and 55; and ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20), paras. 42 and 43. 27. Agrees that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 55/122 of 8 December 2000, the Committee should include in the agendas of its forty-sixth and forty-seventh sessions an item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 28. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee has started to prepare a report under the agenda item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III for submission to the General Assembly, so that the Assembly may review and appraise, at its fifty-ninth session, in 2004, in accordance with paragraph 16 of its resolution 54/68, the implementation of the outcome of UNISPACE III and consider further actions and initiatives, and agrees that, in this context, the Working Group established by the Committee to prepare the above-mentioned report should be reconvened at the forty-sixth session of the Committee; 29. Agrees that the review by the General Assembly of the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III should be conducted in plenary meetings at the fifty-ninth session of the Assembly, under a separate agenda item entitled "Review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space", in addition to the item entitled "International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space"; 30. Urges all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to support activities to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular the priority project proposals as recommended by the Committee at its forty-third session;Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 87. 31. Recommends that more attention be paid and political support be provided to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment; 32. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 33. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 34. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 35. Agrees that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of conferences organized within the United Nations system to address global issues relating to social, economic and cultural development and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 36. Notes that the Government of Chile has offered to host an international conference on biotechnology in 2003 to promote the use of space technology in enhancing food security, as part of the contributions to the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration; 37. Notes with satisfaction the efforts made by the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat and the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to bring the benefits of space science and technology and their applications to the attention of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 38. Urges entities of the United Nations system, particularly those participating in the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, to examine, in cooperation with the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, how space science and technology and their applications could contribute to the implementation of the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 39. Takes note of Algeria's interest in and contributions to the work of the Committee and of its request to become a member of the Committee, as well as of the support for that request expressed by the Group of 77 and other regional groups and Member States, and decides, on an exceptional basis, to accept its membership in accordance with paragraph 41 of General Assembly resolution 56/51; 40. Welcomes the interest of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in membership in the Committee and the endorsement of its candidature by the Group of African States, and requests the Committee to continue the consideration of the matter constructively during its next session, taking into account the principle of consensus; 41. Endorses the decision of the Committee to grant permanent observer status to the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites and to the Spaceweek International Association; 42. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 43. Also requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-sixth session, the item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 44. Further requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-sixth session, the item entitled "Space and society"; 45. Commends the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue on its achievements during its twenty years of service to the global community in using space technology to assist aviators and mariners in distress around the globe; 46. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider a report on the activities of the System as a part of its consideration of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications under the item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee", and invites Member States to report on their activities regarding the System; 47. Invites the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimension in space science and technology applications; 48. Requests the specialized agencies and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with progress reports on their work relating to the peaceful uses of outer space; 49. Requests the Committee to consider and identify new mechanisms of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, in accordance with the preamble to the present resolution, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, including its views on which subjects should be studied in the future. * * * As a result of the decision taken by the General Assembly in paragraph 39 of the above resolution, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space is composed of the following sixty-five Member States: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam. RESOLUTION 57/117 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/520, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 158 to 1, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America 57/117. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 56/52 of 10 December 2001, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware of the fact that the Palestine refugees have, for more than five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for more than fifty years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees in the fields of education, health and relief and social services, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13). Aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and living conditions, and the continuous deterioration of those conditions during the recent period, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware that the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process has an important role to play in the peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of concern; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and requests the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2003; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its operation and services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals. RESOLUTION 57/118 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/520, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. 57/118. Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2656 (XXV) of 7 December 1970, 2728 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, 2791 (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 56/53 of 10 December 2001 and the previous resolutions on this question, Recalling also its decision 36/462 of 16 March 1982, by which it took note of the special report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,A/36/866 and Corr.1; see also A/37/591. Having considered the report of the Working Group,A/57/462. Taking into account the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13). Deeply concerned about the continuing financial situation of the Agency, which has affected and affects the continuing provision of necessary Agency services to Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related and humanitarian programmes, Emphasizing the continuing need for extraordinary efforts in order to maintain, at least at the current level, the activities of the Agency, as well as to enable the Agency to carry out essential construction, 1. Commends the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency; 2. Takes note with approval of the report of the Working Group;A/57/462. 3. Requests the Working Group to continue its efforts, in cooperation with the Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General, to find a solution to the financial situation of the Agency; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work. RESOLUTION 57/119 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/520, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 155 to 5, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands 57/119. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 56/54 of 10 December 2001,A/57/338. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been effected, and stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its fifty-eighth session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/11 Adopted at the 48th plenary meeting, on 12 November 2002, by a recorded vote of 173 to 3, with 4 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.5, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Ethiopia, Malawi, Nicaragua, Uzbekistan 57/11. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned at the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of regulations of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999, 55/20 of 9 November 2000 and 56/9 of 27 November 2001, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21, 55/20 and 56/9, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also at the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 56/9;A/57/264 and Add.1. 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 57/120 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/520, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 164 to none, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Israel 57/120. Offers by Member States of grants and scholarships for higher education, including vocational training, for Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 212 (III) of 19 November 1948 on assistance to Palestine refugees, Recalling also its resolution 35/13 B of 3 November 1980 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 56/55 of 10 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/282. Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13). Expressing its appreciation to all Governments, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations that responded favourably to its resolutions on this question, 1. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East; 2. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and other international bodies to extend assistance for higher education to Palestine refugee students and to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; 3. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and the United Nations University to contribute generously to the Palestinian universities in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including, in due course, the proposed University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for Palestine refugees; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/121 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/520, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 155 to 5, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu 57/121. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including resolution 56/56 of 10 December 2001, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13). Taking note of the letter dated 26 September 2002 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Ibid., p. viii. Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely in Lebanon, Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, Also aware of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the increased suffering of the Palestine refugees, including the loss of life, injury and destruction and damage to refugee shelters and properties, during the recent tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern about the recent events that have occurred in the Jenin refugee camp, including the loss of life, injury, destruction and displacement inflicted on many of its civilian inhabitants, Gravely concerned about the safety of the staff and the damage to the facilities of the Agency as a result of Israeli military operations during the reporting period, Expressing deep concern about the policies of closure and severe restrictions, including in particular the curfews, imposed on the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees and have greatly contributed to the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people, Deeply concerned about the continuing restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Agency's staff, vehicles and goods, including the harassment of personnel, which adversely affect the ability of the Agency to provide its services, including its educational, health and relief and social services, Deeply concerned also about the continuing critical financial situation of the Agency and its effect on the continuing provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related programmes, Recalling the signing, on 13 September 1993, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel, Aware also of the establishment of a working relationship between the Advisory Commission of the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization in accordance with General Assembly decision 48/417 of 10 December 1993, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the increasingly difficult conditions throughout the past year; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of decision 48/417; 3. Commends the efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency; 4. Acknowledges the support of the host Governments for the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 5. Takes note of the functioning of the headquarters of the Agency in Gaza City on the basis of the Headquarters Agreement between the Agency and the Palestinian Authority; 6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 7. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). with regard to the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of the facilities of the Agency in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 8. Urges the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side, particularly during the reporting period; 9. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the personnel, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which have a detrimental effect on the Agency's operations; 10. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 11. Notes that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation; 12. Notes also the success of the Agency's microfinance and enterprise programmes, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute towards the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees; 13. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency and to indicate the progress made in that regard in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 14. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, which have been exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground, and to support the Agency's valuable work in providing assistance to the Palestine refugees. RESOLUTION 57/122 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/520, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 159 to 5, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Nauru, Solomon Islands 57/122. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 56/57 of 10 December 2001,A/57/455. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2002,A/57/294, annex. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission and the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with General Assembly resolution 194 (III), Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/123 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/520, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 155 to 5, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu 57/123. University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/146 G of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the issue, including resolution 56/58 of 10 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/456. Having also considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/57/13). 1. Emphasizes the need for strengthening the educational system in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 5 June 1967, including Jerusalem, and specifically the need for the establishment of the proposed university; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary measures for establishing the University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds", in accordance with General Assembly resolution 35/13 B of 3 November 1980, giving due consideration to the recommendations consistent with the provisions of that resolution; 3. Calls once again upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cooperate in the implementation of the present resolution and to remove the hindrances that it has put in the way of establishing the University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds"; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/124 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/521, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 86 to 6, with 66 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 57/124. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 56/59 of 10 December 2001, and the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuation of the tragic events that have occurred since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/57/207 and A/57/421. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/57/314-318. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Expressing the hope that the Israeli occupation will be brought to an early end and that therefore the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the reports of the Special Committee covering the reporting period; 4. Expresses grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as a result of Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns the excessive and indiscriminate use of force since 28 September 2000, which has resulted in almost two thousand Palestinian deaths and tens of thousands of injuries; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners and detainees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such additional staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 57/125 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/521, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 155 to 6, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu 57/125. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/57/207 and A/57/421. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/57/314-318. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the convening of the meeting of experts of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. at Geneva from 27 to 29 October 1998, at the initiative of the Government of Switzerland in its capacity as the depositary of the Convention, concerning general problems of application of the Convention in general and, in particular, in occupied territories, Noting also the convening for the first time, on 15 July 1999, of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure respect therefor in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., Nos. 970-973. and aware of the statement adopted by the Conference, Welcoming the reconvening of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention at Geneva on 5 December 2001, stressing the importance of the Declaration adopted by the Conference, and underlining the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration, Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., Nos. 970-973. aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., Nos. 970-973. to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/126 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/521, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 154 to 6, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu 57/126. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Aware that Israeli settlement activities have involved, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the exploitation of natural resources and other illegal actions against the Palestinian civilian population, Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel of settlement activities in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, including the ongoing construction of the settlements in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and Ras Al-Amud in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the dangerous situation resulting from actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, as illustrated in the recent period and earlier by the massacre of Palestinian worshippers by an illegal Israeli settler in Al-Khalil on 25 February 1994, and during the past year, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/316. 1. Reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, including the construction of the settlement in Jabal Abu-Ghneim; 4. Stresses the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 5. Reiterates its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence by Israeli settlers, particularly in the light of recent developments; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/127 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/521, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 148 to 6, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 57/127. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, and the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/57/207 and A/57/421. and the reports of the Secretary-General,A/57/314-318. Taking note of the report of the Human Rights Inquiry Commission established by the Commission on Human RightsE/CN.4/2001/121. and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,E/CN.4/2002/32. Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, Concerned about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including the use of collective punishment, reoccupation and closure of areas, confiscation of land, establishment and expansion of settlements, destruction of property and all other actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned by the tragic events that have occurred since 28 September 2000 and that have led to thousands of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, Expressing deep concern about the destruction caused by the Israeli occupying forces, including the destruction of homes and properties, of religious, cultural and historical sites, of vital infrastructure and institutions of the Palestinian Authority, and of agricultural land throughout Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, Also expressing deep concern about the Israeli policy of closure and the severe restrictions, including curfews, imposed on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, Expressing concern that thousands of Palestinians continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres, and also expressing concern about their ill-treatment and harassment and reports of torture, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting Palestinian civilians and to help the parties to implement agreements reached, and, in this regard, recalling the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Stressing the necessity for the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, 1. Determines that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation of the Convention, including extrajudiciary executions; 3. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction; 4. Also condemns the recent events that have occurred in the Jenin refugee camp, including the loss of life, injury, destruction and displacement inflicted on many of its civilian inhabitants; 5. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people; 6. Stresses the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/128 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/521, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 155 to 1, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu 57/128. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,See A/57/207 and A/57/421. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the last of which was resolution 56/63 of 10 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 56/63,A/57/318. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening in Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and from taking repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/129 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/522, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 57/129. International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers The General Assembly, Reaffirming that peacekeeping continues to be among the key instruments available to the United Nations in discharging its responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, Recognizing the invaluable contribution to the promotion of peace and security of all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and recalling in this regard the awarding of the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize to United Nations peacekeeping forces, Recognizing also the sacrifice of all the men and women who lost their lives in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and recalling in this regard the establishment by the Security Council of the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, Bearing in mind that the Security Council, by its resolution 50 (1948) of 29 May 1948, authorized the establishment of the first United Nations peacekeeping operation, and recognizing that 2003 marks the fifty-fifth anniversary of United Nations peacekeeping, Recalling its resolution 56/225 B of 22 May 2002, in which, inter alia, it endorsed the proposals, recommendations and conclusions contained in the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations,A/56/863. including its recommendation that 29 May be designated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, 1. Decides to designate 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to be observed annually to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace; 2. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in an appropriate manner; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States and organizations of the United Nations system. RESOLUTION 57/12 Adopted at the 50th plenary meeting, on 14 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.10 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mali, Pakistan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Venezuela, Zimbabwe 57/12. The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/48 of 29 November 2000, Committed to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences held and international agreements reached since 1992, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/215. 1. Stresses the need for a broad-based consensus for action within a comprehensive and holistic framework towards the achievement of the goals of development and poverty eradication involving all actors, namely Governments, the United Nations system and other international organizations and relevant actors of civil society, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations; 2. Notes with interest the proposal regarding a new global human order; 3. Calls for further elaboration of the proposal, and in this regard invites Member States and other stakeholders to submit proposals for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order". RESOLUTIONS 57/130 A and B Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/523, para. 9)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Committee on Information. 57/130. Questions relating to information A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/57/21). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/57/157. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of CommunicationSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September to 28 October 1980, vol. 1, Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media. B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Reiterating its decision to consolidate the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Concurring with the view of the Secretary-General that the fundamental premise underlying the reorientation efforts of the Department of Public Information remains General Assembly resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, establishing the Department, which states in paragraph 2 of annex I that the activities of the Department should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world, Concurring also with the view of the Secretary-General that the contents of public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations and that a culture of communications should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create broad-based global support for the United Nations, Stressing that the primary mission of the Department of Public Information is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive and timely information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, Reaffirming that the Department of Public Information must prioritize its work programme while respecting existing mandates and in line with rule 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, to focus its message and concentrate its efforts better and, as a function of performance management, to match its programmes with the needs of its target audiences, on the basis of improved feedback and evaluation mechanisms, Stating that the comprehensive review of the work of the Department of Public Information, being prepared in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, and the embracing of a strategic direction which the Department has to consider as a result, provide an opportunity to take further steps to rationalize in order to maintain, eliminate, enhance or reduce its activities and output, to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness, to maximize the use of its resources and, finally, to establish a departmental structure to accomplish these goals, Expressing its concern that the gap in the information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that vast segments of the population in developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and technology revolution, and, in this regard, underlining the necessity of rectifying the imbalances of the global information and technology revolution in order to make it more just, equitable and effective, Recognizing that developments in the information and communication technology revolution open vast new opportunities for economic growth and social development and can play an important role in the eradication of poverty in developing countries, and, at the same time, emphasizing that it also poses challenges and risks and could lead to the further widening of disparities between and within countries, Stating that the present developments and rapid changes in the field of information and communication technology have a tremendous impact on the functioning of the United Nations and the Department of Public Information in particular, which may necessitate suitable adjustments in the manner in which the mandate of the Department is implemented, as a key element in the reform and revitalization of the United Nations in a new information age, Recognizing that the mix of means used by the Department of Public Information to disseminate its message remains a key area for review and, in this regard, that the Department should rely on reaching the public through existing external media to a greater degree than at present, Recalling its resolution 56/262 of 15 February 2002 on multilingualism, and emphasizing the importance of making appropriate use of the official languages of the United Nations in the activities of the Department of Public Information, aiming to eliminate the disparity between the use of English and the other five official languages, Welcoming Azerbaijan and Monaco to membership in the Committee on Information, I Introduction 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I), in which it established the Department of Public Information, and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions related to the activities of the Department; 2. Calls upon the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of its resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the General Assembly; 3. Emphasizes the importance of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 as a guideline that sets out the overall orientation of the public information programme for the Organization's goals through effective communication; 4. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General to conduct a comprehensive review of the management and operations of the Department of Public Information and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, and encourages the Secretary-General to submit wide-ranging innovative proposals for the Department that should take into account the issue raised in the current resolution; 5. Requests the Department of Public Information, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly and using the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. as its guide, to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/ AIDS) epidemic, the battle against international terrorism and the needs of the African continent; 6. Concurs with the Secretary-General on the need to enhance the technological infrastructure of the Department of Public Information to widen its outreach and to improve the United Nations web site; 7. Acknowledges the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues; II General activities of the Department of Public Information 8. Notes the efforts made by the Department of Public Information, in the context of the progress report of the Secretary-General on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communicationsA/AC.198/2002/2. and the ongoing comprehensive review, to articulate to Member States the challenges it faces in improving its efficiency and productivity, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue the reorientation exercise, including wide-ranging and possibly new innovative proposals, taking into account broad principles and directions contained in the present resolution, and to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session; 9. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the focal point for information policies of the United Nations and the primary news centre for information about the United Nations and its activities and those of the Secretary-General, and encourages a closer integration of functions between the Department and those offices providing spokesman services for the Secretary-General; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in the context of the reorientation process, to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations web site and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 11. Notes the submission by the Secretary-General of his report on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications,A/AC.198/2002/2. and welcomes the progress achieved since the commencement of the reorientation exercise in enhancing the performance and effectiveness of the Department of Public Information in accordance with the mandates established by the General Assembly and the recommendations of the Committee on Information; 12. Welcomes the movement of the Department of Public Information towards a new "evaluation culture" of increased performance management, based on, inter alia, an annual programme impact review, as well as feedback from Member States, where appropriate; 13. Welcomes also the intention of the Department of Public Information to examine further areas of duplication and fragmentation of functions in the structure of the Department as well as opportunities for greater coordination within the Secretariat as a whole and within the United Nations system in order to avoid an overlapping of efforts in the implementation of its mandates and activities; 14. Notes the intention of the Secretary-General to conduct a comprehensive review of the management and operations of the Department of Public Information and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session in accordance with resolution 56/253, and recognizes that the comprehensive review of the Department is intended to facilitate the process of reorientation; 15. Requests the Committee on Information to examine thoroughly the comprehensive review once it has been finalized and to submit its recommendations thereon to the General Assembly, and stresses in this context the importance of respecting the principal competence of the Committee to undertake the examination of the review and submit its recommendations prior to consideration by any other body; 16. Calls upon Member States to ensure, to the extent possible, that recommendations relating to the programme of work of the Department of Public Information originate and are considered in the Committee on Information; 17. Takes note of the proposed mission statement of the Department of Public Information,Ibid., para. 19. and emphasizes the importance, when implementing the mandates established by the General Assembly, of direct outreach activities to Member States and the public and the use of such intermediaries as the media, non-governmental organizations and educational institutions; 18. Encourages the Secretary-General, while maintaining the information programmes and activities mandated by the General Assembly until any alternative future decision has been taken on this matter upon the recommendation of the Committee on Information, to continue the study and consideration of certain organizational changes; 19. Urges the Department of Public Information to continue to exhibit transparency to the greatest extent possible, so as to increase awareness of the impact of its programmes and activities; 20. Emphasizes that, through its reorientation, the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, including countries in transition, and that such reorientation contributes to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 21. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue consultations with the Committee on Information before taking any decision on the possible changing of its title; 22. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the coordination between the Department of Public Information and other departments of the Secretariat, and emphasizes that public information capacities and activities in other departments should function under the guidance of the Department; 23. Welcomes the initiatives that have been taken by the Department of Public Information to strengthen the public information system of the United Nations, and, in this regard, stresses the importance of a coherent and results-oriented approach being taken by the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the programmes and funds of the United Nations system involved in public information activities and the provision of resources for their implementation, and that feedback from Member States on the relevance and effectiveness of its programme delivery should be taken into account; 24. Welcomes also the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Joint United Nations Information Committee in 2001,A/AC.198/2002/7. commends the Department of Public Information on its active and constructive participation in the Committee, particularly its efforts in promoting inter-agency coordination in the field of public information, encourages the Department to play a key role in the newly established United Nations Communications Group, takes note of the efforts being undertaken by the Group to develop further several key initiatives, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at successive sessions on the activities of the Group; 25. Recognizes the need for the Department of Public Information to increase its outreach activities in all regions, and reiterates the need to include, in the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications, an analysis of the present reach and scope of the Department's activities, identifying the widest possible spectrum of audiences and geographical areas that are not covered adequately and may require special attention, including the appropriate means of communication, and bearing in mind local language requirements; 26. Appreciates the continued efforts of the Department of Public Information in issuing daily press releases, and requests the Department to continue providing this invaluable service to both Member States and representatives of the media, while considering possible means of improving their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States and the fact that other departments may be providing similar or overlapping services in this regard; III Multilingualism and public information 27. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all activities of the Department of Public Information, and stresses the importance of fully implementing its resolution 52/214 of 22 December 1997, in section C of which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents in all six official languages, and information materials of the United Nations, are made available daily through the United Nations web site and are accessible to Member States without delay; 28. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department of Public Information has appropriate staffing capacity in all official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities; 29. Reminds the Secretary-General of the need to include in future programme budget proposals for the Department of Public Information the importance of using all six official languages in its activities; IV Promotional campaigns 30. Recognizes that promotional campaigns aimed at supporting special sessions and international conferences of the United Nations are part of the core responsibility of the Department of Public Information, and welcomes the efforts of the Department to examine creative ways by which it can organize and implement these campaigns in partnership with the substantive departments concerned; 31. Recognizes also the need for enhanced publicity through a targeted strategy to be developed by the Department of Public Information on the forthcoming special sessions, international conferences and promotional campaigns of the United Nations pertaining to global issues, using the United Nations Millennium Declaration as its guide; 32. Supports the efforts of the Department of Public Information, while ensuring respect for the priorities established by the General Assembly, to focus its promotional campaigns also on the major issues identified by the Secretary-General, referred to in paragraph 5 above; 33. Appreciates the work of the Department of Public Information in promoting, through its campaigns, issues of importance to the international community, such as sustainable development, children, HIV/AIDS and decolonization, as well as the dialogue among civilizations and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and encourages the Department, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of these and other important global issues; 34. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to work within the United Nations Communications Group to coordinate the implementation of communication strategies with the heads of information of the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system; V Bridging the digital divide 35. Welcomes the decision, endorsed in its resolution 56/183 of 21 December 2001, to convene the World Summit on the Information Society at Geneva in December 2003 and at Tunis in December 2005; 36. Commends the Secretary-General for the establishment of the United Nations Information Technology Service, the Health InterNetwork and the Information and Communications Technology Task Force with a view to bridging the digital divide and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, welcomes the contribution of the Department of Public Information in publicizing the efforts of the Secretary-General to close the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, and, in this context, requests the Department further to enhance its role; VI United Nations information centres 37. Stresses that the United Nations information centres and information components should continue to play a significant role in disseminating information about the work of the Organization to the peoples of the world, including in the areas outlined in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, and emphasizes that the information centres, as the "field voice" of the Department of Public Information, should promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in the local languages has the strongest impact on the local populations; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his comprehensive review of the management and operations of the Department of Public Information the results of the ongoing review by the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat on this matter and information on the involvement of the Department in the United Nations houses initiative; 39. Notes the efforts by some United Nations information centres to develop their own web pages in local languages, and encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to those information centres whose web pages are not yet operational, to develop web pages in the respective local languages of their host countries, and encourages host Governments to respond to the needs of the information centres; 40. Welcomes the efforts by the Department of Public Information to restore additional resources to those United Nations information centres that have suffered reductions in staffing and other resources as a result of budget reduction exercises undertaken in the past several years; 41. Recalls the appeal made by the Secretary-General to the host Governments of United Nations information centres to facilitate the work of the centres in their countries by providing rent-free or rent-subsidized premises, while taking into account the economic condition of the host Governments and bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial resources for the information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 42. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to United Nations information centres with a view to possibly transferring resources from information centres in developed countries to those in developing countries; 43. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Integration of United Nations information centres with field offices of the United Nations Development Programme: continued implementation of the views of host Governments",A/AC.198/2002/4. welcomes the consistent implementation by the Department of Public Information of the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly with respect to the integration of United Nations information centres with the field offices of the United Nations Development Programme, and reaffirms that any proposal in this regard should be implemented only if feasible and on a case-by-case basis, while maintaining the operational and functional independence of the information centres, taking into account the views of the host countries to ensure that the information functions and the autonomy of the centres are not adversely affected, to meet the integration policy's stated objective of improving the provision of information by the United Nations; 44. Notes the possibility of creating regional information centre "hubs", especially but not exclusively in areas where linguistic commonalities facilitate regionalization, stresses the need for the Committee on Information to consider proposed guidelines and criteria relating to the advisability of implementing this option, and stresses also that, subject to the General Assembly endorsing the guidelines and criteria, such "hubs" should be created in a flexible manner, if feasible, on a case-by-case basis and only with the express approval of all host countries concerned; VII Role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping 45. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping;A/AC.198/2002/5. 46. Commends the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information for the establishment and functioning of the information components of peacekeeping operations and of political and peace-building missions of the United Nations, including its promotional efforts and other information support activities, and requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department from the planning stage of future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 47. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts to strengthen its capacity to contribute significantly to the functioning of information components in United Nations peacekeeping operations, including through the development of a coherent information strategy with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 48. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role in the selection process of spokespersons for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and, in this regard, encourages the Department to second spokespersons who have the necessary skills to fulfil the tasks of the operations or missions and to consider views expressed, especially by host countries, when appropriate, in this regard; VIII Dag Hammarskjöld Library 49. Notes the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General to make the Dag Hammarskjöld Library a virtual library with world outreach, making United Nations information and other acquired materials accessible electronically to a growing number of readers and users, and notes also the efforts of the Secretary-General to enrich on a multilingual basis the stock of books and journals in the Library, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, to ensure that the Library continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 50. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his comprehensive review of the management and operations of the Department of Public Information the results of the overall review of library services of the United Nations system, including the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, the libraries in the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna, the libraries in the regional commissions, departmental libraries, libraries at United Nations information centres and depository libraries called for by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253; 51. Notes the training courses conducted by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library for the representatives of Member States and Secretariat staff on Cyberseek, web search, the Intranet, United Nations documentation, UN-I-QUE and the Official Document System of the United Nations; IX Traditional means of communication: radio, television and publications 52. Stresses that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, such as development and peacekeeping; 53. Recalls paragraph 47 of its resolution 56/64 B, in which it decided, building upon the success of the pilot project on the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations as well as the scope of its programme distribution and established partnerships, to expand the international radio broadcasting capacity of the United Nations in all six official languages; 54. Appreciates that the Department of Public Information, as stated in paragraph 32 of the report of the Secretary-General on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications,A/AC.198/2002/2. has managed to establish partnerships with over 265 radio stations to carry its broadcasts, with a potential to reach as many as 180 million listeners worldwide; 55. Looks forward to the report of the Secretary-General to be submitted to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session on the implementation of the United Nations international radio broadcasting capacity, including information that can be obtained from the local, national and regional radio partners about the estimated number of listeners reached and the cost-effectiveness of radio as an instrument in United Nations activities, so that the Committee may decide on the future of this capacity; 56. Notes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages as well as in other languages, and, in this regard, stresses the need for impartiality and objectivity concerning information activities of the United Nations; 57. Emphasizes that United Nations Radio and Television should take full advantage of the technological infrastructure made available in recent years, including satellite platforms, information and communication technologies and the Internet, and requests the Secretary-General, as a part of the reorientation of the Department of Public Information, to consider a global strategy for broadcasting, taking into account existing technologies; 58. Notes the importance of the continued implementation by the Department of Public Information of the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries in transition as mandated by the General Assembly, and encourages the Department to consider how best to maximize the benefits derived from the programme by reviewing, inter alia, its duration and the number of its participants; 59. Reiterates that all publications of the Department of Public Information, in accordance with existing mandates, should fulfil an identifiable need, should not duplicate other publications of the United Nations system and should be produced in a cost-effective manner, and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to include in his comprehensive review of the management and operations of the Department the relevant results of the larger review of United Nations publications and information materials called for by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253; X United Nations web site 60. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the continued development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations web site in the six official languages,A/AC.198/2002/6. and notes the possible courses of action outlined therein; 61. Reiterates its appreciation for the efforts of the Department of Public Information in creating a high-quality, user-friendly and cost-effective web site, noting that this is especially noteworthy considering the scope of the undertaking, the budget constraints within the United Nations and the remarkably rapid expansion of the World Wide Web, reaffirms that the web site remains a very useful tool for media, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, Member States and the general public, and welcomes the creation of the United Nations web site on terrorism; 62. Notes with concern that the multilingual development and enrichment of the United Nations web site has been slower than expected because of a lack of resources, among other factors; 63. Notes that content-providing offices have not, in general, been making their materials on the United Nations web site available in all six official languages; 64. Stresses the need for adopting a decision on the multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations web site, considering, inter alia, the possibility of organizational restructuring towards separate language units for each of the six official languages within the Department of Public Information, in order to achieve full parity among the official languages of the United Nations; 65. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure, until such a decision has been taken and implemented, to the extent possible and while maintaining an up-to-date and accurate web site, the equitable distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the United Nations web site among all official languages on a continuous basis, and to make every possible effort to ensure that all materials contained on the web site that do not change and do not need regular maintenance are made available in all six official languages; 66. Reaffirms the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on the United Nations web site, and, in this regard, takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General, as contained in paragraph 33 of his report,A/AC.198/2002/6. to translate into all official languages all English materials and databases posted on the United Nations web site by the respective content-providing offices of the Secretariat, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session on the most practical, efficient and cost-effective means of implementing this proposal; 67. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session proposals relating to the designation of a date by which all supporting arrangements would be in place for the implementation of this concept and after which parity would continue and relating to the exemption from translation of specific items on the web site; 68. Stresses the importance of access for the public to the United Nations treaty collection and United Nations parliamentary documentation; 69. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the Department of Public Information, to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology, including the Internet, in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the expeditious dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by the General Assembly and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 70. Notes that the High-Level Committee on Management of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination has requested its Technical Adviser to prepare and submit to it a preliminary study on the issue of one central Internet portal for the United Nations system, and requests the Department of Public Information, as the manager of the Organization's web site, to convey the considerations of the Committee on Information on this matter and to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session; 71. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the re-engineering of the Optical Disk System, now called the Official Document System of the United Nations,A/56/120/Rev.1 and on the simultaneous availability of parliamentary documentation in electronic form in the six official languages on the United Nations web site;A/C.5/56/12. 72. Commends the Information Technology Services Division of the Office of Central Support Services of the Secretariat on its efforts in ensuring that the required technological infrastructure is in place to accommodate the imminent linkage of the Official Document System to the United Nations web site, and commends also the Department of Public Information for addressing issues of content management relating to the System; 73. Notes that the integration of the Official Document System with the United Nations web site will significantly enhance the multilingual nature of the United Nations web site and will lead to efficiencies throughout all Secretariat departments through the elimination of duplicate formatting and posting of documents; 74. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session on the impact on the functioning of the Official Document System following implementation of the full multilingual support function and on the feasibility of providing free, public access to the System through a linkage with the United Nations web site, including options with a view to revising the current subscription policy established in General Assembly resolution 51/211 F of 15 September 1997, and expresses its intention to take a decision on the subscription policy during the main part of its fifty-eighth session; 75. Notes with interest the electronic mail-based United Nations News Service distributed worldwide by e-mail by the Department of Public Information, appreciates the plan of the Department to provide this service in all official languages in 2002, and emphasizes that extra care needs to be taken to ensure that news-breaking stories and news alerts are accurate, impartial and free of any bias; XI Final remarks 76. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 77. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 78. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 57/131 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/524, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 156 to none, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: France, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 57/131. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United NationsA/57/23 (Part II), chap. VIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. and the action taken by the Special Committee in respect of that information, Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/74. Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 56/65 of 10 December 2001, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned to transmit or continue to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. RESOLUTION 57/132 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/525, para. 9),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 156 to 3, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: France, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57/132. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/57/23 (Part II), chap. V. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when done in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and could also make a valid contribution to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Affirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities which adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Reiterates that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, is a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to the mass media, trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/133 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/526, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 111 to none, with 51 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 57/133. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General on the item,A/57/73. Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/57/23 (Part III), chap. XIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/28 of 26 July 2001, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the current participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded assistance programmes for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/67 of 10 December 2001 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/73. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions; 4. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and drought, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) The illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the continuing initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Encourages Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies; 14. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 15. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 17. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for the coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 18. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/134 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/527, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 57/134. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/68 of 10 December 2001, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/57/90 and Add.1. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/90 and Add.1. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/135 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/528, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee). 57/135. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 56/69 of 10 December 2001, Recalling also the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro to the proposals of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in the context of their joint mission of good offices, Recalling further all resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the question of Western Sahara, Recalling Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara,See S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. Recalling also Security Council resolution 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001, as well as resolution 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002, in which the Council stressed the need for reaching a political solution to the dispute, Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in accordance with the proposal of the Secretary-General, and stressing the importance it attaches to the maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan, Noting also with satisfaction the agreementsS/1997/742 and Add.1. reached by the two parties during their private direct talks aimed at the implementation of the settlement plan and the acceptance by the two parties of the detailed modalities for the implementation of the Secretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification of voters and the appeals process, and stressing the importance it attaches to a full, fair and faithful implementation of the settlement plan and the agreements aimed at its implementation, Noting that, despite the progress achieved, difficulties remain in the implementation of the settlement plan, Noting also the fundamental differences between the parties in implementing the main provisions of the settlement plan, Stressing that the lack of progress in the settlement of the dispute on Western Sahara continues to cause suffering to the people of Western Sahara, remains a source of potential instability in the region and obstructs the economic development of the Maghreb region and that, in view of this, the search for a political solution is critically needed, Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in search of a mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for self-determination for the people of Western Sahara, Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/57/23 (Part II), chap. IX. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/206. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/206. 2. Commends the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for their outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provide for those efforts; 3. Takes note of the agreementsS/1997/742 and Add.1. reached between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro for the implementation of the settlement planSee S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. during their private direct talks under the auspices of James Baker III, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, and urges the parties to implement those agreements fully and in good faith; 4. Urges the two parties to implement faithfully and loyally the Secretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification of voters and the appeals process; 5. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan; 6. Reiterates its support for further efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and supervision by the United Nations, in cooperation with the African Union,On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara that is impartial and free of all constraints, in conformity with Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), by which the Council approved the settlement plan; 7. Notes the fundamental differences between the parties in implementing the main provisions of the settlement plan; 8. Supports the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to reach a political solution to the dispute on Western Sahara which will provide for self-determination for the people of Western Sahara; 9. Urges, in this regard, the two parties to continue their cooperation with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable political solution to this dispute; 10. Takes note of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolutions 1349 (2001) of 27 April 2001 and 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001 as well as resolution 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002; 11. Calls upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross in its efforts to solve the problem of the fate of people unaccounted for, and calls upon the parties to abide by their obligation under international humanitarian law to release without further delay all those held since the start of the conflict; 12. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara, bearing in mind the implementation of the settlement plan, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 13. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/136 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/528, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 57/136. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,A/57/23 (Part II), chap. IX. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia, as exemplified by the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 between the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all parties involved, in the interest of all of the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and also those provisions of the Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment; 4. Also notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, in accordance with their regulations; 5. Further notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 6. Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 7. Calls upon the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of New Caledonia to the Secretary-General; 8. Invites all parties involved to continue to promote a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 9. Welcomes measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 10. Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 11. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous culture of New Caledonia; 12. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia; 13. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 14. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 15. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/137 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/528, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 57/137. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Tokelau,A/57/23 (Part II) and Add.1, chap. XI. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling the solemn declaration on the future status of Tokelau, delivered by the Ulu-o-Tokelau (the highest authority on Tokelau) on 30 July 1994, which states that an act of self-determination in Tokelau is now under active consideration, together with the constitution of a self-governing Tokelau, and that the present preference of Tokelau is for a status of free association with New Zealand, Recalling also its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular General Assembly resolution 56/71 of 10 December 2001, Recalling further the emphasis placed in the solemn declaration on the terms of Tokelau's special relationship with New Zealand, including the expectation that the form of help that Tokelau could continue to expect from New Zealand in promoting the well-being of its people, besides its external interests, would be clearly established within the framework of that relationship, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Noting also with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization, Recalling the dispatch in 1994 of a United Nations visiting mission to Tokelau, Welcoming the dispatch in August 2002 of a United Nations Mission to Tokelau, at the invitation of the Government of New Zealand and the representatives of Tokelau, Having examined the report of the United Nations Mission to Tokelau, 2002,A/AC.109/2002/31. Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting also that, as a case study pointing to successful cooperation for decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Also notes the desire of Tokelau to move at its own pace towards an act of self-determination; 3. Further notes the inauguration in 1999 of a national Government based on village elections by universal adult suffrage; 4. Acknowledges Tokelau's goal to return authority to its traditional leadership, and its wish to provide that leadership with the necessary support to carry out its functions in the contemporary world; 5. Also acknowledges the progress made towards that goal under the Modern House of Tokelau project, and Tokelau's view that that project, in its governance and economic development dimensions, is seen by its people as the means to achieving their act of self-determination; 6. Further acknowledges Tokelau's initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2002-2004 to advance its capacity for self-government; 7. Notes that, consistent with the expressed desires of past traditional leaders and the principles of the Modern House of Tokelau, Tokelau has established a local public service employer which enabled the New Zealand State Services Commissioner to withdraw from his role as employer of the Tokelau Public Service as from 30 June 2001; 8. Welcomes the initiation of the dialogue with the administering Power and the Territory in June 2001 with a view to the development of a programme of work for Tokelau in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/147 of 8 December 2000; 9. Acknowledges the continuing support which New Zealand has committed to the Modern House of Tokelau project in 2002-2003, and the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme in aligning its programmes under the project; 10. Notes that the Constitution of a self-governing Tokelau will continue to develop as a part and as a consequence of the building of the Modern House of Tokelau, and that both have national and international importance for Tokelau; 11. Acknowledges Tokelau's need for continued reassurance given the cultural adjustments that are taking place with the strengthening of its capacity for self-government and, given that local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self-determination, the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau's external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance; 12. Notes the special challenge inherent in the situation of Tokelau, among the smallest of the small Territories, and how a Territory's exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination may be brought closer, as in the case of Tokelau, by the meeting of that challenge in innovative ways; 13. Acknowledges the desire of the partners to reaffirm their commitment to each other, and the efforts being made in the context of the draft programme of work for Tokelau to identify the principles underpinning the relationship between New Zealand and Tokelau with a view to establishing a dynamic basis for its future development; 14. Welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 15. Also welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and Territories in the region towards Tokelau, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 16. Further welcomes Tokelau's associate membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its recent accession to associate membership in the Forum Fisheries Agency; 17. Approves the report of the United Nations Mission to Tokelau, 2002;A/AC.109/2002/31. 18. Notes that a study to review the options for Tokelau's future self-determination is recommended in the report, and also notes the willingness expressed by the United Nations Development Programme to assist in this regard upon request from Tokelau; 19. Calls upon New Zealand and Tokelau to consider developing an education programme to inform the population of Tokelau about the nature of self-determination, including the three options of integration, free association and independence, so that it may be better prepared to face a future decision on this matter, and requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to provide all available assistance in this regard; 20. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures in the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution; 21. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTIONS 57/138 A and B Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/528, para. 25)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 57/138. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/57/23 (Part II), chap. X. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Recalling its resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing its concern that, more than forty years after the adoption of the Declaration, there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Acknowledging the significant achievements by the international community towards the eradication of colonialism in accordance with the Declaration, and conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. Noting the positive constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories about which the General Assembly has received information, while also acknowledging the need for recognition to be given to expressions of self-determination by the peoples of the Territories consistent with practice under the Charter, Recognizing that in the decolonization process there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination as enunciated by the General Assembly in its resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions, Welcoming the stated position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that it continues to take seriously its obligations under the Charter to develop self-government in the dependent Territories and, in cooperation with the locally elected Governments, to ensure that their constitutional frameworks continue to meet the wishes of the people, and the emphasis that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories to decide their future status, Welcoming also the stated position of the Government of the United States of America that it supports fully the principles of decolonization and takes seriously its obligations under the Charter to promote to the utmost the well-being of the inhabitants of the Territories under United States administration, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the necessity of promoting economic stability and diversifying and strengthening further the economies of the respective Territories as a matter of priority, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation and, in this connection, bearing in mind the programmes of action of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference. the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction,See A/CONF.172/9, chap. I. the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,See Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and other relevant world conferences, Aware of the usefulness both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of appointed and elected representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, and that the views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained under the supervision of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions of the General Assembly, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and considering that the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers should be kept under review, Mindful also that, by holding a Pacific regional seminar at Nadi, Fiji, from 14 to 16 May 2002, the Special Committee was able to hear the views of the representatives of the Territories, as well as Governments and organizations in the region, in order to review the political, economic and social conditions in the Territories, Mindful further that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to embark actively on a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining an understanding of the options of self-determination, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in their success, while recognizing the need for reviewing the role of those seminars in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific, Noting that some territorial Governments have made efforts towards achieving the highest standards of financial supervision, and noting also that some territorial Governments have expressed concern about insufficient dialogue between them and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on that matter, Concerned that in 2001 economic growth slowed in many Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular in the tourism and construction sectors, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, including, if they so wish, independence, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Reaffirms also that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to facilitate programmes of political education in the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 3. Reaffirms further that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right; 4. Requests the administering Powers to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter and other updated information and reports, including reports on the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories regarding their future political status as expressed in fair and free referendums and other forms of popular consultation, as well as the results of any informed and democratic processes consistent with practice under the Charter that indicate the clear and freely expressed wish of the people to change the existing status of the Territories; 5. Stresses the importance for it to be apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and to enhance its understanding of their conditions; 6. Reaffirms that United Nations visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and requests the administering Powers and the elected representatives of the peoples of the Territories to assist the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in this regard; 7. Reaffirms also the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 8. Requests the administering Powers, in consultation with the peoples of the Territories, to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories under their administration against any environmental degradation, and requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in those Territories; 9. Calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the respective territorial Governments, to continue to take all necessary measures to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money-laundering and other offences; 10. Notes the cooperative efforts of some Non-Self-Governing Territories to address the problem of illegal drugs, with a focus on demand reduction, education, treatment and legal issues; 11. Notes with concern that the plan of action for the first International Decade for the Eradication of ColonialismSee A/46/634/Rev.1 and Corr.1, annex. was not fully implemented by 2000, and stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second Decade,A/56/61, annex. in particular through the development of work programmes for the decolonization of each Non-Self-Governing Territory, on a case-by-case basis, including periodic analyses of each Territory and the review of the impact of the economic and social situation on the constitutional and political advancement of the Territories; 12. Calls upon the administering Powers to enter into constructive dialogue with the Special Committee before the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly to develop a framework for the implementation of the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for the period 2001-2010; 13. Notes the particular circumstances that prevail in the Territories concerned, and encourages the political evolution in them towards self-determination; 14. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in a world free of colonialism during the twenty-first century, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 15. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to initiate or to continue to take all necessary measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social life of the Territories, and calls for closer cooperation between the Special Committee and the Economic and Social Council in furtherance of the provision of assistance to the Territories; 16. Notes that some Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by one administering Power, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, namely, amending or enacting legislation for the Territories through Orders in Council, while recognizing that such Orders in Council were necessary for the administering Power to fulfil its international treaty obligations; 17. Takes note of statements made by the elected representatives of the Territories concerned emphasizing their willingness to cooperate with all international efforts aimed at preventing abuse of the international financial system and to promote regulatory environments with highly selective licensing procedures, robust supervisory practices and well-established anti-money-laundering regimes; 18. Calls for an enhanced and constructive dialogue between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the territorial Governments concerned, with a view to achieving the highest standards of financial supervision, and requests the administering Powers to assist those Territories in this matter; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of decolonization resolutions since the declaration of the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; 20. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the small Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session with recommendations on appropriate ways to assist the peoples of the Territories in exercising their right to self-determination. B Individual Territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the report by the administering Power that most American Samoan leaders express satisfaction with the Territory's present relationship with the United States of America, Noting that the leaders of American Samoa, including the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, are freely and fairly elected by the people, and that the general elections held in the Territory in 2000 resulted in the re-election of the incumbent Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Taking note with interest of the statement made on the political status of American Samoa by the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa at the Pacific regional seminar, held at Nadi, Fiji, from 14 to 16 May 2002,See A/57/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 31. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Noting that the Government of the Territory continues to have financial, budgetary and internal control problems, but that it has recently taken steps to increase revenues and decrease government expenditures, Noting also that the Territory, similar to isolated communities with limited funds, continues to experience a lack of adequate medical and other infrastructural facilities, Aware of the efforts of the Government of the Territory to control and reduce expenditures, while continuing its programme of expanding and diversifying the local economy, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Notes that the Department of the Interior of the United States of America provides that the Secretary of the Interior has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa; 3. Takes note with interest of the statement delivered by the Territory's delegate to the United States Congress at the Caribbean regional seminar, held at Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/56/23), chap. II, annex, para. 31. in which he indicated that he was not aware that the administering Power had selected American Samoa to be reviewed under the case-by-case informal method adopted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the administering Power; 4. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the Government of the Territory; 5. Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee by the Governor of American Samoa to send a visiting mission to the Territory; II Anguilla Conscious of the commitment of both the Government of Anguilla and the administering Power to a new and closer policy of dialogue and partnership through the Strategic Country Programme 2000-2003, Aware of the efforts of the Government of Anguilla to continue to develop the Territory as a viable offshore centre and well-regulated financial centre for investors, by enacting modern company and trust laws, as well as partnership and insurance legislation, and computerizing the company registry system, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in tackling the problems of drug trafficking and money-laundering, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power and all States, organizations and United Nations agencies to continue to assist the Territory in social and economic development; 3. Welcomes the Country Cooperation Framework of the United Nations Development Programme for the period 1997-1999 and its extension currently being implemented following consultations with the territorial Government and key development partners in the United Nations system and the donor community, and also welcomes the inclusion of the Territory by the United Nations Development Programme in its 2001-2003 subregional cooperation framework for the countries members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and Barbados; 4. Takes note of the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank, in its 2000 report on the Territory, that growth slowed to 1 per cent in 2000 from 7.5 per cent in 1999 as a result of damage caused by hurricane Lenny; that tourism, the largest contributor to the gross domestic product, declined following the closure of several hotels, with the resultant negative impact on employment; that the cessation of aluminium trans-shipment to Europe eroded government revenue; and that medium-term growth prospects remained favourable given the expected recovery in the tourism sector; 5. Notes that the Caribbean Development Bank, in its study entitled "International and regional economic background in 2001 and prospects", noted that the Territory experienced improved performance in 2001, when a 2 per cent rate of expansion represented a recovery from the contraction in 2000 caused by hurricane damage; 6. Welcomes the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Caribbean Development Bank and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to conduct a country poverty assessment for the Territory; 7. Also welcomes the establishment of the constitutional reform process, which puts emphasis on public information and education and is expected to create a participatory environment in which changes to the Constitution effective in the Territory can be formulated and recommended to the administering Power, pursuant to the recommendations as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories";A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. 8. Further welcomes the convening in the Territory in June 2002 of the thirty-fifth meeting of the Authority of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, in which the Territory enjoys associate membership; III Bermuda Noting the results of the independence referendum held on 16 August 1995, and conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties of the Territory on the future status of the Territory, Noting also the discussions between the Territory and the administering Power on internal constitutional changes, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to work with the Territory for its socio-economic development; 3. Welcomes the agreement reached in June 2002 between the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Territory formally transferring the former military base lands to the territorial Government, and the provision of financial resources to address some of the environmental problems; 4. Also welcomes the accession of the Territory to associate membership in the Caribbean Community; IV British Virgin Islands Noting the last constitutional review in the Territory, conducted by the administering Power in 1993-1994, the coming into force of the amended Constitution, and the appointment by the territorial Government of a committee to assess the implications of independence for the implementation of a recommendation of the 1993 review, Noting also the results of the constitutional review of 1993-1994, which made it clear that a prerequisite to independence must be a constitutionally expressed wish of the people as a result of a referendum, Taking note of the motion adopted by the Legislative Council in March 2002, requesting the administering Power to appoint a commission to review the Constitution with the aim of modernizing it, paying specific attention to the creation of a sixth ministerial post, the standing of the Territory's "belonger" status and the devolution of power from the representative of the administering Power to the elected Government, Noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, and that the financial services sector is becoming the cornerstone of the Government's recurrent budget, accounting for over 50 per cent of government revenue, and also noting the establishment of the Financial Services Commission, Noting also the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, and further noting that the Territory hosted a meeting of the British Overseas Territories' Drug Prevention Conference in January 2002, Noting further that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 11 May 2002 in official ceremonies held in Tortola, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions to continue to provide the Territory with assistance for socio-economic development and the development of human resources, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors; 3. Takes note of the adoption by the Legislative Council of the Territory of the Corporal Punishment Abolition Act 2000, which brought to an end the exercise of such a power by the court or other authority; 4. Welcomes the completion of the airport terminal facility, which was the largest capital project of the Government; 5. Also welcomes the convening in the Territory in 2001 of a summit of elected leaders of Caribbean Territories, which addressed issues of constitution and governance, immigration and nationality, human rights, social development, civil aviation and safety, and environmental issues; V Cayman Islands Noting the formation for the first time of a political party in the Territory and the subsequent change of government in November 2001, Aware that the Territory has one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, a stable political climate and virtually no unemployment, Noting the actions taken by the territorial Government to implement its localization programme to promote increased participation by the local population in the decision-making process in the Cayman Islands, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking, money-laundering and related activities, and noting the measures taken by the authorities to deal with those problems, Noting also that the Territory has emerged as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, Noting further the approval by the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Territory's Vision 2008 Development Plan, which aims to promote development that is consistent with the aims and values of Caymanian society, Welcoming the convening in the Territory in September 2001 of the Human Rights Today Caribbean Symposium, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Takes note of the adoption by the Legislative Assembly in 2001 of a referendum law, which confirmed that only a referendum makes it possible for the electorate to give a clear judgement on a single issue of immediate relevance and that the Constitution of the Cayman Islands can be amended only through a referendum; 3. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to provide the territorial Government with all required expertise to enable it to achieve its socio-economic aims; 4. Requests the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, to continue to facilitate the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the local population, in particular at the decision-making level; 5. Welcomes the implementation of the Country Cooperation Framework of the United Nations Development Programme for the Territory, which is designed to ascertain national development priorities and United Nations assistance needs; 6. Notes the negative impact on the economy of the Territory of the slowdown in economic performance in the world, as well as the determination of the new Government to modernize the economic structure and intensify the implementation of its financial management initiative; 7. Welcomes the accession of the Territory to associate membership in the Caribbean Community; 8. Also welcomes the completion of the report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which conducted an extensive review of the current Constitution, and the recommended changes, following public discussions with community groups and individuals, pursuant to the recommendations of the administering Power as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories".A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. VI Guam Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular, General Assembly resolutions 56/72 A and B of 10 December 2001, Recalling further the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established the process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Aware of the potential for diversifying and developing the economy of Guam through commercial fishing and agriculture and other viable activities, Noting the proposed closing and realigning of four United States Navy installations on Guam and the request for the establishment of a transition period to develop some of the closed facilities as commercial enterprises, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam,See A/AC.109/2058, para. 33 (20). Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Guam provided by the representatives of the Territory to the Pacific regional seminar, held at Nadi, Fiji, from 14 to 16 May 2002,See A/57/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 39. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Concerned that the latest census figures in the Territory show that the percentage of persons living in poverty increased from 14 per cent in 1990 to 23 per cent in 2000, 1. Requests the administering Power to work with Guam's Commission on Decolonization for the Implementation and Exercise of Chamorro Self-Determination with a view to facilitating Guam's decolonization and to keep the Secretary-General informed of the progress to that end; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 3. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 4. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory; 5. Further requests the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 6. Requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 7. Also requests the administering Power to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial Government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities; VII Montserrat Noting that elections to the Legislative Council were held in the Territory in 2001, resulting in the assumption of office by the New People's Liberation Movement, Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the elected representative of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at Havana from 23 to 25 May 2001,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/56/23), chap. II, annex, para. 34. Noting that the last visiting mission to the Territory was dispatched in 1982, Noting with concern the dire consequences of a volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory's population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, in particular Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and which continues to have a negative impact upon the economy of the island, Welcoming the continued assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the efforts of the administering Power and the Government of the Territory to meet the emergency situation caused by the volcanic eruption, including the implementation of a wide range of contingency measures for both the private and the public sectors in Montserrat, Noting also the coordinated response measures taken by the United Nations Development Programme and the assistance of the United Nations disaster management team, Noting with concern that a number of the inhabitants of the Territory continue to live in shelters because of volcanic activity, Welcoming the inclusion of the Territory by the United Nations Development Programme in its 2001-2003 subregional cooperation framework for the countries members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and Barbados, Noting the establishment in 2001 of the Montserrat Financial Services Commission, which is responsible for the licensing and supervision of all financial services, with the exception of domestic banks, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system as well as regional and other organizations to continue to provide urgent emergency assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; 3. Welcomes the support of the Caribbean Community in the construction of housing in the safe zone to alleviate a shortage caused by the environmental and human crisis of the eruption of the Montsoufriere volcano, as well as the material and financial support from the international community to help alleviate the suffering caused by the crisis; 4. Also welcomes the Chief Minister's 2002 budget presentation, in which he noted that in 2001, for the first time in seven years, the economy of Montserrat experienced positive growth, from a negative rate of 5.43 per cent in 2000 to 0.4 per cent in 2001, the implementation of several major public works projects accounting for growth in the construction sector; 5. Takes note of the statement of the Chief Minister that his Government would explore the possibilities of securing additional finance from sources other than the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and that the main sources under consideration were the Caribbean Development Bank and the European Investment Bank; 6. Welcomes the establishment of the Constitutional Review Commission, which will embark on a public education programme on the Constitution, ascertain the views of the population and make recommendations to the administering Power on changes which may be envisaged, pursuant to the recommendations as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories";A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. VIII Pitcairn Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Welcoming the participation of an expert from Pitcairn for the first time in the Pacific regional seminar, held at Nadi, Fiji, from 14 to 16 May 2002, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Also requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory; 3. Calls upon the administering Power to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; IX St. Helena Taking into account the unique character of St. Helena, its population and its natural resources, Noting that a Commission of Inquiry into the Constitution appointed at the request of the Legislative Council of St. Helena reported its recommendations in March 1999, and that the Legislative Councillors are currently considering its recommendations, Aware of the establishment by the territorial Government of the Development Agency in 1995 to encourage private sector commercial development on the island, Also aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of St. Helena, in particular in the sphere of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, and calls for continuing negotiations to allow access to Ascension Island by civilian charter flights, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Welcomes the commitment of the administering Power to consider carefully suggestions for specific proposals for constitutional change made by territorial Governments, as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories";A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. 2. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant regional and international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the limited transport and communications problems; X Turks and Caicos Islands Noting that the People's Democratic Movement was elected to power in the Legislative Council elections held in March 1999, Also noting the efforts by the Government of the Territory to strengthen financial management in the public sector, including efforts to increase revenue, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Welcoming the assessment by the Caribbean Development Bank in its 2000 report that the economic performance of the Territory remained strong, with an increase in gross domestic product estimated at 8 per cent, reflecting strong growth in the tourism and construction sectors, Also welcoming the convening in the Territory in January 2002 of the fourteenth meeting of the Bureau of the Caribbean Community, a regional organization in which the Territory enjoys associate membership, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Invites the administering Power to take fully into account the wishes and interests of the Government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the governance of the Territory; 3. Welcomes the establishment of the Constitutional Review Commission, which will embark on a public education programme on the Constitution, ascertain the views of the population and make recommendations to the administering Power on changes which may be envisaged, pursuant to the recommendations as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories;A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. 4. Calls upon the administering Power and the relevant regional and international organizations to continue to provide assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory; 5. Also calls upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate to counter problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking; 6. Welcomes the first Country Cooperation Framework approved by the United Nations Development Programme for the period 1998-2002, which should, inter alia, assist in the development of a national integrated development plan that will put in place procedures for determining the national development priorities over ten years, the focus of attention being on health, population, education, tourism and economic and social development; XI United States Virgin Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the Territory to the Pacific regional seminar, held at Nadi, Fiji, from 14 to 16 May 2002,A/57/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 38. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Noting the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the current request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed, Noting also the necessity of further diversifying the economy of the Territory, Noting further the efforts of the Government of the Territory to promote the Territory as an offshore financial services centre, Recalling the dispatch in 1977 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, Noting that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 11 May 2002 in official ceremonies on St. Thomas, 1. Requests the administering Power, bearing in mind the views of the people of the Territory ascertained through a democratic process, to keep the Secretary-General informed of the wishes and aspirations of the people regarding their future political status; 2. Also requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Further requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 4. Notes with satisfaction that continuing measures being taken by the elected territorial Government have eased the fiscal crisis, and calls upon the administering Power to continue to provide every assistance required by the Territory to further alleviate the difficult economic situation, including, inter alia, the provision of debt relief and loans; 5. Notes with interest the entering into force in 2001 of the joint memorandum of cooperation on the exchange of artefacts between the Territory and Denmark, the Territory's former administering Power, as a companion agreement to the 1999 memorandum for the repatriation of archival material from the Danish colonial period, consistent with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, under its records and archives management programme, to assist the Territory in carrying out its archival and artefacts initiative; 6. Notes the position of the territorial Government opposing the assumption by the administering Power of submerged land in territorial waters, having regard to relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the ownership and control of natural resources, including marine resources, by the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and its calls for the return of those marine resources to the people of the Territory; 7. Notes with concern that the last census figures for the Territory indicate that 32.5 per cent of the population is living in poverty, and that 47 per cent of children on St. Croix and 33 per cent of children on St. Thomas live in poverty. RESOLUTION 57/139 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 154 to 4, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/57/23) * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: France, Netherlands 57/139. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,A/57/23 (Part II), chap. III. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular resolution 56/73 of 10 December 2001, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to achieving the goals of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat; 2. Considers it important to continue its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options of self-determination available for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to take into account the suggestions of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To continue to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To maintain a working relationship with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, by holding periodic consultations and exchanging information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to continue to extend their cooperation in the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 5. Requests the Special Committee to follow the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/13 Adopted at the 50th plenary meeting, on 14 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.7, sponsored by: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela 57/13. South American zone of peace and cooperation The General Assembly, Convinced that peace, security and cooperation should be grounded in commitments that reinforce mutual trust and promote development and the overall well-being of peoples to the benefit of all humanity and, in particular, the peoples of South America, Bearing in mind the initiatives of various Governments and regional groups in South America, such as the Andean Agreement on Peace, Security and Cooperation, contained in the Galapagos Declaration of 18 December 1989;See CD/1011. the Declaration of MERCOSUR, Bolivia and Chile as a Zone of Peace, signed in Ushuaia, Argentina, in July 1999; and the Lima Commitment and Andean Charter for Peace and Security, signed on 17 June 2002,See CD/1678; see also A/C.1/57/4, annex. Recalling the commitment undertaken in the Brasilia Communiqué issued on 1 September 2000A/55/375, annex I. to create a South American zone of peace, Recognizing that the bases and actions for a project on the creation of a South American zone of peace and cooperation, formulated at the first meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Andean Community, MERCOSUR and Chile, held in La Paz on 17 July 2001, constitute an appropriate set of guidelines for building the zone of peace and cooperation on firm foundations, supported by the consensus of the whole region and based, among various other measures, on the fostering of trust, cooperation and ongoing consultation in the areas of security and defence, coordinated action in the relevant international forums, and transparency and a gradual limitation of arms purchases under the system established in the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions,See CD/1591. the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms and other arrangements established in the regional and international conventions related to this important topic, Also recognizing the firm intent of the States of South America to adopt measures contributing to an effective and gradual limitation of defence expenditures in the region with the aim of having more resources available for the economic and social development of their peoples, in particular in order to devote the resources released from military budgets to combating poverty by moving forward with health and education programmes and other social benefits for inhabitants, taking into account each country's security needs and current levels of expenditure, Recalling the principles and norms of international law enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of the Organization of American States, especially those related to international peace and security, Also recalling the important contribution of the United Nations in the sphere of international peace and security and, in that regard, the valuable input of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean with headquarters in Lima, Convinced that the establishment of a zone of peace and cooperation in South America will help to strengthen international peace and security and promote the purposes and principles of the United Nations, 1. Welcomes the Declaration of the Presidents of South America, adopted at their second meeting, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on 27 July 2002, in which they declared South America a zone of peace and cooperation;See CD/1684. 2. Commends the decision of the States of South America to ban the use or threat of use of force among themselves, in keeping with the principles and relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Charter of the Organization of American States; 3. Also commends the decision of the States of South America to ban the siting, development, manufacture, possession, deployment, testing and use of any type of weapon of mass destruction, including nuclear, chemical, biological and toxic weapons, and their transport through the countries of the South American region, in accordance with the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. and other international conventions on the matter; 4. Notes with satisfaction the commitment of the States of South America to establishing a gradual system that will lead, in the shortest time possible, to the complete eradication of anti-personnel mines in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. and to implementing the recommendations of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. 5. Welcomes the desire of the States of South America to promote transparency and a gradual limitation of arms purchases under the system established in the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions,See CD/1591. the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms and other arrangements established in the regional and international conventions related to this important topic; 6. Urges all States of the other regions, particularly weapons-producing States, to cooperate decisively in combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons throughout the region of South America; 7. Calls upon the States of the other regions to contribute to and cooperate with the objectives set forth in the Declaration regarding a South American zone of peace and cooperation. RESOLUTION 57/140 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 11 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 139 to 3, with 19 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.52 and Add.1, sponsored by: Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Fiji, Grenada, Saint Lucia, South Africa * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey 57/140. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/57/23 (Part I), A/57/23 (Part II) and Add.1 and A/57/23 (Part III). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, most recently resolution 56/74 of 10 December 2001, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind the declaration of the period 2001-2010 as the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the Organization and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism before 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as of racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with concern that the non-participation of certain administering Powers has adversely affected the implementation of the mandate and work of the Special Committee, Noting with satisfaction the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting that the other administering Powers have now agreed to work informally with the Special Committee, Taking note of the consultations and agreements between the parties concerned in some Non-Self-Governing Territories and the action taken by the Secretary-General in relation to certain Non-Self-Governing Territories, Aware of the pressing need of newly independent and emerging States for assistance from the United Nations and its system of organizations in the economic, social and other fields, Aware also of the pressing need of many of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, many of which are small island Territories, for economic, social and other assistance from the United Nations and the organizations of its system, Taking special note of the fact that the Special Committee held a Pacific regional seminar to review the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, particularly their political evolution towards self-determination for the year 2002 and beyond, in Nadi, Fiji, from 14 to 16 May 2002,See A/57/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, in which it declares the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2002, including the programme of work envisaged for 2003;See A/57/23 (Part I), chap. I, sect. J. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. 6. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to finalize before the end of 2003 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 7. Welcomes the ongoing consultations between the Special Committee and New Zealand, as administering Power for Tokelau, with the participation of representatives of the people of Tokelau, with a view to advancing the programme of work on the question of Tokelau, and also welcomes the report of the United Nations Mission that visited Tokelau in August 2002 at the invitation of New Zealand and Tokelau;See A/57/23 (Part II)/Add.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23. 8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To finalize before the end of 2003 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting missions to the Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 2911 (XXVII). 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the economic activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Reiterates that military activities and arrangements by administering Powers in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration should not run counter to the rights and interests of the peoples of the Territories concerned, especially their right to self-determination, including independence, calls upon the administering Powers concerned to terminate such activities and to eliminate the remaining military bases in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and also calls upon the administering Powers to promote alternative sources of livelihood for the peoples of the Territories concerned; 13. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests that the administering Powers take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 14. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 15. Calls upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2003; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as of the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 57/141 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 132 to 1, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.48/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Turkey Abstaining: Colombia, Venezuela 57/141. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33 of 24 November 1999, 55/7 of 30 October 2000, 56/12 of 28 November 2001 and other relevant resolutions adopted subsequent to the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention")See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). on 16 November 1994, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention and its fundamental importance for the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security, as well as for the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Convinced of the need, building on arrangements established in accordance with the Convention, to improve coordination at the national level and cooperation and coordination at both intergovernmental and inter-agency levels, in order to address all aspects of oceans and seas in an integrated manner, Recognizing the important role that the competent international organizations have in relation to ocean affairs, in implementing the Convention and in promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Welcoming the outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I. Recalling the essential role of international cooperation and coordination in promoting the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, and recalling also that the role of international cooperation and coordination on a bilateral basis and, where applicable, within a subregional, regional, interregional or global framework is to support and supplement the national efforts of all States, including coastal States, in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention and the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, Recalling also article 200 of the Convention, in which States are encouraged to participate actively in regional and global programmes to acquire knowledge for the assessment of the nature and extent of marine pollution, and welcoming in this regard the recommendation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to establish by 2004 a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments,Ibid., resolution 2, annex, para. 36 (b). Underlining once again the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, including through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national and local capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of oceans and their resources, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/57 and Add.1. and emphasizing in this regard the critical role of the annual comprehensive report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review, Taking note also of the report on the work of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process ("the Consultative Process") established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 in order to facilitate the annual review by the Assembly of developments in ocean affairs at its third meeting,See A/57/80. Reiterating its concern at the adverse impacts on the marine environment from ships, including pollution, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances and the dumping of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, as well as physical impacts on coral, Welcoming resolution GC(46)/RES/9 adopted on 20 September 2002 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-sixth regular session, concerning measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation, transport and waste safety, including those aspects relating to maritime transport safety,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC(2002)). Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and in this context the expected increase in responsibilities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in view of the progress in the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission") and the anticipated receipt of submissions from States, in addition to the expected growing involvement of the Division with requests for technical assistance from States and its role in inter-agency coordination and cooperation, I. Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the ConventionSee The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement");See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 2. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention; 3. Once again calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention are in conformity therewith and, otherwise, to withdraw any of their declarations or statements that are not in conformity; 4. Encourages States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts and lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 5. Welcomes the entry into force on 11 December 2001 of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to it; 6. Emphasizes the essential need also to improve the implementation of international agreements in accordance with article 311 of the Convention and, where appropriate, to foster the conditions for the application of instruments of a voluntary nature, and recalls the important role of international organizations in achieving these goals; II. World Summit on Sustainable Development 7. Welcomes the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"), adopted on 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. which once again emphasizes the importance of addressing the sustainable development of oceans and seas and provides for the further implementation of chapter 17 of Agenda 21;Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. 8. Also welcomes the commitments set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation to actions at all levels, within specific periods for certain goals, to ensure the sustainable development of the oceans, including sustainable fisheries, the promotion of the conservation and management of the oceans, the enhancement of maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment from pollution, and the improvement of scientific understanding and assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems as a fundamental basis for sound decision-making; III. Meeting of States Parties 9. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the thirteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York from 9 to 13 June 2003 and to provide the services required; IV. Settlement of disputes 10. Notes with satisfaction the continued contribution of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, underlines its important role and authority concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, encourages States parties to the Convention to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, and invites States parties to note the provisions of annexes V, VI, VII and VIII to the Convention concerning, respectively, conciliation, the Tribunal, arbitration and special arbitration; 11. Equally pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 12. Recalls the obligation under article 296 of the Convention requiring all parties to a dispute before a court or a tribunal referred to in article 287 of the Convention to comply promptly with any decision rendered by such court or tribunal; 13. Encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to nominate conciliators and arbitrators in accordance with annexes V and VII to the Convention, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to update and circulate lists of these conciliators and arbitrators on a regular basis; V. The Area 14. Notes with satisfaction the first examination by the Council of the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority") of annual reports on prospecting and exploration for polymetallic nodules in the Area submitted by contractors to the Authority; 15. Notes the preliminary discussion of issues relating to the regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts in the Area; 16. Reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration by the Authority, pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and the prevention of damage to its flora and fauna from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; VI. Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 17. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and to the Tribunal in full and on time, and appeals also to all former provisional members of the Authority to pay any outstanding contributions; 18. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalSPLOS/25. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;ISBA/4/A/8, annex. VII. The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 19. Notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission, especially that the consideration of submissions regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles has begun with receipt of the first submission, made by the Russian Federation on 20 December 2001; 20. Encourages States parties that are in a position to do so to make every effort to make submissions to the Commission within the time period established by the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/72. 21. Encourages States and relevant international organizations and institutions to consider developing and making available training courses to assist developing States in the preparation of such submissions, based on the outline for a five-day training courseCLCS/24 and Corr.1. prepared by the Commission in order to facilitate the preparation of submissions in accordance with its Scientific and Technical Guidelines;CLCS/11 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Corr.1. 22. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the twelfth session of the Commission in New York from 28 April to 2 May 2003, followed by two weeks of meetings of a subcommission in the event that a submission is made to the Commission, and of the thirteenth session of the Commission from 25 to 29 August 2003; VIII. Marine science and technology 23. Stresses the importance of the issues of marine science and technology and the need to focus on how best to implement the many obligations of States and competent international organizations under Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention, and calls upon States to adopt, as appropriate and in accordance with international law, such national laws, regulations, policies and procedures as are necessary to promote and facilitate marine scientific research and cooperation, especially those relating to consent for marine scientific research projects as provided for in the Convention; 24. Calls upon States, through national and regional institutions, to ensure that, in respect of marine scientific research conducted pursuant to Part XIII of the Convention in areas over which a coastal State has jurisdiction, the rights of the coastal State under the Convention are respected and that, at the request of the coastal State, information, reports, results, conclusions and assessments of data, samples and research results are made available, and access to data and samples are provided, to that coastal State; 25. Urges relevant bodies of the United Nations system to develop, with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization acting as a focal point and, where appropriate, other competent organizations, appropriate interactions in the field of marine science with regional fisheries organizations, environmental and scientific bodies or regional centres foreseen by Part XIV of the Convention, and encourages States to strengthen existing centres and to establish, where appropriate, such regional centres; IX. Maritime safety and security 26. Urges all States and relevant international bodies to cooperate to prevent and combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building, prevention, reporting and investigating incidents, and bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and through the adoption of national legislation, as well as through training seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel, providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 27. Calls upon States and private entities concerned to cooperate fully with the International Maritime Organization, including by submitting reports on incidents to the organization and by implementing its guidelines on preventing attacks of piracy and armed robbery; 28. Urges States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and its Protocol,International Maritime Organization publication, Sales No. 462.88.12E. invites States to participate in the review of those instruments by the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization to strengthen the means of combating such unlawful acts, including terrorist acts, and further urges States to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments, in particular through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate, aimed at ensuring that there is a proper framework for responses to incidents of armed robbery and terrorist acts at sea; 29. Welcomes initiatives at the International Maritime Organization to counter the threat to maritime security from terrorism, and encourages States to support this endeavour fully, including at the Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, which is being held in London from 9 to 13 December 2002; 30. Once again invites the International Hydrographic Organization, in cooperation with other relevant international organizations and interested Member States, to provide the necessary assistance to States, in particular to developing countries, in order to enhance hydrographic capability to ensure, in particular, the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment; 31. Notes the increasing problem of unsafe transport at sea generally, and particularly in the smuggling of migrants; 32. Urges Member States to work together cooperatively and with the International Maritime Organization to strengthen measures to prevent the embarkation of ships involved in the smuggling of migrants; 33. Urges States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex III. and to take appropriate measures to ensure its effective implementation; 34. Welcomes the initiatives by the International Maritime Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration to address the issue of the treatment of persons rescued at sea; X. Capacity-building 35. Reiterates its call in paragraph 8 of its resolution 56/12, in line as well with the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, for reviews by the relevant international organizations and financial institutions and the donor community of the efforts to build capacity in order to identify the gaps that may need to be filled for ensuring consistent approaches, both nationally and internationally, in order to implement the Convention and chapter 17 of Agenda 21; 36. Calls upon bilateral and multilateral donor agencies to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the rights of landlocked developing States; 37. Calls upon States and international financial institutions, including through bilateral, regional and international cooperation programmes and technical partnerships, to continue to strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training the necessary skilled personnel, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels, and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 38. Calls upon the United Nations Environment Programme, working within the Global Resource Information Database (GRID) system for data and information management, to expand on a voluntary basis the capacity of existing GRID centres to store and handle research data from the outer continental margin, on a basis to be mutually agreed with the coastal State, and complementary to existing regional data centres, giving due regard to confidentiality needs and in accordance with Part XIII of the Convention, and making use of existing data management mechanisms under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the International Hydrographic Organization, with a view to serving the needs of coastal States, and in particular developing countries and small island developing States, in their compliance with article 76 of the Convention; 39. Encourages States to assist developing States, and especially least developed States and small island developing States, on a bilateral and, where appropriate, regional level, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission, including the assessment of the nature of the continental shelf of a coastal State made in the form of a desktop study, and the mapping of the outer limits of its continental shelf; 40. Requests the Secretary-General to compile in a uniform format a directory of sources of training, advice and expertise and technological services, including relevant institutions and other sources of technical information and practice, which may contribute to the preparation of such submissions, to be available to Member States and to be posted on the web site of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Secretariat, bearing in mind that an entry in the directory would not imply official endorsement by the Secretariat of any such sources; XI. Marine environment, marine resources and sustainable development 41. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 42. Calls upon States to continue to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, as a means of implementing the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;A/51/116, annex II. 43. Also calls upon States to advance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,E/CN.17/2002/PC.2/15, annex, sect. 1. to enhance maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment from pollution and other physical impacts, and to improve the scientific understanding and assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems as a fundamental basis for sound decision-making through the actions identified in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 44. Invites all relevant United Nations agencies to review individually their arrangements for collecting information and data relevant to the marine environment and for ensuring the quality of those data, using to the fullest possible extent what is available at the regional level, and to consider collectively how to ensure that the resulting information and data sets provide, within the constraints of existing resources, an acceptably consistent, coherent and comprehensive basis for international decision-making; 45. Decides to establish by 2004 a regular process under the United Nations for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, and requests the Secretary-General, in close collaboration with Member States, relevant organizations and agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, namely, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Meteorological Organization and the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, other competent intergovernmental organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, to prepare proposals on modalities for a regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, drawing, inter alia, upon the work of the United Nations Environment Programme pursuant to Governing Council decision 21/13, and taking into account the recently completed review by the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection, and to submit these proposals to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session for its consideration and decision, including on the convening of a possible intergovernmental meeting; 46. Encourages States to ratify or to accede to international agreements to prevent, reduce, control and eliminate pollution from ships, dumping, the carriage of hazardous and noxious substances, anti-fouling systems on ships and persistent organic pollutants, as well as agreements that provide for compensation for damage resulting from marine pollution; 47. Welcomes the decision of the International Maritime Organization to approve in principle the concept of a voluntary Model Audit Scheme as a means of enhancing the performance of member States in implementing appropriate conventions of the organization relating to maritime safety and the prevention of maritime pollution, and encourages the organization to continue to develop such a scheme; 48. Notes with deep concern the extremely serious damage of an environmental, social and economic nature brought about by oil spills as a result of recent maritime accidents which have affected several countries, and therefore calls upon all States and relevant international organizations to adopt all necessary and appropriate measures in accordance with international law to prevent catastrophes of this kind from occurring in the future; 49. Invites States to cooperate at the regional level to develop regionally shared goals and timetables in pursuance of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, including through regional seas conventions; 50. Calls upon States to take measures for the protection and preservation of coral reefs and to support international efforts in this regard, in particular the measures outlined in decision VI/3 adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its sixth meeting, held in The Hague from 7 to 19 April 2002;See UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I. 51. Also calls upon States to develop national, regional and international programmes for halting the loss of marine biodiversity, in particular fragile ecosystems; 52. Further calls upon States to accelerate the development of measures to address the problem of invasive alien species in ballast water, and urges the International Maritime Organization to finalize the International Convention on the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments; 53. Calls upon States to promote the conservation and management of the oceans in accordance with chapter 17 of Agenda 21 and other relevant international instruments, to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools, including the ecosystem approach, the elimination of destructive fishing practices, the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012 and time/area closures for the protection of nursery grounds and periods, proper coastal and land use and watershed planning, and the integration of marine and coastal areas management into key sectors; 54. Welcomes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which has special knowledge and expertise in various aspects of fisheries, in implementing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. for the conservation and management of fisheries resources; 55. Urges States to take all necessary steps to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted by the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, no. 9. including through relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 56. Encourages relevant international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Hydrographic Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the International Seabed Authority, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization, the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Secretariat (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea), with the assistance of regional and subregional fisheries organizations, to consider urgently ways to integrate and improve, on a scientific basis, the management of risks to marine biodiversity of seamounts and certain other underwater features within the framework of the Convention; XII. Regional cooperation 57. Emphasizes the importance of regional organizations and arrangements for cooperation and coordination in integrated oceans management, and, where there are separate regional structures for different aspects of oceans management, such as environmental protection, fisheries management, navigation, scientific research and maritime delimitation, calls for those different structures, where appropriate, to work together for optimal cooperation and coordination; 58. Takes note of the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and also takes note of the Caribbean-focused Trust Fund established by the Conference on Maritime Delimitation in the Caribbean, held in Mexico City from 6 to 8 May 2002, which is intended to facilitate, mainly as a conduit for technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these Funds; 59. Also takes note of the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy approved at the thirty-third meeting of the Pacific Island Forum, held in Suva from 15 to 17 August 2002;See A/57/331, annex 2. XIII. Open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea 60. Reaffirms its decision to undertake an annual review and evaluation of the implementation of the Convention and other developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, welcomes the work of the Consultative Process over the past three years, notes the contribution of the Consultative Process to strengthening the annual debate of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of the sea, and decides to continue with the Consultative Process for the next three years, in accordance with resolution 54/33, with a further review of its effectiveness and utility by the Assembly at its sixtieth session; 61. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the meeting of the Consultative Process in New York from 2 to 6 June 2003, and to provide it with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work and to arrange for support to be provided by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, in cooperation with other relevant parts of the Secretariat, including the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as appropriate; 62. Recommends that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea at its meeting, the Consultative Process should organize its discussions around the following areas: (a) Protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems; (b) The safety of navigation; for example, capacity-building for the production of nautical charts; as well as issues discussed at previous meetings; XIV. Inter-agency coordination and cooperation 63. Invites the Secretary-General to establish an effective, transparent and regular inter-agency coordination mechanism on oceans and coastal issues within the United Nations system; 64. Recommends that this new mechanism should have a clear mandate and be established on the basis of principles of continuity, regularity and accountability, taking into account paragraph 49 of Part A of the report on the work of the Consultative Process at its third meeting;See A/57/80. 65. Invites Member States and, where appropriate, competent international organizations to identify focal points for the exchange of practical and administrative information concerning law of the sea and ocean issues with the Secretariat; 66. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, drawing their attention to paragraphs of particular relevance to them, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 67. Invites the competent international organizations, as well as funding institutions, to take specific account of the present resolution in their programmes and activities and to contribute to the preparation of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea; XV. Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 68. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea,A/57/57 and Add.1. prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as for the other activities of the Division, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the mandate set forth in resolutions 49/28, 52/26, 54/33 and 56/12; 69. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to him in the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for the performance of such responsibilities under the approved budget for the Organization; 70. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to support the training activities under the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; XVI. Trust funds and fellowships 71. Recognizes the importance of the trust funds established by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 55/7 for the purpose of assisting States in the settlement of disputes through the Tribunal,See resolution 55/7, para. 9. and of assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission in compliance with article 76 of the Convention,Ibid., para. 18. in defraying the cost of participation of Commission members in the meetings of the Commission,Ibid., para. 20. and in attending the meetings of the Consultative Process,Ibid., para. 45. as well as other trust fundsSee ISBA/8/A/11, para. 12. established for the purpose of assisting States in the implementation of the Convention, and invites States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to these trust funds; 72. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Programme on the Law of the Sea established by the General Assembly in its resolution 35/116 of 10 December 1980; XVII. Fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly 73. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including other developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, in connection with his annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, and to provide the report in accordance with the modalities set out in resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and also requests the Secretary-General to make the report available, in its current comprehensive format, at least six weeks in advance of the meeting of the Consultative Process; 74. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". RESOLUTION 57/142 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.49 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Guinea, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu 57/142. Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas/illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 and 49/118 of 19 December 1994, 50/25 of 5 December 1995, 51/36 of 9 December 1996, 52/29 of 26 November 1997, 53/33 of 24 November 1998 and 55/8 of 30 October 2000, as well as other resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments, and bearing in mind resolution 57/143 of 12 December 2002, Noting that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsInternational Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. sets out principles and global standards of behaviour for responsible practices to conserve, manage and develop fisheries, including guidelines for fishing on the high seas and in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, and on fishing gear selectivity and practices, with the aim of reducing by-catch and discards, Welcoming the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I. concerning the importance of achieving sustainable fisheries to the maintenance of oceans, seas, islands and coastal areas as an integrated and essential component of the Earth's ecosystem, for global food security and for sustaining economic prosperity and the well-being of many national economies, particularly in developing countries, Noting the importance of the wide application of the precautionary approach to the conservation, management and exploitation of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in accordance with the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Noting also the importance of implementing the principles elaborated in article 5 of the Agreement, including ecosystem considerations, in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, Noting further the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine EcosystemE/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. and decisions V/6See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23, annex III. and VI/12See UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I. of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Recognizing the importance of integrated, multidisciplinary and multisectoral coastal and ocean management at the national, subregional and regional levels, Recognizing also that coordination and cooperation at the global, regional, subregional as well as national levels in the areas, inter alia, of data collection, information-sharing, capacity-building and training are crucial for the conservation, management and sustainable development of marine living resources, Recognizing further the duty provided as a principle in the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas ("the Compliance Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. the Agreement and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag and vessels flying their flag which provide support to such vessels, and to ensure that the activities of such vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Emphasizing the call made in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. for States to ratify or accede to and then effectively implement the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, and noting with concern that the latter agreement has not yet entered into force, Noting that the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in February 1999 adopted international plans of action for the management of fishing capacity, for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries and for the conservation and management of sharks, and noting with concern that only a small number of countries have begun implementation of the international plans of action, Concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing threatens seriously to deplete populations of certain fish species and significantly damage marine ecosystems and that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has a detrimental impact on sustainable fisheries, including the food security and the economies of many States, particularly developing States, and in that regard urging States and entities referred to in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention")See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b) of the Agreement to collaborate in efforts to address these types of fishing activities, Welcoming the adoption by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2001 of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, no. 9. which focuses on the primary responsibility of the flag State and the use of all available jurisdiction in accordance with international law, including port State measures, coastal State measures, market-related measures and measures to ensure that nationals do not support or engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Noting that the objective of the International Plan of Action is to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by providing all States with comprehensive, effective and transparent measures by which to act, including through appropriate regional fisheries management organizations in accordance with international law, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/459. and emphasizing the useful role that the report plays in bringing together information relating to the sustainable development of the world's marine living resources provided by States, relevant international organizations, regional and subregional fisheries organizations and non-governmental organizations, Noting with satisfaction that the incidence of reported large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing activities in most regions of the world's oceans and seas has continued to be low, Concerned that the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources, Expressing its continuing concern that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift nets that contravene the resolution, Expressing concern at the significant level of by-catch, including of juvenile fish, and discards in several of the world's fisheries, recognizing that the development and use of selective, environmentally safe and cost-effective fishing gear and techniques will be important for reducing or eliminating by-catch and discards, and calling attention to the impact this activity can have on efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks, including restoring some stocks to sustainable levels, Expressing concern also at the reports of continued loss of seabirds, particularly albatrosses, as a result of incidental mortality from longline fishing operations, and the loss of other marine species, including sharks and fin-fish species, as a result of incidental mortality, noting with satisfaction the successful conclusion of negotiations on the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and encouraging States to give due consideration to participation in this Agreement, Noting with satisfaction the recent entry into force of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles and Their Habitats, which contains provisions to minimize the incidental catch of sea turtles in fishing operations, Noting with satisfaction also the recent adoption of regional sea turtle conservation instruments in the West African and Indian Ocean-South East Asia regions, Recognizing the continuing need for the International Maritime Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, in particular its Regional Seas programme, and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to address the issue of marine debris derived from land-based and ship-generated sources of pollution, including derelict fishing gear, which can cause mortality and habitat destruction of marine living resources, 1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the Convention,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in part V and part VII, section 2, of the Convention regarding straddling stocks, highly migratory species, marine mammals, anadromous stocks and marine living resources of the high seas, and where applicable, the Agreement;International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. 2. Also reaffirms the commitment made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to restore depleted fish stocks on an urgent basis and where possible not later than 2015;See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I. 3. Urges all States to apply the precautionary approach widely to the conservation, management and exploitation of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and calls upon States parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the Agreement as a matter of priority; 4. Encourages States to apply by 2010 the ecosystem approach, notes the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine EcosystemE/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. and decisions V/6See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23, annex III. and VI/12See UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I. of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, supports continuing work under way in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop guidelines for the implementation of ecosystem considerations in fisheries management, and notes the importance of relevant provisions of the Agreement and the Code of Conduct for Responsible FisheriesInternational Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. to this approach; 5. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to compliance with its resolutions 46/215, 49/116, 49/118, 50/25, 52/29, 53/33 and 55/8, and urges States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions; 6. Reiterates the importance of efforts by States directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional and subregional organizations, and by other international organizations, including through financial and/or technical assistance, to increase the capacity of developing States to achieve the goals and implement the actions called for in the present resolution; 7. Appeals to States and regional fisheries organizations, including regional fisheries management bodies and regional fisheries arrangements, to promote the application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries within their areas of competence; 8. Encourages coastal States to develop ocean policies and mechanisms on integrated management, including at the subregional and regional levels, and also including assistance to developing States in accomplishing these objectives; 9. Calls upon States and other entities referred to in article 10, paragraph 1, of the Compliance AgreementInternational Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. that have not deposited instruments of acceptance of the Compliance Agreement to do so as a matter of priority; 10. Calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas or in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, unless duly authorized by the authorities of the States concerned and in accordance with the conditions set out in the authorization, without having effective control over their activities, and to take specific measures, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, to control fishing operations by vessels flying their flag; 11. Also calls upon States, in accordance with Agenda 21, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. to take effective action, consistent with international law, to deter reflagging of vessels by their nationals as a means of avoiding compliance with applicable conservation and management measures for fishing vessels on the high seas; 12. Notes with satisfaction the continuing activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through its Interregional Programme of Assistance to Developing Countries for the Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, including the Global Partnerships for Responsible Fisheries, as a special programme funded through donor trust fund contributions aimed at, inter alia, promoting the implementation of the Code of Conduct and its associated international plans of action; 13. Encourages States to implement directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, the international plans of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for reducing the incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries, for the conservation and management of sharks and for the management of fishing capacity, since, according to the timetables contained within the international plans of action, progress on implementation, in particular through the development of national plans of action, should be either completed or at an advanced stage; 14. Urges States to develop and implement national and, where appropriate, regional plans of action, to put into effect by 2004 the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsSee Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, no. 9. and to establish effective monitoring, reporting and enforcement and control of fishing vessels, including by flag States, to further the International Plan of Action; 15. Also urges States, as a matter of priority, to coordinate their activities and cooperate directly and, as appropriate, through relevant regional fisheries management organizations, in the implementation of the International Plan of Action, to promote information-sharing, to encourage the full participation of all stakeholders, and in all efforts to coordinate all the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with other international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization; 16. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its cooperative arrangements with United Nations agencies on the implementation of the International Plan of Action and to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his annual report on oceans and the law of the sea, on priorities for cooperation and coordination in this work; 17. Affirms the need to strengthen, where necessary, the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in a manner consistent with international law; 18. Notes with satisfaction the continuing activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations aimed at providing assistance to developing countries in upgrading their capabilities in monitoring, control and surveillance, including through its Global Partnerships for Responsible Fisheries project, "Management for Responsible Fisheries, Phase I", which provides assistance to developing countries in upgrading their capabilities in monitoring, control and surveillance, and improving the provision of scientific advice for fisheries management; 19. Also notes with satisfaction the establishment of the International Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Network for Fisheries-Related Activities, a voluntary network of monitoring, control and surveillance professionals designed to facilitate exchange of information and to support countries in satisfying their obligations pursuant to international agreements, in particular the Compliance Agreement, and encourages States to consider becoming members of the Network; 20. Urges States to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to over-capacity, while completing the efforts undertaken at the World Trade Organization to clarify and improve its disciplines on fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector to developing countries; 21. Urges States, relevant international organizations and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements that have not done so to take action to reduce or eliminate by-catch, fish discards and post-harvest losses, including juvenile fish, consistent with international law and relevant international instruments, including the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and in particular to consider measures including, as appropriate, technical measures related to fish size, mesh size or gear, discards, closed seasons and areas and zones reserved for selected fisheries, particularly artisanal fisheries, the establishment of mechanisms for communicating information on areas of high concentration of juvenile fish, taking into account the importance of ensuring confidentiality of such information, and support for studies and research that will minimize by-catch of juvenile fish; 22. Notes with satisfaction the activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility, aimed at promoting the reduction of by-catch and discards in fisheries activities; 23. Calls upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, in particular its Regional Seas programme, the International Maritime Organization, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations to take up, as a matter of priority, the issue of marine debris as it relates to fisheries and, where appropriate, to promote better coordination and help States to implement fully relevant international agreements, including annex V to the Guidelines of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto; 24. Invites States entitled to become parties to the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles and their Habitats to consider doing so, and to participate in its work; 25. Invites States entitled to become parties to the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the Atlantic Coast of Africa and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and Their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia to consider doing so, and to participate in their work; 26. Invites regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that all States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participate in such arrangements, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and to invite them to provide the Secretary-General with information relevant to the implementation of the present resolution; 28. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments", taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and consisting of elements to be provided by the General Assembly in its resolution on fisheries to be adopted at its fifty-eighth session; 29. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", a sub-item entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments". RESOLUTION 57/143 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 12 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.50 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Guinea, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu 57/143. Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and bearing in mind the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. Recalling also its resolution 56/13 of 28 November 2001, and bearing in mind its resolution 57/142 of 12 December 2002, Recognizing that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement sets forth provisions concerning the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including provisions on subregional and regional cooperation in enforcement, binding dispute settlement and the rights and obligations of States in authorizing the use of vessels flying their flags for fishing on the high seas, Welcoming the entry into force of the Agreement, and noting that the entry into force of the Agreement entails responsibilities for States parties and other important considerations as outlined in the Agreement, Welcoming also the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I. in particular those relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, Deploring the fact that the straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to sparsely regulated and heavy fishing efforts, mainly as a result of, inter alia, unauthorized fishing, inadequate regulatory measures and excess fishing capacity, Recognizing that insufficient monitoring, control and surveillance measures and inadequate flag State control over vessels fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks in many parts of the world exacerbate the problem of overfishing, and recognizing also the urgent need for capacity-building in monitoring, control and surveillance measures and addressing inadequate flag State control for developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, Conscious that the Agreement requires States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, taking into account the specific characteristics of the subregion or region, to ensure the effective conservation, management and long-term sustainability of such stocks, and to establish such organizations or arrangements where none exist, Recognizing the obligation of States to cooperate, either directly or through subregional, regional or global organizations, to enhance the ability of developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to conserve and manage straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and to develop their own fisheries for such stocks, Calling attention to the circumstances affecting fisheries in many developing States, in particular African States and small island developing States, Taking into account that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. States fishing for straddling fish stocks or highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, shall give effect to their duty to cooperate either directly or by becoming members of the subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or participants in arrangements of that nature, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such organizations or arrangements, and that States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, Recognizing the importance of the Agreement for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and the need for the regular consideration by the General Assembly of developments relating thereto, Noting the outcomes of the first informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, and taking into account the recommendations to the General Assembly by the States parties that participated in that meeting,See A/57/57/Add.1. Emphasizing that, as recognized during the first informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, implementation of the provisions in Part VII of the Agreement is fundamental to the successful implementation of the Agreement and, in particular, to assisting developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, in meeting their obligations and realizing their rights under the Agreement, Welcoming the conclusion of negotiations, and the ongoing preparatory work, to establish new regional instruments, arrangements and organizations in several heretofore unmanaged fisheries, and noting the role of the Convention and the Agreement, while taking into account the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, in the elaboration of these instruments, arrangements and organizations, Welcoming also the fact that a growing number of States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, have enacted legislation, established regulations, adopted conventions or taken other measures as steps towards implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, 1. Expresses its deep satisfaction at the entry into force of the Agreement;International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. 2. Calls upon all States, and entities referred to in the ConventionSee The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, that have not done so to ratify or accede to it and to consider applying it provisionally; 3. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement; 4. Reaffirms the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I. in particular those relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks; 5. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, including those provisions relating to bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation in enforcement, and urges continued efforts in this regard; 6. Urges all States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to ensure the effective conservation, management and long-term sustainability of such stocks, to agree upon measures necessary to coordinate and, where there are no subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in respect of particular straddling or highly migratory fish stocks, to cooperate to establish such organizations or enter into other appropriate arrangements; 7. Welcomes the initiation of negotiations and ongoing preparatory work to establish regional and subregional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in several fisheries, and urges participants in those negotiations to apply provisions of the Convention and the Agreement to their work; 8. Calls upon all States to ensure that their vessels comply with the conservation and management measures that have been adopted by subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention and of the Agreement; 9. Invites States and international financial institutions and organizations of the United Nations system to provide assistance according to Part VII of the Agreement, including, if appropriate, the development of special financial mechanisms or instruments to assist developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to enable them to develop their national capacity to exploit fishery resources, including developing their domestically flagged fishing fleet, value-added processing and the expansion of their economic base in the fishing industry, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of those fisheries resources; 10. Invites States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to develop projects, programmes and partnerships with relevant stakeholders and mobilize resources for the effective implementation of the outcome of the African Process for the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment, and to consider the inclusion of fisheries components in this work; 11. Also invites States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to further implement sustainable fisheries management and improve financial returns from fisheries by supporting and strengthening relevant regional fisheries management organizations, as appropriate, such as the recently established Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism and such agreements as the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific; 12. Recognizes the benefits of developing a programme of assistance with multiple components in accordance with Part VII of the Agreement, to complement programmes at the bilateral, subregional, regional and global levels; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his next report on the status and implementation of the Agreement a background study on current activities under Part VII of the Agreement, and emphasizes the importance of this request to the successful development of terms of reference for a Part VII fund, calls for the study to include a survey of current assistance programmes under way in support of Part VII principles and an analysis of such programmes, and requests that the study be completed before the next round of informal consultations of the Secretary-General with States parties to the Agreement; 14. Considers that one component of a programme of assistance to be developed in accordance with Part VII of the Agreement should be the establishment of a voluntary trust fund (Part VII fund) within the United Nations system, to support developing States parties, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, dedicated to Part VII implementation, notes the role of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as the specialized agency responsible for fisheries, and that of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat as the secretariat for the Agreement, and requests the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization at its next meeting to consider its participation in the development and management of the Part VII fund; 15. Urges States parties to the Agreement to develop detailed terms of reference for the Part VII fund, and requests that the following activities be considered for early implementation through the Part VII fund: (a) Facilitating the participation of developing States parties in relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; (b) Assisting with travel costs associated with the participation of developing States parties in meetings of relevant global organizations; (c) Supporting ongoing and future negotiations to establish new regional or subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in areas where such bodies are not currently in place, and to strengthen existing subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; (d) Building capacity for activities in key areas such as monitoring, control and surveillance, data collection and scientific research; (e) Exchanging information and experience on the implementation of the Agreement; (f) Assisting with human resources development and technical assistance; 16. Emphasizes the importance of outreach to potential donor organizations to contribute to the programme of assistance; 17. Recalls paragraph 6 of its resolution 56/13, and requests the Secretary-General to convene a second round of informal consultations with States that have either ratified or acceded to the Agreement, for the purposes and objectives of considering the national, regional, subregional and global implementation of the Agreement, and making any appropriate recommendation to the General Assembly; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to invite States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, not party to the Agreement, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant international financial institutions, regional fishery bodies and arrangements and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the second round of informal consultations with States parties to the Agreement as observers; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to develop, in consultation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a voluntary survey to solicit information from States parties and other States that may wish to participate, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, on activities related to the implementation of provisions of the Agreement, similar to the survey currently in use by the Food and Agriculture Organization concerning implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. with a view to encouraging through this mechanism a greater exchange of information with regard to implementation of the Agreement, and to include the results of the survey in the report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, on the understanding that such a report will also be available to the second round of informal consultations of States parties for their consideration; 20. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments", taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and consisting of elements to be provided by the General Assembly in its resolution on fisheries to be adopted at the fifty-eighth session; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", a sub-item entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments". RESOLUTION 57/144 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.61, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 57/144. Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration as the outcome of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, held at Headquarters from 6 to 8 September 2000, as well as its resolutions 55/162 of 14 December 2000 and 56/95 of 14 December 2001 on the follow-up, Recognizing the important contributions made by the conferences and special sessions, in particular the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Reaffirming the importance of the implementation of and follow-up to the Millennium Declaration in a comprehensive, integrated, coordinated and balanced manner at the national, regional and international levels, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;A/57/270 and Corr.1. 2. Recognizes the uneven progress made so far in achieving the objectives agreed upon in the Millennium Declaration, and urges Member States to continue to undertake with determination appropriate measures towards its implementation; 3. Invites the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, and encourages other interested parties, including civil society and the private sector, to continue to pursue vigorously the achievement of the objectives and goals contained in the Millennium Declaration; 4. Also invites the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization to engage in the review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to include in his next report information on the support to be provided by the United Nations system in this regard; 5. Calls upon Member States to support, as appropriate, the measures set forth in the thematic sections of the report on preventing armed conflict, and the treatment and prevention of major diseases, including the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria and tuberculosis; 6. Decides to consider, at its fifty-eighth session, convening a high-level plenary meeting during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly on the review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and consideration of the quinquennial comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the progress achieved towards implementing the Millennium Declaration; 7. Also decides that the review process of the implementation of the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration will be considered within the framework of the integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, while taking into account the need to attach more importance, coherence and visibility to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and its review process; 8. Invites the United Nations system, in cooperation with Member States, to promote awareness of the Millennium Declaration, and the development goals contained therein, through increased dissemination of information and widespread publicity; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit". RESOLUTION 57/145 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.6/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Georgia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, South Africa, Ukraine 57/145. Responding to global threats and challenges The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the coordinating and leading role of the United Nations in establishing a cohesive and effective system for responding to global threats and challenges, Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. which state that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their individual societies, States have a collective responsibility to manage threats to international peace and security and to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level, Noting with concern various global threats and challenges, in particular those posed by international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, transnational organized crime, regional conflicts, poverty, unsustainable development, illicit drug trafficking, money-laundering, infectious diseases, environmental degradation, natural disasters, complex emergency situations and others, Recognizing the importance, in the context of implementing the Millennium Declaration, of a comprehensive approach aimed at addressing global threats and challenges in accordance with the Charter, international law and relevant international instruments, Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to ensure the coordinated implementation of all the provisions of the Millennium Declaration, 1. Acknowledges the importance of further adapting the United Nations to address the threats and challenges of the twenty-first century and the need to enhance the overall effectiveness and complementarity of the United Nations system in combating international terrorism and transnational organized crime, in promoting peace, security, disarmament, conflict prevention, peacekeeping, development and poverty eradication, in protecting the environment, in providing humanitarian response and in other fields, as well as the need to increase interaction between the United Nations and other international and regional organizations; 2. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the executive heads of the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, and taking into account the views of Member States and those of international and regional organizations cooperating with the United Nations, to study ways and means to promote further, with the United Nations lead, in the context of implementation of the Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. in all its aspects, a more comprehensive and coherent response to the global threats and challenges of the twenty-first century; 3. Invites Member States and the relevant regional and other organizations to contribute their views on the issues referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above to the Secretary-General; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to include his observations on the issues referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above in his report on the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/146 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.43/Rev.1 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/146. Special assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on special assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling also all resolutions of the Security Council and the statements by its President regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling further the Ceasefire Agreement signed in LusakaS/1999/815, annex. and the Kampala disengagement plan,See S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. the obligations of all signatories to those agreements and the obligations deriving from all relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1304 (2000) of 16 June 2000, Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all States in the region, Alarmed at the plight of the civilian population throughout the country, and calling for its protection, Gravely concerned at the deteriorating humanitarian, economic and social situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in eastern Congo, and at the effect of the continued fighting on the inhabitants of the country, especially women and children, Deeply concerned at the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic, in particular among women and girls, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Expressing its deep concern at the dire consequences of the conflict for the humanitarian and human rights situations and at the findings contained in the reports on the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the CongoSee S/2001/357, S/2001/1072 and S/2002/1146. in this regard, Gravely concerned at the negative impact of war on the promotion of sustainable development in the Great Lakes Region, Deeply concerned at the continued extensive destruction of life and property, as well as the severe damage to infrastructure and the environment suffered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bearing in mind the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo hosts thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries, which places a great burden on its limited resources, and expressing the hope that conditions will be created that will facilitate a safe and voluntary return of refugees, Recalling that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a least developed country with severe economic and social problems arising from its weak economic infrastructure and aggravated by the ongoing conflict, Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between ensuring peace and security and the ability of the country to meet the humanitarian needs of its people and take effective steps towards the rapid revitalization of the economy, and reaffirming the urgent need to assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of its damaged economy and in its efforts to restore basic services and the infrastructure of the country, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/377. 2. Welcomes the signature by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda of the Peace Agreement in Pretoria on 30 July 2002S/2002/914, annex. and the signature by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Uganda of the Luanda Agreement on 6 September 2002, and also welcomes the efforts of the Governments of South Africa and Angola, and of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in facilitating the adoption of these agreements; 3. Urges all parties concerned in the region to cease military activities and to cease any support for armed groups; 4. Welcomes the decision taken by all foreign parties fully to withdraw their troops from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the progress made in the implementation of those processes, stresses the importance of the withdrawals being completed in a transparent, orderly and verified manner, and calls upon the signatories to these agreements to implement them fully; 5. Urges all parties concerned in the region to cease any recruitment, training and use of child soldiers, welcomes the initial steps taken by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to demobilize and reintegrate child soldiers, and urges the Government and all parties to continue their efforts in this regard; 6. Welcomes the commitment of the Congolese parties to achieve an inclusive agreement on the political transition, stresses the importance of such an agreement to the wider peace process, and calls upon all Congolese parties to cooperate actively with a view to the speedy conclusion of such an agreement which is needed for improved humanitarian access; 7. Stresses that a successful conclusion to the peace process and the resumption of economic activity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are inextricably linked, and underlines the need for further international economic assistance in this regard; 8. Expresses its deep concern at the worsening humanitarian situation throughout the country and the very high number of internally displaced persons in the eastern part and, in particular, in the Ituri region, and urges all parties to avoid further population displacement and to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of origin; 9. Also expresses its deep concern especially at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Ituri region, calls upon all Congolese parties on the ground to cooperate fully within the Ituri Pacification Commission with a view to reaching an agreement promptly, and calls upon all States in the region to bring their influence to bear on the Congolese parties so that this agreement can be reached as soon as possible; 10. Welcomes the adoption of new coordination mechanisms aimed at ensuring a coherent and effective response to the multifaceted humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 11. Urges compliance with international human rights law, and urges all parties to respect international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the additional Protocols thereto, of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 12. Urges all parties to respect fully international humanitarian law so as to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the safety of United Nations and humanitarian personnel; 13. Calls for the reopening of the Kisangani-Kindu rail and river link in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as access for humanitarian personnel; 14. Calls upon the international community to increase its support for humanitarian relief activities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 15. Invites Governments to continue to provide support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 16. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to consult urgently with regional leaders, in coordination with the Interim President of the African Union, on ways to bring about a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict, in accordance with the Lusaka Ceasefire AgreementS/1999/815, annex. and relevant Security Council resolutions; (b) To continue to consult with regional leaders, in coordination with the Interim President of the African Union, in order to convene, when appropriate, an international conference on peace, security and development in Central Africa and in the Great Lakes region, under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union, to address the problems of the region in a comprehensive manner; (c) To keep under review the economic situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to promoting participation in and support for a programme of financial and material assistance to the country to enable it to meet its urgent needs in terms of economic recovery and reconstruction; (d) To submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the actions taken pursuant to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/147 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.51 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America 57/147. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/111 of 14 December 2001, as well as previous resolutions on the question, Recalling also the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements concluded by the two sides, Gravely concerned at the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people throughout the occupied territory, which constitutes a mounting humanitarian crisis, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Noting the convening of the United Nations seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people, held in Vienna on 20 and 21 February 2001, to review the state of the Palestinian economy,See A/56/89-E/2001/89, annex. Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, and welcoming in this regard the establishment by the Quartet of the Task Force on Palestinian Reform, Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat and the establishment of the Consultative Group, as well as all follow-up meetings and international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Welcoming also the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Stressing the continued importance of the work of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in the coordination of assistance to the Palestinian people, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/130-E/2002/79. Expressing grave concern at the continuation of the recent tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/130-E/2002/79. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Personal Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary-General on the humanitarian conditions and needs of the Palestinian people;Available on the Internet at http://domino.un.org/bertini_rpt.htm. 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Also expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 5. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 6. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 7. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with Palestinian priorities set forth by the Palestinian Authority; 8. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 9. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 10. Stresses, in this context, the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 11. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to counter the impact of the current crisis; 12. Stresses the need to implement the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. in particular with regard to the full and prompt clearance of Palestinian indirect tax revenues; 13. Suggests the convening in 2003 of a United Nations-sponsored seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTION 57/148 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.54 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia 57/148. Humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, and reaffirming that humanitarian assistance should be provided in accordance with the guiding principles contained in the annex to that resolution, Recalling also its resolutions 54/96 F of 15 December 1999, 55/169 of 14 December 2000 and 56/101 of 14 December 2001, concerning humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance and the rehabilitation support rendered by a number of States, in particular major contributors, international agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the affected population in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in particular emergency assistance provided by the European Union and various countries, Recognizing the role of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and the stabilization and association process for the western Balkans in assisting the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its efforts in further promoting democratic and economic reforms and in intensifying regional cooperation, Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance given to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia through the United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for South-Eastern Europe, and the humanitarian assistance provided by many Member States outside the framework of the consolidated appeal, through non-governmental organizations, regional organizations and initiatives and bilateral channels, Welcoming the fact that, at the donor conference hosted jointly by the World Bank and the European Commission in Brussels on 29 June 2001, the programme for reform and development of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia received strong support and confirmed that meeting the basic needs of vulnerable groups within the refugee, displaced and resident population remains a priority for humanitarian agencies, Concerned at the continued urgency of the humanitarian situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, aware of the magnitude of the humanitarian requirements of major parts of the population, and recognizing the need to ensure effective links between relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development efforts in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Aware of the weakness of the economy and basic services, which exacerbates further the situation of socially and economically vulnerable segments of the population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and which is coupled with limited basic social services capacity, especially in the health sector, Acknowledging that a large number of refugees and internally displaced persons remain in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and that assistance requirements will include local integration, whenever refugees and internally displaced persons are not willing to return to their places of origin, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/174. Taking note also of the reports on the humanitarian situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia prepared by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in Belgrade,See www.reliefweb.int. Recognizing the role of the United Nations in helping the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to resolve the humanitarian problems that confront it and in coordinating the efforts of the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the country, Acknowledging the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in completing the National Strategy for Resolving Problems of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and international support for developing a poverty reduction strategy and a Roma integration strategy in 2002, Recognizing a decrease in humanitarian assistance in 2002 due to a shift in donor funding which is progressively being reoriented to longer-term development assistance and the developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia towards stabilization, transition and development programmes, 1. Calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons, bearing in mind in particular the special situation of women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups, while seeking durable solutions for a safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of origin, or for settlement at their place of refuge for those who want to integrate locally, in cooperation with the local authorities; 2. Also calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to offer support to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its efforts to ensure the transition from relief to the long-term goals of the rehabilitation, reconstruction and development of the country; 3. Welcomes the continued commitment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and encourages it to cooperate further with the United Nations system and humanitarian organizations to address the humanitarian needs of the affected population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and urges the relevant authorities and the international community to support programmes that will ensure that the humanitarian needs of the vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are met and to pursue durable solutions to their plight, in particular voluntary repatriation and reintegration, stresses the need to create conditions that are conducive to their safe return, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of regional cooperation in the search for solutions to the plight of refugees; 4. Calls upon all Member States and international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist financially and otherwise in the establishment of durable solutions for the refugees and internally displaced persons, inter alia, through the implementation of the National Strategy for Resolving Problems of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; 5. Calls upon the Secretary-General, as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other agencies, to continue to mobilize the timely provision of international humanitarian and development assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; 6. Recognizes that there will be no United Nations consolidated humanitarian appeal for 2003 and nevertheless emphasizes the importance of the coordination of humanitarian assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, inter alia, through the mechanisms of the United Nations resident coordinator system; 7. Requests the United Nations and the specialized agencies to continue their efforts to assess the humanitarian needs, in cooperation with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, relevant international and regional organizations and bodies and interested States, with a view to ensuring effective links between relief and longer-term assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, taking into account the work already carried out in this field and the need to avoid duplication and the overlapping of efforts; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/149 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.57 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/149. Emergency humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia The General Assembly, Noting with concern the recurrent drought that affects Ethiopia, and its consequences, Recalling the initiative of the Secretary-General of 13 September 2000 to improve food security in the Horn of Africa over the long term, Gravely concerned at the magnitude of the current drought, which may affect up to fifteen million people owing to the serious crop failures in drought-prone parts of the country that have weak infrastructures and low development capacities, Bearing in mind the 2003 appeal for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, launched on 6 December 2002 by the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia, to respond to the looming famine situation and to prevent the imminent humanitarian crisis, Noting with serious concern the dire humanitarian situation and its long-term socio-economic and environmental impact, Emphasizing the need to address the crisis bearing in mind the importance of the transition from relief to development, and acknowledging the underlying structural causes for the recurrent famine in Ethiopia, Recognizing that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development lies with the Government of Ethiopia, while bearing in mind the important role played by the international community, 1. Calls upon the international community to urgently and effectively respond to the unfolding and imminent humanitarian crisis, which may affect up to fifteen million people in the country, consisting of crop producers and pastoralists; 2. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, the international community and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to strengthen mechanisms already in place to respond to such emergency situations; 3. Also welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General to tackle the recurrent drought in the country on a long-term basis, and in this regard calls for its serious consideration by the relevant organizations; 4. Calls upon the international community to respond as a matter of urgency to the crisis, based on the requirements of the 2003 appeal for emergency assistance for Ethiopia covering food and non-food needs, as well as to the urgent needs of programme interventions in early 2003, addressing issues of recovery, asset protection and the sustainable development of the chronically affected areas; 5. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia to increase the availability of food through domestic production, to ensure access to food for households in need and to strengthen emergency response capabilities; 6. Invites the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to continue considering ways to enhance the mobilization of emergency relief assistance for Ethiopia; 7. Calls upon all development partners to stress the need to integrate relief efforts with recovery, asset protection and long-term development and to address the underlying structural causes for the recurrent famine in Ethiopia, inter alia, in line with the poverty reduction strategy paper, including strategies aimed at preventing such crises in the future and that improve the resilience of the population; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/14 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/559, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia and Zambia. 57/14. Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 32/44 of 8 December 1977, 34/51 of 23 November 1979, 37/116 of 16 December 1982, 39/77 of 13 December 1984, 41/72 of 3 December 1986, 43/161 of 9 December 1988, 45/38 of 28 November 1990, 47/30 of 25 November 1992, 49/48 of 9 December 1994, 51/155 of 16 December 1996, 53/96 of 8 December 1998 and 55/148 of 12 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/164 and Add.1. Thanking Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their contribution to the report of the Secretary-General, Convinced of the continuing value of established humanitarian rules relating to armed conflicts and the need to respect and ensure respect for those rules in all circumstances within the scope of the relevant international instruments, pending the earliest possible termination of such conflicts, Stressing the possibility of making use of the International Fact-Finding Commission in relation to an armed conflict, pursuant to article 90 of Protocol I,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. and recalling that the International Fact-Finding Commission may, where necessary, facilitate through its good offices the restoration of an attitude of respect for the Geneva ConventionsIbid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Protocol, Stressing also the need for consolidating the existing body of international humanitarian law through its universal acceptance and the need for wide dissemination and full implementation of such law at the national level, and expressing concern about all violations of the Geneva Conventions and the two Additional Protocols,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Noting with satisfaction the increasing number of national commissions and other bodies involved in advising authorities at the national level on the implementation, dissemination and development of international humanitarian law, Noting with appreciation the meeting of representatives of those bodies organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross at Geneva from 25 to 27 March 2002 to facilitate the sharing of concrete experience and an exchange of views on their roles and on the challenges they face, Mindful of the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in offering protection to the victims of armed conflicts, Noting with appreciation the continuing efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross to promote and disseminate knowledge of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and the two Additional Protocols, Recalling that the Twenty-sixth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent endorsed the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on the Protection of War Victims, including the recommendation that the depositary of the Geneva Conventions should organize periodic meetings of States parties to the Conventions to consider general problems regarding the application of international humanitarian law, Welcoming the adoption, at The Hague on 26 March 1999, of a second ProtocolInternational Legal Materials, vol. XXXVIII, p. 769. to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and appreciating the ratifications received so far, Acknowledging the fact that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. which entered into force on 1 July 2002, includes the most serious crimes of international concern under international humanitarian law, and that the Statute, while recalling that it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for such crimes, shows the determination of the international community to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes and thus to contribute to their prevention, Acknowledging the usefulness of discussing in the General Assembly the status of instruments of international humanitarian law relevant to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, Noting the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, which was observed in June 2002, as well as the commemorative events, organized in particular by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross, recalling the important achievement of enhancing the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, 1. Appreciates the virtually universal acceptance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and notes the trend towards a similarly wide acceptance of the two Additional Protocols of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 2. Appeals to all States parties to the Geneva Conventions that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Additional Protocols at the earliest possible date; 3. Calls upon all States that are already parties to Protocol I,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. or those States not parties, on becoming parties to Protocol I, to make the declaration provided for under article 90 of that Protocol; 4. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed ConflictUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, and to other relevant treaties on international humanitarian law relating to the protection of victims of armed conflict; 5. Calls upon all States parties to the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions to ensure their wide dissemination and full implementation; 6. Notes with appreciation the Plan of Action adopted by the Twenty-seventh International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, in particular the reiteration of the importance of universal adherence to treaties on humanitarian law and their effective implementation at the national level, and welcomes the efforts made by many States towards the fulfilment of their pledges relating to international humanitarian law made at that Conference; 7. Affirms the necessity of making the implementation of international humanitarian law more effective; 8. Welcomes the advisory service activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in supporting efforts made by Member States to take legislative and administrative action to implement international humanitarian law and in promoting the exchange of information on those efforts between Governments; 9. Welcomes also the increasing numbers of national commissions or committees for the implementation of international humanitarian law and for promoting the incorporation of treaties on international humanitarian law into national law and disseminating the rules of international humanitarian law; 10. Welcomes further the entry into force on 12 February 2002 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. and calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to that Protocol; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the status of the Additional Protocols relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, as well as on measures taken to strengthen the existing body of international humanitarian law, inter alia, with respect to its dissemination and full implementation at the national level, based on information received from Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts". RESOLUTION 57/150 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.60 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America 57/150. Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, and its resolutions 54/233 of 22 December 1999, 55/163 of 14 December 2000, 56/103 of 14 December 2001 and 56/195 of 21 December 2001, and recalling agreed conclusions 1998/1Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (A/53/3 and Corr.1), chap. VII, para. 5. and 1999/1Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. of the Economic and Social Council and Council resolution 2002/32 of 26 July 2002, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development,A/57/578. Deeply concerned by the increasing number and scale of disasters, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, as well as their long-term consequences, especially severe for developing countries, Reaffirming that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of States must be fully respected in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and, in this context, humanitarian assistance should be provided with the consent of the affected country and, in principle, on the basis of an appeal by the affected country, Reaffirming also that each State has the responsibility first and foremost to take care of the victims of natural disasters and other emergencies occurring on its territory and, hence, the affected State has the primary role in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of disasters, Noting the critical role played by local rescuers in natural disaster response as well as existing in-country capacities, Emphasizing the importance of timely, coordinated and technically sound international assistance provided in close coordination with the receiving State, in particular in the field of urban search and rescue following earthquakes and other events resulting in structural collapse, Noting with appreciation, in this respect, the important contribution made by international urban search and rescue teams in the aftermath of disasters, which has helped to reduce loss of life and human suffering, Commending the work of the United Nations Disaster Assistance and Coordination teams in facilitating rapid need assessments and assisting Member States to organize the on-site coordination of international urban search and rescue operations, Concerned at the procedural requirements applicable to the movement of foreign nationals and equipment to and within a country that may impinge on the timely acceptance, deployment to the disaster site and activities of international urban search and rescue teams, Also concerned that an additional burden may be placed on the resources of the affected countries by those international urban search and rescue teams which are inadequately trained or equipped, Noting the efforts made by Member States, facilitated by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, Noting also that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is identifying the current state of international law relating to disaster response for a report to be submitted to States and national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies at the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in December 2003, and emphasizing the need for intergovernmental oversight of this process, particularly with regard to its principles, scope and objectives, Recognizing, in this regard, the Guidelines developed by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, as a flexible and helpful reference tool for disaster preparedness and response efforts, 1. Stresses the need to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, with the aim of contributing towards saving more human lives; 2. Encourages efforts aiming at the strengthening of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group and its regional groups, particularly through the participation in its activities of representatives from a larger number of countries; 3. Urges all States, consistent with their applicable measures relating to public safety and national security, to simplify or reduce, as appropriate, the customs and administrative procedures related to the entry, transit, stay and exit of international urban search and rescue teams and their equipment and materials, taking into account the Guidelines of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, particularly concerning visas for the rescuers and the quarantining of their animals, the utilization of air space and the import of search and rescue and technical communications equipment, necessary drugs and other relevant materials; 4. Also urges all States to undertake measures to ensure the safety and security of international urban search and rescue teams operating in their territory; 5. Further urges all States that have the capacity to provide international urban search and rescue assistance to take the necessary measures to ensure that international urban search and rescue teams under their responsibility are deployed and operate in accordance with internationally developed standards as specified in the Guidelines of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, particularly concerning timely deployment, self-sufficiency, training, operating procedures and equipment, and cultural awareness; 6. Reaffirms the leadership role of the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator in supporting the authorities of the affected State, upon their request, in coordinating multilateral assistance in the aftermath of disasters; 7. Encourages the strengthening of cooperation among States at the regional and subregional levels in the field of disaster preparedness and response, with particular respect to capacity-building at all levels; 8. Encourages Member States, with the facilitation of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to continue efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, including the further development of common standards; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, a comprehensive, updated report with recommendations on progress in the improvement of efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, taking into account the extent of utilization of the Guidelines of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group. RESOLUTION 57/151 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.62 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Romania, Senegal, Somalia, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57/151. Assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/232 of 21 December 1990, 46/147 of 17 December 1991, 47/154 of 18 December 1992, 48/197 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 E of 20 December 1994, 50/58 A of 12 December 1995, 51/30 B of 5 December 1996, 52/169 E of 16 December 1997, 53/1 I of 16 November 1998 and 55/176 of 19 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/301. Commending the Economic Community of West African States and the United Nations for their collaborative efforts with the Government of Liberia in its peace-building objectives, Emphasizing its great concern over the grave humanitarian and security situation prevailing in Liberia, which holds serious implications for security in the subregion, 1. Expresses its gratitude to the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, the Economic Community of West African States and non-governmental organizations for their valuable support in the provision of humanitarian assistance and their adoption of a comprehensive approach to peace-building in Liberia and the subregion; 2. Calls upon all parties involved in the ongoing conflict to respect fully the provisions of international humanitarian law and, in this regard, to ensure safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of Liberia and the safety of United Nations and humanitarian personnel; 3. Expresses its gratitude to all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for their assistance and support for the peace-building process in Liberia, and urges that such assistance be continued; 4. Invites all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide assistance, as appropriate, to Liberia to facilitate the creation of an enabling environment for the promotion of peace, regional security and socio-economic development; 5. Urges the Government of Liberia to provide an enabling environment for the promotion of socio-economic development and a culture of sustained peace in the country, including a commitment to upholding the rule of law, national reconciliation and human rights, establishing inclusive processes that will ensure free and fair presidential and general elections in October 2003 and encourage maximum participation, to contribute to reducing tension and promoting sustainable and peaceful political development in the subregion; 6. Urges the Government of Liberia, the United Nations system and all States to strengthen their commitment in responding to the humanitarian needs of the Liberian people; 7. Renews its appeal to the Government of Liberia to cooperate with the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other organizations in addressing the need for rehabilitation and reconstruction, and stresses the need for the Government of Liberia to assist and protect the civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, regardless of their origin; 8. Commends the Secretary-General for his continuing efforts to mobilize international assistance for the development and reconstruction of Liberia, and requests him to continue his efforts to mobilize all possible assistance within the United Nations system to help in the reconstruction and development of Liberia, including the return and reintegration of refugees, displaced persons and demobilized soldiers; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to consider at its fifty-ninth session the question of international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia. RESOLUTION 57/152 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.63 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela 57/152. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, and its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 54/219 and 54/233 of 22 December 1999, 55/163 of 14 December 2000 and 56/103 of 14 December 2001, and recalling agreed conclusions 1999/1 of the Economic and Social CouncilSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. and Council resolutions 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2002/32 of 26 July 2002, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory, and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, Welcoming the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Stressing that national authorities need to enhance the resilience of populations to disasters through implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction so as to reduce risks to people, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, Welcoming the efforts of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme to strengthen the coordination of their activities in the field of disaster prevention, mitigation and management, Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among developing countries of the capacities existing at the national, regional and international levels that could be deployed to assist them, Emphasizing also the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, including prevention, preparedness, mitigation and recovery and reconstruction, and of strengthening the response capacity of affected countries, Welcoming the efforts of Member States, with facilitation by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, and in this context noting its resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 entitled "Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance", Mindful of the effects that shortfalls in resources can have on the preparedness for and response to natural disasters, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General entitled "International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development"A/57/578. and "Strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations";A/57/77-E/2002/63. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disasters; 3. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, inter alia, by disaster prevention, including building regulations and appropriate land use, as well as disaster preparedness and capacity-building in disaster response and mitigation, and requests the international community to continue to assist developing countries, as appropriate, in this regard; 4. Stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation, particularly through the effective use of multilateral mechanisms, in the provision of humanitarian assistance for all phases of a disaster, from relief and mitigation to development, including through the provision of adequate resources; 5. Also stresses that humanitarian assistance for natural disasters should be provided in accordance with and with due respect for the guiding principles contained in the annex to resolution 46/182 and should be determined on the basis of the human dimension and needs arising out of the particular natural disasters; 6. Recognizes that economic growth and sustainable development contribute to improving the capacity of States to mitigate, respond to and prepare for natural disasters; 7. Reaffirms that disaster risk analysis and vulnerability reduction form an integral part of sustainable development strategies and need to be considered in development plans of all vulnerable countries and communities, including, where appropriate, in plans relating to the transition from relief to development, and also affirms that within such preventive strategies, disaster preparedness and early warning systems must be further strengthened at the country and regional levels, inter alia, through better coordination among relevant United Nations bodies and cooperation with Governments of affected countries and regional and other relevant organizations with the aim of maximizing the effectiveness of natural disaster response and reducing the impact of natural disasters, particularly in developing countries; 8. Emphasizes the importance of enhanced international cooperation, including with the United Nations and regional organizations, to assist developing countries in their efforts to build capacities and to predict, prepare for and respond to natural disasters; 9. Stresses the need for partnership among Governments of the affected countries, organizations of the United Nations system, relevant humanitarian organizations and specialized companies to promote training to strengthen preparedness for and response to natural disasters; 10. Also stresses the need to promote the access to and transfer of technology related to early warning systems and to mitigation programmes to developing countries affected by natural disasters; 11. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 12. Also encourages in such operations the sharing of geographical data, including remotely sensed images and geographic information system and global positioning system data among Governments, space agencies and relevant international humanitarian organizations, as appropriate, and also notes in that context initiatives such as those undertaken by the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and the Global Disaster Information Network; 13. Stresses that particular international cooperation efforts should be undertaken to enhance and broaden further the utilization of national and local capacities and, where appropriate, regional and subregional capacities of developing countries for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, more efficiently and at lower cost; 14. Welcomes the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for the promotion and coordination of disaster response among the United Nations humanitarian agencies and other humanitarian partners; 15. Also welcomes the establishment of the positions of regional disaster response advisers by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as well as the initiative of the United Nations Development Programme to establish regional disaster reduction adviser positions, and encourages the further development of these initiatives in a coordinated and complementary manner in order to assist developing countries in capacity-building for disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response; 16. Encourages further cooperation between the United Nations system and regional organizations in order to increase the capacity of these organizations to respond to natural disasters; 17. Encourages States that have not signed or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, adopted at Tampere, Finland, on 18 June 1998, to consider doing so; 18. Invites the United Nations system to explore further the concept of transitional recovery teams for providing assistance for bridging relief assistance and development cooperation; 19. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with relevant organizations and partners, to continue progress on compiling a directory of disaster mitigation capacity at the national, regional and international levels as well as the Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response as a new part of the Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities;www.reliefweb.int/ocha_ol/programs/response/register.html. 20. Welcomes the global review of disaster reduction initiatives coordinated by the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and emphasizes the importance of periodic review as a means of discussing disaster trends, assessing policies aimed at mitigating the impact of disaster and offering examples of successful initiatives; 21. Encourages donors to consider the importance of ensuring that assistance in the case of higher-profile natural disasters does not come at the expense of those that may have a relatively lower profile, bearing in mind that the allocation of resources should be driven by needs, as well as the importance of making efforts to increase the level of assistance for disaster reduction and preparedness programmes and for disaster response and mitigation activities; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to examine the overall situation regarding the mobilization of resources for response to natural disasters and to consider concrete recommendations to improve the international response to natural disasters, as necessary, based on his examination, keeping in mind also the need to address any geographical and sectoral imbalances and shortfalls in such responses, where they exist, as well as the more effective use of national emergency response agencies, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/153 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.64 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Yugoslavia, Zambia 57/153. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/77-E/2002/63. Taking note also of the note by the Secretary-General on enhancing the functioning and utilization of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund,A/57/613. submitted pursuant to resolution 56/107 of 14 December 2001, Stressing the need to address further the issues of funding, coordination and strategic planning in the context of natural disasters and complex emergencies, in particular in the transition from relief to development activities, Deeply concerned about the aggravating effects that major diseases, in particular the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic, cause in the context of natural disasters and complex emergencies, Concerned at the need to mobilize adequate levels of financing for emergency humanitarian assistance, Noting with interest the efforts of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to develop the Plan of Action on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises, Welcoming the efforts of Member States, with the facilitation of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, and recalling its resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002, entitled "Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance", 1. Welcomes the outcome of the fifth humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council during its substantive session of 2002; 2. Also welcomes the progress made by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations; 3. Emphasizes the importance of the discussion of humanitarian policies and activities in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council; 4. Calls upon relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other relevant international organizations, Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate with the Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator to ensure timely implementation of and follow-up to resolutions and agreed conclusions of the humanitarian affairs segment of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council; 5. Invites the Economic and Social Council to continue to consider ways to enhance further the humanitarian affairs segment of the future sessions of the Council, including through the adoption of negotiated outcomes of its deliberations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to inform Governments regularly about the use of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the utilization of the Fund; 7. Calls upon the relevant humanitarian and development organizations of the United Nations system, other relevant international organizations, including the Bretton Woods institutions, Governments and non-governmental organizations to review and work towards greater alignment of their planning and resource mobilization tools so as to facilitate the transition from relief to development, and to report to the Secretary-General on actions taken in this respect; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to address, as appropriate and in collaboration with relevant actors, in particular the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, ways and means of strengthening the humanitarian response and for the mobilization of greater resources in connection with emergency humanitarian assistance in areas with a high prevalence of major diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, taking into account the impacts of major diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, on vulnerable communities and the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. and to report on actions taken in this respect; 9. Stresses the importance of the timely implementation of the Plan of Action on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, and urges the Standing Committee to continue to refine the Plan and follow-up activities consistent with experience gained at the field level; 10. Commends the Emergency Relief Coordinator and his staff for their activities in emergency information management, and stresses that there is a need for national authorities, relief agencies and other relevant actors to continue to improve the sharing of relevant information related to natural disasters and complex emergencies, including on disaster response and mitigation, and to take full advantage of United Nations emergency information services, such as ReliefWeb and the Integrated Regional Information Network; 11. Emphasizes that coordination of humanitarian assistance within the United Nations system is a mandate of the Secretary-General, as reflected in resolution 46/182, and that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs should benefit from adequate and more predictable funding, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the progress made in this regard; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2003, on the progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, including the implementation of and follow-up to Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/32 of 26 July 2002 and the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/154 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.65 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 57/154. Assistance for humanitarian relief and the economic and social rehabilitation of Somalia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/160 of 18 December 1992 and subsequent relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 56/106 of 14 December 2001, Recalling also Security Council resolution 733 (1992) of 23 January 1992 and subsequent relevant resolutions, in which the Council, inter alia, urged all parties, movements and factions in Somalia to facilitate the efforts of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected population in Somalia, and reiterated the call for the full respect of the security and safety of the personnel of those organizations and guarantee of their complete freedom of movement in and around Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, Recalling further statements by the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2001S/PRST/2001/30; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and 28 March 2002,S/PRST/2002/8; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. by which the Security Council condemned attacks on humanitarian personnel and called upon all parties in Somalia to respect fully the security and safety of personnel of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations, and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and access throughout Somalia, Affirming its continuing support for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development resolutions of 24 November 2000 and 11 January 2002, which provide a general framework for the Somali reconciliation process, Welcoming, in that regard, the Declaration on Cessation of Hostilities and the Structures and Principles of the Somalia National Reconciliation Process, adopted in Eldoret, Kenya, on 27 October 2002S/2002/1359, annex. by the various Somali parties, including the Transitional National Government, which represents a fundamental step that will ensure a wider consensual basis for further participation and peace, Also welcoming the launch of the six working committees to address the core issues of the peace process, Noting the linkage between the search for peace and alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, Firmly supporting the initiative sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for national reconciliation in Somalia, reiterating its strong support for the national reconciliation process and the ongoing peace conference being held in Eldoret, and urging all parties throughout Somalia to participate in the process, in accordance with the framework established by the Intergovernmental Authority, Recalling its firm support for the peace and reconciliation process sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for Somalia and for the efforts of its Technical Committee, comprising the frontline States of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, and coordinated by Kenya, for its role in facilitating the process, Noting the cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and its Partners Forum, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and others in their efforts to resolve the humanitarian, security and political crisis in Somalia, and bearing in mind the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Somalia, Noting with concern the prevailing serious drought situation in the Horn of Africa, in particular the affected areas of Somalia, Noting with grave concern the dire humanitarian situation that the Somali people face and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and relief, Noting with appreciation the continued efforts made by the Secretary-General to assist the Somali people in their efforts to promote stability, peace and national reconciliation, and underlining its strong resolve to support in a practical manner the United Nations system in its incremental approach to peace-building and targeted assistance, focused on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure and on sustainable community-based activities, Welcoming the continued focus of the United Nations, in partnership with civil society at the grass-roots level, on programmes of assistance, including both humanitarian and development approaches, taking into consideration the conditions on the ground, Re-emphasizing the importance of further implementation of its resolution 47/160 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services throughout the country, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General,A/57/180 and S/2002/1201. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued and tireless efforts to mobilize assistance for the Somali people; 2. Encourages the further implementation of its resolution 47/160 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services throughout Somalia; 3. Reiterates its full support for the peace process sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the efforts of the Technical Committee coordinated by Kenya, and invites the Intergovernmental Authority and its member States to continue their efforts to promote national reconciliation in Somalia; 4. Welcomes the Declaration on Cessation of Hostilities and the Structures and Principles of the Somalia National Reconciliation Process,S/2002/1359, annex. and other agreements reached thus far in Eldoret as an important step towards the overriding objective of ending the violence affecting and the suffering of the Somali people, recognizes that they provide new and significant opportunities for the solution of the Somali crisis, and calls upon all the Somali parties to make the most of the current momentum and to do everything in their power to ensure that the conference continues its work and its success; 5. Also welcomes the strong support of the United Nations, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and its Partners Forum, the Movement of Non-Aligned States and others for their positive contribution to the peace process in Somalia, and appeals to all countries and the international organizations to continue to exercise their influence to support the peace conference and to consolidate the reconciliation process; 6. Calls upon all Somali parties, including the Transitional National Government, individuals, political leaders and factions in Somalia, to respect the security and safety of the personnel of the United Nations, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and safe access throughout Somalia, and welcomes the commitment taken in that respect by all Somali parties at the Eldoret conference; 7. Welcomes the strategy of the United Nations focusing on the implementation of community-based interventions aimed at rebuilding local infrastructures and increasing the self-reliance of the local population, and the ongoing efforts by the United Nations agencies, their Somali counterparts and their partner organizations to establish and maintain close coordination and cooperation mechanisms available for the implementation of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes; 8. Recognizes that a comprehensive programme of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militias is a condition for sustainable peace and stability in Somalia; 9. Notes the incremental and prioritized approach of the United Nations system to addressing the continuing crisis and needs in Somalia while maintaining long-term commitments to rehabilitation, recovery and development activities; 10. Urges the international community to provide as a matter of urgency humanitarian assistance and relief to the Somali people to alleviate in particular the consequences of the prevailing drought; 11. Emphasizes the principle that the Somali people have the primary responsibility for their own development and for the sustainability of rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance programmes, and reaffirms the importance it attaches to the creation of a workable arrangement for collaboration between the United Nations system and its partner organizations and their Somali counterparts for the effective creation of rehabilitation and development activities in those parts of the country in which peace and security prevail; 12. Urges all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to continue to implement further its resolution 47/160 in order to assist the Somali people in embarking on the rehabilitation of basic social and economic services, as well as institution-building aimed at the restoration of structures of civil governance at all levels in all parts of the country in which peace and security prevail; 13. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize international humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 14. Calls upon the international community to provide continuing and increased assistance in response to the United Nations 2003 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 15. Commends the Secretary-General for the establishment of the Trust Fund for Peace-Building in Somalia, welcomes the contributions made thus far to the Fund, and appeals to Member States to contribute to it; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation in Somalia, to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/155 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.66 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Yugoslavia 57/155. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 53/87 of 7 December 1998, 54/192 of 17 December 1999, 55/175 of 19 December 2000 and 56/217 of 21 December 2001 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, as well as resolutions 52/167 of 16 December 1997 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and 52/126 of 12 December 1997 on protection of United Nations personnel, and Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/32 of 26 July 2002, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflictS/2001/331 and S/2002/1300. and of Security Council resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 and the recommendations made therein, as well as the statements by the President of the Council of 30 November 1999, on the role of the Council in the prevention of armed conflicts,S/PRST/1999/34; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. 13 January 2000, on humanitarian assistance to refugees in Africa,S/PRST/2000/1; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. 9 February 2000, on protection of United Nations personnel, its associated personnel and humanitarian personnel in conflict zones,S/PRST/2000/4; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. 9 March 2000, on humanitarian aspects of issues before the Council,S/PRST/2000/7; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and 15 March 2002, on the aide memoire for the consideration of issues pertaining to the protection of civilians in armed conflict,S/PRST/2002/6; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and noting in that context the range of views expressed during all open debates of the Council on these issues, Taking note also of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations,A/55/1024 and Corr.1. as well as the report of the Special CommitteeA/C.4/55/6. on the report of the Panel on United Nations Peace OperationsSee A/55/305-S/2000/809. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the report of the Panel,A/55/502. Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Deeply concerned by the growing number of complex humanitarian emergencies in the past few years, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, which have dramatically increased the loss of human lives, in particular of civilians, the suffering of victims, flows of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as material destruction, which disrupt the development efforts of the countries affected, in particular those of developing countries, Concerned by the increasingly difficult context in which humanitarian assistance takes place in some areas, in particular the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to improve the current security management system in order to improve their safety and security, Expressing profound regret at the deaths of all international and national humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel who were involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, and strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among such personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Strongly condemning acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault, intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of their property, Strongly condemning also all incidents in many parts of the world in which humanitarian personnel have been deliberately targeted, Expressing concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the ability of the Organization to provide assistance and protection to civilians in fulfilment of its mandate under the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming that ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel constitutes an underlying duty of the Organization, which must be based on a necessary cost-sharing arrangement with the relevant agencies, funds and programmes within the United Nations system, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which was adopted on 17 July 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 2002,See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and noting the role that the Court could play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Welcoming the fact that the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, which entered into force on 15 January 1999,Resolution 49/59, annex. has been ratified or acceded to by sixty-three States as at the present date, Mindful of the need to promote universality of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Reaffirming the fundamental requirement that appropriate modalities for the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel be incorporated into all new and ongoing United Nations field operations, and welcoming in that regard the development of minimum operating security standards, Welcoming the efforts of the United Nations system to develop higher aviation safety and security standards in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, Increasingly concerned at the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and humanitarian personnel and a culture of accountability at all levels, from the highest to the lowest, throughout the United Nations system, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on a framework for accountability for the United Nations field security management system,A/57/365. in which a new mechanism to ensure accountability and responsibility in the area of field security is introduced, Commending the recent efforts by the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes aimed at the improvement of security management and training of their personnel, Commending also the courage and commitment of those who take part, often at great personal risk, in humanitarian operations, especially of locally recruited staff, Guided by the relevant provisions on protection contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947,Resolution 179 (II). the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. to the Convention on Prohibitions and Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5, 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/300. 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as the relevant provisions of human rights and refugee law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Also urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the 1949 Geneva ConventionsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the safety and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, to refrain from abducting or detaining them in violation of their immunity under relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm, any abductee or detainee; 5. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 6. Strongly condemns any act or failure to act, contrary to international law, which obstructs or prevents humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel from discharging their humanitarian functions, or which entails being subjected to threats, the use of force or physical attack, frequently resulting in injury or death, and affirms the need to hold accountable those who commit such acts and, for that purpose, the need to enact national legislation, as appropriate; 7. Expresses deep concern that over the past decade, threats against the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel have escalated at an unprecedented rate and that perpetrators of acts of violence seemingly operate with impunity; 8. Urges all States to take stronger actions to ensure that any threat or act of violence committed against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel on their territory is investigated fully and to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice in accordance with international law and national law; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation and to continue to consider ways and means in which to strengthen the protection of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, notably by seeking the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarter and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and its associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized AgenciesResolution 179 (II). and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel;Resolution 49/59, annex. 10. Emphasizes the importance of paying special attention to the safety and security of United Nations and its associated personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and peace-building operations; 11. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, among others, those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission and host country agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements; 12. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations and its associated personnel, to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation who have been arrested or detained in violation of their immunity, in accordance with the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 13. Encourages all States to become parties to and respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, including the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 14. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. 15. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel to observe and respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called upon to operate, including relevant customs and traditions in the host country, and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant domestic and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights and international humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 17. Also requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations humanitarian assistance operation are properly informed about and operate in conformity with relevant codes of conduct, including the core principles of conduct defined by the Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises set up within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee; 18. Further requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, falling within his responsibilities, to ensure that security matters are an integral part of the planning for existing and newly mandated United Nations operations and that such precautions extend to all United Nations and its associated personnel; 19. Requests the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator to continue to play a central role in promoting increased cooperation and collaboration among agencies, funds and programmes in the planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security training and awareness; 20. Emphasizes the need to give further consideration to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who account for the majority of casualties; 21. Stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training, including physical and psychological training, prior to their deployment to the field, the need to attach a high priority to the improvement of stress and trauma counselling services available to United Nations staff members, including through the implementation of a comprehensive security and stress and trauma management training, support and assistance programme for United Nations staff throughout the system, before, during and after missions, and the need to make available to the Secretary-General the means for that purpose; 22. Underlines the need to allocate adequate and predictable resources to the safety and security of United Nations personnel, including through the Consolidated Appeals Process, and encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System; 23. Welcomes the appointment of a full-time United Nations Security Coordinator at the level of Assistant Secretary-General, and reaffirms the need to further strengthen security coordination and management and to sustain the initiatives aimed at increasing the efficacy of the security management system; 24. Also welcomes the establishment of an Inter-Agency Security Management Network, and encourages all relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to continue to participate at an appropriate level; 25. Recognizes the need for a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, both at the headquarters and the field levels, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures to that end; 26. Also recognizes the need for enhanced coordination and cooperation, both at the headquarters and the field levels, between the United Nations security management system and non-governmental organizations on matters relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, with a view to addressing mutual security concerns in the field; 27. Takes note with appreciation of the work being done by the Ad Hoc Committee, established in accordance with resolution 56/89 of 12 December 2001 and open to all Member States or members of the specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to consider the recommendations made by the Secretary-General in his report on measures to strengthen and enhance the protective legal regime for United Nations and its associated personnel;See A/55/637. 28. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, which have been ratified so far by one hundred and forty-six States and one hundred and seven States, respectively; 29. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, calls upon States to consider signing and ratifying the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998, and encourages them, pending the entry into force of the Convention, to facilitate and expedite, consistent with their national laws and regulations, the use of communications equipment in such operations, and emphasizes the importance of States facilitating communications, inter alia, through limiting and, whenever possible, lifting the restrictions placed on the use of communications equipment by United Nations and its associated personnel; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-eighth session a comprehensive and updated report on the safety and security situation of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution, including the progress made by the Secretary-General in pursuing accountability and assessing responsibility for all individual security incidents that involve United Nations and its associated personnel at all levels throughout the United Nations system, as well as an account of the measures taken by Governments and the United Nations to prevent and respond to such incidents, also taking into account the information requested from the Secretary-General in resolution 57/28 of 19 November 2002. RESOLUTION 57/156 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 92 to none, with 65 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.23/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zimbabwe 57/156. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the Agreement between the Council of Europe and the Secretariat of the United Nations signed on 15 December 1951 and the Arrangement on Cooperation and Liaison between the secretariats of the United Nations and the Council of Europe of 19 November 1971, Acknowledging the contribution of the Council of Europe to the protection and strengthening of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the protection of national minorities, and the rule of law on the European continent, including its activities against racism and intolerance, the promotion of gender equality, social development and a common cultural heritage, Acknowledging also that, with its significant expertise in the field of human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law, the Council of Europe is contributing to conflict prevention, confidence-building and long-term post-conflict peace-building through political, legal and institutional reform, Stressing the importance of adherence to the standards and principles of the Council of Europe and its contribution to the solution of conflicts throughout the whole of Europe, Acknowledging the contribution of the Council of Europe to the development of international law, inter alia, international criminal law, Noting the increasing openness of the Council of Europe, through its legal instruments, to the participation of States of other regions, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/225. 2. Reiterates its appreciation for the ongoing fruitful cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and its agencies and the Council of Europe, both at the level of headquarters and in the field; 3. Welcomes the further development of close cooperation between the Council of Europe, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children's Fund and the Economic Commission for Europe; 4. Notes the role the Council of Europe has played in facilitating the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and the readiness of the Council to provide its member States with the appropriate assistance with a view to them becoming parties to and implementing the Rome Statute; 5. Expresses its appreciation for the contribution of the Council of Europe to the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. including the follow-up action taken by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance; 6. Notes the opening for signature on 3 May 2002 in Vilnius of Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, vol. II: Regional Instruments (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.XIV.1), sect. B, No. 8. concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the substantial contribution of the Council of Europe to the special session of the General Assembly on children, held from 8 to 10 May 2002, and notes the adoption by the Council of the European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights,Ibid., sect. B, No. 35. which entered into force in 2000; 8. Also expresses its appreciation for the contributions of the Council of Europe to the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and particularly to its follow-up process, through activities involving Governments, parliamentarians, local and regional authorities and civil society organizations, aimed at turning the commitments made at the Conference into specific actions; 9. Further expresses its appreciation for the substantial contribution of the Council of Europe to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, as well as its contributions to the follow-up work, for example, concerning education for sustainable development, carried out by its North-South Centre; 10. Commends strongly the contribution of the Council of Europe to international action against terrorism, welcomes the work of the Council's Multidisciplinary Group on International Action against Terrorism aimed, inter alia, at strengthening legal cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and in this context welcomes the approval on 7 November 2002 by the Committee of Ministers at its one hundred and eleventh session of the content of the draft protocol amending the European Convention on the Suppression of TerrorismUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1137, No. 17828. which was opened for signature in 1977; 11. Welcomes the assessment made by the Committee of Ministers at its one hundred and eleventh session on each of the three cornerstones it had defined in 2001 for the contribution of the Council of Europe to United Nations-led international action against terrorism, namely intensifying legal cooperation to combat terrorism, safeguarding fundamental values and investing in democracy; 12. Commends the Council of Europe for its contribution to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, and takes note in this context of the Council of Europe's Guidelines on Human Rights and the Fight against Terrorism, adopted by its Committee of Ministers on 11 July 2002A/57/313, annex I. and referred to in the addendum to the report of the Secretary-General on measures to eliminate international terrorism;A/57/183/Add.1. 13. Welcomes the accession to the Council of Europe of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 24 April 2002, and expresses its appreciation for the cooperation and assistance the Council extends to this country in order to facilitate its compliance with Council standards of democracy, human rights and the rule of law; 14. Takes note of Opinion No. 239 adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24 September 2002, in which the Assembly recommended that the Committee of Ministers, on the basis of a series of commitments accepted by the highest Yugoslav authorities, invite the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to become a member of the Council as soon as the constitutional Charter had been adopted by the Parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro; 15. Notes that the Ministers of the forty-four member States, at the one hundred and eleventh session, reiterated their common will to see the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia become a member of the Council of Europe, while at the same time regretting that circumstances at present did not yet permit the adoption of an official invitation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to join the Council; 16. Welcomes the ongoing participation of the Council of Europe in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 and its cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, and commends the role of the Council of Europe in the development of democratic institutions, inter alia, in respect of the decentralization process, human rights protection and the rule of law in accordance with the standards of the Council of Europe; 17. Commends the role of the Council of Europe with regard to the electoral process in Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in preparation for the municipal elections which were held on 26 October 2002; 18. Welcomes the substantial contribution of the Council of Europe to the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, in particular in the fields of democratization, local democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as cross-border cooperation and the fight against corruption, organized crime and money-laundering; 19. Commends the wide-ranging efforts of the Council of Europe to foster peace and stability in South-Eastern Europe; 20. Welcomes the Vilnius Declaration on Regional Cooperation and the Consolidation of Democratic Stability in Greater Europe, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 3 May 2002,See A/56/942, annex II. and the efforts of the Council to promote cooperation among the regional organizations, initiatives and processes in Europe and between them and the United Nations and other international organizations; 21. Commends the work of the Council of Europe in relation to the protection of national minorities, in particular the monitoring by the Committee of Ministers of the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities;Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, vol. II: Regional Instruments (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.XIV.1), sect. B, No. 34. 22. Reiterates its appreciation for the active role of the Council of Europe in the tripartite meetings between the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to continue exploring, with the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, possibilities for further enhancement of cooperation, information exchange and coordination between the United Nations and the Council; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe in implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/157 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.55/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela 57/157. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/15 of 3 November 2000 relating to the promotion of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States, Taking note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States,A/57/267. Recalling that the purposes of the United Nations are, inter alia, to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends, Recalling also that the Charter of the Organization of American States reaffirms these purposes and principles and provides that that organization is a regional agency under the terms of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling further its resolutions 47/20 A of 24 November 1992, 47/20 B of 20 April 1993, 48/27 B of 8 July 1994, 49/5 of 21 October 1994, 49/27 B of 12 July 1995, 50/86 B of 3 April 1996, 51/4 of 24 October 1996 and 53/9 of 22 October 1998, Taking account of the Summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City, Canada, from 20 to 22 April 2001, Noting that the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti completed its mandate in March 2001, Aware of the increasing cooperation between bodies of the inter-American system for the protection of human rights and those pertaining to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Noting with grave concern the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic in the region and the need for increased financial resources and affordable essential drugs, Noting that the General Assembly of the Organization of American States has agreed to convene a special conference on security in Mexico City in May 2003, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American StatesA/57/267. and his continuing efforts to strengthen that cooperation; 2. Notes with satisfaction that the Organization of American States Special Mission for Strengthening Democracy in Haiti commenced operations in June 2002 and that the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala continues to collaborate with the Organization of American States on its thematic projects; 3. Recognizes the work of the Organization of American States towards the promotion and the protection of democracy in the Americas, in the field of regional cooperation and in connection with its task of coordination with the United Nations; 4. Welcomes the establishment of the Office of the Regional Adviser to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Santiago on 1 November 2001; 5. Also welcomes the efforts of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen cooperation with inter-American institutions in various fields, including hemispheric integration, statistics, women and development; 6. Recommends that a general meeting of representatives of the United Nations system and of the Organization of American States be held in 2003 for the continued review and appraisal of cooperation programmes and of other matters to be mutually decided upon; 7. Expresses its satisfaction at the exchange with the Organization of American States of information and substantive reports, including reports on the advancement in the status of women, on matters relating to youth and on the eradication of poverty; 8. Emphasizes that the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States should be undertaken in accordance with their respective mandates, scope and composition and be suited to each specific situation, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States". RESOLUTION 57/158 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.59 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, Yemen, Zambia 57/158. United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, 2002 The General Assembly, Recalling the international conventions dealing with the protection of cultural and natural heritage, including the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict adopted at The Hague in 1954United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,Ibid., vol. 823, No. 11806. and the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage,Ibid., vol. 1037, No. 15511. as well as the 1989 Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and FolkloreUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-fifth Session, Paris, 17 October-16 November 1989, vol. 1: Resolutions, annex I.B. and the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, resolution 25, annex I. Welcoming the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage by one hundred and seventy-five States parties, and noting the inscription of more than seven hundred and thirty sites on the World Heritage List, Mindful of the importance of protecting the world cultural tangible and intangible heritage as a common ground for the promotion of mutual understanding and enrichment among cultures and civilizations, Bearing in mind the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. which calls for actions to promote sustainable tourism development in order to increase the benefits from tourism resources for the population in host communities while maintaining the cultural and environmental integrity of host communities and enhancing the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and natural heritages by, inter alia, enhancing international cooperation, Noting the work already undertaken to protect the world cultural and natural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, including international campaigns, Taking into consideration the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 2002, Taking note of the decision taken by the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its one hundred and sixty-fourth session with regard to the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, 2002,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Decisions Adopted by the Executive Board at its One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Session, Paris, 21-30 May 2002 (164 EX/Decisions), decision 7.1.2. Recalling its resolution 56/8 of 21 November 2001, in which it proclaimed 2002 as the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage and invited the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to serve as the lead agency for the year, 1. Declares the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage concluded; 2. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in collaboration with States, observers, relevant United Nations bodies, within their respective mandates, other international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, to continue to intensify the implementation of programmes, activities and projects aimed at the promotion and protection of the world cultural heritage; 3. Invites Member States and observers to continue to promote education and raise public awareness to foster respect for national and world cultural heritage; 4. Reaffirms the importance of further developing international mechanisms for safeguarding and protecting the world cultural heritage, and encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to explore possible ways to intensify international cooperation in this regard, inter alia, by considering the merits of convening an international conference on strengthening and consolidating international mechanisms for safeguarding and protecting the world cultural heritage; 5. Invites the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to address and present to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session an overview of the activities undertaken during the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Follow-up to the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage". RESOLUTION 57/159 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.53 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia 57/159. Assistance in mine action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/7 of 19 October 1993, 49/215 of 23 December 1994, 50/82 of 14 December 1995, 51/149 of 13 December 1996 and 52/173 of 18 December 1997, on assistance in mine clearance, and its resolutions 53/26 of 17 November 1998, 54/191 of 17 December 1999, 55/120 of 6 December 2000 and 56/219 of 21 December 2001, on assistance in mine action, all adopted without a vote, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has a significant role to play in the field of assistance in mine action, and considering mine action to be an important and integrated component of United Nations humanitarian and development activities, Reaffirming its deep concern at the tremendous humanitarian and development problems caused by the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance that constitute an obstacle to the return of refugees and other displaced persons, to humanitarian aid operations and to reconstruction and economic development, as well as to the restoration of normal social conditions, and that have serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the populations of mine-affected countries, Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and other unexploded ordnance pose to the safety, health and lives of local civilian populations, as well as of personnel participating in humanitarian, peacekeeping and rehabilitation programmes and operations, Encouraged by the reduction in the number of new mine victims, but reiterating its dismay at the existing high number of victims of mines and other unexploded ordnance, especially among civilian populations, including women and children, and recalling in this context Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1995/79 of 8 March 1995,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 1996/85 of 24 April 1996,Ibid., 1996, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1996/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1997/78 of 18 April 1997,Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1998/76 of 22 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1999/80 of 28 April 1999,Ibid., 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2000/85 of 27 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 2001/75 of 25 April 2001Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2002/92 of 26 April 2002Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the rights of the child, and resolutions 1996/27 of 19 April 1996,Ibid., 1996, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/1996/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1998/31 of 17 April 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2000/51 of 25 April 2000Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and 2002/61 of 25 April 2002Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and decision 1997/107 of 11 April 1997,Ibid., 1997, Supplement No. 3 (E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. B. on the human rights of persons with disabilities, Deeply alarmed by the number of mines that continue to be laid each year, as well as the presence of a decreasing but still very large number of mines and other unexploded ordnance as a result of armed conflicts, and therefore remaining convinced of the necessity and urgency of a significant increase in mine-clearance efforts by the international community with a view to eliminating the threat of landmines to civilians as soon as possible, Noting the inclusion in Amended Protocol IICCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. of a number of provisions of importance for mine-clearance operations, notably the requirement of detectability, and provision of information and technical and material assistance necessary to remove or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines and booby traps, and noting also that Amended Protocol II to the Convention entered into force on 3 December 1998, Noting also the conclusions and recommendations adopted at the Third Annual Conference of the States Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention, held in Geneva on 10 December 2001,See CCW/AP.II/CONF.3/4 (Part I) and Corr.1 and 2. Recalling that the States parties at the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention decided to explore further the issue of mines other than anti-personnel mines, the effects of explosive remnants of wars and possible measures which could reduce the risk of casualties among civilian populations and humanitarian problems after conflicts, Noting that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. which entered into force on 1 March 1999, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations therein to one hundred and thirty, Noting also the conclusions of the Fourth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Geneva from 16 to 20 September 2002,See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1. taking note of the reaffirmed commitments that were made, among other things, to intensify further the efforts in those areas most directly related to the core humanitarian objectives of the Convention, to provide assistance for mine clearance and rehabilitation, the social and economic reintegration of mine victims and mine-risk education programmes and to eradicate anti-personnel mines, and taking note of the work of the intersessional programme established by States parties to the Convention, Stressing the need to convince mine-affected States to halt new deployments of anti-personnel mines in order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of mine-clearance operations, Stressing also the need to convince non-State actors to halt immediately and unconditionally new deployments of anti-personnel mines, Recognizing the importance of assisting mine clearance in mine-affected countries by ensuring that the necessary maps and information and appropriate technical and material assistance are provided to help to remove existing minefields, mines, booby traps and other unexploded ordnance, Noting that the resources allocated to mine clearance and other mine-action activities have increased in recent years, but stressing the need to mobilize additional resources to meet increasing requirements, and encouraging all States, the United Nations and other international, regional and non-governmental organizations to continue their efforts in this regard, Concerned at the limited availability of safe and cost-effective mine-detection and mine-clearance equipment, as well as the need for effective global coordination in research and development to improve the relevant technology, and conscious of the need to promote further and more rapid progress in this field and to foster international, national and local technical cooperation to that end, Reaffirming the need to reinforce international and regional cooperation and coordination in the area of mine action and to devote the necessary resources to that end, including resources to support national and regional capacity-building initiatives, where applicable, and the work of the United Nations in that regard, Welcoming the various established mine-action coordination centres, as well as the creation and existence of international trust funds for mine clearance and other mine-action activities, Noting with satisfaction the inclusion in the mandates of several peacekeeping operations of provisions relating to mine-action work carried out under the direction of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, in the context of such operations, Commending the action taken by donor and recipient Governments, the United Nations system, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations to coordinate their efforts and seek solutions to the problems related to the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance, as well as their assistance to victims of mines, Welcoming the role of the Secretary-General in increasing public awareness of the problem of landmines, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/430. 2. Calls, in particular, for the continuation of the efforts of States, with the assistance of the United Nations and institutions as appropriate, to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries in which mines constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population or an impediment to social and economic development efforts at the national and local levels, and urges all Member States, in particular those that have the capacity to do so, to assist mine-affected countries in the establishment and development of national capacities in mine clearance, mine awareness and victim assistance; 3. Invites Member States to develop and support national programmes, where appropriate in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations system and relevant regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations, to promote awareness of landmines, including among women and children; 4. Expresses its appreciation to Governments, regional organizations and other donors for their financial and in-kind contributions to mine action, including contributions for emergency operations and for national and local capacity-building programmes; 5. Appeals to Governments, regional organizations and other donors to continue and, whenever possible, increase their support to mine action through further contributions, including contributions through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action, to allow for the timely delivery of mine-action assistance in emergency situations, and stresses that such assistance should be integrated into broader humanitarian and other strategies; 6. Stresses the importance of international support for emergency assistance to victims of mines and other unexploded ordnance and for the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of the victims, and also stresses that such assistance should be integrated into broader public health and socio-economic strategies; 7. Encourages the finalization of an emergency response plan by the United Nations to respond to emergency mine-action requirements, and emphasizes the need for that plan to build upon all existing capacities; 8. Encourages all relevant multilateral and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine action in their humanitarian, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development assistance activities, where appropriate, bearing in mind the need to ensure national and local ownership, sustainability and capacity-building; 9. Encourages Governments, relevant United Nations bodies and other donors to take further action to promote gender- and age-appropriate mine-risk education programmes, victim assistance and child-centred rehabilitation, thereby reducing the number of child victims and relieving their plight; 10. Stresses the importance of cooperation and coordination in mine action, while emphasizing once again the important role of the United Nations in the effective coordination of mine-action activities, based on the United Nations policy on mine action and effective coordination,A/53/496, annex II. and especially the role of the Mine Action Service, stresses also the important role that national authorities and regional organizations can play in this regard, and underlines the need for the continuous assessment of these roles by the General Assembly; 11. Emphasizes the role of the Mine Action Service as the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system and its ongoing collaboration with and coordination of all mine-related activities of the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and in this regard expresses its appreciation of the roles played by other bodies of the United Nations system, in accordance with United Nations mine-action policy; 12. Notes with appreciation the implementation of the United Nations mine-action strategy for the period 2001-2005 developed by the Secretary-General,See A/56/448 and Add.1 and 2. and requests him to review it formally by further seeking and taking into account the views of Member States and taking into consideration the impact of the landmine problem on rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, in order to ensure the effectiveness of assistance in mine action by the United Nations; 13. Emphasizes the importance of undertaking further multisectoral assessments and surveys to better define the nature, scope and impact of the landmine problem in affected countries and to support the establishment of clear priorities and national plans of action, notes with appreciation the ongoing development by the United Nations of the International Mine Action Standards, with the assistance of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and other partners in mine action, to support the safe and effective conduct of mine-action activities, emphasizes the need for an inclusive process to be followed in the development and review of such standards, and encourages the Secretary-General to circulate the completed standards as a United Nations document to all Member States; 14. Takes note with appreciation of the information management policy for mine action submitted by the Secretary-General,See A/56/448/Add.2. and emphasizes in this context the importance of developing and maintaining a comprehensive information management system for mine action, following an inclusive and continuous improvement process, under the overall coordination of the Mine Action Service and with the instrumental support of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, in order to facilitate the coordination of field activities and the setting of priorities therein; 15. Requests the Mine Action Service to develop further the electronic mine information network as a user-friendly repository of mine-related information and as a means for mine-action programmes to circulate on a regular basis to donors and other partners standard reports on the scope and impact of the mine problem, available mine-action resources and capacities and the progress achieved in the field; 16. Urges Member States and regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General and, in particular, to provide him with information and data, as well as other appropriate resources that could be useful in strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in mine action; 17. Emphasizes, in this regard, the importance of recording the location of mines, of retaining all such records and making them available to concerned parties upon cessation of hostilities, and welcomes the strengthening of the relevant provisions in international law; 18. Calls upon Member States, especially those that have the capacity to do so, to provide the necessary information and technical, financial and material assistance, as appropriate, and to locate, remove, destroy or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines, booby traps and other devices, in accordance with international law, as soon as possible; 19. Recognizes the importance of the various mine-action coordination centres, encourages the further establishment of such centres, including those supported by the United Nations Development Programme or under the auspices of the Mine Action Service, especially in emergency situations, and encourages States to support the activities of those centres and the trust funds established for the coordination and promotion of assistance in mine action; 20. Urges Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations that have the ability to do so to provide, as appropriate, technological assistance to mine-affected countries and to promote user-oriented scientific research and development on mine-action techniques and technology, within reasonable time frames, so that mine-action activities may be carried out more effectively at lower costs and through safer means and to promote international and local collaboration in this regard; 21. Encourages Member States and regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to support ongoing activities to promote appropriate technology, as well as international operational and safety standards for mine-action activities; 22. Takes note with appreciation of the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to study ways and means of increasing public awareness of the impact of the problem of landmines and other unexploded ordnance on affected countries and the presentation of options to this effect to the General Assembly; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the progress achieved on all relevant issues outlined both in his previous reports to the Assembly on assistance in mine clearance and mine action and in the present resolution, including the progress made by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international and regional organizations as well as national programmes, and on the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action and other mine-action programmes; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Assistance in mine action". RESOLUTION 57/15 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/560, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 57/15. Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General,A/57/99 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and 2 and A/INF/56/6 and Add.1. Conscious of the need to develop and strengthen friendly relations and cooperation among States, Convinced that respect for the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations is a basic prerequisite for the normal conduct of relations among States and for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Dismayed by the recent acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, as well as against representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, which have endangered or taken innocent lives and seriously impeded the normal work of such representatives and officials, Expressing sympathy for the victims of such illegal acts, Concerned at the failure to respect the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, Recalling that, without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State, Recalling also that diplomatic and consular premises must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of diplomatic and consular missions, Emphasizing the duty of States to take all appropriate measures as required by international law, including measures of a preventive nature, and to bring offenders to justice, Welcoming measures already taken by States to this end in conformity with their international obligations, Convinced that the role of the United Nations, which includes the reporting procedures established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 35/168 of 15 December 1980 and further elaborated in subsequent Assembly resolutions, is important in promoting efforts to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General;A/57/99 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and 2 and A/INF/56/6 and Add.1. 2. Strongly condemns acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and emphasizes that such acts can never be justified; 3. Urges States strictly to observe, implement and enforce the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations and, in particular, to ensure in conformity with their international obligations the protection, security and safety of the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above officially present in territories under their jurisdiction, including practical measures to prohibit in their territories illegal activities of persons, groups and organizations that encourage, instigate, organize or engage in the perpetration of acts against the security and safety of such missions, representatives and officials; 4. Also urges States to take all necessary measures at the national and international levels to prevent any acts of violence against the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above, and to ensure, with the participation of the United Nations where appropriate, that such acts are fully investigated with a view to bringing offenders to justice; 5. Recommends that States cooperate closely through, inter alia, contacts between the diplomatic and consular missions and the receiving State with regard to practical measures designed to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives and with regard to the exchange of information on the circumstances of all serious violations thereof; 6. Urges States to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law, at the national and international levels, to prevent any abuse of diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities, in particular serious abuses, including those involving acts of violence; 7. Recommends that States cooperate closely with the State in whose territory abuses of diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities may have occurred, including by exchanging information and providing assistance to its juridical authorities in order to bring offenders to justice; 8. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the instruments relevant to the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives; 9. Calls upon States, in cases where a dispute arises in connection with a violation of their international obligations concerning the protection of the missions or the security of the representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above, to make use of the means available for peaceful settlement of disputes, including the good offices of the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General, when he deems it appropriate, to offer his good offices to the States directly concerned; 10. Requests: (a) All States to report to the Secretary-General as promptly as possible serious violations of the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives as well as missions and representatives with diplomatic status to international intergovernmental organizations; (b) The State in which the violation occurred - and, to the extent possible, the State where the alleged offender is present - to report to the Secretary-General as promptly as possible on measures taken to bring the offender to justice and eventually to communicate, in accordance with its laws, the final outcome of the proceedings against the offender, and to report on measures adopted with a view to preventing a repetition of such violations; (c) The States so reporting to consider using or taking into account the guidelines prepared by the Secretary-General;A/42/485, annex. 11. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To send, without delay, a circular note to all States reminding them of the request contained in paragraph 10 above; (b) To circulate to all States, upon receipt, the reports received by him pursuant to paragraph 10 above, unless the reporting State requests otherwise; (c) To draw the attention, when appropriate, of the States directly concerned to the reporting procedures provided for in paragraph 10 above, when a serious violation has been reported pursuant to paragraph 10 (a) above; (d) To address reminders to States where such violations have occurred if reports pursuant to paragraph 10 (a) above or follow-up reports pursuant to paragraph 10 (b) above have not been made within a reasonable period of time; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite States, in the circular note referred to in paragraph 11 (a) above, to inform him of their views with respect to any measures needed or already taken to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives as well as missions and representatives with diplomatic status to international intergovernmental organizations; 13. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report containing: (a) Information on the state of ratification of, and accessions to, the instruments referred to in paragraph 8 above; (b) A summary of the reports received and views expressed pursuant to paragraphs 10 and 12 above; 14. Invites the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly any views he may wish to express on the matters referred to in paragraph 13 above; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives". RESOLUTION 57/160 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.20/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United States of America 57/160. The situation in Central America: procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace and progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development The General Assembly, Reaffirming all its relevant resolutions in which it stresses the importance of international economic, financial and technical cooperation and assistance, both bilateral and multilateral, aimed at promoting economic and social development in the region with a view to furthering and supplementing the efforts of the Central American peoples and Governments to consolidate peace and democracy, Reaffirming also its resolution 52/169 G of 16 December 1997, concerning international assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, and the relevant resolutions concerning emergency assistance to the Central American countries as a consequence of the destruction caused by natural disasters, Taking note of the peaceful and orderly elections held during the past year in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, and emphasizing the existence throughout Central America of freely elected Governments, indicating the achievement of political, economic and social changes that are creating a climate conducive to the promotion of economic growth and advancement towards the consolidation and further development of democratic, just and equitable societies, Emphasizing the importance of the Central American Integration System, the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, the establishment of the subsystem and of the regional social policy, the model of democratic Central American security, and the implementation of other agreements adopted at the presidential summit meetings, Recognizing that the consolidation of peace and democracy in Central America is the outcome of a long and arduous process in which obstacles have been encountered but are being overcome through the efforts of the peoples and Governments of the region aimed at continuing progress in the strengthening of peace and democratic institutions, Noting that in 2002, on the tenth anniversary of the signature of the El Salvador peace agreements, additional steps have been taken towards the successful implementation of the commitments, enabling the completion of the verification work entrusted to the Secretary-General, Noting with concern that the progress achieved in previous years in the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the Guatemala peace agreements has not maintained the same momentum during the period 2001-2002 and in some aspects has even been reversed, Recognizing the establishment of offices of human rights defenders throughout Central America and the progress achieved in the field of human rights, which is being supported by public education campaigns to highlight both the responsibilities of States in the field of human rights and the rights and responsibilities of citizens, Noting with concern the deterioration in the Central American economies, due, inter alia, to an unfavourable international economic climate and the fall in exports, as well as the adverse effects on the efforts of the peoples and Governments of the region to achieve sustainable economic development, and underlining the need for economic reforms, Noting with concern also that Central America is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and that some countries have not yet been able to overcome the devastating effects of hurricanes Mitch, Keith and Michelle, the earthquakes in El Salvador in January 2001 and the drought that afflicted the entire region in 2001, Noting that the natural disasters have proved the relevance of environmentally responsible economic and development policies and the need for the Central American nations to consider environmental aspects among all their development objectives, Bearing in mind the efforts made by the Central American Governments to reduce the risks and mitigate the consequences of the natural disasters in the region, including the adoption of the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central America and the Central American Five-Year Plan for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Disasters, 2000 to 2004, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Central America;A/57/384 and Add.1. 2. Commends the efforts of the peoples and the Governments of the Central American countries to consolidate peace and democracy and promote sustainable development by implementing the commitments adopted at the summit meetings in the region; 3. Takes note with satisfaction of the firm determination shown by the Central American Governments to resolve their differences peacefully, thereby avoiding any setback in efforts to consolidate peace, further the process of Central American integration and guarantee the sustainable development of the region; 4. Urges the Central American nations to continue to work together to resolve border issues for the greater good of the region and its inhabitants; 5. Draws attention to the convening of the Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Central America: Control and Regulation of Weapons Transfers in Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action, held in San José from 3 to 5 December 2001, and welcomes the adoption of a plan of activities recommended for the national and regional implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV. 6. Recognizes the importance of the process of Central American integration, and urges Member States to continue combining efforts to adapt, strengthen and promote even further the Central American integration process, especially in economic, social, cultural and tourism fields, and recalling the Declaration regarding a South American Zone of Peace and Cooperation,See A/57/232, annex, enclosure. appeals to the international community to continue supporting that process in order to contribute to the peace, security and sustainable development of the region; 7. Reaffirms the importance of the Puebla-Panama Plan as a means of promoting the economic and social development of the Mesoamerican region, recognizes in that connection the process made in implementing the Plan, and invites the friendly countries of the Mesoamerican region, international agencies and international businessmen and investors to support the Mesoamerican countries in the implementation of the projects prioritized in the Plan; 8. Welcomes the Mérida Joint Declaration adopted on 28 June 2002 at the Fifth Summit of the Tuxtla Mechanism for Dialogue and Coordination, in which the heads of State and Government of Central America and Mexico expressed their firm commitment to promote deep regional integration through the consolidation of a community of Mesoamerican nations; 9. Recognizes the importance of the Conference on Information and Communications Technology and Electronic Government for Regional Development and Integration for Central America, convened at Tegucigalpa on 20 November 2002, and, with a view to garnering greater support, requests the United Nations Secretariat to continue rendering support in the areas of information and communications technology and electronic government for the regional development of Central America; 10. Reiterates the importance of negotiating trade agreements between the region and its counterparts outside the region with a view to promoting the sustainability of the economic development of the region; 11. Calls upon the Central American Governments to continue to fulfil the commitments they have assumed under national, regional and international agreements with a view to enhancing governance in the region, especially in the promotion and protection of human rights and the implementation of social programmes designed to overcome poverty and unemployment, improve public safety, strengthen the judiciary, consolidate a modern and transparent public administration and eliminate corruption; 12. Urges the Central American Governments to redouble their efforts to combat common crime and transnational organized crime with a view to providing greater security for inhabitants and their property, within a framework of full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 13. Recognizes the progress achieved in the consolidation of a Mesoamerican biological corridor as a system of territorial classification, comprising natural areas under special administrative regimes, multi-use areas and interconnecting areas in order to contribute to improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region; 14. Reiterates its appreciation to the people and the Government of El Salvador for their efforts in fulfilling the commitments set forth in the peace agreements, and expresses its profound thanks to the Secretary-General for the commendable way in which he has carried out the verification work entrusted to him, and to the international community for the support it has rendered in order to achieve the objectives of the peace process in El Salvador; 15. Urges all Guatemalans, and in particular the Government of Guatemala, to give renewed impetus to the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the peace agreements, in the context of reprogramming for the period 2001-2004, and to the understanding reached during the meeting of the Consultative Group for Guatemala, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., on 11 and 12 February 2002; 16. Reiterates the need to implement fully the commitments set forth in the Guatemala peace agreements, in particular the recommendations of the Commission for Historical Clarification,See A/53/928, annex. and urges all sectors of society to combine efforts and to work with determination to consolidate peace; 17. Requests the Secretary-General, the relevant bodies and programmes of the United Nations system and the international community to continue to support and verify the implementation of the Guatemala peace agreements signed under United Nations auspices, and to consider the implementation of the peace agreements as the framework for their technical and financial assistance programmes and projects in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Guatemala; 18. Recognizes the need to continue to follow closely the situation in Central America in support of national and regional efforts to overcome the underlying causes that have led to armed conflicts, avoid setbacks and consolidate peace and democracy in the region, as well as promote the objectives of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America; 19. Commends the efforts and actions undertaken by the present Government of Nicaragua to combat the scourge of corruption, which threatens to undermine the legitimacy of public institutions in that country, and urges it to continue its actions until that evil has been eradicated, thereby strengthening confidence in the rule of law and the belief of the Nicaraguan people in democracy; 20. Reaffirms the importance of international cooperation, in particular cooperation with the bodies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and the donor community in the consolidation of democracy and sustainable development in Central America, and urges them to continue to support Central American efforts to achieve those objectives; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to lend his fullest support to the initiatives and activities of the Central American Governments, in particular their efforts to consolidate democracy through the promotion of integration and the implementation of the comprehensive sustainable development programme, emphasizing, inter alia, the potential repercussions of natural disasters on the vulnerable economies and political systems of the region, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "The situation in Central America: progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development". RESOLUTION 57/161 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L. 27/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela 57/161. United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/223 of 24 December 2001, in which it decided to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala from 1 January to 31 December 2002, Taking into account the fact that the Government of Guatemala has reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreements, Underlining the fact that substantive aspects of the peace agreements have yet to be implemented and that the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements has approved a new schedule for their implementation from 2000 until the end of 2004, Taking into account the fact that the parties have requested the United Nations to support the consolidation of the peace-building process until 2003,See A/55/389, para. 9. Taking into account also the thirteenth report of the Mission on human rights,A/57/336, annex. Taking into account further the seventh report of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements,A/56/1003. Taking into account the report of the Commission for Historical Clarification,A/53/928, annex. Stressing the positive role played by the Mission in support of the Guatemala peace process, and emphasizing the need for the Mission to continue to enjoy the full support of all parties concerned, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the MissionA/57/584. and the recommendations contained therein, 1. Welcomes the thirteenth report of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala on human rights;A/57/336, annex. 2. Also welcomes the seventh report of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements;A/56/1003. 3. Recalls the report of the Commission for Historical ClarificationA/53/928, annex. and the recommendations contained therein; 4. Calls upon the Government of Guatemala to fulfil its commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreements; 5. Recalls that the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements has rescheduled the pending commitments and included others not initially scheduled; 6. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/584. aimed at ensuring that the Mission can respond adequately to the demands of the peace process until 31 December 2003, as well as of his proposal for a further scaling down of the Mission in 2003; 7. Takes note also of the agreement reached by the parties regarding the importance of the continuing presence of the Mission in Guatemala until 2003; 8. Takes note further of the meeting of the Consultative Group for Guatemala, held in Washington, D.C., in February 2002, which provided new impetus for compliance with the peace agreements, and looks forward to the next Consultative Group meeting planned for the middle of 2003; 9. Notes with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the peace agreements in some areas, in particular significant legislative advances through the approval of a package of laws on decentralization and of a law criminalizing discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity and other criteria; 10. Also notes with satisfaction the election of a new Human Rights Ombudsman and a new Public Prosecutor, as well as steps taken to establish a professional judiciary; 11. Underlines with concern the fact that a number of key commitments remain outstanding in the areas of fiscal, judicial, military, electoral and land reform, as well as rural development and indigenous rights, and therefore urges that those commitments be implemented without further delay; 12. Also underlines with concern the budgetary constraints placed on institutions and programmes which are given priority under the peace process, while special budgetary transfers have been made to the armed forces, exceeding both budgetary allocations and targets of the peace agreements; 13. Notes that the consolidation of the peace-building process remains a significant challenge that requires a concerted national effort to guarantee the irreversibility of the peace process; 14. Notes with concern that the human rights situation has deteriorated, in particular the climate of intimidation has worsened amid an increase in threats and violence against judges, journalists and human rights defenders; 15. Calls upon the Government to implement fully the recommendations contained in the report of the Mission on human rights, in particular those related to the systematic impunity for crimes and human rights violations; 16. Underlines the importance of implementing fully the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous PeoplesA/49/882-S/1995/256, annex. as a key to fighting discrimination and consolidating peace and equality in Guatemala, and highlights the need to implement fully the Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects and Agrarian SituationA/50/956, annex. as a means of addressing the root causes of the armed conflict; 17. Calls upon the Government to implement the recommendations of the Commission for Historical Clarification, with a view to promoting national reconciliation, upholding the right to truth and providing redress for the victims of human rights abuses and violence committed during the thirty-six-year conflict, and calls upon the Guatemalan Congress to establish, as recommended, the Commission for Peace and Harmony; 18. Welcomes in this regard the recent agreement reached between the Government and civil society to establish a National Reparations Commission, and calls upon the Congress to adopt the draft law on the National Reparations Programme; 19. Invites the international community and, in particular, the agencies, programmes and funds of the United Nations, to continue to support the consolidation of the peace-building process, with the peace agreements as the framework for their technical and financial assistance programmes and projects, and stresses the continued importance of close cooperation among them in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Guatemala; 20. Urges the international community to support financially, through existing mechanisms of international cooperation, the strengthening of national capacities to ensure the consolidation of the peace process in Guatemala; 21. Also urges the international community to support financially the strengthening of the capacities of the United Nations agencies and programmes, as the Mission will transfer some of its activities and projects to those agencies to support the national efforts to comply with the commitments of the peace agreements; 22. Stresses that the Mission has a key role to play in promoting the consolidation of peace and the observance of human rights and in verifying compliance with the revised timetable for the implementation of pending commitments under the peace agreements; 23. Takes note of the request of the Government of Guatemala for an extension of the mandate of the Mission until the end of 2004, taking into account the fact that the new Administration is scheduled to take office in January 2004; 24. Notes that civil society organizations and members of the international community have expressed concerns that voids will be created, particularly in the areas of human rights, indigenous rights, demilitarization and the strengthening of civil society, if the Mission departs Guatemala at the end of 2003, just as the new Government takes office and before it has been able to demonstrate its commitment to the peace process; 25. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to initiate consultations with interested Member States regarding these requests and to keep the General Assembly apprised of progress in these talks; 26. Decides to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala from 1 January to 31 December 2003; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, as early as possible, an updated report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, together with his recommendations regarding the best way to accompany Guatemala in its peace-building process beyond 31 December 2003; 28. Also requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly fully informed of the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/162 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.58/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Viet Nam, Zambia 57/162. International Year of Rice, 2004 The General Assembly, Recalling resolution 2/2001 of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,See Report of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Thirty-first Session, Rome, 2-13 November 2001 (C 2001/REP). Noting that rice is the staple food of more than half of the world's population, Affirming the need to heighten awareness of the role of rice in alleviating poverty and malnutrition, Reaffirming the need to focus world attention on the role that rice can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty in the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. 1. Decides to declare the year 2004 the International Year of Rice; 2. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to facilitate the implementation of the International Year of Rice, in collaboration with Governments, the United Nations Development Programme, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research centres and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations. RESOLUTION 57/163 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/544, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/163. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special sessionResolution S-24/2, annex. constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Also recalling and reaffirming the commitments made at major United Nations conferences, special sessions, summit conferences and their follow-up processes, including, in this context, the recognition of the contributions of the outcomes of recent United Nations conferences and summits, such as the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, and the principles expressed in relevant United Nations declarations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the development goals contained therein, Welcoming the outcome of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, held in Madrid from 8 to 12 April 2002, and stressing the importance of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. which focuses on three priority directions: older persons and development, advancing health and well-being into old age, and ensuring enabling and supportive environments, Recalling its previous resolutions on the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need for an integrated and coordinated follow-up to major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits in the economic, social and related fields, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/115. 2. Reaffirms the commitments made by heads of State and Government at the World Summit for Social Development, contained in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. which established a new consensus to place people at the centre of the concerns for sustainable development and pledged to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration so as to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all; 3. Also reaffirms the decisions on further action and initiatives to accelerate social development for all, adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session and contained in the further initiatives for social development;Resolution S-24/2, annex. 4. Recognizes that many of the goals and commitments contained in the outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly have been successfully incorporated in the outcomes of subsequent international conferences and summits, including those of the Millennium Assembly,See resolution 55/2. the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Second World Assembly on AgeingReport of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. and that the integration of social development objectives in these many spheres demonstrates a continuing firm commitment to achieving the goals of the World Summit for Social Development; 5. Calls for the speedy implementation of the goals and commitments contained in the outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly; 6. Recognizes that, while action taken to implement the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits in the economic, social and related fields held during the past ten years will further promote social development, strengthened and effective international and regional cooperation and assistance for development and progress towards increased participation, greater social justice and improved equity in societies will also be required; 7. Reaffirms the need for effective partnership and cooperation between Governments and the relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, in the implementation of and follow-up to the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and the further initiatives for social development, and the need to ensure their involvement in the planning, elaboration, implementation and evaluation of social policies at the national level; 8. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development, the regional commissions, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and the programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to continue to integrate into their work programmes and give priority attention to the commitments and undertakings contained in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the further initiatives for social development, to continue to be actively involved in their follow-up and to monitor the achievement of those commitments and undertakings; 9. Welcomes the contribution of the Commission for Social Development in the follow-up to and the review of the further implementation of the commitments made in Copenhagen and the further initiatives agreed upon in Geneva, reaffirms that the Commission will continue to have the primary responsibility in this regard, and encourages Governments, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to continue to support its work; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on this question to the General Assembly at that session, taking into account, among other things, the need for an integrated and coordinated follow-up to all major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits. RESOLUTION 57/164 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/545, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 57/164. Preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 46/92 of 16 December 1991, 47/237 of 20 September 1993, 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999 and 56/113 of 19 December 2001 concerning the proclamation, preparations for and observance of the International Year of the Family and its tenth anniversary, Recognizing that the follow-up to the International Year of the Family is an integral part of the agenda and of the multi-year programme of work of the Commission for Social Development until 2004, Noting that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the United Nations summits and conferences of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development, Recalling that relevant United Nations instruments on human rights as well as relevant global plans and programmes of action call for the widest possible protection and assistance to be accorded to the family, bearing in mind that, in different cultural, political and social systems, various forms of the family exist, Emphasizing that equality between women and men and respect for the human rights of all family members are essential to family well-being and to society at large, and noting the importance of reconciliation of work and family life, Aware that families are affected by social and economic changes manifested as observable worldwide trends and that the causes and consequences of those trends concerning families have to be identified and analysed, Recognizing the important role of non-governmental organizations, at both the local and the national level, working in the interest of families, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004,A/57/139 and Corr.1. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/139 and Corr.1. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Reaffirms its invitation to all States to take prompt action to establish national mechanisms, as appropriate, to prepare for, observe and follow up the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, in particular for the purpose of planning, stimulating and harmonizing the activities of the governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations concerned with the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary, and to cooperate with the Secretary-General in achieving the objectives of the tenth anniversary; 3. Calls upon all United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular family-related organizations, to make every possible effort towards the implementation of the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family by integrating the family perspective into the planning and decision-making processes; 4. Decides that the major activities for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family should be concentrated at the local, national and regional levels and that the United Nations system should assist Governments in these efforts; 5. Takes note of the major study on the most important trends affecting families, to be submitted to the General Assembly at the commencement of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in December 2003; 6. Calls for a concerted promotional, informational and media campaign on the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at the national, regional and international levels; 7. Invites the Secretary-General to launch the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family early in December 2003; 8. Decides to devote one plenary meeting at its fifty-ninth session, in 2004, to the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, building upon the events to be held on 15 May 2004 on the occasion of the International Day of Families; 9. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to play an active role in facilitating international cooperation within the framework of the follow-up to the International Year of the Family, to facilitate the exchange of experience and information among Governments on effective policies and strategies, to facilitate technical assistance, with a focus on the least developed and developing countries, and to encourage the organization of subregional and interregional meetings and relevant research; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session through the Commission for Social Development and the Economic and Social Council on the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at all levels. RESOLUTION 57/165 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/545, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela and Zambia. 57/165. Promoting youth employment The General Assembly, Reaffirming the resolve of heads of State and Government, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to develop and implement strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work, Recalling and reaffirming the commitments relating to youth employment made at the major United Nations conferences and summits since 1990 and their follow-up processes, Recalling its resolution 54/120 of 17 December 1999, in which it took note with appreciation of the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 1998,See WCMRY/1998/28, chap. I, resolution 1. which set forth important commitments regarding youth employment, Recalling also its resolution 56/117 of 19 December 2001, in which, inter alia, it welcomed the Secretary-General's initiative to create a Youth Employment Network and invited him to continue with initiatives in that regard, Recognizing that young people are an asset for sustainable economic growth and social development, and expressing deep concern about the magnitude of youth unemployment and underemployment throughout the world and its profound implications for the future of our societies, Recognizing also that Governments have a primary responsibility to educate young people and to create an enabling environment that will promote youth employment, 1. Takes note of the work of the High-level Panel of the Secretary-General's Youth Employment Network and its policy recommendations;See A/56/422. 2. Encourages Member States to prepare national reviews and action plans on youth employment and to involve youth organizations and young people in this process, taking into account, inter alia, the commitments made by Member States in this regard, in particular those included in the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond;Resolution 50/81, annex. 3. Invites, within the context of the Youth Employment Network, the International Labour Organization, in collaboration with the Secretariat and the World Bank and other relevant specialized agencies, to assist and support, upon request, the efforts of Governments in the elaboration of national reviews and action plans, and to undertake a global analysis and evaluation of progress made in this regard; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including on the progress achieved by the Youth Employment Network. RESOLUTION 57/166 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/545, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/166. United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/116 of 19 December 2001, by which it proclaimed the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2003 the United Nations Literacy Decade, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to ensure that, by the year 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education, which requires a renewed commitment to promote literacy for all, Reaffirming that a basic education is crucial to nation-building, that literacy for all is at the heart of basic education for all and that creating literate environments and societies is essential for achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy, Convinced that literacy is crucial to the acquisition, by every child, youth and adult, of the essential life skills that enable them to address the challenges they can face in life, and represents an essential step in basic education, which is an indispensable means for effective participation in the societies and economies of the twenty-first century, Affirming that the realization of the right to education, especially for girls, contributes to the eradication of poverty, Deeply concerned about the persistence of the gender gap in education, which is reflected by the fact that nearly two thirds of the world's adult illiterates are women, 1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on an international plan of action for the United Nations Literacy Decade;See A/57/218 and Corr.1. 2. Welcomes the International Plan of Action for the United Nations Literacy Decade; 3. Appeals to all Governments to reinforce political will, mobilize adequate national resources, develop more inclusive policy-making environments and devise innovative strategies for reaching the poorest and most marginalized groups and for seeking alternative formal and non-formal approaches to learning with a view to achieving the goals of the Decade; 4. Urges all Governments to take the lead in coordinating the activities of the Decade at the national level, bringing all relevant national actors together in a sustained dialogue on policy formulation, implementation and evaluation of literacy efforts; 5. Appeals to all Governments and professional organizations to strengthen national and professional educational institutions in their countries with a view to expanding their capacity and promoting the quality of education; 6. Appeals to all Governments and to economic and financial organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend greater financial and material support to the efforts to increase literacy and achieve the goals of education for all and those of the Decade, through, inter alia, the 20/20 initiative,See Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II, para. 88 (c). as appropriate; 7. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to intensify their efforts to implement effectively the International Plan of Action; 8. Decides that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization should take a coordinating role in stimulating and catalysing the activities undertaken at the international level within the framework of the Decade in a manner that is complementary to and coordinated with the ongoing process of education for all; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to prepare a report on the implementation of the International Plan of Action for submission to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family", a sub-item entitled "United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all". RESOLUTION 57/167 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/546, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Venezuela (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 57/167. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/24 of 10 November 1999, 54/262 of 25 May 2000, 56/118 of 19 December 2001 and 56/228 of 24 December 2001, Reaffirming the principles and recommendations of the International Plan of Action on Ageing,See Report of the World Assembly on Ageing, Vienna, 26 July-6 August 1982 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.I.16), chap. VI, sect. A. which it endorsed in its resolution 37/51 of 3 December 1982, and the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in 1991,Resolution 46/91, annex. which provided guidance in areas of independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity, Having considered the report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, held in Madrid from 8 to 12 April 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4). Expressing its profound gratitude to the Government and the people of Spain for hosting the World Assembly and for the hospitality extended to all participants, 1. Welcomes the report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing;Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4). 2. Endorses the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, adopted by consensus by the Second World Assembly on Ageing on 12 April 2002;Ibid., chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. 3. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/93. 4. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system and all other actors to take the necessary steps to implement the Madrid Plan of Action; 5. Recognizes that the evolving process of global ageing requires actions at all levels on the three priority directions in the Madrid Plan of Action, namely, older persons and development, advancing health and well-being into old age, and ensuring enabling and supportive environments; 6. Affirms the aim of the Madrid Plan of Action, which is to ensure that persons everywhere are able to age with security and dignity and to continue to participate in their societies as citizens with full rights; 7. Recognizes that progress made in the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action should be contingent upon effective partnership among Governments, all parts of civil society and the private sector, as well as an enabling environment based, inter alia, on democracy, the rule of law, respect for all human rights, fundamental freedoms and good governance at all levels, including the national and international levels; 8. Reaffirms that enhanced international cooperation is an essential complement to national efforts to implement fully the Madrid Plan of Action, and therefore encourages the international community further to promote cooperation among all actors involved; 9. Invites international financial institutions and regional development banks to examine and adjust their lending and grants practices so as to ensure that older persons are recognized as a development resource and are taken into account in their policies and projects as part of efforts to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; 10. Welcomes the active participation of civil society, the private sector and other relevant actors in the Second World Assembly on Ageing and their support for the implementation of the Political Declaration and the Madrid Plan of Action, as well as the contributions made through parallel events organized by the Government of Spain, and urges relevant actors to continue research efforts in support of the Plan; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the necessary measures to improve the institutional capacity of the United Nations system to fulfil its responsibilities for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, including, inter alia, the maintenance and strengthening of focal points on ageing in the light of the range of tasks called for in the Plan; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in the context of the preparation of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, to allocate sufficient human and financial resources to the Programme on Ageing of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat so as to make it possible for the Programme efficiently and effectively to fulfil its task as the United Nations focal point on ageing and to facilitate and promote the Madrid Plan of Action by, inter alia, designing guidelines for policy development and implementation and advocating means to mainstream ageing issues into development agendas; 13. Welcomes the initiatives of the regional commissions to review the objectives and recommendations of the Madrid Plan of Action, with a view of translating it into regional plans of action, and to assist national institutions, upon request, in implementing and monitoring their actions on ageing; 14. Invites the Commission for Social Development, as the entity responsible for the follow-up to and appraisal of the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, to consider integrating the different dimensions of population ageing as contained in the Plan in its work and to consider the modalities for reviews and appraisals at its forty-first session in 2003; 15. Welcomes the preparation of a road map for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action by the Programme on Ageing, and invites all relevant actors to contribute to its preparation; 16. Urges all Member States and other actors to contribute generously to the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing and to support activities undertaken in follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing, including technical cooperation to promote the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate the Political Declaration and the Madrid Plan of Action as widely as possible, including among all relevant organs of the United Nations system; 18. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/168 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/547, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 57/168. International cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001, by which it adopted the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Recalling also its resolution 56/120 of 19 December 2001, in which it requested the Secretary-General to provide the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and encouraged Member States to make adequate voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, in accordance with article 30 of the Convention, for the provision of technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the implementation of those international legal instruments, Reaffirming its deep concern over the impact of transnational organized crime on the political, social and economic stability and development of societies, Reaffirming that the adoption of the Convention and the Protocols thereto is a significant development in international criminal law and that they constitute important instruments for effective international cooperation against transnational organized crime, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on promoting the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;E/CN.15/2002/10. 2. Welcomes the fact that a number of States have already ratified the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and reiterates the importance of ensuring the speedy entry into force of those instruments in accordance with its resolutions 55/25 and 55/255; 3. Commends the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office on Drugs and Crime of the Secretariat for its work in promoting the ratification of the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 4. Welcomes the proposed action by the Centre, described in the report of the Secretary-General, to promote the early entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 5. Also welcomes the financial support provided by several donors to promote the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and further encourages Member States to make sufficient voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund for the provision of technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the implementation of those international legal instruments; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Centre with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution in his report on the work of the Centre to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/169 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/547, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 57/169. High-level political conference for the purpose of signing the United Nations convention against corruption The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/61 of 4 December 2000, in which it decided to establish an ad hoc committee for the negotiation of an international legal instrument against corruption, Recalling also its resolution 56/260 of 31 January 2002 on the terms of reference for the negotiation of an international legal instrument against corruption, in which it decided that the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption, established pursuant to its resolution 55/61, should negotiate a broad and effective convention which, subject to the final determination of its title, should be referred to as the "United Nations Convention against Corruption", and requested the Ad Hoc Committee to complete its work by the end of 2003, Recalling further its resolution 55/188 of 20 December 2000 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to the countries of origin, and its resolution 56/186 of 21 December 2001 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin, Commending the efforts of the United Nations to address concerns about corruption in a global forum and the efforts of Member States to implement the various instruments and standards relating to corruption, including the United Nations Declaration against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial TransactionsResolution 51/191, annex. and the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials,Resolution 51/59, annex. Mindful of the fact that negotiations on the draft United Nations convention against corruption are continuing in Vienna in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 55/61 and 56/260, 1. Notes the progress made to date by the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption, and urges the Ad Hoc Committee to endeavour to complete its work by the end of 2003; 2. Accepts with appreciation the offer made by the Government of Mexico to host a high-level political conference for the purpose of signing the convention; 3. Decides to convene the high-level political conference for the purpose of signing the convention in Mexico by the end of 2003; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to schedule the high-level political conference for a period of three days before the end of 2003 and to organize it in accordance with General Assembly resolution 40/243; 5. Requests the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat to work with the Government of Mexico, in consultation with Member States, in formulating proposals for the organization of the high-level political conference so that it may provide opportunities for high-level delegates to consider issues connected with the convention, in particular follow-up activities for its effective implementation and for future work in the area of fighting corruption; 6. Invites all States to arrange to be represented at the high-level political conference by persons at the highest possible level of government; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Centre for International Crime Prevention, which will act as the secretariat for the high-level political conference, with all the resources necessary for organizing the conference in an effective and appropriate manner. RESOLUTION 57/16 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/561, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/16. Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/55 of 9 December 1991, 49/61 of 9 December 1994, 52/151 of 15 December 1997, 53/98 of 8 December 1998, 54/101 of 9 December 1999, 55/150 of 12 December 2000 and 56/78 of 12 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/57/22). established pursuant to resolution 55/150, Noting that only a few issues remain outstanding, Stressing the importance of uniformity and clarity in the law applicable to jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/57/22). 2. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall be reconvened from 24 to 28 February 2003 in order to make a final attempt at consolidating areas of agreement and resolving outstanding issues, with a view to elaborating a generally acceptable instrument based on the draft articles on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property adopted by the International Law Commission at its forty-third session,Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 1991, vol. II, Part Two (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.V.9 (Part 2)), document A/46/10, chap. II, para. 28. and also on the discussions of the open-ended working group of the Sixth Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee and their results,See A/C.6/54/L.12 and A/C.6/55/L.12. See also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th meeting (A/C.6/54/SR.30), and corrigendum; ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Sixth Committee, 30th and 31st meetings (A/C.6/55/SR.30 and 31), and corrigendum; ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/57/22); and ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Sixth Committee, 18th and 19th meetings (A/C.6/57/SR.18 and 19). as well as to recommend a form for the instrument; 3. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the outcome of its work; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property". RESOLUTION 57/170 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/547, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 57/170. Follow-up to the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/59 of 4 December 2000, by which it endorsed the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, adopted by the States Members of the United Nations and the other States participating in the high-level segment of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, as contained in the annex to that resolution, Recalling also its resolution 55/60 of 4 December 2000, in which it urged Governments, in their efforts to prevent and combat crime, especially transnational crime, and to maintain well-functioning criminal justice systems, to be guided by the results of the Tenth Congress,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). Recalling further its resolution 56/261 of 31 January 2002, in which it took note with appreciation of the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration, which are contained in the annex to that resolution, and invited the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to follow up the implementation of the plans of action and to make any recommendations as appropriate, Underlining the significance of the plans of action in providing guidance for the implementation of and follow-up to the commitments undertaken in the Vienna Declaration, Having taken note of the fact that the plans of action reflect a wide range of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, Recognizing that effective follow-up to the plans of action could promote the use and application of those standards and norms while facilitating an effective long-term response to the challenges of the twenty-first century in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, 1. Invites Governments and relevant intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to consider carefully and to use, as appropriate, the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, which are contained in the annex to resolution 56/261, as guidance for the formulation of legislation, policies and programmes in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice at the national and international levels; 2. Requests the Secretariat to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twelfth session on the outcome of its discussion with the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network of Institutes regarding their possible contribution to the implementation of the plans of action, pursuant to resolution 56/261; 3. Requests the Executive Director of the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat to keep the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice informed of the progress made in the follow-up to the plans of action in his reports on the work of the Centre for International Crime Prevention; 4. Invites the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, while formulating recommendations regarding the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice pursuant to General Assembly resolution 56/119 of 19 December 2001, to take into account the progress made in the follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and the plans of action, as well as new developments that have taken place in the meantime in the areas covered by the Vienna Declaration. RESOLUTION 57/171 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/547, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 57/171. Preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/119 of 19 December 2001 on the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, Considering that, pursuant to its resolutions 415 (V) of 1 December 1950 and 46/152 of 18 December 1991, the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is to be held in 2005, Bearing in mind the guidelines for and the new format of the United Nations congresses, as stipulated in paragraph 2 of resolution 56/119, as well as paragraphs 29 and 30 of the statement of principles and programme of action of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, annexed to resolution 46/152, Recalling that, in its resolution 56/119, it requested the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the preparatory body for the United Nations congresses, to formulate, at its eleventh session, recommendations regarding the Eleventh Congress, including recommendations on the main topic, the organization of round tables and workshops to be held by panels of experts and the venue and duration of the Congress, and to submit those recommendations, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session, Recognizing the significant contributions of the United Nations congresses in promoting the exchange of experience in research, law and policy development and the identification of emerging trends and issues in crime prevention and criminal justice among States, intergovernmental organizations and individual experts representing various professions and disciplines, 1. Takes note of the report of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on its eleventh sessionOfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (E/2002/30 and Corr.1). and of its discussion on the preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice;Ibid., chap. VII. 2. Decides that the main theme of the Eleventh Congress shall be "Synergies and responses: strategic alliances in crime prevention and criminal justice"; 3. Suggests that the following topics be included for discussion during the plenary session of the Eleventh Congress, and notes that Member States may refine these topics and propose additional topics at future intersessional meetings of the Commission for finalization at its twelfth session: (a) Effective measures to combat transnational organized crime; (b) Corruption: threats and trends in the twenty-first century; (c) Economic and financial crimes: challenges to sustainable development; (d) Making standards work: fifty years of standard-setting in crime prevention and criminal justice; 4. Also suggests that the following issues be considered by workshops within the framework of the Eleventh Congress, and notes that Member States may refine these issues and propose additional workshop topics at future intersessional meetings of the Commission for finalization at its twelfth session: (a) Measures to combat economic crime: the role of the private sector; (b) Cross-border law enforcement cooperation; (c) Human rights in criminal justice; (d) Restorative justice: community involvement, diversion and other alternative measures; (e) Links between transnational organized crime and terrorism; (f) Measures to combat high-technology and computer-related crime; (g) Measures to combat money-laundering; (h) Combating corruption; (i) Crime prevention strategies for youth at risk; (j) Current practices in and ways of overcoming obstacles to extradition; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to facilitate the organization of regional preparatory meetings for the Eleventh Congress; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare, in cooperation with the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network of Institutes, a discussion guide for the regional preparatory meetings for the Eleventh Congress for the consideration of the Commission, and invites Member States to be involved actively in that process; 7. Accepts with gratitude the offer of the Government of Thailand to host the Eleventh Congress, and requests the Secretary-General to initiate consultations with the Government of Thailand and to report to the Commission at its twelfth session; 8. Decides that the duration of the Eleventh Congress shall not exceed eight days, including pre-Congress consultations; 9. Invites Member States to be represented at the Eleventh Congress at the highest possible level, for example, by heads of State or Government or government ministers and attorneys general, to make statements on the theme and topics of the Congress and to participate in thematic interactive round tables; 10. Encourages the relevant specialized agencies, United Nations programmes and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as other professional organizations, to cooperate with the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat in the preparations for the Eleventh Congress; 11. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide the Centre for International Crime Prevention with the necessary resources, within the overall appropriations of the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003, for the preparations for the Eleventh Congress and to ensure that adequate resources are provided in the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 to support the holding of the Congress; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to make available the necessary resources for the participation of the least developed countries in the regional preparatory meetings for the Eleventh Congress and at the Congress itself, in accordance with past practice; 13. Requests the Commission, at its twelfth session, to finalize the programme for the Eleventh Congress and to make its final recommendations, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the proper follow-up to the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twelfth session. RESOLUTION 57/172 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/547, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 57/172. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/122 of 19 December 2001 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/135. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 4. Urges the States members of the Institute to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 5. Calls upon all Member States and non-governmental organizations to adopt concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and to implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to work closely with the Institute; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to make concrete proposals, including the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/173 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/547, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/173. Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action annexed to that resolution, Recalling also its resolution 56/123 of 19 December 2001 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, Emphasizing the role of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality, more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and promotion of the highest standards of fairness, humanity and professional conduct, Recognizing that action against global criminal activity is a common and shared responsibility, Convinced of the desirability of closer coordination and cooperation among States in combating crime, including organized crime, corruption, the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, especially women and children, drug-related crimes, money-laundering, the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition and the criminal misuse of information technologies, as well as criminal activities carried out for the purpose of furthering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, bearing in mind the role that could be played by both the United Nations and regional organizations in this respect, Recognizing existing efforts at the regional level that complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in combating the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and noting in this context the outcomes of the Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, held at Bali, Indonesia, from 26 to 28 February 2002,See A/57/64. and the seventh Regional Conference on Migration, held at Antigua, Guatemala, from 28 to 31 May 2002, as part of the Puebla Process, Recognizing also the urgent need to increase technical cooperation activities to assist countries, in particular developing countries and countries with economies in transition, with their efforts in translating United Nations conventions and other legal instruments and policy guidelines into practice, Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, and its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001, by which it adopted the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, Emphasizing the importance of the expeditious entry into force of the Convention and the Protocols thereto as a milestone in the efforts to fight and prevent organized crime, one of the most serious contemporary threats to democracy and peace, Recognizing the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat between all priorities identified by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions, in which it requested the Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandate, in conformity with the high priority attached to the Programme, Recalling also its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, in which it requested the Secretary-General to make proposals to strengthen the Terrorism Prevention Branch at the United Nations Office at Vienna and to report thereon to the General Assembly for its consideration, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/59 of 4 December 2000, Recalling the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century annexed to General Assembly resolution 56/261 of 31 January 2002, Recalling also its resolution 56/260 of 31 January 2002, by which the General Assembly established the terms of reference of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/19 of 24 July 2002, entitled "Strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance within the framework of the activities of the Centre for International Crime Prevention in preventing and combating terrorism", Welcoming the progress made thus far by the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption, Aware of the continued increase in requests for technical assistance forwarded to the Centre by least developed countries, developing countries, countries with economies in transition and countries emerging from conflict, Appreciating the funding provided by certain Member States in 2001 and 2002 that has permitted the Centre to enhance its capacity to execute an increased number of projects, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 56/123;A/57/153. 2. Affirms the importance of the work of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office on Drugs and Crime of the Secretariat in the fulfilment of its mandate, including to prevent and combat terrorism, and in particular in strengthening international cooperation and providing technical assistance, upon request, which complements the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council, and in this context takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the SecretariatA/57/152 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and 2 and Add.2. requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253; 3. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, in responding to the needs of the international community in the face of both national and transnational criminality and in assisting Member States in achieving the goals of preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime; 4. Also reaffirms the role of the Centre in providing to Member States, upon request, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime and terrorism, as well as in the area of reconstruction of national criminal justice systems; 5. Welcomes the programme of work of the Centre, including the three global programmes addressing trafficking in human beings, corruption and organized crime, formulated on the basis of close consultations with Member States and the review by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and calls upon the Secretary-General to enhance further the visibility of that programme of work and to strengthen the Centre by providing it with the resources necessary for the full implementation of its mandate; 6. Supports the high priority given to technical cooperation and advisory services in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime and terrorism, and stresses the need to enhance the operational activities of the Centre to assist, in particular, developing countries, countries with economies in transition and countries emerging from conflict; 7. Urges States and relevant international organizations to develop national, regional and international strategies and other necessary measures that complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in addressing effectively the significant problems posed by the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons and related activities; 8. Invites all States to support, through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, including for the provision of technical assistance for the implementation of the commitments entered into at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10-17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). including the measures outlined in the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century annexed to resolution 56/261; 9. Encourages relevant programmes, funds and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank, and regional and national funding agencies, to support the technical operational activities of the Centre; 10. Urges States and funding agencies to review, as appropriate, their funding policies for development assistance and to include a crime prevention and criminal justice component in such assistance; 11. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to exercise more vigorously its mandated function of resource mobilization, and calls upon the Commission to strengthen further its activities in this direction; 12. Expresses its appreciation to non-governmental organizations and other relevant sectors of civil society for their support to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 13. Invites relevant entities of the United Nations system, including the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, and other international funding agencies, to increase their interaction with the Centre, in order to benefit from synergies and avoid duplication of effort, and to ensure that, as appropriate, activities on crime prevention and criminal justice, including activities related to the prevention of corruption, are considered in their sustainable development agenda, and that the expertise of the Centre in activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice, including activities related to the prevention of corruption and the promotion of the rule of law, is fully utilized; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to provide adequate support to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the principal policy-making body in this field, in performing its activities, including cooperation and coordination with the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network of Institutes and other relevant bodies; 15. Urges all States and regional economic organizations that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto as soon as possible in order to ensure their speedy entry into force; 16. Welcomes the voluntary contributions already made, and encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures and to provide adequate support to the Centre so as to enable it to promote the speedy entry into force of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, including the organization of a treaty event, in cooperation with the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, in 2003; 18. Reaffirms the importance of the completion of the work of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption in accordance with the terms of resolution 56/260, and urges the Ad Hoc Committee to endeavour to complete its work by the end of 2003; 19. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to mainstream a gender perspective into its activities and its request to the Secretariat that a gender perspective be integrated into all activities of the Centre; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/174 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/548, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/174. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/92 of 12 December 1997, 53/115 of 9 December 1998, 54/132 of 17 December 1999, 55/65 of 4 December 2000 and 56/124 of 19 December 2001, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which the world leaders resolved to redouble efforts to counter the world drug problem, Reaffirming its commitment to the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, devoted to countering the world drug problem together, held in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998, and welcoming the continuing determination of Governments to overcome the world drug problem by a full and balanced application of national, regional and international strategies to reduce the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, as reflected in the Political Declaration,Resolution S-20/2, annex. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem,Resolutions S-20/4 A-E. Gravely concerned that the drug problem, despite increasing efforts by States, relevant international organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, is still a challenge of global dimensions which constitutes a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of all humankind, in particular young people, Gravely concerned also that the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs and psychotropic substances undermines development, including efforts to reduce poverty, entails an increasing economic cost for Governments and continues to threaten seriously socio-economic and political systems, democratic institutions and the stability, national security and sovereignty of States, especially those involved in conflicts and wars, and that trafficking in drugs makes conflict resolution more difficult, Deeply alarmed by the violence and economic power of criminal organizations and terrorist groups engaged in drug trafficking and other criminal activities, such as money-laundering and illicit traffic in arms, precursors and essential chemicals, and by the increasing transnational links between them, and recognizing the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation and implementation of effective strategies on the basis of the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, which are essential to achieving results against all forms of transnational criminal activities, Noting with grave concern the rapid and widespread increase, and the involvement of minors, in the illicit production of, trafficking in and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including amphetamine-type stimulants and other sorts of synthetic drugs, as well as in the number of children and young people starting to use drugs at an earlier age and having access to substances not previously used, Reaffirming the importance of the commitments of Member States in meeting the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at the twentieth special session, and welcoming the guidelines and elements recommended by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme for the preparation of subsequent reports on the follow-up to the twentieth special session,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11, annex; and ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 44/2. Welcoming the adoption on 15 March 2002 of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 45/7 on the preparations for the ministerial-level segment of its forty-sixth session,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. with the main theme of the assessment of the progress achieved and the difficulties encountered in meeting the goals and targets set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, Emphasizing the importance of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, which introduces a new global approach balanced between illicit supply and demand reduction, under the principle of shared responsibility, and of the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development,Resolution S-20/4 E. which recognizes the importance of supply reduction as an integral part of a balanced drug control strategy, Recognizing the efforts of all countries, in particular those that produce narcotic drugs for scientific and medical purposes, and of the International Narcotics Control Board in preventing the diversion of such substances to illicit markets and in maintaining production at a level consistent with licit demand, in line with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of l961United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. Recognizing also that the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is often related to the economic development level of countries and that appropriate measures are required, based on the principle of shared responsibility and strengthened international cooperation, in support of alternative and sustainable development activities in the affected areas of those countries, which have as their objectives the reduction and elimination of illicit drug production, Expressing its concern that lenient policies towards the use of illicit drugs that are not in accordance with the international drug control treaties may hamper the efforts of the international community to address the world drug problem, and recalling in this context the importance of complying with relevant international obligations,The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 976, No. 14152), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1019, No. 14956) and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 (see Official Records of the United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Vienna, 25 November-20 December 1988, vol. I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XI.5)). Welcoming the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted on 27 June 2001 at the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. including the acknowledgement of the link between drug-using behaviour and HIV infection, as well as Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 45/1 of 15 March 2002 on HIV/AIDS in the context of drug abuse,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. Stressing that respect for all human rights is and must be an essential component of measures taken to address the drug problem, Ensuring that women and men benefit equally, and without any discrimination, from strategies directed against the world drug problem, through their involvement in all stages of programmes and policy-making, Recognizing that the use of new technologies and electronic media, including the Internet, poses new opportunities for and challenges to international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking, Convinced that civil society, including non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, plays an active role and makes an effective contribution to countering the world drug problem, and should be encouraged to continue to do so, Acknowledging that international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, I Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law in countering the world drug problem 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility that must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requires an integrated and balanced approach, and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Calls upon all States to take further action to promote effective cooperation at the international and regional levels in the efforts to counter the world drug problem, on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 3. Urges all States to ratify or accede to and implement all the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of l988;See Official Records of the United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Vienna, 25 November-20 December 1988, vol. I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XI.5). II International cooperation to counter the world drug problem 1. Urges competent authorities, at the international, regional and national levels, to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session, within the agreed time frames, in particular the high-priority practical measures at the international, regional or national level, as indicated in the Political Declaration and related documents;See resolution S-20/2, annex, as well as the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction (resolution 54/132, annex), the measures to enhance international cooperation to counter the world drug problem, namely, the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors (resolution S-20/4 A), the measures to prevent the illicit manufacture, import, export, trafficking, distribution and diversion of precursors used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (see resolution S-20/4 B), the measures to promote judicial cooperation (resolution S-20/4 C), the measures to counter money-laundering (resolution S-20/4 D) and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development (resolution S-20/4 E). 2. Urges all Member States to implement the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs among their population, in particular among children and young people; 3. Recognizes the role of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in developing action-oriented strategies to assist Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration, and requests the Executive Director of the Programme to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-sixth session on the follow-up to the Action Plan; 4. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 of 28 July 1999 and the measures taken and recommendations adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fourth and forty-fifth sessions aimed at the enhancement of its functioning, in particular in its resolutions 44/16 of 29 March 2001See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C. and 45/17 of 15 March 2002;Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. 5. Calls upon all States to adopt effective measures, including national laws and regulations, within the agreed time frame, to strengthen national judicial systems and to carry out effective drug control activities in cooperation with other States and in accordance with United Nations drug control conventions; 6. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions and other concerned intergovernmental and international organizations, within their mandates, as well as all actors of civil society, notably non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, sports associations, the media and the private sector, to continue their close cooperation with Governments in promoting and implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session through public information campaigns, in particular with regard to efforts for drug demand reduction; 7. Urges Governments, the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and other international organizations to assist and support States, upon request, in particular developing countries, with the aim of enhancing their capacity to counter illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, taking into account national plans and initiatives; 8. Calls upon all States to adopt and implement measures to prevent the diversion of chemicals to illicit drug manufacture, in cooperation with competent international and regional bodies and, if necessary and to the extent possible, with the private sector in each State, in accordance with the goals and targets for 2003 and 2008 set out in the Political DeclarationResolution S-20/2, annex. and the resolution on the control of precursors adopted at the special session;Resolution S-20/4 B. 9. Calls upon States, the international community, international and regional organizations, international financial institutions and regional development banks to support the implementation of the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative DevelopmentResolution S-20/4 E. by States affected by illicit crop cultivation, and the implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 45/14 of 15 March 2002 on the role of alternative development in drug control and development cooperation;Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. 10. Calls upon States in which cultivation and production of illicit drug crops occur to establish or reinforce, where appropriate, national mechanisms to monitor and verify illicit crops; 11. Recommends that Member States, in particular donor States and States in which sustainable alternative development programmes are being implemented, respect the balance and ensure the effective coordination of law enforcement and interdiction measures, eradication efforts and alternative development to achieve the goal of eliminating or reducing significantly the illicit cultivation of drug crops; 12. Urges States to open their markets to products that are the object of alternative development programmes and that are necessary for the creation of employment and the eradication of poverty; 13. Encourages States to cooperate through bilateral, regional and multilateral means to prevent illicit crop cultivation from emerging in, or from being relocated to, other areas, regions or countries; 14. Urges all States, bearing in mind the forthcoming quinquennial evaluation of the implementation of the outcome of the twentieth special session in 2003, to submit their replies to the questionnaires of the biennial reports to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on their efforts to meet the goals and targets for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted at the special session, in accordance with the terms established in the guidelines adopted by the Commission at its forty-second and forty-fourth sessions; 15. Urges Member States and Observers to ensure that they are represented at the appropriate level at the ministerial-level segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and to participate actively in that segment; 16. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 17. Calls upon the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue mainstreaming a gender perspective into all its policies, programmes and activities, and requests the Secretariat to continue integrating a gender perspective into all documentation prepared for the Commission; 18. Urges all States to assign priority to the development and implementation of policies and programmes to raise awareness among children and young people, through, inter alia, information and education programmes, of the risks deriving from the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including synthetic drugs, as well as from the use of tobacco and alcohol, with the aim of preventing their use and reducing the adverse consequences of their abuse; 19. Also urges all States to make appropriate treatment and rehabilitation accessible to children, including adolescents, dependent on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, inhalants and alcohol; 20. Further urges all States to adopt measures, including, where appropriate, possible national legislative measures, to address the linkages between the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and the illicit trade in narcotic drugs, among other related crimes, through increased international cooperation and by ensuring full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 21. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the three Protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Ibid., annex II. the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and AirIbid., annex III. and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition,Resolution 55/255, annex. and encourages universal signature and ratification of these legal instruments; 22. Stresses the need for coordinated action to reduce the demand for illicit drugs, in the context of a comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approach encompassing supply control and demand reduction, as set out in the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, noting, inter alia, the links among drug trafficking, organized crime and terrorism; 23. Recognizes the need to provide support to the States that are most affected by the transit of drugs, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/21 of 24 July 2002, in which the Council requested the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to continue to provide technical assistance, from available voluntary contributions for that purpose, to those States identified by relevant international bodies as the most affected by the transit of drugs, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support; III Action by the United Nations system 1. Emphasizes the role of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs as the principal United Nations policy-making body on drug control issues and as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme; 2. Welcomes Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 45/17,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. which provides for an intersessional meeting of the Commission, if and when services are available at no additional cost to the Organization, to examine issues arising from the governing role of the Commission in the budgetary process of the Programme; 3. Reaffirms the role of the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme in coordinating and providing effective leadership for all United Nations drug control activities so as to increase cost-effectiveness and ensure coherence of action, complementarity and non-duplication of such activities throughout the United Nations system, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 4. Emphasizes that the multidimensional nature of the world drug problem calls for the promotion of integration and coordination of drug control activities throughout the United Nations system, including in the follow-up to major United Nations conferences; 5. Urges the relevant specialized agencies, programmes and funds, including humanitarian organizations, and invites multilateral financial institutions, to include action against the world drug problem in their programming and planning processes in order to ensure that the integral and balanced strategy that emerged from the special session devoted to countering the world drug problem together is being addressed, taking into account the priorities of States; IV United Nations International Drug Control Programme 1. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to implement its mandate within the framework of the international drug control treaties, the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control,See Report of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Vienna, 17-26 June 1987 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.I.18), chap. I, sect. A. the Global Programme of Action,See resolution S-17/2, annex. the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly devoted to countering the world drug problem together and relevant consensus documents; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Programme for the support provided to different States in meeting the objectives of the Global Programme of Action and of the special session, especially in cases where significant and anticipated progress was achieved regarding the goals and targets for 2003 and 2008; 3. Requests the Programme to continue: (a) To strengthen dialogue with Member States and also to ensure continued improvement in management, so as to contribute to enhanced and sustainable programme delivery and further encourage the Executive Director to maximize the effectiveness of the Programme, inter alia, through the full implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolutions 44/16See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C. and 45/17,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. in particular the recommendations contained therein; (b) To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, on request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the special session; (c) To increase its assistance, within the available voluntary resources, to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes, and to explore new and innovative funding mechanisms; (d) To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction;Resolution S-20/3, annex. (e) To strengthen dialogue and cooperation with multilateral development banks and with international financial institutions so that they may undertake lending and programming activities related to drug control in interested and affected countries to implement the outcome of the special session, and to keep the Commission on Narcotic Drugs informed of further progress made in this area; (f) To take into account the outcome of the special session, to include in its report on the illicit traffic in drugs an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to address all aspects of the drug problem; (g) To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all the official languages; 4. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities; 5. Calls upon the International Narcotics Control Board to increase efforts to implement all its mandates under international drug control conventions and to continue to cooperate with Governments, inter alia, by offering advice to Member States that request it; 6. Notes that the Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, and emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the Programme; 7. Stresses the importance of the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, in all regions of the world, and the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and encourages them to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcome of the special session; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/127. and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the quinquennial evaluation of the implementation of the outcome of the twentieth special session, including on the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, based on the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its forty-sixth session and the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/175 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/549, para. 34),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Greece, Mexico, Spain, and Venezuela (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 136 to 7, with 29 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 57/175. Future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolutions 55/219 of 23 December 2000 and 56/125 of 19 December 2001, Recalling also that, in its resolution 56/125, it decided to establish a working group mandated to make recommendations to the General Assembly on the future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, 1. Welcomes the report of the Working Group on the Future Operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women,A/57/330 and Add.1. in which, the Working Group, inter alia, reaffirmed the mandate of the Institute in the field of gender equality and the advancement of women and stressed the need for it to be reformed and revitalized; 2. Endorses the recommendations made by the Working Group on the future operation of the Institute, and requests the Secretary-General to implement the measures recommended by the Working Group in this regard;A/57/330, para. 57. 3. Decides to extend the mandate of the Working Group established by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/125 in order to follow up the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 2 above, in close consultation with the Secretary-General; 4. Acknowledges that the measures referred to in paragraph 2 above should be taken as provided within the context of the Secretary-General's programme for reform, as outlined in his report dated 14 July 1997A/51/950. and in accordance with the recommendations contained in section VI.D of the report; 5. Urges the Institute to intensify its fund-raising efforts and to diversify its funding sources to include private foundations and inter-agency and inter-institutional collaborations, among others; 6. Stresses the critical importance of voluntary financial contributions by Member States to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to enable it to carry out its mandate; 7. Urges Member States to make voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund, particularly during the critical transitional period; 8. Requests the Working Group to submit a preliminary report on the follow-up to the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 2 above to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-seventh session, and to submit its final report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 9. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To appoint, without delay, and in consultation with the Working Group, a Director to be chosen from among candidates who demonstrate knowledge and expertise in, inter alia, gender issues and social research; (b) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/176 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/549, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela and Viet Nam. 57/176. Trafficking in women and girls The General Assembly, Reaffirming the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. Welcoming the adoption by the General Assembly of the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,See resolution 54/263. in particular the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, which entered into force on 18 January 2002, Welcoming also the adoption by the General Assembly of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 54/4, annex. which entered into force on 22 December 2000, Recalling all previous resolutions on the problem of trafficking in women and girls adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as well as the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others,Resolution 317 (IV). the conclusions on violence against women adopted on 13 March 1998 by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-second sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/1998/27 and Corr.1), chap. I. and the recommendations of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of SlaverySee E/CN.4/1999/4-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/45, chap. II, sect. A, resolution 1998/19, and E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/14, sect. VI.B. adopted on 21 August 1998 by the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of MinoritiesSubsequently renamed the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (see Economic and Social Council decision 1999/256). at its fiftieth session, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the resolve expressed by heads of State and Government to intensify efforts to fight transnational organized crime in all its dimensions, including trafficking in human beings, Reaffirming the outcomes and commitments pertaining to trafficking in women and girls of recent United Nations conferences and summits, including the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the special session of the General Assembly on childrenResolution S-27/2, annex. and their follow-up processes, Acknowledging the inclusion of gender-related crimes in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. which entered into force on 1 July 2002, Welcoming the adoption by the General Assembly in November 2000 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto, in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and ChildrenIbid., annex II. and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,Ibid., annex III. Recognizing the need to address the impact of globalization on the problem of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, Reaffirming that sexual violence and trafficking in women and girls for purposes of economic exploitation, sexual exploitation through prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation and contemporary forms of slavery are serious violations of human rights, Seriously concerned at the increasing number of women and children from developing countries and from some countries with economies in transition who are being trafficked to developed countries, as well as within and between regions and States, and acknowledging that the problem of trafficking also includes the victimizing of boys, Recognizing that victims of trafficking are particularly exposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Acknowledging that women and children who are victims of trafficking are further disadvantaged and marginalized by a general lack of information or awareness and recognition of their human rights and the fact that they are victims, as well as by the obstacles they meet in gaining access to information and recourse mechanisms in cases of violation of their rights, and that special measures are required for their protection and to increase their awareness, Recognizing the importance of bilateral, subregional and regional cooperation mechanisms and initiatives of Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to address the problem of trafficking in women and children within their region, in particular girls, Welcoming the efforts of Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in developing programmes to combat trafficking in human beings, in particular women and girls, Acknowledging the work being done by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in compiling information on the scale and complexity of the problem of trafficking, in providing protection and assistance for trafficked women and children, and in effecting their voluntary return to their countries of origin, Recognizing that global efforts, including international cooperation and technical assistance programmes, to eradicate trafficking in persons, in particular women and children, demand the strong political commitment and the active cooperation of all Governments of countries of origin, transit and destination, Recognizing also that a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to prevention, healing and reintegration is required and that all actors, including judicial and law enforcement personnel, migration authorities, victims of trafficking and their families, non-governmental organizations and civil society, should collaborate in the development of such an approach, Deeply concerned about the unabated use of new information technologies, including the Internet, for purposes of exploitation of the prostitution of others and for child pornography, paedophilia and any other forms of sexual exploitation of children, trafficking in women as brides and sex tourism, Gravely concerned at the increasing activities of transnational criminal organizations and others that profit from international trafficking in women and children without regard to dangerous and inhumane conditions and in flagrant violation of domestic laws and international standards, Stressing once again the need for Governments to provide standard humanitarian treatment to trafficked persons consistent with human rights standards, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/170. 2. Welcomes the steps taken by human rights treaty bodies, the special rapporteurs and subsidiary bodies of the Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, other United Nations bodies and international, intergovernmental and governmental organizations, within their mandates, as well as non-governmental organizations, to address the problem of trafficking in women and girls, and encourages them to continue doing so and to share their knowledge and best practices as widely as possible; 3. Also welcomes the decision of the Commission on the Status of Women to consider at its forty-seventh session the priority theme "Women's human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, as defined in the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the special session of the General Assembly entitled 'Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century' ",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 7 (E/2002/27), chap. I, sect. B, draft decision III. which will include issues relating to trafficking in women and girls; 4. Urges Governments to take appropriate measures to address the root factors, including external factors, that encourage trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and other forms of commercialized sex, forced marriages and forced labour, in order to eliminate trafficking in women, including by strengthening existing legislation with a view to providing better protection of the rights of women and girls and to punishing perpetrators, through both criminal and civil measures; 5. Also urges Governments to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in women and girls through a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy consisting of, inter alia, capacity-building, legislative measures, prevention campaigns, information exchange, assistance and protection for and reintegration of the victims and prosecution of all the offenders involved, including intermediaries, and to draw up, as appropriate, national action plans and programmes to improve the protection of trafficked women and girls; 6. Further urges Governments to consider signing and ratifying relevant United Nations legal instruments such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto, in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Ibid., annex II. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 54/4, annex. and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,See resolution 54/263. as well as the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation, 1958 (Convention No. 111) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182), of the International Labour Organization; 7. Encourages Member States to conclude bilateral, subregional, regional and international agreements, as well as to undertake initiatives, including regional initiatives, to address the problem of trafficking in women and girls, such as the Action Plan for the Asia-Pacific region of the Asian Regional Initiative against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,See A/C.3/55/3, annex. the initiatives of the European Union on a comprehensive European policy and programmes on trafficking in human beings, as expressed in the conclusions of the European Council at its meeting held at Tampere, Finland, on 15 and 16 October 1999,See Tampere European Council, Presidency Conclusions (SN 200/99). Available on the Internet at www.europa.eu.int. and the activities of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the International Organization for Migration in this field; 8. Calls upon all Governments to criminalize trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, in all its forms, to condemn and penalize all those offenders involved, including intermediaries, whether local or foreign, through the competent national authorities, either in the country of origin of the offender or in the country in which the abuse occurs, in accordance with due process of law, while ensuring that the victims of those practices are not penalized for being trafficked, and to penalize persons in authority found guilty of sexually assaulting victims of trafficking in their custody; 9. Invites Governments to consider setting up or strengthening a national coordinating mechanism, for example, a national rapporteur or an inter-agency body, with the participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to encourage the exchange of information and to report on data, root causes, factors and trends in violence against women, in particular trafficking; 10. Encourages Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, within existing resources, to take appropriate measures to raise public awareness of the issue of trafficking, particularly in women and girls, as well as the laws, regulations and penalties relating to this issue, and to emphasize that trafficking is a crime, in order to reduce the demand for trafficked women and children; 11. Urges concerned Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to support and allocate resources for programmes to strengthen preventive action, in particular education and campaigns to increase public awareness of the issue at the national and grass-roots levels; 12. Calls upon concerned Governments to allocate resources, as appropriate, to provide comprehensive programmes for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of trafficking, including through job training, legal assistance and health care, and by taking measures to cooperate with non-governmental organizations to provide for the social, medical and psychological care of the victims; 13. Encourages Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to undertake campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration so as to enable women to make informed decisions and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking; 14. Also encourages Governments to intensify collaboration with non-governmental organizations to develop and implement programmes for effective counselling, training and reintegration into society of victims of trafficking, and programmes that provide shelter and helplines to victims or potential victims; 15. Calls upon Governments to take steps to ensure that the treatment of victims of trafficking, especially women and girls, as well as all measures taken against trafficking in persons, in particular those that affect the victims of such trafficking, are applied with full respect for the human rights of those victims and are consistent with internationally recognized principles of non-discrimination, including the prohibition of racial discrimination and the availability of appropriate legal redress; 16. Invites Governments to take steps, including witness protection programmes, to enable women who are victims of trafficking to make complaints to the police or other authorities, as appropriate, and to be available when required by the criminal justice system, and to ensure that during this time women have access to protection and social, medical, financial and legal assistance, as appropriate; 17. Also invites Governments to consider preventing, within the legal framework and in accordance with national policies, victims of trafficking, in particular women and girls, from being prosecuted for their illegal entry or residence, bearing in mind that they are victims of exploitation; 18. Further invites Governments to encourage Internet service providers to adopt or strengthen self-regulatory measures to promote the responsible use of the Internet with a view to eliminating trafficking in women and children, in particular girls; 19. Invites the business sector, in particular the tourism and telecommunications industries, including mass media organizations, to cooperate with Governments in eliminating trafficking in women and children, in particular girls; 20. Stresses the need for a global approach to eradicate trafficking in women and children and the importance, in this regard, of systematic data collection and comprehensive studies using common methodology and internationally defined indicators, which need to be developed, to make it possible to gather relevant and comparable figures, and encourages Governments to develop systematic data-collection methods using such common methodology and indicators and to update continuously information on trafficking in women and girls, including the analysis of the modus operandi of trafficking syndicates; 21. Urges Governments to strengthen national programmes to combat trafficking in women and girls through sustained bilateral, regional and international cooperation, taking into account innovative approaches and best practices, and invites Governments, United Nations bodies and organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to undertake collaborative and joint research and studies on trafficking in women and girls that can serve as a basis for policy formulation or change; 22. Invites Governments, once again, with the support of the United Nations, and taking into account current research and materials on traumatic stress and gender-sensitive counselling techniques, to formulate training manuals for law enforcement and medical personnel and judicial officers who handle cases of trafficked women and girls, with a view to sensitizing them to the special needs of victims; 23. Urges Governments to provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other relevant officials in the prevention of trafficking in persons, which should focus on methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of victims, including protecting the victims from traffickers, to ensure that the training also takes into account the need to consider human rights and child- and gender-sensitive issues, and to encourage cooperation with non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society; 24. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. to include information and statistics on trafficking in women and girls as part of their national reports to their respective committees and to work towards developing a common methodology and statistics to obtain comparable data; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to compile, as reference and guidance, successful interventions and strategies in addressing the various dimensions of the problem of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, based on reports, research and other materials from within the United Nations, including the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat, as well as from outside the United Nations, and to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 26. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session proposals for a future international/United Nations year against trafficking in persons, especially women and girls, with a view to protecting their dignity and human rights. RESOLUTION 57/177 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/549, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania. 57/177. Situation of older women in society The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, and guided by the purposes and principles of human rights instruments, Recalling its resolution 44/76 of 8 December 1989 on elderly women and its resolution 56/126 of 19 December 2001 on the situation of older women in society, Economic and Social Council resolution 1982/23 of 4 May 1982 on elderly women and the World Assembly on Ageing and Council resolutions 1986/26 of 23 May 1986 and 1989/38 of 24 May 1989 on elderly women, and Commission on the Status of Women resolution 36/4 of 20 March 1992 on the integration of elderly women into development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 4 (E/1992/24), chap. I, sect. C. Recalling also the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. in particular their provisions regarding older women, Reaffirming that the Political Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,See Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4). provide a broad spectrum of social, political and economic recommendations to improve the conditions of older women, Recognizing that older women outnumber older men, increasingly so with increasing age, and that the situation of older women everywhere must be a priority for policy action, Aware that in order to ensure full equality between women and men it is essential to recognize the differential impact of ageing on women and men and to integrate a gender perspective into all policies, programmes and legislation, Aware also that women constitute the majority of older populations in all regions of the world and represent an important human resource whose contribution to society has not been fully recognized, Recognizing the increasing role of older women in taking the responsibility of providing care and assistance to those infected and affected by the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in various regions of the world, particularly in developing countries, Affirming the dual challenges of ageing and disability, and affirming also that older persons have specific health needs and that, owing to the increase in life expectancy and the growing number of older women, their health concerns require particular attention and further research, Aware that few statistics are available on the situation of older women, and recognizing the importance of data, including data disaggregated by age and sex, as an essential element of planning and policy evaluations, Recognizing that women of all ages, in particular older women, continue to suffer from discrimination and lack of opportunities, including educational opportunities, Emphasizing that Governments bear the primary responsibility for creating an enabling environment for the economic and social development of their citizens, and noting with appreciation the valuable contributions of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in calling attention to the specific needs of older women, 1. Takes note of the report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, held at Madrid from 8 to 12 April 2002,See Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4). and the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing,A/57/93. and calls for efforts to implement the global action plan aimed at meeting the challenges of the world's ageing population, in particular with regard to older women; 2. Stresses the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective, while continuing to take into account the needs of older women, in policy and planning processes at all levels; 3. Also stresses the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of gender and age and ensure equal rights and their full enjoyment for women of all ages; 4. Urges Governments and regional and international organizations, including the United Nations system in cooperation with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, where appropriate, to promote programmes for healthy active ageing that stress the independence, equality, participation and security of older women and to undertake gender-specific research and programmes to address their needs; 5. Emphasizes the need for Governments and regional and international organizations, including the United Nations system and the international financial institutions, to develop and improve the collection, analysis and dissemination of data disaggregated by age and sex; 6. Welcomes the adoption in April 2002 by the Valencia Forum of research and academic professionals of the Research Agenda on Ageing for the Twenty-First Century, to support the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002;See Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4). 7. Urges Governments to take measures to enable all older women to be actively engaged in all aspects of life by assuming a variety of roles in communities, public life and decision-making, and to develop and implement policies and programmes in cooperation with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, where appropriate, to ensure that older women can achieve their full enjoyment of human rights and quality of life, with a view to contributing to the realization of a society for all ages; 8. Calls upon Governments and the United Nations system to ensure that the needs, perspectives and experiences of older women are reflected in all development policies and programmes; 9. Invites Governments, the United Nations system and international organizations to consider, in their development planning, the increasing responsibilities of older women in providing care and assistance for those affected by HIV/AIDS; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/178 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/549, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/178. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/229 of 24 December 2001 and its previous resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles 1 and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind, including distinction as to sex, Affirming that women and men should participate equally in social, economic and political development, should contribute equally to such development and should share equally in improved conditions of life, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the human rights of women and the girl child were an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, Acknowledging the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, which includes the integration of the human rights of women into the mainstream of United Nations activities system-wide, Reaffirming the commitments made in the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and the outcome documentResolution S-23/3, annex. of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", in particular paragraphs 68 (c) and (d) concerning the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Resolution 54/4, annex. Recalling that, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. heads of State and Government resolved to implement the Convention, Recognizing that the equal enjoyment by women of all human rights will promote the realization of the rights of the child, bearing in mind the special needs of girls, and acknowledging the mutual reinforcement of the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Optional Protocols thereto,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. Welcoming the progress made in the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, but expressing concern about the remaining challenges, Welcoming also the growing number of States parties to the Convention, which now stands at one hundred and seventy, Welcoming further the entry into force on 22 December 2000 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that national reports should contain information on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. in accordance with paragraph 323 of the Platform, Having considered the report of the Committee on its twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh sessions,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/57/38). Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue and that continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/406 and Corr.1. on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 34/180, annex. 2. Expresses disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention was not achieved by 2000, and urges all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so; 3. Emphasizes the importance of full compliance by States parties with their obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto;Resolution 54/4, annex. 4. Welcomes the rapidly growing number of States parties to the Optional Protocol, which now stands at forty-nine, and urges other States parties to the Convention to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 5. Also welcomes the holding and successful outcome of the first informal meeting of States parties, held in New York on 17 June 2002; 6. Further welcomes the fact that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has adopted the rules governing its work under the Optional Protocol as part of its revised rules of procedure;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/56/38), annex I. 7. Notes that some States parties have modified their reservations, expresses satisfaction that some reservations have been withdrawn, and urges States parties to limit the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, to review their reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention; 8. Welcomes the adoption by the Committee of revised reporting guidelines,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/57/38), annex. in particular on the length of reports of States parties and the streamlining of their structure and content; 9. Recalls the great number of overdue reports, in particular initial reports, and urges States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on the implementation of the Convention in a timely manner in accordance with article 18 thereof; 10. Encourages the Secretariat to extend further technical assistance to States parties, upon their request, in the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports, and invites Governments to contribute to these efforts; 11. Invites States parties to make use of the technical assistance provided by the Secretariat to facilitate the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports; 12. Expresses its satisfaction that the Committee has addressed successfully the large number of reports that awaited consideration by the Committee during the extraordinary session held from 5 to 23 August 2002; 13. Commends the Committee on its contributions to the effective implementation of the Convention; 14. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible so that the amendment may enter into force; 15. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the Committee to improve the efficiency of its working methods and for the holding, in Lund, Sweden, from 22 to 24 April 2002, of the seminar on the working methods of the Committee, and encourages the Committee to continue its efforts in this regard; 16. Also expresses its appreciation for the participation of the Committee in the first inter-committee meeting of the human rights treaty bodies on methods of work relating to the State reporting process, held in Geneva from 26 to 28 June 2002; 17. Encourages the Committee, within its mandate, to continue to contribute to the efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the treaty bodies; 18. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/4 of 6 October 1999, to provide the resources, including staff and facilities, necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, taking into account in particular the entry into force of the Optional Protocol; 19. Urges Governments, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 20. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, as well as Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and, in particular, women's organizations, as appropriate, to continue to assist States parties, upon their request, in implementing the Convention, and in this regard encourages States parties to pay attention to the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee; 21. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system to continue to build women's knowledge and understanding of and capacity to utilize human rights instruments, in particular the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 22. Welcomes the submission by the specialized agencies, at the invitation of the Committee, of reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities and the contribution of non-governmental organizations to the work of the Committee, and encourages the specialized agencies to continue to submit reports; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/179 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/549, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe. 57/179. Working towards the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to life, liberty and security of person, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and reaffirming also the obligations of States parties under human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. as well as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Bearing in mind that crimes against women committed in the name of honour are a human rights issue and that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of such crimes and to provide protection to the victims, and that not doing so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Stressing the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls, including crimes committed in the name of honour, as a criminal offence, punishable by law, Aware that inadequate understanding of the root causes of all violence against women, including crimes committed in the name of honour, which take many different forms, and inadequate data on such violence hinder informed policy analysis, at both the domestic and the international level, and efforts to eliminate such violence, Deeply concerned that women and girls are victims of these crimes, as described in the relevant sections of the reports of the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and notes in this regard the relevant parts of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2002/83, paras. 21-37. Emphasizing that such crimes are incompatible with all religious and cultural values, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/52 of 23 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing that the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour requires greater efforts and commitment on the part of Governments and the international community, inter alia, through international cooperation efforts, and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and that fundamental changes in societal attitude are required, Underlining the importance of the empowerment of women and their effective participation in decision-making and policy-making processes as one of the critical tools to prevent and eliminate crimes against women committed in the name of honour, 1. Welcomes: (a) The activities and initiatives of States aimed at the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, including the adoption of amendments to relevant national laws relating to such crimes, the effective implementation of such laws and educational, social and other measures, including national information and awareness-raising campaigns, as well as activities and initiatives of States aimed at the elimination of all other forms of violence against women; (b) The efforts, such as projects, undertaken by United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, including the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, to address the issue of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, and encourages them to coordinate their efforts; (c) The work carried out by civil society, including non-governmental organizations, such as women's organizations, grass-roots movements and individuals, in raising awareness of such crimes and their harmful effects; 2. Expresses its concern that women continue to be victims of crimes committed in the name of honour, and at the continuing occurrence in all regions of the world of such violence, which takes many different forms, and at failures to prosecute and punish perpetrators; 3. Calls upon all States: (a) To fulfil their obligations under the relevant international human rights instruments and to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly;Resolution S-23/3, annex. (b) To continue to intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate crimes against women committed in the name of honour, which take many different forms, by using legislative, administrative and programmatic measures; (c) To investigate promptly and thoroughly, prosecute effectively and document cases of crimes against women committed in the name of honour and punish the perpetrators; (d) To take all necessary measures to ensure that such crimes are not tolerated; (e) To intensify efforts to raise awareness of the need to prevent and eliminate crimes against women committed in the name of honour, with the aim of changing the attitudes and behaviour that allow such crimes to be committed by involving, inter alia, community leaders; (f) To encourage the efforts of the media to engage in awareness-raising campaigns; (g) To encourage, support and implement measures and programmes aimed at increasing the knowledge and understanding of the causes and consequences of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, including the provision of training for those responsible for enforcing the law, such as police personnel and judicial and legal personnel, and to strengthen their capacity to respond to complaints of such crimes in an impartial and effective manner and take necessary measures to ensure the protection of actual and potential victims; (h) To continue to support the work of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in addressing this issue and to strengthen cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; (i) To establish, strengthen or facilitate, where possible, support services to respond to the needs of actual and potential victims by, inter alia, providing for them the appropriate protection, safe shelter, counselling, legal aid, health-care services, rehabilitation and reintegration into society; (j) To address effectively complaints of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, inter alia, by creating, strengthening or facilitating institutional mechanisms so that victims and others can report such crimes in a safe and confidential environment; (k) To gather and disseminate statistical information on the occurrence of such crimes, including information disaggregated by age; (l) To include, if within their reporting obligations, information on legal and policy measures adopted and implemented in their efforts to prevent and eliminate crimes against women committed in the name of honour, where appropriate, in their reports to the human rights treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; 4. Invites: (a) The international community, including relevant United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, inter alia, through technical assistance and advisory services programmes, to support the efforts of all countries, at their request, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity for preventing crimes against women committed in the name of honour and at addressing the root causes of such crimes; (b) The relevant human rights treaty bodies to continue to address this issue, where appropriate; (c) The Commission on the Status of Women to address this subject at its forty-seventh session under the priority theme "Women's human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, as defined in the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the special session of the General Assembly entitled 'Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century' "; 5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/169. 6. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report on the issue of elimination of violence against women to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a substantive report on the subject of the present resolution, based on all available data, containing an analysis of the root causes of these crimes, supportive statistical data, where available, and information on initiatives taken by States. RESOLUTION 57/17 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/562 and Corr.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela. 57/17. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-fifth session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its belief that the progressive harmonization and unification of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity and common interest and to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to the well-being of all peoples, Having considered the report of the Commission on its thirty-fifth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/57/17). Concerned that activities undertaken by other bodies of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law without adequate coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, as stated in its resolution 37/106 of 16 December 1982, Reaffirming the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on its thirty-fifth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/57/17). 2. Takes note with satisfaction of the completion and adoption by the Commission of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on International Commercial Conciliation;Ibid., annex I. 3. Commends the Commission for the progress made in its work on arbitration, insolvency law, electronic commerce, privately financed infrastructure projects, security interests and transport law; 4. Reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with training and technical assistance in the field of international trade law, and in this connection: (a) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for organizing seminars and briefing missions in Brazil, Cambodia, Ecuador, Indonesia and Viet Nam; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the seminars and briefing missions to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in financing and organizing seminars and symposia, in particular in developing countries, and in the award of fellowships to candidates from developing countries to enable them to participate in such seminars and symposia; (c) Reiterates its appeal to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and regional development banks, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the training and technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission; 5. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and to this end urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions; 6. Appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 7. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 8. Reiterates, in view of the increased work programme of the Commission, its request to the Secretary-General to strengthen the secretariat of the Commission within the bounds of the resources available in the Organization so as to ensure and enhance the effective implementation of the programme of the Commission, if possible during the current biennium and, in any case, during the biennium 2004-2005. RESOLUTION 57/180 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/549, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/180. Improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 1 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as Article 8, which provides that the United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs, Recalling also the goal, contained in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. of achieving overall gender equality, particularly at the Professional level and above, by 2000 and the further actions and initiatives set out in the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly at its special session entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Recalling further its resolution 56/127 of 19 December 2001, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/50 of 23 April 2002 on integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. in particular paragraph 14, in which the Commission recognized that gender mainstreaming would strongly benefit from the enhanced and full participation of women, including at the higher levels of decision-making in the United Nations system, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on women, peace and securityS/2002/1154. and the open debate held in the Security Council on 25 July 2002 on women and peace and security,See S/PV.4589 and Corr.1 and S/PV.4589 (Resumption 1). Taking into account the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, including least developed countries and small island developing States, and from countries with economies in transition, Noting with appreciation those departments and offices that have achieved the goal of gender balance, as well as those departments that have met or exceeded the goal of 50 per cent in the selection of women candidates for vacant posts in the past year, Welcoming the 4 per cent increase in the number of women at the D-2 level, which brings the proportion of women at that level to 22.3 per cent, but expressing concern that at other senior levels of the Secretariat the proportion of women has decreased overall since 1998 to only 10.5 per cent of Under-Secretaries-General and 12.5 per cent of Assistant Secretaries-General, Expressing concern that only one of the fifty-one special representatives and envoys of the Secretary-General is a woman, and expressing regret that the number of women heading United Nations agencies has been halved, from six to three, and also that the percentage of women assigned to peace operations has decreased, Taking note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat on possible discrimination due to nationality, race, sex, religion and language in recruitment, promotion and placement,See A/56/956. Concerned at the finding of the Office of Internal Oversight Services that the proportion of women separating from the Organization increased from 42 per cent in 1998 to 48 per cent in 2001, that at most levels women are reappointed less frequently than men, and that at these rates the Organization is unlikely to meet its gender parity target without concerted efforts to recruit females and retain the female staff currently employed, Noting that the statistics on the representation of women in some organizations of the United Nations system are not fully up to date, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/447. and the actions described therein; 2. Regrets that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution was not met by the end of 2000, and urges the Secretary-General to redouble his efforts to realize significant progress towards this goal in the near future; 3. Reaffirms the urgent goal of achieving 50/50 gender distribution in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at senior and policy-making levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and also taking into account the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 4. Expresses concern that in four departments and offices of the Secretariat women still account for less than 30 per cent of staff, and encourages the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to meet the goal of gender balance within all departments and offices of the Secretariat; 5. Welcomes: (a) The ongoing personal commitment of the Secretary-General to meeting the goal of gender equality and his assurance that gender balance will be given the highest priority in his continuing efforts to bring about a new management culture in the Organization; (b) The pledge of the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their efforts to meet the gender equality goals set out in the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for Action;Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. (c) The inclusion of the objective of improving gender balance in action plans on human resources management for individual departments and offices, and encourages further cooperation, including the sharing of best-practice initiatives, between heads of departments and offices, the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat in the implementation of those plans, which include specific targets and strategies for improving the representation of women in individual departments; (d) The decision, within the context of the new staff selection system,See ST/AI/2002/4. to hold heads of departments and offices accountable for meeting the gender targets in departmental human resource action plans through their performance compacts; (e) The continuing designation of focal points for women in the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the focal points are designated at a sufficiently high level and enjoy full access to senior management, both at Headquarters and in the field; (f) The continuing provision of specific training programmes on gender mainstreaming and gender issues in the workplace, tailored to meet the special needs of individual departments, commends those heads of departments and offices who have launched gender training for their managers and staff, and strongly encourages those who have not yet organized such training to do so by the end of the biennium; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to achieve and maintain the goal of 50/50 gender distribution with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter: (a) To continue to develop innovative recruitment strategies to identify and attract suitably qualified women candidates, particularly from and in developing countries and countries with economies in transition and other Member States that are unrepresented or underrepresented in the Secretariat, and in occupations in which women are underrepresented; (b) To encourage the United Nations system and its agencies and departments to make more effective use of existing information technology resources and systems and other established methods to disseminate information about employment opportunities for women and to better coordinate rosters of potential women candidates; (c) To continue to monitor closely the progress made by departments and offices in meeting the goal of gender balance, to ensure that the appointment and promotion of suitably qualified women will not be less than 50 per cent of all appointments and promotions until the goal of 50/50 gender distribution is met; (d) To strongly encourage heads of departments and offices to continue selecting female candidates when their qualifications are the same as, or better than, those of male candidates, and to effectively encourage, monitor and assess the performance of managers in meeting targets for improving women's representation; (e) To encourage consultation by heads of departments and offices with departmental focal points on women during the selection process and to ensure that the focal points are designated at a sufficiently high level and enjoy full and effective access to senior management; (f) To enable the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, as outlined in the Beijing Platform for Action, to effectively contribute to, monitor and facilitate the setting and implementation of gender targets in human resource action plans, including by ensuring access to the information required to carry out that work; (g) To intensify his efforts to create, within existing resources, a gender-sensitive work environment supportive of the needs of his staff, both women and men, by, inter alia, actively pursuing appropriate work/life policies, such as flexible working time, flexible workplace arrangements, career development and childcare and elder-care needs, and by providing more comprehensive information to prospective candidates and new recruits on employment opportunities for spouses, providing support for the activities of women's networks and organizations within the United Nations system and expanding gender-sensitivity training in all departments, offices and duty stations; (h) To continue to work to further strengthen the policy against harassment, including sexual harassment, by, inter alia, ensuring the full implementation of the guidelines for its application at Headquarters and in the field, including in peacekeeping operations, and further requests the early issuance of the directive on sexual harassment prepared by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat for use in peacekeeping and other field missions, as well as user-friendly guidelines on sexual harassment to be prepared for the United Nations system by the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the inter-agency working group; (i) To undertake further analysis of the probable causes of the slow advance in the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system, as outlined in paragraph 56 of his report,A/57/447. to institute remedial measures and to report on progress made in this context to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 7. Strongly encourages the Secretary-General to renew his efforts to appoint more women as special representatives and envoys to pursue good offices on his behalf, especially in matters related to peacekeeping, peace-building, preventive diplomacy and economic and social development, as well as in operational activities, and to appoint more women as resident coordinators and to other high-level positions; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to continue to develop common approaches for retaining women, promoting inter-agency mobility and improving career development opportunities; 9. Encourages the United Nations and Member States to continue to implement the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" pertaining to the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system;Resolution S-23/3, annex. 10. Strongly encourages Member States: (a) To support the efforts of the United Nations and the specialized agencies to achieve the goal of 50/50 gender distribution, especially at senior and policy-making levels, by identifying and regularly submitting more women candidates for appointment to positions in the United Nations system, by identifying and proposing national recruitment sources that will assist the organizations of the United Nations system in identifying suitable women candidates, in particular from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and by encouraging more women to apply for positions within the Secretariat, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes and the regional commissions, including in areas in which women are underrepresented, such as peacekeeping, peace-building and other non-traditional areas; (b) To identify women candidates for assignment to peacekeeping missions and to improve the representation of women in military and civilian police contingents; (c) To identify and submit regularly more women candidates for appointment or election to intergovernmental, expert and treaty bodies; (d) To identify and nominate more women candidates for appointment or election as judges or other senior officials in international courts and tribunals; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-seventh session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including by providing up-to-date statistics on the number and percentage of women in all organizational units and at all levels throughout the United Nations system, as well as gender-segregated attrition rates for all organizational units and at all levels, and on the implementation of departmental action plans for the achievement of gender balance. RESOLUTION 57/181 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/550, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/181. Elimination of all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which, inter alia, calls for international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,See resolution 2263 (XXII). the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,See resolution 1904 (XVIII). the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted on 25 June 1993 by the World Conference on Human RightsA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further its resolution 55/68 of 4 December 2000, Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enunciated in the Charter, and reaffirming also the obligations of States parties under international human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 39/46, annex. and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. Reaffirming also the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Reaffirming further the call for the elimination of violence against women and girls, especially all forms of commercial sexual exploitation as well as economic exploitation, including trafficking in women and children, female infanticide, crimes committed in the name of honour, crimes committed in the name of passion, racially motivated crimes, the abduction and sale of children, dowry-related violence and deaths, acid attacks and harmful traditional or customary practices, such as female genital mutilation and early and forced marriages, Stressing the importance of the empowerment of women as a tool to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/171. 2. Expresses deep concern at the persistence of various forms of violence and crimes against women in all parts of the world, especially all forms of commercial sexual exploitation as well as economic exploitation, including trafficking in women and children, female infanticide, crimes committed in the name of honour, crimes committed in the name of passion, racially motivated crimes, the abduction and sale of children, dowry-related violence and deaths, acid attacks and harmful traditional or customary practices, such as female genital mutilation and early and forced marriages; 3. Stresses that all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-23/3, annex. are obstacles to the advancement and empowerment of women, and reaffirms that violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; 4. Also stresses the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls of all ages as a criminal offence punishable by law, including violence based on all forms of discrimination; 5. Welcomes specific legal and comprehensive legislative measures being enacted or contemplated, in particular with regard to various forms of violence against women and girls; 6. Also welcomes in this regard the launching of various initiatives, strategies and action plans aimed at, among other things, eradication, prevention, promotion, information, legislation, protection and welfare, education and research, enhancement of the economic capacity of women and the monitoring of the various forms of violence against women; 7. Reaffirms that there is increased awareness of and commitment to preventing and combating violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, welcomes in this context various legal, administrative and other measures taken by Governments for their prevention and elimination, and calls for high priority to be attached to the further strengthening of such measures; 8. Urges Member States to strengthen awareness and preventive measures for the elimination of all forms of violence against women, whether occurring in public or private life, by encouraging and supporting public campaigns to enhance awareness about the unacceptability and the social costs of violence against women, inter alia, through educational and media campaigns in cooperation with educators, community leaders and the electronic and print media; 9. Expresses its appreciation of the work being done by non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations, community-based organizations and individuals, in raising awareness about the economic, social and psychological costs of all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, and in this regard encourages Governments to continue their support for the work of the non-governmental organizations in addressing this issue; 10. Calls upon States to fulfil their obligations under the relevant human rights instruments and to implement the Beijing Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. as well as the outcome document of the twenty-third special session; 11. Encourages States parties to include in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and other relevant treaty bodies, wherever possible, sex-disaggregated data and information on measures taken or initiated to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session; 12. Urges relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, to assist countries, upon their request, in their efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, and in this regard expresses its appreciation of the work being done by the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Fund for Women and other relevant funds and programmes aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls; 13. Invites the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences to further devote equal attention to all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, in her work and her reports, within her mandate, to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on this matter to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 57/182 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/550, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/182. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/203 of 22 December 1995, 51/69 of 12 December 1996, 52/100 of 12 December 1997, 53/120 of 9 December 1998, 54/141 of 17 December 1999, 55/71 of 4 December 2000 and 56/132 of 19 December 2001, Recalling also the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the proposed actions and initiatives to overcome obstacles and challenges thereto, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session are important contributions to the advancement of women worldwide in the achievement of gender equality and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, as well as by non-governmental organizations, Stressing the importance of strong, sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels for achieving full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for the effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Welcoming the increased attention to the situation of women and girls and the integration of a gender perspective in the work of the United Nations, in particular in the outcomes of major conferences, special sessions and summit conferences and their follow-up processes, and reaffirming its commitment to building on progress achieved in this respect, Welcoming also the attention given to the situation of women and girls and the integration of a gender perspective in the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Second World Assembly on Ageing, held in Madrid from 8 to 12 April 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002,Resolution S-27/2, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Emphasizing the importance of the decision taken by the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2001/41 of 26 July 2001, to devote the coordination segment of one of its substantive sessions, before 2005, to the review and appraisal of the system-wide implementation of agreed conclusions 1997/2 on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system, adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. Noting with concern that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretoResolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. have not yet entered into force, Reaffirming the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality, while noting the open debate on peacekeeping and gender held in the Security Council on 25 July 2002,See S/PV.4589 and Corr.1 and S/PV.4589 (Resumption 1). 1. Reaffirms the goals, objectives and commitments contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and also in the political declaration and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session;Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;A/57/286. 3. Calls upon Governments, the relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue to take effective action to achieve full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as elaborated in the above-mentioned documents; 4. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 5. Calls upon Governments and all other relevant actors to continue to integrate a gender perspective in the implementation of and follow-up to recent United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions and in future reports on this subject; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his annual and quinquennial reports on the follow-up to the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. an assessment of the progress made in promoting the goal of gender equality, in particular in relation to the development goals set forth in the Millennium Declaration, and recommendations to improve the measurement and coverage of indicators so that progress towards gender equality can be evaluated over time; 7. Welcomes the convening of the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005, and encourages Governments and all other stakeholders to integrate a gender perspective in the preparatory processes and outcome documents; 8. Reaffirms its decision that the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, in accordance with their respective mandates and with General Assembly resolution 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and other relevant resolutions, constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism that plays the primary role in overall policy-making and follow-up and in coordinating the implementation and monitoring of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 9. Also reaffirms that the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the twenty-third special session will be undertaken within the framework of an integrated and coordinated follow-up to major international conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; 10. Invites the Economic and Social Council to continue its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of all activities in its work and that of its subsidiary bodies, building upon agreed conclusions 1997/2 adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and in this regard welcomes the inclusion of the issue of gender mainstreaming in its agenda, the consideration of annual progress made in gender mainstreaming and the attention given to gender perspective in the outcomes of the 2002 substantive session of the Council; 11. Encourages the Council to request the regional commissions, within their respective mandates and resources, to intensify efforts to build up a database, to be updated regularly, in which all programmes and projects carried out in their respective regions by organizations or bodies of the United Nations system are listed, and to facilitate the dissemination of information on such programmes and projects, as well as the evaluation of their impact on the empowerment of women through the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 12. Welcomes the contribution of the Commission on the Status of Women in the follow-up and review of the future implementation of the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, reaffirms that the Commission will continue to play a central role in this regard, and encourages Governments, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to continue to support its work; 13. Recognizes the importance attached to the regional and subregional monitoring of the global and regional platforms for action and of the implementation of the outcome of the twenty-third special session by regional commissions and other regional or subregional structures, within their mandates, in consultation with Governments, and calls for the promotion of further cooperation in that respect among Governments and, where appropriate, national machineries of the same region; 14. Also recognizes that sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels are essential elements for the full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 15. Further recognizes that adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, including the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources, will also be required; 16. Acknowledges that the creation of an enabling environment at the national and international levels, including through the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making, is necessary to ensure the full participation of women in economic activities, and calls upon States to remove obstacles to the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 17. Reaffirms that, in order to ensure the effective implementation of the strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective, including through the work of the Division for the Advancement of Women and of the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the maintenance of gender units and focal points; 18. Also reaffirms that United Nations bodies that focus on gender issues, such as the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Children's Fund, have a critical role to play in the implementation of the objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and recognizes that gender specialists throughout the United Nations system also have an important role to play in this regard; 19. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by all relevant organizations of the United Nations system in promoting the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution; 20. Recognizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution, and urges the United Nations system and Governments to make further efforts in this regard and to take steps to ensure and support the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making and implementation in development activities and peace processes, including conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict reconstruction, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building, as well as through the integration of a gender perspective into those United Nations processes; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all United Nations personnel and officials at Headquarters and in the field, especially in field operations, receive training so that they mainstream a gender perspective in their work, including gender impact analysis, and to ensure appropriate follow-up to such training; 22. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that all programmes, medium-term plans and programme budgets visibly mainstream a gender perspective; 23. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. to include information on measures taken to implement the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as well as the Beijing Platform for Action, in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 18 of the Convention; 24. Welcomes the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 54/4, annex. and urges States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 25. Urges Member States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to disseminate the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session as widely as possible in all the official languages of the United Nations; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to integrate a gender perspective in his reporting to the General Assembly, in order to support gender-sensitive policy formulation; 28. Further requests the Secretary-General to report annually to the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women on follow-up to and progress in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session with an assessment of progress made in mainstreaming a gender perspective within the United Nations system, including by providing information on key achievements, lessons learned and best practices, and to recommend further measures and strategies for future action within the United Nations system; 29. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled 'Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century' ". RESOLUTION 57/183 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/551, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Ethiopia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Finland, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 57/183. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/135 of 19 December 2001, Recalling also the provisions of its resolution 2312 (XXII) of 14 December 1967, by which it adopted the Declaration on Territorial Asylum, Recalling further the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Recalling the Khartoum DeclarationA/54/682, annex I. and the Recommendations on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in AfricaIbid., annex II. adopted by the Organization of African UnityOn 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. at the ministerial meeting held at Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998, Welcoming decision CM/Dec.667 (LXXVI) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-sixth ordinary session, held at Durban, South Africa, from 28 June to 6 July 2002, Welcoming also decision AHG/Dec.165 (XXXVII) on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held at Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001,See A/56/457, annex I. Recalling General Assembly resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002 on the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and affirming that international support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. is essential, notably as it relates to refugees, returnees and displaced persons, Reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. together with the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, Recognizing that the fundamental principles and rights embodied in those Conventions have provided a resilient protection regime within which millions of refugees have been able to find safety from armed conflicts and persecution, Welcoming in that regard the Declaration adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, held at Geneva on 12 and 13 December 2001,HCR/MMSP/2001/10, annex I. as an expression of their collective commitment to full and effective implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, Recalling the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted by the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts convened by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000 on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969, and noting its endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session, held at Lomé from 6 to 8 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex I, decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. Commending the First Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa of the Organization of African Unity, held at Grand Baie, Mauritius, from 12 to 16 April 1999, and recalling the attention paid to issues relevant to refugees and displaced persons in the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the Conference, Recognizing the contributions made by African States to the development of regional standards for the protection of refugees and returnees, and noting with appreciation that countries of asylum are hosting refugees in a humanitarian spirit and in a spirit of African solidarity and brotherhood, Recognizing also the need for States to address resolutely the root causes of forced displacement and to create conditions that facilitate durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons, and stressing in that regard the need for States to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent to forestall large refugee flows, Convinced of the need to strengthen the capacity of States to provide assistance to and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons and of the need for the international community, within the context of burden-sharing, to increase its material, financial and technical assistance to the countries affected by refugees, returnees and displaced persons, to simultaneously address the inadequacies of existing assistance arrangements and to support initiatives in this regard, Acknowledging with appreciation that some assistance is already rendered by the international community to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and host countries in Africa, Deeply concerned about the continuing critical humanitarian situation in African countries, in particular in the Horn of Africa and southern Africa, aggravated, among other things, by persistent natural disasters, including drought, floods and desertification, which can precipitate the displacement of people, Noting with great concern that, despite all the efforts made so far by the United Nations, the African Union and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, Stressing that the provision of relief and assistance to African refugees by the international community should be on an equitable and non-discriminatory basis, Considering that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict and bear the brunt of atrocities and other consequences of conflict, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/324. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/57/12). 2. Notes with concern that the deteriorating socio-economic situation, compounded by political instability, internal strife, human rights violations and natural disasters, has led to increased numbers of refugees and displaced persons in some countries of Africa, and remains particularly concerned about the impact of large-scale refugee populations on the security, socio-economic situation and environment of countries of asylum; 3. Encourages African States to ensure the full implementation of and follow-up to the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted by the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts convened by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000 on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. 4. Calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and the spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa; 5. Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since assuming office in January 2001, and commends the Office of the High Commissioner for its ongoing efforts, with the support of the international community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 6. Takes note of the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees as an expression of their collective commitment to full and effective implementation of the ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the Protocol;Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. 7. Welcomes the contribution of the process of Global Consultations on International Protection to strengthening the international framework for refugee protection and to equipping States to better address the challenges in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, and welcomes in that connection the Agenda for Protection;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. 8. Reaffirms that the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remain the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, encourages African States that have not yet done so to accede to those instruments, and calls upon States parties to the Conventions to reaffirm their commitment to their ideals and to respect and observe their provisions; 9. Notes the need for States to address the root causes of forced displacement in Africa, and calls upon African States, the international community and relevant United Nations organizations to take concrete action to meet the needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons for protection and assistance and to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight; 10. Also notes the link, inter alia, between human rights violations, poverty, natural disasters and environmental degradation and population displacement, and calls for redoubled and concerted efforts by States, in collaboration with the African Union, to promote and protect human rights for all and to address those problems; 11. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, within their respective mandates, in the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 12. Notes with appreciation the ongoing mediation and conflict resolution efforts carried out by African States, the African Union and subregional organizations, as well as the establishment of regional mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, and urges all relevant parties to address the humanitarian consequences of conflicts; 13. Expresses its appreciation and strong support for those African Governments and local populations that, in spite of the general deterioration of socio-economic and environmental conditions and overstretched national resources, continue to accept the additional burden imposed upon them by increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, in compliance with the relevant principles of asylum; 14. Welcomes the decision of African heads of State and Government to address the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa within the context of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 15. Expresses its concern about instances in which the fundamental principles of asylum are jeopardized by unlawful expulsion or refoulement or by threats to the life, physical security, integrity, dignity and well-being of refugees; 16. Calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements; 17. Deplores the deaths, injuries and other forms of violence sustained by staff members of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, to prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and to ensure their safety and security, calls upon States to investigate fully any crime committed against humanitarian personnel and to bring to justice persons responsible for such crimes, and calls upon organizations and aid workers to abide by the national laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate; 18. Condemns any exploitation of refugees, especially their sexual exploitation, and calls for those responsible for such deplorable acts to be brought to justice; 19. Welcomes the decision by the Office of the High Commissioner to put into place a code of conduct for humanitarian personnel aimed at preventing the exploitation of refugees, especially in the area of sexual exploitation; 20. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the African Union, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the international refugee protection system; 21. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities; 22. Reaffirms the right of return and also the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, and recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, where appropriate and feasible, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home; 23. Notes with satisfaction the voluntary return of millions of refugees to their homelands following the successful repatriation and reintegration operations carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner with the cooperation and collaboration of countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, and looks forward to other programmes to assist the voluntary repatriation and reintegration of all refugees in Africa; 24. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to the third-country resettlement requests of African refugees, and notes with appreciation that some African countries have offered resettlement places for refugees; 25. Calls upon the international donor community to provide financial and material assistance for the implementation of community-based development programmes in refugee-hosting areas, in agreement with host countries, which benefit both refugees and host communities, as appropriate; 26. Welcomes the programmes carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner with host Governments, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and the international community to address the environmental and socio-economic impact of refugee populations; 27. Calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 28. Expresses its concern about the long stay of refugees in certain African countries, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to keep its programmes under review, in conformity with its mandate in the host countries, taking into account the increasing needs of refugees; 29. Emphasizes the need for the Office of the High Commissioner to collate statistics, on a regular basis, on the number of refugees living outside refugee camps in certain African countries with a view to evaluating and addressing the needs of those refugees; 30. Urges the international community, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 31. Requests all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to meeting the special needs of refugee women and children and displaced persons, including those with special protection needs; 32. Calls upon States and the Office of the High Commissioner to make renewed efforts to ensure that the rights, needs and dignity of elderly refugees are fully respected and addressed through appropriate programme activities; 33. Expresses grave concern about the plight of internally displaced persons in Africa, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in that regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and urges the international community, led by relevant United Nations organizations, to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating the plight of internally displaced persons; 34. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 35. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", and to present an oral report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2003. RESOLUTION 57/184 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/551, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Suriname and Thailand. 57/184. New international humanitarian order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/73 of 4 December 2000 and those preceding it concerning the promotion of a new international humanitarian order and cooperation in the humanitarian field,Resolutions 36/136, 37/201, 38/125, 40/126, 42/120, 42/121, 43/129, 43/130, 45/101, 45/102, 47/106, 49/170, 51/74 and 53/124. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/583. and his previous reportsA/37/145, A/38/450, A/40/358 and Add.1 and 2, A/41/472, A/43/734 and Add.1, A/45/524, A/47/352, A/49/577 and Corr.1, A/51/454, A/53/486 and A/55/545. containing the views of Governments and of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, and the annex thereto, Noting with appreciation the continuing efforts of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in the context of the international response to emergencies, Reaffirming the importance of adherence to internationally accepted norms and principles and the need to promote, as required, national and international legislation to meet actual and potential humanitarian challenges, Noting the emphasis placed by the Secretary-General on promoting strict adherence to refugee law, international humanitarian law and human rights instruments, Recognizing the importance of action at the national and regional levels and the role that regional organizations can play in certain cases to prevent humanitarian crises, Aware of the important role that non-governmental agencies and the private sector can play in the humanitarian context, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/32 of 26 July 2002 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, 1. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General in the humanitarian field, and urges Governments to assist him in promoting a new international humanitarian order corresponding to new realities and challenges, including the development of an agenda for humanitarian action; 2. Calls upon Governments to provide expertise and the necessary means to identify the building blocks of such an order and agenda, plan the architecture and undertake the required supplementary activities; 3. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to promote strict adherence to refugee law, international humanitarian law, human rights and internationally accepted norms and principles in situations of armed conflict and complex emergencies; 4. Reiterates that international cooperation in the humanitarian field facilitates better understanding, mutual respect, confidence and tolerance among countries and peoples, thus contributing to a more just and non-violent world; 5. Recognizes that institutional arrangements and actions by governmental and non-governmental bodies require further strengthening so that they can respond more effectively and speedily to contemporary humanitarian problems; 6. Invites the Member States, the Secretary-General and the United Nations system to strengthen the capacities of regional and subregional organizations in the context of the response to complex humanitarian crises; 7. Encourages the private sector and non-governmental bodies to assist and support national and international efforts to respond to humanitarian challenges and to alleviate human suffering; 8. Invites the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues to reinforce further its activities and its cooperation with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and the other relevant bodies of the United Nations system; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to remain in contact with Governments and the relevant international and non-governmental bodies and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the progress made concerning the promotion of a new international humanitarian order and compliance with refugee law, international humanitarian law and human rights instruments in armed conflicts and emergency situations. RESOLUTION 57/185 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/551, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Benin, Croatia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, Nigeria, Qatar, Sudan and Yemen. 57/185. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decision 2002/288 of 25 July 2002 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the requests regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the note verbale dated 3 October 2001 from the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2002/8. in the note verbale dated 19 October 2001 from the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-GeneralE/2002/7. and in the letter dated 12 June 2002 from the Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2002/75. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from sixty-one to sixty-four States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session for 2003. RESOLUTION 57/186 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/551, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/186. Continuation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/104 of 12 December 1997, in which it decided to review, not later than at its fifty-seventh session, the arrangements for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with a view to determining whether the Office should be continued beyond 31 December 2003, Recognizing the need for concerted international action on behalf of refugees and displaced persons of concern to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Considering the outstanding work that has been performed by the Office of the High Commissioner in providing international protection and material assistance to refugees and displaced persons, as well as in promoting permanent solutions to their problems, Noting with deep appreciation the effective manner in which the Office of the High Commissioner has been dealing with various essential humanitarian tasks entrusted to it, 1. Decides to continue the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a further period of five years from 1 January 2004; 2. Also decides to review, not later than at its sixty-second session, the arrangements for the Office of the High Commissioner with a view to determining whether the Office should be continued beyond 31 December 2008; 3. Further decides to consider at its fifty-eighth session proposals of the High Commissioner on the basis of his report, prepared in consultation with the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Secretary-General, regarding the strengthening of the capacity of the Office to carry out its mandate. RESOLUTION 57/187 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/551, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/187. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/57/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-third sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its previous annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since its establishment by the General Assembly, Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner, and commending the staff and implementing partners of the Office of the High Commissioner for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-third session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1). 2. Welcomes the important work undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner and its Executive Committee in the course of the year and notes in this context the conclusion on the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum,Ibid., chap. III, sect. C. the conclusion on reception of asylum-seekers in the context of individual asylum systemsIbid., sect. B. and the progress achieved with respect to recognizing the important contribution of host developing countries; welcomes also the importance attached to cooperation with the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. welcomes further the active engagement of the Office of the High Commissioner in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises and the drafting of a policy on sexual exploitation, and encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue combating such practices; and welcomes the renewed efforts made by the Office of the High Commissioner to promote durable solutions for refugees; 3. Notes that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. have continuously served as the cornerstone of the international refugee protection regime, and welcomes in this context the Declaration adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and/or its Protocol, held at Geneva on 12 and 13 December 2001,HCR/MMSP/2001/10, annex I. to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention, as an expression of their collective commitment to full and effective implementation of the Convention and the Protocol and to the values they embody; 4. Reaffirms that the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol thereto remain the foundation of the international refugee regime and recognizes the importance of their full application by States parties, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty-four States are now parties to one instrument or to both, encourages States not parties to consider acceding to those instruments, underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and recognizes that a number of States not parties to the international refugee instruments have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees; 5. Notes that fifty-four States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 360, No. 5158. and that twenty-six States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his activities on behalf of stateless persons; 6. Welcomes the contribution of the process of Global Consultations on International Protection to strengthening the international framework for refugee protection and to equipping States better to address the challenges in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, and welcomes in this connection the Agenda for Protection;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. 7. Reiterates that international protection is a dynamic and action-oriented function, carried out in cooperation with States and other partners, inter alia, to promote and facilitate the admission, reception and treatment of refugees and to ensure durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups; 8. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions; 9. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to enhancing the capacity of and reducing the heavy burden borne by countries that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations in developing countries, particularly least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition; 10. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to refugee problems, recalls that these solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, reaffirming that voluntary repatriation remains the preferred solution, supported by necessary rehabilitation and development assistance to facilitate sustainable reintegration; 11. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 12. Recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential for the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it through its statute,Resolution 428 (V), annex. and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions concerning refugees and other persons of concern, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to the global appeal issued by the Office for requirements under its annual programme budget; 13. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his activities to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/188 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/552, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, China, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 108 to 5, with 60 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 57/188. Situation of and assistance to Palestinian children The General Assembly, Recalling the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling also the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. Recalling further the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-seventh special session,See resolution S-27/2, annex. Concerned that the Palestinian children under Israeli occupation remain deprived of many basic rights under the Convention, Concerned also about the recent grave deterioration of the situation of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and about the severe consequences of the continuing Israeli assaults and sieges on Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, resulting in the dire humanitarian crisis, Expressing its condemnation of all acts of violence resulting in extensive loss of human life and injuries, including among Palestinian children, Deeply concerned about the consequences, including psychological consequences, of the Israeli military actions for the present and future well-being of Palestinian children, 1. Stresses the urgent need for Palestinian children to live a normal life, free from foreign occupation, destruction and fear, in their own State; 2. Demands, in the meantime, that Israel, the occupying Power, respect relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. in order to ensure the well-being and protection of Palestinian children and their families; 3. Calls upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis being faced by Palestinian children and their families and to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions. RESOLUTION 57/189 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/552, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/189. The girl child The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/139 of 19 December 2001 and all relevant resolutions, including the agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women, in particular those relevant to the girl child, Reaffirming the equal rights of women and men as enshrined, inter alia, in the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Welcoming the entry into force of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Welcoming the adoption by the General Assembly at its special session on children, on 10 May 2002, of the outcome document entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. Reaffirming the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session,Resolution S-26/2, annex. Recalling all other relevant United Nations conferences, the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the outcome documents of the recent five-year reviews of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and DevelopmentResolution S-21/2, annex. and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Reaffirming the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). Recalling the Declaration and Agenda for Action adopted at the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Stockholm from 27 to 31 August 1996,A/51/385, annex. and welcoming the Yokohama Global Commitment 2001 adopted at the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001,See A/S-27/12, annex. Recalling also the International Conference on War-Affected Children, held at Winnipeg, Canada, from 10 to 17 September 2000, and affirming the ongoing importance of the Winnipeg Agenda for War-Affected ChildrenA/55/467-S/2000/973, annex. for all children affected by armed conflict, Recognizing the need to achieve gender equality to ensure a just and equitable world for girls, Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access for girls to education, nutrition and physical and mental health care and in girls enjoying fewer of the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence than boys and often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual and economic exploitation and to violence and harmful practices, such as female infanticide, incest, early marriage, prenatal sex selection and female genital mutilation, Deeply concerned also that, in situations of poverty, war and armed conflict, girl children are among those most affected and that their potential for full development is thus limited, Concerned that the girl child has furthermore become the victim of sexually transmitted diseases and increasingly of the human immunodeficiency virus, which have a serious impact on the quality of her life and leave her open to further discrimination, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and can be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and limitation or denial of their human rights, 1. Stresses the need for full and urgent implementation of the rights of the girl child as guaranteed to her under all human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. as well as the need for universal ratification of those instruments; 2. Urges States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 54/4, annex. and the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. 3. Urges all States to take all necessary measures and to institute legal reforms to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to take effective action against violations of those rights and freedoms and to base programmes and policies for the girl child on the rights of the child; 4. Urges all Governments and the United Nations system to strengthen efforts bilaterally and with international organizations and private sector donors in order to achieve the goals of the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). in particular that of eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and to implement the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative as a means of reaching this goal, and reaffirms the commitment contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. in this regard; 5. Calls upon all States to take measures to address the obstacles that continue to affect the achievement of the goals set forth in the Beijing Platform for Action,Ibid., annex II. as contained in paragraph 33 of the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. where appropriate, including the strengthening of national mechanisms to implement policies and programmes for the girl child and, in some cases, to enhance coordination among responsible institutions for the realization of the human rights of girls, as indicated in the further actions and initiatives; 6. Urges States to enact and strictly enforce laws to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, to enact and strictly enforce laws concerning the minimum legal age of consent and the minimum age for marriage and to raise the minimum age for marriage where necessary; 7. Also urges States to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the commitment to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century";Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 8. Urges all States to enact and enforce legislation to protect girls from all forms of violence and exploitation, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, female genital mutilation, rape, domestic violence, incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child prostitution and child pornography, trafficking and forced labour, and to develop age-appropriate safe and confidential programmes and medical, social and psychological support services to assist girls who are subjected to violence; 9. Urges States to formulate comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, which should be widely disseminated and should provide targets and timetables for implementation, as well as effective domestic enforcement procedures through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms involving all parties concerned, including consultations with women's organizations, giving attention to the recommendations relating to the girl child of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences; 10. Calls upon all States and international and non-governmental organizations, individually and collectively, to implement further the Beijing Platform for Action, in particular the strategic objectives relating to the girl child, and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 11. Urges States to take special measures for the protection of war-affected girls and in particular to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), gender-based violence, including rape and sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation, torture, abduction and forced labour, paying special attention to refugee and displaced girls, and to take into account the special needs of the war-affected girl child in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes; 12. Urges all States and the international community to respect, protect and promote the rights of the child, taking into account the particular vulnerabilities of the girl child in pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict situations, and calls for special initiatives designed to address all of the rights and needs of war-affected girls; 13. Calls upon Governments, civil society, including the media, and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights education and the full respect for and enjoyment of the human rights of the girl child, inter alia, through the translation, production and dissemination of age-appropriate information material on those rights to all sectors of society, in particular to children; 14. Calls upon States and international and non-governmental organizations to mobilize all necessary resources, support and efforts to realize the goals, strategic objectives and actions set out in the Beijing Platform for Action and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to ensure that all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, individually and collectively, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Labour Organization, take into account the rights and the particular needs of the girl child in the country programme of cooperation in accordance with the national priorities, including through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework;See A/53/226, paras. 72-77, and A/53/226/Add.1, paras. 88-98. 16. Requests all human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other human rights mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to adopt regularly and systematically a gender perspective in the implementation of their mandates and to include in their reports information on the qualitative analysis of violations of the human rights of women and girls, and encourages the strengthening of cooperation and coordination in that regard; 17. Stresses the importance of a substantive assessment of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action with a life-cycle perspective so as to identify gaps and obstacles in the implementation process and to develop further actions for the achievement of the goals of the Platform for Action; 18. Requests Member States to ensure that, in preventing and addressing HIV/AIDS, particular attention is paid to the girl child infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and to provide the Secretary-General with information in this regard to help in the preparation of his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, as requested in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.Resolution S-26/2, annex. RESOLUTION 57/18 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/562 et Corr.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/18. Model Law on International Commercial Conciliation of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law The General Assembly, Recognizing the value for international trade of methods for settling commercial disputes in which the parties in dispute request a third person or persons to assist them in their attempt to settle the dispute amicably, Noting that such dispute settlement methods, referred to by expressions such as conciliation and mediation and expressions of similar import, are increasingly used in international and domestic commercial practice as an alternative to litigation, Considering that the use of such dispute settlement methods results in significant benefits, such as reducing the instances where a dispute leads to the termination of a commercial relationship, facilitating the administration of international transactions by commercial parties and producing savings in the administration of justice by States, Convinced that the establishment of model legislation on these methods that is acceptable to States with different legal, social and economic systems would contribute to the development of harmonious international economic relations, Noting with satisfaction the completion and adoption by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law of the Model Law on International Commercial Conciliation,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/57/17), annex I. Believing that the Model Law will significantly assist States in enhancing their legislation governing the use of modern conciliation or mediation techniques and in formulating such legislation where none currently exists, Noting that the preparation of the Model Law was the subject of due deliberation and extensive consultations with Governments and interested circles, Convinced that the Model Law, together with the Conciliation Rules recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution 35/52 of 4 December 1980, contributes significantly to the establishment of a harmonized legal framework for the fair and efficient settlement of disputes arising in international commercial relations, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for completing and adopting the Model Law on International Commercial Conciliation, the text of which is contained in the annex to the present resolution, and for preparing the Guide to Enactment and Use of the Model Law; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to make all efforts to ensure that the Model Law, together with its Guide to Enactment, becomes generally known and available; 3. Recommends that all States give due consideration to the enactment of the Model Law, in view of the desirability of uniformity of the law of dispute settlement procedures and the specific needs of international commercial conciliation practice. Annex Model Law on International Commercial Conciliation of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Article 1 Scope of application and definitions 1. This Law applies to international{{{ States wishing to enact this Model Law to apply to domestic as well as international conciliation may wish to consider the following changes to the text: - Delete the word "international" in paragraph 1 of article 1; and - Delete paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of article 1.}}} commercialThe term "commercial" should be given a wide interpretation so as to cover matters arising from all relationships of a commercial nature, whether contractual or not. Relationships of a commercial nature include, but are not limited to, the following transactions: any trade transaction for the supply or exchange of goods or services; distribution agreement; commercial representation or agency; factoring; leasing; construction of works; consulting; engineering; licensing; investment; financing; banking; insurance; exploitation agreement or concession; joint venture and other forms of industrial or business cooperation; carriage of goods or passengers by air, sea, rail or road. conciliation. 2. For the purposes of this Law, "conciliator" means a sole conciliator or two or more conciliators, as the case may be. 3. For the purposes of this Law, "conciliation" means a process, whether referred to by the expression conciliation, mediation or an expression of similar import, whereby parties request a third person or persons ("the conciliator") to assist them in their attempt to reach an amicable settlement of their dispute arising out of or relating to a contractual or other legal relationship. The conciliator does not have the authority to impose upon the parties a solution to the dispute. 4. A conciliation is international if: (a) The parties to an agreement to conciliate have, at the time of the conclusion of that agreement, their places of business in different States; or (b) The State in which the parties have their places of business is different from either: (i) The State in which a substantial part of the obligations of the commercial relationship is to be performed; or (ii) The State with which the subject matter of the dispute is most closely connected. 5. For the purposes of this article: (a) If a party has more than one place of business, the place of business is that which has the closest relationship to the agreement to conciliate; (b) If a party does not have a place of business, reference is to be made to the habitual residence of the party. 6. This Law also applies to a commercial conciliation when the parties agree that the conciliation is international or agree to the applicability of this Law. 7. The parties are free to agree to exclude the applicability of this Law. 8. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 9 of this article, this Law applies irrespective of the basis upon which the conciliation is carried out, including agreement between the parties whether reached before or after a dispute has arisen, an obligation established by law, or a direction or suggestion of a court, arbitral tribunal or competent governmental entity. 9. This Law does not apply to: (a) Cases where a judge or an arbitrator, in the course of judicial or arbitral proceedings, attempts to facilitate a settlement; and (b) [...]. Article 2 Interpretation 1. In the interpretation of this Law, regard is to be had to its international origin and to the need to promote uniformity in its application and the observance of good faith. 2. Questions concerning matters governed by this Law which are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in conformity with the general principles on which this Law is based. Article 3 Variation by agreement Except for the provisions of article 2 and article 6, paragraph 3, the parties may agree to exclude or vary any of the provisions of this Law. Article 4 Commencement of conciliation proceedings{{{ The following text is suggested for States that might wish to adopt a provision on the suspension of the limitation period: Article […] Suspension of limitation period 1. When the conciliation proceedings commence, the running of the limitation period regarding the claim that is the subject matter of the conciliation is suspended. 2. Where the conciliation proceedings have terminated without a settlement agreement, the limitation period resumes running from the time the conciliation ended without a settlement agreement.}}} 1. Conciliation proceedings in respect of a dispute that has arisen commence on the day on which the parties to that dispute agree to engage in conciliation proceedings. 2. If a party that invited another party to conciliate does not receive an acceptance of the invitation within thirty days from the day on which the invitation was sent, or within such other period of time as specified in the invitation, the party may elect to treat this as a rejection of the invitation to conciliate. Article 5 Number and appointment of conciliators 1. There shall be one conciliator, unless the parties agree that there shall be two or more conciliators. 2. The parties shall endeavour to reach agreement on a conciliator or conciliators, unless a different procedure for their appointment has been agreed upon. 3. Parties may seek the assistance of an institution or person in connection with the appointment of conciliators. In particular: (a) A party may request such an institution or person to recommend suitable persons to act as conciliator; or (b) The parties may agree that the appointment of one or more conciliators be made directly by such an institution or person. 4. In recommending or appointing individuals to act as conciliator, the institution or person shall have regard to such considerations as are likely to secure the appointment of an independent and impartial conciliator and, where appropriate, shall take into account the advisability of appointing a conciliator of a nationality other than the nationalities of the parties. 5. When a person is approached in connection with his or her possible appointment as conciliator, he or she shall disclose any circumstances likely to give rise to justifiable doubts as to his or her impartiality or independence. A conciliator, from the time of his or her appointment and throughout the conciliation proceedings, shall without delay disclose any such circumstances to the parties unless they have already been informed of them by him or her. Article 6 Conduct of conciliation 1. The parties are free to agree, by reference to a set of rules or otherwise, on the manner in which the conciliation is to be conducted. 2. Failing agreement on the manner in which the conciliation is to be conducted, the conciliator may conduct the conciliation proceedings in such a manner as the conciliator considers appropriate, taking into account the circumstances of the case, any wishes that the parties may express and the need for a speedy settlement of the dispute. 3. In any case, in conducting the proceedings, the conciliator shall seek to maintain fair treatment of the parties and, in so doing, shall take into account the circumstances of the case. 4. The conciliator may, at any stage of the conciliation proceedings, make proposals for a settlement of the dispute. Article 7 Communication between conciliator and parties The conciliator may meet or communicate with the parties together or with each of them separately. Article 8 Disclosure of information When the conciliator receives information concerning the dispute from a party, the conciliator may disclose the substance of that information to any other party to the conciliation. However, when a party gives any information to the conciliator, subject to a specific condition that it be kept confidential, that information shall not be disclosed to any other party to the conciliation. Article 9 Confidentiality Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, all information relating to the conciliation proceedings shall be kept confidential, except where disclosure is required under the law or for the purposes of implementation or enforcement of a settlement agreement. Article 10 Admissibility of evidence in other proceedings 1. A party to the conciliation proceedings, the conciliator and any third person, including those involved in the administration of the conciliation proceedings, shall not in arbitral, judicial or similar proceedings rely on, introduce as evidence or give testimony or evidence regarding any of the following: (a) An invitation by a party to engage in conciliation proceedings or the fact that a party was willing to participate in conciliation proceedings; (b) Views expressed or suggestions made by a party in the conciliation in respect of a possible settlement of the dispute; (c) Statements or admissions made by a party in the course of the conciliation proceedings; (d) Proposals made by the conciliator; (e) The fact that a party had indicated its willingness to accept a proposal for settlement made by the conciliator; (f) A document prepared solely for purposes of the conciliation proceedings. 2. Paragraph 1 of this article applies irrespective of the form of the information or evidence referred to therein. 3. The disclosure of the information referred to in paragraph 1 of this article shall not be ordered by an arbitral tribunal, court or other competent governmental authority and, if such information is offered as evidence in contravention of paragraph 1 of this article, that evidence shall be treated as inadmissible. Nevertheless, such information may be disclosed or admitted in evidence to the extent required under the law or for the purposes of implementation or enforcement of a settlement agreement. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this article apply whether or not the arbitral, judicial or similar proceedings relate to the dispute that is or was the subject matter of the conciliation proceedings. 5. Subject to the limitations of paragraph 1 of this article, evidence that is otherwise admissible in arbitral or judicial or similar proceedings does not become inadmissible as a consequence of having been used in a conciliation. Article 11 Termination of conciliation proceedings The conciliation proceedings are terminated: (a) By the conclusion of a settlement agreement by the parties, on the date of the agreement; (b) By a declaration of the conciliator, after consultation with the parties, to the effect that further efforts at conciliation are no longer justified, on the date of the declaration; (c) By a declaration of the parties addressed to the conciliator to the effect that the conciliation proceedings are terminated, on the date of the declaration; or (d) By a declaration of a party to the other party or parties and the conciliator, if appointed, to the effect that the conciliation proceedings are terminated, on the date of the declaration. Article 12 Conciliator acting as arbitrator Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the conciliator shall not act as an arbitrator in respect of a dispute that was or is the subject of the conciliation proceedings or in respect of another dispute that has arisen from the same contract or legal relationship or any related contract or legal relationship. Article 13 Resort to arbitral or judicial proceedings Where the parties have agreed to conciliate and have expressly undertaken not to initiate during a specified period of time or until a specified event has occurred arbitral or judicial proceedings with respect to an existing or future dispute, such an undertaking shall be given effect by the arbitral tribunal or the court until the terms of the undertaking have been complied with, except to the extent necessary for a party, in its opinion, to preserve its rights. Initiation of such proceedings is not of itself to be regarded as a waiver of the agreement to conciliate or as a termination of the conciliation proceedings. Article 14 Enforceability of settlement agreementWhen implementing the procedure for enforcement of settlement agreements, an enacting State may consider the possibility of such a procedure being mandatory. If the parties conclude an agreement settling a dispute, that settlement agreement is binding and enforceable ... [the enacting State may insert a description of the method of enforcing settlement agreements or refer to provisions governing such enforcement]. RESOLUTION 57/190 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/552, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 175 to 2, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: None 57/190. Rights of the child The General Assembly, Reaffirming all of its resolutions on the rights of the child, in particular resolutions 55/78 and 55/79 of 4 December 2000, recalling resolution 56/138 of 19 December 2001, and taking note with appreciation of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/92 of 26 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Bearing in mind the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. emphasizing that the provisions of the Convention and other relevant human rights instruments must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and reaffirming that the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration in all actions concerning children, Welcoming the entry into force of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. Reaffirming the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which, inter alia, states that national and international mechanisms and programmes for the defence and protection of children, in particular those in especially difficult circumstances, should be strengthened, including through effective measures to combat the exploitation and abuse of children, female infanticide, harmful child labour, the sale of children and organs, child prostitution and child pornography, and which reaffirms that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, Welcoming the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on childrenResolution S-27/2, annex. and the firm commitments contained therein to promote and protect the rights of each child - every human being below the age of 18 years, including adolescents, Welcoming also the Yokohama Global Commitment 2001 adopted at the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001,See A/S-27/12, annex. and calling upon States to consider its outcome, Welcoming further the integration of issues of child rights in the outcome documents of all major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits, Profoundly concerned that the situation of girls and boys in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions in an increasingly globalized world economy, pandemics, in particular the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, malaria and tuberculosis, natural disasters, armed conflict, displacement, exploitation, violence, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Underlining the need for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes relating to children, Recognizing the need for the realization of a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development, the protection of the child from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the provision of universal and equal access to primary education and the implementation of the commitments on the education of children contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2, para. 19. Concerned at the number of illegal adoptions, of children growing up without parents and of child victims of different forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect within and outside the family, Concerned also by cases of international kidnapping of children by one of the parents, Recognizing that partnership among Governments, international organizations and all sectors of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and the private sector, is important to realizing the rights of the child, I Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1. Once again urges the States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. as a matter of priority with a view to reaching the goal of universal adherence as soon as possible; 2. Reiterates its concern at the great number of reservations to the Convention, and urges States parties to withdraw reservations that are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and to review on a regular basis any reservations with a view to withdrawing them; 3. Calls upon States parties to implement fully the Convention, while stressing that the implementation of the Convention contributes to the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children and the special session of the General Assembly on children, and of the goals and objectives endorsed at the relevant major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions; 4. Urges States to assure the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters that affect him or her, the views being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child, and in this regard to involve children and young people in their efforts to implement the goals of the Summit and the special session of the General Assembly on children, as well as in other programmes relating to children and young people, as appropriate; 5. Calls upon States parties to cooperate closely with the Committee on the Rights of the Child and to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee, and encourages States parties to take into account the recommendations made by the Committee in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of appropriate staff and facilities for the effective and expeditious performance of the functions of the Committee, notes the temporary support given by the plan of action of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen the important role of the Committee in advancing the implementation of the Convention, and also requests the Secretary-General to make available information on the follow-up to the plan of action; 7. Calls upon States parties urgently to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to paragraph 2 of article 43 of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible in order for the amendment to enter into force, thus increasing the membership of the Committee from ten to eighteen experts, bearing in mind, inter alia, the additional workload of the Committee when the two Optional Protocols to the Convention enter into force; 8. Invites the Committee to continue to enhance its constructive dialogue with the States parties and its transparent and effective functioning; 9. Recommends that, within their mandates, all relevant human rights mechanisms and all other relevant organs and mechanisms of the United Nations system and the supervisory bodies of the specialized agencies pay attention to particular situations in which children are in danger and in which their rights are violated and that they take into account the work of the Committee, and encourages the further development of the rights-based approach adopted by the United Nations Children's Fund and further steps to increase system-wide coordination and inter-agency cooperation for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child; 10. Encourages the Committee, in monitoring the implementation of the Convention, to continue to pay attention to the needs of children in especially difficult circumstances; 11. Reaffirms the importance of ensuring adequate and systematic training in the rights of the child for professional groups working with and for children, including specialized judges, law enforcement officials, lawyers, social workers, medical doctors, health professionals and teachers, and of coordination among various governmental bodies involved in children's rights, and encourages States and relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to promote education and training in this regard; 12. Encourages Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations and child rights advocates, to continue to contribute, as appropriate, to the web-based database launched by the United Nations Children's Fund so as to continue the provision of information on laws, structures, policies and processes adopted at the national level to translate the Convention into practice, and in this regard commends that body for its work to disseminate lessons learned in the implementation of the Convention; II Protection and promotion of the rights of children Identity, family relations and birth registration 1. Calls upon all States to intensify efforts to ensure the registration of all children immediately after birth, including through the consideration of simplified, expeditious and effective procedures; 2. Also calls upon all States to undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law, without unlawful interference and, where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, to provide appropriate assistance and protection with a view to re-establishing speedily his or her identity; 3. Urges all States to ensure, as far as possible, the right of the child to know and be cared for by his or her parents; 4. Also urges all States to ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when the competent authorities, subject to judicial review, determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary in the best interest of the child, and, where alternative care is necessary, to promote family and community-based care in preference to placement in institutions, recognizing that such determination may be necessary in a particular case, such as one involving abuse or neglect of the child by the parents or one in which the parents are living separately and a decision must be made as to the child's place of residence; 5. Recalls paragraph 15 of the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on children,Resolution S-27/2, annex. which states that the family is the basic unit of society and as such should be strengthened; that it is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support; that the primary responsibility for the protection, upbringing and development of children rests with the family; and that all institutions of society should respect children's rights and secure their well-being and render appropriate assistance to parents, families, legal guardians and other caregivers so that children can grow and develop in a safe and stable environment and in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding, bearing in mind that, in different cultural, social and political systems, various forms of the family exist; 6. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure that the best interest of the child is the primary consideration in adoptions of children and to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat illegal adoptions and adoptions which do not follow the normal procedures; 7. Also calls upon States to take all necessary measures to address the problem of children growing up without parents, in particular orphaned children and children who are victims of family and social violence, neglect and abuse; 8. Urges States to address cases of international kidnapping of children by one of the parents; Health 9. Calls upon all States and relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to pay particular attention to the development of sustainable health systems and social services to ensure the effective prevention of disease, malnutrition, disability and infant and child mortality, including through prenatal and post-natal health care, as well as the provision of necessary medical treatment and health care to all children, taking into consideration the special needs of young children and girls, including prevention of common infectious diseases, the special needs of adolescents, including those relating to reproductive and sexual health and threats from substance abuse and violence, and the particular needs of children living in poverty, children in situations of armed conflict and children in other vulnerable groups, and to strengthen ways of empowering families and communities; 10. Calls upon all States to adopt all necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children affected by disease and malnutrition, including protection from all forms of discrimination, abuse or neglect, in particular in the access to and provision of health care; 11. Welcomes the attention given by the Committee on the Rights of the Child to the realization of the highest attainable standards of health and access to health care and to the rights of children affected by the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); 12. Urges States to give particular emphasis to the prevention of HIV infection in young children and strengthen efforts to prevent adolescents and women from becoming HIV-infected, inter alia, by including HIV/AIDS prevention in educational curricula and educational programmes consistent with the epidemiology of the diseases in each State, and by supporting wide-scale voluntary HIV testing and counselling programmes for pregnant women, together with services for HIV-infected pregnant women to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus from infected pregnant women to their children; 13. Urges all States to take all necessary measures to protect children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS from all forms of discrimination, stigma, abuse and neglect, in particular in the access to and provision of health, education and social services, with a view to the realization of their rights; 14. Calls upon the international community, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify their support of national efforts against HIV/AIDS aimed at providing assistance to children infected or affected by the epidemic, including those orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, focusing in particular on the worst-hit regions of Africa and areas in which the epidemic is severely setting back national development gains, calls upon them also to give importance to the treatment, care and support of children infected with HIV/AIDS, and invites them to consider further involving the private sector; 15. Urges all States to assign priority to activities and programmes aimed at preventing the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants as well as preventing other addictions, in particular addiction to alcohol and tobacco, among children and young people, especially those in vulnerable situations, and urges all States to counter the use of children and young people in the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 16. Also urges all States to make appropriate treatment and rehabilitation accessible to children, including adolescents, dependent on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, inhalants and alcohol; Education 17. Calls upon States to recognize the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity by making primary education compulsory and ensuring that all children have access to free and relevant primary education, as well as by making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular by the progressive introduction of free education; 18. Reaffirms the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education ForumSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and calls for its full implementation, and in this regard invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue to implement its mandated role in coordinating Education for All partners and maintaining their collaborative momentum; 19. Invites Member States to develop national plans of action, or to strengthen existing ones, in order to achieve the objectives of Education for All so as to ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling; 20. Calls upon all States to eliminate the gender gap in education, reaffirms the commitment contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration to ensure equal access for girls and boys to all levels of education and the completion of a full course of primary schooling by children everywhere, boys and girls alike, by 2015,See resolution 55/2, para. 19. and in this regard encourages the implementation of the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative launched by the Secretary-General at the World Education Forum; 21. Calls upon States to ensure that emphasis is given to the qualitative aspects of education, that the education of the child is carried out, that States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. develop and implement programmes for the education of the child, in accordance with articles 28 and 29 of the Convention, and that education is directed, inter alia, to the development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to the preparation of the child for a responsible life in a free society in a spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin, and to ensure that children, from an early age, benefit from education on values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that will enable them to resolve any dispute peacefully and in a spirit of respect for human dignity and of tolerance and non-discrimination, bearing in mind the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;Resolutions 53/243 A and B. 22. Calls upon all States to take all appropriate measures to prevent racist, discriminatory and xenophobic attitudes and behaviour by means of education, keeping in mind the important role that children have to play in changing such practices; 23. Also calls upon all States to remove educational disparities and make education accessible to children living in poverty, children living in remote areas, children with special educational needs, children affected by armed conflict and children requiring special protection, including refugee children, migrant children, street children, children deprived of their liberty, indigenous children and children belonging to minorities; 24. Calls upon States, educational institutions and the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to develop and implement gender-sensitive strategies to address the particular needs of the girl child in education; Freedom from violence 25. Reaffirms the obligation of States to protect children from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 26. Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence, including physical, mental and sexual violence, torture, child abuse, abuse by police, other law enforcement authorities and employees and officials in detention centres or welfare institutions, including orphanages, and domestic violence; 27. Also calls upon States to investigate and submit cases of torture and other forms of violence against children to the competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution and to impose appropriate disciplinary or penal sanctions against those responsible for such practices; 28. Requests all relevant human rights mechanisms, in particular special rapporteurs and working groups, within their mandates, to pay attention to the special situations of violence against children, reflecting their experiences in the field; 29. Reaffirms its decision to request the SecretaryGeneral to conduct an in-depth study of the question of violence against children, and encourages him to appoint, as soon as possible, an independent expert to direct the study, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization, taking into account the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on childrenResolution S-27/2, annex. and the recommendations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child after its two days of general discussion on violence against children;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 41 and corrigendum (A/57/41 and Corr.1), sect. IV.C. 30. Calls upon the Governments of all States, in particular States in which the death penalty has not been abolished, to comply with the obligations that they have assumed under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including in particular articles 37 to 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and articles 6 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. III Promotion and protection of the rights of children in particularly vulnerable situations and non-discrimination against children Plight of children working and/or living on the streets 1. Calls upon Governments to seek comprehensive solutions to the problems that cause children to work and/or live on the streets and to implement appropriate programmes and policies for the protection and the rehabilitation and reintegration of those children, bearing in mind that such children are particularly vulnerable to all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect; 2. Calls upon all States to ensure that basic social services, notably education, are provided for children in order to divert them from and to address the economic imperatives that lead to involvement in harmful, exploitative and abusive activity; 3. Strongly urges all Governments to guarantee respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the right to life, to take urgent and effective measures to prevent the killing of children working and/or living on the streets, to combat torture and abusive treatment and violence against them and to bring the perpetrators to justice; 4. Calls upon all States to take the situation of children working and/or living on the streets into account when preparing reports for submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and encourages the Committee and other relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, within their existing mandates, to pay increased attention to the question of children working and/or living on the streets; 5. Calls upon the international community to support, through effective international cooperation, including technical advice and assistance, the efforts of States to improve the situation of children working and/or living on the streets; Refugee and internally displaced children 6. Urges Governments to improve the implementation of policies and programmes for the protection, care and well-being of refugee and internally displaced children and for the provision of basic social services, including access to education, with the necessary international cooperation, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children's Fund and the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons, in accordance with the obligations of States under the Convention on the Rights of the Child;Resolution 44/25, annex. 7. Calls upon all States and other parties to armed conflict, as well as United Nations organizations and bodies, to give urgent attention, in terms of protection and assistance, to the fact that refugee and internally displaced children are particularly exposed to risks in connection with armed conflict, such as being forcibly recruited or subjected to sexual violence, abuse or exploitation; 8. Expresses its deep concern about the growing number of refugee and internally displaced children who are unaccompanied or separated from their families, and calls upon all States and United Nations bodies and agencies and other relevant organizations to give priority to programmes for family tracing and reunification and to continue to monitor the care arrangements for refugee and internally displaced children who are unaccompanied or separated from their families; Children with disabilities 9. Encourages the working group on the rights of children with disabilities established pursuant to the decision of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to put into practice as soon as possible the recommendations arising from the day of general discussion on the rights of children with disabilities, held on 6 October 1997,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/53/41), sect. IV.C.2; and ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/55/41), sect. IV.C.2. including the drafting of a plan of action on children with disabilities, in close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development and other relevant parts of the United Nations system; 10. Encourages the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities to consider the issue of children with disabilities in its deliberations; 11. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with disabilities, and to develop and enforce legislation against their discrimination so as to ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate their active participation in the community, including effective access to educational and health services; Migrant children 12. Calls upon States to protect all human rights of migrant children, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, and to ensure that the best interest of the child shall accordingly be a primary consideration, and encourages the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Children's Fund and other relevant United Nations bodies, within their respective mandates, to pay particular attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, as appropriate, to make recommendations to strengthen their protection; 13. Also calls upon States to cooperate fully with and assist the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in addressing the particularly vulnerable conditions of migrant children; IV Prevention and eradication of the sale of children and of their sexual exploitation and abuse, including child prostitution and child pornography 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,E/CN.4/2002/88. and expresses its support for his work; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all necessary human and financial assistance to enable him to discharge his mandate fully; 3. Calls upon States to continue to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give full consideration to all of his recommendations; 4. Invites further voluntary contributions through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and support for the work of the Special Rapporteur for the effective fulfilment of his mandate; 5. Welcomes the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornographyResolution 54/263, annex II. and urges States parties to implement it fully, and also invites States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying it; 6. Reaffirms the obligation of States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Optional Protocols theretoResolution 54/263, annexes I and II. to prevent the abduction of, the sale of or the trafficking in children for any purpose or in any form, including the transfer of the organs of the child for profit, and to protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, in accordance with articles 35 and 34 of the Convention; 7. Calls upon States to take all appropriate steps to combat the misuse of new information and communication technologies, including the Internet, for trafficking in children and for purposes of all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, in particular the sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography, child sex tourism, acts of paedophilia and other forms of violence and abuse against children and adolescents, and notes that the use of such technologies can also contribute to preventing and eradicating such phenomena; 8. Also calls upon States to criminalize and to penalize effectively, in conformity with all relevant and applicable international instruments, all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse of children, including within the family or for commercial purposes, paedophilia, child pornography, child prostitution, child sex tourism, trafficking, the sale of children and their organs, engagement in forced child labour and any other form of exploitation, while ensuring that, in the treatment by the criminal justice system of children who are victims, the best interest of the child shall be a primary consideration, and to take effective measures to ensure the prosecution of offenders, whether local or foreign, by the competent national authorities, either in the country of origin of the offender or in the country in which the abuse occurs, in accordance with due process of law; 9. Calls upon all Member States to take all necessary steps to strengthen international cooperation by means of multilateral, regional and bilateral arrangements for the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and punishment of those responsible for acts involving the sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism, and in this regard calls upon Member States to promote international cooperation and coordination among their authorities, national and international non-governmental organizations and international organizations, as appropriate; 10. Requests States to increase cooperation and concerted action at the national, regional and international levels to prevent and dismantle networks that traffic in children; 11. Stresses the need to combat the existence of a market that encourages such criminal practices against children, including through preventive and enforcement measures that target customers or individuals who sexually exploit or abuse children, and by ensuring public awareness; 12. Calls upon States to enact, enforce, review and revise, as appropriate, laws and to implement policies, programmes and practices to protect children from and to eliminate all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, including commercial sexual exploitation, taking into account the particular problems posed by the use of the Internet in this regard; 13. Also calls upon States to identify best practices and to take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures, to allocate resources for the development of long-term policies, programmes and practices, to collect comprehensive and disaggregated gender-specific data and, while reaffirming the right of children, including adolescents, to express themselves freely, to facilitate the participation of child victims of sexual exploitation, taking into account their age and maturity, in the development of strategies to end the sale of children and their organs, sexual exploitation and abuse, including the use of children for pornography, prostitution and acts of paedophilia, and to combat existing markets; 14. Invites all States to take into account, as appropriate, the Yokohama Global Commitment 2001See A/S-27/12, annex. in their efforts towards the prevention and elimination of the commercial sexual exploitation of children; 15. Urges States to afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with investigations or criminal or, where applicable, extradition proceedings brought in respect of the offences set forth in article 3, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, including assistance in obtaining evidence at their disposal for the proceedings; 16. Calls upon all States to contribute to the elimination of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography by adopting a holistic approach, addressing the contributing factors, including underdevelopment, poverty, economic disparity, inequitable socio-economic structures, dysfunctional families, irresponsible adult sexual behaviour, lack of education, urban-rural migration, gender discrimination, harmful traditional practices, armed conflict and trafficking in children; 17. Invites States and relevant United Nations organizations and bodies to allocate appropriate resources for the rehabilitation of child victims of sexual exploitation and abuse and to take all appropriate measures to promote their full recovery and social reintegration; V Protection of children affected by armed conflict 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict;See A/57/402. 2. Recognizes the progress achieved since the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative in paragraphs 35 to 37 of General Assembly resolution 51/77 of 12 December 1996, expresses its support for his work, in particular in raising worldwide awareness and mobilizing official and public opinion for the protection of children affected by armed conflict in order to promote respect for the rights and needs of children in conflict and post-conflict situations, and recommends that the Secretary-General extend the mandate for a further period of three years; 3. Takes note of further developments in the United Nations system response to the issue of children affected by armed conflict, and requests the Secretary-General to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the scope and effectiveness of the United Nations system response, including recommendations for strengthening, mainstreaming, integrating and sustaining these activities, and to submit his report during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, for consideration at the beginning of the fifty-eighth session of the Assembly; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General and all relevant parts of the United Nations system, including the Special Representative and the United Nations Children's Fund, to intensify further their efforts to continue to develop a concerted approach to the rights, protection and welfare of children affected by armed conflict, including, as appropriate, in the preparations for the field visits of the Special Representative and in the follow-up to such visits; 5. Calls upon all States and other parties concerned to continue to cooperate with the Special Representative in implementing the commitments that they have undertaken and to consider carefully all of the recommendations of the Special Representative and address the issues identified; 6. Welcomes the continuing support for and voluntary contributions to the work of the Special Representative in the fulfilment of his mandate; 7. Also welcomes the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflictResolution 54/263, annex I. and urges States parties to implement it fully, and also invites States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying it; 8. Urges all States and other parties to armed conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to put an end to any form of targeting of children and to attacking sites that usually have a significant presence of children, calls upon States parties to respect fully the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to take all measures required to protect children from acts that constitute violations of international humanitarian law, including prosecution by States, within their national legal framework, of those responsible for such violations; 9. Recognizes, in this regard, the contribution of the establishment of the International Criminal Court to ending impunity for perpetrators of certain crimes committed against children, as defined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. which include those involving sexual violence or child soldiers, and thus to the prevention of such crimes; 10. Stresses the importance of all relevant United Nations actors in the field improving their reporting, within their respective mandates, concerning the situation of children affected by armed conflict and giving additional attention to this question; 11. Condemns the abduction of children in situations of armed conflict and into armed conflict, urges States, international organizations and other parties concerned to take all appropriate measures to secure the unconditional release, rehabilitation, reintegration and reunification with their families of all abducted children, and urges States to bring the perpetrators to justice; 12. Calls upon States to ensure that the adoption of children in situations of armed conflict is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and that the best interest of the child is always envisaged as a paramount consideration; 13. Urges States and all other parties to armed conflict to end the use of children as soldiers, to ensure their demobilization and effective disarmament and to implement effective measures for their rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society, further encourages efforts by, inter alia, regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to end the use of children as soldiers in armed conflict, and emphasizes that no support shall be given to those who systematically abuse or violate the rights of children during armed conflicts; 14. Underlines the importance of including measures to ensure the rights of the child, inter alia, in the areas of health and nutrition, formal, informal or non-formal education, physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration, in emergency and other humanitarian assistance policies and programmes; 15. Reaffirms the essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children, takes note of the adoption of Security Council resolution 1379 (2001) on 20 November 2001, and notes the importance of the open debate on children and armed conflict held in the Security Council on 7 May 2002See S/PV.4528. and the undertaking by the Council to give special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of children when taking action aimed at maintaining peace and security; 16. Calls upon all parties to armed conflict to ensure that children affected by armed conflict receive timely, effective and unhindered humanitarian assistance, in accordance with international humanitarian law; 17. Reaffirms agreed conclusions 1999/1 adopted by the Economic and Social Council on 23 July 1999,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/54/3/Rev.1), chap. VI, para. 5. in which the Council, inter alia, called for systematic, concerted and comprehensive inter-agency efforts on behalf of children, as well as adequate and sustainable resource allocation, to provide both immediate emergency assistance to and long-term measures for children throughout all the phases of an emergency; 18. Urges States to implement effective measures for the rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society of all child victims in cases of armed conflict, invites the international community to assist in this endeavour, and further emphasizes the importance of giving systematic consideration to the special needs and particular vulnerability of the girl child during conflicts and in post-conflict situations; 19. Also urges States to take duly into consideration measures for the special treatment and rehabilitation of child offenders; 20. Calls upon States and relevant United Nations bodies to continue to support national and international mine-action efforts, including by means of financial contributions, mine-awareness programmes, victim assistance and child-centred rehabilitation, and welcomes the positive effects on children of concrete legislative measures with respect to anti-personnel mines; 21. Invites States, multilateral donors and the private sector to cooperate and to commit the resources necessary for the early development of new and more efficient mine-detection and mine-clearance technologies for assistance in mine action; 22. Notes with concern the impact of small arms and light weapons on children in situations of armed conflict, in particular as a result of their illicit production and traffic; 23. Recommends that, whenever sanctions are imposed, their impact on children be assessed and monitored and that humanitarian exemptions be child-focused and formulated with clear guidelines for their application; 24. Calls upon States, relevant United Nations organizations and bodies and regional organizations to integrate the rights of the child into all activities in conflict and post-conflict situations, including training programmes and emergency relief operations, country programmes and field operations aimed at promoting peace and preventing and resolving conflict, as well as the negotiation and implementation of peace agreements, and, given the long-term consequences for society, underlines the importance of including specific provisions for children, including resources, in peace agreements and in arrangements negotiated by parties; 25. Calls upon all States, in accordance with the norms of international humanitarian law, to integrate in the training and gender-sensitized education programmes of their armed forces, including those for peacekeeping, instruction on responsibilities towards the civilian population, in particular women and children; 26. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to encourage the involvement of young people in activities concerning the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including programmes for reconciliation, peace consolidation, peace-building and children-to-children networks; 27. Notes with appreciation the appointment by the Secretary-General of child protection advisers in United Nations peacekeeping missions, and encourages him to continue to appoint such advisers, where appropriate, to existing and future peacekeeping operations; 28. Also notes with appreciation the Winnipeg Agenda for War-Affected ChildrenA/55/467-S/2000/973, annex. and efforts by regional organizations to include prominently in their policies and programmes the rights and protection of children affected by armed conflict; VI Progressive elimination of child labour 1. Reaffirms the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development; 2. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying the conventions of the International Labour Organization relating to child labour, in particular the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, 1930 (Convention No. 29), the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182), and to implement those conventions; 3. Calls upon all States to translate into concrete action their commitment to the progressive and effective elimination of child labour contrary to accepted international standards, and urges them, inter alia, to eliminate immediately the worst forms of child labour as set out in International Labour Organization Convention No. 182 of 1999; 4. Also calls upon all States to assess and systematically examine the magnitude, nature and causes of child labour and to elaborate and implement strategies for the elimination of child labour contrary to accepted international standards, giving special attention to specific dangers faced by girls, as well as to the rehabilitation and social reintegration of the children concerned; 5. Recognizes that primary education is one of the main instruments for reintegrating child workers, calls upon all States to recognize the right to education by making primary education compulsory and to ensure that all children have equal access to free primary education as a key strategy to prevent child labour, and recognizes, in particular, the important role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund in this regard; 6. Calls upon all States and the United Nations system to strengthen international cooperation as a means of assisting Governments in preventing or combating violations of the rights of the child and in attaining the objective of eliminating child labour contrary to accepted international standards; 7. Calls upon all States to strengthen cooperation and coordination at the national and international levels to address effectively the problem of child labour, in close cooperation with, inter alia, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund; VII Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to prepare a report on progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the final document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. with a view to identifying problems and constraints and making recommendations on the action needed to achieve further progress, and to submit his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; (b) To include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the special session on children", which will be considered in plenary meeting; (c) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the rights of the child containing information on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the problems addressed in the present resolution; (d) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to submit to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights reports containing relevant information on the situation of children affected by armed conflict, taking into account the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly at its special session on children and bearing in mind existing mandates and reports of relevant bodies; (e) To continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children". RESOLUTION 57/191 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/553, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 57/191. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues The General Assembly, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/22 of 28 July 2000, in which the Council established the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as Council decision 2001/316 of 26 July 2001 concerning the election/appointment of the sixteen members of the Forum and other organizational matters, Recalling also its resolution 56/140 of 19 December 2001 on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, in which it welcomed Council decision 2001/316, Saluting the successful holding of the historic first annual session of the Forum at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 13 to 24 May 2002, Having considered the report of the Forum on its first session,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 23 (E/2002/43/Rev.1). Wishing to strengthen, within the mandate of the Council, the interactive dialogue and partnership between the Forum and Governments, specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, other relevant international and regional organizations, indigenous people and indigenous peoples, as well as civil society at large, Welcoming the creation of the Inter-Agency Support Group for the Forum, Underlining the importance of securing adequate financial and secretariat support for the activities of the Forum, while reaffirming that the financing of the Forum shall be provided from within existing resources through the regular budget of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, funds and programmes and through such voluntary contributions as may be donated, Recalling the decision of the Council taken in paragraph 8 of its resolution 2000/22 to conduct a review, without prejudging any outcome, of all existing mechanisms, procedures and programmes within the United Nations concerning indigenous issues, including the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, with a view to rationalizing activities, avoiding duplication and overlap and promoting effectiveness, and the decision of the Council to hold the review as soon as possible and not later than its substantive session of 2003, as stipulated in its decision 2001/316, 1. Requests the Secretary-General, in connection with draft decisions I to IV recommended by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at its first session for adoption by the Economic and Social Council:Ibid., chap. I, sect. A. (a) To appoint a secretariat unit, in accordance with the budget procedures established by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, within the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in New York, to assist the Forum in carrying out its mandate, as defined in paragraph 2 of Council resolution 2000/22; (b) To establish a voluntary fund for the Forum for the purpose of funding the implementation of recommendations made by the Forum through the Council, in line with paragraph 2 (a) of Council resolution 2000/22, as well as funding activities under its mandate, as defined in paragraphs 2 (b) and (c) of the same resolution; 2. Encourages the submission of applications of indigenous persons to the Secretariat, and invites the Secretary-General to give broad publicity to vacancies, when available; 3. Invites the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, including the Inter-Agency Support Group for the Forum, other relevant international and regional organizations and bodies, and indigenous people and indigenous peoples to assist the Forum in carrying out its mandate as enumerated in paragraph 2 of Council resolution 2000/22, including through the provision of staff; 4. Urges Governments, financial institutions and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to consider contributing to the voluntary fund for the Forum to be established by the Secretary-General; 5. Takes note with interest of the proposals, objectives, recommendations and areas of possible future action identified by the Forum in its report on its first session,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 23 (E/2002/43/Rev.1). and invites States, organizations of the United Nations system, other relevant international and regional organizations, and indigenous people and indigenous peoples to take them into consideration and, where they so decide, to take action; 6. Decides to authorize an exceptional three-day pre-sessional meeting of the members of the Forum from 7 to 9 May 2003. RESOLUTION 57/192 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/553, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela. 57/192. International Decade of the World's Indigenous People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/140 of 19 December 2001 and previous resolutions on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, Recalling also its resolution 40/131 of 13 December 1985, by which it established the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, Recalling further that the goal of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health, and that the theme of the Decade is "Indigenous people: partnership in action", Welcoming, in this respect, the contributions made through the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the realization of the goals of the Decade, Welcoming also, in this respect, the concluding documents of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Saluting the successful holding of the historic first annual session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 13 to 24 May 2002, Welcoming the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people,E/CN.4/2002/97 and Add.1. submitted to the Commission at its fifty-eighth session, pursuant to Commission resolution 2001/57 of 24 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the importance of consultation and cooperation with indigenous people in planning and implementing the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People,Resolution 50/157, annex. the need for adequate financial support from the international community, including support from within the United Nations system, and the need for adequate coordination and communication channels, Urging all parties to continue to use their best efforts to achieve the goals of the Decade, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People;A/57/395. 2. Affirms its conviction of the value and diversity of the cultures and forms of social organization of indigenous people and its conviction that the development of indigenous people within their countries will contribute to the socio-economic, cultural and environmental advancement of all the countries of the world; 3. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening the human and institutional capacity of indigenous people to develop their own solutions to their problems; 4. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as coordinator for the Decade: (a) To continue to promote the objectives of the Decade, taking into account, in the fulfilment of his functions, the special concerns of indigenous people; (b) To give due regard to the dissemination, from within existing resources and voluntary contributions, of information on the situation, cultures, languages, rights and aspirations of indigenous people and, in that context, to consider the possibility of organizing projects, special events, exhibitions and other activities addressed to the public, in particular to young people; (c) To submit, through the Secretary-General, an annual report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade; 5. Reaffirms the adoption of a declaration on the rights of indigenous people as a major objective of the Decade, and underlines the importance of effective participation by indigenous representatives in the open-ended intersessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with developing a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people, established pursuant to Commission resolution 1995/32 of 3 March 1995;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 6. Welcomes Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/28 of 25 July 2002 concerning the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; 7. Encourages Governments to support the Decade by: (a) Preparing relevant programmes, plans and reports in relation to the Decade, in consultation with indigenous people; (b) Seeking means, in consultation with indigenous people, of giving indigenous people greater responsibility for their own affairs and an effective voice in decisions on matters that affect them; (c) Establishing national committees or other mechanisms involving indigenous people to ensure that the objectives and activities of the Decade are planned and implemented on the basis of full partnership with indigenous people; (d) Contributing to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People; (e) Contributing, together with other donors, to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations in order to assist indigenous representatives in participating in the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the open-ended intersessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with elaborating a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people; (f) Considering contributing, as appropriate, to the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean, in support of the goals of the Decade; (g) Identifying resources for activities designed to implement the goals of the Decade, in cooperation with indigenous people and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 8. Invites United Nations financial and development institutions, operational programmes and the specialized agencies and secretariats, as well as other regional and international organizations, in accordance with the existing procedures of their governing bodies: (a) To give increased priority and resources to improving the conditions of indigenous people, with particular emphasis on the needs of those people in developing countries, inter alia, through the preparation of specific programmes of action for the implementation of the goals of the Decade, within their areas of competence; (b) To launch special projects, through appropriate channels and in cooperation with indigenous people, to strengthen their community-level initiatives and to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among indigenous people and other relevant experts; (c) To designate focal points for the coordination of activities related to the Decade with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and commends those institutions, programmes, agencies and regional and international organizations that have already done so; 9. Appeals to all Governments and organizations to consider contributing to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, if possible with a substantial increase in the level of contributions; 10. Recommends that the Secretary-General ensure coordinated follow-up to the recommendations concerning indigenous people of all relevant United Nations conferences; 11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit, through the Secretary-General, a report on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Programme of activities of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People". RESOLUTION 57/193 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/553, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Dominica, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Pakistan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Timor-Leste. 57/193. Indigenous people and issues The General Assembly, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/22 of 28 July 2000, in which the Council established the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Recalling also its resolution 56/140 of 19 December 2001 on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, in which it welcomed Council decision 2001/316 of 26 July 2001 concerning the Forum, Taking note of the report of the Forum on its first session, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 13 to 24 May 2002,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 23 (E/2002/43/Rev.1). Recalling that the Forum shall serve as an advisory body to the Council, with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues within the mandate of the Council relating to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights, Taking note of Council resolution 2002/28 of 25 July 2002, Wishing to strengthen, within the mandate of the Council, the interactive dialogue and partnership between the Forum and Governments, specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, other relevant international and regional organizations, indigenous people and indigenous peoples, as well as civil society at large, Invites the Secretary-General, on the basis of recommendations made by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues through the Economic and Social Council, to consider providing advice to the General Assembly on the need to identify further ways to assist the Forum in carrying out its mandate in a successful and fruitful manner, including the possibility of seeking the views of adviser(s). RESOLUTION 57/194 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/554, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 57/194. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions concerning the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and its resolutions on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. most recently its resolution 55/81 of 4 December 2000, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in particular section II.B of the Declaration, relating to equality, dignity and tolerance, Reiterating the need to intensify the struggle to eliminate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance throughout the world, Welcoming the affirmation that universal adherence to and full implementation of the Convention are of paramount importance for promoting equality and non-discrimination in the world, as stated in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Reiterating the importance of the Convention, which is one of the most widely accepted human rights instruments adopted under the auspices of the United Nations, Mindful of the importance of the contributions of the Committee to the effective implementation of the Convention and to the efforts of the United Nations to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as all other forms of discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, Noting that the reports submitted by States parties under the Convention contain, inter alia, information about the causes of, as well as measures to combat, contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Emphasizing the obligation of all States parties to the Convention to take legislative, judicial and other measures in order to secure full implementation of the provisions of the Convention, Recalling its resolution 47/111 of 16 December 1992, in which it welcomed the decision, taken on 15 January 1992 by the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,See CERD/SP/45, annex. to amend paragraph 6 of article 8 of the Convention and to add a new paragraph, as paragraph 7 of article 8, with a view to providing for the financing of the Committee from the regular budget of the United Nations, and reiterating its deep concern that the amendment to the Convention has not yet entered into force, Stressing the importance of enabling the Committee to function smoothly and to have all necessary facilities for the effective performance of its functions under the Convention, I Reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its fifty-eighth and fifty-ninthOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 18 and corrigendum (A/56/18 and Corr.1). and its sixtieth and sixty-firstIbid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18). sessions; 2. Commends the Committee for its continuing efforts to contribute to the effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. especially the examination of reports under article 9 and action on communications under article 14 of the Convention, which contribute to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 3. Calls upon States parties to fulfil their obligation, under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to submit their periodic reports on measures taken to implement the Convention in due time; 4. Expresses its concern about the fact that a great number of reports are overdue and continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention; 5. Encourages States parties to the Convention whose reports are seriously overdue to avail themselves of the advisory services and technical assistance that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights can provide, upon their request, for the preparation of the reports; 6. Commends the Committee for its continuing contribution to the prevention of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and welcomes its relevant action thereon; 7. Encourages the Committee to continue to contribute fully to the implementation of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and its revised Programme of Action,Resolution 49/146, annex. including by continuing to cooperate and exchange information with United Nations bodies and mechanisms and intergovernmental organizations, in particular with the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as well as with non-governmental organizations; 8. Encourages States parties to continue to include a gender perspective in their reports to the Committee, and invites the Committee to take into account a gender perspective in the implementation of its mandate; 9. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee for its valuable participation in and contributions to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, including its preparatory process; 10. Invites the Committee to consider the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in the discharge of its mandate; II Financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;A/57/333. 2. Expresses its profound concern about the fact that a number of States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. have still not fulfilled their financial obligations, as shown in the report of the Secretary-General, and strongly appeals to all States parties that are in arrears to fulfil their outstanding financial obligations under article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention; 3. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures with regard to the amendment to the Convention concerning the financing of the Committee and to notify the Secretary-General expeditiously in writing of their agreement to the amendment, as decided upon at the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 15 January 1992,See CERD/SP/45, annex. endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/111 and further reiterated at the Sixteenth Meeting of States Parties on 16 January 1996; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure adequate financial arrangements and to provide the necessary support, including an adequate level of Secretariat assistance, to ensure the functioning of the Committee and to enable it to cope with its increasing amount of work; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite those States parties to the Convention that are in arrears to pay the amounts in arrears, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; III Status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/334. on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the number of States that have ratified the Convention or acceded thereto, which now stands at one hundred and sixty-five; 3. Reaffirms once again its conviction that ratification of or accession to the Convention on a universal basis and the implementation of its provisions are necessary for the realization of the objectives of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and for the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 4. Urges all States that have not yet become parties to the Convention to ratify it or accede to it as a matter of urgency, with a view to achieving universal ratification by 2005; 5. Urges States to limit the extent of any reservation they lodge to the Convention and to formulate any reservation as precisely and as narrowly as possible so as to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention or otherwise contrary to international treaty law, to review their reservations on a regular basis with a view to withdrawing them, and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention or that are otherwise incompatible with international treaty law; 6. Requests the States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention; 7. Decides to consider, at its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination", the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its sixty-second and sixty-third and its sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth sessions, the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee and the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention. RESOLUTION 57/195 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/554, para. 18),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Venezuela (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 173 to 3, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada 57/195. The fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997, in which it decided to convene the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and all other resolutions on this matter, Recalling also its resolution 56/266 of 27 March 2002, in which it endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. as constituting a solid foundation for further action and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Recalling further its resolutions 56/265 and 56/267 of 27 March 2002, on the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and on measures to combat contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. attaches importance to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, Convinced that the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance made an important contribution to achieving the goal of eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and that the results of the Conference have to be fully implemented without delay through effective action, Recognizing that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds such as sex, language, religion, political and other opinion, social origin, property, birth or other status, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and may be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights, and recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,A/57/83. Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,See A/57/204. Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, Reaffirming its firm determination and its commitment to eradicate totally and unconditionally racism and racial discrimination and its conviction that racism and racial discrimination constitute a negation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Reaffirming also its commitment to a global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Stressing the need for maintaining political will and momentum at the national, regional and international levels to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking into account commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and recalling the importance of enhancing national action and international cooperation to this end, Recognizing that the successful implementation of the Programme of Action requires political will, international cooperation and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels, Deeply concerned that, despite continuing efforts, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and acts of violence persist and even grow in magnitude, incessantly adopting new forms, including tendencies to establish policies based on racial, religious, ethnic, cultural and national superiority or exclusivity, Alarmed, in particular, at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, inter alia, as a result of the resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Reaffirming that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. are of paramount importance for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Recognizing that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations, Emphasizing that poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and economic disparities are closely associated with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices which in turn generate more poverty, Recalling the adoption by the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. Conscious of the fact that the history of humanity is replete with major atrocities as a result of gross violations of human rights, and believing that lessons can be learned from history to avert future tragedies, Welcoming United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization resolution 31C/28 of 2 November 2001 on the proclamation of 2004 as International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions. and in this context noting that organization's slave route project, Deeply concerned about the misuse, by those advocating racism and racial discrimination, of new communications technologies, including the Internet, to disseminate their repugnant views, Noting that the use of such technologies can also contribute to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, I Basic general principles 1. Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments; 2. Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form; 3. Affirms that racism and racial discrimination, and xenophobia and related intolerance, where they amount to racism and racial discrimination, constitute serious violations of and obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 4. Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling; 5. Urges States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law; 6. Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments; 7. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communications technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred, and calls upon States to take all necessary measures to combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they have undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 8. Also condemns political platforms and organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as incompatible with democracy and transparent and accountable governance; 9. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries; 10. Urges States to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men; II International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 11. Urges States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the international human rights instruments that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular to accede to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. as a matter of urgency, with a view to achieving universal ratification by 2005, and to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 thereof, to comply with their reporting obligations, to publish and act upon the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, to withdraw reservations contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention and to consider withdrawing other reservations; 12. Invites States parties to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention, on the financing of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and calls for adequate additional resources from the United Nations regular budget to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully; 13. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and article 5 of the Convention; 14. Notes that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in its general recommendation XV (42) of 17 March 1993 concerning article 4 of the Convention,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/48/18), chap. VIII, sect. B. holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention; 15. Welcomes general recommendation XXVIII adopted on 19 March 2002 by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18), chap. XI. in which the Committee emphasized the importance of follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and recommended measures to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee; III Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 16. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 17. Also emphasizes, in that context, the fundamental and complementary role of the national human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working jointly with States towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 18. Calls upon States to elaborate action plans, in consultation with national human rights institutions, other institutions created by law to combat racism, and civil society, and to provide the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with such action plans and other relevant materials on measures taken to implement the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 19. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay at the national, regional and international levels policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; 20. Urges States to support the activities of regional bodies or centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance where they exist in their region, and recommends the establishment of such bodies or centres in all regions where they do not exist; 21. Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in assisting States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation; 22. Emphasizes that, in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, States have a shared responsibility, at the international level and within the framework of the United Nations system, to determine modalities for the overall review of the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 23. Decides that the General Assembly, through its role in policy formulation, the Economic and Social Council, through its role in overall guidance and coordination, in accordance with their respective roles under the Charter of the United Nations and Assembly resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and the Commission on Human Rights shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 24. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters related to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter, including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 25. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing with those of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 26. Decides that the Economic and Social Council shall oversee system-wide coordination of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 27. Also decides that the Commission on Human Rights, as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council, shall have a central role in the monitoring of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action within the United Nations system and in advising the Council thereon; 28. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, to appoint five independent eminent experts, one from each region, from among candidates proposed by the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, after consultation with the regional groups, to follow up the implementation of the provisions of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 29. Welcomes the establishment within the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of an Anti-Discrimination Unit to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promote equality and non-discrimination; 30. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, in particular the Anti-Discrimination Unit, Member States and all other relevant stakeholders to work closely together regarding activities aimed at the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 31. Stresses the need to ensure adequate financial and human resources, including through the regular budget of the United Nations, for the Office of the High Commissioner to carry out its responsibilities efficiently in the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 32. Invites all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and invites specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen and adjust, within their respective mandates, their activities, programmes and medium-term strategies to take into account the follow-up to the Conference; 33. Requests the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Human Rights and other relevant organs and bodies of the United Nations system to continue the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking into account the relevant recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and to reflect progress in this regard in their reports; 34. Invites all human rights treaty-monitoring bodies and all mechanisms and subsidiary bodies of the Commission on Human Rights to consider the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the discharge of their respective mandates; 35. Encourages the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue and expand the appointment and designation of goodwill ambassadors in all countries of the world in order, inter alia, to promote respect for human rights and a culture of tolerance and to increase the level of awareness about the scourge of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 36. Reconfirms the views of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna in 1993, on the urgency of eliminating denials and violations of human rights; 37. Takes note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/68 of 25 April 2002See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council decision 2002/270 of 25 July 2002; 38. Decides to proclaim 2004 the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition; IV Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and coordination of activities 39. Recalls its proclamation, in resolution 48/91 of 20 December 1993, of the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, which began in 1993 and will end in 2003; 40. Notes with great concern that, despite the many efforts of the international community, the objectives of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination have largely not been achieved, welcomes, therefore, the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and calls for its full implementation at the national, regional and international levels; 41. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, an analytical report on the extent of implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade, to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session; V Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits 42. Takes note of the report of the former Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,See A/57/204. and expresses its full appreciation for his work; 43. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages its continuation; 44. Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur; 45. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities; 46. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue his exchange of views with Member States and relevant mechanisms and treaty bodies within the United Nations system in order to further enhance their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 47. Also requests the Special Rapporteur to collect information from all concerned, to respond effectively to reliable information that becomes available to him, to follow up on communications and country visits, and to seek the views and comments of Governments and reflect them, as appropriate, in his reports; 48. Calls upon States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 49. Urges Member States to consider implementing the recommendations contained in the reports of the Special Rapporteur; 50. Encourages closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the newly formed Anti-Discrimination Unit; 51. Urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur; 52. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 53. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 54. Decides to continue the consideration of this matter at its fifty-eighth session under the sub-item entitled "Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action". RESOLUTION 57/196 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/555, para. 19),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam and Yemen. by a recorded vote of 124 to 21, with 34 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 57/196. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/232 of 24 December 2001, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/5 of 12 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions, in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit and use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Organization of African Unity Convention for the elimination of mercenarism in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1490, No. 25573. Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by peoples, 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;See A/57/178. 2. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 4. Urges all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Stresses the importance of the entry into force of the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries,Resolution 44/34, annex. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the necessary action to sign, accede to or ratify it, as a matter of priority; 6. Welcomes the cooperation extended by those countries that have received visits from the Special Rapporteur; 7. Welcomes also the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 8. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with domestic law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 9. Welcomes the convening by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of the second meeting of experts on the question of traditional and new forms of mercenary activities as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, and recognizes its contribution to the process of formulating a clearer legal definition of mercenaries that would make more efficient the prevention and punishment of mercenary activities; 10. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue working to propose a clearer definition of mercenaries, including clear nationality criteria, based on his findings, the proposals of States and the outcomes of the meetings of experts, and to make suggestions on the procedure to be followed for international adoption of a new definition; 11. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by the activities of mercenaries; 12. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue taking into account in the discharge of his mandate the fact that mercenary activities continue to occur in many parts of the world and are taking on new forms, manifestations and modalities; 13. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate; 14. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary assistance and support for the fulfilment of his mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary-related activities; 15. Requests the Special Rapporteur to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session his findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the right of peoples to self-determination; 16. Decides to consider at its fifty-eighth session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 57/197 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/555, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/197. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-eighthSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 56/141 of 19 December 2001, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, containing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which, inter alia, upholds the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination and foreign occupation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self-determination,A/57/312. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 57/198 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/555, para. 19),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 172 to 4, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of), Tonga, Vanuatu 57/198. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Expressing the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a final settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine; 2. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination. RESOLUTION 57/199 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.1, para. 31),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 127 to 4, with 42 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Marshall Islands, Nigeria, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Algeria, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 57/199. Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment The General Assembly, Recalling article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 3452 (XXX), annex. and its resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, Reaffirming that freedom from torture is a right that must be protected under all circumstances, Considering that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, firmly declared that efforts to eradicate torture should first and foremost be concentrated on prevention and called for the early adoption of an optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, intended to establish a preventive system of regular visits to places of detention, Welcoming the adoption of the draft optional protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2002/33 of 22 April 2002See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2002/27 of 24 July 2002, in which the Council recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of the draft optional protocol, 1. Adopts the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment contained in the annex to the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to open it for signature, ratification and accession at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 1 January 2003; 2. Calls upon all States that have signed, ratified or acceded to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to sign and ratify or accede to the Optional Protocol. Annex Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Preamble The States Parties to the present Protocol, Reaffirming that torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are prohibited and constitute serious violations of human rights, Convinced that further measures are necessary to achieve the purposes of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) and to strengthen the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Recalling that articles 2 and 16 of the Convention oblige each State Party to take effective measures to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in any territory under its jurisdiction, Recognizing that States have the primary responsibility for implementing those articles, that strengthening the protection of people deprived of their liberty and the full respect for their human rights is a common responsibility shared by all and that international implementing bodies complement and strengthen national measures, Recalling that the effective prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment requires education and a combination of various legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures, Recalling also that the World Conference on Human Rights firmly declared that efforts to eradicate torture should first and foremost be concentrated on prevention and called for the adoption of an optional protocol to the Convention, intended to establish a preventive system of regular visits to places of detention, Convinced that the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment can be strengthened by non-judicial means of a preventive nature, based on regular visits to places of detention, Have agreed as follows: Part I General principles Article 1 The objective of the present Protocol is to establish a system of regular visits undertaken by independent international and national bodies to places where people are deprived of their liberty, in order to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 2 1. A Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the Committee against Torture (hereinafter referred to as the Subcommittee on Prevention) shall be established and shall carry out the functions laid down in the present Protocol. 2. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall carry out its work within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations and shall be guided by the purposes and principles thereof, as well as the norms of the United Nations concerning the treatment of people deprived of their liberty. 3. Equally, the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be guided by the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, non-selectivity, universality and objectivity. 4. The Subcommittee on Prevention and the States Parties shall cooperate in the implementation of the present Protocol. Article 3 Each State Party shall set up, designate or maintain at the domestic level one or several visiting bodies for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (hereinafter referred to as the national preventive mechanism). Article 4 1. Each State Party shall allow visits, in accordance with the present Protocol, by the mechanisms referred to in articles 2 and 3 to any place under its jurisdiction and control where persons are or may be deprived of their liberty, either by virtue of an order given by a public authority or at its instigation or with its consent or acquiescence (hereinafter referred to as places of detention). These visits shall be undertaken with a view to strengthening, if necessary, the protection of these persons against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. 2. For the purposes of the present Protocol, deprivation of liberty means any form of detention or imprisonment or the placement of a person in a public or private custodial setting which that person is not permitted to leave at will by order of any judicial, administrative or other authority. Part II Subcommittee on Prevention Article 5 1. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall consist of ten members. After the fiftieth ratification of or accession to the present Protocol, the number of the members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall increase to twenty-five. 2. The members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be chosen from among persons of high moral character, having proven professional experience in the field of the administration of justice, in particular criminal law, prison or police administration, or in the various fields relevant to the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. 3. In the composition of the Subcommittee on Prevention due consideration shall be given to equitable geographic distribution and to the representation of different forms of civilization and legal systems of the States Parties. 4. In this composition consideration shall also be given to balanced gender representation on the basis of the principles of equality and non-discrimination. 5. No two members of the Subcommittee on Prevention may be nationals of the same State. 6. The members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall serve in their individual capacity, shall be independent and impartial and shall be available to serve the Subcommittee on Prevention efficiently. Article 6 1. Each State Party may nominate, in accordance with paragraph 2 of the present article, up to two candidates possessing the qualifications and meeting the requirements set out in article 5, and in doing so shall provide detailed information on the qualifications of the nominees. 2. (a) The nominees shall have the nationality of a State Party to the present Protocol; (b) At least one of the two candidates shall have the nationality of the nominating State Party; (c) No more than two nationals of a State Party shall be nominated; (d) Before a State Party nominates a national of another State Party, it shall seek and obtain the consent of that State Party. 3. At least five months before the date of the meeting of the States Parties during which the elections will be held, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit their nominations within three months. The Secretary-General shall submit a list, in alphabetical order, of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties that have nominated them. Article 7 1. The members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be elected in the following manner: (a) Primary consideration shall be given to the fulfilment of the requirements and criteria of article 5 of the present Protocol; (b) The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the entry into force of the present Protocol; (c) The States Parties shall elect the members of the Subcommittee on Prevention by secret ballot; (d) Elections of the members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be held at biennial meetings of the States Parties convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At those meetings, for which two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of the States Parties present and voting. 2. If during the election process two nationals of a State Party have become eligible to serve as members of the Subcommittee on Prevention, the candidate receiving the higher number of votes shall serve as the member of the Subcommittee on Prevention. Where nationals have received the same number of votes, the following procedure applies: (a) Where only one has been nominated by the State Party of which he or she is a national, that national shall serve as the member of the Subcommittee on Prevention; (b) Where both candidates have been nominated by the State Party of which they are nationals, a separate vote by secret ballot shall be held to determine which national shall become the member; (c) Where neither candidate has been nominated by the State Party of which he or she is a national, a separate vote by secret ballot shall be held to determine which candidate shall be the member. Article 8 If a member of the Subcommittee on Prevention dies or resigns, or for any cause can no longer perform his or her duties, the State Party that nominated the member shall nominate another eligible person possessing the qualifications and meeting the requirements set out in article 5, taking into account the need for a proper balance among the various fields of competence, to serve until the next meeting of the States Parties, subject to the approval of the majority of the States Parties. The approval shall be considered given unless half or more of the States Parties respond negatively within six weeks after having been informed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the proposed appointment. Article 9 The members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election once if renominated. The term of half the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election the names of those members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the meeting referred to in article 7, paragraph 1 (d). Article 10 1. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall elect its officers for a term of two years. They may be re-elected. 2. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall establish its own rules of procedure. These rules shall provide, inter alia, that: (a) Half the members plus one shall constitute a quorum; (b) Decisions of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be made by a majority vote of the members present; (c) The Subcommittee on Prevention shall meet in camera. 3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial meeting of the Subcommittee on Prevention. After its initial meeting, the Subcommittee on Prevention shall meet at such times as shall be provided by its rules of procedure. The Subcommittee on Prevention and the Committee against Torture shall hold their sessions simultaneously at least once a year. Part III Mandate of the Subcommittee on Prevention Article 11 The Subcommittee on Prevention shall: (a) Visit the places referred to in article 4 and make recommendations to States Parties concerning the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (b) In regard to the national preventive mechanisms: (i) Advise and assist States Parties, when necessary, in their establishment; (ii) Maintain direct, and if necessary confidential, contact with the national preventive mechanisms and offer them training and technical assistance with a view to strengthening their capacities; (iii) Advise and assist them in the evaluation of the needs and the means necessary to strengthen the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (iv) Make recommendations and observations to the States Parties with a view to strengthening the capacity and the mandate of the national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (c) Cooperate, for the prevention of torture in general, with the relevant United Nations organs and mechanisms as well as with the international, regional and national institutions or organizations working towards the strengthening of the protection of all persons against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 12 In order to enable the Subcommittee on Prevention to comply with its mandate as laid down in article 11, the States Parties undertake: (a) To receive the Subcommittee on Prevention in their territory and grant it access to the places of detention as defined in article 4 of the present Protocol; (b) To provide all relevant information the Subcommittee on Prevention may request to evaluate the needs and measures that should be adopted to strengthen the protection of persons deprived of their liberty against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (c) To encourage and facilitate contacts between the Subcommittee on Prevention and the national preventive mechanisms; (d) To examine the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Prevention and enter into dialogue with it on possible implementation measures. Article 13 1. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall establish, at first by lot, a programme of regular visits to the States Parties in order to fulfil its mandate as established in article 11. 2. After consultations, the Subcommittee on Prevention shall notify the States Parties of its programme in order that they may, without delay, make the necessary practical arrangements for the visits to be conducted. 3. The visits shall be conducted by at least two members of the Subcommittee on Prevention. These members may be accompanied, if needed, by experts of demonstrated professional experience and knowledge in the fields covered by the present Protocol who shall be selected from a roster of experts prepared on the basis of proposals made by the States Parties, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention. In preparing the roster, the States Parties concerned shall propose no more than five national experts. The State Party concerned may oppose the inclusion of a specific expert in the visit, whereupon the Subcommittee on Prevention shall propose another expert. 4. If the Subcommittee on Prevention considers it appropriate, it may propose a short follow-up visit after a regular visit. Article 14 1. In order to enable the Subcommittee on Prevention to fulfil its mandate, the States Parties to the present Protocol undertake to grant it: (a) Unrestricted access to all information concerning the number of persons deprived of their liberty in places of detention as defined in article 4, as well as the number of places and their location; (b) Unrestricted access to all information referring to the treatment of those persons as well as their conditions of detention; (c) Subject to paragraph 2 below, unrestricted access to all places of detention and their installations and facilities; (d) The opportunity to have private interviews with the persons deprived of their liberty without witnesses, either personally or with a translator if deemed necessary, as well as with any other person who the Subcommittee on Prevention believes may supply relevant information; (e) The liberty to choose the places it wants to visit and the persons it wants to interview. 2. Objection to a visit to a particular place of detention may be made only on urgent and compelling grounds of national defence, public safety, natural disaster or serious disorder in the place to be visited that temporarily prevent the carrying out of such a visit. The existence of a declared state of emergency as such shall not be invoked by a State Party as a reason to object to a visit. Article 15 No authority or official shall order, apply, permit or tolerate any sanction against any person or organization for having communicated to the Subcommittee on Prevention or to its delegates any information, whether true or false, and no such person or organization shall be otherwise prejudiced in any way. Article 16 1. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall communicate its recommendations and observations confidentially to the State Party and, if relevant, to the national preventive mechanism. 2. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall publish its report, together with any comments of the State Party concerned, whenever requested to do so by that State Party. If the State Party makes part of the report public, the Subcommittee on Prevention may publish the report in whole or in part. However, no personal data shall be published without the express consent of the person concerned. 3. The Subcommittee on Prevention shall present a public annual report on its activities to the Committee against Torture. 4. If the State Party refuses to cooperate with the Subcommittee on Prevention according to articles 12 and 14, or to take steps to improve the situation in the light of the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Prevention, the Committee against Torture may, at the request of the Subcommittee on Prevention, decide, by a majority of its members, after the State Party has had an opportunity to make its views known, to make a public statement on the matter or to publish the report of the Subcommittee on Prevention. Part IV National preventive mechanisms Article 17 Each State Party shall maintain, designate or establish, at the latest one year after the entry into force of the present Protocol or of its ratification or accession, one or several independent national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture at the domestic level. Mechanisms established by decentralized units may be designated as national preventive mechanisms for the purposes of the present Protocol if they are in conformity with its provisions. Article 18 1. The States Parties shall guarantee the functional independence of the national preventive mechanisms as well as the independence of their personnel. 2. The States Parties shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the experts of the national preventive mechanism have the required capabilities and professional knowledge. They shall strive for a gender balance and the adequate representation of ethnic and minority groups in the country. 3. The States Parties undertake to make available the necessary resources for the functioning of the national preventive mechanisms. 4. When establishing national preventive mechanisms, States Parties shall give due consideration to the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. Article 19 The national preventive mechanisms shall be granted at a minimum the power: (a) To regularly examine the treatment of the persons deprived of their liberty in places of detention as defined in article 4, with a view to strengthening, if necessary, their protection against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (b) To make recommendations to the relevant authorities with the aim of improving the treatment and the conditions of the persons deprived of their liberty and to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, taking into consideration the relevant norms of the United Nations; (c) To submit proposals and observations concerning existing or draft legislation. Article 20 In order to enable the national preventive mechanisms to fulfil their mandate, the States Parties to the present Protocol undertake to grant them: (a) Access to all information concerning the number of persons deprived of their liberty in places of detention as defined in article 4, as well as the number of places and their location; (b) Access to all information referring to the treatment of those persons as well as their conditions of detention; (c) Access to all places of detention and their installations and facilities; (d) The opportunity to have private interviews with the persons deprived of their liberty without witnesses, either personally or with a translator if deemed necessary, as well as with any other person who the national preventive mechanism believes may supply relevant information; (e) The liberty to choose the places they want to visit and the persons they want to interview; (f) The right to have contacts with the Subcommittee on Prevention, to send it information and to meet with it. Article 21 1. No authority or official shall order, apply, permit or tolerate any sanction against any person or organization for having communicated to the national preventive mechanism any information, whether true or false, and no such person or organization shall be otherwise prejudiced in any way. 2. Confidential information collected by the national preventive mechanism shall be privileged. No personal data shall be published without the express consent of the person concerned. Article 22 The competent authorities of the State Party concerned shall examine the recommendations of the national preventive mechanism and enter into a dialogue with it on possible implementation measures. Article 23 The States Parties to the present Protocol undertake to publish and disseminate the annual reports of the national preventive mechanisms. Part V Declaration Article 24 1. Upon ratification, States Parties may make a declaration postponing the implementation of their obligations under either part III or part IV of the present Protocol. 2. This postponement shall be valid for a maximum of three years. After due representations made by the State Party and after consultation with the Subcommittee on Prevention, the Committee against Torture may extend that period for an additional two years. Part VI Financial provisions Article 25 1. The expenditure incurred by the Subcommittee on Prevention in the implementation of the present Protocol shall be borne by the United Nations. 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Subcommittee on Prevention under the present Protocol. Article 26 1. A Special Fund shall be set up in accordance with the relevant procedures of the General Assembly, to be administered in accordance with the financial regulations and rules of the United Nations, to help finance the implementation of the recommendations made by the Subcommittee on Prevention after a visit to a State Party, as well as education programmes of the national preventive mechanisms. 2. The Special Fund may be financed through voluntary contributions made by Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other private or public entities. Part VII Final provisions Article 27 1. The present Protocol is open for signature by any State that has signed the Convention. 2. The present Protocol is subject to ratification by any State that has ratified or acceded to the Convention. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 3. The present Protocol shall be open to accession by any State that has ratified or acceded to the Convention. 4. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States that have signed the present Protocol or acceded to it of the deposit of each instrument of ratification or accession. Article 28 1. The present Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession. 2. For each State ratifying the present Protocol or acceding to it after the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession, the present Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit of its own instrument of ratification or accession. Article 29 The provisions of the present Protocol shall extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions. Article 30 No reservations shall be made to the present Protocol. Article 31 The provisions of the present Protocol shall not affect the obligations of States Parties under any regional convention instituting a system of visits to places of detention. The Subcommittee on Prevention and the bodies established under such regional conventions are encouraged to consult and cooperate with a view to avoiding duplication and promoting effectively the objectives of the present Protocol. Article 32 The provisions of the present Protocol shall not affect the obligations of States Parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto of 8 June 1977, nor the opportunity available to any State Party to authorize the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit places of detention in situations not covered by international humanitarian law. Article 33 1. Any State Party may denounce the present Protocol at any time by written notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereafter inform the other States Parties to the present Protocol and the Convention. Denunciation shall take effect one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. 2. Such a denunciation shall not have the effect of releasing the State Party from its obligations under the present Protocol in regard to any act or situation that may occur prior to the date on which the denunciation becomes effective, or to the actions that the Subcommittee on Prevention has decided or may decide to take with respect to the State Party concerned, nor shall denunciation prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter already under consideration by the Subcommittee on Prevention prior to the date on which the denunciation becomes effective. 3. Following the date on which the denunciation of the State Party becomes effective, the Subcommittee on Prevention shall not commence consideration of any new matter regarding that State. Article 34 1. Any State Party to the present Protocol may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties to the present Protocol with a request that they notify him whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposal. In the event that within four months from the date of such communication at least one third of the States Parties favour such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of two thirds of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to all States Parties for acceptance. 2. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of the present article shall come into force when it has been accepted by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties to the present Protocol in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. 3. When amendments come into force, they shall be binding on those States Parties that have accepted them, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of the present Protocol and any earlier amendment that they have accepted. Article 35 Members of the Subcommittee on Prevention and of the national preventive mechanisms shall be accorded such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions. Members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall be accorded the privileges and immunities specified in section 22 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946, subject to the provisions of section 23 of that Convention. Article 36 When visiting a State Party, the members of the Subcommittee on Prevention shall, without prejudice to the provisions and purposes of the present Protocol and such privileges and immunities as they may enjoy: (a) Respect the laws and regulations of the visited State; (b) Refrain from any action or activity incompatible with the impartial and international nature of their duties. Article 37 1. The present Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of the present Protocol to all States. RESOLUTION 57/19 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/562 and Corr.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/19. Enhancing coordination in the area of international trade law and strengthening the secretariat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Having considered the report of the Commission on its thirty-fifth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/57/17). Noting the demand from Member States, in particular developing countries, for the Commission to provide technical assistance and to prepare legal standards in an increasing number of areas and that, as a result, the number of projects of the Commission has more than doubled as compared with previous years, Noting also the increased need for coordination among a growing number of international organizations that formulate rules and standards for international trade, and the specific function to be performed by the Commission in that respect, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 2205 (XXI) and reiterated in subsequent resolutions, Satisfied that the current working methods of the Commission have proved their efficiency, Concerned, however, about the increased demands on personnel resources of the secretariat of the Commission resulting from the increased work programme and its impending inability to continue servicing the working groups of the Commission and performing other related tasks such as assisting Governments, which could lead to the Commission having to defer or discontinue work on topics on its agenda and to reduce the number of its working groups, 1. Emphasizes the need for higher priority to be given to the work of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law in view of the increasing value of the modernization of international trade law for global economic development and, thus, for the maintenance of friendly relations among States; 2. Takes note of the recommendation contained in the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat on the in-depth evaluation of legal affairsE/AC.51/2002/5, recommendation 15. that the Office of Legal Affairs should review the requirements of the secretariat of the Commission entailed by the expansion in the number of working groups from three to six and present to the Commission, at its upcoming review of the practical applications of the new working methods, different options that would ensure the necessary level of secretariat services; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to consider measures to strengthen the secretariat of the Commission within the bounds of the resources available in the Organization, if possible during the current biennium and, in any case, during the biennium 2004-2005. RESOLUTION 57/1 Adopted at the 1st plenary meeting, on 10 September 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.l and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia 57/1. Admission of the Swiss Confederation to membership in the United Nations The General Assembly, Having received the recommendation of the Security Council of 24 July 2002 that the Swiss Confederation should be admitted to membership in the United Nations,A/57/259. Having considered the application for membership of the Swiss Confederation,A/56/1009-S/2002/801, annex. Decides to admit the Swiss Confederation to membership in the United Nations. RESOLUTION 57/200 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.1, para. 31)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. 57/200. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Recalling article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 3452 (XXX), annex. and its resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Recalling also that freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of internal or international disturbance or armed conflict, and that the prohibition of torture is explicitly affirmed in all relevant international instruments, Recalling further all previous resolutions or decisions on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, in particular Assembly resolution 56/143 of 19 December 2001 and Commission resolution 2002/38 of 22 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling the recommendation contained in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. that high priority should be given to providing the necessary resources to assist victims of torture and effective remedies for their physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, inter alia, through additional contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, Noting with satisfaction the existence of a considerable international network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, which plays an important role in providing assistance to victims of torture, and the collaboration of the Fund with the centres, Commending the persistent efforts by non-governmental organizations to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, Mindful of its proclamation, in its resolution 52/149 of 12 December 1997, of 26 June as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 1. Condemns all forms of torture, including through intimidation, as described in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;Resolution 39/46, annex. 2. Urges all Governments to promote the full implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. stresses in particular that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention where the prohibited act is found to have been committed, and that national legal systems should ensure that the victims of such acts obtain redress, are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation, and encourages the development of rehabilitation centres for victims of torture; 3. Takes note of the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment annexed to its resolution 55/89 of 4 December 2000 as a useful tool in efforts to combat torture; 4. Urges Governments to take effective measures to provide redress and to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including their gender-based manifestations; 5. Stresses that, under article 4 of the Convention, torture must be made an offence under domestic criminal law, and emphasizes that acts of torture are serious violations of international humanitarian law and that the perpetrators are liable to prosecution and punishment; 6. Notes with appreciation that one hundred and thirty-one States have become parties to the Convention, and urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as a matter of priority; 7. Invites all States ratifying or acceding to the Convention and those States that are parties to the Convention and have not yet done so to consider joining the States parties that have already made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention and to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20; 8. Urges all States parties to the Convention to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 9. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including, in view of the high number of reports not submitted, their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19 of the Convention, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles when submitting reports to the Committee against Torture; 10. Emphasizes the obligation of States parties under article 10 of the Convention to ensure education and training for personnel who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment; 11. Stresses, in this context, that States must not punish personnel referred to in paragraph 10 above for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 12. Calls upon all Governments to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export and use of equipment that is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; 13. Welcomes the work of the Committee against Torture and the report of the Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/57/44). submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention; 14. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with his mandate established in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of Governments, advisory services for the preparation of national reports to the Committee and for the prevention of torture, as well as technical assistance in the development, production and distribution of teaching material for this purpose; 15. Urges States parties to take fully into account the conclusions and recommendations made by the Committee after its consideration of their reports; 16. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture,See A/57/173. describing the overall trends and developments with regard to his mandate, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture; 17. Invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to examine questions of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment directed against women, and conditions conducive to such torture, and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention and redress of gender-specific forms of torture, including rape or any other form of sexual violence, and to exchange views with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, with the aim of enhancing further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 18. Also invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider questions relating to the torture of children and conditions conducive to such torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention of such torture; 19. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his task, to supply all necessary information requested by the Special Rapporteur, to respond appropriately and expeditiously to his urgent appeals and to give serious consideration to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in following up his recommendations; 20. Reiterates the need for the Special Rapporteur to be able to respond effectively, in particular to urgent appeals, to credible and reliable information that comes before him, and invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to seek the views and comments of all concerned, in particular Member States; 21. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his report information on the follow-up by Governments to his recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered; 22. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views among the Committee, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 23. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Governments, organizations and individuals that have already contributed to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture;See A/57/268. 24. Stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and appeals to all Governments and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably by 1 March before the annual meeting of the Board, if possible with a substantial increase in the level of contributions, so that consideration may be given to the ever-increasing demand for assistance; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to all Governments the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund and to continue to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 26. Also requests the Secretary-General to assist the Board of Trustees of the Fund in its appeal for contributions and in its efforts to make better known the existence of the Fund and the financial means currently available to it, as well as in its assessment of the global need for international funding of rehabilitation services for victims of torture and, in this effort, to make use of all existing possibilities, including the preparation, production and dissemination of information materials; 27. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure, within the overall budgetary framework of the United Nations, the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in combating torture and assisting victims of torture, commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 28. Invites donor countries and recipient countries to consider including in their bilateral programmes and projects relating to the training of armed forces, security forces, prison and police personnel and health-care personnel matters relating to the protection of human rights and the prevention of torture, while bearing in mind a gender perspective; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the status of the Convention and a report on the operations of the Fund; 30. Calls upon all Governments, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 31. Decides to consider at its fifty-eighth session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture. RESOLUTION 57/201 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.1, para. 31)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Suriname, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay. 57/201. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families The General Assembly, Guided by the basic instruments regarding the international protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. and reaffirming the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, Bearing in mind the principles and norms established within the framework of the International Labour Organization and the importance of the work done in connection with migrant workers and members of their families in other specialized agencies and in various organs of the United Nations, Recalling that, despite the existence of an already established body of principles and norms, there is an urgent need to make further efforts worldwide to improve the situation and to guarantee respect for the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers and members of their families, Conscious of the marked increase in migratory movements that has occurred, especially in certain parts of the world, Deeply concerned at the grave situation of vulnerability of migrant workers and members of their families, Considering that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. all States are urged to guarantee the protection of the human rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, Underlining the importance of the creation and promotion of conditions to foster greater harmony and tolerance between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the State in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia directed against migrant workers by individuals or groups in segments of many societies, Recalling its resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Bearing in mind that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, States are invited to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible time, 1. Expresses its deep concern at the growing manifestations of racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman or degrading treatment directed against migrant workers in various parts of the world; 2. Welcomes the signature or ratification of or accession to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesResolution 45/158, annex. by some States, and takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention;A/57/291. 3. Again calls upon all Member States that have not yet ratified the Convention to consider urgently signing and ratifying or acceding to it as a matter of priority, expresses the hope that it will enter into force at an early date, and in particular takes into account the fact that, pursuant to article 87 of the Convention, only one more ratification or accession is needed for it to enter into force; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to make all necessary provisions for the timely establishment of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families referred to in article 72 of the Convention, as soon as the Convention enters into force, and calls upon States parties to submit their first periodic reports in due time; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide all the facilities and assistance necessary for the promotion of the Convention through the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 6. Welcomes the increasing activities of the global campaign for the entry into force of the Convention, and invites the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify further their efforts with a view to disseminating information on and promoting understanding of the importance of the Convention; 7. Also welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in relation to the Convention, and encourages her to persevere in this endeavour; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit an updated report on the status of the Convention to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 9. Decides to consider the report of the Secretary-General at its fifty-eighth session under the sub-item entitled "Implementation of human rights instruments". RESOLUTION 57/202 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.1, para. 31)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United Republic of Tanzania. 57/202. Effective implementation of international instruments on human rights, including reporting obligations under international instruments on human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/90 of 4 December 2000, as well as other relevant resolutions, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/85 of 26 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming that the full and effective implementation of United Nations human rights instruments is of major importance to the efforts of the Organization, pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that the effective functioning of treaty bodies established pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments is indispensable for the full and effective implementation of such instruments, Reaffirming the contribution of the human rights treaty bodies, within their mandates, to the prevention of violations of human rights, in the context of their consideration of reports submitted pursuant to their respective treaties, Reiterating its concern about the lack of adequate resources, which impedes the effective functioning of the human rights treaty bodies, Recalling that the effectiveness of the treaty bodies in encouraging the realization by States parties of their obligations under United Nations human rights instruments requires constructive dialogue aimed at assisting States parties in identifying solutions to human rights problems, which should be based on the reporting process supplemented by information from all relevant sources, which should be made available to all interested parties, Recalling also the initiatives taken by a number of human rights treaty bodies to elaborate early warning measures and urgent procedures, within their mandates, with a view to preventing the occurrence or recurrence of serious human rights violations, Reaffirming its responsibility for the effective functioning of the human rights treaty bodies, and reaffirming also the importance of: (a) Promoting the effective functioning of the periodic reporting by States parties to those instruments, (b) Securing sufficient financial, human and information resources for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to enable the human rights treaty bodies to carry out their mandates effectively, including in regard to their ability to work in the applicable working languages, (c) Promoting greater efficiency and effectiveness through better coordination of the activities of the United Nations bodies active in the field of human rights, taking into account the need to avoid unnecessary duplication and overlapping of their mandates and tasks, (d) Addressing questions of reporting obligations and financial implications when elaborating any further instruments on human rights, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/476. and the reports of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies on their thirteenth and fourteenth meetings,See A/57/56 and A/57/399 and Corr.1. held at Geneva from 18 to 22 June 2001 and from 24 to 26 June 2002 respectively, and also takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports; 2. Encourages each human rights treaty body to continue to give careful consideration to the relevant conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies on their meetings, and, in this context, encourages enhanced cooperation and coordination among the treaty bodies; 3. Welcomes the holding of the first inter-committee meeting of the human rights treaty bodies, from 26 to 28 June 2002, to discuss issues of common concern, including issues relating to the methods of work of the treaty bodies, and encourages those bodies to continue this practice in future on an annual basis; 4. Encourages the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies to continue to invite representatives of States parties to participate in a dialogue within the framework of their meetings, and welcomes broad participation by States parties in the dialogue; 5. Emphasizes the need to ensure financing and adequate staff and information resources for the operations of the human rights treaty bodies, particularly in view of the additional demands placed on the system by the new reporting requirements and the increasing number of ratifications and, with this in mind: (a) Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General provide adequate resources in respect of each human rights treaty body, while making the most efficient use of existing resources, in order to give the treaty bodies adequate administrative support and better access to technical expertise and relevant information; (b) Calls upon the Secretary-General to seek, in the next biennium, the resources within the regular budget of the United Nations necessary to give the human rights treaty bodies adequate administrative support and better access to technical expertise and relevant information; (c) Welcomes the plans of action prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to enhance the resources available to all the human rights treaty bodies and thereby strengthen the implementation of the human rights treaties, and encourages all Governments, United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and interested persons to consider contributing to the appeal for extrabudgetary resources for the treaty bodies made by the High Commissioner until the regular budget funding meets their needs; 6. Takes note of the measures taken by each of the human rights treaty bodies to improve their functioning, as reflected in their respective annual reports, and encourages continuing efforts by the treaty bodies, with the assistance of the Secretary-General, to help States parties to improve their ability to meet their reporting obligations; 7. Welcomes the efforts by the human rights treaty bodies and the States parties, with the assistance of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner, to improve the effectiveness of the treaty body system, and encourages them to continue to examine ways of further improving its effectiveness, inter alia, by streamlining and otherwise improving reporting procedures; 8. Also welcomes the initiative taken by certain human rights treaty bodies to set page limitations for the initial and periodic reports of States parties, and encourages other treaty bodies to consider setting page limitations; 9. Requests each State party to update its core document, incorporating as necessary material common to its multiple reports to the human rights treaty bodies; 10. Commends the recent efforts by the human rights treaty bodies, with the assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner, to improve the petition system and to reduce the backlog; 11. Reiterates that a priority of the Office of the High Commissioner should be to provide assistance to States parties, upon their request and, if possible, in coordination with other United Nations bodies, Governments and other interested parties, in order: (a) To assist those States in the process of ratifying United Nations human rights instruments; (b) To assist States to implement their obligations under such instruments, including the preparation of their initial reports; 12. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner and the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to enhance awareness of the availability of technical assistance for States parties; 13. Welcomes, in this respect, the first regional pilot workshop for dialogue on the concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee, held at Quito from 27 to 29 August 2002; 14. Encourages the human rights treaty bodies and the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to identify specific possibilities for technical assistance, to be provided at the request of the State concerned, in the regular course of their work of reviewing the periodic reports of States parties, and encourages States parties to consider carefully the concluding observations of the treaty bodies in identifying their needs for technical assistance; 15. Invites States parties that have not yet submitted their initial reports pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments to avail themselves, where necessary, of technical assistance for this purpose; 16. Welcomes the efforts to eliminate the backlog of reports on the implementation by States parties of United Nations instruments on human rights and the progress made in ensuring timely consideration of reports of the human rights treaty bodies; 17. Reiterates its concern about the large number of overdue reports on the implementation by States parties of certain United Nations instruments on human rights, and: (a) Urges States parties to make every effort to meet their reporting obligations; (b) Welcomes the efforts made by certain human rights treaty bodies to consider the situations of some States parties with overdue reports; (c) Welcomes new initiatives by certain human rights treaty bodies actively to follow up concluding observations and comments with States parties, including through the appointment of one of their members as rapporteur for follow-up; 18. Urges each State party whose report has been examined by a human rights treaty body to translate, publish and make available in its territory the full text of the concluding observations and comments of the treaty body on its report and to provide adequate follow-up to those observations; 19. Welcomes the contribution to the work of the human rights treaty bodies made by the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies, and encourages the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies, the various organs of the Commission on Human Rights, including its special procedures, the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner and the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies to continue to explore specific measures to intensify this cooperation among themselves and to improve communication and information flow so as to improve further the quality of their work, including by avoiding unnecessary duplication; 20. Recognizes the important role played by non-governmental organizations in all parts of the world in the effective implementation of all human rights instruments, and encourages the exchange of information between the human rights treaty bodies and such organizations; 21. Recalls, with regard to the election of the members of the human rights treaty bodies, the importance of giving consideration to equitable geographical distribution and gender balance of the membership and to the representation of the principal legal systems and of bearing in mind that the members shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights, and encourages States parties, individually and through meetings of States parties, to consider how better to give effect to these principles; 22. Encourages the efforts of the human rights treaty bodies to monitor more effectively the human rights of women, bearing in mind the workshops on gender integration, and reaffirms that it is the responsibility of all treaty bodies to integrate a gender perspective into their work; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session the reports of the persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies on their periodic meetings, and to report to it at the same session on measures taken to implement the present resolution and obstacles to its implementation, on measures to encourage technical cooperation and on measures taken or planned to ensure financing and adequate staff and information resources for the effective operation of the treaty bodies; 24. Decides to consider this question on a priority basis at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/203 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/203. Strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations are those of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and taking other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, as well as achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Desirous of achieving further progress in international cooperation to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that such international cooperation should be based on the principles embodied in international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant instruments, Deeply convinced that United Nations action in this field should be based not only on a profound understanding of the broad range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect for the political, economic and social realities of each of them, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through international cooperation, Recalling its previous resolutions in this regard, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence and discretion of the special rapporteurs and representatives on thematic issues and on countries, as well as of the members of the working groups, in carrying out their mandates, Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote and protect human rights and to carry out the responsibilities that they have undertaken under international law, especially the Charter, as well as various international instruments in the field of human rights, 1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions of the Charter, including respect for territorial integrity; 2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur; 3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the development of further international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with that international framework; 4. Considers that international cooperation in this field should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security; 5. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends; 6. Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations system, as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups, to take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates; 7. Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach to human rights issues contributes to the promotion of international cooperation as well as to the effective promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 9. Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate, within the framework of their respective legal systems and in accordance with their obligations under international law, especially the Charter, and international human rights instruments, the measures that they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 10. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take duly into account the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity; 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/385. and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States to present practical proposals and ideas that would contribute to the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights, through the promotion of international cooperation based on the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and to submit a comprehensive report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 12. Decides to consider this matter at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/204 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. 57/204. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Recalling also its resolutions 54/160 of 17 December 1999 and 55/91 of 4 December 2000, and recalling further its resolutions 54/113 of 10 December 1999 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/311 and Add.1. Welcoming the adoption of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, Welcoming also the contribution of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the promotion of respect for cultural diversity, Welcoming further the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. together with its Action Plan,Ibid., annex II. adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, in which member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan with a view to enhancing the synergy of actions in favour of cultural diversity, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, Recognizing also that the promotion of the rights of indigenous people and their cultures and traditions will contribute to the respect for and observance of cultural diversity among all people and nations, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States consider, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and that it should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity; 3. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 4. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 5. Expresses its determination to prevent and mitigate cultural homogenization in the context of globalization, through increased intercultural exchange guided by the promotion and protection of cultural diversity; 6. Affirms that intercultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 7. Welcomes the recognition at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the necessity of respecting and maximizing the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within and among communities and nations, in particular through public information and educational programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes in which the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society; 8. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 9. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national, regional and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 10. Also emphasizes that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all, and underlines the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive; 11. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 12. Urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 13. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies, and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the present resolution, to prepare a report on human rights and cultural diversity, taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as the considerations in the present resolution regarding the recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 15. Decides to continue consideration of this question at its fifty-eighth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 57/205 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 124 to 52, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Singapore, Turkey 57/205. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing in particular the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held, respectively, in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Recalling also its resolutions 56/156 and 56/165 of 19 December 2001, Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/28 of 22 April 2002 on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, including in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process but that it also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Realizing further the need to undertake a thorough, independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and cultural impact of globalization on societies, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, and aware that the risk of a global monoculture poses more of a threat if the developing world remains poor and marginalized, Recognizing also that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Deeply concerned that the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 3. Reaffirms also the commitment to creating an environment at both the national and the global level that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 4. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed, an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 5. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,E/CN.4/2002/54. which focuses on the liberalization of agricultural trade and its impact on the realization of the right to development, including the right to food, and takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 6. Calls upon Member States, relevant United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to promote equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth for managing globalization, so that poverty is systematically reduced and the international development targets are achieved; 7. Recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 8. Underlines the urgent need to establish an equitable, transparent and democratic international system in which poor people and countries have a more effective voice; 9. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 10. Affirms also that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 11. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/205 and Add.1. and requests the Secretary-General to seek further the views of Member States and relevant United Nations agencies and to submit a substantive report on this subject to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/206 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda. 57/206. Human rights education The General Assembly, Taking into account Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/61 of 25 April 2001 regarding the importance of human rights education as a priority in education policies, See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Considering Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/38 of 26 July 2001 on human rights education, Recalling its resolution 56/147 of 19 December 2001 on human rights education, Convinced that human rights education and information contribute to the concept of development consistent with the dignity of women and men of all ages, which takes into account particularly vulnerable segments of society of all ages, such as children, youth, older persons, indigenous people, minorities, rural and urban poor, migrant workers, refugees, persons with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and disabled persons, Considering the importance of human rights education, Convinced that human rights education is a key to development, Taking note with appreciation of the mid-term global evaluation of the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, contained in the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/55/360. Taking into account the recommendations resulting from the mid-term global evaluation, 1. Invites all Governments to reaffirm their commitments and obligations to develop national strategies for human rights education which are comprehensive, participatory and effective and which can be embodied in a national plan of action for human rights education as part of their national development plans; 2. Invites the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant intergovernmental organizations to adopt a system-wide approach to the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004; 3. Invites relevant regional human rights organizations, agencies and networks to develop human rights education programmes and human rights training programmes and strategies for wider distribution of material on human rights education in all possible languages; 4. Recognizes the role that non-governmental organizations play in developing and implementing strategies to assist Governments to integrate human rights education into all levels of education for children, youth and adults; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/207 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Pakistan, Panama, Senegal, Sudan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. 57/207. Missing persons The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes, principles and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by the principles and norms of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/60 adopted unanimously on 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting with deep concern that armed conflicts are continuing in various parts of the world, often resulting in serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, Recognizing that great technological progress has been achieved in the field of DNA forensic sciences with regard to missing persons, such as the work done by the International Commission on Missing Persons, based in Sarajevo, which could significantly assist efforts to identify missing persons from other conflict areas in the world, Noting in this regard that the issue of persons reported missing in connection with international armed conflicts, in particular those who are victims of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, continues to have a negative impact on efforts to put an end to those conflicts, 1. Urges States strictly to observe and respect and ensure respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 2. Reaffirms the right of families to know the fate of their relatives reported missing in connection with armed conflicts; 3. Also reaffirms that each party to an armed conflict, as soon as circumstances permit and, at the latest, from the end of active hostilities, shall search for the persons who have been reported missing by an adverse party; 4. Calls upon States which are parties to an armed conflict to take immediate steps to determine the identity and fate of persons reported missing in connection with the armed conflict; 5. Requests States to pay the utmost attention to cases of children reported missing in connection with armed conflicts and to take appropriate measures to search for and identify those children; 6. Invites States which are parties to an armed conflict to cooperate fully with the International Committee of the Red Cross in establishing the fate of missing persons and to adopt a comprehensive approach to this issue, including all practical and coordination mechanisms that may be necessary, based on humanitarian considerations only; 7. Urges States and encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to take all necessary measures at the national, regional and international levels to address the problem of persons reported missing in connection with armed conflicts and to provide appropriate assistance as requested by the States concerned; 8. Invites all relevant human rights mechanisms and procedures, as appropriate, to address the problem of persons reported missing in connection with armed conflicts in their forthcoming reports to the General Assembly; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian organizations; 10. Decides to remain seized of the matter at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 57/208 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/208. Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Recalling article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and paragraph 4 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief, Noting the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. aimed at combating religious intolerance, Emphasizing that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is far-reaching and profound and that it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief, whether manifested individually or in community with others, and in public or private, Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, for all Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of tolerance and elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, are on the increase in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Deeply concerned that, as reported by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief, the rights violated on religious grounds include the right to life, the right to physical integrity and to liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or detained, Believing that intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as also emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, 1. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination; 2. Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, including the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is violated; 3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of their religion or belief, deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and security of person or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; 4. Further urges States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, with particular regard to persons belonging to religious minorities; 5. Urges States to devote particular attention to all practices motivated by religion or belief that lead, directly or indirectly, to violations of the human rights of women and to discrimination against women; 6. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if those limitations that are prescribed by law are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 7. Urges States to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement bodies and the military, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 8. Calls upon all States to recognize, as provided in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,See resolution 36/55. the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes; 9. Expresses its grave concern at all attacks upon religious places, sites and shrines, and calls upon all States, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights standards, to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that such places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction; 10. Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, and that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by persons and groups is necessary for the full realization of the aims of the Declaration, and in this regard, invites States, religious bodies and civil society to undertake dialogue at all levels to promote greater tolerance, respect and understanding of freedom of religion or belief and to encourage and promote, through the educational system and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; 11. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief,See A/57/274. and encourages his continued efforts to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration and to recommend remedial measures as appropriate; 12. Calls upon all States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 13. Welcomes the initiatives of Governments and non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur, and in this regard invites Governments to give consideration to the final document adopted at the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation to Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination, held in Madrid from 23 to 25 November 2001; 14. Urges States to make all appropriate efforts to encourage those engaged in teaching to cultivate respect for all religions or beliefs, thereby promoting mutual understanding and tolerance; 15. Encourages Governments, when seeking the assistance of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, to consider, where appropriate, including requests for assistance in the field of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; 16. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation and dissemination of the Declaration, and also encourages their work in relation to promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 17. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its consideration of measures to implement the Declaration; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary resources to enable him to discharge his mandate; 19. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions", and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly on the item. RESOLUTION 57/209 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 57/209. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, annexed to that resolution, Reiterating the importance of the Declaration and stressing the importance of its wide dissemination, Noting with deep concern that, in many countries, persons and organizations engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities, Gravely concerned by the human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, Recalling that human rights defenders are entitled to equal protection of the law, and deeply concerned about any abuse of civil or criminal proceedings against them because of their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Concerned by the considerable number of communications received by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the special procedure mechanisms, indicate the serious nature of the risks faced by human rights defenders and the particular consequences for women human rights defenders, Noting with deep concern that, in a number of countries in all regions of the world, impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on the work and safety of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the important role that individuals, non-governmental organizations and groups play in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in combating impunity, Recalling that, under the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. certain rights are recognized as non-derogable, and emphasizing that derogation from other rights and freedoms can only take place under strict observance of the agreed conditions and procedures identified under article 4 of the Covenant, Welcoming the cooperation between the Special Representative and other special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, Welcoming also regional initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights and the cooperation between international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, and encouraging further development in this regard, Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights rests with the State, and noting with deep concern that the activities of some non-State actors pose a major threat to the security of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the need for strong and effective measures for the protection of human rights defenders, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give full effect to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; 2. Welcomes the reports of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defendersE/CN.4/2001/94, A/56/341, E/CN.4/2002/106 and Add.1 and 2 and A/57/182. and her contribution to the effective promotion of the Declaration and improvement of the protection of human rights defenders worldwide; 3. Condemns all human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, and urges States to take all appropriate action, consistent with the Declaration and all other relevant human rights instruments, to eliminate such human rights violations; 4. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders; 5. Emphasizes the importance of combating impunity, and in this regard urges States to take appropriate measures to address the question of impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders; 6. Urges all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative in the performance of her tasks and to furnish all information in the fulfilment of her mandate upon request; 7. Encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Representative to visit their countries so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively; 8. Urges those Governments that have not yet responded to the communications transmitted to them by the Special Representative to answer without further delay; 9. Invites Governments to consider translating the Declaration into national languages, and encourages them to disseminate it widely; 10. Requests all concerned United Nations agencies and organizations within their mandates to provide all possible assistance and support to the Special Representative in the implementation of her programme of activities; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Representative; 12. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/20 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/562 and Corr.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/20. Enlargement of the membership of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Recalling also its resolution 3108 (XXVIII) of 12 December 1973, by which it increased the membership of the Commission from twenty-nine to thirty-six States, Being satisfied with the practice of the Commission of inviting States not members of the Commission and relevant intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations to participate as observers in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups and to take part in the formulation of texts by the Commission, as well as with the practice of reaching decisions by consensus without a formal vote, Observing that the considerable number of States that have participated as observers and made valuable contributions to the work of the Commission indicates that there exists an interest in active participation in the Commission beyond the current thirty-six member States, Convinced that wider participation of States in the work of the Commission would further the progress of its work and that an increase in the membership of the Commission would stimulate interest in its work, Having considered comments by States, as well as the report of the Secretary-General on the implications of increasing the membership of the Commission,A/56/315. submitted pursuant to paragraph 13 of General Assembly resolution 55/151 of 12 December 2000, 1. Takes note of the fact that the impact of an increase in the membership of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the secretariat services required to properly facilitate the work of the Commission would not be material enough to quantify and that the increase would therefore have no financial implications; 2. Decides to increase the membership of the Commission from thirty-six to sixty States, bearing in mind that the Commission is a technical body whose composition reflects, inter alia, the specific requirements of the subject matter; the regional representation resulting from this increase in membership, which takes those requirements into account, shall not be a precedent for the enlargement of other bodies in the United Nations system; 3. Decides also that the twenty-four additional members of the Commission shall be elected by the General Assembly for a term of six years, except as provided in subparagraph (b) below, in accordance with the following rules: (a) In electing the additional members, the General Assembly shall observe the following distribution of seats: (i) Five from African States; (ii) Seven from Asian States; (iii) Three from Eastern European States; (iv) Four from Latin American and Caribbean States; (v) Five from Western European and other States; (b) Of the twenty-four additional members elected at the first election, to be held during the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, the term of thirteen members shall expire on the last day prior to the beginning of the fortieth session of the Commission, in 2007; the President of the General Assembly shall, by drawing lots, select these members as follows: (i) Two from those elected from African States, two from those elected from Eastern European States and two from those elected from Western European and other States; (ii) Four from those elected from Asian States; (iii) Three from those elected from Latin American and Caribbean States; (c) The twenty-four additional members elected at the first election shall take office from the first day of the thirty-seventh session of the Commission, in 2004; (d) The provisions of section II, paragraphs 4 and 5, of General Assembly resolution 2205 (XXI) shall also apply to the additional members; 4. Appeals to Governments, the relevant United Nations organs, organizations, institutions and individuals, in order to ensure full participation by the Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to consider making voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General. RESOLUTION 57/210 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 57/210. Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 32/127 of 16 December 1977 and its subsequent resolutions concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/51 of 9 March 1993See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1993/23 and Corr.2, 4 and 5), chap. II, sect. A. and its subsequent resolutions in this regard, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Commission concerning advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights, including its most recent on that subject, resolution 2002/87 of 26 April 2002,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Bearing in mind also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reiterates, inter alia, the need to consider the possibility of establishing regional and subregional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights where they do not already exist, Recalling that the World Conference recommended that more resources should be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Reaffirming that regional arrangements play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights and should reinforce universal human rights standards, as contained in international human rights instruments, and their protection, Noting the progress achieved thus far in the promotion and protection of human rights at the regional level under the auspices of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the regional intergovernmental organizations, Considering that cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements in the field of human rights continues to be both substantive and supportive and that possibilities exist for increased cooperation, Welcoming the fact that the Office of the High Commissioner has been systematically pursuing a regional and subregional approach through a variety of complementary means and methods in order to maximize the impact of the activities of the United Nations at the national level, 1. Takes notes with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/283. 2. Welcomes the continuing cooperation and assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the further strengthening of the existing regional arrangements and regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular through technical cooperation which is aimed at national capacity-building, public information and education, with a view to exchanging information and experience in the field of human rights; 3. Also welcomes, in that respect, the close cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner in the organization of regional and subregional training courses and workshops in the field of human rights, high-level governmental expert meetings and regional conferences of national human rights institutions, aimed at creating greater understanding in the regions of issues concerning the promotion and protection of human rights, improving procedures and examining the various systems for the promotion and protection of universally accepted human rights standards and identifying obstacles to ratification of the principal international human rights treaties and strategies to overcome them; 4. Recognizes, therefore, that progress in promoting and protecting all human rights depends primarily on efforts made at the national and local levels, and that the regional approach should imply intensive cooperation and coordination with all partners involved, while bearing in mind the importance of international cooperation; 5. Stresses the importance of the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights, renews its appeal to all Governments to consider making use of the possibilities offered by the United Nations under this programme of organizing information or training courses at the national level for government personnel on the application of international human rights standards and the experience of relevant international bodies, and notes with satisfaction, in that respect, the establishment of technical cooperation projects with Governments of all regions; 6. Welcomes the growing exchanges between the United Nations and the bodies created by the United Nations in accordance with the treaties dealing with human rights, on the one hand, and regional intergovernmental organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and other regional institutions on the other; 7. Also welcomes the appointment by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of four human rights personalities to serve as regional advisers, who will play a significant role in the promotion of human rights and human rights advocacy through the design of strategies and the development of partnerships for human rights, facilitate coordination of human rights technical cooperation in the region and assist regional cooperation at large, for example, among national institutions, parliamentary human rights bodies, bar associations and non-governmental organizations; 8. Further welcomes the placement by the Office of the High Commissioner of regional representatives in subregions and in regional commissions to allow for closer working relations with States, international and regional organizations as well as with non-governmental organizations; 9. Recalls in this regard the positive experience of the regional and subregional presence in southern, central, eastern and western Africa; 10. Notes with interest the results of the African regional dialogues held at Geneva and Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 5 to 7 November 2001 and 24 to 26 May 2002, respectively, in providing guidance to Governments, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations as well as better links with the African Union and other subregional organizations, and in this respect notes with appreciation the Constitutive Act of the African Union, in particular article 4, in which it is stated that the Union shall function in accordance with several principles, inter alia, the promotion of gender equality and the respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance; 11. Also notes with interest the increased, valuable sharing of concrete national experiences, at the ninth and tenth Workshops on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asian and Pacific Region held in Bangkok and Beirut from 28 February to 2 March 2001 and from 4 to 6 March, respectively, regarding the implementation of the Framework of Regional Technical Cooperation for the Asia-Pacific Region, which contributes to the enhancement of the promotion and protection of human rights in the region; 12. Takes note with interest of the Quito Framework for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, which serves as a basis for the regional strategy of the Office of the High Commissioner, aimed at strengthening national capacities for the promotion of human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in this regard welcomes the meeting on the enforcement of the system of treaty bodies held in Quito in August 2002; 13. Welcomes the continued cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and regional organizations in Europe and Central Asia, in particular the development, as a priority, of a regional approach to preventing trafficking in persons; 14. Notes with appreciation the holding of the International Conference on Human Rights and Democratization in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from 8 to 10 October 2001, co-organized by the Office of the High Commissioner, the Government of Croatia and the European Commission, which provided the opportunity to review developments in the field of human rights in the region; 15. Invites States in areas in which regional arrangements in the field of human rights do not yet exist to consider concluding agreements, with a view to establishing, within their respective regions, suitable regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, as foreseen in programme 19, Human rights, of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1). to continue to strengthen exchanges between the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organizations dealing with human rights and to make available adequate resources from within the regular budget of technical cooperation to the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner to promote regional arrangements; 17. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to pay special attention to the most appropriate ways of assisting countries of the various regions, at their request, under the programme of technical cooperation and to make, where necessary, relevant recommendations; 18. Invites the Secretary-General, in the report he will submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session, to provide information on progress made since the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. on reinforcing the exchange of information and extending collaboration between the organs of the United Nations dealing with human rights and regional organizations in the field of the promotion and protection of human rights; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, to formulate concrete proposals and recommendations on ways and means to strengthen cooperation between United Nations and regional arrangements in the field of human rights and to include therein the results of action taken in pursuance of the present resolution; 20. Decides to consider this question further at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 57/211 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/211. Human rights and extreme poverty The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations, Considering the relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, adopted by the World Summit on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", adopted at Geneva on 1 July 2000,Resolution S-24/2, annex. and the recognition of the contributions of the outcomes of recent United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits, such as the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Welcoming the decision of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to establish a world solidarity fund to eradicate poverty and promote social and human development, as defined in paragraph 7 (b) of its Plan of Implementation,Ibid., chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 7 (b). Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the development goals contained therein, including the commitment to halve by 2015 the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Recalling also its resolutions 47/196 of 22 December 1992, by which it declared 17 October the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 48/183 of 21 December 1993, by which it proclaimed 1996 the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, 50/107 of 20 December 1995, by which it proclaimed the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), and 56/207 of 21 December 2001 on the implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the proposal to establish a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication, Recalling further its resolution 55/106 of 4 December 2000 and its previous resolutions on human rights and extreme poverty, Recalling its resolution 52/134 of 12 December 1997, in which it recognized that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights was essential for the understanding, promotion and protection of all human rights, Recalling also resolution 56/207, in which it expressed its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continued to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected group, in particular in African countries and the least developed countries, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2000/12 of 17 April 2000,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr. 1), chap. II, sect. A. 2001/31 of 23 April 2001Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2002/30 of 22 April 2002,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. as well as resolution 1996/23 of 29 August 1996See E/CN.4/1997/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1996/41, chap. II, sect. A. of the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities,Subsequently renamed the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (see Economic and Social Council decision 1999/256). and resolutions 2001/8 of 15 August 2001See E/CN.4/2002/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/40, chap. II, sect. A. and 2002/13 of 14 August 2002See E/CN.4/2003/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/46, chap. II, sect. A. of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Recalling its resolution 47/134 of 18 December 1992, in which it reaffirmed that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constituted a violation of human dignity and stressed the need for a complete and in-depth study of extreme poverty, based on the active and informed participation of the people living in poverty, Recognizing that the eradication of extreme poverty is a major challenge within the process of globalization and requires coordinated and continued policies through decisive national action and international cooperation, Reaffirming that, since the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and might, in some situations, constitute a threat to the right to life, its immediate alleviation and eventual eradication must remain a high priority for the international community, Considering that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, Noting with interest the reports submitted to the General Assembly by the Secretary-GeneralA/57/369. and to the Commission on Human Rights by the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme povertyE/CN.4/2002/55. and the recommendations contained therein, Also noting with interest the appointment of experts by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in the context of the fight against extreme poverty,See resolutions 2001/8 and 2002/13 of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. 1. Reaffirms that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them; 2. Also reaffirms that it is essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the decision-making process in the societies in which they live, in the promotion of human rights and in efforts to combat extreme poverty, and that it is essential for people living in poverty and vulnerable groups to be empowered to organize themselves and to participate in all aspects of political, economic and social life, in particular the planning and implementation of policies that affect them, thus enabling them to become genuine partners in development; 3. Emphasizes that extreme poverty is a major issue to be addressed by Governments, civil society and the United Nations system, including international financial institutions, and in this context reaffirms that political commitment is a prerequisite for the eradication of poverty; 4. Recognizes that surmounting extreme poverty constitutes an essential means to the full enjoyment of political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights, and reaffirms the interrelationship among these goals; 5. Reaffirms that the existence of widespread absolute poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and renders democracy and popular participation fragile; 6. Recognizes the need to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in order to address the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, including through the design and development of appropriate mechanisms to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions and governance; 7. Reaffirms the commitments to the achievement of the development and poverty eradication goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and in the outcome documents of relevant major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 8. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, within the framework of the implementation of the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, to continue to give appropriate attention to the question of human rights and extreme poverty; 9. Notes with appreciation the specific actions taken by the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to mitigate the effects of extreme poverty on children, and the efforts of the United Nations Development Programme to give priority to the search for some means of alleviating poverty within the framework of the relevant resolutions, and urges them to continue this work; 10. Calls upon States, United Nations bodies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to continue to give appropriate attention to the links between human rights and extreme poverty; 11. Decides to consider this question further at its fifty-ninth session, under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 57/212 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Zambia. 57/212. United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004 The General Assembly, Guided by the fundamental and universal principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Reaffirming article 26 of the Declaration, in which it is stated that "education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms", and recalling the provisions of other relevant international human rights instruments that reflect the aims of the article, Recalling the high importance attached to human rights education by the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, Recalling also the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights concerning the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, Believing that human rights education constitutes an important vehicle for the elimination of gender-based discrimination and for ensuring equal opportunities through the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, Convinced that every woman, man and child, in order to realize their full human potential, must be made aware of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Convinced also that human rights education should involve more than the provision of information and should constitute a comprehensive, lifelong process by which people at all levels of development and in all societies learn respect for the dignity of others and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all societies, Recognizing that human rights education is essential to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and that carefully designed training, dissemination and information programmes can have a catalytic effect on national, regional and international initiatives to promote and protect human rights and prevent human rights violations, Convinced that human rights education contributes to a holistic concept of development consistent with the dignity of women and men of all ages, which takes into account particularly vulnerable segments of society, such as children, young persons, older persons, indigenous people, minorities, the rural and urban poor, migrant workers, refugees, persons with the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and disabled persons, Affirming that human rights education is a key to changing attitudes and behaviour based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promoting tolerance and respect for diversity in societies and that such education is a determining factor in the promotion, dissemination and protection of the democratic values of justice and equity, which are essential to prevent and combat the spread of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as was recognized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr 1, chap. I. Welcoming the holding of the International Consultative Conference on School Education in Relation to Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-discrimination in Madrid from 23 to 25 November 2001, Welcoming also the efforts to promote human rights education made by educators and non-governmental organizations in all parts of the world, as well as by intergovernmental organizations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Programme, Recognizing the outcomes of the regional conferences on human rights education organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, held in Turku, Finland, in 1997, in Dakar, Senegal, in 1998, in Pune, India, in 1999, in Rabat, Morocco, in 1999, and in Mexico City, Mexico, in 2001, Recognizing also the invaluable and creative role that non-governmental and community-based organizations play in the promotion and protection of human rights by disseminating public information and engaging in human rights education, especially at the grass-roots level and in remote and rural communities, Aware of the potential role of the private sector in implementing at all levels of society the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights through financial support for governmental and non-governmental activities as well as their own creative initiatives, Convinced that the effectiveness of existing human rights education and public information activities would be enhanced by better coordination and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, Recalling that it is within the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate relevant United Nations education and public information programmes in the field of human rights, Noting with appreciation the efforts undertaken thus far by the Office of the High Commissioner to increase information-sharing in the area of human rights education through the development of a database and resource collection on human rights education and to disseminate human rights information through its web site,www.unhchr.ch. its publications and its external relations programmes, Welcoming the initiative of the Office of the High Commissioner to develop further the project entitled "Assisting Communities Together", launched in 1998, supported by voluntary funds and designed to provide small grants to grass-roots and local organizations carrying out practical human rights activities, Welcoming also other United Nations public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the implementation of and follow-up to the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization entitled "Towards a culture of peace", and the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). which, inter alia, reconfirmed the mandated role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in coordinating "Education for All" partners and maintaining their collective momentum within the process of securing quality basic education, Recognizing the value of information and communications technologies in human rights education to promote dialogue and understanding of human rights, and in that context welcoming, inter alia, the CyberSchoolBusSee www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/humanrights. and the United Nations Children's Fund "Voices of Youth"See www.unicef.org/voy. initiatives, Recalling the mid-term global evaluation of progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner, in cooperation with all other principal actors in the Decade, which was presented in the relevant report of the High Commissioner to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session,See A/55/360. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/57/323. and public information activities in the field of human rights; 2. Urges all Governments to promote the development of comprehensive, participatory and sustainable national strategies for human rights education and to establish and strengthen, as a priority in education policies, knowledge of human rights, in both the theoretical dimension and practical application; 3. Welcomes the steps taken by Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to implement the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and to develop public information activities in the field of human rights, as indicated in the report of the High Commissioner; 4. Urges all Governments to contribute further to the implementation of the Plan of Action, in particular by: (a) Encouraging the establishment, in accordance with national conditions, of broadly representative national committees for human rights education responsible for the development of comprehensive, effective and sustainable national plans of action for human rights education and information, taking into consideration the recommendations of the mid-term global evaluation of the Decade and the guidelines for national plans of action for human rights education developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;A/52/469/Add.1 and Corr.1. (b) Encouraging, supporting and involving national and local non-governmental and community-based organizations in the implementation of their national plans of action; (c) Initiating and developing cultural and educational programmes aimed at countering racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and supporting and implementing public information campaigns and specific training programmes in the field of human rights, as emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr 1, chap. I. 5. Encourages Governments to consider, within their national plans of action for human rights education: (a) The establishment of public access human rights resource and training centres to carry out research, including on child and gender-sensitive training of trainers; (b) The preparation, collection, translation and dissemination of human rights education and training materials; (c) The organization of courses, conferences, workshops and public information campaigns and assistance in the implementation of internationally sponsored technical cooperation projects for human rights education and public information; 6. Encourages States, where such national public access human rights resource and training centres exist, to strengthen their capacity to support human rights education and public information programmes at the international, regional, national and local levels; 7. Calls upon Governments, in accordance with national conditions, to accord priority to the dissemination, in the relevant national local and indigenous languages, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, human rights materials and training manuals, including information on human rights mechanisms and complaint procedures and reports of States parties submitted under international human rights treaties, and to provide information and education in those languages on the practical ways in which national and international institutions and procedures may be utilized to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments; 8. Encourages Governments to support further, through voluntary contributions, the education and public information efforts undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner within the framework of the Plan of Action; 9. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to coordinate and harmonize human rights education and information strategies within the United Nations system, including the implementation of the Plan of Action, in cooperation, inter alia, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the collection, use, processing, management and distribution of human rights information and educational materials, including through electronic means; 10. Encourages Governments to contribute to the further development of the web site of the Office of the High Commissioner,www.unhchr.ch. in particular with respect to the dissemination of human rights education materials and tools, and to continue and expand the publications and external relations programmes of the Office; 11. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to support national capacities for human rights education and information through its technical cooperation programme in the field of human rights, including the organization of training courses and peer education initiatives and the development of targeted training materials for professional audiences, as well as the dissemination of human rights information materials as a component of technical cooperation projects, to develop further its database and resource collection on human rights education and to continue to monitor developments in human rights education; 12. Urges the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to continue to utilize United Nations information centres for the timely dissemination, within their designated areas of activity, of basic information, reference and audio-visual materials on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the reports of States parties submitted under international human rights instruments and, to that end, to ensure that the information centres are supplied with adequate quantities of those materials; 13. Stresses the need for close collaboration between the Office of the High Commissioner and the Department of Public Information in the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights as well as the need to harmonize their activities with those of other international organizations, including with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on its project entitled "Towards a culture of peace" and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and relevant non-governmental organizations with regard to the dissemination of information on international humanitarian law; 14. Invites the specialized agencies and relevant United Nations programmes and funds to continue to contribute, within their respective spheres of competence, to the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign and to cooperate and coordinate with each other and with the Office of the High Commissioner in that regard; 15. Encourages the relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system, all human rights bodies of the United Nations system, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide training in human rights for all United Nations personnel and officials; 16. Encourages the human rights treaty bodies, when examining reports of States parties, to place emphasis on the obligations of States parties in the area of human rights education and to reflect that emphasis in their concluding observations; 17. Encourages all relevant mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, that is, working groups and special rapporteurs, representatives or experts, to include systematically in their reports a specific section on human rights education, as relevant to their mandate, as well as to include human rights education as an item on the agenda of their annual meetings, with a view to strengthening their contribution to human rights education; 18. Calls upon international, regional and national non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations, in particular those concerned with children and youth, women, labour, development, food, housing, education, health care and the environment, as well as all other social justice groups, human rights advocates, educators, religious organizations, the private sector and the media, to undertake specific activities of formal, non-formal and informal education, including cultural events, alone and in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in implementing the Plan of Action; 19. Welcomes, in that context, initiatives to include civil society, non-governmental organizations, children and youth in national delegations to world conferences, summits and other meetings, as well as the work of non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental agencies in organizing parallel meetings of non-governmental organizations as well as youth satellite meetings, as an important component of human rights education; 20. Encourages Governments, regional organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to explore the potential support and contribution to human rights education of all relevant partners, including the private sector, development, trade and financial institutions and the media, and to seek their cooperation in the development of human rights education strategies; 21. Encourages regional organizations to develop strategies for the wider distribution of materials on human rights education through regional networks and to develop region-specific programmes to maximize the participation of national entities, whether governmental or non-governmental, in programmes on human rights education; 22. Encourages intergovernmental organizations to assist, upon request, collaboration between governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations at the national level; 23. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue the implementation of and to expand the project entitled "Assisting Communities Together" and to consider other appropriate ways and means to support human rights education activities, including those undertaken by non-governmental organizations; 24. Requests the High Commissioner to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community and of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights education and public information and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the Decade under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/213 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 116 to 55, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Fiji, Guatemala, Mexico, Nauru, Panama, Peru 57/213. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/151 of 19 December 2001, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/72 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights and international law, Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights should continue to be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law as set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter and, inter alia, with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, Recalling the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Reaffirming also the determination expressed in the Preamble to the Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practice tolerance and good-neighbourliness, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Considering also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Emphasizing that democracy is not only a political concept but that it also has economic and social dimensions, Recognizing that democracy, respect for all human rights, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society, and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development, Noting with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion, Underlining the fact that it is imperative for the international community to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, and that only through broad and sustained efforts, based on common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable, Stressing that efforts to make globalization fully inclusive and equitable must include policies and measures, at the global level, that correspond to the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and are formulated and implemented with their effective participation, Having listened to the peoples of the world, and recognizing their aspirations to justice, to equality of opportunity for all, to the enjoyment of their human rights, including the right to development, to live in peace and freedom and to equal participation without discrimination in economic, social, cultural, civil and political life, Resolved to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and equitable international order, 1. Affirms that everyone is entitled to a democratic and equitable international order; 2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the full realization of all human rights for all; 3. Calls upon all Member States to fulfil their commitment expressed in Durban, South Africa, during the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance to maximize the benefits of globalization through, inter alia, the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation to increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable development, global communications through the use of new technologies, and increased intercultural exchange through the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and reiterates that only through broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future based upon our common humanity and all its diversity can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable; 4. Affirms that a democratic and equitable international order requires, inter alia, the realization of the following: (a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; (b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources; (c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development; (d) The right of all peoples to peace; (e) The right to an international economic order based on equal participation in the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, solidarity and cooperation among all States; (f) Solidarity, as a fundamental value, by virtue of which global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes costs and burdens fairly, in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice, and ensures that those who suffer or benefit the least receive help from those who benefit the most; (g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular through the implementation of the principles of full and equal participation in their respective decision-making mechanisms; (h) The right to equitable participation of all, without any discrimination, in domestic and global decision-making; (i) The principle of equitable regional and gender-balanced representation in the composition of the staff of the United Nations system; (j) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international information and communications order, based on international cooperation for the establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international flow of information, in particular correcting the inequalities in the flow of information to and from developing countries; (k) Respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all, since this enhances cultural pluralism, contributes to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural backgrounds, advances the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights across the world and fosters stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; (l) The right of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment; (m) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in particular in economic, commercial and financial international relations; (n) The enjoyment by everyone of ownership of the common heritage of mankind; (o) The shared responsibility of the nations of the world for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security that should be exercised multilaterally; 5. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of the international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; 6. Also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 8. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries; 9. Recalls the proclamation by the General Assembly of its determination to work urgently for the establishment of an international economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all States, irrespective of their economic and social systems, which shall correct inequalities and redress existing injustices, make it possible to eliminate the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and ensure steadily accelerating economic and social development and peace and justice for present and future generations;See resolution 3201 (S-VI). 10. Reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and means to remove the current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world; 11. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international cooperation, towards the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 12. Requests the Commission on Human Rights, the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to pay due attention, within their respective mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions towards its implementation; 13. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to build upon the issue of the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, to take into account the present resolution in the preparations and development of the expert seminar to examine the interdependence between democracy and human rights that it will convene in January 2003, and to invite all Governments, specialized agencies, United Nations funds and programmes and interested non-governmental organizations to attend that seminar; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components, intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 15. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its fifty-ninth session under the agenda item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/214 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. by a recorded vote of 130 to none, with 49 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen 57/214. Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person, and the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Having regard to the legal framework of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, including the provisions contained in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/72 of 5 March 1992See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A. and General Assembly resolution 47/136 of 18 December 1992, Mindful of its resolutions on the subject of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, of which the most recent is resolution 55/111 of 4 December 2000, and resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, and taking note of the most recent, resolution 2002/36 of 22 April 2002,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984 and the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, annexed thereto, and Council resolution 1989/64 of 24 May 1989 on their implementation, as well as the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/65 of 24 May 1989, in which the Council recommended the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, Dismayed that in a number of countries impunity, the negation of justice, continues to prevail and often remains the main cause of the continuing occurrence of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in those countries, Acknowledging the entry into force on 1 July 2002 of the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. thereby contributing to ensuring prosecution and the prevention of impunity concerning extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Convinced of the need for effective action to combat and to eliminate the abhorrent practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which represent a flagrant violation of the right to life, 1. Strongly condemns once again all the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that continue to take place throughout the world; 2. Demands that all Governments ensure that the practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions is brought to an end and that they take effective action to combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms; 3. Acknowledges the historic significance of the establishment of the International Criminal Court on 1 July 2002, and the fact that a significant number of States have already signed, ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and calls upon all other States to consider becoming parties to the Statute; 4. Notes with deep concern that impunity continues to be a major cause of the perpetuation of violations of human rights, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 5. Reiterates the obligation of all Governments to conduct exhaustive and impartial investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to identify and bring to justice those responsible, while ensuring the right of every person to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to grant adequate compensation within a reasonable time to the victims or their families and to adopt all necessary measures, including legal and judicial measures, in order to bring an end to impunity and to prevent the further occurrence of such executions; 6. Reaffirms the obligation of Governments to ensure the protection of the right to life of all persons under their jurisdiction, and calls upon Governments concerned to investigate promptly and thoroughly all cases of killings committed in the name of passion or in the name of honour, all killings committed for any discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation, racially motivated violence leading to the death of the victim, killings of persons for reasons related to their peaceful activities as human rights defenders or as journalists, as well as other cases where a person's right to life has been violated, and to bring those responsible to justice before a competent, independent and impartial judiciary and ensure that such killings, including killings committed by security forces, paramilitary groups or private forces, are neither condoned nor sanctioned by government officials or personnel; 7. Urges Governments to undertake all necessary and possible measures to prevent loss of life, in particular that of children, during public demonstrations, internal and communal violence, civil unrest and public emergencies or armed conflicts, and to ensure that the police and security forces receive thorough training in human rights matters, in particular with regard to restrictions on the use of force and firearms in the discharge of their functions, and that they act with restraint and respect international human rights standards when carrying out their duties; 8. Stresses the importance of States taking effective measures to end impunity with regard to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, inter alia, through the adoption of preventive measures, and calls upon Governments to ensure that such measures are included in post-conflict peace-building measures; 9. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to organize training programmes and to support projects with a view to training or educating military forces, law enforcement officers and government officials in human rights and humanitarian law issues connected with their work, and appeals to the international community and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support endeavours to that end; 10. Reaffirms Economic and Social Council decision 2001/266 of 24 July 2001, in which the Council endorsed the decision of the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 2001/45 of 23 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions for three years; 11. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur to the General AssemblyA/57/138. and the recommendations contained therein; 12. Recalls that the Commission, in its resolution 2001/45, requested the Special Rapporteur, in carrying out her mandate: (a) To continue to examine situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and to submit her findings on an annual basis, together with conclusions and recommendations, to the Commission, as well as such reports as the Special Rapporteur deems necessary in order to keep the Commission informed about serious situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that warrant its immediate attention; (b) To respond effectively to information that comes before her, in particular when an extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary execution is imminent or seriously threatened or when such an execution has occurred; (c) To enhance further her dialogue with Governments, as well as to follow up on recommendations made in reports after visits to particular countries; (d) To continue to pay special attention to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of children and to allegations concerning violations of the right to life in the context of violence against participants in demonstrations and other peaceful public manifestations or against persons belonging to minorities; (e) To continue to pay special attention to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions where the victims are individuals carrying out peaceful activities in defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms; (f) To continue monitoring the implementation of existing international standards on safeguards and restrictions relating to the imposition of capital punishment, bearing in mind the comments made by the Human Rights Committee in its interpretation of article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as the Second Optional Protocol thereto;Resolution 44/128, annex. (g) To apply a gender perspective in her work; 13. Recognizes the importance of raising awareness for the elimination of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, for which impunity should be neither condoned nor tolerated, and of stressing that extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions are a flagrant violation of human rights, in particular the right to life, of which no one should be arbitrarily deprived, and in this regard encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue, within her mandate, to collect information from all concerned, to respond effectively to reliable information that comes before her, to follow up on communications and country visits and to seek the views and comments of Governments and to reflect them, as appropriate, in her reports; 14. Urges the Special Rapporteur to continue, within her mandate, to bring to the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions which are of particularly serious concern or where early action might prevent further deterioration; 15. Welcomes the cooperation established between the Special Rapporteur and other United Nations mechanisms and procedures relating to human rights, as well as with medical and forensic experts, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue efforts in that regard; 16. Strongly urges all Governments, in particular those who have not yet done so, to respond without undue delay to the communications and requests for information transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur, and urges them and all others concerned to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur so that she may carry out her mandate effectively, including, where appropriate, by issuing invitations to the Special Rapporteur when she so requests; 17. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have invited the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, asks them to examine carefully the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur, invites them to report to the Special Rapporteur on the actions taken on those recommendations, and requests other Governments to cooperate in a similar way; 18. Calls upon the Governments of all States in which the death penalty has not been abolished to comply with their obligations under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, keeping in mind the safeguards and guarantees referred to in Economic and Social Council resolutions 1984/50 and 1989/64; 19. Again requests the Secretary-General to continue to use his best endeavours in cases where the minimum standards of legal safeguards provided for in articles 6, 9, 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights appear not to have been respected; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with adequate human, financial and material resources to enable her to carry out her mandate effectively, including through country visits; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue, in close collaboration with the High Commissioner, in conformity with the mandate of the High Commissioner established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to ensure that personnel specialized in human rights and humanitarian law issues form part of United Nations missions, where appropriate, in order to deal with serious violations of human rights, such as extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 22. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the situation worldwide in regard to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and her recommendations for more effective action to combat that phenomenon. RESOLUTION 57/215 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 57/215. Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the other relevant international human rights instruments, Recalling its resolution 33/173 of 20 December 1978 concerning disappeared persons and its resolutions on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances, in particular resolution 55/103 of 4 December 2000, Recalling also its resolution 47/133 of 18 December 1992 proclaiming the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance as a body of principles for all States, Deeply concerned, in particular, by the intensification of enforced disappearances, including arrest, detention and abduction, where these are part of or amount to enforced disappearances, in various regions of the world and by the growing number of reports concerning the harassment, ill-treatment and intimidation of witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared, Emphasizing that impunity with regard to enforced disappearances contributes to the perpetuation of this phenomenon and constitutes one of the obstacles to the elucidation of its manifestations, Taking note with interest of the initiatives taken at the national and international levels in order to end impunity, Acknowledging the fact that acts of enforced disappearance, as defined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. come within the jurisdiction of the Court as crimes against humanity, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/41 of 23 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Convinced that further efforts are needed to promote wider awareness of and respect for the Declaration, and taking note in this regard of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/140. Taking note of the last report submitted by the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights,E/CN.4/2002/79. 1. Reaffirms that any act of enforced disappearance is an offence to human dignity and a grave and flagrant violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and reaffirmed and developed in other international instruments in this field, as well as a violation of the rules of international law; and that no State shall practise, permit or tolerate enforced disappearances as proclaimed in the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; 2. Urges all Governments to take appropriate legislative or other steps to prevent and suppress the practice of enforced disappearances, in keeping with the Declaration, and to take action to that end at the national and regional levels and in cooperation with the United Nations, including through the provision of technical assistance; 3. Calls upon Governments to take steps to ensure that, when a state of emergency is introduced, the protection of human rights is ensured, in particular as regards the prevention of enforced disappearances; 4. Reminds Governments that impunity with regard to enforced disappearances contributes to the perpetuation of this phenomenon and constitutes one of the obstacles to the elucidation of its manifestations, and in this respect also reminds them of the need to ensure that their competent authorities conduct prompt and impartial inquiries in all circumstances in which there is a reason to believe that an enforced disappearance has occurred in territory under their jurisdiction, and that, if allegations are confirmed, perpetrators should be prosecuted; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that are investigating, have developed or are developing appropriate mechanisms to investigate any cases of enforced disappearances which are brought to their attention, and urges all the Governments concerned to expand their efforts in this area; 6. Once again urges the Governments concerned to take steps to protect the families of disappeared persons against any intimidation or ill-treatment to which they may be subjected; 7. Reaffirms that all persons deprived of liberty must be released in a manner permitting reliable verification that they have actually been released and, further, have been released in conditions in which their physical integrity and ability to exercise their rights are assured; 8. Encourages States, as some have already done, to provide concrete information on measures taken to give effect to the Declaration, as well as obstacles encountered; 9. Requests all States to consider the possibility of disseminating the text of the Declaration in their respective national languages and to facilitate its dissemination in local languages; 10. Notes the action taken by non-governmental organizations to encourage implementation of the Declaration, and invites them to continue to facilitate its dissemination and to contribute to the work of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights; 11. Stresses the importance of the work of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights and encourages it in the execution of its mandate to continue to promote communication between the families of disappeared persons and the Governments concerned, with a view to ensuring that sufficiently documented and clearly identified individual cases are investigated, and to ascertaining whether such information falls under its mandate and contains the required elements; 12. Invites the Working Group to continue to seek the views and comments of all concerned, including Member States, in preparing its reports; 13. Also invites the Working Group to identify obstacles to the realization of the provisions of the Declaration, to recommend ways of overcoming those obstacles and, in this regard, to continue a dialogue with Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 14. Encourages the Working Group to continue to consider the question of impunity, in the light of the relevant provisions of the Declaration and of the final reports submitted by the special rapporteursE/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/8 and E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/20/Rev.1. appointed by the Subcommission; 15. Requests the Working Group to pay the utmost attention to cases of children subjected to enforced disappearance and children of disappeared persons and to cooperate closely with the Governments concerned to search for and identify those children; 16. Appeals to the Governments concerned, in particular those which have not yet replied to the communications transmitted by the Working Group, to cooperate fully with it and, in particular, to reply promptly to its requests for information so that, while respecting its working methods based on discretion, it may perform its strictly humanitarian role; 17. Encourages the Governments concerned to give serious consideration to inviting the Working Group to visit their countries so as to enable the Group to fulfil its mandate even more effectively; 18. Expresses its profound thanks to the many Governments that have cooperated with the Working Group and replied to its requests for information and to the Governments that have invited the Group to visit their countries, requests them to give all necessary attention to the recommendations of the Group, and invites them to inform the Group of any action they take on those recommendations; 19. Calls upon the Commission on Human Rights to continue to study this question as a matter of priority and to take any steps it may deem necessary to the pursuit of the task of the Working Group and to the follow-up to its recommendations when it considers the report to be submitted by the Group to the Commission at its fifty-ninth session; 20. Renews its requests to the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Working Group with all of the facilities it requires to perform its functions, especially for carrying out missions and following them up; 21. Recalls Economic and Social Council decision 2001/221 of 4 June 2001 in which the Council endorsed the decision of the Commission on Human Rights to create an intersessional open-ended working group, with the mandate to prepare a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance; 22. Welcomes, in this regard, the report of the independent expert charged with examining the existing international criminal and human rights framework for the protection of persons from enforced or involuntary disappearances,E/CN.4/2002/71. which, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/46 of 23 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. will be presented to the intersessional working group established pursuant to that resolution, at its first session; 23. Also welcomes the decision of the Commission to convene the intersessional working group before its fifty-ninth session, to prepare, for consideration and adoption by the General Assembly, a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance, on the basis of the Declaration adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/133, in the light of the work of the independent expert and taking into account, inter alia, the draft international convention on the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance,E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/19, annex. transmitted by the Subcommission in its resolution 1998/25 of 26 August 1998;See E/CN.4/1999/4-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1998/45, chap. II, sect. A. 24. Requests the Secretary-General to keep it informed of the steps he takes to secure the widespread dissemination and promotion of the Declaration; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-ninth session a report on the steps taken to implement the present resolution; 26. Decides to consider the question of enforced disappearances, in particular the implementation of the Declaration, at its fifty-ninth session, under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 57/216 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo and Tunisia. by a recorded vote of 116 to 53, with 14 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guatemala, India, Madagascar, Nauru, Samoa, Singapore, Tonga, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 57/216. Promotion of the right of peoples to peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 39/11 of 12 November 1984, entitled "Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace", Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/71 of 25 April 2002, entitled "Promotion of the right of peoples to peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Bearing in mind the fundamental principles of international law set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice are not endangered, Reaffirming also the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming further the importance of ensuring respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter and international law, Reaffirming that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Reaffirming also that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental rights, is contrary to the Charter and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation, Recalling that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Reaffirming that there is a close relationship between disarmament and development and that progress in the field of disarmament would considerably promote progress in the field of development and that resources released through disarmament measures should be devoted to the economic and social development and well-being of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Convinced of the aim of the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, Convinced also that life without war is the primary international prerequisite for the material well-being, development and progress of countries and for the full implementation of the rights and fundamental human freedoms proclaimed by the United Nations, 1. Reaffirms the solemn proclamation that the peoples of our planet have a sacred right to peace; 2. Solemnly declares that the preservation of the right of peoples to peace and the promotion of its implementation constitute a fundamental obligation of each State; 3. Emphasizes that ensuring the exercise of the right of peoples to peace demands that the policies of States be directed towards the elimination of the threat of war, particularly nuclear war, the renunciation of the use or threat of use of force in international relations and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Affirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries; 5. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries, and to promote the realization of all human rights for all; 6. Urges all States to refrain from using weapons with indiscriminate effects on human health, the environment and economic and social well-being; 7. Expresses concern about the real danger of the weaponization of outer space, and calls upon all States to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space; 8. Urges all States to refrain from taking measures which encourage the resurgence of a new arms race, bearing in mind all the resulting predictable consequences for global peace and security, for development and for the full realization of all human rights for all; 9. Decides to continue consideration of the question of the promotion of the right of peoples to peace at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/217 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 114 to 54, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Latvia, Madagascar, Nauru, Peru, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, Uruguay 57/217. Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of a humanitarian character The General Assembly, Recalling that, in accordance with Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55, including universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be considered a priority objective of the United Nations in accordance with its purposes and principles, in particular the purpose of international cooperation, and that, within the framework of these purposes and principles, the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate concern of the international community, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples to an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recognizing that the international community should devise ways and means to remove current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world, and should continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations and that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, the promotion and protection of such rights and freedoms being the first responsibility of Governments, Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Reaffirming further the various Articles of the Charter setting out the respective powers and functions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as the paramount framework for the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations under other important instruments of international law, in particular those of international human rights and humanitarian law, Taking into account that, in accordance with Article 103 of the Charter, in the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the Charter shall prevail, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the question, including its resolution 56/152 of 19 December 2001, 1. Reiterates the solemn commitment of all States to enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights and in the solution to international problems of a humanitarian character in full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, inter alia, by the strict observance of all the purposes and principles set forth in Articles 1 and 2 thereof; 2. Stresses the vital role of the work of United Nations and regional arrangements, acting consistently with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter, in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as in solving international problems of a humanitarian character, and affirms that all States, in these activities, must fully comply with the principles set forth in Article 2 of the Charter, in particular respecting the sovereign equality of all States and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or acting in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the United Nations shall promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; 4. Calls upon all States to cooperate fully, through constructive dialogue, to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights for all and in promoting peaceful solutions to international problems of a humanitarian character and, in their actions towards that purpose, to comply strictly with the principles and norms of international law, inter alia, by fully respecting international human rights and humanitarian law; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, organs, bodies and other components of the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it as widely as possible; 6. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/218 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Jordan, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay. 57/218. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/170 of 19 December 2001, Reaffirming that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Reaffirming also the provisions concerning migrants adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Welcoming the provisions on the human rights of migrants contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and expressing its satisfaction about the important recommendations made for the development of international and national strategies for the protection of migrants and for the design of migration policies that fully respect the human rights of migrants, Recalling its resolution 40/144 of 13 December 1985, by which it approved the Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live, Recognizing the positive contributions that migrants frequently make, including through their eventual integration into their host society, Bearing in mind the situation of vulnerability in which migrants and their families frequently find themselves, owing, inter alia, to their absence from their States of origin and to the difficulties they encounter because of differences of language, custom and culture, as well as the economic and social difficulties and obstacles to the return to their States of origin of migrants who are non-documented or in an irregular situation, Bearing in mind also the need for a focused and consistent approach towards migrants as a specific vulnerable group, in particular migrant women and children, Deeply concerned about the manifestations of violence, racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman and degrading treatment against migrants, especially women and children, in different parts of the world, Underlining the importance of the creation of conditions that foster greater harmony between migrants and the rest of the society of the States in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia perpetrated in segments of many societies by individuals or groups against migrants, Taking note of Advisory Opinion OC-16/99, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 1 October 1999, on The Right to Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law, in the case of foreign nationals detained by the authorities of a receiving State, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the effective and full protection of the human rights of all migrants, and underlining the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, Welcoming the fact that a number of States have already ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. and reiterating the importance of ensuring the speedy entry into force of those instruments in accordance with resolutions 55/25 of 15 November 2000 and 55/255 of 31 May 2001, 1. Welcomes the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies; 2. Requests all Member States, in conformity with their respective constitutional systems, effectively to promote and protect the human rights of all migrants, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the international instruments to which they are party, which may include the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and other applicable international human rights instruments; 3. Calls upon States to promote and protect fully the human rights of migrants, as contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 4. Strongly condemns all forms of racial discrimination and xenophobia with regard to access to employment, vocational training, housing, schooling, health services and social services, as well as services intended for use by the public, and welcomes the active role played by governmental and non-governmental organizations in combating racism and assisting individual victims of racist acts, including migrant victims; 5. Requests all States, in conformity with national legislation, firmly to prosecute cases of violation of labour law with regard to the conditions of work of migrant workers, including those related to, inter alia, their remuneration and the conditions of health and safety at work; 6. Calls upon all States to review and, where necessary, revise immigration policies with a view to eliminating all discriminatory practices against migrants and to provide specialized training for government policy-making and law enforcement, immigration and other concerned officials, thus underlining the importance of effective action to create conditions that foster greater harmony and tolerance within societies; 7. Reiterates the need for all States parties to protect fully the universally recognized human rights of migrants, especially women and children, regardless of their legal status, and to treat them humanely, in particular with regard to assistance and protection; 8. Reaffirms emphatically the duty of States parties to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638. to ensure full respect for and observance of the Convention, in particular with regard to the right of foreign nationals, regardless of their immigration status, to communicate with a consular official of their own State in the case of detention, and the obligation of the State in whose territory the detention occurs to inform the foreign national of that right; 9. Reaffirms the responsibility of Governments to safeguard and protect the rights of migrants against illegal or violent acts, in particular acts of racial discrimination and crimes perpetrated with racist or xenophobic motivation by individuals or groups, and urges them to reinforce measures in this regard; 10. Urges all States to adopt effective measures to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of migrants, including by individuals or groups; 11. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants,See A/57/292. and requests her to continue taking into account the recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the performance of her mandate, tasks and duties; 12. Encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact domestic criminal legislation to combat the international trafficking of migrants, which should take into account, in particular, trafficking that endangers the lives of migrants or includes different forms of servitude or exploitation, such as any form of debt bondage or sexual or labour exploitation, and to strengthen international cooperation to combat such trafficking; 13. Encourages States to consider participating in international and regional dialogues on migration that include countries of origin and destination, as well as countries of transit, and invites them to consider negotiating bilateral and regional agreements on migrant workers in the framework of applicable human rights law and designing and implementing programmes with States of other regions to protect the rights of migrants; 14. Encourages all Governments to remove obstacles that may prevent the safe, unrestricted and expeditious transfer of earnings, assets and pensions of migrants to their country of origin or to any other countries, in conformity with applicable legislation, and to consider, as appropriate, measures to solve other problems that may impede such transfers; 15. Welcomes immigration programmes, adopted by some countries, that allow migrants to integrate fully into the host countries, facilitate family reunification and promote a harmonious and tolerant environment, and encourages States to consider the possibility of adopting these types of programmes; 16. Calls upon all States to protect the human rights of migrant children, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring that the best interests of the children and the importance of reuniting them with their parents, when possible and appropriate, are the paramount consideration, and encourages the relevant United Nations bodies, within the framework of their respective mandates, to pay special attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, where necessary, to put forward recommendations for strengthening their protection; 17. Welcomes the proclamation of 18 December as International Migrants Day and the invitation to Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe it through, inter alia, the dissemination of information on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants and on their economic, social and cultural contributions to their host and home countries, the sharing of experience and the design of actions to ensure their protection; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms", and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit to the Assembly at its fifty-eighth session an interim report on the fulfilment of her mandate. RESOLUTION 57/219 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Liechtenstein, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, Switzerland and Uruguay. 57/219. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental importance, including in response to terrorism and the fear of terrorism, of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, Recalling that States are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Recalling further its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993 and, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment of all human rights, Reiterating paragraph 17 of section I of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which states that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Noting its resolution 56/160 of 19 December 2001 and noting also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/35 of 22 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. on human rights and terrorism, Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, in all their forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Stressing that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). without distinction of any kind, including on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Recalling that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances and that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlining the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, 1. Affirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 2. Encourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to consider the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies; 3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, making use of existing mechanisms: (a) To examine the question of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, taking into account reliable information from all sources; (b) To make general recommendations concerning the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms while taking actions to counter terrorism; (c) To provide assistance and advice to States, upon their request, on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, as well as to relevant United Nations bodies; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/21 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/563, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Peru, on behalf of the Bureau. 57/21. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-fourth session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-fourth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/57/10 and Corr.1). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the codification and progressive development of international law as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to enhance further their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Wishing to enhance further the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the International Law Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two organs, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Stressing the usefulness of structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-fourth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/57/10 and Corr.1). 2. Takes note of the decision of the International Law Commission to proceed with its work on the topic "International liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law", as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/82 of 12 December 2001, and also takes note of its decision to include in its programme of work the topics "Responsibility of international organizations", "Shared natural resources" and "Fragmentation of international law: difficulties arising from the diversification and expansion of international law";Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/57/10 and Corr.1), paras. 517 and 518. 3. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report; 4. Reiterates its invitation to Governments, within the context of paragraph 3 above, to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding State practice on the topic "Unilateral acts of States"; 5. Also reiterates its invitation to Governments to submit the most relevant national legislation, decisions of domestic courts and State practice relevant to diplomatic protection in order to assist the International Law Commission in its work on the topic "Diplomatic protection"; 6. Recommends that the International Law Commission, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly, continue its work on the topics in its current programme; 7. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity; 8. Takes note of paragraph 524 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cost-saving measures, and encourages the Commission to continue taking such measures at its future sessions; 9. Takes note also of paragraph 532 of the report, and decides that the next session of the International Law Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 5 May to 6 June and from 7 July to 8 August 2003; 10. Stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the holding of informal discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and those members of the Commission attending the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly; 11. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 12. Also requests the International Law Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation; 13. Notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 14. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the critical role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission; 15. Reaffirms also its previous decisions concerning the summary records and other documentation of the International Law Commission;See resolution 32/151, para. 10, resolution 37/111, para. 5, and all subsequent resolutions on the annual reports of the International Law Commission to the Assembly. 16. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 18. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 19. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 20. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly commence on 27 October 2003. RESOLUTION 57/220 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Cuba, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine. 57/220. Hostage-taking The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also its relevant resolutions and Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person, freedom from torture or degrading treatment, freedom of movement and protection from arbitrary detention, Recalling also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted on 25 June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Taking into account the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 34/146 of 17 December 1979, which recognizes that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and that the taking of hostages is an offence of grave concern to the international community, as well as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 3166 (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973, Bearing in mind the relevant Security Council resolutions condemning all cases of hostage-taking, in particular resolution 1440 (2002) of 24 October 2002, Recalling all relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, Concerned that, despite the efforts of the international community, acts of hostage-taking in different forms and manifestations, inter alia, those committed by terrorists and armed groups, continue to take place and have even increased in many regions of the world, Appealing for the humanitarian action of humanitarian organizations, in particular the International Committee of the Red Cross and its delegates, to be respected, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Recognizing that hostage-taking calls for resolute, firm and concerted efforts on the part of the international community in order, in strict conformity with international human rights standards, to bring such abhorrent practices to an end, 1. Reaffirms that hostage-taking, wherever and by whomever committed, is a serious offence aimed at the destruction of human rights and is, under any circumstances, unjustifiable; 2. Condemns all acts of hostage-taking, anywhere in the world; 3. Demands that all hostages be released immediately and without any preconditions; 4. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law and international human rights standards, to prevent, combat and punish acts of hostage-taking, including by strengthening international cooperation in this field; 5. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 57/221 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/221. Strengthening of the rule of law The General Assembly, Recalling that, by adopting the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). fifty-four years ago, Member States pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Firmly convinced that the rule of law is an essential factor in the protection of human rights, as stressed in the Declaration, and should continue to attract the attention of the international community, Convinced that, through their own national legal and judicial systems, States must provide appropriate civil, criminal and administrative remedies for violations of human rights, Recognizing the importance of the role that can be played by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in supporting national efforts to strengthen the institutions of the rule of law, Bearing in mind that, in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, the General Assembly entrusted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with, inter alia, providing advisory services and technical and financial assistance in the field of human rights, enhancing international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights and coordinating human rights activities throughout the United Nations system, Recalling the recommendation of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, that a comprehensive programme should be established within the United Nations with a view to helping States in the task of building and strengthening adequate national structures that have a direct impact on the overall observance of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 69. Recalling also its resolutions 53/142 of 9 December 1998 and 55/99 of 4 December 2000, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/275. 2. Also welcomes the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to make the promotion of the rule of law a priority in its technical cooperation programmes; 3. Notes with appreciation the increasing number of Member States seeking assistance in strengthening and consolidating the rule of law, which indicates the growing awareness of its importance, and the support provided to these States through the technical cooperation programme of the Office of the High Commissioner, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General; 4. Praises the efforts made by the Office of the High Commissioner to accomplish its ever-increasing tasks, in a wide range of areas, with the limited financial and personnel resources at its disposal; 5. Expresses its deep concern about the scarcity of means at the disposal of the Office of the High Commissioner for the fulfilment of its tasks; 6. Notes with concern that the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights does not have sufficient funds to provide any substantial financial assistance to national projects that have a direct impact on the realization of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law in countries that are committed to those ends but are lacking the necessary means and resources; 7. Welcomes the deepening of the ongoing cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant bodies and programmes of the United Nations system, with a view to enhancing the system-wide coordination of assistance in human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and in this context notes the cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the High Commissioner in providing technical assistance, at the request of States, in the promotion of the rule of law; 8. Also welcomes the assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner in the design of human rights components of United Nations peace operations and in providing advice once they are formed, including in the field of the rule of law; 9. Reaffirms that the Office of the High Commissioner remains the focal point for coordinating system-wide attention for human rights, democracy and the rule of law; 10. Encourages the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue the dialogue between his Office and other organs and agencies of the United Nations system, taking into account the need to explore new synergies with a view to obtaining increased financial assistance for human rights and the rule of law and to promoting inter-agency coordination, funding and allocation of responsibilities in order to improve efficiency and complementarity of action concerning, inter alia, assistance to States in strengthening the rule of law; 11. Also encourages the High Commissioner to continue to explore the possibility of further contact with and support from the international financial institutions, acting within their mandates, with a view to obtaining the technical and financial means to strengthen the capacity of his Office to provide assistance to national projects aimed at the realization of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law; 12. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to accord high priority to the technical cooperation activities undertaken by his Office with regard to the rule of law and to continue to act as a catalyst in the system by, inter alia, helping other United Nations agencies and programmes, within their respective mandates, to include in their work, as appropriate, attention to institution-building in the area of the rule of law; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and the above-mentioned recommendation of the World Conference on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 57/222 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China). by a recorded vote of 122 to 55, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Kazakhstan 57/222. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/103 of 12 December 1996, 52/120 of 12 December 1997, 53/141 of 9 December 1998, 54/172 of 17 December 1999 and 55/110 of 4 December 2000, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/11 of 9 April 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report submitted by the Secretary-General,E/CN.4/2000/46 and Add.1. pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 52/120A/53/293 and Add.1. and 55/110,A/56/207 and Add.1. Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and, in this regard, reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, called upon States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. I, para. 31. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action, adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales. No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda, adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures in the field of international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing its grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women and children, including adolescents, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly and recent major United Nations conferences and contrary to general international law and the Charter of the United Nations, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Noting the continuing efforts of the Open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, and reaffirming in particular its criteria according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. 1. Urges all States to refrain from adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Also urges all States to take steps to avoid and to refrain from adopting any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being and their right to food, medical care and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 3. Invites all States to consider adopting administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 4. Rejects unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, because of their negative effects on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 5. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest time possible; 6. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 7. Urges the Commission on Human Rights to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, including the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 8. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging his functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in his annual report to the General Assembly; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, highlighting the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 10. Decides to examine this question on a priority basis at its fifty-eighth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 57/223 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Croatia, and South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China). by a recorded vote of 133 to 4, with 47 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia 57/223. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Recalling also all its previous resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998 on the urgent need to make further progress towards the realization of the right to development as set out in the Declaration on the Right to Development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Stressing the need for undertaking urgent measures to implement the goals and targets set in all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions, including those of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which are paramount in the process of the realization of the right to development, Stressing also that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of all human rights, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Reaffirming the solemn commitment expressed at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights, including the right to development,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Noting the outcomes of the fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,See A/C.2/56/7. and the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Taking note with appreciation of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/69 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission endorsed the agreed conclusions of the Working Group on the Right to Development, adopted by consensus during the Working Group's session, held from 25 February to 8 March 2002,See E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1. 1. Endorses the agreed conclusions of the Working Group on the Right to Development,See E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1. as adopted by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2002/69,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. which constitute a solid foundation for further initiatives towards the promotion and the realization of the right to development; 2. Takes note of the postponement of the session of the Working Group on the Right to Development, owing to the non-availability of the report on the international development issues, and calls upon the independent expert on the right to development to submit this outstanding report in time for the next session of the Working Group, scheduled to be held from 3 to 14 February 2003; 3. Stresses the importance of the core principles, which underpin the purpose of international human rights instruments, such as equality, equity, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, participation and international cooperation, as critical to mainstreaming the right to development at the international level; 4. Underlines the importance of further research and analytical work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the above-mentioned core principles, and invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in consultation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Trade Organization and all relevant international organizations and institutions, to submit a report on the importance and application of the principle of equity as a matter of priority, at both the national and the international level, taking fully into account the conclusions of the Working Group on the Right to Development; 5. Invites, in the above context, the High Commissioner to solicit the support and cooperation of these organizations in the preparation of the requisite report for submission to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session; 6. Reaffirms the commitments to implement the goals and targets set in all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions and those undertaken at the Millennium Assembly, in particular, those relating to the realization of the right to development; 7. Recognizes that the realization of the right to development is critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions, including those of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 8. Reaffirms the need for an international environment which is conducive to the realization of the right to development; 9. Reaffirms also that States have the primary responsibility for the creation of national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development and that they are committed to cooperating with each other to that end; 10. Reaffirms further that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and which also places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 11. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and the international level, recognizes that the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, rests with States, as established in article 3 of the Declaration on the Right to Development, and reaffirms the inextricable link between the two; 12. Underlines the importance of the continuation of the discussion, within the Working Group on the Right to Development, on the question of a suitable permanent follow-up mechanism to monitor the realization of the right to development; 13. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of integrating all countries into a globalized world, and stresses the need for policies and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and equitable; 14. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the international community, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide and that developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process, and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 15. Reaffirms the commitment, and urges developed countries that have not yet done so, to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help meet development goals and targets; 16. Emphasizes the international economic and financial issues that deserve particular attention by the Working Group on the Right to Development, such as international trade, access to technology, good governance and equity at the international level, and the debt burden, in order to consider and evaluate their impact on the enjoyment of human rights and, in this context, looks forward to a preliminary study, as requested by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2001/9 of 18 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. for consideration by the Working Group at its next session; 17. Recognizes that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparities, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries; 18. Recognizes also the need to address market access for developing countries, including in agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those of interest to developing countries; 19. Considers that a desirable pace of meaningful trade liberalization, including in areas under negotiation; implementation of commitments on implementation-related issues and concerns; review of special and differential-treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational; avoidance of new forms of protectionism; and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing countries are important issues in making progress towards the effective implementation of the right to development; 20. Recognizes that poverty eradication is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development, stresses that poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted approach in addressing economic, political, social, environmental and institutional dimensions at all levels, especially in the context of the United Nations Millennium development goal of halving, by the year 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting the target of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015, and emphasizes the principle of international cooperation, including partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries; 21. Recognizes also the important link between the international economic, commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development and, in this regard, stresses the need to broaden the base of decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and to fill organizational gaps, as well as strengthen the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 22. Stresses that the basic responsibility for the realization of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 23. Recognizes that good governance and the rule of law at the national level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance; 24. Recognizes also the important role and the rights of women and the application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship between women's education and their equal participation in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural activities of the community, and the promotion of the right to development; 25. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, boys and girls alike, in all policies and programmes, and for ensuring protection and promotion of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the full development of their capacities; 26. Recognizes that measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts and programmes; 27. Recognizes also the need at the national level for strong partnerships with civil society organizations, including the private sector, in pursuit of poverty eradication and development, as well as for good corporate governance; 28. Expresses deep concern and anxiety about growing corporate corruption, in particular the recent disturbing incidents which have a negative impact on the full enjoyment of human rights and undermine the process of the realization of the right to development; 29. Emphasizes the urgent need for taking concrete measures, including the repatriation of illegally acquired assets and funds to the countries of origin, to fight against all forms of corruption at the national and international levels, and stresses the importance of a genuine political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal framework; 30. Supports and appreciates the recently adopted New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as a development framework and a practical example that could be explored for the promotion of a rights-based approach to development; 31. Emphasizes the need to improve further the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights towards the promotion and realization of the right to development, including ensuring effective use of the financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, and better servicing of and support for the Working Group on the Right to Development; 32. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to assist effectively in implementing the recommendations contained in the agreed conclusions of the Working Group on the Right to Development, including in particular ensuring the meaningful participation and contribution of all relevant international organizations and United Nations specialized agencies, programmes and funds in the next session of the Working Group; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions and non-governmental organizations, and to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 34. Decides to continue at its fifty-eighth session consideration of the issue of the right to development, as a matter of priority. RESOLUTION 57/224 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and China). 57/224. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recalling its adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its resolution 56/149 of 19 December 2001, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/86 of 26 April 2002 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, and recalling its decision to proclaim the year 2001 as the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, as well as its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, entitled "Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations", Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 2000/22 of 18 August 2000, entitled "Promotion of dialogue on human rights issues", by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-second session,See E/CN.4/2001/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/46, chap. II, sect. A. 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Also reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard the holding of several conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on dialogue among civilizations; 3. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 4. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 5. Considers that international cooperation in this field, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the Untied Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 6. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 7. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 8. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 9. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/225 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Canada, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand and Norway. 57/225. Situation of human rights in Cambodia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/169 of 19 December 2001, Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/89 of 26 April 2002See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and previous relevant resolutions, Recognizing that the tragic history of Cambodia requires special measures to ensure the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and the non-return to the policies and practices of the past, as stipulated in the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict, signed in Paris on 23 October 1991,A/46/608-S/23177. Reaffirming that the most serious human rights violations in Cambodia in recent history have been committed by the Khmer Rouge, and acknowledging that the final collapse of the Khmer Rouge and the continued efforts of the Government of Cambodia have provided the basis for the restoration of peace and stability with the aim of achieving national reconciliation in Cambodia and the investigation and prosecution of the leaders of the Khmer Rouge, I Support of and cooperation with the United Nations 1. Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia, in collaboration with the office in Cambodia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist the Government of Cambodia in ensuring the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure adequate resources for the continued functioning of the office and to enable the Special Representative to continue to fulfil his tasks expeditiously; 2. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the role and achievements of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in assisting the Government and people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rightsA/57/277. and the use of the United Nations Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia to finance the programme of activities of the office, and invites the international community to consider contributing to the Trust Fund; 3. Also welcomes the report of the Special Representative,A/57/230. encourages the Government of Cambodia to continue its cooperation at all levels of Government, supports the appeals of the Government and the Special Representative to increase international assistance to Cambodia and to continue working towards the reduction of poverty, and encourages donor countries and other relevant parties to follow up their pledges made at the Consultative Group Meeting on Cambodia, held at Phnom Penh on 20 and 21 June 2002; 4. Further welcomes the signature of the memorandum of understanding in February 2002 by the Government of Cambodia and the Office of the High Commissioner for the extension of the mandate of the office in Cambodia, and encourages the Government to continue to cooperate with the office in their joint efforts to promote human rights; 5. Commends the vital role played by non-governmental organizations in Cambodia, inter alia, in the development of civil society, and encourages the Government of Cambodia to continue to ensure the protection of those human rights organizations and their members and to continue to work closely and cooperatively with them; II Administrative, legislative and judicial reform 1. Acknowledges the ratification by Cambodia of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. 2. Notes with concern the continued problems related to the rule of law and the functioning of the judiciary resulting from, inter alia, corruption and interference by the executive with the independence of the judiciary, welcomes the establishment of the Council of Legal and Judicial Reform, and urges the Government as a matter of priority to increase its budgetary allocation to the judiciary and take the necessary measures to ensure the independence, impartiality and effectiveness of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy and the judicial system as a whole; 3. Urges the Government of Cambodia to expedite the adoption of the laws and codes that are essential components of the basic legal framework, including the draft statute on magistrates, a penal code, a code of criminal procedure, a new civil code and a code of civil procedure and to enhance the training of judges and lawyers, and welcomes the opening of the Royal School for Training Judges and Prosecutors and the Centre for Lawyer Training and Professional Improvement of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia; 4. Also urges the Government of Cambodia to strengthen its efforts to tackle the problems related to land, and notes with concern the remaining problems of land grabbing, forced evictions and further displacement; 5. Encourages further efforts by the Government of Cambodia to implement expeditiously and effectively its reform programme, including the Governance Action Plan and military reforms, inter alia, the demobilization programme; 6. Welcomes the progress made by the Government of Cambodia to eradicate anti-personnel landmines and to reduce the number of small arms in Cambodia, and encourages the continuing efforts of the Government and the international community to tackle these issues; 7. Expresses serious concern that the situation of impunity still exists in Cambodia, recognizes the commitment and efforts of the Government of Cambodia to respond to this problem, calls upon the Government, as a matter of critical priority, to increase its efforts to investigate urgently and to prosecute, in accordance with due process of law and international human rights standards, all those who have perpetrated serious crimes, including violations of human rights; 8. Welcomes the progress achieved by the Government of Cambodia in conducting polling for the commune elections in February 2002, encourages the Government to work towards free and fair general elections in July 2003, bearing in mind the serious concerns over acts of intimidation, violence and killings and reports of vote-buying, to investigate fully such acts and to prosecute those responsible, to ensure that similar problems do not occur in connection with the general election and, in particular, to pay close attention to the safety and security of candidates and political activists and to ensure neutrality on the part of State institutions, including an independent national election committee, proper law enforcement and equitable access to all forms of media, including broadcast media, for all parties; 9. Notes with serious concern the prison conditions in Cambodia, notes with interest some important efforts to improve the prison system, recommends the continuation of international assistance to improve the material conditions of detention, and calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take further measures to improve the conditions of detention, to provide proper food and health care to prisoners and detainees and to meet the special needs of women and children; III Human rights violations and violence 1. Expresses grave concern about the continued violations of human rights, including torture, excessive pre-trial detention, violation of labour rights, forced evictions, as well as political violence, police involvement in violence and the apparent lack of protection from mob killings, notes that some progress has been made by the Government of Cambodia in addressing these issues, and urges the Government to take all necessary measures to prevent such violations, including to consider establishing a board of inquiry on the issue of mob killings; 2. Urges the Government of Cambodia to combat discrimination in all its manifestations against ethnic minorities and to protect their rights, as well as to meet its obligations as a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. inter alia, by seeking technical assistance; IV Protection of women and children 1. Welcomes the progress made in improving the status of women, including the progress made towards the adoption of the law on prevention of domestic violence and protection of victims of domestic violence, and urges the Government of Cambodia to take further appropriate measures to combat violence against women in all its forms and to take all steps to meet its obligations as a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. including by seeking technical assistance; 2. Commends the Government of Cambodia for its efforts to combat the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), while remaining concerned about its increasing incidence; 3. Welcomes the series of efforts made by the Government of Cambodia to combat human trafficking, requests the Government and the international community to make concerted efforts comprehensively to address these problems and their underlying causes, while noting with serious concern the growing phenomenon of trafficking in, and sexual exploitation of, women and children; 4. Also welcomes the ratification by the Government of Cambodia of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography;Resolution 54/263, annex II. 5. Notes with serious concern the problem of child labour in its worst forms, calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take immediate and effective measures to protect children from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous, to interfere with their education or to be harmful to their health, safety or morals, by enforcing Cambodian laws on child labour, the existing Labour Law and anti-trafficking law provisions on behalf of children and prosecuting those who violate these laws, invites the International Labour Organization to continue to extend the necessary assistance in this regard, and encourages the Government to consider ratifying the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182); 6. Encourages the efforts of the Government of Cambodia to improve further the health conditions of children and their access to education, to promote free and accessible birth registration and to establish a juvenile justice system; V Conclusion 1. Encourages the international community to assist the Government of Cambodia in its efforts to implement the present resolution; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the role and achievements of the Office of the High Commissioner in assisting the Government and the people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights and on the recommendations made by the Special Representative on matters within his mandate; 3. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in Cambodia at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/226 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 176 to 1, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Fiji, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau 57/226. The right to food The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/155 of 19 December 2001, as well as all Commission on Human Rights resolutions in this regard, in particular resolutions 2000/10 of 17 April 2000See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and 2002/25 of 22 April 2002,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for her/his health and well-being, including food, Recalling further the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. in which the fundamental right of every person to be free from hunger is recognized, Recalling the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition,Report of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. Bearing in mind the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recognizing that the problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and that they are likely to persist and even to increase dramatically in some regions unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world's population and the stress on natural resources, Reaffirming that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment, at both the national and the international level, is the essential foundation which will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication, Reiterating, as did the Rome Declaration as well as the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. that food should not be used as an instrument of political or economic pressure, and reaffirming in this regard the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security, Convinced that each State must adopt a strategy consistent with its resources and capacities to achieve its individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration and the World Food Summit Plan of Action and, at the same time, cooperate regionally and internationally in order to organize collective solutions to global issues of food security in a world of increasingly interlinked institutions, societies and economies where coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities are essential, Stressing the importance of reversing the continuing decline of official development assistance devoted to agriculture, both in real terms and as a share of total official development assistance, 1. Reaffirms that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity and therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures at the national, regional and international levels for its elimination; 2. Also reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger so as to be able fully to develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities; 3. Considers it intolerable that there are around 840 million undernourished people in the world and that every year 36 million people die, directly or indirectly, as a result of hunger and nutritional deficiencies, most of them women and children, particularly in developing countries, in a world that already produces enough food to feed the whole global population, and regrets that this situation at the same time can generate additional pressures on the environment in ecologically fragile areas; 4. Welcomes the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, adopted in Rome on 13 June 2002;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. 5. Encourages all States to take steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right to food, including steps to promote the conditions for everyone to be free from hunger and, as soon as possible, to enjoy fully the right to food, and to elaborate and adopt national plans to combat hunger; 6. Stresses the need to make efforts to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, and to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies; 7. Invites all international financial and developmental institutions, as well as the relevant United Nations agencies and funds, to give priority to and provide the necessary funding to realize the aim of halving by the year 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, as well as the right to food as set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food SecurityFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and in the United Nations Millennium Declaration; See resolution 55/2. 8. Urges States to give adequate priority in their development strategies and expenditures to the realization of the right to food; 9. Takes note of the report of the United Nations Children's Fund entitled The State of the World's Children, 2002,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.XX.1. and recalls that the nurturing of young children merits the highest priority; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food,See A/57/356. and commends the Special Rapporteur for his valuable work in the promotion of the right to food; 11. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolutions 2000/10 and 2002/25; 12. Expresses its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur for his effective contribution to the medium-term review of the implementation of the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of ActionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. through the submission to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of his recommendations on all aspects of the right to food, and his participation in and contribution to the proceedings of that event; 13. Welcomes the three expert consultations on the right to food convened by the former High Commissioner and her personal commitment to the promotion and realization of the right to food, and expresses its deep appreciation for the comprehensive report submitted by the former High Commissioner to the World Food Summit: five years later; 14. Also welcomes the decision of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, adopted at its one hundred and twenty-third session, to establish an Intergovernmental Working Group as a subsidiary body of the Committee on World Food Security, with the participation of stakeholders, in the context of the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, to elaborate in a period of two years a set of voluntary guidelines to support the efforts of Member States to achieve the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, and in this regard stresses that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will work closely with relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Special Rapporteur, as well as the two Rome-based food agencies, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Food Programme, noting also the invitation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to other relevant institutions of the United Nations system, treaty bodies and the World Trade Organization to collaborate in assisting the Working Group on the basis of their respective mandates; 15. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to mainstream a gender perspective in the activities relating to his mandate; 16. Requests the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 17. Welcomes the work already done by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in promoting the right to adequate food, in particular its General Comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food (article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), in which the Committee affirmed, inter alia, that the right to adequate food is indivisibly linked to the inherent dignity of the human person and is indispensable for the fulfilment of other human rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and is also inseparable from social justice, requiring the adoption of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, at both national and international levels, oriented to the eradication of poverty and the fulfilment of all human rights for all;Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex V, para. 4. 18. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit a comprehensive report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session and an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Invites Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate, inter alia, through the submission of comments and suggestions on ways and means of realizing the right to food; 20. Decides to continue the consideration of this matter at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/227 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador and Honduras. by a recorded vote of 109 to 3, with 71 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yugoslavia 57/227. Respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recalling the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Stressing that, as stated in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. family reunification of documented migrants is an important factor in international migration and that remittances by documented migrants to their countries of origin often constitute a very important source of foreign exchange and are instrumental in improving the well-being of relatives left behind, Recalling its resolution 55/100 of 4 December 2000, 1. Once again calls upon all States to guarantee the universally recognized freedom of travel to all foreign nationals legally residing in their territory; 2. Reaffirms that all Governments, in particular those of receiving countries, must recognize the vital importance of family reunification and promote its incorporation into national legislation in order to ensure protection of the unity of families of documented migrants; 3. Calls upon all States to allow, in conformity with international legislation, the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to their relatives in the country of origin; 4. Also calls upon all States to refrain from enacting, and to repeal if it already exists, legislation intended as a coercive measure that discriminates against individuals or groups of legal migrants by adversely affecting family reunification and the right to send financial remittances to relatives in the country of origin; 5. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/228 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by France and Japan. by a recorded vote of 150 to none, with 30 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57/228. Khmer Rouge trials The General Assembly, Recalling that the serious violations of Cambodian and international law during the period of Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979 continue to be matters of vitally important concern to the international community as a whole, Recognizing the legitimate concern of the Government and the people of Cambodia in the pursuit of justice and national reconciliation, stability, peace and security, Recognizing also that the accountability of individual perpetrators of grave human rights violations is one of the central elements of any effective remedy for victims of human rights violations and a key factor in ensuring a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability within a State, Conscious that the opportunity to bring those responsible to justice may soon be lost, Recalling the request made in June 1997 by the Cambodian authorities for assistance in responding to past serious violations of Cambodian and international law, Recalling also its resolution 56/169 of 19 December 2001, taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/89 of 26 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No.3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling further previous relevant resolutions, Welcoming the efforts of, and the substantial progress made by, the Secretary-General and the Government of Cambodia towards the establishment of Extraordinary Chambers within the existing court structure of Cambodia (hereinafter referred to as Extraordinary Chambers), with international assistance, for the prosecution of crimes committed during the period of Democratic Kampuchea, Welcoming in particular the promulgation of the Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea, and noting with appreciation the general provisions and competence of the Law and its provision for a role for the United Nations, Noting the statements of the Secretary-General on 8 February and 20 August 2002 concerning negotiations between the Secretary-General and the Government of Cambodia on the establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers, Welcoming the subsequent discussions between the Secretary-General and the Government of Cambodia on the establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers, Welcoming also the Joint Communiqué of the thirty-fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, held in Brunei Darussalam on 29 and 30 July 2002, which, inter alia, expressed support for the continued efforts of the Government of Cambodia to bring the senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those most responsible for serious crimes committed to trial in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness and due process of law and recognized the need for the Government of Cambodia and the United Nations to cooperate in this regard, Desiring that the international community continue to respond positively in assisting efforts to investigate the tragic history of Cambodia, including responsibility for past international crimes such as acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the regime of Democratic Kampuchea, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to resume negotiations, without delay, to conclude an agreement with the Government of Cambodia, based on previous negotiations on the establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers consistent with the provisions of the present resolution, so that the Extraordinary Chambers may begin to function promptly; 2. Recommends that the Extraordinary Chambers should have subject-matter jurisdiction consistent with that set forth in the Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea; 3. Recommends also that the Extraordinary Chambers should have personal jurisdiction over the senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those who were most responsible for the crimes referred to in paragraph 2 above; 4. Emphasizes that the arrangements for the establishment of Extraordinary Chambers, as devised in particular by the Royal Government of Cambodia, should: (a) Ensure that the Extraordinary Chambers exercise their jurisdiction in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness and due process of law, as set out in articles 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. (b) Include arrangements for an appellate chamber; 5. Also emphasizes the importance of ensuring the impartiality, independence and credibility of the process, in particular with regard to the status and work of the judges and prosecutors; 6. Appeals to the Government of Cambodia to ensure that persons referred to in paragraph 3 above are brought to trial in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness and due process of law, as referred to in paragraph 4 above, and notes the assurances of the Government of Cambodia in this regard; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on his consultations and negotiations with the Government of Cambodia concerning the establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers, no later than ninety days from the date of adoption of the resolution; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General, if necessary, to send a team of experts to Cambodia as may be required for the preparation of his report; 9. Further requests the Secretary-General to include in his report recommendations for the efficient and cost-effective operation of the Extraordinary Chambers, including the amount of voluntary contributions of funds, equipment and services to the Extraordinary Chambers, inter alia, through the offer of expert personnel, that may be needed from States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations; 10. Appeals to the international community to provide personnel and financial and other assistance to permit the early establishment and the sustained operation of the Extraordinary Chambers. RESOLUTION 57/229 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.2 and Corr.1-3, para. 127)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted in document A/57/357. 57/229. Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it established the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/61 of 25 April 2002 on the human rights of persons with disabilitiesSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/7 of 24 July 2002 on a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and Council resolution 2002/26 of 24 July 2002 on the further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities and protection of their human rights, Stressing the importance of the active participation of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee and the important contribution of non-governmental organizations to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, Underlining the fact that the consideration of proposals for a convention should complement concrete efforts to mainstream further the disability perspective into the implementation of international obligations and into the monitoring mechanisms of the six core United Nations human rights conventions, as well as into the process of implementing and strengthening the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities,Resolution 48/96, annex. Welcoming the work of national, regional and international meetings of Governments, experts, and non-governmental organizations that contributed to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, Reaffirming the need to promote and protect the equal and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, aware of the contribution that a convention could make in this regard and thus convinced of the need to continue to consider proposals, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its first session;See A/57/357. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Ad Hoc Committee to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-first session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session; 3. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee should hold, within existing resources, at least one meeting in 2003 of a duration of ten working days, prior to the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly; 4. Encourages States to hold meetings or seminars to contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, in cooperation with, as appropriate, the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development, and non-governmental organizations; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States, observer States, relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, including relevant human rights treaty bodies and the Special Rapporteur, on proposals for a convention including, inter alia, questions relating to its nature and structure and the elements to be considered, including the work done in the field of social development, human rights and non-discrimination, as well as issues of follow-up and monitoring and the complementarity between a new instrument and existing instruments; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Ad Hoc Committee at its second session a comprehensive report on the views submitted, to be issued at least six weeks before the commencement of the second session; 7. Invites the regional commissions and intergovernmental organizations, within their respective mandates, as well as non-governmental organizations, national disability and human rights institutions and independent experts with an interest in the matter, to make available to the Ad Hoc Committee suggestions and possible elements to be considered in proposals for a convention; 8. Welcomes the contributions of the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and invites them to continue to collaborate with the Ad Hoc Committee and with each other in this regard; 9. Urges that further efforts be made to ensure the active participation of non-governmental organizations in the Ad Hoc Committee in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and with the decision of the Ad Hoc Committee on the modalities for the participation of non-governmental organizations in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee;Ibid., para.10. 10. Also urges that efforts be made to ensure that accessibility, with reasonable accommodation as regards facilities and documentation, is improved for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work and, in this context, invites the Secretary-General to reallocate resources in order to allow the United Nations Programme on Disability to provide the necessary support to the Ad Hoc Committee; 12. Encourages Member States to involve persons with disabilities, representatives of disability organizations and experts in the preparatory processes contributing to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 13. Also encourages Member States to include persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field in their delegations to the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee; 14. Decides to establish a voluntary fund to support the participation of non-governmental organizations and experts from developing countries, in particular from the least developed countries, and invites Governments, civil society and the private sector to contribute to the voluntary fund; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit a comprehensive report of the Ad Hoc Committee to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/22 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/564 and Corr.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus and Spain. 57/22. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/57/26). Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recalling further its resolution 43/172 of 9 December 1988, in which it stressed the importance of a positive perception of the work of the United Nations, and urged that efforts be continued to build up public awareness by explaining, through all available means, the importance of the role played by the United Nations and the missions accredited to it in the strengthening of international peace and security, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 35 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/57/26). 2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is an issue of great importance, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to solve, through negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; 3. Takes note of the opinion of the Legal Counsel of the United Nations of 24 September 2002A/AC.154/358, annex. concerning the Parking Programme for Diplomatic Vehicles,A/AC.154/355, annex. the positions expressed on this issue at the 213th meeting of the Committee, on 15 October 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/57/26), paras. 26-30 and 32. including requests from most speakers to defer implementation of the Parking Programme, and the commitment of the host country to maintaining appropriate conditions for the functioning of the delegations and missions accredited to the United Nations in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, efficient and consistent with international law; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 5. Notes that during the reporting period the travel controls previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities remained in effect, and requests the host country to consider removing such travel controls, and in this regard notes the positions of affected States, of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 6. Notes also that the Committee anticipates that the host country will continue to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,See resolution 169 (II). inter alia, for the purpose of their attending official United Nations meetings; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 8. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 57/230 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.3, para. 46),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 80 to 62, with 33 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia Against: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Dominica, Eritrea, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia 57/230. Situation of human rights in the Sudan The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Sudan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the African Charter on Human and Peoples' RightsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1520, No. 26363. and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/16 of 19 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note of Security Council resolution 1372 (2001) of 28 September 2001, Noting with appreciation the recent developments in the peace talks led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and expressing its firm belief that human rights should become a key element in the peace talks in view of the link between sustainable peace and respect for human rights, 1. Welcomes: (a) The Machakos Protocol of 20 July 2002 and the announcement that both parties have agreed to a cessation of hostilities in all areas following the signature of the memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement on the resumption of negotiations on peace in the Sudan, the agreement on procedures for the unimpeded access of humanitarian aid signed by the Government of the Sudan, the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement and the United Nations, and the two memorandums signed at the conclusion of the second round of peace talks on 18 November 2002; (b) The extension of the ceasefire agreement in the Nuba Mountains, signed on 19 January 2002 by the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, as well as the Khartoum agreement to protect civilians and civilian facilities from military attacks, signed by the two parties on 10 March 2002; (c) The commitment of the Government of the Sudan to facilitate the establishment of an independent national institution on human rights; (d) The recent visit of the Secretary-General to the Sudan; (e) The interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the SudanSee A/57/326. and the cooperation extended by the Government to the Special Rapporteur during his visits to the Sudan in February, March and October 2002; (f) The cooperation extended by the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to other United Nations mandate-holders in the field of human rights, as well as their recent cooperation with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, to mitigate the effects of war on civilians, and emphasizes the need to adhere to the principle of full, safe and unhindered access and to strengthen the support provided to such agencies; (g) The commitment of the Government of the Sudan to embark on a programme of civic education in democracy and to create an inter-party liaison mechanism in order to foster democratization; (h) The establishment by the Government of the Sudan of an advisory council for Christians and its commitment to appoint Christians to senior executive positions in the Ministry for Religious Affairs and to promote inter-religious dialogue; (i) Decree 14/2002 of 26 January 2002 of the President of the Sudan, by which the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children was re-established and further empowered, the Committee's facilitation of flights for the repatriation of abducted children and the intention of the Government to hold tribal conferences in the Kordofan and Darfur regions, as well as the facilitation and support provided by the Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to the International Eminent Persons Group, which investigated slavery, abduction and forced servitude in the Sudan during its visit in April and May 2002, the report issued by the Group on 22 May 2002Slavery, Abduction and Forced Servitude in Sudan: report of the International Eminent Persons Group, 22 May 2002, United States Department of State. and the commitment of the Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to consider implementing the recommendations of the Group; (j) The signing of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict;Resolution 54/263, annex I. 2. Expresses its deep concern at: (a) The impact of the ongoing armed conflict on the situation of human rights and its adverse effects on the civilian population, in particular women, children and internally displaced persons, and at the continuing serious violations of human rights, fundamental freedoms and international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict; (b) The decision of the Government of the Sudan to maintain the state of emergency until the end of 2002; (c) The occurrence of restrictions on freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and on freedom of association, assembly, opinion and expression; (d) The cases of torture and ill-treatment of civilians, extrajudicial summary or arbitrary execution, arbitrary arrest, detention without trial and corporal punishment in its cruellest forms; (e) The negative role of undisciplined southern militias, armed and supported by all parties to the conflict, which are responsible for killings, torture, kidnappings, rape, the burning of villages, the destruction of crops and the theft of livestock; (f) The forced conscription and displacement, enforced or involuntary disappearances and other acts of intimidation and harassment directed against the population; (g) The violation of the rights of women, including discrimination against women and girls, the harassment of women by security forces and the serious human rights abuses, such as killings, rape, abduction and female genital mutilation; (h) The violations of the rights of the child, including the recruitment and use of children as soldiers and the subjection of children to forced labour, in contravention of human rights and international law; (i) The extensive use of the death penalty, contrary to the obligations assumed by the Government of the Sudan under the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, the use of special courts, especially in Darfur, with military personnel appointed as judges and a lack of legal representation, the occurrence of group sentencing and the imposition of the death penalty on persons below 18 years of age at the time of the commission of their crime, contrary to the obligations assumed by the Government of the Sudan under the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. all of which raises serious doubts regarding the validity of the legal processes; (j) The abduction of women and children by tribal groups and other militias; (k) The numerous and repeated difficulties encountered by United Nations and humanitarian staff in carrying out their mandate in the Sudan and the conditions imposed on humanitarian organizations, in contravention of humanitarian principles, in particular the denial of access to them, which has had grave consequences for the civilian population affected by the armed conflict and led to the withdrawal of many such organizations prior to the agreement on procedures for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid; (l) The forced displacement of populations in the Sudan as a result of the armed conflict, in particular in areas surrounding the oilfields; (m) The continuation of indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian targets and indiscriminate artillery shelling of the civilian population, as well as the use of civilian premises for military purposes; 3. Urges all parties to the conflict in the Sudan: (a) To seize the prospect of peace to ensure continuing progress in the fields of human rights, democratization and the rule of law and create a climate of mutual trust and confidence that will be the basis for a viable peace and facilitate reconciliation; (b) To respect and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to respect fully international humanitarian law, in particular the need to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian premises, thereby facilitating the voluntary return, repatriation and reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes, and to ensure that those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are brought to justice; (c) To adhere to agreements signed within the framework of the Machakos Protocol, to take necessary measures to facilitate the peace negotiations and to work actively towards the establishment of a just and viable peace, based on respect of human rights and the principles of democratization and the rule of law, within the context of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development peace process; (d) To enhance the implementation of the Khartoum agreement to protect civilians and civilian facilities from military attacks, and in particular urges the Government of the Sudan to cease immediately all indiscriminate aerial bombardments of and attacks against the civilian population and civilian installations, and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to cease immediately the indiscriminate artillery shelling of the civilian population, the use of civilian premises for military purposes, the misappropriation of humanitarian assistance and the diversion of relief supplies, including food, from their civilian recipients; (e) To refrain from undertaking military activities as a demonstration of their willingness to seek a peaceful solution to the long-standing conflict and to adhere to a comprehensive ceasefire as part of a just peace negotiation process; (f) To stop the support provided to and use of tribal militias that commit grave human rights abuses; (g) To continue adhering to the agreement on procedures for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to secure full, safe and unhindered access to all international agencies and humanitarian organizations in order to facilitate by all possible means the delivery of humanitarian assistance, in conformity with relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, to all civilians in need of protection and assistance and to continue to cooperate with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and Operation Lifeline Sudan; (h) Not to use or recruit children under the age of 18 as soldiers, to continue demobilizing child soldiers, to refrain from the practice of forced conscription and to fulfil the commitments made concerning the protection of children affected by war, including cessation of the use of anti-personnel landmines, attacks on sites at which there is usually a significant presence of children and the abduction and exploitation of children, as well as to ensure access to and the return of displaced and unaccompanied minors and to reunite them with their families; 4. Calls upon the Government of the Sudan: (a) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights instruments to which the Sudan is a party, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law; (b) To fulfil its commitments to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. to sign and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. and to consider ratifying the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction;See CD/1478. (c) To end the state of emergency now that the stated reasons for its imposition have been resolved, namely, through the constitutional amendment allowing the Presidential appointment of governors, and to make further efforts to promote an environment conducive to a genuine process of democratization that reflects the aspirations of the people and ensures their full participation; (d) To end impunity for human rights violations and to try perpetrators in accordance with the rule of law, as well as to strengthen the role of the Advisory Council on Human Rights in the investigation of all reported human rights violations, including acts of torture; (e) To fulfil its commitment to establish an independent national institution on human rights and to create a general legal framework that will facilitate the establishment of organizations in the field of human rights and to further encourage and support the Advisory Council on Human Rights in enhancing the promotion of human rights in the Sudan through its various activities, including its advisory services and advocacy activities; (f) To ensure full respect for freedom of religion and conscience, and in this regard to take measures to end discrimination based on religion; (g) To ensure full respect for freedom of association, assembly, opinion, thought and expression throughout the territory of the Sudan, and to implement fully existing legislation, in particular the Associations and Political Parties Act; (h) To raise the age of criminal responsibility for children in order to take into account the observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child; (i) To continue and to reinforce its efforts to prevent and stop the abduction of women and children that is taking place within the framework of the conflict in southern Sudan; (j) To make concerted efforts to restrain the activities of the Murahaleen and other tribal militias, to stop financing and equipping them and to uphold suspension of the use of the government train to Bahr-el-Ghazal until such time as peace is established; (k) To cease the forced displacement of populations by any means, in particular in areas surrounding the oilfields, to continue its efforts to address effectively the worsening problem of internally displaced persons, including by implementing the commitments made to the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons and by ensuring their access to effective protection and assistance; (l) To liberalize the system for maintaining public order; (m) To implement the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners;See Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, volume I (First Part) (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XIV.1 (Vol. I, Part 1)). (n) To ensure that capital punishment will not be imposed for crimes other than the most serious and will not be pronounced in disregard of the obligations assumed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the provisions of United Nations safeguards; (o) To make further efforts to implement the commitment made to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict not to recruit children under the age of 18 as soldiers and to enforce national laws that prevent the recruitment of children in armed conflicts; 5. Encourages: (a) The Government of the Sudan to continue its cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights through the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its expert in Khartoum entrusted with the task of advising the Government on the development of national capacity to promote and protect human rights; (b) The Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement to allow the people-to-people peace process to develop freely and unhindered and to consider it an important contribution to the peace process; 6. Calls upon the international community to expand its support for activities aimed at improving respect for human rights and humanitarian law in the Sudan, in particular those of the Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children, to continue assisting national efforts to build up democratic and civil society structures in the Sudan and to consider how to expand the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to include a monitoring role; 7. Decides to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in the Sudan at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 57/231 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.3, para. 46)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 57/231. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in the field, Aware that Myanmar is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. as well as the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, 1930 (Convention No. 29) and the Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, 1948 (Convention No. 87), of the International Labour Organization, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 56/231 of 24 December 2001, and those of the Commission on Human Rights, the most recent of which is resolution 2002/67 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also resolution I adopted by the International Labour Conference at its eighty-eighth session, on 14 June 2000, concerning the practice of forced or compulsory labour in Myanmar, Affirming that the will of the people is the basis of the authority of government and that the will of the people of Myanmar was clearly expressed in the elections held in 1990, Affirming also that the establishment of a genuine democratic government in Myanmar is essential for the realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, 1. Welcomes: (a) The preliminary steps taken by the Government of Myanmar towards democracy, in particular the release from house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi on 6 May 2002 and her subsequent internal freedom of movement, the release of a number of political prisoners and the relaxation of some constraints on some political activities of the National League for Democracy; (b) The appointment by the International Labour Organization of a liaison officer in Myanmar as a first step towards the establishment of its full and effective representation in Myanmar; (c) The visits to Myanmar by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar during the past year, the visits by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and the cooperation extended to them by the Government of Myanmar; (d) The continuing cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross; (e) The dissemination of human rights standards for public officials and some non-governmental organizations and ethnic groups through the convening of a series of human rights workshops; 2. Notes the establishment by the Government of Myanmar of a committee on human rights as a precursor to the establishment of a national human rights commission, which would follow the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights annexed to General Assembly resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993; 3. Expresses its grave concern at: (a) The ongoing systematic violation of the human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, of the people of Myanmar; (b) Extrajudicial killings; rapes and other forms of sexual violence carried out by members of the armed forces; torture; renewed instances of political arrests and continuing detentions, including of prisoners who have served their sentences; forced relocation; destruction of livelihoods; forced labour; denial of freedom of assembly, association, expression and movement; discrimination on the basis of religious or ethnic background; wide disrespect for the rule of law and lack of independence of the judiciary; deeply unsatisfactory conditions of detention; systematic use of child soldiers; and violations of the right to an adequate standard of living, in particular food and medical care, and to education; (c) The disproportionate suffering of members of ethnic minorities, women and children from such violations; (d) The situation of the large number of internally displaced persons and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries; (e) The ever-increasing impact of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) on the population of Myanmar; 4. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To fulfil its obligations to restore the independence of the judiciary and due process of law, and to take further steps to reform the system of the administration of justice; (b) To take immediate action to implement fully concrete legislative, executive and administrative measures to eradicate the practice of forced labour and to implement fully the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry established to examine the observance by Myanmar of the International Labour Organization Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour (Convention No. 29); (c) To pursue the dialogue with the International Labour Organization with a view to full and effective representation of the Organization in Myanmar; (d) To ensure safe and unhindered access to the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations and to cooperate fully with all sectors of society by means of consultation, especially with the National League for Democracy and other relevant political, ethnic and community-based groups, to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance and to guarantee that it does reach the most vulnerable groups of the population; (e) To continue to cooperate with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; (f) To consider as a matter of high priority becoming a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflictResolution 54/263, annex I. and the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182); (g) To pursue through dialogue and peaceful means an end to conflict with all ethnic groups in Myanmar; 5. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar: (a) To restore democracy and implement the results of the 1990 elections, to ensure that the contacts with Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy move without delay into substantive and structured dialogue towards democratization and national reconciliation and at an early stage to include other political leaders in the talks, including the representatives of the ethnic groups; (b) To end the systematic violations of human rights in Myanmar, to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to end impunity and to investigate and bring to justice any perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military and other government agents in all circumstances; (c) To facilitate and cooperate fully with an independent international investigation of charges of rape and other abuse of civilians carried out by members of the armed forces in Shan and other states; (d) To release unconditionally and immediately all political prisoners; (e) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to extend full cooperation to relevant international organizations in order to ensure the demobilization of child soldiers, their return home and their rehabilitation; (f) To lift all restraints on peaceful political activity, including guaranteeing freedom of association and freedom of expression, including freedom of the media; (g) To end the systematic enforced displacement of persons and other causes of refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to provide the necessary protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and to respect the right of refugees to a voluntary, safe and dignified return monitored by appropriate international agencies; (h) To recognize further the gravity of the situation regarding HIV/AIDS and the need to take the necessary action to combat the epidemic, including the effective implementation in Myanmar of the United Nations joint action plan on HIV/AIDS, in cooperation with all relevant political and ethnic groups; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide his good offices and to pursue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and people of Myanmar, to submit additional reports to the General Assembly during its fifty-seventh session on the progress of those discussions, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-eighth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to continue the consideration of this question at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/232 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.3, para. 46),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 97 to 3, with 77 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia Against: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/232. Situation of human rights in Iraq The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Aware that Iraq is a party to the International Covenants on Human Rights, other international human rights instruments and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling its previous resolutions on this subject, the most recent of which is resolution 56/174 of 19 December 2001, and those of the Commission on Human Rights, the most recent of which is resolution 2002/15 of 19 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also Security Council resolution 686 (1991) of 2 March 1991, in which the Council called upon Iraq to release all Kuwaitis and nationals of other States who might still be held in detention, Council resolution 687 (1991) of 3 April 1991, Council resolution 688 (1991) of 5 April 1991, in which the Council demanded an end to repression of the Iraqi civilian population and insisted that Iraq cooperate with humanitarian organizations and that the human rights of all Iraqi citizens be respected, Council resolutions 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995, 1111 (1997) of 4 June 1997, 1129 (1997) of 12 September 1997, 1143 (1997) of 4 December 1997, 1153 (1998) of 20 February 1998, 1175 (1998) of 19 June 1998, 1210 (1998) of 24 November 1998, 1242 (1999) of 21 May 1999, 1266 (1999) of 4 October 1999, 1281 (1999) of 10 December 1999, 1302 (2000) of 8 June 2000, 1330 (2000) of 5 December 2000, 1352 (2001) of 1 June 2001, 1360 (2001) of 3 July 2001 and 1382 (2001) of 29 November 2001, in which the Council authorized States to permit imports of Iraqi oil in order to allow Iraq to purchase humanitarian supplies, Council resolution 1284 (1999) of 17 December 1999, in which the Council, by means of a comprehensive approach to the situation in Iraq, inter alia, removed the ceiling for the allowable import of Iraqi oil in order to increase the amount of revenue available for the purchase of humanitarian supplies, laid down new provisions and procedures designed to improve the implementation of the humanitarian programme and to further achievement in meeting the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi population and reiterated the obligation of Iraq to facilitate the repatriation of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals referred to in paragraph 30 of Council resolution 687 (1991), and the most recent resolution of the Council, 1409 (2002) of 14 May 2002, in which the Council significantly eased the United Nations sanctions on Iraq, Taking note of the concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/53/40), vol. I, paras. 90-111. the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,Ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/54/18), paras. 337-361. the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 2 (E/1998/22), paras. 245-283. the Committee on the Rights of the ChildOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 41 (A/55/41), paras. 304-333. and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against WomenIbid., Supplement No. 38 (A/55/38), part two, chap. IV, sect. B, paras. 166-210. on the most recent reports submitted to them by Iraq, in which these treaty-monitoring bodies point to a wide range of human rights problems and express the view that the Government of Iraq remains bound by its treaty obligations, while pointing to the adverse effect of sanctions on the daily life of the population, in particular women and children, Reaffirming that it is the responsibility of the Government of Iraq to ensure the well-being of its entire population and the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Deploring all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Iraq, as mentioned in the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Iraq,See A/57/325. Concerned about the lack of procedural and substantive safeguards in the administration of justice in Iraq, including in the application of the death penalty, Appealing to all concerned to fulfil their mutual obligations in the management of the humanitarian programme referred to in Security Council resolution 986 (1995) and other relevant Council resolutions, 1. Welcomes: (a) The report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in IraqSee A/57/325. and the exploratory visit by the Special Rapporteur to Iraq from 11 to 15 February 2002, which could serve as a basis for future cooperation and constructive dialogue; (b) Security Council resolution 1409 (2002), in which all exports to Iraq are allowed except for items which are on the goods review listSee S/2002/515, annex. and which are therefore subject to review by the Sanctions Committee; 2. Notes that: (a) The Government of Iraq has responded in writing to some requests for information made by the Special Rapporteur; (b) The Government of Iraq has accepted a second visit by the Special Rapporteur; 3. Expresses grave concern that there has been no improvement in the situation of human rights in the country; 4. Strongly condemns: (a) The systematic, widespread and extremely grave violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law by the Government of Iraq, resulting in all-pervasive repression and oppression sustained by broad-based discrimination and widespread terror; (b) The suppression of freedom of thought, religion and belief, expression, information, association, assembly and movement through fear of arrest, imprisonment, execution, expulsion, house demolition and other sanctions; (c) The repression faced by any kind of opposition, in particular the harassment and intimidation of and threats against Iraqi opponents living abroad and members of their families; (d) The widespread use of the death penalty in disregard of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the United Nations safeguards; (e) Summary and arbitrary executions, including political killings and the continuing prison cleansing, the use of rape as a political tool, as well as enforced or involuntary disappearances, routinely practised arbitrary arrests and detention and consistent and routine failure to respect due process and the rule of law; (f) Widespread, systematic torture and the maintaining of decrees prescribing cruel and inhuman punishment as a penalty for offences; 5. Calls upon the Government of Iraq: (a) To abide by its freely undertaken obligations under international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law to respect and ensure the rights of all individuals, irrespective of their origin, ethnicity, gender or religion, within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction; (b) To end all summary and arbitrary executions and the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons under the age of 18 years, and to ensure that capital punishment will not be imposed for crimes other than the most serious and will not be pronounced in disregard of the obligations it has assumed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the provisions of the United Nations safeguards; (c) To establish a moratorium on executions; (d) To bring the actions of its military and security forces into conformity with the standards of international law, in particular those of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (e) To establish the independence of the judiciary and to abrogate all laws granting impunity to specified forces or persons killing or injuring individuals for any purpose beyond the administration of justice under the rule of law as prescribed by international standards; (f) To abolish the functioning of the temporary special courts and to ensure that the rule of law is respected at all times throughout the territory of Iraq in accordance with its freely undertaken obligation under international human rights instruments; (g) To abrogate all decrees that prescribe cruel and inhuman punishment or treatment, including mutilation, and to ensure that torture and cruel punishment and treatment no longer occur; (h) To abrogate all laws and procedures, including Revolution Command Council Decree No. 840 of 4 November 1986, that penalize free expression, and to ensure that the genuine will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the State; (i) To cooperate fully with the relevant mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular its Special Rapporteur, and to ensure his access to Iraq, without preconditions, in order to allow him fully to discharge his mandate, including by allowing access to any person deemed appropriate by the Special Rapporteur; (j) To implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur by providing detailed and comprehensive replies to letters relating to allegations of human rights violations transmitted by the Special Rapporteur and by allowing the stationing of human rights monitors throughout Iraq pursuant to the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights; (k) To ensure the free exercise of political opposition and to prevent the intimidation and repression of political opponents and their families; (l) To respect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups and to cease immediately its continuing repressive practices, including the practice of forced deportation and relocation, aimed at the Iraqi Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmen, and to ensure the personal integrity and freedoms of all citizens, including the Shi´ah population; (m) To cooperate fully with the Tripartite Commission and its Technical Subcommittee to establish the whereabouts and resolve the fate of the remaining several hundred missing persons, including prisoners of war, Kuwaiti nationals and third-country nationals, victims of the illegal Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, to cooperate with the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights for that purpose, to cooperate with the high-level coordinator of the Secretary-General for the repatriation of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and the return of all Kuwaiti property in implementation of section B of Security Council resolution 1284 (1999), to pay compensation to the families of those who died or disappeared in the custody of the Iraqi authorities, through the mechanism established by the Security Council in resolution 692 (1991) of 20 May 1991, to release immediately all Kuwaitis and nationals of other States who may still be held in detention and inform families of the whereabouts of arrested persons, to provide information about death sentences imposed on prisoners of war and civilian detainees, and to issue death certificates for deceased prisoners of war and civilian detainees; (n) To cooperate further with international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian assistance and monitoring in the northern and southern areas of the country; (o) To continue to cooperate in the implementation of Security Council resolutions dealing with humanitarian and human rights matters; (p) To cooperate in the identification of the minefields existing throughout Iraq, with a view to facilitating their marking and eventual clearing; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to give all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur to enable him to discharge his mandate fully, and decides to continue the examination of the situation of human rights in Iraq at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 57/233 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.3, para. 46),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 92 to 2, with 81 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yugoslavia Against: Rwanda, Uganda Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/233. Situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in the field, Aware that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to several international human rights and humanitarian law instruments,Including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (see resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (see resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (resolution 39/46, annex), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (resolution 34/180, annex), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (resolution 2106 A (XX), annex), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (resolution 44/25, annex) and the two Optional Protocols thereto (resolution 54/263, annexes I and II), the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (resolution 260 A (III)), the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973) and the first Additional Protocol thereto, of 1977 (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512), as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1520, No. 26363). Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 56/173 of 19 December 2001, and those of the Commission on Human Rights, the most recent of which is resolution 2002/14 of 19 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. as well as Security Council resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 1417 (2002) of 14 June 2002, Recalling also the Ceasefire Agreement signed at Lusaka,S/1999/815, annex. as well as the Kampala disengagement plan,See S/2000/330 and Corr.1, paras. 21-28. the Harare sub-plans for disengagement and redeployment, and the peace agreements signed at PretoriaSee S/2002/914, annex. and Luanda, Encouraging all Congolese parties to use the present momentum to promote an all-inclusive conclusion of the inter-Congolese dialogue, Noting that the promotion and the protection of human rights for all are essential for achieving stability and security in the region and will contribute to the creation of the environment necessary for cooperation among States in the region, Concerned at all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by parties to the conflict, as mentioned in the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,See A/57/349 and A/57/437. Concerned in particular at continuing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including in the Ituri region, Concerned about the lack of procedural and substantive safeguards in the administration of justice in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling its decision to request the Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission to carry out a joint mission of investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while regretting that the security situation has not yet allowed such a mission, 1. Welcomes: (a) The Peace Agreement, signed at Pretoria on 30 July 2002, between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda on the Withdrawal of the Rwandan Troops from the Territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Dismantling of the former Forces armées rwandaises and Interahamwe Forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the programme of implementation of that Agreement;See S/2002/914, annex. (b) The Peace Agreement, signed at Luanda on 6 September 2002, between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Uganda on the withdrawal of Ugandan troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and cooperation and normalization of relations between the two countries; (c) The continuing dialogue between the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, and expresses the hope that this will lead to the permanent normalization of relations between the two countries; (d) The significant withdrawals of foreign troops from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (e) The release by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of some human rights defenders, its lifting of some restrictions on non-governmental organizations and its adoption of Law No. 001 of 17 May 2001, on political parties; (f) The commitment by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cooperate with United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and the World Bank to prepare for and implement demobilization and reintegration programmes, in particular for child soldiers; (g) The ratification in 2001 by the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict;Resolution 54/263, annex I. (h) The commitment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 and the recent arrest and transferral to Arusha of a prominent suspect in the Rwandan genocide; (i) The ratification in 2002 by the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. (j) The reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the CongoSee A/57/349 and A/57/437. and her visit to the country from 13 to 19 February 2002; (k) The action taken by the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (l) The release and repatriation carried out under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in conformity with international humanitarian law, of persons at risk because of their ethnic origin and of prisoners of war; (m) The continuing presence and increased deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in support of the implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement,S/1999/815, annex. the Pretoria and Luanda peace agreements and the relevant Security Council resolutions; (n) The work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chief of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2. Condemns: (a) The continuing violations of human rights, fundamental freedoms and international humanitarian law, including acts of and incitement to ethnic hatred and violence and atrocities against civilian populations, generally committed with complete impunity; (b) All massacres and atrocities committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as constituting indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force, in particular those occurring in areas held by armed rebels or under foreign occupation, referring in this regard to the statement by the President of the Security Council of 23 July 2002 on the massacres that occurred in the region of Kisangani on 14 May 2002 and in the ensuing period,S/PRST/2002/22; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and urges that all perpetrators be brought to justice, referring in this regard to the statement by the President of the Security Council of 18 October 2002;S/PRST/2002/27; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2002-31 July 2003. (c) The reprisals against civilian populations in parts of the country controlled by the Congolese Rally for Democracy, Rwanda and Uganda; (d) The occurrence of cases of summary and arbitrary execution, disappearance, torture, beating, harassment and arrest, the persecution of individuals and the arbitrary detention for long periods of persons, including journalists, opposition politicians, human rights defenders, people who have cooperated with the United Nations mechanisms and other members of civil society; (e) The indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations and on hospitals in areas held by rebels and by foreign forces; (f) The recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed forces and groups, including the abduction of children throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in contravention of international human rights standards; (g) The widespread use of sexual violence against women and children, including as a means of warfare; 3. Expresses its concern at: (a) The adverse impact of the conflict on the situation of human rights and its severe consequences for the security and well-being of the civilian population throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the increase in the number of refugees and displaced persons, in particular in the eastern part of the country; (b) The breaches of freedom of expression, opinion, association and assembly throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the eastern part of the country; (c) The intention of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to suspend the moratorium on the carrying out of the death penalty; (d) The illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in view of the link between that exploitation and the conflict; (e) The excessive accumulation and spread of small arms and the distribution, circulation and illicit trafficking of arms in the region and their negative impact on human rights; (f) The severe insecurity, which seriously hampers the ability of humanitarian organizations to secure access to affected populations, particularly in the zones held by armed rebels and under the control of foreign forces, while condemning the killing of six humanitarian workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 26 April 2001 in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the fact that those responsible remain to be brought to justice; 4. Urges all parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To cease, in accordance with all the relevant agreements and resolutions, all military activities in the country in order to facilitate, without delay, the re-establishment of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (b) To acknowledge that the Pretoria and Luanda peace agreements present an unprecedented opportunity to bring peace to the entire country and therefore to suspend their armed campaigns and avoid seeking retribution against their former adversaries, which will only serve to prolong the agony of the Congolese people and the appalling humanitarian and human rights conditions that they have suffered; (c) To implement all necessary measures to put an end to the widespread violations of human rights and to impunity, in particular with regard to the sexual violence against women and children; (d) To allow free and secure access to areas under their control in order to permit investigations of violations of human rights and international human rights law; (e) To respect international humanitarian law, in particular to ensure the safety of all civilians, and to take and implement all necessary measures to create conditions for the voluntary return of all refugees and displaced persons; (f) To ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel and the unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (g) To cooperate fully with the National Commission of Inquiry on the alleged massacres of a large number of refugees and displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (h) To extend full cooperation to the United Nations system, humanitarian organizations and the World Bank in order to ensure the rapid demobilization and reintegration of armed groups and of child soldiers in particular; 5. Calls upon the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take specific measures: (a) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights law and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms; (b) To prevent conditions that might lead to further flows of displaced persons and refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and across its borders; (c) To continue to honour its commitments to reform and restore the judicial system, to abolish the death penalty and to reform military justice, including that of putting an end to the trying of civilians by the military court, in conformity with the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and notes in this regard Presidential decree No. 0223/2002 of 18 November 2002; (d) To put an end to impunity and to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice; (e) Along with other parties to the inter-Congolese dialogue, to reach agreement with the utmost urgency on a fully inclusive transitional Government which can assert its authority and re-establish order throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (f) To continue to facilitate and further strengthen its cooperation with the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (g) To continue to cooperate with the International Tribunal for Rwanda, and demands that the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to arrest all known génocidaires in its territory; 6. Calls upon the Governments whose forces are in occupation of part of the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to respect human rights and international humanitarian law in the areas still under their control and to withdraw their troops; 7. Calls upon the international community to support the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to make possible the effective implementation of its programmes; 8. Decides: (a) To continue to examine the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to request the Special Rapporteur to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; (b) To request the Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission to carry out, as soon as security considerations permit and, where appropriate, in cooperation with the National Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1996 and 1997, a joint mission to investigate all massacres carried out on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to bringing to justice those responsible, and to report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; (c) To request the Secretary-General to give the Special Rapporteurs and the joint mission all necessary assistance to enable them to discharge their mandate fully; (d) To request the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the technical skills needed by the joint mission to discharge its mandate. RESOLUTION 57/234 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/556/Add.3, para. 46)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/234. Question of human rights in Afghanistan The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and accepted humanitarian rules, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have freely undertaken under the various international instruments, Recalling that Afghanistan is a party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,Resolution 260 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as the Convention concerning Equal Remuneration (Convention No. 100) and the Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour (Convention No. 105) of the International Labour Organization, and recalling that it has signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. Welcoming the accession of Afghanistan to the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflictResolution 54/263, annex I. and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., annex II. and to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. Recalling that, as a State party to those international instruments, Afghanistan has the obligation to report on their implementation, Recalling also all its relevant resolutions, as well as the resolutions and presidential statements of the Security Council, the decisions of the Economic and Social Council, the resolutions and decisions of the Commission on Human Rights and the resolutions of the Commission on the Status of Women, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 1333 (2000) of 19 December 2000, 1378 (2001) of 14 November 2001, 1383 (2001) of 6 December 2001, 1401 (2002) of 28 March 2002, 1413 (2002) of 23 May 2002 and 1419 (2002) of 26 June 2002 on the situation in Afghanistan, Recalling Security Council resolution 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 on the protection of civilians, resolution 1379 (2001) of 20 November 2001 on children and armed conflict, resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 and the statements by the President of the Council of 31 October 2001S/PRST/2001/31; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and 31 October 2002,S/PRST/2002/32; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2002-31 July 2003. on women and peace and security, Warmly welcoming the conclusion of the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (the Bonn Agreement), signed by the Afghan parties at Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001,See S/2001/1154. which reaffirms the independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and promotes national reconciliation, lasting peace, security and respect for human rights, and stressing the important role entrusted to the United Nations in that framework, Warmly welcoming also the election by the Emergency Loya Jirga, in secret ballot, of the Head of State, President Hamid Karzai, and the establishment of the Afghan Transitional Authority, Affirming the primary responsibility of the Afghan Transitional Authority, supported by the United Nations, to establish, in view of the formation of a government, an environment of good governance, democracy and the rule of law which: (a) Should be broad-based, gender-sensitive, multi-ethnic and fully representative of all of the Afghan people and committed to peace with all countries, (b) Should respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all of the Afghan people, without discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, birth, descent or other status, (c) Should respect the international obligations of Afghanistan, including by cooperating fully in international efforts to combat terrorism and illicit drug trafficking within and from Afghanistan, (d) Should facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance and the voluntary and orderly return, in safety and dignity, of refugees and internally displaced persons, (e) Should promote democracy and the holding of free elections, Recognizing that the accountability of perpetrators of grave human rights violations, and their accomplices, is one of the central elements of any effective remedy for victims of human rights violations, and recognizing also that a fair and effective national justice system is a key factor in ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability within a State, Commending the activity of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Stressing the importance of ensuring the full and effective participation of women in all decision-making processes regarding the future of Afghanistan, Stressing also the importance of the economic reconstruction and development process and the need to ensure that it is accomplished in a coordinated and non-discriminatory manner, in a context of full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, 1. Welcomes the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan,See A/57/309. and endorses the recommendations contained therein; 2. Also welcomes the decision of the Transitional Authority to establish the Constitutional Commission to undertake, with the assistance of the United Nations, the task of drafting a new Constitution, which will reflect, inter alia, the commitment of Afghanistan to promote and protect human rights pursuant to its obligations under the international human rights instruments; 3. Warmly welcomes the establishment of the Independent Human Rights Commission, which has the primary responsibility for advising on the promotion and protection of human rights and developing a national programme for the implementation of the relevant section of the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (the Bonn Agreement);See S/2001/1154. 4. Invites the relevant bodies of the United Nations, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, within the framework of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan: (a) To assist in the full implementation of the human rights provisions of the Bonn Agreement and the National Human Rights Programme for Afghanistan, including through the establishment of an active human rights component in Afghanistan; (b) To contribute to the work of the recently established Independent Human Rights Commission, the responsibilities of which include the promotion of international human rights standards, human rights monitoring, the investigation of violations of human rights and the development of domestic human rights institutions that have dedicated personnel and operative plans; (c) To develop a human rights-based strategy addressing, in particular, issues of accountability, transitional justice, a national programme for human rights education, women's rights and the rights of the child; 5. Commends the steps taken by the Transitional Authority to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to guarantee, in particular, the rights of children, women and persons belonging to national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities and the right to education, employment and freedom of religion and expression; 6. Welcomes the designation by the Transitional Authority of the members of the Judicial Commission, and urges it to resume its work without delay with a view to restoring the rule of law by, inter alia, the establishment of an independent and impartial judiciary, which should function in conformity with standards of international law relating to human rights; 7. Urges the Transitional Authority, the international community and the United Nations, in particular the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, to provide the commissions established under the Bonn Agreement with the support necessary to fulfil their mandates; 8. Urges the Transitional Authority to continue its efforts to re-establish the rule of law, including by ensuring that law enforcement agencies respect and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms; 9. Calls upon the Transitional Authority to develop a culture of democracy that includes democratic institutions as well as a free press and autonomous electronic media, all of which contribute to the promotion of tolerance and respect for human rights; 10. Expresses grave concern: (a) About the recent reports of ethnically motivated violence directed in particular against certain minority ethnic groups in affected areas that lack the rule of law and its enforcement machinery; (b) About recent cases of arbitrary arrest and detention and of summary trials in some areas of the country; (c) About recent attacks against women and girls, including rape and other forms of sexual violence, forced marriage, detention of women and girls for violating social codes and attacks on girls' schools; 11. Calls upon the Transitional Authority and all Afghan groups, in application of the Bonn Agreement: (a) To respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, birth, descent or other status; (b) To adhere strictly to their obligations under human rights instruments and international humanitarian law, inter alia, in relation to the treatment of prisoners; (c) To implement fully demobilization and social reintegration activities, including those related to war-affected children; (d) To facilitate the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims of grave violations and abuses of human rights and of international humanitarian law and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards and in particular with a view to combating impunity; (e) To treat all suspects and convicted or detained persons in accordance with relevant international law and to refrain from acts of arbitrary detention in violation of international law; (f) To facilitate the voluntary and orderly return in safety and dignity of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons and their reintegration; 12. Welcomes the establishment of the Ministry of Women's Affairs, and encourages the Transitional Authority to provide the necessary support and resources to enable the Ministry to function effectively; 13. Urges the Transitional Authority to give high priority to the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. to end, without delay, all violations of the human rights of women and girls and to take urgent measures to ensure fully: (a) The repeal of any legislative, institutional and other measures in place that discriminate against women and girls and those that impede the realization of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; (b) The full, equal and effective participation of women in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life throughout the country at all levels; (c) Respect for the equal right of women to work and their reintegration into employment in all sectors and at all levels of Afghan society; (d) The equal right of women and girls to education without discrimination, the effective functioning of schools throughout the country and the admission of women and girls to educational programmes at all levels; (e) Respect for the equal right of women and girls to security of person, including in the private sphere, and to ensure that those responsible for physical attacks on women are brought to justice; (f) The equal right of women and girls to access to health care; 14. Notes with deep concern the severity of the humanitarian crisis that still affects the country and the existence of millions of Afghan internally displaced persons and refugees; 15. Recognizes the huge burden shouldered by neighbouring countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan, expresses its appreciation of the efforts made in those host countries to ease the plight of Afghan refugees, and encourages them to continue cooperating with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to that end; 16. Welcomes the contributions of donors to meet the requirements of the Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People 2002, urges them to fulfil promptly the funding commitments made at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held at Tokyo on 21 and 22 January 2002, and invites them to provide additional resources beyond those pledged at that Conference; 17. Urges the international community to provide continuing assistance to ensure an effective transition, consistent with the National Development Framework, from humanitarian assistance to the establishment of a longer-term social and economic recovery, with a view to meeting, in particular, the needs of internally displaced persons and returnees; 18. Welcomes the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other United Nations agencies to achieve the voluntary return of 1.7 million refugees, calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to continue implementing its plans for the voluntary and orderly repatriation of refugees in safety and dignity, in close cooperation with the Transitional Authority and with the support of other relevant United Nations agencies, and appeals to the international community to provide additional assistance for a durable solution to this problem; 19. Notes with appreciation the activities carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations throughout the territory of Afghanistan; 20. Appeals to Member States, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, specialized agencies and other international organizations to ensure that all United Nations operations integrate a gender perspective, including in the selection of personnel for their management, and that women benefit equally with men from such programmes; 21. Urges the Transitional Authority and all Afghan groups to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all foreign and local United Nations and associated personnel, as well as of all foreign and local personnel of humanitarian organizations, and their safe and unimpeded access to all affected populations; 22. Also urges the Transitional Authority and all Afghan groups to guarantee the access of all Afghans to aid and to educational and health facilities without discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, birth, descent or other status; 23. Calls upon the Transitional Authority and all Afghan groups to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and all other special rapporteurs who request invitations to visit Afghanistan, and to facilitate their access to all sectors of society and to all parts of the country; 24. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur; (b) To ensure, in consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the integration of a human rights capacity in the context of United Nations activities in Afghanistan, and also to ensure that the protection and promotion of human rights is central to the purposes and functions of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and that the Mission is fully equipped to implement effectively its human rights responsibilities under the terms of the Bonn Agreement; 25. Invites the Special Rapporteur to provide updated reports, as appropriate, on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights; 26. Decides to keep the situation of human rights in Afghanistan under consideration at its fifty-eighth session, in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council. RESOLUTION 57/235 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/235. International trade and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/182 of 20 December 2000 and 56/178 of 21 December 2001 on international trade and development, Recalling also the Plan of Action adopted at the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held at Bangkok from 12 to 19 February 2000,TD/390, part II. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, Taking note of the outcome of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,A/C.2/56/7, annex. and noting that the Fifth Ministerial Conference, to be held at Cancún, Mexico, in September 2003, will take stock of progress in the negotiations, Recalling the provisions of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. dealing with trade and related development issues, as well as the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development, held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Reiterating the importance of continued trade liberalization in developed and developing countries, including in sectors of export interest to developing countries, and bearing in mind paragraph 10 of resolution 55/182, Recalling that the domestic efforts made by many developing countries in recent years to reshape their economies, in particular by autonomous trade liberalization, will be more effective if they are matched by enhanced and predictable market access for their main export priorities in goods and services and by effective support for the development of their supply capacity, and bearing in mind in this regard paragraph 28 of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Noting the proposals made to implement the work programme of the World Trade Organization, including those to liberalize international agricultural and non-agricultural trade, Noting also the significant contribution of the multilateral trading system to economic growth, development and employment, and the importance of maintaining the process of reform and liberalization of trade policies, as well as the importance of rejecting the use of protectionism so that the system plays its full part in promoting recovery, growth and development, in particular of developing countries, Recalling that, to benefit fully from trade, which in many cases is the single most important external source of development financing, the establishment and enhancement of appropriate institutions and policies in developing countries, as well as in countries with economies in transition, are needed, and that, in this context, enhanced market access, balanced rules and well-targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for developing countries also play important roles, 1. Reaffirms the commitments of the Ministerial Declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade OrganizationA/C.2/56/7, annex. to place the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the work programme adopted in the Declaration and to continue to make positive efforts designed to ensure that developing countries, especially the least developed among them, secure a share in the growth of world trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development; 2. Takes note of the in-depth review undertaken by the Trade and Development Board with respect to developments and issues in the post-Doha work programme of particular concern to developing countries and its contribution to an understanding of the actions required to help developing countries secure beneficial and meaningful integration into the multilateral trading system and the global economy and to achieve a balanced, development-oriented and successful outcome at the end of the Doha process; 3. Also takes note, in this regard, of the relevant work of other international organizations; 4. Expresses its concern about the adoption of a number of unilateral actions that are not consistent with rules of the World Trade Organization, harm the exports of all countries, in particular those of developing countries, and have a considerable bearing on the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations and on the achievement and further enhancement of the development dimension of the trade negotiations; 5. Acknowledges the measures taken to increase market access consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization for some developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries, and further recognizes the importance of enhanced and predictable access to all markets for the exports of developing countries; 6. Considers that, in the context of the current world economic situation, the multilateral trading system should be reinforced by achieving a balanced outcome of the Doha negotiations that responds to the interests of all members of the World Trade Organization, in particular developing countries, by giving concrete shape to the development-related provisions of the work programme of the World Trade Organization and by working to ensure that the concerns of developing countries, in particular in terms of implementation issues and special and differential treatment, are properly and effectively addressed in accordance with the Ministerial Declaration adopted at Doha, as amended by the action of the General Council of the World Trade Organization; 7. Reiterates the need for the deadlines in the negotiating process, as established in the Ministerial Declaration adopted at Doha,See A/C.2/56/7, annex, paras. 45 and 46. and as amended by the General Council of the World Trade Organization, to be respected; 8. Recognizes that trade rules and issues in the post-Doha framework should have a clear development content, and in this regard: (a) Expresses its determination to take concrete action to address issues and concerns that have been raised by many developing country members regarding the implementation of some agreements and decisions of the World Trade Organization, including the difficulties and resource constraints that have been encountered in the implementation of obligations in various areas; (b) Affirms that provisions for special and differential treatment are an integral part of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations by which the World Trade Organization was established and that all special and differential treatment provisions should be reviewed with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational, and notes the importance of paragraph 12.1 (i) of the Decision on Implementation-related Issues and Concerns of 14 November 2001, adopted by the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization;WT/MIN(01)/17. Available on the Internet at http://docsonline.wto.org. (c) Affirms that ongoing negotiations should aim at clarifying and improving disciplines in the areas of anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing measures, taking into account the needs of developing countries, including the least developed countries, while preserving the basic concepts, principles and effectiveness of those agreements and their instruments and objectives; (d) Considers that, in the area of agriculture, without prejudging their outcome, the commitment to the comprehensive negotiations initiated under article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). referred to in the Ministerial Declaration adopted at Doha and aimed at substantial improvements in market access, reductions of all forms of export subsidies with a view to phasing them out and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support, should be fulfilled, while agreeing that the provisions for special and differential treatment for developing countries should be an integral part of all elements of the negotiations and should be embodied in the schedules of concession and commitments and, as appropriate, in the rules and disciplines to be negotiated, so as to be operationally effective and to enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs, including food security and rural development, takes note of the non-trade concerns reflected in the negotiating proposals submitted by members of the World Trade Organization, and confirms that non-trade concerns would be taken into account in the negotiations as provided for in the Agreement on Agriculture, in accordance with the Ministerial Declaration; (e) Considers that negotiations in trade in services should be conducted with a view to promoting the economic growth of all trading partners and the development of developing and least developed countries, that there should be no a priori exclusion of any service sector or mode of supply and that special attention should be given to sectors and modes of supply of export interest to developing countries, and recognizes the work already undertaken in the negotiations and the large number of proposals submitted by members on a wide range of sectors and on several horizontal issues, as well as on movement of natural persons; (f) Reaffirms the commitments made with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsSee Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7).in a manner supportive of public health and promotion of access to medicine for all, including full and timely implementation of the Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public Health, adopted by the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization on 14 November 2001;WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available on the Internet at http://docsonline.wto.org. 9. Acknowledges the seriousness of the concerns expressed by the least developed countries in the Zanzibar Declaration, adopted by their ministers responsible for trade in July 2001, and recognizes that the integration of the least developed countries into the multilateral trading system requires meaningful market access, support for the diversification of their production and export-base and trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building; 10. Stresses the importance of facilitating the accession of all developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, that apply for membership in the World Trade Organization, bearing in mind paragraph 21 of resolution 55/182 and subsequent developments; 11. Reaffirms the commitments made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization held at Doha and at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/11 and 12. and in this regard calls upon developed countries that have not already done so to work towards the objective of duty-free, quota-free market access for all least developed countries' exports, and notes that consideration of proposals for developing countries to contribute to improved market access for least developed countries would also be helpful; 12. Also reaffirms the commitment to actively pursue the work programme of the World Trade Organization with respect to addressing the trade-related issues and concerns affecting the fuller integration of small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system in a manner commensurate with their special circumstances and in support of their efforts towards sustainable development, in accordance with paragraph 35 of the Ministerial Declaration adopted at Doha; 13. Further reaffirms the commitment to full and faithful implementation of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7).and calls for further progress in its implementation, which is a necessary and inherent condition of full implementation of the agreements arising from the Uruguay Round; 14. Stresses the importance of clarifying and improving disciplines and procedures under the existing provisions of the World Trade Organization applying to regional trade agreements in accordance with the relevant mandate of the Fourth Ministerial Conference, taking into account the developmental aspects of those agreements, and urges the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandates, to provide technical inputs in this respect; 15. Also stresses the importance of the Doha mandate for negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products, which should aim to reduce or, as appropriate, eliminate tariffs, including the reduction or elimination of tariff peaks, high tariffs and tariff escalation, as well as non-tariff barriers, in particular on products of export interest to developing countries, and reaffirms that preferences granted to developing countries pursuant to the Decision of the Contracting Parties on Differential and More Favourable Treatment, Reciprocity and Fuller Participation of Developing Countries of 28 November 1979 ("Enabling Clause")L/4903. Available on the Internet at http://docsonline.wto.org. should be generalized, non-reciprocal and non-discriminatory; 16. Recognizes the importance for developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition of considering reducing trade barriers among themselves; 17. Notes the health and environment-related measures that have an impact on exports, stresses that the adoption or enforcement of any measures necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health should not be applied in a manner that would constitute arbitrary or unjustified discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade, and recognizes the importance of capacity-building support for developing countries so as to enable them to put in place the appropriate measures necessary for meeting standards consistent with the World Trade Organization; 18. Encourages support for measures to simplify and to make more transparent the domestic regulations and procedures that affect trade, so as to assist exporters, particularly those from developing countries; 19. Stresses the importance of increased participation of developing countries in the work of relevant international standards-setting organizations and of increased technical assistance and capacity-building in this regard; 20. Expresses its satisfaction with the renewed and increased cooperation between the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Trade Organization as well as with the joint efforts to provide trade-related technical assistance, calls for a further strengthening of this cooperation, and stresses, in this respect, the importance of continuing and enhancing the implementation of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Programme of Capacity-building and Technical Cooperation for Developing Countries, Especially the Least Developed Countries, and Economies in Transition, in Support of their Participation in the World Trade Organization Doha Work Programme;See UNCTAD/RMS/TCS/1. 21. Invites, in this regard, donors and other countries in a position to do so to continue to provide the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development with the necessary resources to deliver effective and demand-driven assistance to developing countries, especially least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, and to small and vulnerable economies, as well as to continue and enhance their contributions to the trust funds of the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries and the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme and to the activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development/World Trade Organization International Trade Centre; 22. Also invites donors and other countries in a position to do so to make voluntary contributions to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund of the World Trade Organization, and further invites the World Trade Organization to cooperate closely with other organizations having the necessary expertise and comparative advantage in delivering technical assistance; 23. Invites bilateral and multilateral financial and development institutions, in cooperation with interested Governments and their financial institutions, to expand and coordinate their efforts, with increased resources, to further support national efforts to benefit from trade opportunities and effectively integrate into the multilateral trading system; 24. Reaffirms the commitment on the part of developed and developing countries to mainstream appropriate trade policies in their respective development policies and programmes; 25. Calls upon the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, within its mandate, to contribute to the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. 1, resolution 2, annex. and welcomes the cooperation on trade, environment and development, inter alia, in the field of technical assistance to developing countries, among the secretariats of the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and other relevant international developmental and environmental organizations; 26. Endorses the outcomes of the mid-term review of the work of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,See A/57/15 (Part II). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 15. which was aimed at reviewing the implementation of the commitments and of the work programme agreed upon at the tenth session of the Conference, and reiterates its profound gratitude to the Government and people of Thailand for hosting the mid-term review; 27. Welcomes the generous offer by the Government of Brazil to host the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 2004, and takes note of the invitation addressed to the Secretary-General of the Conference to prepare the draft provisional agenda and the timetable for the Conference for consideration by the Trade and Development Board in the first quarter of 2003; 28. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on developments in the multilateral trading system, under the sub-item entitled "International trade and development". RESOLUTION 57/236 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/236. Commodities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/183 of 20 December 2000, and stressing the urgent need to ensure its full implementation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Taking note also of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/CONF.191/11. and The Least Developed Countries Report, 2002,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.D.13. Taking note further of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Taking note of the targets set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action of the World Food SummitFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the outcome document of the World Food Summit: five years later,Ibid., Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. which reaffirms the pledge to end hunger, Taking note also of the Ministerial Declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,A/C.2/56/7, annex. Taking note with concern of the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on world commodity trends and prospects,A/57/381, annex. which examines the downward trend of most commodity prices,Ibid., sect. I.B. Reiterating the importance of maximizing the contribution of the commodity sector to economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing with diversification efforts in developing countries, especially commodity-dependent countries, and bearing in mind paragraph 6 of resolution 55/183, Recognizing that commodity-dependent developing countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries, as well as small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, are highly dependent on primary commodities as their principal source of export revenues, employment, income-generation and domestic savings, and as the driving force of investment, economic growth and social development, Recognizing also that structural changes in international commodity markets, particularly the increasing concentration in trade and distribution, constitute new challenges for commodity producers and exporters in developing countries, Recognizing further that agriculture plays a crucial role in addressing the needs of a growing global population and is inextricably linked to poverty eradication, especially in developing countries, and recognizing also that enhancing the role of women at all levels and in all aspects of rural development, agriculture, nutrition and food security is imperative and, furthermore, that sustainable agriculture and rural development are essential for the implementation of an integrated approach to increasing food production and enhancing food security and food safety in an environmentally sustainable way, Expressing deep concern about the negative effects of unfavourable weather conditions on the supply side of most commodity-dependent developing countries, the continuing depressed levels of most commodity prices and the dramatic falls in recent years in prices of commodities of particular interest to developing countries, which adversely affect the economic growth of commodity-dependent developing countries, especially countries in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, Expressing its concern about the difficulties experienced by the developing countries in financing and implementing viable diversification programmes, which are essential for sustainable development and for attaining access to markets for their commodities, Emphasizing the need for a domestic industrial transformation of commodity production in the developing countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries, with a view to enhancing productivity and stabilizing and increasing their export earnings, thus promoting the sustainable economic growth of developing countries and their integration into the global economy, Recognizing that commodity prices are an important element for heavily indebted poor countries that are commodity-dependent in maintaining long-term debt sustainability, 1. Emphasizes the need for efforts by the developing countries that are heavily dependent on primary commodities to continue to promote a domestic policy and an institutional environment that encourage diversification and liberalization of the trade and export sectors and enhance competitiveness; 2. Expresses the urgent need for supportive international policies and measures to improve the functioning of commodity markets through efficient and transparent price-formation mechanisms, including commodity exchanges, and through the use of viable and effective commodity price risk management instruments; 3. Expresses its concern at the declining terms of trade for most primary commodities, in particular for net exporters of such commodities, as well as the lack of progress in many developing countries in achieving diversification, and in this regard strongly emphasizes the need for actions at both the national and international levels, inter alia, to improve market access conditions, address supply-side constraints and provide support for capacity-building, including in areas that actively involve women; 4. Urges Governments and invites international financial institutions to continue to assess the effectiveness of the systems for compensatory financing of export-earnings shortfalls, and in this regard stresses the importance of empowering developing country commodity producers to insure themselves against risk, including natural disasters; 5. Urges the developed countries to continue to support the commodity diversification and liberalization efforts of commodity-dependent developing countries, especially those in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in a spirit conducive to promoting a common purpose and efficiency, inter alia, by providing technical and financial assistance for their commodity diversification programmes; 6. Urges producers and consumers of individual commodities to intensify their efforts to reinforce mutual cooperation and assistance; 7. Reiterates the importance of maximizing the contribution of the commodity sector to economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing with diversification efforts in developing countries, in particular commodity-dependent developing countries, especially those in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, and, in this respect, stresses that: (a) International support for efforts by developing countries in the industrial transformation of their commodities is required to increase their export revenues and improve their competitiveness, with a view to facilitating their integration into the global economy; (b) In the area of agriculture, it is important to fulfil, without prejudging the outcome of the negotiations, the commitment for comprehensive negotiations initiated under article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). referred to in the Ministerial Declaration adopted at Doha,See A/C.2/56/7, annex, para. 13. and aimed at substantial improvements in market access; reductions of all forms of export subsidies, with a view to phasing them out; substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support; pursuing negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products aimed at reducing or, as appropriate, eliminating tariffs, including the reduction or elimination of tariff peaks, high tariffs, and tariff escalation, as well as non-tariff barriers, in particular on products of export interest to developing countries; and implementing other relevant areas of the World Trade Organization work programme; (c) In line with the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. mutual supportiveness between the multilateral trading system and the multilateral environmental agreements, consistent with sustainable development goals, should be promoted in support of the work programme agreed through the World Trade Organization, while recognizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of both sets of instruments; (d) In the light of the process of multilateral trade liberalization, which has led to the diminution of differentials accorded by preferred trade regimes, there is a need to take measures, as appropriate and consistent with international obligations, to address that diminution, in particular by strengthening technical assistance, by continuing to provide financial assistance to commodity-dependent developing countries and by addressing supply-side constraints faced by these countries, in order to improve the competitiveness of their commodity sectors and to overcome difficulties encountered in their diversification programmes; (e) Timely and effective financial cooperation should be maintained and further pursued to facilitate the management by commodity-dependent developing countries, especially those in Africa and the least developed countries, as well as small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, of excessive fluctuations in commodity export earnings, and in this regard stresses that it is important to pursue diversification as part of a long-term solution; (f) Strengthening technical cooperation in the areas of transfer of new technologies and know-how in production processes and training for technical, managerial and commercial staff in developing countries is of paramount importance for quality improvements in the commodity sector; (g) Expansion of South-South trade and investment in commodities enhances complementarities and offers opportunities for intersectoral linkages within and among exporting countries; (h) There is a need to promote, expand and intensify research and development, to provide infrastructure, enterprise development, technology and support services and to encourage investment, including joint ventures in developing countries engaged in the commodity and commodity-processing sectors; 8. Underlines the need to strengthen the Common Fund for Commodities, and encourages it, in cooperation with the International Trade Centre, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant bodies, to continue to strengthen the activities covered by its Second Account in developing countries with its supply chain concept of improving access to markets and reliability of supply, enhancing diversification and value addition, improving competitiveness of commodities, strengthening the market chain, improving market structures, broadening the export base and ensuring the effective participation of all stakeholders; 9. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, within its mandate, to provide assistance to developing countries in promoting commodity diversification and to include issues related to commodities in the provision of analytical support and technical assistance to developing countries in respect of their effective participation in multilateral trade negotiations; 10. Encourages efforts to promote cooperation between relevant international organizations on commodity issues; 11. Calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, within existing budgetary resources, supplemented by voluntary contributions as appropriate, to designate independent eminent persons to examine and report on commodity issues, including the volatility in commodity prices and declining terms of trade and the impact these have on the development efforts of commodity-dependent developing countries, for consideration by the Trade and Development Board at its executive session and, subsequently, by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 12. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on world commodity trends and prospects, taking into account, inter alia, the current report thereonA/57/381, annex. and the subsequent consideration requested in paragraph 11 above; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "Commodities". RESOLUTION 57/237 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/237. Global biotechnology forum: Chile 2003 The General Assembly, Underlining that intergovernmental cooperation in science and technology is an important tool with which to enhance international cooperation, Stressing that international cooperation, including North-South as well as South-South cooperation, is an important means of offering viable opportunities to developing countries in their individual and collective pursuit of sustainable development, and of ensuring their effective and meaningful participation in the emerging global economic system, Recalling the relevant provisions of the Convention on Biological DiversityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. as well as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity,See UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. Recalling also the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Taking note of decision IDB.26/Dec.8 adopted by the Industrial Development Board of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization at its twenty-sixth session, held at Vienna from 19 to 21 November 2002,See GC.10/3, annex I. 1. Takes note of the proposal by the Government of Chile to host a global biotechnology forum in December 2003 for multi-stakeholder discussions under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in cooperation with other relevant organizations, and to take adequate measures towards its successful organization; 2. Encourages interested Member States to work with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, inter alia, through regional preparatory meetings and discussions with the Secretariat, to ensure that the forum has realistic objectives and produces useful outcomes, as related to the mandate of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in its medium-term programme framework, 2002-2005; 3. Also encourages interested Member States to consider providing financial or other support to the forum and/or to the regional preparatory meetings; 4. Invites the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to include in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a section on the outcomes of the forum. RESOLUTION 57/238 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/238. World Summit on the Information Society The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/183 of 21 December 2001, Recalling also the Meeting of the General Assembly devoted to information and communication technologies for development, held in New York on 17 and 18 June 2002,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Plenary Meetings, 101st to 104th meetings (A/56/PV.101-104), and corrigenda. Welcoming the preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society undertaken at the national and regional levels, and encouraging all countries to intensify their work, Welcoming also the regional conference held in Bamako from 25 to 30 May 2002, in the context of the preparatory process of the Summit, Welcoming further the establishment of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on the Information Society, and encouraging Member States to support it in accomplishing its task, Welcoming the convening of the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee, held at Geneva from 1 to 5 July 2002, Welcoming also the decision of the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force to contribute actively to the preparatory process for the Summit and, to that end, to hold its next meeting at Geneva on 21 and 22 February 2003, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General containing the report of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union on the ongoing preparatory process for the World Summit on the Information Society;A/57/71-E/2002/52 and Add.1. 2. Invites the Member States concerned to participate actively in the regional conferences to be held under the auspices of the regional commissions in Bucharest in November 2002 and in Bávaro, Dominican Republic, and Tokyo in January 2003; 3. Encourages non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to contribute further to, and actively participate in, the intergovernmental preparatory process for the Summit and in the Summit itself, according to the modalities of participation established by the Preparatory Committee; 4. Encourages all relevant United Nations bodies and other intergovernmental organizations, including international and regional institutions, as well as the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, to enhance their cooperation in and support to the preparatory process for the Summit; 5. Recommends that the occasion of the World Summit on the Information Society be used for arranging events related to the Summit; 6. Recommends also that, while addressing the whole range of relevant issues related to the information society, all actors involved adopt a coordinated approach to addressing the needs of all countries, including developing countries, in particular the least developed countries; 7. Requests the International Telecommunication Union, in the context of its leading managerial role in the preparatory process for the Summit, in close cooperation with the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and in coordination with other information offices of the United Nations system, to launch a public information campaign to raise global awareness of the Summit, within the existing resources and through voluntary contributions; 8. Reiterates its call to the international community to make voluntary contributions to the special trust fund established by the International Telecommunication Union to support the preparations for and the holding of the Summit, as well as to facilitate the effective participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in the regional meetings to be held in the first half of 2003, the preparatory meetings to be held in 2003 and the Summit itself; 9. Invites countries to send representation at the highest political level to the Summit, which will be held at Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and at Tunis in 2005; 10. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to inform all heads of State and Government about the importance of the forthcoming Summit; 11. Invites the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union to submit to the General Assembly for information, at its fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth sessions, through the Economic and Social Council, a report on the preparations for the Summit. RESOLUTION 57/239 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Yugoslavia. 57/239. Creation of a global culture of cybersecurity The General Assembly, Noting the growing dependence of Governments, businesses, other organizations and individual users on information technologies for the provision of essential goods and services, the conduct of business and the exchange of information, Recognizing that the need for cybersecurity increases as countries increase their participation in the information society, Recalling its resolutions 55/63 of 4 December 2000 and 56/121 of 19 December 2001 on establishing the legal basis for combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, Recalling also its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001 and 57/53 of 22 November 2002 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, Aware that effective cybersecurity is not merely a matter of government or law enforcement practices, but must be addressed through prevention and supported throughout society, Aware also that technology alone cannot ensure cybersecurity and that priority must be given to cybersecurity planning and management throughout society, Recognizing that, in a manner appropriate to their roles, government, business, other organizations, and individual owners and users of information technologies must be aware of relevant cybersecurity risks and preventive measures and must assume responsibility for and take steps to enhance the security of these information technologies, Recognizing also that gaps in access to and the use of information technologies by States can diminish the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating the criminal misuse of information technology and in creating a global culture of cybersecurity, and noting the need to facilitate the transfer of information technologies, in particular to developing countries, Recognizing further the importance of international cooperation for achieving cybersecurity through the support of national efforts aimed at the enhancement of human capacity, increased learning and employment opportunities, improved public services and better quality of life by taking advantage of advanced, reliable and secure information and communication technologies and networks and by promoting universal access, Noting that, as a result of increasing interconnectivity, information systems and networks are now exposed to a growing number and a wider variety of threats and vulnerabilities which raise new security issues for all, Noting also the work of relevant international and regional organizations on enhancing cybersecurity and the security of information technologies, 1. Takes note of the elements annexed to the present resolution, with a view to creating a global culture of cybersecurity; 2. Invites all relevant international organizations to consider, inter alia, these elements for the creation of such a culture in any future work on cybersecurity; 3. Invites Member States to take into account these elements, inter alia, in their efforts to develop throughout their societies a culture of cybersecurity in the application and use of information technologies; 4. Invites Member States and all relevant international organizations to take, inter alia, these elements and the need for a global culture of cybersecurity into account in their preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held at Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and at Tunis in 2005; 5. Stresses the necessity to facilitate the transfer of information technology and capacity-building to developing countries, in order to help them to take measures in cybersecurity. Annex Elements for creating a global culture of cybersecurity Rapid advances in information technology have changed the way Governments, businesses, other organizations and individual users who develop, own, provide, manage, service and use information systems and networks ("participants") must approach cybersecurity. A global culture of cybersecurity will require that all participants address the following nine complementary elements: (a) Awareness. Participants should be aware of the need for security of information systems and networks and what they can do to enhance security; (b) Responsibility. Participants are responsible for the security of information systems and networks in a manner appropriate to their individual roles. They should review their own policies, practices, measures and procedures regularly, and should assess whether they are appropriate to their environment; (c) Response. Participants should act in a timely and cooperative manner to prevent, detect and respond to security incidents. They should share information about threats and vulnerabilities, as appropriate, and implement procedures for rapid and effective cooperation to prevent, detect and respond to security incidents. This may involve cross-border information-sharing and cooperation; (d) Ethics. Given the pervasiveness of information systems and networks in modern societies, participants need to respect the legitimate interests of others and recognize that their action or inaction may harm others; (e) Democracy. Security should be implemented in a manner consistent with the values recognized by democratic societies, including the freedom to exchange thoughts and ideas, the free flow of information, the confidentiality of information and communication, the appropriate protection of personal information, openness and transparency; (f) Risk assessment. All participants should conduct periodic risk assessments that identify threats and vulnerabilities; are sufficiently broad-based to encompass key internal and external factors, such as technology, physical and human factors, policies and third-party services with security implications; allow determination of the acceptable level of risk; and assist in the selection of appropriate controls to manage the risk of potential harm to information systems and networks in the light of the nature and importance of the information to be protected; (g) Security design and implementation. Participants should incorporate security as an essential element in the planning and design, operation and use of information systems and networks; (h) Security management. Participants should adopt a comprehensive approach to security management based on risk assessment that is dynamic, encompassing all levels of participants' activities and all aspects of their operations; (i) Reassessment. Participants should review and reassess the security of information systems and networks and should make appropriate modifications to security policies, practices, measures and procedures that include addressing new and changing threats and vulnerabilities. RESOLUTION 57/23 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/565, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Netherlands. 57/23. Establishment of the International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/33 of 25 November 1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11 December 1995, 51/207 of 17 December 1996, 52/160 of 15 December 1997, 53/105 of 8 December 1998, 54/105 of 9 December 1999, 55/155 of 12 December 2000 and 56/85 of 12 December 2001, Noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted on 17 July 1998Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and entered into force on 1 July 2002, Noting also that the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court, established in accordance with resolution F of the Final Act of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court,Ibid., sect. B. held its ninth and tenth sessions from 8 to 19 April and from 1 to 12 July 2002, respectively, and thus successfully completed its mandate in accordance with that resolution, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted at the Millennium Assembly,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government stressed the importance of the International Criminal Court, Reiterating the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1. Calls upon all States that are not yet parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. to consider ratifying it or acceding to it without delay, and encourages efforts aimed at promoting awareness of the results of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, held in Rome from 15 June to 17 July 1998, the provisions of the Statute and the process leading to the establishment of the International Criminal Court; 2. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, First session, New York, 3-10 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.V.2 and corrigendum), part II.E. without delay; 3. Welcomes the important work accomplished by the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court in the completion of its mandate in accordance with resolution F of the Rome Conference; 4. Welcomes also the holding of the first session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court from 3 to 10 September 2002 and the adoption of a number of important instruments by the Assembly;Rules of Procedure and Evidence; Elements of Crimes; rules of procedure of the Assembly of States Parties; financial regulations and rules; Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court; basic principles governing a headquarters agreement to be negotiated between the Court and the host country; a draft relationship agreement between the Court and the United Nations; budget for the first financial period of the Court; resolution on continuity of work in respect of the crime of aggression; resolution on the procedure for the nomination and election of judges, the Prosecutor and Deputy Prosecutors of the International Criminal Court; resolution on the procedure for election of the judges for the International Criminal Court; resolution on the establishment of the Committee on Budget and Finance; resolution on the procedure for the nomination and election of members of the Committee on Budget and Finance; resolution on the establishment of a fund for the benefit of victims of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court, and of the families of such victims; resolution on the procedure for the nomination and election of members of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for the benefit of victims; resolution on provisional arrangements for the secretariat of the Assembly of States Parties; resolution on a permanent secretariat of the Assembly of States Parties; resolution on the selection of the staff of the International Criminal Court; resolution on relevant criteria for voluntary contributions to the International Criminal Court; resolution on budget appropriations for the first financial period and financing of appropriations for the first financial period; resolution on the Working Capital Fund for the first financial period; resolution on scales of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the International Criminal Court; resolution on crediting contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund to Support the Establishment of the International Criminal Court; decision on provision of funds for the Court; decision on interim arrangements for the exercise of authority pending the assumption of office by the Registrar; decision on the participation of the International Criminal Court in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; and decision on seating arrangements for States Parties. 5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/403. in particular paragraphs 12 to 15 indicating the decision of the Assembly of States Parties to resume its first session from 3 to 7 February and from 21 to 23 April 2003 and to hold the meeting of the Committee on Budget and Finance from 4 to 8 August 2003 and the second session of the Assembly of States Parties from 8 to 12 September 2003, all of which are to be held at United Nations Headquarters; 6. Recognizes the need to make available, on a provisional basis, adequate resources and secretariat services for the Assembly of States Parties to enable it to discharge its functions efficiently and expeditiously; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake the preparations necessary for holding the meetings referred to in paragraph 5 above in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to make available to those meetings secretariat services for the necessary preparatory work as well as for any post-session follow-up actions; 9. Further requests the Secretary-General to take steps to expand the mandate of the trust fund established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 51/207 for voluntary contributions towards meeting the costs of participation of the least developed countries in the work of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides that the costs of services rendered to the Assembly of States Parties that may accrue to the United Nations as a result of the implementation of the present resolution shall be paid in advance to the Organization; 12. Expresses its appreciation to States that made voluntary contributions to the first session of the Assembly of States Parties in accordance with paragraph 10 of resolution 56/85; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "International Criminal Court". RESOLUTION 57/240 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.4, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/240. Enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problems of developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/164 of 16 December 1996, 52/185 of 18 December 1997, 53/175 of 15 December 1998, 54/202 of 22 December 1999, 55/184 of 20 December 2000 and 56/184 of 21 December 2001 on enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problems of developing countries, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on external debt crisis and development,A/57/253. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which recognizes sustainable debt financing as an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, Noting with great concern that the continuing debt and debt-servicing problems of the heavily indebted poor developing countries constitutes an element that adversely affects their sustainable development efforts, and noting in this regard that the total debt stock of the developing countries rose from 1,458 billion dollars in 1990 to 2,442 billion dollars in 2001,See A/57/253, table. Noting with concern that some highly indebted, middle-income developing countries are facing serious difficulties in meeting their external debt-servicing obligations, Welcoming the progress made on the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative designed to provide deeper, broader and faster relief, while recognizing that significant challenges remain to ensure that countries achieve a lasting exit from unsustainable debt, Welcoming also the actions taken by creditor countries within the framework of the Paris Club and by some creditor countries through the cancellation of bilateral debts, and urging all creditor countries to participate in efforts to remedy the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, 1. Reaffirms the determination, as expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of low- and middle-income developing countries, through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term; 2. Recognizes that creditors and debtors must share the responsibility for preventing and resolving unsustainable debt situations and that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with attaining sustainable growth and development, including poverty reduction and the achievement of the development goals set out in the Millennium Declaration, and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 3. Stresses that sustainable debt financing is an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, and that national comprehensive strategies to monitor and manage the external liabilities embedded in the domestic preconditions for debt sustainability, including sound macroeconomic policies and public resource management, are a key element in reducing national vulnerabilities; 4. Recalls the call on industrialized countries, as expressed in the Millennium Declaration, to implement the enhanced programme of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries without further delay and to agree to cancel all official bilateral debts of those countries in return for their making demonstrable commitments to poverty reduction, including through poverty reduction strategy papers, where appropriate, and in this regard welcomes the decision of those countries that have already done so, emphasizing that debt relief complementary to the framework be treated as additional; 5. Calls upon the heavily indebted poor countries to take, as soon as possible, the policy measures necessary to become eligible for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and to reach the decision point; 6. Stresses the need to pursue, where appropriate, debt relief measures vigorously and expeditiously, by all creditors, including within the Paris and London Clubs and other relevant forums, so as to contribute to debt sustainability and facilitate sustainable development; 7. Welcomes initiatives that have been undertaken to reduce outstanding indebtedness; 8. Calls upon the international community, including the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions as well as the private sector, to take appropriate measures and actions for the implementation of the commitments, agreements and decisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits, in particular those relating to the question of the external debt problem of developing countries, and in this regard stresses the need: (a) To implement speedily, effectively and fully the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, which should be fully financed through additional resources, while stressing the need for fair, equitable and transparent burden-sharing among the international public creditor community and other donor countries, and take into consideration, as appropriate, measures to address any fundamental changes in the economic circumstances of those developing countries that have an unsustainable debt burden caused by natural catastrophes, severe terms-of-trade shocks or conflict, taking into account initiatives that have been undertaken to reduce outstanding indebtedness; (b) To bring about a sustained commitment on the part of the heavily indebted poor countries to improvements in domestic policies and economic management, to support capacity-building for the management of financial assets and liabilities, to ensure full participation and delivery of relief by all affected creditors, to ensure adequate and sufficiently concessional financing by international financing institutions and the donor community, and to consider an early review of the difficult issues of HIPC-to-HIPC debt relief and creditor litigation; (c) To bring international debtors and creditors together in relevant international forums to restructure unsustainable debt in a timely and efficient manner, taking into account the need to involve the private sector in the resolution of crises due to indebtedness, where appropriate; (d) To acknowledge the problems of the debt sustainability of some low-income countries that are not heavily indebted, in particular those facing exceptional circumstances; (e) To reduce the unsustainable debt burden of developing countries through such actions as debt relief and, as appropriate, debt cancellation and other innovative mechanisms geared to comprehensively addressing the debt problems of developing countries, in particular the poorest and most heavily indebted ones; (f) To encourage exploring innovative mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problems of developing countries, including middle-income countries, and countries with economies in transition; such mechanisms may include debt-for-sustainable-development swaps, or multi-creditor debt swap arrangements, as appropriate; (g) To establish effective debt-tracking mechanisms in developing countries and strengthen technical assistance for external debt management and debt tracking, including through enhanced cooperation and coordination between organizations providing assistance in this regard; (h) To take steps to ensure that resources provided for debt relief do not detract from official development assistance resources intended to be available for developing countries and that the debt relief arrangements seek to avoid imposing any unfair burden on other developing countries; (i) To welcome consideration by all relevant stakeholders of an international debt-work-out mechanism, in the appropriate forums, the adoption of which should not preclude emergency financing in times of crisis, to promote fair burden-sharing and minimize moral hazard, which will engage debtors and creditors to come together to restructure unsustainable debts in a timely and efficient manner; (j) To establish a set of clear principles for the management and resolution of financial crises that provide for fair burden-sharing between the public and private sectors and among debtors, creditors and investors, while recognizing that a flexible mix of instruments is needed to respond appropriately to the varying economic circumstances and capacities of different countries; 9. Stresses the importance of continued flexibility with regard to the eligibility criteria for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, in particular for countries in post-conflict situations, and the need to keep the computational procedures and assumptions underlying debt sustainability analysis under review; 10. Emphasizes the need to help bring about initial recovery in heavily indebted poor post-conflict countries, in coordination with the international financial institutions, to help clear, as appropriate, the arrears of those countries vis-à-vis international financial institutions; 11. Reaffirms that reviews of debt sustainability should also bear in mind the impact of debt relief on progress towards the achievement of the development goals set out in the Millennium Declaration and the fact that debt sustainability analysis at the completion point needs to take into account any worsening global growth prospects and declining terms of trade; 12. Notes that it is important for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to continue their efforts to strengthen the transparency and integrity of debt sustainability analysis and to consider any fundamental changes in countries' debt sustainability caused by natural catastrophes, severe terms-of-trade shocks or conflict when making policy recommendations, including for debt relief, as appropriate; 13. Stresses the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of developing countries in debt management, calls upon the international community to support the efforts made towards this end, and in this regard stresses the importance of such initiatives as the Debt Management and Financial Analysis System,The Debt Management and Financial Analysis System is a computerized system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition to develop appropriate administrative, institutional and legal structures for effective foreign and domestic public debt management. By December 2002, the system had been installed in the debt offices of sixty countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. the International Monetary Fund and World Bank guidelines for public debt management,See www.imf.org/external/np/mae/pdebt/2000/eng/index.htm. and the debt-management capacity-building programme; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, inter alia, those resulting from global financial instability; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "External debt crisis and development". RESOLUTION 57/241 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.5, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/241. International financial system and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/186 of 20 December 2000 and 56/181 of 21 December 2001, both entitled "Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity", Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, which was adopted by the Conference on 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. as well as the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"), which was adopted on 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Reiterating that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends on good governance within each country and at the international level, and stressing that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation, and that transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and the commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system are equally essential, Emphasizing that the international financial system should support sustainable development, sustained economic growth and poverty reduction and allow for the mobilization, in a coherent manner, of all sources of financing for development, including the mobilization of domestic resources, international flows, trade, official development assistance and external debt relief, Expressing its concern about the fact that developing countries have made net outward transfers of financial resources over the last five years, and underlining the need for measures at the national and international levels to reverse this trend, while taking note of efforts to this end that have been made thus far, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/151. 1. Expresses its concern about the difficulties of the present world economic situation, stresses the importance of confronting it through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions, and underlines the importance of continued efforts to improve global economic governance and strengthen the United Nations leadership role in promoting development; 2. Stresses the importance of strong domestic institutions to promote business activities and financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors; 3. Stresses also the special importance of creating an enabling international economic environment through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to promote equitable economic development in a world economy that benefits all people, and in this context invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized countries, which have significant weight in influencing world economic growth, when formulating their macroeconomic policies, to take into account their effects in terms of an external economic environment favourable to growth and development; 4. Underlines the importance of promoting financial stability, and reiterates that measures to mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows and to improve transparency of and information about financial flows are important and must be considered; 5. Notes that important international efforts are under way to reform the international financial architecture, emphasizes that those efforts need to be sustained with greater transparency and with the effective participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and that one major objective of the reform is to enhance financing for development and poverty eradication, and underscores furthermore the commitment, set forth in paragraph 53 of the Monterrey Consensus,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. to sound domestic financial sectors, which make a vital contribution to national development efforts, as an important component of an international financial architecture that is supportive of development; 6. Takes note of the communiqué of the joint International Monetary Fund/World Bank Development Committee of 28 September 2002, in particular its paragraph 10, on the need to identify pragmatic and innovative ways to enhance further the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international decision-making and norm-setting, and encourages all relevant international financial institutions to take concrete measures to this end; 7. Invites the International Monetary Fund to continue its work on quotas, and welcomes the continuing consideration by the Fund of its quota review and the reiteration by the International Monetary and Financial Committee that the Fund should have adequate resources to fulfil its financial responsibilities and that quotas should reflect developments in the international economy; 8. Underlines the importance of adopting effective measures, including new financial mechanisms, as appropriate, to support the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable development, poverty reduction and the strengthening of their democratic systems, while reaffirming that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development, and that national policies have the leading role in the development process; 9. Stresses the need for multilateral financial institutions, in providing policy advice and financial support, to work on the basis of sound, nationally-owned paths of reform that take into account the needs of the poor and efforts to reduce poverty, and to pay due regard to the special needs and implementing capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, aiming at economic growth and sustainable development, and that the advice should take into account social costs of adjustment programmes, which should be designed to minimize negative impacts on the vulnerable segments of society, and underscores the importance in this regard of gender-sensitive employment and poverty eradication policies and strategies; 10. Invites the multilateral, regional and subregional development institutions to complement national efforts to strengthen domestic financial and regulatory systems with a view to creating a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate, thus attracting and enhancing inflows of productive capital, thereby contributing to increasing economic growth and eradicating poverty; 11. Invites the multilateral and regional development banks to continue to play a vital role in serving the development needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to contribute to providing an adequate supply of finance to countries that are challenged by poverty, follow sound economic policies and may lack adequate access to capital markets, and to mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of financial markets, and underlines that strengthened regional development banks and subregional financial institutions add flexible financial support to national and regional development efforts, enhancing ownership and overall efficiency, and that they serve as a vital source of knowledge and expertise on economic growth and development for their developing member countries; 12. Stresses the need for structural reforms to strengthen corporate governance, accounting and auditing, in particular when inadequate policies can have systemic consequences; 13. Emphasizes that it is essential to ensure the effective and equitable participation of developing countries in the formulation of financial standards and codes, and in this regard underscores that it is also essential to ensure implementation, on a voluntary and progressive basis, as a contribution to reducing vulnerability to financial crisis and contagion, and stresses the need for the International Monetary Fund to strengthen further its surveillance of all economies, with particular attention to short-term capital flows and their impact; 14. Notes the impact of financial crisis or risk of contagion in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, regardless of their size, and in this regard underlines the need to ensure that the international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, have a suitable array of financial facilities and resources to respond in a timely and appropriate way in accordance with their policies; 15. Stresses, in the consideration of any new debt resolution mechanism, the importance of a broad discussion in the appropriate forums, with the participation of all interested actors, welcomes the steps taken by the international financial institutions to take into account social aspects and the borrowing costs for developing countries, encourages them to continue their efforts in that regard, and reiterates that the adoption of such a mechanism should not preclude emergency financing in times of crisis; 16. Encourages the exploration of ways of generating new public and private innovative sources of finance for development purposes, provided that those sources do not unduly burden developing countries, and takes note of the proposal of using special drawing rights allocations for development purposes, set forth in paragraph 44 of the Monterrey Consensus; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "International financial system and development". RESOLUTION 57/242 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/529/Add.6, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/242. Preparations for the International Ministerial Conference on Transit Transport Cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government recognized the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries, urged both bilateral and multilateral donors to increase financial and technical assistance to that group of countries in order to meet their particular development needs and to help them to overcome the impediments of geography by improving their transit transport systems, and resolved to create an environment, at the national and global level alike, conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty, Recalling also its resolution 56/180 of 21 December 2001, in which it requested the Secretary-General, within the existing resources of the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 and voluntary contributions, to convene in 2003 an international ministerial meeting of landlocked and transit developing countries and donor countries and international financial and development institutions on transit transport cooperation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: preparatory process for the International Ministerial Meeting on Transit Transport Cooperation",A/57/340. 1. Welcomes and accepts the generous offer of the Government of Kazakhstan to host the international meeting referred to in resolution 56/180, which is henceforth to be known as the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation; 2. Decides that the International Ministerial Conference should be convened at Almaty on 28 and 29 August 2003; 3. Also decides that the open-ended intergovernmental preparatory committee for the Conference will hold two sessions, that the sixth Meeting of Governmental Experts from Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Representatives of Donor Countries and Financial and Development Institutions, to be held in New York from 23 to 27 June 2003, will serve as the first session and will address both substantive and organizational matters, including those relating to the election of the bureau and the format of the Conference, and that the Meeting of Senior Officials, to be held at Almaty from 25 to 27 August 2003, will serve as the second session; 4. Further decides that the intergovernmental preparatory committee shall have a bureau consisting of ten representatives of Member States elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation; 5. Designates the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States as the Secretary-General of the Conference; 6. Requests the Secretary-General of the Conference, in close cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Bank, to organize all the sessions of the intergovernmental preparatory committee; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General of the Conference, in close cooperation with the regional commissions, to organize intergovernmental regional and subregional meetings, where applicable, and decides that these regional and subregional meetings should finalize their work at the latest by April 2003 in order to make a substantive contribution to the work of the intergovernmental preparatory committee; 8. Invites the Secretary-General of the Conference to make the necessary arrangements, on the basis of consultations with Member States, to facilitate the meaningful participation of civil society, including the private sector, in the preparatory process and in the Conference itself, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Economic and Social Council; 9. Invites the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the regional commissions, the international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank, and other relevant regional and international organizations and the international community to provide the necessary substantive, financial and technical support to the preparatory process and organization of the Conference and to participate actively therein; 10. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to submit a report on the outcomes of the regional and subregional meetings, prepared in consultation with relevant regional and international organizations, for the consideration of the preparatory committee, no later than 15 May 2003; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to seek voluntary contributions to facilitate the preparations for the Conference and, in particular, the participation of representatives of landlocked developing countries, transit developing countries and the least developed countries in the intergovernmental preparatory meetings and in the Conference itself; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of concerned organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to launch a public information campaign, within the existing resources of the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 and with voluntary contributions, to raise public awareness of the objectives and significance of the Conference; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the outcome of the Conference. RESOLUTION 57/243 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/530, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/243. Industrial development cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/151 of 18 December 1991, 49/108 of 19 December 1994, 51/170 of 16 December 1996, 53/177 of 15 December 1998 and 55/187 of 20 December 2000 on industrial development cooperation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the outcomes of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,A/C.2/56/7, annex. the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,A/CONF.191/11 and 12. the International Conference on Financing for Development, held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Noting that the United Nations Industrial Development Organization has been awarded by the Global Environment Facility Council the status of an executing agency with expanded opportunities of the Global Environment Facility, Recognizing the role of the business community, including the private sector, in enhancing the dynamic process of the development of the industrial sector, and underlining the importance of the benefits of foreign direct investment in that process, Recognizing also the importance of the transfer of technology to the developing countries and countries with economies in transition as an effective means of international cooperation in the pursuit of poverty eradication and sustainable development, Taking note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization,See A/57/184. and welcoming the process of reform that has led to the more efficient work of the organization and the value of the conclusions contained therein, and encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to enhance its effectiveness, 1. Reiterates that industrialization is a key element in the promotion of the sustainable development of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and in the creation of productive employment, value-added income generation and, thus, the eradication of poverty, as well as in the facilitation of social integration, including the integration of women into the development process; 2. Underlines the importance of industrial development cooperation and a positive investment and business climate at the international, regional, subregional and national levels in promoting the expansion, diversification and modernization of productive capacities in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of a favourable international and national environment for the industrialization of developing countries, and urges all Governments to adopt and to implement development policies and strategies that promote, within a framework of transparent and accountable industrialization policies, inter alia, enterprise development, foreign direct investment, technological adaptation and innovation, expanded access to markets and effective use of official development assistance to enable developing countries to enhance an environment that is attractive to investment, so as to augment and supplement domestic resources for the expansion, diversification and modernization of their industrial production capacity in the context of an open, equitable, non-discriminatory, transparent, multilateral and rule-based international trading system; 4. Confirms the contribution of industry to social development, especially in the context of the linkages between industry and agriculture, and notes that, within the totality of these interlinkages, industry serves as a powerful source of the employment generation, income creation and social integration required for the eradication of poverty; 5. Acknowledges the interlinkage of globalization and interdependence, and reiterates the importance of the transfer of technology to developing countries and countries with economies in transition as an effective means of international cooperation in the field of industrial development; 6. Calls for the continuing use of official development assistance for industrial development in the developing countries and countries with economies in transition, calls upon donor countries and recipient countries to continue to cooperate in their efforts to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness of official development assistance resources devoted to industrial development cooperation and to support the efforts of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to promote industrial development cooperation among themselves, and underlines the importance of mobilizing funds for industrial development at the country level, including private funding and funds from relevant development finance institutions; 7. Reiterates the importance of cooperation and coordination within the United Nations system in providing effective support for the sustainable industrial development of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to carry out its central role in the field of industrial development according to its mandate; 8. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to enhance its effectiveness, relevance and development impact by, inter alia, strengthening its cooperation with other institutions of the United Nations system at all levels; 9. Calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to participate actively in coordination at the field level through the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework processes and sectorwide approaches; 10. Welcomes the membership of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in the United Nations Development Group; 11. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to implement appropriate projects funded through the Global Environment Facility, particularly where these involve the transfer of technology; 12. Welcomes the current discussions among the States members of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization on programme priorities and the substance of programmes, aimed at helping the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to become a more focused, effective and efficient organization capable of delivering concrete outcomes, and to gain better recognition and stronger support in the international community; 13. Requests the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to facilitate industrial development with emphasis on initiatives to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular least developed countries and landlocked developing countries; 14. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to contribute actively to the achievement of the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, with a view to strengthening the industrialization process in Africa; 15. Also encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to further develop its global forum capacity according to its mandate, with the aim of enhancing, in the context of the globalization process, a common understanding of global and regional industrial sector issues and their impact on poverty eradication and sustainable development, and calls for further strengthening of the demand-driven integrated programme approach at the field level; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/244 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/530, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/244. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/205 of 22 December 1999 on the prevention of corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds, 55/61 of 4 December 2000 on an effective international legal instrument against corruption, 55/188 of 20 December 2000 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and illegal transfer of funds and repatriation of such funds to the countries of origin and 56/186 of 21 December 2001 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin, Deeply concerned about the seriousness of problems posed by corrupt practices and transfer of funds and assets of illicit origin, which may endanger the stability and security of societies, undermine the values of democracy and civil ethics and jeopardize social, economic and political development, particularly when an inadequate national and international response leads to impunity, Recalling the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which underlined that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority, Underlining the fact that preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds is an important element in the effective mobilization and allocation of resources for development in affected developing countries and in supporting their aims of poverty eradication and sustainable development, Emphasizing the responsibility of Governments to adopt policies at the national and international levels aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices, transfer of funds and assets of illicit origin and facilitating the return of such funds and assets to the countries of origin, Recognizing the importance of international cooperation and instruments of international and national laws and legislation for combating corruption, bribery and money-laundering in international commercial transactions, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on prevention of corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin;A/57/158 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Encourages all Governments to combat corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of illicitly acquired funds and assets and to work for the return of such funds and assets to the countries of origin, after request and due process, and welcomes the actions at the national and international levels taken by some Governments in this regard; 3. Notes the ongoing work of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption, whose terms of reference were adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/260 of 31 January 2002, and urges an early completion of those negotiations to allow for the adoption of the convention by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, and the celebration of the high-level political conference, to be held in Mexico by the end of 2003, for the purpose of signing the convention; 4. Calls for all efforts to promote good public and corporate governance at all levels, which is essential for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development worldwide; 5. Also calls, while recognizing the importance of national measures, for further international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in support of efforts by Governments to prevent and address the transfer of funds of illicit origin, as well as to return such funds and assets to the countries of origin; 6. Requests the international community to support national efforts to strengthen human and institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks for preventing corruption, bribery, money laundering and the transfer of funds and assets of illicit origin, and to assist in the return of such funds and assets to the countries of origin; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on this matter at its fifty-eighth session; 8. Decides to keep the matter under review and to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session a sub-item entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such assets to the countries of origin" under the item entitled "Sectoral policy questions". RESOLUTION 57/245 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/531/Add.5, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/245. International Year of Mountains, 2002 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/24 of 10 November 1998, in which it proclaimed 2002 as the International Year of Mountains, Recalling also its resolution 55/189 of 20 December 2000, Recognizing chapter 13 of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and all relevant paragraphs of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular paragraph 42 thereof, as the overall policy frameworks for sustainable mountain development, Noting the voluntary International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, launched during the World Summit on Sustainable Development with the committed support of twenty-nine countries, sixteen intergovernmental organizations and sixteen organizations from the major groups, as an important approach to addressing the various interrelated dimensions of sustainable mountain development, Taking note of the Bishkek Mountain Platform, the outcome document of the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit, held at Bishkek from 28 October to 1 November 2002, which was the concluding event of the International Year of Mountains, 1. Takes note of the interim report transmitted by the Secretary-General on the International Year of Mountains, 2002;A/57/188. 2. Welcomes the success achieved during the International Year of Mountains, during which numerous activities and initiatives were undertaken at all levels, including major international meetings held in Bhutan, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, India, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Peru and Switzerland, which catalysed a strengthened interest for sustainable development and poverty eradication in mountain regions; 3. Recommends that the experience gained during the International Year of Mountains be valued in the context of an appropriate follow-up; 4. Notes with appreciation the effective role played by Governments, as well as major groups, academic institutions and international organizations and agencies, in the activities related to the International Year of Mountains, including the establishment of seventy-four national committees; 5. Also notes with appreciation the work undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as the lead agency for the International Year of Mountains, as well as the valuable contributions made by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations University, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Children's Fund; 6. Encourages Governments, the United Nations system, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility, within its mandate, and all relevant stakeholders from civil society organizations and the private sector to provide support, including through voluntary financial contributions, to the local, national and international programmes and projects resulting from the International Year of Mountains; 7. Invites the international community and other relevant partners to consider joining the voluntary International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions; 8. Notes that all stakeholders in the voluntary International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions have initiated a consultative process, with a view to determining the best options for further assisting stakeholders in the implementation of the Partnership, including through consideration of the offer made by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to host a secretariat financed through voluntary contributions; 9. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to continue their constructive collaboration in the context of the follow-up to the International Year of Mountains, taking into account the inter-agency group on mountains, and the need for the further involvement of the United Nations system, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations University, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, international financial institutions and other relevant international organizations, consistent with the mandates specified in the Bishkek Mountain Platform; 10. Decides to designate 11 December as International Mountain Day, as from 11 December 2003, and encourages the international community to organize on this day events at all levels to highlight the importance of sustainable mountain development; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the achievements of the International Year of Mountains, under a sub-item entitled "Sustainable mountain development" of the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 57/246 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/531/Add.1, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/246. Implementation of the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance and continuing validity of the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, contained in the annex to its resolution S-18/3 of 1 May 1990, and of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 45/199 of 21 December 1990, Recalling its resolutions 54/206 of 22 December 1999, 55/190 of 20 December 2000 and 56/191 of 21 December 2001, Recalling also the outcomes of all major United Nations conferences and summit meetings held since the beginning of the 1990s, Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the targets and commitments relating to development and poverty eradication, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/216 and Corr.1. 1. Conveys its appreciation to the President of the General Assembly for having undertaken consultations with Member States, as foreseen in its resolution 54/206, on the draft text of an international development strategy for the first decade of the new millennium submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session; 2. Decides that a final decision on the need for an international development strategy for the first decade of the new millennium will be taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the basis of the outcome of the ad hoc working group on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summit meetings in the economic, social and related fields; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session with an overview of the challenges and constraints to, as well as the progress made towards, the achievement of the major development goals and objectives adopted by the United Nations during the past decade; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development and international economic cooperation", the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on International Economic Cooperation, in particular the Revitalization of Economic Growth and Development of the Developing Countries, and implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade". RESOLUTION 57/247 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/531/Add.2, para. 5)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Yugoslavia. 57/247. Integration of the economies in transition into the world economy The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 47/187 of 22 December 1992, 48/181 of 21 December 1993, 49/106 of 19 December 1994, 51/175 of 6 December 1996, 53/179 of 15 December 1998 and 55/191 of 20 December 2000, Reaffirming also the importance of the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming further the need for the full integration of the countries with economies in transition into the world economy, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/288. Noting the progress made in those countries towards achieving macroeconomic and financial stability and economic growth in the course of structural reforms and the need to sustain those positive trends in the future, Noting also that in some economies in transition progress has been more difficult and that international assistance is still needed to support their efforts in further building solid social and economic institutions, and to ensure that they are fully integrated into the world economy, Recognizing the difficulties faced by the countries with economies in transition in responding adequately to the challenges of globalization, including in the field of information and communication technologies, and the need to enhance their capacity to utilize effectively the benefits and mitigate the negative implications of globalization, Recognizing also the continuing need to ensure favourable conditions for market access of exports from countries with economies in transition, in accordance with multilateral trade agreements, Recognizing further the important role foreign direct investment should play in those countries, and stressing the need to create an enabling environment, both domestically and internationally, to attract more foreign direct investment to those countries, Noting the aspiration of the countries with economies in transition towards the further development of regional and interregional cooperation, 1. Welcomes the measures taken by the organizations of the United Nations system to implement General Assembly resolutions on the integration of the economies in transition into the world economy; 2. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, in collaboration with relevant non-United Nations multilateral and regional institutions, to continue to conduct analytical activities and provide policy advice and technical assistance to the Governments of the countries with economies in transition aimed at strengthening the social, legal and political framework for completing market-oriented reforms with a view to sustaining the positive trends and reversing any declines in the economic and social development of those countries, and, in this regard, emphasizes the importance of their further integration into the world economy, taking into account, inter alia, the relevant provisions of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, with particular focus on an analysis that would determine the progress achieved in the integration of countries with economies in transition into the world economy. RESOLUTION 57/248 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/531/Add.3, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America and Yemen. 57/248. Year of Kyrgyz Statehood The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/22 of 4 November 1998 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Recalling also its resolution 49/129 of 19 December 1994 on the commemoration of the millennium of the Kyrgyz national epic, Manas, Recalling further its resolution 56/8 of 21 November 2001 on the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, 2002, Stressing the importance of promoting education and raising public awareness in order to foster respect for national cultures, the cultural heritage of the world and civilizational diversity, which is essential for strengthening global peace and implementing international cooperation, Noting the richness of Kyrgyz culture and its national, regional and international significance, 1. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to declare 2003 as the Year of Kyrgyz Statehood and to organize activities in celebration of the Year; 2. Invites Member States, the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other international and intergovernmental organizations, as well as regional and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to take part in the events being organized by the Kyrgyz Republic to celebrate the year 2003. RESOLUTION 57/249 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/531/Add.3, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/249. Culture and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/187 of 8 December 1986, 46/158 of 19 December 1991, 51/179 of 16 December 1996, 52/197 of 18 December 1997, 53/184 of 15 December 1998 and 55/192 of 20 December 2000 on culture and development, Encouraged by the positive international response to the results of the work of the World Commission on Culture and Development and of the Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at Stockholm from 30 March to 2 April 1998, Recalling its resolution 56/8 of 21 November 2001, by which it proclaimed 2002 as the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, Recalling also its resolution 53/22 of 4 November 1998 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations and its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations containing the Programme of Action and the objectives, principles and participants thereof, and recognizing that, in the light of recent events, the United Nations should give greater weight and visibility to the theme of dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, since the protection of cultural diversity is closely linked to the larger framework of the dialogue among civilizations and cultures and its ability to achieve genuine mutual understanding, solidarity and cooperation, Encouraged by the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"), adopted on 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, also adopted on 4 September 2002,Ibid., resolution 1, annex. which urges the promotion of dialogue and cooperation among the world's civilizations and peoples, irrespective of race, disabilities, religion, language, culture or tradition, Underlining the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and universal promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, are mutually supportive, and recognizing that tolerance and respect for diversity effectively promote and are supported by, inter alia, the empowerment of women, Emphasizing the need to enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful coexistence, 1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of resolution 55/192;See A/57/226. 2. Notes with satisfaction the adoption by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of the medium-term strategy for 2002-2007, which directs the work of the organization on two cross-cutting themes, namely, the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, and the contribution of information and communication technologies to the development of education, science and culture and the construction of a knowledge society, and is based upon the notion that culture may contribute effectively to the reduction of poverty; 3. Welcomes the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, adopted by the General Conference at its thirty-first session on 2 November 2001,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. and also welcomes the main lines of the Action PlanIbid., annex II. for the implementation of the Declaration appended thereto; 4. Proclaims 21 May the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, echoing the World Day for Cultural Development commemorated during the World Decade for Cultural Development; 5. Invites all Member States, intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system and relevant non-governmental organizations: (a) To ensure, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the implementation of the Action Plan; (b) To implement the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace adopted by the General Assembly, respectively, in its resolutions 53/243 A and B of 13 September 1999; (c) To implement the Programme of Action of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations contained in section B of resolution 56/6; (d) To implement relevant provisions on cultural diversity of the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development;Ibid., resolution 1, annex. (e) To strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in supporting national efforts of developing countries: (i) To gain access to new technologies; (ii) To receive help in mastering information technologies with a view to encouraging the production, safeguarding and dissemination of diversified contents in the media and global information networks, and, to that end, to promote the role of public radio and television services in the development of audio-visual productions of good quality, in particular by fostering the establishment of cooperative mechanisms to facilitate their distribution; (iii) To establish cultural industries that are viable and competitive at the national and international levels, in the face of the current imbalance in the flow and exchange of cultural goods at the global level; (f) To assist in the emergence or consolidation of cultural industries in the developing countries, and, to that end, to cooperate in developing the necessary infrastructures and skills, fostering the emergence of viable local markets; (g) To acknowledge the importance of preserving and developing cultural heritage, including by encouraging the strengthening of domestic policies in the fields of protection, incentive and promotion of the various cultures, mainly the most vulnerable; (h) To formulate policies pertaining to tangible and intangible cultural heritage, taking into account, in particular, resolution 56/8, by which the Assembly proclaimed 2002 as the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage; (i) To assess the interconnection between culture and development and the elimination of poverty in the context of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006); (j) To raise public awareness of the value and importance of cultural diversity, and, in particular, to encourage, through education and the media, knowledge of the positive value of cultural diversity, inter alia, as regards languages; (k) Within the framework of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People and based on the main lines of the Action Plan,Ibid., annex II. to strengthen efforts towards the prioritization of the adoption of national policies that recognize the contribution of traditional knowledge, particularly with regard to environmental protection and the management of natural resources, fostering synergies between modern science and local knowledge and recognizing the traditional and direct dependence on renewable resources and ecosystems, including in the form of sustainable harvesting, that is essential to the cultural, economic and physical well-being of indigenous people and their communities; 6. Encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue its work to promote greater awareness of the crucial relationship between culture and development and the important role of information and communication technologies in this relationship; 7. Also encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in conjunction, as appropriate, with other relevant United Nations bodies and multilateral development institutions, to continue to provide support, upon request, to developing countries, in particular as regards national capacity-building and access to information and communication technologies, for the implementation of international cultural conventions, including with regard to conservation of heritage and the protection of cultural property, and for the return or restitution of cultural property, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/97 of 14 December 2001, on the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant United Nations bodies and multilateral development institutions, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/24 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/566, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored by the representative of Egypt. 57/24. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/56/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Recalling further that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Considering the desirability of finding practical ways and means to strengthen the Court, taking into consideration, in particular, the needs resulting from its increased workload, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/57/370. Recalling its resolution 56/86 of 12 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/57/33). Noting with appreciation the work done by the Special Committee to encourage States to focus on the need to prevent and to settle peacefully their disputes which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/57/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 7 to 17 April 2003; 3. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2003, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2003; (b) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter by commencing a substantive debate on all of the related reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303 and A/57/165 and Add.1. and the proposals submitted on the question; (c) To keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States; (d) To continue to consider proposals concerning the Trusteeship Council in the light of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 50/55 of 11 December 1995,A/50/1011. the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform"A/51/950 and Add.1-7. and the views expressed by States on this subject at previous sessions of the Assembly; (e) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 4. Takes note of paragraph 57 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/370. commends the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to reduce the backlog in the publication of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, and endorses the efforts of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 5. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2003 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations; 6. Notes the readiness of the Special Committee, in the context of its consideration of the subject of assistance to working groups on the revitalization of the work of the United Nations and coordination between the Special Committee and other working groups dealing with the reform of the Organization, to provide, within its mandate, such assistance as may be sought at the request of other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly in relation to any issues before them; 7. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 57/250 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/531/Add.4, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/250. High-Level Dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/165 of 21 December 1993, 49/95 of 19 December 1994, 50/122 of 20 December 1995, 51/174 of 16 December 1996, 52/186 of 18 December 1997, 53/181 of 15 December 1998, 54/213 of 22 December 1999, 55/193 of 20 December 2000 and 56/190 of 21 December 2001, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "High-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership",A/57/388. Recalling its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, which was adopted on 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recalling also the commitment to strengthen and make fuller use of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council for the purposes of conference follow-up and coordination, Reaffirming the importance of continuing the dialogue to be conducted in response to the imperative of solidarity, mutual interests and benefits, genuine interdependence and partnership in promoting international economic cooperation for development, and that the United Nations system should reinforce its activities in order to facilitate such a dialogue, Stressing the importance of staying fully engaged, nationally, regionally and internationally, to ensure proper follow-up to the implementation of agreements and commitments reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development and to continue to build bridges between development, finance and trade organizations and initiatives, within the framework of the holistic agenda of the Conference, Stressing also the importance of substantively connecting, in ascending order, the spring high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, which will address the issue of coherence, coordination and cooperation, and the reconstituted High-Level Dialogue in the General Assembly, which will serve as the focal point for the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development and will include a policy dialogue on the implementation of the results of the Conference, including the theme of coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems in support of development, Recognizing the link between financing for development and attaining internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in measuring development progress and helping to guide development priorities, as well as achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development, bearing in mind the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 1. Stresses that the High-Level Dialogue, as the intergovernmental focal point for the general follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development and related issues, should contribute to promoting coherence among policies of development, finance and monetary and trade organizations within the framework of the holistic agenda of the Conference with respect to eradicating poverty and achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development and an equitable global economic system; 2. Decides to reconstitute the current high-level dialogue on strengthening international cooperation for development through partnership as the High-Level Dialogue on financing for development so that it may become the intergovernmental focal point for the general follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development and related issues; 3. Also decides to hold the High-Level Dialogue biennially at the ministerial level; 4. Agrees to hold the High-Level Dialogue at the end of October 2003 on a specific date to be determined by the President of the General Assembly, after consultations with relevant stakeholders, so as to facilitate ministerial participation and the participation of heads of international financial and trade institutions and other relevant organizations; 5. Decides that the overall theme of the High-Level Dialogue will be "The Monterrey Consensus: status of implementation and tasks ahead"; 6. Also decides that the duration of the High-Level Dialogue will be two days and that it will consist of an innovative series of plenary and informal meetings to constitute a policy dialogue and interactive round tables with the participation of the relevant stakeholders. The Dialogue should be well prepared, including through appropriate intergovernmental consultations. The two days will consist of: (a) The first day, devoted to informal meetings for eight interactive round tables, with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, following the format applied for the Monterrey Conference round tables as applicable, divided into two sessions, each comprising four round tables of thirty-five participants with the following two themes: • One for consideration of the regional dimensions of the implementation of the results of the International Conference on Financing for Development, with participation of the heads of regional commissions and regional development banks, and other stakeholders; • The other to explore the link between the progress in the implementation of the agreements and commitments reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, in particular those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and the promotion of sustainable development, sustained economic growth and the eradication of poverty with a view to achieving an equitable global economic system; (b) The second day, consisting of formal and informal meetings, constituting a policy dialogue with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, chaired by the President of the General Assembly, on the implementation of the results of the International Conference on Financing for Development and the theme of coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems in support of development, which will also consider the collaborative tasks ahead. The Secretary-General and the heads of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme as the Chairman of the United Nations Development Group, as well as one representative of the regional development banks, will be invited to make introductory statements. An interactive dialogue will follow during an informal meeting, on the understanding that the principle of precedence will be strictly applied, allowing participation at the ministerial level. The heads of regional and international intergovernmental organs that participated in the Monterrey Conference will be able to intervene. One representative from civil society and one representative from the business sector, selected by accredited participants among themselves, will also be able to intervene; 7. Further decides to hold, prior to the High-Level Dialogue, one day of informal hearings with representatives of civil society and the business sector accredited to the Dialogue, and requests the Secretariat to submit a summary of those hearings as an input to the discussions to be held at the Dialogue; 8. Decides that a resolution on the implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development will be adopted by the General Assembly based, inter alia, on the outcome of the High-Level Dialogue and its preparatory process, and in this regard, as inputs to the resolution, requests the President of the General Assembly to issue a summary of the policy dialogue and the co-Chairpersons of individual round tables to issue summaries of each round-table discussion; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, prior to the High-Level Dialogue, an issues paper containing an annotated agenda and programme of work to assist in organizing the Dialogue; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to make available at the High-Level Dialogue relevant inputs related to financing for development from all stakeholders, including the documents of the Economic and Social Council covering its annual spring high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization and relevant work at its substantive session, the annual report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up efforts to the commitments of the International Conference on Financing for Development and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration; 11. Encourages Governments, the United Nations system and all other relevant stakeholders at all levels to support adequate preparations for the High-Level Dialogue on financing for development; 12. Invites the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization as well as relevant organizations of the United Nations system to participate in the High-Level Dialogue, including in the preparatory phase, and invites the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the World Bank, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization and the heads of other relevant regional and international intergovernmental organs to participate actively in the Dialogue; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, in close cooperation with all relevant entities of the United Nations, including the regional commissions, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Development Programme, in consultation with the regional development banks, other relevant regional entities, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, to support regional consultations in preparations for the High-Level Dialogue; 14. Invites Governments to enhance coordination among ministries of foreign affairs, finance, development cooperation and trade, as well as central banks and all other national stakeholders, for the implementation of the Monterrey ConsensusReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and related issues and the follow-up thereto, including preparations for the High-Level Dialogue; 15. Encourages greater participation of non-governmental organizations and business sector entities at the interactive round tables and informal meetings of the plenary of the High-Level Dialogue in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, and decides that: (a) Accreditation will be open to: (i) All non-governmental organizations that are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council; (ii) All non-governmental organizations and business sector entities that were accredited to the International Conference on Financing for Development; (b) Interested non-governmental organizations and business sector entities that are not in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council or were not accredited to the International Conference on Financing for Development shall apply to the General Assembly for accreditation following the accreditation procedure established during the International Conference on Financing for Development;See resolutions 54/279 and 55/245 B. (c) The above arrangements concerning participation of non-governmental organizations and business sector entities in the High-Level Dialogue will in no way create a precedent for other meetings of the General Assembly; 16. Notes that the successfully reconstituted High-Level Dialogue may provide useful experiences for the integrated and coordinated follow-up to conferences; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under an item entitled "Follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development", a sub-item entitled "High-Level Dialogue for the implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development"; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it, before the end of its fifty-eighth session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/251 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.7, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/251. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its seventh special session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, by which it established the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recalling also its resolutions 53/242 of 28 July 1999 and 56/193 of 21 December 2001 on the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-first session, Having considered the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its seventh special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25). Taking into account the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling that in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation the General Assembly was invited to consider, at its fifty-seventh session, the important but complex issue of establishing universal membership for the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme, Underlining the unique role of the General Assembly, as the highest intergovernmental decision-making body of the United Nations, in giving consideration to the issue of establishing universal membership for the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme and, therefore, the need for a thorough analysis by Member States and the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to enable the General Assembly to fully consider all its implications, including legal, political, institutional, financial and system-wide implications, before making a decision, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Environment Programme as the principal body within the United Nations system in the field of environment, which should take into account, within its mandate, the sustainable development needs of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its seventh special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25). and the decisions contained therein; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Ministers or Their Representatives on International Environmental Governance for its report as adopted by the Governing Council at its seventh special session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25), annex I, decision SS.VII/1, appendix. 3. Recalls the decision made at the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 140 (d). to fully implement the outcomes of decision SS.VII/1 on international environmental governance adopted by the Governing Council at its seventh special session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25). 4. Invites Member States, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, and the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to submit to the Secretariat their comments on the important but complex issue of establishing universal membership for the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, including its legal, political, institutional, financial and system-wide implications, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report incorporating those views to the General Assembly for its consideration before its sixtieth session; 5. Reiterates its desire to be informed on the work of the Environmental Management Group; 6. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme, within its mandate, to continue to contribute to sustainable development programmes and the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. at all levels, bearing in mind the mandate of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 7. Reiterates the need for stable, adequate and predictable financial resources for the United Nations Environment Programme, and in this regard and in accordance with resolution 2997 (XXVII) underlines the need to consider adequate reflection of all administrative and management costs of the Programme in the context of the United Nations regular budget; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to the Programme and to other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi. RESOLUTION 57/252 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.7, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/252. Activities undertaken in preparation for the International Year of Freshwater, 2003 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/196 of 20 December 2000, in which it proclaimed 2003 the International Year of Freshwater, and its resolution 56/192 of 21 December 2001 on the status of preparations for the International Year of Freshwater, 2003, Recalling also the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, adopted by the General Assembly at its nineteenth special session,Resolution S-19/2, annex. decisions of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 9 (E/1998/29). relating to freshwater, and those contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Noting with interest the partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups and announced at the Summit, Recalling the commitment made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to launch programmes of action, with financial and technical assistance, to achieve the Millennium Development Goal on safe drinking water, namely, to halve by 2015 the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water, as outlined in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2, para. 19. and the goal of the Summit to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 25. Recalling also its resolution 53/199 of 15 December 1998 on the proclamation of international years, Noting the efforts made in preparation for the Third World Water Forum and International Ministerial Conference, to be held in Japan in March 2003, and for the elaboration of the "World Water Development Report", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/132. 1. Welcomes the activities undertaken by States, the Secretariat, and the organizations, programmes and funds of the United Nations system that are engaged in inter-agency work related to freshwater and by major groups in preparation for the observance of the International Year of Freshwater, and encourages them to continue their efforts; 2. Encourages all Member States, relevant international organizations and major groups to support activities related to the Year, inter alia, through voluntary contributions, and to link their relevant activities to the Year; 3. Encourages Member States, the United Nations system and major groups to take advantage of the Year to raise awareness of the essential importance of freshwater resources for satisfying basic human needs and for health and food production and the preservation of ecosystems, as well as for economic and social development in general, and to promote action at the local, national, regional and international levels, and calls for high priority to be given to the serious freshwater problems facing many regions, especially in the developing countries; 4. Encourages voluntary partnerships among Member States, international organizations and major groups to promote activities related to the Year; 5. Calls upon Member States that have not already done so to create national committees or designate focal points in their respective countries to facilitate and promote activities related to the Year at the local and national levels; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to promote closer coordination to elaborate and support proposals and undertake activities related to the Year; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/253 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/253. World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000 and 56/226 of 24 December 2001, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21Ibid., annex II. and the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. Having considered the report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum). Reaffirming, in this regard, the commitment to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and international agreements since 1992, Welcoming the adoption by the Summit of the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Ibid., resolution 2, annex. on 4 September 2002, Expressing its satisfaction that the Summit and its Preparatory Committee provided for the active participation of all States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies, observers and various intergovernmental organizations, including the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, at the highest level, as well as the major groups representing all the regions of the world, Reaffirming the need to ensure a balance between economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, Reaffirming also that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development, Recognizing that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development, Noting with interest the partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups, and announced at the Summit, Expressing its profound gratitude to the Governments and the peoples of Indonesia and South Africa for hosting, respectively, the fourth Preparatory Committee meeting and the Summit, for the excellent arrangements, for the hospitality extended to participants and for the facilities, staff and services placed at their disposal, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development;Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum). 2. Endorses the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 3. Decides to adopt sustainable development as a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and to give overall political direction to the implementation of Agenda 21Ibid., annex II. and its review; 4. Urges Governments and all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, United Nations funds, programmes and regional economic commissions, specialized agencies, international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility, as well as other intergovernmental organizations and major groups, to take timely actions to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 5. Encourages the implementation of partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups, and calls for further discussion of this matter within the Commission on Sustainable Development; 6. Calls for the implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the Summit and, to this end, for the fulfilment of the provisions of the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 7. Requests the Economic and Social Council to ensure that the Commission on Sustainable Development holds an organizational meeting of its next session in January 2003 and its session in April/May 2003; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report containing proposals on the modalities of the future work of the Commission, taking into account the decisions contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 9. Requests the Economic and Social Council to implement the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation relevant to its mandate and, in particular, to promote the implementation of Agenda 21 by strengthening system-wide coordination; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to take into full account the outcomes of the Summit, in particular the decisions made on the institutional framework for sustainable development as contained in chapter XI of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, in the ongoing process of reform of the United Nations and in his contribution to the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development", and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/254 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/254. United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling chapter 36 of Agenda 21, on promoting education, public awareness and training, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Reaffirming the internationally agreed development goal of achieving universal primary education, in particular that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling, Appreciating the contribution made by the Commission on Sustainable Development to the issue of education for sustainable development since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Welcoming the fact that the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation") confirmed the importance of education for sustainable development and recommended that the General Assembly consider adopting a decade of education for sustainable development starting in 2005,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Emphasizing that education is an indispensable element for achieving sustainable development, 1. Decides to proclaim the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2005 the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development; 2. Designates the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the lead agency for the promotion of the Decade, and requests it to develop a draft international implementation scheme, clarifying its relationship with the existing educational processes, in particular the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education ForumSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and the United Nations Literacy Decade,See resolution 56/116. in consultation with the United Nations and other relevant international organizations, Governments, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders, with a view to providing recommendations for Governments on how to promote and improve the integration of education for sustainable development in their respective educational strategies and action plans at the appropriate level; 3. Invites Governments to consider the inclusion of measures to implement the Decade in their respective educational strategies and action plans by 2005, taking into account the international implementation scheme to be prepared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development". RESOLUTION 57/255 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/255. International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/200 of 18 December 1997, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/220 of 22 December 1999, 55/197 of 20 December 2000 and 56/194 of 21 December 2001 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46 of 28 July 1999, 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2000/33 of 28 July 2000, Reaffirming the importance of developing strategies at the national, subregional, regional and international levels that aim to prevent, mitigate and repair the damage caused by natural disasters that result from the El Niño phenomenon, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Noting with interest the partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups, and announced at the Summit, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/189. 2. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Government of Ecuador, in cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization and the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, towards the establishment of the International Centre for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon at Guayaquil, Ecuador, and the announcement made regarding its opening in January 2003, and encourages all parties to continue their joint efforts for the development of the Centre; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General and the relevant funds, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular those taking part in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and encourages the international community, to adopt, as appropriate, the necessary measures to support the establishment of the above-mentioned research Centre at Guayaquil, and invites the international community to provide scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for this purpose, as well as to strengthen, as appropriate, other centres devoted to the study of the El Niño phenomenon; 4. Encourages the Centre, once established, to strengthen its links, as appropriate, with national meteorological and hydrologic services of the Latin American region, the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research and the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, as well as with other relevant regional and global organizations that study climate, such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development, the Drought Monitoring Centre and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, and other relevant centres as appropriate, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the available resources; 5. Invites the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to ensure that measures needed to address more effectively extreme meteorological and hydrologic events like the El Niño phenomenon are considered appropriately in the 2004 review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action;A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the full implementation of its resolutions 52/200, 53/185, 54/220, 55/197 and 56/194 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46, 1999/63 and 2000/33; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 57/256 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/256. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, 49/22 B of 20 December 1994, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/219 of 22 December 1999 and 56/195 of 21 December 2001 and Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/63 of 30 July 1999, and taking note of Council resolution 2001/35 of 26 July 2001, Emphasizing the multisectoral, interdisciplinary and cross-cutting nature of natural disaster reduction, and stressing that continued interaction, cooperation and partnerships among the institutions concerned are considered essential to achieving jointly agreed objectives and priorities, Expressing its deep concern at the increasing number and scale of natural disasters within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries, Recognizing that disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Recalling that the annual observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction is on the second Wednesday of October, Recalling also the results, including the lessons learned, of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, outlined in the Geneva mandate on disaster reduction and the strategy document entitled "A safer world in the twenty-first century: risk and disaster reduction",Adopted at the programme forum on the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, held at Geneva from 5 to 9 July 1999. Reiterating that, although natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, the long-term consequences of natural disasters are especially severe for developing countries and hamper the achievement of their sustainable development, Stressing the need for Governments to continue to cooperate and coordinate their efforts in the field of natural disasters, in line with their respective skills and capacities, from prevention to early warning, response, mitigation, rehabilitation and reconstruction, inter alia, through capacity-building at all levels, where appropriate within the framework for action for the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,A/56/68-E/2001/63 and Corr.1, para. 14. Stressing also the need for Governments to continue to cooperate and coordinate their efforts with the United Nations system, other international organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, in order to ensure effective synergies in the field of natural disasters, Recognizing the urgent need to further develop and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, and emphasizing the need for developing countries to have access to technology so as to tackle natural disasters effectively, Recognizing also the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capacity to cope with disaster risks, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Noting with interest the partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups, and announced at the Summit, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;A/57/190. 2. Welcomes the memorandum of understanding signed between the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the United Nations Development Programme, and encourages the secretariat to pursue the establishment of similar arrangements with other international organizations in order to improve synergies and clarify respective roles; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, to provide specific proposals to Member States for the implementation of the actions on this matter agreed to by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in its Plan of Implementation;Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 4. Decides to take a decision on how to conclude the review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of ActionA/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy, to plan and coordinate, in consultation with Governments and relevant organizations of the United Nations system, including international financial institutions, the 2004 review of the Yokohama Strategy and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session in this regard; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to allocate adequate financial and administrative resources, within existing resources, for the effective functioning of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy; 7. Encourages the international community to provide the necessary financial resources to the Trust Fund for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and to provide the necessary scientific, technical, human and other resources to ensure adequate support for the activities of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction and its working groups; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 57/257 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/257. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/222 of 22 December 1999, its decision 55/443 of 20 December 2000 and its resolution 56/199 of 21 December 2001 and other resolutions relating to the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, Noting that most States and one regional economic integration organization have acceded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. Recalling the provisions of the Convention, including the acknowledgement that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions, Taking into account the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session, held at New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002, Remaining deeply concerned that all countries, particularly developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, face increased risks from the negative impacts of climate change, Noting that, to date, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. has attracted ninety-seven ratifications, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of India for hosting the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties at New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002, Taking note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,See A/57/359. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, preferably by the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 2002, and to embark on the required reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases,Ibid., para. 23. 1. Calls upon States to work cooperatively towards achieving the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 2. Notes that States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. strongly urge the States that have not yet done so to ratify it in a timely manner; 3. Takes note of the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session; 4. Notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and officers of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and encourages cooperation to promote complementarities among the three secretariats while respecting their independent legal status; 5. Invites the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to report in a timely manner to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the work of the Conference of the Parties; 6. Invites the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the sub-item entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind". RESOLUTION 57/258 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/258. World Climate Change Conference The General Assembly, Acknowledging that change in the earth's climate and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind, Acknowledging also that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation, consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. Welcoming the ongoing work in the United Nations system on climate change, in particular within the framework of the Convention, which is the key instrument for addressing this global concern, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Taking into account also the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session, held at New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002, Recognizing with concern the findings of the third assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,Climate Change 2001 (Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, July 2001 and March 2002), four volumes. in which the Panel confirmed that significant cuts in global emissions will be necessary to meet the ultimate objective of the Convention, and recognizing the ongoing consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice of the implications of the report, Reaffirming the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, in which States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. strongly urge States that have not yet done so to ratify it in a timely manner,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 38. Recognizing the need for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities and networks for the exchange of scientific data and information, Stressing that the World Climate Change Conference will be supportive of the Convention process, Noting the importance of broad participation in this process by Governments, parliaments, international and national organizations, the scientific community, the private sector and other representatives of civil society, 1. Welcomes the initiative of the Government of the Russian Federation to convene the World Climate Change Conference at Moscow from 29 September to 3 October 2003 as a forum for the exchange of views among the scientific community, Governments, parliaments, international and national organizations, the private sector and other representatives of civil society and for facilitating the implementation of existing policies related to climate change; 2. Encourages Member States and relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other international and national organizations, parliaments, the scientific community, the private sector and other representatives of civil society, to participate actively in the Conference; 3. Invites Member States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Conference in order to increase awareness of the importance of international efforts to address climate change. RESOLUTION 57/259 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.4, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/259. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/196 of 21 December 2001 and other resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Italy for the organization of the first session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention in Rome, at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, from 11 to 22 November 2002, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Noting with interest the partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups and announced at the Summit, Welcoming the outcomes of the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, held in Beijing from 16 to 18 October 2002, particularly the decision on making land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation, a new focal area of the Facility, Recognizing the strong commitment of the international community, demonstrated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, to make the Facility available as a financial mechanism of the Convention, pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, and in this regard encourages the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, as the supreme body of the Convention, to take the appropriate decision to that effect at its next ordinary session in 2003, Expressing its deep appreciation for the generous offer of the Government of Cuba to host the sixth ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties, to be held at Havana from 25 August to 5 September 2003, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/177. 2. Welcomes the decision taken by the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility that the Facility shall be available to serve as a financial mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, if the Conference of the Parties to the Convention should so decide, and in this regard notes with satisfaction that the Assembly of the Global Environment Facility has requested the Council of the Facility to consider any such decision of the Conference of the Parties with a view to making the necessary arrangements; 3. Invites the Conference of the Parties at its sixth session, in response to the call of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the decision of the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, to consider making the Facility a financial mechanism of the Convention as a means of promoting the availability of financial mechanisms, pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, while recognizing the complementary roles of the Facility and the Global Mechanism in providing and mobilizing resources for the elaboration and implementation of action programmes; 4. Encourages the Conference of the Parties and the Council and Assembly of the Global Environment Facility to continue to collaborate closely and effectively to facilitate the financing of the successful implementation of the Convention by supporting financial mechanisms such as the Facility, so as to fully achieve the objectives of the Convention; 5. Invites the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its May 2003 meeting to finalize and adopt the operational programme for land degradation, particularly desertification and deforestation; 6. Emphasizes that, in the light of the ongoing assessment of the implementation of the Convention, the affected developing countries that are parties to the Convention need the full and effective support of the Global Environment Facility, within its mandate, and other partners for capacity-building and other activities which assist them in meeting their obligations under the Convention; 7. Welcomes the successful and substantial third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund which will provide additional resources necessary to enable the Facility to continue to be responsive to the needs and concerns of its recipient countries; 8. Calls upon all countries and other entities in a position to do so to make additional contributions to the Global Environment Facility; 9. Notes with appreciation the increased number of developing countries that are parties to the Convention and that have adopted their national, subregional and regional action programmes, and urges the affected parties that have not yet done so to accelerate the process of elaboration and adoption of their action programmes, with a view to finalizing them as soon as possible; 10. Invites affected developing countries to place the implementation of their action programmes to combat desertification high among their priorities in their dialogue with their development partners; 11. Notes with satisfaction the steps being taken by affected developing countries that are parties to the Convention, with the assistance of international organizations and bilateral development partners, to implement the Convention and the efforts being made to promote the participation of all actors of civil society in the elaboration and implementation of national action programmes to combat desertification, and in that regard encourages countries to cooperate at the subregional and regional levels, as appropriate; 12. Welcomes the strengthened cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and the Global Mechanism, and encourages further efforts in that regard for the effective implementation of the Convention; 13. Calls upon the international community to continue to contribute to the implementation of action programmes through, inter alia, the conclusion of partnership agreements as well as the bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes that are available to implement the Convention, including contributions from non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and to support the efforts of the developing countries to implement the Convention; 14. Invites all parties to pay promptly and in full the contributions required for the core budget of the Convention for the biennium 2002-2003, and urges all parties that have not yet paid their contributions for the year 1999 and/or the biennium 2000-2001 to do so as soon as possible in order to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the secretariat and the Global Mechanism; 15. Notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and officers of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the Convention to Combat Desertification and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and encourages continuing cooperation to promote complementarities among the three secretariats while respecting their independent legal status; 16. Invites the United Nations Development Programme to implement decision 2000/23 of 29 September 2000 of its Executive Board,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 15 (E/2000/35), part four. pertaining to the cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and the United Nations Development Programme, in order to mainstream activities to combat desertification at the national, subregional and regional levels; 17. Calls upon Governments, and invites multilateral financial institutions, regional development banks, regional economic integration organizations and all other interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously to the General Fund, the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund, in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties,ICCD/COP (1)/11/Add.1 and Corr.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, paras. 7-11. and welcomes the financial support already provided by some countries; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 57/25 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/566, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine. 57/25. Implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions The General Assembly, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Security Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recognizing the desirability of the consideration of further appropriate procedures for consultations to deal in a more effective manner with the problems referred to in Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling: (a) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular paragraph 41 thereof, (b) Its resolution 47/120 A of 18 December 1992, entitled "An Agenda for Peace: preventive diplomacy and related matters", its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, entitled "An Agenda for Peace", in particular section IV thereof, entitled "Special economic problems arising from the implementation of preventive or enforcement measures", and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", in particular annex II thereto, entitled "Question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations", (c) The position paper of the Secretary-General entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. (d) The statement by the President of the Security Council of 22 February 1995,S/PRST/1995/9; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1995. (e) The report of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705. prepared pursuant to the statement by the President of the Security CouncilS/25036; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1992. regarding the question of special economic problems of States as a result of sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter, (f) The annual overview reports of the Administrative Committee on Coordination for the period from 1992 to 2000E/1993/81, E/1994/19, E/1995/21, E/1996/18 and Add.1, E/1997/54 and Corr.1, E/1998/21, E/1999/48, E/2000/53 and E/2001/55. and the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2001,E/2002/55. in particular the sections on assistance to countries invoking Article 50 of the Charter, (g) The reports of the Secretary-General on economic assistance to States affected by the implementation of the Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against the Federal Republic of YugoslaviaA/49/356, A/50/423, A/51/356, A/52/535, A/54/534, A/55/620 and Corr.1 and A/56/632. and General Assembly resolutions 48/210 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 A of 2 December 1994, 50/58 E of 12 December 1995, 51/30 A of 5 December 1996, 52/169 H of 16 December 1997, 54/96 G of 15 December 1999, 55/170 of 14 December 2000 and 56/110 of 14 December 2001, (h) The reports of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization on the work of its sessions held in the years 1994 to 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/49/33); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/50/33); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/51/33); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/52/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/53/33); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/54/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/55/33); ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/56/33); and ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/57/33). (i) The reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter,A/50/361, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303 and A/57/165 and Add.1. (j) The report of the Secretary-General to the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations, A/54/2000. in particular section IV.E thereof, entitled "Targeting sanctions", (k) The United Nations Millennium Declaration, See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 9 thereof, (l) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "Road map towards implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration",A/56/326. in particular paragraphs 56 to 61 thereof, (m) The report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the in-depth evaluation of United Nations programmes relating to global development trends, issues and policies and global approaches to social and microeconomic issues and policies, and the corresponding subprogrammes in the regional commissions,E/AC.51/2000/2. in particular recommendation 3 contained therein, as approved by the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its fortieth session,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/55/16 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II.C.2, para. 243. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization, Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 1 (A/57/1). in particular paragraphs 69 to 71 thereof, Recalling that the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions has been addressed recently in several forums, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary organs, Recalling also the measures taken by the Security Council, in accordance with the statement by the President of the Security Council of 16 December 1994,See S/PRST/1994/81; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. that, as part of the effort of the Council to improve the flow of information and the exchange of ideas between members of the Council and other States Members of the United Nations, there should be increased recourse to open meetings, in particular at an early stage in its consideration of a subject, Recalling further the measures taken by the Security Council in accordance with the note by the President of the Security Council of 29 January 1999S/1999/92; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. aimed at improving the work of the sanctions committees, including increasing the effectiveness and transparency of those committees, Stressing that, in the formulation of sanctions regimes, due account should be taken of the potential effects of sanctions on third States, Stressing also, in this context, the powers of the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter and the primary responsibility of the Council under Article 24 of the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, Recalling that, under Article 31 of the Charter, any Member of the United Nations that is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected, Recognizing that the imposition of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter has been causing special economic problems in third States and that it is necessary to intensify efforts to address those problems effectively, Taking into consideration the views of third States which could be affected by the imposition of sanctions, Recognizing that assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions would further contribute to an effective and comprehensive approach by the international community to sanctions imposed by the Security Council, Recognizing also that the international community at large and, in particular, international institutions involved in providing economic and financial assistance should continue to take into account and address in a more effective manner the special economic problems of affected third States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, in view of their magnitude and of the adverse impact on the economies of those States, Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999, 55/157 of 12 December 2000 and 56/87 of 12 December 2001, 1. Renews its invitation to the Security Council to consider the establishment of further mechanisms or procedures, as appropriate, for consultations as early as possible under Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations with third States which are or may be confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, with regard to a solution of those problems, including appropriate ways and means for increasing the effectiveness of its methods and procedures applied in the consideration of requests by the affected States for assistance; 2. Welcomes the measures taken by the Security Council since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 50/51, most recently the note by the President of the Security Council of 15 January 2002,S/2002/70; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. whereby the members of the Council agreed to extend the mandate of the informal working group of the Council established in 2000 to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions, looks forward to the adoption of the proposed outcome document of the working group, in particular the provisions thereof regarding the issues of the unintended impact of sanctions and assistance to States in implementing sanctions, and strongly recommends that the Council continue its efforts to enhance further the effectiveness and transparency of the sanctions committees, to streamline their working procedures and to facilitate access to them by representatives of States that find themselves confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of sanctions; 3. Invites the Security Council, its sanctions committees and the Secretariat to continue to ensure, as appropriate, that: (a) Both pre-assessment reports and ongoing assessment reports include as part of their analysis the likely and actual unintended impact of the sanctions on third States and recommend ways in which the negative impact of sanctions can be mitigated; (b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions; (c) The Secretariat continues to provide, upon request, advice and information to third States to help them to pursue means to mitigate the unintended impact of sanctions, for example, on invoking Article 50 of the Charter for consultation with the Security Council; (d) Where economic sanctions have had severe effects on third States, the Security Council is able to request the Secretary-General to consider appointing a special representative or dispatching, as necessary, fact-finding missions on the ground to undertake necessary assessments and to identify, as appropriate, possible ways of assistance; (e) The Security Council is able, in the context of situations referred to in subparagraph (d) above, to consider establishing working groups to consider such situations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the implementation of resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107, 55/157 and 56/87 and to ensure that the competent units within the Secretariat develop the adequate capacity and appropriate modalities, technical procedures and guidelines to continue, on a regular basis, to collate and coordinate information about international assistance available to third States affected by the implementation of sanctions, to continue developing a possible methodology for assessing the adverse consequences actually incurred by third States and to explore innovative and practical measures of assistance to the affected third States; 5. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting on developing a methodology for assessing the consequences incurred by third States as a result of preventive or enforcement measures and on exploring innovative and practical measures of international assistance to the affected third States,A/57/165 and Add.1. and renews its invitation to States and relevant international organizations within and outside the United Nations system which have not yet done so to provide their views regarding the report of the ad hoc expert group meeting; 6. Takes note of the most recent report of the Secretary-General,A/57/165 and Add.1. in particular, of his views on the deliberations and main findings, including the recommendations, of the ad hoc expert group on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, as well as the views of States, the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and other international organizations, as contained in the previous reports of the Secretary-General;A/54/383 and Add.1 and A/55/295 and Add.1. 7. Reaffirms the important role of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in mobilizing and monitoring, as appropriate, the economic assistance efforts of the international community and the United Nations system on behalf of States confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Security Council and, as appropriate, in identifying solutions to the special economic problems of those States; 8. Takes note of the decision of the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2000/32 of 28 July 2000, to continue its consideration of the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, invites the Council, at its organizational session for 2003, to make appropriate arrangements for this purpose within its programme of work for 2003, and decides to transmit the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions,A/57/165 and Add.1. together with the relevant background materials, to the Council at its substantive session of 2003; 9. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions, other international organizations, regional organizations and Member States to address more specifically and directly, where appropriate, the special economic problems of third States affected by sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter and, for this purpose, to consider improving procedures for consultations to maintain a constructive dialogue with such States, including through regular and frequent meetings as well as, where appropriate, special meetings between the affected third States and the donor community, with the participation of United Nations agencies and other international organizations; 10. Requests the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, at its session in 2003, to continue to consider on a priority basis the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter by commencing a substantive debate on all of the related reports of the Secretary-General, in particular the 1998 report containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting convened pursuant to paragraph 4 of resolution 52/162,A/53/312. together with the most recent report of the Secretary-General on this question, taking into consideration the forthcoming report of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues relating to sanctions, the proposals submitted on the question, the debate on the question in the Sixth Committee during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly and the text on the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations contained in annex II to resolution 51/242, as well as the implementation of the provisions of resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107, 55/157, 56/87 and the present resolution; 11. Decides to consider, within the Sixth Committee or a working group of the Committee, at the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, further progress in the elaboration of effective measures aimed at the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 57/260 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.5, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/260. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/201 of 20 December 2000 and 56/197 of 21 December 2001 on the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. Reaffirming that the Convention on Biological Diversity is the key international instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, Underlining the importance of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, their development and wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices, their protection subject to national legislation, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their commercial use, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Noting with interest the partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups and announced at the Summit, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of the Netherlands for hosting the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held at The Hague from 7 to 26 April 2002, Also expressing its deep appreciation for the generous offer of the Government of Malaysia to host the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur in 2004, 1. Takes note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly;See A/57/220. 2. Notes the outcome of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,Bearing in mind the procedural concerns of some States relating to decision VI/23, and in this regard noting the deliberations and decisions of the Bureau of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, with a view to addressing these concerns at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (see paras. 294-324 of the report of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and the minutes of the meeting of the Bureau of the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, held in Montreal, Canada, on 23 and 24 September 2002). hosted by the Government of the Netherlands from 7 to 19 April 2002; 3. Also notes the outcome of the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held at The Hague from 22 to 26 April 2002; 4. Welcomes the fact that one hundred eighty-five States and one regional economic integration organization have become parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. and urges States that have not joined the Convention to become parties to it; 5. Invites parties to the Convention to ratify or accede to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological DiversitySee UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. as soon as possible; 6. Reiterates the importance of the decision of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization to examine, through the World Trade Organization Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, the relationship between the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1869, No. 31874. and the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as the protection of traditional knowledge; 7. Recalls the commitments made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to pursue a more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity, which will require the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries and includes actions at all levels, and in this regard calls upon the international community to provide the necessary support to developing countries, and stresses the importance of the effective use of resources; 8. Also recalls the commitment made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to negotiate within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, bearing in mind the Bonn Guidelines,Bonn Guidelines on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits Arising out of their Utilization (decision VI/24 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity). an international regime to promote and safeguard the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. And invites the Conference of the Parties to take appropriate steps in this regard; 9. Further recalls the commitment made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to implement the expanded action-oriented work programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity on all types of forest biological diversity, in close cooperation with the United Nations Forum on Forests, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other forest-related processes and conventions, with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders; 10. Notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and officers of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in AfricaIbid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and encourages continued cooperation to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 11. Calls upon the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to continue to work closely with the Global Environment Facility and other relevant institutions to help developing countries to build the required national capacities to prepare for the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, including in the areas of risk assessment and risk management; 12. Welcomes the launching of the pilot phase of the Biosafety Clearing House, and calls for strengthened international support for developing countries to build their national capacities to interact with it and to benefit from its expeditious strengthening so that it becomes fully functional at the time of the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; 13. Emphasizes the need for a substantial increase in financial and technical resources for the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety by developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and in this regard welcomes the successful and substantial third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility; 14. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to continue to report to the General Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 57/261 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.6, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/261. Promoting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development The General Assembly, Reaffirming the principles and commitments enshrined in the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. and the principles embodied in the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. as well as other relevant declarations and international instruments, Recalling the Declaration and review document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special session,See resolution S-22/2, annex. Taking into account all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, including resolutions 54/225 of 22 December 1999 and 55/203 of 20 December 2000, Taking into account also the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Noting with interest the respective partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by Governments, international organizations and major groups and announced at the Summit, Reaffirming the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). which provides the overall legal framework for ocean activities, and emphasizing its fundamental character, Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Emphasizing the importance of national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector as recognized by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Recalling the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, signed at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 24 March 1983,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1506, No. 25974. which contains the definition of the wider Caribbean region of which the Caribbean Sea is part, Welcoming the adoption, on 6 October 1999 in Aruba, of the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and ActivitiesAvailable on the Internet at www.cep.unep.org/law/sub_law/htm. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, Welcoming also the entry into force, on 18 June 2000, of the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and WildlifeAvailable on the Internet at www.cep.unep.org/law/sub_law/htm. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, Recalling the relevant work done by the International Maritime Organization, Considering that the Caribbean Sea area includes a large number of States, countries and territories, most of which are developing countries and small island developing States that are ecologically fragile, structurally weak and economically vulnerable and are also affected, inter alia, by their limited capacity, narrow resource base, need for financial resources, high levels of poverty and the resulting social problems and the challenges and opportunities of globalization and trade liberalization, Recognizing that the Caribbean Sea has a unique biodiversity and highly fragile ecosystem, Emphasizing that the Caribbean countries have a high degree of vulnerability occasioned by climate change and climate variability, associated phenomena, such as the rise in sea level, the El Niño phenomenon and the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters caused by hurricanes, floods and droughts, and that they are also subject to natural disasters, such as those caused by volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes, Underlining the importance of the ongoing work of the working group on climate change and natural disasters established by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, Bearing in mind the heavy reliance of most of the Caribbean economies on their coastal areas, as well as on the marine environment in general, to achieve their sustainable development needs and goals, Recognizing the Caribbean Environment Outlook process currently being undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme, and welcoming the support being provided by the Caribbean Environment Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme towards its implementation, Acknowledging that the intensive use of the Caribbean Sea for maritime transport, as well as the considerable number and interlocking character of the maritime areas under national jurisdiction where Caribbean countries exercise their rights and duties under international law, present a challenge for the effective management of the resources, Noting the problem of marine pollution caused, inter alia, by land-based sources and the continuing threat of pollution from ship-generated waste and sewage as well as from the accidental release of hazardous and noxious substances in the Caribbean Sea area, Taking note of resolutions GC(44)/RES/17 of 22 September 2000See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC(2000)). and GC(46)RES/9 of 20 September 2002Ibid., Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC(2002)). of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on safety of transport of radioactive materials, Mindful of the diversity and dynamic interaction and competition among socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources, Mindful also of the efforts of the Caribbean countries to address in a more holistic manner the sectoral issues relating to the management of the Caribbean Sea area and, in so doing, to promote an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, through a regional cooperative effort among Caribbean countries, Noting the efforts of the Caribbean countries, within the framework of the Association of Caribbean States, to develop further support for their concept of the Caribbean Sea as an area of special importance, in the context of sustainable development and in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Welcoming the decision by the Association of Caribbean States to establish the Working Group of Experts on the Caribbean Sea Initiative to further advance the implementation of resolution 55/203, inter alia, through the preparation of a technical report, Cognizant of the importance of the Caribbean Sea to present and future generations and its importance to the heritage and the continuing economic well-being and sustenance of people living in the area, and the urgent need for the countries of the region to take appropriate steps for its preservation and protection, with the support of the international community, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/131. 2. Recognizes the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development; 3. Encourages the further promotion of an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, in accordance with the recommendations contained in resolution 54/225, as well as the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-22/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationIbid., resolution 2, annex. and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and in conformity with relevant international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 4. Also encourages the continued efforts of the Caribbean countries to develop further an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development and, in this regard, to continue to develop regional cooperation in the management of their ocean affairs in the context of sustainable development, in order to address such issues as land-based pollution, pollution from ships, physical impacts on coral reefs and the diversity and dynamic interaction of, and competition among, socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources; 5. Calls upon States to continue to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, and also calls upon them to advance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,A/51/116, annex II. and the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;E/CN.17/2002/PC.2/15, annex, sect. 1. 6. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to assist, as appropriate, Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution from ships, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, and from illegal dumping or accidental release of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, in violation of relevant international rules and standards, as well as pollution from land-based activities; 7. Calls upon all relevant States to take the necessary steps to bring into force, and to support the implementation of, the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and ActivitiesAvailable on the Internet at www.cep.unep.org/law/sub_law/htm. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean RegionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1506, No. 25974. in order to protect the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from land-based pollution and degradation; 8. Calls upon the international community to support the efforts of the Working Group of Experts on the Caribbean Sea Initiative of the Association of Caribbean States to further implement resolution 55/203, and invites the Association to submit a report on its progress to the Secretary-General for consideration during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly; 9. Calls upon all States to become contracting parties to relevant international agreements to promote the protection of the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from pollution and degradation from ships; 10. Supports the efforts of Caribbean countries to implement sustainable fisheries management programmes by strengthening the recently established Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism; 11. Calls upon States, taking into consideration the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. to develop national, regional and international programmes for halting the loss of marine biodiversity in the Caribbean Sea, in particular fragile ecosystems, such as coral reefs; 12. Invites intergovernmental organizations within the United Nations system to continue their efforts to assist Caribbean countries in becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols and to implement them effectively; 13. Calls upon the international community, the United Nations system and the multilateral financial institutions, and invites the Global Environment Facility, within its mandate, to support actively the above-mentioned approach; 14. Calls upon Member States to improve as a matter of priority their emergency response capabilities and the containment of environmental damage, particularly in the Caribbean Sea, in the event of natural disasters or of an accident or incident relating to maritime navigation; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-ninth session, under the sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States" of the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account the views expressed by relevant regional organizations. RESOLUTION 57/262 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/532/Add.6, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/262. Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Recalling also its resolutions 51/183 of 16 December 1996, 52/202 of 18 December 1997 and 53/189 of 15 December 1998, the review document adopted by the Assembly at its twenty-second special session,See resolution S-22/2, annex. and its resolutions 54/224 of 22 December 1999, 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 55/202 of 20 December 2000 and 56/198 of 21 December 2001, and recalling further the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. the particular emphasis given to small island developing States in the Declaration and the Plan of Implementation, and the call for the General Assembly to consider convening an international meeting for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in 2004, Recalling the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on its tenth session,TD/390. Welcoming the establishment of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and emphasizing the importance of issues related to small island developing States within the United Nations system, Recognizing that, within the context of the challenges of development, small island developing States experience specific problems arising from small size, remoteness, geographical dispersion, vulnerability to natural disasters, fragile ecosystems, constraints on transport and communication, isolation from markets, vulnerability to exogenous economic and financial shocks, limited internal markets, lack of natural resources, limited freshwater supply, heavy dependence on imports and limited commodities, depletion of non-renewable resources and migration, Recognizing also the significant efforts of small island developing States to achieve sustainable development and the need to continue to enhance their capacities to participate effectively in the multilateral financial and trading system, Reiterating the importance of the vulnerability index as a tool for assessing, and thereby addressing, the vulnerability of small island developing States, as well as identifying the challenges to their sustainable development, Recognizing the relevance of such work to the mandate of the Committee for Development Policy concerning criteria for the identification, including designation and graduation, of the least developed countries, Noting the efforts to implement the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States at the national, regional and international levels and the need for regional and global institutions to continue to supplement the efforts being made at the national level, inter alia, through the provision of adequate financial and technical support, Emphasizing the continuing need for the technical and financial support of projects that were presented within the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action, inter alia, at the meeting of representatives of donor countries and small island developing States, held in New York from 24 to 26 February 1999,See A/S-22/4. as well as the partnership initiatives presented by small island developing States and their organizations during the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Noting in this regard the preparatory activities undertaken at the national and regional levels for the Summit, and expressing its appreciation to the Government of Singapore for hosting the interregional meeting of the Alliance of Small Island States held in preparation for the Summit from 7 to 11 January 2002, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/131. 2. Reiterates the urgent need for the full and effective implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesIbid., annex II. and of the Declaration and review document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special sessionSee resolution S-22/2, annex. to assist small island developing States in their efforts to achieve sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the efforts made at the national, subregional and regional levels to implement the Programme of Action; 4. Requests the relevant organs and agencies of the United Nations system, as well as the regional commissions and organizations, to undertake concrete measures, within their respective mandates, for the further implementation of the Programme of Action in the context of their programmes; 5. Decides to convene an international meeting in 2004, which will include a high-level segment, to undertake a full and comprehensive review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, as called for in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 61. and welcomes the offer of the Government of Mauritius to host the international meeting; 6. Also decides that the comprehensive review referred to in paragraph 5 above should seek a renewed political commitment by all countries to, and should focus on, practical and pragmatic actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, inter alia, through the mobilization of resources and assistance for small island developing States; 7. Further decides to convene regional preparatory meetings of small island developing States in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, as well as an interregional preparatory meeting for all small island developing States, to undertake the review of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional and regional levels and to identify and develop input for the above-mentioned review that is specific to small island developing States, while maximizing coherence and complementarity with respect to other preparatory work; 8. Welcomes the initial efforts of the small island developing States to develop the national and regional modalities necessary for the regional preparatory meetings, and calls upon the United Nations system in general and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in particular, as well as the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, the multilateral financial institutions and the Global Environment Facility, to put in place modalities at the international level that will facilitate the meetings referred to in paragraphs 5 and 7 above in a timely manner; 9. Requests that, in facilitating the review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, the United Nations system seek country input that is short and well-focused and that draws upon, inter alia, material prepared for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, in order to minimize the burden on participating States while maximizing the usefulness of the information gathered; 10. Invites the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its eleventh session, to consider its role in the preparatory process for the comprehensive review of the Programme of Action; 11. Invites all Member States and States members of the specialized agencies, relevant regional and international agencies and organizations and the major groups identified in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. The major groups are women, young people, indigenous people and their communities, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and their trade unions, business and industry, including transnational corporations, the scientific and technological community, and farmers. in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentSee E/5975/Rev.1. and the rules of procedure of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,A/CONF.199/2 and Corr.1. as well as the established practices of the Commission, to participate fully in the activities identified for the further implementation of and effective follow-up to the Programme of Action and in the preparations for the comprehensive review; 12. Invites all international meetings of relevance to small island developing States, including the regional and interregional meetings of small island developing States, to provide relevant input into the comprehensive review and its preparatory process; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to paragraph 8 of resolution 56/198, to give further consideration to strengthening the Small Island Developing States Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, inter alia, through the regularization of the current post of Interregional Adviser for Small Island Developing States at the earliest opportunity, thereby enabling the Unit to assist in the preparations for the comprehensive review of the Programme of Action; 14. Calls for the participation of associate members of regional commissions in the comprehensive review of the Programme of Action, and in the preparatory process therefore, as observers, in the same capacity specified for their participation in the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, held in 1994, and in the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly, held in 1999 to review the implementation of the Programme of Action; 15. Decides to establish a voluntary fund for the purpose of assisting small island developing States, including the least developed among them, to participate fully and effectively in the international meeting referred to in paragraph 5 above, as well as in the various preparatory processes referred to in paragraph 7 above, and invites Governments, intergovernmental organizations and the major groups accredited to the Commission on Sustainable Development to contribute to the fund; 16. Urges all relevant organizations to finalize, by 2004, the work on the vulnerability index, taking into account the particular circumstances and needs of small island developing States; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States"; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/263 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/533, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/263. Economic and technical cooperation among developing countries The General Assembly, Stressing that South-South cooperation, as an important element of international cooperation for development, offers viable opportunities for developing countries in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, Recognizing that developing countries have the primary responsibility for promoting and implementing South-South cooperation, not as a substitute for but rather as a complement to North-South cooperation, and in this context reiterating the need for the international community to support the efforts of the developing countries to expand South-South cooperation, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Group of 77 at their twenty-sixth annual meeting, held in New York on 19 September 2002,A/57/444, annex. in which the increased importance and relevance of South-South cooperation were re-emphasized, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on measures to promote and facilitate South-South cooperation;A/57/155. 2. Notes with satisfaction that developing countries have succeeded in setting elaborate action plans for South-South cooperation, and urges developing countries and their partners to intensify South-South and triangular initiatives contributing to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 3. Encourages developing countries to strengthen their national coordination mechanisms in order to improve the effectiveness of South-South and triangular cooperation, and in this connection also encourages other bilateral and multilateral development partners to do the same, as appropriate; 4. Reiterates the urgent need to help to strengthen institutions and centres of excellence in the South, especially at the regional and interregional levels, with a view to making more effective use of such entities towards improved South-South knowledge-sharing, networking, capacity-building, information exchange, policy analysis and coordinated action among developing countries on major issues of common concern; 5. Recommends that the High-level Committee on the Review of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries review all aspects of South-South cooperation relevant to development; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, through coordination of the Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries of the United Nations Development Programme, and in consultation with Member States and relevant organizations and agencies, to carry out a study, within existing resources, with a view to promoting public awareness of the importance and contribution of South-South and triangular cooperation with respect to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and, in this context, to make concrete proposals to promote and facilitate South-South cooperation and to raise such public awareness, inter alia, on the value added and implications of the proposed international decade on South-South cooperation and the United Nations day for South-South cooperation, and to submit the findings and recommendations thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 7. Reiterates the emphasis placed in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. on the need for multilateral and bilateral financial and development institutions to intensify efforts, inter alia, to strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation as delivery tools for assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition;Ibid., para. 43. 8. Takes note of decision 2002/18 of 27 September 2002, taken by the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and of the United Nations Population Fund,See DP/2003/2. in which the Board decided to allocate a fixed annual amount of 3.5 million dollars to the Special Unit for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries; 9. Calls upon all relevant United Nations organizations and multilateral institutions to intensify their efforts to effectively mainstream the use of South-South cooperation in the design, formulation and implementation of their regular programmes, and to consider increasing allocations of human, technical and financial resources for South-South cooperation; 10. Recognizes the need to mobilize additional resources for enhancing South-South cooperation, and, in this context, invites all countries, in particular developed countries, to contribute in support of such cooperation through, inter alia, the Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries and the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation, bearing in mind the need for these Funds to continue to use such resources in an effective manner, and decides to include the latter fund in the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities, as long as it exists; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to include in the agenda of the thirteenth session of the High-level Committee on the Review of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries a special segment to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries.Report of the United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, Buenos Aires, 30 August-12 September 1978 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.II.A.11 and corrigendum), chap. I. RESOLUTION 57/264 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/533, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/264. Human Development Report The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/201 of 21 December 2001 on the triennial policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, Recalling also its resolution 49/123 of 19 December 1994 on the United Nations Development Programme and the Human Development Report, Reaffirming decisions 94/15 of 10 June 1994See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994, Supplement No. 15 (E/1994/35/Rev.1). and 95/24 of 16 June 1995Ibid., 1995, Supplement No. 14 (E/1995/34). of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund on the Human Development Report, Recognizing that the United Nations Development Programme funds, publishes, launches and promotes the Human Development Report and disseminates it internationally, Acknowledging that the Human Development Report is an important tool for raising awareness about human development around the world, Recalling that the Human Development Report is the result of an independent intellectual exercise and that the policies governing the operational activities for development of the United Nations system will continue to be set by Member States, 1. Affirms that the Human Development Report is a separate and distinct exercise which is not an official document of the United Nations and that the policies governing the operational activities for development of the United Nations system will continue to be set by Member States; 2. Welcomes decision 2002/18 of 27 September 2002 of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund on programming arrangements for the period 2004-2007, through which a fixed annual amount of regular resources was allocated to finance the Human Development Report Office; 3. Reaffirms Executive Board decision 94/15,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994, Supplement No. 15 (E/1994/35/Rev.1). by which it welcomed the decision of the Administrator to improve the process of consultation with Member States and other relevant international bodies to refine the methodologies used in the Human Development Report with a view to improving its quality and accuracy without compromising its editorial independence; 4. Also reaffirms that the preparation of the Human Development Report should be undertaken in a neutral and transparent manner and in full and effective consultation with Member States, with due regard to the impartial nature and use of sources; 5. Invites the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund to include in its annual work plan as from 2003 a separate agenda item on the Human Development Report to improve the consultation process with Member States regarding the Human Development Report with a view to improving its quality and accuracy without compromising its editorial independence and to ensure the full implementation of the present resolution; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the implementation of the present resolution is reported to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session within the context of the relevant section of the report of the Economic and Social Council on its substantive session of 2003. RESOLUTION 57/265 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/534, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/265. Establishment of the World Solidarity Fund The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/210 of 20 December 2000 and 56/207 of 21 December 2001, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government, See resolution 55/2. Stressing the objectives of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Ibid., annex II. the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000,Resolution S-24/2, annex, sect. 1. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,A/CONF.191/11. Recalling the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the proposal to establish a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication,A/57/137. 1. Endorses the decision of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to establish the World Solidarity Fund to eradicate poverty and to promote social and human development in the developing countries, while stressing the voluntary nature of the contributions and the need to avoid duplication of existing United Nations funds, and encouraging the role of the private sector and individual citizens relative to Governments in funding the endeavours, as set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to mandate the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to take the necessary measures for the immediate operationalization of the World Solidarity Fund as a trust fund of the Programme, subject to the financial rules and regulations as adopted by the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and of the United Nations Population Fund, on the basis of the present resolution and, as appropriate, the recommendations contained in his report on the mechanisms, modalities, terms of reference, mandates and governance of the Fund;A/57/137. 3. Decides that the World Solidarity Fund will support requests received from Governments of developing countries for financing poverty alleviation projects, including initiatives from community-based organizations and small private sector entities; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to request the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2003 a progress report on the measures taken for the operationalization of the Fund; 5. Encourages Member States, international organizations, the private sector, relevant institutions, foundations and individuals to contribute to the Fund; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the implementation of the present resolution is reported on, to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 57/266 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/534, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee 57/266. Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, by which it established the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and its resolution 48/183 of 21 December 1993, by which it proclaimed 1996 the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty, Recalling also its resolution 50/107 of 20 December 1995 on the observance of the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty and the proclamation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), as well as the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the five-year review of the World Food SummitFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. as well as the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization,A/C.2/56/7, annex. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. and their commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Recalling its resolution 56/207 of 21 December 2001, entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), including the proposal to establish a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication", Bearing in mind the outcomes of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Underlining the priority and urgency given by the heads of State and Government to the eradication of poverty, as expressed in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and in the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Expressing its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected group, in particular in the least developed countries and in sub-Saharan Africa, Recognizing that, while the rate of poverty in some countries has been reduced, some developing countries and disadvantaged groups are being marginalized and others are at risk of being marginalized and effectively excluded from the benefits of globalization, resulting in increased income disparity among and within countries, thereby constraining efforts to eradicate poverty, Recognizing also that, for the poverty eradication strategy to be effective, it is imperative that developing countries be integrated into the world economy and share equitably in the benefits of globalization, Reaffirming that, within the context of overall action for the eradication of poverty, special attention should be given to the multidimensional nature of poverty and the national and international conditions and policies that are conducive to its eradication, fostering, inter alia, the social and economic integration of people living in poverty and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/211. 1. Stresses that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and that, although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals; 2. Also stresses that the deep fault line that divides human society between the rich and the poor and the ever-increasing gap between the developed and developing worlds pose a major threat to global prosperity, security and stability; 3. Reaffirms that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving poverty eradication and sustainable development; that, in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance through addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries; that, to that end, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support to structural and macroeconomic reform, a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing market access for developing countries; that efforts to reform the international financial architecture need to be sustained with greater transparency and the effective participation of developing countries in decision-making processes; and that a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development; 4. Also reaffirms that good governance at the national level is essential for poverty eradication and sustainable development; that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, and the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; 5. Stresses that the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) should contribute to achieving the targets of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, through decisive national action and strengthened international cooperation as part of an integrated approach to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 6. Reaffirms that the eradication of poverty should be addressed in an integrated way, as set out in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. taking into account the importance of the need for the empowerment of women and sectoral strategies in such areas as education, development of human resources, health, human settlements, rural, local and community development, productive employment, population, environment, water and sanitation, food security, energy and migration, and the specific needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, in such a way as to increase opportunities and choices for people living in poverty and to enable them to build and to strengthen their assets so as to achieve development, security and stability, and in that regard encourages countries to develop their national poverty reduction policies in accordance with their national priorities, including, where appropriate, through poverty reduction strategy papers; 7. Stresses the importance of increasing access to and control over resources, including land, skills, knowledge, capital, and social connections, for the poor, in particular women, and of improving access for all to basic social services; 8. Recognizes the major role that trade can play as an engine of growth and development and in eradicating poverty, and in that context stresses the need for expeditious and complete integration of developing countries and countries with economies in transition into the international trading system, in full cognizance of the opportunities and challenges of globalization and liberalization and taking into account the circumstances of individual countries, in particular the trade interests and development needs of developing countries; 9. Welcomes the decision contained in the Ministerial Declaration, adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization,A/C.2/56/7, annex. to place the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the work programme adopted at the Conference, including through enhanced market access for products of interest to developing countries; 10. Recognizes that a substantial increase in official development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and that, to build support for official development assistance, cooperation is necessary to further improve policies and development strategies to enhance aid effectiveness, both nationally and internationally, and in that regard requests those countries that made announcements of increased official development assistance at the International Conference on Financing for Development to make those resources available as soon as possible; 11. Urges developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts to reach the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, as reconfirmed at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/11. encourages developing countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help achieve development goals and targets, acknowledges the efforts of all donors, commends those donors whose official development assistance contributions exceed, reach or are increasing towards the targets, and underlines the importance of undertaking to examine the means and time frames for achieving the targets and goals; 12. Recognizes that an enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector, and attracting and making effective use of international investment and assistance, and that efforts to create such an environment should be supported by the international community; 13. Notes with great concern the continuing debt and debt-servicing problems of the heavily indebted poor developing countries as constituting an element that adversely affects their sustainable development efforts, noting in that regard that the total debt stock of the developing countries rose from $1,458 billion in 1990 to $2,442 billion in 2001, recognizes that creditors and debtors must share the responsibility for preventing and resolving unsustainable debt situations and that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with attaining sustainable growth and development, including poverty reduction and the achievement of the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration, and in that regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards those objectives; 14. Calls for the full, speedy and effective implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, which should be fully financed through additional resources, encourages the participation in the Initiative of all creditors that have not yet participated, and stresses in that regard the need for the donor community to provide the additional resources necessary to fulfil the future financial requirements of the Initiative, welcomes, therefore, the agreement that financing for heavily indebted poor countries should be reviewed analytically and separately from International Development Association replenishment requirements, but back-to-back with meetings for the fourteenth replenishment of the Association, and calls upon all donors to participate fully in that process; 15. Calls upon the developed countries, by means of intensified and effective cooperation with developing countries, to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the special needs of developing countries, by identifying and implementing practical steps to ensure the achievement of progress in that regard and to assist developing countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty in an era influenced in large measure by technology; 16. Recognizes the responsibility of all Governments to adopt policies aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices at the national and international levels; 17. Also recognizes the importance of disseminating best practices for the reduction of poverty in its various dimensions, taking into account the need to adapt those best practices to suit the social, economic, cultural and historical conditions of each country; 18. Expresses its concern that, despite a decrease in the number of undernourished people in some developing countries during the 1990s, nearly two thirds of those countries recorded either no change or an increase in the number of undernourished people, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and that, at current rates of progress, the target to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015 is likely to be achieved in some regions but not in others, including sub-Saharan Africa, unless substantially strengthened efforts are made at all levels in order to achieve food security; 19. Emphasizes the link between poverty eradication and improving access to safe drinking water, and stresses in that regard the objective to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, as reaffirmed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 20. Recognizes that the lack of adequate housing remains a pressing challenge in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty, particularly in the urban areas in developing countries, expresses its concern at the rapid growth in the number of slum dwellers in the urban areas of developing countries, particularly in Africa, stresses that unless urgent and effective measures and actions are taken at the national and international levels, the number of slum dwellers, who constitute one third of the world's urban population, will continue to increase, and emphasizes the need for increased efforts, with a view to significantly improving the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020; 21. Welcomes the efforts made to implement the 20/20 initiative, which emphasizes that promoting access for all to basic social services is essential for sustainable and equitable development and is an integral part of the strategy for the eradication of poverty; 22. Emphasizes the critical role of both formal and non-formal education, in particular basic education and training, especially for girls, in the empowerment of those living in poverty, reaffirms in that context the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000, Paris, 2000. and recognizes the importance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization strategy for poverty eradication, especially extreme poverty, in supporting the Education For All programmes as a tool to achieve, inter alia, universal primary education by 2015; 23. Recognizes the devastating effect of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic on human development, economic growth and poverty reduction efforts in many countries, in particular sub-Saharan African countries, and urges Governments and the international community to give urgent priority to the HIV/AIDS crisis by addressing, in particular, the special needs of developing countries through strengthened cooperation and assistance as well as through the implementation of commitments undertaken, as agreed in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session, in June 2001;Resolution S-26/2, annex. 24. Emphasizes the role of microcredit as an important anti-poverty tool that promotes production and self-employment and empowers people living in poverty, especially women, and therefore encourages Governments to adopt policies that support microcredit schemes and the development of microfinance institutions and their capacities; 25. Reaffirms that all Governments and the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty, at both the national and international levels, and encourages the use of gender analysis as a tool for the integration of a gender dimension into planning the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for the eradication of poverty; 26. Stresses, as recognized in the Millennium Declaration, the importance of meeting the special needs of Africa, where poverty remains a major challenge and where most countries have not benefited fully from the opportunities of globalization, which has further exacerbated the continent's marginalization; 27. Welcomes the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as a programme of the African Union, the primary objective of which is to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development on the basis of African ownership and leadership and enhanced partnership with the international community, and urges the developed countries and the United Nations system to support the Partnership and complement the efforts undertaken by Africa to overcome the challenges it faces; 28. Stresses that the goal of halving the proportion of people living on less than one dollar a day by 2015 will not be achieved without serious efforts to address the development needs of the least developed countries and to support their efforts to improve the lives of their people, and in that regard calls upon the national Governments of the least developed countries and their development partners to implement fully the commitments contained in the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,See A/CONF.191/11. adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries; 29. Reaffirms the role of United Nations funds and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, in assisting the national efforts of developing countries, inter alia, in the eradication of poverty, and the need for their funding in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 31. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 57/267 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/535, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Uganda and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 57/267. United Nations University The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the United Nations University, including resolution 55/206 of 20 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Council of the United Nations UniversityOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 31 (A/57/31). and the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/589. Bearing in mind the importance of the intellectual contributions made by the University for the United Nations system, which tackles various global issues, Expressing its deep appreciation for the voluntary contributions made by Governments and other public and private entities in support of the University, 1. Notes with satisfaction the implementation of the "Strategic Plan, 2000: Advancing Knowledge for Human Security and Development", which lays out broad programmatic orientations with special focus on the priority concerns of the United Nations and the need to bring together theory and practice in a global perspective, and requests the United Nations University to continue to attach importance to the priority agendas of the United Nations system; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the steps taken by the Council and the Rector of the University to promote the work and visibility of the University and to enhance and diversify its interaction with and contributions to the work of the United Nations, and encourages them to continue such efforts; 3. Compliments the University on its success to date towards creating a critical mass of viable research and training centres and programmes around the world, focused in particular on meeting the urgent needs and concerns of developing countries; 4. Welcomes the increasing importance being attached by the University to capacity development, particularly in developing countries; 5. Takes note with satisfaction of the broadening participation in the joint initiative by the University and the United Nations Office at Geneva to convene a yearly research and policy dialogue that is thematically focused and involves the United Nations system and other entities engaged in policy research and analysis; 6. Welcomes the increasing number of offers for new collaborative arrangements with the University, which contributes to broadening and enhancing academic networking, as a sign of its success and enhanced profile; 7. Encourages the University to implement the Secretary-General's suggestion on innovative measures to improve interaction and communication between the University and other United Nations entities; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to encourage other bodies of the United Nations system to utilize more fully the capacity of the University for mobilizing a worldwide network of applied policy researchers to assist the Organization, through research and capacity development, in resolving the pressing global problems of the day; 9. Emphasizes the continuing need to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness in conducting the activities of the University; 10. Invites the international community to make voluntary contributions to the University, including its research and training centres and programmes, in particular to its Endowment Fund, as a means of consolidating the distinctive identity of the University in the United Nations system and the international scientific community; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "United Nations University". RESOLUTION 57/268 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/535, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/268. United Nations Institute for Training and Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/121 of 20 December 1995, 51/188 of 16 December 1996, 52/206 of 18 December 1997, 53/195 of 15 December 1998, 54/229 of 22 December 1999, 55/208 of 20 December 2000 and 56/208 of 21 December 2001, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/479. and the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 14 (A/57/14). Expressing its appreciation to the Governments and private institutions that have made or pledged financial and other contributions to the Institute, Noting with concern that contributions to the General Fund have not increased, while the participation of the developed countries in training programmes in New York and Geneva is increasing, Noting that the Institute receives no subsidy from the United Nations regular budget and that it provides training programmes to all Member States free of charge, Reiterating the need to accord training activities a more visible and larger role in support of the management of international affairs and in the execution of the economic and social development programmes of the United Nations system, 1. Reaffirms the relevance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in view of the growing importance of training within the United Nations and the training requirements of States and the relevance of the training-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 2. Stresses the need for the Institute to further strengthen its cooperation with other United Nations institutes and relevant national, regional and international institutes; 3. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training programmes, and in this context underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of those partnerships, in particular at the country level; 4. Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed countries, and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or otherwise to the Institute, to give it their generous financial and other support, and urges the States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider resuming them in view of the successful restructuring and revitalization of the Institute; 5. Stresses the need to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Institute as it relates to its debt and rent and maintenance costs; 6. Regrets the simultaneous submission of the report of the Secretary-General to the Second and Fifth Committees at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly; 7. Emphasizes that, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, the Fifth Committee is the appropriate committee within which to consider the issue of reclassification of rental rates and maintenance costs charged to the Institute, and recognizes that the Fifth Committee will deliberate on the debt and on reclassifying the rental rates and maintenance costs charged to the Institute, taking into consideration its financial situation as well as privileges offered to other, comparable organizations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/269 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/536, para. 10),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 155 to 4, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Madagascar, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu 57/269. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/204 of 21 December 2001, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/31 of 25 July 2002, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Also expressing its concern at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during the recent period, Aware of the additional detrimental economic and social impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, Reaffirming the need for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the principle of land for peace, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan,A/57/63-E/2002/21. 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, cause loss or depletion of or endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 57/26 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/566, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee, on behalf of the Bureau. 57/26. Prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling also Chapter VI of the Charter, in particular Article 33, and underlining the obligation of Member States to seek a solution to their disputes by peaceful means of their own choice, Recalling further the principles in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the declaration of the Security Council on Ensuring an Effective Role of the Security Council in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, particularly in Africa,Security Council resolution 1318 (2000), annex. adopted during the Millennium Summit, Recalling the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes,Resolution 37/10, annex. the Declaration on the Prevention and Removal of Disputes and Situations Which May Threaten International Peace and Security and on the Role of the United Nations in this Field,Resolution 43/51, annex. the Declaration on Fact-finding by the United Nations in the Field of the Maintenance of International Peace and Security,Resolution 46/59, annex. the Declaration on the Enhancement of Cooperation between the United Nations and Regional Arrangements or Agencies in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security,Resolution 49/57, annex. and the United Nations Model Rules for the Conciliation of Disputes between States,Resolution 50/50, annex. elaborated by the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization and adopted unanimously by the General Assembly, Noting with appreciation the work done by the Special Committee to encourage States to focus on the need to prevent and to settle peacefully their disputes, which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, Emphasizing the importance of early warning to prevent disputes, and emphasizing also the need to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, Recalling the various procedures and methods available to States for the prevention and the peaceful settlement of their disputes, including those provided for in Article 33 of the Charter, as well as monitoring, fact-finding missions, goodwill missions, special envoys, observers and good offices, Recalling in particular its relevant declarations and resolutions concerning dispute prevention, in which, inter alia, it called upon the Secretary-General to make full use of the information-gathering capabilities of the Secretariat and emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations in the field of preventive diplomacy, Recalling its relevant resolutions and decisions concerning dispute settlement, including resolution 2329 (XXII) of 18 December 1967, in which it requested the Secretary-General to prepare a register of experts whose services States parties to a dispute might use for fact-finding in relation to the dispute, decision 44/415 of 4 December 1989, the annex to which contains a draft document on resort to a commission of good offices, mediation or conciliation within the United Nations, and resolution 50/50 of 11 December 1995, the annex to which contains the United Nations Model Rules for the Conciliation of Disputes between States, Noting with satisfaction that, pursuant to the recommendation contained in its resolution 47/120 A of 18 December 1992, the Secretary-General established a list of eminent and qualified experts for his use in fact-finding and other missions, and that this list has recently been updated, Recalling that certain multilateral treaties provide for the creation of lists of conciliators and arbitrators for use by States in the settlement of their disputes, Reaffirming the important role played by judicial mechanisms, in particular the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, in the settlement of disputes between States, 1. Urges States to make the most effective use of existing procedures and methods for the prevention and the peaceful settlement of their disputes, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms the duty of all States, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, to use peaceful means to settle any dispute to which they are parties and the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, and encourages States to settle their disputes as early as possible; 3. Draws the attention of States to the important roles played by the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Secretary-General in providing early warning and in working for the prevention of disputes and situations which might threaten international peace and security; 4. Takes note of the paper prepared by the Secretariat entitled "Mechanisms established by the General Assembly in the context of dispute prevention and settlement";A/AC.182/2000/INF/2. 5. Urges the continued enhancement of the concrete steps taken by the Secretariat to build and improve the capacity of the United Nations to respond effectively and efficiently in matters relating to dispute prevention, including through the strengthening of cooperative mechanisms for information-sharing, planning and the development of preventive measures; the development of a comprehensive plan for a revived early-warning and prevention system for the United Nations; training intended to support such enhanced capabilities in these areas; and cooperation with regional organizations; 6. Encourages States to nominate suitably qualified persons who are willing to provide fact-finding services, for inclusion in the register set up by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 4 of its resolution 2329 (XXII); 7. Encourages eligible States also to nominate suitably qualified persons to have their names included in the lists of conciliators and arbitrators provided for under certain treaties, including the Vienna Convention on the Law of TreatiesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1155, No. 18232. and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 8. Requests the Secretary-General to take such steps as he deems necessary from time to time to encourage States to designate suitably qualified persons for inclusion in the various lists referred to above which he has the responsibility to maintain; 9. Reminds States that have not yet done so that they may at any time make a declaration under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the International Court of Justice with regard to its compulsory jurisdiction in relation to any other State accepting the same obligation, and encourages them to consider doing so. RESOLUTION 57/270 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/537, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/270. Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions on the restructuring and revitalization of the United Nations in the economic, social and related fields, particularly its resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, Recalling also its resolution 56/211 of 21 December 2001, as well as Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/21 of 26 July 2001 and its agreed conclusions 1995/1 of 28 July 1995, 2000/2 of 27 July 2000 and 2002/1 of 26 July 2002, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcome of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit,A/57/75-E/2002/57. Reaffirming that the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, provide a comprehensive basis for action at the national, regional and international levels with the key objectives of poverty eradication, sustained economic growth, sustainable development and improvement of the living conditions of people everywhere, Reaffirming also that, while each United Nations conference has its thematic unity, major United Nations conferences and summits should be viewed as interlinked and contributing to an integrated framework for the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to a global partnership for development, Recognizing the need to continue efforts to use the existing structure, namely, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary machinery, for coordinated and integrated follow-up to and implementation of the commitments agreed upon at the Millennium Summit and other major United Nations conferences and summits, so as to enhance coordination as well as effectiveness and efficiency of actions at all levels, Reiterating the need to strengthen the role of the General Assembly as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters relating to coordinated and integrated follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, Reaffirming that the Economic and Social Council should continue to strengthen its role as the central mechanism for system-wide coordination and thus to promote coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of major United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related fields, Emphasizing that the relevant functional commissions and, as appropriate, other relevant intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations system, within their mandates, must fulfil their responsibilities as specified in the outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits, should further enhance their role as the main forums for expert follow-up and review of major United Nations conferences and summits and, in this regard, must strengthen their efforts to enhance inter-agency collaboration and coordination to implement the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, Recognizing that the process of integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits should not include renegotiation of any outcomes of those conferences, including their specific institutional arrangements for follow-up, 1. Decides to establish an open-ended ad hoc working group of the General Assembly under the chairmanship of the President of the Assembly, with two vice-chairmen to be elected by the working group; 2. Also decides that the work of the working group should be consistent with the provisions of resolution 50/227 and the follow-up mechanisms decided upon by the respective United Nations conferences and summits and should respect the interlinked nature of their outcomes as well as the thematic unity of each conference, and emphasizes that cross-sectoral thematic issues for further consideration throughout the existing structure should be decided upon at the intergovernmental level and should focus on implementation, bearing in mind that the process of integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields should be fair and balanced and should respect the principle of multilateralism and the principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Further decides that the working group will produce concrete recommendations to ensure an integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields and will thus contribute to the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. bearing in mind the continuing reform process of the United Nations and resolution 50/227, as well as the views expressed by the Member States on this question; 4. Decides that the working group will also consider the work of the General Assembly and its Second and Third Committees relevant to the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields as well as the modalities of the reports presented to the General Assembly, bearing in mind the respective roles of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions and subsidiary organs; 5. Also decides that the working group will submit proposals on how best to address the review of the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, including its format and periodicity, bearing in mind the need to recognize the active role of all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the outcomes of United Nations conferences and summits; 6. Further decides that future decisions on follow-up to conferences whose ten-year anniversaries are imminent shall be kept pending subject to the decisions to be taken by the General Assembly on the report of the working group; 7. Decides that the working group will consider how to ensure that the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits are integrated into the programmes of work of the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and are taken fully into account, as relevant, in the operational work and country frameworks of the organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with national development objectives and priorities, and requests the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and the United Nations Development Group to contribute to the reflection on integrated conference follow-up; 8. Also decides that the working group will commence its substantive work during the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, no later than January 2003, and will submit its report before 27 June 2003, for consideration by the General Assembly and action before the close of the fifty-seventh session in 2003; 9. Further decides that at its first meeting the working group will consider its work programme, including the issue of the periodicity and duration of its meetings within the time boundaries established in paragraph 8 above; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields" and to consider it directly in plenary meeting. RESOLUTION 57/271 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/537, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/271. World Food Summit: five years later The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 51/171 of 16 December 1996, in which it welcomed the outcome of the World Food Summit, held in Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996, (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. Recalling also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Recalling further its resolutions 55/162 of 14 December 2000 and 56/95 of 14 December 2001 on the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit, 1. Welcomes the holding of the World Food Summit: five years later, which was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome from 10 to 13 June 2002; 2. Urges Member States to implement in a coordinated manner and in close cooperation with relevant bodies of the United Nations system, as well as international and regional financial institutions, the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later - International Alliance against Hunger;Ibid., Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. 3. Requests all relevant organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Programme and the International Fund For Agricultural Development, as well as the international and regional financial institutions, to pursue, at the global, regional and country levels, the implementation of the outcome of the World Food Summit: five years later in the context of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in particular the goals of halving the levels of hunger and absolute poverty by 2015, and in the context of relevant follow-up to the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, the International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. RESOLUTION 57/272 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/538, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/272. High-level international intergovernmental consideration of financing for development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, which was adopted on 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Welcoming the initiatives and efforts, on the part of relevant actors in the financing for development process from the public and private sectors and from civil society, to stay fully engaged, nationally, regionally and internationally, so as to ensure proper follow-up to the implementation of agreements and commitments reached at the Conference, and to continue to build bridges between development, finance and trade organizations and initiatives, within the framework of the holistic agenda of the Conference, Recognizing the link between financing for development and attaining internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in measuring development progress and helping to guide development priorities, as well as achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development, Emphasizing that the international financial system should support sustainable development, sustained economic growth and poverty eradication and should allow for the mobilization, in a coherent manner, of all sources of financing for development, including the mobilization of domestic resources, international flows, trade, official development assistance and external debt relief, Taking note of the communiqués of the joint International Monetary Fund/World Bank Development Committee of 21 April and 28 September 2002 and the communiqué of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the International Monetary Fund of 28 September 2002, 1. Underscores its firm commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and, in that regard, to promoting a holistic approach to the interconnected national, international and systemic challenges of financing for development, in active partnership with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and other relevant institutional stakeholders, civil society and the private sector, including through collective and coherent action in every area of the Consensus; 2. Reiterates that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends, inter alia, on good governance within each country and at the international level. Sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation. Transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and the commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system are equally essential; 3. Expresses its concern about the difficulties of the present world economic situation, stresses the importance of confronting it through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions, and underlines the importance of continued efforts to improve global economic governance and strengthen the United Nations leadership role in promoting development; 4. Calls for the integrated consideration of trade, finance, investment, technology transfer and development issues, and, to that end, re-emphasizes the urgency of coherent action by the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, as appropriate, along with the action of Governments, to promote equitable and broad sharing in the benefits of globalization, taking into account the specific vulnerabilities, concerns and needs of developing countries; 5. Recognizes that an enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector, and attracting and making effective use of international investment and assistance. Efforts to create such an environment should be supported by the international community; 6. Encourages all Governments to combat corruption, bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of illicitly acquired funds and assets and to work for the return of such funds and assets to the countries of origin, and welcomes actions taken in that regard at the national and international levels; 7. Stresses the need for structural reforms to strengthen corporate governance, accounting and auditing, in particular when inadequate policies can have systemic consequences; 8. Stresses also the importance of strong domestic institutions that promote business activities and financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors; 9. Considers that, in the context of the current world economic situation, the multilateral trading system should be reinforced by achieving a balanced outcome of the Doha negotiations which responds to the interests of all the members of the World Trade Organization, in particular the developing countries, by giving concrete shape to the development-related provisions of the work programme of the World Trade Organization and by working to ensure that the concerns of developing countries, in particular in terms of implementation issues and special and differential treatment, are properly and effectively addressed in accordance with the Ministerial Declaration adopted at Doha,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. as amended by the action of the General Council of the World Trade Organization; 10. Recognizes that trade rules and issues in the post-Doha framework should have a clear development content; 11. Expresses its concern about the adoption of a number of unilateral actions that are not consistent with World Trade Organization rules, that harm the exports of all countries, in particular those of developing countries, and that have a considerable bearing on the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations and on the achievement and further enhancement of the development dimension of the trade negotiations; 12. Welcomes the commitments announced at the International Conference on Financing for Development to increase the levels and effectiveness of official development assistance, looks forward to the early availability of the resources committed in keeping with the announced time frames, urges developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent of gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help achieve development goals and targets; 13. Reaffirms the determination, as expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of low- and middle-income developing countries, through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term; 14. Reaffirms also that reviews of debt sustainability should also bear in mind the impact of debt relief on progress made towards the achievement of the development goals contained in the Millennium Declaration and that debt sustainability analysis at the completion point needs to take into account any worsening global growth prospects and declining terms of trade; in addition, efforts to strengthen the transparency and integrity of debt sustainability analysis should continue; 15. Stresses, in the consideration of any new debt resolution mechanism, the importance of a broad discussion in the appropriate forums, with the participation of all interested actors, welcomes the steps taken by the international financial institutions to take into account social aspects and the borrowing costs for developing countries, encourages them to continue their efforts in that regard, and reiterates that the adoption of such a mechanism should not preclude emergency financing in times of crisis; 16. Stresses also the special importance of creating an enabling international economic environment through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to promote equitable economic development in a world economy that benefits all people, and in this context invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized countries, which have significant weight in influencing world economic growth, when formulating their macroeconomic policies, to take into account whether their effects in terms of the external economic environment would be favourable to growth and development; 17. Notes the impact of financial crisis or risk of contagion in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, regardless of their size, and in this regard underlines the need to ensure that the international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, have a suitable array of financial facilities and resources to respond in a timely and appropriate way, in accordance with their policies; 18. Takes note of the communiqué of the Development Committee of 28 September 2002, in particular paragraph 10, on the need to identify pragmatic and innovative ways to further enhance the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international decision-making and norm-setting, and encourages all relevant international financial institutions to take concrete measures towards this end; 19. Invites the International Monetary Fund to continue its work on quotas, and welcomes the continuing consideration by the Fund of its quota review and the reiteration by the International Monetary and Financial Committee that the Fund should have adequate resources to fulfil its financial responsibilities and that quotas should reflect developments in the international economy; 20. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the secretariats of relevant institutional stakeholders, fully utilizing the mechanisms of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, with the effective support of the United Nations Secretariat and building on the successful experience in the preparations for the International Conference on Financing for Development, to prepare a comprehensive report on the implementation of and follow-up to commitments and agreements made at the Conference, focusing on progress achieved in all areas covered by the Monterrey Consensus; 21. Decides that the preparatory work and reports of the special high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, as well as the preparatory process of the General Assembly high-level dialogue, should serve as inputs in the preparation of the comprehensive report, which would be submitted on an annual basis to the General Assembly, under the agenda item on follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, as well as to the biennial high-level dialogue of the General Assembly; 22. Stresses the importance of making progress on all fronts and enhancing the coherence and synergies of all development efforts, and, in the spirit of the strategic partnership launched at Monterrey, requests the President of the General Assembly to bring the present resolution to the attention of the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank and the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund before the 2003 spring meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and the Development Committee, as well as to the attention of the General Council of the World Trade Organization, as an input to the special high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization to be held in April 2003 and the subsequent high-level dialogue of the General Assembly on financing for development to be held in the second half of 2003. RESOLUTION 57/273 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/538, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/273. Ensuring effective secretariat support for sustained follow-up to the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, by which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and requested the Secretary-General to include in his report on the outcome of the Conference, to be submitted to it at its fifty-seventh session, measures taken as well as his proposals for ensuring effective secretariat support to the follow-up efforts to the Conference, Stressing the importance of providing sustained follow-up within the United Nations system to the agreements and commitments reached at the Conference and ensuring effective secretariat support, with collaboration from the secretariats of the major stakeholders concerned, fully utilizing the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination mechanism, pursuant to paragraph 72 of the Monterrey Consensus, and building on the innovative and participatory modalities and related coordination arrangements utilized in the preparations for the Conference, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/34 of 26 July 2002, in which the Council, inter alia, decided to promote a coherent and integrated response within the United Nations on the part of the different departments, units, funds, programmes and specialized agencies, each in its specific area of competence, Recalling the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-second session, in which the Committee recommended that, following the endorsement of the Monterrey Consensus by the General Assembly, the Secretary-General should prepare a proposal for a new subprogramme on financing for development under programme 7, Economic and social affairs, of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16), para. 107. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentA/57/344. and on follow-up efforts to the Conference;A/57/319-E/2002/85. 2. Reaffirms that the Conference constituted a new approach by the international community and that its implementation and follow-up should be given a very high priority in the economic and social work of the United Nations; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to establish, as soon as possible, from within the existing resources of the United Nations Secretariat, appropriate secretariat support arrangements along the lines envisioned in paragraph 48 of the report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of the Conference,A/57/344. with collaboration from other agencies and institutional stakeholders and with a distinctive function to provide effective substantive secretariat support for sustained follow-up within the United Nations to the agreements and commitments reached at the Conference; 4. Decides that the functions of the new secretariat support structure should be of an integrating, cross-cutting and holistic nature and that it should, inter alia, serve as a focal point in the United Nations Secretariat for overall follow-up to the implementation of the outcome of the Conference, provide secretariat support to the intergovernmental process entrusted with the follow-up to the Conference, support and facilitate the participation of all stakeholders, follow closely the issues and policies related to international economic, financial and development cooperation, and keep under review actions taken at all levels in the follow-up to the Conference, as well as within the framework of international economic, financial and development cooperation, in general; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to accord priority to the following main tasks related to follow-up activities: (a) promoting coherence and an integrated approach within the United Nations to issues related to financing for development, fully utilizing the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination mechanism; (b) intensifying interactions with the secretariats of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization, as well as other institutional stakeholders; (c) continuing the involvement of other relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the private sector; and (d) preparing inputs for consideration by the intergovernmental bodies concerned; 6. Invites Member States and all institutional and non-institutional stakeholders in the financing for development process to extend their full support to and cooperate fully with the new secretariat support structure in fulfilling its tasks; 7. Decides that the provisions of the present resolution should be implemented, utilizing existing resources, starting at the beginning of 2003; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek voluntary contributions to support the follow-up to the Conference; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General, as a part of his consolidated report on financing for development, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/274 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/539, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/274. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998, 54/231 of 22 December 1999, 55/212 of 20 December 2000 and 56/209 of 21 December 2001 on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recalling also its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the outcomes of other major United Nations conferences and summits, Recognizing the challenges and opportunities of globalization and interdependence, Expressing its concern about the marginalization of a large number of developing countries from the benefits of globalization, the additional vulnerability of those developing countries that are integrating into the world economy and the general accentuation of the income and technological gap between developed and developing countries, as well as within countries, Recognizing that globalization and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy, development and the improvement of living standards around the world, and recognizing also that some countries have made progress in successfully adapting to the changes and have benefited from globalization, Recognizing also the importance of appropriate policy responses at the national level by all countries to the challenges of globalization, in particular by pursuing sound macroeconomic and social policies, noting the need for support from the international community for the efforts of the least developed countries, in particular, to improve their institutional and management capacities, and recognizing that all countries should pursue policies conducive to economic growth and to promoting a favourable global economic environment, Stressing that such national macroeconomic and social policies can yield better results with international support and with an enabling international economic environment, Emphasizing the need to address those imbalances and asymmetries in international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have a negative impact on development prospects for developing countries, with a view to minimizing such impacts, Noting with serious concern that a large number of developing countries have not yet been able to reap the full benefits of the existing multilateral trading system, and underlining the importance of promoting the integration of developing countries into the world economy so as to enable them to take the fullest possible advantage of the trading opportunities arising from globalization and liberalization, Stressing that the process of reform for a strengthened and stable international financial architecture should be based on broad participation in a genuine multilateral approach, involving all members of the international community, to ensure that the diverse needs and interests of all countries are adequately represented, Underlining the urgent need to mitigate the negative consequences of globalization and interdependence for all developing countries, including landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and, in particular, African countries and the least developed countries, Reiterating that the United Nations, as a universal forum, is in a unique position to achieve international cooperation by addressing the challenges of promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, in particular by promoting a more equitable sharing of the benefits of globalization, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/287. 2. Reaffirms that the United Nations has a central role in promoting international cooperation for development and in promoting policy coherence on global development issues, including in the context of globalization and interdependence; 3. Recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts at all levels, including policies and measures at the national and global levels to create a shared future based upon a common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and thus have a positive impact on development; 4. Reaffirms the need to improve mutual supportiveness by fulfilling the commitments made, as agreed, at all United Nations conferences and summits, including those of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in order to promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development in the context of globalization and interdependence; 5. Underlines that in order to make globalization work for all, it is essential to invest in basic economic and social infrastructure, social services and social protection, including education, health, nutrition, shelter and social security programmes, which take special care of children and older persons and are gender-sensitive and fully inclusive of the rural sector and all disadvantaged communities and are vital for enabling people, especially people living in poverty, to better adapt to and benefit from changing economic conditions and opportunities; 6. Also underlines the critical need to reinforce national efforts in capacity-building in developing countries and countries with economies in transition in such areas as institutional infrastructure, human resource development, public finance, mortgage finance, financial regulation and supervision, basic education, public administration, social and gender budget policies, early warning and crisis prevention, and debt management; 7. Stresses the need for the United Nations system to continue to address the social dimension of globalization, and in that regard encourages the International Labour Organization's work on the social dimension of globalization; 8. Recognizes the right of countries to choose independently their own paths to development and national poverty reduction strategies; 9. Reiterates that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends, inter alia, on good governance within each country and at the international level. Sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation. Transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and the commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system are equally essential; 10. Notes that important international efforts are under way to reform the international financial architecture, emphasizes that those efforts need to be sustained with greater transparency and the effective participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and that one major objective of the reform is to enhance financing for development and poverty eradication, and underscores the commitment, set forth in paragraph 53 of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. to sound domestic financial sectors, which make a vital contribution to national development efforts, as an important component of an international financial architecture that is supportive of development; 11. Takes note of the communiqué of the joint International Monetary Fund/World Bank Development Committee of 28 September 2002, in particular paragraph 10, on the need to identify pragmatic and innovative ways to further enhance participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international decision-making and norm-setting, and encourages all relevant international financial institutions to take concrete measures to that end; 12. Welcomes the commitment by all countries to promote national and global economic systems based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion, as contained in the Monterrey Consensus; 13. Calls for the integrated consideration of trade, finance, investment, technology transfer and developmental issues, and to that end re-emphasizes the urgency of coherent action by the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, as appropriate, along with the action of Governments, to promote equitable and broad sharing in the benefits of globalization, taking into account the specific vulnerabilities, concerns and needs of developing countries; 14. Expresses its concern about the adoption of a number of unilateral actions that are not consistent with World Trade Organization rules, harm the exports of all countries, in particular those of developing countries, and have a considerable bearing on the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations and on the achievement and further enhancement of the development dimension of the trade negotiations; 15. Stresses the special importance of creating an enabling international economic environment through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to promote equitable economic development in a world economy that benefits all people, and in that context invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized countries, which have significant weight in influencing world economic growth, when formulating their macroeconomic policies, to take into account whether their effects in terms of the external economic environment would be favourable to growth and development; 16. Also stresses the need to promote corporate responsibility and accountability, including through the full development and effective implementation of intergovernmental agreements and measures, international initiatives and public-private partnerships, and appropriate national regulations, and to support continuous improvement in corporate practices in all countries; 17. Further stresses the role of the United Nations in addressing the digital divide in the context of globalization and the development process of developing countries and in promoting coherence and synergies between various regional and international initiatives, including the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force and the Digital Opportunities Task Force; 18. Urges developed countries to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition in narrowing the digital divide, creating digital opportunities and harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies for development, through technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and the provision of financial and technical support, and in that context to support the World Summit on the Information Society; 19. Encourages developing countries to continue to pursue appropriate development policies to promote economic development and poverty eradication, and in that regard invites the international community to pursue strategies that support those policies through continued efforts to address the problems of market access, persistent external debt, transfer of resources, financial vulnerability and declining terms of trade; 20. Strongly urges the international community to take all necessary and appropriate measures, including support for structural and macroeconomic reform, foreign direct investment, enhanced official development assistance, the search for a durable solution to the external debt problem, market access, capacity-building and the dissemination of knowledge and technology, in order to achieve sustainable development and promote the participation in the global economy of all African countries, as well as the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and small island developing States; 21. Emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the specific concerns of countries with economies in transition so as to help them to benefit from globalization, with a view to their full integration into the world economy; 22. Reaffirms its resolve to give greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the United Nations and thereby to maximize opportunities and mitigate the negative economic and social consequences of globalization; 23. Emphasizes the importance of understanding the regional dimension in efforts to enhance global economic governance, inter alia, by fully utilizing the potential of regional commissions to facilitate the sharing of experiences and best practices, within their respective mandates; 24. Invites the international community to provide increased technical assistance and financial resources to developing countries in support of their efforts to build institutional capacities; 25. Calls upon the United Nations system to enhance its support at the country level for capacity-building activities in developing countries and to strengthen coordination of its efforts in that regard; 26. Invites all countries, as well as the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, within their respective mandates, to continue to strengthen interactions with civil society, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations, as important partners in development; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the effect of the increasing linkages and interdependence among trade, finance, knowledge, technology and investment on poverty eradication and sustainable development in the context of globalization, and to make action-oriented recommendations; 28. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 57/275 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/540 and Corr.1, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/275. Special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3327 (XXIX) of 16 December 1974, 32/162 of 19 December 1977, 34/115 of 14 December 1979, 53/242 of 28 July 1999 and 56/205 and 56/206 of 21 December 2001, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/38 of 26 July 2002, Recalling the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. Emphasizing the goal contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Acknowledging the holding of the first session of the World Urban Forum, a non-legislative technical forum in which experts are able to exchange views in years when the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) does not meet, and the fifth meeting of the Advisory Committee of Local Authorities, an advisory body to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Welcoming the efforts made by UN-Habitat to forge partnerships with other United Nations funds and programmes and with international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, Recognizing that the overall thrust of the new strategic vision of UN-Habitat and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially for guiding international cooperation in respect of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, Conscious of the need to achieve greater coherence and effectiveness in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Recognizing the need for increased and predictable financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation in the new millennium to ensure timely, effective and concrete results in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, particularly in developing countries, Reiterating the call to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to increase her efforts to strengthen the Foundation in order to achieve its primary operative objective, as set out in resolution 3327 (XXIX), of supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, including supporting shelter, related infrastructure-development programmes and housing-finance institutions and mechanisms, particularly in developing countries, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II),A/57/271. on the strengthening of UN-Habitat,A/57/272. and on coordinated implementation of the Habitat Agenda,E/2002/48. 1. Underlines the commitments made by Governments to implement the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. and to the goal of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 2. Underlines also the commitments made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, including the commitment to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, and requests the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to support developing countries in implementing the targets in order to increase access to clean water, sanitation and adequate shelter; 3. Encourages Member States to strengthen and institutionalize national Habitat committees and other mechanisms, as appropriate, as broad-based platforms for the preparation and implementation of their plans of action based on the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant international development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 4. Urges all countries to strengthen and mainstream shelter and human settlements development activities in their development planning frameworks; 5. Recognizes that Governments have the primary responsibility for the sound and effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, and stresses that the international community should fully implement its commitments to support the Governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their efforts, through the provision of requisite resources, capacity-building, transfer of technology and the creation of an international enabling environment; 6. Emphasizes the importance, at all levels of policy-making and in the context of sustainable development, of giving high priority to the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, including achieving the goals of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world, particularly in developing countries; 7. Requests the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to further strengthen her efforts to make the Cities Alliance initiative an effective means for the implementation of the twin goals of the Habitat Agenda, namely, adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world; 8. Encourages UN-Habitat to continue to implement the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, including through promoting partnerships with local authorities, non-governmental organizations, private sector and other Habitat Agenda partners so as to empower them, within the legal framework and according to the conditions of each country, to play a more effective role in shelter provision and in sustainable human settlements development; 9. Reiterates the invitation to Governments and Habitat Agenda partners to facilitate the dissemination of the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium; 10. Also reiterates the agreement by Governments to intensify dialogue where possible, inter alia, through the Governing Council of UN-Habitat, on all issues related to effective decentralization and strengthening of local authorities, in support of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, in conformity with the legal framework and policies of each country; 11. Encourages Governments and their Habitat Agenda partners to evaluate and report to UN-Habitat on their implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium; 12. Welcomes increased cooperation between UN-Habitat and the United Nations Development Programme, and notes with interest the envisaged placement of locally recruited UN-Habitat programme managers in selected United Nations Development Programme offices in recipient countries, in consultation with the relevant Governments; 13. Calls upon UN-Habitat, the United Nations Environment Programme and other relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system to increase cooperation in and strengthen coordination of their activities, within the framework of their respective mandates and separate programmatic and organizational identities, in order to promote the implementation of the relevant provisions of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationIbid., resolution 2, annex. with a view to supporting sustainable development; 14. Reiterates the invitation to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to implement, in accordance with paragraph 66 of the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium, the establishment of the Habitat Agenda Task Manager System to allow better monitoring and mutual reinforcement of actions taken by international agencies in support of the implementation of the Habitat Agenda; 15. Calls upon UN-Habitat to further support the implementation of the Water for African Cities programme, as requested by the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 16. Acknowledges with appreciation the ongoing efforts of the Executive Director to strengthen UN-Habitat, and encourages her to continue such efforts; 17. Invites Governments and relevant international institutions and agencies to increase their support to UN-Habitat in order to enhance its capacity to function as a fully fledged United Nations programme; 18. Acknowledges with appreciation the ongoing efforts of the Executive Director to strengthen the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, and invites Governments that are in a position to do so, and their Habitat Agenda partners, to increase their financial contributions to the Foundation in a predictable manner; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery of necessary services to UN-Habitat and other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi in an effective manner; 20. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a consolidated report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and of the twenty-fifth special session of the General Assembly". RESOLUTION 57/276 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/541, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/276. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/187 of 18 December 1997, in which it decided to convene the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries at a high level in 2001, as well as its resolutions 53/182 of 15 December 1998, 54/235 of 23 December 1999 and 55/214 of 20 December 2000, Recalling also its resolution 55/279 of 12 July 2001, in which it endorsed the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/12. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/11. Welcoming the establishment of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, pursuant to its resolution 56/227 of 24 December 2001, Taking note of the outcome of the Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed Countries, held at Cotonou from 5 to 7 August 2002,A/57/436, annex. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 56/227 on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries,A/57/496. 1. Reaffirms that global-level follow-up to the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/CONF.191/11. should be primarily concerned with assessing the economic and social performance of the least developed countries, monitoring the implementation of commitments by the least developed countries and their development partners, reviewing the functioning of implementation and follow-up mechanisms at the country, subregional, regional and sectoral levels and policy developments at the global level that have implications for the least developed countries; 2. Invites each least developed country, with the support of its development partners, to promote the implementation of the actions contained in the Programme of Action by translating them into specific measures within its national development framework and poverty eradication strategy, in particular poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist, and with the involvement of civil society, including the private sector, on the basis of a broad-based inclusive dialogue; 3. Stresses the need for efficient and strengthened coordination and monitoring of and follow-up to the implementation of the Programme of Action, and in this regard calls for an adequate allocation of resources for the functioning of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, to enable it to carry out successfully its mandate as set out in resolution 56/227; 4. Welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General to establish a trust fund to support the activities of the Office of the High Representative, pursuant to its call in resolution 56/227 for voluntary contributions; 5. Calls upon Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund, in particular for the implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and international levels; 6. Reiterates its call to the governing bodies of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and other multilateral organizations to mainstream the implementation of the Programme of Action within their programmes of work and intergovernmental processes; 7. Emphasizes that the organizations of the United Nations system have a special role to play in the implementation of the Programme of Action and that the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system to facilitate the coordinated and coherent implementation and monitoring of the Programme of Action is crucial, and in this regard welcomes with appreciation the decisions taken by several governing bodies of the organizations of the United Nations system to mainstream the Programme of Action; 8. Urges all Member States and the United Nations system, and invites the international financial institutions and other multilateral organizations, to extend to the Office of the High Representative their full support for the fulfilment of its mandate; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, a comprehensive annual progress report on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010. RESOLUTION 57/277 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/543, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/277. Public administration and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/225 of 19 April 1996, 53/201 of 15 December 1998 and 56/213 of 21 December 2001 on public administration and development, as well as Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/45 of 20 December 2001, Stressing the need for capacity-building initiatives aimed at institution-building, human resources development, strengthening financial management and harnessing the power of information and technology, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the role of public administration in the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;A/57/262-E/2002/82. 2. Reiterates that efficient, accountable, effective and transparent public administration, at both the national and international levels, has a key role to play in the implementation of internationally agreed goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and in that context stresses the need to strengthen national public sector administrative and managerial capacity-building, in particular in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 3. Decides that 23 June will be designated United Nations Public Service Day, and encourages Member States to organize special events on that day to highlight the contribution of public service in the development process; 4. Expresses its deep appreciation for the generous offer of the Kingdom of Morocco to host the fourth Global Forum, at Marrakesh, in December 2002; 5. Welcomes the substantive support that the Secretariat has provided to the Global Forum, and invites it to extend such support to any future forums of a similar kind that may take place; 6. Reiterates its appreciation for the role that the United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance performs in promoting information sharing and exchange of experience and in building the capacities of developing countries to utilize information communication technologies for this purpose, and reiterates that particular emphasis should be given to the exchange of experience related to the role of public administration in the implementation of internationally agreed goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, in the manner he deems appropriate, on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/278 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/639, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/278. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/222 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 E of 17 June 1997, 52/212 B of 31 March 1998, 53/204 of 18 December 1998, 53/221, section VIII, of 7 April 1999, 54/13 B of 23 December 1999, 55/220 A of 23 December 2000 and 55/220 B and C of 12 April 2001, Having considered, for the period ended 31 December 2001, the financial reports and audited financial statements and the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors on the United Nations,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/57/5), vol. I and corrigendum (A/57/5/Corr.1). the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO,Ibid., vol. III and corrigendum (A/57/5/Corr.2). the United Nations University,Ibid., vol. IV and corrigendum (A/57/5/Corr.3). the United Nations Development Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5A and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.1 and Corr.1). the United Nations Children's Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5B and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.2 and Corr.1). the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,Ibid., Supplement No. 5C and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.3 and Corr.1). the United Nations Institute for Training and Research,Ibid., Supplement No. 5D and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.4 and Corr.1). the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,Ibid., Supplement No. 5E and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.5 and Corr.1). the Fund of the United Nations Environment Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5F and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.6 and Corr.1). the United Nations Population Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5G and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.7 and Corr.1). the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation,Ibid., Supplement No. 5H and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.8 and Corr.1). the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5I and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.9 and Corr.1). the United Nations Office for Project Services,Ibid., Supplement No. 5J and corrigenda (A/57/5/Add.10 and Corr.1 and 2). the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994,Ibid., Supplement No. 5K and corrigenda (A/57/5/Add.11 and Corr.1-3). and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991,Ibid., Supplement No. 5L and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.12 and Corr.1). the concise summary of principal findings, conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports prepared by the Board of Auditors,See A/57/201. the first report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors by the United NationsA/57/416. and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/439. 1. Accepts the financial reports and audited financial statements and the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors for the above-mentioned organizations; 2. Approves the recommendations and conclusions contained in the reports of the Board of Auditors, and endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/57/439. 3. Commends the Board of Auditors for the quality of its reports, in particular with respect to its comments on the management of resources; 4. Notes with concern the late issuance of the reports of the Board of Auditors and the explanation therefor by the Chairman of the Board, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure sufficient priority in completing their editing and translation in order that they may be submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with the six-week rule; 5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors by the United Nations.A/57/416. 6. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to examine governance structures, principles and accountability throughout the United Nations system and to make proposals on the future format and consideration of the reports of the Board of Auditors by the respective executive boards and the General Assembly; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the observations and recommendations of the Board of Auditors are fully taken into account in the revised strategy for information and communication technology for the United Nations, as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/239 of 24 December 2001, before the strategy is considered by the Assembly; 8. Invites the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Board of Auditors, to review the adequacy of the audit fee when considering the resources required for the Board of Auditors to carry out future specialized audits, to implement the provisions of the current resolution and to make appropriate recommendations in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 9. Decides to consider further the reports of the Board of Auditors on the International Tribunal for RwandaIbid., Supplement No. 5K and corrigenda (A/57/5/Add.11 and Corr.1-3). and the International Tribunal for the Former YugoslaviaIbid., Supplement No. 5L and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.12 and Corr.1). also under the agenda items relating to the financing of the Tribunals. RESOLUTION 57/279 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/648, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 57/279. Procurement reform The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/214 B and 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 52/212 B of 31 March 1998, 52/252 of 8 September 1998, 53/204 and 53/208 B of 18 December 1998, 54/14 of 29 October 1999 and 55/247 of 12 April 2001, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on procurement reformA/57/187. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.1, paras. 2-9. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. Stressing the importance of ensuring the safety of United Nations personnel and United Nations equipment, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/187. and of the comments and observations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/57/7/Add.1, paras. 2-9. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 2. Welcomes the progress achieved in addressing the concerns expressed by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/247; 3. Welcomes also the efforts made by the Secretary-General to hold procurement seminars in various cities, in particular those located in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and urges him to intensify his efforts in this regard; 4. Notes the activities of the Common Services Procurement Working Group on enhancing the transparency and increasing the harmonization of procurement practices, and encourages the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the United Nations funds and programmes to continue their work in this regard; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to encourage the organizations of the United Nations system, consistent with their respective mandates, to improve their procurement practices, inter alia, by simplifying the registration process for vendors that have already registered with another body of the United Nations system, utilizing, among other things, the Internet, and by placing the procurement information on their respective web sites; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to encourage the organizations of the United Nations system, consistent with their respective mandates, to take further steps to increase procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 7. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure, through, inter alia, the technical assessment of vendors, that air safety standards are met for all United Nations air transport operations and, where feasible, for freight forwarding; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that the United Nations Secretariat and affiliated funds and programmes fully implement all recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Board of Auditors regarding procurement, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, on matters relating to procurement in the field, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations follows the principles of objectivity and impartiality while advising the Procurement Division; 10. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly through the Office of Internal Oversight Services, no later than at its fifty-ninth session, a report on safeguarding air safety standards while procuring air services, in particular in the area of cargo airlifts, for the United Nations peacekeeping missions; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the present resolution, as well as on all other aspects of procurement reform, no later than at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 57/27 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/567, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Canada, on behalf of the Bureau. 57/27. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further all General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage, including those which prompted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, as well as Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001, and those that have occurred since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/88 of 12 December 2001, most recently those in Bali and Moscow, which prompted the adoption of Security Council resolutions 1438 (2002) of 14 October 2002 and 1440 (2002) of 24 October 2002, respectively, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation among States and among international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and the relevant international conventions, Noting the role of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism in monitoring the implementation of that resolution, including the taking of the necessary financial, legal and technical measures by States and the ratification or acceptance of the relevant international conventions and protocols, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Mindful also of the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of States to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, wherein the Assembly encouraged States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there was a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Taking note of the final document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed the previous initiative of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and other relevant initiatives, Bearing in mind the recent developments and initiatives at the international, regional and subregional levels to prevent and suppress international terrorism, Recalling its decision in resolutions 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000 and 56/88 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 should address, and keep on its agenda, the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/183 and Corr.1 and Add.1. the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 37 and corrigendum (A/57/37 and Corr.1). and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to resolution 56/88,A/C.6/57/L.9. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 3. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 4. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 5. Reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 6. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 7. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority, and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist BombingsResolution 52/164, annex. and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,Resolution 54/109, annex. and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, the domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 8. Urges States to cooperate with the Secretary-General and with one another, as well as with interested intergovernmental organizations, with a view to ensuring, where appropriate within existing mandates, that technical and other expert advice is provided to those States requiring and requesting assistance in becoming parties to the conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 7 above; 9. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, consistent with the call contained in paragraph 7 of resolution 56/88, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to therein, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions; 10. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 49/60, and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 51/210, and calls upon all States to implement them; 11. Urges all States and the Secretary-General, in their efforts to prevent international terrorism, to make the best use of the existing institutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the efforts of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Centre for International Crime Prevention in Vienna, after reviewing existing possibilities within the United Nations system, to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism, and in this context takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Secretariat,A/57/152 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Corr.1 and 2 and Add.2. requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001; 13. Welcomes also the publication by the Secretariat of the volume of the United Nations Legislative Series entitled National Laws and Regulations on the Prevention and Suppression of International Terrorism,ST/LEG/SER.B/22, part I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E/F.02.V.7). prepared by the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat pursuant to paragraph 10 (b) of the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism;Resolution 49/60, annex. 14. Invites States that have not yet done so to submit to the Secretary-General information on their national laws and regulations regarding the prevention and suppression of acts of international terrorism, and takes note in this regard of the reports of Member States to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001); 15. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism; 16. Welcomes the important progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 56/88; 17. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall continue to elaborate a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism as a matter of urgency, and shall continue its efforts to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism as a means of further developing a comprehensive legal framework of conventions dealing with international terrorism, and that it shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 18. Decides also that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 31 March to 2 April 2003 to continue the elaboration of a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, with appropriate time allocated to the continued consideration of outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, that it shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and that the work shall continue, if necessary, during the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 20. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism or the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism; 21. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". RESOLUTION 57/280 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/648, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/280. Proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, in which it requested the Secretary-General to submit in off-budget years an outline of the proposed programme budget for the following biennium, Reaffirming also section VI of its resolution 45/248 B of 21 December 1990, Reaffirming further rule 153 of its rules of procedure, Recalling its resolutions 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 56/254 D of 27 March 2002, 56/287 of 27 June 2002 and 57/292 of 20 December 2002, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2004-2005,A/57/85. the related recommendations of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16), paras. 25 and 26. and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/57/636. 1. Endorses the relevant conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16), paras. 25 and 26. and the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/57/636. 2. Reaffirms that the proposed programme budget outline shall contain an indication of the following: (a) A preliminary estimate of resources needed to accommodate the proposed programme of activities during the biennium; (b) Priorities reflecting general trends of a broad sectoral nature; (c) Real growth, positive or negative, compared with the previous budget; (d) Size of the contingency fund expressed as a percentage of the overall level of resources; 3. Also reaffirms that the budget outline should provide a greater level of predictability of resources required for the following biennium and promote greater involvement of Member States in the budgetary process, thereby facilitating the broadest possible agreement on the programme budget; 4. Further reaffirms that the budget proposals of the Secretary-General should reflect resource levels commensurate with mandates for their full, efficient and effective implementation; 5. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to submit, in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, the total amount of resources that he should have at his disposal, from all sources of financing, in order to implement fully all mandated programmes and activities; 6. Notes that the budget outline is a preliminary estimate of resources; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to include in the proposed budget outlines and in the proposed programme budget provisions for expenditures for special political missions related to peace and security expected to be extended or approved in the course of the biennium; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to make appropriate provisions in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 to minimize adverse impacts on the provision of adequate conference services and other related services, in accordance with its resolutions 56/254 D and 56/287, drawing, inter alia, on the improvements made in the management of conference services; 9. Invites the Secretary-General to prepare his proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 on the basis of a preliminary estimate of 2,876 million United States dollars at revised 2002-2003 rates; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to resubmit the proposed information technology strategy in accordance with resolution 56/239 of 24 December 2001 during the resumed fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly; 11. Decides to consider in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, in addition to the preliminary estimate, a provision in the amount of 29.8 million dollars for information technology and common services facility infrastructure, bearing in mind the comments of the Secretary-General in paragraph 5 of his report;A/57/85. 12. Decides also that the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 shall contain provisions for recosting on the basis of the existing methodology; 13. Decides further that the priorities for the biennium 2004-2005 shall be the following: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of his preliminary indicative estimates contained in the proposed budget outline, to reflect the priorities outlined in paragraph 13 above when presenting the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 15. Decides that the contingency fund shall be set at the level of 0.75 per cent of the preliminary estimate, namely at 21.6 million dollars, that this amount shall be in addition to the overall level of the preliminary estimate and that it shall be used in accordance with the procedures for the use and operation of the contingency fund. RESOLUTION 57/281 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/603, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/281. Gratis personnel provided by Governments and other entities The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 51/243 of 15 September 1997, 52/234 of 26 June 1998, 53/11 of 26 October 1998 and 53/218 of 7 April 1999 and its decision 55/462 of 12 April 2001, Having considered the annual report of the Secretary-General on gratis personnel provided by Governments and other entities, covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2001,A/56/839. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 7A (A/56/7/Add.1-11), annex. Takes note of the annual report of the Secretary-General.A/56/839. RESOLUTION 57/282 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/650, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/282. Programme planning The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/234 of 21 December 1982, 38/227 A of 20 December 1983, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 55/234 of 23 December 2000 and 56/253 of 24 December 2001, Having examined the proposed revisions submitted by the Secretary-GeneralA/57/6 (Prog.1 and Corr.1, Progs.2, 3, 5, 7-19 and 24-26). concerning the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1). Having considered the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-second session,Ibid., Fifty-seventh session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16). Having also considered the note by the Secretary-General on the proposed revisions to programme 1, Political affairs, of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,A/C.5/57/12. the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 2000-2001,A/57/62. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on strengthening the role of evaluation findings in programme design, delivery and policy directivesSee A/57/68. and the note by the SecretariatA/C.5/57/19. on a new subprogramme on financing for development and revisions to relevant subprogrammes under programme 7, Economic and social affairs, of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, Having further considered the letter dated 15 October 2002 from the Chairman of the Sixth Committee addressed to the Chairman of the Fifth CommitteeA/C.5/57/17. and the letter dated 31 October 2002 from the President of the General Assembly addressed to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee,A/C.5/57/20. 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-second session;Ibid., Fifty-seventh session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16). 2. Reaffirms the role of the Committee as the main subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council for planning, programming and coordination; 3. Requests the Committee to continue to observe its methods of governing the drafting and format of its reports; 4. Encourages the Committee to continue its discussions on improving its working methods and procedures within the framework of its mandate, with a view to further enhancing its effectiveness and continued relevance; I Revisions to the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 1. Reaffirms that the medium-term plan is the principal policy directive of the United Nations and that it shall serve as the framework for the next biennial programme budget; 2. Reaffirms regulations 4.2, 4.13 and 5.2 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure full compliance with them; 3. Adopts the proposed revisions to the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 submitted by the Secretary-General,A/57/6 (Prog.1 and Corr.1, Progs.2, 3, 5, 7-19 and 24-26). as amended by the relevant recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination,Ibid., Fifty-seventh session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16). and the recommendations of the Economic and Social Council contained in its resolution 2002/39 of 25 October 2002; 4. Notes the recommendations of the CommitteeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16), paras. 107 and 108. that the Secretary-General submit proposals for revisions to programme 7 of the medium-term plan so as to reflect the review by the Assembly at its fifty-seventh session of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolutions 1 and 2. and requests the Secretary-General to submit those proposals through the Committee at its forty-third session for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Also notes the recommendation of the CommitteeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16), para. 117. that the Secretary-General submit proposals for revisions to programme 8, Africa: New Agenda for Development, of the medium-term plan so as to reflect the final review and appraisal by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session of the implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and any other relevant legislative mandates, and requests the Secretary-General to submit those revisions through the Committee at its forty-third session for consideration by the Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, bearing in mind that the lack of time precludes further revisions to the medium-term plan at the fifty-seventh session, to prepare the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 for programmes 7 and 8 of the medium-term plan in line with the recommendations of the Committee at its forty-second session and other relevant legislative mandates; II Programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 2000-2001 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 2000-2001;A/57/62. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationIbid., paras. 56-61. regarding the report of the Secretary-General; III Evaluation 1. Stresses the importance and necessity of further improving evaluation and integrating it into the cycle of programme planning, budgeting and monitoring with a view to improving and strengthening programme formulation and implementation; 2. Approves the following schedule of in-depth evaluations to be submitted to the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-third, forty-fourth and forty-fifth sessions respectively: (a) law of the sea and ocean affairs; (b) public administration, finance and development; and (c) human settlements; 3. Emphasizes the importance of the contribution of the relevant intergovernmental bodies, in particular the Main Committees of the General Assembly, in reviewing relevant recommendations on evaluation; 4. Reiterates its view that the relevant intergovernmental bodies, as well as the Economic and Social Council and the Main Committees of the General Assembly should include in their programmes of work a review of recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination relevant to their work and take appropriate action; 5. Regrets that the relevant intergovernmental bodies did not review the recommendations on evaluation of the Committee; 6. Urges those intergovernmental bodies effectively to review the relevant recommendations on evaluation to facilitate their consideration by the Fifth Committee; 7. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on strengthening the role of evaluation findings in programme design, delivery and policy directives,Ibid., paras. 253-259. on the in-depth evaluation of the subprogrammes on General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and Council support and coordination,Ibid., paras. 271-274. on the in-depth evaluation of legal affairs,Ibid., paras. 289 and 290. on the triennial review of the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee at its thirty-ninth session on the in-depth evaluation of the disarmament programmeIbid., paras. 297 and 298. and on the triennial review of the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee at its thirty-ninth session on the in-depth evaluation of the electoral assistance programme;Ibid., paras. 305 and 306. IV Report of the Joint Inspection Unit 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationIbid., paras. 356 and 357. regarding the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled "Strengthening the investigations functions in United Nations system organizations";See A/56/282. 2. Notes the recommendation of the Unit that executive heads of organizations should ensure that managers involved in investigations have sufficient training in the use of established standards and procedures for conducting investigations,Ibid., recommendation 2. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that United Nations programme managers implicated in incidents, crimes or irregularities leading to investigations are not involved, in any way, in conducting those investigations; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to review the practice of involving United Nations programme managers in investigative processes so as to ensure their independence in administrative and managerial functions and to establish proper guidelines that take into consideration the practice of internal control, and to report thereon to the General Assembly no later than at its fifty-eighth session; V Other conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16), paras. 316-323. regarding the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2001,E/2002/55. and its conclusions and recommendationsOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/57/16), paras. 334-338. regarding the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa in the context of the final evaluation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s;E/AC.51/2002/8. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Committee at its forty-third session on the future engagement of the United Nations system with the New Partnership for Africa's Development; 3. Stresses that inter-agency coordination in the field of management should be further strengthened, and recommends that progress made in that regard be reflected in future reports of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination. RESOLUTION 57/283 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/651, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/283. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Reaffirming its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 54/248 of 23 December 1999, 55/222 of 23 December 2000, 56/242 of 24 December 2001, 56/254 D of 27 March 2002, 56/262 of 15 February 2002 and 56/287 of 27 June 2002, Having considered the report of the Committee on ConferencesOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 32 and corrigendum (A/57/32 and Corr.1). and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/56/901, A/57/228 and Add.1 and 2, A/57/289 and A/C.5/56/37. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/472. 1. Approves the draft revised calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2003, as contained in the annex to the report of the Committee on Conferences;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 32 and corrigendum (A/57/32 and Corr.1). 2. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make any adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2003 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that any modification to the calendar of conferences and meetings would be implemented strictly in accordance with the mandate of the Committee on Conferences and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 4. Decides to continue consideration of the item, as a matter of priority, during the first part of its resumed fifty-seventh session; 5. Decides also to resume consideration of the reports of the Secretary-General on the pattern of conferencesA/57/228 and Add.1 and 2. and on improving the performance of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference ServicesA/57/289. in order to take action on them. RESOLUTIONS 57/284 A and B Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/640, para. 6)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/284. Joint Inspection Unit A Reports of the Joint Inspection Unit The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Joint Inspection Unit, in particular resolutions 50/233 of 7 June 1996, 54/16 of 29 October 1999, 55/230 of 23 December 2000 and 56/245 of 24 December 2001, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2001;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/57/34). 2. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the programme of work of the Unit for 2002;A/57/61. 3. Also takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the preliminary listing of potential reports for the programme of work of the Unit for 2003 and beyond;A/57/321. 4. Takes note in particular that, as noted in the preliminary listing of potential reports for the programme of work of the Unit for 2003 and beyond and reaffirmed by the Chairman of the Unit, the preliminary listing is of a tentative nature and does not necessarily imply that the Unit is committed to taking up those subjects; 5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Unit;A/57/327. 6. Reiterates its request to the executive heads of participating organizations to observe fully the time frame for submitting their comments, as called for in article 11, paragraphs 4 (d) and (e), of the statute of the Unit; 7. Reiterates the need for the Unit to place emphasis in its work on well-defined and timely items of high priority, identifying concrete managerial, administrative and programming questions aimed at providing the General Assembly and other legislative organs of participating organizations with practical and action-oriented recommendations; 8. Stresses the need for the Unit to pay special attention to the preparation of reports that are more evaluation-oriented; 9. Invites additional efforts by the Unit, the bureaux of the legislative organs and the secretariats concerned to ensure that the relevant reports of the Unit are submitted to the legislative organs of participating organizations and that those organs take specific action on the recommendations contained in the reports; 10. Welcomes the efforts of the Unit to implement the follow-up mechanisms described in paragraphs 24 and 25 of its report for 2001Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/57/34). so as to ensure the systematic tracking of the status of implementation of the Unit's recommendations; 11. Takes note of the information contained in paragraphs 27 to 32 of the report of the Unit regarding the proposed new procedure for handling comments of the participating organizations on the findings and recommendations of the Unit, and invites the Unit to provide detailed information on the new procedure in comparison with the current procedure, together with the comments of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 12. Reiterates its request to the executive heads of the participating organizations that have not yet done so to take the steps necessary to facilitate the consideration of and action on the system of follow-up to the reports of the Unit, and invites the legislative organs concerned to consider the system and take action in that regard; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the executive heads of the other participating organizations for their attention; 14. Requests the Unit to report to the General Assembly, in its next annual report, on the implementation of the present resolution. B Enhancing governance oversight role: structure, working methods and practices on handling oversight reports The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled "Enhancing governance oversight role: structure, working methods and practices on handling oversight reports"See A/57/58. and the comments of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon,See A/57/58/Add.1. as well as the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/434. 1. Takes note of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled "Enhancing governance oversight role: structure, working methods and practices on handling oversight reports"See A/57/58. and the comments of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon;See A/57/58/Add.1. 2. Concurs with the observations and views of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraphs 9 to 11 of its report;A/57/434. 3. Reaffirms its decision, contained in paragraph 5 of its resolution 50/233, to consider the thematic reports of the Unit under the relevant agenda items. RESOLUTION 57/285 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/652, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/285. United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2002Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). and the statement submitted by the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the Commission,A/57/450 and Corr.1 and 2. Reaffirming its commitment to a single, unified United Nations common system as the cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Convinced that the common system constitutes the best instrument through which to secure staff with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for the international civil service, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the statute of the Commission and the central role of the Commission in the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Takes note of the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2002;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). I Conditions of service applicable to both categories of staff A. Review of the pay and benefits system Recalling its resolutions 51/216 of 18 December 1996, 52/216 of 22 December 1997, 53/209 of 18 December 1998 and 55/223 of 23 December 2000, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the concrete progress made by the Commission in the review of the pay and benefits system in the context of the approved framework for human resources management; 2. Takes note of the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraphs 39 and 60 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). 3. Invites the Commission to duly take into account all views expressed by Member States regarding the review of the pay and benefits system, bearing in mind that any eventual proposals should be aimed at enhancing the effectiveness as well as the efficiency of the secretariats of the organizations of the United Nations system, consistent with the principles set out in paragraph 12 of the report of the Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). 4. Notes that the Commission will examine the issue of contractual arrangements in the United Nations system organizations, bearing in mind its close linkage to the review of the pay and benefits system; 5. Requests the Commission to review the decision contained in paragraph 80 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). including the question of whether the Senior Management Service should be dealt with in the framework of the review of the pay and benefits system, in view of the intention of the General Assembly to consider the question at its fifty-eighth session; 6. Notes that the proposed Senior Management Service would not require a special pay and benefits package, as mentioned in paragraph 80 of the report of the Commission; 7. Requests the Commission to conduct a review of grade equivalency between the United Nations and the United States federal service in accordance with the new master standard during its review of the pay and benefits system, taking fully into account the post structure of the United Nations and of the United States federal Government, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; B. Mobility Recalling its resolution 55/258 of 14 June 2001, in which the General Assembly requested the Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the question of mobility and its implications for the career development of staff members in the United Nations system, Takes note of paragraph 92 of the report of the Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). and, in this context, requests the Commission to continue to develop its study in this area and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; C. Common scale of staff assessment Recalling its resolutions 48/225 of 23 December 1993 and 51/216, Takes note of the decision of the Commission as contained in paragraph 96 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). D. Hazard pay Requests the Commission to reconsider its decision on hazard pay, taking into account all the views expressed by Member States; E. Review of the level of education grant Recalling its resolutions 51/216 and 52/216, 1. Approves increases in the maximum reimbursement levels for seven countries or currency areas, as well as other recommendations in respect of the reimbursement of expenses under the education grant, as contained in paragraph 141 of and annex V to the report of the Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). 2. Takes note of the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraphs 142 and 143 of its report; II Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories A. Margin considerations and base/floor salary scale Recalling section I.C, paragraph 3, of its resolution 44/198 of 21 December 1989, section II.B of its resolution 48/224 of 23 December 1993, section I.C of its resolution 51/216, section I.B of its resolutions 52/216, 53/209 and 54/238 of 23 December 1999, section II.C of its resolution 55/223 and section II.A of its resolution 56/244 of 24 December 2001, 1. Notes that the net remuneration margin, which measures the relationship between United Nations salaries and those of the comparator for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2002, is 109.3, as shown in annex III to the report of the Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). 2. Reaffirms that the range of 110 to 120 for the margin between the net remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories of the United Nations in New York and officials in comparable positions in the comparator civil service should continue to apply, on the understanding that the margin would be maintained at the desirable midpoint of 115 over a period of time; 3. Requests the Commission to keep the matter under review with a view to restoring the margin to its midpoint over a period of time, and requests the Commission to report to the General Assembly on the outcome of this review at its sixty-second session, taking into full account the Noblemaire principle; 4. Approves, with effect from 1 January 2003, the revised scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories, as contained in the annex to the present resolution; 5. Welcomes the efforts of the Commission to strengthen performance and accountability, especially at the senior levels, throughout the common system, and requests the Commission to make recommendations, where appropriate, for increasing the roles of performance and productivity in determining remuneration levels; 6. Requests the Commission, when conducting its review of the pay and benefits system, to bear in mind necessity for performance management systems to be fair and transparent; 7. Reiterates its request to the Commission to review, in the context of the review of the pay and benefits system, the existing linkage between the base/floor salary scale and the mobility and hardship allowance; B. Dependency allowances Recalling section II.F, paragraph 2, of its resolution 47/216 of 23 December 1992, in which it noted that the Commission would review the level of dependency allowances every two years, Endorses the recommendations of the Commission contained in paragraph 182 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). III Conditions of service of the General Service and other locally recruited categories Recalling section II.A of its resolution 52/216, in which it reaffirmed that the Flemming principle should continue to serve as the basis for determining the conditions of service of the General Service and related categories and endorsed the revised methodology for surveys of best prevailing conditions of employment for those categories, Takes note of the results of the salary surveys conducted in London, Vienna and Geneva, as reported in chapter V of the report of the Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). IV Strengthening of the international civil service 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the strengthening of the international civil service;A/57/612. 2. Endorses the terms of reference of the panel on the strengthening of the international civil service, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General; 3. Requests the panel also to comment on the role and main characteristics of the international civil service; 4. Invites the Commission to comment on the findings and recommendations of the panel and to submit its comments to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, to be considered by the Assembly together with the report of the Secretary-General. Annex Salary scale for staff in the Professional and higher categories showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessment (United States dollars) Effective 1 January 2003 TABLE REMOVED D = Rate applicable to staff members with a dependent spouse or child. S = Rate applicable to staff members with no dependent spouse or child. RESOLUTION 57/286 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/653, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/286. United Nations pension system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/217 of 18 December 1996, 53/210 of 18 December 1998 and 55/224 of 23 December 2000 and section V of its resolutions 54/251 of 23 December 1999 and 56/255 of 24 December 2001, Having considered the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension FundA/C.5/57/11. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, A/57/490. Endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/57/490. I Actuarial matters Recalling section I of its resolution 55/224, Having considered the results of the valuation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund as at 31 December 2001 and the observations thereon by the Consulting Actuary of the Fund, the Committee of Actuaries and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, 1. Takes note of the actuarial situation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, which went from an actuarial surplus of 0.36 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1997 to an actuarial surplus of 4.25 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1999, and to an actuarial surplus of 2.92 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 2001, and, in particular, of the opinions provided by the Consulting Actuary and the Committee of Actuaries, as reproduced in annexes VII and VIII, respectively, to the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). 2. Also takes note of the general support of the Board for the report of the Working Group established by the Board to undertake a fundamental review of the benefit provisions of the Fund, taking into account developments in staffing and remuneration policies in the member organizations and in pension arrangements at the national and international levels, and notes in particular that the Board approved the recommendations of the Working Group, set out in paragraphs 157 and 158 of the report of the Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). as further promoting the human resources framework adopted by the International Civil Service Commission and the General Assembly and serving to enhance the mobility of staff and the portability of pensions; 3. Further takes note of the recommendation of the Board that the current contribution rate should be maintained but kept under review; 4. Approves, in principle, the changes in the benefit provisions of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex XIV to the report of the Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). that would eliminate the limitation on the right to restoration for existing and future participants, with implementation to begin at such time as the actuarial valuation of the Fund shows a clear upward pattern of surpluses; 5. Notes that the Board agreed to make no changes in the methodology currently used in the determination of final average remuneration, but agreed to study all possible means of redressing the existing aberrations in the levels of initial pensions and in income replacement ratios over time; 6. Concurs with the transfer agreements with the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as approved by the Board under article 13 of the Regulations of the Fund, with a view to securing continuity of pension rights between the Fund and the two organizations, as set out in annex X to the report of the Board;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). II Pension adjustment system Recalling section II of its resolution 55/224, Having considered the reviews carried out by the Working Group of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and subsequently by the Board, as set out in its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). of various aspects of the pension adjustment system, 1. Recalls the aim of enhancing the mobility of staff and the portability of pensions; 2. Approves, in principle, the changes in the pension adjustment system, as set out in annex XIII to the report of the Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). with implementation to begin when the actuarial valuation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund shows a clear upward pattern of surpluses, namely: (a) To apply cost-of-living adjustments to deferred retirement benefits as from age 50; (b) To apply cost-of-living differential factors to deferred retirement benefits as from the date of separation; 3. Notes that the Board approved the recommendation of the Working Group to eliminate the 1.5 percentage point reduction in the first consumer price index adjustment due to existing and future beneficiaries, subject to an actuarial surplus being revealed in the actuarial valuation to be performed as at 31 December 2003; 4. Takes note of the decision of the Board to continue to study the problems associated with the adjustment of pensions after award; 5. Also takes note of the results of the monitoring of the costs/savings of recent modifications of the two-track feature of the pension adjustment system and of the intention of the Board to continue to monitor those costs/savings every two years, on the occasion of the actuarial valuations of the Fund; III Financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and report of the Board of Auditors Having considered the financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 2001, the audit opinion and report of the Board of Auditors thereon, the information provided on the internal audits of the Fund and the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). Notes that, in its report on the accounts of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9), annex XII. the Board of Auditors indicated that the financial statements were in compliance with accepted standard accounting principles and that there were no major findings of problems concerning procedures and controls; IV Administrative arrangements and longer-term objectives of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Recalling section VII of its resolution 51/217, section V of its resolutions 52/222, 53/210 and 54/251, section IV of its resolution 55/224 and section V of its resolution 56/255 concerning the administrative arrangements and expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, Having considered chapter VII of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). concerning the administrative arrangements of the Fund, 1. Takes note of the information set out in paragraphs 96 and 97 of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). on the revised budget estimates for the biennium 2002-2003; 2. Approves the increase in resources under administrative costs for the biennium 2002-2003, from 29,943,800 to 30,006,300 United States dollars, for the recalculation of benefits due to a judgement of the International Labour Organization Tribunal and a retroactive change in local salary scales; 3. Takes note of the information set out in paragraphs 100 to 104 of the report of the BoardOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). on the whole-office review of the staffing structure and levels of both the Fund secretariat and the Investment Management Service, and also takes note of the support and endorsement in principle of the Board for the Secretary/Chief Executive Officer's efforts and plans for modernization in order to deal with the fast-growing activities of the Fund; 4. Also takes note of the support of the Board for the efforts of the Secretary/Chief Executive Officer to continue to search for permanent premises for the Fund in New York; V Survivors' benefits Recalling section V of its resolution 55/224, Takes note of the further review undertaken by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board of issues related to the pension entitlements of survivors, and requests the Board to examine the administrative and financial aspects of this matter, as a whole, and report to the General Assembly thereon at its fifty-ninth session; VI Activities relating to former participants from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Recalling section VI of its resolution 55/224, 1. Notes the information provided by the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board in paragraphs 125 to 140 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). 2. Decides that this issue does not require further consideration by the General Assembly; VII Size and composition of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and the Standing Committee 1. Takes note of the information set out in paragraphs 205 to 220 of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). on the review of the size and composition of the Board and its Standing Committee; 2. Requests the Board to study the representation of the Fund's member organizations on the Board, so as to clarify the criteria adopted for that purpose, and to submit further proposals to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, with a view to making such representation more equitable in order to reflect the actual distribution of active participants in the Fund, present and future trends in Fund participation, the changing nature of the Fund's member organizations and improved participation by members and alternate members in the Committee and Board meetings; VIII Other matters 1. Takes note of the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, as set out in paragraphs 194 and 195 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). on the review and conclusions reached by the International Civil Service Commission on the changes in average tax rates at the seven headquarters duty stations, which formed the basis for the development of the current common scale of staff assessment for pensionable remuneration; 2. Approves, with effect from 1 April 2003, amendments to articles 28 (g), 30 (c) and 34 (f), of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in the annex to the present resolution, to increase the ceilings applicable in the commutation of the minimum benefit; 3. Also approves, with effect from 1 April 2003, the addition of a new paragraph to article 21 of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in the annex to the present resolution, stating that a participant is deemed to have separated when he or she is on leave without pay for an extended period of time without concurrent contributions having been paid to the Fund; 4. Notes that the Board considered the possible application by the International Criminal Court to become a member organization of the Fund and that a formal application would be submitted to the Standing Committee in 2003, with possible membership to take effect on 1 January 2004; 5. Also notes that the Board considered the detailed report of the medical consultant, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001; 6. Takes note of the other matters dealt with in the report of the Board; 7. Decides to revert to the issue of possible improvements in pension benefits at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly; IX Investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension FundA/C.5/57/11. as well as the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, as set out in paragraphs 81 to 83 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/57/9). 2. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the fiduciary responsibility of the Secretary-General, under the Regulations of the Fund, to take decisions on the investments of the assets of the Fund would under no circumstances be compromised; 3. Notes the concern expressed by the Board over the reduction in the market value of the investments of the Fund and the continuing efforts by the management of the investments to deal with market turbulence; 4. Takes note of the intention of the Board of Auditors and the Pension Board: (a) To follow up on the audit recommendations; (b) To review the procedures and operating methods of the Investment Management Service; (c) To review terms of reference for an independent external performance review of the investments of the Fund; X Diversification of investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Recalling its resolutions 36/119 A to C of 10 December 1981, 1. Recognizes that the Fund's policy of broad diversification of its investments by currency, types of asset classes and geographical areas continues to be the most reliable method of reducing risk and improving returns over long periods of time; 2. Reaffirms paragraph 3 of section VIII of its resolution 55/224; 3. Also reaffirms the policy of diversification of the investments of the Fund across geographical areas, wherever this serves the interests of the participants and beneficiaries of the Fund, in accordance with the four criteria of safety, profitability, liquidity and convertibility; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report on this matter to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. Annex Amendments to the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Article 21 Participation Add the following new paragraph (c): "(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of (b) above, a participant is deemed to have separated when he or she has completed (i) a consecutive period of three years on leave without pay without concurrent contributions having been paid in accordance with article 25 (b), or (ii) four years under the conditions described in (i) above within a total period of five years. To re-enter the Fund, such former participant would have to satisfy the requirements for participation set out in (a) above." Article 28 Retirement benefit In paragraph (g), subparagraph (iii), replace the number "300" with the number "1,000". Article 30 Deferred retirement benefit In paragraph (c), replace the number "300" with the number "1,000". Article 34 Widow's benefit In paragraph (f), replace the number "200" with the number "600". RESOLUTIONS 57/287 A and B Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/604, para. 6)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/287. Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services A Reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, Having considered the following reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services: (a) Report on the inspection of programme management and administrative practices in the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention,See A/56/83. (b) Report on the investigation into allegations of misconduct and mismanagement of the "boat project" at the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention,See A/56/689. (c) Report on the inspection of the administrative and management practices of the United Nations Office at Nairobi,See A/56/620. (d) Report on the investigation into allegations of refugee smuggling at the Nairobi Branch Office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,See A/56/733. (e) Report on the audit of the private sector fund-raising activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,See A/56/759. (f) Report on the update of oversight activities concerning the oil-for-food programme and the United Nations Compensation Commission,See A/56/903. (g) Report on the inspection of programme management and administrative practices in the Department for Disarmament Affairs,See A/56/817. (h) Report on the post-implementation review of the Integrated Management Information System at United Nations Headquarters,See A/56/879. (i) Report on the inspection of programme management and administrative practices in the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean,See A/56/930. (j) Report on the audit of the policies and procedures for recruiting staff for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations,See A/57/224. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services listed above; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct, through the Office of Internal Oversight Services, a further audit of the policies and procedures for recruiting staff of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly for its consideration at its resumed fifty-eighth session. B Enhancing the internal oversight mechanisms in operational funds and programmes The General Assembly, Recalling paragraph 11 of its resolution 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and paragraph 15 of its resolution 54/244 of 23 December 1999, Recalling also its resolution 55/259 of 14 June 2001, Having considered the updated report of the Secretary-General on enhancing the internal oversight mechanisms in operational funds and programmes,A/55/826 and Corr.1. Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General containing updated views on enhancing the internal oversight mechanisms in operational funds and programmes,A/56/823. submitted pursuant to paragraph 2 of resolution 55/259, 1. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/55/826 and Corr.1. and reaffirms the prerogatives of the funds and programmes to decide their own oversight mechanisms and their relationship with the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services that require its approval prior to their implementation. RESOLUTION 57/288 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/654, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/288. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General, namely the first performance report of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 for the biennium 2002-2003,A/57/480. the report on the financial performance of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2001,A/57/367. the comprehensive report on the results of the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Group to Conduct a Review of the Effective Operation and Functioning of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal for Rwanda,A/56/853. as well as the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/593. Recalling its resolutions 56/247 A of 24 December 2001 and 56/247 B of 27 March 2002 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2002-2003, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/57/593. 2. Takes note of the utilization of the commitment authority authorized in its resolution 55/225 B of 12 April 2001; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report on the progress made by the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in reforming its legal aid system, particularly with regard to rationalizing the costs of defence counsel and establishing indigence, for the main part of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to present the proposed budget for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2004-2005 to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session in accordance with the following provisions: (a) The budget should include detailed reference as to how the resources requested for the biennium will support the implementation of a sound and realistic completion strategy and the status of implementation of Board of Auditors recommendations, where relevant, with regard to specific items of proposed expenditure; (b) The budget requirements for the Registry, the Office of the Prosecutor and the non-judicial, administrative functions of the Chambers should be presented in a results-based format linking objectives and inputs to expected accomplishments to be measured by indicators of achievement; (c) Proposed allocations for costs for translation of documents and travel of witnesses should specify application and prior approval procedures by the Registrar to ensure they do not exceed demonstrated requirements; (d) Proposals for defence costs should take into account experience to date in the revised lump-sum remuneration arrangements for defence counsel and the application of assessing contributions from defendants based on ability to pay and taking into account revised definitions of indigence and partial indigence; (e) The proposed post structure for the biennium 2004-2005 should reflect reductions and shifts in requirements within the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia owing to the expected completion of investigations by 2004 and, where appropriate, address any new requirements for established posts through redeployment; 5. Concurs with the recommendation of the Board of Auditors in paragraph 62 of its report,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 5L and corrigendum (A/57/5/Add.12 and Corr.1). and invites the judges of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to give due consideration to implementing fully a system of designating defence counsel at random from a list of available lawyers established by the Registrar's office; 6. Notes with concern that the posts approved by the General Assembly in its resolutions 56/247 A and B for on-site audit and investigative services in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia have not been filled, and calls upon the Office of Internal Oversight Services to fill these positions without any further delay; 7. Decides that the financing for the unassessed expenditures incurred in 2001, in the amount of 413,600 United States dollars, shall be drawn from the unencumbered balance available in the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; 8. Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003, the amount of 248,926,200 dollars gross (223,169,800 dollars net), approved in its resolution 56/247 B for the budget of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, shall be increased by 13,727,500 dollars gross (12,785,200 dollars net), for a total amount of 262,653,700 dollars gross (235,955,000 dollars net); 9. Decides that the increases resulting from the recosting and the establishment of one additional trial team, in the amount of 13,727,500 dollars gross (12,785,200 dollars net), shall be drawn from the unencumbered balance available in the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia as at 31 December 2001; 10. Decides also to apportion for the year 2003 the amount of 64,275,950 dollars gross (58,066,375 dollars net), including 6,863,750 dollars gross (6,392,600 dollars net), being the increase in assessments, among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2003 as set out in its resolutions 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002; 11. Decides further to apportion for the year 2003 the amount of 64,275,950 dollars gross (58,066,375 dollars net), including 6,863,750 dollars gross (6,392,600 dollars net), being the increase in assessments, among Member States in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2003; 12. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 10 and 11 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 26,763,400 dollars, including the amount of 1,007,000 dollars, being the increase in the estimated staff assessment income approved for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2002-2003. Annex Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 57/289 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/655, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/289. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General, namely the first performance report of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 for the biennium 2002-2003,A/57/481 and Corr.1. the report on the financial performance of the International Tribunal for Rwanda for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2001,A/57/368. the comprehensive report on the results of the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Group to Conduct a Review of the Effective Operation and Functioning of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal for Rwanda,A/56/853. the report on the long-term financial obligations of the United Nations with regard to the enforcement of sentencesA/57/347. and the report on the conditions of service for the ad litem judges of the International Tribunal for Rwanda,A/57/587. Having also considered the revised estimates arising in respect of Security Council resolution 1431 (2002) of 14 August 2002 on the establishment of ad litem judges in the International Tribunal for Rwanda,A/57/482. Having further considered the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/593. Recalling its resolutions 56/248 A of 24 December 2001 and 56/248 B of 27 March 2002 on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda for the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2003, Taking note of Security Council resolution 1431 (2002) on the establishment of ad litem judges for the International Tribunal for Rwanda, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/593. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Notes with concern that the vacancy rate at the International Tribunal for Rwanda remains at unacceptably high levels and that, by the end of 2002, the posts of Chief of Prosecution and Deputy Prosecutor will have been vacant for more than two years and nineteen months, respectively, despite information indicating that there was an abundance of qualified candidates in the region and elsewhere, and requests the Registrar of the Tribunal to ensure that the aforementioned posts are filled without further delay and to report thereon to the General Assembly no later than at its fifty-eighth session; 3. Urges the Secretary-General to request the Office of Internal Oversight Services to conduct a management review of the Office of the Prosecutor, paying particular attention to the problems which have arisen in filling these critical posts,Ibid., para. 13. and to report thereon to the General Assembly no later than at its fifty-eighth session; 4. Notes with concern that the posts approved by the General Assembly in its resolutions 56/248 A and B for on-site audit and investigative services in the International Tribunal for Rwanda have not been filled, and calls upon the Office of Internal Oversight Services to fill those positions without any further delay; 5. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the long-term financial obligations of the United Nations with regard to the enforcement of sentences,A/57/347. on the understanding that future budgetary requests on enforcement of sentences will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account legal, administrative and financial justification provided in support of each request;Ibid., para. 41. 6. Affirms that it would be appropriate for the United Nations to bear the immediate costs arising from providing prisoners serving sentences imposed by the International Tribunal for Rwanda with a regime of imprisonment that is consistent with those outlined in paragraph 17 of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/347. 7. Invites the Security Council to address uncertainties arising from issues identified in paragraphs 8, 42 and 43 of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/347. and to provide guidance on possible amendments to the statute of the International Tribunal for Rwanda; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on these issues, including the consideration of the Security Council; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General, as an ad hoc and interim measure, to charge the costs related to the needs arising with regard to the enforcement of sentences within presently appropriated resources before the end of the biennium 2002-2003; 10. Further requests the Secretary-General, in full cooperation with the International Tribunal for Rwanda, to ensure that due consideration is given in all future budget proposals for the Tribunal to the provision of resources to facilitate the enforcement of sentences; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure adequate oversight of prison facility upgrade projects and the subsequent maintenance of minimum international prison standards where those maintenance costs are borne by the United Nations; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to assess the accuracy of the cost estimates proposed in his report on the enforcement of sentences,A/57/347. to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, and to keep the cost estimates under periodic review; 13. Urges the International Tribunal for Rwanda to continue to consult closely with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the development and implementation of its own completion strategy; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report on the progress made by the International Tribunal for Rwanda in reforming its legal aid system for consideration by the General Assembly at the main part of its fifty-eighth session; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session the proposed budget of the International Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2004-2005, which should include the following elements: (a) The budget should include detailed information as to how the resources requested for the biennium will support the development of a sound and realistic completion strategy and the status of implementation of Board of Auditors recommendations, where relevant, with regard to specific items of proposed expenditure; (b) The budget requirements for the Registry, the Office of the Prosecutor and the non-judicial, administrative functions of the Chambers should be presented in a results-based format linking objectives and inputs to expected accomplishments to be measured by indicators of achievement; (c) Revised arrangements for preventing overexpenditures by defence counsel and for managing, monitoring and controlling the expenses of the legal aid system of the International Tribunal for Rwanda should be included in support of proposals for defence costs, including a full definition and establishment of quantitative criteria for determining indigence and partial indigence based on, inter alia, the defendants' circumstances and ability to pay; (d) Proposed allocations for costs for travel of investigators should be supported by those procedures implemented by the Registrar in order not to exceed requirements; (e) The proposed post structure for the biennium 2004-2005 should reflect reductions and shifts in requirements within the International Tribunal for Rwanda owing to the expected completion of investigations by 2003 and, where appropriate, address any new requirements for established posts through redeployment; 16. Further requests the Secretary-General to consider the introduction, wherever feasible, in the International Tribunal for Rwanda of all measures undertaken in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia that have proved effective with regard to controlling administrative costs, including maintaining efficient administrative and managerial functions; 17. Approves the additional resources for the International Tribunal for Rwanda for 2003 as recommended by the Advisory Committee, except that the staffing complement shall be reduced by four posts, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the use of ad litem judges and their impact in the second performance report for the biennium 2002-2003; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that optimum use is made of ad litem judges, following their introduction, to increase the number of court sessions and extend scheduled working hours; 19. Decides that the financing for the unassessed expenditures incurred in 2001, in the amount of 2,664,500 United States dollars gross (1,880,000 dollars net), shall be drawn from the unencumbered balance in the Special Account for the International Tribunal for Rwanda;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 5K and corrigenda (A/57/5/Add.11 and Corr.1-3), chap. V, statement II (cumulative surplus of 5,507,000 dollars). 20. Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003, the amount of 197,127,300 dollars gross (177,739,400 dollars net), approved in its resolution 56/248 B for the budget of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, shall be adjusted by the amount of 4,657,600 dollars gross (4,254,100 dollars net) arising for ad litem judges in respect of Security Council resolution 1431 (2002) for a total amount of 201,784,900 dollars gross (181,993,500 dollars net); 21. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments, where necessary, in an amount not to exceed 2,177,700 dollars gross (879,200 dollars net) for the resource requirements of the International Tribunal for Rwanda to support the re-costing of resources for the biennium 2002-2003, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the impact thereof in the context of the second performance report for the biennium; 22. Decides to apportion for the year 2003 the amount of 53,047,600 dollars gross (47,759,100 dollars net), including 5,202,750 dollars gross (4,521,450 dollars net), being the increase in assessments among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for the year 2003 as set out in its resolutions 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002; 23. Decides also to apportion for the year 2003 the amount of 53,047,600 dollars gross (47,759,100 dollars net), including 5,202,750 dollars gross (4,521,450 dollars net), being the increase in assessments among Member States in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for the year 2003; 24. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 22 and 23 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 19,791,400 dollars, including 403,500 dollars, being the increase of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the International Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2002-2003. Annex Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED a See A/57/481 and Corr.1. b See A/57/482. c See A/57/593. d See paragraph 21 of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/28 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/568 and Corr.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 57/28. Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/89 of 12 December 2001 on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Recalling also its resolution 49/59 of 9 December 1994, by which it adopted the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Recalling further the letter dated 24 October 2000 addressed to the President of the Security Council on behalf of the global staff of the United Nations system,S/2000/1133, annex. drawing attention to the safety and security problems faced by United Nations and associated personnel, Recalling the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/637. and the recommendations contained therein, Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as relevant provisions of human rights and refugee law, Reaffirming also the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Deeply concerned by the increasing dangers and security risks faced by United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to provide the fullest possible protection for their security, Expressing concern that locally recruited personnel are particularly vulnerable to attacks directed at the United Nations, Welcoming the recent increase in the number of States that have become parties to the Convention, which entered into force on 15 January 1999, and noting that the Convention has been ratified or acceded to by sixty-three States as at the date of the present resolution, Mindful of the need to promote the universality of the Convention, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 52 (A/57/52). established pursuant to resolution 56/89, and taking account of the discussions in the Sixth Committee, 1. Expresses its appreciation for the work done by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 2. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, in particular the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 3. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention, among others, those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission and host country agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements; 4. Recommends also that, consistent with his existing authority, the Secretary-General advise the Security Council or the General Assembly, as appropriate, where in his assessment circumstances would support a declaration of exceptional risk for the purposes of article 1(c)(ii) of the Convention; 5. Confirms that, consistent with his existing authority, the Secretary-General, who has knowledge of the facts and easy access to the information, may provide information, upon the request of a State, on matters of fact relevant to the application of the Convention, such as the fact and content of any declaration of exceptional risk by the Security Council or the General Assembly or any agreement concluded between the United Nations and a humanitarian non-governmental organization or agency; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare model or standardized provisions for incorporation into the agreements concluded between the United Nations and humanitarian non-governmental organizations or agencies and, if possible, to report on progress on this issue before the next meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee, and to make available to Member States the names of organizations or agencies that have concluded such agreements, for the purposes of clarifying the application of the Convention to persons deployed by those organizations or agencies; 7. Encourages the Secretary-General and relevant bodies to continue to take such other practical measures as are within their authority and existing institutional mandates to strengthen the protection for United Nations and associated personnel, including locally recruited personnel, who are particularly vulnerable and account for the majority of casualties among United Nations or associated personnel; 8. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee established under resolution 56/89 shall reconvene for one week from 24 to 28 March 2003, and shall continue the discussion on measures to enhance the existing protective legal regime for United Nations and associated personnel, including addressing the application of the Convention to all United Nations operations, taking into account the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/637. and the discussions in the Ad Hoc Committee; 9. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at the fifty-eighth session; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the measures taken to implement the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel". RESOLUTION 57/290 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/656, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/290. Administrative and budgetary aspects of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/217 of 23 December 1992, 55/235 and 55/236 of 23 December 2000, 57/1 of 10 September 2002, 57/3 of 27 September 2002 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002, 1. Decides that, in accordance with the criteria established by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/235, Switzerland will be assigned to level B under the system of adjustments used for establishing rates of assessment for peacekeeping operations; 2. Decides also that, in accordance with the same criteria, Timor-Leste will be assigned to level I under the system of adjustments used for establishing rates of assessment for peacekeeping operations; 3. Decides further that, in the case of appropriations or apportionments approved by the General Assembly for the financing of peacekeeping operations, the contributions of Switzerland and Timor-Leste, as determined by their respective levels under the system of adjustments used for establishing effective rates of assessment for peacekeeping operations, should be calculated in proportion to the calendar year; 4. Decides that the assessments of Switzerland and Timor-Leste for the year 2002 should be taken into account as miscellaneous income in accordance with regulation 5.2 (c) of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 5. Notes that, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 47/217, the assessments of Switzerland and Timor-Leste for the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund should be calculated by the application of their first rates of assessment for peacekeeping operations to the authorized level of the Fund. RESOLUTION 57/291 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/657, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/291. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra LeoneA/57/619. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/633. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1270 (1999) of 22 October 1999 concerning the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council revised and extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1436 (2002) of 24 September 2002, Recalling its resolution 53/29 of 20 November 1998 on the financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone and subsequent resolutions on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, the latest of which was resolution 56/251 B of 27 June 2002, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with sufficient financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/57/633. 2. Decides, taking into account the amount of 532,469,200 United States dollars previously apportioned under the terms of General Assembly resolution 56/251 B, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 90 million dollars at a monthly rate of 7.5 million dollars for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003, comprising 67.5 million dollars for the period from 1 July 2002 to 31 March 2003 and 22.5 million dollars for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2003, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235 of 23 December 2000, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of the same date and its resolution 57/290 of 20 December 2002, and taking into account the scale of assessments for the years 2002 and 2003 as set out in its resolution 55/5 B of 23 December 2000, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 57/4 B of 20 December 2002, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission; 3. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 2 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 326,400 dollars for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003, at a monthly rate of 27,200 dollars, comprising 244,800 dollars for the period from 1 July 2002 to 31 March 2003 and 81,600 dollars for the period from 1 April to 30 June 2003, in addition to the estimated staff assessment income in the amount of 9,004,200 dollars previously approved under the terms of Assembly resolution 56/251 B; 4. Decides further to keep under review during its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone". RESOLUTION 57/292 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/649, para. 80)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/292. Questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly, I Plan to increase the regular budget component of the United Nations Office at Nairobi Recalling paragraph 163 of its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, by which it requested the Secretary-General to bring the financial arrangements of the United Nations Office at Nairobi into line with those of similar United Nations administrative offices, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the plan to increase the regular budget component of the United Nations Office at Nairobi,A/57/362. and endorses the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon;A/57/7/Add.3, sect. A. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 2. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and urges him to increase the regular budget component of the Office in future bienniums so as to ensure that the Office is able fully to execute programmes and activities within its mandate; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to take into account the provisions of the present resolution in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; II Capital master plan Recalling its resolutions 54/249 of 23 December 1999, 55/238 of 23 December 2000, 56/234 and 56/236 of 24 December 2001 and 56/286 of 27 June 2002, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the capital master plan,A/57/285. Having also considered the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.4. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 1. Takes note with concern of the hazards, risks and deficiencies of the current condition of the United Nations Headquarters complex, and concurs with the Secretary-General that a decision on viable solutions must be made to ameliorate those conditions; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the capital master plan;A/57/285. 3. Also takes note of the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.4. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. and endorses the observations and recommendations contained therein, subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 4. Welcomes with appreciation the offer of support from the City and State of New York, and acknowledges their efforts to make possible the implementation of the capital master plan; Scope of the capital master plan 5. Decides to implement the capital master plan on the basis of the baseline scope under the first approach to phasing and swing space, with a projected construction budget of 1,049 million United States dollars,The amount of 1,049 million dollars, with a variance of plus or minus 10 per cent, assumes a construction start date of October 2004 and reflects a baseline scope estimate of 991 million dollars, a swing space estimate of 96 million dollars, a decrease of 17 million dollars in respect of previously approved security measures, a decrease of 57 million dollars in respect of the exclusion of a new large conference room and multi-function hall in the existing complex and the addition of 36 million dollars in respect of the inclusion of the replacement of the curtain wall. a variance of plus or minus 10 per cent, that is, a range currently estimated at 944.1 million to 1,153.9 million dollars, a proposed construction start date of October 2004 and a construction duration of five years; 6. Notes that the projected budget should be increased by up to 144 million dollars should the Assembly decide to implement any of the scope options referred to in paragraph 11 below; 7. Authorizes the Secretary-General to proceed with the remaining phases of design development and construction documentation, bearing in mind the provisions set out below; Baseline scope 8. Approves the implementation of the baseline scope as amended by the exclusion of the proposed new large conference room and multi-function hall in the parking garage; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session plans for the three additional conference rooms foreseen in the baseline scope, including the information used to determine the need for such additional space and the size of each room; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in those plans viable solutions for allowing natural light into the rooms, with a view to ensuring occupationally healthy conditions; Scope options 11. Approves the inclusion in the design documents of the proposed scope options for security, redundancy and contingency and sustainability within the design work for the capital master plan, without prejudice to the final decision to be made by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session with regard to the scope options to be included, and also approves the contingency plans for retaining the proposed new large conference room and multi-function hall in the parking garage of the United Nations Headquarters complex; Swing space 12. Endorses the proposal of the Secretary-General, in line with the first approach to phasing and swing space, to complete the negotiations with the City of New York for the construction and lease purchase of a new United Nations consolidated building on a section of the Robert Moses Playground, including the cost of providing alternative park amenities for the community to compensate for the loss of part of the playground; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to include a permanent large conference room and a permanent multi-function hall in a design of the new United Nations consolidated building; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, in addressing the design of the United Nations consolidated building, the necessary security and environmental parameters are respected; 15. Approves, in principle, the approach of the Secretary-General that the acquisition of the United Nations consolidated building will be made through a lease-purchase agreement with the United Nations, upon the expiry of which the building and the land on which it stands would be owned by the United Nations; Parking 16. Takes note with concern of the existing difficulties with regard to the availability of parking at the United Nations; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to study all viable options to ensure sufficient parking spaces so as to meet the existing and future needs of diplomatic missions and Secretariat staff within the projected overall budget of the capital master plan, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session in the context of its consideration of the capital master plan; Management and oversight 18. Requests the Secretary-General to put in place strict control standards for all phases of the plan prior to and during its implementation, defining the precise refurbishment work to be done and the technical results to be achieved so as to ensure that there are no cost overruns associated with the overall project, that the project is completed successfully within the envisaged time frame and budget and within the agreed technical specifications, that there are financial penalties for contractors in the case of non-respect of deadlines and that there is a guarantee which will ensure the long-term quality of the work undertaken; 19. Concurs with the intention of the Secretary-General to establish an independent and impartial advisory board, as outlined in paragraph 66 of his report,A/57/285. and requests him, in establishing the board, to reflect wide geographical representation; 20. Takes note of the information included in paragraph 75 of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/285. and of the fact that the Board of Auditors, in order to avoid a conflict of interest, did not assume responsibility for the validation of initial project costs; 21. Stresses in this regard the importance, as a matter of transparency, of the Secretary-General reporting to the General Assembly on such situations; 22. Also stresses the importance of oversight with respect to the development and implementation of the capital master plan, and requests the Board of Auditors and all other relevant oversight bodies to initiate immediate oversight activities and to report annually thereon to the General Assembly; 23. Takes note of annexes II and III to the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/285. and requests the Secretary-General to issue a corrigendum that reflects the current organizational structure of the Secretariat for managing the capital master plan, both at present and over the course of its implementation;The corrigendum was subsequently issued as A/57/285/Corr.1. Appropriation and funding 24. Decides that a special account for the capital master plan should be established, and requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary arrangements in this regard, in accordance with the provisions of regulation 6.6 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 25. Also decides to appropriate 25.5 million dollars to the special account for the capital master plan for the biennium 2002-2003, in accordance with the relevant resolutions on the scale of assessments applicable for the biennium 2002-2003, for design and related project management and management of pre-construction services for the baseline scope and scope options; 26. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments of up to 26 million dollars for the biennium 2004-2005 to provide for the remaining work, related project management and management of pre-construction services for the baseline scope and scope options; 27. Welcomes the preparedness of the Secretary-General to initiate a campaign to encourage and secure private donations; 28. Reaffirms the importance of continuing efforts to secure financial resources from the public and private sectors for upgrading facilities and equipment, including the participation of private companies in infrastructural improvements, where such participation has no financial implications for the Organization, and also reaffirms that the acceptance of any donation should conform to the international and intergovernmental character of the Organization and should be in full compliance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on: (a) The status of possible funding arrangements, including a financial package to be provided by the host country; (b) Other contributions and his efforts to secure such contributions from public and private sources; (c) All aspects of the outcome of negotiations with the City and State of New York; (d) The progress of the design work; Procurement 30. Requests the Secretary-General, considering the need to continue to explore ways to increase procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to take the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 54/14 of 29 October 1999 and 55/247 of 12 April 2001 on procurement reform fully into consideration in the implementation of the capital master plan; 31. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it on an annual basis on the awarding of contracts for procurement for the capital master plan; Final provisions 32. Decides that none of the provisions of the present resolution, with the exception of paragraphs 24 to 26 and all requested design specifications, are binding in the event that the City and State of New York cannot fulfil their commitments to the capital master plan and if the host country does not offer a financing package to cover the project, described in paragraph 5 of the present section; 33. Also decides to revert to the issue of the financing of the capital master plan at its fifty-eighth session; 34. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it annual progress reports on the implementation of the capital master plan; III Estimates in respect of matters of which the Security Council is seized Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of matters of which the Security Council is seizedA/C.5/57/23. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.17. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of matters of which the Security Council is seized,A/C.5/57/23. and endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/57/7/Add.17. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 2. Approves, under the procedures provided for in paragraph 11 of annex I to its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, an additional appropriation of 60,039,000 dollars for the nineteen special political missions presented in the report of the Secretary-General under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 3. Also approves an appropriation of 8,183,100 dollars under section 32, Staff assessment, to be offset by a corresponding amount under Income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; IV Strengthening the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Secretariat Recalling paragraph 103 of its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the SecretariatA/57/152 and Corr.1, A/57/152/Add.1 and Corr.1 and 2 and A/57/152/Add.2. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.13. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 1. Reaffirms the priorities of the Organization as set out in the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1), para. 26. namely: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 2. Also reaffirms the role of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat in contributing to the prevention of international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as mandated and reflected in the medium-term plan;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1), programme 12. 3. Further reaffirms the role of the Centre in providing, at the request of Member States, technical assistance in the prevention of international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 4. Approves, as a charge against the contingency fund, an amount of 230,900 dollars for one D-1, one P-4, one P-3 and two General Service (Other level) posts under section 14, Crime prevention and criminal justice, of the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 and a related amount of 55,600 dollars under section 32, Staff assessment, offset by the amount of 55,600 dollars under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, and decides that the balance of resource requirements as detailed in the annex to the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/57/152/Add.2. shall be reflected in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; V United Nations Institute for Training and Research Recalling its resolutions 47/227 of 8 April 1993 and 56/208 of 21 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Institute for Training and ResearchA/57/479. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.15. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 1. Emphasizes the need to find a viable financial solution to ensure the future effective functioning of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research; 2. Notes with concern that the Institute has accumulated a debt to the United Nations and to the Fondation immobilière pour organisations internationales owing to lack of payment of rent and maintenance for its liaison offices in New York and Geneva; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, on the basis of consultations with the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the financial viability of the Institute, including the status of all voluntary contributions and the payment of the accumulated debt of the Institute, as well as on provisions offered to other comparable organizations; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to address, in the context of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, based on the aforementioned consultations with the Institute, specific proposals and options on how best to address the issue of its past and future maintenance and rental costs, drawing on the provisions made for other organizations associated with the United Nations; VI First performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 Having considered the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003A/57/616. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.16. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. 1. Reaffirms the budgetary process as approved in its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986 and as reaffirmed in subsequent resolutions; 2. Also reaffirms its resolutions 56/253 and 56/254 A to C of 24 December 2001 and 56/274 B, 56/286 and 56/287 of 27 June 2002; 3. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003,A/57/616. and endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/7/Add.16. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 4. Decides to appropriate an amount of 6,896,100 dollars to support the meeting requirements of the Counter-Terrorism Committee for the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 March 2003 in the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 as follows: 6,531,900 dollars under section 2, General Assembly affairs and conference services, and 364,200 dollars under section 27 D, Office of Central Support Services; 5. Notes the continued unpredictability of the service requirements for the activities of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the scope for absorption of some or all of the costs related to the servicing of the Committee; 6. Reiterates paragraph 2 of its resolution 56/288 of 27 June 2002, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of conference and support services to the Counter-Terrorism Committee without adversely affecting other conference services; 7. Decides to consider further the conference and support servicing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee for 2003 in the light of the review by the Security Council of the activities of the Committee; 8. Decides also to approve 9.9 million dollars for realized vacancy rates in 2002 and to consider the actual realized vacancy rates for 2003 in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003; 9. Reiterates paragraphs 133 to 136 of its resolution 56/253; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide information on regular budget expenditures on a quarterly basis in the appropriate format; 11. Notes with deep concern the serious and continuing deterioration in the business of the United Nations Postal Administration; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure, as a matter of priority, that the continuing downward trend in the business of the United Nations Postal Administration is reversed, considering all possible courses of action for the future conduct of its business, and to report thereon to the General Assembly in the context of the second performance report; 13. Approves a net increase of 176,866,900 dollars in the appropriation approved for the biennium 2002-2003 and a net increase of 2,807,300 dollars in the estimates of income for the biennium, to be apportioned among expenditure and income sections as indicated in the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/616. VII Contingency fund: consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates Notes that a balance of 31,200 dollars remains in the contingency fund. RESOLUTIONS 57/293 A to C Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/649, para. 80)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/293. Programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 A Revised budget appropriations for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003, the amount of 2,699,267,800 United States dollars appropriated by it in its resolutions 56/254 A of 24 December 2001 and 56/274 B and 56/286 of 27 June 2002 shall be adjusted by 191,550,900 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED B Revised income estimates for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003, the estimates of income of 410,036,100 United States dollars approved by it in its resolutions 56/254 A of 24 December 2001 and 56/274 B and 56/286 of 27 June 2002 shall be increased by 4,393,500 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED C Financing of appropriations for the year 2003 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the year 2003: 1. Budget appropriations totalling 1,606,290,850 United States dollars and consisting of 1,312,589,350 dollars, being half of the appropriations initially approved for the biennium 2002-2003 in its resolution 56/254 C of 24 December 2001, 14,728,900 dollars and 59,360,200 dollars, being additional appropriations approved for the biennium 2002-2003 in its resolutions 56/274 B and 56/286 of 27 June 2002, 191,550,900 dollars, being the increase approved by the General Assembly in resolution A above, plus 28,061,500 dollars, being the increase in the final appropriations for the biennium 2000-2001 approved in its resolutions 56/240 A of 24 December 2001 and 56/240 C of 27 March 2002, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 5.1 and 5.2 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations, as follows: (a) 37,259,284 dollars, consisting of: (i) 25,878,800 dollars, being half of the estimated income other than income from staff assessment approved for the biennium 2002-2003 by the Assembly in its resolution 56/254 B of 24 December 2001; (ii) Less 10,376,100 dollars, being the decrease approved by the Assembly in resolution B above; (iii) 237,244 dollars, being the unencumbered balance of the final appropriations for the biennium 2000-2001 as at 31 December 2001; (iv) 26,748,816 dollars, being the savings from liquidations of prior-period obligations as at 31 December 2001; (v) 5,077 dollars, being the net balance of the contributions of new Member States, offset by other adjustments to fund balances as at 31 December 2001; (vi) Less 5,234,553 dollars, being the decrease in income other than staff assessment for the biennium 2000-2001 compared with the revised estimates approved by the Assembly in its resolution 55/239 B of 23 December 2000; (b) 1,569,031,566 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolutions 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002 on the scale of assessments for the year 2003; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 204,230,264 dollars, consisting of: (a) 176,268,900 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved by the Assembly in its resolution 56/254 B; (b) 4,165,800 dollars, being the estimated staff assessment income approved by the Assembly in its resolution 56/274 B; (c) 1,574,900 dollars, being the estimated staff assessment income approved by the Assembly in its resolution 56/286; (d) 14,769,600 dollars, being the estimated increase in income from staff assessment approved by the Assembly in resolution B above; (e) 7,451,064 dollars, being the increase in income from staff assessment for the biennium 2000-2001 compared with the revised estimates approved by the Assembly in its resolution 55/239 B of 23 December 2000. RESOLUTION 57/294 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.70 and Add.1, sponsored by: Central African Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57/294. 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/135 of 19 December 1994, 50/128 of 20 December 1995 and 55/284 of 7 September 2001 concerning the struggle against malaria in the developing countries, particularly in Africa, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council relating to the struggle against malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, in particular resolution 1998/36 of 30 July 1998, Acknowledging that it is important and necessary for countries where malaria is endemic to adopt appropriate strategies to combat malaria, one of the most deadly of all tropical diseases, which annually causes at least one million deaths in Africa, where nine out of every ten cases of malaria occur, Taking note of the declarations and decisions on health issues adopted by the Organization of African Unity, in particular the declaration and plan of action on the "Roll Back Malaria" initiative adopted at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Abuja on 24 and 25 April 2000,See A/55/240/Add.1. as well as decision AHG/Dec.155 (XXXVI) concerning the implementation of that declaration and plan of action, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex II. Welcoming the establishment of the African Union in Durban, South Africa, on 9 July 2002, in accordance with the provisions of its Constitutive Act, and the adoption of the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. Acknowledging the efforts of the World Health Organization and other partners to fight malaria over the years, including the launching of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in 1998, Recognizing that malaria-related ill health and deaths throughout the world can be eliminated with political commitment and commensurate resources if the public is educated and sensitized about malaria and appropriate health services are made available, particularly in countries where the disease is endemic, Emphasizing that the international community has an essential role to play in strengthening the support and assistance provided to developing countries, particularly African countries, in their efforts to reduce the burden of malaria and mitigate its negative effects, Recognizing the importance of the development of effective vaccines and new medicines to prevent and treat malaria and the need for further research, including through effective global partnerships such as the various malaria vaccine initiatives and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, in securing their development, Emphasizing the importance of implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and welcoming, in this connection, the commitment of Member States to respond to the specific needs of Africa, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/123. and calls for support for the recommendations contained therein; 2. Reaffirms the period 2001-2010 as the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa; 3. Welcomes the high priority given to the fight against malaria in the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 4. Takes note with satisfaction of the continuing efforts of developing countries, particularly those in Africa, to combat malaria through the formulation and implementation of plans and strategies at the national, regional and continental levels, despite their limited financial, technical and human resources; 5. Takes note of the real progress towards the implementation of those plans, most notably the increasing availability of insecticide-treated bednets, the growing use of preventive treatment of pregnant women and prompt access to treatment with effective drugs, that is being made in many countries in which malaria is endemic, particularly in Africa; 6. Stresses that the proclamation of the Decade will stimulate the efforts of African countries and the international community not only to roll back malaria worldwide, in particular in Africa where the burden is heaviest, but also to prevent its spread to previously malaria-free areas; 7. Appeals to the international community, United Nations bodies, international and regional organizations and non-governmental organizations to allocate substantial new resources, including through the Global Fund to Fight the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Tuberculosis and Malaria, for developing countries, particularly in Africa, with a view to enabling them to implement fully the plan of action adopted in Abuja for the "Roll Back Malaria" initiative;See A/55/240/Add.1. 8. Calls upon the international community and donor Governments to encourage and facilitate the transfer of needed technology to developing countries, particularly in Africa, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, for the production of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, to avoid the difficulties encountered with re-treatment, and to find ways to increase the availability of the new range of artemisinin-based combination drugs for multi-drug-resistant malaria; 9. Commends the World Health Organization and its partners, and urges them to provide the necessary support for its ongoing measures to combat malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, and to provide the assistance necessary for African States to meet their objectives; 10. Calls for joint comprehensive efforts between Africa and the international community to ensure that by 2005 the following targets are achieved: (a) At least 60 per cent of those at risk for malaria, in particular pregnant women and children under five years of age, benefit from the most suitable combination of personal and community protective measures, such as insecticide-treated bednets and other interventions that are accessible and affordable, to prevent infection and suffering; (b) At least 60 per cent of all pregnant women who are at risk for malaria, especially those in their first pregnancy, have access to chemoprophylaxis or presumptive intermittent treatment; (c) At least 60 per cent of those suffering from malaria have prompt access to and are able to use correct, affordable and appropriate treatment within twenty-four hours of the onset of symptoms; 11. Reiterates the need to ensure that measures to reduce the risk of malaria transmission, including source reduction and environmental management, such as ways to minimize mosquito breeding sites associated with existing and new development projects, are included in development planning and activities; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, acting in close collaboration with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, developing countries and regional organizations, including the African Union, to conduct in 2005 an evaluation of the measures taken and progress made towards the achievement of the mid-term targets, the means of implementation provided by the international community in this regard and the overall goals of the Decade, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/295 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.71 and Add.1, sponsored by: Chile, China, Cuba, Guatemala, India, Lesotho, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, Zambia 57/295. Information and communication technologies for development The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to ensure that the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies, in conformity with the recommendations contained in the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2000 of the Economic and Social Council, adopted on 7 July 2000,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/55/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 17. are available to all, Recalling also that the ministerial declaration called for a coherent, system-wide information and communication technologies strategy that would ensure coordination and synergy among programmes and activities of individual organizations of the system and transform it into a knowledge-based system of organizations, Bearing in mind its resolution 57/238 of 20 December 2002 on the World Summit on the Information Society, in which it encouraged all relevant United Nations bodies and other intergovernmental organizations, including international and regional institutions, to further their cooperation in and support to the preparatory process of the Summit, Noting that information and communication technologies for development have been recognized as an important element in the outcomes of recent United Nations conferences and summits, 1. Affirms the need to use information and communication technologies as a strategic tool to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the development programmes and technical cooperation activities of the United Nations system; 2. Emphasizes the need for coordination and synergy between programmes and activities of the United Nations system and the crucial role that information and communication technologies can play in facilitating such coordination; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to work closely with organizations of the United Nations system and with the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force to develop a comprehensive information and communication technologies strategy for the United Nations system, taking into account the following elements: (a) Encouraging the system-wide application and use of information and communication technologies to strengthen the United Nations capacity to create, share and disseminate knowledge and to help to make the United Nations more efficient and effective in the delivery of services to Member States; (b) Mainstreaming and integrating information and communication technologies more fully into development and technical cooperation activities of the organizations of the system; (c) Building collaborative networks and communities of practice among organizations of the system; (d) Developing, where appropriate, common platforms for services such as databases, documentation and meetings; (e) Encouraging the use of information and communication technologies to promote the exchange of experiences and to enhance information-sharing among the organizations of the system and between the organizations and Member States; (f) Developing comprehensive system-wide training programmes aimed at building the capacities of the system to take full advantage of information and communication technologies; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, under the item entitled "Information and communication technologies for development". RESOLUTION 57/296 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.69 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Canada, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Romania, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57/296. Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Having considered the progress report of the Secretary-General entitled "Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa",A/57/172. Recalling its resolutions 53/92 of 7 December 1998, 54/234 of 22 December 1999, 55/217 of 21 December 2000 and 56/37 of 4 December 2001 on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, Recalling also section VII of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which highlights the special needs of Africa, Recalling further the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development of 16 September 2002See resolution 57/2. and its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990sResolution 46/151, annex. and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. Reaffirming that the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in AfricaA/52/871-S/1998/318. must remain a high priority on the agenda of the United Nations system and Member States, Underscoring the need to strengthen further the political will to ensure the required political, financial and technical support critical for the effective implementation of the recommendations in all the areas included in the report of the Secretary-General, Welcoming the commitment of African countries, as reaffirmed in the New Partnership for Africa's Development, to promote peace, democracy, good governance, human rights and sound economic management in their respective countries, Welcoming also the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa of the Security Council and of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on African Countries Emerging from Conflict, within the framework of the Economic and Social Council, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the progress report of the Secretary-General entitled "Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa";A/57/172. 2. Notes with concern that notwithstanding some progress made towards restoring peace and stability in the African region, the challenges of conflict prevention and post-conflict development remain daunting, and the progress in effectively implementing the recommendations in the peacemaking, economic, social and other areas as contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/52/871-S/1998/318. remains slow and uneven; 3. Urges Member States, as well as the international community, to strengthen their efforts towards effectively implementing the recommendations in all the areas mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General; 4. Decides to include a sub-item entitled "Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa" under a single agenda item on the development of Africa, entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", beginning at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue monitoring progress in the effective and timely implementation of the recommendations contained in his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa and to submit a comprehensive report on the sub-item to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/297 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.68 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ethiopia, Gabon, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname 57/297. Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 44/237 of 22 December 1989, in which it proclaimed the period 1991-2000 the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, as adjusted subsequently by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/177 of 22 December 1992 to cover the period 1993-2002, Recalling also its resolutions 54/203 of 22 December 1999 and 56/187 of 21 December 2001 on the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, Recalling further the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development of 16 September 2002See resolution 57/2. and resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990sResolution 46/151, annex. and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. Recognizing that industrial growth is essential for sustained economic development in that it generates income and employment, thus improving standards of living and eradicating poverty, a key goal contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Bearing in mind that Africa faces serious obstacles in the diversification of its economy, in particular, in industrialization, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the programme for the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa;A/57/175. 2. Recognizes the importance of industrialization to the sustained growth and accelerated development of Africa; 3. Expresses disappointment that, despite the first Industrial Development Decade for Africa in the 1980s and the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa (1993-2002), limited progress has been made in the industrialization of Africa; 4. Decides to bring the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa to a close, and calls upon the international community, including the United Nations system, to channel its support for Africa's industrialization effort within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to include the topic of industrialization in Africa in his consolidated annual report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development. RESOLUTION 57/298 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, by a recorded vote of 147 to none, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.72 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia, and the amendment in document A/57/L.73, submitted by Azerbaijan * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Armenia, Belarus, Madagascar 57/298. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the framework for cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which was signed on 26 May 1993,A/48/185, annex II, appendix. as well as its resolutions on cooperation between the two organizations, Recalling also the principles embodied in the Helsinki Final Act and in the declaration at the 1992 Helsinki Summit by the heads of State or Government of the participating States of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe of their understanding that the Conference is a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and as such provides an important link between European and global security,See A/47/361-S/24370, annex. Acknowledging the increasing contribution of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security in its region through activities in early warning and preventive diplomacy, including through the activities of the High Commissioner on National Minorities, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as arms control and disarmament, Recalling the Charter for European Security adopted at the Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, in November 1999, which reaffirms the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as a primary organization for the peaceful settlement of disputes within its region and as a key instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, Recalling also the special ties between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, as well as between that organization and the Asian Partners for Cooperation, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, which have been enhanced further in 2002, Underlining the continued importance of enhanced cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/217. 2. Commends the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the relevant decisions and declarations adopted by the Tenth Ministerial Council at its meeting in Porto, Portugal, on 6 and 7 December 2002, in particular its Charter on Preventing and Combating Terrorism, which reaffirms the core lasting and timeless principles guiding the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in this field, the decision on implementing the organization's commitments and activities on combating terrorism, the Porto Ministerial Declaration, entitled "Responding to Change", which underlines the role of the organization in the evolving international security environment, its decision on the development of a strategy to address threats to security and stability in the twenty-first century, the decision on an annual security review conference, the Declaration on Trafficking in Human Beings, the decision on tolerance and non-discrimination, the decision on electoral standards, the decision on enhancing the role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in economic and environmental dimensions, the decision on reviewing the role of the organization in the field of peacekeeping operations and the statements by the Ministerial Council on regional issues; 3. Notes with appreciation the further improvement of cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and its agencies and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including at the level of activities in the field; 4. Welcomes, in that context, the meetings of the Secretary-General of the United Nations with the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, of the President of the United Nations Security Council with the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the participation of high-level United Nations representatives in meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 5. Praises the close cooperation between the institutions of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in particular the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Representative on Freedom of the Media and the relevant United Nations bodies, welcomes in this regard the active participation of high-level representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the Office on Drugs and CrimeFormerly known as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. of the Secretariat in its annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, which paved the way for the documents adopted at the Tenth Ministerial Council in that field, and also welcomes the contribution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Economic Commission for Europe and the United Nations Environment Programme to the 2002 Economic Forum of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 6. Encourages further efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to foster security and stability in its region through early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, as well as through continued promotion of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms and arms control and confidence- and security-building measures; 7. Welcomes the efforts undertaken to promote in operational terms the concept of the Platform for Cooperative Security, adopted at the Summit in Istanbul in 1999, and encourages the continued development of modalities of cooperation between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international and regional organizations and institutions; 8. Commends the work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on the implementation of its Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating TerrorismSee Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe document MC(9).DEC/1, annex. and of the Programme of Action adopted at the Bishkek International Conference on enhancing security and stability in Central Asia, held on 13 and 14 December 2001, whereby participating States pledged to reinforce and develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation among themselves, with the United Nations and with other international and regional organizations in order to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, welcomes the reports presented by the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the Tenth Ministerial Council and to the Chairman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations on the activities of that organization to prevent and combat terrorism, encourages further enhancement of their cooperation in providing assistance to participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in implementing their international obligations in this field, and welcomes in that respect the convening, at the initiative of the Portuguese Chairmanship, of the High-Level Conference on Preventing and Combating Terrorism, held in Lisbon on 12 June 2002, which, in full recognition of the leading role of the United Nations in countering terrorism, sought to enhance cooperation among the various organizations involved; 9. Notes the continued process of reviewing the management and the working procedures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe undertaken at the initiative of the Romanian chairmanship in 2001 and continued under the Portuguese chairmanship in 2002 with the goal of strengthening its efficiency on issues of security and cooperation in Europe and in countering threats and challenges to security and stability in its region; 10. Acknowledges the progress made in implementing the decisions to strengthen the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as a political forum, namely through a balanced approach in its three dimensions, and takes note in this respect of enhanced cooperation in the economic and environmental dimensions, welcoming in particular the recommendations of the 2002 Economic Forum on cooperation for the sustainable use and the protection of the quality of water and the recommendations of the seminar held in Paris on the socio-economic impact of disarmament; 11. Commends the adoption of new modalities for the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and welcomes the continued close cooperation between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the Office on Drugs and Crime; 12. Praises the work done by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to develop its capacity to assist participating States wishing to strengthen their policing skills; 13. Welcomes the efforts by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to broaden dialogue with partners outside its area, such as the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation and Asian Partners for Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the League of Arab States, the African Union and those States bordering on the area of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and to exchange best practices and lessons learned in counter-terrorism efforts for application in its area; 14. Notes with appreciation the active involvement of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and its commitment to continue to contribute substantially to early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in the region, thereby fostering peace and stability in the area; 15. Commends the work of the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of the authorities of that country to promote legislative reform and institution- and capacity-building, and notes with satisfaction their commitment to facilitate the consolidation of democracy, the strengthening of the rule of law, through in particular the training of a multi-ethnic police element in South Serbia, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the process of the return of refugees and internally displaced persons in the region; 16. Expresses its appreciation for the contribution by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to implementing Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999, as an essential part of the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo, in particular for its substantial role in the preparation and organization of the Kosovo local election of 26 October 2002, in view of the consolidation of stability and prosperity in Kosovo on the basis of substantial autonomy, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, pending a final settlement in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999), as well as for its continued commitment to training a multi-ethnic, community-based Kosovo police service, building democratic institutions and promoting human rights; 17. Welcomes the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to contribute to the implementation of the Framework Agreement concerning the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, concluded on 13 August 2001, in particular through its programmes of training and reform of the police forces, confidence-building and inter-ethnic relations, and commends the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for its contribution to the holding of peaceful and democratic elections on 15 September 2002; 18. Commends the work of the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Bosnia and Herzegovina in accomplishing the transition in the administration and conduct of the election process to the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in compliance with the Dayton/Paris peace accords,General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the annexes thereto, initialled in Dayton, United States of America, on 21 November 1995 and signed in Paris on 14 December 1995 (A/50/790-S/1995/999). and for the support given to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the preparation and conduct of general elections on 5 October 2002, which were held largely in line with international standards for democratic elections, as well as for its continued substantive support to the Property Law Implementation Plan process, which is due to be completed by 2003; 19. Underlines the importance of regional cooperation as a means of fostering good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, welcomes the implementation of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as an important long-term and comprehensive initiative to promote good-neighbourly relations, stability and economic development, and welcomes the commitment of participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to contribute further to the goals of the Stability Pact; 20. Expresses its deep concern that in spite of the efforts undertaken by the Republic of Moldova and the mediators of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, no progress was achieved in 2002 towards negotiation of a comprehensive political settlement of the Transdniestrian problem, based on full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, regrets that, notwithstanding all these efforts, the Transdniestrian side continues to obstruct the negotiation process, welcomes the efforts made by the Russian Federation to fulfil its commitments undertaken at the summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe held in Istanbul in 1999, and also welcomes the commitment of the Russian Federation to complete the withdrawal of Russian forces as early as possible and its intention to do so by 31 December 2003, provided necessary conditions are in place; 21. Supports the efforts of the Portuguese chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Government of Belarus to find a mutually acceptable decision regarding the field presence in Belarus of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; 22. Welcomes the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to promote the peace process in the Tshkhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia, namely the results achieved in the meeting at Castelo Branco, Portugal, and the steps to reduce the quantities of small arms and light weapons in that region, as well as the work of the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Georgia in facilitating a number of projects aimed at involving the local community in that process, and, in accordance with the commitments made at the Istanbul summit, supports the desire of the parties to complete negotiations regarding the duration and modalities of the functioning of the Russian military bases at Batumi and Alkhalkalaki and other Russian military facilities within the territory of Georgia, and takes note of the transparent visit of the military experts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to the Gudauta base in Abkhazia, Georgia, which was a milestone on the way to a speedy and legal transfer of the Gudauta facilities; 23. Appreciates the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in bringing forward a peaceful solution of the conflict in Abkhazia, in particular the active participation of the representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the negotiations led by the United Nations, but regrets that no substantial progress has been noted in overcoming the precarious stalemate that remains on the core issue of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, the future status of Abkhazia within the State of Georgia, and welcomes the readiness of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to further its projects in Abkhazia in the human dimension; 24. Commends the work of the border monitoring operation of the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Georgia along the border between Georgia and the Chechen and Ingushet Republics of the Russian Federation as a significant contribution to stability and confidence in the region; 25. Notes with satisfaction the increased efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to promote cooperation with the five participating States of Central Asia, as well as regional cooperation among these States, in all dimensions of security, in particular in the fight against terrorism, as well as in the sphere of economic and environmental issues, encourages continued close cooperation between the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations and other international actors in this region, and welcomes the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to promote implementation of the Programme of Action adopted at the Bishkek International Conference on enhancing security and stability in Central Asia, held under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat, including the holding of a regional expert meeting on combating trafficking in small arms and light weapons in Central Asia, as well as the readiness of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to assist in addressing specific issues related to the process of democratic reform, institution building and the reform of the law enforcement agencies in the five participating States in Central Asia; 26. Fully supports the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in and around the Nagorny-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and welcomes cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in this regard; 27. Remains deeply concerned at the failure to achieve a settlement of the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict despite the intensified dialogue between the parties and the active support of the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, reaffirms that the prompt resolution of that protracted conflict will contribute to lasting peace, security, stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus region, reiterates the importance of continuing the peace dialogue, calls upon the sides to continue their efforts to achieve an early resolution of the conflict based on norms and principles of international law, encourages the parties to explore further measures that would enhance mutual confidence and trust, welcomes the commitment of the parties to the ceasefire and to achieving a peaceful and comprehensive settlement, also welcomes in particular the continued meetings of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and of their special representatives, and encourages the parties to continue their efforts, with the active support of the Co-Chairmen, aimed at reaching a just and enduring settlement; 28. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/299 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.67, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 57/299. Follow-up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS The General Assembly, Recognizing that the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and the fulfilment of the targets set therein are integrally linked to the attainment of the development goals set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling its resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001, entitled "Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS", in which it decided to devote sufficient time and at least one full day of the annual session of the General Assembly to review and debate a report of the Secretary-General, Recognizing that 2003 represents the first year that the time-bound commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment are due to be met, and that the other targets are to be met by 2005 and 2010, Taking into account the critical role of civil society at all levels in the response to HIV/AIDS, in particular people living with HIV/AIDS, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on progress towards the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,A/57/227 and Corr.1. including the recommendations contained therein; 2. Decides to convene a day of high-level plenary meetings devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of its twenty-sixth special session and the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment, to be held immediately following the general debate at its fifty-eighth session on a date to be decided by the General Assembly during its fifty-seventh session; 3. Decides also that statements in the debate in the plenary meetings should not exceed five minutes each; 4. Decides further that an informal interactive panel discussion will be held in parallel with the afternoon plenary meeting and that it will have as its theme "Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS: from policy to practice - progress achieved, lessons learned and best practices"; the Chairman of the informal panel will orally present a summary of the discussions in the informal panel to the General Assembly at the end of the debate in plenary meeting; 5. Decides that, in addition to Member States, observers, representatives of the entities of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and non-governmental members of the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, an invitation to the informal interactive panel discussion will be extended to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and not more than fifteen civil society representatives of international, national or community organizations, including those representing and working for people living with HIV/AIDS, and the private sector, including pharmaceutical companies, and requests the President of the General Assembly, following appropriate consultations with Member States, to draw up the list of those civil society representatives, on the basis of the recommendations of the Joint Programme and taking into account the principle of geographical representation, and to submit the list to Member States for consideration on a no-objection basis for a final decision by the Assembly on participation; 6. Invites the President of the General Assembly to finalize any outstanding organizational matters in consultation with the Member States; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive and analytical report on progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment, with a view to identifying problems and constraints and making recommendations on action needed to make further progress, for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, and in this context underlines the importance of the continuing refinement of the core indicators developed by the Joint Programme and approved by its Programme Coordinating Board; 8. Decides that the arrangements outlined in paragraph 5 above shall in no way create a precedent for other similar events; 9. Decides also to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS". RESOLUTION 57/29 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/571, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. 57/29. Observer status for Partners in Population and Development in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Considering the importance of the work of Partners in Population and Development, Taking into account the importance of greater interaction among Partners in Population and Development, Member States, and relevant bodies, programmes and agencies of the United Nations in the area of population and development, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and Partners in Population and Development, 1. Decides to invite Partners in Population and Development to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/2 Adopted at the 11th plenary meeting, on 16 September 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.2/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/2. United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development The General Assembly Adopts the following Declaration: United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development 1. We, heads of State and Government and heads of delegations participating in the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly held on 16 September 2002, considered how to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. which is a programme of the African Union. This meeting forms part of the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990sResolution 46/151, annex, sect. II. at this, the fifty-seventh session of the Assembly. 2. We reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. and the internationally agreed development goals as the embodiment of our collective desire for and aspiration to a better world in which all peoples can live in dignity and peace. 3. We recommit ourselves to meeting the special needs of Africa as recognized in the Millennium Declaration, the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council on the role of the United Nations in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development, adopted on 18 July 2001,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/56/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 29. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, adopted on 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"), adopted at the Summit on 4 September 2002.Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 4. We welcome the New Partnership for Africa's Development, as an African Union-led, -owned and -managed initiative, and recognize that it is a serious commitment to addressing the aspirations of the continent, as decided by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held at Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001. 5. We welcome the commitment of African countries to take effective and concrete measures, inter alia, through the establishment of various institutional mechanisms and the development of strategies, for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development. This commitment reflects the recognition that the primary responsibility for the implementation of the New Partnership rests with the African Governments and peoples. 6. We affirm that international support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development is essential. While acknowledging the support so far expressed or provided for the New Partnership, we urge the United Nations system and the international community, in particular donor countries, to assist with the implementation of the New Partnership. 7. We call upon the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the General Assembly for the Final Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s to consider how the United Nations will structure its support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and take decisions to this effect. RESOLUTION 57/300 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.74, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 57/300. Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change The General Assembly, Reaffirming its determination to strengthen further the role, capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations and thus improve its performance in order to realize the full potential of the Organization, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and to respond more effectively to the needs of Member States and existing and new global challenges facing the United Nations in the twenty-first century, Recalling all the previous reform efforts, including those based on the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/51/950 and Add.1-7. and its resolutions 52/12 A of 12 November 1997 and 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, entitled "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform", Recalling also Article 97 of the Charter, the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, Recalling further the respective mandates of various treaty bodies, Having in mind the necessity to pursue the process of revitalization of the General Assembly, reform of the Security Council, restructuring of the Economic and Social Council and modernization of the Secretariat, Recalling the determination of Member States to make the United Nations a more effective instrument for pursuing all the priorities set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Bearing in mind that notable political, economic and social developments, particularly in Africa, call for continued strong and focused cooperation between the United Nations system and the Member States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change",A/57/387 and Corr.1 the statement by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly of 30 October 2002See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Plenary Meetings, 38th meeting (A/57/PV.38), and corrigendum. and the conference room papers prepared by the Secretariat,A/57/CRP.1 and Corr.1, A/57/CRP.2 and A/57/CRP.3. as well as the views expressed by Member States, 1. Welcomes the efforts and initiatives of the Secretary-General aimed at further reforming the United Nations to cope with contemporary challenges and address new priorities facing the Organization in the twenty-first century; 2. Stresses that the strengthening of the United Nations encompasses the revitalization, reform and restructuring of the principal organs of the United Nations; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, while implementing the provisions of the present resolution, to continue to take into account the views and comments expressed by Member States and to respect fully the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly; 4. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to submit a shorter proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 that fully justifies the resource requirements and better reflects the priorities of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1). the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcomes of the major international conferences, taking into account the full scope of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. while emphasizing that reform should not be seen as a budget-cutting exercise; 5. Emphasizes the need to further strengthen the efforts of the United Nations in implementing the development goals through enhanced mechanisms, adequate resources and effective follow-up activities; 6. Takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General to develop and present plans for strengthening inter-agency coordination in respect of human rights technical assistance, which are carried out at the country level, at the request of interested countries; 7. Stresses the importance of the country-driven approach in the operational activities of the United Nations funds and programmes, bearing in mind their existing mandates; 8. Encourages States parties to the human rights treaties and the respective treaty bodies to review the reporting procedures of treaty bodies with a view to developing a more coordinated approach and to streamlining the reporting requirements under these treaties, and requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support this exercise, including through submission of recommendations, as appropriate; 9. Requests the Commission on Human Rights and the relevant intergovernmental bodies to review the human rights special procedures in order to rationalize their work and enhance their effectiveness, consistent with their mandates, and also requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support this exercise, including through submission of recommendations, as appropriate, and by providing adequate administrative support to each of these special procedures; 10. Encourages the efforts of the Secretary-General to improve the effectiveness and management of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions and taking into account, as appropriate, the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat;See A/57/488. 11. Welcomes the proposals of the Secretary-General to improve the effective and targeted delivery of public information activities, including the restructuring of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 12. Reaffirms the role of the Committee on Information in guiding the process of restructuring the Department of Public Information, and therefore invites the Committee on Information to engage actively in the process; 13. Welcomes the continuing efforts to enhance the use of information technology within the Department of Public Information, bearing in mind the constraints experienced by developing countries in terms of access to information; 14. Takes note of the proposals of the Secretary-General contained in action 9 of his report,A/57/387 and Corr.1 which are intended to improve the management of the libraries, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report for further consideration by the relevant United Nations bodies, including the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session, with a view to taking a decision on the proposals of the Secretary-General in this regard at its fifty-eighth session; 15. Also takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General contained in action 8 of his report,A/57/387 and Corr.1 to rationalize the network of United Nations information centres around regional hubs, where appropriate, in consultation with concerned Member States, starting with the creation of a Western European hub, followed by a similar approach in other high-cost developed countries, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a progress report on the implementation of the proposal with the objective of applying this initiative in other regions, in consultation with Member States, where this initiative will strengthen the flow and exchange of information in developing countries; 16. Notes the proposal of the Secretary-General to transfer the functions and resources of the Cartographic Section from the Department of Public Information to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, while maintaining the service currently provided to users outside the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and decides to consider the proposal in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 17. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to conduct a systematic evaluation of the impact, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of all activities of the Department of Public Information, and requests the Secretary-General, with assistance from the Office of Internal Oversight Services, to proceed as quickly as possible in this regard and to report on progress made to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, through the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session; 18. Notes the proposal to improve the electronic access to United Nations collections, publications and parliamentary documents, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the internal capacity for the provision of hard copies at the request of Member States, subject to the relevant provisions of its resolution 56/242 of 24 December 2001; 19. Welcomes the proposals of the Secretary-General to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the conference-servicing function of the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to consult Member States, including relevant groups, on how best to accomplish this goal with due attention to their needs, and in this regard emphasizes the need for Member States to take well-informed decisions, and decides that the measures pertinent to it will be decided upon in the context of its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on improving the performance of the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services;A/57/289. 20. Requests the Secretary-General to start, on a trial basis, a consultative process with the President of the General Assembly and the Chairmen of the Main Committees of the Assembly at the end of the main part of each session of the Assembly, with a view to consolidating reports on related subjects, if decided by the Main Committees; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals on recurring reporting requirements to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session for consideration and decision; 22. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to develop an implementation plan to strengthen the effectiveness of the United Nations presence for developmental and humanitarian activities in developing countries by September 2003, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report for the consideration of the General Assembly through the relevant intergovernmental bodies; 23. Also welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to issue a document clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the various United Nations entities in the area of technical cooperation by September 2003 and to submit a report thereon to the relevant intergovernmental bodies for their consideration; 24. Further welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the management capacities of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, inter alia, by establishing a policy planning unit, and notes in this regard his intention to submit, in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, proposals for a new position of Assistant Secretary-General for its consideration; 25. Endorses the decision of the Secretary-General to entrust the Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, who will report directly to him, with the responsibilities of: (a) Coordinating and guiding the preparation of Africa-related reports and inputs, in particular support for the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. by the United Nations system and the international community, and the coordination of global advocacy in support of the New Partnership; (b) Coordinating the interdepartmental task force on African affairs to ensure coherence and an integrated approach for United Nations support to Africa, including following up the implementation of all summit and conference outcomes related to Africa and addressing gaps and initiating reports on critical issues affecting Africa; 26. Approves the transfer of resources allocated to the Office of the Special Coordinator for Africa and the Least Developed Countries and those from the current Office of the Adviser for Special Assignments in Africa, to the new Office of the Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the new Office is reflected in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 with the allocation of adequate resources for its expanded mandate; 27. Concurs with the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a panel of eminent persons, reflecting a diversity of views, to review the relationship between the United Nations and civil society, stresses that the terms of reference of such a panel should underscore the intergovernmental character of the United Nations, and decides to consider the recommendations of the panel through the respective intergovernmental process; 28. Decides that the creation of a partnership office as part of the effort to enhance cooperation in the work of the Organization with the private sector, taking into account the outcome of the major United Nations conferences and summits, should be subject to its resolutions 55/215 of 21 December 2000 and 56/76 of 11 December 2001; 29. Recognizes the need to continue to improve and streamline the planning, programming and budgetary cycle of the Organization; 30. Notes the reference to sunset provisions in the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/387 and Corr.1, para. 44. and recalls that no decision has been taken in this regard; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to implement regulation 5.6 and rule 105.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation; 32. Takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General, contained in action 21 of his report,A/57/387 and Corr.1 for a shorter, more strategic medium-term plan that is linked to the budget outline, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a more detailed proposal to the General Assembly, through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for consideration at its fifty-eighth session; 33. Reaffirms the roles of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in the intergovernmental consideration of the planning, programming and budgeting process; 34. Invites the Committee for Programme and Coordination to continue to improve its working methods; 35. Takes note of the request of the Secretary-General for a degree of flexibility to reallocate resources between programmes and between allocations for personnel and other allocations within a single budget period and in exceptional circumstances, notes the relevant General Assembly resolutions, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to develop criteria for the use of any such authorization, proposed modalities for reporting the duration and programmatic impacts of reallocations, including specification of the exceptional circumstances in which it would be used, and to report thereon to the Assembly, through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for its consideration at its fifty-eighth session; 36. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the system of evaluation and monitoring that underlines the importance of assessing programme impacts; 37. Notes the proposal of the Secretary-General for a single-stage intergovernmental review of the programme budget and medium-term plan, contained in action 22 of his report,A/57/387 and Corr.1 and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report clarifying his proposal for consideration by the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-seventh session; 38. Shares the vision of the Secretary-General to foster excellence among United Nations staff, inter alia, by rejuvenation, while ensuring the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, as well as equitable geographical representation and gender balance; 39. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, as soon as possible, but not later than at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, for consideration in the context of human resources management, a study on ways to promote General Service staff to Professional posts, analysing the effects on non-represented and underrepresented countries, while ensuring the implementation of equitable geographic representation and aligning the procedures and qualifications of the General Service to Professional category examinations to those of the national competitive recruitment examinations; 40. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General, as set out in action 32 of his report,A/57/387 and Corr.1 to continue to improve management, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve accountability and responsibility as well as monitoring and control mechanisms and procedures; 41. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a progress report on the implementation of the reform measures as considered in the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 57/30 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/572, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand, United States of America and, Viet Nam. 57/30. Observer status for the Asian Development Bank in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank, 1. Decides to invite the Asian Development Bank to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/31 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/573, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Zambia. 57/31. Observer status for the International Centre for Migration Policy Development in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, 1. Decides to invite the International Centre for Migration Policy Development to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/32 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/574, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam. 57/32. Observer status for the Inter-Parliamentary Union in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its decision 49/426 of 9 December 1994, Considering the unique status of the Inter-Parliamentary Union as a world organization of parliaments, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1. Decides to invite the Inter-Parliamentary Union to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/33 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.19 and Add.1, sponsored by: Chile, Cyprus, Jamaica, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, New Zealand, Samoa, Uruguay 57/33. Plenary meetings of the General Assembly on 9 and 10 December 2002 devoted to the consideration of the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea" and to the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea The General Assembly, Recalling that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaSee The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). was opened for signature on 10 December 1982, Recognizing the personalities who served as officers of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea or who otherwise contributed untiringly towards the conclusion of the Convention and its adoption on 30 April 1982, Recalling its resolution 56/12 of 28 November 2001, in which it decided to devote two days of plenary meetings at its fifty-seventh session, on 9 and 10 December 2002, to the consideration of the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea" and the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Convention, and encouraged Member States and observers to be represented at the highest possible level, Decides to adopt the organizational arrangements for the plenary meetings on 9 and 10 December 2002 as outlined in the annex to the present resolution. Annex Organizational arrangements for the plenary meetings of the General Assembly on 9 and 10 December 2002 devoted to the consideration of the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea" and to the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1. Three plenary meetings of the General Assembly shall be held on 9 and 10 December 2002, as follows: (a) One plenary meeting, on 9 December 2002, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., shall be devoted to the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; (b) Two plenary meetings, on 10 December 2002, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m., shall be devoted to the consideration of the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". 2. The list of speakers in the commemoration shall be as follows: (a) Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, former President of Malta, to pay special tribute to the late Ambassador Arvid Pardo of Malta; (b) Ambassador Tommy Koh, President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea; (c) Chairpersons of the five regional groups; (d) Ambassador Don MacKay, President of the twelfth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; (e) Mr. Martin Belinga-Eboutou, President of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority; (f) Mr. Satya N. Nandan, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority; (g) Judge Gilbert Guillaume, President of the International Court of Justice; (h) Judge Dolliver Nelson, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; (i) Mr. Peter F. Croker, Chairman of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. 3. Statements in the commemoration shall be limited to ten minutes. 4. Two informal panels shall be held in parallel on 9 December 2002, from 3 to 6 p.m., and shall be organized as follows: (a) Both informal panels shall include the participation of non-governmental organizations and academia; (b) The overall theme for both informal panels shall be "The Dynamism of the Convention: challenges for the present and solutions for the future"; (c) The sub-themes for Informal Panel 1 shall be "The International Seabed Authority: an institution to manage the common heritage of mankind", "Limits in the seas: the need to establish secure maritime boundaries" and "Settlement of disputes: a linchpin of the Convention"; the sub-themes for Informal Panel 2 shall be "Implementation of the Convention: the challenge to ensure the effectiveness of its rules (role of non-State actors/regional approach)", "The emerging concepts for the development and strengthening of the legal regime for the oceans (ecosystem-based approach, marine protected areas and oceans stewardship)" and "The tools for change: the amendment procedure"; (d) Informal Panel 1 shall be chaired by Ambassador Cristián Maquieira (Chile) and shall have the following panellists: Mr. Satya N. Nandan, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Mr. Rolf Fife (Norway) and Judge Hugo Caminos (Argentina), International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; Informal Panel 2 shall be chaired by Ambassador Hasjim Djalal (Indonesia) and shall have the following panellists: Judge José Luis Jesus (Cape Verde), International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Mr. Michael Bliss (Australia) and Professor Bernard Oxman (United States of America). RESOLUTION 57/34 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.11 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Georgia, Greece, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 57/34. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/5 of 8 October 1999, by which it granted observer status to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, as well as its resolution 55/211 of 20 December 2000, on cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social or humanitarian nature, Recalling further the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Bearing in mind the Charter signed at the summit meeting in Yalta, Ukraine, on 5 June 1998, which entered into force on 1 May 1999, thus transforming the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization into a regional economic organization with an international legal identity, as well as the declarations adopted by the heads of State or Government of its member States at the summit meetings held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 17 November 1999 and 25 June 2002, Recognizing that any dispute or conflict in the region impedes cooperation, and stressing the need to solve such a dispute or conflict on the basis of the norms and principles of international law, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 55/211,A/57/87. 1. Takes note of the results of the summit meeting of heads of State or Government of the member States of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, held in Istanbul on 25 June 2002; 2. Encourages efforts within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to consider ways and means of enhancing its contribution to the strengthening of security and stability in the region; 3. Welcomes the activities of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in various fields, such as trade and economic development, banking and finance, communications, energy, transport, agriculture and agro-industry, health care and pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, tourism, science and technology, exchange of statistical data and economic information, collaboration among Customs services, and combating organized crime and the illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons and radioactive material, all acts of terrorism and illegal migration, or in any other related area; 4. Takes note of the adoption of the Economic Agenda of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and its implementation, as well as the decision on the establishment of the Project Development Fund of the organization; 5. Encourages the cooperation established between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and other regional organizations and initiatives, particularly the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the South-East European Cooperation Process, the Central European Initiative, the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative and the South-East Europe Cooperation Initiative, and expresses its appreciation of the results of the coordinating meeting of these regional institutions; 6. Welcomes the signing in Istanbul, on 2 July 2001, of the Cooperation Agreement between the Economic Commission for Europe and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the support given by the Commission to the activities of the organization in the fields provided for in the aforementioned Agreement; 7. Also welcomes the signing in Istanbul, on 20 February 2002, of the Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations Environment Programme and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the support provided by the Programme to the activities of the organization; 8. Further welcomes the cooperation and coordination between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, as well as the financial support provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization for the project of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization on institutional strengthening to facilitate intraregional and interregional agricultural trade among member States of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization; 9. Takes note of the cooperation between the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in the elaboration of the joint venture model contracts for small and medium-sized enterprises; 10. Also takes note of the importance attached by the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to the strengthening of relations with the European Union, and supports the efforts of the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the organization to take concrete steps to advance this cooperation; 11. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to consult with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization with a view to promoting cooperation and coordination between the two secretariats; 12. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in order to continue consultations and programmes with the organization and its associated institutions for the attainment of their objectives; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 57/35 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.16 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, United States of America, Viet Nam, Yemen 57/35. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of South-East Asian Nations The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the aims and purposes of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, as enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration of 8 August 1967, in particular the maintenance of close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes, Noting with satisfaction that the activities of the Association are consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the cooperation between the Association and the United Nations system, Welcoming also the participation of the Association in the high-level meetings between the United Nations and regional organizations, including the fourth meeting, held in New York on 6 and 7 February 2001,See S/2001/138. 1. Encourages both the Association of South-East Asian Nations and the United Nations to increase contacts and to further identify areas of cooperation, as appropriate; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of South-East Asian Nations". RESOLUTION 57/36 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.18 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: China, Cyprus, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Mongolia, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda 57/36. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/38 of 18 November 1981, 37/8 of 29 October 1982, 38/37 of 5 December 1983, 39/47 of 10 December 1984, 40/60 of 9 December 1985, 41/5 of 17 October 1986, 43/1 of 17 October 1988, 45/4 of 16 October 1990, 47/6 of 21 October 1992, 49/8 of 25 October 1994, 51/11 of 4 November 1996, 53/14 of 29 October 1998 and 55/4 of 25 October 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/122. Having heard the statementSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Plenary Meetings, 56th meeting (A/57/PV.56), and corrigendum. made by the Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative OrganizationFormerly known as the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee. on the steps taken by the Consultative Organization to ensure continuing, close and effective cooperation between the two organizations, Acknowledging in particular the close interaction between the Consultative Organization and the Sixth Committee, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/122. 2. Notes with satisfaction the continuing efforts of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization towards strengthening the role of the United Nations and its various organs in enhancing the rule of law and wider adherence to related international instruments; 3. Also notes with satisfaction the commendable progress achieved towards enhancing cooperation between the United Nations, its agencies, other international organizations and the Consultative Organization; 4. Notes with appreciation the work of the Consultative Organization aimed at strengthening the efforts of the United Nations in respect of issues such as combating corruption, international terrorism and trafficking, as well as human rights issues; 5. Also notes with appreciation the initiative and efforts the Consultative Organization has undertaken to promote the objectives and principles set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. including wider acceptance of treaties deposited with the Secretary-General; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Consultative Organization; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization". RESOLUTION 57/37 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.21 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, Cuba, Cyprus, Fiji, Greece, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America 57/37. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/41 of 7 December 2001, Noting with satisfaction the report of the Secretary General,A/57/475. Recalling that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in addressing international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the Pacific Islands Forum, established in 1971, is to promote regional cooperation among its members through trade, investment, economic development and political and international affairs, Welcoming the ongoing efforts towards closer cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum and its associated institutions, Bearing in mind the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action and other activities consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the assistance given by the United Nations towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Pacific Islands Forum region, Welcoming also the fact that in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted in its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, heads of State and Government resolved to address the special needs of small island developing States by implementing the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-22/2. Recognizing that the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. recently reaffirmed the special needs of small island developing States and called for an international meeting in 2004Ibid., para. 61. to review the Barbados Programme of Action,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. Taking note of the communiqué of the thirty-third meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Suva from 15 to 17 August 2002,A/57/331, annex. Affirming the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between entities of the United Nations system and the Pacific Islands Forum in the areas of economic and social development, as well as in political and humanitarian affairs, Mindful of the need for the coordinated utilization of available resources to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum,A/57/475. as well as his efforts to strengthen that cooperation; 2. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to take the necessary measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the secretariats of the two organizations in order to increase the capacity of the organizations to attain their common objectives; 3. Recommends that further consultations be undertaken by the secretariats of the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations to develop contacts and promote cooperative activities in a more structured, regular and transparent manner, including an examination of the option of formalizing cooperation and coordination between the two organizations in the future; 4. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, in consultation with the Pacific Islands Forum, to implement the framework for cooperation in peace-building adopted at the fourth high-level meeting between the United Nations and regional organizations in 2001See S/2001/138. by developing long-term peace-building programmes to address the security threats in the Pacific Islands Forum region; 5. Urges specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in order to initiate, maintain and increase consultations and programmes with the Pacific Islands Forum and its associated institutions in the attainment of their objectives; 6. Invites initiatives from Member States to assist in the cooperation efforts between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum". RESOLUTION 57/38 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.22 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 57/38. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by which it granted observer status to the Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also the resolutions previously adopted by the General Assembly on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, and inviting various specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and relevant international financial institutions to join in their efforts towards realization of the goals and objectives of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Bearing in mind the progress made by the Economic Cooperation Organization both in terms of launching and implementing various regional development projects and programmes in its first ten years of existence, Welcoming the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization with regard to consolidating its ties with the United Nations system and relevant international and regional organizations towards the furtherance of its objectives and the promotion of international cooperation in resolving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 56/44 of 7 December 2001,A/57/119. and expresses satisfaction at the enhanced pace of mutually beneficial interaction between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization; 2. Notes the change of political dispensation in Kabul and the ending of civil war in Afghanistan, lauds the commitment of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization to provide financial and technical support to the Government of Afghanistan for the impending reconstruction work, as well as for launching projects in the fields of transport, communication, trade, management, drug control and the resettlement of refugees returning home; 3. Notes with satisfaction the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration on Agricultural Cooperation among States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization at the first ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization on agriculture, held in Islamabad from 23 to 25 July 2002, which lays the groundwork for strengthening food security efforts in the region, expresses its appreciation of the ongoing cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization in preparing a regional strategy for agricultural development and food security for the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and encourages the active participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization in the activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 4. Stresses the importance of cooperation between the United Nations system and the Economic Cooperation Organization in promoting the integration of the Economic Cooperation Organization member States into the multilateral trading system, keeping in view the areas of concern of the member States, particularly in the fields of trade, energy, transport, communication and transfer of technology; 5. Takes note of the Istanbul Declaration 2002, adopted at the seventh Economic Cooperation Organization summit, held following the twelfth meeting of the Council of Ministers in Istanbul, Turkey, from 11 to 14 October 2002; 6. Welcomes the holding of the first meeting of the Business Forum, organized with the cooperation and assistance of the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, which was held alongside the seventh summit as a new mechanism to promote intraregional trade; 7. Takes note of the decision to hold in 2002 the second Economic Cooperation Organization ministerial meeting on energy/petroleum, the first Economic Cooperation Organization ministerial meeting on the environment and the fourth ministerial meeting on transport and communications; 8. Notes with satisfaction the ongoing cooperation between the United Nations Development Programme and the Economic Cooperation Organization under the capacity-building project of the secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 9. Also notes with satisfaction the increasing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the World Trade Organization, and expresses its appreciation of the holding in Bishkek in 2002 of a joint Economic Cooperation Organization and World Trade Organization seminar on regionalism; 10. Notes with appreciation the successful implementation of the ongoing project of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the International Trade Centre on expanding intraregional trade; 11. Welcomes the growing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and relevant international financial institutions with regard to their financial assistance in the fields of transport, energy and privatization, in particular that of the Islamic Development Bank for the joint projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the introduction of multimodal transport operations, as well as for the Economic Cooperation Organization project on the interconnection and parallel functioning of power systems within its region; 12. Also welcomes the efforts of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization to launch an international passenger train and container train on the route connecting Almaty, Tashkent, Tehran and Istanbul on the Trans-Asian Railway main line, which will contribute significantly to the restoration of some arteries of the Great Silk Route; 13. Notes with concern the increasing problem of the production, transit and abuse of narcotic drugs and their ill effects in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization, observes with appreciation the commencement of phase D of the joint project of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme on strengthening the Drug Control Coordination Unit within the secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and calls upon other international and regional organizations to assist the Economic Cooperation Organization, as appropriate, in its efforts to fight the drug menace in the region; 14. Notes with satisfaction the expansion of cultural ties in the region under the auspices of the Cultural Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and supports its endeavours to promote the rich cultural and literary heritage of the region through appropriate projects and programmes, with possible assistance from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other relevant regional and international entities; 15. Also notes with satisfaction the efforts of the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the field of science and technology for the development of the region, including the establishment of the Science Foundation of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 16. Recognizes the significance of environmental issues such as air and water pollution in the region of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to hold a workshop on trade and environment for States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, under its capacity-building task force project with the United Nations Environment Programme; 17. Invites the United Nations system, its relevant bodies and the international community to continue to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization and to its secretariat in order to strengthen their early warning systems, preparedness and capacity for timely response and rehabilitation, with a view to reducing human casualties and mitigating the socio-economic impact of natural disasters, including earthquakes, famines and floods; 18. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to implement the United Nations programmes for the development of transit transport facilities in the landlocked countries of the region; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 57/39 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.24 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela 57/39. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/98 of 14 December 2001 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/128. Bearing in mind the Agreement between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 1061. in which the parties agree to strengthen and expand their cooperation in matters that are of common concern in the fields of their respective competence pursuant to their constitutional instruments, Noting that cooperation between the Latin American Economic System and the United Nations has been evolving and diversifying over the years with regard both to the areas of cooperation and the organizations involved, Welcoming the continued monitoring of changes in the treatment of topics relating to the United Nations system, in close contact with the delegations of the Member States participating in such deliberations, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/128. 2. Urges the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to continue deepening its coordination and mutual support activities with the Latin American Economic System; 3. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to continue and intensify their support for, and cooperation in the activities of, the Latin American Economic System; 4. Urges in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Health Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to deepen their ties of cooperation with the Latin American Economic System and to contribute to joint actions to achieve the Millennium goals in Latin America and the Caribbean; 5. Reiterates its request to both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Permanent Secretary of the Latin American Economic System to assess, at the appropriate time, the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic SystemUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 1061. and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/3 Adopted at the 20th plenary meeting, on 27 September 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.3 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/3. Admission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to membership in the United Nations The General Assembly, Having received the recommendation of the Security Council of 23 May 2002 that the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste should be admitted to membership in the United Nations,A/57/258. Having considered the application for membership of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste,A/56/953-S/2002/558, annex. Decides to admit the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to membership in the United Nations. RESOLUTION 57/40 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.25 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Morocco, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan 57/40. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/22 of 10 November 2000, 55/161 of 12 December 2000 and 56/39 of 7 December 2001 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States, Bearing in mind the charter establishing the Economic Community of Central African States, by which the Central African countries have agreed to work for the economic development of their subregion, to promote economic cooperation and to establish a Common Market of Central Africa, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted on 8 September 2000 by the heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations,See resolution 55/2. and especially section VII thereof, Noting that, at the ninth regular session of the Economic Community of Central African States, held at Malabo on 24 June 1999, the heads of State and Government of the member States decided to resume the activities of the Community, in particular by incorporating a collective security component, and by providing it with sufficient financial and human resources to enable it to become a real tool for the integration of their economies and to foster the development of cooperation between their peoples, with the ultimate aim of making it one of the five pillars of the African community and of helping Central Africa to meet the challenges of globalization, Bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Welcoming the establishment of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa with a view to creating a climate of peace and security in the subregion and strengthening the rule of law essential to its development, Welcoming also the efforts made by the Central African States, both on their own initiative and with the support of the international community, to focus on the difficulties afflicting this key region of Africa, Commending the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States for their undertaking to strengthen arrangements for cooperation within the Community, Noting with deep concern that despite its enormous potential which could make it one of the poles of development of the continent, Central Africa has yet to achieve the stability that would enable it to utilize its resources to the maximum benefit of its population in an equitable manner, Welcoming the contribution made by the United Nations system to the efforts made at the national and subregional levels with a view to promoting the process of democratization, recovery and development in Central Africa, Welcoming also the public meeting of the Security Council on 22 October 2002 devoted to strengthening cooperation between the United Nations system and the Central African region,S/PV.4630. Noting with satisfaction that as a result of the efforts of regional and subregional organizations, the subregion is gradually emerging from the conflicts that affect it, which offers an opportunity to build peace to be seized by all parties, Emphasizing the need to mobilize significant resources to support demobilization, disarmament and reintegration programmes, Welcoming, in this regard, the establishment of the World Bank Multi-Country Demobilization and Reintegration Programmes, Welcoming also the achievements of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, Noting with satisfaction the measures taken by the Economic Community of Central African States to combat the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), Noting the important contribution of women in the development process, Emphasizing the urgency of reaching an appropriate solution to the problem of refugees and internally displaced persons in Central Africa, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States;A/57/266. 2. Welcomes the efforts of States Members of the United Nations and United Nations organs, organizations and agencies which have maintained or strengthened their cooperation with the Economic Community of Central African States or have begun to cooperate with it with a view to achieving peace, security and development; 3. Invites the States Members of the United Nations and United Nations organs, organizations and agencies which have not yet established contact or relations with the Economic Community of Central African States to consider doing so in order to help the Community strengthen its capacities in the area of the maintenance of peace and security and reconstruction; 4. Commends the international community for the financial, technical and material support given to the Economic Community of Central African States; 5. Emphasizes the importance of close cooperation between the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, and the Economic Community of Central African States; 6. Once again requests the international community to consider seriously increases in its financial, technical and material support to the Economic Community of Central African States to enable it to implement fully its programme of action and to respond to the needs of the subregion for reconstruction and recovery; 7. Calls upon all Member States and the international community to consider contributing to the efforts of the Economic Community of Central African States to achieve economic integration and development, promote democracy and human rights and consolidate peace and security in Central Africa and to implement the goals, targets and commitments of the United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular, to strengthen the role of women in the development process; 8. Urges the international community and the United Nations agencies to continue to provide those countries of the Economic Community of Central African States in which a process of national reconstruction is taking place with appropriate assistance to consolidate their efforts towards democratization and the consolidation of the rule of law and to support their national development programmes; 9. Invites the United Nations and the international community to coordinate their efforts to assist the Central African States in establishing demobilization, disarmament and reintegration programmes; 10. Declares itself convinced of the importance to conflict resolution of the implementation of global, integrated and concerted strategies on questions relating to peace, security and development, and aware of the value of international cooperation and efforts to restore and maintain peace, and emphasizes that the international community should continue to help those countries which receive refugees to meet the resulting economic, social, humanitarian and environmental challenges; 11. Urges the United Nations and the international community to help to strengthen the means existing in the region to ensure that the Economic Community of Central African States has the necessary capacity with regard to prevention, monitoring, early warning and peacekeeping operations; 12. Invites the United Nations system and the international community to support the creation of special economic zones and development corridors in the Economic Community of Central African States, with the active participation of the private sector; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to enhance contacts with the Economic Community of Central African States with a view to encouraging cooperation between the United Nations system and the Community; 14. Invites the international community in this regard, in the light of the statement by the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2002 on the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations system and the Central African region in the maintenance of peace and security,S/PRST/2002/31; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2002-31 July 2003. to consider supporting the Community in the area of economic integration and the implementation of its peace and security programmes, in particular the effective establishment of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and the Central African Early Warning System; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/41 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.26 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Gabon, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Japan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zimbabwe 57/41. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/8 of 16 October 1991, 49/141 of 20 December 1994, 51/16 of 11 November 1996, 53/17 of 29 October 1998 and 55/17 of 7 November 2000, Noting with satisfaction the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community,A/57/254. Bearing in mind the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action and other activities consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Bearing in mind also the assistance given by the United Nations towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Caribbean region, Noting with satisfaction that the first general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system was held in New York on 27 and 28 May 1997, and that the second general meeting was held in Nassau on 27 and 28 March 2000, Bearing in mind that, in its resolutions 54/225 of 22 December 1999 and 55/203 of 20 December 2000, it recognized the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, Bearing in mind also that, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, heads of State and Government resolved to address the special needs of small island developing States by implementing the Barbados Programme of ActionProgramme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II). and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General AssemblySee resolution S-22/2. rapidly and in full, Noting that the World Summit for Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, considered the specific issues and problems facing small island developing States, and noting the call to convene a special meeting in 2004 to review the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action, Also noting that the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly in resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001 recognized the Caribbean region as having the second-highest rate of infection after sub-Saharan Africa, Affirming the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between entities of the United Nations system and the Caribbean Community in the areas of economic and social development, as well as of political and humanitarian affairs, Convinced of the need for the coordinated utilization of available resources to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community,A/57/254. as well as efforts to strengthen that cooperation; 2. Welcomes the signing on 27 May 1997 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community of a cooperation agreement between the secretariats of the two organizations; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in association with the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, as well as the relevant regional organizations, to continue to assist in furthering the development and maintenance of peace and security within the Caribbean region; 4. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community in order to increase the capacity of the two organizations to attain their objectives; 5. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community in order to initiate, maintain and increase consultations and programmes with the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions in the attainment of their objectives, with special attention to the areas and issues identified at the second general meeting, as set out in the report of the Secretary-General, as well as resolutions 54/225, 55/203, 55/2 and S-26/2 and the decision of the World Summit on Sustainable Development on the sustainable development of small island developing States;See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2. 6. Welcomes the initiatives of Member States in assisting in the cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community; 7. Recommends that the third general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system be held in New York in March 2003 in order to review and appraise progress in the implementation of the agreed areas and issues and to hold consultations on such additional measures and procedures as may be required to facilitate and strengthen cooperation between the two organizations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community". RESOLUTION 57/42 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.28 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 57/42. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/4 of 22 October 1982, 38/4 of 28 October 1983, 39/7 of 8 November 1984, 40/4 of 25 October 1985, 41/3 of 16 October 1986, 42/4 of 15 October 1987, 43/2 of 17 October 1988, 44/8 of 18 October 1989, 45/9 of 25 October 1990, 46/13 of 28 October 1991, 47/18 of 23 November 1992, 48/24 of 24 November 1993, 49/15 of 15 November 1994, 50/17 of 20 November 1995, 51/18 of 14 November 1996, 52/4 of 22 October 1997, 53/16 of 29 October 1998, 54/7 of 25 October 1999, 55/9 of 30 October 2000 and 56/47 of 7 December 2001, Recalling also its resolution 3369 (XXX) of 10 October 1975, by which it decided to invite the Organization of the Islamic Conference to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs in the capacity of observer, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/405. Taking into account the desire of both organizations to continue to cooperate closely in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific fields and in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights and economic and social development, Recalling the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations, its funds and programmes and specialized agencies and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, its subsidiary organs and its specialized and affiliated institutions, Noting also the encouraging progress made in the ten priority areas of cooperation between the two organizations, as well as in the identification of other areas of cooperation between them, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its organs and institutions contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the results of the general meeting of the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions, held in Vienna from 9 to 11 July 2002, Noting with appreciation the determination of both organizations to strengthen further the existing cooperation by developing specific proposals in the designated priority areas of cooperation, as well as in the political field, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/405. 2. Notes with satisfaction the active participation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the work of the United Nations towards the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Requests the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to cooperate in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights, social and economic development and technical cooperation; 4. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common concern and to review the ways and means of enhancing the actual mechanisms of such cooperation; 5. Welcomes with appreciation the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the fields of peacemaking, preventive diplomacy and peacekeeping, and notes the close cooperation between the two organizations in peace-building and reconstruction and development in Afghanistan; 6. Welcomes the efforts of the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen information exchange, coordination and cooperation between them in areas of mutual interest in the political field and their ongoing consultations with a view to developing the modalities of such cooperation; 7. Also welcomes the periodic high-level meetings between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as between senior secretariat officials of the two organizations, and encourages their participation in important meetings of the two organizations; 8. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to expand their cooperation with the subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, particularly by negotiating cooperation agreements, and invites them to multiply the contracts and meetings of the focal points for cooperation in priority areas of interest to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 9. Urges the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, especially the lead agencies, to provide increased technical and other forms of assistance to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions in order to enhance cooperation; 10. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, cultural and scientific fields; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the state of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference". RESOLUTION 57/43 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.29 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Jordan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Suriname, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Viet Nam 57/43. Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 33/18 of 10 November 1978, 50/3 of 16 October 1995, 52/2 of 17 October 1997, 54/25 of 15 November 1999 and 56/45 of 7 December 2001, as well as its decision 53/453 of 18 December 1998, Considering that the International Organization of la Francophonie brings together a considerable number of States Members of the United Nations, among which it promotes multilateral cooperation in areas of interest to the United Nations, Bearing in mind the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations which encourage the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations through regional cooperation, Bearing in mind also that, according to its charter, the objectives of the International Organization of la Francophonie are to assist in the establishment and development of democracy, the prevention of conflicts and support for the rule of law and for human rights, the intensification of dialogue between cultures and civilizations, the establishment of closer ties among peoples through mutual knowledge and strengthening of their solidarity through multilateral cooperation activities with a view to promoting the growth of their economies, Welcoming the steps taken by the International Organization of la Francophonie to tighten its ties with the organizations of the United Nations system and with international and regional organizations with a view to attaining its objectives, Noting with satisfaction the commitment to multilateral cooperation in the search for solutions to the major international problems expressed by the heads of State and Government of countries using French as a common language, at their ninth summit conference, held in Beirut from 18 to 20 October 2002, and their determination to extend the scope of francophone collaboration and cooperation in order to fight poverty and contribute to the emergence of a more equitable form of globalization that will bring progress, peace, democracy and human rights, in full respect for cultural and linguistic diversity, in the interests of the most vulnerable populations and the development of all countries, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 56/45,A/57/358. Noting with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in cooperation between the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies and programmes and the International Organization of la Francophonie, Convinced that strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie serves the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the desire of the two organizations to consolidate, develop and tighten the ties that exist between them in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/358. and welcomes the increasingly close and productive cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie; 2. Notes with satisfaction that the International Organization of la Francophonie is participating more actively in the work of the United Nations, to which it makes a valuable contribution; 3. Welcomes the fact that the ninth summit conference of la Francophonie was devoted to the dialogue of cultures as an instrument of peace, democracy and human rights, for greater solidarity among French-speaking countries in the interest of sustainable economic and social development; 4. Expresses its gratitude to the International Organization of la Francophonie for the steps it has taken in recent years to promote dialogue between cultures and civilizations; 5. Notes with great satisfaction the progress made by the International Organization of la Francophonie with regard to its restructuring and the launching of numerous initiatives to prevent conflicts, promote peace and support democracy and the rule of law, as well as the implementation of various development projects and programmes in French-speaking areas; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie for their sustained efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two organizations, thereby serving their mutual interests in the political, economic, social and cultural fields; 7. Welcomes the involvement of the countries that use French as a common language, particularly through the International Organization of la Francophonie, in United Nations activities, including the preparation for, conduct of and follow-up to international conferences organized under United Nations auspices; 8. Commends the International Organization of la Francophonie for its efforts in relation to conflict prevention, management and resolution, the promotion of human rights and the strengthening of democracy and the rule of law, as well as its action in favour of the development of multilateral cooperation among countries with French as a common language, particularly in the areas of economic, social and cultural development, and the promotion of new information technologies, and requests United Nations bodies to give it their support; 9. Also commends the high-level meetings held periodically between the secretariats of the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie, and advocates the participation of those secretariats in major meetings of the two organizations; 10. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for including the International Organization of la Francophonie in the periodic meetings he holds with heads of regional organizations, and invites him to continue doing so, taking into account the role played by the International Organization of la Francophonie in conflict prevention and support for democracy and the rule of law; 11. Recommends to the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie that they should continue and intensify their consultations with a view to ensuring greater coordination in the areas of conflict prevention, peace-building, support for the rule of law and democracy and the promotion of human rights; 12. Notes with satisfaction the continued collaboration between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie in the area of electoral monitoring and assistance, and advocates the strengthening of cooperation between the two organizations in that area; 13. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to encourage the holding of periodic meetings between representatives of the United Nations Secretariat and representatives of the secretariat of the International Organization of la Francophonie in order to promote the exchange of information, coordination of activities and identification of new areas of cooperation; 14. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to take the necessary steps, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to continue to promote cooperation between the two organizations; 15. Invites the specialized agencies and funds and programmes of the United Nations, as well as the regional commissions, including the Economic Commission for Africa, to collaborate to this end with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie by identifying new synergies in favour of development, in particular in the areas of poverty elimination, energy, sustainable development, education, training and the development of new information technologies; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie". RESOLUTION 57/44 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.30 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Gabon, Ireland, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/44. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 37/248 of 21 December 1982 and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions and decisions on the promotion of cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community, including decision 56/443 of 21 December 2001, Commending States members of the Community for demonstrating continued commitment to deeper and more formal arrangements for cooperation among themselves towards regional integration, Recognizing the continued efforts to strengthen democracy, good governance, sound economic management, human rights and the rule of law and other positive developments in the region, including the consolidation of peace, through the creation of institutions to further regional integration, such as the Parliamentary Forum, the Electoral Forum and the Lawyers Association of the Community, Welcoming the adoption of the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. by the African Union and the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentSee resolution 57/2. and the ongoing efforts of African countries for the further implementation of the New Partnership, Reaffirming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, adopted on 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the need for adequate resources to enable the States members of the Community successfully to implement their programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty and achieving sustainable development, Welcoming the efforts of the Community to make southern Africa a landmine-free zone, Expressing concern about the very difficult humanitarian situation in countries of the region, Noting with grave concern that adverse weather conditions have contributed to the drought currently affecting the region, in particular in rural areas, Recognizing the valuable and effective economic and financial contribution the United Nations system and the international community have continued to make towards complementing national and subregional efforts to advance the process of democratization, rehabilitation, reconciliation and development in the region, Welcoming the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa of the Security Council and of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on African Countries Emerging from Conflict, within the framework of the Economic and Social Council, Welcoming also the fact that the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in Angola on 4 April 2002, resulted in the cessation of all hostilities and created unprecedented conditions for the resolution of all pending questions of the Lusaka ProtocolS/1994/1441, annex. and its full completion, Expressing its grave concern at the dire humanitarian situation in Angola, which is hampering national efforts towards economic rehabilitation and reconstruction as well as regional development projects, and bearing in mind that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development and poverty reduction in Angola lies with the Government of Angola with, where appropriate, the participation of the international community, Expressing satisfaction over the initiatives to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, launched by the Community in collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations and other entities, and recognizing that the Inter-Congolese Dialogue is an essential element of the peace process for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Noting with satisfaction the efforts by the facilitator of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, Sir Ketumile Masire, the former president of the Republic of Botswana, aimed at ensuring a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Welcoming with satisfaction the signing on 30 July 2002 of the Pretoria Agreement between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda,S/2002/914, annex. under the auspices of President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, in his capacity as chairman of the African Union, and the Secretary-General, and the signing on 6 September 2002 of the Luanda Agreement between the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Uganda under the mediation of President José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, as steps towards a durable peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Noting with concern the high prevalence in the region of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and other communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, which have far-reaching social and economic consequences, Recognizing the important role that women play in the development of the region, Recognizing also the important role of civil society and the private sector in the development of the region, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/94 and Add.1. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations funds and programmes as well as the international community for the financial, technical and material support given to the Southern African Development Community, welcomes in particular the financial and other contributions of the international community in response to the joint appeal launched by the Community and the United Nations in New York on 18 July 2002 for assistance to avert the humanitarian crisis in the region, and calls upon member countries, in particular the donor community, to continue their support to the United Nations humanitarian efforts in the region; 3. Appeals to the international community and to relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to continue providing, where appropriate, financial, technical and material assistance to the Community to support its efforts to implement fully its regional indicative strategic development plan, and to support the Community in the full implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 4. Calls upon the States Members of the United Nations and the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system that have not yet established contact and relationships with the Community to explore the possibility of so doing; 5. Appeals to the United Nations, its related bodies and the international community to assist and support the Community in its efforts against landmines, and calls upon the States members of the Community to continue to strengthen their efforts in this regard; 6. Also appeals to the United Nations, its related bodies and the international community to support the Community's efforts, with the appropriate resources, in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summit meetings, with specific emphasis on the enhancement of the role of women in the development process; 7. Welcomes, in this regard, the establishment by the Community of the Women in Business Network, aimed at empowering women by, inter alia, facilitating and enhancing their access to credit and training in business and technical skills; 8. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the measures taken by the Community in addressing HIV/AIDS, including commitments and proposals for key future actions on the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS; 9. Recalls the primary responsibility of the States members of the Community to consolidate democracy, good governance, sound economic policy and the rule of law and to enhance the implementation of national development programmes, and recognizes efforts made in this regard; 10. Strongly appeals to the United Nations, its related bodies and the international community to cooperate with the Community and its member States in the implementation of appropriate policies for the promotion of the culture of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and the strengthening of democratic institutions that will consolidate the broad participation of the people of the Community on these issues in accordance with the purposes and principles of the New Partnership; 11. Calls upon the international community to continue to assist the Angolan authorities, especially by providing humanitarian, financial and material assistance, in alleviating the suffering of the Angolan people, in particular children, women and the elderly, and calls upon the Angolan authorities to continue to allocate the necessary financial resources to implement economic and social policies and programmes that will improve the lives of the people of Angola; 12. Calls upon the international community, in particular the United Nations, to continue to contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to assist in the rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of that country; 13. Urges all parties to the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement,S/1999/815, annex. as well as the Pretoria AgreementS/2002/914, annex. and the Luanda Agreement, to work towards their speedy and full implementation and to cooperate in this regard with the United Nations and the African Union; 14. Emphasizes the crucial need and importance of strengthening the role of the United Nations in the tasks of voluntary disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in contributing to lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 15. Calls upon the international community to continue to assist those countries receiving refugees in coping with the resulting economic, social, humanitarian and environmental challenges; 16. Appeals to the United Nations and the international community to assist further in the strengthening of the region's capacity for sustainable water resource management and sanitation as well as to respond generously with respect to the drought situation in southern Africa, by supporting the region in its drought preparedness and management strategies; 17. Expresses its support to the economic reforms being implemented by States members of the Community, in pursuance of their shared vision of creating a regional economic community through deeper economic integration; 18. Calls upon the international community, in this regard, to support the creation of special economic zones and development corridors in the States members of the Community, with the active participation of the private sector, while recognizing the responsibilities and the ongoing efforts of the countries concerned to create the necessary environment, including the appropriate legal and economic framework for such activities; 19. Also calls upon the international community to support the efforts of the Community in capacity-building and in addressing the new challenges, opportunities and the consequences presented to the economies of the region arising from the process of globalization and liberalization; 20. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community, to continue to intensify contacts aimed at promoting and harmonizing cooperation between the United Nations and the Community; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/45 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.31 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela, Yugoslavia 57/45. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/42 of 7 December 2001 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Having received the annual report for 2001 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical WeaponsA/57/576. on the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, 1. Takes note of the annual report for 2001 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons submitted by its Director-General on its behalf; 2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons". RESOLUTION 57/46 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.32, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine 57/46. Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/386. Recalling article 3 of the Pact of the League of Arab States,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 70, No. 241. which entrusts the Council of the League with the function of determining the means whereby the League will collaborate with the international organizations which may be created in the future to guarantee peace and security and organize economic and social relations, Noting the desire of both organizations to consolidate, develop and enhance further the ties existing between them in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, technical and administrative fields, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular section VII, concerning cooperation with regional arrangements and organizations, and the "Supplement to An Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/l. Convinced of the need for more efficient and coordinated utilization of available economic and financial resources in order to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, Recognizing the need for the further strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations for the realization of the common goals and objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/386. 2. Commends the continued efforts of the League of Arab States to promote multilateral cooperation among Arab States, and requests the United Nations system to continue to lend its support; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the follow-up action taken by him to implement the proposals adopted at the meetings between the representatives of the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, including the sectoral meeting held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, from 18 to 20 June 2002, on the use of information technology in development; 4. Requests the Secretariat of the United Nations and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, within their respective fields of competence, to intensify further their cooperation for the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the strengthening of international peace and security, economic and social development, disarmament, decolonization, self-determination and the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in order to enhance their capacity to serve the mutual interests and objectives of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and administrative fields; 6. Calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system: (a) To continue to cooperate with the Secretary-General and among themselves, as well as with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, in the follow-up of multilateral proposals aimed at strengthening and expanding cooperation in all fields between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; (b) To strengthen the capacity of the League of Arab States and of its institutions and specialized organizations to benefit from globalization and information technology and to meet the development challenges of the new millennium; (c) To step up cooperation and coordination with the specialized organizations of the League of Arab States in the organization of seminars and training courses and in the preparation of studies; (d) To maintain and increase contacts and improve the mechanism of consultation with the counterpart programmes, organizations and agencies concerned regarding projects and programmes in order to facilitate their implementation; (e) To participate whenever possible with organizations and institutions of the League of Arab States in the execution and implementation of development projects in the Arab region; (f) To inform the Secretary-General, not later than 6 June 2003, of the progress made in their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations and, in particular, of the follow-up action taken on the multilateral and bilateral proposals adopted at the previous meetings between the two organizations; 7. Also calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to increase their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in the priority sectors of energy, rural development, desertification and green belts, training and vocational education, technology, environment, information and documentation, trade and finance, water resources, development of the agricultural sector, empowerment of women, transport, communications and information, promotion of the role of the private sector and capacity-building; 8. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to encourage periodic consultation between representatives of the Secretariat of the United Nations and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in order to review and strengthen coordination mechanisms with a view to accelerating implementation of, and follow-up action on, the multilateral projects, proposals and recommendations adopted at the meetings between the two organizations; 9. Recommends that the United Nations and all organizations of the United Nations system make the greatest possible use of Arab institutions and technical expertise in projects undertaken in the Arab region; 10. Reaffirms that, in order to enhance cooperation and for the purpose of the review and appraisal of progress, a general meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States should be held once every two years and that joint inter-agency sectoral meetings should also be convened on a biennial basis to address priority areas of major importance to the development of the Arab States, on the basis of agreement between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; 11. Also reaffirms the importance of holding the next general meeting on cooperation between representatives of the secretariats of the organizations of the United Nations system and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations during 2003; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States". RESOLUTION 57/47 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.38 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Yugoslavia 57/47. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolved to strengthen further cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments through their world organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Recalling also its resolution 56/46 of 7 December 2001, in which it welcomed the ongoing efforts to explore ways in which a new and strengthened relationship might be established between the General Assembly and its subsidiary organs on the one hand and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the other and encouraged Member States to continue their consultations with a view to adopting a decision thereon during the fifty-seventh session of the Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 3 September 2002,A/57/375. which takes stock of cooperation between the two organizations over the past twelve months, Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General of 26 June 2001,A/55/996. Taking into consideration the Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union of 1996,A/51/402, annex. which provides the foundation for current cooperation between the two organizations, Recalling the unique inter-State character of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1. Welcomes the efforts made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to provide for a greater parliamentary contribution and enhanced support to the United Nations; 2. Also welcomes its resolution 57/32 of 19 November 2002, in which the Inter-Parliamentary Union was invited to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 3. Decides to allow the circulation in the General Assembly of official documents adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, on the understanding that no financial implications result for the United Nations and that this would not constitute a precedent for other organizations with observer status; 4. Invites the specialized agencies to consider adopting similar modalities for cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the various aspects of cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union; 6. Calls upon the Secretary-General to take steps to ensure the full implementation of measures aimed at strengthening the relationship between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union". RESOLUTION 57/48 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.39 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 57/48. Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/351 and Corr.1. Recalling the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as all its resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, including resolutions 55/218 of 21 December 2000 and 56/48 of 7 December 2001, Bearing in mind the decisions and declarations adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its first ordinary session, held in Durban, South Africa, on 9 and 10 July 2002,On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. Taking note of declaration ASS/AU/Decl. 1 (I), adopted on 10 July 2002 by the Assembly of the African Union at its first ordinary session, on the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, mandating the Implementation Committee of the New Partnership and its Steering Committee to elaborate further the Framework for the New Partnership to ensure the implementation of the Initial Action Plan, Bearing in mind the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, contained in its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002, and its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002, and welcoming the strong support the New Partnership has received on various occasions, in particular at the summit meeting of the Group of Eight, held in Kananaskis, Canada, on 26 and 27 June 2002, as a framework for promoting sustainable development and growth in Africa, Taking note of decision AHG/Dec. 175 (XXXVIII), adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-eighth ordinary session, held in Durban on 8 July 2002, approving the Memorandum of Understanding on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa, thereby affirming the centrality of the process of the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa as a policy development forum, a framework for the advancement of common values and as a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the African Union, Acknowledging the need for continuing and closer cooperation between the United Nations system and the African Union in peace and security, political, economic, technical, cultural and administrative matters, Emphasizing the importance of the effective, coordinated and integrated implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and welcoming in this regard the commitments of Member States to respond to the special needs of Africa, Stressing the importance of the Doha Development Agenda adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha from 9 to 13 November 2001,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. for the attainment of the United Nations millennium development goals and the reduction of poverty in Africa, Welcoming the close collaboration between the African Union, the United Nations and the international community in the global fight against terrorism, leading to the convening by the African Union of a high-level intergovernmental meeting on the prevention and combating of terrorism in Africa, which was held in Algiers from 11 to 14 September 2002, Noting, in this regard, the proposed entry into force of the 1999 Algiers Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, Emphasizing the need to implement the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council, on the role of the United Nations in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development, adopted on 18 July 2001,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/56/3/Rev.1), chap III, para. 29. Taking note of the declaration of the extraordinary summit meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases, held in Abuja from 24 to 27 April 2001, and noting the mechanism for monitoring and reporting on its implementation,OAU/SPS/ABUJA/3. Emphasizing the need to implement urgently its resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001 containing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted at its special session on HIV/AIDS, and acknowledging in this respect the commitments of Member States to address the special needs of Africa, Bearing in mind the Declaration and the Plan of Action contained in the document entitled "A world fit for children", adopted at the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002,See resolution S-27/2. and the African Common Position on Children, endorsed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held in Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001,See A/56/457, annex I, AHG/Dec. 170 (XXXVII). Taking note of the Plan of Action for the African Decade of Disabled Persons, endorsed by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-sixth ordinary session, held in Durban from 28 June to 6 July 2002, Also taking note of the Plan of Action on Drug Control and Illicit Drugs Trafficking and Abuse in Africa, endorsed by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-sixth ordinary session, Acknowledging the contribution of the United Nations Liaison Office in strengthening coordination and cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, as well as the need to consolidate it so as to enhance its performance, Noting the efforts to be undertaken by the African Union and its organs and States members of regional economic bodies in the area of economic integration, and the need to accelerate the process of the full establishment and consolidation of the African Union so as to achieve sustainable development, Noting also the progress made by the Organization of African Unity in developing the capacity of its Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, and acknowledging in this regard the assistance of the United Nations and the international community, Noting further that the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council was adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its first ordinary session, and that it was decided by the Assembly that, pending the ratification and entry into force of the Protocol, the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution should remain valid, Stressing the urgent need to address the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa, and noting in this context the efforts made to implement the recommendations of the Ministerial Meeting of the Organization of African Unity on Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in Africa, held in Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998,A/54/682, annex II. as well as the endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session of the Comprehensive Implementation Plan, adopted at the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts, organized by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was held in Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000,A/55/286, annex I, CM/Dec. 531 (LXXII), para. 8. Recognizing the importance of developing and maintaining a culture of peace, tolerance and harmonious relationships based on the promotion of economic development, democratic principles, good governance, the rule of law, human rights, social justice and international cooperation, as reflected in the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Stressing the need to strengthen the African human rights system, and noting in this context the need to provide adequate support to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, to finalize the process leading to the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the implementation of the 1999 Grand Baie Declaration and Plan of Action on Human Rights in Africa, Welcoming the continuing mobilization of resources by African countries and other sources for the activities of the African Union, and encouraging Member States to continue to cooperate with the African Union in that regard, Recognizing the need to improve the coordination and harmonization of initiatives taken by the United Nations system relating to the development of Africa, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/351 and Corr.1. 2. Welcomes the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations and, in this respect, the continuing participation in and constructive contribution of the African Union and its specialized agencies to the work of the United Nations, and calls upon the two organizations to enhance the involvement of the African Union in all United Nations activities concerning Africa; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Interim Chairman of the African Union to review the Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity with a view to reflecting the establishment of the African Union; 4. Also calls upon the Secretary-General to involve the African Union and its organs closely in the implementation of the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. especially those that relate to addressing the special needs of Africa; 5. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Liaison Office with the African Union; 6. Stresses the need for closer cooperation and coordination between the African Union and the United Nations, and calls upon the United Nations system to continue to support the African Union on an ongoing basis in accordance with the Cooperation Agreement between the two organizations; 7. Requests the United Nations system, while acknowledging its primary role in the promotion of international peace and security, to intensify its assistance to the African Union, as appropriate, in strengthening the institutional and operational capacity of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, in particular in the following areas: (a) Development of its early warning system, including the Situation Room of the Conflict Management Directorate; (b) Training of civilian and military personnel, including a staff exchange programme; (c) Regular and continued exchange and coordination of information, including between the early warning systems of the two organizations; (d) Field missions of the African Union in its various member States, in particular in the area of communication and other related logistical support; (e) Capacity-building for peace-building before and after the termination of hostilities on the continent; (f) Support for the Peace and Security Council in taking humanitarian action on the continent in accordance with the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council; 8. Urges the United Nations system to examine the possibilities of assisting the African Union in the following areas: (a) Mobilization of financial resources to support the African Union Peace Fund; (b) Establishment of the Panel of the Wise; (c) Establishment of a military staff committee; (d) Creation of an African standby force; 9. Urges the United Nations to encourage donor countries, in consultation with the African Union, to contribute to adequate funding, training and logistical support for African countries in their efforts to enhance their peacekeeping capabilities, with a view to enabling those countries to participate actively in peacekeeping operations within the framework of the United Nations; 10. Also urges the United Nations to contribute, where appropriate, to the enhancement of the capacity of the African Union to deploy peace support missions; 11. Requests the United Nations system to extend full cooperation and support, as appropriate, to the African Union in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa; 12. Requests the agencies of the United Nations system working in Africa to include in their programmes at the national, subregional and regional levels activities to support African countries in their efforts to enhance regional economic cooperation and integration; 13. Stresses the urgent need for the United Nations and the African Union to develop close cooperation and concrete programmes aimed at addressing the problems posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and anti-personnel mines, within the framework of the relevant declarations and resolutions adopted by the two organizations, including the Plan of Action on Landmines, adopted at the First Continental Conference of African Experts on Landmines, held at Kempton Park, South Africa, from 19 to 21 May 1997, the Bamako Declaration of 1 December 2000 on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light WeaponsSee A/CONF.192/PC/23. and the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001;See A/CONF.192/15, para. 24. 14. Calls upon the United Nations system to continue to cooperate with the African Union in the creation of its organs and the implementation of the protocols to the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community,A/46/651, annex. to intensify the coordination of regional programmes in Africa to ensure the effective harmonization of programmes with those of the African regional and subregional economic organizations and to contribute to creating a positive environment for economic development and investment; 15. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to support the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. and the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/56/3/Rev.1), chap III, para. 29. and the enhancement of the capacity of African countries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization and overcome the challenges it poses, as a means of ensuring sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 16. Calls upon the United Nations system, the African Union and the international community to intensify their cooperation in the global fight against terrorism through the implementation of the relevant international and regional treaties, protocols and other instruments on combating terrorism, noting in this regard the Plan of Action adopted in Algiers on 14 September 2002; 17. Encourages the United Nations system to effectively support the efforts of the African Union in urging the international community to duly implement the Doha Development Agenda,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. including negotiations aimed at substantial improvements in market access to promote sustainable growth in Africa; 18. Urges the United Nations system to increase its support for Africa in the implementation of the declaration of the extraordinary summit meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases,OAU/SPS/ABUJA/3. and the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, so as to arrest the spread of these diseases, inter alia, through sound capacity-building in human resources; 19. Calls upon the United Nations system to implement the Plan of Action contained in the document entitled "A world fit for children", adopted at the special session of the General Assembly on children,See resolution S-27/2. and to provide assistance, as appropriate, to the African Union and its member States in this regard; 20. Calls upon the United Nations system and other development partners to provide assistance, as appropriate, to the African Union and African Governments in the fight against the scourge of illicit drug trafficking and drug abuse; 21. Calls upon the United Nations system and the African Union to develop a coherent and effective strategy, including through joint programmes and activities, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, within the framework of the implementation of regional and international treaties, resolutions and plans of action adopted by the two organizations; 22. Welcomes the adoption by the States members of the African Union of the protocol establishing an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights to complement the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and encourages the finalization of the process leading to the establishment of the Court; 23. Calls upon all Member States and regional and international organizations, in particular those of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations, to provide additional assistance, as appropriate, to the African Union and those Governments in Africa concerned with the problems of refugees, returnees and displaced persons; 24. Urges the United Nations system to speedily implement resolution 56/135 of 19 December 2001, on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, and to effectively support African countries in their efforts to incorporate the problems of refugees into national and regional development plans; 25. Also urges the United Nations system to work towards ensuring the effective and equitable representation of African men and women at senior and policy levels at the respective headquarters of its organizations and in their regional fields of operation; 26. Requests the United Nations system to cooperate with the African Union and its member States in the implementation of appropriate policies for the promotion of the culture of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and the strengthening of democratic institutions which will enhance the popular participation of the peoples of the continent in these issues, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development; 27. Calls upon the United Nations system and invites the Bretton Woods institutions to support, within their respective mandates, and where necessary and possible to assist in the establishment of appropriate institutional structures of the African Union, including the Pan-African Parliament, the Court of Justice, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council and the Financial Institutions; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/49 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 21 November 2002, by a recorded vote of 128 to 1, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.40, sponsored by Romania * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: United States of America Abstaining: Cambodia, Ghana, Pakistan 57/49. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization The General Assembly, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,A/57/255. Taking note also of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,See A/57/255. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization". RESOLUTIONS 57/4 A and B 57/4. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations Resolution A Adopted at the 20th plenary meeting, on 27 September 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/429, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. A The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/237 C of 23 December 1999, Having considered the letter dated 27 June 2002 from the Acting President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee transmitting a letter dated 21 June 2002 from the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions regarding the recommendations of that Committee on requests for exemption under Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations,A/C.5/56/46. Reaffirming the obligation of Member States under Article 17 of the Charter to bear the expenses of the Organization as apportioned by the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 2. Agrees that the failure of the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control; 3. Decides that the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until 30 June 2003; 4. Also decides, while welcoming the undertaking of and assurances provided by the Permanent Representative of Burundi to the United Nations, to permit Burundi to vote in the General Assembly until the next substantive session of the Committee on Contributions, scheduled to be held from 2 June 2003. Resolution B Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/429/Add.1, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. B The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/217 of 23 December 1992, 55/5 B of 23 December 2000, 56/240 E of 27 March 2002, 56/243 A of 24 December 2001, 56/243 B of 27 March 2002, 57/1 of 10 September 2002 and 57/3 of 27 September 2002, Recalling also rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Contributions on its sixty-second session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/57/11). Having also considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the application of Article 19 of the Charter of the United NationsA/57/60. and on multi-year payment plans,A/57/65. Having further considered the letter dated 27 December 2001 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly,A/56/767. Welcoming the admission of Switzerland and Timor-Leste to membership of the United Nations, Multi-year payment plans 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on Contributions concerning multi-year payment plans, as contained in paragraphs 17 to 23 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/57/11). 2. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing conditions, in order to avoid the difficulties being experienced by the United Nations; Appeals by Members for a change of assessments 3. Decides to fix the rates of assessment in 2003 for Afghanistan at 0.001 per cent and for Argentina at 0.969 per cent, as ad hoc adjustments; 4. Requests the Committee on Contributions to elaborate further on the criteria regarding ad hoc adjustments of the rates of assessment for consideration and approval by the General Assembly, in keeping with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the Assembly, so as to facilitate further its consideration of such adjustments; 5. Emphasizes the need to seek to preserve the integrity of the scale of assessments; 6. Notes that the decision contained in paragraph 3 above is not a precedent and that future appeals by Member States under rule 160 of the rules of procedure will be considered on a case-by-case basis; 7. Also notes that this decision should have no automatic implication for the apportionment of the expenses of the specialized agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency; Assessment of new Member States 8. Reaffirms the current methodology of the scale of assessments, as approved in its resolution 55/5 B; 9. Decides that the rate of assessment for Switzerland, admitted to membership of the United Nations on 10 September 2002, should be 1.274 per cent for the years 2002 and 2003; 10. Decides also that the rate of assessment for Timor-Leste, admitted to membership of the United Nations on 27 September 2002, should be 0.001 per cent for the years 2002 and 2003; 11. Decides further that the contributions of Switzerland and Timor-Leste for the regular budget, the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 for the year 2002 should be calculated on the basis of one twelfth of their relevant rates of assessment for the year 2002 per full calendar month of membership; 12. Decides that Switzerland should be credited with a corresponding proportion of its non-member State assessment for the year 2002; 13. Decides also that the contributions of Switzerland and Timor-Leste for the year 2002 should otherwise be applied to the same basis of assessment as for other Member States; 14. Decides further that the assessments of Switzerland and Timor-Leste for the year 2002 should be taken into account as miscellaneous income in accordance with regulation 5.2 (c) of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 15. Decides that for the year 2003, the rates of assessment for Switzerland and Timor-Leste should be added to the scale of assessments established by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/5 B; 16. Decides also that, in accordance with financial regulation 5.8, the advances of Switzerland and Timor-Leste to the Working Capital Fund should be calculated by the application of their rates of assessment for the year 2002 to the authorized level of the Fund and should be added to the Fund, pending their incorporation in a 100 per cent scale for the Fund for the biennium 2004-2005; Outstanding assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia 17. Decides to consider further the question of the outstanding assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia at its fifty-eighth session; Other matters 18. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee on Contributions contained in paragraph 125 of its reportOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/57/11). concerning the financing of the final budget appropriations for the biennium 2000-2001. RESOLUTION 57/50 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/502, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Ukraine. 57/50. Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling also its resolutions 51/37 of 10 December 1996 and 54/44 of 1 December 1999 relating to the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling further paragraph 77 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Determined to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction that have characteristics comparable in destructive effect to those of weapons of mass destruction identified in the definition of weapons of mass destruction adopted by the United Nations in 1948,The definition was adopted by the Commission for Conventional Armaments (see S/C.3/32/Rev.1). Noting the desirability of keeping the matter under review, as appropriate, 1. Reaffirms that effective measures should be taken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament, without prejudice to further overview of its agenda, to keep the matter under review, as appropriate, with a view to making, when necessary, recommendations on undertaking specific negotiations on identified types of such weapons; 3. Calls upon all States, immediately following any recommendations of the Conference on Disarmament, to give favourable consideration to those recommendations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this item by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session; 5. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report the results of any consideration of the matter in its annual reports to the General Assembly; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/51 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/503, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 57/51. Question of Antarctica The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/45 of 1 December 1999, in which it requested the Secretary-General to submit a report consisting of the information provided by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties on their consultative meetings and on their activities in Antarctica, and on developments in relation to Antarctica, Taking into account the debates on the question of Antarctica held since its thirty-eighth session, Conscious of the particular significance of Antarctica to the international community, including for international peace and security, the global and regional environment, its effects on global and regional climate conditions, and scientific research, Reaffirming that the management and use of Antarctica should be conducted in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and of promoting international cooperation for the benefit of mankind as a whole, Recognizing that the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. which provides, inter alia, for the demilitarization of the continent, the prohibition of nuclear explosions and the disposal of nuclear wastes, the freedom of scientific research and the free exchange of scientific information, is in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic TreatyInternational Legal Materials, vol. XXX, No. 6, p. 1461. on 14 January 1998, under which Antarctica has been designated as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science, and the provisions contained in the Protocol regarding the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, including the need for environmental impact assessment in the planning and conduct of all relevant activities in Antarctica, Welcoming the continuing cooperation among countries undertaking scientific research activities in Antarctica, which may help to minimize human impact on the Antarctic environment, Welcoming also the increasing awareness of and interest in Antarctica shown by the international community, and convinced of the advantages to the whole of mankind of a better knowledge of Antarctica, Reaffirming its conviction that, in the interest of all mankind, Antarctica should continue for ever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and that it should not become the scene or object of international discord, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the question of AntarcticaA/57/346. and the role accorded by the Secretary-General to the United Nations Environment Programme in preparing his report, and also of the Twelfth Special Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held in The Hague from 11 to 15 September 2000, the Twenty-fourth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, from 9 to 20 July 2001, and the Twenty-fifth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held in Warsaw from 10 to 20 September 2002; 2. Recalls the statement under chapter 17 of Agenda 21,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions Adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II, chap. 17, para. 17.105. adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, that States carrying out research activities in Antarctica should, as provided for in article III of the Antarctic Treaty, continue: (a) To ensure that data and information resulting from such research are freely available to the international community; (b) To enhance the access of the international scientific community and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system to such data and information, including the encouragement of periodic seminars and symposia; 3. Welcomes the invitations to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to attend Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings in order to assist such meetings in their substantive work, and urges the parties to continue to do so for future consultative meetings; 4. Welcomes also the practice whereby the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties regularly provide the Secretary-General with information on their consultative meetings and on their activities in Antarctica, and encourages the parties to continue to provide the Secretary-General and interested States with information on developments in relation to Antarctica, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report which shall consist of that information to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Question of Antarctica". RESOLUTION 57/52 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/504, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Yugoslavia. 57/52. Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed in Helsinki on 1 August 1975, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further its resolutions 48/84 B of 16 December 1993, 50/80 B of 12 December 1995, 51/55 of 10 December 1996, 52/48 of 9 December 1997, 53/71 of 4 December 1998, 54/62 of 1 December 1999, 55/27 of 20 November 2000 and 56/18 of 29 November 2001, Convinced of the necessity of enhancing the overall conflict prevention and resolution capability of the United Nations system and other relevant regional organizations to prevent the outbreak of conflicts, Emphasizing the crucial importance of the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 on Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and stressing, inter alia, the role and responsibility of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union, and of the Kosovo Force in that regard, as well as the importance of the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1345 (2001) of 21 March 2001 and 1371 (2001) of 26 September 2001, Reiterating the importance of the South-East European Cooperation Process and its contribution to security, stability and good-neighbourly relations in South-Eastern Europe, and recalling in particular the Joint Statement issued by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process in Belgrade on 19 June 2002,A/57/98-S/2002/705, annex. Welcoming the progress made in the normalization of relations among all States of the Balkan region, Reaffirming the validity of the Agreement for the delineation of the borderline between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, signed in Skopje on 23 February 2001,A/56/60-S/2001/234, annex. Welcoming the signing of stabilization and association agreements and/or European agreements between the countries of the region and the European Union and its member States, Emphasizing the crucial importance of strengthening regional efforts in South-Eastern Europe on arms control, demining, disarmament and confidence-building measures, and concerned that, in spite of the ongoing efforts, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects persists, Welcoming the establishment by the United Nations Development Programme and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe of the small arms clearing house in Belgrade, and affirming its support for all initiatives in the region for combating the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons, Mindful of the importance of national and international activities of all relevant organizations aimed at the creation of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and the observance of human rights and good-neighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe, Reaffirming its determination that all nations should live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, 1. Reaffirms the need for full observance of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Calls upon all States, the relevant international organizations and the competent organs of the United Nations to respect the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States and the inviolability of international borders, to continue to take measures in accordance with the Charter and the commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and through further development of regional arrangements, as appropriate, to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to help to prevent conflicts in South-Eastern Europe, which can lead to the violent disintegration of States; 3. Reaffirms the urgency of consolidating South-Eastern Europe as a region of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and for the promotion of good-neighbourliness and the observance of human rights, thus contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security and enhancing the prospects for sustained development and prosperity for all peoples in the region as an integral part of Europe, and recognizes the role of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union in promoting regional disarmament; 4. Calls upon all participants in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, as well as all concerned international organizations, to continue to support the efforts of the States of South-Eastern Europe towards regional stability and cooperation so as to enable them to pursue sustainable development and integration into European structures; 5. Calls upon all States and relevant international organizations to contribute to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) on Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as Council resolutions 1345 (2001) and 1371 (2001); 6. Recognizes the efforts made and activities undertaken in Kosovo by the United Nations and the Kosovo Force for the establishment of a multi-ethnic and stable Kosovo, thus contributing to a further improvement of the overall security situation in the region; 7. Rejects the use of violence in pursuit of political aims, and stresses that only peaceful political solutions can assure a stable and democratic future for South-Eastern Europe; 8. Stresses the importance of good-neighbourliness and the development of friendly relations among States, and calls upon all States to resolve their disputes with other States by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter; 9. Urges the strengthening of relations among the States of South-Eastern Europe on the basis of respect for international law and agreements, in accordance with the principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect; 10. Recognizes the efforts of the international community, and welcomes in particular the assistance already provided by the European Union and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe as well as other contributors in promoting the long-term process of democratic and economic development of the region; 11. Stresses the importance of enhanced regional cooperation for the development of the South-Eastern European States in the priority areas of infrastructure, transport, trade, energy and environment; 12. Also stresses that the rapprochement of the South-Eastern European States with the European Union will favourably influence the security, political and economic situation in the region, as well as good-neighbourly relations among the States; 13. Further stresses the importance of regional efforts aimed at preventing conflicts that endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, and in this regard notes with satisfaction the role of the Multinational Peace Force for South-Eastern Europe; 14. Emphasizes the importance of continuous regional efforts and intensified dialogue in South-Eastern Europe aimed at arms control, disarmament and confidence-building measures as well as strengthening cooperation and undertaking appropriate measures at the national, subregional and regional levels to prevent all acts of terrorism; 15. Recognizes the seriousness of the problem of anti-personnel mines in some parts of South-Eastern Europe, welcomes in this context the efforts of the international community in support of mine action, and encourages States to join and support these efforts; 16. Urges all States to take effective measures against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to help programmes and projects aimed at the collection and safe destruction of surplus stocks of small arms and light weapons, and stresses the importance of closer cooperation among States, inter alia, in crime prevention, combating terrorism, trafficking in human beings, organized crime, drug trafficking and money-laundering; 17. Calls upon all States and the relevant international organizations to communicate to the Secretary-General their views on the subject of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe". RESOLUTION 57/53 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/505, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation. 57/53. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000 and 56/19 of 29 November 2001, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of humankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling, in this connection, the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held in Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations that it made,See A/51/261, annex. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70, 54/49, 55/28 and 56/19, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213, A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1, A/56/164 and Add.1 and A/57/166 and Add.1. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts in Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, Confirming the request to the Secretary-General contained in paragraph 4 of its resolution 56/19, 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field, consistent with the need to preserve the free flow of information; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Definition of basic notions related to information security, including unauthorized interference with or misuse of information and telecommunications systems and information resources; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 of the present resolution; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them, and to conduct a study on the concepts referred to in paragraph 2 of the present resolution, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts, to be established in 2004, appointed by him on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and with the help of Member States in a position to render such assistance, and to submit a report on the outcome of the study to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 57/54 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/506, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tuvalu, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 90 to 48, with 21 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Fiji, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 57/54. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapons systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that the international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. it was noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persist, Emphasizing that internationally negotiated guidelines for the transfer of high technology with military applications should take into account the legitimate defence requirements of all States and the requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, while ensuring that access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful purposes is not denied, 1. Affirms that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted; 2. Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States; 3. Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non- discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications; 4. Encourages United Nations bodies to contribute, within existing mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful purposes; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/55 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/507, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 57/55. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000 and 56/21 of 29 November 2001 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 56/21,A/57/214 and Add.1 and 2. 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(46)/RES/16, adopted on 20 September 2002 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-sixth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC(2002)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/214 and Add.1 and 2. 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his report of 10 October 1990A/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTION 57/56 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/508, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nauru, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 106 to none, with 55 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia 57/56. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect. III.C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III.F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III.F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para. 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 55/31 of 20 November 2000 and 56/22 of 29 November 2001, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be explored further in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Also recommends that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 57/57 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/509, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 159 to none, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America 57/57. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space does not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during its 2003 session; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTION 57/58 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Brazil, Egypt, Fiji, Ireland, Mexico, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vanuatu. by a recorded vote of 120 to 3, with 42 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 57/58. Reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/33 D of 20 November 2000, Stressing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, a goal to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under its article VI,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recognizing that disarmament and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Reaffirming the necessity of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and the necessity of upholding their commitments in associated decisions and final documents agreed upon at the 2000 and 1995 Review Conferences, Noting the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued at The Hague on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Noting the importance attached to the issue of reducing non-strategic nuclear weapons by the Secretary-General in his report to the Millennium Assembly,See A/54/2000. Stressing the commitment made in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference to the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:9. Concerned that the total number of nuclear weapons deployed and in stockpile still amounts to many thousands, Reiterating that it is the particular responsibility of the nuclear-weapon States for transparent, verifiable and irreversible reductions of nuclear weapons, leading to nuclear disarmament, Emphasizing that further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be accorded priority and be carried out in a comprehensive manner, 1. Agrees that reductions and elimination of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be included as an integral part of the nuclear-arms reduction and disarmament process; 2. Agrees also that reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be carried out in a transparent, verifiable and irreversible manner; 3. Agrees further on the importance of preserving, reaffirming, implementing and building upon the 1991 and 1992 presidential nuclear initiatives of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Russian Federation on non-strategic nuclear weapons; 4. Calls upon the Russian Federation and the United States of America to formalize their presidential nuclear initiatives into legal instruments and to initiate negotiations on further effectively verifiable reductions of their non-strategic nuclear weapons; 5. Stresses the importance of special security and physical protection measures for the transport and storage of non-strategic nuclear weapons, and calls upon all nuclear-weapon States in possession of such weapons to take the necessary steps in this regard; 6. Calls for further confidence-building and transparency measures to reduce the threats posed by non-strategic nuclear weapons; 7. Calls also for concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of non-strategic nuclear weapons systems; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 57/59 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vanuatu. by a recorded vote of 125 to 6, with 36 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: France, India, Israel, Pakistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 57/59. Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: the need for a new agenda The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/77 Y of 4 December 1998, 54/54 G of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 C of 20 November 2000, Convinced that the existence of nuclear weapons is a threat to the survival of humanity, Declaring that the participation of the international community as a whole is central to the maintenance and enhancement of international peace and stability, and that international security is a collective concern requiring collective engagement, Declaring also that internationally negotiated treaties in the field of disarmament have made a fundamental contribution to international peace and security, and that unilateral and bilateral nuclear disarmament measures complement the treaty-based multilateral approach towards nuclear disarmament, Noting the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued at The Hague on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Declaring that any presumption of the indefinite possession of nuclear weapons by the nuclear-weapon States is incompatible with the integrity and sustainability of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and with the broader goal of the maintenance of international peace and security, Declaring also that it is essential that the fundamental principles of transparency, verification and irreversibility should apply to all nuclear disarmament measures, Convinced that the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons constitutes an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process, Declaring that each article of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. is binding on the respective States parties at all times and in all circumstances and that it is imperative that all States parties be held fully accountable with respect to the strict compliance with their obligations under the Treaty, and that the undertakings therein on nuclear disarmament have been given and that their implementation remains the imperative, Expressing its deep concern that, to date, there have been few advances in the implementation of the thirteen steps agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Stressing the importance of regular reporting in promoting confidence in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Expressing its deep concern at the continued failure of the Conference on Disarmament to deal with nuclear disarmament and to resume negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, Expressing grave concern that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. has not yet entered into force, Expressing deep concern that the total number of nuclear weapons deployed and stockpiled still amounts to thousands, and at the continuing possibility that nuclear weapons could be used, Acknowledging that reductions in the numbers of deployed strategic nuclear warheads envisaged by the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty")See CD/1674. represent a positive step in the process of nuclear de-escalation between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, while stressing that reductions in deployments and in operational status cannot substitute for irreversible cuts in, and the total elimination of, nuclear weapons, Noting that, despite these bilateral achievements, there is no sign of efforts involving all of the five nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Expressing its deep concern that emerging approaches to the broader role of nuclear weapons as part of security strategies could lead to the development of new types, and rationalizations for the use, of nuclear weapons, Expressing concern that the development of missile defences could impact negatively on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and lead to a new arms race on earth and in outer space, Stressing that no steps should be taken which would lead to the weaponization of outer space, Expressing its deep concern at the continued retention of the nuclear-weapons option by those three States that have not yet acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, in particular given the effects of regional volatility on international security, and in this context, the continued regional tensions and deteriorating security situation in South Asia and the Middle East, Welcoming Cuba's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and its ratification of the Treaty of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Welcoming also the conclusion of negotiations among the Central Asian States on a treaty on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in that region, and underlining the importance of its entry into force as soon as possible, Welcoming further the progress in the further development of nuclear-weapon-free zones in some regions and, in particular, the consolidation of that in the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which the heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all the States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. 1. Reaffirms that any possibility that nuclear weapons could be used represents a continued risk for humanity; 2. Calls upon all States to refrain from any action that could lead to a new nuclear arms race or that could impact negatively on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation; 3. Also calls upon all States to observe international treaties in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and to duly fulfil all obligations flowing from those treaties; 4. Calls upon all States parties to pursue, with determination and with continued vigour, the full and effective implementation of the substantial agreements reached at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the outcome of which provides the requisite blueprint to achieve nuclear disarmament; 5. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to respect fully their existing commitments with regard to security assurances, pending the conclusion of multilaterally negotiated legally binding security assurances to all non-nuclear-weapon States parties, and agrees to prioritize this issue with a view to making recommendations to the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 6. Also calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to increase their transparency and accountability with regard to their nuclear weapons arsenals and their implementation of disarmament measures; 7. Reaffirms the necessity for the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to consider regular reports to be submitted by all States parties on the implementation of article VI of the TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as outlined in paragraph 15:12 of the 2000 Final Document,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. and on paragraph 4 (c) of decision 2 of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty;See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 8. Calls upon nuclear-weapon States to implement the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons commitments to apply the principle of irreversibility by destroying their nuclear warheads in the context of strategic nuclear reductions and avoid keeping them in a state that lends itself to their possible redeployment; 9. Agrees on the importance and urgency of signatures and ratifications to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 10. Calls for the upholding and maintenance of the moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 11. Underlines the urgency of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in the context of the progress in implementing the international system to monitor nuclear weapons tests under the Treaty; 12. Agrees that the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be accorded priority and that nuclear-weapon States must live up to their commitments in this regard; 13. Agrees also that reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be carried out in a transparent and irreversible manner and that the reduction and elimination of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be included in the overall arms reductions negotiations. In this context, urgent action should be taken to achieve: (a) Further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (b) Further confidence-building and transparency measures to reduce the threats posed by non-strategic nuclear weapons; (c) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (d) The formalizing of existing informal bilateral arrangements regarding non-strategic nuclear reductions, such as the Bush-Gorbachev declarations of 1991, into legally binding agreements; 14. Calls upon nuclear-weapon States to undertake the necessary steps towards the seamless integration of all five nuclear-weapon States into a process leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons; 15. Agrees that the Conference on Disarmament should establish without delay an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament; 16. Agrees also that the Conference on Disarmament should resume negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives; 17. Agrees further that the Conference on Disarmament should complete the examination and updating of the mandate on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, as contained in its decision of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. and re-establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible; 18. Calls upon those three States that are not yet parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States, promptly and without condition, and to bring into force the required comprehensive safeguards agreements, together with additional protocols, consistent with the Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 15 May 1997,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). for ensuring nuclear non-proliferation, and to reverse clearly and urgently any policies to pursue any nuclear weapons development or deployment and refrain from any action that could undermine regional and international peace and security and the efforts of the international community towards nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation; 19. Calls upon those States that have not yet done so to conclude full-scope safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol; 20. Reaffirms the conviction that the establishment of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned enhances global and regional peace and security, strengthens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and contributes towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament, and supports proposals for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones where they do not yet exist, such as in the Middle East and South Asia; 21. Calls for the completion and implementation of the Trilateral Initiative between the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Russian Federation and the United States of America and for consideration to be given to the possible inclusion of other nuclear-weapon States; 22. Calls upon all nuclear-weapon States to make arrangements for the placing, as soon as practicable, of their fissile material no longer required for military purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and to make arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes in order to ensure that such material remains permanently outside military programmes; 23. Affirms that a nuclear-weapon-free world will ultimately require the underpinning of a universal and multilaterally negotiated legally binding instrument or a framework encompassing a mutually reinforcing set of instruments; 24. Acknowledges the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 55/33 C,A/56/309. and requests him, within existing resources, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: the need for a new agenda", and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. RESOLUTION 57/5 Adopted at the 31st plenary meeting, on 16 October 2002, by a recorded vote of 133 to 2, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.4, sponsored by the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Latvia 57/5. Elimination of unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures as a means of political and economic compulsion The General Assembly, Guided by the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, particularly those that call for the development of friendly relations among nations and the strengthening of cooperation in solving problems of an economic and social character, Taking note of the opposition of the international community to unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures, Recalling its resolutions in which it has called upon the international community to take urgent and effective steps to end unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures, Gravely concerned over the continued application of unilateral extraterritorial coercive measures whose effects have an impact on the sovereignty of other States and the legitimate interests of their entities and individuals in violation of the norms of international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Believing that the prompt elimination of such measures would be consistent with the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of the Agreement on the World Trade Organization, Recalling its resolutions 51/22 of 27 November 1996, 53/10 of 26 October 1998 and 55/6 of 26 October 2000, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 55/6;A/57/179 and Add.1 and Corr.1. 2. Reaffirms that all peoples have the right to self-determination and that by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 3. Expresses its deep concern at the negative impact of unilaterally imposed extraterritorial coercive economic measures on trade and financial and economic cooperation, including at the regional level, because they are contrary to recognized principles of international law and pose serious obstacles to the freedom of trade and the free flow of capital at the regional and international levels; 4. Reiterates its call for the repeal of unilateral extraterritorial laws that impose coercive economic measures contrary to international law on corporations and nationals of other States; 5. Again calls upon all States not to recognize or apply unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures imposed by any State, which are contrary to recognized principles of international law; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Elimination of unilateral extraterritorial coercive economic measures as a means of political and economic compulsion". RESOLUTION 57/60 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Senegal, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand and Ukraine. 57/60. United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/33 E of 20 November 2000, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation and the commitment of Member States to take concrete steps in order to strengthen that role, Welcoming the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, prepared by the Secretary-General with the assistance of governmental experts, pursuant to the above-mentioned resolution,A/57/124. Convinced that the need has never been greater for disarmament and non-proliferation education, especially on weapons of mass destruction, but also in the field of small arms and light weapons, terrorism and other challenges to international security and the process of disarmament, Recognizing the importance of the role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation education, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing Member States with the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/57/124. which contains a series of recommendations for immediate and long-term implementation; 2. Conveys the recommendations for implementation, as appropriate, by Member States, the United Nations and other international organizations, civil society, non-governmental organizations and the media; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report reviewing the results of the implementation of the recommendations and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Disarmament and non-proliferation education". RESOLUTION 57/61 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 57/61. Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 I of 15 December 1994, 50/70 F of 12 December 1995, 51/45 C of 10 December 1996, 52/38 F of 9 December 1997, 53/77 AA of 4 December 1998, 54/54 U of 1 December 1999, 55/33 M of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 D of 29 November 2001, Recalling also that, there being a consensus to do so in each case, three special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament were held in 1978, 1982 and 1988, respectively, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. adopted by consensus at the first special session devoted to disarmament, which included the Declaration, Programme of Action and Machinery for Disarmament, Bearing in mind also the objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Taking note of paragraph 145 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. which supported the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, which would offer an opportunity to review, from a perspective more in tune with the current international situation, the most critical aspects of the process of disarmament and to mobilize the international community and public opinion in favour of the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and of the control and reduction of conventional weapons, Taking note also of the report of the Disarmament Commission on its 1999 substantive sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42). and of the fact that no consensus was reached on the item entitled "Fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament", Desiring to build upon the substantive exchange of views on the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the heads of State and Government during the United Nations Millennium Summit held in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which they resolved "to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers", Reiterating its conviction that a special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament can set the future course of action in the field of disarmament, arms control and related international security matters, Emphasizing the importance of multilateralism in the process of disarmament, arms control and related international security matters, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/120. regarding the views of Member States on the objectives, agenda and timing of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, 1. Decides to establish an open-ended working group, working on the basis of consensus, to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, taking note of the paper presented by the Chairman of Working Group II during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission as well as the reports of the Secretary-General regarding the views of Member States on the objectives, agenda and timing of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; 2. Requests the open-ended Working Group to hold an organizational session in order to set the date for its substantive sessions, and to submit a report on its work, including possible substantive recommendations, before the end of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to provide the open-ended Working Group with the necessary assistance and services as may be required to discharge its tasks; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/62 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 164 to none, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America 57/62. Measures to uphold the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 55/33 J of 20 November 2000, Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling the long-standing determination of the international community to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical and biological weapons as well as the continuing support for measures to uphold the authority of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. as expressed by consensus in many previous resolutions, Emphasizing the necessity of easing international tension and strengthening trust and confidence between States, Welcoming the initiatives by some States Parties to withdraw their reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General;A/57/96. 2. Renews its previous call to all States to observe strictly the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. and reaffirms the vital necessity of upholding its provisions; 3. Calls upon those States that continue to maintain reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol to withdraw them; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 57/63 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 105 to 12, with 44 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Bulgaria, Germany, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia 57/63. Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation The General Assembly, Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 56/24 T of 29 November 2001 on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the purpose of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security, and to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, as enshrined in the Charter, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which states, inter alia, that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role, Convinced that in the globalization era and with the information revolution, arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament problems are more than ever the concern of all countries in the world, which are affected one way or another by these problems and, therefore, should have the possibility to participate in the negotiations that arise to tackle them, Bearing in mind the existence of a broad structure of disarmament and arms regulation agreements resulting from non-discriminatory multilateral negotiations with the participation of a large number of countries, regardless of their size and power, Aware of the need to advance further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory negotiations with the goal of reaching general and complete disarmament under strict international control, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament, Recognizing also that the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are among the most immediate threats to international peace and security which need to be dealt with, with the highest priority, Considering that the multilateral disarmament agreements provide the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of, the provisions of the agreements and that such consultations and cooperation may also be undertaken through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the Charter, Stressing that international cooperation, peaceful settlement of disputes, dialogue and confidence-building measures would contribute essentially to the creation of multilateral and bilateral friendly relations among peoples and nations, Being concerned at the continuous erosion of multilateralism in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and recognizing that a resort to unilateral actions by Member States in resolving their security concerns would jeopardize international peace and security and undermine confidence in the international security system as well as the foundations of the United Nations itself, Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations, 1. Reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope; 2. Also reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in resolving disarmament and non-proliferation concerns; 3. Urges the participation of all interested States in multilateral negotiations on arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament in a non-discriminatory manner; 4. Underlines the importance of preserving the existing agreements on arms regulation and disarmament, which constitute an expression of the results of international cooperation and multilateral negotiations in response to the challenges facing mankind; 5. Calls once again upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursuing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation; 6. Requests the States parties to the relevant instruments on weapons of mass destruction to consult and cooperate among themselves in resolving their concerns with regard to cases of non-compliance as well as on implementation, in accordance with the procedures defined in those instruments, and to refrain from resorting or threatening to resort to unilateral actions or directing unverified non-compliance accusations against one another to resolve their concerns; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the issue of the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation". RESOLUTION 57/64 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 163 to none, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 57/64. Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, 55/33 K of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 F of 29 November 2001, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/121 and Add.1 and 2. Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress in the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;A/57/121 and Add.1 and 2. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing this information to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". RESOLUTION 57/65 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 160 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57/65. Relationship between disarmament and development The General Assembly, Recalling the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly concerning the relationship between disarmament and development,See resolution S-10/2. Recalling also the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 December 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998, 54/54 T of 1 December 1999, 55/33 L of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 E of 29 November 2001, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. and the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Welcoming the different activities organized by the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development and the views and proposals received from Governments on the issue, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General,See A/57/167 and Add.1. Stressing the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development in current international relations, and concerned at increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs, Taking into account developments in the context of disarmament and international security since the end of the cold war, as well as new perspectives and goals on development issues emerging from, inter alia, the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Doha Ministerial Declaration of the World Trade Organization, adopted on 14 November 2001,WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, adopted on 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution l, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. adopted on 4 September 2002, Mindful of the changes in international relations that have taken place since the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, including the development agenda that has emerged over the past decade, Bearing in mind the new challenges for the international community in the field of development, poverty eradication and the elimination of the diseases that afflict humanity, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 56/24 E,See A/57/167 and Add.1. including its proposal to consider the establishment of a group of governmental experts to undertake a review of the relationship between disarmament and development in the current international context, as well as the role of the Organization in this connection; 2. Requests the Secretary-General, within available financial resources and with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be established in 2003 on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, while seeking the views of States, to present for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report with recommendations for a reappraisal of the relationship between disarmament and development in the current international context, as well as the future role of the Organization in this connection; 3. Calls upon the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development to strengthen and enhance its programme of activities, in accordance with the mandate contained in subparagraph (ix) b of paragraph 35 (c) of the action programme adopted at the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme; 5. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever widening gap between developed and developing countries; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development". RESOLUTION 57/66 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Netherlands. by a recorded vote of 166 to none, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: None 57/66. National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology The General Assembly, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security and that effective national control over the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology is an important tool in achieving these objectives, Recalling that the States parties to the international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties have undertaken, inter alia, both to control transfers that could contribute to proliferation activities and to facilitate the fullest possible exchange of materials, equipment and technological information for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the provisions of those treaties, Considering that the exchange of national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, Convinced that such an exchange would be beneficial to Member States that are in the process of developing such legislation, Reaffirming the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Invites Member States that are in a position to do so to enact or improve national legislation, regulations and procedures to exercise effective control over the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, while ensuring that such legislation, regulations and procedures are consistent with the obligations of States parties under international treaties; 2. Encourages Member States to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to the Secretary-General on their national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, as well as the changes therein, and requests the Secretary-General to make this information accessible for Member States; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology". RESOLUTION 57/67 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Mongolia. 57/67. Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/77 D of 4 December 1998 and 55/33 S of 20 November 2000, Recalling also the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Bearing in mind its resolution 49/31 of 9 December 1994 on the protection and security of small States, Proceeding from the fact that nuclear-weapon-free status is one of the means of ensuring the national security of States, Convinced that the internationally recognized status of Mongolia will contribute to enhancing stability and confidence-building in the region as well as promote Mongolia's security by strengthening its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders and the preservation of its ecological balance, Taking note of the adoption by the Mongolian parliament of legislation defining and regulating its nuclear-weapon-free statusSee A/55/56-S/2000/160. as a concrete step towards promoting the aims of nuclear non-proliferation, Bearing in mind the joint statement of the five nuclear-weapon States on security assurances to Mongolia in connection with its nuclear-weapon-free statusA/55/530-S/2000/1052, annex. as a contribution to implementing resolution 53/77 D as well as their commitment to Mongolia to cooperate in the implementation of the resolution, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, Noting that the joint statement has been transmitted to the Security Council by the five nuclear-weapon States, Mindful that the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, at the Ministerial Meeting of its Coordinating Bureau, held at Durban, South Africa on 29 April 2002, has welcomed and expressed its support for the policy of Mongolia to institutionalize its nuclear-weapon-free status as a concrete contribution to the international efforts to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and enhance predictability in north-east Asia, Noting other measures taken to implement resolution 55/33 S at the national and international levels, Welcoming Mongolia's active and positive role in developing peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the States of the region and other States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 55/33 S,A/57/159. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 55/33 S;A/57/159. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the efforts to implement resolution 55/33 S; 3. Endorses and supports Mongolia's good-neighbourly and balanced relationship with its neighbours as an important element of strengthening regional peace, security and stability; 4. Welcomes the efforts made by Member States to cooperate with Mongolia in implementing resolution 55/33 S, as well as the progress made in consolidating Mongolia's international security; 5. Invites Member States to continue to cooperate with Mongolia in taking the necessary measures to consolidate and strengthen Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders, its economic security, its ecological balance and its nuclear-weapon-free status, as well as its independent foreign policy; 6. Appeals to the Member States of the Asia and Pacific region to support Mongolia's efforts to join the relevant regional security and economic arrangements; 7. Requests the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations bodies to continue to provide assistance to Mongolia in taking the necessary measures mentioned in paragraph 5 above; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status". RESOLUTION 57/68 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation and the United States of America. 57/68. Bilateral strategic nuclear arms reductions and the new strategic framework The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/77 Z of 4 December 1998 and other relevant resolutions, Welcoming the completion of strategic arms reductions codified in the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START)The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. by Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America, Agreeing that new global challenges and threats require the building of a qualitatively new foundation for strategic relations between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, Noting with satisfaction the building of the new strategic relationship between the United States of America and the Russian Federation based on the principles of mutual security, trust, openness, cooperation and predictability, Appreciating the joint determination of the two countries to work together and with other nations and international organizations to promote security, economic well-being and a peaceful, prosperous free world, Applauding the agreement whereby each country will reduce its strategic nuclear warheads to a number that does not exceed 1,700 to 2,200, as specified in the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty"),See CD/1674. by 31 December 2012, Believing that the agreed strategic reductions advance the commitment of both the United States of America and the Russian Federation under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Appreciating that the United States of America and the Russian Federation will continue to work closely together, including through cooperative programmes, to ensure the security of weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies, information, expertise and material, 1. Welcomes the commitment of the two countries to strategic nuclear warhead reductions in the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty"), signed on 24 May 2002,See CD/1674. which is an important result of this new bilateral strategic relationship and which will help to establish more favourable conditions for actively promoting security and cooperation and enhancing international stability; 2. Looks forward to the entry into force of the Moscow Treaty at the earliest possible date; 3. Notes with satisfaction the Joint Declaration signed by the United States of America and the Russian Federation in Moscow on 24 May 2002,See CD/1674. which, inter alia, created the Consultative Group for Strategic Security, chaired by Foreign and Defence Ministers, through which the United States of America and the Russian Federation will strengthen mutual confidence, expand transparency, share information and plans and discuss strategic issues of mutual interest; 4. Recognizes that the Group of Eight Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, launched by leaders at the Kananaskis Summit, held at Kananaskis, Canada, on 26 and 27 June 2002, will enhance international security and safety by supporting specific cooperation projects, initially in the Russian Federation, to address non-proliferation, disarmament, counter-terrorism and nuclear safety issues; 5. Invites all countries, as appropriate, to join the Group of Eight commitment to the non-proliferation principles endorsed by the Group of Eight leaders at the Kananaskis Summit aimed at preventing terrorists, or those who harbour them, from acquiring or developing nuclear, chemical, radiological and biological weapons, missiles, and related materials, equipment and technology; 6. Invites the United States of America and the Russian Federation to keep other States Members of the United Nations duly informed of their strategic offensive reductions; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Bilateral strategic nuclear arms reductions and the new strategic framework". RESOLUTION 57/69 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. 57/69. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/38 S of 9 December 1997, 53/77 A of 4 December 1998 and 55/33 W of 20 November 2000 and its decisions 54/417 of 1 December 1999 and 56/412 of 29 November 2001, Recalling also paragraphs 60, 61, 62 and 64 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and recalling further the relevant paragraphs of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. and of the report of its Main Committee IIIbid., vol. II (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Part III)), sect. 6, document NPT/CONF.2000/MC.II/1. concerning the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, Convinced that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones contributes to the achievement of general and complete disarmament, Emphasizing the importance of internationally recognized treaties on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in different regions of the world and on the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime, Welcoming the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of principles and guidelines for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Considering that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regionKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. will heighten the security of the States concerned and strengthen global and regional peace and security, Recalling the Almaty Declaration on the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in Central Asia, adopted by the leaders of the Central Asian States on 28 February 1997,A/52/112, annex. the statement issued at Tashkent on 15 September 1997 by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central AsiaA/52/390, annex. and the Communiqué of the Consultative Meeting of Experts of the Central Asian Countries, the Nuclear-Weapon States and the United Nations, held at Bishkek on 9 and 10 July 1998,A/53/183, annex. with a view to elaborating acceptable ways and means of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, Reaffirming the universally recognized role of the United Nations in the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, 1. Notes with appreciation the support of all States for the initiative to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia; 2. Takes note of the elaboration by experts of all five Central Asian States at the meeting held at Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 25 to 27 September 2002, of a draft treaty for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia and protocol thereto; 3. Invites all five Central Asian States to continue consulting with the five nuclear-weapon States on the draft treaty for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia and the protocol thereto, in conformity with the 1999 Disarmament Commission agreed guidelines for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. 4. Welcomes the decision by all five Central Asian States to sign the Central Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty as soon as possible; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to continue to provide assistance to the five Central Asian States in their further work for the early establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia; 6. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia at its fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "General and complete disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/6 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 4 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.9/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kuwait, Morocco, Philippines, Senegal, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Venezuela 57/6. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially the dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed", Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 as the International Year for the Culture of Peace, resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and resolution 56/5 of 5 November 2001, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that the effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which calls for the active promotion of a culture of peace, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000, entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/56/349. including paragraph 28 thereof, which indicates that each of the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme related to the Programme of Action, Noting the relevance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, as well as the need to implement, as appropriate, the relevant decisions agreed upon therein, Recognizing that all efforts made by the United Nations system in general and the international community at large for peacekeeping, peace-building, the prevention of conflicts, disarmament, sustainable development, the promotion of human dignity and human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance at the national and international levels contribute greatly to the culture of peace, Taking into account the "Manifesto 2000" initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over seventy-five million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 56/5,See A/57/186 and Add.1. 1. Reiterates that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, is to strengthen further the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Invites Member States to continue to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels; 3. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognizing the promotion of a culture of peace as the expression of its fundamental mandate, and encourages it, as the lead agency for the Decade, to strengthen further the activities it has undertaken for promoting a culture of peace, including the dissemination of the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace and related materials in various languages across the world; 4. Also commends the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the University for Peace, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including the promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, and encourages them to continue and further strengthen and expand their efforts; 5. Encourages the appropriate authorities to provide education, in children's schools, that includes lessons in mutual understanding, tolerance, active citizenship, human rights and the promotion of a culture of peace; 6. Encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to strengthen its efforts in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade, inter alia, by adopting its own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations; 7. Encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; 8. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue the communication and networking arrangements established during the International Year for providing an instant update of developments related to the observance of the Decade; 9. Invites Member States to observe 21 September each year as the International Day of Peace, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001; 10. Also invites Member States as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to provide information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 11. Emphasizes the significance of the plenary meetings on the item planned for its sixtieth session,See resolution 55/47, para. 13. and in that regard encourages participation at a high level, and decides to consider, at an appropriate time, the possibility of organizing those meetings as close as possible to the general debate; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 57/70 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/70. Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them The General Assembly, Considering that the illicit proliferation and circulation of and traffic in small arms impede development, constitute a threat to populations and to national and regional security and are a factor contributing to the destabilization of States, Deeply disturbed by the magnitude of the illicit proliferation and circulation of and traffic in small arms in the States of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion, Noting with satisfaction the conclusions of the United Nations advisory missions dispatched by the Secretary-General to the affected countries of the subregion to study the most appropriate way of halting the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting them, Welcoming the designation of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat as a centre for the coordination of all activities of United Nations bodies concerned with small arms, Thanking the Secretary-General for his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and bearing in mind the statement on small arms made by the President of the Security Council on 24 September 1999,S/PRST/1999/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. Welcoming the recommendations resulting from the meetings of the States of the subregion held at Banjul, Algiers, Bamako, Yamoussoukro and Niamey to establish close regional cooperation with a view to strengthening security, Welcoming also the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African States concerning the renewal of the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, adopted at Abuja on 31 October 1998,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. Recalling the Algiers Declaration adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 1 (XXXV). Emphasizing the need to advance efforts towards wider cooperation and better coordination in the struggle against the illicit proliferation of small arms through the common understanding reached at the meeting on small arms held at Oslo on 13 and 14 July 1998See CD/1556. and the Brussels Call for Action adopted by the International Conference on Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development, held at Brussels on 12 and 13 October 1998,A/53/681, annex. Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted at Bamako on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. Recalling the millennium report of the Secretary-General,A/54/2000. Welcoming the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. and calling for its expeditious implementation, Recognizing the important role that the organizations of civil society play in detection, prevention and raising public awareness, in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms, 1. Notes with satisfaction the Declaration of the Ministerial Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa, held in Abuja on 8 and 9 May 2000,A/55/286, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 4 (XXXVI). and encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his efforts in the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions, aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting such arms in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the African Union; 2. Encourages the establishment in the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion of national commissions to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms, and invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible to ensure the smooth functioning of the commissions; 3. Welcomes the decision to renew the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, adopted by the heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States in Abuja on 31 October 1998,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. and encourages the international community to support the implementation of the moratorium; 4. Encourages the involvement of organizations and associations of civil society in the efforts of the national commissions to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and their participation in the implementation of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa as well as in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. 5. Encourages also cooperation among State organs, international organizations and civil society in combating the illicit traffic in small arms and supporting operations to collect the said arms in the subregions; 6. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil organizations to take action to combat the illicit trade in small arms; 7. Takes note of the conclusions of the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Economic Community of West African States, held in Bamako on 24 and 25 March 1999, on the modalities for the implementation of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, and welcomes the adoption by the meeting of a plan of action; 8. Takes note also of the conclusions of the African Conference on the Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms: Needs and Partnerships, held in Pretoria, South Africa, from 18 to 21 March 2002; 9. Invites the Secretary-General, and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the matter and to report to it at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them". RESOLUTION 57/71 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Egypt, Indonesia and Iran (Islamic Republic of). by a recorded vote of 104 to 3, with 60 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 57/71. Missiles The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 F of 1 December 1999, 55/33 A of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 B of 29 November 2001, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in the field of arms regulation and disarmament and the commitment of Member States to take concrete steps to strengthen that role, Realizing the need to promote regional and international peace and security in a world free from the scourge of war and the burden of armaments, Convinced of the need for a comprehensive approach towards missiles, in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner, as a contribution to international peace and security, Bearing in mind that the security concerns of Member States at the international and regional levels should be taken into consideration in addressing the issue of missiles, Underlining the complexities involved in considering the issue of missiles in the conventional context, Expressing its support for the international efforts against the development and proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction, Considering that the Secretary-General, in response to resolution 55/33 A, established a Panel of Governmental Experts to assist him in preparing a report for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the issue of missiles in all its aspects;A/57/229. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the report on the issue of missiles in all its aspects and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a Panel of Governmental Experts, to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects and to submit a report for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies from Member States on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, submitted pursuant to resolution 56/24 B;A/57/114 and Add.1 and 2. 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Missiles". RESOLUTION 57/72 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/72. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 B of 12 December 1995, 52/38 J of 9 December 1997, 53/77 E and 53/77 T of 4 December 1998, 54/54 R of 1 December 1999, 54/54 V of 15 December 1999 and 55/33 Q of 20 November 2000, Emphasizing the importance of early and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, 1. Decides to convene in New York in July 2003 the first of the biennial meetings of States, as stipulated in the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects to consider the implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and global levels; 2. Welcomes the convening of the Group of Governmental Experts established to assist the Secretary-General to undertake a study on the feasibility of developing an international instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons, and requests him to submit the study to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 3. Encourages all initiatives to mobilize resources and expertise to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action and to provide assistance to States in its implementation; 4. Decides to consider at its fifty-eighth session further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, taking into consideration the views of States, provided to the Secretary-General, on further steps that could be taken; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to collate and circulate data and information provided by States on a voluntary basis, including national reports, on the implementation by those States of the Programme of Action; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 57/73 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 160 to 3, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: India, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Russian Federation, Spain 57/73. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, 55/33 I of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 G of 29 November 2001, Welcoming the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Welcoming also the ratification by Cuba of the Treaty of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. which fulfils the establishment of the first inhabited nuclear-weapon-free zone, encompassing all States of Latin America and the Caribbean, Welcoming further the ratification by the Kingdom of Tonga of the Treaty of Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. in December 2001, which completes the list of original parties to the South Pacific nuclear-free-zone treaty, Welcoming the endorsement from heads of State and Government at the thirty-third Pacific Islands Forum, held in Suva from 15 to 17 August 2002, for a nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere, Welcoming also the meeting between the Secretary General of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean and representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat, held in New York in April 2002, aimed at identifying areas for further cooperation, Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and Pelindaba,A/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Calls for the ratification of the treaties of Rarotonga and Pelindaba by all States of the region, and calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet done so; 3. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 4. Affirms its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 5. Calls upon the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, in order to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 6. Welcomes the vigorous efforts being made among States parties and signatories to those treaties to promote their common objectives, and considers that an international conference of States parties and signatories to the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties might be held to support the common goals envisaged in those treaties; 7. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of these goals; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". RESOLUTION 57/74 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 143 to none, with 23 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 57/74. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Welcoming the entry into force, on 1 March 1999, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem, Recalling the First Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention, held at Maputo from 3 to 7 May 1999, and the reaffirmation made in the Maputo Declaration of a commitment to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines,See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1, part II. Recalling also the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Geneva from 11 to 15 September 2000, and the Declaration of the Second Meeting of States Parties reaffirming the commitment to implement completely and fully all provisions of the Convention,See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1, part II. Recalling further the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Managua from 18 to 21 September 2001, and the Declaration of the Third Meeting of States Parties reaffirming the unwavering commitment both to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines and to addressing the insidious and inhumane effects of those weapons,See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1, part II. Recalling the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Geneva from 16 to 20 September 2002, and the Declaration of the Fourth Meeting of States Parties reaffirming the commitment of the States parties to intensify further their efforts in those areas most directly related to the core humanitarian objectives of the Convention,See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1, part II. Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and twenty-nine, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention; 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention, in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes, and the removal of anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and the assurance of their destruction; 7. Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate in the programme of intersessional work established at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and further developed at the Second, Third and Fourth Meetings of States Parties to the Convention; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention at Bangkok from 15 to 19 September 2003, and, on behalf of States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the Meeting as observers; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 57/75 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 143 to none, with 23 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 57/75. Transparency in armaments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 47/52 L of 15 December 1992, 48/75 E of 16 December 1993, 49/75 C of 15 December 1994, 50/70 D of 12 December 1995, 51/45 H of 10 December 1996, 52/38 R of 9 December 1997, 53/77 V of 4 December 1998, 54/54 O of 1 December 1999, 55/33 U of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 Q of 29 November 2001 entitled "Transparency in armaments", Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional ArmsSee resolution 46/36 L. constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters, Welcoming the consolidated report of the Secretary-General on the Register,A/57/221 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and 2. which includes the returns of Member States for 2001, Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available background information regarding their military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies, Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure a Register that is capable of attracting the widest possible participation, 1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,See resolution 46/36 L. as provided for in paragraphs 7 to 10 of resolution 46/36 L; 2. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General by 31 May annually with the requested data and information for the Register, including nil reports if appropriate, on the basis of resolutions 46/36 L and 47/52 L, the recommendations contained in paragraph 64 of the 1997 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further developmentA/52/316 and Corr.2. and the recommendations contained in paragraph 94 of the 2000 report of the Secretary-General and the appendices and annexes thereto;A/55/281. 3. Invites Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings and to make use of the "Remarks" column in the standardized reporting form to provide additional information such as types or models; 4. Reaffirms its decision, with a view to further development of the Register, to keep the scope of and participation in the Register under review and, to that end: (a) Recalls its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction; (b) Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 2003, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, taking into account the work of the Conference on Disarmament, the views expressed by Member States and the reports of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, with a view to a decision at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the recommendations contained in his 2000 report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work undertaken in the field of transparency in armaments; 7. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooperate at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion, with a view to enhancing and coordinating international efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on progress made in implementing the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Transparency in armaments". RESOLUTION 57/76 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Egypt, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. 57/76. Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999, 55/33 O of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 H of 29 November 2001 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/77 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Spain and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 165 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: India Abstaining: Bhutan 57/77. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". RESOLUTION 57/78 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 2, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: India, United States of America Abstaining: Brazil, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden 57/78. A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 H of 15 December 1994, 50/70 C of 12 December 1995, 51/45 G of 10 December 1996, 52/38 K of 9 December 1997, 53/77 U of 4 December 1998, 54/54 D of 1 December 1999, 55/33 R of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 N of 29 November 2001, Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament mutually complement and strengthen each other, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and as an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, and welcoming Cuba's accession to the Treaty, Recognizing the progress made by the nuclear-weapon States in the reduction of their nuclear weapons unilaterally or through their negotiations, including the completion of the reductions of strategic offensive weapons according to the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I)The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16:1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. and the recent signing of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty") by the United States of America and the Russian Federation,See CD/1674. which should serve as a step for further nuclear disarmament, and the efforts for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation by the international community, Reaffirming the conviction that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation, ensuring international peace and security, Welcoming the continuation of a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions since the recent nuclear tests, Welcoming also the successful adoption of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). and stressing the importance of implementing its conclusions, Welcoming further the constructive start of the strengthened review process at the first session, held in New York from 8 to 19 April 2002, of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to be held in 2005, Welcoming the successful convening of a series of seminars aiming at further reinforcement of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards in Latin America, Central Asia, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and sharing the hope that the conference to be held in Tokyo in December 2002 will further strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards system, including universalization of its safeguards agreements and the additional protocols thereto, by making utmost use of the outcomes of the aforementioned seminars, Encouraging the Russian Federation and the United States of America to continue their intensive consultations in accordance with the Joint Declaration on the New Strategic Relationship between the two States,See CD/1674. Welcoming the Final Declaration of the Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, convened in New York from 11 to 13 November 2001CTBT-ART.XIV/2001/6, annex. in accordance with article XIV of the Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Recognizing the importance of preventing terrorists from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons or related materials, radioactive materials, equipment and technology, Stressing the importance of education on disarmament and non-proliferation for future generations, and noting with satisfaction the submission of the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on this issue by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly,A/57/124. 1. Reaffirms the importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions; 2. Also reaffirms the importance for all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty; 3. Stresses the central importance of the following practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty:1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. (a) The importance and urgency of signatures and ratifications, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. as well as a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of that Treaty; (b) The establishment of an ad hoc committee in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2003 session to negotiate a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995CD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives, with a view to its conclusion within five years and, pending its entry into force, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; (c) The establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2003 session in the context of establishing a programme of work; (d) The inclusion of the principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; (e) An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, as agreed at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty; (f) Deep reductions by the Russian Federation and the United States of America in their strategic offensive arsenals, while placing great importance on the existing multilateral treaties, with a view to maintaining and strengthening strategic stability and international security; (g) Steps by all the nuclear-weapon States leading to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all: (i) Further efforts by all the nuclear-weapon States to continue to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (ii) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to their nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as voluntary confidence-building measures to support further progress on nuclear disarmament; (iii) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (iv) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (v) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (vi) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; (h) Reaffirmation that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control; 4. Recognizes that the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons will require further steps, including deeper reductions by all the nuclear-weapon States in the process of working towards achieving their elimination; 5. Invites the nuclear-weapon States to keep the Members of the United Nations duly informed of the progress or efforts made towards nuclear disarmament; 6. Emphasizes the importance of a successful Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2005 as the second session of the Preparatory Committee will be convened in 2003; 7. Welcomes the ongoing efforts in the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, notes the importance of the safe and effective management of the resultant fissile materials, and calls for arrangements by all the nuclear-weapon States to place, as soon as practicable, fissile material designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes to ensure that such material remains permanently outside of military programmes; 8. Stresses the importance of further development of the verification capabilities, including International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, that will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 9. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, confirming and strengthening, if necessary, their policies not to transfer equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to the proliferation of those weapons, while ensuring that such policies are consistent with the obligations of States under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 10. Also calls upon all States to maintain the highest possible standards of security, safe custody, effective control and physical protection of all materials that could contribute to the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in order, inter alia, to prevent those materials from falling into the hands of terrorists; 11. Welcomes the adoption of resolution GC(46)/RES/12 on 20 September 2002 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See International Atomic Energy Agency. Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC (2002)). and stresses the importance of the said resolution, in which it is recommended that the Director General, the Board of Governors and member States of the Agency continue to consider implementing the elements of the plan of action outlined in resolution GC(44)/RES/19, adopted on 22 September 2000 by the General Conference of the Agency,Ibid., Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC (2000)). to promote and facilitate the conclusion and entry into force of safeguards agreements and additional protocols, and calls for the early and full implementation of that resolution; 12. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. RESOLUTION 57/79 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 107 to 41, with 21 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Sweden, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 57/79. Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 R of 29 November 2001 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Noting the reiteration by the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. of their conviction that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the reaffirmation by the States parties of the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on the extension of the TreatySee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the resolution on the Middle East,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Welcoming the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Noting with appreciation the signing of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty") by the United States of America and the Russian FederationSee CD/1674. as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals, Noting with appreciation also the unilateral measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 114 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to commence negotiations in 1998 on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament and for the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Recalling paragraph 72 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Bearing in mind the principles and guidelines on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its substantive session of 1999,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Welcoming the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or the threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in international relations, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that, in view of recent political developments, the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to achieving the elimination of these weapons; 2. Also recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 3. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 4. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclearweapon systems; 5. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weapons; 6. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 7. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 8. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 9. Welcomes the positive outcome of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in New York from 24 April to 19 May 2000;2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)). 10. Also welcomes the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the Review Conference, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,Ibid., part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,Ibid., section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 2. and calls for the full and effective implementation of the steps set out in the Final Document; 11. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; 12. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 13. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 14. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 15. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 16. Expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament at its 2002 session, as called for in General Assembly resolution 56/24 R; 17. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2003 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons; 18. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/7 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 4 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the General Assembly for the Final Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s (A/57/468/Add.1) 57/7. Final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/151 of 18 December 1991, the annex to which contains the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, Also recalling its resolutions 48/214 of 23 December 1993 and 49/142 of 23 December 1994 on the New Agenda, resolution 51/32 of 6 December 1996 on the mid-term review of the implementation of the New Agenda and resolution 55/216 of 21 December 2000, in which it reaffirmed its decision to conduct in 2002 the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda, Further recalling its resolution 56/218 of 21 December 2001, by which it established the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the General Assembly for the Final Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s to conduct, during the fifty-seventh session of the Assembly, the final review and appraisal of the New Agenda and related initiatives on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General on the independent high-level quality evaluation, as well as on proposals by the Secretary-General on the modalities of the future engagement of the United Nations with the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and resolution 56/508 of 27 June 2002, by which it decided that the Ad Hoc Committee should meet in substantive session for three working days, from 24 to 26 September 2002, Mindful of its resolution 56/511 of 15 August 2002, by which it decided on the organization of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to consider how to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. Bearing in mind the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2001 of the Economic and Social Council, on the role of the United Nations in support of the efforts of African countries to achieve sustainable development,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/56/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 29. Cognizant of the link between the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which the international community committed itself to addressing the special needs of Africa, and of the need to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those set out in the Millennium Declaration, Mindful of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/11. the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. the Doha Ministerial Declaration,A/C.2/56/7, annex. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Whole of the General Assembly for the Final Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s,See A/57/468 and Add.1. Noting with satisfaction the contribution made by individual Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, Also noting with satisfaction that the Group of Eight, at its summit meeting held at Kananaskis, Canada, in June 2002, devoted part of its deliberations to the New Partnership for Africa's Development, which resulted in the adoption of a Group of Eight action plan for Africa, I Final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s,A/57/156 and Corr.1. in particular the lessons learned about the New Agenda, as well as recommendations and proposals on the modalities for the future engagement of the United Nations with the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 2. Takes note of the report on the independent evaluation on the New Agenda;A/AC.251/9. 3. Expresses its disappointment at the limited progress made in realizing the objectives of the New Agenda; 4. Decides to bring the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s to a close, and endorses the recommendation of the Secretary-General that the New Partnership for Africa's Development, as decided by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held in Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001, should be the framework within which the international community, including the United Nations system, should concentrate its efforts for Africa's development; II Support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development 5. Welcomes the New Partnership for Africa's Development as a programme of the African Union that embodies the vision and commitment of all African Governments and peoples for peace and development; 6. Reaffirms its commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development,See resolution 57/2. adopted at the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, held on 16 September 2002, to consider how to support the New Partnership, and takes note of the deliberations that took place on that occasion;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Plenary Meetings, 10th and 11th meetings (A/57/PV.10 and 11), and corrigendum. 7. Urges the international community and the United Nations system to organize support for African countries in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the New Partnership in the new spirit of partnership; 8. Recognizes the importance and strongly encourages the involvement of the private sector and civil society in the implementation of the New Partnership; III Action by African countries and organizations 9. Welcomes the commitment of African countries to integrate the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa's Development into their national policies and development planning frameworks, to maintain full ownership and leadership in developing and utilizing such policies and frameworks, and to mobilize domestic resources in support of the New Partnership; 10. Also welcomes the commitment of African countries to peace, security, democracy, good governance, human rights and sound economic management, as well as their commitment to take concrete measures to strengthen mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and resolution as embodied in the New Partnership, as an essential basis for sustainable development in Africa, and in this context welcomes the ongoing efforts of African countries to develop further the African peer review mechanism which is an important and innovative feature of the New Partnership; 11. Recognizes the importance of establishing national focal points for the New Partnership within the governmental structures of African countries, with responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the New Partnership at the national level, serving as a repository of information, and fostering a coordinated response to the New Partnership by individual countries; 12. Emphasizes the need to build and strengthen human and institutional capacities at the national, subregional and regional levels in order effectively to implement the New Partnership in all its aspects, and the need to allocate resources to this end; 13. Encourages the further integration of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership into the programmes of the regional economic communities of Africa and other subregional and regional structures and organizations, as well as programmes in favour of the African least developed countries; 14. Also encourages efforts to raise awareness of the New Partnership and to involve all African stakeholders, namely Governments, the private sector and civil society, including women's organizations as well as community-based organizations, in the implementation of the New Partnership; 15. Welcomes the commitment of African countries to promote and enhance the role of African women in all aspects of the implementation of the New Partnership and in achieving the objectives thereof; IV Action by the international community 16. Urges the developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards achieving the target of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries, as internationally agreed, to implement effectively their commitment on official development assistance to the least developed countries, as contained in paragraph 83 of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Brussels on 20 May 2001,A/CONF.191/11. and to commit a significant share of such assistance to African countries; encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively in helping to achieve development goals and targets; and underlines the importance of undertaking an examination of the means and time frames for achieving the goals and targets; 17. Stresses the need to find a durable solution to the problem of external indebtedness of the heavily indebted poor countries in Africa, including through debt cancellation and other arrangements, and in this regard also stresses the need to explore innovative mechanisms to address comprehensively the debt problem of low and middle-income African countries, bearing in mind that external debt relief can release resources that could be utilized in the successful implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, taking into account initiatives that have been taken to reduce outstanding indebtedness and the need to pursue vigorously and expeditiously debt relief measures, including within the context of the Paris Club and London Club and other relevant forums; 18. Recognizes the essential role of trade as an engine for economic development in Africa, and in this regard calls for improved market access for African exports within the framework of the Doha Ministerial Declaration,A/C.2/56/7, annex. without prejudging the outcome of the negotiations of the World Trade Organization, and also within the framework of preferential agreements, and in this regard calls upon developed countries to assist African countries in improving their capacity, including by the removal of supply-side constraints and the promotion of diversification, which is critical to enabling them to take full advantage of such opportunities, taking into account the need to provide market access for developing countries; 19. Calls upon developed countries that have not yet done so to work towards the objective of duty-free and quota-free access for all exports of the least developed countries, as envisaged in the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010; 20. Also calls upon developed countries to encourage and facilitate investment by their private sectors in Africa, to help African countries to attract investments and promote policies conducive to attracting investment, to encourage and facilitate the transfer of the technology needed to African countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, and to assist in building human and institutional capacities for the implementation of the New Partnership consistent with its priorities and objectives; 21. Further calls upon developed countries to channel financial, technical and other types of resources towards the priorities of the New Partnership, in particular infrastructural development, health services, education, water and agriculture, in accordance with the priorities determined by each African country, and to explore ways of generating new public and private innovative sources of finance for development purposes, provided that those sources do not unduly burden developing countries, particularly in Africa, and in this regard notes the proposal for the use of special drawing rights allocations for development purposes; 22. Recognizes the importance of South-South cooperation and the contribution that it can make to the implementation of the New Partnership, encourages in this regard other partners to support this type of cooperation, including, as appropriate, through triangular cooperation, and considers that South-South cooperation should be viewed not as a substitute for, but rather as a complement to, the support provided by developed countries; 23. Calls upon the private sector and civil society outside Africa to participate in and contribute to the implementation of the New Partnership in all its aspects, including through effective partnerships between the public and private sectors; 24. Calls upon the United Nations system, within respective mandates, to align its activities in Africa with the priorities of the New Partnership, in accordance with the priorities determined by each African country, and urges the scaling up of resources for this purpose; 25. Also calls upon the United Nations system to enhance its advocacy role and public information activities in support of Africa's development; 26. Urges the United Nations system, in coordinating its activities at the national, regional and global levels, to foster a coherent response, including through close collaboration with bilateral donors in the implementation of the New Partnership in response to the needs of individual countries within the larger framework of the New Partnership; 27. Welcomes the actions already under way at the regional level to organize the activities of the United Nations system around thematic clusters covering the priority areas of the New Partnership, and in this regard urges the strengthening of this process as a means of enhancing the coordinated response of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership; 28. Calls upon the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to strengthen further their existing coordination and programming mechanisms, in particular the Common Country Assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, as a means of enhancing support to African countries in the implementation of the New Partnership and in support of national poverty reduction strategies and in particular, where appropriate, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers; 29. Urges the United Nations system to work closely with the African Union and other regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations to ensure the implementation of the programmes and priorities of the New Partnership; 30. Encourages the ongoing efforts of the United Nations system to enhance further the simplification and harmonization of its planning, programming, disbursement and reporting procedures at the national, subregional and regional levels so as to ease the burden on the limited capacities of African countries; 31. Requests the United Nations system to assist in the implementation of the New Partnership through the provision of continuing support for the efforts of African countries in human and institutional capacity-building at the national, subregional and regional levels and the mobilization of financial resources; 32. Requests the multilateral financial institutions to ensure that their support for Africa is compatible with the New Partnership; 33. Calls upon the United Nations system to strengthen its cooperation with the African Union and its Peace and Security Council and other African mechanisms in their efforts to resolve and prevent conflicts at the subregional and continental levels in order to ensure a solid basis for the implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard welcomes the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa of the Security Council and of an ad hoc advisory group on African countries emerging from conflict, within the framework of the Economic and Social Council; 34. Notes the decision of the Secretary-General to give to his Special Adviser on Africa the responsibility of coordinating and guiding the preparation of reports of the United Nations Secretariat related to Africa, and also notes the decision to transfer the resources of the Office of the Special Coordinator for Africa and the Least Developed Countries to the Adviser; 35. Underscores the need for a structure in the Secretariat in New York, at an appropriate level, which will review and report on support provided by the United Nations system and the international community for the New Partnership and on the coordinated implementation of outcomes of summit meetings and conferences as they relate to Africa, as well as coordinate global advocacy in support of the New Partnership, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to make proposals on the organization of such a structure within the framework of his proposals for the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 36. Invites the Economic and Social Council, pursuant to its role in respect of system-wide coordination, to consider how to support the objectives of the present resolution; 37. Decides to include a single, comprehensive item on the development of Africa, entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", in the annual agenda of the General Assembly, beginning at its fifty-eighth session, and encourages the efforts being made towards clustering the items related to Africa's development; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to submit the first consolidated report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the basis of input from Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and the other stakeholders in the New Partnership, such as the private sector and civil society. RESOLUTION 57/80 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Zambia. 57/80. The Conference on Disarmament decision (CD/1547) of 11 August 1998 to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 L of 16 December 1993, 53/77 I of 4 December 1998, 55/33 Y of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 J of 29 November 2001, Convinced that a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices would be a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Recalling the 1998 report of the Conference on Disarmament, in which, inter alia, the Conference records that, in proceeding to take a decision on this matter, that decision is without prejudice to any further decisions on the establishment of further subsidiary bodies under agenda item 1 and that intensive consultations will be pursued to seek the views of the members of the Conference on Disarmament on appropriate methods and approaches for dealing with agenda item 1, taking into consideration all proposals and views in that respect,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. 1. Recalls the decision of the Conference on DisarmamentSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee which shall negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; 2. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty. RESOLUTION 57/81 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/81. Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 52/38 G of 9 December 1997, 53/77 M of 4 December 1998, 54/54 H of 1 December 1999, 55/33 G of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 P of 29 November 2001, Convinced that a comprehensive and integrated approach towards certain practical disarmament measures often is a prerequisite to maintaining and consolidating peace and security and thus provides a basis for effective post-conflict peace-building, namely the rehabilitation and social and economic development in areas that have suffered from conflict; such measures are, inter alia, collection and responsible disposal, preferably through destruction, of weapons obtained through illicit trafficking or illicit manufacture as well as of weapons and ammunition declared by competent national authorities to be surplus to requirements, particularly with regard to small arms and light weapons, unless another form of disposition or use has been officially authorized and provided that such weapons have been duly marked and registered; confidence-building measures; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; demining; and conversion, Noting with satisfaction that the international community is more than ever aware of the importance of such practical disarmament measures, especially with regard to the growing problems arising from the excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons, which pose a threat to peace and security and reduce the prospects for economic development in many regions, particularly in post-conflict situations, Stressing that further efforts are needed in order to develop and effectively implement programmes of practical disarmament in affected areas as part of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration measures so as to complement, on a case-by-case basis, peacekeeping and peace-building efforts, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on prevention of armed conflict,A/55/985-S/2001/574 and Corr.1. which, inter alia, refers to the role which the proliferation and illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons play in the context of the build-up and sustaining of conflicts and proposes certain measures relating to those weapons that can help to prevent such conflicts, Taking note of the statement by the President of the Security Council of 31 August 2001S/PRST/2001/21; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. underlining the importance of practical disarmament measures in the context of armed conflicts, and, with regard to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, emphasizing the importance of measures to be taken to contain the security risks stemming from the use of illicit small arms and light weapons, Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms,A/54/258. and in particular the recommendations contained therein, as an important contribution to the consolidation of the peace process through practical disarmament measures, Taking into account the deliberations at the 2001 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission in Working Group II on agenda item 5, entitled "Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/56/42). and encouraging the Disarmament Commission to continue its efforts aimed at the identification of such measures, Welcoming the Programme of Action adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. which should be implemented expeditiously, 1. Stresses, in the context of the present resolution, the particular relevance of the "Guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace in the context of General Assembly resolution 51/45 N",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex III. adopted by the Disarmament Commission by consensus at its 1999 substantive session; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures, submitted pursuant to resolution 51/45 N,A/52/289. and once again encourages Member States, as well as regional arrangements and agencies, to lend their support to the implementation of recommendations contained therein; 3. Welcomes the activities undertaken by the group of interested States that was formed in New York in March 1998, and invites the group to continue to analyse lessons learned from previous disarmament and peace-building projects, as well as to promote new practical disarmament measures to consolidate peace, especially as undertaken or designed by affected States themselves; 4. Encourages Member States, including the group of interested States, to lend their support to the Secretary-General, relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations in responding to requests by Member States to collect and destroy small arms and light weapons in post-conflict situations; 5. Thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of resolution 56/24 P,A/57/210. taking into consideration the activities of the group of interested States in this regard; 6. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education;A/57/124. 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of practical disarmament measures, taking into consideration the activities of the group of interested States in this regard; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures". RESOLUTION 57/82 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Canada and Poland. 57/82. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 56/24 K of 29 November 2001, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that since the adoption of resolution 56/24 K, four additional States have ratified the Convention or acceded to it, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and forty-seven, 1. Emphasizes the necessity of universal adherence to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 2. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties; 3. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 4. Also stresses the vital importance of full and effective implementation of and compliance with all provisions of the Convention; 5. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 6. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 7. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 57/83 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Colombia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Nauru, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka and Tuvalu. 57/83. Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction The General Assembly, Recognizing the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evident in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and in particular by the fact that terrorists may seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, Acknowledging the consideration of issues relating to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,See A/57/335. Taking note of resolution GC(46)/RES/13, adopted on 20 September 2002 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-sixth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC (2002)). and the setting up of an Advisory Group on Security in the Agency to advise the Director General on the Agency's activities relating to nuclear security, Taking note also of the report of the Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism,A/57/273-S/2002/875, annex. Mindful of the urgent need for addressing this threat to humanity within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, Emphasizing that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism, 1. Calls upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Urges all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture, and invites them to inform the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, of the measures taken in this regard; 3. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and relevant regional and international organizations for strengthening national capacities in this regard; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a report on measures already taken by international organizations on issues relating to the linkage between the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to seek the views of Member States on additional relevant measures for tackling the global threat posed by terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". RESOLUTION 57/84 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bhutan, Cambodia, Cuba, Haiti, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Tuvalu and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 107 to 46, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 57/84. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the imperative need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to detargeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that reduction of tensions brought about by a change in nuclear doctrines would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling that in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear WeaponsA/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. it is stated that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 of the present resolution; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 56/24 C of 29 November 2001;A/57/401. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war,See A/56/400, para. 3. and also to continue to encourage Member States to endeavour to create conditions that would allow the emergence of an international consensus to hold an international conference as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". RESOLUTION 57/85 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 117 to 30, with 24 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia 57/85. Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999, 55/33 X of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 S of 29 November 2001, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear-arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Emphasizing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, adopted at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,Ibid., vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10:1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Noting the signing of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty"),See CD/1674. by the United States of America and the Russian Federation on 24 May 2002, following the demise of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. and urging them to take further steps under the Moscow Treaty as well as through bilateral arrangements or agreements and unilateral decisions towards the irreversible reduction of their nuclear arsenals, Stressing the importance of strengthening all existing nuclear-related disarmament, arms control and reduction measures, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference during its 2002 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Expressing its deep concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of the thirteen steps to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports, 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the note by the Secretary-General relating to the implementation of resolution 56/24 S, A/57/95 and Add.1 and 2. 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its fifty-eighth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 57/86 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/510, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Zambia. 57/86. Compliance with arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/30 of 9 December 1997 and other relevant resolutions on the question, Recognizing the abiding concern of all Member States for maintaining respect for rights and obligations arising from treaties to which they are parties and other sources of international law, Convinced that observance by Member States of the Charter of the United Nations, treaties to which they are parties and other sources of international law is important for the strengthening of international security, Mindful of the fundamental importance of full implementation and strict observance of agreements and other agreed obligations on arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation by States parties if individual nations and the international community are to derive enhanced security from them, Stressing that any violation of such agreements and other agreed obligations by States parties not only adversely affects the security of States parties but can also create security risks for other States relying on the constraints and commitments stipulated in those agreements and other agreed obligations, Stressing also that any weakening of confidence in such agreements and other agreed obligations diminishes their contribution to global or regional security and undermines their credibility and effectiveness, Recognizing, in this context, that full compliance by States parties with all provisions of existing agreements and the resolving of compliance concerns effectively by means consistent with such agreements and international law can, inter alia, contribute to better relations among States and the strengthening of world peace and stability, Believing that compliance with all provisions of arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements by States parties is a matter of interest and concern to all members of the international community, and noting the role the United Nations has played and should continue to play in that regard, Welcoming the contribution to international peace and regional security that full compliance by States parties with verification provisions of arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements provides, Also welcoming the universal recognition of the critical importance of the question of compliance with and verification of arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements, and other agreed obligations, Recognizing, in the light of the threat of international terrorism, that it is especially important that States parties comply with arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation obligations and commitments, 1. Urges all States parties to arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements to implement and comply with the entirety of all provisions of such agreements; 2. Calls upon all Member States to give serious consideration to the implications that non-compliance by States parties with any provisions of agreements in the fields of arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation has for international security and stability, as well as for the prospects for progress in those fields; 3. Calls upon Member States to support efforts aimed at the resolution of compliance questions by means consistent with such agreements and international law, with a view to encouraging strict observance by all States parties of the provisions of arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements and maintaining or restoring the integrity of such agreements; 4. Welcomes the role that the United Nations has played and continues to play in restoring the integrity of, and fostering negotiations on, certain arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements and in the removal of threats to peace; 5. Encourages efforts by all States parties to pursue additional areas of cooperation, as appropriate, that can increase confidence in compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements and reduce the possibility of misinterpretation and misunderstanding; 6. Notes the contribution that effective verification procedures for arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements frequently can make in enhancing confidence in the compliance with those agreements; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Compliance with arms limitation and disarmament and non-proliferation agreements". RESOLUTION 57/87 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 57/87. United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/25 C of 29 November 2001 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/57/162. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/57/260. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/57/116. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 146 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, the heads of State or Government welcomed the decision adopted by the General Assembly on maintaining and revitalizing the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security and that are aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the principles and purposes of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their activities and initiatives; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the activities of the regional branch of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/88 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Rwanda. 57/88. Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December 1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992, 48/76 A of 16 December 1993, 49/76 C of 15 December 1994, 50/71 B of 12 December 1995, 51/46 C of 10 December 1996, 52/39 B of 9 December 1997, 53/78 A of 4 December 1998, 54/55 A of 1 December 1999, 55/34 B of 20 November 2000 and 56/25 A of 29 November 2001, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recalling the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central Africa,A/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, Recalling the decision of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in favour of establishing, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on regional confidence-building measures, which deals with the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in the period since the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 56/25 A;A/57/161. 2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further peace, stability and sustainable development in the subregion; 3. Also reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held at Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 4. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing the programme of activities for the period 2001-2002, in particular by: (a) Holding a Subregional Conference on the Protection of Women and Children in Armed Conflict in Central Africa at Kinshasa from 14 to 16 November 2001; (b) Holding a meeting of Chiefs of Staff of the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee at Libreville from 18 to 20 March 2002; (c) Holding the seventeenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Kinshasa from 22 to 26 April 2002; (d) Holding the subregional consultation on the theme "Parity and development: participation of the Central African woman" at Douala from 28 to 30 May 2002; (e) Holding the eighteenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Bangui from 26 to 30 August 2002; 5. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 6. Welcomes the creation of a mechanism for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, to be known as the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa, by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States, held at Yaoundé on 25 February 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to give his full support to the effective realization of that important mechanism; 7. Emphasizes the need to make the early-warning mechanism in Central Africa operational so that it will serve, on the one hand, as an instrument for analysing and monitoring political situations in the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with a view to preventing the outbreak of future armed conflicts and, on the other hand, as a technical body through which the member States will carry out the programme of work of the Committee, adopted at its organizational meeting held at Yaoundé in 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to provide it with the assistance necessary for it to function properly; 8. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide their full assistance for the proper functioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the implementation and smooth functioning of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and the early-warning mechanism; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a network of parliamentarians with a view to the creation of a subregional parliament in Central Africa; 11. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to provide increased assistance to the countries of Central Africa for coping with the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories; 12. Thanks the Secretary-General for having established the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 13. Appeals to Member States and to governmental and non-governmental organizations to make additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the implementation of the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with assistance to ensure that they are able to carry on their efforts; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". RESOLUTION 57/89 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Trinidad and Tobago (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States). 57/89. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, 54/55 F of 1 December 1999, 55/34 E of 20 November 2000 and 56/25 E of 29 November 2001, Underlining the revitalization of the Regional Centre, the efforts made by the Government of Peru and other countries to that end, as well as the important work done by the Director of the Centre, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/116. which concludes that the Regional Centre has continued to act as an instrument for the implementation of regional initiatives and has intensified its contribution to the coordination of United Nations efforts towards peace and security, Noting that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Welcoming the ratification by the Government of Cuba of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Welcoming also the creation of the South American Zone of Peace and Cooperation, declared by the Presidents and Heads of State of South America, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on 27 July 2002,See A/57/232, annex. Bearing in mind the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Also bearing in mind the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources and cooperation for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction and congratulates the Regional Centre for the expansion of the vast range of activities carried out last year in the field of peace, disarmament and development, and requests the Regional Centre to take into account the proposals to be submitted by the countries of the region in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, transparency, disarmament and development at the regional level; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Invites all States of the region to continue to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its agenda, making greater and better use of the Centre's potential to meet the current challenges facing the international community and with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the fields of peace, disarmament and development; 5. Recognizes that the Regional Centre has an important role in the promotion and development of regional initiatives agreed upon by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as the relationship between disarmament and development; 6. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the relationship between disarmament and development,A/57/167 and Add.1. and supports the role that the Regional Centre plays in promoting those issues in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament; 7. Appeals to Member States, in particular the States of the Latin American and Caribbean region, and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and to foundations, to make and increase voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support, within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". RESOLUTION 57/8 Adopted at the 47th plenary meeting, on 11 November 2002, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.13/Rev.1, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 57/8. Open-ended Panel of the General Assembly on "Afghanistan: one year later" The General Assembly, Noting the important role played by the United Nations, including the Security Council, in the Afghan peace process, Noting also that the items entitled "Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan" and "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security" will be considered by the General Assembly on 6 December 2002, Convinced that an interactive dialogue on Afghanistan one year after the agreement reached among various groups in Bonn, Germany, would afford the international community an opportunity to take stock of the lessons learned in Afghanistan, as well as to enhance the discussions scheduled for 6 December 2002 in the General Assembly on Afghanistan, including on post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan and future United Nations activities in this regard, Welcoming innovative approaches in the ongoing effort to revitalize the work of the General Assembly, 1. Decides to convene, on 18 November 2002, an open-ended panel of the General Assembly on Afghanistan, which will have two consecutive sessions, from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 2. Also decides that the Open-ended Panel will have as its theme "Afghanistan: one year later"; 3. Further decides that the first session of the Open-ended Panel will focus on political issues and the second session on economic issues; 4. Decides that the Open-ended Panel will be chaired by the President of the General Assembly and will have, for each session, a maximum of four panellists, selected by the President in consultation with the Member States; 5. Also decides that the President of the General Assembly will present a summary of the discussions of the Open-ended Panel at the beginning of the debate in the Assembly on 6 December 2002 on the items dealing with Afghanistan. RESOLUTION 57/90 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines and South Africa. 57/90. United Nations Disarmament Information Programme The General Assembly, Recalling its decision taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, the second special session devoted to disarmament, by which the World Disarmament Campaign was launched,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolution 47/53 D of 9 December 1992, in which it decided, inter alia, that the World Disarmament Campaign should be known thereafter as the "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme" and the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust Fund as the "Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme", Recalling its resolutions 51/46 A of 10 December 1996, 53/78 E of 4 December 1998 and 55/34 A of 20 November 2000, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme,A/57/223 and Add.1. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme;A/57/223 and Add.1. 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to make effective use of the limited resources available to him in disseminating as widely as possible, including by electronic means, information on arms limitation and disarmament to Governments, the media, non-governmental organizations, educational communities and research institutes, and in carrying out a seminar and conference programme; 3. Stresses the importance of the Programme, as a significant instrument in enabling all Member States to participate fully in the deliberations and negotiations on disarmament in the various United Nations bodies, and in assisting them in complying with treaties, as required, and in contributing to agreed mechanisms for transparency; 4. Notes with appreciation the cooperation of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and its information centres in pursuit of the objectives of the Programme; 5. Recommends that the Programme focus its efforts: (a) To inform, to educate and to generate public understanding of the importance of multilateral action and support for it, including action by the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, in the field of arms limitation and disarmament, in a factual, balanced and objective manner, and, inter alia, to continue to publish in all official languages The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook and to report on the results of the survey of users, as well as to continue to produce ad hoc publications in print and electronic form; (b) To continue to maintain the Disarmament Internet web site, including frequent updates of the databases such as the Status of Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements and the disarmament-related Resolutions and Decisions of the General Assembly, as a part of the United Nations web site and to produce versions of the site in as many official languages as feasible; (c) To continue to intensify United Nations interaction with the public, principally non-governmental organizations and research institutes, to help further an informed debate on topical issues of arms limitation, disarmament and security; (d) To continue to organize discussions on topics of interest in the field of arms limitation and disarmament with a view to broadening understanding and facilitating an exchange of views and information among Member States and civil society; 6. Invites all Member States to make contributions to the Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme with a view to sustaining a strong outreach programme; 7. Takes note of the recommendations made in the study on disarmament and non-proliferation education submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh sessionSee A/57/124, sect. VIII. and commends to the attention of the Secretary-General for implementation those recommendations relating to the United Nations, without cost to the regular budget of the Organization, and invites him to continue his support and cooperation with universities, other academic institutions and non-governmental organizations active in the education field in widening the worldwide availability of disarmament and non-proliferation education; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report covering both the implementation of the activities of the Programme by the United Nations system during the previous two years and the activities of the Programme contemplated by the system for the following two years; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme". RESOLUTION 57/91 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 57/91. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998, 54/55 B of 1 December 1999, 55/34 D of 20 November 2000 and 56/25 D of 29 November 2001, Aware of the widespread support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre and the important role that the Centre can play in the present context in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Taking into account also the note by the Secretary-General containing the recommendations made by the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat related to the programme management and administrative practices in the Department for Disarmament Affairs, in particular those recommendations concerning the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament in Africa, in Latin America and the Caribbean, and in Asia and the Pacific,A/56/817. Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken in the framework of the revitalization of the activities of the Regional Centre for the mobilization of the resources necessary for its operational costs, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the African Union, in conformity with the decision adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec.138 (XXXV). On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. Welcoming the adoption by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001, of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. and emphasizing the need for the appropriate implementation of the Programme of Action by all States, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/162. and commends the activities which the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa is continuing to carry out, in particular in support of the efforts made by the African States in the areas of peace and security; 2. Reaffirms its strong support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre, and emphasizes the need to provide it with the necessary resources to enable it to strengthen its activities and carry out its programmes; 3. Appeals once again to all States, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate the establishment of close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the African Union, in particular in the area of peace, security and development, and to continue to assist the Director of the Regional Centre in his efforts to stabilize the financial situation of the Centre and revitalize its activities; 6. Appeals in particular to the Regional Centre, in cooperation with the African Union, regional and subregional organizations and the African States, to take steps to promote the consistent implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". RESOLUTION 57/92 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. 57/92. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/260. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre could be a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation for peace and disarmament in the region, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as the "Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of the eighth Kanazawa symposium on north-east Asia, on the theme "Security outlook in north-east Asia and new agenda for the Kanazawa process", held at Kanazawa, Japan, from 4 to 6 June 2002, and the Fifth United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues, on the theme "The challenge of terrorism for international security and disarmament: global and regional impact", held at Kyoto, Japan, from 7 to 9 August 2002, Welcoming the idea of the possible creation of an educational and training programme for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for young people with different backgrounds, to be financed from voluntary contributions, Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, including its assistance in the work related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, as well as to Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status, including the organization of a United Nations-sponsored non-governmental expert group meeting on the theme "Ways and means of strengthening Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status", held at Sapporo, Japan, on 5 and 6 September 2001, Appreciating highly the overall support that Nepal has extended as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and voluntary financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Urges the Secretary-General to ensure the physical operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu within six months of the date of signature of the host country agreement and to enable the Centre to function effectively; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTION 57/93 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 57/93. United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/168. Recalling its decision, contained in paragraph 108 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, to establish a programme of fellowships on disarmament, as well as its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. the second special session devoted to disarmament, in which it decided, inter alia, to continue the programme, Noting that the programme continues to contribute significantly to developing greater awareness of the importance and benefits of disarmament and better understanding of the concerns of the international community in the field of disarmament and security, as well as to enhancing the knowledge and skills of fellows, allowing them to participate more effectively in efforts in the field of disarmament at all levels, Noting with satisfaction that the programme has trained a large number of officials from Member States throughout its twenty-four years of existence, many of whom hold positions of responsibility in the field of disarmament within their own Governments, Recognizing the need for Member States to take into account gender equality when nominating candidates to the programme, Recalling all the annual resolutions on the matter since the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly, in 1982, including resolution 50/71 A of 12 December 1995, Believing that the forms of assistance available to Member States, in particular to developing countries, under the programme will enhance the capabilities of their officials to follow ongoing deliberations and negotiations on disarmament, both bilateral and multilateral, 1. Reaffirms its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General AssemblyOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. and the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/33/305. approved by the Assembly in its resolution 33/71 E of 14 December 1978; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Government of Germany for hosting the participants of the programme since 1980 and to the Government of Japan on the occasion of its twentieth annual study visit for the fellows, which includes events in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and to the Government of the United States of America for having organized in 2001 a specific study programme in the field of disarmament, thereby contributing to the fulfilment of the overall objectives of the programme; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the Monterey Institute of International Studies for having organized specific study programmes in the field of disarmament in their respective areas of competence, thereby contributing to the objectives of the programme; 4. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with which the programme has continued to be carried out; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement annually the Geneva-based programme within existing resources and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services". RESOLUTION 57/94 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/511, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, , Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Tuvalu, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 110 to 45, with 12 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 57/94. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that, in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2002 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 56/25 B of 29 November 2001, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. RESOLUTION 57/95 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/512, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Belarus, Czech Republic, Ghana, Italy, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Nepal. 57/95. Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/57/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, 55/35 C of 20 November 2000 and 56/26 A of 29 November 2001, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, Bearing in mind its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/57/42). 2. Reaffirms the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 3. Also reaffirms the role of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 4. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items of its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission"; A/CN.10/137. 5. Recommends that the Disarmament Commission continue the consideration of the following items at its 2003 substantive session: (a) Ways and means to achieve nuclear disarmament; (b) Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2003, namely from 31 March to 17 April, and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/57/27). together with all the official records of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". RESOLUTION 57/96 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/512, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Hungary. 57/96. Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/57/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete issues for negotiation, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Urges the Conference to fulfil that role in the light of the evolving international situation, with a view to making early substantive progress on priority items on its agenda; 3. Welcomes the strong collective interest of the Conference in commencing substantive work as soon as possible during its 2003 session; 4. Also welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its current President and the incoming President to conduct appropriate consultations during the intersessional period and, if possible, make recommendations, taking into account all existing proposals and views presented and discussions held in the 2002 session to achieve this goal, as expressed in paragraph 43 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/57/27). 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 6. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 57/97 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/513, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the League of Arab States). by a recorded vote of 158 to 3, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago 57/97. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(46)/RES/16, adopted on 20 September 2002,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC(2002)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article IX". Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and sixty-six States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 57/98 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/514, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. 57/98. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/28 of 29 November 2001 and previous resolutions referring to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. Recalling with satisfaction the adoption, on 10 October 1980, of the Convention, together with the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. which entered into force on 2 December 1983, Also recalling with satisfaction the adoption by the First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, on 13 October 1995 of the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex A. and on 3 May 1996 of the amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II),Ibid., annex B. which entered into force on 30 July 1998 and 3 December 1998 respectively, Welcoming the results of the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and commending the efforts of the President of the Conference, Recalling with satisfaction the decision by the Second Review Conference, on 21 December 2001, to extend the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Recalling the decision by the Second Review Conference to commission follow-up work under the oversight of the Chairman-designate of a meeting of States parties to the Convention to be held on 12 and 13 December 2002 at Geneva in conjunction with the Fourth Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II, and in this context the decision to establish an open-ended group of governmental experts with two separate coordinators on explosive remnants of war and on mines other than anti-personnel mines,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Welcoming the additional ratifications and acceptances of or accessions to the Convention and to amended Protocol II and Protocol IV, as well as accessions to the amendment of article I of the Convention, adopted in 2001,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Recalling the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, Noting that the rules of procedure of the First Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II provide for the invitation of States not parties to the Protocol, the International Committee of the Red Cross and interested non-governmental organizations to take part in the Conference, Welcoming the particular efforts of various international, non-governmental and other organizations in raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of explosive remnants of war, Welcoming also the results of the Third Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II, held at Geneva on 10 December 2001,See CCW/AP.II/CONF.3/4 and Corr.1 and 2, part I. 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocols thereto, as amended, as well as the amendment of article I extending the scope of the Convention,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to these instruments at an early date, and calls upon successor States to take appropriate measures so that ultimately adherence to these instruments will be universal; 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention; 3. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to notify the depositary at an early date of their consent to be bound by the amendment extending the scope of the Convention and the Protocols annexed thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character;See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. 4. Notes the mandate of the Second Review Conference for the establishment of a group of governmental experts with two separate coordinators to discuss ways and means to address the issue of explosive remnants of war and to explore further the issue of mines other than anti-personnel mines, respectively; 5. Also notes the decision by the Second Review Conference that the Chairman-designate shall undertake consultations on possible options to promote compliance with the Convention and the Protocols annexed thereto, as well as the decision to invite interested States parties to convene experts to discuss issues related to small-calibre weapons and ammunition; 6. Expresses support for the work conducted by the Group of Governmental Experts, and encourages the Chairman-designate and the Group to conduct work expeditiously with a view to submitting recommendations on explosive remnants of war to States parties for consideration at the earliest possible date, including on whether to proceed with negotiating a legally binding instrument or instruments on explosive remnants of war and/or other approaches, and with a view to submitting to the States parties reports on mines other than anti-personnel mines and on compliance; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to be held on 12 and 13 December 2002, as well as for any possible continuation of work after the Meeting, should the States parties deem it appropriate; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects". RESOLUTION 57/99 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2002, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/57/515, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia. 57/99. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 56/29 of 29 November 2001, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/57/91. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region, and recognizes the role of the United Nations in promoting regional and international peace and security; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Call upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 57/9 Adopted at the 47th plenary meeting, on 11 November 2002, by a recorded vote of 138 to 1, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/57/L.14 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Abstaining: Angola, Viet Nam 57/9. Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency The General Assembly, Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2001,International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2001 (Austria, July 2002) (GC(46)/2); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/57/278). Taking note of the statement of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Plenary Meetings, 46th meeting (A/57/PV.46), and corrigendum. in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 2002, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency in promoting the further application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes as envisaged in the statute of the Agency and in accordance with the inalienable right of States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and other relevant internationally legally binding agreements that have concluded relevant safeguards agreements with the Agency to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with articles I and II and other relevant articles of the Treaty, and with the objectives and purposes thereof, Conscious of the importance of the safeguards system of the Agency and of the importance of the work of the Agency in the implementation of the safeguards provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and other international treaties, conventions and agreements designed to achieve similar objectives, as well as in ensuring, as far as it is able, that the assistance provided by the Agency or at its request or under its supervision or control is not used in such a way as to further any military purpose, as stated in article II of its statute, Reaffirming that the Agency is the competent authority responsible for verifying and assuring, in accordance with the statute and the safeguards system of the Agency, compliance with its safeguards agreements with States parties undertaken in fulfilment of their obligations under article III, paragraph 1, of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, and also reaffirming that nothing should be done to undermine the authority of the Agency in this regard and that States parties that have concerns regarding non-compliance with the safeguards agreement of the Treaty by the States parties should direct such concerns, along with supporting evidence and information, to the Agency to consider, investigate, draw conclusions and decide on necessary actions in accordance with its mandate, Stressing the need for the highest standards of safety in the design and operation of nuclear installations and in peaceful nuclear activities so as to minimize risks to life, health and the environment, and recognizing that a good safety record relies on good technology, good regulatory practices and well-qualified and trained staff, as well as international cooperation, Noting that a demonstrated global record of safety is a key element for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and that continuous efforts are necessary to ensure that the human and technical elements of safety are maintained at the optimal level, and also noting that, although safety is a national responsibility, international cooperation on safety-related matters is indispensable, Considering that an expansion of technical cooperation activities relating to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy will contribute to the well-being of the peoples of the world, recognizing the special needs of the developing countries for technical assistance from the Agency and the importance of funding in order to benefit effectively from the transfer and application of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes as well as from the contribution of nuclear energy to their economic development, and desiring that the resources of the Agency for technical cooperation activities be assured, predictable and sufficient to meet the objectives mandated in article II of its statute, Conscious that the work done by the Agency in the field of nuclear sciences and applications in the non-power sector contributes to sustainable development, especially with programmes aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and food security, improving human health, increasing the availability of drinking water supplies and protecting the terrestrial and marine environment, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency on nuclear power, the fuel cycle and nuclear science, nuclear techniques for development and environmental protection and nuclear safety and protection against radiation, including its work directed towards assisting developing countries in all these fields, Welcoming the convening of the fifth Scientific Forum, during the forty-sixth regular session of the General Conference of the Agency, on nuclear power - life cycle management; managing nuclear knowledge; and nuclear security, Taking note of the report of the Director General to the General Conference of the Agency on the implementation of Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq,GC(46)/13. of his report to the Security Council of 10 April 2002,See S/2002/367. and of resolution GC(46)/RES/15 of 20 September 2002 of the General Conference,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC/(2002)). noting with increasing concern that three and a half years have passed since the Agency has been able to implement its mandate in Iraq, and that the longer the suspension of Security Council resolution-related inspections in Iraq lasts, the more difficult it will be to re-establish a level of knowledge of the status of Iraq's nuclear-related assets comparable to that achieved at the end of 1998, and also noting the announced decision of the Government of Iraq to let the weapons inspectors return to Iraq without conditions, Taking note also of resolution GC(46)/RES/14 in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/403. noting with serious concern both the lack of tangible progress reflected in the report of the Director GeneralGC(46)/16. and the fact that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has still not allowed the Agency to implement the comprehensive safeguards agreement, noting ongoing political developments in north-east Asia, and expressing the hope that they may contribute to progress towards full implementation of the relevant agreements, Taking note further of resolutions GC(46)/RES/9A on measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and waste safety, GC(46)/RES/9B on transport safety, GC(46)/RES/9C on education and training, GC(46)/RES/9D on the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, GC(46)/RES/10 on strengthening of the technical cooperation activities of the Agency, GC(46)/RES/11A on strengthening activities of the Agency related to nuclear science, technology and applications, GC(46)/RES/11B on nuclear knowledge, GC(46)/RES/11C on activities of the Agency in the development of innovative nuclear technology, GC(46)/RES/11D on support to the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign, GC(46)/RES/12 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and the application of the Model Additional Protocol, GC(46)/RES/13 on nuclear security - progress on measures to protect against nuclear terrorism and GC(46)/RES/16 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East, adopted on 20 September 2002 by the General Conference of the Agency at its forty-sixth regular session, Recalling resolution GC(43)/RES/19 on the amendment to article VI of the statute and the statement by the President of the forty-third regular session of the General Conference of the Agency with respect to article VI, adopted on 1 October 1999 by the General Conference, Taking note of the statement by the President of the forty-sixth regular session of the General Conference of the Agency, which was endorsed by the General Conference at its ninth plenary meeting and issued under the item concerning Israeli nuclear capabilities and threat, that: "The General Conference recalls the statement by the President of the thirty-sixth session in 1992 concerning the item entitled 'Israeli nuclear capabilities and threat'. That statement considered it desirable not to consider that item at the thirty-seventh session. The General Conference also recalls the statement by the President of the forty-third session, in 1999, concerning the same agenda item. At the forty-fourth, forty-fifth and forty-sixth sessions, the item was, at the request of certain member States, included again in the agenda. The item was discussed. The President notes that certain member States intend to include the item in the provisional agenda of the forty-seventh regular session of the General Conference", 1. Takes note of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2001 (Austria, July 2002) (GC(46)/2); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/57/278). 2. Affirms its confidence in the role of the Agency in the application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; 3. Encourages all States members of the Agency that have not yet done so to ratify the amendment to article VI of the statute of the Agency, recalling the adoption by the General Conference of the Agency of resolution GC(43)/RES/19 on the amendment to article VI of the statute and the accompanying statement by the President of the forty-third regular session of the General Conference; 4. Also encourages all States members of the Agency that have not yet done so to ratify the amendment of article XIV.A of the statute of the Agency, recalling the adoption by the General Conference of the Agency of resolution GC(43)/RES/8 on the amendment of article XIV.A of the statute, which will provide for biennial budgeting by the Agency; 5. Consistent with the respective safeguards undertakings of member States and bearing in mind the importance of achieving the universal application of the safeguards system of the Agency, urges all States which have yet to bring into force comprehensive safeguards agreements to do so as soon as possible, affirms that measures to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the efficiency of the safeguards system with a view to detecting undeclared nuclear material and activities must be implemented rapidly and universally by all concerned States and other parties in compliance with their respective international commitments, stresses the importance of the safeguards system of the Agency, including comprehensive safeguards agreements and also the Model Additional Protocol, which are among the essential elements of the system, requests all concerned States and other parties to safeguards agreements which have not yet done so promptly to sign additional protocols, requests the States and other parties to safeguards agreements having signed additional protocols to take the necessary measures to bring them into force as soon as their national legislation allows, noting the plan of action outlined in resolution GC(44)/RES/19, encourages the secretariat of the Agency and those member States implementing elements of the plan of action to continue their efforts in that regard, as appropriate and subject to the availability of resources, and to review the progress made in this regard, and recommends that other member States consider implementing elements of the plan of action, as appropriate, with the aim of facilitating the entry into force of comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols, welcomes the completion by the Agency of the conceptual framework for integrated safeguards laid down in document GOV/2002/8, and requests the secretariat to implement integrated safeguards on a priority basis in an effective and cost-efficient manner, recognizing that elements of the conceptual framework will be further developed or refined in the light of experience, further evaluation and technological development; 6. Urges all States to strive for effective and harmonious international cooperation in carrying out the work of the Agency, pursuant to its statute, in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the application of the necessary measures to strengthen further the safety of nuclear installations and to minimize risks to life, health and the environment, in strengthening technical assistance and cooperation for developing countries and in ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards system of the Agency; 7. Recalls resolution GC(46)/RES/11C on the activities of the Agency in the development of innovative nuclear technology, emphasizes the unique role that the Agency can play in developing user requirements and in addressing safeguards, safety and environmental questions for innovative reactors and their fuel cycles, emphasizes the need for appropriate extrabudgetary funding and resources for the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles, and stresses the need for international collaboration in the development of innovative nuclear technology; 8. Stresses the need, in conformity with the statute of the Agency, to continue to pursue activities in the areas of nuclear science, technology and applications for meeting the basic sustainable development needs of member States, and also stresses the need to strengthen technical cooperation activities, including the provision of sufficient resources, and to enhance continually the effectiveness and efficiency of the programmes; 9. Recalls resolution GC(46)/RES/10 on the strengthening of the technical cooperation activities of the Agency, welcomes the measures and decisions taken by the Agency to strengthen and fund its technical cooperation activities, which should contribute to achieving sustainable development in developing countries, and calls upon States to cooperate in contributing to and in implementing the measures and decisions pursuant thereto; 10. Reaffirms the importance of all the measures contained in resolution GC(46)/RES/16 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East, and calls upon all States in the region to implement all the provisions contained therein, including the application of full-scope Agency safeguards to all their nuclear activities, adherence to international non-proliferation regimes and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region; 11. Commends the Director General and the secretariat of the Agency for their continuing, impartial efforts to implement the safeguards agreement still in force between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, recognizes the important role of the Agency in monitoring the freeze of nuclear facilities in that country, as requested by the Security Council, notes with growing concern that, although the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. the Agency continues to be unable to verify the accuracy and completeness of the initial declaration of nuclear material it made and is therefore unable to conclude that there has been no diversion of nuclear material in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, reiterates its deep concern about the continuing non-compliance of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with the safeguards agreement between that country and the Agency, again urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to comply fully and promptly with its safeguards agreement, inter alia, by taking all steps the Agency deems necessary to preserve all information relevant to verifying the accuracy and completeness of its initial declaration, strongly encourages the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to respond positively and without further delay to the detailed proposal of the Agency of May 2001 for the first concrete steps needed for verification of the accuracy and completeness of its initial declaration, and calls upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to begin promptly full cooperation with the Agency for the verification of the accuracy and completeness of its initial declaration, in view of the considerations contained in paragraph 6 of the report of the Director GeneralGC(46)/16. and the independent technical judgement, stated since 1999 by the Director General, that the work required would take three to four years, assuming full cooperation by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; 12. Also commends the Director General of the Agency and his staff for their strenuous efforts to implement all the relevant Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq, calls upon Iraq to implement in full and without further delay all relevant Security Council resolutions, and in this regard to cooperate fully with the Agency and to provide immediate, unconditional, and unrestricted access to enable it to carry out its mandate, and stresses that, upon its return to Iraq, the Agency must resolve the key issue of whether Iraq's nuclear activities and capabilities have changed since December 1998; 13. Welcomes the entry into force on 24 October 1996 of the Convention on Nuclear Safety,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/449. appeals to all States, particularly those operating, constructing, or planning nuclear power reactors, which have not yet taken the necessary steps to become parties to the Convention to do so, and notes with satisfaction the report of the second Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention, particularly the conclusion that significant progress had been made since the first review meeting in the areas of legislation, regulatory independence, financial resources for regulators and operators, implementation of safety improvements in installations built to earlier standards, and emergency preparedness; 14. Notes with satisfaction that the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementInternational Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/546. entered into force on 18 June 2001, and appeals to all States which have not yet taken the necessary steps to become parties to it to do so in time to attend the first review meeting of the contracting parties due to be held in November 2003; 15. Recalls resolution GC(46)/RES/9B on transport safety, urges States to participate in the 2003 International Conference on the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, with a view to addressing in a comprehensive way and following up as necessary all issues contained in the agreed conference programme, recalls maritime, river and air navigation rights and freedoms, as provided for in international law and as reflected in relevant international instruments, recalls that, under international law, States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment, urges States to ensure that their national regulatory documents governing the transport of radioactive materials are in conformity with the latest edition of Agency transport regulations, encourages member States to avail themselves of the Transport Safety Appraisal Service, with a view to achieving the highest levels of safety during the transport of radioactive materials, welcomes the practice of some shipping States and operators of providing in a timely manner information and responses to relevant coastal States in advance of shipments for the purpose of addressing concerns regarding safety and security, including emergency preparedness, and invites others to do so, in order to improve mutual understanding and confidence regarding shipments of radioactive materials, noting that the information and responses provided should in no case be contradictory to the measures of physical protection and safety, emphasizes the importance of maintaining dialogue and consultation aimed at improving mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials, stresses the importance of having effective liability mechanisms in place to ensure against harm to human health and the environment, as well as actual economic loss due to an accident or incident during the maritime transport of radioactive materials, and stresses the importance of wide adherence to the international nuclear liability regime established by the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1063, No. 16197. as amended in 1997, and related treaties; 16. Also recalls resolution GC(46)/RES/13 on nuclear security - progress on measures to protect against nuclear terrorism, commends the Director General and the secretariat for their prompt and constructive response to the requests made in resolution GC(45)/RES/14 relevant to the improvement of nuclear security (including the security of radioactive materials) and protection against nuclear terrorism, and in this context decides to bear in mind, in its continued drafting of an international convention on the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, those activities of the Agency, notes the arrangements implemented to provide funding for the Nuclear Security Fund through voluntary contributions, and calls upon all member States to continue to provide political, financial and technical support, including in-kind contributions, to improve nuclear security and prevent nuclear terrorism and to provide to the Nuclear Security Fund the political and financial support it needs, urges member States to strengthen their national efforts to secure all radioactive sources within their borders, invites member States to take note of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and to consider means of ensuring its wide application, invites all States to participate in the Illicit Trafficking Database Programme on a voluntary basis, welcomes the decision of the Director General to convene and maintain an Advisory Group on Security, appeals to States that have not yet done so to accede to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,Ibid., vol. 1456, No. 24631. but notes with concern the lack of progress made on the work of the open-ended group of legal and technical experts convened by the Director General in order to prepare a draft of a well-defined amendment aimed at strengthening the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, calls for the early finalization of the negotiations on such an amendment, and takes note of the steps taken by the secretariat of the Agency to ensure confidentiality of information relevant to nuclear security; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency. RESOLUTION 58/100 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/473 and Corr.1, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 163 to 1, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Rwanda, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America 58/100. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,See A/58/311. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the last of which was resolution 57/128 of 11 December 2002, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 57/128,A/58/264. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening at Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 58/101 A and B 58/101. Questions relating to information Resolution A Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/475, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Committee on Information. A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/58/21). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/58/175. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of CommunicationSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September to 28 October 1980, vol. I: Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media. Resolution B Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/475, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Committee on Information. and as orally revised B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Reiterating its decision to consolidate the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Concurring with the view of the Secretary-General that the fundamental premise underlying the reorientation efforts of the Department of Public Information remains General Assembly resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, establishing the Department, which states in paragraph 2 of annex I that "the activities of the Department should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world", Concurring also with the view of the Secretary-General that the contents of public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations and that a culture of communications should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create broad-based global support for the United Nations, Stressing that the primary mission of the Department of Public Information is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive and timely information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, Noting that the comprehensive review of the work of the Department of Public Information, requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, and the implementation of its first phase, described in the report of the Secretary-General on reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fourth session,A/AC.198/2002/2. as well as the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change",A/57/387 and Corr.1. and its resolution 57/300 of 20 December 2002, as they apply to the Department of Public Information, provide an opportunity to take further steps to rationalize the work of the Department in order to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness, and to maximize the use of its resources, Expressing its concern that the gap in the information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that vast segments of the population in developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and technology revolution, and, in this regard, underlining the necessity of rectifying the imbalances of the global information and technology revolution in order to make it more just, equitable and effective, Recognizing that developments in the information and communication technology revolution open vast new opportunities for economic growth and social development and can play an important role in the eradication of poverty in developing countries, and, at the same time, emphasizing that it also poses challenges and risks and could lead to the further widening of disparities between and within countries, Recalling its resolution 56/262 of 15 February 2002 on multilingualism, and emphasizing the importance of making appropriate use of the official languages of the United Nations in the activities of the Department of Public Information, aiming to eliminate the disparity between the use of English and the other five official languages, Welcoming Saudi Arabia to membership in the Committee on Information, I Introduction 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I), in which it established the Department of Public Information, and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions related to the activities of the Department; 2. Calls upon the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of its resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the General Assembly; 3. Emphasizes the importance of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 6 and corrigendum (A/57/6/Rev.1 and Corr.1). as a guideline that sets out the overall orientation of the public information programme for the Organization's goals through effective communication; 4. Reaffirms that the United Nations remains the indispensable foundation of a peaceful and just world and that its voice must be heard in a clear and effective manner, and emphasizes the essential role of the Department of Public Information in this context; 5. Welcomes the proposals of the Secretary-General to improve the effective and targeted delivery of public information activities, including the restructuring of the Department of Public Information, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 6. Reaffirms the central role of the Committee on Information in United Nations public information policies and activities, including the restructuring process of the Department of Public Information, and the prioritization of its activities, and welcomes the continued constructive interaction between the Department and the members of the Committee; 7. Calls upon Member States to ensure, to the extent possible, that recommendations relating to the programme of the Department of Public Information originate and are considered in the Committee on Information; 8. Requests the Department of Public Information, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly in the medium-term plan and using the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. as its guide, to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the needs of the African continent; 9. Also requests the Department of Public Information to pay attention to all major issues addressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals in carrying out its activities; 10. Concurs with the Secretary-General on the need to enhance the technological infrastructure of the Department of Public Information in order to widen its outreach and improve the United Nations web site; 11. Recognizes the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues, and encourages a continued collaboration between the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of culture and in the fields of education and communication; II General activities of the Department of Public Information 12. Welcomes the steps taken towards the restructuring of the Department of Public Information, as described in the report of the Secretary-General on the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications,A/AC.198/2003/2. and encourages the Secretary-General to continue the reorientation exercise and efforts to improve the efficiency and productivity of the Department, including wide-ranging and possibly new innovative proposals, taking into account broad principles and directions contained in the present resolution, and to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session; 13. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the focal point for information policies of the United Nations and the primary news centre for information about the United Nations, its activities and those of the Secretary-General, and encourages a closer integration of functions between the Department and those offices providing spokesman services for the Secretary-General; 14. Welcomes the progress achieved since the commencement of the reorientation exercise in enhancing the performance and effectiveness of the Department of Public Information in accordance with the mandates established by the General Assembly and the recommendations of the Committee on Information, also welcomes, in this regard, its decision to implement an annual programme impact review, making self-evaluation a part of the daily work of all programme managers with a view to institutionalizing performance management, and requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report on the Department's annual programme impact review to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, in the context of the reorientation process, to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations web site and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 16. Reiterates that all printed materials of the Department of Public Information, in accordance with existing mandates, should not duplicate other publications of the United Nations system and should be produced in a cost-effective manner; 17. Welcomes the efforts of the Department of Public Information to reconstitute the Publications Board, in accordance with existing legislative mandates; 18. Urges the Department of Public Information to continue to exhibit transparency to the greatest extent possible, so as to increase awareness of the impact of its programmes and activities; 19. Emphasizes that, through its reorientation, the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, including countries in transition, and that such reorientation contributes to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 20. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the coordination between the Department of Public Information and other departments of the Secretariat, including the designation of focal points to work with substantive departments to identify target audiences and develop information programmes and media strategies for priority issues, and emphasizes that public information capacities and activities in other departments should function under the guidance of the Department; 21. Welcomes the initiatives that have been taken by the Department of Public Information to strengthen the public information system of the United Nations, and, in this regard, stresses the importance of a coherent and results-oriented approach being taken by the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the programmes and funds of the United Nations system involved in public information activities as well as the provision of resources for their implementation, and that feedback from Member States on the relevance and effectiveness of its programme delivery should be taken into account; 22. Also welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Communications Group in 2002,A/AC.198/2003/6. commends the Department of Public Information on its active and constructive participation in the Group, in particular its efforts to promote inter-agency coordination in the field of public information, encourages the Department to continue to play a key role in the newly established Group, takes note of the efforts being undertaken by the Group to develop further several key initiatives, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at successive sessions on the activities of the Group; 23. Appreciates the continued efforts of the Department of Public Information in issuing daily press releases, and requests the Department to continue providing this invaluable service to both Member States and representatives of the media, while considering possible means of improving their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States and the fact that other departments may be providing similar or overlapping services in this regard; 24. Acknowledges the mission statement proposed in the report of the Secretary-General,A/AC.198/2003/2, para. 11. which is intended to include all activities of the Department, and which reads as follows: "The Department of Public Information's mission is to help fulfil the substantive purposes of the United Nations by strategically communicating the activities and concerns of the Organization to achieve the greatest public impact"; 25. Welcomes the new operating model of the Department of Public Information as described in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/AC.198/2003/2. which, inter alia, recognizes that content generation emanates from the other departments and offices of the Secretariat and organizations of the United Nations system, while content coordination and refinement as well as content presentation and distribution are the responsibility of the Department, working in close cooperation with the media, Member States and civil society partners; 26. Requests that during the deliberations on the item entitled "Questions relating to information" in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) during the successive regular sessions of the General Assembly, an informal interaction between the Secretariat and members of the Committee should take place after the presentation by the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information on the substance of that oral briefing, within existing resources; Multilingualism and public information 27. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to enhance multilingualism in its activities and encourages the Department to continue its endeavours in this regard; 28. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all activities of the Department of Public Information, and stresses the importance of fully implementing its resolution 52/214 of 22 December 1997, in section C of which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents in all six official languages, and information materials of the United Nations, are made available daily through the United Nations web site and are accessible to Member States without delay; 29. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department of Public Information has appropriate staffing capacity in all official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities; 30. Reminds the Secretary-General of the need to include in future programme budget proposals for the Department of Public Information the importance of using all six official languages in its activities; Bridging the digital divide 31. Recalls the decision, endorsed in its resolution 56/183 of 21 December 2001, to convene the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva in December 2003 and in Tunis in 2005, welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Department of Public Information for this Summit, encourages States, relevant United Nations bodies and entities, other intergovernmental institutions and civil society to continue to actively participate in this process, and reaffirms the importance of the active involvement and support of the Department in raising global awareness of the Summit and its main objectives; 32. Commends the Secretary-General for the establishment of the United Nations Information Technology Service, the Health InterNetwork and the Information and Communications Technology Task Force with a view to bridging the digital divide and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, welcomes the contribution of the Department of Public Information in publicizing the efforts of the Secretary-General to close the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, and, in this context, requests the Department to further enhance its role; III New programmatic priorities for the Department of Public Information 33. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on programmatic aspects of the proposed programme budget for 2004-2005 for the Department of Public Information,A/AC.198/2003/3. and welcomes the new subprogramme structure that includes: strategic communications services, news services, library services and outreach services; 34. Acknowledges that the Department of Public Information, with the assistance of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat, is currently in the process of formulating methodologies and conducting a systematic evaluation of the impact, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the activities of the Department over a three-year period, as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/300, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the progress made to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session; 35. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information must prioritize its work programme while respecting existing mandates and in line with rule 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, to focus its message and concentrate its efforts better and, as a function of performance management, to match its programmes with the needs of its target audiences, on the basis of improved feedback and evaluation mechanisms; 36. Underlines the need for the proposed indicators of achievement and expected accomplishments, which for the first time form part of the programme budget, to be clearly defined, measurable and able to contribute to a meaningful evaluation of activities; United Nations information centres 37. Stresses that the United Nations information centres and information components or regional hubs, as applicable, should play a significant role in disseminating information about the work of the Organization to the peoples of the world, including in the areas outlined in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, and emphasizes that the information centres, or regional hubs, as applicable, as the "field voice" of the Department of Public Information, should promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in the local languages has the strongest impact on the local populations; 38. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the review of the structure and operations of United Nations information centres,A/57/747. and requests the Secretary-General to submit further detailed information to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session; 39. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to United Nations information centres with a view to possibly transferring resources from information centres in developed countries to United Nations information activities in developing countries, emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries, and to any other activities of high priority, such as multilingualism on the United Nations web site and evaluation of services, in consultation with concerned Member States; 40. Reaffirms paragraph 15 of its resolution 57/300, in which it took note of the proposal of the Secretary-General contained in action 8 of his report,A/57/387 and Corr.1. to rationalize the network of United Nations information centres around regional hubs, where appropriate, in consultation with concerned Member States, starting with the creation of a Western European hub, followed by a similar approach in other high-cost developed countries, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a progress report on the implementation of the proposal with the objective of applying this initiative in other regions, in consultation with Member States, where this initiative will strengthen the flow and exchange of information in developing countries; 41. Encourages the efforts by some United Nations information centres to develop their own web pages in local languages, also encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to those information centres whose web pages are not yet operational and to develop web pages in the respective local languages of their host countries, and further encourages host countries to respond to the needs of the information centres; 42. Recalls the appeal made by the Secretary-General to the host countries of United Nations information centres to facilitate the work of the centres in their countries by providing rent-free or rent-subsidized premises, while taking into account the economic condition of the host countries and bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial resources for the information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 43. Notes the continuing support of the Department of Public Information in the consolidation of the United Nations field presence in a single United Nations house, and requests the Secretary-General to report in detail on the progress made to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session; IV Strategic communications services 44. Acknowledges that the strategic communications services, to be implemented by the newly created Strategic Communications Division, will be responsible for devising and disseminating United Nations messages by developing communications strategies, in close collaboration with the substantive departments, United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies of the United Nations, in full compliance with the legislative mandates; Promotional campaigns 45. Recognizes that promotional campaigns aimed at supporting special sessions and international conferences of the United Nations are part of the core responsibility of the Department of Public Information, and welcomes the efforts of the Department to examine creative ways in which it can organize and implement these campaigns in partnership with the substantive departments concerned, using the United Nations Millennium Declaration as its guide; 46. Supports the efforts of the Department of Public Information, while ensuring respect for the priorities established by the General Assembly, to also focus its promotional campaigns on the major issues identified by the Secretary-General; 47. Appreciates the work of the Department of Public Information in promoting, through its campaigns, issues of importance to the international community, such as sustainable development, children, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and decolonization, as well as the dialogue among civilizations, culture of peace and tolerance and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and encourages the Department, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of these and other important global issues; 48. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to work within the United Nations Communications Group to coordinate the implementation of communication strategies with the heads of information of the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system; 49. Stresses the need for the renewed emphasis in support of Africa's development, in particular by the Department of Public Information, in order to promote awareness in the international community of the nature of the critical economic and social situation in Africa and of the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. Role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping 50. Commends the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information for the establishment and functioning of the information components of peacekeeping operations and of political and peace-building missions of the United Nations, including its promotional efforts and other information support activities, and requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department from the planning stage of future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 51. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role in the selection process of spokespersons for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and, in this regard, encourages the Department to second spokespersons who have the necessary skills to fulfil the tasks of the operations or missions, taking into account the equitable geographical distribution in accordance with Chapter XV, Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and to consider views expressed, especially by host countries, when appropriate, in this regard; 52. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Committee on Information on the role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping at its successive sessions; 53. Welcomes the transfer of the functions of the Cartographic Section from the Department of Public Information to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, since the outputs of the Section are more closely aligned to the needs and activities of that Department; V News services 54. Stresses that the central objective of the news services, implemented by the News and Media Division, is the timely delivery of accurate, objective and balanced news and information emanating from the United Nations system in all four mass media - print, radio, television and Internet - to the media and other audiences worldwide with the overall emphasis on multilingualism; Traditional means of communication 55. Also stresses that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, including development and peacekeeping, with a view to achieving a broad client base around the world; 56. Notes with satisfaction the success of the pilot project on the development of an international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations, and endorses the proposal of the Secretary-General that the pilot project be made an integral part of the activities of the Department; 57. Requests the Secretary-General to pay full attention to the parity of the six official languages in expanding the international radio broadcasting capacity; 58. Notes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages, with the addition of Portuguese, as well as in other languages, where possible, and, in this regard, stresses the need for impartiality and objectivity concerning information activities of the United Nations; 59. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue building partnerships with local, national and regional broadcasters to extend the United Nations message to all the corners of the world; 60. Emphasizes that United Nations Radio and Television should take full advantage of the technological infrastructure made available in recent years, including satellite platforms, information and communication technologies and the Internet, and requests the Secretary-General, as a part of the reorientation of the Department of Public Information, to consider a global strategy for broadcasting, taking into account existing technologies; United Nations web site 61. Reiterates its appreciation for the efforts of the Department of Public Information in creating a high-quality, user-friendly and cost-effective web site, noting that this is especially noteworthy considering the scope of the undertaking, the budget constraints within the United Nations and the remarkably rapid expansion of the World Wide Web, reaffirms that the web site remains a very useful tool for media, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, Member States and the general public, and welcomes the creation of the United Nations web site on terrorism; 62. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to take the necessary measures in order to ensure accessibility to the United Nations web site by persons with disabilities, including visual and hearing disabilities, and asks the Department to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session on its efforts in this regard; 63. Notes with concern that the multilingual development and enrichment of the United Nations web site has been slower than expected, because of a lack of resources, among other factors, and that content-providing offices have not, in general, been making their materials available on the United Nations web site in all six official languages; 64. Stresses the need to adopt a decision on the multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations web site, considering, inter alia, the possibility of organizational restructuring towards separate language units for each of the six official languages within the Department of Public Information, in order to achieve full parity among the official languages of the United Nations; 65. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure, until such a decision has been taken and implemented, to the extent possible and while maintaining an up-to-date and accurate web site, the equitable distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the United Nations web site among all official languages on a continuous basis, and to make every possible effort to ensure also that all materials contained on the web site that do not change and do not need regular maintenance are made available in all six official languages; 66. Also reaffirms the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on the United Nations web site, and, in this regard, takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General, as contained in paragraph 33 of his report on the continued development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations web site in the six official languages,A/AC.198/2002/6. to translate all English materials and databases posted on the United Nations web site by the respective content-providing offices of the Secretariat into all official languages, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session on the most practical, efficient and cost-effective means of implementing this proposal; 67. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session proposals relating to the designation of a date by which all supporting arrangements would be in place for the implementation of this concept, after which date parity would continue, as well as proposals relating to the exemption from translation of specific items on the United Nations web site; 68. Stresses the importance of access for the public to the United Nations Treaty Collection and United Nations parliamentary documentation; 69. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the Department of Public Information, to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology, including the Internet, in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the expeditious dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by the General Assembly and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 70. Welcomes the establishment of the United Nations News Centre in Arabic, and looks forward to the implementation of the United Nations News Centre in the remaining official languages by the end of 2003, with a view to achieving language parity on the United Nations web site; 71. Also welcomes the proposal of the Secretary-General to provide free, public access to the Official Document System of the United Nations through a linkage with the Organization's web siteSee A/AC.198/2003/2, para. 4 and annex II. for consideration in the context of the proposed programme budget for 2004-2005, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session in this regard; 72. Commends the Information Technology Services Division of the Office of Central Support Services of the Secretariat on its efforts to ensure that the required technological infrastructure is in place to accommodate the imminent linkage of the Official Document System to the United Nations web site, and also commends the Department of Public Information for addressing issues of content management relating to that System; 73. Notes that the integration of the Official Document System with the United Nations web site will significantly enhance the multilingual nature of the site and will lead to efficiencies throughout all Secretariat departments through the elimination of duplicate formatting and duplicate posting of documents on the site; 74. Welcomes the electronic mail-based United Nations News Service, distributed worldwide through e-mail by the Department of Public Information, and requests the Department to provide this service in all official languages, ensuring that news-breaking stories and news alerts are accurate, impartial and free of bias; 75. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the efforts of the High-Level Committee on Management to establish a United Nations portal, an inter-agency search facility encompassing the public web sites of all United Nations system organizations, a description of which is contained in annex II to the report of the Secretary-General;A/AC.198/2003/2. 76. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to encourage all United Nations system entities to participate in the United Nations system search pilot project, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session on the activities of the High-Level Committee on Management in this regard; VI Library services 77. Notes that the Dag Hammarskjöld Library is part of the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information, also notes the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General to make the Library a virtual library with world outreach, reiterates the need to maintain the provision of hard copies to Member States, subject to the relevant provisions of its resolution 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, and further notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to enrich, on a multilingual basis, the stock of books and journals in the Library, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, in order to ensure that the Library continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 78. Welcomes the creation of the Steering Committee on the Modernization and Integrated Management of United Nations Libraries, which is to develop and implement a strategy to achieve a more modern, efficient and accessible system within the United Nations, requests the Secretary-General, in guiding the work of the Steering Committee, to take into account the specificity and comparative advantage of each member library while ensuring an integrated, coherent and coordinated approach on United Nations libraries management and policy, and also requests the Secretary-General to report on the work of the Steering Committee to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session; 79. Recognizes the importance of the depository libraries in disseminating information and knowledge about United Nations activities, and, in this connection, urges the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in its capacity as the focal point, to take the initiatives necessary to strengthen such libraries by providing regional training and other assistance; 80. Notes the holding of training courses, conducted by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library for the representatives of Member States and Secretariat staff on the use of Cyberseek, web search, the Intranet, United Nations documentation, United Nations Info Quest and the Official Document System of the United Nations; 81. Recalls paragraph 44 of its resolution 56/64 B of 24 December 2001, in which it welcomed the role of the Department of Public Information in fostering increased collaboration among libraries of the United Nations system, particularly in establishing one central system-wide online catalogue that would allow for the searching of the bibliographic records of all print holdings of all United Nations system libraries; commends the International Computing Centre for developing the United Nations System Shared Cataloguing and Public Access System, which provides a single point of access to library catalogues, indexes and abstract databases, library holdings, links to full-text resources, and archives; also commends the Department for its role in the development of the United Nations Shared Cataloguing and Public Access System; requests the Department to encourage all United Nations system organizations to participate in the System; and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session in this regard; 82. Looks forward to the in-depth review of the library activities requested in paragraph 34 of its resolution 56/253, and requests that such a review be presented as soon as possible, and no later than at the twenty-sixth session of the Committee on Information; 83. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on modernization and integrated management of United Nations libraries,A/AC.198/2003/5. and looks forward to further information and proposals as requested in paragraph 14 of its resolution 57/300, to be submitted to the relevant United Nations bodies, including the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session; VII Outreach services 84. Acknowledges that the outreach services, which are to be implemented by the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information, will work towards promoting awareness of the role and work of the United Nations on priority issues; 85. Notes the importance of the continued implementation by the Department of Public Information of the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries in transition, as mandated by the General Assembly, and encourages the Department to consider how best to maximize the benefits derived from the programme by reviewing, inter alia, its duration and the number of its participants; 86. Recognizes the need for the Department of Public Information to increase its outreach services in all regions, and reiterates the need to include, in the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications, an analysis of the present reach and scope of the activities of the Department, identifying the widest possible spectrum of audiences and geographical areas that are not covered adequately and that may require special attention, including the appropriate means of communication and bearing in mind local language requirements; 87. Congratulates the United Nations Correspondents Association for its Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Scholarship Fund, which sponsors journalists from developing countries to come to the United Nations Headquarters and report on the activities during the General Assembly, and urges donors to extend financial support to the Fund so that it may increase the number of such scholarships to journalists in this context; VIII Final remarks 88. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-sixth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 89. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 90. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 58/102 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/476, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 163 to none, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Angola, France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 58/102. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 57/131 of 11 December 2002, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/69. 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned to transmit or continue to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. RESOLUTION 58/103 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/477, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 164 to 2, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: France, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58/103. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/58/23 (Part II), chap. V. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant Assembly resolutions including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Affirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Reiterates that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, are a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to the mass media, trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/104 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/478, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 116 to none, with 55 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 58/104. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General on the item,A/58/66. Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,A/58/23 (Part II), chap. VI. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/30 of 25 July 2002, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the current participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded programmes of assistance for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling General Assembly resolution 57/133 of 11 December 2002 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/66. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions; 4. Also reaffirms that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) The illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the continuing initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Encourages the Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies; 14. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 15. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 17. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for the coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 18. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/105 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/479, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 58/105. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/134 of 11 December 2002, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/58/71. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/71. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/106 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/480, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 58/106. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,A/58/23 (Part II), chap. VIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia as exemplified by the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 by the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and also those provisions of the Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment; 4. Also notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, according to their regulations; 5. Further notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 6. Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 7. Calls upon the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of New Caledonia to the Secretary-General; 8. Invites all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all New Caledonians according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 9. Welcomes measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 10. Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 11. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous culture of New Caledonia; 12. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia; 13. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 14. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 15. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/107 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/480, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 58/107. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Tokelau,A/58/23 (Part II), chap. X. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling the solemn declaration on the future status of Tokelau, contained in the 1994 "Voice of Tokelau", which stated that an act of self-determination in Tokelau was under active consideration, together with the constitution of a self-governing Tokelau, and that the then preference of Tokelau was for a status of free association with New Zealand, Recalling also its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular General Assembly resolution 57/137 of 11 December 2002, Recalling further the emphasis placed in the solemn declaration on the terms of Tokelau's special relationship with New Zealand, including the expectation that the form of help that Tokelau could continue to expect from New Zealand in promoting the well-being of its people, besides its external interests, would be clearly established within the framework of that relationship, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Noting also with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization, Recalling the dispatch in August 2002 of a United Nations Mission to Tokelau, at the invitation of the Government of New Zealand and the representatives of Tokelau, Recalling also the report of the United Nations Mission to Tokelau, 2002,A/AC.109/2002/31. Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting also that, as a case study pointing to successful cooperation for decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Also notes the desire of Tokelau to move at its own pace towards an act of self-determination; 3. Further notes the inauguration in 1999 of a national Government based on village elections by universal adult suffrage; 4. Acknowledges Tokelau's goal to return authority to its traditional leadership, and its wish to provide that leadership with the necessary support to carry out its functions in the contemporary world; 5. Acknowledges also the progress made towards that goal under the Modern House of Tokelau project, and welcomes the decision taken by the General Fono in June 2003 to set a target date of 30 June 2004 for the transfer to each Taupulega (Village Council) of full responsibility for the management of all its public services; 6. Acknowledges further Tokelau's initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2002-2004 to advance its capacity for self-government; 7. Notes that, consistent with the expressed desires of past traditional leaders and the principles of the Modern House of Tokelau, Tokelau has established a local public service employer; 8. Welcomes the continuing dialogue with the administering Power and the Territory with a view to the development of a programme of work for Tokelau in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/147 of 8 December 2000; 9. Acknowledges the continuing support that New Zealand has committed to the Modern House of Tokelau project in 2002-2003, and the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme in aligning its programmes under the project; 10. Notes that the Constitution of a self-governing Tokelau will continue to develop as a part and as a consequence of the building of the Modern House of Tokelau, and that both have national and international importance for Tokelau; 11. Acknowledges Tokelau's need for continued reassurance, given the cultural adjustments that are taking place with the strengthening of its capacity for self-government and, since local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self-determination, the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau's external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance; 12. Notes the special challenge inherent in the situation of Tokelau, among the smallest of the small Territories, and that a Territory's exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination may be brought closer, as in the case of Tokelau, by the meeting of that challenge in innovative ways; 13. Acknowledges the desire of the partners to reaffirm their commitment to each other, and welcomes the agreement reached in Wellington on 19 June 2003 on the text of an agreement on the principles underpinning the relationship for which the formal approval of the Government of New Zealand is being sought; 14. Welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 15. Also welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and Territories in the region towards Tokelau, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 16. Further welcomes Tokelau's associate membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its recent accession to associate membership in the Forum Fisheries Agency; 17. Reaffirms its approval of the report of the United Nations Mission to Tokelau, 2002;A/AC.109/2002/31. 18. Notes that a study to review the options for Tokelau's future self-determination is recommended in the report, and further notes the willingness expressed by the United Nations Development Programme to assist in this regard upon request from Tokelau; 19. Calls upon New Zealand and Tokelau to consider developing an information programme to apprise the population of Tokelau of the nature of self-determination, including the three options of integration, free association and independence, so that it may be better prepared to face a future decision on this matter, and welcomes the invitation extended to the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to attend the constitutional convention to be held in Tokelau; 20. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures in the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution; 21. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTIONS 58/108 A and B Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/480, para. 26)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 58/108. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/58/23 (Part II), chap. IX. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that in the decolonization process there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination as enunciated by the General Assembly in its resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions, Recognizing also that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing its concern that more than forty years after the adoption of the Declaration there still remains a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,See A/56/61, annex. Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Welcoming the stated position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that it continues to take seriously its obligations under the Charter to develop self-government in the dependent Territories and, in cooperation with the locally elected Governments, to ensure that their constitutional frameworks continue to meet the wishes of the people, and the emphasis that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories to decide their future status, Welcoming also the stated position of the Government of the United States of America that it supports fully the principles of decolonization and takes seriously its obligations under the Charter to promote to the utmost the well-being of the inhabitants of the Territories under United States administration, Noting the constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories about which the Special Committee has received information, Aware of the usefulness both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, and that the views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained under the supervision of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, and considering the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers, Mindful also that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to embark actively on a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining an understanding of the options of self-determination, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in their success, while recognizing the need for reviewing the role of those seminars in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that, by holding a Caribbean regional seminar at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003, the Special Committee was able to hear the views of the representatives of the Territories and Member States as well as organizations and experts in the region, in order to review the political, economic and social conditions in the Territories, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the necessity of promoting economic stability and diversifying and strengthening further the economies of the respective Territories as a matter of priority, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation and, in this connection, bearing in mind the programmes of action of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference. the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction,See A/CONF.172/9, chap. I. the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,See Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II),Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum). and other relevant world conferences, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific, Noting that some territorial Governments have made efforts towards achieving the highest standards of financial supervision, Concerned that in 2002 economic growth slowed in many Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular in the tourism and construction sectors, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Reaffirms also that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right; 3. Reaffirms further that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to facilitate programmes of political education in the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 4. Requests the administering Powers to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter and other updated information and reports, including reports on the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories regarding their future political status as expressed in fair and free referendums and other forms of popular consultation, as well as the results of any informed and democratic processes consistent with practice under the Charter that indicate the clear and freely expressed wish of the people to change the existing status of the Territories; 5. Stresses the importance for it to be apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and to enhance its understanding of their conditions; 6. Reaffirms that United Nations visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, and requests the administering Powers and the elected representatives of the peoples of the Territories to facilitate the work of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in this regard; 7. Reaffirms also the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 8. Requests the Territories and the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories against any environmental degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in those Territories; 9. Calls upon the administering Powers, in cooperation with the respective territorial Governments, to continue to take all necessary measures to counter problems related to drug trafficking, money-laundering and other offences; 10. Notes the cooperative efforts of some Non-Self-Governing Territories to address the problem of illegal drugs, with a focus on demand reduction, education, treatment and legal issues; 11. Notes with concern that the plan of action for the first International Decade for the Eradication of ColonialismSee A/46/634/Rev.1 and Corr.1, annex. was not fully implemented by 2000, and stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade, in particular by expediting the application of the work programme for the decolonization of each Non-Self-Governing Territory, on a case-by-case basis; 12. Invites the administering Powers to participate fully in the work of the Special Committee and to enter into constructive dialogue with the Special Committee before the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for the period 2001-2010; 13. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 14. Urges also the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to initiate or to continue to take all necessary measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social life of the Territories, and calls for closer cooperation between the Special Committee and the Economic and Social Council in furtherance of the provision of assistance to the Territories; 15. Notes that some Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by one administering Power, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, namely, of amending or enacting legislation for the Territories through Orders in Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power; 16. Takes note of statements made by the elected representatives of the Territories concerned and other appropriate authorities emphasizing their willingness to cooperate in all international efforts aimed at preventing abuse of the international financial system and to promote regulatory environments with highly selective licensing procedures, robust supervisory practices and well-established anti-money-laundering regimes; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of decolonization resolutions since the declaration of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; 18. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the small Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session with recommendations on appropriate ways to assist the peoples of the Territories in exercising their right to self-determination. B Individual Territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the report by the administering Power that most American Samoan leaders express satisfaction with the Territory's present relationship with the United States of America, as reflected in statements made by those leaders in the regional seminars held in Havana, Cuba, and Nadi, Fiji, in 2001 and 2002, respectively, Noting that the Government of the Territory continues to have financial, budgetary and internal control problems, but that it has recently taken steps to increase revenues and decrease government expenditures, Noting also that the Territory, similar to isolated communities with limited funds, continues to experience a lack of adequate medical and other infrastructural facilities, Aware of the efforts of the Government of the Territory to control and reduce expenditures, while continuing its programme of expanding and diversifying the local economy, Concerned that massive flooding and mudslides in May 2003 resulted in loss of life and damage initially estimated by the territorial Government at more than 50 million United States dollars, and taking note of the official request by the Territory for recovery assistance from the administering Power, 1. Notes that the Department of the Interior of the United States of America provides that the Secretary of the Interior has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the Government of the Territory, and welcomes the assistance from the administering Power to the Territory in its recovery efforts following the recent floods; 3. Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee by the Governor of American Samoa to send a visiting mission to the Territory, and calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission; II Anguilla Noting the continuation of the conduct of the constitutional and electoral reform review process in the Territory, Welcoming the holding of the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, the first time that the seminar has been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, Noting the desire of the territorial Government and the people of Anguilla for a visiting mission by the Special Committee, Aware of the efforts of the Government of Anguilla to continue to develop the Territory as a viable offshore centre and well-regulated financial centre for investors, by enacting modern company and trust laws, as well as partnership and insurance legislation, and computerizing the company registry system, Noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in tackling the problems of drug trafficking and money-laundering, 1. Welcomes the emphasis placed in the initial stages of the constitutional and electoral reform review process on participation, information and education and the support provided by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Kingdom Government fund for good government; 2. Welcomes also the cooperation of the territorial Government of Anguilla and the United Kingdom in holding the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, and notes that the staging of the seminar in a Non-Self-Governing Territory for the first time as well as a town hall meeting between the people of Anguilla and the Special Committee during the seminar contributed to its success; 3. Calls upon the administering Power and all States, organizations and United Nations agencies to continue to assist the Territory in social and economic development; III Bermuda Noting the results of the independence referendum held on 16 August 1995, and conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties of the Territory on the future status of the Territory, 1. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to work with the Territory for its socio-economic development; 2. Welcomes the agreement reached in June 2002 between the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Territory formally transferring the former military base lands to the territorial Government, and the provision of financial resources to address some of the environmental problems; 3. Welcomes also the convening in the Territory in March 2003 of an international conference on conservation in overseas territories and other small island States, which included governmental and non-governmental organizations to address issues of common concern; IV British Virgin Islands Taking note of the steps currently being taken to review the Constitution with the aim of modernizing it, Noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, and that the financial services sector is becoming the cornerstone of the Government's recurrent budget, Noting also the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Noting further that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 31 May 2003 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and all financial institutions to continue to provide the Territory with assistance for socio-economic development and the development of human resources, bearing in mind the vulnerability of the Territory to external factors; V Cayman Islands Noting the formation for the first time of a political party in the Territory and the subsequent emergence of a party system in the Territory, Taking note of the constitutional review process being undertaken by the territorial Government in consultation with the administering Power, Noting the actions taken by the territorial Government to promote increased participation by the local population in the decision-making process in the economic and social sectors in the Cayman Islands, Aware that the Territory has one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, a stable political climate and has emerged as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres with virtually no unemployment, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking, money-laundering and related activities, and noting the measures taken by the authorities to deal with those problems, Noting the approval by the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Territory's Vision 2008 Development Plan, which aims to promote development that is consistent with the aims and values of Caymanian society, 1. Welcomes the completion of the report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which conducted an extensive review of the current Constitution, and the recommended changes, following public discussions with community groups and individuals, pursuant to the recommendations of the administering Power as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories";A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. 2. Requests the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to provide the territorial Government with all required expertise to enable it to achieve its socio-economic aims; 3. Requests the administering Power, in consultation with the territorial Government, to continue to facilitate the expansion of the current programme of securing employment for the local population, in particular at the decision-making level; VI Guam Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established the process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Aware of the potential for diversifying and developing the economy of Guam through commercial fishing and agriculture and other viable activities, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam,See A/AC.109/2058, para. 33 (20). Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Guam provided by the representatives of the Territory at the 5th meeting of the Fourth Committee on 3 October 2002,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Fourth Committee, 5th meeting (A/C.4/57/SR.5), and corrigendum. Concerned that the 2001 census figures in the Territory show that 23 per cent of the population lives in poverty, 1. Calls upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 2. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory; 4. Further requests the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 5. Requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 6. Also requests the administering Power to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial Government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities; 7. Calls upon the administering Power to facilitate a visiting mission to Guam as requested by the territorial Government; VII Montserrat Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the Chief Minister of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003,See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 24. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Noting with concern the dire consequences of the volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory's population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, in particular Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and which continues to have enduring consequences upon the economy of the island, Welcoming the continued assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the continuing efforts of the administering Power to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption, Noting with concern that a number of the inhabitants of the Territory continue to live in shelters because of volcanic activity, Noting that the Chief Minister of Montserrat assumed the chairmanship of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in May 2003, 1. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; 2. Takes note of the completion of the report of the Constitutional Review Commission prepared after extensive consultations with Montserratians both in the Territory and abroad and the consensus that, while Montserratians reserve the right to future self-determination, independence is not a priority given the present socio-economic status of the Territory; VIII Pitcairn Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Welcoming the participation of a representative of the Mayor of Pitcairn in the Caribbean regional seminar at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003, and taking note of the concerns expressed by him with regard to the ongoing court case in the Territory,See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 27. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support its economic security; IX Saint Helena Taking into account the unique character of Saint Helena, its population and its natural resources, Aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of Saint Helena, in particular as regards food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Welcomes the acceptance by the administering Power of the majority of the proposals for constitutional change made by the territorial Government; 2. Requests the administering Power and relevant international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the limited transport and communications problems; X Turks and Caicos Islands Noting that the People's Democratic Movement was elected to a third consecutive term in the Legislative Council elections held in March 2003, Also noting the efforts by the Government of the Territory to strengthen financial management in the public sector, including efforts to increase revenue, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration, and noting the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Noting that the Chief Minister was elected as the chairman of the newly established Overseas Countries and Territories Association of Europe, 1. Welcomes the establishment of the Constitutional Review Commission, which embarked on a public education programme on the Constitution, ascertained the views of the population and made recommendations to the administering Power on changes which may be envisaged, pursuant to the recommendations as stated in its White Paper entitled "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories";A/AC.109/1999/1 and Corr.1, annex. 2. Calls upon the administering Power and the relevant regional and international organizations to continue to provide assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory; 3. Calls upon the administering Power and the territorial Government to continue to cooperate to counter problems related to money-laundering, smuggling of funds and other related crimes, as well as drug trafficking; XI United States Virgin Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003,See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex, para. 30. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Noting the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the current request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed, Noting also the expressed interest of the territorial Government to be included in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, Noting further the necessity of further diversifying the economy of the Territory, Noting the efforts of the Government of the Territory to promote the Territory as an offshore financial services centre, Recalling that the Territory has not received a United Nations visiting mission since 1977, and bearing in mind the formal request of the Territory for such a mission in 1993 to assist the Territory in its political education process and to observe the Territory's only referendum on political status options in its history, Noting that the Territory commemorated its annual British Virgin Islands-United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day on 31 May 2003 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 2. Once again requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 3. Calls for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories; 4. Notes the economic difficulties being experienced by the territorial Government and the fiscal austerity measures being implemented, and others proposed, to relieve the Territory's cash flow shortage, and calls upon the administering Power to continue to provide every assistance required by the Territory to further alleviate the difficult economic situation, including, inter alia, the provision of debt relief and loans; 5. Notes with interest the entering into force in 2001 of the joint memorandum of cooperation on the exchange of artefacts between the Territory and Denmark, the Territory's former administering Power, as a companion agreement to the 1999 memorandum for the repatriation of archival material from the Danish colonial period, consistent with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and once again requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, under its records and archives management programme, to assist the Territory in carrying out its archival and artefacts initiative; 6. Notes the position of the territorial Government, including its articulation in resolution 1609 of 9 April 2001 of the 24th Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands, opposing the assumption by the administering Power of submerged land in territorial waters, having regard to relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the ownership and control of natural resources, including marine resources, by the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and its calls for the return of those marine resources to the people of the Territory; 7. Notes with concern that the 2000 census figures for the Territory indicate that 32.5 per cent of the population is living in poverty. RESOLUTION 58/109 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/480, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/109. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 57/135 of 11 December 2002, Recalling also all resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the question of Western Sahara, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Security Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara,See S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. Recalling Security Council resolutions 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001 and 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002, as well as resolution 1495 (2003) of 31 July 2003, in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western SaharaS/2003/565 and Corr.1, annex II. as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties, Taking note of the responses of the parties and neighbouring States to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, concerning the peace plan, contained in the report of the Secretary-General of 23 May 2003,S/2003/565 and Corr.1. Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in accordance with the proposal made by the Secretary-General,See A/58/171. and stressing the importance it attaches to the maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan, Underlining, in this regard, the validity of the settlement plan, while noting the fundamental differences between the parties in its implementation, Stressing that the lack of progress in the settlement of the dispute on Western Sahara continues to cause suffering to the people of Western Sahara, remains a source of potential instability in the region and obstructs the economic development of the Maghreb region and that, in view of this, the search for a political solution is critically needed, Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in search of a mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,See A/58/23 (Part II), chap. VIII. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,See A/58/171. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;See A/58/171. 2. Underlines Security Council resolution 1495 (2003), in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties; 3. Continues to support strongly the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in order to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute over Western Sahara; 4. Commends the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for their outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provide for those efforts; 5. Calls upon all the parties and the States of the region to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara; 7. Calls upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross in its efforts to solve the problem of the fate of the people unaccounted for, and calls upon the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release without further delay all those held since the start of the conflict; 8. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 9. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/10 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 5 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.12 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Benin, Brazil, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uruguay 58/10. Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 41/11 of 27 October 1986, in which it solemnly declared the Atlantic Ocean, in the region between Africa and South America, a zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Recalling also its subsequent resolutions on the matter, including resolution 45/36 of 27 November 1990, in which it reaffirmed the determination of the States of the zone to enhance and accelerate their cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, cultural and other spheres, Reaffirming the importance of the purposes and objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic as a basis for the promotion of cooperation among the countries of the region, Reaffirming also that the questions of peace and security and those of development are interrelated and inseparable and that cooperation for peace and development among States of the region will promote the objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Recalling the agreement reached at the third meeting of the States members of the zone, held in Brasilia on 21 and 22 September 1994, to encourage democracy and political pluralism and, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. to promote and defend all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to cooperate towards the achievement of these goals, Aware of the importance that the States of the zone attach to the protection of the environment of the region, and recognizing the threat that pollution from any source poses to the marine and coastal environment, its ecological balance and its resources, Welcoming the adoption of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects at the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 9 to 20 July 2001,A/CONF.192/15, chap. IV, para. 24. Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General, submitted in accordance with resolution 56/7 of 21 November 2001,A/58/265. 1. Calls upon all States to cooperate in the promotion of the objectives established in the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic and to refrain from any action inconsistent with those objectives and with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions of the Organization, in particular actions that may create or aggravate situations of tension and potential conflict in the region; 2. Notes with satisfaction the full entry into force of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. and also notes with satisfaction the progress towards the full entry into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba);See A/50/426, annex. 3. Encourages all States, in particular the members of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, to cooperate in promoting and strengthening global, regional, subregional and national initiatives to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; 4. Commends regional efforts being undertaken by States members of the zone in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,A/CONF.192/15, chap. IV, para. 24. and calls upon them to keep up their efforts in this regard; 5. Affirms the importance of the South Atlantic to global maritime and commercial transactions, and its determination to preserve the region for all peaceful purposes and activities protected by international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 6. Views with concern the increase in drug trafficking and related crimes, including drug abuse, and calls upon the international community and the States members of the zone to promote regional and international cooperation to combat all aspects of the problem of drugs and related offences; 7. Recognizes, in the light of the number, magnitude and complexity of natural disasters and other emergencies, the need to continue to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance by States members of the zone, so as to ensure a timely and effective response; 8. Welcomes the offer by Benin to host the sixth meeting of the States members of the zone; 9. Requests the relevant organizations, organs and bodies of the United Nations system to render all appropriate assistance that States members of the zone may seek in their joint efforts to implement the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the implementation of resolution 41/11 and subsequent resolutions on the matter under review and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, taking into account, inter alia, the views expressed by Member States; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic". RESOLUTION 58/110 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 162 to 3, with no abstentions,* on the basis of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (A/58/23) * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 58/110. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,A/58/23 (Part II), chap. III. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular resolution 57/139 of 11 December 2002, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to achieving the goals of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 2. Considers it important to continue its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options of self-determination available for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to take into account the suggestions of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To continue to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To maintain a working relationship with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, by holding periodic consultations and exchanging information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to continue to extend their cooperation in the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 5. Requests the Special Committee to follow the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/111 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 154 to 2, with 8 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.21, sponsored by: Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Fiji, Grenada, Saint Lucia * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of) 58/111. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,A/58/23 (Parts I-III). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, most recently resolution 57/140 of 11 December 2002, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind the declaration of the period 2001-2010 as the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the Organization and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism before 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as of racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with concern that the non-participation of certain administering Powers has adversely affected the implementation of the mandate and work of the Special Committee, Noting with satisfaction the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting that the other administering Powers have now agreed to work informally with the Special Committee, Taking note of the consultations and agreements between the parties concerned in some Non-Self-Governing Territories and the action taken by the Secretary-General in relation to certain Non-Self-Governing Territories, Aware of the pressing need of newly independent and emerging States for assistance from the United Nations and its system of organizations in the economic, social and other fields, Aware also of the pressing need of many of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, many of which are small island Territories, for economic, social and other assistance from the United Nations and the organizations of its system, Taking special note of the fact that, for the first time in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, the Special Committee held a Caribbean regional seminar on advancing the decolonization process in the Caribbean and Bermuda in Anguilla from 20 to 22 May 2003,See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. II, annex. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, in which it declares the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2003, including the programme of work envisaged for 2004;See A/58/23 (Part I), chap. I, sect. J. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 23. 6. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to finalize before the end of 2004 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 7. Welcomes the ongoing consultations between the Special Committee and New Zealand, as administering Power for Tokelau, with the participation of representatives of the people of Tokelau, with a view to advancing the programme of work on the question of Tokelau; 8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To finalize before the end of 2004 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting missions to the Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 2911 (XXVII). 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the economic activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests that the administering Powers take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 13. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 14. Calls upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2004; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as of the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 58/112 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.36 and Add.1, sponsored by: Germany, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, United States of America 58/112. Report of the Committee for Development Policy The General Assembly, Noting that Timor-Leste became a member of the United Nations on 27 September 2002, Recalling Economic and Social Council decisions 2003/280 and 2003/281 of 24 July 2003 on the report of the Committee for Development Policy,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 13 (E/2003/33). Noting that Timor-Leste has given its consent to be included in the list of least developed countries, Endorses the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council that Timor-Leste be added to the list of the least developed countries. RESOLUTION 58/113 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 170 to none, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.33/Rev.1 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Austria, Bulgaria, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Israel, Kenya 58/113. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/147 of 16 December 2002, as well as previous resolutions on the question, Recalling also the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements concluded by the two sides, Gravely concerned at the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people throughout the occupied territory, which constitutes a mounting humanitarian crisis, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat and the establishment of the Consultative Group, as well as all follow-up meetings and international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Welcoming also the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Stressing the continued importance of the work of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in the coordination of assistance to the Palestinian people, Noting the convening of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meetings, held in London on 18 and 19 February 2003 and in Rome on 10 December 2003, to review the state of the Palestinian economy, Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, and welcoming in this regard the support to the Palestinian Authority by the Task Force on Palestinian Reform established by the Quartet in 2002, Noting, in this regard, the active participation of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in the activities of the Special Envoys of the Quartet, Welcoming the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, of the performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/88-E/2003/84 and Corr.1. Expressing grave concern at the continuation of the recent tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/88-E/2003/84 and Corr.1. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Personal Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary-General on the humanitarian conditions and needs of the Palestinian people;Available from http://domino.un.org/bertini_ rpt.htm. 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Also expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 5. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 6. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 7. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with Palestinian priorities set forth by the Palestinian Authority; 8. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 9. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 10. Stresses, in this context, the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 11. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to counter the impact of the current crisis; 12. Stresses the need to implement the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. in particular with regard to the full and prompt clearance of Palestinian indirect tax revenues, and welcomes the progress made in this regard; 13. Suggests the convening in 2004 of a United Nations-sponsored seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTION 58/114 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.39 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 58/114. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/89-E/2003/85. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of implementation of actions described in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change",A/58/351. Reaffirming the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Recognizing that independence, meaning the autonomy of humanitarian objectives from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented, is also an important guiding principle for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Gravely concerned about the acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, in particular deliberate attacks, which are in violation of international humanitarian law or other international law that may be applicable, Gravely concerned also about the lack of access by humanitarian personnel to victims of humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflict and in post-conflict situations, in many regions of the world, Reaffirming the responsibility first and foremost of States to take care of the victims of humanitarian emergencies within their own borders, while recognizing that the magnitude and duration of many emergencies may be beyond the response capacity of many affected countries, Concerned about the need to mobilize adequate levels of financing for emergency humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat should benefit from adequate and more predictable funding, while stressing the importance for the Office to continue to make efforts to broaden its donor base, Recognizing the importance of humanitarian assistance in ensuring the effective transition from conflict to peace and in preventing the recurrence of armed conflict, and that humanitarian assistance must be provided in ways that will be supportive of recovery and long-term development, Recognizing also the importance of adequate assistance in the transition from relief to development, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the sixth humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council, during its substantive session of 2003; 2. Welcomes the appointment of the new Emergency Relief Coordinator, encourages the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to continue its efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, including through the Consolidated Appeal Process, and calls upon relevant United Nations organizations as well as other humanitarian and development actors to work with the Office in enhancing the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance; 3. Stresses the need to increase in an incremental way, in the normal course of the budget process, the share of the budget of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs borne by the United Nations regular budget; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the discussion of humanitarian policies and activities in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council; 5. Calls upon relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other relevant international organizations, Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate with the Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator to ensure timely implementation of and follow-up to resolutions of the Economic and Social Council adopted at the humanitarian affairs segment of its substantive session; 6. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to consider the issue of the transition from relief to development in an integrated manner, through a possible joint meeting of the humanitarian and operational segments, during its substantive session in the near future, in view of the importance of getting humanitarian and development organizations, including international and regional financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, to discuss and review more fully the implications of the transition from relief to development in their programming, and invites the Council to take into account, inter alia, the work in progress by the United Nations system to clarify its role in post-conflict transition situations as well as other relevant information in its consideration; 7. Strongly condemns all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel are increasingly subjected, as well as any act or failure to act, contrary to international law, which obstructs or prevents humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel from discharging their humanitarian functions; 8. Urges all States to take necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel; 9. Reaffirms the leading role of civilian organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance, particularly in areas affected by conflicts, affirms the need, in situations where military capacity and assets are used to support the implementation of humanitarian assistance, for their use to be in conformity with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, and in this regard takes note of the 2003 "Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets to Support United Nations Humanitarian Activities in Complex Emergencies",Available from www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf. as well as of the 1994 "Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief";Department of Humanitarian Affairs, document DHA/94/95. 10. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel as well as supplies and equipment in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 11. Encourages Member States with internally displaced persons to develop or strengthen, as appropriate, national laws, policies and minimum standards on internal displacement, inter alia, taking into account the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and to continue to work with humanitarian agencies in endeavours to provide a more predictable response to the needs of internally displaced persons, and in this regard calls for international support, upon request, to capacity-building efforts of Governments; 12. Reaffirms the obligation of all States and parties to an armed conflict to protect civilians in armed conflicts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and invites States to promote a culture of protection, taking into account the particular needs of women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities; 13. Welcomes the continued efforts to address the issue of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse in the context of humanitarian crises, and notes with interest the bulletin of the Secretary-General on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse;ST/SGB/2003/13. 14. Encourages the donor community to improve its response to humanitarian emergencies through policies and practices of good donorship, together with mechanisms for their review, and welcomes steps taken in this direction; 15. Calls upon relevant United Nations organizations to improve and increase consistency in the way in which humanitarian needs are assessed; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2004, on progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, including the implementation of and follow-up to Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/5 of 15 July 2003. RESOLUTION 58/115 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.40 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia 58/115. Assistance for humanitarian relief and the economic and social rehabilitation of Somalia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/160 of 18 December 1992 and subsequent relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 56/106 of 14 December 2001 and 57/154 of 16 December 2002, Noting with serious concern that the current four-year drought in Somalia threatens the lives of Somali nomads as well as livestock, Noting with grave concern the high mortality rates of over 80 per cent of livestock in the worst-affected areas of the Sool and Sanaag plateau of Somalia and the high risk of starvation of Somali nomads, Noting with serious concern the threat, as a result of this drought, of an imminent collapse of the Somali economy, and in particular of the pastoral economy and social support systems, Underlining the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, relief and reconstruction, Noting the linkage between the search for peace and alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, Welcoming the continued focus of the United Nations, in partnership with civil society at the grass-roots level, on programmes of assistance, including both humanitarian and development approaches, taking into consideration the conditions on the ground, Recalling statements by the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2001S/PRST/2001/30; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and 28 March 2002,S/PRST/2002/8; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. by which the Security Council condemned attacks on humanitarian personnel and called upon all parties in Somalia to respect fully the security and safety of personnel of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations, and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and access throughout Somalia, Re-emphasizing the importance of the further implementation of its resolutions 47/160, 56/106 and 57/154 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services throughout the country, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/133, S/2003/231, S/2003/636 and S/2003/987. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued and tireless efforts to mobilize assistance for the Somali people; 2. Reiterates its firm support for the national reconciliation process sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and in particular for the ongoing peace conference in Kenya and the efforts of the Facilitation Committee in this regard, urges all parties throughout Somalia to participate in the process, and invites the Intergovernmental Authority and its member States to continue their efforts to promote national reconciliation in Somalia; 3. Encourages the further implementation of its resolution 47/160 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services throughout Somalia; 4. Welcomes the strategy of the United Nations focusing on the implementation of community-based interventions aimed at rebuilding local infrastructures and increased self-reliance of the local population, and the ongoing efforts by the United Nations agencies, their Somali counterparts and their partner organizations to establish and maintain close coordination and cooperation mechanisms available for the implementation of the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programme; 5. Notes the incremental and prioritized approach of the United Nations system to addressing the continuing crisis and needs in Somalia while maintaining long-term commitments to rehabilitation, recovery and development activities; 6. Commends the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat for its response, and underlines the urgent need for putting in place practical measures aimed at the alleviation of the consequences of the drought in Somalia; 7. Urges all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to continue to implement further its resolutions 47/160, 56/106 and 57/154 in order to assist the Somali people in embarking on the rehabilitation of basic social and economic services, as well as institution-building aimed at the restoration of structures of civil governance at all levels in all parts of the country in which peace and security prevail; 8. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize international humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 9. Calls upon all Somali parties to respect the security and safety of the personnel of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and safe access throughout Somalia; 10. Urges the international community to provide as a matter of urgency humanitarian assistance and relief to the Somali people to alleviate in particular the consequences of the prevailing drought; 11. Calls upon the international community to provide continuing and increased assistance in response to the United Nations 2004 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 12. Commends the Secretary-General for the establishment of the Trust Fund for Peace-Building in Somalia, welcomes the contributions made thus far to the Fund, and appeals to Member States to contribute to it; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation in Somalia, to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/116 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.41 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen 58/116. Economic assistance for the reconstruction and development of Djibouti The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/108 of 14 December 2001 and its previous resolutions on economic assistance to Djibouti, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries on 20 May 2001, as well as the mutual commitments undertaken on that occasion and the importance attached to follow-up and the implementation of the Programme of Action, Aware that Djibouti is included in the list of least developed countries and that it is ranked 153rd out of the 175 countries studied in the Human Development Report 2003,Published for the United Nations Development Programme by Oxford University Press, New York, 2003. Noting that the economic and social development efforts of Djibouti are constrained by the extremes of the local climate, in particular cyclical droughts, and that the implementation of reconstruction and development programmes requires the deployment of substantial resources which exceed the limited capacity of the country, Noting also that the situation in Djibouti has been made worse by the disastrous drought situation prevailing in the Horn of Africa and by the absence of natural resources, which continues to place serious constraints on the fragile economic, budgetary, social and administrative infrastructure of the country, Expressing its concern at the severe shortage of drinkable water and the dramatic projected figures for the year 2020 as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/285. Noting with satisfaction that the Government of Djibouti is pursuing the implementation of a reform programme and is about to finalize with the international financial institutions a poverty reduction strategy paper, Noting with gratitude the support provided by various countries, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to meet the humanitarian needs of the country, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/285. 2. Declares its solidarity with the Government and the people of Djibouti, who continue to face critical developmental and humanitarian challenges owing, in particular, to the scarcity of natural resources, coupled with harsh climatic conditions and the acute issue of water supply impacting on the development aspirations of the country; 3. Encourages the Government of Djibouti, despite difficult economic and regional situations, to continue its serious efforts towards the consolidation of democracy; 4. Notes with satisfaction the implementation of a reform programme by Djibouti, and in that context appeals to all Governments, international financial institutions, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to respond adequately to the financial and material needs of the country in line with the poverty reduction strategy paper; 5. Expresses its gratitude to the intergovernmental organizations and the specialized agencies of the United Nations for their contributions to the national rehabilitation of Djibouti, and invites them to continue their efforts; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to make the international community aware of the difficulties faced by Djibouti, and welcomes his initiative to appoint a special envoy for humanitarian affairs for the Horn of Africa, with the objective of mobilizing resources for relief support as well as sustainable development; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, in close cooperation with the Government of Djibouti, his efforts to mobilize resources necessary for an effective programme of financial, technical and material assistance to Djibouti; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the humanitarian situation of Djibouti and on the progress made with regard to economic assistance to Djibouti and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/117 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.42 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Malawi, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Suriname, United States of America 58/117. International assistance to and cooperation with the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America The General Assembly, Reaffirming all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly that emphasize and acknowledge the importance of international, bilateral and multilateral economic, financial and technical support, cooperation and assistance given by the United Nations system, the international community and non-governmental organizations, which provide a framework for the provision of aid to the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America,See A/49/580-S/1994/1217, annex I. in support of national efforts to make the region a zone of peace, freedom, democracy and development, Noting that the Central American countries have achieved significant progress towards the consolidation of democracy and good governance, the strengthening of civilian Governments and respect for human rights and the rule of law, all as a tool for promoting sustainable development and regional integration, reflecting the desire of the Central American peoples to live and prosper in a climate of peace, solidarity and social justice, Stressing the importance of the commitments, and their implementation, as undertaken by the regional summits and ministerial meetings, in particular in those areas included in the programme initiatives of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America in the political, economic, social and ecological fields, which allow a progressive improvement in the quality of life of the people of the region, Noting that the various natural phenomena which have affected the region are one of the factors that have put at risk the biodiversity of Central America, Emphasizing that the progress made in complying with the commitments established in the programme of the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America creates the necessary conditions for implementing the policies for reducing the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters, Noting that the framework of the Puebla-Panama Plan includes the Mesoamerican Initiative for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters, as well as others that promote the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources, and encompasses the strategy for the transformation and modernization of Central America in the twenty-first century, presented during the Regional Consultative Group meeting, held in Madrid on 8 and 9 March 2001, and the Strategy for the South-Southeast of Mexico, Noting also the adoption in 2001 of the Regional Mechanism of Coordination of Mutual Assistance in Case of Disasters, as well as the successful work of the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America and, in particular, its mandate to hold the Mitch +5 Regional Forum, and the Regional Programme for Risk Management in Central America of the Coordination Centre and the United Nations Development Programme, Welcoming the adoption of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Central America, which should result in the conclusion of future agreements strengthening the San José Dialogue process and expanding it to, inter alia, economic areas, migration and the campaign against international terrorism, Recognizing the progress made in the elimination of anti-personnel mines from Central American territory, as well as the need to rehabilitate and reintegrate mine victims in their communities in order to restore normal conditions for the full development of the region, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/286. 2. Notes the significant reduction in the last two years of the non-reimbursable international assistance and cooperation extended to the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, as indicated in the report of the Secretary-General; 3. Supports the decision of the Central American Governments to promote in a harmonious and balanced way the sustained economic, social, cultural, environmental and political development of its member States and the development of the region as a whole through programmes which help to consolidate democracy and resolve social inequalities and extreme poverty; 4. Reiterates the importance of supporting and strengthening the efforts of the Central American countries in the implementation of the Regional Mechanism of Coordination of Mutual Assistance in Case of Disasters and the Regional Plan for Disaster Reduction as well as the implementation of the Strategic Framework for the Reduction of Vulnerability and Disasters in Central AmericaSee A/54/630, annex. and, in particular, of taking measures for the prevention and mitigation of damage, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups and sectors; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and all States, international financial institutions and regional and subregional organizations, as appropriate, to continue providing the support needed to attain the objectives of the programme for the sustainable development of Central America, including those which are being pursued within the framework of the Quinquennium for the Reduction of Vulnerability to and the Impact of Natural Disasters in Central America; 6. Notes with appreciation the revision of the subregional cooperation programme in Central America of the United Nations Development Programme, launched in 1996, and of the national programmes of other United Nations agencies and other humanitarian agencies on the basis of the priorities established in the regional development strategy for the transformation and modernization of Central America, contained in the initiatives of the Puebla-Panama Plan; 7. Encourages the Governments and disaster-related organizations of Central America to continue implementing the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in order to reduce the vulnerability to hazards, and urges the international community to contribute to these efforts, including, as appropriate, through cooperation and technical assistance; 8. Notes with satisfaction the renewal, in December 2002, of the commitment by the bilateral and the multilateral development organizations to the Meso-American Biological Corridor as one of the pillars for sustainable development comprising the conservation of natural resources, economic competitiveness and efforts to alleviate poverty, which is being developed with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme's own funds, the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and the United States Agency for International Development; 9. Recognizes the efforts and achievements relating to mine clearance in Central America, and calls upon the relevant organs of the United Nations system, the Organization of American States, as well as the international community, to continue providing the material, technical and financial support needed by the Central American Governments to complete mine-clearance, mine-awareness and victim assistance activities in the region, in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction;See CD/1478. 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution as part of a consolidated report under the item entitled "The situation in Central America: progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development". RESOLUTION 58/118 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.43 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay 58/118. Participation of volunteers, "White Helmets", in the activities of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/19 of 28 November 1995, 52/171 of 16 December 1997, 54/98 of 8 December 1999 and 56/102 of 14 December 2001, Reaffirming also its resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 47/168 of 22 December 1992, 48/57 of 14 December 1993, 49/139 A and B of 20 December 1994, 50/57 of 12 December 1995 and 51/194 of 17 December 1996 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1995/56 of 28 July 1995 and 1996/33 of 25 July 1996, Emphasizing the need to address the strategic planning gap between relief and development activities in the context of humanitarian emergencies, taking into account the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recognizing that the international community, in addressing the growing magnitude and complexity of man-made and natural disasters and chronic situations characterized by hunger, malnutrition and poverty, must rely not only on the formulation of a well-coordinated global response within the framework of the United Nations but also on the promotion of a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, Recalling once again that prevention, preparedness and contingency planning for emergencies on a global level depend, for the most part, on the strengthening of local and national response capacities as well as on the availability of financial resources, both domestic and international, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/320. prepared in pursuance of its resolution 56/102 on the participation of volunteers, "White Helmets", in the activities of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development; 2. Recognizes the value of domestic and regional actions aimed at making pre-identified, standby and trained national volunteer corps such as the White Helmets available to the United Nations system, through the United Nations Volunteers and other agencies, and in accordance with accepted United Nations procedures and practices, in order to provide specialized human and technical resources for emergency relief and rehabilitation; 3. Expresses its satisfaction for the progress of the White Helmets initiative as a singular voluntary international effort to provide the United Nations system with voluntary expertise to respond, in a quick and coordinated manner, to United Nations appeals concerning humanitarian relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, while preserving the non-political, neutral and impartial character of humanitarian action; 4. Encourages Member States to identify their respective national focal points for the White Helmets in order to continue to provide the United Nations system with an accessible global network of rapid response facilities in case of humanitarian emergencies; 5. Recognizes with appreciation the progress made by the States members of the Common Market of the South and its associated partners in strengthening and broadening the regional role of the White Helmets initiative, and encourages Member States in other regional associations to make similar joint efforts; 6. Encourages operational partners of the United Nations system, in particular United Nations Volunteers and the United Nations Development Programme, to draw upon the voluntary expertise of the White Helmets, as appropriate, including in their response to chronic situations characterized by hunger, malnutrition and poverty; 7. Recognizes that the White Helmets initiative can play an important role in the promotion, diffusion and fulfilment of the decisions achieved in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and invites Member States in a position to do so to consider means to ensure the integration of the White Helmets initiative into their programme activities and to make the commensurate financial resources available through the special financing window of the Special Voluntary Fund of the United Nations Volunteers, or in coordination with it; 8. Invites the Secretary-General, on the basis of the experience acquired, to consider further the potential use of White Helmets as a resource for preventing and mitigating the effects of post-conflict humanitarian emergencies and, in this context, to maintain adequate support for the White Helmets liaison functions, taking into account the ongoing reforms process; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take into consideration the ten years that will have passed since the adoption of its resolution 49/139 B, the first resolution on the White Helmets initiative, and, in view of the success of coordinated actions carried out since then with, inter alia, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Volunteers, to consider their impact and to analyse possible steps and modalities to enhance the integration of the White Helmets initiative within the work of the United Nations system, suggesting appropriate mechanisms and areas, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 58/119 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.44 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 58/119. Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 45/190 of 21 December 1990, 46/150 of 18 December 1991, 47/165 of 18 December 1992, 48/206 of 21 December 1993, 50/134 of 20 December 1995, 52/172 of 16 December 1997, 54/97 of 8 December 1999 and 56/109 of 14 December 2001, as well as its resolution 55/171 of 14 December 2000 on closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and taking note of the decisions adopted by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system in the implementation of those resolutions, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 1990/50 of 13 July 1990, 1991/51 of 26 July 1991 and 1992/38 of 30 July 1992 and Council decision 1993/232 of 22 July 1993, Conscious of the long-term nature of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was a major technological catastrophe in terms of its scope and complexity and created humanitarian, environmental, social, economic and health consequences and problems of common concern, requiring for their solution wide and active international cooperation and coordination of efforts in this field at the international and national levels, Expressing profound concern at the ongoing effects of the consequences of the accident on the lives and health of people, in particular children, in the affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as in other affected countries, Acknowledging the importance of the national efforts being undertaken by the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Noting with appreciation the contribution made by States and by organizations of the United Nations system to the development of cooperation to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, the activities of regional and other organizations and those of non-governmental organizations, as well as bilateral activities, Recognizing the importance of continuing international support to the national efforts of the Governments and civil societies of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as the most affected countries, to mitigate and minimize the persisting negative effects of the Chernobyl disaster on the sustainable development of the affected areas as a result of the radiological, health, socio-economic, psychological and environmental consequences of the disaster, Welcoming the increased role played by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations resident coordinators and the United Nations country teams in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine in helping to address both the developmental and the humanitarian consequences of the catastrophe, Taking note of the United Nations report entitled "The Human Consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: A Strategy for Recovery", prepared on the basis of an international needs assessment undertaken in mid-2001 in the affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Emphasizing the importance of the new developmental approach to tackling the problems caused by the Chernobyl accident, aimed at normalizing the situation of the individuals and communities concerned in the medium and long term, Stressing the continued need for a response to the exceptional Chernobyl-related needs, in particular in the areas of health, ecology and research, as the transition is made from the emergency to the recovery phase of mitigation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, as mentioned in the United Nations report entitled "The Human Consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: A Strategy for Recovery", Welcoming the launch of the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network, with the aim of supporting the ongoing international, national and civil society efforts towards the sustainable development of the affected territories by compiling, consolidating and coordinating relevant scientific research, commissioning further research where required, and making available and ensuring the effective dissemination of its findings, which should allow informed decision-making on the phases of long-term recovery and management with a view to improving the complex and diverse humanitarian, ecological, economic, social and medical situations in those territories, Welcoming also the establishment of the Chernobyl Forum by the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and representatives of the three most affected States, Welcoming further the coordination of the activities of the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network and the Chernobyl Forum, and efforts to ensure the substantial integration of the Forum's assessment of environmental and health consequences into the Network process, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of resolution 56/109,A/58/332. 1. Reaffirms that the United Nations plays an important catalytic and coordinating role in the strengthening of international cooperation to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and commends the contribution made by all other relevant multilateral mechanisms to this end; 2. Welcomes the further practical measures that have been taken by the Secretary-General and the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl to strengthen coordination of the international efforts in that area, especially the launch of the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network; 3. Also welcomes the efforts undertaken by the agencies of the United Nations system and other international organizations members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl to implement a new developmental approach to studying, mitigating and minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular through the development of specific projects, and requests the Inter-Agency Task Force to continue its activities to that end, including through coordinating efforts in the field of resource mobilization; 4. Acknowledges the difficulties faced by the most affected countries in minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and invites States, in particular donor States and all relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, to continue to provide support to the ongoing efforts of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, including through the allocation of adequate funds to support medical, social, economic and ecological programmes related to the disaster; 5. Takes note with satisfaction of the recent development of the Cooperation for Rehabilitation Programme, aimed at promoting better living conditions in and the sustainable development of the affected territories; 6. Emphasizes the important role of the authorities of the affected countries in mitigating the humanitarian and other consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, and welcomes the continued efforts of the affected countries in this regard, including the measures taken with a view to facilitating the work of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, to mitigate the humanitarian and other consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe; 7. Stresses the need for coordinated international cooperation in studying the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, in particular through effective work of the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network, the Chernobyl Forum, the International Chernobyl Centre for nuclear safety, radioactive waste and radioecology, and other research centres from the most affected countries, and invites Member States and all interested parties to take part in their activities; 8. Welcomes the decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States to proclaim 26 April the International Day Commemorating Victims of Radiation Accidents and Catastrophes in the States members of the Commonwealth; 9. Invites Member States to observe this Day and to conduct appropriate activities to commemorate victims of radiation accidents and catastrophes and to enhance public awareness of their consequences for human health and the environment throughout the world; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in the implementation of the relevant General Assembly resolutions and, through existing coordination mechanisms, in particular the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, to continue to maintain close cooperation with the agencies of the United Nations system, as well as with regional and other relevant organizations, while implementing specific Chernobyl-related programmes and projects; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider possible ways to strengthen further the coordination, analytical, advocacy and technical capacities of the United Nations in the field, as well as at Headquarters, as described in the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/332. with due regard to the existing administrative and budgetary capacity of the Organization; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, under a separate sub-item, a report containing a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of all aspects of the present resolution and proposals for innovative measures for optimizing the effectiveness of the response of the international community, including the United Nations, to the Chernobyl disaster, as well as to consider how better to focus international cooperation to achieve a long-term developmental approach for the affected areas, bearing in mind the exceptional Chernobyl-related needs. RESOLUTION 58/11 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 10 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.14 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam 58/11. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially the dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed", Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, resolution 56/5 of 5 November 2001 and resolution 57/6 of 4 November 2002, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that the effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which calls for the active promotion of a culture of peace, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000, entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/56/349. including paragraph 28 thereof, which indicates that each of the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme related to the Programme of Action, Noting the relevance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, as well as the need to implement, as appropriate, the relevant decisions agreed upon therein, Recognizing that all efforts made by the United Nations system in general and the international community at large for peacekeeping, peace-building, the prevention of conflicts, disarmament, sustainable development, the promotion of human dignity and human rights, democracy, the rule of law, good governance and gender equality at the national and international levels contribute greatly to the culture of peace, Noting that its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 on the prevention of armed conflict could contribute to the further promotion of a culture of peace, Taking into account the "Manifesto 2000" initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over seventy-five million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 57/6,See A/58/182. 1. Reiterates that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, is to strengthen further the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Invites Member States to continue to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels; 3. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognizing the promotion of a culture of peace as the expression of its fundamental mandate, and encourages it, as the lead agency for the Decade, to strengthen further the activities it has undertaken for promoting a culture of peace, including the dissemination of the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace and related materials in various languages across the world; 4. Also commends the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the University for Peace, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including the promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, and encourages them to continue and further strengthen and expand their efforts; 5. Encourages the appropriate authorities to provide education, in children's schools, that includes lessons in mutual understanding, tolerance, active citizenship, human rights and the promotion of a culture of peace; 6. Encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to strengthen its efforts in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade, inter alia, by adopting its own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations; 7. Encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; 8. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue the communication and networking arrangements established during the International Year for providing an instant update of developments related to the observance of the Decade; 9. Invites Member States to observe 21 September each year as the International Day of Peace, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001; 10. Invites Member States as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to provide information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 11. Emphasizes the significance of the plenary meetings on the item planned for its sixtieth session,See resolution 55/47, para. 13. and in that regard encourages participation at a high level, and decides to consider, at an appropriate time, the possibility of organizing those meetings as close as possible to the general debate; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 58/120 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.45 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Greece, Grenada, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen 58/120. Special emergency economic assistance for the recovery and the development of the Comoros The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/30 F of 13 December 1996 and 53/1 F of 16 November 1998 on special emergency economic assistance to the Comoros, Noting that since 1995, the Comoros has been subjected to several major events, including a secessionist conflict, which created serious political instability and caused economic and social trauma, Considering that the unfavourable and insular situation of the Comoros, which is among the least developed countries, the decline in the gross domestic product of the country caused by the fall in the prices of its export products, the poverty of its soil, the scarcity of its natural resources and the diminutive size of its domestic market have adverse economic consequences and increase the impoverishment of the population, Aware of the efforts made by the Government of the Comoros to assist the most affected and deprived sectors of the population and to reallocate to that end, as a matter of great urgency, the major part of the budget required for the functioning of the State, 1. Welcomes the signing of the Fomboni Agreement of February 2001, which created prospects for a peaceful resolution of the separatist crisis; 2. Reaffirms its support for South Africa, the African Union, the International Organization of la Francophonie and other countries of the region in the mediation efforts to resolve the Comorian crisis; 3. Welcomes the recommendations contained in the statement signed by the Friends of the Comoros in Paris on 29 October 2003 and the declaration of the Indian Ocean Commission issued in Moroni on 30 October 2003; 4. Urges the Government of the Comoros and the governments of the autonomous islands to pursue the efforts under way, to accelerate the organization of legislative elections and to establish the remaining national institutions as stipulated by the Constitution; 5. Reaffirms that the primary responsibility for the well-being of the people and the development of the economy rests firmly with the Government of the Comoros and the governments of the autonomous islands; 6. Expresses its appreciation to all States and to all the international organizations concerned, including United Nations bodies and specialized agencies, for the assistance they have provided for the relief of the Comoros; 7. Stresses that the financial resources available remain nonetheless insufficient vis-à-vis the most basic needs for ensuring the humanitarian, economic and political recovery of the country; 8. Requests Member States, international organizations and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system, in the event of an agreement between the Comoros and the authorities of the autonomous islands, and while awaiting the finalization of the Fomboni Agreement by early 2004, to direct their financial and technical assistance towards assisting the most affected sectors of the population during and after the transition period, achieving reconstruction and sustainable development and enabling the country to re-engage with the international financial institutions; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to make efforts to mobilize Member States, relevant United Nations specialized agencies and other organizations in order to provide the Comoros with necessary financial, economic and technical assistance, particularly in debt forgiveness, in order to enable it to fully implement the Fomboni Agreement, particularly to organize legislative elections; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with all relevant United Nations departments and specialized agencies, as well as international organizations already working in the Comoros, to gather relevant information and assess the needs of the country and the possible assistance from the international community; 11. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/121 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.46 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay 58/121. Assistance for humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and development for Timor-Leste The General Assembly, Recalling all of its relevant resolutions on the situation in Timor-Leste, Recalling also all of the relevant Security Council resolutions and decisions on the situation in Timor-Leste, in particular resolutions 1473 (2003) of 4 April 2003 and 1480 (2003) of 19 May 2003, acknowledging the ongoing crucial role of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor and the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in assisting the people of Timor-Leste, Recognizing the essential role played by the international community, including the United Nations, other inter-governmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations, in supporting the nation-building process of Timor-Leste, Acknowledging the progress made in the transition from relief and rehabilitation to development in Timor-Leste, while noting continuing vulnerabilities, including the need to strengthen the preparedness and response capacity of the Government of Timor-Leste for addressing humanitarian emergencies, and the significant challenges of rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, in particular in the initial years of independence, Emphasizing the need for continued international assistance to support the development of Timor-Leste in, inter alia, the education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, judicial, public administration and law enforcement sectors, Welcoming the efforts of the Government of Indonesia and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees of Timor-Leste in the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara, in facilitating their return to and reintegration in Timor-Leste or in assisting with their local integration and resettlement, as appropriate, in Indonesia, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/280. 2. Also welcomes the commitment of the international community to meet the external requirements for rehabilitation, reconstruction and development activities for Timor-Leste; 3. Urges the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations to continue to support the Government and the people of Timor-Leste in their endeavours towards self-sustainable nation-building and in facing the remaining vulnerabilities and challenges, such as nationwide capacity-building in all sectors, national reconciliation and the voluntary return of the remaining refugees to Timor-Leste, and sustainable development; 4. Acknowledges that a transparent, effective and functioning democratic governmental administration is crucial to fostering a stable and secure social, economic and political environment in Timor-Leste, and in this regard urges the international community to continue to support efforts aimed at institution-building and the training of civil servants, in particular in the areas of public finances and senior management and in the development and maintenance of central and local administrative systems of government; 5. Also acknowledges the need to expedite the development of the justice sector of Timor-Leste, and in this regard urges further international support in the areas of law enforcement, the judiciary and the prison system; 6. Welcomes the continuing response of the international community to the need for food aid, and calls upon the United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations, Member States and non-governmental organizations to assist Timor-Leste in ensuring sustainable development in the areas of agriculture, livestock and fisheries; 7. Welcomes with appreciation the assistance provided by Member States, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the World Food Programme and all other international and non-governmental organizations in response to the appeals by the Government of Timor-Leste during the floods and drought; 8. Takes note with appreciation of the progress made in rehabilitating infrastructure, and recommends that outstanding infrastructure needs remain a focus of international assistance in such areas as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of public buildings, educational facilities, roads and public services; 9. Commends the continuous international response in providing health services to the general population, including the early deployment of immunization and disease prevention programmes and reproductive health-care and child nutrition programmes, while recognizing the need for further assistance to rebuild hospitals, train health-care professionals and enhance capacity-building to meet the challenges to public health posed by such diseases as tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS; 10. Welcomes the progress made in the rehabilitation of schools, the supply and distribution of educational materials and teacher training, while emphasizing the need for capacity-building, particularly in the area of secondary and higher education, and for continued attention to the rehabilitation needs, including psychosocial support, of children affected by violence; 11. Also welcomes the growing participation of the women of Timor-Leste in all aspects of society, and encourages further efforts to address gender issues, including the needs for research, services and appropriate legislation in order to combat domestic violence and other gender-related crimes; 12. Further welcomes the continuing efforts made by the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation to facilitate national reconciliation and the return of refugees to Timor-Leste; 13. Welcomes the commitment and contribution made by the Government of Indonesia and by the international community to the Special Fund established for former employees and pensioners of the Government of Indonesia in Timor-Leste and the progress made by the United Nations Development Programme in disbursing funds from the Special Fund, and encourages the international community to consider increasing its contributions; 14. Also welcomes the holding, in Dili in September 2003, of the second meeting of the Joint Ministerial Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, which emphasized the importance of good relations and of further enhancing and facilitating cooperation in all areas of common interest; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 58/122 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.47 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58/122. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 53/87 of 7 December 1998, 54/192 of 17 December 1999, 55/175 of 19 December 2000, 56/217 of 21 December 2001 and 57/155 of 16 December 2002 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, as well as resolutions 52/167 of 16 December 1997 on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and 52/126 of 12 December 1997 on protection of United Nations personnel, and Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/5 of 15 July 2003, Welcoming the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003 on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflictS/2001/331 and S/2002/1300. and of Security Council resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 and the recommendations made therein, as well as the statements by the President of the Council of 30 November 1999, on the role of the Council in the prevention of armed conflicts,S/PRST/1999/34; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. 13 January 2000, on humanitarian assistance to refugees in Africa,S/PRST/2000/1; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. 9 February 2000, on protection of United Nations personnel, its associated personnel and humanitarian personnel in conflict zones,S/PRST/2000/4; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. 9 March 2000, on humanitarian aspects of issues before the Council,S/PRST/2000/7; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 2000. and 15 March 2002, on the aide-memoire for the consideration of issues pertaining to the protection of civilians in armed conflict,S/PRST/2002/6; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and noting in that context the range of views expressed during all open debates of the Council on these issues, Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Concerned by the increasingly difficult context in which humanitarian assistance takes place in some areas, in particular the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to improve the current security management system in order to improve their safety and security, Gravely concerned at the acts of violence in many parts of the world against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, in particular deliberate attacks, which are in violation of international humanitarian law as well as other international law that may be applicable, Expressing profound regret at the deaths of all international and national humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel who were involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, and strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among such personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part, often at great personal risk, in humanitarian operations, especially of locally recruited staff, Strongly condemning acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault, intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of their property, Emphasizing that there are existing prohibitions under international law against attacks knowingly and intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission undertaken in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, which in situations of armed conflicts constitute war crimes, Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. which entered into force on 1 July 2002, and noting the role that the Court could play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Expressing concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the ability of the Organization to provide assistance and protection to civilians in fulfilment of its mandate under the Charter, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, Bearing in mind that reaching the vulnerable is essential for providing adequate protection and assistance in the context of natural disasters and complex emergencies as well as for strengthening local capacity to cope with humanitarian needs in such contexts, Welcoming the fact that the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Resolution 49/59, annex. which entered into force on 15 January 1999, has been ratified or acceded to by sixty-nine States as at the present date, and mindful of the need to promote universality of the Convention, Reaffirming the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and humanitarian personnel and a culture of accountability at all levels, Reaffirming also that ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel constitutes an underlying duty of the Organization, which must be based on a necessary cost-sharing arrangement with the relevant agencies, funds and programmes within the United Nations system, Guided by the relevant provisions on protection contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947,Resolution 179 (II). the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/344. while noting that it does not cover developments after 30 June 2003; 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as the relevant provisions of human rights and refugee law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Also urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the 1949 Geneva ConventionsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the safety and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, to refrain from abducting or detaining them in violation of their immunity under relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm, any abductee or detainee; 5. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 6. Strongly condemns any act or failure to act, contrary to international law, which obstructs or prevents humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel from discharging their humanitarian functions, or which entails being subjected to threats, the use of force or physical attack, frequently resulting in injury or death, and affirms the need to hold accountable those who commit such acts and, for that purpose, the need to enact national legislation, as appropriate; 7. Expresses deep concern that, over the past decade, threats against the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel have escalated at an unprecedented rate and that perpetrators of acts of violence seemingly operate with impunity; 8. Strongly urges all States to take stronger actions to ensure that any threat or act of violence committed against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel on their territory is investigated fully and to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice in accordance with international law and national law, and notes the need for States to end impunity for such acts; 9. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, in particular the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel;Resolution 49/59, annex. 10. Also calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. 11. Further calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies,Resolution 179 (II). which have been ratified so far by one hundred and forty-eight States and one hundred and eight States, respectively; 12. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of the arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations and its associated personnel, to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation who have been arrested or detained in violation of their immunity, in accordance with the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 13. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel to observe and respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, and to continue to consider ways and means to strengthen the protection of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, notably by seeking the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarters and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and its associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 15. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, among others, those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission and host country agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements; 16. Takes note with appreciation of the work being done by the Ad Hoc Committee established in accordance with resolution 56/89 of 12 December 2001, which will be reconvened in accordance with resolution 58/82 of 9 December 2003, with a mandate to expand the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, including by means of a legal instrument; 17. Welcomes the ongoing initiatives undertaken by the Secretary-General following the publication of the report of the Independent Panel on the Safety and Security of United Nations Personnel in Iraq headed by Martti Ahtisaari, and requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in this regard as a matter of the highest priority, and to inform the General Assembly accordingly; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called upon to operate, including relevant customs and traditions in the host country, and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant domestic and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights and international humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations humanitarian assistance operation are properly informed about and operate in conformity with the minimum operating security standards and relevant codes of conduct; 20. Further requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, falling within his responsibilities, to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the Secretariat and the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, including by disseminating and enhancing the security procedures and regulations, to create awareness and consciousness by the United Nations personnel of those procedures and regulations and the need to follow them, and to ensure that security matters are an integral part of the planning for existing and newly mandated United Nations operations and that such precautions extend to all United Nations and its associated personnel; 21. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to further enhance the security management system of the United Nations, and in this regard invites the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to strengthen the analysis of threats to their safety and security in order to minimize security risks and to facilitate informed decisions on the maintenance of an effective presence in the field, inter alia, to fulfil their humanitarian mandate; 22. Emphasizes the need to give further consideration to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who account for the majority of casualties; 23. Also emphasizes the importance of paying special attention to the safety and security of United Nations and its associated personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and peace-building operations; 24. Stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training, including physical and psychological training, prior to their deployment to the field, the need to attach a high priority to the improvement of stress and trauma counselling services available to United Nations staff members, including through the implementation of a comprehensive security and stress and trauma management training, support and assistance programme for United Nations staff throughout the system, before, during and after missions, and the need to make available to the Secretary-General the means for that purpose; 25. Recognizes the need for a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, both at the headquarters and the field levels, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures to that end; 26. Requests the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator to continue to play a central role in promoting increased cooperation and collaboration among agencies, funds and programmes in the planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security training and awareness and in strengthening the Inter-Agency Security Management Network, and calls upon all relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to support these efforts; 27. Recognizes the need for enhanced coordination and cooperation, both at the headquarters and the field levels, between the United Nations security management system and non-governmental organizations on matters relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, with a view to addressing mutual security concerns in the field; 28. Underlines the need to allocate adequate and predictable resources to the safety and security of United Nations personnel, including through the Consolidated Appeals Process, and encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System; 29. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, calls upon States to consider acceding to or ratifying the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998, and encourages them to facilitate and expedite, consistent with their national laws and regulations, the use of communications equipment in such operations, and emphasizes the importance of States facilitating communications, inter alia, through limiting and, whenever possible, lifting the restrictions placed on the use of communications equipment by United Nations and its associated personnel; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a comprehensive and updated report on the safety and security situation of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution, including the progress made by the Secretary-General in pursuing accountability and assessing responsibility for all individual security incidents that involve United Nations and its associated personnel at all levels throughout the United Nations system, as well as an account of the measures taken by Governments and the United Nations to prevent and respond to such incidents. RESOLUTION 58/123 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 169 to 1, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.31/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ireland, Italy, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Rwanda Abstaining: None 58/123. Special assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on special assistance for the economic recovery and reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling also all resolutions of the Security Council and the statements by its President regarding the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all States in the region, Gravely concerned at the dire humanitarian, economic and social situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and at the effects on the inhabitants of the continued fighting in the eastern part, resulting in the continuing plight of the civilian population, and calling for its protection, taking into account the particular needs of women and girls, Deeply concerned at the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and at its disproportionate effect on women and girls, Expressing its deep concern at the dire consequences of the conflict for the humanitarian and human rights situations in the country, and at the continuing lack of sufficient access to vulnerable people, Gravely concerned by the continued illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a source of further conflict, and reaffirming in this regard its commitment to respect the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of the Congo over its natural resources, Gravely concerned also at the negative impact of war on the promotion of sustainable development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region, Deeply concerned about the continued extensive destruction of life and property, as well as the severe damage to infrastructure and the environment suffered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bearing in mind the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo hosts thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries, which places a great burden on its limited resources, and expressing the hope that conditions will be created that facilitate a safe and voluntary return of refugees, Recalling that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a least developed country with severe economic and social problems arising from its weak economic infrastructure and aggravated by the ongoing conflict, Bearing in mind the close interrelationship between ensuring peace and security and the ability of the country to meet the humanitarian needs of its people and to take effective steps towards the rapid revitalization of the economy, and reaffirming the urgent need to assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of its damaged economy and in its efforts to restore basic services and the infrastructure of the country, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/273. 2. Welcomes the conclusion of the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed in Pretoria on 17 December 2002 and the subsequent establishment of the Government of National Unity and Transition, and encourages the effective establishment of all transitional institutions; 3. Also welcomes the declaration of Principles on Good-Neighbourly Relations and Cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda,A/58/428-S/2003/983, annex. which marked the successful conclusion of the high-level meeting held on 25 September 2003 under the auspices of the Secretary-General; 4. Further welcomes the efforts of the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Angola, and all the Central African countries, as well as the important role of the Secretary-General, in facilitating the adoption of these agreements; 5. Urges all parties concerned in the region to cease military activities and to cease any support for armed groups, and rather to use their influence to support the transition and bring all within the dynamic of the transition; 6. Strongly condemns the acts of violence, including the latest massacres in Ituri, systematically perpetrated against civilians, including the massacres, as well as other atrocities and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, in particular sexual violence against women and girls, stresses the need to bring to justice those responsible, including those at the command level, and urges all parties, including the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to take all necessary steps to prevent further violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, in particular those committed against civilians; 7. Welcomes the work of the Interim Emergency Multinational Force in Bunia led by the European Union, and the subsequent efforts of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help secure the Ituri region; 8. Recognizes the importance of an effective withdrawal of all foreign troops from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 9. Urges all parties concerned in the region to cease any recruitment, training and use of child soldiers, which are contrary to international law, welcomes the initial steps taken by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to demobilize and reintegrate child soldiers, in particular through education, and urges the Government and all parties to continue their efforts in this context, and to take into account the particular needs of girl ex-combatants; 10. Invites donors to strengthen their support for the efforts of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to demobilize and repatriate armed groups currently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to encourage the transitional Government and all parties to the conflict to cooperate with the Organization Mission in achieving a climate of security and trust, the support of neighbouring countries in this process being essential; 11. Emphasizes that the consolidation of peace and the resumption of economic activity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are inextricably linked, and calls for further international economic assistance in this regard; 12. Encourages the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to pursue the implementation of economic reforms aimed at stabilizing the macroeconomic framework so that conditions for sustainable growth can be created; 13. Urges all parties to fully respect international humanitarian law and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all affected populations throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the safety of United Nations and humanitarian personnel; 14. Calls upon the international community to increase its support for humanitarian relief activities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 15. Urges all parties to permit free and unhindered movement of the population, which is essential, inter alia, to the resumption of economic activities; 16. Expresses its deep concern especially at the very serious, dire humanitarian situation in Ituri, and calls on all Congolese parties on the ground to cooperate fully, in general, with the institutions of the transition, and, in particular, with the Ituri Pacification Commission; 17. Also expresses its deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation throughout the country and the very high number of internally displaced persons in the eastern part and, in particular, in the Ituri region, and urges all parties to avoid further population displacement and to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of origin; 18. Stresses the importance of the restoration of river traffic, welcomes in this regard the reopening of the Congo and Oubangui Rivers, and expresses its support for the establishment of a Congo River Basin Commission; 19. Calls for the reopening of the Kisangani-Kindu rail and river link to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as the resupply access for humanitarian personnel; 20. Encourages the continued cooperation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the United Nations, the specialized agencies, international financial institutions and other organizations, including non-governmental organizations, in addressing the need for rehabilitation and reconstruction, and welcomes in this regard their renewed dialogue and cooperation; 21. Renews its urgent appeal to the executive boards of the United Nations funds and programmes to continue to keep under consideration the special needs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and stresses the need to mainstream an appropriate gender perspective within overall reconstruction efforts; 22. Welcomes the inclusion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; 23. Urges the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to implement national comprehensive strategies to monitor and manage external liabilities, embedded in the domestic preconditions for debt sustainability, including sound macroeconomic and public resource management; 24. Welcomes initiatives that have been undertaken to reduce outstanding indebtedness, and invites further national and international measures in that direction, including, as appropriate, debt cancellation and other arrangements; 25. Invites the development partners to cover the funding shortfall of the Emergency Multisectoral Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Programme and support civil service reform and efforts to reunify the country; 26. Invites Governments to continue providing support to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 27. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To ensure through his Special Representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who convenes the International Committee in Support of the Transition, the coordination of all the activities of the United Nations system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the facilitation of the coordination with other national and international actors of activities in support of the transition, and welcomes to that effect the adoption of new coordination mechanisms aimed at ensuring a coherent and effective response to the multifaceted humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (b) To continue to consult with regional leaders, in coordination with the President of the African Union, about ways to bring about a peaceful and durable solution to the conflict; (c) To continue to consult with regional leaders, in coordination with the President of the African Union, in order to prepare an international conference on peace, security and development in Central Africa and in the Great Lakes region, under the auspices of the United Nations and the African Union, to address the problems of the region in a comprehensive manner; (d) To keep under review the humanitarian and economic situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to promoting participation in and support for a programme of financial and material assistance to the country to enable it to meet urgent needs in terms of economic recovery and reconstruction; (e) To submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the actions taken pursuant to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/124 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.11/Rev.2 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Canada, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mongolia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Zambia 58/124. United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, 2002 The General Assembly, Recalling the international conventions dealing with the protection of cultural and natural heritage, including the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict adopted at The Hague in 1954United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,Ibid., vol. 823, No. 11806. and the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage,Ibid., vol. 1037, No. 15511. as well as the 1989 Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and FolkloreUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-fifth Session, Paris, 17 October-16 November 1989, vol. 1: Resolutions, annex I.B. and the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, resolution 25, annex I. Welcoming the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage by one hundred and seventy-six States parties, and noting the inscription of seven hundred and fifty-four sites on the World Heritage List, Noting the adoption of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001,Ibid., resolution 24. Mindful of the importance of protecting the world cultural tangible and intangible heritage as a common ground for the promotion of mutual understanding and enrichment among cultures and civilizations, Noting the work already undertaken to protect the world cultural and natural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, including international campaigns, Recalling its resolutions 56/8 of 21 November 2001, in which it proclaimed 2002 the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, and 57/158 of 16 December 2002, in which it declared the Year concluded, 1. Notes the activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization undertaken during the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-second session, on 17 October 2003;Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Paris, 29 September-17 October 2003, vol. 1: Resolutions, resolution 32. 3. Welcomes the adoption of the Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 17 October 2003;Ibid., resolution 33, annex. 4. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in collaboration with Member States, observers, relevant United Nations bodies, within their respective mandates, other international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, to continue to intensify the implementation of programmes, activities and projects aimed at the promotion and protection of the world cultural heritage; 5. Invites Member States and observers to continue to promote education and raise public awareness so as to foster respect for national and world cultural heritage. RESOLUTION 58/125 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Credentials Committee (A/58/625) 58/125. Credentials of representatives to the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Credentials CommitteeA/58/625. and the recommendation contained therein, Approves the report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 58/126 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.49/Rev.1, as orally revised, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 58/126. Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the revitalization of its work,Resolutions 46/77 of 12 December 1991, 47/233 of 17 August 1993, 48/264 of 29 July 1994, 51/193 of 17 December 1996, 51/241 of 31 July 1997, 52/163 of 15 December 1997, 55/14 of 3 November 2000, 55/285 of 7 September 2001, 56/509 of 8 July 2002, 57/300 of 20 December 2002 and 57/301 of 13 March 2003. Aware of the need to enhance its authority and role and to improve its working methods, Decides to adopt the text contained in the annex to the present resolution. Annex A. Enhancing the authority and role of the General Assembly In order to enhance the authority and role of the General Assembly, it is decided that: 1. Member States reaffirm the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. on the central position of the General Assembly. 2. The Security Council is invited to submit periodically, in accordance with Article 24 of the Charter, special subject-oriented reports to the General Assembly for its consideration on issues of current international concern. 3. The Security Council is invited to continue with initiatives to improve the quality of its annual report to the General Assembly, mandated by Article 24, paragraph 3, of the Charter, in order to provide the Assembly with a substantive, analytical and material account of its work, in accordance with resolution 51/193. 4. In carrying out the assessment of the debate on the annual report of the Security Council called for in resolution 51/241, annex, paragraph 12, the President shall inform the General Assembly of his decision regarding the need for further consideration of the Security Council report, including in respect of the convening of informal consultations, on the need for, and content of, any action by the Assembly based on the debate, as well as on any matters to be brought to the attention of the Security Council. 5. The President of the General Assembly should continue to be briefed regularly by the President of the Security Council on the work of the Council. The President of the Assembly may wish to inform Member States about the substantive issues raised during these meetings. 6. The Presidents of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council should meet together periodically with a view to ensuring increased cooperation, coordination and complementarity of the work programmes of the three organs in accordance with their respective responsibilities under the Charter. In this connection, the President of the Security Council may wish to discuss the plans of the Security Council for thematic debates with the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Economic and Social Council. The President of the Assembly will inform Member States about the outcome of these meetings. 7. In June of each year, the President-elect of the General Assembly, after taking into account the views provided by Member States and following consultations with the incumbent President and the Secretary-General, will suggest an issue, or issues, of global concern upon which Member States will be invited to comment during the general debate at the forthcoming session of the Assembly. The views provided by Member States should also be summarized and circulated to Member States. Such suggestions regarding the issue(s) for comment will be without prejudice to the sovereign right of Member States to solely and entirely determine the content of their general debate statements. 8. The work and decisions of the General Assembly should be better publicized. Accordingly, the support provided by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat for these purposes should be intensified and strengthened. The Secretary-General is requested to present a plan to this end, within existing resources, to the next session of the Committee on Information, so that recommendations can be made to the Assembly. 9. Member States and the Secretariat should consider initiatives that might be taken for better monitoring of the follow-up of resolutions of the General Assembly, such as the provision of timely inputs for reports of the Secretary-General and giving effect to proposals that would advance the follow-up of major United Nations conferences and summits. 10. The resources available to the Office of the President of the General Assembly in personnel and other support shall be augmented from within existing resources, bearing in mind the provisions of paragraph 22 of the annex to resolution 55/285. Five additional posts shall be made available to supplement current support, of which three shall be filled on an annual basis, following consultations with the incoming President, beginning at the fifty-ninth session of the Assembly. 11. Transitional office accommodation and other support shall be provided to the President-elect of the General Assembly. The Secretary-General is requested to make the necessary arrangements for the provision of such support, within existing resources, beginning with the President-elect of the fifty-ninth session of the Assembly. B. Improving the working methods of the General Assembly The working methods of the General Assembly need to be further rationalized in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness and to make its outcomes more productive. Towards this end: 1. The General Committee shall meet throughout the session and further improve its working methods to increase its efficiency and effectiveness. It will play the leading role in advising the General Assembly on the efficient organization, coordination and management of its work. In this connection, the Assembly will also consider proposals to reform the General Committee. 2. The work of the Main Committees of the General Assembly might benefit if it is scheduled over two substantive periods during the session. The rescheduling of the work of the Main Committees should not lead to additional costs, additional or longer meetings, or staggered work schedules of the Main Committees. With a view to enabling the Assembly to consider changes in this regard, with effect from the sixtieth session of the Assembly, the Secretary-General is requested to present, by 1 February 2004, various options for consideration by the General Committee, taking into account the requirements of the relevant intergovernmental bodies and the different locations of their meetings and the budget cycle. The General Committee shall hold open-ended discussions on the options presented by the Secretary-General before making recommendations to the Assembly for its decision by 1 July 2004. 3. The General Assembly will consider convening more interactive debates. At the beginning of each session, the General Committee, following recommendations from the President of the General Assembly, shall recommend to the Assembly a programme of, and format for, interactive debates during that session on items on its agenda. 4. With a view to better conceptualization of the content of the agenda of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General is requested to submit to the Assembly, for its consideration by 1 March 2004, an illustrative agenda of the Assembly, based on all the agenda items of the fifty-eighth session, organized around the priorities of the Organization for the period 2002-2005.{{{ For the priorities of the Organization for the period 2002-2005: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, see paragraph 26 of the introduction to the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 (Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/55/6/Rev.1)) adopted in resolution 55/234.}}} The General Committee shall hold open-ended discussions on the illustrative agenda before making recommendations on the matter to the Assembly for its decision by 1 July 2004. 5. It would be advantageous for the General Assembly to have a shorter agenda to ensure the fullest discussion of all issues, so that its decisions may have greater impact. Accordingly, the President of the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, in consultation with the Secretary-General, and following consultations with concerned Member States, is requested to make proposals for the further biennialization, triennialization, clustering and elimination of items of the customary agenda of the Assembly for the consideration of the General Committee by 1 April 2004. The General Committee shall hold open-ended discussions on the proposals before making recommendations on the matter to the Assembly for its decision by 1 July 2004. 6. General Assembly resolutions should be more concise, focused and action-oriented. Where practical, more actions taken by the Assembly should be in the form of decisions. Preambular paragraphs in resolutions of the Assembly should normally be kept to the minimum. 7. The heavy volume of documentation that is submitted to the General Assembly for its consideration should be reduced. In this regard, the Secretary-General is requested to continue his efforts to make proposals to Member States for the consolidation of reports on related subjects in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 20 of resolution 57/300. The proposals on a shorter agenda should be accompanied by related proposals for a reduction in the volume of documentation. 8. The Main Committees of the General Assembly are bound by the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, although they have different practices and working methods. With a view to identifying best practices and working methods, and recognizing the ongoing efforts of the Main Committees to streamline their work, the Secretary-General, drawing on the experience of previous Chairmen of the Main Committees, is requested to submit a historical and analytical note on the practices and working methods of the Main Committees for the consideration of the General Committee by 1 April 2004. The General Committee shall hold open-ended discussions on the note before making recommendations on the matter to the Assembly for its decision by 1 July 2004. 9. In accordance with paragraph 2 (a) and (c) of resolution 56/509, the General Assembly elects the President of the Assembly, the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly, and the Chairmen of the Main Committees at least three months before the opening of the session in which they will serve. In order to foster better advance planning and preparation of the work of the Main Committees, the full Bureaux of the Main Committees shall similarly be elected three months in advance of the next session. RESOLUTION 58/127 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.50 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zambia 58/127. Assistance in mine action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/159 of 16 December 2002 and all its previous resolutions on assistance in mine clearance and mine action, all adopted without a vote, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has a significant role to play in the field of assistance in mine action, and considering mine action to be an important and integrated component of United Nations humanitarian and development activities, Reaffirming its deep concern at the tremendous humanitarian and development problems caused by the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance that constitute an obstacle to the return of refugees and other displaced persons, to humanitarian aid operations and to reconstruction and economic development, as well as to the restoration of normal social conditions, and that have serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the populations of mine-affected countries, Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and other unexploded ordnance pose to the safety, health and lives of local civilian populations, as well as of personnel participating in humanitarian, peacekeeping and rehabilitation programmes and operations, Encouraged by the reduction in the number of new mine victims, but reiterating its dismay at the existing high number of victims of mines and other unexploded ordnance, especially among civilian populations, including women and children, and recalling in this context its resolution 57/190 of 18 December 2002 and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/49 of 23 April 2003, on the human rights of persons with disabilities, and 2003/86 of 25 April 2003, on the rights of the child,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Deeply alarmed by the number of mines that continue to be laid each year, as well as the presence of a decreasing but still very large number of mines and other unexploded ordnance as a result of armed conflicts, and therefore remaining convinced of the necessity and urgency of a significant increase in mine-clearance efforts by the international community with a view to eliminating the threat of landmines to civilians as soon as possible, Noting the inclusion in Amended Protocol IICCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. of a number of provisions of importance for mine-clearance operations, notably the requirement of detectability, and provision of information and technical and material assistance necessary to remove or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines and booby traps, and noting also that Amended Protocol II to the Convention entered into force on 3 December 1998, Noting also the conclusions and recommendations adopted at the FourthCCW/AP.II/CONF.4/3 (Part I), sect. IV. and FifthSee CCW/AP.II.CONF.5/2. Annual Conferences of the States Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, held in Geneva on 11 December 2002 and on 26 November 2003, respectively, Noting further the new additional Protocol to address the post-conflict impact of explosive remnants of war adopted by the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, held in Geneva on 27 and 28 November 2003,CCW/GGE/VI/2, annex II. and noting the agreement reached on mandates for further work by the same Meeting, Noting that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. which entered into force on 1 March 1999, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations therein to one hundred and forty-one, Noting also the conclusions of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, held in Bangkok from 15 to 19 September 2003,See APLC/MSP.5/2003/5. taking note of the reaffirmed commitments that were made by the States parties in the Bangkok Declaration,Ibid., part II. among other things, to pursue efforts related to the core humanitarian objectives of the Convention, urging all States parties and relevant organizations to participate actively in the work of the intersessional programme established by States parties to the Convention, and taking note also that the First Review Conference, to which the Secretary-General will be invited, will be held in Nairobi, from 29 November to 3 December 2004, Stressing the need to convince mine-affected States to halt new deployments of anti-personnel mines in order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of mine-clearance operations, Stressing also the pressing need to urge non-State actors to halt immediately and unconditionally new deployments of mines and other associated explosive devices, Recognizing the importance of assisting mine clearance in mine-affected countries by ensuring that the necessary maps and information and appropriate technical and material assistance are provided to help to remove existing minefields, mines, booby traps and other unexploded ordnance, Noting that the resources allocated to mine-action activities have increased in recent years, but stressing the need to mobilize additional resources and to secure the best possible utilization of such resources, particularly for victim assistance, in order to meet increasing requirements, and encouraging all States, the United Nations and other international, regional and non-governmental and private organizations to continue their efforts in this regard, Concerned at the limited availability of safe and cost-effective mine-detection and mine-clearance equipment, as well as the need for effective global coordination in research and development to improve relevant technologies, and conscious of the need to promote further and more rapid progress in this field and to foster international, national and local technical cooperation to that end, Reaffirming the need to reinforce cooperation and coordination in the area of mine action at all levels and to devote the necessary resources to that end, including resources to support national and regional capacity-building initiatives, where applicable, and the work of the United Nations in this regard, Noting with appreciation the finalization of an emergency response plan by the United Nations to respond to emergency mine-action requirements, Welcoming the various established mine-action coordination centres, as well as the creation and existence of international trust funds for mine-action activities, Noting with satisfaction the inclusion in the mandates of several peacekeeping operations of provisions relating to mine-action work carried out under the direction of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, in the context of such operations, Commending the action taken by donor and recipient Governments, the United Nations system, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations to coordinate their efforts and seek solutions to the problems related to the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance, as well as their assistance to victims of mines, Welcoming the role of the Secretary-General in increasing public awareness of the problem of landmines, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on assistance in mine actionA/58/260. and the recommendations contained therein, and takes note with appreciation of the revised mine-action strategy contained in the addendum to the report;A/58/260/Add.1. 2. Calls, in particular, for the continuation of the efforts of States, with the assistance of the United Nations and relevant organizations involved in mine action, as appropriate, to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries in which mines and other unexploded ordnance constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population or an impediment to social and economic development efforts at the national and local levels, and urges all Member States, in particular those that have the capacity to do so, to assist mine-affected countries in the establishment and development of national capacities in mine action; 3. Invites Member States to develop and support national programmes, where appropriate, in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations system and relevant regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations, to reduce the risks posed by landmines and other unexploded ordnance, including among women and children; 4. Expresses its appreciation to Governments, regional organizations and other donors for their financial and in-kind contributions to mine action, including contributions for emergency operations, peacekeeping operations and for national and local capacity-building programmes; 5. Encourages efforts to conduct mine action in accordance with accepted national and international standards, including International Mine Action Standards, and also encourages all States involved in mine action, including troop-contributing countries conducting mine action in peacekeeping operations, to follow these standards, as applicable; 6. Emphasizes the importance of using an information management system, such as the Information Management System for Mine Action, in full coordination with the United Nations Mine Action Service and with the instrumental support of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining; 7. Appeals to Governments, regional organizations and other donors to continue and, whenever possible, increase their support to mine action through reliable, predictable and timely contributions, including contributions through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action as well as to national mine-action efforts and humanitarian mine-action programmes of non-governmental organizations, to allow for the timely delivery of mine-action assistance, and stresses that such assistance should be integrated into broader humanitarian, development and other strategies; 8. Stresses the importance of international support for emergency assistance to victims of mines and other unexploded ordnance and for the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of the victims, and also stresses that such assistance should be integrated into broader public health and socio-economic strategies; 9. Encourages all relevant multilateral and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine action in their humanitarian, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development assistance activities, where appropriate, bearing in mind the need to ensure national and local ownership, sustainability and capacity-building; 10. Encourages Member States, the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations to take further action to mainstream a gender perspective and integrate gender and age-appropriate considerations in all aspects of mine-action programming, particularly including programmes to reduce the number of child victims and relieve their plight; 11. Stresses the importance of cooperation and coordination in mine action, while emphasizing once again the important role of the United Nations in the effective coordination of mine-action activities, based on the United Nations policy on mine action and effective coordination,See A/53/496, annex II. and especially the role of the Mine Action Service, stresses also the important role that national authorities and regional organizations can play in this regard, as well as the important role of relevant non-governmental organizations, and underlines the need for the continuous assessment of these roles by the General Assembly; 12. Emphasizes the role of the Mine Action Service as the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system and its ongoing collaboration with and coordination of all mine-related activities of the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and in this regard expresses its appreciation of the roles played by other bodies of the United Nations system, in accordance with United Nations mine-action policy; 13. Urges Member States and regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to continue to extend full assistance and cooperation to the Secretary-General and, in particular, to provide him with information and data, as well as other appropriate resources that could be useful in strengthening the coordination role of the United Nations in mine action; 14. Takes note with appreciation of the Mine Action Guidelines for Ceasefire and Peace Agreements,The Guidelines are available from E-MINE at www.mineaction.org. requests the Secretary-General to make them widely available to United Nations mediators, moderators, special representatives of the Secretary-General and others, as appropriate, and calls upon all parties to conflict to incorporate provisions on mine action, where relevant, in ceasefire and peace agreements or other relevant arrangements; 15. Takes note of the potential that mine action can have as a peace and confidence-building measure in post-conflict situations among concerned parties; 16. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to propose, where appropriate, provisions related to mine action in his recommendations to the Security Council for peacekeeping operations; 17. Emphasizes the importance of undertaking further multisectoral assessments and surveys to better define the nature, scope and impact of the landmine and other unexploded ordnance problem in affected countries and to support the establishment of clear priorities and national economic and development plans of action, underlining the need for the participation of populations of mine-affected areas in this regard; 18. Notes with appreciation the ongoing development by the United Nations of the International Mine Action Standards, with the assistance of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and other partners in mine action, to support the safe and effective conduct of mine-action activities, and emphasizes the need for an inclusive process to be followed in the development and review of such standards and the importance of developing in mine-affected countries national mine-action standards based on the International Mine Action Standards; 19. Recognizes the importance of building national capacities for and ownership of mine-action programmes, encourages the further establishment of national mine-action centres, including those supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Children's Fund as well as those established under the auspices of the Mine Action Service in emergency situations, and encourages States to support the activities of those centres and the trust funds established for the coordination of assistance in mine action and the promotion of national ownership; 20. Requests the Mine Action Service to continue developing the electronic mine information network as a user-friendly repository of mine-related information and as a means for mine-action programmes to circulate on a regular basis to donors and other partners standard reports on the scope and impact of the mine problem, available mine-action resources and capacities and the progress achieved in the field; 21. Emphasizes the importance of recording the location of mines, of retaining all such records and making them available to concerned parties upon cessation of hostilities, and welcomes the strengthening of the relevant provisions in international law; 22. Calls upon Member States, especially those that have the capacity to do so, to provide the necessary information and technical, financial and material assistance, as appropriate, and to locate, remove, destroy or otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines, booby traps and other devices, in accordance with international law, as soon as possible; 23. Urges Member States and regional, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations that have the ability to do so to provide, as appropriate, technological assistance to mine-affected countries and to promote user-oriented scientific research on and development of mine-action techniques and technology, within reasonable time frames, so that mine-action activities may be carried out more safely and cost-effectively, and also urges them to promote collaboration at all levels in this regard; 24. Invites States to explore the possibility of strengthening internationally negotiated and non-discriminatory legal instruments that address landmines and other unexploded ordnance, as well as their victims; 25. Takes note with appreciation of the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to increase public awareness of the impact of the problem of landmines and unexploded ordnance; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the progress achieved on all relevant issues outlined both in his previous reports to the Assembly on assistance in mine action and in the present resolution, including the progress made by the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international and regional organizations as well as national programmes, and on the operation of the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action and other mine-action programmes, as well as a report on the first implementation of the emergency response plan and lessons learned from this experience and on the implementation of the strategy for the period 2001-2005;A/58/260/Add.1. 27. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Assistance in mine action". RESOLUTION 58/128 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.52 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Georgia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Sudan, Tunisia 58/128. Promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Underlining the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, and recalling that all States have pledged themselves under the Charter to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Affirming that inter-religious dialogue is an integral part of the efforts to translate shared values, as reflected in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. into actions, in particular the efforts to promote a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, Recalling its resolution 57/6 of 4 November 2002, in which it invited Member States to expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence at the national, regional and international levels, Recalling also its other relevant resolutions, Recalling with satisfaction the proclamation of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations,Resolution 56/6. bearing in mind the valuable contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Recalling the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. and the principles contained therein, Emphasizing the need, at all levels of society and among nations, for strengthening freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, respect for diversity of culture and religion or belief, dialogue and understanding, which are important elements for peace, Reaffirming that freedom of expression, media pluralism, multilingualism, equal access to art and to scientific and technological knowledge, including in digital form, and the possibility for all cultures to have access to the means of expression and dissemination are the guarantees of cultural diversity, and that in ensuring the free flow of ideas by word and image, care should be exercised that all cultures can express themselves and make themselves known, Recognizing all efforts made by the United Nations system to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of culture, religion, belief and language, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, are on the increase in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that tolerance for cultural, ethnic, and religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Emphasizing that combating hatred, prejudice, intolerance and stereotyping on the basis of religion or culture represents a significant global challenge that requires further action, 1. Acknowledges that respect for the diversity of religions and cultures, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation in a climate of mutual trust and understanding can contribute to the combating of ideologies and practices based on discrimination, intolerance and hatred and help to reinforce world peace, social justice and friendship among peoples; 2. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights, and international law; the universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond question; 3. Also reaffirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 4. Recognizes that respect for religious and cultural diversity in an increasingly globalizing world contributes to international cooperation, promotes enhanced dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations, and helps to create an environment conducive to the exchange of human experience; 5. Also recognizes that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values; 6. Further recognizes that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Reaffirms that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society as a whole in the States in which such persons live, and urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic and political institutions, organizations and practices so that they are more fully participatory and avoid the marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 8. Encourages Governments to promote, including through education, understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, which will address the cultural, social, economic, political and religious sources of intolerance, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so, in order to promote understanding, tolerance, peace and friendly relations among nations and all racial and religious groups, recognizing that education at all levels is one of the principal means to build a culture of peace; 9. Calls upon all States to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that religious sites are fully respected and protected in compliance with their international obligations and in accordance with their national legislation, and to adopt adequate measures aimed at preventing acts or threats of damage to and destruction of these sites; 10. Urges States, in compliance with their international obligations, to take all necessary action to combat incitement to or acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by hatred and intolerance based on culture, religion or belief, which may cause discord and disharmony within and among societies; 11. Also urges States to take effective measures to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in the recognition, exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and cultural life and to make all efforts to enact or rescind legislation, where necessary, to prohibit any such discrimination, and to take all appropriate measures to combat intolerance on the grounds of religion or beliefs; 12. Further urges States to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement bodies and the military, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 13. Welcomes the efforts of States, relevant entities of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, civil society, including religion-based and other non-governmental organizations, and the media in developing a culture of peace, and encourages them to continue such efforts, including the promotion of inter-religious and intercultural interaction within and among societies through, inter alia, congresses, conferences, seminars, workshops, research work and related processes; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the widest dissemination of the relevant United Nations material related to the present resolution in as many different languages as possible through the United Nations system, including the United Nations information centres, within available resources; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to present to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/129 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.51 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 58/129. Towards global partnerships The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/215 of 21 December 2000 and 56/76 of 11 December 2001, Reaffirming the vital role of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly, in the promotion of partnerships in the context of globalization, Underlining the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations, Reaffirming its resolve to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to sustainable development and the elimination of poverty, Recalling the objectives formulated in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. particularly in regard to developing partnerships through the provision of greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general so as to enable them to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the Organization, in particular in the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty, Underlining the importance of the contribution of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general to the implementation of the outcomes of United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related fields, Recalling the central role and responsibility of Governments in national and international policy-making, Stressing that efforts to meet the challenges of globalization could benefit from enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, in order to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all, Underlining the fact that cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, shall serve the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and make concrete contributions to the realization of the goals contained in the Millennium Declaration and in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits and their reviews, in particular in the area of development and the eradication of poverty, and shall be undertaken in a manner that maintains the integrity, impartiality and independence of the Organization, Emphasizing that all relevant partners, in particular the private sector, can contribute in several ways to addressing the obstacles confronted by developing countries in mobilizing the resources needed to finance their sustainable development, and to the realization of the development goals of the United Nations through, inter alia, financial resources, access to technology, management expertise, and support for programmes, including through the reduced pricing of drugs, where appropriate, for the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, Encouraging the private sector to engage as reliable and consistent partners in the development process and to take into account not only the economic and financial, but also the developmental, social, human rights, gender and environmental implications of their undertakings and, in general, towards accepting and implementing the principle of good corporate citizenship, that is, bringing social values and responsibilities to bear on a conduct and policy premised on profit incentives, in conformity with national laws and regulations, Recalling that the International Conference on Financing for Development welcomed all efforts to encourage good corporate citizenship and noted the initiative undertaken in the United Nations to promote global partnerships,See Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7). Noting that the World Summit on Sustainable Development, in order to promote the effective implementation of Agenda 21 at the international level, encouraged partnership initiatives for implementation by all relevant stakeholders to support the outcome of the Summit,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum). Also noting that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003, reiterated, upon the recommendation of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. that partnerships for sustainable development, as voluntary multi-stakeholder initiatives, contribute to the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Further noting that the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2003/15 of 21 July 2003, endorsed the conclusion adopted by the Commission for Social Development at its forty-first sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Supplement No. 6 (E/2003/26), chap. I, sect. B. that, at the international level, recent initiatives towards building voluntary partnerships for social development should be encouraged, Taking note of the work of the United Nations on partnerships, such as the Global Compact Initiative launched by the Secretary-General, the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force and the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, and welcoming the establishment of a multitude of partnerships at the field level, entered into by various United Nations agencies, non-State partners and Member States, such as the United Nations Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development, Stressing that partnerships should focus on the achievement of concrete results, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/227. 2. Stresses that the principles and approaches that govern such partnerships should be built on the firm foundation of United Nations purposes and principles, as set out in the Charter of the United Nations, and invites the United Nations system to continue to adhere to a common and systematic approach to partnership which, without imposing undue rigidity in partnership agreements, includes the following principles: common purpose, transparency, bestowing no unfair advantages upon any partner of the United Nations, mutual benefit and mutual respect, accountability, respect for the modalities of the United Nations, striving for balanced representation of relevant partners from developed and developing countries and countries with economies in transition, sectoral and geographic balance, and not compromising the independence and neutrality of the United Nations system in general and the agencies in particular; 3. Encourages the relevant United Nations bodies and agencies, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as the World Trade Organization, to continue to explore possibilities of enhancing the use of partnerships to better implement their goals and programmes, in particular in the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty, bearing in mind the different mandates, modes of operation and objectives of the bodies and agencies, as well as the particular roles of the non-State partners involved; 4. Recalls that the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. designated the Commission on Sustainable Development to serve as a focal point for discussions on partnerships that promote sustainable development, and in this context reaffirms the criteria and guidelines for partnerships in the context of the World Summit on Sustainable Development process and its follow-up, as set out by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2003/61; 5. Stresses the importance of the contribution of voluntary partnerships to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. while reiterating that they are a complement to but not intended to substitute for the commitments made by Governments with a view to achieving these goals; 6. Also stresses that partnerships should be consistent with national laws, national development strategies and plans, as well as the priorities of countries where their implementation takes place, bearing in mind the relevant guidance provided by Governments; 7. Calls upon all bodies within the United Nations system that engage in partnerships to ensure the integrity and independence of the Organization and to include information on partnerships in their regular reporting, as appropriate, on their web sites and through other means; 8. Stresses that partnerships should be designed and implemented in a transparent and accountable manner, and in that regard calls upon partners to provide to and exchange relevant information with Governments, other stakeholders and the relevant United Nations agencies and bodies and other international organizations in which they engage, in an appropriate way, including through reports, with particular attention to the importance of sharing among partnerships information on their practical experience; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to promote the transparency and accountability of partnerships; 10. Acknowledges that serving successful partnerships requires specific skills on the part of the Secretariat staff, and calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to support and further to develop such skills, through appropriate training and the sharing of best practices; 11. Recalls the relevant paragraph in its resolution 57/300 of 20 December 2002; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/12 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 10 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.16 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Monaco, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Uruguay 58/12. University for Peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/2 of 22 October 2001, in which it recalled that, in its resolution 34/111 of 14 December 1979, it had approved the idea of establishing the University for Peace as a specialized international centre for higher education, research and the dissemination of knowledge relative to peace and its universal promotion within the United Nations system, and in which it also recalled its resolution 35/55 of 5 December 1980, in which it approved the establishment of the University for Peace, as well as all preceding resolutions on this item, Noting that in 1991 the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme, established a Trust Fund for Peace consisting of voluntary contributions in order to provide the University with the means necessary to extend its sphere of activity to the whole world, taking full advantage of its potential capacity for education, research and support of the United Nations and to carry out its mandate of promoting peace in the world, Noting with appreciation the vigorous actions taken by the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and with the encouragement and support of the Government of Costa Rica, to revitalize the University,See A/54/312, para. 2. Recognizing the important and varied activities carried out by the University during the period from 2001 to 2003, with the valuable assistance and contributions of Governments, foundations and non-governmental organizations, in particular the progress made in the development and implementation of the academic programme and the expansion of its scope worldwide as part of a five-year programme of expansion and revitalization, Noting with satisfaction the activities directed towards expanding the University's educational and research programmes to Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Central Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, Also noting with satisfaction the progress made in the development of teaching programmes at the master's level, short courses, programmes to disseminate course materials and distance education and the establishment of a digital library on peace-related issues, Noting that the University has placed special emphasis on the areas of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peace-building and the peaceful settlement of disputes, and that it has launched programmes in the areas of democratic consensus-building and the techniques of peaceful settlement of conflicts, Noting also that the University has launched a broad programme for building a culture of peace in Central America and the Caribbean in the context of the efforts being made by the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the development and promotion of a culture of peace, Noting with appreciation the intensifying collaboration between the University and organizations and agencies of the United Nations, particularly the United Nations University, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Department of Political Affairs and the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and others, Considering the importance of promoting education that fosters peaceful coexistence among people, including respect for the life, dignity and integrity of human beings, irrespective of their nationality, race, sex, religion or culture, as well as friendship and solidarity among peoples, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General outlining the progress made in revitalizing the University for Peace, especially in regard to implementation of the five-year programme of expansion and revitalization;A/58/430. 2. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the important work of the University for Peace and its potential role in developing new concepts and approaches to security through research and dialogue in order to respond effectively to emerging threats to peace, to consider further ways to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the University for Peace; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider using the services of the University as part of his conflict-resolution and peace-building efforts and in the promotion of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;Resolutions 53/243 A and B. 4. Invites Member States, intergovernmental bodies, non-governmental organizations and interested individuals to contribute to the Trust Fund for Peace or to the budget of the University; 5. Invites Member States to accede to the International Agreement for the Establishment of the University for Peace,See resolution 35/55, annex. thereby demonstrating their support for an educational institution devoted to the promotion of a universal culture of peace; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "University for Peace". RESOLUTION 58/130 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/496, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/130. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special sessionResolution S-24/2, annex. constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the development goals contained therein, as well as the commitments made at major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits, Recalling also the commitment to promote national and global economic systems based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Considering that, despite the efforts made and the progress achieved in some areas of economic and social development, vast sectors of our societies, in particular in the developing and the least developed countries, are still facing serious challenges, including serious financial crises, insecurity, poverty, exclusion and inequality in income growth and distribution, education and health, Noting that the Commission for Social Development, at its forty-third session in 2005, will consider as its priority theme "Review of the further implementation of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/172. 2. Reaffirms the need to take effective measures to implement the commitments made by heads of State and Government at the World Summit for Social Development, contained in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. which established a new consensus to place people at the centre of development policies and pledged to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration so as to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all; 3. Also reaffirms the decisions on further action and initiatives to accelerate social development for all, adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session and contained in the further initiatives for social development;Resolution S-24/2, annex. 4. Further reaffirms that the aim of social integration is to create a "society for all", in which every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play, and that such an inclusive society must be based on respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, cultural and religious diversity, social justice and the special needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, democratic participation and the rule of law; 5. Recognizes the need to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to address the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, including through the design and development of appropriate mechanisms to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions and governance; 6. Reaffirms the commitment to gender equality and to strengthening policies and programmes that improve, ensure and broaden the full participation of women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life, as equal partners, and to improving their access to all resources needed for the full exercise of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms by removing persistent barriers; 7. Stresses that, in addition to social policies, progress in the realization of long-term goals, such as equity, social cohesion and an adequate accumulation of human capital, requires supportive and coherent short-term and long-term economic policies at the national and international levels; 8. Emphasizes the importance of integrating economic and social policies in promoting human resources development and enhancing the process of development, invites the Economic and Social Council, at the highest possible level, to assess the effectiveness of such integration and make recommendations in this regard to the General Assembly, requests the Commission for Social Development to continue giving particular attention to this issue in its forthcoming sessions, and invites the different entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to take into account the integration of economic and social policies in their respective domains; 9. Stresses the necessity of ensuring the effective involvement of developing countries in the international economic decision-making process through, inter alia, greater participation in international economic forums, thereby ensuring the transparency and accountability of international financial institutions with respect to according a central position for social development in their policies and programmes; 10. Reaffirms that, given the growing and multifaceted interdependence of all regions and countries, coherent and strengthened international cooperation as well as a favourable external economic environment are indispensable complements to the efforts of developing countries, including least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, to promote their social development and eradicate poverty; 11. Recognizes that achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. demands a new partnership between developed and developing countries, and in this context stresses the importance of achieving sound policies, good governance at all levels and the rule of law, as well as mobilizing domestic resources, attracting international flows, promoting international trade as an engine for development, increasing international and financial and technical cooperation for development, sustainable debt financing and external debt relief and enhancing the coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems; 12. Also recognizes that a substantial increase in official development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and further recognizes that, in order to build support for official development assistance, heads of State and Government have pledged further to improve policies and development strategies, both nationally and internationally, to enhance aid effectiveness; 13. Urges developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts towards achieving the target of providing 0.7 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and from 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance to least developed countries, as reconfirmed at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held at Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. encourages developing countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to achieve development goals and targets, acknowledges the efforts of all donors, commends those donors whose official development assistance contributions exceed, reach or are increasing towards the targets, and underlines the importance of undertaking an examination of the means and time frames for achieving the targets and goals; 14. Reaffirms that recipient and donor countries, as well as international institutions, should strive to make official development assistance more effective; 15. Underlines the importance of adopting effective measures, including new financial mechanisms, as appropriate, to support the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable development, poverty reduction and the strengthening of their democratic systems, while reaffirming that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that national policies have the leading role in the development process; 16. Reaffirms that social development requires the active involvement of all actors in the development process, including civil society organizations, corporations and small businesses, and that partnerships among all relevant actors are increasingly becoming part of national and international cooperation for social development, reaffirms also that, within countries, partnerships among the Government, civil society and the private sector can contribute effectively to the achievement of social development goals, and underlines the fact that, at the international level, the recent initiatives towards building voluntary partnerships for social development should be encouraged and discussed further at, inter alia, the intergovernmental level; 17. Underlines the responsibility of the private sector, at both the national and the international levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, regarding not only the economic and financial, but also the development, social, gender and environmental implications of their activities, their obligations towards their workers and their contributions to achieving sustainable development, including social development, and emphasizes the need to take concrete actions within the United Nations system and through the participation of all relevant stakeholders on corporate responsibility and accountability; 18. Reaffirms that education, employment creation and improvement in working conditions, which are some of the indispensable elements of poverty eradication, social integration, gender equality and overall development, should be at the centre of development strategies and international cooperation in support of national policies, and recognizes the need to promote employment that meets labour standards as defined in relevant instruments of the International Labour Organization and other international instruments; 19. Encourages, in this context, current initiatives of the United Nations system on the elaboration of comprehensive employment strategies and measures to foster youth employment, bearing in mind relevant international instruments pertaining to youth; 20. Reaffirms the call of the Economic and Social Council for enhanced coordination within the United Nations system and the ongoing efforts to harmonize the current initiatives on Africa, and requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to give due prominence in its work to the social dimension of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 21. Welcomes the contribution of the Commission for Social Development in the follow-up to and review of the further implementation of the commitments made at the World Summit for Social Development and the further initiatives agreed upon at the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, reaffirms that the Commission will continue to have the primary responsibility in this regard, and encourages Governments, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to enhance their support to its work; 22. Recalls, in this regard, its request to each functional commission of the Economic and Social Council to examine its methods of work in order to better pursue the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, recognizing that there is no need for a uniform approach since each functional commission has its own specificity, while also noting that modern methods of work can better guarantee the review of progress made in implementation at all levels, on the basis of a report with recommendations to be submitted by the Secretary-General to each functional commission and relevant subsidiary body of the Council on its methods of work, in accordance with the provisions defined by the respective outcomes and relevant decisions taken by each body, bearing in mind the progress recently achieved in this regard by certain commissions, in particular by the Commission on Sustainable Development; the functional commissions and other relevant bodies of the Council should report to it no later than 2005 on the outcome of this examination; 23. Notes its decision to review in 2005 the progress achieved in implementing all the commitments made in the Millennium Declaration, and notes also that there is scope for a major event in this context, and in this regard calls upon the Commission for Social Development to transmit to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, the substantive outcome of its review of the further implementation of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly for its consideration in 2005; 24. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development, the regional commissions, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to continue to integrate into their work programmes and give priority attention to the commitments and undertakings contained in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the further initiatives for social development, to continue to be actively involved in their follow-up and to monitor the achievement of those commitments and undertakings; 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on this question to the Assembly at that session. RESOLUTION 58/131 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/497 (Part II), para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and United Republic of Tanzania. 58/131. Cooperatives in social development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/90 of 16 December 1992, 49/155 of 23 December 1994, 51/58 of 12 December 1996, 54/123 of 17 December 1999 and 56/114 of 19 December 2001, concerning cooperatives in social development, Recognizing that cooperatives, in their various forms, promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of all people, including women, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, and are becoming a major factor of economic and social development, Recognizing also the important contribution and potential of all forms of cooperatives to the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women, held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), held at Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to 14 June 1996, and their five-year reviews, the World Food Summit, held at Rome from 13 to 17 November 1996, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, held at Madrid from 8 to 12 April 2002, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held at Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/159. 2. Draws the attention of Member States to the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary-General for further action to promote a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives; 3. Also draws the attention of Member States to the revised guidelines aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives,A/56/73-E/2001/68, annex. to be considered by them in developing or revising their national policies on cooperatives; 4. Encourages Governments to keep under review, as appropriate, the legal and administrative provisions governing the activities of cooperatives, with a view to ensuring a supportive environment for them and to protecting and advancing the potential of cooperatives to help them to achieve their goals; 5. Urges Governments, relevant international organizations and specialized agencies, in collaboration with national and international cooperative organizations, to give due consideration to the role and contribution of cooperatives in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and their five-year reviews, the World Food Summit, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development by, inter alia: (a) Utilizing and developing fully the potential and contribution of cooperatives for the attainment of social development goals, in particular the eradication of poverty, the generation of full and productive employment and the enhancement of social integration; (b) Encouraging and facilitating the establishment and development of cooperatives, including taking measures aimed at enabling people living in poverty or belonging to vulnerable groups to engage on a voluntary basis in the creation and development of cooperatives; (c) Taking appropriate measures aimed at creating a supportive and enabling environment for the development of cooperatives by, inter alia, developing an effective partnership between Governments and the cooperative movement, promoting and implementing better legislation, training, research, sharing of good practices and human resources development; 6. Invites Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative movement, to develop programmes to promote and strengthen the education of members, the elected leadership and professional cooperative management, where appropriate, and to create or improve statistical databases on the development of cooperatives and on their contribution to national economies; 7. Invites Governments, relevant international organizations, specialized agencies and local, national and international cooperative organizations to continue to observe the International Day of Cooperatives annually, on the first Saturday of July, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/90; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant United Nations and other international organizations and national, regional and international cooperative organizations, to render support to Member States, as appropriate, in their efforts to create a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives, to continue to provide assistance for human resources development, technical advice and training, and to promote an exchange of experience and best practices, through, inter alia, conferences, workshops and seminars at the national and regional levels; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, focusing on the role of cooperatives in the eradication of poverty. RESOLUTION 58/132 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/497 (Part II), para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/132. Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: towards a society for all in the twenty-first century The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and resolution 56/115 of 19 December 2001, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted on 8 September 2000 by heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations,See resolution 55/2. stressing the need to promote and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, and recognizing the importance of incorporating the disability perspective in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, with a view to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Noting with appreciation the initiatives and actions of Governments to implement relevant sections of the Standard Rules and of relevant resolutions that give special attention to the questions of accessible environments and information and communication technologies, health, education and social services, employment and sustainable livelihoods, including the relevant activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their respective follow-up reviews, Noting that the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. considers "older persons and disabilities" as a specific issue for policy concern, Noting also the preparatory work of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities in establishing a working group with the aim of preparing and presenting a draft text that would be the basis for the negotiation of the draft convention, Recognizing the strong commitment of Governments to the equalization of opportunities and to the rights of persons with disabilities and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities, including in the context of development, Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations in the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities, and noting in this regard their work in promoting the elaboration of an international convention on the rights of disabled persons, Noting with appreciation the important contributions of regional intergovernmental organizations and the regional commissions of the United Nations in promoting awareness and building capacities for the full participation and equality of persons with disabilities, as well as the outcome of international conferences relating to persons with disabilities, Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and strategies to promote the rights and the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities at all levels, Recognizing the importance of accessibility both of the physical environment and of information and communication in enabling persons with disabilities to enjoy fully their human rights, Reiterating that technology, in particular information and communication technologies, provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and employment for persons with disabilities and for facilitating their full and effective participation and equality, and welcoming the initiatives of the United Nations and contributions from regional groups in promoting information and communication technologies as a means of achieving the universal goal of a society for all, Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disability-sensitive topics, programme planning and evaluation and the need for the further development of practical statistical methodology for the collection and compilation of data on populations with disabilities, Recognizing also the challenge of better incorporating the disability perspective in development and technical cooperation activities, Recognizing further the need to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities worldwide through the enhancement of awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues and respect for the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities, Recognizing that, in the elaboration of national and international development strategies, consideration needs to be given to the impact of poverty, especially in rural areas, on the conditions of persons with disabilities, Expressing grave concern that situations of armed conflict continue to have especially devastating consequences for the human rights of persons with disabilities, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/61-E/2003/5. on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). including the recommendations of the Secretary-General relating to policy options to promote the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities in the context of development; 2. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development to promote the full enjoyment of all human rights by, and the equalization of opportunities for, persons with disabilities; 3. Calls upon Governments to take all necessary measures to advance beyond the adoption of national plans for people with disabilities through, inter alia, the creation or reinforcement of arrangements for the promotion and awareness of disability issues and the allocation of sufficient resources for the full implementation of existing plans and initiatives, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of supporting national efforts through international cooperation; 4. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as appropriate, to continue to take concrete measures to mainstream the disability perspective into the development process and promote the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions and agreed international standards concerning persons with disabilities, in particular the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and for the further equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities; 5. Encourages Governments to continue their support to non-governmental organizations and other groups, including organizations of persons with disabilities, that contribute to the fulfilment of the implementation of the World Programme of Action; 6. Also encourages Governments to involve persons with disabilities in the formulation of strategies and plans, in particular those pertaining to them; 7. Urges relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, including relevant human rights treaty bodies and the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, to incorporate the disability perspective in their activities, as appropriate, and to continue to work closely with the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Secretariat for the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, including activities at the field level, by sharing experiences, findings and recommendations on persons with disabilities; 8. Stresses the importance of improving data and statistics on persons with disabilities, in compliance with national legislation on the protection of personal data, so that they can be compared internationally and domestically for purposes of policy design, planning and evaluation from the disability perspective, urges Governments, in this regard, to cooperate with the Statistics Division of the Secretariat in the continuing development of global statistics and indicators on disability, and encourages them to avail themselves of the technical assistance of the Division to build national capacities for national data-collection systems; 9. Urges Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to provide special protection to persons with mental or physical disabilities, who may experience multiple or aggravating forms of discrimination, with special emphasis on integrating them into society and protecting and promoting their full enjoyment of all human rights; 10. Urges Governments to address the situation of persons with disabilities with respect to all actions taken to implement existing human rights treaties to which they are parties; 11. Invites States to continue to participate actively in the negotiations within the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities; 12. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental organizations, concerned non-governmental organizations and the private sector to continue to support the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, with a view to strengthening its capacity to support catalytic and innovative activities to implement fully the World Programme of Action and the Standard Rules, including the work of the Special Rapporteur, and to support activities to build national capacities, with emphasis on priorities for action identified in the present resolution; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the initiatives of relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as those of regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, for the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights by, and non-discrimination in respect of, persons with disabilities and the further implementation of the World Programme of Action, as well as their efforts to integrate persons with disabilities in technical cooperation activities, both as beneficiaries and as decision makers; 14. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts in improving the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with disabilities, and urges him to continue to implement plans to provide a barrier-free environment; 15. Welcomes the review by the Secretary-General in his current report on the fourth quinquennial review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action,A/58/61-E/2003/5. and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/133 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/497 (Part II), para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/133. Policies and programmes involving youth The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations as well as other relevant international instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the two Optional Protocols thereto,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. Reaffirming the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and their full enjoyment by young people, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and recognizing that the Millennium Declaration includes important goals and targets pertaining to youth, Recalling and reaffirming the commitments made at the major United Nations conferences and summits held since 1990 and their follow-up processes, in particular those commitments that are related to youth, including youth employment, Recognizing that the participation of young people is an asset and a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and social development, and expressing deep concern about the magnitude of youth unemployment and underemployment throughout the world and its profound implications for the future of our societies, particularly those in developing countries, Acknowledging that poverty, among other factors, represents a serious challenge to the full and effective participation and contribution of young people to society, Recalling its resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, annexed thereto, Recalling also its resolution 54/120 of 17 December 1999, in which it took note with appreciation of the Lisbon Declaration on Youth Policies and Programmes adopted at the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 1998,See WCMRY/1998/28, chap. I, resolution 1. and its resolutions 56/117 of 19 December 2001 and 57/165 of 18 December 2002, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the World Youth Report 2003E/CN.5/2003/4. and on promoting youth employment;A/58/229. 2. Reaffirms that the ten priority areas identified in the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, namely, education, employment, hunger and poverty, health issues, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure, girls and young women, and youth participation, remain areas of crucial importance; 3. Takes note of the five issues of concern to young people identified in the World Youth Report 2003, namely, the mixed impact of globalization on young women and men, the use of and access to information and communication technologies, the dramatic increase of human immunodeficiency virus infections among young people and the impact of the epidemic on their lives, the active involvement of young people in armed conflict, both as victims and as perpetrators, and the increased importance of addressing intergenerational issues in an ageing society; 4. Recognizes the importance of the full and effective participation of young people and youth organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels in promoting and implementing the World Programme of Action and in evaluating the progress achieved and the obstacles encountered in its implementation, as well as the need to support the activities of mechanisms that have been set up by young people and youth organizations, bearing in mind that girls, boys, young women and young men have the same rights but different needs and strengths and are active agents in decision-making processes and for positive change and development in society; 5. Also recognizes the great importance of empowering young people by building their capacity to achieve greater independence, overcoming constraints to their participation and providing them with opportunities to make decisions that affect their lives and well-being; 6. Calls upon all Member States, United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, regional commissions and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in particular youth organizations, to make every possible effort to implement the World Programme of Action, aiming at cross-sectoral youth policies, by integrating a youth perspective into all planning and decision-making processes relevant to youth; 7. Takes note with appreciation of the work done by the regional commissions to implement the World Programme of Action, to follow up the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in their respective regions, in coordination with regional meetings of ministers responsible for youth and regional non-governmental youth organizations, and to provide advisory services to support national youth policies and programmes in each region, and encourages them to continue to do so; 8. Recommends that the United Nations system, on the basis of the positive experience of youth participation in the work of the United Nations, inter alia, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the special session of the General Assembly on children, continue to provide opportunities for dialogue between Governments and representatives of youth organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council through forums, open-ended dialogues, meetings and debates; 9. Decides that the organization of a future world youth forum should be based on a decision of the General Assembly; 10. Notes the decision of eight countries to volunteer as lead countries in the preparation of national reviews and action plans on youth employment; 11. Encourages Member States to prepare national reviews and action plans on youth employment, either integrated into their national action plans on employment or issued as separate documents, to make full use of existing data and statistics and to involve young people and youth organizations in this process, taking into account, inter alia, the commitments made by Member States in this regard, in particular those included in the World Programme of Action, and, where such reviews and action plans exist, to submit them to the Secretariat by September 2004; 12. Invites, within the context of the Youth Employment Network, the International Labour Organization, in collaboration with the Secretariat and the World Bank and other relevant specialized agencies, to assist and support, upon request, the efforts of Governments in the elaboration of national reviews and action plans and to undertake a global analysis and evaluation of progress made in this regard; 13. Recommends devoting two plenary meetings at its sixtieth session, in 2005, to review the situation of youth and achievements attained in the implementation of the World Programme of Action ten years after its adoption; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, with regard to paragraph 4 above, to consider organizing a consultative meeting with youth organizations and youth representatives, taking into account equitable geographical distribution, on the evaluation of the progress made and obstacles encountered in the implementation of the World Programme of Action in preparation for the two plenary meetings of the General Assembly to be held in 2005, and to include the outcome of the meeting in his report to the Assembly at its sixtieth session; 15. Invites all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the United Nations Youth Fund, and requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate actions to encourage contributions; 16. Notes with appreciation the provision by some Member States of expertise and financial resources to support the activities of the Youth Employment Network, and invites all Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the Network in support of action taken at the country level within the framework of the Network; 17. Reiterates the call made in the World Programme of Action to Member States to consider including youth representatives in their delegations to the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations meetings, thus broadening the channels of communication and enhancing the discussion of youth-related issues, and requests the Secretary-General to convey this invitation again to Member States; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, through the Commission for Social Development at its forty-third session, with a comprehensive report including an evaluation of the implementation since 1995 of the priority areas identified in the World Programme of Action, including actions taken by Member States, United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, regional commissions and youth organizations in their multidisciplinary work for and with youth; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General, in preparing the report requested in paragraph 18 above, to bear in mind the five issues identified in paragraph 3 above and discuss them in an annex to the report; 20. Further requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a global analysis and evaluation of national action plans on youth employment. RESOLUTION 58/134 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/498, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 58/134. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/167 of 18 December 2002, in which it endorsed the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and welcomed the preparation by the Programme on Ageing of the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat of a road map for the process of implementing the Madrid Plan of Action, as well as its resolution 57/177 of 18 December 2002, in which it stressed, inter alia, the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/14 of 21 July 2003, in which the Council invited Governments, the United Nations system and civil society to participate in a "bottom-up" approach to the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, in which it agreed to the framework for an integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields and reaffirmed the importance of regularly reviewing the progress made in the implementation of the commitments undertaken at individual major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, Recognizing that the follow-up to and the implementation of the outcome of the Second World Assembly on Ageing is an integral part of the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, Recognizing also that a tremendous global demographic change is to be expected during the next fifty years, in both developing and developed countries, as well as in countries with economies in transition, and that since this change will be the most rapid in developing countries, where the older population is expected to quadruple over the same period of time, it is imperative that ageing be integrated into development policies for the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Aware that the lack of data disaggregated by age and sex is an impediment to the consideration of ageing issues and the situation of older persons at both the international and the national policy levels, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/160. 2. Also takes note of the road map for the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, contained in the report of the Secretary-General; 3. Invites Member States and the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to incorporate ageing, as appropriate, into actions to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the goal on the eradication of poverty; 4. Stresses the need for action at the national and international levels to implement the Madrid Plan of Action,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. including the need to set national and international priorities and to select appropriate approaches to ensure that countries achieve a society for all ages; 5. Encourages the establishment of institutional linkages at the national level between national machineries for the advancement of women and those governmental entities responsible for the development, implementation and coordination of ageing-related policies and programmes; 6. Stresses that the role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, is important in supporting Governments in their implementation and assessment of and follow-up to the Madrid Plan of Action; 7. Requests the Economic and Social Council to consider ageing when elaborating its list of cross-sectoral thematic issues common to the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits for the establishment of the multi-year programme of work for the coordination segment of its substantive session; 8. Requests the Commission for Social Development to integrate an ageing perspective in its consideration of priority themes related to the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development; 9. Requests the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on the Status of Women to further coordinate and collaborate through their respective bureaux on the issue of older women within the framework of their respective multi-year programmes of work; 10. Recalls, in this regard, its request to each functional commission of the Economic and Social Council to examine its methods of work in order to better pursue the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, recognizing that there is no need for a uniform approach since each functional commission has its own specificity, while noting that modern methods of work can better guarantee the review of progress made in implementation at all levels, on the basis of a report containing recommendations to be submitted by the Secretary-General to each functional commission and relevant subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council on its methods of work, in accordance with the provisions defined by the respective outcomes and relevant decisions taken by each body, bearing in mind the progress recently achieved in this regard by certain commissions, in particular the Commission on Sustainable Development, and recalling that the functional commissions and other relevant bodies of the Council should report to it no later than 2005 on the outcome of this examination; 11. Requests the Commission for Social Development to take up the issue of the periodicity and the format of the review of the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action at its forty-second session, taking into account the provisions of resolution 57/270 B; 12. Stresses the importance of the collection of data and population statistics disaggregated by age and sex on all aspects of policy formulation by all countries, and encourages the relevant entities of the United Nations to support national efforts in capacity-building, especially those of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, takes note in this context of the establishment by the United Nations of an Internet-accessible database on ageing, and invites States to submit, whenever possible, information for inclusion in the database; 13. Requests the Statistical Commission to assist Member States in developing modalities for disaggregating data by age and sex; 14. Requests the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and the specialized agencies to integrate ageing, including from a gender perspective, into their programmes of work and to report on their progress to the Commission for Social Development; 15. Invites the international financial institutions and the regional development banks to take older persons into account in their policies and projects as part of the effort to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; 16. Recommends that the institutional linkages between United Nations gender focal points and focal points on ageing be strengthened in order to enhance the integration of the gender aspects of ageing within the system; 17. Welcomes the progress made in the work of some of the regional commissions in implementing the objectives and recommendations of the Madrid Plan of Action, and encourages other regional commissions to make progress in this regard; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to forward his reportA/58/160. to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-second session and to make available any other relevant information related to this issue that may assist the Commission in its deliberations; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/135 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/499, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 58/135. International cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Recalling also its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001, by which it adopted the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Recalling further its resolution 56/120 of 19 December 2001 on action against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, Reaffirming its deep concern at the impact of transnational organized crime on the political, social and economic stability and development of societies, Reaffirming that the adoption of the Convention and the Protocols thereto is a significant development in international criminal law and that they constitute important instruments for effective international cooperation against transnational organized crime, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;E/CN.15/2003/5. 2. Welcomes the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and notes the number of signatures and ratifications of the three Protocols to the Convention, which is likely to lead to the expected entry into force at an early date of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; 3. Commends the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its work in promoting the ratification of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, including, in particular, the preparation of legislative guides designed to facilitate the ratification and subsequent implementation of those instruments, and invites the Centre to finalize the legislative guides and to disseminate them as widely as possible; 4. Welcomes the organization by the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Centre and the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, of the treaty event "Focus 2003: treaties against transnational organized crime and terrorism", held at United Nations Headquarters from 23 to 26 September 2003, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/173 of 18 December 2002, welcomes the participation of Member States in that event, and urges Member States that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification or approval of or accession to the Convention and the Protocols thereto, in order to ensure the widest possible participation in those instruments and thus to maximize their effectiveness; 5. Also welcomes the financial support provided by several donors to promote the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and encourages Member States to make sufficient voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, as well as contributions in direct support of activities and projects of the Centre, including through contributions to the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, for the provision of technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the implementation of those international legal instruments; 6. Requests the Centre, in its capacity as secretariat of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, to undertake all activities necessary to ensure the efficient preparation of the inaugural session of the Conference of the Parties, in 2004; 7. Also requests the Centre, within existing regular or extrabudgetary resources, in preparing to provide services to the Conference of the Parties, as mandated, to develop a guide containing elements that would be useful to States parties in meeting their reporting requirements to the Conference of the Parties and to undertake a study on the functioning of extradition and mutual legal assistance through existing mechanisms, including bilateral, regional and multilateral agreements or arrangements; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Centre with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and to discharge its functions as the secretariat of the Conference of the Parties in accordance with its mandate; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution in his report on the work of the Centre to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/136 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/499, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 58/136. Strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance in promoting the implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism within the framework of the activities of the Centre for International Crime Prevention The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions related to the prevention and suppression of terrorism, as well as Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001 and 1456 (2003) of 20 January 2003, Recalling also its resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, in which it strongly condemned the heinous acts of terrorism of 11 September 2001, and its resolution 57/27 of 19 November 2002, in which it also condemned those in Bali and Moscow and urgently called for international cooperation to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism, as well as Security Council resolution 1465 (2003) of 13 February 2003, in which the Council condemned the bombing attack in Bogotá on 7 February 2003, Recalling further its resolution 57/173 of 18 December 2002, in which it affirmed the importance of the role of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the fulfilment of its mandate, including to prevent and combat terrorism, and in particular in strengthening international cooperation and providing technical assistance, upon request, which complements the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, Recalling its resolution 57/292 of 20 December 2002, in section IV of which it approved the strengthening of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the Secretariat, given that terrorism was one of the priorities of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, Mindful of its resolution 56/261 of 31 January 2002 on the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, which includes a plan of action against terrorism, Supporting the ongoing efforts of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to enhance an integrated approach to combating terrorism, drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other related forms of criminal activity, Stressing the need for close coordination and cooperation between States, international, regional and subregional organizations and the Counter-Terrorism Committee, as well as the Centre, in preventing and combating terrorism and criminal activities carried out for the purpose of furthering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Convinced of the need, as asserted by the General Assembly and the Security Council in various resolutions, in particular Council resolution 1373 (2001), to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism, and noting with deep concern the links between terrorism and transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, money-laundering and trafficking in arms, as well as illegal transfers of nuclear, chemical and biological materials, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Austria and the Centre for the organization of the symposium on the theme "Combating international terrorism: the contribution of the United Nations", held in Vienna on 3 and 4 June 2002, and taking note of the report of the Executive Director,See A/57/152 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and 2 and Add.2. Recalling that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law and that such measures are adopted in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, as appropriate, Noting with appreciation that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 is continuing the preparation of a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorismSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/58/37), annex II.A. and of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism,Ibid., annex II.B. 1. Encourages the activities of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime within its mandates in the area of preventing terrorism by providing Member States, upon request, with technical assistance, specifically to implement the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, thereby strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism, working in close coordination with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism and the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, as well as with international, regional and subregional organizations; 2. Welcomes the establishment of the Global Programme against Terrorism, launched by the Centre, which provides the appropriate framework for activities supporting Member States in their fight against terrorism, in particular through the implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism; 3. Calls upon Member States that have not yet done so to become parties to and implement the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism and, where appropriate, to request assistance to that end from the Centre; 4. Notes the preparation of a United Nations legislative guide to the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, which was reviewed by an expert group hosted by the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences in Siracusa, Italy, from 3 to 5 December 2002, and invites States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism to make use of the legislative guide in their efforts to incorporate the provisions of those instruments into their national legislation; 5. Urges Member States to continue working together, as well as on a regional and bilateral basis and in close cooperation with the United Nations, to prevent and combat acts of terrorism by strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance within the framework of Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1377 (2001) and 1456 (2003) and other relevant international instruments and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law; 6. Requests the Centre, subject to the availability of regular or extrabudgetary resources, to prepare guidelines on technical assistance according to which the Centre, acting in areas within its competence and in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Committee, will provide assistance related to promoting the ratification of, accession to and implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism and to identify concrete elements of such assistance with a view to facilitating cooperation among Member States in combating terrorism, and to submit those guidelines to Member States for their consideration; 7. Also requests the Centre, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary funds, to intensify its efforts to provide technical assistance, upon request, in preventing and combating terrorism through the implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, with particular emphasis on the need to coordinate its work with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and international, regional and subregional organizations; 8. Expresses its appreciation to donor countries that have supported, through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund or through direct contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, the launching of the Global Programme against Terrorism, and invites all States to make adequate voluntary contributions to the Fund in order to strengthen the capacity of the Centre to provide technical assistance to requesting Member States, in particular for promoting the ratification of, accession to and implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism; 9. Recommends that the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, in coordination with other United Nations entities, in particular the Counter-Terrorism Committee, keep under regular review the progress made by Member States in becoming parties to and implementing the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism and the needs of Member States requesting technical assistance; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to organize a senior-level discussion during the thirteenth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on progress made with regard to the criminal justice aspects of terrorism and international cooperation and to the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, and invites the Counter-Terrorism Committee and relevant international organizations to participate in that discussion; 11. Invites Member States to provide the Secretary-General with information on the nature of links between terrorism and other forms of crime in order to increase synergies in the delivery of technical assistance by the Centre, and requests the Secretary-General to include an analysis of that information in his report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/137 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/499, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 58/137. Strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and protecting victims of such trafficking The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power,Resolution 40/34, annex. Taking note of guideline 8, Special measures for the protection and support of child victims of trafficking, contained in the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See E/2002/68/Add.1. Recalling the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. and noting the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annex II. Recalling also the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182), which prohibits forced or obligatory labour of all people under the age of 18, Recalling further paragraphs 25 and 27 of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex I. and in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. Condemning trafficking in persons as an abhorrent form of modern-day slavery and as an act that is contrary to universal human rights, Decrying the treatment of human beings as commodities bartered, bought or sold by traffickers, in particular exploiters, Deeply concerned at the worldwide occurrence of trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation of all kinds by transnational organized criminal groups, many of which are also involved in other forms of illegal activity, including trafficking in firearms, money-laundering, drug trafficking and corruption, Profoundly alarmed by the fact that trafficking in persons is a growing and profitable trade in most parts of the world, aggravated by, inter alia, poverty, armed conflict, inadequate social and economic conditions and demand in the illicit labour and sex markets, Expressing dismay at the ability of criminal networks to avoid punishment while preying on the vulnerabilities of their victims, Noting the distinctions and interlinkages between the two criminal behaviours of trafficking in persons, as set forth in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and of smuggling of migrants, as set forth in the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex III. Convinced of the urgent need for broad and concerted international cooperation among all Member States, employing a multidisciplinary, balanced and global approach, including adequate technical assistance, in order to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, Convinced also that civil society, including non-governmental organizations, can play a role in reducing existing and future opportunities for victimization in the field of trafficking and in assisting Governments in promoting the protection of victims through comprehensive and non-stigmatizing social and appropriate economic assistance to victims, including in the areas of health, education, housing and employment, Welcoming efforts of Member States, in particular countries of origin, transit and destination, to create awareness in civil society concerning the seriousness of the crime of trafficking and of its various forms, as well as the role of the public in preventing victimization and assisting victims of trafficking, Noting the thematic discussion on trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, held by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twelfth session, 1. Urges Member States to employ a comprehensive approach to combating trafficking in persons, incorporating law enforcement efforts and, where appropriate, the confiscation and seizure of the proceeds of trafficking, the protection of victims and preventive measures, including measures against activities that derive profit from the exploitation of victims of trafficking; 2. Calls upon Member States to collaborate with a view to preventing trafficking in persons, especially for the purpose of sexual exploitation, through: (a) Improved technical cooperation to strengthen local and national institutions aimed at preventing trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in countries of origin; (b) Information campaigns on the techniques and methods of traffickers, programmes of education aimed at prospective targets, as well as vocational training in social skills and assistance in the reintegration of victims of trafficking into society; (c) A focus on post-conflict regions where patterns of human trafficking are emerging as a new phenomenon and the incorporation of anti-trafficking measures into early intervention; 3. Recognizes that broad international cooperation between Member States and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations is essential to counter effectively the threat of trafficking in persons; 4. Urges Member States to take measures to ratify or accede to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex I. the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeIbid., annex II. and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornographyResolution 54/263, annex II. and to implement those instruments by, inter alia: (a) Criminalizing trafficking in persons; (b) Promoting cooperation among law enforcement authorities in combating trafficking in persons; (c) Establishing the offence of trafficking in persons as a predicate offence for money-laundering offences; 5. Invites Member States to adopt measures, in accordance with their domestic law and capacity, inter alia: (a) To fight sexual exploitation with a view to abolishing it, by prosecuting and punishing those who engage in that activity; (b) To raise awareness, especially through training, among criminal justice officials and others, as appropriate, of the needs of victims of trafficking and of the crucial role of victims in detecting and prosecuting this crime by, inter alia: (i) Investigating all cases reported by victims, preventing further victimization and, in general, treating victims with respect; (ii) Treating victims and witnesses with sensitivity throughout criminal judicial proceedings, in accordance with articles 24 and 25 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and article 6, paragraph 2, of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; 6. Also invites Member States to adopt measures, in accordance with their domestic law and capacity, inter alia: (a) To provide assistance and protection to victims of trafficking in persons, including measures to permit victims of trafficking to remain in their territory temporarily or permanently, as appropriate; (b) To promote the legislative and other measures necessary to establish a wide range of assistance, including legal, psychological, medical and social assistance and, if appropriate, compensation or restitution, to the actual victims of trafficking, subject to the determination of the existence of victimization; (c) To provide humane treatment for all victims of trafficking, taking into account their age, gender and particular needs, in accordance with article 6, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; (d) To assist in the reintegration of victims of trafficking into society; 7. Further invites Member States, as appropriate, to develop guidelines for the protection of victims of trafficking before, during and after criminal proceedings; 8. Urges Member States to ensure that measures taken against trafficking in persons, especially women and children, are consistent with internationally recognized principles of non-discrimination and that they respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of victims; 9. Invites Member States to set up mechanisms for coordination and collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organizations with a view to responding to the immediate needs of victims of trafficking; 10. Also invites Member States to allocate appropriate resources for victim services, public awareness campaigns and law enforcement activities directed at eliminating trafficking and exploitation and to foster international cooperation, including adequate technical assistance and capacity-building programmes, to improve the ability of Member States to take effective measures against trafficking in persons; 11. Encourages Member States to examine the role of the exploitation of the prostitution of others in encouraging trafficking in persons; 12. Also encourages Member States to adopt legislative or other measures to reduce the demand that fosters all forms of trafficking in persons, including by cooperating with non-governmental organizations and civil society and by raising public awareness of how sexual and other forms of exploitation degrade their victims and the related risks of trafficking in persons, especially women and children; 13. Further encourages Member States to take measures, including raising public awareness, to discourage, especially among men, the demand that fosters sexual exploitation, in accordance with article 9, paragraph 5, of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; 14. Encourages Member States to target the link, where appropriate, between trafficking in persons for purposes of sexual and other forms of exploitation and other types of crime; 15. Encourages the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to continue its close cooperation and coordination with relevant international and regional organizations in this area; 16. Encourages Member States to make voluntary contributions to further strengthen and support the Centre and its Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings, in particular in the area of technical assistance activities; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/138 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/499, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 58/138. Preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/119 of 19 December 2001 on the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, and its resolution 57/171 of 18 December 2002 on preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Considering that, pursuant to its resolutions 415 (V) of 1 December 1950 and 46/152 of 18 December 1991, the Eleventh Congress is to be held in 2005, Bearing in mind the guidelines for and the new format of the United Nations congresses, as stipulated in paragraph 2 of resolution 56/119, as well as paragraphs 29 and 30 of the statement of principles and programme of action of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, annexed to resolution 46/152, Recognizing the significant contributions of the United Nations congresses in promoting the exchange of experience in research, law and policy development and the identification of emerging trends and issues in crime prevention and criminal justice among States, intergovernmental organizations and individual experts representing various professions and disciplines, Recalling that, in its resolution 57/171, it requested the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, at its twelfth session, to finalize the programme for the Eleventh Congress and to make its final recommendations, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly, Recalling also that, in its resolution 57/171, it decided that the main theme of the Eleventh Congress should be "Synergies and responses: strategic alliances in crime prevention and criminal justice", Recalling further its resolution 57/170 of 18 December 2002 on the follow-up to the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 56/261, annex. Stressing the importance of undertaking all the preparatory activities for the Eleventh Congress in a timely and concerted manner, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/87-E/2003/82. 1. Notes the progress made thus far in the preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; 2. Decides to hold the Eleventh Congress from 18 to 25 April 2005, with pre-congress consultations to be held on 18 April 2005; 3. Also decides that the high-level segment of the Eleventh Congress shall be held during the last three days of the Congress in order to allow heads of State or Government or government ministers to focus on the main substantive agenda items of the Congress; 4. Approves the following provisional agenda for the Eleventh Congress, finalized by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its twelfth session: 1. Opening of the Congress. 2. Organizational matters. 3. Effective measures to combat transnational organized crime. 4. International cooperation against terrorism and links between terrorism and other criminal activities in the context of the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 5. Corruption: threats and trends in the twenty-first century. 6. Economic and financial crimes: challenges to sustainable development. 7. Making standards work: fifty years of standard-setting in crime prevention and criminal justice. 8. Adoption of the report of the Congress; 5. Decides that the following issues shall be considered by workshops within the framework of the Eleventh Congress: (a) Enhancing international law enforcement cooperation, including extradition measures; (b) Enhancing criminal justice reform, including restorative justice; (c) Strategies and best practices for crime prevention, in particular in relation to urban crime and youth at risk; (d) Measures to combat terrorism, with reference to the relevant international conventions and protocols; (e) Measures to combat economic crime, including money-laundering; (f) Measures to combat computer-related crime; 6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to prepare, in cooperation with the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, a discussion guide for the regional preparatory meetings and the workshops of the Eleventh Congress; 7. Urges the regional preparatory meetings to examine the substantive items on the agenda and the workshop topics of the Eleventh Congress and to make action-oriented recommendations to serve as a basis for the draft recommendations and conclusions for consideration by the Congress and the Commission at its fourteenth session; 8. Emphasizes the importance of the workshops, and invites Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant entities to provide financial, organizational and technical support to the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and to the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network for the preparations for the workshops, including the preparation and circulation of relevant background material; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to include in the discussion guide requested in paragraph 6 above consideration of technical cooperation ideas, projects and documents related to enhancing bilateral and multilateral efforts in technical assistance activities in crime prevention and criminal justice; 10. Invites donor countries to cooperate with developing countries to ensure their full participation in the workshops; 11. Approves the plan for documentation for the Eleventh Congress, as proposed by the Secretary-General in his report on preparations for the Congress,Ibid., para. 69. taking into account the recommendations of the Commission related thereto; 12. Invites Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to inform the Eleventh Congress about their activities with a view to the implementation of the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 56/261, annex. as guidance for the formulation of legislation, policies and programmes in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice at the national and international levels; 13. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make available the necessary resources for the participation of the least developed countries in the regional preparatory meetings for the Eleventh Congress and at the Congress itself, in accordance with past practice; 14. Encourages Governments to undertake preparations for the Eleventh Congress at an early stage by all appropriate means, including, where appropriate, the establishment of national preparatory committees, with a view to contributing to a focused and productive discussion on the topics and to participating actively in the organization of and follow-up to the workshops; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to provide resources, as required, in accordance with established United Nations budgetary practice and within the overall appropriations of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, in order to ensure a wide and effective programme of public information relating to the preparations for the Eleventh Congress, to the Congress itself and to the follow-up to and implementation of its recommendations; 16. Reiterates its invitation to Member States to be represented at the Eleventh Congress at the highest possible level, for example, by heads of State or Government or government ministers and attorneys general, to make statements on the theme and topics of the Congress and to participate in thematic interactive round tables; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to facilitate the organization of ancillary meetings of non-governmental and professional organizations participating in the Eleventh Congress, in accordance with past practice, as well as meetings of professional and geographical interest groups, and to take appropriate measures to encourage the participation of the academic and research community in the Congress; 18. Again encourages the relevant specialized agencies, United Nations programmes and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as other professional organizations, to cooperate with the Centre for International Crime Prevention in the preparations for the Eleventh Congress; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to appoint a Secretary-General and an Executive Secretary of the Eleventh Congress, in accordance with past practice, to perform their functions under the rules of procedure for United Nations congresses on crime prevention and criminal justice; 20. Requests the Commission to accord sufficient time at its thirteenth session to reviewing the progress made in the preparations for the Eleventh Congress, to finalize in good time all the necessary organizational and substantive arrangements and to make its recommendations through the Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the proper follow-up to the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its thirteenth session. RESOLUTION 58/139 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/499, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Rwanda (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 58/139. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/172 of 18 December 2002 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/223. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 4. Urges the States members of the Institute to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 5. Calls upon all Member States and non-governmental organizations to adopt concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and to implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to work closely with the Institute; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to make concrete proposals, including the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/13 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 17 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.15 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia 58/13. Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the indissoluble links between the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the foundations of any democratic society, Recalling its resolutions 49/30 of 7 December 1994, 50/133 of 20 December 1995, 51/31 of 6 December 1996, 52/18 of 21 November 1997, 53/31 of 23 November 1998, 54/36 of 29 November 1999, 55/43 of 27 November 2000, 56/96 of 14 December 2001 and 56/269 of 27 March 2002, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraphs 6 and 24 thereof, Recalling further the declarations and plans of action of the five international conferences of new or restored democracies adopted in Manila in 1988, Managua in 1994, Bucharest in 1997, Cotonou in 2000 and Ulaanbaatar in 2003, Recalling that the Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, which was held in Ulaanbaatar from 10 to 12 September 2003, focused on democracy, good governance and civil society, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and other important principles, such as respect for the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Mongolia for the successful organization of the Fifth International Conference, Bearing in mind that the activities of the United Nations carried out in support of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the Charter and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned, Taking note with satisfaction of the seminars, workshops and conferences on democratization and good governance convened in 2002 and 2003, as well as those held under the auspices of the Fifth International Conference, Taking note of the views expressed by Member States in the debate on this question at its fifty-sixth to fifty-eighth sessions, Bearing in mind that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and on their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Noting that a considerable number of societies have recently undertaken significant efforts to achieve their social, political and economic goals through democratization, good governance practices and the reform of their economies, pursuits that are deserving of the support and recognition of the international community, Expressing its deep appreciation for the support provided by Member States, the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations to the Government of Mongolia for the holding of the Fifth International Conference, Taking note of the conclusions of the parliamentarians' forum held in Ulaanbaatar on 11 September 2003 and the contribution of the ensuing parliamentary declaration to the proceedings of the Fifth International Conference, Welcoming the holding of an international civil society forum within the framework of the Fifth International Conference, Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/392. and its focus on the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and Plan of Action: Democracy, Good Governance and Civil Society, adopted on 12 September 2003 at the Fifth International Conference,A/58/387, annexes I and II. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/392. 2. Welcomes the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and Plan of Action: Democracy, Good Governance and Civil Society, adopted at the Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies;A/58/387, annexes I and II. 3. Encourages Member States, the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations, national parliaments, including in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other parliamentary organizations, and non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to the follow-up to the Fifth International Conference and to make additional efforts to identify possible steps in support of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies, including those set out in the Ulaanbaatar Declaration and Plan of Action; 4. Recognizes that the United Nations has an important role to play in providing timely, appropriate and coherent support to the efforts of Governments to achieve democratization and good governance within the context of their development efforts; 5. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the Organization to respond effectively to the requests of Member States by providing coherent and adequate support for their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization; 6. Stresses that the activities of the Organization must be undertaken in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 7. Commends the Secretary-General, and through him the United Nations system, for the activities undertaken at the request of Governments to support efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance, and requests him to continue those activities; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to examine options for strengthening the support provided by the United Nations system for the efforts of Member States to consolidate democracy and good governance, including the provision of support to the President of the Fifth International Conference in his efforts to make the Conference and its follow-up more effective and efficient; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies". RESOLUTION 58/140 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/499, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/140. Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action annexed to that resolution, Recalling also its resolution 57/173 of 18 December 2002 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, Bearing in mind its resolution 58/135 of 22 December 2003 on international cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto, Bearing in mind also its resolution 58/136 of 22 December 2003 on strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance in promoting the implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism within the framework of the activities of the Centre for International Crime Prevention of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/24 of 22 July 2003 on the work of the Centre for International Crime Prevention, including the management of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/28 of 22 July 2003 on international cooperation in the prevention, combating and elimination of kidnapping and in providing assistance to victims, Emphasizing the role of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality, more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and promotion of the highest standards of fairness, humanity and professional conduct, Recognizing that action against global criminal activity is a common and shared responsibility, Convinced of the desirability of closer coordination and cooperation among States in combating crime, including organized crime, corruption, the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, especially women and children, drug-related crimes, money-laundering, the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition and the criminal misuse of information technologies, as well as criminal activities carried out for the purpose of furthering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, bearing in mind the role that could be played by both the United Nations and regional organizations in this respect, Recognizing existing efforts at the regional level that complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in combating the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and noting in this context the ongoing work of the Bali and Puebla Processes,Most recently the second Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, held at Bali, Indonesia, from 28 to 30 April 2003, and the eighth Regional Conference on Migration, held at Cancún, Mexico, on 29 and 30 May 2003 as part of the Puebla Process. Recognizing also existing efforts that complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in combating corruption, and noting the outcome of the third Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity, held at Seoul from 28 to 31 May 2003, Acknowledging the role of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and their development, as reflected in Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/30 of 22 July 2003, Recognizing the urgent need to increase technical cooperation activities to assist countries, in particular developing countries and countries with economies in transition, with their efforts in translating United Nations conventions and other legal instruments and policy guidelines into practice, Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001, by which it adopted the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Welcoming the adoption of its resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003 on the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Recognizing the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime between all priorities identified by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, Recalling its relevant resolutions, in which it requested the Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandate, in conformity with the high priority attached to the Programme, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. Recalling the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 56/261, annex. Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/25 of 22 July 2003 on international cooperation, technical assistance and advisory services in crime prevention and criminal justice, Aware of the continued increase in requests for technical assistance forwarded to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by least developed countries, developing countries, countries with economies in transition and countries emerging from conflict, Appreciating the funding provided by certain Member States in 2002 and 2003 that has permitted the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to enhance its capacity to execute an increased number of projects in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 57/173;A/58/222. 2. Affirms the importance of the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the fulfilment of its mandate in crime prevention and criminal justice, including to prevent and combat terrorism, in particular in strengthening international cooperation and providing technical assistance, upon request, which complements the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism; 3. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, in responding to the needs of the international community in the face of both national and transnational criminality and in assisting Member States in achieving the goals of preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime; 4. Reiterates its appreciation of the decision of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to mainstream a gender perspective into its activities and its request that a gender perspective be integrated into all activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 5. Reaffirms the role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in providing to Member States, upon request, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism as well as in the area of reconstruction of national criminal justice systems; 6. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the global programmes addressing the trafficking in human beings, corruption, organized crime and terrorism, formulated on the basis of close consultations with Member States and review by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and calls upon the Secretary-General to enhance further the visibility of those programmes and to strengthen the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by providing it with the resources necessary for the full implementation of its mandate in crime prevention and criminal justice; 7. Supports the high priority given to technical cooperation and advisory services in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism, and stresses the need to enhance the operational activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to assist, in particular, developing countries, countries with economies in transition and countries emerging from conflict; 8. Urges States and relevant international organizations to develop national, regional and international strategies and other necessary measures which complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in addressing effectively the significant problems posed by the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons and related activities; 9. Invites all States to support the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, or through voluntary contributions in direct support of such activities, including for the provision of technical assistance for the implementation of the commitments entered into at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, including the measures outlined in the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century;Resolution 56/261, annex. 10. Encourages relevant programmes, funds and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank, and regional and national funding agencies, to support the technical operational activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice; 11. Urges States and funding agencies to review, as appropriate, their funding policies for development assistance and to include a crime prevention and criminal justice component in such assistance; 12. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to exercise more vigorously its mandated function of resource mobilization, and calls upon the Commission to strengthen further its activities in this direction, in accordance also with Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/31 of 22 July 2003 on the functioning of the Commission; 13. Notes with appreciation the decision to organize a senior-level discussion during the thirteenth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on progress made with regard to the criminal justice aspects of terrorism and international conventions and protocols related to terrorism; 14. Expresses its appreciation to non-governmental organizations and other relevant sectors of civil society for their support to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 15. Invites relevant entities of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank, and other international funding agencies to increase their interaction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in order to benefit from synergies and avoid duplication of effort, and to ensure that, as appropriate, activities on crime prevention and criminal justice, including activities related to the prevention of corruption, are considered in their sustainable development agenda and that the expertise of the Office in activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice, including activities related to the prevention of corruption and the promotion of the rule of law, is fully utilized; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to provide adequate support to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the principal policy-making body in this field, in performing its activities, including cooperation and coordination with the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant bodies; 17. Welcomes the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and the forthcoming entry into force of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the results of the treaty event "Focus 2003: treaties against transnational organized crime and terrorism", organized by the Secretary-General in New York from 23 to 26 September 2003; 18. Emphasizes the importance of the expeditious entry into force of the remaining Protocols to the Convention; 19. Urges all States and regional economic organizations that have not yet done so to ratify or accede to the Convention as soon as possible, so as to participate in the conference of the States parties at its inaugural session, to be held at Vienna from 28 June to 9 July 2004; 20. Welcomes the voluntary contributions already made, and encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention or in direct support of implementation activities and initiatives; 21. Also welcomes the successful outcome of the negotiations on the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the participation of States and competent regional economic integration organizations in the High-level Political Conference for the Purpose of Signing the Convention, held at Mérida, Mexico, from 9 to 11 December 2003, and urges them to take all necessary measures to ratify the Convention as soon as possible; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures and provide adequate support to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime so as to enable it to promote the speedy entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 23. Encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention or in direct support of implementation activities and initiatives; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/141 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/500, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/141. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. its resolution 57/174 of 18 December 2002 and its other previous resolutions, Reaffirming its commitment to the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, devoted to countering the world drug problem together, held in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998, and welcoming the continuing determination of Governments to overcome the world drug problem by a full and balanced application of national, regional and international strategies to reduce the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, Reaffirming the importance of the commitments of Member States in meeting the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at the twentieth special session,Resolution S-20/2, annex. and welcoming the guidelines and elements recommended by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme for the preparation of subsequent reports on the follow-up to the twentieth special session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11; and ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 44/2. Emphasizing the importance of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,Resolution S-20/3, annex. which introduces a new global approach balanced between illicit supply and demand reduction, under the principle of shared responsibility, and of the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development,Resolution S-20/4 E. which recognizes the importance of supply reduction as an integral part of a balanced drug control strategy, Recognizing the efforts of all countries, in particular those that produce narcotic drugs for scientific and medical purposes, and of the International Narcotics Control Board in preventing the diversion of such substances to illicit markets and in maintaining production at a level consistent with licit demand, in line with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. Aware that progress has been uneven in meeting the goals set in the Political Declaration, as also reflected in the biennial reports of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,E/CN.7/2001/2 and Add.1-3, E/CN.7/2001/16 and E/CN.7/2003/2 and Add.1-6. and recognizing that the drug problem is still a global challenge that constitutes a serious threat to public health and safety and the well-being of humankind, in particular children and young people, and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development, including efforts to reduce poverty, and causes violence and crime, including in urban areas, Deeply concerned by the serious challenges and threats posed by the continuing links between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism and other national and transnational criminal activities, such as trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, money-laundering, corruption and trafficking in arms and chemical precursors, and reaffirming that strong and effective international cooperation is needed to counter these threats, Gravely concerned about policies and activities in favour of the legalization of illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that are not in accordance with the international drug control treaties and that might jeopardize the international drug control regime, Acknowledging that international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, and expressing its appreciation for the initiatives in this regard, Welcoming the holding of the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna on 16 and 17 April 2003, I Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law in countering the world drug problem 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility that must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requires an integrated and balanced approach, and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 2. Urges all States to ratify or accede to and implement all the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of l988;See Official Records of the United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Vienna, 25 November-20 December 1988, vol. I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XI.5). II International cooperation to counter the world drug problem and follow-up to the twentieth special session 1. Reaffirms the Joint Ministerial Statement and further measures to implement the action plans emanating from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, adopted during the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,A/58/124, sect. II.A. which emphasizes that the world drug problem must be addressed in multilateral, regional, bilateral and national settings and that, in order to succeed, action to counter it has to involve all Member States, that action must be supported by strong international and development cooperation and must be further included in national development priorities, and that it requires a balance between supply reduction and demand reduction, as well as a comprehensive strategy that combines alternative development, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, eradication, interdiction, law enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation as well as education; 2. Calls upon all relevant actors to continue their close cooperation with Governments in promoting and implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session and of the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs; National drug control strategies 3. Stresses that, in order to be able to further develop sound, evidence-based drug control policies, data collection and analysis and evaluation of the results of ongoing policies are essential tools; Demand reduction 4. Urges all Member States to implement the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs in their population, in particular among children and young people, noting with concern the increasing levels of drug abuse among them; 5. Urges States, in order to achieve a significant and measurable reduction of drug abuse by 2008: (a) To further implement comprehensive demand reduction policies and programmes, including research, covering all drugs under international control, in order to raise public awareness of the drug problem, paying special attention to prevention and education and providing, especially to young people and others at risk, information on developing life skills, making healthy choices and engaging in drug-free activities; (b) To further develop and implement comprehensive demand reduction policies, including risk reduction activities, that are in line with sound medical practice and the international drug control treaties and that reduce the adverse health and social consequences of drug abuse, and to provide a wide range of comprehensive services for the treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug abusers, with appropriate resources being devoted to such services, since social exclusion constitutes an important risk factor for drug abuse; (c) To enhance early intervention programmes that dissuade children and young people from the use of illicit drugs, including polydrug use and the recreational use of substances such as cannabis and synthetic drugs, especially amphetamine-type stimulants, and to encourage the active participation of the younger generation in campaigns against drug abuse; (d) To provide a comprehensive range of services for preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases associated with drug abuse, including education, counselling and drug abuse treatment, and in particular to assist developing countries in their efforts to deal with these issues; Illicit synthetic drugs 6. Urges States to renew their efforts, at the national, regional and international levels, to implement the comprehensive measures covered in the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors,See resolution S-20/4 A. to make special efforts to counter the abuse and recreational use of amphetamine-type stimulants, especially by young people, and to disseminate information on the adverse health, social and economic consequences of such abuse; Control of precursors 7. Encourages States: (a) To establish or strengthen mechanisms for making the most effective use of existing systems and for ensuring strict control of chemical precursors used to manufacture illicit drugs; (b) To support international operations aimed at preventing the diversion of chemical precursors used in the illicit manufacture of cocaine, heroin and amphetamine-type stimulants by exchanging information with other States and conducting timely joint law enforcement operations, including the use of controlled deliveries; (c) To further international cooperation in the implementation of article 12, on control of precursors, of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,See Official Records of the United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Vienna, 25 November-20 December 1988, vol. I (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.XI.5). in close cooperation with the International Narcotics Control Board, and the measures agreed upon at the twentieth special session;See resolution S-20/4 B. Judicial cooperation 8. Calls upon all States to strengthen international cooperation among judicial and law enforcement authorities at all levels in order to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking and to share and promote best operational practices in order to interdict illicit drug trafficking, including by establishing and strengthening regional mechanisms, providing technical assistance and establishing effective methods for cooperation, in particular in the areas of air, maritime and port control; Countering money-laundering 9. Urges States to strengthen action, in particular international cooperation and technical assistance aimed at preventing and combating the laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking and related criminal activities, with the support of the United Nations system, international institutions such as the World Bank and regional development banks, to develop and strengthen comprehensive international regimes to combat money-laundering, and to improve information-sharing among financial institutions and agencies in charge of preventing and detecting the laundering of those proceeds; 10. Calls upon States to consider including provisions in their national drug control plans for the establishment of national networks to enhance their respective capabilities to prevent, monitor, control and suppress serious offences connected with money-laundering and the financing of terrorist acts, and in general to counter all acts of transnational organized crime, and to supplement existing regional and international networks dealing with money-laundering; International cooperation in illicit crop eradication and alternative development 11. Calls upon States, where appropriate: (a) To enhance support, including, where appropriate, through the provision of new and additional financial resources, for alternative development and elimination programmes undertaken by countries affected by the illicit cultivation of cannabis, especially in Africa, of opium poppy and of coca bush, in particular national programmes that seek to reduce social marginalization and promote sustainable economic development; (b) To enhance joint strategies, through international and regional cooperation, to strengthen, including by training and education, alternative development, eradication and interdiction capacity, with the aim of eliminating illicit crop cultivation; (c) To encourage international cooperation, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, to prevent illicit crop cultivation from emerging in or being relocated to other areas; (d) To provide, in accordance with the principle of shared responsibility, greater access to their markets for products of alternative development programmes, which are necessary for the creation of employment and the eradication of poverty; (e) To establish or reinforce, where appropriate, national mechanisms to monitor and verify illicit crops; (f) To continue to contribute to the maintenance of a balance between the licit supply of and demand for opiate raw materials used for medical and scientific purposes and to cooperate in preventing the proliferation of sources of production of opiate raw materials; 12. Welcomes the adoption by the Transitional Government of Afghanistan of a national drug strategy, and notes the need for continued coordination with the international efforts; 13. Recommends that adequate help be provided to Afghanistan within the framework of the comprehensive international strategy, carried out, inter alia, under the auspices of the United Nations and through other multilateral forums, in support of the commitment of the Transitional Government of Afghanistan, including the strengthening of "security belts" in the region, and reaffirms that the response to this unique situation will not detract from the commitments and resources devoted to the fight against drugs in other parts of the world; III Action by the United Nations system 1. Emphasizes that the multidimensional nature of the world drug problem calls for the promotion of integration and coordination of drug control activities throughout the United Nations system, including in the follow-up to major United Nations conferences, as well as other relevant multilateral institutions and organizations; 2. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 of 28 July 1999 and the measures taken and recommendations adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fourth, forty-fifth and forty-sixth sessions, aimed at the enhancement of its functioning, in particular in its resolutions 44/16 of 29 March 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C. 45/17 of 15 March 2002Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. and 46/8 of 15 April 2003;Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28), chap. I, sect. C. 3. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as the global coordinating body in international drug control and as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 4. Notes that the International Narcotics Control Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, and emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and calls for enhanced cooperation and understanding between Member States and the Board in order to enable it to implement all its mandates under the international drug control conventions; 5. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme to implement its mandate, and requests the Programme to continue: (a) To strengthen dialogue with Member States and also to ensure continued improvement in management, so as to contribute to enhanced and sustainable programme delivery and further encourage the Executive Director to maximize the effectiveness of the Programme, inter alia, through the full implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolutions 44/16 and 45/17, in particular the recommendations contained therein; (b) To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, on request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session; (c) To increase its assistance, within the available voluntary resources, to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes, and to explore new and innovative funding mechanisms; (d) To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,Resolution S-20/3, annex. and support countries, upon their request, to further develop and implement drug demand reduction policies; (e) To strengthen dialogue and cooperation with multilateral development banks and with international financial institutions so that they may undertake lending and programming activities related to drug control in interested and affected countries to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session, and to keep the Commission on Narcotic Drugs informed of further progress made in this area; (f) To take into account the outcome of the twentieth special session, to include in its report on the illicit traffic in drugs an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to address all aspects of the drug problem; (g) To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all the official languages; (h) To provide technical assistance, from available voluntary contributions for that purpose, to those States identified by relevant international bodies as the most affected by the transit of drugs, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support; (i) To develop action-oriented strategies to assist Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration, and to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-seventh session on the follow-up to the Action Plan; (j) To provide assistance, subject to the availability of resources, at the request of States and respecting fully their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and with the support of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the European Space Agency, among others, in detecting on time the emergence or relocation of illicit crop cultivation; 6. Welcomes the holding in Paris, on 21 and 22 May 2003, of the Conference on Drug Routes from Central Asia to Europe, and encourages the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other relevant international institutions to continue in their follow-up action on the recommendations of the Conference (the Paris Pact);See S/2003/641. 7. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of resources and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs guidelines for the use of general-purpose funds, together with international financial institutions and the organizations involved in preventing and suppressing money-laundering and drug trafficking, to facilitate the provision of training and advice through technical cooperation in States, when requested, taking into account, inter alia, the recommendations on money-laundering and the financing of terrorism formulated by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and its regional groups; 8. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities, and recommends that a sufficient share of the regular budget of the United Nations be allocated to the Programme to enable it to fulfil its mandates and to work towards securing assured and predictable funding; 9. Encourages the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcome of the twentieth special session and the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs; 10. Calls upon the relevant United Nations agencies and entities, other international organizations and international financial institutions, including regional development banks, to mainstream drug control issues into their programmes; 11. Takes note of the report of the Commission on Narcotic DrugsA/58/124. and the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/253. and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/142 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/501, para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Zambia. 58/142. Women and political participation The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United Nations, and guided by the purposes and principles of human rights instruments, Reaffirming also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which states that everyone has the right to take part in the government of his or her country and the right of equal access to public service, Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. which states, inter alia, that every citizen shall have the right and opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections and to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his or her country, Recalling also the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. which states, inter alia, that States parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country, Recalling further the Convention on the Political Rights of Women,Resolution 640 (VII), annex. which states that women shall be, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination, entitled to vote in all elections, eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies established by national law and entitled to hold public office and to exercise all public functions established by national law, Recalling the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and agreed conclusions 1997/2 on women in power and decision-making, adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women on 21 March 1997,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1997, Supplement No. 7 (E/1997/27), chap. I, sect. C.1. Affirming that the empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social and economic status are essential to the achievement of representative, transparent and accountable government, democratic institutions and sustainable development in all areas of life, Affirming also that the active participation of women, on equal terms with men, at all levels of decision-making is essential to the achievement of equality, sustainable development, peace and democracy, Concerned that, despite general acceptance of the need for gender balance in decision-making bodies at all levels, women are still largely underrepresented at most levels of government, especially in ministerial and other executive bodies, and in legislative bodies, Recognizing that women have demonstrated considerable leadership in community and informal organizations, as well as in public office, Recognizing also that women's full and equal participation in the political process and decision-making will provide a balance that more accurately reflects the composition of society, is needed to strengthen democracy and promote its proper functioning, plays a pivotal role in furthering women's equal status, including improving women's socio-economic status, and contributes to redefining political priorities and providing new perspectives on political issues, Recognizing further that women's participation in decision-making and in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life is negatively affected by poverty, which disproportionately affects women, particularly in developing countries, Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and stressing the importance of their full and equal participation in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution and the rebuilding of post-conflict society, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recognizing the importance of education and training from an early age in government, public policy, economics, civics, information technology and science to ensure that women develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and ethical values needed to participate fully in society and the political process, 1. Urges States: (a) To promote and protect the right of women to associate freely, express their views publicly, openly debate political policy and petition and participate in their Government at all levels, including in the formulation and implementation of government policy, on equal terms with men; (b) To eliminate laws, regulations and practices that, in a discriminatory manner, prevent or restrict women's participation in the political process and to implement positive measures that would accelerate the achievement of equality between men and women; (c) To ensure equal access to education, property rights and inheritance rights and to promote equal access to information technology and business and economic opportunities, including in international trade, in order to provide women with the tools that enable them to take part fully and equally in decision-making processes at all levels; (d) To counter, as appropriate, negative societal attitudes about women's capacity to participate equally in the political process that contribute to the low proportion of women among political decision makers at the local, national and international levels; (e) To promote the goal of gender balance in all public positions and to take all appropriate measures to encourage political parties to ensure that women have a fair and equal opportunity to compete for all elective and non-elective public positions; (f) To review the differential impact of their electoral systems on the political representation of women in elected bodies and to adjust or reform those systems where appropriate; (g) To institute educational programmes, as appropriate, in the school curriculum that sensitize young people about the equal rights of women, teach civic responsibilities, promote confidence-building and counter negative societal attitudes that discourage women's political participation; (h) To monitor progress in the representation of women through the regular collection, analysis and dissemination of data on the political participation of women and men at all levels and the progress of political parties in providing equal and fair opportunities for women to participate; (i) To identify and propose more women candidates for senior and decision-making positions in the United Nations system and for appointment or election to intergovernmental expert and treaty bodies, and to encourage more women to apply for those positions; (j) To promote gender balance for their delegations to United Nations and other international meetings and conferences; (k) To encourage greater involvement of indigenous and other marginalized women in decision-making at all levels and to address and counter the barriers faced by marginalized women in accessing and participating in politics and decision-making; (l) To ensure that measures to reconcile family and professional life apply equally to women and men, bearing in mind that the sharing of family responsibilities between women and men creates an enabling environment for women's political participation; 2. Invites Governments, as well as the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other actors of civil society: (a) To develop mechanisms and training programmes that encourage women to participate in the electoral process and improve women's capacity to cast informed votes in free and fair elections; (b) To encourage political parties to remove all barriers that directly or indirectly discriminate against the participation of women, in order to ensure that women have the right to participate fully at all levels of decision-making in all internal policy-making structures and nominating processes and in the leadership of political parties on equal terms with men; (c) To encourage political parties to actively seek qualified women candidates, to provide training in conducting campaigns, public speaking, fund-raising and parliamentary procedure and to include qualified women and men on their party lists for elective office, where such lists exist; (d) To strive to ensure that information about candidates, political party platforms, voting procedures, including voter registration, and electoral law is available to women on an equal basis with men; (e) To support initiatives, including public-private partnerships and exchange programmes, to expand women's political skills, which include imparting or enhancing skills on how to vote, advocate, manage and govern, run for public office and serve as elected and appointed officials; (f) To promote the participation of young people, especially women, in civil society organizations to enable them to acquire experience, skills and capacities that are transferable to the field of political participation; (g) To encourage the establishment of and the support of existing non-governmental organizations that provide training in leadership, decision-making, public-speaking skills, use of information and communication technologies, confidence-building and political campaigning; (h) To intensify efforts to increase the number of women in public bodies, including through research into barriers to women's access to high-level public appointments; (i) To promote recruitment and career-development programmes that provide women equal access to managerial, entrepreneurial, technical and leadership training, in order to better enable them to assume legislative, judicial and executive positions in government; (j) To continue to study links between poverty eradication, the empowerment of women, in particular with regard to women's political participation, and to compile and widely disseminate good practices and lessons learned; (k) To promote equal opportunities for women to gain appointment to advisory and decision-making bodies and promotion to senior positions by, inter alia, reviewing the criteria for recruitment, appointment and promotion, to ensure that such criteria are relevant to and do not discriminate against women; (l) To develop programmes to educate and train women and girls in using the media and information and communication technologies in order to obtain and impart information, be informed voters, network, communicate with potential voters and raise campaign funds; (m) To encourage the media to recognize the importance of women's participation in the political process, provide fair and balanced coverage of male and female candidates, cover participation in women's political organizations and ensure coverage of issues that have a particular impact on women; 3. Urges States and the United Nations system to increase the participation of women at all levels of decision-making in conflict resolution and peace processes; 4. Invites non-governmental organizations and other actors of civil society: (a) To advocate at all levels to enable women to influence political, economic and social decisions, processes and systems, including by building and strengthening networks among women; (b) To establish, consistent with data-protection legislation, databases on women and their qualifications for use in appointing women to senior decision-making and advisory positions, for dissemination to Governments, regional and international organizations and private enterprise, political parties and other relevant bodies; (c) To increase coordination and cooperation in supporting women and to continue to present women's concerns and experiences to Governments; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, in his report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its fiftieth session, to include information on the participation of women in politics at all levels, bearing in mind that in 2006 the Commission will consider the item entitled "Equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels", and encourages Governments to cooperate with the Secretary-General by providing precise data on the political participation of women at all levels. RESOLUTION 58/143 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/501, para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia and Uruguay. 58/143. Violence against women migrant workers The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on violence against women migrant workers and those adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. Reaffirming the provisions concerning women migrant workers contained in the outcome documents of the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Noting the various activities initiated by entities in the United Nations system, such as the Hemispheric Conference on International Migration: Human Rights and the Trafficking in Persons in the Americas, organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the International Organization for Migration, held at Santiago from 20 to 22 November 2002, as well as other activities that continue to assess and alleviate the plight of women migrant workers, Emphasizing the need for objective, comprehensive, broad-based information, possibly including a database for research and analysis, and a wide exchange of experience and lessons learned by individual Member States and civil society in the formulation of policies and concrete strategies to address the problem of violence against women migrant workers, Encouraging the continuing participation of civil society in developing and implementing appropriate measures to support innovative partnerships among public agencies, non-governmental organizations and other members of civil society for combating violence against women migrant workers, Noting the large numbers of women from developing countries and some countries with economies in transition who continue to venture forth to more affluent countries in search of a living for themselves and their families as a consequence of poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic conditions, and acknowledging the duty of the countries of origin to try to create conditions that provide employment and economic security for their citizens, Expressing deep concern at the continuing reports of grave abuses and acts of violence committed against women migrant workers, Realizing that the movement of a significant number of women migrant workers may be facilitated and made possible by means of fraudulent or irregular documentation and sham marriages with the object of migration, that this may be facilitated through, among other things, the Internet, and that these women migrant workers are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, Acknowledging the economic benefits that accrue to both the country of origin and the country of destination from the employment of women migrant workers, Recognizing the importance of joint and collaborative approaches and strategies at the bilateral, regional, interregional and international levels in protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of women migrant workers, Recognizing also the importance of exploring the link between migration and trafficking, Encouraged by some measures adopted by some countries of destination to alleviate the plight of women migrant workers residing in their areas of jurisdiction, Underlining the important role of relevant United Nations treaty bodies in monitoring the implementation of human rights conventions and the relevant special procedures, within their respective mandates, in addressing the problem of violence against women migrant workers and in protecting and promoting their rights and welfare, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/161. 2. Also takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrantsE/CN.4/2003/85 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1, Add.2, Add.3 and Add.3/Corr.1 and Add.4. and of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2003/75 and Corr.1 and Add.1, Add.2 and Add.2/Corr.1, Add.3 and Add.4. with regard to violence against women migrant workers, and encourages the Special Rapporteurs to continue to address the issue of violence against women migrant workers and their human rights, in particular the problems of gender-based violence and of discrimination, as well as trafficking in women; 3. Acknowledges with appreciation the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their FamiliesResolution 45/158, annex. on 1 July 2003; 4. Requests all Governments to continue to cooperate fully with both Special Rapporteurs in the performance of their tasks and mandated duties and to furnish all information requested, including by reacting promptly to the urgent appeals of the Special Rapporteurs; 5. Encourages Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to make available to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants information on violence against women migrant workers, with a view to requesting the Special Rapporteur to recommend concrete measures and actions to address the problem; 6. Also encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries so as to enable her to fulfil the mandate effectively; 7. Urges concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to strengthen further their national efforts to protect and promote the rights and welfare of women migrant workers, including through sustained bilateral, regional, interregional and international cooperation, by developing strategies and joint action and taking into account the innovative approaches and experiences of individual Member States, and to establish and maintain continuing dialogues to facilitate the exchange of information; 8. Also urges concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to support and allocate appropriate resources for programmes aimed at strengthening preventive action, in particular information for target groups, education and campaigns to increase public awareness of this issue at the national and grass-roots levels, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations; 9. Notes with appreciation the adoption by Member States, including countries of origin, transit and destination, of measures to inform women migrant workers of their rights and the benefits to which they are entitled, and encourages other Member States to adopt appropriate measures in this regard; 10. Calls upon concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, if they have not done so, to put in place penal and criminal sanctions to punish perpetrators of violence against women migrant workers and, to the extent possible, to provide and to encourage non-governmental organizations to provide victims of violence with the full range of immediate assistance and protection, such as counselling, legal and consular assistance, temporary shelter and other measures that will allow them to be present during the judicial process, as well as to establish reintegration and rehabilitation schemes for returning women migrant workers to their countries of origin; 11. Encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to support and, if they have not done so, to formulate and implement training programmes for their law enforcers, prosecutors and service providers with a view to instilling among those public sector workers the necessary skills and attitude to ensure the delivery of proper and professional interventions for women migrant workers who are subjected to abuse and violence; 12. Also encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to adopt measures or strengthen existing ones to regulate the recruitment and deployment of women migrant workers, and to consider the adoption of appropriate legal measures against intermediaries who deliberately encourage the clandestine movement of workers and who exploit women migrant workers; 13. Invites Governments to identify the causes of undocumented migration and its economic, social and demographic impact, as well as its implications for the formulation and application of social, economic and migration policies, including those relating to women migrant workers; 14. Encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin, transit and destination, to avail themselves of the expertise of the United Nations, including the Statistics Division of the Secretariat and other relevant bodies, such as the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, to develop appropriate national data-collection methodologies that will generate comparable data on violence against women migrant workers as bases for research and analysis of the subject; 15. Encourages Member States to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to relevant International Labour Organization conventions and to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, as well as the Slavery Convention of 1926;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 212, No. 2861. 16. Welcomes the imminent entry into force of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,See resolution 55/25. and the adoption by the General Assembly of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,See resolution 55/25. and encourages Governments to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Protocols; 17. Encourages the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to consider developing a general recommendation on the situation of women migrant workers; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the problem of violence against women migrant workers and on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account updated information from the organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, as well as the International Organization for Migration and other relevant sources, including non-governmental organizations. RESOLUTION 58/144 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/501, para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/144. Improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 1 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as Article 8, which provides that the United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs, Recalling also the goal, contained in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. of achieving overall gender equality, particularly at the Professional level and above, by 2000 and the further actions and initiatives set out in the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Recalling further its resolution 57/180 of 18 December 2002, as well as its resolution 57/305 of 15 April 2003, in particular section II, paragraphs 39 to 41 thereof, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/44 of 23 April 2003 on integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. in particular paragraph 15 thereof, in which the Commission recognized that gender mainstreaming would strongly benefit from the enhanced and full participation of women, including at the higher levels of decision-making within the United Nations system, Taking into account the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, including least developed countries and small island developing States, from countries with economies in transition and from unrepresented or largely underrepresented Member States, Noting with appreciation the efforts of the Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, the Office of Human Resources Management, the Department of Public Information, the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in achieving or maintaining the goal of gender balance, as well as those departments and offices that have met or exceeded the goal of 50 per cent in the selection of women candidates for vacant posts in the past year, Expressing particular concern that, for the second consecutive year, there was a slowing of progress towards achieving the target of 50/50 gender balance and that between 1998 and 2003 there has been almost no progress in the rate of representation of women in appointments of one year or more at the Professional and higher levels, Expressing concern that there is still only one female special representative of the Secretary-General, Welcoming the work of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat in issuing guidance for field missions on the procedures to be followed for handling disciplinary issues and allegations of serious misconduct involving mission personnel, and encouraged by the agreement in the Staff-Management Coordination Committee that the procedure for dealing with all forms of sexual harassment will be reviewed and incorporated in a new administrative instruction covering all forms of harassment, Welcoming also the new flexible working arrangements authorized in all departments and offices of the Secretariat,See ST/SGB/2003/4. Noting with concern that the statistics on the representation of women in some organizations of the United Nations system are not fully up to date, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/374. and the actions described therein; 2. Regrets that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution was not met by the end of 2000, and urges the Secretary-General to redouble his efforts to realize significant progress towards this goal in the very near future; 3. Reaffirms the urgent goal of achieving 50/50 gender distribution in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at senior and policy-making levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and also taking into account the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, from countries with economies in transition and from unrepresented or largely underrepresented Member States; 4. Expresses concern that in three departments and offices of the Secretariat women still account for less than 30 per cent of professional staff and that in three organizations of the United Nations system women still account for less than 20 per cent of professional staff, and encourages the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their efforts to meet the goal of gender balance within the United Nations system; 5. Welcomes: (a) The ongoing personal commitment of the Secretary-General to meeting the goal of gender equality and his assurance that gender balance will be given the highest priority in his continuing efforts to bring about a new management culture in the Organization; (b) The pledge of the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to intensify their efforts to meet the gender equality goals set out in the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for Action;Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. (c) The inclusion of the objective of improving gender balance in action plans on human resources management for individual departments and offices, and encourages further cooperation, including the sharing of best-practice initiatives, between heads of departments and offices, the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat in the implementation of those plans, which include specific targets and strategies for improving the representation of women in individual departments and offices; (d) The decision, within the context of the new staff selection system,See ST/AI/2002/4. to hold heads of departments and offices accountable for meeting the gender targets in departmental human resource action plans through their performance compacts; (e) The continuing designation of focal points for women in the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the focal points are designated at a sufficiently high level and enjoy full access to senior management, both at Headquarters and in the field; (f) The continuing provision of specific training programmes on gender mainstreaming and gender issues in the workplace, tailored to meet the special needs of individual departments, commends those heads of departments and offices who have launched gender training for their managers and staff, and strongly encourages those who have not yet organized such training to do so as soon as possible; (g) The formulation of a project by the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management to strengthen the efforts of the Secretary-General to achieve gender balance by adopting a more coordinated and integrated approach to this issue, with the purpose of setting and achieving verifiable goals to ensure that gender balance targets are attained by 2006; (h) The preparation of a research-based analysis by the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, to be presented to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, of the probable causes of the slow advancement in the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system, with a view to elaborating new strategies for achieving gender parity; (i) The commitment of the Office of Human Resources Management and the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women to explore ways to better integrate the departmental focal points in the new staffing system, so that the focal points can continue to play an important role for the periodic and systematic monitoring of the recruitment, retention and career advancement of women,See A/58/374, para. 76. and looks forward to information on this matter in the next report; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to achieve and maintain the goal of 50/50 gender distribution with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter: (a) To continue to develop innovative recruitment strategies to identify and attract suitably qualified women candidates, particularly from and in developing countries and countries with economies in transition and other Member States that are unrepresented or underrepresented in the Secretariat, and in occupations in which women are underrepresented; (b) To encourage the United Nations system and its agencies and departments to make more effective use of existing information technology resources and systems and other established methods to disseminate information about employment opportunities for women and to better coordinate rosters of potential women candidates; (c) To continue to monitor closely the progress made by departments and offices in meeting the goal of gender balance, to ensure that the appointment and promotion of suitably qualified women represents at least 50 per cent of all appointments and promotions until the goal of 50/50 gender distribution is met; (d) To strongly encourage heads of departments and offices to continue selecting female candidates when their qualifications are the same as, or better than, those of male candidates, and to effectively encourage, monitor and assess the performance of managers in meeting targets for improving women's representation; (e) To encourage consultation by heads of departments and offices with departmental focal points on women during the selection process and to ensure that the focal points are designated at a sufficiently high level and enjoy full and effective access to senior management; (f) To extend ongoing training and sensitization of managers on gender balance issues; (g) To enable the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women to effectively contribute to, monitor and facilitate the setting and implementation of gender targets in human resource action plans, including by ensuring access to the information required to carry out that work; (h) To intensify his efforts to create, within existing resources, a gender-sensitive work environment supportive of the needs of his staff, both women and men, including by actively pursuing appropriate work/life policies, such as flexible working time, flexible workplace arrangements, career development, mentoring programmes and childcare and elder-care needs, as well as through the provision of more comprehensive information to prospective candidates and new recruits on employment opportunities for spouses, the provision of support for the activities of women's networks and organizations within the United Nations system and the expansion of gender-sensitivity training in all departments, offices and duty stations, including more information and training of staff and managers on the benefits of the work/life policies on productivity and effectiveness; (i) To continue to work to strengthen further the policy against harassment, including sexual harassment, by, inter alia, ensuring the full implementation of the guidelines for its application at Headquarters and in the field; 7. Strongly encourages the Secretary-General, in the context of his commitment to set concrete targets for the appointment of women as his special representatives and special envoys in order to reach the target of 50/50 gender balance by 2015,See S/2002/1154, para. 44. to intensify his efforts to appoint more women as special representatives and envoys to pursue good offices on his behalf, especially in matters related to peacekeeping, peace-building, preventive diplomacy and economic and social development, as well as in operational activities, including appointment as resident coordinators, and to appoint more women to other high-level positions; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to continue to develop common approaches for retaining women, promoting inter-agency mobility and improving career development opportunities; 9. Encourages the United Nations and Member States to continue to implement the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", pertaining to the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system;Resolution S-23/3, annex. 10. Strongly encourages Member States: (a) To support the efforts of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, funds and programmes to achieve the goal of 50/50 gender distribution, especially at senior and policy-making levels, by identifying and regularly submitting more women candidates for appointment to positions in the United Nations system, by identifying and proposing national recruitment sources, including through the establishment of networks with professional organizations, that will assist the organizations of the United Nations system in identifying suitable women candidates, in particular from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, by creating awareness among their nationals, particularly women, of available vacancies throughout the United Nations system, and by encouraging more women to apply for positions within the Secretariat, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes and the regional commissions, including in areas in which women are underrepresented, such as peacekeeping, peace-building and other non-traditional areas; (b) To identify women candidates for assignment to peacekeeping missions and to improve the representation of women in military and civilian police contingents; (c) To identify and submit regularly more women candidates for appointment or election to intergovernmental, expert and treaty bodies; (d) To identify and nominate more women candidates for appointment or election as judges or other senior officials in international courts and tribunals; (e) To cooperate closely with the United Nations to facilitate spouse employment at all the major duty stations of the Secretariat and the organizations of the United Nations system; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to provide a verbal update to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-eighth sessionSee E/CN.6/2003/8, paras. 24 and 49. and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including by providing up-to-date statistics on the number and percentage of women in all organizational units and at all levels throughout the United Nations system, as well as gender-segregated attrition rates for all organizational units and at all levels, as well as on the implementation of departmental human resource action plans, in particular for the achievement of the gender targets; 12. Requests the United Nations and the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in order to facilitate the preparation of the above-mentioned report, to submit personnel data on all appointments, promotions and mobility as well as to collect and submit data in a timely fashion to measure accurately progress in achieving gender parity for staff. RESOLUTION 58/145 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/501, para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/145. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/178 of 18 December 2002 and its previous resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles 1 and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind, including distinction as to sex, Reiterating the need to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women throughout the world, Affirming that women and men should participate equally in social, economic and political development, should contribute equally to such development and should share equally in improved conditions of life, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the human rights of women and the girl child were an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, Acknowledging the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, which includes the integration of the human rights of women into the mainstream of United Nations activities system-wide, Reaffirming the commitments made in the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and the outcome documentResolution S-23/3, annex. of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", in particular paragraphs 68 (c) and (d) concerning the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Resolution 54/4, annex. Recalling that, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. heads of State and Government resolved to implement the Convention, Recognizing that the equal enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms will promote the realization of the rights of the child, bearing in mind the special needs of girls, and acknowledging the mutual reinforcement of the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Optional Protocols thereto,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. Welcoming the progress made in the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, but expressing concern about the remaining challenges, Welcoming also the growing number of States parties to the Convention, which now stands at one hundred and seventy-five, Recalling the entry into force on 22 December 2000 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that national reports should contain information on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. in accordance with paragraph 323 of the Platform, Having considered the report of the Committee on its twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth sessions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/58/38). Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue and that continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/341. on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 34/180, annex. 2. Expresses disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention was not achieved by 2000, and urges all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so; 3. Urges States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocol theretoResolution 54/4, annex. and to take into consideration the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; 4. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, as well as Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and, in particular, women's organizations, as appropriate, to strengthen assistance to States parties, upon their request, in implementing the Convention; 5. Welcomes the rapidly growing number of States parties to the Optional Protocol, which now stands at fifty-nine, and urges other States parties to the Convention to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 6. Notes the closed meeting held by the Committee on 16 July 2003 with States parties whose reports were more than five years overdue; 7. Takes note with appreciation of the fact that the Committee has commenced its work under the Optional Protocol; 8. Notes that some States parties have modified their reservations, expresses satisfaction that some reservations have been withdrawn, and urges States parties to limit the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, to review their reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention; 9. Welcomes the adoption by the Committee of revised reporting guidelines,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/57/38). and urges States parties to adhere to the revised guidelines, in particular with regard to the content and length of reports; 10. Recalls the great number of overdue reports, in particular initial reports, and urges States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on the implementation of the Convention in a timely manner in accordance with article 18 thereof; 11. Encourages the Secretariat to extend further technical assistance to States parties, upon their request, to strengthen their capacity in the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports, and invites Governments to contribute to those efforts; 12. Invites States parties to make use of the technical assistance provided by the Secretariat to facilitate the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports; 13. Commends the Committee on its contributions to the effective implementation of the Convention; 14. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible so that the amendment may enter into force; 15. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made so far by the Committee to improve the efficiency of its working methods, and encourages the Committee to continue its activities in this regard; 16. Encourages the continued participation of members of the Committee in inter-committee meetings and meetings of persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies, including those on methods of work relating to the State reporting system; 17. Encourages the Committee, within its mandate, to continue to contribute to the efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the treaty bodies; 18. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/4 of 6 October 1999, to provide the resources, including staff and facilities, necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, taking into account in particular the entry into force of the Optional Protocol; 19. Urges Governments, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 20. Encourages States parties to disseminate the concluding comments adopted in relation to the consideration of their reports as well as the general recommendations of the Committee; 21. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system to continue to build women's knowledge and understanding of and capacity to utilize human rights instruments, in particular the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 22. Urges the specialized agencies, at the invitation of the Committee, to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities; 23. Welcomes the contribution of non-governmental organizations to the work of the Committee; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/146 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/501, para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/146. Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/129 of 19 December 2001, Recalling also the importance attached to the problems of rural women in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.85.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A. the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved, inter alia, to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable, Welcoming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. as well as the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. which called upon Governments to mainstream the gender perspective into development at all levels and in all sectors, Welcoming also the agreed conclusions on women's participation in and access to the media, and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women, adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-seventh session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 7 (E/2003/27), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/44. Welcoming further the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2003 of the Economic and Social Council, adopted on 2 July 2003,See A/58/3 (Part I), chap. III, para. 35. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 3. which stressed the need for rural development to become an integral part of national and international development policies and of the activities and programmes of the United Nations system, and called for an enhanced role for rural women at all levels of rural development, including decision-making, Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, Noting that some effects of globalization may deepen the socio-economic marginalization of rural women, Noting also that the globalization process has had some benefits by providing opportunities for wage employment for rural women in new sectors, Mindful of the fact that the available data and existing tools of measurement and analysis are insufficient for a full understanding of the gender implications of the processes of globalization and rural change, and their impact on rural women, Recognizing the urgent need to take appropriate measures aimed at further improving the situation of women in rural areas, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/167 and Add.1. 2. Requests the Secretary-General and all relevant United Nations bodies to take into account, while developing future policies, plans and activities, the views expressed by Member States in their replies concerning the desirability of convening a high-level policy consultation at the governmental level, with a view to setting priorities and developing critical strategies that would meet the manifold challenges faced by rural women; 3. Invites Member States, in collaboration with the organizations of the United Nations and civil society, as appropriate, to continue their efforts to implement the outcome of and to ensure an integrated and coordinated follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including their five-year reviews, and to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women in their national, regional and global development strategies by, inter alia: (a) Creating an enabling environment for improving the situation of rural women, including integrating a gender perspective in macroeconomic policies and developing appropriate social support systems; (b) Pursuing the political and socio-economic empowerment of rural women by supporting their full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels, including in rural institutions through, inter alia, the provision of training and capacity-building programmes, including legal literacy; (c) Integrating a gender perspective into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development policies and programmes, including budget policies, paying increased attention to the needs of rural women so as to ensure that they benefit from policies and programmes adopted in all spheres and that the disproportionate number of rural women living in poverty is reduced; (d) Ensuring that the perspectives of rural women are taken into account and that they participate in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and activities related to emergencies, natural disasters, humanitarian assistance, peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction; (e) Investing in and strengthening efforts to meet the basic needs of rural women through capacity-building and human resources development measures and the provision of a safe and reliable water supply and sanitation, nutritional programmes, education and literacy programmes, and health and social support measures, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support; (f) Designing and implementing policies that promote and protect the enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and creating an environment that does not tolerate violations of the rights of women and girls, including domestic violence; (g) Developing specific assistance programmes and advisory services to promote economic skills of rural women in banking, modern trading and financial procedures and providing microcredit and other financial and business services to a greater number of women in rural areas for their economic empowerment; (h) Taking steps towards ensuring that women's unpaid work and contributions to on-farm and off-farm production, including income generated in the informal sector, are visible, and assessing the feasibility of developing and improving mechanisms, such as time-use studies, to measure in quantitative terms unpaid work, recognizing the potential for it to be reflected in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes at the national and regional levels; (i) Designing and revising laws to ensure that, where private ownership of land and property exists, rural women are accorded full and equal rights to own land and other property, including through the right to inheritance, and undertaking administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital, appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; (j) Promoting programmes to enable rural women and men to reconcile their work and family responsibilities and to encourage men to share equally with women household and childcare responsibilities; 4. Invites the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to pay due attention to the situation of rural women in the consideration of the priority themes identified in its multi-year programme of work for the period 2002-2006; 5. Invites the relevant organizations of the United Nations system dealing with issues of development to address and support the empowerment of rural women and their specific needs in their programmes and strategies, including in the context of globalization; 6. Stresses the need to identify the best practices for ensuring that rural women have access to and full participation in the area of information and communication technologies, inter alia, through specific studies, and invites the World Summit on the Information Society, in Geneva and Tunis, to take into consideration, while addressing gender issues, the priorities and needs of rural women and girls as active users of information and ensure their participation in developing and implementing global information and communication technology strategies; 7. Invites Member States, the United Nations and the relevant organizations of its system to ensure that the needs of rural women are mainstreamed into the integrated process of follow-up to the major summits and conferences in the economic and social fields, in particular the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the International Conference on Financing for Development, and the 2005 review of the progress achieved in implementing all the commitments made in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Beijing Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century";Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 8. Invites Member States to take into consideration the concluding comments and recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concerning their reports to the Committee when formulating policies and designing programmes focused on the improvement of the situation of rural women, including those to be developed and implemented in cooperation with relevant international organizations; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, addressing different aspects of the empowerment of rural women, including the impact of macroeconomic policy frameworks on their situation. RESOLUTION 58/147 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/501, para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela. 58/147. Elimination of domestic violence against women The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). as well as in other relevant international instruments, and reaffirming also that discrimination on the basis of sex is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and other international human rights instruments and that its elimination is an integral part of efforts towards the elimination of violence against women, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. as well as the follow-up action by the Commission on the Status of Women on violence against women and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. Recalling also all its previous resolutions on the elimination of violence against women, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/45 of 23 April 2003 on the elimination of violence against women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. as well as all its previous relevant resolutions on this issue, Bearing in mind that domestic violence against women and girls is a human rights issue, Recognizing that domestic violence against women is, inter alia, a societal problem and a manifestation of unequal power relations between women and men, Recognizing also that both men and women have and should take responsibility for promoting gender equality, Recognizing further the serious immediate and long-term implications for health, including sexual and reproductive health, that domestic violence against women can present for individuals and families, Recognizing the implications of domestic violence for the social and economic development of communities and States, Underlining the importance of the empowerment of women and their economic independence as critical tools to prevent and eliminate domestic violence against women, 1. Recognizes: (a) That domestic violence is violence that occurs within the private sphere, generally between individuals who are related through blood or intimacy; (b) That domestic violence is one of the most common and least visible forms of violence against women and that its consequences affect many areas of the lives of victims; (c) That domestic violence can take many different forms, including physical, psychological and sexual violence; (d) That domestic violence is of public concern and requires States to take serious action to protect victims and prevent domestic violence; (e) That domestic violence can include economic deprivation and isolation and that such conduct may cause imminent harm to the safety, health or well-being of women; 2. Welcomes: (a) The activities and initiatives of States aimed at the elimination of domestic violence against women, including legal, educational, economic, social and other measures; (b) The work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and takes note of the report entitled "Developments in the area of violence against women (1994-2002)";E/CN.4/2003/75 and Corr.1 and Add.1, Add.2 and Add.2/Corr.1, Add.3 and Add.4. (c) The efforts undertaken by United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, including the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Population Fund, to address the issue of domestic violence and encourages them to coordinate their efforts, and, in particular, expresses its appreciation for the initiatives of the United Nations Development Fund for Women to combat violence against women at the international, regional and national levels, as well as the World Report on Violence and Health launched by the World Health Organization in 2002, particularly its consideration of gender-based violence; (d) The work carried out by civil society, including non-governmental organizations, such as women's organizations, and community-based organizations and individuals, aimed at the elimination of domestic violence against women, inter alia, by raising awareness of its harmful effects, and in the provision of support services to women victims of violence; 3. Strongly condemns all forms of domestic violence against women and girls, and in this regard, calls for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence in the family, including where condoned by the State; 4. Expresses its concern: (a) That women continue to be victims of domestic violence and at the continuing occurrence in all regions of the world of domestic violence, which takes many different forms, and at failure to prosecute and punish the perpetrators; (b) That domestic violence, including sexual violence in marriage, is still treated as a private matter in some countries; 5. Stresses that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of domestic violence against women and to provide protection to the victims, and also stresses that not to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; 6. Reaffirms the commitment of States to establish legislation and/or strengthen appropriate mechanisms to handle criminal matters relating to all forms of domestic violence, including marital rape and sexual abuse of women and girls, and to ensure that such cases are brought to justice swiftly; 7. Calls upon States: (a) To adopt, strengthen and implement legislation that prohibits domestic violence, prescribes punitive measures and establishes adequate legal protection against domestic violence and periodically to review, evaluate and revise these laws and regulations so as to ensure their effectiveness in eliminating domestic violence; (b) To make domestic sexual violence a criminal offence and to ensure proper investigation and prosecution of perpetrators; (c) To adopt and/or strengthen policies and legislation in order to strengthen preventive measures, protect the human rights of victims, ensure proper investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and provide legal and social assistance to victims of domestic violence, and to adopt policies with regard to the rehabilitation of perpetrators; (d) To intensify measures aimed at preventing domestic violence against women; (e) To ensure greater protection for women, inter alia, by means of, where appropriate, orders restraining violent spouses from entering the family home, or by banning violent spouses from contacting the victim; (f) To provide or facilitate the provision of adequate training, inter alia, gender-awareness training, to all professionals who deal with domestic violence, in particular with victims of domestic violence, police officers, judicial and legal personnel, health personnel, educators, youth workers and social workers; (g) To provide or facilitate the provision of assistance to victims of domestic violence in lodging police reports and receiving treatment and support, which may include the setting up of one-stop centres, as well as the establishment of safe shelters and centres for victims of domestic violence; (h) To protect women in the process of seeking redress from further victimization because of gender-insensitive laws or practices; (i) To establish and/or strengthen police response protocols and procedures to ensure that all appropriate actions are taken to protect victims of domestic violence and to prevent further acts of domestic violence; (j) To take measures to ensure the protection of women subjected to violence, access to just and effective remedies, inter alia, through compensation and indemnification and healing of victims, and the rehabilitation of perpetrators; (k) To intensify efforts to raise collective and individual awareness about violence against women, including through human rights education, to highlight the role of men and boys in the prevention and elimination of domestic violence against women, and to encourage and support initiatives to promote attitudinal and behavioural change on the part of, and the rehabilitation of, perpetrators of violence against women; (l) To encourage the efforts of the media to engage in awareness-raising campaigns; (m) To take all measures to empower women and strengthen their economic independence, including through equal remuneration for equal work, and increased job opportunities for women, as well as equal access to and control over economic resources, including land, credit, microcredit and traditional saving schemes such as women's banks and cooperatives, and by ensuring property rights and the right to inheritance, with a view to reducing women's vulnerability to all forms of violence, including domestic violence; (n) Not to invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations to eliminate violence against women; (o) To consider, as a matter of priority, becoming parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 34/180, annex. (p) That are parties to the Convention to include in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women information on legal and policy measures adopted and implemented in their efforts to prevent and eliminate domestic violence against women and to cross-reference that information, where appropriate, in reports to other human rights treaty bodies; (q) To cooperate closely with relevant specialized agencies and United Nations funds and programmes, as well as with regional intergovernmental organizations, as appropriate, and relevant community and non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations, in an effort to eliminate violence against women; (r) To collect, update and improve the collection of data on violence against women, including through sex-disaggregated information systems, which should be made public and disseminated widely; 8. Emphasizes the need for technical and financial assistance to developing countries in their efforts to eliminate domestic violence against women from United Nations funds and programmes, international and regional financial institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, and civil society, as well as the need for assistance from the international community to non-governmental organizations and community-based groups active in this field; 9. Encourages States to contribute or increase their contribution to the Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women managed by the United Nations Development Fund for Women; 10. Invites: (a) Relevant specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, regional intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to exchange information on the subject of the present resolution, and encourages the exchange of such information between non-governmental organizations active in this field and the relevant human rights treaty bodies; (b) The relevant human rights treaty bodies to continue to address this issue, where appropriate; 11. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Advancement of women". RESOLUTION 58/148 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/502, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/148. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 57/182 of 18 December 2002, Recalling also the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the proposed actions and initiatives to overcome obstacles and challenges thereto, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session are important contributions to the advancement of women worldwide in the achievement of gender equality and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, as well as by non-governmental organizations, Stressing the importance of strong, sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels for achieving full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for the effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Welcoming the increased attention to the situation of women and girls and the integration of a gender perspective in the work of the United Nations, in particular in the outcomes of major conferences, special sessions and summit conferences and their follow-up processes, and reaffirming its commitment to building on progress achieved in this respect, Emphasizing the importance of Economic and Social Council decision 2003/287 of 24 July 2003, in which the Council decided to undertake, during the coordination segment of its substantive session of 2004, a review and appraisal of the system-wide implementation of agreed conclusions 1997/2 on mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system, adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and taking note of Council resolution 2003/49 of 24 July 2003, Reaffirming the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality, while noting the open debate on women and peace and security held in the Security Council on 28 and 29 October 2002See S/PV.4635 and S/PV.4635 (Resumption 1). and on 29 October 2003,See S/PV.4852 and S/PV.4852 (Resumption 1). Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions and Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, 1. Reaffirms the goals, objectives and commitments contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and also in the political declaration and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session;Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session;A/58/166. 3. Calls upon Governments, the relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue to take effective action to achieve the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 4. Reaffirms its decision that the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, in accordance with their respective mandates and with General Assembly resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 and other relevant resolutions, constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism that plays the primary role in overall policy-making and follow-up and in coordinating the implementation and monitoring of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 5. Also reaffirms that the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the twenty-third special session will be undertaken within the framework of an integrated and coordinated follow-up to major international conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; 6. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 7. Calls upon Governments and all other relevant actors to continue to integrate a gender perspective into the implementation of and follow-up to recent United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions and in future reports on this subject; 8. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. to include information on measures taken to implement the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as well as the Beijing Platform for Action, in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 18 of the Convention; 9. Urges Member States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and welcomes the imminent entry into force of that Protocol on 25 December 2003; 10. Invites Member States to submit, before 30 April 2004, responses to the questionnaire of the Secretariat on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, in preparation for the review and appraisal mandated in the multi-year programme of work of the Commission on the Status of Women;See Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/4. 11. Invites the Economic and Social Council to continue its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of all activities in its work and that of its subsidiary bodies, building upon agreed conclusions 1997/2 adopted by the Council on 18 July 1997,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and in this regard welcomes the inclusion of the question of gender mainstreaming in its agenda, the consideration of annual progress made in gender mainstreaming and the attention given to the gender perspective in the outcomes of the substantive session of 2003 of the Council; 12. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to request the regional commissions, within their respective mandates and resources, to intensify efforts to build up a database, to be updated regularly, in which all programmes and projects carried out in their respective regions by organizations or bodies of the United Nations system are listed, and to facilitate the dissemination of information on such programmes and projects, as well as the evaluation of their impact on the empowerment of women through the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 13. Welcomes the contribution of the Commission on the Status of Women to the follow-up and review of the future implementation of the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, reaffirms that the Commission will continue to play a central role in this regard, and encourages Governments, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to continue to support its work; 14. Recognizes the importance attached to the regional and subregional monitoring of the global and regional platforms for action and of the implementation of the outcome of the twenty-third special session by regional commissions and other regional or subregional structures, within their mandates, in consultation with Governments, and calls for the promotion of further cooperation in that respect among Governments and, where appropriate, national machineries of the same region; 15. Also recognizes that sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels are essential elements for the full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 16. Emphasizes that the promotion of gender equality and of women's empowerment and participation, together with the mainstreaming of a gender perspective, are among the essential elements for advancing the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. with a view, in particular, to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the outcomes of United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions; 17. Recognizes that adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, including the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources, will also be required; 18. Emphasizes that the creation of an enabling environment at the national and international levels, including by ensuring the participation of women on an equal basis with men at all levels of decision-making, is necessary to ensure the full participation of women in economic activities, and calls upon States to remove obstacles to the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 19. Reaffirms that, in order to ensure the effective implementation of the strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective, including through the work of the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the maintenance of gender units and focal points; 20. Also reaffirms that United Nations bodies that focus on gender issues, such as the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Children's Fund, have a critical role to play in the implementation of the objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and recognizes that gender specialists throughout the United Nations system also have an important role to play in this regard; 21. Recognizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution, and urges the United Nations system and Governments to make further efforts in this regard and to take steps to ensure and support the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making and implementation in development activities and peace processes, including conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict reconstruction, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace-building, as well as through the integration of a gender perspective into those United Nations processes; 22. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by all relevant organizations of the United Nations system in promoting the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution; 23. Welcomes the convening of the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005, and encourages Governments and all other stakeholders to integrate a gender perspective into the preparatory processes and outcome documents, taking into account the agreed conclusions on women's participation in and access to the media, and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women, adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-seventh session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 7 (E/2003/27), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/44. and the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/166. 24. Also welcomes the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 54/4, annex. and urges States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 25. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that all programmes, medium-term plans and programme budgets visibly mainstream a gender perspective; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to disseminate the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session as widely as possible in all the official languages of the United Nations; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to integrate a gender perspective in his reporting to the General Assembly, in order to support gender-sensitive policy formulation; 28. Further requests the Secretary-General to report annually to the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, with an assessment of progress made in mainstreaming a gender perspective within the United Nations system, including by providing information on key achievements, lessons learned and best practices, and to recommend further measures and strategies for future action within the United Nations system; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his annual and quinquennial reports on the follow-up to the United Nations Millennium Declaration an assessment of the progress made in promoting the goal of gender equality, in particular in relation to the development goals set forth in the Millennium Declaration, and recommendations to improve the measurement and coverage of indicators so that progress towards gender equality can be evaluated over time; 30. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all United Nations personnel and officials at Headquarters and in the field, especially in field operations, receive training on mainstreaming a gender perspective in their work, including gender impact analysis, and to ensure appropriate follow-up to such training; 31. Further requests the Secretary-General to provide, by the end of 2004, a compilation of updated and substantiated statistics from Member States and other relevant sources on the situation of women and girls, including older women, in countries around the world, including by issuing a new volume of The World's Women: Trends and Statistics; 32. Recognizes the need to further include a gender perspective in the work of its Main Committees; 33. Recalls, in this regard, its request to each functional commission of the Economic and Social Council to examine its methods of work in order to better pursue the implementation of the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits, recognizing that there is no need for a uniform approach since each functional commission has its own specificity, while noting that modern methods of work can better guarantee the review of progress made in implementation at all levels, on the basis of a report containing recommendations to be submitted by the Secretary-General to each functional commission and relevant subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council on its methods of work, in accordance with the provisions defined by the respective outcomes and relevant decisions taken by each body, bearing in mind the progress recently achieved in this regard by certain commissions, in particular the Commission on Sustainable Development, and recalling that the functional commissions and other relevant bodies of the Economic and Social Council should report to it no later than 2005 on the outcome of this examination; 34. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled 'Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century' ". RESOLUTION 58/149 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/503, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sudan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 58/149. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/183 of 18 December 2002, Recalling also the provisions of its resolution 2312 (XXII) of 14 December 1967, by which it adopted the Declaration on Territorial Asylum, Recalling further the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Recalling the Khartoum DeclarationA/54/682, annex I. and the Recommendations on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in AfricaIbid., annex II. adopted by the Organization of African UnityOn 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. at the ministerial meeting held at Khartoum on 13 and 14 December 1998, Welcoming decision EX/CL/Dec.46 (III) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa adopted by the Executive Council of the African Union at its third ordinary session, held at Maputo from 4 to 8 July 2003,See A/58/626, annex II. Welcoming also decision AHG/Dec.165 (XXXVII) on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held at Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001,See A/56/457, annex I. Recalling its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002 on the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and affirming that international support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. is essential, notably as it relates to refugees, returnees and displaced persons, Reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. together with the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, Recognizing that the fundamental principles and rights embodied in those conventions have provided a resilient protection regime within which millions of refugees have been able to find safety from armed conflicts and persecution, Welcoming in that regard the Declaration adopted at the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, held at Geneva on 12 and 13 December 2001,HCR/MMSP/2001/10, annex I. as an expression of their collective commitment to full and effective implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, Recalling the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted by the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts convened by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000 on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969, and noting its endorsement by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its seventy-second ordinary session, held at Lomé from 6 to 8 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex I, decision CM/Dec.531 (LXXII), para. 8. Commending the convening of the first African Union Ministerial Conference on Human Rights in Africa at Kigali on 8 May 2003, and recalling the attention paid to issues relevant to refugees and displaced persons in the Kigali DeclarationSee MIN/CONF/HRA/Decl.1 (I). adopted by the Conference, Recognizing the contributions made by African States to the development of regional standards for the protection of refugees and returnees, and noting with appreciation that countries of asylum are hosting refugees in a humanitarian spirit and in a spirit of African solidarity and brotherhood, Recognizing also the need for States to address resolutely the root causes of forced displacement and to create conditions that facilitate durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons, and stressing in that regard the need for States to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent to forestall large refugee flows, Convinced of the need to strengthen the capacity of States to provide assistance to and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons and of the need for the international community, within the context of burden-sharing, to increase its material, financial and technical assistance to the countries affected by refugees, returnees and displaced persons, to simultaneously address the inadequacies of existing assistance arrangements and to support initiatives in this regard, Acknowledging with appreciation that some assistance is already rendered by the international community to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and host countries in Africa, Noting the "Convention Plus" initiative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is aimed at strengthening the international protection regime through the development of comprehensive approaches to resolving refugee situations, including improving international burden- and responsibility-sharing and realizing durable solutions, Deeply concerned about the continuing critical humanitarian situation in African countries, in particular in the Horn of Africa and southern Africa, aggravated, among other things, by persistent natural disasters, including drought, floods and desertification, which can precipitate the displacement of people, Noting with great concern that, despite all the efforts made so far by the United Nations, the African Union and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, Stressing that the provision of relief and assistance to African refugees by the international community should be on an equitable and non-discriminatory basis, Considering that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict and bear the brunt of atrocities and other consequences of conflict, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/353. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/58/12). 2. Notes with concern that the deteriorating socio-economic situation, compounded by political instability, internal strife, human rights violations and natural disasters, has led to increased numbers of refugees and displaced persons in some countries of Africa, and remains particularly concerned about the impact of large-scale refugee populations on the security, socio-economic situation and environment of countries of asylum; 3. Encourages African States to ensure the full implementation of and follow-up to the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted by the Special Meeting of Governmental and Non-Governmental Technical Experts convened by the Organization of African Unity and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Conakry from 27 to 29 March 2000 on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. 4. Calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and the spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa; 5. Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since assuming office in January 2001, and commends the Office of the High Commissioner for its ongoing efforts, with the support of the international community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 6. Reaffirms that international protection and the search for durable solutions for refugees and, as appropriate, other persons of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner, which were examined, inter alia, in the Global Consultations on International Protection process and are reflected in the Agenda for Protection,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. are at the core of the mandate of the Office; 7. Welcomes the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner to strengthen its linkages with the other parts of the United Nations system in order to enhance refugee protection and to identify and implement durable solutions for refugees and other persons of concern to the Office, and appreciates the efforts of the Office to strengthen partnerships with operational and implementing partners; 8. Takes note of the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties to the 1951 Convention and/or its 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees as an expression of their collective commitment to full and effective implementation of the ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the Protocol;Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. 9. Reaffirms that the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remain the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, encourages African States that have not yet done so to accede to those instruments, and calls upon States parties to the Conventions to reaffirm their commitment to their ideals and to respect and observe their provisions; 10. Notes the need for States to address the root causes of forced displacement in Africa, and calls upon African States, the international community and relevant United Nations organizations to take concrete action to meet the needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons for protection and assistance and to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight; 11. Also notes the link, inter alia, between human rights violations, poverty, natural disasters and environmental degradation and population displacement, and calls for redoubled and concerted efforts by States, in collaboration with the African Union, to promote and protect human rights for all and to address those problems; 12. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, within their respective mandates, in the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, and welcomes in this regard the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on 26 May 2003; 13. Notes with appreciation the ongoing mediation and conflict resolution efforts carried out by African States, the African Union and subregional organizations, as well as the establishment of regional mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, and urges all relevant parties to address the humanitarian consequences of conflicts; 14. Expresses its appreciation and strong support for those African Governments and local populations that, in spite of the general deterioration of socio-economic and environmental conditions and overstretched national resources, continue to accept the additional burden imposed upon them by increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, in compliance with the relevant principles of asylum; 15. Welcomes the decision of African heads of State and Government to address the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa within the context of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 16. Expresses its concern about instances in which the fundamental principles of asylum are jeopardized by unlawful expulsion or refoulement or by threats to the life, physical security, integrity, dignity and well-being of refugees; 17. Reaffirms that host States have the primary responsibility to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements or used for purposes that are incompatible with their civilian character; 18. Deplores the deaths, injuries and other forms of violence sustained by staff members of the Office of the High Commissioner, urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and ensure their safety and security, calls upon States to investigate fully any crime committed against humanitarian personnel and to bring to justice persons responsible for such crimes, and calls upon organizations and aid workers to abide by the national laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate; 19. Condemns any exploitation of refugees, especially their sexual abuse and exploitation, calls for those responsible for such deplorable acts to be brought to justice, welcomes in this regard the conclusion on protection from sexual abuse and exploitation adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-fourth session,Ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/58/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. E. and notes with deep concern that inadequate protection and/or inappropriate assistance, particularly concerning the quantity and quality of food and other material assistance, increases the vulnerability of refugees and asylum-seekers to sexual abuse and exploitation; 20. Welcomes the decision of the Office of the High Commissioner to put in place a code of conduct for humanitarian personnel aimed at preventing the exploitation of refugees, especially in the area of sexual exploitation; 21. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the African Union, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the international refugee protection system; 22. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities; 23. Reaffirms the right of return and the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, and recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, where appropriate and feasible, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home; 24. Notes with satisfaction the voluntary return of millions of refugees to their homelands following the successful repatriation and reintegration operations carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner with the cooperation and collaboration of countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, and welcomes the efforts under way, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies and development actors, to promote a framework for durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, including the "4Rs" approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return; 25. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to the third-country resettlement requests of African refugees, and notes with appreciation that some African countries have offered resettlement places for refugees; 26. Calls upon the international donor community to provide financial and material assistance that allows for the implementation of community-based development programmes that benefit both refugees and host communities, as appropriate, in agreement with host countries and consistent with humanitarian objectives; 27. Welcomes the programmes carried out by the Office of the High Commissioner with host Governments, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and the international community to address the environmental and socio-economic impact of refugee populations; 28. Calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 29. Expresses its concern about the long stay of refugees in certain African countries, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to keep its programmes under review, in conformity with its mandate in the host countries, taking into account the increasing needs of refugees; 30. Notes the conclusion adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-fourth session on the importance of early and effective registration systems and censuses as a tool of protection and as a means to enable the quantification and assessment of needs for the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance and to implement appropriate durable solutions;Ibid., sect. B. 31. Emphasizes the need for the Office of the High Commissioner to collate statistics, on a regular basis, on the number of refugees living outside refugee camps in certain African countries with a view to evaluating and addressing the needs of those refugees; 32. Urges the international community, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 33. Requests all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention to meeting the special needs of refugee women and children and displaced persons, including those with special protection needs; 34. Calls upon States and the Office of the High Commissioner to make renewed efforts to ensure that the rights, needs and dignity of elderly refugees are fully respected and addressed through appropriate programme activities; 35. Expresses grave concern about the plight of internally displaced persons in Africa, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in that regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and urges the international community, led by relevant United Nations organizations, to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating the plight of internally displaced persons; 36. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 37. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", and to present an oral report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2004. RESOLUTION 58/14 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 24 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.18 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russian Federation, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, United States of America, Vanuatu 58/14. Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 and 49/118 of 19 December 1994, 50/25 of 5 December 1995 and 57/142 of 12 December 2002, as well as other resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments, and its resolutions 56/13 of 28 November 2001 and 57/143 of 12 December 2002 on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and bearing in mind the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement, Recognizing that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement sets forth provisions concerning the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including provisions on subregional and regional cooperation in enforcement, binding dispute settlement and the rights and obligations of States in authorizing the use of vessels flying their flags for fishing on the high seas, Noting that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ("the Code")International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. and its associated international plans of action set out principles and global standards of behaviour for responsible practices to conserve, manage and develop fisheries, including guidelines for fishing on the high seas and in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, and on fishing gear selectivity and practices, with the aim of reducing by-catch and discards, Noting with satisfaction the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries recently adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, appendix H. and recognizing that the long-term improvement of the knowledge and understanding of fishery status and trends is a fundamental basis for fisheries policy and management for implementing the Code, Recognizing the need to implement, as a matter of priority, the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August- 4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in relation to achieving sustainable fisheries, Deploring the fact that fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to sparsely regulated and heavy fishing efforts, mainly as a result of, inter alia, unauthorized fishing, inadequate regulatory measures and excess fishing capacity, Concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing threatens seriously to deplete populations of certain fish species and to significantly damage marine ecosystems, to the detriment of sustainable fisheries as well as the food security and the economies of many States, particularly developing States, Recognizing that inadequate flag State control over fishing vessels, including those fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and insufficient monitoring, control and surveillance measures exacerbate the problem of overfishing, Recognizing also that the interrelationship between ocean activities, such as shipping and fishing, and environmental issues needs further consideration, Calling attention to the circumstances affecting fisheries in many developing States, in particular African States and small island developing States, and recognizing the urgent need for capacity-building to assist such States in meeting their obligations under international instruments and realizing the benefits from fisheries resources, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and recognizing the importance of coordination and cooperation at the global, regional, subregional as well as national levels in the areas, inter alia, of data collection, information-sharing, capacity-building and training for the conservation, management and sustainable development of marine living resources, Recognizing the duty provided in the Convention, the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas ("the Compliance Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. the Agreement and the Code for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag and vessels flying their flag which provide support to such vessels, and to ensure that the activities of such vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Recognizing also the urgent need for action at all levels to ensure the long-term sustainable use and management of fisheries resources, Recognizing further the economic and cultural importance of sharks in many countries, the biological importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem, the vulnerability of some shark species to over-exploitation and the need for measures to promote the long-term sustainability of shark populations and fisheries, Reaffirming its support for the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements on the conservation and management of sharks, while noting with concern that only a small number of countries have implemented the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization in 1999, Noting with satisfaction the outcomes of the second round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, held in New York from 23 to 25 July 2003, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/215. and emphasizing the useful role that the report plays in bringing together information relating to the sustainable development of the world's marine living resources provided by States, relevant international organizations, regional and subregional fisheries organizations and non-governmental organizations, Noting with satisfaction that the incidence of reported large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing activities in most regions of the world's oceans and seas has continued to be low, Expressing concern that the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources, Emphasizing that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift nets that contravene the resolution, Expressing concern at the reports of continued loss of seabirds, particularly albatrosses, as a result of incidental mortality from longline fishing operations, and the loss of other marine species, including sharks and fin-fish species, as a result of incidental mortality, and noting with satisfaction the imminent entry into force of the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Welcoming the fact that a growing number of States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, have enacted legislation, established regulations, adopted conventions or taken other measures as steps towards implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, Recognizing the significant contribution of sustainable fisheries to food security, income and wealth for present and future generations, I Achieving sustainable fisheries 1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the Convention,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in Part V and Part VII, section 2, of the Convention regarding straddling stocks, highly migratory species, marine mammals, anadromous stocks and marine living resources of the high seas, and where applicable, the Agreement;International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. 2. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement; 3. Reaffirms the importance of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in relation to fisheries, in particular the commitment made therein to restore depleted fish stocks on an urgent basis and, where possible, not later than 2015;See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 31 (a). 4. Urges all States to apply the precautionary approach widely to the conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and calls upon States parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the Agreement as a matter of priority; II Implementation of the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 5. Calls upon all States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, that have not done so to ratify or accede to the Agreement and to consider applying it provisionally; 6. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, including those provisions relating to bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation in enforcement, and urges continued efforts in this regard; 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean on 13 April 2003, and invites signatory States and other States with real interest whose vessels fish in the Convention area for fishery resources covered by that Convention to ratify or to accede to the Convention; 8. Calls upon all States to ensure that their vessels comply with the conservation and management measures that have been adopted by subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention and of the Agreement; 9. Invites States and international financial institutions and organizations of the United Nations system to provide assistance according to Part VII of the Agreement, including, if appropriate, the development of special financial mechanisms or instruments to assist developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to enable them to develop their national capacity to exploit fishery resources, including developing their domestically flagged fishing fleet, value-added processing and the expansion of their economic base in the fishing industry, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of those fisheries resources; 10. Decides to establish an Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement to assist developing States parties in the implementation of the Agreement, to be administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which should act as the implementing office for the Fund, in collaboration with the United Nations, in accordance with the terms of reference as agreed at the second round of informal consultations of the States parties to the Agreement and appropriate arrangements made between them; 11. Emphasizes the importance of outreach to potential donor organizations to contribute to the programme of assistance, including the Assistance Fund newly established under Part VII of the Agreement; 12. Recalls paragraph 6 of its resolution 56/13, and requests the Secretary-General to convene a third round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, for the purposes and objectives of considering the national, regional, subregional and global implementation of the Agreement, in particular by conducting an evaluation of the implementation of the Agreement by regional fisheries management organizations as well as considering initial preparatory steps for the review conference to be convened by the Secretary-General pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement, and making any appropriate recommendation to the General Assembly; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to invite States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, not party to the Agreement, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant international financial institutions, regional fishery bodies and arrangements and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the third round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement as observers; III Related fisheries instruments 14. Welcomes the entry into force of the Compliance Agreement,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. and calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article 10, paragraph 1, of the Compliance Agreement that have not yet deposited instruments of acceptance to do so as a matter of priority; 15. Urges parties to the Compliance Agreement to exchange information in the implementation of that Agreement; 16. Urges States and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to promote the application of the Code within their areas of competence; 17. Invites States to support implementation of the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture FisheriesFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, appendix H. at the national and regional levels, giving particular emphasis to capacity-building in developing countries; 18. Urges States to develop and implement national and, as appropriate, regional plans of action to put into effect the international plans of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, namely the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks and the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; IV Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing 19. Calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas or in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, unless duly authorized by the authorities of the States concerned and in accordance with the conditions set out in the authorization, without having effective control over their activities, and to take specific measures, including deterring the reflagging of vessels by their nationals, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, to control fishing operations by vessels flying their flag; 20. Affirms the need to strengthen, where necessary, the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation, in particular at the regional and subregional levels, in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in a manner consistent with international law, and for States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to collaborate in efforts to address these types of fishing activities; 21. Encourages States to consider becoming members of the International Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance Network for Fisheries-Related Activities, a voluntary network of monitoring, control and surveillance professionals designed to facilitate exchange of information and to support countries in discharging their obligations pursuant to international agreements, in particular the Compliance Agreement; 22. Invites the International Maritime Organization and other relevant competent international organizations to study, examine and clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels; 23. Calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of sub-standard vessels and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; 24. Encourages States in their work with regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to develop and implement vessel monitoring systems and, where appropriate and consistent with international law, trade monitoring schemes; 25. Urges States to develop and implement national and, where appropriate, regional plans of action, to put into effect by 2004 the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and to establish effective monitoring, reporting and enforcement and control of fishing vessels, including by flag States, to further the International Plan of Action; 26. Urges relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement effective measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, inter alia, by compiling a record of vessels authorized to fish in their area of competence, in accordance with the Code; 27. Urges States to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to overcapacity, while completing the efforts undertaken at the World Trade Organization to clarify and improve its disciplines on fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector to developing countries; 28. Commends the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its activities in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, including its initiative to organize the intergovernmental technical consultation on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and fleet overcapacity, to be held in June 2004, and the intergovernmental technical consultation on the role of the port State in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to be held in September 2004; 29. Recognizes the need for enhanced port State controls to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, urges States to cooperate, in particular at the regional level, and through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, as well as through participation, where appropriate, in the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization to address substantive issues relating to the role of the port State, noting that such efforts include the elaboration of principles and guidelines for the establishment of regional memorandums of understanding on port State measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; V Fishing overcapacity 30. Calls upon States and relevant regional fisheries management organizations, as a matter of priority, to take effective measures to improve the management of fishing capacity and to put into effect by 2005 the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, taking into account the need, through these actions, to avoid the transfer of fishing capacity to other fisheries or areas including, but not limited to, those areas where fisheries are overexploited or in a depleted condition; 31. Urges those States and other entities referred to in article X, paragraph 1, of the Compliance Agreement that have become parties to it to establish a record of fishing vessels authorized to fish on the high seas and, pursuant to articles IV and VI thereof, to make such a record available to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as a matter of priority, and urges the Food and Agriculture Organization to quickly establish the record of fishing vessels as called for in the Compliance Agreement; 32. Calls upon all States to assist this work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to take measures to halt the increase of large-scale fishing vessels in accordance with the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity and to participate in the intergovernmental technical consultation on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and fleet overcapacity to be organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2004; VI Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing 33. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to continued compliance with its resolution 46/215 and other subsequent resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, and urges States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions; VII Fisheries by-catch and discards 34. Urges States, relevant international organizations and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements that have not done so to take action to reduce or eliminate by-catch, catch by lost or abandoned gear, fish discards and post-harvest losses, including juvenile fish, consistent with international law and relevant international instruments, including the Code, and in particular to consider measures including, as appropriate, technical measures related to fish size, mesh size or gear, discards, closed seasons and areas and zones reserved for selected fisheries, particularly artisanal fisheries, the establishment of mechanisms for communicating information on areas of high concentration of juvenile fish, taking into account the importance of ensuring confidentiality of such information, and support for studies and research that will reduce or eliminate by-catch of juvenile fish; 35. Encourages States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to give due consideration to participation, as appropriate, in regional and subregional organizations with mandates to conserve non-target species taken incidentally in fishing operations, and notes in particular the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles and Their Habitats, regional sea turtle conservation instruments in the West African, the wider Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean/South-East Asia regions, the work of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre on turtle conservation and management, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North SeasUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1772, No. 30865. and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in this regard; 36. Notes with satisfaction the activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility, aimed at promoting the reduction of by-catch and discards in fisheries activities; VIII Subregional and regional cooperation 37. Urges coastal States and States fishing on the high seas, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to ensure the effective conservation and management of such stocks; 38. Encourages States fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, where a subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement has the competence to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to give effect to their duty to cooperate by becoming members of such an organization or participants in such an arrangement, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such an organization or arrangement; 39. Invites, in this regard, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that all States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement; 40. Encourages relevant coastal States and States fishing on the high seas for a straddling fish stock or a highly migratory fish stock, where there is no subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement to establish conservation and management measures for such stock, to cooperate to establish such an organization or enter into another appropriate arrangement to ensure the conservation and management of such stocks, and to participate in the work of the organization or arrangement; 41. Welcomes the initiation of negotiations and ongoing preparatory work to establish regional and subregional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in several fisheries, and urges participants in those negotiations to apply provisions of the Convention and the Agreement to their work; 42. Encourages States to develop ocean policies and mechanisms on integrated management, including at the subregional and regional levels, and also including assistance to developing States in accomplishing these objectives, as well as by promoting improved cooperation between regional fisheries management organizations and other regional entities, such as the United Nations Environment Programme regional seas programmes and conventions; IX Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem 43. Encourages States to apply by 2010 the ecosystem approach, notes the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine EcosystemE/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. and decisions V/6See UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23, annex III. and VI/12See UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I. of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, encourages States to consider the guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for the implementation of ecosystem considerations in fisheries management, and notes the importance to this approach of relevant provisions of the Agreement and the Code; 44. Calls upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, in particular its Regional Seas programme, the International Maritime Organization, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations to take up, as a matter of priority, the issue of marine debris as it relates to fisheries and, where appropriate, to promote better coordination and help States to implement fully relevant international agreements, including annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto; 45. Urges all States to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based ActivitiesA/51/116, annex II. and to accelerate activity to safeguard the marine environment against pollution and physical degradation; 46. Requests the Secretary-General, in close cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and in consultation with States, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant organizations, in his next report concerning fisheries to include a section outlining current risks to the marine biodiversity of vulnerable marine ecosystems including, but not limited to, seamounts, coral reefs, including cold water reefs and certain other sensitive underwater features, related to fishing activities, as well as detailing any conservation and management measures in place at the global, regional, subregional or national levels addressing these issues; 47. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and subregional or regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement fully the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks as a matter of priority, inter alia, by conducting assessments of shark stocks and developing and implementing national plans of action, recognizing the need of some States, in particular developing States, for assistance in this regard; 48. Urges States, including those working through subregional or regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in implementing the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, to collect scientific data regarding shark catches and to consider adopting conservation and management measures, particularly where shark catches from directed and non-directed fisheries have a significant impact on vulnerable or threatened shark stocks, in order to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use, including by banning directed shark fisheries conducted solely for the purpose of harvesting shark fins and by taking measures for other fisheries to minimize waste and discards from shark catches, and to encourage the full use of dead sharks; 49. Urges all States to cooperate with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to assist developing States in implementing the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, including through voluntary contributions to work of the organization, such as its FishCODE programme; 50. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in consultation with relevant subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to prepare a study relating to the impact on shark populations of shark catches from directed and non-directed fisheries and their impact on ecologically related species, taking into account the nutritional and socio-economic considerations as reflected in the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, particularly as they relate to small-scale, subsistence and artisanal fisheries and communities, as well as updating Technical Paper 389 of the Food and Agriculture Organization, entitled "Shark utilization, marketing and trade", in order to facilitate improved shark conservation, management and utilization, and to report to the Secretary-General for inclusion in a fisheries-related report as soon as practicable; X Capacity-building 51. Reiterates the crucial importance of cooperation by States directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional and subregional organizations, and by other international organizations, including through financial and/or technical assistance, in accordance with the Agreement, the Compliance Agreement, the Code and the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, to increase the capacity of developing States to achieve the goals and implement the actions called for in the present resolution; 52. Invites States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to develop projects, programmes and partnerships with relevant stakeholders and mobilize resources for the effective implementation of the outcome of the African Process for the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment, and to consider the inclusion of fisheries components in this work; 53. Also invites States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to further implement sustainable fisheries management and improve financial returns from fisheries by supporting and strengthening relevant regional fisheries management organizations, as appropriate, such as the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism and such agreements as the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific; XI Cooperation within the United Nations system 54. Requests the relevant parts of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and donor agencies to support increased enforcement and compliance capabilities for regional fisheries management organizations and their member States; 55. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its cooperative arrangements with United Nations agencies on the implementation of the international plans of action and to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his annual report on oceans and the law of the sea, on priorities for cooperation and coordination in this work; XII Fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly 56. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and to invite them to provide the Secretary-General with information relevant to the implementation of the present resolution; 57. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments", taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and consisting, inter alia, of elements provided in relevant paragraphs in the present resolution; 58. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", a sub-item entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments". RESOLUTION 58/150 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/503, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/150. Assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/172 of 23 December 1994, 50/150 of 21 December 1995, 51/73 of 12 December 1996, 52/105 of 12 December 1997, 53/122 of 9 December 1998, 54/145 of 17 December 1999 and 56/136 of 19 December 2001, Aware of the fact that the majority of refugees are children and women, Bearing in mind that unaccompanied refugee minors are among the most vulnerable refugees and the most at risk of neglect, violence, forced military recruitment, sexual assault, abuse and vulnerability to infectious disease, such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, malaria and tuberculosis, and therefore require special assistance and care, Mindful of the fact that the ultimate solution to the plight of unaccompanied minors is their return to and reunification with their families, Bearing in mind that the most important steps in working with unaccompanied minors are rapid identification, immediate registration and documentation and tracing of family, Recalling the outcome document entitled "A world fit for children", adopted on 10 May 2002 by the General Assembly at its twenty-seventh special session,Resolution S-27/2, annex. Noting with appreciation the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children's Fund in the identification and tracing of unaccompanied minors, and welcoming their efforts in reunifying families of refugees, Welcoming the efforts exerted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to reunite refugees with their families, Noting the efforts of the High Commissioner to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, including children and unaccompanied minors, and that further enhanced efforts need to be exerted to this effect, Recalling the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Resolution 44/25, annex. and the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/299. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the continuing plight of unaccompanied refugee minors, and emphasizes once again the urgent need for their early identification and for timely, detailed and accurate information on their number and whereabouts; 3. Stresses the importance of providing adequate resources for programmes of identification, registration, documentation and tracing of unaccompanied minors and their reunification with their families; 4. Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in cooperation with other relevant United Nations bodies, to incorporate into its programmes policies that aim at preventing the separation of refugee families, conscious of the importance of family unity; 5. Calls upon all Governments, the Secretary-General, the Office of the High Commissioner, all United Nations organizations, as well as other international organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned to exert the maximum effort to assist and protect refugee minors and to expedite the return and reunification with their families of unaccompanied refugee minors; 6. Urges the Office of the High Commissioner, all United Nations organizations, as well as other international organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned to take appropriate steps to mobilize resources commensurate with the needs of unaccompanied refugee minors and for their reunification with their families; 7. Calls upon all States and other parties to armed conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law and, in this regard, calls upon States parties to respect fully the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and related instruments, and to respect the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. which accord children affected by armed conflict special protection and treatment; 8. Condemns all acts of exploitation of unaccompanied refugee minors, including their use as soldiers or human shields in armed conflict and their forced recruitment into military forces, and any other acts that endanger their safety and personal security; 9. Acknowledges that education is among the most effective initial means of ensuring protection for unaccompanied minors, especially girls, by shielding them from exploitative activities such as child labour, military recruitment or sexual exploitation and abuse; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Children's Fund, other United Nations organizations and other international organizations to mobilize adequate assistance to unaccompanied refugee minors in the areas of relief, education, recreational activities, health and psychological rehabilitation; 11. Encourages the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in his efforts to raise awareness worldwide and mobilize official and public opinion for the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including refugee minors; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution and to give special attention in his report to the girl-child refugee. RESOLUTION 58/151 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/503, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/151. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/58/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-fourth sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/58/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its previous annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since its establishment by the General Assembly, Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner, commending the staff and implementing partners of the Office of the High Commissioner for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, and underscoring its strong condemnation of all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel are increasingly exposed, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-fourth session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/58/12/Add.1). 2. Welcomes the important work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and its Executive Committee in the course of the year, and notes in this context the conclusions adopted on international protection, on the return of persons found not to be in need of international protection, on protection safeguards in interception measures, and on protection from sexual abuse and exploitation,Ibid., chap. III, sects. B-E. which are aimed at strengthening the international protection regime, consistent with the Agenda for ProtectionIbid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. resulting from the Global Consultations on International Protection, and at assisting Governments in meeting their protection responsibilities in today's changing international environment; 3. Reaffirms the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and its 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as the foundation of the international refugee protection regime, and recognizes the importance of their full and effective application by States parties and the values they embody, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty-five States are now parties to one instrument or to both, encourages States not parties to consider acceding to those instruments, underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and recognizes that a number of States not parties to the international refugee instruments have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees; 4. Notes that fifty-five States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsIbid., vol. 360, No. 5158. and that twenty-seven States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his activities on behalf of stateless persons; 5. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions; 6. Emphasizes that international protection is a dynamic and action-oriented function that is at the core of the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and which includes, in cooperation with States and other partners, the promotion and facilitation of, inter alia, the admission, reception and treatment of refugees and the ensuring of durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups, and notes in this context that the delivery of international protection is a staff-intensive service that requires adequate staff with the appropriate expertise, especially at the field level; 7. Welcomes the High Commissioner's "Convention Plus" initiative,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/58/12), para. 24. and encourages the High Commissioner and those States that have offered to facilitate Convention Plus agreements to strengthen the international protection regime through the development of comprehensive approaches to resolving refugee situations, including improving international burden- and responsibility-sharing and realizing durable solutions; 8. Recalls the important role of effective partnerships and coordination in meeting the needs of refugees and other displaced persons and in finding durable solutions to their situations, and welcomes the efforts under way, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies and development actors, to promote a framework for durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, including the "4Rs" approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return; 9. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to enhancing the capacity of, and reducing the heavy burden borne by, countries that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon the Office to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations in developing countries, particularly least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition; 10. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to refugee problems, and recalls that these solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, while reaffirming that voluntary repatriation, supported by necessary rehabilitation and development assistance to facilitate sustainable reintegration, remains the preferred solution; 11. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 12. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to improve its management systems and to ensure effective and transparent use of its resources, recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential for the Office to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it through its statuteResolution 428 (V), annex. and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions concerning refugees and other persons of concern, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to annual and supplementary appeals issued by the Office for requirements under its programmes; 13. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his activities to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/152 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/503, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/152. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decisions 2003/285 and 2003/286 of 24 July 2003 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the requests regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the letter dated 23 September 2002 from the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-GeneralE/2003/3. and the note verbale dated 25 April 2003 from the Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations Office at Geneva addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2003/77. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from sixty-four to sixty-six States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session for 2004. RESOLUTION 58/153 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/503, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Zambia. 58/153. Implementing actions proposed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to strengthen the capacity of his Office to carry out its mandate The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950, the annex to which contains the statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and its resolution 57/186 of 18 December 2002 on the continuation of the Office of the High Commissioner, Appreciating the concerted efforts of the High Commissioner in undertaking consultations with the Secretary-General, the members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and observers of its Standing Committee, through the process known as "UNHCR 2004", on how the Office of the High Commissioner could be better equipped to carry out its mandate in the changing context of the global situation, and noting that this is in support and in the context of the goals, objectives and commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. as well as the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the United Nations system, 1. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on strengthening the capacity of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to carry out its mandate,See A/58/410. as called for in resolution 57/186; 2. Reaffirms that international protection and the search for durable solutions for refugees and, as applicable, other persons of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner, which were examined, inter alia, in the Global Consultations on International Protection process and are reflected in the Agenda for Protection,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. are the core of the mandate of the Office; 3. Welcomes the efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner to strengthen its linkages with the other parts of the United Nations system in order to enhance refugee protection and to identify and implement durable solutions for refugees and other persons of concern to the Office, and appreciates its efforts to strengthen partnerships with operational and implementing partners; 4. Welcomes the admission of the Office to the United Nations Development Group, and invites the Development Group to include, through the resident coordinator system and in full consultation with the Government concerned, consideration of the needs of refugees and, as applicable, other persons of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner in the common country assessment process and the subsequent formulation and implementation of their development programmes; 5. Notes the importance of the support of the Office of the High Commissioner, within its mandate, to the efforts of the Emergency Relief Coordinator to promote predictable and timely United Nations strategies that, inter alia, integrate durable solutions for refugees with those for internally displaced persons; 6. Highlights the importance of joint efforts of the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, together with those of the Office of the High Commissioner, which contribute to durable solutions for refugees in conflict and post-conflict situations, encourages the Office to play a more active role, including by sharing information with relevant United Nations forums, and stresses that all of these activities should be undertaken in a manner consistent with the mandate of the Office; 7. Recalls paragraph 20 of the statute of the Office of the High Commissioner, and calls for its application; 8. Reaffirms the continued voluntary nature of the funding of the Office of the High Commissioner in accordance with its statute, while recognizing the importance of contributions made by countries hosting refugees, especially developing countries, notes the need for more equitable international responsibility and burden-sharing and expresses concern over the recurring shortfall in the funding of the Office, requests that States, within their capacities, contribute to the full funding of the budget level approved by the Executive Committee, and encourages the Office to continue its efforts to expand its donor base and to diversify funding sources, including through the private sector; 9. Decides to remove the temporal limitation on the continuation of the Office of the High Commissioner contained in its resolution 57/186 and to continue the Office until the refugee problem is solved; 10. Decides also that the High Commissioner shall make an annual oral report to the Economic and Social Council to keep it informed of the coordination aspects of the work of the Office and shall continue the existing practice, as established in paragraph 11 of its statute, of presenting an annual written report to the General Assembly, on the understanding that every ten years, beginning at the sixty-eighth session, the report will include a strategic review of the global situation of refugees and the role of the Office, prepared in consultation with the Secretary-General and the Executive Committee. RESOLUTION 58/154 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/503, para. 34)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Niger, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 58/154. Follow-up to the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/113 of 20 December 1993, 49/173 of 23 December 1994, 50/151 of 21 December 1995, 51/70 of 12 December 1996, 52/102 of 12 December 1997, 53/123 of 9 December 1998 and, in particular, resolutions 54/144 of 17 December 1999 and 56/134 of 19 December 2001, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/281. Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/58/12). Reaffirming the importance and continuing validity of the Programme of Action, adopted in 1996 by the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States,A/51/341 and Corr.1, appendix. as a basic guiding tool for future activities, Recognizing the ongoing acuteness of the migration and displacement problems in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the necessity to follow up the Conference, Recalling the decision of the Steering Group of the Conference at its fifth meeting to continue activities in the process entitled "Follow-up to the 1996 Geneva Conference on the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Migration and Asylum Issues" for a period of five years, Recalling also the Work Plan for the Thematic Issues, prepared jointly by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe, in accordance with the recommendations adopted by the Steering Group at its fifth meeting, Welcoming the convening, in Moscow from 20 to 23 November 2001, of the second meeting of experts within the framework of the Work Plan for the Thematic Issues, on the topic of asylum system development and treatment of asylum-seekers, as well as international efforts aimed at improving migration regulation and border management, with due regard for refugee protection matters, and encouraging all lead agencies to continue to implement the Work Plan, Welcoming also the subregional initiatives within the framework of transboundary cooperation and the convening, in Kolmården, Sweden, in September 2002, of the senior-level review meeting, Reaffirming the view of the Conference that the primary responsibility for tackling population displacement problems lies with the affected countries themselves and that these issues are to be regarded as national priorities, while at the same time recognizing the need for enhancing international support for the national efforts of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States aimed at the effective implementation of such responsibilities within the framework of the Programme of Action adopted by the Conference, Noting with satisfaction the efforts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in developing strategies and practical tools for more effective capacity-building in countries of origin and enhancing programmes to address the needs of various categories of concern to the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Taking note of the positive results emanating from the implementation of the Programme of Action, Convinced of the necessity of further strengthening practical measures and of continuing to maintain the regional approach for the achievement of effective implementation of the Programme of Action, Noting with concern the decision to postpone the high-level review meeting concerning the implementation of the decisions of the Conference, Recalling that the protection and promotion of human rights and the strengthening of democratic institutions are essential to prevent mass population displacement, Mindful that adherence to the principles and the recommendations contained in the Programme of Action should be facilitated and that they can be ensured only through cooperation and coordinated activities undertaken in this respect by all interested States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other actors, 1. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/58/12). 2. Calls upon the Governments of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to strengthen their efforts and mutual cooperation relating to the follow-up to the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States, and welcomes the positive results achieved by them in the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the Conference;A/51/341 and Corr.1, appendix. 3. Invites all States that have not yet done so to accede to and implement fully the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees; 4. Calls upon States and interested international organizations, in a spirit of solidarity and burden-sharing, to provide appropriate forms and levels of support for activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 5. Invites international financial and other institutions to contribute to the financing of projects and programmes within the framework of such follow-up activities; 6. Invites the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States to intensify bilateral, subregional and regional cooperation in maintaining the balance of commitments and interests in such activities; 7. Calls upon the Governments of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States to continue to strengthen their commitment to the principles underpinning the Programme of Action, in particular principles of human rights and refugee protection, and to lend high-level political support to ensure the implementation of activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 8. Invites the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration to enhance their mutual relationship with other key international actors, such as the Council of Europe, the European Commission and human rights, development and financial institutions, in order better to address the wide-ranging and complex issues in activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 9. Welcomes the progress made in building civil society, in particular through the development of the non-governmental sector and the development of cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the Governments of a number of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and notes in this regard the relationship between adherence to the principles of the Programme of Action and success in promoting civil society, especially in the field of human rights; 10. Encourages the involvement of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the follow-up to the Conference, and invites them to demonstrate stronger support for the process of multinational constructive dialogue among a wide range of countries concerned; 11. Emphasizes the necessity of undertaking follow-up activities to the Programme of Action in relation to ensuring respect for human rights as an important factor in the management of migration flows, the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law and stability; 12. Recognizes the importance of taking measures, on the basis of strict adherence to all of the principles of international law, including humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, to prevent situations that lead to new flows of refugees, displaced persons and other forms of involuntary displacement; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the progress achieved in the implementation of activities undertaken in follow-up to the Programme of Action; 14. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 58/155 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/504, para. 65),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 106 to 5, with 65 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 58/155. Situation of and assistance to Palestinian children The General Assembly, Recalling the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling also the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s, adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. Recalling further the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-seventh special session,See resolution S-27/2, annex. Concerned that the Palestinian children under Israeli occupation remain deprived of many basic rights under the Convention, Concerned also about the continued grave deterioration of the situation of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and about the severe consequences of the continuing Israeli assaults and sieges on Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, resulting in the dire humanitarian crisis, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all children in the whole Middle East region, Expressing its condemnation of all acts of violence, resulting in extensive loss of human life and injuries, including among Palestinian children, Deeply concerned about the severe consequences, including psychological consequences, of the Israeli military actions for the present and future well-being of Palestinian children, 1. Stresses the urgent need for Palestinian children to live a normal life free from foreign occupation, destruction and fear in their own State; 2. Demands, in the meanwhile, that Israel, the occupying Power, respect relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. in order to ensure the well-being and protection of Palestinian children and their families; 3. Calls upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis being faced by Palestinian children and their families and to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions. RESOLUTION 58/156 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/504, para. 65)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/156. The girl child The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/189 of 18 December 2002 and all relevant resolutions, including the agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women, in particular those relevant to the girl child, Reaffirming the equal rights of women and men as enshrined, inter alia, in the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Welcoming the entry into force of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. Welcoming also the imminent entry into force, on 25 December 2003, of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the outcome document entitled "A world fit for children" adopted by the General Assembly at its special session on children, on 10 May 2002,Resolution S-27/2, annex. Reaffirming also the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session, on 27 June 2001,Resolution S-26/2, annex. Recalling all other relevant United Nations conferences, the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the outcome documents of the recent five-year reviews of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and DevelopmentResolution S-21/2, annex. and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Reaffirming the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). Recalling the Declaration and Agenda for Action adopted at the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Stockholm from 27 to 31 August 1996,A/51/385, annex. and welcoming the Yokohama Global Commitment 2001, adopted at the Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held at Yokohama, Japan, from 17 to 20 December 2001,See A/S-27/12, annex. Recognizing the efforts of the international community to strengthen the standards for combating sexual abuse and exploitation, and in this regard taking note of the Secretary-General's bulletin on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuseST/SGB/2003/13. and other policies and codes of conduct developed by the United Nations system to prevent and address such incidents, Recalling the International Conference on War-Affected Children, held at Winnipeg, Canada, from 10 to 17 September 2000, and affirming the ongoing importance of the Winnipeg Agenda for War-Affected ChildrenA/55/467-S/2000/973, annex. for all children affected by armed conflict, Recognizing the need to achieve gender equality to ensure a just and equitable world for girls, Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access for girls to education, nutrition and physical and mental health care and in girls enjoying fewer of the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence than boys and often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual and economic exploitation and to violence and harmful practices, such as female infanticide, incest, early marriage, prenatal sex selection and female genital mutilation, Deeply concerned also that, in situations of poverty, war and armed conflict, girl children are among those most affected and that their potential for full development is thus limited, Concerned that the girl child has furthermore become the victim of sexually transmitted diseases and increasingly of the human immunodeficiency virus, which have a serious impact on the quality of her life and leave her open to further discrimination, Concerned also by the increasing number of child-headed households particularly orphan girls, including those orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and can be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and limitation or denial of their human rights, 1. Stresses the need for full and urgent implementation of the rights of the girl child as guaranteed to her under all human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. as well as the need for universal ratification of those instruments; 2. Urges States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 54/4, annex. and the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. 3. Urges all States to take all necessary measures and to institute legal reforms to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to take effective action against violations of those rights and freedoms; 4. Urges all Governments and the United Nations system to strengthen efforts bilaterally and with international organizations and private sector donors in order to achieve the goals of the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). in particular that of eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and to implement the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative as a means of reaching this goal, and reaffirms the commitment contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. in this regard; 5. Calls upon all States to take measures to address the obstacles that continue to affect the achievement of the goals set forth in the Beijing Platform for Action,Ibid., annex II. as contained in paragraph 33 of the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. where appropriate, including the strengthening of national mechanisms to implement policies and programmes for the girl child and, in some cases, to enhance coordination among responsible institutions for the realization of the human rights of girls, as indicated in the further actions and initiatives; 6. Urges States to enact and strictly enforce laws to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, to enact and strictly enforce laws concerning the minimum legal age of consent and the minimum age for marriage and to raise the minimum age for marriage where necessary; 7. Also urges States to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the commitment to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the special session on children;Resolution S-27/2, annex. 8. Urges all States to promote gender equality and equal access to basic social services, such as education, nutrition, health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, vaccinations, and protection from diseases representing the major causes of mortality, and to mainstream a gender perspective in all development policies and programmes; 9. Also urges all States to enact and enforce legislation to protect girls from all forms of violence and exploitation, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, female genital mutilation, rape, domestic violence, incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child prostitution and child pornography, trafficking and forced labour, and to develop age-appropriate safe and confidential programmes and medical, social and psychological support services to assist girls who are subjected to violence; 10. Urges States to formulate comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, which should be widely disseminated and should provide targets and timetables for implementation, as well as effective domestic enforcement procedures through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms involving all parties concerned, including consultations with women's organizations, giving attention to the recommendations relating to the girl child of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences; 11. Calls upon all States and international and non-governmental organizations, individually and collectively, to implement further the Beijing Platform for Action, in particular the strategic objectives relating to the girl child, and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 12. Urges States to ensure that the right of children to express themselves and participate in all matters affecting them, in accordance with their age and maturity, is fully and equally enjoyed by girls; 13. Recognizes that a considerable number of children, including orphans, children living on the street, internally displaced and refugee children, children affected by trafficking and sexual and economic exploitation and children who are incarcerated, live without parental support, and in this regard urges States to take special measures to support such children and the institutions, facilities and services that care for them, and to build and strengthen children's abilities to protect themselves; 14. Urges States to take appropriate measures to address the needs of orphan girls by implementing national policies and strategies to build and strengthen governmental, family and community capacities to provide a supportive environment for orphans and girls and boys infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, including by providing appropriate counselling and psychosocial support, and ensuring their enrolment in school and access to shelter, good nutrition and health and social services on an equal basis with other children; and to protect orphans and vulnerable children from all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, trafficking and loss of inheritance; 15. Also urges States to take special measures for the protection of girls affected by armed conflicts and in particular to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, including rape and sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation, torture, abduction and forced labour, paying special attention to refugee and displaced girls, and to take into account the special needs of girls affected by armed conflict in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation assistance and reintegration processes; 16. Deplores all the cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children, especially girls, in humanitarian crises, including those cases involving humanitarian workers and peacekeepers; 17. Urges all States and the international community to respect, protect and promote the rights of the child, taking into account the particular vulnerabilities of the girl child in pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict situations, and calls for special initiatives designed to address all of the rights and needs of girls affected by armed conflicts; 18. Calls upon Governments, civil society, including the media, and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights education and the full respect for and enjoyment of the human rights of the girl child, inter alia, through the translation, production and dissemination of age-appropriate information material on those rights to all sectors of society, in particular to children; 19. Calls upon States and international and non-governmental organizations to mobilize all necessary resources, support and efforts to realize the goals, strategic objectives and actions set out in the Beijing Platform for Action and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 20. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to ensure that all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, individually and collectively, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Labour Organization, take into account the rights and the particular needs of the girl child in the country programme of cooperation in accordance with the national priorities, including through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework;See A/53/226, paras. 72-77, and A/53/226/Add.1, paras. 88-98. 21. Requests all human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other human rights mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to adopt regularly and systematically a gender perspective in the implementation of their mandates and to include in their reports information on the qualitative analysis of violations of the human rights of women and girls, and encourages the strengthening of cooperation and coordination in that regard; 22. Stresses the importance of a substantive assessment of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action with a life-cycle perspective so as to identify gaps and obstacles in the implementation process and to develop further actions for the achievement of the goals of the Platform for Action; 23. Requests Member States to ensure that, in preventing and addressing HIV/AIDS, particular attention is paid to the girl child infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS; 24. Decides to review the progress made in the protection and promotion of the rights and well-being of the girl child, and requests the Secretary-General to provide information relating to the girl child in his report on the follow-up to and implementation of the outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits to be considered during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. RESOLUTION 58/157 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/504, para. 65),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 179 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 58/157. Rights of the child The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the rights of the child, the most recent of which is resolution 57/190 of 18 December 2002, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/86 of 25 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing that the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and bearing in mind the importance of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. as well as other relevant human rights instruments, Reaffirming that the general principles of, inter alia, the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, participation and survival and development provide the framework for all actions concerning children, including adolescents, Reaffirming also the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Reaffirming further the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. Reaffirming the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and the commitments contained therein to promote and protect the rights of each child, every human being below the age of 18 years, including adolescents, and the integration of child rights issues into the outcome documents of all major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits, Reaffirming also the essential roles of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights in promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of children, and noting the importance of the debates held by the Security Council on children and armed conflict, of Council resolutions 1379 (2001) of 20 November 2001 and 1460 (2003) of 30 January 2003 and of the undertaking by the Council to give special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of children in armed conflict when taking action aimed at maintaining peace and security, including provisions for the protection of children in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, as well as the inclusion of child protection advisers in these operations, Welcoming the reports of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildA/58/282. and on progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the document entitled "A world fit for children",A/58/333. and the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict,See A/58/328 and Corr.1. Welcoming also the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in examining the progress made by States parties to the Convention in implementing the obligations undertaken in the Convention and in providing recommendations to States parties on the implementation of the Convention and, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in enhancing awareness of the principles and provisions of the Convention, Welcoming further the increase in the membership of the Committee on the Rights of the Child from ten to eighteen, Welcoming the appointment by the Secretary-General of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children, Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions in an increasingly globalized economic environment, pandemics, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, environmental damage, natural disasters, armed conflict, displacement, exploitation, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, gender inequality, disability and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Bearing in mind the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, and recalling the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace,Resolutions 53/243 A and B. which serve as the basis for the Decade, Recognizing that the family is the basic unit of society and as such should be strengthened, that it is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support, that the primary responsibility for the protection, upbringing and development of children rests with the family and that all institutions of society should respect the rights of the child and secure his or her well-being and render appropriate assistance to parents, families, legal guardians and other caregivers so that children can grow and develop in a safe and stable environment and in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding, bearing in mind that in different cultural, social and political systems, various forms of family exist, Recognizing also that partnership among Governments, international organizations and relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, and all actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, is important for the realization of the rights of the child, Underlining the need for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes relating to children, Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocols thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 1. Urges States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. as a matter of priority, and urges States parties to implement it fully, while stressing that the implementation of the Convention and the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children and the special session of the General Assembly on children are mutually reinforcing; 2. Expresses its concern about the great number of reservations to the Convention, and urges States parties to withdraw reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and to consider reviewing other reservations with a view to withdrawing them; 3. Urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. and urges States parties to implement them fully; 4. Calls upon States parties to ensure that the rights set forth in the Convention are respected without discrimination of any kind and that the best interest of the child is a primary consideration in all actions concerning children, to recognize the child's inherent right to life and to ensure the child's survival and development to the maximum extent possible and to ensure also that the child is able to express his or her views freely in all matters affecting him or her and that these views are listened to and given due weight in accordance with his or her age and maturity; 5. Urges States parties to take all appropriate measures for the implementation of the rights recognized in the Convention, bearing in mind article 4 of the Convention, by: (a) Putting in place effective national legislation, policies and action plans and by strengthening relevant governmental structures for children, including, where appropriate, ministers in charge of child issues and independent commissioners for the rights of the child; (b) Ensuring adequate and systematic training in the rights of the child for professional groups working with and for children, including specialized judges, law enforcement officials, lawyers, social workers, medical doctors, health professionals and teachers, and coordination among various governmental bodies involved in children's rights, and encourages States and relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to promote education and training in this regard; 6. Calls upon States parties: (a) To ensure that the members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child are of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field covered by the Convention, and serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution as well as to the principal legal systems; (b) To strengthen their cooperation with the Committee and to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocols thereto, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee, as well as to take into account the recommendations made by the Committee in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; 7. Calls upon all States and relevant actors concerned to continue to cooperate with the special rapporteurs and special representatives of the United Nations system in the implementation of their mandates, requests the Secretary-General to provide them with appropriate staff and facilities from the United Nations regular budget, when this is in accordance with their respective mandates, invites States to continue to make voluntary contributions, where appropriate, and urges all relevant parts of the United Nations system to provide them with comprehensive reporting to make possible the full discharge of their mandates; 8. Calls upon all States to end impunity for perpetrators of crimes committed against children, recognizing in this regard the contribution of the establishment of the International Criminal Court as a way to prevent violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, in particular when children are victims of serious crimes, including the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice, and not to grant amnesties for these crimes; 9. Encourages all States: (a) To strengthen their national statistical capacities and to use statistics disaggregated, inter alia, by age, gender and other relevant factors that may lead to disparities and other statistical indicators at the national, subregional, regional and international levels to develop and assess social policies and programmes so that economic and social resources are used efficiently and effectively for the full realization of the rights of the child; (b) To strengthen their partnership with United Nations organs, within their respective mandates, the Bretton Woods institutions and other multilateral agencies, as well as other relevant actors; 10. Requests all relevant organs of the United Nations system, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations mechanisms regularly and systematically to incorporate a strong child rights perspective throughout all activities in the fulfilment of their mandates, as well as to ensure that their staff is trained in child protection matters, and calls upon States to cooperate closely with them; 11. Encourages Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations and child rights advocates, to continue to contribute, as appropriate, to the web-based database launched by the United Nations Children's Fund in order to continue the provision of information on laws, structures, policies and processes adopted at the national level to translate the Convention into practice, and in this regard commends that body for its work to disseminate lessons learned in the implementation of the Convention; Promoting and protecting the rights of children and non-discrimination against children, including children in particularly difficult situations Identity, family relations and birth registration 12. Calls upon all States to intensify efforts to ensure the registration of all children immediately after birth, including through the consideration of simplified, expeditious and effective procedures; 13. Also calls upon all States to undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law, without unlawful interference and, where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, to provide appropriate assistance and protection with a view to speedily re-establishing his or her identity; 14. Urges all States to ensure, as far as possible, the right of the child to know and be cared for by his or her parents; 15. Calls upon States to guarantee, to the extent consistent with each State's obligations, the right of a child whose parents reside in different States to maintain, on a regular basis, save in exceptional circumstances, personal relations and direct contact with both parents by providing means of access and visitation in both States and by respecting the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of their children; 16. Urges all States to ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when the competent authorities, subject to judicial review, determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary in the best interest of the child, and, where alternative care is necessary, to promote family and community-based care in preference to placement in institutions, recognizing that such determination may be necessary in a particular case, such as one involving abuse or neglect of the child by the parents or one in which the parents are living separately and a decision must be made as to the child's place of residence; 17. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure that the best interest of the child is the primary consideration in the adoption of children and to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat illegal adoptions and adoptions that do not follow the normal procedures; 18. Also calls upon States to take all necessary measures to address the problem of children growing up without parents, in particular orphaned children and children who are victims of family and social violence, neglect and abuse; 19. Urges States to address cases of international kidnapping of children by one of the parents; Poverty 20. Reaffirms that investments in children and the realization of their rights are among the most effective ways to eradicate poverty; 21. Calls upon States and the international community to cooperate, support and participate in the global efforts for poverty eradication at the global, regional and country levels, recognizing that strengthened availability and effective allocation of resources are required at all of these levels, in order to ensure that all the development and poverty eradication goals, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. are realized within their time framework, and to promote the enjoyment of the rights of the child; Health 22. Calls upon all States to take all appropriate measures to develop sustainable health systems and social services and to ensure access to such systems and services without discrimination and to pay particular attention to adequate food and nutrition to prevent disease and malnutrition, to prenatal and post-natal health care, to the special needs of adolescents, to reproductive and sexual health and to threats from substance abuse and violence, in particular to all vulnerable groups, and calls upon all States parties to take all necessary measures to ensure the right of all children, without discrimination, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health; 23. Urges all States to assign priority to activities and programmes aimed at preventing the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants as well as preventing other addictions, in particular addiction to alcohol and tobacco, among children and young people, especially those in vulnerable situations, and to counter the use of children and young people in the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 24. Calls upon all States to give support and rehabilitation to children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS and to involve children and their caregivers, as well as the private sector, to ensure the effective prevention of HIV infections through correct information and access to voluntary and confidential care, treatment and testing, including pharmaceutical products and medical technologies, affordable to all, giving due importance to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus; Education 25. Also calls upon all States: (a) To recognize the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity by making primary education compulsory and available free to all, without discrimination, by ensuring that all children, including girls, children in need of special protection, children with disabilities, indigenous children, children belonging to minorities and children from different ethnic origins, have access without discrimination to education of good quality, as well as by making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular by the progressive introduction of free education, bearing in mind that special measures to ensure equal access, including affirmative action, contribute to achieving equal opportunity and combating exclusion, and to ensure that the education of the child is carried out and States parties develop and implement programmes for the education of the child in accordance with articles 28 and 29 of the Convention; (b) To develop national plans of action, or to strengthen existing ones, in order to achieve the objectives of Education for All so as to ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling, and reaffirms the coordinating role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in this regard; (c) To design and implement programmes to provide social services and support to pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers, in particular to enable them to continue and complete their education; (d) To promote an educational setting that eliminates all barriers that impede the schooling of pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers; (e) To take all appropriate measures to prevent racism and discriminatory and xenophobic attitudes and behaviour through education, keeping in mind the important role that children play in changing those practices; (f) To ensure that children, from an early age, benefit from education and from participation in activities that develop respect for human rights and emphasize the practice of non-violence, with the aim of instilling in them the values and goals of a culture of peace, and invites States to develop national strategies for human rights education that are comprehensive, participatory and effective; (g) To ensure that education programmes and materials reflect fully the promotion and protection of human rights and values of peace, tolerance and gender equality, using every opportunity presented by the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010; (h) To harness the rapidly evolving information and communication technologies to support education at an affordable cost, including open and distance education, while reducing inequality in access and quality; 26. Urges States: (a) To take measures to protect students from violence, injury or abuse, including sexual abuse and intimidation or maltreatment in schools, to establish complaint mechanisms that are age-appropriate and accessible to children and to undertake thorough and prompt investigations of all acts of violence and discrimination; (b) To take measures to eliminate the use of corporal punishment in schools; Freedom from violence 27. Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence, including physical, mental and sexual violence, torture, child abuse, abuse by police, other law enforcement authorities and employees and officials in detention centres or welfare institutions, including orphanages, and domestic violence; 28. Also calls upon States to investigate and submit cases of torture and other forms of violence against children to the competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution and to impose appropriate disciplinary or penal sanctions against those responsible for such practices; 29. Requests all relevant human rights mechanisms, in particular special rapporteurs and working groups, within their mandates, to pay attention to the special situations of violence against children, reflecting their experiences in the field; Non-discrimination 30. Calls upon all States to ensure that children are entitled to their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination of any kind; 31. Notes with concern the large number of children, particularly girls, among the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and stresses the need to incorporate special measures, in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child and respect for his or her views, in programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in order to give priority attention to the rights and the situation of children who are victims of these practices, and calls upon States to provide special support and ensure equal access to services for those children; 32. Calls upon all States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities or persons of indigenous origin exist not to deny to a child belonging to such a minority or an indigenous child the right, in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess and practise his or her own religion or to use his or her own language; The girl child 33. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures, including legal reforms where appropriate: (a) To ensure the full and equal enjoyment by girls of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to take effective actions against violations of those rights and freedoms and to base programmes and policies on the rights of the child, taking into account the special situation of girls; (b) To eliminate all forms of discrimination against girls and all forms of violence, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, rape, sexual abuse and harmful traditional or customary practices, including female genital mutilation, the root causes of son preference, marriages without free and full consent of the intending spouses, early marriages and forced sterilization, by enacting and enforcing legislation and, where appropriate, formulating comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies protecting girls; Children with disabilities 34. Also calls upon all States to take necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with disabilities in both the public and the private spheres, including access to good quality education and health care and protection from violence, abuse and neglect, and to develop and, where it already exists, to enforce legislation to prohibit discrimination against them to ensure their dignity, promote their self-reliance and facilitate their active participation and integration in the community, taking into account the particularly difficult situation of children with disabilities living in poverty; 35. Encourages the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities to consider the issue of children with disabilities in its deliberations; Migrant children 36. Calls upon all States to ensure, for migrant children, the enjoyment of all human rights as well as access to health care, social services and education of good quality and to ensure that migrant children, and especially those who are unaccompanied, in particular victims of violence and exploitation, receive special protection and assistance; Children working and/or living on the street 37. Also calls upon all States to prevent violations of the rights of children working and/or living on the street, including discrimination, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary executions, torture, all kinds of violence and exploitation, and to bring the perpetrators to justice, to adopt and implement policies for the protection, social and psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration of these children and to adopt economic, social and educational strategies to address the problems of children working and/or living on the street; Refugee and internally displaced children 38. Further calls upon all States to protect refugee, asylum-seeking and internally displaced children, in particular those who are unaccompanied, who are particularly exposed to risks in connection with armed conflict, such as recruitment, sexual violence and exploitation, to pay particular attention to programmes for voluntary repatriation and, wherever possible, local integration and resettlement, to give priority to family tracing and reunification and, where appropriate, to cooperate with international humanitarian and refugee organizations, including by facilitating their work; Child labour 39. Calls upon all States to translate into concrete action their commitment to the progressive and effective elimination of child labour that is likely to be hazardous to or interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, to eliminate immediately the worst forms of child labour, to promote education as a key strategy in this regard, including the creation of vocational training and apprenticeship programmes and the integration of working children into the formal education system, and to examine and devise economic policies, where necessary, in cooperation with the international community, that address factors contributing to these forms of child labour; 40. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182) of the International Labour Organization, and calls upon States parties to those instruments to implement them fully and to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations; Children alleged to have infringed or recognized as having infringed penal law 41. Calls upon: (a) All States, in particular States in which the death penalty has not been abolished, to comply with their obligations as assumed under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including, in particular, articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and articles 6 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. keeping in mind the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty and guarantees set out in Economic and Social Council resolutions 1984/50 of 25 May 1984 and 1989/64 of 24 May 1989, and calls upon those States to abolish by law, as soon as possible, the death penalty for those below the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offence; (b) All States to protect children deprived of their liberty from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (c) All States to take appropriate steps to ensure compliance with the principle that depriving children of their liberty should be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time, in particular before trial, and to ensure that, if they are arrested, detained or imprisoned, children are provided with adequate legal assistance and are separated from adults, to the greatest extent feasible, unless it is considered in their best interest not to do so, and also to take appropriate steps to ensure that no child in detention is sentenced to forced labour or corporal punishment or deprived of access to and provision of health-care services, hygiene and environmental sanitation, education, basic instruction and vocational training, taking into consideration the special needs of children with disabilities in detention, in accordance with their obligations under the Convention; Recovery and social reintegration 42. Encourages States to cooperate, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance, in the implementation of their obligations under the Convention, including in the prevention of any activity contrary to the rights of the child and in the rehabilitation and social integration of the victims, such assistance and cooperation to be undertaken in consultation among concerned States and relevant international organizations as well as other relevant actors; Prevention and eradication of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 43. Calls upon all States: (a) To take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures, inter alia, to develop national laws and allocate resources for the development of long-term policies, programmes and practices and to collect comprehensive data, disaggregated by age, gender and other relevant factors, to facilitate the participation of child victims of sexual exploitation in the development of strategies, taking into account their age and maturity, and to ensure the effective implementation of relevant international instruments concerning the prevention and the combating of trafficking and sale of children for any purpose or in any form, including the transfer of the organs of the child for profit, child prostitution and child pornography, and encourages all actors of civil society, the private sector and the media to cooperate in efforts to this end; (b) To increase cooperation at all levels to prevent and dismantle networks trafficking in children; (c) To consider ratifying or acceding to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;Resolution 55/25, annex II. (d) To criminalize and effectively penalize all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, including within the family or for commercial purposes, child pornography and child prostitution, child sex tourism, the sale of children and their organs, and the use of the Internet for these purposes, while ensuring that, in the treatment by the criminal justice system of children who are victims, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration, and to take effective measures against the criminalization of children who are victims of exploitation and effective measures to ensure the prosecution of offenders, whether local or foreign, by the competent national authorities, either in the country where the crime was committed, or in the country of which the offender is a national or resident, or in the country of which the victim is a national, or on any other basis permitted under domestic law in accordance with due process of law; (e) In cases of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to address effectively the needs of victims, including their physical and psychological recovery and full reintegration into their family and society; (f) To combat the existence of a market that encourages such criminal practices against children, including through the adoption, effective application and enforcement of preventive, rehabilitative and punitive measures targeting customers or individuals who sexually exploit or sexually abuse children, as well as by ensuring public awareness; (g) To afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with investigations or criminal or extradition proceedings brought in respect of the offences set forth in article 3, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annex II. including assistance in obtaining evidence at their disposal for the proceedings; (h) To contribute to the elimination of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography by adopting a holistic approach, addressing the contributing factors, including underdevelopment, poverty, economic disparities, inequitable socio-economic structures, dysfunctional families, lack of education, urban-rural migration, gender discrimination, irresponsible adult sexual behaviour, harmful traditional practices, armed conflicts and trafficking in children; Children in armed conflict 44. Recognizes the inclusion in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. as a war crime, of crimes involving sexual violence and crimes of conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years or using them to participate actively in hostilities in both international and non-international armed conflicts; 45. Urges all States and all other parties to armed conflicts to end the recruitment and use of children in situations of armed conflict contrary to international law and to ensure their demobilization, effective disarmament and rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society; 46. Urges all States: (a) When ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. to raise the minimum age for voluntary recruitment of persons into their national armed forces from that set out in article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention, bearing in mind that under the Convention persons below the age of 18 years are entitled to special protection, and to adopt safeguards to ensure that such recruitment is not forced or coerced; (b) To protect children affected by armed conflict, in particular to protect them from acts that constitute violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law and to ensure that they receive timely, effective and unhindered humanitarian assistance as well as support for physical and psychological recovery; 47. Emphasizes the importance of giving systematic consideration to the rights, special needs and particular vulnerability of the girl child during conflicts and in post-conflict situations; 48. Regrets the fact that the report on a comprehensive assessment of the United Nations response to the issue of children affected by armed conflict, requested in resolution 57/190, has not yet been submitted, and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to submit his report for consideration as soon as possible; Follow-up 49. Urges those States that have not yet done so to complete a national action plan as soon as possible incorporating the goals agreed at the special session of the General Assembly on children, as reflected in its outcome document entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and to place those goals within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;Resolution 44/25, annex. 50. Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to prepare an updated report on progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the document entitled "A world fit for children", with a view to identifying problems and constraints and making recommendations on the action needed to achieve further progress, and to submit his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; (b) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the rights of the child containing information on the status of the Convention and the problems addressed in the present resolution; (c) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to continue to submit to the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Commission on Human Rights reports containing relevant information on the situation of children affected by armed conflict, taking into account the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly at its special session on children and bearing in mind existing mandates and reports of relevant bodies; (d) To request the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children to conduct the study as soon as possible, invites Member States, United Nations bodies and organizations, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child, as well as other relevant intergovernmental organizations, to provide substantive and, where appropriate, financial support, including through voluntary contributions, for the effective conduct of the study, invites non-governmental organizations to contribute to the study, taking into account the recommendations of the Committee made following the general discussions on violence against children held in September 2000 and 2001, and encourages the independent expert to also seek the participation of children in the study, taking into account their age and maturity; (e) To invite the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children to present an oral progress report on the study to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; (f) To request the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of appropriate staff and facilities from the United Nations regular budget for the effective and expeditious performance of the functions of the Committee, and invites the Committee to continue to enhance its constructive dialogue with the States parties to the Convention and its transparent and effective functioning; (g) To continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children". RESOLUTION 58/158 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/505, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 58/158. International Decade of the World's Indigenous People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/192 of 18 December 2002 and previous resolutions on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, including resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995, by which it adopted the programme of activities for the Decade, Recalling also its resolution 40/131 of 13 December 1985, by which it established the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, and its resolution 57/191 of 18 December 2002, as a result of which the Trust Fund in Support of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was established, Recalling further that the goal of the Decade is to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health, and that the theme of the Decade is "Indigenous people: partnership in action", Welcoming, in this respect, the contributions to the realization of the goals of the Decade made by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at its first and second sessions, held in New York from 13 to 24 May 2002 and from 12 to 23 May 2003, respectively, Welcoming also the contributions to the realization of the goals of the Decade made by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held at Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, Welcoming further the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, submitted to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-eighthE/CN.4/2002/97 and Add.1. and fifty-ninthE/CN.4/2003/90 and Add.1-3. sessions, Recognizing the importance of consultation and cooperation with indigenous people in planning and implementing the programme of activities for the Decade, the need for adequate financial support from the international community, including support from within the United Nations system, and the need for adequate coordination and communication channels, Urging all parties to continue to use their best efforts to achieve the goals of the Decade, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the implementation of the programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People;A/58/289. 2. Affirms its conviction of the value and diversity of the cultures and forms of social organization of indigenous people and its conviction that the development of indigenous people within their countries will contribute to the socio-economic, cultural and environmental advancement of all the countries of the world; 3. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening the human and institutional capacity of indigenous people to develop their own solutions to their problems; 4. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as coordinator for the Decade: (a) To continue to promote the objectives of the Decade, taking into account, in the fulfilment of his or her functions, the special concerns of indigenous people; (b) To give due regard to the dissemination, from within existing resources and voluntary contributions, of information on the situation, cultures, languages, rights and aspirations of indigenous people and, in that context, to consider the possibility of organizing projects, special events, exhibitions and other activities addressed to the public, in particular to young people; (c) To submit, through the Secretary-General, an annual report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade; 5. Reaffirms the adoption of a declaration on the rights of indigenous people as a major objective of the Decade, and underlines the importance of effective participation by indigenous representatives in the open-ended intersessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with elaborating a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people, established pursuant to Commission resolution 1995/32 of 3 March 1995;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. 6. Welcomes the active consideration by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues of a number of topics pertaining to the Decade, as reflected in its report to the Economic and Social Council on its second session,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 23 (E/2003/43). and encourages the Forum to continue to work towards the realization of the goals of the Decade; 7. Encourages Governments to support the Decade by: (a) Preparing relevant programmes, plans and reports in relation to the Decade, in consultation with indigenous people; (b) Seeking means, in consultation with indigenous people, of giving indigenous people greater responsibility for their own affairs and an effective voice in decisions on matters that affect them; (c) Establishing national committees or other mechanisms involving indigenous people to ensure that the objectives and activities of the Decade are planned and implemented on the basis of full partnership with indigenous people; (d) Contributing to the following funds: (i) The United Nations Trust Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People; (ii) The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, in order to assist indigenous representatives in participating in the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the open-ended intersessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with elaborating a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people; (iii) The Trust Fund in Support of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; (iv) The Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean; (e) Identifying resources for activities designed to implement the goals of the Decade, in cooperation with indigenous people and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 8. Invites United Nations financial and development institutions, operational programmes and the specialized agencies and secretariats, as well as other regional and international organizations, in accordance with the existing procedures of their governing bodies: (a) To give increased priority and resources to improving the conditions of indigenous people, with particular emphasis on the needs of those people in developing countries, inter alia, through the preparation of specific programmes of action for the implementation of the goals of the Decade, within their areas of competence; (b) To launch special projects, through appropriate channels and in cooperation with indigenous people, to strengthen their community-level initiatives and to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among indigenous people and other relevant experts; (c) To designate focal points for the coordination of activities relating to the Decade with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and commends those institutions, programmes, agencies and regional and international organizations that have already done so; 9. Recommends that the Secretary-General ensure coordinated follow-up to the recommendations concerning indigenous people of relevant United Nations conferences; 10. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit, through the Secretary-General, a report on the implementation of the programme of activities for the Decade to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 11. Takes note of Economic and Social Council decision 2003/306 of 25 July 2003 concerning the initiation of its review of the Decade, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 50/157; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Programme of activities for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, 1995-2004". RESOLUTION 58/159 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/506, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya, Mexico, Monaco, Paraguay, Peru, Timor-Leste and Uruguay. 58/159. The incompatibility between democracy and racism The General Assembly, Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. Recalling the commitment reached in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. concerning the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Recalling also the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/41 of 23 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Mindful of the responsibility of Governments to ensure such equality as is established in the relevant international and regional human rights instruments, inter alia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Reaffirming that acts of racial violence and discrimination do not constitute legitimate expressions of opinion, but rather are offences, Alarmed by the rise of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, Recognizing the fundamental role of education and other active policies in the promotion of tolerance and respect for others and in the construction of pluralistic and inclusive societies, 1. Condemns political platforms and organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as incompatible with democracy and transparent and accountable governance; 2. Affirms that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance condoned by governmental policies violate human rights and may endanger friendly relations among peoples, cooperation among nations, international peace and security and the harmony of persons living side by side within one and the same State; 3. Also affirms that any form of impunity condoned by public authorities for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy and tends to encourage the recurrence of such acts; 4. Condemns the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial or national prejudice, and states that these phenomena can never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances; 5. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Arab, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent and other communities; 6. Emphasizes that the elimination of all forms of discrimination, especially gender, ethnic and racial discrimination, as well as diverse forms of intolerance, the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons of indigenous origin and members of indigenous communities and migrants, and respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity contribute to strengthening and promoting democracy and political participation; 7. Urges States to reinforce their commitment to promote tolerance and human rights and to fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as a way to strengthen democracy, the rule of law and transparent and accountable governance, and in that regard recommends measures such as introducing or reinforcing human rights education in schools and in institutions of higher education; 8. Also urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 9. Underlines the key role that political leaders and political parties can and ought to play in strengthening and promoting democracy by combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages political parties to take concrete steps to promote solidarity, tolerance and respect, inter alia, by developing voluntary codes of conduct, including internal disciplinary measures for violations thereof, so their members refrain from public statements and actions that encourage or incite racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 10. Invites the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other relevant inter-parliamentary organizations to encourage debate in, and action by, parliaments on various measures, including laws and policies, to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 11. Invites the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the treaty bodies to continue to pay particular attention to violations of human rights stemming from the rise of racism and xenophobia in political circles and in society at large, with due consideration to a gender perspective, especially as regards their incompatibility with democracy; 12. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the incompatibility between democracy and racism;E/CN.4/2003/62 and Add.1. 13. Also takes note of the outcome of the expert seminar on the interdependence between democracy and human rights, held by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at Geneva on 25 and 26 November 2002;See E/CN.4/2003/59. 14. Invites the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to submit to the General Assembly the study on the issue of political platforms that promote or incite racial discrimination, as requested by the Commission in its resolution 2003/41,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and updated and expanded as appropriate; 15. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination". RESOLUTION 58/15 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/497 (Part I), para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council and amended by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/15. Preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 45/133 of 14 December 1990, 46/92 of 16 December 1991, 47/237 of 20 September 1993, 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999, 56/113 of 19 December 2001 and 57/164 of 18 December 2002 concerning the proclamation of, preparations for and observance of the International Year of the Family in 1994 and its tenth anniversary in 2004, Recognizing that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family constitutes an important opportunity to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of efforts at all levels to carry out specific programmes within the framework of the objectives of the Year, Recognizing also that 2004 is to be viewed as a target year by which time concrete achievements will have been produced with respect to identifying and elaborating issues of direct concern to families and mechanisms will have been set up to plan and coordinate activities by the appropriate governmental and non-governmental bodies and agencies, Emphasizing that equality between women and men and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all family members are essential to family well-being and to society at large, noting the importance of reconciliation of work and family life, and recognizing the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child, Noting with satisfaction the close collaboration of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations active in the family field, as well as its research efforts and preparations for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, Appreciating the active role of the regional commissions in the preparatory process of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, particularly in facilitating regional cooperation in that regard, Recalling that one plenary meeting at its fifty-ninth session, in 2004, will be devoted to the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, building upon the events to be held on 15 May 2004 on the occasion of the International Day of Families, 1. Welcomes the decision of Benin to host a regional preparatory conference in Benin in May 2004 in collaboration with the United Nations, within existing resources; 2. Also welcomes the decision of the State of Qatar to host an international conference to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in November 2004; 3. Welcomes the launching by the Secretary-General of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family on 4 December 2003; 4. Further welcomes decisions by members of the international community (Governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society) to host events in observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family; 5. Encourages Governments to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a family perspective in the planning process; 6. Recalls its invitation to all States to set the end of 2003 as a target date for finalizing a programme for the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family; 7. Also recalls its invitation to Governments that had not already done so to set up national coordinating committees or similar mechanisms, as appropriate, for the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, and invites them, as well as the Governments of countries with existing bodies responsible for preparations and observance, to intensify preparatory measures already under way; 8. Recommends that all relevant actors, inter alia, Governments, civil society, including relevant non-governmental organizations, and research and academic institutions, contribute to developing strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening the livelihood of families; 9. Encourages United Nations agencies and bodies, including the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and research and academic institutions, to work closely with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in a coordinated manner on family-related issues, inter alia, by sharing experience and findings, in recognition of their valuable role in family policy development at all levels; 10. Calls upon United Nations agencies and bodies, including the regional commissions, within existing resources, and invites intergovernmental organizations and research and academic institutions to support regional events of the year 2004 to contribute to the success of those events; 11. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To strengthen the programme of work of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs on family pursuant to the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in the context of national family-related provisions of the outcomes of the United Nations conferences and summits, and in the context of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to enhance the unique role of the family in society, in particular through: (i) The development and strengthening of a family-focused perspective in relevant policies and programmes of United Nations bodies as well as in the follow-up to the outcomes of the relevant United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields; (ii) The provision of policy guidance on emerging issues and trends affecting the family, through the preparation of studies and research papers aimed in particular at enhancing the role of the family in society; (iii) The provision of technical assistance to countries, upon request, to enhance, where appropriate, their national capacities in the area of family-related work; (b) To address family issues, where relevant, in his report on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit an interim report to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-second session and a substantive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on the preparations for and the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family at all levels. RESOLUTION 58/160 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/506, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Mexico, and Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 174 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada 58/160. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/266 of 27 March 2002, in which it endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. as constituting a solid foundation for further action and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Recalling also its resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002, in which it outlined the important roles and responsibilities of the various organs of the United Nations and other stakeholders at the international, regional and national levels, including, in particular, the Commission on Human Rights, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of 25 April 2002See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2003/30 of 23 April 2003,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. attaches importance to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, Recognizing that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds such as sex, language, religion, political and other opinion, social origin, property, birth and other status, Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, Reaffirming its commitment to a global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Reaffirming that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. are of paramount importance for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and may be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights, and recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination, Reaffirming its firm determination and its commitment to eradicate totally and unconditionally racism and racial discrimination, and its conviction that racism and racial discrimination constitute a negation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Recognizing that the successful implementation of the Durban Programme of Action requires political will, international cooperation and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels, Deeply concerned that, despite continuing efforts, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and acts of violence persist and even grow in magnitude, incessantly adopting new forms, including tendencies to establish policies based on racial, religious, ethnic, cultural and national superiority or exclusivity, Alarmed, in particular, at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, inter alia, as a result of the resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Recognizing that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations, Emphasizing that poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion and economic disparities are closely associated with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the persistence of racist attitudes and practices, which in turn generate more poverty, Deeply concerned about the misuse, by those advocating racism and racial discrimination, of new communication technologies, including the Internet, to disseminate their repugnant views, Noting that the use of such technologies can also contribute to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Noting also developments that have occurred within the framework of the Commission on Human Rights through its intersessional working groups and other mechanisms created for the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, in particular the work of the group of independent eminent experts, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Welcoming all the regional initiatives being undertaken to implement the Durban commitments, and in this context expressing its appreciation to the Governments of Mexico, Kenya and the Czech Republic for hosting the regional expert seminars with a view to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action within their respective regions, and encouraging other regions to take the necessary action in this regard, I Basic general principles 1. Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments; 2. Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form; 3. Affirms that racism and racial discrimination, and xenophobia and related intolerance, where they amount to racism and racial discrimination, constitute serious violations of and obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 4. Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling; 5. Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 6. Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law; 7. Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments; 8. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred, and calls upon States to take all necessary measures to combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they have undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 9. Condemns also political platforms and organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance as incompatible with democracy and transparent and accountable governance; 10. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries; 11. Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men; 12. Expresses its concern at the increasing incidents of racism in various sporting events; 13. Notes with appreciation the efforts being made by some sporting governing bodies to combat racism, and encourages other such bodies to take similar actions; II International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 14. Urges States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the international human rights instruments that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular to accede to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. as a matter of urgency, with a view to achieving universal ratification by 2005, and to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 thereof, to comply with their reporting obligations, to publish and act upon the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, to withdraw reservations contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention and to consider withdrawing other reservations; 15. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention, on the financing of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and calls for adequate additional resources from the United Nations regular budget to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully; 16. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and article 5 of the Convention; 17. Notes that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention; 18. Welcomes the emphasis placed by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the importance of follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and the measures recommended to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18), chap. XI. III Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 19. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 20. Also emphasizes, in that context, the fundamental and complementary role of national human rights institutions, regional bodies and centres and civil society, working jointly with States towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 21. Calls upon States to elaborate action plans, in consultation with national human rights institutions, other institutions created by law to combat racism, and civil society, and to provide the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with such action plans and other relevant materials on measures taken to implement the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 22. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay, at the national, regional and international levels, policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; 23. Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies and centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such bodies or centres in all regions where they do not exist; 24. Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in assisting States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation; 25. Emphasizes that, in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, States have a shared responsibility, at the international level and within the framework of the United Nations system, to determine modalities for the overall review of the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 26. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters related to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter of the United Nations, including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 27. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing with the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 28. Invites all relevant organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to become involved in the follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and invites specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system to strengthen and adjust, within their respective mandates, their activities, programmes and medium-term strategies to take into account the follow-up to the Conference; 29. Invites all human rights treaty-monitoring bodies and all mechanisms and subsidiary bodies of the Commission on Human Rights to consider the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the discharge of their respective mandates; 30. Reaffirms that the Economic and Social Council shall oversee the system-wide coordination of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 31. Takes note of the recommendations adopted by consensus by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at its first session, on 21 March 2003;See E/CN.4/2003/20, sect. III, para. 33. 32. Notes that the Working Group will continue its future sessions on the basis of the thematic approach adopted during its first session, and notes with appreciation that to this end the next session of the Working Group, which the representative of Chile has expressed interest in chairing, will analyse the themes relating to poverty eradication and education; 33. Also notes the convening of the sessions of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, the renewal of its mandate and the adjustments effected thereto; 34. Welcomes the inaugural session of the group of independent eminent experts, held at Geneva from 16 to 18 September 2003, with the participation of representatives of Member States, the United Nations system and civil society, takes note of its substantive outcome, and in this context requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to examine the possibility of the development of a racial equality index, as proposed by the group of independent eminent experts, and to report thereon to the Commission on Human Rights; 35. Acknowledges with appreciation the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesResolution 45/158, annex. on 1 July 2003, and invites all States that have not yet done so to consider acceding to that important instrument; 36. Notes with satisfaction the progress made during the first and second sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, held in New York from 29 July to 9 August 2002 and from 16 to 27 June 2003; 37. Notes with appreciation the first and second sessions of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, held in New York from 13 to 24 May 2002 and from 12 to 23 May 2003; 38. Stresses the need to ensure adequate financial and human resources, including through the regular budget of the United Nations, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to carry out its responsibilities efficiently in the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 39. Encourages improvements in the current efforts of the Anti-Discrimination Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner in providing strong leadership and greater support to the mechanisms created by the Commission on Human Rights to follow up the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; IV Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination and coordination of activities 40. Notes with great concern that, despite the many efforts of the international community, the objectives of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination have largely not been achieved, welcomes, therefore, the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and calls for its full implementation at the national, regional and international levels; 41. Decides, after considering the report of the Secretary-General on the extent of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Third Decade,See A/58/80-E/2003/71. to close the Third Decade; 42. Also decides, as part of the activities to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to place emphasis on the concrete implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a solid foundation for a broad-based consensus for further actions and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism; V Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits 43. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages its continuation; 44. Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur; 45. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue his exchange of views with Member States and relevant mechanisms and treaty bodies within the United Nations system in order to enhance further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 46. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent and other communities; 47. Requests the Special Rapporteur to collect information from all concerned, to respond effectively to reliable information that becomes available to him, to follow up on communications and country visits and to seek the views and comments of Governments and reflect them, as appropriate, in his reports; 48. Calls upon States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 49. Encourages closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the Anti-Discrimination Unit; 50. Urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur; 51. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 52. Takes note with appreciation of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/58/313. and encourages the continuation of his work; 53. Urges Member States to consider implementing the recommendations contained in the reports of the Special Rapporteur, and invites other relevant stakeholders to implement those recommendations; 54. Calls upon the Special Rapporteur, in carrying out his mandate, to pay special attention to the increasing frequency of incidents of racism at various sporting events; VI General 55. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 56. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination". RESOLUTION 58/161 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/507, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 109 to 3, with 61 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Bhutan, India, Mauritius Abstaining: Andorra, Belarus, Belgium, Burundi, Colombia, Comoros, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America 58/161. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninthSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 57/197 of 18 December 2002, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, containing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which, inter alia, upholds the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination and foreign occupation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self-determination,A/58/180. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 58/162 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/507, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 125 to 26, with 29 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malta, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Uzbekistan 58/162. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/196 of 18 December 2002, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/2 of 14 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions, in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit and use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Organization of African Unity Convention for the elimination of mercenarism in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1490, No. 25573. Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by peoples, 1. Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;See A/58/115. 2. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 4. Urges all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Requests all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against any kind of recruitment, training, hiring or financing of mercenaries by private companies offering international military consultancy and security services, as well as to impose a specific ban on such companies intervening in armed conflicts or actions to destabilize constitutional regimes; 6. Welcomes the entry into force of the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries,Resolution 44/34, annex. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the necessary action to accede to or ratify the Convention; 7. Welcomes also the cooperation extended by those countries that have received visits from the Special Rapporteur; 8. Welcomes further the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 9. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with domestic law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 10. Welcomes the organization, in Geneva from 13 to 17 May 2002, in compliance with General Assembly resolution 56/232 of 24 December 2001, of the second meeting of experts on traditional and new forms of mercenary activities as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, and takes note of its conclusions;See E/CN.4/2003/4. 11. Takes note with appreciation of the proposal for an enhanced legal definition of mercenaries contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur, and requests the Secretary-General to circulate it to the Member States and to seek their views in order to include them in the report of the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 12. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by those activities; 13. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to take into account, in the discharge of his mandate, the fact that mercenary activities continue to occur in many parts of the world and are taking on new forms, manifestations and modalities; 14. Recommends that the Commission on Human Rights renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a period of three years; 15. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate; 16. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary assistance and support for the fulfilment of his mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary-related activities; 17. Requests the Special Rapporteur to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session his findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the right of peoples to self-determination; 18. Decides to consider at its fifty-ninth session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 58/163 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/507, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 169 to 5, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: None 58/163. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Expressing the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a final settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine; 2. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination. RESOLUTION 58/164 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia. 58/164. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Recalling article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentResolution 3452 (XXX), annex. and its resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Recalling also that freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of internal or international disturbance or armed conflict, and that the prohibition of torture is explicitly affirmed in all relevant international instruments, Recalling further all previous resolutions or decisions on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights, in particular Assembly resolution 57/200 of 18 December 2002 and Commission resolution 2003/32 of 23 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling the recommendation contained in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. that high priority should be given to providing the necessary resources to assist victims of torture and effective remedies for their physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, inter alia, through additional contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, Noting with satisfaction the existence of a considerable international network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, which plays an important role in providing assistance to victims of torture, and the collaboration of the Fund with the centres, Commending the persistent efforts by non-governmental organizations to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, Mindful of its proclamation, in its resolution 52/149 of 12 December 1997, of 26 June as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 1. Condemns all forms of torture, including through intimidation, as described in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; 2. Urges all Governments to promote the full implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and stresses in particular that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment should be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention where the prohibited act is found to have been committed, and that national legal systems should ensure that the victims of such acts obtain redress, are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation, and encourages the development of rehabilitation centres for victims of torture; 3. Takes note of the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment annexed to its resolution 55/89 of 4 December 2000 as a useful tool in efforts to combat torture; 4. Urges Governments to take effective measures to provide redress and to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including their gender-based manifestations; 5. Stresses that, under article 4 of the Convention, torture must be made an offence under domestic criminal law, and emphasizes that acts of torture are serious violations of international humanitarian law and that the perpetrators are liable to prosecution and punishment; 6. Notes with appreciation that one hundred and thirty-four States have become parties to the Convention, and urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as a matter of priority; 7. Invites all States ratifying or acceding to the Convention and those States that are parties to the Convention and have not yet done so to consider joining the States parties that have already made the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention and to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20; 8. Urges all States parties to the Convention to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 9. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including, in view of the high number of reports not submitted, their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19 of the Convention, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles when submitting reports to the Committee against Torture; 10. Emphasizes the obligation of States parties under article 10 of the Convention to ensure education and training for personnel who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment; 11. Stresses, in this context, that States must not punish personnel referred to in paragraph 10 above for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 12. Calls upon States parties to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/199 of 18 December 2002, which provides further measures for use in the fight against and the prevention of torture, and notes in this context that ratifications by twenty States parties are required for the Optional Protocol to enter into force, and that twenty-one States have already signed the Protocol and two States have ratified it; 13. Calls upon all Governments to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export and use of equipment that is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; 14. Welcomes the work of the Committee against Torture and the report of the Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/58/44). submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention; 15. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with his mandate established in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of Governments, advisory services for the preparation of national reports to the Committee and for the prevention of torture, as well as technical assistance in the development, production and distribution of teaching material for this purpose; 16. Urges States parties to take fully into account the conclusions and recommendations made by the Committee after its consideration of their reports; 17. Notes with appreciation the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture,See A/58/120. describing the overall trends and developments with regard to his mandate, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture; 18. Invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to examine questions of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment directed against women, and conditions conducive to such torture, and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention and redress of gender-specific forms of torture, including rape or any other form of sexual violence, and to exchange views with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, with the aim of enhancing further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 19. Also invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider questions relating to the torture of children and conditions conducive to such torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to make appropriate recommendations for the prevention of such torture; 20. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his task, to supply all necessary information requested by the Special Rapporteur, to respond appropriately and expeditiously to his urgent appeals and to give serious consideration to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur in following up his recommendations; 21. Reiterates the need for the Special Rapporteur to be able to respond effectively, in particular to urgent appeals, to credible and reliable information that comes before him, and invites the Special Rapporteur to continue to seek the views and comments of all concerned, in particular Member States; 22. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his report information on the follow-up by Governments to his recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered; 23. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views among the Committee against Torture, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 24. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Governments, organizations and individuals that have already contributed to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture;See A/58/284. 25. Stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and appeals to all Governments and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably by 1 March before the annual meeting of the Board, if possible with a substantial increase in the level of contributions, so that consideration may be given to the ever-increasing demand for assistance; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to all Governments the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund and to continue to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to assist the Board of Trustees of the Fund in its appeal for contributions and in its efforts to make better known the existence of the Fund and the financial means currently available to it, as well as in its assessment of the global need for international funding of rehabilitation services for victims of torture and, in this effort, to make use of all existing possibilities, including the preparation, production and dissemination of information materials; 28. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure, within the overall budgetary framework of the United Nations, the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in combating torture and assisting victims of torture, commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 29. Invites donor countries and recipient countries to consider including in their bilateral programmes and projects relating to the training of armed forces, security forces, prison and police personnel and health-care personnel matters relating to the protection of human rights and the prevention of torture, while bearing in mind a gender perspective; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the status of the Convention and a report on the operations of the Fund; 31. Calls upon all Governments, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 32. Decides to consider at its fifty-ninth session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture. RESOLUTION 58/165 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 58/165. International Covenants on Human Rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/144 of 19 December 2001 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/78 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. Mindful that the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. constitute the first all-embracing and legally binding international treaties in the field of human rights and, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). form the core of the International Bill of Human Rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/307. on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the promotion and protection of one category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of the other rights, Recognizing the important role of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in examining the progress made by States parties in fulfilling the obligations undertaken in the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in providing recommendations to States parties on their implementation, Considering that the effective functioning of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is indispensable for the full and effective implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, Recognizing the importance of regional human rights instruments and monitoring mechanisms in complementing the universal system of promotion and protection of human rights, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as major components of international efforts to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Welcomes once again the initiative of the Secretary-General at the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations to invite heads of State and Government to sign, ratify or accede to the International Covenants on Human Rights, and expresses its appreciation to those States that have done so; 3. Strongly appeals to all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as to consider as a matter of priority acceding to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. and making the declaration provided for in article 41 of the Covenant; 4. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to intensify systematic efforts to encourage States to become parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights and, through the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights, to assist such States, at their request, in ratifying or acceding to the Covenants and to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with a view to achieving universal adherence; 5. Emphasizes the importance of the strictest compliance by States parties with their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, where applicable, the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 6. Also emphasizes that States must ensure that any measure to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under relevant international law, including their obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights; 7. Stresses the importance of avoiding the erosion of human rights by derogation, and underlines the necessity of strict observance of the agreed conditions and procedures for derogation under article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, bearing in mind the need for States parties to provide the fullest possible information during states of emergency so that the justification for the appropriateness of measures taken in those circumstances can be assessed, and in this regard particularly takes note of General Comment No. 29 adopted by the Human Rights Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI. 8. Encourages States parties to consider limiting the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the International Covenants on Human Rights, to formulate any reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible and to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty; 9. Also encourages States parties to review regularly any reservations made in respect of the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with a view to withdrawing them; 10. Welcomes the annual reports of the Human Rights Committee submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventhIbid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/57/40). and fifty-eighthIbid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/58/40). sessions, and takes note of the General Comments adopted by the Committee;See HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6. 11. Also welcomes the reports of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh sessionsOfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 2 (E/2002/22). and on its twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth sessions,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 2 (E/2003/22). and takes note of the General Comments adopted by the Committee;See HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6. 12. Urges States parties to fulfil their reporting obligations under article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on time and to attend and participate in the consideration of the reports by the Human Rights Committee when so requested, and in this regard takes note of General Comment No. 30 adopted by the Committee;See HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6. 13. Also urges States parties to fulfil their reporting obligations under article 16 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on time and to attend and participate in the consideration of the reports by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights when so requested; 14. Further urges States parties to make use in their reports of gender-disaggregated data, and stresses the importance of taking fully into account a gender perspective in the implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights at the national level, including in the national reports of States parties and in the work of the Human Rights Committee and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 15. Strongly encourages States parties that have not yet submitted core documents to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to do so, and invites all States parties regularly to review and update their core documents;See HRI/CORE/1 and addenda. 16. Urges States parties to take duly into account, in implementing the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights, the recommendations and observations made during the consideration of their reports by the Human Rights Committee and by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the views adopted by the Human Rights Committee under the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 17. Invites States parties to give particular attention to the dissemination at the national level of their reports submitted to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the summary records relating to the examination of those reports by the Committees and the recommendations and observations made by the Committees after the examination of those reports; 18. Urges all States to publish the texts of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in as many local languages as possible and to distribute them and make them known as widely as possible in their territories; 19. Urges each State party to translate, publish and make available as widely as possible in its territory by appropriate means the full text of the concluding observations on its reports to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 20. Reiterates that States parties should take into account, in their nomination of members to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, that the Committees shall be composed of persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience, as well as to equal representation of women and men, and that members serve in their personal capacity, and also reiterates that, in the elections of the Committees, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems; 21. Invites the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, when considering the reports of States parties, to continue to identify specific needs that might be addressed by United Nations departments, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, including through the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 22. Stresses the need for improved coordination among relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies in supporting States parties, upon their request, in implementing the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and encourages continued efforts in this direction; 23. Welcomes the meeting held by the Human Rights Committee and States parties in October 2002 and the meeting held by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and States parties in May 2003 to exchange ideas on how to render the working methods of the Committees more efficient, and encourages all States parties to continue to contribute to the dialogue with practical and concrete proposals and ideas on ways to improve the effective functioning of the Committees; 24. Also welcomes the continuing efforts of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to strive for uniform standards in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights, and appeals to other bodies dealing with similar human rights questions to respect those uniform standards, as expressed in the general comments of the Committees; 25. Notes the need for further consideration of the issue of justiciability of the rights set forth in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and for further efforts towards developing indicators and benchmarks to measure progress in the national implementation by States parties of the rights protected by the Covenant; 26. Takes note with interest of the establishment by the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-ninth session of an open-ended working group with a view to considering options regarding the elaboration of an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and making specific recommendations on its course of action concerning the question of such an optional protocol, and encourages all parties to participate actively in the first session of the working group; 27. Encourages the specialized agencies that have not yet done so to submit their reports on the progress made in achieving the observance of the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in accordance with article 18 of the Covenant, and expresses its appreciation to those that have done so; 28. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to assist States parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights in the preparation of their reports, including by convening seminars or workshops at the national level for the training of government officials engaged in the preparation of such reports and by exploring other possibilities available under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights effectively assists the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the implementation of their respective mandates by providing, inter alia, adequate Secretariat staff resources and conference and other relevant support services; 30. Welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General, taking into account the suggestions of the Human Rights Committee, to take determined steps, in particular through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to give more publicity to the work of that Committee and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", a report on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including all reservations and declarations. RESOLUTION 58/166 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda and Uruguay. 58/166. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families The General Assembly, Guided by the basic instruments regarding the international protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. and reaffirming the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, Bearing in mind the principles and norms established within the framework of the International Labour Organization and the importance of the work done in connection with migrant workers and members of their families in other specialized agencies and in various organs of the United Nations, Recalling that, despite the existence of an already established body of principles and norms, there is an urgent need to make further efforts worldwide to improve the situation and to guarantee respect for the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers and members of their families, Conscious of the marked increase in migratory movements that has occurred, especially in certain parts of the world, Deeply concerned at the grave situation of vulnerability of migrant workers and members of their families, Considering that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. all States are urged to guarantee the protection of the human rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, Underlining the importance of the creation and promotion of conditions to foster greater harmony and tolerance between migrant workers and the rest of the society of the State in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia directed against migrant workers by individuals or groups in segments of many societies, Recalling its resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Bearing in mind that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, States are invited to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible time, 1. Acknowledges with appreciation the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on 1 July 2003; 2. Expresses its deep concern at the growing manifestations of racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman or degrading treatment directed against migrant workers in various parts of the world; 3. Welcomes the signature or ratification of or accession to the Convention by some States, and takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention;A/58/221. 4. Calls once again upon all Member States that have not yet ratified the Convention to consider urgently signing and ratifying or acceding to it; 5. Takes note of the arrangements for the initial meeting of States parties to the Convention, held on 11 December 2003; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to make all necessary provisions for the timely establishment of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, referred to in article 72 of the Convention; 7. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to submit in a timely manner their first periodic report, as requested in article 73 of the Convention; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all the facilities and assistance necessary for the promotion of the Convention through the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights and the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 9. Welcomes the increasing activities of the global campaign for the entry into force of the Convention, and invites the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to intensify further their efforts with a view to disseminating information on and promoting understanding of the importance of the Convention; 10. Also welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in relation to the Convention, and encourages her to persevere in that endeavour; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit an updated report on the status of the Convention to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 12. Decides to consider the report of the Secretary-General at its fifty-ninth session under the sub-item entitled "Implementation of human rights instruments". RESOLUTION 58/167 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. 58/167. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Recalling also its resolutions 54/160 of 17 December 1999, 55/91 of 4 December 2000 and 57/204 of 18 December 2002, and recalling further its resolutions 54/113 of 10 December 1999 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/309. Welcoming the adoption of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, Welcoming also the contribution of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the promotion of respect for cultural diversity, Welcoming further the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. together with its Action Plan,Ibid., annex II. adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, in which member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan with a view to enhancing the synergy of actions in favour of cultural diversity, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, Recognizing also that the promotion of the rights of indigenous people and their cultures and traditions will contribute to the respect for and observance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States consider, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and that it should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity; 3. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 4. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 5. Expresses its determination to prevent and mitigate cultural homogenization in the context of globalization, through increased intercultural exchange guided by the promotion and protection of cultural diversity; 6. Affirms that intercultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 7. Welcomes the recognition at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the necessity of respecting and maximizing the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within and among communities and nations, in particular through public information and educational programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes in which the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society; 8. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 9. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national, regional and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 10. Also emphasizes that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all, and underlines the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive; 11. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 12. Urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 13. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies, and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the present resolution, to prepare a report on human rights and cultural diversity, taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as the considerations in the present resolution regarding the recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 15. Decides to continue consideration of this question at its sixtieth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 58/168 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/168. Strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations are those of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and taking other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, as well as achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Desirous of achieving further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that such international cooperation should be based on the principles embodied in international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant instruments, Deeply convinced that United Nations action in this field should be based not only on a profound understanding of the broad range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect for the political, economic and social realities of each of them, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through international cooperation, Recalling its previous resolutions in this regard, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence and discretion of the special rapporteurs and representatives on thematic issues and on countries, as well as of the members of the working groups, in carrying out their mandates, Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote and protect human rights and to carry out the responsibilities that they have undertaken under international law, especially the Charter, as well as various international instruments in the field of human rights, 1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions of the Charter, including respect for territorial integrity; 2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur; 3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the development of further international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with that international framework; 4. Considers that international cooperation in this field should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security; 5. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends; 6. Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations system, as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups, to take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates; 7. Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach to human rights issues contributes to the promotion of international cooperation as well as to the effective promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 9. Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate, within the framework of their respective legal systems and in accordance with their obligations under international law, especially the Charter, and international human rights instruments, the measures that they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 10. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take duly into account the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity; 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/185 and Add.1 and 2. and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States to present practical proposals and ideas that would contribute to the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights, through the promotion of international cooperation based on the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and to submit a comprehensive report on this question to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 12. Decides to consider this matter at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/169 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 58/169. Human rights and mass exoduses The General Assembly, Deeply disturbed by the scale and magnitude of exoduses and displacements of people in many regions of the world and by the human suffering of refugees and displaced persons, a high proportion of whom are women and children, Recalling its previous resolutions on this subject, as well as those of the Commission on Human Rights, and the conclusions of the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which recognized, inter alia, that gross violations of human rights, persecution, political and ethnic conflicts, famine and economic insecurity, poverty and generalized violence are among the root causes leading to mass exoduses and displacements of people, Mindful of the open debates that have been held within the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the three reports of the Secretary-General on that subjectS/1999/957, S/2001/331 and S/2002/1300. and the related resolutions adopted, Reaffirming the continuing relevance of the provisions of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. to the situation of people in mass exoduses, and welcoming in this respect the process of Global Consultations on International Protection and the Agenda for ProtectionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. and other follow-up processes endorsed by States as a result, which sought, inter alia, to strengthen international responses to mass influx situations, Welcoming the increased attention being given by the United Nations to the problem of refugee camp security, including through the development of operational guidelines on the separation of armed elements from refugee populations, and the increasing attention to registration and camp layout and design, Stressing the importance of adherence to international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law in order to avert mass exoduses and to protect refugees and internally displaced persons, and expressing its deep concern at the lack of respect for those laws and principles, especially during armed conflict, including the denial of safe and unimpeded access to the displaced, Reaffirming the primary responsibility of States to ensure the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons, Noting with satisfaction the efforts of the United Nations system to develop a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes and effects of movements of refugees and other displaced persons and strengthening emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, Recognizing that the human rights machinery of the United Nations, including the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the human rights treaty bodies, has important capabilities to address human rights violations that cause movements of refugees and displaced persons or prevent durable solutions to their plight, Taking note of the work in progress of the United Nations system to clarify the role of the United Nations in post-conflict transition situations, including mass exodus situations, Recognizing the complementarity between the systems for the protection of human rights and for humanitarian action, in particular the mandates of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and that cooperation between them, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as coordination between the human rights, humanitarian, development, political and security components of the United Nations system, makes important contributions to the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons forced into mass exodus and displacement, Acknowledging with appreciation the important and independent work of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian agencies in protecting and assisting refugees and internally displaced persons, in cooperation with relevant international bodies, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/186. 2. Strongly deplores ethnic and other forms of intolerance as one of the major causes of forced migratory movements, and urges States to take all necessary steps to ensure respect for human rights, especially the rights of persons belonging to minorities; 3. Reaffirms the need for all Governments, intergovernmental bodies and relevant international organizations to intensify their cooperation and assistance in worldwide efforts to address human rights situations that lead to, as well as the serious protection and assistance problems that result from, mass exoduses of refugees and displaced persons; 4. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to the consolidation and strengthening of emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, including early warning activities in the humanitarian area, so that, inter alia, effective action is taken to identify all human rights abuses that contribute to mass exoduses of persons; 5. Encourages States that have not already done so to consider acceding to the 1951 ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. relating to the Status of Refugees and to other relevant regional instruments concerning refugees, as applicable, and relevant international instruments of human rights and humanitarian law, to take appropriate measures to disseminate and implement those instruments domestically, to encourage compliance with provisions against arbitrary and forcible displacement and greater respect for the rights of those who flee and, as appropriate, to address the situation of the forcibly displaced in their reports to the human rights treaty bodies; 6. Calls upon States to ensure the effective protection of refugees by, inter alia, respecting the principle of non-refoulement, emphasizes the responsibility of all States and international organizations to cooperate with those countries, particularly developing countries, which are affected by mass exoduses of refugees and displaced persons, and also calls upon all relevant international and non-governmental organizations to continue to respond to the assistance and protection needs of refugees and displaced persons, including through the promotion of durable solutions to their plight; 7. Urges States to uphold the civilian and humanitarian character of refugee camps and settlements, consistent with international law, inter alia, through effective measures to prevent the infiltration of armed elements, to identify and separate any such armed elements from refugee populations, to settle refugees at safe locations, where possible away from the border, and to afford prompt and unhindered access to them by humanitarian personnel; 8. Condemns all incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse and violence against refugees and internally displaced persons, encourages Governments to adopt and implement initiatives aimed at preventing, and at addressing allegations of, sexual exploitation and abuse in emergency situations, and calls upon all relevant United Nations agencies to ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of the Secretary-General's bulletin,ST/SGB/2003/13. the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Plan of Action on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian CrisesSee A/57/465, annex I. and other relevant codes of conduct; 9. Encourages the special rapporteurs, special representatives and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, acting within their mandates, to seek information, where appropriate, on human rights problems that may result in mass exoduses of populations or impede their voluntary return home, where appropriate, to include such information, together with recommendations thereon, in their reports and to bring such information to the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for appropriate action in fulfilment of his mandate, in consultation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; 10. Requests all United Nations bodies, acting within their mandates, the specialized agencies and governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with all mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and, in particular, to provide them with all relevant information in their possession on the human rights situations creating or affecting refugees and displaced persons, and to exchange such information among themselves, within their mandates, in order to encourage effective international responses; 11. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the exercise of his mandate, as set out in General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, and in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to pay particular attention to situations that cause or threaten to cause mass exoduses or displacements and to contribute to efforts to address such situations effectively and promote sustainable returns through promotion and protection measures, including human rights monitoring of those who have fled or returned as part of mass exoduses, emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, early warning and information-sharing, technical advice, expertise and cooperation in countries of origin as well as host countries; 12. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to contribute to the creation of a viable environment for the sustainable return of displaced persons in post-conflict societies, working in cooperation with the States concerned, through initiatives such as the rehabilitation of the justice system, the creation of national institutions capable of defending human rights and broad-based programmes of human rights education and the strengthening of local non-governmental organizations through field presences and programmes of advisory services and technical cooperation; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare and submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution as it pertains to all aspects of human rights and mass exoduses, with particular emphasis on the efforts of the United Nations system to enhance the protection of those who become displaced during mass exoduses, and to facilitate their return and reintegration, as well as information on efforts to continue to enhance the capacity of the United Nations to avert new flows of refugees and other displaced persons and to tackle the root causes of such flows; 14. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 58/16 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.7/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine 58/16. Responding to global threats and challenges The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/162 of 14 December 2000, 56/95 of 14 December 2001 and 57/144 of 16 December 2002 on the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit, and its resolution 57/145 of 16 December 2002, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the coordinating and leading role of the United Nations in establishing a cohesive and effective system for responding to global threats and challenges, and welcoming the ongoing efforts of Member States and the Secretary-General to this end, Recognizing the importance, in the context of implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. of a comprehensive approach aimed at addressing global threats and challenges in accordance with the Charter, international law and relevant international instruments, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Millennium DeclarationA/58/323. and the observations contained therein on ways and means to promote further, with the United Nations lead, a more comprehensive and coherent response to the global threats and challenges of the twenty-first century, Taking note of the letter dated 3 November 2003 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly regarding the establishment of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change,A/58/612. 1. Commends the increased interaction of Member States, the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and the international and regional organizations cooperating with the United Nations, aimed at countering various global threats and challenges, in particular those posed by international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, transnational organized crime, regional conflicts, poverty, unsustainable development, illicit drug trafficking, money-laundering, infectious diseases, environmental degradation, natural disasters, complex emergency situations and others; 2. Expresses its appreciation to Member States and relevant regional and other organizations for submitting to the Secretary-General their contributions on the issues referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 57/145; 3. Encourages the United Nations, its Member States, the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations to continue their efforts towards establishing a comprehensive and effective strategy for responding to global threats and challenges; 4. Welcomes the establishment by the Secretary-General of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change to make recommendations for the elements of a collective action, and expresses its readiness to consider as a matter of priority at its fifty-ninth session the recommendations of the Secretary-General thereon. RESOLUTION 58/170 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 58/170. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recalling its adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its resolution 57/224 of 18 December 2002, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/60 of 24 April 2003 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, and recalling its decision to proclaim 2001 the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, as well as its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, entitled "Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations", Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 2000/22 of 18 August 2000, on the promotion of dialogue on human rights issues, by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-second session,See E/CN.4/2001/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/46, chap. II, sect. A. 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Recognizes that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their individual societies, States have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level; 3. Reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard the holding of conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on dialogue among civilizations; 4. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 6. Considers that international cooperation in this field, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 8. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 9. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 10. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/171 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 125 to 53, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 58/171. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 57/222 of 18 December 2002, and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/17 of 22 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,E/CN.4/2000/46 and Add.1. submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 52/120 of 12 December 1997A/53/293 and Add.1. and 55/110 of 4 December 2000,A/56/207 and Add.1. Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and, in this regard, reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, called upon States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. I, para. 31. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda, adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing its grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women and children, including adolescents, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly and recent major United Nations conferences, and contrary to general international law and the Charter, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Noting the continuing efforts of the open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, and reaffirming in particular its criteria, according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. 1. Urges all States to refrain from adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Also urges all States to take steps to avoid and to refrain from adopting any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being and their right to food, medical care and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 3. Invites all States to consider adopting administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 4. Rejects unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, because of their negative effects on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 5. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest time possible; 6. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 7. Urges the Commission on Human Rights to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, including the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 8. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging his functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in his annual report to the General Assembly; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, highlighting the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 10. Decides to examine this question on a priority basis at its fifty-ninth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 58/172 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 173 to 3, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Sweden 58/172. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Stressing the need for undertaking urgent measures to implement the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences and summits and their review processes, which are paramount in the process of the realization of the right to development, Taking note of the outcome of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,A/C.2/56/7, annex. Recalling that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Recalling all its previous resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the urgent need to make further progress towards the realization of the right to development as set out in the Declaration on the Right to Development, Welcoming its adoption of the United Nations Convention against CorruptionResolution 58/4, annex. on 31 October 2003, Recalling the high-level plenary meetings of the General Assembly held on 22 September 2003 devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of its twenty-sixth special session and the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. Recalling also the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003, Reiterating its continuing support for the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as a development framework for Africa, Recognizing that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparity, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries, Stressing that poverty eradication is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development and that poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted and integrated approach in addressing economic, political, social, environmental and institutional dimensions at all levels, especially in the context of the millennium development goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Expressing regret that the Working Group on the Right to Development, at its fourth session, did not reach a conclusion, in particular on the implementation of the conclusions of the third session of the Working Group,E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. while aware of the views and observations of the Chairperson-Rapporteur,E/CN.4/2003/26 and Corr.1, annex I. 1. Endorses the conclusions of the third session of the Working Group on the Right to Development,E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. as adopted by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2002/69 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. which constitute a solid foundation for further initiatives towards the promotion and the realization of the right to development; 2. Requests the Working Group at its fifth session to revisit and build upon the conclusions of its third session in order to constructively and effectively fulfil its mandate, bearing in mind that the Working Group did not reach a conclusion at its fourth session; 3. Stresses the importance of the core principles contained in the conclusions of the third session of the Working Group, congruent with the purpose of international human rights instruments, such as equality, non-discrimination, accountability, participation and international cooperation, as critical to mainstreaming the right to development at the international level, and underlines the importance of the principles of equity and transparency; 4. Reaffirms the commitment to implement the goals and targets set out in all the outcome documents of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their review processes, in particular those relating to the realization of the right to development, recognizing that the realization of the right to development is critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in those outcome documents; 5. Reaffirms also that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 6. Stresses that the basic responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 7. Reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for the creation of national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development and their commitment to cooperating with each other to that end; 8. Reaffirms also the need for an international environment that is conducive to the realization of the right to development; 9. Stresses the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international and national levels, and calls upon States to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human right; 10. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and the international levels; 11. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of integrating all countries into a globalized world, and stresses the need for policies and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and equitable; 12. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the international community, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide, that developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 13. Reaffirms the commitment, and urges developed countries that have not yet done so, to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets; 14. Recognizes the need to address market access for developing countries, including in respect of agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those of interest to developing countries; 15. Considers that a desirable pace of meaningful trade liberalization, including in areas under negotiation; implementation of commitments on implementation-related issues and concerns; review of special and differential-treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational; avoidance of new forms of protectionism; and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing countries are important issues in making progress towards the effective implementation of the right to development; 16. Underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting the target set in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015, and emphasizes the principle of international cooperation, including partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries towards achieving the goal; 17. Recognizes the important link between the international economic, commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development, stresses, in this regard, the need to broaden the base of decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and to fill organizational gaps, as well as strengthen the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 18. Recognizes also that good governance and the rule of law at the national level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance; 19. Recognizes further the important role and the rights of women and the application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship between women's education and their equal participation in the civil, cultural, economic, political and social activities of the community and the promotion of the right to development; 20. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, girls and boys alike, in all policies and programmes, and for ensuring the protection and promotion of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the full development of their capacities; 21. Stresses also that further and additional measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts and programmes, and reiterates the need for international assistance in this regard; 22. Recognizes the need for strong partnerships with civil society organizations and the private sector in pursuit of poverty eradication and development, as well as for good corporate governance; 23. Emphasizes the urgent need for taking concrete measures to fight against all forms of corruption at the national and international levels, to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery, stresses the importance of a genuine political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal framework, and in this context urges States to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against CorruptionResolution 58/4, annex. as soon as possible; 24. Looks forward to the consideration by the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session of the concept document to be prepared by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights establishing options for the implementation of the right to development and their feasibility; 25. Emphasizes the need to strengthen further the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and realization of the right to development, including ensuring effective use of the financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate and better servicing of and support for the Working Group on the Right to Development; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of the High Commissioner effectively assists in implementing the recommendations contained in the conclusions of the third session of the Working Group on the Right to Development,E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. and to ensure also the meaningful participation and contribution of all relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, the specialized agencies and international organizations in the next session of the Working Group; 27. Calls upon the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies, to mainstream the right to development in their operational programmes and objectives, and stresses the need for the international financial and multilateral trading systems to mainstream the right to development in their policies and objectives; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations; 29. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session and an interim report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and realization of the right to development. RESOLUTION 58/173 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 174 to 2, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Czech Republic, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58/173. The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Reaffirming also that the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is a human right, and that such right derives from the inherent dignity of the human person, Recalling that, according to the Constitution of the World Health Organization,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 14, No. 221. health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, Recognizing the need to progressively achieve the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Recalling the relevant provisions of declarations and programmes of action adopted by the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions and at their follow-up meetings, in particular the four health-related development goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Noting Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/28 of 22 April 2003See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and all previous resolutions adopted by the Commission concerning the realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Welcoming the adoption of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by the fifty-sixth World Health Assembly, on 21 May 2003,See World Health Organization, Fifty-sixth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 19-28 May 2003, Resolutions and Decisions, Annexes (WHA56/2003/REC/1), resolution 56.1, annex. Recognizing the important contribution of all regional and subregional intergovernmental initiatives regarding HIV/AIDS, including those aimed at strengthening horizontal technical cooperation and encouraging best practices, Aware that for millions of people throughout the world the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health still remains a distant goal and that, in many cases, especially for those living in poverty, this goal is becoming increasingly remote, Recognizing the need for States, in cooperation with international organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to create favourable conditions at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the full and effective realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Recognizing also, in this regard, the important role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and in particular that of people living with HIV/AIDS, in the fight against this pandemic, Recognizing further the indispensable role that health professionals play in the promotion and protection of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Welcoming the initiatives by the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations bodies and programmes, including the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, as well as public-private partnership initiatives, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which contribute to improvements in addressing health issues worldwide, including in developing countries, while noting that further progress should be achieved in this regard, including in the mobilization of resources, Concerned about the interrelationships between poverty and the realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and in particular about the fact that ill health can be both a cause and a consequence of poverty, Considering that sexual and reproductive health are integral elements of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Recalling the Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) and Public Health adopted at the Fourth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001,WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and welcoming the World Trade Organization General Council decision of 30 August 2003 on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Declaration,WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 1. Urges States to take steps, individually and through international assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum extent of their available resources, with a view to achieving progressively, by all appropriate means, the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including, in particular, the adoption of legislative measures; 2. Calls upon the international community to continue to assist the developing countries in promoting the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including through financial and technical support as well as training of personnel, while recognizing that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting all human rights rests with States; 3. Calls upon States to guarantee that the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health will be exercised without discrimination of any kind; 4. Reaffirms that the achievement of the highest attainable level of health is a most important worldwide social goal, the realization of which requires action on the part of many other social and economic sectors in addition to the health sector; 5. Affirms that good governance at all levels, sound economic policies and solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people are also key to the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 6. Calls upon States to pay special attention to the situation of vulnerable groups, including by the adoption of positive measures, in order to safeguard the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 7. Also calls upon States to place a gender perspective at the centre of all policies and programmes affecting women's health; 8. Further calls upon States to protect and promote sexual and reproductive health as integral elements of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 9. Invites States to consider signing and ratifying the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control;See World Health Organization, Fifty-sixth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 19-28 May 2003, Resolutions and Decisions, Annexes (WHA56/2003/REC/1), resolution 56.1, annex. 10. Takes note with interest of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;E/CN.4/2003/58. 11. Also takes note with interest of the approach proposed by the Special Rapporteur to encompass the responsibilities of States at all levels in his future work on how to evaluate the progressive realization of the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and of his efforts to apply this approach to specialized areas of health care, such as essential medicines, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, children's health and water and sanitation; 12. Welcomes the special attention given by the Special Rapporteur to the identification of good practices for the effective implementation of the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 13. Recognizes the need for further international cooperation and research to promote the development of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tools for diseases causing a heavy burden in developing countries, and stresses the need to support developing countries in their efforts in this regard, taking into account that the failure of market forces to address such diseases has a direct negative impact on the progressive realization in these countries of the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 14. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the necessary resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur from within existing resources; 15. Calls upon Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the implementation of his mandate, to provide all information requested and to respond promptly to his communications; 16. Notes the request of the Commission on Human Rights to the Special Rapporteur to submit annually a report to the Commission and an interim report to the General Assembly on the activities performed under his mandate; 17. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue consideration of this matter at its sixtieth session under the same agenda item. RESOLUTION 58/174 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 120 to 42, with 18 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Cyprus, Fiji, Israel, Japan, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic 58/174. Human rights and terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United NationsResolution 2625 (XXV), annex. and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. as well as the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism,Resolution 49/60, annex. Recalling also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as its linkage in some countries to drug trafficking, are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity and the security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/2. Recalling, in this regard, the reference in the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration to the fact that terrorism itself is a violation of human rights and must be combated as such and that efforts at combating it must be pursued, however, in full compliance with established international norms,See A/58/323, para. 28. Recalling also its resolutions 48/122 of 20 December 1993, 49/185 of 23 December 1994, 50/186 of 22 December 1995, 52/133 of 12 December 1997, 54/109 and 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 54/164 of 17 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000, 56/160 of 19 December 2001 and 57/219 and 57/220 of 18 December 2002, Recalling in particular that, in its resolution 52/133, it requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the implications of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations for the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling previous resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, Bearing in mind also relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware that, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, the world is witness to historic and far-reaching transformations, in the course of which forces of aggressive nationalism and religious and ethnic extremism continue to produce fresh challenges, Alarmed that acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations aimed at the destruction of human rights have continued despite national and international efforts, Bearing in mind that the right to life is the basic human right, without which a human being can exercise no other right, Bearing in mind also that terrorism creates an environment that destroys the right of people to live in freedom from fear, Reiterating that all States have an obligation to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to ensure effective implementation of their obligations under international law, Seriously concerned about the gross violations of human rights perpetrated by terrorist groups, Expressing its deepest sympathy and condolences to all the victims of terrorism and their families, Alarmed in particular at the possibility that terrorist groups may exploit new technologies to facilitate acts of terrorism, which may cause massive damage, including huge loss of human life, Emphasizing the need to intensify the fight against terrorism at the national level, to enhance effective international cooperation in combating terrorism in conformity with international law, including relevant State obligations under international human rights and international humanitarian law, and to strengthen the role of the United Nations in this respect, Emphasizing also that States shall deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts or provide safe havens, Reaffirming that all measures to counter terrorism must be in strict conformity with international law, including international human rights standards and obligations, Mindful of the need to protect the human rights of and guarantees for the individual in accordance with the relevant human rights principles and instruments, in particular the right to life, Noting the growing consciousness within the international community of the negative effects of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations on the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and on the establishment of the rule of law and democratic freedoms as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the International Covenants on Human Rights, Noting also the developments that have occurred since its fifty-sixth session, on addressing the issue of human rights and terrorism at the national, regional and international levels, 1. Reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and security of States, destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, undermining pluralistic civil society and having adverse consequences for the economic and social development of States; 2. Strongly condemns the violations of the right to life, liberty and security; 3. Profoundly deplores the increasing number of innocent persons, including women, children and the elderly, killed, massacred and maimed by terrorists in indiscriminate and random acts of violence and terror, which cannot be justified in any circumstances; 4. Expresses its solidarity with the victims of terrorism; 5. Reaffirms the decision of the heads of State and Government, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to take concerted action against international terrorism and to accede as soon as possible to all the relevant regional and international conventions; 6. Urges the international community to enhance cooperation at the regional and international levels in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in accordance with relevant international instruments, including those relating to human rights, with the aim of its eradication; 7. Calls upon States to take all necessary and effective measures, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law, including international human rights standards, to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever it is committed, and also calls upon States to strengthen, where appropriate, their legislation to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 8. Urges all States to deny safe haven to terrorists; 9. Calls upon States to take appropriate measures, in conformity with relevant provisions of national and international law, including international human rights standards, before granting refugee status, for the purpose of ensuring that an asylum-seeker has not planned, facilitated or participated in the commission of terrorist acts, including assassinations, and in this context urges those States that have granted refugee status or asylum to persons involved in or claiming to have committed acts of terrorism to review those situations; 10. Condemns the incitement to ethnic hatred, violence and terrorism; 11. Stresses that every person, regardless of nationality, race, sex, religion or any other distinction, has a right to protection from terrorism and terrorist acts; 12. Expresses concern about the growing connection between terrorist groups and other criminal organizations engaged in the illegal traffic in arms and drugs at the national and international levels, as well as the consequent commission of serious crimes such as murder, extortion, kidnapping, assault, the taking of hostages and robbery, and requests the relevant United Nations bodies to continue to give special attention to this question; 13. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on human rights and terrorism,A/58/533. and requests him to continue to seek the views of Member States on the implications of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations for the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and on the possible establishment of a voluntary fund for the victims of terrorism, as well as on ways and means to rehabilitate the victims of terrorism and to reintegrate them into society, with a view to incorporating his findings in his report to the General Assembly; 14. Decides to consider this question at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/175 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela and Zambia. 58/175. National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights concerning national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Welcoming the rapidly growing interest throughout the world in the creation and strengthening of independent, pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Convinced of the important role that such national institutions play and will continue to play in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and in developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights and freedoms, Recognizing that the United Nations has played an important role and should continue to play a more important role in assisting the development of national institutions, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June l993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reaffirmed the important and constructive role played by national human rights institutions, in particular in their advisory capacity to the competent authorities and their role in remedying human rights violations, in disseminating information on human rights and in education in human rights, Recalling also the Beijing Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. in which Governments were urged to create or strengthen independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the human rights of women, Noting the diverse approaches adopted throughout the world for the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level, emphasizing the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights, and emphasizing and recognizing the value of such approaches in promoting universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling the programme of action adopted by national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, meeting in Vienna from 14 to 16 June 1993See A/CONF.157/NI/6. during the World Conference on Human Rights, in which it was recommended that United Nations activities and programmes should be reinforced to meet the requests for assistance from States wishing to establish or strengthen their national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Noting the valuable role played and contributions made by national institutions in United Nations meetings dealing with human rights and the importance of their continued appropriate participation, Welcoming the strengthening in all regions of regional cooperation among national human rights institutions and between national human rights institutions and other regional human rights forums, Noting with appreciation the existence of the regional human rights networks in Europe and Africa, the continuing work of the Network of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Americas and the work of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, Welcoming the strengthening of international cooperation among national human rights institutions, including through the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/261. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the development of effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights ("the Paris Principles"), contained in the annex to resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993; 3. Reiterates, on the tenth anniversary of their recognition by the General Assembly, the continued importance of the Paris Principles, recognizes the value of further strengthening their application, where appropriate, and encourages States, national institutions and other interested parties to consider ways to achieve this; 4. Recognizes that, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. it is the right of each State to choose the framework for national institutions that is best suited to its particular needs at the national level in order to promote human rights in accordance with international human rights standards; 5. Encourages Member States to establish or, where they already exist, to strengthen national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, as outlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; 6. Welcomes the growing number of States establishing or considering the establishment of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; 7. Encourages national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights established by Member States to continue to play an active role in preventing and combating all violations of human rights as enumerated in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and relevant international instruments; 8. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of those States that have provided their national institutions with more autonomy and independence, including by giving them an investigative role or enhancing such a role, and encourages other Governments to consider taking similar steps; 9. Reaffirms the role of national institutions, where they exist, as appropriate agencies, inter alia, for the dissemination of human rights materials and other public information activities, including those of the United Nations, in particular in the context of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004; 10. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions as part of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights; 11. Commends the high priority given by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to work on national institutions, encourages the High Commissioner, in view of the expanded activities relating to national institutions, to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made and budgetary resources provided to continue and further extend activities in support of national human rights institutions, and invites Governments to contribute additional funds to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights for that purpose; 12. Welcomes the establishment of a national institutions web sitewww.nhri.net (National Human Rights Institutions Forum). as an important vehicle for the delivery of information to national institutions and for sharing best practice, and further notes with satisfaction the intention of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to publish a compendium of national legislation relevant to national institutions; 13. Notes with appreciation the increasingly active and important role of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, as recognized in Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/54 of 4 March l994,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994, Supplement No. 4 and corrigendum (E/1994/24 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. in close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in assisting Governments and national institutions, when requested, to follow up on relevant resolutions and recommendations concerning the strengthening of national institutions; 14. Also notes with appreciation the holding of regular meetings of the International Coordinating Committee and the arrangements for the participation of national human rights institutions in the annual sessions of the Commission on Human Rights; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary assistance for holding meetings of the International Coordinating Committee during the sessions of the Commission on Human Rights, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 16. Welcomes the continuation of the practice of national institutions convening regional meetings in some regions, and its initiation in others, and encourages national institutions, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to organize similar events with Governments and non-governmental organizations in their own regions; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide, including from the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation, the necessary assistance for holding international and regional meetings of national institutions; 18. Recognizes the important and constructive role that non-governmental organizations may play, in cooperation with national institutions, for better promotion and protection of human rights; 19. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have contributed additional resources for the purpose of the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions; 20. Encourages all Member States to take appropriate steps to promote the exchange of information and experience concerning the establishment and effective operation of national institutions; 21. Encourages all United Nations entities, funds and agencies to work in close cooperation with national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/176 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principe. 58/176. Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/105 of 4 December 2000 concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also its resolutions 55/34 B of 20 November 2000 and 55/233 of 23 December 2000 and section III of its resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000, Recalling further that the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that more resources be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 36 and corrigendum (A/56/36 and Corr.1 and Add.1). Taking note of the holding of the twentieth ministerial meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, in Malabo, from 27 to 31 October 2003, 1. Welcomes the activities of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé; 2. Notes with satisfaction the support provided for the establishment of the Centre by the host country; 3. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide their full assistance for the proper functioning of the Centre; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/177 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 58/177. Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons The General Assembly, Deeply disturbed by the alarmingly high numbers of internally displaced persons throughout the world, for reasons including armed conflict, violations of human rights and natural or human-made disasters, who receive inadequate protection and assistance, and conscious of the serious challenges that this is creating for the international community, Conscious of the human rights and the humanitarian dimensions of the problem of internally displaced persons and the responsibilities of States and the international community to strengthen further their protection and assistance, Emphasizing that States have the primary responsibility to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction as well as to address the root causes of the displacement problem in cooperation with the international community, Noting the growing awareness of the international community of the issue of internally displaced persons worldwide and the urgency of addressing the root causes of their displacement and finding durable solutions, including voluntary return in safety and with dignity, or local integration, Recalling the relevant norms of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, and recognizing that the protection of internally displaced persons has been strengthened by identifying, reaffirming and consolidating specific standards for their protection, in particular through the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. Emphasizing the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, and welcoming initiatives taken in order to ensure better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, as well as better coordination of activities regarding them, Commending the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons for the activities undertaken so far, for the catalytic role that he plays in raising the level of consciousness about the plight of internally displaced persons and for his efforts to promote a comprehensive strategy that focuses on prevention as well as better protection and assistance and addressing the development needs of internally displaced persons, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/51 of 23 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. regarding the need to develop global strategies to address the problem of internal displacement, Deploring practices of forced displacement and their negative consequences for the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by large groups of populations, and noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. defines the deportation or forcible transfer of population as a crime against humanity and the unlawful deportation or transfer of the civilian population, as well as ordering the displacement of the civilian population, as war crimes, Noting the increasing dissemination, promotion and application of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement when dealing with situations of internal displacement, Welcoming the cooperation established between the Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, and encouraging further strengthening of this collaboration in order to promote better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, Acknowledging with appreciation the important and independent contribution of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian agencies in protecting and assisting internally displaced persons, in cooperation with relevant international bodies, Recalling its resolution 56/164 of 19 December 2001, 1. Welcomes the report of the Representative of the Secretary-General on internally displaced persons;See A/58/393. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have provided protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and have supported the work of the Representative of the Secretary-General; 3. Encourages the Representative of the Secretary- General, through continuous dialogue with Governments and all intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, to continue his analysis of the causes of internal displacement, the needs and rights of those displaced, measures of prevention and ways to strengthen protection, assistance and solutions for internally displaced persons, taking into account specific situations, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 4. Expresses particular concern at the grave problems faced by many internally displaced women and children, including violence and abuse, sexual exploitation, forced recruitment and abduction, and welcomes the commitment of the Representative of the Secretary-General to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to their particular assistance, protection and development needs, as well as to other groups with special needs such as older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000; 5. Notes with appreciation the increasing role of national human rights institutions in assisting internally displaced persons and in promoting and protecting their human rights; 6. Notes the importance of taking the human rights and the specific protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons into consideration, when appropriate, in peace processes and reintegration and rehabilitation processes; 7. Expresses its appreciation of the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. as an important tool for dealing with situations of internal displacement, welcomes the fact that an increasing number of States, United Nations agencies and regional and non-governmental organizations are applying them as a standard, and encourages all relevant actors to make use of the Guiding Principles when dealing with situations of internal displacement; 8. Welcomes the fact that the Representative of the Secretary-General continues to use the Guiding Principles in his dialogue with Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors, and requests him to continue his efforts to further the dissemination, promotion and application of the Guiding Principles; 9. Urges all Governments to continue to facilitate the activities of the Representative of the Secretary-General, in particular Governments with situations of internal displacement, and to give serious consideration to inviting the Representative to visit their countries so as to enable him to study and analyse more fully the issues involved, and thanks those Governments that have already done so; 10. Invites Governments to give serious consideration, in dialogue with the Representative of the Secretary-General, to the recommendations and suggestions addressed to them, in accordance with his mandate, and to inform him of measures taken thereon; 11. Calls upon Governments to provide protection and assistance, including reintegration and development assistance, to internally displaced persons, and to facilitate the efforts of relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations in these respects, including by further improving access to internally displaced persons; 12. Emphasizes the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, notes the work of the Internal Displacement Unit within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, and encourages further strengthening of the collaboration with the Representative of the Secretary-General in line with the memorandum of understanding of 17 April 2002 between the Representative and the Emergency Relief Coordinator; 13. Emphasizes also the need to strengthen further inter-agency arrangements and the capacities of the United Nations agencies and other relevant actors to meet the immense humanitarian challenges of internal displacement, and underlines in this regard the importance of an effective, accountable and predictable collaborative approach; 14. Encourages all relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian assistance, human rights and development organizations to enhance further their collaboration and coordination, through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and in countries with situations of internal displacement, and to provide all possible assistance and support to the Representative of the Secretary-General; 15. Notes with appreciation the increased attention paid to the issue of internally displaced persons in the consolidated inter-agency appeals process, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 16. Recognizes the relevance of the global database on internally displaced persons advocated by the Representative of the Secretary-General, and encourages the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and Governments to continue to collaborate and support this effort, including by providing relevant data on situations of internal displacement and financial resources; 17. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by regional organizations, such as the African Union, the Organization of American States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Economic Community of West African States, to address the protection, assistance and development needs of internally displaced persons, and encourages them and other regional organizations to strengthen their activities and their cooperation with the Representative of the Secretary-General; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide his Representative, from within existing resources, with all necessary assistance to carry out his mandate effectively, and encourages the Representative to continue to seek the contributions of States, relevant organizations and institutions in order to create a more stable basis for his work; 19. Requests the Representative of the Secretary- General to prepare, for consideration by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 58/178 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela. 58/178. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, annexed to that resolution, Reiterating the importance of the Declaration, and stressing the importance of its wide dissemination, Recalling all previous resolutions on this subject, in particular its resolution 57/209 of 18 December 2002 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/64 of 24 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting with deep concern that, in many countries, persons and organizations engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities, Gravely concerned by the human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, Recalling that human rights defenders are entitled to equal protection of the law, and deeply concerned about any abuse of civil or criminal proceedings against them because of their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Concerned by the considerable number of communications received by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the special procedure mechanisms, indicate the serious nature of the risks faced by human rights defenders, in particular those active at the local and community levels, and the severe consequences for women human rights defenders and defenders of rights of persons belonging to minorities, Noting with deep concern that, in a number of countries in all regions of the world, impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on their work and safety, Emphasizing the important role that individuals, non-governmental organizations and groups play in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in combating impunity and in promoting, strengthening and preserving democracy, Recalling that, under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. certain rights are recognized as non-derogable, and emphasizing that derogation from other rights and freedoms can take place only under strict observance of the agreed conditions and procedures identified under article 4 of the Covenant, Gravely concerned that, in some instances, national security and counter-terrorism legislation and other measures have been misused to target human rights defenders or have hindered their work and safety in a manner contrary to international law, Acknowledging the significant work conducted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General during the first three years of her mandate, Welcoming the cooperation between the Special Representative and other special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, Welcoming also regional initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights and the cooperation between international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, and encouraging further development in this regard, Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights rests with the State, and noting with deep concern that the activities of some non-State actors pose a major threat to the security of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the need for strong and effective measures for the protection of human rights defenders, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give full effect to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, including by taking, as appropriate, practical steps to that end; 2. Welcomes the reports of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights defendersE/CN.4/2001/94 and E/CN.4/2002/106 and Add.1 and 2; see also A/56/341 and A/57/182. and her contribution to the effective promotion of the Declaration and the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders worldwide; 3. Encourages all States to ensure and maintain an environment conducive to the work of human rights defenders; 4. Condemns all human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, and urges States to take all appropriate action, consistent with the Declaration and all other relevant human rights instruments, to eliminate such human rights violations; 5. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders, at both the local and the national levels; 6. Urges States to ensure that any measures to combat terrorism and preserve national security comply with their obligations under international law, in particular under international human rights law, and do not hinder the work and safety of human rights defenders; 7. Emphasizes the importance of combating impunity, and in this regard urges States to take appropriate measures to address the question of impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders; 8. Urges all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative in the performance of her tasks and to furnish all information in the fulfilment of her mandate upon request; 9. Calls upon Governments to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Representative to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Representative with respect to the follow-up to her recommendations, so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively; 10. Urges those Governments that have not yet responded to the communications transmitted to them by the Special Representative to answer without further delay; 11. Invites Governments to consider translating the Declaration into national languages, and encourages them to disseminate it widely; 12. Requests all concerned United Nations agencies and organizations, within their mandates, to provide all possible assistance and support to the Special Representative in the implementation of her programme of activities; 13. Invites relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, within their mandates and working in cooperation with States, to give due consideration to the Declaration and to the reports of the Special Representative, and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to draw the attention of all relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, to the reports of the Special Representative; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Representative with all necessary human, material and financial resources in order to enable her to continue to carry out her mandate effectively, including through country visits; 15. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/179 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 181 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 58/179. Access to medication in the context of pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Reaffirming also that the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is a human right, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2001/33 of 23 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2002/32 of 22 April 2002Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2003/29 of 22 April 2003,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Acknowledging that prevention and comprehensive care and support, including treatment and access to medication for those infected and affected by pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, are inseparable elements of an effective response and must be integrated into a comprehensive approach to respond to such pandemics, Stressing the importance of fully implementing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, "Global Crisis - Global Action",Resolution S-26/2, annex. and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/184. Welcoming the continuing political commitment demonstrated at the high-level plenary meetings of the General Assembly devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of its twenty-sixth special session and the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, "Global Crisis - Global Action", held on 22 September 2003, Expressing its support for the work of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and that of other international bodies combating such pandemics, Bearing in mind World Health Assembly resolutions WHA55.12 and WHA55.14, both of 18 May 2002,See World Health Organization, Fifty-fifth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 13-18 May 2002, Resolutions and Decisions, Annexes (WHA55/2002/REC/1). and WHA56.30 of 28 May 2003,Ibid., Fifty-sixth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 19-28 May 2003, Resolutions and Decisions, Annexes (WHA56/2003/REC/1). Bearing in mind also the International Labour Organization Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work, adopted by the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization in June 2001,ILO/AIDS/2001/2. Taking note of general comment No. 14 (2000) on the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health (article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), adopted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at its twenty-second session,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 2 (E/2001/22), annex IV. Taking note also of general comment No. 3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child, adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child at its thirty-second session,CRC/GC/2003/3. Alarmed that the HIV/AIDS pandemic claimed 3.1 million lives in 2002, that about 42 million people were living with HIV by the end of 2002 and that 25 million children under the age of 15, including 20 million in Africa, are projected to lose one or both parents by 2010 owing to HIV/AIDS, Fully aware that the failure to deliver antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS to the millions of people who need it is a global health emergency, Recalling its resolution 57/294 of 20 December 2002, entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa", Alarmed that, according to the global Roll Back Malaria Partnership, malaria annually causes more than 1 million deaths, around 90 per cent of which are in Africa, that it is the leading cause of death in young children and that it causes at least 300 million cases of acute illness each year, Also alarmed that, according to the World Health Organization global tuberculosis control report of 2003,WHO/CDS/TB/2003/316. tuberculosis kills about 2 million people each year, that 7 to 8 million people around the world become sick with tuberculosis each year and that it is projected that 36 million people will die of tuberculosis between 2002 and 2020 if control is not further strengthened, Acknowledging the significance of HIV/AIDS in the increase in tuberculosis and other opportunistic diseases, Welcoming the initiatives of the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations agencies, States and civil society, including the private sector, to make drugs related to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria more accessible and affordable to infected persons, especially in developing countries, and noting that much more could be done in this regard, Recalling the Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) and Public Health adopted at the Fourth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001,WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and welcoming the World Trade Organization General Council decision of 30 August 2003 on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Declaration,WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Recognizing that the spread of HIV/AIDS can have a uniquely devastating impact on all sectors and levels of society, and stressing that the HIV/AIDS pandemic, if unchecked, may pose a risk to stability and security, as stated in Security Council resolution 1308 (2000) of 17 July 2000, Emphasizing, in view of the increasing challenges presented by pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, the need for intensified efforts to ensure universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including by reducing vulnerability to pandemics such as HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and by preventing related discrimination and stigma, 1. Recognizes that access to medication in the context of pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria is one fundamental element for achieving progressively the full realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; 2. Welcomes the commitment of the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to work with the international community to support developing countries in achieving the global target of providing antiretroviral medicines to 3 million people infected with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2005, the "3 by 5" target; 3. Takes note with interest of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health;See A/58/427. 4. Calls upon States to develop and implement national strategies, in accordance with applicable international law, including international agreements acceded to, to progressively realize access for all to prevention-related goods, services and information as well as access to comprehensive treatment, care and support for all individuals infected and affected by pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; 5. Also calls upon States to establish or strengthen national health and social infrastructures and health-care systems, with the assistance of the international community as necessary, for the effective delivery of prevention, treatment, care and support to respond to pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria; 6. Further calls upon States to pursue policies, in accordance with applicable international law, including international agreements acceded to, which would promote: (a) The availability in sufficient quantities of pharmaceutical products and medical technologies used to treat pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria or the most common opportunistic infections that accompany them; (b) The accessibility and affordability for all, without discrimination, including the most vulnerable or socially disadvantaged groups of the population, of pharmaceutical products or medical technologies used to treat pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria or the most common opportunistic infections that accompany them; (c) The assurance that pharmaceutical products or medical technologies used to treat pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria or the most common opportunistic infections that accompany them, irrespective of their sources and countries of origin, are scientifically and medically appropriate and of good quality; 7. Calls upon States, at the national level, on a non-discriminatory basis, in accordance with applicable international law, including international agreements acceded to: (a) To refrain from taking measures that would deny or limit equal access for all persons to preventive, curative or palliative pharmaceutical products or medical technologies used to treat pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria or the most common opportunistic infections that accompany them; (b) To adopt and implement legislation or other measures, in accordance with applicable international law, including international agreements acceded to, to safeguard access to such preventive, curative or palliative pharmaceutical products or medical technologies from any limitations by third parties; (c) To adopt all appropriate positive measures, to the maximum of the resources allocated for this purpose, to promote effective access to such preventive, curative or palliative pharmaceutical products or medical technologies; 8. Also calls upon States, in furtherance of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. to address factors affecting the provision of drugs related to the treatment of pandemics such as HIV/AIDS and the most common opportunistic infections that accompany them, as well as to develop integrated strategies to strengthen health-care systems, including voluntary counselling and testing, laboratory capacities and the training of health-care providers and technicians, in order to provide treatment and monitor the use of medications, diagnostics and related technologies; 9. Further calls upon States to take all appropriate measures, nationally and through cooperation, to promote the research and development of new and more effective preventive, curative or palliative pharmaceutical products and diagnostic tools, in accordance with applicable international law, including international agreements acceded to; 10. Calls upon States, at the international level, to take steps, individually and/or through international cooperation, in accordance with applicable international law, including international agreements acceded to, such as: (a) Facilitating, wherever possible, access in other countries to essential preventive, curative or palliative pharmaceutical products or medical technologies used to treat pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria or the most common opportunistic infections that accompany them, as well as extending the necessary cooperation, wherever possible, especially in times of emergency; (b) Ensuring that their actions, as members of international organizations, take due account of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and that the application of international agreements is supportive of public health policies that promote broad access to safe, effective and affordable preventive, curative or palliative pharmaceutical products or medical technologies; 11. Welcomes the financial contributions made to date to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, urges that further contributions be made to sustain the Fund, and calls upon all States to encourage the private sector to contribute to the Fund as a matter of urgency; 12. Calls upon the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to mobilize further resources to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic and upon all Governments to take measures to ensure that the necessary resources are made available to the Programme, in line with the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS; 13. Calls upon States to ensure that those at risk of contracting malaria, in particular pregnant women and children under 5 years of age, benefit from the most suitable combination of personal and community protective measures, such as insecticide-treated bed nets and other interventions that are accessible and affordable, in order to prevent infection and suffering; 14. Also calls upon States to provide the necessary support for the World Health Organization Roll Back Malaria and Stop Tuberculosis Partnerships in their ongoing measures to combat malaria and tuberculosis; 15. Calls upon the international community, in particular the developed countries, to continue to assist developing countries in the fight against pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, through financial and technical support as well as through the training of personnel; 16. Invites the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to give attention to the issue of access to medication in the context of pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and invites States to include appropriate information thereon in the reports they submit to the Committee. RESOLUTION 58/17 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.20 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Suriname, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States of America 58/17. Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Reaffirming the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 3026 A (XXVII) of 18 December 1972, 3148 (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973, 3187 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973, 3391 (XXX) of 19 November 1975, 31/40 of 30 November 1976, 32/18 of 11 November 1977, 33/50 of 14 December 1978, 34/64 of 29 November 1979, 35/127 and 35/128 of 11 December 1980, 36/64 of 27 November 1981, 38/34 of 25 November 1983, 40/19 of 21 November 1985, 42/7 of 22 October 1987, 44/18 of 6 November 1989, 46/10 of 22 October 1991, 48/15 of 2 November 1993, 50/56 of 11 December 1995, 52/24 of 25 November 1997, 54/190 of 17 December 1999 and 56/97 of 14 December 2001, Recalling also its resolution 56/8 of 21 November 2001, in which it proclaimed 2002 the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, Recalling further the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, adopted at The Hague on 14 May 1954,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, adopted in 1954 and 1999, Recalling the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, adopted on 14 November 1970 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Sixteenth Session, Paris, 12 October-14 November 1970, vol. 1: Resolutions. Recalling also the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted on 16 November 1972 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1037, No. 15511. Recalling further the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, adopted in Rome on 24 June 1995 by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law,Available from www.unidroit.org. Taking note of the adoption of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions. Recalling the Medellin Declaration for Cultural Diversity and Tolerance and the Plan of Action on Cultural Cooperation, adopted at the first Meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Medellin, Colombia, on 4 and 5 September 1997,A/52/432, annex I. Noting the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and the Action Plan for its implementation, adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions. Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General submitted in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See A/58/314. Aware of the importance attached by some countries of origin to the return of cultural property that is of fundamental spiritual and cultural value to them, so that they may constitute collections representative of their cultural heritage, Expressing concern about the illicit traffic in cultural property and its damage to the cultural heritage of nations, Expressing concern also about the loss, destruction, removal, theft, pillage, illicit movement or misappropriation of and any acts of vandalism or damage directed against cultural property, in particular in areas of armed conflict, including territories that are occupied, whether such conflicts are international or internal, Recalling Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), adopted on 22 May 2003, in particular paragraph 7 relating to the restitution of the cultural property of Iraq, 1. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation on the work they have accomplished, in particular through the promotion of bilateral negotiations, for the return or restitution of cultural property, the preparation of inventories of movable cultural property and the implementation of the Object-ID standard related thereto, as well as for the reduction of illicit traffic in cultural property and the dissemination of information to the public; 2. Calls upon all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations to work in coordination with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, within their mandates and in cooperation with Member States, in order to continue to address the issue of return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin and to provide appropriate support accordingly; 3. Welcomes the adoption of the Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage, adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 17 October 2003; 4. Reaffirms the importance of the principles and provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and invites Member States that have not already done so to become parties to the Convention and to promote its implementation; 5. Also reaffirms the importance of the Second Protocol to the Convention, adopted at The Hague on 26 March 1999, and invites all States Parties to the Convention to consider becoming parties to the Second Protocol; 6. Welcomes the most recent efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the protection of the cultural heritage of countries in conflict, including the safe return to those countries of cultural property and other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific and religious importance that have been illegally removed, and calls upon the international community to contribute to these efforts; 7. Invites Member States to consider adopting and implementing the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property;See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Sixteenth Session, Paris, 12 October-14 November 1970, vol. 1: Resolutions. 8. Urges Member States to introduce effective national and international measures to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, including special training for police, customs and border services; 9. Reaffirms the importance of the provisions of the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law,Available from www.unidroit.org. and invites Member States that have not already done so to consider becoming parties to it; 10. Invites Member States, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to continue to draw up systematic inventories of their cultural property, as well as to work towards the creation of a database of the cultural legislation of Member States, in particular in an electronic form; 11. Reaffirms the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to promote the use of identification systems, in particular the application of the Object-ID standard, and to encourage the linking of identification systems and existing databases, including the one developed by the International Criminal Police Organization-Interpol, to allow for the electronic transmission of information in order to reduce illicit trafficking in cultural property, and encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to make further efforts in this regard in cooperation with Member States, where appropriate; 12. Recognizes the public awareness and increased mobilization and action in favour of heritage values that was achieved in 2002, the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, and calls upon the international community and the United Nations to continue to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the basis of that work; 13. Welcomes the adoption of the International Code of Ethics for Dealers in Cultural Property by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 16 November 1999,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirtieth Session, Paris, 26 October-17 November 1999, vol. 1: Resolutions. and invites those who deal with trade in cultural property and their associations, where they exist, to encourage the implementation of the Code; 14. Recognizes the importance of the creation, by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, of the International Fund for the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation, launched in November 2000, and encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to promote the Fund and render it operational; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its efforts to bring about the attainment of the objectives of the present resolution; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin". RESOLUTION 58/180 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Venezuela. by a recorded vote of 169 to none, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Syrian Arab Republic, Viet Nam 58/180. Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 56/159 of 19 December 2001, Reaffirming that United Nations electoral assistance and support for the promotion of democratization are provided only at the specific request of the Member State concerned, Noting with satisfaction that increasing numbers of Member States are using elections as a peaceful means of discerning the will of the people, which builds confidence in representational governance and contributes to greater national peace and stability, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the principle that the will of the people, as expressed through periodic and genuine elections, shall be the basis of government authority, as well as the right freely to choose representatives through periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures, Noting with interest Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/36 of 23 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the need for strengthening democratic processes, electoral institutions and national capacity-building, including the capacity to administer fair elections, increase citizen participation and provide civic education in requesting countries in order to consolidate and regularize the achievements of previous elections and support subsequent elections, Welcoming the support provided by States to the electoral assistance activities of the United Nations, inter alia, through the provision of electoral experts, including electoral commission staff, and observers, as well as through contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation, Welcoming also the contributions made by international and regional organizations and also by non-governmental organizations to enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on United Nations activities aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization,A/58/212. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/212. 2. Commends the electoral assistance provided upon request to Member States by the United Nations, and requests that such assistance continue on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the evolving needs of requesting countries to develop, improve and refine their electoral institutions and processes, recognizing that the fundamental responsibility of organizing free and fair elections lies with Governments; 3. Requests the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in its role as coordinator of United Nations electoral assistance, to continue to inform Member States regularly about the requests received and the nature of any assistance provided; 4. Requests that the United Nations continue its efforts to ensure, before undertaking to provide electoral assistance to a requesting State, that there is adequate time to organize and carry out an effective mission for providing such assistance, including the provision of long-term technical cooperation, that conditions exist to allow a free and fair election and that the mission's results will be reported comprehensively and consistently; 5. Recommends that, throughout the time span of the entire electoral process, including before and after elections, as appropriate, based on needs assessment missions, the United Nations continue to provide technical advice and other assistance to requesting States and electoral institutions in order to help to strengthen their democratic processes; 6. Notes with appreciation additional efforts being made to enhance cooperation with other international, governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to facilitate more comprehensive and needs-specific responses to requests for electoral assistance, and encourages those organizations to share knowledge and experience in order to promote best practices in the assistance they provide and in the reporting they make on electoral processes, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations that have provided observers or technical experts in support of United Nations electoral assistance efforts; 7. Recalls the establishment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation, and calls upon Member States to consider contributing to the Fund; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the Electoral Assistance Division, to continue responding to the evolving nature of requests for assistance and the growing need for specific types of medium-term expert assistance aimed at supporting and strengthening the existing capacity of the requesting Government, in particular through enhancing the capacity of national electoral institutions; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Electoral Assistance Division with adequate human and financial resources to allow it to carry out its mandate, and to continue to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is able to respond, within its mandate and in close coordination with the Division, to the numerous and increasingly complex and comprehensive requests from Member States for advisory services; 10. Notes with satisfaction the comprehensive coordination between the Electoral Assistance Division and the United Nations Development Programme, and encourages further engagement of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in this context; 11. Requests the United Nations Development Programme to continue its governance assistance programmes in cooperation with other relevant organizations, in particular those that strengthen democratic institutions and linkages between civil society and Governments; 12. Reiterates the importance of reinforced coordination within and outside the United Nations system in this regard; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on the status of requests from Member States for electoral assistance, and on his efforts to enhance support by the Organization for the democratization process in Member States. RESOLUTION 58/181 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia. 58/181. United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004 The General Assembly, Guided by the fundamental and universal principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Reaffirming article 26 of the Universal Declaration, which states that "education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms", and recalling the provisions of other relevant international human rights instruments that reflect the aims of the article, Recalling the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights concerning the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, Believing that human rights education constitutes an important vehicle for the elimination of gender-based discrimination and for ensuring equal opportunities through the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, Convinced that human rights education should constitute a comprehensive, lifelong process by which all people learn respect for the dignity of others and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all societies, Convinced also that every woman, man and child, in order to realize their full human potential, must be made aware of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms and the corresponding responsibility of States, Recognizing that human rights education is essential to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and that carefully designed training, dissemination and information programmes can have a catalytic effect on national, regional and international initiatives to promote and protect human rights and prevent human rights violations, Convinced that human rights education contributes to a holistic concept of development consistent with the dignity of people of all ages, which contributes to the promotion of the rights of those in the most vulnerable segments of society, such as children, young persons, older persons, indigenous people, minorities, the rural and urban poor, migrant workers, refugees, persons with HIV/AIDS and disabled persons, Convinced also that the effectiveness of existing human rights education and public information activities would be enhanced by better coordination and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels, Recognizing the invaluable, creative and active role that non-governmental and community-based organizations play in the promotion and protection of human rights by disseminating information and engaging in human rights education, especially at the grass-roots level, Aware of the potential role of the private sector in human rights education through financial support for governmental and non-governmental activities as well as their own creative and effective initiatives, Noting with appreciation the efforts undertaken thus far by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and to increase information-sharing in the area of human rights education, Welcoming other United Nations public information activities in the field of human rights, Noting Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/70 of 25 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission requested the Office of the High Commissioner, jointly with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to report on the achievements and shortcomings of the current United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1. Notes with appreciation the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on education and public information activities in the field of human rights;See A/58/318. 2. Welcomes the steps taken by Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to implement the Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004,A/51/506/Add.1, appendix. and to develop public information activities in the field of human rights; 3. Urges all Governments to promote the development of comprehensive, participatory and sustainable national strategies for human rights education and to establish and strengthen in their education policies knowledge of human rights, in both its theoretical dimensions and its practical applications; 4. Also urges all Governments to intensify their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Plan of Action and, in particular, to implement the suggestions in relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights regarding possible activities to be included in national strategies for human rights education; 5. Encourages Governments to support further, through voluntary contributions, the education and public information efforts undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner within the framework of the Plan of Action; 6. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to support national capacities for human rights education and information through its technical cooperation programme in the field of human rights; 7. Urges the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to continue to utilize United Nations information centres for the timely dissemination of basic information, reference and audio-visual materials on human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Requests the High Commissioner to continue to coordinate and harmonize human rights education and information strategies and the implementation of the Plan of Action and the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights within the United Nations system, in cooperation with, inter alia, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Department of Public Information, and to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in the collection, use, processing, management and distribution of human rights information and educational materials, including through electronic means; 9. Encourages all relevant organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system to provide training in human rights for all United Nations personnel and officials; 10. Encourages the human rights treaty bodies, within their mandates, when examining reports of States parties, to consider the activities of States parties in the area of human rights education; 11. Encourages all relevant mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights to include systematically in their reports a specific section on human rights education, as relevant to their mandate, as well as to include human rights education as an item on the agenda of their annual meetings, with a view to strengthening their contribution to human rights education; 12. Calls upon international, regional and national non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations to develop human rights education programmes in implementing the Plan of Action; 13. Welcomes initiatives to include civil society, non-governmental organizations, children and youth in national delegations to United Nations meetings as an important component of human rights education; 14. Encourages Governments, regional organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to seek the cooperation of the private sector, development, trade and financial institutions and the media in developing human rights education strategies; 15. Encourages regional organizations to develop strategies for the wider distribution of materials on human rights education in all relevant languages and to maximize the participation of national entities in regional programmes on human rights education; 16. Requests the High Commissioner to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community and of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with human rights education and public information; 17. Decides to dedicate a plenary meeting during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2004, structured as an interactive dialogue to review the achievements of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and to discuss possible future activities for the enhancement of human rights education. RESOLUTION 58/182 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 58/182. Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, as well as its subsequent resolutions on the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, Considering that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contributes to political and social stability and peace and enriches the cultural diversity and heritage of society as a whole in the States in which such persons live, Concerned by the frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts concerning minorities and their often tragic consequences, and concerned also that persons belonging to minorities are particularly vulnerable to displacement, Recognizing that the effective promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities is a fundamental part of the promotion and protection of human rights, and acknowledging that measures in this area can also contribute significantly to conflict prevention, Emphasizing the role that national institutions can play in early warning for problems regarding minority situations, Emphasizing also the importance of human rights education as an effective tool to promote an inclusive society and understanding of and tolerance towards and among persons belonging to minorities, Acknowledging that the United Nations has an important role to play regarding the protection of minorities by, inter alia, taking due account of and giving effect to the Declaration, Noting that the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held its eighth and ninth sessions from 27 to 31 May 2002 and 12 to 16 May 2003, respectively, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/255. 2. Recognizes that respect for human rights and the promotion of understanding and tolerance by Governments as well as between and among minorities are central to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities; 3. Reaffirms the obligation of States to ensure that persons belonging to minorities may exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law, in accordance with the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,Resolution 47/135, annex. and as emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001; 4. Encourages States, in their follow-up to the World Conference, to include aspects relating to minorities in their national plans of action and, in this context, to take forms of multiple discrimination fully into account; 5. Urges States and the international community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as set out in the Declaration, including through the provision of adequate education and the facilitation of their participation in all aspects of the political, economic, social, religious and cultural life of society and in the economic progress and development of their country, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so; 6. Calls upon States to give special attention to the promotion and protection of the human rights of children belonging to minorities, taking into account that girls and boys may face different types of risks; 7. Urges States to take, as appropriate, all necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the Declaration, and appeals to States to cooperate bilaterally and multilaterally, in accordance with the Declaration, in order to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 8. Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to protect the cultural and religious sites of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 9. Calls upon the Secretary-General to make available, at the request of Governments concerned, qualified expertise on minority issues, including the prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities; 10. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote, within his mandate, the implementation of the Declaration, to continue to engage in a dialogue with Governments for that purpose and to disseminate widely the United Nations Guide for Minorities; 11. Requests the High Commissioner to continue his efforts to improve the coordination and cooperation among United Nations programmes and agencies on activities related to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities and to take the work of relevant regional organizations active in the field of human rights into account in his endeavours; 12. Welcomes the inter-agency consultation of the High Commissioner with United Nations programmes and agencies on minority issues, and calls upon those programmes and agencies to contribute actively to this process; 13. Invites the human rights treaty bodies, when considering reports submitted by States parties, as well as the reports of special representatives, special rapporteurs and working groups of the Commission on Human Rights, to continue to give attention, within their respective mandates, to situations and rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 14. Encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 15. Calls upon the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to implement fully its mandate with the involvement of a wide range of participants, inter alia, by recommending, on the basis of its findings, further measures, as appropriate, for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 16. Invites the High Commissioner to seek voluntary contributions to facilitate the effective participation, including through training seminars, in the work of the Working Group on Minorities of representatives of non-governmental organizations and persons belonging to minorities, in particular those from developing countries; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution and to continue to include examples of good practices in the field of education and of the effective participation of minorities in decision-making processes; 18. Decides to continue consideration of this question at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/183 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 58/183. Human rights in the administration of justice The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the principles embodied in articles 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols thereto,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. in particular article 6 of the Covenant, which states, inter alia, that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life and prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age, and article 10, which provides that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, Bearing in mind also the relevant provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. in particular the right to equal treatment before tribunals and all other organs administering justice, the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. in particular article 37, according to which every child deprived of liberty shall be treated in a manner that takes into account the needs of persons of his or her age, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. in particular the obligation to treat men and women equally in all stages of procedures in courts and tribunals, Calling attention to the numerous international standards in the field of the administration of justice, Convinced that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary are essential prerequisites for the protection of human rights and for ensuring that there is no discrimination in the administration of justice and should therefore be respected in all circumstances, Emphasizing that the right to access to justice, as contained in applicable international human rights instruments, forms an important basis for strengthening the rule of law through the administration of justice, Mindful of the importance of ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights in the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict situations, as a crucial contribution to building peace and justice and ending impunity, Recalling the Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice SystemEconomic and Social Council resolution 1997/30, annex. and the establishment and subsequent meetings of the coordination panel on technical advice and assistance in juvenile justice, Calling attention to the relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. and of the plans of action for its implementation and follow-up,Resolution 56/261, annex. Recalling its resolution 56/161 of 19 December 2001, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/47 of 23 April 2002See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/30 of 22 July 2003, entitled "United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice", 1. Reaffirms the importance of the full and effective implementation of all United Nations standards on human rights in the administration of justice; 2. Reiterates its call to all Member States to spare no effort in providing for effective legislative and other mechanisms and procedures, as well as adequate resources, to ensure the full implementation of those standards; 3. Affirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism, including in the administration of justice, complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 4. Invites Governments to provide training, including anti-racist, multicultural and gender-sensitive training, in human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, to all judges, lawyers, prosecutors, social workers, immigration and police officers and other professionals concerned, including personnel deployed in international field presences; 5. Invites States to make use of technical assistance offered by the relevant United Nations programmes in order to strengthen national capacities and infrastructures in the field of the administration of justice; 6. Appeals to Governments to include in their national development plans the administration of justice as an integral part of the development process and to allocate adequate resources for the provision of legal-aid services with a view to promoting and protecting human rights, and invites the international community to respond favourably to requests for financial and technical assistance for the enhancement and strengthening of the administration of justice; 7. Encourages the regional commissions, the specialized agencies, United Nations institutes active in the areas of human rights and crime prevention and criminal justice, and other relevant parts of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including national professional associations concerned with promoting United Nations standards in this field, and other segments of civil society, including the media, to continue to develop their activities in promoting human rights in the administration of justice; 8. Takes note with interest of the debates held in the Security Council on the agenda item entitled "Justice and the Rule of Law: the United Nations role"; 9. Invites the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the crime programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to closely coordinate their activities relating to the administration of justice; 10. Calls upon mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiary bodies, including special rapporteurs, special representatives and working groups, to continue to give special attention to questions relating to the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, and to provide, where appropriate, specific recommendations in this regard, including proposals for advisory services and technical assistance measures; 11. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to reinforce, within his mandate, his activities relating to national capacity-building in the field of the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict situations; 12. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue organizing training courses and other relevant activities aimed at enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights in the field of the administration of justice, and welcomes the publication of the Manual on Human Rights for Judges, Prosecutors and Lawyers within the framework of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004; 13. Welcomes the increased attention paid to the issue of juvenile justice by the High Commissioner and the United Nations Children's Fund, in particular through technical assistance activities, and, taking into account the fact that international cooperation to promote juvenile justice reform has become a priority within the United Nations system, encourages the further activities of the High Commissioner and the United Nations Children's Fund, within their mandates, in this regard; 14. Calls upon the coordination panel on technical advice and assistance in juvenile justice to further increase cooperation among the partners involved, to share information and to pool their capacities and interests in order to increase the effectiveness of programme implementation; 15. Invites Governments, relevant international and regional bodies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations to devote increased attention to the issue of women in prison, including the children of women in prison, with a view to identifying the key problems and ways in which they can be addressed, and notes the proposal of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to prepare a working paper on this question;See E/CN.4/2004/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/43, chap. II, sect. B, decision 2003/104. 16. Underlines the importance of rebuilding and strengthening structures for the administration of justice and respect for the rule of law and human rights in post-conflict situations, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure system-wide coordination and coherence of programmes and activities of the relevant parts of the United Nations system in the field of the administration of justice in post-conflict situations, including assistance provided through United Nations field presences; 17. Stresses the special need for national capacity-building in the field of the administration of justice, in particular through reform of the judiciary, the police and the penal system, as well as juvenile justice reform, in order to establish and maintain stable societies and the rule of law in post-conflict situations, and in this context welcomes the role of the Office of the High Commissioner in supporting the establishment and functioning of transitional justice mechanisms in post-conflict situations; 18. Decides to consider the question of human rights in the administration of justice at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/184 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 179 to none, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Israel 58/184. Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Recalling article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and paragraph 4 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Noting the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. aimed at combating religious intolerance, Emphasizing that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is far-reaching and profound and that it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief, whether manifested individually or in community with others, and in public or in private, Reaffirming the call, made ten years ago in Vienna at the World Conference on Human Rights, for all Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of tolerance, which involves the acceptance of and respect for diversity, and underlining also that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, continue to occur in many parts of the world and threaten the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Profoundly concerned at acts and situations of violence and discrimination resulting from religious intolerance that affect many women, Deeply concerned at the overall rise in intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including restrictive legislation, administrative regulations and discriminatory registration and the arbitrary application of these and other measures, Recognizing that such intolerance and discrimination frequently manifests itself through acts of violence against religious minorities in all parts of the world, Believing that further intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as emphasized also at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, 1. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination; 2. Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is violated; 3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of their religion or belief, deprived of the right to life, liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or detained, and to protect their physical integrity and bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; 4. Further urges States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, with particular regard to persons belonging to religious minorities; 5. Urges States to devote particular attention to combating all practices motivated by religion or belief which lead, directly or indirectly, to human rights violations and to discrimination against women; 6. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if those limitations that are prescribed by law are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 7. Urges States to ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief and to ensure that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 8. Calls upon all States to recognize, as provided in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes; 9. Expresses its grave concern at all attacks upon religious places, sites and shrines, and calls upon all States, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights standards, to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that such places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction; 10. Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, and that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by persons and groups is necessary for the full realization of the aims of the Declaration, and in this regard invites States, religious bodies and civil society to undertake dialogue at all levels to promote greater tolerance, respect and understanding of freedom of religion or belief and to encourage and promote, through the educational system and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; 11. Emphasizes the importance of a continued and strengthened dialogue among religions or beliefs, including as encompassed in the dialogue among civilizations, to promote greater tolerance, respect and mutual understanding; 12. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief,See A/58/296. and encourages his continued efforts to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration and to recommend remedial measures as appropriate; 13. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, including by considering favourably his requests to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively, welcomes the initiatives of States to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur, and encourages civil society to continue its active collaboration with him; 14. Urges States to make all appropriate efforts to encourage those engaged in education to cultivate respect for all religions or beliefs, thereby promoting mutual understanding and tolerance; 15. Encourages Governments, when seeking the assistance of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, to consider, where appropriate, including requests for assistance in the field of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; 16. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation and dissemination of the Declaration, and further encourages their work in relation to promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 17. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its consideration of measures to implement the Declaration; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary resources to enable him to discharge his mandate fully; 19. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions", and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly on the item. RESOLUTION 58/185 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Uruguay. 58/185. In-depth study on all forms of violence against women The General Assembly, Affirming that the term "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life, Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To conduct an in-depth study, from existing available resources and, if necessary, supplemented by voluntary contributions, on all forms and manifestations of violence against women, as identified in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and relevant documents, disaggregated by type of violence, and based on research undertaken and data collected at the national, regional and international levels, in particular in the following fields: (i) A statistical overview on all forms of violence against women, in order to better evaluate the scale of such violence, while identifying gaps in data collection and formulating proposals for assessing the extent of the problem; (ii) The causes of violence against women, including its root causes and other contributing factors; (iii) The medium and long-term consequences of violence against women; (iv) The health, social and economic costs of violence against women; (v) The identification of best practice examples in areas including legislation, policies, programmes and effective remedies, and the efficiency of such mechanisms to the end of combating and eliminating violence against women; (b) To cooperate closely with all relevant United Nations bodies, as well as with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, when preparing the study; (c) To solicit information, including on strategies, policies, programmes and best practices, from Member States as well as relevant non-governmental organizations in the preparation of the study; (d) To make the study available to all Member States and observers, as well as other United Nations stakeholders, and, on the basis of the study, to submit a report, with the study as an annex, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Advancement of women", including action-oriented recommendations, for consideration by States, encompassing, inter alia, effective remedies and prevention and rehabilitation measures; (e) To submit a progress report on the study to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Advancement of women". RESOLUTION 58/186 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 176 to 1, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel, Marshall Islands 58/186. The right to food The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/226 of 18 December 2002, as well as all Commission on Human Rights resolutions in this regard, in particular resolution 2003/25 of 22 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for her or his health and well-being, including food, Recalling further the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. in which the fundamental right of every person to be free from hunger is recognized, Recalling the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition,Report of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. as well as the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Bearing in mind the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. Bearing in mind also the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, adopted in Rome on 13 June 2002,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recognizing that the problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and that they are likely to persist and even to increase dramatically in some regions unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world's population and the stress on natural resources, Reaffirming that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment, at both the national and the international levels, is the essential foundation that will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication, Reiterating, as in the Rome Declaration and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, that food should not be used as an instrument of political or economic pressure, and reaffirming in this regard the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security, Convinced that each State must adopt a strategy consistent with its resources and capacities to achieve its individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration and the World Food Summit Plan of Action and, at the same time, cooperate regionally and internationally in order to organize collective solutions to global issues of food security in a world of increasingly interlinked institutions, societies and economies where coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities are essential, Stressing the importance of reversing the continuing decline of official development assistance devoted to agriculture, both in real terms and as a share of total official development assistance, 1. Reaffirms that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity and therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures at the national, regional and international levels for its elimination; 2. Also reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities; 3. Considers it intolerable that there are around 840 million undernourished people in the world, that every seven seconds a child under the age of 10 dies, directly or indirectly, of hunger somewhere in the world and that more than 2 billion people worldwide suffer from "hidden hunger" or micronutrient malnutrition; 4. Expresses its concern that women are disproportionately affected by hunger, food insecurity and poverty, in part as a result of gender inequality, that in many countries, girls are twice as likely as boys to die from malnutrition and preventable childhood diseases, and that it is estimated that almost twice as many women suffer from malnutrition as men; 5. Encourages all States to take steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right to food, including steps to promote the conditions for everyone to be free from hunger and, as soon as possible, to enjoy fully the right to food, and to create and adopt national plans to combat hunger; 6. Also encourages all States to take action to address discrimination against women, particularly where it contributes to the malnutrition of women and girls, including measures to ensure the realization of the right to food, and ensuring that women have equal access to resources, including income, land and water, to enable them to feed themselves; 7. Stresses the need to make efforts to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, and to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies; 8. Invites once again all international financial and developmental institutions, as well as the relevant United Nations agencies and funds, to give priority to and provide the necessary funding to realize the aim of halving by 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, as well as the right to food as set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food SecurityFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 9. Urges States to give adequate priority in their development strategies and expenditures to the realization of the right to food; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food,See A/58/330. and commends the Special Rapporteur for his valuable work in the promotion of the right to food; 11. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as extended by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2003/25; 12. Expresses its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur for his effective contribution to the medium-term review of the implementation of the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of ActionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. through the submission to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of his recommendations on all aspects of the right to food, and his participation in and contribution to the proceedings of that event; 13. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to mainstream a gender perspective in the activities relating to his mandate; 14. Requests the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 15. Welcomes the work already done by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in promoting the right to adequate food, in particular its general comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food (article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), in which the Committee affirmed, inter alia, that the right to adequate food is indivisibly linked to the inherent dignity of the human person and is indispensable for the fulfilment of other human rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and is also inseparable from social justice, requiring the adoption of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, at both the national and the international levels, oriented to the eradication of poverty and the fulfilment of all human rights for all;Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex V, para. 4. 16. Also welcomes the work of the Intergovernmental Working Group mandated by the Council of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations to elaborate, in a period of two years, a set of voluntary guidelines to support the efforts of Member States to achieve the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security; 17. Further welcomes the continued cooperation of the High Commissioner, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Special Rapporteur, and encourages them to continue their cooperation in this regard; 18. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit a comprehensive report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session and an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Invites Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate, inter alia, through the submission of comments and suggestions on ways and means of realizing the right to food; 20. Decides to continue the consideration of this matter at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/187 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 181 to none, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: India 58/187. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental importance, including in response to terrorism and the fear of terrorism, of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, Recalling that States are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, Recognizing that the respect for human rights, the respect for democracy and the respect for the rule of law are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, Recalling its resolution 57/219 of 18 December 2002 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/68 of 25 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993 and, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment of all human rights, Reiterating paragraph 17 of section I of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which states that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Noting its resolution 56/160 of 19 December 2001, and noting also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/37 of 23 April 2003 on human rights and terrorism,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting also the declaration on the issue of combating terrorism contained in the annex to Security Council resolution 1456 (2003) of 20 January 2003, in particular the statement that States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law and should adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, Noting the declarations, statements and recommendations by a number of human rights treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures on the question of the compatibility of counter-terrorism measures with human rights obligations, Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, in all their forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Stressing that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). without distinction of any kind, including on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Recalling that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances and that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlining the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, as stated in General Comment No. 29, on states of emergency, adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001,See HRI/GEN/1/Rev.6. 1. Reaffirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 2. Calls upon States to raise awareness about the importance of these obligations among national authorities involved in combating terrorism; 3. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 57/219,E/CN.4/2003/120. and welcomes its conclusions on the necessity of ensuring respect for human rights in the international fight to eliminate terrorism and on the important role that the United Nations has in promoting the maintenance of international peace and security and in achieving international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; 4. Takes note with interest of the report of the Secretary-General on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism,A/58/266. and welcomes the various initiatives to strengthen the protection of human rights in the context of counter-terrorism adopted by the United Nations and regional intergovernmental bodies as well as by States; 5. Welcomes the publication of the "Digest of Jurisprudence of the United Nations and Regional Organizations on the Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism", and requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to update and publish it periodically; 6. Also welcomes the ongoing dialogue established in the context of the fight against terrorism between the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee and the relevant bodies for the promotion and protection of human rights, and encourages the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee to continue to develop the cooperation with relevant human rights bodies, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, giving due regard to the promotion and protection of human rights in the ongoing work pursuant to relevant Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism; 7. Requests all relevant special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, as well as the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, to consider, within their mandates, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of measures to combat terrorism and to coordinate their efforts, as appropriate, in order to promote a consistent approach on this subject; 8. Encourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to consider the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies; 9. Requests the High Commissioner, making use of existing mechanisms, to continue: (a) To examine the question of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, taking into account reliable information from all sources; (b) To make general recommendations concerning the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms while taking actions to counter terrorism; (c) To provide assistance and advice to States, upon their request, on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, as well as to relevant United Nations bodies; 10. Also requests the High Commissioner, taking into account the views of States, to submit a study on the extent to which the human rights special procedures and treaty monitoring bodies are able, within their existing mandates, to address the compatibility of national counter-terrorism measures with international human rights obligations in their work, for consideration by States in strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, with regard to the international human rights institutional mechanisms; 11. Further requests the High Commissioner to submit the requested study to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, with an interim report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/188 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saint Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 106 to 55, with 19 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 58/188. Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of a humanitarian character The General Assembly, Recalling that, in accordance with Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55, including universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be considered a priority objective of the United Nations in accordance with its purposes and principles, in particular the purpose of international cooperation, and that, within the framework of these purposes and principles, the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate concern of the international community, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples to an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recognizing that the international community should devise ways and means to remove current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world, and should continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations and that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, the promotion and protection of such rights and freedoms being the first responsibility of Governments, Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Reaffirming further the various Articles of the Charter setting out the respective powers and functions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as the paramount framework for the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations under other important instruments of international law, in particular those of international human rights and humanitarian law, Taking into account that, in accordance with Article 103 of the Charter, in the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the Charter shall prevail, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the question, including its resolution 57/217 of 18 December 2002, 1. Reiterates the solemn commitment of all States to enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights and in the solution to international problems of a humanitarian character in full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, inter alia, by the strict observance of all the purposes and principles set forth in Articles 1 and 2 thereof; 2. Stresses the vital role of the work of United Nations and regional arrangements, acting consistently with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter, in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as in solving international problems of a humanitarian character, and affirms that all States, in these activities, must fully comply with the principles set forth in Article 2 of the Charter, in particular respecting the sovereign equality of all States and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or acting in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the United Nations shall promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; 4. Calls upon all States to cooperate fully, through constructive dialogue, to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights for all and in promoting peaceful solutions to international problems of a humanitarian character and, in their actions towards that purpose, to comply strictly with the principles and norms of international law, inter alia, by fully respecting international human rights and humanitarian law; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, organs, bodies and other components of the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it as widely as possible; 6. Decides to consider this question at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/189 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 111 to 10, with 55 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Sudan, Switzerland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 58/189. Respect for the principles of national sovereignty and diversity of democratic systems in electoral processes as an important element for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purpose of the United Nations to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling also its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, by which it approved the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the right to self-determination, by virtue of which all peoples can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Recognizing that the principles enshrined in Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular respect for national sovereignty, should be respected in the holding of elections, Recognizing also the richness and diversity of democratic political systems and models of free and fair electoral processes in the world, based on national and regional particularities and various backgrounds, Stressing the responsibility of States in ensuring ways and means to facilitate full and effective popular participation in their electoral processes, Recognizing the contribution made by the United Nations of electoral assistance provided to numerous States upon their request, Reaffirming the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter, other instruments relating to human rights, and international law, Welcoming the commitment of all Member States, expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to work collectively for more inclusive political processes allowing genuine participation by all citizens in all countries, 1. Reaffirms that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reiterates that periodic, fair and free elections are important elements for the promotion and protection of human rights; 3. Reaffirms the right of peoples to determine methods and to establish institutions regarding electoral processes and, consequently, that there is no single model of democracy or of democratic institutions and that States should ensure all the necessary mechanisms and means to facilitate full and effective popular participation in those processes; 4. Reaffirms also that free development of the national electoral process in each State should be fully honoured in a manner that fully respects the principles established in the Charter and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 5. Calls upon all States to refrain from financing political parties or other organizations in any other State in a way that is contrary to the principles of the Charter and that undermines the legitimacy of its electoral processes; 6. Condemns any act of armed aggression or threat or use of force against peoples, their elected Governments or their legitimate leaders; 7. Reaffirms that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government and that this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. RESOLUTION 58/18 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 97 to 7, with 60 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.23 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 58/18. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its emergency special sessions and resolution 57/107 of 3 December 2002, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/58/35). Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Welcoming the official presentation by the Quartet of the performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/58/35). including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session and thereafter; 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to involve additional civil society organizations in its work; 5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies and entities working on various aspects of the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 58/190 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia and Uruguay. 58/190. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/218 of 18 December 2002, Reaffirming that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Reaffirming also the provisions concerning migrants adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Welcoming the provisions on the human rights of migrants contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and expressing its satisfaction at the important recommendations made for the development of international and national strategies for the protection of migrants and for the design of migration policies that fully respect the human rights of migrants, Recalling its resolution 40/144 of 13 December 1985, by which it approved the Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live, Recognizing the positive contributions that migrants frequently make, including through their eventual integration into their host society, Bearing in mind the situation of vulnerability in which migrants and their families frequently find themselves, owing, inter alia, to their absence from their States of origin and to the difficulties they encounter because of differences of language, custom and culture, as well as the economic and social difficulties and obstacles to the return to their States of origin of migrants who are non-documented or in an irregular situation, Bearing in mind also the need for a focused and consistent approach towards migrants as a specific vulnerable group, in particular migrant women and children, Deeply concerned about the manifestations of violence, racism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination and inhuman and degrading treatment against migrants, especially women and children, in different parts of the world, Underlining the importance of the creation of conditions that foster greater harmony between migrants and the rest of the society of the States in which they reside, with the aim of eliminating the growing manifestations of racism and xenophobia perpetrated in segments of many societies by individuals or groups against migrants, Taking note of Advisory Opinion OC-16/99, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 1 October 1999, on The Right to Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law, in the case of foreign nationals detained by the authorities of a receiving State, Taking note also of Advisory Opinion OC-18/03, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 17 September 2003, on the juridical situation and rights of undocumented migrants, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the effective and full protection of the human rights of all migrants, and underlining the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, Taking note of the decision of the International Labour Organization to have a general discussion on migrant workers, based on an integrated approach, at the International Labour Conference to be held in Geneva in June 2004, 1. Welcomes the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies; 2. Requests all Member States, in conformity with their respective constitutional systems, effectively to promote and protect the human rights of all migrants, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the international instruments to which they are party, which may include the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 39/46, annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and other applicable international human rights instruments; 3. Calls upon States to promote and protect fully the human rights of migrants, as contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 4. Acknowledges with satisfaction the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, and the forthcoming entry into force of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. and of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;Ibid., annex III. 5. Strongly condemns the manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them, and urges States to apply the existing laws when xenophobic or intolerant acts or manifestations or expressions against migrants occur, in order to eradicate impunity for those who commit xenophobic and racist acts; 6. Strongly condemns also all forms of racial discrimination and xenophobia with regard to access to employment, vocational training, housing, schooling, health services and social services, as well as services intended for use by the public, and welcomes the active role played by governmental and non-governmental organizations in combating racism and assisting individual victims of racist acts, including migrant victims; 7. Requests all States, in conformity with national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party, firmly to prosecute violations of labour law with regard to the conditions of work of migrant workers, including those related to, inter alia, their remuneration and the conditions of health and safety at work; 8. Calls upon all States to consider reviewing and, where necessary, revising immigration policies, with a view to eliminating all practices which victimize migrants and their families, and to provide specialized training for policy-making, law enforcement, immigration and other concerned government officials, including in cooperation with non-governmental organizations and civil society, thus underlining the importance of effective action to create conditions that foster greater harmony and tolerance within societies; 9. Reiterates the need for all States parties to protect fully the universally recognized human rights of migrants, especially women and children, regardless of their legal status, and to treat them humanely, in particular with regard to assistance and protection; 10. Reaffirms emphatically the duty of States parties to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638. to ensure full respect for and observance of the Convention, in particular with regard to the right of foreign nationals, regardless of their immigration status, to communicate with a consular official of their own State in the case of detention, and the obligation of the State in whose territory the detention occurs to inform the foreign national of that right; 11. Reaffirms the responsibility of Governments to safeguard and protect the rights of migrants against illegal or violent acts, in particular acts of racial discrimination and crimes perpetrated with racist or xenophobic motivation by individuals or groups, and urges them to reinforce measures in this regard; 12. Urges all States to adopt effective measures to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of migrants, including by individuals or groups; 13. Encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact domestic criminal legislation to combat the international trafficking of migrants, which should take into account, in particular, trafficking that endangers the lives of migrants or includes different forms of servitude or exploitation, such as any form of debt bondage or sexual or labour exploitation, and to strengthen international cooperation to combat such trafficking; 14. Calls upon States, when enacting national security legislation measures, to observe national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party, in order to respect the human rights of migrants; 15. Encourages States to consider participating in international and regional dialogues on migration that include countries of origin and destination, as well as countries of transit, and invites them to consider negotiating bilateral and regional agreements on migrant workers within the framework of applicable human rights law and designing and implementing programmes with States of other regions to protect the rights of migrants; 16. Encourages all Governments to remove obstacles that may prevent the safe, unrestricted and expeditious transfer of earnings, assets and pensions of migrants to their country of origin or to any other countries, in conformity with applicable legislation, and to consider, as appropriate, measures to solve other problems that may impede such transfers; 17. Welcomes immigration programmes, adopted by some countries, that allow migrants to integrate fully into the host countries, facilitate family reunification and promote a harmonious and tolerant environment, and encourages States to consider the possibility of adopting these types of programmes; 18. Calls upon all States to protect the human rights of migrant children, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring that the best interests of the children and the importance of reuniting them with their parents, when possible and appropriate, are the paramount consideration, and encourages the relevant United Nations bodies, within the framework of their respective mandates, to pay special attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, where necessary, to put forward recommendations for strengthening their protection; 19. Requests States to adopt concrete measures to prevent the violation of the human rights of migrants while in transit, including in ports and airports and at borders and migration checkpoints, to train public officials who work in those facilities and in border areas to treat migrants and their families respectfully and in accordance with the law, and to prosecute, in conformity with applicable law, any act of violation of the human rights of migrants and their families, such as arbitrary detention, torture and violations of the right to life, including extrajudicial executions, during their transit from their country of origin to the country of destination and vice versa, including their transit through national borders; 20. Calls upon States to facilitate family reunification in an expeditious and effective manner, with due regard to applicable laws, as such reunification has a positive effect on the integration of migrants; 21. Encourages States of origin to promote and protect the human rights of those families of migrant workers which remain in the countries of origin, paying particular attention to children and adolescents whose parents have emigrated, and encourages international organizations to consider supporting States in this regard; 22. Encourages States, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, to undertake information campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration, so as to enable everyone, in particular women, to make informed decisions, and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking and utilizing dangerous means of access that put their lives and physical integrity at risk; 23. Welcomes the proclamation of 18 December as International Migrants DaySee resolution 55/93. and the invitation to Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe it through, inter alia, the dissemination of information on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants and on their economic, social and cultural contributions to their host and home countries, the sharing of experience and the design of actions to ensure their protection; 24. Urges States to consider ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, and to implement fully those instruments; 25. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants,A/58/275. and requests her to continue taking into account the recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in the performance of her mandate, tasks and duties; 26. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated, to furnish all information requested and to react promptly to her urgent appeals; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms", and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session an interim report on the fulfilment of her mandate. RESOLUTION 58/191 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 58/191. Situation of human rights in Cambodia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 57/225 and 57/228 A of 18 December 2002 and 57/228 B of 13 May 2003, Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/79 of 25 April 2003See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also the decision of the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 2003/79, to request a report to the Commission at its sixtieth session on the role and achievements of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in assisting the Government and the people of Cambodia, and to continue its consideration of the situation of human rights in Cambodia at its sixtieth session, Recognizing that the tragic history of Cambodia requires special measures to ensure the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and the non-return to the policies and practices of the past, as stipulated in the Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict, signed in Paris on 23 October 1991,A/46/608-S/23177. I Support of and cooperation with the United Nations 1. Requests the Secretary-General, through his Special Representative for human rights in Cambodia, in collaboration with the office in Cambodia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist the Government of Cambodia in ensuring the protection of the human rights of all people in Cambodia and to ensure adequate resources for the continued functioning of the operational presence of the office and to enable the Special Representative to continue to fulfil his tasks expeditiously; 2. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the role and achievements of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in assisting the Government and the people of Cambodia in the promotion and protection of human rights,A/58/268. the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in CambodiaSee A/58/317. and the use of the United Nations Trust Fund for a Human Rights Education Programme in Cambodia to finance the programme of activities of the office in Cambodia, and invites the international community to consider contributing to the Trust Fund; 3. Encourages the Government of Cambodia to continue to cooperate with the office and other agencies of the United Nations system in their joint efforts to promote human rights and to implement in full their obligations under international human rights treaties and instruments; II The role of non-governmental organizations Commends the vital role played by non-governmental organizations in Cambodia, inter alia, in human rights education and training and in the development of civil society, and encourages the Government of Cambodia to continue to ensure the protection of those human rights organizations and their members and to continue to work closely and cooperatively with them; III Administrative, legislative and judicial reform 1. Welcomes the progress achieved by the Government of Cambodia in the administration of national elections in July 2003, inter alia, in a generally free and peaceful atmosphere and in improved access for political parties to the public service media, and urges the Government to investigate fully incidents of intimidation, violence, killings and vote-buying, to prosecute those responsible, to strengthen the enforcement capacity and independence of the National Election Committee and to build on the improvements achieved so as to further consolidate the process of democratization; 2. Notes with concern the continued problems relating to the rule of law and the functioning of the judiciary resulting from, inter alia, corruption and interference by the executive with the independence of the judiciary, urges the Government of Cambodia, as a matter of priority, to expedite the implementation of legal and judicial reform, including finalization without further delay of the adoption of the laws and codes that are essential components of the basic legal framework, in particular a law on the organization and functioning of adjudicate courts, and to ensure the independence, impartiality and effectiveness of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy and of the judicial system as a whole; 3. Welcomes the drafts of the civil code, code of civil procedure, penal code, code of criminal procedure, anti-corruption law, law on the status of judges and prosecutors (statute of magistracy), draft law to amend the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, strategy for legal and judicial reform and action plan for its implementation, urges the Government of Cambodia to continue to enhance the training of judges and lawyers through the Royal School for Training Judges and Prosecutors and the Centre for Lawyer Training and Legal Professional Improvement of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and encourages the Government to provide access to justice for all and establish a legal aid scheme appropriate for Cambodia; 4. Also welcomes the adoption of the Sub-Decree on Land Concessions for Social Purposes, and urges the Government of Cambodia to strengthen its efforts to tackle the problems related to land rights by, inter alia, adopting the sub-decrees on land concessions for economic purposes and on procedures for the reduction of and specific exemptions from the land concessions that exceed 10,000 hectares, enhancing transparency and giving high priority to the land management and administration reform project, and to continue to undertake a review of land concession contracts and their implementation, and notes with concern the remaining problems of land-grabbing, forced evictions and further displacement; 5. Encourages further efforts by the Government of Cambodia to implement expeditiously and effectively its reform programme, including the Governance Action Plan and police and military reforms, inter alia, the demobilization programme; 6. Welcomes the progress made by the Government of Cambodia to eradicate anti-personnel landmines and to reduce the number of small arms in Cambodia, and encourages the continuing efforts of the Government and the international community to tackle these issues; 7. Expresses serious concern about the fact that the situation of impunity still exists in Cambodia, recognizes efforts and actions by the Government of Cambodia to prosecute perpetrators of violations, and calls upon the Government, as a matter of critical priority, to increase its efforts to investigate urgently and to prosecute, in accordance with due process of law and international human rights standards, all those who have perpetrated serious crimes, including violations of human rights; 8. Notes with serious concern the prison conditions in Cambodia, notes with interest some important efforts to improve the prison system, recommends the continuation of international assistance to improve the material conditions of detention, and calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take further measures to improve the conditions of detention, including reviewing sentencing policy and developing non-custodial options as an alternative to imprisonment, to prevent any form of torture, to provide proper food and health care to prisoners and detainees, to meet the special needs of women and children and to restore access to prisons and inmates for lawyers, family members and human rights organizations in accordance with relevant regulations in force; IV Human rights violations and violence 1. Expresses grave concern about the continued violations of human rights, including torture, excessive pre-trial detention, violation of labour rights, forced evictions and political violence, including the killings of political activists, involvement by police and military personnel in violence and the apparent lack of protection from mob killings, notes that some progress has been made by the Government of Cambodia in addressing these issues, and urges the Government to take all necessary measures to prevent such violations, including to consider establishing a board of inquiry on the issue of mob killings; 2. Urges the Government of Cambodia to take all steps to combat discrimination in all its manifestations and prevent violence against members of any racial or ethnic group and to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, as well as to meet its obligations as a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. inter alia, by seeking technical assistance; V Khmer Rouge Tribunal 1. Reaffirms that the most serious human rights violations in Cambodia in recent history have been committed by the Khmer Rouge, and acknowledges that the final collapse of the Khmer Rouge and the continued efforts of the Government of Cambodia have provided the basis for the restoration of peace and stability with the aim of achieving national reconciliation in Cambodia and the investigation and prosecution of senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian penal law, international humanitarian law and custom and international conventions recognized by Cambodia that were committed during the period from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979; 2. Welcomes the Agreement reached on 6 June 2003 between the United Nations and the Government of Cambodia to set up Extraordinary Chambers exercising their jurisdiction in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness and due process as set out in article 12 of the Agreement, urges the Secretary-General and the Government of Cambodia to take all the measures necessary for the early establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers, and appeals to the international community to provide assistance, including financial and personnel support to the Extraordinary Chambers, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 57/228 B; VI Protection of women and children 1. Welcomes the efforts and progress made to improve the status of women, including on the draft law on prevention of domestic violence and protection of victims of domestic violence, and urges the Government of Cambodia to take further measures to combat violence against women in all its forms, inter alia, sexual violence, and to take all steps to meet its obligations as a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. inter alia, by seeking technical assistance; 2. Commends the Government of Cambodia for its efforts to impede the spread of HIV/AIDS, and encourages it to continue to focus on the problem; 3. Welcomes the series of efforts made by the Government of Cambodia to combat human trafficking, including on the draft anti-trafficking law, while noting with serious concern the growth of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children internationally, and requests the Government and the international community to strengthen their concerted efforts to address these problems comprehensively; 4. Notes with serious concern the problem of child labour in its worst forms, calls upon the Government of Cambodia to take immediate and effective measures to protect children from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous, to interfere with their education or to be harmful to their health, safety or morals, by enforcing Cambodian laws on child labour, the existing labour law and anti-trafficking law provisions on behalf of children, and by prosecuting those who violate these laws, invites the International Labour Organization to continue to extend the necessary assistance in this regard, and encourages the Government to consider ratifying the International Labour Organization Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182); 5. Welcomes the increased budget allocation in the areas of education and health, and encourages their timely disbursement and the efforts of the Government of Cambodia to improve further the health conditions of children and their access to education, to promote free and accessible birth registration and to establish a juvenile justice system; VII Conclusion Invites the international community to assist the Government of Cambodia in its efforts to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/192 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 119 to 50, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, India, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Samoa, Singapore, Timor-Leste 58/192. Promotion of peace as a vital requirement for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/216 of 18 December 2002, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/61 of 24 April 2003, entitled "Promotion of peace as a vital requirement for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling further its resolution 39/11 of 12 November 1984, entitled "Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace", and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Bearing in mind the fundamental principles of international law set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Underlining, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, its full and active support for the United Nations and for the enhancement of its role and effectiveness in strengthening international peace, security and justice and in promoting the solution of international problems, as well as the development of friendly relations and cooperation among States, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, Emphasizing its objective of promoting better relations among all States and contributing to setting up conditions in which their people can live in true and lasting peace, free from any threat to or attempt against their security, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming also its commitment to peace, security and justice and the continuing development of friendly relations and cooperation among States, Rejecting the use of violence in pursuit of political aims, and stressing that only peaceful political solutions can ensure a stable and democratic future for all people around the world, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring respect for the principles of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter and international law, Reaffirming also that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Underlining that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental rights, is contrary to the Charter and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation, Recalling that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Convinced of the aim of creating conditions of stability and well-being, which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, Convinced also that life without war is the primary international prerequisite for the material well-being, development and progress of countries and for the full implementation of the rights and fundamental human freedoms proclaimed by the United Nations, 1. Stresses that peace is a vital requirement for the promotion and protection of all human rights for all; 2. Solemnly declares that the preservation and promotion of peace constitute a fundamental obligation of each State; 3. Emphasizes that the preservation and promotion of peace demand that the policies of States be directed towards the elimination of the threat of war, particularly nuclear war, the renunciation of the use or threat of use of force in international relations and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Affirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and an international system based on respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter and the promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development and the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Urges all States to respect and to put into practice the purposes and principles of the Charter in their relations with other States, irrespective of their political, economic or social system and of their size, geographical location or level of economic development; 6. Decides to continue consideration of the question of the promotion of the right of peoples to peace at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 58/193 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 123 to 51, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Singapore 58/193. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing in particular the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held, respectively, in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Recalling also its resolutions 57/204 and 57/205 of 18 December 2002, Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/23 of 22 April 2003 on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, inter alia, in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process, but that it also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions, which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Realizing further the need to undertake a thorough, independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and cultural impact of globalization on societies, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, and aware that the risk of a global monoculture poses more of a threat if the developing world remains poor and marginalized, Recognizing also that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Deeply concerned that the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 3. Reaffirms also the commitment to creating an environment at both the national and the global level that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 4. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, the fact that its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed represents an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 5. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,E/CN.4/2002/54. which focuses on the liberalization of agricultural trade and its impact on the realization of the right to development, including the right to food, and takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 6. Calls upon Member States, relevant agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to promote equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth for managing globalization, so that poverty is systematically reduced and the international development targets are achieved; 7. Recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 8. Underlines the urgent need to establish an equitable, transparent and democratic international system in which poor people and countries have a more effective voice; 9. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 10. Affirms also that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 11. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/257. and requests the Secretary-General to seek further the views of Member States and relevant agencies of the United Nations system and to submit a substantive report on this subject to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/194 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.3, para. 57),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 73 to 40, with 56 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia 58/194. Situation of human rights in Turkmenistan The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have the obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Expressing its grave concern about the serious and continuing human rights violations occurring in Turkmenistan, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/11 of 16 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note of the recommendations outlined in the report of the Rapporteur of the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, issued on 12 March 2003, Noting with appreciation the recent offer of the Government of Turkmenistan to invite a delegation of experts of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide technical assistance in the area of human rights as well as the recent visits of the Personal Envoy of the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for Participating States in Central Asia and of the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization, Calls upon the Government of Turkmenistan: (a) To implement fully the measures set out in Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/11See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and to inform the Commission before its sixtieth session of the steps being taken in this regard; (b) To implement fully the recommendations outlined in the report of the Rapporteur of the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to work constructively with the various institutions of the Organization and to facilitate further visits of the Personal Envoy of the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Participating States in Central Asia and of the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization; (c) To develop a constructive dialogue with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and to cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights; (d) To grant immediate access by independent bodies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as lawyers and relatives, to detained persons. RESOLUTION 58/195 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.3, para. 57),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Sweden, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 68 to 54, with 51 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Dominica, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia 58/195. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 56/171 of 19 December 2001, and recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/17 of 20 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting the commitment made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to strengthen respect for human rights in the country and to promote the rule of law, 1. Welcomes: (a) The open invitation extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to all human rights thematic monitoring mechanisms in April 2002; (b) The visit of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the Commission on Human Rights to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 15 to 27 February 2003 and its subsequent report;E/CN.4/2004/3/Add.2 and Corr.1. (c) The visit of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 4 to 10 November 2003 and the scheduled visit of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission in February 2004; (d) The recommendation by the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to judges that they choose alternative punishment in cases where the sentence of stoning would otherwise be imposed; (e) The efforts of the elected Government to foster the growth of civil society; (f) The opening of human rights dialogues with a number of countries; (g) The efforts made by Parliament, in particular the Article 90 Commission, and by the Islamic Human Rights Commission to improve the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; 2. Expresses its serious concern at: (a) The continuing violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (b) The continuing deterioration of the situation with regard to freedom of opinion and expression, especially the increased persecution for the peaceful expression of political views, including arrest and detention without charge or trial; crackdowns by judiciary and security forces against journalists, parliamentarians, students, clerics and academics; and the harsh reactions to student demonstrations, including imprisonment, mistreatment and use of university disciplinary committees against those who participate; (c) The continuing executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and in particular deplores public executions; (d) The use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in particular the practice of amputation and flogging; (e) The continuing restrictions on free assembly and the forcible dissolution of political parties; (f) The failure to comply fully with international standards in the administration of justice, the absence of due process of law, the use of national security laws to deny the rights of the individual and the lack of respect for internationally recognized legal safeguards, inter alia, with respect to persons belonging to religious minorities; (g) The systemic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice and the refusal of the Guardian Council to take steps to address this systematic discrimination, noting in this context its refusal, in August 2003, to consider the proposal of the elected Parliament to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Resolution 34/180, annex. (h) The continuing discrimination against persons belonging to minorities, including the Baha'is, Christians, Jews and Sunnis, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of free worship or of publicly carrying out communal affairs and the disregard of property rights; (i) The continuing persecution and arbitrary sentencing to prison of human rights defenders, political opponents, religious dissenters and reformists; 3. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: (a) To abide by its obligations freely undertaken under the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, including those relating to freedom of opinion and expression, the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls, and to continue its efforts to consolidate respect for human rights and the rule of law; (b) To respond fully to the recommendations of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the Commission on Human Rights; (c) To continue to cooperate with United Nations mechanisms, in particular with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and to respond fully to their recommendations; (d) To expedite judicial reform, to guarantee the dignity of the individual and to ensure the full application of due process of law and fair and transparent procedures by an independent and impartial judiciary, and in this context to ensure respect for the rights of the defence and the equity of verdicts in all instances, including for members of religious minority groups; (e) To appoint an impartial prosecutor, noting the re-establishment, since December 2001, within the Islamic Republic of Iran of the Office of the Prosecutor General; (f) To eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds or against persons belonging to minorities, including the Baha'is, Christians, Jews and Sunnis, and to address this matter in an open manner, with the full participation of the minorities themselves; (g) To take all necessary measures to end amputation and public flogging and to pursue vigorously penitentiary reform; 4. Encourages the thematic mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, including the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the Special Rapporteur on the question of torture, to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran, and encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with these special mechanisms and to respond fully to their subsequent recommendations; 5. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, paying particular attention to further developments, including the situation of the Baha'is and other minority groups, at its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 58/196 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.3, para. 57),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 81 to 2, with 91 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela Against: Rwanda, Uganda Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 58/196. Situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, Noting that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to several international and regional human rights instruments and to several instruments pertaining to international humanitarian law, Recalling all its previous resolutions, as well as those of the Commission on Human Rights, on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1493 (2003) of 28 July 2003, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, Bearing in mind also Security Council resolution 1460 (2003) of 30 January 2003 on children and armed conflict, and the report of the Secretary-General of 10 November 2003 on children and armed conflict,A/58/546-S/2003/1053 and Corr.1. Welcoming the Final Act of the inter-Congolese political negotiations signed in Sun City, South Africa, on 2 April 2003, Taking note of the second special report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of 27 May 2003,S/2003/566 and Corr.1. the report of the Security Council mission to Central Africa, 7 to 16 June 2003,S/2003/653. the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of 13 February 2003See S/2003/216. and the report of the High Commissioner on the events of 3 April 2003 in Drodro,S/2003/674, annex II. Deeply concerned about the continuation of hostilities in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in North and South Kivu and Ituri, and the grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law that accompany them, as described in the above-mentioned reports, Deploring the impunity that characterizes much of the fighting and the accompanying human rights abuses and humanitarian crises in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1. Welcomes: (a) The promulgation by the Head of State on 4 April 2003 of the Constitution that is to govern the country throughout the transition, the swearing of allegiance to the new Constitution by President Joseph Kabila on 7 April 2003, the installation on 17 July 2003 of the Government of National Unity and Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the inauguration of the National Assembly and the Senate on 22 August 2003 and the installation of the five transitional institutions on 28 August 2003; (b) The signing on 18 March 2003 of a ceasefire agreement by the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and six armed groups, which paved the way for the convening of the Ituri Pacification Commission from 4 to 14 April 2003 and the setting up of an interim administration in Ituri; (c) The ceasefire agreement signed in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, on 16 May 2003, and the signing on 19 June 2003 of the Bujumbura Commitment by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congolese Rally for Democracy-Goma and the Congolese Rally for Democracy-Liberation Movement; (d) The abolition of the Military Order Court; (e) The interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the CongoSee A/58/534. and her visits to the country from 26 February to 10 March and from 26 August to 6 September 2003; (f) The visit by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 12 to 15 January 2003 and the action taken by his Office in the country; (g) The consultations between the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on ways of dealing with the problem of impunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and takes note of the proposal of the High Commissioner to establish an international body of inquiry to investigate serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law; (h) The extension of the mandate, the continuing presence and the increased deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in accordance with Security Council resolution 1493 (2003); (i) The collaboration between the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the establishment of national institutions and infrastructures to protect human rights as well as transitional justice mechanisms; (j) The work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chief of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2. Condemns: (a) The continuing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in Ituri, North and South Kivu and other areas in the eastern part of the country; (b) The persistence, in the eastern part of the country, of the armed violence and reprisals against the civilian population, especially in North and South Kivu and in Ituri; (c) All the massacres that have occurred in the province of Ituri, particularly the massacres at Drodro, and most recently, at Katchele on 6 October 2003, while supporting the efforts of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate them; (d) The reported perpetration of acts of mutilation and cannibalism in the Mambasa region; (e) The cases of summary or arbitrary execution, disappearance, torture, harassment, unlawful arrest, widespread persecution and arbitrary detention for long periods; (f) The widespread recourse to sexual violence against women and children, inter alia, as a means of warfare; (g) The continuing recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed forces and groups, in particular in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are contrary to international law; (h) The impunity of those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and points out in this connection that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. (i) The illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in view of the link between that exploitation and the continuation of the conflict; 3. Expresses its concern regarding: (a) The breaches of freedom of expression, opinion, association and assembly and the attacks on human rights defenders throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in the eastern part of the country; (b) The continued suspension of the moratorium on the carrying out of the death penalty, in particular the death sentences passed on 7 January 2003 by the Military Order Court which had tried the persons accused of assassinating the former President of the Republic; (c) The excessive accumulation and spread of small arms and the distribution, circulation and illicit trafficking of arms in the region and their negative impact on human rights; (d) The increase in the number of refugees and internally displaced persons, in particular in the eastern part of the country; (e) The continued insecurity, particularly in the east of the country in the zones still held by armed groups, which seriously hampers the efforts of humanitarian organizations to gain access to people affected by the worrying humanitarian situation; 4. Urges all parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To cease immediately all military activities, including support for the armed groups allied to them, in order to facilitate the re-establishment of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (b) To implement fully and without delay both the Bujumbura Commitment of 19 June 2003 and the Dar es Salaam Agreement of 16 May 2003 and to cooperate with the Ituri Interim Administration in overseeing the settlement of the conflict in the north-eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (c) To continue to respect their obligations as regards the implementation of the Transitional Constitution; (d) To allow free and secure access to all areas so as to permit and support investigations of the presumed serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice, and to cooperate fully to that end with national and international human rights protection mechanisms to investigate alleged human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (e) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers, which are in contravention of international law and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, vol. II: Regional Instruments (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.XIV.1), sect. C, No. 39. with the understanding that, under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the Optional Protocol thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. persons under the age of 18 are entitled to special protection, and to provide information without delay on measures taken to discontinue such practices; (f) To meet the special needs of women and girls in post-conflict reconstruction as well as to ensure the full participation of women in all aspects of conflict resolution and peace processes, including peacekeeping, conflict management and peace-building, as a matter of priority; (g) To implement all necessary measures to put an end to the widespread violations of human rights and to impunity, in particular with regard to the sexual violence against women and children; (h) To protect human rights and to respect international humanitarian law, in particular by ensuring the safety, security and freedom of movement of all civilians, as well as United Nations and associated personnel, and the unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all of the affected population throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (i) To prevent conditions that might lead to flows of refugees and displaced persons in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and across its borders and to take and apply all necessary measures to establish conditions conducive to the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons; 5. Urges the Government of National Unity and Transition to ensure that the protection of human rights and the establishment of a State based on the rule of law and of an independent judiciary are among its highest priorities, including the establishment of the necessary institutions as reflected in the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed in Pretoria on 17 December 2002; 6. Calls upon the Government of National Unity and Transition to take specific measures: (a) To achieve the objectives of the transitional period as laid down in the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, in particular the holding of free and transparent elections at all levels, enabling the establishment of a democratic constitutional regime, and the formation of a restructured and integrated national army; (b) To strengthen the transitional institutions and to re-establish stability and the rule of law over the entire territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, thereby returning peace and progress to its people; (c) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights instruments and, accordingly, to continue to cooperate with United Nations mechanisms for the protection of human rights and further strengthen its cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (d) To carry out a comprehensive reform of the judicial system; (e) To reinstate the moratorium on capital punishment and adhere to its commitment to progressively abolish the death penalty; (f) To put an end to impunity and to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice in accordance with due process; (g) To cooperate with the International Criminal Court and to continue to cooperate with the International Tribunal for Rwanda; 7. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to keep it informed of the consultations between his/her Office and the Secretary-General concerning the ways in which to assist the transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in tackling the problem of impunity; 8. Calls upon the international community: (a) To support the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to make possible the effective implementation of its programmes; (b) To support the organization, at the appropriate time and under the aegis of the United Nations and the African Union, of an international conference on peace, security, democracy and development in the Great Lakes region of Africa, with the participation of all the Governments of the region and all other parties concerned, and to support the introduction of human rights and humanitarian issues as one of the main themes of this conference; 9. Requests: (a) The Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and a member of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission to carry out a mission of investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to report to the Commission at its sixtieth session and to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; (b) The Secretary-General to give the Special Rapporteurs and the joint mission all necessary assistance to enable them to discharge their mandate fully; (c) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the technical skills needed by the joint mission to discharge its mandate; (d) The Secretary-General to encourage the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to continue to raise the awareness of and provide training to all Mission staff, including civilian police and military personnel, with respect to the relevant child protection standards, in particular when dealing with child soldiers, and to cooperate closely with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; (e) The Secretary-General to encourage the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to continue to actively address the issues of gender, the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and the fight to eliminate violence against women and to provide adequate training to all Mission personnel in this regard; 10. Decides to continue to examine the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requests the Special Rapporteur to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/197 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.1, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/197. International trade and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/182 of 20 December 2000, 56/178 of 21 December 2001 and 57/235 of 20 December 2002 on international trade and development, Recalling also the Plan of Action adopted at the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in Bangkok from 12 to 19 February 2000,TD/390, part II. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, Recalling the provisions of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. pertaining to trade and related development issues, as well as the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Recalling also its resolutions 57/250 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, in which it invited the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as well as the Trade and Development Board, to contribute, within its mandate, to the implementation and to the review of the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and invited the President of the Trade and Development Board to present the outcomes of such reviews to the Economic and Social Council, Taking note of the report of the Meeting of Eminent Persons on Commodity Issues, held in Geneva on 22 and 23 September 2003,A/58/401. and expressing appreciation for the work of the eminent persons, Recalling that, to benefit fully from trade, which in many cases is the single most important external source of development financing, the establishment and the enhancement of appropriate institutions and policies in developing countries, as well as in countries with economies in transition, are needed and that, in this context, enhanced market access, balanced rules and well-targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for developing countries also play important roles, Noting the significant contribution of the multilateral trading system to economic growth, development and employment and the importance of maintaining the process of reform and liberalization of trade policies, as well as the importance of rejecting the use of protectionism, so that the system plays its full part in promoting recovery, growth and development, in particular of developing countries, bearing in mind paragraph 10 of resolution 55/182, Recognizing with concern that the benefits from global economic prosperity and trade liberalization have not fully accrued to all developing countries, Recognizing that a number of developing countries have undertaken significant trade and investment liberalization unilaterally, regionally and/or multilaterally, both within and outside the context of structural adjustment programmes, Reaffirming the urgency, subject to national legislation, of recognizing the rights of local and indigenous communities that are holders of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices and, with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices, of developing and implementing benefit-sharing mechanisms on mutually-agreed terms for the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices, Recognizing that countries must take appropriate and necessary security measures, but also underlining the importance of taking these measures in the manner that is least disruptive of normal trade and related practices, Taking note of the in-depth review undertaken by the Trade and Development Board at its fiftieth session with respect to developments and issues in the post-Doha work programme of particular concern to developing countries, including the outcome of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Cancún, Mexico, from 10 to 14 September 2003,See A/58/15 (Part V), chap. II, sect. B. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No.15. and its contribution to an understanding of the actions required to help developing countries secure beneficial and meaningful integration into the multilateral trading system and the global economy and to achieve a balanced, development-oriented and successful conclusion of the Doha negotiations, Taking note also of the report of the Trade and Development BoardA/58/15 (Parts I-V). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No.15. and the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/414. Noting the proposals made to implement the work programme of the World Trade Organization, including those to liberalize international agricultural and non-agricultural trade, Underlining the development potential of a balanced outcome of the negotiations under the Doha work programme, which reflects the interests of all World Trade Organization members, particularly the developing countries, 1. Reaffirms the great importance of promoting the objectives set out in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of ensuring an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system in pursuit of economic growth and development, fairness and a level playing field as well as human development and poverty eradication goals, and reiterates its commitment to achieving those objectives; 2. Reiterates the commitment made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001, to place development at the heart of the Doha work programme and to continue to make positive efforts to ensure that developing countries, especially the least developed among them, secure a share in the growth of world trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 3. Expresses its concern about the insufficient progress in the Doha negotiations, especially in areas of interest to developing countries, as manifested, inter alia, by missed deadlines in relation to special and differential treatment, implementation-related issues and concerns and modalities for agricultural negotiations; 4. Also expresses its concern about the setback at the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization,See A/58/15 (Part V), chap. II, sect. B. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No.15. and stresses the importance of redoubling efforts in working towards a successful, timely and development-oriented conclusion of the Doha negotiations no later than 1 January 2005 as set out in the Ministerial Declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization ("Doha Ministerial Declaration");Ibid., annex, para. 45. 5. Further expresses its concern about the adverse consequences that the setback of the Fifth Ministerial Conference may have for the multilateral trading system, including a possible surge in protectionist measures; 6. Expresses its concern about the adoption of a number of unilateral actions that are not consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization, harm the exports of all countries, in particular those of developing countries, and have a considerable bearing on the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations and on the achievement and further enhancement of the development dimension of the trade negotiations; 7. Considers that the political will and commitment of World Trade Organization members to address the unresolved questions under the Doha work programme promptly and fully and to focus on the key development issues are essential for bringing the negotiations back on track; 8. Underscores the need for concerted political will and efforts to address the challenges of globalization, including by improving market access and market entry for the export products of particular interest to developing countries so that they can benefit more from the globalization process; 9. Recognizes that it is important for developing countries and countries with economies in transition to consider reducing trade barriers among themselves; 10. Stresses the importance of an open, transparent, inclusive and democratic process and of procedures for the effective functioning of the multilateral trading system that allow for internal transparency and the effective participation of members, including in the decision-making process, and that enable them to have their vital interests duly reflected in the outcome of trade negotiations; 11. Also stresses the need to place the interests and concerns of developing countries at the heart of the Doha work programme and to revive faith in it, and, in this regard, calls upon members of the World Trade Organization to engage in negotiations with a renewed sense of urgency and purpose and to redouble their efforts to achieve a successful outcome of the Doha work programme, including on the following issues of particular interest to the developing countries: (a) The expeditious and appropriate resolution of outstanding implementation issues, consistent with paragraph 12 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration; (b) The completion of the review of all provisions relating to special and differential treatment with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational, recognizing the importance of paragraph 12.1 (i) of the decision on implementation-related issues and concerns of 14 November 2001, adopted by the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization;WT/MIN(01)/17. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. (c) Substantial improvements in market access, the reduction of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies, substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support in agriculture and the expeditious adoption of appropriate modalities for reduction commitments in agriculture negotiations, with operationally effective special and differential treatment and non-trade concerns being taken into account, in accordance with paragraphs 13 and 14 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration; (d) Abusive application of anti-dumping, sanitary and phytosanitary standards and other trade-distorting measures; (e) The positive consideration of trade-related issues pertaining to the commodity sector in the multilateral trading system; (f) An effective solution to address the problems reflected in the sectoral initiative in favour of cotton proposed by a group of African countries within the context of negotiations on agriculture under the Doha work programme; (g) Negotiations on trade in services conducted with a view to promoting the economic growth of all trading partners and the development of developing countries and the least developed countries, without a priori exclusion of any service sector or mode of supply and with special attention given to sectors and modes of supply of export interest to developing countries, recognizing the work already undertaken in the negotiations and the large number of proposals submitted by members on a wide range of sectors and on several horizontal issues, as well as on the movement of natural persons; (h) Appropriate modalities for reduction or elimination commitments in negotiations on market access for non-agricultural products, as provided for in paragraph 16 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, in particular on products of export interest to developing countries, and taking into account the special needs and interests of developing and least developed country participants, including through less than full reciprocity in reduction commitments; (i) The review of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). taking fully into account its development dimension; (j) In accordance with paragraph 16 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, on market access for non-agricultural products, reduction or elimination of high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff escalation, as well as non-tariff barriers, on those products, in particular on products of export interest to developing countries; (k) The clarification and improvement of disciplines in the areas of anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing measures, taking into account the needs of developing countries, including the least developed among them, while preserving the basic concepts, principles and effectiveness of those agreements and their instruments and objectives in non-agricultural market access; (l) The examination, in the context of paragraphs 36 and 37 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, of the relationship between trade, debt and finance and between trade and transfer of technology, and possible recommendations thereon, taking into account their development dimension; (m) Making the World Trade Organization operations more transparent, including through more effective and prompt dissemination of information; 12. Recognizes the crucial role that the expeditious implementation of World Trade Organization agreements and improved World Trade Organization rules, reflective of the development dimension of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, can play with regard to the development opportunities of developing countries and their capacity to integrate into the global economy; 13. Takes note of the provisions of the Doha Ministerial Declaration with respect to the relationship between trade and investment, the interaction between trade and competition policy, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation; 14. Reaffirms that agriculture remains a fundamental and key sector for the overwhelming majority of developing countries, and stresses the importance of a successful conclusion of the Doha work programme in this regard; 15. Also reaffirms the commitment to the full and faithful implementation of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). and calls for further progress in its implementation, which is a necessary and inherent condition of full implementation of the agreements arising from the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations; 16. Further reaffirms that preferences granted to developing countries, pursuant to the "enabling clause",Decision of the Contracting Parties of 28 November 1979 (L/4903). Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. should be generalized, non-reciprocal and non-discriminatory; 17. Reaffirms the need for the implementation of paragraph 4 of the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least Developed and Net Food-importing Developing Countries;See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). 18. Welcomes the decision adopted by the General Council of the World Trade Organization on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public HealthWT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to address the problems faced by countries with insufficient or no manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector in accessing medicines at affordable prices when combating serious public health problems afflicting many developing and least developed countries, especially those resulting from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics, and invites all members to work towards an expeditious and permanent solution to the issue by, inter alia, amending the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights within the agreed time frame, to ensure that the solution will be simple to use, sustainable, predictable and legally secure; 19. Emphasizes that bilateral and regional trade arrangements should contribute to the multilateral trading system, and in this context stresses the importance of clarifying and improving disciplines and procedures under the existing provisions of the World Trade Organization applying to regional trade agreements in accordance with paragraph 29 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, taking into account the implications of those agreements for development, and urges the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandate, to provide technical inputs in this respect; 20. Reaffirms the commitments made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, and at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. in this regard calls upon developed countries that have not already done so to work towards the objective of duty-free, quota-free market access for all least developed country exports, and notes that the consideration of proposals for developing countries to contribute to improved market access for the least developed countries would also be helpful; 21. Welcomes the approval of the accession of Cambodia and Nepal to the World Trade Organization, stresses the importance of facilitating the accession of all developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, that apply for membership in the World Trade Organization, bearing in mind paragraph 21 of resolution 55/182 and subsequent developments, and calls for the effective and faithful application of the World Trade Organization guidelines on accession of the least developed countries; 22. Invites members of the international community to consider the interests of non-members of the World Trade Organization in the context of trade liberalization; 23. Reaffirms the commitment to actively pursue the work programme of the World Trade Organization with respect to addressing the trade-related issues and concerns affecting the fuller integration of countries with small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system in a manner commensurate with their special circumstances and in support of their efforts towards sustainable development, in accordance with paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration; 24. Acknowledges the seriousness of the concerns expressed in the Almaty Programme of Action adopted at the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 28 and 29 August 2003,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor countries and international Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and stresses the need for the special problems and needs of landlocked developing countries, including those contained in paragraph 33 of the Programme of Action, as well as other relevant issues contained in the section on international trade and trade facilitation of the Programme of Action, to be effectively addressed by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach; 25. Notes the health- and environment-related measures that have an impact on exports, stresses that the adoption or enforcement of any measures necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health should not be applied in a manner that would constitute arbitrary or unjustified discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade, and recognizes the importance of capacity-building support to enable developing countries to put in place measures that are appropriate and necessary for meeting standards consistent with those of the World Trade Organization; 26. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and other relevant international organizations to continue to cooperate on trade-related capacity-building in developing countries, including, as appropriate, under the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries and the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme; 27. Requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to continue its work, within its mandate, on trade-related issues and policies, from the development perspective, including its contribution to the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and notes its work on development benchmarks of the international trading system and trade negotiations;See TD/B/50/8, sect. III. 28. Reiterates the importance of supporting United Nations Conference on Trade and Development programmes of technical cooperation and capacity-building that assist developing countries, especially the least developed countries, countries with economies in transition and countries with small and vulnerable economies, in particular those programmes that support their participation in the Doha work programme, in accordance with the technical cooperation strategy of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 29. Emphasizes the importance of and invites Member States to support the activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and invites donors and other countries in a position to do so to continue to provide the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development with the resources necessary to effectively implement its technical cooperation activities by giving priority to longer-term sustainable activities, particularly through multi-year funding mechanisms and inter-divisional operations based on the thematic priorities set by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in its work programme; 30. Takes note of the substantive item of the provisional agenda of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,A/58/15 (Part V), annex II. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No.15. to be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, entitled "Enhancing coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, particularly of developing countries", and in this context stresses the importance of the role and mandate of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 31. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on developments in the multilateral trading system under the sub-item entitled "International trade and development". RESOLUTION 58/198 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.1, para. 12),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 125 to 1, with 37 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 58/198. Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. which states, inter alia, that no State may use or encourage the use of unilateral economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Bearing in mind the general principles governing the international trading system and trade policies for development contained in relevant resolutions, rules and provisions of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, Recalling its resolutions 44/215 of 22 December 1989, 46/210 of 20 December 1991, 48/168 of 21 December 1993, 50/96 of 20 December 1995, 52/181 of 18 December 1997, 54/200 of 22 December 1999 and 56/179 of 21 December 2001, Gravely concerned that the use of unilateral coercive economic measures adversely affects the economy and development efforts of developing countries in particular and has a general negative impact on international economic cooperation and on worldwide efforts to move towards a non-discriminatory and open multilateral trading system, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/301. 2. Urges the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries that are not authorized by relevant organs of the United Nations or are inconsistent with the principles of international law as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and that contravene the basic principles of the multilateral trading system; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the imposition of measures of this nature and to study the impact of such measures on the affected countries, including the impact on trade and development; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/199 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/199. Creation of a global culture of cybersecurity and the protection of critical information infrastructures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 57/239 of 20 December 2002 on the creation of a global culture of cybersecurity, 55/63 of 4 December 2000 and 56/121 of 19 December 2001 on establishing the legal basis for combating the criminal misuse of information technologies, and 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001 and 57/53 of 22 November 2002 on developments in the field of information and tele-communications in the context of international security, Recognizing the growing importance of information technologies for the promotion of socio-economic development and the provision of essential goods and services, the conduct of business and the exchange of information for Governments, businesses, other organizations and individual users, Noting the increasing links among most countries' critical infrastructures - such as those used for, inter alia, the generation, transmission and distribution of energy, air and maritime transport, banking and financial services, e-commerce, water supply, food distribution and public health - and the critical information infrastructures that increasingly interconnect and affect their operations, Recognizing that each country will determine its own critical information infrastructures, Recognizing also that this growing technological interdependence relies on a complex network of critical information infrastructure components, Noting that, as a result of increasing interconnectivity, critical information infrastructures are now exposed to a growing number and a wider variety of threats and vulnerabilities that raise new security concerns, Noting also that effective critical infrastructure protection includes, inter alia, identifying threats to and reducing the vulnerability of critical information infrastructures, minimizing damage and recovery time in the event of damage or attack, and identifying the cause of damage or the source of attack, Recognizing that effective protection requires communication and cooperation nationally and internationally among all stakeholders and that national efforts should be supported by effective, substantive international and regional cooperation among stakeholders, Recognizing also that gaps in access to and the use of information technologies by States can diminish the effectiveness of cooperation in combating the criminal misuse of information technology and in creating a global culture of cybersecurity, and noting the need to facilitate the transfer of information technologies, in particular to developing countries, Recognizing further the importance of international cooperation for achieving cybersecurity and the protection of critical information infrastructures through the support of national efforts aimed at the enhancement of human capacity, increased learning and employment opportunities, improved public services and better quality of life by taking advantage of advanced, reliable and secure information and communication technologies and networks and by promoting universal access, Noting the work of relevant international and regional organizations on enhancing the security of critical information infrastructures, Recognizing that efforts to protect critical information infrastructures should be undertaken with due regard for applicable national laws concerning privacy protection and other relevant legislation, 1. Takes note of the elements set out in the annex to the present resolution for protecting critical information infrastructures; 2. Invites all relevant international organizations, including relevant United Nations bodies, to consider, as appropriate, inter alia, these elements for protecting critical information infrastructures in any future work on cybersecurity or critical infrastructure protection; 3. Invites Member States to consider, inter alia, these elements in developing their strategies for reducing risks to critical information infrastructures, in accordance with national laws and regulations; 4. Invites Member States and all relevant international organizations to take, inter alia, these elements and the need for critical information infrastructure protection into account in their preparations for the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005; 5. Encourages Member States and relevant regional and international organizations that have developed strategies to deal with cybersecurity and the protection of critical information infrastructures to share their best practices and measures that could assist other Member States in their efforts to facilitate the achievement of cybersecurity; 6. Stresses the necessity for enhanced efforts to close the digital divide, to achieve universal access to information and communication technologies and to protect critical information infrastructures by facilitating the transfer of information technology and capacity-building, in particular to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, so that all States may benefit fully from information and communication technologies for their socio-economic development. Annex Elements for protecting critical information infrastructures 1. Have emergency warning networks regarding cyber-vulnerabilities, threats and incidents. 2. Raise awareness to facilitate stakeholders' understanding of the nature and extent of their critical information infrastructures and the role each must play in protecting them. 3. Examine infrastructures and identify interdependencies among them, thereby enhancing the protection of such infrastructures. 4. Promote partnerships among stakeholders, both public and private, to share and analyse critical infrastructure information in order to prevent, investigate and respond to damage to or attacks on such infrastructures. 5. Create and maintain crisis communication networks and test them to ensure that they will remain secure and stable in emergency situations. 6. Ensure that data availability policies take into account the need to protect critical information infrastructures. 7. Facilitate the tracing of attacks on critical information infrastructures and, where appropriate, the disclosure of tracing information to other States. 8. Conduct training and exercises to enhance response capabilities and to test continuity and contingency plans in the event of an information infrastructure attack, and encourage stakeholders to engage in similar activities. 9. Have adequate substantive and procedural laws and trained personnel to enable States to investigate and prosecute attacks on critical information infrastructures and to coordinate such investigations with other States, as appropriate. 10. Engage in international cooperation, when appropriate, to secure critical information infrastructures, including by developing and coordinating emergency warning systems, sharing and analysing information regarding vulnerabilities, threats and incidents and coordinating investigations of attacks on such infrastructures in accordance with domestic laws. 11. Promote national and international research and development and encourage the application of security technologies that meet international standards. RESOLUTION 58/19 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 98 to 6, with 63 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.24 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 58/19. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/58/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 57/108 of 3 December 2002, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 57/108; 2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the organization of meetings and conferences in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and the provision of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks; 6. Requests the Committee and the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity. RESOLUTIONS 58/1 A and B 58/1. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations Resolution A Adopted at the 34th plenary meeting, on 16 October 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/432, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. A The General Assembly, Having considered the letter dated 3 July 2003 from the President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee transmitting a letter dated 27 June 2003 from the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions regarding the recommendations of that Committee on requests for exemption under Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations,A/C.5/57/39. Having also considered the letter dated 1 October 2003 from the President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee transmitting a letter dated 26 September 2003 from the Permanent Representative of the Niger to the United Nations,A/C.5/58/4. Reaffirming the obligation of Member States under Article 17 of the Charter to bear the expenses of the Organization as apportioned by the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms its resolution 54/237 C of 23 December 1999; 3. Agrees that the failure of Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control, while noting the observations in paragraphs 82 and 90 of the annex to the letter from the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions;A/C.5/57/39. 4. Takes note of the information provided by the Niger, and welcomes its intention to submit a schedule for the payment of its contributions and arrears; 5. Concludes that the failure of the Niger to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond its control, and invites the Niger to submit appropriate information to the Committee on Contributions if similar circumstances prevail in the future; 6. Decides that Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, the Niger, the Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until 30 June 2004. Resolution B Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/432/Add.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. B The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 43/223 B of 21 December 1988, 46/221 B of 20 December 1991, 55/5 B, C and D of 23 December 2000, 57/4 B of 20 December 2002 and 57/4 C of 15 April 2003, Having considered the report of the Committee on Contributions on the work of its sixty-third session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/58/11). Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plansA/58/63. and his note on the outstanding assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia,A/58/189. as well as the letter dated 27 December 2001 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly,A/56/767. Reaffirming the obligation of all Member States to bear the expenses of the United Nations, as apportioned by the General Assembly, in conformity with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental principle that the expenses of the Organization shall be apportioned among Member States broadly according to capacity to pay, 1. Reaffirms its earlier decision in its resolution 55/5 B that the elements of the scale of assessments outlined in paragraph 1 of that resolution will be fixed until 2006; 2. Resolves that the scale of assessments for the contributions of Member States to the regular budget of the United Nations for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 shall be as follows: 3. Also resolves that: (a) Notwithstanding the terms of financial regulation 3.9,See ST/SGB/2003/7. the Secretary-General shall be empowered to accept, at his discretion and after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions, a portion of the contributions of Member States for the calendar years 2004, 2005 and 2006 in currencies other than the United States dollar; (b) In accordance with financial regulation 3.8,See ST/SGB/2003/7. the Holy See, which is not a Member of the United Nations but which participates in certain of its activities, shall be called upon to contribute towards the expenses of the Organization for 2004, 2005 and 2006 on the basis of a notional assessment rate of 0.001 per cent, which represents the basis for the calculation of the flat annual fees to be charged to the Holy See in accordance with General Assembly resolution 44/197 B of 21 December 1989; 4. Notes that the application of the current methodology, as set out above, leads to substantial increases in the rate of assessment of some Member States, including developing countries; 5. Emphasizes the need for future scales of assessments to reflect the principle that the expenses of the Organization shall be apportioned broadly according to capacity to pay; 6. Requests the Committee on Contributions, in accordance with its mandate and the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, to continue to review the methodology of future scales of assessments based on the principle that the expenses of the Organization shall be apportioned broadly according to capacity to pay; 7. Recalls paragraph 7 of its resolution 54/237 D of 7 April 2000, and requests the Committee on Contributions to continue its consideration of possible systematic criteria for deciding when market exchange rates should be replaced with price-adjusted rates of exchange or other appropriate conversion rates for the purposes of preparing the scale of assessments, taking into account the relevant provisions of resolution 46/221 B, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 8. Requests the Committee on Contributions to continue to make a thorough analysis of the revised method of calculating price-adjusted rates of exchange and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 9. Recalls paragraph 1 of its resolution 48/223 C of 23 December 1993, and reaffirms that the Committee on Contributions as a technical body is required to prepare the scale of assessments strictly on the basis of reliable, verifiable and comparable data; 10. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plans;A/58/63. 11. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing conditions; 12. Reaffirms paragraph 1 of resolution 57/4 B; 13. Notes the decision of the Committee on Contributions, contained in paragraph 130 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/58/11). to consider further at its sixty-fourth session the question of measures to encourage the payment of arrears, and requests the Committee to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 14. Endorses the preliminary observations of the Committee on Contributions concerning criteria for ad hoc adjustments of the rates of assessment, contained in paragraphs 45 and 47 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/58/11). 15. Notes the decision of the Committee on Contributions to consider the question further at its sixty-fourth session, and requests the Committee to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 16. Reaffirms paragraph 4 of its resolution 57/4 B, and urges the Committee on Contributions to expedite its work on the criteria regarding ad hoc adjustments of the rates of assessment; 17. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions contained in paragraph 122 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/58/11). 18. Decides to defer until its fifty-ninth session consideration of the question of the outstanding assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia. RESOLUTION 58/200 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/200. Science and technology for development The General Assembly, Recognizing the role that international cooperation on science and technology can play in addressing the technological gap and the digital divide between the North and the South, Recognizing also the importance of North-South as well as South-South cooperation in the field of science and technology, Recognizing further the vital role of new and emerging technologies in raising the productivity and competitiveness of nations and the need, inter alia, for capacity-building, measures promoting the transfer and diffusion of technologies to developing countries, and the promotion of private sector activities and public awareness of science and technology, Reaffirming the need to enhance the science and technology activities of the organizations of the United Nations system and the role of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development in providing policy guidance, in particular on issues of relevance to developing countries, Recognizing the role of information and communication technologies in promoting development as an important step towards addressing the challenges of bridging the digital divide, and in this regard welcoming the convening of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, and its second phase, to be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005, Welcoming the Commission's selection of the substantive theme "Promoting the application of science and technology to meet the development goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration", for its work during the intersessional period 2003-2004, as welcomed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2003/56 of 24 July 2003, Noting with appreciation the Commission's work during its intersessional period 2001-2003 on its theme "Technology development and capacity-building for competitiveness in a digital society", in particular the information and communication technologies development indices, which serve as an important contribution to the preparation of the World Summit on the Information Society, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the impact of new biotechnologies, with particular attention to sustainable development, including food security, health and economic productivity,A/58/76. Taking note also of Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/56, in which the Council invited the Commission to interact closely with the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force to promote greater information exchange and coordination of activities in the field of information and communication technologies in order to contribute to the World Summit on the Information Society, 1. Urges the relevant bodies of the United Nations system engaged in biotechnology to work cooperatively so as to ensure that countries receive sound scientific information and practical advice to enable them to take advantage of these technologies, as appropriate, to promote economic growth and development; 2. Takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General for an integrated framework for biotechnology development within the United Nations system, as contained in his report,A/58/76. and requests him to report further on the status of coordination between the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with a view to strengthening the coordination of activities in the area of biotechnology, in particular in the promotion of biotechnology within the United Nations system; 3. Also takes note of the publication entitled Information and Communication Technology Development Indices,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.D.14. and invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force and the International Telecommunication Union, to update that publication as part of its contribution to the World Summit on the Information Society, recalling General Assembly resolution 56/183 of 21 December 2001, in which the Assembly encouraged effective contributions from and the active participation of all relevant United Nations bodies; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that the Commission and its secretariat within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development are provided with the necessary resources to enable the Commission to better carry out its mandate; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/201 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/201. Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/180 of 21 December 2001, in which it requested the Secretary-General to convene in 2003 the international ministerial meeting now known as the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, as well as its resolution 57/242 of 20 December 2002, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation;A/58/388. 2. Expresses its deep appreciation to the Government of Kazakhstan for hosting the International Ministerial Conference in Almaty on 28 and 29 August 2003; 3. Endorses the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing CountriesReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor countries and international Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and the Almaty Declaration,Ibid., annex II. adopted by the International Ministerial Conference; 4. Calls for full and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation"; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action. RESOLUTION 58/202 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.4, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/202. International financial system and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/186 of 20 December 2000 and 56/181 of 21 December 2001, both entitled "Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity", as well as its resolution 57/241 of 20 December 2002, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"), adopted on 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Emphasizing that the international financial system should support sustainable development, sustained economic growth and poverty reduction while allowing for the coherent mobilization of all sources of financing for development, including the mobilization of domestic resources, international investment flows, official development assistance, external debt relief and an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory global trading system, Reiterating that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends on good governance within each country and at the international level, and stressing that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation, Reiterating also the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting development, Welcoming the growing interaction between the United Nations and the international financial and trade institutions, consistent with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with related agreements,Related agreements include the agreements of 15 April 1948 between the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 16, No. 108) and the United Nations and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ibid., vol. 16, No. 109). Encouraging further progress on the issue of participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making and norm-setting processes, including those of the Bretton Woods institutions and other economic and financial institutions and ad hoc groupings, while welcoming the steps that have been taken with a view to strengthening the capacity of developing countries to participate effectively in the international financial institutions, Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the coherence, governance and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems, and the importance of ensuring their openness, fairness and inclusiveness in order to complement national development efforts to ensure sustained economic growth and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/369. 2. Recognizes the increasing initial signs that economic activity is gradually strengthening in many economies, while noting with concern the unevenness of the recovery of the global economy, which challenges efforts of developing countries to eradicate poverty and ensure sustained economic growth, and stresses the importance of cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to cope with risks of financial instability and ensure a strong and steady recovery; 3. Invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized economies, to take into account the effect of their macroeconomic policies on international growth and development; 4. Recognizes the concern about the fact that in 2002 developing countries as a whole made net outward transfers of financial resources for the sixth consecutive year, and underscores the need for measures, as appropriate, at the national and international levels to address this issue, while taking note of the efforts that have been made thus far to this end and of the fact that for some developing countries those transfers, at the present time, indicate positive developments in the trade balance, which are required, inter alia, for debt repayment and which allow for the purchase of foreign assets; 5. Underlines the importance of adopting effective measures, including new financial mechanisms, as appropriate, to support the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable development, poverty reduction and the strengthening of their democratic systems, while reaffirming that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that national policies have the leading role in the development process; 6. Stresses the importance of strong domestic institutions to promote business activities and financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors, and also stresses that international cooperation initiatives in those areas should encourage flows of capital to developing countries; 7. Underlines the importance of promoting international financial stability and sustainable growth, and welcomes the efforts undertaken to this end by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Forum, as well as the International Monetary and Financial Committee's consideration of ways to sharpen tools designed to promote international financial stability and enhance crisis prevention, including through an even-handed implementation of surveillance and a sharpening of surveillance on capital markets and systemically and regionally important countries, with a view, inter alia, to early identification of problems and risks and the fostering of appropriate policy responses; the provision of adequate precautionary support to deal with external crises; and further improvements in the transparency of macroeconomic data and statistical information on international capital flows; 8. Reiterates in this regard that measures to mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows and to improve transparency of and information about financial flows are important and must be considered; 9. Notes the impact of financial crises and risks of contagion on developing countries and countries with economies in transition, regardless of their size, and underlines the need to ensure that the international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, have a suitable array of financial facilities and resources to respond in a timely and appropriate way, in accordance with their policies, to such crises; 10. Notes also the importance of advancing current efforts to reform the international financial architecture, as envisaged in the Monterrey Consensus,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. emphasizes that those efforts need to include the effective participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and in this regard encourages the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to continue examining the issues of the voice and effective participation of those countries, as provided for in the communiqués of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and the Development Committee at their last meetings, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 21 and 22 September 2003, and looks forward to the consideration of a road map on the issue at their next meeting, in April 2004; 11. Welcomes the ongoing work of the International Monetary Fund on quotas, and notes the conclusion of the Fund's Twelfth General Review of Quotas, the report on which indicated the adequacy of the current level of Fund resources and the intention of the Executive Board, during the period of the Thirteenth General Review, to monitor closely and assess the adequacy of Fund resources, to consider measures to achieve a distribution of quotas that reflects developments in the world economy and to consider measures to strengthen the governance of the Fund; 12. Emphasizes that it is essential to ensure the effective and equitable participation of developing countries in the formulation of financial standards and codes, and underscores the need to ensure their implementation, on a voluntary and progressive basis, as a contribution to reducing vulnerability to financial crisis and contagion; 13. Invites the multilateral and regional development banks and development funds to continue to play a vital role in serving the development needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including through coordinated action, as appropriate, and stresses that strengthened regional development banks and subregional financial institutions add flexible financial support to national and regional development efforts, enhancing their ownership and overall efficiency, and are an essential source of knowledge and expertise for their developing country members; 14. Calls upon multilateral financial institutions, in providing policy advice and financial support to member countries, to work on the basis of nationally-owned reform and development strategies, to pay due regard to the special needs and implementing capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and to minimize the negative impacts of the adjustment programmes on the vulnerable segments of society, while taking into account the importance of gender-sensitive employment and poverty eradication policies and strategies; 15. Reiterates the importance of the orderly resolution of sovereign debt crises, notes the increasing voluntary use of collective action clauses in international sovereign bonds, and takes note of the efforts led by sovereign debtors and private creditors to develop a voluntary code of conduct for the resolution of sovereign debt crises; 16. Encourages the efforts, including those of the Bretton Woods institutions, to improve the assessment of debt sustainability in low- and middle-income countries through, inter alia, the development of better tools to deal with exogenous shocks and the need to take country-specific factors into account; 17. Also encourages the consideration of proposals to generate innovative public and private mechanisms for financing development, without unduly burdening developing countries, and the study, in the appropriate forums, of the results of the analysis requested from the Secretary-General on possible innovative sources of finance, taking note of the proposal to use special drawing rights allocations for development purposes, bearing in mind that any assessment of special drawing rights allocations must respect the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund and the established rules of procedure of the Fund, which requires taking into account the global need for liquidity at the international level; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "International financial system and development". RESOLUTION 58/203 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.5, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/203. External debt crisis and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/164 of 16 December 1996, 52/185 of 18 December 1997, 53/175 of 15 December 1998, 54/202 of 22 December 1999, 55/184 of 20 December 2000, 56/184 of 21 December 2001 and 57/240 of 20 December 2002 on enhancing international cooperation towards a durable solution to the external debt problems of developing countries, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which recognizes sustainable debt financing as an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, Recalling its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Concerned that the current global economic recovery is uneven but determined to ensure that it leads to sustained world economic growth, to sustainable development and to a durable solution of the external debt problems of developing countries, Noting in this regard that the total debt stock of the developing countries rose from 1,421.6 billion dollars in 1990 to 2,384.2 billion dollars in 2002, Noting with great concern that the continuing debt and debt-servicing problems of the heavily indebted poor developing countries constitute one of the many elements that adversely affect their sustainable development efforts, and bearing in mind their impact on the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Noting with concern the fact that some highly indebted, low- and middle-income developing countries continue to face serious difficulties in meeting their external debt-servicing obligations, which constitutes an element that seriously constrains their efforts to ensure sustained economic growth and sustainable development, Noting that, in 2002, developing countries as a whole made net outward transfers of financial resources for the sixth consecutive year, and underscoring the need for measures, as appropriate, at the national and international levels to address this issue to enhance the prospects for debt sustainability, while noting also the fact that for some developing countries those transfers, at the present time, indicate positive developments in the trade balance, and were required, inter alia, for debt repayment, Convinced that enhanced market access for goods and services of export interest to developing countries contributes significantly to debt sustainability in developing countries, Welcoming the positive impact of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, while recognizing that significant challenges remain, and inviting all developed bilateral creditors to forgive on a unilateral basis up to 100 per cent of all remaining claims after HIPC debt relief, Welcoming also the actions taken by creditor countries within the framework of the Paris Club and by some creditor countries through the cancellation of bilateral debts, urging all creditor countries to participate in efforts to remedy the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, and noting the Evian Approach of the Paris Club of October 2003 and that debt relief does not replace alternative sources of financing, Emphasizing the important role that private sector creditors play in debt relief and debt sustainability, Welcoming the call in the communiqué issued by the joint International Monetary Fund/World Bank Development Committee on 22 September 2003 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, urging all official and commercial creditors to participate in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, Recognizing the current debate on sovereign debt restructuring, especially the efforts led by sovereign debtors and private creditors to develop a voluntary code of conduct, and stressing that modalities for sovereign debt restructuring should be voluntary, market-friendly and flexible, with due consideration of the specific circumstances of individual countries, and should result from the participation of all relevant stakeholders, Noting the increasing voluntary use of collective action clauses in sovereign bond contracts by both developing and developed countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/290. 2. Reaffirms the determination, as expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of low- and middle-income developing countries, through various national and international measures designed to make their debt sustainable in the long term; 3. Emphasizes that the international financial system, along with enhanced official and private external financing and foreign direct investment, are key elements for a durable solution to the external debt problems of developing countries; 4. Stresses that sustainable debt financing is an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, and that national comprehensive strategies to monitor and manage the external liabilities embedded in the domestic preconditions for debt sustainability, including sound macroeconomic policies and public resource management, are a key element in reducing national vulnerabilities; 5. Welcomes the World Trade Organization Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance and its mandate to examine the relationship between trade, debt and finance so as to enhance the capacity of the multilateral trading system to contribute to a durable solution to the problem of external indebtedness of the developing and least developed countries, and to strengthen the coherence of international trade and financial policies, with a view to safeguarding the multilateral trading system from the effects of financial and monetary instability, and takes note of its report of 11 July 2003 to the General Council of the World Trade Organization;WT/WGTDF/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 6. Recognizes that creditors and debtors must share the responsibility for preventing and resolving unsustainable debt situations and that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with attaining poverty eradication, sustainable economic growth and sustainable development and with the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 7. Stresses that debt sustainability depends upon a confluence of many factors at the international and national levels, underscores that no single indicator should be used to make definitive judgements about debt sustainability, and emphasizes that country circumstances should be taken into account; 8. Recalls the call upon industrialized countries, as expressed in the Millennium Declaration, to implement the enhanced programme of debt relief for the heavily indebted poor countries without further delay and to agree to cancel all official bilateral debts of those countries in return for their making demonstrable commitments to poverty reduction, and in this regard welcomes the decision of those countries that have already taken action to do so, emphasizing that debt relief complementary to the framework should be treated as additional; 9. Calls upon those heavily indebted poor countries that have not already done so, to take, as soon as possible, the policy measures necessary to become eligible for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and to reach the decision point, inter alia, through the formulation of poverty reduction strategies, where they exist; 10. Stresses the need to pursue, where appropriate, debt relief measures vigorously and expeditiously, by all creditors, including within the Paris and London Clubs and other relevant forums, and welcomes other bilateral initiatives that have been undertaken to reduce outstanding indebtedness, so as to contribute to debt sustainability and facilitate sustainable development; 11. Calls upon the international community, including the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions as well as the private sector to take appropriate measures and actions for the implementation of the commitments, agreements and decisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits, in particular those relating to the question of the external debt problem of developing countries, and in this regard stresses the need: (a) To implement speedily, effectively and fully the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, which should be fully financed through additional resources, while stressing the need for fair, equitable and transparent burden-sharing among the international public creditor community and other donor countries, and take into consideration, as appropriate, measures to address any fundamental changes in the economic circumstances of those developing countries that have an unsustainable debt burden, including those caused by natural catastrophes, severe terms-of-trade shocks or conflict, taking into account initiatives that have been undertaken to reduce outstanding indebtedness; (b) To continue to bring about a sustained commitment on the part of the heavily indebted poor countries to improvements in domestic policies and economic management, to support capacity-building for the management of financial assets and liabilities, to ensure full participation and delivery of relief by all affected creditors, to ensure adequate and sufficiently concessional financing by international financing institutions and the donor community, and to further explore options to address the difficult issues of HIPC-to-HIPC debt relief and creditor litigation; (c) To continue to bring together international debtors and creditors in relevant international forums to restructure unsustainable debt in a timely and efficient manner, taking into account the need to involve the private sector in the resolution of crises; (d) To acknowledge the problems of the debt sustainability of some low-income countries that are not heavily indebted, in particular those facing exceptional circumstances, and in this regard to note the tailored treatment for non-HIPC developing debtor countries adopted by the Paris Club to ensure that debt restructuring provides non-HIPC debtor countries with a debt treatment that reflects their financial needs and the objective of ensuring long-lasting debt sustainability; (e) To reduce the unsustainable debt burden of developing countries through such actions as debt relief and, as appropriate, debt cancellation and other innovative mechanisms geared to comprehensively addressing the debt problems of developing countries, in particular the poorest and most heavily indebted ones; (f) To encourage exploring innovative mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problems of developing countries, including middle-income countries, and countries with economies in transition; such mechanisms may include debt-for-sustainable-development swaps, or multi-creditor debt swap arrangements, as appropriate; (g) To establish effective debt-tracking mechanisms in developing countries and strengthen technical assistance for external debt management and debt tracking, including through enhanced cooperation and coordination between organizations providing assistance in this regard; (h) To take steps to ensure that resources provided for debt relief do not detract from official development assistance resources intended to be available for developing countries and that the debt-relief arrangements seek to avoid imposing any unfair burden on other developing countries; (i) To welcome consideration by all relevant stakeholders of an international debt-work-out mechanism, in the appropriate forums, the adoption of which should not preclude emergency financing in times of crisis, to promote fair burden-sharing and minimize moral hazard, which will engage debtors and creditors to come together to restructure unsustainable debts in a timely and efficient manner; (j) To establish a set of clear principles for the management and resolution of financial crises that provide for fair burden-sharing between the public and private sectors and among debtors, creditors and investors, while recognizing that a flexible mix of instruments is needed to respond appropriately to the varying economic circumstances and capacities of different countries; 12. Stresses the importance of continued flexibility with regard to the eligibility criteria for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, in particular for countries in post-conflict situations, and the need to keep the computational procedures and assumptions underlying debt sustainability analysis under review; 13. Emphasizes the need to help to bring about initial recovery in heavily indebted poor post-conflict countries, in coordination with the international financial institutions, to help clear, as appropriate, the arrears of those countries vis-à-vis international financial institutions; 14. Reaffirms that reviews of debt sustainability should also bear in mind the impact of debt relief on progress towards the achievement of the development goals set out in the Millennium Declaration and the fact that debt sustainability analysis at the completion point needs to take into account any change in the global growth prospects or in the terms of trade, especially for commodity export developing countries; 15. Notes that it is important for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to continue their efforts to strengthen the transparency and integrity of debt sustainability analysis and to consider any fundamental changes in countries' debt sustainability caused by natural catastrophes, severe terms-of-trade shocks or conflict when making policy recommendations, including for debt relief, as appropriate; 16. Stresses the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of developing countries in debt management, calls upon the international community to support the efforts made towards this end, and in this regard stresses the importance of such initiatives as the Debt Management and Financial Analysis System,The Debt Management and Financial Analysis System is a computerized system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition to develop appropriate administrative, institutional and legal structures for effective foreign and domestic public debt management. By December 2002, the system had been installed in the debt offices of sixty countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. the International Monetary Fund and World Bank guidelines for public debt management,Available from www.imf.org/external/np/mae/pdebt/2000/eng. and the debt-management capacity-building programme; 17. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in cooperation with the regional banks, regional commissions and multilateral institutions, to study the possibility of creating a consultative group on external debt management aimed at developing best practices and strengthening the institutional capacity of developing countries in debt management, taking into account work that has already been done; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries, inter alia, those resulting from global financial instability; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "External debt crisis and development". RESOLUTION 58/204 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/481/Add.6, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/204. Commodities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/236 of 20 December 2002, and stressing the urgent need to ensure its full implementation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010See A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. and the Least Developed Countries Report, 2002,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.D.13. Taking note also of the Ministerial Declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. Taking note further of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Taking note of the targets set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action of the World Food SummitFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the outcome document of the World Food Summit: five years later,Ibid., Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. which reaffirms the pledge to end hunger, Taking note also of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Taking note further of the report of the Trade and Development Board on its fiftieth sessionA/58/15 (Part V). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 15 . and the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on world commodity trends and prospects,A/57/381, annex. containing recommendations for specific actions relating to the particular needs and problems of commodity-dependent developing countries, Mindful of the opportunity that the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, will offer for the further consideration of proposals to address commodity issues within the framework of the links among trade, investment and finance, Mindful also that, in 2004, the International Monetary Fund will review its role in assisting low-income countries over the medium term, Taking note of the summary by the President of the General Assembly of the open-ended panel of the Assembly on commodities,A/58/615, annex. 1. Takes note of the report of the Meeting of Eminent Persons on Commodity Issues, held at Geneva on 22 and 23 September 2003,A/58/401. and expresses appreciation for the work of the eminent persons; 2. Emphasizes the need for efforts by the developing countries that are heavily dependent on primary commodities to continue to promote a domestic policy and an institutional environment that encourage diversification and liberalization of the trade and export sectors and enhance competitiveness; 3. Encourages donor Governments and organizations to increase their financial and technical support for activities aimed at addressing commodity issues, in particular the needs and problems of commodity-dependent developing countries; 4. Stresses the importance of a speedy resumption and successful conclusion of the work programme adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. taking into account the needs of the commodity-dependent developing countries; 5. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant bodies and organs of the United Nations system to continue to mainstream and accord high priority to programmes on commodity-related issues within their respective mandates; 6. Welcomes regular consideration of commodity issues by the Trade and Development Board of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 7. Invites non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to initiate programmes of assistance and other innovative initiatives in support of commodity-dependent developing countries; 8. Notes the relevance to appropriate governing bodies in the United Nations system and to international commodity bodies of the report of the Meeting of Eminent Persons on Commodity Issues, as well as the summary of discussions in the Trade and Development Board and the Second Committee of the General Assembly, which highlight the importance of finding lasting solutions to the problems faced by commodity-dependent developing countries in their pursuit of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 9. Urges Governments and invites international financial institutions to continue to assess the effectiveness, including the operationalization and user-friendliness, of the systems for compensatory financing of export-earnings shortfalls, and in this regard stresses the importance of empowering developing-country commodity producers to insure themselves against risk, including natural disasters; 10. Invites donor countries and development partners to support the efforts of commodity-dependent developing countries to add value to their products, and reiterates the importance of making progress on the Doha work programme to ensure the sustainability of those efforts; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake further open and transparent discussions with all relevant stakeholders on enhancing the impact of the set of existing instruments to support commodity-dependent developing countries in their efforts to diversify their exports, overcome supply-side constraints, strengthen institutions and build knowledge and technical capacity; 12. Calls upon the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and invites other relevant bodies and organs of the United Nations system, as well as other relevant international organizations, to strengthen coherently and within their respective mandates their capacity-building and technical cooperation activities in the fields of policy design and implementation, institution-building, management and utilization of commodity revenues, management of price risk and improvement of supply capacities, including the ability to satisfy quality and other requirements for market entry, and to enhance activities aimed at South-South cooperation in the field of commodities, share experiences and identify best practices for dealing with oversupply situations; 13. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and all relevant international organizations to continue to analyse trends in commodities and their impact on the development of commodity-dependent developing countries, including on debt sustainability; 14. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the Common Fund for Commodities and all other relevant organizations to provide useful, timely, accurate, comprehensive and user-friendly information and analysis on commodities and to enable the use of this information by commodity-dependent developing countries; 15. Requests the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to undertake, within existing budgetary resources, initiatives and activities to raise awareness of the commodities issue and keep it a high priority of Governments, the international community, media, academia and all other relevant stakeholders; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account the provisions of Assembly resolution 57/236. RESOLUTION 58/205 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/482, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/205. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/205 of 22 December 1999 and its resolutions 56/186 of 21 December 2001 and 57/244 of 20 December 2002, both on preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin, Recalling also the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which underlined that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority, and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Deeply concerned about the seriousness of problems posed by continuing corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and return of such funds and assets to the countries of origin, which may endanger the stability and security of societies, undermine the values of democracy and civil ethics and jeopardize sustainable and political development, in particular when an inadequate national and international response leads to impunity, Taking note of the global study on the transfer of funds of illicit origin, especially funds derived from acts of corruption, submitted to the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption,A/AC.261/12. which noted the substantial amounts of money involved, the economic hardships for countries that are victims of such corruption and the enormous obstacles to recovery faced by those countries, Noting that Member States have different institutional arrangements and capacities to ensure the implementation of legislation on preventing corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets to the countries of origin, Considering that the prevention of corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and the return of such assets to the countries of origin have not been adequately regulated by all national legislations and international legal instruments, Emphasizing the responsibilities of all Governments to enact laws aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and return of such assets to the countries of origin, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such assets to the countries of origin;A/58/125. 2. Welcomes the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;Resolution 55/25, annex I. 3. Notes with appreciation the report of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption on the work of its first to seventh sessions;A/58/422 and Add.1. 4. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption;See resolution 58/4. 5. Also welcomes the participation of Member States at a high level, including at the ministerial level, in the High-level Political Conference for the Purpose of Signing the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held at Merida, Mexico, from 9 to 11 December 2003;A/CONF.205/2. 6. Invites all Member States and competent regional economic integration organizations to sign, ratify and fully implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption as soon as possible in order to ensure its rapid entry into force; 7. Encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to enact laws to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of illicitly acquired assets and for the return of such assets to the countries of origin, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 8. Also encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to require financial institutions to properly implement comprehensive due diligence and vigilance programmes that could facilitate transparency and prevent the placement of illicitly acquired funds; 9. Encourages subregional and regional cooperation, where appropriate, in the efforts to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin and for the return of such assets to the countries of origin; 10. Calls for further international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in support of national, subregional and regional efforts to prevent and address the transfer of assets of illicit origin, as well as to return such assets to the countries of origin; 11. Requests the international community to provide, inter alia, technical assistance to support national efforts to strengthen human and institutional capacity aimed at preventing corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin, returning such assets to the countries of origin and formulating strategies for mainstreaming and promoting transparency and integrity in both the public and private sector; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session a sub-item entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds and assets of illicit origin and returning such funds and assets to the countries of origin". RESOLUTION 58/206 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/483/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/206. Women in development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/195 of 18 December 1997, 54/210 of 22 December 1999 and 56/188 of 21 December 2001 and all its other resolutions on the integration of women in development, and the relevant resolutions and agreed conclusions, including those on women in the economy,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1997, Supplement No. 7 (E/1997/27), chap. I, sect. C.1, agreed conclusions 1997/3. adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, Recalling also the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolutions S-23/2, annex, and S-23/3, annex. Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which affirms that the equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured, and calls for, inter alia, the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women as being effective and essential in the combat of poverty, hunger and disease and in stimulating development that is truly sustainable, Reaffirming also that gender equality is of fundamental importance for achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and recent United Nations conferences, and that investing in the development of women and girls has a multiplier effect, in particular on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth, Recognizing the significant contribution that women make to the economy and the major force that they represent for change and development in all sectors of the economy, especially in key areas such as agriculture, industry and services, Reaffirming that women are key contributors to the economy and to combating poverty through both remunerated and unremunerated work at home, in the community and in the workplace and that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty, Recognizing that population and development issues, education and training, health, nutrition, the environment, water supply, sanitation, housing, communications, science and technology, and employment opportunities are important elements for effective poverty eradication and the advancement and empowerment of women, Recognizing also, in this context, the importance of respect for all human rights, including the right to development, and of a national and international environment that promotes, inter alia, justice, gender equality, equity, civil and political participation and political freedom for the advancement and empowerment of women, Recognizing further that equal access to education and training, in particular in business, trade, administration, information and communication technologies and other new technologies, is essential for gender equality, the empowerment of women and poverty eradication, Recognizing that the difficult socio-economic conditions that exist in many developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, have resulted in the acceleration of the feminization of poverty and that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty, Recognizing also that poverty eradication and the achievement and preservation of peace are mutually reinforcing, and recognizing further that peace is inextricably linked to equality between women and men and to development, Aware that, while globalization and liberalization processes have created employment opportunities for women in many countries, they have also made women, especially in developing countries and in particular in the least developed countries, more vulnerable to problems caused by increased economic volatility, Recognizing that some effects of market liberalization may deepen the socio-economic marginalization of women in the agricultural sector, including through the loss of employment among small-scale farmers, who are more likely to be women than men, and emphasizing that women who are small-scale farmers need special support and empowerment in order to be able to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities of agricultural market liberalization, Recognizing also that enhanced trade opportunities for developing countries, including through trade liberalization, will improve the economic condition of those societies, including women, which is of particular importance in rural communities, Aware that, while women represent an important and growing proportion of business owners, their contribution to economic and social development is constrained by, inter alia, the lack of equal access of women and men to, and control over, credit, technology, support services, land and information, Concerned that the continuing discrimination against women, the denial or lack of equal rights and access to education, training and credit facilities and the lack of control over land, capital, technology and other areas of production impede their full and equal contribution to, and equal opportunity to benefit from, development, Emphasizing the promotion of programmes aimed at financial intermediation, with a view to ensuring the access of rural women to credit and to agricultural inputs and implements and, in particular, to easing collateral requirements for access to finance by women, Expressing its concern about the underrepresentation of women in economic decision-making, and stressing the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of all policies, Noting the importance of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular its funds and programmes, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women, in facilitating the advancement of women in development, and recognizing the work done by the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "The empowerment of women and integration of gender perspectives in the promotion of economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development";A/58/135. 2. Reaffirms the goals and commitments contained in the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and also in the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionResolution S-23/3, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session; 3. Calls upon Governments, the relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue to take effective action to achieve full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly; 4. Stresses the importance of creating a favourable and conducive national and international environment in all fields of life for the effective integration of women in development; 5. Urges all Governments to develop and promote strategies to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and implementation of economic and development policies and in the monitoring and evaluation of related programmes of action; 6. Recognizes the need to mainstream a gender perspective in budget policies at all levels, and calls upon Governments to increase women's full and equal participation in economic decision-making through, inter alia, their engagement in the budgetary process; 7. Also recognizes the mutually reinforcing links between gender equality and poverty eradication, as well as the need to elaborate and implement, where appropriate, in consultation with civil society, comprehensive gender-sensitive poverty eradication strategies that address social, structural and macroeconomic issues; 8. Further recognizes the need to strengthen the capacity of Governments to incorporate a gender perspective in policies and decision-making, and encourages all Governments, international organizations, including the United Nations system, and other relevant stakeholders to assist and support developing countries in integrating a gender perspective in all aspects of policy-making, including through the provision of technical assistance and financial resources; 9. Stresses the importance of developing national strategies for the promotion of sustainable and productive entrepreneurial activities that will generate income among disadvantaged women and women living in poverty; 10. Urges all Governments to ensure women's equal rights with men and their full and equal access to education, training, employment, technology and economic and financial resources, including credit, in particular for rural women and women in the informal sector, and to facilitate, where appropriate, the transition of women from the informal to the formal sector; 11. Encourages Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other actors of civil society to promote and protect the rights of women workers, to take action to remove structural and legal barriers as well as stereotypical attitudes to gender equality at work and to initiate positive steps to promote equal pay for equal work or work of equal value; 12. Urges all Governments to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women with regard to their access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit, giving special attention to poor, uneducated women, and to support women's access to legal assistance; 13. Calls upon Governments and entrepreneurial associations to facilitate the access of women, including young women and women entrepreneurs, to education and training in business, administration, and information and communication technologies; 14. Recognizes the role of microfinance, including microcredit, in the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of women and the generation of employment, notes in this regard the importance of sound national financial systems, and encourages the strengthening of existing and emerging microcredit institutions and their capacities, including through the support of international financial institutions; 15. Stresses the need for assistance to enable women in developing countries, particularly grass-roots women's groups, to have full access to and use of new technologies, including information technologies, for their empowerment; 16. Urges States to design and revise laws that ensure that women are accorded full and equal rights to own land and other property, including through inheritance, and to undertake administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital and appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; 17. Calls upon Governments to encourage the financial sector to mainstream a gender perspective in its policies and programmes, in particular by: (a) Exploring viable options with respect to reaching people living in poverty, in particular women, including through international public and/or private funds; (b) Designing savings schemes that are attractive to the poor, and to poor women in particular; (c) Undertaking research to learn more about the characteristics, financial needs and performance of businesses owned by women; (d) Working towards equal treatment for women clients through comprehensive gender-awareness training for staff at all levels and better representation of women in decision-making positions; 18. Requests Governments to ensure the full and equal participation of women in decision-making and in policy formulation and implementation at all levels so that their priorities, skills and potentials can be adequately reflected in national policy; 19. Calls upon Governments to promote, inter alia, through legislation, family-friendly and gender-sensitive work environments, the facilitation of breastfeeding for working mothers and the provision of the necessary care for working women's children and other dependants and to consider promoting policies and programmes, as appropriate, to enable men and women to reconcile their work, social and family responsibilities; 20. Expresses its concern that the HIV/AIDS pandemic reinforces gender inequalities, that women and girls bear a disproportionate share of the burden imposed by the HIV/AIDS crisis, that they are more easily infected, that they play a key role in care and that they have become more vulnerable to poverty as a result of the HIV/AIDS crisis; 21. Calls upon the international community to make efforts to mitigate the effects of excess volatility and economic disruption, which have a disproportionately negative impact on women, and to enhance trade opportunities for developing countries in order to improve the economic situation of women; 22. Urges the international community, the United Nations system and relevant organizations to give priority to assisting the efforts of developing countries to ensure the full and effective participation of women in deciding and implementing development strategies and integrating gender concerns into national programmes, including by providing adequate resources to operational activities for development in support of the efforts of Governments to ensure full and equal access of women to health care, capital, education, training and technology, as well as full and equal participation in all decision-making; 23. Recognizes that a substantial increase in official development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and that in order to build support for official development assistance, cooperation will be needed in further improving policies and development strategies, both nationally and internationally, to enhance aid effectiveness; 24. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of the gross national product of developed countries to least developed countries, as reconfirmed at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. encourages developing countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to achieve development goals and targets, acknowledges the efforts of all donors, commends those donors whose official development assistance contributions exceed, reach or are increasing towards the targets, and stresses the importance of undertaking to examine the means and time frames for achieving the targets and goals; 25. Encourages the international community, the United Nations system, the private sector and civil society to continue to provide the necessary financial resources to assist national Governments in their efforts to meet the development targets and benchmarks agreed upon at the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the International Conference on Population and Development, the Millennium Summit, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the twenty-third and twenty-fourth special sessions of the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations conferences and summits; 26. Encourages the United Nations system and international and regional organizations, as appropriate, to assist Governments, at their request, in building institutional capacity and developing national action plans or further implementing existing action plans for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 27. Urges Governments to create and maintain a non-discriminatory and gender-sensitive legal environment by reviewing legislation, with a view to striving to remove discriminatory provisions as soon as possible, preferably by 2005, and eliminating legislative gaps that leave women and girls without protection of their rights and without effective recourse against gender-based discrimination, and encourages assistance to countries in achieving this aim; 28. Urges multilateral donors, and invites international financial institutions, within their respective mandates, and regional development banks to review and implement policies to support national efforts to ensure that a higher proportion of resources reach women, in particular in rural and remote areas; 29. Welcomes the convening of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, and its second phase, to be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005, and encourages Governments and all other stakeholders to integrate a gender perspective in the preparatory processes and outcome documents, taking into account the agreed conclusions on women's participation in and access to the media and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women, adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-seventh sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 7 (E/2003/27), chap. I, sect. A.III. and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2003/44 of 22 July 2003, and the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/135. 30. Encourages Governments, international organi-zations, including the United Nations system, the private sector and civil society to fully incorporate a gender perspective into the implementation of and follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the International Conference on Financing for Development and to implement the specific recommendations on microfinance and microcredit for women and gender budget policies; 31. Stresses the importance of collecting all relevant information needed on the role of women in development and statistics disaggregated by sex by all countries, encourages the relevant entities of the United Nations to support national efforts, especially those of developing countries, and in this regard invites developed countries, relevant entities of the United Nations and other international organizations to provide support and assistance to developing countries, upon their request, with respect to establishing, developing and strengthening their databases and information systems, and encourages all Governments and international organizations, including the United Nations system, to collect information needed on the role of women in development and the disaggregation by sex of all statistics; 32. Urges all Governments and international organizations, including the United Nations system, to incorporate a gender perspective in their planning and evaluation, including in common country assessments, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; 33. Encourages the involvement, as appropriate, of relevant stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, in mainstreaming a gender perspective in planning and evaluation; 34. Calls upon the United Nations system to integrate gender mainstreaming into all its programmes and policies, including in the integrated follow-up to United Nations conferences, in accordance with agreed conclusions 1997/2 on gender mainstreaming adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1997,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV.A, para. 4. and welcomes the decision of the Council to devote one of the two themes of the coordination segment of its substantive session of 2004 to the review and appraisal of the system-wide implementation of those agreed conclusions; 35. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to update the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, noting that the survey should focus, as in the past, on selective emerging development issues that have an impact on the role of women in the economy at the national, regional and international levels; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, including the impact of globalization on the empowerment of women and their integration in development; 37. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the sub-item entitled "Women in development". RESOLUTION 58/207 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/483/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/207. Human resources development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/196 of 18 December 1997, 54/211 of 22 December 1999 and 56/189 of 21 December 2001, as well as the relevant sections of the Agenda for Development,Resolution 51/240, annex. Reaffirming internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, Recalling also the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2002 of the Economic and Social Council, on the contribution of human resources development, including in the areas of health and education, to the process of development,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/57/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 44. Stressing that health and education are at the core of human resources development and the need to ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and will have equal access to all levels of education, as expressed at the World Education Forum, held at Dakar from 26 to 28 April 2000, and in the Millennium Declaration, Recognizing that human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development and that human resources development is a fundamental aspect of poverty eradication and is vital to the process of sustainable development, contributing to sustained economic growth, social development and environmental protection, Recognizing also that there is a need to integrate human resources development into comprehensive strategies that mainstream a gender perspective, Stressing that Governments have the primary responsibility for defining and implementing appropriate policies for human resources development and the need for greater support from the international community for the national efforts of developing countries, Stressing also the need for enabling national and international environments that will enhance human resources development in developing countries so that they can face the challenges of and benefit from globalization, Recognizing the need for adequate financial resources to increase investment in human resources development, Expressing its concern at the increasing development gap between developed and developing countries, including the gap in knowledge and in access to information and communication technologies, and the disparity of income within and among nations and its adverse impact on human resources development in developing countries, Expressing deep concern at the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, malaria, tuberculosis and other major infectious diseases on human resources development in developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Noting the impact of the movement of highly skilled people and those with an advanced education on human resources development and sustainable development in developing countries, and recognizing the need for further studies and analyses of its effects in the context of globalization, Emphasizing the continuing need for coordination and integration among the organs and organizations of the United Nations system in assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed among them, in fostering the development of their human resources, especially that of the most vulnerable groups, and for the United Nations to continue to give priority to human resources development in developing countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/348. 2. Recognizes the importance of developing human resources as a means, inter alia, of promoting sustained economic growth and sustainable development and eradicating poverty, as well as of participating more effectively in the world economic system and benefiting from globalization; 3. Urges increased investments by all countries, the United Nations system, international organizations, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in all aspects of human development, such as health, nutrition, education, training and further capacity-building, with a view to achieving sustainable development and the well-being of all; 4. Also urges the adoption of comprehensive approaches to human resources development in designing and implementing development strategies at the national, subregional, regional and international levels and the sharing of best practices, while recognizing the role that local knowledge systems could play; 5. Further urges the adoption of cross-sectoral approaches to human resources development, which combine, among other factors, economic growth, poverty eradication, provision of basic social services, sustainable livelihoods, empowerment of women, involvement of young people, the needs of vulnerable groups of society, the needs of local indigenous communities, political freedom, popular participation and respect for human rights, justice and equity, all of which are essential for enhancing human capacity in order to meet the challenge of development; 6. Encourages all countries to ensure local and community-level engagement in the formulation and implementation of national and local policies to promote human resources development, and in this regard also encourages them to continue developing individual capacity as well as empowering communities; 7. Emphasizes the need to ensure the full participation of women in the formulation and implementation of national and local policies to promote human resources development; 8. States the importance of ensuring adequate resources for education as a fundamental aspect of eradicating poverty and promoting development with a view to achieving sustainable economic growth and human development; 9. Encourages Governments to manage resources assigned to education in a responsible, accurate and transparent way and to ensure accountability; 10. Recognizes the lack of adequate resources in many developing countries to expand access to and improve the quality of education, and, in particular, to provide free universal primary education; 11. Encourages the international community to provide greater technical assistance, financial support and allocation to human resources development in developing countries in support of their national efforts; 12. Encourages the United Nations system to focus in its cooperation activities on building human and institutional capacity, giving specific attention to women, girls and vulnerable groups; 13. Calls upon the United Nations system to harmonize further its collective human resources development efforts, in accordance with national policies and priorities; 14. Encourages the United Nations system to continue engaging in partnerships with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders, where appropriate, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and national priorities, so as to contribute further to the building of human resources development capacity in developing countries; 15. Recognizes the role of information and communication technologies in promoting human resources development, and in this regard welcomes the World Summit on the Information Society, the first phase of which was held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and the second phase of which will be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005, as an important step towards addressing the challenges of bridging the digital divide as well as identifying a truly information and knowledge-based approach towards the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in developing countries; 16. Also recognizes the need to direct concerted efforts at enhancing the technical skills and know-how of people living in rural and agricultural areas, with a view to improving their means of livelihood and material well-being, and in this regard encourages the allocation of more resources for this purpose so as to facilitate access to appropriate technology and know-how from within countries as well as from other countries, in particular the developed countries, and through South-South cooperation, including triangular arrangements; 17. Invites international organizations, including international financial institutions, within their respective mandates, to give greater priority to supporting the objectives of human resources development and to integrating them into their policies, projects and operations; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include a separate section therein on the effect of the movement of highly skilled people and those with an advanced education on human resources development in developing countries; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development and international economic cooperation", the sub-item entitled "Human resources development". RESOLUTION 58/208 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/483/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/208. International migration and development The General Assembly, Recalling the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development adopted at Cairo,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. in particular chapter X on international migration, and the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, set out in the annex to General Assembly resolution S-21/2 of 2 July 1999, in particular section II.C on international migration, as well as the relevant provisions contained in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Ibid., annex II. the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. and twenty-fifthResolution S-25/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, Recalling also its resolutions 49/127 of 19 December 1994, 50/123 of 20 December 1995, 52/189 of 18 December 1997, 54/212 of 22 December 1999 and 56/203 of 21 December 2001 on international migration and development, as well as Economic and Social Council decision 1995/313 of 27 July 1995, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, reaffirming also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and recalling the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. Recalling the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. which entered into force in July 2003, Recalling also that heads of State and Government at the United Nations Millennium Summit resolved to take measures, inter alia, to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies, Reaffirming that the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council should carry out their respective responsibilities as entrusted to them in the Charter of the United Nations, and that Member States should strive to achieve the goals set at the relevant United Nations conferences in the formulation of policies and the provision of guidance to and coordination of United Nations activities in the field of population and development, including activities on international migration, Reaffirming also the need for the relevant United Nations organizations and other international organizations to enhance their financial and technical support to developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, to foster migration that contributes to development, Taking note of the views of Member States on the question of convening a United Nations conference on international migration, its scope, form and agenda, and noting the low number of respondents to the survey of the Secretariat, and in this context inviting the Secretary-General to continue considering the issue, Noting the work undertaken under the International Migration Policy Programme by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Population Fund, in partnership with the International Labour Office, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant international and regional institutions, with a view to strengthening the capacity of Governments to manage migration flows at the national and regional levels and thus foster greater cooperation among States towards orderly migration, Aware that, among other important factors, both domestic and international, the widening economic and social gap between and among many countries and the marginalization of some countries in the global economy, due in part to the uneven impact of the benefits of globalization and liberalization, have contributed to large flows of people between and among countries and to the intensification of the complex phenomenon of international migration, Aware also that, in spite of the existence of an already established body of principles, there is a need to enhance international cooperation on migration issues and make further efforts, including through appropriate mechanisms, to ensure that the human rights and dignity of all migrants and their families, in particular of women migrant workers, are respected and protected, Taking note of the rights of all migrants and their obligation to respect national legislation, including legislation on migration, Noting that an overall commitment to multiculturalism helps to provide a context for the effective integration of migrants, preventing and combating discrimination and promoting solidarity and tolerance in receiving societies, Recognizing the need for further studies and analyses of the effects of the movements of highly skilled migrant workers and those with advanced education on economic and social development in developing countries, and emphasizing the need for further studies and analysis of the effects of those movements on development in the context of globalization, Noting the importance of remittances by migrant workers, which for many countries are one of the major sources of foreign exchange and can make an important contribution to developmental potential, and stressing the need to consider the various dimensions of this issue in a sustainable development perspective, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/98. 2. Urges Member States and the United Nations system to continue strengthening international cooperation and arrangements at all levels in the area of international migration and development in order to address all aspects of migration and to maximize the benefits of international migration to all those concerned; 3. Calls upon all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations, within their continuing mandated activities, to continue to address the issue of international migration and development, with a view to integrating migration issues, including a gender perspective and cultural diversity, in a more coherent way within the broader context of the implementation of agreed economic and social development goals and respect for all human rights; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, to continue convening meetings, as necessary, in order to coordinate their activities regarding international migration, and to collect information to assist States in identifying critical issues and discussing future steps; 5. Takes note of the initiatives undertaken by Member States to continue to identify the many dimensions of international migration and development in order to better understand international migration processes and their linkages with globalization and development, to address the issues related to international migration, to analyse the gaps and shortcomings in the current approaches, to maximize the benefits of international migration and to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation; 6. Encourages Governments of countries of origin, countries of transit and countries of destination to increase cooperation on issues related to migration, and notes with appreciation the numerous meetings and conferences convened relating to migration and development,Including the European Conference on Migration, held at Brussels on 16 and 17 October 2001; the International Symposium on Migration: Towards Regional Cooperation on Irregular/Undocumented Migration, held at Bangkok from 21 to 23 April 1999, which adopted the Bangkok Declaration on Irregular Migration (see A/C.2/54/2, annex); the Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Relevant Neighbouring States, held at Geneva on 30 and 31 May 1996; the Regional Conference on Migration in North and Central America; regional migration policy capacity-building and cooperation meetings organized and planned by the International Migration Policy Programme; the Mediterranean Conference on Population, Migration and Development, held at Palma de Mallorca, Spain, from 15 to 17 October 1996; the Technical Symposium on International Migration and Development of the Administrative Committee on Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for All, held at The Hague from 29 June to 3 July 1998; and the First and Second Ministerial Regional Conferences on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, held at Bali, Indonesia, from 26 to 28 February 2002 and from 28 to 30 April 2003. in particular in the context of regional cooperation; 7. Invites Governments, with the assistance of the international community, where appropriate, to seek to make the option of remaining in one's country viable for all people, in particular through efforts to achieve sustainable development, leading to a better economic balance between developed and developing countries; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, as an exception, to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth instead of its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, which, inter alia, provides an update of the results of relevant activities within the United Nations system and of United Nations cooperation with the International Organization for Migration and other relevant intergovernmental organizations concerning international migration and development, including best practices on managed migration and polices to increase understanding and strengthen cooperation in the area of international migration and development among States and other stakeholders, reviews major initiatives of Member States and suggests action-oriented options for the consideration of the General Assembly; 9. Decides that in 2006 the General Assembly will devote a high-level dialogue to international migration and development, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Assembly; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the organizational details of the high-level dialogue, bearing in mind that: (a) The purpose of the high-level dialogue is to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts; (b) The high-level dialogue should have a strong focus on policy issues, including the challenge of achieving the internationally agreed development goals; (c) Round tables and informal exchanges are useful for dialogue; (d) The outcome of the high-level dialogue will be a Chairperson's summary, which will be widely distributed to Member States, observers, United Nations agencies and other appropriate organizations; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "International migration and development". RESOLUTION 58/209 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.8, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/209. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-second session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, by which it established the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recalling also its resolutions 53/242 of 28 July 1999, 56/193 of 21 December 2001 and 57/251 of 20 December 2002 on the report of the Governing Council, Taking note of the report of the Governing Council on its seventh special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25). Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Environment Programme as the principal body within the United Nations system in the field of environment, which should take into account, within its mandate, the sustainable development needs of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, Taking into account the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling the need to enhance the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation concerning support for capacity-building in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-second sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/58/25). and the decisions contained therein; 2. Emphasizes the need for the United Nations Environment Programme, within its mandate, to further contribute to sustainable development programmes, the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. at all levels, bearing in mind the mandate of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 3. Reiterates the need to ensure that capacity-building and technical assistance to developing countries remain important components of the work of the United Nations Environment Programme, and in this regard emphasizes the need for full and effective implementation of relevant decisions of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum; 4. Calls upon the United Nations Environment Programme to contribute, within its mandate, to the preparations for the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, while avoiding duplication and overlap in the work of the two bodies; 5. Also calls upon the United Nations Environment Programme to contribute, within its mandate and as a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force, to the preparations for the international meeting to review the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. to be held in Mauritius from 30 August to 3 September 2004, including its preparatory process; 6. Encourages Member States, the Governing Council and the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to submit their comments, in a timely manner, on the important but complex issue of establishing universal membership of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, including its legal, political, institutional, financial and system-wide implications, in order to contribute to the report of the Secretary-General to be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration before its sixtieth session, in accordance with resolution 57/251; 7. Encourages Member States to participate in the ongoing intergovernmental consultation process on the strengthening of the scientific base of the United Nations Environment Programme; 8. Notes, in regard to strengthening the overall financial situation of the United Nations Environment Programme, the various available options and the efforts being undertaken to enhance predictability in financing its programme of work and broadening its base of contributions; 9. Invites the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum to review its methods, agenda and programme of work, in view of the mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme, with the aim of enhancing manageability and the effective participation of States Members of the United Nations in its sessions, and taking into account recent work thereon by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme; 10. Emphasizes the need to further enhance coordination and cooperation among the relevant United Nations organizations in the promotion of the environmental dimension of sustainable development, and in this respect welcomes the participation of the United Nations Environment Programme in the United Nations Development Group; 11. Requests that the reports on the work of the Environmental Management Group be made available to the General Assembly at its next session through the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme; 12. Reiterates the need for stable, adequate and predictable financial resources for the United Nations Environment Programme, and in accordance with resolution 2997 (XXVII) underlines the need to consider adequate reflection of all administrative and management costs of the Programme in the context of the United Nations regular budget; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to the Programme and to the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi. RESOLUTION 58/20 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 159 to 6, with 6 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.25 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Honduras, Rwanda, Tonga, Uganda, Uzbekistan 58/20. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 57/109 of 3 December 2002, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements concluded between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Welcoming the official presentation by the Quartet of the road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 56/35 of 3 December 2001; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2004-2005, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations entities; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard, in particular the prospects for peace; (c) To expand its collection of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine and to continue the production and preservation of such material and the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the area, including the territory under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and the Occupied Territory; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists initiated in 1995. RESOLUTION 58/210 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/210. Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/7 of 16 October 1998, 54/215 of 22 December 1999, 55/205 of 20 December 2000 and 56/200 of 21 December 2001 on the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Recalling also the recommendations and conclusions contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. concerning energy for sustainable development, Welcoming initiatives that aim to improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services for sustainable development in order to contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Emphasizing that the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 is aimed at encompassing all forms of new and renewable energy, including solar, thermal, photovoltaic, biomass, wind, hydro, tidal, ocean and geothermal forms, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/164. 2. Reaffirms that the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. is the intergovernmental framework for energy for sustainable development agreed to at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and calls for its full implementation; 3. Notes the role that the World Solar Commission continues to play in the mobilization of international support and assistance for the implementation of many of the national high-priority projects on renewable sources of energy included in the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, many of which are being executed with national funding; 4. Notes also that although significant financial support has been provided by some developed countries that are Members of the United Nations and by some intergovernmental organizations, both within and outside the United Nations system, in the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, more action still needs to be taken in this regard; 5. Recognizes that rural energy services, including their financing, should be designed to maximize local ownership, as appropriate; 6. Encourages the United Nations system to continue to raise awareness of the importance of energy for sustainable development, including the need for the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy and the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, particularly in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; 7. Emphasizes the need to intensify research and development in support of energy for sustainable development, which will require increased commitment on the part of all stakeholders, including Governments and the private sector, to deploy financial and human resources for accelerating research efforts; 8. Stresses that the wider use of available renewable sources of energy requires technology transfer and diffusion on a global scale, including through North-South and South-South cooperation; 9. Calls upon Governments, as well as relevant regional and international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to combine, as appropriate, the increased use of renewable energy resources, more efficient use of energy, greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies, and the sustainable use of traditional energy resources, which could meet the growing need for energy services in the longer term to achieve sustainable development; 10. Encourages national and regional initiatives on renewable energies to promote access to energy, including renewable energy, for the poorest and to improve energy efficiency and conservation by resorting to a mix of available technologies, taking into full account the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation concerning energy for sustainable development; 11. Welcomes the initiative by the Government of Germany to host the International Conference for Renewable Energies, in Bonn, from 1 to 4 June 2004; 12. Invites the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue to make effective the implementation of the Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme 1996-2005 in the various regions; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005". RESOLUTION 58/211 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/211. International Year of Deserts and Desertification, 2006 The General Assembly, Recalling chapter 12 of Agenda 21 adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Recalling also the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Recalling further the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. 1, resolution 2, annex. and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Ibid., resolution 1, annex. Having considered decision 22/15 of 7 February 2003 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on an international year of deserts and desertification,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/58/25), annex. Deeply concerned by the exacerbation of desertification, particularly in Africa, and its far-reaching implications for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular on poverty eradication, Recalling the environment initiative of the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex, paras. 138-142. Conscious of the need to raise public awareness and to protect the biological diversity of deserts as well as indigenous and local communities and the traditional knowledge of those affected by this phenomenon, 1. Decides to declare 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification; 2. Designates the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, as focal point of the Year, in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other relevant bodies of the United Nations; 3. Invites all countries to establish national committees or focal points and to celebrate the Year by arranging appropriate activities; 4. Calls upon all relevant international organizations and Member States to support the activities related to desertification, including land degradation, to be organized by affected countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries; 5. Encourages countries to contribute, as they are able, to the Convention and to undertake special initiatives in observance of the Year with the goal of enhancing the implementation of the Convention; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the status of preparations for the Year. RESOLUTION 58/212 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/212. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/201 of 20 December 2000, 56/197 of 21 December 2001 and 57/253 and 57/260 of 20 December 2002, Reiterating that the Convention on Biological DiversityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. is the key international instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, Recalling the World Summit on Sustainable Development commitments to pursue a more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity, which will require action at all levels, including the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, Reaffirming the urgency to recognize, subject to national legislation, the rights of local and indigenous communities that are holders of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, and, with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices, to develop and implement benefit-sharing mechanisms, on mutually agreed terms, for the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices, Expressing its deep appreciation for the generous offer of the Government of Malaysia to host the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to be held at Kuala Lumpur, respectively, from 9 to 20 February and from 23 to 27 February 2004, 1. Takes note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session;A/58/191. 2. Notes the outcome of the open-ended intersessional meeting on the multi-year programme of work of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity up to 2010, held at Montreal, Canada, from 17 to 20 March 2003; 3. Notes also the outcomes of the eighth and ninth meetings of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held at Montreal, Canada, from 10 to 14 March and from 10 to 14 November 2003; 4. Reiterates the World Summit on Sustainable Development commitment to negotiate within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, bearing in mind the Bonn Guidelines on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits Arising out of their Utilization, an international regime to promote and safeguard the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources; 5. Reiterates also the World Summit on Sustainable Development commitment to promote the wide implementation of and continued work on the Bonn Guidelines, as an input to assist the parties when developing and drafting legislative, administrative or policy measures on access and benefit-sharing as well as contract and other arrangements under mutually-agreed terms for access and benefit-sharing; 6. Invites the countries that have not yet done so to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity; 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity,See UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. on 11 September 2003, and the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and invites the parties to the Convention that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Protocol to consider doing so; 8. Emphasizes that the effective implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety will require full support from parties and relevant international organizations, and further urges parties to facilitate capacity-building in biosafety in developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, including to develop and strengthen national capacities for making the required information available to and interacting with the Biosafety Clearing House; 9. Invites countries to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; 10. Encourages developed countries parties to the Convention to contribute to the relevant trust funds of the Convention, in particular so as to enhance the full participation of the developing countries parties in all its activities; 11. Urges parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to facilitate the transfer of technology for the effective implementation of the Convention in accordance with its provisions; 12. Underlines the need for increased financial and technical resources for the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety by developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, and in this regard welcomes the successful and substantial third replenishment of the Global Environment Facility; 13. Takes note of the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 14. Stresses the importance of harmonizing the reporting requirements of the biodiversity-related conventions while respecting their independent legal status; 15. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to continue reporting to the General Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention, including its Cartagena Protocol; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 58/213 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.4, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/213. Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. adopted by the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and recalling also its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference, Recalling also its resolutions 51/183 of 16 December 1996, 52/202 of 18 December 1997 and 53/189 of 15 December 1998, the review document adopted by the Assembly at its twenty-second special session,See resolution S-22/2, annex. and its resolutions 54/224 of 22 December 1999, 55/199 and 55/202 of 20 December 2000, 56/198 of 21 December 2001 and 57/262 of 20 December 2002, Recalling further the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. in particular the emphasis given to small island developing States in chapter VII of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, as well as the references to the specific needs of small island developing States contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recalling its decision to convene an international meeting in 2004,Resolution 57/262, para. 5. including a high-level segment, to undertake a full and comprehensive review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, as called for in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Welcoming the preparatory activities undertaken at the national and regional levels for the international meeting, and expressing its appreciation to the Governments of Samoa, Cape Verde and Trinidad and Tobago for hosting regional preparatory meetings, Reaffirming the political importance of the forthcoming ten-year review of the progress achieved since the Global Conference, and stressing that the risk from the vulnerabilities of and challenges to small island developing States has increased and requires the strengthening of cooperation and more effective development assistance towards achieving the goals of sustainable development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/170. 2. Approves the provisional rules of procedure of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, as contained in the note by the Secretary-General;A/58/567 and Corr.1. 3. Decides that the International Meeting shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations and States members of the specialized agencies, with the participation of observers, in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly and its conferences and with the rules of procedure of the International Meeting; 4. Welcomes the efforts made at the national, subregional and regional levels to implement the Programme of Action,Ibid., annex II. and takes note of the reports of the regional preparatory meetings for the Pacific,A/58/303, annex. the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China SeasA/C.2/58/12, annex. and the CaribbeanA/C.2/58/14, annex. regions of small island developing States; 5. Reiterates the urgent need for the full and effective implementation of the Programme of Action, the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the review document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special sessionSee resolution S-22/2, annex. so as to assist small island developing States in their efforts to achieve sustainable development; 6. Decides that the International Meeting will be convened from 30 August to 3 September 2004 and will include a high-level segment to undertake a full and comprehensive review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, as called for in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Ibid., resolution 2, annex. and welcomes the offer of the Government of Mauritius to host the International Meeting; 7. Also decides to hold, if deemed necessary by an open-ended preparatory meeting, and if funded from voluntary resources, two days of informal consultations in Mauritius, on 28 and 29 August 2004, to facilitate the effective preparation of the International Meeting; 8. Urges that representation and participation at the International Meeting be at the highest possible level; 9. Decides that the International Meeting will seek a renewed political commitment by the international community and will focus on practical actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, taking into consideration new and emerging issues, challenges and situations since the adoption of the Programme of Action; 10. Endorses Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/55 of 24 July 2003, in which it decided, on the recommendation of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session, to convene an interregional preparatory meeting for small island developing States in Nassau from 26 to 30 January 2004, expresses its appreciation to the Government of the Bahamas for hosting the meeting, and encourages participation in the meeting at the ministerial level; 11. Also endorses the decision of the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2003/55, on the recommendation of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session, to convene during the twelfth session of the Commission a three-day preparatory meeting for the International Meeting, from 14 to 16 April 2004, for an in-depth assessment and appraisal of the implementation of the Programme of Action and to finalize the preparations for the International Meeting, including its agenda; 12. Decides that the preparatory meeting shall be open-ended and shall be held in accordance with the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council and the supplementary arrangements established for the Commission on Sustainable Development by the Council in its decisions 1993/215 of 12 February 1993 and 1995/201 of 8 February 1995, applied to all Member States and other participants, as was the practice in the preparatory committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, while maintaining the provisions of the Commission in relation to travel assistance, in accordance with the provisions of Economic and Social Council decision 2003/283 of 24 July 2003; 13. Encourages associate members of the regional commissions that are small island developing States to participate in the International Meeting, and decides that their participation shall be in accordance with rule 61 of the provisional rules of procedure of the International Meeting; 14. Decides that the participation of major groups, including non-governmental organizations, in the International Meeting shall be in accordance with rule 65 of the provisional rules of procedure of the International Meeting; 15. Also decides that non-governmental organizations whose work is relevant to the subject of the International Meeting, that are not currently accredited by the Economic and Social Council, may submit applications to participate as observers in the International Meeting, as well as its preparatory meeting, subject to the approval of the open-ended preparatory meeting; 16. Takes note of the appointment of a Secretary-General of the International Meeting; 17. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the relevant United Nations agencies and organizations, and taking into account the submissions he may receive from bilateral, regional and multilateral donor agencies as well as from major groups, including non-governmental organizations, to ensure the timely submission to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its twelfth session of a synthesis report on the basis of the national, regional and interregional preparations and reports by small island developing States and other parties; 18. Requests that the necessary resources, from within existing resources, be provided to the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to ensure that the goals and purposes of the International Meeting receive the widest possible dissemination within Member States, major groups, including non-governmental organizations, and national, regional and international media, including through the Small Island Developing States Information Network, with a view to encouraging contributions to and support for the International Meeting and its preparatory process; 19. Expresses its appreciation for the contributions made to the voluntary trust fund established for the purpose of assisting small island developing States to participate fully and effectively in the International Meeting and its preparatory process, as approved by the Economic and Social Council in resolution 2003/55 and decision 2003/283,See also A/C.2/58/4. and urges all Member States and organizations to contribute generously to the fund; 20. Encourages the full and effective participation of developing countries in the International Meeting, and invites donor countries and agencies to provide additional extrabudgetary resources, in particular through voluntary contributions to the trust fund, to facilitate their participation; 21. Welcomes the coordinating efforts undertaken in the United Nations system through the creation of an inter-agency task force to enable the United Nations system to improve coordination and enhance cooperation on matters pertaining to the preparatory process and to the International Meeting itself; 22. Calls upon the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, through the Division for Sustainable Development and its Small Island Developing States Unit,As mandated in the Programme of Action, para. 123, and in para. 15 of resolution 49/122. to undertake activities in both the preparatory processes and the International Meeting to enhance coordination and cooperation within the United Nations system as well as with other relevant multilateral organizations to ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of and follow-up to the outcomes of the ten-year review of the Programme of Action; 23. Calls upon the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing StatesSee resolution 56/227. to fulfil its mandate and to advocate strongly, in partnership with the relevant parts of the United Nations as well as with major groups, media, academia and foundations, for the mobilization of international support and resources for the successful outcome of the International Meeting and for the follow-up to the outcomes of the ten-year review of the Programme of Action; 24. Welcomes the generous contributions by donors to provide for staffing of the Small Island Developing States Unit, and calls upon the Secretary-General to explore practical options for strengthening the Unit, including by redeployment of resources, on a permanent basis during the biennium 2004-2005, pursuant to resolutions 56/198 and 57/262, with a view to facilitating the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of Barbados and the Programme of Action and the outcomes of the International Meeting; 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States: follow-up to the outcomes of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session the report of the International Meeting. RESOLUTION 58/214 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.5, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/214. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, 49/22 B of 20 December 1994, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/219 of 22 December 1999, 56/195 of 21 December 2001 and 57/256 of 20 December 2002 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2001/35 of 26 July 2001, and taking into due consideration its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling also of the inclusion of the item "disaster management and vulnerability" in the multi-year programme of work of the Commission on Sustainable Development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. Emphasizing that disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Noting the relevant provisions of the Ministerial Declaration of the Ministerial Conference of the Third World Water Forum, held in Kyoto, Japan, on 22 and 23 March 2003, on water-related disasters,See A/57/785, annex. Reiterating that, although natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, the long-term consequences of natural disasters are especially severe for developing countries and hamper the achievement of their sustainable development, Recognizing the urgent need to further develop and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, and emphasizing the need for developing countries to have access to technology so as to tackle natural disasters effectively, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries, Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capability to cope with disaster risks, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;A/58/277. 2. Invites Governments and relevant international organizations to consider disaster risk assessment as an integral component of development plans and poverty eradication programmes; 3. Stresses that continued cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, other international organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, are considered essential to address effectively the impact of natural disasters; 4. Recognizes the importance of linking disaster risk management to regional frameworks, as appropriate, such as with the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. to address issues of poverty eradication and sustainable development; 5. Also recognizes the importance of integrating a gender perspective as well as of engaging women in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster management, particularly in the disaster reduction stage; 6. Further recognizes the importance of early warning as an essential element of disaster reduction, and recommends the implementation of the outcome of the Second International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 18 October 2003, which highlighted the importance of strengthened coordination and cooperation to integrate activities and expertise of the various sectors involved in the early warning process and has contributed to the review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action;A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. 7. Decides to convene a World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2005, at the senior-official level, designed to foster specialized discussions and produce concrete changes and results, with the following objectives: (a) To conclude the review of the Yokohama Strategy and its Plan of Action, with a view to updating the guiding framework on disaster reduction for the twenty-first century; (b) To identify specific activities aimed at ensuring the implementation of relevant provisions of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. on vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management; (c) To share best practices and lessons learned to further disaster reduction within the context of attaining sustainable development and identify gaps and challenges; (d) To increase awareness of the importance of disaster reduction policies, thereby facilitating and promoting the implementation of those policies; (e) To increase the reliability and availability of appropriate disaster-related information to the public and disaster management agencies in all regions, as set out in the relevant provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 8. Accepts with deep appreciation the generous offer of the Government of Japan to host the Conference, and decides that the Conference will be held at Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005; 9. Decides to establish an open-ended inter-governmental preparatory committee for the Conference to review the organizational and substantive preparations for the Conference, approve the programme of work of the Conference and propose rules of procedure for adoption by the Conference, and also decides that the preparatory committee will meet at Geneva, following the 2004 semi-annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, for up to two days each time, and that it will hold a one-day meeting at Kobe within the dates mentioned in paragraph 8 above, as necessary; 10. Also decides that the intergovernmental preparatory committee will have a bureau consisting of five representatives of Member States elected on the basis of equitable geographical representation; 11. Invites regional groups to nominate their candidates for the bureau of the preparatory committee by the end of January 2004, so that they can be involved in the preparations for the first meeting of the preparatory committee, and to notify the secretariat of the Conference of those nominations; 12. Requests the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction to serve as the secretariat of the Conference and to coordinate preparatory activities, the costs of which will be funded extrabudgetarily through the Trust Fund for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and in close cooperation with the host country and the preparatory committee for the Conference, with the full support of the relevant departments of the Secretariat; 13. Understands that the activities set out in paragraph 12 above will not hinder the other existing work and priorities of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy; 14. Invites Member States, all United Nations bodies and specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental agencies and organizations, in particular the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to participate actively in the Conference, as well as its preparatory process; 15. Welcomes contributions from all regions that could provide substantive inputs to the preparatory process and the Conference itself; 16. Encourages effective contributions from major groups, as identified in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. invites them to seek accreditation to the Conference and its preparatory process, and decides that their accreditation and participation will be in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Commission on Sustainable Development, the rules of procedure of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the established practice of the Commission on the participation and engagement of major groups; 17. Decides that the actual additional costs of the preparatory process and the Conference itself should be funded through extrabudgetary resources, without negatively affecting programmed activities, and through specific voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the Strategy; 18. Requests the Secretariat to provide conference services for the preparatory process and the Conference itself, the costs thereof to be borne by the host country, on the understanding that the Secretariat will ensure that its existing human resources are utilized to the maximum extent possible, without further charge to the host country; 19. Encourages the international community to provide the necessary financial resources to the Trust Fund for the Strategy and to provide the necessary scientific, technical, human and other resources to ensure adequate support for the activities of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction and its working groups, as well as to facilitate the preparations for the Conference; 20. Expresses its appreciation to those countries that have provided financial support for the activities of the Strategy by making voluntary contributions to its Trust Fund; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate adequate financial and administrative resources, within existing resources, for the effective functioning of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy; 22. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on the state of preparations for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 58/215 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.5, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/215. Natural disasters and vulnerability The General Assembly, Recalling its decision 57/547 of 20 December 2002, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capacity to cope with disaster risks, Noting that the global environment continues to suffer degradation, adding to economic and social vulnerabilities, in particular in developing countries, Taking into account the various ways and forms in which all countries, in particular the more vulnerable developing countries, are affected by severe natural hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and extreme weather events such as heatwaves, severe droughts, floods and storms, and El Niño/La Niña events, which have global reach, Expressing its deep concern at the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and associated natural disasters, Expressing its deep concern also at the enormous negative impact of severe natural hazards, including extreme weather events and associated natural disasters, which continues to hinder social and economic progress, in particular in developing countries, Reiterating that, although natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, the long-term consequences of natural disasters are especially severe in developing countries and hamper their achievement of sustainable development, Stressing that national authorities need to undertake disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts, in particular through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, so as to enhance the resilience of populations to disasters and reduce the risks to them, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, Recalling that the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction provides a framework for collaboration on the development of methodologies to systematically characterize, measure, assess and respond to natural disasters, including weather-related disasters, hazards and vulnerabilities, Taking into account the fact that extreme weather events and associated natural disasters and their reduction must be dealt with in a coherent manner, Noting the need for international cooperation to increase the capacity of countries to respond to the negative impacts of all natural hazards, including extreme weather events and associated natural disasters, particularly in developing countries, Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among developing countries of the capacities existing at the national, regional and international levels that could be deployed to assist them, Taking note of the outcome of the Second International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 18 October 2003, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,A/58/277. in particular the section on the negative impacts of extreme weather events and associated natural disasters on vulnerable countries, in particular developing countries, as requested by the Assembly in its decision 57/547; 2. Urges the international community to continue to address ways and means, including through cooperation and technical assistance, to reduce the adverse effects of natural disasters, including those caused by extreme weather events, in particular in vulnerable developing countries, through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and encourages the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction to continue its work in this regard; 3. Encourages Governments to establish effective national platforms or focal points for disaster reduction, and to strengthen them where they already exist; 4. Also encourages Governments, in cooperation with the United Nations system and other stakeholders, to strengthen capacity-building in the most vulnerable regions, to enable them to address the socio-economic factors that increase vulnerability, and encourages the international community to provide effective assistance to developing countries in this regard; 5. Encourages the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction to enhance the coordination on the promotion of disaster reduction as well as to make available to the relevant United Nations entities information on options for natural disaster reduction, including severe natural hazards and extreme weather-related disasters and vulnerabilities; 6. Encourages the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. and the parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. to continue to address the adverse effects of climate change, especially in those developing countries that are particularly vulnerable, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, and also encourages the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to continue to assess the adverse effects of climate change on the socio-economic and natural disaster reduction systems of developing countries; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution in a separate section of his report on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and decides to consider the issue of natural disasters and vulnerability at that session, under the sub-item "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction" of the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 58/216 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.7, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/216. Sustainable development in mountain regions The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/24 of 10 November 1998, by which it proclaimed 2002 the International Year of Mountains, Recalling also its resolutions 55/189 of 20 December 2000 and 57/245 of 20 December 2002, Recognizing chapter 13 of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and all relevant paragraphs of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular paragraph 42 thereof, as the overall policy frameworks for sustainable development in mountain regions, Noting the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions ("Mountain Partnership"), launched during the World Summit on Sustainable Development with the committed support of thirty-eight countries, fifteen intergovernmental organizations and thirty-eight organizations from major groups, as an important approach to addressing the various interrelated dimensions of sustainable development in mountain regions, Taking note of the Bishkek Mountain Platform,A/C.2/57/7, annex. the outcome document of the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit, held in Bishkek from 28 October to 1 November 2002, which was the concluding event of the International Year of Mountains, 1. Takes note of the report transmitted by the Secretary-General on the International Year of Mountains, 2002;A/58/134. 2. Welcomes the significant results achieved during the Year, which substantially increased awareness of and strengthened interest in sustainable development and poverty eradication in mountain regions, as well as acting as a catalyst for long-term effective action to implement chapter 13 of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and paragraph 42 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 3. Notes with appreciation that a growing network of Governments, organizations, major groups and individuals around the world know that mountains are globally important as the source of most of the Earth's freshwater, as repositories of rich biological diversity, as popular destinations for recreation and tourism and as areas of important cultural diversity, knowledge and heritage; 4. Also notes with appreciation the effective role played by Governments, as well as major groups, academic institutions and international organizations and agencies, in the activities related to the Year, including the establishment of seventy-eight national committees or similar mechanisms; 5. Appreciates the work undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as the lead agency for the Year, as well as the valuable contributions made by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations University, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Children's Fund; 6. Underlines the fact that there remain key challenges to implementing sustainable development and eradicating poverty in mountain regions as well as challenges in the areas of national involvement, international cooperation, support for partnerships and mobilization of financial resources, and against this background: (a) Encourages the United Nations system to enhance efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to achieve more effective implementation of chapter 13 of Agenda 21 and paragraph 42 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; (b) Also encourages the continued establishment and development of mountain-related national committees, focal points and other multi-stakeholder mechanisms at the national level for sustainable development in mountain regions; (c) Supports national efforts, within the framework of national development plans, to develop goals and strategic plans for the sustainable development of mountains, as well as enabling policies and laws, programmes and projects; (d) Encourages transboundary approaches, where the States concerned agree, to the sustainable development of mountain ranges and information-sharing in this regard; (e) Also encourages Member States to collect and produce information and to establish databases devoted to mountains so as to capitalize on knowledge to support interdisciplinary research, programmes and projects and to improve decision-making and planning; (f) Supports the development and implementation of global, regional and national communication programmes to build on the awareness and momentum for change established by the Year; (g) Stresses the importance of capacity-building and educational programmes to enhance awareness of good practices in sustainable development in mountain regions and the nature of relationships between highland and lowland areas; (h) Calls for the improvement of mountain women's access to resources and the strengthening of their role in their communities and cultures, and in this context takes note of the recommendations of the Thimpu Declaration adopted at the Celebrating Mountain Women conference, held at Thimpu from 1 to 4 October 2002; 7. Notes the entry into force of the nine Protocols to the Convention on the Protection of the Alps as a contribution to regional cooperation for sustainable development in that mountain region; 8. Notes also the adoption and signing of the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians by the countries of the region; 9. Notes further that a consultative process has been conducted with all Mountain Partnership stakeholders, in particular donor countries, with a view to determining the best options for further assisting all stakeholders in the implementation of the Partnership; 10. Takes note of the conclusions of the first global meeting of the members of the Mountain Partnership, held in Merano, Italy, on 5 and 6 October 2003,A/C.2/58/8, annex. at the invitation of the Government of Italy; 11. Notes that the next global meeting of the members of the Mountain Partnership will be organized during the second half of 2004, and welcomes in this context the offer of the Government of Peru to host the meeting; 12. Notes also, in this context, that the Mountain Partnership is a cooperation mechanism that is dynamic, transparent, flexible and participatory in nature and that it is open to all Governments, including local and regional authorities, as well as to intergovernmental, non-governmental and other organizations whose objectives and activities are consistent with the vision and mission of the Partnership; 13. Notes further that Mountain Partnership members committed themselves to implement the Partnership in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003, and calls upon them to comply with the criteria and guidelines agreed in the decision taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. 14. Invites the international community and other relevant partners to consider joining the Mountain Partnership; 15. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to continue their constructive collaboration in the context of the follow-up to the Year, taking into account the inter-agency group on mountains and the need for the further involvement of the United Nations system, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations University, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, international financial institutions and other relevant international organizations, taking into account the recommendations formulated in the Bishkek Mountain Platform;A/C.2/57/7, annex. 16. Encourages Governments, the United Nations system, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant United Nations funding mechanisms, such as the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, as well as all relevant stakeholders from civil society organizations and the private sector, to provide support, including through voluntary financial contributions, to local, national and international programmes and projects for sustainable development in mountain regions; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the status of sustainable development in mountain regions, including an overall analysis of the challenges that lie ahead and appropriate policy recommendations, under a sub-item entitled "Sustainable development in mountain regions" of the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development". RESOLUTION 58/217 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/485, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/217. International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", 2005-2015 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/196 of 20 December 2000, by which it proclaimed the year 2003 the International Year of Freshwater, Emphasizing that water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being, Recalling the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted at its nineteenth special session,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the decisions of the Economic and Social Council and of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 9 (E/1998/29). relating to freshwater, Reaffirming the internationally agreed development goals on water and sanitation, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and determined to achieve the goal to halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water, and a similar goal set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation, Taking note of the contents of the United Nations World Water Development Report: Water for People, Water for Life,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.2. a joint project of twenty-three specialized agencies and other United Nations entities, and other water-related collaborative mechanisms and initiatives, Taking note also of the Ministerial Declaration entitled "Message from the Lake Biwa and Yodo River Basin", adopted on 23 March 2003, at the Ministerial Conference on the occasion of the Third World Water Forum, held in Kyoto, Japan,A/57/785, annex. and the Dushanbe Water Appeal, proclaimed on 1 September 2003 at the International Freshwater Forum, held in Dushanbe from 29 August to 1 September 2003,A/58/362, annex. 1. Proclaims the period from 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", to commence on World Water Day, 22 March 2005; 2. Decides that the goals of the Decade should be a greater focus on water-related issues at all levels and on the implementation of water-related programmes and projects, while striving to ensure the participation and involvement of women in water-related development efforts, and the furtherance of cooperation at all levels, in order to help to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals contained in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and, as appropriate, those identified during the twelfth and thirteenth sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 3. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session, as reflected in its multi-year programme of work, to consider water, sanitation and human settlements as the thematic cluster in the first cycle, 2004-2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. and invites the Commission to work within existing resources to identify possible activities and programmes in connection with the Decade within the framework of its consideration of the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions, as provided for by its multi-year programme of work; 4. Invites the Secretary-General to take the appropriate steps to organize the activities of the Decade, taking into account the results of the International Year of Freshwater and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions; 5. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, specialized agencies, regional commissions and other organizations of the United Nations system to deliver a coordinated response, utilizing existing resources and voluntary funds, to make "Water for Life" a decade for action. RESOLUTION 58/218 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/485, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/218. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 23 June 2003, respectively, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to implement the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and other internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Expressing its satisfaction that the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its eleventh session, agreed on its new organization of work and multi-year programme of work, as well as new methods of work aimed at promoting and supporting implementation and the provision for the Commission to work in a series of two-year action-oriented implementation cycles, alternating review and policy years,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap I, sect. A. Noting the adoption by the Commission, at its eleventh session, of criteria and guidelines on partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by some Governments, international organizations and major groups, announced at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and in the follow-up to the Summit, as endorsed by the Economic and Social Council,See Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/61. Reaffirming the continuing need to ensure a balance between economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, Reaffirming also that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development, Noting the convening in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 16 to 19 June 2003, of an international expert meeting on a ten-year framework of programmes for sustainable consumption and production, Recognizing that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/210. on the activities undertaken in implementation of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21Resolution S-19/2, annex. and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 2. Reiterates that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 3. Calls upon Governments, all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations funds and programmes, the regional commissions and specialized agencies, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as major groups, to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the Summit, and encourages them to report on concrete progress in that regard; 4. Calls for the implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the Summit and, to that end, for the fulfilment of the provisions relating to the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen system-wide inter-agency cooperation and coordination for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and in that regard to report on such inter-agency cooperation and coordination activities to the Commission on Sustainable Development and the Economic and Social Council in 2004; 6. Welcomes the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session to invite the regional commissions, in collaboration with the secretariat of the Commission, to consider organizing regional implementation meetings in order to contribute to the work of the Commission,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap I, sect. A. and in this regard urges the regional commissions to take into account the relevant thematic clusters contained in the Commission's programme of work and to provide inputs as specified by the Commission at its eleventh session; 7. Also welcomes the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session to invite other regional and subregional bodies and institutions within and outside the United Nations system to contribute to the preparations for the Commission's review and policy sessions and the intergovernmental preparatory meeting;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap I, sect. A. 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the Commission at its twelfth session on the state of implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, on the basis of inputs from all levels, as specified by the Commission at its eleventh session, to submit: (a) One report on each of the issues of water, sanitation and human settlement, to be addressed in an integrated manner during the session, which should contain a detailed review of the progress of implementation relating to those issues, taking into account, as appropriate, their interlinkages, while addressing the cross-cutting issues identified by the Commission at its eleventh session; (b) A report on overall progress in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, reflecting: (i) Cross-cutting issues identified by the Commission at its eleventh session; (ii) Progress made in the three dimensions of sustainable development and their integration; (iii) Constraints, challenges, opportunities, best practices, information-sharing and lessons learned; 9. Invites the Bureau of the Commission at its twelfth session to continue to recommend to the Commission the specific organizational modalities through open-ended and transparent consultations to be conducted in a timely manner, following the established United Nations rules of procedure, bearing in mind that the activities during Commission meetings should provide for balanced involvement of participants from all regions, as well as for gender balance; 10. Decides to allocate the resources previously devoted to the former ad hoc intersessional working groups of the Commission to support the participation of representatives of member States of the Commission in one of their respective regional meetings in each implementation cycle; 11. Invites donor countries to consider supporting the participation of experts from developing countries in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlement in the next review and policy sessions of the Commission; 12. Decides that resources released by the termination of the work of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Development, whose work has been transferred to the Commission, shall be used to support the work of the Commission; 13. Encourages Governments and organizations at all levels, as well as major groups, including the scientific community and educators, to undertake results-oriented initiatives and activities to support the work of the Commission and to promote and facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including through voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives; 14. Encourages Governments to participate, at the appropriate level, through representatives of relevant departments and agencies responsible for water, sanitation and human settlement, in the next review and policy sessions of the Commission, 15. Requests the Secretariat to submit a summary report containing synthesized information on partnerships to the Commission at its twelfth session, in accordance with its programme and organization of work, noting the particular relevance of such reports in review years, with a view to sharing lessons learned and best practices and identifying and addressing problems, gaps and constraints in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 16. Requests the Commission, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 47/191 of 22 December 1992 and as specified by the Commission at its eleventh session, to examine progress made in the cross-cutting issues in the relevant thematic clusters, utilizing inputs from all levels; 17. Requests the Economic and Social Council to implement the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation relevant to its mandate, in particular to promote the implementation of Agenda 21 by strengthening system-wide coordination; 18. Urges the Secretariat, in the preparation of the reports of the Secretary-General referred to in paragraph 8 above, to take due account of national reports; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development", and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/219 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/486, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/219. United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling chapter 36 of Agenda 21, on promoting education, public awareness and training, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Recalling also the relevant provisions of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation") on education, in particular its provision 124 (d) on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling further its resolution 57/254 of 20 December 2002, Reaffirming the internationally agreed development goal of achieving universal primary education, in particular that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling, Taking note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Welcoming the fact that the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its eleventh session, identified education as one of the cross-cutting issues of its multi-year programme of work,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. Emphasizing that education is an indispensable element for achieving sustainable development, 1. Takes note of the Framework for a Draft International Implementation Scheme prepared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as the designated lead agency, to promote the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, in coordination with other relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, and further requests it to finalize the international implementation scheme, while clarifying its relationship with the existing educational processes, in particular the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education ForumSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and the United Nations Literacy Decade,See resolution 56/116. in consultation with Governments, the United Nations and other relevant international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders; 2. Reaffirms that education for sustainable development is critical for promoting sustainable development, and in this regard encourages Governments to consider the inclusion of measures to implement the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development in their respective educational strategies and national development plans by 2005; 3. Invites Governments to promote public awareness of and wider participation in the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, including through cooperation and initiatives engaging civil society and other relevant stakeholders; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, under the item entitled "Environment and sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development". RESOLUTION 58/21 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 160 to 6, with 5 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.26/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Uganda, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Honduras, Nauru, Rwanda, Tonga 58/21. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002 and 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting that it has been fifty-six years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-six years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 57/110 of 3 December 2002,A/58/416-S/2003/947. Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects, Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of a comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, and affirming that the construction by Israel of a wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, is in contravention of relevant provisions of international law, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the existing agreements concluded between the two sides, and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Welcoming the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003), of the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Noting with satisfaction the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, and recognizing the urgent need to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, Welcoming the positive contribution of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority to the peace process, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet, Welcoming also the convening of international donor meetings, as well as the establishment of international mechanisms to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Expressing its grave concern over the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000 and the continued deterioration of the situation, including the rising number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and infrastructure, both private and public, including many institutions of the Palestinian Authority, Expressing its grave concern also over the repeated incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and the reoccupation of many Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings and extrajudicial executions, Gravely concerned over the increased suffering and casualties on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, the loss of confidence on both sides and the dire situation facing the Middle East peace process, Aware of the urgent need for revitalized and active international involvement to support both parties in overcoming the current dangerous impasse in the peace process, Affirming the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all international efforts, including the efforts of the Quartet, to end the current tragic situation and to resume negotiations towards a final peace settlement, Welcoming recent initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects and of intensifying all efforts towards that end; 2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the efforts of the Quartet; 3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 4. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of the road mapS/2003/529, annex. by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism including all members of the Quartet; 5. Stresses the necessity for a commitment to the vision of the two-State solution and the principle of land for peace, and the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003); 6. Also stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 7. Calls upon the concerned parties, the Quartet and other interested parties to exert all efforts and undertake initiatives necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation and to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, and to ensure a successful and speedy resumption of the peace process and the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement; 8. Stresses the need for: (a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; (b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; 9. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 10. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter. RESOLUTION 58/220 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/487, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/220. Economic and technical cooperation among developing countries The General Assembly, Stressing that South-South cooperation, as an important element of international cooperation for development, offers viable opportunities for developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, Recognizing that developing countries have the primary responsibility for promoting and implementing South-South cooperation, not as a substitute for but rather as a complement to North-South cooperation, and in this context reiterating the need for the international community to support the efforts of the developing countries to expand South-South cooperation, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Group of 77 at their twenty-seventh annual meeting, held in New York on 25 September 2003,A/58/413, annex. in which the increased importance and relevance of South-South cooperation were re-emphasized, 1. Takes note of the report of the High-level Committee on the Review of Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries on its thirteenth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 39 (A/58/39). endorses the decisions adopted by the High-level Committee at that session,Ibid., annex I. and decides to change the name of the Committee to High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, with no change in its mandate or in the scope of its activities; 2. Also takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the state of South-South cooperationA/58/319. and on raising public awareness of and support for South-South cooperation;A/58/345. 3. Reaffirms the need to strengthen further, within its available resources, the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme as a separate entity and a focal point for South-South cooperation within the United Nations system, recognizes that its activities should be perceived as an integral part of the overall development policy of the United Nations system and the United Nations Development Programme, and in this context calls upon United Nations funds and programmes and other entities of the United Nations development system to intensify efforts to mainstream technical and economic cooperation among developing countries by using relevant national, regional and international mechanisms in consultation with Member States; 4. Notes with interest that South-South cooperation can have a positive impact on global, regional and national policies and actions in the economic, social and development fields in the developing countries, and urges developing countries and their partners to intensify South-South and triangular cooperation in these areas, as they contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 5. Recognizes that regional integration initiatives between developing countries constitute an important and valuable form of South-South cooperation and that regional integration is a step towards beneficial integration into the world economy; 6. Also recognizes the urgent need to help to strengthen the capacities of the developing countries, especially the least developed countries, to participate in and benefit from globalization and liberalization processes, and to this end welcomes the initiatives being undertaken at the subregional, regional, interregional and global levels towards establishing public-private partnership mechanisms aiming to enhance and expand South-South cooperation in trade and investment, and in this context notes the initiatives of the World Trade Forum; 7. Reiterates the urgent need to help to strengthen institutions and centres of excellence in the South, especially at the regional and interregional levels, with a view to making more effective use of such entities towards improved South-South knowledge-sharing, networking, capacity-building, information and best practices exchanges, policy analysis and coordinated action among developing countries on major issues of common concern, and in this context encourages such institutions and centres of excellence, as well as regional and subregional economic groupings, to establish closer links and bridges among themselves, including through the Web of Information for Development of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation; 8. Notes with interest the holding of the High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 16 to 19 December 2003, and calls upon developing countries, and encourages their development partners and relevant international organizations, to participate actively in the Conference in order to ensure its success and increase the momentum and intensity of South-South cooperation; 9. Urges all relevant United Nations organizations and multilateral institutions to intensify their efforts to effectively mainstream the use of South-South cooperation in the design, formulation and implementation of their regular programmes and to consider increasing allocations of human, technical and financial resources for supporting South-South cooperation initiatives, and in this regard takes note of the initiatives contained in the Havana Programme of Action adopted by the first South SummitA/55/74, annex II. and the follow-up to the High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation in Marrakesh, as well as the preparations for the second South Summit in 2005; 10. Recognizes the need to mobilize additional resources for enhancing South-South cooperation, reiterates in this context its decision in its resolution 57/263 of 20 December 2002 to include the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation in the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities, as long as it exists, and in the same manner decides to include the Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries in the same Pledging Conference, and invites all countries, in particular developed countries, to support South-South and triangular cooperation through, inter alia, these funds, bearing in mind the need for these funds to continue to use such resources in an effective manner; 11. Decides to declare 19 December, the date on which the General Assembly endorsed the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries,Report of the United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, Buenos Aires, 30 August-12 September 1978 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.II.A.11 and corrigendum), chap. I. as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation; 12. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session a sub-item entitled "South-South cooperation for development", and requests the Secretary-General to submit at that session a comprehensive report on the state of South-South cooperation and on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/221 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/488, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/221. Programme of Action for the International Year of Microcredit, 2005 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/197 of 15 December 1998, by which it proclaimed 2005 the International Year of Microcredit and requested that the observance of the Year be a special occasion for giving impetus to microcredit programmes in all countries, particularly the developing countries, Recalling also its resolution 52/194 of 18 December 1997, in which it emphasized the role of microcredit and microfinance as an important anti-poverty tool that promotes asset creation, employment and economic security and empowers people living in poverty, especially women, Stressing that people living in poverty in rural and urban areas need access to microcredit and microfinance that enhance their ability to increase income, build assets and mitigate vulnerability in times of hardship, Bearing in mind the importance of microfinance instruments such as credit, savings and related business services in providing access to capital for people living in poverty, Recognizing the need to facilitate the access of people living in poverty, especially women, to microcredit and microfinance to enable them to undertake microenterprises so as to generate self-employment and contribute to achieving empowerment, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the draft programme of action for the International Year of Microcredit, 2005;A/58/179. 2. Emphasizes that the observance of 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit will provide a significant opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty, to share good practices and to further enhance financial sector developments that support sustainable pro-poor financial services in all countries; 3. Invites the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the United Nations Capital Development Fund to jointly coordinate the activities of the United Nations system regarding the preparations for and observance of the Year; 4. Recognizes the importance of scaling up microcredit and microfinance services and of using the Year as a platform to find ways of enhancing development impact and sustainability through the sharing of best practices and lessons learned; 5. Invites Member States to consider establishing national coordinating committees or focal points with responsibility for promoting the activities related to the preparations for and observance of the Year; 6. Invites Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society to collaborate in the preparations for and observance of the Year and to raise public awareness and knowledge about microcredit and microfinance; 7. Recognizes that access to microcredit and microfinance can contribute to achieving the goals and targets of major United Nations conferences and summits, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the targets relating to poverty eradication, gender equality and the empowerment of women; 8. Encourages the holding of regional and subregional events on microcredit and microfinance, and, in this regard, welcomes the holding of the Asia-Pacific Region Microcredit Summit Meeting of Councils, in Dhaka, from 16 to 19 February 2004; 9. Encourages Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and foundations to make voluntary contributions and/or to lend other forms of support to the Year, in accordance with the guidelines for international years; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the preparations for the International Year of Microcredit, 2005, in consultation with Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session under the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 58/222 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/488, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/222. Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/196 of 22 December 1992, 48/183 of 21 December 1993, 50/107 of 20 December 1995, 56/207 of 21 December 2001 and 57/266 of 20 December 2002, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. and their commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Underlining the priority and urgency given by the heads of State and Government to the eradication of poverty, as expressed in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and in the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa,26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Recalling the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Bearing in mind the outcomes of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Expressing its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected groups, in particular in the least developed countries and in sub-Saharan Africa, Recognizing that, while the rate of poverty in some countries has been reduced, some developing countries and disadvantaged groups are being marginalized and others are at risk of being marginalized and effectively excluded from the benefits of globalization, resulting in increased income disparity among and within countries, thereby constraining efforts to eradicate poverty, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/179. 2. Reiterates that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, that each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication, that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized and that concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development; 3. Recognizes that, in order for developing countries to reach the targets set in the context of national development strategies for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the goal of the eradication of poverty, and for such poverty eradication strategies to be effective, it is imperative that they be integrated into the world economy and share equitably in the benefits of globalization; 4. Reaffirms that, within the context of overall action for the eradication of poverty, special attention should be given to the multidimensional nature of poverty and the national and international conditions and policies that are conducive to its eradication, fostering, inter alia, the social and economic integration of people living in poverty and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development; Global response for the eradication of poverty 5. Stresses the importance of the follow-up to the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development, and calls for the full and effective implementation of the Monterrey Consensus;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 6. Reaffirms that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving poverty eradication and sustainable development; in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance by addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries; to that end, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support to structural and macroeconomic reform, a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing market access for developing countries; efforts to reform the international financial architecture need to be sustained with greater transparency and with the effective participation of developing countries in decision-making processes; and that a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development; 7. Also reaffirms that good governance at the national level is essential for poverty eradication and sustainable development, that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation, and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; 8. Recognizes the major role that trade can play as an engine of growth and development and in eradicating poverty, regrets that the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Cancún, Mexico, from 10 to 14 September 2003, failed to produce an agreement,See A/58/15 (Part V), chap. II, sect. B. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 15. and calls for the resumption of the negotiations and the implementation of the Doha agenda, adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 9. Also recognizes the responsibility of all Governments to adopt policies aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices at the national and international levels, and welcomes in this regard the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Resolution 58/4, annex. 10. Underlines that, together with coherent and consistent domestic policies, international cooperation is essential in supplementing and supporting the efforts of developing countries to utilize their domestic resources for development and poverty eradication and in ensuring that they will be able to achieve the development goals as envisioned in the Millennium Declaration; 11. Reiterates that a substantial increase in official development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and that, to build support for official development assistance, cooperation is necessary to further improve policies and development strategies to enhance aid effectiveness, both nationally and internationally, requests, in that regard, those countries that made announcements of increased official development assistance at the International Conference on Financing for Development to make those resources available as soon as possible, and notes in this context the recent upward trend in official development assistance; 12. Urges developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts to reach the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, as reconfirmed at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. encourages developing countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help achieve development goals and targets, acknowledges the efforts of all donors, commends those donors whose official development assistance contributions exceed, reach or are increasing towards the targets, and underlines the importance of undertaking to examine the means and time frames for achieving the targets and goals; 13. Recognizes that an enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector and attracting and making effective use of international investment and assistance, and that efforts to create such an environment should be supported by the international community; 14. Also recognizes that creditors and debtors must share the responsibility for preventing and resolving unsustainable debt situations and that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with attaining poverty eradication, sustainable economic growth, sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and in that regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 15. Calls upon the developed countries, by means of intensified and effective cooperation with developing countries, to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights as well as the special needs of developing countries; 16. Recognizes the crucial role that microcredit and microfinance could play in the eradication of poverty, the promotion of gender equality, the empowerment of vulnerable groups and the development of rural communities, encourages Governments to adopt policies that support access to microcredit as well as the development of microfinance institutions and their capacities, and calls upon the international community to support those efforts; Policies for the eradication of poverty 17. Reaffirms that the eradication of poverty should be addressed in an integrated way, as set out in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. taking into account the importance of the need for the empowerment of women and sectoral strategies in such areas as education, development of human resources, health, human settlements, rural, local and community development, productive employment, population, environment and natural resources, water and sanitation, agriculture, food security, energy and migration, and the specific needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, in such a way as to increase opportunities and choices for people living in poverty and to enable them to build and strengthen their assets so as to achieve development, security and stability, and in that regard encourages countries to develop their national poverty reduction policies in accordance with their national priorities, including, where appropriate, through poverty reduction strategy papers; 18. Underlines, in this context, the importance of further integration of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, in the national development strategies and plans, including the poverty reduction strategy papers where they exist, and calls upon the international community to continue to support developing countries in the implementation of those development strategies and plans; 19. Recognizes the importance of disseminating best practices for the reduction of poverty in its various dimensions, taking into account the need to adapt those best practices to suit the social, economic, cultural and historical conditions of each country; 20. Reaffirms that all Governments and the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty, at both the national and the international levels, and encourages the use of gender analysis as a tool for the integration of a gender dimension into planning the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for the eradication of poverty; 21. Also reaffirms that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development; 22. Emphasizes the critical role of both formal and non-formal education, in particular basic education and training, especially for girls, in empowering those living in poverty, reaffirms in that context the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and recognizes the importance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization strategy for the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, in supporting the Education For All programmes as a tool to achieve the millennium development goal on universal primary education by 2015; 23. Recognizes the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious, contagious diseases on human development, economic growth and poverty reduction efforts in all regions, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, urges Governments and the international community to give urgent priority to combating those diseases, takes note of the convening of the fifteenth International Conference on HIV/AIDS, to be held in Thailand from 11 to 16 July 2004, and in that regard welcomes the recent decision adopted by members of the World Trade Organization on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public Health;WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 24. Emphasizes the link between poverty eradication and improving access to safe drinking water, and stresses in this regard the objective to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, as reaffirmed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 25. Recognizes that the lack of adequate housing remains a pressing challenge in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty, particularly in the urban areas in developing countries, expresses its concern at the rapid growth in the number of slum dwellers in the urban areas of developing countries, particularly in Africa, stresses that, unless urgent and effective measures and actions are taken at the national and international levels, the number of slum dwellers, who constitute one third of the world's urban population, will continue to increase, and emphasizes the need for increased efforts, with a view to significantly improving the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020; Specific initiatives in the fight against poverty 26. Also recognizes the important potential contribution of the World Solidarity Fund to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the objective to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people living on less than one dollar a day and the proportion of the people who suffer from hunger; 27. Reiterates its endorsement of the decision of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to establish the World Solidarity Fund to eradicate poverty and to promote social and human development in the developing countries, while stressing the voluntary nature of the contributions and the need to avoid duplication of existing United Nations funds and encouraging the role of the private sector and individual citizens relative to Governments in funding the endeavours, as set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 28. Encourages Member States, international organizations, the private sector, relevant institutions, foundations and individuals to contribute to the World Solidarity Fund; 29. Requests the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, in that regard, to take further measures to operationalize the World Solidarity Fund by establishing, on an urgent basis, the high-level committee whose task it is to define the strategy of the Fund and to mobilize resources to enable it to start its activities in the field of poverty alleviation; 30. Acknowledges the significance of greater involvement of developing countries in joint efforts, including those among developing countries, to overcome extreme poverty, and in this context takes note of the initiatives undertaken by the developing countries, including those announced at the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly; 31. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by regional and subregional organizations for overcoming extreme poverty; Africa, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States 32. Stresses the importance, as recognized in the Millennium Declaration, of meeting the special needs of Africa, where poverty remains a major challenge and where most countries have not benefited fully from the opportunities of globalization, which has further exacerbated the continent's marginalization; 33. Reaffirms its support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. encourages further efforts in the implementation of the commitments contained therein in the political, economic and social fields, and calls upon the developed countries and the United Nations system to continue to support the Partnership, the primary objective of which is to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development on the basis of African ownership and leadership and enhanced partnerships with the international community, in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the Partnership; 34. Calls upon the Governments of the least developed countries and their development partners to implement fully the commitments contained in the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries; 35. Stresses the significant challenge to poverty reduction posed by the geographical disadvantages of landlocked developing countries and the vulnerabilities of small island developing States, and in this context welcomes the adoption of the Almaty Programme of Action, at the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 28 and 29 August 2003,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor countries and international Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and supports the comprehensive review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. to be held in Mauritius from 30 August to 3 September 2004; The United Nations and the fight against poverty 36. Calls for the full implementation of its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, which provides a comprehensive basis for the follow-up to the outcomes of those conferences and summits and contributes to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, in particular the goal of the eradication of poverty and hunger, and notes in this context the decision to review in 2005 the progress achieved in implementing all commitments made in the Millennium Declaration and that there is scope for a major event; 37. Reaffirms the role of United Nations funds and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and its associated funds, in assisting the national efforts of developing countries, inter alia, in the eradication of poverty, and the need for their funding in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 39. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 58/223 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee and as orally revised (A/58/489, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/223. United Nations Institute for Training and Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/188 of 16 December 1996, 52/206 of 18 December 1997, 53/195 of 15 December 1998, 54/229 of 22 December 1999, 55/208 of 20 December 2000, 56/208 of 21 December 2001 and 57/268 of 20 December 2002, Welcoming the recent progress made by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in its various programmes and activities, including the improved cooperation that has been established with other organizations of the United Nations system and with regional and national institutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Governments and private institutions that have made or pledged financial and other contributions to the Institute, Noting with concern that contributions to the General Fund have not increased, while the participation of the developed countries in training programmes in New York and Geneva is increasing, Noting that the bulk of the resources contributed to the Institute is directed to the Special Purpose Grants Fund rather than to the General Fund, and stressing the need to address that unbalanced situation, Noting also that the Institute receives no subsidy from the United Nations regular budget and that it provides training programmes to all Member States free of charge, Reiterating that training activities should be accorded a more visible and larger role in support of the management of international affairs and in the execution of the economic and social development programmes of the United Nations system, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/183. 2. Reaffirms the importance of a coordinated United Nations system-wide approach to research and training, based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of work among the relevant institutions and bodies; 3. Also reaffirms the relevance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in view of the growing importance of training within the United Nations and the training requirements of States and the relevance of the training-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 4. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training programmes, and in this context underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of those partnerships, in particular at the country level; 5. Also welcomes the establishment of the Institute's Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific in Hiroshima, Japan; 6. Requests the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue to ensure fair and equitable geographical distribution and transparency in the preparation of the programmes and in the employment of experts, and in this regard stresses that the courses of the Institute should focus primarily on development issues and the management of international affairs; 7. Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed countries, and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or otherwise to the Institute, to give it their generous financial and other support, and urges the States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider resuming them in view of the successful restructuring and revitalization of the Institute; 8. Encourages the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue its efforts to resolve the critical financial situation of the Institute, in particular with a view to broadening its donor base and to increasing the contributions to the General Fund; 9. Also encourages the Board of Trustees to consider diversifying further the venues of the events organized by the Institute and to include the cities hosting regional commissions, in order to promote greater participation and reduce costs; 10. Stresses the need to take action to resolve expeditiously the issues related to the Institute's rent, debt, rental rates and maintenance costs, taking into account its financial situation, and welcomes the consideration of those issues by the Fifth Committee; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including details on the status of contributions to and the financial situation of the Institute. RESOLUTION 58/224 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/489, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/224. United Nations System Staff College in Turin, Italy The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/228 of 22 December 1999, 55/207 of 20 December 2000 and 55/258 of 14 June 2001, Recalling also its resolution 55/278 of 7 August 2001, by which it approved the statute of the United Nations System Staff College, Reaffirming the role of the Staff College as an institution for system-wide knowledge management, training and continuous learning for the staff of the United Nations system, in particular in the areas of economic and social development, peace and security and internal management, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the note by the Secretary-General and the accompanying report; A/58/305 and Corr.1. 2. Welcomes the progress made by the United Nations System Staff College since the entry into force of its statute on 1 January 2002 in pursuing the objectives set forth therein; 3. Calls upon all organizations of the United Nations system to make full and effective use of the facilities of the Staff College; 4. Invites the Staff College, in developing and implementing its work programme, to focus, inter alia, on activities that can serve to maximize system-wide coherence and effectiveness in supporting the coordinated and integrated follow-up to the outcomes of conferences, including, in particular, the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and improving the delivery of services to Member States; 5. Encourages the Staff College to provide strategic leadership in order to increase operational effectiveness, promote inter-agency collaboration and strengthen management culture by its own example, including the development of new systems of performance management, flexible and collaborative work structures and cost-effective means of delivering services to clients and beneficiaries; 6. Calls upon relevant institutions of the United Nations, including the United Nations University, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Staff College, to collaborate closely to those ends; 7. Welcomes the financial and other support extended by Member States to the work of the Staff College, and invites the international community to strengthen its support for the College through voluntary contributions, in accordance with article VII of the statute, to enable the College to consolidate its distinctive contribution to fostering a cohesive management culture across the United Nations system that is responsive to the requirements of Member States; 8. Invites the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, in accordance with article X of the statute, to make a recommendation that the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to article IV, paragraph 5, of the statute be submitted to the Economic and Social Council rather than to the General Assembly. RESOLUTION 58/225 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/490, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/225. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998, 54/231 of 22 December 1999, 55/212 of 20 December 2000, 56/209 of 21 December 2001 and 57/274 of 20 December 2002 on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, Reaffirming the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for the people of the entire world, Recognizing that globalization and interdependence are opening new opportunities and posing new challenges through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy, development and the improvement of living standards around the world, within which some countries have made progress in successfully benefiting from the opportunities of globalization, while others have faced difficulties in coping with its challenges, Noting with concern that, notwithstanding the current improvement, global economic growth has slipped since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration, with a negative impact on development prospects for developing countries, Recognizing the importance of appropriate policy responses at the national level by all countries to the challenges of globalization, in particular by pursuing sound policies, stressing that such national policies can yield better results with international support and with an enabling international economic environment, noting the need for support from the international community for the efforts of the least developed countries, in particular in improving their institutional and management capacities, and recognizing that all countries should pursue policies conducive to economic growth and to promoting a favourable global economic environment, Noting with serious concern that a large number of developing countries have not yet been able to benefit fully from the existing multilateral trading system, and underlining the importance of promoting the integration of developing countries into the world economy so as to enable them to take the fullest possible advantage of the trading opportunities arising from globalization and liberalization, Bearing in mind the commitment made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held at Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. to maintain the process of reform and the liberalization of trade policies, thus ensuring that the system plays its full part in promoting recovery, growth and development, to reaffirm strongly the principles and objectives set out in the Agreement Establishing the World Trade OrganizationSee Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). and to pledge to reject the use of protectionism and place development at the heart of the Doha work programme,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. ensuring that globalization benefits all and that the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, are achieved, Stressing that the process of reform for a strengthened and stable international financial architecture should be based on broad participation in a genuine multilateral approach, involving all members of the international community, to ensure that the diverse needs and interests of all countries are adequately represented, Underlining the urgent need to ensure the effective participation of all developing countries in the process of globalization, as an instrument for economic growth and poverty eradication, Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Noting with concern the increasing linkages between corrupt practices and the transfer of illicitly acquired assets, money-laundering and other related organized crimes across national borders, and calling for better international efforts to effectively address these global trends, including through effective economic and banking regulations in all countries and the return of illicitly acquired assets to the countries of origin, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. and in this regard welcoming its adoption by the General Assembly, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/394. 2. Reaffirms that the United Nations has a central role in promoting international cooperation for development and in promoting policy coherence on global development issues, including in the context of globalization and interdependence; 3. Reiterates that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends, inter alia, on good governance, both within individual countries and at the international level, sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions that are responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure, which are the basis for sustained growth, poverty eradication and employment creation, and that transparency in financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system, which are equally essential; 4. Stresses the need to address asymmetries in the current global system, including those related to the vulnerability of countries to external shocks, the concentration of technical innovation in industrialized countries and the limited international mobility of labour, as well as such issues as increasing the flow of foreign direct investment and enhancing the participation of developing countries in the world trading and financial systems; 5. Welcomes the commitment by all countries to promote national and global economic systems based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion, as contained in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 6. Strongly urges the international community to take all necessary and appropriate measures, including support for structural and macroeconomic reform, foreign direct investment, enhanced official development assistance, the search for a durable solution to the external debt problem, market access, capacity-building and the dissemination of knowledge and technology, in order to achieve sustainable development and promote the participation in the global economy of all African countries, as well as the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and small island developing States; 7. Stresses that, in the increasingly globalizing interdependent world economy, a holistic approach to the interconnected national, international and systematic challenges of financing for development, namely, sustainable, gender-sensitive and people-centred development, is essential in order to open up opportunities for all and to ensure that resources are created and used effectively, and that solid and accountable institutions are established at all levels; 8. Also stresses the special importance of creating an enabling international economic environment through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to promote equitable economic development in a world economy that benefits all people, and in that context invites developed countries, in particular the major industrialized countries, which have significant weight in influencing world economic growth, when formulating their macroeconomic policies, to take into account whether the effects of those policies in terms of the external economic environment would be favourable to growth and development; 9. Encourages all countries to consider, in the context of existing regional or subregional arrangements, reviewing the contribution of their national financial, trade, debt relief and other policies to the realization of agreed development goals and commitments; 10. Reaffirms the significant importance of an open, universal, equitable, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory and balanced multilateral trading system in pursuit of sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 11. Stresses the need to promote corporate responsibility and accountability, including through the full development and effective implementation of intergovernmental agreements and measures, international initiatives and public-private partnerships and appropriate national regulations, and to support continuous improvement in corporate practices in all countries; 12. Invites all countries, as well as the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, within their respective mandates, to continue to strengthen interactions with civil society, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations, as important partners in development; 13. Expresses its concern about the setback at the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Cancún, Mexico, from 10 to 14 September 2003,See A/58/15 (Part V), chap. II, sect. B. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 15. and stresses the importance of redoubling efforts in working towards the successful, timely and development-oriented conclusion of the Doha negotiations no later than 1 January 2005, as set out in the Ministerial Declaration of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization ("Doha Ministerial Declaration");See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 14. Notes the importance of advancing current efforts to reform the international financial architecture, as envisaged in the Monterrey Consensus, emphasizes that those efforts need to include the effective participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and in this regard encourages the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to continue examining the issues of the voice and effective participation of those countries, as provided for in the communiqués of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and the Development Committee at their last meetings, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 21 and 22 September 2003, and looks forward to the consideration of a road map on the issue at their next meeting in April 2004; 15. Underlines the importance, for the improved access of developing countries to international financial markets, of considering counter-cyclical macroeconomic policies in the face of volatile capital flows and of strengthening macroeconomic stability; 16. Also underlines the fact that, in addressing the linkages between globalization and sustainable development, particular focus must be placed on identifying and implementing policies and practices that advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, namely, economic development, social development and environmental protection, taking into account the Rio principles, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, as set out in principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. and bearing in mind that good governance, at both national and international levels, is essential for sustainable development and to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound technologies on concessional and preferential terms as mutually agreed; 17. Stresses the need to build an inclusive information society, which is intrinsically global in nature, and that therefore national efforts need to be supported by effective international and regional cooperation among Governments, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders, including the international financial institutions, in order, inter alia, to assist in bridging the digital divide, promoting access to information and communication technologies, creating digital opportunities and harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies for development, and invites the World Summit on the Information Society to encourage all stakeholders in this regard; 18. Reiterates the need to address the specific concerns and needs of the least developed countries and small island developing States, and in this regard calls upon the least developed countries and their development partners, including multilateral financial institutions, to continue to implement expeditiously the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010See A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. and to adopt further measures to effectively integrate the least developed countries into the global economy and the multilateral trading system; 19. Welcomes the Almaty Programme of Action, adopted at the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 28 and 29 August 2003,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. which addresses the special needs of landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, and calls upon all stakeholders fully and effectively to implement the Programme of Action; 20. Emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the specific concerns of countries with economies in transition so as to help them to benefit from globalization, with a view to their full integration into the world economy; 21. Invites all relevant agencies of the United Nations system, through, inter alia, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, within existing resources, to review the impact of its work on the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to focus its report to the Economic and Social Council on progress made in this regard; 22. Stresses the need for the United Nations system to continue to address the social dimension of globalization, encourages in that regard the work of the International Labour Organization on the social dimension of globalization, and takes note of the ongoing work of its World Commission on the Social Dimensions of Globalization; 23. Also stresses the importance of migration as a phenomenon accompanying increased globalization, including its impact on economies, and underlines further the need for greater coordination and cooperation among countries as well as relevant regional and international organizations; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on globalization and interdependence, in the context of the present resolution, which should focus on ways to forge greater coherence in order to advance the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 58/226 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/491, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/226. Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3327 (XXIX) of 16 December 1974, 32/162 of 19 December 1977, 34/115 of 14 December 1979, 56/205 and 56/206 of 21 December 2001 and 57/275 of 20 December 2002, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/38 of 26 July 2002 and 2003/62 of 25 July 2003, Recalling the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. Recalling also the goal contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020, as proposed in the Cities Without Slums Initiative, and recalling further the goal contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. to halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentIbid., resolution 1, annex. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recognizing that the overall thrust of the new strategic vision of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially for guiding international cooperation in respect of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, Conscious of the need to achieve greater coherence and effectiveness in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Recognizing the need for increased and predictable financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation in the new millennium to ensure timely, effective and concrete results in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, particularly in developing countries, Welcoming the establishment by the Executive Director of UN-Habitat of a Water and Sanitation Trust Fund as a financing mechanism to support the creation of enabling environments for pro-poor investment in water and sanitation in developing-country cities, Commending those countries that have contributed to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, as indicated in the report of the Secretary-General to the Economic and Social Council,E/2003/76. Reiterating the call to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to increase her efforts to strengthen the Foundation in order to achieve its primary operative objective, as set out in resolution 3327 (XXIX), of supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, including supporting shelter, related infrastructure-development programmes and housing-finance institutions and mechanisms, particularly in developing countries, Recalling the decision of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session to address the themes of water, sanitation and human settlements in its next review and policy sessions,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. Noting the efforts by UN-Habitat to forge partnerships with Habitat Agenda partners, other United Nations funds and programmes and international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, Recognizing that shelter and human settlements planning and administration are important sectors in humanitarian efforts, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Spain and the city of Barcelona for their willingness to host the second session of the World Urban Forum in 2004 and to the Government of Canada and the city of Vancouver for their willingness to host the third session of the World Urban Forum in 2006, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on the work of its nineteenth sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/58/8). and the report of the Secretary-General on the special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the strengthening of UN-Habitat;A/58/178. 2. Recognizes that Governments have the primary responsibility for the sound and effective implementation of the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. and stresses that the international community should fully implement its commitments to support the Governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their efforts, through the provision of the requisite resources, capacity-building, the transfer of technology and the creation of an international enabling environment; 3. Encourages Governments to include issues pertaining to shelter and sustainable human settlements and urban poverty in their national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; 4. Urges Governments to promote pro-poor investments in services and infrastructure, in particular water and sanitation, in order to improve living environments, in particular in slums and informal settlements; 5. Encourages Governments to establish local, national and regional urban observatories and to provide financial and substantive support to UN-Habitat for the further development of methodologies for data collection, analysis and dissemination; 6. Also encourages Governments to support and enable the participation of youth in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda through social, cultural and economic activities at the city level and other national- and local-level activities; 7. Encourages Governments and UN-Habitat to continue to promote partnerships with local authorities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other Habitat Agenda partners, including women's groups and academic and professional groups, in order to empower them, within the legal framework and conditions of each country, to play a more effective role in the provision of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world; 8. Encourages UN-Habitat to continue to work closely with other relevant agencies within the United Nations system, in particular members and observers of the United Nations Development Group and the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee;Established pursuant to resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991. 9. Requests UN-Habitat to strengthen further its efforts to make the Cities Alliance initiative an effective means for the implementation of the twin goals of the Habitat Agenda, namely, adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts by the Cities Alliance partnership between the World Bank and UN-Habitat, and other donor countries, to continue to provide an important forum for policy coordination and development, as well as to provide support for the preparation of pro-poor city development strategies and slum-upgrading programmes within the legal framework and conditions of each country; 11. Invites the Secretary-General to incorporate the assessment of the progress towards the target of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020 in his report on the review in 2005 of the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 12. Welcomes the fund-raising efforts of the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, which realized an increase in the general-purpose contributions of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation for the year 2003; 13. Calls for continued financial support to UN-Habitat through increased voluntary contributions to the Foundation, and invites Governments to provide multi-year funding to support programme implementation; 14. Requests UN-Habitat to collaborate with the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in the preparations for the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development to promote a fruitful discussion on the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements; 15. Requests the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to inform the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme of the results of the discussions on the topics of water, sanitation and human settlements at the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 16. Notes that the upcoming sessions of the World Urban Forum, a non-legislative technical forum, which will be held in Barcelona in 2004 and in Vancouver in 2006, will offer an opportunity to experts to exchange experiences, best practices and lessons learned in the field of human settlements; 17. Invites donor countries to support the participation of representatives of the developing countries in the second and future sessions of the World Urban Forum; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to UN-Habitat and the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 19. Requests UN-Habitat, as the focal point for human settlements development and for coordination of human settlements activities within the United Nations system, to work towards coordination of human settlements issues as inputs to the overall coordination of humanitarian efforts, including through its participation in the consideration by the Economic and Social Council, in the near future, of the issue of the transition from relief to development; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Special session of the General Assembly for an overall review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and the strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)". RESOLUTION 58/227 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/491, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/227. Rules of procedure of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 32/162 of 19 December 1977, in which it established the Commission on Human Settlements and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), Recalling also its resolution 56/206 of 21 December 2001, in which it decided to transform the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) into the secretariat of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the Commission on Human Settlements into the Governing Council of UN-Habitat, a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, Having considered the recommendation of the Governing Council, in its resolution 19/1 of 9 May 2003,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/58/8), annex I. that the General Assembly adopt its draft rules of procedure as contained in the annex to that resolution, and the oral statement by the Chairman of the Working Group on Rules of Procedure of the Governing Council,Ibid., annex II, appendix IV. Adopts the draft rules of procedure of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) as contained in the annex to Governing Council resolution 19/1.See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/58/8), annex I. RESOLUTION 58/228 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/492, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/228. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/279 of 12 July 2001, in which it endorsed the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. and its resolution 57/276 of 20 December 2002 on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Reaffirming its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in particular paragraph 15 thereof, in which the heads of State and Government undertook to address the special needs of the least developed countries, Recalling Economic and Social Council decision 2001/320 of 24 October 2001, in which the Council decided to establish a regular sub-item entitled "Review and coordination of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010", Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/17 of 22 July 2003, in which the Council took note of the progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries,A/58/86-E/2003/81. Taking note also of Economic and Social Council decision 2003/287 of 24 July 2003, in which the Council adopted the theme "Resources mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication in the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010" as the theme of its high-level segment of 2004, Taking note further of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/86-E/2003/81. 1. Expresses its deep concern over the weak implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. and expresses its expectation of more vigorous implementation by all partners; 2. Reiterates that the Programme of Action offers a framework for partnership, based on mutual commitments by the least developed countries and their development partners to undertake concrete actions in a number of interlinked areas, as set out in the Programme of Action; 3. Calls upon the least developed countries to continue, with the support of their development partners, to fulfil their commitments and to promote the implementation of the actions contained in the Programme of Action by translating them into specific measures within their national development frameworks and poverty eradication strategies, in particular poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist, with the involvement of civil society, including the private sector, on the basis of a broad-based inclusive dialogue, as well as to continue to promote an enabling environment for the effective mobilization and utilization of resources consistent with paragraph 82 of the Programme of Action; 4. Calls upon the development partners of the least developed countries, including the multilateral financial institutions, to fulfil their commitments regarding the effective and expeditious implementation of the Programme of Action, and urges the developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts to effectively implement their commitments on official development assistance to the least developed countries, as contained in paragraph 83 of the Programme of Action; 5. Urges the least developed countries and their development partners to make the Programme of Action an effective tool for the implementation of the poverty reduction strategies at the national level for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration; 6. Invites the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, and all other international organizations, within their respective mandates, to support as a priority the implementation of the Programme of Action, including programmes of financial and technical cooperation devoted to the least developed countries in support of their national development programmes, including their poverty reduction strategies; 7. Stresses the need for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action and its annual assessment at the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council, and recognizes in this regard the critical importance of the participation of the least developed countries in the assessment process of the Programme of Action; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to facilitate the participation of government representatives from the least developed countries in the annual assessment by the Economic and Social Council of the Programme of Action within the context of the overall financial provisions established by the General Assembly in its resolution 1798 (XVII) of 11 December 1962 and subsequent amendments; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures, within existing resources and with the full participation of the regional commissions and relevant United Nations bodies, to support the participation of the least developed countries in international meetings, as well as in their preparation and consultation processes; 10. Emphasizes the importance of coordinating action within the United Nations system for the implementation of the Programme of Action, and calls upon the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States to fulfil its functions in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/227 of 24 December 2001; 11. Calls upon the Secretary-General to submit, through the Economic and Social Council, an annual progress report on the implementation of the Programme of Action in a more analytical and results-oriented way by placing greater emphasis on concrete results and indicating the progress achieved in its implementation. RESOLUTION 58/229 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/493, para. 9),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 157 to 4, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nauru, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga 58/229. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/269 of 20 December 2002, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/59 of 24 July 2003, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its concern also at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during the recent period, including the uprooting of a vast number of olive trees, Aware of the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, and of the dire economic and social consequences in this regard, Aware also of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources of the wall being constructed by Israel inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect on the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people, Reaffirming the need for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, the principle of land for peace and the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,See S/2003/529, annex. as endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan,A/58/75-E/2003/21. 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, cause loss or depletion of or endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, loss or depletion of, or danger to, their natural resources, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 58/22 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 155 to 8, with 7 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.27 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Costa Rica, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Uganda, United States of America Abstaining: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tonga 58/22. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all subsequent resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling further Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" and called upon those States which had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City, Expressing its grave concern at any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions, Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and the protection of the unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimension of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/278. 1. Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever; 2. Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980), and calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/230 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/494, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. and as orally revised 58/230. Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development The General Assembly, Recalling the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and its resolutions 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, 57/250 of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 and 57/272 and 57/273 of 20 December 2002, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/34 of 26 July 2002 and 2003/47 of 24 July 2003, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of and follow-up to commitments and agreements made at the International Conference on Financing for Development,A/58/216. prepared in collaboration with the major institutional stakeholders, Having considered the summary presented by the President of the General Assembly of the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development, held in New York on 29 and 30 October 2003,A/58/555 and Corr.1. Having also considered the summary presented by the President of the Economic and Social Council of the special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, held in New York on 14 April 2003,A/58/77-E/2003/62. Determined to continue to implement and build further on the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development and to strengthen the coordinated and coherent engagement of all relevant stakeholders in the financing for development process, 1. Welcomes the holding of the first High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development; 2. Reiterates the call to fully implement and to build further on the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development;See Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7). 3. Notes the progress made in the implementation of these commitments and agreements and that much remains to be done in this context; 4. Emphasizes the link between financing for development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 5. Stresses, in order to complement national development efforts, the importance of full implementation of the commitment to enhance further the coherence and consistency of international monetary, financial and trading systems, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to keep actions under review; 6. Recognizes initiatives taken to enhance the voice, participation and representation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the work and decision-making processes of the intergovernmental bodies of institutional stakeholders, and invites them to continue and strengthen actions aimed at reaching decisions in this regard; 7. Invites the World Trade Organization to strengthen its institutional relationship with the United Nations, in particular through its active involvement in the meetings of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council devoted to financing for development, and through its participation in the preparation of the annual report on the implementation of and follow-up to the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development; 8. Welcomes the decisions by the major institutional stakeholders of the International Conference on Financing for Development to include in the agendas of their inter-governmental bodies relevant items on the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and invites all major institutional stakeholders to consider doing so, in accordance with paragraph 70 of the Monterrey Consensus, and to make a contribution to the assessment of progress made to the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development of the General Assembly and to the spring meeting of the Economic and Social Council; 9. Requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in cooperation with other relevant stakeholders, to continue to address in a comprehensive way commodities issues and their impact on financing for development; 10. Requests the Economic and Social Council, in its examination of the report of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters at its next substantive session to give consideration to the institutional framework for international cooperation in tax matters; 11. Recalls paragraph 69 of the Monterrey Consensus and building on the experience of the high-level spring meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Dialogue of the General Assembly in 2003, in the context of the integrated approach to the follow-up to and implementation of the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development, requests: (a) The President of the General Assembly, in coordination with the President of the Economic and Social Council, to strengthen the preparations, with all major institutional and other stakeholders, of matters relevant to the organization of the High-level Dialogue, in consultation with all Member States; (b) The President of the Economic and Social Council, with support from the Vice-Presidents, to enhance the Council's interactions through regular exchanges with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on organizational matters related to the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, within the context of the preparations for the high-level meeting with these institutions, bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 57/270 B and Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/47, and to report thereon to the Council; (c) The President of the Economic and Social Council, in consultation with all major institutional stakeholders, to focus the annual special high-level meeting on specific issues, within the holistic integrated approach of the Monterrey Consensus, and to report thereon to the Council; 12. Invites the regional commissions, with the support of regional development banks, as appropriate, and in cooperation with United Nations funds and programmes, to use the opportunity of their regular intergovernmental sessions to hold special meetings within existing resources, as necessary, to address the regional and interregional aspects of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development and thus help to bridge any gaps between the national, regional and international dimensions of the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and serve as inputs to the High-level Dialogue as well as to the spring meeting of the Economic and Social Council; 13. Welcomes the establishment of the Financing for Development Office in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, and in this regard reiterates the need to fully implement resolution 57/273 to enable the Office to provide effective support to the intergovernmental process entrusted with the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, and to facilitate the participation of all stakeholders in accordance with the rules of procedure of the United Nations, in particular the accreditation procedures and modalities of participation utilized at the Conference and in its preparatory process, as well as to continue within its mandate: (a) To organize workshops and multi-stakeholder consultations, including experts from the official and private sectors, as well as academia and civil society, to examine issues related to the mobilization of resources for financing development and poverty eradication; (b) To convene activities involving various stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, as appropriate, to promote best practices and exchange information on the implementation of the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference for Financing for Development; 14. Decides to consider at its fifty-ninth session possible innovative sources of financing for development, and requests the Secretary-General to submit the result of the analysis on this issue as called for in paragraph 44 of the Monterrey Consensus; 15. Invites countries to report by 2005, inter alia, through existing reporting mechanisms, on their efforts to implement the Monterrey Consensus, bearing in mind the need to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 16. Decides to hold the 2005 High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development at the ministerial level; the time and modalities of the High-level Dialogue will be set by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, taking into account other major events in the same year and the need for adequate provisions for an enhanced dialogue; 17. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development", and requests the Secretary-General to submit an annual analytical assessment of the state of the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, including the implementation of the present resolution, to be prepared in full collaboration with the major institutional stakeholders. RESOLUTION 58/231 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/495 and Corr.1, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 58/231. Public administration and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/225 of 19 April 1996, 53/201 of 15 December 1998, 56/213 of 21 December 2001 and 57/277 of 20 December 2002 on public administration and development, as well as Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/45 of 20 December 2001, Stressing the need for capacity-building initiatives aimed at institution-building, human resources development, strengthening financial management and harnessing the power of information and technology, Recalling that 2006 will mark the tenth anniversary of the resumed fiftieth session of the General Assembly, on public administration and development, Welcoming the adoption of the Ibero-American Charter for the Public Service at the fifth Ibero-American Conference of Ministers for Public Administration and State Reform, held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, on 26 and 27 June 2003,A/58/193, annex II. Expressing its deep appreciation for the generosity of the Government of Mexico in hosting the fifth Global Forum on Reinventing Government, held in Mexico City from 3 to 7 November 2003, Welcoming e-Government initiatives as a tool to promote development, Welcoming also the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the role of public administration in the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;A/58/152. 2. Reiterates that efficient, accountable, effective and transparent public administration, at both the national and international levels, has a key role to play in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and in that context stresses the need to strengthen national public sector administrative and managerial capacity-building, in particular in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the commemoration of 23 June as United Nations Public Service Day and the granting of the United Nations Public Service Awards, which provide motivation for public servants all over the world to enhance public administration as a tool for development, and in this regard encourages Member States to participate in the award process by nominating candidates; 4. Also takes note with appreciation of the Marrakech Declaration, adopted by the Fourth Global Forum on Reinventing Government, held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 11 to 13 December 2002;A/58/383, annex. 5. Welcomes with appreciation the offer of the Government of the Republic of Korea to host the Sixth Global Forum on Reinventing Government in Seoul in 2005; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to make proposals for commemorating the tenth anniversary of the resumed fiftieth session of the General Assembly, on public administration and development, during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, in 2006; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to support information exchange and research and to disseminate successful practices and advisory services in public administration that contribute to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue supporting the e-Government initiatives in the African, Asian, Central American and Caribbean regions as a tool for development; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/232 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/495 and Corr.1, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/232. Agreement between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2529 (XXIV) of 5 December 1969, 32/156 and 32/157 of 19 December 1977 and 36/41 of 19 November 1981, Having considered Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/2 of 10 July 2003, the annex to which contains the text of the draft agreement negotiated by the Committee on Negotiations with Intergovernmental Agencies of the Economic and Social Council and the World Tourism Organization Committee on the Negotiations for the Conversion of the Organization into a Specialized Agency, intended to transform the World Tourism Organization, an intergovernmental organization, into a specialized agency, in accordance with Articles 57 and 63 of the Charter of the United Nations, Approves the agreement between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization as set forth in the annex to the present resolution. Annex Agreement between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization Recalling resolutions 2529 (XXIV) of 5 December 1969 and 32/156 of 19 December 1977 of the General Assembly of the United Nations, In consideration of the Charter of the United Nations and the Statutes of the World Tourism Organization, In further consideration of the provisions of Article 57 of the Charter of the United Nations and of article 3, paragraph 3, and article 31 of the Statutes of the World Tourism Organization, The United Nations and the World Tourism Organization agree as follows: Article 1 Recognition 1. The United Nations recognizes the World Tourism Organization as a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for taking such action as may be appropriate under its Statutes for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth therein. 2. The United Nations recognizes the decisive and central role of the World Tourism Organization, as an intergovernmental organization, in world tourism, as enshrined in its Statutes. 3. Convinced that tourism can contribute significantly to the pursuit of the shared objectives of achieving sustainable development and poverty eradication, the United Nations notes that, in accordance with its Statutes, the World Tourism Organization shall pay particular attention to the interests of the developing countries in the field of tourism. Article 2 Coordination and cooperation 1. In its relations with the United Nations, its organs and the agencies of the United Nations system, the World Tourism Organization recognizes the coordinating role, as well as the comprehensive responsibilities in promoting economic and social development, of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council under the Charter of the United Nations. 2. In exercise of its central coordinating role in the field of tourism undertaken in accordance with its Statutes and with a view to contributing to economic and social development, in particular opportunities for poverty eradication and employment creation in the least developed countries, the World Tourism Organization recognizes the need for effective coordination and cooperation with the United Nations, its organs and the agencies of the United Nations system. 3. The World Tourism Organization, accordingly, agrees to cooperate with the United Nations in whatever measure may be necessary to effect the required coordination of policies and activities. 4. The World Tourism Organization agrees further to participate in, and to cooperate with, any body or bodies that have been established or may be established by the United Nations for the purpose of facilitating such cooperation and coordination, in particular through membership in the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, and to furnish such information as may be required for the carrying out of this purpose. 5. The World Tourism Organization shall inform the Economic and Social Council of matters of inter-agency concern within its competence and of any formal agreement on such matters to be concluded between the World Tourism Organization and another agency within the United Nations system. Article 3 Reciprocal representation 1. Representatives of the United Nations shall be invited to attend the meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization and their subsidiary organs, and to participate, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of these bodies. Written statements presented by the United Nations shall be distributed by the secretariat of the World Tourism Organization to the members of the above-mentioned bodies, in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure. 2. Representatives of the World Tourism Organization shall be invited to attend meetings and to participate, without the right to vote and in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure, in the deliberations of the Economic and Social Council, its commissions and its committees, of the Main Committees and other organs of the General Assembly and of the conferences and meetings of the United Nations, with respect to items on their agenda relating to matters within the scope of the activities of the World Tourism Organization and other matters of mutual interest. Written statements presented by the World Tourism Organization shall be distributed by the Secretariat of the United Nations to the members of the above-mentioned bodies, in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure. 3. Representatives of the World Tourism Organization shall be invited, for purposes of consultation, to attend meetings of the General Assembly when matters defined in paragraph 2 of the present article are under consideration. Article 4 Proposals of agenda items 1. After such preliminary consultations as may be necessary, the World Tourism Organization shall arrange for the inclusion in the agenda of its General Assembly, the Executive Council or their subsidiary bodies, as appropriate, items proposed by the United Nations. 2. After such preliminary consultations as may be necessary, the United Nations shall arrange for the inclusion in the agenda of the Economic and Social Council or, as appropriate and in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure, of other organs or bodies of the United Nations of items proposed by the World Tourism Organization. Article 5 Recommendations of the United Nations 1. Having regard to the obligations of the United Nations to promote the objectives set forth in Article 55 of the Charter of the United Nations and the functions and powers of the Economic and Social Council, under Article 62 of the Charter, to make or initiate studies and reports with respect to international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters and to make recommendations concerning these matters to the specialized agencies concerned, and having regard also to the responsibility of the United Nations, under Articles 58 and 63 of the Charter, to make recommendations for the coordination of the policies and activities of such specialized agencies, the World Tourism Organization agrees to arrange for the submission, as soon as possible, to the appropriate organ of the World Tourism Organization of all formal recommendations which the United Nations may make to it. 2. The World Tourism Organization agrees to enter into consultations with the United Nations upon request with respect to such recommendations, and in due course to report to the United Nations on the action taken by the World Tourism Organization or by its members to give effect to such recommendations, or on the other results of their consideration. Article 6 Assistance to the United Nations In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the Statutes of the World Tourism Organization, the World Tourism Organization shall cooperate with the United Nations by furnishing to it to the fullest extent possible such special information or studies, and by rendering such assistance to it as the United Nations may request. Article 7 Regular reports The World Tourism Organization shall submit to the United Nations regular reports on its activities. Article 8 Exchange of information and documents Subject to such arrangements as may be necessary for the safeguarding of confidential material, full and prompt exchange of appropriate information and documents shall be made between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization. Article 9 Public information Having regard to the aim of the World Tourism Organization, as defined in article 3, paragraph 1, of its Statutes, and with a view to coordinating the activities of the World Tourism Organization in this field with the operations of the information services of the United Nations, supplementary arrangements regarding these matters shall be concluded between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization. Article 10 Relations with the International Court of Justice 1. The World Tourism Organization agrees to furnish any information which may be requested by the International Court of Justice in pursuance of Article 34 of the Statute of the Court. 2. The General Assembly of the United Nations authorizes the World Tourism Organization to request advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on legal questions arising within the scope of its competence other than questions concerning the mutual relationships between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization or other specialized agencies. 3. Such requests may be addressed to the International Court of Justice by the General Assembly or by the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization acting in pursuance of an authorization by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization. 4. When requesting the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion, the World Tourism Organization shall inform the Economic and Social Council of the request. Article 11 Non-Self-Governing and other Territories The World Tourism Organization agrees to cooperate within the fields of its competence with the United Nations in giving effect to the principles and obligations set forth in Chapters XI, XII and XIII of the Charter of the United Nations and other internationally recognized principles and obligations regarding colonial countries and peoples, and taking into account the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, with regard to matters affecting the well-being and development of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing and other Territories. Article 12 Technical assistance The United Nations and the World Tourism Organization undertake to work together in the provision of technical assistance in the field of tourism and tourism development. In particular, they undertake to avoid undesirable duplication of activities and services and agree to take such measures as may be required to achieve effective coordination within the framework of existing coordinating machinery in the field of technical assistance, taking into account the respective roles and responsibilities of the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization under their constituent instruments, as well as those of other organizations participating in technical assistance activities. To this end, the World Tourism Organization recognizes the overall responsibilities of the resident coordinators for operational activities for development, as formulated in the relevant General Assembly resolutions. As one of the smaller specialized agencies without field representation, the World Tourism Organization may use resident coordinators to ensure its representation and promote its role. Article 13 Statistical services 1. The United Nations and the World Tourism Organization agree to strive for the maximum cooperation, the elimination of all undesirable duplication between them and the most efficient use of personnel in their respective collection, analysis, publication and dissemination of statistical information. They agree to combine their efforts to secure the greatest possible usefulness and utilization of statistical information, to guarantee close coordination in their respective statistical initiatives and to minimize the burden placed upon Governments and other organizations from which such information may be collected. 2. The World Tourism Organization recognizes that the United Nations is the central agency for the collection, analysis, publication, standardization and improvement of tourism statistics serving the general purposes of international organizations. 3. The United Nations recognizes the World Tourism Organization as the appropriate organization to collect, to analyse, to publish, to standardize and to improve the statistics of tourism and to promote the integration of these statistics within the sphere of the United Nations system. Article 14 Administrative cooperation 1. The United Nations and the World Tourism Organization recognize the desirability of cooperation in administrative matters of mutual interest. 2. Accordingly, the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization undertake to consult together, and with other agencies concerned within the United Nations system, from time to time concerning these matters, particularly the most efficient and harmonized use of facilities, staff and services and appropriate methods of avoiding the establishment and operation of competitive or overlapping facilities and services with a view to securing as much uniformity in these matters as possible. 3. The consultations referred to in the present article shall be utilized to establish the most equitable manner in which any special services or assistance furnished, on request, by the World Tourism Organization to the United Nations or by the United Nations to the World Tourism Organization shall be financed subject to supplementary arrangements to be concluded for that purpose. 4. The consultations referred to in the present article shall also explore the possibility of continuing or establishing common facilities or services in specific areas, including the possibility of one organization providing such facilities or services to one or several other organizations, and establish the most equitable manner in which such facilities or services shall be financed subject to supplementary arrangements to be concluded for that purpose. Article 15 Regional and branch offices Any regional or branch offices which the World Tourism Organization may establish shall closely cooperate with the regional or branch offices which the United Nations has established or may establish, in particular the offices of the regional commissions and of the resident coordinators. Article 16 Personnel arrangements 1. The United Nations and the World Tourism Organization agree to develop, in the interests of uniform standards of international employment and to the extent feasible, common personnel standards, methods and arrangements designed to avoid unjustified differences in terms and conditions of employment, to avoid competition in recruitment of personnel and to facilitate any mutually desirable and beneficial interchange of personnel. For this purpose the World Tourism Organization agrees to accept the Statute of the International Civil Service Commission and participate in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in accordance with the Regulations of the Fund and accept the jurisdiction of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal in matters involving applications alleging non-observance of those Regulations. 2. The United Nations and the World Tourism Organization agree to cooperate to the fullest extent possible in achieving these ends, and in particular they agree: (a) To consult together from time to time concerning matters of mutual interest relating to the terms and conditions of employment of the officers and staff, with a view to securing as much uniformity in these matters as may be feasible; (b) To cooperate in the interchange of personnel when desirable, on a temporary or a permanent basis, making due provision for the retention of seniority and pension rights; (c) To cooperate with the agencies of the United Nations system in the establishment and operation of suitable machinery for the settlement of disputes arising in connection with the employment of personnel and related matters. 3. The terms and conditions under which any facilities or services of the United Nations or the World Tourism Organization in connection with the matters referred to in the present article are to be extended to the other shall, where necessary, be the subject of supplementary arrangements concluded for this purpose pursuant to article 20 of the present Agreement. Article 17 Budgetary and financial matters 1. The World Tourism Organization recognizes the desirability of establishing close budgetary and financial relationships with the United Nations in order that the administrative operations of the United Nations and the agencies within the United Nations system shall be carried out in the most efficient and economic manner possible, and that the maximum measure of coordination and uniformity with respect to these operations shall be secured. 2. The World Tourism Organization agrees to accept the Statute of the Joint Inspection Unit. 3. The World Tourism Organization agrees to conform, as far as may be practicable and appropriate, to standard practices and forms recommended by the United Nations. 4. Financial and budgetary arrangements that may be entered into between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization shall be approved in accordance with their respective constitutive instruments. 5. In the preparation of the budget of the World Tourism Organization, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization shall consult with the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to achieving, insofar as practicable, uniformity in presentation of the budgets of the United Nations and of the agencies within the United Nations system for the purposes of providing a basis for comparison of the several budgets without precluding the use by each organization of different currencies to formulate its budget. 6. The World Tourism Organization agrees to transmit its proposed budgets to the United Nations not later than when the said budgets are transmitted to its members so as to enable the General Assembly of the United Nations to examine them and make recommendations, in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations. 7. Representatives of the World Tourism Organization shall be entitled to participate, without vote, in the deliberations of the General Assembly or any committee thereof established by it, at all times when the budget of the World Tourism Organization or general administrative or financial questions concerning the World Tourism Organization are under consideration. Article 18 United Nations laissez-passer Officials of the World Tourism Organization shall be entitled, in accordance with such special arrangements as may be concluded between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, to use laissez-passer of the United Nations. Article 19 Implementation of the Agreement The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization may enter into such supplementary arrangements for the implementation of the present Agreement as may be found desirable. Article 20 Amendment and revision The present Agreement may be amended or revised by agreement between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization, and any such amendment or revision shall come into force on its approval by the General Assembly of the United Nations and the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization. Article 21 Entry into force The present Agreement enters into force on its approval by the General Assembly of the United Nations and the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization. RESOLUTION 58/233 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.17/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58/233. New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002 on the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Recalling also its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990sResolution 46/151, annex. and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. Recalling further its resolution 57/297 of 20 December 2002 on the Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa, Mindful of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,See A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. the Doha Ministerial Declaration,A/C.2/56/7, annex. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Noting with appreciation the commitment of the international community in its support of the New Partnership, and welcoming in this regard the outcome of the third Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Noting with appreciation also that the Group of Eight summit in Evian, France, in June 2003 devoted a significant part of its deliberations to the New Partnership, welcoming in this regard the endorsement of the report on the implementation of the Group of Eight Africa Action Plan, and also welcoming the inaugural meeting, in Paris in November 2003, of the Africa Partnership Forum in support of the New Partnership, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "The New Partnership for Africa's Development: first consolidated report on progress in implementation and international support",A/58/254. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/254. 2. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 3. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the New Partnership and regional and international support for the New Partnership; 4. Also recognizes that much needs to be done to achieve the objectives of the New Partnership, particularly with regard to economic growth and poverty reduction; 5. Reaffirms that the international community, Africa and its development partners should further cooperate with one another to achieve the objectives and priorities of the New Partnership, on the basis of the principles of ownership and partnership; 6. Calls upon Member States and the international community, and invites the United Nations system, to enhance their support for the implementation of the New Partnership, in accordance with its principles, objectives and priorities; I Action by African countries and organizations 7. Notes with satisfaction efforts made by the African countries in fulfilling their commitments, in implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, to deepen democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic management, and encourages African countries to continue to strengthen their efforts in this regard by developing and strengthening institutions for governance and the development of the region; 8. Welcomes the efforts of African countries in the management and resolution of conflicts in the region, in particular their determination to establish a Peace and Security Council within the African Union, African mediation in a number of conflicts and the efforts of the African Union and African regional organizations to develop their capabilities for peace-support operations; 9. Takes note of the adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding on the African Peer Review Mechanism, signed in Abuja on 9 March 2003, and welcomes in this regard the progress made with respect to the Mechanism, in particular the accession of a number of States members of the African Union and the appointment of the panel of eminent persons, and encourages other States members of the African Union to accede to the Mechanism as well; 10. Welcomes the priorities identified in the New Partnership and the progress made in the development of programmes in the areas of agricultural development, environment and infrastructure development, as well as the ongoing work in the areas of health and education and science and technology; 11. Also welcomes the efforts of African countries to fulfil their commitments to promote gender equality, the empowerment of women and the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in the implementation of the New Partnership; 12. Further welcomes the adoption by the African Union in Maputo, on 12 July 2003, of the Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Corruption;See A/58/626, annex I, Assembly/AU/Dec.27 (II). 13. Encourages African countries to take further concrete steps to deepen the process of integrating the priorities of the New Partnership into their national development plans and frameworks, including poverty reduction strategies, where they exist, to mobilize public and political support for the New Partnership, to develop sound programmes in the designated priority areas of the New Partnership and to mobilize resources for those priority areas; 14. Emphasizes the role of national focal points in monitoring the implementation of the New Partnership and the need to build and strengthen human and institutional capacities in order to effectively implement it in all its aspects; 15. Also emphasizes that regional economic communities are effective vehicles for the development and integration of the African continent, and in this regard calls for the strengthening of their role in the coordination and implementation of programmes and projects of the New Partnership at the subregional level; 16. Encourages the further integration of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership into the programmes of the regional structures and organizations, as well as programmes for the African least developed countries; 17. Calls upon African countries to promote the development and strengthening of their domestic private sectors and to facilitate their effective involvement in the growth and development of, and economic integration among, the African economies; 18. Recognizes the efforts of African countries to raise awareness of the New Partnership and to involve all African stakeholders, namely, Governments, the private sector and civil society, including women's organizations and community-based organizations, in its implementation; 19. Welcomes the decision taken by the Executive Council of the African Union in Maputo to integrate the New Partnership into the African Union structures and processes; II Action by the international community 20. Welcomes the pledges of increased official development assistance made by many of the development partners, also welcomes the contributions that have been made, and urges that partners take steps to continue to disburse the assistance they have pledged; 21. Notes with satisfaction that some developed countries have untied their official development assistance, and encourages countries that have not yet done so to untie their aid, in accordance with the relevant recommendation of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; 22. Calls upon the international community, relevant multilateral institutions and developed countries to enhance coherence in their trade, investment and aid policies towards African countries; 23. Stresses the need to find a durable solution to the problem of external indebtedness of heavily indebted poor countries in Africa, including through debt cancellation and other arrangements, and the need to encourage innovative mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problem of low- and middle-income African countries, bearing in mind that external debt relief can release resources that may be utilized in the successful implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, taking into account initiatives that have been taken to reduce outstanding indebtedness and the need to pursue debt relief measures vigorously and expeditiously, including within the context of the Paris Club, the London Club and other relevant forums; 24. Welcomes the actions taken by creditor countries within the framework of the Paris Club and by some creditor countries through the cancellation of bilateral debts, urges all creditor countries to participate in efforts to remedy the external debt and debt-servicing problems of African countries, notes the Evian Approach of the Paris Club of October 2003, and also notes that debt relief does not replace alternative sources of financing; 25. Encourages developed countries and other partners to support the promotion of private investment in African countries from their countries, in particular in the key productive sectors of the economy, to provide investment guarantees for such investment and to support policies of African countries aimed at promoting a conducive environment to attract foreign investment; 26. Underlines the need to take concrete steps to implement existing frameworks and programmes of South-South cooperation, including through triangular cooperation in support of the New Partnership; 27. Acknowledges the activities in African countries of the Bretton Woods institutions and of the African Development Bank, and encourages them to continue their support for the implementation of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership; 28. Notes the growing collaboration among the entities of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, and requests the Secretary-General to promote greater coherence in the work of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, on the basis of the agreed clusters; 29. Calls upon the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to strengthen further their existing coordination and programming mechanisms, as well as the simplification and harmonization of planning, disbursement and reporting procedures, as a means of enhancing support for African countries in the implementation of the New Partnership; 30. Notes that the entities of the United Nations system have been actively using the regional consultation mechanism as a vehicle for fostering collaboration and coordination at the regional level, and encourages them to intensify their efforts in developing and implementing joint programmes in support of the New Partnership at the regional level; 31. Requests the United Nations system to continue to provide assistance to the secretariat of the New Partnership and to African countries in developing projects and programmes within the scope of the priorities of the New Partnership; 32. Welcomes the cooperation and the support granted by the United Nations to the African regional and subregional organizations in conflict prevention and conflict management, takes note with appreciation of the work carried out by the Economic and Social Council ad hoc advisory groups on African countries emerging from conflict, while looking forward to the evaluation of their work during the substantive session of the Council in 2004, and encourages the pursuit of these activities in support of African efforts for conflict prevention and conflict management and in post-conflict situations; 33. Also welcomes the creation of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to take measures to strengthen the Office to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate; 34. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the basis of inputs from Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and the other stakeholders in the New Partnership for Africa's Development, such as the private sector and civil society. RESOLUTION 58/234 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.55 and Add.1, sponsored by: Armenia, Belgium, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Mozambique, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia 58/234. International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Recalling its resolution 260 A (III) of 9 December 1948, by which it adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, as well as its resolution 53/43 of 2 December 1998, entitled "Fiftieth anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide", and its other resolutions relevant to the issue of genocide, Recalling also the findings and recommendations of the Independent Inquiry commissioned by the Secretary-General, with the approval of the Security Council,See S/1999/340. into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,See S/1999/1257, annex. Recalling further Security Council resolution 955 (1994) of 8 November 1994 on the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994, Recalling the report containing the findings and recommendations of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities commissioned by the former Organization of African Unity to investigate the genocide in Rwanda and the surrounding events, entitled "Rwanda: The Preventable Genocide", Noting with concern that many alleged perpetrators of genocide continue to elude justice, Recognizing the importance of combating impunity for all violations that constitute the crime of genocide, Convinced that exposing and holding the perpetrators, including their accomplices, accountable, as well as restoring the dignity of victims through acknowledgement and commemoration of their suffering, would guide societies in the prevention of future violations, Taking note of the recommendation of the Executive Council of the African Union, at its second ordinary session, held in N'Djamena from 3 to 6 March 2003, that the United Nations and the international community proclaim, in commemoration of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, an international day of reflection and recommitment to the fight against genocide throughout the world,A/57/775, annex, decision EX.CL/Dec.16 (II). Recognizing that April 2004 is the tenth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, 1. Decides to designate 7 April 2004 as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda; 2. Encourages all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant international organizations, as well as civil society organizations, to observe the International Day, including special observances and activities in memory of the victims of the genocide in Rwanda; 3. Encourages all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant international organizations to consider promoting implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Independent Inquiry into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda;See S/1999/1257, annex. 4. Calls upon all States to act in accordance with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide so as to ensure that there is no repetition of events of the kind that occurred in Rwanda in 1994. RESOLUTION 58/235 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.56 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Austria, Benin, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mozambique, Netherlands, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda 58/235. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45). and resolutions 53/92 of 7 December 1998, 54/234 of 22 December 1999, 55/217 of 21 December 2000, 55/281 of 1 August 2001, 56/37 of 4 December 2001, 57/296 of 20 December 2002 and 57/337 of 3 July 2003, Recalling also, in this context, Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, and 1366 (2001) of 30 August 2001 on the prevention of armed conflicts, Having considered the updated matrix for 2002 contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralSee A/58/352. on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Recalling its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Noting that prevention of conflict must remain the fundamental focus of the work of the United Nations and that peace, security and development, in particular within post-conflict contexts, are inextricably linked, Noting also that conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace require coordinated, sustained and integrated efforts from the United Nations system and Member States, Recalling section VII of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which highlights the special needs of Africa, Reaffirming that the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa must remain a priority on the agenda of the United Nations system and of the Member States, Underscoring the fact that the responsibility for peace and security in Africa, including the capacity to address the root causes of conflict and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, lies primarily with African countries themselves and with regional and subregional structures, Underscoring also the need to strengthen further the political will to ensure the required political, financial and technical support critical for the effective implementation of the recommendations in all of the areas included in the report of the Secretary-General, Reaffirming that the General Assembly must continue to play the primary role in monitoring the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General and assessing the progress made,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45), para. 67. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the updated matrix for 2002 contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralSee A/58/352. on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and the further advances in a wide range of areas made since the last progress report; 2. Notes with appreciation that many strides have been made in the prevention and settlement of disputes and that there have been sustained efforts by African regional and subregional initiatives of late to mediate and resolve conflicts; 3. Requests Member States to ensure that such initiatives continue to be taken in close consultation and coordination with the United Nations in order to ensure that the United Nations can have a clear role, as appropriate, in the subsequent implementation of such mediated settlements; 4. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by African countries towards the establishment of a Peace and Security Council within the African Union, and encourages the States members of the African Union that have not yet ratified the protocol relating to the establishment of the Council to do so; 5. Encourages African countries to continue their efforts to develop African capacity to undertake peace-support operations at the regional and subregional levels and the United Nations and donor countries to establish suitable mechanisms to assist African States in developing their capacity to undertake peace-support operations in a coherent and coordinated manner; 6. Welcomes the European Union decision to establish a peace facility to support the establishment of the African Peace and Security Mechanism and the implementation of peace initiatives undertaken by the African Union; 7. Also welcomes the establishment of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa of the Security Council and of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on African Countries Emerging from Conflict, within the framework of the Economic and Social Council; 8. Notes with concern that progress in the implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Secretary-General remains slow and uneven; 9. Notes that conflict prevention and peace consolidation efforts, in particular efforts to eradicate poverty, promote respect for human rights, strengthen rule-of-law institutions, re-establish transparent and accountable public administration, encourage democratic reform and demobilize, disarm and reintegrate ex-combatants should be supported by Member States and the United Nations system through enhanced coordination, coherence and sustained financial and political support; 10. Decides to continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa;A/52/871-S/1998/318. 11. Welcomes the designation of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa as a focal point within the Secretariat which should continue to monitor, through the already established interdepartmental task force on Africa affairs, the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, with special regard being given to preventive action and post-conflict peace consolidation, and make recommendations as to how the implementation of those recommendations could be further enhanced; 12. Calls upon Member States to provide financial and technical assistance in a coordinated and sustained way in order to support activities to eradicate poverty, promote respect for human rights, strengthen rule of law institutions and promote transparent and accountable public administration; 13. Encourages the Secretary-General to explore and recommend suitable arrangements and mechanisms through which Member States could more effectively address the multidisciplinary causes of conflict, including their regional dimensions, and strengthen the coordinated and sustained manner in which they could provide financial and technical assistance in preventive action as well as post-conflict peace-building; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account recent developments related to the cooperation of Africa with the international community on these matters. RESOLUTION 58/236 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.54, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 58/236. Follow-up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS The General Assembly, Recalling the goals and targets set forth in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDSResolution S-26/2, annex. adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session, in 2001, and the HIV/AIDS-related goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the commitment made by all States at the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly, Noting with profound concern that 42 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, that the HIV/AIDS pandemic claimed 3.1 million lives in 2002 and to date has orphaned 14 million children, Noting with grave concern that the majority of new HIV infections occur among young people and that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, Noting that the unequal legal and social status of women heightens their vulnerability to HIV, Expressing serious concern about the continued global spread of HIV/AIDS, which exacerbates poverty and poses a major threat to economic and social development and to food security in heavily affected regions, while recognizing that poverty, underdevelopment and illiteracy are among the principal contributing factors to the spread of the disease, Noting that the epidemic affects every region and, while sub-Saharan Africa remains worst affected, serious epidemics are present or emerging in the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Asia and the Pacific, Acknowledging that prevention, care, support and treatment for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS are mutually reinforcing elements of an effective response and must be integrated in a comprehensive approach to combat the epidemic, Also acknowledging the importance of maintaining an emphasis on prevention measures in countries with low prevalence rates, Recognizing that, while the primary responsibility for responding to HIV/AIDS rests with Governments, the efforts and engagement of all sectors of society are essential to generating an effective response, Reaffirming that the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in a global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and reaffirming also the importance of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS, including those most vulnerable, Recognizing that populations destabilized by armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters, including refugees, internally displaced persons and, in particular, women and children, are at increased risk of exposure to HIV infection, Encouraged that civil society, especially organizations representing people living with HIV/AIDS, women, young persons, orphans, faith-based organizations and the private sector, is increasingly involved in national responses to HIV/AIDS, while noting the need for further engagement of these stakeholders at all levels, Acknowledging the efforts of international humanitarian organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in combating the epidemic in the most affected areas of the world, Noting that strengthened political commitment, including at the highest level, as witnessed, inter alia, at the high-level General Assembly meeting on HIV/AIDS, held on 22 September 2003, demonstrates the resolve of Governments and the international community to intensify implementation and cooperation in order to meet the goals and targets contained in the Declaration of Commitment, Noting with appreciation the support for national responses provided by the United Nations system, especially the secretariat of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and Co-sponsors, inter alia, for effective country-led mechanisms, including the mobilization of financial resources, the facilitation and provision of technical assistance and support to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and applicant countries, at every level of the grant-making process, Also noting with appreciation the new strategic direction taken by the Joint Programme after the five-year evaluation of the Programme by its Programme Coordinating Board, encompassing, in particular, a greater focus on national-level processes, continued global leadership and advocacy, and a focus on the gender implications of HIV/AIDS, Encouraged that the United Nations system has made progress towards integrating the consideration of HIV/AIDS in its activities, including addressing HIV/AIDS in the United Nations workplace, the appointment of HIV/AIDS focal points in peacekeeping operations and the work on guidelines for HIV/AIDS in emergency settings, Recognizing the emergence of the World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the contributions of private foundations as important sources of new and additional funding, Noting with concern that, although many Member States have met the 2003 targets contained in the Declaration of Commitment, considerable gaps remain, Also noting with concern that, at the current rate of implementation and fulfilment of commitments, many countries are unlikely to meet the targets for 2005, Recognizing that many developing countries may not have the financial or human resources capacity to mount an effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and in this context underlining the importance of international cooperation, Noting that, despite improvement, current global resources available for HIV/AIDS are less than half of the 10 billion United States dollars considered necessary for an effective response in 2005 alone and that substantial new funding will be required in order to meet the global resource targets, Also noting that intensified implementation will require partnership and enhanced cooperation at all levels, as well as enhanced support for human and institutional capacity development and considerably increased financial resources, Further noting that implementation has to be intensified through partnerships at the national, regional and international levels in order to offer infected and affected people and communities in developing countries and countries with economies in transition medicines and related technology which are affordable, easy to use and readily available, Encouraged that an increasing number of companies in the private sector are offering prevention, care and treatment services to employees and their families, while noting the need for continued efforts in this regard, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/47 of 23 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on progress towards implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS;A/58/184. 2. Reaffirms its commitment to the goals and targets contained in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDSResolution S-26/2, annex. and the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and to their implementation; 3. Stresses with deep concern that the HIV/AIDS emergency, with its devastating scale and impact, requires urgent actions in all fields and at all levels; 4. Urges relevant United Nations organizations, as well as other relevant international organizations, to further support national efforts for implementation of the Declaration of Commitment and address the issue of the cost, availability and affordability of drugs and related technology; 5. Urges Member States to intensify national efforts and international cooperation in the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment in order to meet the goals and targets contained therein based on national plans, where they exist, and, in particular, where gaps have been identified in the report of the Secretary-General by, inter alia: (a) Providing stronger and more visible leadership in response to the epidemic; (b) Creating an environment that encourages the engagement of and partnerships with all stakeholders, including civil society, people living with HIV/AIDS, marginalized and vulnerable groups, cultural and faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, traditional health practitioners, the private sector, international institutions and the media; (c) Strengthening policies and programmes for combating HIV/AIDS, including those relating to the protection and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including eliminating stigmas and discrimination against people living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS, ensuring gender equality, assisting orphans and children and expanding access to treatment, care and support; (d) Building and scaling up a comprehensive response to achieve broad multisectoral coverage for prevention, care, treatment and support and recognizing the need to seriously address impact mitigation issues, in particular in the worst affected countries, and specifically within this context: (i) Intensifying prevention measures, especially those directed at vulnerable groups, in particular women and young persons, bearing in mind that prevention is the mainstay of the national, regional and international response; (ii) Expanding access to treatment, in a progressive and sustainable manner, including the prevention and treatment of opportunistic diseases and the effective use of antiretroviral medication; (iii) Improving the provision of care and support to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans; (iv) Mitigating the social and economic impact of the epidemic; (v) Promoting access to low-cost and effective drugs and related pharmaceutical products; (vi) Strengthening health-care systems and integrating HIV/AIDS programmes into current health services; (vii) Strengthening HIV/AIDS surveillance and systems for evaluating programme effectiveness; (e) Strengthening pharmaceutical policies and practices, including those applicable to generic drugs and intellectual property regimes, in order to further promote innovation and the development of domestic industries consistent with international law; (f) Intensifying training and research initiatives or programmes to strengthen the capacities of Governments to manage the epidemic; (g) Sharing experiences and exchanging information on key areas of intervention, such as prevention, the provision of care and support for HIV/AIDS-infected persons and the treatment of HIV/AIDS-related conditions; (h) Addressing the human resource crisis affecting the effective implementation of comprehensive national HIV/AIDS programmes, including supporting the development of monitoring and evaluation capacities and working at the national and international levels to generate flexible solutions; (i) Mobilizing financial resources and providing the support necessary to ensure that they are targeted effectively and absorbed quickly and deliver equitable and sustainable coverage of services, particularly to those most in need; 6. Welcomes with appreciation the Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public Health, adopted on 14 November 2001 at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha,WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the decision dated 30 August 2003 of the General Council of the World Trade Organization on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Declaration;WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 7. Welcomes the commitment by the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to work with the international community to support developing countries in achieving the target of providing antiretroviral medicines to 3 million people infected with HIV/AIDS by the end of 2005, the "3 by 5" target, recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/29 of 22 April 2003 entitled "Access to medication in the context of pandemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria";See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 8. Urges the mobilization of additional resources from national, bilateral, multilateral and private sources, including but not limited to additional support to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in order to address the growing need; 9. Also urges the provision of additional financial resources to the United Nations system, especially the Joint Programme's secretariat and Co-sponsors, in order that they may intensify their support for national responses to HIV/AIDS; 10. Emphasizes that, with the increasing number of HIV/AIDS initiatives at the global, regional and national levels, there is a need for close coordination at all levels, including under government leadership at the national level to ensure a harmonized approach and to increase the effectiveness of the response; 11. Encourages the private sector to become fully engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including by adopting relevant workplace non-discrimination policies; 12. Encourages the private sector and the pharmaceutical industry to contribute to the fight against AIDS by, inter alia, continuing to provide key AIDS pharmaceuticals that meet the standards of the World Health Organization, at the lowest possible prices; 13. Recognizes the importance of young men and women having access to information, education, including peer education and youth-specific HIV education, and services necessary to develop the life skills required to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection, in full partnership with young persons, parents, families, educators and health-care providers; 14. Reiterates the need to respond urgently to the dire situation in sub-Saharan Africa and in particular the crisis conditions in the southern African region, in order to minimize the loss of institutional capacity in key national sectors and mitigate the threat of accelerating the cycle of poverty, food insecurity, instability and heightened vulnerability to HIV/AIDS; 15. Stresses the need for intensified action in all regions, especially the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Asia and the Pacific; 16. Decides to hold a high-level meeting in 2005 to review the progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment, and decides also that the scheduling, format, participation, including civil society participation, and other organizational details will be further considered during the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly; 17. Requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, to submit a comprehensive and analytical report on progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment, in particular those set out for 2005, with a view to identifying problems and constraints and making recommendations on action needed to make further progress; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session, the item entitled "Follow up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS". RESOLUTION 58/237 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.53 and Add.1, sponsored by: Cameroon, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Togo, Uganda 58/237. 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/135 of 19 December 1994, 50/128 of 20 December 1995, 55/284 of 7 September 2001 and 57/294 of 20 December 2002 concerning the struggle against malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council relating to the struggle against malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, in particular resolution 1998/36 of 30 July 1998, Taking note of the declarations and decisions on health issues adopted by the Organization of African Unity, in particular the declaration and plan of action on the "Roll Back Malaria" initiative adopted at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Abuja on 24 and 25 April 2000,See A/55/240/Add.1. as well as decision AHG/Dec.155 (XXXVI) concerning the implementation of that declaration and plan of action, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex II. Also taking note of the Maputo Declaration on Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases, adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its second ordinary session, held in Maputo from 10 to 12 July 2003,A/58/626, annex I, Assembly/AU/Decl.6 (II). Recognizing the linkages in efforts being made to reach the targets set in the Abuja Summit as necessary and important for the attainment of the "Roll Back Malaria" goal and the targets of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. by 2010 and 2015, respectively, Also recognizing the urgent need for scaling up national malaria control programmes if African countries are to meet the intermediate target set by the Abuja Summit for the five-year period of 2000-2005, Further recognizing that malaria-related ill health and deaths throughout the world can be eliminated with political commitment and commensurate resources if the public is educated and sensitized about malaria and appropriate health services are made available, particularly in countries where the disease is endemic, Emphasizing the importance of implementing the Millennium Declaration, and welcoming in this connection the commitment of Member States to respond to the specific needs of Africa, Commending the efforts of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund and other partners to fight malaria over the years, including the launching of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/136 and Corr.1. and calls for support for the recommendations contained therein; 2. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the "Roll Back Malaria" partner organizations, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, as vital complementary sources of support for the efforts of malaria-endemic countries to combat the disease; 3. Appeals to the international community to ensure that the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria receives increased funding to support sound national plans to control malaria in endemic countries to be implemented in a sustained and equitable way that contributes to health system development; 4. Urges malaria-endemic countries to increase domestic resource allocation to malaria control; 5. Encourages all African countries that have not yet done so to implement the recommendations of the Abuja Summit to reduce or waive taxes and tariffs for nets and other products needed for malaria control, both to reduce the price of nets to consumers and to stimulate free trade in insecticide-treated nets; 6. Calls upon the international community to support ways of stimulating the development of manufacturing capacity of insecticide-treated nets in Africa and, in this connection, to encourage and facilitate the transfer of technology needed to make insecticide-treated nets more effective and long-lasting; 7. Recognizes the importance of the development of effective vaccines and new medicines to prevent and treat malaria, and the need for further research, including through effective global partnerships such as the various malaria vaccine initiatives and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, in securing their development; 8. Reiterates the need for expanded public-private partnerships for malaria control and prevention, and in this context urges petroleum companies operating in Africa to consider providing polymer for the manufacture of mosquito nets at reduced prices as a contribution to rolling back malaria in Africa; 9. Urges the pharmaceutical industry to take note of the increasing need for effective combination treatment for malaria, particularly in Africa, and to form additional alliances and partnerships to help to ensure that all people at risk have access to prompt, affordable and quality treatment; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization, developing countries and regional organizations, including the African Union, to conduct in 2005 an evaluation of the measures taken and progress made towards the achievement of the mid-term targets, the means of implementation provided by the international community in this regard and the overall goals of the Decade, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution, under the agenda item entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 58/238 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.30/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela 58/238. United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/161 of 16 December 2002, in which it decided to authorize the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala from 1 January to 31 December 2003, Taking into account the fact that the Government of Guatemala has reaffirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreements, Underlining the fact that substantive aspects of the peace agreements have yet to be implemented and that the timetable for implementation and verification established by the Commission to Follow up the Implementation of the Peace Agreements extends through 2004, Taking into account the request of the Government of Guatemala for an extension of the mandate of the Mission until the end of 2004, in view of the desirability of maintaining the presence of the Mission during the first year of the new Government, which will take office in January 2004, Taking into account also the fact that civil society organizations in Guatemala and the international community expressed concerns about potential setbacks to implementation of the peace agreements should the Mission depart Guatemala before a new Government had taken office and demonstrated its commitment to the peace process, Taking note of the fact that on 10 July 2003, under the auspices of the Organization of American States, representatives of the main political parties of Guatemala signed a declaration expressing support for the peace agreements as State accords that should be incorporated into government plans for the peace process, Taking into account the eighth report of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements,A/58/267. Taking into account also the fourteenth report of the Mission on human rights,A/58/566. Taking into account further the report of the Commission for Historical Clarification,A/53/928, annex. Stressing the positive role played by the Mission in support of the Guatemala peace process, and emphasizing the need for the Mission to continue to enjoy the full support of all parties concerned, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the MissionA/58/262. and the recommendations contained therein, 1. Welcomes the eighth report of the Secretary-General on the verification of compliance with the peace agreements;A/58/267. 2. Also welcomes the fourteenth report of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala on human rights;A/58/566. 3. Calls upon the Government of Guatemala to maintain its commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreements; 4. Also calls upon newly elected public officials to act on the commitments made by representatives of the main political parties in July 2003 to support the peace agreements as State accords that should be incorporated into government plans for the peace process; 5. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the MissionA/58/262. aimed at ensuring that the Mission responds adequately to the demands of the peace process until 31 December 2004, in view of the many outstanding matters still to be addressed and the need to ensure the commitment of the new Government to the peace agreements; 6. Notes that, while in 2003 the Mission verified four broad areas of the peace agreements, in 2004 it will concentrate only on two areas, human rights and demilitarization and the strengthening of civilian power; 7. Also notes the results of the meeting of the Consultative Group for Guatemala, held in Guatemala City on 13 and 14 May 2003, at which all participants agreed that the peace agreements should remain Guatemala's essential road map for development; 8. Further notes that, while advances were verified in certain areas, such as the passage of legislation against discrimination in its many manifestations, the redeployment of military units and the development of a national reparations programme for the victims of human rights violations committed during the armed conflict, progress in the implementation of the peace agreements in the past year fell short of expectations and was insufficient to inject new momentum into the peace process; 9. Notes that the consolidation of the peace-building process remains a significant challenge which will require greater political will, the involvement of all sectors of society and the continued engagement of the international community; 10. Notes with concern the climate of intimidation against justice officials, human rights defenders, social activists and journalists; 11. Takes note of the agreement reached in March 2003 by the Government of Guatemala and the Human Rights Ombudsman, with the support of civil society, and currently being revised, to create a Commission for the Investigation of Illegal Groups and Clandestine Security Apparatuses; 12. Welcomes the agreement signed on 1 December 2003 between the Government of Guatemala and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the establishment of an office of the High Commissioner in Guatemala, with a mandate to monitor the human rights situation in the country and advise the Government on formulating and implementing policies, programmes and measures to promote and protect human rights; 13. Calls upon the Government to further reduce military spending and to allocate adequate budgets to those institutions and programmes that are given priority under the peace accords; 14. Underlines the importance of implementing fully the Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous PeoplesA/49/882-S/1995/256, annex. as a key to fighting discrimination and consolidating peace and equality in Guatemala, and highlights the need to implement fully the Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects and Agrarian SituationA/50/956, annex. as a means of addressing the root causes of the armed conflict; 15. Calls upon the Government to implement the recommendations of the Commission for Historical Clarification, with a view to promoting national reconciliation, upholding the right to truth and providing redress for the victims of human rights abuses and violence committed during the thirty-six-year conflict; 16. Invites the international community, and in particular the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, to continue to support the consolidation of the peace-building process, with the peace agreements as the framework for their technical and financial assistance programmes and projects, and stresses the continued importance of close cooperation among them in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Guatemala; 17. Urges the international community to support financially, through existing mechanisms of international cooperation, the strengthening of national capacities to ensure the consolidation of the peace process in Guatemala; 18. Also urges the international community to support financially the strengthening of the capacities of the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, including the future office of the High Commissioner in Guatemala City, as the Mission prepares to intensify its work to ensure specific follow-on by the entities of the United Nations system, as well as by members of the international community, within the framework of a general transition strategy; 19. Stresses that, while the Mission has played a key role in promoting the consolidation of peace and the observance of human rights and in verifying compliance with the revised timetable for the implementation of pending commitments under the peace agreements, the long-term success of the peace process depends on the capacities and renewed commitment to the peace agreements of Guatemalan institutions, both of the State and of civil society; 20. Requests the United Nations system in Guatemala to continue to monitor and report annually, utilizing the methodology and indicators developed with the Mission, on the implementation of the Agreement on Social and Economic Aspects and Agrarian Situation as part of the national human development report of the United Nations Development Programme; 21. Decides to authorize a final renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala from 1 January to 31 December 2004; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at the beginning of its fifty-ninth session, as well as a final report on the work of the Mission before the end of that session, together with the recommendations that he may deem appropriate. RESOLUTION 58/239 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.38 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58/239. The situation in Central America: progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions in which it requests the Secretary-General, the United Nations system and the international community to give the Central American peoples the fullest possible support and assistance for the maintenance and strengthening of peace, democracy and sustainable development, as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions, Reaffirming all its relevant resolutions in which it stresses the importance of international economic, financial and technical cooperation and support, both bilateral and multilateral, aimed at promoting the economic and social development of Central America with a view to supplementing the efforts of the Central American peoples and Governments to consolidate peace and democracy, Reaffirming also the close link and interaction between peace, democracy and sustainable development, as fundamental and permanent pillars of the political action of the Central American Governments aimed at realizing the legitimate aspirations of the Central American peoples with regard to economic development and social justice, Recognizing that peace and democracy in Central America are the outcome of a long and arduous process in which obstacles have been encountered but have been overcome through the efforts of the peoples and Governments of the region, with the assistance and cooperation of the United Nations system and the international community, Commending the efforts of the Central American Governments to continue fulfilling the commitments they have assumed under national, regional and international agreements with a view to strengthening democratic governance in the region by promoting and protecting human rights, implementing social programmes designed to eradicate poverty and eliminate unemployment, improving public safety, strengthening the judiciary, consolidating a modern and transparent public administration and combating corruption, Taking note of the existence throughout Central America of freely elected Governments, indicating the achievement of political, economic and social changes that are creating a climate conducive to the promotion of economic growth and advancement towards the further development of democratic, just and equitable societies, Emphasizing, in this context, the importance of the progress made in connection with the Central American Integration System, the Alliance for the Sustainable Development of Central America, the establishment of the regional social policy contained in the Treaty on Central American Social Integration and the Framework Treaty on Democratic Security in Central America, and in other areas, Noting with satisfaction the progress made in the region in the search for peaceful solutions to existing territorial and border disputes, in accordance with the principles of public international law and the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Recognizing that the slow development of the economies of the area has been aggravated in the past two years by an unfavourable international economic climate, which has had an adverse effect on the efforts of the peoples and Governments of the region to promote sustainable economic development in an efficient manner, Recognizing with satisfaction the progress made by the Central American region in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the obligation of States to continue guaranteeing their effective enjoyment, Recognizing the efforts of the region to enhance public safety by taking steps to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, by arms limitation and control, and by combating transnational organized crime and terrorism, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Central America;A/58/270. 2. Commends the efforts of the peoples and Governments of the Central American countries to consolidate peace and democracy and promote sustainable development by implementing the commitments adopted at the meetings and summit meetings held in the region; 3. Recognizes the progress made towards the implementation of the peace agreements in the region, and in that context reiterates its special appreciation and congratulations to the people and Government of El Salvador for the successful fulfilment of the commitments set forth in those agreements, and expresses its profound thanks to the Secretary-General for accompanying that process and for the commendable way in which he has carried out his verification work, which is considered to be completed; 4. Urges the Government of Guatemala to give renewed impetus to the fulfilment of the commitments contained in the peace agreements, in the context of reprogramming for the period 2001-2004, and to the understanding reached during the fifth meeting of the Consultative Group for Guatemala, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank and held in Guatemala City on 13 and 14 May 2003; 5. Urges the Governments of the region to continue to guarantee free, fair and transparent elections with a view to consolidating democracy in Central America; 6. Commends the efforts and actions undertaken in the region to combat the scourge of corruption, urges all the States of the area to continue their actions with a view to eradicating that evil, and in that context takes note of the congratulations expressed in the report of the Secretary-GeneralIbid., section I.D. with regard to the work done by the Government of Nicaragua in this field; 7. Views with satisfaction the approval of important reforms relating to the conduct of public affairs and judicial matters in Central America, and in that context expresses special satisfaction concerning the progress made in Honduras towards completion of the political transformation process initiated in September 2001, and urges the Central American Governments to redouble their efforts with a view to strengthening those areas even further; 8. Urges Member States to continue combining efforts to adapt, strengthen and promote even further the Central American integration process, and appeals to the international community to continue supporting that process in order to contribute to the sustainable development of the region; 9. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the Central American Governments in the peaceful settlement of their territorial and border disputes, and strongly urges them to continue working to resolve outstanding issues in full compliance with the norms of international law and the relevant international decisions and judgements; 10. Emphasizes the importance of foreign trade for the development of Central America, and in this context stresses the value of negotiating balanced free-trade agreements between the region and its counterparts outside the region; 11. Reaffirms the importance of the Puebla-Panama Plan as a means of promoting the economic and social development of the Mesoamerican region, and recognizes in that connection the progress made in implementing the Plan; 12. Urges the Governments of the Central American countries to continue strengthening the institutions responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, thus helping to ensure their full and effective enjoyment by all the peoples of the region; 13. Appeals to the Central American Governments to continue their efforts to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, promote arms limitation and control and combat transnational organized crime and terrorism by fulfilling the obligations assumed in the relevant international agreements; 14. Appreciates the efforts of the Central American countries to strengthen public safety in the area by organizing summit meetings on that issue, such as the Special Summit on Regional Security, held in Belize City on 4 September 2003, and the Special Summit on Security, held in Guatemala City on 17 July 2003; 15. Welcomes the efforts made to strengthen civilian police forces and promote the demilitarization of the region, in particular the actions taken in the context of the regional plan to combat organized crime, and emphasizes the need for the international community to continue lending its support to the relevant institutions in the field of public safety; 16. Takes note with satisfaction of the intention of the Government of Guatemala to establish a Commission for the Investigation of Illegal Groups and Clandestine Security Apparatuses, and urges the Secretary-General to support that initiative with a view to its prompt implementation; 17. Appreciates the initiative of the Government of Nicaragua relating to the programme for arms limitation and control in Central America to achieve a reasonable balance of forces and to foster stability, mutual trust and transparency, which will be implemented in the region in accordance with the established schedule; 18. Emphasizes the need for the international community, especially the organs, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and the donor community, to continue their cooperation with and assistance to the Central American countries, including the provision of bilateral and multilateral financial resources, with the aim of supporting the promotion of sustainable development and the consolidation of peace, freedom and democracy in the region; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to lend his fullest support to the initiatives and activities of the Central American Governments, in particular their efforts to consolidate democracy through the promotion of integration and the implementation of a comprehensive sustainable development programme and to submit to the General Assembly a complete consolidated report on the implementation of all the relevant resolutions on Central America at its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "The situation in Central America: progress in fashioning a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development", and decides that, henceforth, the item will be considered every two years. RESOLUTION 58/23 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 104 to 5, with 61 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.28 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay 58/23. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/264. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/240 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, by a recorded vote of 156 to 1, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.19 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United States of America, Vanuatu * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Turkey Abstaining: Colombia, Venezuela 58/240. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33 of 24 November 1999, 57/141 of 12 December 2002 and other relevant resolutions adopted subsequent to the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention")See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). on 16 November 1994, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention and its fundamental importance for the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security, as well as for the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Convinced of the need, building on arrangements established in accordance with the Convention, to improve coordination at the national level and cooperation and coordination at both intergovernmental and inter-agency levels, in order to address all aspects of oceans and seas in an integrated manner, Recognizing the important role that the competent international organizations have in relation to ocean affairs, in implementing the Convention and in promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Recalling the essential role of international cooperation and coordination in promoting the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, and recalling also that the role of international cooperation and coordination on a bilateral basis and, where applicable, within a subregional, regional, interregional or global framework is to support and supplement the national efforts of all States, including coastal States, in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention and the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, Underlining once again the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Underlining the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, are able to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, including through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national and local capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of oceans and their resources, Recalling the recommendations of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, including to establish by 2004 a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 36 (b). and the decision of the General Assembly in its resolution 57/141 to establish such a process by 2004, Reiterating its deep concern at the situation of many of the world's fisheries, caused principally by overcapacity, overfishing and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, as well as, in many areas, pollution, Reiterating its concern at the adverse impacts on the marine environment, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including coral, of human activities, such as overutilization of living marine resources, the use of destructive fishing practices, physical impacts by ships, the introduction of alien invasive species and marine pollution from all sources, including from land-based sources and vessels, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances and from dumping, including the dumping of hazardous waste such as radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, Recognizing that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including vulnerable marine ecosystems and the economics of the global shipping industry, and recognizing in this regard that the move towards electronic charting not only provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, Welcoming the convening by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the International Conference on the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, as well as the outcomes of the Conference, which provided an opportunity for States to address issues relating to the transport of radioactive materials, including by sea, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/65 and Add.1. and emphasizing in this regard the critical role of the annual comprehensive report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review, Taking note also of the report on the work of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea ("the Consultative Process"), established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 in order to facilitate the annual review by the Assembly of developments in ocean affairs, at its fourth meeting,See A/58/95. Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and in this context the expected increase in responsibilities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in view of the anticipated receipt of submissions from States to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission"), in addition to the expected growing involvement of the Division with new developments such as the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, and with requests for technical assistance from States, and the role of the Division in inter-agency coordination and cooperation, I Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the ConventionSee The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement");See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 2. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention; 3. Calls upon States that have not done so to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks;International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. 4. Once again calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention are in conformity therewith and, otherwise, to withdraw any of their declarations or statements that are not in conformity; 5. Encourages States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts and lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 6. Emphasizes the essential need to improve the implementation of international agreements referred to in article 311 of the Convention and, where appropriate, to foster the conditions for the application of instruments of a voluntary nature, and recalls the important role of international organizations in achieving these goals; II Meeting of States Parties 7. Takes note of the report of the thirteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/103 and Corr.1. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York from 14 to 18 June 2004 and to provide the services required; III Settlement of disputes 9. Notes with satisfaction the continued contribution of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, once again encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, and invites States parties to note the provisions of annexes V, VI, VII and VIII to the Convention concerning, respectively, conciliation, the Tribunal, arbitration and special arbitration; 10. Equally pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 11. Recalls the obligation under article 296 of the Convention requiring all parties to a dispute before a court or a tribunal referred to in article 287 of the Convention to comply promptly with any decisions rendered by such court or tribunal; 12. Encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to nominate conciliators and arbitrators in accordance with annexes V and VII to the Convention, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to update and circulate lists of these conciliators and arbitrators on a regular basis; IV The Area 13. Notes the progress of the discussion of issues relating to the regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts in the Area; 14. Reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration by the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority"), pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and the prevention of damage to its flora and fauna from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; V Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 15. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and to the Tribunal in full and on time, and appeals also to all former provisional members of the Authority to pay any outstanding contributions; 16. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalSPLOS/25. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;ISBA/4/A/8, annex. VI The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 17. Encourages States parties that are in a position to do so to make every effort to make submissions regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the Commission within the time period established by the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/72. 18. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the thirteenth session of the Commission in New York from 26 to 30 April 2004, followed by two weeks of meetings of a subcommission in the event that a submission is made to the Commission, and of the fourteenth session of the Commission from 30 August to 3 September 2004, also followed by two weeks of meetings of a subcommission in the event that a submission is made; 19. Encourages States and relevant international organizations and institutions to consider developing and making available training courses to assist developing States in the preparation of such submissions, based on the outline for a five-day training courseCLCS/24 and Corr.1. prepared by the Commission in order to facilitate the preparation of submissions in accordance with its Scientific and Technical Guidelines;CLCS/11 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Corr.1. VII Capacity-building 20. Calls upon bilateral and multilateral donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the objectives of the present resolution as well as the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the rights of landlocked developing States; 21. Calls upon States and international financial institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and technical partnerships, to continue to strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training the necessary skilled personnel, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels, and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 22. Encourages States to assist developing States, and especially least developed States and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, on a bilateral and, where appropriate, regional level, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission, including the assessment of the nature of the continental shelf of a coastal State made in the form of a desktop study, and the mapping of the outer limits of its continental shelf; VIII Safety of navigation and flag State implementation 23. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the safety of navigation and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 24. Urges States and regional economic integration organizations to work within the framework of the International Maritime Organization and in accordance with the Convention and international rules and regulations regarding measures related to the phase-out of single-hull tankers, and welcomes the organization's giving priority to the consideration of any proposals related thereto; 25. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization in developing guidelines on places of refuge for ships in need of assistance, and encourages States to draw up plans and to establish procedures to implement those guidelines for ships in waters under their jurisdiction; 26. Also welcomes the adoption by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-seventh session of resolution GC(47)/RES/7, concerning measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management, including those aspects relating to maritime transport safety,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-seventh Regular Session, 15-19 September 2003 (GC(47)/RES/DEC(2003)). in which it requested the Agency to develop an action plan, in consultation with its member States and for approval by the Board of the Agency, if possible in March 2004, based on the results of the International Conference on the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material and within the competence of the Agency; 27. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with, and implementation and enforcement of, their responsibilities under international law and, until such action is undertaken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry; 28. Invites the International Maritime Organization and other relevant competent international organizations to study, examine and clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels; 29. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation and consultation with relevant agencies, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, to prepare and disseminate to States a comprehensive elaboration of the duties and obligations of flag States, including the potential consequences for non-compliance prescribed in the relevant international instruments; 30. Encourages the acceleration of the work of the International Maritime Organization in developing a voluntary model audit scheme, and urges the organization to strengthen its draft implementation code; 31. Welcomes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in promoting compliance by States and their fishing vessels with conservation and management measures, and requests the International Maritime Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization to enhance their cooperation and coordination in their efforts with regard to flag State duties relating thereto, including through the Inter-Agency Consultative Group on Flag State Implementation during the period of the Group's existence; 32. Also welcomes the work of the International Labour Organization to consolidate and modernize international maritime labour standards, and calls upon Member States to take an active interest in the development of these new standards for seafarers and fishers; 33. Recognizes the important role of port State controls in promoting the effective enforcement by flag States of, and compliance by shipowners and charterers with, flag States' and internationally agreed safety, labour and pollution standards, as well as maritime security regulations and conservation and management measures, and further encourages Member States to improve the exchange of appropriate information between port States control authorities; 34. Invites the International Maritime Organization to strengthen its functions with regard to port State control in relation to safety and pollution standards as well as maritime security regulations and, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, labour standards so as to promote the implementation of globally agreed minimum standards by all States, and invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its work in promoting port State measures in relation to fishing vessels in order to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 35. Calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of sub-standard vessels and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; 36. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting and investigation of incidents, bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 37. Calls upon all States and relevant international bodies to cooperate in the prevention and combating of piracy and armed robbery at sea, and urges States to give urgent attention to promoting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements, in particular at the regional level and in high-risk areas; 38. Urges States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and its Protocol,International Maritime Organization publication, Sales No. 462.88.12E. invites States to participate in the review of those instruments by the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization to strengthen the means of combating such unlawful acts, including terrorist acts, and further urges States to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments, in particular through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate, aimed at ensuring that there is a proper framework for responses to incidents of armed robbery and terrorist acts at sea; 39. Calls upon States to work together cooperatively and with the International Maritime Organization to strengthen measures to prevent the embarkation of ships involved in the smuggling of migrants; 40. Once again urges States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex III. and to take appropriate measures to ensure its effective implementation; 41. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization in developing amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue on the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety; IX Capacity-building for the production of nautical charts 42. Welcomes the work of the International Hydrographic Organization and its fourteen regional hydrographic commissions and encourages increased membership of the organization, noting the capacity of the organization to provide technical assistance, facilitate training and identify potential funding sources for the development or improvement of hydrographic services, and calls upon States and agencies to support the trust fund of the organization and examine the possibility of partnerships with the private sector; 43. Invites the International Hydrographic Organization and the International Maritime Organization to continue their coordinated efforts, to jointly adopt measures with a view to encouraging greater international cooperation and coordination for the transition to electronic nautical charts and to increase the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis, especially in the areas of international navigation and ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas; 44. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to improve hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including the mobilization of resources and building of capacity with support from international financial institutions and the donor community, recognizing that economies of scale can apply in some instances at the regional level through shared facilities, technical capabilities and information for the provision of hydrographic services and the preparation of and access to nautical charts; 45. Welcomes the adoption of criteria and guidelines on the transfer of marine technology by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;See IOC-XXII/2 Annex 12 rev. X Marine environment, marine resources and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems 46. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 47. Calls upon States to continue to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, as a means of implementing the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;A/51/116, annex II. 48. Welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between freshwater, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, taking into account the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular the target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 49. Calls upon States to advance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,E/CN.17/2002/PC.2/15, annex, sect. 1. to enhance maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment from pollution and other physical impacts, and to improve the scientific understanding and assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems as a fundamental basis for sound decision-making through the actions identified in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 50. Welcomes the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant global and regional organizations in the development of strategies and programmes for the implementation of an integrated ecosystem-based approach to management, and urges those organizations to cooperate in the development of practical guidance in this regard; 51. Reiterates its call for urgent consideration of ways to integrate and improve, on a scientific basis, the management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water coral reefs and certain other underwater features; 52. Invites the relevant global and regional bodies, in accordance with their mandates, to investigate urgently how to better address, on a scientific basis, including the application of precaution, the threats and risks to vulnerable and threatened marine ecosystems and biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction; how existing treaties and other relevant instruments can be used in this process consistent with international law, in particular with the Convention, and with the principles of an integrated ecosystem-based approach to management, including the identification of those marine ecosystem types that warrant priority attention; and to explore a range of potential approaches and tools for their protection and management; and requests the Secretary-General to cooperate and liaise with those bodies and to submit an addendum to his annual report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, describing the threats and risks to such marine ecosystems and biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction as well as details on any conservation and management measures in place at the global, regional, subregional or national levels addressing these issues; 53. Notes the scientific and technical work under the Convention on Biological Diversity relating to marine and coastal biodiversity; 54. Reaffirms the efforts of States to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on the best scientific information available, and the development of representative networks of such marine protected areas by 2012; 55. Encourages States, in accordance with the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on marine biodiversity; 56. Urges States and relevant global and regional bodies to enhance their cooperation in the protection and preservation of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds, including through the exchange of information; 57. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative and welcomes the outcomes of the Second International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium, held in Manila in 2003, supports the work under the Jakarta Mandate on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity,See A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10. and notes that the International Coral Reef Initiative and other relevant bodies are considering incorporating cold water coral ecosystems into their programmes of activities; 58. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving foreign vessels on coral reefs, and in promoting the development of economic assessment techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems; 59. Emphasizes the need to mainstream coral reef management approaches into national development strategies, as well as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international financial institutions and the donor community; 60. Welcomes the convening by the International Maritime Organization of a diplomatic conference to adopt an international convention for the control and management of ships' ballast waters and sediments; 61. Notes with interest the ongoing discussions in the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization on the designation of the Western European Atlantic coast and the English Channel as a particularly sensitive sea area, and encourages the organization to consider the eventual adoption of the proposed associated protective measure as long as it is consistent with the Convention; XI Regional cooperation 62. Emphasizes once again the importance of regional organizations and arrangements for cooperation and coordination in integrated oceans management, and, where there are separate regional structures for different aspects of oceans management, such as environmental protection, fisheries management, navigation, scientific research and maritime delimitation, calls for those different structures, where appropriate, to work together for optimal cooperation and coordination; 63. Notes that there have been a number of initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention, and in this context notes the results of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Conference on Maritime Delimitation in the Caribbean, held in Mexico City on 13 and 14 October 2003, as well as of the functioning of its Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, takes note once again of the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these Funds; XII Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects 64. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General containing proposals on modalities for the establishment of a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects,A/58/423. and requests the Secretary-General, in close collaboration with Member States, relevant organizations and agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, other competent intergovernmental organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, to take the following steps to establish the regular process by 2004: (a) Convene a group of experts of no more than twenty-four participants, comprising representatives of States, including all regional groups, and representatives from intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, including scientists and policy makers, to produce, including by possibly hiring a consultant, a draft document with details on the scope, general framework and outline of the regular process, peer review, secretariat, capacity-building and funding, and to consider, review and refine the draft document; (b) Transmit the draft document to States and relevant intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organi-zations, scientific associations, funding mechanisms and other parties for written comments and for indication of specific issues to be addressed in the first assessment; (c) Request the group of experts to revise the draft document in the light of comments made; (d) Convene an international workshop with representatives from all interested parties, in conjunction with the fifth meeting of the Consultative Process, to further consider and review the draft document; (e) Convene an intergovernmental meeting to finalize and adopt the document and to formally establish the regular process; 65. Accepts the offer of the Government of Iceland to host this intergovernmental meeting in Reykjavik in 2004, in accordance with paragraph 17 of resolution 47/202 A of 22 December 1992; 66. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the development of the regular process; XIII Open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea 67. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the fifth meeting of the Consultative Process in New York from 7 to 11 June 2004, and to provide it with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work and to arrange for support to be provided by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, in cooperation with other relevant parts of the Secretariat, including the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as appropriate; 68. Recommends that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea at its meeting, the Consultative Process should organize its discussions around the following areas: New sustainable uses of the oceans, including the conservation and management of the biological diversity of the seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction; as well as issues discussed at previous meetings; XIV Inter-agency coordination and cooperation 69. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to establish an effective, transparent and regular inter-agency coordinating mechanism for issues relating to oceans and seas within the United Nations system, taking into account paragraph 49 of Part A of the report of the Consultative Process at its third meeting;See A/57/80. 70. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, drawing their attention to paragraphs of particular relevance to them, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 71. Invites the competent international organizations, as well as funding institutions, to take specific account of the present resolution in their programmes and activities and to contribute to the preparation of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea; XV Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 72. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea,A/58/65 and Add.1. prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as for the other activities of the Division, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the mandate set forth in resolutions 49/28, 52/26, 54/33, and 56/12 of 28 November 2001; 73. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to him in the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for the performance of such responsibilities under the approved budget for the Organization; 74. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to support the training activities under the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; XVI Trust funds and fellowships 75. Recognizes the importance of assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in implementing the Convention, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in resolution 57/141, established for this purpose; 76. Also recognizes the importance of the Trust Fund for preparation of submissions to the Commission in assisting developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in preparing their submissions where their continental shelves extend beyond 200 nautical miles and, in order to facilitate the management of the Trust Fund, amends, as set out in the annex to the present resolution, sections 1, 4 and 6 of the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the Trust Fund, as contained in annex II to resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000, in accordance with paragraph 31 of the annex; 77. Urges Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Programme on the Law of the Sea established by the General Assembly in its resolution 35/116 of 10 December 1980; XVII Fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly 78. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including other developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, in connection with his annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, and to provide the report in accordance with the modalities set out in resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and also requests the Secretary-General to make the report available, in its current comprehensive format, at least six weeks in advance of the meeting of the Consultative Process; 79. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". Annex Amendments to the terms of reference, guidelines and rules of the Trust Fund for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1. Reasons for establishing the Trust Fund In paragraph 2, amend the last sentence to read: "The earliest deadline for submission for States is 13 May 2009." 4. Application for financial assistance In paragraph 17, amend sub-item (a) (iv) to read: "(iv) The curriculum vitae of the trainees, including their date of birth;" 6. Granting of assistance Amend paragraph 23 to read: "23. The Secretary-General will provide financial assistance from the Fund for requests approved on the basis of the evaluation and recommendation of the Division on the advice of the Panel of Experts. Payments will be processed by the Organization in accordance with standard practices." RESOLUTION 58/241 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/241. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 57/72 of 22 November 2002, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 B of 12 December 1995, 52/38 J of 9 December 1997, 53/77 E and 53/77 T of 4 December 1998, 54/54 R of 1 December 1999, 54/54 V of 15 December 1999, 55/33 Q of 20 November 2000 and 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, Emphasizing the importance of early and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. Welcoming the adoption by consensus of the report of the First Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 7 to 11 July 2003,A/CONF.192/BMS/2003/1. Welcoming also the efforts by Member States to submit, on a voluntary basis, national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action, Noting with satisfaction regional efforts being undertaken in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 57/72,See A/58/207. Welcoming the report on the feasibility of developing an international instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons, prepared by the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to resolution 56/24 V, See A/58/138. Conscious of its decision to convene a conference, no later than 2006, to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action, the date and venue to be decided by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session, 1. Decides to convene a United Nations conference to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its AspectsSee Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. in New York for a period of two weeks between June and July 2006; 2. Also decides that a session of the preparatory committee for the conference is to be held in New York for a period of two weeks in January 2006, and that, if necessary, a subsequent session may be held; 3. Further decides to convene in 2005 the second biennial meeting of States as stipulated in the Programme of Action to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action; 4. Determines that it is feasible to develop an international instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons; 5. Notes that the character of the international instrument will be determined in the course of negotiations; 6. Also notes that the international instrument should be complementary to, and not inconsistent with, the existing commitments of States under relevant international instruments; 7. Further notes that the international instrument should take into account the national security and legal interests of States; 8. Decides to establish an open-ended working group, to meet in three sessions of two weeks each, to negotiate an international instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons; 9. Also decides that the open-ended working group shall hold an organizational session in New York on 3 and 4 February 2004 in order to set the dates for its substantive sessions; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the open-ended working group with the assistance and services that may be required for the discharge of its tasks; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to hold broad-based consultations, within available financial resources and with any other assistance provided by Member States in a position to do so, with all Member States, interested regional and subregional organizations, international agencies and experts in the field, on further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, taking into consideration the views of States provided to the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the outcome of his consultations; 12. Continues to encourage all initiatives to mobilize resources and expertise to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action and to provide assistance to States in its implementation; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to collate and circulate data and information provided by States on a voluntary basis, including national reports, on the implementation by those States of the Programme of Action, and encourages Member States to submit such reports; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 58/242 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 58/242. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/196 of 21 December 2001 and 57/259 of 20 December 2002 and other resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Recognizing the strong commitment of the international community, demonstrated at the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. and the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, to make the Facility available as a financial mechanism of the Convention, pursuant to article 21 of the Convention, Recognizing also the role of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, as the highest decision-making body, in providing guidance on matters regarding the implementation of the Convention and in encouraging financial mechanisms to seek to maximize the availability of resources for affected developing countries, while respecting the respective mandates of the mechanisms, Reaffirming that the Convention is an important tool for poverty eradication, particularly in Africa, and recognizing the importance of the implementation of the Convention for meeting the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming also the universal membership of the Convention, and acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension, in that they affect all regions of the world, Expressing its deep appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Cuba for hosting the sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in Havana from 25 August to 5 September 2003, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/158. 2. Welcomes the decision of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, at its sixth session, to accept the Global Environment Facility as a financial mechanism of the Convention, pursuant to article 21 of the Convention; 3. Also welcomes the decision of the Council of the Global Environment Facility at its meeting, held in Washington, D.C., from 14 to 16 May 2003, to establish a new operational programme on sustainable land management, and, in that regard, urges the Executive Secretary, in collaboration with the Managing Director of the Global Mechanism, to consult with the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Global Environment Facility, with a view to preparing and agreeing upon a memorandum of understanding, as mandated by the Conference of the Parties, for the consideration of and adoption by the Conference of Parties and the Council of the Global Environment Facility; 4. Further welcomes the outcome of the Second Assembly of the Global Environment Facility, held in Beijing from 16 to 18 October 2002, in particular the decision to designate land degradation as a new focal area of the Facility, which will, inter alia, support the implementation of the Convention; 5. Notes with appreciation the increased number of affected developing country parties that have adopted their national, subregional and regional action programmes, and urges affected developing countries that have not yet done so to accelerate the process of elaboration and adoption of their action programmes, with a view to finalizing them as soon as possible; 6. Invites affected developing countries to place the implementation of their action programmes to combat desertification high among their priorities in their dialogue with their development partners; 7. Calls upon affected parties, with the collaboration of relevant multilateral organizations, including the Global Environment Facility implementation agencies, to integrate desertification into their strategies for sustainable development; 8. Urges the international community to take effective measures for the implementation of the Convention through bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes; 9. Urges the United Nations funds and programmes, the Bretton Woods institutions, the donor countries and other development agencies to integrate actions in support of the Convention in their strategies to support the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 10. Welcomes the strengthened cooperation between the secretariat of the Convention and the Global Mechanism through the elaboration and implementation of a joint work plan aimed at maximizing the impact of resources and actions, avoiding duplication and overlap and tapping into the expertise, added value and network of each organization in a collaborative manner as action programmes are implemented; 11. Invites all parties to pay promptly and in full the contributions required for the core budget of the Convention for the biennium 2002-2003, and urges all parties that have not yet paid their contributions for the year 1999 and/or the biennium 2000-2001 to do so as soon as possible in order to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the secretariat and the Global Mechanism; 12. Calls upon Governments, and invites multilateral financial institutions, regional development banks, regional economic integration organizations and all other interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously to the General Fund, the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund, in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties,ICCD/COP (1)/11/Add.1 and Corr.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, paras. 7-11. and welcomes the financial support already provided by some countries; 13. Takes note of Conference of the Parties decision 23/COP.6 of 5 September 2003 on the programme and budget for the biennium 2004-2005,See ICCD/COP(6)/11/Add.1. as an ongoing process of the Conference of the Parties to undertake a comprehensive review of the activities of the secretariat, as defined in article 23, paragraph 2, of the Convention; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to make provision for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies, including the seventh ordinary session of the Conference and the meetings of its subsidiary bodies, in his proposal for the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 58/243 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/484/Add.6, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 58/243. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/222 of 22 December 1999, its decision 55/443 of 20 December 2000 and its resolutions 56/199 of 21 December 2001 and 57/257 of 20 December 2002 and other resolutions relating to the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. including the acknowledgement that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions, Recalling further the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Ibid., resolution 2, annex. and the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session, held in New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002,FCCC/CP/2002/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.8. Noting that one hundred and eighty-eight States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified the Convention, Remaining deeply concerned that all countries, in particular developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, face increased risks from the negative impacts of climate change, Noting the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the need to build and enhance scientific and technological capabilities, inter alia, through continuing support to the Panel for the exchange of scientific data and information, especially in developing countries, Noting also that, to date, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. has attracted one hundred and nineteen ratifications, including from parties mentioned in annex I to the Convention, who account for 44.2 per cent of emissions, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, preferably by the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 2002, and to embark on the required reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases,Ibid., para. 23. Taking note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on the work of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention,A/58/308. 1. Calls upon States to work cooperatively towards achieving the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 2. Notes that States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. strongly urge States that have not already done so to ratify it in a timely manner; 3. Notes with interest the preparations undertaken for the implementation of the flexible mechanisms established by the Kyoto Protocol; 4. Notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and officers of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and encourages cooperation to promote complementarities among the three secretariats while respecting their independent legal status; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to make provisions for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its subsidiary bodies in his proposal for the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 6. Invites the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the work of the Conference of the Parties; 7. Invites the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind". RESOLUTION 58/244 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/501, para. 43),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Mexico, Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China) and Romania. by a recorded vote of 126 to 5, with 30 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 58/244. Future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolutions 55/219 of 23 December 2000, 56/125 of 19 December 2001 and 57/175 of 18 December 2002, Recalling also that, in its resolution 56/125, it decided to establish a working group mandated to make recommendations to the General Assembly on the future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, Reaffirming its resolution 57/311 of 18 June 2003 on the financial situation of the Institute, Welcoming Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/57 of 24 July 2003, in which the Council decided to amend articles III and IV of the statute of the Institute, Welcoming also the efforts and the consistency in the work of the Working Group on the Future Operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women in promoting a comprehensive approach to the revitalization and strengthening of the Institute, which has led to the adoption of important institutional and political changes that are contributing to the strengthening of the Institute, 1. Welcomes the report of the Working Group on the Future Operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women,A/58/540. in which the Working Group, inter alia, reaffirmed the mandate of the Institute in the field of gender equality and the advancement of women and stressed the need for it to be reformed and revitalized, as recommended in its previous reportA/57/330 and Add.1. and endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/175; 2. Decides to continue monitoring the implementation of the measures recommended by the Working Group in its report,A/57/330 and Add.1. in close consultation with the Secretary-General; 3. Stresses the critical importance of voluntary financial contributions by Member States to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to enable it to carry out its mandate; 4. Urges Member States to make voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund, particularly during this critical transitional period; 5. Decides to continue to provide its full support to the current efforts to revitalize the Institute and, in this regard, to provide funds complementary to the existing ones, if needed, to ensure that the Institute will have adequate resources to function for a period of one year and to submit its report to the General Assembly as requested in resolution 57/311, in the light of the delay in appointing a Director to implement a feasible work programme and fund-raising activities; 6. Also decides to request the Working Group to continue monitoring the implementation of the recommendations and measures contained in its reportA/57/330 and Add.1. until the new executive board convenes its first session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/245 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/504, para. 65),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic and United Republic of Tanzania. by a recorded vote of 115 to 20, with 28 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Hungary, Latvia, Mongolia, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Venezuela 58/245. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict The General Assembly, Recalling paragraphs 35 to 37 of its resolution 51/77 of 12 December 1996 on the rights of the child, in which the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict was established, Recalling also its resolution 57/190 of 18 December 2002, in which it requested the Secretary-General to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the scope and effectiveness of the United Nations system response to the issue of children affected by armed conflict, including recommendations for strengthening, mainstreaming, integrating and sustaining those activities, Taking note of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed ConflictSee A/58/328 and Corr.1. and his oral statement to the Third Committee of the General Assembly on 20 October 2003,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Third Committee, 18th meeting (A/C.3/58/SR.18), and corrigendum. Recalling the role of the General Assembly in promoting the protection of children affected by armed conflict, Recognizing the progress achieved since the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative and the recommendation by which the Secretary-General extended the mandate of the Special Representative for a further period of three years, Commending the support and the voluntary contributions of donor countries for the work of the Special Representative in the fulfilment of his mandate, Expressing concern about the financial instability of the Office of the Special Representative and its adverse impact on the implementation of the mandate, Decides that the activities under the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict shall be supported through regular budgetary funding. RESOLUTION 58/246 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.2, para. 131)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. 58/246. Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee open to the participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development, Recalling also its resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002, as well as relevant resolutions of the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination, Convinced of the contribution that a convention can make in this regard, Encouraging Member States and observers to participate actively in the Ad Hoc Committee in order to present to the General Assembly, as a matter of priority, a draft text of a convention, Stressing the importance of the active participation of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and their valuable contribution to the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, Recognizing the important contributions made thus far to the Ad Hoc Committee by all stakeholders, 1. Welcomes the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities;See A/58/118 and Corr.1. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Ad Hoc Committee to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-second session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session, and further requests both Commissions to continue to contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 3. Endorses the decision of the Ad Hoc Committee to establish a Working Group with the aim of preparing and presenting a draft text, which would be the basis for negotiations on the draft convention in the Ad Hoc Committee, taking into account all contributions;Ibid., para. 15. 4. Notes that the Working Group will present the outcome of its work on a draft text to the Ad Hoc Committee at the third session of the Committee; 5. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall start the negotiations on a draft convention at its third session; 6. Decides also that the Ad Hoc Committee shall hold, within existing resources, two sessions in 2004 of ten working days each, prior to the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly; 7. Underlines the importance of strengthening the cooperation and coordination between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in order to support jointly the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 8. Urges that further efforts be made to ensure the active participation of non-governmental organizations in the Ad Hoc Committee, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/510 of 23 July 2002 and based on the decision of the Ad Hoc Committee on the modalities for the participation of non-governmental organizations in its work; 9. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility at the United Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation, for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work; 11. Encourages Member States to continue to include in their delegations to the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field; 12. Urges Member States, observers, civil society and the private sector to contribute to the voluntary fund established pursuant to its resolution 57/229 to support the participation of non-governmental organizations and experts from developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit a comprehensive report of the Ad Hoc Committee to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session and to report on the implementation of paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/247 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/508/Add.3, para. 57)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 58/247. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in the field, Aware that Myanmar is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Resolution 44/25, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Resolution 34/180, annex. the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of GenocideResolution 260 A (III). and the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. as well as the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, 1930 (Convention No. 29) and the Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, 1948 (Convention No. 87), of the International Labour Organization, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1460 (2003) of 30 January 2003 on children and armed conflict and the report of the Secretary-General pursuant thereto,A/58/546-S/2003/1053 and Corr.1. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 57/231 of 18 December 2002, those of the Commission on Human Rights, the most recent of which is resolution 2003/12 of 16 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and resolution I adopted by the International Labour Conference at its eighty-eighth session, on 14 June 2000, concerning the practice of forced or compulsory labour in Myanmar, Affirming that the will of the people is the basis of the authority of government and that the will of the people of Myanmar was clearly expressed in the elections held in 1990, Affirming also that the establishment of a genuine democratic government in Myanmar is essential for the realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights are essential to achieving sustainable development and economic growth, Taking note of the increasing awareness of the Government of Myanmar of the need to comprehensively address the production of opium in Myanmar, Taking note also of the road map for the transition to democracy announced by the Prime Minister of Myanmar on 30 August 2003, 1. Welcomes: (a) The visits to Myanmar by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar during the past year and the visits by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; (b) Efforts by the international community, including support from countries in the region, to encourage the Government of Myanmar to resume its efforts towards national reconciliation and dialogue, pursuant to acknowledging the importance of strengthening democracy as a fundamental element of regional security; (c) The report of the Secretary-General;A/58/325 and Add.1. (d) The interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar;See A/58/219. (e) The agreement, reached on 27 May 2003, on the Joint Government of the Union of Myanmar-International Labour Organization Plan of Action for the Elimination of Forced Labour Practices in Myanmar, including the agreement to an independent facilitator to assist possible victims of forced labour, while noting that the conditions for the implementation of the Plan of Action do not exist at present; (f) The continued cooperation of the Government of Myanmar with the International Committee of the Red Cross; 2. Expresses its grave concern at: (a) The events of 30 May 2003, the corresponding, subsequent and continuing violations of human rights, which constitute a serious setback for the human rights situation in the country, and the apparent involvement of the Government-affiliated Union Solidarity and Development Association in those events; (b) The detention and the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the persistent denial of her human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of movement, as well as the continued detention of other senior leaders of the National League for Democracy; (c) The closure of offices of the National League for Democracy throughout the country and the increased surveillance and imprisonment of members and supporters of the National League for Democracy and other political organizations, as well as the continuing detentions, including of prisoners whose sentences have expired; (d) The systematic and consistent harassment and intimidation of members of the National League for Democracy by members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association; (e) The lack of cooperation shown by the Government of Myanmar towards the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, in particular with regard to his proposal to visit ethnic nationality areas to investigate allegations of serious human rights violations; 3. Expresses once again its grave concern at: (a) The ongoing systematic violation of the human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, of the people of Myanmar, in particular: (i) Extrajudicial killing; continuing use of torture; rape and other forms of sexual violence persistently carried out by members of the armed forces; unsatisfactory conditions of detention; forced relocation; wide disrespect for the rule of law and lack of independence of the judiciary; trafficking in persons; forced labour, including child labour; destruction of livelihoods and confiscation of land by the armed forces; and violations of the right to an adequate standard of living, including food, medical care and education; (ii) Denial of freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, of association, of assembly and of movement; (iii) Discrimination and persecution on the basis of religious or ethnic background suffered by persons belonging to ethnic minorities, women and children; (b) The situation of the large number of internally displaced persons and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries, and recalls in this context the obligations of Myanmar under international law; 4. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To initiate a full and independent inquiry, with international cooperation, into the Depayin incident of 30 May 2003; (b) To immediately facilitate and cooperate fully with the proposed investigation by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar into charges of rape and other abuse of civilians carried out by members of the armed forces in Shan and other states, including unhindered access to the region, and to guarantee the safety of those cooperating with and covered by the investigation; (c) To immediately secure the safe and unhindered access to all parts of Myanmar of the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance and to guarantee that it reaches the most vulnerable groups of the population; (d) To pursue through dialogue and peaceful means an immediate end to conflict with all remaining ethnic groups with which ceasefire agreements have not yet been signed, and to live up to its obligations to improve the development and human rights situation in ceasefire areas; (e) To take all necessary steps to pursue cooperation with the International Labour Organization, with a view to implementing fully the recommendations of the Commission of Enquiry established to examine the observance by Myanmar of the International Labour Organization Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, and to create an environment in which the Joint Government of the Union of Myanmar-International Labour Organization Plan of Action for the Elimination of Forced Labour Practices in Myanmar, in particular the facilitator mechanism which it established, may be implemented in a credible manner; 5. Strongly urges the Government of Myanmar: (a) To end the systematic violations of human rights in Myanmar and to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms; (b) To immediately and unconditionally release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other leaders of the National League for Democracy and members of the National League for Democracy detained on or after 30 May 2003 and to allow them to play a full role in bringing about national reconciliation and the transition towards democracy; (c) To immediately and unconditionally release all other political detainees; (d) To immediately reverse all the other "temporary" measures imposed following the incident of 30 May 2003, including by reopening all the offices of the National League for Democracy throughout the country; (e) To immediately lift all restraints on peaceful political activity and to fully guarantee freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, association and assembly; (f) To put an end to impunity by investigating and bringing to justice any perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military and of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, and other government agents in all circumstances; (g) To enhance cooperation with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar in order to assess first-hand the situation after 30 May 2003, to bring the country towards a transition to civilian rule, to ensure that they are both granted full and free access to Myanmar and that all persons cooperating with them are not subjected to any form of intimidation, harassment or punishment and, while in Myanmar, to provide them with equal access to the leaders and members of all the country's political parties, including the National League for Democracy; (h) To restore democracy and respect the results of the 1990 elections and to enter immediately into substantive and structured dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy towards democratization and national reconciliation and, at an early stage, to include other political leaders in those talks, including representatives of the ethnic groups; (i) To elaborate the road map, which is still lacking in essential elements such as concrete timing and an adequate plan for the involvement of all political groups and ethnic nationalities, in a way that ensures that the process is transparent and inclusive; 6. Once again urges the Government of Myanmar, as stated in its resolution 57/231 and in Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/12: (a) To ensure the independence of the judiciary and due process of law; (b) To consider as a matter of high priority becoming a party to those remaining international human rights instruments to which it is not already party, and to comply fully with its obligations under international human rights instruments; (c) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers, inter alia, by some armed ethnic groups, and ensure their disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, to end systematic enforced displacement and provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, to allow the safe and dignified voluntary return of refugees, and to carry out the appropriate action to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic; 7. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to provide his good offices and to pursue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and people of Myanmar, including all relevant parties to the national reconciliation process in Myanmar; (b) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; (c) To give all necessary assistance to enable his Special Envoy to implement the present resolution and, in the context of the facilitation role, to explore any and all possibilities for discharging fully and effectively his mandate; (d) To continue to give all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to enable him to discharge his mandate fully; 8. Decides to continue the consideration of this question at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/248 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/517, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Egypt. 58/248. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/56/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Recalling further that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Considering the desirability of finding practical ways and means to strengthen the Court, taking into consideration, in particular, the needs resulting from its increased workload, Taking note of the progress achieved on the revised working paper on the working methods of the Special Committee, as amended, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/58/347. Recalling its resolution 57/24 of 19 November 2002, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/58/33). Noting with appreciation the work done by the Special Committee to encourage States to focus on the need to prevent and to settle peacefully their disputes which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/58/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 29 March to 8 April 2004; 3. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2004, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2004; (b) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter by commencing a substantive debate on all of the related reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303, A/57/165 and Add.1 and A/58/346. and the proposals submitted on the question; (c) To keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States; (d) To continue to consider proposals concerning the Trusteeship Council in the light of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 50/55 of 11 December 1995,A/50/1011. the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform"A/51/950 and Add.1-7. and the views expressed by States on this subject at previous sessions of the Assembly; (e) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 4. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2004 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations; 5. Notes the readiness of the Special Committee, in the context of its consideration of the subject of assistance to working groups on the revitalization of the work of the United Nations and coordination between the Special Committee and other working groups dealing with the reform of the Organization, to provide, within its mandate, such assistance as may be sought at the request of other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly in relation to any issues before them; 6. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 7. Takes note of paragraphs 42 and 43 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/347. commends the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to reduce the backlog in the publication of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, and endorses the efforts of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General in his continuous efforts to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, including by exploring options involving cooperation with academic institutions as a means to achieve this aim without prejudice to the continuation of their timely publication; 9. Commends the Secretary-General for his initiative to make Repertory studies available on the Internet; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to make every effort, within the level of the currently approved budget, towards making available electronically all versions of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs as early as possible; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on both the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 58/249 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/570, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/249. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Having considered the audited financial statements and the report of the Board of Auditors on the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the year ended 31 December 2002,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/58/5/Add.5). the report of the Board of Auditors on the implementation of its recommendations relating to the biennium 2000-2001,A/58/114, appendix. the second report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United NationsA/58/97. and on the accounts of the United Nations funds and programmesA/58/97/Add.1. for the biennium ended 31 December 2001, and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/384. Recognizing the difficult conditions under which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees does its work, 1. Accepts the financial report and audited financial statements and the report and audit opinion of the Board of Auditors regarding the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2002;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/58/5/Add.5). 2. Endorses the recommendations of the Board of Auditors contained in its report; See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/58/5/Add.5), chap. II. 3. Also endorses the observations and recommendation contained in paragraphs 2 to 18 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/384. 4. Notes with concern the shortcomings identified by the Board of Auditors in the management of financial and human resources by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, urges the High Commissioner to continue to implement the Board's recommendations, and requests him to report regularly to the relevant governing bodies on progress made in that regard; 5. Notes the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in implementing the recommendations of the Board of Auditors; 6. Notes with concern the further depletion of the reserves of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and requests the High Commissioner to examine the causes of continued operating deficits with a view to ensuring that the Office usually operates within its income for each financial year; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the full extent of unfunded staff termination and post-service liabilities in the United Nations and its funds and programmes and to propose measures that would ensure progress towards fully funding such liabilities; 8. Takes note of the second report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United NationsA/58/97. and on the accounts of the United Nations funds and programmesA/58/97/Add.1. for the biennium ended 31 December 2001 and the report of the Board of Auditors on the implementation of its recommendations;A/58/114, appendix. 9. Notes with appreciation the recommendation to consolidate the reports of the Secretary-General on the accounts of the United Nations and its funds and programmes in a single report;A/58/114, appendix, para. 7. 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to include in the consolidated report the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors and to clarify the recommendations that were partially implemented and those that were not implemented; 11. Requests the audited organizations to take all steps necessary to implement fully and expeditiously the outstanding audit recommendations. RESOLUTION 58/24 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 5 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.22 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 58/24. Emergency humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/149 of 16 December 2002 on emergency humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, Noting with concern the recurrent drought that affects Ethiopia, and its consequences, Recalling the initiatives of the Secretary-General to improve food security, including the appointment of the Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa, Gravely concerned at the magnitude of the recurrent drought, which affects millions owing to the serious crop failures in drought-prone parts of the country that have weak infrastructures and low development capacities, Bearing in mind the joint 2004 appeal of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, to respond to the food and non-food requirements of households in need so as to prevent the worsening of the current humanitarian crisis, Noting with serious concern the significant and persistent humanitarian needs in such areas as health, water and acute malnutrition that still exist in parts of the country, Noting also with serious concern the dire humanitarian situation and its long-term socio-economic and environmental impacts, Emphasizing the need to address the crisis, bearing in mind the importance of the transition from relief to development, and acknowledging the underlying structural causes of recurrent drought in Ethiopia, Recognizing that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development lies with the Government of Ethiopia, while bearing in mind the important role played by the international community, Emphasizing the importance of establishing a strong early warning system in order to predict better and respond as early as possible to disasters and to minimize their consequences, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/224. 2. Welcomes the coordinated and collaborative efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, the donor community, non-governmental organizations and other entities to avert, through their timely and generous response, a major humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia in 2003; 3. Calls upon the international community to respond in a timely manner to the joint 2004 appeal of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, covering food and non-food needs, as well as to the urgent needs of programme interventions for 2004, aimed at addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity, and issues of recovery, asset protection and the sustainable development of the affected areas; 4. Welcomes the programme prepared by the Coalition for Food Security in Ethiopia, and encourages the international community to support the Coalition in realizing its main objective, namely, breaking the cycle of food aid dependency within the next three to five years, thereby enabling fifteen million vulnerable people to engage in sustainable productive activities; 5. Also welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, the international community and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to strengthen mechanisms already in place to respond to such emergency situations, and appreciates their endeavours to increase the availability of food through domestic production and to ensure the access of households in need to food, health and water facilities; 6. Further welcomes the initiative taken by the Secretary-General in appointing a Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa, with the objective of mobilizing resources for relief support as well as the sustainable development of the affected areas; 7. Invites the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to continue considering ways to enhance the mobilization of emergency relief assistance to cover the remaining humanitarian needs in Ethiopia; 8. Calls upon all development partners to integrate relief efforts with recovery, asset protection and long-term development and to address the underlying structural causes of recurrent drought in Ethiopia in a way that is, inter alia, in line with the poverty reduction strategy paper, including strategies that are aimed at preventing such crises in the future and that improve the resilience of the population; 9. Encourages the Government of Ethiopia to further strengthen its efforts to address the underlying structural causes of recurrent threats of drought as part of its overall economic development programme; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/250 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/575, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/250. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 51/211 A to E of 18 December 1996, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 53/208 A to E of 18 December 1998, 54/248 of 23 December 1999, 55/222 of 23 December 2000, 56/242 of 24 December 2001, 56/254 D of 27 March 2002, 56/262 of 15 February 2002, 56/287 of 27 June 2002, 57/283 A of 20 December 2002 and 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, Reaffirming its resolution 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the equal treatment of the official languages of the United Nations, Also reaffirming the provisions relevant to conference services of its resolutions on multilingualism, Having considered the report of the Committee on ConferencesOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/58/32). and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/194 and Corr.1 and 2, A/58/213, A/57/783 and A/57/809. Having also considered the first report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/58/7 and Corr.1). in particular paragraph I.84 thereof, and the second report of the Advisory Committee,A/58/7/Add.1 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. I Calendar of conferences and meetings 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Committee on Conferences; 2. Approves the draft biennial calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2004-2005, as submitted by the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/58/32), annex II. taking into account the observations of the Committee, and subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make any adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2004-2005 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretariat has taken into account the arrangements referred to in General Assembly resolutions 53/208 A, 54/248, 55/222, 56/242 and 57/283 B concerning Orthodox Good Friday and the official holidays of Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha, and requests all intergovernmental bodies to continue to observe those decisions when planning their meetings; II A. Utilization of conference-servicing resources and facilities 1. Notes the improvements in the utilization of the conference centre at the Economic Commission for Africa in response to section II.A, paragraph 21, of its resolution 57/283 B, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore all possible options to increase further the utilization of the conference centre; 2. Requests the Committee on Conferences to consult with those bodies that have consistently utilized less than the applicable benchmark figure of their allocated resources of the past three sessions, with a view to making appropriate recommendations in order to achieve the optimum utilization of conference-servicing resources, and urges the secretariats and bureaux of bodies that underutilize their conference-servicing resources to work more closely with the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the Secretariat and to consider changes to their programme of work, as appropriate, including adjustments based on previous patterns for recurring agenda items, with a view to making improvements in their underutilization factors; 3. Welcomes the efforts that are being made to improve utilization of conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, as set out in the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/809. 4. Recalls its several resolutions, including resolution 57/283 B, section II.A, paragraph 9, and reaffirms that all meetings of Nairobi-based United Nations bodies shall take place in Nairobi, except as otherwise authorized by the General Assembly or the Committee on Conferences acting on its behalf; 5. Reiterates its encouragement to the Secretary-General to continue to intensify the efforts being made by the United Nations Office at Nairobi to attract more meetings to its facilities; 6. Strongly discourages any invitation to host meetings which would violate the headquarters rule, in particular for the United Nations Office at Nairobi and other United Nations centres with a low utilization level; 7. Emphasizes that all duty stations shall be given adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its concern over the delay in the process of filling the remaining vacancies in the interpretation and translation services at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and calls for the expeditious filling of the vacancies, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 9. Regrets the difficulties, including the delay, in fully staffing the Arabic Unit in the Interpretation Section at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and requests the Secretary-General to take adequate measures to ensure the filling of those posts without further delay, and to report thereon, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 10. Notes the importance of meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States for the smooth functioning of the sessions of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, as far as possible, all requests for conference services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States are met; 11. Notes with concern that the rate of provision of interpretation services to the regional and other major groupings has declined; 12. Notes with appreciation that 100 per cent of requests by regional and other major groupings for conference facilities were met, according to the current methodology for recording statistics; 13. Emphasizes the importance of providing services of the highest quality to Member States in all duty stations and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures in order to address current disparities in the quality of conference services between duty stations; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to include in future reports the utilization rates of interpretation services and conference facilities at all duty stations; 15. Notes that the Secretary-General has submitted his reportA/58/397. pursuant to section II.A, paragraph 14, of its resolution 57/283 B, in which it reaffirmed its decision to include all necessary resources in the budget for the biennium 2004-2005 to provide interpretation services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States upon request by those groups, on an ad hoc basis, in accordance with established practice; B. Reform of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management 1. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 2. Welcomes the initial steps taken by the Secretary-General in the implementation of the reform measures put forward in his reportA/57/289. in accordance with section II.B of its resolution 57/283 B, and encourages the continued implementation of the measures described in paragraph 52 of his report on the reform of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the Secretariat,A/58/213. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Reiterates its request contained in section II.B, paragraph 12, of its resolution 57/283 B; 4. Stresses that the reform of the Department should be aimed at improving the quality of documents and their timely production and delivery and the quality of conference services provided to Member States, with a view to meeting their needs as efficiently and effectively as possible and in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 5. Also stresses that the reform of the Department should be aimed equally at increasing the productivity of the Department in delivering all services in accordance with relevant resolutions; 6. Notes that the reform will include a comprehensive study of the integrated global management, in accordance with section II.B, paragraph 8, of resolution 57/283 B, in consultation with the Office of Internal Oversight Services and with the full participation of all duty stations in a collaborative and consultative process, with a view to reaching conclusions that are both practical and comprehensive, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly informed of the matter through the Committee on Conferences; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to develop further an effective measure to strengthen the responsibility and accountability system within the Secretariat, in order to ensure the timely submission of documents for processing, and to submit a comprehensive report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, through the Committee on Conferences; 8. Notes the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a Secretariat task force, with broad participation, to conduct a comprehensive study of workload standards and performance measurement and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, through the Committee on Conferences; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct a thorough cost-benefit study of summary records and to review the list of bodies entitled to them, in full consultation with all relevant intergovernmental bodies, with a view to assessing the need for such records, and to explore the possibility of delivering them in a more efficient and effective manner, and to report thereon, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the ongoing and planned work on workload standards and performance measurement specifically develops quantitative methods and indicators to assess productivity, efficiency and cost-effectiveness and to do so also for the quality of services, and to report thereon, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 11. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the ongoing and planned work on workload standards and performance measurement specifically develops qualitative methods and indicators to assess productivity, efficiency and cost-effectiveness and to do so also for the quality of services, and to report thereon, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 12. Recognizes that the satisfaction of Member States is a key performance indicator in conference management and services, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to include a user-oriented approach towards performance management on a wider scope, to make proposals to the General Assembly on the incorporation of such an approach into the performance-management methods of the Department and to incorporate the results of such an approach, as well as the results of his own internal evaluation of the Department, into future proposals for the improvement of the operation of the Department; III Documentation- and publication-related matters 1. Emphasizes the importance of the equality of the six official languages of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms section B of its resolution 52/214, and emphasizes that any reduction in the length of reports should affect neither the quality of presentation nor the content of the reports; 3. Notes that reports not originating from the Secretariat comprise the bulk of the documents issued,See A/57/228, paras. 79-86. and requests the Secretary-General to examine ways and means to achieve compliance with the relevant guideline on page limits and to report on the matter to the General Assembly through the Committee on Conferences; 4. Also notes the relative improvement in the timely issuance of documents for the fifty-eighth session; 5. Notes with concern that the six-week rule for issuance of documents is not fully complied with owing to, inter alia, the late submission of documents by author departments in violation of relevant rules, and requests the Secretary-General to take corrective measures so as to ensure strict compliance with the six-week rule for the timely issuance of documentation in view of the impact of their late issuance on the functioning of intergovernmental and expert bodies; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the rules concerning simultaneous distribution of documents in all official languages are followed with respect to the posting of parliamentary documentation on the Official Document System and on the United Nations web site, in keeping with section III, paragraph 5, of General Assembly resolution 55/222; 7. Notes with concern paragraph 61 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/194 and Corr.1 and 2. reaffirms that there should be no exceptions to the rule that documents must be distributed in all official languages, and emphasizes the principle that all official documents must be distributed simultaneously in all official languages before they are made available on United Nations web sites; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that documents are available in accordance with the six-week rule for their distribution simultaneously in the six official languages; 9. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that translation, in principle, reflects the specificity of each language to the extent possible and that concordance in resolutions is achieved; 10. Recalls section III, paragraphs 25, 26 and 27, of resolution 57/283 B, expresses its concern that the report requested in paragraph 28 of the resolution was not submitted, urges the Secretary-General to provide Member States promptly with the outcome of the consultations referred to in this context, and decides to revert to this issue at its fifty-ninth session; 11. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to direct all departments to include the following elements in reports originating in the Secretariat: (a) A summary of the report; (b) Consolidated conclusions, recommendations and other proposed actions; (c) Relevant background information; 12. Encourages intergovernmental and expert bodies to include the above-mentioned elements, where appropriate, in their reports to the General Assembly; 13. Requests that all documents submitted to legislative organs by the Secretariat, intergovernmental and expert bodies for consideration and action have conclusions and recommendations in bold print; 14. Notes with concern the delay in the issuance of verbatim and summary records and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to ameliorate the situation, with a view to issuing them in a timely fashion; 15. Also notes with concern the non-compliance with rule 59 of the rules of procedures of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the communication of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly to Member States within fifteen days after the closure of the session; 16. Further notes with concern the decrease in the percentage of documents available in Arabic issued by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and requests the Secretary-General to take immediate measures to ensure the 100 per cent issuance in Arabic of all the Commission's documents and publications in the biennium 2004-2005; 17. Reaffirms section B of its resolution 52/214, and re-emphasizes that any reduction in the length of documents should not adversely affect either the quality of the presentation or the substance of the documents and that the reduction should be implemented in a flexible manner with respect to the consolidated reports; IV Translation- and interpretation-related matters 1. Notes with concern the high rate of self-revision in some of the official languages, as well as the translation problems in some languages; 2. Requests the Secretary-General, in updating the workload standards, to address the question of the appropriate level of self-revision that is consistent with quality in all official languages; 3. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General contained in section IV, paragraph 1, of its resolution 55/222; V Information technology 1. Emphasizes that the primary goal of the introduction of new technology should be to enhance the quality, production, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of conference services, in accordance with legislative mandates; 2. Notes the relative progress achieved thus far across duty stations in integrating information technology into management and documentation-processing systems; 3. Also notes the particular situation of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, urges the Secretary-General to take steps to ensure that modern conference management and documentation practices, systems and technology are shared across all duty stations in an institutionalized manner and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon, through the Committee on Conferences, to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; VI 1. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a consolidated report on all actions mandated in the present resolution to the Committee on Conferences at its next session; 2. Recalls the need to consider biennialization and triennialization of the agenda items of the Fifth Committee, in accordance with the guidelines on the rationalization of the agenda of the General Assembly outlined in paragraph 5 (c) of annex I to its resolution 48/264 of 29 July 1994 and in its resolution 58/126 of 19 December 2003 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the context of paragraph 2 above, to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, through the Committee on Conferences, proposals on the possibility of biennializing this item. RESOLUTION 58/251 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/576, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/251. United Nations common system The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2003Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). and the statement submitted by the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the Commission,A/58/378. Reaffirming its commitment to a single, unified United Nations common system as the cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Convinced that the common system constitutes the best instrument through which to secure staff with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for the international civil service, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the statute of the Commission and its central role in the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Takes note with appreciation of the work of the International Civil Service Commission, and takes note of its report for 2003;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). I Conditions of service applicable to both categories of staff A. Review of the pay and benefits system Recalling its resolutions 51/216 of 18 December 1996, 52/216 of 22 December 1997, 53/209 of 18 December 1998, 55/223 of 23 December 2000 and 57/285 of 20 December 2002, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the continuing progress being made by the Commission in the review of the pay and benefits system in the context of the approved framework for human resources management; 2. Takes note of the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraphs 35, 86 and 88 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). B. Contractual arrangements Recalling section I.A, paragraph 4, of its resolution 57/285, 1. Notes with appreciation the collaborative process between the Commission and the organizations to develop a general framework for contractual arrangements within which organizations of the common system could operate; 2. Takes note of the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraphs 104 and 105 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). C. Mobility Recalling section V of its resolution 55/258 of 14 June 2001 and section I.B of its resolution 57/285, 1. Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 125 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). 2. Takes note also of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 126 of its report to review the current mobility and hardship scheme in the context of the pay and benefits review; D. Hazard pay Recalling section I.D of its resolution 57/285, Recalls that hazard pay is a payment of a symbolic nature, and requests the Commission to reconsider and decide on a smaller increase in the level of hazard pay for local staff, taking into account the views expressed by Member States, and to report on the implementation of this request to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; E. Mission subsistence allowance/special operations approach Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 154 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). II Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories A. Base/floor salary scale Recalling section I.H of its resolution 44/198 of 21 December 1989, by which it established a floor net salary for staff in the Professional and higher categories with reference to the corresponding base net salary levels of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service,See the annex to the present resolution. Approves the recommendation of the Commission contained in paragraph 188 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). B. Linkage between the mobility and hardship allowance and the base/floor salary scale Recalling its resolutions 44/198, 46/191 A of 20 December 1991, 51/216, 55/223 and 57/285, Looks forward to receiving, at its fifty-ninth session, the reports of the Commission on its review of the mobility and hardship scheme and on the linkage between the mobility and hardship allowance and the base/floor salary scale; III Conditions of service of the General Service and other locally recruited categories: methodologies for surveys of best prevailing conditions of employment at Headquarters and non-Headquarters duty stations Recalling section III, paragraph 1, of its resolution 47/216 of 23 December 1992, Endorses the decisions of the Commission and the refinements and modifications of the methodologies contained in paragraphs 230, 265 to 269, 279, 288, 302, 311, 312, 326, 354 and 355 of its report.Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). Annex Comparison of average net remuneration of United Nations officials in the Professional and higher categories in New York and United States officials in Washington, D.C., by equivalent grades (margin for calendar year 2003) TABLE REMOVED a For the calculation of the average United Nations salaries, personnel statistics of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination as at 31 December 2000 were used. b These weights correspond to the United Nations common system staff in grades P-1 to D-2 serving at Headquarters and established offices as at 31 December 2000. RESOLUTION 58/252 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/579, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/252. Second performance report for the biennium 2002-2003 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Having considered the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2002-2003 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/58/597. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/58/605. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 56/248 A of 24 December 2001, 56/248 B of 27 March 2002 and 57/289 of 20 December 2002, 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2002-2003 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/58/597. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/605. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/605. 3. Notes with concern the late issuance of the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2002-2003, bearing in mind the nature of the report and the period covered therein; 4. Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003, the amount of 203,962,600 United States dollars gross (182,870,700 dollars net) approved in its resolution 57/289 of 20 December 2002 for the budget of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, shall be adjusted by the amount of 4,517,100 dollars gross (4,392,200 dollars net) for a total amount of 208,479,700 dollars gross (187,262,900 dollars net). RESOLUTION 58/253 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/579, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/253. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Having considered the documents submitted by the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/58/269, A/58/366, A/58/368, A/58/550 and A/58/367. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/554. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995, on the financing of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 56/248 A of 24 December 2001, 56/248 B of 27 March 2002 and 57/289 of 20 December 2002, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003 concerning the creation of a new position of Prosecutor of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, Recalling further Security Council resolution 1512 (2003) of 27 October 2003 concerning the authorization for the use of up to nine additional ad litem judges in the International Tribunal for Rwanda, Welcoming the developments and improvements in the management and the activities of the Tribunal thus far achieved during the biennium 2002-2003, 1. Takes note of the documents submitted by the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/58/269, A/58/366, A/58/368, A/58/550 and A/58/367. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/554. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Notes with concern the levels of unpaid assessed contributions, and urges Member States to pay their assessed contributions on time, in full and without conditions; 4. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General to present the proposed budget for the biennium 2004-2005 in a results-based format, and encourages him to make further progress in this regard; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the report requested in paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 55/226 of 23 December 2000, as well as the views of the Board of Auditors thereon, is submitted to the Assembly during the main part of its fifty-ninth session; 6. Welcomes the appointment of a Prosecutor and the authorization for the use of up to nine ad litem judges, as approved by the Security Council in its resolutions 1503 (2003) and 1512 (2003), and stresses the importance of ensuring that the Tribunal receives adequate financial and human resources to support its strengthened judicial capacity and to enable it to meet the targets set out in its completion strategy; 7. Welcomes also the efforts made by the Tribunal to enhance coordination between the Chambers, the Office of the Prosecutor and the relevant sections of the Registry, through the establishment of the various management committees; 8. Requests the Tribunal to continue to enhance its engagement with the defence counsel establishment in the facilitation of trial work; 9. Welcomes the development of the completion strategy, and invites the Tribunal to revise the strategy, where appropriate, to take into account the provisions of Security Council resolutions 1503 (2003) and 1512 (2003) and the resultant increased judicial capacity of the Tribunal; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to develop further the link between the Tribunal's completion strategy and objectives and the resources requested in future budget proposals; 11. Concurs with the view of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions that continued close collaboration between the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal for Rwanda is essential, and urges the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to ensure such collaboration; 12. Notes with concern that the vacancy rate at the International Tribunal for Rwanda remains high, while acknowledging that the level has been reduced during the biennium 2002-2003, and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, as a matter of priority, to reduce the vacancy rate during the biennium 2004-2005, including, if appropriate, through delegating authority to the Registrar for recruitment in the Professional category and considering extending the contracts of core staff for longer periods, consistent with the staff regulations and rules, and bearing in mind the targets set in the completion strategy; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, where appropriate, to prioritize and deploy resources in support of the completion strategy and to report thereon in his first and second performance reports; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to undertake efficiency measures to streamline the work of the Tribunal and to provide an assessment of the financial impact of those measures in future budget proposals; 15. Invites the Security Council to continue to monitor closely the progress made by the Tribunal towards completing its mandate, in accordance with the completion strategy; 16. Also invites the Security Council to request the Secretary-General to make initial preparations, including establishing the rules of procedure, for the transfer of cases to national jurisdictions; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on proposals for the resources necessary to aid in the transfer of cases to national jurisdictions; 18. Decides to maintain the current level of funding for consultants and experts; 19. Also decides to approve the proposed post and non-post resources for the Investigations Division for 2004 and to defer consideration of the resource requirements for the Investigations Division for 2005 until the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to resubmit, in his first performance report for the biennium 2004-2005, proposals for the resource requirements for the Investigations Division for 2005 and to ensure that the proposals are adequate for the effective implementation of the completion strategy; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to review the outreach programme of the Tribunal and to report to the General Assembly during the main part of its fifty-ninth session on optimal media for the dissemination of information on the work of the Tribunal and on the resources allocated to this function, and on how future outreach initiatives and coordination with other parts of the United Nations system support the completion strategy and contribute to the reconciliation process in Rwanda; 22. Further requests the Secretary-General to report on oversight functions in the Tribunal in his first performance report for the biennium 2004-2005, with specific reference to oversight of resources allocated for the upgrading of prison facilities to international standards; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the possibility of assistance to the Tribunal from the United Nations Office at Nairobi and other offices of the United Nations system to increase remote translation capabilities and to report on cost comparisons in his first performance report; 24. Welcomes the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the progress made by the Tribunal in reforming its legal aid system;A/58/366. 25. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to reform the legal aid system, taking into account the recommendations contained in the comprehensive report or other reforms deemed more appropriate by the Tribunal, as a top priority, and to report on the implementation and consequent savings in defence costs in his performance report for the biennium 2004-2005; 26. Decides that a vacancy rate of 18.2 per cent for Professional staff and 9.7 per cent for General Service staff shall be used as a basis for the calculation of the budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 27. Recalls paragraph 3 of its resolution 57/289, in which it urged the Secretary-General to request the Office of Internal Oversight Services to conduct a management review of the Office of the former Prosecutor, and requests the Secretary-General to submit the report on the matter to the General Assembly no later than at its resumed fifty-eighth session; 28. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 the total amount of 235,324,200 United States dollars for the biennium 2004-2005, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 29. Decides also that the total assessment for 2004 under the Special Account, amounting to 122,179,200 dollars, shall consist of: (a) 117,662,100 dollars, being half of the estimated appropriation approved for the biennium 2004-2005; (b) 4,517,100 dollars, being the increase in the final appropriation for the biennium 2002-2003 approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/252 of 23 December 2003; 30. Decides further to apportion the amount of 61,089,600 dollars, being half of the total assessment for 2004, among Member States in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2004, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 31. Decides to apportion the amount of 61,089,600 dollars, being half of the total assessment for 2004, among Member States in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2004; 32. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 30 and 31 above, the amount of 11,149,250 dollars, consisting of: (a) 11,024,350 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Tribunal for the biennium 2004-2005; (b) 124,900 dollars, being the increase in staff assessment income for the biennium 2002-2003 approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/252 of 23 December 2003. Annex Financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED a For 2005, the relevant amount will be assessed by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/254 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/580, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/254. Second performance report for the biennium 2002-2003 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Having considered the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2002-2003 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/58/593. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/58/605. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 56/247 A of 24 December 2001, 56/247 B of 27 March 2002 and 57/288 of 20 December 2002, 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2002-2003 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/58/593. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/605. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/605. 3. Notes with concern the late issuance of the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2002-2003, bearing in mind the nature of the report and the period covered therein; 4. Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003, the amount of 262,653,700 United States dollars gross (235,955,000 dollars net) approved in its resolution 57/288 of 20 December 2002 for the budget of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia shall be adjusted by the amount of 25,668,500 dollars gross (18,803,200 dollars net) for a total amount of 288,322,200 dollars gross (254,603,800 dollars net). RESOLUTION 58/255 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/580, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/255. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/58/226, A/58/288 and A/58/368. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/449. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 56/247 B of 27 March 2002 and 57/288 of 20 December 2002, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003 concerning the creation of a new position of Prosecutor of the International Tribunal for Rwanda, Welcoming the developments and improvements in the management and the activities of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia thus far achieved during the biennium 2002-2003, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/58/226, A/58/288 and A/58/368. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/449. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee,A/58/449. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Notes with concern the levels of unpaid assessed contributions, and urges Member States to pay their assessed contributions on time, in full and without conditions; 4. Concurs with the view of the Advisory Committee that continued close collaboration between the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Tribunal for Rwanda is essential, and urges the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to ensure this; 5. Decides not to endorse the recommendation contained in paragraph 38 of the report of the Advisory Committee;A/58/449. 6. Encourages Member States to consider paying their assessments in euros, consistent with regulation 3.9 and rule 103.3 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations;ST/SGB/2003/7. 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the report requested by the General Assembly in paragraph 2 of its resolution 55/225 A of 23 December 2000, including the views of the Board of Auditors thereon, is submitted to the Assembly at the main part of its fifty-ninth session; 8. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General to present the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 in a results-based budgeting format, and encourages the Secretary-General to make further progress in this regard; 9. Invites the Security Council to continue to monitor closely the progress made by the Tribunal towards completing its mandate, in accordance with the completion strategy; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to develop further the link between the Tribunal's completion strategy and objectives and the resources requested in future budget proposals; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue, where appropriate, to prioritize and deploy resources in support of the completion strategy and to report thereon in the context of his first and second performance reports for the biennium 2004-2005; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General to undertake efficiency measures to streamline the work of the Tribunal and to provide an assessment of the financial impact of those measures in the context of future budget proposals; 13. Encourages the Tribunal to continue to implement and closely monitor reforms to its legal aid system, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon, in particular on consequent savings in defence costs, in his first performance report for the biennium 2004-2005; 14. Recalls paragraph 25 of its resolution 58/253 of 23 December 2003, and requests the Secretary-General to include, where appropriate, the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the scope of his consideration and recommendations referred to in paragraphs 38 and 39 of his comprehensive report on the progress made by the International Tribunal for Rwanda in reforming its legal aid system;A/58/366. 15. Decides that vacancy rates of 10.2 per cent for Professional staff and 7.3 per cent for General Service staff shall be used as a basis for the calculation of the budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 16. Decides also not to approve the proposed increase in resources for consultants and experts; 17. Decides further to approve the proposed post and non-post resources for the Investigations Division for 2004 and to defer consideration of the resource requirements for the Division for 2005 until its fifty-ninth session; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to resubmit, in the context of his first performance report for the biennium 2004-2005, a proposal for the resource requirements for the Investigations Division for 2005, and to ensure that the proposal is adequate for the effective implementation of the completion strategy; 19. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee contained in paragraph 28 of its report;A/58/449. 20. Concurs with the Advisory Committee that the volume of work and the pace of completion should be monitored continuously in order to determine whether some of the posts identified for abolition or redeployment could be abolished or released for transfer to other areas of the Tribunal before the second half of 2005; 21. Decides to reduce the appropriation for contractual services to the level proposed in the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003A/58/593. as the proposed final appropriation, before recosting, given the savings achieved in respect of defence counsel during the biennium; 22. Decides also to reduce the proposed resources for travel of Registry staff by 200,000 United States dollars; 23. Decides further to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 the total amount of 298,226,300 dollars for the biennium 2004-2005, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 24. Decides that the financing of the appropriation for the biennium 2004-2005 under the Special Account shall take into account the estimated income of 184,000 dollars for the biennium 2004-2005, which shall be set off against the aggregate amount of the appropriation; 25. Decides also that the total assessment for 2004 under the Special Account, amounting to 174,689,650 dollars, shall consist of: (a) 149,021,150 dollars, being half of the estimated appropriation approved for the biennium 2004-2005; (b) 25,668,500 dollars, being the increase in the final appropriation for the biennium 2002-2003 approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/254 of 23 December 2003; 26. Decides further to apportion the amount of 87,344,825 dollars, being half of the total assessment for 2004, among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2004, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 27. Decides to apportion the amount of 87,344,825 dollars, being half of the total assessment for 2004, among Member States in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2004; 28. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 26 and 27 above, the amount of 20,051,150 dollars, consisting of: (a) 13,185,850 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Tribunal for the biennium 2004-2005; (b) 6,865,300 dollars, being the increase in staff assessment income for the biennium 2002-2003 approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/254. Annex Financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED a The recommendations of the Advisory Committee were not fully endorsed (see paras. 5 and 19 of the resolution). This has been taken into account in formulating line 3 above. b For 2005, the relevant amount will be assessed by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/256 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/581, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/256. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/235 and 55/236 of 23 December 2000, Recalling also its request to the Secretary-General in its resolution 55/235 to update the composition of the levels of contribution of Member States for peacekeeping operations described therein on a triennial basis, in conjunction with the regular budget scale of assessment reviews, in accordance with the criteria established in the resolution, and to report thereon to the General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of its resolutions 55/235 and 55/236,A/58/157 and Add.1. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/157 and Add.1. and of the updated composition of levels of contribution for peacekeeping operations for the period 2004 to 2006 contained therein; 2. Endorses the updated composition of levels of contribution for peacekeeping operations for the period 2004 to 2006 contained in the addendum to the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/157/Add.1, annex. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the updating of the composition of levels of contribution for peacekeeping operations for the period 2007 to 2009, in accordance with the provisions of resolution 55/235. RESOLUTION 58/257 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/582, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/257. Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on reforming the Field Service category of personnel in United Nations peace operations The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on reforming the Field Service category of personnel in United Nations peace operationsSee A/57/78. and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments thereon,A/57/78/Add.1. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/434, paras. 2-4. 1. Takes note of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on reforming the Field Service category of personnel in United Nations peace operationsSee A/57/78. and of the comments of the Secretary-General thereon;A/57/78/Add.1. 2. Also takes note of the related observations and recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/57/434, paras. 2-4. 3. Approves recommendations 1 to 6 contained in the report of the Joint Inspection Unit.See A/57/78. RESOLUTION 58/258 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/582, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/258. Report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the establishment and management of mission subsistence allowance rates The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, Having considered the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the establishment and management of mission subsistence allowance rates, See A/56/648. 1. Takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the establishment and management of mission subsistence allowance rates;See A/56/648. 2. Reaffirms its resolution 56/246 of 24 December 2001, in particular paragraph 8; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services with the submission of an updated report on the question of mission subsistence allowance rates to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTION 58/259 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/583, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/259. Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the CongoA/58/381. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/447 and Corr.1. Recalling Security Council resolutions 1258 (1999) of 6 August 1999 and 1279 (1999) of 30 November 1999, regarding, respectively, the deployment to the Congo region of military liaison personnel and the establishment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1493 (2003) of 28 July 2003, by which the Council also authorized increasing the military strength of the Mission, Recalling also its resolution 54/260 A of 7 April 2000, on the financing of the Mission, and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 57/335 of 18 June 2003, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as at 31 October 2003, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 139.7 million United States dollars, representing some 9.1 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-two Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa, and in providing them with adequate resources; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/447 and Corr.1. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy, particularly with regard to air transport; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 11. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the amount of 59,038,300 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, in addition to the amount of 582 million dollars already appropriated and apportioned for the same period under the terms of its resolution 57/335; 12. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 13. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 14. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 15. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo". RESOLUTION 58/25 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 5 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.34 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 58/25. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, as well as all its resolutions on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development, and recalling the resolutions of the humanitarian segments of the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory, and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the importance of integrating risk reduction into development planning and post-disaster recovery, Emphasizing further, in this context, the important role of development organizations in supporting national efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness, response and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, while recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of affected countries which may have limited capacities to fulfil this requirement, Welcoming the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Stressing that national authorities need to enhance the resilience of populations to disasters through, inter alia, implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction so as to reduce risks to people, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, Taking into account the outcome of the Second International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 18 October 2003, under the auspices of the United Nations, Noting the critical role played by local resources, as well as by existing in-country capacities, in natural disaster response, Recognizing the significant role played by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among developing countries of the capacities existing at the national, regional and international levels that could be deployed to assist them, Emphasizing also the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, including prevention, preparedness, mitigation and recovery and reconstruction, and of strengthening the response capacity of affected countries, Welcoming the efforts of Member States, with facilitation by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, and in this context noting its resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 entitled "Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance", Encouraging, in this regard, efforts aiming at the strengthening of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group and its regional groups, particularly through the participation in its activities of representatives of a larger number of countries, Mindful of the effects that shortfalls in resources can have on the preparedness for and response to natural disasters, and underscoring, in this regard, the need to gain a more precise understanding of the impact of levels of funding on natural disaster response, Underlining the need for further improvement in information and analyses available regarding needs, responses and funding related to natural disasters, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General entitled "International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development"A/58/434. and "Strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations";A/58/89-E/2003/85. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disasters; 3. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, inter alia, by disaster prevention, including appropriate land use and building regulations, as well as disaster preparedness and capacity-building in disaster response and mitigation, and requests the international community to continue to assist developing countries in this regard; 4. Stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation, particularly through the effective use of multilateral mechanisms, in the provision of humanitarian assistance through all phases of a disaster, from relief and mitigation to development, including the provision of adequate resources; 5. Also stresses that humanitarian assistance for natural disasters should be provided in accordance with and with due respect for the guiding principles contained in the annex to resolution 46/182 and should be determined on the basis of the human dimension and needs arising out of the particular natural disasters; 6. Recognizes that economic growth and sustainable development contribute to improving the capacity of States to mitigate, respond to and prepare for natural disasters; 7. Reaffirms that disaster risk analysis and vulnerability reduction form an integral part of humanitarian assistance, poverty eradication and sustainable development strategies and need to be considered in the development plans of all vulnerable countries and communities, including, where appropriate, in plans relating to the transition from relief to development, and affirms that within such preventive strategies, disaster preparedness and early warning systems must be further strengthened at the country and regional levels, inter alia, through better coordination among relevant United Nations bodies and cooperation with Governments of affected countries and regional and other relevant organizations with the aim of maximizing the effectiveness of natural disaster response and reducing the impact of natural disasters, particularly in developing countries; 8. Emphasizes the importance of establishing or updating, as appropriate, national disaster preparedness plans, as agreed upon at the twenty-seventh International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held in Geneva in 1999; 9. Also emphasizes the importance of enhanced international cooperation, including through the United Nations and regional organizations, to assist developing countries in their efforts to build capacities and to predict, prepare for and respond to natural disasters; 10. Stresses the need for partnerships among Governments, organizations of the United Nations system, relevant humanitarian organizations and specialized companies to promote training to strengthen preparedness for and response to natural disasters; 11. Also stresses the need to promote the access to and transfer of technology related to early warning systems and to mitigation programmes to developing countries affected by natural disasters; 12. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 13. Also encourages in such operations the sharing of geographical data, including remotely sensed images and geographic information system and global positioning system data, among Governments, space agencies and relevant international humanitarian organizations, as appropriate, and also notes in that context initiatives such as those undertaken by the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and the Global Disaster Information Network; 14. Stresses that particular international cooperation efforts should be undertaken to enhance and broaden further the utilization of national and local capacities and, where appropriate, regional and subregional capacities of developing countries for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, more efficiently and at lower cost; 15. Recognizes, in this regard, that the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination system continues to be a valuable tool by which disaster management expertise is made available by Member States to respond to the sudden onset of emergencies; 16. Welcomes the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for the promotion and coordination of disaster responses among United Nations humanitarian agencies and other humanitarian partners; 17. Takes note with interest of the initiatives taken by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme for the establishment of regional positions of disaster response advisers and disaster reduction advisers to assist developing countries in capacity-building for disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response in a coordinated and complementary manner; 18. Encourages further cooperation between the United Nations system and regional organizations in order to increase the capacity of these organizations to respond to natural disasters; 19. Encourages States that have not acceded to or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, adopted at Tampere, Finland, on 18 June 1998, to consider doing so; 20. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with relevant organizations and partners, to finalize establishment of, and then update periodically, the Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response as a new part of the Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities;Available from www.reliefweb.int/ocha_ol/programs/response/register.html. 21. Encourages donors to consider the importance of ensuring that assistance in the case of higher-profile natural disasters does not come at the expense of those that may have a relatively lower profile, bearing in mind that the allocation of resources should be driven by needs, as well as the importance of making efforts to increase the level of assistance for disaster reduction and preparedness programmes and for disaster response and mitigation activities; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to examine ways to further improve the assessment of needs and responses and to enhance the availability of data regarding funding in response to natural disasters and to consider concrete recommendations to improve the international response to natural disasters, as necessary, based on his examination, keeping in mind also the need to address any geographical and sectoral imbalances and shortfalls in such responses, where they exist, as well as the more effective use of national emergency response agencies, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/260 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/584, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 58/260. Financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor,A/58/192 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/409. Recalling Security Council resolution 1272 (1999) of 25 October 1999 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Transitional Administration, the last of which was resolution 1392 (2002) of 31 January 2002, by which the mandate was extended until 20 May 2002, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1410 (2002) of 17 May 2002, by which the Council established the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor as of 20 May 2002 for an initial period of twelve months, and its subsequent resolution 1480 (2003) of 19 May 2003, by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission until 20 May 2004, Recalling further its resolution 54/246 A of 23 December 1999 on the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and its subsequent resolutions on the financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor, the latest of which was resolution 57/327 of 18 June 2003, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission and to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor as at 31 October 2003, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 65.5 million United States dollars, representing some 4 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only forty-three Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Transitional Administration and the Mission in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa, and in providing them with adequate resources; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/409. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; Revised budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 9. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor the amount of 23,827,500 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, in addition to the amount of 193,337,100 dollars already appropriated for the same period under the terms of resolution 57/327; Financing of the appropriation 10. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 193,337,100 dollars previously apportioned under the terms of resolution 57/327, to apportion among Member States the amount of 23,827,500 dollars at a monthly rate of 1,985,625 dollars, in accordance with the levels set out in resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the General Assembly in its resolutions 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and 57/290 A of 20 December 2002, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2003 as set out in its resolutions 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002 and the scale of assessments for 2004 as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, subject to the decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission; 11. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 10 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 539,900 dollars at a monthly rate of 44,991 dollars, representing the additional estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission; Donation of assets to the Government of Timor-Leste 12. Approves the donation of the assets of the Mission, with a total inventory value of up to 35,262,900 dollars and corresponding residual value of up to 15,879,900 dollars, to the Government of Timor-Leste; 13. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 14. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 15. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 16. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor". RESOLUTION 58/261 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/589, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/261. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in LiberiaA/58/539. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/591. Recalling Security Council resolution 1497 (2003) of 1 August 2003, by which the Council declared its readiness to establish a United Nations stabilization force to support the transitional government and to assist in the implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement for Liberia, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1509 (2003) of 19 September 2003, by which the Council decided to establish the United Nations Mission in Liberia for a period of twelve months, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in its resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, 1. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 2. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa, and in providing them with adequate resources; 3. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 4. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 6. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/591. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to make efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Budget estimates for the period from 1 August 2003 to 30 June 2004 9. Authorizes the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the United Nations Mission in Liberia for the purpose of accounting for income received and expenditure incurred in respect of the Mission; 10. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission in Liberia the amount of 564,494,300 United States dollars for the period from 1 August 2003 to 30 June 2004, inclusive of the amount of 47,462,700 dollars previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for the operation of the Mission under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994 for the period from 1 August to 31 December 2003; Financing of the appropriation 11. Decides also to apportion among Member States the amount of 450 million dollars at a monthly rate of 40,909,090 dollars, in accordance with the levels set out in resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the General Assembly in its resolutions 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and 57/290 A of 20 December 2002, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2003 as set out in its resolutions 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002 and the scale of assessments for 2004 as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 12. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 11 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 5,210,000 dollars at a monthly rate of 473,636 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue through collaboration between the United Nations Mission in Liberia, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, and the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire, opportunities for optimizing, where possible, the provision and management of support resources and service delivery to the three missions; 14. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 15. Notes with appreciation the utilization of the strategic deployment stocks to the Mission at the start-up stage; 16. Encourages the Secretary-General to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 17. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 18. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia". RESOLUTION 58/262 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/590, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/262. Admission of the International Criminal Court to membership in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund The General Assembly, Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the admission of the International Criminal Court to membership in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension FundA/C.5/58/13. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/545. Decides to admit the International Criminal Court to membership in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, in accordance with article 3, paragraphs (b) and (c), of the Regulations of the Fund, with effect from 1 January 2004. RESOLUTION 58/263 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/572, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/263. Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the revenue-producing activities of the United Nations system The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on United Nations system revenue-producing activitiesSee A/57/707. and the comments of the Secretary-General and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon,See A/57/707/Add.1. 1. Agrees with the concepts expressed in paragraph (a) of recommendation 1 of the Joint Inspection UnitSee A/57/707. concerning consolidation of the management of revenue-producing activities on the basis of sound business practices, bearing in mind the related legislative mandates, and awaits with interest the specific proposals of the Secretary-General; 2. Takes note of paragraph (b) of recommendation 1 of the UnitSee A/57/707. and the related comments of the Secretary-General;See A/57/707/Add.1. 3. Endorses recommendation 2 of the Unit; 4. Notes paragraph (a) of recommendation 3 of the Unit, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed fifty-eighth session on the possibility of operating guided tours, bookstores and gift shops at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and the cost implications thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to explore the possibility of selling products of the gift centre and the book shop via the Internet, in addition to existing arrangements; 6. Endorses paragraphs (b) and (c) of recommendation 3 of the Unit, and agrees with the comments of the Secretary-General in connection with paragraph (a) of that recommendation; 7. Recognizes that in its recommendation 4 the Unit outlines some general factors that should be considered in connection with the outsourcing of revenue-generating activities in the framework of approved outsourcing policies; 8. Agrees with the comments of the Secretary-General in connection with recommendation 5, and looks forward to further proposals of the Secretary-General concerning the United Nations Postal Administration consequent to its resolution 57/292 of 20 December 2002; 9. Agrees also that the competent legislative organs, when considering strengthening the policy frameworks for revenue-generating activities in their organizations, should consider drawing on the objectives set out by the Unit in its recommendation 6, bearing in mind the specificities of each organization and the comments of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination with respect to the generation of income from intellectual property; 10. Agrees further with the comments of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination on recommendation 7 of the Unit; 11. Endorses recommendation 8, which should not affect existing practices concerning the free distribution of public information materials; 12. Also endorses recommendation 9, and agrees with the Chief Executives Board for Coordination that the application of this approach needs to be tailored to the specific objectives and circumstances of the organizations concerned; 13. Takes note of recommendations 11 to 13 of the Unit and the related comments of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination. RESOLUTION 58/264 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/572, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/264. Conditions of service and compensation for officials other than Secretariat officials: members of the International Court of Justice, judges of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda The General Assembly, Recalling section VIII of its resolution 53/214 of 18 December 1998 and its resolution 56/285 of 27 June 2002 on the conditions of service and compensation for officials other than Secretariat officials: members of the International Court of Justice, judges of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 and judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994, its resolution 55/249 of 12 April 2001 on the conditions of service and compensation for the ad litem judges of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its resolution 57/289 of 20 December 2002 on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/C.5/57/36. 1. Decides to amend article 1 of the Pension Scheme Regulations for the members of the International Court of Justice and to replace that article with the provisions set out in annex I to the present resolution; 2. Also decides to amend article 1 of the Pension Scheme Regulations for the judges of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and to replace that article with the provisions set out in annex II to the present resolution; 3. Further decides to amend article 1 of the Pension Scheme Regulations for the judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and to replace that article with the provisions set out in annex III to the present resolution. Annex I Pension Scheme Regulations for the members of the International Court of Justice (based on the provisions of General Assembly resolution 38/239 of 20 December 1983 and section VIII of Assembly resolution 53/214 of 18 December 1998 and applicable as from 1 January 1999) Replace the text of article 1 with the following: Article 1 Retirement pension 1. A member of the International Court of Justice who has ceased to hold office and who has reached the age of sixty shall be entitled during the remainder of his or her life, subject to paragraphs 6 and 7 below, to a retirement pension, payable monthly provided that he or she has: (a) Completed at least three years of service; (b) Not been required to relinquish his or her appointment under Article 18 of the Statute of the Court for reasons other than the state of his or her health. 2. For a member who has served a full term of nine years, the annual pension entitlement shall be: (a) For the year 1999, 60,000 United States dollars; (b) For the year 2000, 70,000 dollars; (c) With effect from 1 January 2001, one half of the annual salary. 3. A member serving in office as from 31 December 1998, who has been or is re-elected, shall be entitled to an increase in the amount of the pension by one three-hundredth of the amount payable under paragraph 2 for each month of service in excess of nine years, provided that maximum retirement pension shall not exceed two thirds of his or her annual salary: (a) For the year 1999, a maximum of 81,600 dollars; (b) For the year 2000, a maximum of 95,200 dollars; (c) For the year 2001, two thirds of the annual salary, 106,667 dollars. 4. A member who has served for less than a full term of nine years shall be entitled to a retirement pension in the amount of that proportion of one half of the annual salary which the number of months of his or her actual service bears to one hundred and eight. 5. A member who ceases to hold office before the age of sixty and who would be entitled to a retirement pension when he or she reached that age may elect to receive a pension from any date after the date on which he or she ceases to hold office. Should he or she so elect, an actuarial reduction factor of one half of one per cent per month would be applied on the retirement pension which would have been paid to him or her at the age of sixty. 6. No retirement pension shall be payable to a former member who has been re-elected to office until he or she again ceases to hold office. At that time, the amount of his or her pension shall be calculated in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 4 above on the basis of his or her total period of service and shall be subject to a reduction equal in actuarial value to the amount of any retirement pension paid to him or her before he or she reached the age of sixty. 7. No retirement pension shall be payable to a former member who has been elected or appointed a permanent judge of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia or the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or who has been appointed to serve in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia or the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as an ad litem judge until he or she ceases to hold that office or appointment. Annex II Pension Scheme Regulations for the judges of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (based on the provisions of section VIII of General Assembly resolution 53/214 of 18 December 1998 and applicable as from 1 January 1999) Replace the text of article 1 with the following: Article 1 Retirement pension 1. A judge of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia who has ceased to hold office and who has reached the age of sixty shall be entitled during the remainder of his or her life, subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 below, to a retirement pension, payable monthly provided that he or she has: (a) Completed at least three years of service; (b) Not been required to relinquish his or her appointment under Article 18 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice for reasons other than the state of his or her health. 2. The amount of the retirement pension shall be determined as follows: (a) If the judge has served a full term of four years and ceases to hold office after 1 January 2001, the amount of the annual pension shall be two ninths of the annual salary; (b) If the judge has served a full term of four years and ceases to hold office after 1 January 1999 but before 1 January 2000, the amount of the annual pension shall be 26,500 United States dollars; (c) If the judge has served a full term of four years and ceases to hold office after 1 January 2000 but before 1 January 2001, the amount of the annual pension shall be 31,000 dollars; (d) Judges who have served a term of four years and who retire in 1999 or 2000 shall receive an increase in their pension as follows. As noted above, judges retiring in 1999 shall receive an annual pension of 26,500 dollars. Their annual pension shall be increased to 31,000 dollars in 2000 and to 35,500 dollars in 2001. Judges retiring in 2000 shall receive an annual pension of 31,000 dollars. The pension shall be increased to 35,500 dollars in 2001; (e) With effect from 1 January 1999, all pensions in course of payment as at 31 December 1998, including pensions of judges who retire on or before that date, shall be increased by 10.3 per cent, i.e., the change resulting from the increase in the annual salary; (f) If a judge served for less than a full term of four years, the amount of the pension shall be that proportion of the annual pension which the number of months of his or her actual service bears to forty-eight; (g) If the judge came into office prior to 1 January 1999 and has been or is subsequently re-elected for another term, he or she shall continue to receive one one-hundred-and-thirty-third of the International Tribunal's pension benefit for each further month subsequent to his or her initial term, up to a maximum pension equivalent to eight twenty-sevenths of the annual salary. Judges elected to terms of office commencing after 31 December 1998 shall not be entitled to an increase in their pension benefit in case of re-election. 3. A judge who ceased to hold office before the age of sixty and who would be entitled to a retirement pension when he or she reached that age may elect to receive a pension from any date after the date on which he or she ceases to hold office. Should he or she so elect, the amount of such pension shall be that amount which has the same value as the retirement pension which would have been paid to him or her at the age of sixty. 4. No retirement pension shall be payable to a former judge who has been re-elected to office until he or she again ceases to hold office. At that time, the amount of his or her pension shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph 2 above on the basis of his or her total period of service and shall be subject to a reduction equal in actuarial value to the amount of any retirement pension paid to him or her before he or she reached the age of sixty. 5. No retirement pension shall be payable to a former judge who has been elected a member of the International Court of Justice or who has been elected or appointed a permanent judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or who has been appointed to serve on the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia or the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as an ad litem judge until he or she ceases to hold that office or appointment. Annex III Pension Scheme Regulations for the judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (based on the provisions of section VIII of General Assembly resolution 53/214 of 18 December 1998 and applicable as from 1 January 1999) Replace the text of article 1 with the following: Article 1 Retirement pension 1. A judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda who has ceased to hold office and who has reached the age of sixty shall be entitled during the remainder of his or her life, subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 below, to a retirement pension, payable monthly provided that he or she has: (a) Completed at least three years of service; (b) Not been required to relinquish his or her appointment under Article 18 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice for reasons other than the state of his or her health. 2. The amount of the retirement pension shall be determined as follows: (a) If the judge has served a full term of four years and ceases to hold office after 1 January 2001, the amount of the annual pension shall be two ninths of the annual salary; (b) If the judge has served a full term of four years and ceases to hold office after 1 January 1999 but before 1 January 2000, the amount of the annual pension shall be 26,500 United States dollars; (c) If the judge has served a full term of four years and ceases to hold office after 1 January 2000 but before 1 January 2001, the amount of the annual pension shall be 31,000 dollars; (d) Judges who have served a term of four years and who retire in 1999 or 2000 shall receive an increase in their pension as follows. As noted above, judges retiring in 1999 shall receive an annual pension of 26,500 dollars. Their annual pension shall be increased to 31,000 dollars in 2000 and to 35,500 dollars in 2001. Judges retiring in 2000 shall receive an annual pension of 31,000 dollars. The pension shall be increased to 35,500 dollars in 2001; (e) With effect from 1 January 1999, all pensions in course of payment as at 31 December 1998, including pensions of judges who retire on or before that date, shall be increased by 10.3 per cent, i.e., the change resulting from the increase in the annual salary; (f) If a judge served for less than a full term of four years, the amount of the pension shall be that proportion of the annual pension which the number of months of his or her actual service bears to forty-eight; (g) If the judge came into office prior to 1 January 1999 and has been or is subsequently re-elected for another term, he or she shall continue to receive one one-hundred-and-thirty-third of the International Tribunal's pension benefit for each further month subsequent to his or her initial term, up to a maximum pension equivalent to eight twenty-sevenths of the annual salary. Judges elected to terms of office commencing after 31 December 1998 shall not be entitled to an increase in their pension benefit in case of re-election. 3. A judge who ceased to hold office before the age of sixty and who would be entitled to a retirement pension when he or she reached that age may elect to receive a pension from any date after the date on which he or she ceases to hold office. Should he or she so elect, the amount of such pension shall be that amount which has the same value as the retirement pension which would have been paid to him or her at the age of sixty. 4. No retirement pension shall be payable to a former judge who has been re-elected to office until he or she again ceases to hold office. At that time, the amount of his or her pension shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph 2 above on the basis of his or her total period of service and shall be subject to a reduction equal in actuarial value to the amount of any retirement pension paid to him or her before he or she reached the age of sixty. 5. No retirement pension shall be payable to a former judge who has been elected a member of the International Court of Justice or who has been elected or appointed a permanent judge of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia or who has been appointed to serve in the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia or the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as an ad litem judge until he or she ceases to hold that office or appointment. RESOLUTION 58/265 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/572, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/265. Salary and retirement allowance of the Secretary-General and salary and pensionable remuneration of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme The General Assembly, Recalling paragraph 4 of its resolution 57/310 of 18 June 2003, Having considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.3. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Concurs with paragraph 3 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.3. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. and decides, at this time, not to change the current practice regarding the salary and retirement allowance of the Secretary-General and salary and pensionable remuneration of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. RESOLUTION 58/266 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/572, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/266. Conditions of service and compensation for officials, other than Secretariat officials, serving the General Assembly: full-time members of the International Civil Service Commission and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 35/221 of 17 December 1980 and 55/238 of 23 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/C.5/57/35. 1. Approves the suggestions outlined in paragraphs 4 to 6 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/C.5/57/35. due to the increase in the salary scale for staff in certain grades of the Professional and higher categories in accordance with its resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, with effect from 1 September 2003; 2. Decides that the additional financial requirements stemming from the proposals shall be reflected in its resolution on the second performance report for the biennium 2002-2003; 3. Also decides to maintain the procedure for adjusting the compensation of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the basis of the movement of the consumer price index;Ibid., para. 2. 4. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the issue of conditions of service and compensation of the three officials to the attention of the General Assembly when the annual compensation for the Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions falls below the level of the compensation of Assistant Secretaries-General, but no sooner than at its sixty-third session; 5. Decides that the procedure outlined above shall replace the requirement for future five-year comprehensive reviews outlined in paragraph 8 of the report of the Secretary-General; 6. Reaffirms the principle that the conditions of service and compensation of the three officials shall be separate and distinct from those of officials of the United Nations Secretariat. RESOLUTIONS 58/267 A and B Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/572/Add.1, para. 5)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/267. Programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003 A Final budget appropriations for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2002-2003A/58/558 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/604. 2. Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003: (a) The amount of 2,891,068,700 United States dollars appropriated by it in its resolutions 57/293 A of 20 December 2002 and 57/311 of 18 June 2003 shall be increased by 76,659,100 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED (b) The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget, with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee; (c) In addition to the appropriations approved under subparagraph (a) above, an amount of 125,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2002-2003 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the Library at the Palais des Nations as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment. B Final income estimates for the biennium 2002-2003 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2002-2003: (a) The estimates of income of 414,429,600 United States dollars approved by it in its resolution 57/293 B of 20 December 2002 shall be increased by 13,660,500 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED (b) The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; (c) Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, catering and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications, not provided for under the budget appropriations, shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. RESOLUTION 58/268 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/574, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/268. Programme planning The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/234 of 21 December 1982, 38/227 A of 20 December 1983, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 55/234 of 23 December 2000, 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 57/282 of 20 December 2002 and 58/270 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-third session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). Appreciating the letters from the President of the General Assembly transmitting the recommendations of the Assembly,A/C.5/58/19 and A/C.5/58/21. the Second Committee,A/C.5/58/11. the Third CommitteeA/C.5/58/15. and the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee),A/C.5/58/14. on the recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on proposed revisions to programmes 7, 8 and 23 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, and on evaluation, 1. Takes note of the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-third session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the proposed revisions to the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005 as contained in the report of the Committee on the work of its forty-third sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). and as endorsed by the Second Committee regarding programme 7, Economic and social affairs,A/C.5/58/11. by the General Assembly regarding programme 8, United Nations support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/C.5/58/19. and by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) regarding programme 23, Public information;A/C.5/58/14. 3. Reaffirms the relevant paragraphs of its resolution 55/231 of 23 December 2000, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, through the Committee for Programme and Coordination, a report on priority-setting; 4. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations, as contained in chapter II of the report of the Committee on the work of its forty-third session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). on evaluation, as contained in section C of chapter IIIOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). and as endorsed by the Third CommitteeA/C.5/58/15. and the General Assembly;A/C.5/58/21. on the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2002 and on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, as contained in chapter IV;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). and on the Joint Inspection Unit, as contained in chapter V;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). 5. Decides to consider the report of the Secretary-General on the practice of involving United Nations programme managers in investigative processes, requested in section IV, paragraph 3, of its resolution 57/282, at the first part of its resumed fifty-eighth session under the item entitled "Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations". RESOLUTION 58/269 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/587, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/269. Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change The General Assembly, Reaffirming its determination to strengthen further the role, capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations and thus improve its performance in order to realize the full potential of the Organization, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and to respond more effectively to the needs of Member States and existing and new global challenges facing the United Nations in the twenty-first century, Recalling Articles 17, 18, 97 and 100 of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling also its resolutions 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 42/211 of 21 December 1987 and 55/234 of 23 December 2000, Recalling further the relevant provisions of its resolution 57/300 of 20 December 2002, Recalling the terms of reference of the Committee for Programme and Coordination, as outlined in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX) of 14 May 1976, Emphasizing that resources provided to the Secretary-General should be commensurate with all mandated programmes and activities, Reaffirming the role of the General Assembly and its relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies, within their respective mandates, in planning, programming, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General entitled "Intergovernmental review of the medium-term plan and the programme budget"A/57/786. and "Improvements to the current process of planning and budgeting",A/58/395 and Corr.1. the note by the Secretary-General entitled "Improvements to the current process of planning and budgeting"A/58/600. and the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon,A/58/7/Add.5 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A) and A/58/610. Taking into account the views expressed by the Member States during the consideration of this item at its fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth sessions, 1. Welcomes the commitment of the Secretary-General to strengthening the United Nations, including its planning, programming and budgetary process; 2. Stresses that setting the priorities of the United Nations is the prerogative of the Member States, as reflected in legislative mandates; 3. Stresses also the need for the Member States to participate fully in the budget preparation process, from its early stages and throughout the process; 4. Emphasizes the importance of providing the information necessary to enable Member States to make well-informed decisions; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, on a trial basis, for submission to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, a strategic framework to replace the current four-year medium-term plan, which would comprise in one document: (a) Part one: a plan outline, reflecting the longer-term objectives of the Organization; (b) Part two: a biennial programme plan, to cover two years; 6. Decides that: (a) The budget outline shall continue to provide the same level of detail as at present, in accordance with regulation 3.2 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation;ST/SGB/2000/8. (b) The budget outline shall be submitted and considered for approval after consideration and adoption of the strategic framework; (c) After their approval, the budget outline and strategic framework shall together form the basis for preparing the proposed programme budget; 7. Affirms that the strategic framework, as outlined above, shall constitute the principal policy directive of the United Nations and shall serve as the basis for programme planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation; 8. Decides to review, with a view to taking a final decision at its sixty-second session, the format, content and duration of the strategic framework, including the necessity of maintaining part one, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report, through the Committee for Programme and Coordination, reviewing the experiences gained with the changes made in the planning and budgeting process; 9. Decides also that the programme narratives of the programme budget fascicles shall be identical to the biennial programme plan; 10. Decides further to keep the current format of the proposed programme budget and to maintain the level of information contained therein; 11. Decides that the Committee for Programme and Coordination shall no longer consider the budget outline; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to include in the introduction of the budget fascicles information on the new and/or revised mandates approved by the General Assembly subsequent to the adoption of the biennial programme plan; 13. Requests the Committee for Programme and Coordination, in performing its programmatic role in the planning and budgeting process, to review the programmatic aspects of the new and/or revised mandates referred to above, as well as any differences that arise between the biennial programme plan and the programmatic aspects of the proposed programme budget; 14. Also requests the Committee for Programme and Coordination, in the context of its report on its forty-fifth session, to provide comments on the various aspects of the review process referred to above; 15. Emphasizes the importance of the intergovernmental nature of the Committee for Programme and Coordination in discharging its functions; 16. Invites the Committee for Programme and Coordination to submit at its forty-fourth session proposals on enhancing its role in monitoring and evaluation; 17. Recalls paragraph 34 of General Assembly resolution 57/300, in which the Assembly invited the Committee for Programme and Coordination to continue to improve its working methods; 18. Invites the Committee for Programme and Coordination to submit, at its forty-fourth session, recommendations on improving its effectiveness; 19. Emphasizes the need to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation system, and in this regard urges the Secretary-General to improve the format and timing of programme performance and evaluation reports; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that resources are clearly identified in all the sections of the proposed programme budget for the performance of the monitoring and evaluation functions; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services, in collaboration with the Joint Inspection Unit, with submitting to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixtieth session proposals on the strengthening and monitoring of programme performance and evaluation. RESOLUTION 58/26 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 5 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.35 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 58/26. Emergency humanitarian assistance to Malawi The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions in particular, resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 54/219 and 54/233 of 22 December 1999, 55/163 of 14 December 2000 and 56/103 of 14 December 2001, and Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/32 of 26 July 2002, Convinced that all people have the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their families, including food, medical care, necessary social services and security in the event of lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control, Noting that drought and other types of natural disasters have proved to be recurring phenomena in Malawi, Reiterating that natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of affected countries, although the long-term consequences of such natural disasters are especially severe for poor developing countries, including Malawi, and hamper sustainable development, Concerned that Malawi continues to face natural catastrophes such as drought, floods and heavy rains, causing serious crop failure, loss of life and extensive damage to property and infrastructure, Noting that an increasing number of cases of malnutrition, particularly among children, and deaths due to hunger-related diseases continue to occur in Malawi, with adverse long-term consequences, Deeply alarmed that the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS has increased the vulnerability of communities, creating greater levels of dependency and severely reducing their ability to cope with humanitarian crises, Gravely concerned that the capability of the national economy to absorb such shocks has been seriously eroded and that the frequent occurrence of extreme natural disasters has increasingly contributed to the stagnation of social and economic development, Acknowledging that national efforts are critical to prevent the deepening of the humanitarian crisis, Noting with appreciation the mobilization and allocation of resources by States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to complement the national efforts of Malawi, Aware that international cooperation remains a critical factor for the success of all national efforts to address the crisis situation, 1. Welcomes the positive role of the Government of Malawi in the relief operations, in particular the close coordination between the United Nations system and the Government; 2. Also welcomes the launching by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat of the consolidated appeal for Malawi on 18 July 2002 and the humanitarian appeal for 2004 on 18 November 2003, as well as the continued monitoring of the situation, including through the activities of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa; 3. Requests the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to continue to seek ways and means of improving the effectiveness of the United Nations consolidated appeals process; 4. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively, the legislative and other appropriate measures necessary to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, inter alia, in the areas of disaster prevention, including building regulations and appropriate land use, as well as early warning, disaster preparedness and capacity-building in disaster response, and in that context requests the international community to continue to assist Malawi as the need arises; 5. Emphasizes the importance of enhanced international cooperation, including with the United Nations and regional organizations, to assist Malawi in its efforts to build capacity and to predict, prepare for and respond to natural disasters; 6. Stresses, in that context, the need to further strengthen international cooperation in the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance in support of the efforts of Malawi to deal with natural disasters in all their phases, from relief and mitigation to development, including through the provision of adequate resources, and encourages the effective use of multilateral mechanisms; 7. Also stresses that emergency humanitarian assistance for natural disasters should be provided in accordance with the guiding principles contained in the annex to resolution 46/182, on the basis of human dimensions and needs; 8. Urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of Malawi to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, poverty and malnutrition in order to increase its capacity to cope during natural disasters; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly for consideration at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/270 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/573, para. 79)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/270. Questions relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 42/211 of 21 December 1987, 45/248 B, section VI, of 21 December 1990 and 56/253 of 24 December 2001, Recalling its resolutions 57/280 and 57/282 of 20 December 2002, Recalling also its resolutions 57/292 of 20 December 2002 and 57/311 of 18 June 2003, Reaffirming the respective mandates of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, Having considered the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005A/58/6 (Introduction), A/58/6 (Sects. 1-35), A/58/6 (Sect. 13)/Add.1, A/58/6 (Sect. 14)/Rev.1, A/58/6 (Income sects. 1-3) and A/58/6/Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. and the relevant reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/58/7 and Corr.1); and A/58/7/Add.13 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A). and the Committee for Programme and CoordinationIbid., Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). thereon, 1. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 2. Also reaffirms rule 153 of its rules of procedure; 3. Further reaffirms the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of EvaluationST/SGB/2000/8. and the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations;ST/SGB/2003/7. 4. Welcomes the timely submission of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005;A/58/6 (Introduction), A/58/6 (Sects. 1-35), A/58/6 (Sect. 13)/Add.1, A/58/6 (Sect. 14)/Rev.1, A/58/6 (Income sects. 1-3) and A/58/6/Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. 5. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the programme narratives of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 contained in the report of the Committee on the work of its forty-third session,Ibid., Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). subject to the provisions of the present resolution, as reflected in annex I; 6. Approves the programme narratives of section 14, Environment, and section 24, Human rights, as also reflected in annex I; 7. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions concerning posts and non-post resources contained in its report on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/58/7 and Corr.1). subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 8. Decides that a vacancy rate of 5.5 per cent for Professional staff and 3.8 per cent for General Service staff shall be used as a basis for the calculation of the budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 9. Also decides to maintain the current practice of recosting for the forthcoming biennium, except with respect to section 23, Regular programme of technical cooperation, of the proposed programme budget, to which recosting should not be applied; 10. Further decides to revert to the question of recosting at its fifty-ninth session in the context of the first performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to include in that report information on the variation between the projected recosting needs arising from inflation and currency movements as at October 2003 and at the time of the preparation of the report; 11. Requests the Board of Auditors, in consultation with the Secretary-General, to examine the recosting methodology and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, including proposing the most appropriate mechanism for managing the currency aspects of the recosting methodology; 12. Notes the observations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions related to the concept of managing the staffing table as a whole, contained in paragraphs 73 to 78 and 143 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/58/7 and Corr.1). 13. Reaffirms paragraph 35 of its resolution 57/300 of 20 December 2002; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, during the course of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, to commence, on an experimental basis, with the redeployment of posts as necessary to meet the evolving needs of the Organization in attaining its mandated programmes and activities, in accordance with the following principles: (a) The experiment shall be limited to the redeployment of up to 50 posts Organization-wide; (b) The experiment shall not imply any change in the human resources management policies of the Organization; (c) The proposed programme budget shall remain the principal instrument in which the Secretary-General sets out the resources and staffing requirements of the Organization; (d) The authority to redeploy posts shall in no way prevent the Secretary-General from requesting additional posts during the course of the experiment; (e) The experiment shall not exacerbate high vacancy rates in any budget sections; (f) The experiment shall not apply to language services; (g) Redeployment between sections shall be carried out only after all possibilities of using resources available within budget sections that will benefit from the transfer have been exhaustively explored; (h) The experiment shall not be implemented as a result of General Assembly resolutions calling for the implementation of decisions "within existing resources"; (i) Reporting to the General Assembly shall be carried out in the context of the annual budget performance reports; (j) The Secretary-General is requested to provide information periodically to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on actions taken; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the experiment shall in no way limit opportunities for external recruitment for posts at any level; 16. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-ninth session on the implications of the experiment for human resources management policies; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, a comprehensive report for consideration by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the progress of and lessons learned from the experiment, including the following aspects: (a) Implications for the relevant financial regulations and rules of the Organization; (b) Additional implications, if any, for human resources management policies; (c) Constraints encountered by the Secretary-General in exercising the flexibility granted to him in General Assembly resolutions 48/228 C of 29 July 1994 and 50/214 of 23 December 1995, as well as in regulation 5.6 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations;ST/SGB/2003/7. (d) Measures to ensure that such a policy will not have any negative impact on sections with high vacancy rates; (e) An elaboration of the elements requested in paragraph 35 of its resolution 57/300; (f) Recommendations concerning the possible application of this approach to managing the staffing table in future; 18. Decides that the staffing table for each year of the biennium 2004-2005 shall be as set out in annex II to the present resolution; 19. Also decides, notwithstanding the proposal of the Secretary-General and the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, to approve new posts to be funded from the regular budget for the biennium 2004-2005, as set out in annex III to the present resolution; 20. Recalls paragraphs 8 and 9 of its resolution 57/300, and in this regard notes the proposal of the Secretary-General in his report on the administration and management of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsA/58/569. regarding the establishment of two posts, one P-5 and one P-4, under subprogramme 2, as well as two posts, one D-1 and one P-4, under subprogramme 3 of section 24, Human rights, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 related to the implementation of actions 3 and 4 of his report entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change";A/57/387 and Corr.1. 21. Decides to establish the above-mentioned posts, as set out in annex III to the present resolution; 22. Also decides to consider this issue further in the context of the decisions of the relevant intergovernmental bodies on the issues referred to in paragraphs 8 and 9 of resolution 57/300; 23. Further decides to reclassify four P-4 posts to the P-5 level, one in section 15, Human settlements, one in section 17, International drug control, and two in section 22, Economic and social development in Western Asia, one D-1 post to the D-2 level in section 30, Internal oversight, and one D-2 post to the Assistant Secretary-General level in section 27, Humanitarian assistance; 24. Decides to approve the post conversions requested by the Secretary-General and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, as set out in annex IV to the present resolution, with the exception of two posts, one P-4 and one P-3, that had been proposed for conversion to section 5, Peacekeeping operations, from the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to suspend recruitment action for new vacancies in General Service posts for the biennium 2004-2005, with the exception of safety and security personnel and editorial assistants (text processors) in language functions, and to report on the progress made and on the impact of those measures in the context of his performance reports; 26. Decides to abolish six General Service posts, three in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and three in the Economic Commission for Europe; 27. Also decides to reduce further, by 3.2 million United States dollars, the proposed provision for restoration of common services; 28. Further decides to reduce the provision for general temporary assistance by 2.5 million dollars; 29. Decides that the reduction described in paragraph 28 above should not be applied to section 2, General Assembly affairs and conference services; 30. Also decides to reduce by 2 million dollars the provision for overtime and night differential, as set out in paragraph 84 of the first report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/58/7 and Corr.1). further decides that the relevant reductions should not be applied to security operations, and invites the Secretary-General to elaborate on resource needs for overtime and night differential in the context of his first budget performance report; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to discontinue the practice of paying higher subsistence rates to middle- and senior-level United Nations staff members; 32. Decides to reduce the total appropriation for publications by 400,000 dollars; 33. Also decides to maintain provisions for the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization at the level recommended by the Secretary-General; 34. Further decides to appropriate an amount of 38,200 dollars, under section 9, Economic and social affairs, requested for the preparation of Executive Committee papers on common strategic policy issues and/or support for the Committee's work on publications in advancing the Millennium Development Goals; 35. Decides to appropriate an amount of 78,500 dollars, under section 9, Economic and social affairs, requested under subprogramme 2 for consultants and experts; 36. Also decides to defer the appropriation of the budgetary provisions for the Joint Inspection Unit for 2005; 37. Further decides to appropriate an amount of 1,858,600 dollars for consultants and experts for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 38. Decides to appropriate an amount of 56,731,900 dollars for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the biennium 2004-2005; 39. Also decides to reduce the allocation for United Nations information centres by 2 million dollars; 40. Further decides to defer consideration of 590,000 dollars for a network back-up system at the United Nations Office at Geneva until such time as all viable alternatives have been explored and reported to the General Assembly; 41. Decides to restore an amount of 105,200 dollars under section 28, Public information, for supplies and materials under outreach services; 42. Recalls its decision 57/579 of 20 December 2002, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen the United Nations web site through further redeployment to the required language posts and to report on the status of its implementation to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 43. Decides to consider the proposal of the Secretary-General regarding the transfer of the technical secretariats of the Fifth and Sixth Committees at its fifty-ninth session, with a view to taking a decision in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 44. Recalls its resolution 57/24 of 19 November 2002 and regulation 5.6 and the criteria set forth in rule 105.6 (a) of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. and requests the Secretary-General to report, in the context of his first performance report, on the possibilities for absorptions or the mobilization of extrabudgetary resources for the Repertory of Practice of the United Nations Organs; 45. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on improving the implementation of regulation 5.6 and rule 105.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning; 46. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement the information and communication technology strategy and to provide to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a progress report on the impact of investments in information and communication technology; 47. Further requests the Secretary-General to review the structure and functions of all liaison or representation offices in New York of organizations headquartered elsewhere funded from the regular budget and to report to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-eighth session on possibilities for improving their effectiveness; 48. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake a fundamental and comprehensive review of the regular programme of technical cooperation and to make appropriate proposals to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 49. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a proposal for the progressive implementation of article 20 of the statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with a view to its full implementation; 50. Further requests the Secretary-General to conduct, through the Office of Internal Oversight Services, a review of the operation and management of United Nations libraries, with a view to assessing staffing requirements for those libraries in the light of technological advances in the delivery of information services, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 51. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on proposals for developing a more robust capability within the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat to enable it to reduce the level of underrepresentation of Member States and the number of unrepresented Member States; 52. Also requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services with the task of conducting a study on the availability in local labour markets of the skills for which international recruitment for posts in the General Service category now takes place and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the findings and their implications; 53. Reaffirms the provisions of paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 57/307 of 15 April 2003, requests the Secretary-General to ensure the independence of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal and the separation of its secretariat from the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, and also requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its fifty-ninth session the report on the financial independence of the Tribunal requested in the above-mentioned resolution; 54. Requests the Secretary-General to report on further progress made to increase the capacity of the Economic Commission for Africa to communicate and transmit data electronically in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 55. Reaffirms paragraphs 15 and 17 of its resolution 57/300, in particular where the General Assembly requests the Secretary-General, with assistance from the Office of Internal Oversight Services, to proceed as quickly as possible to conduct a systematic evaluation of the impact, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of all activities of the Department of Public Information, and to report on progress made to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session through the Committee on Information and the Fifth Committee; 56. Also reaffirms that the Official Document System of the United Nations, as an archival and retrieval system of official documents, should cover the entire Organization, including the United Nations Office at Nairobi and all regional commissions, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to pursue vigorous implementation and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the progress made; 57. Emphasizes the priority it attaches to the necessity of improving and modernizing the conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to keep under review the issue of the construction of additional facilities at the Office and to report thereon to the General Assembly in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, in the light of experience gained from operating the modernized conference facilities; 58. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session addressing possible measures to improve the performance of the Development Account, including ways and means aimed at bringing a more focused approach to project formulation, complementarity, implementation and evaluation, as well as to make proposals on increasing its funding in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997 and 54/15 of 29 October 1999. Annex I Changes to the programme narratives of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005A/58/6 (Introduction), A/58/6 (Sects. 1-35), A/58/6 (Sect. 13)/Add.1, A/58/6 (Sect. 14)/Rev.1, A/58/6 (Income sects. 1-3) and A/58/6/Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. as reflected in the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-third sessionIbid., Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16). and additional modifications Section 1 Overall policy-making, direction and coordination Table 1.21 Under indicator of achievement (e) (i), after "of the Secretary-General's reform", insert "as mandated by General Assembly resolutions", bearing in mind the provisions of Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations. Table 1.34 Add an indicator of achievement (a), reading: "(a) The number of conflicts referred to the Ombudsman for which the Ombudsman facilitated a resolution"; and insert "(b)" before the existing indicator. Section 2 General Assembly affairs and conference services Tables 2.15, 2.17, 2.19, 2.22, 2.24, 2.26, 2.33, 2.35, 2.41 and 2.43 In table 2.15, add the entry "(d) Increased productivity" under both Expected accomplishments and Indicators of achievement. In tables 2.17, 2.19 and 2.26, add the entry "(b) Increased productivity" under both Expected accomplishments and Indicators of achievement. In table 2.22, add the entry "(e) Increased productivity" under both Expected accomplishments and Indicators of achievement. In tables 2.24, 2.33, 2.35, 2.41 and 2.43, add the entry "(c) Increased productivity" under both Expected accomplishments and Indicators of achievement. Table 2.9 Add an expected accomplishment (c), reading: "(c) Improvement of conference service performance in New York and all other duty stations". Add an indicator of achievement (c), reading: "(c) (i) Optimization of use of technology in key processes; "(ii) Updated proposals for workload standards, efficiency and related performance indicators; "(iii) Issuance of updated bulletins of the Secretary-General that set out the relationship between Headquarters and conference-servicing units in other duty stations". Table 2.13 Delete footnote a and the indicator thereto. Add an indicator of achievement (iii), reading: "(iii) Presentation of documentation on time, with full respect for the six-week rule". Tables 2.17, 2.19, 2.24, 2.26, 2.33, 2.35, 2.41 and 2.43 Under Indicators of achievement, Performance measures, replace "2004-2005: to be determined through a survey" with "2004-2005: 90 per cent (to be determined through a survey)". Tables 2.15, 2.22, 2.31 and 2.39 Add an expected accomplishment (c), reading: "(c) Improvement in the timeliness of the production and distribution of parliamentary documentation in the six official languages of the Organization"; and, in table 2.22, reletter existing expected accomplishment (c) as (d). Add an indicator of achievement (c) reading: "(c) The amount and percentage of parliamentary documentation produced and distributed in the six official languages of the Organization within established deadlines"; and, in table 2.22, reletter existing indicator of achievement (c) as (d). Paragraph 2.33 (a) (ii) d. REPHRASED Add the following activity element: "iii. Meetings of regional and other major groupings on the basis of existing practice, bearing in mind further consideration of this issue by the General Assembly during its fifty-eighth session, in accordance with its resolution 57/283 B". Table 2.15 In indicator of achievement (a), after "relevant rules", add ", especially the six-week rule for submission of documents". Table 2.17 Add an indicator of achievement (b), reading: "(b) Presentation of documentation on time, observing the six-week rule"; and insert "(a)" before the preceding indicator. Paragraph 2.43 In the third sentence, after "Official Document System (ODS)", add ", without negatively affecting the quality of services provided and the quantity of documents required by Member States". Paragraph 2.45 (b) Add the following output: "(vi) Meetings of regional and other major groupings on the basis of existing practice, bearing in mind further consideration of this issue by the General Assembly during its fifty-eighth session, in accordance with its resolution 57/283 B". Paragraph 2.46 In the third sentence, after "amounting to $459,200", add ", without negatively affecting the quality of services provided and the quantity of documents required by Member States". Tables 2.22, 2.31 and 2.39 In indicator of achievement (a), after "in accordance with relevant rules", add ", in particular regarding the six-week rule for issuance and distribution of parliamentary documentation simultaneously in the six official languages". Tables 2.24, 2.33, 2.35, 2.41 and 2.43 Add an expected accomplishment (b), reading: "(b) Presentation of documentation on time, observing the six-week rule"; and insert "(a)" before the preceding expected accomplishment. Add an indicator of achievement (b), reading: "(b) The degree of satisfaction expressed by Member States with the presentation of the documentation on time"; and insert "(a)" before the preceding indicator of achievement. Section 3 Political affairs Paragraph 3.7 After "for further change (A/57/387)", add "approved in paragraph 26 of General Assembly resolution 57/300". Paragraph 3.16 In the fourth sentence, delete "the Security Council Committee established by resolution 661 (1990) concerning the situation between Iraq and Kuwait", and replace the figure 11 at the beginning of the sentence with the figure 10. Table 3.13 At the end of indicator of achievement (i), add "through peaceful means". In indicator of achievement (ii), after "in which", add "conflicts or situations of conflict exist, and in which", and delete ", including in cooperation with partners,". Table 3.19 Objective 1 After "Non-Self-Governing Territories" at the end of expected accomplishment (a), add "in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations". Add an indicator of achievement (a) (ii) reading: "(ii) The effectiveness of servicing provided to the Special Committee, its seminars and the General Assembly; the effectiveness of research and analytical studies and reports on conditions in the Territories; and the effectiveness of publicity campaigns"; and renumber indicator of achievement (a) as (a) (i). Objective 2 After "Non-Self-Governing Territories" at the end of the objective, add "in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations". Paragraph 3.44 (d) Replace the text of subparagraph (d) of paragraph 3.44 with the following: "the administering Powers will cooperate with the Special Committee in the implementation of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations". Paragraph 3.47 In the last sentence, after "international legitimacy", insert "and legality". At the end of the paragraph, add "in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions". Table 3.21 In indicator of achievement (i), delete ", as evidenced by the voting on the relevant resolutions". Table 3.25 In indicators of achievement (b) (i) and (ii), delete "and incontrovertible". Section 4 Disarmament Paragraph 4.39 Replace the seventh to ninth lines, after "mandated by the General Assembly:", with "compilation of information on measures taken by Member States and international organizations to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction; making accessible to Member States information on national legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual use of goods and technology;". Section 5 Peacekeeping operations Paragraph 5.5 Before the last sentence, insert the following sentence: "The Department will also continue to improve representation of underrepresented and unrepresented Member States in future recruitment". In the fifth sentence, delete "also". Table 5.9 In expected accomplishment (c) and indicator of achievement (c), after "gender issues", insert "and their geographical balance". Table 5.12 In indicator of achievement (i), performance measures (target 2004-2005), replace "10 weeks" with "8 weeks". In indicator of achievement (ii), performance measures (target 2004-2005), replace "80 per cent of benchmarks" with "100 per cent of benchmarks within expected time frame". Table 5.14 In indicator of achievement (b) (ii), performance measures (target 2004-2005), replace "6 months" with "4 months". Table 5.16 Reword indicator of achievement (a) (ii) to read: "An increase in the number of Member States with which the Secretariat has concluded standby arrangements". Under indicator of achievement (b), reword the performance measures to read: "2000-2001: __ per cent of all personnel deployment needs met by utilizing the United Nations standby arrangements system and rapid deployment levels or the on-call list "Estimate 2002-2003: __ per cent of all personnel deployment needs met by utilizing the United Nations standby arrangements system and rapid deployment levels or the on-call list "Target 2004-2005: __ per cent of all personnel deployment needs met by utilizing the United Nations standby arrangements system and rapid deployment levels or the on-call list". Paragraph 5.29 Delete paragraph 5.29 and renumber the subsequent paragraphs accordingly. Former paragraph 5.39 Replace former paragraph 5.39 with the following: "The subprogramme is expected to achieve its objectives and expected accomplishments on the assumption that the Mine Action Service receives an adequate level of resources to respond to General Assembly and Security Council mandates." Section 8 Legal affairs Paragraph 8.3, last line Before "registers and publishes treaties", insert as an objective "assists Member States regarding implementation of the international legal order for seas and oceans as well as the law of treaties;". Paragraph 8.12 Rephrase the third task of the Division to read: "The Division will provide services for the effective application of the international judicial order of the sea and the ocean, thus helping in the understanding, acceptance and consequent application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) and the related agreements." Paragraph 8.31 (b) (ix) At the end of subparagraph (ix) of paragraph 8.31 (b), add "meeting the requests of Governments on questions relating to international public law through the relevant subsidiary organs in accordance with the existing practice". Table 8.14 Under indicator of achievement (a) (iv), performance measures (2000-2001, estimate 2002-2003 and target 2004-2005), replace "1 week" with "1 week, observing the 6-week rule for documentation". Paragraph 8.39 (a) (v) Replace the title "Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Legal Instruments for the Prevention of Terrorist Acts" with "Ad Hoc Committee established in accordance with General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996". Paragraph 8.39 (b) (i) Under recurrent publications, include "and Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 2002, volumes I and II (General Assembly resolution 987 (X), judgements, advisory opinions, consultations and orders of the International Court of Justice)". Table 8.18 Under indicator of achievement (a), add a subparagraph (ix) reading: "(ix) Higher number of international transactions and higher volume of international debt trade carried out under the regime of UNCITRAL". Section 9 Economic and social affairs Paragraph 9.3 In the first sentence, insert "and social" after "sustained economic". Table 9.12 At the end of indicator of achievement (a) (iii), add "with the assistance of the Secretariat". In the second line of expected accomplishment (b), after "that assist", replace "developing countries and countries with economies in transition" with "all countries". At the end of indicator of achievement (d) (iii), add "taking into account the provisions of Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations". At the end of indicator of achievement (f), add "with the assistance of the Secretariat". Table 9.16 Expected accomplishment (a) should read: "(a) Effective implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development at all levels, including through partnership initiatives according to the modalities agreed upon in the Commission on Sustainable Development that support implementation of the commitments agreed at the World Summit". In expected accomplishment (b), delete "in all activities of sustainable development". Replace indicator of achievement (b) (i) with the following: "(i) Progress in the achievement of United Nations objectives and goals on sustainable development, in particular those related to water, sanitation and human settlements, and the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production". Replace expected accomplishment (e) with the following: "(e) Enabling the Commission to effectively review and facilitate partnerships that support the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation". Replace indicator of achievement (e) with the following: "(e) Provision of information and summary reports on partnerships in a transparent, participatory and credible manner, according to the procedures which were agreed upon in the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session". In expected accomplishment (f), after "in particular", insert "North-South and". Table 9.22 Add an expected accomplishment (f), reading: "(f) Improved access by Governments and international bodies to analytical tools, options and adequate methodologies regarding the linkages between political and economic issues and policies, such as economic sanctions, imposition of coercive economic measures, the relationship between disarmament and development and relevant aspects of post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction". Add an indicator of achievement (f) and corresponding performance measures, reading: "(f) Feedback from Member States on their access to analytical tools, options and adequate methodologies regarding the linkages between political and economic issues and policies "Performance measures: "2000-2001: to be determined "Estimate 2002-2003: to be determined "Target 2004-2005: to be determined". Table 9.30 In expected accomplishment (a), delete "multi-stakeholder". Replace the text of expected accomplishment (e) with the following: "(e) Enhanced capacity of Governments, in particular that of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to participate actively in the financing for development process". Add an expected accomplishment (f), reading: "(f) Fuller engagement of Governments to ensure proper follow-up to the implementation of agreements and commitments reached at the Conference and to continue to build bridges between development, finance and trade organizations and initiatives within the framework of the holistic agenda of the Conference". Add an indicator of achievement (f) and corresponding performance measures, reading: "(f) Feedback from Member States on the contribution of the subprogramme to the fuller engagement of Governments in the follow-up to the implementation of the outcome of the Conference "Performance measures: "2000-2001: not available "Estimate 2002-2003: to be determined "Target 2004-2005: to be determined". Section 10 Least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States Paragraph 10.1 At the end of the paragraph, add the following sentence: "In addition, the programme is responsible for the provision of effective follow-up support to the further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, taking fully into account the relevant outcomes of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and General Assembly resolution 57/262 relating to the convening of an international meeting in Mauritius in 2004 to undertake a full and comprehensive review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States." Paragraph 10.4 In the first sentence, after "Transport Cooperation and the", insert "further implementation of the". In the third sentence, after "Department of Economic and Social Affairs", insert ", the regional commissions and the South Centre" and delete "and the regional commissions". Table 10.5 In the objective, replace "progress towards the achievement of" with "realize". At the end of the expected accomplishment, add "and the relevant General Assembly resolutions". Paragraph 10.14 (d) Replace "political situation of", with "political situation in". Section 11 United Nations support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development Paragraph 11.16 Replace the text of external factor (b) with the following: "(b) the agencies of the United Nations system collaborate and coordinate their activities in a coherent and effective manner". Delete "and" before external factor "(d)" and, at the end of the external factor, add "and (e) all stakeholders implement their financial pledges and other commitments to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development". Table 11.10 In expected accomplishment (a), insert "academic institutions," before "the media". Section 12 Trade and development Replace, in every paragraph where the reference is made, "Millennium Development Goals" with "goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, as identified in section III of General Assembly resolution 55/2". Paragraph 12.7 In the first sentence, replace "sectoral" with "national". Paragraph 12.29 (a) (i) Before subparagraph (i) of paragraph 12.29 (a), reading "United Nations Conference on Trade and Development", insert a subparagraph (i), reading "(i) General Assembly: substantive servicing of and inputs to the high-level dialogue on strengthening international economic cooperation for development through partnership, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Assembly resolution 57/250"; and renumber the subsequent subparagraphs accordingly. Table 12.10 In indicator of achievement (e), after "technical cooperation projects", add "that improve the areas of trade, competition, enterprise development and investment". Table 12.11 In indicator of achievement (b), replace "Increased number of cross-sectoral activities" with "Significant increase in the number of cross-sectoral activities". Table 12.15 In indicator of achievement (a) (ii), replace "this area" with "the trade-related capacity-building area". Paragraph 12.54 (a) (i) At the end of subparagraph (i) of paragraph 12.54, after "multilateral trading system (2);", add "contributions to the report on the implementation of the International Conference on Financing for Development concerning trade". Annex Retain the output contained in document A/56/6, paragraph 11A.31 (d) (i), reading: "Advisory services to developing countries to enhance their capacity to attract foreign portfolio investment funds, and to optimize their developmental impact", and the output contained in A/56/6, paragraph 11A.43 (a) (i) b, reading: "Inputs to the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States". Section 14 Environment Paragraph 14.4 At the end of the second sentence, add "as well as at the seventh special session of the Governing Council of UNEP, held in Cartagena, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development". Table 14.18 Indicator of achievement (d) should read: "(d) Increased cooperation with UNCTAD, WTO and the multilateral environmental agreement secretariats to promote the mutual support of trade and environmental policies". Indicator of achievement (e) (i) should read: "(i) Increased number of companies adhering to the relevant provisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development with regard to corporate responsibility and the Global Compact". Paragraph 14.47 (b) (ii) Replace "reports of surveys and studies on appropriate policies, practices and indicators to improve products and services from a life-cycle perspective" with "reports of surveys and studies on appropriate practices to improve products and services from a life-cycle perspective". Replace "technical documents (including guidelines, case studies and training packages) on policies and practices related to life-cycle management of production processes, products and services" with "technical documents (including guidelines, case studies and training packages) on practices related to life-cycle management of production processes, products and services". Paragraph 14.47 (c) (i) After "provision of targeted technical advice to financial institutions to influence investment decisions favouring energy efficiency and renewable energy", add "and advanced fossil fuel technology". Table 14.26 Under "Action taken to implement the recommendation", replace the paragraph reading: "It is expected that, after use of the indicative scale of contributions during a pilot phase in 2003, UNEP will analyse the accumulated experience and develop a new scale for the biennium 2004-2005, inviting all Member States to make adequate and predictable contributions" with the paragraph reading: "The Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of UNEP in 2004 will review the effectiveness of the system and take a decision, as appropriate". Section 15 Human settlements Table 15.10 Replace expected accomplishment (i) with the following: "(i) Increased awareness of and sensitivity to the plight of the urban poor, and enhanced cooperation and partnership in slum upgrading initiatives in line with the Millennium Development Goal 'cities without slums' ". Insert in indicator of achievement (i) after "countries" "and other Habitat Agenda partners". Delete in expected accomplishment (j) "renewable energy and". Replace indicator of achievement (j) with the following: "(j) Number of countries working with UN-Habitat to promote access to diverse and efficient energy services as well as public and non-motorized transport". Section 16 Crime prevention and criminal justice Table 16.7 In indicator of achievement (e), replace "Number" with "Percentage" and adjust the performance measures accordingly. Section 17 International drug control Table 17.7 In indicator of achievement (ii), after "Full", add "and efficient". Table 17.10 In indicator of achievement (c), replace "Timely receipt by" with "Availability of information for". Table 17.12 Under indicator of achievement (c) (i), performance measures (target 2004-2005), replace "an average rating of 'fully satisfactory'" with "a 75 per cent rating 'fully satisfactory' ". Delete indicator of achievement (c) (ii), and delete "(i)" in indicator of achievement (c) (i). Under indicators of achievement (f) and (h), performance measures (target 2004-2005), replace "average survey rating of 'fully satisfactory' " with "a 75 per cent rating 'fully satisfactory' ". Table 17.13 Expected accomplishment (b) should read: "(b) Enhanced treaty adherence, at the request of Governments". Indicator of achievement (b) should read: "(b) Number of Member States that received support from the Secretariat to become parties to one of the three drug control treaties". In indicator of achievement (c), insert ", with the assistance of the Secretariat," after "Governments". Table 17.15 In indicators of achievement (a), (b), (c) and (d), insert ", with the assistance of the Secretariat," after "Member States". REPHRASED REPHRASED REPHRASED Table 17.17 Objective 1 Replace the text of indicator of achievement (a) with the following: "(a) Enhanced assistance by UNDCP to Member States to establish or strengthen national strategies to reduce and eliminate illicit cultivation, including comprehensive measures such as programmes in alternative development, law enforcement and eradication". In indicators of achievement (b), (c) and (d), insert ", with the assistance of the Secretariat," after "countries". In indicator of achievement (e) (i), insert ", with the assistance of the Secretariat," after "Member States". Objective 2 In indicator of achievement (a), insert ", with the assistance of the Secretariat," after "transit States". Section 18 Economic and social development in Africa Paragraph 18A.25 In the second sentence, after "This goal", insert ", while taking into account the new organization and programme of work of the Commission on Sustainable Development with regard to the regional implementation forum,". Table 18A.10 Expected accomplishment (a) should read: "(a) Improved capacity of member States to design, implement and monitor development policies and strategies that address the needs of the poor, taking into account the goals of the Millennium Declaration and the priorities of NEPAD". Table 18A.12 Expected accomplishment (a) should read: "(a) Increased awareness of policy makers of the interrelationship between and the need for integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development". In indicator of achievement (a), replace "the number of citations of" with "the number of times reference was made to". In the performance measures, replace "citations" with "references". Expected accomplishment (c) should read: "(c) Effective incorporation of the interrelated issues of food security, population, environment and human settlements into sustainable development policies". Table 18A.18 In indicator of achievement (a), replace "trained by ECA" with "with the assistance of ECA". Section 19 Economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific Subprogramme 7 Replace the title with "Social development, including persistent and emerging issues". Paragraph 19.7 Replace "least developed and landlocked countries as well as other developing countries" with "the developing countries and countries with economies in transition, particularly the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States". Paragraph 19.40 (c) (ii) At the beginning and at the end of the paragraph, replace "in the least developed countries and the countries with economies in transition" with "especially in the developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States". Paragraph 19.48 (c) (ii), (iii) and (iv) After "energy efficiency", add ", advanced fossil fuel technology". REPHRASED Table 19.22 In expected accomplishment (a), replace "social issues" with "social development issues". Delete indicator of achievement (a) (i) and delete "(ii)" in indicator of achievement (a) (ii). Section 21 Economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean Table 21.10 Add, as indicators of achievement (c) and (d), indicators of achievement (d) and (e) of paragraph 17.9 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised. Table 21.12 Add, as indicators of achievement (iii), (iv) and (v), the indicators of achievement of paragraph 17.13 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised. Table 21.14 In expected accomplishment (c), after "Enhanced regional", insert "technical". Add, as indicators of achievement (c) (ii) and (c) (iii), indicators of achievement (a) and (b) of paragraph 17.18 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised; and renumber the existing indicator of achievement as (c) (i). Table 21.16 In indicator of achievement (c), after "guidelines" insert ", with the assistance of ECLAC,". Paragraph 21.60 Replace paragraph 21.60 with the following: "The subprogramme is expected to achieve its objectives and expected accomplishments on the assumption that: (a) gender mainstreaming in the region continues to receive full support from the countries of the region; and (b) member States continue to support the activities of the subprogramme." Table 21.20 Add indicators of achievement (a) and (c) of paragraph 17.33 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised, as indicators of achievement (a) (iv) and (a) (v). Add to the end of each "with the assistance or collaboration of ECLAC". Table 21.22 Add indicator of achievement (b) of paragraph 17.37 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised, as indicator of achievement (b) (ii); and renumber the existing indicator of achievement as (b) (i). Table 21.24 REPHRASED Add expected accomplishment (a) of paragraph 17.41 and indicator of achievement (a) of paragraph 17.42 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised, as expected accomplishment (e) and indicator of achievement (e). Table 21.28 At the end of indicator of achievement (a) (ii), after "coding systems", add "with the assistance and/or collaboration of ECLAC". Add indicators of achievement (d) and (e) of paragraph 17.50 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised, as indicators of achievement (a) (iii) and (a) (iv). Table 21.30 Add, as expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement (c), (d) and (e), expected accomplishments (a), (c) and (d) of paragraph 17.54 and indicators of achievement (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 17.55 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised. REPHRASED Table 21.32 Add indicator of achievement (b) of paragraph 17.59 of the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005, as revised, as indicator of achievement (c) (ii); and renumber indicator of achievement (c) (ii) as (c) (iii). Section 23 Regular programme of technical cooperation Paragraph 23.35 (a) (i) In the first of the advisory services, replace "especially in least developed, landlocked and island developing countries and countries with economies in transition" with "especially in the developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular least developed, landlocked and island developing countries"; (e) (i) In the tenth line, after "developing", insert "energy efficiency, advanced fossil fuel technology and"; (e) (ii) Replace "renewable energy" with "implementation of paragraph 20 of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, on energy"; (f) (i) In the first of the advisory services, replace "particularly of least developed, landlocked and island developing countries and countries with economies in transition" with "especially of the developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular least developed, landlocked and island developing countries"; (g) (iii) Replace the text with the following: "(iii) Field project on addressing social development, including emerging social issues". Section 24 Human rights Paragraph 24.3 Delete the final sentence. Paragraph 24.4 Delete the final sentence. Paragraph 24.5 Delete the final sentence. Paragraph 24.6 The final sentence should read: "During the biennium, OHCHR will work towards the goal of increased effectiveness and improved management, taking into account relevant resolutions and decisions, as well as the recommendations already made in that regard." Paragraph 24.8 (a) (ii) Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 24.8 (a) should read: "(ii) Under subprogramme 1, one new P-4 post to direct research and analysis in the implementation of the right to development, including strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals". Paragraph 24.15 (e) Delete subparagraph (e) of paragraph 24.15 and reletter the subsequent subparagraphs accordingly. Paragraph 24.29 At the end of the paragraph, add the sentence: "Specific proposals in this regard will be submitted to the General Assembly in line with the decision contained in paragraph 4 of its resolution 54/244". Table 24.11 Add an expected accomplishment (e) reading: "(e) Strengthened efforts that contribute to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" and an indicator of achievement (e) reading: "(e) An increased number of activities carried out to fulfil the mandates". Paragraph 24.39 (c) Subparagraph (c) of paragraph 24.39 should read: "the establishment of 1 new P-4 post to strengthen capacity in the area of the implementation of the right to development, including strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, by directing research and analysis". Paragraph 24.58 The second sentence should read: "OHCHR establishes presences in the field as a response to decisions of relevant intergovernmental bodies of the United Nations, including the Commission on Human Rights, in accordance with their respective mandates." In the fifth sentence, replace "creating a culture of human rights" with "creating human rights education and training". Section 25 Protection of and assistance to refugees Paragraph 25.4 In the last sentence, replace "programme of work will" with "work under the subprogramme on international protection will also". Table 25.5 Replace expected accomplishment (d) with the following: "(d) Progress towards a durable solution through the formulation, facilitation and active implementation of voluntary repatriation operations in conditions of safety and dignity, followed up by the monitoring of the situations in countries to which the refugees return". At the end of indicator of achievement (d), add "in the framework of voluntary repatriation operations". Replace expected accomplishment (e) with the following: "(e) The promotion of local integration as a possible durable solution, where feasible, in accordance with the High Commissioner's strategy of development through local integration". Under indicator of achievement (f) (ii), add the following: "Performance measures: "2000-2001: not available "Estimate 2002-2003: to be determined "Target 2004-2005: to be determined" To indicator of achievement (f), add a subparagraph (iii), reading: "(iii) The extent to which tools to improve monitoring and oversight of resettlement have been adopted "Performance measures: "2000-2001: not available "Estimate 2002-2003: to be determined "Target 2004-2005: to be determined". Add a full stop at the end of expected accomplishment (c) and add the text of expected accomplishment (g) to expected accomplishment (c). Merge indicator of achievement (g) with indicator of achievement (c), producing two subparagraphs, as follows: "(c) (i) Decrease in the number of incidents related to sexual and gender-based violence reported to health clinics in refugee camps" "(ii) The number of UNHCR country operations plans reflecting the five priority categories and key sectors" To indicator of achievement (c), add a subparagraph (iii) and performance measures, reading: "(iii) Development of measurable indicators corresponding to the High Commissioner's five commitments "Performance measures: "2000-2001: not available "Estimate 2002-2003: to be determined "Target 2004-2005: to be determined". Table 25.6 Replace the text of indicator of achievement (b) (i) with the following: "(i) The number of initiatives incorporating quality of life of refugees and the surrounding local communities into national development plans". In indicator of achievement (b) (ii), delete "against core standards". In indicator of achievement (b) (iii), replace "microfinance" with "self-reliance". In expected accomplishment (d), replace "protect" with "assist" and at the end of the expected accomplishment, add "through the provision of sufficient voluntary contributions by the international community, in a spirit of burden-sharing and international solidarity". REPHRASED In indicator of achievement (d) (ii), delete "as well as in the development through local integration strategy". Under indicator of achievement (d), add a subparagraph (iii), reading: "(iii) Increase in the level of voluntary contributions provided by the international community". To this indicator of achievement, add "Performance measures: to be determined". Section 28 Public information Paragraph 28.3 Replace the first two sentences with the following sentence: "The overarching mandate of the Department of Public Information is contained in General Assembly resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, and its primary mission is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive and timely information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, respecting existing mandates and in line with regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation, to focus its message and better concentrate its efforts and, as a function of performance management, to match its programmes to the needs of its target audiences, on the basis of improved feedback and evaluation mechanisms, as set out in General Assembly resolution 57/130 B". In the last sentence, after "has been formulated,", insert "as welcomed by the Committee on Information". Paragraph 28.4 The second sentence should read: "Its core message, with the medium-term plan priorities as the main guide, and taking into consideration General Assembly resolution 55/2 (the Millennium Declaration), will focus on the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the battle against international terrorism and the needs of the African continent (see resolution 57/130 B), as well as on international cooperation, the transfer of technology and transparency in international trade". Paragraph 28.11 After "in Western Europe" at the end of the third sentence, add "in accordance with resolutions 57/130 B and 57/300, in particular paragraphs 44 and 15 respectively". Table 28.7 At the end of the objective, add "and assessing that impact through annual programme reviews". At the beginning of the last paragraph under Indicators of achievement, insert "(d)"; and at the end of the paragraph, add "in the implementation of the results of the Department's annual programme impact reviews". Paragraph 28.29 In the first sentence, delete "and established by the Secretary-General". In the second sentence, replace ", using the Millennium Declaration as its guide" with "of the medium-term plan and of the Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution 55/2)". Paragraph 28.30 The second sentence should read: "Under the guidance of the Information Centres Service at Headquarters, the United Nations information centres and information components and regional hubs, as applicable, will play a significant role in disseminating information about the work of the Organization to the peoples of the world, including the areas outlined in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, with the information centres as the 'field voice' of the Department of Public Information, and will work through local intermediaries to promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in the local languages has the strongest impact on the local populations." Paragraph 28.31 After "regional information hubs in strategic locations" in the first sentence, insert "in accordance with resolutions 57/130 B and 57/300, in particular paragraphs 44 and 15 respectively". Paragraph 28.33 Delete the last sentence. Table 28.10 In the objective, after "on priority issues" add "of the medium-term plan and the Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution 55/2)". In expected accomplishment (a), replace "on priority issues" with "in accordance with priorities established by the General Assembly". Paragraph 28.50 At the end of the first sentence, replace "the Member States" with "intergovernmental organs in collaboration with the Member States". Table 28.18 Insert "(a)" before the expected accomplishment and the indicator of achievement. Add the following to indicator of achievement (a): "; the number of hits on the United Nations web site, sorted by official language, and the number of radio programmes broadcast, by language". Add an expected accomplishment (b), reading: "(b) Timeliness in the submission of photographic and video material". Add an indicator of achievement (b), reading: "(b) Period of time within which photographic and video material is available to news organizations and media after an event takes place". Table 28.22 At the end of indicator of achievement (a), add "; number of joint and/or coordinated projects by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and other United Nations libraries; and number of hits on the Dag Hammarskjöld Library web sites, sorted by official language". Paragraph 28.66 After "on priority issues", replace the rest of the text with the following: "using the priorities of the medium-term plan as the main guide and taking into consideration General Assembly resolution 55/2 (the Millennium Declaration)." Table 28.24 In the objective, replace "using the Millennium Declaration as a guide" with "using the priorities of the medium-term plan and taking into consideration General Assembly resolution 55/2 (the Millennium Declaration)". Add the following to the indicator of achievement: "; the number of readers of the UN Chronicle, sorted by official language; and the number of times articles appearing in the UN Chronicle are cited in newspapers and journals". Section 29A Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management Table 29A.5 In indicator of achievement (c), insert "efficient" before "support services". Table 29A.8 In objective 1, replace "Secretary-General's vision for reform" with "reforms in the United Nations". Under objective 1, add an indicator of achievement (ii) reading: "(ii) Level of satisfaction expressed by the intergovernmental organs" and a corresponding performance measure reading: "Periodic surveys among Member States"; and renumber the existing indicator of achievement as "(i)". REPHRASED REPHRASED REPHRASED REPHRASED Table 29A.10 At the end of the expected accomplishment, add "related to disciplinary affairs, claims and appeals of the staff". Section 29B Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts Table 29B.5 In the objective, after "procedures", insert "contained in the Financial Regulations and Rules and the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation". Table 29B.8 Objective 1 Add an expected accomplishment (b) reading: "(b) Better implementation of and compliance by departments and offices of the Secretariat with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation"; and add "(a)" before the existing expected accomplishment. Add an indicator of achievement (b) reading: "(b) Fewer findings by the oversight bodies of non-compliance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation and other approved budgetary procedures and guidelines for the regular budget, peacekeeping budgets, extrabudgetary resources and budgets of the Tribunals". Indicators of achievement (a) and (b) become indicators of achievement (a) (i) and (ii). Objective 2 In indicator of achievement (a), after "travel claims", add "payroll, insurance, invoices and claims processing"; and add an indicator of achievement (c) reading: "(c) The availability of financial reports by the required dates". REPHRASED Table 29B.10 Under objective 1, change indicator of achievement (b) to (b) (i), and add an indicator of achievement (b) (ii) reading: "(ii) Availability of budgetary documents by the required dates". Under objective 1, add an expected accomplishment (c) reading: "(c) Improved compliance with regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation"; and add an indicator of achievement (c), reading: "(c) Number of sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 that reflect a number of outputs deleted because they are obsolete, irrelevant or of marginal usefulness". Paragraph 29B.31 In subparagraph (a) (ii) after "measures to encourage payment of assessed contributions and related issues", add "if mandated". Section 29C Office of Human Resources Management Table 29C.9 At the end of the expected accomplishment, add ", taking into account Article 101 of the Charter". At the end of indicator of achievement (ii), add ", taking into account Article 101 of the Charter". Under indicator of achievement (iii), performance measures, before "Number of unrepresented Member States", add a performance measure, reading: "Level of under-representation of Member States: to be determined". Paragraph 29C.22 In subparagraph (a) (ii), after "gender balance," add ", geographical representation,". At the end of subparagraph (b) (i) e., add "and taking into account planning for the replacement of retiring staff". Section 29D Office of Central Support Services Table 29D.5 At the end of expected accomplishment (a), add ", improving the application of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation". In indicator of achievement (a) (iii), replace "Full" with "Effective and efficient". Table 29D.12 The objective should read: "To ensure efficient, effective and diversified procurement opportunities and high-quality procurement services for the Organization." Add an expected accomplishment (c) reading: "(c) Improvement in efforts to diversify United Nations suppliers", and a corresponding indicator of achievement (c) reading: "(c) Number of new suppliers registered". Section 29E Administration, Geneva Section 29F Administration, Vienna Section 29G Administration, Nairobi Table 29E.12 At the end of expected accomplishment (f), add "and improvement in efforts to diversify United Nations suppliers". Paragraph 29F.20 At the end of subparagraphs (a) and (b), add "observing the principle of geographical representation, taking into account Article 101 of the Charter". Table 29G.12 At the end of expected accomplishment (f), add "and improvement in efforts to diversify United Nations suppliers". Tables 29E.6 (Objective), 29E.8 (Objective 1), 29F.7 (Objective), 29F.9 (Objective 1), 29G.6 (Objective), 29G.8 (Objective 1) At the end of the objectives, add ", with the goal of achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness of operations". Add an indicator of achievement (ii) reading: "(ii) Savings achieved from efficiency measures" and renumber the existing indicator of achievement as (i). Section 30 Internal oversight Table 30.8 In indicator of achievement (a), after "non-compliance" add "by programme managers". In expected accomplishment (b), after "the Organization" add "and increased efficiency". In indicator of achievement (b), replace "audit recommendations calling for formal" with "audits on". Indicator of achievement (c) should become (c) (i); add an indicator (c) (ii), reading: "(ii) The level of recovery of erroneous or unauthorized expenditures"; and add under the corresponding performance measures "To be determined". In indicator of achievement (d), delete "and assignments". REPHRASED REPHRASED REPHRASED Table 30.10 At the end of expected accomplishment (a), add "in accordance with the mandates". Table 30.12 Add an indicator of achievement (iii) reading: "(iii) Number of cases resolved "Performance measures: "To be determined". Annex, column headed "Reason for discontinuation" In the entry for paragraph 28.22 (a) (ii) b., after "Organization" insert "included in the medium-term plan and to enhance support for self-evaluation by other departments and offices". Section 31 Jointly financed administrative activities Table 31.9 Under indicator of achievement (a), add the following: "Performance measures: "2000-2001: to be determined "Estimate 2002-2003: to be determined "Target 2004-2005: to be determined". Table 31.24 Under objective 1, add an expected accomplishment (b) reading: "(b) Ensuring adequate coordination among United Nations agencies to provide for the safety and security of staff"; and reletter the existing expected accomplishment as (a). Add an indicator of achievement (b), reading: "(b) (i) Reduction in the number of preventable security incidents in the field "(ii) Increase in attendance at joint security training sessions run by the United Nations Security Coordinator in the field "(iii) Compliance by all resident coordinators/ humanitarian coordinators with their responsibilities as 'designated officials' for security"; and reletter the existing indicator of achievement as (a). Annex II Staffing table for 2004 and 2005 TABLE REMOVED Annex III New posts approved in the context of the review of the initial proposal of the Secretary-General TABLE REMOVED Annex IV Conversions of temporary resources to established posts TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTIONS 58/271 A to C Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/573, para. 79)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/271. Programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 A Budget appropriations for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005: 1. Appropriations totalling 3,160,860,300 United States dollars are hereby approved for the following purposes: TABLE REMOVED 2. The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 3. The total net provision made under the various sections of the budget for contractual printing shall be administered as a unit under the direction of the United Nations Publications Board; 4. In addition to the appropriations approved under paragraph 1 above, an amount of 125,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2004-2005 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the library at the Palais des Nations in Geneva as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment. B Income estimates for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005: 1. Estimates of income other than assessments on Member States totalling 415,291,800 United States dollars are approved as follows: TABLE REMOVED 2. The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; 3. Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, the sale of statistical products, catering operations and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications not provided for under the budget appropriations shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. C Financing of appropriations for the year 2004 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the year 2004: 1. Budget appropriations consisting of 1,580,430,150 United States dollars, being half of the appropriation of 3,160,860,300 dollars approved for the biennium 2004-2005 by the General Assembly in paragraph 1 of resolution A above, plus 76,909,100 dollars, being the increase in revised appropriations for the biennium 2002-2003 approved by the Assembly in its resolutions 57/311 of 18 June 2003 and 58/267 A of 23 December 2003, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 3.1 and 3.2 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. as follows: (a) 8,007,450 dollars, consisting of 14,400,050 dollars, being the net of half of the estimated income other than staff assessment approved for the biennium 2004-2005 under resolution B above, less 6,392,600 dollars, being the decrease in income other than staff assessment for the biennium 2002-2003; (b) 1,649,331,800 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 213,298,950 dollars, consisting of: (a) 193,245,850 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the biennium 2004-2005 in resolution B above; (b) 20,053,100 dollars, being the increase in income from staff assessment for the biennium 2002-2003 approved by the Assembly in its resolution 58/267 B of 23 December 2003. RESOLUTION 58/272 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/573, para. 79)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/272. Special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly, I Information and communication technology strategy Recalling its resolution 57/304 of 15 April 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Information and communication technology strategy: implementation of General Assembly resolution 57/304 of 15 April 2003",A/58/377. Having also considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled "Managing information in the United Nations system organizations: management information systems",See A/58/82. the comments of the Secretary-General and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereonSee A/58/82/Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/58/389. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/377. and welcomes the steps being taken to address all requests contained in its resolution 57/304; 2. Reiterates the need to indicate the return on investment for planned and proposed major projects in terms that are as quantitative as possible; 3. Takes note of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit,See A/58/82. the comments of the Secretary-General and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereonSee A/58/82/Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/389. II Comprehensive review of the post structure of the United Nations Secretariat Recalling its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001 and its decision 57/574 of 20 December 2002, Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the comprehensive review of the post structure of the United Nations SecretariatA/58/398. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. III Request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research resulting from the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Institute on the work programme of the Institute for 2004A/C.5/58/3. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.4. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Approves the request for a subvention by the General Assembly of 227,600 United States dollars for the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research for 2004 from the approved regular budget of the United Nations, on the understanding that no additional appropriation would be required under section 4, Disarmament, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005;A/58/6 (Sect. 4). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at the main part of its fifty-ninth session on the continuing need for a subvention to the Institute, taking into account previous reports and any relevant decisions on the question of subventions; IV Improving and modernizing the conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in order to accommodate adequately major meetings and conferences Recalling its resolutions 55/222 of 23 December 2000, 56/242 of 24 December 2001 and 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on improving and modernizing the conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in order to accommodate adequately major meetings and conferencesA/58/530. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.6. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Authorizes the modernization of the existing conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi; 2. Decides to appropriate related resources under section 33, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005,A/58/6 (Sect. 33). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. to finance the modernization of the existing conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in the amount of 1,032,000 United States dollars as a charge against the contingency fund; 3. Also decides to approve the utilization of an amount of 1,020,000 dollars for the modernization of the existing conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, to be financed within the available balance of the construction-in-progress account; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the experience gained from operating the modernized conference facilities of the United Nations Office at Nairobi during the biennium 2006-2007; V Special political missions: estimates in respect of matters of which the Security Council is seized Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security CouncilA/C.5/58/20. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.18. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council;A/C.5/58/20. 2. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report,A/58/7/Add.18. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Decides not to endorse the observation of the Advisory Committee contained in paragraph 26 of its report; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to further explore synergies and complementarities between various missions and other relevant entities of the United Nations in order to ensure efficiency and optimum use of resources and to report thereon in the context of future budget proposals on special political missions; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to expand the treatment of larger missions with a view to providing a level of information similar to that contained in the proposed budgets of peacekeeping operations, taking into account relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 6. Approves a charge of 133,119,500 United States dollars for the 17 special political missions presented in table l, section II, of the report of the Secretary-General,A/C.5/58/20. emanating from decisions taken or to be taken by the Security Council, against the provision of 169,431,700 dollars for special political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005;A/58/6 (Sect. 3). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. 7. Also approves a further charge of 2,172,400 dollars for the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire for the period from 1 January to 4 February 2004, consequent to the adoption of resolution 58/275 of 23 December 2003, against the provision of 169,431,700 dollars for special political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 8. Further approves a charge of 7,185,000 dollars for the three special political missions presented in table 1, section I, of the report of the Secretary-General,A/C.5/58/20. emanating from decisions taken or to be taken by the General Assembly, against the provision of 169,431,700 dollars for special political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; VI Joint Inspection Unit 1. Approves the gross budget for the Joint Inspection Unit for 2004 in the amount of 4,900,800 United States dollars;See A/58/6 (Sect. 31) (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6), A/58/528, and A/58/7/Add.11 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A). 2. Decides to take action on the gross budget for the Joint Inspection Unit for 2005 in the context of the first performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; VII International Civil Service Commission Approves a gross budget for the International Civil Service Commission for the biennium 2004-2005 in the amount of 14,724,100 United States dollars;See A/58/6 (Sect. 31) (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6), A/58/528, and A/58/7/Add.11 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A). VIII Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator Approves the gross budget for the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator for the biennium 2004-2005 in the amount of 86,375,800 United States dollars;See A/58/6 (Sect. 31) (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6), A/58/528, and A/58/7/Add.11 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A). IX Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2003 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive and resumed substantive sessions of 2003A/C.5/58/10. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/7/Add.8. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Notes that additional financial requirements for the meeting of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration in the amount of 58,300 United States dollars are no longer required; 3. Invites the Economic and Social Council to review its decision 2003/264 of 23 July 2003 regarding the arrangement of the Social Forum, invites the Council, in this regard, to hold the Social Forum immediately before the sessions of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and decides that the related resources of 12,800 dollars will be a charge against the contingency fund; 4. Also invites the Economic and Social Council to review its decision 2003/269 of 23 July 2003 with a view to examining the possibility that additional meetings of the Commission on Human Rights may not be required in connection with its sixtieth session, requests the Secretary-General to provide such conference services as might be required consequent to Council decision 2003/269, as reviewed, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the related expenditures in the context of his first performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, and decides that an amount of 193,800 dollars shall be set aside in the contingency fund in the event that additional requirements arise from providing such services; X Administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Having considered the report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,A/58/214 and Corr.1. the report of the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardA/C.5/58/27. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.9 and A/58/7/Add.19. For the final texts, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Concurs with the recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension FundA/58/7/Add.9. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. and on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board;A/58/7/Add.19. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Approves expenses, chargeable directly to the Fund, totalling 80,770,800 United States dollars net for the biennium 2004-2005 and no change in the initial appropriation of 74,384,900 dollars net for the biennium 2002-2003 for the administration of the Fund; 3. Also approves an additional amount of 1,504,500 dollars above the level of resources set out in section 1, Overall policy-making, direction and coordination, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005A/58/6 (Sect. 1). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. as the United Nations share of the cost of the administrative expenses of the central secretariat of the Fund; 4. Authorizes the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board to supplement the voluntary contributions to the Emergency Fund for the biennium 2004-2005 by an amount not exceeding 200,000 dollars; XI Special political missions Notes that an unallocated balance of 26,954,800 United States dollars remains against the provision of 169,431,700 dollars for special political missions;See A/C.5/58/33. XII Proposed programme budget for the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO Having considered the programme budget proposals for the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO for the biennium 2004-2005A/58/6 (Sect. 13) and Add.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Decides to approve resources in the amount of 23,472,200 United States dollars proposed for the biennium 2004-2005 under section 13, International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005;A/58/6 (Sect. 13) and Add.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. XIII Effect of changes in rates of exchange and inflation Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from the effect of changes in rates of exchange and inflationA/58/528. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Takes note of the revised estimates arising from recosting due to the effects of changes in the rates of exchange and inflation; XIV Financial viability of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Institute for Training and ResearchA/58/544. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.10. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Decides to cancel the debt of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in respect of rent and maintenance charges in the amount of 321,184 United States dollars; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to rationalize the financial structure of the Institute, including through the possible application of a consistent programme support rate to the Special Purpose Grants Fund in order to bring it in line with the standard rate applied by the United Nations, and decides to revert to the question at its fifty-ninth session; XV Cost implications of providing more predictable and adequate conference services to the meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States Recalling its resolutions 56/242 of 24 December 2001 and 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the cost implications of providing more predictable and adequate conference services to the meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member StatesA/58/397. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/58/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the cost implications of providing more predictable and adequate conference services to the meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member StatesA/58/397. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/58/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. and notes in this regard that there would be no effect on the budget estimates of the United Nations; XVI Contingency fund Notes that a balance of 11,314,500 United States dollars remains in the contingency fund;See A/C.5/58/34. XVII Conference and support services extended to the Counter-Terrorism Committee in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) Recalling its resolutions 56/288 of 27 June 2002 and 57/292 of 20 December 2002, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on conference and support services extended to the Counter-Terrorism Committee in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001)A/C.5/58/23. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/7/Add.17. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Reiterates paragraph 2 of its resolution 56/288, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the provision of conference and support services to the Counter-Terrorism Committee without adversely affecting other conference services; 2. Decides to appropriate an amount of 8,193,000 United States dollars to support the meeting requirements of the Counter-Terrorism Committee for the biennium 2004-2005 in the programme budget as follows: 7,958,900 dollars under section 2, General Assembly affairs and conference services,A/58/6 (Sect. 2). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. and 234,100 dollars under section 29D, Office of Central Support Services;A/58/6 (Sect. 29D). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 6. XVIII Development Account Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Implementation of projects financed from the Development Account: third progress report",A/58/404. and concurs with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon;See A/58/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. XIX Additional expenditures deriving from inflation and currency fluctuations 1. Reaffirms its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986; 2. Notes that the effects on the budget of inflation and currency fluctuations can be both positive and negative; 3. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on additional expenditures deriving from inflation and currency fluctuationsA/58/400. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 4. Requests the Secretary-General to explore the possibility of establishing a reserve fund to utilize currency gains and to report thereon, through the Advisory Committee, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; XX Proportion of General Service staff to Professional staff in the regional commissions Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the proportion of General Service staff to Professional staff in the regional commissionsA/58/403. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/58/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. XXI United Nations Fund for International Partnerships Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships;A/58/173. XXII Capital master plan Takes note of the first annual progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the capital master plan,A/58/599. the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the capital master plan for the period from January to July 2003,A/58/342. the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the progress report of the Board of Auditors on the capital master planA/58/321. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/7/Add.15. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. XXIII Administration and management of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the administration and management of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsA/58/569. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/7/Add.12. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. XXIV Administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2003 Recalling its resolution 58/251 of 23 December 2003, entitled "United Nations common system", in particular section I.D concerning hazard pay, Takes note of the statement of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/378. on the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2003Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.A/58/7/Add.2. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 7A. RESOLUTION 58/273 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/573, para. 79)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/273. Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly 1. Authorizes the Secretary-General, with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and subject to the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United NationsST/SGB/2003/7. and the provisions of paragraph 3 below, to enter into commitments in the biennium 2004-2005 to meet unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising either during or subsequent to the biennium, provided that the concurrence of the Advisory Committee shall not be necessary for: (a) Such commitments not exceeding a total of 8 million United States dollars in any one year of the biennium 2004-2005 as the Secretary-General certifies relate to the maintenance of peace and security; (b) Such commitments as the President of the International Court of Justice certifies relate to expenses occasioned by: (i) The designation of ad hoc judges (Statute of the International Court of Justice, Article 31), not exceeding a total of 330,000 dollars; (ii) The calling of witnesses and the appointment of experts (Statute, Article 50) and the appointment of assessors (Statute, Article 30), not exceeding a total of 50,000 dollars; (iii) The maintenance in office for the completion of cases of judges who have not been re-elected (Statute, Article 13, paragraph 3), not exceeding a total of 40,000 dollars; (iv) The payment of pensions and travel and removal expenses of retiring judges and travel and removal expenses and installation grant of members of the Court (Statute, Article 32, paragraph 7), not exceeding a total of 410,000 dollars; (v) The work of the Court or its Chambers away from The Hague (Statute, Article 22), not exceeding a total of 25,000 dollars; (c) Such commitments not exceeding a total of 500,000 dollars in the biennium 2004-2005 as the Secretary-General certifies are required for inter-organizational security measures pursuant to section IV of General Assembly resolution 36/235 of 18 December 1981; 2. Resolves that the Secretary-General shall report to the Advisory Committee and to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth and sixtieth sessions all commitments made under the provisions of the present resolution, together with the circumstances relating thereto, and shall submit supplementary estimates to the Assembly in respect of such commitments; 3. Decides that, for the biennium 2004-2005, if a decision of the Security Council results in the need for the Secretary-General to enter into commitments relating to the maintenance of peace and security in an amount exceeding 10 million dollars in respect of the decision, that matter shall be brought to the General Assembly, or, if the Assembly is suspended or not in session, a resumed or special session of the Assembly shall be convened by the Secretary-General to consider the matter. RESOLUTION 58/274 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/573, para. 79)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/274. Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly Resolves that: 1. The Working Capital Fund shall be established for the biennium 2004-2005 in the amount of 100 million United States dollars; 2. Member States shall make advances to the Working Capital Fund in accordance with the scale of assessments adopted by the General Assembly for contributions of Member States to the budget for the year 2004; 3. There shall be set off against this allocation of advances: (a) Credits to Member States resulting from transfers made in 1959 and 1960 from the surplus account to the Working Capital Fund in an adjusted amount of 1,025,092 dollars; (b) Cash advances paid by Member States to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2004-2005 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 56/257 of 24 December 2001; 4. Should the credits and advances paid by any Member State to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2002-2003 exceed the amount of that Member State's advance under the provisions of paragraph 2 above, the excess shall be set off against the amount of the contributions payable by the Member State in respect of the biennium 2004-2005; 5. The Secretary-General is authorized to advance from the Working Capital Fund: (a) Such sums as may be necessary to finance budgetary appropriations pending the receipt of contributions; sums so advanced shall be reimbursed as soon as receipts from contributions are available for that purpose; (b) Such sums as may be necessary to finance commitments that may be duly authorized under the provisions of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, in particular resolution 58/273 of 23 December 2003 relating to unforeseen and extraordinary expenses; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates for reimbursing the Working Capital Fund; (c) Such sums as may be necessary to continue the revolving fund to finance miscellaneous self-liquidating purchases and activities, which, together with net sums outstanding for the same purpose, do not exceed 200,000 dollars; advances in excess of 200,000 dollars may be made with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; (d) With the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee, such sums as may be required to finance payments of advance insurance premiums where the period of insurance extends beyond the end of the biennium in which payment is made; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates of each biennium, during the life of the related policies, to cover the charges applicable to each biennium; (e) Such sums as may be necessary to enable the Tax Equalization Fund to meet current commitments pending the accumulation of credits; such advances shall be repaid as soon as credits are available in the Tax Equalization Fund; 6. Should the provision in paragraph 1 above prove inadequate to meet the purposes normally related to the Working Capital Fund, the Secretary-General is authorized to utilize, in the biennium 2004-2005, cash from special funds and accounts in his custody, under the conditions approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 1341 (XIII) of 13 December 1958, or the proceeds of loans authorized by the Assembly. RESOLUTION 58/275 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/586, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/275. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the budget for the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire for the period from 13 May 2003 to 30 June 2004,A/58/370. the note by the Secretary-General concerning the budget for the United Nations Mission in Côte d'IvoireA/58/598. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/538. Having also considered the letter dated 27 October 2003 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General AssemblyA/58/535. and the letter dated 29 October 2003 from the President of the General Assembly addressed to the Chairman of the Fifth CommitteeA/C.5/58/12. regarding the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire, 1. Reaffirms, in the context of the decision of the Security Council with respect to the financing of the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire, the role of the General Assembly, as set out in Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations, as the organ to consider and approve the budget of the Organization, as well as the apportionment of its expenses among Member States; 2. Notes that the financing of the Mission up to now has been provided in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994; 3. Decides, as a provisional and exceptional measure, to finance the Mission up to the expiration of its current mandate in accordance with the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations under the regular budget; 4. Decides also that the issue of the most appropriate funding for the Mission upon the renewal of its mandate should be considered by the General Assembly at the first part of its resumed fifty-eighth session, in the context of established norms and practice; 5. Requests the President of the General Assembly to bring to the attention of the President of the Security Council the contents of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/276 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/571, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/276. Outsourcing practices The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/256 of 7 April 2000 and 55/232 of 23 December 2000, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on outsourcing practicesA/57/185. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/57/7 and Add.1-27), document A/57/7/Add.1, paras. 10 and 11. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/57/185. 2. Endorses the recommendations contained in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 7 (A/57/7 and Add.1-27), document A/57/7/Add.1, paras. 10 and 11. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the provisions of its resolution 55/232 and on activities outsourced during the years 2002 and 2003, including information on the location and type of outsourced activities and more detailed reasoning therefor. RESOLUTION 58/277 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/571, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/277. Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the management audit review of outsourcing in the United Nations and the United Nations funds and programmes The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Joint Inspection Unit, in particular resolutions 50/233 of 7 June 1996, 54/16 of 29 October 1999, 55/230 of 23 December 2000, 56/245 of 24 December 2001 and 57/284 A and B of 20 December 2002, Also reaffirming its resolutions 54/256 of 7 April 2000 and 55/232 of 23 December 2000 on outsourcing practices, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the management audit review of outsourcing in the United Nations and the United Nations funds and programmes,See A/58/92. the comments of the Secretary-General thereonSee A/58/92/Add.1. and paragraphs 5 to 7 and 9 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/389. 1. Takes note of recommendation 1 of the Joint Inspection Unit;See A/58/92. 2. Also takes note of recommendation 2 of the Unit and the related comments of the Secretary-General;See A/58/92/Add.1. 3. Endorses recommendation 3 (a) of the Unit; 4. Takes note of recommendations 4 and 5 of the Unit, as well as the related comments of the Secretary-GeneralSee A/58/92/Add.1. and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/58/389. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that contractors whose staff are present on the United Nations premises on a regular basis are held accountable for conducting individual background checks at their own expense; 6. Endorses recommendations 7 to 9 of the Unit; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to share the experience of the Procurement Division of the Office of Central Support Services of the Secretariat in the use of its new formats for monitoring, evaluating and certifying supplier performance under outsourced contracts with the members of the Inter-Agency Procurement Working Group and to report thereon to the General Assembly in the context of his next report on outsourcing practices. RESOLUTION 58/278 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/571, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/278. Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on common and joint services of United Nations system organizations at Vienna The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on common and joint services of United Nations system organizations at Vienna,See A/58/258. the comments of the Secretary-General and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereonSee A/58/258/Add.1. and the related comments of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/389, paras. 8 and 9. 1. Welcomes the comprehensive and timely preparation of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit;See A/58/258. 2. Decides to revert at its fifty-ninth session to the consideration of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit and the comments of the Secretary-General and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereonSee A/58/258/Add.1. upon the issuance of the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. RESOLUTION 58/279 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/571, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/279. Report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the Investment Management Service of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, Having considered the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the Investment Management Service of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,See A/58/81. 1. Takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the Investment Management Service of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund;See A/58/81. 2. Notes with concern the findings of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on problem areas in the functioning, administration and accountability mechanisms of the Investment Management Service; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services contained in its report are fully and expeditiously implemented and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-eighth session. RESOLUTIONS 58/27 A and B Adopted at the 70th plenary meeting, on 5 December 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.32 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela 58/27. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/113 A of 6 December 2002 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular resolutions 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999, 1378 (2001) of 14 November 2001, 1383 (2001) of 6 December 2001, 1390 (2002) of 16 January 2002, 1401 (2002) of 28 March 2002, 1453 (2002) of 24 December 2002 and 1510 (2003) of 13 October 2003, Reaffirming its continued strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Reaffirming its condemnation of all use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities, and welcoming the ongoing successful efforts of the Afghan people and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition to combat terrorism on their territory, Convinced that the main responsibility for finding a political solution lies with the Afghan people themselves, expressing in this regard its full support for President Karzai and the Afghan Transitional Administration, and reaffirming its continued support for the implementation of the provisions of the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). including the holding of free and fair elections in 2004, Convinced also that a political consolidation aimed at the adoption of a pluralistic and democratic constitution and the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic, fully representative and gender-sensitive government, which respects the rule of law, the human rights of all Afghans and the international obligations of Afghanistan and is committed to peace with all countries, can lead to durable peace and reconciliation, Recognizing the urgent need for the creation of an effective and ethnically balanced Afghan national army, Ministry of Defence and national police force, and acknowledging the importance of the first steps taken in this regard by the Transitional Administration, Reiterating that a fair and effective justice system that respects international norms and standards, including by ensuring the accountability of perpetrators of violations of human rights, remains of high importance, Encouraging the Transitional Administration to consider initiating a process of national reconciliation, Taking note of the positive developments in Afghanistan in the past two years, in particular the return of a large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, the increased Afghan ownership as illustrated by the progress in implementing education and health programmes, the development of a comprehensive national budget, the introduction of the new currency, the publication of a draft text for a constitution, the beginning of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and the reforms thus far in the security sector, and stressing that these processes should be expedited and carried through to completion, Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative for Afghanistan and the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, stressing in particular in this regard the highly valuable role that the current Special Representative of the Secretary-General has played throughout the ongoing process, Reiterating that the United Nations must continue to play its central and impartial role in the international efforts to assist the Afghan people in consolidating peace in Afghanistan and rebuilding their country and its institutions, as well as in efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, provide for rehabilitation and reconstruction and national capacity-building and facilitate the orderly return of refugees, Recognizing the need for continued strong international commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programmes, under the ownership of the Transitional Administration, of rehabilitation and reconstruction, and noting that visible progress in this regard can further enhance the authority of the Transitional Administration and greatly contribute to the peace process, Commending the international efforts to help the Transitional Administration to provide a secure environment in Afghanistan, and stressing the need for a coordinated approach across all parts of the security sector and the importance of a national army and police force that are ethnically balanced, professional and accountable to legitimate civilian authorities, Welcoming, in this regard, the important role played by both the International Security Assistance Force and its respective lead nations in improving security conditions in and around Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, Recognizing the need for Afghanistan and its neighbours to work closely together to promote peace, security, stability and mutually beneficial relations, including through trade and investment, and welcoming therefore the signature of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly Relations on 22 December 2002S/2002/1416, annex. and the Declaration on Encouraging Closer Trade, Transit and Investment Cooperation on 22 September 2003, Noting that, despite improvements in the security sector, the lack of security still remains the most serious challenge facing Afghanistan and Afghans today, expressing its deep concern over a number of recent security incidents in Afghanistan, including the terrorist attacks against United Nations staff, national and international humanitarian personnel and the International Security Assistance Force, noting the necessity of further enhancing the capacity of the Transitional Administration to exercise its authority nationwide, and commending the steps already taken in that regard, Deeply concerned about the continued increase in the cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, which is undermining stability and security, as well as the political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan, and has dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, and welcoming in this context the commitment of the Transitional Administration to rid Afghanistan of this pernicious production and trade, Recognizing that the social and economic development of Afghanistan, specifically the development of gainful and sustainable livelihoods in the formal productive sector, is an important condition for the successful implementation of the comprehensive national drug control strategy of the Transitional Administration, Recognizing also the need for enhanced international cooperation and support to accelerate the implementation of the Afghan national drug control strategy, and looking forward in this regard to the international counter-narcotics conference in Kabul in 2004, to be hosted by the Transitional Administration, the United Nations and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/616. 2. Welcomes the recent Security Council mission to Afghanistan and its report,S/2003/1074. which contains several positive recommendations; 3. Stresses that the fragile situation in Afghanistan poses a continuing risk to peace and stability in the region, and expresses its determination to further assist the efforts of the Transitional Administration to prevent the use of Afghan territory for terrorism; 4. Reiterates its strong support for the Transitional Administration in the full implementation of the Bonn Agreement,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). endorses its priorities, as presented in the National Development Framework and national budget, which are the restoration of the economic infrastructure, the strengthening of the central government, the constitutional process, the building of a national army and police force under civilian control, the verified and fair implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, demining activities, the rebuilding of the justice system, respect for human rights, and combating illicit drug production and trafficking, and urges the international community to support the efforts in these areas; 5. Stresses the importance of strengthening the authority of the Transitional Administration, facilitating security sector reform and reconstruction efforts throughout the country and providing a secure environment for the constitutional process and the preparations for the general elections, and in this regard welcomes the recent expansion of the International Security Assistance Force mandate in accordance with the Bonn Agreement, as well as the progressive establishment of provincial reconstruction teams in various parts of Afghanistan; 6. Calls upon all Afghan groups to renounce the use of violence, respect human rights and international humanitarian law, respect the authority of the Transitional Administration and implement fully the provisions of the Bonn Agreement; 7. Welcomes the role of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan, including through the provision of expert advice to the Constitutional Commission, and encourages the Transitional Administration and the international community to continue to provide appropriate assistance and support to allow the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to fulfil its mandate; 8. Stresses the fundamental importance for a peaceful, democratic Afghanistan of the upcoming constitutional Loya Jirga and elections in 2004, in accordance with the time frame set out in the Bonn Agreement for the creation of a representative government, and underscores the need for the broad and open participation of all Afghans, including women, in the political process in a secure environment; 9. Reiterates the importance of the full and equal participation of and representation by women in political, civil, economic, cultural and social life throughout the country, calls upon the Transitional Administration to protect and promote the equal rights of men and women, and notes in this respect the ratification by Afghanistan of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. on 5 March 2003; 10. Commends and strongly supports the important role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in support of efforts of the Transitional Administration to fully implement the Bonn Agreement, and endorses the concept of the Assistance Mission as a fully integrated Mission under the authority of the Special Representative and with a light international footprint; 11. Calls upon donor countries to fulfil promptly their assumed commitments made at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held in Tokyo on 21 and 22 January 2002, and reiterated in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 21 September 2003, invites them to provide additional resources beyond those pledged so far, and also calls upon all Member States to provide humanitarian assistance and to support the Transitional Administration through measures in accordance with the national development budget published by the Transitional Administration; 12. Calls upon the international community to support the efforts of the Transitional Administration to coordinate assistance, to formulate a strategy for the long-term development of Afghanistan and to allocate sufficient funds to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund; 13. Calls upon the signatories of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly RelationsS/2002/1416, annex. to respect their commitments under the Declaration, and calls upon all other States to respect and support the implementation of its provisions and to promote regional stability; 14. Welcomes, in this regard, the signing of the Declaration on Encouraging Closer Trade, Transit and Investment Cooperation as a further sign of the commitment of Afghanistan and its neighbours to closer regional cooperation; 15. Calls upon the members of the Tripartite Commission to redouble their efforts to support peace and security in the southern and south-eastern border areas of Afghanistan; 16. Calls for continued international assistance to the vast number of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their safe and orderly return and sustainable reintegration into society so as to contribute to the stability of the entire country; 17. Welcomes the efforts of the Transitional Administration to respect fully the international obligations of Afghanistan with regard to narcotic drugs, and calls upon it to strengthen further its efforts to eliminate the annual poppy crop, as well as to efficiently enforce relevant national laws and regulations against narcotic drugs; 18. Calls upon the international community to assist the Transitional Administration in the implementation of its comprehensive national drug control strategy, aimed at eliminating illicit poppy cultivation, which continues to constitute a serious threat to the successful political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan, including through support for increased law enforcement, crop substitution and other alternative livelihood and development programmes and capacity-building for drug control institutions; 19. Supports the fight against the illicit trafficking of drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including increased cooperation among them to strengthen anti-narcotic controls to curb the drug flow, and welcomes the presentation in Moscow on 29 October 2003 of the latest report of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme on drugs in Afghanistan; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every four months during its fifty-eighth session on the progress of the United Nations and the efforts of his Special Representative to promote peace in Afghanistan, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security". B Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/113 B of 6 December 2002 and all other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held in Tokyo on 21 and 22 January 2002, Expressing its grave concern about the continuing effects of decades of conflict in Afghanistan, which have resulted in massive loss of life, extensive human suffering, serious violations of human rights, destruction of property, serious damage to the economic and social infrastructure, refugee flows and other forcible displacements of large numbers of people, Mindful that Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and that some parts of its territory continue to be affected by serious drought, Noting the accession of Afghanistan to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. Remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance, which constitutes a great danger for the civilian population and a major obstacle for the return of refugees and displaced populations and for the resumption of agricultural and other economic activities, the provision of humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, Welcoming the positive steps taken so far towards an improved situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms for many Afghans, in particular women and children, and commending in this regard the positive role played by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and Afghan civil society organizations, while noting with grave concern, however, that there remain discriminatory practices that hinder the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Expressing its deep concern about reports of violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law in parts of the country, Reminding the Transitional Administration and all Afghan groups of their commitment to respect human rights in the country, as contained in the Bonn Agreement, Reaffirming the importance of the safety and security of the humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel in Afghanistan, and alarmed by the increase in attacks on humanitarian personnel, including Afghan nationals, in parts of the country, Noting with concern that the increase in such attacks has limited access to certain areas of Afghanistan and led to inadequate conditions for the delivery of aid for internally displaced persons and vulnerable sectors of the civilian population, Recognizing that a secure environment is indispensable for the safe and effective delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance and is a precondition for rehabilitation, reconstruction efforts and long-term development, and welcoming the expansion of the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force to allow it, as resources permit, to support the Afghan Transitional Administration and its successors in the maintenance of security in areas of Afghanistan outside Kabul and its environs, so that the Afghan authorities, as well as the personnel of the United Nations and other international civilian personnel engaged, in particular, in reconstruction and humanitarian efforts, can operate in a secure environment, and to provide security assistance for the performance of other tasks in support of the Bonn Agreement, Welcoming the ownership of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts by the Transitional Administration through the National Development Framework and national budget, Reiterating the importance of a seamless transition from humanitarian relief to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan, and welcoming the important contribution that the integrated approach of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and of members of the donor community has made in this regard, Expressing its appreciation to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for their continued efforts in coordinating, planning and implementing humanitarian and other assistance in cooperation with the Transitional Administration, Welcoming the return of large numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons, while noting with concern that displacement remains a widespread phenomenon and that the conditions in certain parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive to safe and sustainable returns to places of origin, Expressing gratitude to those countries that continue to host Afghan refugee populations, and at the same time once again calling upon all groups to continue to fulfil their obligations for the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons and to allow international access for their protection and care, Expressing its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations whose international and local staff continue to respond positively to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary-General for mobilizing and coordinating the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/616. 2. Stresses that the responsibility for the solution of the humanitarian crisis lies above all with the Afghan people themselves, and urges them to continue their efforts to achieve national reconciliation; 3. Urges all Afghan groups to actively support the Transitional Administration in meeting the responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. to cooperate fully with the mine action programme coordinated by the United Nations and to execute the destruction of all existing stocks of landmines; 4. Stresses the coordinating role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan for the United Nations system in ensuring a seamless transition from humanitarian relief to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan, including the cooperation of the United Nations system with other actors in the international community, in particular with the international financial institutions; 5. Commends the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the work accomplished; 6. Welcomes the recent substantial contributions to the Law and Order Trust Fund, and at the same time regrets that the funding provided to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and the Law and Order Trust Fund, which were designed to contribute to the mobilization of international support to Afghanistan, remains inadequate; 7. Urges the international community to actively participate in and financially contribute to these rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and encourages the international community to channel assistance through the national development budget of the Afghan Transitional Administration and to focus attention on building the capacity of Afghans; 8. Strongly condemns the recent deliberate attacks and all other acts of violence and intimidation directed against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, and regrets the loss of life and physical harm suffered among such staff; 9. Urges the Transitional Administration and local authorities to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations and humanitarian personnel, as well as their safe and unimpeded access to all affected populations, and to protect the property of the United Nations and of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations; 10. Notes the ratification by Afghanistan of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 34/180, annex. on 5 March 2003, and at the same time strongly condemns once again continuing discrimination against women and girls, as well as against persons belonging to ethnic and religious groups, including minorities; 11. Emphasizes the importance of actively involving all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes; 12. Reminds all Afghan groups of their commitment to the Bonn Agreement,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and calls upon them to respect fully the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with their obligations under international law, and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men; 13. Welcomes the start of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process by the Transitional Administration and the efforts of the international observer group to verify the fairness of the process, and calls upon the international community to assist the Transitional Administration in these efforts; 14. Also welcomes, in this regard, the accession of the Transitional Administration on 24 September 2003 to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. and urges Afghan groups to refrain from the recruitment or use of children contrary to international standards, while stressing the importance of demobilizing and reintegrating child soldiers and other war-affected children; 15. Emphasizes the necessity of investigating allegations of violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, including violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women and girls, of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law; 16. Appeals to the Transitional Administration and the international community to mainstream gender issues into all humanitarian assistance and future rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes and to actively promote the full and equal participation of and benefit to both women and men in respect of those programmes, underlining the importance of a senior gender adviser position in this context; 17. Calls upon the Transitional Administration to provide Afghan children with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, recognizing the special needs of girls, and to ensure their full access to those facilities; 18. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, and reminds them of their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees and the right to seek asylum; 19. Calls upon the Transitional Administration, acting with the support of the international community, to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons, welcomes in this respect the initiation of the National Area-Based Development Programme and the National Solidarity Programme, and calls upon the international community to provide adequate funding to these programmes which, inter alia, assist in the resettlement of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons; 20. Urges donors to fulfil promptly the funding commitments made in Tokyo at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan and reiterated in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 21 September 2003, and invites them to provide additional resources beyond those pledged so far; 21. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close collaboration with the Transitional Administration and Afghan civil society, all possible and necessary humanitarian, financial, technical and material assistance for the Afghan population, inter alia, a minimal degree of health care and health services in all parts of the country; 22. Calls upon the international community to continue and strengthen its coordination of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, bearing in mind the role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan; 23. Also calls upon the international community to respond generously and without delay to the national development budget, as well as long-term interventions towards rehabilitation and reconstruction; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every four months during its fifty-eighth session on the progress of the United Nations and the efforts of his Special Representative to promote peace in Afghanistan, and to report to the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the sub-item entitled "Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan". RESOLUTION 58/280 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/571, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 58/280. Review of duplication, complexity and bureaucracy in United Nations administrative processes and procedures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994, 54/244 of 23 December 1999 and 56/253 of 24 December 2001, Having considered the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the review of duplication, complexity and bureaucracy in United Nations administrative processes and procedures,See A/58/211. Takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services.See A/58/211. RESOLUTION 58/28 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/451, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 58/28. Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/72 of 4 December 1998, 54/43 of 1 December 1999 and 56/14 of 29 November 2001 on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures, Also recalling its resolution 35/142 B of 12 December 1980, which introduced the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, and its resolutions 48/62 of 16 December 1993, 49/66 of 15 December 1994, 51/38 of 10 December 1996 and 52/32 of 9 December 1997, calling upon all Member States to participate in it, and its resolution 47/54 B of 9 December 1992, endorsing the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters and inviting Member States to provide the Secretary-General with relevant information regarding their implementation, Noting that since then, national reports on military expenditures and on the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters have been submitted by a number of Member States belonging to different geographic regions, Convinced that the improvement of international relations forms a sound basis for promoting further openness and transparency in all military matters, Also convinced that transparency in military matters is an essential element for building a climate of trust and confidence between States worldwide and that a better flow of objective information on military matters can help to relieve international tension and is therefore an important contribution to conflict prevention, Noting the role of the standardized reporting system, as instituted through its resolution 35/142 B, as an important instrument to enhance transparency in military matters, Conscious that the value of the standardized reporting system would be enhanced by a broader participation of Member States, Welcoming, therefore, the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/54/298. on ways and means to implement the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters, including, in particular, how to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, Recalling that the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters recommended certain areas for further consideration, such as the improvement of the standardized reporting system, Noting the efforts of several regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures, including standardized annual exchanges of relevant information among their member States, 1. Calls upon Member States to report annually, by 30 April, to the Secretary-General their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data are available, using, preferably and to the extent possible, the reporting instrument as recommended in its resolution 35/142 B or, as appropriate, any other format developed in conjunction with similar reporting on military expenditures to other international or regional organizations, and, in the same context, encourages Member States to submit nil returns, if appropriate; 2. Recommends the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Member States for implementation, fully taking into account specific political, military and other conditions prevailing in a region, on the basis of initiatives and with the agreement of the States of the region concerned; 3. Encourages relevant international bodies and regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to enhance complementarity among reporting systems, taking into account the particular characteristics of each region, and to consider the possibility of an exchange of information with the United Nations; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures;A/58/202. 5. Requests the Secretary-General, within available resources: (a) To continue the practice of sending an annual note verbale to Member States requesting the submission of data to the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, together with the reporting format and related instructions, and to publish in a timely fashion in appropriate United Nations media the due date for transmitting data on military expenditures; (b) To circulate annually the reports on military expenditures as received from Member States; (c) To continue consultations with relevant international bodies, within existing resources, with a view to ascertaining requirements for adjusting the present instrument, with a view to encouraging wider participation, and to make recommendations, based on the outcome of those consultations and taking into account the views of Member States, on necessary changes to the content and structure of the standardized reporting system; (d) To encourage relevant international bodies and organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to consult with those bodies and organizations with emphasis on examining possibilities for enhancing complementarity among international and regional reporting systems and for exchanging related information between those bodies and the United Nations; (e) To encourage the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament in Africa, in Asia and the Pacific, and in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist Member States in their regions in enhancing their knowledge of the standardized reporting system; (f) To promote international and regional/subregional symposia and training seminars to explain the purpose of the standardized reporting system and to give relevant technical instructions; (g) To report on experiences gained during such symposia and training seminars; 6. Encourages Member States: (a) To inform the Secretary-General about possible problems with the standardized reporting system and their reasons for not submitting the requested data; (b) To continue to provide the Secretary-General, in time for deliberation by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, with their views and suggestions on ways and means to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, including necessary changes to its content and structure; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures". RESOLUTION 58/29 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/453, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries) and Nauru. by a recorded vote of 130 to 3, with 42 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey 58/29. Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, contained in its resolution 2832 (XXVI) of 16 December 1971, and recalling also its resolutions 54/47 of 1 December 1999 and 56/16 of 29 November 2001 and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the report of the Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland States of the Indian Ocean held in July 1979,Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 45 and corrigendum (A/34/45 and Corr.1). Recalling further paragraph 102 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur, from 20 to 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. in which it was noted, inter alia, that the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean would continue his informal consultations on the future work of the Committee, Emphasizing the need to foster consensual approaches that are conducive to the pursuit of such endeavours, Noting the initiatives taken by countries of the region to promote cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, in the Indian Ocean area and the possible contribution of such initiatives to overall objectives of a zone of peace, Convinced that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would assist the progress of a mutually beneficial dialogue to develop conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Considering that greater efforts and more time are required to develop a focused discussion on practical measures to ensure conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/58/29). 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/58/29). 2. Reiterates its conviction that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region; 3. Requests the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee to continue his informal consultations with the members of the Committee and to report through the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render, within existing resources, all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Committee, including the provision of summary records; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace". RESOLUTION 58/2 Adopted at the 34th plenary meeting, on 16 October 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.1, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 58/2. Open-ended panel of the General Assembly on commodities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/236 of 20 December 2002, 1. Decides to convene an open-ended panel of the General Assembly on commodities, to be chaired by the President of the General Assembly, with a maximum of six panellists from among the independent eminent persons and lead discussants, on 27 October 2003, from 3 to 5 p.m.; 2. Also decides that the President of the General Assembly will present a summary of the discussions of the open-ended panel at the beginning of the debate in the Second Committee on the item dealing with commodities. RESOLUTION 58/30 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/454, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States) and Nauru. 58/30. African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/53 of 10 December 1996 and 56/17 of 29 November 2001 and all its other relevant resolutions, as well as those of the Organization of African Unity, Recalling also the signing of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. at Cairo on 11 April 1996, Recalling further the Cairo Declaration adopted on that occasion,A/51/113-S/1996/276, annex. which emphasized that nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in regions of tension, such as the Middle East, enhance global and regional peace and security, Taking note of the statement made by the President of the Security Council on behalf of the members of the Council on 12 April 1996,S/PRST/1996/17; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1996. affirming that the signature of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty constituted an important contribution by the African countries to the maintenance of international peace and security, Considering that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in the Middle East, would enhance the security of Africa and the viability of the African nuclear-weapon-free zone, 1. Calls upon African States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. as soon as possible so that it may enter into force without delay; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the nuclear-weapon States that have signed the Protocols that concern them, and calls upon those that have not yet ratified the Protocols concerning them to do so as soon as possible; 3. Calls upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to the Treaty that have not yet done so to take all necessary measures to ensure the speedy application of the Treaty to territories for which they are, de jure or de facto, internationally responsible and that lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Treaty; 4. Calls upon the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that have not yet done so to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency pursuant to the Treaty, thereby satisfying the requirements of article 9 (b) of and annex II to the Treaty of Pelindaba when it enters into force, and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency on 15 May 1997;International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). 5. Expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General, the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the diligence with which they have rendered effective assistance to the signatories to the Treaty; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty". RESOLUTION 58/31 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/455, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nauru, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. and as orally amended 58/31. Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) The General Assembly, Recalling that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. was opened for signature at Mexico City on 14 February 1967, Recalling also that, in its preamble, the Treaty of Tlatelolco states that military denuclearized zones are not an end in themselves but rather a means for achieving general and complete disarmament at a later stage, Recalling further that, in its resolution 2286 (XXII) of 5 December 1967, it welcomed with special satisfaction the Treaty of Tlatelolco as an event of historic significance in the efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security, Recalling that in 1990, 1991 and 1992 the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean approved and opened for signature a set of amendmentsA/47/467, annex. to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, with the aim of enabling the full entry into force of that instrument, Highlighting that, with the ratification of Cuba, the Treaty of Tlatelolco is now in force for thirty-three sovereign States of the region, thereby consolidating the first nuclear-weapon-free zone established in a densely populated region, Noting with satisfaction the interest that the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean has manifested to promote mechanisms of cooperation and consultation in other nuclear-weapon-free zones, Reaffirming the importance of strengthening the Agency as the appropriate legal and political forum for ensuring cooperation with the agencies of other nuclear-weapon-free zones, 1. Welcomes the fact that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. is now in force for the sovereign States of the region, and that this fact was officially acknowledged by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean at its eighteenth session, held at Havana on 5 and 6 November 2003, and takes note of the results of the aforementioned session of the General Conference, including the adoption of the Havana Declaration;See resolution CG/Res.457 of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, available from www.opanal.org. 2. Urges the countries of the region that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification of the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference of the Agency in its resolutions 267 (E-V), 268 (XII) and 290 (E-VII); 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)". RESOLUTION 58/32 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/457, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation. 58/32. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001 and 57/53 of 22 November 2002, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of humankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling, in this connection, the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held in Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations that it made,See A/51/261, annex. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing its concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70, 54/49, 55/28, 56/19 and 57/53, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213, A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1, A/56/164 and Add.1, A/57/166 and Add.1 and A/58/373. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts in Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, Confirming the request to the Secretary-General contained in paragraph 4 of its resolutions 56/19 and 57/53, 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field, consistent with the need to preserve the free flow of information; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Definition of basic notions related to information security, including unauthorized interference with or misuse of information and telecommunications systems and information resources; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 of the present resolution; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them, and to conduct a study on the concepts referred to in paragraph 2 of the present resolution, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts, to be established in 2004, appointed by him on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and with the help of Member States in a position to render such assistance, and to submit a report on the outcome of the study to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 58/33 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/458, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 106 to 49, with 19 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, South Africa, Tonga, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 58/33. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapons systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing its concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. it was again noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persisted, Emphasizing that internationally negotiated guidelines for the transfer of high technology with military applications should take into account the legitimate defence requirements of all States and the requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, while ensuring that access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful purposes is not denied, 1. Affirms that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted; 2. Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States; 3. Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications; 4. Encourages United Nations bodies to contribute, within existing mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful purposes; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament". RESOLUTION 58/34 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/459, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 58/34. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000, 56/21 of 29 November 2001 and 57/55 of 22 November 2002 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 57/55,A/58/137 (Part I) and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(46)/RES/16, adopted on 20 September 2002 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-sixth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16-20 September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC(2002)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/137 (Part I) and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his report of 10 October 1990A/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTION 58/35 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/460, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 119 to none, with 58 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 58/35. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect. III.C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III.F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III.F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para. 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 55/31 of 20 November 2000, 56/22 of 29 November 2001 and 57/56 of 22 November 2002, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be explored further in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Also recommends that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 58/36 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/461, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Yemen and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 174 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America 58/36. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space does not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during its 2004 session; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTION 58/37 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Egypt, Indonesia and Iran (Islamic Republic of). by a recorded vote of 113 to 3, with 57 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 58/37. Missiles The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 F of 1 December 1999, 55/33 A of 20 November 2000, 56/24 B of 29 November 2001 and 57/71 of 22 November 2002, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in the field of arms regulation and disarmament and the commitment of Member States to take concrete steps to strengthen that role, Realizing the need to promote regional and international peace and security in a world free from the scourge of war and the burden of armaments, Convinced of the need for a comprehensive approach towards missiles, in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner, as a contribution to international peace and security, Bearing in mind that the security concerns of Member States at the international and regional levels should be taken into consideration in addressing the issue of missiles, Underlining the complexities involved in considering the issue of missiles in the conventional context, Expressing its support for the international efforts against the development and proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction, Considering that the Secretary-General, in response to resolution 55/33 A, with the assistance of a Panel of Governmental Experts, submitted a report for the consideration of the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session on the issue of missiles in all its aspects,A/57/229. Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies from Member States on the report on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, submitted pursuant to resolution 57/71;A/58/117 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Requests the Secretary-General further to seek the views of Member States on the report on the issue of missiles in all its aspects and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a Panel of Governmental Experts, to be established in 2004 on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to explore further the issue of missiles in all its aspects and to submit a report for consideration by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Missiles". RESOLUTION 58/38 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. 58/38. Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999, 55/33 O of 20 November 2000, 56/24 H of 29 November 2001 and 57/76 of 22 November 2002 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". RESOLUTION 58/39 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 172 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstaining: Bhutan 58/39. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001 and 57/77 of 22 November 2002, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". RESOLUTION 58/3 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 27 October 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.5 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 58/3. Enhancing capacity-building in global public health The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. adopted by heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, and the development goals contained therein, in particular the health-related development goals, and its resolutions 55/162 of 14 December 2000, 56/95 of 14 December 2001 and 57/144 of 16 December 2002, Bearing in mind World Health Assembly resolutions 48.13 of 12 May 1995, 54.14 of 21 May 2001 and 56.28 and 56.29 of 28 May 2003, Recognizing that Member States have to strengthen their efforts to halt and begin to reverse, by 2015, the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases, Reaffirming its Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. Recognizing that the globalization of trade and increased international travel have increased the risk of a rapid worldwide spread of infectious diseases, posing new challenges to public health, Noting with concern the deleterious impact on humankind of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other major infectious diseases and epidemics, and the heavy disease burden borne by poor people, especially in developing countries, Welcoming the current success of the affected countries in combating the severe acute respiratory syndrome, the first severe infectious disease to emerge in the twenty-first century, the political commitment and strong leadership shown in the affected countries and the role of the World Health Organization in controlling the epidemic, while mindful of the fact that the fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome and other epidemics is far from over, Convinced that strengthening public health is critical to the development of all Member States, and that economic and social development are enhanced through measures that strengthen capacity-building in public health, including systems of prevention of and immunization against infectious diseases, Emphasizing that Member States have primary responsibility for strengthening their capacity-building in public health to detect and respond rapidly to outbreaks of major infectious diseases, through the establishment and improvement of effective public health mechanisms, while recognizing that the magnitude of the necessary response may be beyond the capabilities of many developing countries, Convinced that the control of outbreaks of diseases, particularly new diseases whose origins remain unknown, requires international and regional cooperation, Recognizing the need for greater international and regional cooperation to meet new and existing challenges to public health, in particular in promoting effective measures such as vaccines, as well as to assist developing countries in securing vaccines against preventable infectious diseases, Recognizing also the expertise of the World Health Organization and its role in, inter alia, coordinating actions with Member States in the areas of information exchange, personnel training, technical support, resource utilization, the improvement of global public health preparedness and response mechanisms and stimulating and advancing work on the prevention, control and eradication of epidemic, endemic and other diseases, as well as the work of the World Health Organization office dedicated to communicable diseases surveillance and response, Underscoring the continued importance of the International Health Regulations as an instrument for ensuring the maximum possible protection against the international spread of diseases with minimum interference in international traffic, and urging Member States to give high priority to the work on the revision of the Regulations, Welcoming the efforts of the World Health Organization, in cooperation with Member States, the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods institutions, the private sector and civil society, in enhancing capacity-building in global public health and in promoting public health at the country level, Welcoming also the Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public Health, adopted on 14 November 2001,WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and noting the decision of the World Trade Organization General Council of 30 August 2003 on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Declaration,WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Recognizing the need to strengthen national health and social infrastructures to reinforce measures to eliminate discrimination in access to public health, information and education for all people, and especially for the most underserved and vulnerable groups, 1. Urges Member States to further integrate public health into their national economic and social development strategies, including through the establishment and improvement of effective public health mechanisms, in particular networks of disease surveillance, response, control, prevention, treatment and information exchange and the recruitment and training of national public health personnel; 2. Calls upon Member States and the international community to raise awareness of good public health practices, including through education and the mass media; 3. Emphasizes the importance of active international cooperation in the control of infectious diseases, based on the principles of mutual respect and equality, with a view to strengthening capacity-building in public health, especially in developing countries, including through the exchange of information and the sharing of experience, as well as research and training programmes focusing on surveillance, prevention, control, response, and care and treatment in respect of infectious diseases, and vaccines against them; 4. Calls for the improvement of the global public health preparedness and response systems, including systems of prevention and monitoring of infectious diseases, to better cope with major diseases, including in cases of global outbreaks of new diseases; 5. Encourages Member States to participate actively in the verification and validation of surveillance data and information concerning public health emergencies of international concern and, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization, to exchange information and experience in a timely and open manner on epidemics and the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that pose a risk to global public health; 6. Invites the regional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, as appropriate, to cooperate closely with Member States, the private sector and civil society, when requested, in their capacity-building in public health, as well as in regional cooperation to diminish and eliminate the deleterious impact of major infectious diseases; 7. Encourages Member States, as well as United Nations agencies, bodies, funds and programmes, in accordance with their respective mandates, to continue to address public health concerns in their development activities and programmes, and to actively support capacity-building in global public health and health care institutions; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to include observations on the issue of enhancing capacity-building in global public health in his report on the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 58/40 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Ecuador, and Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 58/40. Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes The General Assembly, Bearing in mind resolutions CM/Res.1153 (XLVIII) of 1988See A/43/398, annex I. and CM/Res.1225 (L) of 1989,See A/44/603, annex I. adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, concerning the dumping of nuclear and industrial wastes in Africa, Welcoming resolution GC(XXXIV)/RES/530 establishing a Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste, adopted on 21 September 1990 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its thirty-fourth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Thirty-fourth Regular Session, 17-21 September 1990 (GC(XXXIV)/RESOLUTIONS (1990)). Taking note of the commitment by the participants in the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, held in Moscow on 19 and 20 April 1996, to ban the dumping at sea of radioactive wastes,A/51/131, annex I, para. 20. Considering its resolution 2602 C (XXIV) of 16 December 1969, in which it requested the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament,The Conference of the Committee on Disarmament became the Committee on Disarmament as from the tenth special session of the General Assembly. The Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. inter alia, to consider effective methods of control against the use of radiological methods of warfare, Aware of the potential hazards underlying any use of radioactive wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and its implications for regional and international security, in particular for the security of developing countries, Recalling all its resolutions on the matter since its forty-third session in 1988, including its resolution 51/45 J of 10 December 1996, Also recalling resolution GC(45)/RES/10 adopted by consensus on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fifth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17-21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). in which States shipping radioactive materials are invited to provide, as appropriate, assurances to concerned States, upon their request, that the national regulations of the shipping State take into account the Agency's transport regulations and to provide them with relevant information relating to the shipment of such materials; the information provided should in no case be contradictory to the measures of physical security and safety, Welcoming the adoption at Vienna, on 5 September 1997, of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management,See GOV/INF/821-GC(41)/INF/12 and Corr.1, appendix 1. as recommended by the participants at the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, Noting with satisfaction that the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management entered into force on 18 June 2001, Noting that the first Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was convened in Vienna from 3 to 14 November 2003, Desirous of promoting the implementation of paragraph 76 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, 1. Takes note of the part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to a future convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/54/27), chap. III, sect. E. 2. Expresses grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States; 3. Calls upon all States to take appropriate measures with a view to preventing any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States; 4. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to take into account, in the negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons, radioactive wastes as part of the scope of such a convention; 5. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify efforts towards an early conclusion of such a convention and to include in its report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session the progress recorded in the negotiations on this subject; 6. Takes note of resolution CM/Res.1356 (LIV) of 1991, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity,See A/46/390, annex I. on the Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa; 7. Expresses the hope that the effective implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste will enhance the protection of all States from the dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories; 8. Appeals to all Member States that have not yet taken the necessary steps to become party to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementSee GOV/INF/821-GC(41)/INF/12 and Corr.1, appendix 1. to do so as soon as possible; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes". RESOLUTION 58/41 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay and Uzbekistan. 58/41. Improving the effectiveness of the methods of work of the First Committee The General Assembly, Expressing grave concern over both existing threats to international peace and security and new threats that have become manifest in the post-September 11, 2001 period, Reaffirming the role of the First Committee of the General Assembly in dealing with questions of disarmament and related international security issues, consistent with the functions and powers of the Assembly in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments, as stipulated in Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations, Considering that the improvement of the methods of work of the First Committee would complement and facilitate the broader effort to revitalize the General Assembly, Noting in this regard the relevant reports of the Secretary-General and related General Assembly resolutions on this subject, as well as the ongoing process in the open-ended informal consultations in the plenary on the revitalization of the Assembly chaired by its President, and seeking to contribute to this effort, 1. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to seek the views of Member States on the issue of improving the effectiveness of the methods of work of the First Committee, to prepare a report compiling and organizing the views of Member States on appropriate options, and to submit the report to the General Assembly for consideration at its fifty-ninth session; 2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Improving the effectiveness of the methods of work of the First Committee". RESOLUTION 58/42 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mali, Netherlands and Ukraine. 58/42. National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology The General Assembly, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Recalling that effective national control of the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, including those transfers that could contribute to proliferation activities, is an important tool for achieving those objectives, Recalling also that the States parties to the international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties have undertaken to facilitate the fullest possible exchange of materials, equipment and technological information for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the provisions of those treaties, Considering that the exchange of national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, Convinced that such an exchange would be beneficial to Member States that are in the process of developing such legislation, Reaffirming the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Invites Member States that are in a position to do so to enact or improve national legislation, regulations and procedures to exercise effective control over the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, while ensuring that such legislation, regulations and procedures are consistent with the obligations of States parties under international treaties; 2. Encourages Member States to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to the Secretary-General on their national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, as well as the changes therein, and requests the Secretary-General to make this information accessible to Member States; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology". RESOLUTION 58/43 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Pakistan. by a recorded vote of 73 to 48, with 46 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, South Africa, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 58/43. Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 entitled "Prevention of armed conflict", in which it calls upon Member States to settle their disputes by peaceful means, as set out in Chapter VI of the Charter, inter alia, by any procedures adopted by the parties, including the most effective use of the International Court of Justice, Recalling also the Security Council resolutions relating to the prevention of armed conflict, and noting all Security Council presidential statements relating to this matter, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability, Convinced that resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recognizing the need for meaningful dialogue among States concerned in the regions of tension to avert conflict, Welcoming the peace processes already initiated by States concerned to resolve their disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through mediation, inter alia, by third parties, regional organizations or the United Nations, Recognizing that States in some regions have already taken steps towards confidence-building measures at the bilateral, subregional and regional levels in the political and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, and noting that such confidence-building measures have improved peace and security in those regions and contributed to progress in the socio-economic conditions of their people, Concerned that the continuation of disputes among States, particularly in the absence of an effective mechanism to resolve them through peaceful means, may contribute to the arms race and endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and the efforts of the international community to promote arms control and disarmament, 1. Calls upon Member States to refrain from the use or threat of use of force in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the Charter, in particular Article 33, which provides for a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means chosen by the parties; 3. Calls upon Member States that have not already done so to open consultations and dialogue in the regions of tension without preconditions; 4. Urges States to comply strictly with all bilateral, regional and international agreements, including arms control and disarmament agreements, to which they are party; 5. Also urges, in the context of confidence-building measures, the maintenance of military balance between States in the regions of tension consistent with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments; 6. Encourages the promotion of unilateral, bilateral and regional confidence-building measures to avoid conflict and prevent the unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States with a view to exploring possibilities of furthering efforts towards confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context, particularly in the regions of tension; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the subject to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context". RESOLUTION 58/44 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 118 to 12, with 46 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Bulgaria, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 58/44. Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation The General Assembly, Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 56/24 T of 29 November 2001 on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism and other relevant resolutions, as well as its resolution 57/63 of 22 November 2002 on promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, Recalling also the purpose of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security and, to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, as enshrined in the Charter, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which states, inter alia, that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role, Convinced that in the globalization era and with the information revolution, arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament problems are more than ever the concern of all countries in the world, which are affected in one way or another by these problems and, therefore, should have the possibility to participate in the negotiations that arise to tackle them, Bearing in mind the existence of a broad structure of disarmament and arms regulation agreements resulting from non-discriminatory and transparent multilateral negotiations with the participation of a large number of countries, regardless of their size and power, Aware of the need to advance further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory and transparent negotiations with the goal of reaching general and complete disarmament under strict international control, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament, Recognizing also that the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are among the most immediate threats to international peace and security which need to be dealt with, with the highest priority, Considering that the multilateral disarmament agreements provide the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of, the provisions of the agreements and that such consultations and cooperation may also be undertaken through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the Charter, Stressing that international cooperation, the peaceful settlement of disputes, dialogue and confidence-building measures would contribute essentially to the creation of multilateral and bilateral friendly relations among peoples and nations, Being concerned at the continuous erosion of multilateralism in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and recognizing that a resort to unilateral actions by Member States in resolving their security concerns would jeopardize international peace and security and undermine confidence in the international security system as well as the foundations of the United Nations itself, Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations, 1. Reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope; 2. Also reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in resolving disarmament and non-proliferation concerns; 3. Urges the participation of all interested States in multilateral negotiations on arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner; 4. Underlines the importance of preserving the existing agreements on arms regulation and disarmament, which constitute an expression of the results of international cooperation and multilateral negotiations in response to the challenges facing mankind; 5. Calls once again upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursuing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation; 6. Requests the States parties to the relevant instruments on weapons of mass destruction to consult and cooperate among themselves in resolving their concerns with regard to cases of non-compliance as well as on implementation, in accordance with the procedures defined in those instruments, and to refrain from resorting or threatening to resort to unilateral actions or directing unverified non-compliance accusations against one another to resolve their concerns; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies of Member States on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation,See A/58/176 and Add.1. submitted pursuant to resolution 57/63; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the issue of the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation". RESOLUTION 58/45 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 173 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58/45. Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, 55/33 K of 20 November 2000, 56/24 F of 29 November 2001 and 57/64 of 22 November 2002, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/129 and Add.1. Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress in the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;A/58/129 and Add.1. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing this information to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". RESOLUTION 58/46 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tonga, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 124 to 29, with 22 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uzbekistan 58/46. Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999, 55/33 X of 20 November 2000, 56/24 S of 29 November 2001 and 57/85 of 22 November 2002, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear-arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Emphasizing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, adopted at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,Ibid., vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Stressing the importance of strengthening all existing nuclear-related disarmament, arms control and reduction measures, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference during its 2003 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Expressing its deep concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of the thirteen steps to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports, 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the implementation of resolution 57/85,A/58/162 and Add.1. 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its fifty-ninth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 58/47 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cuba, Fiji, Haiti, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 114 to 47, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 58/47. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the imperative need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to detargeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that reduction of tensions brought about by a change in nuclear doctrines would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling that in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear WeaponsA/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. it is stated that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 57/84 of 22 November 2002;A/58/162 and Add.1. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war,See A/56/400, para. 3. and also to continue to encourage Member States to endeavour to create conditions that would allow the emergence of an international consensus to hold an international conference as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". RESOLUTION 58/48 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Bhutan, Colombia, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Georgia, India, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Sri Lanka. 58/48. Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/83 of 22 November 2002, Recognizing the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evident in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and in particular by the fact that terrorists may seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, Noting the support expressed in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. for measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, Noting also that the Group of Eight, the European Union, the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others have taken into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, and the need for international cooperation in combating it, Acknowledging the consideration of issues relating to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,See A/57/335. Taking note of resolution GC(47)/RES/8, adopted on 19 September 2003 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-seventh regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-seventh Regular Session, 15-19 September 2003 (GC(47)/RES/DEC (2003)). and the setting up of an Advisory Group on Security in the Agency to advise the Director General on the Agency's activities relating to nuclear security, Taking note also of the report of the Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism,A/57/273-S/2002/875, annex. Taking note further of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/208 and Add.1. submitted pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 57/83, Mindful of the urgent need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, this threat to humanity, Emphasizing that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help to maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism, 1. Calls upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Urges all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture, and invites them to inform the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, of the measures taken in this regard; 3. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and relevant regional and international organizations for strengthening national capacities in this regard; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a report on measures already taken by international organizations on issues relating to the linkage between the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to seek the views of Member States on additional relevant measures for tackling the global threat posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, and to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". RESOLUTION 58/49 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 168 to 3, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, Georgia, India, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Russian Federation, Spain 58/49. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, 55/33 I of 20 November 2000, 56/24 G of 29 November 2001 and 57/73 of 22 November 2002, Welcoming the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Also welcomes the ratification by all original parties of the Treaty of Rarotonga, and calls upon eligible States to adhere to the treaty and the protocols thereto; 3. Further welcomes the efforts towards the completion of the ratification process of the Treaty of Pelindaba, and calls upon the States of the region that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the treaty, with the aim of its early entry into force; 4. Calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet done so; 5. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 6. Affirms its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 7. Calls upon the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, in order to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 8. Welcomes the vigorous efforts being made among States parties and signatories to those treaties to promote their common objectives, and considers that an international conference of States parties and signatories to the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties might be held to support the common goals envisaged in those treaties; 9. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of these goals; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". RESOLUTION 58/4 Adopted at the 51st plenary meeting, on 31 October 2003, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption (A/58/422) 58/4. United Nations Convention against Corruption The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/61 of 4 December 2000, in which it established an ad hoc committee for the negotiation of an effective international legal instrument against corruption and requested the Secretary-General to convene an intergovernmental open-ended expert group to examine and prepare draft terms of reference for the negotiation of such an instrument, and its resolution 55/188 of 20 December 2000, in which it invited the intergovernmental open-ended expert group to be convened pursuant to resolution 55/61 to examine the question of illegally transferred funds and the return of such funds to the countries of origin, Recalling also its resolutions 56/186 of 21 December 2001 and 57/244 of 20 December 2002 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of funds of illicit origin and returning such funds to the countries of origin, Recalling further its resolution 56/260 of 31 January 2002, in which it requested the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption to complete its work by the end of 2003, Recalling its resolution 57/169 of 18 December 2002, in which it accepted with appreciation the offer made by the Government of Mexico to host a high-level political conference for the purpose of signing the convention and requested the Secretary-General to schedule the conference for a period of three days before the end of 2003, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2001/13 of 24 July 2001, entitled "Strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating the transfer of funds of illicit origin, derived from acts of corruption, including the laundering of funds, and in returning such funds", Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Argentina for hosting the informal preparatory meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption in Buenos Aires from 4 to 7 December 2001, Recalling the Monterrey Consensus, adopted by the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. in which it was underlined that fighting corruption at all levels was a priority, Recalling also the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. in particular paragraph 19 thereof, in which corruption was declared a threat to the sustainable development of people, Concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law, 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption,A/58/422 and Add.1. which carried out its work at the headquarters of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, in which the Ad Hoc Committee submitted the final text of the draft United Nations Convention against Corruption to the General Assembly for its consideration and action, and commends the Ad Hoc Committee for its work; 2. Adopts the United Nations Convention against Corruption annexed to the present resolution, and opens it for signature at the High-level Political Signing Conference to be held in Merida, Mexico, from 9 to 11 December 2003, in accordance with resolution 57/169; 3. Urges all States and competent regional economic integration organizations to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption as soon as possible in order to ensure its rapid entry into force; 4. Decides that, until the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention established pursuant to the United Nations Convention against Corruption decides otherwise, the account referred to in article 62 of the Convention will be operated within the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, and encourages Member States to begin making adequate voluntary contributions to the above-mentioned account for the provision to developing countries and countries with economies in transition of the technical assistance that they might require to prepare for ratification and implementation of the Convention; 5. Also decides that the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiation of a Convention against Corruption will complete its tasks arising from the negotiation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption by holding a meeting well before the convening of the first session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention in order to prepare the draft text of the rules of procedure of the Conference of the States Parties and of other rules described in article 63 of the Convention, which will be submitted to the Conference of the States Parties at its first session for consideration; 6. Requests the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention to address the criminalization of bribery of officials of public international organizations, including the United Nations, and related issues, taking into account questions of privileges and immunities, as well as of jurisdiction and the role of international organizations, by, inter alia, making recommendations regarding appropriate action in that regard; 7. Decides that, in order to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it, 9 December should be designated International Anti-Corruption Day; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to designate the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to serve as the secretariat for and under the direction of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with the resources necessary to enable it to promote in an effective manner the rapid entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and to discharge the functions of secretariat of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, and to support the Ad Hoc Committee in its work pursuant to paragraph 5 above; 10. Further requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report on the High-level Political Signing Conference to be held in Merida, Mexico, in accordance with resolution 57/169, for submission to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session. Annex United Nations Convention against Corruption Preamble The States Parties to this Convention, Concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law, Concerned also about the links between corruption and other forms of crime, in particular organized crime and economic crime, including money-laundering, Concerned further about cases of corruption that involve vast quantities of assets, which may constitute a substantial proportion of the resources of States, and that threaten the political stability and sustainable development of those States, Convinced that corruption is no longer a local matter but a transnational phenomenon that affects all societies and economies, making international cooperation to prevent and control it essential, Convinced also that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach is required to prevent and combat corruption effectively, Convinced further that the availability of technical assistance can play an important role in enhancing the ability of States, including by strengthening capacity and by institution-building, to prevent and combat corruption effectively, Convinced that the illicit acquisition of personal wealth can be particularly damaging to democratic institutions, national economies and the rule of law, Determined to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery, Acknowledging the fundamental principles of due process of law in criminal proceedings and in civil or administrative proceedings to adjudicate property rights, Bearing in mind that the prevention and eradication of corruption is a responsibility of all States and that they must cooperate with one another, with the support and involvement of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, if their efforts in this area are to be effective, Bearing also in mind the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and to foster a culture of rejection of corruption, Commending the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in preventing and combating corruption, Recalling the work carried out by other international and regional organizations in this field, including the activities of the African Union, the Council of Europe, the Customs Cooperation Council (also known as the World Customs Organization), the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Organization of American States, Taking note with appreciation of multilateral instruments to prevent and combat corruption, including, inter alia, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, adopted by the Organization of American States on 29 March 1996,See E/1996/99. the Convention on the Fight against Corruption involving Officials of the European Communities or Officials of Member States of the European Union, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 26 May 1997,Official Journal of the European Communities, C 195, 25 June 1997. the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, adopted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on 21 November 1997,See Corruption and Integrity Improvement Initiatives in Developing Countries (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.III.B.18). the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 27 January 1999,Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No. 173. the Civil Law Convention on Corruption, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 November 1999,Ibid., No. 174. and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union on 12 July 2003, Welcoming the entry into force on 29 September 2003 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,General Assembly resolution 55/25, annex I. Have agreed as follows: Chapter I General provisions Article 1 Statement of purpose The purposes of this Convention are: (a) To promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more efficiently and effectively; (b) To promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption, including in asset recovery; (c) To promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property. Article 2 Use of terms For the purposes of this Convention: (a) "Public official" shall mean: (i) any person holding a legislative, executive, administrative or judicial office of a State Party, whether appointed or elected, whether permanent or temporary, whether paid or unpaid, irrespective of that person's seniority; (ii) any other person who performs a public function, including for a public agency or public enterprise, or provides a public service, as defined in the domestic law of the State Party and as applied in the pertinent area of law of that State Party; (iii) any other person defined as a "public official" in the domestic law of a State Party. However, for the purpose of some specific measures contained in chapter II of this Convention, "public official" may mean any person who performs a public function or provides a public service as defined in the domestic law of the State Party and as applied in the pertinent area of law of that State Party; (b) "Foreign public official" shall mean any person holding a legislative, executive, administrative or judicial office of a foreign country, whether appointed or elected; and any person exercising a public function for a foreign country, including for a public agency or public enterprise; (c) "Official of a public international organization" shall mean an international civil servant or any person who is authorized by such an organization to act on behalf of that organization; (d) "Property" shall mean assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, and legal documents or instruments evidencing title to or interest in such assets; (e) "Proceeds of crime" shall mean any property derived from or obtained, directly or indirectly, through the commission of an offence; (f) "Freezing" or "seizure" shall mean temporarily prohibiting the transfer, conversion, disposition or movement of property or temporarily assuming custody or control of property on the basis of an order issued by a court or other competent authority; (g) "Confiscation", which includes forfeiture where applicable, shall mean the permanent deprivation of property by order of a court or other competent authority; (h) "Predicate offence" shall mean any offence as a result of which proceeds have been generated that may become the subject of an offence as defined in article 23 of this Convention; (i) "Controlled delivery" shall mean the technique of allowing illicit or suspect consignments to pass out of, through or into the territory of one or more States, with the knowledge and under the supervision of their competent authorities, with a view to the investigation of an offence and the identification of persons involved in the commission of the offence. Article 3 Scope of application 1. This Convention shall apply, in accordance with its terms, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of corruption and to the freezing, seizure, confiscation and return of the proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. For the purposes of implementing this Convention, it shall not be necessary, except as otherwise stated herein, for the offences set forth in it to result in damage or harm to state property. Article 4 Protection of sovereignty 1. States Parties shall carry out their obligations under this Convention in a manner consistent with the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States and that of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other States. 2. Nothing in this Convention shall entitle a State Party to undertake in the territory of another State the exercise of jurisdiction and performance of functions that are reserved exclusively for the authorities of that other State by its domestic law. Chapter II Preventive measures Article 5 Preventive anti-corruption policies and practices 1. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, develop and implement or maintain effective, coordinated anti-corruption policies that promote the participation of society and reflect the principles of the rule of law, proper management of public affairs and public property, integrity, transparency and accountability. 2. Each State Party shall endeavour to establish and promote effective practices aimed at the prevention of corruption. 3. Each State Party shall endeavour to periodically evaluate relevant legal instruments and administrative measures with a view to determining their adequacy to prevent and fight corruption. 4. States Parties shall, as appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of their legal system, collaborate with each other and with relevant international and regional organizations in promoting and developing the measures referred to in this article. That collaboration may include participation in international programmes and projects aimed at the prevention of corruption. Article 6 Preventive anti-corruption body or bodies 1. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, ensure the existence of a body or bodies, as appropriate, that prevent corruption by such means as: (a) Implementing the policies referred to in article 5 of this Convention and, where appropriate, overseeing and coordinating the implementation of those policies; (b) Increasing and disseminating knowledge about the prevention of corruption. 2. Each State Party shall grant the body or bodies referred to in paragraph 1 of this article the necessary independence, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, to enable the body or bodies to carry out its or their functions effectively and free from any undue influence. The necessary material resources and specialized staff, as well as the training that such staff may require to carry out their functions, should be provided. 3. Each State Party shall inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the name and address of the authority or authorities that may assist other States Parties in developing and implementing specific measures for the prevention of corruption. Article 7 Public sector 1. Each State Party shall, where appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, endeavour to adopt, maintain and strengthen systems for the recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion and retirement of civil servants and, where appropriate, other non-elected public officials: (a) That are based on principles of efficiency, transparency and objective criteria such as merit, equity and aptitude; (b) That include adequate procedures for the selection and training of individuals for public positions considered especially vulnerable to corruption and the rotation, where appropriate, of such individuals to other positions; (c) That promote adequate remuneration and equitable pay scales, taking into account the level of economic development of the State Party; (d) That promote education and training programmes to enable them to meet the requirements for the correct, honourable and proper performance of public functions and that provide them with specialized and appropriate training to enhance their awareness of the risks of corruption inherent in the performance of their functions. Such programmes may make reference to codes or standards of conduct in applicable areas. 2. Each State Party shall also consider adopting appropriate legislative and administrative measures, consistent with the objectives of this Convention and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to prescribe criteria concerning candidature for and election to public office. 3. Each State Party shall also consider taking appropriate legislative and administrative measures, consistent with the objectives of this Convention and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to enhance transparency in the funding of candidatures for elected public office and, where applicable, the funding of political parties. 4. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, endeavour to adopt, maintain and strengthen systems that promote transparency and prevent conflicts of interest. Article 8 Codes of conduct for public officials 1. In order to fight corruption, each State Party shall promote, inter alia, integrity, honesty and responsibility among its public officials, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system. 2. In particular, each State Party shall endeavour to apply, within its own institutional and legal systems, codes or standards of conduct for the correct, honourable and proper performance of public functions. 3. For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this article, each State Party shall, where appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take note of the relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations, such as the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 51/59 of 12 December 1996. 4. Each State Party shall also consider, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, establishing measures and systems to facilitate the reporting by public officials of acts of corruption to appropriate authorities, when such acts come to their notice in the performance of their functions. 5. Each State Party shall endeavour, where appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to establish measures and systems requiring public officials to make declarations to appropriate authorities regarding, inter alia, their outside activities, employment, investments, assets and substantial gifts or benefits from which a conflict of interest may result with respect to their functions as public officials. 6. Each State Party shall consider taking, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, disciplinary or other measures against public officials who violate the codes or standards established in accordance with this article. Article 9 Public procurement and management of public finances 1. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take the necessary steps to establish appropriate systems of procurement, based on transparency, competition and objective criteria in decision-making, that are effective, inter alia, in preventing corruption. Such systems, which may take into account appropriate threshold values in their application, shall address, inter alia: (a) The public distribution of information relating to procurement procedures and contracts, including information on invitations to tender and relevant or pertinent information on the award of contracts, allowing potential tenderers sufficient time to prepare and submit their tenders; (b) The establishment, in advance, of conditions for participation, including selection and award criteria and tendering rules, and their publication; (c) The use of objective and predetermined criteria for public procurement decisions, in order to facilitate the subsequent verification of the correct application of the rules or procedures; (d) An effective system of domestic review, including an effective system of appeal, to ensure legal recourse and remedies in the event that the rules or procedures established pursuant to this paragraph are not followed; (e) Where appropriate, measures to regulate matters regarding personnel responsible for procurement, such as declaration of interest in particular public procurements, screening procedures and training requirements. 2. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take appropriate measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public finances. Such measures shall encompass, inter alia: (a) Procedures for the adoption of the national budget; (b) Timely reporting on revenue and expenditure; (c) A system of accounting and auditing standards and related oversight; (d) Effective and efficient systems of risk management and internal control; and (e) Where appropriate, corrective action in the case of failure to comply with the requirements established in this paragraph. 3. Each State Party shall take such civil and administrative measures as may be necessary, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to preserve the integrity of accounting books, records, financial statements or other documents related to public expenditure and revenue and to prevent the falsification of such documents. Article 10 Public reporting Taking into account the need to combat corruption, each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, take such measures as may be necessary to enhance transparency in its public administration, including with regard to its organization, functioning and decision-making processes, where appropriate. Such measures may include, inter alia: (a) Adopting procedures or regulations allowing members of the general public to obtain, where appropriate, information on the organization, functioning and decision-making processes of its public administration and, with due regard for the protection of privacy and personal data, on decisions and legal acts that concern members of the public; (b) Simplifying administrative procedures, where appropriate, in order to facilitate public access to the competent decision-making authorities; and (c) Publishing information, which may include periodic reports on the risks of corruption in its public administration. Article 11 Measures relating to the judiciary and prosecution services 1. Bearing in mind the independence of the judiciary and its crucial role in combating corruption, each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system and without prejudice to judicial independence, take measures to strengthen integrity and to prevent opportunities for corruption among members of the judiciary. Such measures may include rules with respect to the conduct of members of the judiciary. 2. Measures to the same effect as those taken pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article may be introduced and applied within the prosecution service in those States Parties where it does not form part of the judiciary but enjoys independence similar to that of the judicial service. Article 12 Private sector 1. Each State Party shall take measures, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to prevent corruption involving the private sector, enhance accounting and auditing standards in the private sector and, where appropriate, provide effective, proportionate and dissuasive civil, administrative or criminal penalties for failure to comply with such measures. 2. Measures to achieve these ends may include, inter alia: (a) Promoting cooperation between law enforcement agencies and relevant private entities; (b) Promoting the development of standards and procedures designed to safeguard the integrity of relevant private entities, including codes of conduct for the correct, honourable and proper performance of the activities of business and all relevant professions and the prevention of conflicts of interest, and for the promotion of the use of good commercial practices among businesses and in the contractual relations of businesses with the State; (c) Promoting transparency among private entities, including, where appropriate, measures regarding the identity of legal and natural persons involved in the establishment and management of corporate entities; (d) Preventing the misuse of procedures regulating private entities, including procedures regarding subsidies and licences granted by public authorities for commercial activities; (e) Preventing conflicts of interest by imposing restrictions, as appropriate and for a reasonable period of time, on the professional activities of former public officials or on the employment of public officials by the private sector after their resignation or retirement, where such activities or employment relate directly to the functions held or supervised by those public officials during their tenure; (f) Ensuring that private enterprises, taking into account their structure and size, have sufficient internal auditing controls to assist in preventing and detecting acts of corruption and that the accounts and required financial statements of such private enterprises are subject to appropriate auditing and certification procedures. 3. In order to prevent corruption, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic laws and regulations regarding the maintenance of books and records, financial statement disclosures and accounting and auditing standards, to prohibit the following acts carried out for the purpose of committing any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention: (a) The establishment of off-the-books accounts; (b) The making of off-the-books or inadequately identified transactions; (c) The recording of non-existent expenditure; (d) The entry of liabilities with incorrect identification of their objects; (e) The use of false documents; and (f) The intentional destruction of bookkeeping documents earlier than foreseen by the law. 4. Each State Party shall disallow the tax deductibility of expenses that constitute bribes, the latter being one of the constituent elements of the offences established in accordance with articles 15 and 16 of this Convention and, where appropriate, other expenses incurred in furtherance of corrupt conduct. Article 13 Participation of society 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption. This participation should be strengthened by such measures as: (a) Enhancing the transparency of and promoting the contribution of the public to decision-making processes; (b) Ensuring that the public has effective access to information; (c) Undertaking public information activities that contribute to non-tolerance of corruption, as well as public education programmes, including school and university curricula; (d) Respecting, promoting and protecting the freedom to seek, receive, publish and disseminate information concerning corruption. That freedom may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided for by law and are necessary: (i) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; (ii) For the protection of national security or ordre public or of public health or morals. 2. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the relevant anti-corruption bodies referred to in this Convention are known to the public and shall provide access to such bodies, where appropriate, for the reporting, including anonymously, of any incidents that may be considered to constitute an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 14 Measures to prevent money-laundering 1. Each State Party shall: (a) Institute a comprehensive domestic regulatory and supervisory regime for banks and non-bank financial institutions, including natural or legal persons that provide formal or informal services for the transmission of money or value and, where appropriate, other bodies particularly susceptible to money-laundering, within its competence, in order to deter and detect all forms of money-laundering, which regime shall emphasize requirements for customer and, where appropriate, beneficial owner identification, record-keeping and the reporting of suspicious transactions; (b) Without prejudice to article 46 of this Convention, ensure that administrative, regulatory, law enforcement and other authorities dedicated to combating money-laundering (including, where appropriate under domestic law, judicial authorities) have the ability to cooperate and exchange information at the national and international levels within the conditions prescribed by its domestic law and, to that end, shall consider the establishment of a financial intelligence unit to serve as a national centre for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information regarding potential money-laundering. 2. States Parties shall consider implementing feasible measures to detect and monitor the movement of cash and appropriate negotiable instruments across their borders, subject to safeguards to ensure proper use of information and without impeding in any way the movement of legitimate capital. Such measures may include a requirement that individuals and businesses report the cross-border transfer of substantial quantities of cash and appropriate negotiable instruments. 3. States Parties shall consider implementing appropriate and feasible measures to require financial institutions, including money remitters: (a) To include on forms for the electronic transfer of funds and related messages accurate and meaningful information on the originator; (b) To maintain such information throughout the payment chain; and (c) To apply enhanced scrutiny to transfers of funds that do not contain complete information on the originator. 4. In establishing a domestic regulatory and supervisory regime under the terms of this article, and without prejudice to any other article of this Convention, States Parties are called upon to use as a guideline the relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations against money-laundering. 5. States Parties shall endeavour to develop and promote global, regional, subregional and bilateral cooperation among judicial, law enforcement and financial regulatory authorities in order to combat money-laundering. Chapter III Criminalization and law enforcement Article 15 Bribery of national public officials Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The promise, offering or giving, to a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties; (b) The solicitation or acceptance by a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties. Article 16 Bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organizations 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the promise, offering or giving to a foreign public official or an official of a public international organization, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties, in order to obtain or retain business or other undue advantage in relation to the conduct of international business. 2. Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the solicitation or acceptance by a foreign public official or an official of a public international organization, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties. Article 17 Embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion of property by a public official Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally, the embezzlement, mis-appropriation or other diversion by a public official for his or her benefit or for the benefit of another person or entity, of any property, public or private funds or securities or any other thing of value entrusted to the public official by virtue of his or her position. Article 18 Trading in influence Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The promise, offering or giving to a public official or any other person, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage in order that the public official or the person abuse his or her real or supposed influence with a view to obtaining from an administration or public authority of the State Party an undue advantage for the original instigator of the act or for any other person; (b) The solicitation or acceptance by a public official or any other person, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage for himself or herself or for another person in order that the public official or the person abuse his or her real or supposed influence with a view to obtaining from an administration or public authority of the State Party an undue advantage. Article 19 Abuse of functions Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the abuse of functions or position, that is, the performance of or failure to perform an act, in violation of laws, by a public official in the discharge of his or her functions, for the purpose of obtaining an undue advantage for himself or herself or for another person or entity. Article 20 Illicit enrichment Subject to its constitution and the fundamental principles of its legal system, each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, illicit enrichment, that is, a significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income. Article 21 Bribery in the private sector Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities: (a) The promise, offering or giving, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage to any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting; (b) The solicitation or acceptance, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage by any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting. Article 22 Embezzlement of property in the private sector Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities, embezzlement by a person who directs or works, in any capacity, in a private sector entity of any property, private funds or securities or any other thing of value entrusted to him or her by virtue of his or her position. Article 23 Laundering of proceeds of crime 1. Each State Party shall adopt, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) (i) The conversion or transfer of property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime, for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the property or of helping any person who is involved in the commission of the predicate offence to evade the legal consequences of his or her action; (ii) The concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of or rights with respect to property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime; (b) Subject to the basic concepts of its legal system: (i) The acquisition, possession or use of property, knowing, at the time of receipt, that such property is the proceeds of crime; (ii) Participation in, association with or conspiracy to commit, attempts to commit and aiding, abetting, facilitating and counselling the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with this article. 2. For purposes of implementing or applying paragraph 1 of this article: (a) Each State Party shall seek to apply paragraph 1 of this article to the widest range of predicate offences; (b) Each State Party shall include as predicate offences at a minimum a comprehensive range of criminal offences established in accordance with this Convention; (c) For the purposes of subparagraph (b) above, predicate offences shall include offences committed both within and outside the jurisdiction of the State Party in question. However, offences committed outside the jurisdiction of a State Party shall constitute predicate offences only when the relevant conduct is a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State where it is committed and would be a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State Party implementing or applying this article had it been committed there; (d) Each State Party shall furnish copies of its laws that give effect to this article and of any subsequent changes to such laws or a description thereof to the Secretary-General of the United Nations; (e) If required by fundamental principles of the domestic law of a State Party, it may be provided that the offences set forth in paragraph 1 of this article do not apply to the persons who committed the predicate offence. Article 24 Concealment Without prejudice to the provisions of article 23 of this Convention, each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally after the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention without having participated in such offences, the concealment or continued retention of property when the person involved knows that such property is the result of any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention. Article 25 Obstruction of justice Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation or the promise, offering or giving of an undue advantage to induce false testimony or to interfere in the giving of testimony or the production of evidence in a proceeding in relation to the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention; (b) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation to interfere with the exercise of official duties by a justice or law enforcement official in relation to the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention. Nothing in this subparagraph shall prejudice the right of States Parties to have legislation that protects other categories of public official. Article 26 Liability of legal persons 1. Each State Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary, consistent with its legal principles, to establish the liability of legal persons for participation in the offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Subject to the legal principles of the State Party, the liability of legal persons may be criminal, civil or administrative. 3. Such liability shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural persons who have committed the offences. 4. Each State Party shall, in particular, ensure that legal persons held liable in accordance with this article are subject to effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal or non-criminal sanctions, including monetary sanctions. Article 27 Participation and attempt 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, in accordance with its domestic law, participation in any capacity such as an accomplice, assistant or instigator in an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Each State Party may adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, in accordance with its domestic law, any attempt to commit an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 3. Each State Party may adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, in accordance with its domestic law, the preparation for an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 28 Knowledge, intent and purpose as elements of an offence Knowledge, intent or purpose required as an element of an offence established in accordance with this Convention may be inferred from objective factual circumstances. Article 29 Statute of limitations Each State Party shall, where appropriate, establish under its domestic law a long statute of limitations period in which to commence proceedings for any offence established in accordance with this Convention and establish a longer statute of limitations period or provide for the suspension of the statute of limitations where the alleged offender has evaded the administration of justice. Article 30 Prosecution, adjudication and sanctions 1. Each State Party shall make the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention liable to sanctions that take into account the gravity of that offence. 2. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish or maintain, in accordance with its legal system and constitutional principles, an appropriate balance between any immunities or jurisdictional privileges accorded to its public officials for the performance of their functions and the possibility, when necessary, of effectively investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating offences established in accordance with this Convention. 3. Each State Party shall endeavour to ensure that any discretionary legal powers under its domestic law relating to the prosecution of persons for offences established in accordance with this Convention are exercised to maximize the effectiveness of law enforcement measures in respect of those offences and with due regard to the need to deter the commission of such offences. 4. In the case of offences established in accordance with this Convention, each State Party shall take appropriate measures, in accordance with its domestic law and with due regard to the rights of the defence, to seek to ensure that conditions imposed in connection with decisions on release pending trial or appeal take into consideration the need to ensure the presence of the defendant at subsequent criminal proceedings. 5. Each State Party shall take into account the gravity of the offences concerned when considering the eventuality of early release or parole of persons convicted of such offences. 6. Each State Party, to the extent consistent with the fundamental principles of its legal system, shall consider establishing procedures through which a public official accused of an offence established in accordance with this Convention may, where appropriate, be removed, suspended or reassigned by the appropriate authority, bearing in mind respect for the principle of the presumption of innocence. 7. Where warranted by the gravity of the offence, each State Party, to the extent consistent with the fundamental principles of its legal system, shall consider establishing procedures for the disqualification, by court order or any other appropriate means, for a period of time determined by its domestic law, of persons convicted of offences established in accordance with this Convention from: (a) Holding public office; and (b) Holding office in an enterprise owned in whole or in part by the State. 8. Paragraph 1 of this article shall be without prejudice to the exercise of disciplinary powers by the competent authorities against civil servants. 9. Nothing contained in this Convention shall affect the principle that the description of the offences established in accordance with this Convention and of the applicable legal defences or other legal principles controlling the lawfulness of conduct is reserved to the domestic law of a State Party and that such offences shall be prosecuted and punished in accordance with that law. 10. States Parties shall endeavour to promote the reintegration into society of persons convicted of offences established in accordance with this Convention. Article 31 Freezing, seizure and confiscation 1. Each State Party shall take, to the greatest extent possible within its domestic legal system, such measures as may be necessary to enable confiscation of: (a) Proceeds of crime derived from offences established in accordance with this Convention or property the value of which corresponds to that of such proceeds; (b) Property, equipment or other instrumentalities used in or destined for use in offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to enable the identification, tracing, freezing or seizure of any item referred to in paragraph 1 of this article for the purpose of eventual confiscation. 3. Each State Party shall adopt, in accordance with its domestic law, such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to regulate the administration by the competent authorities of frozen, seized or confiscated property covered in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article. 4. If such proceeds of crime have been transformed or converted, in part or in full, into other property, such property shall be liable to the measures referred to in this article instead of the proceeds. 5. If such proceeds of crime have been intermingled with property acquired from legitimate sources, such property shall, without prejudice to any powers relating to freezing or seizure, be liable to confiscation up to the assessed value of the intermingled proceeds. 6. Income or other benefits derived from such proceeds of crime, from property into which such proceeds of crime have been transformed or converted or from property with which such proceeds of crime have been intermingled shall also be liable to the measures referred to in this article, in the same manner and to the same extent as proceeds of crime. 7. For the purpose of this article and article 55 of this Convention, each State Party shall empower its courts or other competent authorities to order that bank, financial or commercial records be made available or seized. A State Party shall not decline to act under the provisions of this paragraph on the ground of bank secrecy. 8. States Parties may consider the possibility of requiring that an offender demonstrate the lawful origin of such alleged proceeds of crime or other property liable to confiscation, to the extent that such a requirement is consistent with the fundamental principles of their domestic law and with the nature of judicial and other proceedings. 9. The provisions of this article shall not be so construed as to prejudice the rights of bona fide third parties. 10. Nothing contained in this article shall affect the principle that the measures to which it refers shall be defined and implemented in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the domestic law of a State Party. Article 32 Protection of witnesses, experts and victims 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures in accordance with its domestic legal system and within its means to provide effective protection from potential retaliation or intimidation for witnesses and experts who give testimony concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention and, as appropriate, for their relatives and other persons close to them. 2. The measures envisaged in paragraph 1 of this article may include, inter alia, without prejudice to the rights of the defendant, including the right to due process: (a) Establishing procedures for the physical protection of such persons, such as, to the extent necessary and feasible, relocating them and permitting, where appropriate, non-disclosure or limitations on the disclosure of information concerning the identity and whereabouts of such persons; (b) Providing evidentiary rules to permit witnesses and experts to give testimony in a manner that ensures the safety of such persons, such as permitting testimony to be given through the use of communications technology such as video or other adequate means. 3. States Parties shall consider entering into agreements or arrangements with other States for the relocation of persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article. 4. The provisions of this article shall also apply to victims insofar as they are witnesses. 5. Each State Party shall, subject to its domestic law, enable the views and concerns of victims to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of criminal proceedings against offenders in a manner not prejudicial to the rights of the defence. Article 33 Protection of reporting persons Each State Party shall consider incorporating into its domestic legal system appropriate measures to provide protection against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention. Article 34 Consequences of acts of corruption With due regard to the rights of third parties acquired in good faith, each State Party shall take measures, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to address consequences of corruption. In this context, States Parties may consider corruption a relevant factor in legal proceedings to annul or rescind a contract, withdraw a concession or other similar instrument or take any other remedial action. Article 35 Compensation for damage Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with principles of its domestic law, to ensure that entities or persons who have suffered damage as a result of an act of corruption have the right to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for that damage in order to obtain compensation. Article 36 Specialized authorities Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, ensure the existence of a body or bodies or persons specialized in combating corruption through law enforcement. Such body or bodies or persons shall be granted the necessary independence, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the legal system of the State Party, to be able to carry out their functions effectively and without any undue influence. Such persons or staff of such body or bodies should have the appropriate training and resources to carry out their tasks. Article 37 Cooperation with law enforcement authorities 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to encourage persons who participate or who have participated in the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention to supply information useful to competent authorities for investigative and evidentiary purposes and to provide factual, specific help to competent authorities that may contribute to depriving offenders of the proceeds of crime and to recovering such proceeds. 2. Each State Party shall consider providing for the possibility, in appropriate cases, of mitigating punishment of an accused person who provides substantial cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 3. Each State Party shall consider providing for the possibility, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, of granting immunity from prosecution to a person who provides substantial cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 4. Protection of such persons shall be, mutatis mutandis, as provided for in article 32 of this Convention. 5. Where a person referred to in paragraph 1 of this article located in one State Party can provide substantial cooperation to the competent authorities of another State Party, the States Parties concerned may consider entering into agreements or arrangements, in accordance with their domestic law, concerning the potential provision by the other State Party of the treatment set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article. Article 38 Cooperation between national authorities Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to encourage, in accordance with its domestic law, cooperation between, on the one hand, its public authorities, as well as its public officials, and, on the other hand, its authorities responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal offences. Such cooperation may include: (a) Informing the latter authorities, on their own initiative, where there are reasonable grounds to believe that any of the offences established in accordance with articles 15, 21 and 23 of this Convention has been committed; or (b) Providing, upon request, to the latter authorities all necessary information. Article 39 Cooperation between national authorities and the private sector 1. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to encourage, in accordance with its domestic law, cooperation between national investigating and prosecuting authorities and entities of the private sector, in particular financial institutions, relating to matters involving the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Each State Party shall consider encouraging its nationals and other persons with a habitual residence in its territory to report to the national investigating and prosecuting authorities the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 40 Bank secrecy Each State Party shall ensure that, in the case of domestic criminal investigations of offences established in accordance with this Convention, there are appropriate mechanisms available within its domestic legal system to overcome obstacles that may arise out of the application of bank secrecy laws. Article 41 Criminal record Each State Party may adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to take into consideration, under such terms as and for the purpose that it deems appropriate, any previous conviction in another State of an alleged offender for the purpose of using such information in criminal proceedings relating to an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 42 Jurisdiction 1. Each State Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences established in accordance with this Convention when: (a) The offence is committed in the territory of that State Party; or (b) The offence is committed on board a vessel that is flying the flag of that State Party or an aircraft that is registered under the laws of that State Party at the time that the offence is committed. 2. Subject to article 4 of this Convention, a State Party may also establish its jurisdiction over any such offence when: (a) The offence is committed against a national of that State Party; or (b) The offence is committed by a national of that State Party or a stateless person who has his or her habitual residence in its territory; or (c) The offence is one of those established in accordance with article 23, paragraph 1 (b) (ii), of this Convention and is committed outside its territory with a view to the commission of an offence established in accordance with article 23, paragraph 1 (a) (i) or (ii) or (b) (i), of this Convention within its territory; or (d) The offence is committed against the State Party. 3. For the purposes of article 44 of this Convention, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences established in accordance with this Convention when the alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite such person solely on the ground that he or she is one of its nationals. 4. Each State Party may also take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences established in accordance with this Convention when the alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite him or her. 5. If a State Party exercising its jurisdiction under paragraph 1 or 2 of this article has been notified, or has otherwise learned, that any other States Parties are conducting an investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding in respect of the same conduct, the competent authorities of those States Parties shall, as appropriate, consult one another with a view to coordinating their actions. 6. Without prejudice to norms of general international law, this Convention shall not exclude the exercise of any criminal jurisdiction established by a State Party in accordance with its domestic law. Chapter IV International cooperation Article 43 International cooperation 1. States Parties shall cooperate in criminal matters in accordance with articles 44 to 50 of this Convention. Where appropriate and consistent with their domestic legal system, States Parties shall consider assisting each other in investigations of and proceedings in civil and administrative matters relating to corruption. 2. In matters of international cooperation, whenever dual criminality is considered a requirement, it shall be deemed fulfilled irrespective of whether the laws of the requested State Party place the offence within the same category of offence or denominate the offence by the same terminology as the requesting State Party, if the conduct underlying the offence for which assistance is sought is a criminal offence under the laws of both States Parties. Article 44 Extradition 1. This article shall apply to the offences established in accordance with this Convention where the person who is the subject of the request for extradition is present in the territory of the requested State Party, provided that the offence for which extradition is sought is punishable under the domestic law of both the requesting State Party and the requested State Party. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article, a State Party whose law so permits may grant the extradition of a person for any of the offences covered by this Convention that are not punishable under its own domestic law. 3. If the request for extradition includes several separate offences, at least one of which is extraditable under this article and some of which are not extraditable by reason of their period of imprisonment but are related to offences established in accordance with this Convention, the requested State Party may apply this article also in respect of those offences. 4. Each of the offences to which this article applies shall be deemed to be included as an extraditable offence in any extradition treaty existing between States Parties. States Parties undertake to include such offences as extraditable offences in every extradition treaty to be concluded between them. A State Party whose law so permits, in case it uses this Convention as the basis for extradition, shall not consider any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention to be a political offence. 5. If a State Party that makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty receives a request for extradition from another State Party with which it has no extradition treaty, it may consider this Convention the legal basis for extradition in respect of any offence to which this article applies. 6. A State Party that makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall: (a) At the time of deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention, inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations whether it will take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention; and (b) If it does not take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition, seek, where appropriate, to conclude treaties on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention in order to implement this article. 7. States Parties that do not make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall recognize offences to which this article applies as extraditable offences between themselves. 8. Extradition shall be subject to the conditions provided for by the domestic law of the requested State Party or by applicable extradition treaties, including, inter alia, conditions in relation to the minimum penalty requirement for extradition and the grounds upon which the requested State Party may refuse extradition. 9. States Parties shall, subject to their domestic law, endeavour to expedite extradition procedures and to simplify evidentiary requirements relating thereto in respect of any offence to which this article applies. 10. Subject to the provisions of its domestic law and its extradition treaties, the requested State Party may, upon being satisfied that the circumstances so warrant and are urgent and at the request of the requesting State Party, take a person whose extradition is sought and who is present in its territory into custody or take other appropriate measures to ensure his or her presence at extradition proceedings. 11. A State Party in whose territory an alleged offender is found, if it does not extradite such person in respect of an offence to which this article applies solely on the ground that he or she is one of its nationals, shall, at the request of the State Party seeking extradition, be obliged to submit the case without undue delay to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution. Those authorities shall take their decision and conduct their proceedings in the same manner as in the case of any other offence of a grave nature under the domestic law of that State Party. The States Parties concerned shall cooperate with each other, in particular on procedural and evidentiary aspects, to ensure the efficiency of such prosecution. 12. Whenever a State Party is permitted under its domestic law to extradite or otherwise surrender one of its nationals only upon the condition that the person will be returned to that State Party to serve the sentence imposed as a result of the trial or proceedings for which the extradition or surrender of the person was sought and that State Party and the State Party seeking the extradition of the person agree with this option and other terms that they may deem appropriate, such conditional extradition or surrender shall be sufficient to discharge the obligation set forth in paragraph 11 of this article. 13. If extradition, sought for purposes of enforcing a sentence, is refused because the person sought is a national of the requested State Party, the requested State Party shall, if its domestic law so permits and in conformity with the requirements of such law, upon application of the requesting State Party, consider the enforcement of the sentence imposed under the domestic law of the requesting State Party or the remainder thereof. 14. Any person regarding whom proceedings are being carried out in connection with any of the offences to which this article applies shall be guaranteed fair treatment at all stages of the proceedings, including enjoyment of all the rights and guarantees provided by the domestic law of the State Party in the territory of which that person is present. 15. Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as imposing an obligation to extradite if the requested State Party has substantial grounds for believing that the request has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing a person on account of that person's sex, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin or political opinions or that compliance with the request would cause prejudice to that person's position for any one of these reasons. 16. States Parties may not refuse a request for extradition on the sole ground that the offence is also considered to involve fiscal matters. 17. Before refusing extradition, the requested State Party shall, where appropriate, consult with the requesting State Party to provide it with ample opportunity to present its opinions and to provide information relevant to its allegation. 18. States Parties shall seek to conclude bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements to carry out or to enhance the effectiveness of extradition. Article 45 Transfer of sentenced persons States Parties may consider entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on the transfer to their territory of persons sentenced to imprisonment or other forms of deprivation of liberty for offences established in accordance with this Convention in order that they may complete their sentences there. Article 46 Mutual legal assistance 1. States Parties shall afford one another the widest measure of mutual legal assistance in investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences covered by this Convention. 2. Mutual legal assistance shall be afforded to the fullest extent possible under relevant laws, treaties, agreements and arrangements of the requested State Party with respect to investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences for which a legal person may be held liable in accordance with article 26 of this Convention in the requesting State Party. 3. Mutual legal assistance to be afforded in accordance with this article may be requested for any of the following purposes: (a) Taking evidence or statements from persons; (b) Effecting service of judicial documents; (c) Executing searches and seizures, and freezing; (d) Examining objects and sites; (e) Providing information, evidentiary items and expert evaluations; (f) Providing originals or certified copies of relevant documents and records, including government, bank, financial, corporate or business records; (g) Identifying or tracing proceeds of crime, property, instrumentalities or other things for evidentiary purposes; (h) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons in the requesting State Party; (i) Any other type of assistance that is not contrary to the domestic law of the requested State Party; (j) Identifying, freezing and tracing proceeds of crime in accordance with the provisions of chapter V of this Convention; (k) The recovery of assets, in accordance with the provisions of chapter V of this Convention. 4. Without prejudice to domestic law, the competent authorities of a State Party may, without prior request, transmit information relating to criminal matters to a competent authority in another State Party where they believe that such information could assist the authority in undertaking or successfully concluding inquiries and criminal proceedings or could result in a request formulated by the latter State Party pursuant to this Convention. 5. The transmission of information pursuant to paragraph 4 of this article shall be without prejudice to inquiries and criminal proceedings in the State of the competent authorities providing the information. The competent authorities receiving the information shall comply with a request that said information remain confidential, even temporarily, or with restrictions on its use. However, this shall not prevent the receiving State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information that is exculpatory to an accused person. In such a case, the receiving State Party shall notify the transmitting State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the transmitting State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the receiving State Party shall inform the transmitting State Party of the disclosure without delay. 6. The provisions of this article shall not affect the obligations under any other treaty, bilateral or multilateral, that governs or will govern, in whole or in part, mutual legal assistance. 7. Paragraphs 9 to 29 of this article shall apply to requests made pursuant to this article if the States Parties in question are not bound by a treaty of mutual legal assistance. If those States Parties are bound by such a treaty, the corresponding provisions of that treaty shall apply unless the States Parties agree to apply paragraphs 9 to 29 of this article in lieu thereof. States Parties are strongly encouraged to apply those paragraphs if they facilitate cooperation. 8. States Parties shall not decline to render mutual legal assistance pursuant to this article on the ground of bank secrecy. 9. (a) A requested State Party, in responding to a request for assistance pursuant to this article in the absence of dual criminality, shall take into account the purposes of this Convention, as set forth in article 1; (b) States Parties may decline to render assistance pursuant to this article on the ground of absence of dual criminality. However, a requested State Party shall, where consistent with the basic concepts of its legal system, render assistance that does not involve coercive action. Such assistance may be refused when requests involve matters of a de minimis nature or matters for which the cooperation or assistance sought is available under other provisions of this Convention; (c) Each State Party may consider adopting such measures as may be necessary to enable it to provide a wider scope of assistance pursuant to this article in the absence of dual criminality. 10. A person who is being detained or is serving a sentence in the territory of one State Party whose presence in another State Party is requested for purposes of identification, testimony or otherwise providing assistance in obtaining evidence for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in relation to offences covered by this Convention may be transferred if the following conditions are met: (a) The person freely gives his or her informed consent; (b) The competent authorities of both States Parties agree, subject to such conditions as those States Parties may deem appropriate. 11. For the purposes of paragraph 10 of this article: (a) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall have the authority and obligation to keep the person transferred in custody, unless otherwise requested or authorized by the State Party from which the person was transferred; (b) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall without delay implement its obligation to return the person to the custody of the State Party from which the person was transferred as agreed beforehand, or as otherwise agreed, by the competent authorities of both States Parties; (c) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall not require the State Party from which the person was transferred to initiate extradition proceedings for the return of the person; (d) The person transferred shall receive credit for service of the sentence being served in the State from which he or she was transferred for time spent in the custody of the State Party to which he or she was transferred. 12. Unless the State Party from which a person is to be transferred in accordance with paragraphs 10 and 11 of this article so agrees, that person, whatever his or her nationality, shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in the territory of the State to which that person is transferred in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the State from which he or she was transferred. 13. Each State Party shall designate a central authority that shall have the responsibility and power to receive requests for mutual legal assistance and either to execute them or to transmit them to the competent authorities for execution. Where a State Party has a special region or territory with a separate system of mutual legal assistance, it may designate a distinct central authority that shall have the same function for that region or territory. Central authorities shall ensure the speedy and proper execution or transmission of the requests received. Where the central authority transmits the request to a competent authority for execution, it shall encourage the speedy and proper execution of the request by the competent authority. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the central authority designated for this purpose at the time each State Party deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. Requests for mutual legal assistance and any communication related thereto shall be transmitted to the central authorities designated by the States Parties. This requirement shall be without prejudice to the right of a State Party to require that such requests and communications be addressed to it through diplomatic channels and, in urgent circumstances, where the States Parties agree, through the International Criminal Police Organization, if possible. 14. Requests shall be made in writing or, where possible, by any means capable of producing a written record, in a language acceptable to the requested State Party, under conditions allowing that State Party to establish authenticity. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the language or languages acceptable to each State Party at the time it deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. In urgent circumstances and where agreed by the States Parties, requests may be made orally but shall be confirmed in writing forthwith. 15. A request for mutual legal assistance shall contain: (a) The identity of the authority making the request; (b) The subject matter and nature of the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding to which the request relates and the name and functions of the authority conducting the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding; (c) A summary of the relevant facts, except in relation to requests for the purpose of service of judicial documents; (d) A description of the assistance sought and details of any particular procedure that the requesting State Party wishes to be followed; (e) Where possible, the identity, location and nationality of any person concerned; and (f) The purpose for which the evidence, information or action is sought. 16. The requested State Party may request additional information when it appears necessary for the execution of the request in accordance with its domestic law or when it can facilitate such execution. 17. A request shall be executed in accordance with the domestic law of the requested State Party and, to the extent not contrary to the domestic law of the requested State Party and where possible, in accordance with the procedures specified in the request. 18. Wherever possible and consistent with fundamental principles of domestic law, when an individual is in the territory of a State Party and has to be heard as a witness or expert by the judicial authorities of another State Party, the first State Party may, at the request of the other, permit the hearing to take place by video conference if it is not possible or desirable for the individual in question to appear in person in the territory of the requesting State Party. States Parties may agree that the hearing shall be conducted by a judicial authority of the requesting State Party and attended by a judicial authority of the requested State Party. 19. The requesting State Party shall not transmit or use information or evidence furnished by the requested State Party for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings other than those stated in the request without the prior consent of the requested State Party. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the requesting State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information or evidence that is exculpatory to an accused person. In the latter case, the requesting State Party shall notify the requested State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the requested State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the requesting State Party shall inform the requested State Party of the disclosure without delay. 20. The requesting State Party may require that the requested State Party keep confidential the fact and substance of the request, except to the extent necessary to execute the request. If the requested State Party cannot comply with the requirement of confidentiality, it shall promptly inform the requesting State Party. 21. Mutual legal assistance may be refused: (a) If the request is not made in conformity with the provisions of this article; (b) If the requested State Party considers that execution of the request is likely to prejudice its sovereignty, security, ordre public or other essential interests; (c) If the authorities of the requested State Party would be prohibited by its domestic law from carrying out the action requested with regard to any similar offence, had it been subject to investigation, prosecution or judicial proceedings under their own jurisdiction; (d) If it would be contrary to the legal system of the requested State Party relating to mutual legal assistance for the request to be granted. 22. States Parties may not refuse a request for mutual legal assistance on the sole ground that the offence is also considered to involve fiscal matters. 23. Reasons shall be given for any refusal of mutual legal assistance. 24. The requested State Party shall execute the request for mutual legal assistance as soon as possible and shall take as full account as possible of any deadlines suggested by the requesting State Party and for which reasons are given, preferably in the request. The requesting State Party may make reasonable requests for information on the status and progress of measures taken by the requested State Party to satisfy its request. The requested State Party shall respond to reasonable requests by the requesting State Party on the status, and progress in its handling, of the request. The requesting State Party shall promptly inform the requested State Party when the assistance sought is no longer required. 25. Mutual legal assistance may be postponed by the requested State Party on the ground that it interferes with an ongoing investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding. 26. Before refusing a request pursuant to paragraph 21 of this article or postponing its execution pursuant to paragraph 25 of this article, the requested State Party shall consult with the requesting State Party to consider whether assistance may be granted subject to such terms and conditions as it deems necessary. If the requesting State Party accepts assistance subject to those conditions, it shall comply with the conditions. 27. Without prejudice to the application of paragraph 12 of this article, a witness, expert or other person who, at the request of the requesting State Party, consents to give evidence in a proceeding or to assist in an investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding in the territory of the requesting State Party shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in that territory in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the requested State Party. Such safe conduct shall cease when the witness, expert or other person having had, for a period of fifteen consecutive days or for any period agreed upon by the States Parties from the date on which he or she has been officially informed that his or her presence is no longer required by the judicial authorities, an opportunity of leaving, has nevertheless remained voluntarily in the territory of the requesting State Party or, having left it, has returned of his or her own free will. 28. The ordinary costs of executing a request shall be borne by the requested State Party, unless otherwise agreed by the States Parties concerned. If expenses of a substantial or extraordinary nature are or will be required to fulfil the request, the States Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the request will be executed, as well as the manner in which the costs shall be borne. 29. The requested State Party: (a) Shall provide to the requesting State Party copies of government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are available to the general public; (b) May, at its discretion, provide to the requesting State Party in whole, in part or subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate, copies of any government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are not available to the general public. 30. States Parties shall consider, as may be necessary, the possibility of concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements that would serve the purposes of, give practical effect to or enhance the provisions of this article. Article 47 Transfer of criminal proceedings States Parties shall consider the possibility of transferring to one another proceedings for the prosecution of an offence established in accordance with this Convention in cases where such transfer is considered to be in the interests of the proper administration of justice, in particular in cases where several jurisdictions are involved, with a view to concentrating the prosecution. Article 48 Law enforcement cooperation 1. States Parties shall cooperate closely with one another, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems, to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement action to combat the offences covered by this Convention. States Parties shall, in particular, take effective measures: (a) To enhance and, where necessary, to establish channels of communication between their competent authorities, agencies and services in order to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information concerning all aspects of the offences covered by this Convention, including, if the States Parties concerned deem it appropriate, links with other criminal activities; (b) To cooperate with other States Parties in conducting inquiries with respect to offences covered by this Convention concerning: (i) The identity, whereabouts and activities of persons suspected of involvement in such offences or the location of other persons concerned; (ii) The movement of proceeds of crime or property derived from the commission of such offences; (iii) The movement of property, equipment or other instrumentalities used or intended for use in the commission of such offences; (c) To provide, where appropriate, necessary items or quantities of substances for analytical or investigative purposes; (d) To exchange, where appropriate, information with other States Parties concerning specific means and methods used to commit offences covered by this Convention, including the use of false identities, forged, altered or false documents and other means of concealing activities; (e) To facilitate effective coordination between their competent authorities, agencies and services and to promote the exchange of personnel and other experts, including, subject to bilateral agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the posting of liaison officers; (f) To exchange information and coordinate administrative and other measures taken as appropriate for the purpose of early identification of the offences covered by this Convention. 2. With a view to giving effect to this Convention, States Parties shall consider entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on direct cooperation between their law enforcement agencies and, where such agreements or arrangements already exist, amending them. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the States Parties may consider this Convention to be the basis for mutual law enforcement cooperation in respect of the offences covered by this Convention. Whenever appropriate, States Parties shall make full use of agreements or arrangements, including international or regional organizations, to enhance the cooperation between their law enforcement agencies. 3. States Parties shall endeavour to cooperate within their means to respond to offences covered by this Convention committed through the use of modern technology. Article 49 Joint investigations States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements whereby, in relation to matters that are the subject of investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in one or more States, the competent authorities concerned may establish joint investigative bodies. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements, joint investigations may be undertaken by agreement on a case-by-case basis. The States Parties involved shall ensure that the sovereignty of the State Party in whose territory such investigation is to take place is fully respected. Article 50 Special investigative techniques 1. In order to combat corruption effectively, each State Party shall, to the extent permitted by the basic principles of its domestic legal system and in accordance with the conditions prescribed by its domestic law, take such measures as may be necessary, within its means, to allow for the appropriate use by its competent authorities of controlled delivery and, where it deems appropriate, other special investigative techniques, such as electronic or other forms of surveillance and undercover operations, within its territory, and to allow for the admissibility in court of evidence derived therefrom. 2. For the purpose of investigating the offences covered by this Convention, States Parties are encouraged to conclude, when necessary, appropriate bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements for using such special investigative techniques in the context of cooperation at the international level. Such agreements or arrangements shall be concluded and implemented in full compliance with the principle of sovereign equality of States and shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the terms of those agreements or arrangements. 3. In the absence of an agreement or arrangement as set forth in paragraph 2 of this article, decisions to use such special investigative techniques at the international level shall be made on a case-by-case basis and may, when necessary, take into consideration financial arrangements and understandings with respect to the exercise of jurisdiction by the States Parties concerned. 4. Decisions to use controlled delivery at the international level may, with the consent of the States Parties concerned, include methods such as intercepting and allowing the goods or funds to continue intact or be removed or replaced in whole or in part. Chapter V Asset recovery Article 51 General provision The return of assets pursuant to this chapter is a fundamental principle of this Convention, and States Parties shall afford one another the widest measure of cooperation and assistance in this regard. Article 52 Prevention and detection of transfers of proceeds of crime 1. Without prejudice to article 14 of this Convention, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic law, to require financial institutions within its jurisdiction to verify the identity of customers, to take reasonable steps to determine the identity of beneficial owners of funds deposited into high-value accounts and to conduct enhanced scrutiny of accounts sought or maintained by or on behalf of individuals who are, or have been, entrusted with prominent public functions and their family members and close associates. Such enhanced scrutiny shall be reasonably designed to detect suspicious transactions for the purpose of reporting to competent authorities and should not be so construed as to discourage or prohibit financial institutions from doing business with any legitimate customer. 2. In order to facilitate implementation of the measures provided for in paragraph 1 of this article, each State Party, in accordance with its domestic law and inspired by relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations against money-laundering, shall: (a) Issue advisories regarding the types of natural or legal person to whose accounts financial institutions within its jurisdiction will be expected to apply enhanced scrutiny, the types of accounts and transactions to which to pay particular attention and appropriate account-opening, maintenance and record-keeping measures to take concerning such accounts; and (b) Where appropriate, notify financial institutions within its jurisdiction, at the request of another State Party or on its own initiative, of the identity of particular natural or legal persons to whose accounts such institutions will be expected to apply enhanced scrutiny, in addition to those whom the financial institutions may otherwise identify. 3. In the context of paragraph 2 (a) of this article, each State Party shall implement measures to ensure that its financial institutions maintain adequate records, over an appropriate period of time, of accounts and transactions involving the persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article, which should, as a minimum, contain information relating to the identity of the customer as well as, as far as possible, of the beneficial owner. 4. With the aim of preventing and detecting transfers of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention, each State Party shall implement appropriate and effective measures to prevent, with the help of its regulatory and oversight bodies, the establishment of banks that have no physical presence and that are not affiliated with a regulated financial group. Moreover, States Parties may consider requiring their financial institutions to refuse to enter into or continue a correspondent banking relationship with such institutions and to guard against establishing relations with foreign financial institutions that permit their accounts to be used by banks that have no physical presence and that are not affiliated with a regulated financial group. 5. Each State Party shall consider establishing, in accordance with its domestic law, effective financial disclosure systems for appropriate public officials and shall provide for appropriate sanctions for non-compliance. Each State Party shall also consider taking such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to share that information with the competent authorities in other States Parties when necessary to investigate, claim and recover proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention. 6. Each State Party shall consider taking such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic law, to require appropriate public officials having an interest in or signature or other authority over a financial account in a foreign country to report that relationship to appropriate authorities and to maintain appropriate records related to such accounts. Such measures shall also provide for appropriate sanctions for non-compliance. Article 53 Measures for direct recovery of property Each State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law: (a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit another State Party to initiate civil action in its courts to establish title to or ownership of property acquired through the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention; (b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its courts to order those who have committed offences established in accordance with this Convention to pay compensation or damages to another State Party that has been harmed by such offences; and (c) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its courts or competent authorities, when having to decide on confiscation, to recognize another State Party's claim as a legitimate owner of property acquired through the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 54 Mechanisms for recovery of property through international cooperation in confiscation 1. Each State Party, in order to provide mutual legal assistance pursuant to article 55 of this Convention with respect to property acquired through or involved in the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention, shall, in accordance with its domestic law: (a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to give effect to an order of confiscation issued by a court of another State Party; (b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities, where they have jurisdiction, to order the confiscation of such property of foreign origin by adjudication of an offence of money-laundering or such other offence as may be within its jurisdiction or by other procedures authorized under its domestic law; and (c) Consider taking such measures as may be necessary to allow confiscation of such property without a criminal conviction in cases in which the offender cannot be prosecuted by reason of death, flight or absence or in other appropriate cases. 2. Each State Party, in order to provide mutual legal assistance upon a request made pursuant to paragraph 2 of article 55 of this Convention, shall, in accordance with its domestic law: (a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to freeze or seize property upon a freezing or seizure order issued by a court or competent authority of a requesting State Party that provides a reasonable basis for the requested State Party to believe that there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions and that the property would eventually be subject to an order of confiscation for purposes of paragraph 1 (a) of this article; (b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to freeze or seize property upon a request that provides a reasonable basis for the requested State Party to believe that there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions and that the property would eventually be subject to an order of confiscation for purposes of paragraph 1 (a) of this article; and (c) Consider taking additional measures to permit its competent authorities to preserve property for confiscation, such as on the basis of a foreign arrest or criminal charge related to the acquisition of such property. Article 55 International cooperation for purposes of confiscation 1. A State Party that has received a request from another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence established in accordance with this Convention for confiscation of proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 31, paragraph 1, of this Convention situated in its territory shall, to the greatest extent possible within its domestic legal system: (a) Submit the request to its competent authorities for the purpose of obtaining an order of confiscation and, if such an order is granted, give effect to it; or (b) Submit to its competent authorities, with a view to giving effect to it to the extent requested, an order of confiscation issued by a court in the territory of the requesting State Party in accordance with articles 31, paragraph 1, and 54, paragraph 1 (a), of this Convention insofar as it relates to proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 31, paragraph 1, situated in the territory of the requested State Party. 2. Following a request made by another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence established in accordance with this Convention, the requested State Party shall take measures to identify, trace and freeze or seize proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 31, paragraph 1, of this Convention for the purpose of eventual confiscation to be ordered either by the requesting State Party or, pursuant to a request under paragraph 1 of this article, by the requested State Party. 3. The provisions of article 46 of this Convention are applicable, mutatis mutandis, to this article. In addition to the information specified in article 46, paragraph 15, requests made pursuant to this article shall contain: (a) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1 (a) of this article, a description of the property to be confiscated, including, to the extent possible, the location and, where relevant, the estimated value of the property and a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party sufficient to enable the requested State Party to seek the order under its domestic law; (b) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1 (b) of this article, a legally admissible copy of an order of confiscation upon which the request is based issued by the requesting State Party, a statement of the facts and information as to the extent to which execution of the order is requested, a statement specifying the measures taken by the requesting State Party to provide adequate notification to bona fide third parties and to ensure due process and a statement that the confiscation order is final; (c) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 2 of this article, a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party and a description of the actions requested and, where available, a legally admissible copy of an order on which the request is based. 4. The decisions or actions provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article shall be taken by the requested State Party in accordance with and subject to the provisions of its domestic law and its procedural rules or any bilateral or multilateral agreement or arrangement to which it may be bound in relation to the requesting State Party. 5. Each State Party shall furnish copies of its laws and regulations that give effect to this article and of any subsequent changes to such laws and regulations or a description thereof to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 6. If a State Party elects to make the taking of the measures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article conditional on the existence of a relevant treaty, that State Party shall consider this Convention the necessary and sufficient treaty basis. 7. Cooperation under this article may also be refused or provisional measures lifted if the requested State Party does not receive sufficient and timely evidence or if the property is of a de minimis value. 8. Before lifting any provisional measure taken pursuant to this article, the requested State Party shall, wherever possible, give the requesting State Party an opportunity to present its reasons in favour of continuing the measure. 9. The provisions of this article shall not be construed as prejudicing the rights of bona fide third parties. Article 56 Special cooperation Without prejudice to its domestic law, each State Party shall endeavour to take measures to permit it to forward, without prejudice to its own investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings, information on proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention to another State Party without prior request, when it considers that the disclosure of such information might assist the receiving State Party in initiating or carrying out investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings or might lead to a request by that State Party under this chapter of the Convention. Article 57 Return and disposal of assets 1. Property confiscated by a State Party pursuant to article 31 or 55 of this Convention shall be disposed of, including by return to its prior legitimate owners, pursuant to paragraph 3 of this article, by that State Party in accordance with the provisions of this Convention and its domestic law. 2. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, as may be necessary to enable its competent authorities to return confiscated property, when acting on the request made by another State Party, in accordance with this Convention, taking into account the rights of bona fide third parties. 3. In accordance with articles 46 and 55 of this Convention and paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, the requested State Party shall: (a) In the case of embezzlement of public funds or of laundering of embezzled public funds as referred to in articles 17 and 23 of this Convention, when confiscation was executed in accordance with article 55 and on the basis of a final judgement in the requesting State Party, a requirement that can be waived by the requested State Party, return the confiscated property to the requesting State Party; (b) In the case of proceeds of any other offence covered by this Convention, when the confiscation was executed in accordance with article 55 of this Convention and on the basis of a final judgement in the requesting State Party, a requirement that can be waived by the requested State Party, return the confiscated property to the requesting State Party, when the requesting State Party reasonably establishes its prior ownership of such confiscated property to the requested State Party or when the requested State Party recognizes damage to the requesting State Party as a basis for returning the confiscated property; (c) In all other cases, give priority consideration to returning confiscated property to the requesting State Party, returning such property to its prior legitimate owners or compensating the victims of the crime. 4. Where appropriate, unless States Parties decide otherwise, the requested State Party may deduct reasonable expenses incurred in investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings leading to the return or disposition of confiscated property pursuant to this article. 5. Where appropriate, States Parties may also give special consideration to concluding agreements or mutually acceptable arrangements, on a case-by-case basis, for the final disposal of confiscated property. Article 58 Financial intelligence unit States Parties shall cooperate with one another for the purpose of preventing and combating the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and of promoting ways and means of recovering such proceeds and, to that end, shall consider establishing a financial intelligence unit to be responsible for receiving, analysing and disseminating to the competent authorities reports of suspicious financial transactions. Article 59 Bilateral and multilateral agreements and arrangements States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements to enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation undertaken pursuant to this chapter of the Convention. Chapter VI Technical assistance and information exchange Article 60 Training and technical assistance 1. Each State Party shall, to the extent necessary, initiate, develop or improve specific training programmes for its personnel responsible for preventing and combating corruption. Such training programmes could deal, inter alia, with the following areas: (a) Effective measures to prevent, detect, investigate, punish and control corruption, including the use of evidence-gathering and investigative methods; (b) Building capacity in the development and planning of strategic anti-corruption policy; (c) Training competent authorities in the preparation of requests for mutual legal assistance that meet the requirements of this Convention; (d) Evaluation and strengthening of institutions, public service management and the management of public finances, including public procurement, and the private sector; (e) Preventing and combating the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and recovering such proceeds; (f) Detecting and freezing of the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention; (g) Surveillance of the movement of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and of the methods used to transfer, conceal or disguise such proceeds; (h) Appropriate and efficient legal and administrative mechanisms and methods for facilitating the return of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention; (i) Methods used in protecting victims and witnesses who cooperate with judicial authorities; and (j) Training in national and international regulations and in languages. 2. States Parties shall, according to their capacity, consider affording one another the widest measure of technical assistance, especially for the benefit of developing countries, in their respective plans and programmes to combat corruption, including material support and training in the areas referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, and training and assistance and the mutual exchange of relevant experience and specialized knowledge, which will facilitate international cooperation between States Parties in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance. 3. States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent necessary, efforts to maximize operational and training activities in international and regional organizations and in the framework of relevant bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements. 4. States Parties shall consider assisting one another, upon request, in conducting evaluations, studies and research relating to the types, causes, effects and costs of corruption in their respective countries, with a view to developing, with the participation of competent authorities and society, strategies and action plans to combat corruption. 5. In order to facilitate the recovery of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention, States Parties may cooperate in providing each other with the names of experts who could assist in achieving that objective. 6. States Parties shall consider using subregional, regional and international conferences and seminars to promote cooperation and technical assistance and to stimulate discussion on problems of mutual concern, including the special problems and needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. 7. States Parties shall consider establishing voluntary mechanisms with a view to contributing financially to the efforts of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to apply this Convention through technical assistance programmes and projects. 8. Each State Party shall consider making voluntary contributions to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the purpose of fostering, through the Office, programmes and projects in developing countries with a view to implementing this Convention. Article 61 Collection, exchange and analysis of information on corruption 1. Each State Party shall consider analysing, in consultation with experts, trends in corruption in its territory, as well as the circumstances in which corruption offences are committed. 2. States Parties shall consider developing and sharing with each other and through international and regional organizations statistics, analytical expertise concerning corruption and information with a view to developing, insofar as possible, common definitions, standards and methodologies, as well as information on best practices to prevent and combat corruption. 3. Each State Party shall consider monitoring its policies and actual measures to combat corruption and making assessments of their effectiveness and efficiency. Article 62 Other measures: implementation of the Convention through economic development and technical assistance 1. States Parties shall take measures conducive to the optimal implementation of this Convention to the extent possible, through international cooperation, taking into account the negative effects of corruption on society in general, in particular on sustainable development. 2. States Parties shall make concrete efforts to the extent possible and in coordination with each other, as well as with international and regional organizations: (a) To enhance their cooperation at various levels with developing countries, with a view to strengthening the capacity of the latter to prevent and combat corruption; (b) To enhance financial and material assistance to support the efforts of developing countries to prevent and fight corruption effectively and to help them implement this Convention successfully; (c) To provide technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to assist them in meeting their needs for the implementation of this Convention. To that end, States Parties shall endeavour to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions to an account specifically designated for that purpose in a United Nations funding mechanism. States Parties may also give special consideration, in accordance with their domestic law and the provisions of this Convention, to contributing to that account a percentage of the money or of the corresponding value of proceeds of crime or property confiscated in accordance with the provisions of this Convention; (d) To encourage and persuade other States and financial institutions as appropriate to join them in efforts in accordance with this article, in particular by providing more training programmes and modern equipment to developing countries in order to assist them in achieving the objectives of this Convention. 3. To the extent possible, these measures shall be without prejudice to existing foreign assistance commitments or to other financial cooperation arrangements at the bilateral, regional or international level. 4. States Parties may conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on material and logistical assistance, taking into consideration the financial arrangements necessary for the means of international cooperation provided for by this Convention to be effective and for the prevention, detection and control of corruption. Chapter VII Mechanisms for implementation Article 63 Conference of the States Parties to the Convention 1. A Conference of the States Parties to the Convention is hereby established to improve the capacity of and cooperation between States Parties to achieve the objectives set forth in this Convention and to promote and review its implementation. 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the Conference of the States Parties not later than one year following the entry into force of this Convention. Thereafter, regular meetings of the Conference of the States Parties shall be held in accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the Conference. 3. The Conference of the States Parties shall adopt rules of procedure and rules governing the functioning of the activities set forth in this article, including rules concerning the admission and participation of observers, and the payment of expenses incurred in carrying out those activities. 4. The Conference of the States Parties shall agree upon activities, procedures and methods of work to achieve the objectives set forth in paragraph 1 of this article, including: (a) Facilitating activities by States Parties under articles 60 and 62 and chapters II to V of this Convention, including by encouraging the mobilization of voluntary contributions; (b) Facilitating the exchange of information among States Parties on patterns and trends in corruption and on successful practices for preventing and combating it and for the return of proceeds of crime, through, inter alia, the publication of relevant information as mentioned in this article; (c) Cooperating with relevant international and regional organizations and mechanisms and non-governmental organizations; (d) Making appropriate use of relevant information produced by other international and regional mechanisms for combating and preventing corruption in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of work; (e) Reviewing periodically the implementation of this Convention by its States Parties; (f) Making recommendations to improve this Convention and its implementation; (g) Taking note of the technical assistance requirements of States Parties with regard to the implementation of this Convention and recommending any action it may deem necessary in that respect. 5. For the purpose of paragraph 4 of this article, the Conference of the States Parties shall acquire the necessary knowledge of the measures taken by States Parties in implementing this Convention and the difficulties encountered by them in doing so through information provided by them and through such supplemental review mechanisms as may be established by the Conference of the States Parties. 6. Each State Party shall provide the Conference of the States Parties with information on its programmes, plans and practices, as well as on legislative and administrative measures to implement this Convention, as required by the Conference of the States Parties. The Conference of the States Parties shall examine the most effective way of receiving and acting upon information, including, inter alia, information received from States Parties and from competent international organizations. Inputs received from relevant non-governmental organizations duly accredited in accordance with procedures to be decided upon by the Conference of the States Parties may also be considered. 7. Pursuant to paragraphs 4 to 6 of this article, the Conference of the States Parties shall establish, if it deems it necessary, any appropriate mechanism or body to assist in the effective implementation of the Convention. Article 64 Secretariat 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary secretariat services to the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention. 2. The secretariat shall: (a) Assist the Conference of the States Parties in carrying out the activities set forth in article 63 of this Convention and make arrangements and provide the necessary services for the sessions of the Conference of the States Parties; (b) Upon request, assist States Parties in providing information to the Conference of the States Parties as envisaged in article 63, paragraphs 5 and 6, of this Convention; and (c) Ensure the necessary coordination with the secretariats of relevant international and regional organizations. Chapter VIII Final provisions Article 65 Implementation of the Convention 1. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, including legislative and administrative measures, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to ensure the implementation of its obligations under this Convention. 2. Each State Party may adopt more strict or severe measures than those provided for by this Convention for preventing and combating corruption. Article 66 Settlement of disputes l. States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention through negotiation. 2. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court. 3. Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation. 4. Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 67 Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession 1. This Convention shall be open to all States for signature from 9 to 11 December 2003 in Merida, Mexico, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 9 December 2005. 2. This Convention shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organizations provided that at least one member State of such organization has signed this Convention in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. 3. This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organization may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Convention. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. 4. This Convention is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organization of which at least one member State is a Party to this Convention. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Convention. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. Article 68 Entry into force 1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organization. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Convention after the deposit of the thirtieth instrument of such action, this Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument or on the date this Convention enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is later. Article 69 Amendment 1. After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Convention, a State Party may propose an amendment and transmit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The Conference of the States Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the States Parties. 2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to this Convention. Such organizations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs and vice versa. 3. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties. 4. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party ninety days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment. 5. When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Convention and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved. Article 70 Denunciation 1. A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. 2. A regional economic integration organization shall cease to be a Party to this Convention when all of its member States have denounced it. Article 71 Depositary and languages 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Convention. 2. The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In witness whereof, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention. RESOLUTION 58/50 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Solomon Islands, South Africa and Sweden. by a recorded vote of 128 to 4, with 43 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uzbekistan 58/50. Reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/33 D of 20 November 2000 and 57/58 and 57/59 of 22 November 2002, Stressing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under its article VI,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recognizing that disarmament and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Reaffirming the necessity of strict compliance at all times and in all circumstances by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and the necessity of upholding their commitments in the decisions and final documents agreed at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences, Noting the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued at The Hague on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Reiterating the responsibility of the nuclear-weapon States for transparent, verifiable and irreversible reductions in nuclear weapons leading to nuclear disarmament, Stressing the commitment made in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference to the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:9. Convinced that the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons constitutes an integral part of the nuclear-arms reduction and disarmament process, Concerned about the threat posed by non-strategic nuclear weapons due to their portability and proximity to areas of conflict, and thus about the risk of proliferation and of use, Concerned also about emerging approaches to the broader role of nuclear weapons as part of security strategies, including the possible development of new types of low-yield non-strategic nuclear weapons, Taking into consideration the lack of transparency and of formal agreements with regard to non-strategic nuclear weapons, Emphasizing that further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be accorded a higher priority, as an important step towards the elimination of nuclear weapons, and be carried out in a comprehensive manner, 1. Agrees that further reductions in and elimination of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be based on unilateral initiatives and included as an integral part of the nuclear-arms reduction and disarmament process; 2. Also agrees that reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be carried out in a transparent, verifiable and irreversible manner; 3. Further agrees on the importance of preserving, reaffirming and implementing the 1991 and 1992 presidential nuclear initiatives of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Russian Federation on non-strategic nuclear weapons; 4. Calls upon the Russian Federation and the United States of America to formalize their presidential nuclear initiatives into legal instruments and to initiate negotiations on further reductions of such weapons; 5. Stresses the importance of the enhancement of special security and physical protection measures for the transport and storage of non-strategic nuclear weapons, their components and related materials through, inter alia, the placing of such weapons in physically secure central storage sites, with a view to their removal and subsequent elimination by the nuclear-weapon States as a part of the nuclear disarmament process to which they are committed under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and calls upon all nuclear-weapon States in possession of such weapons to take the necessary steps in this regard; 6. Calls for further confidence-building and transparency measures to reduce the threats posed by non-strategic nuclear weapons; 7. Also calls for concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of non-strategic nuclear weapons systems so as to reduce the risk of use of non-strategic nuclear weapons; 8. Stresses the need for an undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States that possess such weapons not to increase the number or types of weapons deployed and not to develop new types of these weapons or rationalizations for their use; 9. Calls for the prohibition of those types of non-strategic nuclear weapons that have already been removed from the arsenals of some nuclear-weapon States and the development of transparency mechanisms for the verification of the elimination of these weapons; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 58/51 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa and Sweden. by a recorded vote of 133 to 6, with 38 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, India, Israel, Pakistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey 58/51. Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: a new agenda The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/77 Y of 4 December 1998, 54/54 G of 1 December 1999, 55/33 C of 20 November 2000 and 57/59 of 22 November 2002, Convinced that the existence of nuclear weapons is a threat to the survival of humanity and that the only real guarantee against the use or threat of use of these weapons is their complete elimination and the assurance that they will never be used or produced again, Convinced also that the retention of nuclear weapons carries the inherent risk of proliferation of those weapons and their falling into the hands of non-State actors, Reaffirming that nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament are equally important and mutually reinforcing processes requiring continuous irreversible progress on both fronts, Declaring that the participation of the international community as a whole is central to the maintenance and enhancement of international peace and stability, and that international security is a collective concern requiring collective engagement, Declaring also that internationally negotiated treaties in the field of disarmament have made a fundamental contribution to international peace and security, and that unilateral and bilateral nuclear disarmament measures complement the treaty-based multilateral approach towards nuclear disarmament, Noting the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued at The Hague on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Declaring that any presumption of the indefinite possession of nuclear weapons by the nuclear-weapon States is incompatible with the integrity and sustainability of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and with the broader goal of the maintenance of international peace and security, Declaring that each article of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. is binding on the States parties at all times and in all circumstances and that it is imperative that all States parties be held fully accountable with respect to the strict compliance with their obligations under the Treaty, and that the undertakings therein on nuclear disarmament have been given and implementation of them remains imperative, Expressing its deep concern at the limited progress made to date in implementing the thirteen steps on nuclear disarmament, and determined to implement these thirteen practical steps, to which all States parties agreed at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Expressing its deep concern at the continued failure of the Conference on Disarmament to deal with nuclear disarmament and to resume negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other devices, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives, Expressing grave concern that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. has not yet entered into force, Stressing the importance of regular reporting in promoting confidence in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Noting the successful completion in September 2002 of the first phase of the Trilateral Initiative, involving the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Russian Federation and the United States of America, which aims to enable the placement of excess nuclear materials from dismantled weapons under international safeguards, Convinced that the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons constitutes an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process, Noting that, despite bilateral agreements, there is no sign of engagement of all of the five nuclear-weapon States in the multilateral process leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Declaring that it is essential that the fundamental principles of transparency, verification and irreversibility apply to all nuclear disarmament measures, Expressing its deep concern at the continued retention of the nuclear-weapons option by those three States, India, Israel and Pakistan, that have not yet acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, in particular given the effects of regional volatility on international security, and, in this context, the continued regional tensions and deteriorating security situation in South Asia and the Middle East, Expressing also its deep concern at the announcement by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and at its decision to restart the Yongbyon nuclear reactor without International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Expressing concern that the development of missile defences could impact negatively on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and lead to a new arms race on earth and in outer space, Stressing that no actions be taken that would lead to the weaponization of outer space, Expressing its deep concern about emerging approaches to the broader role of nuclear weapons as part of security strategies, including rationalizations for the use, and the possible development, of new types of nuclear weapons, Welcoming further the progress in the development of nuclear-weapon-free zones, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which the heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all the States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. 1. Reaffirms that any possibility that nuclear weapons could be used represents a continued risk for humanity; 2. Calls upon all States to refrain from any action that could lead to a new nuclear-arms race or that could impact negatively on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation; 3. Calls upon all States to fulfil all their obligations under international treaties and international law in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation; 4. Calls upon all States parties to pursue, with determination, the full and effective implementation of the agreements reached at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. the outcome of which provides the requisite plan to achieve nuclear disarmament; 5. Agrees on the importance and urgency of signatures and ratifications required to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 6. Calls for the upholding and maintenance of the moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 7. Underlines the urgency of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in the context of the progress achieved in implementing the international monitoring system; 8. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to implement the commitments made in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as well as in other nuclear disarmament or reductions agreements or initiatives, and to apply the principle of irreversibility by destroying their nuclear warheads and avoid keeping them in a state that lends itself to their possible redeployment; 9. Acknowledges that the reductions in the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads envisaged by the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty")See CD/1674. represent a positive first step, and calls on the United States of America and the Russian Federation to make the Treaty verifiable, irreversible and transparent and to address non-operational warheads, thus making it an effective nuclear disarmament measure; 10. Agrees that the further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons should be accorded a higher priority as an important step towards the elimination of nuclear weapons and be carried out in a comprehensive manner, including: (a) Further reductions in and elimination of non-strategic nuclear weapons based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear-arms reduction and disarmament process; (b) The implementation of reductions in a transparent, verifiable and irreversible manner; (c) The preservation, reaffirmation and implementation of the 1991 and 1992 presidential nuclear initiatives of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Russian Federation on non-strategic nuclear weapons; (d) The formalization by the Russian Federation and the United States of America of their presidential nuclear initiatives into legal instruments and the initiation of negotiations on further reductions of such weapons; (e) The enhancement of special security and physical protection measures for the transport and storage of non-strategic nuclear weapons, their components and related materials through, inter alia, the placing of such weapons in physically secure central storage sites with a view to their removal and subsequent elimination by the nuclear-weapon States as a part of the nuclear disarmament process to which they are committed under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as the necessary steps to be taken by all nuclear-weapon States in possession of such weapons in this regard; (f) The achievement of further confidence-building and transparency measures to reduce the threats posed by non-strategic nuclear weapons; (g) The achievement of concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of non-strategic nuclear weapons systems so as to reduce the risk of use of non-strategic nuclear weapons; (h) The undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States that possess these weapons not to increase the number or types of weapons deployed and not to develop new types of these weapons or rationalizations for their use; (i) The prohibition of those types of non-strategic nuclear weapons that have already been removed from the arsenals of some nuclear-weapon States and the development of transparency mechanisms for the verification of the elimination of these weapons; 11. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to increase their transparency and accountability with regard to their nuclear weapons arsenals and their implementation of disarmament measures; 12. Agrees that the Conference on Disarmament should establish, without delay, an appropriate ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament; 13. Agrees that the Conference on Disarmament should resume negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives; 14. Agrees that the Conference on Disarmament should complete the examination and updating of the mandate on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, as contained in its decision of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. and re-establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible; 15. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the necessary steps towards the seamless integration of all five nuclear-weapon States into a process leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons; 16. Notes that the third and, as appropriate, fourth meetings of the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, taking into account the deliberations and results of the previous sessions, should make every effort to produce a report containing recommendations to the Review Conference; 17. Stresses the importance of regular reporting in promoting confidence in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 18. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to respect fully their existing commitments with regard to security assurances pending the conclusion of multilaterally negotiated legally binding security assurances for all non-nuclear-weapon States parties; 19. Notes the proposals on security assurances that have been submitted to the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and calls upon the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 Review Conference to allow time to thoroughly consider the matter of security assurances at its third meeting so as to make recommendations to the Review Conference on how to take the matter forward; 20. Calls upon those three States, India, Israel and Pakistan, which are not yet parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and which operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without condition, to bring into force the required comprehensive safeguards agreements, together with additional protocols, consistent with the Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 15 May 1997,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). for ensuring nuclear non-proliferation and to reverse clearly and urgently any policies to pursue any nuclear weapons development or deployment and refrain from any action that could undermine regional and international peace and security and the efforts of the international community towards nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation; 21. Reaffirms the conviction that the establishment of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned enhances global and regional peace and security, strengthens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and contributes towards realizing the objective of nuclear disarmament; 22. Expresses concern at tensions in the Middle East and South Asia, and renews support for the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia; 23. Calls upon those States that have not yet done so to conclude full-scope safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol; 24. Calls upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to reconsider its recent announcements, with a view to being in full compliance with the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and in this connection supports all diplomatic efforts for an early, peaceful resolution of the situation and for the establishment of an area free of nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula; 25. Stresses that the International Atomic Energy Agency must be able to verify and ensure that nuclear facilities of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons are being used for peaceful purposes only, and calls on States to cooperate fully and immediately with the Agency in resolving issues arising from the implementation of their respective obligations towards it; 26. Calls upon the Russian Federation and the United States of America to approach the International Atomic Energy Agency to carry out the verification requirements set forth in the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement signed by the two States on the basis of the model legal framework that has been agreed on and that is now available to be used in new verification agreements between the Agency and each of the two States; 27. Calls upon all nuclear-weapon States to make arrangements for the placing, as soon as practicable, of their fissile material no longer required for military purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and to make arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes in order to ensure that such material remains permanently outside military programmes; 28. Affirms that a nuclear-weapon-free world will ultimately require the underpinning of a universal and multilaterally negotiated legally binding instrument or a framework encompassing a mutually reinforcing set of instruments; 29. Acknowledges the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 57/59,A/58/162 and Add.1. and requests him to prepare a report, within existing resources, on the implementation of the present resolution; 30. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session an item entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: a new agenda", and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. RESOLUTION 58/52 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Poland. 58/52. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 57/82 of 22 November 2002, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that since the adoption of resolution 57/82, eleven additional States have ratified the Convention or acceded to it, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and fifty-eight, 1. Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their DestructionSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. is fundamental to the achievement of its objective and purpose; 2. Underlines that the Convention and its implementation contribute to enhancing international peace and security, and emphasizes that its full, universal and effective implementation will contribute further to that purpose by excluding completely, for the sake of all humankind, the possibility of the use of chemical weapons; 3. Stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention is in itself an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 4. Emphasizes the necessity of universal adherence to the Convention, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 5. Notes with appreciation the outcome of the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, convened in The Hague from 28 April to 9 May 2003,See Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, document RC-1/5. and the Political Declaration,Ibid., document RC-1/3. in which the States parties reaffirm their commitment to achieving the objective and purpose of the Convention; 6. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 7. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties; 8. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 9. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 10. Notes the undertaking of the States parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole; 11. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties; 12. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 58/53 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 153 to none, with 23 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 58/53. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001 and 57/74 of 22 November 2002, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Welcoming the entry into force, on 1 March 1999, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,See CD/1478. and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem, Recalling the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Maputo from 3 to 7 May 1999, and the reaffirmation made in the Maputo Declaration of a commitment to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines,See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1, part II. Recalling also the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Geneva from 11 to 15 September 2000, and the Declaration of the Second Meeting of States Parties, reaffirming the commitment to implement completely and fully all provisions of the Convention,See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1, part II. Recalling further the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Managua from 18 to 21 September 2001, and the Declaration of the Third Meeting of States Parties, reaffirming the unwavering commitment both to the total eradication of anti-personnel mines and to addressing the insidious and inhumane effects of those weapons,See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1, part II. Recalling the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Geneva from 16 to 20 September 2002, and the Declaration of the Fourth Meeting of States Parties reaffirming the commitment of the States parties to intensify further their efforts in those areas most directly related to the core humanitarian objectives of the Convention,See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1, part II. Recalling also the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, held at Bangkok from 15 to 19 September 2003, and the Declaration of the Fifth Meeting of States Parties committing the States parties, one year before their First Review Conference, to pursue, with renewed vigour, efforts to clear mined areas, assist victims, destroy stockpiled anti-personnel mines and promote universal adherence to the Convention, Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and forty-one, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that did not sign the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionSee CD/1478. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that signed but have not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Convention; 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention, in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes, and the removal of anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and the assurance of their destruction; 7. Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate in the programme of intersessional work established at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention and further developed at subsequent Meetings of the States parties; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 12, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the Convention's First Review Conference, at Nairobi from 29 November to 3 December 2004; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General, on behalf of States parties and in accordance with article 12, paragraph 3, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the First Review Conference as observers, and urges participation at the highest possible level in a high-level segment to be held at the end of the Review Conference; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 58/54 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 150 to none, with 27 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, China, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 58/54. Transparency in armaments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 47/52 L of 15 December 1992, 48/75 E of 16 December 1993, 49/75 C of 15 December 1994, 50/70 D of 12 December 1995, 51/45 H of 10 December 1996, 52/38 R of 9 December 1997, 53/77 V of 4 December 1998, 54/54 O of 1 December 1999, 55/33 U of 20 November 2000, 56/24 Q of 29 November 2001 and 57/75 of 22 November 2002 entitled "Transparency in armaments", Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional ArmsSee resolution 46/36 L. constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters, Welcoming the consolidated report of the Secretary-General on the Register,A/58/203. which includes the returns of Member States for 2002, Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available background information regarding their military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies, Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure a Register that is capable of attracting the widest possible participation, 1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,See resolution 46/36 L. as provided for in paragraphs 7 to 10 of resolution 46/36 L; 2. Endorses the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further developmentA/58/274. and the recommendations ensuing from the consensus report of the 2003 group of governmental experts contained therein;Ibid., paras. 112-114. 3. Decides to adapt the scope of the Register in conformity with the recommendations contained in the 2003 report of the Secretary-General; 4. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General by 31 May annually with the requested data and information for the Register, including nil reports if appropriate, on the basis of resolutions 46/36 L and 47/52 L, the recommendations contained in paragraph 64 of the 1997 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development,A/52/316 and Corr.2. the recommendations contained in paragraph 94 of the 2000 report of the Secretary-General and the appendices and annexes theretoA/55/281. as well as the 2003 report of the Secretary-General; 5. Invites Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement from national production and military holdings and to make use of the "Remarks" column in the standardized reporting form to provide additional information such as types or models; 6. Reaffirms its decision, with a view to further development of the Register, to keep the scope of and participation in the Register under review; 7. Recalls, to that end, its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the recommendations contained in his 2003 report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register; 9. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooperate at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion, with a view to enhancing and coordinating international efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on progress made in implementing the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/55 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Vanuatu. 58/55. Promotion at the regional level in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe of the United Nations programme of action on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 B of 12 December 1995, 52/38 J of 9 December 1997, 53/77 T of 4 December 1998, 54/54 R of 1 December 1999, 54/54 V of 15 December 1999 and 55/33 Q of 20 November 2000, Also recalling the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects adopted on 20 July 2001,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. which encourages in particular regional organizations to take initiatives to promote its implementation, Welcoming the results of the First Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 7 to 11 July 2003,See A/CONF.192/BMS/2003/1. Convinced of the importance of national, regional and international measures to combat trafficking and illicit trade in small arms, including those measures that could be adapted to regional approaches, Acknowledging the capacity of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, to provide a substantial contribution at the regional level to the process in the United Nations on combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, taking into account regional particularities, Taking note of the adoption on 24 November 2000 of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe document on small arms and light weapons,A/CONF.192/PC/20, appendix. Also taking note of the work done so far within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to develop best practice guides related to the control of small arms and light weapons, and acknowledging that a handbook compiling these best practice guides could also be useful to other Member States in their efforts to implement the United Nations programme of action with a view to combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, 1. Reaffirms the importance of measures to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, including ongoing efforts at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Commends the progress that has already been made in this regard by organizations in various regions and subregions and, in this context, the progress made so far in drawing up best practice guides to prevent, combat and eliminate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons among Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe participating States, and the hope expressed in it to see this process rapidly come to a positive conclusion; 3. Invites all Member States that have not yet done so to examine the possibility of developing and adopting regional and subregional measures, as appropriate, to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and contributing to international peace and security. RESOLUTION 58/56 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Panama, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 112 to 45, with 20 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sweden, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 58/56. Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000, 56/24 R of 29 November 2001 and 57/79 of 22 November 2002 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Reaffirming the conviction of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on the extension of the TreatySee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the resolution on the Middle East,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Stressing the importance of the thirteen steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as agreed to by the States parties in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Noting with appreciation the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Noting with appreciation the entry into force of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty") between the United States of America and the Russian FederationSee CD/1674. as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals, Noting with appreciation also the unilateral measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 74 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament and to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Recalling paragraph 11 of the declaration of the Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in New York on 26 September 2003,See A/58/420, annex. Bearing in mind the principles and guidelines on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its substantive session of 1999,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which heads of State and Government resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or the threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in international relations, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that, in view of recent political developments, the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to achieving the elimination of these weapons; 2. Reaffirms that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing, that the two processes must go hand in hand and that there is a genuine need for a systematic and progressive process of nuclear disarmament; 3. Welcomes and encourages the efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in different parts of the world on the basis of agreements or arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned, which is an effective measure for limiting the further spread of nuclear weapons geographically and contributes to the cause of nuclear disarmament; 4. Recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 5. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 6. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear-weapon systems; 7. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weapons; 8. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 9. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 10. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 11. Underscores the importance of the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in New York from 24 April to 19 May 2000, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;Ibid., section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 2. 12. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the thirteen steps for nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. 13. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; 14. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 15. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 16. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 17. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 18. Expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament at its 2003 session, as called for in General Assembly resolution 57/79; 19. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2004 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons; 20. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". RESOLUTION 58/57 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 58/57. The Conference on Disarmament decision (CD/1547) of 11 August 1998 to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 L of 16 December 1993, 53/77 I of 4 December 1998, 55/33 Y of 20 November 2000, 56/24 J of 29 November 2001 and 57/80 of 22 November 2002, Convinced that a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices would be a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Recalling the 1998 report of the Conference on Disarmament, in which, inter alia, the Conference recorded that, in proceeding to take a decision on this matter, that decision was without prejudice to any further decisions on the establishment of further subsidiary bodies under agenda item 1 and that intensive consultations would be pursued to seek the views of the members of the Conference on Disarmament on appropriate methods and approaches for dealing with agenda item 1, taking into consideration all proposals and views in that respect,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. 1. Recalls the decision of the Conference on DisarmamentSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee which shall negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; 2. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty. RESOLUTION 58/58 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Belgium, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Economic Community of West African States), Malta, Mozambique, Netherlands, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 58/58. Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them The General Assembly, Considering that the illicit proliferation and circulation of and traffic in small arms impede development, constitute a threat to populations and to national and regional security and are a factor contributing to the destabilization of States, Deeply disturbed by the magnitude of the illicit proliferation and circulation of and traffic in small arms in the States of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion, Noting with satisfaction the conclusions of the United Nations advisory missions dispatched by the Secretary-General to the affected countries of the subregion to study the most appropriate way of halting the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting them, Welcoming the designation of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat as a centre for the coordination of all activities of United Nations bodies concerned with small arms, Congratulating the Secretary-General for his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and bearing in mind the statement on small arms made by the President of the Security Council on 24 September 1999,S/PRST/1999/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. Welcoming the recommendations resulting from the meetings of the States of the subregion held at Banjul, Algiers, Bamako, Yamoussoukro and Niamey to establish close regional cooperation with a view to strengthening security, Welcoming also the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African States to renew the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, adopted by the heads of State and Government of the Community at Abuja on 31 October 1998,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. Recalling the Algiers Declaration adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 1 (XXXV). Emphasizing the need to advance efforts towards wider cooperation and better coordination in the struggle against the illicit proliferation of small arms through the common understanding reached at the meeting on small arms held at Oslo on 13 and 14 July 1998See CD/1556. and the Brussels Call for Action adopted by the International Conference on Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development, held at Brussels on 12 and 13 October 1998,A/53/681, annex. Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted at Bamako on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. Recalling the millennium report of the Secretary-General,A/54/2000. Welcoming the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. and calling for its expeditious implementation, Recognizing the important role that the organizations of civil society play in detection, prevention and raising public awareness, in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms, 1. Notes with satisfaction the Declaration of the Ministerial Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa, held at Abuja on 8 and 9 May 2000,A/55/286, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 4 (XXXVI). and encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his efforts in the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions, aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting such arms in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the African Union; 2. Welcomes the decision of the Economic Community of West African States to renew the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West AfricaA/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. for a three-year period, until October 2004, and encourages the international community to support the implementation of the moratorium; 3. Encourages the establishment in the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion of national commissions to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms, and invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible to ensure the smooth functioning of the commissions; 4. Also encourages the involvement of organizations and associations of civil society in the efforts of the national commissions to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and their participation in the implementation of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa as well as in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. 5. Further encourages cooperation among State organs, international organizations and civil society in combating the illicit traffic in small arms and supporting operations to collect the said arms in the subregions; 6. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil organizations to take action to combat the illicit trade in small arms; 7. Takes note of the conclusions of the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Economic Community of West African States, held at Bamako on 24 and 25 March 1999, on the modalities for the implementation of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, and welcomes the adoption by the meeting of a plan of action; 8. Takes note also of the conclusions of the African Conference on the Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms: Needs and Partnerships, held at Pretoria from 18 to 21 March 2002; 9. Invites the Secretary-General and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the matter and to report to it at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them". RESOLUTION 58/59 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/462, para. 82),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 164 to 2, with 14 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, Brazil, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden 58/59. A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 H of 15 December 1994, 50/70 C of 12 December 1995, 51/45 G of 10 December 1996, 52/38 K of 9 December 1997, 53/77 U of 4 December 1998, 54/54 D of 1 December 1999, 55/33 R of 20 November 2000, 56/24 N of 29 November 2001 and 57/78 of 22 November 2002, Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament mutually complement and strengthen each other, Expressing deep concern regarding the growing dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Convinced that every effort should be made to avoid nuclear devastation, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and as an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, and welcoming accession by Timor-Leste to the Treaty, Bearing in mind that challenges to the Treaty and to the nuclear non-proliferation regime have further increased the necessity of full compliance and that the Treaty can fulfil its role only if there is confidence in compliance by all States parties, Recognizing the progress made by the nuclear-weapon States in the reduction of their nuclear weapons unilaterally or through their negotiations, including the recent entry into force of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty") by the United States of America and the Russian Federation,See CD/1674. which should serve as a step for further nuclear disarmament, and the efforts for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation by the international community, Reaffirming the conviction that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation, ensuring international peace and security, Welcoming the continuation of a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions since the last nuclear tests, Welcoming also the successful adoption of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). and stressing the importance of implementing its conclusions, Welcoming further the constructive discussions at the second session, held from 28 April to 9 May 2003, of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to be held in 2005, Welcoming the successful convening of a series of seminars and conferences aiming at further reinforcement of International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, including the International Conference on Wider Adherence to Strengthened International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards, held in Tokyo on 9 and 10 December 2002, and sharing the hope that, by making utmost use of the outcomes from the foregoing seminars and conferences, the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards system will be further strengthened, by means of universalization of safeguards agreements and the additional protocols, Encouraging the Russian Federation and the United States of America to continue their intensive consultations in accordance with the Joint Declaration on the New Strategic Relationship between the two States,See CD/1674. Welcoming the Final Declaration of the third Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, convened in Vienna from 3 to 5 September 2003CTBT-Art.XIV/2003/5, annex I. in accordance with article XIV of the Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Recognizing the importance of preventing terrorists from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons or related materials, radioactive materials, equipment and technology and underlining the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard, Stressing the importance of education on disarmament and non-proliferation for future generations, and welcoming the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session,A/57/124. 1. Reaffirms the importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions; 2. Also reaffirms the importance for all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty; 3. Stresses the central importance of the following practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty:1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. (a) The importance and urgency of signatures and ratifications, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. as well as a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of that Treaty; (b) The establishment of an ad hoc committee in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2004 session to negotiate a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995CD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives, with a view to its conclusion within five years and, pending its entry into force, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; (c) The establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2004 session in the context of establishing a programme of work; (d) The inclusion of the principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; (e) An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, as agreed at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty; (f) Deep reductions by the Russian Federation and the United States of America in their strategic offensive arsenals, while placing great importance on the existing multilateral treaties, with a view to maintaining and strengthening strategic stability and international security; (g) Steps by all the nuclear-weapon States leading to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all: (i) Further efforts by all the nuclear-weapon States to continue to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (ii) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to their nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as voluntary confidence-building measures to support further progress on nuclear disarmament; (iii) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (iv) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (v) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (vi) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; (h) Reaffirmation that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control; 4. Recognizes that the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons will require further steps, including deeper reductions by all the nuclear-weapon States in the process of working towards achieving their elimination; 5. Invites the nuclear-weapon States to keep the Members of the United Nations duly informed of the progress or efforts made towards nuclear disarmament; 6. Emphasizes the importance of a successful Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2005, as the third session of the Preparatory Committee will be convened in 2004; 7. Welcomes the ongoing efforts in the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, notes the importance of the safe and effective management of the resultant fissile materials, and calls for arrangements by all the nuclear-weapon States to place, as soon as practicable, fissile material designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes to ensure that such material remains permanently outside of military programmes; 8. Stresses the importance of further development of the verification capabilities, including International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, that will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 9. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, confirming and strengthening, if necessary, their policies not to transfer equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to the proliferation of those weapons, while ensuring that such policies are consistent with the obligations of States under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 10. Also calls upon all States to maintain the highest possible standards of security, safe custody, effective control and physical protection of all materials that could contribute to the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in order, inter alia, to prevent those materials from falling into the hands of terrorists; 11. Welcomes the adoption of resolution GC(47)/RES/11 on 19 September 2003 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-seventh Regular Session, 15-19 September 2003 (GC(47)/RES/DEC (2003)). in which it is recommended that States members of the Agency continue to consider implementing the elements of the plan of action outlined in resolution GC(44)/RES/19, adopted on 22 September 2000 by the General Conference of the Agency,Ibid., Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC (2000)). and in the Agency's updated plan of action of April 2003, with the aim of facilitating the entry into force of comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols, and calls for the early and full implementation of that resolution; 12. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. RESOLUTION 58/5 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 3 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.2 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen 58/5. Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace The General Assembly, Recalling its decision to include in its agenda an item entitled "Sport for peace and development" and a sub-item thereof entitled "International Year of Sport and Physical Education",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Plenary Meetings, 2nd meeting (A/58/PV.2), and corrigendum. Considering the role of sport and physical education as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, Acknowledging the major role of the United Nations, its funds and programmes and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other specialized agencies, in promoting human development through sport and physical education, through its country programmes, Taking note of the communiqué issued by the round table of ministers responsible for sports and physical education, held in Paris on 9 and 10 January 2003, in which they expressed their commitment to ensuring that the role of physical education and sport is fully recognized and developed, Recalling the Convention on the Rights of the ChildResolution 44/25, annex. and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. stressing that education shall be directed to the development of children's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential, Recalling also the International Charter of Physical Education and Sport of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twentieth Session, Paris, 24 October-28 November 1978, vol. 1: Resolutions. and the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum in April 2000,Ibid., Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000, Paris, 2000. as well as other relevant documents emphasizing the role of sport and physical education, Taking note of the report of the United Nations Inter-agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace, Noting that sport and physical education in many countries face increasing marginalization within education systems even though they are a major tool not only for health and physical development but also for acquiring values necessary for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, Acknowledging with concern the dangers faced by sportsmen and sportswomen, in particular young athletes, including, inter alia, child labour, violence, doping, early specialization, over-training and exploitative forms of commercialization, as well as less visible threats and deprivations, such as the premature severance of family bonds and the loss of sporting, social and cultural ties, Recognizing the need for greater coordination of efforts at the international level to facilitate a more effective fight against doping, and noting in this regard the Anti-Doping Convention established by the Council of Europe,Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No. 135. the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-doping in Sport, adopted during the World Conference on Doping in Sport, held from 3 to 5 March 2003, and any other relevant international instrument, 1. Invites Governments, the United Nations, its funds and programmes, the specialized agencies, where appropriate, and sport-related institutions: (a) To promote the role of sport and physical education for all when furthering their development programmes and policies, to advance health awareness, the spirit of achievement and cultural bridging and to entrench collective values; (b) To include sport and physical education as a tool to contribute towards achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the broader aims of development and peace; (c) To work collectively so that sport and physical education can present opportunities for solidarity and cooperation in order to promote a culture of peace and social and gender equality and to advocate dialogue and harmony; (d) To recognize the contribution of sport and physical education towards economic and social development and to encourage the building and restoration of sports infrastructures; (e) To further promote sport and physical education, on the basis of locally assessed needs, as a tool for health, education, social and cultural development; (f) To strengthen cooperation and partnership between all actors, including family, school, clubs/leagues, local communities, youth sports associations and decision makers as well as the public and private sectors, in order to ensure complementarities and to make sport and physical education available to everyone; (g) To ensure that young talents can develop their athletic potential without any threat to their safety and physical and moral integrity; 2. Encourages Governments, international sports bodies and sport-related organizations to elaborate and implement partnership initiatives and development projects compatible with the education provided at all levels of schooling to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals; 3. Invites Governments and international sports bodies to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in their capacity-building efforts in sport and physical education; 4. Encourages the United Nations to develop strategic partnerships with the range of stakeholders involved in sport, including sports organizations, sports associations and the private sector, to assist in the implementation of sport for development programmes; 5. Encourages Governments and the United Nations system to seek new and innovative ways to use sport for communication and social mobilization, particularly at the national, regional and local levels, engaging civil society through active participation and ensuring that target audiences are reached; 6. Stresses the need for all parties to cooperate closely with international sports bodies to elaborate a "code of good practice"; 7. Invites Governments to accelerate the elaboration of an international anti-doping convention in all sports activities, and requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in cooperation with other relevant international and regional organizations, to coordinate the elaboration of such a convention; 8. Decides to proclaim 2005 the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, and invites Governments to organize events to underline their commitment and to seek the assistance of sports personalities in this regard; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on the preparation of events at the national and international levels to celebrate the year 2005, under the sub-item entitled "International Year of Sport and Physical Education". RESOLUTION 58/60 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/463, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Costa Rica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States). 58/60. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, 54/55 F of 1 December 1999, 55/34 E of 20 November 2000, 56/25 E of 29 November 2001 and 57/89 of 22 November 2002, Underlining the revitalization of the Regional Centre, the efforts made by the Government of Peru and other countries to that end, as well as the important work done by the Director of the Centre, Recognizing that the Regional Centre has continued to act as an instrument for the implementation of regional initiatives and has intensified its contribution to the coordination of United Nations efforts towards peace and security, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/122. which concludes that the Regional Centre also acts as a facilitator for the implementation of regional initiatives by identifying regional security needs and new areas of cooperation with States and organizations in the region, by providing more in-depth information on firearms matters, including training for the law enforcement community and non-governmental organizations on such matters, and by promoting the dissemination of information on security issues among diplomats, the military, non-governmental organizations and civil society, Welcoming also that the report stresses that the Regional Centre has initiated a new level of activity in the important area of disarmament and development, and encouraging the Centre to further develop this activity, Noting that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Welcoming the fact that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. is now in force for the sovereign States of the region, and that this fact was officially acknowledged by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean, at its eighteenth session, held at Havana on 5 and 6 November 2003, Bearing in mind the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Also bearing in mind the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources and cooperation for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction and congratulates the Regional Centre for the expansion of the vast range of activities carried out last year in the field of peace, disarmament and development, and requests the Regional Centre to take into account the proposals to be submitted by the countries of the region in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, transparency, disarmament and development at the regional level; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Invites all States of the region to continue to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its programme, making greater and better use of the Centre's potential to meet the current challenges facing the international community and with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the field of peace, disarmament and development; 5. Recognizes that the Regional Centre has an important role in the promotion and development of regional initiatives agreed upon by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as the relationship between disarmament and development; 6. Welcomes the establishment of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development pursuant to General Assembly resolution 57/65 of 22 November 2002, whose report, to be submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, will be of utmost interest for the role the Regional Centre plays in promoting those issues in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament; 7. Highlights the conclusion of the Secretary-General that the Regional Centre has demonstrated, in a concrete manner, the role of the Organization as a regional catalyst for peace and disarmament in assisting countries in the region to advance the cause of peace, disarmament and development in Latin America and the Caribbean;A/58/122, para. 39. 8. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make and increase voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support, within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". RESOLUTION 58/61 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/463, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 58/61. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998, 54/55 B of 1 December 1999, 55/34 D of 20 November 2000, 56/25 D of 29 November 2001 and 57/91 of 22 November 2002, Aware of the widespread support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre and the important role that the Centre can play in the present context in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/139. that the Centre has received an increasing number of requests from Member States in the African region for substantive support for several peace initiatives and conflict resolution activities in the region, Taking note also of the report by the Secretary-GeneralSee A/58/139, para. 46. that very limited financial contributions were made to the Centre despite continued fund-raising efforts, Concerned that the continued financial difficulties faced by the Centre have impaired its ability to realize its full potential and to fulfil its mandate adequately, Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken in the framework of the revitalization of the activities of the Regional Centre for the mobilization of the resources necessary for its operational costs, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the African Union, in conformity with the decision adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec.138 (XXXV). On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. Welcoming the adoption by consensus of the report of the United Nations First Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 7 to 11 July 2003,A/CONF.192/BMS/2003/1. 1. Commends the activities which the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa is continuing to carry out, in particular in support of the efforts made by the African States in the areas of peace and security; 2. Reaffirms its strong support for the revitalization of the Regional Centre, and emphasizes the need to provide it with the necessary resources to enable it to strengthen its activities and carry out its programmes; 3. Appeals once again to all States, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the African Union, in particular in the area of peace, security and development, and to continue to assist the Director of the Regional Centre in his efforts to stabilize the financial situation of the Centre and revitalize its activities; 6. Appeals in particular to the Regional Centre, in cooperation with the African Union, regional and subregional organizations and the African States, to take steps to promote the consistent implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". RESOLUTION 58/62 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/463, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. 58/62. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/190. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre has been a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation for peace and disarmament in the region, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as the "Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of meetings and conferences in the region, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 25 to 27 September 2002, on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 3 to 5 December 2002, in Bali, Indonesia, on 10 and 11 February 2003 and on 14 and 15 February 2003, in Kanazawa, Japan, from 10 to 12 June 2003 and in Osaka, Japan, from 19 to 22 August 2003,A/58/190. Welcoming the idea of the possible creation of an educational and training programme for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for young people with different backgrounds, to be financed from voluntary contributions, Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, including its continued assistance in finalizing a treaty related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia,A/58/190. as well as to Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status, including the organization of an informal consultation among relevant United Nations bodies in January 2003 to discuss the status of implementation of the non-nuclear aspects of Mongolia's status,A/58/190. Appreciating highly the overall support that Nepal has extended as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and voluntary financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Urges the Secretary-General to ensure the physical operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu within six months of the date of signature of the host country agreement and to enable the Centre to function effectively; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTION 58/63 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/463, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 58/63. United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/87 of 22 November 2002 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/58/139. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/58/190. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/58/122. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament, and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 146 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, the heads of State or Government welcomed the decision adopted by the General Assembly on maintaining and revitalizing the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security and that are aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the principles and purposes of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their activities and initiatives; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the activities of the regional branch of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". RESOLUTION 58/64 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/463, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 118 to 46, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 58/64. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that, in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-10/2. whose twenty-fifth anniversary is being marked this year, it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2003 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 57/94 of 22 November 2002, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. RESOLUTION 58/65 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/463, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principe. 58/65. Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December 1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992, 48/76 A of 16 December 1993, 49/76 C of 15 December 1994, 50/71 B of 12 December 1995, 51/46 C of 10 December 1996, 52/39 B of 9 December 1997, 53/78 A of 4 December 1998, 54/55 A of 1 December 1999, 55/34 B of 20 November 2000, 56/25 A of 29 November 2001 and 57/88 of 22 November 2002, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recalling the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central Africa,A/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, Recalling the decision of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in favour of establishing, under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on regional confidence-building measures, which deals with the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in the period since the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 57/88;A/58/177. 2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further peace, stability and sustainable development in the subregion; 3. Also reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held at Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 4. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing the programme of activities for the period 2002-2003, in particular by: (a) Holding a seminar on the implementation in the Central African region of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its AspectsSee Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. at Brazzaville from 12 to 14 May 2003; (b) Holding the nineteenth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Brazzaville from 14 to 17 May 2003; (c) Holding the "Biyongho 2003" military peacekeeping exercise at Franceville, Gabon, from 21 to 28 July 2003; (d) Holding the twentieth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee at Malabo from 27 to 31 October 2003; 5. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 6. Welcomes the creation of a mechanism for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, to be known as the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa, by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States, held at Yaoundé on 25 February 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to give his full support to the effective realization of that important mechanism; 7. Emphasizes the need to make the early warning mechanism in Central Africa operational so that it will serve, on the one hand, as an instrument for analysing and monitoring political situations in the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with a view to preventing the outbreak of future armed conflicts and, on the other hand, as a technical body through which the member States will carry out the programme of work of the Committee, adopted at its organizational meeting held at Yaoundé in 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to provide it with the assistance necessary for it to function properly; 8. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide their full assistance for the proper functioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the implementation and smooth functioning of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and the early warning mechanism; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a network of parliamentarians with a view to the creation of a subregional parliament in Central Africa; 11. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to provide increased assistance to the countries of Central Africa for coping with the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories; 12. Thanks the Secretary-General for having established the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 13. Appeals to Member States and to governmental and non-governmental organizations to make additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the implementation of the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee; 14. Thanks the Secretary-General for sending a multidisciplinary assessment mission to the Central African region from 8 to 22 June 2003 for the purposes of identifying priority needs and challenges confronting the subregion, in particular focusing on issues of peace, security, economic development, humanitarian questions, human rights and HIV/AIDS; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with assistance to ensure that they are able to carry on their efforts; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". RESOLUTION 58/66 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/464, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Japan. 58/66. Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/58/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete issues, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, Taking note of active discussions held on the programme of work during the 2003 session of the Conference, as duly reflected in the report and the records of the plenary meetings, Taking note also of significant contributions made during the 2003 session to promote substantive discussions on issues on the agenda in the plenary meetings, as well as of discussions held on other issues that could also be relevant to the current international security environment, Stressing the urgent need for the Conference to commence substantive work on its agreed agenda items at this juncture, 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Urges the Conference to fulfil that role in the light of the evolving international situation, with a view to making early substantive progress on priority items on its agenda; 3. Welcomes the strong collective interest of the Conference in commencing substantive work as soon as possible during its 2004 session; 4. Also welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its current President and the incoming President to conduct consultations during the intersessional period and, if possible, to make recommendations, taking into account all relevant proposals, including that contained in CD/1693/Rev.1, views presented and discussions held, and to endeavour to keep the membership of the Conference informed, as appropriate, of their consultations, as expressed in paragraph 38 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/58/27). 5. Requests all States members of the Conference to cooperate with the current President and successive Presidents in their efforts to guide the Conference to the early commencement of substantive work in its 2004 session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 7. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 58/67 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/464, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Belarus, Brazil, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Italy, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Nepal and Venezuela. 58/67. Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/58/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, 55/35 C of 20 November 2000, 56/26 A of 29 November 2001 and 57/95 of 22 November 2002, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, Bearing in mind its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/58/42). 2. Reaffirms the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 3. Also reaffirms the role of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 4. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items on its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission";A/CN.10/137. 5. Recommends that the Disarmament Commission consider the following items at its 2004 substantive session: (a) [To be determined]; (b) [To be determined]; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2004, namely, from 5 to 23 April, and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/58/27). together with all the official records of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". RESOLUTION 58/68 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/465, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the League of Arab States). by a recorded vote of 162 to 4, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu 58/68. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(47)/RES/13, adopted on 19 September 2003,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-seventh Regular Session, 15-19 September 2003 (GC(47)/RES/DEC(2003)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article IX". Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and sixty-nine States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 58/69 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/466, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 58/69. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/98 of 22 November 2002 and previous resolutions referring to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. Recalling with satisfaction the adoption, on 10 October 1980, of the Convention, together with the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. which entered into force on 2 December 1983, Also recalling with satisfaction the adoption by the First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, on 13 October 1995 of the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex A. and on 3 May 1996 of the amended Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II),Ibid., annex B. which entered into force on 30 July 1998 and 3 December 1998 respectively, Welcoming the results of the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and commending the efforts of the President of the Conference, Recalling with satisfaction the decision by the Second Review Conference, on 21 December 2001, to extend the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Recalling the decision by the Second Review Conference to commission follow-up work under the oversight of the Chairman-designate of a meeting of States parties to the Convention and in this context the decision to establish an open-ended group of governmental experts with two separate coordinators on explosive remnants of war and on mines other than anti-personnel mines,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Welcoming the additional ratifications and acceptances of or accessions to the Convention and to amended Protocol II and Protocol IV, as well as accessions to the amendment of article I of the Convention, as adopted in 2001,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Recalling the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, Noting that the rules of procedure of the First Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II provide for the invitation of States not parties to the Protocol, the International Committee of the Red Cross and interested non-governmental organizations to take part in the Conference, Welcoming the particular efforts of various international, non-governmental and other organizations in raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of explosive remnants of war, Welcoming also the results of the Fourth Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II, held at Geneva on 11 December 2002,See CCW/AP.II/CONF.4/3 (Part I). 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocols thereto, as amended, as well as the amendment of article I extending the scope of the Convention,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to these instruments at an early date, and calls upon successor States to take appropriate measures so that ultimately adherence to these instruments will be universal; 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention; 3. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to notify the depositary at an early date of their consent to be bound by the amendment extending the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character;See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. 4. Notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention held on 12 and 13 December 2002See CCW/MSP/2002/2. that the Working Group on Explosive Remnants of War would continue its work in 2003 with the mandate to negotiate an instrument on post-conflict remedial measures of a generic nature that would reduce the risks of explosive remnants of war and to explore and determine whether these negotiations could successfully address preventive generic measures for improving the reliability of munitions and, separate from these negotiations, to continue to consider the implementation of existing principles of international humanitarian law and to further study, on an open-ended basis, possible preventive measures aimed at improving the design of certain specific types of munitions, including sub-munitions, with a view to minimizing the humanitarian risk of these munitions' becoming explosive remnants of war;Ibid., para. 21. 5. Also notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention that the Working Group on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines would continue its work in 2003 with the mandate to explore the issue of mines other than anti-personnel mines, and consider the most appropriate way to reduce the risks posed by the irresponsible use of mines other than anti-personnel mines, including the possibility of concluding a negotiating mandate for a new instrument and other appropriate measures, taking into account the issues specified in the decision;Ibid., para. 22. 6. Further notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention that the Chairman-designate should continue to undertake consultations during the intersessional period on possible options to promote compliance with the Convention and the Protocols thereto, taking into account proposals put forward;Ibid., para. 23. 7. Expresses support for the work conducted by the Group of Governmental Experts, and encourages the Chairman-designate and the Group to conduct work expeditiously with a view to submitting a possible proposal for an instrument on explosive remnants of war to States parties for consideration at their meeting on 27 and 28 November 2003 and with a view to submitting to the States parties' reports on mines other than anti-personnel mines and on compliance; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to be held on 27 and 28 November 2003, as well as for any possible continuation of work after the Meeting, should the States parties deem it appropriate; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically, by electronic means, of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects". RESOLUTION 58/6 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 3 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.9 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 58/6. Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/75 of 11 December 2001, in which it decided to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal"At its 2nd plenary meeting, on 19 September 2003, the General Assembly decided to include in the agenda of its fifty-eighth session an item entitled "Sport for peace and development", including a sub-item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal". and its decision to consider this item every two years in advance of each Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Recalling also its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, which, inter alia, revived the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria or "Olympic Truce" calling for a truce during the Games that would encourage a peaceful environment and ensuring the safe passage and participation of athletes and others at the Games and, thereby, mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace, Taking into account the inclusion in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce now and in the future and support for the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal, Noting that the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad will take place from 13 to 29 August 2004 in Athens, in Greece, where the Olympic Games were born in ancient times and revived in 1896, and where the tradition of the Olympic Truce was first established, Welcoming the initiative of the Secretary-General to establish the United Nations Inter-agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace, Recognizing the important role of sport in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Recognizing also the valuable contribution that the appeal launched by the International Olympic Committee for an Olympic Truce, with which the National Olympic Committees of the Member States are associated, could make towards advancing the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting with satisfaction the flying of the United Nations flag at all competition sites of the Olympic Games, and the joint endeavours of the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations system in fields such as poverty alleviation, human and economic development, humanitarian assistance, education, health promotion, gender equality, environmental protection and HIV/AIDS prevention, Welcoming the establishment by the International Olympic Committee of an International Olympic Truce Foundation and an International Olympic Truce Centre to promote further the ideals of peace and understanding through sport, on whose Board the President in office of the General Assembly sits and the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization are represented, Welcoming also the individual support of world personalities for the promotion of the Olympic Truce, 1. Urges Member States to observe, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, during the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, to be held in Athens; 2. Welcomes the decision of the International Olympic Committee to mobilize all international sports organizations and the National Olympic Committees of the Member States to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce; 3. Calls upon all Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to use the Olympic Truce as an instrument to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period; 4. Welcomes the increased implementation of projects for development through sport, and encourages Member States and all concerned agencies and programmes of the United Nations system to strengthen their work in this field, in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the observance of the Olympic Truce among Member States and support for human development initiatives through sport, and to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee in the realization of these objectives; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the sub-item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic Ideal" and to consider this sub-item before the XX Olympic Winter Games. RESOLUTION 58/70 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/467, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 58/70. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 57/99 of 22 November 2002, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/132 and Add.1 and 2. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region, and recognizes the role of the United Nations in promoting regional and international peace and security; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 58/71 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/468, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 173 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Colombia, India, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic 58/71. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measure, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and sixty-nine States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of one hundred and seven States, including thirty-two of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, among which there are three nuclear-weapon States, Recalling its resolution 57/100 of 22 November 2002, Welcoming the Final Declaration of the third Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held at Vienna from 3 to 5 September 2003,CTBT-Art. XIV/2003/5, annex I. pursuant to article XIV of the Treaty, 1. Stresses the importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular to its efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Urges States to maintain their moratoriums on nuclear-weapons test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, pending the entry into force of the Treaty; 4. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible and to refrain from acts that would defeat its object and purpose in the meanwhile; 5. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their earliest successful conclusion; 6. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". RESOLUTION 58/72 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/469, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Hungary. 58/72. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the complete and effective prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and to their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that there are one hundred and fifty States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. including all of the permanent members of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conferences, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. and to provide such information and data in conformity with standardized procedure to the Secretary-General on an annual basis and no later than 15 April, Welcoming the reaffirmation made in the Final Declaration of the Fourth Review ConferenceBWC/CONF.IV/9, part II. that under all circumstances the use of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and their development, production and stockpiling are effectively prohibited under article I of the Convention, Recalling the decision reached at the Fifth Review Conference to hold three annual meetings of the States parties of one week duration each year commencing in 2003 until the Sixth Review Conference and to hold a two-week meeting of experts to prepare for each meeting of the States parties,BWC/CONF.V/17, para. 18. 1. Notes with satisfaction the increase in the number of States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. reaffirms the call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay, and calls upon those States that have not signed the Convention to become parties thereto at an early date, thus contributing to the achievement of universal adherence to the Convention; 2. Welcomes the information and data provided to date, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention;BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. 3. Recalls the decision reached at the Fifth Review Conference,BWC/CONF.V/17, para. 18. and calls upon the States parties to the Convention to participate in its implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention and to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences, including all necessary assistance to the annual meetings of the States parties and the meetings of experts; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 58/73 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/511, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Ghana on behalf of the Bureau. 58/73. United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law The General Assembly, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International LawA/58/446. and the guidelines and recommendations on future implementation of the Programme which were adopted by the Advisory Committee on the Programme and are contained in section III of the report, Considering that international law should occupy an appropriate place in the teaching of legal disciplines at all universities, Noting with appreciation the efforts made by States at the bilateral level to provide assistance in the teaching and study of international law, Convinced, nevertheless, that States and international organizations and institutions should be encouraged to give further support to the Programme and increase their activities to promote the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, in particular those activities which are of special benefit to persons from developing countries, Reaffirming its resolutions 2464 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968, 2550 (XXIV) of 12 December 1969, 2838 (XXVI) of 18 December 1971, 3106 (XXVIII) of 12 December 1973, 3502 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, 32/146 of 16 December 1977, 36/108 of 10 December 1981 and 38/129 of 19 December 1983, in which it stated or recalled that in the conduct of the Programme it was desirable to use as far as possible the resources and facilities made available by Member States, international organizations and others, as well as its resolutions 34/144 of 17 December 1979, 40/66 of 11 December 1985, 42/148 of 7 December 1987, 44/28 of 4 December 1989, 46/50 of 9 December 1991, 48/29 of 9 December 1993, 50/43 of 11 December 1995, 52/152 of 15 December 1997, 54/102 of 9 December 1999 and 56/77 of 12 December 2001, in which, in addition, it expressed or reaffirmed the hope that, in appointing lecturers for the seminars to be held within the framework of the fellowship programme in international law, account would be taken of the need to secure the representation of major legal systems and balance among various geographical regions, 1. Approves the guidelines and recommendations contained in section III of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/446. and adopted by the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, in particular those designed to achieve the best possible results in the administration of the Programme within a policy of maximum financial restraint; 2. Authorizes the Secretary-General to carry out in 2004 and 2005 the activities specified in his report, including the provision of: (a) A number of international law fellowships in both 2004 and 2005, to be determined in the light of the overall resources for the Programme and to be awarded at the request of Governments of developing countries; (b) A minimum of one scholarship in both 2004 and 2005 under the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, subject to the availability of new voluntary contributions made specifically to the fellowship fund; (c) Subject to the overall resources for the Programme, assistance in the form of a travel grant for one participant from each developing country, who would be invited to possible regional courses to be organized in 2004 and 2005; and to finance the above activities from provisions in the regular budget, when appropriate, as well as from voluntary financial contributions earmarked for each of the activities concerned, which would be received as a result of the requests set out in paragraphs 11 to 13 below; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his constructive efforts to promote training and assistance in international law within the framework of the Programme in 2002 and 2003, in particular for the organization of the thirty-eighthSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/57/10 and Corr.1), chap. X, sect. E. and thirty-ninthIbid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/58/10), chap. XI, sect. E. sessions of the International Law Seminar, held at Geneva in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and for the activities of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat related to the fellowship programme in international law and to the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, carried out, respectively, through its Codification Division and its Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the possibility of admitting, for participation in the various components of the Programme, candidates from countries willing to bear the entire cost of such participation; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider the relative advantages of using available resources and voluntary contributions for regional, subregional or national courses, as against courses organized within the United Nations system; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary resources to the programme budget for the Programme for the next and the future bienniums with a view to maintaining the effectiveness of the Programme; 7. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Office of Legal Affairs to bring up to date the United Nations Treaty Series and the United Nations Juridical Yearbook, as well as efforts made to place on the Internet the Treaty Series and other legal information; 8. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research for its participation in the Programme through the activities described in the report of the Secretary-General; 9. Also expresses its appreciation to The Hague Academy of International Law for the valuable contribution it continues to make to the Programme, which has enabled candidates under the fellowship programmes in international law to attend and participate in the Programme in conjunction with the Academy courses; 10. Notes with appreciation the contributions of The Hague Academy to the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, and calls upon Member States and interested organizations to give favourable consideration to the appeal of the Academy for a continuation of support and a possible increase in their financial contributions, to enable the Academy to carry out its activities, particularly those relating to the summer courses, regional courses and programmes of the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to publicize the Programme and periodically to invite Member States, universities, philanthropic foundations and other interested national and international institutions and organizations, as well as individuals, to make voluntary contributions towards the financing of the Programme or otherwise to assist in its implementation and possible expansion; 12. Reiterates its request to Member States and to interested organizations and individuals to make voluntary contributions, inter alia, for the International Law Seminar, the fellowship programme in international law, the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Audiovisual Library in International Law, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, institutions and individuals that have made voluntary contributions for this purpose; 13. Urges, in particular, all Governments to make voluntary contributions for the organization of regional refresher courses in international law by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, especially with a view to covering the amount needed for the financing of the daily subsistence allowance for up to twenty-five participants in each regional course, thus alleviating the burden on prospective host countries and making it possible for the Institute to continue to organize the regional courses; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the Programme during 2004 and 2005 and, following consultations with the Advisory Committee on the Programme, to submit recommendations regarding the execution of the Programme in subsequent years; 15. Decides to appoint twenty-five Member States, six from Africa, five from Asia, three from Eastern Europe, five from Latin America and the Caribbean and six from Western Europe and other States, as members of the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, for a period of four years beginning on 1 January 2004;The following States have been appointed members of the Advisory Committee on the Programme: Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Uruguay. 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law". RESOLUTION 58/74 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/512, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Viet Nam. 58/74. Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/55 of 9 December 1991, 49/61 of 9 December 1994, 52/151 of 15 December 1997, 53/98 of 8 December 1998, 54/101 of 9 December 1999, 55/150 of 12 December 2000, 56/78 of 12 December 2001 and 57/16 of 19 November 2002, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/58/22). established pursuant to resolution 55/150, Noting the adoption of the draft articles and the understandings by the Ad Hoc Committee, Noting also the broad support for the conclusion of a convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, Stressing the importance of uniformity and clarity in the law applicable to jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/58/22). 2. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall be reconvened from 1 to 5 March 2004, with the mandate to formulate a preamble and final clauses, with a view to completing a convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, which will contain the results already adopted by the Ad Hoc Committee; 3. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the outcome of its work; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property". RESOLUTION 58/75 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/513, para.9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela. 58/75. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-sixth session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its belief that the progressive modernization and harmonization of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity and common interest and to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to the well-being of all peoples, Having considered the report of the Commission on its thirty-sixth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/58/17). Concerned that activities undertaken by other bodies in the field of international trade law without adequate coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, Reaffirming the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field, in particular to avoid duplication of efforts, including among organizations formulating rules of international trade, and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law, and to continue, through its secretariat, to maintain close cooperation with other international organs and organizations, including regional organizations, active in the field of international trade law, as stated in General Assembly resolution 50/47 of 11 December 1995, Taking note of the proposals made by the Secretary-General in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 with a view to strengthening the secretariat of the Commission within the bounds of the resources available in the Organization so as to enable it to deal with the increased workload arising, inter alia, from the coordination of work with other organizations and growing demands for legislative technical assistance,A/58/6 (Sect. 8), paras. 8.13 and 8.48. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on its thirty-sixth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/58/17). 2. Takes note with satisfaction of the completion and adoption by the Commission of the Model Legislative Provisions on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/58/17), annex I. 3. Commends the Commission for its approval in principle to the draft legislative guide on insolvency law,Ibid., Supplement No. 17 (A/58/17), para. 197; see also A/CN.9/534. elaborated in close cooperation with other international organizations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the International Bar Association and the International Federation of Insolvency Professionals, and requests that the draft legislative guide be made available for comment to Member States, relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as private sector and regional organizations and individual experts; 4. Also commends the Commission for the progress made in the work on the draft legislative guide on secured transactions, on model legislative provisions on interim measures in international commercial arbitration and on issues of electronic contracting and transport law; 5. Requests the Commission and its secretariat, relying on its role as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to take the lead in assuring cooperation and coordination with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, regional economic commissions and other international organizations in the work on international legal texts and propose appropriate and widely accepted international standards with due respect to the distinct objectives of the Commission and the international financial institutions; 6. Reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with training and legislative technical assistance in the field of international trade law, and in this connection: (a) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for organizing seminars and briefing missions in Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Thailand and Viet Nam; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the seminars and briefing missions to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in carrying out training and legislative technical assistance activities, in particular in developing countries; (c) Reiterates its appeal to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the World Bank and regional development banks, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the training and legislative technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission; 7. Appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 8. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 9. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and, to this end, urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the continuing demands on personnel resources of the secretariat of the Commission resulting, inter alia, from the need for coordination among a growing number of international organizations in the field of international trade law and the growing demand for legislative technical assistance, to keep under review the level of resources available to the Commission in order to ensure its ability to carry out its mandate. RESOLUTION 58/76 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/513, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/76. Model Legislative Provisions on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the role of public-private partnerships to improve the provision and sound management of infrastructure and public services in the interest of sustainable economic and social development, Recognizing the need to provide an enabling environment that both encourages private investment in infrastructure and takes into account the public interest concerns of the country, Emphasizing the importance of efficient and transparent procedures for the award of privately financed infrastructure projects, Stressing the desirability of facilitating project implementation by rules that enhance transparency, fairness and long-term sustainability and remove undesirable restrictions on private sector participation in infrastructure development and operation, Recalling the valuable guidance that the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law has provided to Member States towards the establishment of a favourable legislative framework for private participation in infrastructure development through the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.V.4. Believing that the Model Legislative Provisions on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law will be of further assistance to States, in particular developing countries, in promoting good governance and establishing an appropriate legislative framework for such projects, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for the completion and adoption of the Model Legislative Provisions on Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects, the text of which is contained in annex I to the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on its thirty-sixth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/58/17). 2. Requests the Secretary-General to publish the Model Legislative Provisions and to make all efforts to ensure that the Model Legislative Provisions along with the UNCITRAL Legislative Guide on Privately Financed Infrastructure ProjectsUnited Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.V.4. become generally known and available; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General, subject to availability of resources, to consolidate in due course the text of the Model Legislative Provisions and the Legislative Guide into one single publication and, in doing so, to retain the legislative recommendations contained in the Legislative Guide as a basis of the development of the Model Legislative Provisions; 4. Recommends that all States give due consideration to the Model Legislative Provisions and the Legislative Guide when revising or adopting legislation related to private participation in the development and operation of public infrastructure. RESOLUTION 58/77 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/514, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of the Bureau. 58/77. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-fifth session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-fifth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/58/10). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the codification and progressive development of international law as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to enhance further their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Stressing the usefulness of focusing and structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report and for discussions on specific topics, Wishing to enhance further, as proposed at the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly by the Austrian-Swedish initiative to revitalize the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two bodies, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-fifth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/58/10). and recommends that the Commission continue its work on the topics in its current programme, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether submitted in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly; 2. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report; 3. Reiterates its invitation to Governments, within the context of paragraph 2 above, to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding State practice on the topic "Unilateral acts of States"; 4. Invites Governments, within the context of paragraph 2 above, to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding national legislation, bilateral and other agreements and arrangements with regard to the use and management of transboundary groundwaters, in particular those governing quality and quantity of such waters, relevant to the topic currently entitled "Shared natural resources"; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to invite States and international organizations to submit information concerning their practice relevant to the topic "Responsibility of international organizations", including cases in which States members of an international organization may be regarded as responsible for acts of the organization; 6. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity; 7. Encourages the International Law Commission to continue taking cost-saving measures at its future sessions; 8. Takes note of paragraph 448 of the report of the International Law Commission, and decides that the next session of the Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 3 May to 4 June and from 5 July to 6 August 2004; 9. Welcomes the enhanced dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee at the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the two bodies, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the continued practice of informal consultations in the form of discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and the members of the Commission attending the fifty-ninth session of the Assembly; 10. Encourages delegations, during the debate on the report of the International Law Commission to adhere as far as possible to the structured work programme agreed to by the Sixth Committee and to consider presenting concise and focused statements; 11. Encourages Member States to consider being represented at the level of legal adviser during the first week in which the report of the International Law Commission is discussed in the Sixth Committee to enable high-level discussions on issues of international law, and decides that the week shall henceforth be known as "International Law Week"; 12. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 13. Takes note of paragraphs 449 to 455 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cooperation with other bodies, and encourages the Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation; 14. Notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 15. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the indispensable role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission; 16. Approves the conclusions reached by the International Law Commission in paragraphs 440 to 443 of its report regarding documentation of the Commission, and reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the summary records of the International Law Commission;See resolutions 32/151, para. 10, and 37/111, para. 5, and all subsequent resolutions on the annual reports of the International Law Commission to the General Assembly. 17. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 20. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session, chapter III containing the specific issues on which the views of Governments would be of particular interest to the Commission and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 21. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly commence on 1 November 2004. RESOLUTION 58/78 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/515, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus and Spain. 58/78. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/58/26). Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recalling further its resolution 43/172 of 9 December 1988, in which it stressed the importance of a positive perception of the work of the United Nations, and urged that efforts be continued to build up public awareness by explaining, through all available means, the importance of the role played by the United Nations and the missions accredited to it in the strengthening of international peace and security, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 52 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/58/26). 2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is an issue of great importance, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to solve, through negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; 3. Welcomes the decision of the Committee to conduct a detailed review of the implementation of the Parking Programme for Diplomatic Vehicles,A/AC.154/355, annex. as recommended by the Legal Counsel in his opinion on 24 September 2002,A/AC.154/358, annex. with a view to addressing the problems experienced by some permanent missions during the first year of the Programme, and ensuring its proper implementation in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, effective and consistent with international law; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 5. Notes that during the reporting period the travel controls previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities remained in effect, and requests the host country to consider removing such travel controls, and in this regard notes the positions of affected States, of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 6. Notes also that the Committee anticipates that the host country will continue to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,See resolution 169 (II). inter alia, for the purpose of their attending official United Nations meetings; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 8. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 58/79 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/516, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of the Netherlands on behalf of the Bureau. 58/79. International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/33 of 25 November 1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11 December 1995, 51/207 of 17 December 1996, 52/160 of 15 December 1997, 53/105 of 8 December 1998, 54/105 of 9 December 1999, 55/155 of 12 December 2000, 56/85 of 12 December 2001 and 57/23 of 19 November 2002, Noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted on 17 July 1998Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and entered into force on 1 July 2002, Noting also that with the election of the judges and the Prosecutor and the appointment of the Registrar, the International Criminal Court is fully constituted, Reiterating the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1. Calls upon all States that are not yet parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. to consider ratifying it or acceding to it without delay, and encourages efforts aimed at promoting awareness of the results of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, held in Rome from 15 June to 17 July 1998, the provisions of the Statute and the process leading to the establishment of the International Criminal Court; 2. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court without delay;Official Records of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, First session, New York, 3-10 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.V.2 and corrigendum), part II.E. 3. Welcomes the holding of the first and second resumptions of the first session and the second session of the Assembly of States Parties, in New York from 3 to 7 February and 21 to 23 April 2003 and from 8 to 12 September 2003, respectively, and also welcomes the election of judges and the Prosecutor and the adoption of a number of instruments;The Staff Regulations of the International Criminal Court and a resolution on the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court. 4. Takes note of the establishment of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, open to all States on an equal footing, and of the possibility that at some future time the meeting of that working group may be held at United Nations Headquarters; 5. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing effective and efficient assistance in the establishment of the International Criminal Court; 6. Welcomes the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; 7. Recognizes the need for an orderly and smooth transition of work from the Secretariat of the United Nations to the secretariat of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; 8. Invites the Secretary-General to take steps to conclude a relationship agreement between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court and to submit the negotiated draft agreement to the General Assembly for approval; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "International Criminal Court". RESOLUTION 58/7 Adopted at the 54th plenary meeting, on 4 November 2003, by a recorded vote of 179 to 3, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.4, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco 58/7. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned at the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of regulations of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999, 55/20 of 9 November 2000, 56/9 of 27 November 2001 and 57/11 of 12 November 2002, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21, 55/20, 56/9 and 57/11, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also at the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 57/11;A/58/287. 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 58/80 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/517, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Egypt, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine. 58/80. Implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions The General Assembly, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Security Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recognizing the desirability of the consideration of further appropriate procedures for consultations to deal in a more effective manner with the problems referred to in Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling: (a) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular paragraph 41 thereof, (b) Its resolution 47/120 A of 18 December 1992, entitled "An Agenda for Peace: preventive diplomacy and related matters", its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, entitled "An Agenda for Peace", in particular section IV thereof, entitled "Special economic problems arising from the implementation of preventive or enforcement measures", and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", in particular annex II thereto, entitled "Question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations", (c) The position paper of the Secretary-General entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. (d) The statement by the President of the Security Council of 22 February 1995,S/PRST/1995/9; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1995. (e) The report of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705. prepared pursuant to the statement by the President of the Security CouncilS/25036; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1992. regarding the question of special economic problems of States as a result of sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter, (f) The annual overview reports of the Administrative Committee on Coordination for the period from 1992 to 2000E/1993/81, E/1994/19, E/1995/21, E/1996/18 and Add.1, E/1997/54 and Corr.1, E/1998/21, E/1999/48, E/2000/53 and E/2001/55. and the annual overview reports of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2001 and 2002,E/2002/55 and E/2003/55. in particular the sections on assistance to countries invoking Article 50 of the Charter, (g) The reports of the Secretary-General on economic assistance to States affected by the implementation of the Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against the Federal Republic of YugoslaviaA/49/356, A/50/423, A/51/356, A/52/535, A/54/534, A/55/620 and Corr.1, A/56/632 and A/58/358. and General Assembly resolutions 48/210 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 A of 2 December 1994, 50/58 E of 12 December 1995, 51/30 A of 5 December 1996, 52/169 H of 16 December 1997, 54/96 G of 15 December 1999, 55/170 of 14 December 2000 and 56/110 of 14 December 2001, (h) The reports of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization on the work of its sessions held in the years 1994 to 2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/49/33); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/50/33); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/51/33); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/52/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/53/33); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/54/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/55/33); ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/56/33); ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/57/33); and ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/58/33). (i) The reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter,A/50/361, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303, A/57/165 and Add.1 and A/58/346. (j) The report of the Secretary-General to the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations,A/54/2000. in particular section IV.E thereof, entitled "Targeting sanctions", (k) The United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 9 thereof, (l) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "Road map towards implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration",A/56/326; see also the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration (A/58/323), para. 23. in particular paragraphs 56 to 61 thereof, (m) The report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-third session, in particular the recommendation that the Chief Executives Board play a role in better coordinating the analysis of the problems of the countries invoking Article 50 of the Charter, and the development of new methodologies to identify the damage to affected States and new mechanisms to determine the appropriate compensation for them,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16), para. 581. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization,Ibid., Supplement No. 1 (A/58/1). in particular paragraphs 68 and 69 thereof, Recalling that the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions has been addressed recently in several forums, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary organs, Recalling also the measures taken by the Security Council, in accordance with the statement by the President of the Security Council of 16 December 1994,See S/PRST/1994/81; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. that, as part of the effort of the Council to improve the flow of information and the exchange of ideas between members of the Council and other States Members of the United Nations, there should be increased recourse to open meetings, in particular at an early stage in its consideration of a subject, Recalling further the measures taken by the Security Council in accordance with the note by the President of the Security Council of 29 January 1999S/1999/92; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. aimed at improving the work of the sanctions committees, including increasing the effectiveness and transparency of those committees, Stressing that, in the formulation of sanctions regimes, due account should be taken of the potential effects of sanctions on third States, Stressing also, in this context, the powers of the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter and the primary responsibility of the Council under Article 24 of the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, Recalling that, under Article 31 of the Charter, any Member of the United Nations that is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected, Recognizing that the imposition of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter has been causing special economic problems in third States and that it is necessary to intensify efforts to address those problems effectively, Taking into consideration the views of third States which could be affected by the imposition of sanctions, Recognizing that assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions would further contribute to an effective and comprehensive approach by the international community to sanctions imposed by the Security Council, Recognizing also that the international community at large and, in particular, international institutions involved in providing economic and financial assistance should continue to take into account and address in a more effective manner the special economic problems of affected third States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, in view of their magnitude and of the adverse impact on the economies of those States, Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999, 55/157 of 12 December 2000, 56/87 of 12 December 2001 and 57/25 of 19 November 2002, 1. Renews its invitation to the Security Council to consider the establishment of further mechanisms or procedures, as appropriate, for consultations as early as possible under Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations with third States which are or may be confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, with regard to a solution of those problems, including appropriate ways and means for increasing the effectiveness of its methods and procedures applied in the consideration of requests by the affected States for assistance; 2. Welcomes the measures taken by the Security Council since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 50/51, most recently the note by the President of the Security Council of 15 January 2002,S/2002/70; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. whereby the members of the Security Council agreed to extend the mandate of the informal working group of the Council established in 2000S/2000/319. to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions, looks forward to the adoption of the proposed outcome document of the working group, in particular those provisions thereof regarding the issues of the unintended impact of sanctions and assistance to States in implementing sanctions, and strongly recommends that the Council continue its efforts to enhance further the effectiveness and transparency of the sanctions committees, to streamline their working procedures and to facilitate access to them by representatives of States that find themselves confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of sanctions; 3. Invites the Security Council, its sanctions committees and the Secretariat to continue to ensure, as appropriate, that: (a) Both pre-assessment reports and ongoing assessment reports include as part of their analysis the likely and actual unintended impact of the sanctions on third States and recommend ways in which the negative impact of sanctions can be mitigated; (b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions; (c) The Secretariat continues to provide, upon request, advice and information to third States to help them to pursue means to mitigate the unintended impact of sanctions, for example, on invoking Article 50 of the Charter for consultation with the Security Council; (d) Where economic sanctions have had severe effects on third States, the Security Council is able to request the Secretary-General to consider appointing a special representative or dispatching, as necessary, fact-finding missions on the ground to undertake necessary assessments and to identify, as appropriate, possible ways of assistance; (e) The Security Council is able, in the context of situations referred to in subparagraph (d) above, to consider establishing working groups to consider such situations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107, 55/157, 56/87 and 57/25 and to ensure that the competent units within the Secretariat develop the adequate capacity and appropriate modalities, technical procedures and guidelines to continue, on a regular basis, to collate and coordinate information about international assistance available to third States affected by the implementation of sanctions, to continue developing a possible methodology for assessing the adverse consequences actually incurred by third States and to explore innovative and practical measures of assistance to the affected third States; 5. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting on developing a methodology for assessing the consequences incurred by third States as a result of preventive or enforcement measures and on exploring innovative and practical measures of international assistance to the affected third States,A/53/312. and renews its invitation to States and relevant international organizations within and outside the United Nations system which have not yet done so to provide their views regarding the report of the ad hoc expert group meeting; 6. Takes note of the most recent report of the Secretary-General on this questionA/58/346. and, in particular, of his views on the deliberations and main findings, including the recommendations of the ad hoc expert group on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, as well as the views of States, the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and other international organizations, as contained in the previous reports of the Secretary-General;See A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1 and A/57/165 and Add.1. 7. Reaffirms the important role of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in mobilizing and monitoring, as appropriate, the economic assistance efforts of the international community and the United Nations system on behalf of States confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Security Council and, as appropriate, in identifying solutions to the special economic problems of those States; 8. Takes note of the decision of the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2000/32 of 28 July 2000, to continue its consideration of the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, invites the Council, at its organizational session for 2004, to make appropriate arrangements for this purpose within its programme of work for 2004, further invites the Council to continue its consideration of the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, and decides to transmit the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, together with the relevant background materials, to the Council at its substantive session of 2004; 9. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions, other international organizations, regional organizations and Member States to address more specifically and directly, where appropriate, the special economic problems of third States affected by sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter and, for this purpose, to consider improving procedures for consultations to maintain a constructive dialogue with such States, including through regular and frequent meetings, as well as, where appropriate, special meetings between the affected third States and the donor community, with the participation of United Nations agencies and other international organizations; 10. Requests the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, at its session in 2004, to continue to consider on a priority basis the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter by commencing a substantive debate on all of the related reports of the Secretary-General, in particular the 1998 report containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting convened pursuant to paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 52/162,A/53/312. together with the most recent report of the Secretary-General on this question,A/58/346. taking into consideration the forthcoming report of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues relating to sanctions, the proposals submitted on the question, the debate on the question in the Sixth Committee during the fifty-eighth session of the Assembly and the text on the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations contained in annex II to Assembly resolution 51/242, as well as the implementation of the provisions of Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107, 55/157, 56/87, 57/25 and the present resolution; 11. Decides to consider within the Sixth Committee or a working group of the Committee, at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, further progress in the elaboration of effective measures aimed at the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 58/81 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/518, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Australia on behalf of the Bureau. 58/81. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further all General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage, including those which prompted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, as well as Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001, and those that have occurred since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 57/27 of 19 November 2002, Recalling its strong condemnation of the atrocious and deliberate attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 in General Assembly resolution 57/338 of 15 September 2003 and Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation among States and among international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and the relevant international conventions, Noting the role of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism in monitoring the implementation of that resolution, including the taking of the necessary financial, legal and technical measures by States and the ratification or acceptance of the relevant international conventions and protocols, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Mindful also of the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of States to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, wherein the Assembly encouraged States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there was a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Taking note of the final document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, adopted in Kuala Lumpur on 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed the previous initiative of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as other relevant initiatives, Bearing in mind the recent developments and initiatives at the international, regional and subregional levels to prevent and suppress international terrorism, Recalling its decision in resolutions 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000, 56/88 of 12 December 2001 and 57/27 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 should address, and keep on its agenda, the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Aware of General Assembly resolution 57/219 of 18 December 2002, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/116 and Add.1. the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/58/37). and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to resolution 57/27,A/C.6/58/L.10. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 3. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 4. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 5. Reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 6. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 7. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority, and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist BombingsResolution 52/164, annex. and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,Resolution 54/109, annex. and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, the domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 8. Urges States to cooperate with the Secretary-General and with one another, as well as with interested intergovernmental organizations, with a view to ensuring, where appropriate within existing mandates, that technical and other expert advice is provided to those States requiring and requesting assistance in becoming parties to the conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 7 above; 9. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, consistent with the call contained in paragraph 7 of resolution 57/27, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to therein, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions; 10. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 49/60, and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 51/210, and calls upon all States to implement them; 11. Urges all States and the Secretary-General, in their efforts to prevent international terrorism, to make the best use of the existing institutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the efforts of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, after reviewing existing possibilities within the United Nations system, to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism, and recognizes, in the context of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), its role in assisting States in becoming parties to, and implementing, the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism; 13. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism; 14. Welcomes the important progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 57/27; 15. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall continue to elaborate a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, shall continue its efforts to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism as a means of further developing a comprehensive legal framework of conventions dealing with international terrorism, and shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 16. Decides also that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 28 June to 2 July 2004 to continue the elaboration of a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, with appropriate time allocated to the continued consideration of outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of a draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism, that it shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and that the work shall continue, if necessary, during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 18. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism or the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism; 19. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". RESOLUTION 58/82 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/519, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 58/82. Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/28 of 19 November 2002 on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, as well as the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1502 (2003) on 26 August 2003, Recalling also its resolution 57/338 of 15 September 2003, in which it strongly condemned the atrocious and deliberate attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, Recalling further its resolution 49/59 of 9 December 1994, by which it adopted the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Recalling the letter dated 24 October 2000 addressed to the President of the Security Council on behalf of the global staff of the United Nations system,S/2000/1133, annex. drawing attention to the safety and security problems faced by United Nations and associated personnel, Recalling also the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/637. on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and the recommendations contained therein, and also recalling the further report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/187. on this issue, Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as relevant provisions of human rights and refugee law, Reaffirming also the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Deeply concerned by the increasing dangers and security risks faced by United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to provide the fullest possible protection for their security, Expressing its concern that locally recruited personnel are particularly vulnerable to attacks directed at the United Nations, Deeply concerned that perpetrators of attacks against United Nations and associated personnel seemingly operate with impunity, Welcoming the recent increase in the number of States that have become parties to the Convention, which entered into force on 15 January 1999, and noting that the Convention has been ratified or acceded to by sixty-nine States as at the date of the present resolution, Mindful of the need to promote the universality of the Convention, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 52 (A/58/52). established pursuant to resolution 56/89 of 12 December 2001, and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee,A/C.6/58/L.16. 1. Expresses its appreciation for the work done by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 2. Urges States to take all necessary measures, in accordance with their international obligations, to prevent crimes against United Nations and associated personnel from occurring; 3. Also urges States to ensure that crimes against United Nations and associated personnel do not go unpunished and that the perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice; 4. Affirms the obligation of all States to comply fully with their obligations under the relevant rules and principles of international law in relation to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel; 5. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, in particular the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 6. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention, including those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission and host country agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements; 7. Recommends also that, consistent with his existing authority, the Secretary-General advise the Security Council or the General Assembly, as appropriate, where in his assessment circumstances would support a declaration of exceptional risk for the purposes of article 1 (c) (ii) of the Convention; 8. Confirms that, consistent with his existing authority, the Secretary-General, who has knowledge of the facts and easy access to the information, may provide information, upon the request of a State, on matters of fact relevant to the application of the Convention, such as the fact and content of any declaration of exceptional risk by the Security Council or the General Assembly or any agreement concluded between the United Nations and a humanitarian non-governmental organization or agency; 9. Notes that the Secretary-General has prepared a standardized provision for incorporation into the agreements concluded between the United Nations and humanitarian non-governmental organizations or agencies for the purposes of clarifying the application of the Convention to persons deployed by those organizations or agencies, and requests the Secretary-General to make available to Member States the names of organizations or agencies that have concluded such agreements; 10. Urges the Secretary-General and relevant bodies to continue to take such other practical measures as are within their authority and existing institutional mandates to strengthen protection for United Nations and associated personnel, including locally recruited personnel, who are particularly vulnerable and account for the majority of casualties among United Nations or associated personnel; 11. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee established under resolution 56/89 shall reconvene for one week from 12 to 16 April 2004, with a mandate to expand the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, including, inter alia, by means of a legal instrument, and that the work shall continue during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 12. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at the fifty-ninth session; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the measures taken to implement the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel". RESOLUTION 58/83 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/522, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, India, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda and Uruguay. 58/83. Observer status for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 1. Decides to invite the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/84 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/523, para.8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Ukraine. 58/84. Observer status for the Eurasian Economic Community in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Community, 1. Decides to invite the Eurasian Economic Community to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/85 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/524, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Israel, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America and Uzbekistan. 58/85. Observer status for the GUUAM in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the GUUAM, 1. Decides to invite the GUUAM to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/86 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/525, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Zimbabwe. 58/86. Observer status for the East African Community in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the East African Community, 1. Decides to invite the East African Community to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/87 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/521, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 58/87. Administration of justice at the United Nations The General Assembly, Acknowledging with gratitude the important contribution which the United Nations Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) has made to the functioning of the United Nations system, and commending the members of the Tribunal on their valuable work, Desiring to assist the Tribunal in carrying out its future work as effectively as possible, Having considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/57/736. Decides to amend the Statute of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal with effect from 1 January 2004, as follows: Article 3, paragraph 1, shall be amended to read as follows: "The Tribunal shall be composed of seven members, no two of whom may be nationals of the same State. Members shall possess judicial or other relevant legal experience in the field of administrative law or its equivalent within the member's national jurisdiction. Only three members shall sit in any particular case." RESOLUTION 58/88 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/470, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 58/88. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 57/115 of 11 December 2002, in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee, Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its fifty-eighth session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Noting with satisfaction that some Member States have expressed particular interest in becoming members of the Scientific Committee, and expressing its intention to consider the issue further at its next session, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past forty-eight years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee; 3. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources, and invites the Scientific Committee to submit its programme of work to the General Assembly; 4. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for its future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 6. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 8. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports; 9. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 10. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly; 11. Urges the United Nations Environment Programme to review and strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee, pursuant to paragraph of resolution 57/115, so that the Committee can discharge the responsibilities and mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly; 12. Emphasizes the need for the Scientific Committee to hold regular sessions on an annual basis so that its report can reflect the latest developments and findings in the field of ionizing radiation and thereby provide updated information for dissemination among all States. RESOLUTION 58/89 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/471, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Chile (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 58/89. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996, 54/68 of 6 December 1999 and 57/116 of 11 December 2002, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, especially for developing countries, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further developing the legal framework to strengthen international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and the need to promote the use of space technology towards implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III,A/58/174. Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications, in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education and Earth observation, contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, inter alia, poverty eradication, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-sixth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-sixth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20). 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties as well as incorporating them in their national legislation; 3. Notes that, at its forty-second session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/116;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), chap. II.D. 4. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-third session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to: a. The definition and delimitation of outer space; b. The character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) Examination of the preliminary draft protocol on matters specific to space assets to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, opened for signature at Cape Town, South Africa, on 16 November 2001: a. Considerations relating to the possibility of the United Nations serving as supervisory authority under the preliminary draft protocol; b. Considerations relating to the relationship between the terms of the preliminary draft protocol and the rights and obligations of States under the legal regime applicable to outer space; (iii) Contributions by the Legal Subcommittee to the Committee for the preparation of its report to the General Assembly for its review of the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (c) Consider the practice of States and international organizations in registering space objects in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 199. 5. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-third session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-fourth session, in 2005; 6. Notes also that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (ii) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group with the terms of reference as agreed upon by the Legal Subcommittee,See A/AC.105/763 and Corr.1, para. 118, and A/AC.105/787, para.138. to meet for three years, from 2002 to 2004; 7. Notes further that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (iii) above, the Group of Experts on the Ethics of Outer Space, invited by the Committee at its forty-fourth session to identify which aspects of the report of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization might need to be studied by the Committee and to draft a report, in consultation with other international organizations and in close liaison with the World Commission, presented its report to the Legal Subcommittee, and agrees that the report should be transmitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with the request that it keep the Committee and its subcommittees informed about its activities relating to outer space; 8. Notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (iv) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; 9. Agrees that the Legal Subcommittee should reconvene its Working Group to consider the questions reflected in paragraphs 4 (b) (ii) a. and b. above separately; 10. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 13 of General Assembly resolution 57/116, the Government of Austria continued to convene and facilitate intersessional informal consultations on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the third term, and that consensus agreement was reached, before the forty-sixth session of the Committee, on the extension of the term of office of the current bureau of the Committee and the future composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies; 11. Endorses the agreement reached by the Committee on the extension of the term of office of the current bureau of the Committee and future composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), annex II, paras. 4-9. on the basis of the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I. See also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), annex II, appendix III. which were endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/56 of 10 December 1997, and notes that, in accordance with paragraph 14 of General Assembly resolution 57/116, the Committee conducted the election of its officers at its forty-sixth session; 12. Agrees that the Committee and its subcommittees, at the beginning of their sessions in 2004, should conduct the election of the officers agreed upon by the Committee at its forty-sixth session;Ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 241. 13. Also agrees that, in accordance with the measures relating to the future composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies indicated in paragraph 11 above, the Committee at its forty-seventh session, in 2004, should reach agreement on all the officers of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the next term and that, for this purpose, the Committee should include in the agenda of its forty-seventh session an item on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the period 2006-2007; 14. Urges each of the five regional groups to ensure that agreement within the group on the officer to be determined for the period 2006-2007 is reached before the forty-seventh session of the Committee; 15. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its fortieth session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/116;Ibid., chap. II.C. 16. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-first session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications; (iii) Implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; (iv) Matters relating to remote-sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the work plans adopted by the Committee:See A/AC.105/761, para. 130, for item (i); A/AC.105/804, annex III, for item (ii); and Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 138, for item (iii). (i) Space debris; (ii) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (iii) Space-system-based telemedicine; (c) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including, inter alia, in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; (ii) Implementation of an integrated, space-based global natural disaster management system; (iii) Solar-terrestrial physics; 17. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its forty-first session will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the forty-second session of the Subcommittee, in 2005; 18. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the symposium to strengthen the partnership with industry should be organized during the first week of the forty-first session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and should address small satellite applications in agriculture, health and human security; 19. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 16 (a) (ii) and (iii) and 17 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its forty-first session should reconvene the Working Group of the Whole; 20. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 16 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-first session, could establish a working group to consider comments from member States of the Committee on the proposals on debris mitigation presented by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee to the Subcommittee at its fortieth session;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 126. 21. Further agrees that, in the context of paragraph 16 (b) (ii) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its forty-first session should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space; 22. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2004, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications;See A/AC.105/790 and Corr.1, sects. II-IV. 23. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria, respectively, and the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific continued their education programmes in 2003, that the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean became affiliated to the United Nations and began its education programme, and that the United Nations Programme on Space Applications is providing technical support to the Government of Jordan for the establishment of the regional centre for space science and technology education for Western Asia; 24. Also notes with satisfaction the success of the Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, held at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from 14 to 17 May 2002, which adopted the Declaration of Cartagena de Indias and the Plan of Action,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20), annex II. and notes the desire of Member States in the Latin American and Caribbean region to institutionalize the Space Conference of the Americas; 25. Welcomes the memorandum of understanding between the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat and the Pro Tempore Secretariat of the Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, under which the parties demonstrated their intention to collaborate in promoting and implementing joint activities, and invites the Pro Tempore Secretariat to inform the Committee of the work accomplished; 26. Urges all Governments, entities of the United Nations system as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities to take the necessary action for the effective implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular its resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. bearing in mind the need to promote the use of space technology towards implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 27. Agrees that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 55/122 of 8 December 2000, the Committee should include in the agenda of its forty-seventh session an item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 28. Notes with satisfaction the work conducted by the twelve action teams that the Committee had established at its forty-fourth and forty-sixth sessions under the voluntary leadership of Member States to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III,Ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/56/20 and Corr.1), paras. 50 and 55; ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/57/20), paras. 42 and 43; and ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 62. and urges Member States to provide full support to the action teams in conducting their work; 29. Also notes with satisfaction that the Committee made further progress in the preparation of its report under the agenda item on the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III for submission to the General Assembly, in order for the Assembly to review and appraise, at its fifty-ninth session, in 2004, in accordance with paragraph 16 of its resolution 54/68, the implementation of the outcome of UNISPACE III and to consider further actions and initiatives, and agrees that, in this context, the Working Group established by the Committee to prepare the above-mentioned report should be reconvened at the forty-seventh session of the Committee to complete its work; 30. Notes that in order to advance the preparation of the report of the Committee, mentioned in paragraph 29 above, the Working Group of the Committee could hold informal consultations during the forty-first session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as well as the forty-third session of the Legal Subcommittee; 31. Urges all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to support activities to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular the priority project proposals as recommended by the Committee at its forty-third session;Ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/55/20), para. 87. 32. Recommends that more attention be paid and political support be provided to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment; 33. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 34. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 35. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 36. Notes that space science and technology and their applications could make important contributions to economic, social and cultural development and welfare as indicated in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and notes also that the International Fair on Air and Space to be held at Santiago de Chile early in 2004 will address in an international conference the question "Space and water: towards sustainable development and human security"; 37. Agrees that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of conferences organized within the United Nations system to address global issues relating to social, economic and cultural development and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration; 38. Notes with satisfaction the increased efforts of the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to promote the use of space science and technology and their applications in carrying out actions recommended in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 39. Urges entities of the United Nations system, particularly those participating in the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, to examine, in cooperation with the Committee, how space science and technology and their applications could contribute to implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly in the areas relating to, inter alia, food security and increasing opportunities for education; 40. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to continue to contribute to the work of the Committee and to report to the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the work conducted at its annual session; 41. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, and agrees that during its consideration of the matter, the Committee could consider ways to promote regional and interregional cooperation based on experiences stemming from the Space Conference of the Americas and the role space technology could play in the implementation of recommendations emerging from the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 42. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider a report on the activities of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue as a part of its consideration of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee", and invites Member States to report on their activities regarding the System; 43. Notes that in connection with the consideration of the implementation of an integrated, space-based global natural disaster management system, under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee", during the forty-seventh session of the Committee, a one-day workshop for industry would be organized with the participation of Member States and communications satellite operators to discuss how satellite-based communications could be used during natural disasters; 44. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-seventh session, its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 45. Also requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-seventh session, its agenda item entitled "Space and society", and agrees that a special theme for the focus of discussions for the period 2004-2006 should be "Space and education", in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 239. 46. Agrees that a new item entitled "Space and water" should be included in the agenda of the Committee at its forty-seventh session, and urges entities of the United Nations system and invites other intergovernmental entities dealing with issues relating to the use and management of water resources as well as space agencies to contribute to the work of the Committee in this field; 47. Welcomes the continued interest of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in becoming a member of the Committee, and, to this end, requests that constructive consultations be conducted as soon as possible within the Committee as well as among regional groups, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution, with a view to reaching a positive and final decision on the membership of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly; 48. Requests the Committee to consider ways to improve participation by member States and entities with observer status in its work, with a view to agreeing on specific recommendations in that regard at its forty-eighth session; 49. Endorses the decision of the Committee to grant permanent observer status to the Regional Centre for Remote Sensing of the North African States and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; 50. Invites the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimension in space science and technology applications; 51. Requests entities of the United Nations system and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, to enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with reports on the issues dealt with in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies; 52. Requests the Committee to consider and identify new mechanisms of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space to strengthen multilateralism, in accordance with the preamble to the present resolution, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, including its views on which subjects should be studied in the future. RESOLUTION 58/8 Adopted at the 55th plenary meeting, on 4 November 2003, by a recorded vote of 129 to 1, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.10 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Abstaining: None 58/8. Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency The General Assembly, Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2002,International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2002 (Austria, July 2003) (GC(47)/2); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/58/312). Taking note of the statement of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Plenary Meetings, 52nd meeting (A/58/PV.52), and corrigendum. in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 2003, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency, Recognizing also the cooperation between the United Nations and the Agency and the Agreement governing the relationship between the United Nations and the Agency as approved by the General Conference of the Agency on 23 October 1957 and by the General Assembly in the annex to its resolution 1145 (XII) of 14 November 1957, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2002 (Austria, July 2003) (GC(47)/2); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/58/312). 2. Takes note of resolutions GC(47)/RES/7A on measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management, GC(47)/RES/7B on the code of conduct on the safety and security of radioactive sources, GC(47)/RES/7C on transport safety, GC(47)/RES/8 on nuclear and radiological security - progress on measures to protect against nuclear and radiological terrorism, GC(47)/RES/9 on strengthening of the Agency's technical cooperation activities, GC(47)/RES/10A on strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, GC(47)/RES/10B on nuclear knowledge, GC(47)/RES/10C on Agency activities in the development of innovative nuclear technology, GC(47)/RES/10D on the use of isotope hydrology for water resources management, GC(47)/RES/10E on a plan for producing potable water economically using small and medium-sized nuclear reactors, GC(47)/RES/11 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and application of the Model Additional Protocol, GC(47)/RES/12 on implementation of the Agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, GC(47)/RES/13 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East, GC(47)/RES/14A on staffing of the Agency's secretariat and GC(47)/RES/14B on women in the secretariat, and decisions GC(47)/DEC/12 on implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq, GC(47)/DEC/13 on Israeli nuclear capabilities and threat and GC(47)/DEC/14 on the amendment to article VI of the statute, adopted on 19 September 2003 by the General Conference of the Agency at its forty-seventh regular session;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-seventh Regular Session, 15-19 September 2003 (GC(47)/RES/DEC(2003)). 3. Affirms its support for the indispensable role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security; 4. Appeals to Member States to continue to support the activities of the Agency; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency. RESOLUTION 58/90 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/471, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Chile (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 58/90. Review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/68 of 6 December 1999, 55/122 of 8 December 2000, 56/51 of 10 December 2001 and 57/116 of 11 December 2002, concerning the review and appraisal by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. Taking note with satisfaction of the work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its subsidiary bodies, in particular the action teams established by the Committee at its forty-fourth and forty-fifth sessions under the voluntary leadership of Member States, to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, Noting the progress made by the Committee through its Working Group in preparing a report for submission to the General Assembly for the review, in accordance with paragraph 31 of Assembly resolution 55/122, 1. Decides to conduct the review of the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III) in plenary meeting(s) at its fifty-ninth session, under a separate agenda item entitled "Review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space"; 2. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to submit its report on the review of the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session in plenary meeting(s); 3. Decides that the plenary meeting(s) for the review shall be held in October 2004; 4. Invites Member States to participate in the plenary meeting(s) at the ministerial level or at the highest level possible. RESOLUTION 58/91 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 167 to 1, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Cameroon, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States of America 58/91. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 57/117 of 11 December 2002, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware of the fact that the Palestine refugees have, for more than five decades, lost their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for more than fifty-three years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees in the fields of education, health and relief and social services, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13 and corrigendum and addendum (A/58/13 and Corr.1 and Add.1). Aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and living conditions, and the continuous deterioration of those conditions during the recent period, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware that the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process has an important role to play in the peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of concern; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and requests the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2004; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its operation and services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals. RESOLUTION 58/92 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 168 to 5, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda 58/92. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 57/119 of 11 December 2002,A/58/119. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13 and corrigendum and addendum (A/58/13 and Corr.1 and Add.1). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been effected, and stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its fifty-ninth session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/93 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 162 to 5, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda 58/93. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including resolution 57/121 of 11 December 2002, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13 and corrigendum and addendum (A/58/13 and Corr.1 and Add.1). Taking note of the letter dated 25 September 2003 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Ibid., Supplement No. 13 and corrigendum (A/58/13 and Corr.1), p. viii. Deeply concerned about the continuing critical financial situation of the Agency and its effect on the continuing provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency-related programmes and its development programmes, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely, in Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, Also aware of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the increased suffering of the Palestine refugees, including the loss of life, injury and destruction and damage to their shelters and properties, during the ongoing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern about the continuing impact of the events that occurred in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002, including the loss of life, injury, destruction and displacement inflicted on many of its civilian inhabitants, Aware of the extraordinary efforts being undertaken by the Agency for the repair and rebuilding of thousands of destroyed and damaged refugee shelters, Gravely concerned about the safety of the Agency's staff and about the damage caused to facilities of the Agency as a result of Israeli military operations during the reporting period, Deploring the killing of six Agency staff members by the Israeli occupying forces during the reporting period, Expressing deep concern about the continuing policies of closure and severe restrictions, including the curfews, that have been imposed on the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees and have greatly contributed to the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people, Deeply concerned about the continuing restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Agency staff, vehicles and goods, including the harassment of personnel, which adversely affect the ability of the Agency to provide its services, including its education, health and relief and social services, Recalling the signing, on 13 September 1993, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel, Aware also of the establishment of a working relationship between the Advisory Commission of the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization in accordance with General Assembly decision 48/417 of 10 December 1993, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the increasingly difficult conditions throughout the past year; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of decision 48/417; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,A/58/450. for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work; 4. Commends the continuing efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in the Agency's programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13, addendum (A/58/13/Add.1). 5. Acknowledges the support of the host Governments for the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 6. Takes note of the functioning of the headquarters of the Agency in Gaza City on the basis of the Headquarters Agreement between the Agency and the Palestinian Authority; 7. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. 8. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). with regard to the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 9. Urges the Government of Israel to compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side, particularly during the reporting period; 10. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the personnel, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which have a detrimental effect on the Agency's operations; 11. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 12. Affirms that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation; 13. Notes the success of the Agency's microfinance and microenterprise programme, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute towards the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees; 14. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency through the Palestine Refugee Records Project, and to indicate progress in his report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 15. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the Agency and to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; 16. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground, and to support the Agency's valuable work in assistance to the Palestine refugees. RESOLUTION 58/94 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Comoros, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 164 to 5, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda 58/94. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 57/122 of 11 December 2002,A/58/206. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2002 to 31 August 2003,A/58/256, annex. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission and the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with General Assembly resolution 194 (III), Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues in the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/95 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 133 to none, with 35 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, China, Comoros, Cuba, India, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen 58/95. Assistance to Palestine refugees and support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, on assistance to Palestine refugees, and 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling also all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 56/52 of 10 December 2001, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, Acknowledging the essential role that the Agency has played for more than fifty years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees in the fields of education, health and relief and social services, Aware of the continuing needs of Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, Gravely concerned about the increased suffering of the Palestine refugees, including the loss of life, injury and destruction and damage to refugee shelters and properties, as well as the safety of the staff and the damage to the facilities of the Agency, Regretting the death of six Agency staff members during the reporting period, Deeply concerned about the continuing restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Agency's staff, vehicles and goods, which adversely affect the ability of the Agency to provide its services, including its educational, health and relief and social services, Stressing the necessity for compliance with Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). with regard to the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities, including throughout the occupied territories, Stressing also the need for respect of international humanitarian law, Emphasizing the obligations of all parties in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13 and corrigendum and addendum (A/58/13 and Corr.1 and Add.1). the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,A/58/450. the letter dated 25 September 2003 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13 and corrigendum (A/58/13 and Corr.1), p. viii. and the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2002 to 31 August 2003,A/58/256, annex. Deeply concerned about the continuing financial situation of the Agency, which has affected and affects the continuing provision of necessary Agency services to Palestine refugees, including the emergency-related and humanitarian programmes, 1. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its operation and services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 2. Calls upon all States to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals, and to support the Agency's valuable work in providing assistance to the Palestine refugees; 3. Takes note with approval of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,A/58/450. for its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work; 4. Endorses the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continuing assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 5. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 6. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the Agency; 7. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies and other international bodies to extend assistance for higher education to Palestine refugee students and to contribute towards the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; 8. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the Agency, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the increasingly difficult conditions throughout the past year; 9. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of Assembly decision 48/417 of 10 December 1993; 10. Commends the efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as well as the support of the host Governments for the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 11. Calls upon all relevant parties to take effective measures to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities; 12. Notes the success of the Agency's microfinance and enterprise programmes, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute towards the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees. RESOLUTION 58/96 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/473 and Corr.1, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 87 to 7, with 78 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 58/96. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 57/124 of 11 December 2002, and the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuation of the tragic events that have taken place since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/58/311. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/155, A/58/156, A/58/263, A/58/264 and A/58/310. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Expressing the hope that the Israeli occupation will be brought to an early end and that therefore the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period; 4. Expresses grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, including extrajudicial executions, which has resulted in more than 2,600 Palestinian deaths and tens of thousands of injuries; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners and detainees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such additional staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 58/97 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/473 and Corr.1, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 164 to 6, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda 58/97. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol 1Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/58/311. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/155, A/58/156, A/58/263, A/58/264 and A/58/310. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the convening of the meeting of experts of High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, at Geneva from 27 to 29 October 1998, at the initiative of the Government of Switzerland in its capacity as the depositary of the Convention, concerning problems of application of the Convention in general and, in particular, in occupied territories, Noting also the convening for the first time, on 15 July 1999, of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, and aware of the statement adopted by the Conference, Welcoming the reconvening of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on 5 December 2001 in Geneva and stressing the importance of the Declaration adopted by the Conference, and underlining the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration, Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in its resolutions of the tenth emergency special session with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/98 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/473 and Corr.1, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 6, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, H onduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu 58/98. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, as well as relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,E/CN.4/2004/6. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Welcoming the presentation by the Quartet to the parties of the road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and noting its call for a freeze on all settlement activity, Aware that Israeli settlement activities have involved, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the exploitation of natural resources and other illegal actions against the Palestinian civilian population, Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel of settlement activities in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, including the construction and expansion of the settlements in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and Ras Al-Amud in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern also about the construction by Israel of a wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressing its concern in particular about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, which could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement and would cause the Palestinian people further humanitarian hardship, Reiterating its opposition to settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons and the de facto annexation of land, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Gravely concerned about the dangerous situation resulting from actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, as illustrated in the recent period, Taking note of the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/155, A/58/156, A/58/263, A/58/264 and A/58/310. 1. Reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 4. Demands that Israel stop and reverse the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, which is in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949 and is in contradiction to relevant provisions of international law; 5. Stresses the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 6. Reiterates its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence by Israeli settlers, particularly in the light of recent developments; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/99 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 9 December 2003, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/58/473 and Corr.1, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 150 to 6, with 19 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 58/99. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, and the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/58/311. and the reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/155, A/58/156, A/58/263, A/58/264 and A/58/310. Taking note of the report of the Human Rights Inquiry Commission established by the Commission on Human RightsE/CN.4/2001/121. and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,E/CN.4/2004/6. Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Concerned about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including the use of collective punishment, the reoccupation and closure of areas, the confiscation of land, the establishment and expansion of settlements, the construction of a wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, the destruction of property and all other actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the tragic events that have occurred since 28 September 2000 and that have led to thousands of deaths and injuries among Palestinian civilians, Gravely concerned also about the use of suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians resulting in extensive loss of life and injury, Expressing deep concern about the extensive destruction caused by the Israeli occupying forces, including the destruction of homes and properties, of religious, cultural and historical sites, of vital infrastructure and institutions of the Palestinian Authority, and of agricultural land throughout Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, Also expressing deep concern about the Israeli policy of closure and the severe restrictions, including curfews, imposed on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis, Expressing concern that thousands of Palestinians continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres, and also expressing concern about the ill-treatment and harassment of any Palestinian prisoners and all reports of torture, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting the Palestinian civilians and to help the parties to implement agreements reached, and, in this regard, recalls the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Stressing the necessity for the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, 1. Determines that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation of the Convention, including the extrajudicial executions; 3. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction; 4. Also condemns the events that have occurred in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002, including the loss of life, injury, destruction and displacement inflicted on many of its civilian inhabitants; 5. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people; 6. Stresses the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 58/9 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 5 November 2003, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/58/L.3/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, France, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Viet Nam, Yemen 58/9. Global road safety crisis The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/309 of 22 May 2003, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the global road safety crisis,A/58/228. Expressing great concern at the rapid increase, particularly in developing countries, in traffic fatalities and injuries worldwide, which accounted for an estimated 1.26 million deaths in 2000 and which disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income countries, and also expressing concern at the economic costs of road traffic injuries, which amount to 518 billion United States dollars per annum worldwide, with developing countries bearing 100 billion dollars of the cost, Convinced that road traffic injuries are a major public health problem requiring concerted multisectoral efforts for effective and sustainable prevention, Affirming the need for a worldwide effort to raise awareness about the health impact and social and economic costs of injuries caused by road traffic accidents, Recognizing that effective action requires strong political commitment, in particular at the national but also at the international level, Recognizing also that road traffic injuries are a preventable and treatable problem, Emphasizing the need for the private sector and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate actively in promoting road traffic safety, Convinced that road safety requires partnerships, bridging many sectors of society, to promote and facilitate efforts to prevent road traffic injuries, Convinced also that responsibility for road safety rests at the local, municipal and national levels, and recognizing that many developing countries have limited capacities to address these issues, Recognizing the importance of further strengthening the efforts of developing countries to build capacities in the field of road safety, and of providing financial and technical support for those efforts, Welcoming the efforts of the relevant United Nations agencies and many other organizations in promoting road traffic safety, Commending the World Health Organization for its important work, and welcoming the selection of the theme "Road safety" for the observance of World Health Day on 7 April 2004, when the World Health Organization will release its World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention, 1. Decides to hold a plenary meeting of the General Assembly on 14 April 2004 in connection with World Health Day and the launching of the World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention to increase awareness at a high level of the magnitude of the road traffic injury problem, and invites Governments to participate, as appropriate; 2. Invites the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, the President of the World Bank, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme to address the Assembly; 3. Invites the Economic and Social Council, working with other relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, and through its regional commissions, to facilitate the exchange of information on best road traffic safety practices and the development of recommendations for road traffic injury control; 4. Requests the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to organize a meeting of experts, the private sector, relevant non-governmental organizations, members of civil society and other interested parties, including the media, on the morning of 15 April 2004, in conjunction with the plenary meeting, to raise awareness and exchange information on best road practices; 5. Underlines the need for international cooperation to deal with issues of road safety; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, through an appropriate United Nations body, to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the progress made in improving global road safety and the issues referred to in the present resolution, also taking into consideration the views expressed during the meetings on 14 and 15 April 2004; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Global road safety crisis". RESOLUTION 59/100 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. 59/100. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/169. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre has been a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation for peace and disarmament in the region, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as "the Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of meetings and conferences in the region, held in Osaka, Japan, from 19 to 22 August 2003, on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 3 to 5 December 2003, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 16 to 18 March 2004, in Kanazawa, Japan, from 7 to 9 June 2004 and in Sapporo, Japan, from 26 to 29 July 2004, Welcoming the idea of the possible creation of an educational and training programme for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for young people with different backgrounds, to be financed from voluntary contributions, Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, including its continued assistance in finalizing a treaty related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, as well as to Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status, including the organization of an informal consultation among relevant United Nations bodies in January and June 2004 to discuss the status of implementation of the non-nuclear aspects of Mongolia's status, Appreciating highly the overall support that Nepal has extended as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and voluntary financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Urges the Secretary-General to ensure the physical operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu within six months of the date of signature of the host country agreement and to enable the Centre to function effectively; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTION 59/101 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States) and Somalia. 59/101. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998, 54/55 B of 1 December 1999, 55/34 D of 20 November 2000, 56/25 D of 29 November 2001, 57/91 of 22 November 2002 and 58/61 of 8 December 2003, Aware of the widespread support for the activities of the Regional Centre and the important role that the Centre can play in the present context in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/209. in which it was stated that the Regional Centre received an increasing number of requests from Member States in the African region for substantive support for several peace initiatives and conflict resolution activities in the region, Taking note also of the fact that, as noted in the report of the Secretary-General, very limited financial contributions were made to the Regional Centre despite continued fund-raising efforts, Concerned that the continuing financial difficulties faced by the Regional Centre have impaired its ability to realize its full potential and to fulfil its mandate adequately, Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken to mobilize the necessary resources for the operational costs of the Regional Centre, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the African Union, in conformity with the decision adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec.138 (XXXV). On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. 1. Commends the activities that the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa is continuing to carry out, in particular in support of the efforts made by the African States in the areas of peace and security; 2. Reaffirms its strong support for the Regional Centre, and emphasizes the need to provide it with the necessary resources to enable it to strengthen its activities and carry out its programmes; 3. Appeals once again to all States, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the African Union, in particular in the areas of peace, security and development, and to continue to assist the Director of the Regional Centre in his efforts to stabilize the financial situation of the Centre; 6. Appeals in particular to the Regional Centre, in cooperation with the African Union, regional and subregional organizations and the African States, to take steps to promote the consistent implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". RESOLUTION 59/102 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 125 to 48, with 12 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 59/102. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that, in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-10/2. it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2004 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 58/64 of 8 December 2003, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. RESOLUTION 59/103 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Indonesia, Liberia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Uruguay. 59/103. United Nations Disarmament Information Programme The General Assembly, Recalling its decision taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, the second special session devoted to disarmament, by which the World Disarmament Campaign was launched,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolution 47/53 D of 9 December 1992, in which it decided, inter alia, that the World Disarmament Campaign should be known thereafter as the "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme" and the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust Fund as the "Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme", Recalling its resolutions 51/46 A of 10 December 1996, 53/78 E of 4 December 1998, 55/34 A of 20 November 2000 and 57/90 of 22 November 2002, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme,A/59/171. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme;A/59/171. 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to make effective use of the limited resources available to him in disseminating as widely as possible, including by electronic means, information on arms limitation and disarmament to Governments, the media, non-governmental organizations, educational communities and research institutes, and in carrying out a seminar and conference programme; 3. Stresses the importance of the Programme as a significant instrument in enabling all Member States to participate fully in the deliberations and negotiations on disarmament in the various United Nations bodies, in assisting them in complying with treaties, as required, and in contributing to agreed mechanisms for transparency; 4. Notes the results of the survey of users of The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook; 5. Notes with appreciation the cooperation of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and its information centres in pursuit of the objectives of the Programme; 6. Recommends that the Programme continue to inform, educate and generate public understanding of the importance of multilateral action and support for it, including action by the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, in the field of arms limitation and disarmament, in a factual, balanced and objective manner, and that it focus its efforts: (a) To continue to publish in all official languages The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook and to increase its dissemination by posting the 2002 and 2003 English editions on the Internet; (b) To continue to maintain the Disarmament web site as a part of the United Nations web site and to produce versions of the site in as many official languages as feasible; (c) To continue to intensify United Nations interaction with the public, principally non-governmental organizations and research institutes, to help further an informed debate on topical issues of arms limitation, disarmament and security; (d) To continue to organize discussions on topics of interest in the field of arms limitation and disarmament with a view to broadening understanding and facilitating an exchange of views and information among Member States and civil society; 7. Invites all Member States to make contributions to the Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme with a view to sustaining a strong outreach programme; 8. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/178 and Add.1. which reviews the implementation of the recommendations made in the 2002 study on disarmament and non-proliferation education;A/57/124. 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report covering both the implementation of the activities of the Programme by the United Nations system during the previous two years and the activities of the Programme contemplated by the system for the following two years; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme". RESOLUTION 59/104 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/461, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Myanmar. 59/104. Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/59/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete issues, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, Taking note of active discussions held on the programme of work during the 2004 session of the Conference, as duly reflected in the report and the records of the plenary meetings, Taking note also of significant contributions made during the 2004 session to promote substantive discussions on issues on the agenda, as well as of discussions held on other issues that could also be relevant to the current international security environment, Stressing the urgent need for the Conference to commence its substantive work at the beginning of its 2005 session, Taking note of the decision reached on 12 February 2004 with regard to enhancement of the engagement of civil society in the work of the ConferenceIbid., para. 19. and the statement by the President made thereafter,Ibid., para. 20. 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Calls upon the Conference to intensify consultations and explore possibilities with a view to reaching an agreement on a programme of work; 3. Takes note of the strong collective interest of the Conference in commencing substantive work as soon as possible during its 2005 session; 4. Welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its current President and the incoming President to conduct consultations during the intersessional period and, if possible, to make recommendations, taking into account all relevant proposals, including those submitted as the documents of the Conference, views presented and discussions held, and to endeavour to keep the membership of the Conference informed, as appropriate, of their consultations, as expressed in paragraph 46 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/59/27). 5. Requests all States members of the Conference to cooperate with the current President and successive Presidents in their efforts to guide the Conference to the early commencement of substantive work in its 2005 session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 7. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 59/105 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/461, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Georgia, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Peru, Republic of Korea and Uzbekistan. 59/105. Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/59/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, 55/35 C of 20 November 2000, 56/26 A of 29 November 2001, 57/95 of 22 November 2002 and 58/67 of 8 December 2003, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, Bearing in mind its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/59/42). 2. Reaffirms the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee of the General Assembly, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 3. Also reaffirms the role of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 4. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items on its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission";A/CN.10/137. 5. Recommends that the Disarmament Commission consider the following items at its 2005 substantive session: (a) [To be determined]; (b) [To be determined]; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2005, namely, from 18 July to 5 August, and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/59/27). together with all the official records of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". RESOLUTION 59/106 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/462 para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. by a recorded vote of 170 to 5, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, India, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu 59/106. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(48)/RES/16, adopted on 24 September 2004,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the Treaty as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article IX". Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and seventy-three States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 59/107 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/463, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/107. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons, Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/69 of 8 December 2003, Recalling with satisfaction the adoption and the entry into force of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and its amended version,CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),Ibid., annex A. Recalling the decision by the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects to establish an open-ended group of governmental experts with two separate coordinators on explosive remnants of war and on mines other than anti-personnel mines,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Recalling also the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and welcoming the particular efforts of various international, non-governmental and other organizations in raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of explosive remnants of war, 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocols thereto, as amended, with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to these instruments at an early date, and so as to ultimately achieve their universality; 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention and the amendment extending the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character; 3. Welcomes with satisfaction the adoption of the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V)See CCW/MSP/2003/3, appendix II. at the Meeting of the States Parties held at Geneva on 27 and 28 November 2003, and calls upon the States parties to express their consent to be bound by the Protocol and to notify the depositary at an early date of their consent; 4. Notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Working Group on Explosive Remnants of War would continue its work in 2004 with the mandate to continue to consider the implementation of existing principles of international humanitarian law and to further study, on an open-ended basis, and initially with particular emphasis on meetings of military and technical experts, possible preventive measures aimed at improving the design of certain specific types of munitions, including sub-munitions, with a view to minimizing the humanitarian risk of these munitions becoming explosive remnants of war;Ibid., para. 26 and appendix III. 5. Also notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Working Group on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines would continue its work in 2004 with the mandate to consider all proposals on mines other than anti-personnel mines put forward since the establishment of the Group of Governmental Experts;Ibid., para. 27 and appendix IV. 6. Further notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Chairman-designate should continue to undertake consultations during the intersessional period on possible options to promote compliance with the Convention and the Protocols thereto, taking into account proposals put forward;Ibid., para. 28. 7. Expresses support for the work conducted by the Group of Governmental Experts, and encourages the Chairman-designate and the Group to conduct work, in accordance with the mandate for 2004, with the aim of elaborating appropriate recommendations on mines other than anti-personnel mines, for submission to the Meeting of the States Parties on 18 and 19 November 2004, and to report on the work done on compliance, as well as on the implementation of existing principles of international humanitarian law and on possible preventive technical measures in relation to explosive remnants of war; 8. Recalls the decision of the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects to convene a further conference not later than 2006, with preparatory meetings starting as early as 2005, if necessary,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and requests the Meeting of the States Parties on 18 and 19 November 2004 to consider this issue; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Meeting of the States Parties on 18 and 19 November 2004, as well as for any possible continuation of work after the Meeting, should the States parties deem it appropriate; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically, by electronic means, of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention and the Protocols thereto; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects". RESOLUTION 59/108 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/464, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/108. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 58/70 of 8 December 2003, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/130 and Add.1. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region, and recognizes the role of the United Nations in promoting regional and international peace and security; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 59/109 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/465 para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 177 to 2, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Colombia, India, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic 59/109. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measure, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and seventy-three States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of one hundred and nineteen States, including thirty-three of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, among which there are three nuclear-weapon States, Recalling its resolution 58/71 of 8 December 2003, Welcoming the Joint Ministerial Statement reaffirming support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, signed in New York on 23 September 2004, 1. Stresses the importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions, to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular its efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Underlines the need to maintain momentum towards completion of the verification regime; 4. Calls upon all States to maintain their moratoriums on nuclear-weapons test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty; 5. Calls upon all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible; 6. Calls upon all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their earliest successful conclusion; 7. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to prepare a report on the efforts of States that have ratified the Treaty towards its universalization and possibilities for providing assistance on ratification procedures to States that so request it, and to submit such a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". RESOLUTION 59/10 Adopted at the 42nd plenary meeting, on 27 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.9 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen 59/10. Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/5 of 3 November 2003 and its decision to proclaim 2005 the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, Considering the role of sport and physical education as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, Acknowledging the major role of the United Nations, its funds and programmes and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other specialized agencies, in promoting human development through sport and physical education, through its country programmes, Noting that sport and physical education in many countries face increasing marginalization within education systems even though they are a major tool not only for health and physical development but also for acquiring values necessary for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, Recalling the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. stressing that education shall be directed to the development of children's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential, Acknowledging with concern the dangers faced by sportsmen and sportswomen, in particular young athletes, including child labour, violence, doping, early specialization, over-training and exploitative forms of commercialization, as well as less visible threats and deprivations, such as the premature severance of family bonds and the loss of sporting, social and cultural ties, Recognizing the need for greater coordination of efforts at the international level to facilitate a more effective fight against doping, and noting in this regard the Anti-Doping Convention established by the Council of Europe,Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No. 135. the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-doping in Sport, adopted during the World Conference on Doping in Sport, held from 3 to 5 March 2003, and any other relevant international instrument, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Sport for peace and development: International Year of Sport and Physical Education";A/59/268 and Add.1. 2. Decides to launch, on 5 November 2004, the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace; 3. Invites Governments, the United Nations, its funds and programmes, the specialized agencies, where appropriate, and sport-related institutions to organize events to underline their commitment and to seek the assistance of sports personalities in this regard; 4. Also invites Governments, the United Nations, its funds and programmes, the specialized agencies, where appropriate, and sport-related institutions: (a) To promote the role of sport and physical education for all when furthering their development programmes and policies, to advance health awareness, the spirit of achievement and cultural bridging and to entrench collective values; (b) To include sport and physical education as a tool to contribute towards achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the broader aims of development and peace; (c) To work collectively so that sport and physical education can present opportunities for solidarity and cooperation in order to promote a culture of peace and social and gender equality and to advocate dialogue and harmony; (d) To recognize the contribution of sport and physical education towards economic and social development and to encourage the building and restoration of sports infrastructures; (e) To further promote sport and physical education, on the basis of locally assessed needs, as a tool for health, education, social and cultural development and environmental sustainability; (f) To strengthen cooperation and partnership between all actors, including family, school, clubs/leagues, local communities, youth sports associations and decision makers as well as the public and private sectors, in order to ensure complementarities and to make sport and physical education available to everyone; (g) To ensure that young talents can develop their athletic potential without any threat to their safety and physical and moral integrity; 5. Encourages Governments, international sports bodies and sport-related organizations to elaborate and implement partnership initiatives and development projects compatible with the education provided at all levels of schooling to help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals; 6. Invites Governments and international sports bodies to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in their capacity-building efforts in sport and physical education; 7. Encourages the United Nations to develop strategic partnerships with the range of stakeholders involved in sport, including sports organizations, sports associations and the private sector, to assist in the implementation of sport for development programmes; 8. Encourages Governments and the United Nations system to seek new and innovative ways to use sport for communication and social mobilization, particularly at the national, regional and local levels, engaging civil society through active participation and ensuring that target audiences are reached; 9. Acknowledges that the Olympic Games contribute to understanding between peoples and civilizations, and welcomes in this regard the contribution of the 2004 Olympic Games organized in Athens; 10. Stresses the need for all parties to cooperate closely with international sports bodies to elaborate a "code of good practice"; 11. Invites Governments to accelerate the elaboration of an international anti-doping convention in all sports activities, and requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in cooperation with other relevant international and regional organizations, to coordinate the elaboration of such a convention; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on the events organized at the national, regional and international levels to celebrate the year 2005, under the item entitled "International Year of Sport and Physical Education". RESOLUTION 59/110 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/466, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Hungary. 59/110. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the complete and effective prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and to their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that there are one hundred and fifty-two States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. including all of the permanent members of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conferences, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. and to provide such information and data in conformity with standardized procedure to the Secretary-General on an annual basis and no later than 15 April, Welcoming the reaffirmation made in the Final Declaration of the Fourth Review ConferenceBWC/CONF.IV/9, part II. that under all circumstances the use of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and their development, production and stockpiling are effectively prohibited under article I of the Convention, Recalling the decision reached at the Fifth Review Conference to hold three annual meetings of the States parties of one week's duration each year commencing in 2003 until the Sixth Review Conference and to hold a two-week meeting of experts to prepare for each meeting of the States parties,See BWC/CONF.V/17, para. 18. 1. Notes with satisfaction the increase in the number of States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. reaffirms the call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay, and calls upon those States that have not signed the Convention to become parties thereto at an early date, thus contributing to the achievement of universal adherence to the Convention; 2. Welcomes the information and data provided to date, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention;BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. 3. Recalls the decision reached at the Fifth Review ConferenceSee BWC/CONF.V/17, para. 18. to discuss and promote common understanding and effective action in 2003 on the two topics of the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention, including the enactment of penal legislation, and national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins; in 2004 on the two topics of enhancing international capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease, and strengthening and broadening national and international institutional efforts and existing mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals and plants; and in 2005 on the topic of the content, promulgation and adoption of codes of conduct for scientists; and calls upon the States parties to the Convention to participate in its implementation; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention and to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences, including all necessary assistance to the annual meetings of the States parties and the meetings of experts; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 59/111 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.29 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Russian Federation, United States of America 59/111. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 44/82 of 8 December 1989 concerning the proclamation of, preparations for and observance of the International Year of the Family in 1994, and resolutions 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997 and 54/124 of 17 December 1999 concerning the follow-up to the International Year of the Family, Recalling also its resolutions 56/113 of 19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002 and 58/15 of 3 December 2003 concerning the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004,A/59/176. 1. Reaffirms its resolution 58/15; 2. Welcomes the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family on 6 December 2004 at Headquarters; 3. Commends the important contributions made by Governments at the international, national, regional and local levels to observe the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family; 4. Welcomes the hosting of the Regional Conference on the Family in Africa on 27 and 28 July 2004 by the Government of Benin, and also welcomes the hosting of the Doha International Conference for the Family on 29 and 30 November 2004 by the State of Qatar, and takes note of their outcomes; 5. Encourages Governments to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a family perspective in the planning process; 6. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the non-governmental organizations through local and regional meetings, as well as the programmes and activities throughout civil society undertaken in support of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family; 7. Recommends that all relevant agencies of the United Nations system, civil society organizations, the media, religious and community-based organizations as well as the private sector contribute to developing strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening the livelihood of families; 8. Encourages United Nations agencies and bodies, including the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and research and academic institutions, to work closely with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in a coordinated manner on family-related issues, inter alia, by sharing experience and findings, in recognition of their valuable role in family policy development at all levels; 9. Decides to celebrate the anniversary of the International Year of the Family on a ten-year basis. RESOLUTIONS 59/112 A and B Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 8 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.44 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen 59/112. Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan and the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security A The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/27 A of 5 December 2003 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular the most recent resolutions 1536 (2004) of 26 March 2004 and 1563 (2004) of 17 September 2004, as well as statements by the President of the Council on 6 April and 15 July 2004S/PRST/2004/9 and S/PRST/2004/25; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2003-31 July 2004. and 12 October 2004,S/PRST/2004/35; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2004-31 July 2005. Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Applauding the adoption of a pluralistic and democratic constitution on 4 January 2004, the first direct election of a Head of State in the history of Afghanistan, on 9 October 2004, and the substantive progress achieved in the empowerment of women in Afghan politics as historic milestones in the political process, which will help to consolidate durable peace and national stability in Afghanistan, Emphasizing the desirability of a new government being representative of the ethnic, cultural and geographical diversity of the country, Recognizing the urgent need to tackle the remaining challenges in Afghanistan, including the lack of security in certain areas, terrorist threats, the comprehensive nationwide disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of Afghan militias, the timely preparation of the parliamentary and local elections scheduled for the spring of 2005, the reconstruction of institutions, the promotion and protection of human rights and the fight against narcotics, Reaffirming in this context its continued support for the implementation of the provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and of the Berlin Declaration, including the annexes thereto, of 1 April 2004,Available from www.unama-afg.org. and pledging its continued support thereafter for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of a constitutional democracy and assume their rightful place in the community of nations, Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for Afghanistan, and stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to play to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, Recognizing the need for a continued strong international commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programmes, under the ownership of the Government of Afghanistan, of rehabilitation and reconstruction, and noting that visible progress in this regard can further enhance the authority of the Government and greatly contribute to the peace process, Expressing in this context its deep concern over attacks against Afghan civilians, United Nations staff, national and international humanitarian personnel and the International Security Assistance Force, Noting that, despite improvements in building the security sector, terrorist attacks caused by Al-Qaida operatives, the Taliban and other extremist groups and the lack of security caused by factional violence and criminal activity, including the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs, still remain a serious challenge, threatening the democratic process as well as reconstruction and economic development, Noting also that the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout the country resides with the Government of Afghanistan, welcoming its continuing cooperation with the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, and stressing the importance of extending central government authority to all parts of Afghanistan, Commending the Afghan national army and police, the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition for their contributions in improving security conditions, including for the electoral process, in Afghanistan, Commending also, among others, the countries neighbouring Afghanistan for the commitment they have shown to the Afghan presidential election, including their cooperation and support for the successful staging of out-of-country voting in the Islamic Republic of Iran and in Pakistan, Welcoming the determination of the Afghan authorities to plan and carry out without delay parliamentary and local elections, scheduled for the spring of 2005, Deeply concerned about the continued increase in the cultivation, production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, which is undermining stability and security as well as the political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and which has dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, and commending in this context the reaffirmed commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to rid the country of this pernicious production and trade, including by decisive law enforcement measures, Recognizing that the social and economic development of Afghanistan, specifically the development of gainful and sustainable livelihoods in the formal productive sector, is an important condition for the successful implementation of the comprehensive Afghan national drug control strategy and depends to a large extent on enhanced international cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/581-S/2004/925. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Congratulates the democratically elected Head of State of Afghanistan, the newly appointed Government of Afghanistan and millions of Afghan voters, who have participated in the first popular election of their Head of State; 3. Stresses the importance of the provision of sufficient security for the holding of credible parliamentary elections, and to this end calls upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources to the International Security Assistance Force, thus assisting in securing the conduct of free and fair elections, including through the progressive establishment of provincial reconstruction teams in other parts of Afghanistan, and to coordinate closely with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Government of Afghanistan; 4. Welcomes the progress made since the commencement of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process in October 2003, including extensive demobilization and heavy weapons cantonment, and stresses the importance of addressing the issues of irregular militias and ammunition stockpiles and the need to substantially complete the process in a comprehensive manner throughout the country in accordance with the Bonn AgreementAgreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). in order to create an environment more conducive to the conduct of free and fair parliamentary elections; 5. Also welcomes the development of the new professional Afghan national army and Afghan national police and the progress made in the creation of a fair and effective justice system as important steps towards the goal of strengthening Afghan government authority, providing security, ensuring the rule of law and eliminating corruption throughout the country, and urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in these areas in a coordinated manner; 6. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, including through the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and the Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by Al-Qaida operatives, the Taliban and other extremist groups, factional violence among militia forces and criminal violence, in particular violence involving the drug trade; 7. Reiterates the importance of the implementation of the timetable of the Joint Electoral Management Body for parliamentary and local elections scheduled for the spring of 2005; 8. Calls upon the Assistance Mission to continue to provide the necessary support to the Government of Afghanistan in order to facilitate timely and inclusive parliamentary and local elections; 9. Calls upon the Assistance Mission and the Joint Electoral Management Body to provide sufficient training to the election personnel as well as voter and civic education, with a particular focus on women, before parliamentary and local elections; 10. Calls upon the Joint Electoral Management Body, with the assistance of the Assistance Mission, to provide budgetary targets for the elections, and urges the donor community to consider making further commitments to meet those targets in time; 11. Calls upon regional organizations and Member States to contribute to the conduct of free and fair parliamentary elections by providing international election monitors; 12. Reiterates the important role of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and stresses the need to expand its range of operations in all parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan Constitution; 13. Calls for full respect for human rights and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan and, with the assistance of the Assistance Mission, full implementation of the human rights provisions of the new Afghan Constitution, including those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights, and commends the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan in this respect; 14. Welcomes the efforts to date of the Afghan authorities to implement their comprehensive national drug control strategy adopted in May 2003, and urges the Government of Afghanistan to take decisive action, in particular to stop the processing of and trade in drugs, by pursuing the concrete steps set out in the work plan of the Government of Afghanistan, presented at the International Conference on Afghanistan, held in Berlin on 31 March and 1 April 2004;Available from www.unama-afg.org. 15. Calls upon the international community to assist the Government of Afghanistan in the implementation of its comprehensive national drug control strategy, aimed at eliminating illicit poppy cultivation, including through support for increased law enforcement, interdiction, demand reduction, eradication of illicit crops, crop substitution and other alternative livelihood and development programmes, increasing public awareness and building the capacity of drug control institutions; 16. Supports the fight against the illicit trafficking in drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including increased cooperation among them to strengthen anti-narcotic controls to curb the drug flow, and welcomes in this context the signing on 1 April 2004 of the Berlin Declaration on Counter-Narcotics within the framework of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002;Available from www.unama-afg.org. 17. Commends the continuing efforts of the signatories of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly RelationsS/2002/1416, annex. to implement their commitments under the Declaration, including, within this framework, those under the Declaration on Encouraging Closer Trade, Transit and Investment Cooperation, and furthermore calls upon all other States to respect and support the implementation of these provisions and to promote regional stability; 18. Appreciates the efforts of the members of the Tripartite Commission, namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States of America, to continue to address cross-border activities in accordance with its mandate; 19. Calls for the provision of continued international assistance to the vast number of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their safe and orderly return and sustainable reintegration into society so as to contribute to the stability of the entire country; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every six months during its fifty-ninth session on developments in Afghanistan, including after parliamentary elections, and on the future role of the Assistance Mission, and to report to the Assembly at its sixtieth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security". B Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/27 B of 5 December 2003 and its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held in Tokyo on 21 and 22 January 2002, and the International Conference on Afghanistan, held in Berlin on 31 March and 1 April 2004,Available from www.unama-afg.org. Welcoming the adoption of a new constitution for Afghanistan on 4 January 2004 and the historic presidential elections held on 9 October 2004, Welcoming also the continuing and growing ownership of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts by the Government of Afghanistan through the National Development Framework, the "Securing Afghanistan's future" exercise and the national budget, and emphasizing the crucial need to achieve ownership in all fields of governance and to improve institutional capabilities in order to use aid more effectively, Welcoming further the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to develop a poverty reduction strategy paper as an integrated part of the national development plans, Welcoming, in this regard, the guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans in the new Constitution as a significant step towards an improved situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for women and children, Noting, at the same time, reports about incidents of violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law and violent or discriminatory practices in parts of the country, Alarmed by continued attacks on Afghan civilians, United Nations staff, national and international humanitarian personnel and the International Security Assistance Force, Noting with concern that the lack of security in certain areas has caused some organizations to cease or curtail humanitarian and development operations in some parts of Afghanistan because limited access and inadequate security conditions for the delivery of aid hampered their work substantially, Welcoming the continuous return of refugees and internally displaced persons, while noting with concern that conditions in parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive to safe and sustainable returns to places of origin, Remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and unexploded ordnance, which constitute a great danger for the civilian population and a major obstacle for the return of refugees and displaced populations and for the resumption of agricultural and other economic activities, the provision of humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, Aware of the high vulnerability of Afghanistan to natural disasters, and mindful in particular that the Afghan people continue to suffer from a severe multi-year drought that affects more than half of the provinces of the country, Underlining the coordinating role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in ensuring a seamless transition, under Afghan leadership, from humanitarian relief to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, including the cooperation of the United Nations system with other actors in the international community, in particular with the international financial institutions, Welcoming the establishment of an executive steering committee of the provincial reconstruction teams, a high-level decision-making and consultative body that provides guidance on the management of provincial reconstruction teams and on the interaction of civilian and military actors within the framework of development and reconstruction, Expressing its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations whose international and local staff continue to respond positively to the humanitarian needs of Afghanistan, as well as to the Secretary-General and his Emergency Relief Coordinator for mobilizing and coordinating the delivery of appropriate humanitarian assistance, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/581-S/2004/925. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to take all possible steps to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations and humanitarian personnel, as well as their safe and unimpeded access to all affected populations, and to protect the property of the United Nations and of humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations, and calls upon the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in the area of security in a coordinated manner; 3. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation directed against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, regrets the loss of life and physical harm, and urges the Government of Afghanistan to make every effort to identify and to bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks; 4. Welcomes the progress of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process for ex-combatants, including child soldiers, by the Government of Afghanistan and the efforts of the international community to assist in this process, and urges all Afghan parties to continue their efforts in this regard; recognizing the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan, reiterates the importance of ending the use of children contrary to international law, while welcoming the recent accession by Afghanistan to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocol thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict;Resolution 54/263, annex I. and stresses the importance of the demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers and care for other war-affected children, and notes in this regard the value of preparing an action plan to address this issue; 5. Reiterates the importance of providing Afghan children with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, recognizing the special needs of girls, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, to expand those facilities and to promote full and equal access to them by all members of Afghan society; 6. Welcomes the initiative of the Government of Afghanistan to formulate a national plan of action on combating child trafficking, encourages the Government, in the formulation of the plan of action, to be guided by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,See resolution 55/25. and stresses the importance of considering becoming party to this Protocol; 7. Reminds all Afghan parties of their commitment to the Bonn AgreementAgreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and the Berlin Declaration,Available from www.unama-afg.org. and calls for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan Constitution and international law, and commends the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan in this respect; 8. Emphasizes again the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, including violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women and girls, of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law; 9. Reiterates the important role of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and stresses the need to expand its range of operation in all parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan Constitution; 10. Commends the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to mainstream gender issues and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men as guaranteed, inter alia, by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. ratified by Afghanistan on 5 March 2003, and the Afghan Constitution, in this context welcomes the high level of participation of Afghan women in the recent presidential election, and reiterates the continued importance of the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of Afghan life; 11. Strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and violence against women and girls, welcomes the significant efforts by the Government of Afghanistan to counter discrimination, urges the Government to actively involve all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes, and encourages the collection and use of statistical data on a sex-disaggregated basis to accurately track the progress of the full integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan; 12. Notes with concern that opium poppy cultivation and the related drug production and trafficking pose a serious threat to security, the rule of law and development in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan, in cooperation with the international community, to implement its comprehensive national drug control strategy, aimed at eliminating illicit poppy cultivation, supporting increased law enforcement, interdiction, demand reduction, eradication of illicit crops, crop substitution and other alternative livelihood and development programmes, increasing public awareness and building the capacity of drug control institutions, and to promote the development of sustainable livelihoods in the formal production sector as well as other sectors, thus improving substantially the lives, health and security of the people, particularly in rural areas; 13. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, acknowledging the huge burden they have so far shouldered in this regard, and reminds them of their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees and the right to seek asylum and to allow international access for their protection and care; 14. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, acting with the support of the international community, to continue its efforts to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of the remaining Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons; 15. Stresses the need for further progress on judicial reform in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to devote resources also to the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in order to improve the respect for the rule of law and human rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health risks to inmates; 16. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,Ibid. to cooperate fully with the mine action programme coordinated by the United Nations, and to execute the destruction of all existing stocks of anti-personnel landmines; 17. Welcomes the generous commitments made in Berlin at the International Conference on Afghanistan, and urges donors to follow through on their pledges; 18. Urges the international community to channel assistance through the national budget, including by contributing to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and the Law and Order Trust Fund, which are not adequately funded, and to generously support the national priority programmes of the Government of Afghanistan in order to strengthen ownership, transparency and the functioning of basic State institutions; 19. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to continue to effectively reform the public administration sector and to ensure good governance, the rule of law and accountability at all levels, both national and local; 20. Welcomes the initiative taken by the Government of Afghanistan in setting out priorities and development programmes and in national development, reconstruction and regional integration, and calls upon the international community to support Afghanistan in this regard; 21. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and in accordance with its national development strategy, all possible and necessary humanitarian, financial, technical and material assistance for Afghanistan; 22. Emphasizes the need to establish, maintain and strengthen civil-military relations among international actors, as appropriate, at all levels in order to ensure complementarity of action based on the different mandates and comparative advantages of humanitarian, development, law enforcement and military actors in Afghanistan; 23. Invites all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations providing assistance to Afghanistan to emphasize capacity-building, institution-building and local employment generation in their work and to ensure that such work complements and contributes to the development of an economy characterized by sound macroeconomic policies, the development of a financial sector that provides services, inter alia, to microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and households, transparent business regulations, accountability, good governance and the rule of law; 24. Requests that existing capacity-building programmes and projects be sufficiently funded in order to strengthen, inter alia, the capacity of Afghanistan to respond to natural disasters, in particular long-term drought; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every six months during its fifty-ninth session on developments in Afghanistan, including, after parliamentary elections, on the future role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and to report to the Assembly at its sixtieth session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the sub-item entitled "Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan". RESOLUTION 59/113 Adopted at the 70th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.43 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 59/113. World Programme for Human Rights Education The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights concerning the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, Recalling also its resolution 58/181 of 22 December 2003, in which it decided to dedicate a plenary meeting during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2004, to review the achievements of the Decade and to discuss possible future activities for the enhancement of human rights education, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/71 of 21 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission recommended that the General Assembly proclaim at its fifty-ninth session a world programme for human rights education, to begin on 1 January 2005, Reaffirming the need for continued actions at the international level to support national efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular, universal access to basic education for all, by 2015, Convinced that human rights education is a long-term and lifelong process by which everyone learns tolerance and respect for the dignity of others and the means and methods of ensuring that respect in all societies, Believing that human rights education is essential to the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and contributes significantly to promoting equality, preventing conflict and human rights violations and enhancing participation and democratic processes, with a view to developing societies in which all human beings are valued and respected, without discrimination or distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political, or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, 1. Takes note of the views expressed in the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the achievements and shortcomings of the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and on future United Nations activities in this areaE/CN.4/2004/93. concerning the need to continue a global framework for human rights education beyond the Decade in order to ensure a priority focus on human rights education within the international agenda; 2. Proclaims the World Programme for Human Rights Education, structured in consecutive phases, scheduled to begin on 1 January 2005, in order to advance the implementation of human rights education programmes in all sectors; 3. Notes with appreciation the draft plan of action for the first phase (2005-2007) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, prepared jointly by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as contained in the note by the Secretary-General,A/59/525. and invites States to submit comments thereon to the Office of the High Commissioner, with a view to its early adoption. RESOLUTION 59/114 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/468, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 59/114. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 58/88 of 9 December 2003, in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee, Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its fifty-ninth session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Noting with satisfaction that some Member States have expressed particular interest in becoming members of the Scientific Committee, and expressing its intention to consider the issue further at its next session, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past forty-nine years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee; 3. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources, and invites the Scientific Committee to submit its programme of work to the General Assembly; 4. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for its future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 6. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 8. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports; 9. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 10. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly; 11. Urges the United Nations Environment Programme to review and strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee, pursuant to paragraph 6 of resolution 58/88, so that the Committee can discharge the responsibilities and mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly; 12. Emphasizes the need for the Scientific Committee to hold regular sessions on an annual basis so that its report can reflect the latest developments and findings in the field of ionizing radiation and thereby provide updated information for dissemination among all States. RESOLUTION 59/115 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/469, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 59/115. Application of the concept of the "launching State" The General Assembly, Recalling the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space ObjectsResolution 2777 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space,Resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex. Bearing in mind that the term "launching State" as used in the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention is important in space law, that a launching State shall register a space object in accordance with the Registration Convention and that the Liability Convention identifies those States which may be liable for damage caused by a space object and which would have to pay compensation in such a case, Taking note of the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on its forty-second sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/54/20 and Corr.1). and the report of the Legal Subcommittee on its forty-first session, in particular the conclusions of the Working Group on the agenda item entitled "Review of the concept of the 'launching State'" annexed to the report of the Legal Subcommittee,A/AC.105/787, annex IV, appendix. Noting that nothing in the conclusions of the Working Group or in the present resolution constitutes an authoritative interpretation of or a proposed amendment to the Registration Convention or the Liability Convention, Noting also that changes in space activities since the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention entered into force include the continuous development of new technologies, an increase in the number of States carrying out space activities, an increase in international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and an increase in space activities carried out by non-governmental entities, including activities carried out jointly by government agencies and non-governmental entities, as well as partnerships formed by non-governmental entities from one or more countries, Desirous of facilitating adherence to and the application of the provisions of the United Nations treaties on outer space, in particular the Liability Convention and the Registration Convention, 1. Recommends that States conducting space activities, in fulfilling their international obligations under the United Nations treaties on outer space, in particular the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space ObjectsResolution 2777 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space,Resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex. as well as other relevant international agreements, consider enacting and implementing national laws authorizing and providing for continuing supervision of the activities in outer space of non-governmental entities under their jurisdiction; 2. Also recommends that States consider the conclusion of agreements in accordance with the Liability Convention with respect to joint launches or cooperation programmes; 3. Further recommends that the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space invite Member States to submit information on a voluntary basis on their current practices regarding on-orbit transfer of ownership of space objects; 4. Recommends that States consider, on the basis of that information, the possibility of harmonizing such practices as appropriate with a view to increasing the consistency of national space legislation with international law; 5. Requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in making full use of the functions and resources of the Secretariat, to continue to provide States, at their request, with relevant information and assistance in developing national space laws based on the relevant treaties. RESOLUTION 59/116 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/469, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 59/116. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996, 54/68 of 6 December 1999 and 58/89 of 9 December 2003, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, especially for developing countries, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further developing the legal framework to strengthen international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and the need to promote the use of space technology towards implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Convinced also that the use of space science and technology and their applications, in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education and disaster management, and environmental protection as well as other Earth observation applications, contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, inter alia, poverty eradication, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-seventh session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-seventh session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2). 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties as well as incorporating them in their national legislation; 3. Notes that, at its forty-third session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/89;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II.D. 4. Requests the Secretary-General to send to the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of States that have not yet become parties to the above-mentioned international treaties, the letterA/AC.105/826, annex I, appendix I. and document,A/AC.105/826, annex I, appendix I. as endorsed by the Legal Subcommittee, encouraging their States to participate in those treaties, and to send a similar letter to intergovernmental organizations that have not yet declared their acceptance of the rights and obligations under those treaties;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II.D, para. 150. 5. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to: a. The definition and delimitation of outer space; b. The character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) Examination of the preliminary draft protocol on matters specific to space assets to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment, opened for signature at Cape Town, South Africa, on 16 November 2001: a. Considerations relating to the possibility of the United Nations serving as supervisory authority under the future protocol; b. Considerations relating to the relationship between the terms of the future protocol and the rights and obligations of States under the legal regime applicable to outer space; (c) Consider the practice of States and international organizations in registering space objects in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 199. 6. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-fifth session in 2006; 7. Also notes that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (ii) above, the Legal Subcommittee at its forty-fourth session will reconvene its Working Group and review the need to extend the mandate of the Working Group beyond that session of the Subcommittee; 8. Further notes that, in the context of paragraph 5 (a) (iv) a. above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; 9. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group to consider the questions reflected in paragraphs 5 (b) (ii) a. and b. above separately; 10. Endorses the recommendation of the Legal Subcommittee, in the context of paragraph 5 (b) (ii) a. above, to establish an open-ended ad hoc working group to continue between the forty-third and forty-fourth sessions of the Subcommittee, the consideration of the question of the appropriateness of the United Nations acting as supervisory authority, and notes that the working group would prepare a report, including the text of a draft resolution, to be submitted to the Subcommittee for consideration at its forty-fourth session;Ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2), para. 170. 11. Agrees that, in the context of paragraph 5 (c) above, the Legal Subcommittee should establish a working group in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 199. 12. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-first session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/89;Ibid., chap. II.C. 13. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-second session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications; (iii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (iv) Matters relating to remote-sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the work plans adopted by the Committee:See A/AC.105/761, para. 130, and Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2), paras. 141 and 144, for item (i); A/AC.105/804, annex III, for item (ii); Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 138, for item (iii); A/AC.105/823, annex II, para. 18, for item (iv); and A/AC.105/823, annex II, para. 15, for item (v). (i) Space debris; (ii) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (iii) Space-system-based telemedicine; (iv) Near-Earth objects; (v) Space-system-based disaster management support; (c) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including, inter alia, in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; (ii) Support to proclaim the year 2007 the International Geophysical and Heliophysical Year; 14. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its forty-second session will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the forty-third session of the Subcommittee, in 2006; 15. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation, in liaison with member States, be invited to arrange a symposium to address high-resolution and hyperspectral satellite data integration for precision farming, environmental monitoring and possible new applications, with as wide a participation as possible, to be held during the first week of the forty-second session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee; 16. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 13 (a) (ii) and (iii) and 14 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its forty-second session should reconvene the Working Group of the Whole; 17. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 13 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-second session, should reconvene the Working Group on Space Debris to consider, as necessary, the proposals of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee on space debris mitigation and any related comments that might be received;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2), paras. 141 and 144. 18. Further agrees that, in the context of paragraph 13 (b) (ii) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee at its forty-second session, should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space; 19. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2005, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications and endorsed by the Committee;Ibid., para. 70; see also A/AC.105/815, sects. II-IV. 20. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria, respectively, as well as the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific and the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, continued their education programmes in 2004, that all the above regional centres have entered into an affiliation agreement with the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat, and that the Office is providing technical support to the Government of Jordan for the establishment of the regional centre for space science and technology education for Western Asia; 21. Welcomes the memorandum of understanding between the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat and the Pro Tempore Secretariat of the Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, under which the parties demonstrated their intention to collaborate in promoting and implementing joint activities, and invites the Pro Tempore Secretariat to inform the Committee of the work accomplished; 22. Notes with satisfaction that the Government of Ecuador is considering positively hosting the Fifth Space Conference of the Americas, to be held in Quito in the second half of 2005 or in 2006, and that the convening of the Conference will be in accordance with the desire of Member States in the Latin American and Caribbean region to institutionalize the Space Conference of the Americas; 23. Also notes with satisfaction that concerning the report on the review of the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, the Committee, at its forty-seventh session, approved the draft report of the Committee as finalized by the Working Group which was reconvened at that session to prepare the report, and submitted the report to the General Assembly for use in its review and appraisal of the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III at its fifty-ninth session;See A/59/174. 24. Recommends that more attention be paid and political support be provided to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment; 25. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 26. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 27. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 28. Notes that space science and technology and their applications could make important contributions to economic, social and cultural development and welfare as indicated in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. notes with satisfaction the convening of a conference entitled "International Conference on Space and Water: Towards Sustainable Development and Human Security" in the context of the International Air and Space Fair, held at Santiago de Chile from 29 March to 4 April 2004, and also notes that the next Fair will be held in 2006; 29. Notes with satisfaction the convening of the International Seminar on Satellite Technology Applications in Communications and Remote Sensing in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, in October 2004 in cooperation with the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology; 30. Agrees that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention of conferences organized within the United Nations system to address global issues relating to social, economic and cultural development and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 31. Notes with satisfaction the increased efforts of the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to promote the use of space science and technology and their applications in carrying out actions recommended in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the joint initiative taken by the Committee and the Inter-Agency Meeting to compile a list of space-related initiatives and programmes that correspond to recommendations contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigenda (A/59/20 and Corr.1 and 2), para. 28; and A/AC.105/2004/CRP.8. 32. Notes that space technology could play a central role in disaster reduction and that both the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee could contribute to the follow-up to the World Conference on Disaster Reduction to be held in Kobe, Japan, in January 2005; 33. Urges entities of the United Nations system, particularly those participating in the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, to examine, in cooperation with the Committee, how space science and technology and their applications could contribute to implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly in the areas relating to, inter alia, food security and increasing opportunities for education; 34. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to continue to contribute to the work of the Committee and to report to the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the work conducted at its annual session; 35. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, and agrees that during its consideration of the matter, the Committee could consider ways to promote regional and interregional cooperation based on experiences stemming from the Space Conference of the Americas and the role space technology could play in the implementation of recommendations of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 36. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider a report on the activities of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue as a part of its consideration of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee", and invites Member States to report on their activities regarding the System; 37. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-eighth session, its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 38. Also requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-eighth session, its agenda item entitled "Space and society" under the special theme for the focus of discussions for the period 2004-2006 entitled "Space and education", in accordance with the work plan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 239. 39. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider, at its forty-eighth session, its agenda item entitled "Space and water" and urges entities of the United Nations system and invites other intergovernmental entities dealing with issues relating to the use and management of water resources as well as space agencies to contribute to the work of the Committee by, inter alia, sharing their experience in the use of space-related technology for water resources management; 40. Also agrees that a symposium on space and archaeology should be held during the forty-eighth session of the Committee; 41. Notes that in accordance with the agreement reached by the Committee at its forty-sixth session on the measures relating to the future composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Ibid., annex II, paras. 4-9. on the basis of the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), annex II, appendix III. the Group of African States, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Group of Western European and Other States nominated their candidates for the offices of Second Vice-Chairman/Rapporteur of the Committee, Chairman of the Legal Subcommittee and Chairman of the Committee, respectively, for the period 2006-2007, at the forty-seventh session of the Committee, for its consideration; 42. Urges the Group of Asian States and the Group of Eastern European States to reach a consensus agreement on their candidates for the offices of Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the First Vice-Chairman of the Committee, respectively, before the forty-eighth session of the Committee; 43. Agrees that the Committee should reach agreement on all the officers of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the period 2006-2007 and that, for this purpose, the Committee should include in the agenda of its forty-eighth session an item on the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for that period; 44. Decides that the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Thailand shall become members of the Committee; 45. Requests the Committee to consider ways to improve participation in its work by member States and entities with observer status, with a view to agreeing on specific recommendations in that regard at its forty-eighth session; 46. Notes that each of the regional groups has responsibility to actively promote the participation in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies of the member States of the Committee that are also members of the respective regional group, and agrees that the regional groups should consider this Committee-related matter among their members; 47. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to consider at its twenty-fifth session, in 2005, the question of the enhancement of the participation of the entities of the United Nations system in the work of the Committee and its Subcommittees, and requests the Office for Outer Space Affairs, in its capacity as the secretariat of the Inter-Agency Meeting, to report to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee, at their sessions in 2005, on the outcome of the discussions of the Inter-Agency Meeting; 48. Agrees that the Legal Subcommittee should, at its forty-fourth session, address the level of participation of the entities having permanent observer status with the Committee and report to the Committee, at its forty-eighth session, on means of enhancing their participation in the work of the Legal Subcommittee; 49. Urges the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimension in space science and technology applications; 50. Requests entities of the United Nations system and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, to enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with reports on the issues dealt with in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies; 51. Requests the Committee to identify and consider new areas and mechanisms of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space to strengthen multilateralism, in accordance with the preamble to the present resolution, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, including its views on which subjects should be studied in the future. RESOLUTION 59/117 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/470, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 167 to 1, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Cameroon, Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu 59/117. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 58/91 of 9 December 2003, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware of the fact that, for more than five decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for more than fifty-four years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees in the fields of education, health and relief and social services, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/59/13). Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and living conditions, and the continuous deterioration of those conditions during the recent period, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the important role to be played in the peace process by the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and requests the Conciliation Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2005; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its operation and its services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals; 5. Decides to extend the mandate of the Agency until 30 June 2008, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III). RESOLUTION 59/118 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/470, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 162 to 6, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 59/118. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 58/92 of 9 December 2003,A/59/151. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/59/13). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been complied with, and stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its sixtieth session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/119 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/470, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 163 to 6, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea 59/119. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including resolution 58/93 of 9 December 2003, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/59/13). Taking note of the letter dated 30 September 2004 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Ibid., p. viii. Deeply concerned about the continuing critical financial situation of the Agency and its effect on the continuing provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency-related and development programmes, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457. Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely, in Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, Gravely concerned about the increased suffering of the Palestine refugees, including that resulting from loss of life, injury and extensive destruction and damage to their shelters and properties, during the ongoing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern about the grave impact of the events that occurred in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002, the Rafah refugee camp in May 2004 and the Jabaliya refugee camp in October 2004, including the loss of life, injury, destruction and displacement inflicted on many of the civilian inhabitants, Aware of the extraordinary efforts being undertaken by the Agency for the repair or rebuilding of thousands of damaged or destroyed refugee shelters, Aware also of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the endangerment of the safety of the Agency's staff and about the damage caused to facilities of the Agency as a result of Israeli military operations during the reporting period, Deploring the killing of twelve Agency staff members by the Israeli occupying forces since September 2000, Deploring also the killing and wounding of children in the Agency's schools by the Israeli occupying forces, Expressing deep concern about the continuing policies of closure and severe restrictions, including the curfews, that have been imposed on the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees and have greatly contributed to the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people, Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Agency's staff, vehicles and goods, the harassment and intimidation of the Agency's staff and the serious accusations made against the Agency, which proved to be unfounded, all of which undermine and obstruct the Agency's work, including its ability to provide its essential services, notably its education, health and relief and social services, Recalling the signing, on 13 September 1993, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the increasingly difficult conditions during the past year; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities, including the full implementation of Assembly decision 48/417 of 10 December 1993; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near EastA/59/442. and the efforts of the Working Group to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work; 4. Commends the continuing efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in the Agency's programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 13, addendum (A/58/13/Add.1). 5. Acknowledges the support provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 6. Welcomes the convening, on 7 and 8 June 2004, of the Geneva conference by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to increase support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency; 7. Encourages the Agency's further consideration of the needs and rights of children in its operations in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 8. Expresses concern about the temporary relocation of the headquarters international staff of the Agency from Gaza City and the disruption of operations at the headquarters; 9. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. 10. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 11. Urges the Government of Israel speedily to compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side, particularly during the reporting period; 12. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which affect the Agency's operations detrimentally; 13. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 14. Affirms that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all fields of operation; 15. Notes the success of the Agency's microfinance and microenterprise programme, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute to the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation; 16. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency through the Palestine Refugee Records Project, and to indicate the progress made in this regard in his report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 17. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the Agency and to contribute to the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; 18. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground, and to support the Agency's valuable work in assisting the Palestine refugees. RESOLUTION 59/11 Adopted at the 44th plenary meeting, on 28 October 2004, by a recorded vote of 179 to 4, with 1 abstention,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.2, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 59/11. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the Heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned at the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of regulations of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999, 55/20 of 9 November 2000, 56/9 of 27 November 2001, 57/11 of 12 November 2002 and 58/7 of 4 November 2003, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21, 55/20, 56/9, 57/11 and 58/7, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also at the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 58/7;A/59/302 (Parts I and II). 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 59/120 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/470, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 161 to 6, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 59/120. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 58/94 of 9 December 2003,A/59/279. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2003 to 31 August 2004,A/59/260, annex. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission and the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III), Recalling that, within the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/121 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/471, para. 27),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 84 to 9, with 80 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 59/121. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 58/96 of 9 December 2003, and the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Taking into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling in this regard General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuation of the tragic events that have taken place since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/59/381. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/59/338, A/59/339, A/59/343, A/59/344 and A/59/345. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Expressing the hope that the Israeli occupation will be brought to an early end and that therefore the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, and recalling in this regard its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period;See A/59/381. 4. Expresses grave concern about the continuing crisis situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, including extrajudicial executions, which has resulted in more than 3,400 Palestinian deaths, including those of more than 750 children, and tens of thousands of injuries; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners and detainees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 59/122 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/471, para. 27),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 160 to 7, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 59/122. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol IIbid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/59/381. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/59/338, A/59/339, A/59/343, A/59/344 and A/59/345. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and also recalling General Assembly resolution ES-10/15, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that Israel is in breach of several of the provisions of the Convention, Noting the convening for the first time, on 15 July 1999, of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, and aware of the statement adopted by the Conference, Welcoming the reconvening of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on 5 December 2001 in Geneva and stressing the importance of the Declaration adopted by the Conference, and underlining the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration, Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva ConventionsIbid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and as mentioned in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions of its tenth emergency special session, including resolution ES-10/15, with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/123 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/471, para. 27),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 155 to 8, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Kenya, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 59/123. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, as well as those resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Considering that the transfer by the occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies is a breach of the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol IIbid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Noting that the Court concluded that "the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law",Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 120. Taking note of the recent report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,See A/59/256. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and noting specifically its call for a freeze on all settlement activity, Aware that Israeli settlement activities have involved, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the exploitation of natural resources and other illegal actions against the Palestinian civilian population, Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of settlement activities, in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, including the construction and expansion of the settlements in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and Ras Al-Amud in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern also about the continuing unlawful construction by Israel of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressing its concern in particular about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, which could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement and which is causing the Palestinian people further humanitarian hardship, Deeply concerned that the wall's route has been traced in such a way as to include the great majority of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Reiterating its opposition to settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons and the de facto annexation of land, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Gravely concerned about the dangerous situation resulting from actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, Taking note of the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/59/338, A/59/339, A/59/343, A/59/344, A/59/345 and A/59/381. 1. Reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 4. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice;See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 5. Stresses the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 6. Reiterates its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence by Israeli settlers, especially against Palestinian civilians and property, particularly in the light of recent developments; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/124 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/471, para. 27),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 149 to 7, with 22 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Kenya, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 59/124. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, as well as those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/59/381. and the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/345. Taking note of the report of the Human Rights Inquiry Commission established by the Commission on Human RightsE/CN.4/2001/121. and the recent reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,See E/CN.4/2004/6 and Add.1 and A/59/256. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, and recalling in this regard its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva ConventionIbid., vol. 75, No. 973. under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Reaffirming that all States have the right and the duty to take actions in conformity with international law and international humanitarian law to counter deadly acts of violence against their civilian population in order to protect the lives of their citizens, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Concerned about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that arising from the excessive use of force, the use of collective punishment, the reoccupation and closure of areas, the confiscation of land, the establishment and expansion of settlements, the construction of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, the destruction of property and all other actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the military actions that have been carried out since 28 September 2000 and that have led to thousands of deaths among Palestinian civilians, including hundreds of children, and tens of thousands of injuries, Expressing deep concern about the extensive destruction caused by the Israeli occupying forces, including of religious, cultural and historical sites, of vital infrastructure and institutions of the Palestinian Authority, and of agricultural land throughout Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, Expressing deep concern also about the Israeli policy of closure and the severe restrictions, including curfews, that continue to be imposed on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, Expressing concern that thousands of Palestinians continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres under harsh conditions that impair their well-being, and also expressing concern about the ill-treatment and harassment of any Palestinian prisoners and all reports of torture, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting the Palestinian civilians and to help the parties to implement agreements reached, and, in this regard, recalling the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Stressing the necessity for the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, 1. Reiterates that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation and in breach of the Convention, including the extrajudicial executions; 3. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction of homes, properties, agricultural lands and vital infrastructure; 4. Expresses grave concern at the use of suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life and injury; 5. Condemns the events that occurred in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002, including the loss of life, injury, widespread destruction and displacement inflicted on many of its civilian inhabitants; 6. Condemns also the killing of Palestinian civilians and the widespread demolition of homes by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Rafah refugee camp in May 2004 and in the Jabaliya refugee camp in October 2004; 7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people, respect human rights law and comply with its obligations; 8. Demands also that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of JusticeSee A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and as demanded in resolution ES-10/15 and resolution ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, and that it cease the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, dismantle forthwith the structure situated therein, repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto, and make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall; 9. Stresses the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/125 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/471, para. 27),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 160 to 2, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Haiti, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu 59/125. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,See A/59/381. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 58/100 of 9 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 58/100,A/59/338. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening at Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 59/126 A and B Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/473, para. 12)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Committee on Information. 59/126. Questions relating to information A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/59/21). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/59/221 and Corr.1. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of CommunicationSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September-28 October 1980, vol. I, Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media. B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Reiterating its decision to consolidate the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Concurring with the view of the Secretary-General that the fundamental premise underlying the reorientation efforts of the Department of Public Information remains General Assembly resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, establishing the Department, which states in paragraph 2 of annex I that "the activities of the Department should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world", Concurring also with the view of the Secretary-General that the contents of public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations and that a culture of communications should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create broad-based global support for the United Nations, Stressing that the primary mission of the Department of Public Information is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive and timely information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, Noting that the comprehensive review of the work of the Department of Public Information, requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, and the implementation of its second phase, described in the report of the Secretary-General on reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session,A/AC.198/2003/2. as well as the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change",A/57/387 and Corr.1. and Assembly resolutions 57/300 of 20 December 2002 and 58/101 B of 9 December 2003, as they apply to the Department of Public Information, provide an opportunity to take further steps to rationalize the work of the Department in order to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness, and to maximize the use of its resources, Expressing its concern that the gap in the information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that vast segments of the population in developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and technology revolution, and, in this regard, underlining the necessity of rectifying the imbalances of the global information and technology revolution in order to make it more just, equitable and effective, Recognizing that developments in the information and communication technology revolution open vast new opportunities for economic growth and social development and can play an important role in the eradication of poverty in developing countries, and, at the same time, emphasizing that the revolution also poses challenges and risks and could lead to the further widening of disparities between and within countries, Recalling its resolution 56/262 of 15 February 2002 on multilingualism, and emphasizing the importance of making appropriate use of the official languages of the United Nations in the activities of the Department of Public Information, aiming to eliminate the disparity between the use of English and the five other official languages, Welcoming Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Switzerland to membership in the Committee on Information, I Introduction 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I), in which it established the Department of Public Information, and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions related to the activities of the Department; 2. Calls upon the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the Assembly; 3. Notes that the medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 6 and corrigendum (A/57/6/Rev.1 and Corr.1). continues to serve as a guideline that sets out the overall orientation of the public information programme for the Organization's goals through effective communication, and recalls its resolution 58/269 of 23 December 2003, entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change", in which it requested the Secretary-General to prepare, on a trial basis, for submission to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, a strategic framework to replace the current four-year medium-term plan; 4. Reaffirms that the United Nations remains the indispensable foundation of a peaceful and just world and that its voice must be heard in a clear and effective manner, and emphasizes the essential role of the Department of Public Information in this context; 5. Stresses the importance of clear and timely provision of information by the Secretariat to Member States, upon their request, within the framework of existing mandates and procedures, and encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to do so; 6. Reaffirms the central role of the Committee on Information in United Nations public information policies and activities, including the restructuring process of the Department of Public Information, and the prioritization of its activities, and welcomes the continued constructive interaction between the Department and the members of the Committee; 7. Calls upon Member States to ensure, to the extent possible, that recommendations relating to the programme of the Department of Public Information originate and are considered in the Committee on Information; 8. Requests the Department of Public Information, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly in the medium-term plan and using the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. as its guide, to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the needs of the African continent; 9. Also requests the Department of Public Information to pay attention to all major issues addressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals in carrying out its activities; 10. Concurs with the Secretary-General on the need to enhance the technological infrastructure of the Department of Public Information in order to widen its outreach and improve the United Nations web site; 11. Recognizes the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues, and encourages a continued collaboration between the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of culture and in the fields of education and communication; II General activities of the Department of Public Information 12. Notes the proposals and actions of the Secretary-General to improve the effective and targeted delivery of public information activities, including the restructuring of the Department of Public Information, in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information in this regard at its twenty-seventh session; 13. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the focal point for information policies of the United Nations and the primary news centre for information about the United Nations, its activities and those of the Secretary-General, and encourages a closer integration of functions between the Department and the office providing spokesman services for the Secretary-General; 14. Welcomes the recommendations of the Department of Public Information for developing a communications strategy to publicize the work and decisions of the General Assembly,See A/AC.198/2004/6. encourages the Department to establish a closer working relationship with the Office of the President of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report further on the progress achieved in, and the remaining challenges to, the implementation of those recommendations to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 15. Emphasizes the central role of the Committee on Information in making recommendations to the General Assembly on the mandate of the Department of Public Information, takes note of the reorientation exercise in enhancing the performance and effectiveness of the Department, which should be in accordance with the mandates established by the Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress achieved in this regard to the Committee at its twenty-seventh session; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, in the context of the reorientation process, to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations web site and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 17. Reiterates that all printed materials of the Department of Public Information, in accordance with existing mandates, should not duplicate other publications of the United Nations system and should be produced in a cost-effective manner; 18. Welcomes the reconstitution of the Publications Board, in accordance with existing legislative mandates, by the Department of Public Information; 19. Urges the Department of Public Information to continue to exhibit transparency to the greatest extent possible, so as to increase awareness of the impact of its programmes and activities; 20. Emphasizes that, through its reorientation, the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, including countries in transition, and that such reorientation contributes to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 21. Encourages the Secretary-General to strengthen the coordination between the Department of Public Information and other departments of the Secretariat, including the designation of focal points to work with substantive departments, in the context of its client-oriented approach, to identify target audiences and develop information programmes and media strategies for priority issues, and emphasizes that public information capacities and activities in other departments should function under the guidance of the Department; 22. Welcomes the initiatives that have been taken by the Department of Public Information to strengthen the public information system of the United Nations, and, in this regard, stresses the importance of a coherent and results-oriented approach being taken by the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the programmes and funds of the United Nations system involved in public information activities, as well as the provision of resources for their implementation, and that feedback from Member States on the relevance and effectiveness of its programme delivery should be taken into account; 23. Appreciates the continued efforts of the Department of Public Information in issuing daily press releases, and requests the Department to continue providing this invaluable service to both Member States and representatives of the media, while considering possible means of improving their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States; 24. Requests that during the deliberations on the item entitled "Questions relating to information" in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) during the successive regular sessions of the General Assembly, an informal interaction between the Secretariat and members of the Fourth Committee take place after the presentation by the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information on the substance of that oral briefing, within existing resources; Multilingualism and public information 25. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to enhance multilingualism in its activities, and encourages the Department to continue its endeavours in this regard; 26. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all activities of the Department of Public Information, and stresses the importance of fully implementing its resolution 52/214 of 22 December 1997, in section C of which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents, in all six official languages, and information materials of the United Nations are made available daily through the United Nations web site and are accessible to Member States without delay; 27. Recognizes the fact that the integration of the Official Document System with the United Nations web site, scheduled to take place during the fourth quarter of 2004, will significantly enhance the multilingual nature of the site by providing free, public access to all United Nations parliamentary documents in the six official languages; 28. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department of Public Information has appropriate staffing capacity in all official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities; 29. Reminds the Secretary-General of the need to include in future programme budget proposals for the Department of Public Information the importance of using all six official languages in its activities; Bridging the digital divide 30. Welcomes the holding of the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information Society from 10 to 12 December 2003, and looks forward to the second phase, to be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005; 31. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to contribute to raising the awareness of the international community of the importance of the World Summit on the Information Society and the need to join efforts to make it a success; 32. Recalls paragraph 32 of its resolution 58/101 B, welcomes the contribution of the Department of Public Information in publicizing the efforts of the Secretary-General to close the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gulf between developed and developing countries, and, in this context, requests the Department to further enhance its role; III New programmatic priorities for the Department of Public Information 33. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General on the proposed strategic framework for the period 2006-2007 concerning the programmatic aspects for the Department of Public Information;A/AC.198/2004/7. 34. Notes that the proposed strategic framework does not include the first part; 35. Notes also that the executive direction and management elements of the programme, as well as the details of performance measures (baselines and targets), external factors and outputs, together with resource requirements, will be reflected in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 36. Stresses the need to include in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, to the fullest extent possible, quantifiable and verifiable indicators for measuring expected accomplishments, so as to give a clear indication of the progress towards the accomplishment of objectives set; 37. Also stresses the importance of full compliance with all legislative mandates when preparing the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 38. Recommends that, in the last sentence of paragraph 1 in the Overall orientation section in the annex to the note by the Secretary-General on the proposed strategic framework for the period 2006-2007,A/AC.198/2004/7. the words "in particular, the legislative mandates included in the present biennial programme plan, as well as those of" be inserted after the words "General Assembly" and the word "and" be deleted; 39. Acknowledges that the Department of Public Information, with the assistance of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat, has developed an annual programme impact review to systematically evaluate its products and activities and that, as an initial step in a three-year project between the Department and the Office, the first annual programme impact review was completed in January 2004, as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/300 of 20 December 2002, and requests the Secretary-General to report further on the progress made to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 40. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information must prioritize its work programme while respecting existing mandates and in line with regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. to focus its message and concentrate its efforts better and, as a function of performance management, to match its programmes with the needs of its target audiences, on the basis of improved feedback and evaluation mechanisms; United Nations information centres 41. Reaffirms paragraph 15 of its resolution 57/300, in which it took note of the proposal of the Secretary-General contained in action 8 of his report,A/57/387 and Corr.1. to rationalize the network of United Nations information centres around regional hubs, where appropriate, in consultation with concerned Member States, starting with the creation of a Western European hub, followed by a similar approach in other high-cost developed countries, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a progress report on the implementation of the proposal with the objective of applying this initiative in other regions, in consultation with Member States, where this initiative will strengthen the flow and exchange of information in developing countries; 42. Welcomes the agreement between the Department of Public Information and the Western European countries to establish a regional United Nations information centre in Brussels; 43. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the rationalization of the network of United Nations information centres,A/AC.198/2004/3. stresses that the report could not, at the time it was written, fully address all aspects of the implementation of the rationalization of United Nations information centres in Western Europe and other high-cost developed countries, and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to report in detail to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 44. Stresses that the United Nations information centres and services and information components or regional hubs, as applicable, should play a significant role in disseminating information about the work of the Organization to the peoples of the world, including in the areas outlined in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and emphasizes that the information centres, or regional hubs, as applicable, as the "field voice" of the Department of Public Information, should promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in the local languages has the strongest impact on the local populations; 45. Also stresses the importance of taking into account the special needs and requirements of developing countries in the field of information and communications technology for the effective flow of information in those countries; 46. Affirms that the measures highlighted and objectives expressed in paragraphs 41 to 45 above are central to future rationalization of United Nations information centres, which must be carried out in consultation, on a case-by-case basis, with all concerned Member States in which existing information centres are located, the countries served by those information centres and other interested countries in the region, taking into consideration the distinctive characteristics of each region; 47. Requests the Secretariat, within the framework of the rationalization process, to extend the services of the United Nations information centres and regional United Nations information centres, where applicable, to those Member States currently outside the scope of the field information capacity of the Department of Public Information; 48. Requests the Secretary-General, within the framework of the rationalization process, to take into account the needs of Portuguese-speaking African countries and the offer made by the Government of Angola; 49. Recalls paragraph 39 of its resolution 58/270 of 23 December 2003, and welcomes, in this context, the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to the United Nations information centres with a view to transferring resources from information centres in developed countries to United Nations information activities in developing countries, emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries, and to any other activities of high priority, such as multilingualism on the web site and evaluation of services, in consultation with Member States concerned; 50. Encourages United Nations information centres and regional United Nations information centres, as applicable, to develop web pages in local languages, also encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to those information centres whose web pages are not yet operational, and further encourages host countries to respond to the needs of the information centres; 51. Recalls the appeal made by the Secretary-General to host countries of United Nations information centres to facilitate the work of the centres in their countries by providing rent-free or rent-subsidized premises, while taking into account the economic condition of the host countries and bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial resources for the information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 52. Notes the continuing support of the Department of Public Information in the consolidation of the United Nations field presences into United Nations houses, and requests the Secretary-General to report in detail on the progress made to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 53. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit progress reports on the implementation of the rationalization process to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions and to include in these reports information on the functioning of the Department's field capacity, including newly established regional United Nations information centres, where applicable, and United Nations information centres that have undergone the rationalization process; IV Strategic communications services 54. Notes paragraph 6 of the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications,A/AC.198/2004/2. and, in this context, reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the principal department responsible for the implementation of information strategies, as mandated; 55. Affirms the role of the strategic communications services in devising and disseminating United Nations messages by developing communications strategies, in close collaboration with the substantive departments, United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, in full compliance with the legislative mandates; Promotional campaigns 56. Recognizes that promotional campaigns aimed at supporting special sessions and international conferences of the United Nations are part of the core responsibility of the Department of Public Information, and welcomes the efforts of the Department to examine creative ways in which it can organize and implement these campaigns in partnership with the substantive departments concerned, using the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. as its guide; 57. Supports the efforts of the Department of Public Information, while ensuring respect for the priorities established by the General Assembly, to also focus its promotional campaigns on the major issues identified by the Secretary-General; 58. Appreciates the work of the Department of Public Information in promoting, through its campaigns, issues of importance to the international community, such as sustainable development, children, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and decolonization, as well as the dialogue among civilizations, culture of peace and tolerance and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and encourages the Department, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of these and other important global issues; 59. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to work within the United Nations Communications Group to coordinate the implementation of communication strategies with the heads of information of the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at successive sessions on the activities of the Group; 60. Stresses the need for the renewed emphasis in support of Africa's development, in particular by the Department of Public Information, in order to promote awareness in the international community of the nature of the critical economic and social situation in Africa and of the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. Role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping 61. Commends the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information for the establishment and functioning of the information components of peacekeeping operations and of political and peace-building missions of the United Nations, including its promotional efforts and other information support activities, and requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department from the planning stage of future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 62. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role in the selection process of spokespersons for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and, in this regard, encourages the Department to second spokespersons who have the necessary skills to fulfil the tasks of the operations or missions, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution in accordance with Chapter XV, Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and to consider views expressed, especially by host countries, when appropriate, in this regard; 63. Welcomes the actions taken by the Department of Public Information to increase its involvement in the planning stage of new or expanding peacekeeping operations, as well as the deployment of public information components in new missions, and also welcomes the improvements made to the peacekeeping portal on the United Nations web site; 64. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts in supporting the peacekeeping missions to further develop their web sites; 65. Regrets the information gap between the new realities and successes of peacekeeping operations, especially multidimensional and complex ones, and the public perceptions, as stated by the Secretary-General in his report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations,A/58/694, para. 56. and stresses the need for a comprehensive public information strategy on peacekeeping operations, undertaken in close coordination with other relevant departments, in order to overcome this gap and ensure a positive public impact; 66. Emphasizes the need for interdepartmental cooperation between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Public Information in order to develop the strategy requested in paragraph 65 above; 67. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping; Role of the Department of Public Information in strengthening dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace as means of enhancing understanding among nations 68. Recalls its resolutions 53/22 of 4 November 1998 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, 52/15 of 20 November 1997, by which it proclaimed 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, 53/25 of 10 November 1998, by which it proclaimed the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, encourages the Department of Public Information to provide the necessary support, within existing resources, for the dissemination of information pertaining to dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace and to take due steps in fostering the culture of dialogue among civilizations via all mass media, such as the Internet, print, radio and television, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report in this regard to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; V News services 69. Stresses that the central objective of the news services, implemented by the News and Media Division, is the timely delivery of accurate, objective and balanced news and information emanating from the United Nations system in all four mass media - print, radio, television and Internet - to the media and other audiences worldwide with the overall emphasis on multilingualism; Traditional means of communication 70. Also stresses that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, including development and peacekeeping, with a view to achieving a broad client base around the world; 71. Notes that the international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations has been made an integral part of the activities of the Department of Public Information, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure its success and to report on its activities to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 72. Requests the Secretary-General to pay full attention to the parity of the six official languages in expanding the international radio broadcasting capacity; 73. Notes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages, with the addition of Portuguese, as well as in other languages, where possible, and, in this regard, stresses the need for impartiality and objectivity concerning information activities of the United Nations; 74. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue building partnerships with local, national and regional broadcasters to extend the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in an accurate and impartial way; 75. Emphasizes that the United Nations Radio and Television Service should take full advantage of the technological infrastructure made available in recent years, including satellite platforms, information and communication technologies and the Internet, and requests the Secretary-General, as a part of the reorientation of the Department of Public Information, to consider a global strategy for broadcasting, taking into account existing technologies; United Nations web site 76. Reiterates its appreciation for the efforts of the Department of Public Information in creating a high-quality, user-friendly and cost-effective web site, noting that this is especially noteworthy considering the scope of the undertaking, the budget constraints within the United Nations and the remarkably rapid expansion of the World Wide Web, and reaffirms that the web site remains a very useful tool for the media, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, Member States and the general public; 77. Stresses the need for the Department of Public Information to take further necessary measures to ensure accessibility to the United Nations web site by persons with disabilities, including visual and hearing disabilities, calls upon the Department, as a first step, to make further efforts for all new and revised pages to adhere to the obligatory level of compliance with recognized industry standards regarding such accessibility and, within existing resources, to work towards compliance with all other levels of such standards, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session on progress made in this regard; 78. Notes that the multilingual development and enrichment of the United Nations web site has improved, although at a slower rate than expected owing to several constraints that need to be addressed, and, in this regard, encourages the Department of Public Information, in coordination with content-providing offices, to improve the actions undertaken to achieve parity among the six official languages on the United Nations web site; 79. Stresses the need to adopt a decision on the multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations web site, considering, inter alia, the possibility of organizational restructuring towards separate language units for each of the six official languages within the Department of Public Information, in order to achieve full parity among the official languages of the United Nations; 80. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure, until such a decision has been taken and implemented, to the extent possible and while maintaining an up-to-date and accurate web site, the equitable distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the United Nations web site among all official languages on a continuous basis, and to make every possible effort to ensure also that all materials contained on the web site that do not change and do not need regular maintenance are made available in all six official languages; 81. Reaffirms the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on the United Nations web sites, and, in this regard, takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General to translate all English materials and databases posted on the United Nations web sites by the respective content-providing offices of the Secretariat into all official languages,A/AC.198/2002/6, para. 33. and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session on the most practical, efficient and cost-effective means of implementing this proposal; 82. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session proposals relating to the designation of a date by which all supporting arrangements would be in place for the implementation of this concept, after which date parity would continue, as well as proposals relating to the exemption from translation of specific items on the United Nations web site; 83. Stresses the importance of access for the public to the United Nations Treaty Collection and United Nations parliamentary documentation; 84. Encourages the Department of Public Information to implement an e-mail service to inform subscribers of recent additions to the United Nations web site; 85. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the Department of Public Information, to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the expeditious dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by the General Assembly and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 86. Notes the gap among different official languages on United Nations web sites, and recognizes that some official languages use non-Latin and bidirectional scripts; 87. Recognizes that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations are based on Latin script, which leads to difficulties in processing non-Latin and bidirectional scripts, and encourages the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts, to the extent possible, to ensure that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations fully support Latin, non-Latin and bidirectional scripts so as to enhance the equality of all official languages on the United Nations web site; 88. Notes with satisfaction that access to the Official Document System of the United Nations will be provided free to the public by the end of 2004, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 89. Commends the Information Technology Services Division of the Office of Central Support Services of the Secretariat on its efforts to ensure that the required technological infrastructure is in place to accommodate the linkage of the Official Document System to the United Nations web site, and also commends the Department of Public Information for addressing issues of content management relating to that System; 90. Takes note of paragraph 56 of its resolution 58/270, in which it reaffirmed that the Official Document System of the United Nations, as an archival and retrieval system of official documents, should cover the entire Organization, and requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report requested in this regard to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 91. Welcomes the electronic mail-based United Nations News Service, distributed worldwide through e-mail by the Department of Public Information, and requests the Department to provide this service in all official languages, ensuring that news-breaking stories and news alerts are accurate, impartial and free of bias; 92. Also welcomes the inclusion of news e-mail services in the English and French languages and the Secretary-General's intention to include the other official languages in these services by 2004; 93. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to work within the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and other appropriate inter-agency bodies to establish a United Nations portal, an inter-agency search facility encompassing the public web sites of all United Nations system organizations, and requests the Secretary-General to report on this matter to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 94. Reiterates its request to the Department of Public Information to encourage all United Nations system entities to participate in the United Nations system search pilot project, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session on the activities of the High-Level Committee on Management in this regard; 95. Reaffirms paragraph 42 of its resolution 58/270, in which it requested the Secretary-General to strengthen the web site through further redeployment to the required language posts; VI Library services 96. Welcomes the progress reported by the Secretary-General in his report on the modernization and integrated management of United Nations libraries and in-depth review of library activities,A/AC.198/2004/4. in particular the efforts to fill gaps in the Official Document System of the United Nations, establish common standards for indexing, cataloguing and collection development, produce a common list of serials, eliminate duplication in the acquisition of electronic information, create joint web pages and assess the needs of the smaller libraries of the Organization; 97. Also welcomes the creation of the Steering Committee for the Modernization and Integrated Management of United Nations Libraries, and commends the Steering Committee for its coordinating role and initial organizational efforts and for reaching agreement on an impressive programme of work; 98. Acknowledges that the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, as part of the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information, endeavours to facilitate access to timely and up-to-date library products and services for use by delegates, permanent missions of Member States, the Secretariat, researchers and depository libraries worldwide, notes the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General to make the Library a virtual library with world outreach, reiterates the need to enable the provision of hard copies to Member States, subject to the relevant provisions of its resolution 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, and also notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to enrich, on a multilingual basis, the stock of books and journals in the Library, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, in order to ensure that the Library continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 99. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to lead the Steering Committee, encourages the member libraries of the Steering Committee to coordinate closely and to establish time frames for fulfilment of its programme of work, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the activities of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the work of the Steering Committee; 100. Takes note of paragraph 50 of its resolution 58/270, in which it requested the Secretary-General to conduct, through the Office of Internal Oversight Services, a review of the operation and management of United Nations libraries, with a view to assessing staffing requirements for those libraries in the light of technological advances in the delivery of information services, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, and requests the Secretary-General to transmit that report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session; 101. Recognizes the importance of the depository libraries in disseminating information and knowledge about United Nations activities, and, in this connection, urges the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in its capacity as the focal point, to take the initiatives necessary to strengthen such libraries by providing regional training and other assistance; 102. Notes the holding of training courses conducted by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library for the representatives of Member States and Secretariat staff on the use of Cyberseek, web search, the Intranet, United Nations documentation, United Nations Info Quest and the Official Document System of the United Nations; 103. Recalls paragraph 44 of its resolution 56/64 B of 24 December 2001, in which it welcomed the role of the Department of Public Information in fostering increased collaboration among libraries of the United Nations system, particularly in establishing one central system-wide online catalogue that would allow for the searching of the bibliographic records of all print holdings of all United Nations system libraries, commends the International Computing Centre for developing the United Nations System Shared Cataloguing and Public Access System, which provides a single point of access to library catalogues, indexes and abstract databases, library holdings, links to full-text resources and archives, also commends the Department for its role in the development of the United Nations System Shared Cataloguing and Public Access System, requests the Department to encourage all United Nations system organizations to participate in the System, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session in this regard; 104. Notes with appreciation the operation of a common library in Nairobi within existing resources, in line with the approach set out in paragraph 37 of the Secretary-General's report on the modernization and integrated management of United Nations libraries and in-depth review of library activities,A/AC.198/2004/4. and urges all United Nations offices in Nairobi to participate in and support this venture; VII Outreach services 105. Acknowledges that the outreach services, implemented by the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information, continue to work towards promoting awareness of the role and work of the United Nations on priority issues; 106. Notes the importance of the continued implementation by the Department of Public Information of the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries in transition, as mandated by the General Assembly, and encourages the Department to consider how best to maximize the benefits derived from the programme by reviewing, inter alia, its duration and the number of its participants; 107. Recognizes the need for the Department of Public Information to increase its outreach services in all regions, and reiterates the need to include, in the reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications, an analysis of the present reach and scope of the activities of the Department, identifying the widest possible spectrum of audiences and geographical areas that are not covered adequately and that may require special attention, including the appropriate means of communication and bearing in mind local language requirements; 108. Welcomes the movement towards educational outreach and the orientation of the UN Chronicle, both print and online editions, to this end; 109. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to strengthen its role as a focal point for two-way interaction with civil society relating to the priorities and concerns of the Organization; 110. Congratulates the United Nations Correspondents Association on its Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Scholarship Fund, which sponsors journalists from developing countries to come to the United Nations Headquarters and report on the activities during the General Assembly, and urges donors to extend financial support to the Fund so that it may increase the number of such scholarships to journalists in this context; 111. Notes that the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations will be observed in 2005, and requests the Department of Public Information to take necessary measures to publicize the occasion in every way possible, stressing the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and highlighting the accomplishments of the Organization in the past six decades; VIII Final remarks 112. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-seventh session and to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 113. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 114. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 59/127 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/474, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 172 to none, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/127. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 58/102 of 9 December 2003, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/71. 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned to transmit or continue to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. RESOLUTION 59/128 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/475, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 173 to 3, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: France, Haiti, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 59/128. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23), chap. V. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of the peoples of those Territories over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Affirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Reiterates that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, are a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to the mass media, trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/129 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/476, para. 6),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 121 to none, with 57 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/129. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/64. and the report of the Economic and Social CouncilE/2004/47. on the item, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23), chap. VI. Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/51 of 24 July 2003, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the current participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded programmes of assistance for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling General Assembly resolution 58/104 of 9 December 2003 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/64. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions; 4. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) The illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the continuing initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 13. Encourages Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies; 14. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 15. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 17. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for the coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 18. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/12 Adopted at the 46th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/448, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/12. Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council: United Nations support to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/294 of 18 June 2004, in which it authorized a commitment authority in the amount of 6 million United States dollars for the United Nations support to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security CouncilA/58/886. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/411 and Corr.1. 1. Takes note of the revised requirements for the United Nations support to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission for the period from 1 June to 31 December 2004, which amount to 5,419,300 dollars; 2. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/411 and Corr.1. and approves the charging of 5,419,300 dollars against the unallocated balance of funds appropriated under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, for special political missions; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that budget presentations for special political missions, to the extent possible, utilize the format of peacekeeping operations and contain information and justification for proposals for post and non-post requirements, subject to the considerations of timeliness and the need for expeditious financing action. RESOLUTION 59/130 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/477, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 59/130. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/105 of 9 December 2003, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/59/74. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/74. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/131 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/478, para. 38),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Cuba, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 50 to none, with 100 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, South Africa, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Yemen 59/131. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 58/109 of 9 December 2003, Recalling also all resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the question of Western Sahara, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Security Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara,See S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. Recalling Security Council resolutions 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001 and 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002, as well as resolution 1495 (2003) of 31 July 2003, in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western SaharaS/2003/565 and Corr.1, annex II. as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties, and resolution 1541 (2004) of 29 April 2004, Taking note of the responses of the parties and neighbouring States to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, concerning the peace plan, contained in the report of the Secretary-General of 23 May 2003,S/2003/565 and Corr.1. Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in accordance with the proposal made by the Secretary-General,See A/58/171. and stressing the importance it attaches to the maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan, Underlining, in this regard, the validity of the settlement plan, while noting the fundamental differences between the parties in its implementation, Stressing that the lack of progress in the settlement of the dispute on Western Sahara continues to cause suffering to the people of Western Sahara, remains a source of potential instability in the region and obstructs the economic development of the Maghreb region and that, in view of this, the search for a political solution is critically needed, Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General in search of a mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23), chap. VIII. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/134. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/134. 2. Underlines Security Council resolution 1495 (2003), in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties; 3. Continues to support strongly the efforts of the Secretary-General in order to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute over Western Sahara; 4. Commends the Secretary-General for his outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provide for those efforts; 5. Calls upon all the parties and the States of the region to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara; 7. Calls upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross in its efforts to solve the problem of the fate of the people unaccounted for, and calls upon the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release without further delay all those held since the start of the conflict; 8. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 9. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/132 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/478, para. 38)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 59/132. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23), chap. VIII. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia as exemplified by the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 by the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and also those provisions of the Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment; 4. Also notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, according to their regulations; 5. Further notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 6. Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 7. Calls upon the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of New Caledonia to the Secretary-General; 8. Invites all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights and identity of all the sectors of the population, according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 9. Welcomes measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 10. Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 11. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous Kanak culture of New Caledonia; 12. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia; 13. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 14. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 15. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/133 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/478, para. 38)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 59/133. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Tokelau,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23), chap. X. Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Noting also with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Recalling the inauguration in 1999 of a national legislative body, the General Fono, based on village elections by universal adult suffrage and the assumption by that body in June 2003 of full responsibility for the Tokelau budget, Recalling also the report of the United Nations mission dispatched in August 2002 to Tokelau at the invitation of the Government of New Zealand and the representatives of Tokelau,A/AC.109/2002/31. Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and that, as a case study pointing to successful cooperation for decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, Recalling that New Zealand and Tokelau signed in November 2003 a document entitled "Joint statement of the principles of partnership", which sets out in writing, for the first time, the rights and obligations of the two partner countries, Recalling also the decision of the General Fono at its meeting in November 2003, following extensive consultations undertaken in all three villages, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Welcomes the substantial progress made in the past year towards the devolution of power to the three taupulega (village councils), in particular the delegation of the Administrator's powers to the three taupulega with effect from 1 July 2004 and the assumption by each taupulega from that date of full responsibility for the management of all its public services; 3. Notes in particular the decision of the General Fono in November 2003, following extensive consultations in all three villages and a meeting of the Special Committee on the Constitution of Tokelau, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association, and the discussions now under way between Tokelau and New Zealand pursuant to the General Fono decision; 4. Notes that the General Fono has endorsed a series of recommendations of the workshop of the Special Committee on the Constitution held in Tokelau in October 2003 with the support of the United Nations Development Programme relating to Tokelau's Constitution, the role and functioning of the General Fono, the judicial system and international human rights conventions; 5. Acknowledges Tokelau's initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2002-2004 to advance its capacity for self-government; 6. Also acknowledges the continuing assistance that New Zealand has committed to promoting Tokelau's self-government as well as the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme; 7. Further acknowledges Tokelau's need for continued reassurance, given the cultural adjustments that are taking place with the strengthening of its capacity for self-government and, since local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self-determination, the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau's external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance; 8. Welcomes the establishment of an international trust fund to support Tokelau's future development needs, and urges all Member States and international and regional agencies to contribute to the fund and thereby lend practical support to assist this emerging country in overcoming the problems of smallness, isolation and lack of resources; 9. Welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 10. Also welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and territories in the region towards Tokelau, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 11. Further welcomes Tokelau's associate membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its recent accession to membership in the Forum Fisheries Agency; 12. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures in the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution; 13. Notes with satisfaction the invitation of the Ulu o Tokelau to the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to attend the workshop of the Special Committee on the Constitution to be held in October 2004 in the Tokelau Islands; 14. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTIONS 59/134 A and B Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/478, para. 38)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 59/134. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23), chap. IX. Recalling all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and other resolutions of the Assembly, Recalling General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV), containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing its concern that more than forty-three years after the adoption of the Declaration there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,See A/56/61, annex. Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Taking note of the stated position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Non-Self-Governing Territories under its administration,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Fourth Committee, 2nd meeting (A/C.4/58/SR.2), and corrigendum. Taking note also of the stated position of the Government of the United States of America on the Non-Self-Governing Territories under its administration,Ibid., Plenary Meetings, 72nd meeting (A/58/PV.72), and corrigendum. Noting the constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories about which the Special Committee has received information, Aware of the usefulness both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, under the supervision of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained, Aware of the importance of international financial services for the economies of some of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the local and regional levels, including their participation in the work of regional organizations, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, and considering the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers, Mindful also that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to embark actively on a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining an understanding of the options of self-determination, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in their success, while recognizing the need for reviewing the role of those seminars in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that, by holding a Pacific regional seminar in Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 18 to 20 May 2004, the Special Committee was able to hear the views of the representatives of the Territories and Member States as well as organizations and experts in the region, in order to review the political, economic and social conditions in the Territories, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation and, in this connection, bearing in mind the programmes of action of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference. the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction,See A/CONF.172/9, chap. I. the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,See Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II),Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and other relevant world conferences, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Reaffirms also that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions; 3. Reaffirms further that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection reiterates its long-standing call for the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to promote political education in the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 4. Requests the administering Powers to continue to transmit to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter; 5. Stresses the importance of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples being apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their respective administering Powers; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to follow closely the developments in legislation in the area of international financial services and its impact on the economy in some of the Territories; 8. Requests the Territories and the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories under their administration against any environmental degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in those Territories; 9. Welcomes the participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in regional activities, including the work of regional organizations; 10. Stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,See A/56/61, annex. in particular by expediting the application of the work programme for the decolonization of each Non-Self-Governing Territory, on a case-by-case basis; 11. Invites the administering Powers to participate fully in the work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration; 12. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 13. Notes that some Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by one administering Power, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, namely, of amending or enacting legislation for the Territories through Orders in Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power; 14. Takes note of the constitutional reviews in the Territories administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and led by the territorial Governments; 15. Reiterates its requests to the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of decolonization resolutions since the proclamation of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism for the purpose of a midterm review in 2005; 16. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session with recommendations on appropriate ways to assist the peoples of the Territories in exercising their right to self-determination. B Individual Territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the report by the administering Power that most American Samoan leaders express satisfaction with the Territory's present relationship with the United States of America, as reflected in statements made by those leaders in the regional seminars held in Havana, Cuba, Nadi, Fiji, and Madang, Papua New Guinea, in 2001, 2002 and 2004, respectively, Noting that the Government of the Territory continues to take steps to increase revenue and decrease government expenditure, Noting also that the Territory, similar to isolated communities with limited funds, continues to experience a lack of adequate medical and other infrastructural facilities, 1. Notes that the Department of the Interior of the United States of America provides that the Secretary of the Interior has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa; 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the Government of the Territory, and welcomes the assistance from the administering Power to the Territory in its recovery efforts following the recent floods; 3. Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the Governor of American Samoa at the Pacific regional seminar held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 18 to 20 May 2004, to send a visiting mission to the Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission and requests the Chairman of the Special Committee to take all the necessary steps to that end; II Anguilla Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Recalling the holding of the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, the first time that the seminar has been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, Noting the desire of the territorial Government and the people of Anguilla for a visiting mission by the Special Committee, Aware of the efforts of the Government of Anguilla to continue to develop the Territory as a viable offshore centre and well-regulated financial centre for investors by enacting modern company and trust laws, as well as partnership and insurance legislation, and computerizing the company registry system, 1. Welcomes the constitutional review process led by the Government of Anguilla in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Recalls the cooperation of the territorial Government of Anguilla and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in holding the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, and notes that the staging of the seminar in a Non-Self-Governing Territory for the first time, as well as a town hall meeting between the people of Anguilla and the Special Committee during the seminar, contributed to its success; III Bermuda Noting the results of the independence referendum held on 16 August 1995, and conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties of the Territory on the future status of the Territory, 1. Welcomes the agreement reached in June 2002 between the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Territory formally transferring the former military base lands to the territorial Government, and the provision of financial resources to address some of the environmental problems; 2. Decides to closely follow the territorial consultations on the future status of Bermuda and to facilitate assistance to the Territory in a public educational programme, if requested, as well as to hold consultations and to make all necessary arrangements to have a visiting mission to the Territory; IV British Virgin Islands Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, Welcomes the constitutional review process led by the Government of the British Virgin Islands in cooperation with the administering Power; V Cayman Islands Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Noting the approval by the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Territory's Vision 2008 Development Plan, which aims to promote development that is consistent with the aims and values of Caymanian society, Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of the Cayman Islands in cooperation with the administering Power; VI Guam Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established the process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Aware of the potential for diversifying and developing the economy of Guam through commercial fishing and agriculture and other viable activities, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam,See A/AC.109/2058, para. 33 (20). 1. Calls upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 2. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory; 4. Further requests the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 5. Requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 6. Also requests the administering Power to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial Government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities; VII Montserrat Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the Chief Minister of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003, Noting with concern the dire consequences of the volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory's population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, in particular Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and which continues to have enduring consequences for the economy of the island, Welcoming the continued assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the continuing efforts of the administering Power to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption, Noting with concern that a number of the inhabitants of the Territory continue to live in shelters because of volcanic activity, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, 1. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; 2. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of Montserrat in cooperation with the administering Power; VIII Pitcairn Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Welcoming the participation of a representative of the Mayor of Pitcairn in the Pacific regional seminar, held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 18 to 20 May 2004, and taking note of the positive developments in the Territory, Requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; IX Saint Helena Taking into account the unique character of Saint Helena, its population and its natural resources, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of Saint Helena, in particular in the sphere of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of Saint Helena in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Requests the administering Power and relevant international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the limited transport and communications problems; X Turks and Caicos Islands Noting the results of the general elections held in April 2003, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration and the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands in cooperation with the administering Power; XI United States Virgin Islands Noting the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the pending request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed, as well as the 2003 resolution of the territorial legislature in support of that request, Noting also the necessity of further diversifying the economy of the Territory, Noting further the efforts of the Government of the Territory to promote the Territory as an offshore financial services centre, Recalling that the Territory has not received a United Nations visiting mission since 1977, and bearing in mind the formal request of the Territory for such a mission in 1993 to assist the Territory in its political education process and to observe the Territory's only referendum on political status options in its history, Noting the ongoing cooperation between the territorial Government and Denmark on the exchange of artefacts and archives, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 2. Once again requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 3. Calls for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories; 4. Notes the economic difficulties being experienced by the territorial Government and the fiscal austerity measures being implemented, and others proposed, to relieve the Territory's cash flow shortage, and calls upon the administering Power to continue to provide every assistance required by the Territory to further alleviate the difficult economic situation, including, inter alia, the provision of debt relief and loans; 5. Notes also the position of the territorial Government, including its articulation in resolution 1609 of 9 April 2001 of the 24th Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands, opposing the assumption by the administering Power of submerged land in territorial waters, having regard to relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the ownership and control of natural resources, including marine resources, by the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and its calls for the return of those marine resources within its jurisdiction. RESOLUTION 59/135 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/478, para. 38),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 170 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: France 59/135. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23), chap. III. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular Assembly resolution 58/110 of 9 December 2003, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches to reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to achieving the goals of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 2. Considers it important to continue its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options for self-determination available to the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to take into account the suggestions of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To continue to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To maintain a working relationship with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, by holding periodic consultations and exchanging information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to continue to extend their cooperation in the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 5. Requests the Special Committee to follow the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/136 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/478, para. 38),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Congo, Cuba, Mali, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia and Syrian Arab Republic. by a recorded vote of 167 to 2, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Belgium, France, Germany, Israel 59/136. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23). Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, the most recent of which was resolution 58/111 of 9 December 2003, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the United Nations and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism before 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with satisfaction the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, and encouraging the others also to do so, Taking note of the fact that the Special Committee held a Pacific regional seminar on advancing the decolonization process in the Pacific region at Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 18 to 20 May 2004,Ibid., chap. II, annex. 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/59/23). including the programme of work envisaged for 2005; 6. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to finalize before the end of 2005 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 7. Welcomes the progress made in the ongoing consultations between the Special Committee and New Zealand, as administering Power for Tokelau, with the participation of representatives of the people of Tokelau, as evidenced by the decision of the General Fono of Tokelau in November 2003 to actively explore with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association; 8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To finalize before the end of 2005 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting missions to the Non- Self-Governing Territories in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 54/91. 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the economic activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests the administering Powers to take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 13. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 14. Calls upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2005; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 59/137 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.45 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, Rwanda, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia 59/137. Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Recalling the findings and recommendations of the independent inquiry commissioned by the Secretary-General, with the approval of the Security Council, into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,See S/1999/1257. Recalling also the report containing the findings and recommendations of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities commissioned by the Organization of African Unity to investigate the genocide in Rwanda and the surrounding events, entitled "Rwanda: The Preventable Genocide", Recalling further its resolution 58/234 of 23 December 2003, by which it declared 7 April 2004 the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, Noting decision EX.CL/Dec.154 (V) on the report of the Chairperson of the African Union on the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, adopted by the Executive Council of the African Union at its fifth ordinary session, held in Addis Ababa from 30 June to 3 July 2004, Recognizing the numerous difficulties faced by survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly the orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence, who are poorer and more vulnerable as a result of the genocide, especially the many victims of sexual violence who have contracted HIV and have since either died or become seriously ill with AIDS, Firmly convinced of the necessity to restore the dignity of the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which would help to promote reconciliation and healing in Rwanda, Commending the tremendous efforts of the Government and people of Rwanda and civil society organizations, as well as international efforts, to provide support for restoring the dignity of the survivors, including the allocation by the Government of Rwanda of 5 per cent of its national budget every year to support genocide survivors, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to encourage the relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to continue to work with the Government of Rwanda in developing and implementing programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable groups that continue to suffer from the effects of the 1994 genocide, in alleviating poverty, disease and suffering and in promoting development in Rwanda; 2. Invites the relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to continue to develop and implement those programmes, utilizing existing resources and encouraging the mobilization of additional voluntary contributions; 3. Invites agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to ensure that assistance is provided in the specific areas identified as priorities by the Government of Rwanda, notably education for orphans, medical care and treatment for victims of sexual violence, including HIV-positive victims, trauma and psychological counselling for genocide survivors and skills training and microcredit programmes aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and alleviating poverty; 4. Encourages all Member States to seriously consider promoting the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the independent inquiry into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,See S/1999/1257. and also encourages all Member States to provide assistance to genocide survivors and other vulnerable groups in Rwanda in support of the present resolution; 5. Expresses its appreciation for development assistance and support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, and calls upon Member States to continue to support the development of Rwanda, inter alia, through programmes under the poverty reduction strategy; 6. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation of the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence, to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the present resolution, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/138 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.25 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago 59/138. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/8 of 16 October 1991, 49/141 of 20 December 1994, 51/16 of 11 November 1996, 53/17 of 29 October 1998, 55/17 of 7 November 2000 and 57/41 of 21 November 2002, Bearing in mind the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action and other activities consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Bearing in mind also the assistance given by the United Nations towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Caribbean region, Recalling the signing, on 27 May 1997, by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community of a cooperation agreement between the secretariats of the two organizations, Noting with satisfaction that the third general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system was held in New York on 12 and 13 April 2004, Bearing in mind that, in its resolutions 54/225 of 22 December 1999, 55/203 of 20 December 2000 and 57/261 of 20 December 2002, it recognized the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, Bearing in mind also that in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, Heads of State and Government resolved to address the special needs of small island developing States by implementing the Barbados Programme of ActionProgramme of Action for Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II). and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General AssemblySee resolution S-22/2. rapidly and in full, Noting that the World Summit for Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, considered the specific issues and problems facing small island developing States, and noting that a special meeting to review the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action, will be convened in Mauritius in January 2005, Noting also that the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly in resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001 recognized the Caribbean region as having the second-highest rate of infection after sub-Saharan Africa and that the region therefore needs special attention and assistance from the international community, Noting further that the Caribbean region has been hard hit, and in some cases devastated, by hurricanes in 2004, and concerned that their frequency, intensity and destructive power pose a challenge to the development endeavours of the region, Affirming the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between entities of the United Nations system and the Caribbean Community in the areas of economic and social development, as well as the areas of political and humanitarian affairs, Convinced of the need for the coordinated utilization of available resources to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/59/303. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/303. in particular section IV on the Caribbean Community, as well as efforts to strengthen cooperation; 2. Calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in association with the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, as well as the relevant regional organizations, to continue to assist in furthering the development and maintenance of peace and security within the Caribbean region; 3. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community in order to increase the capacity of the two organizations to attain their objectives; 4. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community in order to initiate, maintain and increase consultations and programmes with the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions in the attainment of their objectives, with special attention to the areas and issues identified at the third general meeting, as set out in the report of the Secretary-General, as well as in resolutions 54/225, 55/203, 55/2 and S-26/2 and the decision of the World Summit on Sustainable Development on the sustainable development of small island developing States;See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2. 5. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system as well as Member States to increase financial and other assistance to the countries of the Caribbean Community to help to implement the priorities of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan of Action, which sets out realistic targets for reducing the rate of new infections, raising the quality and coverage of care, treatment and support and building institutional capacity, and to cope with the problems and the burden caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic; 6. Invites the Secretary-General to consider utilizing a strategic programming framework modality to strengthen the coordination and cooperation between the two secretariats as well as between the United Nations field offices and the Caribbean Community; 7. Calls upon the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to assist the countries of the Caribbean, in particular those in greatest need, such as Grenada and Haiti, in their rebuilding efforts after the hurricane damage of 2004; 8. Welcomes the initiatives of Member States in assisting in the cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community, and encourages their continuing efforts; 9. Recommends that the fourth general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system be held in the Caribbean in early 2006 in order to review and appraise progress in the implementation of the agreed areas and issues and to hold consultations on such additional measures and procedures as may be required to facilitate and strengthen cooperation between the two organizations; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community". RESOLUTION 59/139 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 10 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.31 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 59/139. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the Agreement between the Council of Europe and the Secretariat of the United Nations signed on 15 December 1951 and the Arrangement on Cooperation and Liaison between the secretariats of the United Nations and the Council of Europe of 19 November 1971, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe,A/59/303, part one, sect. V. 1. Reiterates its appreciation for the ongoing fruitful cooperation between the United Nations and its agencies and the Council of Europe, including its Commissioner for Human Rights and its partial and enlarged agreements, both at the level of headquarters and in the field; 2. Notes the constructive interest of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in the reform process of the United Nations, including its willingness to contribute to the discussion on how to give a parliamentary dimension to the world Organization; 3. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations to continue exploring, with the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, possibly by arranging a meeting of representatives of the two organizations in the light of the outcome of the Third Summit of the Council of Europe, possibilities for further enhancement of cooperation between the organizations; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe in general and, in particular, the results of the efforts referred to in paragraph 3 above to explore possibilities for further cooperation between the two organizations. RESOLUTION 59/13 Adopted at the 46th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/531, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 59/13. Financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor,A/58/636 and A/59/290. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/384. Recalling Security Council resolution 1272 (1999) of 25 October 1999 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Transitional Administration, the last of which was resolution 1392 (2002) of 31 January 2002, by which the mandate was extended until 20 May 2002, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1410 (2002) of 17 May 2002, by which the Council established the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor as of 20 May 2002 for an initial period of twelve months, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1543 (2004) of 14 May 2004, by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission for a period of six months, with a view to subsequently extending the mandate for a further and final period of six months, until 20 May 2005, Recalling further its resolution 54/246 A of 23 December 1999 on the financing of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and its subsequent resolutions on the financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor, the latest of which was resolution 58/260 B of 18 June 2004, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission and to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Taking note of the views expressed by Member States,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Fifth Committee, 13th meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.13), and corrigendum. 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor as at 30 September 2004, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 74.8 million United States dollars, representing some 4 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-three Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Transitional Administration and the Mission in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/384. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation, in particular: (a) That the staffing of the Serious Crimes Unit will be further adjusted after the completion of the investigations to be commensurate with such residual tasks as it may have once the investigations have been completed; (b) That the Mission, to the extent possible, recruit National Officers and national General Service staff locally to fill international Professional and General Service posts; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the above-mentioned paragraphs of the present resolution in the context of his performance report; 10. Endorses the view of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in paragraph 31 of its reportA/59/384. that the position of Force Commander should be classified at the D-1 level, but authorizes the Secretary-General, as an exceptional measure and without prejudice to other peacekeeping missions, to maintain the incumbent at the D-2 level given the difficulties in recruiting a replacement owing to the short time remaining until the completion of the Mission; 11. Emphasizes that the Serious Crimes Unit should complete all investigations by November 2004 and should conclude trials and other activities as soon as possible and no later than 20 May 2005; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to measure the accomplishments of the Mission fully in accordance with Security Council resolution 1543 (2004); Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 13. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial performance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003;A/58/636. Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 14. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor the amount of 85,153,700 dollars for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, inclusive of the amount of 30,485,600 dollars previously authorized by the General Assembly for the Mission for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2004 under the terms of its resolution 58/260 B, and comprising the amount of 77,071,800 dollars for the period from 1 July 2004 to 20 May 2005 for the maintenance of the Mission and the amount of 8,081,900 dollars for the commencement of the liquidation activities of the Mission for the period from 21 May to 30 June 2005; Financing of the appropriation 15. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 30,485,600 dollars already apportioned under the terms of its resolution 58/260 B, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 3,530,657 dollars for the Mission for the period from 1 July to 20 November 2004, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolutions 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and updated in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 16. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 287,709 dollars, representing the estimated additional staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 1 July to 20 November 2004; 17. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 43,055,543 dollars for the period from 21 November 2004 to 20 May 2005, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 15 above and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004 and 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission; 18. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 17 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 3,004,991 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 21 November 2004 to 20 May 2005; 19. Decides further to apportion among Member States the amount of 8,081,900 dollars for the Mission for the period from 21 May to 30 June 2005, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 15 above and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B; 20. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 19 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 382,900 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 21 May to 30 June 2005; 21. Decides also that for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, there shall be set off against their apportionment, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the total amount of 14,583,900 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2003, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 and its resolution 57/290 A of 20 December 2002, taking into account the scale of assessments for 2003 as set out in its resolutions 55/5 B of 23 December 2000 and 57/4 B of 20 December 2002; 22. Decides further that for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, there shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the total amount of 14,583,900 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2003, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 21 above; 23. Decides that the decrease of 181,300 dollars in the estimated staff assessment income in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2003 shall be set off against the credits from the amount referred to in paragraphs 21 and 22 above; 24. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 25. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 26. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 27. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor". RESOLUTION 59/140 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.42 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 59/140. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 37/248 of 21 December 1982 and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions and decisions on the promotion of cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community, including resolution 57/44 of 21 November 2002 and decision 56/443 of 21 December 2001, Welcoming the adoption of its resolution 59/49 of 2 December 2004, in which it decided to invite the Community to participate in its sessions and its work in the capacity of observer, Commending States members of the Community for demonstrating continued commitment to deeper and more formal arrangements for cooperation among themselves towards regional integration, Recognizing the continued efforts to strengthen democracy, good governance, sound economic management, human rights and the rule of law and the consolidation of peace, including the adoption at the annual summit of the Community, held in Mauritius on 16 and 17 August 2004, of the Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, Noting with concern the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has reached crisis proportions in the region, and the high prevalence of communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, which are having far-reaching social and economic consequences, Noting the continued efforts of the Community to make Southern Africa a landmine-free zone, Expressing concern about the very difficult humanitarian situation in countries of the region, Welcoming the launch by the Community of the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation in August 2004 as an enabling instrument for the implementation of the development agenda embodied in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan of the Community, Recognizing the important role that women play in the development of the region, Recognizing also the important role of civil society and the private sector in the development of the region, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations;A/59/303. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations funds and programmes as well as the international community for the financial, technical and material support given to the Southern African Development Community; 3. Expresses its support for the economic reforms being implemented by States members of the Community, in pursuance of their shared vision of creating a strengthened regional economic community through deeper economic integration; 4. Calls upon the international community to strengthen support for the measures taken by the Community in addressing HIV/AIDS, including commitments on the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. as well as support for the implementation of the Maseru Declaration on the Fight against HIV/AIDS; 5. Appeals to the United Nations, its related bodies and the international community to assist and support the Community in its efforts against landmines; 6. Appeals to the international community and to relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to continue providing financial, technical and material assistance to the Community to support its efforts to fully implement the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as well as towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; 7. Calls upon the international community to support the efforts of the Community in capacity-building and in addressing the new challenges, opportunities and consequences presented to the economies in the region arising from the process of globalization and liberalization; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Community, to enhance contacts aimed at promoting and harmonizing further cooperation between the United Nations and the Community; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community. RESOLUTION 59/141 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.49 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/141. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/93-E/2004/74. Reaffirming the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Recognizing that independence, meaning the autonomy of humanitarian objectives from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented, is also an important guiding principle for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Gravely concerned that violence, including sexual abuse and sexual and other violence against women, girls and boys, continues to be, in many emergency situations, deliberately directed against civilian populations, Gravely concerned also about the lack of access by humanitarian personnel to victims of humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflict and in post-conflict situations, in many regions of the world, Reaffirming the responsibility first and foremost of States to take care of the victims of humanitarian emergencies within their own borders, while recognizing that the magnitude and duration of many emergencies may be beyond the response capacity of many affected countries, Reaffirming also that States whose populations are in need of humanitarian assistance are called upon to facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations and that States in proximity to humanitarian emergencies are urged to facilitate, to the extent possible, the transit of humanitarian assistance, Concerned about the need to mobilize adequate support, including financial resources, for emergency humanitarian assistance at all levels, including at national, regional and international levels, Emphasizing that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat should benefit from adequate and more predictable funding, while stressing the importance for the Office to continue to make efforts to broaden its donor base, Reiterating that contributions for humanitarian assistance should be provided in a way that is not to the detriment of resources made available for international cooperation for development, Recognizing the importance of humanitarian assistance in ensuring the effective transition from conflict to peace and the positive effect it may have in preventing the recurrence of armed conflict, and that humanitarian assistance must be provided in ways that will be supportive of recovery and long-term development, Noting with grave concern the growing intensity and recurrence of natural disasters, and reaffirming the importance of sustainable measures to reduce the vulnerability of societies to natural hazards using an integrated, multi-hazard and participatory approach to addressing vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the seventh humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council, during its substantive session of 2004; 2. Encourages the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue his efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance, and calls upon relevant United Nations organizations as well as other humanitarian and development actors to work with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat in enhancing the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance; 3. Recognizes the importance of secure and predictable funding to the coordinated, appropriate and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance, stresses the need to increase in an incremental way, in the normal course of the budget process, the share of the budget of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs borne by the regular budget of the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to give this matter full consideration; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the discussion of humanitarian policies and activities in the General Assembly and in the Economic and Social Council and that these discussions should be further revitalized by Member States; 5. Calls upon Governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, other relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations to cooperate with the Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator to ensure timely implementation of and follow-up to resolutions of the General Assembly and resolutions of the Economic and Social Council adopted at the humanitarian affairs segment of its substantive sessions; 6. Strongly encourages the United Nations to address more systematically protection of civilians and other humanitarian issues with regional organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, inter alia, through dialogue; 7. Decides to raise the maximum limit of an emergency cash grant to 100,000 United States dollars per country in the case of any one disaster, within existing resources available from the regular budget of the United Nations; 8. Encourages the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in close collaboration with the United Nations Development Group Office, to improve further the training and capacity of humanitarian and resident coordinators so that they can respond to the full range of humanitarian issues and those related to transition from relief to development in a given context, including protection and assistance needs; 9. Calls upon the Secretary-General to ensure that the design and implementation of United Nations integrated missions take into account the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality as well as independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance; 10. Welcomes the ongoing work within the United Nations on the complex issue of transition from relief to development, and takes note of the request by the Economic and Social Council to the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the issue for further consideration by the Council and the General Assembly; 11. Emphasizes the fundamentally civilian character of humanitarian assistance, reaffirms the leading role of civilian organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance, particularly in areas affected by conflicts, and affirms the need, in situations where military capacity and assets are used to support the implementation of humanitarian assistance, for their use to be in conformity with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles; 12. Recalls the 2003 "Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets to Support United Nations Humanitarian Activities in Complex Emergencies",Available from www.reliefweb.int. as well as the 1994 "Guidelines on the Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief",Department of Humanitarian Affairs publication, DHA/94/95. and stresses the value of their use and of the development by the United Nations in consultation with States and other relevant actors of further guidance on civil-military relations in the context of humanitarian activities and transition situations; 13. Strongly condemns all acts of violence committed against civilian populations in situations of humanitarian crisis, especially against women, girls and boys, including sexual violence and abuse, and reiterates that such acts can constitute serious violations or grave breaches of international humanitarian law and constitute, in defined circumstances, a crime against humanity and/or a war crime; 14. Calls upon States to adopt preventive measures and effective responses to acts of violence committed against civilian populations as well as to ensure that those responsible are promptly brought to justice, as provided for by national law and obligations under international law; 15. Reaffirms the obligation of all States and parties to an armed conflict to protect civilians in armed conflicts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and invites States to promote a culture of protection, taking into account the particular needs of women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities; 16. Encourages Member States with internally displaced persons to develop or strengthen, as appropriate, national laws, policies and minimum standards on internal displacement, inter alia, taking into account the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and to continue to work with humanitarian agencies in endeavours to provide a more predictable response to the needs of internally displaced persons, and in this regard calls for international support, upon request, to the capacity-building efforts of Governments; 17. Strongly condemns all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel are increasingly subjected, as well as any act or failure to act, contrary to international law that obstructs or prevents humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel from discharging their humanitarian functions; 18. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel as well as supplies and equipment in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 19. Expresses concern about the continued occurrence of sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian crises, emphasizes that the highest standards of conduct and accountability are required of all personnel serving in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, and requests the Secretary-General to report on measures to follow up, inter alia, the Plan of Action on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises developed by the Inter-Agency Standing CommitteeSee A/57/465, annex I. and the application of the bulletin of the Secretary-General on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse;ST/SGB/2003/13. 20. Takes note with interest of the progress being made by donors to improve their policies and practices of good donorship, including under the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative, and calls upon donors to take further steps to improve their policies and practices with respect to humanitarian assistance; 21. Calls upon relevant United Nations organizations to continue to improve transparency and reliability of humanitarian needs assessments; 22. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to improve his reporting on emergency humanitarian assistance, including with respect to natural disasters; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2005, on progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. RESOLUTION 59/142 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.17/Rev.1 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cape Verde, China, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Sudan, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia 59/142. Promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Underlining the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, and recalling that all States have pledged themselves under the Charter to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Affirming that interreligious dialogue is an integral part of the efforts to translate shared values, as reflected in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. into actions, in particular the efforts to promote a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, Recalling its resolution 58/128 of 19 December 2003 as well as its resolution 57/6 of 4 November 2002, in which it invited Member States to expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence at the national, regional and international levels, and other relevant resolutions, Taking note of different initiatives aimed at promoting religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, and noting that at its tenth session, held at Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 16 to 18 October 2003, the Islamic Summit Conference endorsed the concept of "enlightened moderation", which contained the principles of enhancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, of forging harmony and understanding among all peoples and of seeking the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes, Recalling with satisfaction the proclamation of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations,Resolution 56/6. bearing in mind the valuable contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Recalling the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. and the principles contained therein, Emphasizing the need, at all levels of society and among nations, for strengthening freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, respect for diversity of culture and religion or belief, dialogue and understanding, which are important elements for peace, and convinced that the guiding principles of democratic society need to be actively promoted by the international community, Reaffirming that freedom of expression, media pluralism, multilingualism, equal access to art and to scientific and technological knowledge, including in digital form, and the possibility for all cultures to have access to the means of expression and dissemination are the guarantees of cultural diversity, and that in ensuring the free flow of ideas by word and image, care should be exercised that all cultures can express themselves and make themselves known, Recognizing all efforts made by the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of culture, religion, belief and language, including the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to proclaim 2006 the International Year of Global Consciousness and the Ethics of Dialogue among Peoples,Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Paris, 29 September-17 October 2003, vol.1: Resolutions, chap. IV, resolution 30. Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, are on the increase in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that tolerance for cultural, ethnic, and religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Emphasizing that combating hatred, prejudice, intolerance and stereotyping on the basis of religion or culture represents a significant global challenge that requires further action, 1. Takes note of the report transmitted by the Secretary-General in accordance with resolution 58/128;See A/59/201. 2. Acknowledges that respect for the diversity of religions and cultures, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation in a climate of mutual trust and understanding can contribute to the combating of ideologies and practices based on discrimination, intolerance and hatred and help to reinforce world peace, social justice and friendship among peoples; 3. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights, and international law; the universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond question; 4. Also reaffirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 5. Recognizes that respect for religious and cultural diversity in an increasingly globalizing world contributes to international cooperation, promotes enhanced dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations, and helps to create an environment conducive to the exchange of human experience; 6. Also recognizes that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values; 7. Further recognizes that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Reaffirms that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society as a whole in the States in which such persons live, and urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic and political institutions, organizations and practices so that they are more fully participatory and avoid the marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 9. Encourages Governments to promote, including through education, as well as the development of progressive curricula and text books, understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, which will address the cultural, social, economic, political and religious sources of intolerance, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so, in order to promote understanding, tolerance, peace and friendly relations among nations and all racial and religious groups, recognizing that education at all levels is one of the principal means to build a culture of peace; 10. Calls upon all States to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that religious and cultural sites are fully respected and protected in compliance with their international obligations and in accordance with their national legislation, and to adopt adequate measures aimed at preventing acts or threats of damage to and destruction of these sites; 11. Urges States, in compliance with their international obligations, to take all necessary action to combat incitement to or acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by hatred and intolerance based on culture, religion or belief, which may cause discord and disharmony within and among societies; 12. Also urges States to take effective measures to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in the recognition, exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and cultural life and to make all efforts to enact or rescind legislation, where necessary, to prohibit any such discrimination, and to take all appropriate measures to combat intolerance on the grounds of religion or beliefs; 13. Further urges States to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement bodies and the military, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 14. Welcomes the efforts of States, relevant entities of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, civil society, including religion-based and other non-governmental organizations, and the media in developing a culture of peace, and encourages them to continue such efforts, including the promotion of interreligious and intercultural interaction within and among societies through, inter alia, congresses, conferences, seminars, workshops, research work and related processes; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the widest dissemination of the relevant United Nations material related to the present resolution in as many different languages as possible through the United Nations system, including the United Nations information centres, within available resources; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General, in the context of his report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Culture of peace", to include information on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/143 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.21 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam 59/143. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially the dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed", Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and resolutions 56/5 of 5 November 2001, 57/6 of 4 November 2002 and 58/11 of 10 November 2003, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that the effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which calls for the active promotion of a culture of peace, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000, entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/56/349. including paragraph 28 thereof, which indicates that each of the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme related to the Programme of Action, Noting the relevance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, as well as the need to implement, as appropriate, the relevant decisions agreed upon therein, Recognizing that all efforts made by the United Nations system in general and the international community at large for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, the prevention of conflicts, disarmament, sustainable development, the promotion of human dignity and human rights, democracy, the rule of law, good governance and gender equality at the national and international levels contribute greatly to the culture of peace, Noting that its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 on the prevention of armed conflict could contribute to the further promotion of a culture of peace, Taking into account the "Manifesto 2000" initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over seventy-five million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 58/11,See A/59/223. 1. Reiterates that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, is to strengthen further the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Invites Member States to continue to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels; 3. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognizing the promotion of a culture of peace as the expression of its fundamental mandate, and encourages it, as the lead agency for the Decade, to strengthen further the activities it has undertaken for promoting a culture of peace, including the dissemination of the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace and related materials in various languages across the world; 4. Also commends the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the University for Peace, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including the promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, and encourages them to continue and further strengthen and expand their efforts; 5. Encourages the appropriate authorities to provide education, in children's schools, that includes lessons in mutual understanding, tolerance, active citizenship, human rights and the promotion of a culture of peace; 6. Encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to strengthen its efforts in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade, inter alia, by adopting its own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations; 7. Encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; 8. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue the communication and networking arrangements established during the International Year for providing an instant update of developments related to the observance of the Decade; 9. Invites Member States to observe 21 September each year as the International Day of Peace, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001; 10. Invites Member States as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to provide information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 11. Emphasizes the significance of the plenary meetings on the item planned for its sixtieth session,See resolution 55/47, para. 13. and in that regard encourages participation at a high level, and decides to consider, at an appropriate time, the possibility of organizing those meetings as close as possible to the general debate; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 59/144 Adopted at the 72nd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.46 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 59/144. The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts The General Assembly, Recognizing that the trade in conflict diamonds is a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fuelling of armed conflict, the activities of rebel movements aimed at undermining or overthrowing legitimate Governments and the illicit traffic in and proliferation of armaments, especially small arms and light weapons, Recognizing also the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts, Noting the negative impact of such conflicts on regional stability and the obligations placed upon States by the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, Recognizing, therefore, that continued action to curb the trade in conflict diamonds is imperative, Recognizing also the positive benefits of the legitimate diamond trade to producing countries, and underlining the need for continued international action to prevent the problem of conflict diamonds from negatively affecting the trade in legitimate diamonds, which makes a critical contribution to the economies of many of the producing, exporting and importing States, especially developing States, Noting that the vast majority of rough diamonds produced in the world are from legitimate sources, Recalling the Charter and all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council related to conflict diamonds, and determined to contribute to and support the implementation of the measures provided for in those resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1459 (2003) of 28 January 2003, in which the Council strongly supported the Kimberley Process Certification SchemeSee A/57/489. as a valuable contribution against trafficking in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the important contribution of the Kimberley Process, which was initiated by African diamond-producing countries, Believing that the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme should substantially reduce the opportunity for conflict diamonds to play a role in fuelling armed conflict and should help to protect legitimate trade and ensure the effective implementation of the relevant resolutions on trade in conflict diamonds, Recalling its resolutions 55/56 of 1 December 2000, 56/263 of 13 March 2002, 57/302 of 15 April 2003 and 58/290 of 14 April 2004, in which it called for the development and implementation of proposals for a simple, effective and pragmatic international certification scheme for rough diamonds, Welcoming, in this regard, the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in such a way that it does not impede the legitimate trade in diamonds or impose an undue burden on Governments or industry, particularly smaller producers, and does not hinder the development of the diamond industry, Welcoming also the decision of countries and one regional economic integration organization to address the problem of conflict diamonds by participating in the Kimberley Process and to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, Welcoming further the important contribution made by the diamond industry, in particular the World Diamond Council, as well as civil society, to assist international efforts to stop the trade in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the voluntary self-regulation initiatives for the diamond industry announced by the World Diamond Council, and recognizing that a system of such voluntary self-regulation will contribute, as described in the Interlaken Declaration of 5 November 2002 on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds,Ibid., annex 2. to ensuring the effectiveness of national systems of internal control for rough diamonds, Noting with appreciation that the Kimberley Process has pursued its deliberations on an inclusive basis, involving concerned stakeholders, including producing, exporting and importing States, the diamond industry and civil society, Recognizing that State sovereignty should be fully respected and that the principles of equality, mutual benefits and consensus should be adhered to, Recognizing also that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which came into effect on 1 January 2003, will be credible only if all participants have established internal systems of control designed to eliminate the presence of conflict diamonds in the chain of producing, exporting and importing rough diamonds within their own territories, while taking into account that differences in production methods and trading practices, as well as differences in institutional controls thereof, may require different approaches to meet minimum standards, 1. Reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;See A/57/489. 2. Recognizes that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme can help to ensure the effective implementation of relevant resolutions of the Security Council containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds, and calls for the full implementation of existing Council measures targeting the illicit trade in rough diamonds that play a role in fuelling conflict; 3. Also recognizes the important contributions that the international efforts to address the problem of conflict diamonds, including the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, have made to the settlement of conflicts in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and the ongoing value of the Certification Scheme as a mechanism for the prevention of future conflicts; 4. Stresses that the widest possible participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is essential and should be encouraged, and urges all Member States to participate actively in the Certification Scheme by complying with its undertakings; 5. Notes with appreciation the report of the Chair of the Kimberley Process submitted pursuant to resolution 58/290,A/59/590, annex. and congratulates the Governments, regional economic integration organization representatives, the organized diamond industry and civil society participating in the Kimberley Process for contributing to the development and implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; 6. Takes note of the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 15 May 2003 granting a waiver with respect to the measures taken to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, effective from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006;See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/518. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 7. Welcomes the progress achieved at the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process held in Gatineau, Canada, from 27 to 29 October 2004, expanding the mandate of the Participation Committee to advise the Chair on matters of non-compliance by participants; 8. Also welcomes the important progress made towards the implementation of the peer review mechanism, including the submission of annual reports by all participants and the completion of eleven voluntary review visits, and encourages all remaining participants to receive voluntary review visits; 9. Encourages all participants in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to collate and submit relevant statistical data on the production of and international trade in rough diamonds as a tool for effective implementation and as envisaged by the Certification Scheme; 10. Acknowledges with great appreciation the important contribution that Canada, as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2004, has made to the efforts to curb the trade in conflict diamonds, and welcomes the succession of the Russian Federation as Chair and Botswana as Vice-Chair of the Process for 2005; 11. Requests the Chair of the Kimberley Process to submit a report on the implementation of the Process to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict". RESOLUTION 59/145 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 17 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.53, as orally revised, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 59/145. Modalities, format and organization of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/291 of 6 May 2004 by which it decided to convene in New York in 2005, at the commencement of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, a high-level plenary meeting of the Assembly with the participation of Heads of State and Government, on dates to be decided by the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, Recalling that in its resolution 58/291 it also decided that the High-level Plenary Meeting would undertake a comprehensive review of the progress made in the fulfilment of all the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. including the internationally agreed development goals and the global partnership required for their achievement, and of the progress made in the integrated and coordinated implementation, at the national, regional and international levels, of the outcomes and commitments of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, on the basis of a comprehensive report to be submitted by the Secretary-General, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Modalities, format and organization of the high-level plenary meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly"A/59/545. requested in its resolution 58/291 and following informal consultations convened by the President of the General Assembly, Convinced that the High-level Plenary Meeting will constitute a significant event, 1. Decides that the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly shall be held from 14 to 16 September 2005 in New York; 2. Reiterates that the High-level Plenary Meeting will be held with the participation of Heads of State and Government, and encourages all Member States to be represented at that level; 3. Decides that the High-level Plenary Meeting will be composed of six plenary meetings, on the basis of two meetings a day, and four interactive round-table sessions, and also that each round-table session will cover the entire agenda of the High-level Plenary Meeting and will be held in concurrence with a plenary meeting; 4. Decides also to hold the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development on 27 and 28 June 2005 in New York immediately prior to the high-level segment of the 2005 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council in order for the recommendations of the High-level Dialogue to be considered in the preparatory process for the High-level Plenary Meeting and also decides to hold a separate meeting on Financing for Development within the framework of the High-level Plenary Meeting; 5. Decides further to change the venue of the 2005 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council from Geneva to New York on an exceptional basis and that the venue for the 2006 and 2007 substantive sessions of the Council shall be Geneva in order to resume the alternation in 2008, as established by the General Assembly;See resolution 45/264. 6. Decides to hold the general debate at its sixtieth session from Saturday, 17 September, to Friday, 23 September, and from Monday, 26 September, to Wednesday, 28 September 2005, on the understanding that these arrangements shall in no way create a precedent for the general debate at future sessions; 7. Notes that, prior to the High-level Plenary Meeting, the second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament will be convened from 7 to 9 September 2005 at United Nations Headquarters;See resolution 59/19. 8. Requests the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with representatives of non-governmental organizations, to organize informal interactive hearings in June 2005 in New York with representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector, as an input to the preparatory process of the High-level Plenary Meeting; 9. Looks forward to the comprehensive report requested in its resolution 58/291, which the Secretary-General will submit in March 2005 and which will serve as the basis for the consultations leading to the High-level Plenary Meeting; 10. Strongly urges all Member States to take a positive interest in the process of formal and informal consultations leading to the High-level Plenary Meeting and to engage actively, at the highest level of government, with a view to reaching a successful outcome of the High-level Plenary Meeting; 11. Requests the President of the General Assembly to continue to hold consultations with all Member States in an open-ended manner, with a view to taking decisions on all process-related outstanding issues of the High-level Plenary Meeting. RESOLUTION 59/146 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/491, para. 18)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/146. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special sessionResolution S-24/2, annex. constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the development goals contained therein, as well as the commitments made at major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, Considering that, despite the efforts made and the progress achieved in some areas of economic and social development, vast sectors of our societies, in particular in developing countries, especially the least developed countries, are still facing serious challenges, including financial crises, insecurity, poverty, exclusion and inequality in income growth and distribution, education and health, as well as environmental degradation, Recalling the commitment to promote national and global economic systems based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion, Recalling also its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/120. 2. Welcomes the contribution of the Commission for Social Development in the follow-up to and review of the further implementation of the commitments made at the World Summit for Social Development and the further initiatives agreed upon at the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. reaffirms that the Commission will continue to have the primary responsibility in this regard, and encourages Governments, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to enhance their support to its work; 3. Underlines the significance of the forty-third session of the Commission for Social Development, which will mark the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development and at which the Commission will undertake a review of the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, and recommends that the Commission reflect the outcome of its review, on an exceptional basis, in a short declaration to be elaborated during its forty-third session, reaffirming the agreed commitments and the need for continued implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session; 4. Welcomes the decision by the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2004/58 of 23 July 2004, that the Commission for Social Development at its forty-third session should convene high-level plenary meetings, open to the participation of all States Members of the United Nations and observers, on the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, and also welcomes the request of the Council to the Chairman of the Commission at its forty-third session to transmit the outcome, through the Council, to the Assembly at its sixtieth session, including to the high-level event of the Assembly on the review of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. in 2005; 5. Recommends that the Commission for Social Development, at its forty-third session and in undertaking the review of the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, give particular attention to the people-centred approach and to its concrete implementation, as set out in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session, and that it emphasize the sharing of experiences and good practices in overcoming challenges to the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session; 6. Reaffirms that the aim of social integration is to create a society for all, in which every individual, each with rights and responsibilities, has an active role to play, and that such an inclusive society must be based on respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, cultural and religious diversity, social justice and the special needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, democratic participation and the rule of law; 7. Recognizes the need to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to address the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, including through the design and development of appropriate mechanisms to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions and governance; 8. Reaffirms the commitment to gender equality and to strengthening policies and programmes that improve, ensure and broaden the full participation of women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life, as equal partners, and to improving their access to all resources needed for the full exercise of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms by removing persistent barriers; 9. Stresses the vital importance of achieving social development for all and of integrating social development objectives, as set out in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the further initiatives for social development, into economic policy-making, including into policies that influence domestic and global market forces and the global economy; 10. Recognizes that globalization and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy and the development and improvement of living standards around the world, while at the same time there remain serious challenges, including serious financial crises, insecurity, poverty, exclusion and inequality within and among societies and considerable obstacles to further integration and full participation in the global economy for developing countries, and that unless the benefits of social and economic development are extended to all countries, a growing number of people in all countries and even entire regions will remain marginalized from the global economy, and in this regard reiterates the need for further action in order to overcome those obstacles affecting peoples and countries and to realize the full potential of opportunities presented for the benefit of all; 11. Looks forward, in this context, to further consideration of the impact of globalization on social development at the forty-third session of the Commission for Social Development, taking note of the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization;International Labour Office, A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All (Geneva, 2004); see also A/59/98-E/2004/79. 12. Reaffirms the need to place people at the centre of all development policies in order to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration so as to promote stable, safe and just societies for all; 13. Underlines the importance of adopting effective measures, including new financial mechanisms, as appropriate, to support the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable development, poverty reduction and the strengthening of their democratic systems, while reaffirming that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that national policies have the leading role in the development process; 14. Emphasizes the importance of integrating economic and social policies in promoting human resources development and enhancing the process of development, invites the Economic and Social Council and the Commission for Social Development to continue to give particular attention to this issue at their forthcoming sessions, and invites the various entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to take into account the integration of economic and social policies in their respective domains; 15. Recognizes that, while action taken to implement the outcomes of the major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions in the economic, social and related fields held during the past ten years will further promote social development, strengthened and effective international and regional cooperation and assistance for development and progress towards increased participation, greater social justice and improved equity in societies will also be required; 16. Recognizes also that achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, demands a new partnership between developed and developing countries, and in this context stresses the importance of achieving sound policies, good governance at all levels and the rule of law, as well as mobilizing domestic resources, attracting international flows, promoting international trade as an engine for development, increasing international and financial and technical cooperation for development, sustainable debt financing and external debt relief and enhancing the coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems; 17. Stresses the necessity of ensuring the effective involvement of developing countries in the international economic decision-making process through, inter alia, greater participation in international economic forums, thereby ensuring the transparency and accountability of international financial institutions with respect to according a central position to social development in their policies and programmes; 18. Reaffirms the call of the Economic and Social Council for enhanced coordination within the United Nations system and the ongoing efforts to harmonize the current initiatives on Africa, and requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to give due prominence in its work to the social dimension of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 19. Reaffirms also that education, employment creation and improvement in working conditions, which are some of the indispensable elements of poverty eradication, social integration, gender equality and overall development, should be at the centre of development strategies and international cooperation in support of national policies, and recognizes the need to promote employment that meets labour standards as defined in relevant instruments of the International Labour Organization and other international instruments; 20. Encourages, in this context, current initiatives of the United Nations system on the elaboration of comprehensive employment strategies and measures to foster youth employment, bearing in mind relevant international instruments pertaining to youth; 21. Reaffirms that social development requires the active involvement of all actors in the development process, including civil society organizations, corporations and small businesses, and that partnerships among all relevant actors are increasingly becoming part of national and international cooperation for social development, reaffirms also that, within countries, partnerships among the Government, civil society and the private sector can contribute effectively to the achievement of social development goals, and underlines the fact that, at the international level, the recent initiatives towards building voluntary partnerships for social development should be encouraged and discussed further at, inter alia, the intergovernmental level; 22. Underlines the responsibility of the private sector, at both the national and the international levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, regarding not only the economic and financial, but also the development, social, gender and environmental implications of their activities, their obligations towards their workers and their contributions to achieving sustainable development, including social development, and emphasizes the need to take concrete actions within the United Nations system and through the participation of all relevant stakeholders on corporate responsibility and accountability; 23. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development, the regional commissions, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to continue to integrate into their work programmes and give priority attention to the commitments and undertakings set out in the Copenhagen Declaration and the Programme of Action and in the further initiatives for social development, to continue to be actively involved in their follow-up and to monitor the achievement of those commitments and undertakings; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on this question to the Assembly at that session. RESOLUTION 59/147 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/492, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/147. Celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 45/133 of 14 December 1990, 46/92 of 16 December 1991, 47/237 of 20 September 1993, 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999, 56/113 of 19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002 and 58/15 of 3 December 2003 concerning the proclamation of, preparations for and observance of the International Year of the Family in 1994 and its tenth anniversary in 2004, Recalling also that relevant United Nations instruments on human rights as well as relevant global plans and programmes of action call for the widest possible protection and assistance to be accorded to the family, bearing in mind that in different cultural, political and social systems various forms of the family exist, Recalling further that the family is the basic unit of society and, as such, should be strengthened, and that it is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support, Noting that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development, Recognizing that the preparations for and observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family provided a useful opportunity for drawing further attention to the objectives of the Year for increasing cooperation at all levels on family issues, Recognizing also the commendable efforts made by Governments at the local and national levels in carrying out specific programmes concerning families, Emphasizing that equality between women and men and respect for all the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all family members are essential to family well-being and to society at large, noting the importance of reconciliation of work and family life, and recognizing the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child, Aware that families are affected by social and economic changes, manifested as observable worldwide trends, and that the causes and consequences of those trends concerning families have to be identified and analysed, Noting with concern the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on family life, as well as the devastating effects on family life of other infectious diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis, Noting with concern also the devastating effects of difficult social and economic conditions, armed conflicts and natural disasters on family life, Recognizing the important role of non-governmental organizations, at both the local and the national levels, working in the interest of families, Aware that there is a need for continued inter-agency cooperation on the family in order to generate greater awareness of family issues among the governing bodies of the United Nations system, Recalling that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family will be observed and celebrated during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,E/CN.5/2004/3. 1. Notes that the follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family is an integral part of the agenda and the multi-year programme of work of the Commission for Social Development until 2006; 2. Urges Governments to continue to take sustained action at all levels concerning family issues, including applied studies and research, in order to promote the role of families in development and develop concrete measures and approaches to address national priorities in dealing with family issues; 3. Urges the international community to address family-related concerns within the framework of the commitments undertaken at relevant major United Nations conferences and their follow-up processes, including those agreed to in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session on 27 June 2001;Resolution S-26/2, annex. 4. Encourages more inter-agency cooperation within the United Nations system on issues relating to the family; 5. Encourages the regional commissions of the United Nations, within existing resources, to promote further the exchange of experiences at the regional level through the provision of technical assistance, including advisory services, to Governments upon request; 6. Emphasizes that the Secretariat should continue its important role in the programme of work on family issues within the United Nations system, and, in this regard, encourages the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, within existing resources, to continue to cooperate with Governments, the United Nations system and civil society in strengthening national capacities through the implementation of the mandated objectives of the International Year of the Family, including through: (a) The provision of policy guidance on emerging issues and trends affecting the family through the preparation of studies and research papers aimed, in particular, at enhancing the role of the family in society; (b) The provision of technical assistance to countries, upon request, to enhance, where appropriate, their national capacities in the area of family-related work; 7. Invites the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to disseminate a compilation of existing development cooperation activities of the United Nations system in the field of the family for the benefit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, other relevant United Nations bodies, Member States and observers by the time of the holding of the forty-fourth session of the Commission for Social Development; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To give appropriate consideration to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family by preparing for the observance of the International Day of Families on 15 May 2004 and by taking appropriate steps for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family; (b) To continue to utilize the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities to provide financial assistance for activities specific to the family and for projects of direct benefit to it, with special focus on least developed and developing countries; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/148 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/492, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/148. Policies and programmes involving youth: tenth anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, annexed thereto, Recalling also its resolution 58/133 of 22 December 2003, in which it, inter alia, recommended devoting two plenary meetings at its sixtieth session, in 2005, to review the situation of youth and achievements attained in the implementation of the World Programme of Action ten years after its adoption, Recognizing the importance of the full and effective participation of young people and youth organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels in promoting and implementing the World Programme of Action and in evaluating the progress achieved and the obstacles encountered in its implementation, 1. Decides to convene, at its sixtieth session, two plenary meetings of the General Assembly devoted to the evaluation of the progress made in the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, to be held during the general debate of the Third Committee under the agenda item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family"; 2. Decides also to hold, prior to the plenary meetings, an informal, interactive round-table discussion on the theme "Young people: making commitments matter", which will be open to the participation of Member States, observers, organizations of the United Nations system and non- governmental youth organizations; 3. Decides further that one youth representative from a Member State shall orally present a summary of the informal round-table discussion to the General Assembly at the beginning of the plenary meeting; 4. Urges Member States to consider being represented by youth representatives to address the plenary on this occasion, as well as in the above-mentioned informal round-table discussion, bearing in mind the principle of gender balance; 5. Decides to facilitate access to United Nations Headquarters by the non-governmental organizations that were accredited to the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 1998 and interested non-governmental organizations that are neither in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council nor were accredited to the World Conference to participate in the informal round-table discussions and side events to be held during the tenth anniversary of the World Programme of Action; 6. Urges, in recognition of the importance of ensuring the equitable geographical participation of non-governmental youth organizations in the tenth anniversary of the World Programme of Action, relevant United Nations entities to assist non-governmental organizations that do not have the resources, in particular non-governmental organizations from developing countries, including the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, to participate in the tenth anniversary; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate widely to the community of non-governmental youth organizations all available information on the events associated with the tenth anniversary of the World Programme of Action; 8. Decides that the arrangements outlined in paragraph 5 above shall in no way create a precedent for other similar events; 9. Notes with appreciation the ongoing efforts of the United Nations system to solicit input from youth organizations and young people into the current review of the World Programme of Action, as requested by the General Assembly in paragraph 14 of its resolution 58/133, and invites the Secretary-General to provide an overview of the input gathered from youth organizations as a supplement to his report to the Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/149 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/492, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zambia. 59/149. United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/116 of 19 December 2001, by which it proclaimed the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2003 the United Nations Literacy Decade, and its resolution 57/166 of 18 December 2002, in which it welcomed the International Plan of Action for the United Nations Literacy Decade, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education, which requires a renewed commitment to promote literacy for all, Reaffirming that a basic education is crucial to nation-building, that literacy for all is at the heart of basic education for all and that creating literate environments and societies is essential for achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy, Convinced that literacy is crucial to the acquisition by every child, youth and adult of the essential life skills that will enable them to address the challenges that they can face in life, and represents an essential step in basic education, which is an indispensable means for effective participation in the societies and economies of the twenty-first century, Affirming that the realization of the right to education, especially for girls, contributes to the promotion of gender equality and the eradication of poverty, Welcoming the considerable efforts that have been made to address the objectives of the Decade at various levels, Noting with concern that over 100 million children are not in school and some 800 million adults are illiterate today, that the issue of illiteracy may not be sufficiently high on national agendas to generate the kind of political and economic support required to address global illiteracy challenges, and that the world is unlikely to meet those challenges if the present trends continue, Deeply concerned about the persistence of the gender gap in education, which is reflected by the fact that nearly two thirds of the world's adult illiterates are women, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General, prepared in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, on the implementation of the International Plan of Action for the United Nations Literacy Decade,See A/59/267. as well as the report prepared by the Joint Inspection Unit on achieving the universal primary education goal of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See A/59/76 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. 2. Welcomes the efforts made so far by Member States and the international community in launching the Decade and implementing the International Plan of Action; 3. Appeals to all Governments to develop reliable literacy data and information and to further reinforce political will, mobilize adequate national resources, develop more inclusive policy-making environments and devise innovative strategies for reaching the poorest and most marginalized groups and for seeking alternative formal and non-formal approaches to learning with a view to achieving the goals of the Decade; 4. Urges all Governments to take the lead in coordinating the activities of the Decade at the national level, bringing all relevant national actors together in a sustained dialogue and collaborative action on policy formulation, implementation and evaluation of literacy efforts; 5. Appeals to all Governments and professional organizations to strengthen national and professional educational institutions in their countries with a view to expanding their capacity and promoting the quality of education, with particular focus on literacy; 6. Appeals to all Governments and to economic and financial organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend greater financial and material support to the efforts to increase literacy and achieve the goals of Education for All and those of the Decade, through, inter alia, the 20/20 initiative,See Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II, para. 88 (c). as appropriate; 7. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to intensify their efforts to implement effectively the International Plan of Action, and to integrate substantially those efforts in the Education for All process and other initiatives and activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and within the framework of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 8. Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to reinforce its lead coordinating role in stimulating and catalysing the activities undertaken at the international level within the framework of the Decade in a manner that is complementary to and coordinated with the ongoing Education for All process, with the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and with other global initiatives; 9. Requests all relevant entities of the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in cooperation with national Governments, to take immediate, concrete steps to address the needs of countries with high illiteracy rates and/or with large populations of illiterate adults, with particular regard to women; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to seek the views of Member States on the progress achieved in implementing their national programmes and plans of action for the Decade and to submit progress reports on the implementation of the International Plan of Action to the General Assembly on a biennial basis, beginning in 2006; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family", the sub-item entitled "United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all". RESOLUTION 59/14 Adopted at the 46th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/527, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/14. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra LeoneA/59/286. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/417. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1270 (1999) of 22 October 1999, by which the Council established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council revised and extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1562 (2004) of 17 September 2004, Recalling its resolution 53/29 of 20 November 1998 on the financing of the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone and subsequent resolutions on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, the latest of which was resolution 58/308 of 18 June 2004, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone as at 30 September 2004, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 84.9 million United States dollars, representing some 3 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-four Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/417. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Revised budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 11. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone the amount of 94,621,400 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, in addition to the amount of 207,246,100 dollars already appropriated for the same period under the terms of its resolution 58/308; Financing of the appropriation 12. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 207,246,100 dollars previously apportioned under the terms of its resolution 58/308, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 94,621,400 dollars at a monthly rate of 7,885,117 dollars, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and updated in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004 and 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 13. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 12 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 2,096,500 dollars, at a monthly rate of 174,708 dollars, representing the additional estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission; 14. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 15. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 16. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 17. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone". RESOLUTION 59/150 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/493, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 59/150. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/167 of 18 December 2002, in which it endorsed the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. as well as its resolution 58/134 of 22 December 2003, in which it took note, inter alia, of the road map for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/14 of 21 July 2003, in which the Council invited Governments, the United Nations system and civil society to participate in a "bottom-up" approach to the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, Recalling further Commission for Social Development resolution 42/1 of 13 February 2004, entitled "Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 6 (E/2004/26), chap. I, sect. E. in which the Commission decided to undertake a review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action every five years, with each review and appraisal cycle to focus on one of the priority directions of the Madrid Plan of Action, 1. Recommends that ongoing efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. take into account the situation of older persons; 2. Calls upon Governments and the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, within their mandates, and encourages the non-governmental community, to ensure that the challenges of population ageing and the concerns of older persons are adequately incorporated into their programmes and projects; 3. Invites Member States and the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to take into account the needs and concerns of older persons in decision-making at all levels; 4. Stresses the need for additional capacity-building at the national level in order to promote and facilitate the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and in this connection, encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request; 5. Invites Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to encourage and support comprehensive, diversified and specialized research on ageing in all countries; 6. Invites the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council to integrate the issues of population and individual ageing into their work in order to promote the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; 7. Recommends that the Commission on the Status of Women continue to consider the situation of older women, in particular those who are most vulnerable, including those living in rural areas; 8. Encourages those regional commissions that have not yet done so to elaborate a regional strategy for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; 9. Takes note of Commission for Social Development resolution 42/1,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 6 (E/2004/26), chap. I, sect. E. and in this context requests the Secretary-General to present his proposals for conducting the review and appraisal exercise at the regional and global levels to the Commission at its forty-fourth session; 10. Requests the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to continue to strengthen the capacity of the focal points on ageing and to provide them with adequate resources for the further implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, in particular through appropriate mainstreaming action; 11. Stresses the importance of the collection of data and population statistics disaggregated by age and sex on all aspects of policy formulation by all countries, and encourages the relevant entities of the United Nations system to support national efforts in capacity-building, especially those of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, takes note in this context of the establishment by the United Nations of an Internet-accessible database on ageing, and invites States to submit, whenever possible, information for inclusion in the database; 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/164. and requests that it be forwarded to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-third session in order to assist the Commission in its deliberations; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/151 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/151. Preparations for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/119 of 19 December 2001 on the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, in which it stipulated the guidelines in accordance with which, beginning in 2005, the congresses, pursuant to paragraphs 29 and 30 of the statement of principles and programme of action of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme,Resolution 46/152, annex. should be held, Recalling also its resolution 57/170 of 18 December 2002 on the follow-up to the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 56/261, annex. Recalling further its resolution 57/171 of 18 December 2002, in which it decided that the main theme of the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice should be "Synergies and responses: strategic alliances in crime prevention and criminal justice", Recalling its resolution 58/138 of 22 December 2003, in which it requested the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to accord sufficient time at its thirteenth session to reviewing the progress made in the preparations for the Eleventh Congress, to finalize in good time all the necessary organizational and substantive arrangements and to make its final recommendations, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly, Recognizing the significant contributions of the congresses in promoting the exchange of experience in research, law and policy development and the identification of emerging trends and issues in crime prevention and criminal justice among States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individual experts representing various professions and disciplines, Recognizing also the efforts already made by the Government of Thailand to prepare for the hosting of the Eleventh Congress in Bangkok from 18 to 25 April 2005, Stressing the importance of undertaking all the preparatory activities for the Eleventh Congress in a timely and concerted manner, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;E/CN.15/2004/11. 2. Also takes note with appreciation of the discussion guideA/CONF.203/PM.1 and Corr.1. prepared by the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, for the regional preparatory meetings for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; 3. Acknowledges the relevance of the regional preparatory meetings, which have examined the substantive items of the agenda and the workshop topics of the Eleventh Congress and made action-oriented recommendationsSee A/CONF.203/RPM.1/1, A/CONF.203/RPM.2/1, A/CONF.203/RPM.3/1 and Corr.1 and A/CONF.203/RPM.4/1. to serve as a basis for the draft declaration to be adopted by the Eleventh Congress; 4. Requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to begin preparation of a draft declaration at intersessional meetings to be held following its thirteenth session, for submission to the Eleventh Congress at least one month prior to its commencement, taking into account the recommendations of the regional preparatory meetings; 5. Approves the draft programme of work for the Eleventh Congress and the documentation relating thereto; 6. Reiterates its decision, contained in its resolution 58/138, that the high-level segment of the Eleventh Congress shall be held during the last three days of the Congress in order to allow Heads of State or Government or government ministers to focus on the main substantive agenda items of the Congress; 7. Emphasizes the importance of the workshops to be held during the Eleventh Congress, and invites Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant entities to provide financial, organizational and technical support to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and to the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network for the preparations for the workshops, including the preparation and circulation of relevant background material; 8. Invites donor countries to cooperate with developing countries to ensure their full participation in the workshops, and encourages States, other entities concerned and the Secretary-General to work together in order to ensure that the workshops focus on the respective issues and achieve practical results, leading to technical cooperation ideas, projects and documents related to enhancing bilateral and multilateral efforts in technical assistance activities in crime prevention and criminal justice; 9. Reiterates its invitation to Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to inform the Eleventh Congress about their activities aimed at putting into practice the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 56/261, annex. with a view to providing guidance in the formulation of legislation, policies and programmes in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice at the national and international levels, and, to that end, requests the Secretary-General to compile that information and to prepare a report on the subject to be submitted to the Eleventh Congress for consideration; 10. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make available the resources necessary to ensure the participation of the least developed countries in the Eleventh Congress, in accordance with past practice; 11. Encourages Governments to make preparations for the Eleventh Congress at an early stage by all appropriate means, including, where appropriate, the establishment of national preparatory committees, with a view to contributing to a focused and productive discussion on the topics and to participating actively in the organization and conduct of the workshops, the submission of national position papers on the various substantive items of the agenda and the encouragement of contributions from the academic community and relevant scientific institutions; 12. Reiterates its invitation to Member States to be represented at the Eleventh Congress at the highest possible level, for example by Heads of State or Government or government ministers and attorneys general, and to participate actively in the high-level segment; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to facilitate the organization of ancillary meetings of non-governmental and professional organizations participating in the Eleventh Congress, in accordance with past practice, as well as meetings of professional and geographical interest groups, and to take appropriate measures to encourage the participation of the academic and research community in the Congress; 14. Encourages the relevant specialized agencies and programmes of the United Nations system and inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as other professional organizations, to cooperate with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the preparations for the Eleventh Congress; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure, in collaboration with Member States, a wide and effective programme of public information relating to the preparations for the Eleventh Congress, to the Congress itself and to the follow-up to and implementation of its recommendations; 16. Welcomes the appointment, by the Secretary- General, of a Secretary-General and an Executive Secretary of the Eleventh Congress, to perform their functions under the rules of procedure for United Nations congresses on crime prevention and criminal justice; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare an overview of the state of crime and criminal justice worldwide for presentation at the Eleventh Congress, in accordance with past practice; 18. Calls upon the Eleventh Congress to formulate concrete proposals for further follow-up and action, paying particular attention to practical arrangements relating to the effective implementation of the international legal instruments pertaining to transnational organized crime, terrorism and corruption and technical assistance activities relating thereto; 19. Requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session to give high priority to considering the conclusions and recommendations of the Eleventh Congress, with a view to recommending, through the Economic and Social Council, appropriate follow-up by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure proper follow-up to the present resolution and to report thereon, through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/152 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/152. Assistance to least developed countries to ensure their participation in the sessions of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the sessions of conferences of States parties The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, and in particular paragraph 15 of the Millennium Declaration, in which the Heads of State and Government undertook to address the special needs of the least developed countries, Recalling also its resolution 58/228 of 23 December 2003, in particular paragraph 9 thereof, in which it requested the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures, within existing resources and with the full participation of the regional commissions and relevant United Nations bodies, to support the participation of the least developed countries in international meetings, as well as in their preparation and consultation processes, Stressing the need for the effective and timely ratification of the United Nations conventions and protocols relating to transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism and their subsequent implementation, Recognizing the critical significance of those instruments, which provide a legal framework for strengthening international cooperation, based on mutual commitments by the least developed countries and their development partners to undertake specific action to ensure the full implementation of the provisions of the instruments, Welcoming the contributions already made by multilateral and bilateral donors to ensure the participation of representatives of least developed countries in the negotiation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. Emphasizing the importance of the effective participation of all relevant stakeholders from the least developed countries, developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the sessions of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and in the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, 1. Calls upon Member States, international organizations and funding institutions to redouble their efforts to increase their voluntary contributions to assist the Secretary-General in covering the cost of travel and daily subsistence allowance for the participation of representatives of least developed countries in the sessions of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and in the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to intensify efforts to ensure the increased participation of representatives of least developed countries in those meetings; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/153 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/153. Strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance in promoting the implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism within the framework of the activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions on the prevention and suppression of terrorism, as well as Security Council resolutions 1269 (1999) of 19 October 1999, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001, 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001 and 1456 (2003) of 20 January 2003, Recalling also its resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, in which it strongly condemned the heinous acts of terrorism of 11 September 2001 and urgently called for international cooperation to prevent and eradicate acts of terrorism, and its resolution 57/27 of 19 November 2002, in which it also condemned those in Bali and Moscow, as well as Security Council resolutions 1450 (2002) of 13 December 2002, 1465 (2003) of 13 February 2003, 1516 (2003) of 20 November 2003 and 1530 (2004) of 11 March 2004 condemning in the strongest terms the bomb attacks in Kikambala, Kenya, in Bogotá, in Istanbul, Turkey, and in Madrid, respectively, and expressing its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of terrorist attacks and their families, Condemning the acts of violence perpetrated in many parts of the world against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, in particular deliberate attacks, which are in violation of international humanitarian law as well as other international law that may be applicable, such as the attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, Recalling its resolutions 58/136 and 58/140 of 22 December 2003, in which it, inter alia, encouraged the activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime within its mandates in the area of preventing terrorism by providing Member States, upon request, with technical assistance, specifically to implement the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, thereby strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism, working in close coordination with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (the Counter-Terrorism Committee) and the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, as well as with international, regional and subregional organizations and specialized agencies, Mindful of its resolution 58/81 of 9 December 2003, in which it welcomed the efforts of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism and recognized, in the context of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), the role of the Branch in assisting States to become parties to and implement the relevant international conventions and protocols related to terrorism, Recalling Security Council resolution 1535 (2004) of 26 March 2004 concerning enhancement of the ability of the Counter-Terrorism Committee to monitor the implementation of Council resolution 1373 (2001), Recalling also the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. which emanated from the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held in Vienna from 10 to 17 April 2000, Noting with appreciation the issuance, in all the official languages of the United Nations, of the Legislative Guide to the Universal Anti-Terrorism Conventions and Protocols,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.V.7. which was reviewed by an expert group hosted by the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences in Siracusa, Italy, from 3 to 5 December 2002, Noting with appreciation also the guidelines for technical assistance within the framework of international cooperation against terrorism, which were formulated and reviewed during an expert group meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 24 to 27 February 2004,E/CN.15/2004/8, annex I. Deeply concerned that acts of international terrorism continue to be perpetrated, endangering the lives and well-being of individuals worldwide, as well as the peace and security of all States, Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the relevant international conventions, Recalling that Member States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law and that such measures are adopted in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Mindful of the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of States to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, 1. Commends the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its work in preventing and combating terrorism through the provision of technical assistance, in close consultation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee, for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), in particular for the promotion of the ratification of, accession to and implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism; 2. Also commends the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its efforts to reinforce close cooperation with international, regional and subregional organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the World Bank, and the Counter-Terrorism Committee in preventing and combating terrorism, an example of which was the meeting held in follow-up to the Counter-Terrorism Committee special meeting of 6 March 2003, with participants from international, regional and subregional organizations, organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in close cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in Vienna on 11 and 12 March 2004, which resulted in the Vienna Declaration of 12 March 2004;Ibid., annex II; see also S/2004/276, annex. 3. Welcomes the regional and subregional workshops held in Antalya, Turkey, and in Bamako, Khartoum, London, San José and Vilnius to familiarize national experts and criminal justice officials with the requirements of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001) and the requirements for becoming parties to and implementing the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism and international cooperation agreements, and encourages the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to ensure proper follow-up to those workshops, in cases where such follow-up is indicated by the participating States; 4. Calls upon Member States that have not yet done so to become parties to and to implement the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism as soon as possible and, where appropriate, to request assistance to that end from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Committee; 5. Invites Member States that are not yet parties to those instruments to make use of the Legislative Guide to the Universal Anti-Terrorism Conventions and ProtocolsUnited Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.V.7. in their efforts to incorporate the provisions of those instruments in their national legislation, and requests the Secretariat, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to develop the Legislative Guide further as a tool for the provision of technical assistance aimed at the implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism; 6. Requests the Secretariat to submit the guidelines for technical assistance that were formulated and reviewed during the expert group meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 24 to 27 February 2004E/CN.15/2004/8, annex I. to the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for discussion, with a view to consideration of the guidelines by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its subsequent session; 7. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to continue to work with international organizations, in particular specialized agencies and other relevant United Nations entities that undertake work that is complementary to that of the Office, in order to enhance synergies; 8. Urges Member States to continue working together, including on a regional and bilateral basis and in close cooperation with the United Nations, to prevent and combat acts of terrorism by strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance within the framework of Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), 1377 (2001) and 1456 (2003), as well as the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, Council resolutions 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999, 1333 (2000) of 19 December 2000, 1390 (2002) of 16 January 2002, 1455 (2003) of 17 January 2003, 1526 (2004) of 30 January 2004 and 1535 (2004) and other relevant United Nations resolutions, and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law; 9. Invites Member States to examine ways and means to reinforce international cooperation in criminal justice matters pertaining to terrorism prevention during the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice with a view to enhancing global efforts in the fight against terrorism; 10. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to intensify its efforts to provide technical assistance, upon request, in preventing and combating terrorism through the implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, with particular emphasis on the need to coordinate its work with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, including training of judicial and prosecutorial personnel, where appropriate, in the proper implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism; 11. Also requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to pursue an integrated, synergistic approach in the delivery of technical assistance to requesting States, taking into account the links that exist between terrorism and other forms of crime; 12. Expresses its appreciation to donor countries that have supported the Global Programme against Terrorism, through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund or the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, and invites all Member States to make voluntary contributions to the Fund in order to allow the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to provide technical assistance to requesting Member States; 13. Calls upon Member States to strengthen, to the greatest extent possible, international cooperation in order to combat terrorism, including, when necessary, entering into bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance; 14. Recognizes the need for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to provide Member States, upon request, and in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Committee, with technical assistance to strengthen international cooperation, including in international, national, regional and subregional forums, in terrorism-related criminal justice matters within the framework of the universal conventions and protocols and the relevant Security Council resolutions related to terrorism; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, an expert workshop, taking into account the need for adequate and equitable geographical representation, and open to any Member State wishing to participate as an observer, to examine and analyse problems encountered by criminal justice practitioners in affording mutual legal assistance and granting extradition for terrorist offences, with a view to identifying proven and promising practices and possible ways of facilitating international cooperation, taking into account information that Member States may wish to provide; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/154 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/154. International cooperation in the prevention, combating and elimination of kidnapping and in providing assistance to victims The General Assembly, Concerned at the increase in the practice of kidnapping in various countries of the world and at the harmful effects of that crime on victims and their families, and determined to support measures to assist and protect them and to promote their recovery, Reiterating that the kidnapping of persons under any circumstances and for any purpose constitutes a serious crime and a violation of individual freedom and undermines human rights, Noting the transnational nature of organized crime and the tendency of organized criminal groups and terrorist groups to expand their illegal operations, Concerned at the growing tendency of organized criminal groups and terrorist groups to resort to kidnapping, especially for the purpose of extortion, as a method of accumulating capital with a view to consolidating their criminal operations and undertaking other illegal activities, such as trafficking in firearms and drugs, money-laundering and crimes related to terrorism, Convinced that the links between various illegal activities, including terrorism, and organized crime pose an additional threat to security and the quality of life, hindering economic and social development, Convinced also that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. provides the legal framework necessary for international cooperation in the fight against kidnapping, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/28 of 22 July 2003 entitled "International cooperation in the prevention, combating and elimination of kidnapping and in providing assistance to victims", in which the Council requested the Secretary-General, drawing on extrabudgetary funds or voluntary contributions, to provide technical assistance to States, upon request, to enable them to strengthen their capacity to combat kidnapping, and to submit a progress report on that topic to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its thirteenth session, 1. Vigorously condemns and rejects once again the practice of kidnapping, under any circumstances and for any purpose, especially when it is carried out by organized criminal groups and terrorist groups; 2. Reiterates that organized criminal groups and terrorist groups, as well as all perpetrators, are responsible for any harm or death that may result from a kidnapping for which they are responsible and should be punished accordingly; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralE/CN.15/2004/7 and Add.1. and of the recommendations presented therein, submitted pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/16 of 24 July 2002 and 2003/28; 4. Encourages Member States to continue to foster international cooperation, especially extradition, mutual legal assistance, collaboration between law enforcement authorities and exchange of information, with a view to preventing, combating and eradicating kidnapping; 5. Calls upon Member States that have not yet done so, in furtherance of the fight against kidnapping, to strengthen their measures against money-laundering and to engage in international cooperation and mutual assistance in, inter alia, the tracing, detection, freezing and confiscation of proceeds of kidnapping in order to combat organized criminal groups and terrorist groups; 6. Urges Member States that have not yet done so to pay special attention to the considerable psychological, social and economic damage associated with kidnapping by adopting legislative, administrative or any other measures to provide appropriate support and assistance to victims and their families; 7. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to prepare a handbook, for use by competent authorities, of proven and promising practices in the fight against kidnapping, including: (a) Measures to prevent the crime of kidnapping that are directed at potential victims; (b) Preventive measures aimed at disbanding organized criminal groups and terrorist groups; (c) Cooperation or strategic alliances with the private sector; (d) Response to and management of crises; (e) Identification of the minimum elements that would help States to make adjustments to their domestic legislation with a view to having a common understanding of the crime of kidnapping, which would also help to ascertain reliable trends from a global perspective; (f) Development of specialized measures for providing support and assistance to victims and their families; (g) Information on national authorities responsible for preventing and combating kidnapping; (h) Reporting procedures, rescue operations, information systems and prosecutions; 8. Also requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to provide technical assistance to States, upon request, to enable them to strengthen their capacity to combat kidnapping, including: (a) Training of judges, prosecutors and other law enforcement officials in mechanisms for disbanding criminal organizations and in the use of special investigative techniques for the rescue of kidnapped persons, bearing in mind the particular need to safeguard and protect the victims; (b) Review of trends and greater understanding of the problem in order to create a basis for developing policies and strategies against kidnapping. RESOLUTION 59/155 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/155. Action against corruption: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the entry into force and subsequent implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption The General Assembly, Deeply concerned about the impact of corruption on the political, social and economic stability and development of societies, Bearing in mind that the prevention and combating of corruption is a common and shared responsibility of the international community, necessitating cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels, Bearing in mind also that the prevention and eradication of corruption is a responsibility of all States and that they must cooperate with one another, with the support and involvement of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, if their efforts to prevent and combat corruption are to be effective, Reaffirming its support and commitment to the goals of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, in particular the objectives set forth in the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. Recalling its resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003, in which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and urged all States and competent regional economic integration organizations to sign and ratify it, Noting with appreciation the High-level Political Conference for the Purpose of Signing the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held in Merida, Mexico, from 9 to 11 December 2003, Noting with appreciation also the initiative of those States which have pledged financial contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund in order to enable developing countries and countries with economies in transition to initiate measures to implement the Convention, 1. Welcomes the signing of the United Nations Convention against Corruption by a large number of Member States, which reflects the high level of commitment on the part of the international community to the purpose of the Convention; 2. Urges Member States to consider signing and ratifying the Convention as soon as possible, in order to allow its early entry into force and subsequent implementation; 3. Encourages Member States to make adequate voluntary contributions, where appropriate, to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund to provide developing countries and countries with economies in transition with the technical assistance they may require to implement the Convention, including assistance for the preparatory measures required for implementation, taking into account article 62 of the Convention; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the entry into force and implementation of the Convention, inter alia, through the provision of assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for building capacity in the areas covered by the Convention; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/156 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/156. Preventing, combating and punishing trafficking in human organs The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/111 of 9 December 1998, by which it established an open-ended intergovernmental ad hoc committee for the purpose of elaborating a comprehensive international convention against transnational organized crime and of discussing the elaboration, as appropriate, of international instruments addressing trafficking in women and children, combating illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, and illegal trafficking in and transporting of migrants, including by sea, Recalling also its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Recalling further its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001, by which it adopted the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Concerned about the negative economic and social implications of the activities of organized crime and the possible expansion of such crime, such as trafficking in human organs, Alarmed at the potential growth of exploitation by criminal groups of human needs, poverty and destitution for the purpose of trafficking in human organs, using violence, coercion and kidnapping, especially kidnapping of children, with a view to exploiting them by means of organ transplant operations, Noting with concern that trafficking in human organs, wherever it occurs, constitutes a gross violation of the human rights, including the integrity, of its victims, Convinced of the need to strengthen local, regional and international cooperation in effective prevention and combating of such activities wherever they occur, Determined to prevent the provision of safe haven to those who participate in or profit from transnational organized crime and to prosecute such persons for the crimes they commit, Deploring the commercialization of the human body, 1. Urges Member States, should they ascertain that such a phenomenon exists in their country, to adopt the necessary measures to prevent, combat and punish the illicit removal of and trafficking in human organs; 2. Encourages Member States to exchange experience in and information on preventing, combating and punishing the illicit removal of and trafficking in human organs; 3. Requests the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to pay attention to the issue of the illicit removal of and trafficking in human organs; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the States and organizations concerned and subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to prepare a study on the extent of the phenomenon of trafficking in human organs for submission to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fifteenth session. RESOLUTION 59/157 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/157. International cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Recalling also its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001, by which it adopted the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Recalling further its resolution 58/135 of 22 December 2003 on international cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime: assistance to States in capacity-building with a view to facilitating the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto, Reaffirming its deep concern at the impact of transnational organized crime on the political, social and economic stability and development of societies, Reaffirming that the adoption of the Convention and the Protocols thereto is a significant development in international criminal law and that they constitute important instruments for effective international cooperation against transnational organized crime, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto;E/CN.15/2004/5. 2. Welcomes the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; 3. Commends the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its work in promoting the ratification of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, including, in particular, the preparation of legislative guides designed to facilitate the ratification and subsequent implementation of those instruments, and invites the Office to finalize the legislative guides and to disseminate them as widely as possible; 4. Urges all States and relevant regional economic integration organizations that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as soon as possible; 5. Also urges all States and relevant regional economic integration organizations to take all necessary measures to improve international cooperation in criminal matters, especially extradition and mutual legal assistance, in accordance with the Convention; 6. Welcomes the financial support provided by several donors to promote the entry into force and implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and encourages Member States to make sufficient voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, as well as contributions in direct support of activities and projects of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including through contributions to the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, for the provision of technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the implementation of those international legal instruments; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and to discharge its functions as the secretariat of the Conference of the Parties in accordance with its mandate; 8. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to continue to assist States, upon request, with capacity-building in the area of international cooperation in criminal matters, in particular extradition and mutual legal assistance; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution in his report on the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to be submitted to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/158 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Ethiopia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States) and Qatar. 59/158. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/139 of 22 December 2003 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/175. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 4. Urges the States members of the Institute to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 5. Calls upon all Member States and non-governmental organizations to adopt concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and to implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to work closely with the Institute; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to make concrete proposals, including the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/159 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/494, para. 39)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/159. Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action annexed to that resolution, Recalling also its resolution 58/140 of 22 December 2003 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, Bearing in mind the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. as well as the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first CenturyResolution 55/59, annex. and the plans of action for its implementation,Resolution 56/261, annex. Emphasizing the role of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality, more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice, respect for human rights and the rule of law and promotion of the highest standards of fairness, humanity and professional conduct, Recognizing that action against global crime is a common and shared responsibility, Convinced of the need for closer coordination and cooperation among States in combating crime in all its forms and manifestations, including criminal activities carried out for the purpose of furthering terrorism, and bearing in mind the role that is played by both the United Nations and regional organizations in this respect, Recognizing existing efforts at the regional level that complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in combating corruption, the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and noting in this context the ongoing work of the Bali and Puebla Processes,Most recently the ninth meeting of the Regional Conference on Migration, held in Panama City on 20 and 21 May 2004 as part of the Puebla Process, and the Senior Officials' Meeting of the Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, held in Brisbane, Australia, on 7 and 8 June 2004 as part of the Bali Process. Looking forward to the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to be held in Bangkok in 2005, which will provide an important opportunity to exchange views and experiences and to identify emerging trends and issues in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, Welcoming the entry into force in 2003 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. and in 2004 of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex III. Welcoming also the opening for signature, at the High-level Political Conference, held in Merida, Mexico, from 9 to 11 December 2003, of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. Bearing in mind all its relevant resolutions, in particular those related to the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation and technical assistance in promoting and facilitating the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretoResolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, as well as the universal instruments against terrorism, Bearing in mind also all Economic and Social Council resolutions on strengthening international cooperation, technical assistance and advisory services in crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as on strengthening the rule of law and the reform of criminal justice institutions, including in post-conflict reconstruction, the technical cooperation capacity of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and on the implementation of technical assistance in Africa by the Office, Acknowledging the role of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and their development, as reflected in Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/28 of 21 July 2004, Recalling its relevant resolutions in which it requested the Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandate, in conformity with the high priority attached to the Programme, Aware of the continued increase in requests for technical assistance forwarded to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by least developed countries, developing countries, countries with economies in transition and countries emerging from conflict, and recognizing the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the Office between all priorities identified by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, Expressing its appreciation for the funding provided by certain Member States, which in recent years has permitted the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant bodies to enhance their capacity to execute an increased number of projects in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 58/140;A/59/205. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, in responding to the needs of the international community in the face of both national and transnational criminality and in assisting Member States in achieving the goals of preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime; 3. Reiterates its appreciation of the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to coordinate international cooperation efforts, and requests that a gender perspective continue to be integrated into all activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 4. Reaffirms the importance of the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the fulfilment of its mandate in crime prevention and criminal justice, including to prevent and combat terrorism in coordination with and complementing the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism, in particular in strengthening international cooperation and providing technical assistance, upon request; 5. Reaffirms also the role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in providing to Member States, upon request and as a matter of high priority, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism as well as in the area of reconstruction of national criminal justice systems, and stresses the need to enhance its operational activities to assist, in particular, least developed countries, developing countries, countries with economies in transition and countries emerging from conflict; 6. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the global programmes addressing trafficking in human beings, corruption, organized crime and terrorism, and calls upon the Secretary-General to enhance further the visibility of those programmes and to strengthen the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by providing it with the resources necessary for the full implementation of its mandate in crime prevention and criminal justice, including the preparation of an updated publication on world crime trends; 7. Invites all States to support the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund or through voluntary contributions in direct support of such activities, including for the provision of technical assistance for the implementation of the commitments entered into at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, including the measures outlined in the plans of action for the implementation of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century;Resolution 56/261, annex. 8. Also invites all States to support, through voluntary contributions, the activities carried out by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant bodies; 9. Encourages relevant programmes, funds and organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and invites the international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank and regional and national funding agencies, to support the operational activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice; 10. Urges States and relevant international organizations to develop national, regional and international strategies and other necessary measures to complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in addressing effectively the significant problems posed by the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons and related criminal activities, such as kidnapping; 11. Urges States and funding agencies to review, as appropriate, their funding policies for development assistance and to include a crime prevention and criminal justice component in such assistance; 12. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to exercise more vigorously its mandated function of resource mobilization, and calls upon the Commission to strengthen further its activities in this direction; 13. Notes with appreciation the outcome of the senior-level discussion held during the thirteenth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on progress made with regard to the criminal justice aspects of terrorism and international cooperation and to the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 10 (E/2004/30), chap. V. 14. Expresses its appreciation to non-governmental organizations and other relevant sectors of civil society for their support for the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 15. Invites relevant entities of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Development Programme as well as the World Bank and other international funding agencies, to increase further their interaction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in order to benefit from synergies and avoid duplication of effort and to ensure that, as appropriate, activities on crime prevention and criminal justice, including activities related to the prevention of corruption and the promotion of the rule of law, are considered in their sustainable development agenda and that the expertise of the Office is fully utilized; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to provide adequate support to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the principal policy-making body in this field, in performing its activities, including cooperation and coordination with the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant bodies; 17. Urges all States and regional economic organizations that have not yet done so to ratify or accede to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and the Protocols thereto;Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. 18. Emphasizes the importance of the expeditious entry into force of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted by its resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001; 19. Welcomes the voluntary contributions already made, and encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention or in direct support of implementation activities and initiatives; 20. Urges all States and competent regional economic integration organizations that have not yet done so to sign, ratify or accede to the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Resolution 58/4, annex. 21. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures and provide adequate support to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime so as to enable it to promote the speedy entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 22. Encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention or in direct support of implementation activities and initiatives; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/15 Adopted at the 46th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/528, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 59/15. Financing of the United Nations Operation in Burundi The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Operation in BurundiA/59/300. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/412. Recalling Security Council resolution 1545 (2004) of 21 May 2004, by which the Council authorized, for an initial period of six months as from 1 June 2004, with the intention to renew it for further periods, the deployment of a peacekeeping operation in Burundi entitled the United Nations Operation in Burundi, Recalling also its resolution 58/312 of 18 June 2004 on the financing of the Operation, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Operation with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Operation in Burundi as at 30 September 2004, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 100.3 million United States dollars, representing some 65 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only twenty-seven Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Operation in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Operation; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/412. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 9. Authorizes the Secretary-General to fill the following posts at appropriate grades until 30 June 2005: Director in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Political Affairs Officer in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Protocol Officer in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Political Affairs Officer in the Office of the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Humanitarian and Development Coordination); Special Assistant to the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Principal Legal Adviser; Chief of the Communications and Public Information Office; Spokesperson; and requests the Secretary-General to re-justify these posts in his next budget with additional information on appropriate grades; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Operation against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Operation; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 12. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Operation in Burundi the amount of 329,714,400 dollars for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, inclusive of the amount of 106,334,600 dollars previously authorized by the General Assembly under the terms of its resolution 58/312 for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2004; Financing of the appropriation 13. Decides, taking into account the amount of 106,334,600 dollars already apportioned by the General Assembly for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2004 under the terms of its resolution 58/312, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 31,046,400 dollars for the period from 1 July to 30 November 2004, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and updated in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 14. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 13 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 1,076,225 dollars, representing the estimated additional staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 1 July to 30 November 2004; 15. Decides further to apportion among Member States the amount of 192,333,400 dollars at a monthly rate of 27,476,200 dollars for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 December 2004 to 30 June 2005, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 13 above and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004 and 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Operation; 16. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 3,169,775 dollars, representing the staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 1 December 2004 to 30 June 2005; 17. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 18. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Operation; 19. Invites voluntary contributions to the Operation in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 20. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Burundi". RESOLUTION 59/160 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/495, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/160. Control of cultivation of and trafficking in cannabis The General Assembly, Recalling the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol,Ibid., vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,Ibid., vol. 1582, No. 27627. Recalling also Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 45/8 of 15 March 2002 on the control of cannabis in Africa,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 8 and corrigenda (E/2002/28 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. C. Concerned that, of all the substances listed in the international drug control treaties, cannabis is by far the most widely and most frequently abused, especially among young people, Concerned also that the abuse of cannabis, especially among young people, often leads to risk-taking behaviour, Concerned further that cultivation of and trafficking in cannabis are on the increase in Africa partly as a result of extreme poverty and the absence of any viable alternative crop and partly because of the profitability of such activity and the high demand for cannabis in other regions of the world, Noting with concern that increased cultivation of cannabis in Africa is extremely dangerous for the ecosystem because it leads to extensive use of fertilizers, overexploitation of the soil and destruction of forests to make room for new cannabis fields, thus accelerating soil erosion, Taking note of the report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2003,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.XI.1. in which the Board confirmed that the production of, trafficking in and abuse of cannabis continued to pose a serious problem in various regions of the world, Aware of the importance of programmes promoting alternative development, including, where appropriate, preventive alternative development, Emphasizing the primary importance of international cooperation in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse, 1. Welcomes the 2003 cannabis survey conducted by Morocco in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 2. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of voluntary funds, which might be either from general-purpose funds, in accordance with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs guidelines for the use of general-purpose funds,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 44/20, annex. or from earmarked funds, to begin a global survey of cannabis, initially with a market survey, before the forty-eighth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs; 3. Also requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to support the creation or strengthening of national and subregional strategies and plans of action for the eradication of cannabis crops, subject to the availability of voluntary funds, which might be either from general-purpose funds, in accordance with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs guidelines for the use of general-purpose funds, or from earmarked funds; 4. Urges Member States, in accordance with the principle of shared responsibility and as a sign of their commitment to the fight against illicit drugs, to extend cooperation to affected States, particularly in Africa, in the area of alternative development, including funding for research into crops offering viable alternatives to cannabis, environmental protection and technical assistance; 5. Encourages Member States with experience and expertise in the eradication of illicit drug crops and alternative development programmes to share their experience and expertise with affected States, particularly in Africa; 6. Urges all Member States to encourage appropriate access to international markets for products of alternative development projects in order to support efforts aimed at eliminating the production of narcotic drugs and promoting sustainable development; 7. Encourages Member States to apply new strategies and tools to complement existing ones in efforts to combat trafficking in cannabis; 8. Calls upon all States to ensure strict compliance with all the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol,Ibid., vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988;Ibid., vol. 1582, No. 27627. 9. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/161 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/495, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/161. Providing support to the Government of Afghanistan in its efforts to eliminate illicit opium and foster stability and security in the region The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. outlining the interrelated commitments, goals and targets to be achieved on, inter alia, development, peace and security and setting the required framework for international cooperation for achieving those goals, Recognizing that the threat emanating from illicit opium poppy cultivation and production of and trafficking in illicit opium, as addressed at the Conference on Drug Routes from Central Asia to Europe, held in Paris on 21 and 22 May 2003, is a serious challenge to the security and stability of Afghanistan, its neighbouring countries and the region and poses a problem for countries throughout the world, Taking note of Afghanistan: Opium Survey 2003, published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Recognizing the strong and continuing commitment made by the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan at the institutional, legal and administrative levels to eliminate opium poppy cultivation by 2013, Reaffirming the commitments undertaken by Member States in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,Resolution S-20/2, annex. in which Member States recognized that action against the world drug problem was a common and shared responsibility and expressed their conviction that it must be addressed in a multilateral setting, Recalling that the Security Council, on 17 June 2003, called upon the international community to provide assistance to the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and in line with the national drug control strategy,See S/PRST/2003/7; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2002-31 July 2003. Recalling also that, in section II of its resolution 58/141 of 22 December 2003, the General Assembly reaffirmed the Joint Ministerial Statement and further measures to implement the action plans emanating from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, adopted during the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,A/58/124, sect. II.A. and recommended that adequate help be provided to Afghanistan in support of the commitment of the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan to eliminate illicit opium, Stressing the importance and urgency of the implementation of the five action plans adopted by the International Counter-Narcotics Conference on Afghanistan, held in Kabul on 8 and 9 February 2004, which were to form part of the discussion at the international conference entitled "Afghanistan and the International Community: a Partnership for the Future", held in Berlin on 31 March and 1 April 2004, and the conclusion of the Kabul conference that the illicit drug issue is a top priority of all those interested in securing the future of Afghanistan, Recalling that, in the Joint Ministerial Statement and further measures to implement the action plans emanating from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, the ministers and other government representatives participating in the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs recommended that adequate help be provided to Afghanistan within the framework of the comprehensive international strategy carried out, inter alia, under the auspices of the United Nations and through other multilateral forums, in support of the commitment of the Transitional Government of Afghanistan to eliminate the illicit cultivation of opium poppy and in response to the unique situation of that country, reaffirmed that that should help the provision of alternative livelihoods and the fight against illicit trafficking in drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including the strengthening of "security belts" in the region, and that extensive efforts had to be made to reduce the demand for drugs globally in order to contribute to the sustainability of the elimination of illicit cultivation in Afghanistan and, in that context, affirmed that their response to that unique situation would not detract from their commitment and resources devoted to the fight against drugs in other parts of the world,Ibid., para. 22. Recalling also that the International Narcotics Control Board, in its report for 2003, pointed out that trade in Afghan opiates generated funds that corrupted institutions, financed terrorism and insurgency and led to destabilization of the region,See Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2003 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.XI.1), para. 203. Recalling further the appeal to the international community made by the International Narcotics Control Board on 12 February 2004 to support fully the Afghan authorities in addressing the drug control situation, in order to meet the requirements of the international drug treaties, including article 14 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. and that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol,Ibid., vol. 976, No. 14152. 1. Welcomes the bilateral and multilateral support being provided by the international community, through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other organizations; 2. Expresses its support for the efforts of Member States aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in order to counter the threat to the international community posed by the illicit cultivation of opium poppy in Afghanistan and its illicit trade; 3. Calls upon the international community to enhance financial and technical support to Afghanistan in order to enable the Government to implement successfully its national drug control strategy and thereby reduce the demand for illicit drugs in Afghanistan and the threat that illicit opium poppy cultivation and illicit opium trade have created to the peace, stability and socio-economic recovery of Afghanistan and to the security of the region and the other parts of the world; 4. Urges all stakeholders to accelerate efforts to implement a combined strategy, comprising law enforcement, eradication, interdiction, demand reduction and awareness- building, including alternative livelihoods conceived in a broader development context than currently understood, with a view to creating sustainable livelihoods, independent of illicit opium; 5. Encourages the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan to accelerate the implementation of the commitment that it courageously made to the five action plans adopted by the International Counter-Narcotics Conference on Afghanistan, held in Kabul on 8 and 9 February 2004; 6. Reaffirms the need to strengthen measures to reduce the global demand for illicit drugs, in order to support and contribute to the sustainability of efforts to eliminate illicit opium in Afghanistan; 7. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of voluntary funds, which might be either from general-purpose funds, in accordance with the Commission on Narcotic Drugs guidelines for the use of general-purpose funds,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 44/20, annex. or from earmarked funds, and encourages concerned Member States, international organizations and financial institutions to routinely mainstream counter-narcotics measures as part of their development cooperation strategies, in coordination with the development objectives of the Government of Afghanistan, so that sustainable alternative livelihoods are created in Afghanistan. RESOLUTION 59/162 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/495, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 59/162. Follow-up on strengthening the systems of control over chemical precursors and preventing their diversion and trafficking The General Assembly, Concerned about the continued diversion and misuse of precursors and the fact that, despite efforts undertaken by all States, including the producing, exporting, importing and transit States, chemical substances are increasingly feeding the manufacture of illicit drugs of natural or synthetic origin, a problem that deserves the utmost attention of all States, Recalling the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, devoted to countering the world drug problem together,Resolution S-20/2, annex. in which Member States decided to establish 2008 as a target date for States to eliminate or considerably reduce the diversion of precursors, Recalling also the Joint Ministerial Statement and further measures to implement the action plans emanating from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, adopted during the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,A/58/124, sect. II.A. Stressing the importance of Economic and Social Council resolutions 2003/32 and 2003/35 of 22 July 2003 on training in precursor control, countering money-laundering and drug abuse prevention, and on strengthening the prevention and suppression of illicit drug trafficking, Recalling article 12, paragraphs 1, 9 (c) and 10, of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1582, No. 27627. Reaffirming the importance of using all available legal means or measures to prevent the diversion of chemicals from legitimate trade to illicit drug manufacture as an essential component of comprehensive strategies against drug abuse and trafficking and of preventing access to chemical precursors by those engaged in or attempting to engage in the processing of illicit drugs, Reiterating the importance of the effective and real-time exchange of information relating to the interdiction, diversion and suspected diversion of precursors, as an essential component of strategies to facilitate comprehensive investigations into cases relating to such diversion, including the identification of the modus operandi and entities involved and the initiation of appropriate legal action, Encouraging Member States to conduct backtracking law enforcement investigations in order to counter organized smuggling networks effectively, Also encouraging Member States to facilitate the exchange of information between the relevant agencies in order to identify the sources of seized precursor chemicals and those responsible for the shipping and diversion of those substances and to identify the sources of pharmaceutical preparations misused for illicit drug manufacture, Noting that links are increasingly being uncovered between the smuggling of drugs and the smuggling of precursor chemicals, including the use of similar modi operandi to conceal consignments in order to avoid detection, Welcoming with satisfaction the results achieved so far under Operation Purple and Operation Topaz and the new initiative called Project Prism, which were launched by the International Narcotics Control Board, in cooperation with Member States, to enhance controls over chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of cocaine, heroin and amphetamine-type stimulants respectively, Concerned that, without additional resources, the International Narcotics Control Board will not be able to carry out its important functions under the above-mentioned operations, 1. Urges all Member States to put in place systems and procedures to ensure that the details of any interdiction, seizure, diversion or attempted diversion of precursors are communicated expeditiously to all Governments concerned and the International Narcotics Control Board and, insofar as possible, share relevant information so that methods frequently used for national and international trafficking in chemicals may be identified, pursuant to article 12 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1582, No. 27627. 2. Reiterates the importance of applying the know-your-customer principle referred to in Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/39 of 22 July 2003, and stresses the necessity of strengthening the use of the mechanism of pre-export notifications, including by providing timely responses, especially through the efficient sharing of information; 3. Invites those States which do not have mechanisms to enable the real-time exchange of information under the current international operations to consider establishing a national focal point or central national authority in line with the standard operating procedures of the international operations, through which all information on licit and illicit consignments can be channelled, and invites all Member States to contribute to updating the directory of competent national authorities under the international drug control treaties, with a view to implementing article 12 of the 1988 Convention; 4. Recommends that Member States develop or further adapt, where necessary, their regulatory and operational control procedures to counter the diversion of chemical substances into illicit drug production or manufacture, and encourages authorities to initiate or further strengthen coordination and cooperation between all regulatory and enforcement services involved in precursor control; 5. Invites Member States and appropriate international and regional bodies to review intelligence on the smuggling of drugs and the smuggling of precursor chemicals, in order to identify common links and to plan appropriate operations to stop such activities; 6. Encourages Member States to ensure that stopped diversion attempts receive the same investigative attention that would be afforded to a seizure of the same substance, since such cases could provide valuable intelligence that could prevent diversions elsewhere; 7. Emphasizes the need to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place, where necessary and to the extent possible, to prevent the diversion of preparations containing chemicals listed in tables I and II of the 1988 Convention, pertaining to illicit drug manufacture, in particular those containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine; 8. Encourages Member States, in order to counter smuggling networks effectively, to conduct backtracking law enforcement investigations and, where appropriate, to identify the source of the seized chemical precursors and those responsible for the consignment and ultimately the diversion; 9. Also encourages Member States to investigate the possibility of establishing operational chemical profiling programmes, and invites all States to support, to the extent possible, such programmes; 10. Requests the International Narcotics Control Board, pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/20 of 24 July 1995, to monitor international trade so that diversion attempts can be identified, preventing chemical precursors from reaching the illicit market; 11. Urges the International Narcotics Control Board to continue to follow up all such cases of diversion by facilitating investigations by national authorities and to make its findings available to Governments through its annual report; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources to the International Narcotics Control Board to enable it to continue its work effectively under Operation Purple, Operation Topaz and Project Prism; 13. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, within the framework of his biennial reports on the implementation of the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly and taking into account the relevant resolutions adopted on the subject since the special session, to include in his report on the control of precursors, starting with his report to be submitted to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-eighth session, recommendations on how to strengthen the use of the pre-export notification mechanism and ensure timely responses. RESOLUTION 59/163 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/495, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/163. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. its resolution 58/141 of 22 December 2003 and its other previous resolutions, Reaffirming its commitment to the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, devoted to countering the world drug problem together, held in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998, and welcoming the continuing determination of Governments to overcome the world drug problem by a full and balanced application of national, regional and international strategies to reduce the demand for, production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, Reaffirming the importance of the commitments of Member States in meeting the objectives targeted for 2003 and 2008, as set out in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at the twentieth special session,Resolution S-20/2, annex. and welcoming the guidelines and elements recommended by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme for the preparation of subsequent reports on the follow-up to the twentieth special session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 8 (E/1999/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 42/11; and ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 44/2. Emphasizing the importance of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,Resolution S-20/3, annex. which introduces a new global approach balanced between illicit supply and demand reduction, under the principle of shared responsibility, and of the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development,Resolution S-20/4 E. which recognizes the importance of supply reduction as an integral part of a balanced drug control strategy, Recognizing the efforts of all countries, in particular those that produce narcotic drugs for scientific and medical purposes, and of the International Narcotics Control Board in preventing the diversion of such substances to illicit markets and in maintaining production at a level consistent with licit demand, in line with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. Aware that progress has been uneven in meeting the goals set in the Political Declaration, as also reflected in the biennial reports of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,E/CN.7/2001/2 and Add.1-3, E/CN.7/2001/16 and E/CN.7/2003/2 and Add.1-6. and recognizing that the drug problem is still a global challenge that constitutes a serious threat to public health and safety and the well-being of humankind, in particular children and young people, and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development, including efforts to reduce poverty, and causes violence and crime, including in urban areas, Concerned by the increase in the abuse of illicit drugs among children, including adolescents, and young people, Concerned also by the challenges posed by links between the spread of HIV/AIDS and injecting drug use, Concerned further by the serious challenges and threats posed by the continuing links between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism and other national and transnational criminal activities, such as trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, money-laundering, corruption, trafficking in arms and trafficking in chemical precursors, and reaffirming that strong and effective international cooperation is needed to counter these threats, Concerned about policies and activities in favour of the legalization of illicit narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that are not in accordance with the international drug control treaties and that might jeopardize the international drug control regime, Concerned also by the increase in the diversion of chemical precursors used in the illicit manufacture of drugs, Acknowledging that international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, and expressing its appreciation for the initiatives in this regard, I Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and international law in countering the world drug problem 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility that must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requires an integrated and balanced approach, and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 2. Urges all States to ratify or accede to, and States parties to implement all the provisions of, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988;Ibid., vol. 1582, No. 27627. 3. Invites all States, as a matter of priority, to sign, ratify or accede to, and States parties to implement, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretoResolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. and the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. in order to counter comprehensively the transnational criminal activities that are related to illicit drug trafficking; II International cooperation to counter the world drug problem and follow-up to the twentieth special session 1. Reaffirms the Joint Ministerial Statement and further measures to implement the action plans emanating from the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, adopted during the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,A/58/124, sect. II.A. which emphasizes that the world drug problem must be addressed in multilateral, regional, bilateral and national settings and that, in order to succeed, action to counter it has to involve all Member States, that action must be supported by strong international and development cooperation and must be further included in national development priorities, and that it requires a balance between supply reduction and demand reduction, as well as a comprehensive strategy that combines alternative development, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, eradication, interdiction, law enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation as well as education; 2. Calls upon all States to strengthen their efforts in the fight against the world drug problem, in order to achieve the objectives targeted for 2008 in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at the twentieth special session;Resolution S-20/2, annex. 3. Calls upon all relevant actors to continue their close cooperation with Governments in promoting and implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session and the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs; 4. Stresses that data collection, analysis and evaluation of the results of ongoing national and international policies are essential tools for further developing sound, evidence-based drug control strategies; Demand reduction 5. Urges all Member States to implement the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs in their population, in particular among children and young people; 6. Urges States, in order to achieve a significant and measurable reduction of drug abuse by 2008: (a) To further implement comprehensive demand reduction policies and programmes, including research, covering all the drugs under international control, in order to raise public awareness of the drug problem, paying special attention to prevention and education and providing, especially to young people and others at risk, information on developing life skills, making healthy choices and engaging in drug-free activities; (b) To further develop and implement comprehensive demand reduction policies, including risk reduction activities, that are in line with sound medical practice and the international drug control treaties and that reduce the adverse health and social consequences of drug abuse, and to provide a wide range of comprehensive services for the treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug abusers, with appropriate resources being devoted to such services, since social exclusion constitutes an important risk factor for drug abuse; (c) To enhance early intervention programmes that dissuade children and young people from using illicit drugs, including polydrug use and the recreational use of substances such as cannabis and synthetic drugs, especially amphetamine-type stimulants, and to encourage the active participation of the younger generation in campaigns against drug abuse; (d) To provide a comprehensive range of services for preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases associated with drug abuse, including education, counselling and drug abuse treatment, and in particular to assist developing countries in their efforts to deal with these issues; Illicit synthetic drugs 7. Urges States to renew their efforts, at the national, regional and international levels, to implement the comprehensive measures covered in the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors,See resolution S-20/4 A. to make special efforts to counter the abuse and recreational use of amphetamine-type stimulants, especially by young people, and to disseminate information on the adverse health, social and economic consequences of such abuse; Control of substances 8. Encourages States to establish or strengthen mechanisms and procedures to ensure strict control of substances that are listed in the international drug treaties and are used to manufacture illicit drugs of natural and synthetic origin, and to support international operations aimed at preventing their diversion, including through coordination and cooperation between regulatory and enforcement services involved in their control; Control of precursors 9. Encourages States to establish or strengthen mechanisms and procedures to ensure strict control of chemical precursors used to manufacture illicit drugs, to support international operations aimed at preventing the diversion of chemical precursors, including through coordination and cooperation between regulatory and enforcement services involved in precursor control, in cooperation with the International Narcotics Control Board, and to counter smuggling networks effectively, inter alia, by conducting backtracking law enforcement investigations; Judicial cooperation 10. Calls upon all States to strengthen international cooperation among judicial and law enforcement authorities at all levels in order to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking and to share and promote best operational practices in order to interdict illicit drug trafficking, including by establishing and strengthening regional mechanisms, providing technical assistance and establishing effective methods for cooperation, in particular in the areas of air, maritime, port and border control and in the implementation of extradition treaties; Countering money-laundering 11. Urges States to strengthen action, in particular international cooperation and technical assistance aimed at preventing and combating the laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking and related criminal activities, with the support of the United Nations system, international institutions such as the World Bank and regional development banks, to develop and strengthen comprehensive international regimes to combat money-laundering, and to improve information-sharing among financial institutions and agencies in charge of preventing and detecting the laundering of those proceeds; 12. Calls upon States to consider including provisions in their national drug control plans for the establishment of national networks to enhance their respective capabilities to prevent, monitor, control and suppress serious offences connected with money-laundering and the financing of terrorist acts, and in general to counter all acts of transnational organized crime, and to supplement existing regional and international networks dealing with money-laundering; International cooperation in illicit crop eradication and alternative development 13. Recognizes the efforts made by States to implement innovative alternative programmes, inter alia, in reforestation, agriculture and small and medium enterprise, and stresses the importance of the United Nations system and the international community contributing to the economic and social development of the communities that benefit from such programmes; 14. Calls upon States, where appropriate: (a) To enhance support, including, where appropriate, through the provision of new and additional financial resources, for alternative development, environmental protection and eradication programmes undertaken by countries affected by the illicit cultivation of cannabis, especially in Africa, of opium poppy and of coca bush, in particular national programmes that seek to reduce social marginalization and promote sustainable economic development; (b) To enhance joint strategies, through international and regional cooperation, to strengthen, including by training, education and providing technical assistance, alternative development, eradication and interdiction capacity, with the aim of eliminating illicit crop cultivation and fostering economic and social development; (c) To encourage international cooperation, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, to prevent illicit crop cultivation from emerging in or being relocated to other areas; (d) To provide, in accordance with the principle of shared responsibility, greater access to their markets for products of alternative development programmes, which are necessary for the creation of employment and the eradication of poverty; (e) To establish or reinforce, where appropriate, national mechanisms to monitor and verify illicit crops; (f) To continue to contribute to the maintenance of a balance between the licit supply of and demand for opiate raw materials used for medical and scientific purposes and to cooperate in preventing the proliferation of sources of production of opiate raw materials; (g) To share their experience, expertise and best practices in the eradication of illicit drug crops and the implementation of alternative development programmes with affected States; 15. Calls upon the international community to enhance financial and technical support for Afghanistan in order to enable the Government to implement successfully its national drug control strategy; III Action by the United Nations system 1. Emphasizes that the multidimensional nature of the world drug problem calls for the promotion of integration and coordination of drug control activities throughout the United Nations system, including in the follow-up to major United Nations conferences, as well as in other relevant multilateral institutions and organizations; 2. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 of 28 July 1999 and the measures taken and recommendations adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth and forty-seventh sessions, aimed at the enhancement of its functioning; 3. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as the global coordinating body in international drug control and as the governing body of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 4. Notes that the International Narcotics Control Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, including those that will enable it to perform effectively its task within the framework of Operation Purple, Operation Topaz and Project Prism, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and calls for enhanced cooperation and understanding between Member States and the Board in order to enable it to implement all its mandates under the international drug control conventions; 5. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to implement its mandate, and requests the Office to continue: (a) To strengthen dialogue with Member States and also to ensure continued improvement in management, so as to contribute to enhanced and sustainable programme delivery and further encourage the Executive Director to maximize the effectiveness of the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, inter alia, through the full implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolutions, in particular the recommendations contained therein; (b) To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, on request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session; (c) To increase its assistance, within the available voluntary resources, to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes, and to explore new and innovative funding mechanisms; (d) To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,Resolution S-20/3, annex. and support countries, upon their request, to further develop and implement drug demand reduction policies; (e) To develop action-oriented strategies to assist Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration, and to report to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-eighth session on the follow-up to the Action Plan; (f) To strengthen dialogue and cooperation with multilateral development banks and with international financial institutions so that they may undertake lending and programming activities related to drug control in interested and affected countries to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session, and to keep the Commission on Narcotic Drugs informed of further progress made in this area; (g) To take into account the outcome of the twentieth special session, to include in its report on the illicit traffic in drugs an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to address all aspects of the drug problem; (h) To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all the official languages; (i) To provide technical assistance, from available voluntary contributions for that purpose, to those States identified by relevant international bodies as the most affected by the transit of drugs, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support; (j) To provide assistance, at the request of States and respecting fully their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and with the support of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the European Space Agency, among others, in detecting on time the emergence or relocation of illicit crop cultivation; 6. Welcomes also the follow-up, led by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to the 2003 Paris Conference on Drug Routes from Central Asia to Europe (the Paris Pact),See S/2003/641. and encourages the Office and other relevant international institutions to continue their efforts; 7. Welcomes further the decision of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, at its forty-seventh session, to select the topic "Preventing HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases in the context of drug abuse prevention" as part of the thematic debate of its forty-eighth session, in 2005; 8. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of resources and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs guidelines for the use of general-purpose funds,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 44/20, annex. together with international financial institutions and the organizations involved in preventing and suppressing money-laundering and drug trafficking, to facilitate the provision of training and advice through technical cooperation in States, when requested, taking into account, inter alia, the recommendations on money-laundering and the financing of terrorism formulated by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and its regional groups; 9. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the United Nations International Drug Control Programme by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities, and recommends that a sufficient share of the regular budget of the United Nations be allocated to the Programme to enable it to fulfil its mandates and to work towards securing assured and predictable funding; 10. Encourages the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcome of the twentieth special session and the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission; 11. Calls upon the relevant United Nations agencies and entities, other international organizations and international financial institutions, including regional development banks, to mainstream drug control issues into their programmes, and calls upon the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to maintain its leading role by providing relevant information and technical assistance; 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/188. and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/164 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/496, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/164. Improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 1 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as Article 8, which provides that the United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs, Recalling also the goal, contained in the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. of achieving overall gender equality, particularly at the Professional level and above, by 2000 and the further actions and initiatives set out in the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. 1. Takes note with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/357. 2. Welcomes: (a) The commitment of the Secretary-General to meeting the goal of gender equality and his assurance that gender balance will be given the highest priority in his continuing efforts to bring about a new management culture in the Organization; (b) The new initiatives and strategies undertaken system-wide and at the Secretariat level to achieve gender balance, including paying special attention to the identification of suitably qualified women candidates, strengthening of recruitment sources for women, development of recruitment strategies in substantive areas, enhancing women's career development, fostering attitudinal changes and introducing family-friendly policies; (c) The increase in the proportion of women in the Professional and higher categories of staff with appointments of one year or more; 3. Regrets that the goal of 50/50 gender distribution has not been met and that overall progress in achieving this goal remains limited; 4. Notes with concern the continuing lack of representation of women at higher levels of decision-making, especially at the Under-Secretary-General level; 5. Notes with particular concern that gender balance considerations have yet to be effectively integrated throughout the human resources management policies of the United Nations; 6. Reaffirms the urgent goal of achieving 50/50 gender distribution in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at senior and policy-making levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations; 7. Stresses the need to address the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing and least developed countries, from countries with economies in transition and from unrepresented or largely underrepresented Member States; 8. Reaffirms the need to continue to develop innovative recruitment strategies to identify and attract suitably qualified women candidates, in particular from, and in, developing and least developed countries and countries with economies in transition and other Member States that are unrepresented or underrepresented in the Secretariat; 9. Reaffirms also its resolution 58/144 of 22 December 2003, and requests increased and sustained efforts towards its full implementation; 10. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to ensure that recruitment strategies, promotion and retention policies, career development, justice, anti-harassment and sexual harassment policies, human resources and succession planning, work/family policies, management culture and mechanisms for managerial accountability accelerate the goal of 50/50 gender distribution; 11. Urges the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the organizations of the United Nations system to redouble their efforts to realize significant progress towards the goal of 50/50 gender distribution in the very near future; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to enable the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women to effectively contribute to, monitor and facilitate the setting and achievement of gender targets in human resource action plans, including by ensuring access to the information required to carry out that work; 13. Strongly encourages Member States to support the efforts of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, funds and programmes to achieve the goal of 50/50 gender distribution, especially at senior and policy-making levels, by identifying and regularly submitting more women candidates for appointment to positions in the United Nations system, by identifying and proposing national recruitment sources in cooperation with national women's machineries and professional organization networks and by encouraging more women to apply for positions within the Secretariat, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes and the regional commissions, including in areas in which women are underrepresented, such as peacekeeping, peacebuilding and other non-traditional areas; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to provide an oral report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth and fiftieth sessions and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution, including by providing up-to-date statistics on all levels of the United Nations system. RESOLUTION 59/165 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/496, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/165. Working towards the elimination of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to life, liberty and security of person, as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and reaffirming also the obligations of States parties under human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Reaffirming also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. as well as the goals and commitments contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Recalling its resolutions 57/179 of 18 December 2002 and 58/147 of 22 December 2003, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/46 of 20 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also its resolution 58/185 of 22 December 2003, in which it called for an in-depth study on violence against women, including crimes committed in the name of honour, as well as its resolution 57/190 of 18 December 2002, in which it called for an in-depth study on violence against children, Bearing in mind that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour and to provide protection to the victims, and that not doing so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Stressing the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls, including crimes committed in the name of honour, as a criminal offence, punishable by law, Stressing also the need to identify and effectively address the root causes of violence against women, in particular crimes committed in the name of honour, which take many different forms, Aware that inadequate data on violence against women, including crimes committed in the name of honour, hinder informed policy analysis, at both the domestic and the international levels, and efforts to eliminate such violence, Deeply concerned that women and girls continue to be victims of these crimes, as described in the relevant sections of the reports of the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and noting in this regard successive reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Emphasizing that such crimes are incompatible with all religious and cultural values, Emphasizing also that the elimination of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour requires greater efforts and commitment on the part of Governments and the international community, inter alia, through international cooperation efforts, and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and that fundamental changes in societal attitude are required, Underlining the importance of the empowerment of women and their effective participation in decision-making and policy-making processes as one of the critical tools to prevent and eliminate crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour, 1. Welcomes: (a) The report of the Secretary-General on violence against women;A/59/281. (b) The activities and initiatives of States aimed at the elimination of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, including the adoption of amendments to relevant national laws relating to such crimes, the effective implementation of such laws and educational, social and other measures, including national information and awareness-raising campaigns, as well as activities and initiatives of States aimed at the elimination of all other forms of violence against women; (c) The efforts, such as projects, undertaken by United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, including the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, to address the issue of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, and encourages them to coordinate their efforts; (d) The work carried out by civil society, including non-governmental organizations, such as women's organizations, grass-roots movements and individuals, in raising awareness of such crimes and their harmful effects; 2. Expresses its concern that women continue to be victims of crimes committed in the name of honour, and at the continuing occurrence in all regions of the world of such violence, which takes many different forms, and at failures to prosecute and punish perpetrators; 3. Calls upon all States: (a) To fulfil their obligations under the relevant international human rights instruments and to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly;Resolution S-23/3, annex. (b) To continue to intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour, which take many different forms, by using legislative, administrative and programmatic measures; (c) To investigate promptly and thoroughly, prosecute effectively and document cases of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour and punish the perpetrators; (d) To intensify efforts to raise awareness of the need to prevent and eliminate crimes against women and girls committed and condoned in the name of honour, with the aim of changing the attitudes and behaviour that allow such crimes to be committed by involving, inter alia, community leaders; (e) To intensify efforts to raise awareness about the responsibility of men to promote gender equality and bring about change in attitudes to eliminate gender stereotypes, including, specifically, their role in preventing crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour; (f) To encourage the efforts of the media to engage in awareness-raising campaigns; (g) To encourage, support and implement measures and programmes aimed at increasing the knowledge and understanding of the causes and consequences of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour, including the provision of training for those responsible for enforcing the law, such as police personnel and judicial and legal personnel, and to strengthen their capacity to respond to complaints of such crimes in an impartial and effective manner and take necessary measures to ensure the protection of actual and potential victims; (h) To continue to support the work of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in addressing this issue and to strengthen cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; (i) To establish, strengthen or facilitate, where possible, support services to respond to the needs of actual and potential victims by, inter alia, providing for them the appropriate protection, safe shelter, counselling, legal aid, health-care services, including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, psychological health and other relevant areas, rehabilitation and reintegration into society; (j) To address effectively complaints of crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour, inter alia, by creating, strengthening or facilitating institutional mechanisms so that victims and others can report such crimes in a safe and confidential environment; (k) To gather and disseminate statistical information on the occurrence of such crimes, including information disaggregated by sex and age, and to make any such information available to the Secretariat for use in the in-depth study on violence against women, in accordance with resolution 58/185, and the in-depth study on violence against children, in accordance with resolution 57/190; (l) To include, where appropriate, in their reports to the human rights treaty bodies information on legal and policy measures adopted and implemented in their efforts to prevent and eliminate crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour; 4. Invites: (a) The international community, including relevant United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, inter alia, through technical assistance and advisory services programmes, to support the efforts of all countries, at their request, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity for preventing crimes against women and girls committed in the name of honour and at addressing the root causes of such crimes; (b) The relevant human rights treaty bodies, where appropriate, and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences to continue to address this issue; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution in his report on the question of violence against women to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/166 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/496, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam. 59/166. Trafficking in women and girls The General Assembly, Recalling all previous resolutions on the problem of trafficking in women and girls adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, including their reaffirmation of the principles set forth in relevant human rights instruments and declarations, as well as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annex II. the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 54/4, annex. and the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others,Resolution 317 (IV), annex. Welcoming the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. on 29 September 2003 and of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeIbid., annex II. on 25 December 2003 and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Ibid., annex III. on 28 January 2004, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the resolve expressed by Heads of State and Government to intensify efforts to fight transnational organized crime in all its dimensions, including trafficking in human beings, Reaffirming the provisions pertaining to trafficking in women and girls contained in the outcome documents of relevant international conferences and summits, in particular the strategic objective on the issue of trafficking contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, Acknowledging the inclusion of gender-related crimes in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. which entered into force on 1 July 2002, Recognizing the need to address the impact of globalization on the particular problem of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, Bearing in mind that all States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish perpetrators of trafficking in persons and to provide protection to the victims and that not doing so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Seriously concerned that an increasing number of women and girls from developing countries and from some countries with economies in transition are being trafficked to developed countries, as well as within and between regions and States, and that men and boys are also victims of trafficking, including for sexual exploitation, Recognizing that victims of trafficking are particularly exposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and that women and girl victims are often subject to multiple forms of discrimination on the grounds of their gender as well as their origins, Acknowledging that women and girl victims of trafficking, on account of their gender, are further disadvantaged and marginalized by a general lack of information or awareness and recognition of their human rights, as well as by the obstacles they meet in gaining access to information and recourse mechanisms in cases of violation of their rights, and that special measures are required for their protection and to increase their awareness, Recognizing the importance of bilateral, subregional and regional cooperation mechanisms and initiatives of Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to address the problem of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Recognizing also that global efforts, including international cooperation and technical assistance programmes, to eradicate trafficking in persons, especially women and children, demand the strong political commitment, shared responsibility and active cooperation of all Governments of countries of origin, transit and destination, Recognizing further that policies and programmes for prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration should be developed through a child- and gender-sensitive, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach involving all actors in countries of origin, transit and destination, Concerned about the use of new information technologies, including the Internet, for purposes of exploitation of the prostitution of others and for child pornography, paedophilia and any other forms of sexual exploitation of children, trafficking in women as brides and sex tourism, Concerned also at the increasing activities of transnational criminal organizations and others that profit from international trafficking in persons, especially women and children, without regard to dangerous and inhumane conditions and in flagrant violation of domestic laws and international standards, Convinced of the need to protect and assist all victims of trafficking, with full respect for their human rights, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/185 and Corr.1. 2. Welcomes the efforts of Governments, United Nations bodies and agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to address the particular problem of trafficking in women and girls, and encourages them to continue doing so and to share their knowledge and best practices as widely as possible; 3. Also welcomes the appointment of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; 4. Urges Governments to take appropriate measures to address the root factors, including poverty and gender inequality, as well as external factors that encourage the particular problem of trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and other forms of commercialized sex, forced marriage and forced labour, in order to eliminate such trafficking, including by strengthening existing legislation with a view to providing better protection of the rights of women and girls and to punishing perpetrators, through both criminal and civil measures; 5. Also urges Governments to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in women and girls, including for sexual exploitation, as part of a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy that integrates a gender and human rights perspective, and to draw up, as appropriate, national action plans in this regard; 6. Further urges Governments to consider signing and ratifying and States parties to implement relevant United Nations legal instruments such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto, in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenResolution 54/4, annex. and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annex II. as well as the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation, 1958 (Convention No. 111) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182), of the International Labour Organization; 7. Encourages Member States to conclude bilateral, subregional, regional and international agreements, as well as to undertake initiatives, including regional initiatives,Such as the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, the Action Plan for the Asia-Pacific region of the Asian Regional Initiative against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (see A/C.3/55/3, annex), the initiatives of the European Union on a comprehensive European policy and programmes on trafficking in human beings, as expressed in the conclusions of the European Council at its meeting held at Tampere, Finland, on 15 and 16 October 1999 (see SN 200/99; available from www.europa.eu.int), and the activities of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration in this field. to address the problem of trafficking in persons, and to ensure that such agreements and initiatives pay particular attention to the problem of trafficking in women and girls; 8. Calls upon all Governments to criminalize all forms of trafficking in persons, recognizing its increasing occurrence for purposes of sexual exploitation and sex tourism, and to condemn and penalize all those offenders involved, including intermediaries, whether local or foreign, through the competent national authorities, either in the country of origin of the offender or in the country in which the abuse occurs, in accordance with due process of law, while also ensuring that the victims of those practices are not penalized for being trafficked, and to penalize persons in authority found guilty of sexually assaulting victims of trafficking in their custody; 9. Invites Governments to strengthen international cooperation aimed at preventing and combating corruption and the laundering of proceeds derived from trafficking, including for purposes of commercialized sexual exploitation; 10. Also invites Governments to consider setting up or strengthening a national coordinating mechanism, for example, a national rapporteur or an inter-agency body, with the participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to encourage the exchange of information and to report on data, root causes, factors and trends in violence against women, in particular trafficking; 11. Encourages Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, within existing resources, to take appropriate measures to raise public awareness of the issue of trafficking in persons, particularly in women and girls, including to address the demand side of the problem and to publicize the laws, regulations and penalties relating to this issue, and to emphasize that trafficking is a crime, in order to eliminate the demand, including by sex tourists, recognizing that the majority of trafficked victims are women and girls; 12. Urges concerned Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to support and allocate resources for programmes to strengthen preventive action, in particular education and campaigns to increase public awareness of the issue at the national and grass-roots levels; 13. Calls upon concerned Governments to allocate resources, as appropriate, to provide comprehensive programmes for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of trafficking, including through job training, legal assistance and health care, including for HIV/AIDS, and by taking measures to cooperate with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide for the social, medical and psychological care of the victims; 14. Encourages Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to undertake campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration so as to enable women to make informed decisions and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking; 15. Also encourages Governments to intensify collaboration with non-governmental organizations to develop and implement programmes for effective counselling, training and reintegration into society of victims of trafficking and programmes that provide shelter and helplines to victims or potential victims; 16. Calls upon Governments to take steps to ensure that the treatment of victims of trafficking, as well as all measures taken against trafficking in persons, in particular those that affect the victims of such trafficking, pay particular attention to the needs of women and girls and are applied with full respect for the human rights of those victims and are consistent with internationally recognized principles of non-discrimination, including the prohibition of racial discrimination and the availability of appropriate legal redress, which may include measures that offer victims the possibility of obtaining compensation for damage suffered; 17. Invites Governments to take steps to ensure that criminal justice procedures and witness protection programmes are sensitive to the particular situation of trafficked women and girls and that they are enabled to make complaints to the police or other authorities, as appropriate, and to be available when required by the criminal justice system, and to ensure that during this time they have access to protection and social, medical, financial and legal assistance, as appropriate; 18. Also invites Governments to consider preventing, within the legal framework and in accordance with national policies, victims of trafficking in persons, in particular women and girls, from being prosecuted for their illegal entry or residence, bearing in mind that they are victims of exploitation; 19. Further invites Governments to encourage Internet service providers to adopt or strengthen self-regulatory measures to promote the responsible use of the Internet with a view to eliminating trafficking in women and children, in particular girls; 20. Invites the business sector, in particular the tourism and telecommunications industries, including mass media organizations, to cooperate with Governments in eliminating trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, including through the dissemination by the media of information regarding the rights of trafficked persons and services available to victims of trafficking; 21. Stresses the need for systematic data collection and comprehensive studies at both the national and the international levels and the development of common methodologies and internationally defined indicators to make it possible to develop relevant and comparable figures, and encourages Governments to enhance information-sharing and data-collection capacity as a way of promoting cooperation to combat the trafficking problem; 22. Urges Governments to strengthen national programmes to combat trafficking in persons, especially women and girls, through increased bilateral, regional and international cooperation, taking into account innovative approaches and best practices, and invites Governments, United Nations bodies and organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to undertake collaborative and joint research and studies on trafficking in women and girls that can serve as a basis for policy formulation or change; 23. Invites Governments, with the support of the United Nations as required, and other intergovernmental organizations, taking into account best practices, to formulate training manuals for law enforcement and medical personnel and judicial officers, with a view to sensitizing them to the special needs of women and girl victims; 24. Urges Governments to provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, immigration and other relevant officials in the prevention and combating of trafficking in persons, including the sexual exploitation of women and girls, which should focus on methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of victims, including protecting the victims from traffickers, to ensure that the training includes human rights and child- and gender-sensitive perspectives, and to encourage cooperation with non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society; 25. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. to include information and statistics on trafficking in women and girls as part of their national reports to their respective committees and to work towards developing a common methodology and statistics to obtain comparable data; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to compile, as reference and guidance, successful interventions and strategies in addressing the various dimensions of the particular problem of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, based on reports, research and other materials from within the United Nations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as from outside the United Nations, and to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 59/167 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/497, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Yemen. 59/167. Elimination of all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which, inter alia, calls for international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,See resolution 2263 (XXII). the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,See resolution 1904 (XVIII). the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted on 25 June 1993 by the World Conference on Human RightsA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further its resolution 57/181 of 18 December 2002 and the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-eighth session on 12 March 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 7 (E/2004/27), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council resolutions 2004/11 and 2004/12. Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enunciated in the Charter, and reaffirming also the obligations of States parties under international human rights instruments, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentIbid., vol. 1465, No. 24841. and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. Reaffirming also the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/3, annex. Reaffirming further the call for the elimination of violence against women and girls, especially all forms of commercial sexual exploitation as well as economic exploitation, including trafficking in women and children, female infanticide, crimes committed in the name of honour, crimes committed in the name of passion, racially motivated crimes, the abduction and sale of children, dowry-related violence and deaths, acid attacks and harmful traditional or customary practices, such as female genital mutilation and early and forced marriage, Stressing the importance of the empowerment of women as a tool to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/281. 2. Expresses deep concern at the persistence of various forms of violence and crimes against women in all parts of the world, especially all forms of commercial sexual exploitation as well as economic exploitation, including trafficking in women and children, female infanticide, crimes committed in the name of honour, crimes committed in the name of passion, racially motivated crimes, the abduction and sale of children, dowry-related violence and deaths, acid attacks and harmful traditional or customary practices, such as female genital mutilation and early and forced marriage; 3. Stresses that all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-23/3, annex. are obstacles to the advancement and empowerment of women, and reaffirms that violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; 4. Also stresses the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls of all ages as a criminal offence punishable by law, including violence based on all forms of discrimination; 5. Welcomes specific legal and comprehensive legislative measures being enacted or contemplated, in particular with regard to various forms of violence against women and girls; 6. Also welcomes in this regard the launching of various initiatives, strategies and action plans aimed at, among other things, eradication, prevention, promotion, information, legislation, protection and welfare, education and research, enhancement of the economic capacity of women and the monitoring of the various forms of violence against women; 7. Reaffirms that there is increased awareness of and commitment to preventing and combating violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, welcomes in this context various legal, administrative and other measures taken by Governments for their prevention and elimination, and calls for high priority to be attached to the further strengthening of such measures; 8. Urges Member States to strengthen awareness and preventive measures for the elimination of all forms of violence against women, whether occurring in public or private life, by encouraging and supporting public campaigns to enhance awareness about the unacceptability and the social costs of violence against women, inter alia, through educational and media campaigns in cooperation with educators, community leaders and the electronic and print media; 9. Calls upon States to encourage and support the active participation of men and boys in the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence, especially gender-based violence, and to increase the awareness of men and boys of their responsibility in ending violence against women; 10. Expresses its appreciation of the work being done by non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations, community-based organizations and individuals, in raising awareness about the economic, social and psychological costs of all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, and in this regard encourages Governments to continue their support for the work of the non-governmental organizations in addressing this issue; 11. Calls upon States to fulfil their obligations under the relevant human rights instruments and to implement the Beijing Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. as well as the outcome document of the twenty-third special session; 12. Encourages States parties to include in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and other relevant treaty bodies, wherever possible, sex-disaggregated data and information on measures taken or initiated to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session; 13. Urges relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, to assist countries, upon their request, in their efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, and in this regard expresses its appreciation of the work being done by the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Development Fund for Women and other relevant funds and programmes aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls; 14. Invites the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences to further devote equal attention to all forms of violence against women, including crimes identified in the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, in her work and her reports, within her mandate, to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the matter to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/168 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/497, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/168. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 58/148 of 22 December 2003, Recalling also the contributions of the four World Conferences on Women, held in Mexico City, Copenhagen, Nairobi and Beijing, to the advancement of women and the promotion of gender equality, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. are important contributions to the advancement of women worldwide in the achievement of gender equality and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, Reaffirming its commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome document of the twenty-third special session, including the twelve critical areas of concern, namely women and poverty, education and training of women, women and health, violence against women, women and armed conflict, women and the economy, women in power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, human rights of women, women and the media, women and the environment and the girl child, Also reaffirming its commitment to overcoming obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session and to strengthening a national and international enabling environment in this regard, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for the effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Welcoming the increased attention to the situation of women and girls and the integration of gender perspectives in the work of the United Nations, in particular in the outcomes of major conferences, special sessions and summit conferences and their follow-up processes, as well as the review and appraisal by the Economic and Social Council of the system-wide implementation of its agreed conclusions 1997/2 of 18 July 1997 on mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. the inclusion of the question of gender mainstreaming in its agenda, the consideration of annual progress made in gender mainstreaming and the attention given to the gender perspective in the outcomes of its substantive session of 2004, Reaffirming the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality, while noting the open debate on women and peace and security held in the Security Council on 28 October 2004,See S/PV.5066 and S/PV.5066 (Resumption 1). as well as previous debates, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions and Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on measures taken and progress achieved in follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;A/59/214. 2. Reaffirms the goals, objectives and commitments contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and in the political declaration and further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session;Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 3. Stresses the need to undertake further action to ensure the full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, inter alia, through the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, the mainstreaming of gender perspectives into all policies and programmes and the promotion of full and equal participation and empowerment of women and enhanced international cooperation for the full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 4. Underlines the significance of the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which will mark the tenth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the fifth anniversary of the twenty-third special session, and at which the Commission will review the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session and consider the current challenges and forward-looking strategies for the advancement of women, as well as the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General; 5. Stresses the importance of strong, sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels for achieving full and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 6. Welcomes the opportunity provided by the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women to demonstrate continued and full commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 7. Encourages participation in the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women at a high political level; 8. Invites States and the United Nations system to publicize the forthcoming session of the Commission on the Status of Women, including through consultation with civil society; 9. Calls upon Governments, the relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue to take effective action to achieve the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 10. Emphasizes that the creation of an enabling environment at the national and international levels, including by ensuring the participation of women on an equal basis with men at all levels of decision-making, is necessary to ensure the full participation of women in all aspects of social, political and economic activities, and in this regard calls upon States to remove obstacles to the full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 11. Emphasizes also the importance of men and boys taking joint responsibility with women and girls in the promotion of gender equality, taking into account the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-eighth session on 12 March 2004;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 7 (E/2004/27), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/11. 12. Welcomes the contributions of the Commission on the Status of Women to the follow-up and review of the implementation of the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, reaffirms that the Commission will continue to play a central role in this regard, and encourages Governments, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to continue to support its work; 13. Stresses the importance of implementing the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women since its fortieth session; 14. Reaffirms its decision that the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, in accordance with their respective mandates and with General Assembly resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 and other relevant resolutions, constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental mechanism that plays the primary role in overall policy-making and follow-up and in coordinating the implementation and monitoring of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 15. Recalls that, in accordance with resolution 57/270 B, the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and the twenty-third special session will continue to be undertaken within the framework of an integrated and coordinated follow-up to major international conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, and also recalls in this regard the request to each functional commission of the Economic and Social Council to examine its methods of work in order to better pursue the implementation of the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits and report to the Council no later than 2005 on the outcome of this examination; 16. Recognizes the importance attached to the regional and subregional monitoring of the global and regional platforms for action and of the implementation of the outcome of the twenty-third special session by regional commissions and other regional or subregional structures, within their mandates, in consultation with Governments, calls for the promotion of further cooperation in that respect among Governments and, where appropriate, national machineries of the same region, and welcomes in this regard the contributions of the United Nations regional commissions to the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women; 17. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to reiterate its request to the regional commissions that have not yet done so, within their respective mandates and resources, to intensify efforts to build up a database, to be updated regularly, in which all programmes and projects carried out in their respective regions by organizations or bodies of the United Nations system are listed, and to facilitate the dissemination of information on such programmes and projects, as well as the evaluation of their impact on the empowerment of women through the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 18. Welcomes Economic and Social Council decision 2004/309 of 23 July 2004, in which the Chairperson of the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women is requested to submit the outcome of the session, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, including to the high-level event of the Assembly on the review of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 19. Emphasizes that the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the promotion of gender equality and of women's empowerment and participation, together with the mainstreaming of a gender perspective, are among the essential elements for advancing the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, with a view, in particular, to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the outcomes of United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions; 20. Recognizes that adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, including the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources, will also be required; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to highlight the contribution of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and to integrate gender perspectives in his preparations, including reports, for the review of the Millennium Declaration; 22. Calls upon Member States to incorporate gender perspectives in their preparations for the review of the Millennium Declaration; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report on the follow-up to the Millennium Declaration an assessment of the progress made in promoting the goal of gender equality, in particular in relation to the development goals set forth in the Millennium Declaration, and recommendations to improve the measurement and coverage of indicators so that progress towards gender equality can be evaluated over time; 24. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. to include information on measures taken to implement the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as well as the Beijing Platform for Action, in their reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 18 of the Convention; 25. Urges States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and those that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol thereto;Resolution 54/4, annex. 26. Recognizes the important role of law, including legislation, in the promotion of gender equality and the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, commends the progress made by States in the area of legal reform, and calls upon States to continue their efforts to repeal laws and eradicate practices that discriminate against women and to adopt laws and promote practices that protect the rights of women and promote gender equality; 27. Urges Member States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; 28. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system and all other relevant actors to continue to integrate gender perspectives into the implementation of and follow-up to recent United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 29. Affirms that, in order to ensure the effective implementation of the strategic objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, the United Nations system should continue to promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming gender perspectives, including through the work of the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the maintenance of gender units, focal points and gender specialists, and with the active support of all United Nations bodies, including by ensuring that all United Nations personnel, especially in the field, receive training on gender perspectives in their work, including gender impact analysis, and that appropriate follow-up training is provided; 30. Recognizes the need to further include gender perspectives in the work of its Main Committees and other intergovernmental bodies; 31. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that all programmes, plans and programme budgets visibly mainstream gender perspectives; 32. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to continue its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of all activities in its work and that of its subsidiary bodies, through, inter alia, the system-wide implementation of its agreed conclusions 1997/2See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and its resolution 2004/4 of 7 July 2004; 33. Welcomes the convening of the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in 2005, and encourages Governments and all other stakeholders to integrate a gender perspective into the preparatory processes and outcome documents, taking into account the agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-seventh session on 14 March 2003;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 7 (E/2003/27), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/44. 34. Recognizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, and urges Governments and the United Nations system to take further steps to ensure the integration of gender perspectives and the full and equal participation of women at all levels of decision-making and implementation in all aspects of conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding activities and to ensure that efforts to strengthen the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict situations incorporate gender perspectives, with a view to achieving gender equality in constitutional, legislative and judicial reform; 35. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to promote the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session and to disseminate those documents as widely as possible in all the official languages of the United Nations; 37. Also requests the Secretary-General to report annually to the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, with an assessment of progress made in mainstreaming a gender perspective within the United Nations system, including by providing information on key achievements, lessons learned and best practices, and to recommend further measures and strategies for future action within the United Nations system; 38. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women and of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled 'Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century' ". RESOLUTION 59/169 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/498, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Ethiopia, Ghana, Romania and Togo. 59/169. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decision 2004/238 of 21 July 2004 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the requests regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the letter dated 23 March 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-GeneralE/2004/49. and the letter dated 2 June 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2004/76. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from sixty-six to sixty-eight States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session for 2005. RESOLUTION 59/16 Adopted at the 46th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/529, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/16. Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'IvoireA/59/289. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/419 and Corr.1. Recalling Security Council resolution 1528 (2004) of 27 February 2004, by which the Council established the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire for an initial period of twelve months as from 4 April 2004, Recalling also its resolution 58/310 of 18 June 2004 on the financing of the Operation, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful that it is essential to provide the Operation with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire as at 30 September 2004, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 201.2 million United States dollars, representing some 66 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-one Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Operation in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Operation; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/419 and Corr.1. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 9. Authorizes the Secretary-General to fill the following posts at appropriate grades until 30 June 2005: Director in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Special Assistant to the Special Representative; Two Protocol Officers (one Professional and one National Officer); Deputy Special Representative for Humanitarian Coordination, Recovery and Reconstruction; Principal Legal Adviser; Chief of the Communications and Public Information Office; Spokesperson; and requests the Secretary-General to re-justify these posts in his next budget with additional information on appropriate grades; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Operation is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Operation against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Operation; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 12. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire the amount of 177,826,200 dollars for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, in addition to the amount of 200,646,600 dollars already appropriated for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2004 under the terms of General Assembly resolution 58/310; Financing of the appropriation 13. Decides also to apportion among Member States the amount of 92,864,793 dollars for the Operation for the period from 1 January to 4 April 2005, in addition to the amount of 200,646,600 dollars already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2004 under the terms of its resolution 58/310, in accordance with the levels set out in General Assembly resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000, and updated in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 14. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 13 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 1,438,826 dollars, representing the estimated additional staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 1 January to 4 April 2005; 15. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 84,961,407 dollars at a monthly rate of 29,637,700 dollars for the period from 5 April to 30 June 2005, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 13 above, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Operation; 16. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 1,316,374 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 5 April to 30 June 2005; 17. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 18. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Operation; 19. Invites voluntary contributions to the Operation in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 20. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire". RESOLUTION 59/170 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/498, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/170. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/59/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-fifth sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/59/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its previous annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the High Commissioner since its establishment by the General Assembly, Recalling also its resolution 58/153 of 22 December 2003 on implementing actions proposed by the High Commissioner to strengthen the capacity of his Office to carry out its mandate, Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner, commending the staff and implementing partners of the Office of the High Commissioner for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, and underscoring its strong condemnation of all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel are increasingly exposed, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-fifth session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/59/12/Add.1). 2. Welcomes the important work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Executive Committee in the course of the year, and notes in this context the adoption of the general conclusion on international protection, the conclusion on international cooperation and burden- and responsibility-sharing in mass influx situations and the conclusion on legal safety issues in the context of voluntary repatriation of refugees,Ibid., chap. III, sects. A-C. which are aimed at strengthening the international protection regime, consistent with the Agenda for Protection,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. and at assisting Governments in meeting their protection responsibilities in today's changing international environment; 3. Reaffirms the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and its 1967 ProtocolIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as the foundation of the international refugee protection regime, and recognizes the importance of their full and effective application by States parties and the values that they embody, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty-five States are now parties to one instrument or to both, encourages States not parties to consider acceding to those instruments, underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and recognizes that a number of States not parties to the international refugee instruments have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees; 4. Notes that fifty-seven States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsIbid., vol. 360, No. 5158. and that twenty-nine States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his activities on behalf of stateless persons; 5. Notes also that 2004 marks the twentieth anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees and that States convened in Mexico City in November 2004 to commemorate this anniversary, recalls the contribution to refugee protection which regional approaches can make, and encourages States to strengthen further international protection of refugees in the region, in conjunction with relevant international organizations as well as representatives of civil society; 6. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions; 7. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner and in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to enhancing the capacity of, and reducing the heavy burden borne by, countries that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, including by holding international consultations aimed at developing a comprehensive plan of action, as appropriate, to respond to a specific mass influx or protracted refugee situation, and calls upon the Office to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition; 8. Emphasizes that international protection of refugees is a dynamic and action-oriented function that is at the core of the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and that includes, in cooperation with States and other partners, the promotion and facilitation of, inter alia, the admission, reception and treatment of refugees and the ensuring of durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups, and notes in this context that the delivery of international protection is a staff-intensive service that requires adequate staff with the appropriate expertise, especially at the field level; 9. Welcomes the progress attained so far in regard to the High Commissioner's Convention Plus initiative,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/59/12), chap. III. including the development of the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on the strategic use of resettlement, and encourages the High Commissioner and interested States to strengthen the international protection regime through the development of comprehensive approaches to resolving refugee situations, including improving international burden- and responsibility-sharing and realizing durable solutions that give due regard to the importance of both protection and, where possible, refugee self-reliance; 10. Recalls the important role of effective partnerships and coordination in meeting the needs of refugees and other displaced persons and in finding durable solutions to their situations, welcomes the efforts under way, in cooperation with refugee-hosting countries and countries of origin, including their respective local communities, United Nations agencies and other development actors, to promote a framework for durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, which includes the "4Rs" approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return, and encourages States, in cooperation with United Nations agencies and other development actors, to support, inter alia, through the allocation of funds, the development and implementation of the 4Rs and of other programming tools to facilitate the transition from relief to development; 11. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to refugee problems, and recalls that these solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, while reaffirming that voluntary repatriation, supported by necessary rehabilitation and development assistance to facilitate sustainable reintegration, remains the preferred solution; 12. Recognizes the desirability of countries of origin, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner, other States and other concerned actors, as necessary and appropriate, addressing, at an early stage, issues of a legal and administrative nature which are likely to hinder voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity, bearing in mind that some legal safety or administrative issues may be addressed only over time and that voluntary repatriation can and does take place without all legal and administrative issues having first been resolved; 13. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 14. Condemns all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, deplores, in particular, the armed attacks that took place in the Gatumba transit centre in Burundi in August 2004, calls upon all States of refuge, in cooperation with international organizations, where appropriate, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the humane treatment of asylum-seekers, notes with interest that the High Commissioner has continued to take steps to encourage the development of measures to better ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue those efforts in consultation with States and other relevant actors; 15. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to improve its management systems and to ensure effective and transparent use of its resources, recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential for the Office to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it through its statuteResolution 428 (V), annex. and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions on refugees and other persons of concern, recalls its resolutions 58/153 and 58/270 of 23 December 2003 concerning the implementation of paragraph 20 of the statute of the Office, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to the annual and supplementary appeals issued by the Office for requirements under its programmes; 16. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his activities to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/171 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/498, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Djibouti, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar and Thailand. 59/171. New international humanitarian order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/184 of 18 December 2002 and all previous resolutions concerning the promotion of a new international humanitarian orderResolutions 36/136, 37/201, 38/125, 40/126, 42/120, 42/121, 43/129, 43/130, 45/101, 45/102, 47/106, 49/170, 51/74, 53/124 and 55/73. as well as all relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, and the annex thereto, Reaffirming the fundamental importance of adherence to and implementation of international humanitarian law, refugee law and human rights law as well as internationally accepted norms and principles, in particular the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Recognizing the importance of action at the national and regional levels and the role that regional organizations can play in certain cases to prevent humanitarian crises, and noting with appreciation the complementary role played in this regard by the United Nations entities, including the agencies, funds and programmes, Aware of the important role that international organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector can play, within their respective mandates, in the humanitarian context, Concerned by the increasingly difficult context in which humanitarian assistance takes place in some areas, in particular the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, Emphasizing the importance of continued international cooperation in support of the efforts of affected States in dealing with natural disasters and complex emergencies in all their phases, Reiterating that humanitarian assistance should be provided in a way which is not to the detriment of resources made available for international cooperation for development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/554. 1. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General in the humanitarian field, and urges Governments to assist him in promoting a new international humanitarian order that corresponds to new realities and challenges, including the development of an agenda for humanitarian action, in accordance with international law; 2. Reaffirms the obligation of all States and parties to armed conflicts to protect civilians in armed conflicts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and invites States to promote a culture of protection, taking into account the particular needs of women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities; 3. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular armed conflicts and post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 4. Urges Governments, intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations and others concerned to extend cooperation and provide support to the efforts of the Secretary-General, inter alia, through the relevant United Nations agencies and organizational mechanisms set up to address the assistance and protection needs of victims of complex emergencies as well as the safety and security of United Nations and other humanitarian workers; 5. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to promote strict adherence to refugee law, international humanitarian law, human rights law and internationally accepted norms and principles in situations of humanitarian emergency; 6. Recognizes the complementarity between humanitarian assistance and human rights; 7. Encourages the international community to improve its response to humanitarian emergencies, including those of a protracted nature, including efforts by donors with regard to policies and practices of good donorship; 8. Encourages intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations as well as the private sector to assist and support national and international efforts to respond to humanitarian challenges and alleviate human suffering; 9. Recognizes the important need to address more effectively the transition from relief to development, and welcomes in this regard the request made by the Economic and Social Council to the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the issue for further consideration by the Council and the General Assembly; 10. Invites Member States, the Secretary-General and the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to strengthen the capacities of regional and subregional organizations, where applicable, in the context of the response to humanitarian crises; 11. Invites Member States, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, relevant entities of the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues, to reinforce activities and cooperation so as to continue to develop an agenda for humanitarian action; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to support the process of developing an agenda for humanitarian action and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the overall progress made. RESOLUTION 59/172 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/498, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sierra Leone, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 59/172. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/149 of 22 December 2003, Recalling also the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,Ibid., vol. 189, No. 2545. together with the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/317. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/59/12). 2. Notes the need for African States to address resolutely the root causes of all forms of forced displacement in Africa and to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent so as to forestall refugee flows, and calls upon the international community, including States, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other relevant United Nations organizations, within their respective mandates, to take concrete action to meet the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons and to contribute generously to projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight and facilitating durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons; 3. Welcomes decision EX.CL/Dec.127 (V) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa adopted by the Executive Council of the African Union at its fifth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 30 June to 3 July 2004; 4. Takes note of the holding of the conference organized by the African Parliamentary Union and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on "Refugees in Africa: the challenges of protection and solutions" at Cotonou, Benin, from 1 to 3 June 2004; 5. Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner since assuming office in January 2001, and commends the Office of the High Commissioner for its ongoing efforts, with the support of the international community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 6. Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, in conjunction with relevant agencies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations, within their respective mandates, in the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, and welcomes in this regard the appointment by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights of its Special Rapporteur on refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa; 7. Recognizes that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict and bear the brunt of atrocities and other consequences of conflict, and in this regard takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security submitted to and discussed by the Security Council;S/2004/814. 8. Reiterates the importance of the full and effective implementation of standards and procedures to better address the specific protection needs of refugee children and adolescents and to safeguard rights and, in particular, to ensure adequate attention to unaccompanied and separated children and former child soldiers in refugee settings, as well as in the context of voluntary repatriation and reintegration measures; 9. Notes with great concern that, despite all of the efforts made so far by the United Nations, the African Union and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and the spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa, and welcomes in this regard the appointment by the African Union of its Special Representative on the protection of civilians in armed conflict; 10. Recognizes the importance of early registration and effective registration systems and censuses as a tool of protection and as a means to enable the quantification and assessment of needs for the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance and to implement appropriate durable solutions; 11. Also recognizes the need to strengthen the capacity of States to provide assistance to and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons, and calls upon the international community, in the context of burden- and responsibility-sharing, to increase its material, financial and technical assistance in countries affected by refugees, returnees and displaced persons, to address simultaneously the inadequacies of existing assistance arrangements and to support initiatives in this regard; 12. Reaffirms that host States have the primary responsibility to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements or used for purposes that are incompatible with their civilian character; 13. Condemns all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, deplores, in particular, the armed attacks that took place in the Gatumba transit centre in Burundi in August 2004, calls upon States of refuge, in cooperation with international organizations, where appropriate, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the humane treatment of asylum-seekers, notes with interest that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has continued to take steps to encourage the development of measures to better ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue these efforts in consultation with States and other relevant actors; 14. Deplores the deaths, injuries and other forms of violence sustained by staff members of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian organizations, urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and ensure their safety and security, calls upon States to investigate fully any crime committed against humanitarian personnel and bring to justice the persons responsible for such crimes, and calls upon organizations and aid workers to abide by the national laws and regulations of the countries in which they operate; 15. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the African Union, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the international refugee protection system, and welcomes in this regard the High Commissioner joining the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS in 2004 as a co-sponsor; 16. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities, and welcomes in this regard the conclusion on international cooperation and burden- and responsibility-sharing in mass influx situations adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-fifth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/59/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. B. 17. Reaffirms the right of return and the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, and recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, where appropriate and feasible, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home; 18. Notes with satisfaction the voluntary return of thousands of refugees to their countries of origin, and welcomes in this regard the conclusion on legal safety issues in the context of voluntary repatriation of refugees adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-fifth session;Ibid., sect. C. 19. Reaffirms that voluntary repatriation should not necessarily be conditioned on the accomplishment of political solutions in the country of origin in order not to impede the exercise of the refugees' right to return, and recognizes that the voluntary repatriation and reintegration process is normally guided by the conditions in the country of origin, in particular that voluntary repatriation can be accomplished in conditions of safety and dignity; 20. Welcomes the development by the High Commissioner, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies and development actors, of the framework for durable solutions, aimed at promoting lasting solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, including the "4Rs" approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return; 21. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to the third-country resettlement needs of African refugees, and in this regard notes with interest the development of the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on the strategic use of resettlement in the context of the High Commissioner's Convention Plus initiative;Ibid., Supplement No. 12 (A/59/12), chap. III, para. 23. 22. Calls upon the international donor community to provide financial and material assistance that allows for the implementation of community-based development programmes that benefit both refugees and host communities, as appropriate, in agreement with host countries and consistent with humanitarian objectives; 23. Also calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 24. Urges the international community, in the spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 25. Expresses grave concern about the plight of internally displaced persons in Africa, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in that regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and urges the international community, led by relevant United Nations organizations, to contribute generously to national projects and programmes aimed at alleviating the plight of internally displaced persons; 26. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", and to present an oral report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2005. RESOLUTION 59/173 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/499, para. 35),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 117 to 5, with 62 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 59/173. The situation of and assistance to Palestinian children The General Assembly, Recalling the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Bearing in mind the conclusion by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is applicable within the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Recalling the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. Recalling also the Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-seventh special session,See resolution S-27/2, annex. Recalling further the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Noting with grave concern that the Palestinian children under Israeli occupation remain deprived of many basic rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Concerned about the continued grave deterioration of the situation of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, the severely detrimental impact of the continuing Israeli assaults and sieges on Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, and the continuing dire humanitarian crisis on the safety and well-being of Palestinian children, Concerned also about the severely detrimental impact being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, on the socio-economic conditions of Palestinian children and their families and on the enjoyment by Palestinian children of their right to education, to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, clothing and housing, to health and to be free from hunger, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all children in the whole Middle East region, Expressing its condemnation of all acts of violence, resulting in extensive loss of human life and injuries, including among Palestinian children, Deeply concerned about the negative consequences, including psychological consequences, of the Israeli military actions for the present and future well-being of Palestinian children, 1. Stresses the urgent need for Palestinian children to live a normal life free from foreign occupation, destruction and fear in their own State; 2. Demands, in the meanwhile, that Israel, the occupying Power, respect relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. in order to ensure the well-being and protection of Palestinian children and their families; 3. Calls upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis being faced by Palestinian children and their families and to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions. RESOLUTION 59/174 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/500, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/174. Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights recognized the inherent dignity and the unique contribution of indigenous people to the development and plurality of society and strongly reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to their economic, social and cultural well-being and their enjoyment of the fruits of sustainable development, Reaffirming that States should, in accordance with international law, take concerted positive steps to ensure respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, on the basis of equality and non-discrimination, and recognizing the value and diversity of their distinctive identities, cultures and social organization, Recalling its resolution 48/163 of 21 December 1993, in which it proclaimed the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, commencing on 10 December 1994, with the goal of strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health, Recalling also its resolution 58/158 of 22 December 2003 and all previous resolutions on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, Welcoming all achievements during the Decade, in particular the establishment of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and the contributions to the realization of the goals of the Decade made by the Permanent Forum, the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, such as the comprehensive work programme that the Permanent Forum is carrying out for the benefit of indigenous peoples in the areas of culture, education, environment, health, human rights and social and economic development, Taking due note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/62 of 21 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission expressed its deep concern about the precarious economic and social situation that indigenous people continue to endure in many parts of the world in comparison to the overall population and the persistence of grave violations of their human rights, and reaffirmed the urgent need to recognize, promote and protect more effectively their rights and freedoms, Recalling that in its resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994 it expressly put on record its expectation of achieving the adoption of a declaration on indigenous rights within the International Decade and that in its resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995 it decided that the adoption by the General Assembly of a declaration on the rights of indigenous people constituted a major objective of the Decade, and noting the progress made in the recent rounds of negotiations in the open-ended intersessional working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with elaborating a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous people, established pursuant to Commission resolution 1995/32 of 3 March 1995,Ibid., 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the importance of consultation and cooperation with indigenous people in planning and implementing the programme of activities for the Decade and the need for adequate financial support from the international community, 1. Proclaims the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, commencing on 1 January 2005; 2. Decides that the goal of the Second Decade shall be the further strengthening of international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment and social and economic development, by means of action-oriented programmes and specific projects, increased technical assistance and relevant standard-setting activities; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to appoint the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs as the Coordinator for the Second Decade; 4. Requests the Coordinator to fulfil the mandate in full cooperation and consultation with Governments, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and other relevant bodies and mechanisms of the United Nations system, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, other members of the Inter-Agency Support Group on Indigenous Issues and indigenous and non-governmental organizations; 5. Invites Governments to ensure that activities and objectives for the Second Decade are planned and implemented on the basis of full consultation and collaboration with indigenous people; 6. Appeals to the specialized agencies, regional commissions, financial and development institutions and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system to increase their efforts to take special account of the needs of indigenous people in their budgeting and in their programming; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary fund for the Second Decade, which to all juridical purposes and effects should be set up and should discharge its functions as a successor to the already existing voluntary fund established for the present Decade pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 48/163, 49/214 and 50/157; 8. Authorizes the Secretary-General to accept and administer voluntary contributions from Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, indigenous organizations and private institutions and individuals for the purpose of funding projects and programmes during the Second Decade; 9. Urges Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the voluntary fund for the Second Decade established by the Secretary-General, and invites indigenous organizations and private institutions and individuals to do likewise; 10. Urges the competent United Nations organs, programmes and specialized agencies, in planning activities for the Second Decade, to examine how existing programmes and resources might be utilized to benefit indigenous people more effectively, including through the exploration of ways in which indigenous perspectives and activities can be included or enhanced; 11. Decides to continue observing in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations every year during the Second Decade the International Day of Indigenous People, to request the Secretary-General to support the observance of the Day from within existing resources, and to encourage Governments to observe the Day at the national level; 12. Urges all parties involved in the process of negotiation to do their utmost to carry out successfully the mandate of the open-ended intersessional working group established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 1995/32Ibid., 1995, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1995/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. and to present for adoption as soon as possible a final draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to give all the assistance necessary to ensure the success of the Second Decade; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on a comprehensive programme of action for the Second Decade based on the achievements of the first Decade; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session an item entitled "Indigenous issues". RESOLUTION 59/175 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/501, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation and Tajikistan. 59/175. Measures to be taken against political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority and violent nationalist ideologies which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including neo-Nazism The General Assembly, Recalling that the United Nations emerged from the struggle against Nazism, fascism, aggression and foreign occupation, and that the people expressed their resolve in the Charter of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Aware of the determination proclaimed by the peoples of the world in the Charter to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere, Recognizing the fact that the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, condemned political platforms and organizations based on racism, xenophobia or doctrines of racial superiority and related discrimination, as well as legislation and practices based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, as incompatible with democracy and transparent and accountable governance,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Reaffirming in this regard that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression as well as the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Underlining the key role that politicians and political parties can and ought to play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Noting with regret that, in the contemporary world, there continue to exist various manifestations of neo-Nazi activities, as well as other political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority and violent nationalist ideologies which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, which entail contempt for the individual or a denial of the intrinsic dignity and equality of all human beings and of equality of opportunity in the civil, political, economic and social and cultural spheres and in social justice, Deeply alarmed at the persistence and resurgence of these phenomena, and stating that they can never be justified in any instance or under any circumstances, Noting with concern the widening misuse by such groups and organizations of the opportunities provided by scientific and technological progress, including the Internet, to promote racist and xenophobic propaganda aimed at inciting racial hatred and to collect funds to sustain violent campaigns against multi-ethnic societies throughout the world, Noting that the use of such technologies can also contribute to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Expressing serious concern at the persistence in many parts of the world of doctrines of superiority and violent nationalist ideologies which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, Particularly alarmed at the persistence of such ideas in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, Recognizing the important role that relevant regional bodies, including regional associations of national human rights institutions, can play in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the key role that they can play in monitoring and raising awareness about intolerance and discrimination at the regional level, reaffirming support for such bodies where they exist, and encouraging their establishment, Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 55/82 of 4 December 2000 and 56/268 of 27 March 2002, Taking into consideration the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to the Commission on Human RightsSee A/59/329. and, in particular, his study on the question of political platforms which promote or incite racial discrimination,See A/59/330. 1. Remains convinced that political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority and violent nationalist ideologies which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including neo-Nazism, must be condemned as incompatible with democracy and accountable governance; 2. Expresses its determination to resist such political platforms and activities which can undermine the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and of equality of opportunity; 3. Urges States to take all available measures in accordance with their obligations under international human rights instruments to combat political platforms and activities based on doctrines of superiority and violent nationalist ideologies which are based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, inter alia, through the dissemination of human rights principles at all levels of society through education, as well as by other means; 4. Takes note of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including on the need for States to exercise greater control over racist and xenophobic statements, especially when they are expressed by representatives of political parties or other ideological movements,See A/59/330. and emphasizes in this regard that measures taken to combat racism must be in accordance with the commitments they have undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and with international standards of freedom of expression; 5. Calls upon States to undertake and facilitate activities aimed at educating young people in human rights and democratic citizenship and instilling values of solidarity, respect and appreciation of diversity, including respect for different groups, and affirms that a special effort to inform and sensitize young people with regard to democratic values and human rights should be undertaken or developed to fight against ideologies based on the fallacious theory of racial superiority; 6. Urges all States to consider the adoption, as a matter of high priority, of appropriate measures, consistent with their national legal systems and in accordance with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. to eradicate activities that lead to violence based on racial discrimination or ethnic exclusiveness and xenophobia, including neo-Nazism, and to condemn all propaganda and all organizations which are based on ideas and theories of superiority; 7. Expresses support for the activities of the Special Rapporteur, and calls upon all States to cooperate with him in all aspects with a view to enabling him to fulfil his mandate; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of the Member States and relevant human rights bodies and mechanisms of the United Nations system. RESOLUTION 59/176 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/501, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/176. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. most recently resolution 57/194 of 18 December 2002, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in particular section II.B of the Declaration, relating to equality, dignity and tolerance, Reiterating the need to intensify the struggle to eliminate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance throughout the world, Reiterating also the importance of the Convention, which is one of the most widely accepted human rights instruments adopted under the auspices of the United Nations, Reaffirming that universal adherence to and full implementation of the Convention are of paramount importance for promoting equality and non-discrimination in the world, as stated in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Mindful of the importance of the contributions of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to the effective implementation of the Convention and to the efforts of the United Nations to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Emphasizing the obligation of all States parties to the Convention to take legislative, judicial and other measures in order to secure full implementation of the provisions of the Convention, Recalling its resolution 47/111 of 16 December 1992, in which it welcomed the decision, taken on 15 January 1992 by the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to amend paragraph 6 of article 8 of the Convention and to add a new paragraph, as paragraph 7 of article 8, with a view to providing for the financing of the Committee from the regular budget of the United Nations,See CERD/SP/45, annex. and reiterating its deep concern that the amendment to the Convention has not yet entered into force, Stressing the importance of enabling the Committee to function smoothly and to have all necessary facilities for the effective performance of its functions under the Convention, I Reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its sixty-second and sixty-thirdOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/58/18). and its sixty-fourth and sixty-fifthIbid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/59/18). sessions; 2. Commends the Committee for its contributions to the effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. especially through the examination of reports under article 9 of the Convention, action on communications under article 14 of the Convention and thematic discussions, which contribute to the prevention and elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 3. Calls upon States parties to fulfil their obligation, under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to submit their periodic reports on measures taken to implement the Convention in due time; 4. Expresses its concern at the fact that a great number of reports are overdue and continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention; 5. Encourages States parties to the Convention whose reports are seriously overdue to avail themselves of the advisory services and technical assistance that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights can provide, upon their request, for the preparation of the reports; 6. Encourages the Committee to continue to cooperate and exchange information with United Nations bodies and mechanisms, in particular with the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and with intergovernmental organizations, as well as with non-governmental organizations; 7. Encourages States parties to continue to include a gender perspective in their reports to the Committee, and invites the Committee to take into account a gender perspective in the implementation of its mandate; 8. Notes with appreciation the engagement of the Committee in the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 9. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made so far by the Committee to improve the efficiency of its working methods, and encourages the Committee to continue its activities in this regard; 10. Encourages the continued participation of members of the Committee in the annual inter-committee meetings and meetings of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies, especially with a view to a more coordinated approach to the activities of the treaty body system and standardized reporting; II Financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;A/59/276. 12. Expresses its profound concern at the fact that a number of States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination have still not fulfilled their financial obligations, as shown in the report of the Secretary-General, and strongly appeals to all States parties that are in arrears to fulfil their outstanding financial obligations under article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention; 13. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures with regard to the amendment to the Convention concerning the financing of the Committee and to notify the Secretary-General expeditiously in writing of their agreement to the amendment, as decided upon at the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 15 January 1992,See CERD/SP/45, annex. endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/111 and further reiterated at the Sixteenth Meeting of States Parties on 16 January 1996; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure adequate financial arrangements and to provide the necessary support, including an adequate level of Secretariat assistance, in order to ensure the functioning of the Committee and to enable it to cope with its increasing amount of work; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite those States parties to the Convention that are in arrears to pay the amounts in arrears, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; III Status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 16. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;A/59/275. 17. Expresses its satisfaction at the number of States that have ratified or acceded to the Convention, which now stands at one hundred and seventy; 18. Urges States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention and to take into consideration the concluding observations and general recommendations of the Committee; 19. Reaffirms its conviction that ratification of or accession to the Convention on a universal basis and the implementation of its provisions are necessary for the effectiveness of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and for the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 20. Urges all States that have not yet become parties to the Convention to ratify or accede to it as a matter of urgency, with a view to achieving universal ratification by 2005; 21. Urges States to limit the extent of any reservation they lodge to the Convention and to formulate any reservation as precisely and as narrowly as possible in order to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, to review their reservations on a regular basis with a view to withdrawing them, and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention; 22. Notes that the number of States parties to the Convention that have made the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention now stands at forty-five, and requests the States parties that have not yet done so to consider making that declaration; 23. Decides to consider, at its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination", the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its sixty-sixth and sixty-seventh and its sixty-eighth and sixty-ninth sessions, the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee and the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention. RESOLUTION 59/177 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/501, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 183 to 3, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada 59/177. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/160 of 22 December 2003, in which it decided to place emphasis on the concrete implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. as a solid foundation for a broad-based consensus for further actions and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Recalling also its resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002, in which it outlined the important roles and responsibilities of the various organs of the United Nations and other stakeholders at the international, regional and national levels, including, in particular, the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling further its resolution 56/266 of 27 March 2002, in which it endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as constituting a solid foundation for further action and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance manifest themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and may be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights, and recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2003/30 of 23 April 2003Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2004/88 of 22 April 2004,Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. by which the international community put into effect mechanisms for the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Reaffirming its commitment to a global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Reaffirming that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. are of paramount importance for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world, Underlining the primacy of political will, international cooperation and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels for the successful implementation of the Durban Programme of Action, Alarmed at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, inter alia, as a result of the resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Welcoming all the regional initiatives being undertaken to implement the Durban commitments and, in this context, expressing its appreciation to the Governments of Mexico, Kenya, the Czech Republic and Belgium for hosting the regional expert seminars with a view to the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action within their respective regions, and encouraging the remaining region to take the necessary action in this regard, Welcoming also the determination of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to profile and increase the visibility of the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and her intention to make this a cross-cutting issue in the activities and programmes of her Office, I Basic general principles 1. Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments; 2. Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form; 3. Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling; 4. Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 5. Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law; 6. Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments; 7. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred, and calls upon States to take all necessary measures to combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they have undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 8. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries; 9. Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men; II International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 10. Reiterates the call made by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in paragraph 75 of the Durban Programme of ActionSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. to achieve universal ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. by 2005 and for all States to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 of the Convention, and endorses the concern expressed by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2004/88Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. to the effect that, at the current pace, with one hundred and seventy ratifications and only forty-five declarations, the deadline of 2005 for universal ratification decided by the World Conference will, regrettably, not be realized; 11. Urges, in that context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain and issue regular updates on its web site of a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention, and to encourage such countries to demonstrate their practical commitment to meet the deadline for universal ratification as decided upon by the World Conference; 12. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention, on the financing of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and calls for adequate additional resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully; 13. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and article 5 of the Convention; 14. Notes that the Committee holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention; 15. Welcomes the emphasis placed by the Committee on the importance of follow-up to the World Conference and the measures recommended to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18), chap. XI. III Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 16. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 17. Also emphasizes, in that context, the fundamental and complementary role of national human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working jointly with States towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 18. Calls upon States to elaborate action plans, in consultation with national human rights institutions, other institutions created by law to combat racism, and civil society, and to provide the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with such action plans and other relevant materials on measures taken to implement the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 19. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay, at the national, regional and international levels, policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; 20. Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies or centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such bodies or centres in all regions where they do not exist; 21. Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in assisting States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation; 22. Emphasizes that, in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, States have a shared responsibility, at the international level and within the framework of the United Nations system, to determine modalities for the overall review of the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 23. Decides that the General Assembly, through its role in policy formulation, the Economic and Social Council, through its role in overall guidance and coordination, in accordance with their respective roles under the Charter of the United Nations and Assembly resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and the Commission on Human Rights shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 24. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters related to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter, including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 25. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing with the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 26. Decides that the Economic and Social Council shall oversee system-wide coordination of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 27. Also decides that the Commission on Human Rights, as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council, shall have a central role in the monitoring of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action within the United Nations system and in advising the Council thereon; 28. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, and looks forward to the consideration of the outcomes of their third sessions by the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session; 29. Acknowledges that the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, which was the third world conference against racism, was significantly different from the previous two conferences, as evidenced by the inclusion in its title of two important components relating to contemporary forms of racism, namely, xenophobia and related intolerance; 30. Welcomes the work of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in applying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. to the new and contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination; 31. Underlines the importance of the elaboration of complementary standards with a view to strengthening and updating international instruments against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, taking into account issues discussed during the previous sessions of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as issues identified by the high-level seminar to be convened during the next session of the Intergovernmental Working Group; 32. Underlines also the importance of considering progress made in the implementation of the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action related to the media and racism, including the use of the Internet, with the participation of all stakeholders, inter alia, States, the World Summit on the Information Society, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and the media; 33. Takes note of the recommendation of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, in that context, to request the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a high-level seminar, the format of which should be agreed among Member States, assisted by the Office of the High Commissioner, and which could include, but would not necessarily be limited to, a core group of ministers responsible for human rights and/or equivalent participants from all regions as panellists;See E/CN.4/2005/20, sect. VI, para. 73. 34. Strongly recommends that no intersessional meetings of the working groups of the Commission on Human Rights in follow-up to the World Conference and the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action be scheduled in a manner that clashes or overlaps with the sessions of the General Assembly, and in this regard calls upon the Commission to address this issue and to ensure that the future sessions of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent are scheduled to precede those of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 35. Requests the Secretary-General to reflect the outcome of the high-level seminar in his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the follow-up to the World Conference; 36. Acknowledges the centrality of resource mobilization, effective global partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158 of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of commitments undertaken at the World Conference, and to this end emphasizes the central role to be played by the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in mobilizing the necessary political will required for the successful implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 37. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 38. Condemns the resurgence of xenophobia, and underlines the fact that, while anchoring human rights in legal instruments is a fundamental way of expressing their universality, it is no longer capable of eliminating the underlying causes of discriminatory culture and mentalities, and that action on human rights must henceforth include discussion of the deep cultural roots of racism; 39. Expresses its concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some sporting governing bodies to combat racism; 40. Invites Member States to adopt measures to counter the dissemination of discriminatory, racist and xenophobic messages on the Internet, in accordance with paragraphs 144 to 147 of the Durban Programme of Action, and to promote a positive use of the Internet to foster social harmony and to combat racism; 41. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene the second meeting of the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action before the sixty-first session of the Commission on Human Rights to produce a concrete programme of action related to their mandate, based on the core values of racial equality and dignity as elaborated in the outcome document of their first meeting, held in Geneva from 16 to 18 September 2003;See E/CN.4/2004/112. IV Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits 42. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages its continuation; 43. Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur; 44. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue his exchange of views with Member States and relevant mechanisms and treaty bodies within the United Nations system in order to enhance further their effectiveness and mutual cooperation; 45. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent and other communities; 46. Requests the Special Rapporteur to collect information from all concerned, to respond effectively to reliable information that becomes available to him, to follow up on communications and country visits and to seek the views and comments of Governments and reflect them, as appropriate, in his reports; 47. Calls upon States to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and to give serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 48. Encourages closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the Anti-Discrimination Unit; 49. Urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur; 50. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 51. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/59/329. and encourages the continuation of his work; 52. Urges Member States to consider implementing the recommendations contained in the reports of the Special Rapporteur, and invites other relevant stakeholders to implement those recommendations; V General 53. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 54. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination". RESOLUTION 59/178 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/502, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 129 to 46, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Nauru, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Switzerland, Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 59/178. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/162 of 22 December 2003, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/5 of 8 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions, in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit and use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Organization of African Unity Convention for the elimination of mercenarism in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1490, No. 25573. as well as the African Union,On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Extremely alarmed and concerned about recent mercenary activities in Africa and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by peoples, 1. Takes note of the brief report prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;See A/59/191. 2. Welcomes the appointment of Shaista Shameem as Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, and encourages her to continue and further advance the valuable work done and the important contributions made by Enrique Bernales Ballesteros in the sixteen years of his mandate; 3. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 5. Urges all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 6. Requests all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against any kind of recruitment, training, hiring or financing of mercenaries by private companies offering international military consultancy and security services, as well as to impose a specific ban on such companies intervening in armed conflicts or actions to destabilize constitutional regimes; 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2163, No. 37789. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the necessary action to accede to or ratify the Convention; 8. Welcomes also the cooperation extended by those countries that have received visits from the Special Rapporteur and the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 9. Condemns recent mercenary activities in Africa, and commends the African Governments on their collaboration in thwarting those illegal actions, which posed a threat to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries and the exercise of the right of their peoples to self-determination; 10. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with domestic law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 11. Condemns any form of impunity granted to perpetrators of mercenary activities and to those responsible for the use, recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries, and urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to bring them, without distinction, to justice; 12. Requests the new Special Rapporteur to circulate to States and consult with them on the new proposal for a legal definition of a mercenary drafted by the former Special RapporteurSee E/CN.4/2004/15, para. 47. and to report her findings to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 13. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by those activities; 14. Also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to convene a third meeting of experts on traditional and new forms of mercenary activities as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, respecting the main objectives defined in paragraph 16 of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/5;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. 15. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to take into account, in the discharge of her mandate, the fact that mercenary activities continue to occur in many parts of the world and are taking on new forms, manifestations and modalities, and, in this regard, requests her to pay particular attention to the impact of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the international market on the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; 16. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of her mandate; 17. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary assistance and support for the fulfilment of her mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary-related activities; 18. Requests the Special Rapporteur to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session her findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the right of peoples to self-determination; 19. Decides to consider at its sixtieth session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 59/179 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/502, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 179 to 5, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu 59/179. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling, in this regard, its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 entitled "Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations", Bearing in mind the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and noting in particular the reply of the Court, including on the right of peoples to self-determination, which is a right erga omnes,Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 88. Recalling the conclusion of the Court, in its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004, that the construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, along with measures previously taken, severely impedes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,Ibid., para. 122. Expressing the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a final settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine; 2. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination. RESOLUTION 59/17 Adopted at the 46th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/530, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 59/17. Financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in HaitiA/59/288. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/390. Recalling Security Council resolution 1529 (2004) of 29 February 2004, by which the Council declared its readiness to establish a United Nations stabilization force to support continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process and the maintenance of a secure and stable environment in Haiti, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1542 (2004) of 30 April 2004, by which the Council decided to establish the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti for an initial period of six months, Recalling further its resolution 58/311 of 18 June 2004 on the financing of the Mission, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, Stressing the role of the Fifth Committee in the consideration and approval of the budgetary proposals of the Secretary-General, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti as at 30 September 2004, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 144.4 million United States dollars, representing some 65 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-two Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to make all efforts to provide the necessary facilities to expedite the deployment of troops and to take all necessary measures to repair the infrastructures required for the operational needs of the Mission; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/390. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 10. Authorizes the Secretary-General to fill the following posts at appropriate grades until 30 June 2005: Director of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Special Assistant to the Director; Special Assistant to the Special Representative; Protocol Officer; Political Affairs Officer; Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Humanitarian and Development Coordination; Senior Humanitarian and Development Officer; Humanitarian and Development Officer; Principal Legal Adviser; Chief of Public Information; Spokesperson; Head of the Political Affairs and Planning Division; and requests the Secretary-General to re-justify these posts in his next budget with additional information on the appropriate grades; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue to make efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Budget estimates for the period from 1 May 2004 to 30 June 2005 13. Takes note that in paragraph 7.II (c) of its resolution 1542 (2004), the Security Council mandates the Mission to assist in organizing, monitoring and carrying out free and fair municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to implement fully the mandate given to him and to measure the Mission's accomplishments, in particular expected accomplishment 2.3,See A/59/288, sect I. fully in accordance with the Security Council mandate; 15. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti the amount of 49,259,800 dollars for the period from 1 May to 30 June 2004 previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for the establishment of the Mission under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994; 16. Decides also to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti the amount of 379,046,800 dollars for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, inclusive of the amount of 172,480,500 dollars previously authorized by the Assembly in its resolution 58/311 for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2004; Financing of the appropriation 17. Decides further to apportion among Member States the amount of 206,566,300 dollars at a monthly rate of 25,820,787 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 November 2004 to 30 June 2005, taking into account the amount of 172,480,500 dollars already apportioned by the General Assembly for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2004 in its resolution 58/311, in accordance with the levels set out in its resolution 55/235, as adjusted by the Assembly in its resolution 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and updated in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004 and 2005 as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission; 18. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 17 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 4,371,700 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 1 November 2004 to 30 June 2005; 19. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 20. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 21. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 22. Decides to keep under review during its fifty-ninth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti". RESOLUTION 59/180 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/502, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. 59/180. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtiethSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 58/161 of 22 December 2003, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, containing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which, inter alia, upholds the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination and foreign occupation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self-determination,A/59/376. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the question to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 59/181 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.1, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 128 to 52, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Paraguay, Ukraine 59/181. Equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/146 of 19 December 2001, Reaffirming the importance of the goal of universal ratification of the United Nations human rights instruments, Welcoming the significant increase in the number of ratifications of United Nations human rights instruments, which has especially contributed to their universality, Reiterating the importance of the effective functioning of treaty bodies established pursuant to United Nations human rights instruments for the full and effective implementation of those instruments, Recalling that, with regard to the election of the members of the human rights treaty bodies, the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly have recognized the importance of giving consideration in their membership to equitable geographical distribution, gender balance and representation of the principal legal systems and of bearing in mind that the members shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity, and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights, Reaffirming the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as of different political, economic and legal systems, Recognizing that the United Nations pursues multilingualism as a means of promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally and that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international understanding, Recalling that the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly have encouraged States parties to United Nations human rights treaties, individually and through meetings of States parties, to consider how to give better effect, inter alia, to the principle of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of treaty bodies, Expressing concern at the regional imbalance in the current composition of the membership of some of the human rights treaty bodies, Noting in particular that the status quo tends to be particularly detrimental to the election of experts from some regional groups, Convinced that the goal of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of human rights treaty bodies is perfectly compatible and can be fully realized and achieved in harmony with the need to ensure gender balance and the representation of the principal legal systems in those bodies and the high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights of their members, 1. Encourages the States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments to adopt concrete actions, inter alia, the possible establishment of quota distribution systems by geographical region for the election of the members of the treaty bodies, thereby ensuring the paramount objective of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of those human rights bodies; 2. Calls upon the States parties to the United Nations human rights instruments to include, as an agenda item at their forthcoming meetings, a debate on ways and means to ensure equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies, based on the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Economic and Social Council and the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Recommends, when considering the possible establishment of a quota by region for the election of the membership of each treaty body, the introduction of flexible procedures that encompass the following criteria: (a) Each of the five regional groups established by the General Assembly must be assigned a quota of the membership of each treaty body in equivalent proportion to the number of States parties to the instrument that it represents; (b) There must be provision for periodic revisions that reflect the relative changes in the geographical distribution of States parties; (c) Automatic periodic revisions should be envisaged in order to avoid amending the text of the instrument when the quotas are revised; 4. Stresses that the process needed to achieve the goal of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of human rights treaty bodies can contribute to raising awareness of the importance of gender balance, the representation of the principal legal systems and the principle that the members of the treaty bodies shall be elected and shall serve in their personal capacity, and shall be of high moral character, acknowledged impartiality and recognized competence in the field of human rights; 5. Requests the chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies to consider at their next meeting the content of the present resolution and to submit, through the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, specific recommendations for the achievement of the goal of equitable geographical distribution in the membership of the human rights treaty bodies; 6. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit concrete recommendations on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 7. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixtieth session under the sub-item entitled "Implementation of human rights instruments". RESOLUTION 59/182 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.1, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/182. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Recalling that freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of internal or international disturbance or armed conflict, and that the prohibition of torture is explicitly affirmed in all relevant international instruments, Recalling also that a number of international, regional and domestic courts, including the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, have recognized that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law, Recalling further the definition of torture contained in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. Recalling the recommendation contained in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. that high priority be given to providing the necessary resources to assist victims of torture and effective remedies for their physical, psychological and social rehabilitation, inter alia, through additional contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, and noting with satisfaction the existence of a considerable international network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, Commending the persistent efforts by non-governmental organizations to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, 1. Condemns all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be justified, and calls upon all Governments to implement fully the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 2. Condemns in particular any action or attempt by States or public officials to legalize or authorize torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions, and calls upon Governments to eliminate any practices of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 3. Urges Governments to take effective measures to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including their gender-based manifestations; 4. Stresses that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment must be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention where the prohibited act is found to have been committed, and takes note in this respect of the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Principles)Resolution 55/89, annex. as a useful tool in efforts to combat torture; 5. Stresses also that all acts of torture must be made offences under domestic criminal law, and emphasizes that acts of torture are serious violations of international humanitarian law and can constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes and that the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished; 6. Urges States to ensure that any statement that is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made; 7. Stresses that States must not punish personnel who are involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 8. Recalls that States shall not expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture; 9. Stresses that national legal systems must ensure that victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment obtain redress, are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation, urges Governments to take effective measures to this end, and in this regard encourages the development of rehabilitation centres; 10. Calls upon all Governments to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export and use of equipment that is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; 11. Notes with appreciation that one hundred and thirty-nine States have become parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. and urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as a matter of priority; 12. Invites all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention and to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20, and urges all States parties to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 13. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including, in view of the high number of reports not submitted, their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19 of the Convention, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles when submitting reports to the Committee against Torture; 14. Calls upon States parties to give early consideration to signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which was adopted on 18 December 2002 by the General Assembly in its resolution 57/199 and which provides further measures for use in the fight against and prevention of torture, and notes in this context that ratifications by twenty States parties are required for the Optional Protocol to enter into force; 15. Welcomes the work of the Committee against Torture and the report of the Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/59/44). submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention; 16. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with her mandate established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of Governments, advisory services for the preparation of national reports to the Committee and for the prevention of torture, as well as technical assistance in the development, production and distribution of teaching material for this purpose; 17. Urges States parties to take fully into account the conclusions and recommendations made by the Committee after its consideration of their reports; 18. Notes with appreciation the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishmentSee A/59/324. on the overall trends and developments with regard to his mandate, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture, including its gender-based manifestations; 19. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his report information on the follow-up by Governments to his recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered; 20. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his task, to supply all necessary information requested by the Special Rapporteur, to respond appropriately and expeditiously to his urgent appeals and to give serious consideration to responding favourably to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur with respect to the follow-up to his recommendations; 21. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views among the Committee, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 22. Expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Governments, organizations and individuals that have already contributed to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture;See A/58/284. 23. Stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, and appeals to all Governments and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably by 1 March before the annual meeting of the Board, if possible with a substantial increase in the level of contributions; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to all Governments the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund, to continue to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities and to assist the Board of Trustees of the Fund in its appeal for contributions and in its efforts to make better known the existence of the Fund; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure, within the overall budgetary framework of the United Nations, the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in combating torture and assisting victims of torture, commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 26. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session and to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the status of the Convention and a report on the operations of the Fund; 27. Calls upon all Governments, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 28. Decides to consider at its sixtieth session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. RESOLUTION 59/183 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Mali, Morocco, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia and United States of America. 59/183. Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/105 of 4 December 2000, concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also its resolution 58/176 of 22 December 2003 on the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, Recalling further its resolutions 55/34 B of 20 November 2000 and 55/233 of 23 December 2000 and section III of its resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that more resources be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 36, addendum (A/56/36/Add.1). Taking note of the holding of the twenty-first ministerial meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in Malabo from 21 to 25 June 2004, 1. Welcomes the activities of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé; 2. Notes with satisfaction the support provided for the establishment of the Centre by the host country; 3. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide adequate assistance for the proper functioning of the Centre; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/184 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 129 to 53, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Brazil, Chile, Malawi, Singapore 59/184. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing in particular the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, respectively, Recalling also its resolution 58/193 of 22 December 2003, Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/24 of 16 April 2004 on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, inter alia, in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process, but that it also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions, which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Realizing further the need to undertake a thorough, independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and cultural impact of globalization on societies, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, and aware that the risk of a global monoculture poses more of a threat if the developing world remains poor and marginalized, Recognizing also that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Deeply concerned that the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 3. Reaffirms also the commitment to create an environment at both the national and the global levels that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 4. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, the fact that its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed represents an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 5. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,E/CN.4/2002/54. which focuses on the liberalization of agricultural trade and its impact on the realization of the right to development, including the right to food, and takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 6. Calls upon Member States, relevant agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to promote equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth for managing globalization so that poverty is systematically reduced and the international development targets are achieved; 7. Recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 8. Underlines the urgent need to establish an equitable, transparent and democratic international system in which poor people and countries have a more effective voice; 9. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 10. Affirms also that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 11. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/320. and requests the Secretary-General to seek further the views of Member States and relevant agencies of the United Nations system and to submit a substantive report on this subject to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/185 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Benin, Cambodia, China, Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries) and Tajikistan. by a recorded vote of 181 to 2, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Japan, Sweden 59/185. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, and that the individual is the central subject and beneficiary of development, Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Welcoming the framework modalities agreed at the General Council meeting of the World Trade Organization in Geneva on 1 August 2004 in key areas such as agriculture, market access for non-agricultural products, trade facilitation, development and services,See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Welcoming also the outcome of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held at São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, on the theme "Enhancing the coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, particularly of developing countries",See TD/412. Recalling all its previous resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the urgent need to make further progress towards the realization of the right to development as set out in the Declaration on the Right to Development, Recalling also the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003, and the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, Reiterating its continuing support for the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as a development framework for Africa, Recognizing that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparity, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries, Stressing that poverty eradication is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development and that poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted and integrated approach in addressing economic, political, social, environmental and institutional dimensions at all levels, especially in the context of the millennium development goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, 1. Endorses the agreed conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Working Group on the Right to Development at its fifth session,See E/CN.4/2004/23 and Corr.1, sect. III. and calls for their immediate, full and effective implementation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant actors; 2. Welcomes the establishment of a high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development within the framework of the Working Group to assist the Working Group to fulfil its mandate, and looks forward to the consideration by the Working Group of its concrete recommendations at its next session; 3. Calls upon the Working Group and, through it, its high-level task force, to contribute actively towards the mainstreaming of the right to development at the high-level event to be held in New York at the commencement of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, at which a comprehensive review will be undertaken of the progress made in the fulfilment of all the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. including the internationally agreed development goals and the global partnership required for their achievement; 4. Stresses the importance of the core principles contained in the conclusions of the Working Group at its third session,E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. congruent with the purpose of international human rights instruments, such as equality, non-discrimination, accountability, participation and international cooperation, as critical to mainstreaming the right to development at the national and international levels, and underlines the importance of the principles of equity and transparency; 5. Notes with concern that the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-sixth session did not consider the working paper identifying and analysing possible alternatives, and requests the Subcommission, without further delay, to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session the concept document establishing options for the implementation of the right to development and their feasibility; 6. Takes note of the convening and outcome of the second Social Forum held at Geneva on 22 and 23 July 2004 on the theme "Poverty, rural poverty and human rights"See E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/26 and Corr.1. and the strong support extended to it by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and invites all stakeholders, including Member States, to participate actively in its subsequent sessions; 7. Reaffirms the commitment to implement the goals and targets set out in all the outcome documents of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their review processes, in particular those relating to the realization of the right to development, recognizing that the realization of the right to development is critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in those outcome documents; 8. Also reaffirms that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 9. Stresses that the basic responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 10. Reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for the creation of national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development and their commitment to cooperating with each other to that end; 11. Also reaffirms the need for an international environment that is conducive to the realization of the right to development; 12. Stresses the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international and national levels, and calls upon States to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human right; 13. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and the international levels; 14. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of integrating all countries into a globalized world, and stresses the need for policies and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and equitable; 15. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the international community, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide, that developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 16. Underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting the target set in the Millennium Declaration of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015, reaffirms the commitment made to meet that target, and emphasizes the principle of international cooperation, including partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries towards achieving the goal; 17. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets; 18. Recognizes the need to address market access for developing countries, including in agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those of interest to developing countries; 19. Calls for the implementation of a desirable pace of meaningful trade liberalization, including in areas under negotiation; implementation of commitments on implementation-related issues and concerns; review of special and differential-treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational; avoidance of new forms of protectionism; and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing countries as important issues in making progress towards the effective implementation of the right to development; 20. Recognizes the important link between the international economic, commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development, stresses, in this regard, the need for good governance and broadening the base of decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and the need to fill organizational gaps, as well as strengthen the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 21. Also recognizes that good governance and the rule of law at the national level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance; 22. Further recognizes the important role and the rights of women and the application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship between women's education and their equal participation in the civil, cultural, economic, political and social activities of the community and the promotion of the right to development; 23. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, girls and boys alike, in all policies and programmes, and for ensuring the promotion and protection of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the full development of their capacities; 24. Also stresses that further and additional measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts and programmes, and reiterates the need for international assistance in this regard; 25. Recognizes the need for strong partnerships with civil society organizations and the private sector in pursuit of poverty eradication and development, as well as for corporate social responsibility; 26. Emphasizes the urgent need for taking concrete measures to fight against all forms of corruption at the national and international levels, to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery, stresses the importance of a genuine political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal framework, and in this context urges States to sign and ratify as soon as possible, and States parties to implement effectively, the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Resolution 58/4, annex. 27. Also emphasizes the need to strengthen further the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and realization of the right to development, including ensuring effective use of the financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, and calls upon the Secretary-General to provide the Office of the High Commissioner with the necessary resources; 28. Reaffirms the request to the High Commissioner, in mainstreaming the right to development, to undertake effectively activities aimed at strengthening the global partnership for development between Member States, development agencies and the international development, financial and trade institutions, and to reflect those activities in detail in her report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session; 29. Calls upon the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies, to mainstream the right to development in their operational programmes and objectives, and stresses the need for the international financial and multilateral trading systems to mainstream the right to development in their policies and objectives; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations; 31. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session and an interim report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and realization of the right to development, and invites the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Right to Development to present a verbal update to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/186 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zambia. 59/186. Human rights and extreme poverty The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, by which it declared 17 October the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and its resolution 50/107 of 20 December 1995, by which it proclaimed the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), as well as its resolution 57/211 of 18 December 2002 and its previous resolutions on human rights and extreme poverty, in which it reaffirmed that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them, Recalling also its resolution 52/134 of 12 December 1997, in which it recognized that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights was essential for the understanding, promotion and protection of all human rights, Deeply concerned that extreme poverty persists in all countries of the world, regardless of their economic, social and cultural situation, and that its extent and manifestations, such as hunger, trafficking in human beings, disease, lack of adequate shelter, illiteracy and hopelessness, are particularly severe in developing countries, while acknowledging the significant progress made in several parts of the world in combating extreme poverty, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/23 of 16 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. as well as resolution 2004/7 of 9 August 2004 of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,See E/CN.4/2005/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/48, chap. II, sect. A. Welcoming the Summit of World Leaders for Action against Hunger and Poverty of 20 September 2004, convened in New York by the Presidents of Brazil, Chile and France and the Prime Minister of Spain with the support of the Secretary-General, Recognizing that the eradication of extreme poverty is a major challenge within the process of globalization and requires coordinated and continued policies through decisive national action and international cooperation, Reaffirming that, since the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and might, in some situations, constitute a threat to the right to life, its immediate alleviation and eventual eradication must remain a high priority for the international community, Reaffirming also that democracy, development and the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty, Noting with interest the extension for a period of two years of the mandate of the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, 1. Reaffirms that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them; 2. Also reaffirms that it is essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the decision-making process in the societies in which they live, in the promotion of human rights and in efforts to combat extreme poverty, and that it is essential for people living in poverty and vulnerable groups to be empowered to organize themselves and to participate in all aspects of political, economic and social life, in particular the planning and implementation of policies that affect them, thus enabling them to become genuine partners in development; 3. Emphasizes that extreme poverty is a major issue to be addressed by Governments, civil society and the United Nations system, including international financial institutions, and in this context reaffirms that political commitment is a prerequisite for the eradication of poverty; 4. Reaffirms that the existence of widespread absolute poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and renders democracy and popular participation fragile; 5. Recognizes the need to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to address the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, including through the design and development of appropriate mechanisms to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions and governance; 6. Reaffirms the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the commitments to spare no effort to fight against extreme poverty and to achieve development and poverty eradication, including the commitment to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one United States dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger; 7. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, within the framework of the implementation of the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, to continue to give appropriate attention to the question of human rights and extreme poverty; 8. Welcomes the efforts of entities throughout the United Nations system to incorporate the Millennium Declaration and the internationally agreed development goals set out therein into their work; 9. Requests the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty to forward his reports on his activities, which he will submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first and sixty-second sessions, to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 10. Calls upon States, United Nations bodies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme, intergovernmental organizations and non- governmental organizations to continue to give appropriate attention to the links between human rights and extreme poverty; 11. Decides to consider the question further at its sixty-first session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 59/187 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 59/187. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recalling its adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its resolution 58/170 of 22 December 2003, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/63 of 21 April 2004 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 2000/22 of 18 August 2000, on the promotion of dialogue on human rights issues, by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-second session,See E/CN.4/2001/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/46, chap. II, sect. A. 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Recognizes that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their individual societies, States have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level; 3. Reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard the holding of conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on dialogue among civilizations; 4. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 6. Considers that international cooperation in the field of human rights, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 8. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non- governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 9. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 10. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/188 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 132 to 53, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 59/188. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 58/171 of 22 December 2003, and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/22 of 16 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,E/CN.4/2000/46 and Add.1. submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 52/120 of 12 December 1997A/53/293 and Add.1. and 55/110 of 4 December 2000,A/56/207 and Add.1. Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and, in this regard, reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, called upon States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. I, para. 31. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development, adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda, adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing its grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women and children, including adolescents, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly and recent major United Nations conferences, and contrary to general international law and the Charter, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Noting the continuing efforts of the open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, and reaffirming in particular its criteria, according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. 1. Urges all States to refrain from adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Also urges all States to take steps to avoid and to refrain from adopting any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being and their right to food, medical care and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 3. Invites all States to consider adopting administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 4. Rejects unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, because of their negative effects on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 5. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest possible time; 6. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 7. Urges the Commission on Human Rights to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, including the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 8. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, highlighting the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 10. Decides to examine the question on a priority basis at its sixtieth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 59/189 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Somalia, Sudan, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 59/189. Missing persons The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes, principles and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by the principles and norms of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling its resolution 57/207 of 18 December 2002 and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/60 of 25 April 2002See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2004/50 of 20 April 2004,Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting with deep concern that armed conflicts are continuing in various parts of the world, often resulting in serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, Recognizing that great technological progress has been achieved in the field of DNA forensic sciences with regard to missing persons, such as the work done by the International Commission on Missing Persons, based in Sarajevo, which could significantly assist efforts to identify missing persons from other conflict areas in the world, Noting, in this regard, that the issue of persons reported missing in connection with international armed conflicts, in particular those who are victims of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, continues to have a negative impact on efforts to put an end to those conflicts, Welcoming the convening in Geneva, from 19 to 21 February 2003, by the International Committee of the Red Cross, of the International Conference of Governmental and Non-Governmental Experts on the theme "The missing: action to resolve the problem of people unaccounted for as a result of armed conflict or internal violence and to assist their families" and the observations and recommendations of the Conference for addressing the problem of missing persons and their families, Welcoming also the undertakings by the participants at the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held in Geneva from 2 to 6 December 2003, through their adoption of the Agenda for Humanitarian Action, in particular general objective 1, to respect and restore the dignity of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts or other situations of armed violence and of their families, 1. Urges States strictly to observe and respect and ensure respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and in the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 2. Calls upon States that are parties to an armed conflict to take all appropriate measures to prevent persons from going missing in connection with armed conflict and to account for persons reported missing as a result of such a situation; 3. Reaffirms the right of families to know the fate of their relatives reported missing in connection with armed conflicts; 4. Also reaffirms that each party to an armed conflict, as soon as circumstances permit and, at the latest, from the end of active hostilities, shall search for the persons who have been reported missing by an adverse party; 5. Calls upon States which are parties to an armed conflict to take all necessary measures, in a timely manner, to determine the identity and fate of persons reported missing in connection with the armed conflict; 6. Requests States to pay the utmost attention to cases of children reported missing in connection with armed conflicts and to take appropriate measures to search for and identify those children; 7. Invites States which are parties to an armed conflict to cooperate fully with the International Committee of the Red Cross in establishing the fate of missing persons and to adopt a comprehensive approach to this issue, including all practical and coordination mechanisms that may be necessary, based on humanitarian considerations only; 8. Urges States and encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to take all necessary measures at the national, regional and international levels to address the problem of persons reported missing in connection with armed conflicts and to provide appropriate assistance as requested by the States concerned; 9. Invites relevant human rights mechanisms and procedures, as appropriate, to address the problem of persons reported missing in connection with armed conflicts in their forthcoming reports to the General Assembly; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian organizations; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 12. Decides to consider the question at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 59/18 Adopted at the 48th plenary meeting, on 1 November 2004, by a recorded vote of 123 to 1, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.18 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Abstaining: None 59/18. Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency The General Assembly, Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2003,International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2003 (GC(48)/3); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/59/295). Taking note of the statement of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Plenary Meetings, 47th meeting (A/59/PV.47), and corrigendum. in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 2004, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency, Recognizing also the cooperation between the United Nations and the Agency and the Agreement governing the relationship between the United Nations and the Agency as approved by the General Conference of the Agency on 23 October 1957 and by the General Assembly in the annex to its resolution 1145 (XII) of 14 November 1957, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2003 (GC(48)/3); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/59/295). 2. Takes note of resolutions GC(48)/RES/10A on measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and waste safety, GC(48)/RES/10B on international nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response, GC(48)/RES/10C on transport safety, GC(48)/RES/10D on the safety and security of radioactive sources, GC(48)/RES/11 on progress on measures to protect against nuclear and radiological terrorism, GC(48)/RES/12 on strengthening of the Agency's technical cooperation activities, GC(48)/RES/13A on strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, GC(48)/RES/13B on support to the African Union's Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign, GC(48)/RES/13C on development of the sterile insect technique for the control or eradication of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, GC(48)/RES/13D on a programme of action for cancer therapy, GC(48)/RES/13E on nuclear knowledge, GC(48)/RES/13F on Agency activities in the development of innovative nuclear technology, GC(48)/RES/14 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and application of the Model Additional Protocol, GC(48)/RES/15 on implementation of the Agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, GC(48)/RES/16 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East and decision GC(48)/DEC/10 on Israeli nuclear capabilities and threat, adopted on 24 September 2004 by the General Conference of the Agency at its forty-eighth regular session;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)). 3. Affirms its support for the indispensable role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security; 4. Appeals to Member States to continue to support the activities of the Agency; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency. RESOLUTION 59/190 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/190. Strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations are those of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and taking other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, as well as achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Desirous of achieving further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that such international cooperation should be based on the principles embodied in international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant instruments, Deeply convinced that United Nations action in the field of human rights should be based not only on a profound understanding of the broad range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect for the political, economic and social realities of each of them, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through international cooperation, Recalling its previous resolutions in this regard, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence and discretion of the special rapporteurs and representatives on thematic issues and on countries, as well as of the members of the working groups, in carrying out their mandates, Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote and protect human rights and to carry out the responsibilities that they have undertaken under international law, especially the Charter, as well as various international instruments in the field of human rights, 1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions of the Charter, including respect for territorial integrity; 2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur; 3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the development of further international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with that international framework; 4. Considers that international cooperation in this field should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security; 5. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends; 6. Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations system, as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups, to take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates; 7. Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach to human rights issues contributes to the promotion of international cooperation as well as to the effective promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 9. Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate, within the framework of their respective legal systems and in accordance with their obligations under international law, especially the Charter, and international human rights instruments, the measures that they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 10. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to take duly into account the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity; 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/327. and requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to present further practical proposals and ideas that would contribute to the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation based on the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and to submit a comprehensive report on the question to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 12. Decides to consider the matter at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 59/191 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/191. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental importance, including in response to terrorism and the fear of terrorism, of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, Recalling that States are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, and deploring violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of the fight against terrorism, Recognizing that the respect for human rights, the respect for democracy and the respect for the rule of law are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, Noting the declarations, statements and recommendations of a number of human rights treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures on the question of the compatibility of counter-terrorism measures with human rights obligations, Recalling its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002 and 58/187 of 22 December 2003 as well as Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/68 of 25 April 2003See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2004/87 of 21 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993 and, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment of all human rights, Reaffirming that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and the security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Noting the declaration on the issue of combating terrorism contained in the annex to Security Council resolution 1456 (2003) of 20 January 2003, in particular the statement that States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law and should adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Deploring the suffering caused by terrorism to the victims and their families, and expressing its profound solidarity with them, Stressing that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). without distinction of any kind, including on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, 1. Reaffirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 2. Also reaffirms the obligation of States, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 (XXI), annex. to respect certain rights as non-derogable in any circumstances, recalls, in regard to all other Covenant rights, that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlines the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations;See, for example, General Comment No. 29 on states of emergency adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001. 3. Calls upon States to raise awareness about the importance of these obligations among national authorities involved in combating terrorism; 4. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 58/187,A/59/404. in which it is stated that it is imperative that all States work to uphold and protect the dignity of individuals and their fundamental freedoms, as well as democratic practices and the rule of law, while countering terrorism; 5. Takes note with appreciation of the study of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights submitted pursuant to resolution 58/187;A/59/428. 6. Encourages States to make available to relevant national authorities the "Digest of Jurisprudence of the United Nations and Regional Organizations on the Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism" and to take into account its content, and requests the High Commissioner to update and publish it periodically; 7. Welcomes the ongoing dialogue established in the context of the fight against terrorism between the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee and the relevant bodies for the promotion and protection of human rights, and encourages the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee to strengthen the links and to continue to develop cooperation with relevant human rights bodies, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, giving due regard to the promotion and protection of human rights in the ongoing work pursuant to relevant Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism; 8. Requests all relevant special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, as well as the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, to consider, within their mandates, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of measures to combat terrorism, and encourages them to coordinate their efforts where appropriate, in order to promote a consistent approach on this subject; 9. Encourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to consider the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies; 10. Notes with appreciation the appointment of an independent expert on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/87,Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and encourages States to cooperate fully with him; 11. Requests the High Commissioner, making use of existing mechanisms, to continue: (a) To examine the question of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, taking into account reliable information from all sources; (b) To make general recommendations concerning the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms while taking actions to counter terrorism; (c) To provide assistance and advice to States, upon their request, on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, as well as to relevant United Nations bodies; 12. Requests the independent expert to take into account the debate held during the fifty-ninth regular session of the General Assembly in finalizing the report mandated by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2004/87, to be presented through the High Commissioner to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session and to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/192 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 59/192. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms annexed to that resolution, and reiterating the importance of the Declaration and its wide dissemination, Recalling also all previous resolutions on this subject, in particular its resolution 58/178 of 22 December 2003 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/68 of 21 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting with deep concern that, in many countries, persons and organizations engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities, Gravely concerned by the continuing high level of human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world and by the fact that, in a number of countries in all regions of the world, impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on their work and safety, Recalling that human rights defenders are entitled to equal protection of the law, and deeply concerned about any abuse of civil or criminal proceedings against them because of their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Concerned by the considerable number of communications received by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the special procedure mechanisms, indicate the serious nature of the risks faced by human rights defenders, Emphasizing the important role that individuals, groups and organs of society play in the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, Recalling that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances and that any measures derogating from other provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlining the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, as stated in General Comment No. 29, on states of emergency, adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI; see also HRI/GEN/1/Rev.7. Gravely concerned that, in some instances, national security and counter-terrorism legislation and other measures have been misused to target human rights defenders or have hindered their work and safety in a manner contrary to international law, Acknowledging the significant work conducted by the Special Representative, and welcoming the cooperation between the Special Representative and other special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, Welcoming regional initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights and the cooperation between international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, and encouraging further development in this regard, Welcoming also the steps taken by some States towards adopting national policies and legislation for the protection of human rights defenders, Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights rests with the State, and noting with deep concern that the activities of some non-State actors pose a major threat to the security of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the need for strong and effective measures for the protection of human rights defenders, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give full effect to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, including by taking, as appropriate, practical steps to that end; 2. Welcomes the reports of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defendersE/CN.4/2001/94, E/CN.4/2002/106 and Add.1 and 2, E/CN.4/2003/104 and Add.1-4 and E/CN.4/2004/94 and Add.1-3; see also A/56/341, A/57/182, A/58/380 and A/59/401. and her contribution to the effective promotion of the Declaration and the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders worldwide; 3. Encourages all States to ensure and maintain an environment conducive to the work of human rights defenders; 4. Condemns all human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, and urges States to take all appropriate action, consistent with the Declaration and all other relevant human rights instruments, to eliminate such human rights violations; 5. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders, at both the local and the national levels; 6. Also calls upon all States to ensure, protect and respect the freedom of expression and association of human rights defenders and, where registration is required, to facilitate registration, including through the establishment of effective and transparent criteria and non-discriminatory procedures under domestic law; 7. Urges States to ensure that any measures to combat terrorism and preserve national security comply with their obligations under international law, in particular under international human rights law, and do not hinder the work and safety of human rights defenders; 8. Emphasizes the importance of combating impunity, and in this regard urges States to take appropriate measures to address the question of impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders; 9. Urges States to ensure that complaints from human rights defenders are investigated and addressed in a transparent, independent and accountable manner; 10. Urges all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative in the performance of her tasks and to furnish all information in the fulfilment of her mandate upon request; 11. Calls upon Governments to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Representative to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Representative with respect to the follow-up and implementation of her recommendations, so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively; 12. Urges those Governments that have not yet responded to the communications transmitted to them by the Special Representative to answer without further delay; 13. Invites Governments to translate the Declaration into national languages and to take measures to improve its dissemination; 14. Encourages States to promote awareness and training in regard to the Declaration in order to enable officials, agencies, authorities and the judiciary to observe the provisions of the Declaration and thus to promote better understanding and respect for human rights defenders; 15. Requests all concerned United Nations agencies and organizations, within their mandates, to provide all possible assistance and support to the Special Representative in the implementation of her programme of activities; 16. Invites relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, within their mandates and working in cooperation with States, to give due consideration to the Declaration and to the reports of the Special Representative, and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to draw the attention of all relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, to the reports of the Special Representative; 17. Encourages all Governments to investigate expeditiously urgent appeals and allegations brought to their attention by the Special Representative and to take timely action to prevent violations of the rights of human rights defenders; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Representative with all necessary human, material and financial resources in order to enable her to continue to carry out her mandate effectively, including through country visits; 19. Requests the Special Representative to continue to report on her activities to the General Assembly and to the Commission on Human Rights in accordance with her mandate; 20. Decides to consider the question at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 59/193 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 125 to 55, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Fiji, Mexico, Nauru, Peru 59/193. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/213 of 18 December 2002, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/64 of 21 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights and international law, Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights should continue to be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law as set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter and, inter alia, with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, Recalling the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Reaffirming also the determination expressed in the Preamble to the Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practice tolerance and good-neighbourliness, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Considering also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Emphasizing that democracy is not only a political concept but that it also has economic and social dimensions, Recognizing that democracy, respect for all human rights, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society, and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development, Noting with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion, Underlining the fact that it is imperative for the international community to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, and that only through broad and sustained efforts, based on common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable, Stressing that efforts to make globalization fully inclusive and equitable must include policies and measures, at the global level, that correspond to the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and are formulated and implemented with their effective participation, Having listened to the peoples of the world, and recognizing their aspirations to justice, to equality of opportunity for all, to the enjoyment of their human rights, including the right to development, to live in peace and freedom and to equal participation without discrimination in economic, social, cultural, civil and political life, Resolved to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and equitable international order, 1. Affirms that everyone is entitled to a democratic and equitable international order; 2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the full realization of all human rights for all; 3. Calls upon all Member States to fulfil their commitment expressed in Durban, South Africa, during the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance to maximize the benefits of globalization through, inter alia, the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation to increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable development, global communications through the use of new technologies, and increased intercultural exchange through the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and reiterates that only through broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future based upon our common humanity and all its diversity can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable; 4. Affirms that a democratic and equitable international order requires, inter alia, the realization of the following: (a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; (b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources; (c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development; (d) The right of all peoples to peace; (e) The right to an international economic order based on equal participation in the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, solidarity and cooperation among all States; (f) Solidarity, as a fundamental value, by virtue of which global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes costs and burdens fairly, in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice, and ensures that those who suffer or benefit the least receive help from those who benefit the most; (g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular through the implementation of the principles of full and equal participation in their respective decision-making mechanisms; (h) The right to equitable participation of all, without any discrimination, in domestic and global decision-making; (i) The principle of equitable regional and gender- balanced representation in the composition of the staff of the United Nations system; (j) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international information and communications order, based on international cooperation for the establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international flow of information, in particular correcting the inequalities in the flow of information to and from developing countries; (k) Respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all, since this enhances cultural pluralism, contributes to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural backgrounds, advances the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights across the world and fosters stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; (l) The right of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment; (m) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in particular in economic, commercial and financial international relations; (n) The enjoyment by everyone of ownership of the common heritage of mankind; (o) The shared responsibility of the nations of the world for managing worldwide economic and social development as well as threats to international peace and security that should be exercised multilaterally; 5. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of the international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; 6. Also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 8. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries; 9. Recalls the proclamation by the General Assembly of its determination to work urgently for the establishment of an international economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all States, irrespective of their economic and social systems, which shall correct inequalities and redress existing injustices, make it possible to eliminate the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and ensure steadily accelerating economic and social development and peace and justice for present and future generations;See resolution 3201 (S-VI). 10. Reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and means to remove the current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world; 11. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international cooperation, towards the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 12. Requests the Commission on Human Rights, the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to pay due attention, within their respective mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions towards its implementation; 13. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to build upon the issue of the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, to take into account the present resolution in the preparations and development of the expert seminar to examine the interdependence between democracy and human rights that it will convene in February 2005, and to invite all Governments, specialized agencies, United Nations funds and programmes and interested non-governmental organizations to attend that seminar; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components, intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 15. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 59/194 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/194. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/190 of 22 December 2003 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/53 of 20 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also its resolution 40/144 of 13 December 1985, by which it adopted the Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live, Reaffirming that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Considering that every State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. must ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the Covenant, Bearing in mind that every State party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. has undertaken to guarantee the exercise of all rights enunciated in that Covenant without discrimination of any kind, including, in particular, on the basis of national origin, Reaffirming the provisions concerning migrants adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Reaffirming also the provisions on the human rights of migrants contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and expressing its satisfaction at the important recommendations made for the development of international and national strategies for the protection of migrants and for the design of migration policies that fully respect the human rights of migrants, Welcoming the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants,E/CN.4/2004/76 and Add.1-4. especially the work she has undertaken on the human rights of migrants, and taking note of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, Taking note of advisory opinion OC-16/99, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 1 October 1999, on The Right to Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law, Taking note also of the Judgment of the International Court of Justice of 31 March 2004 in the case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 4 (A/59/4), chap. V, sect. A.23. and recalling the obligations of States reaffirmed therein, Taking note further of advisory opinion OC-18/03, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on 17 September 2003, on The Juridical Condition and Rights of Undocumented Migrants, Aware of the increasing number of migrants worldwide, and bearing in mind the situation of vulnerability in which migrants and their families frequently find themselves, owing, inter alia, to their absence from their States of origin and to the difficulties they encounter because of differences of language, custom and culture, as well as the economic and social difficulties and obstacles to the return to their States of origin of migrants who are non-documented or in an irregular situation, Recognizing the positive contributions that migrants frequently make, including through their eventual integration into their host society, and the efforts that some host countries undertake to integrate migrants and their families, Underlining the importance of the creation of conditions that foster greater harmony, tolerance and respect between migrants and the rest of society in the States in which they reside in order to eliminate manifestations of racism and xenophobia against migrants, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the effective and full protection of the human rights of all migrants, and underlining the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, Bearing in mind the need for a focused and consistent approach towards migrants as a specific vulnerable group, in particular migrant women and children, Resolved to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, 1. Strongly condemns the manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them, and urges States to apply the existing laws when xenophobic or intolerant acts, manifestations or expressions against migrants occur, in order to eradicate impunity for those who commit xenophobic and racist acts; 2. Also strongly condemns all forms of racial discrimination and xenophobia related to access to employment, vocational training, housing, schooling, health services and social services, as well as services intended for use by the public, and welcomes the active role played by governmental and non-governmental organizations in combating racism and xenophobia and in assisting individual victims of racist acts, including migrant victims; 3. Requests all Member States, in conformity with their respective constitutional systems, effectively to promote and protect the human rights of all migrants, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the international instruments to which they are party, which may include the International Covenants on Human Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and other relevant international human rights instruments; 4. Welcomes the increasing number of signatures and ratifications or accessions to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, and calls upon States that have not done so to consider urgently signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention; 5. Also welcomes the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III. and calls upon States that have not done so to consider urgently signing and ratifying or acceding to them; 6. Reaffirms emphatically the duty of States parties to ensure full respect for and observance of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638. in particular with regard to the right of all foreign nationals to communicate with a consular official of the sending State in the case of arrest, imprisonment, custody or detention, and the obligation of the receiving State to inform without delay the foreign national of his or her rights under the Convention; 7. Calls upon States to promote and protect fully the human rights of migrants, as set out in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. through, inter alia, the adoption of national plans of action as recommended by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; 8. Also calls upon all States to consider reviewing and, where necessary, revising immigration policies with a view to eliminating all discriminatory practices against migrants and their families, and to provide specialized training for government policy-making, law enforcement, migration and other concerned officials, including in cooperation with non-governmental organizations and civil society, thus underlining the importance of effective action to create conditions that foster greater harmony and tolerance within societies; 9. Welcomes immigration programmes, adopted by some countries, that allow migrants to integrate fully into the host countries, facilitate family reunification and promote a harmonious and tolerant environment, and encourages States to consider the possibility of adopting these types of programmes; 10. Requests all States, in conformity with national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party, firmly to prosecute violations of labour law with regard to the conditions of work of migrant workers, including those related to, inter alia, their remuneration and the conditions of health and safety at work; 11. Encourages all States to remove obstacles that may prevent the safe, unrestricted and expeditious transfer of earnings, assets and pensions of migrants to their country of origin or to any other countries, in conformity with applicable legislation, and to consider, as appropriate, measures to solve other problems that may impede such transfers; 12. Urges all States to adopt effective measures to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of migrants and to take action to prevent and punish any form of illegal deprivation of liberty of migrants by individuals or groups; 13. Calls upon States to observe national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party when enacting national security measures in order to respect the human rights of migrants; 14. Requests States to adopt concrete measures to prevent the violation of the human rights of migrants while in transit, including in ports and airports and at borders and migration checkpoints, to train public officials who work in those facilities and in border areas to treat migrants and their families respectfully and in accordance with the law, and to prosecute, in conformity with applicable law, any act of violation of the human rights of migrants and their families, such as arbitrary detention, torture and violations of the right to life, including extrajudicial executions, during their transit from their country of origin to the country of destination and vice versa, including their transit through national borders; 15. Encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact domestic legislation and to take further effective measures to combat international trafficking in and smuggling of migrants, recognizing that these crimes may endanger the lives of migrants or subject them to harm, servitude or exploitation, which may include debt bondage, slavery, sexual exploitation or forced labour, and also encourages Member States to strengthen international cooperation to combat such trafficking and smuggling; 16. Encourages States, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, to undertake information campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration so as to enable everyone, in particular women, to make informed decisions and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking and utilizing dangerous means of access that put their lives and physical integrity at risk; 17. Calls upon States to facilitate family reunification in an expeditious and effective manner, with due regard to applicable laws, as such reunification has a positive effect on the integration of migrants; 18. Calls upon all States to protect and promote all human rights of migrant children, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring that the best interests of the children are a primary consideration, underlines the importance of reuniting them with their parents, when possible, and encourages the relevant United Nations bodies, within the framework of their respective mandates, to pay special attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, where necessary, to put forward recommendations for strengthening their protection; 19. Encourages States of origin to promote and protect the human rights of those families of migrant workers which remain in the countries of origin, paying particular attention to children and adolescents whose parents have emigrated, and encourages international organizations to consider supporting States in this regard; 20. Encourages States to consider participating in international and regional dialogues on migration that include countries of origin and destination, as well as countries of transit, and invites them to consider negotiating bilateral and regional agreements on migrant workers within the framework of applicable human rights law and designing and implementing programmes with States of other regions to protect the rights of migrants; 21. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated, to furnish all information requested and to respond appropriately and expeditiously to her urgent appeals and to give serious consideration to her requests to visit their countries, and welcomes in this regard the standing invitations extended by some Member States to all special procedures, including the Special Rapporteur; 22. Encourages States to review and examine the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Special RapporteurE/CN.4/2004/76 and Add.1-4. and to consider their re-implementation; 23. Invites States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe, on 18 December of each year, International Migrants Day, proclaimed by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/93. through, inter alia, the dissemination of information on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants and on their economic, social and cultural contributions to their host and home countries, the sharing of experience and the design of actions to ensure their protection, and to promote greater harmony between migrants and the societies in which they live; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms", and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit to the Assembly at its sixtieth session an interim report on the fulfilment of her mandate; 25. Decides to examine the question further at its sixtieth session under the sub-item. RESOLUTION 59/195 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 127 to 50, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Malawi, Nauru, Syrian Arab Republic 59/195. Human rights and terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United NationsResolution 2625 (XXV), annex. and the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. as well as the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism,Resolution 49/60, annex. Recalling also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as its linkage in some countries to drug trafficking, are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and the security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/2. Recalling, in this regard, the reference in the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration to the fact that terrorism itself is a violation of human rights and must be combated as such and that efforts at combating it must be pursued, however, in full compliance with established international norms,See A/58/323, para. 28. Recalling also its resolutions 48/122 of 20 December 1993, 49/185 of 23 December 1994, 50/186 of 22 December 1995, 52/133 of 12 December 1997, 54/109 and 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 54/164 of 17 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000, 56/160 of 19 December 2001, 57/219 and 57/220 of 18 December 2002 and 58/174 of 22 December 2003, Recalling in particular that, in its resolution 52/133, it requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the implications of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations for the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling previous resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights on the issue of human rights and terrorism, as well as on hostage-taking, Bearing in mind all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, Bearing in mind also relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware that, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, the world is witness to historic and far-reaching transformations, in the course of which forces of aggressive nationalism and religious and ethnic extremism continue to produce fresh challenges, Alarmed that acts of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations aimed at the destruction of human rights have continued despite national and international efforts, Convinced that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever committed, can never be justified in any instance, including as a means to promote and protect human rights, Concerned that, despite the efforts of the international community, acts of hostage-taking in different forms and manifestations, inter alia, committed by terrorists and armed groups, continue to take place and have even increased in many regions of the world, Bearing in mind that the right to life is the basic human right, without which a human being can exercise no other right, Bearing in mind also that terrorism creates an environment that destroys the right of people to live in freedom from fear, Reiterating that all States have an obligation to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to ensure effective implementation of their obligations under international law, Seriously concerned about the gross violations of human rights perpetrated by terrorist groups, Expressing its deepest sympathy and condolences to all the victims of terrorism and their families, Alarmed in particular at the possibility that terrorist groups may exploit new technologies to facilitate acts of terrorism, which may cause massive damage, including huge loss of human life, Emphasizing the need to intensify the fight against terrorism at the national level, to enhance effective international cooperation in combating terrorism in conformity with international law, including relevant State obligations under international human rights and international humanitarian law, and to strengthen the role of the United Nations in this respect, Emphasizing also that States shall deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts or provide safe havens, Reaffirming that all measures to counter terrorism must be in strict conformity with international law, including international human rights standards and obligations, Mindful of the need to protect the human rights of and guarantees for the individual in accordance with the relevant human rights principles and instruments, in particular the right to life, Noting the growing consciousness within the international community of the negative effects of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations on the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and on the establishment of the rule of law and democratic freedoms as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the International Covenants on Human Rights, Concerned by the tendencies to link terrorism and violence with religion, Noting the developments that have occurred since its fifty-eighth session on addressing the issue of human rights and terrorism at the national, regional and international levels, 1. Reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and the security of States, destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, undermining pluralistic civil society and having adverse consequences for the economic and social development of States; 2. Strongly condemns the violations of the right to life, liberty and security; 3. Rejects the identification of terrorism with any religion, nationality or culture; 4. Profoundly deplores the increasing number of innocent persons, including women, children and the elderly, killed, massacred and maimed by terrorists in indiscriminate and random acts of violence and terror, which cannot be justified in any circumstances; 5. Expresses its solidarity with the victims of terrorism; 6. Reaffirms the decision of the Heads of State and Government, as contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to take concerted action against international terrorism and to accede as soon as possible to all the relevant regional and international conventions; 7. Urges the international community to enhance cooperation at the regional and international levels in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in accordance with relevant international instruments, including those relating to human rights, with the aim of its eradication; 8. Calls upon States to take all necessary and effective measures, in accordance with relevant provisions of international law, including international human rights standards, to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomever it is committed, and also calls upon States to strengthen, where appropriate, their legislation to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 9. Urges all States to deny safe haven to terrorists; 10. Calls upon States to take appropriate measures, in conformity with relevant provisions of national and international law, including international human rights standards, before granting refugee status, for the purpose of ensuring that an asylum-seeker has not planned, facilitated or participated in the commission of terrorist acts, including assassinations, and to ensure, in conformity with international law, that refugee status is not abused by the perpetrators, organizers or facilitators of terrorist acts and that claims of political motivation are not recognized as grounds for refusing requests for the extradition of alleged terrorists; 11. Urges States and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to review, with full respect for legal safeguards, the validity of a refugee status decision in an individual case if credible and relevant evidence comes to light which indicates that the person in question has planned, facilitated or participated in the commission of terrorist acts; 12. Condemns the incitement to ethnic hatred, violence and terrorism; 13. Stresses that every person, regardless of nationality, race, sex, religion or any other distinction, has a right to protection from terrorism and terrorist acts; 14. Expresses concern about the growing connection between terrorist groups and other criminal organizations engaged in the illegal traffic in arms and drugs at the national and international levels, as well as the consequent commission of serious crimes such as murder, extortion, kidnapping, assault, the taking of hostages and robbery, and requests the relevant United Nations bodies to continue to give special attention to this question; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to seek the views of Member States on the implications of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations for the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and on the possible establishment of a voluntary fund for the victims of terrorism, as well as on ways and means to rehabilitate the victims of terrorism and to reintegrate them into society, with a view to incorporating his findings in his report to the General Assembly; 16. Takes note of the work of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on the issue of terrorism and the final report of the Special Rapporteur of the Subcommission on terrorism and human rights;E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/40. 17. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the course of the examination of the question and in the conduct of any study on terrorism that may be mandated, and in its activities relating to the issue of terrorism, to adopt a comprehensive approach, in particular by giving full and equal attention to the issues raised in the present resolution with relation to the grave impact of terrorism on the enjoyment of the human rights of individuals; 18. Decides to consider the question at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 59/196 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and United States of America. 59/196. Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 32/127 of 16 December 1977 and its subsequent resolutions concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/51 of 9 March 1993See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1993/23 and Corr.2, 4 and 5), chap. II, sect. A. and its subsequent resolutions in this regard, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights concerning advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights, including its most recent on that subject, resolution 2004/81 of 21 April 2004,Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap II, sect. A. Bearing in mind also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reiterates, inter alia, the need to consider the possibility of establishing regional and subregional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights where they do not already exist, Recalling that the World Conference recommended that more resources should be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Reaffirming that regional arrangements play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights and should reinforce universal human rights standards, as contained in international human rights instruments, Noting the progress achieved thus far in the promotion and protection of human rights at the regional level under the auspices of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the regional intergovernmental organizations, Considering that cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements in the field of human rights continues to be both substantive and supportive and that possibilities exist for increased cooperation, Welcoming the fact that the Office of the High Commissioner has been systematically pursuing a regional and subregional approach through a variety of complementary means and methods, in order to maximize the impact of the activities of the United Nations at the national level, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/323. 2. Welcomes the continuing cooperation and assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the further strengthening of the existing regional arrangements and regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular through technical cooperation aimed at national capacity-building, public information and education, with a view to exchanging information and experience in the field of human rights; 3. Also welcomes, in that respect, the close cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner in the organization of regional and subregional training courses and workshops in the field of human rights, high-level governmental expert meetings and regional conferences of national human rights institutions, aimed at creating greater understanding in the regions of issues concerning the promotion and protection of human rights, improving procedures and examining the various systems for the promotion and protection of universally accepted human rights standards and identifying obstacles to ratification of the principal international human rights treaties and strategies to overcome them; 4. Recognizes, therefore, that progress in promoting and protecting all human rights depends primarily on efforts made at the national and local levels, and that the regional approach should imply intensive cooperation and coordination with all partners involved, while bearing in mind the importance of international cooperation; 5. Stresses the importance of the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights, renews its appeal to all Governments to consider making use of the possibilities offered by the United Nations under this programme of organizing information or training courses at the national level for government personnel on the application of international human rights standards and the experience of relevant international bodies, and notes with satisfaction, in that respect, the establishment of technical cooperation projects with Governments of all regions; 6. Welcomes the growing exchanges between the United Nations and the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, on the one hand, and regional organizations and institutions, including the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the League of Arab States, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, on the other; 7. Also welcomes the placement by the Office of the High Commissioner of regional representatives in subregions and in regional commissions; 8. Further welcomes the progress achieved in the establishment of regional and subregional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, and, in this regard, notes with interest: (a) The positive experience of the regional and subregional presence of the Office of the High Commissioner in southern, central and eastern Africa aimed at strengthening national and subregional human rights capacities; (b) The support provided by the Office of the High Commissioner to the African Union for the strengthening of its human rights system, and welcomes in this regard the entry into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights; (c) The increased, valuable sharing of concrete national experiences at the eleventh and twelfth Workshops on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asian and Pacific Region, held in Islamabad from 25 to 27 February 2003 and in Doha from 2 to 4 March 2004, respectively, regarding the implementation of the Framework of Regional Technical Cooperation for the Asia-Pacific Region, which contributes to the enhancement of the promotion and protection of human rights in the region; (d) Activities undertaken within the framework of the regional project of the Office of the High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Latin American and Caribbean region and the strengthening of the cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner, the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; (e) Activities undertaken within the framework of cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and the League of Arab States and the intention to develop a broader technical cooperation programme in cooperation with the League of Arab States following the recent adoption of the Arab Charter on Human Rights; (f) The continued cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and regional organizations in Europe and Central Asia, namely the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Union, in particular for activities at the country level, as well as the agreements between the European Commission and the Office of the High Commissioner for financing technical cooperation projects; 9. Invites States in areas in which regional arrangements in the field of human rights do not yet exist to consider concluding agreements with a view to establishing, within their respective regions, suitable regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, as foreseen in programme 19, Human rights, of the revised medium-term plan for the period 2002-2005,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 6 and corrigendum (A/57/6/Rev.1 and Corr.1). to continue to strengthen exchanges between the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organizations dealing with human rights and to make available adequate resources from within the regular budget of technical cooperation to the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner to promote regional arrangements; 11. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to pay special attention to the most appropriate ways of assisting countries of the various regions, at their request, under the programme of technical cooperation and to make, where necessary, relevant recommendations, and in this regard welcomes the decision of the Office to strengthen national protection systems in accordance with action 2 of the reform programme of the Secretary-General;See A/57/387 and Corr.1. 12. Invites the Secretary-General to provide, in the report that he will submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session, information on progress made since the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. on reinforcing the exchange of information and extending collaboration between the organs of the United Nations dealing with human rights and regional organizations in the field of the promotion and protection of human rights; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, formulating concrete proposals and recommendations on ways and means to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements in the field of human rights, and to include therein the results of action taken in pursuance of the present resolution; 14. Decides to consider the question further at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 59/197 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 142 to none, with 43 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe 59/197. Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person, and the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Having regard to the legal framework of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, including the provisions contained in Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1992/72 of 5 March 1992See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A. and 2001/45 of 23 April 2001,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. as well as General Assembly resolution 47/136 of 18 December 1992, Noting its resolutions on the subject of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984 and the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, annexed thereto, and Council resolution 1989/64 of 24 May 1989 on their implementation, as well as the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/65 of 24 May 1989, in which the Council recommended the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, Convinced of the need for effective action to combat and to eliminate the abhorrent practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which represent a flagrant violation of the right to life, 1. Strongly condemns once again all the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that continue to occur throughout the world; 2. Demands that all Governments ensure that the practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions is brought to an end and that they take effective action to combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms; 3. Notes with grave concern that situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions may, under certain circumstances, result in genocide or crimes against humanity, as defined in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of GenocideResolution 260 A (III), annex. and other relevant international instruments; 4. Notes with deep concern that impunity continues to be a major cause of the perpetuation of violations of human rights, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 5. Reiterates the obligation of all Governments to conduct exhaustive and impartial investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to identify and bring to justice those responsible, while ensuring the right of every person to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to grant adequate compensation within a reasonable time to the victims or their families, and to adopt all necessary measures, including legal and judicial measures, to put an end to impunity and to prevent the further occurrence of such executions; 6. Acknowledges the establishment of the International Criminal Court as an important contribution to ending impunity concerning extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the fact that ninety-seven States have already ratified or acceded to and one hundred and thirty-nine States have signed the Rome Statute,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and calls upon all other States to consider becoming parties to the Statute; 7. Calls upon all States in which the death penalty has not been abolished to comply with their obligations under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including in particular articles 6, 7 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. bearing in mind the safeguards and guarantees set out in Economic and Social Council resolutions 1984/50 and 1989/64; 8. Urges all Governments: (a) To take all necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, including those occurring in custody; (b) To take all necessary and possible measures, in conformity with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, to prevent loss of life, in particular that of children, during public demonstrations, internal and communal violence, civil unrest and public emergencies or armed conflicts, and to ensure that the police, law enforcement agents and security forces act with restraint and in conformity with international human rights law and international humanitarian law; (c) To ensure the effective protection of the right to life of all persons under their jurisdiction and to investigate promptly and thoroughly all killings, including those targeted at specific groups of persons, such as racially motivated violence leading to the death of the victim, killings of members of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, of refugees, internally displaced persons, migrants, street children or members of indigenous communities, killings of persons for reasons related to their peaceful activities as human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists or demonstrators, killings committed in the name of passion or in the name of honour, all killings committed for any discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation, as well as all other cases where a person's right to life has been violated, and to bring those responsible to justice before a competent, independent and impartial judiciary and to ensure that such killings, including those committed by security forces, police and law enforcement agents, paramilitary groups or private forces, are neither condoned nor sanctioned by State officials or personnel; 9. Encourages Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to organize training programmes and to support projects with a view to training or educating military forces, law enforcement officers and government officials in human rights and humanitarian law issues connected with their work and to include a gender perspective in such training, and appeals to the international community and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support endeavours to that end; 10. Reaffirms Economic and Social Council decision 2004/259 of 22 July 2004, by which the Council endorsed the decision of the Commission on Human Rights to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions for three years; 11. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly;See A/59/319. 12. Commends the important role that the Special Rapporteur plays towards the elimination of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue, within his mandate, to collect information from all concerned, to respond effectively to reliable information that comes before him, to follow up on communications and country visits and to seek the views and comments of Governments and to reflect them, as appropriate, in his reports; 13. Urges the Special Rapporteur to continue, within his mandate, to bring to the attention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and, as appropriate, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that are of particularly serious concern or in which early action might prevent further deterioration; 14. Welcomes the cooperation established between the Special Rapporteur and other United Nations mechanisms and procedures relating to human rights, as well as with medical and forensic experts, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue efforts in that regard; 15. Urges all Governments, in particular those that have not yet done so, to respond in a timely manner to the communications and requests for information transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur, and urges them and all others concerned to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur so that he may carry out his mandate effectively, including, where appropriate, by issuing invitations to the Special Rapporteur when he so requests; 16. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have invited the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries, asks them to examine carefully the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur, invites them to inform the Special Rapporteur of the actions taken on those recommendations, and requests other Governments to cooperate in a similar way; 17. Again requests the Secretary-General to continue to use his best endeavours in cases where the minimum standards of legal safeguards provided for in articles 6, 9, 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights appear not to have been respected; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with adequate human, financial and material resources to enable him to carry out his mandate effectively, including through country visits; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue, in close collaboration with the High Commissioner, in conformity with the mandate of the High Commissioner established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to ensure that personnel specialized in human rights and humanitarian law issues form part of United Nations missions, where appropriate, in order to deal with serious violations of human rights, such as extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 20. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the situation worldwide in regard to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and his recommendations for more effective action to combat this phenomenon. RESOLUTION 59/198 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/198. Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development, Recalling also its resolution 58/246 of 23 December 2003, as well as relevant resolutions of the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination, Convinced of the contribution that a convention can make in this regard, and encouraged by the increased support of the international community for such a convention, Stressing the importance of the active participation of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and their valuable contribution to the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, Underlining the importance of the participation of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, Recognizing the important contributions made thus far to the Ad Hoc Committee by all stakeholders, 1. Welcomes the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities;See A/59/360. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the report of the Ad Hoc Committee to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-third session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session, and further requests both Commissions to continue to contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 3. Welcomes with satisfaction the beginning of the negotiations on a draft convention by the Ad Hoc Committee at its third session, as requested by the General Assembly in resolution 58/246, and the progress achieved so far in the negotiation of a draft convention; 4. Invites Member States and observers to continue to participate actively and constructively in the Ad Hoc Committee with a view to the early conclusion of a draft text of a convention, in order to present it to the General Assembly, as a matter of priority, for its adoption; 5. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall hold, within existing resources, prior to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, two sessions in 2005, of ten working days each, to be held, respectively, from 24 January to 4 February and in July/August; 6. Underlines the importance of further strengthening the cooperation and coordination between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in order to provide technical support to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and in this regard invites them to provide, in advance of the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee, background documentation to assist Member States and observers in the negotiation of a draft convention, and to organize, in close connection and timing with the meetings and venue of the Ad Hoc Committee, meetings of experts and seminars in relation to the draft convention, within existing resources; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work, and in this context invites the Secretary-General to reallocate resources to the United Nations Programme on Disability so as to provide support to the negotiations on a draft convention; 8. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility at the United Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation, for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002; 9. Encourages Member States to continue to include in their delegations to the Ad Hoc Committee persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field; 10. Urges Member States, observers, civil society and the private sector to contribute to the voluntary fund established pursuant to its resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002 to support the participation of non-governmental organizations and experts from developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate widely to non-governmental organizations all available information on accreditation procedures, modalities and supportive measures for their participation in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, as well as the criteria for the financial assistance that is available through the voluntary fund; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to transmit a comprehensive report of the Ad Hoc Committee and to report on the implementation of paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 11 of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/199 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 186 to none, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: None 59/199. Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Recalling article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and paragraph 4 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Noting the provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, aimed at combating religious intolerance,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Emphasizing that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is far-reaching and profound and that it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief, whether manifested individually or in community with others, and in public or in private, Reaffirming the call, made eleven years ago in Vienna at the World Conference on Human Rights, for all Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of tolerance, which involves the acceptance of and respect for diversity, and underlining also that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to the promotion of tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, continue to occur in many parts of the world and threaten the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Profoundly concerned at acts and situations of violence and discrimination resulting from religious intolerance that affect many women, Deeply concerned at the overall rise in intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including restrictive legislation, administrative regulations and discriminatory registration and the arbitrary application of these and other measures, Seriously concerned at all attacks upon religious places, sites and shrines, including any deliberate destruction of relics and monuments, Believing that further intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as emphasized also at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, 1. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is a human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed to all without discrimination; 2. Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is violated; 3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of their religion or belief, deprived of the right to life, liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or detained, and to protect their physical integrity and bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; 4. Further urges States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all necessary action to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, with particular regard to persons belonging to religious minorities; 5. Urges States to devote particular attention to combating all practices motivated by religion or belief which lead, directly or indirectly, to human rights violations and to discrimination against women; 6. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if those limitations are prescribed by law, are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 7. Urges States to ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, and to ensure that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 8. Calls upon all States to recognize, as provided for in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes; 9. Recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many religious communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and Christianophobia; 10. Further urges States to exert their utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights standards, to ensure that religious places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected, and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction; 11. Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, and that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by persons and groups is necessary for the full realization of the aims of the Declaration, and in this regard invites States, religious bodies and civil society to undertake dialogue at all levels to promote greater tolerance, respect and understanding of freedom of religion or belief and to encourage and promote, through the educational system and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; 12. Emphasizes the importance of a continued and strengthened dialogue among religions or beliefs, including as encompassed in the dialogue among civilizations, to promote greater tolerance, respect and mutual understanding; 13. Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief,See A/59/366. and encourages her continued efforts to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration and to recommend remedial measures as appropriate; 14. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, including by considering favourably her requests to visit their countries so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively, welcomes the initiatives of States to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur, and encourages civil society to continue its active collaboration with her; 15. Urges States to make all appropriate efforts to encourage those engaged in education to cultivate respect for all religions or beliefs, thereby promoting mutual understanding and tolerance; 16. Encourages Governments, when seeking the assistance of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, to consider, where appropriate, including requests for assistance in the field of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; 17. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation and dissemination of the Declaration, and further encourages their work in relation to promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 18. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its consideration of measures to implement the Declaration; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary resources to enable her to discharge her mandate fully; 20. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions", and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly on the question. RESOLUTION 59/19 Adopted at the 50th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.5/Rev.2 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia 59/19. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 1 September 2004, which takes stock of the broad cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union over the past two years,See A/59/303, part five. Taking note of the resolutions adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and circulated in the General Assembly and the activities undertaken by the organization over the past two years in support of the United Nations, Welcoming the annual parliamentary hearings at the United Nations as a regular feature of the programme of events held at United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of the sessions of the General Assembly, Taking into consideration the Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union of 1996,A/51/402, annex. which laid the foundation for cooperation between the two organizations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to strengthen further cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments through their world organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in various fields, including peace and security, economic and social development, international law and human rights, and democracy and gender issues, Also recalling its resolution 57/32 of 19 November 2002, in which the Inter-Parliamentary Union was invited to participate in the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer, as well as resolution 57/47 of 21 November 2002, Taking note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society RelationsSee A/58/817 and Corr.1. in regard to engaging parliamentarians more systematically in the work of the United Nations, 1. Welcomes the efforts made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to provide for a greater parliamentary contribution and enhanced support to the United Nations; 2. Welcomes with satisfaction the decision to convene the second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament at United Nations Headquarters in September 2005, in follow-up to the first such conference held in New York in 2000 in conjunction with the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations; 3. Calls upon the host country to extend the usual courtesies to participants of all parliamentary delegations of States Members of the United Nations at the second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament; 4. Takes note of the efforts of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to consult parliaments on the recommendations contained in the report of the Panel of Eminent PersonsSee A/58/817 and Corr.1. in regard to engaging parliamentarians more systematically in the work of the United Nations, and looks forward to learning of the outcome of this process as a contribution to the deliberations of the General Assembly prior to a final decision on the recommendations of the Panel in regard to parliamentarians; 5. Encourages the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to continue to cooperate closely in various fields, in particular peace and security, economic and social development, international law, human rights, and democracy and gender issues, bearing in mind the significant benefits of cooperation between the two organizations, to which the report of the Secretary-General attests;See A/59/303, part five. 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union". RESOLUTION 59/1 B Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/421/Add.1, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/1 B. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/5 B and C of 23 December 2000, 56/243 A of 24 December 2001, 56/243 B of 27 March 2002, 57/4 B of 20 December 2002, and 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, Recalling also rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Contributions on the work of its sixty-fourth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/59/11). Having also considered the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plans,A/59/67. the letter dated 27 December 2001 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General AssemblyA/56/767. and the related note by the Secretary-General,A/58/189. 1. Takes note of the report of the Committee on Contributions; Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/59/11). 2. Takes note also of the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plans;A/59/67. 3. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing conditions; 4. Reaffirms paragraph 1 of its resolution 57/4 B; 5. Decides to defer until the first part of its resumed fifty-ninth session consideration of the question of the outstanding assessed contributions of the former Yugoslavia. RESOLUTION 59/1 A Adopted at the 24th plenary meeting, on 11 October 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/421, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/1 A. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations: request under Article 19 of the Charter The General Assembly, Having considered the letter dated 1 July 2004 from the President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee transmitting a letter dated 28 June 2004 from the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions regarding the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions on requests for exemption under Article 19 of the Charter of the United NationsA/C.5/58/40. and the statements by the representatives of GeorgiaSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Fifth Committee, 2nd meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.2), and corrigendum. and Liberia,Ibid., 4th meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.4), and corrigendum. Reaffirming the obligation of Member States under Article 17 of the Charter to bear the expenses of the Organization as apportioned by the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms its resolution 54/237 C of 23 December 1999; 3. Agrees that the failure of the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, the Niger, the Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control;A/C.5/58/40. 4. Decides that the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, the Niger, the Republic of Moldova, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until 30 June 2005; 5. Takes note of the information provided by GeorgiaSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Fifth Committee, 2nd meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.2), and corrigendum. and Liberia;Ibid., 4th meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.4), and corrigendum. 6. Concludes that the failure of Georgia and Liberia to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control, and invites Georgia and Liberia to submit appropriate information to the Committee on Contributions if similar circumstances prevail in the future; 7. Decides that Georgia and Liberia should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until 30 June 2005. RESOLUTION 59/200 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/200. Question of enforced or involuntary disappearances The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the other relevant international human rights instruments, Recalling its resolution 33/173 of 20 December 1978 concerning disappeared persons and its resolutions on the question of enforced or involuntary disappearances, in particular resolution 57/215 of 18 December 2002, Recalling also its resolution 47/133 of 18 December 1992 proclaiming the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance as a body of principles for all States, Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/40 of 19 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Deeply concerned, in particular, by the intensification of enforced disappearances, including arrest, detention and abduction, where these are part of or amount to enforced disappearances, in various regions of the world and by the growing number of reports concerning the harassment, ill-treatment and intimidation of witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared, Taking note with interest of the initiatives taken at the national and international levels in order to end impunity, Acknowledging the fact that acts of enforced disappearance, as defined in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. come within the jurisdiction of the Court as crimes against humanity, Convinced that further efforts are needed to promote wider awareness of and respect for the Declaration, and taking note in this regard of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/341. Taking note of the report of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights,E/CN.4/2004/58. 1. Reaffirms that any act of enforced disappearance is an offence to human dignity and a grave and flagrant violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and reaffirmed and developed in other international instruments in this field, as well as a violation of the rules of international law; and that no State shall practise, permit or tolerate enforced disappearances as proclaimed in the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; 2. Urges all Governments to take appropriate legislative or other steps to prevent and suppress the practice of enforced disappearances, in keeping with the Declaration, and to take action to that end at the national and regional levels and in cooperation with the United Nations, including through the provision of technical assistance; 3. Calls upon Governments to take steps to ensure that, when a state of emergency is introduced, the protection of human rights is ensured, in particular with regard to the prevention of enforced disappearances; 4. Reminds Governments that impunity with regard to enforced disappearances contributes to the perpetuation of this phenomenon and constitutes one of the obstacles to the elucidation of its manifestations, and in this respect also reminds them of the need to ensure that their competent authorities conduct prompt and impartial inquiries in all circumstances in which there is a reason to believe that an enforced disappearance has occurred in territory under their jurisdiction, and that, if allegations are confirmed, perpetrators should be prosecuted; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that are investigating, are cooperating at the international and bilateral levels, have developed or are developing appropriate mechanisms to investigate any cases of enforced disappearances that are brought to their attention and to prevent any such occurrences, and urges all the Governments concerned to expand their efforts in this area; 6. Once again urges the Governments concerned: (a) To take steps to protect witnesses of enforced disappearances, human rights defenders acting against enforced disappearances, and the lawyers and families of disappeared persons against any intimidation or ill-treatment to which they may be subjected; (b) To continue their efforts to elucidate the fate of disappeared persons; (c) To make provision in their legal systems for machinery for victims of enforced or involuntary disappearances or their families to seek fair and adequate reparation; 7. Reaffirms that all persons deprived of liberty must be released in a manner permitting reliable verification that they have actually been released and, further, have been released in conditions in which their physical integrity and ability to exercise their rights are assured; 8. Encourages States, as some have already done, to provide concrete information on measures taken to give effect to the Declaration, as well as obstacles encountered; 9. Requests all States to consider the possibility of disseminating the text of the Declaration in their respective national languages and to facilitate its dissemination in local languages; 10. Notes the action taken by non-governmental organizations to encourage implementation of the Declaration, and invites them to continue to facilitate its dissemination; 11. Stresses the importance of the work of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights, and encourages it in the execution of its mandate to continue to promote communication between the families of disappeared persons and the Governments concerned, in particular when ordinary channels have failed, with a view to ensuring that sufficiently documented and clearly identified individual cases are investigated and to ascertaining whether such information falls under its mandate and contains the required elements; 12. Invites the Working Group to continue to seek the views and comments of all concerned, including Member States, in preparing its reports; 13. Also invites the Working Group to identify obstacles to the realization of the provisions of the Declaration, to recommend ways of overcoming those obstacles and, in this regard, to continue a dialogue with Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 14. Encourages the Working Group to continue to consider the question of impunity, in the light of the relevant provisions of the Declaration; 15. Requests the Working Group to pay the utmost attention to cases of children subjected to enforced disappearance and children of disappeared persons and to cooperate closely with the Governments concerned to search for and identify those children; 16. Appeals to the Governments concerned, in particular those that have not yet replied to the communications transmitted by the Working Group, to cooperate fully with it and, in particular, to reply promptly to its requests for information so that, while respecting its working methods based on discretion, it may perform its strictly humanitarian role; 17. Encourages the Governments concerned to give serious consideration to requests for visits to their countries by the Working Group so as to enable the Group to fulfil its mandate even more effectively; 18. Expresses its profound thanks to the many Governments that have cooperated with the Working Group and replied to its requests for information and to the Governments that have invited the Group to visit their countries, requests them to give all necessary attention to the recommendations of the Group, and invites them to inform the Group of any action they take on those recommendations; 19. Calls upon the Commission on Human Rights to continue to study this question as a matter of priority and to take any steps it may deem necessary to the pursuit of the task of the Working Group and to the follow-up to its recommendations when it considers the report to be submitted by the Group to the Commission at its sixty-first session; 20. Renews its requests to the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Working Group with all of the facilities it requires to perform its functions, especially for carrying out missions and following them up; 21. Recalls Economic and Social Council decision 2001/221 of 4 June 2001, in which the Council endorsed the decision of the Commission on Human Rights to create an intersessional open-ended working group, with the mandate to prepare a draft legally binding normative instrument for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance; 22. Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Human Rights to convene the intersessional working group before its sixty-first session, with a view to the prompt completion of its work and the submission of its report to the Commission at its sixty-first session; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to keep it informed of the steps he takes to secure the widespread dissemination and promotion of the Declaration; 24. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its sixty-first session a report on the steps taken to implement the present resolution; 25. Decides to consider the question of enforced disappearances, in particular the implementation of the Declaration, at its sixtieth session, under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 59/201 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 172 to none, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Belarus, Bhutan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe 59/201. Enhancing the role of regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements in promoting and consolidating democracy The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 55/96 of 4 December 2000 and all relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular resolutions 1999/57 of 27 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2000/47 of 25 April 2000,Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 2001/41 of 23 April 2001,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2002/46 of 23 April 2002,Ibid., 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2003/36 of 23 April 2003Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2004/30 of 19 April 2004,Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Reaffirming its resolve, expressed, inter alia, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to implement the principles and practices of democracy, and recognizing the diverse nature of the community of the world's democracies, 1. Declares that the essential elements of democracy include respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, inter alia, freedom of association and peaceful assembly and of expression and opinion, and the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic free elections by universal and equal suffrage and by secret ballot guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the people, as well as a pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, respect for the rule of law, the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, transparency and accountability in public administration, and free, independent and pluralistic media; 2. Reaffirms that the promotion and protection of all human rights is a basic prerequisite for the existence of a democratic society, and recognizes the importance of the continuous development and strengthening of the United Nations human rights mechanisms for the consolidation of democracy; 3. Recognizes the importance of all actions taken at the regional and subregional levels that are aimed at facilitating the establishment, development and consolidation of democratic institutions, based on democratic values and principles and capable of responding to the specific needs of the countries in each region; 4. Acknowledges the importance of better awareness of democratic values and principles in all regions and for all people; 5. Reaffirms that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives and, in that context, that the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national, regional and international levels should be universal and conducted without conditions attached; the international community should support the strengthening and promoting of democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the entire world; 6. Acknowledges that democracy contributes substantially to preventing violent conflict, to accelerating reconciliation and reconstruction in post-conflict peacebuilding and, in peacetime, to resolving disputes that may impede economic and social progress; 7. Recognizes the need for Member States to pay further special attention and contribute to democratic institution-building by including relevant objectives to this effect in the mandates of peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding operations and by providing adequate resources in that regard; 8. Invites intergovernmental regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements, as well as non- governmental organizations, to engage actively in work at the local, national, subregional and regional levels for the constant promotion and consolidation of democracy and to initiate exchanges with the United Nations system on their experiences, inter alia, by: (a) Identifying and disseminating best practices and experiences at the regional, subregional and cross-regional levels in promoting and protecting democratic processes; (b) Establishing and supporting regional, subregional and national civic education programmes that provide access to information on democratic governance and stimulate dialogue on the functioning of democracy; (c) Encouraging the study, in schools and universities, of democracy, human rights, good governance and the functioning of public administration, political institutions and civil society organizations; (d) Elaborating and widely distributing reports, assessments, training material, handbooks, case studies and documentation on alternative types of democratic constitutions, electoral systems and administration so as to assist populations in making more informed choices; (e) Encouraging the use of democratic consultative mechanisms in disputes as an opportunity for the parties involved to advance their interests within institutional frameworks; (f) Working with the focal point for democracy of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 9. Invites States members of intergovernmental regional organizations and arrangements to include or reinforce the provisions of the constitutive acts of the organizations and arrangements that are aimed at promoting democratic values and principles and protecting and consolidating democracy in their respective societies; 10. Welcomes the adoption by various regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements of institutional rules designed to prevent situations that threaten democratic institutions; 11. Invites intergovernmental regional organizations and arrangements to institutionalize dialogue among themselves on joint actions to promote and consolidate democracy and democratic practices in all areas; 12. Encourages Member States and intergovernmental regional and cross-regional organizations and arrangements, as well as non-governmental organizations, to initiate networks and partnerships with a view to assisting the Governments and civil society in their respective regions in disseminating knowledge and information about the role of democratic institutions and mechanisms in meeting the political, economic, social and cultural challenges in their respective societies; 13. Urges the continuation and expansion of activities carried out by the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and Member States to promote and consolidate democracy within the framework of international cooperation; 14. Invites the United Nations system to identify, develop and coordinate effective policies of assistance in the field of democracy and, in this context, to support programmes of technical assistance to States, upon their request, aimed at: (a) Developing a competent, independent and impartial judiciary and accountable government institutions; (b) Strengthening political party systems, free and independent media and civil society organizations; (c) Fostering a democratic culture; 15. Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to stimulate dialogue and interaction within the United Nations system and between the United Nations system and interested intergovernmental regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements on the ways and means of promoting democratic values and principles, on the basis of the present resolution and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Commission on Human Rights, and, to this end, to invite, inter alia, the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, including its Electoral Assistance Division, and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and regional organizations to inform the Commission on Human Rights, at its sixty-first session, of action taken to promote and consolidate democracy; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States. RESOLUTION 59/202 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 182 to 3, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: None 59/202. The right to food The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/186 of 22 December 2003, as well as all Commission on Human Rights resolutions in this regard, in particular resolution 2004/19 of 16 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for her or his health and well-being, including food, the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition,Report of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. in which the fundamental right of every person to be free from hunger is recognized, Bearing in mind the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of ActionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, adopted in Rome on 13 June 2002,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Reaffirming also that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment, at both the national and the international levels, is the essential foundation that will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication, Reiterating, as in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, that food should not be used as an instrument of political or economic pressure, and reaffirming in this regard the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security, Convinced that each State must adopt a strategy consistent with its resources and capacities to achieve its individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action and, at the same time, cooperate regionally and internationally in order to organize collective solutions to global issues of food security in a world of increasingly interlinked institutions, societies and economies where coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities are essential, Recognizing that the problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and that they are likely to persist and even to increase dramatically in some regions unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world's population and the stress on natural resources, Expressing its concern about the adverse impact on the realization of the right to food caused by many humanitarian emergencies, including plagues and natural disasters, Stressing the importance of reversing the continuing decline of official development assistance devoted to agriculture, both in real terms and as a share of total official development assistance, 1. Reaffirms that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity and therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures at the national, regional and international levels for its elimination; 2. Also reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities; 3. Considers it intolerable that there are about 842 million undernourished people in the world, that every five seconds a child under the age of 5 dies from hunger-related diseases and that more than 2 billion people throughout the world suffer from "hidden hunger" or micronutrient malnutrition when, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the world produces more than enough food to feed its entire population; 4. Expresses its concern that women are disproportionately affected by hunger, food insecurity and poverty, in part as a result of gender inequality, that in many countries, girls are twice as likely as boys to die from malnutrition and preventable childhood diseases, and that it is estimated that almost twice as many women as men suffer from malnutrition; 5. Encourages all States to take steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right to food, including steps to promote the conditions for everyone to be free from hunger and, as soon as possible, to enjoy fully the right to food, and to create and adopt national plans to combat hunger; 6. Requests all States and private actors, as well as international organizations within their respective mandates, to take fully into account the need to promote the effective realization of the right to food for all, including in the ongoing negotiations in different fields; 7. Encourages all States to take action to address discrimination against women, particularly where it contributes to the malnutrition of women and girls, including measures to ensure the realization of the right to food and ensuring that women have equal access to resources, including income, land and water, to enable them to feed themselves; 8. Stresses the need to make efforts to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, and to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies; 9. Welcomes the meeting of world leaders for action against hunger and poverty, convened by the Presidents of Brazil, Chile and France and the Prime Minister of Spain, with the support of the Secretary-General, and the resulting New York Declaration on Action against Hunger and Poverty, which has been supported by one hundred and ten countries to date, and recommends the continuation of efforts aimed at identifying additional sources of financing for the fight against hunger and poverty; 10. Recognizes that the promises made at the World Food Summit in 1996 to halve the number of persons who are undernourished are not being fulfilled, and invites once again all international financial and developmental institutions, as well as the relevant United Nations agencies and funds, to give priority to and provide the necessary funding to realize the aim of halving by 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, as well as the right to food as set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food SecurityFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 11. Urges States to give adequate priority in their development strategies and expenditures to the realization of the right to food; 12. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food,See A/59/385. and commends the Special Rapporteur for his valuable work in the promotion of the right to food; 13. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as extended by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2003/25 of 22 April 2003;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 14. Expresses its appreciation to the Special Rapporteur for his effective contribution to the medium-term review of the implementation of the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action through the submission to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of his recommendations on all aspects of the right to food, and his participation in and contribution to the proceedings of that event; 15. Encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue mainstreaming a gender perspective in the activities relating to his mandate; 16. Requests the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner to provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 17. Welcomes the work already done by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in promoting the right to adequate food, in particular its general comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food (article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), in which the Committee affirmed, inter alia, that the right to adequate food is indivisibly linked to the inherent dignity of the human person and is indispensable for the fulfilment of other human rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and is also inseparable from social justice, requiring the adoption of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, at both the national and the international levels, oriented to the eradication of poverty and the fulfilment of all human rights for all;Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex V, para. 4. 18. Takes note of general comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the right to water (articles 11 and 12 of the Covenant), in which the Committee noted, inter alia, the importance of ensuring sustainable water resources for human consumption and agriculture in realization of the right to adequate food;Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 2 (E/2003/22), annex IV. 19. Welcomes the adoption by the Intergovernmental Working Group, as mandated by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, of a set of voluntary guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, as well as the endorsement by the Committee on World Food Security of the voluntary guidelines as submitted and its decision to transmit them to the Council for final adoption, and in this regard encourages States members of the Council to adopt the voluntary guidelines; 20. Also welcomes the continued cooperation of the High Commissioner, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Special Rapporteur, and encourages them to continue their cooperation in this regard; 21. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit a comprehensive report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session and an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Invites Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies, civil society actors, including non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate, inter alia, through the submission of comments and suggestions on ways and means of realizing the right to food; 23. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 59/203 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, Nigeria and Sudan. by a recorded vote of 122 to 3, with 61 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan 59/203. Respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/227 of 18 December 2002, Reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recalling the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Stressing that, as stated in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. family reunification of documented migrants is an important factor in international migration and that remittances by documented migrants to their countries of origin often constitute a very important source of foreign exchange and are instrumental in improving the well-being of relatives left behind, Noting that while some positive developments occurred during the past two years in the accomplishment of the objectives highlighted in resolution 57/227, in particular the commitment made on 9 June 2004 at the summit meeting of the Group of Eight, held at Sea Island, United States of America, to facilitate the flow of remittances across international borders to help families, in certain cases it has been reported that measures have been adopted that have increased the restrictions imposed on documented migrants in relation to family reunification and the possibility of sending remittances to their relatives in the country of origin, Recalling that the family is the basic unit of society and, as such, should be strengthened, and that it is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support, 1. Once again calls upon all States to guarantee the universally recognized freedom of travel to all foreign nationals legally residing in their territory; 2. Reaffirms that all Governments, in particular those of receiving countries, must recognize the vital importance of family reunification and promote its incorporation into national legislation in order to ensure protection of the unity of families of documented migrants; 3. Calls upon all States to allow, in conformity with international legislation, the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to relatives in the country of origin; 4. Also calls upon all States to refrain from enacting, and to repeal if it already exists, legislation intended as a coercive measure that discriminates against individuals or groups of legal migrants by adversely affecting family reunification and the right to send financial remittances to relatives in the country of origin; 5. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 59/204 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.2, para. 145),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saint Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 118 to 55, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Nauru, Paraguay, Peru, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu 59/204. Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of a humanitarian character The General Assembly, Recalling that, in accordance with Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55, including universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be considered a priority objective of the United Nations in accordance with its purposes and principles, in particular the purpose of international cooperation, and that, within the framework of these purposes and principles, the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate concern of the international community, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples to an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recognizing that the international community should devise ways and means to remove current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world, and should continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations and that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, the promotion and protection of such rights and freedoms being the first responsibility of Governments, Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Reaffirming further the various Articles of the Charter setting out the respective powers and functions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as the paramount framework for the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations under other important instruments of international law, in particular those of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, Bearing in mind that, in accordance with Article 103 of the Charter, in the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the Charter shall prevail, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 58/188 of 22 December 2003, 1. Reiterates the solemn commitment of all States to enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights and in the solution to international problems of a humanitarian character in full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, inter alia, by the strict observance of all the purposes and principles set forth in Articles 1 and 2 thereof; 2. Stresses the vital role of the work of the United Nations and regional arrangements, acting consistently with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter, in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as in solving international problems of a humanitarian character, and affirms that all States, in these activities, must fully comply with the principles set forth in Article 2 of the Charter, in particular respecting the sovereign equality of all States and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or acting in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the United Nations shall promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; 4. Reaffirms also that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, the promotion and protection of human rights and threats to international peace and security must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role; 5. Calls upon Member States to refrain from enacting or enforcing unilateral coercive measures as tools of political, military or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, which would prevent those countries from exercising their right to decide of their own free will their own political, economic and social systems; 6. Calls upon all States to cooperate fully, through constructive dialogue, to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights for all and in promoting peaceful solutions to international problems of a humanitarian character and, in their actions towards that purpose, to comply strictly with the principles and norms of international law, inter alia, by fully respecting international human rights law and international humanitarian law; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, organs, bodies and other components of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it as widely as possible; 8. Decides to consider the question at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 59/205 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.3, para. 60),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 71 to 54, with 55 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Against: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia 59/205. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 58/195 of 22 December 2003, and recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/17 of 20 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting the commitment made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to strengthen respect for human rights in the country and to promote the rule of law, 1. Welcomes: (a) The open invitation extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to all human rights thematic monitoring mechanisms in April 2002; (b) The visit of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the Commission on Human Rights to the Islamic Republic of Iran in February 2003 and its subsequent report;E/CN.4/2004/3/Add.2 and Corr.1. (c) The visit of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression to the Islamic Republic of Iran in November 2003 and his subsequent report;E/CN.4/2004/62/Add.2. (d) The visit of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants to the Islamic Republic of Iran in February 2004; (e) The recommendation by the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to judges in December 2002 that they choose alternative punishment in cases where the sentence of stoning would otherwise be imposed; (f) The announcement by the head of the judiciary in April 2004 of the ban on torture and the subsequent passage of related legislation by the Parliament, which was approved by the Guardian Council in May 2004; (g) The efforts of the elected Government to foster the growth of civil society; (h) The human rights dialogues between the Islamic Republic of Iran and a number of countries; (i) The cooperation with United Nations agencies in developing programmes in the field of human rights, good governance and the rule of law; 2. Expresses its serious concern at: (a) The continuing violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; (b) The worsening situation with regard to freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of the media, especially the increased persecution for the peaceful expression of political views, including arbitrary arrest and detention without charge or trial; crackdowns by the judiciary and security forces against journalists, parliamentarians, students, clerics and academics; the unjustified closure of newspapers and blocking of Internet sites; the targeted disqualification of large numbers of prospective candidates in the Majlis elections as well as the intimidation and harassment of opposition activists in the run-up to the elections held in February 2004; (c) The continuing executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and in particular deplores the execution of persons below 18 years of age, contrary to the obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as public executions; (d) The use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, in particular the practice of amputation and flogging, noting in this context the rejection by the Guardian Council in August 2003 of the proposal of the elected parliament to accede to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. (e) The continued restrictions on free assembly and the forcible dissolution of political parties; (f) The failure to comply fully with international standards in the administration of justice, the absence of due process of law, the refusal to provide fair and public hearings and right to counsel, the use of national security laws to deny the rights of the individual and the lack of respect for internationally recognized legal safeguards, inter alia, with respect to persons belonging to religious minorities, officially recognized or otherwise; (g) The systemic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice, despite some minor legislative improvements, and the refusal of the Guardian Council to take steps to address this systematic discrimination, noting in this context its rejection, in August 2003, of the proposal of the elected parliament to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. (h) The continuing discrimination against persons belonging to minorities, including Christians, Jews and Sunnis, and the increased discrimination against the Baha'is, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of free worship or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions and other benefits; (i) The continuing persecution, including through the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary confinement, and arbitrary sentencing to prison of human rights defenders, political opponents, religious dissenters and reformists; (j) The postponement of the visit of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances of the Commission on Human Rights to the Islamic Republic of Iran; 3. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: (a) To abide by its obligations freely undertaken under the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, including provisions relating to freedom of opinion and expression, the use of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls and the rights of the child, and to continue its efforts to consolidate respect for human rights and the rule of law; (b) To implement the recommendations of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief; (c) To cooperate with United Nations mechanisms, including by setting a date for a visit by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and to respond fully to their recommendations; (d) To implement fully the ban on torture, announced in April 2004 by the head of the judiciary, and the related parliamentary legislation of May 2004; (e) To expedite judicial reform, to guarantee the dignity of the individual and to ensure the full application of due process of law and fair and transparent procedures by an independent and impartial judiciary, and in this context to ensure respect for the rights of the defence and the equity of verdicts in all instances, including for members of religious minority groups, officially recognized or otherwise; (f) To appoint an impartial prosecutor and to expedite the creation of offices of the Prosecutor in all provinces, in keeping with the decision taken in November 2002 for their re-establishment; (g) To eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds or against persons belonging to minorities, including the Baha'is, Christians, Jews and Sunnis, and to address this matter in an open manner, with the full participation of the minorities themselves, and to ensure respect for the freedom of religion or belief of all persons; (h) To end amputation and flogging and all other forms of punishment that are cruel, inhuman or degrading; (i) To abolish the punishment of execution by stoning and, in the meantime, to end the practice of stoning, as recommended by the head of the judiciary; (j) To comply with its obligations under article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights not to impose the sentence of death for offences committed by persons below 18 years of age; (k) To vigorously pursue penitentiary reform; 4. Encourages the thematic mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, including the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran, and encourages the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with these special mechanisms and to respond fully to their subsequent recommendations; 5. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 59/206 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.3, para. 60),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 69 to 47, with 63 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Against: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia 59/206. Situation of human rights in Turkmenistan The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have the obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Recalling its resolution 58/194 of 22 December 2003, 1. Welcomes: (a) The limited increase in the ability of members of certain religious minority groups, including members of the Baha'i faith, the Baptist church, the Hare Krishna movement and the Seventh Day Adventist church, to practise their religion; (b) The release in June 2004 of a number of Jehovah's Witnesses who had made conscientious objections to undertaking military service, but notes with concern that other Jehovah's Witnesses continue to be jailed on the same charge; (c) The comments of the Government of Turkmenistan in May 2004 that interested representatives of the international community were welcome to visit Turkmen prisons, and notes with satisfaction that the Government has begun preliminary discussions with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding prison access; (d) The fact that the Personal Envoy of the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for Participating States in Central Asia has been given the opportunity for further dialogue with the Government of Turkmenistan, and expresses the hope that a constructive dialogue on human rights issues is to be continued soon; (e) The submission of the national report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the recent submission of the report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. to the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the announcement by the Government of Turkmenistan that it intends to submit the reports due under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. by the end of 2004; (f) The amendment of 2 November 2004 to the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan rescinding article 223/1, which stipulated criminal penalties for unregistered activities of public associations, including non-governmental organizations; (g) The invitation by the Government of Turkmenistan to the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which was extended on 16 November 2004, to visit the country by the end of 2004; 2. Expresses its grave concern at the continuing and serious human rights violations occurring in Turkmenistan, in particular: (a) The persistence of a governmental policy based on the repression of all political opposition activities; (b) The continuing abuse of the legal system through arbitrary detentions, imprisonment and surveillance of persons who try to exercise their freedom of expression, assembly and association, and by harassment of their families; (c) Further restrictions on the freedom of expression and opinion, including the loss of local retransmissions of Russian language programmes on Radio Mayak, and serious harassment endured by local correspondents and collaborators of Radio Liberty; (d) Continued restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief; (e) Continued discrimination by the Government of Turkmenistan against ethnic minorities in the fields of education and employment and by forced displacements, despite assurances by the Government that it will stop this discrimination; (f) Constraints faced by civil society organizations, including the slow progress in the registration of non- governmental organizations; 3. Regrets the decision of the Government of Turkmenistan not to renew the accreditation for the Head of the Centre of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe at Ashgabat, but hopes that the Turkmen authorities will cooperate fully with her successor; 4. Calls upon the Government of Turkmenistan: (a) To ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard, to implement fully the measures set out in Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/11 of 16 April 2003See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2004/12 of 15 April 2004;Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. (b) To work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with regard to the areas of concern and to cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and all the relevant United Nations treaty bodies; (c) To implement fully the recommendations outlined in the report of the Rapporteur of the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and to work constructively with the various institutions of the Organization, in particular following the visit of the Personal Envoy of the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Participating States in Central Asia, to work towards implementation of those recommendations and to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate fully a visit by the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization by the end of 2004; (d) To release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience; (e) To give real substance to the May 2004 offer of the Government of Turkmenistan for interested representatives of the international community to visit Turkmen prisons by providing appropriate independent bodies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, with full access to all places of detention in accordance with the usual modalities for those organizations and ensuring that lawyers and relatives have full and repeated access to all those in detention, including those convicted of involvement in the attempted coup d'état of 25 November 2002; (f) To ensure that the forthcoming parliamentary elections will be held consistent with the commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international standards for democratic elections; (g) To remove the remaining restrictions on the activities of public associations, including non-governmental organizations, and to enable those organizations, in particular human rights organizations, and other civil society actors to carry out their activities without hindrance, building upon the amendment of 2 November 2004 to the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan abolishing criminal penalties for unregistered activities of public associations; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/207 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.3, para. 60),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 76 to 2, with 100 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Rwanda, Uganda Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 59/207. Situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the duty to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various instruments in this field, Noting that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to several international and regional human rights instruments and to several instruments pertaining to international humanitarian law, Recalling all its previous resolutions, as well as those of the Commission on Human Rights, on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Noting the special report of the Secretary-General on the events in Ituri between January 2002 and December 2003 that was drafted by the Human Rights and Child Protection Sections of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,See S/2004/573. Recalling Security Council resolutions 1493 (2003) of 28 July 2003, 1522 (2004) of 15 January 2004, 1533 (2004) of 12 March 2004 and 1565 (2004) of 1 October 2004, 1. Welcomes: (a) The nomination of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2004, as well as his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in August 2004; (b) In particular the extended mandate of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo regarding the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with Security Council resolution 1565 (2004), and expresses its support for the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for the Mission; (c) The work accomplished by the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and encourages the office to pursue and enhance its cooperation with the relevant agencies of the United Nations and the Mission in the fulfilment of its mandate; (d) The measures taken by the transitional institutions in order to implement the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on the Transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed in Pretoria on 17 December 2002 and to restore the authority of the State, such as the appointment of provincial governors, the establishment of the Independent Electoral Commission, the appointment of the High Command of the Integrated National Police and the setting up of the Supreme Defence Council; (e) The adoption of the Declaration of Principles by the Heads of State who participated in the International Conference on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great Lakes Region, which took place in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, on 19 and 20 November 2004; 2. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to keep it informed of the consultations between her Office and the Secretary-General concerning the ways in which to assist the transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in tackling the problem of impunity; 3. Takes note of the decision by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, based upon the referral of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to commence an investigation into crimes allegedly committed in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. on 1 July 2002; 4. Condemns the continuing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while remaining concerned about the prevalence of grave violations and the rise in ethnic tensions throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo and, in particular, in Ituri, North and South Kivu and other areas in the eastern part of the country; 5. Urges all parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To respect and further implement the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement; (b) To adhere fully to the Principles on Good-neighbourly Relations and Cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda signed in New York on 25 September 2003,A/58/428-S/2003/983, annex. to engage firmly for the full success of the joint verification mechanism agreed upon by the Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda in Abuja on 25 June 2004,See S/2004/534, annex. and to take part constructively in the International Conference on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great Lakes Region of Africa; (c) To cease immediately all military activity that impedes the consolidation of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including support for the armed groups allied to the parties to the conflict; (d) To support the transitional Government and its institutions in order to allow for the re-establishment of political and economic stability and for the gradual reinforcement of state structures over the entire territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in accordance with their obligations under the Transitional Constitution; (e) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers, which is contrary to international law and to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, vol. II: Regional Instruments (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.XIV.1), sect. C, No. 39. with the understanding that, under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocol thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1539 (2004) of 22 April 2004 on children and armed conflict, persons under the age of 18 are entitled to special protection, and to provide information without delay on measures taken to discontinue such practices; (f) To take special measures to protect women and children from the appalling violence, including sexual violence, which has been and continues to be prevalent throughout the country, in particular in Ituri, North and South Kivu and other areas in the eastern part of the country, and condemns in particular the widespread use of sexual violence as a means of warfare; (g) To promote the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and children and to meet the special needs of women and girls in post-conflict reconstruction, as well as to ensure the full participation of women in all aspects of conflict resolution and peace processes, including peacekeeping, conflict management and peacebuilding, as a matter of priority, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security; (h) To ensure the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons, returnees and refugee populations; (i) To respect international humanitarian law, in particular on the protection of civilians by ensuring the safety, security and freedom of movement of all civilians and United Nations and associated personnel, and the unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all of the affected population throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000; (j) To promote the full enjoyment of all human rights and to protect the safety, security and freedom of movement of all human rights defenders; 6. Calls upon the Government of National Unity and Transition to take specific measures: (a) To achieve the objectives of the transitional period as laid down in the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, in particular the holding of free and transparent elections at all levels, enabling the establishment of a democratic constitutional regime, and the formation of a restructured and integrated national army; and also the formation of an integrated and adequately resourced national police force; (b) To strengthen the transitional institutions, in particular to set up effectively the Independent Electoral Commission, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Human Rights Monitoring Centre, and to re-establish stability and the rule of law over the entire territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, thereby returning peace and progress to its people; (c) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights instruments and, accordingly, to continue to cooperate with United Nations mechanisms for the protection of human rights and further strengthen its cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (d) To put an end to impunity and to ensure, as it is duty-bound to do, that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice in accordance with due process, and to carry out urgently a comprehensive reform of the judicial system; (e) To put an end to the use of the death penalty in a manner contrary to its obligations assumed under the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments, while recalling its commitment to progressively abolish the death penalty and not to impose it on juvenile offenders; (f) To continue to cooperate with the International Criminal Court and with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda; (g) To prevent the use of the media to incite hatred or tensions among communities, while respecting freedom of expression and of the press; (h) To continue its programme to demobilize, disarm and reintegrate former combatants, taking into account the special needs of women and children, including girls, associated with those combatants; (i) To put an end to the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in view of the link between that exploitation and the continuation of the conflict; 7. Encourages the international community to continue to support the transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its institutions and, in particular, to provide assistance in the reform of national judicial institutions; 8. Decides to continue to examine the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requests the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/208 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Credentials Committee (A/59/602) 59/208. Credentials of representatives to the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Credentials CommitteeA/59/602. and the recommendation contained therein, Approves the report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 59/209 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.47 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/209. Smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from the list of least developed countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/206 of 20 December 1991, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/66 of 5 November 2004, Reconfirming Economic and Social Council resolutions 2000/34 of 28 July 2000, 2001/43 of 24 October 2001, 2002/36 of 26 July 2002 and 2004/3 of 3 June 2004, 1. Re-emphasizes the need for a smooth transition for countries graduating from the list of least developed countries; 2. Reconfirms that graduating from the list of least developed countries should not result in a disruption of development plans, programmes and projects; 3. Decides that the process to ensure a smooth transition of countries graduating from the list of least developed countries shall be as follows: (a) When the Committee for Development Policy, in its triennial review of the list of least developed countries, identifies a country that meets the criteria for graduation for the first time, it will submit its findings to the Economic and Social Council; (b) After a country has met the criteria for graduation for the first time, the Secretary-General of the United Nations will invite the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to prepare a vulnerability profileSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 13 (E/1999/33), chap. III, para. 123. on the identified country, as described in paragraph 3 (a) above, to be taken into account by the Committee for Development Policy at its subsequent triennial review; (c) At the subsequent triennial review undertaken by the Committee for Development Policy, referred to in paragraph 3 (b) above, the qualification for graduation of the country will be reviewed and, if reconfirmed, the Committee will submit a recommendation, in accordance with the established procedures, to the Economic and Social Council; (d) The Economic and Social Council, in turn, will take action on the recommendation of the Committee for Development Policy at its first substantive session following the triennial review of the Committee and will transmit its decision to the General Assembly; (e) Three years following the decision of the General Assembly to take note of the recommendation of the Committee for Development Policy to graduate a country from the list of least developed countries, graduation will become effective; during the three-year period, the country will remain on the list of least developed countries and will maintain the advantages associated with membership on that list; 4. Invites the graduating country, in cooperation with its bilateral and multilateral development and trading partners and with the support of the United Nations system, to prepare, during the three-year period, a transition strategy to adjust to the phasing out, over a period appropriate to the development situation of the country, of the advantages associated with its membership on the list of least developed countries, and to identify actions to be taken by the graduating country and its bilateral and multilateral development and trading partners to that end; 5. Recommends that the graduating country establish, in cooperation with its bilateral and multilateral development and trading partners, a consultative mechanism to facilitate the preparation of the transition strategy and the identification of the associated actions; 6. Requests the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, in his capacity as Chair of the United Nations Development Group, to assist countries graduating from the list of least developed countries by providing, if requested, the support of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team to the consultative mechanism; 7. Urges all development partners to support the implementation of the transition strategy and to avoid any abrupt reductions in either official development assistance or technical assistance provided to the graduated country; 8. Invites development and trading partners to consider extending to the graduated country trade preferences previously made available as a result of least developed country status, or reducing them in a phased manner in order to avoid their abrupt reduction; 9. Invites all members of the World Trade Organization to consider extending to a graduated country, as appropriate, the existing special and differential treatment and exemptions available to least developed countries for a period appropriate to the development situation; 10. Recommends that the continued implementation of technical assistance programmes under the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries be considered for the graduated country over a period appropriate to the development situation of the country; 11. Invites the Government of the graduated country to closely monitor, with the support of the consultative mechanism, the implementation of the transition strategy and to keep the Secretary-General informed on a regular basis; 12. Requests the Committee for Development Policy to continue to monitor the development progress of the graduated country as a complement to its triennial review of the list of least developed countries, with the assistance and support of other relevant entities, and to report thereon to the Economic and Social Council. RESOLUTION 59/20 Adopted at the 50th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.11 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United States of America, Vanuatu 59/20. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/41 of 7 December 2001 and 57/37 of 21 November 2002, Welcoming the ongoing efforts towards closer cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum and its associated institutions, Reaffirming that one of the guiding principles for cooperation in peacebuilding adopted by the fourth high-level meeting between the United Nations and heads of regional organizations is that, as the promotion of self-reliance should be a fundamental goal of all cooperative and peacebuilding activities, peacebuilding must be a home-grown process in which the role of the United Nations and regional organizations is to support national endeavours, Noting the outcomes of the Special Leaders' Retreat of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in New Zealand in April 2004,See A/59/95. Taking note of the communiqué of the thirty-fifth meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Apia from 5 to 7 August 2004, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/59/303. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/303. in particular the section on cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum, and encourages further such cooperation; 2. Welcomes the ongoing work of various international organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in advancing knowledge in the key strategic areas related to governance, security, economic growth, trade and sustainable development, as well as in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in the Pacific Island countries; 3. Also welcomes the decision of the Pacific Islands Forum to develop a "Pacific Plan",See A/59/95, enclosure II. which is aimed at enhancing regional integration and cooperation among its members and cooperation with the international community, including the United Nations system; 4. Further welcomes the steps taken by the Secretary-General for the sixth high-level meeting between the United Nations and heads of regional organizations, to be convened in mid-2005, and recognizes the tasks before the United Nations departments and organizations in leading the process of implementing the recommendations of the last meeting and in formulating practical follow-up plans for discussion during the next meeting; 5. Notes with satisfaction that regular consultations continue at all levels between the United Nations and the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum and that the United Nations also participated in the 2004 session of the Pacific Islands Forum Regional Security Committee and at the Leaders' Forum, held in Apia in August 2004; 6. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum to promote, primarily through the Regional Security Committee, law enforcement cooperation, the rule of law and regional peace and security, including combating all types of terrorism, in implementing the core United Nations treaties on anti-terrorism, anti-money-laundering, transnational crime and the financing of terrorism; 7. Requests, in this regard, that the United Nations continue to assist the Pacific Islands Forum to enable the timely implementation of relevant United Nations mandates, and invites States to contribute to the Biketawa Trust Fund, which is administered by the Pacific Islands Forum for confidence-building measures and conflict prevention; 8. Welcomes the significant efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum in enhancing peace and security in the region, including through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; 9. Also welcomes the readiness of the United Nations, in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum, to field an inter-agency mission to Nauru to identify ways of assisting that country to cope with its current situation; 10. Notes with appreciation the role of the United Nations in the Bougainville peace process in Papua New Guinea and the steady progress being made by the parties; 11. Welcomes plans for the joint hosting of a regional seminar with the Pacific Islands Forum on "Conflict prevention and peacebuilding", to be held in early 2005; 12. Requests that the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme, in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum, promote joint cooperative needs assessment missions in the region to determine additional support to enhance peacebuilding and reconciliation processes and to complement the activities of regional missions and mechanisms; 13. Takes note of steps taken by the Pacific Islands Forum to solidify its partnership with non-State actors in the region in promoting governance and sustainable development issues; 14. Invites the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to develop, in close consultation with the Pacific Islands Forum and other interested agencies, a Pacific-specific regional training programme on "Preventive diplomacy and post-conflict resolution", and to convene this programme in the Pacific in 2005; 15. Urges all States to participate, at the highest level possible, in the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, to be held in Mauritius; 16. Recognizes the burden placed on small States by growing international reporting requirements, and encourages the investigation of innovative reporting modalities, including regional reporting, where appropriate; 17. Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide technical support to Pacific Islands Forum members to contribute to the regional efforts in promoting awareness and knowledge of all international human rights treaties; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum". RESOLUTION 59/210 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.48 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/210. Report of the Committee for Development Policy on its sixth session The General Assembly, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/67 of 5 November 2004 on the report of the Committee for Development Policy, Taking into account its resolution 59/209 of 20 December 2004 on a smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from the list of least developed countries, Takes note of the recommendation of the Committee for Development Policy that Cape Verde and Maldives be graduated from the group of least developed countries.Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 13 (E/2004/33), chap. I, para. 1. RESOLUTION 59/211 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.51 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 59/211. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling all relevant resolutions on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, including its resolution 58/122 of 17 December 2003, Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/50 of 23 July 2004 and Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003, Taking note of all resolutions and presidential statements of the Security Council and reports of the Secretary-General to the Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Recalling all relevant provisions of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as all relevant treaties,They include, notably, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of 9 December 1994, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 8 June 1977, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996 to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980. Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter of the United Nations or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, Welcoming the fact that the number of States parties to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. which entered into force on 15 January 1999, has continued to rise, the number now having reached seventy-seven, and mindful of the need to promote universality of the Convention, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel at the field level, as they operate in increasingly complex contexts, as well as the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international law, in particular international humanitarian law, Expressing profound regret at the deaths of international and national humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, and strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among such personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Strongly condemning acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault and all forms of violence committed in particular against women, and intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of property, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part in humanitarian operations, often at great personal risk, especially of locally recruited staff, Expressing concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the ability of the Organization to provide assistance and protection to civilians in fulfilment of its mandate under the Charter, Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and noting the role that the Court could play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Reaffirming the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and its associated humanitarian personnel, which constitutes an underlying duty of the Organization, and mindful of the need to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the United Nations and a culture of accountability at all levels, Emphasizing the urgent need to take concrete measures to strengthen the effectiveness of the security management system for the United Nations, and in this regard mindful of the report of the Secretary-General on a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations,A/59/365 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Corr.1. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel;A/59/332. 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Strongly urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 5. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, in particular the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel;Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. 6. Also calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies,Resolution 179 (II). which have been ratified so far by one hundred and forty-eight States and one hundred and eight States, respectively; 7. Further calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. 8. Takes note with appreciation of the important progress made by the working group and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, and notes that the Ad Hoc Committee will reconvene from 11 to 15 April 2005 with a mandate to expand the scope of legal protection under the said Convention, including by means of a legal instrument;In accordance with resolution 59/47 of 2 December 2004. 9. Expresses deep concern that, over the past decade, threats against the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel have escalated dramatically and that perpetrators of acts of violence seemingly operate with impunity; 10. Strongly condemns all threats and acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, affirms the need to hold accountable those responsible for such acts, strongly urges all States to take stronger actions to ensure that any such acts committed on their territory are investigated fully and to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice in accordance with international law and national law, and notes the need for States to end impunity for such acts; 11. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of the arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations and its associated personnel, to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of those who have been arrested or detained in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 12. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts to refrain from abducting humanitarian personnel or United Nations and its associated personnel or detaining them in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm or requirement of concession, any abductee or detainee; 13. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel to observe and respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, and also requests the Secretary-General to seek the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarters and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and its associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 15. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, among others, those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission and host country agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, falling within his responsibilities, to promote and enhance the security consciousness and measures within the organizational culture of the United Nations system, agencies, funds and programmes, including by disseminating and ensuring the implementation of the security procedures and regulations and by ensuring accountability at all levels; 17. Emphasizes the importance of paying special attention to the safety and security of United Nations and its associated personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations; 18. Also emphasizes the need to give further consideration to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who account for the majority of casualties; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about and operate in conformity with the minimum operating security standards and relevant codes of conduct and are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called upon to operate and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant national and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights law and international humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 20. Stresses the importance of ensuring that humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel remain sensitive to national and local customs and traditions in their countries of assignment and communicate clearly their purpose and objectives to local populations; 21. Also stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training, including physical and psychological training, prior to their deployment to the field, the need to attach a high priority to the improvement of stress and trauma counselling services available to United Nations staff members, including through the implementation of a comprehensive security and stress and trauma management training, support and assistance programme for United Nations staff throughout the system, before, during and after missions, and the need to make available to the Secretary-General the means for that purpose; 22. Recognizes the need for a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, both at the headquarters and the field levels, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures to that end; 23. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations;A/59/365 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Corr.1. 24. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to further enhance the security management system of the United Nations, and in this regard invites the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to strengthen the analysis of threats to their safety and security in order to minimize security risks and to facilitate informed decisions on the maintenance of an effective presence in the field, inter alia, to fulfil their humanitarian mandate; 25. Requests the Secretary-General, inter alia, through the Inter-Agency Security Management Network, to promote increased cooperation and collaboration among United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, including between their headquarters and field offices, in the planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security, training and awareness, and calls upon all relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to support these efforts; 26. Recognizes the need for enhanced coordination and cooperation, both at the headquarters and the field levels, between the United Nations security management system and non-governmental organizations on matters relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, with a view to addressing mutual security concerns in the field; 27. Underlines the need to allocate adequate and predictable resources to the safety and security of United Nations personnel, encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System and to meet requirements in the consolidated appeals, without prejudice to the outcome of the ongoing discussions in the General Assembly regarding the funding for safety and security; 28. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, calls upon States to consider acceding to or ratifying the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998, and encourages them to facilitate and expedite, consistent with their national laws and regulations, the use of communications equipment in such operations, inter alia, through limiting and, whenever possible, lifting the restrictions placed on the use of communications equipment by United Nations and its associated personnel; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a comprehensive and updated report on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/212 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.26/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/212. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, as well as all its resolutions on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development, and recalling the resolutions of the humanitarian segments of the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity and impartiality for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the importance of integrating risk reduction into all phases of disaster management, development planning and post-disaster recovery, Emphasizing further, in this context, the important role of development organizations in supporting national efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness, response and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, while recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of affected countries which may have limited capacities to fulfil this requirement, Welcoming the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Stressing that national authorities need to enhance the resilience of populations to disasters through, inter alia, implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction so as to reduce risks to people, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, Taking into account the outcome of the Second International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 18 October 2003, under the auspices of the United Nations, Welcoming the efforts undertaken in preparation for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, to be held in Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, and underlining the importance of this conference in the promotion of new efforts in the field of disaster risk reduction, Noting the critical role played by local resources, as well as by existing in-country capacities, in natural disaster response and risk management, Recognizing the significant role played by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among developing countries of the capacities existing at the national, regional and international levels that could be deployed to assist them, Noting the lack of progress made in finalizing the establishment of the Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response as a new part of the Central Register of Disaster Management CapacitiesAvailable from http://ocha.unog.ch/cr/. as requested in its resolution 58/25 of 5 December 2003, Emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, including prevention, preparedness, mitigation and recovery and reconstruction, and of strengthening the response capacity of affected countries, Recognizing that efforts to achieve economic growth, sustainable development and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be adversely affected by natural disasters, and noting the positive contribution that those efforts can make in strengthening the resilience of populations to such disasters, Welcoming the efforts of Member States, with facilitation by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat and in cooperation with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of international urban search and rescue assistance, and, in this context noting its resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 entitled "Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance", Encouraging, in this regard, efforts aimed at strengthening the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group and its regional groups, particularly through the participation in their activities of representatives of a larger number of countries, Mindful of the effects that shortfalls in resources can have on the preparedness for and response to natural disasters, and underscoring, in this regard, the need to gain a more precise understanding of the impact of levels of funding on natural disaster response, Underlining the need for further improvement in information and analyses available regarding needs, responses and funding related to natural disasters, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General entitled "International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development"A/59/374. and "Strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations";A/59/93-E/2004/74. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the high number and the scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disasters; 3. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and integrate disaster risk reduction strategies into development planning, inter alia, by disaster prevention, including appropriate land-use and building regulations, as well as disaster preparedness and capacity-building in disaster response and mitigation, and requests the international community to continue to assist developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, bearing in mind their vulnerability to natural hazards, in this regard; 4. Stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation, particularly through the effective use of multilateral mechanisms, in the provision of humanitarian assistance through all phases of a disaster, from relief and mitigation to development, including the provision of adequate resources; 5. Also stresses that humanitarian assistance for natural disasters should be provided in accordance with and with due respect for the guiding principles contained in the annex to resolution 46/182 and should be determined on the basis of the human dimension and needs arising out of the particular natural disasters; 6. Recognizes that economic growth and sustainable development contribute to improving the capacity of States to mitigate, respond to and prepare for natural disasters; 7. Reaffirms that disaster risk analysis and vulnerability reduction form an integral part of humanitarian assistance, poverty eradication and sustainable development strategies and need to be considered in the development plans of all vulnerable countries and communities, including, where appropriate, in plans relating to post-disaster recovery and the transition from relief to development, and affirms that within such preventive strategies, disaster preparedness and early warning systems must be further strengthened at the country and regional levels, inter alia, through better coordination among relevant United Nations bodies and cooperation with Governments of affected countries and regional and other relevant organizations with the aim of maximizing the effectiveness of natural disaster response and reducing the impact of natural disasters, particularly in developing countries; 8. Emphasizes the importance of the outcome of the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held in Geneva from 2 to 6 December 2003; 9. Also emphasizes the importance of enhanced international cooperation, including through the United Nations and regional organizations, to assist developing countries in their efforts to build local and national capacities and to effectively and efficiently predict, prepare for and respond to natural disasters; 10. Stresses the need for partnerships among Governments, organizations of the United Nations system, relevant humanitarian organizations and specialized companies to promote training to strengthen preparedness for and response to natural disasters; 11. Calls upon States, the United Nations and other relevant actors, as appropriate, to assist in addressing knowledge gaps in disaster management and risk reduction by identifying ways of improving systems and networks for the collection and analysis of information on disasters, vulnerability and risk to facilitate informed decision-making; 12. Stresses the need to promote the access to and transfer of technology and knowledge related to early warning systems and to mitigation programmes to developing countries affected by natural disasters; 13. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 14. Also encourages in such operations the sharing of geographical data, including remotely sensed images and geographic information system and global positioning system data, among Governments, space agencies and relevant international humanitarian and development organizations, as appropriate, and notes in that context initiatives such as those undertaken by the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters and the Global Disaster Information Network; 15. Stresses that particular international cooperation efforts should be undertaken to enhance and broaden further the utilization of national and local capacities, including within the framework of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, and, where appropriate, of regional and subregional capacities of developing countries for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, more efficiently and at lower cost; 16. Recognizes, in this regard, that the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination system continues to be a valuable tool by which disaster management expertise is made available by Member States to respond to the sudden onset of emergencies; 17. Urges Member States, with the support of relevant bodies of the United Nations system, to strengthen efforts to identify practical ways to channel resources to and strengthen support for national disaster management capacities in disaster-prone countries; 18. Welcomes the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for the promotion and coordination of disaster responses among United Nations humanitarian agencies and other humanitarian partners; 19. Takes note with interest of the initiatives taken by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme for the establishment of regional positions of disaster response advisers and disaster reduction advisers to assist developing countries in capacity-building for disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response in a coordinated and complementary manner; 20. Encourages further cooperation between the United Nations system and regional organizations in order to increase the capacity of these organizations to respond to natural disasters; 21. Encourages States that have not acceded to or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, adopted at Tampere, Finland, on 18 June 1998, to consider doing so; 22. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the relevant organizations and partners, finalize the establishment of, and then update periodically, the Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response as a new part of the Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities;Available from http://ocha.unog.ch/cr/. 23. Encourages donors to consider the importance of ensuring that assistance in the case of higher-profile natural disasters does not come at the expense of those that may have a relatively lower profile, bearing in mind that the allocation of resources should be driven by needs, as well as the importance of making efforts to increase the level of assistance for disaster reduction and preparedness programmes and for disaster response and mitigation activities; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to examine ways to further improve the assessment of needs and responses and to enhance the availability of data regarding funding in response to natural disasters and to consider concrete recommendations to improve the international response to natural disasters, as necessary, based on his examination, keeping in mind also the need to address any geographical and sectoral imbalances and shortfalls in such responses, where they exist, as well as the more effective use of national emergency response agencies, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/213 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.54 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia 59/213. Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/59/303. Recalling the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as its resolutions 55/218 of 21 December 2000, 56/48 of 7 December 2001 and 57/48 of 21 November 2002, Recalling also the principles enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union adopted at the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2158, No. 37733. Recalling further the decisions and declarations adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its first, second and third ordinary sessions, held in Durban, South Africa, on 9 and 10 July 2002,See A/57/744, annex III. in Maputo from 10 to 12 July 2003See A/58/626, annex I. and in Addis Ababa from 6 to 8 July 2004,See African Union, documents Assembly/AU/Dec 33-54(III) and Assembly/AU/Decl.12 & 13 (III). respectively, Welcoming the entry into force of the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, on 26 December 2003, and the policy framework document on the establishment of an African standby force and a military staff committee, Welcoming also the statement by the President of the Security Council at the 5084th meeting of the Security Council, held in Nairobi on 19 November 2004, on the institutional relationship with the African Union,S/PRST/2004/44; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2004-31 July 2005. Welcoming further the Vision and Mission of the African Union and the proposals contained in the Strategic Plan of the Commission of the African Union, as adopted at the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa from 6 to 8 July 2004, Bearing in mind the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, contained in its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002, and its resolutions 57/7 of 4 November 2002 and 58/233 of 23 December 2003, and welcoming the renewed commitments by the international community to support the New PartnershipA/57/304, annex. and other related initiatives for Africa, Welcoming decision AU/Dec.38 (III) adopted by the third ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union, on the implementation of the New Partnership,See African Union, documents Assembly/AU/Dec 33-54(III) and Assembly/AU/Decl.12 & 13 (III). Bearing in mind the Declaration and the Plan of Action contained in the document entitled "A world fit for children", adopted at the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002See resolution S-27/2. and the African Common Position on Children, endorsed by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held in Lusaka from 9 to 11 July 2001,See A/56/457, annex I, AHG/Dec.170 (XXXVII). Appreciating the continuous efforts of African countries in mainstreaming gender perspectives and the empowerment of women in decision-making organs, and in this regard welcoming the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, adopted at the third ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union,See African Union, documents Assembly/AU/Dec 33-54(III) and Assembly/AU/Decl.12 & 13 (III). Taking note of the Plan of Action on the Family in Africa launched by the African Union at its extraordinary summit meeting on the family in Africa, held in Cotonou, Benin, from 25 to 27 July 2004, as Africa's contribution to the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, Taking note also of the Declaration on Employment and Poverty Alleviation in Africa adopted at the extraordinary summit meeting of the African Union on employment and poverty alleviation in Africa, held in Ouagadougou from 3 to 9 September 2004, Noting the efforts to be undertaken by the African Union and its organs and regional economic communities and bodies in the area of economic integration, and the need to accelerate the process of the full establishment and consolidation of the African Union so as to achieve sustainable development, Stressing the urgent need to address the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa, and noting in this context decision EX.CL/Dec.127 (V) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, adopted by the Executive Council of the African Union at its fifth ordinary session, held in Addis Ababa from 30 June to 3 July 2004, and the conference convened by the African Parliamentary Union and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on "Refugees in Africa: the challenges of protection and solutions", held in Cotonou from 1 to 3 June 2004, Recognizing the importance of developing and maintaining a culture of peace, tolerance and harmonious relationships based on the promotion of economic development, democratic principles, good governance, the rule of law, human rights, social justice and international cooperation, as reflected in the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Stressing the need for extending the scope of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of combating illegal exploitation of natural resources, Emphasizing the importance of the effective, coordinated and integrated implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Doha Development Agenda,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Welcoming the adoption of the Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights to complement the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Acknowledging the entry into force of the 1999 Algiers Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, and noting the centrality of international partnership and cooperation between the African Union, the relevant United Nations organs and the wider international community in the global fight against terrorism, Taking note of the Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases,Organization of African Unity, document OAU/SPS/ABUJA/3. and the Framework for Action thereon, and the Maputo Declaration on Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases,A/58/626, annex I, Assembly/AU/Decl.6 (II). Acknowledging the contribution of the United Nations Liaison Office in strengthening coordination and cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, as well as the need to consolidate it so as to enhance its performance, Convinced that strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and its organs will contribute to the advancement of the principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and to the development of Africa, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/303. 2. Welcomes the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations and, in this respect, the continuing participation in and constructive contribution of the African Union and its specialized agencies to the work of the United Nations, and calls upon the two organizations to enhance the involvement of the African Union in all United Nations activities concerning Africa; 3. Stresses the need for closer cooperation and coordination between the African Union and the United Nations, and urges the United Nations system to continue to support the African Union on an ongoing basis in accordance with the Cooperation Agreement between the two organizations as well as other memorandums of understanding; 4. Calls upon the Secretary-General to involve the African Union and its organs closely in the implementation of the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. especially those that relate to addressing the special needs of Africa; 5. Invites the Secretary-General to request all relevant United Nations agencies to intensify their cooperation with the African Union in the establishment of its organs, including through the implementation of the protocols to the Constitutive Act of the African UnionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2158, No. 37733. and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community,A/46/651, annex. and to assist in the effective harmonization of the programmes of the African Union with those of the regional economic communities; 6. Requests the agencies of the United Nations system working in Africa to include in their programmes at the national, subregional and regional levels, activities to support African countries in their efforts to enhance regional economic cooperation and integration; 7. Invites the Secretary-General to request the United Nations system to enhance its support to the African Union in the implementation of its Vision and Mission and the Strategic Plan of the Commission of the African Union, particularly in the following areas: (a) Setting up of support structures and management; (b) Adaptation of structure to strategy and strengthening of skills in institutional consolidation; (c) Modernization of information and communication technology and advancement of indigenous technology; (d) Building of internal capacity to mainstream gender; (e) Promotion of free and democratic elections; (f) Disaster management; (g) Integrated health system in Africa; (h) Elaboration of an African social policy model: children first; (i) Support for the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; (j) Global advocacy for the African Union vision, to consolidate integration and promote sustainable development in Africa; 8. Requests the United Nations system, while acknowledging its primary role in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security, to intensify its assistance to the African Union, as appropriate, in strengthening the institutional and operational capacity of its Peace and Security Council, in particular in the following areas: (a) Development of its early warning system, including the Situation Room of the Peace and Security Directorate; (b) Training of civilian and military personnel, including a staff exchange programme; (c) Regular and continued exchange and coordination of information, including between the early warning systems of the two organizations; (d) Peace support missions of the African Union in its various member States, in particular in the area of communication and other related logistical support; (e) Capacity-building for peacebuilding before and after the termination of hostilities on the continent; (f) Support for the Peace and Security Council in taking humanitarian action on the continent in accordance with the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council; (g) Establishment of the African standby force and the military staff committee; 9. Invites the Secretary-General to explore, in close consultation with the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, new means of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, especially taking into consideration the expanded mandate and the new organs of the African Union; 10. Urges the United Nations to encourage donor countries, in consultation with the African Union, to contribute to adequate funding, training and logistical support for African countries in their efforts to enhance their peacekeeping capabilities, with a view to enabling those countries to participate actively in peacekeeping operations within the framework of the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council and the framework of the United Nations; 11. Stresses the urgent need for the United Nations and the African Union to develop close cooperation and concrete programmes aimed at addressing the problems posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and anti-personnel mines, within the framework of the relevant declarations and resolutions adopted by the two organizations; 12. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to continue to support the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. and its Peer Review Mechanism as African-owned and led initiatives and programmes of the African Union; 13. Calls upon the United Nations system, the African Union and the international community to intensify their cooperation in the global fight against terrorism through the implementation of the relevant international and regional treaties and protocols and, in particular, the African Plan of Action adopted in Algiers on 14 September 2002, as well as their support for the operation of the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, inaugurated in Algiers in October 2004; 14. Calls upon the United Nations system to intensify its efforts, in collaboration with the African Union, in combating illegal exploitation of natural resources, particularly in conflict areas, in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations and the African Union; 15. Encourages the United Nations system to effectively support the efforts of the African Union in urging the international community to duly implement the Doha Development Agenda,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. including negotiations aimed at substantial improvements in market access to promote sustainable growth in Africa; 16. Invites the United Nations system to enhance its support to African countries in their efforts to implement the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 17. Encourages the United Nations to take special measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication through debt cancellation, enhanced official development assistance, increases in flows of foreign direct investments, as well as transfers of technology; 18. Calls upon the United Nations system to accelerate the implementation of the Plan of Action contained in the document entitled "A world fit for children", adopted at the special session of the General Assembly on children,See resolution S-27/2. and to provide assistance, as appropriate, to the African Union and its member States in this regard; 19. Calls upon the United Nations system and the African Union to develop a coherent and effective strategy, including through joint programmes and activities, for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, within the framework of the implementation of regional and international treaties, resolutions and plans of action adopted by the two organizations; 20. Urges the United Nations system to increase its support for Africa in the implementation of the declaration of the extraordinary summit meeting of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases,Organization of African Unity, document OAU/SPS/ABUJA/3. and the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. so as to arrest the spread of these diseases, inter alia, through sound capacity-building in human resources; 21. Invites the United Nations system and the international community to provide adequate support to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, aimed at finalizing the process leading to the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights; 22. Urges the United Nations system speedily to implement resolution 58/149 of 22 December 2003 on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, and effectively to support African countries in their effort to incorporate the problems of refugees into national and regional development plans; 23. Urges the Secretary-General to encourage the United Nations system to work towards ensuring the effective and equitable representation of African men and women at senior and policy levels at the respective headquarters of its organizations and in their regional fields of operation; 24. Requests the United Nations system to cooperate with the African Union and its member States in the implementation of appropriate policies for the promotion of the culture of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, and the strengthening of democratic institutions which will enhance the popular participation of the peoples of the continent in these issues, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development; 25. Calls upon the United Nations system and invites the Bretton Woods institutions to support, within their respective mandates, and where necessary and possible, the establishment of the institutional structures of the African Union, including the Pan-African Parliament, the Court of Justice, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council and the Financial Institutions; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/214 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/479 and Corr.1, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/214. Assistance to Mozambique The General Assembly, Recalling Security Council resolution 386 (1976) of 17 March 1976 and all relevant General Assembly resolutions, in which it urged the international community to respond effectively and generously to the call for assistance to Mozambique, Reaffirming the principles for humanitarian assistance contained in the annex to its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, Recalling its resolutions 48/7 of 19 October 1993, 49/215 of 23 December 1994, 50/82 of 14 December 1995, 51/149 of 13 December 1996 and 52/173 of 18 December 1997 on assistance in mine action, Recognizing that Mozambique is prone to natural disasters which can have a negative impact upon its development efforts, Aware that, to prevent and manage natural disasters, strategies at the local, national and regional levels are required, in addition to international assistance, Recognizing that the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS and other endemic diseases is undoing decades of economic and social development and contributing to food insecurity and the increased vulnerability of the population in Mozambique, Recognizing also that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development lies with the Government of Mozambique, while bearing in mind the important role that the international community plays, Recognizing further the efforts of the Government of Mozambique to promote peace and stability, democracy and national reconciliation as well as economic growth and socio-economic development, including the mainstreaming of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (2001-2005) and national development plans, Bearing in mind the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001, and the mutual commitments entered into on that occasion, Noting with appreciation the mobilization and allocation of resources by States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist national development efforts, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on assistance to Mozambique,A/59/86-E/2004/69. and humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for countries and regions,A/59/293. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General and the recommendations contained therein;A/59/86-E/2004/69 and A/59/293. 2. Commends the Government of Mozambique for its efforts in the maintenance of peace, stability, economic growth and development and for the enhancement of democracy and the consolidation of national reconciliation in the country, and stresses the importance of further consolidation and enhancement of those efforts; 3. Takes note of the launching by the Government of Mozambique of the national contingency plan for natural disasters to improve disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and management, and invites the international community to support this initiative; 4. Encourages the Government of Mozambique to continue its efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and to implement the Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (2001-2005) and national development plans, with a view to achieving internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. fighting absolute poverty, improving national capacity for education and governance, reducing the vulnerability of the population and promoting economic growth and sustainable development, and invites the international community to continue to support such efforts; 5. Stresses the importance of international assistance for the development programmes in Mozambique, and expresses its gratitude to the development partners that have supported the Government of Mozambique; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to make all necessary arrangements to continue to mobilize and coordinate, with a view to supporting the efforts of the Government of Mozambique: (a) Humanitarian assistance from the specialized agencies, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system; (b) International assistance for the national reconstruction and development of Mozambique; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/215 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/479 and Corr.1, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 59/215. Humanitarian and special economic assistance to Serbia and Montenegro The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, and reaffirming that humanitarian assistance should be provided in accordance with the guiding principles contained in the annex to that resolution, Recalling also its resolutions 54/96 F of 15 December 1999, 55/169 of 14 December 2000, 56/101 of 14 December 2001 and 57/148 of 16 December 2002, Deeply appreciative of the humanitarian assistance and the rehabilitation support rendered by a number of States, in particular major contributors, international agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to alleviate the humanitarian needs of the affected population in Serbia and Montenegro, in particular emergency assistance provided by the European Union and various countries, Recognizing the role of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and the stabilization and association process for the western Balkans in assisting Serbia and Montenegro in its efforts in further promoting democratic and economic reforms and in intensifying regional cooperation, Recognizing also the need to ensure the effective and smooth transition from humanitarian to development efforts in Serbia and Montenegro, including with respect to the humanitarian and rehabilitation needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, in particular the most vulnerable, Aware of the weakness of the economy and basic services, which exacerbates further the situation of socially and economically vulnerable segments of the population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and which is coupled with limited basic social services capacity, especially in the health sector, Acknowledging that still a large number of refugees and internally displaced persons remain in Serbia and Montenegro and that assistance requirements will include local integration, whenever refugees and internally displaced persons are not willing to return to their places of origin, Recognizing the role of the United Nations in helping Serbia and Montenegro to achieve a successful transition from humanitarian assistance to development assistance and in coordinating the efforts of the international community in that regard, Acknowledging the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro in the implementation of the National Strategy for Resolving Problems of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Serbia and Montenegro, as well as international support for the development of a Roma integration and empowerment strategy and poverty reduction strategies in Serbia and Montenegro and the adoption of a poverty reduction strategy paper, Recognizing a continued decrease in humanitarian assistance in 2004, in line with an understanding that, as stressed in the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/293. the country was no longer in a humanitarian crisis situation but had moved towards stabilization and economic development, Recognizing also the importance of the rule of law, good governance, a vibrant private sector, as well as effective social sectors, including education and health, to achieve sustainable development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/293. 1. Calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to continue to provide assistance to alleviate the needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, bearing in mind in particular the special situation of women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups, and to assist financially and otherwise in seeking durable solutions for a safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their places of origin, or for settlement at their place of refuge for those who want to integrate locally, in cooperation with the local authorities, with a successive transition to development projects aimed at durable solutions to those questions; 2. Encourages the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro in its efforts to ensure a smooth transition from relief to long-term development, and calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to offer support for those efforts; 3. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Serbia and Montenegro as a strategic document for the operational activities of the United Nations system in Serbia and Montenegro and as a basis for the entire development assistance programme in the period 2005-2009 and the adoption of the United Nations Development Programme country programme outline for Serbia and Montenegro for the period 2005-2009 and the United Nations Children's Fund country programme document for Serbia and Montenegro for the period 2005-2009, and calls upon all States, regional organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies to support their implementation; 4. Recognizes that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development lies with the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro, while bearing in mind the important role played by the international community; 5. Welcomes the continued commitment of Serbia and Montenegro and encourages it to cooperate further with the United Nations system as well as development and humanitarian organizations to address the needs of the affected population, including refugees and internally displaced persons, and urges the relevant authorities and the international community to support and stimulate development assistance for the implementation of the National Strategy for Resolving Problems of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, national strategies for poverty reduction and other programmes that will ensure that the needs of the vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons in Serbia and Montenegro are met and to pursue durable solutions to their plight, in particular voluntary repatriation and reintegration, stresses the need to create conditions that are conducive to their safe return, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of regional cooperation in the search for solutions to the plight of refugees; 6. Urges the relevant government authorities in Serbia and Montenegro to develop, with the assistance of the United Nations system, national policies for comprehensive durable solutions for internally displaced persons based on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and in that regard invites the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo to strengthen its efforts, within its mandate, in coordination with relevant government authorities in Serbia and Montenegro, for the establishment of the necessary conditions for the safe and sustainable return of internally displaced persons; 7. Calls upon the Secretary-General, as well as development agencies, to continue to mobilize the timely provision of international development assistance to Serbia and Montenegro, and welcomes efforts by Serbia and Montenegro to improve governance and institutional capabilities in order to use aid more effectively; 8. Emphasizes the importance of the increased donor coordination of assistance to Serbia and Montenegro, inter alia, through the mechanism of the United Nations resident coordinator system; 9. Urges development partners to assist in capacity-building, institution-building and local employment generation in their programmes and to train and employ local staff to the maximum extent possible, welcomes work by Serbia and Montenegro to create an enabling environment for its private sector, including the development of a financial sector that provides services, inter alia, to microenterprises and to small and medium-sized enterprises and to their households, and encourages continued work on regulatory reform, transparency, accountability, good governance and the rule of law, all of which support sustainable development; 10. Also urges Serbia and Montenegro and its development partners to support and strengthen initiatives that contribute to the enhancement of social capital in areas such as health and education, emphasizing, inter alia, the development of capacity to improve the quality of and access to health care and education; 11. Requests the United Nations and the specialized agencies to continue their efforts to assess needs, in cooperation with the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro, relevant international and regional organizations and bodies and interested States, with a view to ensuring an effective and smooth transition from relief to longer-term development assistance to Serbia and Montenegro, taking into account the work already carried out in this field and the need to avoid duplication and the overlapping of efforts; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, bearing in mind the recommendation contained in his report,A/59/293. to submit to it at its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", a final report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/216 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/479 and Corr.1, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, South Africa, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/216. International assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions in which it called upon the international community to continue to render material, technical and financial assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola, including resolution 57/102, adopted by consensus on 25 November 2002, Recalling also that the Security Council, in resolution 922 (1994) of 31 May 1994 and in subsequent resolutions adopted as from 2001, the President of the Security Council, in statements on Angola, and the General Assembly, in all of its resolutions on international assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola, have, inter alia, called upon the international community to provide economic assistance to Angola, Bearing in mind that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating the conditions for long-term development and poverty reduction in Angola lies with the Government of Angola, together with, where appropriate, the participation of the international community, Noting the importance of international engagement for the consolidation of peace in Angola, Noting with concern that, although there are unprecedented opportunities to tackle the country's problems and achieve international and national development goals, recovery will take years as the war has had a devastating economic and social impact, Recognizing that there is a clear relationship between emergency relief and rehabilitation and development and that in order to ensure a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation and development, emergency assistance should be provided in ways supportive of recovery and long-term development, Concerned about the need to mobilize adequate financial resources for emergency humanitarian assistance at all levels, Welcoming the efforts made by the Government of Angola to improve governance, transparency and institutional capabilities and to use aid more effectively, in cooperation with the United Nations system, and encouraging continued efforts in this regard, Noting with satisfaction the successful implementation of and effective compliance with the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol,S/1994/1441, annex. Taking into account the initiatives taken by the Government of Angola to allocate the human, material and financial resources to improve the social and economic situation of the population and to address the humanitarian situation, and stressing the need to allocate more means towards reconstruction, rehabilitation and social and economic stabilization, with the cooperation of the international community, Recognizing the urgent need to address as well as to increase national efforts and international support for the resettlement and reintegration of internally displaced persons as well as for the return of refugees and vulnerable groups and for their care in all parts of Angola, Recognizing also the urgent need to address as well as to increase national efforts and international support for mine-action activities in order to enable the country to tackle the social, economic and humanitarian crises, Noting that an economically revived and democratic Angola will contribute to regional stability, Recalling the first Round-Table Conference of Donors, held in Brussels from 25 to 27 September 1995, Welcoming the efforts made by donors and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to provide humanitarian, economic and financial assistance to Angola, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/293. 2. Welcomes the successful implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding additional to the Lusaka Protocol,See S/2002/483, annex. which ended hostilities in the country and created unprecedented conditions for the re-establishment and consolidation of peace in Angola; 3. Recognizes the efforts undertaken by the Government of Angola, with the support of the international community, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and to continue to work towards ensuring the maintenance of the peace and national security so necessary for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and economic stabilization of the country, and in this context encourages the Government, with the support of the international community, to continue its efforts, including the increase of budgetary allocations to the development sectors, for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 4. Welcomes the adoption by the Government of Angola of the poverty reduction strategy paper, and in this regard calls upon the Government of Angola, the World Bank and the international community to remain engaged, with a view to its early endorsement by the World Bank and the Board of the International Monetary Fund, as well as the continued support of the international community to the efforts of the Government of Angola for its implementation; 5. Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Government of Angola for the welfare of all its citizens, including returning refugees and internally displaced persons, and calls upon Member States, in particular the donor community, including through South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, to continue to support the remaining humanitarian needs in Angola and to assist with the return and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons; 6. Welcomes the approval of the National Law and Strategic Plan to Fight against HIV/AIDS, which aims to strengthen national coordination among governmental, civil society and international partners, encourages continued international support to assist in implementing concrete actions to help meet the goals laid out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. and in this regard notes with satisfaction the successful conclusion of the first national seroprevalence survey by the Government of Angola with the support of the international community; 7. Requests all national and international, regional and subregional financial institutions to provide their support to the Government of Angola in its efforts to alleviate poverty, consolidate peace and democracy and contribute to economic stability throughout the country and to implement successfully the economic development programmes and strategies; 8. Welcomes the continued commitment of the Government of Angola to improve governance, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, including natural resources, encourages the Government of Angola to continue its efforts to that end, calls upon international organizations and others in a position to do so to assist the Government of Angola in this endeavour, including through the promotion of responsible business practices, and welcomes in this regard the decision of Angola to accede to the African Peer Review Mechanism; 9. Recognizes the progress towards the adoption of a programme to be monitored by the International Monetary Fund, and encourages the Government and the International Monetary Fund to continue to negotiate actively with a view to reaching an early agreement; 10. Welcomes the commitment of the Government of Angola to the strengthening of its democratic institutions, takes note in this regard of the efforts undertaken by the Government of Angola to hold elections in 2006, looks forward to the early adoption by the National Assembly of a timetable to prepare such elections, and calls upon Members States, international, regional and subregional organizations to provide financial and technical support in this regard; 11. Requests the Government of Angola and the United Nations, and invites the international financial institutions, to take all necessary steps for the preparation and successful organization of an international donors conference for long-term development and reconstruction, including special economic assistance; 12. Expresses its appreciation to the international community, the United Nations system, funds and programmes, and the governmental and non-governmental organizations that are participating in humanitarian assistance programmes in Angola, including mine-action activities, and appeals for their continued contribution to humanitarian mine-action activities in a manner complementary to that of the Government; 13. Expresses its gratitude to donors and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes for the assistance provided to Angola in support of initiatives and programmes for the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis and poverty eradication; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, at its sixty-first session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/217 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/479 and Corr.1, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/217. Humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for Ethiopia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/24 of 5 December 2003 on emergency humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, Recalling also the initiatives of the Secretary-General to improve food security, including the appointment of the Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa, Concerned by the recurrent drought, which still affects millions owing to the serious crop failures in drought-prone parts of the country and the pastoralist areas that have weak infrastructures and low development capacities, Bearing in mind the joint 2005 appeal of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, to respond to the food and non-food requirements of households in need so as to prevent the worsening of the current humanitarian crisis, Noting with serious concern the significant and persistent humanitarian needs in such areas as health, water and acute malnutrition that still exist in parts of the country, Also noting with serious concern the dire humanitarian situation and its long-term socio-economic and environmental impacts, Recognizing that the persistent problem of food insecurity is linked to inadequate progress in achieving and sustaining rural growth at levels required to build the household and community assets needed to manage through the various shocks that induce food crises, Emphasizing the need to address the crisis, bearing in mind the importance of the transition from relief to development, and acknowledging the underlying structural causes of recurrent drought in Ethiopia, Recognizing that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development lies with the Government of Ethiopia, while bearing in mind the important role played by the international community, Emphasizing the importance of establishing a strong early warning system for both food and non-food needs in order to predict better and respond as early as possible to disasters and to minimize their consequences, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/293. 2. Welcomes the coordinated and collaborative efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, the donor community, non-governmental organizations and other entities for their timely and generous response to the joint 2004 appeal; 3. Calls upon the international community to respond in a timely manner to the joint 2005 appeal of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, covering food and non-food needs; 4. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, the international community and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to strengthen mechanisms already in place to respond to such emergency situations, appreciates their endeavours to increase the availability of food through the procurement of local produce and to ensure access of households in need to food, health and water facilities, sanitation, seeds and veterinary services, and strongly encourages the Government of Ethiopia to continue such efforts; 5. Stresses the need to address the underlying causes of food insecurity, and issues of recovery, asset protection and the sustainable development of the affected areas, welcomes in this regard the programme prepared by the Coalition for Food Security in Ethiopia, and encourages the international community to support the Coalition in realizing its main objective, namely, breaking the cycle of food aid dependency within the next three to five years, thereby enabling fifteen million vulnerable people to engage in sustainable productive activities; 6. Welcomes the Group of Eight action plan on ending the cycle of famine in the Horn of Africa, and looks forward to its full implementation; 7. Encourages the Government of Ethiopia to continue to strengthen its efforts to address the underlying structural causes of recurrent threats of drought as part of its overall economic development programme; 8. Calls upon all development partners, in cooperation with the Government of Ethiopia, to integrate relief efforts with recovery, asset protection and long-term development, including the structural and productive options needed to stimulate accelerated rural growth, and to address the underlying causes of recurrent drought in Ethiopia in a way that is, inter alia, in line with the poverty reduction strategy paper, including strategies that are aimed at preventing such crises in the future and that improve the resilience of the population; 9. Welcomes the initiative taken by the Secretary-General in appointing a Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa, with the objective of mobilizing resources to address the root causes of food insecurity as well as the sustainable development of the affected areas; 10. Invites the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to continue its efforts to coordinate and develop a strategic response to recurrent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and to consider ways to enhance the mobilization of emergency relief assistance to cover the remaining humanitarian needs in Ethiopia; 11. Takes note of the report on evaluation of the response to the 2002-2003 emergency in Ethiopia prepared jointly by the Government of Ethiopia and humanitarian partners, and urges the Government of Ethiopia, donors and all other stakeholders to implement its recommendations; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/218 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/479 and Corr.1, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Niger, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Zambia. 59/218. Assistance for humanitarian relief and the economic and social rehabilitation of Somalia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/160 of 18 December 1992 and subsequent relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 56/106 of 14 December 2001, 57/154 of 16 December 2002 and 58/115 of 17 December 2003, Noting with serious concern that the current drought in some parts of Somalia threatens the lives of Somali nomads as well as livestock, Noting with grave concern the high mortality rate of over 80 per cent of livestock in the worst-affected areas of the Sool, Sanaag and Togdheer plateaux of Somalia and the high risk of starvation of Somali nomads, Noting with serious concern the threat, as a result of this drought, of a serious negative impact on the Somali economy, and in particular on the pastoral economy and social support systems, Underlining the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, relief and reconstruction, Noting the linkage between the search for peace and reconciliation and the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, Welcoming the continued focus of the United Nations, in partnership with civil society at the grass-roots level, on programmes of assistance, including both humanitarian and development approaches, taking into consideration the conditions on the ground, Recalling the statements by the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2001S/PRST/2001/30; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and 28 March 2002,S/PRST/2002/8; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. by which the Council condemned attacks on humanitarian personnel and called upon all parties in Somalia to respect fully the security and safety of personnel of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations, and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and access throughout Somalia, Re-emphasizing the importance of the further implementation of its resolutions 47/160, 56/106, 57/154 and 58/115 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services throughout the country, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/133, S/2003/231, S/2003/636, S/2003/987, S/2004/115 and Corr.1 and S/2004/469. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued and tireless efforts to mobilize assistance for the Somali people; 2. Welcomes with great satisfaction the progress made in the last two years of the reconciliation process in Kenya, in particular the elections of the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament, the Speaker of Parliament and the President, the appointment of the Prime Minister and the formation of the Cabinet, and urges all Somali parties and States members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to fully support the new Transitional Federal Government of Somalia; 3. Expresses the need for continued engagement and commitment to a structured support, based on joint principles and structures of coordination and monitoring, as endorsed in Stockholm on 29 October 2004, to be agreed upon with the future transitional national federal institutions; 4. Welcomes the strategy of the United Nations focusing on the implementation of community-based interventions aimed at rebuilding local infrastructures and increased self-reliance of the local population, and the ongoing efforts by the United Nations agencies, their Somali counterparts and their partner organizations to establish and maintain close coordination and cooperation mechanisms for the implementation of the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in line with the priorities of the new Transitional Federal Government; 5. Notes the incremental and prioritized approach of the United Nations system to addressing the continuing crisis and needs in Somalia while maintaining long-term commitments to rehabilitation, recovery and development activities; 6. Commends the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the funds and programmes of the United Nations as well as other humanitarian organizations for their response, and underlines the urgent need for putting into place practical measures aimed at the alleviation of the consequences of the drought in the most affected areas in Somalia; 7. Urges all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to continue to implement further its resolutions 47/160, 56/106, 57/154 and 58/115 in order to assist the Somali people in embarking on the rehabilitation of basic social and economic services, as well as institution-building aimed at the restoration of structures of civil governance at all levels in all parts of the country wherever possible; 8. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize international humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 9. Calls upon all Somali parties to respect the security and safety of the personnel of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and safe access throughout Somalia; 10. Urges the international community to provide: (a) Political support to the new Transitional Federal Government; (b) Significant financial and technical support for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Somalia; (c) Full support to the need for peacebuilding measures and the speedy implementation of programmes for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militias throughout Somalia in order to stabilize the entire country and thereby ensure the effectiveness of the new Transitional Federal Government; 11. Urges the Transitional Federal Government, in coordination with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union, to develop a strategy and timetable outlining its functional priorities; 12. Urges the international community to provide as a matter of urgency humanitarian assistance and relief to the Somali people to alleviate in particular the consequences of the prevailing drought; 13. Calls upon the international community to provide continuing and increased assistance in response to the United Nations 2004 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 14. Commends the Secretary-General for the establishment of the Trust Fund for Peacebuilding in Somalia, welcomes the contributions made thus far to the Fund, and appeals to Member States to contribute to it; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation in Somalia, to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/219 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/479 and Corr.1, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 59/219. Assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/232 of 21 December 1990, 46/147 of 17 December 1991, 47/154 of 18 December 1992, 48/197 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 E of 20 December 1994, 50/58 A of 12 December 1995, 51/30 B of 5 December 1996, 52/169 E of 16 December 1997, 53/1 I of 16 November 1998, 55/176 of 19 December 2000 and 57/151 of 16 December 2002, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/293. Commending the Economic Community of West African States and the International Contact Group on Liberia for facilitating the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Accra on 18 August 2003,See S/2003/850. which, inter alia, provided for the formation of the National Transitional Government of Liberia and the holding of democratic elections in October 2005, and for continuing their collaborative efforts with the transitional authority in peacebuilding and security in Liberia, Welcoming the establishment of the United Nations Mission in Liberia in accordance with Security Council resolution 1509 (2003) of 19 September 2003, whereby an enabling environment for the restoration of peace and stability in the country was created, Also welcoming the formal completion of the disarmament and demobilization operations of the Mission on 31 October 2004 and the subsequent official dissolution of factions on 3 November 2004, Considering that the holding of free and fair presidential and general elections in October 2005 is a vital undertaking for ensuring national unity, peacebuilding and reconstruction, Deeply concerned about the recent violence in the city of Monrovia and its environs, which poses a serious threat to the peace process, Recognizing the importance of a thriving private sector, employment generation, good governance and the rule of law to sustainable economic growth, 1. Expresses its gratitude to the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, donor countries, specialized agencies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations for their valuable support in the provision of humanitarian assistance and their adoption of a comprehensive approach to peacebuilding in Liberia and the subregion; 2. Also expresses its gratitude to all donor countries, specialized agencies of the United Nations system and governmental and non-governmental organizations for their participation in the International Reconstruction Conference on Liberia, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 5 and 6 February 2004, at which the National Transitional Government presented the results-focused transition framework, and urges those who have not yet honoured their pledges and commitments to do so; 3. Calls upon all signatories to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 18 August 2003See S/2003/850. to uphold the spirit and letter of its provisions, to seek to promote socio-economic development and a culture of sustained peace in the country, including a commitment to the rule of law, national reconciliation and human rights and to refrain from actions that may jeopardize the work of the National Transitional Government; 4. Invites all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide assistance to Liberia to facilitate the creation of an enabling environment for the promotion of peace, socio-economic development and regional security, including by emphasizing capacity-building, institution-building and employment generation in their work and ensuring that such work complements and contributes to the development of an economy characterized by an investment climate conducive to entrepreneurship, good governance and the rule of law; 5. Urges the National Transitional Government to create an environment conducive to the promotion of socio-economic development, peace and security in the country, including a commitment to upholding the rule of law, national reconciliation and human rights, establishing inclusive processes that will ensure free and fair presidential and general elections in October 2005 with maximum participation of the citizenry, as well as a commitment to ensuring transparency in the management of government expenditures and donor funds; 6. Invites the international community to provide financial and technical assistance to the National Transitional Government to facilitate free and fair presidential and general elections in October 2005; 7. Urges the National Transitional Government and all States to facilitate and support the return and reintegration of ex-combatants into their home communities, with special attention to children; 8. Commends the Secretary-General for his continuing efforts to mobilize international assistance for the development and reconstruction of Liberia, and requests him to continue his efforts to mobilize all possible assistance within the United Nations system to help in the reconstruction and development of Liberia and in the return and reintegration of refugees, displaced persons and demobilized soldiers; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to consider at its sixty-first session the question of international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia. RESOLUTION 59/21 Adopted at the 50th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.14, sponsored by: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste 59/21. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/10 of 26 October 1999, by which it granted observer status to the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and considered it mutually advantageous to provide for cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, Recalling also the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Considering that the activities of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries complement and support the work of the United Nations, Welcoming the participation of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries in the fifth high-level meeting between the United Nations and regional organizations, held in New York on 29 and 30 July 2003, 1. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to undertake consultations with the Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, with a view to promoting cooperation between the secretariats of the two bodies, in particular by encouraging meetings that enable their representatives to consult one another on projects, measures and procedures that will facilitate and expand their mutual cooperation and coordination; 2. Requests the specialized agencies and other bodies and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate to this end with the Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries". RESOLUTION 59/220 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/480, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/220. World Summit on the Information Society The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/183 of 21 December 2001 and 57/238 of 20 December 2002, Reaffirming the potential of information and communication technologies as powerful tools to foster socio-economic development and contribute to the realization of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. 1. Expresses its gratitude to the Government of Switzerland for having hosted the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 and for the support and arrangements put at the disposal of the Summit; 2. Renews with gratitude its acknowledgement of the generous offer of the Government of Tunisia to host the second phase of the Summit, which will take place in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005; 3. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union on the first phase and progress in the preparations for the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society;A/59/80-E/2004/61 and Corr. 1. 4. Endorses the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action adopted by the Summit on 12 December 2003,See A/C.2/59/3. and welcomes, in this regard, the strong development orientation of both documents, encourages developing and developed countries in partnership to continue to identify how information technologies can further contribute to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and stresses the importance of the effective and timely implementation of the Plan of Action; 5. Welcomes the contribution of Member States, relevant United Nations bodies, including the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, and other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to the success of the Geneva phase of the Summit; 6. Urges Member States, relevant United Nations bodies, including the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, and other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to contribute actively to the implementation of the outcome of the Geneva phase and to the preparatory process of the Tunis phase of the Summit as well as to the Summit itself in order to ensure its overall success; 7. Takes note of the results and decisions of the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee, held in Hammamet, Tunisia, from 24 to 26 June 2004, concerning the structure and output of the second phase of the Summit; 8. Welcomes the establishment of the Working Group on Internet Governance and the Task Force on Financial Mechanisms, set up in accordance with the decisions of the first phase of the Summit; 9. Invites countries to be represented at the highest possible political level at the second phase of the Summit, to be held in Tunis in 2005; 10. Reiterates its call to the international community to make voluntary contributions to the special fund established by the International Telecommunication Union to support the preparations for and holding of the Summit; 11. Invites the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union to transmit to the General Assembly, as soon as it is available, the report of the World Summit on the Information Society. RESOLUTION 59/221 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/481/Add.1, para. 9),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by Switzerland. by a recorded vote of 166 to 2, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea 59/221. International trade and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/178 of 21 December 2001, 57/235 of 20 December 2002 and 58/197 of 23 December 2003 on international trade and development, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. pertaining to trade and related development issues, as well as the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Noting the Ministerial Declaration and decisions adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,A/C.2/56/7, annex. and the full commitment of all members of the World Trade Organization to give effect to them, in accordance with the decision of 1 August 2004 of the General Council of the World Trade Organization,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, Recalling its resolutions 57/250 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, in which it invited the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as well as the Trade and Development Board, to contribute, within its mandate, to the implementation and to the review of the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and invited the President of the Trade and Development Board to present the outcomes of such reviews to the Economic and Social Council, Recalling also that, to benefit fully from trade, which in many cases is the single most important external source of development financing, the establishment and the enhancement of appropriate institutions and policies in developing countries, as well as in countries with economies in transition, are needed and that, in this context, enhanced market access, balanced rules and well-targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for developing countries also play an important role, Noting the significant contribution of the multilateral trading system to economic growth, development and employment and the importance of maintaining the process of reform and liberalization of trade policies, as well as the importance of rejecting the use of protectionism, so that the system plays its full part in promoting recovery, growth and development, in particular of developing countries, bearing in mind paragraph 10 of General Assembly resolution 55/182 of 20 December 2000, Reaffirming that agriculture remains a key sector for the overwhelming majority of developing countries, and stressing the importance of the successful conclusion of the World Trade Organization Doha work programmeA/C.2/56/7, annex. in accordance with the decision of 1 August 2004 of the General Council of the World Trade Organization, Reaffirming also the urgency, subject to national legislation, of recognizing the rights of local and indigenous communities that are holders of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices and, with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices, of developing and implementing benefit-sharing mechanisms on mutually agreed terms for the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices, Recalling that it is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for an appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments, Bearing in mind the special needs of the least developed countries, the small island developing States and the landlocked developing countries, as identified, respectively, in the Brussels Programme of ActionA/CONF.191/13, chap. II. and the Barbados Programme of ActionReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries as set out in the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. Noting with concern that a number of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and commodity-dependent developing countries, have not fully benefited from the global economy and trade liberalization, Recognizing that countries must take appropriate and necessary security measures, but also underlining the importance of taking these measures in the manner that is least disruptive of normal trade and related practices, Taking note of the review undertaken by the Trade and Development Board at its fifty-first sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 15 (A/59/15), part five, chap. II.C. of developments and issues in the post-Doha work programme of particular concern to developing countries following the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and its contribution to an understanding of the actions required to help developing countries integrate, in a beneficial and meaningful manner, into the multilateral trading system and the global economy and to achieve a balanced, development-oriented and successful conclusion of the Doha negotiations, Taking note also of the report of the Trade and Development BoardIbid., Supplement No. 15. and the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/305. 1. Recognizes that a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development, thereby promoting economic growth and sustainable development necessary to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 2. Reaffirms the value of multilateralism to the global trading system, and in this regard welcomes the progress achieved in the Doha work programme,A/C.2/56/7, annex. with the adoption by the General Council of the World Trade Organization of its decision of 1 August 2004World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. on frameworks for further negotiations, which re-energizes the Doha round of the multilateral trade negotiations and recommits the members of the World Trade Organization to fulfilling the development dimension of the Doha work programme; 3. Welcomes the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, and the adoption of The Spirit of São PauloTD/412, part I. and the São Paulo Consensus,Ibid., part II. which, building upon the Plan of Action adopted at its tenth session, held in Bangkok from 12 to 19 February 2000,TD/386. reaffirm the continued commitment of the international community to supporting the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in fulfilling its mandate in consensus-building, research and policy analysis, and in technical assistance on trade and development; 4. Welcomes also the commitment made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001, and in the decision of 1 August 2004 of the General Council of the World Trade Organization, to place development at the heart of the Doha work programme and to continue to make positive efforts to ensure that developing countries, especially the least developed among them, secure a share in the growth of world trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development; 5. Reaffirms that all countries have a shared interest in the success of the Doha work programme, which aims both at further increasing trading opportunities and reducing barriers to trade among nations and at making the trading system more development-friendly, which would contribute to the objective of upholding and safeguarding an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, and recalls that a major contribution of the Doha Ministerial DeclarationA/C.2/56/7, annex. was to place the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the Doha work programme and that this important objective needs to be pursued with a view to bringing about concrete development-oriented outcomes from the multilateral trade negotiations; 6. Looks forward to the early development of the frameworks outlined in the decision of 1 August 2004 of the General Council of the World Trade Organization, in an inclusive and transparent manner, into concrete, detailed and specific modalities for the early and successful conclusion of the negotiations, while ensuring balance and parallel progress within and between areas under negotiation bearing in mind the needs and concerns of developing countries, and ensuring a fair and development-oriented outcome of the Doha work programme based on a broad agenda, including enhanced market access, balanced rules and well-targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes; 7. Recognizes, in regard to the decision of 1 August 2004 of the General Council of the World Trade Organization and consistent with the Doha work programme, the following issues of particular interest and concern to developing countries: (a) Reviewing special and differential treatment provisions with a view to making them more precise, effective and operational and, in this regard, expeditiously completing the review of the outstanding agreement-specific proposals and cross-cutting issues, and finding appropriate solutions to outstanding implementation issues, by July 2005, as provided for in paragraph 1 (d) of the decision; (b) The elaboration of modalities under the framework on agriculture, as contained in annex A to the decision, for negotiations, in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, noting that reforms in all three pillars of market access, domestic support and export competition form an interconnected whole and must be approached in a balanced and equitable manner with operationally effective and meaningful special and differential treatment for developing countries, and recalling that agriculture is of critical importance to the economic development of developing country members of the World Trade Organization, particularly to the least developed countries and the net food-importing developing countries, and that they must be able to pursue agricultural policies that are supportive of their development goals, poverty reduction strategies and food security and livelihood concerns, and that non-trade concerns will be taken into account; (c) Implementing concretely the commitment to address cotton issues ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically within the agriculture negotiations, as provided for in annex A to the decision; (d) The elaboration of modalities on market access for non-agricultural products pursuant to annex B to the decision, with the aim of reducing or, as appropriate, eliminating tariffs, including the reduction or elimination of tariff peaks, high tariffs and tariff escalation, as well as non-tariff barriers, in particular on products of export interest to developing countries, with a comprehensive product coverage and without a priori exclusions, and recalling also the importance of special and differential treatment and less than full reciprocity in reduction commitments for developing countries as integral parts of the modalities; (e) Negotiations on trade in services, as provided for in annex C to the decision, with a view to providing effective market access to all members of the World Trade Organization; in order to ensure a substantive outcome, members shall strive to ensure a high quality of offers by May 2005, particularly in sectors and modes of supply of export interest to developing countries, giving special attention to the least developed countries, and aiming to achieve progressively higher levels of liberalization with no a priori exclusion of any service sector or mode of supply; special attention shall be given to sectors and modes of supply of export interest to developing countries, noting the interest of developing countries, as well as other members, in mode 4; (f) Enhancing trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building to increase the effective participation of developing countries in the negotiations, to facilitate their implementation of World Trade Organization rules and to enable them to adjust and diversify their economies; (g) Advancing the negotiations aimed at clarifying and improving disciplines under the agreements in the areas of anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing measures, while preserving the basic concepts, principles and effectiveness of those agreements, taking into account the needs of developing countries, in accordance with paragraph 1 (f) of the decision; (h) Advancing negotiations under the review of the dispute settlement understanding, in accordance with paragraph 1 (f) of the decision; (i) Negotiations on trade facilitation, the results of which should take fully into account the principle of special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries, in accordance with annex D to the decision; 8. Reaffirms the importance of market access, and in this context recalls the importance of respect for World Trade Organization disciplines, including in the area of anti-dumping, inter alia, to avoid the abusive application of anti-dumping and other trade-distorting measures; 9. Reaffirms also the importance of the full implementation of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing of the World Trade Organization,See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). which provides for the complete phase-out of the quotas on textiles and clothing by 31 December 2004; 10. Reaffirms further the importance of the development dimension of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights;See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). 11. Invites all members of the World Trade Organization to effectively implement the decision adopted by the General Council of the World Trade Organization on 30 August 2003World Trade Organization, document WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public HealthWorld Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to address the problems faced by countries with insufficient or no manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical sector in accessing medicines at affordable prices when combating serious public health problems afflicting many developing and least developed countries, especially those resulting from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics, and, as agreed by the World Trade Organization Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on 16 June 2004, to expeditiously establish a permanent solution by amending the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on the basis of the recommendations by the Council to be presented by March 2005; 12. Invites the World Intellectual Property Organization to continue further its development activities and to continue to cooperate with relevant international organizations; 13. Stresses that the adoption or enforcement of any measures necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health should not be applied in a manner that would constitute arbitrary or unjustified discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade, while recognizing the rights of members of the World Trade Organization to determine their own appropriate level of sanitary and phyto-sanitary protection in accordance with World Trade Organization rules, and recognizes the need to facilitate the increased participation of the developing countries in the work of relevant international standard-setting organizations as well as the importance of providing financial and technical assistance and capacity-building efforts to enable them to respond adequately to the introduction of any new measures; 14. Emphasizes that issues related to trade, debt and finance and transfer of technology duly covered in the Doha work programme should be addressed as a high priority in accordance with the Doha work programme and the World Trade Organization General Council decision of 1 August 2004; 15. Recalls the commitment of the members of the World Trade Organization, in line with the Doha mandates, to progress in the areas of rules, trade and environment, and trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights, as stated in the World Trade Organization General Council decision of 1 August 2004; 16. Stresses the importance of an open, transparent, inclusive and democratic process and of procedures for the effective functioning of the multilateral trading system that allow for internal transparency and the effective participation of members, including in the decision-making process, and that enable them to have their vital interests duly reflected in the outcome of trade negotiations; 17. Also stresses the importance of facilitating the accession of all developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, that apply for membership in the World Trade Organization, consistent with its criteria, bearing in mind paragraph 21 of resolution 55/182 and subsequent developments, and calls for the effective and faithful application of the World Trade Organization guidelines on accession of the least developed countries; 18. Invites members of the international community to consider the interests of non-members of the World Trade Organization in the context of trade liberalization; 19. Emphasizes that bilateral and regional trade arrangements should complement the goals of the multilateral trading system, and in this context stresses the importance of clarifying and improving disciplines and procedures under the existing provisions of the World Trade Organization applying to regional trade agreements in accordance with paragraph 29 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, taking into account the developmental aspects of regional trade agreements, and urges the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandate, to provide technical inputs in this respect; 20. Notes with appreciation the autonomous steps taken by some countries in providing trade-related assistance and by simplifying administrative procedures to facilitate access to their markets for exports from developing countries; 21. Reaffirms the commitments made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, and at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. in this regard calls upon developed countries that have not already done so to work towards the objective of duty-free, quota-free market access for all least developed country exports, and notes that the consideration of proposals for developing countries to contribute to improved market access for the least developed countries would also be helpful; 22. Welcomes the commitment to actively pursue the work programme of the World Trade Organization with respect to addressing the trade-related issues and concerns affecting the fuller integration of countries with small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system in a manner commensurate with their special circumstances and in support of their efforts towards sustainable development, in accordance with paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration; 23. Recognizes the special problems and needs of the landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, in this regard calls for the full and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and stresses the need for the implementation of the São Paulo Consensus,Ibid., part II. adopted on 18 June 2004 at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in São Paulo, Brazil, in particular paragraphs 66 and 84 thereof, by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach; 24. Recognizes also the importance of addressing seriously the concerns of commodity-dependent developing countries, owing to the continuing volatility of world commodity prices and other factors, and of supporting the efforts of such countries to restructure, diversify and strengthen the competitiveness of their commodity sectors, and in this regard notes the formation of an international task force on commodities by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 25. Emphasizes the importance of addressing the concerns of a number of developing countries in respect of the erosion of preferences and the impact of liberalization on their tariff revenues; 26. Stresses the importance of enhancing South-South trade and cooperation in the context of an emerging new trade geography that complements North-South trade and cooperation, and takes note of the decision, adopted in June 2004, to launch the third round of negotiations on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries; 27. Recognizes that it is important for developing countries and countries with economies in transition to consider reducing trade barriers among themselves; 28. Expresses its concern about the adoption of a number of unilateral actions that are not consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization, harm the exports of all countries, in particular those of developing countries, and have a considerable bearing on the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations and on the achievement and further enhancement of the development dimension of the trade negotiations; 29. Emphasizes the importance of developing human, institutional, regulatory and research and development capacities and infrastructures aimed at enhanced supply-side capacity and competitiveness, as well as ensuring a conducive international environment for the full and effective integration of developing countries and countries with economies in transition into the international trading system; 30. Stresses the importance of strengthening and enabling the trade, investment and business environments through the adoption of appropriate domestic measures and conditions to encourage local, regional and international investment and efforts to prevent and dismantle anti-competitive practices and promote responsibility and accountability of corporate actors at both the international and the national levels, thereby enabling developing countries' producers, enterprises and consumers to take advantage of trade liberalization, and encourages developing countries to consider establishing competition laws and frameworks best suited to their development needs, complemented by technical and financial assistance for capacity-building, taking fully into account national policy objectives and capacity constraints; 31. Notes that the outcome documents of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development emphasized the importance for all countries of enhancing coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, in particular of developing countries, and, in that context, reinforced the consensus that trade is a means to growth and development and that the international trading system and trade negotiations should facilitate development gains; 32. Also notes the important and unique mandate of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which was reaffirmed at its eleventh session, and supports the continued work of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in support of the effective and beneficial integration of developing countries and countries with economies in transition into the global economy in cooperation with relevant international organizations; 33. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandate, to monitor and assess the evolution of the international trading system and of trends in international trade from a development perspective, and in particular to analyse issues of concern to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, supporting them in the formulation, implementation and review of national trade and trade-related policies and options with a view to maximizing their share of world trade; 34. Reiterates the importance of supporting the programmes and technical cooperation and capacity-building activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development that assist developing countries, especially the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, in international trade and trade negotiations, in particular in support of their participation in the Doha work programme, including the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries and the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme; 35. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution and on developments in the multilateral trading system under the sub-item entitled "International trade and development". RESOLUTION 59/222 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/481/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/222. International financial system and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/186 of 20 December 2000 and 56/181 of 21 December 2001, both entitled "Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity", as well as its resolutions 57/241 of 20 December 2002 and 58/202 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Emphasizing that the international financial system should further sustain economic growth and support sustainable development and poverty eradication, while allowing for the coherent mobilization of all sources of financing for development, including the mobilization of domestic resources, international investment flows, official development assistance and external debt relief, and an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory global trading system, Reiterating that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends on good governance within each country and at the international level, and stressing that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation, Recognizing that an enabling economic environment should, inter alia, foster a dynamic and well-functioning business sector and include efforts to further promote good corporate and public sector governance, to combat corruption in the private and public sectors, and to promote the strengthening of and respect for the rule of law, Encouraging further progress on the issue of participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making and norm-setting processes, including those in the Bretton Woods institutions and other economic and financial institutions and ad hoc groupings, while welcoming the steps that have been taken with a view to strengthening the capacity of developing countries to participate effectively in the international financial institutions, Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the coherence, governance and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems, and the importance of ensuring their openness, fairness and inclusiveness in order to complement national development efforts to ensure sustained economic growth and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Emphasizing the need for additional stable and predictable financing to help developing countries undertake investment plans to achieve internationally agreed development goals, Welcoming the initiative launched by the Presidents of Brazil, Chile and France and the Prime Minister of Spain, with the support of the Secretary-General, to convene in New York on 20 September 2004 the Summit of World Leaders for Action against Hunger and Poverty, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General on innovative sources of financing for development,A/59/272. Reiterating the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/218 and Corr.1. 2. Notes that the global economy is recovering, supported by growth in some developing countries, and that economic growth should be further strengthened and sustained, and stresses the importance of cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to cope with the risks of financial instability and to ensure a strong and steady recovery, as a means of achieving greater financial stability, and in this regard acknowledges recent efforts at regional monetary cooperation; 3. Also notes the continued net outward transfer of financial resources from developing to developed countries, acknowledging the outward investment from some developing countries as an indication of their integration into the world economy, underscores the need for appropriate measures at the national and international levels to address this issue, and further notes the efforts that have been made thus far to this end and the fact that, for some developing countries, those transfers, at the present time, indicate positive developments in the trade balance, which are required, inter alia, for debt repayment and allow for the purchase of foreign assets; 4. Underlines the importance of promoting international financial stability and sustainable growth, and welcomes the efforts undertaken to this end by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Forum, as well as the consideration by the International Monetary and Financial Committee of ways to sharpen tools designed to promote international financial stability and enhance crisis prevention, inter alia, through an even-handed implementation of surveillance, including at the regional level, and a sharpening of surveillance of capital markets and systemically and regionally important countries, with a view, inter alia, to the early identification of problems and risks, integrating debt sustainability analysis, the fostering of appropriate policy responses, the possible provision of financing and other instruments designed to prevent the emergence or spread of financial crises, and further improvements in the transparency of macroeconomic data and statistical information on international capital flows; 5. Also underlines the importance of efforts at the national level to increase resilience to financial risk, stresses in this regard the importance of better assessment of a country's debt burden and its ability to service that debt in both crisis prevention and resolution, and welcomes the ongoing work of the International Monetary Fund on assessing debt sustainability; 6. Reiterates in this regard that measures to mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows and to improve transparency of and information about financial flows are important and must be considered; 7. Notes the impact of financial crisis or risk of contagion in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, regardless of their size, and in this regard welcomes the efforts of the international financial institutions, in their support to countries, to continuously adapt their array of financial facilities and resources, drawing on a full range of policies, taking into account the effects of economic cycles, as and where appropriate, having due regard to sound fiscal management and the specific circumstances of each case, so as to prevent and respond to such crises in a timely and appropriate way; 8. Stresses the importance of strong domestic institutions in promoting business activities and financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors, and also stresses that international cooperation initiatives in those areas should encourage flows of capital to developing countries; 9. Notes that building an environment that encourages development of the domestic business sector requires that countries undertake appropriate policies to minimize the risk of and respond to external shocks and their impact, inter alia, on growth and employment, and encourages the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to take into account the specific conditions of developing countries in determining their guidance to them in this area; 10. Stresses the importance of advancing in respect of the efforts to reform the international financial architecture, as envisaged in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and in this regard encourages the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to continue examining the issues of the voice and effective participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their decision-making processes; 11. Welcomes the ongoing work of the International Monetary Fund on quotas, and notes the conclusion of the Fund's Twelfth General Review of Quotas, the report on which indicated the adequacy of the current level of Fund resources and the intention of the Executive Board, during the period of the Thirteenth General Review, to monitor closely and assess the adequacy of Fund resources, to consider measures to achieve a distribution of quotas that reflects developments in the world economy and to consider measures to strengthen the governance of the Fund; 12. Notes the ongoing analysis by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as mentioned in the communiqué of the Development Committee of 2 October 2004,See IMF Survey, vol. 33, No. 18 (11 October 2004). Also available from www.imf.org/imfsurvey. of proposals on financing modalities to complement increased aid flows and commitments with innovative mechanisms, and their technical feasibility; 13. Looks forward to further consideration of the subject of possible innovative and additional sources of financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and external, taking into account international efforts, contributions and discussions, within the overall framework of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development; 14. Reaffirms the need to adopt policies and undertake measures to reduce the cost of the transfer of migrant remittances to developing countries, and welcomes the efforts of Governments and stakeholders in this regard; 15. Emphasizes that it is essential to ensure the effective and equitable participation of developing countries in the formulation of financial standards and codes, underscores the need to ensure their implementation, on a voluntary and progressive basis, as a contribution to reducing vulnerability to financial crisis and contagion, and notes that more than one hundred countries participated or agreed to participate in a joint World Bank-International Monetary Fund financial sector assessment programme;See A/59/218 and Corr.1, para. 15. 16. Invites the multilateral and regional development banks and development funds to continue to play a vital role in serving the development needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including through coordinated action, as appropriate, and stresses that strengthened regional development banks and subregional financial institutions add flexible financial support to national and regional development efforts, thus enhancing their ownership and overall efficiency, and are an essential source of knowledge and expertise for their developing-country members; 17. Calls for the continued effort of the multilateral financial institutions, in providing policy advice, technical assistance and financial support to member countries, to work on the basis of nationally owned reform and development strategies, to pay due regard to the special needs and implementing capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and to minimize the negative impacts of the adjustment programmes on the vulnerable segments of society, while taking into account the importance of gender-sensitive employment and poverty eradication policies and strategies; 18. Stresses the need to continuously improve standards of corporate and public sector governance, including accounting, auditing and measures to ensure transparency, noting the disruptive effects of inadequate policies; 19. Acknowledges the ongoing work towards a more comprehensive approach to sovereign debt restructurings, supports the increasing inclusion of collective action clauses in international bond issuing, and strongly encourages leading bond issuing countries and the private sector to make substantial progress on the preparation of an effective code of conduct, bearing in mind the need not to preclude emergency financing in times of crisis, to promote fair burden-sharing and minimize moral hazard, which will engage debtors and creditors to come together to restructure unsustainable debts in a timely and efficient manner; 20. Welcomes the ongoing efforts, including those of the Bretton Woods institutions, to improve the assessment of debt sustainability in low- and middle-income countries through, inter alia, the development of better tools to deal with exogenous shocks and the need to take country-specific factors into account; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "International financial system and development". RESOLUTION 59/223 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/481/Add.3, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/223. External debt crisis and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/203 of 23 December 2003 on the external debt crisis and development, Reaffirming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which recognizes sustainable debt financing as an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000, See resolution 55/2. which reaffirms the need to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of low- and middle-income developing countries, Recalling also its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, Concerned that a number of developing countries have not sufficiently benefited from the current global economic recovery in their efforts to attain the internationally agreed development goals, in particular the heavily indebted poor countries, where continuing debt and debt-servicing obligations could adversely affect their sustainable development, Welcoming the further extension of the sunset clause of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, noting that the Initiative aims to promote debt sustainability in the poorest countries and that its implementation could be enhanced by streamlining conditionalities, emphasizing in this regard the need to ensure that debt relief does not replace other sources of financing, acknowledging furthermore the progress in the implementation of the Initiative,Fifteen countries have passed the completion point and twenty-seven countries have redirected substantial funds from debt-servicing to social expenditures. and welcoming the call in the communiqué issued by the joint International Monetary Fund/World Bank Development Committee on 2 October 2004See IMF Survey, vol. 33, No. 18 (11 October 2004). Also available from www.imf.org/imfsurvey. urging all creditors to participate in the Initiative, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/219. 2. Emphasizes that creditors and debtors must share responsibility for preventing and resolving unsustainable debt situations in a timely and efficient manner, stresses the need to continue to bring them together in relevant international forums, and in this regard reiterates that the international financial system, along with enhanced official and private external financing and foreign direct investment, are key elements for a durable solution; 3. Stresses that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 4. Also stresses that debt sustainability depends on a confluence of many factors at the international and national levels, underscores the fact that no single indicator should be used to make definitive judgements about debt sustainability, and in this regard, while acknowledging the need to use transparent and comparable indicators, emphasizes that country-specific circumstances and the impact of external shocks should be taken into account in debt sustainability analyses and invites the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in their assessment of debt sustainability, to take into account fundamental changes caused by, inter alia, natural disasters, conflicts and changes in global growth prospects or in the terms of trade, especially for commodity-exporting developing countries; 5. Notes with concern that, in spite of the progress achieved, some countries that have reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative have not been able to achieve lasting debt sustainability, stresses the importance of promoting responsible lending and borrowing and the need to help these countries manage their borrowings and avoid a build-up of unsustainable debt, including through the use of grants, and in this regard welcomes the ongoing work by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop a forward-looking debt sustainability framework for heavily indebted poor countries and low-income countries, as well as the current discussion on other initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term debt sustainability, including through debt reduction or cancellation, while stressing the need to maintain the financial integrity of the multilateral financial institutions; 6. Stresses the need for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to keep the overall implications of the framework for low-income countries under review, calls for transparency in the computation of the country policy and institutional assessments, and welcomes the intention to disclose the International Development Association country performance ratings that form part of the framework; 7. Reaffirms the need to pursue, where appropriate, debt relief measures vigorously and expeditiously, by all creditors, including within the Paris and London Clubs and other relevant forums, and welcomes other bilateral initiatives that have been undertaken to reduce outstanding indebtedness, so as to contribute to debt sustainability and facilitate sustainable development; 8. Reiterates the call upon developed countries, as expressed in the Millennium Declaration, to complete the enhanced programme of debt relief for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and to ensure that it is fully financed; 9. Recognizes and encourages the efforts of the heavily indebted poor countries, and calls upon them to continue to improve their domestic policies and economic management, inter alia, through poverty reduction strategies, and to create a domestic environment conducive to private sector development, economic growth and poverty reduction, including a stable macroeconomic framework, transparent and accountable systems of public finance, a sound business climate and a predictable investment climate, and in this regard invites all creditors, both private and public, to encourage those efforts, for example, through further participation in the delivery of debt relief in the framework of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and continued provision of adequate and sufficiently concessional financing by international financing institutions and the donor community; 10. Stresses the importance of continued flexibility with regard to the eligibility criteria for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, in particular for countries in post-conflict situations, and the need to keep the computational procedures and assumptions underlying debt sustainability analysis under review; 11. Also stresses the need to find a solution for the debt problems of heavily indebted low- and middle-income developing countries that are not eligible for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and in this regard continues to encourage the exploration of mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problems of those countries, which may include debt-for-sustainable-development swaps or multicreditor debt swap arrangements, as appropriate; 12. Takes note of the acceptance that the debt of some non-HIPC debtor countries is unsustainable and that prudent and appropriate steps are needed to deal with these problems, in this regard welcomes the Evian Approach of the Paris Club, and calls upon creditor countries to ensure that a more tailored response to debt restructuring is granted only in case of imminent default and is not considered by debtor countries as an alternative to more expensive sources of financing and that the debt of such countries is treated in a way that reflects their financial vulnerabilities and the objective of enhancing long-lasting debt sustainability; 13. Invites donor countries, taking into account country-specific debt sustainability analyses, to continue their efforts to increase bilateral grants to developing countries, which could contribute to debt sustainability in the medium to long term, recognizes the need for countries to be able to invest, inter alia, in health and education while maintaining debt sustainability, and in this regard stresses the need to take steps to ensure that resources provided for debt relief do not detract from official development assistance resources; 14. Welcomes the efforts of the international community to provide flexibility, and stresses the need to continue those efforts in helping post-conflict developing countries, especially those that are heavily indebted and poor, to achieve initial reconstruction for economic and social development; 15. Acknowledges the ongoing work towards a more comprehensive approach to sovereign debt restructuring, supports the increasing inclusion of collective action clauses in international bond issuing, and strongly encourages leading bond-issuing countries and the private sector to make substantial progress in the preparation of an effective code of conduct, bearing in mind the need not to preclude emergency financing in times of crisis, to promote fair burden-sharing and to minimize moral hazard, which will engage debtors and creditors to come together to restructure unsustainable debts in a timely and efficient manner; 16. Welcomes the efforts of, and further calls upon, the international community to support institutional capacity-building in developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the management of financial assets and liabilities and to enhance sustainable debt management as an integral part of national development strategies; 17. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in cooperation with the regional commissions, development banks and funds and other multilateral institutions, to continue to study the possibility of creating a consultative group on external debt management aimed at developing best practices, promoting coherence and strengthening the institutional capacity of developing countries in debt management, taking into account work that has already been done; 18. Calls upon all Member States as well as the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions as well as the private sector to take appropriate measures and actions for the implementation of the commitments, agreements and decisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits, in particular those relating to the question of the external debt problem of developing countries; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "External debt crisis and development". RESOLUTION 59/224 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/481/Add.4, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 59/224. Commodities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 57/236 of 20 December 2002 and 58/204 of 23 December 2003, and stressing the urgent need to ensure their full implementation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Taking note also of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Taking note further of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010See A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. and the Least Developed Countries Report, 2004,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.II.D.27. Recalling the Doha work programme adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, on 14 November 2001,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. and welcoming the decision adopted in this context by the General Council of the World Trade Organization on 1 August 2004,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Taking note of the São Paulo Consensus adopted at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,TD/412, part II. particularly the paragraphs relating to commodities, Taking note also of the report of the Trade and Development Board on its fifty-first session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 15 (A/59/15), part five. Recognizing that commodity prices are an important element for heavily indebted poor countries that are dependent on commodities for maintaining long-term debt sustainability, Taking note of the targets set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action of the World Food SummitFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the outcome document of the World Food Summit: five years later,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. which reaffirms the pledge to end hunger and poverty, Recognizing that structural changes in international commodity markets, particularly the increasing concentration in trade and distribution, constitute new challenges for small farmers, commodity producers and exporters in developing countries, Expressing its concern about the difficulties experienced by the developing countries in financing and implementing viable diversification programmes, which are essential for sustainable development and for attaining access to markets for their commodities, 1. Takes note of the report of Secretary-General on world commodity trends and prospects,A/59/304. including the fact that while prices have improved for some commodities, the real prices of others remain on a declining trend; 2. Recognizes that many developing countries are highly dependent on primary commodities as their principal source of export revenues, employment, income generation and domestic savings and as the driving force of investment, economic growth and social development; 3. Reiterates the importance of maximizing the contribution of the commodity sector to sustained economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing diversification efforts in commodity-dependent developing countries; 4. Emphasizes the need for efforts by the developing countries that are heavily dependent on primary commodities to continue to promote a domestic policy and an institutional environment that encourage diversification and liberalization of the trade and export sectors and enhance competitiveness; 5. Reaffirms that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development, and recognizes that an effective enabling environment at the national and international levels entails, inter alia, a sound macroeconomic framework, competitive markets, clearly defined property rights, an attractive investment climate, good governance, an absence of corruption and well-designed regulatory policies that protect the public interest and generate public confidence in market operations; 6. Encourages developing countries, with the necessary support of donor countries and the international community, to formulate specific commodity policies so as to contribute to the facilitation of trade expansion, the reduction of vulnerability and the improvement of livelihood and food security, by: (a) Creating an enabling environment that encourages the participation of rural producers and small farmers; (b) Continuing the diversification of the commodity sector and enhancing its competitiveness in developing countries that are heavily dependent on commodities; (c) Increasing technology development and improving information systems, institutions and human resources; 7. Notes that the supply capacity and adaptability of many countries is constrained by weak institutional and technical capacity, and invites the international community to support commodity-dependent developing countries in addressing the loss of competitiveness and negative commodity production and trade trends and in taking the measures necessary to improve livelihoods and food security in commodity-dependent developing countries by supporting the design and implementation of commodity chain strategies, and welcomes initiatives taken in this regard; 8. Emphasizes the importance of official development assistance for agriculture and rural development, and invites developing countries to prioritize agriculture and rural development in their national development strategies and programmes, inter alia, in the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. and in this regard invites developed countries and the donor community to further reinforce their assistance to those sectors in developing countries by providing financial and technical support for activities aimed at addressing commodity issues, particularly the needs and problems of commodity-dependent developing countries; 9. Welcomes the decision taken by members of the World Trade Organization on 1 August 2004,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and stresses the importance of a successful conclusion of the Doha work programme;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 10. Reiterates the importance of expanded South-South trade and investment in commodities; 11. Recalls the potential of regional integration and cooperation to improve the effectiveness of traditional commodity sectors and support diversification efforts; 12. Calls upon developed countries that have not already done so to work towards the objective of providing duty-free and quota-free market access for all least developed country products, and encourages developing countries in a position to do so to contribute to improved market access for the least developed countries; 13. Recognizes that developed countries account for two thirds of world non-fuel commodity imports, and expresses the urgent need for supportive international policies and measures to improve the functioning of the commodity markets through efficient and transparent price-formation mechanisms, including commodity exchanges, and through the use of viable and effective commodity price risk-management instruments; 14. Also recognizes that market exigencies can constitute formidable challenges to developing country commodity producers and exporters, in particular small farmers, and urges both developing and developed countries to take appropriate steps to enable those producers to enter global supply chains and to facilitate their effective participation in supply chains, and invites the private sector to promote partnerships that contribute to the effective participation of small producers in supply chains; 15. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank and other relevant international organizations, within their respective mandates, to enhance their efforts to facilitate access to market-based instruments, with prudential oversight for managing commodity risks due to price fluctuation and natural disasters, so as to address the commodity problems in developing countries; 16. Regrets that schemes to mitigate earnings shortfalls have not reached the originally envisaged goals, and urges Governments and invites international financial organizations to continue to assess the effectiveness, including the operationalization and user-friendliness, of the systems for compensatory financing of shortfalls in export earnings, and in this regard stresses the importance of empowering developing country commodity producers to insure themselves against risk, including natural disasters; 17. Reiterates the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in addressing commodities issues in a comprehensive way in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and the provisions of the São Paulo Consensus,TD/412, part II. and in this regard invites development partners to provide the resources required to enable the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to undertake those activities; 18. Notes with concern that the real prices of some commodities are still on a declining trend, and requests the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, within their respective mandates, to explore appropriate ways of addressing this problem and identifying best practices for dealing with persistent oversupply situations; 19. Calls upon the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to continue to work, in cooperation with all interested stakeholders, including donor countries and organizations, for the effective operation of the International Task Force on Commodities launched at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and invites interested parties to provide voluntary financial support for its effective operation; 20. Underlines the need to strengthen the Common Fund for Commodities, and encourages it, in cooperation with the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant bodies, to continue to strengthen the activities covered by its Second Account in developing countries with its supply chain concept of improving access to markets and reliability of supply, enhancing diversification and addition of value, improving the competitiveness of commodities, strengthening the market chain, improving market structures, broadening the export base and ensuring the effective participation of all stakeholders; 21. Invites all relevant stakeholders, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the Common Fund for Commodities and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, within their respective mandates, and other donors to intensify their support for the financing of commodity diversification, focusing on developing private sector capacity, strengthening market institutions, developing strong producer associations for commodities with a proper role for producers, including women and small farmers, developing key infrastructure and stimulating investments; 22. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to report on the implementation of the present resolution and on world commodity trends and prospects to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "Commodities". RESOLUTION 59/225 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/482, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/225. Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development The General Assembly, Recalling the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and its resolutions 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, 57/250 of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 57/272 and 57/273 of 20 December 2002 and 58/230 of 23 December 2003, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/34 of 26 July 2002, 2003/47 of 24 July 2003 and 2004/64 of 16 September 2004, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development, prepared in collaboration with the major institutional stakeholders,A/59/270. and the note by the Secretary-General on innovative sources of financing for development,A/59/272. Having considered the summary by the President of the Economic and Social Council of the special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, held in New York on 26 April 2004,A/59/92-E/2004/73. Recognizing the progress made in the implementation of the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development and that more remains to be done, Determined to continue to implement and build further on these commitments and agreements and to strengthen the coordinated and coherent engagement of all relevant stakeholders in the financing for development process, Recalling the invitation to the World Trade Organization to strengthen its institutional relationship with the United Nations, in the context of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, Noting international efforts, contributions and discussions aimed at identifying possible innovative and additional sources of financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and external, within the context of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, recognizing that some of the sources and their use fall within the realm of sovereign action, Welcoming in this regard the initiative launched by the Presidents of Brazil, Chile and France and the Prime Minister of Spain, with the support of the Secretary-General, to convene in New York on 20 September 2004 the Summit of World Leaders on Action against Hunger and Poverty, Noting the report of the Commission on the Private Sector and Development entitled Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.III.B.4. Noting also the ongoing analysis by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, mentioned in the communiqué of the Development Committee of 2 October 2004,See IMF Survey, vol. 33, No. 18 (11 October 2004). Also available from www.imf.org/imfsurvey. of proposals on financing modalities to complement increased aid flows and commitments with innovative mechanisms, and their technical feasibility, Welcoming the support of Member States for the Financing for Development Office of the Secretariat for organizing multi-stakeholder consultations within its mandate, and in accordance with resolution 58/230, Recognizing the strong link between financing for development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. 1. Reiterates the call to implement fully and build further on the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development; See Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication Sales No. E.02.II.A.7). 2. Stresses the importance of the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentIbid., chap. I, resolution 1, annex. at all levels, and stresses also the importance of their full participation in the Monterrey follow-up process, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the United Nations, in particular the accreditation procedures and modalities of participation utilized at the Conference and in its preparatory process; 3. Underlines, in accordance with the Monterrey Consensus: (a) The importance of the implementation of the commitment to sound policies, good governance at all levels and the rule of law; (b) The importance of the implementation of the commitment to create an enabling environment for mobilizing domestic resources and the importance of sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure as a basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; (c) The importance, in order to complement national development efforts, of the implementation of the commitment to enhance the coherence and consistency of international monetary, financial and trading systems; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization in order to expand existing cooperation between the two organizations on issues related to financing for development and to build on the ad hoc modality of interaction between the United Nations and the World Trade Organization in the preparations for the International Conference on Financing for Development by making better use of the possibilities offered by the existing framework of cooperation; 5. Recognizes the issues of particular concern to developing countries and countries with economies in transition acknowledged in paragraph 28 of the Monterrey Consensus, and the importance and critical role that a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can play in stimulating economic growth and development, benefiting countries at all stages of development, particularly in the case of the developing countries, where trade continues to be one of the most important sources of development financing, and in this regard welcomes the decision taken by the General Council of the World Trade Organization on 1 August 2004,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. which rededicates and recommits members to fulfilling the development dimensions of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs of developing and least developed countries at the heart of the Doha work programme; See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 6. Notes the recognition by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund of the need to pursue efforts to increase fiscal space for public infrastructure investment within limits of fiscal prudence and debt sustainability; 7. Decides to give further consideration to the subject of possible innovative and additional sources of financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and external, taking into account international efforts, contributions and discussions, within the overall inclusive framework of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development; 8. Acknowledges the role that the private sector can play in generating new financing for development, and stresses the importance of pursuing appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks at the national level, in a manner consistent with national laws, to foster a dynamic and well-functioning business sector to increase economic growth and reduce poverty, while recognizing that the appropriate role of Government in market-oriented economies will vary from country to country; 9. Reaffirms the need to adopt policies and undertake measures to reduce the cost of transfer of migrant remittances to developing countries, and welcomes efforts by Governments and stakeholders in this regard; 10. Notes that, while foreign direct investment is a major source of financing development, the flow of such funds to developing countries and countries with economies in transition remains uneven, and in this regard calls upon developed countries to continue to devise source-country measures to encourage and facilitate the flow of foreign direct investment, inter alia, through the provision of export credits and other lending instruments, risk guarantees and business development services, and calls upon developing countries and countries with economies in transition to continue their efforts to create a conducive domestic environment for attracting investments by, inter alia, achieving a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate with proper contract enforcement and respect for property rights; 11. Recalls the commitments made at the International Conference on Financing for Development to increase the levels and effectiveness of official development assistance, in this regard welcomes the recent increase in official development assistance, which represents progress towards the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product, as well as the progress announced by some countries, including in some cases the setting of clear timetables to achieve this objective, urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to continue to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help achieve development goals and targets; 12. Notes the efforts of donor countries and recipient countries to improve aid effectiveness, based on national development needs and priorities, including through sound policies at all levels, and stresses the need to intensify the efforts of multilateral and bilateral financial and development institutions in accordance with the Monterrey Consensus; 13. Stresses that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development, as well as in the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. in this regard notes with concern that, in spite of some progress, some countries that have reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative have not been able to achieve lasting debt sustainability; stresses the importance of promoting responsible lending and borrowing and the need to help these countries manage their borrowings and avoid a build-up of unsustainable debt, including through the use of grants; and in this regard welcomes the ongoing work by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop a forward-looking debt-sustainability framework for heavily indebted poor countries and low-income countries, as well as the current discussion on other initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term debt sustainability, including through debt reduction or cancellation, while stressing the need to maintain the financial integrity of the multilateral financial institutions; 14. Stresses also the importance of advancing in the efforts to reform the international financial architecture, as envisaged in the Monterrey Consensus, and in this regard encourages the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to continue examining the issues of the voice and effective participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their decision-making processes; 15. Emphasizes that corruption at all levels is a serious barrier to development and to effective resource mobilization and allocation, reaffirms the commitment expressed in the Monterrey Consensus to make the fight against corruption at all levels a priority, welcomes actions taken in that regard at the national and international levels, and invites all Governments that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Resolution 58/4, annex. 16. Decides to consider, by the first part of 2005, the appropriate modalities for holding the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, taking into account developments in the preparation for the high-level event of the General Assembly to be held in 2005, and in this context stresses the importance of financing for development for the comprehensive review of the progress made in the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; 17. Decides also to consider in 2005 the timing and modalities for a follow-up conference to review the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, as called for in paragraph 73 of the Consensus; 18. Emphasizes the importance of an effective intergovernmental follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, in this regard recalls paragraph 69 of the Monterrey Consensus as well as resolution 58/230, reiterates the need to continue to explore ways of strengthening the follow-up, and decides to keep the issue under review; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development", and requests the Secretary-General to submit under this item an annual analytical assessment of the state of implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and of the present resolution, to be prepared in full collaboration with the major institutional stakeholders. RESOLUTION 59/226 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/226. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its eighth special session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, 53/242 of 28 July 1999, 56/193 of 21 December 2001, 57/251 of 20 December 2002 and 58/209 of 23 December 2003, Taking into account Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Environment Programme as the principal body within the United Nations system in the field of environment, which should take into account, within its mandate, the sustainable development needs of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, Recalling the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationIbid., para. 140 (d). on the full implementation of the outcomes of the decision on international environmental governance adopted by the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme at its seventh special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25), annex I, decision SS.VII/1. Reiterating the need to ensure that capacity-building and technology support to developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in environment-related fields, remain important components of the work of the United Nations Environment Programme, and noting in this regard the ongoing work of the High-level Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group to prepare an intergovernmental strategic plan for technology support and capacity-building, Recalling its resolutions 57/251 and 58/209, by which Member States, the Governing Council and the relevant bodies of the United Nations system were encouraged to submit their comments, in a timely manner, on the important but complex issue of establishing universal membership of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, including its legal, political, institutional, financial and system-wide implications, in order to contribute to the report of the Secretary-General to be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration before its sixtieth session, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its eighth special sessionIbid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/59/25). and the decisions contained therein; 2. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to its resolutions 57/251 and 58/209;A/59/262. 3. Notes that the Governing Council, at its eighth special session, discussed all components of the recommendations on international environmental governance, as contained in its decision SS.VII/1,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25), annex I, decision SS.VII/1. and notes the continued discussion scheduled for its twenty-third session; 4. Emphasizes the need for the United Nations Environment Programme, within its mandate, to further contribute to sustainable development programmes, the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. at all levels and to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, bearing in mind the mandate of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 5. Calls upon all countries to further engage in the negotiations of the intergovernmental strategic plan for technology support and capacity-building with a view to its adoption at the twenty-third session of the Governing Council, in February 2005; 6. Notes the differences in the views expressed so far on the important but complex issue of establishing universal membership for the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, notes also the upcoming consideration of the question of universal membership by the Council/Forum at its twenty-third session, encourages Member States, the Governing Council and the relevant bodies of the United Nations system that have not yet done so to submit their comments to the Secretariat on the important but complex issue of establishing universal membership for the Council/Forum, including the legal, political, institutional, financial and system-wide implications, as their contribution to the report of the Secretary-General and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report incorporating those views to the Assembly for consideration at its sixty-first session; 7. Emphasizes the need to further enhance coordination and cooperation among the relevant United Nations organizations in the promotion of the environmental dimension of sustainable development, and in this respect welcomes the continued participation of the United Nations Environment Programme in the United Nations Development Group; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Environment Programme to continue to contribute, within its mandate and as a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force, to the preparations for the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, to be held in Mauritius from 10 to 14 January 2005;See resolution 57/262. 9. Notes the decision of the Governing Council to discuss at its twenty-third session issues related to domestic, industrial and hazardous waste management, in particular regarding capacity-building and technology support,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/59/25), annex I, decision SS.VIII/4. and, in that context, to consider innovative ways of mobilizing financial resources from all appropriate sources to support the efforts of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in this area; 10. Also notes the decision of the Governing Council to review at its twenty-third session the implementation of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the intergovernmental consultation on the strengthening of the scientific base of the United Nations Environment Programme;Ibid., decision SS.VIII/1, sect. II. 11. Reiterates the need for stable, adequate and predictable financial resources for the United Nations Environment Programme, and in accordance with resolution 2997 (XXVII) underlines the need to consider the adequate reflection of all administrative and management costs of the Environment Programme in the context of the United Nations regular budget; 12. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the provisions of section III.B. of the appendix to decision SS.VII/1 of the Governing Council on strengthening the role and financial situation of the United Nations Environment Programme, including the significant broadening of the donor base and increasing total contributions to the Environment Fund,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25), annex I, decision SS.VII/1. and, in this regard, notes that the Governing Council will review the implementation of those provisions at its twenty-third session; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to the Environment Programme and to the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi. RESOLUTION 59/227 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.1, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/227. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 23 June 2003, respectively, as well as its resolution 58/218 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Reaffirming the continuing need to ensure a balance between economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, Reaffirming also that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development, Recognizing that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development, Noting with satisfaction that the Commission on Sustainable Development at its twelfth session undertook an in-depth evaluation of progress in implementing Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, focusing on the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements, and identified best practices, constraints and obstacles in the process of implementation,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 9 (E/2004/29). Noting that the organization of work of the twelfth session of the Commission included plenary sessions, an interactive plenary dialogue and regional meetings, as well as a partnership fair, learning centres and side events, Recalling the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session, endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003, that the Commission, at its policy sessions, to be held in April/May of the second year of the cycle, would take policy decisions on practical measures and options to expedite implementation in the selected thematic cluster of issues, taking account of the discussions of the intergovernmental preparatory meeting, the reports of the Secretary-General and other relevant inputs,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. Recalling also the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that the discussions of the intergovernmental preparatory meeting would be based on the outcome of the review session and reports of the Secretary-General, as well as other relevant inputs, and that, on the basis of those discussions, the Chair would prepare a draft negotiating document for consideration at the policy session,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. Looking forward to the upcoming cycles of the work programme of the Commission as adopted at its eleventh session and their contributions to the further implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities undertaken in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development;A/59/220. 2. Reiterates that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 3. Calls upon Governments, all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations funds and programmes, the regional commissions and specialized agencies, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as major groups, to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and encourages them to report on concrete progress in that regard; 4. Calls for the implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the Summit and, to that end, for the fulfilment of the provisions relating to the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 5. Encourages Governments to participate, at the appropriate level, with representatives from the relevant departments and agencies in water, sanitation and human settlements, as well as finance, in the intergovernmental preparatory meeting and the thirteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development; 6. Recalls the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session to invite the regional commissions, in collaboration with the secretariat of the Commission, to consider organizing regional implementation meetings in order to contribute to the work of the Commission,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. and in this regard urges the regional commissions to take into account the relevant thematic clusters contained in the programme of work of the Commission and to provide inputs as specified by the Commission at its eleventh session; 7. Recalls also the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that activities during Commission meetings should provide for the balanced involvement of participants from all regions, as well as for gender balance;Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. 8. Welcomes the contributions of the regional commissions to the work of the Commission at its twelfth session, including the regional meetings focusing on the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements, and their inputs to the reports of the Secretary-General; 9. Invites donor countries to consider supporting the participation of experts from the developing countries in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlements in the thirteenth session of the Commission; 10. Takes note with interest of the establishment of the Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation by the Secretary-General, and looks forward to its contribution to the mobilization of efforts and resources towards the implementation of the commitments, goals and targets agreed upon in these areas; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the Commission at its thirteenth session on the state of the implementation of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21Resolution S-19/2, annex. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Ibid., resolution 2, annex. on the basis of appropriate inputs from all levels, to submit thematic reports on each of the three issues contained in the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements, taking into account their interlinkages, while addressing the cross-cutting issues identified by the Commission at its eleventh session;Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. 12. Requests the Commission, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 47/191 of 22 December 1992 and as specified by the Commission at its eleventh session, to examine the cross-cutting issues related to the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements; 13. Stresses the importance of the success of the Commission at its thirteenth session in: (a) Taking policy decisions on practical measures and options to expedite implementation in the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements; (b) Mobilizing further action by all implementation actors to overcome obstacles and constraints in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 14. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on inter-agency cooperation,E/2004/12-E/CN.17/2004/3. and requests him to continue his efforts to strengthen system-wide inter-agency cooperation and coordination for the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and in this regard to report on such inter-agency cooperation and coordination activities and their terms of reference to the Economic and Social Council in 2005; 15. Recalls its resolution 58/291 of 6 May 2004 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 2004/44 of 22 July 2004 and 2004/63 of 23 July 2004, and in this regard requests the Commission, without prejudice to the decisions adopted at its eleventh session, to contribute through the Council to the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly in 2005, in accordance with the modalities to be set out by the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 16. Requests the secretariat of the Commission to make arrangements to facilitate the balanced representation of major groups from developed and developing countries in the sessions of the Commission; 17. Notes the convening of the second international expert meeting on a ten-year framework of programmes for sustainable consumption and production, to be held in Costa Rica in September 2005, and in this regard, while acknowledging their ongoing support, urges Member States to consider further support for those activities; 18. Encourages Governments and organizations at all levels, as well as major groups, including the scientific community and educators, to undertake results-oriented initiatives and activities to support the work of the Commission and to promote and facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including through voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development", and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/228 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.1, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/228. Activities undertaken during the International Year of Freshwater, 2003, preparations for the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", 2005-2015, and further efforts to achieve the sustainable development of water resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/196 of 20 December 2000, by which it proclaimed 2003 the International Year of Freshwater, and its resolution 58/217 of 23 December 2003, by which it proclaimed that the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", 2005-2015, would commence on World Water Day, 22 March 2005, Emphasizing that water is critical for sustainable development, including environmental integrity and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and is indispensable for human health and well-being, Recalling the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted at its nineteenth special session,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the decisions of the Economic and Social Council and of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 9 (E/1998/29). relating to freshwater, Reaffirming the internationally agreed development goals on water and sanitation, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and determined to achieve the goal to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water, and the goals set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation to halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation as well as to develop integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration, entitled "Message from the Lake Biwa and Yodo River Basin", adopted on 23 March 2003 at the Ministerial Conference of the Third World Water Forum, held in Kyoto, Japan,A/57/785, annex. and the Dushanbe Water Appeal, proclaimed on 1 September 2003 at the International Freshwater Forum, held in Dushanbe from 29 August to 1 September 2003,A/58/362, annex. Noting that the Fourth World Water Forum will take place in Mexico in March 2006, Taking note with interest of the establishment of the Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation by the Secretary-General,See A/59/167, para. 42. and looking forward to its contribution to the mobilization of efforts and resources towards the implementation of the commitments, goals and targets agreed upon in those areas, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/167. 2. Welcomes the activities related to freshwater undertaken by Member States, the United Nations Secretariat and the organizations of the United Nations system, inter alia, through inter-agency work, as well as contributions from major groups, for the observance of the International Year of Freshwater, 2003; 3. Encourages Member States, the Secretariat, organizations of the United Nations system and major groups to continue their efforts to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals contained in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 4. Welcomes the work of the twelfth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and looks forward to the upcoming thirteenth session of the Commission on the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements; 5. Invites the Secretary-General to take appropriate actions in organizing the activities of the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", 2005-2015, taking into account the results of the International Year of Freshwater and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions; 6. Calls upon the relevant United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, regional commissions and other organizations of the United Nations system to step up their efforts to deliver a coordinated response in order to make the Decade a decade of delivering promises through the use of existing resources and voluntary funds; 7. Notes with interest the partnership initiatives on water and sanitation undertaken within the framework of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and in the follow-up to the Summit and in accordance with the criteria and guidelines adopted by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its eleventh session;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29). 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, as well as on the activities planned by the Secretary-General and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system for the Decade; 9. Decides to consider, at its sixtieth session, the future arrangements for the review of the implementation of the Decade, including the possibility of a review on a biennial or triennial basis or a mid-term review. RESOLUTION 59/229 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.2, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/229. Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. adopted by the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and recalling also its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference, Recalling also its resolutions 58/213 A of 23 December 2003 and 58/213 B of 10 June 2004, Recalling with appreciation the offer by the Government of Mauritius to host the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Welcoming the preparatory activities undertaken at the national, regional and international levels for the International Meeting, 1. Recalls its decision, in resolution 58/213 B, to convene the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States from 10 to 14 January 2005; 2. Decides to hold two days of informal consultations in Mauritius, on 8 and 9 January 2005, to facilitate the effective preparation of the International Meeting; 3. Urges that representation and participation at the International Meeting be at the highest possible level; 4. Takes note of the report of the Commission on Sustainable Development, acting as the preparatory meeting for the International Meeting;A/CONF.207/3. 5. Expresses its appreciation for the contributions made to the voluntary trust fund established for the purpose of assisting small island developing States to participate fully and effectively in the International Meeting and its preparatory process, as approved by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2003/55 and decision 2003/283,See also A/C.2/58/4. and urges all Member States and organizations to contribute generously to the fund; 6. Decides that non-governmental organizations whose work is relevant to the subject of the International Meeting, which are not currently accredited to the Economic and Social Council and which submitted applications to participate as observers in the International Meeting by 31 October 2004, may participate as observers in the International Meeting, subject to the approval of the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, and in this regard recalls that the participation of major groups, including non-governmental organizations, in the International Meeting shall be in accordance with rule 65 of the provisional rules of procedure of the International Meeting;A/58/567 and Corr.1. 7. Stresses that strengthening of the Small Island Developing States Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat has yet to take place, and in this regard reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, made in General Assembly resolution 57/262 of 20 December 2002 and resolution 58/213 A, to strengthen the Unit without delay and, within existing resources, to enable the Unit, including the Small Island Developing States Network, to undertake its broad range of mandated functions with a view to facilitating the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing StatesIbid., annex II. and the outcomes of the International Meeting; 8. Invites the International Meeting to consider fully the modalities for strengthening the Small Island Developing States Unit, including the Small Island Developing States Network, to enable it to assist effectively in the implementation of the outcomes of the International Meeting; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session the report of the International Meeting, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the outcome of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States and follow-up to the outcomes of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action". RESOLUTION 59/22 Adopted at the 50th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.19 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Viet Nam 59/22. Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 33/18 of 10 November 1978, 50/3 of 16 October 1995, 52/2 of 17 October 1997, 54/25 of 15 November 1999, 56/45 of 7 December 2001 and 57/43 of 21 November 2002, as well as its decision 53/453 of 18 December 1998, Considering that the International Organization of la Francophonie brings together a considerable number of States Members of the United Nations, among which it promotes multilateral cooperation in areas of interest to the United Nations, Bearing in mind the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations which encourage the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations through regional cooperation, Bearing in mind also that, according to its charter, the objectives of the International Organization of la Francophonie are to assist in the establishment and development of democracy, the prevention of conflicts and support for the rule of law and for human rights, the intensification of dialogue between cultures and civilizations, the establishment of closer ties among peoples through mutual knowledge and strengthening of their solidarity through multilateral cooperation activities with a view to promoting the growth of their economies, Welcoming the steps taken by the International Organization of la Francophonie to strengthen its ties with the organizations of the United Nations system and with international and regional organizations with a view to attaining its objectives, Noting with satisfaction the commitment to multilateral cooperation in the search for solutions to the major international problems expressed by the Heads of State and Government of countries using French as a common language, at their ninth summit conference, held in Beirut from 18 to 20 October 2002, and their determination to extend the scope of francophone collaboration and cooperation in order to fight poverty and contribute to the emergence of a more equitable form of globalization that will bring progress, peace, democracy and human rights, in full respect for cultural and linguistic diversity, in the interests of the most vulnerable populations and the development of all countries, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 57/43,A/59/303, part one, sect. X. Noting with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in cooperation between the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies and programmes and the International Organization of la Francophonie, Convinced that strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie serves the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the desire of the two organizations to consolidate, develop and strengthen the ties that exist between them in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/303, part one, sect. X. and welcomes the increasingly close and productive cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie; 2. Notes with satisfaction that the International Organization of la Francophonie participates actively in the work of the United Nations, to which it makes a valuable contribution; 3. Notes with great satisfaction the initiatives taken by the International Organization of la Francophonie in the areas of conflict prevention, the promotion of peace and support for democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and commends it on the genuine contribution it makes, in cooperation with the United Nations, in Haiti, the Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic; 4. Welcomes the initiation of cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie, with the participation of other regional and subregional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, in the fields of early warning and conflict prevention, and encourages the pursuit of this initiative with a view to formulating practical recommendations to facilitate the establishment of relevant operational mechanisms, where necessary; 5. Expresses its gratitude to the International Organization of la Francophonie for the steps it has taken in recent years to promote cultural and linguistic diversity and dialogue between cultures and civilizations; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie for their sustained efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two organizations, thereby serving their mutual interests in the political, economic, social and cultural fields; 7. Welcomes the fact that the tenth summit conference of la Francophonie was devoted to solidarity for sustainable development, and calls upon the specialized agencies and the funds and programmes of the United Nations system to enhance their cooperation with the International Organization of la Francophonie in the area of sustainable development; 8. Also welcomes the involvement of the countries that use French as a common language, particularly through the International Organization of la Francophonie, in the preparation for, conduct of and follow-up to international conferences organized under United Nations auspices; 9. Commends the high-level meetings held periodically between the United Nations Secretariat and the Secretariat of the International Organization of la Francophonie, and advocates the participation of those Secretariats in major meetings of the two organizations; 10. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for including the International Organization of la Francophonie in the periodic meetings he holds with heads of regional organizations, and invites him to continue doing so, taking into account the role played by the International Organization of la Francophonie in conflict prevention and support for democracy and the rule of law; 11. Notes with satisfaction the continued collaboration between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie in the area of electoral monitoring and assistance, and advocates the strengthening of cooperation between the two organizations in that area; 12. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to encourage the holding of periodic meetings between representatives of the United Nations Secretariat and representatives of the secretariat of the International Organization of la Francophonie in order to promote the exchange of information, coordination of activities and identification of new areas of cooperation; 13. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to take the necessary steps, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to continue to promote cooperation between the two organizations; 14. Invites the specialized agencies and funds and programmes of the United Nations system, as well as the regional commissions, including the Economic Commission for Africa, to collaborate to this end with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie by identifying new synergies in favour of development, in particular in the areas of poverty elimination, energy, sustainable development, education, training and the development of new information technologies; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie". RESOLUTION 59/230 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.2, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/230. Promoting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development The General Assembly, Reaffirming the principles and commitments enshrined in the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales. No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex I. and the principles embodied in the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. as well as other relevant declarations and international instruments, Recalling the Declaration and review document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special session,See resolution S-22/2, annex. Taking into account all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, including resolutions 54/225 of 22 December 1999, 55/203 of 20 December 2000 and 57/261 of 20 December 2002, Taking into account also the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Noting with interest the respective partnership initiatives voluntarily undertaken by Governments, international organizations and major groups and announced at the Summit, Reaffirming the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). which provides the overall legal framework for ocean activities, and emphasizing its fundamental character, conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Emphasizing the importance of national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector as recognized by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Recalling the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, signed at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 24 March 1983,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1506, No. 25974. which contains the definition of the wider Caribbean region of which the Caribbean Sea is part, Welcoming the adoption, on 6 October 1999 in Aruba, of the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and ActivitiesAvailable from www.cep.unep.org. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, Welcoming also the entry into force, on 18 June 2000, of the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and WildlifeAvailable from www.cep.unep.org. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region and the establishment by the United Nations Environment Programme of the Regional Activities Centre in Guadaloupe to assist in the implementation of the Protocol, Recalling the relevant work done by the International Maritime Organization, Considering that the Caribbean Sea area includes a large number of States, countries and territories, most of which are developing countries and small island developing States that are ecologically fragile, structurally weak and economically vulnerable and are also affected, inter alia, by their limited capacity, narrow resource base, need for financial resources, high levels of poverty and the resulting social problems and the challenges and opportunities of globalization and trade liberalization, Recognizing that the Caribbean Sea has a unique biodiversity and highly fragile ecosystem, Emphasizing that the Caribbean countries have a high degree of vulnerability occasioned by climate change, climate variability and associated phenomena, such as the rise in sea level, the El Niño phenomenon and the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters caused by hurricanes, floods and droughts, and that they are also subject to natural disasters, such as those caused by volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes, Expressing deep concern over the severe destruction and devastation caused to several countries by heightened hurricane activity in the Caribbean region in 2004, Recognizing national and regional efforts to undertake disaster preparedness, response and mitigation efforts to minimize the impact of natural disasters, and reiterating the responsibility of all States in that regard, Bearing in mind the heavy reliance of most of the Caribbean economies on their coastal areas, as well as on the marine environment in general, to achieve their sustainable development needs and goals, Recognizing the Caribbean Environment Outlook process currently being undertaken by the United Nations Environment Programme, and welcoming the support being provided by the Caribbean Environment Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme towards its implementation, Acknowledging that the intensive use of the Caribbean Sea for maritime transport, as well as the considerable number and interlocking character of the maritime areas under national jurisdiction where Caribbean countries exercise their rights and duties under international law, present a challenge for the effective management of the resources, Noting the problem of marine pollution caused, inter alia, by land-based sources and the continuing threat of pollution from ship-generated waste and sewage, as well as from the accidental release of hazardous and noxious substances in the Caribbean Sea area, Taking note of the relevant resolutions of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on safety of transport of radioactive materials, Mindful of the diversity and dynamic interaction and competition among socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources, Mindful also of the efforts of the Caribbean countries to address in a more holistic manner the sectoral issues relating to the management of the Caribbean Sea area and, in so doing, to promote an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, through a regional cooperative effort among Caribbean countries, Noting the importance of the ongoing work of the Working Group on climate change and disaster risk reduction, established by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, Noting also the efforts of the Caribbean countries, within the framework of the Association of Caribbean States, to develop further support for their concept of the Caribbean Sea as an area of special importance, in the context of sustainable development and in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Welcoming the decision by the Association of Caribbean States to establish the Technical Advisory Group to further advance the Caribbean Sea Initiative and the implementation of resolutions 55/203 and 57/261, inter alia, through the preparation of a technical report, Cognizant of the importance of the Caribbean Sea to present and future generations and to the heritage and the continuing economic well-being and sustenance of people living in the area, and the urgent need for the countries of the region to take appropriate steps for its preservation and protection, with the support of the international community, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/173. 2. Takes note also of the report of the Association of Caribbean States,Ibid., annex. pursuant to General Assembly resolution 57/261; 3. Recognizes the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development; 4. Encourages the further promotion of an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, in accordance with the recommendations contained in resolution 54/225, as well as the provisions of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-22/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationIbid., resolution 2, annex. and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, and in conformity with relevant international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 5. Also encourages the continued efforts of the Caribbean countries to develop further an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development and, in this regard, to continue to develop regional cooperation in the management of their ocean affairs in the context of sustainable development, in order to address such issues as land-based pollution, pollution from ships, physical impacts on coral reefs and the diversity and dynamic interaction of, and competition among, socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources; 6. Welcomes the wide range of activities being implemented within the scope of the mandate of resolution 57/261, with a view to promoting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development; 7. Recognizes the efforts of Caribbean countries to create conditions leading to sustainable development aimed at combating poverty and inequality, and in this regard notes with interest the initiatives of the Association of Caribbean States in the focal areas of sustainable tourism, trade, transport and natural disasters; 8. Calls upon States to continue to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, and also calls upon them to advance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based ActivitiesA/51/116, annex II. and the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;E/CN.17/2002/PC.2/15, annex, sect. 1. 9. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to assist, as appropriate, Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution from ships, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, and from illegal dumping or accidental release of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, in violation of relevant international rules and standards, as well as pollution from land-based activities; 10. Calls upon all relevant States to take the necessary steps to bring into force, and to support the implementation of, the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and ActivitiesAvailable from www.cep.unep.org. to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean RegionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1506, No. 25974. in order to protect the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from land-based pollution and degradation; 11. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Association of Caribbean States to further implement resolutions 55/203 and 57/261, and invites the Association to submit a report on its progress to the Secretary-General for consideration during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly; 12. Calls upon all States to become contracting parties to relevant international agreements to enhance maritime safety and promote the protection of the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from pollution, damage and degradation from ships and ship-generated waste; 13. Supports the efforts of Caribbean countries to implement sustainable fisheries management programmes by strengthening the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism; 14. Calls upon States, taking into consideration the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. to develop national, regional and international programmes for halting the loss of marine biodiversity in the Caribbean Sea, in particular fragile ecosystems, such as coral reefs; 15. Invites intergovernmental organizations within the United Nations system to continue their efforts to assist Caribbean countries in becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols and in implementing them effectively; 16. Calls upon the international community, the United Nations system and the multilateral financial institutions, and invites the Global Environment Facility, within its mandate, to support actively national and regional activities towards the above-mentioned approach; 17. Urges the United Nations system and the international community to continue to provide aid and assistance to the countries of the Caribbean region in the implementation of their long-term programmes of disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation, management, relief and recovery, based on their development priorities, through the integration of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction into a comprehensive approach to sustainable development; 18. Calls upon Member States to improve as a matter of priority their emergency response capabilities and the containment of environmental damage, particularly in the Caribbean Sea, in the event of natural disasters or of an accident or incident relating to maritime navigation; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-first session, under the sub-item entitled "Further implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States" of the item entitled "Sustainable development", on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account the views expressed by relevant regional organizations. RESOLUTION 59/231 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/231. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, 49/22 B of 20 December 1994, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/219 of 22 December 1999, 56/195 of 21 December 2001, 57/256 of 20 December 2002 and 58/214 of 23 December 2003 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2001/35 of 26 July 2001, and taking into due consideration its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling also the inclusion of the item entitled "Disaster management and vulnerability" in the multi-year programme of work of the Commission on Sustainable Development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A. Reiterating that, although natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, the long-term consequences of natural disasters are especially severe for developing countries and hamper the achievement of their sustainable development, Recognizing the urgent need to further develop and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to build resilience to natural disasters, and emphasizing the need for developing countries to have access to technology so as to tackle natural disasters effectively, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries, Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capability to cope with disaster risks, Emphasizing that disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Stressing the importance of advancing the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and its relevant provisions on vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, Noting the ongoing work of all the working groups established by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, namely the Working Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, the Working Group on Disaster Reduction in Africa, the Working Group on Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster Impact Assessment and the Working Group on the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;A/59/228. 2. Invites Governments and relevant international organizations to consider disaster risk assessment as an integral component of development plans and poverty eradication programmes; 3. Welcomes the work of the ongoing preparatory process for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, to be held in Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005; 4. Notes with appreciation the generous pledge made by the Government of Japan to cover costs of the World Conference, and welcomes the voluntary contributions already made to facilitate the participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in that event, and invites those States that have not yet done so to make such voluntary contributions; 5. Reiterates its invitation to Member States, all United Nations bodies and the specialized agencies and other relevant intergovernmental agencies and organizations, in particular the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to participate actively in the World Conference; 6. Encourages major groups, as identified in Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. to contribute further to and actively participate in the World Conference, according to the rules of procedure agreed upon by its Preparatory Committee; 7. Stresses the importance of close cooperation and coordination between the relevant institutions, in particular within the United Nations system and with other relevant international organizations, in both the preparation of and follow-up to the World Conference, within their mandate and taking into account their comparative advantages and the need to avoid any duplication of work; 8. Also stresses that continued cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, other organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, are considered essential to address effectively the impact of natural disasters; 9. Recognizes the importance of linking disaster risk management with regional frameworks, as appropriate, such as with the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. to address issues of poverty eradication and sustainable development; 10. Also recognizes the importance of integrating a gender perspective as well as of engaging women in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster management, particularly in the disaster reduction stage; 11. Stresses the importance of identifying, assessing and managing risks prior to the occurrence of disasters, for which it is necessary to combine the efforts at all levels of the development, humanitarian, scientific and environmental communities, as well as the importance of integrating disaster reduction, as appropriate, into development plans and poverty eradication programmes; 12. Also stresses the need to foster better understanding and knowledge of the causes of disasters, as well as to build and strengthen coping capacities through, inter alia, the transfer and exchange of experiences and technical knowledge, access to relevant data and information and the strengthening of institutional arrangements, including community-based organizations; 13. Recognizes the importance of early warning as an essential element of disaster reduction, recommends the implementation of the outcome of the Second International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 16 to 18 October 2003, and takes note of further work done in this regard, including the establishment of the Platform for the Promotion of Early WarningA/CONF.206/PC(II)/4, para. 14 (ix). in Bonn; 14. Calls upon Governments to establish national platforms or focal points for disaster reduction, encourages the platforms to share relevant information on standards and practices, encourages Governments to strengthen platforms where they already exist, urges the United Nations system to provide appropriate support for those mechanisms, and invites the Secretary-General to strengthen the regional outreach of the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in order to ensure such support; 15. Requests the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, in his capacity as Chairman of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, to continue reviewing annually the work carried out by its working groups in order to ensure their effective contribution to the attainment of the objectives of the Strategy; 16. Expresses its appreciation to those countries that have provided financial support for the activities of the Strategy by making voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; 17. Encourages the international community to provide the necessary financial resources to the Trust Fund for the Strategy and to provide the necessary scientific, technical, human and other resources to ensure adequate support for the activities of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction and its working groups; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate adequate financial and administrative resources, within existing resources, for the effective functioning of the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on the outcome of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, under the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 59/232 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/232. International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/200 of 18 December 1997, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/220 of 22 December 1999, 55/197 of 20 December 2000, 56/194 of 21 December 2001 and 57/255 of 20 December 2002 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46 of 28 July 1999, 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2000/33 of 28 July 2000, Noting that the El Niño phenomenon has a recurring character and that it can lead to extensive natural hazards with the potential to seriously affect humankind, Reaffirming the importance of developing strategies at the national, subregional, regional and international levels that aim to prevent, mitigate and repair the damage caused by natural disasters that result from the El Niño phenomenon, Noting that technological developments and international cooperation have enhanced the capabilities for the prediction of the El Niño phenomenon and thereby the potential for the preventive actions that may be taken to reduce its negative impacts, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. in particular paragraph 37 (i) thereof, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,A/59/228. in particular the section entitled "International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon"; 2. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ecuador, the World Meteorological Organization and the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction which led to the establishment of the International Centre for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon at Guayaquil, Ecuador, and to its opening in February 2003, and encourages those parties to continue their efforts for the advancement of the Centre; 3. Calls upon the Secretary-General and the relevant United Nations organs, funds and programmes, in particular those taking part in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, encourages the international community to adopt, as appropriate, the necessary measures to support the development of the International Centre for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon, and invites the international community to provide scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for this purpose, as well as to strengthen, as appropriate, other centres devoted to the study of the El Niño phenomenon; 4. Encourages the Centre to strengthen its links, as appropriate, with national meteorological and hydrological services of the Latin American region, the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research and the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, as well as with other relevant regional and global organizations that study climate, such as the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development, the Drought Monitoring Centre and the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, and other relevant centres, as appropriate, in order to ensure the effective and efficient use of the available resources; 5. Underscores the importance of maintaining the El Niño/Southern Oscillation observation system, continuing research into extreme weather events, improving forecasting skills and developing appropriate policies for reducing the impact of the El Niño phenomenon and other extreme weather events and emphasizes the need to further develop and strengthen these institutional capacities in all countries, in particular in developing countries; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 59/233 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.3, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/233. Natural disasters and vulnerability The General Assembly, Recalling its decision 57/547 of 20 December 2002 and its resolution 58/215 of 23 December 2003, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Ibid., resolution 2, annex. adopted by the World Summit, held in Johannesburg , South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters, to build and further strengthen community capacity to cope with disaster risks and to enhance resilience against hazards associated with disasters, Noting that the global environment continues to suffer degradation, adding to economic and social vulnerabilities, in particular in developing countries, Taking into account the various ways and forms in which all countries, in particular the more vulnerable countries, are affected by severe natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and extreme weather events such as heat waves, severe droughts, floods and storms, and the El Niño/La Niña events, which have global reach, Recognizing that the impact of natural disasters upon vulnerable countries is, among others, a significant obstacle to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular those relating to poverty eradication and environmental sustainability, Expressing deep concern at the recent increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and associated natural disasters in some regions of the world and their substantial economic, social and environmental impacts, in particular upon developing countries in those regions, Taking into account that extreme weather events and associated natural disasters and their reduction must be dealt with in a coherent and effective manner, Expressing deep concern at the increasing negative impact of severe natural hazards, including earthquakes, extreme weather events and associated natural disasters, which continues to hinder social and economic progress, in particular in developing countries, Stressing the need to develop and implement risk-reduction strategies, including disaster preparedness, mitigation and early warning systems at all levels, and to integrate them, where appropriate, into national development plans, in particular through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, so as to enhance the resilience of populations to disasters and reduce the risks to them, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, Recognizing that the development of stronger institutions, mechanisms and capacities, including at the community level, that can systematically build resilience to hazards and disasters is essential to reducing the risks and vulnerability of populations to disasters, Noting the need for international cooperation to increase the capacity of countries to respond to the negative impacts of all natural hazards, including earthquakes, extreme weather events and associated natural disasters, particularly in developing countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,A/59/228. in particular section II, on natural disasters and vulnerability; 2. Urges the international community to continue to address ways and means, including through cooperation and technical assistance, to reduce the adverse effects of natural disasters, including those caused by extreme weather events, in particular in vulnerable developing countries, through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and encourages the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction to continue its work in this regard; 3. Stresses the importance for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction to conclude the review of the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action,A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. with a view to updating the guiding framework on disaster reduction for the twenty-first century, and to identify specific activities aimed at ensuring the implementation of relevant provisions of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentIbid., resolution 2, annex. on vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, bearing in mind the vital importance of addressing the adverse effects of natural disasters in efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 4. Emphasizes that the World Conference on Disaster Reduction should, within its mandate as set out in General Assembly resolution 58/214 of 23 December 2003, make concrete recommendations to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of all countries, in particular developing countries, in relation to disasters, including through the provision of technical and financial assistance, as well as through the strengthening of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction national platforms for disaster reduction or the establishment of institutional mechanisms, including at the regional level, where appropriate; 5. Encourages Governments, through their respective International Strategy for Disaster Reduction national platforms and national focal points for disaster reduction, in cooperation with the United Nations system and other stakeholders, to strengthen capacity-building in the most vulnerable regions, to enable them to address the socio-economic factors that increase vulnerability, and to develop measures that will enable them to prepare for and cope with natural disasters, including those associated with earthquakes and extreme weather events, and encourages the international community to provide effective assistance to developing countries in this regard; 6. Also encourages the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction to continue to enhance the coordination of activities to promote disaster reduction and to make available to the relevant United Nations entities information on options for natural disaster reduction, including severe natural hazards and extreme weather-related disasters and vulnerabilities; 7. Stresses the importance of close cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, other organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners as appropriate, taking into account the need for the development of disaster management strategies, including the effective establishment of early warning systems, where appropriate, while taking advantage of all available resources and expertise for that purpose; 8. Encourages the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. and the parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. to continue to address the adverse effects of climate change, especially in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, and also encourages the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to continue to assess the adverse effects of climate change on the socio-economic and natural disaster reduction systems of developing countries; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution in a separate section of his report on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and decides to consider the issue of natural disasters and vulnerability at that session, under the sub-item entitled "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction" of the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 59/234 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.4, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/234. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/222 of 22 December 1999, its decision 55/443 of 20 December 2000 and its resolutions 56/199 of 21 December 2001, 57/257 of 20 December 2002 and 58/243 of 23 December 2003 and other resolutions relating to the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. including the acknowledgement that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions, Recalling further the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session, held in New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002,FCCC/CP/2002/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.8. and the outcome of the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties held in Milan, Italy, from 1 to 12 December 2003,FCCC/CP/2003/6/Add.1 and 2. Noting the review of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. Remaining deeply concerned that all countries, in particular developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, face increased risks from the negative impacts of climate change, Noting that one hundred and eighty-nine States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified the Convention, Noting also that, to date, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. has attracted one hundred and twenty-eight ratifications, including from parties mentioned in annex I to the Convention, which account for 61.6 per cent of emissions, Noting further the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the need to build and enhance scientific and technological capabilities, inter alia, through continuing support to the Panel for the exchange of scientific data and information, especially in developing countries, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, preferably by the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 2002, and to embark on the required reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases,Ibid., para. 23. Taking note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on the work of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention,A/59/197, sect. I. 1. Calls upon States to work cooperatively towards achieving the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 2. Notes that States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. strongly urge States that have not yet done so to ratify it in a timely manner; 3. Notes also that States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol welcome its ratification by the Russian Federation, which satisfies the requirements for the Kyoto Protocol to enter into force; 4. Encourages States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to continue their preparations for its entry into force; 5. Notes with interest the preparations undertaken for the implementation of the flexible mechanisms established by the Kyoto Protocol; 6. Takes note of the decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its ninth session,FCCC/CP/2003/6/Add.1 and 2. and calls for their implementation; 7. Notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and encourages cooperation to promote complementarities among the three secretariats while respecting their independent legal status; 8. Invites the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the work of the Conference of the Parties; 9. Invites the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the sub-item entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind". RESOLUTION 59/235 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.5, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/235. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/242 of 23 December 2003 and other resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Recalling also its resolution 58/211 of 23 December 2003, in which it declared 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, Reaffirming that desertification constitutes a serious obstacle to sustainable development and contributes to food insecurity, famine and poverty, which are factors that can give rise to social, economic and political tensions, including forced migration and conflicts, and that the Convention is an important tool for poverty eradication, Reaffirming also the universal membership of the Convention, and acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension in that they affect all regions of the world, Noting that timely and effective implementation of the Convention would help to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Emphasizing the need for the provision of adequate resources for the focal area of land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation, of the Global Environment Facility, Stressing the need for further diversification of funding sources to address land degradation, in accordance with articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General;See A/59/197, sect. II. 2. Stresses the importance of the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. for meeting the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and in this regard invites all Governments to take further measures to strengthen the implementation of the Convention; 3. Invites the Secretary-General to give due consideration to the role and place of the Convention in ongoing work in the context of the preparations for the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly in 2005, including the report of the Millennium Project; 4. Invites the Global Environment Facility to strengthen the focal area of land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation; 5. Takes note with interest of ongoing efforts to diversify the availability of financial resources to support activities aimed at combating desertification and poverty; 6. Invites the donor community to increase its support to the Convention with a view to bringing greater international attention to bear on the issue of land degradation and desertification, which will contribute to the improvement of the sustainable development of drylands and the global environment; 7. Invites the secretariat of the Global Environment Facility and the secretariat of the Convention to finalize the draft memorandum of understanding in an expeditious way and to submit it, as mandated by Conference of the Parties decision 6/COP.6 of 3 September 2003,See ICCD/COP(6)/11/Add.1. for the consideration of and adoption by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention and the Council of the Global Environment Facility; 8. Takes note of Conference of the Parties decision 23/COP.6 of 5 September 2003 on the programme and budget for the biennium 2004-2005,See ICCD/COP(6)/11/Add.1. as an ongoing process of the Conference of the Parties to undertake a comprehensive review of the activities of the secretariat, as defined in article 23, paragraph 2, of the Convention, and looks forward to the review at the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention; 9. Urges United Nations funds and programmes, the Bretton Woods institutions, the donor countries and other development agencies to integrate actions in support of the Convention into their strategies to support the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 10. Calls upon Governments, where appropriate, in collaboration with relevant multilateral organizations, including the Global Environment Facility implementation agencies, to integrate desertification into their plans and strategies for sustainable development; 11. Encourages countries to undertake special initiatives in observance of the International Year of Deserts and Desertification and, as they are able, to contribute to its preparatory process; 12. Reiterates the invitation to all parties to pay promptly and in full the contributions required for the core budget of the Convention for the biennium 2004-2005, and urges all parties that have not yet paid their contributions for 1999 and/or the bienniums 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 to do so as soon as possible in order to ensure continuity in the cash flow required to finance the ongoing work of the Conference of the Parties, the secretariat and the Global Mechanism; 13. Calls upon Governments, and invites multilateral financial institutions, regional development banks, regional economic integration organizations and all other interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously to the General Fund, the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund, in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties,ICCD/COP(1)/11/Add.1 and Corr.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, paras. 7-11. and welcomes the financial support already provided by some countries; 14. Takes note of the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 59/236 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.6, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/236. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/201 of 20 December 2000, 56/197 of 21 December 2001, 57/253 and 57/260 of 20 December 2002 and 58/212 of 23 December 2003, Reiterating that the Convention on Biological DiversityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. is the key international instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, Recalling the commitments of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to pursue a more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity, which will require action at all levels, including the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, Taking note of the entry into force of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Conference of FAO, Thirty-first Session, Rome, 2-13 November 2001 (C 2001/REP), appendix D. the objectives of which are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Malaysia for hosting the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held in Kuala Lumpur from 9 to 20 and on 27 February, and from 23 to 27 February 2004, respectively, Expressing its deep appreciation also to the Government of Brazil for its offer to host the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to be held in the first half of 2006, Noting the efforts of the Government of France to organize a biodiversity-related conference in Paris in 2005, 1. Takes note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session;See A/59/197, sect. III. 2. Takes note also of the outcome of the seventh meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological DiversitySee A/59/197, sect. III. and the outcome of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,See A/59/197, sect. III. and urges all parties to these respective agreements to implement their decisions; 3. Notes the recent progress made with respect to the achievement of the three objectives set out in the Convention on Biological Diversity; 4. Notes also the progress made at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in establishing an operational framework for the implementation of the Protocol, and reiterates that the effective implementation of the Protocol will require the full support of parties and of relevant international organizations, in particular with regard to the provision of assistance to developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition in capacity-building for biosafety; 5. Invites the countries that have not yet done so to ratify or to accede to the Convention on Biological Diversity; 6. Invites the parties to the Convention that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological DiversitySee UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. to consider doing so; 7. Invites countries to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Conference of FAO, Thirty-first Session, Rome, 2-13 November 2001 (C 2001/REP), appendix D. 8. Encourages developed countries parties to the Convention to contribute to the relevant trust funds of the Convention, in particular so as to enhance the full participation of the developing countries parties in all of its activities; 9. Urges parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to facilitate the transfer of technology for the effective implementation of the Convention in accordance with its provisions; 10. Takes note of the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 11. Stresses the importance of harmonizing the reporting requirements of the biodiversity-related conventions while respecting their independent legal status; 12. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to continue reporting to the General Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention, including its Cartagena Protocol; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 59/237 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.7, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/237. United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling chapter 36 of Agenda 21, on promoting education, public awareness and training, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Recalling also the work programme on education, public awareness and training initiated by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its fourth session in 1996Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1996, Supplement No. 8 (E/1996/28), chap. I, sect. C, decision 4/11, para. 2. and elaborated upon at its sixth session in 1998,Ibid., 1998, Supplement No. 9 (E/1998/29), chap. I, sect. B, decision 6/3, sect. C. Recalling further the relevant provisions of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. on education to promote sustainable development, in particular its provision 124, Recalling its resolutions 57/254 of 20 December 2002 and 58/219 of 23 December 2003, Underlining in this regard the fact that the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development will begin on 1 January 2005, Welcoming the fact that the Commission on Sustainable Development, at its eleventh session, identified education as one of the cross-cutting issues of its multi-year programme of work,See Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003. Reaffirming the internationally agreed development goal of achieving universal primary education, in particular that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that boys and girls will have equal access to all levels of education, Taking note of the oral report presented on 18 October 2004 at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly by the Assistant Director-General for Education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization regarding its preparations for the Decade,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Second Committee, 14th meeting (A/C.2/59/SR.14), and corrigendum. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,A/59/228. in particular the reference to the issue "Learning to live with risk", as regards the need to focus on education and awareness, linked with the Decade, to be considered at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, to be held in Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005,Ibid., para. 8. Emphasizing that education is an indispensable element for achieving sustainable development, 1. Reaffirms that education for sustainable development is critical for promoting sustainable development; 2. Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as the designated lead agency, to promote the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, in coordination with other relevant United Nations organizations and programmes, while taking into account the special needs of developing countries; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to call upon the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to finalize the draft international implementation scheme for the Decade as soon as possible, preferably by the beginning of the Decade, in consultation with Governments, the United Nations and relevant international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders, while clarifying its relationship with the existing educational processes, in particular the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education ForumSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and the United Nations Literacy Decade;See resolution 56/116. 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to call upon the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to submit the draft international implementation scheme to the governing bodies of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for their final consideration and adoption; 5. Encourages Governments to consider the inclusion, especially upon completion and adoption of the international implementation scheme, of measures to implement the Decade in their respective educational systems and strategies and, where appropriate, national development plans; 6. Invites Governments to promote public awareness of and wider participation in the Decade, inter alia, through cooperation with and initiatives engaging civil society and other relevant stakeholders, especially at the beginning of the Decade; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to prepare a mid-term review of the implementation of the Decade, for submission to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session under the sub-item entitled "United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development". RESOLUTION 59/238 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/483/Add.8, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/238. Rendering assistance to poor mountain countries to overcome obstacles in socio-economic and ecological areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/24 of 10 November 1998, by which it proclaimed 2002 the International Year of Mountains, Recalling also its resolutions 55/189 of 20 December 2000, 57/245 of 20 December 2002 and 58/216 of 23 December 2003, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recalling chapter 13 of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. and all relevant paragraphs of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular paragraph 42 thereof, as the overall policy frameworks for sustainable development in mountain regions, Decides to consider at its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "Rendering assistance to poor mountain countries to overcome obstacles in socio-economic and ecological areas", bearing in mind its resolution 58/216. RESOLUTION 59/239 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/484, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 59/239. Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3327 (XXIX) of 16 December 1974, 32/162 of 19 December 1977, 34/115 of 14 December 1979, 56/205 and 56/206 of 21 December 2001, 57/275 of 20 December 2002 and 58/226 and 58/227 of 23 December 2003, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/38 of 26 July 2002 and 2003/62 of 25 July 2003 and Council decision 2004/300 of 23 July 2004, Recalling the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recalling the goal contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020, as proposed in the Cities Without Slums Initiative, and recalling further the goal contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, Recognizing that the overall thrust of the strategic vision of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially for guiding international cooperation in respect of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, Conscious of the need to achieve greater coherence and effectiveness in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Recognizing the continued urgent need for increased and predictable financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation to ensure timely, effective and concrete global implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, Reiterating the call to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to increase the efforts to strengthen the Foundation in order to achieve its primary operative objective of supporting the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, including supporting shelter, related infrastructure-development programmes and housing-finance institutions and mechanisms, particularly in developing countries, Recognizing that humanitarian assistance in the field of human settlements must be provided in ways that will be supportive of reconstruction and long-term development, Noting the convening of the second session of the World Urban Forum, organized by UN-Habitat in cooperation with the Government of Spain, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia and the Municipality of Barcelona, in Barcelona, from 13 to 17 September 2004, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Canada and the city of Vancouver for their willingness to host the third session of the World Urban Forum in 2006, Emphasizing the importance of access to basic services for the urban poor, and in this regard noting the decision of the Governing Council of UN-Habitat at its nineteenth session on water and sanitation in cities,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/58/8), annex I, resolution 19/6. Noting the commitment to integrate urban planning and management in relation to housing, transport, employment opportunities, environmental conditions and community facilities, and further noting the commitment to promote, where appropriate, the upgrading of informal settlements and urban slums as an expedient measure and pragmatic solution to the urban shelter deficit, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/198. 2. Recognizes that Governments have the primary responsibility for the sound and effective implementation of the Habitat AgendaReport of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. and stresses that the international community should fully implement its commitments to support the Governments of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition in their efforts, through the provision of the requisite resources, capacity-building, the transfer of technology and the creation of an international enabling environment; 3. Calls for continued financial support to UN-Habitat through increased voluntary contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, and invites Governments to provide multi-year funding to support programme implementation; 4. Also calls for increased, non-earmarked contributions to the Foundation; 5. Requests the Executive Director to continue to work with the World Bank Group, regional development banks, other development banks, the private sector and other relevant partners to field-test approaches through pilot projects and to develop longer-term programmes to mobilize resources to increase the supply of affordable credit for slum upgrading and other pro-poor human settlements development in developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition; 6. Calls upon the international donor community and financial institutions to contribute generously to the Technical Cooperation Trust Fund and other operational activities of UN-Habitat for the effective implementation of its field programmes; 7. Recognizes the important role of regional offices and personnel of UN-Habitat in providing operational support to developing countries, and in this regard calls upon Governments to strengthen and support financially the regional offices of UN-Habitat in order to expand operational support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 8. Calls upon UN-Habitat to continue to work closely with the other organizations of the United Nations system, integrating UN-Habitat staff as appropriate into existing United Nations country offices; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to UN-Habitat and the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 10. Encourages Governments to establish local, national and regional urban observatories and to provide financial and substantive support to UN-Habitat for the further development of methodologies for data collection, analysis and dissemination; 11. Encourages Member States as well as Habitat Agenda partners to provide support for the preparation of the UN-Habitat flagship reports, the Global Report on Human Settlements and the State of the World's Cities report, on a biennial basis so as to raise awareness of human settlements and to provide information on urban conditions and trends around the world; 12. Encourages Governments to support the UN-Habitat Global Campaign for Secure Tenure and the Global Campaign on Urban Governance as important tools for, inter alia, promoting administration of land and property rights, in accordance with national circumstances, and enhancing access to affordable credit by the urban poor; 13. Invites Governments to continue to promote linkages between urban and rural areas in line with the Habitat Agenda, which recognized that cities and rural areas are interdependent economically, socially and environmentally; 14. Encourages Governments and UN-Habitat to continue to promote partnerships with local authorities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other Habitat Agenda partners, including women's groups and academic and professional groups, in order to empower them, within the legal framework and conditions of each country, to play a more effective role in the provision of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development in an urbanizing world; 15. Also encourages Governments to support and enable the participation of youth in the implementation of the Habitat Agenda through social, cultural and economic activities at the city level and other national- and local-level activities; 16. Further encourages Governments to include issues pertaining to shelter, sustainable human settlements and urban poverty in their national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; 17. Urges the donor community to support the efforts of developing countries to make pro-poor investments in services and infrastructure in order to improve living environments, in particular in slums and informal settlements; 18. Requests UN-Habitat, within its mandate, to continue to support the efforts of countries affected by natural disasters and complex emergencies to develop prevention, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes for the transition from relief to development, and encourages UN-Habitat to continue to work closely with the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and other relevant agencies in the United Nations system in this field; 19. Invites the Secretary-General to incorporate the assessment of progress made towards the target of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020 in his report on the review in 2005 of the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 20. Calls upon UN-Habitat and the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to work together closely in the preparations for the thirteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development in order to ensure a fruitful policy discussion of the thematic cluster of issues on water, sanitation and human settlements; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session an item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)". RESOLUTION 59/23 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 11 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.15/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Congo, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Myanmar, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 59/23. Promotion of interreligious dialogue The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 56/6 of 9 November 2001, on dialogue among civilizations, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, concerning the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, on the prevention of armed conflict, and 58/128 of 19 December 2003, on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, Recalling also the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See A/59/201. transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly in accordance with resolution 58/128, Taking note of the various initiatives and efforts to organize interreligious dialogues, including the First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Astana on 23 and 24 September 2003,See A/58/390-S/2003/916. and the interreligious dialogue initiative adopted by the Fifth Asia-Europe Meeting, held in Hanoi from 7 to 9 October 2004, Recognizing the commitment of all religions to peace, 1. Affirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on interreligious dialogue, and encourages relevant bodies of the United Nations to work closely with the Organization and coordinate their efforts in this regard; 3. Invites the Secretary-General to bring the promotion of interreligious dialogue to the attention of all Governments and relevant international organizations and to submit a report thereon, including all views received, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/240 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/485/Add.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/240. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998, 54/231 of 22 December 1999, 55/212 of 20 December 2000, 56/209 of 21 December 2001, 57/274 of 20 December 2002 and 58/225 of 23 December 2003 on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, Recalling also its resolution 58/291 of 6 May 2004, Reaffirming the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for the people of the world, Recognizing that globalization and interdependence have opened new opportunities for the growth of the world economy and development, that globalization offers new perspectives for the integration of developing countries into the world economy and that it can improve the overall performance of the economies of developing countries by opening up market opportunities for their exports, by promoting the transfer of information, skills and technology and by increasing the financial resources available for investment in physical and intangible assets, acknowledging that globalization has also brought new challenges for growth and sustainable development and that developing countries have been facing special difficulties in responding to them, recognizing that some countries have successfully adapted to the changes and benefited from globalization but that many others, especially the least developed countries, have remained marginalized in the globalizing world economy, and recognizing also that, as stated in the Millennium Declaration, the benefits and costs of globalization are very unevenly distributed, Recognizing also that a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development, reaffirming its commitment to trade liberalization and to ensuring that trade plays its full part in promoting economic growth, employment and development for all, welcoming in that regard the decisions taken by the World Trade Organization to place the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of its work programme, and committing itself to their implementation, Recognizing further that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Noting that an overall commitment to multiculturalism helps to provide an environment preventing and combating discrimination and promoting solidarity and tolerance in our societies, Recognizing that an enabling economic environment should, inter alia, foster a dynamic and well-functioning business sector and include efforts to further promote good corporate and public sector governance, to combat corruption in the public and private sectors and to promote the strengthening of and respect for the rule of law, Noting that particular attention must be given, in the context of globalization, to the objective of protecting, promoting and enhancing the rights and welfare of women and girls, as stated in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Taking note of the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization entitled A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for AllSee A/59/98-E/2004/79. as a contribution to the international dialogue towards a fully inclusive and equitable globalization, Noting the report of the Commission on the Private Sector and Development entitled Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.III.B.4. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/312. 2. Reaffirms that the United Nations has a central role in promoting international cooperation for development and in promoting policy coherence on global development issues, including in the context of globalization and interdependence; 3. Reaffirms also that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 4. Invites the international community, including all Member States, to devote special attention to improving resource flows for development, including public and private, foreign and domestic, to assist the developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 5. Stresses that, in the common pursuit of growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, a critical challenge is to ensure the necessary internal conditions for mobilizing domestic savings, both public and private, sustaining adequate levels of productive investment and increasing human capacity, while a crucial task is to enhance the efficacy, coherence and consistency of macroeconomic policies and an enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector and attracting and making effective use of international investment and assistance, and in this regard stresses also that efforts to create such an environment should be supported by the international community; 6. Underlines the fact that, in addressing the linkages between globalization and sustainable development, particular focus should be placed on identifying and implementing mutually reinforcing policies and practices that promote sustained economic growth, social development and environmental protection and that this requires efforts at both the national and international levels; 7. Reiterates that success in meeting the objectives of development and poverty eradication depends, inter alia, on good governance, both within individual countries and at the international level, sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions that are responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure, which are the basis for sustained growth, poverty eradication and employment creation, and that transparency in financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system are equally essential; 8. Stresses that improved coherence between national and international efforts and between the international monetary, financial and trading systems is fundamental for sound global economic governance; in this context reaffirms the commitment to improving the coherence between those systems in order to enhance their capacities to better respond to the needs of development and recognizes that the institutional dimension in terms of development is central; emphasizes that development should be at the centre of the international economic agenda and that coherence between national development strategies, on the one hand, and international obligations and commitments, on the other, contributes to the creation of an enabling economic environment for development; and stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 9. Stresses also that development strategies have to be formulated with a view to minimizing the negative social impact of globalization and maximizing its positive impact, while ensuring that all groups of the population, in particular the poorest, benefit from it, and that at the international level, efforts have to converge on the means to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 10. Underlines the fact that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, i.e., the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations, that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space and that it is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments; 11. Reaffirms that education, employment creation and improvement of working conditions, which are some of the indispensable elements of poverty eradication, social integration, gender equality and overall development, should be at the centre of development strategies and international cooperation in support of national policies, and recognizes the need to promote employment that takes into account labour standards as defined in the relevant instruments of the International Labour Organization and other international instruments; 12. Urges all Governments to ensure women's equal rights with men and their full and equal access to education, training, employment, technology and economic and financial resources, including credit, in particular for rural women and women in the informal sector, and to facilitate, where appropriate, the transition of women from the informal to the formal sector; 13. Stresses the importance of migration as a phenomenon accompanying increased globalization, including its impact on economies, and underlines further the need for greater coordination and cooperation among countries as well as relevant regional and international organizations; 14. Recognizes the special needs of the least developed countries, the small island developing States and the landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, and reaffirms continued support and assistance for their endeavours, particularly in their efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Almaty Programme of Action;Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. 15. Emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the specific concerns of countries with economies in transition so as to help them to benefit from globalization, with a view to their full integration into the world economy; 16. Invites all relevant agencies of the United Nations system, through, inter alia, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, within existing resources, to continue to review the impact of their work on the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 17. Welcomes the decision taken by the General Council of the World Trade Organization on 1 August 2004,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. which rededicates and recommits members to fulfilling the development dimensions of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs of developing and least developed countries at the heart of the Doha work programme;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 18. Stresses the need to build an inclusive information society, which is intrinsically global in nature, and that therefore national efforts need to be supported by effective international and regional cooperation among Governments, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders, including the international financial institutions, in order, inter alia, to assist in bridging the digital divide, promoting access to information and communication technologies, creating digital opportunities and harnessing the potential of information and communication technologies for development, and invites the World Summit on the Information Society to encourage all stakeholders in this regard; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on globalization and interdependence; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 59/241 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/485/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/241. International migration and development The General Assembly, Recalling the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development adopted at Cairo,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. in particular chapter X on international migration, and the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, set out in the annex to General Assembly resolution S-21/2 of 2 July 1999, in particular section II.C on international migration, as well as the relevant provisions contained in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Ibid., annex II. the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. and twenty-fifthResolution S-25/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 58/190 of 22 December 2003 and 58/208 of 23 December 2003, in which it decided to devote a high-level dialogue to international migration and development during its sixty-first session, bearing in mind that the purpose of the high-level dialogue is to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts, Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, reaffirming also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and recalling the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Noting the work undertaken under the International Migration Policy Programme by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Population Fund, in partnership with the International Labour Office, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant international and regional institutions, with a view to strengthening the capacity of Governments to manage migration flows at the national and regional levels and thus foster greater cooperation among States towards orderly migration, Noting also the ongoing efforts and recent activities within the United Nations system and the other intergovernmental activities and multilateral initiatives on international migration and development being undertaken, as well as the exchanges of information on the subject, Recalling the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Resolution 45/158, annex. which entered into force in July 2003, Welcoming the adoption of the special theme of the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on Population and Development in 2006, which will be "International migration and development",Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 5 (E/2004/25), chap. I.B, decision 2004/1. Taking note of the views of the Member States on the question of convening a United Nations conference on international migration, its scope, form and agenda, noting the low number of respondents to the survey of the Secretariat, and in this context inviting the Secretary-General to continue considering the issue, Acknowledging the important contribution provided by migrants and migration to development as well as the complex interrelationship between migration and development, Aware of the fact that all countries are impacted by international migration, and hence stressing the crucial importance of dialogue and cooperation so as to better understand the international migration phenomenon, including its gender perspective, and to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts, Realizing the benefits that international migration can bring to migrants, their families, the receiving societies and their communities of origin and the need for countries of origin, transit and destination to ensure that migrants, including migrant workers, are not subject to exploitation of any kind and the need to ensure that the human rights and dignity of all migrants and their families, in particular of women migrant workers, are respected and protected, Noting that an overall commitment to multiculturalism helps to provide a context for the effective integration of migrants, preventing and combating discrimination and promoting solidarity and tolerance in receiving societies, Aware that, among other important factors, both domestic and international, the widening economic and social gap between and among many countries and the marginalization of some countries in the global economy, due in part to the uneven impact of the benefits of globalization and liberalization, have contributed to large flows of people between and among countries and to the intensification of the complex phenomenon of international migration, Recognizing that countries can be concurrently any combination of origin, transit and/or destination, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/325. 2. Reconfirms that the Secretary-General will report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the organizational details of the 2006 high-level dialogue; 3. Recognizes the important contributions that international and regional efforts, including by the regional commissions, can provide to the high-level dialogue on international migration and development; 4. Invites appropriate regional consultative processes and other major initiatives undertaken by Member States in the field of international migration to contribute to the high-level dialogue; 5. Takes note of the establishment of the Global Commission on International Migration; 6. Calls upon all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations, within their continuing mandated activities, to continue to address the issue of international migration and development, with a view to integrating migration issues, including a gender perspective and cultural diversity, in a more coherent way within the broader context of the implementation of agreed economic and social development goals and respect for all human rights; 7. Encourages Governments of countries of origin, countries of transit and countries of destination to increase cooperation on issues related to migration, and notes with appreciation the numerous meetings and conferences convened relating to migration and development, in particular in the context of regional cooperation; 8. Invites Governments, with the assistance of the international community, where appropriate, to seek to make the option of remaining in one's own country viable for all people, in particular through efforts to achieve sustainable development, leading to a better economic balance between developed and developing countries; 9. Reaffirms the need to adopt policies and undertake measures to reduce the cost of the transfer of migrant remittances to developing countries, and welcomes the efforts of Governments and stakeholders in this regard; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to prepare a comprehensive overview of studies and analyses on the multidimensional aspects of migration and development, including the effects of migration on economic and social development in developed and developing countries, and on the effects of the movements of highly skilled migrant workers and those with advanced education; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/242 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/485/Add.3, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/242. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/205 of 22 December 1999, 56/186 of 21 December 2001 and 57/244 of 20 December 2002, and recalling also its resolution 58/205 of 23 December 2003 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets to the countries of origin, Recalling also the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which underlined that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority, and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Emphasizing the need for solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and the need to improve the efficiency, transparency and accountability of domestic administration and public spending and the rule of law, to ensure full respect for human rights, including the right to development, and to eradicate corruption and build sound economic and social institutions, Recognizing that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority and that corruption is a serious barrier to effective resource mobilization and allocation and diverts resources away from activities that are vital for poverty eradication, the fight against hunger, and economic and sustainable development, Noting the particular concern of developing countries and countries with economies in transition regarding the return of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption to the countries from which they originated, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. in particular chapter V, in view of the importance that such assets can have to their sustainable development, Recognizing the concern over the transfer and/or transaction of assets of illicit origin, and stressing the need to address this concern consistent with the principles of chapter V of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Recognizing also that the illicit acquisition of wealth can be particularly damaging to democratic institutions, national economies and the rule of law, Convinced that a stable and transparent environment for national and international commercial transactions in all countries is essential for the mobilization of investment, finance, technology, skills and other important resources, and recognizing that effective efforts at all levels to combat and avoid corruption in all its forms in all countries are essential elements of an improved national and international business environment, Concerned about the links between corruption in all its forms, including bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of assets of illicit origin, and other forms of crime, in particular organized crime and economic crime, Reiterating its concern about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and the values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law, in particular when an inadequate national and international response leads to impunity, Welcoming the initiatives taken by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Group of Eight with regard to fighting corruption and improving transparency, including the initiative of the Group of Eight to support with bilateral technical assistance those countries committed to a partnership to increase transparency, good governance and the rule of law, and welcoming also the efforts of those Member States that have entered into "Compacts to Promote Transparency and Combat Corruption" with the Group of Eight, Noting with appreciation the holding of the High-level Political Conference for the Purpose of Signing the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Merida, Mexico, from 9 to 11 December 2003, Recalling its resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003, by which it adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and urged all States and competent regional economic organizations to sign and ratify it, 1. Condemns corruption in all its forms, including bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of assets of illicit origin; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/203 and Add.1. 3. Welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Resolution 58/4, annex. 4. Reiterates its invitation to all Member States and competent regional economic integration organizations to sign, ratify and fully implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption as soon as possible in order to ensure its rapid entry into force; 5. Welcomes the efforts of Member States that have enacted laws and taken other positive measures in the fight against corruption in all its forms, including, inter alia, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and in this regard encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact such laws; 6. Encourages all Governments to prevent, combat and penalize corruption in all its forms, including bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of illicitly acquired assets, and to work for the prompt return of such assets through asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V; 7. Further encourages subregional and regional cooperation, where appropriate, in the efforts to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin as well as for asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V; 8. Calls for further international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in support of national, subregional and regional efforts to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin, as well as for asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V; 9. Encourages Member States to provide adequate financial and human resources to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and further encourages the Office to give high priority to technical cooperation, upon request, inter alia, to promote and facilitate the signing and ratification, acceptance, approval or accession and the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, including the early finalization, in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, of the legislative guide for the ratification and implementation of the Convention; 10. Reiterates its request to the international community to provide, inter alia, technical assistance to support national efforts to strengthen human and institutional capacity aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin as well as for asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V, and formulating strategies for mainstreaming and promoting transparency and integrity in both the public and the private sectors; 11. Urges all Member States, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to abide by the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and to foster a culture of transparency, accountability and rejection of corruption; 12. Calls upon the private sector, at both the international and the national levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, to remain fully engaged in the fight against corruption, welcomes the agreement to add anti-corruption as the tenth principle of the Global Compact, and emphasizes the need for all relevant stakeholders, including within the United Nations system, as appropriate, to continue to promote corporate responsibility and accountability; 13. Encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to require financial institutions to properly implement comprehensive due diligence and vigilance programmes, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other applicable instruments, that could facilitate transparency and prevent the placement of illicitly acquired funds; 14. Also encourages Member States, relevant international organizations and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to give prominence to 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, as established by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/4; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and on the impact of corruption in all its forms, including on the scale of transfers of assets of illicit origin and the impact of corruption and such outflows on economic growth and sustainable development. RESOLUTION 59/243 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/485/Add.5, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/243. Integration of the economies in transition into the world economy The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 47/187 of 22 December 1992, 48/181 of 21 December 1993, 49/106 of 19 December 1994, 51/175 of 6 December 1996, 53/179 of 15 December 1998, 55/191 of 20 December 2000 and 57/247 of 20 December 2002, Reaffirming also the need for the full integration of the countries with economies in transition into the world economy, Welcoming the progress made in those countries towards market-oriented reforms and achieving macroeconomic and financial stability and economic growth, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies, good governance and the rule of law, and noting the need to sustain those positive trends, Noting that in some economies in transition this progress has been slower, resulting in lower aggregate development levels and lower per capita income, Stressing the importance of continued international assistance to countries with economies in transition to support their efforts towards market-oriented reforms, institution-building, infrastructure development and achieving macroeconomic and financial stability and economic growth, and to ensure that they are fully integrated into the world economy, Recognizing, in particular, the need to enhance the capacity of those countries to utilize effectively the benefits of globalization, including those in the field of information and communication technologies, and to respond more adequately to its challenges, Recognizing also the continuing need for favourable conditions for market access of exports from countries with economies in transition, in accordance with multilateral trade agreements, Recognizing further the important role that foreign direct investment should play in those countries, and stressing the need to create an enabling environment, both domestically and internationally, to attract more foreign direct investment to those countries, Recognizing the role that the private sector can play in the socio-economic development of those countries and their integration into the world economy, and stressing the importance of fostering a favourable environment for private investment and entrepreneurship, Noting the aspiration of the countries with economies in transition towards the further development of regional and interregional cooperation, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/301. 1. Welcomes the measures taken by the organizations of the United Nations system to implement General Assembly resolutions on the integration of the economies in transition into the world economy; 2. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions, in collaboration with relevant non-United Nations multilateral and regional institutions, to continue to conduct analytical activities and provide policy advice and targeted and substantial technical assistance to the Governments of the countries with economies in transition aimed at strengthening the social, legal and political framework for completing market-oriented reforms, supporting national development priorities with a view to sustaining the positive trends and reversing any declines in the economic and social development of those countries; 3. Emphasizes in this regard the importance of the further integration of the countries with economies in transition into the world economy, taking into account, inter alia, the relevant provisions of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 4. Stresses the need to focus international assistance to countries with economies in transition on those facing particular difficulties in socio-economic development, implementing market-oriented reforms and meeting internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and welcomes efforts made by countries with economies in transition to improve governance and institutional capabilities in order to use aid more effectively; 5. Welcomes the efforts made by countries with economies in transition in implementing policies that promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development, including, inter alia, by promoting competition, regulatory reform, respect for property rights and expeditious contract enforcement, and calls upon the United Nations system to highlight the successful models as good practices; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/244 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/486/Add.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 59/244. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/279 of 12 July 2001, in which it endorsed the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. and its resolutions 57/276 of 20 December 2002 and 58/228 of 23 December 2003 on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Reaffirming its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in particular paragraph 15 thereof, in which the Heads of State and Government undertook to address the special needs of the least developed countries, Recognizing the importance of the review of the progress achieved towards meeting the goals and targets contained in the Programme of Action, as well as other internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, as they address the special needs of the least developed countries, Taking note of the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2004 of the Economic and Social Council on the theme "Resources mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication in the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010",A/59/3, chap. III, para. 49. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 3. Taking note also of Economic and Social Council resolutions 2004/66 of 5 November 2004 on the smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from the list of least developed countries and 2004/67 of 5 November 2004 on the report of the Committee for Development Policy on its sixth session, Taking note further of the Least Developed Countries Report, 2004,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.II.D.27. Recognizing that the eradication of poverty in the least developed countries will require, inter alia, steps to empower the poor, unleash their entrepreneurial skills and allow them to access, develop and use their assets, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/94-E/2004/77. 1. Reiterates its deep concern over the weak implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010;Ibid., chap. II. 2. Urges the least developed countries and their bilateral and multilateral development partners to increase concerted efforts and speedy measures for meeting the goals and targets of the Programme of Action in a timely manner; 3. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure at the secretariat level the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system to facilitate coordinated implementation as well as coherence in the follow-up to and monitoring of the Programme of Action at the national, regional, subregional and global levels, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to engage the United Nations Development Group's team leaders, consistent with their respective mandates, in the coordinated implementation of activities of the Programme of Action; 4. Invites the 2005 high-level event, in accordance with the modalities to be set by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, to address the special needs of the least developed countries, while reviewing the progress made in the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration; 5. Decides to hold the comprehensive review of the Programme of Action in 2006 within the General Assembly during its sixty-first session, in accordance with paragraph 114 of the Programme of Action, bearing in mind the provisions of General Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, with modalities to be decided upon; 6. Decides also to consider at its sixtieth session the modalities for conducting such a comprehensive review; 7. Reiterates the critical importance of the participation of government representatives from the least developed countries in the annual review of the Programme of Action by the Economic and Social Council, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to establish a specific trust fund for the travel and subsistence of two representatives from each least developed country to attend the annual review of the Programme of Action; the trust fund should be funded by voluntary contributions; 8. Calls upon Member States, and invites inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund; 9. Welcomes the decision of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development at its eleventh session to conduct analyses through the Least Developed Countries Report, 2004United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.II.D.27. on the causes of the decline in the share of least developed countries in world trade and the linkages between trade, growth and poverty reduction, with a view to identifying long-term solutions to the problem, as expressed in paragraph 34 of the São Paulo Consensus,TD/412, part II. and invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to conduct an analysis of the role that enterprise development can play in alleviating poverty in least developed countries and to recommend measures the Governments of least developed countries can take to promote the development of their private sector; 10. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/66 in order to support countries graduating from the list of least developed countries; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit an annual progress report on the implementation of the Programme of Action in an analytical and results-oriented way by placing emphasis on concrete results and indicating the progress achieved in its implementation. RESOLUTION 59/245 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/486/Add.2, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 59/245. Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/180 of 21 December 2001, 57/242 of 20 December 2002 and 58/201 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government recognized the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries and urged both bilateral and multilateral donors to increase financial and technical assistance to this group of countries to meet their particular development needs and to help them to overcome the impediments of geography by improving their transit transport systems, and resolved to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty, Recognizing that the lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by remoteness from world markets, and prohibitive transit costs and risks impose serious constraints on export earnings, private capital inflow and domestic resource mobilization of landlocked developing countries and therefore adversely affect their overall growth and socio-economic development, Recognizing also that landlocked developing countries, with their small and vulnerable economies, are among the poorest of developing countries, and noting that, of the thirty-one landlocked developing countries, sixteen are also classified by the United Nations as least developed countries, Recalling the Almaty DeclarationReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex II. and the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries,Ibid., annex I. Recalling also the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD),A/57/304, annex. an initiative for accelerating regional economic cooperation and development as most landlocked and transit developing countries are located in Africa, Taking note of the ministerial communiqué adopted at the Fifth Annual Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries, held on 27 September 2004 at United Nations Headquarters,A/C.2/59/2. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action;A/59/208. 2. Reaffirms the right of access of landlocked countries to and from the sea and freedom of transit through the territory of transit countries by all means of transport, in accordance with applicable rules of international law; 3. Reaffirms also that transit countries, in the exercise of their full sovereignty over their territory, have the right to take all measures necessary to ensure that the rights and facilities provided for landlocked countries in no way infringe upon their legitimate interests; 4. Invites Member States, organizations of the United Nations system as well as other relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and multilateral financial and development institutions to implement the specific actions in the five priorities agreed upon in the Almaty Programme of Action;Ibid., annex I. 5. Invites donor countries, the United Nations Development Programme and multilateral financial and development institutions to provide landlocked and transit developing countries with appropriate financial and technical assistance in the form of grants or concessional loans for the construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities, including alternative routes and improved communications, to promote subregional, regional and interregional projects and programmes, and, in this regard, to consider, inter alia, improving the availability and optimal use of different transport modes and intermodal efficiency along transport corridors; 6. Recognizes that most transit countries are themselves developing countries often of broadly similar economic structure and beset by similar scarcity of resources, including the lack of adequate transit transport infrastructure; 7. Emphasizes that assistance for the improvement of transit transport facilities and services should be integrated into the overall economic development strategies of the landlocked and transit developing countries and that donor countries should consequently take into account the requirements for the long-term restructuring of the economies of the landlocked developing countries; 8. Stresses the need for the implementation of the São Paulo ConsensusTD/412, part II. adopted at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, in particular paragraphs 66 and 84 thereof, by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach, and emphasizes, in this regard, that the examination of issues relating to the trade of small, vulnerable economies, and the framing of responses to these trade-related issues to facilitate their fuller integration into the multilateral trading system should be actively pursued consistent with the Doha work programme,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. taking into consideration the particular needs of landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries; 9. Invites the relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, including the regional commissions, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Bank, the World Customs Organization, the World Trade Organization and the International Maritime Organization, to integrate the Almaty Programme of Action into their relevant programmes of work, and encourages them to continue their support to the landlocked and transit developing countries, inter alia, through well-coordinated and coherent technical assistance programmes in transit transport; 10. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in particular the Division for Services Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency and the Special Programme on the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States to continue its technical assistance activities and analytical work related to transit transport cooperation between landlocked and transit developing countries; 11. Requests the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States of the Secretariat, in accordance with the mandate given by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/227 of 24 December 2001 and in the Almaty Programme of Action and the Almaty Declaration,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex II. to continue its cooperation and coordination with organizations within the United Nations system, particularly those engaged in operational activities on the ground in landlocked and transit developing countries to ensure effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action in line with General Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, and also requests the Office to continue to carry out advocacy work to mobilize international awareness and focus attention on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action; 12. Requests, in this regard, the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, within existing resources, to provide the Office with adequate resources so as to allow it to effectively carry out its added mandate as stipulated in the Almaty Programme of Action; 13. Invites donor countries and the international financial and development institutions to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General to support the activities related to the follow-up to the implementation of the outcome of the Almaty International Ministerial Conference; 14. Invites the 2005 high-level event to address the special needs of the landlocked developing countries, within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, in accordance with the modalities to be set by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, while assessing the progress achieved in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation"; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action. RESOLUTION 59/246 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/487/Add.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/246. Role of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/193 and 52/194 of 18 December 1997, 53/197 of 15 December 1998 and 58/221 of 23 December 2003, Recognizing that microcredit and microfinance programmes have succeeded in generating productive self-employment and proved to be an effective tool in assisting people to overcome poverty and reducing their vulnerability to crisis, and have led to their growing participation, in particular the participation of women, in the mainstream economic and political processes of society, Welcoming the efforts made in the field of property rights, and noting that an enabling environment at all levels, including transparent regulatory systems and competitive markets, foster the mobilization of resources and access to finance for people living in poverty, Bearing in mind the importance of microfinance instruments, such as credit, savings and other financial products and services, in providing access to capital for people living in poverty, Recognizing the need to create inclusive financial sectors in order to facilitate access for people living in poverty, especially women, to microcredit and microfinance so as to enable them to undertake microenterprises to generate employment and contribute to achieving self-empowerment, and to enhance their ability to increase income, build assets and mitigate vulnerability in times of hardship, Noting that the availability of microcredit and microfinance to people living in poverty, especially women, can support entrepreneurship and spur the development of microenterprises, providing goods, services and income to the poor, thus raising incomes and fostering equitable growth, Recalling its resolution 53/197, by which it proclaimed 2005 the International Year of Microcredit and requested that the observance of the Year be a special occasion for giving impetus to microcredit and microfinance programmes in all countries, particularly the developing countries, Encouraging the holding and supporting of regional, subregional and national events on the observance of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005, Noting the ongoing efforts by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the United Nations Capital Development Fund in jointly coordinating the activities of the United Nations system regarding the preparation and observance of the Year, and noting also the ongoing efforts of public and private development agencies, including the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, on microcredit and microfinance, Noting also that the international community is observing the period 1997-2006 as the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) and preparations for the International Year of Microcredit, 2005;A/59/326 and Add.1. 2. Welcomes the launching of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005; 3. Emphasizes that the observance of 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit will provide a significant opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty, to share good practices and to further enhance financial sectors that support sustainable pro-poor financial services in all countries; 4. Recognizes the importance of scaling up microcredit and other microfinance instruments, using the Year as a platform to find ways of enhancing development impact and sustainability through the increased dissemination of data and sharing of best practices and lessons learned among microcredit and microfinance institutions, and welcomes the ongoing efforts of United Nations regional organizations, funds, programmes and specialized agencies responsible for operational activities related to development in promoting microcredit and microfinance institutions, inter alia, supporting the development of entrepreneurship; 5. Reiterates its invitation to Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and civil society to collaborate, including through making voluntary contributions, in observing the Year, to raise public awareness and knowledge about microcredit and microfinance; 6. Recognizes that access to microcredit and microfinance can contribute to the achievement of the goals and targets of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the goals relating to poverty eradication, gender equality and the empowerment of women; 7. Invites Member States to consider undertaking policies to facilitate the expansion of microcredit and microfinance institutions in order to service the large unmet demand among poor people for financial services, including the identification and development of mechanisms to promote sustainable access to financial services, the removal of institutional and regulatory obstacles and the provision of incentives to microfinance institutions that meet national standards for delivering such financial services to the poor; 8. Also invites Member States to consider developing and promoting regulatory guidance and standards to ensure effectiveness in management, financial reporting, internal auditing, domestic supervision and accountability among microfinance institutions; 9. Decides to devote one plenary meeting at its sixty-first session to the consideration of the outcome of and follow-up to the International Year of Microcredit, with a view to broadening and deepening the discussion about microcredit and microfinance; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the observance of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005, and on the implementation of the present resolution, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 59/247 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/487/Add.1, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/247. Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/196 of 22 December 1992, 48/183 of 21 December 1993, 50/107 of 20 December 1995, 56/207 of 21 December 2001, 57/265 and 57/266 of 20 December 2002 and 58/222 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by Heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. and their commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Underlining the priority and urgency given by the Heads of State and Government to the eradication of poverty, as expressed in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and in the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Recalling the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Bearing in mind the outcomes of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Expressing its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected groups, in particular in the least developed countries and in sub-Saharan Africa, Welcoming the initiative launched by the Presidents of Brazil, Chile and France and the Prime Minister of Spain, with the support of the Secretary-General, to convene in New York on 20 September 2004 the Summit of World Leaders for Action against Hunger and Poverty, Noting the report of the Commission on Private Sector and Development entitled Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.III.B.4. Reiterating the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/326 and Add.1. 2. Reiterates that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries; 3. Underlines the fact that each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication, that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and that concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development; 4. Acknowledges that sustained economic growth, supported by rising productivity and a favourable environment, including for private investment and entrepreneurship, is necessary to eradicate poverty, achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and realize a rise in living standards; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the contributions and assistance of developing countries to the other developing countries in the context of South-South cooperation in order to achieve development and eradicate poverty; 6. Recognizes that, for developing countries to reach the targets set in the context of national development strategies for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, in particular the goal on the eradication of poverty, and for such poverty eradication strategies to be effective, it is imperative that developing countries be integrated into the world economy and share equitably in the benefits of globalization; 7. Reaffirms that, within the context of overall action for the eradication of poverty, special attention should be given to the multidimensional nature of poverty and the national and international conditions and policies that are conducive to its eradication, fostering, inter alia, the social and economic integration of people living in poverty and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development; Global response for the eradication of poverty 8. Stresses the importance of the follow-up to the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development, and calls for the full and effective implementation of the Monterrey Consensus;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 9. Reaffirms that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving poverty eradication and sustainable development; that, in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance through addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries; that, to that end, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing market access for developing countries; that efforts to reform the international financial architecture need to be sustained, with greater transparency and the effective participation of developing countries in decision-making processes; and that a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development; 10. Also reaffirms that good governance at the national level is essential for poverty eradication and sustainable development; that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, and the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; 11. Welcomes the outcomes of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, and the adoption of The Spirit of São PauloTD/412, part I. and the São Paulo Consensus;Ibid., part II. 12. Recognizes the major role that trade plays as an engine of growth and development and in eradicating poverty, and welcomes the adoption by the General Council of the World Trade Organization of its decision of 1 August 2004,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. in which the members rededicated and recommitted themselves to fulfilling the development dimensions of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs and interests of developing and least developed countries at the heart of the Doha work programme;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 13. Also recognizes that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority and that corruption is a serious barrier to effective resource mobilization and allocation and diverts resources from activities that are vital for poverty eradication, the fight against hunger and economic and sustainable development; 14. Underlines the fact that, together with coherent and consistent domestic policies, international cooperation is essential in supplementing and supporting the efforts of developing countries to utilize their domestic resources for development and poverty eradication and in ensuring that they will be able to achieve the development goals as envisioned in the Millennium Declaration; 15. Welcomes the recent increase in official development assistance, and reiterates that a substantial increase in official development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and that to build support for official development assistance, cooperation is necessary to further improve policies and development strategies to enhance aid effectiveness, both nationally and internationally; 16. Stresses the importance of enhanced and predictable financing to ensure the sustainability of the development and poverty eradication efforts of developing countries; 17. Urges developed countries that have not done so to make concrete efforts to reach the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, as reconfirmed at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. encourages developing countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to achieve development goals and targets, acknowledges the efforts of all donors, commends those donors whose official development assistance contributions exceed, reach or are increasing towards the targets, and underlines the importance of undertaking to examine the means and time frames for achieving the targets and goals; 18. Recalls the decision to give further consideration to the subject of possible innovative and additional sources of financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and external, taking into account international efforts, contributions and discussions, within the overall inclusive framework of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development; 19. Recognizes that an enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector and attracting and making effective use of international investment and assistance, and that efforts to create such an environment should be supported by the international community; 20. Also recognizes that creditors and debtors must share the responsibility for preventing and resolving unsustainable debt situations and that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with attaining poverty eradication, sustainable economic growth and sustainable development and achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 21. Calls upon the developed countries, by means of intensified and effective cooperation with developing countries, to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the special needs of developing countries; 22. Recognizes the crucial role that microfinance and microcredit could play in the eradication of poverty, the promotion of gender equality, the empowerment of vulnerable groups and the development of rural communities, invites Member States to consider undertaking policies to facilitate the expansion of microfinance and microcredit institutions in order to service the large unmet demand among poor people for financial services, including the identification and development of mechanisms to promote sustainable access to financial services, the removal of institutional and regulatory obstacles and the provision of incentives to microfinance institutions that meet national standards for delivering such financial services to the poor; 23. Also recognizes the potential of information and communication technologies to serve as a powerful tool for development and poverty eradication and to help the international community to maximize the benefits of globalization, and welcomes in this regard the holding of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society from 10 to 12 December 2003 in Geneva and the offer of Tunisia to host the second phase in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005; Policies for the eradication of poverty 24. Reaffirms that the eradication of poverty should be addressed in an integrated way, as set out in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. taking into account the importance of the need for the empowerment of women and sectoral strategies in such areas as education, the development of human resources, health, human settlements, rural, local and community development, productive employment, population, environment and natural resources, water and sanitation, agriculture, food security, energy and migration and the specific needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in such a way as to increase opportunities and choices for people living in poverty and to enable them to build and to strengthen their assets so as to achieve development, security and stability, and in that regard encourages countries to develop their national poverty reduction policies in accordance with their national priorities, including, where appropriate, through poverty reduction strategy papers; 25. Underlines, in this context, the importance of further integration of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, in the national development strategies and plans, including the poverty reduction strategy papers where they exist, and calls upon the international community to continue to support developing countries in the implementation of these development strategies and plans; 26. Recognizes the importance of disseminating best practices for the reduction of poverty in its various dimensions, taking into account the need to adapt those best practices to suit the social, economic, cultural and historical conditions of each country; 27. Reaffirms that all Governments and the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty, at both the national and international levels, and encourages the use of gender analysis as a tool for the integration of a gender dimension into planning the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for the eradication of poverty; 28. Also reaffirms that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development; 29. Emphasizes the critical role of both formal and non-formal education, in particular basic education and training, especially for girls, in empowering those living in poverty, reaffirms in that context the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and recognizes the importance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization strategy for the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, in supporting the Education For All programmes as a tool to achieve the Millennium Development Goal on universal primary education by 2015; 30. Recognizes the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious, contagious diseases on human development, economic growth, food security and poverty reduction efforts in all regions, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, and urges Governments and the international community to give urgent priority to combating those diseases; 31. Also recognizes that HIV/AIDS continues to exact a devastating toll on individuals and families, in particular women and girls, and that in the hardest-hit countries it threatens decades of health, economic and social progress, reducing life expectancy, slowing economic growth, deepening poverty and contributing to chronic food shortages; that urgent action is needed to address gender inequality and economic dependency and poverty; and that addressing HIV/AIDS is therefore an important component of poverty eradication and a key requisite when working to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 32. Emphasizes the link between poverty eradication and improving access to safe drinking water, and stresses in that regard the objective to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, as reaffirmed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 33. Recognizes that the lack of adequate housing remains a pressing challenge in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty, particularly in the urban areas in developing countries, expresses its concern at the rapid growth in the number of slum-dwellers in the urban areas of developing countries, particularly in Africa, stresses that, unless urgent and effective measures and actions are taken at the national and international levels, the number of slum-dwellers, who constitute one third of the world's urban population, will continue to increase, and emphasizes the need for increased efforts with a view to significantly improving the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020; 34. Encourages Governments to support the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure and the Global Campaign for Urban Governance of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme as important tools for, inter alia, promoting administration of land and property rights, in accordance with national circumstances, and enhancing access to affordable credit by the urban poor; 35. Recognizes that the eradication of rural poverty and hunger is crucial for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and that rural development should be an integral part of national and international development policies; Specific initiatives in the fight against poverty 36. Recognizes the important potential contribution of the World Solidarity Fund to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, in particular the objective to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people living on less than one dollar a day and the proportion of the people who suffer from hunger; 37. Takes note of efforts to define the strategy of the World Solidarity Fund and to mobilize resources to enable it to start its activities, and invites Member States, international organizations, the private sector, relevant institutions, foundations and individuals to contribute to the Fund; 38. Recalls that in the Millennium Declaration, the Heads of State and Government, inter alia, identified solidarity as one of the fundamental and universal values that should underlie relations between peoples in the twenty-first century, and in this regard decides to consider at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly the issue of proclaiming 20 December of each year International Human Solidarity Day; 39. Invites Governments and relevant stakeholders to utilize entrepreneurship, taking fully into account national interests, development strategies and priorities to contribute to poverty eradication; Africa, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States 40. Stresses, as recognized in the Millennium Declaration, the importance of meeting the special needs of Africa, where poverty remains a major challenge and where most countries have not benefited fully from the opportunities of globalization, which has further exacerbated the continent's marginalization; 41. Reaffirms its support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. encourages further efforts in the implementation of the commitments contained therein in the political, economic and social fields, and calls upon the Member States and the international community, and invites the United Nations system, to continue to support the implementation of the Partnership, the primary objective of which is to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development on the basis of African ownership and leadership and enhanced partnerships with the international community, in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the Partnership; 42. Takes note of the Plan of Action for Promotion of Employment and Poverty Alleviation in Africa adopted at the extraordinary summit of the African Union on employment and poverty alleviation, held in Ouagadougou from 3 to 9 September 2004,African Union, document EXT/ASSEMBLY/AU/4 (III) Rev.4. and notes the role of the International Labour Organization in assisting the African countries in implementing the Plan of Action adopted at the summit; 43. Calls upon the Governments of the least developed countries and their development partners to implement fully the commitments contained in the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001; 44. Stresses the vulnerabilities of the small island developing States, reiterates the importance of international support for the full implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. supports in this regard the holding of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in Mauritius from 10 to 14 January 2005, and looks forward to its outcomes; 45. Recognizes the special problems and needs of the landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, calls, in this regard, for the full and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and stresses the need for the implementation of the São Paulo Consensus,Ibid., part II. adopted in São Paulo, Brazil, on 18 June 2004 at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in particular paragraphs 66 and 84 thereof, by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach; The United Nations and the fight against poverty 46. Calls for the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, which provides a comprehensive basis for the follow-up to the outcomes of those conferences and summits and contributes to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, in particular the eradication of poverty, and stresses the importance of the 2005 high-level event to be held at the commencement of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, as decided by the Assembly in its resolution 58/291 of 6 May 2004; 47. Reaffirms the role of United Nations funds and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and its associated funds, in assisting the national efforts of developing countries, inter alia, in the eradication of poverty, and the need for their funding in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 48. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 49. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 59/248 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/487/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/248. World Survey on the role of women in development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/210 of 22 December 1999 and 58/206 of 23 December 2003 and all its other resolutions on the integration of women in development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "World Survey on the Role of Women in Development",A/59/287 and Add.1. which focuses on women and international migration, and decides to consider the report at its sixtieth session under the sub-item entitled "Women in development"; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to update the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development for the consideration of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, noting that the survey should continue to focus on selected emerging development themes that have an impact on the role of women in the economy at the national, regional and international levels, to be identified at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/249 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/487/Add.3, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/249. Industrial development cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/151 of 18 December 1991, 49/108 of 19 December 1994, 51/170 of 16 December 1996, 53/177 of 15 December 1998, 55/187 of 20 December 2000 and 57/243 of 20 December 2002 on industrial development cooperation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the outcomes of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,A/C.2/56/7, annex. the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,A/CONF.191/13. the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Recognizing the role of the business community, including the private sector, in enhancing the dynamic process of the development of the industrial sector, and underlining the importance of the benefits of foreign direct investment in that process, Recognizing also the importance of the transfer of technology to the developing countries and countries with economies in transition as an effective means of international cooperation in the pursuit of poverty eradication and sustainable development, Taking note of the corporate strategy of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, which aims at, inter alia, promoting productivity growth as a means of supporting the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the measures being taken to operationalize this strategy, Taking note also of the signing of the cooperation agreement between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Development Programme on 23 September 2004 and that the agreement should lead to the improvement of the field presence of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and a better fulfilment of its primary objective, which is to promote and accelerate industrial development in the developing countries while retaining its identity, visibility and core competencies, and noting that it establishes, inter alia, a basis for both institutions to develop joint technical cooperation programmes in support of private-sector development in developing countries, Taking note further of the signing of a memorandum of technical cooperation between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the World Trade Organization, at Cancun, Mexico, on 10 September 2003, aiming at the joint development and implementation of trade-related technical cooperation programmes, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/138. and welcomes the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 2. Reaffirms that industrialization is an essential factor in the sustained economic growth, sustainable development and eradication of poverty of developing countries and countries with economies in transition as well as in the creation of productive employment, income generation and the facilitation of social integration, including the integration of women into the development process; 3. Stresses the critical role of productive capacity-building and industrial development for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 4. Takes note of the comprehensive review of the activities of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization conducted in line with its corporate strategy, which has enabled it to become a more focused, effective and efficient organization, especially for developing countries and countries with economies in transition, capable of delivering concrete outcomes and providing valuable contributions to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 5. Emphasizes the necessity of favourable national and international measures for the industrialization of developing countries, and urges all Governments to adopt and to implement development policies and strategies to unleash the productivity growth potential through private-sector development, the diffusion of environmentally sound and emerging technologies, investment promotion, enhanced access to markets and the effective use of official development assistance to enable developing countries to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to make this process sustainable; 6. Underlines the importance of industrial development cooperation and of a positive investment and business climate at the international, regional, subregional and national levels in promoting the expansion, diversification and modernization of productive capacities in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 7. Takes note with appreciation of the organization of the Global Biotechnology Forum, held in Concepción, Chile, from 2 to 5 March 2004, which was organized jointly by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Government of Chile, with support from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, and takes note of decision IDB.28/Dec.6 of the Industrial Development Board of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization;See GC.11/2, annex I. 8. Confirms the contribution of industry to social development, especially in the context of the linkages between industry and agriculture, and notes that, within the totality of these interlinkages, industry serves as a powerful source of employment generation, income creation and social integration required for the eradication of poverty; 9. Calls for the continuing use of official development assistance for industrial development in the developing countries and countries with economies in transition, calls upon donor countries and recipient countries to continue to cooperate in their efforts to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness of the official development assistance resources devoted to industrial development cooperation and to support the efforts of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to promote industrial development cooperation among themselves, and underlines the importance of mobilizing funds for industrial development at the country level, including private funding and funds from relevant development finance institutions; 10. Also calls for, in this regard, the continuing use of all other resources, including private and public, foreign and domestic resources, for industrial development in the developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 11. Reiterates the importance of cooperation and coordination within the United Nations system in providing effective support for the sustainable industrial development of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to carry out its central role in the field of industrial development according to its mandate; 12. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to enhance its effectiveness, relevance and development impact by, inter alia, strengthening its cooperation with other institutions of the United Nations system at all levels; 13. Calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to participate actively in coordination at the field level through the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework processes and sector-wide approaches; 14. Emphasizes the need to promote the development of microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, including by means of training, education and skills enhancement, with a special focus on agro-industry as a provider of livelihoods for rural communities; 15. Stresses the need for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to promote, within its mandate, the development of competitive industries in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, as well as in landlocked developing countries; 16. Reaffirms the need to support the survival and expansion of industrial manufacturing activity in developing countries, and in this regard calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to improve its technical cooperation activities through, inter alia, the areas of technology diffusion and capacity-building for market access and development; 17. Welcomes the active role played by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in the High-Level Committee on Programmes of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, and encourages it to continue promoting enhanced coordination and coherence within the United Nations system with a view to reinforcing the quality and relevance of the United Nations in the field of economic development; 18. Requests the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to facilitate industrial development with emphasis on the priority areas outlined in its medium-term programme framework, 2004-2007; 19. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to increase its contributions to achieve the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. with a view to further strengthening the industrialization process in Africa; 20. Also encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to develop further its global forum capacity according to its mandate, with the aim of enhancing, in the context of the globalization process, a common understanding of global and regional industrial sector issues and their impact on poverty eradication and sustainable development, and calls for further strengthening of the demand-driven integrated programme approach at the field level; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/24 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 17 November 2004, by a recorded vote of 141 to 1, with 2 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.22 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Turkey Abstaining: Colombia, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 59/24. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33 of 24 November 1999, 57/141 of 12 December 2002, 58/240 of 23 December 2003 and other relevant resolutions adopted subsequent to the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention")See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). on 16 November 1994, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention and its fundamental importance for the maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security, as well as for the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigenda), vol. I: Resolutions adopted by the Conference, resolution 1, annex II. Noting with satisfaction the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on 16 November 2004, and recognizing the pre-eminent contribution provided by the Convention to the strengthening of peace, security, cooperation and friendly relations among all nations in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and to the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at all levels, in accordance with the Convention, in order to address all aspects of oceans and seas in an integrated manner and to promote the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Recalling the essential role of international cooperation and coordination at all levels to support and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention, including the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, Reiterating the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Recognizing the important role that the competent international organizations have in relation to ocean affairs, in implementing the Convention and in promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their resources, Recalling that marine science, by improving knowledge, through sustained research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world's marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events, and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Recalling also its decision to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, in its resolutions 57/141 and 58/240, as recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 36 (b). noting the work of the International Workshop, held in conjunction with the fifth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea ("the Consultative Process") held from 8 to 11 June 2004, reaffirming its support for this objective, and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end, Reiterating its concern at the adverse impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including corals, of human activities, such as overutilization of living marine resources, the use of destructive practices, physical impacts by ships, the introduction of alien invasive species and marine pollution from all sources, including from land-based sources and vessels, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances and from dumping, including the dumping of hazardous waste such as radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, Recognizing that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including vulnerable marine ecosystems and the economics of the global shipping industry, and recognizing in this regard that the move towards electronic charting not only provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, Noting the important role of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission") in assisting States parties in the implementation of the Convention, through the examination of submissions by coastal States regarding the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, and also noting the need to ensure the effective functioning of the Commission and its subcommissions, in particular the participation of the members of the Commission in its subcommissions, Taking note of the report on the work of the fifth meeting of the Consultative Process,A/59/122. established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 in order to facilitate the annual review by the Assembly of developments in ocean affairs and extended for three years by its resolution 57/141, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/62 and Add.1. and emphasizing in this regard the critical role of the annual comprehensive report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review, Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and in this context the increase in responsibilities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, in particular in view of the growing involvement of the Division with new developments such as the regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, with increasing capacity-building activities and assistance to the Commission, and the role of the Division in inter-agency coordination and cooperation, Emphasizing that ships and watercraft of all descriptions and ages hold essential information on the history of humankind and that archaeological heritage is a non-renewable resource, deposited over thousands of years, but vulnerable to destruction through modern technologies, I Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement");See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 2. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all States that have not done so to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Fish Stocks Agreement");International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. 4. Once again calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention do not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State concerned and to withdraw any such declarations or statements; 5. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts or lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to improve the existing Geographic Information System for the deposit by States of charts and geographical coordinates concerning maritime zones, including lines of delimitation, submitted in compliance with the Convention, and to give due publicity thereto, in particular by implementing, in cooperation with relevant international organizations, such as the International Hydrographic Organization, the technical standards for the collection, storage and dissemination of the information deposited, in order to ensure compatibility among the Geographic Information System, electronic nautical charts and other systems developed by these organizations; 7. Urges all States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in taking measures to protect and preserve objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea, in conformity with article 303 of the Convention; II Capacity-building 8. Calls upon bilateral and multilateral donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the objectives of the present resolution as well as the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the rights of landlocked developing States; 9. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to improve hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including the mobilization of resources and building of capacity with support from international financial institutions and the donor community, recognizing that economies of scale can apply in some instances at the regional level through shared facilities, technical capabilities and information for the provision of hydrographic services and the preparation of and access to nautical charts; 10. Calls upon States and international financial institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and technical partnerships, to continue to strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training the necessary skilled personnel, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 11. Encourages the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue to disseminate and implement the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, approved by the Assembly of the Oceanographic Commission at its twenty-second session, in 2003;Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, document IOC-XXII/2 Annex 12 rev. 12. Encourages States to assist developing States, and especially the least developed States and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, on a bilateral and, where appropriate, regional level, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission, including the assessment of the nature of the continental shelf of a coastal State made in the form of a desktop study, and the mapping of the outer limits of its continental shelf; III Trust funds and fellowships 13. Welcomes recent capacity-building initiatives, and in this context takes note with satisfaction of the conclusion of an arrangement between the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations regarding the administration of the Assistance Fund established under Part VII of the Fish Stocks Agreement, and the conclusion of a capacity-building trust fund project agreement between the United Nations and the Nippon Foundation of Japan, focusing on human resources development for developing coastal States parties and non-parties to the Convention in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea or related disciplines; 14. Recognizes the importance of assisting developing States, in particular the least developed States and small island developing States, in implementing the Convention, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in resolution 57/141, established for this purpose; 15. Also recognizes the importance of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Programme on the Law of the Sea established by the General Assembly in its resolution 35/116 of 10 December 1980, and urges Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Fellowship Programme; IV Meeting of States Parties 16. Takes note of the report of the fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/119 and Corr.1. 17. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the fifteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York from 16 to 24 June 2005 and to provide the services required; V Settlement of disputes 18. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") to the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement; 19. Equally pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 20. Encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement; 21. Recalls the obligation under article 296 of the Convention requiring all parties to a dispute before a court or a tribunal referred to in article 287 of the Convention to comply promptly with any decisions rendered by such court or tribunal; 22. Encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to nominate conciliators and arbitrators in accordance with annexes V and VII to the Convention, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to update and circulate lists of these conciliators and arbitrators on a regular basis; VI The Area 23. Notes with satisfaction the progress of the discussions on issues relating to the regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area, and reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration by the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority"), pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and the prevention of damage to its flora and fauna from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; 24. Takes note of the Workshop for the establishment of environmental baselines at deep seafloor cobalt-rich crusts and deep seabed polymetallic sulphide mine sites in the Area for the purpose of evaluating the likely effects of exploration and exploitation on the marine environment, held in Kingston from 6 to 10 September 2004; VII Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 25. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and to the Tribunal in full and on time; 26. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalSPLOS/25. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;ISBA/4/A/8, annex. VIII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 27. Encourages States parties to the Convention that are in a position to do so to make every effort to make submissions to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles within the time period established by the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/72. 28. Notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission,See the statement by the Chairman of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on the progress of work in the Commission (CLCS/42). especially that the consideration of the first submissions regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles has begun, and that a number of States have advised of their intention to make submissions in the near future; 29. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the fifteenth session of the Commission in New York from 4 to 22 April 2005, and of the sixteenth session of the Commission from 29 August to 16 September 2005, on the understanding that the second and third weeks of each session will be used by the Commission for a technical examination of submissions at the Geographic Information System Laboratory and other technical facilities at the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 30. Urges the Secretary-General to take all necessary actions to ensure that the Commission can fulfil the functions entrusted to it under the Convention; 31. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session proposals on how the requirements of the Commission could be best accommodated, taking into account the concerns expressed in the statement by the Chairman of the Commission at its fourteenth session,See the statement by the Chairman of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on the progress of work in the Commission (CLCS/42). regarding the expectation that new submissions will require concomitant meetings of several subcommissions for their examination; 32. Also requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with States and relevant international organizations and institutions, to consider developing and making available training courses, based on the outline for a five-day training courseCLCS/24 and Corr.1. prepared by the Commission in order to facilitate the preparation of submissions in accordance with its Scientific and Technical Guidelines,CLCS/11 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Corr.1. and welcomes the progress made by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea in preparing a training manual to assist States in preparation of submissions to the Commission; 33. Encourages States to exchange views in order to increase understanding of issues arising from the application of article 76 of the Convention, thus facilitating preparation of submissions by States, in particular developing States, to the Commission, and welcomes initiatives in this regard, including the Conference on Legal and Scientific Aspects of Continental Shelf Limits, held in Reykjavik from 25 to 27 June 2003, the proceedings of which have been published and distributed worldwide; IX Maritime safety and security and flag State implementation 34. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the safety and security of navigation and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 35. Welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance,International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.949(23). encourages States to draw up plans and to establish procedures to implement those Guidelines, and invites States to participate in the consideration of those instruments by the International Maritime Organization; 36. Invites the International Hydrographic Organization and the International Maritime Organization to continue their coordinated efforts, to jointly adopt measures with a view to encouraging greater international cooperation and coordination for the transition to electronic nautical charts and to increase the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis, especially in the areas of international navigation and ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas; 37. Welcomes the adoption by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-eighth session of resolution GC(48)/RES/10, concerning measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management, including those aspects relating to maritime transport,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)). and also welcomes the approval of the Action Plan for the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Materials by the Board of Governors of the Agency in March 2004; 38. Once again urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with, and implementation and enforcement of, their responsibilities under international law and, until such action is undertaken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry; 39. Welcomes the report of the Consultative Group on Flag State Implementation,A/59/63. and invites all concerned organizations to disseminate it widely; 40. Also welcomes the progress made by the International Maritime Organization on the establishment and further development of a voluntary International Maritime Organization member State audit scheme, in such a manner as not to exclude the possibility in the future of it becoming mandatory; 41. Requests that the Secretary-General report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the study undertaken by the International Maritime Organization in cooperation with other competent international organizations following the invitation extended to it in resolution 58/240 and resolution 58/14 of 24 November 2003 to examine and clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels, and the potential consequences of non-compliance with duties and obligations of flag States described in relevant international instruments; 42. Encourages relevant international organizations to further develop ideas to devise means of discouraging owners and operators from non-compliance with the requirements imposed by flag States in carrying out their duties and obligations under relevant international instruments; 43. Welcomes the progress made by the International Labour Organization in the preparation of a consolidated maritime labour convention; 44. Recognizes the important role of port State control in promoting the effective enforcement by flag States of, and compliance by shipowners and charterers with, flag States' and internationally agreed safety, labour and pollution standards, as well as maritime security regulations and conservation and management measures, and encourages Member States to improve the exchange of appropriate information between port States control authorities; 45. Invites the International Maritime Organization to take steps within its mandate to harmonize, coordinate and evaluate port State control in relation to safety and pollution standards, as well as maritime security regulations and, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, labour standards so as to promote the implementation of globally agreed minimum standards by all States, and invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its work in promoting port State measures in relation to fishing vessels in order to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 46. Calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of sub-standard vessels and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; 47. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting and investigation of incidents, bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 48. Welcomes the progress in regional cooperation in the prevention and suppression of piracy and armed robbery at sea in some geographical areas, and urges States to give urgent attention to promoting, adopting and implementing cooperation agreements, in particular at the regional level in high-risk areas; 49. Notes the concerns of the Council and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization with regard to keeping shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance safe and open to international maritime traffic and thereby ensuring the uninterrupted flow of traffic, and welcomes the request of the Council in this regard that the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization continue work on the issue in collaboration with parties concerned and report developments to the Council at its next session;Summary of decisions of the Council of the International Maritime Organization at its ninety-second session, document C 92/D, para. 5.3. 50. Urges States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and its Protocol,International Maritime Organization publication, Sales No. 462.88.12.E. invites States to participate in the review of those instruments by the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization to strengthen the means of combating such unlawful acts, including terrorist acts, and also urges States to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments, in particular through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate, aimed at ensuring that there is a proper framework for responses to incidents of armed robbery and terrorist acts at sea; 51. Welcomes the entry into force of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and related amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaInternational Maritime Organization, documents SOLAS/CONF.5/32 and 34. on 1 July 2004, as well as the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of the theme "International Maritime Organization 2004: Focus on Maritime Security" for the twenty-seventh World Maritime Day, and urges all States to work with that organization to promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation; 52. Also welcomes the entry into force of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex III. and of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. and urges States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocols and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective implementation; 53. Further welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of amendments to the International Convention on Maritime Search and RescueMaritime Safety Committee, document MSC//78/26/Add.1, annex 5, resolution MSC.155(78). and to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaIbid., annex 3, resolution MSC.153(78). relating to the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety and of the associated Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea;Ibid., annex 34, resolution MSC.167(78). X Marine environment, marine resources, marine biodiversity and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems 54. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 55. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to and implement the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972,IMO/LC.2/Circ.380. and protect and preserve the marine environment from all sources of pollution and take effective measures, according to their scientific, technical and economic capabilities, to prevent, reduce and, where practicable, eliminate pollution caused by dumping or incineration at sea of wastes or other matter; 56. Welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, providing for the accelerated phase-out of single-hull tankers and a phase-out scheme for the carriage of heavy grade fuel oil in single-hull tankers;Marine Environment Protection Committee, document MEPC 50/3, annex 1, resolution MEPC.111(50). 57. Also welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments,International Maritime Organization, document BWM/CONF/36, annex. and calls upon States to become parties to that Convention; 58. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships;International Maritime Organization, document AFS/CONF/26, annex. 59. Welcomes the adoption of the Protocol establishing an International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary Fund,Protocol of 2003 to the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (LEG/Conf.14/20). and calls upon States to become parties to that Protocol; 60. Encourages States, in accordance with the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity; 61. Notes with interest the decision taken at the fifty-second session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization to designate the Western European Waters as a particularly sensitive sea area;Marine Environment Protection Committee, document MEPC 52/24, annex 10, resolution MEPC.121(52). 62. Welcomes the entry into force of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants,United Nations Treaty registration No. 40214. Available from www.pops.int. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to that Convention; 63. Calls upon States to continue to prioritize action on marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, and to advance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based ActivitiesA/51/116, annex II. and the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;See A/57/57, annex I.B. 64. Welcomes the adoption of resolution A.962(23) by the International Maritime Organization on 5 December 2003, entitled "International Maritime Organization Guidelines on Ship Recycling", and calls upon States to follow these Guidelines in order to minimize marine pollution; 65. Also welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between freshwater, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and of the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular the target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 66. Calls upon States to implement strategies and programmes for an integrated ecosystem-based approach to management, developed by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant global and regional organizations, and urges those organizations to cooperate in the development of practical guidance to assist States in this regard; 67. Takes note of part two of the addendum to the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the seaA/59/62/Add.1. describing the threats and risks to vulnerable and threatened marine ecosystems and biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, as well as details of conservation and management measures addressing these issues, prepared pursuant to the request contained in paragraph 52 of resolution 58/240; 68. Reaffirms the need for States and competent international organizations to urgently consider ways to integrate and improve, on a scientific basis and in accordance with the Convention and related agreements and instruments, the management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water corals, hydrothermal vents and certain other underwater features; 69. Welcomes decision VII/5 on marine and coastal biological diversity adopted at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity;See UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex. 70. Calls upon States and international organizations to urgently take action to address, in accordance with international law, destructive practices that have adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals; 71. Welcomes decision VII/28 adopted at the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in which the Conference decided to establish an ad hoc open-ended working group on protected areas,See UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex. and encourages the participation of oceans experts in the working group; 72. Reaffirms the need for States to continue their efforts to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on the best scientific information available, and the development of representative networks of any such marine protected areas by 2012; 73. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction: (a) To survey the past and present activities of the United Nations and other relevant international organizations with regard to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction; (b) To examine the scientific, technical, economic, legal, environmental, socio-economic and other aspects of these issues; (c) To identify key issues and questions where more detailed background studies would facilitate consideration by States of these issues; (d) To indicate, where appropriate, possible options and approaches to promote international cooperation and coordination for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction; 74. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the issues referred to in paragraph 73 above in the context of his report on oceans and the law of the sea to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, in order to assist the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group in preparing its agenda, in consultation with all relevant international bodies; to convene the meeting of the Working Group in New York not later than six months after the release of the report; and to arrange support for the performance of its work to be provided by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 75. Encourages States to include relevant experts in their delegations attending the meeting of the Working Group; 76. Recognizes the importance of making the outcomes of the Working Group widely available; 77. Urges States and relevant global and regional bodies to enhance their cooperation in the protection and preservation of mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs, including through the exchange of information; 78. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, takes note of the tenth International Coral Reef Symposium, held in Okinawa, Japan, in 2004, supports the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity,See A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10. and the elaborated Programme of Work on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity,UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex, decision VII/5, annex I. and notes the progress that the International Coral Reef Initiative and other relevant bodies have made to incorporate cold water coral ecosystems into their programmes; 79. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving foreign vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems; 80. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management and integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international financial institutions and the donor community; XI Marine science 81. Calls upon States, individually, or in collaboration with each other or with relevant international organizations and bodies, to improve understanding and knowledge of the deep sea, including, in particular, the extent and vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing their marine scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention; 82. Notes the potential for gas hydrates as one source for energy development, as well as the possible associated risks, including those in the context of climate change, and encourages States and, if appropriate, the Authority and the international scientific community to continue to cooperate in deepening the understanding of the issues and in investigating the feasibility, methodology, safety and environmental impacts of the extraction of gas hydrates from the seabed, their distribution and their use; 83. Also notes the potential for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts and polymetallic sulphides as important sources of minerals, and in this context encourages States, the Authority and the scientific community to cooperate to explore this potential and to minimize the environmental impacts of the exploration; XII Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects 84. Takes note of the report on the International Workshop on the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects ("the regular process"),A/59/126. including its draft conclusions, convened to consider and review the draft document prepared by the group of experts; 85. Recognizes the urgent need to initiate a start-up phase, the "Assessment of Assessments", as a preparatory stage towards the establishment of the regular process provided for in the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 36 (b). and resolutions 57/141 and 58/240; 86. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the second International Workshop on the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, from 13 to 15 June 2005 with representatives from States, relevant organizations, agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, other competent intergovernmental organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, to continue considering issues relating to the establishment of the process, including the scope of the process and a task force to initiate the start-up phase, the "Assessment of Assessments"; 87. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on progress relating to establishment of the aforementioned regular process in his annual report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; XIII Regional cooperation 88. Emphasizes once again the importance of regional organizations and arrangements for cooperation and coordination in integrated oceans management, and, where there are separate regional structures for different aspects of oceans management, such as environmental protection and conservation of marine ecosystems, fisheries management, navigation, scientific research and maritime delimitation, calls for those different structures, where appropriate, to work together for optimal cooperation and coordination; 89. Notes that there have been a number of initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention, takes note in this context of the Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, takes note once again of the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes, established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these funds; XIV Open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea 90. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the sixth meeting of the Consultative Process in New York from 6 to 10 June 2005 and to provide it with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work and to arrange for support, as appropriate; 91. Recalls its decision to further review the effectiveness and utility of the Consultative Process at its sixtieth session; 92. Recommends that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea at its meeting, the Consultative Process should organize its discussions around the following areas: (a) Fisheries and their contribution to sustainable development; (b) Marine debris; as well as issues discussed at previous meetings; XV Inter-agency coordination and cooperation 93. Notes the establishment of the Oceans and Coastal Areas Network (UN-Oceans), a new inter-agency mechanism for coordination and cooperation on issues relating to oceans and coastal issues, called for in paragraph 69 of resolution 58/240; 94. Urges the close and continuous involvement in UN-Oceans of all relevant United Nations programmes, funds and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and the participation of international financial institutions, relevant intergovernmental and other organizations, as well as the Authority and the secretariats of multilateral environmental agreements; 95. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies and funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, drawing their attention to paragraphs of particular relevance to them, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 96. Invites the competent international organizations, as well as funding institutions, to take specific account of the present resolution in their programmes and activities and to contribute to the preparation of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea; 97. Encourages the sponsoring organizations of the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection to continue to support and provide the necessary assistance to the process of restructuring the Group of Experts; XVI Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 98. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea and its addendum,A/59/62 and Add.1. prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as for the other activities of the Division, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and the mandate set forth in resolutions 49/28, 52/26, 54/33, and 56/12 of 28 November 2001; 99. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to him in the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure that appropriate resources are made available to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for the performance of such responsibilities under the approved budget for the Organization; 100. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to support the capacity-building activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, including, in particular, the training activities to assist developing States in the preparation of their submission to the Commission, and the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme of the Division; XVII Sixtieth session of the General Assembly 101. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including other developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, in connection with his annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, and to provide the report in accordance with the modalities set out in resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and also requests the Secretary-General to make the report available, in its current comprehensive format, at least six weeks in advance of the meeting of the Consultative Process; 102. Notes that the report referred to in paragraph 101 above will also be presented to States parties pursuant to article 319 of the Convention regarding issues of a general nature that have arisen with respect to the Convention; 103. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". RESOLUTION 59/250 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/488/Add.1, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 59/250. Triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/211 of 22 December 1989, 47/199 of 22 December 1992, 50/120 of 20 December 1995, 52/203 of 18 December 1997, 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 53/192 of 15 December 1998 and 56/201 of 21 December 2001, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/29 of 25 July 2002, 2003/3 of 11 July 2003 and 2004/5 of 12 July 2004, and other relevant resolutions, Reaffirming the importance of the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities, through which the General Assembly establishes key system-wide policy orientations for the development cooperation and country-level modalities of the United Nations system, Recalling the role of the Economic and Social Council in providing coordination and guidance to the United Nations system to ensure that those policy orientations are implemented on a system-wide basis in accordance with Assembly resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993, 50/227 of 24 May 1996 and 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. including the development and poverty eradication goals contained therein, and recalling further the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002 and other major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, and their importance for international development cooperation, in particular for the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, Noting, in this context, the activities of the United Nations funds and programmes aimed at providing technical assistance to recipient countries, in response to their national economic and social needs and priorities, including poverty eradication and the promotion of all human rights, including the right to development, for achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and recent United Nations conferences, and stressing the need for those activities to be undertaken at the request of interested recipient Governments strictly within the respective mandates of the United Nations funds and programmes, which should receive increased contributions from donor countries, Recognizing that the transition from relief to development represents a complex challenge as regards the universal achievement of the MDGs,The internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. Reiterating that developing countries are responsible for their own development processes, and in this context stressing the responsibility of the international community, in partnership, in assisting developing countries in their national development efforts, Recognizing that the United Nations development system should take into account the specific needs and requirements of the countries with economies in transition and other recipient countries, Recognizing also that new technologies, including information and communication technologies, present an opportunity to accelerate development, especially in developing countries, and noting that the access to those technologies is uneven and that a digital divide still prevails, Reaffirming the need to ensure, in a coherent and timely manner, the full implementation of all the elements of its resolutions 44/211, 47/199, 50/120, 53/192 and 56/201 and the parts of its resolution 52/12 B relevant to operational activities for development, which should be considered an integral part of the present resolution, Reiterating the importance of the development of national capacities to eradicate poverty and pursue sustained economic growth and sustainable development as a central goal of the development cooperation of the United Nations system, Recognizing that new trends in development assistance, including sector-wide approaches and budget support, pose challenges to the United Nations, and stressing that the United Nations has a role to play in assisting developing countries to manage the new aid modalities, Noting the advances that the United Nations development system is making in the area of coordination, including in the implementation of resolution 56/201, Encouraging the governing bodies of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to ensure that gender perspectives are integrated into all aspects of their monitoring functions in relation to policies and strategies, medium-term plans, multi-year funding frameworks and operational activities, including those relating to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, I Introduction 1. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system;A/59/84-E/2004/53, A/59/85-E/2004/68, A/59/386 and A/59/387. 2. Reaffirms that the fundamental characteristics of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system should be, inter alia, their universal, voluntary and grant nature, their neutrality and their multilateralism, as well as their ability to respond to the development needs of recipient countries in a flexible manner, and that the operational activities are carried out for the benefit of recipient countries, at the request of those countries and in accordance with their own policies and priorities for development; 3. Urges all Member States to pursue the full implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and recognizes the positive contribution that these can make in providing direction to the operational activities for development of the United Nations system in accordance with national development efforts and priorities; 4. Recognizes that the strength of the United Nations operational system lies in its legitimacy, at the country level, as a neutral, objective and trusted partner for both recipient countries and donor countries; 5. Stresses that national Governments have the primary responsibility for their countries' development, and recognizes the importance of national ownership of development programmes; 6. Emphasizes that recipient Governments have the primary responsibility for coordinating, on the basis of national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance, including that provided by multilateral organizations, in order to integrate effectively such assistance into their development process; 7. Emphasizes also that the operational activities for development of the United Nations system should be valued and assessed on the basis of their impact on the recipient countries as contributions to enhance their capacity to pursue poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 8. Calls upon the United Nations development system to highlight best practices, where these can inform national efforts to implement policies that promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development, inter alia, through the rule of law and the strengthening of effective, efficient, transparent and accountable systems for mobilizing resources; 9. Decides that, with the agreement of the host country, the United Nations development system should assist national Governments in creating an enabling environment in which the links between national Governments, the United Nations development system, civil society, national non-governmental organizations and the private sector that are involved in the development process are strengthened, with a view to seeking new and innovative solutions to development problems in accordance with national policies and priorities; 10. Stresses that the purpose of reform is to make the United Nations development system more efficient and effective in its support to developing countries to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, on the basis of their national development strategies, and stresses also that reform efforts should enhance organizational efficiency and achieve concrete development results; 11. Requests the organizations of the United Nations system to continue their efforts to respond to national development plans, policies and priorities, which constitute the only viable frame of reference for programming their operational activities at the country level, and to pursue full integration of the operational activities for development at the country-level with national planning and programming, under the leadership of national Governments, at all stages of the process, while ensuring the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders at the national level; 12. Welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General, through the members of the United Nations Development Group and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, as appropriate, to enhance the coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations development system at the country level; 13. Recognizes that strengthening the role and capacity of the United Nations development system to assist countries in achieving their development goals requires continuing improvement in its effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact, along with a significant increase in resources and an expansion of its resource base on a continuous, more predictable and assured basis; II Funding for operational activities for development of the United Nations system 14. Emphasizes that increasing financial contributions to the United Nations development system is key to achieving the MDGs,The internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. and in this regard recognizes the mutually reinforcing links between increased effectiveness, efficiency and coherence of the United Nations development system, achieving concrete results in assisting developing countries to eradicate poverty and achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development through operational activities for development and the overall resourcing of the United Nations development system; 15. Emphasizes also that funding of operational activities for development of the United Nations system should focus on long-term development challenges based on national development strategies; 16. Notes with concern that the United Nations development system has not benefited commensurately from recent increases in official development assistance, despite the additional tasks entrusted to the United Nations system in the implementation of and follow-up to internationally agreed goals; 17. Stresses that core resources, because of their untied nature, continue to be the bedrock of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and in this regard notes with appreciation that core contributions to United Nations funds and programmes have begun to increase again over the last three years; 18. Calls upon donor countries and other countries in a position to do so to substantially increase their contributions to the core/regular budgets of the United Nations development system, in particular its funds and programmes, and wherever possible, to contribute on a multi-year basis; 19. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts to reach the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product as official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, as reconfirmed at the Third United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. encourages developing countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to achieve development goals and targets, acknowledges the efforts of all donors, commends those donors whose official development assistance contributions exceed, reach or are increasing towards the targets, and underlines the importance of undertaking to examine the means and time frames for achieving the targets and goals;See paragraph 42 of the Monterrey Consensus (see Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), annex). 20. Notes the increase in non-core resources as a mechanism to supplement the means of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, which contributes to an increase in total resources, while recognizing that non-core resources are not a substitute for core resources and that unearmarked contributions are vital for the coherence and harmonization of the operational activities for development; 21. Invites the governing bodies of all organizations of the United Nations development system to address systematically the funding of their operational activities and to explore, within the context of their multi-year planning and related financial frameworks, where appropriate, additional sources of financial support and alternative funding modalities so as to secure, on a predictable, continuous and sustained basis, the critical mass of resources required to ensure adequate functioning and pursuit of long-term development objectives; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to improve his annual statistical compendium to the operational activities segment of the Economic and Social Council by adding a multi-year perspective, fully incorporating available information and statistics; 23. Requests the Economic and Social Council to undertake triennially, as of 2006, a comprehensive review of trends and perspectives in funding for development cooperation; 24. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States, to explore various funding options for increasing financing for operational activities for development of the United Nations system and to examine ways to enhance the predictability, long-term stability, reliability and adequacy of funding for the operational activities for development, including through the identification of possible new funding sources, as a follow-up to his report,A/59/387. while preserving the advantages of the current funding modalities, and to submit a report to the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session in 2005; 25. Recognizes the urgent and specific needs of low-income countries, in particular the least developed countries, and stresses the need to continue to assist those countries through the existing institutions and funding mechanisms of the United Nations development system; III Capacity-building 26. Recognizes that capacity development and ownership of national development strategies are essential for the achievement of the MDGs,The internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. and calls upon United Nations organizations to provide further support to the efforts of developing countries to establish and/or maintain effective national institutions and to support the implementation and, as necessary, the devising of national strategies for capacity-building; 27. Urges all organizations of the United Nations development system to intensify inter-agency sharing of information at the system-wide level on good practices and experiences gained, results achieved, benchmarks and indicators, monitoring and evaluation criteria concerning their capacity-building activities; 28. Encourages all organizations of the United Nations development system to include reporting on their capacity-building activities in their annual reports to their respective governing bodies; 29. Requests the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination to analyse the capacity development efforts of the United Nations development system and to make recommendations on measures necessary to enhance their effectiveness, including through the improvement of the assessment and measurement of results; 30. Calls upon United Nations organizations to further strengthen the capacity of developing countries to better utilize the various aid modalities, including system-wide approaches and budget support; 31. Also calls upon United Nations organizations to adopt measures that ensure sustainability in capacity-building activities, and reiterates that the United Nations development system should use, to the fullest extent possible, national plans and available national expertise and technologies as the norm in the implementation of operational activities; 32. Stresses that developing countries, in order to meet the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, should have access to new and emerging technologies, including information and communication technologies, which requires technology transfer, technical cooperation and the building and nurturing of scientific and technological capacity to participate in the development and adaptation of these technologies to local conditions, and in this regard urges Member States and the United Nations system to ensure the promotion and transfer of new and emerging technologies to developing countries; 33. Encourages the United Nations development system to support the national development strategies and plans of countries with economies in transition that face continuing difficulties in economic and social development, specifically to assist them in addressing the challenges of achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; IV Transaction costs and efficiency 34. Invites the governing bodies of all organizations of the United Nations system actively involved in development cooperation activities and their respective management to adopt harmonization and simplification measures, with a view to achieving a significant reduction in the administrative and procedural burden on the organizations and their national partners that derives from the preparation and implementation of operational activities; 35. Notes the progress achieved in the area of simplification and harmonization as defined in section VI of resolution 56/201, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Group, and calls upon the funds, programmes and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system to continue to implement the simplification and harmonization agenda by taking further steps to enhance and ensure the sustainability of that process; 36. Requests the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to examine ways to further simplify their rules and procedures and, in this context, to accord the issue of simplification and harmonization high priority and to take concrete steps in the following areas: rationalization of country presence through common premises and co-location of members of United Nations country teams; implementation of the joint office model; common shared support services, including security, information technology, telecommunications, travel, banking and administrative and financial procedures, including for procurement; harmonization of the principles of cost recovery policies, including that of full cost recovery; alignment of the regional technical support structures and regional bureaux at headquarters level, including their regional coverage; as well as further simplification and harmonization measures; 37. Requests the Secretary-General, in full consultation with all members of the United Nations Development Group, through the Executive Committee of the Development Group, to submit to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2005, a programme of work for the full implementation of the above-mentioned actions, to be completed before the end of 2007, including benchmarks, responsibilities and provisions to phase out redundant rules and procedures, as well as a timetable to monitor the progress made towards meeting these targets; 38. Invites the executive boards and governing bodies of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies to assess regularly the progress achieved in the area of simplification and harmonization of rules and procedures; 39. Requests the funds and programmes to provide, in their annual reports to the Economic and Social Council, specific information on the progress achieved in implementing the above-mentioned agenda; 40. Requests the United Nations Development Group to consult regularly with the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination on all activities undertaken to implement the above; V Coherence, effectiveness and relevance of operational activities for development A. Common country assessment/United Nations Development Assistance Framework 41. Requests the United Nations system to conduct the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework processes as efforts to improve the support for national development priorities and policies, and stresses that full governmental ownership, participation and leadership is required at all stages of those processes; 42. Welcomes the efforts made so far by the United Nations system in the context of the improved functioning of the resident coordinator system, including through the common country assessment and the Framework, in order to achieve greater country-level programmatic coherence within the system and to foster teamwork among the organizations of the system, in particular those represented at the country level; 43. Recognizes that, in spite of these efforts, participation of the funds, programmes and agencies of the United Nations development system in country-level operational activities for development and coordination mechanisms still differs in level, quality and intensity, and that for some organizations it is inadequate, and in this context calls upon the United Nations development system to improve its country-level coordination so as to optimize its support to national development efforts, at the request of national authorities; 44. Calls upon the United Nations system to draw from its accumulated experience in all pertinent economic, social and other domains and to facilitate the access of developing countries to the services available within the system on the basis of its comparative advantages and expertise; 45. Calls upon the United Nations development system to foster an inclusive approach in promoting inter-agency collaboration, both at the country and headquarters levels, and requests the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Group, to take the necessary steps to secure a more participatory involvement of the United Nations development system in the country-level operations and their coordination mechanisms, including through promotion, decentralization, the delegation of authority and multi-year programming, which will facilitate their participation in country-level coordination mechanisms; 46. Stresses the importance of the common country assessment as the common analytical tool of the United Nations system at the country level, including the specialized agencies, the regional commissions and other United Nations agencies with no country representation or limited country-level presence, which should contribute their accumulated analytical and normative experience so as to enable the use of all capacities available within the United Nations system; 47. Notes the progress made by the United Nations operational system in developing and using the common country assessment, and stresses that the formulation of the assessment is meant to be short, light and flexible; 48. Underlines the complementarity of the common country assessment to other analytical processes, and urges all funds, programmes and agencies to avoid duplication by utilizing, to the maximum extent possible, the common country assessment as their own country-level analytical tool; 49. Reiterates that the ownership and full participation of national authorities in the preparation and development of the Framework are key to guaranteeing that it responds to the national development plans and poverty reduction strategies of the countries concerned, and requests the Secretary-General to develop the Framework and its results matrix where applicable, as the common programming tool for country-level contributions of the funds and programmes towards achieving the MDGs,The internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. to be fully endorsed and countersigned by the national authorities; 50. Notes the potential of the Framework and its results matrix as the collective, coherent and integrated programming and monitoring framework for the operations of the United Nations development system at the country level, bringing increased opportunities for joint initiatives, including joint programming, and urges the United Nations development system to fully utilize such opportunities in the interest of enhancing aid efficiency and aid effectiveness; 51. Requests the Secretary-General, through the Executive Committee of the United Nations Development Group, in consultation with the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to ensure that United Nations Development Group agencies with multi-year programmes as well as the entities of the Secretariat that carry out operational activities in pursuit of the MDGs,The internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. fully align their respective programming and monitoring with the Framework, as well as take further steps to harmonize their programming cycles and to synchronize them as far as possible with the national programming instruments, in particular the national poverty reduction strategies, including poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; 52. Invites the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions to explore further ways to enhance cooperation, collaboration and coordination, including through the greater harmonization of strategic frameworks, instruments, modalities and partnership arrangements, in full accordance with the priorities of the recipient Governments, and in this regard emphasizes the importance of ensuring, under the leadership of national authorities, greater consistency between the strategic frameworks developed by the United Nations funds and programmes, agencies and the Bretton Woods institutions, while maintaining the institutional integrity and organizational mandates of each organization and the national poverty reduction strategies, including poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; B. Resident coordinator system and United Nations country teams 53. Reaffirms that the resident coordinator system, within the framework of national ownership, has a key role to play in the effective and efficient functioning of the United Nations system at the country level, including in the formulation of the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, and is a key instrument for the efficient and effective coordination of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and requests the United Nations system, including the funds and programmes, the specialized agencies and the Secretariat, to enhance support to the resident coordinator system; 54. Urges the United Nations system to provide further financial, technical and organizational support for the resident coordinator system, and requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the members of the United Nations Development Group to ensure that resident coordinators have the necessary resources to fulfil their role effectively; 55. Welcomes the improvements in the selection process and training of the resident coordinators, and urges the members of the Executive Committee of the United Nations Development Group, in full consultation with the members of the Development Group, to develop a procedure for the common assessment of the performance of resident coordinators by all members of the United Nations country teams; 56. Notes that coordination activities, while beneficial, represent transaction costs that are borne by both recipient countries and the organizations of the United Nations system, and emphasizes the need for their continuous evaluation and for an analysis and assessment of costs compared with the total programme expenditures for operational activities for development in order to ensure maximum efficiency and feasibility; 57. Reaffirms that the utilization of advanced information and communication technologies by the United Nations system could contribute to enhanced information-sharing and knowledge management, resulting in more effective delivery of development cooperation by the United Nations system, and encourages United Nations organizations to intensify their efforts to expand the use of information and communication technologies and to further harmonize their information technology platforms; 58. Requests the Secretary-General, in full consultation with all agencies of the United Nations Development Group and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, as appropriate, to develop, by the end of 2005, a comprehensive accountability framework for resident coordinators to exercise oversight of the design and implementation of the Framework, in a fully participatory manner, in support and under the leadership of national Governments; 59. Underscores the fact that the resident coordinator system is owned by the United Nations development system as a whole and that its functioning should be participatory, collegial and accountable; 60. Also underscores the fact that the management of the resident coordinator system continues to be firmly anchored in the United Nations Development Programme, while recognizing that many resident coordinators, especially in countries with large country teams, complex coordination situations or in situations of complex emergencies, lack the capacity to address equally well all tasks inherent to their functions, and in this regard requests that in such cases the United Nations Development Programme appoint, within the existing programming arrangement, a country director to run its core activities, including fund-raising, so as to assure that resident coordinators are fully available for their tasks; 61. Requests that, when raising funds, resident coordinators concentrate on raising funds for the whole of the United Nations at the country level; VI Country-level capacity of the United Nations system 62. Reaffirms the principle, as contained in resolutions 44/211 and 47/199, that the country-level presence of the United Nations system should be tailored to meet the specific development needs of recipient countries, as required by their country programmes; 63. Emphasizes the need for the range and level of skills and expertise assembled by the United Nations system at the country level to be commensurate with that needed to deliver on the priorities specified in each country's United Nations Development Assistance Framework, in line with the national development strategies and plans, including poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist, and to correspond to the technical backstopping and capacity-building needs and requirements of the developing countries; 64. Stresses the principle that no core function of the Secretariat can be outsourced to operational bodies, in particular at the field level, without proper financial compensation; 65. Invites the governing bodies of the organizations of the United Nations development system to consider means to strengthen their country-level capacities, including through complementary measures at their headquarters; VII Evaluation of operational activities for development 66. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assess the effectiveness of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, including, in particular, by assessing the effective use of all capacities available to provide a comprehensive and flexible response to the demand of developing countries for development support, and to report on the results of this assessment in the context of the next triennial policy review at its sixty-second session; 67. Reaffirms that the effectiveness of operational activities should be assessed by their impact on the poverty eradication efforts, economic growth and sustainable development of recipient countries; 68. Underlines the fact that future assessments of the effectiveness of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system should make full use of the data and expertise available within the system and from national authorities in full collaboration with national stakeholders and United Nations entities; 69. Recognizes the need to optimize the linking of evaluation to performance in the achievement of development goals, and encourages the United Nations development system to strengthen its evaluation activities, with particular focus on development results, including through the effective use of the results matrix of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, the systematic use of monitoring and evaluation approaches at the system-wide level and the promotion of collaborative approaches to the evaluation, including joint evaluations, and further encourages the United Nations Evaluation Group, under the aegis of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to make further progress in system-wide collaboration on evaluation, in particular harmonization and simplification of methodologies, norms, standards and cycles of evaluation; 70. Strongly encourages country-level evaluations of the Framework at the end of the programming cycle, based on the results matrix of the Framework, with full participation and leadership of the recipient Government; 71. Recognizes that national Governments have primary responsibility for coordinating external assistance, including that from the United Nations system, and evaluating the impact of its contribution to national priorities; 72. Requests the United Nations development system to conduct evaluations of its operations at the country level, in close consultation with national Governments, and in this context stresses the need to assist Governments in the development of national evaluation capacities through, inter alia, better use of lessons learned from past activities at the country level; 73. Also requests the United Nations development system to consider, where appropriate, applying lessons learned in the course of monitoring and evaluation to programming processes; 74. Stresses the need for all organizations of the United Nations development system to implement their global, regional and country-level activities in accordance with their mandates and the priorities of the recipient countries, urges their governing bodies to ensure that the activities, responsibilities and operational strategies of each fund and programme are consistent with their mandates and the overall policy guidance set forth by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and to report on these issues within the context of the annual reports submitted to the Council, and requests the Secretary-General to include an assessment of these issues in the report on the triennial comprehensive policy review prepared for the sixty-second session of the General Assembly; 75. Requests that the United Nations Development Programme conduct full consultation with the Member States prior to issuing global and regional flagship reports, in accordance with, inter alia, the principles contained in General Assembly resolution 57/264 of 20 December 2002; VIII Regional dimensions 76. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations development system, its regional commissions and other regional and subregional entities, as appropriate and consistent with their mandates, to intensify their cooperation and adopt more collaborative approaches to support country-level development initiatives at the request of recipient countries, in particular through closer collaboration within the resident coordinator system and by improving mechanisms for access to the technical capacities of the United Nations system at the regional and subregional levels; 77. Invites the governing bodies of the organizations of the United Nations development system to give greater and more systematic consideration to the regional and subregional dimensions of development cooperation and to promote measures for more intensive inter-agency collaboration at the regional and subregional levels, facilitating inter-country exchanges of experience and promoting both intraregional and interregional cooperation, as appropriate; 78. Encourages development agencies of the United Nations system to seek to maximize the opportunity to address development challenges on a regional or subregional basis, where appropriate, recognizing the important contribution of regional cooperation to national and regional development; IX South-South cooperation and development of national capacities 79. Welcomes the growing importance of South-South cooperation and its adoption as a driver of development effectiveness within the multi-year funding framework of the United Nations Development Programme; 80. Urges organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to mainstream, in their programmes and through their country-level activities and country offices, modalities to support South-South cooperation that would promote identification and dissemination of best practices, promote indigenous knowledge, know-how and technology in the South and facilitate networking among experts and institutions in developing countries; 81. Invites Member States and the organizations of the United Nations development system to celebrate the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation in a befitting and comprehensive manner every year; 82. Emphasizes the need to mobilize additional resources for enhancing South-South cooperation, including from both the United Nations system and donors, and through triangular cooperation; 83. Urges all Member States and the organizations of the United Nations development system to actively participate in the High-Level Committee on the Review of South-South Cooperation with a view to formulating and reviewing the strategies as well as sharing information and their experience; 84. Encourages, in this regard, United Nations funds and programmes, the specialized agencies as well as centres of excellence in the South to contribute to the periodic updating of the Web of Information for Development, the electronic databank operated by the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme in coordination with Governments, allowing for the wide diffusion of and access to the information contained therein, including experiences, best practices and potential partners in South-South cooperation; 85. Highlights the fact that, in spite of progress achieved in this area, further efforts are required to better understand the approaches and potential of South-South cooperation to enhance development effectiveness, including through national capacity development, and in this context calls upon all the organizations of the system to further enhance their support for national capacity development in the context of South-South cooperation; X Gender 86. Calls upon all organizations of the United Nations system, within their organizational mandates, to mainstream a gender perspective and to pursue gender equality in their country programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes and to articulate specific country-level goals and targets in this field in accordance with the national development strategies; 87. Urges all organizations of the system to collaborate with the resident coordinator system to provide gender specialist resources in support of gender mainstreaming in country-level activities in all sectors where they operate, working closely with relevant national counterparts in generating the gender disaggregated, quantitative and qualitative information required to produce better analysis of gender-related issues of development; 88. Requests all entities of the United Nations system to enhance the effectiveness of gender specialist resources, gender focal points and gender theme groups by establishing clear mandates, by ensuring adequate training, access to information and to adequate and stable resources, and by increasing the support and participation of senior staff; 89. Calls upon the United Nations development system to avail itself of the technical experience of the United Nations Development Fund for Women on gender issues; 90. Encourages the continuing efforts to achieve gender balance in appointments within the United Nations system at the headquarters and country levels in positions that affect operational activities, including resident coordinator appointments, with due regard to representation of women from developing countries and keeping in mind the principle of equitable geographic representation; 91. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the annual report on resident coordinators includes adequate and concise information on progress on the above; XI Transition from relief to development 92. Takes note of the ongoing work within the United Nations on the complex issue of transition from relief to development; 93. Recognizes that the United Nations development system has a vital role to play in situations of transition from relief to development; 94. Requests the organizations of the system to strengthen interdepartmental and inter-agency coordination to ensure an integrated, coherent and coordinated approach to assistance at the country level, which takes account of the complexity of challenges that countries in those circumstances face and the country-specific character of those challenges; 95. Recognizes, in this regard, the important role that the effective resident coordinator/humanitarian coordinator system can play in situations of transition from relief to development; 96. Stresses, in this regard, the need for such transitional activities to be undertaken under national ownership through the development of national capacities at all levels to manage the transition process; 97. Recognizes the benefits of sharing experience and expertise, and encourages the development of South-South cooperation modalities, including triangular cooperation modalities, to assist the transition from relief to development through, inter alia, the use of information technologies and knowledge management systems, as well as exchange of expertise to enable countries in that situation to benefit from the experience of other developing countries; 98. Urges the donor countries and other countries in a position to do so to consider more coordinated and flexible approaches to funding operational activities for development in situations of transition from relief to development, making use of multiple resource mobilization instruments, and stresses that contributions to humanitarian assistance should not be provided at the expense of development assistance and that sufficient resources for humanitarian assistance should be made available by the international community; 99. Urges United Nations agencies and the donor community, in coordination with the national authorities, to begin planning the transition to development and taking measures supportive of that transition, such as institutional and capacity-building, from the beginning of the relief phase; XII Follow-up 100. Reaffirms that the governing bodies of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system should take appropriate actions for the full implementation of the present resolution, in line with paragraphs 91 and 92 of resolution 56/201; 101. Requests the Secretary-General, after consultation with the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to submit a report to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2005, on an appropriate management process, containing clear guidelines, targets, benchmarks and time frames for the full implementation of the present resolution; 102. Invites the Economic and Social Council, during the operational activities segment of its substantive session of 2006, to examine the operational activities of the United Nations system in order to evaluate the implementation of the present resolution with a view to ensuring its full implementation; 103. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council, a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the present resolution in the context of the triennial policy review, inter alia, by making use of relevant documentation, and to make appropriate recommendations. RESOLUTION 59/251 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/489, para. 11),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. by a recorded vote of 156 to 5, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 59/251. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/229 of 23 December 2003, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/54 of 23 July 2004, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See See A/ES-10/273 and Corr. 1. and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its concern also at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during the recent period, including the uprooting of a vast number of olive trees, Aware of the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, and of the dire economic and social consequences in this regard, Aware also of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect on the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people, Reaffirming the need for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, the principle of land for peace and the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. as endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan,A/59/89-E/2004/21. 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, damage, cause loss or depletion of or endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion, or endangerment of their natural resources, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 59/252 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/490/Add.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 59/252. United Nations Institute for Training and Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/188 of 16 December 1996, 52/206 of 18 December 1997, 53/195 of 15 December 1998, 54/229 of 22 December 1999, 55/208 of 20 December 2000, 56/208 of 21 December 2001, 57/268 of 20 December 2002 and 58/223 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/230. and the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 14 (A/59/14). Acknowledging the work of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research on the functioning of the Institute, Noting the continued progress made by the Institute in its various programmes and activities, including the strengthened cooperation with other organizations of the United Nations system and with regional and national institutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Governments and private institutions that have made or pledged financial and other contributions to the Institute, Noting that the bulk of the resources contributed to the Institute are directed to the Special Purpose Grants Fund rather than to the General Fund, stressing the need to address that unbalanced situation, and also noting that the participation of the developed countries in training programmes in New York and Geneva is increasing, Noting also that the Institute is self-funded, not receiving any kind of subsidies from the United Nations regular budget, and delivers, free of charge, training courses to diplomats and delegates accredited to United Nations Headquarters in New York and to the United Nations offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, Noting further the various ongoing training programmes of the Institute, including those in the field of sustainable development, Reiterating that training activities should be accorded a more visible and larger role in support of the management of international affairs and in the execution of the economic and social development programmes of the United Nations system, 1. Reaffirms the importance of a coordinated United Nations system-wide approach to research and training, based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of work among the relevant institutions and bodies; 2. Also reaffirms the relevance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, in view of the growing importance of training within the United Nations and the training requirements of States, and the relevance of the training-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 3. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training programmes, and in this context underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of those partnerships, in particular at the country level; 4. Notes with appreciation the activities of the Institute's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Hiroshima, Japan, during its first year of existence; 5. Welcomes the establishment of the Institute's Project Field Office in Dushanbe; 6. Requests the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue to ensure fair and equitable geographical distribution and transparency in the preparation of the programmes and in the employment of experts, and in this regard stresses that the courses of the Institute should focus primarily on development issues and the management of international affairs; 7. Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed countries, and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or otherwise to the Institute, to give it their generous financial and other support, and urges the States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider resuming them in view of the successful restructuring and revitalization of the Institute; 8. Encourages the Board of Trustees to consider diversifying further the venues of the events organized by the Institute and to include the cities hosting regional commissions, in order to promote greater participation and reduce costs; 9. Notes with appreciation the one-time provision to cancel the Institute's past debts decided upon in section XIV of General Assembly resolution 58/272 of 23 December 2003; 10. Stresses the need for continued consideration of the issues related to the Institute's rent, rental rates and maintenance costs, taking into account its financial situation, with a view to its expeditious resolution; 11. Encourages the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue its efforts to resolve the critical financial situation of the Institute, in particular with a view to broadening its donor base and to further increasing the contributions to the General Fund; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including details on the status of contributions to and the financial situation of the Institute, and decides to consider the issue of the periodicity of the agenda item entitled "Training and research" at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/253 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/490/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malawi, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/253. United Nations University The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the United Nations University, including resolution 57/267 of 20 December 2002, Having considered the report of the Council of the United Nations University, as presented by the Rector of the University on 16 November 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 31 (A/59/31). and the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/566. Bearing in mind the importance of the intellectual contributions made by the University for the United Nations system, Expressing its deep appreciation for the voluntary contributions made by Governments and other public and private entities in support of the University, 1. Notes with satisfaction the implementation of the "Strategic Plan, 2000", which lays out broad programmatic orientations with special focus on the priority concerns of the United Nations and the need to bring together theory and practice in a global perspective, and requests the United Nations University to continue to attach importance to the priority agendas of the United Nations system; 2. Highly appreciates the successful steps taken by the University to promote the work and visibility of the University, including its research and training centres and programmes, to strengthen interaction with and contributions to the work of the United Nations system and to create new networks of activity with the academic communities in host countries, including Japan, and encourages the University to continue with such efforts; 3. Expresses particular appreciation of the University's support to scholars from developing countries and the countries with economies in transition, especially young scholars, through its capacity and network development activities; 4. Notes with interest the inauguration of the new research and training programme in Bonn, Germany, and encourages the University to continue with efforts towards creating a critical mass of viable research and training centres and programmes around the world, focused in particular on meeting the urgent needs and concerns of developing countries; 5. Welcomes the adoption and use by the University of computer-mediated dissemination and learning technologies through the United Nations University Online Learning initiative, and in particular the establishment of the Global Virtual University, which facilitates the intensification of activities in the areas of education and training, and encourages the further strengthening of these activities; 6. Takes note with satisfaction of the consolidation of the joint initiative by the University and the United Nations Office at Geneva to convene a yearly research and policy dialogue that is thematically focused and involves the United Nations system and other entities engaged in policy research and analysis; 7. Encourages the University to continue its efforts to implement the Secretary-General's suggestion on innovative measures to improve interaction and communication between the University and other United Nations entities, in particular by identifying and giving priority to common themes of interest; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to encourage other bodies of the United Nations system to utilize more fully the capacity of the University for mobilizing a worldwide network of applied policy researchers to assist the United Nations, through research and capacity development, in resolving pressing global problems; 9. Appreciates the efficiency gains achieved by the University in order to make optimal use of modest and limited resources, and emphasizes the continuing need for cost-effectiveness in conducting the activities of the University; 10. Welcomes the University's increasing efforts to widen and diversify its financial base, and invites the international community to make voluntary contributions to the University, in particular to its Endowment Fund, as a means of consolidating the distinctive identity of the University in the United Nations system and the international academic community; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "United Nations University". RESOLUTION 59/254 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.33/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Dominica, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/254. New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002 on the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Recalling also its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and resolution 58/233 of 23 December 2003 entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", Bearing in mind that African countries have primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, also the need for their development efforts to be supported by an enabling international economic environment, and in this regard recalling the support given by the International Conference on Financing for Development to the New Partnership,See Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: second consolidated report on progress in implementation and international support",A/59/206. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/206. 2. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 3. Also reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted at the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly on 27 June 2001;Resolution S-26/2, annex. 4. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the New Partnership as well as regional and international support for the New Partnership, while acknowledging that much needs to be done in the implementation of the New Partnership; 5. Welcomes the establishment of a Peace and Security Council within the African Union, stresses that conflict prevention, management and resolution and post-conflict consolidation are essential for the achievement of the objectives of the New Partnership, and welcomes, in this regard, the cooperation and support granted by the United Nations and development partners to the African regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of the New Partnership; I Actions by African countries and organizations 6. Welcomes the progress made by the African countries in fulfilling their commitments in the implementation of the New Partnership to deepen democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic management, and encourages African countries, with the participation of stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to continue their efforts in this regard by developing and strengthening institutions for governance and the development of the region; 7. Also welcomes the progress that has been achieved in implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism, including through the establishment of a trust fund to support the activities of the Mechanism, to which participating countries will make financial contributions, and the launching of support missions to several African countries; 8. Further welcomes the efforts made by African countries in developing sectoral policy frameworks and implementing specific programmes of the New Partnership, including by establishing expenditure targets in sectoral priority areas of the New Partnership, and encourages them to continue to integrate the priorities of the New Partnership into their national development plans and frameworks, including poverty reduction strategies, where they exist; 9. Emphasizes the importance for African countries of continuing to coordinate, on the basis of national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance, including that provided by multilateral organizations, in order to integrate effectively such assistance into their development processes; 10. Welcomes the commitment of African countries to advance the implementation of the New Partnership, acknowledges, in this regard, the role of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee of the New Partnership in furthering the implementation of the New Partnership, and welcomes the New Partnership summits held so far, as well as the upcoming summits; 11. Also welcomes the approval by the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee of the New Partnership of priority infrastructural and capacity-building projects to be implemented by the regional economic communities; 12. Encourages the further integration of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership into the programmes of the regional structures and organizations, as well as programmes for the African least developed countries; 13. Appreciates the increasing efforts of African countries in mainstreaming a gender perspective and empowerment of women in the implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard welcomes the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, adopted by the African Union at its third ordinary session in Addis Ababa from 6 to 8 July 2004,See African Union, document Assembly/AU/Decl.12 & 13 (III). and encourages the African countries to track progress in the full integration of women into African social, political and economic life; 14. Emphasizes that progress in the implementation of the New Partnership depends also on a favourable national and international environment for Africa's growth and development, including, inter alia, measures to promote a policy environment conducive to private sector development and entrepreneurship; II Response of the international community 15. Welcomes the efforts by development partners to strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership; 16. Acknowledges the importance of various initiatives, such as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development process, the Africa Action Plan of the Group of Eight, initiated at Genoa, Italy, as developed at the Summit of the Group held in Kananaskis, Canada, in 2002, and furthered at their subsequent Summits held in Evian, France, in 2003, and at Sea Island, United States of America, in 2004, as well as the Africa Partnership Forum in support of the implementation of the New Partnership, emphasizes, in this regard, the importance of effective coordination of such initiatives for Africa, and looks forward to the forthcoming report of the Commission for Africa; 17. Welcomes the contribution made by Member States to the implementation of the New Partnership in the context of South-South cooperation; 18. Stresses the need to mobilize additional resources for Africa's development through promoting South-South cooperation and trade and investment as discussed at various forums, including the Asia-Africa Trade and Investment Conference, held in Tokyo on 1 and 2 November 2004, under the auspices of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development; 19. Welcomes the financial support extended by many of the development partners to the various programmes of the New Partnership, and in this regard notes with satisfaction that some developed countries have committed resources for the infrastructure project preparation facility of the New Partnership and have provided resources for institutional strengthening activities at the secretariat of the New Partnership and in some regional economic communities; 20. Recalls that regional economic communities have a critical role to play in the implementation of the New Partnership, and encourages development partners to increase their support to enhance the capacities of these communities; 21. Urges continued attention to the need to continue to take measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa, including, as appropriate, debt relief, improved market access, support for the private sector and entrepreneurship, enhanced official development assistance and increased flows of foreign direct investment, as well as transfer of technology; 22. Reiterates the need for the international community, relevant multilateral institutions and developed countries to enhance coherence in their trade, investment, aid and debt policies towards African countries; 23. Stresses the need to find comprehensive solutions for the debt problems of African countries, and in this regard welcomes the decision to extend the sunset clause of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative until 31 December 2006 and the ongoing work by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop a forward-looking debt sustainability framework for heavily indebted poor countries and low-income countries; 24. Welcomes the recent increase in official development assistance by many of the development partners, and urges all development partners to make continued efforts to increase the flows of all resources, public and private, to support the development of African countries and to improve the effectiveness of aid; 25. Also welcomes efforts by development partners to align their financial and technical support to Africa more closely to the priorities of the New Partnership, as reflected in national poverty reduction strategies or in similar strategies, and encourages development partners to increase their efforts in this regard; 26. Acknowledges the activities of the Bretton Woods institutions and the African Development Bank in African countries, and invites those institutions to continue their support for the implementation of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership; 27. Requests the United Nations system to continue to provide assistance to the secretariat of the New Partnership and to African countries in developing projects and programmes within the scope of the priorities of the New Partnership; 28. Notes that the entities of the United Nations system have been actively using the regional consultation mechanism as a vehicle for fostering collaboration and coordination at the regional level, and encourages them to intensify their efforts in developing and implementing joint programmes in support of the New Partnership at the regional level; 29. Encourages the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to continue to strengthen further their existing coordination and programming mechanisms, as well as the simplification and harmonization of planning, disbursement and reporting procedures, as a means of enhancing support for African countries in the implementation of the New Partnership; 30. Notes the growing collaboration among the entities of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, and requests the Secretary-General to promote greater coherence in the work of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, on the basis of the agreed clusters; 31. Invites the High-level Plenary Meeting, which is to be held at the commencement of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, in accordance with the modalities set by the Assembly at its fifty-ninth session, to address the special needs of African countries; 32. Urges the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on the Status of Women to give prominence to the New Partnership in future priority themes; 33. Welcomes the establishment of the Secretary-General's Advisory Panel on International Support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and looks forward to its recommendations on the actions to be taken to enhance support for the implementation of the New Partnership; 34. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take measures to strengthen the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa in order to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate; 35. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the basis of inputs from Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other stakeholders in the New Partnership, such as the private sector and civil society. RESOLUTION 59/255 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.50/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Slovenia, Turkey 59/255. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45). and its resolutions 53/92 of 7 December 1998, 54/234 of 22 December 1999, 55/217 of 21 December 2000, 56/37 of 4 December 2001, 57/296 of 20 December 2002, 57/337 of 3 July 2003 and 58/235 of 23 December 2003, as well as resolution 59/213 of 20 December 2004 on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, Recalling also, in this context, Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, and 1366 (2001) of 30 August 2001 on the role of the Council in the prevention of armed conflicts, Recalling further the creation by the Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 2002/1 of 15 July 2002, of ad hoc advisory groups on African countries emerging from conflict, Reaffirming that the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in AfricaA/52/871-S/1998/318. must remain a priority on the agenda of the United Nations system and for Member States, Noting with concern the slow progress in the implementation of many of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General, as well as the emergence of trends that could potentially affect the peace and stability of Africa, Stressing that the responsibility for peace and security in Africa, including the capacity to address the root causes of conflict and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, lies primarily with African countries, while recognizing the need for support from the international community, Reaffirming the need to strengthen the synergies between Africa's economic and social development programmes and its peace and security agenda, 1. Takes note of the progress report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/285. on the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report on the causes of conflict and promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. including an overview of trends and challenges as well as further advances in a wide range of areas made since the last progress report; 2. Welcomes the progress that has been made in the prevention and settlement of disputes and the sustained efforts by African regional and subregional initiatives to mediate and resolve conflicts, and the support given by the international community and the United Nations to those efforts; 3. Notes with appreciation the efforts to enhance coordination to ensure that African regional and subregional initiatives continue to be taken in close consultation and coordination with the United Nations in order to ensure that the United Nations can play a clear role, as appropriate, in the subsequent implementation of mediated settlements; 4. Welcomes the successful establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, and looks forward to the establishment of other supporting elements such as a Panel of the Wise, a continental early warning system, an African standby force and a special fund; 5. Encourages, in this context, the international community to continue to support the ongoing efforts of African countries to develop their capacity to undertake peace support operations at regional and subregional levels, including their effort to establish a continental early warning system; 6. Welcomes the establishment and coming into force of the African Peace Facility of the European Union to support the implementation of peace initiatives undertaken by the African Union and African subregional organizations; 7. Also welcomes the recommendation of the Secretary-General to Member States to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations system, the African Union and other African organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security; 8. Further welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General to instruct relevant agencies, departments and offices of the United Nations to look into new ways of collaborating with the African Union in order to boost its efforts in undertaking peace operations; 9. Recognizes the contribution made by the ad hoc advisory groups on African countries emerging from conflict of the Economic and Social Council, as well as by the Ad Hoc Working Group on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa of the Security Council, in promoting peace and sustainable development, and emphasizes the need for continued collaboration between the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council in generating a coherent approach to the challenges of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction in Africa; 10. Notes the support offered by the United Nations system in the context of conflict prevention and peace consolidation, and in this regard calls upon Member States, in particular donor countries, as well as other development partners and relevant regional and subregional organizations as appropriate, to continue to provide financial and technical assistance, in a coordinated and sustained manner, to support activities in Africa, inter alia, to eradicate poverty, promote respect for human rights and strengthen the rule of law and transparent and accountable public administration; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to explore and recommend suitable arrangements and mechanisms through which Member States could more effectively support Africa's efforts to address the multiple causes of conflict in Africa, including their regional dimensions, and to strengthen, in a coordinated and sustained manner, preventive action as well as post-conflict peacebuilding; 12. Decides to continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/256 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.56 and Add.1, sponsored by: Burundi, Cameroon, Dominica, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia 59/256. 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/135 of 19 December 1994, 50/128 of 20 December 1995, 55/284 of 7 September 2001, 57/294 of 20 December 2002 and 58/237 of 23 December 2003 concerning the struggle against malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council relating to the struggle against malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, in particular resolution 1998/36 of 30 July 1998, Taking note of the declarations and decisions on health issues adopted by the Organization of African Unity, in particular the declaration and plan of action on the "Roll Back Malaria" initiative adopted at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Abuja on 24 and 25 April 2000,See A/55/240/Add.1. as well as decision AHG/Dec.155 (XXXVI) concerning the implementation of that declaration and plan of action, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex II. Also taking note of the Maputo Declaration on Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases, adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its second ordinary session, held in Maputo from 10 to 12 July 2003,A/58/626, annex I, Assembly/AU/Decl.6 (II). Recognizing the linkages in efforts being made to reach the targets set at the Abuja Summit as necessary and important for the attainment of the "Roll Back Malaria" goal and the targets of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. by 2010 and 2015, respectively, Also recognizing the urgent need for scaling up national malaria control programmes if African countries are to meet the intermediate target set by the Abuja Summit for the five-year period 2000-2005, Further recognizing that malaria-related ill health and deaths throughout the world can be eliminated with political commitment and commensurate resources if the public is educated and sensitized about malaria and appropriate health services are made available, particularly in countries where the disease is endemic, Emphasizing the importance of implementing the Millennium Declaration, and welcoming in this connection the commitment of Member States to respond to the specific needs of Africa, Commending the efforts of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other partners to fight malaria over the years, including the launching of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in 1998, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the World Health Organization,See A/59/261. and calls for support for the recommendations contained therein; 2. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the "Roll Back Malaria" partner organizations, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, as vital complementary sources of support for the efforts of malaria-endemic countries to combat the disease; 3. Appeals to the international community to ensure increased support for bilateral and multilateral assistance to combat malaria, including support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in order to assist in the development of sound national plans to control malaria in malaria-endemic countries and their implementation in a sustained and equitable way that, inter alia, contributes to health system development; 4. Urges malaria-endemic countries to increase domestic resource allocation to malaria control; 5. Encourages all African countries that have not yet done so to implement the recommendations of the Abuja SummitSee A/55/240/Add.1. to reduce or waive taxes and tariffs for nets and other products needed for malaria control, both to reduce the price of nets to consumers and to stimulate free trade in insecticide-treated nets; 6. Calls upon malaria-endemic countries, in particular those in sub-Saharan Africa, to establish and strengthen policies and programmes to ensure a rapid scale-up in the coverage of insecticide-treated nets to at least 60 per cent of those at risk, wherever the use of such nets is the vector-control method of choice, by applying expeditious approaches, including targeted free or highly subsidized distribution to vulnerable groups; 7. Expresses its concern about the increase in resistant strains of malaria in several regions of the world; 8. Encourages all Member States experiencing resistance to conventional monotherapies to replace them with combination therapies, as recommended by the World Health Organization, in a timely manner; 9. Recognizes the importance of the development of effective vaccines and new medicines to prevent and treat malaria and the need for further and accelerated research, including through effective global partnerships such as the various malaria vaccine initiatives and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, where necessary stimulated by new incentives to secure their development; 10. Reiterates the need for expanded public-private partnerships for malaria control and prevention, and in this context urges petroleum companies operating in Africa to consider providing polymer for the manufacture of mosquito nets at reduced prices as a contribution to rolling back malaria in Africa; 11. Calls upon the international community to support investment in the development of new anti-malarial medicines and insecticides for the effective control of malaria in view of the challenging resistance of the parasite to anti-malarial medicines and the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides; 12. Also calls upon the international community to support ways to expand access to artemisinin-based combination therapy for populations at risk of exposure to resistant strains of falciparum malaria in Africa, including the commitment of new funds, innovative mechanisms for the financing and national procurement of artemisinin-based combination therapy and the scaling up of artemisinin production to meet the increased need; 13. Further calls upon the international community to support coordinated efforts to improve surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems so as to better track and report changes in the coverage of recommended "Roll Back Malaria" interventions and subsequent reductions in the burden of malaria; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, developing countries and regional organizations, including the African Union, to conduct in 2005 an evaluation of the measures taken and progress made towards the achievement of the mid-term targets, the means of implementation provided by the international community in this regard and the overall goals of the Decade, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution under the agenda item entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 59/257 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.41/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay 59/257. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States The General Assembly, Recalling that the purposes of the United Nations are, inter alia, to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends, Recalling also that the Charter of the Organization of American States reaffirms these purposes and principles and provides that that organization is a regional agency under the terms of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling further that both organizations seek, inter alia, to promote social advancement, improve the standards of living of peoples, particularly in developing countries, and promote the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling its resolution 57/157 of 16 December 2002 on promoting cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States, Aware that the United Nations and the Organization of American States signed a memorandum of understanding on 3 November 2004 concerning the provision of assistance for the planning, organization and monitoring of the elections in Haiti, Recalling that one of the common goals of the two organizations is to combat corruption and impunity, and noting that the Inter-American Convention against CorruptionSee E/1996/99. is a pioneering international instrument in that field, Recalling also the fifth high-level meeting between the Secretary-General and heads of regional organizations, held in New York on 29 and 30 July 2003 to review the new threats to international peace and security, including international terrorism, civil and international conflicts, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, poverty, organized crime and violations of human rights, which demonstrated the need for greater synergy in the efforts made by the two organizations, Noting that during the Special Conference on Security, held in Mexico City on 27 and 28 October 2003, the States members of the Organization of American States defined a new concept of security that is multidimensional in scope and includes traditional and new threats, concerns and challenges to their security, Mindful of the meeting held in March 2004 between the secretariats of the Organization of American States and the United Nations, which reviewed the progress made in promoting transparency in the area of conventional weapons, and reviewed their cooperation with a view to curbing the illicit traffic in weapons, Aware of the increased cooperation between bodies of the inter-American system for the protection of human rights and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Noting with grave concern the continuing spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region, which requires coordinated action at the national, regional and global levels, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American StatesSee A/59/303. and his continuing efforts to strengthen that cooperation; 2. Notes with satisfaction the cooperation between the Organization of American States and the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti as well as other bodies and programmes of the system providing assistance and support for the recovery and stability of Haiti, and calls upon them to continue to support the planning, organization and monitoring of elections in 2005 in that country; 3. Calls for a prompt mobilization of resources to meet the emergency needs of the Caribbean countries, especially Haiti and Grenada, in the wake of the serious floods and hurricanes that affected that region; 4. Expresses its appreciation to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean for the initiatives to strengthen cooperation with inter-American institutions in various fields, in particular, hemispheric integration, statistics, women and development; 5. Recognizes the work of the Organization of American States in promoting democracy, in the field of regional cooperation and in connection with its task of coordination with the United Nations; 6. Also recognizes the close cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States in promoting the necessary transparency in all matters concerning the registration of conventional weapons, and calls upon them to continue intraregional dialogue and coordination with a view to curbing the illicit traffic in weapons; 7. Calls upon the Organization of American States to actively participate in the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, to be held in Port Louis from 10 to 14 January 2005; 8. Invites the Organization of American States to participate actively in the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, to be held in Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005; 9. Calls for an increase in financial resources and the strengthening of national and regional programmes for combating HIV/AIDS, as well as an increase in the supply of safe, effective and essential medicines at a reasonable cost; 10. Calls upon the United Nations and the Organization of American States to continue to develop their mutual cooperation in accordance with their respective mandates, jurisdiction and composition and to adapt to each specific situation in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 11. Notes with satisfaction the holding of periodic meetings between representatives of the United Nations and the Organization of American States, as well as the exchange of information taking place between the two organizations, and recommends that these practices be maintained; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, as appropriate; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of American States". RESOLUTION 59/258 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.55, as orally revised, sponsored by Panama (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States) 59/258. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/39 of 21 November 2002 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,Ibid. Bearing in mind the Agreement between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic System,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 1061. in which the parties agree to strengthen and expand their cooperation in matters that are of common concern in the fields of their respective competence pursuant to their constitutional instruments, Noting that cooperation between the Latin American Economic System and the United Nations has been evolving, strengthening and diversifying over the years with regard to its areas of cooperation, Welcoming the changes in the treatment of topics relating to the United Nations system, in close contact with the delegations of the Member States participating in such deliberations, 1. Takes note of the holding of the thirtieth regular meeting of the Latin American Council of the Latin American Economic System from 22 to 24 November 2004; 2. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;Ibid. 3. Urges the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean to continue deepening its coordination and mutual support activities with the Latin American Economic System; 4. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to continue and intensify their support for and to strengthen their cooperation with activities of the Latin American Economic System and to contribute to joint actions to achieve the internationally agreed development objectives, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in Latin America and the Caribbean; 5. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Permanent Secretary of the Latin American Economic System to assess, at the appropriate time, the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the Latin American Economic SystemUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1651, No. 1061. and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/259 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.57 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine 59/259. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/5 of 8 October 1999, by which it granted observer status to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, as well as its resolutions 55/211 of 20 December 2000 and 57/34 of 21 November 2002, on cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social or humanitarian nature, Recalling further the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling its Declaration on the Enhancement of Cooperation between the United Nations and Regional Arrangements or Agencies in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security of 9 December 1994,Resolution 49/57, annex. Pointing out the fact that since its transformation into a regional economic organization with an international legal identity as from 1 May 1999, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization has established itself as a reliable partner in boosting economic cooperation in the Black Sea region, Recognizing that any dispute or conflict in the region impedes cooperation, and stressing the need to solve such a dispute or conflict on the basis of the norms and principles of international law, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 57/34,A/59/303, part three. 1. Welcomes the statement issued in Istanbul, Turkey, on 25 June 2004 by the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization on the contribution of the Organization to security and stability, and encourages the ongoing process of considering ways and means of enhancing the contribution of the Organization to security and stability in the region; 2. Takes note of the entry into force of the Additional Protocol to the Agreement among the Governments of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Participating States on Cooperation in Combating Crime, in Particular in its Organized Forms, done in Kyiv on 15 March 2002, as well as the imminent signature of the Additional Protocol on Combating Terrorism to the same Agreement; 3. Welcomes the activities of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in various fields, such as trade and economic development, banking and finance, communications, energy, transport, agriculture and agro-industry, health care and pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, tourism, science and technology, exchange of statistical data and economic information, collaboration among Customs services, and combating organized crime and the illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons and radioactive material, all acts of terrorism and illegal migration, or in any other related area; 4. Also welcomes the adoption of the Baku Declaration on energy cooperation in the region of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization by the Ministers of Energy of the States members of the Organization on 19 September 2003 and the Joint Declaration by the Ministers of Transport from countries of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea region on 3 October 2003; 5. Further welcomes the operationalization and financing of the first projects by the Project Development Fund of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to the benefit of the sustainable development of the Black Sea region; 6. Takes note of the positive contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, the Business Council, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies to the strengthening of multifaceted regional cooperation in the Black Sea area; 7. Welcomes the Cooperation Agreement between the Economic Commission for Europe and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, signed on 2 July 2001, and the support given by the Commission to the activities of the Organization in the fields provided for in the Agreement, notably in small and medium-sized enterprises, energy and transportation policy development; 8. Also welcomes the collaboration between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme based on the Cooperation Agreement signed in Istanbul on 20 February 2002; 9. Further welcomes the cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, as well as the financial support provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization in implementing the project on institutional strengthening to facilitate intraregional and interregional agricultural trade among States members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and other projects on trade promotion; 10. Takes note of the cooperation between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the World Bank and the World Trade Organization and the working contacts with the World Tourism Organization, aimed at the sustainable development of the Black Sea region; 11. Also takes note of the importance attached by the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to the strengthening of relations with the European Union, and supports the efforts of the Organization to take concrete steps to advance this cooperation; 12. Further takes note of the cooperation established between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and other regional organizations and initiatives; 13. Invites the Secretary-General to strengthen dialogue with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization with a view to promoting cooperation and coordination between the two secretariats; 14. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in order to continue programmes with the Organization and its associated institutions for the achievement of their objectives; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 59/25 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 17 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.23 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/25. Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 and 49/118 of 19 December 1994, 50/25 of 5 December 1995 and 57/142 of 12 December 2002, as well as other resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments, its resolutions 56/13 of 28 November 2001 and 57/143 of 12 December 2002 on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. and its resolution 58/14 of 24 November 2003, Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). and bearing in mind the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement, Recognizing that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement sets forth provisions concerning the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including provisions on subregional and regional cooperation in enforcement, binding dispute settlement and the rights and obligations of States in authorizing the use of vessels flying their flags for fishing on the high seas, and specific provisions to address the requirements of developing States in relation to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and the development of fisheries for such stocks, Noting that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ("the Code")International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. and its associated international plans of action set out principles and global standards of behaviour for responsible practices for the conservation of fisheries resources and the management and development of fisheries, Noting with concern that effective management of marine capture fisheries has been made difficult in some areas by unreliable information and data caused by unreported and misreported fish catch and fishing effort and the contribution this lack of data makes to continued overfishing in some areas, Noting with satisfaction the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries recently adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, appendix H. and recognizing that the long-term improvement of the knowledge and understanding of fishery status and trends is a fundamental basis for fisheries policy and management for implementing the Code, Recognizing the need to implement, as a matter of priority, the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in relation to achieving sustainable fisheries, Deploring the fact that fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to sparsely regulated and heavy fishing efforts, mainly as a result of, inter alia, unauthorized fishing, inadequate regulatory measures, harmful fisheries subsidies and excess fishing capacity, Concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing threatens seriously to deplete populations of certain fish species and to significantly damage marine ecosystems, to the detriment of sustainable fisheries as well as the food security and the economies of many States, particularly developing States, Noting with satisfaction resolution 6/2003 of 9 December 2003, adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, relating to preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Thirty-second Session, Rome, 29 November-9 December 2003 (C 2003/REP). Recognizing that the problem of overfishing continues to be exacerbated by inadequate flag State control over fishing vessels, including those fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and insufficient monitoring, control and surveillance measures, Recognizing also that the interrelationship between ocean activities, such as shipping and fishing, and environmental issues needs further consideration, Noting that the contribution of aquaculture to global fish supplies continues to increase its potential in developing countries to enhance local food security and poverty alleviation and meet future demands in fish consumption, bearing in mind article 9.1.4 of the Code, Calling attention to the circumstances affecting fisheries in many developing States, in particular African States and small island developing States, and recognizing the urgent need for capacity-building to assist such States in meeting their obligations under international instruments and realizing the benefits from fisheries resources, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and recognizing the importance of coordination and cooperation at the global, regional, subregional as well as national levels in the areas, inter alia, of data collection, information-sharing, capacity-building and training for the conservation, management and sustainable development of marine living resources, Recognizing the duty provided in the Convention, the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas ("the Compliance Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. the Agreement and the Code for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag and vessels flying their flag which provide support to such vessels, and to ensure that the activities of such vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Recognizing also the urgent need for action at all levels to ensure the long-term sustainable use and management of fisheries resources through the wide application of a precautionary approach and appropriate measures to reduce pollution and waste, and other factors, such as discards and catch by lost or abandoned gear, which adversely affect fish stocks, Recognizing further the economic and cultural importance of sharks in many countries, the biological importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem, the vulnerability of some shark species to over-exploitation, the need for measures to promote the long-term sustainability of shark populations and fisheries and the relevance of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1999, in providing development guidance of such measures, Reaffirming its support for the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements on the conservation and management of sharks, while noting with concern that only a small number of countries have implemented the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, Noting with satisfaction the outcomes of the third round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, held in New York on 8 July 2004, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/298. including the section outlining current risks to the marine biodiversity of vulnerable marine ecosystems related to fishing activities, and conservation and management measures in place at the global, regional, subregional or national levels addressing these issues, in particular the useful role of the report in gathering and disseminating information on or relating to the sustainable development of the world's marine living resources, Expressing concern that the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources, although the incidence of this practice has continued to be low in most regions of the world's oceans and seas, Emphasizing that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift nets that contravene the resolution, Expressing concern, while recognizing considerable efforts to reduce by-catch in longline fishing through various regional fisheries management organizations, at the reports of continued loss of seabirds, particularly albatrosses, as a result of incidental mortality from longline fishing operations, and the loss of other marine species, including sharks, fin-fish species and marine turtles, as a result of incidental mortality, Welcoming the fact that a growing number of States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, have taken measures, as appropriate, towards the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, Recognizing the significant contribution of sustainable fisheries to food security, income and wealth for present and future generations, I Achieving sustainable fisheries 1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the Convention,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in Part V and Part VII, section 2, of the Convention, and where applicable, the Agreement;International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. I; see also A/CONF.164/37. 2. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement; 3. Reaffirms the importance of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in relation to fisheries, in particular the commitment made therein to restore depleted fish stocks on an urgent basis and, where possible, not later than 2015;See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa,26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 31 (a). 4. Urges all States to apply the precautionary approach and the ecosystem approach widely to the conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and also calls upon States parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the Agreement as a matter of priority; II Implementation of the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 5. Calls upon all States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, that have not done so to ratify or accede to the Agreement and in the interim to consider applying it provisionally; 6. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, including those provisions relating to bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation in enforcement, and urges continued efforts in this regard; 7. Welcomes the entry into force of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean on 19 June 2004, and encourages relevant States to become Parties to that Convention in accordance with its terms; 8. Also welcomes the inaugural meeting at Swakopmund, Namibia, from 9 to 13 March 2004 of the Commission of the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organization as well as its continual operationalization and assumption of full competence for the conservation and management of resources that fall under its responsibility within the area of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean, and encourages signatory States and other States with real interest whose vessels fish in that Convention area for fishery resources covered by that Convention to become parties to the Convention and, in the interim, to consider applying it and the measures adopted thereunder provisionally, to ensure that vessels entitled to fly their flags apply such measures; 9. Calls upon all States to ensure that their vessels comply with the conservation and management measures that have been adopted by subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention and of the Agreement; 10. Urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, thereof to inform, either directly or through the relevant regional or subregional fisheries management organization or arrangement, all States whose vessels fish on the high seas in the same region or subregion of the form of identification issued by those States parties to officials duly authorized to carry out boarding and inspection functions in accordance with articles 21 and 22 of the Agreement; 11. Also urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, to designate an appropriate authority to receive notifications pursuant to article 21 and to give due publicity to such designation through the relevant subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement; 12. Invites States and international financial institutions and organizations of the United Nations system to provide assistance according to Part VII of the Agreement, including, if appropriate, the development of special financial mechanisms or instruments to assist developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to enable them to develop their national capacity to exploit fishery resources, including developing their domestically flagged fishing fleet, value-added processing and the expansion of their economic base in the fishing industry, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of those fisheries resources; 13. Recalls paragraph 10 of its resolution 58/14, in which it decided to establish an Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement to assist developing States parties in the implementation of the Agreement, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, national institutions, non-governmental organizations, as well as natural and juridical persons to make voluntary financial contributions to the Fund; 14. Notes with satisfaction the conclusion of an arrangement between the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations regarding the administration of the Assistance Fund; 15. Emphasizes the importance of outreach to potential donor organizations to contribute to the programme of assistance, including the Assistance Fund; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement, a one-week review conference in the first part of 2006, with a view to assessing the effectiveness of the Agreement in securing the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and to render the necessary assistance and provide such services as may be required for the review conference; 17. Also requests the Secretary-General to present to the conference a comprehensive report, prepared in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 36 of the Agreement; 18. Recalls paragraph 6 of its resolution 56/13, and requests the Secretary-General to convene a fourth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, to consider, principally, but not exclusively, issues related to preparations for the review conference to be convened by the Secretary-General pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement, and to make any appropriate recommendation to the General Assembly; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to invite States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, not party to the Agreement, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant international financial institutions, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, other fisheries bodies, and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the fourth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement as observers; III Related fisheries instruments 20. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of the provisions of the Compliance Agreement,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. and urges continued efforts in this regard; 21. Calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article X, paragraph 1, of the Compliance Agreement that have not yet become parties to that Agreement to do so as a matter of priority and, in the interim, to consider applying it provisionally; 22. Urges parties to the Compliance Agreement to exchange information in the implementation of that Agreement; 23. Urges States and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement and promote the application of the CodeInternational Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. within their areas of competence; 24. Urges States, as a matter of priority, to support implementation of the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture FisheriesFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, appendix H. at the national and regional levels, giving particular emphasis to capacity-building in developing countries; 25. Also urges States to develop and implement, as a matter of priority, national and, as appropriate, regional plans of action to put into effect the international plans of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; IV Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing 26. Emphasizes once again its serious concern that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems and continues to have serious and major implications for the conservation and management of ocean resources, and renews its call upon States to comply fully with all existing obligations and to combat such fishing and urgently to take all necessary steps to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 27. Calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas or in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, unless duly authorized by the authorities of the States concerned and in accordance with the conditions set out in the authorization, without having effective control over their activities, and to take specific measures, including deterring the reflagging of vessels by their nationals, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, to control fishing operations by vessels flying their flag; 28. Affirms the need to strengthen, where necessary, the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation, in particular at the regional and subregional levels, in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in a manner consistent with international law, and for States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to collaborate in efforts to address these types of fishing activities, including, inter alia, the development and implementation of vessel monitoring systems and the listing of vessels in order to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities and, where appropriate and consistent with international law, trade monitoring schemes, including to collect global catch data, through subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 29. Encourages States to consider becoming members of the International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network for Fisheries-Related Activities, a voluntary network of monitoring, control and surveillance professionals designed to facilitate exchange of information and to support countries in discharging their obligations pursuant to international agreements, in particular the Compliance Agreement; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the study undertaken by the International Maritime Organization, in cooperation with other competent international organizations, following the invitation extended to it in resolution 58/14 and resolution 58/240 of 23 December 2003, to examine and clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels, and the potential consequences of non-compliance with the duties and obligations of flag States prescribed in the relevant international instruments; 31. Calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of sub-standard vessels and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; 32. Encourages the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to develop further ideas to devise means of discouraging owners and operators from non-compliance with the requirements imposed by flag States in carrying out their duties and obligations under relevant international instruments; 33. Recognizes the commitment made in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for States urgently to develop and implement national and, where appropriate, regional plans of action, to put into effect by 2004 the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, and to establish effective monitoring, reporting, enforcement and control of fishing vessels, including by flag States, to further the International Plan of Action, and calls upon States to adhere to this commitment as a matter of priority; 34. Also recognizes that common means of conducting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing involves the unreported or misreported transshipments of fish at sea, and urges States, either directly or through relevant subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to establish comprehensive systems, where appropriate, for monitoring and control of transshipments on the high seas; 35. Urges relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement effective measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, inter alia, by compiling a record of vessels authorized to fish in their area of competence, in accordance with the Code; 36. Commends the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its activities in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, including its initiative to organize the intergovernmental technical consultation on the role of the port State in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, held from 31 August to 2 September 2004, and welcomes the outcome of the consultation; 37. Urges States to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, while completing the efforts undertaken at the World Trade Organization to clarify and improve its disciplines on fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector to developing countries; 38. Recognizes the need for enhanced port State controls to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, urges States to cooperate, in particular at the regional level, and through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, as well as through participation, where appropriate, in the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization to address substantive issues relating to the role of the port State, noting that such efforts include the elaboration of a draft model scheme on port State measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; V Fishing overcapacity 39. Calls upon States and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, as a matter of priority, to take effective measures to improve the management of fishing capacity and to put into effect by 2005 the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, taking into account the need, through these actions, to avoid the transfer of fishing capacity to other fisheries or areas including, but not limited to, those areas where fish stocks are overexploited or in a depleted condition; 40. Urges States to eliminate subsidies that contribute to fishing overcapacity, while completing the efforts undertaken at the World Trade Organization to clarify and improve its disciplines on fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector to developing countries; 41. Notes with satisfaction that information about more than 5,500 fishing vessels authorized to fish on the high seas has been provided to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations by at least seventeen flag States and entered on the High Seas Vessels Authorization Record established by the Organization in accordance with article VI of the Compliance Agreement, and urges those States and other entities referred to in article X, paragraph 1, of the Compliance Agreement that have become parties to it to establish a record of fishing vessels authorized to fish on the high seas and, pursuant to articles IV and VI thereof, to make such a record available to the Organization as a matter of priority, and promptly to notify the Organization of any modifications to such a record; 42. Calls upon all States to assist this work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and to take measures to halt the increase of large-scale fishing vessels in accordance with the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity; 43. Welcomes the significant outcomes of the Technical Consultation to Review Progress and Promote the Full Implementation of the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held from 24 to 29 June 2004, which recommended specific actions to the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements with regard to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and fishing overcapacity, and also suggested measures to be taken by States and fishing entities regarding expanding fishing capacity by certain fishing operations in the Central and Western Pacific Ocean; VI Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing 44. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to continued compliance with its resolution 46/215 and other subsequent resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, and urges States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions; VII Fisheries by-catch and discards 45. Urges States, relevant international organizations and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements that have not done so to take action to reduce or eliminate by-catch, catch by lost or abandoned gear, fish discards and post-harvest losses, including juvenile fish, consistent with international law and relevant international instruments, including the Code, and in particular to consider measures including, as appropriate, technical measures related to fish size, mesh size or gear, discards, closed seasons and areas and zones reserved for selected fisheries, particularly artisanal fisheries, the establishment of mechanisms for communicating information on areas of high concentration of juvenile fish, taking into account the importance of ensuring confidentiality of such information, and support for studies and research that will reduce or eliminate by-catch of juvenile fish; 46. Encourages States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to give due consideration to participation, as appropriate, in regional and subregional organizations with mandates to conserve non-target species taken incidentally in fishing operations, and notes in particular the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles and Their Habitats, regional sea turtle conservation instruments in the West African, the wider Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean/ South-East Asia regions, the work of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre on turtle conservation and management, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1772, No. 30865. and the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area in this regard; 47. Notes with satisfaction the entry into force on 1 February 2004 of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and encourages relevant States which have not already done so to become parties to that Agreement in accordance with its terms; 48. Also notes with satisfaction the activities of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, in particular the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility, aimed at promoting the reduction of by-catch and discards in fisheries activities; 49. Notes the Technical Consultation on Sea Turtles Conservation and Fisheries to be organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations from 29 November to 2 December 2004, and encourages States to participate actively in this work; VIII Subregional and regional cooperation 50. Urges coastal States and States fishing on the high seas, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to ensure the effective conservation and management of such stocks; 51. Encourages States fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, where a subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement has the competence to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to give effect to their duty to cooperate by becoming members of such an organization or participants in such an arrangement, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such an organization or arrangement; 52. Invites, in this regard, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that all States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement; 53. Encourages relevant coastal States and States fishing on the high seas for a straddling fish stock or a highly migratory fish stock, where there is no subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement to establish conservation and management measures for such stock, to cooperate to establish such an organization or enter into another appropriate arrangement to ensure the conservation and management of such stocks, and to participate in the work of the organization or arrangement; 54. Welcomes the initiation of negotiations and ongoing preparatory work to establish regional and subregional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in several fisheries, and urges participants in those negotiations to apply provisions of the Convention and the Agreement to their work; 55. Notes with satisfaction, in this regard, the recent recommendation of the Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission that established an intersessional working group tasked to study the feasibility of strengthening regional fisheries management in that region, encourages relevant States and organizations to work actively to fulfil the recommendation, and notes the important contribution of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism to this process; 56. Encourages States to develop ocean policies and mechanisms on integrated management, including at the subregional and regional levels, and also including assistance to developing States in accomplishing these objectives, as well as by promoting improved cooperation between regional fisheries management organizations and other regional entities, such as the United Nations Environment Programme regional seas programmes and conventions; 57. Encourages subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements and States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement that are members of or participate in such organizations or arrangements, to consider adopting, where appropriate and in accordance with international law, conservation and management measures for fish stocks that fall within the competence of such organizations and/or arrangements but are not yet managed by them, in particular for those stocks that have vulnerable life histories, that scientific data indicate are in decline and/or are subject to an international plan of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; IX Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem 58. Encourages States to apply by 2010 the ecosystem approach, notes the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine EcosystemE/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. and decision VII/11See UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex. and other relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, notes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations related to guidelines for the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, and also notes the importance to this approach of relevant provisions of the Agreement and the Code; 59. Also encourages States to increase scientific research in accordance with international law on the marine ecosystem; 60. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, in particular its Regional Seas programme, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations that have not yet done so to take action to address the issue of lost or abandoned fishing gear and related marine debris, including through the collection of data on gear loss, economic costs to fisheries and other sectors, and the impact on marine ecosystems; 61. Requests the Secretary-General, in his next report concerning fisheries, to include information on the actions taken by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, in particular its Regional Seas programme, the International Maritime Organization, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations, to give effect to paragraph 60 above; 62. Urges States to ratify and implement relevant international agreements, including annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto; 63. Calls upon States, where relevant, to establish systems for retrieving lost gear and nets; 64. Notes that 2005 will mark the ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,A/51/116, annex II. and urges all States to implement the Global Programme of Action and to accelerate activity to safeguard the marine ecosystem, including fish stocks, against pollution and physical degradation; 65. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies of the United Nations, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, where appropriate, and other appropriate intergovernmental bodies, to cooperate in achieving sustainable aquaculture, including through information exchange, developing equivalent standards on such issues as aquatic animal health and human health and safety concerns, assessing the potential positive and negative impacts of aquaculture, including socio-economics, on the marine and coastal environment, including biodiversity, and adopting relevant methods and techniques to minimize and mitigate adverse effects; 66. Calls upon States, either by themselves or through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, where these are competent to do so, to take action urgently, and consider on a case-by-case basis and on a scientific basis, including the application of the precautionary approach, the interim prohibition of destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling that has adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals located beyond national jurisdiction, until such time as appropriate conservation and management measures have been adopted in accordance with international law; 67. Calls upon regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements with the competence to regulate bottom fisheries urgently to adopt, in their regulatory areas, appropriate conservation and management measures, in accordance with international law, to address the impact of destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling that has adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems, and to ensure compliance with such measures; 68. Calls upon members of regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements without the competence to regulate bottom fisheries and the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems to expand the competence, where appropriate, of their organizations or arrangements in this regard; 69. Calls upon States urgently to cooperate in the establishment of new regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, where necessary and appropriate, with the competence to regulate bottom fisheries and the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems in areas where no such relevant organization or arrangement exists; 70. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to include in his next report concerning fisheries a section on the actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to give effect to paragraphs 66 to 69 above, in order to facilitate discussion of the matters covered in those paragraphs; 71. Agrees to review within two years progress on action taken in response to the requests made in paragraphs 66 to 69 above, with a view to further recommendations, where necessary, in areas where arrangements are inadequate; 72. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and subregional or regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement fully the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks as a matter of priority, inter alia, by conducting assessments of shark stocks and developing and implementing national plans of action, recognizing the need of some States, in particular developing States, for assistance in this regard; 73. Urges States, including those working through subregional or regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in implementing the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, to collect scientific data regarding shark catches and to consider adopting conservation and management measures, particularly where shark catches from directed and non-directed fisheries have a significant impact on vulnerable or threatened shark stocks, in order to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use, including by banning directed shark fisheries conducted solely for the purpose of harvesting shark fins and by taking measures for other fisheries to minimize waste and discards from shark catches, and to encourage the full use of dead sharks; 74. Requests the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop programmes to assist States, including developing States, in carrying out the tasks mentioned in paragraph 73 above, in particular the adoption of appropriate conservation and management measures, including the banning of directed shark fisheries conducted solely for the purpose of harvesting shark fins; 75. Reaffirms the requests contained in paragraph 50 of its resolution 58/14, and invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his report on sustainable fisheries, on progress regarding the preparation of the study mentioned therein, as well as the programmes mentioned in paragraph 74 above, and to consider at the sixty-second session of the General Assembly whether additional action is required; X Capacity-building 76. Reiterates the crucial importance of cooperation by States directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional and subregional organizations, and by other international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through its FishCODE programme, including through financial and/or technical assistance, in accordance with the Agreement, the Compliance Agreement, the Code and the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, to increase the capacity of developing States to achieve the goals and implement the actions called for in the present resolution; 77. Invites States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to develop projects, programmes and partnerships with relevant stakeholders and mobilize resources for the effective implementation of the outcome of the African Process for the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment, and to consider the inclusion of fisheries components in this work; 78. Also invites States and relevant intergovernmental organizations to further implement sustainable fisheries management and improve financial returns from fisheries by supporting and strengthening relevant regional fisheries management organizations, as appropriate, such as the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism and such agreements as the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific; XI Cooperation within the United Nations system 79. Requests the relevant parts of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and donor agencies to support increased enforcement and compliance capabilities for regional fisheries management organizations and their member States; 80. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its cooperative arrangements with United Nations agencies on the implementation of the international plans of action and to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his annual report on sustainable fisheries, on priorities for cooperation and coordination in this work; 81. Invites the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system to consult and cooperate in the preparation of questionnaires designed to collect information on sustainable fisheries, in order to avoid duplication; XII Sixtieth session of the General Assembly 82. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and to invite them to provide the Secretary-General with information relevant to the implementation of the present resolution; 83. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments", taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and consisting, inter alia, of elements provided in relevant paragraphs in the present resolution; 84. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", the sub-item entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments". RESOLUTION 59/260 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/496, para. 27),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Mexico, and Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 125 to 10, with 30 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Latvia, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 59/260. Future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on the situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, in particular resolutions 55/219 of 23 December 2000, 56/125 of 19 December 2001, 57/175 of 18 December 2002 and 58/244 of 23 December 2003, Reaffirming its resolution 57/311 of 18 June 2003 on the financial situation of the Institute, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/57 of 24 July 2003, in which the Council decided to amend articles III and IV of the statute of the Institute, Welcoming the constitution of the Executive Board of the Institute, in particular the important results of its first session, held on 27 July 2004, and its resumed first session, held on 1 October 2004, Welcoming also the adoption by the Executive Board of the framework of the strategic plan for the Institute, 2004-2007, Bearing in mind the recommendation made by the Executive Board at its resumed first session that the report of the Director of the Institute, the proposed operational budget for 2005 and other relevant documents be submitted to the General Assembly, Taking note with appreciation of a number of important strategic initiatives, including the redesign of the web site of the Institute, the strengthening of cooperative arrangements with entities of the United Nations system, the expansion of the research programme of the Institute, the intensification of its fund-raising campaign, the enhancement of communications with governmental agencies, civil society, academia and the private sector, and the strengthening of the training, capacity-building and outreach activities undertaken by the Institute, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/313. 2. Welcomes also the fact that the first phase of the revitalization process has been completed with the preparation of the programme of work, portfolio of projects and related budget of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, as noted by the Secretary-General in his report, and decides that all of its projects should be fully implemented in order to strengthen the Institute, thus enabling it to carry out effectively its mandate, in particular to address the challenges facing women in developing and least developed countries in all regions; 3. Recognizes that the implementation of the programme of work and strategic plan for the Institute will contribute to the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;Resolution S-23/3, annex. 4. Requests the Institute, in accordance with its mandate, to actively participate in and contribute to the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly in the context of the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women; 5. Also requests that the Institute, in the formulation of future programmes and projects, take into account the particular challenges facing women in developing and least developed countries in the different regions; 6. Stresses the critical importance of voluntary financial contributions by Member States to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to enable it to carry out its mandate; 7. Urges Member States to make voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund, particularly during this critical transitional period; 8. Decides to provide its full support to the current efforts to revitalize the Institute and, in this regard, to ensure that the Institute will be able to continue functioning for a period of at least one year; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/261 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/499, para. 35),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 166 to 2, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: India 59/261. Rights of the child The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the rights of the child, the most recent of which is resolution 58/157 of 22 December 2003, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/48 of 20 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing that the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and bearing in mind the importance of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. as well as other relevant human rights instruments, Welcoming the entry into force on 25 December 2003 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. Reaffirming the outcome documents of the special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and the commitments contained therein to promote and protect the rights of each child, every human being below the age of 18 years, including adolescents, and of all major United Nations conferences, and the integration of child rights issues into the outcome documents of all major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits, Welcoming the reports of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildA/59/190. and on progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the document entitled "A world fit for children",A/59/274. Welcoming also the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in examining the progress made by States parties to the Convention in implementing the obligations undertaken in the Convention and in providing recommendations to States parties on the implementation of the Convention and, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in enhancing awareness of the principles and provisions of the Convention, Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions in an increasingly globalized economic environment, pandemics, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, environmental damage, natural disasters, armed conflict, displacement, exploitation, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, gender inequality, disability and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Underlining the need to mainstream a gender perspective in all policies and programmes relating to children, Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocols thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 1. Reaffirms that the general principles of, inter alia, the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, participation and survival and development provide the framework for all actions concerning children, including adolescents; 2. Urges States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify or accede to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. as a matter of priority, and urges States parties to implement it fully, while stressing that the implementation of the Convention and the achievement of the goals of the World Summit for Children and the special session of the General Assembly on children are mutually reinforcing; 3. Expresses its concern about the great number of reservations to the Convention, and urges States parties to withdraw reservations that are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and to consider reviewing other reservations with a view to withdrawing them; 4. Urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Resolution 54/263, annexes I and II. and urges States parties to implement them fully; 5. Urges States parties to take all appropriate measures for the implementation of the rights recognized in the Convention by, inter alia, putting in place effective national legislation, policies and action plans, by strengthening relevant governmental structures for children and by ensuring adequate and systematic training in the rights of the child for professional groups working with and for children; 6. Encourages States to strengthen their national statistical capacities and to use statistics disaggregated, inter alia, by age, gender and other relevant factors that may lead to disparities and other statistical indicators at the national, subregional, regional and international levels to develop and assess social policies and programmes so that economic and social resources are used efficiently and effectively for the full realization of the rights of the child; 7. Also encourages States to strengthen their partnership with United Nations organs, within their respective mandates, the Bretton Woods institutions and other multilateral agencies, and affirms the important role of international cooperation for the purposes of the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, in particular with regard to economic, social and cultural rights; 8. Calls upon States to strengthen their cooperation with the Committee on the Rights of the Child, to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocols thereto, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee, and to take into account the recommendations made by the Committee in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention; 9. Welcomes the efforts of the Committee to reform its working methods so as to consider the reports of States parties in a timely manner, including its proposal to work in two chambers, as an exceptional and temporary measure, for a period of two years, in order to clear the backlog of reports, taking due account of equitable geographical distribution, urges the Committee to continue to review its working methods in order to enhance its efficiency, and requests it to assess the progress made after two years, taking into account the wider context of treaty body reform; 10. Calls upon all States and relevant actors concerned to continue to cooperate with the special rapporteurs and special representatives of the United Nations system in the implementation of their mandates; 11. Requests all relevant organs of the United Nations system, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations mechanisms regularly and systematically to incorporate a strong child rights perspective as well as a gender perspective throughout all activities in the fulfilment of their mandates, as well as to ensure that their staff is trained in child protection matters, and calls upon States to cooperate closely with them; Promoting and protecting the rights of children and non-discrimination against children, including children in particularly difficult situations Identity, family relations and birth registration 12. Urges all States to intensify their efforts in order to ensure the implementation of the right of the child to birth registration, preservation of identity, including nationality, and family relations, as recognized by law, by: (a) Providing, at minimal cost, simplified, expeditious and effective procedures for birth registration; (b) Raising awareness at the national, regional and local levels, whenever necessary, of the importance of birth registration; (c) Guaranteeing, to the extent consistent with each State's obligations, the right of a child whose parents reside in different States to maintain, on a regular basis, save in exceptional circumstances, personal relations and direct contact with both parents by providing means of access and visitation in both States and by respecting the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of their children; (d) Where alternative care is necessary, promoting family and community-based care in preference to placement in institutions; 13. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat illegal adoptions; 14. Calls upon all States to adopt and enforce laws and improve the implementation of policies and programmes to protect children growing up without parents and caregivers, in particular orphaned and other vulnerable children, from all forms of violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation, and to ensure their access to education, health and social services; 15. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by orphaned and other vulnerable children and to take effective measures against violations of those rights; 16. Calls upon all States to address cases of international abduction of children, and encourages States to engage in multilateral and bilateral cooperation so as to facilitate, inter alia, the return of the child to the country in which he or she resided immediately before the removal or retention and, in this respect, to pay particular attention to cases of international abduction of children by a parent or by other relatives; Poverty 17. Calls upon States and the international community to cooperate, support and participate in the global efforts for poverty eradication at the global, regional and country levels, recognizing that strengthened availability and effective allocation of resources are required at all of these levels, in order to ensure that all the internationally agreed development and poverty eradication goals, including those set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. are realized within their time framework, and reaffirms that investments in children and the realization of their rights are among the most effective ways to eradicate poverty; Health 18. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the right of the child, without discrimination, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to develop sustainable health systems and social services, to ensure access to such systems and services without discrimination and to pay particular attention to adequate food and nutrition to prevent disease and malnutrition, to prenatal and post-natal health care, to the special needs of adolescents and to reproductive and sexual health; 19. Urges all States to assign priority to activities and programmes aimed at preventing the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants as well as preventing other addictions, in particular addiction to alcohol and tobacco, among children and young people, especially those in vulnerable situations, and to counter the use of children and young people in the illicit production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 20. Calls upon all States to give support and rehabilitation to children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS and to involve children and their caregivers, as well as the private sector, to ensure the effective prevention of HIV infections through correct information and access to voluntary and confidential care, treatment and testing, including pharmaceutical products and medical technologies, affordable to all, giving due importance to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus; Education 21. Also calls upon all States: (a) To recognize the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination by making primary education compulsory and available free to all children, by ensuring that all children have access to education of good quality, as well as by making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular by the progressive introduction of free education, bearing in mind that special measures to ensure equal access, including affirmative action, contribute to achieving equal opportunity and combating exclusion; (b) To design and implement programmes to provide social services and support to pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers, in particular by enabling them to continue and complete their education; (c) To take all appropriate measures to prevent racism and discriminatory and xenophobic attitudes and behaviour through education, keeping in mind the important role that children play in changing those practices; (d) To ensure that children, from an early age, benefit from education programmes, materials and activities that develop respect for human rights and reflect fully the values of peace, non-violence against oneself and others, tolerance and gender equality; (e) To harness the rapidly evolving information and communication technologies to support education at an affordable cost, including open and distance education, while reducing inequality in access and quality; (f) To enable children, including adolescents, to exercise their right to express their views freely, according to their evolving capacity, and build self-esteem, acquire knowledge and skills, such as those for conflict resolution, decision-making and communication, to meet the challenges of life; 22. Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue to implement its mandated role in coordinating Education for All, as a means of reaching the commitments contained in the Millennium Declaration in this regard; 23. Urges States: (a) To take measures to protect schoolchildren from violence, injury or abuse, including sexual abuse and intimidation or maltreatment in schools, to establish complaint mechanisms that are age-appropriate and accessible to children and to undertake thorough and prompt investigations of all acts of violence and discrimination; (b) To take measures to eliminate the use of corporal punishment in schools; Freedom from violence 24. Calls upon States: (a) To take all appropriate measures to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence, including physical, mental and sexual violence, torture, child abuse, domestic violence, and abuse by police, other law enforcement authorities and employees and officials in detention centres or welfare institutions, including orphanages; (b) To investigate and submit cases of torture and other forms of violence against children to the competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution and to impose appropriate disciplinary or penal sanctions against those responsible for such practices; 25. Calls upon all States to end impunity for perpetrators of crimes committed against children, recognizing in this regard the contribution of the establishment of the International Criminal Court as a way to prevent violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, in particular when children are victims of serious crimes, including the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice and not grant amnesties for these crimes and to strengthen international cooperation towards the goal of ending impunity; 26. Requests all relevant human rights mechanisms, in particular special rapporteurs and working groups, within their mandates, to pay attention to the special situations of violence against children, reflecting their experiences in the field; 27. Invites the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; Non-discrimination 28. Calls upon all States to ensure that children are entitled to their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination of any kind; 29. Notes with concern the large number of children, particularly girls and children belonging to minorities, who are among the victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, stresses the need to incorporate special measures, in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child and respect for his or her views, in programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and calls upon States to provide special support and ensure equal access to services for all children; The girl child 30. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures, including legal reforms where appropriate: (a) To ensure the full and equal enjoyment by girls of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to take effective actions against violations of those rights and freedoms and to base programmes and policies on the rights of the child, taking into account the special situation of girls; (b) To eliminate all forms of discrimination against girls and all forms of violence, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, rape, sexual abuse and harmful traditional or customary practices, including female genital mutilation, the root causes of son preference, marriages without free and full consent of the intending spouses, early marriages and forced sterilization, by enacting and enforcing legislation and, where appropriate, formulating comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies protecting girls; Children with disabilities 31. Also calls upon all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with disabilities in both the public and the private spheres, including access to good quality education and health care and protection from violence, abuse and neglect, and to develop and, where it already exists, to enforce legislation to prohibit discrimination against them to ensure their dignity, promote their self-reliance and facilitate their active participation and integration in the community, taking into account the particularly difficult situation of children with disabilities living in poverty; 32. Encourages the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities to continue to consider the issue of children with disabilities in its deliberations; Migrant children 33. Calls upon all States to ensure, for migrant children, the enjoyment of all human rights as well as access to health care, social services and education of good quality and to ensure that migrant children, and especially those who are unaccompanied, in particular victims of violence and exploitation, receive special protection and assistance; Children working and/or living on the street 34. Also calls upon all States to prevent violations of the rights of children working and/or living on the street, including discrimination, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary executions, torture, all kinds of violence and exploitation, and to bring the perpetrators to justice, to adopt and implement policies for the protection, social and psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration of these children and to adopt economic, social and educational strategies to address the problems of children working and/or living on the street; Refugee and internally displaced children 35. Further calls upon all States to protect refugee, asylum-seeking and internally displaced children, in particular those who are unaccompanied, who are particularly exposed to risks in connection with armed conflict, such as recruitment, sexual violence and exploitation, to pay particular attention to programmes for voluntary repatriation and, wherever possible, local integration and resettlement, to give priority to family tracing and reunification and, where appropriate, to cooperate with international humanitarian and refugee organizations, including by facilitating their work; Child labour 36. Calls upon all States to translate into concrete action their commitment to the progressive and effective elimination of child labour that is likely to be hazardous to or interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, to eliminate immediately the worst forms of child labour, to promote education as a key strategy in this regard, including the creation of vocational training and apprenticeship programmes and the integration of working children into the formal education system, and to examine and devise economic policies, where necessary, in cooperation with the international community, that address factors contributing to these forms of child labour; 37. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider ratifying the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182) of the International Labour Organization, and calls upon States parties to those instruments to implement them fully and to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations; Children alleged to have infringed or recognized as having infringed penal law 38. Calls upon: (a) All States, in particular States in which the death penalty has not been abolished, to comply with their obligations as assumed under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including, in particular, articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and articles 6 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. keeping in mind the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty and the guarantees set out in Economic and Social Council resolutions 1984/50 of 25 May 1984 and 1989/64 of 24 May 1989, and calls upon those States to abolish by law, as soon as possible, the death penalty for those below the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offence; (b) All States to ensure that no child in detention is sentenced to forced labour or corporal punishment or deprived of access to and provision of health-care services, hygiene and environmental sanitation, education, basic instruction and vocational training, taking into consideration the special needs of children with disabilities in detention, in accordance with their obligations under the Convention; Recovery and social reintegration 39. Encourages States to promote actions, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance, for the social reintegration of children in difficult situations, considering, inter alia, views, skills and capacities that these children have developed in the conditions in which they lived and, where appropriate, with their meaningful participation; 40. Recognizes that children affected by the severe impact of natural disasters must be provided with access to basic social services; Prevention and eradication of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 41. Calls upon all States: (a) To criminalize and penalize effectively all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, including all acts of paedophilia, including within the family or for commercial purposes, child pornography and child prostitution, child sex tourism, trafficking in children, the sale of children and their organs and the use of the Internet for these purposes, and to take effective measures against the criminalization of children who are victims of exploitation; (b) To ensure the prosecution of offenders, whether local or foreign, by the competent national authorities, either in the country in which the crime was committed, or in the country of which the offender is a national or resident, or in the country of which the victim is a national, or on any other basis permitted under domestic law in accordance with due process of law, and for these purposes, to afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with investigations or criminal or extradition proceedings; (c) To increase cooperation at all levels to prevent and dismantle networks trafficking in children; (d) To consider ratifying or acceding to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;Resolution 55/25, annex II. (e) In cases of trafficking in children, the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to address effectively the needs of victims, including their safety and protection, physical and psychological recovery and full reintegration into their family and society; (f) To combat the existence of a market that encourages such criminal practices against children, including through the adoption, effective application and enforcement of preventive, rehabilitative and punitive measures targeting customers or individuals who sexually exploit or sexually abuse children, as well as by ensuring public awareness; (g) To contribute to the elimination of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography by adopting a holistic approach, addressing the contributing factors, including underdevelopment, poverty, economic disparities, inequitable socio-economic structures, dysfunctional families, lack of education, urban-rural migration, gender discrimination, irresponsible adult sexual behaviour, harmful traditional practices, armed conflicts and trafficking in children; Children affected by armed conflict 42. Reaffirms the essential roles of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights in promoting and protecting the rights and welfare of children, notes the importance of the debates held by the Security Council on children and armed conflict and its resolutions,Security Council resolutions 1379 (2001), 1460 (2003) and 1539 (2004). and takes note of other recent documents on this issueA/58/546-S/2003/1053 and Corr.1 and 2 and A/59/184-S/2004/602. and of the importance of the undertaking by the Council to give special attention to the protection, welfare and rights of children in armed conflict when taking action aimed at maintaining peace and security, including provisions for the protection of children in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, as well as the inclusion of child protection advisers in those operations; 43. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the comprehensive assessment of the United Nations system response to children affected by armed conflict;A/59/331. 44. Also takes note of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict;A/59/426. 45. Recognizes the inclusion in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. as a war crime, of crimes involving sexual violence and crimes of conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years or using them to participate actively in hostilities in both international and non-international armed conflicts; 46. Strongly condemns any recruitment and use of children in armed conflict contrary to international law, and urges all States and other parties to armed conflict that are engaged in such practices to end them; 47. Recognizes the efforts of States, the United Nations system and civil society to end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict; 48. Calls upon States: (a) When ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Resolution 54/263, annex I. to raise the minimum age for voluntary recruitment of persons into the national armed forces from that set out in article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention, bearing in mind that under the Convention persons under 18 years of age are entitled to special protection, and to adopt safeguards to ensure that such recruitment is not forced or coerced; (b) To take all feasible measures to ensure the demobilization and effective disarmament of children used in armed conflicts and to implement effective measures for their rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society, taking into account the rights and the specific needs and capacities of girls; (c) To take all feasible measures, as a matter of priority, to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as distinct from the armed forces of a State, including the adoption of legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalize such practices; (d) To protect children affected by armed conflict, in particular from violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law and to ensure that they receive timely, effective humanitarian assistance in accordance with the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and international humanitarian law; 49. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to cooperate with States in the development of projects to build capacity and to educate and train demobilized children in order to reintegrate them into society; Follow-up 50. Urges those States that have not yet done so to complete as soon as possible a national action plan incorporating the goals agreed at the special session of the General Assembly on children, as reflected in its outcome document entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and to place those goals within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 51. Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to prepare an updated report on the progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the document entitled "A world fit for children", with a view to identifying new challenges and making recommendations on the action needed to achieve further progress; (b) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the rights of the child, containing information on the status of the Convention and the issues addressed in the present resolution; (c) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to continue to submit reports to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights and to ensure that they contain relevant, accurate and objective information on the situation of children affected by armed conflict, taking into account the views of Member States and the outcome document adopted by the General Assembly at its special session on children and bearing in mind existing mandates and reports of relevant bodies; (d) To invite the Chairman of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to present an oral report on the work of the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; (e) To focus its general debate regarding the promotion of the rights of the child, at future sessions, on specific challenges, beginning, at its sixtieth session, with the contribution that the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child can make to the eradication of poverty and hunger; (f) To continue its consideration of the question at its sixtieth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children". RESOLUTION 59/262 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.1, para. 20)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uruguay and Yemen. 59/262. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families The General Assembly, Guided by the basic instruments regarding the international protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other relevant human rights instruments, and reaffirming the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling its resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990, by which it adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Recalling also the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on 1 July 2003, Considering that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. all States are urged to guarantee the protection of the human rights of all migrant workers and their families and are invited to consider the possibility of signing and ratifying the Convention at the earliest possible time, Bearing in mind the principles and norms established within the framework of the International Labour Organization and the importance of the work done in connection with migrant workers and members of their families in other specialized agencies and in various organs of the United Nations, as well as in the International Organization for Migration, Conscious of the marked increase in migratory movements that has occurred, especially in certain parts of the world, Deeply concerned at the manifestations of violence, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance and inhuman and degrading treatment directed against migrants in various parts of the world, Recognizing the urgent need to make further efforts worldwide to improve the situation and to guarantee respect for the human rights and dignity of all migrant workers and members of their families, and aware of the important contribution of the Convention in this regard, 1. Welcomes the increasing number of signatures, ratifications or accessions to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, calls upon States parties to undertake the necessary measures for the implementation of the Convention, and takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention;A/59/328. 2. Calls upon all Member States that have not yet done so to consider urgently signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention, with the aim of achieving a broader participation by Member States in the Convention; 3. Welcomes the establishment of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, as well as the report on its first session, held in Geneva from 1 to 5 March 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 48 (A/59/48). and takes note of the rules of procedure adopted by the Committee;Ibid., annex IV. 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide all the necessary facilities and assistance for the effective functioning of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, making efficient use of available resources; 5. Invites the Committee to take into account the work done by other human rights treaty bodies and special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights to promote and protect the human rights of migrant workers, as well as the work of other international forums and other parts of the United Nations system in addressing issues of international migration; 6. Also invites the Committee to take into account the efforts by the other human rights treaty bodies and the Secretary-General aimed at improving the effectiveness of the treaty body system; 7. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to submit in due time their first periodic report, as requested in article 73 of the Convention; 8. Invites States parties to the Convention to consider making the declarations foreseen in articles 76 and 77 of the Convention; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all the facilities and assistance necessary for the active promotion of the Convention through the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights; 10. Welcomes the increasing activities undertaken by the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to disseminate information on and promote understanding of the importance of the Convention, and invites them to intensify further their efforts in this regard; 11. Also welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants in relation to the Convention, and encourages her to persevere in her efforts; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit an updated report on the status of the Convention and on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 59/263 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/503/Add.3, para. 60)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 59/263. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Reaffirming also its previous resolutions on the human rights situation in Myanmar, the most recent of which is resolution 58/247 of 23 December 2003, those of the Commission on Human Rights, the most recent of which is resolution 2004/61 of 21 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the conclusions of the special sitting of the Committee on the Application of Standards of the International Labour Conference of 5 June 2004, Bearing in mind Security Council resolutions 1460 (2003) of 30 January 2003 and 1539 (2004) of 22 April 2004, Recognizing that good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights are essential to achieving sustainable development and economic growth, 1. Welcomes: (a) The report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/269. and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar;See A/59/311. (b) The personal engagement of the Secretary-General with the situation in Myanmar and his statement of 17 August 2004, in which he calls upon the Government of Myanmar to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and to engage in substantive dialogue with the National League for Democracy and other political parties; (c) The establishment by the Government of a committee for the prevention of military recruitment of underage children and its discussions with the United Nations Children's Fund towards concluding a plan of action, and stresses the need for the Government to work closely with the Fund; (d) The resumption of peace talks between the Government of Myanmar and the Karen National Union; (e) The access to the eastern part of Myanmar of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; 2. Expresses its grave concern at: (a) The ongoing systematic violation of the human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, of the people of Myanmar, in particular as outlined in previous resolutions concerning the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the most recent of which are General Assembly resolution 58/247 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/61;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. (b) The events of 30 May 2003 and the continuing detention and house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the National League for Democracy; (c) The fact that the Myanmar authorities have yet to implement recommendations contained in the aforementioned resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights; (d) The fact that the Myanmar authorities have not permitted the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar to visit for over six months, or the Special Rapporteur to visit for almost twelve months, despite repeated requests; (e) The continuing restrictions placed on the National League for Democracy and other political parties which prevented them from participating in the National Convention; 3. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To end the systematic violations of human rights in Myanmar, including extrajudicial killings, the use of torture, the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence persistently carried out by members of the armed forces, discrimination and violations suffered in particular by persons belonging to ethnic minorities, women and children and violations of the right to an adequate standard of living; to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms; to end impunity; and to investigate and bring to justice any perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military and other government agents in all circumstances; (b) To ensure that the next session of the National Convention is fully inclusive of all political parties and representatives and all major ethnic nationalities not represented by a political party, and that participants are guaranteed freedom of association and freedom of expression, including freedom of the media and unlimited access to information for the people of Myanmar, and guarantees the safety of all participants; (c) To restore democracy and respect the results of the 1990 elections by, inter alia, releasing immediately and unconditionally the leadership of the National League for Democracy, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of the League detained on or after 30 May 2003, as well as other prisoners of conscience, and to cease the ongoing harassment of the League and other political parties and allow the reopening of the offices of the League throughout the country; (d) To release immediately and unconditionally all detained or imprisoned political prisoners; (e) To initiate a full and independent inquiry, with international cooperation, into the Depayin incident of 30 May 2003, as called for by the General Assembly at its fifty-eighth session; (f) To cooperate fully with the Special Envoy and the Special Rapporteur in order to help to bring Myanmar towards a transition to civilian rule and to ensure that they are both granted without further delay full, free and unimpeded access to Myanmar and that no person cooperating with the Special Envoy, the Special Rapporteur or any international organization is subjected to any form of intimidation, harassment or punishment, and to review as a matter of urgency the case of those undergoing punishment in this regard; (g) To consider as a matter of high priority becoming a party to all relevant human rights instruments; (h) To take immediate action to implement fully concrete legislative, executive and administrative measures to eradicate the practice of forced labour by all organs of Government, including the armed forces, to cooperate with the International Labour Organization, and to implement fully the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry established to examine the observance by Myanmar of the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, 1930 (Convention No. 29), of the International Labour Organization; (i) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to extend full cooperation to relevant international organizations in order to ensure the demobilization of child soldiers, their return home and their rehabilitation in accordance with recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child;See CRC/C/15/Add.237. (j) To end the policy of the systematic enforced displacement of persons and other policies leading to displacement within Myanmar and refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to provide the necessary protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and to respect the right of refugees to voluntary, safe and dignified return monitored by appropriate international agencies; (k) To immediately ensure the safe and unhindered access to all parts of Myanmar of the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations so as to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance and to guarantee that it reaches the most vulnerable groups of the population, including internally displaced persons and returnees; (l) To pursue through dialogue and peaceful means an immediate end to conflict with all remaining ethnic groups with which ceasefire agreements have not yet been signed; (m) To formulate a clear and detailed plan for the transition to democracy, which includes concrete timing and the involvement of all political groups and ethnic nationalities in a way that ensures the process is transparent and inclusive; 4. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to provide his good offices and to pursue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and people of Myanmar, including all relevant parties to the national reconciliation process in Myanmar; (b) To give all necessary assistance to enable his Special Envoy and the Special Rapporteur to discharge their mandate fully and effectively; (c) To report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/264 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/588, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/264. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/222 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 E of 17 June 1997, 52/212 B of 31 March 1998, 53/204 of 18 December 1998, 53/221, section VIII, of 7 April 1999, 54/13 B of 23 December 1999, 55/220 A of 23 December 2000, 55/220 B and C of 12 April and 14 June 2001 and 57/278 A of 20 December 2002, Having considered, for the period ended 31 December 2003, the financial reports and audited financial statements and the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors on the United Nations,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/59/5), vol. I. the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO,Ibid., vol. III. the United Nations University,Ibid., vol. IV. the United Nations Development Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5A (A/59/5/Add.1). the United Nations Children's Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5B (A/59/5/Add.2). the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,Ibid., Supplement No. 5C (A/59/5/Add.3). the United Nations Institute for Training and Research,Ibid., Supplement No. 5D (A/59/5/Add.4). the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,Ibid., Supplement No. 5E (A/59/5/Add.5). the Fund of the United Nations Environment Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5F (A/59/5/Add.6). the United Nations Population Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5G (A/59/5/Add.7). the United Nations Human Settlements Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5H (A/59/5/Add.8). the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5I (A/59/5/Add.9). the United Nations Office for Project Services,Ibid., Supplement No. 5J (A/59/5/Add.10). the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994,Ibid., Supplement No. 5K (A/59/5/Add.11). and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991,Ibid., Supplement No. 5L (A/59/5/Add.12). the concise summary of principal findings, conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports prepared by the Board of Auditors,See A/59/162. the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors by the United Nations and its funds and programmesA/59/318 and Add.1. and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/400. 1. Accepts the financial reports and audited financial statements and the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors for the above-mentioned organizations, with the exception of the financial statements of the United Nations Office for Project Services;Ibid., Supplement No. 5J (A/59/5/Add.10). 2. Notes with concern that the Board of Auditors was unable to express an opinion on the financial statements of the United Nations Office for Project Services, and acknowledges the comprehensive steps taken by the Office to address the issues raised by the Board; 3. Notes the view of the Board of Auditors that it would be premature to conduct an audit in 2005 of the financial statements of the United Nations Office for Project Services for 2004 owing to the time needed to address the critical issues raised in the Board's report, and decides to revert to the issue, at its sixtieth session, in the context of the report of the Board of Auditors on the implementation of its recommendations relating to the biennium 2002-2003; 4. Approves the recommendations and conclusions contained in the reports of the Board of Auditors and endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/400. with the proviso that, should the need arise, the recommendations and conclusions of the Board of Auditors and the comments thereon by the Advisory Committee, including those on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda,Ibid., Supplement No. 5K (A/59/5/Add.11). the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia,Ibid., Supplement No. 5L (A/59/5/Add.12). the capital master planA/59/161. and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9), annex XII. will be considered under the respective agenda items; 5. Commends the Board of Auditors for the superior quality of its reports, in particular with respect to its comments on the management of resources and improving the presentation of financial statements; 6. Notes with concern the late issuance of the reports of the Board of Auditors despite the timely submission of these reports to the Secretariat, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure sufficient priority in completing their editing and translation in order that they may be submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with the six-week rule; 7. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors by the United Nations and its funds and programmes,A/59/318 and Add.1. and invites the Board of Auditors, in consultation with the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes, to categorize the recommendations according to their priority for implementation; 8. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to indicate an expected time frame for the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, including the office holders to be held accountable; 9. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to examine governance principles and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, through the respective governing bodies of the funds and programmes of the United Nations; 10. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations also to consider strengthening the internal control framework, harmonizing the administrative mechanisms that would systematically act upon the findings and recommendations of oversight bodies and improving financial reporting, as well as the proper forums for the consideration of the reports of the Board of Auditors by the respective executive boards and the General Assembly, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 11. Notes that the Secretariat has been collecting information on the experiences of audit committees within the United Nations system and other international organizations, and requests the Secretary-General to report on and provide an assessment of its findings to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/265 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/644, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/265. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 51/211 A to E of 18 December 1996, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 53/208 A to E of 18 December 1998, 54/248 of 23 December 1999, 55/222 of 23 December 2000, 56/242 of 24 December 2001, 56/254 D of 27 March 2002, 56/262 of 15 February 2002, 56/287 of 27 June 2002, 57/283 A of 20 December 2002, 57/283 B of 15 April 2003 and 58/250 of 23 December 2003, Reaffirming its resolution 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the equal treatment of the official languages of the United Nations, Having considered the report of the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/59/32). the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/59/159 and Add.1 and A/59/172. the report of the Joint Inspection Unit,See A/58/435. the comments of the Secretary-General thereon,See A/58/435/Add.1. and the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services,See A/59/133 and Corr.1. Having also considered the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/58/620 and A/59/418. Reaffirming the provisions relevant to conference services of its resolutions on multilingualism, I Calendar of conferences and meetings 1. Approves the draft revised calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2005, as submitted by the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/59/32), annex II. taking into account the observations of the Committee, and subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make any adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2005 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 3. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretariat has taken into account the arrangements referred to in General Assembly resolutions 53/208 A, 54/248, 55/222, 56/242, 57/283 B and 58/250 concerning Orthodox Good Friday and the official holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and requests all intergovernmental bodies to observe those decisions when planning their meetings; 4. Notes the outcome of the consultations between the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the Commission on Sustainable Development to avoid the overlap between the sessions of the Council and the Commission, and decides to reflect the results of those consultations in the revised calendar of conferences and meetings for 2005; 5. Decides that, in future, there should be an intervening period of at least two weeks after the closing of the sessions of relevant intergovernmental bodies and the beginning of the session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, in accordance with the multi-year programme of work of the Commission, and encourages such intergovernmental bodies and the Commission to closely coordinate meeting dates and programmes of work so as to avoid overlap between sessions; II A. Utilization of conference-servicing resources and facilities 1. Notes that the overall utilization factor at the four main duty stations in 2003 increased to 77 per cent, and encourages the bureaux and secretariats to meet the benchmark; 2. Requests the Committee on Conferences to continue to consult with those bodies that have consistently utilized less than the applicable benchmark figure of their allocated resources of the past three sessions with a view to making appropriate recommendations in order to achieve the optimum utilization of conference-servicing resources, and urges the secretariats and bureaux of bodies that underutilize their conference-servicing resources, with the assistance of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the Secretariat, to consider changes to their programme of work, as appropriate, based on previous patterns for recurring agenda items, with a view to making improvements in their utilization factors; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct systematic follow-up regarding the utilization of conference services by those bodies that consistently underutilize their conference-servicing resources over a longer period of time in order to identify the underlying causes for their being unable to reach the benchmark; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to report in future statistics on reassignments of services to meetings both related and unrelated to the cancelling body; 5. Welcomes the efforts that are being made to improve the utilization of the conference facilities at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, as set out in the report of the Secretary-General;A/58/530. 6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to continue to intensify the marketing efforts being made by the United Nations Office at Nairobi to attract more meetings to its facilities; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that conference management services at the United Nations Office at Nairobi are in line with other duty stations, taking into account the operational requirements of the Office, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session for its consideration; 8. Recalls its several resolutions, including resolution 57/283 B, section II.A, paragraph 9, and reaffirms that all meetings of Nairobi-based United Nations bodies shall take place in Nairobi, except as otherwise authorized by the General Assembly or the Committee on Conferences acting on its behalf, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the subject to the Assembly at its sixtieth session through the Committee on Conferences; 9. Strongly discourages any invitation to host meetings that would violate the headquarters rule, in particular for the United Nations Office at Nairobi and other United Nations centres with a low utilization level; 10. Expresses deep concern over the remaining vacancies in the interpretation and translation services, in particular at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to fill the vacancies, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to report thereon to the General Assembly through the Committee on Conferences; 11. Notes the improvements in the utilization of the conference centre at the Economic Commission for Africa in response to section II.A, paragraph 1, of its resolution 58/250, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore all possible options to increase further the utilization of the conference centre; 12. Welcomes the efforts so far undertaken to increase utilization and to make more efficient use of the conference facilities at the Economic Commission for Africa, and urges the Secretary-General to sustain the marketing campaign efforts and to report on the outcome to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the conference centre at the Economic Commission for Africa establishes and develops linkages with other centres and bodies, introduces and utilizes an integrated conference management system and considers the implementation of other modern technology systems, as appropriate, for a more efficient delivery of services, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 14. Emphasizes that all duty stations shall be given adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates, and in this respect welcomes the efforts of the Secretary-General to provide the available conference-servicing management tools and best practices to all duty stations; 15. Recognizes the importance of meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States for the smooth functioning of the sessions of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, as far as possible, all requests for conference services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States are met; 16. Notes with concern that the percentage of meetings held by regional and other major groupings of Members States that were provided with interpretation services during the reporting period from May 2003 to April 2004 decreased to 90 per cent from 92 per cent during the period from May 2002 to April 2003 for the four main duty stations; 17. Notes that, in absolute terms, the number of meetings provided with interpretation services was 10 per cent higher in the period 2003-2004 than in the period 2002-2003; 18. Recalls that meetings held by regional and other major groupings of Member States are provided with interpretation services on an ad hoc basis, in accordance with established practice; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to review the current established practice concerning the provision of interpretation services for meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States at Headquarters and other duty stations, with a view to improving the provision of interpretation services to those meetings; B. Reform of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management 1. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 2. Notes the steps taken by the Secretary-General in the implementation of the reform measures put forward in his report on the reform of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the SecretariatA/59/172. in accordance with section II.B of its resolutions 57/283 B and 58/250, and encourages the continued implementation of the measures described in paragraph 65 of his report, subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Appreciates the efforts of the Secretary-General in providing timely and detailed information during the consideration of the item entitled "Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly"; 4. Affirms that the consideration of and decisions on the revitalization of the General Assembly remain its prerogative; 5. Stresses that the participation of the Department in the revitalization of the General Assembly should focus on the timely provision of the documentation needed in order to facilitate the intergovernmental negotiation process; 6. Stresses also that future reports on the reform of the Department should concentrate only on its effort to this end; 7. Stresses further that the reform of the Department is aimed at improving the quality of documents and their timely production and delivery as well as the quality of conference services provided to Member States, with a view to meeting their needs as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible and in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 8. Reiterates its request contained in section II.B, paragraph 3, of its resolution 58/250; 9. Notes the ongoing efforts towards the establishment of the integrated global management system, and decides to consider at its sixtieth session the current outcomes in the light of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on this issue;See A/59/133 and Corr.1. 10. Also notes the establishment by the Secretary-General of a Secretariat task force to conduct a comprehensive study of workload standards and performance measurement and the preliminary findings of the task force, and requests the Secretary-General to pursue the study of workload standards and performance measurement, in both qualitative and quantitative terms, with a view to submitting to the General Assembly a proposal for a comprehensive methodology for performance measurement and management from a full-system perspective, while also paying attention to the specificities of all the official languages and ensuring compliance with resolution 58/250; 11. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General develop further effective measures to strengthen the responsibility and accountability system within the Secretariat, including the establishment of an interdepartmental mechanism to monitor the process in order to ensure the timely submission of documents for processing, and that he report comprehensively thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session through the Committee on Conferences; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the delivery of summary records, a useful and vital tool for Member States, in particular in maintaining the institutional memory of the Organization, in a more efficient and cost-effective manner in full consultation with all the relevant intergovernmental bodies; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to examine the option of setting a time frame for the publication of summary records, to study the related practical and financial implications and to present a pilot project to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 14. Further requests the Secretary-General to elaborate on all options, including those set out in paragraphs 59 to 63 of his report,A/59/172. in accordance with legislative mandates, and to report on their practical and financial implications to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session through the Committee on Conferences; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to develop further the functions of the Electronic Meetings Planning and Resource Allocation System (e-Meets) as the central tool for managing meetings to cover the entire spectrum of meeting-related activities and to continue consultations with other duty stations in order to expand its application across duty stations, or to integrate the system into other systems used in such offices; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to implement further the electronic documentation management concept (e-Doc), including the actual electronic transmission of documents through the documentation chain; 17. Further requests the Secretary-General to enhance the use of printing on demand for parliamentary documentation as a means of improving services provided to Member States, in full compliance with current legislative mandates, on the basis of experience gained and lessons learned, taking fully into account the special needs of developing countries and the views expressed by Member States, to consider the use of printing on demand for publications, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session through the Committee on Conferences; III Documentation and publication-related matters 1. Emphasizes the paramount importance of the equality of the six official languages of the United Nations; 2. Notes with concern the delay in the issuance of verbatim and summary records, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to ameliorate the situation, with a view to issuing them in a timely manner; 3. Notes with deep concern that the six-week rule for the issuance of documents is not fully complied with owing to, inter alia, the continued late submission of documents by author departments, and requests the Secretary-General to take further urgent measures to ensure strict compliance with the six-week rule for the timely issuance of documentation in view of the impact of their late issuance on the functioning of intergovernmental and expert bodies, which was acutely felt during the main part of the fifty-ninth session; 4. Notes that the rate of compliance with the page limits remains only partialSee A/59/159, paras. 36-46. and that reports not originating in the Secretariat comprise the bulk of the documents issued, and requests the Secretary-General to encourage compliance with drafting guidelines as set out in paragraph 15 of its resolution 53/208 B, to the extent possible, for such documents and to report on the matter to the General Assembly through the Committee on Conferences; 5. Recalls section III, paragraphs 25 to 28, of its resolution 57/283 B and section III, paragraph 10, of its resolution 58/250, and urges the Secretary-General to continue the consultations referred to in this context with a view to considering the possible broadening of the electronic distribution of documentation while maintaining the distribution of printed copies, as required, and to report on the matter to the General Assembly through the Committee on Conferences; 6. Notes with concern the violations of the rule that parliamentary documents must be distributed simultaneously in all official languages; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the rules concerning the simultaneous distribution of documents in all official languages are followed with respect to both the distribution of printed copies and the posting of parliamentary documentation on the Official Document System of the United Nations and the United Nations web site, in keeping with section III, paragraph 5, of resolution 55/222; 8. Notes with concern the non-compliance with rule 59 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the communication of resolutions adopted by the Assembly to Member States within fifteen days after the closure of the session; 9. Decides that the issuance of documents on planning, budgetary and administrative matters requiring urgent consideration by the General Assembly shall be accorded priority; IV Translation and interpretation-related matters 1. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the highest quality of interpretation and translation services in all official languages; 2. Notes with appreciation the continued practice of holding informational meetings with Member States to consult with them on the improvement of the language services and the intention to establish additional channels for communication on the terminology used and the quality of services rendered, and requests the Secretary-General to organize informational meetings twice a year and in a more appropriate setting, with interpretation provided on an as-available basis; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, when recruiting temporary assistance in language services, to ensure that all the language services are given equal treatment and are provided with equally favourable working conditions and resources with a view to achieving maximum quality of their services, with full respect for the specificities of the six official languages, taking into account their respective workloads; 4. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General continue the efforts to explore the use of new technologies, such as computer-assisted translation, remote and off-site translation and speech recognition, in the six official languages so as to enhance further the quality and productivity of the conference services, and to keep the General Assembly informed of the introduction of any other new technology; 5. Expresses deep concern for the high level of self-revision, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the matter to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session through the Committee on Conferences; 6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in updating the workload standards, to address the question of the appropriate level of self-revision that is consistent with quality in all official languages and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to make sure that terminology used in translation and interpretation services reflects the latest linguistic norms and terminology of the official languages in order to ensure the highest quality; 8. Expresses deep concern at the high vacancy rates in interpretation and translation services at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and especially the chronic difficulty in staffing the Arabic Interpretation Unit; 9. Notes with concern the sharp disparities in interpretation and translation vacancy rates between the United Nations Office at Nairobi and the other duty stations; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to pay greater attention to succession planning in order to fill emerging vacancies in language services in a timely manner through outreach to eligible applicants; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue conducting competitive examinations in all official languages in order to fill emerging vacancies in language services in a timely manner; V Information technology 1. Notes the progress achieved thus far across duty stations in integrating information technology into management and documentation-processing systems and the global approach to sharing standards, good practices and technological achievements among the conference services at all duty stations; 2. Welcomes efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General at the United Nations Office at Nairobi to include the Office in sharing of standards, good practices and technological achievements with the other United Nations Offices, consistent with its operational requirements; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify the efforts to strengthen the information technology capacity at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, to redeploy existing resources, as appropriate, to meet emerging priorities and to revert to this issue, as appropriate, in the context of the regular budget for the period 2006-2007; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the compatibility of technologies used in all duty stations and to ensure that they are user-friendly for all official languages; VI 1. Notes the comments in paragraphs 56 to 60 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/159. and paragraphs 12 to 14 of the report of the Committee on Conferences;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/59/32). 2. Decides to revert to the issue of biennialization of the agenda item entitled "Pattern of conferences" in the context of improving the working methods of the Fifth Committee. RESOLUTION 59/266 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/650, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/266. Human resources management The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 8, 97, 100 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling also its resolutions 49/222 A and B of 23 December 1994 and 20 July 1995, 51/226 of 3 April 1997, 52/219 of 22 December 1997, 52/252 of 8 September 1998, 53/221 of 7 April 1999, 55/258 of 14 June 2001, 57/305 of 15 April 2003 and 58/296 of 18 June 2004, as well as its other relevant resolutions and decisions, Having considered the relevant reports on human resources management questions submitted to the General Assembly for its considerationA/58/283, A/58/666, A/58/704, A/59/65-E/2004/48 and Add.1, A/59/152, A/59/211, A/59/213, A/59/217, A/59/222, A/59/253, A/59/263 and Add.1 and 2, A/59/264, A/59/291, A/59/299, A/59/357, A/59/388, A/C.5/58/L.13 and A/C.5/59/4. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/446. I Human resources management reform 1. Reaffirms the principles set out in sections I and II of its resolution 53/221 and section I of its resolution 55/258 concerning human resources management and the role of the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat; 2. Affirms that the Office of Human Resources Management shall remain the central authority within the Secretariat for the interpretation and enforcement of the Staff Regulations and Rules, without prejudice to regulation 12.3; 3. Stresses the crucial importance of a transparent and timely flow of information from the Secretariat to Member States in matters related to human resources management reform; 4. Requests the Secretary-General in future reports on mandated human resources management reform to include full information on achievements and the impact of its implementation; 5. Stresses that any proposals for changes in the building blocks of reform should be accompanied by transparent information for Member States on those changes; 6. Recalls section VII of its resolution 55/258, in which the General Assembly, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to ensure that well-designed mechanisms of accountability are put in place before delegating authority to programme managers; 7. Stresses the need to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place to ensure the accountability of programme managers for the implementation of human resources policies and the achievement of objectives contained in human resources action plans; 8. Emphasizes that effective accountability mechanisms are an integral and essential element of human resources management reform, and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen such mechanisms throughout the Organization; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve the effectiveness of human resources action plans for achieving the human resources objectives of the Organization, including with respect to equitable geographical distribution and gender representation, as mandated by the General Assembly, and further requests him to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-first session; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to reconstitute the Accountability Panel so as to strengthen the internal system of accountability, including with respect to human resources policies and objectives, and to ensure that the Panel has the authority necessary to hold programme managers accountable for their performance in achieving the objectives contained in human resources action plans; 11. Stresses that the staff selection system must provide transparency and fairness; 12. Emphasizes the importance of the participation of staff representatives in the work of the central review bodies, and requests the Secretary-General and invites staff representatives to engage in a consultative process with a view to resuming the participation of staff representatives in the work of the central review bodies; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure that the central review bodies discharge fully and effectively their roles in the staff selection system, as foreseen in annex II to the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Human resources management reform"A/55/253 and Corr.1. and subsequently approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 55/258, including by addressing the deficiencies identified in the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services,See A/59/253. and to make proposals to amend the terms of reference of the central review bodies as necessary in the light of experience; 14. Recalls its request to the Secretary-General contained in section II, paragraph 2, of its resolution 51/226, as reiterated in section IV, paragraph 10, of its resolution 53/221, section VII of its resolution 55/258 and section III of its resolution 57/305, to enhance managerial accountability with respect to human resources management decisions, including imposing sanctions in cases of demonstrated mismanagement of staff and wilful neglect of, or disregard for, established rules and procedures, while safeguarding the right of due process of all staff members, including managers, and requests the Secretary-General to report comprehensively thereon to it at its sixty-first session; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts, as described in paragraphs 130 to 132 of his report,A/59/263. to report to the General Assembly on the experiences gained in the implementation of such measures and to make additional proposals for action by the Assembly as appropriate; 16. Notes with concern paragraph 91 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/263. and requests the Secretary-General to reassess the situation; II Recruitment and placement 1. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity serve as the paramount consideration in the employment of staff, with due regard for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Recognizes the value of a transparent process of recruitment, placement and promotion in the Organization; 3. Notes the proposal of the Secretary-General,Ibid., para. 189. on the recommendation of the Office of Internal Oversight Services,A/59/253, para. 103. to reduce the time required for advertising a vacancy from 60 to 45 days, and decides to revert to this issue in the context of a comprehensive study addressing all factors contributing to the process of selection, recruitment and placement at its sixty-first session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to reduce the period required to fill vacancies by addressing all factors contributing to delays in the process of selection, recruitment and placement and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to maintain a system of circulating printed copies of all vacancy announcements, in accordance with its resolution 57/305, for distribution to all delegations, except those which indicate otherwise; 6. Reaffirms the need to respect the equality of each of the two working languages of the Secretariat, reaffirms also the use of additional working languages in specific duty stations as mandated, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to ensure that vacancy announcements specify the need for either of the working languages of the Secretariat unless the functions of the post require a specific working language; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the definition of language posts to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session in the context of his report on the composition of the Secretariat; 8. Expresses its concern over the deficiencies in the recruitment of international civilian staff in peacekeeping missions as referred to by the Office of Internal Oversight Services in its report,See A/59/152. and requests the Secretary-General to make efforts to rectify the situation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 9. Notes with concern the range of weaknesses related to the Galaxy support tool identified by the Office of Internal Oversight Services in its report;See A/59/253. 10. Requests the Secretary-General to fully develop the Galaxy support tool and make it more efficient and user-friendly for the purpose of efficient recruitment, as embodied in Article 101 of the Charter, and to ensure that all applicants are informed about the final result of their applications in a timely fashion; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the conversion of all printed applications into electronic form upon their submission for inclusion in the Galaxy system and to ensure that those applications are considered in the filling of advertised vacancies, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to develop screening mechanisms that ensure that all applications submitted in the Galaxy system are treated fairly, that well-qualified candidates are given due consideration and that keywords outside of the vacancy announcements are not used to exclude well-qualified candidates; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the steps necessary to ensure that Galaxy is available in both of the working languages of the Organization; 14. Reiterates its requests to the Secretary-General to inform Member States monthly, through the Internet, through the United Nations public web site and, upon request, in printed form of appointments made; III National competitive examination and General Service to Professional examination 1. Reiterates its decision that the recruitment of qualified staff from the General Service to the Professional category should be limited to the P-1 and P-2 levels and should be permitted for up to 10 per cent of the appointments at those levels; 2. Authorizes the Secretary-General to appoint to posts not subject to geographical distribution at the P-2 level up to seven successful candidates from the General Service to Professional examination each year; 3. Also authorizes the Secretary-General to appoint to P-2 posts in duty stations with chronically high vacancy rates up to three successful candidates from the General Service to Professional examination each year when no successful candidates from the national competitive examination are available; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to make special efforts to appoint to the relevant vacant posts in the Secretariat successful candidates from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States who have passed the national competitive examination; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the expeditious placement in appropriate posts of as many candidates as feasible who have been placed on the roster following the successful completion of national competitive examinations; 6. Reiterates section II, paragraph 43, of its resolution 57/305, and requests the Secretary-General to apply strictly the relevant administrative instruction for recruitment at the P-3 level and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; IV Measures to improve equitable geographical distribution 1. Notes with appreciation the progress made since 1994 in reducing the number of countries that are unrepresented and underrepresented; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his ongoing efforts to attain equitable geographical distribution in the Secretariat and to ensure as wide a geographical distribution of staff as possible in all main departments and offices of the Secretariat; 3. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General to improve the situation of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States and of those in danger of becoming underrepresented under the system of desirable ranges; 4. Notes the low percentage of appointments of staff from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States to posts subject to geographical distribution in 2004; 5. Notes with concern the decline in the proportion of nationals of developing countries in posts at the senior and policy-making levels of the Secretariat; 6. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General take all measures necessary to ensure, at the senior and policy-making levels of the Secretariat, equitable representation of Member States, especially those with inadequate representation at those levels, including unrepresented and underrepresented States, in particular developing countries, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and to continue to include relevant information thereon in all future reports on the composition of the Secretariat; 7. Notes that the system of geographic ranges was designed to apply to countries rather than regions or groups; 8. Recalls section II, paragraph 30, of its resolution 57/305, and reiterates its request that the Secretary-General include an analysis of the level of underrepresentation in his next report on the composition of the Secretariat; 9. Authorizes the Secretary-General, for a trial period of two years during which the procedures would be fully developed, to establish a special roster of candidates from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States, as proposed in paragraphs 21 and 22 of his report,A/59/264. for a number of posts at the P-4 and P-5 levels only, until such Member States are within the desirable ranges, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 10. Welcomes the practice of conducting recruitment missions to unrepresented and underrepresented Member States, and requests the Secretary-General to intensify those efforts in order to increase the number of recruits from those Member States after going through the regular recruitment procedures for advertised vacancies; 11. Reiterates its request contained in section II, paragraph 29, of its resolution 57/305 that the Secretary-General set specific targets as well as develop a programme for achieving equitable geographical representation; 12. Notes the number of overrepresented countries under the system of desirable ranges, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the General Assembly with analytical information on this issue in the framework of his report on the composition of the Secretariat; 13. Reaffirms that, in accordance with its resolutions 41/206 B of 11 December 1986, 53/221, 55/258 and 57/305, no post should be considered the exclusive preserve of any Member State or group of States, including at the highest levels, and reiterates its request that the Secretary-General ensure that, as a general rule, no national of a Member State succeeds a national of that State in a senior post and that there is no monopoly on senior posts by nationals of any State or group of States, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; V System of equitable geographical distribution 1. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General, as approved in its resolution 42/220 A of 21 December 1987, fully reach the level of posts subject to geographical distribution, which currently stands at 2,783; 2. Also reiterates its request that the Secretary-General submit the report requested in section IX, paragraph 2, of its resolution 57/305, which will include an assessment of the issues related to possible changes in the number of posts subject to the system of geographical distribution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit the report to the General Assembly by the second part of its resumed fifty-ninth session; 3. Recalls section IX, paragraph 1, of its resolution 57/305, and decides to revert to this subject at its sixty-first session; 4. Requests the Board of Auditors to conduct an audit of the implementation of the principle of equitable geographical representation in the Secretariat at all levels, as set out in relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and to verify the application of established measures of transparency and accountability at all levels of the selection, recruitment and placement process in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Assembly; 5. Also requests the Board of Auditors to submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session for consideration and action; VI Gender representation 1. Reaffirms the goal of 50/50 gender distribution in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at the senior and policy-making levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101 of the Charter, and regrets that progress towards attaining this goal has been slow; 2. Expresses concern at the continuing low proportion of women in the Secretariat, in particular the low proportion among them of women from developing countries, especially at the senior levels, and stresses that the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, should be taken into account and that those women should be accorded equal opportunities in the recruitment process, in full conformity with relevant resolutions; 3. Notes with concern that, in posts subject to the system of desirable ranges, 26 women from developing countries were recruited between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2004 among the 86 women appointed during that period; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to increase his efforts to attain and monitor the goal of gender parity in the Secretariat, in particular at senior levels, and in this context to ensure that women, especially those from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, are appropriately represented within the Secretariat, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General, in the context of attaining this goal, to develop and implement recruitment targets, time frames for meeting those targets and accountability measures; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to clarify the role of departmental focal points, including in the context of the staff selection system, and their participation in the development and monitoring of the departmental human resource action plans; 7. Encourages Member States to support the efforts of the Secretary-General by identifying more women candidates and encouraging them to apply for appointment to positions in the Secretariat and by creating awareness among their nationals, particularly women, of vacancies in the Secretariat; VII Post structure Requests the Secretary-General to make proposals to the General Assembly, as appropriate, to reform the post structure with a view to considering a possible increase in the proportion of P-2 and P-3 posts, taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the retirement of many senior staff in the coming years; VIII Mobility 1. Reaffirms section V of its resolution 55/258, as well as the segment on mobility contained in section II of its resolution 57/305, and notes its previous requests to the Secretary-General in this regard; 2. Stresses, in this regard, that when implementing mobility policies, the Secretary-General should ensure that: (a) Mobility does not negatively affect the continuity and the quality of services and the institutional memory and capacity of the Organization; (b) Mobility does not lead to the transfer or abolition of posts as a result of vacancies; (c) Mobility has a positive impact in filling existing high vacancy rates at some United Nations duty stations and regional commissions; (d) There is a clear differentiation between mobility within duty stations and mobility across duty stations and that the latter is a more important factor in career development; (e) Mobility is encouraged for all posts in the Professional and higher categories; 3. Notes that the implementation of mobility policies, while recognizing their anticipated positive effects, may also give rise to problems and challenges that should be addressed; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to take the steps necessary to ensure that mobility is not used as an instrument of coercion against staff and to ensure that appropriate monitoring and accountability measures are in place; 5. Notes the measures to facilitate the implementation of mobility policies set out in paragraph 85 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/263. and requests the Secretary-General to develop a strategic plan with indicators, benchmarks, time lines and clear criteria for the implementation of mobility policies and to report thereon, including with information on the financial implications, to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session for its consideration and action in order to solve any problems; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consult with staff in the development of mobility policies; 7. Requests the International Civil Service Commission, within its mandate, to keep under review the question of mobility in the United Nations common system, including its implications for career development, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly, as appropriate, in the context of its annual reports; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the use of incentives with a view to encouraging staff to move to duty stations with chronically high vacancy rates; 9. Reiterates section II, paragraph 51, of its resolution 57/305, in which the General Assembly encouraged the Secretary-General to expedite, as appropriate, agreements between the Secretariat and the United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies for all staff levels in relation to mobility, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-first session; 10. Invites host countries, as appropriate, to review their policies for granting work permits to spouses of United Nations staff; 11. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to explore ways of assisting spouses to find employment opportunities, in consultation with host Governments where necessary, including by taking measures to expedite the issuance of work permits; 12. Acknowledges that mobility needs to be supported through greater efforts to improve conditions of life and work at the various duty stations; IX Contractual arrangements Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on contractual arrangements,A/59/263/Add.1. and decides to revert to the issue at its sixtieth session in the context of its consideration of the report of the International Civil Service Commission on contractual arrangements with a view to taking a decision; X Use of appointments under the 100 and 300 series of the Staff Rules in the staffing of field missions 1. Decides to continue to suspend the application of the four-year maximum limit for appointments of limited duration under the 300 series of the Staff Rules in peacekeeping operations until 30 June 2005; 2. Authorizes the Secretary-General, bearing in mind paragraph 1 above, to reappoint under the 100 series of the Staff Rules those mission staff whose service under 300-series contracts has reached the four-year limit by 31 December 2004 or later, pending a decision by the General Assembly, provided that their functions have been reviewed and found necessary and their performance has been confirmed as fully satisfactory, and requests him to report thereon to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed fifty-ninth session; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals for which functions are relevant for reappointment under the 100 series for consideration and action by the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed fifty-ninth session; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue the practice of using 300 series contracts as the primary instrument for the appointment of new mission staff, pending a decision by the General Assembly on the report requested above; 5. Requests the International Civil Service Commission, as a matter of high priority, to review the contractual instruments available for the employment of common system staff in the field, including the practice of conversion to the 100 series from other contractual arrangements, and requests the Commission to present an analysis to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session of the desirability and feasibility of harmonizing conditions of service in the field, including at non-family duty stations, and to provide full details of the financial implications; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a comprehensive report with proposals for conditions of field service addressing, inter alia, the feasibility and desirability of conditions of service distinct to peacekeeping operations and the feasibility and desirability of harmonized conditions of field service in the United Nations; 7. Recognizes the authority of the Secretary-General to assign and deploy staff according to the operational needs of the Organization, and requests him to limit the assignment of staff, in particular General Service staff, from Headquarters and other established offices to field missions unless required by operational necessity or the unavailability of requisite skills in local labour markets; XI Consultants and individual contractors 1. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraphs 59 to 61 of its report,A/59/446. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the use of consultants and individual contractors, including actions taken to improve the monitoring capacity of the Office of Human Resources Management on this issue; 2. Reaffirms that consultants shall not perform functions of staff members of the Organization or have any representative or supervisory responsibility; 3. Reiterates that the Secretary-General should refrain from using consultants to carry out functions assigned to established posts and that consultants should be hired only in strict accordance with existing rules and relevant General Assembly resolutions and where expertise is not available within the Organization; 4. Also reiterates that in areas where consultants are frequently hired for a period of more than one year, the Secretary-General should submit proposals, where necessary, for the establishment of posts and should report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; XII Employment of retired former staff 1. Notes with concern the increased use of retired former staff members in substantive areas and in decision-making positions; 2. Also notes with concern that the lack of proper succession planning has a negative impact on the rejuvenation of the Organization and on attaining core human resources targets; 3. Endorses the views expressed by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in paragraphs 63 and 65 of its report;A/59/446. 4. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the employment of retired former staff has no adverse effects on the career planning and mobility of other United Nations staff members; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to have recourse to the employment of retired former staff only if the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by existing staff; 6. Stresses that the hiring of retired former staff should be on an exceptional basis, and in this regard encourages the Secretary-General to fill vacant posts at senior and decision-making levels through the established staff selection process; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the use of retired former staff and to develop clear criteria for the selection of the retired former staff, in particular in the Professional category; XIII Study of availability of skills in local labour markets Having considered the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the availability in local labour markets of the skills for which international recruitment for General Service staff takes place,See A/59/388. 1. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct a study on the availability of skills in local labour markets for which international recruitment for General Service staff takes place and, drawing on the findings, to reassess the determination made in 1975 that recruitment from outside the area of the duty station is necessary to staff the text-processing units, bearing in mind the need for the highest standards of quality relevant to the language function, and to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 2. Decides to revert to its consideration of the issue and of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight ServicesSee A/59/388. at its sixtieth session in the context of its consideration of the report requested in paragraph 1 above; XIV Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 1. Welcomes the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on its management review of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/59/65-E/2004/48. and notes the observations of the Secretary-General on the report and the actions of the Office to implement the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit;See A/59/65/Add.1-E/2004/48/Add.1. 2. Emphasizes that recruitment in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights should be done in full consultation with and under the guidance of the Office of Human Resources Management, consistent with the provisions of the present resolution and other relevant legislative mandates; 3. Notes that the Joint Inspection Unit will submit a follow-up report on this issue to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session for consideration under relevant agenda items; XV Measures to prevent discrimination 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on measures to prevent discrimination on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religion or language in the United Nations,A/59/211. and requests him to develop further measures, as necessary, in cooperation with the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Joint Inspection Unit, to prevent such discrimination, in accordance with the principles of the Charter and the provisions of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 2. Decides to revert to the consideration of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/211. in the context of the agenda item entitled "Administration of justice at the United Nations" during the first part of its resumed fifty-ninth session; XVI Staff-management consultations 1. Takes note of the views expressed by staff representatives in the Fifth Committee, stresses the importance of a meaningful dialogue on human resources management issues between staff and management, and calls upon both parties to intensify efforts to overcome differences and to resume the consultative process; 2. Reiterates its requests that the Secretary-General take into account the views of staff representatives, in accordance with article VIII of the Staff Regulations and Rules and resolution 35/213 of 17 December 1980; XVII Other matters 1. Stresses that all administrative issuances of the Secretary-General related to the implementation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly shall be in full compliance with such resolutions and decisions and shall be reported to the Assembly in conformity with the established regulations, rules and procedures; 2. Reaffirms that, in accordance with staff regulation 1.2, staff members shall not be actively associated with the management of, or hold a financial interest in, any profit-making, business or other concern if it were possible for the staff member or the profit-making, business or other concern to benefit from such association or financial interest by reason of his or her position with the United Nations; XVIII Reporting Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-first session consolidated reports, as appropriate, on the results of the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/267 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/646, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/267. Reports of the Joint Inspection Unit The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Joint Inspection Unit, in particular resolutions 31/192 of 22 December 1976, 50/233 of 7 June 1996, 54/16 of 29 October 1999, 55/230 of 23 December 2000, 56/245 of 24 December 2001, 57/284 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 58/286 of 8 April 2004, Having considered the report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2003,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/59/34). the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the programme of work of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2004A/59/75. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit,A/59/349. Noting with appreciation the recent adoption by the Joint Inspection Unit of internal working procedures and mechanisms to complement its standards and guidelines, which are aimed at improving the quality and impact of the Unit's activities, Recognizing that in order for the Unit to further improve its effectiveness, the provisions of the statute of the Unit should be fully implemented, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2003;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/59/34). 2. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the programme of work of the Unit for 2004;A/59/75. 3. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Unit;A/59/349. 4. Decides to discontinue the requirement for the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Unit; 5. Considers that the implementation in full of the provisions of the statute of the Unit should contribute to the enhancement of its role and an increase in the effectiveness of its activities; 6. Urges Member States requested to propose candidates for membership in the Unit to strictly adhere to the qualifications and experience outlined in article 2, paragraph 1, of the statute; 7. Stresses the importance of ensuring that candidates have experience in at least one of the fields illustrated as follows: oversight, audit, inspection, investigation, evaluation, finance, project evaluation, programme evaluation, human resources management, management, public administration, monitoring and/or programme performance, as well as knowledge of the United Nations system and its role in international relations; 8. Invites the President of the General Assembly to ensure the full implementation of the procedures and mechanisms for reviewing the qualifications of proposed candidates as outlined in article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Unit, including through joint consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council and the Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination,Formerly known as the Administrative Committee on Coordination. as well as drawing, as appropriate, on relevant expertise from expert and intergovernmental bodies concerned with budgetary and human resources matters, and with consultations with the States concerned, after which the President of the Assembly submits the list of such candidates to the Assembly for appointment; 9. Also invites the President of the General Assembly to review the procedures followed by the Assembly for the appointment of inspectors, with a view to enhancing the efficiency of the application of article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute, bearing in mind the procedures followed for the selection of members of other expert bodies and to report to the Assembly at the first part of its resumed sixtieth session for its decision, as appropriate; 10. Reaffirms article 11, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Unit, and requests that the Unit, as a whole, also take responsibility in the exercise of its collective wisdom with regard to all its reports, notes and recommendations, in order to improve the effectiveness of the Unit; 11. Re-emphasizes paragraph 9 of its resolution 56/245; 12. Decides that the Unit shall perform its functions and responsibilities strictly in accordance with the provisions of its statute; 13. Also decides that the programme of work of the Unit shall be collectively approved, providing the rationale for choice as well as the relevance of the envisaged outcome to improving management and methods and promoting greater coordination between organizations; 14. Affirms that, in the implementation of article 18 of the statute of the Unit, the Chair shall be responsible for overseeing the Unit's programme of work, including, in the event of disagreement, the division of assignments, and for enforcing the internal working procedures of the Unit to ensure, through collective responsibility, the quality of its reports; 15. Welcomes the peer review system established by the Unit, and decides that if, in the opinion of the majority of the inspectors, the report in question does not meet the established quality standards, the Chair shall reflect such views and the reasons therefor in the introduction to the report; 16. Emphasizes the desirability of continuity in the term of office of the Chair and Vice-Chair, and calls upon the Unit to bear this in mind in implementing article 18 of the statute, so as to re-elect the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman for overlapping terms, thereby balancing the need for institutional memory and reasonable rotation; 17. Also emphasizes the need to assess resource management from a system-wide perspective, including the contribution of, and coordination between, organizations; 18. Decides that the Unit shall mainly focus on identifying means to improve management and to ensure that optimum use is made of available resources, as stipulated in article 5, paragraphs 1 to 3, of the statute, and to this end the Unit will set out management criteria and methods for assessment of management performance and effectiveness relevant to participating organizations; 19. Also decides that the Unit shall include, in its annual reports, information on implementation and the results achieved by organizations in respect of their follow-up to the recommendations of the Unit, as endorsed by their legislative bodies, and the arrangements put in place by participating organizations for reporting thereon; 20. Further decides that the Unit, as part of its focus on management issues, should assess the development and application in participating organizations of the principle of accountability in its relevant reports; 21. Decides that the Unit shall undertake inspections with a sharp focus on the areas stipulated in article 5, paragraphs 1 to 3, of the statute, bearing in mind paragraphs 18 and 20 above; 22. Invites the Committee for Programme and Coordination, in performing its programmatic, coordination, monitoring and evaluation functions, as contained in its mandate, to consider relevant reports of the Unit; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the staff recruited according to article 19 of the statute fully meet the qualifications and have proven experience in specific areas required to assist the Unit in the fulfilment of its functions, namely, inspection, investigation and evaluation; 24. Reaffirms that the working languages of the General Assembly are those of the Unit, in application of article 51 of the rules of procedure of the Assembly, and also reaffirms that the working languages of the Secretariat of the United Nations are those of the secretariat of the Unit, in application of Assembly resolution 2 (I) of 1 February 1946; 25. Decides to continue providing translation in all official languages for the reports of the Unit and also to provide interpretation, as necessary, within existing resources; 26. Reaffirms its request to the Secretariat and all participating organizations to facilitate the work of the Unit, including, in particular, through offering full access to all relevant information, as required by the Unit; 27. Also reaffirms its request to the executive heads of the participating organizations that have not yet done so to take the steps necessary to facilitate the consideration of and action on the system of follow-up to the reports of the Unit, and invites the legislative organs concerned to consider the system and take action in that regard; 28. Emphasizes the need to ensure respect for the separate and distinct roles and functions of external and internal oversight mechanisms and also to strengthen the external oversight mechanisms; 29. Decides to consider the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution, which are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the Unit, at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 59/268 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/647, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/268. United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/216 of 18 December 1996, 52/216 of 22 December 1997, 53/209 of 18 December 1998, 55/223 of 23 December 2000, 56/244 of 24 December 2001, 57/285 of 20 December 2002 and 58/251 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vols. I and II. the note by the Secretariat submitting the report of the Panel on the Strengthening of the International Civil ServiceA/59/153. and the note by the Secretary-General on the findings and recommendations of the Panel,A/59/399. Reaffirming its commitment to a single, unified United Nations common system as the cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Convinced that the common system constitutes the best instrument through which to secure staff with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for the international civil service, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the statute of the Commission and the central role of the Commission and the General Assembly in the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Takes note of the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2004;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vols. I and II. I Conditions of service applicable to both categories of staff A. Review of the pay and benefits system 1. Notes the information provided on the pilot study on broad banding and pay-for-performance;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. 2. Also notes that if all three models of the pay-for-performance system were not tested, this could diminish the value of the pilot project and requests the Commission to keep this in mind in its further consideration of the issue, and encourages volunteering organizations to test all three models; 3. Recognizes that an effective and credible performance appraisal system is the key for the possible introduction of a pay-for-performance system, and requests the Commission to ensure that the performance appraisal systems in volunteer organizations are developed, in full consultation with staff members, and are clear, effective and credible for all the parties concerned, including Member States; 4. Looks forward to receiving from the Commission annual updates on the pilot studies on broad banding and pay-for-performance; 5. Decides that no new strategy or pilot project in broad banding or pay-for-performance should be undertaken until the General Assembly has had an opportunity to review the results of the pilot study on broad banding and pay-for-performance being conducted by the Commission; 6. Requests the Commission to report on the contemporary rationale for separate salary scales for single staff and those with dependants in the context of its report on pay and benefits review; B. Contractual arrangements Recalling section I.A, paragraph 4, of its resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, Notes the intention of the Commission to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a final report on contractual arrangements; C. Mobility and hardship allowance Recalling section VI of its resolution 51/216 of 18 December 1996, section I.C of its resolution 55/223 of 23 December 2000, and section II.A, paragraph 7, of its resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, 1. Recognizes the work undertaken by the Commission in reviewing the current mobility and hardship scheme in the context of the pay and benefits review; 2. Takes note of the decision taken by the Commission in paragraph 137 of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. D. Hazard pay Recalling sections I.D of its resolutions 57/285 of 20 December 2002 and 58/251 of 23 December 2003, Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 147 of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. E. Review of the level of the education grant Recalling section IV of its resolution 51/216 of 18 December 1996, section III.A of its resolution 52/216 of 22 December 1997 and section I.E of its resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, 1. Approves the increases in the maximum reimbursement levels for fifteen countries, as well as other recommendations in respect of the reimbursement of expenses under the education grant, as recommended by the Commission in paragraphs 166 (a) to (f) of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. 2. Reiterates its request to the organizations of the common system to bring the matter of the payment of the education grant to staff members living in their own countries to the attention of their governing bodies, with a view to harmonizing the staff rules and regulations along the lines of those of the United Nations, and invites governing bodies to take the relevant actions; 3. Requests the Commission to inform the General Assembly at its sixtieth session as to the practices of other relevant civil services and international organizations concerning the provision of education grants; F. Review of pensionable remuneration Recalling section II, paragraph 6, of its resolution 51/217 of 18 December 1996, Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 181 of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. G. Review of allowances 1. Requests the Commission, in reviewing and modernizing the system of grants and allowances, to attach priority to enhancing transparency and administrative simplicity; 2. Also requests the Commission to inform the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on which entities it uses as comparators for the determination of entitlements such as leave and allowances, and to advise the Assembly on the merits and disadvantages of applying as a point of departure the practices of the civil service of the country used as comparator for salary purposes; H. Common scale of staff assessment Recalling its resolution 51/216 of 18 December 1996, Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 188 of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. I. Paternity leave Takes note of the decision contained in paragraph 211 of the annual report of the Commission,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. and confirms its recommendations to have paternity leave implemented throughout the common system within the parameters set forth in the report; II Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories A. Examination of the Noblemaire principle and its application Recalling its resolution 44/198 of 21 December 1989 and other relevant resolutions, 1. Reaffirms the continuing application of the Noblemaire principle; 2. Also reaffirms the need to continue to ensure the competitiveness of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system; 3. Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 273 of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. B. Grade equivalencies between the United States federal civil service and the United Nations common system Recalling section I.A of its resolution 50/208 of 23 December 1995, section II.B of its resolution 55/223 of 23 December 2000, and section I.A, paragraph 7, of its resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, 1. Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 276 of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. 2. Requests the Commission to include the review of grade equivalency in the study to determine the highest paid civil service on its work programme for 2005-2006; C. Evolution of the margin Recalling section I.B of its resolution 51/216 of 18 December 1996 and the standing mandate from the General Assembly, in which the Commission is requested to continue its review of the relationship between the net remuneration of the United Nations staff in the Professional and higher categories in New York and that of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service) employees in comparable positions in Washington, D.C. (referred to as "the margin"), 1. Notes that the margin between net remuneration of the United Nations staff in grades P-1 to D-2 in New York and that of officials in comparable positions in the United States federal civil service in Washington, D.C. for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004 is 110.3, as shown in annex V to the annual report of the Commission;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. 2. Reaffirms that the range of 110 to 120 for the margin between the net remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories of the United Nations in New York and the officials in comparable positions in the comparator civil service should continue to apply, on the understanding that the margin would be maintained at a level around the desirable midpoint of 115 over a period of time; D. Base/floor salary scale Recalling its resolution 44/198 of 21 December 1989, by which it established a floor net salary level for staff in the Professional and higher categories by reference to the corresponding base net salary levels of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service), Approves, with effect from 1 January 2005, as recommended by the Commission, the revised base scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories, as contained in annex VI to the annual report of the Commission;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. E. Review of the level of children's and secondary dependants' allowances Recalling section II.F of its resolution 47/216 of 23 December 1992, Approves the recommendations of the Commission contained in paragraph 244 of its annual report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. III A. Senior Management Service Recalling section I.A, paragraphs 5 and 6, of its resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, 1. Recalls that, in section I.A, paragraph 5, of its resolution 57/285 of 20 December 2002, it requested the Commission to review the proposal for the introduction of the Senior Management Service, as described in paragraph 80 of the annual report of the Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/57/30). in view of its intention to consider the question at its fifty-eighth session; 2. Also recalls that the Commission requested the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination to keep it informed and to report appropriately about the related developmental work proceeding under the auspices of the Board; 3. Further recalls its decision 55/488 of 7 September 2001; 4. Reaffirms articles 9 and 10 of the statute of the Commission; 5. Recognizes that measures to improve management capacity and performance among senior staff are highly desirable; 6. Affirms that the Commission is the only body responsible for recommending to the General Assembly the establishment of a separate category of staff for the common system; 7. Requests the Commission to continue to monitor the project regarding the improvement of management capacity and performance among senior staff by the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, and to advise and make recommendations to the General Assembly as appropriate; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to redesignate the Senior Management Service to reflect its character as a set of collaborative efforts to enhance the managerial capacity and performance of senior staff by respective executive heads and to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, clarifying the scope and content of such efforts, for consideration and action if it deems it necessary; B. Gender balance in the United Nations system 1. Notes with concern, as pointed out by the Commission with regard to the organizations of the United Nations common system, that the rate of advancement of women had slowed over the years and that only limited progress had been made; 2. Takes note of the decision of the Commission in paragraph 297 of its annual report,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vol. I. and requests it to provide information on the outcome of its consideration of the report on further progress in this field; IV Strengthening of the international civil service Decides to revert to the consideration of the report of the Panel on the Strengthening of the International Civil Service and the recommendations thereinA/59/153. and the note by the Secretary-General on the findings and recommendations of the PanelA/59/399. during the first part of its resumed fifty-ninth session. RESOLUTION 59/269 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/606, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/269. United Nations pension system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/217 of 18 December 1996, 53/210 of 18 December 1998, 55/224 of 23 December 2000 and 57/286 of 20 December 2002, section V of its resolution 54/251 of 23 December 1999 and of its resolution 56/255 of 24 December 2001, and section X of its resolution 58/272 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on its fifty-second session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 and addendum (A/59/9 and Add.1). the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension FundA/C.5/59/11. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/447. I Actuarial matters Recalling section I of its resolution 57/286, Having considered the results of the actuarial valuation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund as at 31 December 2003 and the observations thereon by the Consulting Actuary of the Fund, the Committee of Actuaries and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, 1. Takes note of the developments with respect to the actuarial surplus of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, which went from 0.36 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1997 to 4.25 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1999 to 2.92 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 2001 and to 1.14 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 2003, and, in particular, of the opinions on those developments provided by the Consulting Actuary and the Committee of Actuaries, as reproduced in annexes VII and VIII, respectively, to the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on its fifty-second session; Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9). 2. Also takes note of the Board's agreement with the recommendation of the Committee of Actuaries that most of the surplus should be retained; 3. Further takes note of the view of the Committee of Actuaries and the recommendation of the Board that the current contribution rate of 23.7 per cent of pensionable remuneration should be maintained; 4. Takes note of the Board's approval of the terms of reference for the Committee of Actuaries, and notes that the Standing Committee of the Board will consider in 2005 provisions that would allow for the possible appointment of ad hoc members to the Committee of Actuaries; 5. Concurs, in accordance with article 13 of the Regulations of the Fund and with a view to securing continuity of pension rights: (a) With the revised transfer agreements of the Fund with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the World Trade Organization, as approved by the Board and set out in annex IX to the report of the Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9). which will supersede existing transfer agreements, effective 1 January 2005; (b) With the new transfer agreements of the Fund with the Universal Postal Union and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, as approved by the Board and set out in annexes I and II, respectively, to the addendum to the report of the Board,Ibid., addendum (A/59/9/Add.1) which will become effective on 1 January 2005; 6. Decides, upon the affirmative recommendation of the Board, that the Inter-Parliamentary Union shall be admitted as a new member organization of the Fund, effective 1 January 2005; II Pension adjustment system Recalling section II of its resolution 57/286, Having considered the reviews carried out by the Consulting Actuary, the Committee of Actuaries and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, as set out in the Board's report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9). of various aspects of the pension adjustment system, 1. Takes note of the recommendation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board of a phased approach in the elimination of the 1.5 per cent reduction in the first consumer price index adjustments due after retirement, with effect from 1 April 2005, and also takes note of the Board's recommendation that the two-track pension adjustment system of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund be amended to provide for an adjustable minimum guarantee at 80 per cent of the United States dollar-track amount, also with effect from 1 April 2005; 2. Approves, accordingly, with effect from 1 April 2005, the changes in the pension adjustment system set out in the annex to the present resolution, namely: (a) A phased approach in the elimination of the 1.5 per cent reduction in the first consumer price index adjustments; (b) The addition of a new provision under the two-track pension adjustment system for an adjustable minimum guarantee at 80 per cent of the United States dollar-track amount, with the understanding that, under the two-track pension adjustment system, benefits are subject to a maximum of 110 or 120 per cent of the local currency track, depending on the date of separation from service, and that the Board will continue to review the costs/savings of all the modifications introduced since 1992 with respect to the two-track feature of the pension adjustment system and will report thereon to the General Assembly every two years on the occasion of the actuarial valuations of the Fund; 3. Requests the Board to review the benefit of the two-track system vis-à-vis the United States dollar track for both the beneficiaries and the Fund as a whole, taking into account the effect of the adjustable minimum guarantee at 80 per cent of the United States dollar-track amount on the utilization rate of the two-track system, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 4. Takes note of the Board's intention to address in 2006, subject to a favourable actuarial valuation as at 31 December 2005, the possible total elimination of the balance of the 1.5 per cent reduction and, on an equal footing, the possible elimination of the limitation on the right to restoration based on length of prior service; 5. Decides not to consider any further proposals to enhance or improve pension benefits until action is taken on the issues contained in section I, paragraph 4, and section II, paragraphs 2 and 3, of its resolution 57/286; 6. Invites the Board to provide information on the special situation of pensioners living in countries having undergone dollarization and on possible proposals to attenuate the adverse consequences arising therefrom; III Financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and report of the Board of Auditors Having considered the financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 2003, the audit opinion and report of the Board of Auditors thereon, the information provided on the internal audits of the Fund and the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9). 1. Takes note of the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, as described in paragraphs 11 and 12 of its report on the accounts of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 2003,Ibid., Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9), annex XI. and stresses the need for the Fund to comply fully and in a timely manner with all recommendations of the Board of Auditors; 2. Takes note with satisfaction of the approval of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board of an internal audit charter, which recognizes and incorporates policy changes for the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat; 3. Notes that the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board will consider, in 2005, the desirability of and possible terms of reference for an audit committee of the Board; IV Administrative arrangements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Recalling section VII of its resolution 51/217, section V of its resolutions 52/222, 53/210 and 54/251, section IV of its resolution 55/224, section V of its resolution 56/255, section IV of its resolution 57/286 and section X of its resolution 58/272 concerning the administrative arrangements and expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, 1. Takes note of the information set out in paragraphs 134 to 136 of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9). on the revised budget estimates for the biennium 2004-2005; 2. Also takes note of the upward trend in the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and of the intention of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions to further consider the matter in the context of the Fund's budget proposals for the biennium 2006-2007; 3. Approves additional resources in the amount of 5,340,700 United States dollars for the biennium 2004-2005 for administrative costs of the Fund, noting that the revised estimates for the biennium would amount to a total appropriation of 41,011,800 dollars for administrative costs; 4. Takes note of the arrangements for leasing office space to accommodate in New York, outside United Nations Headquarters, the Fund secretariat and the Investment Management Service; V Size and composition of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and its Standing Committee Stressing the importance of fair representation of participating organizations in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and its Standing Committee, 1. Takes note of the information set out in paragraphs 200 to 210 of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9). concerning the review of the size and composition of the Board and its Standing Committee and the decision of the Board that the matter should be further studied by the Working Group established to carry out that review, for consideration by the Standing Committee in 2005 and the Board in 2006; 2. Urges the Board to explore the possibility of meeting annually for a shorter duration and to report its conclusions, including all financial and administrative implications associated with that possibility, to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; VI Other matters 1. Takes note of the agreement of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board: (a) To make no changes to the current methodology used in the determination of final average remuneration but to consider at the meeting of its Standing Committee in 2005 a study containing actuarial cost assessments of a proposed early retirement protection measure, together with both the positive features and the anomalies that might arise as a consequence; (b) To consider at the meeting of its Standing Committee in 2005 a report on a possible provision to allow for the purchase by participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund of additional years of contributory service; (c) To consider at the meeting of its Standing Committee in 2005 possible applications for membership in the Fund from the International Organization for Migration and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas; (d) To consider at its session in 2006 a study on all benefit provisions relating to family benefits; (e) To consider at its session in 2006 a study, to be carried out in consultation with the medical directors of the common system, on disability issues; 2. Takes note with satisfaction of the progress report on the Fund's management charter, which introduced specific goals and objectives, a detailed action plan for achieving such goals and the status report on the implementation of each goal; 3. Takes note of the arrangements with respect to the comprehensive review of pensionable remuneration that is to be carried out by the International Civil Service Commission in close cooperation with the Board, and also takes note of the timetable and framework for the required close collaboration between the two bodies; VII Investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,A/C.5/59/11. as well as the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board set out in paragraphs 99 to 102 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/59/9). 2. Also takes note of the significant increase in the market value of the Fund's assets and the positive returns achieved during the biennium; 3. Notes that a comprehensive review will be carried out of the investment policies and practices of the Investment Management Service with a view to addressing the findings and recommendations contained in the audit reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat and the Board of Auditors; 4. Takes note of the Board's approval of the terms of reference for the Investments Committee, which will take effect on 1 January 2005; VIII Diversification of investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Recalling its resolutions 36/119 A to C of 10 December 1981, 1. Takes note of the increase in investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in developing countries, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the steps and efforts undertaken to increase, to the maximum extent possible, investments in developing countries; 2. Reaffirms the policy of diversification of the investments of the Fund across geographical areas, wherever this serves the interests of the participants and beneficiaries of the Fund, in accordance with the four criteria of safety, profitability, liquidity and convertibility; IX Implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the Investment Management Service of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Recalling its resolution 58/279 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/58/725. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General.A/58/725. Annex Changes to the pension adjustment system of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Section H. Subsequent adjustments of the benefit Add the following new text at the end of paragraph 20: "Effective 1 April 2005, the reduction in the initial adjustments due after separation shall be by 1.0 percentage point; with respect to benefits to which the 1.5 percentage point reduction was applied before 1 April 2005, there shall be a 0.5 percentage point increase in the first adjustments due on or after 1 April 2005." Section I. Payment of the benefit Add the following new text at the end of paragraph 23: "The limitations described in (a) and (b) above shall not result in a benefit being smaller than either the United States dollar base amount determined in accordance with the Regulations of the Fund or 80 per cent of the adjusted United States dollar-track amount." RESOLUTION 59/26 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 22 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.28/Rev.2, as orally revised, sponsored by: Armenia, Belarus, Cambodia, Chile, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 59/26. Commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War The General Assembly, Recalling that 2005 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the war which brought untold sorrow to mankind, Stressing that this historic event established the conditions for the creation of the United Nations, designed to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Calling upon the States Members of the United Nations to unite their efforts in dealing with new challenges and threats, with the United Nations playing a central role, and to make every effort to settle all disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and in such a manner that international peace and security are not endangered, Underlining the progress made since the end of the Second World War in overcoming its legacy and towards establishing reconciliation, international and regional cooperation and the promotion of democratic values, human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular through the United Nations, and the establishment of regional organizations and other appropriate frameworks, 1. Declares 8-9 May as a time of remembrance and reconciliation and, while recognizing that Member States may have individual days of victory, liberation and commemoration, invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe annually either one or both of these days in an appropriate manner to pay tribute to all victims of the Second World War; 2. Requests the President of the General Assembly to hold a special solemn meeting of the General Assembly in the second week of May 2005 in commemoration of all victims of the war; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States and organizations of the United Nations system and to take measures necessary for its implementation. RESOLUTION 59/270 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/648, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/270. Reports of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, Recalling also its resolutions 56/246 of 24 December 2001 and 58/101 B of 9 December 2003, Having considered the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services for the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003See A/58/364. and the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the review of the structure and operations of United Nations information centres,See A/57/747 and Corr.1. 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 2. Takes note of the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services;See A/58/364. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of Internal Oversight Services continues to provide internal oversight of the entire claims process of the United Nations Compensation Commission and to report regularly thereon in the context of the annual reports of the Office; 4. Recalls regulation 1.2 of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to provide information to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session in the context of its consideration of matters related to procurement reform on actions taken to prevent recurrence of incidents of possible conflict of interest and inappropriate procurement practices; 5. Notes the description of the mission of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, as outlined in its annual report, and in this regard stresses that the mission of the Office should be in full conformity with its mandate, as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/218 B; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees develops and utilizes comprehensive policy guidelines for the selection and management of consultants to ensure transparency and objectivity in their engagement, monitoring and evaluation as well as to make greater efforts to ensure a geographical balance in the use of qualified consultants, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-first session; 7. Endorses the relevant recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services regarding improvement of internal controls in management, accounting and reporting of assets of all United Nations field missions to establish reliable records, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixtieth session; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to codify appropriate procedures for the purchase and utilization of vehicles and other equipment by United Nations field missions to ensure compliance by all missions with the procedures and to report thereon to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixtieth session; 9. Notes with concern the contents of paragraph 97 of the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the management and control of United Nations laissez-passer, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the development of appropriate Organization-wide rules, policies and procedures for managing laissez-passer and to report thereon to the General Assembly, as appropriate; 10. Recalls paragraph 38 of General Assembly resolution 58/101 B, and takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the review of the structure and operations of United Nations information centres.See A/57/747 and Corr.1. RESOLUTION 59/271 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/648, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/271. Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, Having considered the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services for the period 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004,See A/59/359. 1. Notes with appreciation the work of the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 2. Takes note of the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services;See A/59/359. 3. Notes the description of the mission of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, as outlined in its annual report, and in this regard stresses that the mission of the Office should be in full conformity with its mandate, as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/218 B; 4. Notes also the information provided by the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the economies and savings generated by its recommendations, and requests the Office to explain its guidelines for measuring the impact of such economies and/or savings and to report to the General Assembly thereon in its next annual report; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, with regard to paragraph 53 of the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, to ensure strict conformity with the highest standards of quality when recruiting staff to fill language posts, in accordance with legislative mandates; 6. Notes with concern the findings of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on investigations, as reflected in paragraphs 42 to 47 of its annual report, as well as the fact that some of them reflect serious managerial problems and lack of control; 7. Stresses, in this regard, the crucial importance of establishing an effective and efficient system of accountability throughout the Secretariat in order to prevent such problems and to make programme managers accountable; 8. Takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its audit of the regional commissions,See A/58/785. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the actions taken by the legislative bodies of the regional commissions with regard to the recommendations of the report; 9. Takes note also of paragraph 63 of the annual report, relating to the audit of the non-governmental organization accreditation process; 10. Reiterates, in the context of paragraphs 8 and 9 above, paragraph 8 of its resolution 54/244, in which it emphasized that the approval, change and discontinuation of legislative mandates are the exclusive prerogatives of intergovernmental legislative bodies; 11. Concurs with the observation of the Office of Internal Oversight Services in paragraph 55 of its annual report, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office continues to provide internal oversight of the entire claims process of the United Nations Compensation Commission and to report regularly thereon in the context of the annual reports of the Office. RESOLUTION 59/272 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/649, para. 5)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/272. Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218 B and 54/244 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, 1. Decides to maintain the reporting procedures for the Office of Internal Oversight Services in full compliance with its resolutions 48/218 B and 54/244, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to ensure that: (a) Annual reports submitted by the Office of Internal Oversight Services to the General Assembly contain the titles and brief summaries of all reports of the Office issued during the year; (b) Semi-annual reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services contain the titles and brief summaries of all other reports of the Office issued in the reporting period; (c) Original versions of the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services not submitted to the General Assembly are, upon request, made available to any Member State; 2. Also decides that when access to a report would be inappropriate for reasons of confidentiality or the risk of violating the due process rights of individuals involved in Office of Internal Oversight Services investigations, the report may be modified, or withheld in extraordinary circumstances, at the discretion of the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, who will provide reasons for this to the requesting party; 3. Further decides that reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services shall be submitted directly to the General Assembly as submitted by the Office and that the comments of the Secretary-General may be submitted in a separate report; 4. Affirms its primary role in the consideration of and action taken on the reports submitted to it; 5. Notes that no mechanism has been established for the follow-up to Office of Internal Oversight Services recommendations, including those considered by the General Assembly; 6. Emphasizes the importance of establishing real, effective and efficient mechanisms for responsibility and accountability; 7. Regrets that despite previous information provided by the Secretary-General on the establishment of accountability mechanisms, including the accountability panel, such mechanisms are not in place, thereby affecting the efficient and effective functioning of the Organization; 8. Takes note of paragraph 129 (b) of the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services,See A/59/359. and concurs with the view that a high-level follow-up mechanism under the authority of the Secretary-General should be established in the Organization to effectively feed findings and recommendations of the Office, as well as relevant findings of the Joint Inspection Unit and the Board of Auditors, into the executive management processes; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit annually to the General Assembly a report under the agenda item entitled "Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations" addressing the measures implemented with the aim of strengthening accountability in the Secretariat and the results achieved; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to establish the aforementioned follow-up mechanism as soon as possible and to report to the General Assembly on the results achieved in the context of the report referred to in paragraph 9 above, with specific reference to: (a) The composition of such a mechanism, including the seniority of the Chair and members; (b) Terms of reference of the mechanism and frequency of its meetings; (c) The inclusion in the mechanism of one or more participants with relevant expertise from United Nations-system oversight bodies; (d) Reporting procedures; 11. Reaffirms the role of the Board of Auditors and the Joint Inspection Unit as external oversight bodies, and, in this regard, affirms that any external review, audit, inspection, monitoring, evaluation or investigation of the Office can be undertaken only by such bodies or those mandated to do so by the General Assembly; 12. Also reaffirms the importance of effective coordination, in the implementation of their respective mandates, between the Joint Inspection Unit, the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services, in order to maximize the use of resources and share experiences, knowledge, best practices and lessons learned; 13. Stresses the vital importance of the evaluation function of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and requests the Secretary-General to better reflect the objectives, expected accomplishments and performance indicators related to this function in future biennial programmes and budgetary submissions of the Office; 14. Reaffirms its oversight role as well as the role of the Fifth Committee in administrative and budgetary matters; 15. Notes paragraph 129 (a) of the annual report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, taking into account the views of external oversight bodies, on how to guarantee the full operational independence of the Office within the context of its resolution 48/218 B; 16. Decides to evaluate and review at its sixty-fourth session the functions and reporting procedures of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and any other matter which it deems appropriate, and to that end to include in the provisional agenda of that session an item entitled "Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218 B, 54/244 and 59/272". RESOLUTION 59/273 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/603, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/273. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General, namely the first performance report for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/59/549. and the report on biennial budgeting at the Tribunals,A/59/139. Having also considered the report of the Board of Auditors and the recommendations contained therein,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 5K (A/59/5/Add.11). Having further considered the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/59/561. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the Tribunal and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 58/252 and 58/253 of 23 December 2003, 1. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/59/549. and his report on biennial budgeting at the Tribunals;A/59/139. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/59/561. 3. Notes with concern the precarious financial situation of the Tribunal; 4. Also notes with concern the levels of unpaid assessed contributions, and urges Member States to pay their assessed contributions on time, in full and without conditions; 5. Further notes with concern the resulting freeze imposed by the Secretariat on the Tribunal and the negative impact it is having on the completion strategy schedule, and requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Tribunal, to submit proposals on ways to ameliorate the staffing situation at the Tribunal in the context of the proposed budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that areas critical to the successful completion of the mandate of the Tribunal, in accordance with the completion strategy, are exempt from any freezes; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to reduce the vacancy rate and improve staff retention at the Tribunal, including by extending contracts of staff performing functions that are central to the implementation of the completion strategy beyond the period of the current budget; 8. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit the reports requested in paragraphs 17 and 23 of resolution 58/253 in the context of the proposed budget of the Tribunal for the biennium 2006-2007; 9. Welcomes the efforts of the Tribunal, in accordance with its statute, to assist the Government of Rwanda in strengthening its judiciary, and requests the Tribunal to increase its capacity-building efforts for the judiciary of Rwanda, including through recruitment of Rwandan legal professionals and training and attachment programmes, in view of the intention to transfer cases for prosecution to Rwanda as from 2005; 10. Recognizes the importance of carrying out an effective outreach programme within the overall mandate of the Tribunal and its completion strategy, and requests the Tribunal, in accordance with its mandate, to develop and implement outreach programmes that are proactive, utilizing available resources optimally, and that contribute to the reconciliation process by effectively developing an increased understanding of its work among Rwandans; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the outreach programme of the Tribunal and on future measures to ensure the smooth transfer of cases to national jurisdiction in the context of the proposed budget of the Tribunal for the biennium 2006-2007; 12. Decides to approve the proposed post and non-post resources for the Investigations Division for 2005; 13. Decides also on a revised appropriation to the Special Account for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 of a total amount of 255,909,500 United States dollars gross (231,506,500 dollars net) for the biennium 2004-2005; 14. Decides further, for the year 2005, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for the year, the amount of 69,123,700 dollars gross (62,434,375 dollars net), including 10,292,650 dollars gross (9,115,500 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 15. Decides, for the year 2005, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for the year, the amount of 69,123,700 dollars gross (62,434,375 dollars net), including 10,292,650 dollars gross (9,115,500 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 16. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 14 and 15 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 13,378,650 dollars, including 2,354,300 dollars, being the increase in the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Tribunal for the biennium 2004-2005. Annex Financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 59/274 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/604, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/274. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General, namely the first performance report for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/59/547. and the report on biennial budgeting at the Tribunals,A/59/139. Having also considered the report of the Board of Auditors and the recommendations contained therein,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 5L (A/59/5/Add.12). Having further considered the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/59/561. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the Tribunal and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the most recent of which were resolutions 58/254 and 58/255 of 23 December 2003, 1. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/59/547. and his report on biennial budgeting at the Tribunals;A/59/139. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/59/561. 3. Notes with concern the precarious financial situation of the Tribunal; 4. Also notes with concern the levels of unpaid assessed contributions, and urges Member States to pay their assessed contributions on time, in full and without conditions; 5. Further notes with concern the resulting freeze imposed by the Secretariat on the Tribunal and the negative impact it is having on the completion strategy schedule, and requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Tribunal, to submit proposals on ways to ameliorate the staffing situation at the Tribunal in the context of the proposed budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that areas critical to the successful completion of the mandate of the Tribunal, in accordance with the completion strategy, are exempt from any freezes; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to reduce the vacancy rate and improve staff retention at the Tribunal, including through extending contracts of staff performing functions that are central to the implementation of the completion strategy beyond the period of the current budget; 8. Decides to approve the proposed post and non-post resources for the Investigations Division for 2005; 9. Also decides on a revised appropriation to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 of a total amount of 329,317,900 United States dollars gross (298,437,000 dollars net) for the biennium 2004-2005; 10. Further decides, for the year 2005, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for the year, the amount of 90,148,375 dollars gross (81,300,850 dollars net), including 15,637,800 dollars gross (13,383,200 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 11. Decides, for the year 2005, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for the year, the amount of 90,148,375 dollars gross (81,300,850 dollars net), including 15,637,800 dollars gross (13,383,200 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 12. Also decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 10 and 11 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 17,695,050 dollars, including 4,509,200 dollars, being the increase in the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Tribunal for the biennium 2004-2005. Annex Financing for the biennium 2004-2005 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 59/275 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/651, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/275. Programme planning The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/234 of 21 December 1982, 38/227 A of 20 December 1983, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 55/234 of 23 December 2000, 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 57/282 of 20 December 2002 and 58/268 and 58/269 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-fourth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/59/16). the proposed strategic framework for the period 2006-2007: part one: plan outlineA/59/6 (Part One) and Corr.1. and part two: biennial programme planA/59/6 (Prog. 1-9, 10/Rev.1, 11-22, 22/Corr.1 and 23-26). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 6. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 2002-2003A/59/69. and on priority-setting,A/59/87. as well as the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on strengthening the role of evaluation findings in programme design, delivery and policy directives,See A/59/79. Appreciating the letters from the President of the General Assembly transmitting the recommendations of the First Committee concerning programme 3, Disarmament,A/C.5/59/17. the Second Committee concerning programme 10, Trade and developmentA/C.5/59/15. and the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) concerning programme 23, Public information,A/C.5/59/14. and concerning programme 19, Human rights,A/C.5/59/26. Emphasizes the role of the plenary and the Main Committees in reviewing and taking action on the appropriate recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination relevant to their work, in accordance with regulation 4.10 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation;ST/SGB/2000/8. Strategic framework for the period 2006-2007 Recalling paragraph 5 of its resolution 58/269, in which it requested the Secretary-General to prepare, on a trial basis, a strategic framework, which would comprise in one document a plan outline, reflecting the longer-term objectives of the Organization, and a biennial programme plan, to cover two years, 1. Notes that the proposed strategic framework for the period 2006-2007 constitutes the first proposal submitted since the adoption of its resolution 58/269; 2. Also notes that the Committee for Programme and Coordination at its forty-fourth session recommended that the General Assembly review part one, plan outline, of the proposed strategic framework for the period 2006-2007;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/59/16), para. 65. 3. Recalls its decision in resolution 58/269 to review, with a view to taking a final decision at its sixty-second session, the format, content and duration of the strategic framework, including the necessity of maintaining part one; 4. Decides, in view of the differences between Member States on the content of part one: plan outline of the proposed strategic framework for the period 2006-2007, to take no decision on part one; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare and propose a plan outline, reflecting the longer-term objectives of the Organization, and a biennial programme plan in the context of the strategic framework for the biennium 2008-2009, based, inter alia, on the following principal criteria: (a) The longer-term objectives consistent with all the relevant legislative mandates in all areas of the activities of the United Nations; (b) Outcomes of the intergovernmental conferences and summits; (c) Inputs from relevant programme managers; (d) Use of intergovernmentally agreed terms and expressions; 6. Invites the Committee for Programme and Coordination to consider at its forty-fifth session additional guidelines, if any, for the preparation of the plan outline; 7. Decides that the priorities for the period 2006-2007 shall be the following: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 based on the above priorities and the biennial programme plan as adopted in the present resolution; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to issue in one document, before the forty-fifth session of the Committee for Programme and Coordination, only the priorities and the biennial programme plan, as adopted in the present resolution; 10. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the proposed biennial programme plan for the period 2006-2007 contained in the report of the Committee on the work of its forty-fourth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/59/16). those of the First Committee regarding programme 3, Disarmament,A/C.5/59/17. those of the Second Committee regarding programme 10, Trade and development,A/C.5/59/15. those regarding programme 19, Human rightsA/C.5/59/26. and those of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) regarding programme 23, Public information,A/C.5/59/14. subject to the provisions of the present resolution and the additional modifications contained in the annex hereto; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to propose a relevant indicator of achievement for programme 1, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management, section A, Conference management, New York, subprogramme 4, Meetings and publishing services, in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 12. Notes that the overall system of the administration of justice in the Secretariat will be considered by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to make recommendations to the General Assembly by the end of its fifty-ninth session on how to ensure the ongoing discharge of key functions of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat at Headquarters as defined by the Committee for Programme and Coordination; Programme performance report 14. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 2002-2003;A/59/69. 15. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination regarding the report of the Secretary-General; 16. Stresses that, while future reports on programme performance will be more aligned with the objectives, expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement, information on the outputs shall continue to be provided in the reports; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that future programme performance reports provide more detailed information on the reasons for less-than-full implementation of programmed outputs, or the postponement and termination thereof; Evaluation 18. Recalls paragraph 19 of its resolution 58/269, in which it emphasized the need to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation system; 19. Re-emphasizes the importance of the contribution of the relevant intergovernmental bodies, in particular the Main Committees of the General Assembly, in reviewing the relevant recommendations on evaluation; 20. Reiterates section III of its resolution 57/282 on evaluation; 21. Requests the General Committee to take fully into account the above-mentioned resolutions in the allocation of agenda items to the Main Committees; 22. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on strengthening the role of evaluation findings in programme design, delivery and policy directives, on in-depth evaluation of the programme on public administration, finance and development, on the triennial review of the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee on the in-depth evaluation of sustainable development and on the triennial review of the implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee on the in-depth evaluation of the population programme, and on the further development of topics for a pilot thematic evaluation; Improving the working methods and procedures of the Committee for Programme and Coordination within the framework of its mandate 23. Requests the Secretary-General to schedule the organizational session of the forty-fifth session of the Committee for Programme and Coordination as soon as possible at the resumed session of the Fifth Committee at the fifty-ninth session; 24. Recalls paragraph 18 of its resolution 58/269, in which it invited the Committee for Programme and Coordination to submit, at its forty-fourth session, recommendations on improving its working methods; 25. Welcomes the decision of the Committee for Programme and Coordination to revert to the agenda item entitled "Improving the working methods and procedures of the Committee for Programme and Coordination within the framework of its mandate", as a matter of priority, at the beginning of its forty-fifth session; Other conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination 26. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination regarding the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2003,E/2004/67. and its conclusions and recommendations regarding the report of the Secretary-General on United Nations system support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development;E/AC.51/2004/6. 27. Also endorses the recommendation of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the report of the Secretary-General on priority-setting;A/59/87. Other matters 28. Invites the Committee for Programme and Coordination to take appropriate measures to ensure that the discussion sections of the report of the Committee are drafted so as to reflect fully the opinions expressed by delegations. Annex Additional modifications to the proposed biennial programme plan for the period 2006-2007 Programme 1 General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management Overall orientation In the second sentence of paragraph 1.3, after "the control and limitation of documents," add "in accordance with legislative mandates,". A. Conference management, New York Subprogramme 4 Meetings and publishing services Delete indicator of achievement (b) (ii) and delete "(i)" in indicator of achievement (b) (i). A, B, C and D. Conference management, New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi Subprogramme 2 Planning, development and coordination of conference services Under Strategy, replace the text of paragraphs 1.5 (e), 1.7 (c), 1.10 (e) and 1.13 (c) of sections A, B, C and D, respectively, with the following: "Upgrading, pursuant to the managerial responsibilities of the Secretary-General, the technological capacity in conference services in line with new developments in technology, in accordance with legislative mandates, while keeping the General Assembly aware of new technologies that can be issued in the Organization to achieve timeliness and better quality of services provided". At the end of expected accomplishment (b), add "where feasible and more cost-effective, without adversely affecting the quality of services provided". Subprogramme 4 Meetings and publishing services Under Strategy, in paragraphs 1.7 (b), 1.9 (b), 1.12 (b) and 1.15 (b) of sections A, B, C and D, respectively, after "documentation publishing", add "to achieve better quality, and timeliness". Programme 21 Palestine refugees Overall orientation After the first sentence of paragraph 21.2, add the following sentence: "In its resolution 3331 B (XXIX) of 17 December 1974, the General Assembly decided that, with effect from 1 January 1975, the expenses relating to the emoluments of international staff in the service of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which would otherwise have been charged to voluntary contributions, should be financed by the regular budget of the United Nations for the duration of the Agency's mandate." Programme 25 Internal oversight Overall orientation Replace the first sentence of paragraph 25.1 with the following: "The overall purpose of the programme is to enhance effectiveness in the implementation of all programmes through continually improved internal control mechanisms within the Organization. The mandate for the programme derives from the responsibility of the Secretary-General as the chief administrative officer of the United Nations, entrusted to him under Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations." Paragraph 25.3 should read as follows: "The Office assists Member States and the Organization in protecting its assets, and ensuring the compliance of programme activities with resolutions, regulations, rules and policies, and the more efficient and effective delivery of the Organization's activities; preventing and detecting fraud, waste, abuse, malfeasance or mismanagement; and improving the delivery of the Organization's programmes and activities to enable it to achieve better results by determining all factors affecting the efficient and effective implementation of programmes." In the second sentence of paragraph 25.4, replace "ensure" with "assist". The second sentence of paragraph 25.5 should read as follows: "In addition, the Office assists the Organization in achieving better results by determining the factors affecting the efficient and effective implementation of programmes in accordance with, inter alia, the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration and in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and international agreements since 1992." Subprogramme 1 Internal audit The objective of the Organization should read as follows: "To ensure efficient and effective implementation and management of programmes, activities and operations by programme managers, in accordance with the relevant legislative mandates, regulations and rules." Expected accomplishment (c) should read as follows: "Improved levels of efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of programmes, and enhanced accountability by programme managers." Subprogramme 2 Monitoring, evaluation and consulting The objective of the Organization should read as follows: "To strengthen programme implementation by monitoring the delivery of the programmes using results-based management methods as well as their outputs and to determine whether they are adequate, timely and in accordance with the mandates, whether they address effectively the objectives of the programmes and whether the resources are used efficiently." Subprogramme 3 Investigations The objective of the Organization should read as follows: "To ensure compliance with regulations and rules of the United Nations and to minimize the occurrence of fraud, violations of regulations and rules of the United Nations, mismanagement, misconduct, waste of resources and abuse of authority." Expected accomplishment (a) should read as follows: "Better protection of the Organization's assets and resources and greater compliance with the Organization's rules and regulations." RESOLUTION 59/276 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/448/Add.2, para. 41)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/276. Questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly, I Administrative arrangements for the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO Recalling its decision 57/572 of 20 December 2002 and its resolutions 57/312 of 18 June 2003, 48/218 B of 29 July 1994 and 54/244 of 23 December 1999, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on administrative arrangements for the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTOA/59/405. and of the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/543. and endorses the recommendations contained therein; 2. Also takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the inspection of programme management and administrative practices of the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO,See A/59/229. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the recommendations contained therein are implemented expeditiously; II Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session and resumed substantive sessions of 2004 REPHRASED Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive and resumed substantive sessions of 2004A/59/393 and Add.1. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/542 and A/59/597. on the understanding that such appropriations as may be necessary and not exceeding 573,600 United States dollars will be requested by the Secretary-General in the context of a consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates to be submitted to the General Assembly; III Progressive implementation of article 20 of the statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Recalling paragraph 49 of its resolution 58/270 of 23 December 2003, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the progressive implementation of article 20 of the statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesA/59/294. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions presented orally by its Chairman;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Fifth Committee, 26th meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.26), and corrigendum. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to include in the programme budget proposals for progressive increases for contributions from the regular budget to the Office of the High Commissioner with a view to the full implementation of article 20 of the statute of the Office and to report on the progress made to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, while recognizing that the percentage referred to in paragraph 6 of the report of the Secretary-General does not represent a ceiling; 3. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to keep its support costs, including management and administration, under review with the objective of reducing these as a percentage of total budget expenditure, and welcomes the decision of the Office to initiate a headquarters process review with the aim of simplifying and streamlining administration; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to include in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 a transparent presentation of the purposes for which regular budget funds are proposed, including the composition of administrative costs and information on efficiency measures; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that oversight and accountability mechanisms in the Office of the High Commissioner are operating effectively with the required independence, authority and transparency; IV Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the comprehensive review of the resolution on unforeseen and extraordinary expenses relating to expenses certified by the President of the International Court of JusticeA/59/90. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/551. 1. Approves the request to change the ceiling to 200,000 dollars under the resolution on unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for expenses that may be certified by the President of the Court without prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in connection with the designation of ad hoc judges with effect from the biennium 2006-2007; 2. Also approves the proposal to maintain an amount of 400,000 dollars in the regular budget of the Court to accommodate the recurring requirements for ad hoc judges, with effect from the biennium 2006-2007, to be included in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; V Request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research resulting from the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Institute on the programme of work of the Institute for 2005 Recalling its resolution 58/272 of 23 December 2003, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General on the request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research resulting from the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Institute on the programme of work of the Institute for 2005A/C.5/59/3 and Corr.1 and Add.1. and of the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/59/553 and Corr.1. 2. Approves the request for a subvention to the Institute of 227,600 dollars, to be recosted, for 2005 from the regular budget of the United Nations, on the understanding that no additional appropriation would be required under section 4, Disarmament, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to make proposals in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 for biennial review and approval by the General Assembly of subvention requirements of the Institute beginning with the biennium 2006-2007; VI Construction of additional conference facilities at the Vienna International Centre Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the construction of additional conference facilities at the Vienna International CentreA/C.5/59/23. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions presented orally by its Chairman,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Fifth Committee, 31st meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.31), and corrigendum. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the proposal of the Government of Austria to construct a new conference facility within the boundaries of the Vienna International Centre; 2. Approves the participation of the United Nations, along with the other organizations located in the Vienna International Centre, in the arrangements for the proposed new conference facility on the terms proposed by the Secretary-General in his note; 3. Entrusts the Secretary-General to determine, in cooperation with the other three organizations located at the Vienna International Centre, the cost-sharing arrangements for potential future costs arising from the project within the amount indicated in his note, on the understanding that the related financial requirements will be dealt with in the context of the proposed programme budget for the respective bienniums, and to report thereon to the General Assembly for its review and decision; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the progress in the project implementation to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; VII Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council and on the request for a subvention to the Special Court for Sierra Leone,A/59/534 and Add.1 and 2. as well as the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/569 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and Add.2. Reaffirming section VI of its resolution 45/248 B of 21 December 1990, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council;A/59/534 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report,A/59/569 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and Add.2. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Notes that the charging of expenditures against the appropriation for special political missions would be subject to the extension of the respective mandates; 4. Reaffirms, in the context of all Security Council decisions on special political missions, the prerogatives of the General Assembly in issues related to administrative and budgetary matters; 5. Reiterates that, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. the submission of the budget proposals is a prerogative of the Secretary-General; 6. Invites the Secretary-General to provide all intergovernmental bodies with the required information regarding procedures for administrative and budgetary matters; 7. Regrets the late issuance of the reports of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions, and requests the Secretary-General, in the future, to present budget proposals for special political missions at an earlier date, in order to facilitate proper consideration by the General Assembly; 8. Approves the budgets of the 25 special political missions presented in table 1 of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/534/Add.1. 9. Decides to appropriate under the procedures provided for in paragraph 11 of annex I to its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 an amount of 678,600 dollars for the three special political missions presented in table 1, part A, of the report of the Secretary-General, emanating from the decisions taken or to be taken by the General Assembly; 10. Also decides to appropriate under the procedures provided for in paragraph 11 of annex I to resolution 41/213, under section 3 of the programme budget an amount of 161,936,100 dollars for the 22 special political missions presented in table 1, part B, of the report of the Secretary-General, emanating from the decisions taken or to be taken by the Security Council; 11. Further decides to appropriate an amount of 12,132,500 dollars under section 34, Staff assessment, to be offset by a corresponding amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 12. Requests the Secretary-General, in preparing the next budget proposals for the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, to review and consider possible streamlining of the structure and level of positions, bearing in mind its temporary nature and its status as a subsidiary body of the Security Council, as well as to address its relationship with the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat; 13. Decides to approve the proposed waiver requested for the implementation of section III.B, paragraph 26, of resolution 51/226 of 3 April 1997, on an exceptional and extraordinary basis, and requests the Secretary-General to report in the next budget submission on how many consultants given such waiver were recruited, along with their nationalities and functions performed; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to recruit staff for the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate in full compliance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 15. Decides that the use of experts and consultants for the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and for the Security Council Committee established pursuant to Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004 should also be in full compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 16. Takes note that the commitment authority authorized in resolution 58/284 of 8 April 2004 and valid through 31 December 2004 to support a subvention for the Special Court for Sierra Leone has been held unused in view of the continued dependence of the Court on voluntary contributions during the period and is being surrendered; 17. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments in an amount not to exceed 20 million dollars to supplement the financial resources of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, with effect from 1 January to 30 June 2005, under special political missions of section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 18. Requests the Secretary-General, in concert with the Management Committee of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, to continue efforts to raise voluntary contributions to support the work of the Court and to report to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-ninth session on progress made; 19. Appeals to Member States, as a matter of urgency, to contribute voluntary funds in support of the Court and to honour existing pledges; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its resumed fifty-ninth session a progress report in respect of the Special Court for Sierra Leone; 21. Requests the President of the General Assembly to bring to the attention of the President of the Security Council the contents of the present resolution; VIII First performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 Having considered the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005A/59/578 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/601. Recalling its resolutions 58/270 and 58/271 A to C of 23 December 2003 and 58/295 of 18 June 2004, 1. Reaffirms the budgetary process as approved in its resolution 41/213 and as reaffirmed in subsequent resolutions; 2. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 and the addendum on the implementation of the United Nations Official Document System,A/59/578 and Add.1. and endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/601. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Reaffirms the importance that Member States attach to the work of the Office of the President of the General Assembly in support of the activities carried out by the President of the General Assembly; 4. Recalls paragraph 10 of the annex to its resolution 58/126 of 19 December 2003, notes the assurances given by the Secretariat that the three remaining positions, namely, one D-2, one D-1 and one General Service, needed to strengthen the Office of the President of the General Assembly will be provided, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to ensure its full and expeditious implementation; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the implementation of paragraph 4 above in the context of the second performance report; 6. Decides to approve a gross budget for the Joint Inspection Unit for the year 2005 in the amount of 5,385,700 dollars and to appropriate the amount of 1,712,700 dollars under section 31, Jointly financed administrative activities, for the financing of the Joint Inspection Unit in 2005; 7. Notes the contents of paragraph 42 of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/578. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly comprehensively on this issue at the beginning of its sixtieth session; 8. Recalls paragraph 9 of its resolution 58/270, and notes that its implementation resulted in a decrease of 4,007,000 dollars from the original proposed appropriation in section 23, Regular programme of technical cooperation; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to fill expeditiously vacant positions for web-site assistants in all official languages from external candidates, utilizing general temporary assistance; 10. Recalls paragraph 44 of its resolution 58/270 and takes note of the relevant paragraph of the Secretary-General's report regarding the Repertory of Practice of the United Nations Organs,A/59/578. and requests the Secretary-General to keep the matter under review and to report thereon to the General Assembly in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 11. Approves a net increase of 172,851,200 dollars in the appropriation approved for the biennium 2004-2005 and a net increase of 9,406,800 dollars in the estimates of income for the biennium, to be apportioned among expenditure and income sections as indicated in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/578. and amended to reflect the recommendation of the Advisory Committee;A/59/601. IX Strengthening the Department of Public Information, within the existing capacity, in order to support and enhance the United Nations web site in all official languages of the Organization: status of implementation Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening the Department of Public Information, within the existing capacity, in order to support and enhance the United Nations web site in all official languages of the Organization: status of implementation"A/59/336. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/59/558. Recalling paragraph 42 of its resolution 58/270 and paragraph 95 of its resolution 59/126 B of 10 December 2004, in which it requested the Secretary-General to strengthen the web site through further redeployment to the required language posts, Reaffirming the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on the United Nations web site, Also reaffirming its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department of Public Information has appropriate staffing capacity in all official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/336. and paragraphs 19 to 23 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/59/558. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals to strengthen the United Nations web site within the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; X Financial viability of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Recalling section XIV of its resolution 58/272 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the financial viability of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, transmitting the note by the Board of Trustees of the Institute on the rationalization of the financial structure of the Institute,A/59/271. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions presented orally by its Chairman,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Fifth Committee, 33rd meeting (A/C.5/59/SR.33), and corrigendum. 1. Takes note with concern of the observations and conclusions of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research transmitted under the cover of the note by the Secretary-General;A/59/271. 2. Stresses the importance of maintaining the current level of the training programmes of the Institute, and requests the Board of Trustees to make every effort to ensure that in 2005 the level of training programmes will be maintained; 3. Stresses also the need for continued consideration of the issues related to the Institute's rent, rental rates and maintenance costs, taking into account its financial situation, with a view to its expeditious resolution; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, as a priority, to the General Assembly at the beginning of its sixtieth session, and prior to the introduction of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, a comprehensive report on all aspects of the financial situation of the Institute, including proposals which would address the long-term, sound and predictable funding of rent and maintenance costs; 5. Decides to consider the outcome of its consideration of that report in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; XI Strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations Recalling its resolutions 56/255 of 24 December 2001, 56/286 of 27 June 2002, 57/305 of 15 April 2003, 58/270 of 23 December 2003, 58/295 of 18 June 2004 and all relevant resolutions regarding the security and safety of United Nations operations, staff and premises, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on a strengthened and unified security management system for the United NationsA/59/365 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. and the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the utilization and management of funds appropriated during the biennium 2002-2003 for strengthening the security and safety of United Nations premises,See A/59/396. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/539. Underlining the importance of achieving the highest levels of professionalism and expertise within United Nations security management, Reaffirming Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the role of the General Assembly in carrying out a thorough analysis and approval of posts and financial resources as well as human resources policies with a view to ensuring the full implementation of all mandated programmes and activities and the implementation of all policies in this regard, Reaffirming further that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly responsible for administrative and budgetary matters, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/365 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. 2. Reaffirms the importance of ensuring the safety and security of United Nations staff, operations and premises; 3. Emphasizes that the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of United Nations staff and premises rests with the host country, and also emphasizes the role of the relevant host country agreements in defining this responsibility; 4. Recognizes the need for the urgent implementation of a unified and strengthened security management system in order to ensure the safety and security of United Nations staff, operations and premises at United Nations Headquarters and main duty stations, as well as in the field; 5. Stresses that the effective functioning at the country level of security operations on a decentralized basis as proposed by the Secretary-General requires a unified capacity for policy, standards, coordination, communication, compliance and threat and risk assessment; 6. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/539. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 7. Decides, bearing in mind the observations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraph 64 of its reportA/59/539. and General Assembly resolution 32/204 of 21 December 1977 on organizational nomenclature in the Secretariat, to establish a Department of Safety and Security; 8. Welcomes the report of the Office of Internal Oversight ServicesSee A/59/396. on the utilization and management of funds appropriated by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/286 in response to concerns about delays and cost escalation, notes the progress made more recently in the implementation of these projects, and urges the Secretary-General to complete their implementation expeditiously; 9. Notes with concern the delays, cost escalation and deficiencies in planning and administering security-strengthening projects, particularly at Headquarters and at the United Nations Office at Geneva, in relation to funds appropriated by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/286, as set out by the Office of Internal Oversight Services in its report,See A/59/396. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that in the implementation of Assembly resolution 58/295, as well as the present resolution, funds appropriated for security-strengthening projects are managed and disbursed with great oversight, efficiency and effectiveness and in a timely manner; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of recommendations contained in the report of the Office of Internal Oversight ServicesSee A/59/396. and also to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services to report on the utilization and management of funds approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/295 and in the present resolution for security-strengthening projects for submission to the Assembly at its sixtieth session; 11. Emphasizes the need for an enhanced culture of security awareness on the part of all staff and compliance with safety and security rules and procedures throughout the United Nations system, as well as clear lines of authority and accountability; 12. Affirms that United Nations security management requires clear lines of authority and accountability at all managerial levels at Headquarters and in the field for the implementation of safety and security rules and procedures; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session an accountability framework for the United Nations security management system as a whole, which would, inter alia: (a) Update the report on field security;See A/57/365. (b) Make clear the role of each responsible official; (c) Provide information on how non-military lines of security-related authority lead to the head of the Department of Safety and Security; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the executive heads of United Nations funds and programmes that maintain their own security personnel in the field, to elaborate in the updated accountability framework on how such security staff are integrated into the unified security management structure at the country level under the authority of the designated official and to clarify the authority of the designated official over such staff; 15. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order to strengthen security compliance, to apply available measures for disciplinary action to be taken at all levels, especially at the managerial level, in all departments for non-compliance with security standards, norms and procedures, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to strengthen security compliance, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to propose to the executive heads of agencies, funds and programmes that participate in the United Nations security management system that they apply available measures for disciplinary action to be taken at all levels for non-compliance with security standards, norms and procedures; 17. Reaffirms Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations; 18. Urges the Secretary-General to preserve the international character of the Organization in the recruitment of relevant categories of safety and security staff; 19. Recognizes that the Professional posts created by the present resolution under the regular budget would be added to the pool of posts subject to the system of geographical distribution in accordance with established procedures; 20. Urges the Secretary-General to ensure that recruitment to Professional and higher categories is made on a wide geographical basis; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to elaborate further on his proposals concerning career development, a new profile for security officers and the further professionalization of security personnel referred to in paragraphs 25 and 31 of his report,A/59/365 and Corr.1. to submit detailed proposals on retirement policy given the special requirements for security staff and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 22. Decides, on an exceptional basis and without setting any precedent, that the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security shall serve for one non-renewable term not exceeding five years; 23. Also decides that the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security shall be appointed with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical representation and guided by its resolution 46/232 of 2 March 1992, whereby the General Assembly decided, inter alia, that as a general rule no national of a Member State should succeed a national of that State in that post and that there should be no monopoly on senior posts by nationals of any State or group of States; 24. Further decides to establish a D-2 post of deputy to the Under-Secretary-General and to review the post in the context of the implementation report to be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 25. Decides to establish the post of the head of the Division of Safety and Security Services at the D-2 level and to review the post in the context of the implementation report to be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 26. Also decides to establish 383 new security and safety officer posts within the General Service and related categories, of which 249 are established posts and 134 are on a temporary post basis; 27. Further decides to review the newly approved posts referred to in paragraph 26 above in the light of a comprehensive report to be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session addressing all elements contributing to the security planning of the Organization, including the updating and revision of host country agreements as well as the different capacities of host countries to provide security to the United Nations, as outlined in paragraphs 19 and 20 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/59/539. 28. Decides to establish an Executive Office in the Department of Safety and Security consisting of 17 posts to handle its administrative support functions; 29. Also decides to appropriate 500,000 dollars under general temporary assistance to provide surge capacity for the Department of Safety and Security; 30. Further decides to approve the creation of the posts proposed by the Secretary-General in field locations; 31. Recognizes the need for the security and safety sections at the eight headquarters and main duty stations of the United Nations to convey threat and risk assessments through the appropriate regional desks; 32. Notes that threat and risk assessments will be conducted primarily by the field offices and reviewed by the regional desks; 33. Decides to enhance the capacity for threat and risk assessment by establishing one P-4, two P-3 and one General Service post in addition to the existing P-5 post, and further decides that this capacity will be located in the Office of the Director of Regional Operations; 34. Reaffirms paragraph 2 of its resolution 58/295; 35. Notes that in paragraph 54 of his report,A/59/365 and Corr.1. the Secretary-General proposed getting input on threats and risks from sources other than international organizations and Governments, and emphasizes that it is incumbent on the Department of Safety and Security, in making its objective judgement, to weigh the reliability and responsibility of the source as well as the reliability and validity of the information being used in order to produce threat and risk assessments; 36. Decides, in this context, that threat and risk assessments to be provided to Headquarters should be prepared by country offices and other components of the United Nations system, on an objective basis and in full cooperation with the national authorities of host countries; 37. Reaffirms, in this context, Article 100 of the Charter of the United Nations; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the process for the continuous review of threat and risk assessment so as to enable timely, systematic and periodic review of the phases, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the respective national Governments apprised in a timely manner of any changes resulting from such review; 39. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide information, upon request by Member States, about the methodology used for determining phases of threat and risk assessment; 40. Further requests the Secretary-General to provide, in the context of the implementation report, information on strengthening the cooperation between the Department of Safety and Security and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations with respect to security decisions that may affect the conduct of peacekeeping operations, in the framework of the unified security management system, which would be led by the Department of Safety and Security under the provisions of the present resolution; 41. Notes that the malicious acts insurance policy has a worldwide coverage except in headquarters countries, namely, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America; 42. Notes with concern that there are some staff in the United Nations system who are working in the field and are not covered by the malicious acts insurance policy or a comparable scheme; 43. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to address this matter in the context of the Board and to report to the General Assembly thereon at its sixtieth session with a view to ensuring that all staff are covered; 44. Decides to defer until the second part of the resumed fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly consideration of the proposal of the Secretary-General on the global access control system,See A/59/365/Add.1 and Corr.1. pending the receipt of a detailed report by the Secretary-General, which will include the following: (a) Integration with projects approved by the General Assembly in previous resolutions, including those in the context of the overall information technology strategy; (b) The impact of implementing the global access control system on human resources requirements in the area of safety and security; (c) The individual characteristics of each United Nations headquarters and main duty station; (d) The implications of the global access control system for the capital master plan; (e) Detailed information regarding the global identity management system, including the principles and guidelines for sharing the information obtained through the system, the level of centralization needed for managing this information and who would have access to the information; (f) The time frame for implementation of the system; 45. Decides also to defer consideration of the expansion of the security service fitness facility and to revert to this issue in the context of its consideration of the scope of work of the capital master plan; 46. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that infrastructure projects approved for Headquarters under the present resolution should not, pending a decision on the capital master plan, incur additional unnecessary costs at a later date under the capital master plan; 47. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session the results of the technical study on information and communication technology security, business continuity and disaster recovery, with detailed costing and a timetable; 48. Decides to maintain existing arrangements with regard to cost-sharing for safety and security; 49. Requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as the Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, while fully implementing the decision of the General Assembly to maintain the current cost-sharing arrangements, to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on measures taken to improve the operational administration of existing cost-sharing arrangements; 50. Stresses the importance that all entities participating in specific arrangements in place at headquarters duty stations for sharing the costs of the central security and safety services should provide prompt and secure funding for such arrangements; 51. Decides that the present cost-sharing arrangements relating to field security for those organizations which are not part of the United Nations system should be retained; 52. Invites those organizations of the United Nations system which are currently in arrears with their contributions to the United Nations under the present cost-sharing arrangements to take steps to ensure prompt payment of the outstanding sums; 53. Decides to approve an additional appropriation under the regular budget in the amount of 53,633,300 dollars, as detailed in the annex to the present section; 54. Also decides to approve an additional appropriation in the amount of 6,069,700 dollars under section 34, Staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, to be offset by an equivalent amount of income under income section 1, Income from staff assessment; 55. Recognizes the need for a clearer presentation of security spending by each organization of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to inform the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on this issue; 56. Requests the Secretary-General to examine the possibility for further integration and rationalization of the security management system and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 57. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; Annex Additional appropriations for the strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, at revised 2004-2005 rates, by section of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 (Thousands of United States dollars) TABLE REMOVED XII Administrative and financial implications of decisions and recommendations of the International Civil Service Commission for 2004 Recalling its resolution 59/268 of 23 December 2004 on the United Nations common system, Takes note of the statement submitted by the Secretary-GeneralA/59/429. on the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2004Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vols. I and II. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/59/522. XIII Contingency fund: consolidated statement of programme budget implications and revised estimates Decides to appropriate the required amounts, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General;A/C.5/59/27. Notes that a balance of 7,854,800 dollars remains in the contingency fund. RESOLUTIONS 59/277 A to C Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/448/Add.2, para. 41)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/277. Programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 A Revised budget appropriations for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005, the amount of 3,179,196,100 United States dollars appropriated by it in its resolutions 58/271 A of 23 December 2003 and 58/295 of 18 June 2004 shall be adjusted by 428,977,800 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED B Revised income estimates for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005, the estimates of income of 415,340,500 United States dollars approved by it in its resolutions 58/271 B of 23 December 2003 and 58/295 of 18 June 2004 shall be increased by 28,511,400 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED C Financing of the appropriations for the year 2005 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the year 2005: 1. Budget appropriations totalling 2,027,743,750 United States dollars and consisting of 1,580,430,150 dollars, being half of the appropriation initially approved for the biennium 2004-2005 in its resolution 58/271 A of 23 December 2003, 18,335,800 dollars, being the additional appropriation approved for the biennium 2004-2005 in its resolution 58/295 of 18 June 2004, and 428,977,800 dollars, being the increase approved in resolution A above, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 5.1 and 5.2 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. as follows: (a) 29,509,150 dollars, consisting of: (i) 14,400,050 dollars, being half of the estimated income other than income from staff assessment approved for the biennium 2004-2005 in its resolution 58/271 B of 23 December 2003; (ii) Less 561,900 dollars, being the decrease approved in resolution B above; (iii) 15,671,000 dollars, being the balance in the surplus account as at 31 December 2003; (b) 1,998,234,600 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 218,725,650 dollars, consisting of: (a) 193,245,850 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved by the Assembly in its resolution 58/271 B; (b) 48,700 dollars, being the estimated staff assessment income approved by the Assembly in its resolution 58/295; (c) 29,073,300 dollars, being the estimated increase in income from staff assessment approved in resolution B above; (d) Less 3,642,200 dollars, being the decrease in income from staff assessment for the biennium 2002-2003 compared with the revised estimates approved by the Assembly in its resolution 58/267 B of 23 December 2003. RESOLUTION 59/278 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/652, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/278. Proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, in which it requested the Secretary-General to submit in off-budget years an outline of the proposed programme budget for the following biennium, Reaffirming also section VI of its resolution 45/248 B of 21 December 1990, Reaffirming further rule 153 of its rules of procedure, Recalling its resolution 58/269 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2006-2007A/59/415. and the related recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/59/600. 1. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/59/600. 2. Reaffirms that the proposed programme budget outline shall contain an indication of the following: (a) A preliminary estimate of resources needed to accommodate the proposed programme of activities during the biennium; (b) Priorities, reflecting general trends of a broad sectoral nature; (c) Real growth, positive or negative, compared with the previous budget; (d) Size of the contingency fund expressed as a percentage of the overall level of resources; 3. Also reaffirms that the budget outline should provide a greater level of predictability of resources required for the following biennium and promote greater involvement of Member States in the budgetary process, thereby facilitating the broadest possible agreement on the programme budget; 4. Further reaffirms that the budget proposals of the Secretary-General should reflect resource levels commensurate with mandates for their full, efficient and effective implementation; 5. Notes that the budget outline is a preliminary estimate of resources; 6. Invites the Secretary-General to prepare his proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 on the basis of a preliminary estimate of 3,621,900,000 United States dollars at revised 2004-2005 rates; 7. Decides that the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 shall contain provisions for recosting on the basis of the existing methodology; 8. Decides also that the priorities for the biennium 2006-2007 shall be the following: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of his preliminary indicative estimates contained in the proposed budget outline, to reflect the priorities outlined in paragraph 8 above when presenting the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 10. Decides that the contingency fund shall be set at the level of 0.75 per cent of the preliminary estimate, namely, at 27.2 million dollars, that this amount shall be in addition to the overall level of the preliminary estimate and that it shall be used in accordance with the procedures for the use and operation of the contingency fund. RESOLUTION 59/27 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 23 November 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.30 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 59/27. Enhancing capacity-building in global public health The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. adopted by Heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, and the development goals contained therein, in particular the health-related development goals, and its resolutions 55/162 of 14 December 2000, 56/95 of 14 December 2001, 57/144 of 16 December 2002 and 58/3 of 27 October 2003, Recalling also World Health Assembly resolutions 48.13 of 12 May 1995, 54.14 of 21 May 2001 and 56.28 and 56.29 of 28 May 2003, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration,A/59/282 and Corr.1. Recognizing that Member States have to strengthen their efforts to halt and begin to reverse, by 2015, the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases, Reaffirming its Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. Recognizing that the globalization of trade and increased international travel have increased the risk of a rapid worldwide spread of infectious diseases, posing new challenges to public health, Noting with concern the deleterious impact on humankind of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other major infectious diseases and epidemics, and the heavy disease burden borne by poor people, especially in developing countries, including the least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, and in this regard noting with appreciation the work of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, its co-sponsoring agencies and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the holding of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, from 11 to 16 July 2004, with the theme of "Access for all" in respect of people living with HIV/AIDS, Also noting with concern the recent outbreak of avian influenza, recognizing its impact on human health as well as on the economy, and welcoming the Joint Ministerial Statement on the Current Poultry Disease Situation, Welcoming the current success of the affected countries in combating the severe acute respiratory syndrome, which illustrates the importance of political commitment and strong leadership by affected countries and the role of the World Health Organization in controlling such epidemics, while mindful of the fact that the fight against new and re-emerging diseases such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza is far from over, Noting new initiatives at the global level responding to public health threats, such as the Global Outbreak Alert and the Response Network, which brings together more than one hundred and twenty partners to provide timely and high-quality technical support, Convinced that strengthening public health systems is critical to the development of all Member States, and that economic and social development are enhanced through measures that strengthen capacity-building in public health, including systems of prevention and of immunization against infectious diseases, Emphasizing that Member States have primary responsibility for strengthening their capacity-building in public health to detect and respond rapidly to outbreaks of major infectious diseases, through the establishment and improvement of effective public health mechanisms, while recognizing that the magnitude of the necessary response may be beyond the capabilities of many developing countries, Convinced that the control of outbreaks of diseases, particularly new diseases whose origins remain unknown, requires international and regional cooperation, and noting in this regard, inter alia, the holding of the fifty-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in Shanghai, China, from 13 to 17 September 2004, Recognizing the need for greater international and regional cooperation to meet new and existing challenges to public health, in particular in promoting effective measures such as safe, affordable and accessible vaccines, as well as assisting developing countries in securing vaccines against preventable infectious diseases and supporting the development of new vaccines, Recognizing also the expertise of the World Health Organization and its role in, inter alia, coordinating actions with Member States in the areas of information exchange, personnel training, technical support, resource utilization, the improvement of global public health preparedness and response mechanisms and stimulating and advancing work on the prevention, control and eradication of epidemic, endemic and other diseases, as well as the work of the World Health Organization office dedicated to communicable disease surveillance and response, Underscoring the continued importance of the International Health Regulations as an instrument for ensuring the maximum possible protection against the international spread of diseases with minimum interference in international traffic, and urging Member States to give high priority to the work on the revision of the Regulations, Welcoming the efforts of the World Health Organization, in cooperation with Member States, the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods institutions, the private sector and civil society, in enhancing capacity-building in global public health and in promoting public health at the country level, Welcoming also the Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public Health, adopted on 14 November 2001,See World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and noting the decision of the World Trade Organization General Council of 30 August 2003 on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Declaration,See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Recognizing the need to strengthen national health and social infrastructures to reinforce measures to eliminate discrimination in access to public health, information and education for all people, and especially for the most underserved and vulnerable groups, l. Urges Member States to further integrate public health into their national economic and social development strategies, including through the establishment and improvement of effective public health mechanisms, in particular networks of disease surveillance, response, control, prevention, treatment and information exchange and the recruitment and training of national public health personnel; 2. Calls upon Member States and the international community to raise awareness of good public health practices, including through education and the mass media; 3. Emphasizes the importance of active international cooperation in the control of infectious diseases, based on the principles of mutual respect and equality, with a view to strengthening capacity-building in public health, especially in developing countries, including through the exchange of information and the sharing of experience, as well as research and training programmes focusing on surveillance, prevention, control, response, and care and treatment in respect of infectious diseases, and vaccines against them; 4. Calls for the improvement of the global public health preparedness and response systems, including systems of prevention and monitoring of infectious diseases, to better cope with major diseases, including in cases of global outbreaks of new diseases; 5. Encourages Member States to participate actively in the verification and validation of surveillance data and information concerning public health emergencies of international concern and, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization, to exchange information and experience in a timely and open manner on epidemics and the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that pose a risk to global public health; 6. Invites the regional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, as appropriate, to cooperate closely with Member States, the private sector and civil society, when requested, in their capacity-building in public health, as well as in regional cooperation to diminish and eliminate the deleterious impact of major infectious diseases; 7. Encourages Member States, as well as United Nations agencies, bodies, funds and programmes, in accordance with their respective mandates, to continue to address public health concerns in their development activities and programmes, and to actively support capacity-building in global public health and health-care institutions, such as through the provision of technical and other relevant assistance to the developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to include observations on the issue of enhancing capacity-building in global public health in his report on the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations to be submitted to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session. RESOLUTION 59/28 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2004, by a recorded vote of 104 to 7, with 63 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.34 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 59/28. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its emergency special sessions and resolution 58/18 of 3 December 2003, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35). Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35). including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session and thereafter; 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to involve additional civil society organizations in its work; 5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 59/29 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2004, by a recorded vote of 103 to 8, with 64 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.35 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United State s of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 59/29. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/59/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 58/19 of 3 December 2003, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 58/19; 2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the organization of meetings in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and the provision of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks; 6. Requests the Committee and the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity. RESOLUTION 59/2 Adopted at the 37th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.4 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Austria, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Romania, Sweden 59/2. Review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/68 of 6 December 1999, 55/122 of 8 December 2000, 56/51 of 10 December 2001, 57/116 of 11 December 2002 and 58/90 of 9 December 2003, concerning the review and appraisal by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held in Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in increasing benefits of the exploration and use of outer space to enhance human development, Stressing the importance of implementing the resolution adopted by UNISPACE III entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. which contains a strategy to address global challenges through the use of space science and technology and their applications, Recalling the unique organizational aspects of UNISPACE III, which allowed for active contributions by non-governmental organizations, industry and youth to the outcome of UNISPACE III while organizing the Conference within existing resources,See A/C.4/54/9. Recognizing that responsibility for implementing the recommendations of UNISPACE III rests with Member States, the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat, under the guidance of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and its subsidiary bodies, intergovernmental organizations for multilateral cooperation and other entities with space-related activities, including non-governmental entities, and the young generation, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the review of the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III,See A/59/174. Noting with interest that the structure of the agendas of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee as revised by the Committee at its forty-second session,Ibid., paras. 24 and 25. See also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/54/20 and Corr.1), annex I. as well as the action teams established by the Committee at its forty-fifth and forty-seventh sessions, under voluntary leadership by Member States, served as unique mechanisms to revitalize the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies and to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III,See A/59/174, paras. 29 and 30. Expressing its appreciation to the Member States and organizations that participated in the action teams, in particular to the chairpersons of the action teams, Noting that the establishment of action teams to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III could be considered by other bodies of the United Nations as a very useful mechanism for implementing results of other major conferences held within the United Nations system, Noting with satisfaction that the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III contributes to the implementation of the results of global conferences held within the United Nations system, in particular the Millennium Summit, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the World Summit on the Information Society,Ibid., sect. IV. 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the review of the implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III);See A/59/174. 2. Expresses its appreciation for the work conducted by the Committee and its subsidiary bodies as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs in the five years since the holding of UNISPACE III to implement the recommendations of the Conference; 3. Notes with appreciation the work of the working group established by the Committee in preparing and finalizing the above-mentioned report; 4. Endorses the Plan of Action as proposed by the Committee in its report;Ibid., sect. VI.B. 5. Urges all Governments, entities of the United Nations system as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental entities conducting space-related activities to carry out the actions contained in the Plan of Action, mentioned in paragraph 4 above, on a priority basis for the further implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III, in particular its resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development";See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. 6. Notes that the Committee will implement some of the actions contained in the Plan of Action through the consideration of items of the agendas of the Committee or its subsidiary bodies and through those action teams that will continue their work as endorsed by the Committee; 7. Requests the Committee to examine the contributions that could be made by space science and technology and their applications to one or more of the issues selected by the Commission on Sustainable Development as a thematic cluster and to provide substantive inputs for consideration by the Commission; 8. Also requests the Committee to include items in the agendas of its future sessions, starting from its forty-ninth session, in 2006, to consider its contributions to the work of those entities that are responsible for convening United Nations conferences and/or for implementing their outcomes; 9. Agrees that a study should be conducted on the possibility of creating an international entity to provide for coordination and the means of realistically optimizing the effectiveness of space-based services for use in disaster management and that the study should be prepared by an ad hoc expert group, with experts to be provided by interested Member States and relevant international organizations, and requests the Committee to review progress in the work of the ad hoc expert group, at its forty-eighth session, in 2005;Ibid., paras. 256-261. 10. Calls upon Member States to make contributions to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications before the end of 2004 for the purpose of preparing the study by the ad hoc expert group mentioned in paragraph 9 above; 11. Invites Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and augmentation providers to consider establishing an international committee on GNSS as proposed in the Plan of ActionIbid., para. 267. in order to maximize the benefits of the use and applications of GNSS to support sustainable development; 12. Encourages Member States to provide support to implement the Space Programme of the World Meteorological Organization and its Long-term Strategy, as proposed in the Plan of Action,Ibid., para. 273. in order to expand international cooperation in meteorological satellite applications to enhance weather and climate forecasting; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake necessary measures to strengthen the role of the Office for Outer Space Affairs in implementing the recommendations of UNISPACE III,Ibid., paras. 321 and 322. particularly with a view to achieving the following objectives: (a) Strengthening the capacity-building activities of the Office in space law by, inter alia, continuing to organize the series of workshops on space law and developing a model education curriculum for a short-term course on space law; (b) Strengthening the technical advisory services of the Office to support the operational use of space technologies, in particular in response to actions called for in the Plan of Action; (c) Requesting the Committee to undertake further implementation of UNISPACE III recommendations with a view to enhancing the capacity of developing countries to initiate space application programmes; 14. Agrees that the activities of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications should be clustered, to the extent feasible, to address a few priority themes to be selected by the Committee for each year; 15. Also agrees that the Office for Outer Space Affairs should review the activities that are included in the Plan of Action for implementation by the Office and submit its proposal to the Committee at its forty-eighth session, in 2005, on how those activities could be included in its programme of work; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to implement activities of the Office for Outer Space Affairs as contained in the Plan of Action and to ensure that those activities are included in the programme of work for the biennium 2006-2007; 17. Encourages all Member States and space-related intergovernmental and non-governmental entities to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications while allowing full flexibility for the Office for Outer Space Affairs to carry out the activities of the Programme in accordance with the priorities set by the Committee; 18. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider, in its future sessions, starting with its forty-eighth session, the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III until the Committee considers that concrete results are achieved. RESOLUTION 59/30 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2004, by a recorded vote of 162 to 7, with 9 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.36 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 59/30. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 58/20 of 3 December 2003, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Taking note of the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 58/20; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2004-2005, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard, in particular the prospects for peace; (c) To expand its collection of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine and to continue the production and preservation of such material and the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists initiated in 1995. RESOLUTION 59/31 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2004, by a recorded vote of 161 to 7, with 10 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.37 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 59/31. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth emergency special session, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Recalling further the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting with concern that it has been fifty-seven years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-seven years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 58/21 of 3 December 2003,A/59/574-S/2004/909. Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the agreements concluded between the two sides, and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Noting the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, and recognizing the urgent need to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, Welcoming the contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet, Welcoming also the convening of international donor meetings, as well as the establishment of international mechanisms to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Expressing its grave concern over the tragic events in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000 and the continuing deterioration of the situation, including the rising number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deepening humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of Palestinian property and infrastructure, both private and public, including institutions of the Palestinian Authority, Expressing its grave concern also over the repeated military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings, the extrajudicial executions and the excessive use of force, Gravely concerned over the increased suffering and casualties on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, the loss of confidence on both sides and the dire situation facing the Middle East peace process, Aware of the urgent need for revitalized and active international involvement to support both parties in overcoming the current dangerous impasse in the peace process, Affirming the urgent need for the parties to cooperate with all international efforts, including the efforts of the Quartet, to end the current tragic situation and to resume and accelerate negotiations towards a final peace settlement, Welcoming the initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161. 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end; 2. Reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet; 3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 4. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of the road mapS/2003/529, annex. by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism including all members of the Quartet; 5. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 6. Calls upon the parties, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and to facilitate a speedy resumption of the peace process and the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement; 7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and calls upon all States Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations as mentioned in the advisory opinion; 8. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders; 9. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 10. Stresses the need for: (a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; (b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; 11. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 12. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter. RESOLUTION 59/32 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2004, by a recorded vote of 155 to 7, with 15 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.39, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Costa Rica, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Nauru, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu 59/32. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all subsequent resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling further Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" and called upon those States which had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Expressing its grave concern at any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions, Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and the protection of the unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/431. 1. Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever; 2. Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980), and calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/33 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2004, by a recorded vote of 111 to 6, with 60 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.40 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 59/33. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/338. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/34 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/504, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Greece on behalf of the Bureau. 59/34. Nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States The General Assembly, Having examined the item entitled "Nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States", Recalling its resolution 54/112 of 9 December 1999, in which it decided to consider at its fifty-fifth session the draft articles on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States prepared by the International Law Commission, Recalling also its resolution 55/153 of 12 December 2000, the annex to which contains the articles on nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States, Taking into consideration the comments and observations of GovernmentsA/59/180 and Add.1 and 2. and the discussion held in the Sixth Committee at the fifty-ninth session of the General AssemblyOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Sixth Committee, 15th meeting (A/C.6/59/SR.15), and corrigendum. on the question of nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States, in particular, to preventing the occurrence of statelessness as a result of a succession of States, Taking note, in this regard, of the efforts made at the regional level towards the elaboration of a legal instrument on the avoidance of statelessness in relation to State succession, 1. Reiterates its invitation to Governments to take into account, as appropriate, the provisions of the articles contained in the annex to resolution 55/153, in dealing with issues of nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States; 2. Encourages States to consider, as appropriate, at the regional or subregional levels, the elaboration of legal instruments regulating questions of nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States, with a view, in particular, to preventing the occurrence of statelessness as a result of a succession of States; 3. Invites Governments to submit comments concerning the advisability of elaborating a legal instrument on the question of nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States, including the avoidance of statelessness as a result of a succession of States; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Nationality of natural persons in relation to the succession of States". RESOLUTION 59/35 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/505, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of the Bureau. 59/35. Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/83 of 12 December 2001, the annex to which contains the text of the articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts, Emphasizing the continuing importance of the codification and progressive development of international law, as referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the subject of responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts is of major importance in relations between States, 1. Commends once again the articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts to the attention of Governments, without prejudice to the question of their future adoption or other appropriate action; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to invite Governments to submit their written comments on any future action regarding the articles; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare an initial compilation of decisions of international courts, tribunals and other bodies referring to the articles and to invite Governments to submit information on their practice in this regard, and further requests the Secretary-General to submit this material well in advance of its sixty-second session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts". RESOLUTION 59/36 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/506, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Zambia. 59/36. Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 32/44 of 8 December 1977, 34/51 of 23 November 1979, 37/116 of 16 December 1982, 39/77 of 13 December 1984, 41/72 of 3 December 1986, 43/161 of 9 December 1988, 45/38 of 28 November 1990, 47/30 of 25 November 1992, 49/48 of 9 December 1994, 51/155 of 16 December 1996, 53/96 of 8 December 1998, 55/148 of 12 December 2000 and 57/14 of 19 November 2002, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/321. Thanking Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their contribution to the report of the Secretary-General, Convinced of the continuing value of established humanitarian rules relating to armed conflicts and the need to respect and ensure respect for those rules in all circumstances within the scope of the relevant international instruments, pending the earliest possible termination of such conflicts, Stressing the possibility of making use of the International Fact-Finding Commission in relation to an armed conflict, pursuant to article 90 of Protocol IUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the Geneva Conventions of 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Stressing also the possibility for the International Fact-Finding Commission to facilitate, through its good offices, the restoration of an attitude of respect for the Geneva Conventions and Protocol I, Stressing further the need to consolidate the existing body of international humanitarian law through its universal acceptance and the need for wide dissemination and full implementation of such law at the national level, and expressing concern about all violations of the Geneva Conventions and the two Additional Protocols,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Noting with satisfaction the increasing number of national commissions and other bodies involved in advising authorities at the national level on the implementation, dissemination and development of international humanitarian law, Noting with appreciation the meetings of representatives of those bodies organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate the sharing of concrete experience and the exchange of views on their roles and on the challenges they face, Mindful of the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in offering protection to the victims of armed conflicts, Noting with appreciation the continuing efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross to promote and disseminate knowledge of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and the two Additional Protocols, Recalling that the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent stressed the need to reinforce the implementation of and respect for international humanitarian law, Noting the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, adopted at The Hague in 1954,Ibid., vol. 249, No. 3511. which was observed in May 2004, as well as the commemorative events organized in particular by or in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and recalling the important achievement of enhancing the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflicts, Recalling the entry into force, on 9 March 2004, of the second ProtocolInternational Legal Materials, vol. XXXVIII, p. 769. to the 1954 Hague Convention, and appreciating the ratifications received so far, Acknowledging the fact that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. which entered into force on 1 July 2002, includes the most serious crimes of international concern under international humanitarian law, and that the Statute, while recalling that it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for such crimes, shows the determination of the international community to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes and thus to contribute to their prevention, Acknowledging also the usefulness of discussing in the General Assembly the status of instruments of international humanitarian law relevant to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, 1. Appreciates the virtually universal acceptance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and notes the trend towards a similarly wide acceptance of the two Additional Protocols of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Geneva Conventions that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Additional Protocols at the earliest possible date; 3. Calls upon all States that are already parties to Protocol I,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. or those States not parties, on becoming parties to Protocol I, to make the declaration provided for under article 90 of that Protocol; 4. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed ConflictIbid., vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, and to other relevant treaties on international humanitarian law relating to the protection of victims of armed conflict; 5. Calls upon all States parties to the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions to ensure their wide dissemination and full implementation; 6. Notes with appreciation the Declaration and Agenda for Humanitarian Action adopted by the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which noted that all States must take national measures to implement international humanitarian law, including training of the armed forces and making this law known among the general public, as well as the adoption of legislation to punish war crimes in accordance with their international obligations; 7. Affirms the necessity of making the implementation of international humanitarian law more effective; 8. Welcomes the advisory service activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in supporting efforts made by Member States to take legislative and administrative action to implement international humanitarian law and in promoting the exchange of information on those efforts between Governments; 9. Also welcomes the increasing number of national commissions or committees for the implementation of international humanitarian law and for promoting the incorporation of treaties on international humanitarian law into national law and disseminating the rules of international humanitarian law; 10. Calls upon States to consider becoming parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict;Resolution 54/263, annex I. 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the status of the Additional Protocols relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, as well as on measures taken to strengthen the existing body of international humanitarian law, inter alia, with respect to its dissemination and full implementation at the national level, based on information received from Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts". RESOLUTION 59/37 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/507, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 59/37. Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/125 and Add.1. Conscious of the need to develop and strengthen friendly relations and cooperation among States, Convinced that respect for the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations is a basic prerequisite for the normal conduct of relations among States and for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Alarmed by the recent acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, as well as against representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, which have endangered or taken innocent lives and seriously impeded the normal work of such representatives and officials, Expressing sympathy for the victims of such illegal acts, Concerned at the failure to respect the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, Recalling that, without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State, Recalling also that diplomatic and consular premises must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of diplomatic and consular missions, Emphasizing the duty of States to take all appropriate measures as required by international law, including measures of a preventive nature, and to bring offenders to justice, Welcoming measures already taken by States to this end in conformity with their international obligations, Convinced that the role of the United Nations, which includes the reporting procedures established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 35/168 of 15 December 1980 and further elaborated in subsequent Assembly resolutions, is important in promoting efforts to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/125 and Add.1. 2. Strongly condemns acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and emphasizes that such acts can never be justified; 3. Urges States to strictly observe, implement and enforce the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations and, in particular, to ensure, in conformity with their international obligations, the protection, security and safety of the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above officially present in territories under their jurisdiction, including practical measures to prohibit in their territories illegal activities of persons, groups and organizations that encourage, instigate, organize or engage in the perpetration of acts against the security and safety of such missions, representatives and officials; 4. Also urges States to take all necessary measures at the national and international levels to prevent any acts of violence against the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above, and to ensure, with the participation of the United Nations where appropriate, that such acts are fully investigated with a view to bringing offenders to justice; 5. Recommends that States cooperate closely through, inter alia, contacts between the diplomatic and consular missions and the receiving State with regard to practical measures designed to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives and with regard to the exchange of information on the circumstances of all serious violations thereof; 6. Urges States to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law, at the national and international levels, to prevent any abuse of diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities, in particular serious abuses, including those involving acts of violence; 7. Recommends that States cooperate closely with the State in whose territory abuses of diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities may have occurred, including by exchanging information and providing assistance to its juridical authorities in order to bring offenders to justice; 8. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the instruments relevant to the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives; 9. Calls upon States, in cases where a dispute arises in connection with a violation of their international obligations concerning the protection of the missions or the security of the representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above, to make use of the means available for peaceful settlement of disputes, including the good offices of the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General, when he deems it appropriate, to offer his good offices to the States directly concerned; 10. Requests: (a) All States to report to the Secretary-General as promptly as possible serious violations of the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives as well as missions and representatives with diplomatic status to international intergovernmental organizations; (b) The State in which the violation took place - and, to the extent possible, the State where the alleged offender is present - to report to the Secretary-General as promptly as possible on measures taken to bring the offender to justice and eventually to communicate, in accordance with its laws, the final outcome of the proceedings against the offender, and to report on measures adopted with a view to preventing a repetition of such violations; (c) The States so reporting to consider using or taking into account the guidelines prepared by the Secretary-General;A/42/485, annex. 11. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To send, without delay, a circular note to all States reminding them of the request contained in paragraph 10 above; (b) To circulate to all States, upon receipt, the reports received by him pursuant to paragraph 10 above, unless the reporting State requests otherwise; (c) To draw the attention, when appropriate, of the States directly concerned to the reporting procedures provided for in paragraph 10 above, when a serious violation has been reported pursuant to paragraph 10 (a) above; (d) To address reminders to States where such violations have occurred if reports pursuant to paragraph 10 (a) above or follow-up reports pursuant to paragraph 10 (b) above have not been made within a reasonable period of time; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite States, in the circular note referred to in paragraph 11 (a) above, to inform him of their views with respect to any measures needed or already taken to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives as well as missions and representatives with diplomatic status to international intergovernmental organizations; 13. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report containing: (a) Information on the state of ratification of, and accessions to, the instruments referred to in paragraph 8 above; (b) A summary of the reports received and views expressed pursuant to paragraphs 10 and 12 above; 14. Invites the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly any views he may wish to express on the matters referred to in paragraph 13 above; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives". RESOLUTION 59/38 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/508, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Austria on behalf of the Bureau. 59/38. United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property The General Assembly, Bearing in mind Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 32/151 of 19 December 1977, in which it recommended that the International Law Commission take up the study of the law of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property with a view to its progressive development and codification, and its subsequent resolutions 46/55 of 9 December 1991, 49/61 of 9 December 1994, 52/151 of 15 December 1997, 54/101 of 9 December 1999, 55/150 of 12 December 2000, 56/78 of 12 December 2001, 57/16 of 19 November 2002 and 58/74 of 9 December 2003, Recalling also that the International Law Commission submitted a final set of draft articles, with commentaries, on the law of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property in chapter II of its report on the work of its forty-third session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/46/10). Recalling further the reports of the open-ended Working Group of the Sixth Committee,A/C.6/54/L.12 and A/C.6/55/L.12. as well as the report of the Working Group on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property of the International Law Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigenda (A/54/10 and Corr.1 and 2), annex. submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 53/98 of 8 December 1998, Recalling that in its resolution 55/150 it decided to establish the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property, open also to participation by States members of the specialized agencies, to further the work done, consolidate areas of agreement and resolve outstanding issues with a view to elaborating a generally acceptable instrument based on the draft articles on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property adopted by the International Law Commission and also on the discussions of the open-ended Working Group of the Sixth Committee, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property,Ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 22 (A/59/22). Stressing the importance of uniformity and clarity in the law of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, and emphasizing the role of a convention in this regard, Noting the broad support for the conclusion of a convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, Taking into account the statement of the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee introducing the report of the Ad Hoc Committee,Ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Sixth Committee, 13th meeting (A/C.6/59/SR.13), and corrigendum. 1. Expresses its deep appreciation to the International Law Commission and the Ad Hoc Committee on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property for their valuable work on the law of jurisdictional immunities of States and their property; 2. Agrees with the general understanding reached in the Ad Hoc Committee that the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property does not cover criminal proceedings; 3. Adopts the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property, which is contained in the annex to the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General as depositary to open it for signature; 4. Invites States to become parties to the Convention. Annex United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property The States Parties to the present Convention, Considering that the jurisdictional immunities of States and their property are generally accepted as a principle of customary international law, Having in mind the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, Believing that an international convention on the jurisdictional immunities of States and their property would enhance the rule of law and legal certainty, particularly in dealings of States with natural or juridical persons, and would contribute to the codification and development of international law and the harmonization of practice in this area, Taking into account developments in State practice with regard to the jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, Affirming that the rules of customary international law continue to govern matters not regulated by the provisions of the present Convention, Have agreed as follows: Part I Introduction Article 1 Scope of the present Convention The present Convention applies to the immunity of a State and its property from the jurisdiction of the courts of another State. Article 2 Use of terms 1. For the purposes of the present Convention: (a) "court" means any organ of a State, however named, entitled to exercise judicial functions; (b) "State" means: (i) the State and its various organs of government; (ii) constituent units of a federal State or political subdivisions of the State, which are entitled to perform acts in the exercise of sovereign authority, and are acting in that capacity; (iii) agencies or instrumentalities of the State or other entities, to the extent that they are entitled to perform and are actually performing acts in the exercise of sovereign authority of the State; (iv) representatives of the State acting in that capacity; (c) "commercial transaction" means: (i) any commercial contract or transaction for the sale of goods or supply of services; (ii) any contract for a loan or other transaction of a financial nature, including any obligation of guarantee or of indemnity in respect of any such loan or transaction; (iii) any other contract or transaction of a commercial, industrial, trading or professional nature, but not including a contract of employment of persons. 2. In determining whether a contract or transaction is a "commercial transaction" under paragraph 1 (c), reference should be made primarily to the nature of the contract or transaction, but its purpose should also be taken into account if the parties to the contract or transaction have so agreed, or if, in the practice of the State of the forum, that purpose is relevant to determining the non-commercial character of the contract or transaction. 3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 regarding the use of terms in the present Convention are without prejudice to the use of those terms or to the meanings which may be given to them in other international instruments or in the internal law of any State. Article 3 Privileges and immunities not affected by the present Convention 1. The present Convention is without prejudice to the privileges and immunities enjoyed by a State under international law in relation to the exercise of the functions of: (a) its diplomatic missions, consular posts, special missions, missions to international organizations or delegations to organs of international organizations or to international conferences; and (b) persons connected with them. 2. The present Convention is without prejudice to privileges and immunities accorded under international law to Heads of State ratione personae. 3. The present Convention is without prejudice to the immunities enjoyed by a State under international law with respect to aircraft or space objects owned or operated by a State. Article 4 Non-retroactivity of the present Convention Without prejudice to the application of any rules set forth in the present Convention to which jurisdictional immunities of States and their property are subject under international law independently of the present Convention, the present Convention shall not apply to any question of jurisdictional immunities of States or their property arising in a proceeding instituted against a State before a court of another State prior to the entry into force of the present Convention for the States concerned. Part II General principles Article 5 State immunity A State enjoys immunity, in respect of itself and its property, from the jurisdiction of the courts of another State subject to the provisions of the present Convention. Article 6 Modalities for giving effect to State immunity 1. A State shall give effect to State immunity under article 5 by refraining from exercising jurisdiction in a proceeding before its courts against another State and to that end shall ensure that its courts determine on their own initiative that the immunity of that other State under article 5 is respected. 2. A proceeding before a court of a State shall be considered to have been instituted against another State if that other State: (a) is named as a party to that proceeding; or (b) is not named as a party to the proceeding but the proceeding in effect seeks to affect the property, rights, interests or activities of that other State. Article 7 Express consent to exercise of jurisdiction 1. A State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction in a proceeding before a court of another State with regard to a matter or case if it has expressly consented to the exercise of jurisdiction by the court with regard to the matter or case: (a) by international agreement; (b) in a written contract; or (c) by a declaration before the court or by a written communication in a specific proceeding. 2. Agreement by a State for the application of the law of another State shall not be interpreted as consent to the exercise of jurisdiction by the courts of that other State. Article 8 Effect of participation in a proceeding before a court 1. A State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction in a proceeding before a court of another State if it has: (a) itself instituted the proceeding; or (b) intervened in the proceeding or taken any other step relating to the merits. However, if the State satisfies the court that it could not have acquired knowledge of facts on which a claim to immunity can be based until after it took such a step, it can claim immunity based on those facts, provided it does so at the earliest possible moment. 2. A State shall not be considered to have consented to the exercise of jurisdiction by a court of another State if it intervenes in a proceeding or takes any other step for the sole purpose of: (a) invoking immunity; or (b) asserting a right or interest in property at issue in the proceeding. 3. The appearance of a representative of a State before a court of another State as a witness shall not be interpreted as consent by the former State to the exercise of jurisdiction by the court. 4. Failure on the part of a State to enter an appearance in a proceeding before a court of another State shall not be interpreted as consent by the former State to the exercise of jurisdiction by the court. Article 9 Counterclaims 1. A State instituting a proceeding before a court of another State cannot invoke immunity from the jurisdiction of the court in respect of any counterclaim arising out of the same legal relationship or facts as the principal claim. 2. A State intervening to present a claim in a proceeding before a court of another State cannot invoke immunity from the jurisdiction of the court in respect of any counterclaim arising out of the same legal relationship or facts as the claim presented by the State. 3. A State making a counterclaim in a proceeding instituted against it before a court of another State cannot invoke immunity from the jurisdiction of the court in respect of the principal claim. Part III Proceedings in which State immunity cannot be invoked Article 10 Commercial transactions 1. If a State engages in a commercial transaction with a foreign natural or juridical person and, by virtue of the applicable rules of private international law, differences relating to the commercial transaction fall within the jurisdiction of a court of another State, the State cannot invoke immunity from that jurisdiction in a proceeding arising out of that commercial transaction. 2. Paragraph 1 does not apply: (a) in the case of a commercial transaction between States; or (b) if the parties to the commercial transaction have expressly agreed otherwise. 3. Where a State enterprise or other entity established by a State which has an independent legal personality and is capable of: (a) suing or being sued; and (b) acquiring, owning or possessing and disposing of property, including property which that State has authorized it to operate or manage, is involved in a proceeding which relates to a commercial transaction in which that entity is engaged, the immunity from jurisdiction enjoyed by that State shall not be affected. Article 11 Contracts of employment 1. Unless otherwise agreed between the States concerned, a State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to a contract of employment between the State and an individual for work performed or to be performed, in whole or in part, in the territory of that other State. 2. Paragraph 1 does not apply if: (a) the employee has been recruited to perform particular functions in the exercise of governmental authority; (b) the employee is: (i) a diplomatic agent, as defined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961; (ii) a consular officer, as defined in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963; (iii) a member of the diplomatic staff of a permanent mission to an international organization or of a special mission, or is recruited to represent a State at an international conference; or (iv) any other person enjoying diplomatic immunity; (c) the subject-matter of the proceeding is the recruitment, renewal of employment or reinstatement of an individual; (d) the subject-matter of the proceeding is the dismissal or termination of employment of an individual and, as determined by the Head of State, the Head of Government or the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the employer State, such a proceeding would interfere with the security interests of that State; (e) the employee is a national of the employer State at the time when the proceeding is instituted, unless this person has the permanent residence in the State of the forum; or (f) the employer State and the employee have otherwise agreed in writing, subject to any considerations of public policy conferring on the courts of the State of the forum exclusive jurisdiction by reason of the subject-matter of the proceeding. Article 12 Personal injuries and damage to property Unless otherwise agreed between the States concerned, a State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to pecuniary compensation for death or injury to the person, or damage to or loss of tangible property, caused by an act or omission which is alleged to be attributable to the State, if the act or omission occurred in whole or in part in the territory of that other State and if the author of the act or omission was present in that territory at the time of the act or omission. Article 13 Ownership, possession and use of property Unless otherwise agreed between the States concerned, a State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to the determination of: (a) any right or interest of the State in, or its possession or use of, or any obligation of the State arising out of its interest in, or its possession or use of, immovable property situated in the State of the forum; (b) any right or interest of the State in movable or immovable property arising by way of succession, gift or bona vacantia; or (c) any right or interest of the State in the administration of property, such as trust property, the estate of a bankrupt or the property of a company in the event of its winding up. Article 14 Intellectual and industrial property Unless otherwise agreed between the States concerned, a State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to: (a) the determination of any right of the State in a patent, industrial design, trade name or business name, trademark, copyright or any other form of intellectual or industrial property which enjoys a measure of legal protection, even if provisional, in the State of the forum; or (b) an alleged infringement by the State, in the territory of the State of the forum, of a right of the nature mentioned in subparagraph (a) which belongs to a third person and is protected in the State of the forum. Article 15 Participation in companies or other collective bodies 1. A State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to its participation in a company or other collective body, whether incorporated or unincorporated, being a proceeding concerning the relationship between the State and the body or the other participants therein, provided that the body: (a) has participants other than States or international organizations; and (b) is incorporated or constituted under the law of the State of the forum or has its seat or principal place of business in that State. 2. A State can, however, invoke immunity from jurisdiction in such a proceeding if the States concerned have so agreed or if the parties to the dispute have so provided by an agreement in writing or if the instrument establishing or regulating the body in question contains provisions to that effect. Article 16 Ships owned or operated by a State 1. Unless otherwise agreed between the States concerned, a State which owns or operates a ship cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to the operation of that ship if, at the time the cause of action arose, the ship was used for other than government non-commercial purposes. 2. Paragraph 1 does not apply to warships, or naval auxiliaries, nor does it apply to other vessels owned or operated by a State and used, for the time being, only on government non-commercial service. 3. Unless otherwise agreed between the States concerned, a State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to the carriage of cargo on board a ship owned or operated by that State if, at the time the cause of action arose, the ship was used for other than government non-commercial purposes. 4. Paragraph 3 does not apply to any cargo carried on board the ships referred to in paragraph 2, nor does it apply to any cargo owned by a State and used or intended for use exclusively for government non-commercial purposes. 5. States may plead all measures of defence, prescription and limitation of liability which are available to private ships and cargoes and their owners. 6. If in a proceeding there arises a question relating to the government and non-commercial character of a ship owned or operated by a State or cargo owned by a State, a certificate signed by a diplomatic representative or other competent authority of that State and communicated to the court shall serve as evidence of the character of that ship or cargo. Article 17 Effect of an arbitration agreement If a State enters into an agreement in writing with a foreign natural or juridical person to submit to arbitration differences relating to a commercial transaction, that State cannot invoke immunity from jurisdiction before a court of another State which is otherwise competent in a proceeding which relates to: (a) the validity, interpretation or application of the arbitration agreement; (b) the arbitration procedure; or (c) the confirmation or the setting aside of the award, unless the arbitration agreement otherwise provides. Part IV State immunity from measures of constraint in connection with proceedings before a court Article 18 State immunity from pre-judgment measures of constraint No pre-judgment measures of constraint, such as attachment or arrest, against property of a State may be taken in connection with a proceeding before a court of another State unless and except to the extent that: (a) the State has expressly consented to the taking of such measures as indicated: (i) by international agreement; (ii) by an arbitration agreement or in a written contract; or (iii) by a declaration before the court or by a written communication after a dispute between the parties has arisen; or (b) the State has allocated or earmarked property for the satisfaction of the claim which is the object of that proceeding. Article 19 State immunity from post-judgment measures of constraint No post-judgment measures of constraint, such as attachment, arrest or execution, against property of a State may be taken in connection with a proceeding before a court of another State unless and except to the extent that: (a) the State has expressly consented to the taking of such measures as indicated: (i) by international agreement; (ii) by an arbitration agreement or in a written contract; or (iii) by a declaration before the court or by a written communication after a dispute between the parties has arisen; or (b) the State has allocated or earmarked property for the satisfaction of the claim which is the object of that proceeding; or (c) it has been established that the property is specifically in use or intended for use by the State for other than government non-commercial purposes and is in the territory of the State of the forum, provided that post-judgment measures of constraint may only be taken against property that has a connection with the entity against which the proceeding was directed. Article 20 Effect of consent to jurisdiction to measures of constraint Where consent to the measures of constraint is required under articles 18 and 19, consent to the exercise of jurisdiction under article 7 shall not imply consent to the taking of measures of constraint. Article 21 Specific categories of property 1. The following categories, in particular, of property of a State shall not be considered as property specifically in use or intended for use by the State for other than government non-commercial purposes under article 19, subparagraph (c): (a) property, including any bank account, which is used or intended for use in the performance of the functions of the diplomatic mission of the State or its consular posts, special missions, missions to international organizations or delegations to organs of international organizations or to international conferences; (b) property of a military character or used or intended for use in the performance of military functions; (c) property of the central bank or other monetary authority of the State; (d) property forming part of the cultural heritage of the State or part of its archives and not placed or intended to be placed on sale; (e) property forming part of an exhibition of objects of scientific, cultural or historical interest and not placed or intended to be placed on sale. 2. Paragraph 1 is without prejudice to article 18 and article 19, subparagraphs (a) and (b). Part V Miscellaneous provisions Article 22 Service of process 1. Service of process by writ or other document instituting a proceeding against a State shall be effected: (a) in accordance with any applicable international convention binding on the State of the forum and the State concerned; or (b) in accordance with any special arrangement for service between the claimant and the State concerned, if not precluded by the law of the State of the forum; or (c) in the absence of such a convention or special arrangement: (i) by transmission through diplomatic channels to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State concerned; or (ii) by any other means accepted by the State concerned, if not precluded by the law of the State of the forum. 2. Service of process referred to in paragraph 1 (c) (i) is deemed to have been effected by receipt of the documents by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3. These documents shall be accompanied, if necessary, by a translation into the official language, or one of the official languages, of the State concerned. 4. Any State that enters an appearance on the merits in a proceeding instituted against it may not thereafter assert that service of process did not comply with the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3. Article 23 Default judgment 1. A default judgment shall not be rendered against a State unless the court has found that: (a) the requirements laid down in article 22, paragraphs 1 and 3, have been complied with; (b) a period of not less than four months has expired from the date on which the service of the writ or other document instituting a proceeding has been effected or deemed to have been effected in accordance with article 22, paragraphs 1 and 2; and (c) the present Convention does not preclude it from exercising jurisdiction. 2. A copy of any default judgment rendered against a State, accompanied if necessary by a translation into the official language or one of the official languages of the State concerned, shall be transmitted to it through one of the means specified in article 22, paragraph 1, and in accordance with the provisions of that paragraph. 3. The time-limit for applying to have a default judgment set aside shall not be less than four months and shall begin to run from the date on which the copy of the judgment is received or is deemed to have been received by the State concerned. Article 24 Privileges and immunities during court proceedings 1. Any failure or refusal by a State to comply with an order of a court of another State enjoining it to perform or refrain from performing a specific act or to produce any document or disclose any other information for the purposes of a proceeding shall entail no consequences other than those which may result from such conduct in relation to the merits of the case. In particular, no fine or penalty shall be imposed on the State by reason of such failure or refusal. 2. A State shall not be required to provide any security, bond or deposit, however described, to guarantee the payment of judicial costs or expenses in any proceeding to which it is a respondent party before a court of another State. Part VI Final clauses Article 25 Annex The annex to the present Convention forms an integral part of the Convention. Article 26 Other international agreements Nothing in the present Convention shall affect the rights and obligations of States Parties under existing international agreements which relate to matters dealt with in the present Convention as between the parties to those agreements. Article 27 Settlement of disputes 1. States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the present Convention through negotiation. 2. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of the present Convention which cannot be settled through negotiation within six months shall, at the request of any of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court. 3. Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of, or accession to, the present Convention, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 with respect to any State Party which has made such a declaration. 4. Any State Party that has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 3 may at any time withdraw that declaration by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 28 Signature The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States until 17 January 2007, at United Nations Headquarters, New York. Article 29 Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession 1. The present Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. 2. The present Convention shall remain open for accession by any State. 3. The instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 30 Entry into force 1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. For each State ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to the present Convention after the deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Article 31 Denunciation 1. Any State Party may denounce the present Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. Denunciation shall take effect one year following the date on which notification is received by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The present Convention shall, however, continue to apply to any question of jurisdictional immunities of States or their property arising in a proceeding instituted against a State before a court of another State prior to the date on which the denunciation takes effect for any of the States concerned. 3. The denunciation shall not in any way affect the duty of any State Party to fulfil any obligation embodied in the present Convention to which it would be subject under international law independently of the present Convention. Article 32 Depositary and notifications 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated the depositary of the present Convention. 2. As depositary of the present Convention, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States of the following: (a) signatures of the present Convention and the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or notifications of denunciation, in accordance with articles 29 and 31; (b) the date on which the present Convention will enter into force, in accordance with article 30; (c) any acts, notifications or communications relating to the present Convention. Article 33 Authentic texts The Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of the present Convention are equally authentic. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 17 January 2005. Annex to the Convention Understandings with respect to certain provisions of the Convention The present annex is for the purpose of setting out understandings relating to the provisions concerned. With respect to article 10 The term "immunity" in article 10 is to be understood in the context of the present Convention as a whole. Article 10, paragraph 3, does not prejudge the question of "piercing the corporate veil", questions relating to a situation where a State entity has deliberately misrepresented its financial position or subsequently reduced its assets to avoid satisfying a claim, or other related issues. With respect to article 11 The reference in article 11, paragraph 2 (d), to the "security interests" of the employer State is intended primarily to address matters of national security and the security of diplomatic missions and consular posts. Under article 41 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and article 55 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, all persons referred to in those articles have the duty to respect the laws and regulations, including labour laws, of the host country. At the same time, under article 38 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and article 71 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the receiving State has a duty to exercise its jurisdiction in such a manner as not to interfere unduly with the performance of the functions of the mission or the consular post. With respect to articles 13 and 14 The expression "determination" is used to refer not only to the ascertainment or verification of the existence of the rights protected, but also to the evaluation or assessment of the substance, including content, scope and extent, of such rights. With respect to article 17 The expression "commercial transaction" includes investment matters. With respect to article 19 The expression "entity" in subparagraph (c) means the State as an independent legal personality, a constituent unit of a federal State, a subdivision of a State, an agency or instrumentality of a State or other entity, which enjoys independent legal personality. The words "property that has a connection with the entity" in subparagraph (c) are to be understood as broader than ownership or possession. Article 19 does not prejudge the question of "piercing the corporate veil", questions relating to a situation where a State entity has deliberately misrepresented its financial position or subsequently reduced its assets to avoid satisfying a claim, or other related issues. RESOLUTION 59/39 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/509, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 59/39. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-seventh session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its belief that the progressive modernization and harmonization of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity and common interest and to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to the well-being of all peoples, Having considered the report of the Commission on its thirty-seventh session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/59/17). Reiterating its concern that activities undertaken by other bodies in the field of international trade law without adequate coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, Reaffirming the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field, in particular to avoid duplication of efforts, including among organizations formulating rules of international trade, and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law, and to continue, through its secretariat, to maintain close cooperation with other international organs and organizations, including regional organizations, active in the field of international trade law, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on its thirty-seventh session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/59/17). 2. Commends the Commission for the completion and adoption of its Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law;Ibid., chap. III. 3. Also commends the Commission for the progress made in the work on a draft convention on electronic contracting, on a draft instrument on transport law, on a draft legislative guide on secured transactions and on model legislative provisions on interim measures in international commercial arbitration, and for the Commission's decision to undertake a revision of its Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and ServicesIbid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/49/17 and Corr.1), annex I. to reflect new practices, including those resulting from the increasing use of electronic communications in public procurement;Ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/59/17), chap. VIII, paras. 81 and 82. 4. Endorses the efforts and initiatives of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, aimed at increasing coordination of and cooperation on legal activities of international and regional organizations active in the field of international trade law, and in this regard appeals to relevant international and regional organizations to coordinate their legal activities with those of the Commission, to avoid duplication of efforts and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law; 5. Reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with training and legislative technical assistance in the field of international trade law, and in this connection: (a) Welcomes the Commission's initiatives towards expanding, through its secretariat, its training and legislative technical assistance programme; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for organizing seminars and briefing missions in Azerbaijan, Colombia, Serbia and Montenegro, the Sudan, Thailand, Venezuela and Yemen; (c) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the seminars and briefing missions to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in carrying out training and legislative technical assistance activities, in particular in developing countries; (d) Reiterates its appeal to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the World Bank and regional development banks, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the training and legislative technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission; 6. Takes note with regret that, since the previous session of the Commission, no contributions have been made to the trust fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General, stresses the need for contributions to the trust fund in order to increase expert representation from developing countries at sessions of the Commission and its working groups, and reiterates its appeal to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund; 7. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 8. Recalls its resolutions on partnerships between the United Nations and non-State actors, in particular the private sector,Resolutions 55/215, 56/76 and 58/129. and in this regard welcomes the Commission's consideration of the means of actively engaging non-State actors in its work,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/59/17), chap. XV, sect. A. and encourages the Commission to further explore different approaches to the use of partnerships with non-State actors in the implementation of its mandate, in particular in the area of training and technical assistance, in accordance with the applicable principles and guidelines and in cooperation and coordination with other relevant offices of the Secretariat; 9. Approves, in conformity with its resolutions on documentation-related matters, which, in particular, emphasize that any reduction in the length of documents should not adversely affect either the quality of the presentation or the substance of the documents,Resolutions 57/283 B, section III, para. 29, and 58/250, section III, paras. 2 and 17. the conclusions reached by the Commission in paragraphs 124 to 128 of its reportOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/59/17). regarding the imposition of page limits on its documentation, and requests the Secretary-General to bear in mind the particular characteristics of the mandate and work of the Commission in implementing page limits with respect to the documentation of the Commission; 10. Also approves the conclusions of the Commission in paragraph 130 of its report regarding the need for the continuing provision of summary records of its meetings relating to the formulation of normative texts; 11. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and, to this end, urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions; 12. Notes that 2005 will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of GoodsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1489, No. 25567. and the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/40/17), annex I. and in this regard welcomes initiatives being undertaken to organize conferences and similar events to provide a forum for assessing the experience, in particular of courts and arbitral tribunals, with those texts; 13. Expresses its appreciation for the preparation of a digest of case law on the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, intended to assist in the dissemination of information on the Convention and promote its adoption, use and uniform interpretation, and for the progress of work on a digest of case law relating to the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. RESOLUTION 59/3 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo 59/3. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/38 of 18 November 1981, 37/8 of 29 October 1982, 38/37 of 5 December 1983, 39/47 of 10 December 1984, 40/60 of 9 December 1985, 41/5 of 17 October 1986, 43/1 of 17 October 1988, 45/4 of 16 October 1990, 47/6 of 21 October 1992, 49/8 of 25 October 1994, 51/11 of 4 November 1996, 53/14 of 29 October 1998, 55/4 of 25 October 2000 and 57/36 of 21 November 2002, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization,See A/59/303, part two. Having heard the statement made by the Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization on the steps taken by the Consultative Organization to ensure continuing, close and effective cooperation between the two organizations,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Plenary Meetings, 40th meeting (A/59/PV.40), and corrigendum. Acknowledging in particular the close interaction between the Consultative Organization and the Sixth Committee, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;See A/59/303, part two. 2. Notes with satisfaction the continuing efforts of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization towards strengthening the role of the United Nations and its various organs in enhancing the rule of law and wider adherence to related international instruments; 3. Also notes with satisfaction the commendable progress achieved towards enhancing cooperation between the United Nations, its agencies, other international organizations and the Consultative Organization; 4. Notes with appreciation the work of the Consultative Organization aimed at strengthening the efforts of the United Nations in respect of issues such as combating corruption, international terrorism and trafficking, as well as human rights issues; 5. Also notes with appreciation the initiative and efforts the Consultative Organization has undertaken to promote the objectives and principles set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. including wider acceptance of treaties deposited with the Secretary-General; 6. Recommends that, with a view to promoting close interaction between the Consultative Organization and the Sixth Committee, the consideration of the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization" should be scheduled to coincide with the deliberations of the Committee on the work of the International Law Commission; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Consultative Organization; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization". RESOLUTION 59/40 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/509, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 59/40. Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law The General Assembly, Recognizing the importance to all countries of strong, effective and efficient insolvency regimes as a means of encouraging economic development and investment, Noting the growing realization that reorganization regimes are critical to corporate and economic recovery, the development of entrepreneurial activity, the preservation of employment and the availability of finance in the capital market, Noting also the importance of social policy issues to the design of an insolvency regime, Noting with satisfaction the completion and adoption of the Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law by the Commission at its thirty-seventh session, on 25 June 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/59/17), chap. III. Believing that the Legislative Guide, which includes the text of the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency and the Guide to Enactment recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/158 of 15 December 1997, contributes significantly to the establishment of a harmonized legal framework for insolvency and will be useful both to States that do not have an effective and efficient insolvency regime and to States that are undertaking a process of review and modernization of their insolvency regimes, Recognizing the need for cooperation and coordination between international organizations active in the field of insolvency law reform to ensure consistency and alignment of that work and to facilitate the development of international standards, Noting that the preparation of the Legislative Guide was the subject of due deliberations and extensive consultations with Governments and international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations active in the field of insolvency law reform, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for the completion and adoption of its Legislative Guide on Insolvency Law;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/59/17), chap. III. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to publish the Legislative Guide and to make all efforts to ensure that it becomes generally known and available; 3. Recommends that all States give due consideration to the Legislative Guide when assessing the economic efficiency of their insolvency regimes and when revising or adopting legislation relevant to insolvency; 4. Recommends also that all States continue to consider implementation of the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. RESOLUTION 59/41 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/510, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Hungary on behalf of the Bureau. 59/41. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-sixth session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-sixth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/59/10). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the codification and progressive development of international law as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to enhance further their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Stressing the usefulness of focusing and structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report and for discussions on specific topics, Wishing to enhance further, in the context of the revitalization of the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two bodies, Welcoming initiatives to hold interactive debates, panel discussions and question time in the Sixth Committee, as envisaged in resolution 58/316 of 1 July 2004 on further measures for the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, 1. Takes note of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-sixth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/59/10). and recommends that the Commission continue its work on the topics in its current programme, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether submitted in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the work accomplished at its fifty-sixth session, in particular for the completion of the first reading of draft articles on Diplomatic protection and of the draft principles on the allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities; 3. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission identified in chapter III of its report and in particular on: (a) The draft articles and commentary on Diplomatic protection; (b) The draft principles on Allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities; 4. Invites Governments, within the context of paragraph 3 above, to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding: (a) Their practice, bilateral or regional, relating to the allocation of groundwaters from transboundary aquifer systems and the management of non-renewable transboundary aquifer systems relating to the topic currently entitled "Shared natural resources"; (b) State practice on the topic "Unilateral acts of States"; 5. Endorses the decision of the International Law Commission to include in its agenda the topics "Expulsion of aliens" and "Effects of armed conflicts on treaties"; 6. Takes note of paragraphs 362 and 363 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to its long-term programme of work and the syllabus on the new topic annexed to the report; 7. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity; 8. Encourages the International Law Commission to continue taking cost-saving measures at its future sessions; 9. Takes note of paragraph 370 of the report of the International Law Commission, and decides that the next session of the Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2 May to 3 June and from 4 July to 5 August 2005; 10. Welcomes the enhanced dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the two bodies, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the continued practice of informal consultations in the form of discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and the members of the Commission attending the sixtieth session of the Assembly; 11. Encourages delegations, during the debate on the report of the International Law Commission to adhere as far as possible to the structured work programme agreed to by the Sixth Committee and to consider presenting concise and focused statements; 12. Encourages Member States to consider being represented at the level of legal adviser during the first week in which the report of the International Law Commission is discussed in the Sixth Committee (International Law Week) to enable high-level discussions on issues of international law; 13. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 14. Takes note of paragraphs 371 to 376 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cooperation with other bodies, and encourages the Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation; 15. Notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 16. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the indispensable role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission; 17. Approves the conclusions reached by the International Law Commission in paragraph 367 of its report and reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the documentation and summary records of the International Law Commission;See resolutions 32/151, para. 10, and 37/111, para. 5, and all subsequent resolutions on the annual reports of the International Law Commission to the General Assembly. 18. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 20. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the fifty-ninth session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 21. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session, chapter III containing the specific issues on which the views of Governments would be of particular interest to the Commission and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 22. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly commence on 24 October 2005. RESOLUTION 59/42 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/511, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire and Cyprus. 59/42. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/59/26). Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 26 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/59/26). 2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is an issue of great importance, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to solve, through negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; 3. Notes that the Committee conducted an initial detailed review of the implementation of the Parking Programme for Diplomatic Vehicles,A/AC.154/355, annex. as recommended by the Legal Counsel in his opinion on 24 September 2002,A/AC.154/358, annex. with a view to addressing the problems experienced by some permanent missions during the first year of the Programme and continuously ensuring its proper implementation in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, effective and therefore consistent with international law, and that it shall remain seized of the matter; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 5. Notes that during the reporting period some travel restrictions previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities were removed, and requests the host country to consider removing the remaining travel restrictions, and in this regard notes the positions of affected States, of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 6. Notes also that the Committee anticipates that the host country will enhance its efforts to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,See resolution 169 (II). inter alia, for the purpose of their attending official United Nations meetings; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 8. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 59/43 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/512, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of the Netherlands on behalf of the Bureau. 59/43. International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/33 of 25 November 1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11 December 1995, 51/207 of 17 December 1996, 52/160 of 15 December 1997, 53/105 of 8 December 1998, 54/105 of 9 December 1999, 55/155 of 12 December 2000, 56/85 of 12 December 2001, 57/23 of 19 November 2002 and 58/79 of 9 December 2003, Noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. was adopted on 17 July 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 2002, Noting also the adoption of the Regulations of the International Criminal Court,ICC-BD/01-01-04. the entry into force of the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the Court,Official Records of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, First session, New York, 3-10 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.V.2 and corrigendum), part II.E. the opening of the first investigations by the Prosecutor and the constitution of the Pre-Trial Chambers of the Court, Acknowledging the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court ("Relationship Agreement") as approved by the Assembly of States Parties on 7 September 2004 and by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/318 of 13 September 2004,See A/58/874 and Add.1. including paragraph 3 of the resolution with respect to the full reimbursement of expenses resulting from the implementation of the Relationship Agreement,Articles 10 and 13 of the Relationship Agreement. and signed by the United Nations and the Court on 4 October 2004, thereby entering into force, Reiterating the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1. Calls upon all States that are not yet parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. to consider ratifying or acceding to it without delay, and encourages efforts aimed at promoting awareness of the results of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, held in Rome from 15 June to 17 July 1998, the provisions of the Statute and the process leading to the establishment of the International Criminal Court; 2. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, First session, New York, 3-10 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.V.2 and corrigendum), part II.E. without delay; 3. Welcomes the holding of the third session of the Assembly of States Parties in The Hague from 6 to 10 September 2004, and also welcomes the election of the new President of the Assembly of States Parties, new members to the Committee on Budget and Finance and the second Deputy-Prosecutor, and the important decisions taken on that occasion, including the establishment of the secretariat of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims, as well as the adoption of a number of resolutions;Official Records of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Third session, The Hague, 6-10 September 2004 (ICC-ASP/3/25). 4. Recalls the establishment of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, open to all States on an equal footing; 5. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing effective and efficient assistance in the establishment of the International Criminal Court; 6. Takes note of the statement by the President of the Security Council of 6 October 2004,S/PRST/2004/34; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2004-31 July 2005. in which the Secretary-General is thanked for his report on the rule of law,S/2004/616. in which reference was made to a number of efforts, in particular by the International Criminal Court to promote justice and the rule of law; 7. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 1 (A/59/1). in which references were made to the International Criminal Court; 8. Welcomes also the steps taken as explained in the note by the Secretariat on the International Criminal Court,A/59/356. amongst which were those to close the various trust funds administered by the Secretary-General relating to the establishment of the Court and subsequent activities; 9. Recalls that pursuant to article 4, paragraph 2, of the Relationship Agreement,A/58/874, annex. the International Criminal Court may attend and participate in the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer and that pursuant to article 6 of the Relationship Agreement the Court may submit reports on its activities to the fifty-ninth and following sessions of the General Assembly; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session an item entitled "Report of the International Criminal Court", under which shall be considered, with the Court invited to attend and to participate, pursuant to article 4, paragraph 2, of the Relationship Agreement, any report of the International Criminal Court, pursuant to article 6 of the Relationship Agreement. RESOLUTION 59/44 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/513, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 59/44. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/56/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Recalling further that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Considering the desirability of finding practical ways and means to strengthen the Court, taking into consideration, in particular, the needs resulting from its increased workload, Taking note of the ongoing debate on the revised working papers on the working methods of the Special Committee, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/59/189. Recalling its resolution 58/248 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/59/33). Noting with appreciation the work done by the Special Committee to encourage States to focus on the need to prevent and to settle peacefully their disputes which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/59/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 14 to 24 March 2005; 3. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2005, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2005; (b) To continue to consider, on a priority basis and in an appropriate substantive manner and framework, the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter based on all of the related reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303, A/57/165 and Add.1, A/58/346 and A/59/334. and the proposals submitted on the question; (c) To keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States; (d) To continue to consider proposals concerning the Trusteeship Council in the light of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with General Assembly resolution 50/55 of 11 December 1995,A/50/1011. the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform"A/51/950 and Add.1-7. and the views expressed by States on this subject at previous sessions of the Assembly; (e) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 4. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2005 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations; 5. Notes the readiness of the Special Committee to provide, within its mandate, such assistance as may be sought at the request of other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly in relation to any issues before them; 6. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 7. Takes note of paragraphs 10 and 17 of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/189. 8. Endorses the efforts of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a trust fund to eliminate the backlog of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, which shall accept voluntary contributions by States, private institutions and individuals; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts, within the level of the currently approved budget, towards making available electronically all versions of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs as early as possible; 11. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on both the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 59/45 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/513, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Egypt, Russian Federation, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine. 59/45. Implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions The General Assembly, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Security Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recognizing the desirability of the consideration of further appropriate procedures for consultations to deal in a more effective manner with the problems referred to in Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling: (a) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular paragraph 41 thereof, (b) Its resolution 47/120 A of 18 December 1992, entitled "An Agenda for Peace: preventive diplomacy and related matters", its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, entitled "An Agenda for Peace", in particular section IV thereof, entitled "Special economic problems arising from the implementation of preventive or enforcement measures", and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", in particular annex II thereto, entitled "Question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations", (c) The position paper of the Secretary-General entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. (d) The statement by the President of the Security Council of 22 February 1995,S/PRST/1995/9; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1995. (e) The report of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705. prepared pursuant to the statement by the President of the Security CouncilS/25036; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1992. regarding the question of special economic problems of States as a result of sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter, (f) The annual overview reports of the Administrative Committee on Coordination for the period from 1992 to 2000E/1993/81, E/1994/19, E/1995/21, E/1996/18 and Add.1, E/1997/54 and Corr.1, E/1998/21, E/1999/48, E/2000/53 and E/2001/55. and the annual overview reports of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2001 to 2003,E/2002/55, E/2003/55 and E/2004/67. in particular the sections on assistance to countries invoking Article 50 of the Charter, (g) The reports of the Secretary-General on economic assistance to States affected by the implementation of the Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against the Federal Republic of YugoslaviaA/49/356, A/50/423, A/51/356, A/52/535, A/54/534, A/55/620 and Corr.1, A/56/632 and A/58/358. and General Assembly resolutions 48/210 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 A of 2 December 1994, 50/58 E of 12 December 1995, 51/30 A of 5 December 1996, 52/169 H of 16 December 1997, 54/96 G of 15 December 1999, 55/170 of 14 December 2000 and 56/110 of 14 December 2001, (h) The reports of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization on the work of its sessions held in the years 1994 to 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/49/33); ibid., Fiftieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/50/33); ibid., Fifty-first Session, Supplement No 33 (A/51/33); ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/52/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/53/33); ibid., Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 33 and corrigendum (A/54/33 and Corr.1); ibid., Fifty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/55/33); ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/56/33); ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/57/33); ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/58/33); and ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/59/33). (i) The reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter,A/50/361, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303, A/57/165 and Add.1, A/58/346 and A/59/334. (j) The report of the Secretary-General to the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations,A/54/2000. in particular section IV.E thereof, entitled "Targeting sanctions", (k) The United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 9 thereof, (l) The report of the Secretary-General entitled "Road map towards implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration",A/56/326; see also the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration (A/58/323), para. 23. in particular paragraphs 56 to 61 thereof, (m) The report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-third session, in particular the recommendation that the Chief Executives Board play a role in better coordinating the analysis of the problems of the countries invoking Article 50 of the Charter, and the development of new methodologies to identify the damage to affected States and new mechanisms to determine the appropriate compensation for them,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/58/16), para. 581. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization,Ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 1 (A/59/1). in particular paragraphs 78 to 81 thereof, Recalling that the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions has been addressed recently in several forums, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary organs, Recalling also the measures taken by the Security Council, in accordance with the statement by the President of the Security Council of 16 December 1994,See S/PRST/1994/81; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1994. that, as part of the effort of the Council to improve the flow of information and the exchange of ideas between members of the Council and other States Members of the United Nations, there should be increased recourse to open meetings, in particular at an early stage in its consideration of a subject, Recalling further the measures taken by the Security Council in accordance with the note by the President of the Security Council of 29 January 1999S/1999/92; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. aimed at improving the work of the sanctions committees, including increasing the effectiveness and transparency of those committees, Stressing that, in the formulation of sanctions regimes, due account should be taken of the potential effects of sanctions on third States, Stressing also, in this context, the powers of the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter and the primary responsibility of the Council under Article 24 of the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, Recalling that, under Article 31 of the Charter, any Member of the United Nations that is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected, Recognizing that the imposition of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter has been causing special economic problems in third States and that it is necessary to intensify efforts to address those problems effectively, Taking into consideration the views of third States which could be affected by the imposition of sanctions, Recognizing that assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions would further contribute to an effective and comprehensive approach by the international community to sanctions imposed by the Security Council, Recognizing also that the international community at large and, in particular, international institutions involved in providing economic and financial assistance should continue to take into account and address in a more effective manner the special economic problems of affected third States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, in view of their magnitude and of the adverse impact on the economies of those States, Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999, 55/157 of 12 December 2000, 56/87 of 12 December 2001, 57/25 of 19 November 2002 and 58/80 of 9 December 2003, 1. Renews its invitation to the Security Council to consider the establishment of further mechanisms or procedures, as appropriate, for consultations as early as possible under Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations with third States which are or may be confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, with regard to a solution of those problems, including appropriate ways and means for increasing the effectiveness of its methods and procedures applied in the consideration of requests by the affected States for assistance; 2. Welcomes the measures taken by the Security Council since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 50/51, most recently the note by the President of the Security Council of 18 December 2003,S/2003/1185; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2003-31 July 2004. whereby the members of the Security Council agreed to extend the mandate of the informal working group of the Council established in 2000S/2000/319. to develop general recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions, looks forward to the adoption of the proposed outcome document of the working group, in particular those provisions thereof regarding the issues of the unintended impact of sanctions and assistance to States in implementing sanctions, and strongly recommends that the Council continue its efforts to enhance further the effectiveness and transparency of the sanctions committees, to streamline their working procedures and to facilitate access to them by representatives of States that find themselves confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of sanctions; 3. Invites the Security Council, its sanctions committees and the Secretariat to continue to ensure, as appropriate, that: (a) Both pre-assessment reports and ongoing assessment reports include as part of their analysis the likely and actual unintended impact of the sanctions on third States and recommend ways in which the negative impact of sanctions can be mitigated; (b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions; (c) The Secretariat continues to provide, upon request, advice and information to third States to help them to pursue means to mitigate the unintended impact of sanctions, for example, on invoking Article 50 of the Charter for consultation with the Security Council; (d) Where economic sanctions have had severe effects on third States, the Security Council is able to request the Secretary-General to consider appointing a special representative or dispatching, as necessary, fact-finding missions on the ground to undertake necessary assessments and to identify, as appropriate, possible ways of assistance; (e) The Security Council is able, in the context of situations referred to in subparagraph (d) above, to consider establishing working groups to consider such situations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107, 55/157, 56/87, 57/25 and 58/80 and to ensure that the competent units within the Secretariat develop the adequate capacity and appropriate modalities, technical procedures and guidelines to continue, on a regular basis, to collate and coordinate information about international assistance available to third States affected by the implementation of sanctions, to continue developing a possible methodology for assessing the adverse consequences actually incurred by third States and to explore innovative and practical measures of assistance to the affected third States; 5. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting on developing a methodology for assessing the consequences incurred by third States as a result of preventive or enforcement measures and on exploring innovative and practical measures of international assistance to the affected third States,A/53/312. and renews its invitation to States and relevant international organizations within and outside the United Nations system that have not yet done so to provide their views regarding the report of the ad hoc expert group meeting; 6. Takes note of the most recent report of the Secretary-General on this questionA/59/334. and, in particular, of his views on the deliberations and main findings, including the recommendations of the ad hoc expert group on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, as well as the views of States, the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and other international organizations, as contained in the previous reports of the Secretary-General;See A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/57/165 and Add.1 and A/58/346. 7. Reaffirms the important role of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in mobilizing and monitoring, as appropriate, the economic assistance efforts of the international community and the United Nations system on behalf of States confronted with special economic problems arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures imposed by the Security Council and, as appropriate, in identifying solutions to the special economic problems of those States; 8. Takes note of the decision of the Economic and Social Council, in its resolution 2000/32 of 28 July 2000, to continue its consideration of the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, invites the Council, at its organizational session for 2005, to make appropriate arrangements for this purpose within its programme of work for 2005, further invites the Council to continue its consideration of the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, and decides to transmit the most recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, together with the relevant background materials, to the Council at its substantive session of 2005; 9. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system, international financial institutions, other international organizations, regional organizations and Member States to address more specifically and directly, where appropriate, the special economic problems of third States affected by sanctions imposed under Chapter VII of the Charter and, for this purpose, to consider improving procedures for consultations to maintain a constructive dialogue with such States, including through regular and frequent meetings, as well as, where appropriate, special meetings between the affected third States and the donor community, with the participation of United Nations agencies and other international organizations; 10. Requests the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, at its session in 2005, to continue to consider on a priority basis and in an appropriate substantive manner and framework the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter based on all of the related reports of the Secretary-General, in particular the 1998 report containing a summary of the deliberations and main findings of the ad hoc expert group meeting convened pursuant to paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 52/162,A/53/312. together with the most recent report of the Secretary-General on this question,A/59/334. taking into consideration the forthcoming report of the informal working group of the Security Council on general issues relating to sanctions, the proposals submitted on the question, the debate on the question in the Sixth Committee during the fifty-ninth session of the Assembly and the text on the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations contained in annex II to Assembly resolution 51/242, as well as the implementation of the provisions of Assembly resolutions 50/51, 51/208, 52/162, 53/107, 54/107, 55/157, 56/87, 57/25, 58/80 and the present resolution; 11. Decides to consider within the Sixth Committee or a working group of the Committee, at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, further progress in the elaboration of effective measures aimed at the implementation of the provisions of the Charter related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, under the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 59/46 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/514, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Canada on behalf of the Bureau. 59/46. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, and welcoming the celebration this year of the tenth anniversary of its adoption, and recalling the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996, Recalling all General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage, including those which prompted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, as well as Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001, and those that have occurred since the adoption of General Assembly resolution 58/81 of 9 December 2003, Recalling the strong condemnation of the atrocious and deliberate attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 in General Assembly resolution 57/338 of 15 September 2003 and Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003, Affirming that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with all their obligations under international law and should adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation among States and among international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and the relevant international conventions, Noting the role of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism in monitoring the implementation of that resolution, including the taking of the necessary financial, legal and technical measures by States and the ratification or acceptance of the relevant international conventions and protocols, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Mindful also of the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of States to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Reiterating its call upon States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there is a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Emphasizing that tolerance and the enhancement of dialogue among civilizations are among the most important elements in promoting cooperation and success in combating terrorism, Reaffirming that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstances, Taking note of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, adopted in Kuala Lumpur on 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed the previous initiative of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as other relevant initiatives, Bearing in mind the recent developments and initiatives at the international, regional and subregional levels to prevent and suppress international terrorism, including those identified in the annex to the present resolution, Recalling its decision in resolutions 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000, 56/88 of 12 December 2001, 57/27 of 19 November 2002 and 58/81 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 should address, and keep on its agenda, the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Aware of its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002 and 58/187 of 22 December 2003, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/210 and Corr.1. the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by resolution 51/210Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/59/37). and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to resolution 58/81,A/C.6/59/L.10. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 3. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 4. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 5. Reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 6. Urges States to ensure that their nationals or other persons and entities within their territory that wilfully provide or collect funds for the benefit of persons or entities who commit, or attempt to commit, facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts are punished by penalties consistent with the grave nature of such acts; 7. Reminds States of their obligations under relevant international conventions and protocols and Security Council resolutions, including Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), to ensure that perpetrators of terrorist acts are brought to justice; 8. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 9. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority, and in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), and 1566 (2004) of 8 October 2004, becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist BombingsResolution 52/164, annex. and the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,Resolution 54/109, annex. and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, the domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 10. Urges States to cooperate with the Secretary-General and with one another, as well as with interested intergovernmental organizations, with a view to ensuring, where appropriate within existing mandates, that technical and other expert advice is provided to those States requiring and requesting assistance in becoming parties to and implementing the conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 9 above; 11. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, consistent with the call contained in paragraph 7 of resolution 58/81, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to therein, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions; 12. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, and calls upon all States to implement them; 13. Calls upon all States to cooperate to prevent and suppress terrorist acts; 14. Urges all States and the Secretary-General, in their efforts to prevent international terrorism, to make the best use of the existing institutions of the United Nations; 15. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna, after reviewing existing possibilities within the United Nations system, to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism, and recognizes, in the context of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), its role in assisting States in becoming parties to and implementing the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism; 16. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism, as well as on intergovernmental meetings held by those organizations; 17. Notes the progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism and the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 58/81; 18. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall, on an expedited basis, continue to elaborate the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism and to resolve the outstanding issues relating to the elaboration of the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism as a means of further developing a comprehensive legal framework of conventions dealing with international terrorism, and shall keep on its agenda the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 19. Decides also that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 28 March to 1 April 2005 in order to fulfil the mandate referred to in paragraph 18 above, and that the work shall continue, if necessary, during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, within the framework of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General to make a comprehensive inventory of the response of the Secretariat to terrorism as part of his report on measures to eliminate international terrorism; 22. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism or the draft international convention for the suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism; 23. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 24. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". Annex African Union Second High-Level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism in Africa, and inauguration of the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, Algiers, 13 and 14 October 2004 Andean Community Subregional workshop on the regional fight against terrorism, Lima, 26 and 27 January 2004 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Fourth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, Bangkok, 8 January 2004 First ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, Bangkok, 10 January 2004 European Union European Council meetings with a focus on terrorism, Brussels, 25 and 26 March and 17 and 18 June 2004 Organization of American States Fourth regular session of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, Montevideo, 28-30 January 2004 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for the establishment of the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, Tashkent, 17 June 2004 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Twelfth SAARC Summit, Islamabad, 4-6 January 2004 Other meetings Bali Regional Ministerial Meeting on Counter-Terrorism, convened by Indonesia and Australia, Bali, Indonesia, 4 and 5 February 2004 RESOLUTION 59/47 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/515 and Corr.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 59/47. Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/82 of 9 December 2003 on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, as well as the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1502 (2003) on 26 August 2003, Recalling also its resolution 57/338 of 15 September 2003, in which it strongly condemned the atrocious and deliberate attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, Recalling further its resolution 49/59 of 9 December 1994, by which it adopted the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Recalling the letter dated 24 October 2000 addressed to the President of the Security Council on behalf of the global staff of the United Nations system,S/2000/1133, annex. drawing attention to the safety and security problems faced by United Nations and associated personnel, Recalling also the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/55/637. on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and the recommendations contained therein, and also recalling the further report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/226. on this issue, Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as relevant provisions of human rights and refugee law, Reaffirming also the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Deeply concerned by the increasing dangers and security risks faced by United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to provide the fullest possible protection for their security, Expressing its concern that locally recruited personnel are particularly vulnerable to attacks directed at the United Nations, Paying tribute to the courage of those who have served and who continue to serve in United Nations operations throughout the world, in particular those who have lost their lives in the course of their duties, Deeply concerned that perpetrators of attacks against United Nations and associated personnel seemingly operate with impunity, Welcoming the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention, which entered into force on 15 January 1999, and noting that the Convention has been ratified or acceded to by seventy-seven States as at the date of the present resolution, Underlining the need to promote the universality of the Convention and thereby strengthen the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 52 (A/59/52). established pursuant to resolution 56/89 of 12 December 2001, and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee,A/C.6/59/WG.2/CRP.1. and bearing in mind the recommendations of the Working Group contained in paragraphs 7 and 8 of its report, 1. Expresses its appreciation for the work done by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 2. Urges States to take all necessary measures, in accordance with their international obligations, to prevent crimes against United Nations and associated personnel from occurring; 3. Also urges States to ensure that crimes against United Nations and associated personnel do not go unpunished and that the perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice; 4. Affirms the obligation of all States to comply fully with their obligations under the relevant rules and principles of international law in relation to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel; 5. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments, in particular the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 6. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention, including those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of an operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission and host country agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements; 7. Recommends also that, consistent with his existing authority, the Secretary-General advise the Security Council or the General Assembly, as appropriate, where in his assessment circumstances would support a declaration of exceptional risk for the purposes of article 1 (c) (ii) of the Convention; 8. Confirms that, consistent with his existing authority, the Secretary-General, who has knowledge of the facts and easy access to the information, may provide information, upon the request of a State, on matters of fact relevant to the application of the Convention, such as the fact and content of any declaration of exceptional risk by the Security Council or the General Assembly or any agreement concluded between the United Nations and a humanitarian non-governmental organization or agency; 9. Notes that the Secretary-General has prepared a standardized provision for incorporation into the agreements concluded between the United Nations and humanitarian non-governmental organizations or agencies for the purposes of clarifying the application of the Convention to persons deployed by those organizations or agencies, and requests the Secretary-General to make available to Member States the names of organizations or agencies that have concluded such agreements; 10. Urges the Secretary-General and relevant bodies to continue to take such other practical measures as are within their authority and existing institutional mandates to strengthen protection for United Nations and associated personnel, including locally recruited personnel, who are particularly vulnerable and account for the majority of casualties among United Nations or associated personnel; 11. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee established under resolution 56/89 shall reconvene for one week, from 11 to 15 April 2005, with a mandate to expand the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, including, inter alia, by means of a legal instrument, and that the work shall continue during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 12. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at the sixtieth session; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the measures taken to implement the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel". RESOLUTION 59/48 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/517, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 59/48. Observer status for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, 1. Decides to invite the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/49 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/518, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/49. Observer status for the Southern African Development Community in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community, 1. Decides to invite the Southern African Development Community to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/4 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.3 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 59/4. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by which it granted observer status to the Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, and inviting various specialized agencies as well as other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and relevant international financial institutions to join in their efforts towards realization of the goals and objectives of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Welcoming the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization with regard to consolidating ties with the United Nations system and relevant international and regional organizations, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 57/38 of 21 November 2002,See A/59/303, part four. and expresses satisfaction at the enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization; 2. Takes note of the Dushanbe Declaration, adopted at the eighth Economic Cooperation Organization summit on 14 September 2004, following the fourteenth meeting of the Council of Ministers in Dushanbe on 12 September 2004; 3. Stresses the importance of cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization with regard to the provision of financial and technical cooperation for pre-feasibility and feasibility studies of projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization, consultancy services, information on drug control, training courses on trade and investment by the specialized agencies of the United Nations, including the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in the ongoing and future activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 4. Notes with appreciation the implementation of the ongoing project of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the International Trade Centre on expanding intraregional trade, and stresses the importance of the continuation of the second phase of the project; 5. Also notes with appreciation the signing of the Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement in Islamabad in July 2003, and stresses its importance in the accomplishment of the goal of establishing a free trade area in the region; 6. Further notes with appreciation the holding of the second Economic Cooperation Organization Regional Trade and Investment Conference, and the seventh General Assembly Meeting of Economic Cooperation Organization Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in Kabul, from 18 to 20 April 2004, and stresses the close interaction in the field of trade and investment between the Economic Cooperation Organization and trade-related agencies and bodies of the United Nations; 7. Notes with appreciation the memorandum of understanding signed by the Economic Cooperation Organization and the World Customs Organization on 17 March 2003 in Brussels with a view to establishing and maintaining effective and regular consultations, cooperation and exchanges of information between the two organizations; 8. Notes with satisfaction the holding of a workshop on multimodal transport and trade facilitation, in Tehran in May 2004, sponsored by the Economic Cooperation Organization, in which the Islamic Development Bank, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific participated, and hopes that efforts will be made to bring about the successful completion of the multimodal transport project as soon as possible; 9. Expresses its appreciation for the importance the Economic Cooperation Organization attaches to the smooth running of container trains on the Trans-Asian Railway main line and to the fine-tuning of a draft action plan for revitalizing and operating the China-Middle East-Europe corridor, as well as for the organization of meetings in Tehran in May 2004 to discuss these issues; 10. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to implement United Nations programmes for the development of transit transport facilities in the landlocked countries of the region; 11. Recognizes the importance of removing barriers to transport and trade development in the region, and welcomes the joint project of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Development Programme to prepare a comprehensive report on the subject; 12. Takes note with satisfaction of the decisions of the first Economic Cooperation Organization Ministerial Meeting on Industry, held in Tehran from 25 to 27 January 2004, and notes the importance of the adoption of the Tehran Declaration and the Plan of Action for Industrial Cooperation in the Economic Cooperation Organization Region, which pave the way for consolidating regional efforts to promote industrial cooperation in the region through the mobilization of regional and international resources and the industrial potential of the member States, and to that end encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to actively contribute to the activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the field of industry; 13. Also takes note with satisfaction of the decisions of the first Economic Cooperation Organization Ministerial Meeting on Finance/Economy, held on 29 and 30 January 2004, and the Islamabad Joint Communiqué for Cooperation on Finance/Economy, especially in the areas of: (a) macroeconomic management and global capital markets; (b) promotion of banking, investment, transit and trade from legal and financial aspects; (c) securities and capital market regulations and stock/commodity exchanges; (d) privatization of public enterprises; and (e) cost of economic adjustment and the need for social safety nets; 14. Appreciates the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization to implement the Millennium Development Goals, especially its attempts to reduce poverty and food insecurity in the region, takes note with satisfaction of the implementation of the technical cooperation programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the regional programme for food security in the member States of the Economic Cooperation Organization, and urges the relevant financial institutions to support the ideas to be outlined within the programme; 15. Welcomes the initiative of the Economic Cooperation Organization to establish institutional cooperation among its member States and relevant international organizations on agriculture-related matters of the World Trade Organization, and encourages the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other international organizations and institutions to support the activities of the Economic Cooperation Organization in this regard; 16. Notes with satisfaction the adoption of the Tehran Declaration on Environmental Cooperation among member States of the Economic Cooperation Organization and the Plan of Action for Cooperation among the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization on Environment (2003-2007) at the first Ministerial Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization on Environment, held in Tehran, from 13 to 15 December 2002, and the revision of the Plan of Action by the member States at the first meeting of the Working Group on Environment, held in Ankara on 7 and 8 April 2004; 17. Also notes with satisfaction the adoption by the United Nations Environment Programme of decision 22/14 of 7 February 2003 on the role of the Programme in strengthening regional activities and cooperation in the Economic Cooperation Organization region, at the twenty-second session of the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/58/25), annex. 18. Welcomes the signing of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of environment between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, in Tehran on 18 August 2004; 19. Also welcomes the growing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Environment Programme in the field of environment, and encourages their active collaboration with the Economic Cooperation Organization; 20. Notes with satisfaction the ongoing cooperation between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the Islamic Development Bank concerning the project of the Economic Cooperation Organization on the interconnection and parallel functioning of power systems in the region, as well as the assistance provided by the Bank to the Economic Cooperation Organization in convening meetings on power trading as well as on legal and fiscal aspects of the promotion of foreign direct investment in the mineral sector, held in 2002 and 2003, respectively; 21. Takes note of the decision to hold ministerial meetings in the areas of transport and communications, energy/petroleum, environment, agriculture and information technology in 2004 and 2005; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 59/50 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/519, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation and Tajikistan. 59/50. Observer status for the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, 1. Decides to invite the Collective Security Treaty Organization to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/51 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/520, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 59/51. Observer status for the Economic Community of West African States in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States, 1. Decides to invite the Economic Community of West African States to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/52 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/521, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 59/52. Observer status for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, 1. Decides to invite the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/53 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/544, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 59/53. Observer status for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, 1. Decides to invite the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/54 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.20/Rev.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 59/54. Andean Zone of Peace The General Assembly, Aware of the determination of the States members of the Andean Community to preserve their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, promote peaceful coexistence in the Andean region and develop their relations in conditions of peace, self-determination and freedom, Bearing in mind the commitment of the States members of the Andean Community to promote political, economic, social and cultural integration and cooperation in order to contribute to the sustainable long-term peace, security and balanced and harmonious development of the Andean region, Noting its resolution 58/317 of 5 August 2004, by which it reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security and the promotion of international cooperation, Recognizing the Declaration of San Francisco de Quito on the Establishment and Development of the Andean Zone of Peace,A/59/235, annex II. adopted in Quito on 12 July 2004 by the Heads of State of the member countries of the Andean Community within the framework of the fifteenth Andean Presidential Council, which sets forth the purpose of establishing a zone of peace within the geographical area comprising the territories, airspace and waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), as a nuclear, chemical and biological weapons-free zone, as well as the objective of definitively eradicating anti-personnel mines in the Andean Community, by which the necessary conditions will be developed to permit the peaceful and agreed resolution of conflicts of any nature whatsoever, as well as the causes thereof, Noting with satisfaction that the Andean Zone of Peace is based on the responsible exercise by citizens of democratic values, principles and practices, the rule of law, human rights, social justice, human development, eradicating poverty, social exclusion and inequity, national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, as well as on Andean identity, the promotion of relations of friendship and cooperation for all-round development, the culture of peace, joint efforts to prevent and counteract both conventional and new threats to security, and the joint quest for a fairer and more equitable international order, Stressing that the Andean Zone of Peace represents a continuous and participatory effort of the States members of the Andean Community aimed at promoting growing commonality among Governments, public opinion, political parties and civil society with regard to widely shared objectives and values, Also stressing the progress achieved by the States that comprise the Andean Community in matters of security, peace and confidence-building on the basis of a democratic and non-offensive conception of external security through the adoption, on 10 July 2004, of decision 587, containing the Andean Common External Security Policy Guidelines, as well as Andean norms to promote cooperation and coordination in regard to initiatives for fostering efforts to combat the global problem of drugs and associated crimes, and to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, Noting that decision 552, entitled "Andean plan to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects", adopted on 25 June 2003, is the first binding subregional instrument derived from the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. adopted in 2001, Considering that peace, security and mutual trust are essential requirements for achieving sustainable and long-term political, economic, social and cultural development, Persuaded of the need to contribute to the maintenance of the Andean Community as a region free of weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, chemical, biological and toxin - as well as to the definitive eradication of anti-personnel mines in the Andean Community, Recognizing the importance of promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Andean Community for the benefit of the entire human race and, in particular, the peoples of the Andean Community, Convinced that the establishment of the Andean Zone of Peace will contribute considerably to the strengthening of international peace, security and trust and to the promotion of the purposes and principles on which the Charter of the United Nations and international law are based, 1. Welcomes with satisfaction the Declaration of San Francisco de Quito on the Establishment and Development of the Andean Zone of Peace,A/59/235, annex II. which establishes the geographical area comprising the territories, airspace and waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the States members of the Andean Community as the Andean Zone of Peace, to be pursued in accordance with the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. and other international conventions on the matter; 2. Calls upon all States to support the States that comprise the Andean Community in promoting the principles and purposes provided for by the Declaration of San Francisco de Quito; 3. Encourages the States members of the Andean Community to make every effort to ensure the early fulfilment of the commitments arising from the Declaration of San Francisco de Quito. RESOLUTION 59/55 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.27/Rev.1 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, South Africa 59/55. Public administration and development The General Assembly, Recalling all pertinent resolutions, in particular its resolution 58/231 of 23 December 2003 on public administration and development, Recalling also the historic resumed fiftieth session of the General Assembly, devoted to the subject of the strengthening of public administration and development, Stressing the need for capacity-building and e-Government initiatives as tools to promote development, Recognizing that efficient, accountable, effective and transparent public administration at both the national and the international levels constitutes a key factor in development, Recognizing also the importance of strengthening public administration institutions, improving public sector human resources capacity and fostering knowledge creation and innovation and the utilization of information technology for development in public administration and in the implementation of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Welcoming the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/346. 2. Stresses the importance of United Nations Public Service Day and the United Nations Public Service Awards in the process of revitalizing public administration by building a culture of innovation, partnership and responsiveness; 3. Also stresses the valuable contribution that the Global Forum on Reinventing Government has made to the exchange of lessons learned in public administration reform, and reiterates its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea for hosting the Sixth Global Forum on Reinventing Government in 2005; 4. Encourages the Secretary-General to make arrangements for the implementation of the proposals made for the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the resumed fiftieth session of the General Assembly, on public administration and development; 5. Takes note of the important analytical and operational contribution that the World Public Sector Report provides to policymakers responsible for public administration in Member States; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to facilitate, through the United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance, the dissemination of valuable practices in public administration; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to focus the work on public administration along the lines of Economic and Social Council decision 2004/302 of 23 July 2004 and General Assembly resolution 58/231; 8. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on progress made in Member States by revitalizing public administration during the last ten years, since the resumed fiftieth session of the Assembly, on public administration and development, and to ensure that the findings are brought to the attention of Member States on the occasion of the special event in 2005. RESOLUTION 59/56 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.24 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 59/56. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/113 of 17 December 2003, as well as previous resolutions on the question, Recalling also the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements concluded by the two sides, Gravely concerned at the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people throughout the occupied territory, which constitutes a mounting humanitarian crisis, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat and the establishment of the Consultative Group, as well as all follow-up meetings and international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Welcoming also the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Stressing the continued importance of the work of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in the coordination of assistance to the Palestinian people, Noting the upcoming meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee to review the state of the Palestinian economy, Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, and welcoming in this regard the support provided to the Palestinian Authority by the Task Force on Palestinian Reform, established by the Quartet in 2002, Noting, in this regard, the active participation of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in the activities of the Special Envoys of the Quartet, Welcoming the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, of the performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/121-E/2004/88. Expressing grave concern at the continuation of the recent tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/121-E/2004/88. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Personal Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary-General on the humanitarian conditions and needs of the Palestinian people;Available from http://domino.un.org/bertini_rpt.htm. 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Also expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 5. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 6. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 7. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with Palestinian priorities set forth by the Palestinian Authority; 8. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 9. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 10. Stresses, in this context, the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 11. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to counter the impact of the current crisis; 12. Stresses the need to implement the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. in particular with regard to the full and prompt clearance of Palestinian indirect tax revenues, and welcomes the progress made in this regard; 13. Suggests the convening in 2005 of a United Nations-sponsored seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTION 59/57 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 2 December 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.38 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe 59/57. A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All - report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization The General Assembly, Reaffirming the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for the people of the entire world, Recalling the commitment in the Millennium Declaration to ensure greater policy coherence and better cooperation between the United Nations, its agencies, the Bretton Woods institutions and other multilateral bodies, with a view to achieving a fully coordinated approach to the problems of peace and development, Recalling also its resolution 58/225 of 23 December 2003, in which it stressed the need for the United Nations to continue to address the social dimension of globalization and took note of the work of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, Recognizing the support expressed at the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentSee Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7). and the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum). for the work of the International Labour Organization on the social dimension of globalization, Acknowledging the work of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, co-chaired by the President of Finland and the President of the United Republic of Tanzania and facilitated by the International Labour Organization, Recognizing the contribution of the implementation of the commitments agreed in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the important contributions of the Monterrey Consensus,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico,18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. adopted by the International Conference on Financing for Development, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development to eradicating poverty, achieving sustained economic growth and promoting sustainable development, as well as advancing towards a fully inclusive and equitable globalization, Recalling its resolutions 58/291 of 6 May 2004 and 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations and the integrated and coordinated follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in economic and social fields, 1. Takes note of the report of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization entitled A Fair Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All,See A/59/98-E/2004/79. as a contribution to the international dialogue towards a fully inclusive and equitable globalization; 2. Decides to consider the wider challenges and opportunities linked to the issue of globalization, including those in the report of the World Commission, within the framework of the comprehensive review of the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. under resolution 58/291, and the ten-year review of the further implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development by the Commission for Social Development in 2005; 3. Calls upon the organs and bodies of the United Nations, and invites the organizations of the United Nations system, to consider within their mandates the report of the World Commission, and also calls upon Member States to consider the report; 4. Invites relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant multilateral bodies to provide information to the Secretary-General on their activities to promote an inclusive and equitable globalization; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to take into account, inter alia, the report of the World Commission in his comprehensive report for the high-level review of 2005 at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, within the follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit of the United Nations. RESOLUTION 59/58 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/448/Add.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 59/58. Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council: United Nations advance team in the Sudan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security CouncilA/59/534. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/569. 1. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/59/569. 2. Decides to approve the budget for the United Nations advance team in the Sudan for the period from 11 September to 10 December 2004 in the amount of 21,789,400 United States dollars gross (21,008,100 dollars net); 3. Notes that part of the requirements would be met from the unspent balance of 998,600 dollars of the amount already provided for the mission; 4. Decides to approve a charge, against the provision for special political missions appropriated under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, in the amount of 3,002,600 dollars, corresponding to the unassigned balance in that provision; 5. Also decides to appropriate, under the procedure provided for in paragraph 11 of annex I to General Assembly resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, the amount of 17,006,900 dollars under section 3, Political affairs, and 781,300 dollars under section 34, Staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, the amount of 781,300 dollars to be offset by a corresponding amount in the income estimates under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget. RESOLUTION 59/59 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/452, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 59/59. Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed in Helsinki on 1 August 1975, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 57/52 of 22 November 2002, Welcoming with appreciation the increased cooperation among countries in the region of South-Eastern Europe on issues related to security, economy, trade, transport, cross-border cooperation, human rights and justice and home affairs, Reiterating the importance of the South-East European Cooperation Process for further enhancing regional cooperation and stability, which constitutes one of the main elements of the Stabilization and Association Process, and welcoming the positive results of the South-East European Cooperation Process summit meeting, held in Sarajevo on 21 April 2004, Welcoming the conclusions reached at the Summit of the European Council, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 19 and 20 June 2003, and the decisions of the European Council on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnerships with all countries of the Stabilization and Association Process, Noting the progress made by the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process in fulfilling the criteria for membership in the European Union and, in this context, the first entry into force of a Stabilization and Association Agreement, as well as Croatia's becoming a candidate country for membership in the European Union, Emphasizing the crucial importance of the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 on Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, and stressing, inter alia, the role and responsibility of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union, and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its Kosovo Force in that regard, Reaffirming the validity of the Agreement for the delineation of the borderline between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, signed in Skopje on 23 February 2001,A/56/60-S/2001/234, annex. and encouraging the parties to cooperate in its timely implementation, Noting the importance of the Regional Conference on Border Security and Management, held in Ohrid, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on 22 and 23 May 2003, Emphasizing the crucial importance of strengthening regional efforts in South-Eastern Europe on arms control, demining, disarmament and confidence-building measures and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and concerned that, in spite of ongoing efforts, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects persists in some parts of the region, Affirming its support for all regional initiatives on combating the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, including the activities undertaken at the national level for their collection and destruction, Mindful of the importance of national, regional and international activities of all relevant organizations aimed at the creation of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and the observance of human rights and good-neighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe, Reaffirming its determination that all nations should live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, 1. Reaffirms the need for full observance of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Calls upon all States, the relevant international organizations and the appropriate organs of the United Nations to respect the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States and the inviolability of international borders, to continue to take measures in accordance with the Charter and the commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and through further development of regional arrangements, as appropriate, to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to help to prevent conflicts in South-Eastern Europe, which can lead to the violent disintegration of States; 3. Acknowledges the positive results achieved so far by the countries of the region, urges them to invest further efforts in consolidating South-Eastern Europe as a region of peace, security, stability, democracy, the rule of law, cooperation and economic development and for the promotion of good-neighbourliness and the observance of human rights, thus contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security and enhancing the prospects for sustained development and prosperity for all peoples in the region as an integral part of Europe, and recognizes the role of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union in successfully promoting regional disarmament; 4. Calls upon all participants in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, as well as all concerned international organizations, to continue to support the efforts of the States of South-Eastern Europe towards regional stability and cooperation so as to enable them to pursue sustainable development and integration into European structures, taking also into account trans-Atlantic relations; 5. Calls upon all States and relevant international organizations to contribute to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999), on Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, as well as of Council resolutions 1345 (2001) of 21 March 2001 and 1371 (2001) of 26 September 2001, and emphasizes the importance of the standards review process, of the implementation of the "Standards for Kosovo" documentSee UNMIK/PR/1078. endorsed by the Security Council in its presidential statement of 12 December 2003S/PRST/2003/26. and of the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan of 31 March 2004;Available from www.unmikonline.org. 6. Recognizes the efforts made and activities undertaken in Kosovo by the United Nations and the Kosovo Force for the establishment of a multi-ethnic and stable Kosovo, thus contributing to a further improvement of the overall security situation in the region; 7. Rejects the use of violence in pursuit of political aims, and stresses that only peaceful political solutions can assure a stable and democratic future for South-Eastern Europe; 8. Stresses the importance of good-neighbourliness and the development of friendly relations among States, and calls upon all States to resolve their disputes with other States by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter; 9. Urges the strengthening of relations among the States of South-Eastern Europe on the basis of respect for international law and agreements, in accordance with the principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect; 10. Recognizes the efforts of the international community, and welcomes in particular the assistance already provided by the European Union and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, as well as other contributors, in promoting the long-term process of democratic and economic development of the region; 11. Calls upon all States to intensify cooperation with and render all necessary assistance to the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 to bring all at-large indictees to surrender to the Tribunal in line with Security Council resolutions 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003 and 1534 (2004) of 26 March 2004; 12. Stresses the importance of enhanced regional cooperation for the development of the South-Eastern European States in the priority areas of infrastructure, transport, trade, energy and environment, as well as in other areas of common interest; 13. Also stresses that the rapprochement of the South-Eastern European States with the European Union will favourably influence the security, political and economic situation in the region, as well as good-neighbourly relations among the States; 14. Emphasizes the importance of continuous regional efforts and intensified dialogue in South-Eastern Europe aimed at arms control, disarmament and confidence-building measures, as well as strengthening cooperation and undertaking appropriate measures at the national, subregional and regional levels against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to prevent all acts of terrorism; 15. Recognizes the seriousness of the problem of anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war in some parts of South-Eastern Europe, welcomes in this context the efforts of the countries in the region and of the international community in support of mine action, and encourages States to join and support these efforts; 16. Urges all States to take effective measures against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to help programmes and projects aimed at the collection and safe destruction of surplus stocks of small arms and light weapons, and stresses the importance of closer cooperation among States, inter alia, in crime prevention, combating terrorism, trafficking in human beings, organized crime and corruption, drug trafficking and money-laundering; 17. Calls upon all States and the relevant international organizations to communicate to the Secretary-General their views on the subject of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe". RESOLUTION 59/5 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.6 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Gabon, Georgia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen 59/5. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the aims and purposes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration of 8 August 1967, in particular the maintenance of close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes, Recalling its resolution 57/35 of 21 November 2002 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Association, Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Association,See A/59/303, part one, sect. III. Noting with satisfaction that the activities of the Association are consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the ongoing efforts that strengthen the cooperation between the United Nations system and the Association, Welcoming also the participation of the Association in the high-level meetings between the United Nations and regional organizations, as well as the collaboration between the Association and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to promote dialogue and cooperation among regional organizations in Asia and the Pacific, 1. Commends the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for their efforts to hold regular meetings, on an annual basis, with the presence of the Secretary-General of the Association, during the regular session of the Assembly, with a view to further strengthening the cooperation between the United Nations and the Association; 2. Continues to encourage both the United Nations and the Association to further increase contacts and strengthen areas of cooperation, as appropriate; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations". RESOLUTION 59/60 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/453, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and Ukraine. 59/60. Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification The General Assembly, Noting the critical importance of and the vital contribution that has been made by effective verification measures in non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other similar obligations, Reaffirming its support for the sixteen principles of verification drawn up by the Disarmament Commission,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/S-15/3), para. 60 (para. 6, sect. I, of the quoted text). Recalling its resolutions 40/152 O of 16 December 1985, 41/86 Q of 4 December 1986, 42/42 F of 30 November 1987, 43/81 B of 7 December 1988, 45/65 of 4 December 1990, 47/45 of 9 December 1992, 48/68 of 16 December 1993, 50/61 of 12 December 1995, 52/31 of 9 December 1997, 54/46 of 1 December 1999 and 56/15 of 29 November 2001, as well as its decision 58/515 of 8 December 2003, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General of 11 July 1986, 28 August 1990, 16 September 1992, 26 July 1993, 22 September 1995, 6 August 1997, 9 July 1999, 10 September 2001 and 10 July 2003, and the addenda thereto,A/41/422 and Add.1 and 2, A/45/372 and Corr.1, A/47/405 and Add.1, A/48/227 and Add.1 and 2, A/50/377 and Corr.1, A/52/269, A/54/166, A/56/347 and Add.1 and A/58/128. 1. Reaffirms the critical importance of and the vital contribution that has been made by effective verification measures in non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other similar obligations; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on further views received from Member States; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a panel of government experts to be established in 2006 on the basis of equitable geographic distribution, to explore the question of verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification, and to transmit the report of the panel of experts to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-first session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification". RESOLUTION 59/61 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/454, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation. 59/61. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001, 57/53 of 22 November 2002 and 58/32 of 8 December 2003, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of humankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling, in this connection, the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held in Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations that it made,See A/51/261, annex. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing its concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70, 54/49, 55/28, 56/19, 57/53 and 58/32, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213, A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1, A/56/164 and Add.1, A/57/166 and Add.1, A/58/373 and A/59/116 and Add.1. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts in Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field, consistent with the need to preserve the free flow of information; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Definition of basic notions related to information security, including unauthorized interference with or misuse of information and telecommunications systems and information resources; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 above; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretary-General is considering existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them, and is conducting a study on the concepts referred to in paragraph 2 above, with the assistance of the group of governmental experts, established in 2004 pursuant to resolution 58/32, and will submit a report on the outcome of the study to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Also notes with satisfaction that the group of governmental experts established by the Secretary-General held its first session from 12 to 16 July 2004 in New York and that it intends to convene two more sessions in 2005 to fulfil its mandate specified in resolution 58/32; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 59/62 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/455 para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 106 to 48, with 21 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Chile, Haiti, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Samoa, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 59/62. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapons systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing its concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. and in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, it was again noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persisted, Emphasizing that internationally negotiated guidelines for the transfer of high technology with military applications should take into account the legitimate defence requirements of all States and the requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, while ensuring that access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful purposes is not denied, 1. Affirms that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted; 2. Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States; 3. Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications; 4. Encourages United Nations bodies to contribute, within existing mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful purposes; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament". RESOLUTION 59/63 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/456, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 59/63. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000, 56/21 of 29 November 2001, 57/55 of 22 November 2002 and 58/34 of 8 December 2003 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 58/34,A/59/165 (Part I) and Corr.1. 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(48)/RES/16, adopted on 24 September 2004 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-eighth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/165 (Part I) and Corr.1. 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his report of 10 October 1990A/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTION 59/64 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/457, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Indonesia, Iran )Islamic Republic of(, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 118 to none, with 63 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu 59/64. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect. III.C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III.F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III.F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para. 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 55/31 of 20 November 2000, 56/22 of 29 November 2001, 57/56 of 22 November 2002 and 58/35 of 8 December 2003, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be explored further in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Also recommends that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 59/65 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/458, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Uruguay, Yemen and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 178 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Haiti, Israel, Palau, United States of America 59/65. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space does not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during its 2005 session; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTION 59/66 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Netherlands. 59/66. National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology The General Assembly, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Recalling that effective national control of the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, including those transfers that could contribute to proliferation activities, is an important tool for achieving those objectives, Recalling also that the States parties to the international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties have undertaken to facilitate the fullest possible exchange of materials, equipment and technological information for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the provisions of those treaties, Considering that the exchange of national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, Convinced that such an exchange would be beneficial to Member States that are in the process of developing such legislation, Reaffirming the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Invites Member States that are in a position to do so, without prejudice to the provisions contained in Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, to enact or improve national legislation, regulations and procedures to exercise effective control over the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, while ensuring that such legislation, regulations and procedures are consistent with the obligations of States parties under international treaties; 2. Encourages Member States to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to the Secretary-General on their national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, as well as the changes therein, and requests the Secretary-General to make this information accessible to Member States; 3. Decides to remain attentive to the matter. RESOLUTION 59/67 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of). by a recorded vote of 119 to 4, with 60 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 59/67. Missiles The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 F of 1 December 1999, 55/33 A of 20 November 2000, 56/24 B of 29 November 2001, 57/71 of 22 November 2002 and 58/37 of 8 December 2003, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in the field of arms regulation and disarmament and the commitment of Member States to take concrete steps to strengthen that role, Realizing the need to promote regional and international peace and security in a world free from the scourge of war and the burden of armaments, Convinced of the need for a comprehensive approach towards missiles, in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner, as a contribution to international peace and security, Bearing in mind that the security concerns of Member States at the international and regional levels should be taken into consideration in addressing the issue of missiles, Underlining the complexities involved in considering the issue of missiles in the conventional context, Expressing its support for the international efforts against the development and proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction, Considering that the Secretary-General, in response to resolution 58/37, established in 2004 a Panel of Governmental Experts, which had a comprehensive, in-depth exchange of views on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the issue of missiles in all its aspects,A/59/278 and Corr.1. in which he stated that given the complexity of the issues at hand, no consensus had been reached on the preparation of a final report by the Panel, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies from Member States on the report on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, submitted pursuant to resolution 58/37;See A/59/137. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report, with the support of qualified consultants and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, as appropriate, taking into account the views expressed by Member States, to contribute to the United Nations endeavour to address the issue of missiles in all its aspects, by identifying areas where consensus can be reached, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a Panel of Governmental Experts, to be established in 2007 on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to further explore further ways and means to address within the United Nations the issue of missiles in all its aspects, including identifying areas where consensus can be reached, and to submit a report for consideration by the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Missiles". RESOLUTION 59/68 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Burkina Faso, Liberia and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 175 to 2, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Against: Palau, United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 59/68. Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, 55/33 K of 20 November 2000, 56/24 F of 29 November 2001, 57/64 of 22 November 2002 and 58/45 of 8 December 2003, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/129 and Add.1. Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress within the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;A/59/129 and Add.1. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing this information to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". RESOLUTION 59/69 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 125 to 9, with 49 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Israel, Latvia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Poland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 59/69. Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation The General Assembly, Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 56/24 T of 29 November 2001 on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism and other relevant resolutions, as well as its resolutions 57/63 of 22 November 2002 and 58/44 of 8 December 2003 on promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, Recalling also the purpose of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security and, to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, as enshrined in the Charter, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which states, inter alia, that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role, Convinced that, in the globalization era and with the information revolution, arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament problems are more than ever the concern of all countries in the world, which are affected in one way or another by these problems and, therefore, should have the possibility to participate in the negotiations that arise to tackle them, Bearing in mind the existence of a broad structure of disarmament and arms regulation agreements resulting from non-discriminatory and transparent multilateral negotiations with the participation of a large number of countries, regardless of their size and power, Aware of the need to advance further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory and transparent negotiations with the goal of reaching general and complete disarmament under strict international control, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament, Recognizing also that the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are among the most immediate threats to international peace and security which need to be dealt with, with the highest priority, Considering that the multilateral disarmament agreements provide the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of, the provisions of the agreements and that such consultations and cooperation may also be undertaken through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the Charter, Stressing that international cooperation, the peaceful settlement of disputes, dialogue and confidence-building measures would contribute essentially to the creation of multilateral and bilateral friendly relations among peoples and nations, Being concerned at the continuous erosion of multilateralism in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and recognizing that a resort to unilateral actions by Member States in resolving their security concerns would jeopardize international peace and security and undermine confidence in the international security system as well as the foundations of the United Nations itself, Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations, 1. Reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope; 2. Also reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in resolving disarmament and non-proliferation concerns; 3. Urges the participation of all interested States in multilateral negotiations on arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner; 4. Underlines the importance of preserving the existing agreements on arms regulation and disarmament, which constitute an expression of the results of international cooperation and multilateral negotiations in response to the challenges facing mankind; 5. Calls once again upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursuing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation; 6. Requests the States parties to the relevant instruments on weapons of mass destruction to consult and cooperate among themselves in resolving their concerns with regard to cases of non-compliance as well as on implementation, in accordance with the procedures defined in those instruments, and to refrain from resorting or threatening to resort to unilateral actions or directing unverified non-compliance accusations against one another to resolve their concerns; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies of Member States on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, submitted pursuant to resolution 58/44;A/59/128 and Add.1. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the issue of the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation". RESOLUTION 59/6 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2004, by a recorded vote of 104 to1, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.7 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland * In favour: Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 59/6. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization The General Assembly, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,See A/59/296. Taking note also of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,See A/59/296. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization". RESOLUTION 59/70 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 179 to none, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America 59/70. Measures to uphold the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 57/62 of 22 November 2002, Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling the long-standing determination of the international community to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical and biological weapons as well as the continuing support for measures to uphold the authority of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. as expressed by consensus in many previous resolutions, Emphasizing the necessity of easing international tension and strengthening trust and confidence between States, Welcoming the recent initiatives by three more States Parties to withdraw their reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General;A/59/179. 2. Renews its previous call to all States to observe strictly the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. and reaffirms the vital necessity of upholding its provisions; 3. Calls upon those States that continue to maintain reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol to withdraw them; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/71 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 59/71. Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 I of 15 December 1994, 50/70 F of 12 December 1995, 51/45 C of 10 December 1996, 52/38 F of 9 December 1997, 53/77 AA of 4 December 1998, 54/54 U of 1 December 1999, 55/33 M of 20 November 2000, 56/24 D of 29 November 2001 and 57/61 of 22 November 2002 and its decision 58/521 of 8 December 2003, Recalling also that, there being a consensus to do so in each case, three special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament were held in 1978, 1982 and 1988, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, adopted by consensus at the first special session devoted to disarmament,Resolution S-10/2. Bearing in mind also the ultimate objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Taking note of paragraph 98 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. and paragraph 91 of the Final Document of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, which supported the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, which would offer an opportunity to review, from a perspective more in tune with the current international situation, the most critical aspects of the process of disarmament and to mobilize the international community and public opinion in favour of the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and of the control and reduction of conventional weapons, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the Heads of State and Government during the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, held in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which they resolved "to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers", Reiterating its conviction that a special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament can set the future course of action in the fields of disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and related international security matters, Emphasizing the importance of multilateralism in the process of disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and related international security matters, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament,A/57/848. 1. Decides to establish an open-ended working group, working on the basis of consensus, to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, taking note of the paper presented by the Chairman of Working Group II during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament CommissionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex II. and the written proposals and views submitted by Member States as contained in the working papers presented during the three substantive sessions of the Open-ended Working Group in 2003,See A/AC.268/2003/WP.2. as well as the reports of the Secretary-General regarding the views of Member States on the objectives, agenda and timing of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament;A/55/130 and Add.1, A/56/166 and A/57/120. 2. Requests the Open-ended Working Group to hold an organizational session in order to set the dates for its substantive sessions in 2006, and to submit a report on its work, including possible substantive recommendations, before the end of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to provide the Open-ended Working Group with the necessary assistance and services as may be required to discharge its tasks; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament". RESOLUTION 59/72 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Poland. 59/72. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 58/52 of 8 December 2003, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that, since the adoption of resolution 58/52, nine additional States have ratified the Convention or acceded to it, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and sixty-seven, Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including the Political Declaration,See Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, document RC-1/3. in which the States parties reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the objective and purpose of the Convention, and the final report,Ibid., document RC-1/5. which addressed all aspects of the Convention and made important recommendations on its continued implementation, 1. Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. is fundamental to the achievement of its objective and purpose, and acknowledges progress made in the implementation of the action plan for the universality of the Convention, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 2. Underlines that the Convention and its implementation contribute to enhancing international peace and security, and emphasizes that its full, universal and effective implementation will contribute further to that purpose by excluding completely, for the sake of all humankind, the possibility of the use of chemical weapons; 3. Stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention is in itself an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 4. Also stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 5. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties; 6. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 7. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 8. Reaffirms the undertaking of the States parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole; 9. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties, and also notes with appreciation progress made in the implementation of the plan of action regarding the implementation of article VII obligations; 10. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 59/73 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and United States of America. 59/73. Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/77 D of 4 December 1998, 55/33 S of 20 November 2000 and 57/67 of 22 November 2002, Recalling also the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Bearing in mind its resolution 49/31 of 9 December 1994 on the protection and security of small States, Proceeding from the fact that nuclear-weapon-free status is one of the means of ensuring the national security of States, Convinced that the internationally recognized status of Mongolia will contribute to enhancing stability and confidence-building in the region as well as promote Mongolia's security by strengthening its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders and the preservation of its ecological balance, Taking note of the adoption by the Mongolian parliament of legislation defining and regulating its nuclear-weapon-free statusSee A/55/56-S/2000/160. as a concrete step towards promoting the aims of nuclear non-proliferation, Bearing in mind the joint statement of the five nuclear-weapon States on security assurances to Mongolia in connection with its nuclear-weapon-free statusA/55/530-S/2000/1052, annex. as a contribution to implementing resolution 53/77 D as well as their commitment to Mongolia to cooperate in the implementation of the resolution, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, Noting that the joint statement has been transmitted to the Security Council by the five nuclear-weapon States, Mindful that at the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur, from 20 to 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. the Heads of State or Government reiterated their support for Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status and considered that the institutionalization of that status would be an important measure towards strengthening the non-proliferation regime in the region, Noting other measures taken to implement resolution 57/67 at the national and international levels, Welcoming Mongolia's active and positive role in developing peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the States of the region and other States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status,A/59/364. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 57/67;A/59/364. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the efforts to implement resolution 57/67, in particular the completion of the two studies on the non-nuclear aspects of Mongolia's international security; Ibid., sect. III. 3. Endorses and supports Mongolia's good-neighbourly and balanced relationship with its neighbours as an important element of strengthening regional peace, security and stability; 4. Welcomes the efforts made by Member States to cooperate with Mongolia in implementing resolution 57/67, as well as the progress made in consolidating Mongolia's international security; 5. Invites Member States to continue to cooperate with Mongolia in taking the necessary measures to consolidate and strengthen Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders, its independent foreign policy, its economic security, and its ecological balance, as well as its nuclear-weapon-free status; 6. Appeals to the Member States of the Asia and Pacific region to support Mongolia's efforts to join the relevant regional security and economic arrangements; 7. Requests the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations bodies to continue to provide assistance to Mongolia in taking the necessary measures mentioned in paragraph 5 above; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status". RESOLUTION 59/74 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations which are members of the Economic Community of West African States), Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zimbabwe. 59/74. Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/58 of 8 December 2003 on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them, Considering that the illicit proliferation and circulation of and traffic in small arms impede development, constitute a threat to populations and to national and regional security and are a factor contributing to the destabilization of States, Deeply disturbed by the magnitude of the illicit proliferation and circulation of and traffic in small arms in the States of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion, Noting with satisfaction the conclusions of the United Nations advisory missions dispatched by the Secretary-General to the affected countries of the subregion to study the most appropriate way of halting the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting them, Welcoming the designation of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat as a centre for the coordination of all activities of United Nations bodies concerned with small arms, Congratulating the Secretary-General for his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. and bearing in mind the statement on small arms made by the President of the Security Council on 24 September 1999,S/PRST/1999/28; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1999. Welcoming the recommendations resulting from the meetings of the States of the subregion held at Banjul, Algiers, Bamako, Yamoussoukro and Niamey to establish close regional cooperation with a view to strengthening security, Welcoming also the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African States to renew the Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community at Abuja on 31 October 1998,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. Recalling the Algiers Declaration adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held at Algiers from 12 to 14 July 1999,A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 1 (XXXV). Emphasizing the need to advance efforts towards wider cooperation and better coordination in the struggle against the illicit proliferation of small arms through the common understanding reached at the meeting on small arms held at Oslo on 13 and 14 July 1998See CD/1556. and the Brussels Call for Action adopted by the International Conference on Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development, held at Brussels on 12 and 13 October 1998,A/53/681, annex. Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted at Bamako on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. Recalling the millennium report of the Secretary-General,A/54/2000. Welcoming the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. and calling for its expeditious implementation, Recognizing the important role that the organizations of civil society play in detection, prevention and raising public awareness, in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms, Welcoming the convening of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, which held its first session in New York from 14 to 25 June 2004, 1. Notes with satisfaction the Declaration of the Ministerial Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa, held at Abuja on 8 and 9 May 2000,A/55/286, annex II, decision AHG/Decl. 4 (XXXVI). and encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his efforts in the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions, aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and collecting such arms in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the African Union; 2. Encourages the international community to support the implementation of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa;A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. 3. Encourages the establishment in the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion of national commissions to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms, and invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible to ensure the smooth functioning of the commissions; 4. Also encourages the involvement of organizations and associations of civil society in the efforts of the national commissions to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and their participation in the implementation of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa as well as in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 5. Further encourages cooperation among State organs, international organizations and civil society in combating the illicit traffic in small arms and supporting operations to collect the said arms in the subregions; 6. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil organizations to take action to combat the illicit trade in small arms; 7. Takes note of the conclusions of the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Economic Community of West African States, held at Bamako on 24 and 25 March 1999, on the modalities for the implementation of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, and welcomes the adoption by the meeting of a plan of action; 8. Takes note also of the conclusions of the African Conference on the Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms: Needs and Partnerships, held at Pretoria from 18 to 21 March 2002; 9. Invites the Secretary-General and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the matter and to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them". RESOLUTION 59/75 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Brazil, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ireland, Liberia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, Sweden and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 151 to 6, with 24 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, Israel, Latvia, Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uzbekistan 59/75. Accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/51 of 8 December 2003, and mindful of the upcoming 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Expressing its grave concern at the danger to humanity posed by the possibility that nuclear weapons could be used and at the lack of implementation of binding obligations and agreed steps towards nuclear disarmament, and reaffirming that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes requiring urgent irreversible progress on both fronts, Recalling the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, in accordance with commitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and noting that the ultimate objective of the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, 1. Calls upon all States to comply fully with commitments made regarding nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and not to act in any way that may be detrimental to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation or that may lead to a new nuclear arms race; 2. Also calls upon all States to spare no efforts to achieve universal adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 3. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to accelerate the implementation of the practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament that were agreed upon at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. 4. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take further steps to reduce their non-strategic nuclear arsenals and not to develop new types of nuclear weapons, in accordance with their commitment to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in their security policies; 5. Agrees urgently to strengthen efforts towards both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation through the resumption in the Conference on Disarmament of negotiations on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the statement of the Special Coordinator in 1995See CD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, taking into account both nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives, as well as the completion and implementation of arrangements by all nuclear-weapon States to place fissile material no longer required for military purposes under international verification; 6. Calls for the establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body in the Conference on Disarmament to deal with nuclear disarmament; 7. Underlines the imperative of the principles of irreversibility and transparency for all nuclear disarmament measures and the need to develop further adequate and efficient verification capabilities; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session an item entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments", and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. RESOLUTION 59/76 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 165 to 3, with 16 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, Brazil, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden 59/76. A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 H of 15 December 1994, 50/70 C of 12 December 1995, 51/45 G of 10 December 1996, 52/38 K of 9 December 1997, 53/77 U of 4 December 1998, 54/54 D of 1 December 1999, 55/33 R of 20 November 2000, 56/24 N of 29 November 2001, 57/78 of 22 November 2002 and 58/59 of 8 December 2003, Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament mutually complement and strengthen each other, Expressing deep concern regarding the growing dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including that caused by proliferation networks, Welcoming the decision of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, announced on 19 December 2003, to renounce all its weapons of mass destruction programmes, Welcoming also the adoption of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004 as an important step for global efforts to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Convinced that every effort should be made to avoid nuclear war and nuclear terrorism, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and as an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament, Bearing in mind that challenges to the Treaty and to the nuclear non-proliferation regime have further increased the necessity of full compliance and that the Treaty can fulfil its role only if there is confidence in compliance by all States parties, Recognizing the progress made by the nuclear-weapon States in the reduction of their nuclear weapons unilaterally or through their negotiations, including the entry into force of the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions,See CD/1674. which should serve as a step for further nuclear disarmament, and the efforts for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation by the international community, Welcoming the ongoing efforts aimed at the reduction of nuclear-weapons- related materials deployed within the framework of international cooperation, such as the Cooperative Threat Reduction programme, Reaffirming the conviction that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation, ensuring international peace and security, Welcoming the continuation of a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions since the last nuclear tests, in 1998, Welcoming also the successful adoption of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). and stressing the importance of implementing its conclusions, Recognizing the active discussions at the third session, held from 26 April to 7 May 2004, of the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and emphasizing the importance of a successful Review Conference in 2005, the year of the sixtieth anniversary of the atomic bombings, Welcoming the steady increase in the number of States that have signed and/or concluded additional protocols to their International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreements in recent years, and sharing the hope that the Agency's safeguards system will be further strengthened through the universalization of safeguards agreements and the additional protocols, Encouraging the Russian Federation and the United States of America to implement fully the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions and to continue their intensive consultations in accordance with the Joint Declaration on the New Strategic Relationship between the two States,See CD/1674. Welcoming the Final Declaration of the third Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, convened in Vienna from 3 to 5 September 2003CTBT-Art.XIV/2003/5, annex I. in accordance with article XIV of the Treaty,See resolution 50/245. and the Joint Ministerial Statement of the second meeting of Friends of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in September 2004, Encouraging all States to make maximum efforts to bring about the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, progress on which would contribute to a positive outcome of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Recognizing the importance of preventing terrorists from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons or related materials, radioactive materials, equipment and technology, and underlining the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard, Stressing the importance of education on disarmament and non-proliferation for future generations and of efforts to tackle the current non-proliferation and disarmament problems, 1. Reaffirms the importance of achieving the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions; 2. Also reaffirms the importance for all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to fulfil their obligations under the Treaty; 3. Stresses the central importance of the following practical steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty:1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. (a) The importance and urgency of signatures and ratifications, without delay and without conditions and in accordance with constitutional processes, to achieve the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. as well as a moratorium on nuclear-weapon-test explosions or any other nuclear explosions pending the entry into force of that Treaty; (b) The establishment of an ad hoc committee in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2005 session to negotiate a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, in accordance with the report of the Special Coordinator of 1995CD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, taking into consideration both nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives, with a view to its conclusion within five years and, pending its entry into force, a moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons; (c) The establishment of an appropriate subsidiary body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament in the Conference on Disarmament as early as possible during its 2005 session in the context of establishing a programme of work; (d) The inclusion of the principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; (e) An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, as agreed at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty; (f) Deep reductions by the Russian Federation and the United States of America in their strategic offensive arsenals, while placing great importance on the existing multilateral treaties, with a view to maintaining and strengthening strategic stability and international security; (g) Steps by all the nuclear-weapon States leading to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability, and based on the principle of undiminished security for all: (i) Further efforts by all the nuclear-weapon States to continue to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (ii) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to their nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as voluntary confidence-building measures to support further progress on nuclear disarmament; (iii) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (iv) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (v) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (vi) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; (h) Reaffirmation that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under effective international control; 4. Recognizes that the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons will require further steps, including deeper reductions in all types of nuclear weapons by all the nuclear-weapon States in the process of working towards achieving their elimination; 5. Invites the nuclear-weapon States to keep the Members of the United Nations duly informed of the progress or efforts made towards nuclear disarmament; 6. Encourages all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to make maximum efforts for a successful Review Conference in 2005; 7. Welcomes the ongoing efforts in the dismantlement of nuclear weapons, notes the importance of the safe and effective management of the resultant fissile materials, and calls for arrangements by all the nuclear-weapon States to place, as soon as practicable, fissile material designated by each of them as no longer required for military purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency or other relevant international verification and arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes to ensure that such material remains permanently outside of military programmes; 8. Stresses the importance of further development of the verification capabilities, including International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty verification regimes, that will be required to provide assurance of compliance with nuclear disarmament agreements for the achievement and maintenance of a nuclear-weapon-free world; 9. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, confirming and strengthening, if necessary, their policies not to transfer equipment, materials or technology that could contribute to the proliferation of those weapons, while ensuring that such policies are consistent with the obligations of States under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 10. Also calls upon all States to maintain the highest possible standards of security, safe custody, effective control and physical protection of all materials that could contribute to the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in order, inter alia, to prevent those materials from falling into the hands of terrorists; 11. Welcomes the adoption of resolution GC(48)/RES/14 on 24 September 2004 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC (2004)). in which it is recommended that States members of the Agency continue to consider implementing the elements of the plan of action outlined in resolution GC(44)/RES/19, adopted on 22 September 2000 by the General Conference of the Agency,Ibid., Forty-fourth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2000 (GC(44)/RES/DEC (2000)). and in the Agency's updated plan of action of February 2004, with the aim of facilitating the entry into force of comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols, and calls for the early and full implementation of that resolution; 12. Encourages all States to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session,A/57/124. and voluntarily to share information on efforts they have been undertaking to that end; 13. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. RESOLUTION 59/77 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 117 to 43, with 21 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Haiti, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mauritius, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Sweden, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 59/77. Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000, 56/24 R of 29 November 2001, 57/79 of 22 November 2002 and 58/56 of 8 December 2003 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Reaffirming the conviction of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. the decision on the extension of the TreatySee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the resolution on the Middle East,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Stressing the importance of the thirteen steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as agreed to by the States parties in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Stressing the importance of the forthcoming 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the need for a positive and substantive outcome of the Conference in a manner that will preserve the integrity of the three pillars of the Treaty regime, that is, nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Noting with appreciation the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Noting with appreciation also the entry into force of the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty")See CD/1674. as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals, Noting with appreciation further the unilateral measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 74 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament and to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Recalling paragraph 61 of the Final Document of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, Reaffirming the specific mandate conferred by the General Assembly in its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998 upon the Disarmament Commission to discuss the subject of nuclear disarmament as one of its main substantive agenda items, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or the threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in international relations, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that, in view of recent political developments, the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to achieving the elimination of these weapons; 2. Reaffirms that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing, that the two processes must go hand in hand and that there is a genuine need for a systematic and progressive process of nuclear disarmament; 3. Welcomes and encourages the efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in different parts of the world on the basis of agreements or arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned, which is an effective measure for limiting the further spread of nuclear weapons geographically and contributes to the cause of nuclear disarmament; 4. Recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 5. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 6. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear-weapon systems; 7. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weapons; 8. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 9. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 10. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 11. Underscores the importance of the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in New York from 24 April to 19 May 2000, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;Ibid., section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear weapon States", para. 2. 12. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the thirteen steps for nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. 13. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; 14. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 15. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 16. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 17. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 18. Expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament at its 2004 session, as called for in General Assembly resolution 58/56; 19. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2005 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons; 20. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". RESOLUTION 59/78 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 180 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Palau, United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel 59/78. Relationship between disarmament and development The General Assembly, Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations envisages the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, Recalling also the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly concerning the relationship between disarmament and development,See resolution S-10/2. as well as the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 December 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998, 54/54 T of 1 December 1999, 55/33 L of 20 November 2000, 56/24 E of 29 November 2001 and 57/65 of 22 November 2002, and its decision 58/520 of 8 December 2003, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. and the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Mindful of the changes in international relations that have taken place since the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, including the development agenda that has emerged over the past decade, Bearing in mind the new challenges for the international community in the field of development, poverty eradication and the elimination of the diseases that afflict humanity, Stressing the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the important role of security in this connection, and concerned at increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs, 1. Welcomes the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and developmentSee A/59/119. and its reappraisal of this significant issue in the current international context; 2. Stresses the central role of the United Nations in the disarmament-development relationship, and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen further the role of the Organization in this field, in particular the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development, in order to assure continued and effective coordination and close cooperation between the relevant United Nations departments, agencies and sub-agencies; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. 4. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever widening gap between developed and developing countries; 5. Encourages the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to make reference to the contribution that disarmament could provide in meeting them when it reviews its progress towards this purpose in 2005, as well as to make greater efforts to integrate disarmament, humanitarian and development activities; 6. Encourages the relevant regional and subregional organizations and institutions, non-governmental organizations and research institutes to incorporate issues related to the relationship between disarmament and development in their agendas and, in this regard, to take into account the report of the Group of Governmental Experts; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development". RESOLUTION 59/79 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cuba, Fiji, Haiti, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 116 to 46, with 18 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Ecuador, Georgia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 59/79. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the imperative need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to detargeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that reduction of tensions brought about by a change in nuclear doctrines would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling that in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear WeaponsA/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. it is stated that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 58/47 of 8 December 2003;A/59/136. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war,See A/56/400, para. 3. and also to continue to encourage Member States to endeavour to create conditions that would allow the emergence of an international consensus to hold an international conference as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". RESOLUTION 59/7 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.8 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 59/7. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/45 of 21 November 2002 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Having received the annual report for 2002 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See A/59/297. 1. Takes note of the annual report for 2002 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons submitted on its behalf by its Director-General;See A/59/297. 2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons". RESOLUTION 59/80 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 59/80. Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/48 of 8 December 2003, Recognizing the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evident in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and in particular by the fact that terrorists may seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, Taking note of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, adopted on 28 April 2004, Noting the support expressed in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. and in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, for measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, Noting also that the Group of Eight, the European Union, the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others have taken into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, and the need for international cooperation in combating it, Acknowledging the consideration of issues relating to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,See A/59/361. Taking note of resolution GC(48)/RES/11, adopted on 24 September 2004 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-eighth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)). and the setting up of an Advisory Group on Security in the Agency to advise the Director General on the Agency's activities relating to nuclear security, Taking note also of the report of the Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism,A/57/273-S/2002/875, annex. Taking note further of the report of the Secretary-General, submitted pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 58/48,A/59/156 and Add.1. Mindful of the urgent need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, this threat to humanity, Emphasizing that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help to maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism, 1. Calls upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Urges all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture, and invites them to inform the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, of the measures taken in this regard; 3. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and relevant regional and international organizations for strengthening national capacities in this regard; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a report on measures already taken by international organizations on issues relating to the linkage between the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to seek the views of Member States on additional relevant measures for tackling the global threat posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, and to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". RESOLUTION 59/81 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 179 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 59/81. The Conference on Disarmament decision (CD/1547) of 11 August 1998 to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee to negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special Coordinator (CD/1299) and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 L of 16 December 1993, 53/77 I of 4 December 1998, 55/33 Y of 20 November 2000, 56/24 J of 29 November 2001, 57/80 of 22 November 2002 and 58/57 of 8 December 2003, Convinced that a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices would be a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Recalling the 1998 report of the Conference on Disarmament, in which, inter alia, the Conference recorded that, in proceeding to take a decision on this matter, that decision was without prejudice to any further decisions on the establishment of further subsidiary bodies under agenda item 1 and that intensive consultations would be pursued to seek the views of the members of the Conference on Disarmament on appropriate methods and approaches for dealing with agenda item 1, taking into consideration all proposals and views in that respect,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. 1. Recalls the decision of the Conference on DisarmamentSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/53/27), para. 10. to establish, under item 1 of its agenda entitled "Cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament", an ad hoc committee which shall negotiate, on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; 2. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty. RESOLUTION 59/82 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/82. Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 52/38 G of 9 December 1997, 53/77 M of 4 December 1998, 54/54 H of 1 December 1999, 55/33 G of 20 November 2000, 56/24 P of 29 November 2001 and 57/81 of 22 November 2002 and its decision 58/519 of 8 December 2003, entitled "Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures", Convinced that a comprehensive and integrated approach towards certain practical disarmament measures often is a prerequisite to maintaining and consolidating peace and security and thus provides a basis for effective post-conflict peace-building; such measures include: collection and responsible disposal, preferably through destruction, of weapons obtained through illicit trafficking or illicit manufacture as well as of weapons and ammunition declared by competent national authorities to be surplus to requirements, particularly with regard to small arms and light weapons, unless another form of disposition or use has been officially authorized and provided that such weapons have been duly marked and registered; confidence-building measures; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; demining; and conversion, Noting with satisfaction that the international community is more than ever aware of the importance of such practical disarmament measures, especially with regard to the growing problems arising from the excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons, which pose a threat to peace and security and reduce the prospects for economic development in many regions, particularly in post-conflict situations, Stressing that further efforts are needed in order to develop and effectively implement programmes of practical disarmament in affected areas as part of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration measures so as to complement, on a case-by-case basis, peacekeeping and peace-building efforts, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on prevention of armed conflict,A/55/985-S/2001/574 and Corr.1. which, inter alia, refers to the role which the proliferation and the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons play in the context of the build-up and sustaining of conflicts, Taking note of the statement by the President of the Security Council of 31 August 2001S/PRST/2001/21; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. underlining the importance of practical disarmament measures in the context of armed conflicts, and, with regard to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, emphasizing the importance of measures to contain the security risks stemming from the use of illicit small arms and light weapons, Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small ArmsA/58/207. and, in particular, the recommendations contained therein, as an important contribution to the consolidation of the peace process through practical disarmament measures, Welcoming the work of the Coordinating Action on Small Arms, which was established by the Secretary-General to bring about a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to this complex and multifaceted global problem and to cooperate with non-governmental organizations in the implementation of practical disarmament measures, Welcoming also the report of the First Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 7 to 11 July 2003,A/CONF.192/BMS/2003/1. as well as the convening of the open-ended working group to negotiate an international instrument to enable States to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons, 1. Stresses the particular relevance of the "Guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace in the context of General Assembly resolution 51/45 N",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex III. adopted by the Disarmament Commission by consensus at its 1999 substantive session; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures, submitted pursuant to resolution 51/45 N,A/52/289. and once again encourages Member States as well as regional arrangements and agencies to lend their support to the implementation of recommendations contained therein; 3. Emphasizes the importance of including in United Nations-mandated peacekeeping missions, as appropriate and with the consent of the host State, practical disarmament measures aimed at addressing the problem of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in conjunction with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes aimed at former combatants, with a view to promoting an integrated comprehensive and effective weapons management strategy that would contribute to a sustainable peace-building process; 4. Welcomes the activities undertaken by the Group of Interested States, and invites the Group to continue to analyse lessons learned from previous disarmament and peace-building projects, as well as to promote new practical disarmament measures to consolidate peace, especially as undertaken or designed by affected States themselves, regional and subregional organizations as well as United Nations agencies; 5. Encourages Member States, including the Group of Interested States, to lend their support to the Secretary-General, relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations in responding to requests by Member States to collect and destroy small arms and light weapons in post-conflict situations; 6. Welcomes the synergies within the multi-stakeholder process, including Governments, the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and institutions as well as non-governmental organizations in support of practical disarmament measures and the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. in particular, inter alia through the Coordinating Action on Small Arms; 7. Thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of resolution 57/81,A/58/207. taking into consideration the activities of the Group of Interested States in this regard; 8. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/59/178 and Add.1. as well as his report on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme;A/59/171. 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of practical disarmament measures, taking into consideration the activities of the Group of Interested States in this regard; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures". RESOLUTION 59/83 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 132 to 29, with 24 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Micronesia (Federated States of), Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uzbekistan 59/83. Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999, 55/33 X of 20 November 2000, 56/24 S of 29 November 2001, 57/85 of 22 November 2002 and 58/46 of 8 December 2003, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear-arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Emphasizing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, adopted at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,Ibid., vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Stressing the importance of strengthening all existing nuclear-related disarmament and arms control and reduction measures, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference during its 2004 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Expressing its deep concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of the thirteen steps to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports, 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the implementation of resolution 58/46,A/59/136. 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its sixtieth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 59/84 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 157 to none, with 22 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None. Abstaining: Azerbaijan, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Myanmar, Pakistan, Palau, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 59/84. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002 and 58/53 of 8 December 2003, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Welcoming the entry into force, on 1 March 1999, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem, Recalling the first to fifth meetings of the States parties to the Convention held in Maputo (1999),See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1. Geneva (2000),See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1. Managua (2001),See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1. Geneva (2002)See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1. and Bangkok (2003),See APLC/MSP.5/2003/5. and the reaffirmation of a commitment to the total elimination of anti-personnel mines and to pursue, with renewed vigour, efforts to clear mined areas, assist victims, destroy stockpiled anti-personnel mines and promote universal adherence to the Convention, Recalling also the preparatory process for the First Review Conference of the Convention, to be held in Nairobi from 29 November to 3 December 2004, and the two preparatory meetings held in Geneva on 13 February and on 28 and 29 June 2004 pursuant to the decisions of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties,Ibid., part I, sect. E. Welcoming the regional seminars that have been held in different parts of the world during 2003 and 2004, which contributed to the exchange of information, experiences and best practices in mine action as well as to preparations for the First Review Conference, and recalling the efforts to enhance cooperation in the regional context and promote synergies between different regions, Noting with interest the increased recognition of the need to integrate mine action into international and national development programmes and strategies, and, in this respect, welcoming the developments since the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties, including the meeting between the President of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties and the President of the World Bank on 20 September 2004, which contributed to possible partnership between the mine action community and the World Bank, Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and forty-three, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention; 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes and the removal of anti-personnel mines and stockpiles throughout the world and the assurance of their destruction; 7. Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the First Review Conference at the highest possible level and, pending a decision to be taken at the First Review Conference, to maintain the high level of participation in the subsequent meetings of the States parties, including their intersessional work programme; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the next meeting of the States parties, pending a decision to be taken at the First Review Conference, and to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the meeting as observers; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 59/85 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 171 to 4, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, India, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Pakistan, Russian Federation, Spain 59/85. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, 55/33 I of 20 November 2000, 56/24 G of 29 November 2001, 57/73 of 22 November 2002 and 58/49 of 8 December 2003, Recalling also the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Welcoming the announcement of the organization of an international conference of States parties signatories to the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties in Mexico, in 2005, to support the common goals envisaged in those treaties, Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokTreaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Also welcomes the ratification by all original parties of the Treaty of Rarotonga, and calls upon eligible States to adhere to the treaty and the protocols thereto; 3. Further welcomes the efforts towards the completion of the ratification process of the Treaty of Pelindaba, and calls upon the States of the region that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the treaty, with the aim of its early entry into force; 4. Calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet done so; 5. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 6. Affirms its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 7. Calls upon the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, in order to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 8. Welcomes the vigorous efforts being made among States parties and signatories to those treaties to promote their common objectives, and encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of these goals; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". RESOLUTION 59/86 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/86. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, 57/72 of 22 November 2002 and 58/241 of 23 December 2003, Emphasizing the importance of early and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. Welcoming the efforts by Member States to submit, on a voluntary basis, national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action, Noting with satisfaction regional and subregional efforts being undertaken in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, and commending the progress that has already been made in this regard, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 58/241,A/59/181. Welcoming the convening of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, which held its first two-week substantive session in New York from 14 to 25 June 2004, Welcoming also the broad-based consultations held by the Secretary-General with all Member States, interested regional and subregional organizations, international agencies and experts in the field on further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, and noting the report of the Secretary-General in this regard,A/59/181. 1. Decides that the United Nations conference to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its AspectsSee Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. shall be held in New York for a period of two weeks, from 26 June to 7 July 2006; 2. Also decides that the preparatory committee for the conference shall hold a two-week session in New York from 9 to 20 January 2006, and reiterates that, if necessary, a subsequent session of up to two weeks in duration may be held; 3. Further decides that the second biennial meeting of States, as stipulated in the Programme of Action, to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action shall be held in New York from 11 to 15 July 2005; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Chair of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, encourages the continued active participation of delegations in the remaining sessions of the Open-ended Working Group, and stresses the importance of making every effort to ensure that a positive outcome is achieved by the Open-ended Working Group; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, while seeking the views of States, to continue to hold broad-based consultations, within available financial resources, with all Member States and interested regional and subregional organizations on further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, with a view to establishing, after the 2006 review conference and no later than 2007, and after the conclusion of the work of the Open-ended Working Group, a group of governmental experts, appointed by him on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the outcome of his consultations; 6. Reaffirms the importance of ongoing efforts at the regional and subregional levels in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, and invites all Member States that have not yet done so to examine the possibility of developing and adopting regional and subregional measures, as appropriate, to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects; 7. Continues to encourage all initiatives to mobilize resources and expertise to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action and to provide assistance to States in its implementation; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to collate and circulate data and information provided by States on a voluntary basis, including national reports, on the implementation by those States of the Programme of Action, and encourages Member States to submit such reports; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including any outcome of the work of the Open-ended Working Group; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 59/87 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Liberia and Pakistan. 59/87. Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 58/43 of 8 December 2003, Recalling also its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003, entitled "Prevention of armed conflict", in which it called upon Member States to settle their disputes by peaceful means, as set out in Chapter VI of the Charter, inter alia, by any procedures adopted by the parties, Recalling further the resolutions and guidelines adopted by consensus by the General Assembly and the Disarmament Commission relating to confidence-building measures and their implementation at the global, regional and subregional levels, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the agreement of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability, Convinced that resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recognizing the need for meaningful dialogue among States concerned to avert conflict, Welcoming the peace processes already initiated by States concerned to resolve their disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through mediation, inter alia, by third parties, regional organizations or the United Nations, Recognizing that States in some regions have already taken steps towards confidence-building measures at the bilateral, subregional and regional levels in the political and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, and noting that such confidence-building measures have improved peace and security in those regions and contributed to progress in the socio-economic conditions of their people, Concerned that the continuation of disputes among States, particularly in the absence of an effective mechanism to resolve them through peaceful means, may contribute to the arms race and endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and the efforts of the international community to promote arms control and disarmament, 1. Calls upon Member States to refrain from the use or threat of use of force, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the Charter, in particular Article 33, which provides for a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means chosen by the parties; 3. Reaffirms the ways and means regarding confidence- and security-building measures set out in the report of the Disarmament Commission on its 1993 session;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II, sect. III.A. 4. Calls upon Member States to pursue those ways and means through sustained consultations and dialogue, while at the same time avoiding actions which may hinder or impair such a dialogue; 5. Urges States to comply strictly with all bilateral, regional and international agreements, including arms control and disarmament agreements, to which they are party; 6. Emphasizes that the objective of confidence-building measures should be to help to strengthen international peace and security and be consistent with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armament; 7. Encourages the promotion of bilateral and regional confidence-building measures, with the consent and participation of the parties concerned, to avoid conflict and prevent the unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session containing the views of Member States on confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context". RESOLUTION 59/88 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 178 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstaining: Bhutan 59/88. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002 and 58/39 of 8 December 2003, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts, since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". RESOLUTION 59/89 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. 59/89. Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999, 55/33 O of 20 November 2000, 56/24 H of 29 November 2001, 57/76 of 22 November 2002 and 58/38 of 8 December 2003 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two superpowers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". RESOLUTION 59/8 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.12 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Yemen 59/8. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/4 of 22 October 1982, 38/4 of 28 October 1983, 39/7 of 8 November 1984, 40/4 of 25 October 1985, 41/3 of 16 October 1986, 42/4 of 15 October 1987, 43/2 of 17 October 1988, 44/8 of 18 October 1989, 45/9 of 25 October 1990, 46/13 of 28 October 1991, 47/18 of 23 November 1992, 48/24 of 24 November 1993, 49/15 of 15 November 1994, 50/17 of 20 November 1995, 51/18 of 14 November 1996, 52/4 of 22 October 1997, 53/16 of 29 October 1998, 54/7 of 25 October 1999, 55/9 of 30 October 2000, 56/47 of 7 December 2001 and 57/42 of 21 November 2002, Recalling also its resolution 3369 (XXX) of 10 October 1975, by which it decided to invite the Organization of the Islamic Conference to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs in the capacity of observer, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/59/303. Taking into account the desire of the two organizations to continue to cooperate closely in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific fields and in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights and economic and social development, Recalling the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations, its funds and programmes and the specialized agencies and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, its subsidiary organs and its specialized and affiliated institutions, Noting also the encouraging progress made in the ten priority areas of cooperation between the two organizations and their respective agencies and institutions, as well as in the identification of other areas of cooperation between them, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its organs and institutions contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the results of the general meeting of the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions, held in Vienna from 13 to 15 July 2004, and the fact that these meetings are now being held every two years, with the next one scheduled for 2006, Noting with appreciation the determination of both organizations to strengthen further the existing cooperation by developing specific proposals in the designated priority areas of cooperation, as well as in the political field, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/59/303. 2. Notes with satisfaction the active participation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the work of the United Nations towards the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Requests the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to cooperate in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, decolonization, fundamental human rights, emergency relief and rehabilitation, social and economic development and technical cooperation; 4. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common concern and to review and explore innovative ways and means of enhancing the mechanisms of such cooperation; 5. Welcomes with appreciation the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the fields of peacemaking, preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and notes the close cooperation between the two organizations in reconstruction and development in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone; 6. Welcomes the efforts of the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen information exchange, coordination and cooperation between them in areas of mutual interest in the political field and to develop practical modalities of such cooperation; 7. Also welcomes the periodic high-level meetings between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as between senior secretariat officials of the two organizations, and encourages their participation in important meetings of the two organizations; 8. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to expand their cooperation with the subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in particular by negotiating cooperation agreements, and through necessary contacts and meetings of the respective focal points for cooperation in priority areas of interest to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 9. Urges the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, especially the lead agencies, to provide increased technical and other forms of assistance to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions in order to enhance cooperation; 10. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, cultural, humanitarian and scientific fields; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the state of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference". RESOLUTION 59/90 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 59/90. Prevention of the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/42 and 58/54 of 8 December 2003 and 58/241 of 23 December 2003, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Acknowledging the authorized trade in man-portable air defence systems between Governments and the legitimate right of Governments to possess such weapons in the interests of their national security, Recognizing the threat posed to civil aviation, peacekeeping, crisis management and security by the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems, Taking into account that man-portable air defence systems are easily carried, concealed, fired and, in certain circumstances, obtained, Recognizing that effective control over man-portable air defence systems acquires special importance in the context of the intensified international fight against global terrorism, Convinced of the importance of effective national control of transfers of man-portable air defence systems and the safe and effective management of stockpiles of such weapons, Welcoming the ongoing efforts of various international and regional forums to enhance transport security and to strengthen management of man-portable air defence systems stockpiles in order to prevent the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons, Noting the importance of information exchange and transparency in the trade in man-portable air defence systems to build confidence and security among States and to prevent the illicit trade in and unauthorized access to such weapons, 1. Emphasizes the importance of the full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 2. Urges Member States to support current international, regional and national efforts to combat and prevent the illicit transfer of man-portable air defence systems and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons; 3. Stresses the importance of effective and comprehensive national controls on the production, stockpiling, transfer and brokering of man-portable air defence systems to prevent the illicit trade in and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons; 4. Encourages Member States to enact or improve legislation, regulations, procedures and stockpile management practices to exercise effective control over access to and transfer of man-portable air defence systems so as to prevent the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons; 5. Also encourages Member States to enact or improve legislation, regulations and procedures to ban the transfer of man-portable air defence systems to non-State end-users and to ensure that such weapons are exported only to Governments or agents authorized by a Government; 6. Encourages initiatives to exchange information and to mobilize resources and technical expertise to assist States, at their request, in enhancing national controls and stockpile management practices to prevent unauthorized access to and use and transfer of man-portable air defence systems and to destroy excess or obsolete stockpiles of such weapons, as appropriate; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session an item entitled "Prevention of the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems". RESOLUTION 59/91 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 161 to 2, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of) Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, Djibouti, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 59/91. The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation The General Assembly, Concerned about the increasing regional and global security challenges caused, inter alia, by the ongoing proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its role and responsibility in the field of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Emphasizing the significance of regional and international efforts to prevent and curb comprehensively the proliferation of ballistic missile systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, as a contribution to international peace and security, Convinced that the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile ProliferationA/57/724, enclosure. will contribute to enhancing transparency and confidence among States, Confirming its commitment to the Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries, as contained in the annex to its resolution 51/122 of 13 December 1996, Recognizing that States should not be excluded from utilizing the benefits of space for peaceful purposes, but that in reaping such benefits and in conducting related cooperation they must not contribute to the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction, Mindful of the need to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, 1. Welcomes the adoption of the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation on 25 November 2002 at The HagueA/57/724, enclosure. as a practical step against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Notes with satisfaction that one hundred and seventeen States already have subscribed to the Code of Conduct; 3. Invites all States that have not yet subscribed to the Code of Conduct to do so; 4. Encourages the exploration of further ways and means to deal effectively with the problem of the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session an item entitled "The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation". RESOLUTION 59/92 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. 59/92. Information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Bearing in mind the contribution of confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms, adopted on the initiative and with the agreement of the States concerned, to the improvement of the overall international peace and security situation, Convinced that the relationship between the development of confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms and the international security environment can also be mutually reinforcing, Considering the important role that confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms can also play in creating favourable conditions for progress in the field of disarmament, Recognizing that the exchange of information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, 1. Welcomes all confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms already undertaken by Member States as well as the information on such measures voluntarily provided; 2. Encourages Member States to continue to adopt confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms and to provide information in that regard; 3. Also encourages Member States to engage in a dialogue on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to establish, with the financial support of States in a position to do so, an electronic database containing information provided by Member States and to assist them, at their request, in the organization of seminars, courses and workshops aimed at enhancing the knowledge of new developments in this field; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session an item entitled "Information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms". RESOLUTION 59/93 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, Estonia, France, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine and Zambia. 59/93. United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/33 E of 20 November 2000 and 57/60 of 22 November 2002, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/59/178 and Add.1. in which the Secretary-General reported on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/57/124. Desirous of stressing the urgency of promoting concerted international efforts at disarmament and non-proliferation, in particular in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, with a view to strengthening international security and enhancing sustainable economic and social development, Conscious of the need to combat the negative effects of cultures of violence and complacency in the face of current dangers in this field through long-term programmes of education and training, Remaining convinced that the need for disarmament and non-proliferation education has never been greater, especially on the subject of weapons of mass destruction, but also in the field of small arms and light weapons, terrorism and other challenges to international security and the process of disarmament, as well as on the relevance of implementing the recommendations contained in the United Nations study, Recognizing the importance of the role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation education, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Member States, the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, which, within their purview, implemented the recommendations made in the United Nations study,A/57/124. as discussed in the report of the Secretary-General reviewing the implementation of the recommendations;A/59/178 and Add.1. 2. Conveys once again those recommendations to Member States, the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, and encourages them to report to the Secretary-General on steps taken to implement them; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report reviewing the results of the implementation of the recommendations and possible new opportunities for promoting disarmament and non-proliferation education, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to utilize electronic means to the fullest extent possible in the dissemination, in as many official languages as feasible, of information related to that report and any other information that the Department for Disarmament Affairs gathers on an ongoing basis in regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session an item entitled "Disarmament and non-proliferation education". RESOLUTION 59/94 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation and the United States of America. 59/94. Bilateral strategic nuclear arms reductions and the new strategic framework The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/68 of 22 November 2002, Noting with satisfaction the new strategic relationship between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, built on the principles of mutual security, trust, openness, cooperation and predictability, as affirmed in their Joint Declaration of 24 May 2002,See CD/1674. Noting the increasing cooperation between the United States of America and the Russian Federation in addressing significant challenges to international security, as illustrated by their joint efforts regarding Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, Welcoming the determination of the two countries to work together, and with other nations and international organizations, to meet their respective obligations under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons which was opened for signature on 1 July 1968,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Mindful of the obligation of all parties to the Treaty to abide by all of their commitments under the Treaty, 1. Welcomes the entry into force of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty") on 1 June 2003, under which the United States of America and the Russian Federation are committed to reducing and limiting their strategic nuclear warheads so that by 31 December 2012, the aggregate number of such warheads does not exceed 1,700 to 2,200 for each party; 2. Supports the continued commitment of the United States of America and the Russian Federation to cooperative efforts in strategic offensive reductions, inter alia, through meetings of the Bilateral Implementation Commission for the Moscow Treaty, as well as increased strategic stability through discussions in the working groups established under the Consultative Group for Strategic Security; 3. Recognizes that the Moscow Treaty is an important result of the new bilateral strategic relationship, which will help in establishing more favourable conditions for actively promoting security and cooperation, and enhancing international stability; 4. Acknowledges the contribution that the United States of America and the Russian Federation have made to nuclear disarmament by reducing their deployed strategic warheads by about half since the end of the cold war; 5. Recognizes the importance of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. which is still in force, and of its provisions, which will lay the foundation for ensuring confidence, transparency and predictability in further strategic offensive reductions; 6. Also recognizes that, since the end of the cold war, the United States of America has reduced the number of its START-accountable deployed strategic warheads from over 10,000 to less than 6,000, and has also eliminated 1,032 launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, 350 heavy bombers and 28 ballistic missile submarines, and removed 4 additional ballistic missile submarines from strategic service; 7. Further recognizes that, in the same time period, the Russian Federation has reduced the number of its START-accountable deployed strategic warheads to less than 5,000, and has also eliminated 1,250 launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, 43 ballistic missile submarines and 65 heavy bombers; 8. Recognizes the importance of the 1991 and 1992 initiatives put forward by the Presidents of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Russian Federation, which represent a major step forward in the meeting by the Russian Federation and the United States of America of their obligations under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 9. Notes with approval that, since the end of the cold war, the United States of America and the Russian Federation have halted the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and have committed themselves to eliminating excess fissile material resulting from the dismantlement of weapons no longer needed for national security; 10. Welcomes, in this context, the implementation of the 1993 Agreement concerning the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium Extracted from Nuclear Weapons, signed by the Governments of the Russian Federation and the United States of America, under which more than 216 metric tons of excess Russian highly enriched uranium have been down-blended for use as power reactor fuel, and the fact that, under the Agreement, 30 metric tons of highly enriched uranium from dismantled nuclear weapons will be down-blended per year until a total of 500 metric tons has been processed; 11. Also welcomes the independent action taken by the United States of America to dispose of 174 metric tons of excess highly enriched uranium from its nuclear weapons programme, of which 50 metric tons have already been down-blended for use as reactor fuel; 12. Supports continued efforts by the United States of America and the Russian Federation to implement the 1997 Agreement concerning Cooperation regarding Plutonium Production Reactors and the 2000 Agreement concerning the Management and Disposition of Plutonium Designated as No Longer Required for Defence Purposes and Related Cooperation; 13. Invites the United States of America and the Russian Federation to keep other States Members of the United Nations duly informed of their nuclear reduction activities; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Bilateral strategic nuclear arms reductions and the new strategic framework". RESOLUTION 59/95 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/459 and Corr.1, para. 90)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Yemen. 59/95. Improving the effectiveness of the methods of work of the First Committee The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/87 of 16 December 1993, 49/85 of 15 December 1994, 57/300 of 20 December 2002, 58/41 of 8 December 2003, 58/126 of 19 December 2003 and 58/316 of 1 July 2004, Affirming that its rules of procedure permit the Main Committees to undertake organizational refinements to improve the effectiveness of their methods of work, and noting with satisfaction that the First Committee already has done so, Emphasizing that improved functioning of the First Committee should be considered in an integrated and comprehensive manner through the existing three stages, namely general debate, thematic/structured debate, and consideration of and action on draft resolutions, Determining to continue its efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the methods of work of the First Committee, as a means to enhance the role of the General Assembly in promoting international peace and security, 1. Invites Member States to consider the biennialization or triennialization of the agenda items discussed in the First Committee, on a voluntary basis, and particularly when no specific action is required for the implementation of relevant resolutions; 2. Also invites Member States to continue to hold interactive debates based on a programme and format elaborated through informal consultations between the Bureau and Member States in advance of each First Committee session; 3. Further invites Member States to submit draft resolutions in a more concise, focused and action-oriented manner and, where practical, to consider the possibility of submitting draft decisions; 4. Recommends that the respective sponsors of draft resolutions hold informal consultations, both before and during First Committee meetings, with the participation of all interested Member States for furthering discussions on draft resolutions already submitted or yet to be submitted to the Committee; 5. Encourages Member States to introduce draft resolutions on related or complementary issues to find commonalities in the language and purpose of those draft resolutions, and invites Member States to consider pursuing mergers of such texts through consultations with all sponsors; 6. Also encourages Member States, in particular those that present any draft resolution, to follow up on the agreed resolution in order to contribute to the achievement of the objective of such resolution; 7. Encourages the First Committee to introduce presentations of, and focus discussions on, reports on the work of expert groups, the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters initiated by the Committee; 8. Reiterates that the Secretary-General, in accordance with rule 154 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, shall keep all Committees, including the First Committee, informed of the detailed estimated cost of all resolutions and decisions that have been recommended by the Committees for approval by the Assembly; 9. Requests the First Committee, in the light of the growing interconnectedness of issues before the General Assembly, to explore the forms of mutual cooperation with other Main Committees; 10. Decides to develop further, within existing resources, the electronic support for the work of the First Committee, in particular through the existing web sites; 11. Decides also to review regularly the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 59/96 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Rwanda. 59/96. Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December 1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992, 48/76 A of 16 December 1993, 49/76 C of 15 December 1994, 50/71 B of 12 December 1995, 51/46 C of 10 December 1996, 52/39 B of 9 December 1997, 53/78 A of 4 December 1998, 54/55 A of 1 December 1999, 55/34 B of 20 November 2000, 56/25 A of 29 November 2001, 57/88 of 22 November 2002 and 58/65 of 8 December 2003, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recalling the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central AfricaA/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, Recalling the decision of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in favour of establishing, under the auspices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on regional confidence-building measures, which deals with the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in the period since the adoption by the General Assembly of resolution 58/65;A/59/182. 2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further peace, stability and sustainable development in the subregion; 3. Also reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held at Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 4. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing the programme of activities for the period 2003-2004, in particular by holding the twenty-first ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in Malabo from 21 to 25 June 2004;See A/59/154-S/2004/576, annex. 5. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 6. Welcomes the creation of a mechanism for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, known as the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa, by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States, held at Yaoundé on 25 February 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to give his full support to the effective realization of that important mechanism; 7. Emphasizes the need to make the early warning mechanism in Central Africa operational so that it will serve, on the one hand, as an instrument for analysing and monitoring political situations in the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with a view to preventing the outbreak of future armed conflicts and, on the other hand, as a technical body through which the member States will carry out the programme of work of the Committee, adopted at its organizational meeting held at Yaoundé in 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to provide it with the assistance necessary for it to function properly; 8. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide their full assistance for the proper functioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the implementation and smooth functioning of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and the early warning mechanism; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a network of parliamentarians with a view to the creation of a subregional parliament in Central Africa; 11. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to provide increased assistance to the countries of Central Africa for coping with the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories; 12. Thanks the Secretary-General for having established the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 13. Appeals to Member States and to governmental and non-governmental organizations to make additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the implementation of the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee; 14. Thanks the Secretary-General for sending a multidisciplinary mission from 8 to 22 June 2003 for the purpose of undertaking an assessment of the priority needs of the region and challenges confronting it in the areas of peace, security, economic development, human rights, HIV/AIDS and humanitarian questions; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with assistance to ensure that they are able to carry on their efforts; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". RESOLUTION 59/97 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 59/97. United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/177. Recalling its decision, contained in paragraph 108 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, to establish a programme of fellowships on disarmament, as well as its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. the second special session devoted to disarmament, in which it decided, inter alia, to continue the programme, Noting that the programme continues to contribute significantly to developing greater awareness of the importance and benefits of disarmament and better understanding of the concerns of the international community in the field of disarmament and security, as well as to enhancing the knowledge and skills of fellows, allowing them to participate more effectively in efforts in the field of disarmament at all levels, Noting with satisfaction that the programme has trained a large number of officials from Member States throughout its twenty-six years of existence, many of whom hold positions of responsibility in the field of disarmament within their own Governments, Recognizing the need for Member States to take into account gender equality when nominating candidates to the programme, Recalling all the annual resolutions on the matter since the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly, in 1982, including resolution 50/71 A of 12 December 1995, Believing that the forms of assistance available to Member States, in particular to developing countries, under the programme will enhance the capabilities of their officials to follow ongoing deliberations and negotiations on disarmament, both bilateral and multilateral, 1. Reaffirms its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General AssemblyOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. and the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/33/305. approved by the Assembly in its resolution 33/71 E of 14 December 1978; 2. Expresses its appreciation to all Member States and organizations that have consistently supported the programme throughout the years, thereby contributing to its success, in particular to the Governments of Germany and Japan for the continuation of extensive and highly educative study visits for the participants in the programme, and to the Government of the United States of America for organizing a presentation to the fellows in the area of disarmament; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the Monterey Institute of International Studies for having organized specific study programmes in the field of disarmament in their respective areas of competence, thereby contributing to the objectives of the programme; 4. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with which the programme has continued to be carried out; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement annually the Geneva-based programme within existing resources and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services". RESOLUTION 59/98 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 59/98. United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/63 of 8 December 2003 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/59/209. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/59/169. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/59/157. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament, and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 146 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the decision adopted by the General Assembly on maintaining and revitalizing the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security and that are aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their activities and initiatives; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the activities of the regional branch of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". RESOLUTION 59/99 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 3 December 2004, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/59/460, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Mexico (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States). 59/99. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, 54/55 F of 1 December 1999, 55/34 E of 20 November 2000, 56/25 E of 29 November 2001, 57/89 of 22 November 2002 and 58/60 of 8 December 2003, Underlining the revitalization of the Regional Centre, the efforts made by the Government of Peru and other countries to that end, as well as the important work done by the Director of the Centre, Recognizing that the Regional Centre has continued to act as an instrument for the implementation of regional initiatives and has intensified its contribution to the coordination of United Nations efforts towards peace and security, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/59/157. which concludes that the Regional Centre has continued to act as a facilitator for the implementation of regional initiatives by identifying regional security needs and new areas of cooperation with States and organizations in the region, and to provide more in-depth information on weapons-related matters, weapons destruction and stockpile management, including the initiation of a series of training courses for the law enforcement community, members of parliament, representatives of ministries of foreign affairs and non-governmental organizations on such matters, Welcoming also the fact that the report stresses that the Regional Centre has placed more emphasis on the inclusion of a gender perspective in its planned activities and the relationship between disarmament and development, Welcoming further the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development, established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 57/65 of 22 November 2002,See A/59/119. which is of utmost interest with regard to the role that the Regional Centre plays in promoting the issue in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament, Noting that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Welcoming the support provided by the Regional Centre to strengthening the nuclear-weapon-free zone established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. as well as to promoting and assisting the ratification and implementation of existing multilateral agreements related to weapons of mass destruction and to promoting peace and disarmament education projects during the period under review, Bearing in mind the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Bearing in mind also the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources and cooperation for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction and congratulates the Regional Centre for the expansion of the vast range of activities carried out in the last year in the fields of peace, disarmament and development, and requests the Regional Centre to take into account the proposals to be submitted by the countries of the region in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, transparency, disarmament and development at the regional level; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Invites all States of the region to continue to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its programme and making greater and better use of the potential of the Centre to meet the current challenges facing the international community with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the fields of peace, disarmament and development; 5. Recognizes that the Regional Centre has an important role in the promotion and development of regional initiatives agreed upon by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as the relationship between disarmament and development; 6. Encourages the Regional Centre to further develop activities in the important area of disarmament and development; 7. Highlights the conclusion contained in the report of the Secretary-General that the vast regional cooperation undertaken by the Regional Centre during the reporting period was evidence of the important role of the Organization as a viable regional actor in assisting countries in the region to advance the cause of peace, disarmament and development in Latin America and the Caribbean;See A/59/157, para. 39. 8. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make and to increase voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support, within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". RESOLUTION 59/9 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 22 October 2004, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/59/L.13, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 59/9. Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,Ibid. Recalling article 3 of the Pact of the League of Arab States,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 70, No. 241. which entrusts the Council of the League with the function of determining the means whereby the League will collaborate with the international organizations which may be created in the future to guarantee peace and security and organize economic and social relations, Noting the desire of both organizations to consolidate, develop and enhance further the ties existing between them in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, technical and administrative fields, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular section VII, concerning cooperation with regional arrangements and organizations, and the "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. Convinced of the need for more efficient and coordinated utilization of available economic and financial resources in order to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, Recognizing the need for the further strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations for the realization of the common goals and objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;Ibid. 2. Commends the continued efforts of the League of Arab States to promote multilateral cooperation among Arab States, and requests the United Nations system to continue to lend its support; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the follow-up action taken by him to implement the proposals adopted at the meetings between the representatives of the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, including the sectoral meeting in 2004 on the theme "Achieving and financing the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development for the members of the League of Arab States"; 4. Requests the Secretariat of the United Nations and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, within their respective fields of competence, to intensify further their cooperation for the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the strengthening of international peace and security, economic and social development, disarmament, decolonization, self-determination and the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in order to enhance their capacity to serve the mutual interests and objectives of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and administrative fields; 6. Calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system: (a) To continue to cooperate with the Secretary-General and among themselves, as well as with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, in the follow-up of multilateral proposals aimed at strengthening and expanding cooperation in all fields between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; (b) To strengthen the capacity of the League of Arab States and of its institutions and specialized organizations to benefit from globalization and information technology and to meet the development challenges of the new millennium; (c) To step up cooperation and coordination with the specialized organizations of the League of Arab States in the organization of seminars and training courses and in the preparation of studies; (d) To maintain and increase contacts and improve the mechanism of consultation with the counterpart programmes, organizations and agencies concerned regarding projects and programmes in order to facilitate their implementation; (e) To participate whenever possible with organizations and institutions of the League of Arab States in the execution and implementation of development projects in the Arab region; (f) To inform the Secretary-General of the progress made in their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations and, in particular, of the follow-up action taken on the multilateral and bilateral proposals adopted at the previous meetings between the two organizations; 7. Also calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to increase their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in the priority sectors of energy, rural development, desertification and green belts, training and vocational education, technology, environment, information and documentation, trade and finance, water resources, development of the agricultural sector, empowerment of women, transport, communications and information, promotion of the role of the private sector and capacity-building; 8. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to encourage periodic consultation between representatives of the Secretariat of the United Nations and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in order to review and strengthen coordination mechanisms with a view to accelerating implementation of, and follow-up action on, the multilateral projects, proposals and recommendations adopted at the meetings between the two organizations; 9. Recommends that the United Nations and all organizations of the United Nations system make the greatest possible use of Arab institutions and technical expertise in projects undertaken in the Arab region; 10. Reaffirms that, in order to enhance cooperation and for the purpose of the review and appraisal of progress, a general meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States should be held once every two years and that joint inter-agency sectoral meetings should also be convened on a biennial basis to address priority areas of major importance to the development of Arab States, on the basis of agreement between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; 11. Also reaffirms the importance of holding the next general meeting on cooperation between representatives of the secretariats of the organizations of the United Nations system and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations during 2005; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States". RESOLUTION 60/100 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/476, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 161 to 1, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Grenada, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Tuvalu, Uganda, United States of America, Vanuatu 60/100. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 59/117 of 10 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware of the fact that, for more than five decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for more than fifty-five years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees in the fields of education, health and relief and social services, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/60/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/60/13/Add.1). Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and living conditions, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the important role to be played in the peace process by the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and reiterates its request to the Conciliation Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2006; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its operation and its services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including those mentioned in recent emergency appeals. RESOLUTION 60/101 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/476, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 161 to 6, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Dominican Republic, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 60/101. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 59/118 of 10 December 2004,A/60/212. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/60/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/60/13/Add.1). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been complied with, and stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its sixty-first session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/102 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/476, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 159 to 6, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Uganda 60/102. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolution 59/119 of 10 December 2004, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/60/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/60/13/Add.1). Taking note of the letter dated 26 September 2005 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/60/13), p. vii. Deeply concerned about the critical financial situation of the Agency and its effect on the provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency-related and development programmes, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457. Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, Gravely concerned about the extremely difficult living conditions being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including in the Rafah and Jabaliya refugee camps, resulting, inter alia, from loss of life and injury, extensive destruction and damage to their shelters and properties, and displacement, Aware of the extraordinary efforts being undertaken by the Agency for the repair or rebuilding of thousands of damaged or destroyed refugee shelters, Aware also of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the endangerment of the safety of the Agency's staff and about the damage caused to the facilities of the Agency as a result of Israeli military operations during the reporting period, Deploring the killing of twelve Agency staff members by the Israeli occupying forces since September 2000, Deploring also the killing and wounding of children in the Agency's schools by the Israeli occupying forces, Expressing deep concern about the policies of closure and severe restrictions, including the curfews, that continue to be imposed on the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees and have greatly contributed to the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people, Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Agency's staff, vehicles and goods, and the harassment and intimidation of the Agency's staff, which undermine and obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide its essential services, notably its education, health and relief and social services, Recalling the signing, on 13 September 1993, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. Recalling the Geneva Conference convened by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation on 7 and 8 June 2004 to increase support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the difficult conditions during the past year; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,A/60/439. and the efforts of the Working Group to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work; 4. Commends the continuing efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in the Agency's programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 13A (A/60/13/Add.1). 5. Acknowledges the important support provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 6. Encourages the Agency's further consideration of the needs and rights of children in its operations in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 7. Expresses concern about the temporary relocation of the headquarters international staff of the Agency from Gaza City and the disruption of operations at the headquarters; 8. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. 9. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 10. Urges the Government of Israel to speedily compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side; 11. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which affect the Agency's operations detrimentally; 12. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 13. Affirms that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all the fields of operation; 14. Notes the success of the Agency's microfinance and microenterprise programmes, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute to the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees in all the fields of operation; 15. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency through the Palestine Refugee Records Project, and to indicate progress in her report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 16. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the Agency and to contribute to the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; 17. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground, and to support the Agency's valuable work in assisting the Palestine refugees. RESOLUTION 60/103 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/476, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 160 to 6, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Uganda 60/103. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 59/120 of 10 December 2004,A/60/256. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005,See A/60/277. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission and the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III), Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/104 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/477, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 86 to 10, with 74 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 60/104. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 59/121 of 10 December 2004, and the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Taking into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling in this regard General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuing detrimental impact of the events that have taken place since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, and the widespread destruction of property, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/60/380. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/60/294-298. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Expressing the hope that the Israeli occupation will be brought to an early end and that therefore the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, and recalling in this regard its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period;See A/60/380. 4. Expresses grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns all Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the wall, as well as the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, including extrajudicial executions; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners and detainees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 60/105 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/477, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 158 to 6, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Haiti, Uganda 60/105. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including its resolution 59/122 of 10 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol IIbid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/60/380. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/60/294-298. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and also recalling General Assembly resolution ES-10/15, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that Israel is in breach of several of the provisions of the Convention, Noting the convening for the first time, on 15 July 1999, of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, as recommended by the General Assembly in its resolution ES-10/6 of 9 February 1999, on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, and aware of the statement adopted by the Conference, Welcoming the reconvening of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on 5 December 2001 in Geneva and stressing the importance of the Declaration adopted by the Conference, and underlining the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration, Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva ConventionsIbid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and as mentioned in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth emergency special session, including resolution ES-10/15, with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/106 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/477, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 153 to 7, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Uganda 60/106. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 59/123 of 10 December 2004, as well as those resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Considering that the transfer by the occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a breach of the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol IIbid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Noting that the International Court of Justice concluded that "the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law",Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 120. Taking note of the recent report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,See A/60/271. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and noting specifically its call for a freeze on all settlement activity, Aware that Israeli settlement activities have involved, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the exploitation of natural resources and other illegal actions against the Palestinian civilian population, Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of settlement activities, in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, including the construction and expansion of the settlements in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and Ras Al-Amud in and around Occupied East Jerusalem and the so-called E-1 plan, aimed at connecting its illegal settlements around and further isolating Occupied East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern also about the continuing unlawful construction by Israel of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressing its concern in particular about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, which could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement and which is causing the Palestinian people further humanitarian hardship, Deeply concerned that the wall's route has been traced in such a way as to include the great majority of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Reiterating its opposition to settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons and the de facto annexation of land, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Gravely concerned about the dangerous situation resulting from actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, Acknowledging the importance of the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Taking note of the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/60/294-298 and A/60/380. 1. Reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Welcomes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map; 4. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 5. Emphasizes the need for the parties to speedily resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip, including the removal of rubble; 6. Reiterates its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council; 7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice;See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 8. Stresses the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 9. Reiterates its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence by Israeli settlers, especially against Palestinian civilians and properties, particularly in the light of recent developments; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/107 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/477, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 148 to 7, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Grenada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 60/107. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 59/124 of 10 December 2004, as well as those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/60/380. and the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/295. Taking note of the report of the Human Rights Inquiry Commission established by the Commission on Human RightsE/CN.4/2001/121. and the recent reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,E/CN.4/2005/29 and Add.1 and A/60/271. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, and recalling in this regard its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva ConventionIbid., vol. 75, No. 973. under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Reaffirming that all States have the right and the duty to take actions in conformity with international law and international humanitarian law to counter deadly acts of violence against their civilian population in order to protect the lives of their citizens, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, including the Sharm El-Sheikh understandings, and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Acknowledging the importance of the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and of the dismantlement of settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Expressing grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that arising from the excessive use of force, the use of collective punishment, the reoccupation and closure of areas, the confiscation of land, the establishment and expansion of settlements, the construction of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, the destruction of property and all other actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the military actions that have been carried out since 28 September 2000 and that have led to thousands of deaths among Palestinian civilians, including hundreds of children, and tens of thousands of injuries, Expressing deep concern about the continuing detrimental impact of the extensive destruction caused by the Israeli occupying forces, including of religious, cultural and historical sites, of vital infrastructure and institutions of the Palestinian Authority, and of agricultural land throughout Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, Expressing deep concern also about the Israeli policy of closure and the severe restrictions, including curfews, that continue to be imposed on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, Concerned about the continued establishment of checkpoints in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the transformation of several of these checkpoints into structures akin to permanent border crossings inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Expressing concern that thousands of Palestinians continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres under harsh conditions that impair their well-being, and also expressing concern about the ill-treatment and harassment of any Palestinian prisoners and all reports of torture, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting the Palestinian civilians and to help the parties to implement agreements reached, and, in this regard, recalls the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Stressing the necessity for the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, 1. Reiterates that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation and in breach of the Convention, including all of its settlement activities and the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, as well as the extrajudicial executions; 3. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction of homes, properties, agricultural lands and vital infrastructure; 4. Expresses grave concern at the use of suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians resulting in extensive loss of life and injury; 5. Welcomes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map; 6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people, and that it respect human rights law and comply with its legal obligations in this regard; 8. Demands also that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of JusticeSee A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and as demanded in resolution ES-10/15 and resolution ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, and that it immediately cease the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, dismantle forthwith the structure situated therein, repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto, and make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall; 9. Stresses the need for unity and territorial integrity of all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to guarantee the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world; 10. Stresses also the need for the full implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/108 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/477, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 1, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, United States of America, Vanuatu 60/108. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,See A/60/380. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 59/125 of 10 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 59/125,A/60/298. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening at Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 60/109 A and B Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/479, para. 11)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Committee on Information. 60/109. Questions relating to information A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/60/21). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/60/173. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting tele-communication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of CommunicationSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September-28 October 1980, vol. I, Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which should support both public and private media. B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Emphasizing the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Reaffirming its resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, establishing the Department, which states in paragraph 2 of annex I that "the activities of the Department should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world", Concurring with the view of the Secretary-General that the contents of public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations and that a culture of communications should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create broad-based global support for the United Nations, Stressing that the primary mission of the Department of Public Information is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive and timely information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, Recalling that the comprehensive review of the work of the Department of Public Information, requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, and the implementation of its second phase, described in the report of the Secretary-General on reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications to the Committee on Information at its twenty-fifth session,A/AC.198/2003/2. as well as the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change",A/57/387 and Corr.1. and Assembly resolutions 57/300 of 20 December 2002 and 59/126 B of 10 December 2004, as they apply to the Department, providing an opportunity to take due steps to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department and to maximize the use of its resources, Expressing concern that the gap in the information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that vast segments of the population in developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and technology revolution, and, in this regard, underlining the necessity of rectifying the imbalances of the global information and technology revolution in order to make it more just, equitable and effective, Recognizing that developments in the information and communication technology revolution open vast new opportunities for economic growth and social development and can play an important role in the eradication of poverty in developing countries, and, at the same time, emphasizing that the revolution also poses challenges and risks and could lead to the further widening of disparities between and within countries, Recalling its resolution 59/309 of 22 June 2005 on multilingualism, and emphasizing the importance of making appropriate use of the official languages of the United Nations in the activities of the Department of Public Information, aiming to eliminate the disparity between the use of English and the five other official languages, Welcoming Cape Verde, Iceland, Luxembourg, Madagascar and Qatar to membership in the Committee on Information, I Introduction 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I), in which it established the Department of Public Information, and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions related to the activities of the Department, and requests the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of its resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms that the United Nations remains the indispensable foundation of a peaceful and just world and that its voice must be heard in a clear and effective manner, and emphasizes the essential role of the Department of Public Information in this context, the activities of which should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world; 3. Stresses the importance of the clear and timely provision of information by the Secretariat to Member States, upon their request, within the framework of existing mandates and procedures; 4. Reaffirms the central role of the Committee on Information in United Nations public information policies and activities, including the prioritization of those activities, and decides that recommendations relating to the programme of the Department of Public Information shall originate, to the extent possible, in the Committee and shall be considered by the Committee; 5. Requests the Department of Public Information, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly in its resolution 59/275 of 23 December 2004, and guided by the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the needs of the African continent; 6. Also requests the Department of Public Information to pay particular attention to progress in implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the outcomes of the major related United Nations summits and conferences in carrying out its activities; 7. Reaffirms the need to enhance the technological infrastructure of the Department of Public Information on a continuous basis in order to widen its outreach and improve the United Nations website; 8. Recognizes the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues, and encourages a continued collaboration between the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of culture and in the fields of education and communication; II General activities of the Department of Public Information 9. Notes the proposals of the Secretary-General to improve the effective and targeted delivery of public information activities, emphasizes that these proposals should be in accordance with the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; 10. Acknowledges that the Department of Public Information has entered the third and final year of its collaborative project with the Office of Internal Oversight Services to systematically evaluate public information products and activities, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the final outcome of the project to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; 11. Requests the Department of Public Information, in this regard, to continue to evaluate its products and activities with the objective of improving their effectiveness, including through interdepartmental consultations; 12. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the focal point for information policies of the United Nations and the primary news centre for information about the United Nations, its activities and those of the Secretary-General; 13. Also reaffirms the importance of better coordination between the Department of Public Information and the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure consistency in the messages of the Organization; 14. Further reaffirms that the Department of Public Information must prioritize its work programme while respecting existing mandates and in line with regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. to focus its message and concentrate its efforts better and, as a function of performance management, to match its programmes with the needs of its target audiences, on the basis of improved feedback and evaluation mechanisms; 15. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the Department of Public Information to publicize the work and decisions of the General Assembly, encourages the Department to further strengthen its working relationship with the Office of the President of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations website and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 17. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to coordinate closely with all other departments of the Secretariat, to avoid duplication in the issuance of United Nations publications and to ensure that they are produced in a cost-effective manner; 18. Emphasizes that the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, and that the Department's activities should contribute to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 19. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen the coordination between the Department of Public Information and other departments of the Secretariat in the context of its client-oriented approach and to identify target audiences and develop information programmes and media strategies for priority issues, and emphasizes that public information capacities and activities in other departments should function under the guidance of the Department; 20. Welcomes the initiatives that have been taken by the Department of Public Information to strengthen the public information system of the United Nations, and, in this regard, stresses the importance of the coherent and results-oriented approach being taken by the United Nations, the specialized agencies and the programmes and funds of the United Nations system involved in public information activities and the provision of resources for their implementation, and that feedback from Member States on the relevance and effectiveness of programme delivery should be taken into account; 21. Notes with appreciation the continued efforts of the Department of Public Information in issuing daily press releases, and requests the Department to continue providing this invaluable service to both Member States and representatives of the media, while considering possible means of improving their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States; 22. Also notes with appreciation the efforts of the Department of Public Information to work at the local level with other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to enhance the coordination of their communication activities, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session on progress achieved in this regard and on the activities of the United Nations Communications Group; 23. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to examine its policies and activities regarding the durable preservation of its radio, television and photographic archives, to take action, within existing resources, to ensure that such archives are preserved and are accessible and to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; Multilingualism and public information 24. Emphasizes the importance of making appropriate use of all the official languages of the United Nations in all the activities of the Department of Public Information, with the aim of eliminating the disparity between the use of English and the five other official languages; 25. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to enhance multilingualism in its activities, and encourages the Department to continue its endeavours in this regard; 26. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all activities of the Department of Public Information, and, in this regard, reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department has appropriate staffing capacity in all official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities; 27. Stresses the importance of fully implementing its resolution 52/214 of 22 December 1997, in section C of which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents in all six official languages and information materials of the United Nations are made available daily through the United Nations website and are accessible to Member States without delay; 28. Reiterates paragraph 4 of section C of its resolution 52/214, and requests the Secretary-General to continue towards completion of the task of uploading all important older United Nations documents on the United Nations website in all six official languages on a priority basis, so that these archives are also available to Member States through that medium; 29. Reaffirms that it is important that the Secretary-General include in future programme budget proposals for the Department of Public Information the importance of using all six official languages in its activities; 30. Takes note with appreciation of the work done by the network of United Nations information centres in favour of the publication of United Nations information materials and the translation of important documents in languages other than United Nations official languages, with a view to reaching the widest possible spectrum of audiences and extending the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization; Bridging the digital divide 31. Notes with satisfaction the adoption of the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of ActionSee A/C.2/59/3. at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, and welcomes the holding of the second phase of the Summit from 16 to 18 November 2005 in Tunis; 32. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to contribute to raising the awareness of the international community of the importance of the World Summit on the Information Society and the need to join efforts to make it a success; 33. Recalls paragraph 32 of its resolution 59/126 B, and welcomes the contribution of the Department of Public Information in publicizing the efforts of the Secretary-General to close the digital divide as a means of spurring economic growth and as a response to the continuing gap between developed and developing countries, and, in this context, requests the Department to further enhance its role; Network of United Nations information centres 34. Emphasizes the importance of the network of United Nations information centres in enhancing the public image of the United Nations and in disseminating messages on the United Nations to local populations, especially in developing countries; 35. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on further rationalization of the network of United Nations information centres,A/AC.198/2005/3. and, in this regard, recognizes the constraints of further regionalization as described in paragraph 25 of the report; 36. Stresses the importance of rationalizing the network of United Nations information centres, and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to continue to make proposals in this direction, including through the redeployment of resources where necessary, and to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; 37. Reaffirms that rationalization of United Nations information centres must be carried out on a case-by-case basis in consultation with all concerned Member States in which existing information centres are located, the countries served by those information centres and other interested countries in the region, taking into consideration the distinctive characteristics of each region; 38. Recognizes that the network of United Nations information centres, especially in developing countries, should continue to enhance its impact and activities, including through strategic communications support, and calls upon the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of this approach to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; 39. Stresses the importance of taking into account the special needs and requirements of developing countries in the field of information and communications technology for the effective flow of information in those countries; 40. Also stresses that the Department of Public Information, through its network of United Nations information centres, should continue to promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in local languages has the strongest impact on local populations; 41. Further stresses the importance of efforts to strengthen the outreach activities of the United Nations to those Member States remaining outside the network of United Nations information centres, and encourages the Secretary-General, within the context of rationalization, to extend the services of the network of United Nations information centres to those Member States; 42. Stresses that the Department of Public Information should continue to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to the United Nations information centres in developing countries, emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries; 43. Encourages the network of United Nations information centres to continue to develop web pages in local languages, also encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to those information centres whose web pages are not yet operational, and further encourages host countries to respond to the needs of the information centres; 44. Takes note of the proposal by the Secretary-General to work closely with the Governments concerned to explore the possibility of identifying rent-free premises, while taking into account the economic condition of the host countries and bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial resources for the information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 45. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the discussion regarding the creation of a United Nations information centre in LuandaIbid., para. 40. to address the special needs of Portuguese-speaking African countries, welcomes the offer made by the Government of Angola to host the centre as part of the network of United Nations information centres by providing rent-free premises, and encourages the Secretary-General, within the context of rationalization, to take all necessary measures to accommodate those needs; III Strategic communications services 46. Takes note of paragraph 19 of the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing reorientation of United Nations activities in the field of public information and communications,A/AC.198/2005/2 and Corr.1. and, in this context, reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the principal department responsible for the implementation of information strategies, as mandated; 47. Reaffirms the role of the strategic communications services in devising and disseminating United Nations messages by developing communications strategies, in close collaboration with the substantive departments, United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, in full compliance with the legislative mandates; Promotional campaigns 48. Recognizes that promotional campaigns aimed at supporting special sessions and international conferences of the United Nations are part of the core responsibility of the Department of Public Information, welcomes the efforts of the Department to examine creative ways in which it can organize and implement these campaigns in partnership with the substantive departments concerned, using the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. as its guide, and requests the Department to pay particular attention to progress in implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the outcomes of the major related United Nations summits and conferences in carrying out its activities; 49. Appreciates the work of the Department of Public Information in promoting, through its campaigns, issues of importance to the international community, such as sustainable development, strategic coordination in humanitarian relief, especially in natural disasters and other crises, children, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and decolonization, as well as the dialogue among civilizations, culture of peace and tolerance and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and encourages the Department, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of these and other important global issues; 50. Welcomes the new initiative of the Department of Public Information entitled "Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About"; 51. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to work within the United Nations Communications Group to coordinate the preparation and implementation of communication strategies with the heads of information of the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at successive sessions on the activities of the Group; 52. Stresses the need for the renewed emphasis in support of Africa's development, in particular by the Department of Public Information, in order to promote awareness in the international community of the nature of the critical economic and social situation in Africa and of the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. Role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping 53. Commends the efforts of the Secretary-General to strengthen the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information for the establishment and functioning of the information components of United Nations peacekeeping operations and of political and peacebuilding missions, including its promotional efforts and other information support activities, and requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department from the planning stage of future operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 54. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role in the selection process of spokespersons for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and, in this regard, encourages the Department to second spokespersons who have the necessary skills to fulfil the tasks of the operations or missions, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution in accordance with Chapter XV, Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and to consider views expressed, especially by host countries, when appropriate, in this regard; 55. Welcomes the actions taken by the Department of Public Information to increase its involvement in the planning stage of new or expanding peacekeeping operations, as well as the deployment of public information components in new missions, also welcomes the improvements made to the peacekeeping portal on the United Nations website, and encourages the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts in supporting the peacekeeping missions to further develop their websites; 56. Encourages the Department of Public Information and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to continue their cooperation in raising awareness of the new realities, successes and challenges faced by peacekeeping operations, especially multidimensional and complex ones, and of the recent surge in United Nations peacekeeping activities, and welcomes efforts by the two Departments to develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy on current challenges facing United Nations peacekeeping; 57. Also encourages the Department of Public Information and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to cooperate in establishing an effective outreach programme to explain the policy of the Organization against sexual exploitation and abuse; 58. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping operations; Role of the Department of Public Information in strengthening dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace as means of enhancing understanding among nations 59. Recalls its resolutions 53/22 of 4 November 1998 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, 52/15 of 20 November 1997, by which it proclaimed 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, 53/25 of 10 November 1998, by which it proclaimed the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, and 59/142 of 15 December 2004 on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, encourages the Department of Public Information to continue to provide the necessary support for the dissemination of information pertaining to dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace and to take due steps in fostering the culture of dialogue among civilizations via all mass media, such as the Internet, print, radio and television, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report in this regard to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions; IV News services 60. Stresses that the central objective of the news services implemented by the Department of Public Information is the timely delivery of accurate, objective and balanced news and information emanating from the United Nations system in all four mass media - print, radio, television and Internet - to the media and other audiences worldwide, with the overall emphasis on multilingualism, and reiterates its request to the Department to ensure that all news-breaking stories and news alerts are accurate, impartial and free of bias; Traditional means of communication 61. Also stresses that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, including development and peacekeeping, with a view to achieving a broad client base around the world; 62. Notes that the international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations is an integral part of the activities of the Department of Public Information, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure its success and to report on its activities to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; 63. Encourages the Secretary-General to achieve parity in the six official languages in United Nations radio production; 64. Notes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages, with the addition of Portuguese, as well as in other languages where possible, and, in this regard, stresses the need for impartiality and objectivity concerning information activities of the United Nations; 65. Encourages the Department of Public Information to continue building partnerships with local, national and regional broadcasters to extend the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in an accurate and impartial way, and also encourages the Radio and Television Service of the Department to continue to take full advantage of the technological infrastructure made available in recent years; United Nations website 66. Reaffirms that the United Nations website remains a very useful tool for the media, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, Member States and the general public, and, in this regard, reiterates its appreciation for the efforts of the Department of Public Information in creating and maintaining it; 67. Recognizes the efforts made by the Department of Public Information to implement the basic accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities to the United Nations website, calls upon the Department to continue to work towards compliance with all levels of accessibility requirements on all pages of the website with the aim of ensuring its accessibility by persons with different kinds of disabilities, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session on progress made in this regard; 68. Reaffirms the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on United Nations websites while noting with concern the increasing gap among different official languages on United Nations websites; 69. Takes note of the fact that the multilingual development and enrichment of the United Nations website has improved, although at a slower rate than expected owing to several constraints that need to be addressed, and, in this regard, requests the Department of Public Information, in coordination with content-providing offices, to improve the actions undertaken to achieve parity among the six official languages on the United Nations website; 70. Welcomes the cooperative arrangements undertaken by the Department of Public Information with academic institutions to increase the number of web pages available in some official languages, and encourages the Secretary-General to explore additional ways to further extend these cooperative arrangements to include all the official languages of the United Nations; 71. Stresses the need to adopt a decision on the multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment of the United Nations website, and requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals to establish separate language units for each of the six official languages within the Department of Public Information, in order to achieve full parity among the official languages of the United Nations; 72. Reaffirms paragraph 2 of part IX of its resolution 59/276 of 23 December 2004 on proposals to strengthen the United Nations website; 73. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure, until such a decision has been taken and implemented and while maintaining an up-to-date and accurate website, the adequate distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the United Nations website among all official languages, taking into consideration the specificity of each official language on a continuous basis; 74. Takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General to translate all English language materials and databases posted on the United Nations websites by the respective content-providing offices of the Secretariat into all official languages,A/AC.198/2002/6, para. 33. and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session on the most practical, efficient and cost-effective means of implementing this proposal; 75. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the expeditious dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by General Assembly resolutions and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 76. Recognizes that some official languages use non-Latin and bidirectional scripts and that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations are based on Latin script, which leads to difficulties in processing non-Latin and bidirectional scripts, and requests the Department of Public Information, in cooperation with the Information Technology Services Division of the Department of Management, to continue its efforts to ensure that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations fully support Latin, non-Latin and bidirectional scripts in order to enhance the equality of all official languages on the United Nations website; 77. Notes with satisfaction that access to the Official Document System of the United Nations, which is now being provided free to the public through its integration with the United Nations website, has resulted in a significant enhancement of the multilingual nature of the website owing to the availability of United Nations parliamentary documentation in the six official languages; 78. Also notes with satisfaction that United Nations webcast services provide live video of United Nations meetings and events, and encourages the Department of Public Information to also make the webcast available in the original language in which it is delivered; 79. Welcomes the electronic mail-based United Nations News Service, distributed worldwide in the English and French languages through e-mail by the Department of Public Information, and requests the Department as a matter of priority to continue to examine ways to provide this service in all official languages; 80. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to work within the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and other appropriate inter-agency bodies to establish a United Nations gateway, an inter-agency search facility in which all entities of the United Nations system should be encouraged to participate, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the activities of the High-level Committee on Management in this regard; V Library services 81. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Modernization and integrated management of United Nations libraries: new strategic directions";A/AC.198/2005/4. 82. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to lead the Steering Committee for the Modernization and Integrated Management of United Nations Libraries, and encourages the member libraries of the Steering Committee to coordinate closely and to establish time frames for the fulfilment of its programme of work; 83. Takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the review of the operations and management of United Nations libraries,A/59/373. requests the Steering Committee to pursue new strategies for the work of United Nations libraries, which should aim at enhancing the effectiveness of libraries within existing legislative mandates, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session; 84. Also takes note of the steps taken by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the other member libraries of the Steering Committee to align their activities, services and outputs more closely with the goals, objectives and operational priorities of the Organization; 85. Reiterates the need to enable the provision of hard copies of library materials to Member States, and notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to enrich, on a multilingual basis, the stock of books and journals in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, in order to ensure that the Library is enriched and continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 86. Recognizes the importance of the depository libraries in disseminating information and knowledge about United Nations activities, and, in this connection, urges the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in its capacity as the focal point, to continue to take the initiatives necessary to strengthen such libraries by providing regional training and other assistance and by improving their role with the aim of strengthening their support to users in developing countries; 87. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session on the activities of the Steering Committee and the work of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, including on the application of measures to enhance the effectiveness of the libraries within existing legislative mandates; 88. Acknowledges that the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, as part of the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information, endeavours to facilitate access to timely and up-to-date library products and services for use by delegates, permanent missions of Member States, the Secretariat, researchers and depository libraries worldwide; 89. Notes the holding of training courses conducted by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library for the representatives of Member States and Secretariat staff on the use of Cyberseek, web search, the Intranet, United Nations documentation, United Nations Info Quest and the Official Document System of the United Nations; 90. Recalls paragraph 44 of its resolution 56/64 B of 24 December 2001, in which it welcomed the role of the Department of Public Information in fostering increased collaboration among libraries of the United Nations system; VI Outreach services 91. Acknowledges that the outreach services implemented by the Department of Public Information continue to work towards promoting awareness of the role and work of the United Nations on priority issues; 92. Notes the importance of the continued implementation by the Department of Public Information of the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, as mandated by the General Assembly, and encourages the Department to consider how best to maximize the benefits derived from the programme by reviewing, inter alia, its duration and the number of its participants; 93. Welcomes the movement towards educational outreach and the orientation of the UN Chronicle, both print and online editions, and, to this end, encourages the UN Chronicle to continue to develop co-publishing partnerships, collaborative educational activities and events, including the "Unlearning Intolerance" seminar series, with civil society organizations and institutions of higher learning; 94. Reaffirms the important role that guided tours play as a means of reaching out to the general public, including children and students at all levels; 95. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Department of Public Information in organizing exhibitions on important United Nations-related issues within existing mandates at United Nations Headquarters and at other United Nations offices as a useful tool for reaching out to the general public; 96. Requests the Department of Public Information to strengthen its role as a focal point for two-way interaction with civil society relating to the priorities and concerns of the Organization; 97. Commends the United Nations Correspondents Association on its Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Scholarship Fund, which sponsors journalists from developing countries to come to the United Nations Headquarters and report on the activities during the General Assembly, and urges donors to extend financial support to the Fund so that it may increase the number of such scholarships to journalists in this context; 98. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts and contribution of United Nations Messengers of Peace, Goodwill Ambassadors and other advocates to promote the work of the United Nations and to enhance international public awareness of its priorities and concerns, and calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to involve them in its communications and media strategies and outreach activities; 99. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its next session on the activities being carried out by the Department of Public Information to enhance the public image of the Organization, especially where there is a component of the network of United Nation information centres; VII Final remarks 100. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all reports requested by the Committee on Information are submitted and issued in accordance with the legislative mandate; 101. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-eighth session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 102. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 103. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 60/10 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 3 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.4/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 60/10. Promotion of interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 56/6 of 9 November 2001, on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, concerning the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, on the prevention of armed conflict, 58/128 of 19 December 2003, on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, 59/199 of 20 December 2004, on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, and 59/23 of 11 November 2004, on the promotion of interreligious dialogue, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome of 16 September 2005,See resolution 60/1. in which the Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the value of the dialogue on interfaith cooperation and committed themselves to taking action to promote a culture of peace and dialogue at the local, national, regional and international levels, Affirming the need for all States to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, in an effort to prevent the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and cultures,As recognized also in Security Council resolution 1624 (2005). Underlining the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, and recalling that all States have pledged themselves under the Charter to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Taking note of several mutually inclusive and reinforcing initiatives on interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogues and cooperation for peace,See A/60/201. including the Regional Summit on Interreligious and Inter-ethnic Dialogue, held in Tirana on 9 and 10 December 2004, the meeting on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue for the South-East Asia and the Pacific Region, held in Melbourne, Australia, from 12 to 14 April 2005, the initiative of Pakistan on "enlightened moderation", endorsed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the International Conference on Environment, Peace and the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures, held in Tehran on 9 and 10 May 2005, the launch of the Alliance of Civilizations by the Secretary-General on 14 July 2005, the launch of the World Summit on Christian-Muslim Relations, to be held in Senegal in 2007, the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held triennially in Astana, the Asia-Europe Meeting Interfaith Dialogue on the theme "Building Interfaith Harmony within the International Community", held in Bali, Indonesia, on 21 and 22 July 2005,See A/60/254. the Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace: Enhancing Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation Towards Peace in the Twenty-first Century, held at United Nations Headquarters on 22 June 2005,See A/60/269-E/2005/91, annex II, attachment. and the Informal Meeting of Leaders on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace, held at United Nations Headquarters on 13 September 2005,See A/60/383. Recognizing the commitment of all religions to peace, 1. Affirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on interreligious dialogue in the context of its efforts to promote dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, as well as activities related to a culture of peace, welcomes its focus on concrete action at both the global and the regional and subregional levels and its new flagship activity on the promotion of interfaith dialogue, and encourages relevant bodies of the United Nations to work closely with the Organization and coordinate their efforts in this regard; 3. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to bring the promotion of interreligious dialogue to the attention of all Governments, regional organizations and relevant international organizations, including ways to strengthen the linkages and focus more on practical actions in the implementation of the initiatives on interreligious dialogue and cooperation for peace; 4. Also invites the Secretary-General, in the context of his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Culture of peace", to include information on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/110 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/480, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 169 to none, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, France, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 60/110. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 59/127 of 10 December 2004, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/69 and Corr.1. 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned to transmit or continue to transmit to the Secretary-General the information prescribed in Article 73 e of the Charter, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. RESOLUTION 60/111 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/481, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 169 to 1, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60/111. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. V. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the Assembly, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Reaffirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Reiterates that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, are a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and also appeals to the media to disseminate information about the developments in this regard; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/112 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/482, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. as orally amended, by a recorded vote of 123 to none, with 50 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60/112. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/64. and the report of the Economic and Social CouncilE/2005/47 and Corr.1. on the item, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. VI. Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/53 of 23 July 2004, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the current participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded programmes of assistance for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations resolutions and decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling General Assembly resolution 59/129 of 10 December 2004 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/64. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in which they are members to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions; 4. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) The illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the adoption by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of its resolution 574 (XXVII) of 16 May 1998See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 21 (E/1998/41), chap. III, sect. G. calling for the necessary mechanisms for its associate members, including small island Non-Self-Governing Territories, to participate in the special sessions of the General Assembly, subject to the rules of procedure of the Assembly, to review and assess the implementation of the plans of action of those United Nations world conferences in which the Territories originally participated in the capacity of observer, and in the work of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies; 13. Requests the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to maintain close contact on these matters with the President of the Economic and Social Council; 14. Requests the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and the Special Committee, to prepare an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to disseminate it widely in them; 15. Welcomes the continuing initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 16. Encourages the Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies; 17. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 18. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 20. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for the coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 21. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/113 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/483, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 60/113. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/130 of 10 December 2004, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/60/67. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/67. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or to continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/114 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/472, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/114. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 59/131 of 10 December 2004, Recalling also all resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the question of Western Sahara, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara,See S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. Recalling Security Council resolutions 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001 and 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002, as well as 1495 (2003) of 31 July 2003, in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western SaharaS/2003/565 and Corr.1, annex II. as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties, and resolutions 1541 (2004) of 29 April 2004, 1570 (2004) of 28 October 2004 and 1598 (2005) of 28 April 2005, Taking note of the responses of the parties and neighbouring States to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General concerning the peace plan contained in the report of the Secretary-General of 23 May 2003,S/2003/565 and Corr.1. Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in accordance with the proposal made by the Secretary-General, and stressing the importance it attaches to the maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan, Underlining, in this regard, the validity of the settlement plan, while noting the fundamental differences between the parties in its implementation, Stressing that the lack of progress in the settlement of the dispute on Western Sahara continues to cause suffering to the people of Western Sahara, remains a source of potential instability in the region and obstructs the economic development of the Maghreb region and that, in view of this, the search for a political solution is critically needed, Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in search of a mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. VIII. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/116. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/116. 2. Underlines Security Council resolution 1495 (2003), in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties; 3. Underlines also that the parties reacted differently to this plan; 4. Continues to support strongly the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute over Western Sahara; 5. Commends the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for their outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provide for those efforts; 6. Calls upon all the parties and the States of the region to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy; 7. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara; 8. Calls upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross in its efforts to solve the problem of the fate of the people unaccounted for, and calls upon the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release without further delay all those held since the start of the conflict; 9. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 10. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/115 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/472, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 60/115. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. VIII. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia as exemplified by the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 by the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and also those provisions of the Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment; 4. Also notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, according to their regulations; 5. Further notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 6. Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 7. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to transmit to the Secretary-General information as required under Article 73 e of the Charter; 8. Invites all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all sectors of the population, according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 9. Welcomes the measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 10. Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 11. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous Kanak culture of New Caledonia; 12. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia; 13. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 14. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 15. Welcomes also the cooperative attitude of other States and Territories in the region towards New Caledonia, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs and its intention to host the 2005 meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Pacific Islands Forum; 16. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 17. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue the examination of the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/116 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/472, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 60/116. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Tokelau,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. X. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular Assembly resolution 59/133 of 10 December 2004, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Noting also with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Recalling the inauguration in 1999 of a national legislative body, the General Fono, based on village elections by universal adult suffrage and the assumption by that body in June 2003 of full responsibility for the Tokelau budget, Recalling also the report of the United Nations mission dispatched in August 2002 to Tokelau at the invitation of the Government of New Zealand and the representatives of Tokelau,A/AC.109/2002/31. Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and that, as a case study pointing to successful cooperation for decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, Recalling that New Zealand and Tokelau signed in November 2003 a document entitled "Joint statement of the principles of partnership", which sets out in writing, for the first time, the rights and obligations of the two partner countries, Bearing in mind the decision of the General Fono at its meeting in November 2003, following extensive consultations undertaken in all three villages, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association, and its decision in August 2005 to hold a referendum on self-government on the basis of a draft constitution for Tokelau and a treaty of free association with New Zealand, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Welcomes the substantial progress made towards the devolution of power to the three taupulega (village councils), in particular the delegation of the Administrator's powers to the three taupulega with effect from 1 July 2004 and the assumption by each taupulega from that date of full responsibility for the management of all its public services; 3. Recalls the decision of the General Fono in November 2003, following extensive consultations in all three villages and a meeting of the Special Committee on the Constitution of Tokelau, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association, and the discussions between Tokelau and New Zealand pursuant to the General Fono decision; 4. Welcomes the decision of the General Fono in August 2005 to hold a referendum on self-government on the basis of a draft constitution for Tokelau and a treaty of free association with New Zealand, and notes the General Fono's enactment of rules for the referendum; 5. Notes that it is the wish of Tokelau, supported by New Zealand, that the United Nations monitor the referendum; 6. Acknowledges Tokelau's initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2002-2004 to advance its capacity for self-government, and notes that a plan for the period 2005-2007 has been finalized; 7. Also acknowledges the continuing assistance that New Zealand has committed to promoting Tokelau's welfare, as well as the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme, including the relief and recovery assistance provided in the aftermath of Cyclone Percy earlier this year; 8. Further acknowledges Tokelau's need for continued reassurance, given the cultural adjustments that are taking place with the strengthening of its capacity for self-government and, since local resources cannot adequately cover the material side of self-determination, the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau's external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance; 9. Welcomes the establishment of the Tokelau International Trust Fund to support the future development needs of Tokelau and the facilitation of this process through a donor round table to be convened by the United Nations Development Programme following an act of self-determination by Tokelau, and calls upon Member States and international and regional agencies to announce contributions to the Fund and thereby lend practical support to assist this emerging country in overcoming the problems of smallness, isolation and lack of resources; 10. Also welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 11. Further welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and territories in the region towards Tokelau, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 12. Welcomes the associate membership of Tokelau in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, its recent accession to membership in the Forum Fisheries Agency and its application for observer status at the Pacific Islands Forum and associate membership in the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission; 13. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures in the context of its ongoing constitutional evolution; 14. Welcomes the actions taken by the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of Tokelau to the Secretary-General; 15. Notes with satisfaction the successful visit to Tokelau in October 2004 by the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to attend the workshop of the Tokelauan Special Committee on the Constitution; 16. Notes the considerable progress made towards the adoption of a Constitution and of national symbols by Tokelau, the steps taken by Tokelau and New Zealand to agree to a draft treaty of free association as a basis for an act of self-determination and the strong support expressed by Tokelauan communities in New Zealand for the move by Tokelau towards self-determination; 17. Welcomes the invitation extended by the representatives of Tokelau and the administering Power to the United Nations to monitor an act of self-determination by Tokelau; 18. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTIONS 60/117 A and B Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/472, para. 32)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 60/117. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. IX. Recalling all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and other resolutions of the Assembly, Recalling General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV), containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing its concern that more than forty-four years after the adoption of the Declaration there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,See A/56/61, annex. Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Taking note of the stated position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Non-Self-Governing Territories under its administration,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Fourth Committee, 3rd meeting (A/C.4/59/SR.3), and corrigendum. Taking note also of the stated position of the Government of the United States of America on the Non-Self-Governing Territories under its administration,Ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Plenary Meetings, 72nd meeting (A/58/PV.72), and corrigendum. Taking note further of the stated positions of the representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories before the Special Committee and in its regional seminars, Noting the constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories about which the Special Committee has received information, Aware of the importance both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, under the supervision of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained, Aware of the importance of international financial services for the economies of some of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the local and regional levels, including their participation in the work of regional organizations, Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, and considering the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers, Mindful also that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to embark actively on a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining an understanding of the options of self-determination, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in their success, while recognizing the need for reviewing the role of those seminars in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that, by holding a Caribbean regional seminar in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, the Special Committee was able to hear the views of the representatives of the Territories and Member States as well as organizations and experts in the region, Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. II, annex. in order to review the political, economic and social conditions in the Territories, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation and, in this connection, bearing in mind the applicability to the territories of the programmes of action of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,See Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum). the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction,See A/CONF.172/9, chap. I. the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,See Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994, (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II),Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related IntoleranceSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and other relevant United Nations world conferences and summits, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific, Aware that the Human Rights Committee, as part of its mandate under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. reviews the status of the self-determination process of small island Territories under examination by the Special Committee, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Reaffirms also that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions; 3. Reaffirms further that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection reiterates its long-standing call for the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments, to promote political education in the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 4. Requests the administering Powers to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter; 5. Stresses the importance of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples being apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their respective administering Powers; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to follow closely the developments in legislation in the area of international financial services and their impact on the economy in some of the Territories; 8. Requests the Territories and the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories under their administration against any environmental degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in those Territories; 9. Welcomes the participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in regional activities, including the work of regional organizations; 10. Stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,See A/56/61, annex. in particular by expediting the application of the work programme for the decolonization of each Non-Self-Governing Territory, on a case-by-case basis and by completing the periodic analyses of the progress and extent of the implementation of the Declaration in each Territory; 11. Invites the administering Powers to participate fully in the work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration and in order to advise the Special Committee on the implementation of provisions under Article 73 b of the Charter on efforts to promote self-government in the Territories; 12. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 13. Notes that some Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by one administering Power, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, namely, of amending or enacting legislation for the Territories through Orders in Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power; 14. Takes note of the constitutional reviews in the Territories administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, led by the territorial Governments and designed to address the internal constitutional structure within the present territorial arrangement; 15. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the midterm review of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/60/71 and Add.1. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of decolonization resolutions adopted since the declaration of the Second International Decade; 16. Requests the Special Committee to collaborate with the Human Rights Committee within the framework of its mandate on the right to self-determination as contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. with the aim of exchanging information, given that the Committee reviews political and constitutional developments in many of the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are under review by the Special Committee; 17. Also requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. B Individual Territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the position of the administering Power and the statements of representatives of American Samoa made in the regional seminars expressing satisfaction with the Territory's present relationship with the United States of America, Noting that the Government of the Territory continues to take steps to increase revenues and decrease government expenditures, Noting also that the Territory, similar to isolated communities with limited funds, continues to experience a lack of adequate medical and other infrastructural facilities, 1. Notes that the Department of the Interior of the United States of America provides that the Secretary of the Interior has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa;Pursuant to Secretary's Order 2657, Department of the Interior, United States of America. 2. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the economic and social development of the Territory, including measures to rebuild financial management capabilities and strengthen other governmental functions of the Government of the Territory, and welcomes the assistance from the administering Power to the Territory in its recovery efforts following the recent floods; 3. Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the Governor of American Samoa and reiterated, most recently at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, to send a visiting mission to the Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission, and requests the Chairman of the Special Committee to take all the necessary steps to that end; 4. Takes note of the statement of the representative of the Governor of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar requesting the Special Committee to provide information on the process of self-governance;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. II, annex, para. 22. II Anguilla Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Recalling the holding of the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, the first time that the seminar has been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, Noting the desire of the territorial Government and the people of Anguilla for a visiting mission by the Special Committee, Aware of the efforts of the Government of Anguilla to continue to develop the Territory as a viable offshore centre and well-regulated financial centre for investors by enacting modern company and trust laws, as well as partnership and insurance legislation, and computerizing the company registry system, 1. Welcomes the constitutional review process led by the Government of Anguilla in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Recalls the cooperation of the territorial Government of Anguilla and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in holding the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, and notes that the staging of the seminar in a Non-Self-Governing Territory for the first time, as well as a town hall meeting between the people of Anguilla and the Special Committee during the seminar, contributed to its success; III Bermuda Noting the results of the independence referendum held on 16 August 1995, conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties of the Territory on the future status of the Territory, and aware of the active boycott of the referendum by the then-opposition party, Noting also the statement of the Premier of Bermuda in his Founder's Day address that there could never be a true democracy as long as the country remains a colony or an overseas dependent Territory, and that only with independence can national unity be forged and pride in being Bermudian fully developed, 1. Welcomes the agreement reached in June 2002 between the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Territory formally transferring the former military base lands to the territorial Government, and the provision of financial resources to address some of the environmental problems; 2. Also welcomes the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to Bermuda at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and on the experiences of other small States that have achieved a full measure of self-government; 3. Decides to follow closely the public consultations on the future political status of Bermuda under way in the Territory, and requests the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; IV British Virgin Islands Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, 1. Welcomes the constitutional review process led by the Government of the British Virgin Islands in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Takes note of the statement made by the representative of the Legislative Council of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005,Ibid., para. 23. who presented an analysis of the internal constitutional review process; 3. Welcomes the establishment of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands as a mechanism for functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories and the subsequent creation of eleven standing committees on natural resources management, mutual disaster preparedness and assistance and constitutional development, among other areas; V Cayman Islands Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, Noting the approval by the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Territory's Vision 2008 Development Plan, which aims to promote development that is consistent with the aims and values of Caymanian society, 1. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of the Cayman Islands in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Takes note of the statement made by the representative of the Non-Governmental Organizations Constitutional Working Group of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005,Ibid., para. 34. which called for a comprehensive educational programme, to be defined by the Special Committee, on the issue of self-determination, as well as a visiting mission to the Territory; VI Guam Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established the process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Aware of the potential for diversifying and developing the economy of Guam through commercial fishing and agriculture and other viable activities, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam,See A/AC.109/2058, para. 33 (20). 1. Calls upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 2. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory; 4. Further requests the administering Power to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 5. Requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 6. Also requests the administering Power to continue to support appropriate measures by the territorial Government aimed at promoting growth in commercial fishing and agricultural and other viable activities; VII Montserrat Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the Chief Minister of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003, Noting with concern the dire consequences of a volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory's population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, in particular Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and which continues to have enduring consequences for the economy of the island, Welcoming the continued assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the continuing efforts of the administering Power to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption, Noting with concern that a number of the inhabitants of the Territory continue to live in shelters because of volcanic activity, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, 1. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; 2. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of Montserrat in cooperation with the administering Power; VIII Pitcairn Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; IX Saint Helena Taking into account the unique character of Saint Helena, its population and its natural resources, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government and the consultative poll with regard to a new Constitution held in Saint Helena on 25 May 2005, Aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of Saint Helena, in particular in the sphere of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, Noting the importance of improving the infrastructure and accessibility of Saint Helena, Noting also the importance of the right to nationality for Saint Helenians and their request that it, in principle, be included in the new Constitution, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process and the recent consultative poll led by the Government of Saint Helena in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Also welcomes the decision by the administering Power to provide funding for the construction of an international airport on Saint Helena to become operational in 2010, including all required infrastructure; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the limited transport and communications problems, as well as to support the additional infrastructure required for the airport project; 4. Calls upon the administering Power to take into account the concerns of Saint Helenians with regard to the right to nationality; X Turks and Caicos Islands Noting the results of the general election held in April 2003, Noting with concern the vulnerability of the Territory to drug trafficking and related activities, as well as its problems caused by illegal immigration and the need for continued cooperation between the administering Power and the territorial Government in countering drug trafficking and money-laundering, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government, 1. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process led by the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Takes note of the statement made by the Chief Minister of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005,Ibid., para. 25. that his Government was in favour of a reasonable period of full internal self-government before moving to independence; XI United States Virgin Islands Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005,Ibid., para. 26. Noting the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the pending request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed, as well as the 2003 resolution of the territorial legislature in support of that request, Noting also the expressed interest of the territorial Government to be included in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, Noting further the necessity of further diversifying the economy of the Territory and the efforts of the Government of the Territory to promote the Territory as an offshore financial services centre, Recalling that the Territory has not received a United Nations visiting mission since 1977, and bearing in mind the formal request of the Territory for such a mission in 1993 to assist the Territory in its political education process and to observe the Territory's only referendum on political status options in its history, Noting the stated position of the elected Government of the Territory in opposition to legislation presently before the Congress of the administering Power to appoint a chief financial officer against the wishes of the elected Government of the Territory, and bearing in mind resolution 1664 of 17 December 2003 adopted by the Legislature of the Territory at its twenty-fifth session, in which the Legislature opposed the proposal and indicated that it would retard political and civil progress, Noting also the ongoing cooperation between the territorial Government and Denmark on the exchange of artefacts and archives, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 2. Once again requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 3. Calls for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories; 4. Welcomes the establishment of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands and as a mechanism of functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories, and the subsequent creation of eleven standing committees on natural resources management, mutual disaster preparedness and assistance, constitutional development, among other areas; 5. Calls upon the administering Power to refrain from enacting any legislative or other measures that would reduce the authority of the elected Government of the Territory to control its own financial affairs; 6. Notes the position of the territorial Government, including its articulation in resolution 1609 of 9 April 2001, adopted by the Legislature of the Territory at its twenty-fourth session, of its opposition to the assumption by the administering Power of submerged land in territorial waters, having regard to relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the ownership and control of natural resources, including marine resources, by the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and its calls for the return of those marine resources within its jurisdiction; 7. Notes with appreciation the cooperation agreements existing between the Territory and Denmark, the former colonial Power of the Territory, on the exchange of artefacts and the repatriation of archival material, consistent with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and once again requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, under its records and archives management programme, to assist the Territory in carrying out its artefacts and archival initiative. RESOLUTION 60/118 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 167 to 3, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, France 60/118. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23), chap. III. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular Assembly resolution 59/135 of 10 December 2004, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 2. Considers it important to continue and expand its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options of self-determination available for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to implement the recommendations of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To develop procedures to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To develop a working relationship with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, by holding periodic consultations and exchanging information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To encourage the involvement of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (f) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to accelerate the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 5. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine this question and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/119 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 166 to 3, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Belgium, France, Germany 60/119. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23). Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, the most recent of which was resolution 59/136 of 10 December 2004, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the United Nations and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism by 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the formal participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with interest the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, and encouraging the others also to do so, Taking note of the fact that the Special Committee held a Caribbean regional seminar on the mid-term review, follow-up and priorities for action of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism at Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005,Ibid., chap. II, annex. 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee to finalize before the end of 2005 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 6. Welcomes the progress made in the ongoing consultations between the Special Committee and New Zealand, as administering Power for Tokelau, with the participation of representatives of the people of Tokelau, as evidenced by the decision of the General Fono of Tokelau in November 2003 to actively explore with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association; 7. Also welcomes the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to Bermuda, at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options, as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, and on the experiences of other small States which have achieved a full measure of self-government; 8. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To finalize before the end of 2006 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting missions to the Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 54/91. 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the economic activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests the administering Powers to take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 13. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 14. Calls upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2006; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 16. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/60/23). including the programme of work envisaged for 2006; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 60/11 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 3 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.10 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, Spain, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 60/11. Promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the right to freedom of thought, of conscience and of religion, Recalling the Global Agenda for Dialogue among CivilizationsResolution 56/6. and the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. as well as the principles contained therein, Underlining the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, and recalling that all States have pledged themselves under the Charter to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Taking note of the adoption of the 2005 World Summit Outcome at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly,See resolution 60/1. which acknowledges the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world, and emphasizing the commitment contained therein to advance human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples, in order to promote international peace and security, Recalling its resolutions 59/23 of 11 November 2004 and 59/142 and 59/143 of 15 December 2004, and all other relevant resolutions, Recognizing that interreligious dialogue and understanding, including the awareness of differences and commonalities among peoples and civilizations, contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes and reduce the potential for animosity, clashes and even violence, Taking note of the valuable contribution of various initiatives at the national, regional and international level, such as the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, the Bali Declaration on Building Interfaith Harmony within the International Community,A/60/254, annex. the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures, the strategy of "enlightened moderation", the Informal Meeting of Leaders on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for PeaceSee A/60/383. and the Islam-Christianity Dialogue, which are all mutually inclusive, reinforcing and interrelated, Emphasizing the need, at all levels of society and among nations, for strengthening freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, respect for diversity of culture and religion or belief, dialogue and understanding, which are important elements for peace, and convinced that the guiding principles of democratic society need to be actively promoted by the international community, Reaffirming that freedom of expression, media pluralism, multilingualism, equal access to art and to scientific and technological knowledge, including in digital form, and the possibility for all cultures to have access to the means of expression and dissemination are the guarantees of cultural diversity, and that in ensuring the free flow of ideas by word and image, care should be exercised that all cultures can express themselves and make themselves known, Recognizing all efforts made by the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations to promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of culture, religion, belief and language, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, are on the increase in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that tolerance for cultural, ethnic, and religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Emphasizing that combating hatred, prejudice, intolerance and stereotyping on the basis of religion or culture represents a significant global challenge that requires further action, 1. Takes note of the report transmitted by the Secretary-General in accordance with resolutions 59/142 and 59/143;See A/60/279. 2. Acknowledges that respect for the diversity of religions and cultures, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation in a climate of mutual trust and understanding can contribute to the combating of ideologies and practices based on discrimination, intolerance and hatred and help to reinforce world peace, social justice and friendship among peoples; 3. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights and international law; the universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond question; 4. Also reaffirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 5. Recognizes that respect for religious and cultural diversity in an increasingly globalizing world contributes to international cooperation, promotes enhanced dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations and helps to create an environment conducive to the exchange of human experience; 6. Also recognizes that, despite intolerance and conflicts that are creating a divide across countries and regions and constitute a growing threat to peaceful relations among nations, all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values and can all contribute to the enrichment of humankind; 7. Further recognizes that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Reaffirms that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society as a whole in the States in which such persons live, and urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic and political institutions, organizations and practices so that they are more fully participatory and avoid the marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 9. Encourages Governments to promote, including through education, as well as the development of progressive curriculums and text books, understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, which will address the cultural, social, economic, political and religious sources of intolerance, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so, in order to promote understanding, tolerance, peace and friendly relations among nations and all racial and religious groups, recognizing that education at all levels is one of the principal means to build a culture of peace; 10. Calls upon all States to exert their utmost efforts to ensure that religious and cultural sites are fully respected and protected in compliance with their international obligations and in accordance with their national legislation, and to adopt adequate measures aimed at preventing acts or threats of damage to and destruction of these sites; 11. Urges States, in compliance with their international obligations, to take all necessary action to combat incitement to or acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by hatred and intolerance based on culture, religion or belief, which may cause discord and disharmony within and among societies; 12. Also urges States to take effective measures to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in the recognition, exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and cultural life and to make all efforts to enact or rescind legislation, where necessary, to prohibit any such discrimination, and to take all appropriate measures to combat intolerance on the grounds of religion or beliefs; 13. Further urges States to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement bodies and the military, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 14. Welcomes the efforts of States, relevant entities of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, civil society, including religion-based and other non-governmental organizations, and the media in developing a culture of peace, and encourages them to continue such efforts, including the promotion of interreligious and intercultural interaction within and among societies through, inter alia, congresses, conferences, seminars, workshops, research work and related processes; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the widest dissemination of the relevant United Nations material related to the present resolution in as many different languages as possible through the United Nations system, including the United Nations information centres, within available resources; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General, in the context of his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Culture of peace", to include information on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/120 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/472, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 133 to 3, with 36 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 60/120. Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, Recalling also that 2005 marks the mid-point of the Decade, Recalling further that the plan of action for the Decade requested the Secretary-General to submit a report on action taken to implement the plan of action,See A/56/61, annex. Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the plan of action,A/60/71 and Add.1. Taking into account the important contribution of the United Nations in the field of decolonization, in particular through the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/71 and Add.1. 2. Calls upon Member States to redouble their efforts to implement the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism;See A/56/61, annex. 3. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to develop constructive programmes of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 4. Requests Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations actively to support and participate in the implementation of the plan of action during the Decade; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary resources for the successful implementation of the plan of action; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/121 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/574, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/121. Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the CongoA/59/657 and A/60/389. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/536. Recalling Security Council resolutions 1258 (1999) of 6 August 1999 and 1279 (1999) of 30 November 1999 regarding, respectively, the deployment to the Congo region of military liaison personnel and the establishment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1635 (2005) of 28 October 2005, Recalling also its resolution 54/260 A of 7 April 2000 on the financing of the Mission, and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 59/285 B of 22 June 2005, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 59/296 of 22 June 2005, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as at 31 October 2005, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 220.9 million United States dollars, representing some 7.8 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only forty Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Expresses deep concern at the very high rate of attrition and related difficulties in recruitment, and requests the Secretary-General to intensify his ongoing efforts to rectify this situation, including through innovative approaches, and to ensure the expeditious filling of all vacant posts; 9. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 10. Welcomes the establishment and development of the logistics base at Entebbe, Uganda, as a regional hub for common use by missions in the region to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of logistical support operations, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly in the context of his overview report, to be submitted during the second part of its resumed sixty-first session, on economies and efficiencies realized through its utilization and on the increased effectiveness of regional support for peacekeeping operations; 11. Also welcomes the measures put in place in the Mission for the prevention and identification of and responses to instances of misconduct by its personnel, and encourages the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to ensure compliance by all personnel with the zero-tolerance policy and procedures in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 12. Emphasizes that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General should be responsible for the implementation of the policies of the Organization regarding personnel conduct, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Representative remains fully engaged in all such matters; 13. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/536. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 14. Recalls its previous requests for a review of the structure of the Mission, and, noting with concern that the review has not been completed, requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the review is finalized as a matter of urgency and that its conclusions and recommendations are reflected in the budget submission for the Mission for 2006/07; 15. Reaffirms the critical role of the Mission, including in public information, in the preparation and conduct of the referendum and elections, and requests the Secretary-General, when preparing the budget proposals for 2006/07, to also take into account all previous relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and to ensure that resource requirements reflect any revisions in the mandate of the Mission that may arise due to developments in the post-election period, including all those personnel, support and operational components that are directly related to election activities; 16. Stresses the imperative nature of the successful conduct of electoral operations, and authorizes the full deployment of 507 additional personnel in support of the elections while making best use of existing staffing resources, bearing in mind the need to ensure that the deployment schedule responds to developments on the ground; 17. Authorizes the Secretary-General to utilize until 30 June 2006 general temporary assistance for the functions provided by the 395 individual contractors, and requests the Secretary-General to fully justify any proposed conversion of these 395 individual contractors in the context of the results of the comprehensive review to be included in the proposed budget for 2006/07; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolution 59/296; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 20. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Mission effectively utilizes the available rail and inland waterway transport modes where they are more reliable and cost-effective than air transportation and safe to use; 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 22. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial performance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004;A/59/657. Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 23. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the amount of 1,133,672,200 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, inclusive of the amount of 383,187,800 dollars previously authorized by the General Assembly under the terms of its resolution 59/285 B for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2005, and in addition to the amount of 20,220,700 dollars already appropriated under the terms of the same resolution for the support account for peacekeeping operations and the United Nations Logistics Base for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006; Financing of the appropriation 24. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 350 million dollars already apportioned under the terms of its resolution 59/285 B for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2005, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 783,672,200 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 November 2005 to 30 June 2006, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005 and 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 25. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 24 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 15,664,375 dollars, representing the estimated additional staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 1 November 2005 to 30 June 2006; 26. Decides that, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, there shall be set off against their apportionment, as provided for in paragraph 24 above, their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the amount of 32,836,900 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B; 27. Decides also that, for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Mission, there shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the amount of 32,836,900 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 26 above; 28. Decides further that the increase of 466,700 dollars in the estimated staff assessment income in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004 shall be added to the credits from the amount of 32,836,900 dollars referred to in paragraphs 26 and 27 above; 29. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 30. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 31. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 32. Decides to keep under review during its sixtieth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo". RESOLUTION 60/122 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/562, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/122. Financing of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in the SudanA/60/190. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/428. Recalling Security Council resolution 1590 (2005) of 24 March 2005, by which the Council established the United Nations Mission in the Sudan for an initial period of six months as from 24 March 2005, and the subsequent resolution 1627 (2005) of 23 September 2005 by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission until 24 March 2006, Recalling also its resolution 59/292 of 21 April 2005 on the financing of the Mission, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in its resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 59/296 of 22 June 2005, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Mission in the Sudan as at 30 September 2005, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 127.9 million United States dollars, representing some 26 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only sixty-six Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsA/60/428. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 10. Reaffirms its resolution 59/296, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of its relevant provisions; 11. Recognizes that the activities on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration are in conformity with its resolution 59/296, and authorizes the Secretary-General to utilize the proposed resources for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in conformity with the provisions of that resolution; 12. Welcomes the steps taken to ensure the coordination and collaboration of efforts with the agencies, funds and programmes, as spelled out in paragraph 120 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/190. and to implement a unified workplan including, inter alia, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on further actions taken, as well as progress made and to provide a clear description of respective roles and responsibilities in future budgets submissions commencing with the 2006/07 budget; 13. Decides to establish the 740 security posts requested in paragraphs 38 to 65 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/190. authorizes the Secretary-General, bearing in mind paragraph 29 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/428. to utilize redeployment to meet the evolving security requirements in the Mission area and requests him to report thereon in the context of the Mission budget proposals for 2006/07; 14. Welcomes the review undertaken by the Mission on the proposed structure of the Mission, and requests the Secretary-General, bearing in mind the relevant observations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, to further elaborate on management efficiencies achieved, as well as on the strengthened monitoring and accountability system in the context of a unified, area-based and decentralized organizational structure and to report thereon in future budgets submissions commencing with the 2006/07 budget; 15. Recalls section XVII, paragraph 4, of its resolution 59/296 and, in this context, requests the Secretary-General to pursue, through collaboration between the United Nations peacekeeping operations in the region, opportunities for optimizing, where possible, the provision and management of support resources and service delivery, while ensuring the effective provision of such resources and service delivery for peacekeeping operations in the region, and to report thereon in the context of the respective 2006/07 budgets; 16. Welcomes the use of the Entebbe installation to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of its logistical support operations for peacekeeping missions in the regions; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 18. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 19. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission in the Sudan the amount of 222,031,700 dollars for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 for the establishment of the Mission; 20. Decides also to approve the increase in the estimated staff assessment income for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 from 1,635,000 dollars to 2,313,100 dollars; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 21. Decides further to appropriate to the Special Account for the Mission the amount of 969,468,800 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, inclusive of the amount of 315,997,200 dollars for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2005 previously authorized by the General Assembly under the terms of its resolution 59/292; 22. Decides to approve the increase in the estimated staff assessment income for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 from 2,955,600 dollars to 12,661,600 dollars; Financing of the appropriation 23. Decides also, to apply the amount of 57,469,600 dollars, representing the difference between the amount of 279,501,300 dollars already apportioned by the General Assembly for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 under the terms of its resolution 59/292 and the amount of 222,031,700 dollars indicated in paragraph 19 above, to the resources required for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006; 24. Decides further, taking into account the amount of 315,997,200 dollars already apportioned by the General Assembly for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2005 under the terms of its resolution 59/292 and the amount of 57,469,600 dollars indicated in paragraph 23 above, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 355,679,000 dollars for the period from 1 November 2005 to 24 March 2006, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005 and 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 25. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 24 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 5,792,000 dollars, representing the estimated additional staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 1 November 2005 to 24 March 2006; 26. Decides also to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 240,323,000 dollars for the period from 25 March to 30 June 2006, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 24 above, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission; 27. Decides further, that in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 26 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 3,914,000 dollars, representing the estimated additional staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 25 March to 30 June 2006; 28. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 29. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission; 30. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 31. Decides to keep under review during its sixtieth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan". RESOLUTION 60/123 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.37 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay 60/123. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling all relevant resolutions on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, including its resolution 59/211 of 20 December 2004, as well as Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003 and relevant statements by the President of the Council, Recalling also all Security Council resolutions and presidential statements and reports of the Secretary-General to the Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Recalling further all relevant provisions of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as all relevant treaties,They include, notably, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of 9 December 1994, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 8 June 1977, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996 to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980. Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter of the United Nations or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, Welcoming the fact that the number of States parties to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. which entered into force on 15 January 1999, has continued to rise, the number now having reached seventy-nine, and mindful of the need to promote universality of the Convention, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, as they operate in increasingly complex contexts, as well as the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international law, in particular international humanitarian law, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part in humanitarian operations, often at great personal risk, especially locally recruited staff, Expressing profound regret at the deaths of international and national humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, and strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among such personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Strongly condemning acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault and all forms of violence committed in particular against women, and intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of property, Expressing concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the provision of assistance and protection to populations in need, Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. and noting the role that the Court could play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Reaffirming the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and associated humanitarian personnel, which constitutes an underlying duty of the Organization, and mindful of the need to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the United Nations and a culture of accountability at all levels, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/223 and Corr.1. 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Strongly urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and delivery of supplies and equipment in order to allow those personnel to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 5. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments; 6. Also calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. 7. Takes note with appreciation of the adoption of the Optional ProtocolResolution 60/42, annex. to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. which expands the scope of legal protection under the Convention, and calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol as soon as possible so as to ensure its rapid entry into force, and urges States parties to put in place appropriate national legislation, as necessary, to enable its effective implementation; 8. Expresses deep concern that, over the past decade, threats and attacks against the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel have escalated dramatically and that perpetrators of acts of violence seemingly operate with impunity; 9. Strongly condemns all threats and acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, affirms the need to hold accountable those responsible for such acts, strongly urges all States to take stronger actions to ensure that any such acts committed on their territory are investigated fully and to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice in accordance with international law and national law, and urges States to end impunity for such acts; 10. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of the arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations and associated personnel, so as to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of those who have been arrested or detained in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 11. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts to refrain from abducting humanitarian personnel or United Nations and associated personnel or detaining them in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm or requirement of concession, any abductee or detainee; 12. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to observe and respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 13. Stresses the importance of ensuring that humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel remain sensitive to national and local customs and traditions in their countries of assignment and communicate clearly their purpose and objectives to local populations; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, and also requests the Secretary-General to seek the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarters and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized AgenciesResolution 179 (II). and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 15. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, among others, those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission, host country agreements and other related agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 16. Welcomes ongoing efforts to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures in this regard, including by further developing and implementing a unified security management system, as well as by disseminating and ensuring the implementation of the security procedures and regulations and by ensuring accountability at all levels, and also welcomes the creation of the Department of Safety and Security of the Secretariat; 17. Emphasizes the importance of paying special attention to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations; 18. Also emphasizes the need to pay particular attention to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who are particularly vulnerable to attacks and who account for the majority of casualties; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about and operate in conformity with the minimum operating security standards and relevant codes of conduct and are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called upon to operate and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant national and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights law and international humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 20. Stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training, including physical and psychological training, as well as training to enhance cultural awareness, prior to their deployment to the field, as well as the need to attach a high priority to stress management training and related counselling services for United Nations staff throughout the system; 21. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations;A/60/424. 22. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to further enhance the security management system of the United Nations, and in this regard invites the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to strengthen the analysis of threats to their safety and security in order to minimize security risks and to facilitate informed decisions on the maintenance of an effective presence in the field, inter alia, to fulfil their humanitarian mandate; 23. Stresses that the effective functioning at the country level of security operations requires a unified capacity for policy, standards, coordination, communication, compliance and threat and risk assessment; 24. Recognizes the need to continue efforts to achieve a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, both at the headquarters and the field levels, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures to that end; 25. Requests the Secretary-General, inter alia, through the Inter-Agency Security Management Network, to continue to promote increased cooperation and collaboration among United Nations departments, organizations, funds and programmes and affiliated international organizations, including between their headquarters and field offices, in the planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security, training and awareness, and calls upon all relevant United Nations departments, organizations, funds and programmes and affiliated international organizations to support these efforts; 26. Recognizes the need for continued efforts to enhance coordination and cooperation, both at the headquarters and the field levels, between the United Nations and other humanitarian and non-governmental organizations on matters relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, with a view to addressing mutual security concerns in the field; 27. Underlines the need to allocate adequate and predictable resources to the safety and security of United Nations personnel, including through the consolidated appeals process, and encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System; 28. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, calls upon States to consider acceding to or ratifying the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998, which entered into force on 8 January 2005,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2296, No. 40906. and urges them to facilitate and expedite, consistent with their national laws and international obligations applicable to them, the use of communications equipment in such operations, inter alia, through limiting and, whenever possible, lifting the restrictions placed on the use of communications equipment by United Nations and associated personnel; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a comprehensive and updated report on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/124 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.38 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 60/124. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto, and recalling other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations,A/60/87-E/2005/78. Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the improvement of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund,A/60/432. Reaffirming the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Reiterating that independence means the autonomy of humanitarian objectives from the political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented, Expressing deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, and reaffirming the need for sustainable measures at all levels to reduce the vulnerability of societies to natural hazards, using an integrated, multi-hazard and participatory approach to addressing vulnerability, risk assessment, and disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, Reaffirming, in this regard, the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Noting with grave concern that violence, including sexual abuse and sexual and other violence against women, girls and boys, continues to be, in many emergency situations, deliberately directed against civilian populations, Concerned about the need to mobilize adequate support, including financial resources, for emergency humanitarian assistance at all levels, including at the national, regional and international levels, Recognizing the clear relationship between emergency, rehabilitation and development and that, in order to ensure a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation and development, emergency assistance must be provided in ways that will be supportive of recovery and long-term development, and that emergency measures should be seen as a step towards long-term development, Welcoming the ongoing efforts to strengthen international humanitarian response, including the emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, Emphasizing that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat should benefit from adequate and more predictable funding, while stressing the importance for the Office to continue to make efforts to broaden its donor base, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the eighth humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council held during its substantive session of 2005; 2. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and delivery of supplies and equipment in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 3. Reaffirms the obligation of all States and parties to an armed conflict to protect civilians in armed conflicts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and invites States to promote a culture of protection, taking into account the particular needs of women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities; 4. Calls upon States to adopt preventive measures and effective responses to acts of violence committed against civilian populations and to ensure that those responsible are promptly brought to justice, as provided for by national law and obligations under international law; 5. Also calls upon States to elaborate and implement strategies to report on, prevent and punish all forms of violence against women, girls and boys, in particular sexual violence and abuse; 6. Recognizes the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, and encourages Member States and humanitarian agencies to work together in endeavours to provide a more predictable response to the needs of internally displaced persons, and in that regard calls for international support, upon request, to capacity-building efforts of Governments; 7. Emphasizes the fundamentally civilian character of humanitarian assistance, reaffirms the leading role of civilian organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance, particularly in areas affected by conflicts, and affirms the need, in situations where military capacity and assets are used to support the implementation of humanitarian assistance, for their use to be in conformity with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles; 8. Encourages the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue his efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance, and calls upon relevant United Nations organizations and other humanitarian and development actors to work with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to enhance the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance; 9. Reiterates the need for a more effective, efficient, coherent, coordinated and better performing United Nations country presence, with a strengthened role for the senior United Nations resident official responsible for the coordination of United Nations humanitarian assistance, including appropriate authority, resources and accountability; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the support provided to United Nations resident/humanitarian coordinators and to United Nations country teams, including through the provision of necessary training, the identification of resources, and improving the identification and selection of United Nations resident/humanitarian coordinators; 11. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system and, as appropriate, other relevant humanitarian actors, to improve the humanitarian response to natural and man-made disasters and complex emergencies by strengthening the humanitarian response capacities at all levels, by strengthening the coordination of humanitarian assistance at the field level, including with national authorities of the affected State, as appropriate, and by enhancing transparency, performance and accountability; 12. Calls upon relevant United Nations organizations to continue to improve the transparency and reliability of humanitarian needs assessments and to engage in the improvement of the consolidated appeals process, inter alia, by further developing the process as an instrument for strategic planning and prioritization and by involving other relevant humanitarian organizations in the process, while reiterating that consolidated appeals are prepared in consultation with the affected State; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with States and relevant organizations, to further develop and improve, as required, mechanisms for the use of emergency stand-by capacities, including, where appropriate, regional humanitarian capacities, under the auspices of the United Nations, inter alia, through formal agreements with appropriate regional organizations, and to report on that issue to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session through the Economic and Social Council; 14. Calls upon donors to take further steps to improve their policies and practices with respect to humanitarian action, and in that regard welcomes the continued efforts under the Good Humanitarian Donorship initiative; 15. Decides to upgrade the current Central Emergency Revolving Fund into the Central Emergency Response Fund by including a grant element based on voluntary contributions, to be replenished at regular intervals, so as to ensure a more predictable and timely response to humanitarian emergencies, with the objectives of promoting early action and response to reduce loss of life, enhancing response to time-critical requirements and strengthening core elements of humanitarian response in underfunded crises, based on demonstrable needs and on priorities identified in consultation with the affected State as appropriate; 16. Decides also that the Fund will continue to operate in accordance with resolution 46/182 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto; 17. Affirms its role to provide overall policy guidance on the use of the Fund to maximize its impact and to improve its functioning, and encourages the Economic and Social Council to discuss the implementation of the Fund; 18. Takes note of the fact that an advisory group will be established, as an independent body, to provide advice to the Secretary-General on the use and impact of the Fund, and that the Inter-Agency Standing Committee will discuss the use and impact of the Fund; 19. Calls upon the Secretary-General, on the basis of his report on the improvement of the Central Emergency Revolving FundA/60/432. and in consultations with all relevant stakeholders, to make the necessary managerial and administrative arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the grant element and set up appropriate reporting and accountability mechanisms to ensure that the funds allocated through the Fund are used in the most efficient, effective and transparent manner possible; 20. Urges all Member States and invites the private sector and all concerned individuals and institutions to consider making voluntary contributions to the Fund, welcomes the financial pledges already made, and emphasizes that contributions should be additional to current commitments to humanitarian programming and not to the detriment of resources made available for international cooperation for development; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on the detailed use of the Fund; 22. Also requests the Secretary-General to commission an independent review of the Fund at the end of the second year of operation to assess, inter alia, both the grant and revolving elements of the Fund, its administration, criteria for resource allocation, actions and responses supported by it and its ability to meet its objectives, and to submit a report in that regard to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 23. Emphasizes the importance of the discussion of humanitarian policies and activities by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and that those discussions should be continuously revitalized by Member States; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2006, on progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. RESOLUTION 60/125 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.39 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 60/125. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, as well as all its resolutions on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development, and recalling the resolutions of the humanitarian segments of the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Reiterating that independence means the autonomy of humanitarian objectives as distinct from the political, economic, military or other objectives that may be pursued by any actor with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented, Welcoming the Hyogo Declaration,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. and the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness, response and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, while recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of affected countries which may have limited capacities to fulfil this requirement, Noting the critical role played by local resources, and by existing in-country capacities, in natural disaster management and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, and of strengthening the response capacity of countries affected by disaster, Noting with appreciation the important role played by Member States, including developing countries, that have granted necessary and continued generous assistance to countries and peoples stricken by natural disasters, Recognizing the significant role played by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Emphasizing the importance of addressing vulnerability and integrating risk reduction into all phases of natural disaster management, post-natural disaster recovery and development planning, Welcoming the work carried out by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the setting up of regional tsunami early warning systems, in the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the north-east Atlantic, and noting the proposed convening of a Third International Conference on Early Warning, to be held from 27 to 29 March 2006 in Bonn, Germany, Recognizing that efforts to achieve economic growth, sustainable development and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be adversely affected by natural disasters, and noting the positive contribution that those efforts can make in strengthening the resilience of populations to such disasters, Emphasizing, in this context, the important role of development organizations in supporting national efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General entitled "International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development";A/60/227. "Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations";A/60/87-E/2005/78. "Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, recovery and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster";A/60/86-E/2005/77. "The transition from relief to development";A/60/89-E/2005/79. and "Improvement of the Central Emergency Revolving Fund";A/60/432. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disasters; 3. Calls upon States to fully implement the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. in particular those commitments related to assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and for disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 4. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively, necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and integrate disaster risk reduction strategies into development planning, and in this regard requests the international community to continue to assist developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition; 5. Welcomes the effective cooperation among the affected States, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, donor countries, regional and international financial institutions and other relevant organizations, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and civil society, in the coordination and delivery of emergency relief, and stresses the need to continue such cooperation and delivery throughout relief operations and medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in a manner that reduces vulnerability to future natural hazards; 6. Reiterates the commitment to support the efforts of countries, in particular developing countries, to strengthen their capacities at all levels in order to prepare for and respond rapidly to natural disasters and mitigate their impact; 7. Stresses that, to increase further the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, particular international cooperation efforts should be undertaken to enhance and broaden further the utilization of national and local capacities and, where appropriate, of regional and subregional capacities of developing countries for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, and more efficiently and at lower cost; 8. Also stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation, particularly through the effective use of multilateral mechanisms, in the timely provision of humanitarian assistance through all phases of a disaster, from relief and mitigation to development, including the provision of adequate resources; 9. Welcomes the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for the promotion and coordination of disaster response among United Nations humanitarian organizations and other humanitarian partners; 10. Also welcomes, so as to increase further the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, the incorporation of experts from developing countries that are prone to natural disasters into the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination system, and also the work of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group in assisting such countries in strengthening urban search and rescue capacities and establishing mechanisms for improving their coordination of national and international response in the field, and recalls in this regard its resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 entitled "Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance"; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with States and relevant organizations, to continue to explore ways to strengthen the rapid response capacities of the international community to provide immediate humanitarian relief, building on existing arrangements and ongoing initiatives; 12. Notes the need to continue to improve the management and use of the Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities, including the Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response, which has the potential to support planning preparedness and response activities, and requests the Secretary-General to include information about the work of the Central Register in his report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to develop more systematic links with Member States offering military assets for natural disaster response in order to identify the availability of such assets; 14. Encourages donors to consider the importance of ensuring that assistance in the case of higher-profile natural disasters does not come at the expense of those natural disasters that may be relatively lower-profile, bearing in mind that the allocation of resources should be driven by needs; 15. Encourages States that have not acceded to or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, which entered into force on 8 January 2005,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2296, No. 40906. to consider doing so; 16. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies, as well as the sharing of geographical data, for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 17. Encourages Member States, relevant United Nations organizations and international financial institutions to enhance the global capacity for sustainable post-disaster recovery in areas such as coordination with traditional and non-traditional partners, identification and dissemination of lessons learned, development of common tools and mechanisms for recovery needs assessment, strategy development and programming, and incorporation of risk reduction into all recovery processes, and welcomes the ongoing efforts to this end; 18. Requests the United Nations system to improve its coordination of disaster recovery efforts, from relief to development, inter alia, by strengthening institutional, coordination and strategic planning efforts in disaster recovery, in support of national authorities; 19. Stresses the importance of rapid access to funds to ensure a more predictable and timely United Nations response to humanitarian emergencies; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve the international response to natural disasters, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/126 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 15 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.36 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zambia 60/126. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/56 of 2 December 2004, as well as previous resolutions on the question, Recalling also the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements concluded by the two sides, Recalling further the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Gravely concerned at the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people, in particular children, throughout the occupied territory, which constitutes a mounting humanitarian crisis, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all children in the whole Middle East region, Deeply concerned about the negative impact, including the health and psychological consequences, of violence on the present and future well-being of children in the region, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat and the establishment of the Consultative Group, as well as all follow-up meetings and international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Welcoming also the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Stressing the continued importance of the work of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in the coordination of assistance to the Palestinian people, Noting the upcoming meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee to review the state of the Palestinian economy, and progress in drawing up a medium-term development plan for the Palestinian economy, Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, and welcoming in this regard the support provided to the Palestinian Authority by the Task Force on Palestinian Reform, established by the Quartet in 2002, Noting, in this regard, the active participation of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in the activities of the Special Envoys of the Quartet, Welcoming the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, of the performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Welcoming also the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank as a step towards implementation of the road map, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/90-E/2005/80. Expressing grave concern at the continuation of the recent tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, including among children, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/90-E/2005/80. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Personal Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary-General on the humanitarian conditions and needs of the Palestinian people;Available from http://domino.un.org/bertini_rpt.htm. 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Also expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 5. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 6. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 7. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with Palestinian priorities set forth by the Palestinian Authority; 8. Calls upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis being faced by Palestinian children and their families and to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions; 9. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 10. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 11. Stresses, in this context, the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 12. Welcomes the recent agreement on movement and access between the two sides and the subsequent opening of the Rafah border on 25 November 2005, and stresses the need to ensure that the commitments made in the agreement are fully implemented in accordance with the timeline set out in the agreement; 13. Stresses the need for all concerned parties to work together for the speedy resolution of all outstanding issues relating to disengagement, and welcomes in this regard the work of the Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement; 14. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to counter the impact of the current crisis; 15. Stresses the need to implement the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. in particular with regard to the full and prompt clearance of Palestinian indirect tax revenues, and welcomes the progress made in this regard; 16. Suggests the convening in 2006 of a United Nations-sponsored seminar on assistance to the Palestinian people; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTION 60/127 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/499, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Benin, Jordan, Portugal, South Africa and Timor-Leste. 60/127. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decisions 2005/243 of 22 July 2005 and 2005/314 of 21 October 2005 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the requests regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the letter dated 8 March 2005 from the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-GeneralE/2005/46. and the letter dated 12 September 2005 from the Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2005/93. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from sixty-eight to seventy States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session for 2006. RESOLUTION 60/128 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/499, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/128. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/172 of 20 December 2004, Recalling also the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,Ibid., vol. 189, No. 2545. together with the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/293. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/60/12). 2. Notes the need for African States to address resolutely the root causes of all forms of forced displacement in Africa and to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent so as to forestall refugee flows; 3. Notes with great concern that, despite all of the efforts made so far by the United Nations, the African Union and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, and calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa; 4. Welcomes decision EX.CL/Dec.197 (VII) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa adopted by the Executive Council of the African Union at its seventh ordinary session, held at Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, from 28 June to 2 July 2005;See African Union, document EX.CL/Dec.192-235 (VII). 5. Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and commends the Office for its ongoing efforts, with the support of the international community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 6. Recognizes that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict and bear the brunt of atrocities and other consequences of conflict, and calls upon States to promote and protect the human rights of all refugees and other persons of concern, paying special attention to those with specific needs, and to tailor their protection responses appropriately; 7. Reiterates the importance of the full and effective implementation of standards and procedures, including the monitoring and reporting mechanism outlined in Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005, to better address the specific protection needs of refugee children and adolescents and to safeguard rights and, in particular, to ensure adequate attention to unaccompanied and separated children and children affected by armed conflict, including former child soldiers in refugee settings, as well as in the context of voluntary repatriation and reintegration measures; 8. Recognizes the importance of early registration and effective registration systems and censuses as a tool of protection and as a means to enable the quantification and assessment of needs for the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance and to implement appropriate durable solutions; 9. Recalls the conclusion on registration of refugees and asylum-seekers adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-second session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/56/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. B. notes the many forms of harassment faced by refugees and asylum-seekers who remain without any form of documentation attesting to their status, recalls the responsibility of States to register refugees on their territories, reiterates in this context the central role which early and effective registration and documentation can play, guided by protection considerations, in enhancing protection and supporting efforts to find durable solutions, and calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, as appropriate, to help States to conduct this procedure should they be unable to register refugees on their territory; 10. Calls upon the international community, including States and the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant United Nations organizations, within their respective mandates, to take concrete action to meet the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons and to contribute generously to projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight and facilitating durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons; 11. Reaffirms the importance of timely and adequate assistance and protection for refugees, also reaffirms that assistance and protection are mutually reinforcing and that inadequate material assistance and food shortages undermine protection, notes the importance of a rights- and community-based approach in engaging constructively with individual refugees and their communities to achieve fair and equitable access to food and other forms of material assistance, and expresses concern in regard to situations in which minimum standards of assistance are not met, including those in which adequate needs assessments have yet to be undertaken; 12. Also reaffirms that respect by States for their protection responsibilities towards refugees is strengthened by international solidarity involving all members of the international community and that the refugee protection regime is enhanced through committed international cooperation in a spirit of solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing among all States; 13. Further reaffirms that host States have the primary responsibility to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements or used for purposes that are incompatible with their civilian character; 14. Condemns all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, calls upon States of refuge, in cooperation with international organizations, where appropriate, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the humane treatment of asylum-seekers, notes with interest that the High Commissioner has continued to take steps to encourage the development of measures to better ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue those efforts, in consultation with States and other relevant actors; 15. Deplores the continuing violence and insecurity which constitute an ongoing threat to the safety and security of staff members of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian organizations and an obstacle to the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Office and the ability of its implementing partners and other humanitarian personnel to discharge their respective humanitarian functions, urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and ensure the safety and security of the personnel and property of the Office and that of all humanitarian organizations discharging functions mandated by the Office, and calls upon States to investigate fully any crime committed against humanitarian personnel and bring to justice the persons responsible for such crimes; 16. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the African Union, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the international refugee protection system, notes with interest the result of the Humanitarian Response Review,See Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Humanitarian Response Review (New York and Geneva, 2005). welcomes the proposals made by the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to strengthen the United Nations humanitarian system, and takes note of deliberations by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee aimed at following up on the Humanitarian Response Review and bringing about greater consistency in the response to humanitarian emergencies; 17. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities; 18. Reaffirms the right of return and the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, where appropriate and feasible, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home, and welcomes in this regard the conclusion on local integration adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-sixth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/60/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. C. 19. Also reaffirms that voluntary repatriation should not necessarily be conditioned on the accomplishment of political solutions in the country of origin in order not to impede the exercise of the refugees' right to return, and recognizes that the voluntary repatriation and reintegration process is normally guided by the conditions in the country of origin, in particular that voluntary repatriation can be accomplished in conditions of safety and dignity; 20. Welcomes the development by the High Commissioner, in cooperation with other United Nations agencies and development actors, of the framework for durable solutions, aimed at promoting lasting solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, including the "4Rs" approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return; 21. Calls upon the international donor community to provide financial and material assistance that allows for the implementation of community-based development programmes that benefit both refugees and host communities, as appropriate, in agreement with host countries and consistent with humanitarian objectives, and recognizes that promoting the self-reliance of refugees from the outset will contribute towards enhancing the ability of refugee communities to become self-reliant, as and when appropriate, with adequate support from the international community for the host country and the refugees living there; 22. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to the third-country resettlement needs of African refugees, notes in this regard the importance of using resettlement strategically, as part of situation-specific comprehensive responses to refugee situations, and to this end encourages interested States, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant partners to make full use of the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on Resettlement,Available from www.unhcr.org. where appropriate; 23. Calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 24. Urges the international community, in the spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, inter alia, as a result of repatriation possibilities, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 25. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and interested States to identify protracted refugee situations which might lend themselves to resolution through the development of specific, multilateral, comprehensive and practical approaches to resolving such refugee situations, including improvement of international burden- and responsibility-sharing and realization of durable solutions, within a multilateral context; 26. Expresses grave concern about the plight of internally displaced persons in Africa, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in that regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. and encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to explore, with other relevant actors, the feasibility of taking on coordination responsibilities for clusters related to the protection of internally displaced persons, camp management and shelter in conflict situations as part of a broader United Nations coordination effort in support of United Nations humanitarian coordinators, without prejudice to its core mandate of refugee protection and assistance; 27. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions", and to present an oral report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2006. RESOLUTION 60/129 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/499, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/129. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/60/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-sixth sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/60/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its previous annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the High Commissioner since its establishment by the General Assembly, Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner, commending the staff and implementing partners of the Office of the High Commissioner for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, and underscoring its strong condemnation of all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel are increasingly exposed, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-sixth session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/60/12/Add.1). 2. Welcomes the important work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and its Executive Committee in the course of the year, and notes in this context the adoption of the general conclusion on international protection, the conclusion on the provision of international protection, including through complementary forms of protection, and the conclusion on local integration,Ibid., chap. III, sects. A-C. which are aimed at strengthening the international protection regime, consistent with the Agenda for Protection,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. and at assisting Governments in meeting their protection responsibilities in today's changing international environment; 3. Reaffirms the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as the foundation of the international refugee protection regime, recognizes the importance of their full and effective application by States parties and the values they embody, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty-six States are now parties to one instrument or to both, encourages States not parties to consider acceding to those instruments, underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and recognizes that a number of States not parties to the international refugee instruments have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees; 4. Notes that fifty-eight States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsIbid., vol. 360, No. 5158. and that thirty States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his activities on behalf of stateless persons; 5. Notes with interest the Mexico Plan of Action to Strengthen International Protection of Refugees in Latin America, endorsed by States participating in the meeting commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees convened in Mexico City on 15 and 16 November 2004,Available from www.unhcr.org. and expresses its support for the efforts of interested States and the Office of the High Commissioner to promote its implementation, with the cooperation and assistance of the international community; 6. Welcomes the successful conclusion of the follow-up process to the 1996 Geneva Conference on the problems of refugees, displaced persons, migration and asylum issues in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and encourages States, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant actors to continue to work collaboratively, building on the successes of the Conference process to date; 7. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions; 8. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to enhancing the capacity of, and reducing the heavy burden borne by, countries that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon the Office to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition; 9. Emphasizes that international protection of refugees is a dynamic and action-oriented function that is at the core of the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and that it includes, in cooperation with States and other partners, the promotion and facilitation of, inter alia, the admission, reception and treatment of refugees in accordance with internationally agreed standards and the ensuring of durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups and paying special attention to those with specific needs, and notes in this context that the delivery of international protection is a staff-intensive service that requires adequate staff with the appropriate expertise, especially at the field level; 10. Notes the activities undertaken in pursuit of the objectives of the Convention Plus initiative,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/60/12), chap. III. and encourages the High Commissioner and interested States to strengthen the international protection regime through the development of specific, multilateral, comprehensive and practical approaches to resolving refugee situations, including improving international burden- and responsibility-sharing and realizing durable solutions within a multilateral context; 11. Welcomes the progress that has been achieved in increasing the number of refugees resettled and the number of States offering opportunities for resettlement, notes that the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on ResettlementAvailable from www.unhcr.org. sets out the strategic use of resettlement as part of a comprehensive approach to refugee situations aimed at improving access to durable solutions for a greater number of refugees, and invites interested States, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant partners to make use of the Multilateral Framework, where appropriate and feasible; 12. Recalls the important role of effective partnerships and coordination in meeting the needs of refugees and other displaced persons and in finding durable solutions to their situations, welcomes the efforts under way, in cooperation with countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, including their respective local communities, United Nations agencies and other development actors, to promote a framework for durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, which includes the "4Rs" approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return, and encourages States, in cooperation with United Nations agencies and other development actors, to support, inter alia, through the allocation of funds, the development and implementation of the 4Rs and other programming tools to facilitate the transition from relief to development; 13. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to refugee problems, and recalls that these solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, while reaffirming that voluntary repatriation, supported by necessary rehabilitation and development assistance to facilitate sustainable reintegration, remains the preferred solution; 14. Acknowledges that the provision by States of complementary forms of protection to ensure that persons in need of international protection actually receive it is a positive way of responding pragmatically to certain situations, and affirms that measures to provide complementary forms of protection should be implemented in a manner that strengthens the existing international refugee protection regime; 15. Notes that local integration in the refugee context is a sovereign decision and an option to be exercised by States guided by their treaty obligations and human rights principles and that it is a dynamic and multifaceted two-way process that requires efforts by all parties concerned, including a preparedness on the part of refugees to adapt to the host society without having to forego their own cultural identity and a corresponding readiness on the part of host communities and public institutions to welcome refugees and to meet the needs of a diverse population, and acknowledges that the process of local integration is complex and gradual, comprising three distinct but interrelated legal, economic, and social and cultural dimensions, all of which are important to the ability of refugees to integrate successfully; 16. Acknowledges that the global refugee situation represents an international challenge requiring that international burden- and responsibility-sharing be addressed effectively, and recognizes that allowing for local integration, where applicable, is an act of States that is a durable solution for refugees, which contributes to the said burden- and responsibility-sharing, without prejudice to the specific situation of certain developing countries facing mass influxes; 17. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 18. Condemns all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, and calls upon all States of refuge, in cooperation with international organizations where appropriate, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the humane treatment of asylum-seekers; 19. Affirms the importance of mainstreaming the protection needs of women and children to ensure their participation in the planning and implementation of programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and State policies and the importance of according priority to addressing the problem of sexual and gender-based violence; 20. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to improve its management systems and to ensure effective and transparent use of its resources, recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential for the Office to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it through its statuteResolution 428 (V), annex. and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions on refugees and other persons of concern, recalls its resolutions 58/153 of 22 December 2003, 58/270 of 23 December 2003 and 59/170 of 20 December 2004 concerning the implementation of paragraph 20 of the statute of the Office, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to annual and supplementary appeals issued by the Office for requirements under its programmes; 21. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his activities to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/12 Adopted at the 45th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2005, by a recorded vote of 182 to 4, with 1 abstention,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.9, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 60/12. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the Heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned at the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of regulations of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 November 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999, 55/20 of 9 November 2000, 56/9 of 27 November 2001, 57/11 of 12 November 2002, 58/7 of 4 November 2003 and 59/11 of 28 October 2004, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21, 55/20, 56/9, 57/11, 58/7 and 59/11, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also at the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 59/11;A/60/213. 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 60/130 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/500, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/130. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session,Resolution S-24/2, annex. as well as a continued global dialogue on social development issues, constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the development goals contained therein, as well as the commitments made at major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, including the commitments made at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/80. 2. Also takes note with appreciation of the report on the world social situation, 2005A/60/117; see also United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.IV.5. and one of its main findings, that the development agenda cannot be advanced without addressing the challenges of inequality within and between countries and that the failure to address this inequality predicament will ensure that social justice and better living conditions for all people will remain elusive and that communities, countries and regions will remain vulnerable to social, political and economic upheaval; 3. Welcomes the outcome of the ten-year review of the World Summit for Social Development, which took place during the forty-third session of the Commission for Social Development, in February 2005;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 6 (E/2005/26), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/234. 4. Also welcomes the reaffirmation by Governments of their will and commitment to continue implementing the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. in particular to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all; 5. Reaffirms the recognition that the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments and the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. are mutually reinforcing and that the Copenhagen commitments are crucial to a coherent, people-centred approach to development; 6. Recognizes that, while action taken to implement the outcomes of the major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions in the economic, social and related fields held during the past ten years will further promote social development, strengthened and effective international and regional cooperation and assistance for development and progress towards increased participation, greater social justice and improved equity in societies will also be required; 7. Also recognizes that the broad concept of social development affirmed by the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly has been weakened in national and international policymaking and that, while poverty eradication is a central part of development policy and discourse, further attention should be given to the other commitments agreed to at the Summit, in particular those concerning employment and social integration, which have also suffered from a general disconnect between economic and social policymaking; 8. Emphasizes that poverty eradication policies should attack poverty by addressing its root and structural causes and manifestations, and that equity and the reduction of inequalities need to be incorporated in those policies; 9. Reaffirms the commitment to employment policies that promote full and productive employment and decent work for all under conditions of equity, equality, security and dignity, and also reaffirms that employment creation should be incorporated into macroeconomic policies; 10. Reaffirms also that social integration policies should seek to reduce inequalities, promote access to basic social services, education and health care, increase the participation and integration of social groups and address the challenges posed by globalization and market-driven reforms on social development in order for all people in all countries to benefit from globalization; 11. Reaffirms further that the Commission for Social Development will continue to have the primary responsibility for the follow-up and review of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly and that it serves as the main United Nations forum for an intensified global dialogue on social development issues, and encourages Governments, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to enhance their support to its work; 12. Reaffirms the commitments made in "Meeting the special needs of Africa" at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. underlines the call of the Economic and Social Council for enhanced coordination within the United Nations system and the ongoing efforts to harmonize the current initiatives on Africa, and requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to give due prominence in its work to the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 13. Reaffirms also that each country has the primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and underlines the importance of adopting effective measures, including new financial mechanisms as appropriate, to support the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable development, poverty eradication and the strengthening of their democratic systems; 14. Reaffirms further, in this context, that international cooperation has an essential role in assisting developing countries, including the least developed countries, in strengthening their human, institutional and technological capacity; 15. Reaffirms that social development requires the active involvement of all actors in the development process, including civil society organizations, corporations and small businesses, and that partnerships among all relevant actors are increasingly becoming part of national and international cooperation for social development, and also reaffirms that, within countries, partnerships among the Government, civil society and the private sector can contribute effectively to the achievement of social development goals; 16. Underlines the responsibility of the private sector, at both the national and the international levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, regarding not only the economic and financial but also the development, social, gender and environmental implications of their activities, their obligations towards their workers and their contributions to achieving sustainable development, including social development, and emphasizes the need to take concrete actions within the United Nations system and through the participation of all relevant stakeholders on corporate responsibility and accountability, including for the prevention or prosecution of corruption; 17. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the regional commissions, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to continue to integrate into their work programmes and give priority attention to the Copenhagen commitments and the Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 6 (E/2005/26), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/234. to continue to be actively involved in their follow-up and to monitor the achievement of those commitments and undertakings; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the question to the Assembly at that session. RESOLUTION 60/131 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/501, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/131. Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: realizing the Millennium Development Goals for persons with disabilities The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and resolution 58/132 of 22 December 2003, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions, Recalling further the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and of the 2005 World Summit Outcome on 16 September 2005See resolution 60/1. by Heads of State and Government, stressing the need to promote and protect the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, and recognizing the importance of incorporating the disability perspective in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, with a view to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, Noting with appreciation the initiatives and actions of Governments to implement the World Programme of Action, the Standard Rules and relevant resolutions that give special attention to the questions of accessible environments and information and communication technologies, health, education and social services, employment and sustainable livelihoods, including the relevant activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, which reflect the strong commitment to the equalization of opportunities, the rights of persons with disabilities and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities, including in the context of development, Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their respective follow-up reviews, Noting that the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. considers "older persons and disabilities" as a specific issue for policy concern, Welcoming the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities in preparing a draft text of the convention, Acknowledging the complementary contributions of all existing international frameworks on disability, Aware of the fact that there are at least 600 million persons with disabilities worldwide, of whom approximately 80 per cent live in developing countries, Recognizing the important role of the World Programme of Action in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing also that the achievement of the purposes of the World Programme of Action is congruent with economic and social development, extended services provided to the whole population in the humanitarian area, the redistribution of resources and income and an improvement in the living standards of the population, Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities, in the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities, and noting in this regard their work in promoting the elaboration of an international convention on the rights of disabled persons, Noting with appreciation the important contributions of regional intergovernmental organizations and the regional commissions of the United Nations in promoting awareness and building capacities for the full participation and equality of persons with disabilities, as well as the outcome of international conferences relating to persons with disabilities, Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and strategies in all Member States, United Nations agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and regional commissions of the United Nations to promote the rights and the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities at all levels, Recognizing the importance of accessibility both of the physical environment and of information and communication in enabling persons with disabilities to enjoy fully their human rights and to play an active part in the development of society, Reiterating that technology, in particular information and communication technologies, provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and employment for persons with disabilities and for facilitating their full and effective participation and equality, stressing in this regard the importance of enhancing cooperation among countries for the transfer of technology and technical and economic cooperation in the development and dissemination of appropriate disability-related technologies and know-how, and welcoming the initiatives of the United Nations and contributions from regional groups in promoting information and communication technologies as a means of achieving the universal goal of a society for all, Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disability-sensitive topics, programme planning and evaluation and the need for the further development of practical statistical methodology for the collection and compilation of data on populations with disabilities, and welcoming the initiatives of various United Nations agencies and regional groups in the area of collection of disability-related data and information, Recognizing also the need to address the challenge of better incorporating the disability perspective in development and technical cooperation activities, Recognizing further the need to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities worldwide through the enhancement of awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues and respect for the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities and by ensuring that the benefits of development programmes also reach them, Recognizing that, because the vast majority of persons with disabilities continue to be excluded from the benefits of development and denied the full and equal recognition and enjoyment of their human rights, the impact of poverty on the conditions of persons with disabilities, especially in rural areas, should be given prominent consideration in the elaboration of national and international development strategies, Expressing grave concern that situations of armed conflict continue to have especially devastating consequences for the human rights of persons with disabilities, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,A/60/290. including his recommendations to mainstream the disability perspective in United Nations international and national development frameworks and to consider the effective synergy in monitoring the implementation of the existing international frameworks on disability; 2. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development to promote the full enjoyment of all human rights by, and the equalization of opportunities for, persons with disabilities, and encourages her to continue her work, bearing in mind the background of the World Programme of Action;A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). 3. Calls upon Governments to take all necessary measures to advance beyond the adoption of national plans for persons with disabilities through, inter alia, the creation or reinforcement of arrangements for the promotion and awareness of disability issues and the allocation of sufficient resources for the full implementation of existing plans and initiatives, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of supporting national efforts through international cooperation; 4. Urges Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to promote effective measures, as elaborated in the World Programme of Action, for the prevention of disability and the provision of appropriate habilitation and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities in a manner respectful of the dignity and integrity of persons with disabilities; 5. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as appropriate, to continue to take concrete measures to mainstream the disability perspective in the development process and promote the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions and agreed international standards concerning persons with disabilities, in particular the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and for the further equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities; 6. Encourages Governments to continue and to strengthen their support to non-governmental organizations and other groups, including organizations of persons with disabilities, that contribute to the implementation of the World Programme of Action; 7. Also encourages Governments to involve persons with disabilities in the formulation of strategies and plans, in particular those pertaining to them; 8. Urges relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, including the development agencies and funds, relevant human rights treaty bodies and the regional commissions, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, to incorporate the disability perspective in their activities, as appropriate, and to continue to work closely with the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Secretariat for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities and the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, including in activities at the field level; 9. Stresses the importance of improving data and statistics on persons with disabilities, in compliance with national legislation on the protection of personal data, so that they can be compared internationally and domestically for purposes of policy design, planning and evaluation from the disability perspective, urges Governments, in this regard, to cooperate with the Statistics Division of the Secretariat in the continuing development of global statistics and indicators on disability, and encourages them to avail themselves of the technical assistance of the Division to build national capacities for national data-collection systems; 10. Urges Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide special protection to persons with disabilities from marginalized sectors of society, who may be vulnerable to multiple, intersecting or aggravating forms of discrimination, with special emphasis on integrating them into society and protecting and promoting their full enjoyment of all human rights; 11. Urges Governments to address the situation of persons with disabilities with respect to all actions taken to implement existing human rights treaties to which they are parties and in efforts taken towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals; 12. Invites Member States and observers to continue to participate actively and constructively in the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, with a view to the early conclusion of a draft text of the convention, in order to present it to the General Assembly, as a matter of priority, for its adoption; 13. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental organizations, concerned non-governmental organizations and the private sector to continue to support the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, with a view to strengthening its capacity to support catalytic and innovative activities to implement fully the World Programme of Action and the Standard Rules, including the work of the Special Rapporteur, and to support activities to build national capacities, with emphasis on priorities for action identified in the present resolution; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the initiatives of relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as those of regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, for the further implementation of the World Programme of Action, including the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights by, and non-discrimination in respect of, persons with disabilities, as well as efforts to integrate persons with disabilities in technical cooperation activities, both as beneficiaries and as decision makers; 15. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts in improving the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with disabilities, and urges him to continue to implement plans to provide an accessible environment; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the global implementation of the World Programme of Action, with respect to overall efforts being made to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, also including in the report possible options to improve the complementarity and synergy in the implementation of the World Programme of Action and other United Nations disability mechanisms and instruments, taking into account the strengths and main elements of the World Programme of Action as well as its important role in providing policy guidelines for States. RESOLUTION 60/132 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/501, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Tunisia. 60/132. Cooperatives in social development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/90 of 16 December 1992, 49/155 of 23 December 1994, 51/58 of 12 December 1996, 54/123 of 17 December 1999, 56/114 of 19 December 2001 and 58/131 of 22 December 2003 concerning cooperatives in social development, Recognizing that cooperatives, in their various forms, promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of all people, including women, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, and are becoming a major factor of economic and social development, Recognizing also the important contribution and potential of all forms of cooperatives to the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and their reviews, the World Food Summit, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/138. 2. Draws the attention of Member States to the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General for further action to promote the greater participation of cooperatives in poverty reduction, in particular in the design, implementation and monitoring of poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; 3. Encourages Governments to keep under review, as appropriate, the legal and administrative provisions and requirements governing the activities of cooperatives in order to enhance the growth and sustainability of cooperatives in a rapidly changing socio-economic environment, to broaden and deepen the outreach of cooperatives among the poor, in particular those in rural areas or in the agricultural sector, and to promote the participation of women and vulnerable groups in cooperatives across all sectors; 4. Urges Governments, relevant international organizations and the specialized agencies, in collaboration with national and international cooperative organizations, to give due consideration to the role and contribution of cooperatives in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and their reviews, the World Food Summit, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the 2005 World Summit by, inter alia: (a) Utilizing and developing fully the potential and contribution of cooperatives for the attainment of social development goals, in particular the eradication of poverty, the generation of full and productive employment and the enhancement of social integration; (b) Encouraging and facilitating the establishment and development of cooperatives, including taking measures aimed at enabling people living in poverty or belonging to vulnerable groups to engage on a voluntary basis in the creation and development of cooperatives; (c) Taking appropriate measures aimed at creating a supportive and enabling environment for the development of cooperatives by, inter alia, developing an effective partnership between Governments and the cooperative movement, inter alia, through joint consultative councils and/or advisory bodies and by promoting and implementing better legislation, training, research, sharing of good practices and human resources development; (d) Taking steps to improve the collection and dissemination of information and data on the role of cooperatives in poverty reduction and their contribution to social and economic development; 5. Invites Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative movement, to develop programmes aimed at enhancing capacity-building of cooperatives, including by strengthening the organizational, management and financial skills of their members, and to introduce and support programmes to improve the access of cooperatives to new technologies; 6. Invites Governments, relevant international organizations, the specialized agencies and local, national and international cooperative organizations to continue to observe the International Day of Cooperatives annually, on the first Saturday of July, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/90; 7. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant United Nations and other international organizations and national, regional and international cooperative organizations, to render support to Member States, as appropriate, in their efforts to create a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives, to continue to provide assistance for human resources development, technical advice and training and to promote an exchange of experience and best practices through, inter alia, conferences, workshops and seminars at the national and regional levels; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, focusing on the role of cooperatives in promoting full and productive employment. RESOLUTION 60/133 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/501, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Russian Federation and United States of America. 60/133. Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999, 56/113 of 19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002, 58/15 of 3 December 2003, 59/111 of 6 December 2004 and 59/147 of 20 December 2004 concerning the proclamation of the International Year of the Family and the preparations for, observance of and follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, Noting that in paragraph 5 of its resolution 59/111 and paragraph 2 of its resolution 59/147, respectively, the General Assembly underlined the need to realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to develop concrete measures and approaches to address national priorities in dealing with family issues, Noting also that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development, Cognizant that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004 provided an impetus for integrating family concerns into the national development planning process, Aware that the basic objective of the follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family is to support families in performing their societal and developmental functions and to build upon their strengths, in particular at the national and local levels, Recognizing the need to assist families in their supporting, educating and nurturing roles in contributing to social integration, Convinced of the necessity of ensuring an action-oriented follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family beyond 2004, Recognizing the important catalytic and supportive role of United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and the regional commissions in promoting international cooperation by ensuring an action-oriented follow-up in the field of the family, Cognizant of the need for continued inter-agency cooperation on the family in order to generate greater awareness of family issues among the governing bodies of the United Nations system, Recognizing that civil society, including research and academic institutions, has a pivotal role in advocacy, promotion, research and policymaking in respect of family policy development, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/155. 1. Encourages Governments to continue to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a family perspective into policymaking; 2. Invites Governments to maintain the national coordination mechanisms established or revitalized during the observance of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family to coordinate policies, programmes and strategies in order to bring about positive transformations by integrating family issues into national development planning; 3. Recommends that Governments, in cooperation with concerned academic and research centres as well as relevant non-governmental organizations, encourage action-oriented research that addresses public policies with a family perspective and contributes to the development of strategies, policies and programmes aimed at strengthening the economic and sustainable livelihood of families, and encourages the United Nations programme on the family to support and conduct action-oriented research, including through the issuance of research and publications on relevant topics, with the aim of supplementing the research activities of Governments; 4. Encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request; 5. Urges States, the specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to address family-related concerns within the framework of the commitments undertaken at relevant major United Nations conferences and in their follow-up processes; 6. Urges Member States to create a conducive environment to strengthen and support all families, recognizing that equality between women and men and respect for all the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all family members are essential to family well-being and to society at large, noting the importance of the reconciliation of work and family life, and recognizing the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child; 7. Encourages continued and increased inter-agency cooperation within the United Nations system on family-related issues, and encourages the programmes, funds and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to identify focal points on family matters within their offices to support the integration of family issues in their work; 8. Calls upon the Secretariat to continue its important role on family issues within the United Nations system, and in this regard encourages the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to continue cooperation with Governments, the United Nations system and civil society in strengthening national capacities through the implementation of the mandated objectives of the International Year of the Family; 9. Invites Member States to undertake a review of the role and functions of existing national machineries for the family in order to better integrate family issues into national development programmes; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 11. Decides to consider the topic "Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family" at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family". RESOLUTION 60/134 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/501, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Viet Nam. 60/134. Follow-up to the implementation of the International Year of Volunteers The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/106 of 26 November 2002 on the follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers, Recognizing the valuable contribution of volunteering, including traditional forms of mutual aid and self-help, formal service delivery and other forms of civic participation, to economic and social development, benefiting society at large, communities and the individual volunteer, Recognizing also that volunteerism is an important component of any strategy aimed at, inter alia, such areas as poverty reduction, sustainable development, health, disaster prevention and management and social integration and, in particular, overcoming social exclusion and discrimination, Noting with appreciation the efforts to increase understanding and awareness of volunteerism through research, global information-sharing and education, including efforts to develop an effective network for volunteers through, inter alia, the World Volunteer Webwww.worldvolunteerweb.org. and linked national sites, Acknowledging the existing contribution of the organizations of the United Nations system to supporting volunteering, including the work of United Nations Volunteers around the world, Bearing in mind the need for an integrated and coordinated follow-up to the International Year of Volunteers to be pursued in the relevant parts of the United Nations system, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/128. 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General in response to the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations;A/59/354. 3. Welcomes the hosting of the first International Conference on Volunteerism and the Millennium Development Goals, organized jointly by the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations system and held in Islamabad from 5 to 7 December 2004, and takes note of its final report;www.worldvolunteerweb.org. 4. Reiterates its call upon Governments, with the active support of the media, civil society and the private sector, to observe the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on 5 December and to include activities, in particular on efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Reaffirms the need to recognize and promote all forms of volunteerism as an issue that involves and benefits all segments of society, including children, young persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, minorities and immigrants and those who remain excluded for social or economic reasons; 6. Recognizes that volunteering, in particular at the community level, will help to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 7. Also recognizes the importance of supportive legislative and fiscal frameworks for the growth and development of volunteerism, and encourages Governments to enact such measures; 8. Welcomes the work of the United Nations Volunteers, and requests them to continue their efforts, together with other stakeholders, to raise awareness of volunteerism, increase reference and networking resources available, provide technical cooperation to developing countries, upon their request, in the field of volunteerism and enhance coordination among those operating on the ground; 9. Invites all stakeholders, especially from the private sector community and from private foundations, to support volunteerism as a strategic tool to enhance economic and social development, including by expanding corporate volunteering; 10. Calls for the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to integrate volunteerism in its various forms into their policies, programmes and reports, and encourages the recognition and inclusion of volunteer contributions in future United Nations and other relevant international conferences; 11. Acknowledges the importance of civil society organizations for the promotion of volunteerism, and in this respect recognizes that strengthening the dialogue and interaction between civil society and the United Nations contributes to the expansion of volunteerism; 12. Encourages Governments to establish partnerships with civil society in order to build up volunteer potential at the national level, given the important contribution that volunteerism makes to the fulfilment of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 13. Recognizes the increasing attention being given to the economic dimension of volunteerism, and encourages Governments, with the support of civil society, to build up a knowledge base on the subject, to disseminate data and to expand research on other volunteer-related issues, including in developing countries; 14. Welcomes the work of the United Nations Volunteers in building up the capacity of the World Volunteer Webwww.worldvolunteerweb.org. with a view to enhancing network capabilities and to expanding information, knowledge and resource management, and encourages Governments and all stakeholders, in particular the private sector, to contribute on a voluntary basis to this initiative; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family" and to include in the report proposals regarding possible ways to mark the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers in 2011. RESOLUTION 60/135 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/502 and Corr.1, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/135. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/167 of 18 December 2002, in which it endorsed the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. its resolution 58/134 of 22 December 2003, in which it took note, inter alia, of the road map for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, and its resolution 59/150 of 20 December 2004, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/14 of 21 July 2003, in which the Council invited Governments, the United Nations system and civil society to participate in a "bottom-up" approach to the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, Recalling further Commission for Social Development resolution 42/1 of 13 February 2004 entitled "Modalities for the review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 6 (E/2004/26), chap. I, sect. E. in which the Commission decided to undertake the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action every five years, with each review and appraisal cycle to focus on one of the priority directions of the Madrid Plan of Action, Recognizing that in many parts of the world, awareness of the Madrid Plan of Action remains limited or non-existent, which limits the scope of implementation efforts, 1. Calls upon Governments, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and the non-governmental community to reinforce their advocacy campaigns aimed at informing all major societal actors, including older persons and their organizations, about the decisions taken at the Second World Assembly on Ageing; 2. Recommends that ongoing efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. take into account the situation of older persons; 3. Calls upon Governments and, within their mandates, the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, and encourages the non-governmental community, to ensure that the challenges of population ageing and the concerns of older persons are adequately incorporated into their programmes and projects; 4. Invites Member States and the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to take into account the needs and concerns of older persons in decision-making at all levels; 5. Stresses the need for additional capacity-building at the national level in order to promote and facilitate implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and in this connection encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request; 6. Calls upon Governments to consult and utilize the Research Agenda on Ageing for the Twenty-First Century, adopted by the Valencia Forum in April 2002, as a tool for strengthening national capacity on ageing for the implementation, review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action; 7. Invites Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to encourage and support comprehensive, diversified and specialized research on ageing in all countries; 8. Invites the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council to integrate the issues of population and individual ageing into their work in order to promote implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; 9. Recommends that the Commission on the Status of Women continue to consider the situation of older women, in particular those who are most vulnerable, including those living in rural areas; 10. Encourages those regional commissions that have not yet done so to elaborate a regional strategy for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action; 11. Takes note of Commission for Social Development resolution 42/1,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 6 (E/2004/26), chap. I, sect. E. and in this context requests the Secretary-General to present his proposals for conducting the review and appraisal exercise at the regional and global levels to the Commission at its forty-fourth session; 12. Requests the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to continue to strengthen the capacity of the focal points on ageing and to provide them with adequate resources for further implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, in particular through appropriate mainstreaming action; 13. Stresses the importance of the collection of data and population statistics disaggregated by age and sex on all aspects of policy formulation by all countries, and encourages the relevant entities of the United Nations system to support national efforts in capacity-building, especially those of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, takes note in this context of the establishment by the United Nations of an Internet-accessible database on ageing, and invites States to submit, whenever possible, information for inclusion in the database; 14. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/151. and requests that it be forwarded to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fourth session in order to assist the Commission in its deliberations; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/136 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/503, para. 48)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. 60/136. In-depth study on all forms of violence against women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/185 of 22 December 2003 entitled "In-depth study on all forms of violence against women", 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of preparations for the study;A/60/211. 2. Welcomes: (a) The work undertaken so far in conducting the study, in particular at the expert group meeting on data and statistics on violence against women, held in Geneva from 11 to 14 April 2005, and the expert group meeting on good practices in combating violence against women, held in Vienna from 17 to 20 May 2005; (b) The initiatives taken at the national, regional and international levels to highlight the study and contribute to its preparation, including the workshop on violence against women, held in Paris on 28 and 29 April 2005, and the consultation held at United Nations Headquarters on 6 and 7 September 2005; 3. Stresses once again the importance, when conducting the study, of close cooperation with: (a) All relevant United Nations bodies, funds and programmes, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; (b) All relevant parts of the Secretariat, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the regional commissions; (c) United Nations treaty bodies, in particular the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; (d) Special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; 4. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To seize all opportunities to raise awareness of the conduct of the study and solicit contributions, and in this regard notes with appreciation the launch of a website dedicated to the studywww.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/index.htm. and the online discussion that took place from 26 September to 14 October 2005; (b) To ensure that the conduct of the in-depth study on all forms of violence against women will be carried out in close cooperation with the in-depth study on the question of violence against children requested in its resolution 56/138 of 19 December 2001 so as to enable the exchange of appropriate information; (c) To continue to provide opportunities for consultations with Member States and other stakeholders and to solicit information, including on strategies, policies, programmes and best practices, including from regional organizations; (d) To continue and, where appropriate, to strengthen cooperation with relevant non-governmental organizations in the preparation of the study on all forms of violence against women; 5. Urges all relevant United Nations bodies, funds and programmes to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General in the conduct of the study and, whenever possible, draw attention to it, so as to expand opportunities for contribution to its preparation and follow-up; 6. Encourages Member States to contribute to the funding of the study in order to meet the budgetary requirements for the study and to provide, as applicable, the Secretary-General with updated information on issues to be covered by the study; 7. Decides: (a) To extend the deadline for submission of the report mentioned in subparagraph (d) of its resolution 58/185 to its sixty-first session, at the latest by early September 2006, in time for an in-depth consideration at that session; (b) To consider the report at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Advancement of women". RESOLUTION 60/137 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/503, para. 48)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and Uruguay. 60/137. United Nations Development Fund for Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 39/125 of 14 December 1984, by which it established the United Nations Development Fund for Women as a separate and identifiable entity in autonomous association with the United Nations Development Programme, as well as its resolution 56/130 of 19 December 2001, Reaffirming the Beijing Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. which recognizes the special role of the Fund in the promotion of the economic and political empowerment of women, and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. Welcoming the declaration adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. which emphasizes that implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action is essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming also the commitment of Heads of State and Government gathered at the 2005 World Summit to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, as set out in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as well as the central role of the Commission on the Status of Women, in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality, Reaffirming also all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, Recognizing the importance of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and noting that the number of States parties to the Convention is among the highest for human rights conventions, Welcoming the contributions that the Fund has made in supporting initiatives of Member States, United Nations organizations and non-governmental organizations to formulate and implement activities that promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, Recalling its resolution 59/250 of 22 December 2004 on the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and stressing the need for all organizations of the United Nations development system to implement their global, regional and country-level activities in accordance with their mandates, Recalling also Economic and Social Council agreed conclusions 1997/2 of 18 July 1997See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and Council resolution 2004/4 of 7 July 2004 on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system, Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/54 of 27 July 2005 entitled "United Nations Development Fund for Women", Noting the importance of the work of the Consultative Committee on the United Nations Development Fund for Women in policy and programme directions, as stipulated in the annex to resolution 39/125, 1. Welcomes the note by the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, containing a results-focused report on progress in implementing its multi-year funding framework 2004-2007;A/60/274. 2. Commends the focus by the Fund on strategic programmes in its four core areas of work, namely, reducing feminized poverty, ending violence against women, halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and achieving gender equality in democratic governance and in post-conflict countries, and on supporting innovative programming in the context of the Beijing Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and commitments made at the twenty-third special session of the General AssemblyResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women;See E/CN.6/2005/2 and Corr.1. 3. Notes with appreciation the increased synergy between the United Nations Development Fund for Women and other funds, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, and calls upon those entities to continue their collaborative efforts; 4. Calls upon all organizations of the United Nations system, within their mandates, to mainstream a gender perspective and to pursue gender equality in their country programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes and to articulate specific country-level goals and targets in this field in accordance with national development strategies; 5. Encourages the Fund to continue to contribute to the harmonization and coordination processes of United Nations reform through, inter alia, strengthened partnerships with other funds, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system and through the promotion of development, including technical cooperation, women's human rights and a gender-equality perspective in the policies, guidelines and tools developed by the United Nations Development Group; 6. Emphasizes the importance of continuing grass-roots work, and, in order to achieve better coordination with other United Nations bodies, encourages the participation of the Fund in relevant high-level inter-agency coordination mechanisms; 7. Recognizes the efforts of the Fund and other United Nations funds and programmes to strengthen the gender-equality and women's empowerment perspective in formulation, implementation and evaluation processes related to national development plans and programmes aimed at eradicating poverty, including poverty reduction strategies, the Millennium Development Goals and the United Nations development assistance frameworks where they exist, and urges the Fund to support these processes; 8. Encourages the Fund to support strengthened and coordinated action on gender equality at the country level, in collaboration with the resident coordinator system, including by advocating and building the capacity of gender theme groups within United Nations country teams; 9. Urges the United Nations development system to avail itself of the technical and coordination experience of the Fund on gender issues while undertaking efforts to implement gender mainstreaming internally; 10. Encourages Member States and United Nations organizations to explore with the Fund possible innovative representational arrangements, including through the use of seconded staff, project offices and other means; 11. Notes the activities undertaken by the Fund in follow-up to resolution 56/130, including activities relating to the impact of armed conflict on women and the role of women in peacebuilding, and the support it provides for the participation of women in peace processes, and urges the Fund to increase its efforts and enhance its capacity to support a coordinated approach of the United Nations system to strengthen gender justice in peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, including cooperation, as appropriate, with the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat as well as Member States, regional organizations and other United Nations partners; 12. Emphasizes the importance of the Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women, established by General Assembly resolution 50/166 of 22 December 1995, as a critical response to the deep concern expressed at the fifty-ninth session of the Assembly regarding the persistence of violence and crimes against women in all parts of the world, and urges all Governments, non-governmental organizations and the public and private sectors to consider contributing or increasing contributions to the Trust Fund; 13. Encourages the Fund to continue to support the gender-equality and women's empowerment goals and targets of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session,Resolution S-26/2, annex. by working closely with women who are affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS to develop their capacity to influence programmes and policies, building on its partnerships within the United Nations system, in particular with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; 14. Also encourages the Fund to respond to country requests for the development or strengthening of accountability mechanisms for gender equality, including by building the capacity of Governments to undertake gender-responsive budget analysis and to use sex-disaggregated data as a basis for gender-responsive public policy formulation; 15. Welcomes the role of the Fund in promoting the strategic importance of the empowerment of women in all of the regions in which it operates, and notes with appreciation the enhanced programme activities of the Fund in the African region; 16. Encourages the Fund to strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations, and to provide assistance in order to implement the commitments on gender equality contained in the 2005 World Summit Outcome;See resolution 60/1. 17. Also encourages the Fund to continue to assist Governments in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. in order to advance gender equality at all levels, including by reinforcing the cooperation between Governments and civil society, especially women's organizations, and by supporting efforts to follow up, as appropriate, the concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; 18. Recognizes with appreciation the increases in core contributions and, particularly, non-core contributions to the Fund made by Member States, private organizations and foundations, whose increased contributions demonstrate their commitment to the issues on which the Fund is working; 19. Invites, accordingly, Member States, non-governmental organizations and members of private organizations and foundations that have contributed to the Fund to continue to contribute and to consider increasing their financial contributions, and urges others that have not yet done so to consider contributing to the Fund to enable it to reach the targets for core resources in its multi-year funding framework. RESOLUTION 60/138 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/503, para. 48)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/138. Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/129 of 19 December 2001 and 58/146 of 22 December 2003, Recalling also the importance attached to the problems of rural women in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.85.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A. the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women and their ten-year review and appraisal, the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General AssemblyResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved, inter alia, to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. in which they also resolved to promote gender equality and eliminate pervasive gender discrimination by taking all necessary resolute action, Welcoming the declaration adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session in the context of the review and appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. Welcoming also the agreed conclusions on women's participation in and access to the media, and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women, adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-seventh session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 7 (E/2003/27), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/44. Welcoming further the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. as well as the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. in which Governments were called upon to mainstream the gender perspective into development at all levels and in all sectors, Welcoming the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2003 of the Economic and Social Council, adopted on 2 July 2003,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/58/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 35. which stressed the need for rural development to become an integral part of national and international development policies and of the activities and programmes of the United Nations system, and called for an enhanced role for rural women at all levels of rural development, including decision-making, Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, Noting that some effects of globalization may deepen the socio-economic marginalization of rural women, Noting also that the globalization process has had some benefits by providing opportunities for wage employment for rural women in new sectors, Mindful of the fact that the available data and existing tools of measurement and analysis are insufficient for a full understanding of the gender implications of the processes of globalization and rural change and their impact on rural women, Recognizing the urgent need to take appropriate measures aimed at further improving the situation of women in rural areas, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/165. 2. Invites Member States, in collaboration with the organizations of the United Nations and civil society, as appropriate, to continue their efforts to implement the outcome of and to ensure an integrated and coordinated follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including their reviews, and to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women, including indigenous women, in their national, regional and global development strategies by, inter alia: (a) Creating an enabling environment for improving the situation of rural women and ensuring attention to their needs and contributions, including through enhanced cooperation and a gender perspective, and their full participation in the development, implementation and monitoring of macroeconomic policies and programmes and poverty reduction strategies, including poverty reduction strategy papers, based on the Millennium Development Goals; (b) Pursuing the political and socio-economic empowerment of rural women and supporting their full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels, including through affirmative action, where appropriate, and support for women's organizations, labour unions or other associations and civil society groups promoting rural women's rights; (c) Integrating a gender perspective into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development policies and programmes, including budget policies, paying increased attention to the needs of rural women so as to ensure that they benefit from policies and programmes adopted in all spheres and that the disproportionate number of rural women living in poverty is reduced; (d) Ensuring that the perspectives of rural women are taken into account and that they participate in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and activities related to emergencies, natural disasters, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction; (e) Investing in and strengthening efforts to meet the basic needs of rural women through improved availability, access to and use of critical rural infrastructure, such as energy and transport, capacity-building and human resources development measures and the provision of a safe and reliable water supply and sanitation, nutritional programmes, affordable housing programmes, education and literacy programmes and health and social support measures, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support; (f) Designing and implementing policies that promote and protect the enjoyment by rural women and girls of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and creating an environment that does not tolerate violations of their rights, including domestic violence, sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence; (g) Developing specific assistance programmes and advisory services to promote economic skills of rural women in banking, modern trading and financial procedures and providing microcredit and other financial and business services to a greater number of women in rural areas, in particular female-headed households, for their economic empowerment; (h) Considering adopting, where appropriate, national legislation to protect the knowledge, innovations and practices of women in indigenous and local communities relating to traditional medicines, biodiversity and indigenous technologies; (i) Taking steps towards ensuring that women's unpaid work and contributions to on-farm and off-farm production, including income generated in the informal sector, are visible, and supporting remunerative non-agricultural employment of rural women, improving working conditions and increasing access to productive resources; (j) Addressing the lack of timely, reliable and sex-disaggregated data, including by intensifying efforts to include women's unpaid work in official statistics, and developing a systematic and comparative research base on rural women that will inform policy and programme decisions; (k) Designing and revising laws to ensure that, where private ownership of land and property exists, rural women are accorded full and equal rights to own land and other property, including through the right to inheritance, and undertaking administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital, appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; (l) Promoting programmes to enable rural women and men to reconcile their work and family responsibilities and to encourage men to share equally with women household and childcare responsibilities; (m) Mobilizing resources, including at the national level and through official development assistance, for increasing women's access to existing savings and credit schemes, as well as targeted programmes that provide women with capital, knowledge and tools that enhance their economic capacities; (n) Supporting a gender-sensitive education system that considers rural women's specific needs in order to eliminate gender stereotypes and discriminatory tendencies affecting them; 3. Invites the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to pay due attention to the situation of rural women in the consideration of its priority themes; 4. Invites the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular those dealing with issues of development, to address and support the empowerment of rural women and their specific needs in their programmes and strategies, including in the context of globalization; 5. Stresses the need to identify the best practices for ensuring that rural women have access to and full participation in the area of information and communication technologies, and invites the World Summit on the Information Society, at its second phase in Tunis, to take into consideration, while addressing gender issues, the priorities and needs of rural women and girls as active users of information and ensure their participation in developing and implementing global information and communication technology strategies; 6. Invites Member States, the United Nations and the relevant organizations of its system to ensure that the needs of rural women are mainstreamed into the integrated process of follow-up to the major summits and conferences in the economic and social fields, in particular the Millennium Summit, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the 2005 review of the progress achieved in implementing all the commitments made in the Beijing Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the 2005 World Summit; 7. Invites Member States to take into consideration the concluding comments and recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concerning their reports to the Committee when formulating policies and designing programmes focused on the improvement of the situation of rural women, including those to be developed and implemented in cooperation with relevant international organizations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, addressing different aspects of the empowerment of rural women. RESOLUTION 60/139 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/503, para. 48)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, United States of America and Uruguay. 60/139. Violence against women migrant workers The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on violence against women migrant workers and those adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. Reaffirming the provisions concerning women migrant workers contained in the outcome documents of the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Noting with appreciation the various activities initiated by entities of the United Nations system, such as the Regional Programme on Empowering Women Migrant Workers in Asia of the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the high-level panel discussion held by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session on the integration of gender perspectives in macroeconomics, which included a discussion on the protection of women migrant workers, as well as other activities through which the plight of women migrant workers continues to be assessed and alleviated, Recognizing the increasing feminization of international migration, which requires greater gender sensitivity in all policies and efforts related to the subject of international migration, Noting the large numbers of women from developing countries and some countries with economies in transition who continue to venture forth to more affluent countries in search of a living for themselves and their families as a consequence of poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic conditions, and acknowledging the duty of the countries of origin, in cooperation with the international community, to try to create conditions that provide employment and economic security for their citizens, Acknowledging the economic benefits that accrue to both the country of origin and the country of destination from the employment of women migrant workers, Expressing deep concern at the continuing reports of grave abuses and acts of violence committed against women migrant workers, including, inter alia, sexual and gender-based violence, trafficking, domestic and family violence, racist and xenophobic acts and abusive labour practices, Noting the tendency of many migrant women to be employed in the informal economy and in less skilled work compared with that of men, which puts those women at greater risk of abuse and exploitation, Emphasizing the need for objective, comprehensive and broad-based information, possibly including a database for research and analysis, and a wide exchange of experience and lessons learned by individual Member States and civil society in the formulation of policies and concrete strategies to address the problem of violence against women migrant workers, Encouraging the continuing participation of civil society in developing and implementing appropriate measures to support innovative partnerships among public agencies, non-governmental organizations and other members of civil society for combating violence against women migrant workers, Realizing that the movement of a significant number of women migrant workers may be facilitated and made possible by means of fraudulent or irregular documentation and sham marriages with the object of migration, that this may be facilitated through, among other things, the Internet, and that those women migrant workers are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, Recognizing the importance of joint and collaborative approaches and strategies at the bilateral, regional, interregional and international levels in protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of women migrant workers, Recognizing also the importance of exploring the link between migration and trafficking in order to further efforts towards protecting women migrant workers from violence, discrimination, exploitation and abuse, Encouraged by some measures adopted by some countries of destination to alleviate the plight of women migrant workers residing in their areas of jurisdiction, such as the establishment of protection mechanisms for migrant workers, facilitating their access to mechanisms for reporting complaints or providing assistance during legal proceedings, Underlining the important role of relevant United Nations treaty bodies in monitoring the implementation of human rights conventions and the relevant special procedures, within their respective mandates, in addressing the problem of violence against women migrant workers and in protecting and promoting their rights and welfare, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/137 and Corr.1. 2. Also takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrantsE/CN.4/2005/85 and Corr.1 and Add.1-4. and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on violence against women, its causes and consequences,E/CN.4/2005/72 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and Add.2-5. with regard to violence against women migrant workers, and encourages all special rapporteurs whose mandates relate to the subject of violence against women migrant workers to address the issue of violence against women migrant workers and their human rights, in particular the problems of gender-based violence and of discrimination, as well as trafficking in women; 3. Notes the findings contained in the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development, 2004: Women and International Migration,A/59/287 and Add.1; see also United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.IV.4. including its recommendations for concrete actions aimed at helping to empower migrant women, including women migrant workers, and reducing their vulnerability to abuse; 4. Acknowledges with appreciation the entry into force of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2220, No. 39481. on 1 July 2003; 5. Requests all Governments to continue to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteurs mentioned in paragraph 2 above in the performance of their tasks and mandated duties, including by making available to them requested information on violence against women migrant workers and by reacting promptly to their urgent appeals, and encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting them to visit their countries; 6. Calls upon all Governments to incorporate a gender perspective in all policies on international migration, including, inter alia, for the protection of migrant women from violence, discrimination, exploitation and abuse; 7. Urges concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to strengthen further their national efforts to protect and promote the rights and welfare of women migrant workers, including through sustained bilateral, regional, interregional and international cooperation, by developing strategies and joint action and taking into account the innovative approaches and experiences of individual Member States, and to establish and maintain continuing dialogues to facilitate the exchange of information; 8. Also urges concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to support and allocate appropriate resources for programmes aimed at strengthening preventive action, in particular information for target groups, education and campaigns to increase public awareness of this issue at the national and grass-roots levels, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations; 9. Notes with appreciation the adoption by Member States, including countries of origin, transit and destination, of measures to inform women migrant workers of their rights and the benefits to which they are entitled, and encourages other Member States to adopt appropriate measures in this regard; 10. Calls upon concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, if they have not done so, to put in place penal and criminal sanctions to punish perpetrators of violence against women migrant workers and, to the extent possible, to provide, and to encourage non-governmental organizations to provide, victims of violence with the full range of immediate assistance and protection, such as counselling, legal and consular assistance, temporary shelter and other measures that will allow them to be present during the judicial process, as well as to establish reintegration and rehabilitation schemes for returning women migrant workers to their countries of origin; 11. Encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to support and, if they have not done so, to formulate and implement training programmes for their law enforcers, prosecutors and service providers with a view to instilling among those public-sector workers the necessary skills and attitude to ensure the delivery of proper and professional interventions for women migrant workers who are subjected to abuse and violence; 12. Also encourages concerned Governments to adopt measures or strengthen existing ones that protect the human rights of women migrant workers, regardless of their immigration status, including, inter alia, in policies that regulate the recruitment and deployment of women migrant workers and appropriate legal measures against intermediaries who deliberately encourage the clandestine movement of workers and who exploit women migrant workers, so as to reduce the vulnerability of migrant women to exploitation, ill treatment and trafficking, and to consider expanding dialogue among States on devising innovative methods to promote legal channels of migration, inter alia, in order to deter illegal migration; 13. Invites Governments, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to cooperate towards a better understanding of the problems of women and international migration, including to improve the collection, dissemination and analysis of the kind of data that can explain the causes and consequences of those problems, explore the links between migration and trafficking, and identify the causes of undocumented migration and its economic, social and demographic impact, as well as its implications for the formulation and application of social, economic and migration policies, including those relating to women migrant workers; 14. Encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin, transit and destination, to avail themselves of the expertise of the United Nations, including the Statistics Division of the Secretariat and other relevant bodies, such as the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, to develop appropriate national data-collection methodologies that will generate comparable data on violence against women migrant workers as bases for research and analysis of the subject; 15. Encourages Member States to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to relevant International Labour Organization conventions and to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, as well as all human rights treaties that contribute to the protection of the rights of women migrant workers; 16. Welcomes the entry into force of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex II. on 25 December 2003, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeIbid., annex III. on 28 January 2004, and encourages Governments to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Protocols; 17. Encourages the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to consider developing a general recommendation on the situation of women migrant workers; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the problem of violence against women migrant workers and on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account updated information from the organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, and the International Organization for Migration, as well as the reports of the Special Rapporteurs mentioned in paragraph 2 above, and other relevant sources, including non-governmental organizations. RESOLUTION 60/13 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 14 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.18 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe 60/13. Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the South Asian earthquake disaster - Pakistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 57/152 of 16 December 2002, 57/256 of 20 December 2002, 58/25 of 5 December 2003, 58/214 and 58/215 of 23 December 2003, 59/212 of 20 December 2004, 59/231 and 59/233 of 22 December 2004 and 59/279 of 19 January 2005, Expressing sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the victims, their families and the people of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and other affected areas, who suffered huge losses of life and socio-economic and environmental damage from the massive earthquake that struck the South Asian region on 8 October 2005, Deeply alarmed over the critical condition of millions of homeless and countless injured awaiting immediate response in desperation and pain, which is accentuated by extreme weather and difficult terrain, Welcoming the assistance and contributions of the international community, including Governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector, in the relief and rehabilitation efforts, which reflect the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation to address and meet the challenges of the disaster, and in this context also appreciating the role of the people and Government of Pakistan, Welcoming also the launching of the South Asia earthquake 2005 flash appeal by the United Nations on 11 October 2005 and the continuous engagement by the Secretary-General to escalate the global relief efforts for the urgent and immediate needs of the affected people, Welcoming further the convening by the United Nations of a high-level ministerial donors meeting in Geneva on 26 October 2005 to generate further relief assistance and support for recovery from the disaster, Stressing the need to incorporate risk reduction approaches into development policies and recovery programmes, as set out in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). Recalling the need for continued commitment to assist the affected countries and their peoples, particularly the most vulnerable groups, to fully recover from the catastrophic and traumatic effects of the disaster, including in their medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and welcoming measures announced by the Government of Pakistan and by the international agencies in this regard, Emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters and hazards in all phases, including prevention, preparedness, mitigation, recovery and reconstruction, as well as in strengthening the response capacity of affected countries, 1. Expresses its sympathy to the people affected by the earthquake in South Asia; 2. Emphasizes the need to give particular attention to helping the affected population, especially orphans and widows, in their physical and psychological trauma and to provide immediate medical assistance, in particular with regard to the vaccination of children and to long-term rehabilitation; 3. Also emphasizes the need for the international community to maintain its focus beyond the present emergency relief, in order to sustain the political will to support the medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts led by the Government of Pakistan and other affected States at all levels; 4. Welcomes the effective cooperation between the authorities of Pakistan and the relevant bodies in the United Nations system, donor countries, regional and international financial institutions, relevant international organizations and civil society in the coordination and delivery of emergency relief, and stresses the need to continue such cooperation and delivery throughout the ongoing relief operations and rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in a manner that reduces vulnerability to future natural hazards; 5. Encourages the international community, particularly donor countries, international financial institutions and relevant international organizations, as well as the private sector and civil society, to deliver swiftly on their pledges and to continue to provide the necessary funds and assistance to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy in order to, inter alia, sustain the political will of the international community to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore ways to further strengthen the rapid response capacities for immediate humanitarian relief efforts of the international community, building on the existing arrangements and ongoing initiatives; 8. Invites the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, in collaboration with donor countries, other international and regional financial institutions and the United Nations, to mobilize members of the international community, including affected countries, to address the medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the affected areas; 9. Welcomes the proposed convening of a reconstruction conference to generate assistance and commitments for long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction phases in the disaster-stricken areas, to be held in Islamabad on 19 November 2005; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session in 2006. RESOLUTION 60/140 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/504, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/140. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 59/168 of 20 December 2004, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. are important contributions to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, Reaffirming its commitment to the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the commitments to gender equality and the advancement of women contained therein, the commitments made at the major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, as well as the commitments made at the 2005 World Summit in this regard, Welcoming progress made towards achieving gender equality, but stressing that challenges and obstacles remain in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for full, effective and accelerated implementation, Reaffirming that gender mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting the empowerment of women and achieving gender equality by transforming structures of inequality, and reaffirming also the commitment to actively promote the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, as well as the commitment to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations system in the area of gender equality, Reaffirming also that the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms is essential for the empowerment of women and girls, Reaffirming further that the full representation and full and equal participation of women in political, social and economic decision-making in society enhances social and economic development policies and that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/170. 2. Reaffirms the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and welcomes the ten-year review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women and the outcome transmitted to the Assembly through the Economic and Social Council, including to the 2005 World Summit, in Council decision 2005/232 of 21 July 2005; 3. Emphasizes that the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session is integral to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcomes of United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, as well as the commitments made at the 2005 World Summit; 4. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, all sectors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as all women and men to fully commit themselves and to intensify their contributions to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 5. Recognizes that the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the fulfilment of the obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. are mutually reinforcing in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, and in this regard welcomes the contributions of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to promoting the implementation of the Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and invites States parties to the Convention to include information on measures taken to enhance implementation at the national level in their reports to the Committee under article 18 of the Convention; 6. Calls upon States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. and to take into consideration the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee, and also calls upon those Member States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 7. Reaffirms that the Commission on the Status of Women will continue to play a central role in the follow-up to and review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session and in this regard welcomes their reaffirmation in the outcome of the forty-ninth session of the Commission, calls upon the Commission to give particular attention to the sharing of experiences and good practices in overcoming challenges to full implementation at the national and international levels, and in this regard encourages all actors, inter alia, Governments, the United Nations system, other international organizations and civil society, to continue to support the work of the Commission; 8. Calls upon Governments, the relevant funds and programmes, organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and invites the international financial institutions and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to intensify action to achieve the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, through: (a) Sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels to take further action, inter alia, through the mainstreaming of gender perspectives, including through the development and use of gender equality indicators, as applicable, in all policies and programmes and the promotion of full and equal participation and empowerment of women, and enhanced international cooperation; (b) Promotion and protection of, and respect for, the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by women, including through the full implementation by States of their obligations under all human rights instruments, especially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; (c) Respect for the rule of law, including legislation, and continued efforts to repeal laws and eradicate policies and practices that discriminate against women and girls, and to adopt laws and promote practices that protect their rights and promote gender equality; (d) Strengthening the role of national institutional mechanisms for gender equality and the advancement of women, including through financial and other appropriate assistance; (e) Undertaking socio-economic policies that promote sustainable development and ensure poverty eradication programmes, especially for women, and strengthening the provision of and ensuring equal access to adequate, affordable and accessible public and social services, including education and training at all levels, as well as to all types of permanent and sustainable social protection/social security systems for women throughout their life cycle, and supporting national efforts in this regard; (f) Adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, including the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources; (g) Increased partnerships among Governments, civil society and the private sector; (h) Encouraging joint responsibility of men and boys with women and girls in the promotion of gender equality; 9. Reaffirms that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent violence against women and girls, provide protection to the victims and investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and calls upon Governments to elaborate and implement strategies in this regard; 10. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 11. Notes that, at its fiftieth session, the Commission on the Status of Women will continue to discuss its working methods and develop a new programme of work to begin in 2007, and in this respect requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission with recommendations for enhancing the work of the Commission as well as proposals for future themes; 12. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to continue its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of its work and that of its subsidiary bodies, through, inter alia, implementation of its agreed conclusions 1997/2 of 18 July 1997See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and its resolution 2004/4 of 7 July 2004; 13. Notes the efforts of its Main Committees to pay attention to gender issues, and resolves to intensify such efforts to fully mainstream a gender perspective in their work, as well as in all future United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions and in their follow-up processes; 14. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that programmes, plans and budgets visibly mainstream gender perspectives; 15. Reaffirms the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as well as the central role of the Commission on the Status of Women, in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality; 16. Also reaffirms the commitment made at the 2005 World Summit to the full and effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, while noting the fifth anniversary of its adoption and the open debates in the Council on women and peace and security; 17. Recognizes the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, and urges Governments and the United Nations system to take further steps to ensure the integration of a gender perspective and the full and equal participation of women in all efforts to promote peace and security, as well as to increase their role in decision-making at all levels, including through the development of national action plans and strategies; 18. Calls upon all parts of the United Nations system to continue to play an active role in ensuring the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, as reaffirmed in the declaration adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. through, inter alia, the work of the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Division for the Advancement of Women and the maintenance of gender specialists in all entities of the United Nations system, as well as by ensuring that all personnel, especially in the field, receive training and appropriate follow-up, including tools, guidance and support, for gender mainstreaming; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report annually to the General Assembly, under the item entitled "Advancement of women", as well as to the Commission on the Status of Women and the Economic and Social Council, on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, with an assessment of progress in gender mainstreaming, including information on key achievements, lessons learned and good practices, and to recommend further measures to enhance implementation. RESOLUTION 60/141 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/505 and Corr.1, para. 46)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/141. The girl child The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/156 of 22 December 2003 and all relevant resolutions, including the agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women, in particular those relevant to the girl child, Reaffirming the equal rights of women and men as enshrined, inter alia, in the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling all human rights and other instruments relevant to the rights of the child, in particular the girl child, including the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflictIbid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. Reaffirming the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. and the commitments relevant to the girl child as contained in the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted on 16 September 2005,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming also the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted at the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, entitled "Global Crisis - Global Action",Resolution S-26/2, annex. Reaffirming further all other relevant outcomes of major United Nations summits and conferences relevant to the girl child, as well as their five- and ten-year reviews, including the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and welcoming the declaration adopted on 4 March 2005 by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. Reaffirming the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). Recognizing the efforts of the international community to strengthen the standards for combating sexual abuse and exploitation, and in this regard taking note of the Secretary-General's bulletin on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuseST/SGB/2003/13. and other policies and codes of conduct developed by the United Nations system to prevent and address such incidents, Recognizing also the need to achieve gender equality to ensure a just and equitable world for girls, Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access for girls to education, nutrition and physical and mental health care and in girls enjoying fewer of the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence than boys and often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual and economic exploitation and to violence and harmful practices, such as female infanticide, rape, incest, early marriage, forced marriage, prenatal sex selection and female genital mutilation, Deeply concerned also that, in situations of poverty, war and armed conflict, girl children are among those most affected and that their potential for full development is thus limited, Concerned that the girl child has furthermore become the victim of rape, sexually transmitted diseases and, increasingly, of HIV, which have a serious impact on the quality of her life and leave her open to further discrimination, violence and neglect, Emphasizing that increased access to education, including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, for young people, especially girls, dramatically lowers their vulnerability to preventable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS infection and sexually transmitted diseases, Concerned by the increasing number of child-headed households, in particular those headed by orphan girls, including those orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Deeply concerned that early childbearing and limited access to sexual and reproductive health care, including in the area of emergency obstetric care, causes high levels of fistula and maternal mortality and morbidity, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and can be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and limitation or denial of their human rights, 1. Stresses the need for full and urgent implementation of the rights of the girl child as guaranteed to her under all human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. as well as the need for universal ratification of those instruments; 2. Urges States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2131, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;Ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531., Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. 3. Urges all States to take all necessary measures and to institute legal reforms to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by the girl child of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to take effective action against violations of those rights and freedoms; 4. Urges all Governments and the United Nations system to strengthen efforts bilaterally and with international organizations and private-sector donors in order to achieve the goals of the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). in particular that of eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and to implement the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative as a means of reaching this goal, and reaffirms the commitment contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. in this regard; 5. Calls upon all States to take measures to address the obstacles that continue to affect the achievement of the goals set forth in the Beijing Platform for Action,Ibid., annex II. as contained in paragraph 33 of the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. where appropriate, including the strengthening of national mechanisms to implement policies and programmes for the girl child and, in some cases, to enhance coordination among responsible institutions for the realization of the human rights of girls, as indicated in the further actions and initiatives; 6. Urges States to enact and strictly enforce laws to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, to enact and strictly enforce laws concerning the minimum legal age of consent and the minimum age for marriage and to raise the minimum age for marriage where necessary; 7. Also urges States to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the commitment to implement the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and of the twenty-seventh special session on children;Resolution S-27/2, annex. 8. Urges all States to promote gender equality and equal access to basic social services, such as education, nutrition, health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, vaccinations and protection from diseases representing the major causes of mortality, and to mainstream a gender perspective in all development policies and programmes; 9. Also urges all States to enact and enforce legislation to protect girls from all forms of violence and exploitation, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, female genital mutilation, rape, domestic violence, incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child prostitution and child pornography, trafficking and forced labour, and to develop age-appropriate safe and confidential programmes and medical, social and psychological support services to assist girls who are subjected to violence; 10. Urges States to formulate comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, which should be widely disseminated and should provide targets and timetables for implementation, as well as effective domestic enforcement procedures through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms involving all parties concerned, including consultations with women's organizations, giving attention to the recommendations relating to the girl child of the Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; 11. Calls upon all States and international and non-governmental organizations, individually and collectively, to implement further the Beijing Platform for Action, in particular the strategic objectives relating to the girl child, and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 12. Urges States to ensure that the right of children to express themselves and participate in all matters affecting them, in accordance with their age and maturity, is fully and equally enjoyed by girls; 13. Recognizes that a considerable number of children, including orphans, children living on the street, internally displaced and refugee children, children affected by trafficking and sexual and economic exploitation and children who are incarcerated, live without parental support, and in this regard urges States to take special measures to support such children and the institutions, facilities and services that care for them, and to build and strengthen children's abilities to protect themselves; 14. Urges States to take appropriate measures to address the needs of orphan girls by implementing national policies and strategies to build and strengthen governmental, family and community capacities to provide a supportive environment for orphans and girls and boys infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, including by providing appropriate counselling and psychosocial support, and ensuring their enrolment in school and access to shelter, good nutrition and health and social services on an equal basis with other children; and to protect orphans and vulnerable children from all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, trafficking and loss of inheritance; 15. Also urges States to take special measures for the protection of girls affected by armed conflicts and by post-conflict situations and in particular to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, including rape and sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation, torture, abduction and forced labour, paying special attention to refugee and displaced girls, and to take into account the special needs of girls affected by armed conflicts in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation assistance and reintegration processes; 16. Deplores all the cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children, especially girls, in humanitarian crises, including those cases involving humanitarian workers and peacekeepers; 17. Urges all States and the international community to respect, protect and promote the rights of the child, taking into account the particular vulnerabilities of the girl child in pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict situations, and calls for special initiatives designed to address all of the rights and needs of girls affected by armed conflicts; 18. Calls upon Governments, civil society, including the media, and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights education and the full respect for and enjoyment of the human rights of the girl child, inter alia, through the translation, production and dissemination of age-appropriate and gender-sensitive information material on those rights to all sectors of society, in particular to children; 19. Calls upon States and international and non-governmental organizations to mobilize all necessary resources, support and efforts to realize the goals, strategic objectives and actions set out in the Beijing Platform for Action and the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action; 20. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to ensure that all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, individually and collectively, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Labour Organization, take into account the rights and the particular needs of the girl child in country programmes of cooperation in accordance with national priorities, including through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework; 21. Requests all human rights treaty bodies, special procedures and other human rights mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to adopt regularly and systematically a gender perspective in the implementation of their mandates and to include in their reports information on the qualitative analysis of violations of the human rights of women and girls, and encourages the strengthening of cooperation and coordination in that regard; 22. Stresses the importance of a substantive assessment of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action with a life-cycle perspective so as to identify gaps and obstacles in the implementation process and to develop further actions for the achievement of the goals of the Platform for Action; 23. Requests Member States to ensure that, in preventing and addressing HIV/AIDS, particular attention and support is given to the girl child infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, including adolescent mothers; 24. Urges Member States to dramatically increase resources at all levels, particularly in the education and health sectors, to enable young people, especially girls, to gain the knowledge, attitudes and skills that they need to prevent HIV/AIDS and to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, including an emphasis on fistula, using information provided by Member States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, with a view to assessing the impact of the present resolution on the well-being of the girl child. RESOLUTION 60/142 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/506 and Corr.1, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 60/142. Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights recognized the inherent dignity and the unique contribution of indigenous peoples to the development and plurality of society and strongly reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to their economic, social and cultural well-being and their enjoyment of the fruits of sustainable development, Reaffirming the commitment of States to continue making progress in the advancement of the human rights of the world's indigenous peoples at the local, national, regional and international levels, as well as in the areas of culture, education, health, environment and social and economic development, Reaffirming also that States should, in accordance with international law, take concerted positive steps to ensure respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, on the basis of equality and non-discrimination, and recognizing the value and diversity of their distinctive identities, cultures and social organizations, Recalling its resolution 48/163 of 21 December 1993, in which it proclaimed the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, commencing on 10 December 1994, with the goal of strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as human rights, the environment, development, education and health, Bearing in mind the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the draft programme of action for the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People,A/60/270, sect. II. which are linked and which together promote actions to improve the standard of living of the indigenous peoples, Recalling its resolution 59/174 of 20 December 2004 proclaiming the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, 2005-2014, Expressing its appreciation to the Coordinator of the Second Decade, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, for having elaborated a concrete programme of action to be pursued during the Decade based upon equal participation and partnership between all actors involved, Conscious that in its resolution 59/174 it requested the Coordinator to fulfil his mandate in full cooperation and consultation with, inter alia, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, other relevant bodies and mechanisms of the United Nations system and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Keeping in mind the need to continue, as appropriate, developing standard-setting activities on issues of particular interest to indigenous peoples, Expressing its appreciation for all contributions and proposals submitted in the course of the drafting of the programme of action for the Second Decade, and also giving due consideration to the contributions of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to the draft programme of action, 1. Adopts the Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous PeopleA/60/270, sect. II. as a guideline for action for the Second Decade; 2. Urges all actors involved in the process to cooperate in a constructive and decisive manner in order to achieve rapid progress and concrete results in realizing the goals of the Second Decade; 3. Appeals to the international community at large to provide financial support to the Programme of Action for the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, inter alia, through contributions to the Voluntary Fund for the Second Decade; 4. Adopts "Partnership for action and dignity" as the theme for the Second Decade; 5. Requests the Coordinator of the Second Decade to consult with Member States, agencies, organizations and other relevant bodies and mechanisms of the United Nations system, indigenous organizations and other non-governmental organizations about the possibility of undertaking midterm and end-of-term reviews of the Second Decade; 6. Reaffirms that, in accordance with its resolutions 40/131 of 13 December 1985, 52/108 of 12 December 1997 and 56/140 of 19 December 2001, the representatives of indigenous communities and organizations will continue to benefit from the financial assistance provided by the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations to facilitate their participation in the deliberations of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the working group of the Commission on Human Rights charged with elaborating the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, according to the terms of reference of the Fund; 7. Urges all Governments and indigenous organizations concerned to take every action necessary to facilitate the adoption of the draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples as soon as possible; 8. Invites Governments, the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations, indigenous and other non-governmental organizations and civil society actors to draw up their own plans for the Second Decade, using as a guideline for action the goals, objectives and Programme of Action for the Second Decade, including integrating a gender perspective in such activities; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Indigenous issues", a sub-item entitled "Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People". RESOLUTION 60/143 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/507 and Corr.1, para. 21),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nigeria, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 114 to 4, with 57 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Japan, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 60/143. Inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and other relevant human rights instruments, Recalling the provisions of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2004/16 of 16 April 2004See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/5 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Judgement of the Tribunal, which recognized the Waffen SS organization and all its integral parts as criminal and declared it responsible for many war crimes and crimes against humanity, Recalling further the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 2 of the Declaration and paragraph 86 of the Programme of Action, Recalling equally the study undertaken by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,E/CN.4/2005/18 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and Add.2-6. and taking note of his report,See A/60/283. Alarmed, in this regard, at the spread in many parts of the world of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, 1. Reaffirms the provision of the Durban DeclarationSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in which States condemned the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism and violent nationalist prejudice and stated that those phenomena could never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances; 2. Expresses deep concern over the glorification of the Nazi movement and former members of the Waffen SS organization, including by erecting monuments and memorials as well as holding public demonstrations in the name of the glorification of the Nazi past, the Nazi movement and neo-Nazism; 3. Notes with concern the increase in the number of racist incidents in several countries and the rise of skinhead groups, which have been responsible for many of these incidents, as observed by the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 4. Reaffirms that such acts may be qualified to fall within the scope of activities described in article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and that they represent a clear and manifest abuse of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as well as the rights to freedom of opinion and expression within the meaning of those rights as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; 5. Stresses that the practices described above do injustice to the memory of the countless victims of crimes against humanity committed in the Second World War, in particular those committed by the SS organization, and poison the minds of young people, in particular in the year of the sixtieth anniversary of victory in the Second World War and the liberation of Auschwitz and other concentration camps, and that those practices are incompatible with the obligations of States Members of the United Nations under its Charter and are incompatible with the goals and principles of the Organization; 6. Also stresses that such practices fuel contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the spread and multiplication of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups; 7. Emphasizes the need to take the necessary measures to put an end to the practices described above, and calls upon States to take more effective measures to combat those phenomena and the extremist movements, which pose a real threat to democratic values; 8. Reaffirms that, according to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, States parties to that instrument are, inter alia, under the obligation: (a) To condemn all propaganda and all organizations that are based on ideas of racial superiority or that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form; (b) To undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention; (c) To declare as an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof; (d) To declare illegal and prohibit organizations and organized and all other propaganda activities that promote and incite racial discrimination and to recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law; (e) To prohibit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, from promoting or inciting racial discrimination; 9. Recalls the request of the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/5Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. that the Special Rapporteur continue to reflect on this issue, make relevant recommendations in his report to the Commission at its sixty-second session and seek and take into account in this regard the views of Governments and non-governmental organizations; 10. Invites Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the exercise of the aforementioned task; 11. Decides to remain seized of the issue. RESOLUTION 60/144 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/507 and Corr.1, para. 21),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Kazakhstan and Russian Federation. by a recorded vote of 172 to 3, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Palau, Tuvalu 60/144. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/177 of 20 December 2004, in which it firmly consolidated the global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and recognized the absolute necessity and the imperative nature of the political will for the achievement of the commitments undertaken in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Recalling also its resolution 58/160 of 22 December 2003, in which it decided to place emphasis on the concrete implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a solid foundation for a broad-based consensus for further actions and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Recalling further its resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002, in which it outlined the important roles and responsibilities of the various organs of the United Nations and other stakeholders at the international, regional and national levels, including, in particular, the Commission on Human Rights, and its resolution 56/266 of 27 March 2002, in which it endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as constituting a solid foundation for further action and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance manifest themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and may be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights, and recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2003/30 of 23 April 2003,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/88 of 22 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/64 of 20 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. by which the international community put into effect mechanisms for the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Underlining the primacy of political will, international cooperation and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels for the successful implementation of the Durban Programme of Action, Alarmed at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, inter alia, as a result of the resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Welcoming the determination of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to profile and increase the visibility of the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and her intention to make this a cross-cutting issue in the activities and programmes of her Office, Taking note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,See A/60/283. I Basic general principles 1. Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments; 2. Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form; 3. Expresses deep concern at recent attempts to establish hierarchies among emerging and resurgent forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and urges States to adopt measures to address these scourges with the same emphasis and vigour with a view to preventing this practice and protecting victims; 4. Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling; 5. Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 6. Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law; 7. Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments; 8. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred, and calls upon States to take all necessary measures to combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they have undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 9. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for foreign cultures, peoples and countries; 10. Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men; II International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 11. Reaffirms that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. are of paramount importance for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world; 12. Reiterates the call made by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in paragraph 75 of the Durban Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. to achieve universal ratification of the Convention by 2005 and for all States to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 of the Convention, and endorses the grave concern expressed by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/64Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. to the effect that, with one hundred and seventy ratifications and only forty-six declarations, the deadline for universal ratification decided by the Conference has, regrettably, not been realized; 13. Urges, in the above context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain and issue regular updates on its website of a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention and to encourage such countries to demonstrate their practical commitment to meet the goal of universal ratification as decided upon by the World Conference; 14. Expresses concern at the serious delays in the submission of overdue reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which impedes the effectiveness of the Committee, and makes a strong appeal to all States parties to the Convention to comply with their treaty obligations; 15. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention, on the financing of the Committee, and calls for adequate additional resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully; 16. Welcomes the work of the Committee in applying the Convention to the new and contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination, bearing in mind the need to identify the gaps in the existing international human rights instruments, notably the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, for which complementary standards are necessary; 17. Recognizes the contribution to be made to the above process by conducting an in-depth assessment and evaluation of the implementation of existing international human rights instruments by States parties; 18. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and article 5 of the Convention; 19. Notes that the Committee holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention; 20. Welcomes the emphasis placed by the Committee on the importance of follow-up to the World Conference and the measures recommended to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18), chap. XI. III Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 21. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing with the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 22. Also acknowledges that the World Conference, which was the third world conference against racism, was significantly different from the previous two conferences, as evidenced by the inclusion in its title of two important components relating to contemporary forms of racism, namely, xenophobia and related intolerance; 23. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 24. Also emphasizes the fundamental and complementary role of national human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working jointly with States towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 25. Welcomes the steps taken by numerous Governments, in particular the elaboration and implementation of national action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and steps taken by national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, towards the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and affirms this trend as a demonstration of commitment for the elimination of all scourges of racism at the national level; 26. Calls upon all States that have not yet elaborated their national action plans on the combating of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to comply with their commitments undertaken at the World Conference; 27. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay, at the national, regional and international levels, policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; 28. Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies or centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such bodies in all regions where they do not exist; 29. Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in assisting States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation; 30. Decides that the General Assembly, through its role in policy formulation, the Economic and Social Council, through its role in overall guidance and coordination, in accordance with their respective roles under the Charter of the United Nations and Assembly resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and the Commission on Human Rights shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 31. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters related to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter, including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 32. Welcomes the second meeting of the group of independent eminent experts, held in Geneva from 21 to 23 February 2005, in particular its programme of work,See E/CN.4/2005/125 and Corr.1. notes its appeal for convening a five-year review of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and in this context urges Member States and relevant stakeholders to give due consideration to its appeal with a view to its examination at the sixty-first session; 33. Reaffirms that the Commission on Human Rights, as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council, shall have a central role in the monitoring of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action within the United Nations system and in advising the Council thereon; 34. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing work in follow-up to the World Conference, and in this regard endorses the outcome of the third session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See E/CN.4/2005/20. while taking note of the outcome of the fourth session of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent,See E/CN.4/2005/21. and calls for their implementation by all stakeholders; 35. Welcomes the convening of the high-level seminar in January 2006 under the auspices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as set out in Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/64,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and encourages all States to participate in this seminar at the appropriate level; 36. Acknowledges the centrality of resource mobilization, effective global partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158 of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of commitments undertaken at the World Conference, and to this end emphasizes the central role to be played by the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action in mobilizing the necessary political will required for the successful implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 37. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 38. Expresses its concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some governing bodies of the various sporting codes to combat racism, and in this regard invites all international sporting bodies to promote, through their national, regional and international federations, a world of sport free from racism and racial discrimination; 39. Invites, in this context, the Fédération internationale de football association, in connection with the 2006 and 2010 soccer World Cup tournaments to be held in Germany and in South Africa, respectively, to consider introducing a visible theme on non-racism in football, and requests the Secretary-General to bring this invitation to the attention of the Fédération and to bring the issue of racism in sport to the attention of other relevant international sporting bodies; IV Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits 40. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages its continuation; 41. Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, and calls upon States to consider responding favourably to his requests for visits so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 42. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent and other communities; 43. Encourages closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the Anti-Discrimination Unit; 44. Urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur; 45. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 46. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/60/283. and urges Member States and other relevant stakeholders to consider implementing those recommendations; 47. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue giving particular attention to the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights by national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, immigrant populations, asylum-seekers and refugees; 48. Invites Member States to demonstrate greater commitment to fighting racism in sport by conducting educational and awareness-raising activities and by strongly condemning the perpetrators of racist incidents, in cooperation with national and international sports organizations; V General 49. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 50. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination". RESOLUTION 60/145 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/508 and Corr.1, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. 60/145. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-firstSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 59/180 of 20 December 2004, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, containing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, and recalling its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, containing the 2005 World Summit Outcome, which, inter alia, upheld the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination and foreign occupation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the right of peoples to self-determination,A/60/268. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the question to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 60/146 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/508 and Corr.1, para. 17),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 170 to 5, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia 60/146. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling, in this regard, its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 entitled "Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations", Bearing in mind the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and noting in particular the reply of the Court, including on the right of peoples to self-determination, which is a right erga omnes,Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 88. Recalling the conclusion of the Court, in its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004, that the construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, along with measures previously taken, severely impedes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,Ibid., para. 122. Expressing the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a final settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling its resolution 59/179 of 20 December 2004, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine; 2. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination. RESOLUTION 60/147 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.1, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 60/147. Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. other relevant human rights instruments and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Affirming the importance of addressing the question of remedies and reparation for victims of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law in a systematic and thorough way at the national and international levels, Recognizing that, in honouring the victims' right to benefit from remedies and reparation, the international community keeps faith with the plight of victims, survivors and future human generations and reaffirms international law in the field, Recalling the adoption of the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/35 of 19 April 2005See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2005/30 of 25 July 2005, in which the Council recommended to the General Assembly that it adopt the Basic Principles and Guidelines, 1. Adopts the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law annexed to the present resolution; 2. Recommends that States take the Basic Principles and Guidelines into account, promote respect thereof and bring them to the attention of members of the executive bodies of government, in particular law enforcement officials and military and security forces, legislative bodies, the judiciary, victims and their representatives, human rights defenders and lawyers, the media and the public in general; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to take steps to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the Basic Principles and Guidelines in all the official languages of the United Nations, including by transmitting them to Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and by including the Basic Principles and Guidelines in the United Nations publication entitled Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments. Annex Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Preamble The General Assembly, Recalling the provisions providing a right to a remedy for victims of violations of international human rights law found in numerous international instruments, in particular article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. article 6 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. article 14 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. and article 39 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and of international humanitarian law as found in article 3 of the Hague Convention respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land of 18 October 1907 (Convention IV),See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). article 91 of the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) of 8 June 1977,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. and articles 68 and 75 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. Recalling the provisions providing a right to a remedy for victims of violations of international human rights found in regional conventions, in particular article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1520, No. 26363. article 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights,Ibid., vol. 1144, No. 17955. and article 13 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Ibid., vol. 213, No. 2889. Recalling the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power emanating from the deliberations of the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders and General Assembly resolution 40/34 of 29 November 1985 by which the Assembly adopted the text recommended by the Congress, Reaffirming the principles enunciated in the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, including that victims should be treated with compassion and respect for their dignity, have their right to access to justice and redress mechanisms fully respected, and that the establishment, strengthening and expansion of national funds for compensation to victims should be encouraged, together with the expeditious development of appropriate rights and remedies for victims, Noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court requires the establishment of "principles relating to reparations to, or in respect of, victims, including restitution, compensation and rehabilitation", requires the Assembly of States Parties to establish a trust fund for the benefit of victims of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court, and of the families of such victims, and mandates the Court "to protect the safety, physical and psychological well-being, dignity and privacy of victims" and to permit the participation of victims at all "stages of the proceedings determined to be appropriate by the Court", Affirming that the Basic Principles and Guidelines contained herein are directed at gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law which, by their very grave nature, constitute an affront to human dignity, Emphasizing that the Basic Principles and Guidelines contained herein do not entail new international or domestic legal obligations but identify mechanisms, modalities, procedures and methods for the implementation of existing legal obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law which are complementary though different as to their norms, Recalling that international law contains the obligation to prosecute perpetrators of certain international crimes in accordance with international obligations of States and the requirements of national law or as provided for in the applicable statutes of international judicial organs, and that the duty to prosecute reinforces the international legal obligations to be carried out in accordance with national legal requirements and procedures and supports the concept of complementarity, Noting that contemporary forms of victimization, while essentially directed against persons, may nevertheless also be directed against groups of persons who are targeted collectively, Recognizing that, in honouring the victims' right to benefit from remedies and reparation, the international community keeps faith with the plight of victims, survivors and future human generations and reaffirms the international legal principles of accountability, justice and the rule of law, Convinced that, in adopting a victim-oriented perspective, the international community affirms its human solidarity with victims of violations of international law, including violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as well as with humanity at large, in accordance with the following Basic Principles and Guidelines, Adopts the following Basic Principles and Guidelines: I. Obligation to respect, ensure respect for and implement international human rights law and international humanitarian law 1. The obligation to respect, ensure respect for and implement international human rights law and international humanitarian law as provided for under the respective bodies of law emanates from: (a) Treaties to which a State is a party; (b) Customary international law; (c) The domestic law of each State. 2. If they have not already done so, States shall, as required under international law, ensure that their domestic law is consistent with their international legal obligations by: (a) Incorporating norms of international human rights law and international humanitarian law into their domestic law, or otherwise implementing them in their domestic legal system; (b) Adopting appropriate and effective legislative and administrative procedures and other appropriate measures that provide fair, effective and prompt access to justice; (c) Making available adequate, effective, prompt and appropriate remedies, including reparation, as defined below; (d) Ensuring that their domestic law provides at least the same level of protection for victims as that required by their international obligations. II. Scope of the obligation 3. The obligation to respect, ensure respect for and implement international human rights law and international humanitarian law as provided for under the respective bodies of law, includes, inter alia, the duty to: (a) Take appropriate legislative and administrative and other appropriate measures to prevent violations; (b) Investigate violations effectively, promptly, thoroughly and impartially and, where appropriate, take action against those allegedly responsible in accordance with domestic and international law; (c) Provide those who claim to be victims of a human rights or humanitarian law violation with equal and effective access to justice, as described below, irrespective of who may ultimately be the bearer of responsibility for the violation; and (d) Provide effective remedies to victims, including reparation, as described below. III. Gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law that constitute crimes under international law 4. In cases of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law constituting crimes under international law, States have the duty to investigate and, if there is sufficient evidence, the duty to submit to prosecution the person allegedly responsible for the violations and, if found guilty, the duty to punish her or him. Moreover, in these cases, States should, in accordance with international law, cooperate with one another and assist international judicial organs competent in the investigation and prosecution of these violations. 5. To that end, where so provided in an applicable treaty or under other international law obligations, States shall incorporate or otherwise implement within their domestic law appropriate provisions for universal jurisdiction. Moreover, where it is so provided for in an applicable treaty or other international legal obligations, States should facilitate extradition or surrender offenders to other States and to appropriate international judicial bodies and provide judicial assistance and other forms of cooperation in the pursuit of international justice, including assistance to, and protection of, victims and witnesses, consistent with international human rights legal standards and subject to international legal requirements such as those relating to the prohibition of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. IV. Statutes of limitations 6. Where so provided for in an applicable treaty or contained in other international legal obligations, statutes of limitations shall not apply to gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law which constitute crimes under international law. 7. Domestic statutes of limitations for other types of violations that do not constitute crimes under international law, including those time limitations applicable to civil claims and other procedures, should not be unduly restrictive. V. Victims of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law 8. For purposes of the present document, victims are persons who individually or collectively suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights, through acts or omissions that constitute gross violations of international human rights law, or serious violations of international humanitarian law. Where appropriate, and in accordance with domestic law, the term "victim" also includes the immediate family or dependants of the direct victim and persons who have suffered harm in intervening to assist victims in distress or to prevent victimization. 9. A person shall be considered a victim regardless of whether the perpetrator of the violation is identified, apprehended, prosecuted, or convicted and regardless of the familial relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. VI. Treatment of victims 10. Victims should be treated with humanity and respect for their dignity and human rights, and appropriate measures should be taken to ensure their safety, physical and psychological well-being and privacy, as well as those of their families. The State should ensure that its domestic laws, to the extent possible, provide that a victim who has suffered violence or trauma should benefit from special consideration and care to avoid his or her re-traumatization in the course of legal and administrative procedures designed to provide justice and reparation. VII. Victims' right to remedies 11. Remedies for gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law include the victim's right to the following as provided for under international law: (a) Equal and effective access to justice; (b) Adequate, effective and prompt reparation for harm suffered; (c) Access to relevant information concerning violations and reparation mechanisms. VIII. Access to justice 12. A victim of a gross violation of international human rights law or of a serious violation of international humanitarian law shall have equal access to an effective judicial remedy as provided for under international law. Other remedies available to the victim include access to administrative and other bodies, as well as mechanisms, modalities and proceedings conducted in accordance with domestic law. Obligations arising under international law to secure the right to access justice and fair and impartial proceedings shall be reflected in domestic laws. To that end, States should: (a) Disseminate, through public and private mechanisms, information about all available remedies for gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law; (b) Take measures to minimize the inconvenience to victims and their representatives, protect against unlawful interference with their privacy as appropriate and ensure their safety from intimidation and retaliation, as well as that of their families and witnesses, before, during and after judicial, administrative, or other proceedings that affect the interests of victims; (c) Provide proper assistance to victims seeking access to justice; (d) Make available all appropriate legal, diplomatic and consular means to ensure that victims can exercise their rights to remedy for gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law. 13. In addition to individual access to justice, States should endeavour to develop procedures to allow groups of victims to present claims for reparation and to receive reparation, as appropriate. 14. An adequate, effective and prompt remedy for gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law should include all available and appropriate international processes in which a person may have legal standing and should be without prejudice to any other domestic remedies. IX. Reparation for harm suffered 15. Adequate, effective and prompt reparation is intended to promote justice by redressing gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law. Reparation should be proportional to the gravity of the violations and the harm suffered. In accordance with its domestic laws and international legal obligations, a State shall provide reparation to victims for acts or omissions which can be attributed to the State and constitute gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law. In cases where a person, a legal person, or other entity is found liable for reparation to a victim, such party should provide reparation to the victim or compensate the State if the State has already provided reparation to the victim. 16. States should endeavour to establish national programmes for reparation and other assistance to victims in the event that the parties liable for the harm suffered are unable or unwilling to meet their obligations. 17. States shall, with respect to claims by victims, enforce domestic judgements for reparation against individuals or entities liable for the harm suffered and endeavour to enforce valid foreign legal judgements for reparation in accordance with domestic law and international legal obligations. To that end, States should provide under their domestic laws effective mechanisms for the enforcement of reparation judgements. 18. In accordance with domestic law and international law, and taking account of individual circumstances, victims of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law should, as appropriate and proportional to the gravity of the violation and the circumstances of each case, be provided with full and effective reparation, as laid out in principles 19 to 23, which include the following forms: restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition. 19. Restitution should, whenever possible, restore the victim to the original situation before the gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international humanitarian law occurred. Restitution includes, as appropriate: restoration of liberty, enjoyment of human rights, identity, family life and citizenship, return to one's place of residence, restoration of employment and return of property. 20. Compensation should be provided for any economically assessable damage, as appropriate and proportional to the gravity of the violation and the circumstances of each case, resulting from gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law, such as: (a) Physical or mental harm; (b) Lost opportunities, including employment, education and social benefits; (c) Material damages and loss of earnings, including loss of earning potential; (d) Moral damage; (e) Costs required for legal or expert assistance, medicine and medical services, and psychological and social services. 21. Rehabilitation should include medical and psychological care as well as legal and social services. 22. Satisfaction should include, where applicable, any or all of the following: (a) Effective measures aimed at the cessation of continuing violations; (b) Verification of the facts and full and public disclosure of the truth to the extent that such disclosure does not cause further harm or threaten the safety and interests of the victim, the victim's relatives, witnesses, or persons who have intervened to assist the victim or prevent the occurrence of further violations; (c) The search for the whereabouts of the disappeared, for the identities of the children abducted, and for the bodies of those killed, and assistance in the recovery, identification and reburial of the bodies in accordance with the expressed or presumed wish of the victims, or the cultural practices of the families and communities; (d) An official declaration or a judicial decision restoring the dignity, the reputation and the rights of the victim and of persons closely connected with the victim; (e) Public apology, including acknowledgement of the facts and acceptance of responsibility; (f) Judicial and administrative sanctions against persons liable for the violations; (g) Commemorations and tributes to the victims; (h) Inclusion of an accurate account of the violations that occurred in international human rights law and international humanitarian law training and in educational material at all levels. 23. Guarantees of non-repetition should include, where applicable, any or all of the following measures, which will also contribute to prevention: (a) Ensuring effective civilian control of military and security forces; (b) Ensuring that all civilian and military proceedings abide by international standards of due process, fairness and impartiality; (c) Strengthening the independence of the judiciary; (d) Protecting persons in the legal, medical and health-care professions, the media and other related professions, and human rights defenders; (e) Providing, on a priority and continued basis, human rights and international humanitarian law education to all sectors of society and training for law enforcement officials as well as military and security forces; (f) Promoting the observance of codes of conduct and ethical norms, in particular international standards, by public servants, including law enforcement, correctional, media, medical, psychological, social service and military personnel, as well as by economic enterprises; (g) Promoting mechanisms for preventing and monitoring social conflicts and their resolution; (h) Reviewing and reforming laws contributing to or allowing gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law. X. Access to relevant information concerning violations and reparation mechanisms 24. States should develop means of informing the general public and, in particular, victims of gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law of the rights and remedies addressed by these Basic Principles and Guidelines and of all available legal, medical, psychological, social, administrative and all other services to which victims may have a right of access. Moreover, victims and their representatives should be entitled to seek and obtain information on the causes leading to their victimization and on the causes and conditions pertaining to the gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law and to learn the truth in regard to these violations. XI. Non-discrimination 25. The application and interpretation of these Basic Principles and Guidelines must be consistent with international human rights law and international humanitarian law and be without any discrimination of any kind or on any ground, without exception. XII. Non-derogation 26. Nothing in these Basic Principles and Guidelines shall be construed as restricting or derogating from any rights or obligations arising under domestic and international law. In particular, it is understood that the present Basic Principles and Guidelines are without prejudice to the right to a remedy and reparation for victims of all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. It is further understood that these Basic Principles and Guidelines are without prejudice to special rules of international law. XIII. Rights of others 27. Nothing in this document is to be construed as derogating from internationally or nationally protected rights of others, in particular the right of an accused person to benefit from applicable standards of due process. RESOLUTION 60/148 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.1, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 60/148. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Reaffirming that no one shall be subjected to torture or to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Recalling that freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of international or internal armed conflict or disturbance, and that the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is affirmed in relevant international instruments, Recalling also that a number of international, regional and domestic courts, including the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, have recognized that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law and have held that the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is customary international law, Recalling further the definition of torture contained in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. Noting that under the Geneva Conventions of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. torture and inhuman treatment are a grave breach and that under the statutes of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. acts of torture constitute war crimes and can constitute crimes against humanity, Commending the persistent efforts by non-governmental organizations, including the considerable network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, 1. Condemns all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be justified, and calls upon all States to implement fully the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 2. Emphasizes that States must take persistent, determined and effective measures to prevent and combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including their gender-based manifestations, and also emphasizes the importance of taking fully into account the recommendations and conclusions of the relevant treaty bodies and mechanisms, including the Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 3. Condemns any action or attempt by States or public officials to legalize, authorize or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions; 4. Stresses that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment must be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention where the prohibited act is found to have been committed, and takes note in this respect of the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Principles)Resolution 55/89, annex. as a useful tool in efforts to combat torture; 5. Stresses also that all acts of torture must be made offences under domestic criminal law, and emphasizes that acts of torture are serious violations of international humanitarian law and in this regard constitute war crimes and can constitute crimes against humanity, and that the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished; 6. Urges States to ensure that any statement that is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made; 7. Stresses that States must not punish personnel who are involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 8. Urges States not to expel, return ("refouler"), extradite or in any other way transfer a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture, and recognizes that diplomatic assurances, where used, do not release States from their obligations under international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, in particular the principle of non-refoulement; 9. Stresses that national legal systems must ensure that victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment obtain redress, are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation, urges States to take effective measures to this end, and in this regard encourages the development of rehabilitation centres; 10. Recalls its resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988 on the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, and in this context stresses that ensuring that any individual arrested or detained is promptly brought before a judge or other independent judicial officer in person and permitting prompt and regular medical care and legal counsel as well as visits by family members and independent monitoring mechanisms can be effective measures for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment; 11. Reminds all States that prolonged incommunicado detention or detention in secret places may facilitate the perpetration of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and can in itself constitute a form of such treatment, and urges all States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and dignity of the person; 12. Calls upon all States to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export and use of equipment that is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; 13. Urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. as a matter of priority; 14. Invites all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to make the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention concerning inter-State and individual communications, to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20 of the Convention and to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 15. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including, in view of the high number of reports not submitted in time, their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19 of the Convention, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles when submitting reports to the Committee against Torture; 16. Calls upon States parties to give early consideration to signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 57/199, annex. which provides further measures for use in the fight against and prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 17. Welcomes the work of the Committee against Torture and the report of the Committee, submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/60/44). 18. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with her mandate established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of States, advisory services for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including for the preparation of national reports to the Committee against Torture and for the establishment and operation of national preventive mechanisms, as well as technical assistance for the development, production and distribution of teaching material for this purpose; 19. Notes with appreciation the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,See A/60/316. and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including its gender-based manifestations; 20. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his report information on the follow-up by States to his recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered, and on other official contacts; 21. Calls upon all States to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his task, to supply all necessary information requested by the Special Rapporteur, to fully and expeditiously respond to and follow up his urgent appeals, to give serious consideration to responding favourably to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries and to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on requested visits to their countries as well as with respect to the follow-up to his recommendations; 22. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views among the Committee against Torture, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 23. Recognizes the global need for international assistance to victims of torture, stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, and appeals to all States and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably with a substantial increase in the level of contributions; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to transmit to all States the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund and to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure, within the overall budgetary framework of the United Nations, the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in combating torture and assisting victims of torture commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for combating torture and assisting victims of torture, noting the upcoming entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention; 26. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the status of the Convention and a report on the operations of the Fund; 27. Calls upon all States, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 28. Decides to consider at its sixty-first session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. RESOLUTION 60/149 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.1, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 60/149. International Covenants on Human Rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/165 of 22 December 2003 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/69 of 21 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Mindful that the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. constitute the first all-embracing and legally binding international treaties in the field of human rights and, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). form the core of the International Bill of Human Rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,A/60/284. Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the promotion and protection of one category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of the other rights, Recognizing the important role of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in examining the progress made by States parties in fulfilling the obligations undertaken in the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. and in providing recommendations to States parties on their implementation, Considering that the effective functioning of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is indispensable for the full and effective implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, Recognizing the importance of regional human rights instruments and monitoring mechanisms in complementing the universal system of promotion and protection of human rights, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as major components of international efforts to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Strongly appeals to all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and to consider as a matter of priority acceding to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. and making the declaration provided for in article 41 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and, while acknowledging that additional States have recently become parties to these instruments, requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the annual treaty event to this end; 3. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to intensify systematic efforts to encourage States to become parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights and, through the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights, to assist such States, at their request, in ratifying or acceding to the Covenants and to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with a view to achieving universal adherence; 4. Calls for the strictest compliance by States parties with their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, where applicable, the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 5. Emphasizes that States must ensure that any measure to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under relevant international law, including their obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights, and welcomes the establishment by the Commission on Human Rights of the mandate of a Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A, resolution 2005/80, para. 14. 6. Stresses the importance of avoiding the erosion of human rights by derogation, and recalls that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances and that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, bearing in mind the need for States parties to provide the fullest possible information during states of emergency so that the justification for the appropriateness of measures taken in those circumstances can be assessed, and underlining the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations;See, for example, General Comment No. 29, adopted by the Human Rights Committee, on article 4 of the Covenant regarding derogations from the provisions of the Covenant during a state of emergency (Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI). 7. Encourages States parties to consider limiting the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to formulate any reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible, and to regularly review such reservations with a view to withdrawing them so as to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty; 8. Welcomes the annual reports of the Human Rights Committee submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-ninthOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/59/40). and sixtiethIbid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/60/40). sessions, and takes note of the General Comments adopted by the Committee, including the most recent, General Comment No. 31 on the nature of the general legal obligation imposed on States parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;Ibid., Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/59/40), vol. I, annex III. 9. Also welcomes the reports of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its thirtieth and thirty-first sessionsOfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 2 (E/2004/22). and on its thirty-second and thirty-third sessions,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 2 (E/2005/22). and takes note of the General Comments adopted by the Committee, including the most recent, General Comment No. 16 on the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights, adopted by the Committee at its thirty-fourth session;E/C.12/2005/4. 10. Expresses regret at the number of States parties that have failed to fulfil their reporting obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights, and urges States parties to fulfil their reporting obligations on time and to attend and participate in the consideration of the reports by the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights when so requested; 11. Urges States parties to make use in their reports of sex-disaggregated data, and stresses the importance of integrating a gender perspective in the implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights at the national level, including in the national reports of States parties and in the work of the Human Rights Committee and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 12. Strongly encourages States parties that have not yet submitted core documents to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to do so, and invites all States parties regularly to review and update their core documents while bearing in mind the current discussion on the elaboration of an expanded core document; 13. Urges States parties to take duly into account, in implementing the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights, the recommendations and observations made during the consideration of their reports by the Human Rights Committee and by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the views adopted by the Human Rights Committee under the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 14. Urges all States to publish the texts of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in as many local languages as possible and to distribute them and make them known as widely as possible to all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction; 15. Urges each State party to give particular attention to the dissemination at the national level of their reports submitted to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and, further, to translate, publish and make available as widely as possible to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction by appropriate means the full text of the recommendations and observations made by the Committees after the examination of those reports; 16. Reiterates that States parties should take into account, in their nomination of members to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, that the Committees shall be composed of persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience, and to equal representation of women and men, and that members serve in their personal capacity, and also reiterates that, in the elections of the Committees, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems; 17. Invites the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, when considering the reports of States parties, to continue to identify specific needs that might be addressed by United Nations departments, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, including through the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 18. Stresses the need for improved coordination among relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies in supporting States parties, upon their request, in implementing the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and encourages continued efforts in this direction; 19. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made so far by the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to improve the efficiency of their working methods and encourages the Committees to pursue their efforts, welcomes in this regard the meetings held by the Committees and States parties to exchange ideas on how to render the working methods of the Committees more efficient, and encourages all States parties to continue to contribute to the dialogue with practical and concrete proposals and ideas on ways to improve the effective functioning of the Committees; 20. Takes note of the proposals of the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other proposals on human rights treaty body reform, inter alia, to harmonize reporting requirements and to create a unified standing treaty body, and looks forward to further deliberations on this subject; 21. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to strive for uniform standards in the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights; 22. Notes the need for further consideration of the issue of justiciability of the rights set forth in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and for further efforts towards developing indicators and benchmarks to measure progress in the national implementation by States parties of the rights protected by the Covenant; 23. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the open-ended working group of the Commission on Human Rights established with a view to considering options regarding the elaboration of an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its second session,E/CN.4/2005/52. and encourages all parties to participate actively in the third session, at which the working group will consider a paper with elements for an optional protocol presenting a non-judgemental analysis of all the various options for an optional protocol, to be submitted by the Chairperson of the working group in order to facilitate a more focused discussion at the third session; 24. Encourages the specialized agencies that have not yet done so to submit their reports on the progress made in achieving the observance of the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in accordance with article 18 of the Covenant, and expresses its appreciation to those that have done so; 25. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to assist States parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights in the preparation of their reports, including by convening seminars or workshops at the national level for the training of government officials engaged in the preparation of such reports and by exploring other possibilities available under the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights effectively assists the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the implementation of their respective mandates by providing, inter alia, adequate Secretariat staff resources and conference and other relevant support services; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly informed of the status of the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including all reservations and declarations, through the United Nations websites. RESOLUTION 60/14 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 14 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.19 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 60/14. Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 45/190 of 21 December 1990, 46/150 of 18 December 1991, 47/165 of 18 December 1992, 48/206 of 21 December 1993, 50/134 of 20 December 1995, 52/172 of 16 December 1997, 54/97 of 8 December 1999, 56/109 of 14 December 2001 and 58/119 of 17 December 2003, as well as its resolution 55/171 of 14 December 2000 on closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and taking note of the decisions adopted by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system in the implementation of those resolutions, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 1990/50 of 13 July 1990, 1991/51 of 26 July 1991 and 1992/38 of 30 July 1992 and Council decision 1993/232 of 22 July 1993, Conscious of the long-term nature of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was a major technological catastrophe in terms of its scope and complexity and created humanitarian, environmental, social, economic and health consequences and problems of common concern, requiring for their solution wide and active international cooperation and coordination of efforts in this field at the international and national levels, Expressing profound concern at the ongoing effects of the consequences of the accident on the lives and health of people, in particular children, in the affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as in other affected countries, Noting the consensus reached among members of the Chernobyl ForumThe members of the Chernobyl Forum are drawn from the following organizations and bodies within the United Nations system: International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and World Bank, as well as representatives of the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. on the findings of the reports entitled "Environmental Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident and their Remediation: Twenty Years of Experience" and "Health Effects of the Chernobyl Accident and Special Health Care Programmes", and recognizing the important contribution made by the Forum to the overall assessment of the environmental, health and socio-economic effects of the Chernobyl disaster, Acknowledging the importance of the national efforts being undertaken by the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Recognizing the contribution of civil society organizations, including the national Red Cross Societies of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in response to the Chernobyl disaster and in support of the efforts of the affected countries, Emphasizing the importance of the new developmental approach to tackling the problems caused by the Chernobyl accident aimed at normalizing the situation of the individuals and communities concerned in the medium and long term,See the United Nations report entitled "The Human Consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: A Strategy for Recovery". Stressing the exceptional Chernobyl-related needs, in particular in the areas of health, ecology and research, in the context of the transition from the emergency to the recovery phase of mitigation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Noting the transfer of the functions of the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl from the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and Chairperson of the United Nations Development Group, Stressing the need for further coordination by the United Nations Development Programme and improved resource mobilization by the United Nations system to support the activities of the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network as well as the efforts to disseminate the findings of the Chernobyl Forum, Noting the completion of information needs assessments of the affected populations in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine under the aegis of the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network, Stressing the significance of the upcoming twentieth anniversary of the accident for the further strengthening of international cooperation to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of resolution 58/119,A/60/443. as well as relevant parts of the reports of the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, 1. Welcomes the contribution made by States and by organizations of the United Nations system to the development of cooperation to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, the activities of regional and other organizations and those of non-governmental organizations, as well as bilateral activities; 2. Notes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the agencies of the United Nations system and other international organizations members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl to implement a new developmental approach to studying, mitigating and minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular through the development of specific projects, and stresses the need for the Inter-Agency Task Force to continue its activities to that end, including through coordinating efforts in the field of resource mobilization; 3. Acknowledges the difficulties faced by the most affected countries in minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and invites States, in particular donor States and all relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, to continue to provide support to the ongoing efforts of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, including through the allocation of adequate funds to support medical, social, economic and ecological programmes related to the disaster; 4. Reaffirms that the United Nations should continue to play an important catalytic and coordinating role in the strengthening of international cooperation to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster; 5. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, in his capacity as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and as Chairperson of the United Nations Development Group, to take further appropriate practical measures to strengthen coordination of the international efforts in that area; 6. Notes with satisfaction the realization of the Cooperation for Rehabilitation Programme in Belarus and the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme in Ukraine, aimed at promoting better living conditions in and the sustainable development of the affected territories; 7. Also notes with satisfaction assistance rendered by the International Atomic Energy Agency to Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine on remediation of agricultural and urban environments, cost-effective agricultural countermeasures and the monitoring of human exposure in areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster; 8. Takes note with satisfaction of the progress made by the Governments of the affected countries in implementing national strategies to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, and calls upon United Nations agencies and multilateral and bilateral donors to continue to align their assistance with the priorities of the national strategies of the affected States, and stresses the importance of working together on their implementation in a common effort in the spirit of cooperation; 9. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ukraine and the international donor community to bring to completion the building of the shelterIbid., paras. 49 and 50. as well as those efforts to provide for the environmentally sound collection and storage of nuclear waste, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 10. Notes the necessity of further measures to ensure the integration of the assessment by the Chernobyl Forum of the environmental, health and socio-economic consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident into the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network process through dissemination of the findings of the Forum, including in the form of practical messages on healthy and productive lifestyles, to the populations affected by the accident in order to empower them to maximize social and economic recovery and sustainable development in all its aspects; 11. Recognizes the role that the Commonwealth of Independent States plays in the process of preparing events in observance of the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident to be held in States participating in the Commonwealth; 12. Welcomes, in this context, the activities in observance of the International Day Commemorating Victims of Radiation Accidents and Catastrophes, 26 April, undertaken by the States participating in the Commonwealth of Independent States; 13. Invites Member States to observe this Day and to conduct appropriate activities to commemorate victims of radiation accidents and catastrophes and to enhance public awareness of their consequences for human health and the environment throughout the world; 14. Welcomes the initiatives of the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to host international events on lessons learned and on future actions in response to the Chernobyl disaster to observe the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, and invites organizations of the United Nations system, donor countries and other development agencies to contribute to their effective realization; 15. Requests the President of the General Assembly to convene, in April 2006, a special commemorative meeting of the Assembly in observance of the twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in the implementation of the relevant General Assembly resolutions and, through existing coordination mechanisms, in particular the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, to continue to maintain close cooperation with the agencies of the United Nations system, as well as with regional and other relevant organizations, while implementing specific Chernobyl-related programmes and projects; 17. Requests the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl to organize, in collaboration with the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, a further study of the health, environmental and socio-economic consequences of the Chernobyl accident, consistent with the recommendations of the Chernobyl Forum; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, under a separate sub-item, a report containing a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of all aspects of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/150 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Yemen (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference). by a recorded vote of 101 to 53, with 20 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Botswana, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Honduras, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia 60/150. Combating defamation of religions The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights in this regard, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. welcoming the resolve expressed in the Millennium Declaration to take measures to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies, and looking forward to its effective implementation at all levels, including in the context of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Recalling the proclamation of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations,See resolution 56/6. and inviting States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, within existing resources, other international and regional organizations and civil societies to contribute to the implementation of the Programme of Action contained in the Global Agenda, Welcoming the progress achieved in the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Noting with regret the cancellation of the meeting on the theme "Civilization and harmony: values and mechanisms of the global order", which was to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2004 as a follow-up to the Organization of the Islamic Conference-European Union joint forum on the theme "Civilization and harmony: the political dimension", held in Istanbul on 12 and 13 February 2002, and underscoring the fact that such initiatives to deepen dialogue and reinforce understanding between the two biggest groups of nations of Eurasia and Africa will be continued, Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Convinced that religious and cultural diversity in a globalizing world needs to be used as a vehicle for creativity, dynamism and the promotion of social justice, tolerance and understanding, as well as international peace and security, and not as a rationale for a new ideological and political confrontation, Recognizing the valuable contributions of all religions to modern civilization and the contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Reaffirming that cultural diversity is a cherished asset for the advancement and welfare of humanity at large and should be valued, enjoyed, genuinely accepted and embraced as a permanent feature that enriches our societies, Emphasizing that States, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance and freedom of religion and belief, in particular through education that teaches tolerance and respect for religion and belief, Alarmed at the continuing negative impact of the events of 11 September 2001 on Muslim minorities and communities in some non-Muslim countries, the negative projection of Islam in the media and the introduction and enforcement of laws that specifically discriminate against and target Muslims, Alarmed also at the serious instances of intolerance, discrimination and acts of violence based on religion or belief, intimidation and coercion motivated by extremism, religious or otherwise, occurring in many parts of the world and threatening the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Noting with concern that defamation of religions is among the causes of social disharmony and leads to violations of human rights, Noting with deep concern the increasing trend in recent years of statements attacking religions, Islam and Muslims in particular, especially in human rights forums, 1. Expresses deep concern at the negative stereotyping of religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief still in evidence in some regions of the world; 2. Strongly deplores physical attacks and assaults on businesses, cultural centres and places of worship of all religions as well as targeting of religious symbols; 3. Notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001; 4. Expresses its deep concern that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism; 5. Also expresses its deep concern at programmes and agendas pursued by extremist organizations and groups aimed at the defamation of religions, in particular when supported by Governments; 6. Deplores the use of the print, audio-visual and electronic media, including the Internet, and any other means to incite acts of violence, xenophobia or related intolerance and discrimination against Islam or any other religion; 7. Recognizes that, in the context of the fight against terrorism and the reaction to counter-terrorism measures, defamation of religions becomes an aggravating factor that contributes to the denial of fundamental rights and freedoms of target groups, as well as their economic and social exclusion; 8. Stresses the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions, Islam and Muslims in particular, especially in human rights forums; 9. Urges States to take resolute action to prohibit the dissemination through political institutions and organizations of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence; 10. Also urges States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and their value systems and to complement legal systems with intellectual and moral strategies to combat religious hatred and intolerance; 11. Urges all States to ensure that all public officials, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military, civil servants and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, and that necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 12. Underscores the need to combat defamation of religions by strategizing and harmonizing actions at the local, national, regional and international levels through education and awareness-raising; 13. Urges States to ensure equal access to education for all, in law and in practice, including access to free primary education for all children, both girls and boys, and access for adults to lifelong learning and education based on respect for human rights, diversity and tolerance, without discrimination of any kind, and to refrain from any legal or other measures leading to racial segregation in access to schooling; 14. Calls upon the international community to initiate a global dialogue to promote a culture of tolerance and peace based on respect for human rights and religious diversity, and urges States, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the print and electronic media to support and promote such a dialogue; 15. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and include human rights aspects in the dialogue among civilizations, inter alia, through: (a) Integrating them into topical seminars and special debates on the positive contributions of cultures, as well as religious and cultural diversity, including through educational programmes, particularly the World Programme for Human Rights Education proclaimed on 10 December 2004;See resolutions 59/113 A and B. (b) Collaboration by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with other relevant international organizations in holding joint conferences designed to encourage this dialogue and promote understanding of the universality of human rights and their implementation at various levels; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/151 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, India, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania and United States of America. 60/151. Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/105 of 4 December 2000 concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also its resolution 59/183 of 20 December 2004 on the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, Recalling further its resolutions 55/34 B of 20 November 2000 and 55/233 of 23 December 2000, section III of resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000, and resolution 58/176 of 22 December 2003, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that more resources be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the report of the High Commissioner,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 36, addendum (A/56/36/Add.1). Taking note of the holding of the twenty-second ministerial meeting of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in Brazzaville from 14 to 18 March 2005, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/353. Welcoming the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. in particular the decision confirmed therein to double the regular budget of the Office of the High Commissioner over the next five years, 1. Welcomes the activities of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé; 2. Notes with satisfaction the support provided for the establishment of the Centre by the host country; 3. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide additional funds and human resources to enable the Centre to respond positively and effectively to the growing needs in the promotion and protection of human rights and in developing a culture of democracy in the Central African subregion; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/152 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 121 to 53, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Brazil, Chile, Iraq, Singapore 60/152. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing, in particular, the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, respectively, Recalling also its resolution 59/184 of 20 December 2004, Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/17 of 14 April 2005 on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, inter alia, in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process, but that it also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions, which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Reaffirming the commitment contained in paragraphs 19 and 47 of the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. to promote fair globalization and the development of the productive sectors in developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit from the process of globalization, Realizing the need to undertake a thorough, independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and cultural impact of globalization on societies, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, and aware that the risk of a global monoculture poses more of a threat if the developing world remains poor and marginalized, Recognizing also that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Emphasizing the global character of the migratory phenomenon, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and the need to protect human rights of migrants, particularly at a time in which migration flows have increased in the globalized economy, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Recognizing that globalization should be guided by the fundamental principles that underpin the corpus of human rights, such as equity, participation, accountability, non-discrimination at both the national and the international levels, respect for diversity, tolerance and international cooperation and solidarity, Emphasizing that the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights; its immediate alleviation and eventual elimination must remain a high priority for the international community, Strongly reiterating the determination to ensure the timely and full realization of the development goals and objectives agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including those agreed at the Millennium Summit that are described as the Millennium Development Goals, which have helped to galvanize efforts towards poverty eradication, Deeply concerned at the inadequacy of measures to narrow the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, which has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Emphasizes that development should be at the centre of the international economic agenda and that coherence between national development strategies and international obligations and commitments is imperative for an enabling environment for development and an inclusive and equitable globalization; 3. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 4. Reaffirms also the commitment to create an environment at both the national and the global levels that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 5. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, the fact that its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed represents an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 6. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,E/CN.4/2002/54. which focuses on the liberalization of agricultural trade and its impact on the realization of the right to development, including the right to food, and takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 7. Calls upon Member States, relevant agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to promote equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth for managing globalization so that poverty is systematically reduced and the international development targets are achieved; 8. Recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 9. Underlines the urgent need to establish an equitable, transparent and democratic international system to strengthen and broaden the participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 10. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 11. Affirms also that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 12. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 13. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/301 and Add.1. and requests him to seek further the views of Member States and relevant agencies of the United Nations system and to submit a substantive report on the subject to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/153 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102) The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Yemen. 60/153. Establishment of a United Nations human rights training and documentation centre for South-West Asia and the Arab region The General Assembly, Guided by the fundamental and universal principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reiterated the need to consider the possibility of establishing regional and subregional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights where they do not already exist, Recalling also its resolutions 32/127 of 16 December 1977, 51/102 of 12 December 1996 and all its subsequent resolutions concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/51 of 9 March 1993See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1993/23 and Corr.2, 4 and 5), chap. II, sect. A. and all its subsequent resolutions concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the report of the Secretary-General on regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights,A/59/323. Reaffirming its endorsement of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993, and the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights, economic, civil, cultural, political and social, including the right to development, Reaffirming also that regional cooperation plays a fundamental role in promoting and protecting human rights and should reinforce universal human rights, as contained in international human rights instruments, and their protection, Committed to enhancing subregional, regional and international cooperation to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in conformity with international obligations, Convinced that cooperation between the United Nations and regional initiatives in the field of human rights continues to be both substantive and supportive and that possibilities exist for increased cooperation, Recalling its resolution 49/184 of 23 December 1994 proclaiming the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, and its resolution 59/113 of 10 December 2004 proclaiming the World Programme for Human Rights Education, to begin on 1 January 2005, and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/56 of 9 March 1993 on education and human rightsSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1993/23 and Corr.2, 4 and 5), chap. II, sect. A. and Commission resolution 2003/70 of 25 April 2003 on the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing that human rights education can play a crucial role in enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and can contribute to the promotion of human rights, the achievement of a culture of peace, in particular the teaching of the practice of non-violence, and respect for the rule of law, Noting the endorsement and the support expressed by the Council of the League of Arab States and the member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council and in the Brasilia Declaration adopted at the South American and Arab Countries SummitA/59/818, annex. for the initiative of the State of Qatar to host a United Nations centre for human rights for South-West Asia and the Arab region, Noting also Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2005/71 and 2005/73 of 20 April 2005See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. welcoming the offer by the Government of Qatar to host a United Nations centre for human rights for South-West Asia and the Arab region, Noting further the support expressed at the thirteenth Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region, held in Beijing from 30 August to 2 September 2005, for the initiative of the State of Qatar to host a United Nations centre for human rights for South-West Asia and the Arab region, Mindful of the vastness of and the diversity within South-West Asia and the Arab region, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the continuing cooperation and assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the further strengthening of the existing regional arrangements and regional machineries for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular through technical cooperation which is aimed at national capacity-building, public information and education, with a view to exchanging information and experience in the field of human rights; 2. Welcomes the initiative of the Government of Qatar to host a United Nations human rights training and documentation centre for South-West Asia and the Arab region, which will be under the supervision of the Office of the High Commissioner, with the mandate to undertake training and documentation activities according to international human rights standards and to support such efforts within the region by Governments, United Nations agencies and programmes, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations; 3. Requests the Secretary-General and the Office of the High Commissioner to give their support to the establishment of a United Nations human rights training and documentation centre for South-West Asia and the Arab region, to conclude an agreement with the host country regarding its establishment and to make available resources for the establishment of the centre; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to consider the question further at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/154 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 60/154. National institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights concerning national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Welcoming the rapidly growing interest throughout the world in the creation and strengthening of independent, pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Convinced of the important role that such national institutions play and will continue to play in promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and in developing and enhancing public awareness of those rights and freedoms, Recognizing that the United Nations has played an important role and should continue to play a more important role in assisting the development of national institutions, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June l993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reaffirmed the important and constructive role played by national human rights institutions, in particular in their advisory capacity to the competent authorities and their role in remedying human rights violations, in disseminating information on human rights and in education in human rights, Recalling also the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. in which Governments were urged to create or strengthen independent national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the human rights of women, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that all human rights must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with same emphasis, Bearing in mind the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, and that all States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling the programme of action adopted by national institutions, at their meeting held in Vienna in June 1993 during the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/NI/6. for the promotion and protection of human rights, in which it was recommended that United Nations activities and programmes should be reinforced to meet the requests for assistance from States wishing to establish or strengthen their national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, Noting the valuable role played and contributions made by national institutions in United Nations meetings dealing with human rights and the importance of their continued appropriate participation, Welcoming the strengthening in all regions of regional cooperation among national human rights institutions and between national human rights institutions and other regional human rights forums, Noting with appreciation the existence of the regional human rights networks in Europe, and the continuing work of the Network of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Americas, the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the Coordinating Committee of African National Human Rights Institutions, Welcoming the strengthening of international cooperation among national human rights institutions, including through the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/299. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the development of effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights, in keeping with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights ("the Paris Principles"), contained in the annex to resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993; 3. Reiterates the continued importance of the Paris Principles, recognizes the value of further strengthening their application, where appropriate, and encourages States, national institutions and other interested parties to consider ways to achieve this; 4. Recognizes that, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. it is the right of each State to choose the framework for national institutions that is best suited to its particular needs at the national level in order to promote human rights in accordance with international human rights standards; 5. Also recognizes that national institutions have a crucial role to play in promoting and ensuring the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights, and calls upon States to ensure that all human rights are appropriately reflected in the mandate of their national human rights institutions when established; 6. Encourages Member States to establish effective, independent and pluralistic national institutions or, where they already exist, to strengthen them for the promotion and protection of human rights, as outlined in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action; 7. Welcomes the growing number of States establishing or considering the establishment of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights; 8. Encourages national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights established by Member States to continue to play an active role in preventing and combating all violations of human rights as enumerated in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and relevant international instruments; 9. Notes with satisfaction the efforts of those States that have provided their national institutions with more autonomy and independence, including by giving them an investigative role or enhancing such a role, and encourages other Governments to consider taking similar steps; 10. Reaffirms the role of national institutions, where they exist, as appropriate agencies, inter alia, for the dissemination of human rights materials and other public information activities, including those of the United Nations; 11. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to give high priority to requests from Member States for assistance in the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions as part of the United Nations Programme of Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights; 12. Commends the high priority given by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to work on national institutions, encourages the High Commissioner, in view of the expanded activities relating to national institutions, to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made and budgetary resources provided to continue and further extend activities in support of national human rights institutions, and invites Governments to contribute additional funds to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights for that purpose; 13. Welcomes the establishment of a national institutions website as an important vehicle for the delivery of information to national institutions and also the launch of a database of comparative analysis of procedures and methods of complaint-handling by national human rights institutions; 14. Notes with appreciation the increasingly active and important role of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions, in close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in assisting Governments and national institutions, when requested, to follow up on relevant resolutions and recommendations concerning the strengthening of national institutions; 15. Also notes with appreciation the holding of regular meetings of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions and the arrangements for the participation of national human rights institutions in the annual sessions of the Commission on Human Rights; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary assistance for holding meetings of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions during the sessions of the Commission on Human Rights, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 17. Welcomes the continuation of the practice of national institutions convening regional meetings in some regions, and its initiation in others, and encourages national institutions, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to organize similar events with Governments and non-governmental organizations in their own regions; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide, including from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, the necessary assistance for holding international and regional meetings of national institutions; 19. Recognizes the important and constructive role that civil society can play, in cooperation with national institutions, for better promotion and protection of human rights; 20. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that have contributed additional resources for the purpose of the establishment and strengthening of national human rights institutions; 21. Encourages all Member States to take appropriate steps to promote the exchange of information and experience concerning the establishment and effective operation of national institutions; 22. Encourages all United Nations entities, funds and agencies to work in close cooperation with national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights, and in this regard welcomes efforts made through the action 2 initiative of the Secretary-General; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/155 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 125 to 53, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 60/155. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on this subject, the most recent of which was resolution 59/188 of 20 December 2004, and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/14 of 14 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,E/CN.4/2000/46 and Add.1. submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 52/120 of 12 December 1997A/53/293 and Add.1. and 55/110 of 4 December 2000,A/56/207 and Add.1. Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and, in this regard, reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, called upon States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. I, para. 31. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing its grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women and children, including adolescents, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly and recent major United Nations conferences, and contrary to general international law and the Charter, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Noting the continuing efforts of the open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, and reaffirming in particular its criteria, according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. 1. Urges all States to refrain from adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Also urges all States to take steps to avoid and to refrain from adopting any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being and their right to food, medical care and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 3. Invites all States to consider adopting administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 4. Rejects unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, because of their negative effects on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 5. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest possible time; 6. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 7. Urges the Commission on Human Rights to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, including the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 8. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, highlighting the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 10. Decides to examine the question on a priority basis at its sixty-first session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 60/156 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 60/156. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recalling its adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its resolution 59/187 of 20 December 2004, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/54 of 20 April 2005 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 2000/22 of 18 August 2000, on the promotion of dialogue on human rights issues, by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-second session,See E/CN.4/2001/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/46, chap. II, sect. A. 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Recognizes that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their individual societies, States have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level; 3. Reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard the holding of conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on dialogue among civilizations; 4. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 6. Considers that international cooperation in the field of human rights, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 8. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 9. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 10. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/157 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Malaysia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 172 to 2, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Palau 60/157. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling also the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling further that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, and that the individual is the central subject and beneficiary of development, Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming also the universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness, interdependence and mutually reinforcing nature of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, including the right to development, Recalling the framework modalities agreed to at the General Council meeting of the World Trade Organization in Geneva on 1 August 2004 in key areas such as agriculture, market access for non-agricultural products, trade facilitation, development and services,See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Recalling also the outcome of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held at São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, on the theme "Enhancing the coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, particularly of developing countries",See TD/412. Recalling further all its previous resolutions and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the urgent need to make further progress towards the realization of the right to development as set out in the Declaration on the Right to Development, Recalling the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003, and the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, Reiterating its continuing support for the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as a development framework for Africa, Recognizing that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparity, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries, Stressing that poverty eradication is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development and that poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted and integrated approach in addressing economic, political, social, environmental and institutional dimensions at all levels, especially in the context of the millennium development goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, 1. Endorses the agreed conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Working Group on the Right to Development at its sixth session,See E/CN.4/2005/25, sect. III. and calls for their immediate, full and effective implementation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant actors; 2. Welcomes the convening of the first meeting of the high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development, held at Geneva from 13 to 17 December 2004, and expresses its appreciation to the task force for the work it has undertaken; 3. Notes with appreciation that the high-level task force, at its second meeting, examined millennium development goal 8 on a global partnership for development and suggested criteria for its periodic evaluation with the aim of improving the effectiveness of global partnership with regard to the realization of the right to development;See E/CN.4/2005/WG.18/TF/3. 4. Stresses the importance of the core principles contained in the conclusions of the Working Group at its third session,E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. congruent with the purpose of international human rights instruments, such as equality, non-discrimination, accountability, participation and international cooperation, as critical to mainstreaming the right to development at the national and international levels, and underlines the importance of the principles of equity and transparency; 5. Notes with appreciation that the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights decided at its fifty-seventh session to submit the concept document establishing options and their feasibility for the implementation of the right to developmentE/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/23. to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session, in this regard calls upon the Commission to give due consideration to the options contained therein, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress in this regard to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 6. Takes note of the convening and outcome of the third Social Forum held at Geneva on 21 and 22 July 2005 on the theme "Poverty and economic growth: challenges to human rights"E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/21. and the strong support extended to it by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and invites Member States and all other stakeholders to participate actively in its subsequent sessions; 7. Reaffirms the commitment to implement the goals and targets set out in all the outcome documents of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their review processes, in particular those relating to the realization of the right to development, recognizing that the realization of the right to development is critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in those outcome documents; 8. Also reaffirms that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 9. Stresses that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 10. Reaffirms the primary responsibility of States to create national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development as well as their commitment to cooperate with each other to that end; 11. Also reaffirms the need for an international environment that is conducive to the realization of the right to development; 12. Stresses the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international and national levels, and calls upon States to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human right; 13. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and the international levels; 14. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of integrating all countries into a globalized world, and stresses the need for policies and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and equitable; 15. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the international community, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide, that developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 16. Underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting the target set in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015, reaffirms the commitment made to meet that target, and emphasizes the principle of international cooperation, including partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries towards achieving the goal; 17. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets; 18. Recognizes the need to address market access for developing countries, including in agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those of interest to developing countries; 19. Calls for the implementation of a desirable pace of meaningful trade liberalization, including in areas under negotiation; implementation of commitments on implementation-related issues and concerns; review of special and differential-treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational; avoidance of new forms of protectionism; and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing countries as important issues in making progress towards the effective implementation of the right to development; 20. Recognizes the important link between the international economic, commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development, stresses, in this regard, the need for good governance and broadening the base of decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and the need to fill organizational gaps, as well as strengthen the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 21. Also recognizes that good governance and the rule of law at the national level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance; 22. Further recognizes the important role and the rights of women and the application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship between women's education and their equal participation in the civil, cultural, economic, political and social activities of the community and the promotion of the right to development; 23. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, girls and boys alike, in all policies and programmes, and for ensuring the promotion and protection of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the full development of their capacities; 24. Also stresses that further and additional measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts and programmes, and reiterates the need for international assistance in this regard; 25. Recognizes the need for strong partnerships with civil society organizations and the private sector in pursuit of poverty eradication and development, as well as for corporate social responsibility; 26. Emphasizes the urgent need for taking concrete and effective measures to prevent, combat and criminalize all forms of corruption at all levels, to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. particularly chapter V thereof, stresses the importance of a genuine political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal framework, and in this context urges States to sign and ratify as soon as possible, and States parties to implement effectively, the Convention; 27. Also emphasizes the need to strengthen further the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and realization of the right to development, including ensuring effective use of the financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, and calls upon the Secretary-General to provide the Office of the High Commissioner with the necessary resources; 28. Reaffirms the request to the High Commissioner, in mainstreaming the right to development, to undertake effectively activities aimed at strengthening the global partnership for development between Member States, development agencies and the international development, financial and trade institutions, and to reflect those activities in detail in her report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session; 29. Calls upon the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies, to mainstream the right to development in their operational programmes and objectives, and stresses the need for the international financial and multilateral trading systems to mainstream the right to development in their policies and objectives; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations; 31. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session and an interim report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and realization of the right to development, and invites the chairperson of the Working Group on the Right to Development to present a verbal update to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/158 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 60/158. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental importance, including in response to terrorism and the fear of terrorism, of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, Recalling that States are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, Acknowledging the important contribution of measures taken at all levels against terrorism, consistent with international law, in particular international human rights law and refugee and humanitarian law, to the functioning of democratic institutions and the maintenance of peace and security and thereby to the full enjoyment of human rights, as well as the need to continue this fight, including through international cooperation and the strengthening of the role of the United Nations in this respect, Deeply deploring the occurrence of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of the fight against terrorism, as well as violations of international refugee law and international humanitarian law, Recognizing that the respect for human rights, the respect for democracy and the respect for the rule of law are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, Recognizing also that all States must fully respect the non-refoulement obligations under international refugee and human rights law, while at the same time bearing in mind relevant exclusion provisions under international refugee law, Welcoming the various initiatives to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of counter-terrorism adopted by the United Nations and regional intergovernmental bodies, as well as by States, Noting the declarations, statements and recommendations of a number of human rights treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures on the question of the compatibility of counter-terrorism measures with human rights obligations, Recalling its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002, 58/187 of 22 December 2003 and 59/191 of 20 December 2004, Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/68 of 25 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/87 of 21 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/80 of 21 April 2005Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, Recalling also its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993 and, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment of all human rights, Reaffirming that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity, security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism,See sect. I, para. 17, of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993 (A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III). Noting the declaration on the issue of combating terrorism contained in the annex to Security Council resolution 1456 (2003) of 20 January 2003, in particular the statement that States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law and should adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Stressing that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). without distinction of any kind, including on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, 1. Reaffirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 2. Deplores the suffering caused by terrorism to the victims and their families, and expresses its profound solidarity with them; 3. Reaffirms the obligation of States, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. to respect certain rights as non-derogable in any circumstances, recalls, in regard to all other Covenant rights, that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlines the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations;See, for example, General Comment No. 29 on states of emergency adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001. 4. Calls upon States to raise awareness about the importance of these obligations among national authorities involved in combating terrorism; 5. Urges States to fully respect non-refoulement obligations under international refugee and human rights law and, at the same time, to review, with full respect for these obligations and other legal safeguards, the validity of a refugee status decision in an individual case if credible and relevant evidence comes to light that indicates that the person in question has committed any criminal acts, including terrorist acts, falling under the exclusion clauses under international refugee law; 6. Welcomes the establishment by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/80Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; 7. Reaffirms that it is imperative that all States work to uphold and protect the dignity of individuals and their fundamental freedoms, as well as democratic practices and the rule of law, while countering terrorism, as stated in the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 58/187;E/CN.4/2004/91. 8. Takes note with appreciation of the study of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights submitted pursuant to resolution 58/187;A/59/428. 9. Encourages States to make available to relevant national authorities the "Digest of Jurisprudence of the United Nations and Regional Organizations on the Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism" and to take into account its content, and requests the High Commissioner to update and publish it periodically; 10. Welcomes the ongoing dialogue established in the context of the fight against terrorism between the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee and the relevant bodies for the promotion and protection of human rights, and encourages the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee to strengthen the links and to continue to develop cooperation with relevant human rights bodies, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism and other relevant special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission, giving due regard to the promotion and protection of human rights in the ongoing work pursuant to relevant Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism; 11. Stresses that, while developing, as agreed at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. a strategy to promote comprehensive, coordinated and consistent counter-terrorism responses, full consideration should be given throughout the process to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to the provisions of international humanitarian law and international refugee law; 12. Requests all relevant special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, as well as the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, to cooperate, within their mandates, with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to work closely with them to coordinate efforts, where appropriate, in order to promote a consistent approach on this subject; 13. Encourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to consider the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies; 14. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the independent expert on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism;See E/CN.4/2005/103. 15. Takes note with interest of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 59/191;A/60/374. 16. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/80,See A/60/370. and the four features of his mandate emphasized, namely, complementarity, comprehensiveness, its proactive nature and its thematic approach, and requests the Special Rapporteur to report regularly to the General Assembly and to the Commission on Human Rights; 17. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated, including by reacting promptly to the urgent appeals of the Special Rapporteur and providing the information requested; 18. Requests the High Commissioner, making use of existing mechanisms, to continue: (a) To examine the question of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, taking into account reliable information from all sources; (b) To make general recommendations concerning the obligation of States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms while taking actions to counter terrorism; (c) To provide assistance and advice to States, upon their request, on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, as well as to relevant United Nations bodies; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/159 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 60/159. Human rights in the administration of justice The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the principles embodied in articles 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Optional Protocols thereto,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. in particular article 6 of the Covenant, which states, inter alia, that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life and prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons below 18 years of age, and article 10, which provides that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, Bearing in mind also the relevant provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. in particular the right to equal treatment before tribunals and all other organs administering justice, the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. in particular article 37, according to which every child deprived of liberty shall be treated in a manner that takes into account the needs of persons of his or her age, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. in particular the obligation to treat men and women equally in all stages of procedures in courts and tribunals, Calling attention to the numerous international standards in the field of the administration of justice, Convinced that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary are essential prerequisites for the protection of human rights, good governance and democracy as well as for ensuring that there is no discrimination in the administration of justice, and should therefore be respected in all circumstances, Noting the adoption by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of general recommendation XXXI on the prevention of racial discrimination in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/60/18), chap. IX. Emphasizing that the right to access to justice, as contained in applicable international human rights instruments, forms an important basis for strengthening the rule of law through the administration of justice, Mindful of the importance of ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights in the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict situations, as a crucial contribution to building peace and justice and ending impunity, Recalling the Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice SystemEconomic and Social Council resolution 1997/30, annex. and the establishment and subsequent meetings of the Inter-Agency Coordination Panel on Juvenile Justice, Calling attention to the relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century,Resolution 55/59, annex. and of the plans of action for its implementation and follow-up,Resolution 56/261, annex. Recalling its resolution 58/183 of 22 December 2003, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/43 of 19 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/28 of 21 July 2004 entitled "United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice", 1. Reaffirms the importance of the full and effective implementation of all United Nations standards on human rights in the administration of justice; 2. Reiterates its call to all Member States to spare no effort in providing for effective legislative and other mechanisms and procedures, as well as adequate resources, to ensure the full implementation of those standards; 3. Affirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism, including in the administration of justice, complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 4. Invites Governments to provide for training, including anti-racist, multicultural and gender-sensitive training, in human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, to all judges, lawyers, prosecutors, social workers, immigration and police officers and other professionals concerned, including personnel deployed in international field presences; 5. Invites States to make use of technical assistance offered by the relevant United Nations programmes in order to strengthen national capacities and infrastructures in the field of the administration of justice; 6. Appeals to Governments to include in their national development plans the administration of justice as an integral part of the development process and to allocate adequate resources for the provision of legal-aid services with a view to promoting and protecting human rights, and invites the international community to respond favourably to requests for financial and technical assistance for the enhancement and strengthening of the administration of justice; 7. Encourages the regional commissions, the specialized agencies, United Nations institutes active in the areas of human rights and crime prevention and criminal justice, and other relevant parts of the United Nations system, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including national professional associations concerned with promoting United Nations standards in this field, and other segments of civil society, including the media, to continue to develop their activities in promoting human rights in the administration of justice; 8. Invites the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to closely coordinate their activities relating to the administration of justice; 9. Calls upon mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and its subsidiary bodies, including special rapporteurs, special representatives and working groups, to continue to give special attention to questions relating to the effective promotion and protection of human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice, and to provide, where appropriate, specific recommendations in this regard, including proposals for advisory services and technical assistance measures; 10. Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to reinforce, within their respective mandates, their activities relating to national capacity-building in the field of the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict situations and, in this context, in cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat; 11. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue organizing training courses and other relevant activities aimed at enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights in the field of the administration of justice, and welcomes the publication of the Manual on Human Rights Training for Prison Officials;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.XIV.1. 12. Welcomes the increased attention paid to the issue of juvenile justice by the High Commissioner and the United Nations Children's Fund, in particular through technical assistance activities, and, taking into account the fact that international cooperation to promote juvenile justice reform has become a priority within the United Nations system, encourages the further activities of the High Commissioner and the United Nations Children's Fund, within their mandates, in this regard; 13. Encourages the Inter-Agency Coordination Panel on Juvenile Justice to further increase cooperation among the partners involved, to develop common indicators, tools and manuals, to share information and to pool their capacities and interests in order to increase the effectiveness of programme implementation, and takes note with appreciation of the publication entitled "Protecting the rights of children in conflict with the law";Available from www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/Protecting_children_en.pdf. 14. Welcomes the adoption by the Economic and Social Council of the Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime, set out in the annex to its resolution 2005/20 of 22 July 2005, and encourages all relevant actors to draw upon the Guidelines where appropriate; 15. Encourages the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children to address in his final report the prevalence of violence in the juvenile justice system; 16. Invites Governments, relevant international and regional bodies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations to devote increased attention to the issue of women in prison, including the children of women in prison, with a view to identifying and addressing the key problems; 17. Underlines the importance of rebuilding and strengthening structures for the administration of justice and respect for the rule of law and human rights in post-conflict situations, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure system-wide coordination and coherence of programmes and activities of the relevant parts of the United Nations system, including through the proposed Peacebuilding Commission and the Rule of Law Assistance Unit, in the field of the administration of justice in post-conflict situations, including assistance provided through United Nations field presences; 18. Stresses the special need for national capacity-building in the field of the administration of justice, in particular through reform of the judiciary, the police and the penal system, as well as juvenile justice reform, in order to establish and maintain stable societies and the rule of law in post-conflict situations, and in this context welcomes the role of the Office of the High Commissioner in supporting the establishment and functioning of transitional justice mechanisms in post-conflict situations; 19. Decides to consider the question of human rights in the administration of justice at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/15 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 14 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.20 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia 60/15. Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 57/152 of 16 December 2002, 57/256 of 20 December 2002, 58/25 of 5 December 2003, 58/214 and 58/215 of 23 December 2003, 59/212 of 20 December 2004, 59/231 and 59/233 of 22 December 2004 and 59/279 of 19 January 2005, Commending the prompt response, continued support, generous assistance and contributions of the international community, by Governments, civil society, the private sector and individuals, in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, which reflect the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation to address the disaster, Noting the Declaration on Action to Strengthen Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Prevention in the Aftermath of the Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004, adopted at the special meeting of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held in Jakarta on 6 January 2005,A/59/669, annex. Recalling the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). as well as the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster,Common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II). adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Noting the communiqué relating to support for tsunami and multihazard warning systems within the context of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, adopted at the third Earth Observation Summit, in Brussels, on 16 February 2005, Taking note of the joint Asian-African leaders' statement on tsunami, earthquake and other natural disasters, adopted at the Asian-African Summit 2005, held in Jakarta on 22 and 23 April 2005,See A/59/841, annex. Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, recovery and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster,A/60/86-E/2005/77. Welcoming the appointment of Mr. William Jefferson Clinton, former President of the United States of America, as the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery and the establishment of the Global Consortium for Tsunami-Affected Countries to sustain the political will of the international community to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts led by the Governments of affected countries, Taking note with appreciation of the convening of the Global Consortium for Tsunami-Affected Countries in June and September 2005, aimed at improving coordination among relevant stakeholders and developing a common online tracking system and common indicators to monitor and evaluate the impact of tsunami relief and rehabilitation programmes, which emphasizes the need to promote national ownership of the tracking processes in tsunami-affected countries, Welcoming ongoing efforts by the international system to capture, consolidate and disseminate lessons learned from the tsunami response and recovery to guide future disaster management at all levels, Welcoming also the establishment of the Multi-Donor Voluntary Trust Fund on Tsunami Early Warning Arrangements in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, which will contribute to setting up an early warning system and to building up the capacity of the region in dealing with natural disasters, Welcoming further the proposed convening of a Third International Conference on Early Warning, in Bonn, Germany, from 27 to 29 March 2006, covering the complete range of natural hazards, with a focus on the urgent implementation of early warning systems for hydrometeorological and geological hazards on a global scale, Stressing the need to develop and implement risk reduction strategies and to integrate them, where appropriate, into national development plans, in particular through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, so as to enhance the resilience of populations in disasters and reduce risks to them, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, Emphasizing that disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Stressing the need for continued commitment to assist the affected countries and their peoples, particularly the most vulnerable groups, to fully recover from the catastrophic and traumatic effects of the disaster, including in their medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and welcoming Government and international assistance measures in this regard, 1. Notes with appreciation the efforts by the Governments of affected countries to complete the emergency relief phase and move forward to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, as well as in enhancing financial transparency and accountability with respect to the channelling and utilization of resources, including, as appropriate, through the involvement of international public auditors; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of Mr. William Jefferson Clinton, former President of the United States of America, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, and his various initiatives, and encourages his efforts to continue sustaining the political will of the international community, particularly regional and international financial institutions, civil society and the private sector, to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts led by the Governments of affected countries; 3. Encourages donor countries and international and regional financial institutions, as well as the private sector and civil society, to strengthen partnerships and to continue supporting the medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the affected countries, including through the swift delivery of pledges made by donors; 4. Emphasizes the need to promote transparency and accountability among donors and recipient countries by means of, inter alia, a unified financial and sectoral information online tracking system - a development assistance database - with the support and participation of the Global Consortium for Tsunami-Affected Countries, and highlights the importance of timely and accurate information on assessed needs and the sources and uses of funds; 5. Encourages the continued effective coordination among the Governments of affected countries, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, international organizations, donor countries, regional and international financial institutions, civil society and private sectors involved in relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in order to ensure adequate response to the remaining humanitarian needs and effective implementation of existing joint programmes and to prevent unnecessary duplication, as well as to reduce vulnerability to future natural hazards; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the United Nations institutional mechanism and capacities in support of national and local authorities for the coordination of tsunami disaster recovery efforts; 7. Reaffirms that all regional efforts should serve the purpose of strengthening international cooperation aimed at the creation of a global multihazard early warning system, including the newly established Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System; 8. Stresses the need for the development of stronger institutions, mechanisms and capacities at the regional, national and local levels, as affirmed in the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). as well as through the promotion of public education, awareness and community participation, in order to systematically build resilience to hazards and disasters, as well as reduce the risks and the vulnerability of populations to disasters, particularly in developing countries; 9. Urges Governments and the United Nations system, in planning for disaster preparedness and responding to natural disasters, and implementing recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, to integrate a gender perspective and to ensure that women take an active and equal role in all phases of disaster management; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore ways to strengthen the rapid response capacities of the international community to provide immediate humanitarian relief, building on existing arrangements and ongoing initiatives; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session in 2006. RESOLUTION 60/160 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 60/160. Effective promotion of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, as well as its subsequent resolutions on the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, Noting that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contributes to political and social stability and peace and enriches the cultural diversity and heritage of society, as reaffirmed in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Concerned by the frequency and severity of disputes and conflicts concerning minorities and their often tragic consequences, and concerned also that persons belonging to minorities are particularly vulnerable to displacement, Recognizing that the effective promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities is a fundamental part of the promotion and protection of human rights, and acknowledging that measures in this area can also contribute significantly to conflict prevention, Emphasizing the role that national institutions can play in early warning for problems regarding minority situations, Emphasizing also the importance of human rights education as an effective tool to promote an inclusive society and understanding of and tolerance towards and among persons belonging to minorities, Acknowledging that the United Nations has an important role to play regarding the protection of minorities by, inter alia, taking due account of and giving effect to the Declaration, Noting that the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held its tenth and eleventh sessions from 1 to 5 March 2004 and from 30 May to 3 June 2005, respectively, Noting with appreciation the appointment of the independent expert on minority issues by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 29 July 2005, as requested by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/79 of 21 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/333. 2. Recognizes that respect for human rights and the promotion of understanding and tolerance by Governments as well as between and among minorities are central to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities; 3. Reaffirms the obligation of States to ensure that persons belonging to minorities may exercise fully and effectively all human rights and fundamental freedoms without any discrimination and in full equality before the law, as proclaimed in the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities,Resolution 47/135, annex. and draws attention to the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. including the provisions on forms of multiple discrimination; 4. Encourages States, in their follow-up to the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, to include aspects relating to minorities in their national plans of action and, in this context, to take forms of multiple discrimination fully into account; 5. Urges States and the international community to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as set out in the Declaration, including through the encouragement of conditions for the promotion of their identity, the provision of adequate education and the facilitation of their participation in all aspects of the political, economic, social, religious and cultural life of society and in the economic progress and development of their country, without discrimination, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so; 6. Calls upon States to give special attention to the promotion and protection of the human rights of children belonging to minorities, taking into account that girls and boys may face different types of risks; 7. Urges States to take, as appropriate, all necessary constitutional, legislative, administrative and other measures to promote and give effect to the Declaration, and appeals to States to cooperate bilaterally and multilaterally, in accordance with the Declaration, in order to promote and protect the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 8. Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to protect the cultural and religious sites of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 9. Calls upon the Secretary-General to make available, at the request of Governments concerned, qualified expertise on minority issues, including the prevention and resolution of disputes, to assist in existing or potential situations involving minorities; 10. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote, within her mandate, the implementation of the Declaration, to continue to engage in a dialogue with Governments for that purpose and to disseminate widely the United Nations Guide for Minorities; 11. Requests the High Commissioner to continue her efforts to improve the coordination and cooperation among United Nations programmes and agencies on activities related to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities and to take the work of relevant regional organizations active in the field of human rights into account in her endeavours; 12. Welcomes the inter-agency consultation of the High Commissioner with United Nations programmes and agencies on minority issues, and calls upon those programmes and agencies to contribute actively to this process; 13. Encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to continue to contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 14. Calls upon the Working Group on Minorities of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to implement fully its mandate, focusing its work on interactive dialogue with relevant non-governmental organizations and on conceptual support of, and dialogue with, the independent expert on minority issues, by recommending, on the basis of its findings, further measures for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; 15. Invites the High Commissioner to seek voluntary contributions to facilitate the effective participation of representatives of non-governmental organizations and persons belonging to minorities, in particular those from developing countries, in minority-related activities organized by the United Nations, particularly its human rights bodies, and in doing so to give particular attention to ensuring the participation of young people and women; 16. Decides to continue consideration of the question at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/161 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 60/161. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms annexed to that resolution, and reiterating the importance of the Declaration and its wide dissemination, Recalling also all previous resolutions on this subject, in particular its resolution 59/192 of 20 December 2004 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/67 of 20 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Noting with deep concern that, in many countries, persons and organizations engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities, Gravely concerned by the continuing high level of human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world and by the fact that, in a number of countries in all regions of the world, impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on their work and safety, Recalling that human rights defenders are entitled to equal protection of the law, and deeply concerned about the increase in new restrictive legislation regulating the creation and operation of non-governmental organizations and any abuse of civil or criminal proceedings against them because of their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Concerned by the considerable number of communications received by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the special procedure mechanisms, indicate the serious nature of the risks faced by human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, Emphasizing the important role that individuals, non-governmental organizations and groups play in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in combating impunity, promoting access to justice, information and public participation in decision-making and promoting, strengthening and preserving democracy, Recognizing the substantial role that human rights defenders can play in supporting peace through dialogue, openness, participation and justice, including by monitoring and reporting on human rights, Recalling that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances and that any measures derogating from other provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlining the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, as stated in General Comment No. 29, on states of emergency, adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI. Gravely concerned that, in some instances, national security and counter-terrorism legislation and other measures have been misused to target human rights defenders or have hindered their work and safety in a manner contrary to international law, Welcoming the significant work conducted by the Special Representative, and encouraging strengthened cooperation between the Special Representative and other special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights as well as other relevant United Nations bodies, offices, departments and specialized agencies and personnel, both at headquarters and at the country level, Welcoming also regional initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights and the cooperation between international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, and encouraging further development in this regard, Welcoming further the steps taken by some States towards adopting national policies or legislation for the protection of human rights defenders, Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights rests with the State, and reaffirming that national legislation consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and other international obligations of the State in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms is the juridical framework within which human rights defenders conduct their activities, and noting with deep concern that the activities of some non-State actors pose a major threat to the security of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the need for strong and effective measures for the protection of human rights defenders, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give full effect to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, including by taking, as appropriate, practical steps to that end; 2. Welcomes the reports of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defendersE/CN.4/2001/94, E/CN.4/2002/106 and Add.1 and 2, E/CN.4/2003/104 and Add.1-4, E/CN.4/2004/94 and Add.1-3 and E/CN.4/2005/101 and Add.1-3 and Add.3/Corr.1; see also A/56/341, A/57/182, A/58/380, A/59/401 and A/60/339 and Corr.1. and her contribution to the effective promotion of the Declaration and the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders worldwide; 3. Condemns all human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, and urges States to take all appropriate action, consistent with the Declaration and all other relevant human rights instruments, to eliminate such human rights violations; 4. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders, at both the local and the national levels, including in times of conflict and peacebuilding; 5. Also calls upon all States to ensure, protect and respect the freedom of expression and association of human rights defenders and, where registration is required, to facilitate registration, including through the establishment of effective and transparent criteria and non-discriminatory, expeditious and inexpensive procedures in accordance with national legislation; 6. Urges States to ensure that any measures to combat terrorism and preserve national security comply with their obligations under international law, in particular under international human rights law, and do not hinder the work and safety of human rights defenders; 7. Also urges States to take appropriate measures to address the question of impunity for attacks, threats and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders and their relatives, including by ensuring that complaints from human rights defenders are promptly investigated and addressed in a transparent, independent and accountable manner; 8. Urges all States to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative in the performance of her tasks and to furnish, upon request, all information for the fulfilment of her mandate; 9. Calls upon States to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Representative to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Representative with respect to the follow-up to and implementation of her recommendations so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively; 10. Urges those States that have not yet responded to the communications transmitted to them to do so without delay and to investigate expeditiously urgent appeals and allegations brought to their attention by the Special Representative; 11. Invites States to translate the Declaration into national languages and to take measures to improve its dissemination; 12. Encourages States to promote awareness and training in regard to the Declaration in order to enable officials, agencies, authorities and the judiciary to observe the provisions of the Declaration and thus to promote better understanding and respect for human rights defenders; 13. Invites relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, within their respective mandates and working in cooperation with States, to give due consideration to the Declaration and to the reports of the Special Representative, and in this context requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to draw the attention of all relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, to the reports of the Special Representative; 14. Requests that the Office of the High Commissioner as well as other relevant United Nations bodies, offices, departments and specialized agencies consider ways in which they can assist States to strengthen the role and security of human rights defenders, including in conflict situations and peacebuilding; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Representative with human, material and financial resources in order to enable her to continue to carry out her mandate effectively, including through country visits; 16. Requests all concerned United Nations agencies and organizations, within their mandates, to provide all possible assistance and support to the Special Representative in the implementation of her programme of activities; 17. Requests the Special Representative to continue to report annually on her activities to the General Assembly and to the Commission on Human Rights in accordance with her mandate; 18. Decides to consider the question at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/162 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 173 to none, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Tuvalu 60/162. Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 58/180 of 22 December 2003, Reaffirming that United Nations electoral assistance and support for the promotion of democratization are provided only at the specific request of the Member State concerned, Noting with satisfaction that increasing numbers of Member States are using elections as a peaceful means of discerning the will of the people, which builds confidence in representational governance and contributes to greater national peace and stability, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the principle that the will of the people, as expressed through periodic and genuine elections, shall be the basis of government authority, as well as the right freely to choose representatives through periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures, Taking note with interest of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/30 of 19 April 2004 on enhancing the role of regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements in promoting and consolidating democracySee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and Commission resolution 2005/32 of 19 April 2005 on democracy and the rule of law;Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the need for strengthening democratic processes, electoral institutions and national capacity-building, including the capacity to administer fair elections, increase citizen participation and provide civic education, in requesting countries in order to consolidate and regularize the achievements of previous elections and support subsequent elections, Welcoming the support provided by States to the electoral assistance activities of the United Nations, inter alia, through the provision of electoral experts, including electoral commission staff, and observers, as well as through contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation, Welcoming also the contributions made by international and regional organizations and also by non-governmental organizations to enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on United Nations activities aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization,A/60/431. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/431. 2. Commends the electoral assistance provided upon request to Member States by the United Nations, and requests that such assistance continue on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the evolving needs of requesting countries to develop, improve and refine their electoral institutions and processes, recognizing that the fundamental responsibility of organizing free and fair elections lies with Governments; 3. Requests the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in its role as coordinator of United Nations electoral assistance, to continue to inform Member States regularly about the requests received and the nature of any assistance provided; 4. Requests that the United Nations continue its efforts to ensure, before undertaking to provide electoral assistance to a requesting State, that there is adequate time to organize and carry out an effective mission for providing such assistance, including the provision of long-term technical cooperation, that conditions exist to allow a free and fair election and that the results of the mission will be reported comprehensively and consistently; 5. Recommends that, throughout the time span of the entire electoral process, including before and after elections, as appropriate, based on needs-assessment missions, the United Nations continue to provide technical advice and other assistance to requesting States and electoral institutions in order to help to strengthen their democratic processes; 6. Notes with appreciation additional efforts being made to enhance cooperation with other international, governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to facilitate more comprehensive and needs-specific responses to requests for electoral assistance, and encourages those organizations to share knowledge and experience in order to promote best practices in the assistance they provide and in their reporting on electoral processes, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations that have provided observers or technical experts in support of United Nations electoral assistance efforts; 7. Recalls the establishment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation, and calls upon Member States to consider contributing to the Fund; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the Electoral Assistance Division, to continue responding to the evolving nature of requests for assistance and the growing need for specific types of medium-term expert assistance aimed at supporting and strengthening the existing capacity of the requesting Government, in particular by enhancing the capacity of national electoral institutions; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Electoral Assistance Division with adequate human and financial resources to allow it to carry out its mandate, and to continue to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is able to respond, within its mandate and in close coordination with the Division, to the numerous and increasingly complex and comprehensive requests from Member States for advisory services; 10. Notes with satisfaction the comprehensive coordination between the Electoral Assistance Division and the United Nations Development Programme, and encourages further engagement of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in this context; 11. Requests the United Nations Development Programme to continue its governance assistance programmes in cooperation with other relevant organizations, in particular those that strengthen democratic institutions and linkages between civil society and Governments; 12. Reiterates the importance of reinforced coordination within and outside the United Nations system in this regard; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on the status of requests from Member States for electoral assistance, and on his efforts to enhance support by the Organization for the democratization process in Member States. RESOLUTION 60/163 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 116 to 53, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Chile, India, Mexico, Samoa, Singapore, Vanuatu 60/163. Promotion of peace as a vital requirement for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/192 of 22 December 2003, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/56 of 20 April 2005 entitled "Promotion of peace as a vital requirement for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note of its resolution 39/11 of 12 November 1984 entitled "Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace", and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Underlining, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, its full and active support for the United Nations and for the enhancement of its role and effectiveness in strengthening international peace, security and justice and in promoting the solution of international problems, as well as the development of friendly relations and cooperation among States, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, Emphasizing its objective of promoting better relations among all States and contributing to setting up conditions in which their people can live in true and lasting peace, free from any threat to or attempt against their security, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming its commitment to peace, security and justice and the continuing development of friendly relations and cooperation among States, Rejecting the use of violence in pursuit of political aims, and stressing that only peaceful political solutions can ensure a stable and democratic future for all people around the world, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring respect for the principles of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter and international law, Reaffirming also that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing that peace and development are mutually reinforcing, including in the prevention of armed conflict, Affirming that human rights include social, economic and cultural rights and the right to peace, a healthy environment and development, and that development is in fact the realization of those rights, Underlining the fact that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental rights, is contrary to the Charter and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation, Recalling that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Convinced of the aim of creating conditions of stability and well-being, which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, Convinced also that life without war is the primary international prerequisite for the material well-being, development and progress of countries and for the full implementation of the rights and fundamental human freedoms proclaimed by the United Nations, Convinced further that international cooperation in the field of human rights contributes to creating an international environment of peace and stability, 1. Stresses that peace is a vital requirement for the promotion and protection of all human rights for all; 2. Also stresses that the deep fault line that divides human society between the rich and the poor and the ever-increasing gap between the developed and developing worlds pose a major threat to global prosperity, peace and security and stability; 3. Solemnly declares that the peoples of our planet have a sacred right to peace and that the preservation and promotion of peace constitutes a fundamental obligation of each State; 4. Emphasizes that the preservation and promotion of peace demands that the policies of States be directed towards the elimination of the threat of war, particularly nuclear war, the renunciation of the use or threat of use of force in international relations and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations; 5. Affirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and an international system based on respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter and the promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development and the right of peoples to self-determination; 6. Urges all States to respect and to put into practice the purposes and principles of the Charter in their relations with other States, irrespective of their political, economic or social system and of their size, geographical location or level of economic development; 7. Reaffirms the duty of all States, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, to use peaceful means to settle any dispute to which they are parties and the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, as a vital requirement for the promotion and protection of all human rights of everyone and all peoples; 8. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations with Member States, the specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations on how the Commission on Human Rights could work for the promotion of an international environment conducive to the full realization of the right of peoples to peace, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 9. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 10. Decides to continue consideration of the question of the promotion of the right of peoples to peace at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/164 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 110 to 6, with 61 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 60/164. Respect for the principles of national sovereignty and diversity of democratic systems in electoral processes as an important element for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purpose of the United Nations to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling also its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, by which it approved the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the right to self-determination, by virtue of which all peoples can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Recognizing that the principles enshrined in Article 2 of the Charter, in particular respect for national sovereignty, should be respected in the holding of elections, Recognizing also the richness and diversity of democratic political systems and models of free and fair electoral processes in the world, based on national and regional particularities and various backgrounds, Stressing the responsibility of States in ensuring ways and means to facilitate full and effective popular participation in their electoral processes, Recognizing the contribution made by the United Nations of electoral assistance provided to numerous States upon their request, Reaffirming the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter, other instruments relating to human rights, and international law, Reaffirming also that democracy, sustainable development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as good governance at all levels, are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and determined to strengthen respect for the rule of law at the national and international levels, Welcoming the commitment of all Member States, expressed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to work collectively for more inclusive political processes allowing genuine participation by all citizens in all countries, 1. Reaffirms that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reiterates that periodic, fair and free elections are important elements for the promotion and protection of human rights; 3. Reaffirms the right of peoples to determine methods and to establish institutions regarding electoral processes and, consequently, that there is no single model of democracy or of democratic institutions and that States should ensure all the necessary mechanisms and means to facilitate full and effective popular participation in those processes; 4. Also reaffirms that free development of the national electoral process in each State should be fully honoured in a manner that fully respects the principles established in the Charter and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; 5. Calls upon all States to refrain from financing political parties or other organizations in any other State in a way that is contrary to the principles of the Charter and that undermines the legitimacy of its electoral processes; 6. Condemns any act of armed aggression or threat or use of force against peoples, their elected Governments or their legitimate leaders; 7. Reaffirms that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government and that this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures; 8. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of the respect for the principles of national sovereignty and diversity of democratic systems in electoral processes as an important element for the promotion and protection of human rights at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/165 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 176 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel 60/165. The right to food The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/202 of 20 December 2004, as well as all Commission on Human Rights resolutions in this regard, in particular resolution 2005/18 of 14 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for her or his health and well-being, including food, the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and MalnutritionReport of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. in which the fundamental right of every person to be free from hunger is recognized, Bearing in mind the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of ActionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, adopted in Rome on 13 June 2002,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. Welcoming the concrete recommendations contained in the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, adopted by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in November 2004,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Session, Rome, 22-27 November 2004 (CL 127/REP), appendix D; see also E/CN.4/2005/131, annex. Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Reaffirming also that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment, at both the national and the international levels, is the essential foundation that will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication, Reiterating, as in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, that food should not be used as an instrument of political or economic pressure, and reaffirming in this regard the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security, Convinced that each State must adopt a strategy consistent with its resources and capacities to achieve its individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action and, at the same time, cooperate regionally and internationally in order to organize collective solutions to global issues of food security in a world of increasingly interlinked institutions, societies and economies where coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities are essential, Recognizing that the problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and that they are likely to persist and even to increase dramatically in some regions unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world's population and the stress on natural resources, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters, diseases and pests and their increasing impact in recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and livelihood and threatened agricultural production and food security, in particular in developing countries, Stressing the importance of reversing the continuing decline of official development assistance devoted to agriculture, both in real terms and as a share of total official development assistance, 1. Reaffirms that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity and therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures at the national, regional and international levels for its elimination; 2. Also reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities; 3. Considers it intolerable that there are about 852 million undernourished people in the world, that every five seconds a child under the age of 5 dies from hunger or hunger-related diseases somewhere in the world, when, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the planet could produce enough food to provide 2,100 kilocalories per person per day to 12 billion people, twice the world's present population; 4. Expresses its concern that women are disproportionately affected by hunger, food insecurity and poverty, in part as a result of gender inequality and discrimination, that in many countries, girls are twice as likely as boys to die from malnutrition and preventable childhood diseases, and that it is estimated that almost twice as many women as men suffer from malnutrition; 5. Encourages all States to take action to address gender inequality and discrimination against women, in particular where it contributes to the malnutrition of women and girls, including measures to ensure the full and equal realization of the right to food and ensuring that women have equal access to resources, including income, land and water, to enable them to feed themselves and their families; 6. Encourages the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food to continue mainstreaming a gender perspective in the fulfilment of his mandate, and encourages the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and all other United Nations bodies and mechanisms addressing the right to food and food insecurity to integrate a gender perspective into their relevant policies, programmes and activities; 7. Encourages all States to take steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right to food, including steps to promote the conditions for everyone to be free from hunger and, as soon as possible, to enjoy fully the right to food, and to create and adopt national plans to combat hunger; 8. Acknowledges that many indigenous organizations and representatives of indigenous communities have expressed in different forums their deep concerns over the obstacles and challenges for their full enjoyment of the right to food, and calls upon States to take special actions to combat the root causes of the disproportionately high level of hunger and malnutrition among indigenous peoples and the continuous discrimination against them; 9. Requests all States and private actors, as well as international organizations within their respective mandates, to take fully into account the need to promote the effective realization of the right to food for all, including in the ongoing negotiations in different fields; 10. Stresses the need to make efforts to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, and to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies; 11. Recalls the importance of the New York Declaration on Action against Hunger and Poverty, which has been supported by more than one hundred countries to date, and recommends the continuation of efforts aimed at identifying additional sources of financing for the fight against hunger and poverty; 12. Recognizes that the promises made at the World Food Summit in 1996 to halve the number of persons who are undernourished are not being fulfilled, and invites once again all international financial and development institutions, as well as the relevant United Nations agencies and funds, to give priority to and provide the necessary funding to realize the aim of halving by 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, as well as the right to food as set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food SecurityFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 13. Urges States to give adequate priority in their development strategies and expenditures to the realization of the right to food; 14. Stresses the importance of international development cooperation and assistance, in particular in emergency situations such as natural and man-made disasters, diseases and pests, for the realization of the right to food and the achievement of sustainable food security, while recognizing that each country has the primary responsibility for ensuring the implementation of national programmes and strategies in this regard; 15. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders to support national efforts aimed at responding rapidly to the food crises currently occurring across Africa; 16. Invites all relevant international organizations, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to promote policies and projects that have a positive impact on the right to food, to ensure that partners respect the right to food in the implementation of common projects, to support strategies of Member States aimed at the fulfilment of the right to food and to avoid any actions that could have a negative impact on the realization of the right to food; 17. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food,See A/60/350. and also takes note of his valuable work in the promotion of the right to food; 18. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as extended by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2003/25 of 22 April 2003;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 19. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 20. Welcomes the work already done by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in promoting the right to adequate food, in particular its General Comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food (article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights),Ibid., 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex V. in which the Committee affirmed, inter alia, that the right to adequate food is indivisibly linked to the inherent dignity of the human person and is indispensable for the fulfilment of other human rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and is also inseparable from social justice, requiring the adoption of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, at both the national and the international levels, oriented to the eradication of poverty and the fulfilment of all human rights for all; 21. Recalls General Comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on the right to water (articles 11 and 12 of the Covenant),Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 2 (E/2003/22), annex IV. in which the Committee noted, inter alia, the importance of ensuring sustainable water resources for human consumption and agriculture in realization of the right to adequate food; 22. Welcomes the adoption by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations of the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Session, Rome, 22-27 November 2004 (CL 127/REP), appendix D; see also E/CN.4/2005/131, annex. which represent a practical tool to promote the realization of the right to food for all, contribute to the achievement of food security and thus provide an additional instrument in the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 23. Also welcomes the continued cooperation of the High Commissioner, the Committee and the Special Rapporteur, and encourages them to continue their cooperation in this regard; 24. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in his task, to supply all necessary information requested by him and to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries to enable him to fulfil his mandate more effectively; 25. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit a comprehensive report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session and an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 26. Invites Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies and civil society actors, including non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate, inter alia, through the submission of comments and suggestions on ways and means of realizing the right to food; 27. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/166 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 60/166. Elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Recalling also article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other relevant human rights provisions, Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights upon all Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. Reaffirming also the recognition by the World Conference on Human Rights that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, in which the Assembly recognized the valuable contribution that dialogue among civilizations could make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Acknowledging that in order to be effective, such a dialogue should be based on respect for the dignity of adherents of religions and beliefs, as well as respect for diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights, Considering that religion or belief, for those who profess either, is one of the fundamental elements in their conception of life and that freedom of religion or belief should be fully respected and guaranteed, Considering also that the disregard for and infringement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, have brought, directly or indirectly, wars and great suffering to humankind, Recognizing the importance of promoting dialogue among civilizations in order to enhance mutual understanding and knowledge among different social groups, cultures and civilizations in various areas, including culture, religion, education, information, science and technology, and in order to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/40 of 19 April 2005 on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Seriously concerned at all attacks upon religious places, sites and shrines, including any deliberate destruction of relics and monuments, Seriously concerned also at the misuse of registration procedures as a means to limit the right to freedom of religion or belief of members of certain religious communities and at the limitations placed on religious publications, Recognizing the important work carried out by the Human Rights Committee in providing guidance with respect to the scope of the freedom of religion or belief, Convinced of the need to address, for instance, in the context of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among CivilizationsSee resolution 56/6. the rise in all parts of the world of religious extremism affecting the rights of individuals and groups based on religion or belief, the situations of violence and discrimination that affect many women as a result of religion or belief and the abuse of religion or belief for ends inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant instruments of the United Nations, Resolved to adopt all necessary and appropriate measures for the speedy elimination of such intolerance based on religion or belief in all its forms and manifestations and to prevent and combat discrimination based on religion or belief, Noting that a formal or legal distinction at the national level between different kinds of religions or faith-based communities may, in some cases, constitute discrimination and may impinge on the enjoyment of the freedom of religion or belief, Underlining the importance of education in the promotion of tolerance which involves the acceptance by the public of, and its respect for, diversity, including with regard to religious expressions, and underlining also the fact that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Recalling the importance of the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, held in Madrid from 23 to 25 November 2001, and continuing to invite Governments to give consideration to the Final Document adopted at the Conference,E/CN.4/2002/73, appendix. Emphasizing that States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance, respect and freedom of religion or belief, Recognizing the importance of interreligious and intrareligious dialogue and the role of religious and other non-governmental organizations in promoting tolerance in matters relating to religion or belief, Believing that further intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as also noted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the work and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief;E/CN.4/2005/61 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Condemns all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief; 3. Encourages the efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate in the field of human rights the activities of relevant United Nations organs, bodies and mechanisms dealing with all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief; 4. Urges States: (a) To ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, or the right to practise freely one's religion, including the right to change one's religion or belief, is violated; (b) To exert the utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights law, to ensure that religious places, sites, shrines and religious symbols are fully respected and protected and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction; (c) To review, whenever relevant, existing registration practices in order to ensure the right of all persons to manifest their religion or belief, alone or in community with others and in public or in private; (d) To ensure, in particular, the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for these purposes and the right of all persons to write, issue and disseminate relevant publications in these areas; (e) To ensure that, in accordance with appropriate national legislation and in conformity with international human rights law, the freedom of all persons and members of groups to establish and maintain religious, charitable or humanitarian institutions is fully respected and protected; (f) To ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life, liberty or security of person because of religion or belief and that no one is subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention on that account and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; (g) To ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, and that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 5. Recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many religious and other communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and Christianophobia; 6. Expresses concern over the persistence of institutionalized social intolerance and discrimination practised against many in the name of religion or belief; 7. Condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audio-visual and electronic media or any other means; 8. Stresses the need to strengthen dialogue, inter alia, by revitalizing the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations;See resolution 56/6. 9. Invites States, the Special Rapporteur, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant entities of the United Nations system, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other international and regional organizations and civil society to consider promoting dialogue among civilizations in order to contribute to the elimination of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, inter alia, by addressing the following issues within the framework of international standards of human rights: (a) The rise of religious extremism affecting religions in all parts of the world; (b) The situations of violence and discrimination that affect many women as a result of religion or belief; (c) The use of religion or belief for ends inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant instruments of the United Nations; 10. Urges States to step up their efforts to eliminate intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, notably by: (a) Taking all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to religious minorities, and devoting particular attention to practices that violate the human rights of women and discriminate against women, including in the exercise of their right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; (b) Promoting and encouraging, through education and other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in all matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; (c) Undertaking all appropriate efforts to encourage those engaged in teaching to cultivate respect for all religions or beliefs, thereby promoting mutual understanding and tolerance; 11. Invites Governments, religious bodies and civil society to continue to undertake dialogue at all levels to promote greater tolerance, respect and understanding; 12. Emphasizes the importance of a continued and strengthened dialogue among and within religions or beliefs, including as encompassed in the dialogue among civilizations, to promote greater tolerance, respect and mutual understanding; 13. Also emphasizes that equating any religion with terrorism should be avoided, as this may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned; 14. Further emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if limitations are prescribed by law, are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 15. Encourages the continuing efforts in all parts of the world of the Special Rapporteur to examine incidents and governmental actions that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or BeliefSee resolution 36/55. and to recommend remedial measures, as appropriate; 16. Stresses the need for the Special Rapporteur to continue to apply a gender perspective, inter alia, through the identification of gender-specific abuses, in the reporting process, including in information collection and in recommendations; 17. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of all actors in society, including non-governmental organizations and bodies and groups based on religion or belief, to promote the implementation of the Declaration, and further encourages their work in promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 18. Recommends that the United Nations and other actors, in their efforts to promote freedom of religion or belief, ensure the widest possible dissemination of the text of the Declaration in as many different languages as possible by United Nations information centres and by other interested bodies; 19. Decides to continue its consideration of measures to implement the Declaration; 20. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur and urges all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur and to respond favourably to her requests to visit their countries and to provide her with all necessary information so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary resources to enable her to discharge her mandate fully; 22. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 23. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/167 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam. 60/167. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Recalling also its resolutions 54/160 of 17 December 1999, 55/91 of 4 December 2000, 57/204 of 18 December 2002 and 58/167 of 22 December 2003, and recalling further its resolutions 54/113 of 10 December 1999, 55/23 of 13 November 2000 and 60/4 of 20 October 2005 concerning the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. Taking note of the note by the Secretary-General,A/60/340. Welcoming the adoption of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, Welcoming also the contribution of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the promotion of respect for cultural diversity, Welcoming further the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. together with its Action Plan,Ibid., annex II. adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, in which member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan with a view to enhancing the synergy of actions in favour of cultural diversity, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, Recognizing also that the promotion of the rights of indigenous people and their cultures and traditions will contribute to the respect for and observance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, Acknowledging the diversity of the world, recognizing that all cultures and civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind, acknowledging the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world, and, in order to promote international peace and security, committing itself to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encouraging tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Welcomes the adoption on 8 September 2000 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States consider, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and that it should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity; 3. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 4. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 5. Expresses its determination to prevent and mitigate cultural homogenization in the context of globalization, through increased intercultural exchange guided by the promotion and protection of cultural diversity; 6. Affirms that intercultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 7. Welcomes the recognition at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the necessity of respecting and maximizing the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within and among communities and nations, in particular through public information and educational programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes in which the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society; 8. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 9. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national, regional and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 10. Also emphasizes that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all, and underlines the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive; 11. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 12. Urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 13. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies, and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the present resolution, to prepare a report on human rights and cultural diversity, taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as the considerations in the present resolution regarding the recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 15. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to bear in mind fully the issues raised in the present resolution in the course of its activities for the promotion and protection of human rights; 16. Decides to continue consideration of the question at its sixty-second session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 60/168 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/168. Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons The General Assembly, Deeply disturbed by the alarmingly high numbers of internally displaced persons throughout the world, for reasons including armed conflict, violations of human rights and natural or human-made disasters, who receive inadequate protection and assistance, and conscious of the serious challenges that this is creating for the international community, Recognizing the significant number of persons who have become internally displaced owing to natural disasters over the course of the past twelve months, Conscious of the human rights and the humanitarian dimensions of the problem of internally displaced persons, including in long-term displacement situations, and the responsibilities of States and the international community to strengthen further their protection and assistance, Emphasizing that States have the primary responsibility to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction as well as to address the root causes of the displacement problem in appropriate cooperation with the international community, Noting the growing awareness of the international community of the issue of internally displaced persons worldwide and the urgency of addressing the root causes of their displacement and finding durable solutions, including voluntary return in safety and with dignity, or local integration, Recalling the relevant norms of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, and recognizing that the protection of internally displaced persons has been strengthened by identifying, reaffirming and consolidating specific standards for their protection, in particular through the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. Emphasizing the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, and welcoming the continued initiatives taken in order to ensure better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, as well as better coordination of activities regarding them, Commending the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons for the activities undertaken so far, for the catalytic role that he plays in raising the level of consciousness about the plight of internally displaced persons and his efforts to promote a comprehensive strategy that focuses on prevention as well as better protection and assistance and addressing the development and other specific needs of internally displaced persons, including through the mainstreaming of the human rights of internally displaced persons into all relevant parts of the United Nations system, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/46 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. regarding the need to develop global strategies to address the problem of internal displacement, Deploring practices of forced displacement and their negative consequences for the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by large groups of populations, and noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. defines the deportation or forcible transfer of population as a crime against humanity and the unlawful deportation or transfer of the civilian population, as well as ordering the displacement of the civilian population, as war crimes, Welcoming the increasing dissemination, promotion and application of the Guiding Principles when dealing with situations of internal displacement, Welcoming also the cooperation established between the new Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, and encouraging further strengthening of his collaboration in order to promote better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, Acknowledging with appreciation the important and independent contribution of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian agencies in protecting and assisting internally displaced persons, in cooperation with relevant international bodies, Recalling its resolution 58/177 of 22 December 2003, 1. Welcomes the appointment of the new Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons; 2. Welcomes also the report of the Representative of the Secretary-General,See A/60/338 and Corr.1. and takes note of his conclusions and recommendations; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have provided protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and have supported the work of the Representative of the Secretary-General; 4. Encourages the Representative of the Secretary-General, through continuous dialogue with Governments and all intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, to continue his analysis of the causes of internal displacement, the needs and rights of those displaced, measures of prevention and ways to strengthen protection, assistance and solutions for internally displaced persons, taking into account specific situations, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly; 5. Expresses particular concern at the grave problems faced by many internally displaced women and children, including violence and abuse, sexual exploitation, forced recruitment and abduction, and welcomes the commitment of the Representative of the Secretary-General to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to their particular assistance, protection and development needs, as well as to other groups with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000; 6. Notes with appreciation the increasing role of national human rights institutions in assisting internally displaced persons and in promoting and protecting their human rights; 7. Notes the importance of taking the human rights and the specific protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons into consideration, when appropriate, in peace processes and reintegration and rehabilitation processes; 8. Recognizes the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, welcomes the fact that an increasing number of States, United Nations agencies and regional and non-governmental organizations are applying them as a standard, and encourages all relevant actors to make use of the Guiding Principles when dealing with situations of internal displacement; 9. Welcomes the fact that the Representative of the Secretary-General continues to use the Guiding Principles in his dialogue with Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors, and requests him to continue his efforts to further the dissemination, promotion and application of the Guiding Principles and to provide support for efforts to promote capacity-building and the use of the Guiding Principles, as well as the development of domestic legislation and policies; 10. Urges all Governments to continue to facilitate the activities of the Representative of the Secretary-General, in particular Governments with situations of internal displacement, and to give serious consideration to inviting the Representative to visit their countries so as to enable him to continue and enhance dialogue with Governments in addressing situations of internal displacement, and thanks those Governments that have already done so; 11. Invites Governments to give serious consideration, in dialogue with the Representative of the Secretary-General, to the recommendations and suggestions addressed to them, in accordance with his mandate, and to inform him of measures taken thereon; 12. Calls upon Governments to provide protection and assistance, including reintegration and development assistance, to internally displaced persons, and to facilitate the efforts of relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations in these respects, including by further improving access to internally displaced persons; 13. Emphasizes the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, and notes with appreciation the work of the Inter-Agency Internal Displacement Division within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat; 14. Takes note of the efforts currently under way by the United Nations humanitarian system, emphasizes the need to strengthen further inter-agency arrangements and the capacities of the United Nations agencies and other relevant actors to meet the immense humanitarian challenges of internal displacement, and underlines in this regard the importance of an effective, accountable and predictable collaborative approach; 15. Encourages all relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian assistance, human rights and development organizations to enhance their collaboration and coordination, through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and in countries with situations of internal displacement, and to provide all possible assistance and support to the Representative of the Secretary-General; 16. Notes with appreciation the increased attention paid to the issue of internally displaced persons in the consolidated inter-agency appeals process, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 17. Recognizes the relevance of the global database on internally displaced persons advocated by the Representative of the Secretary-General, and encourages the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and Governments to continue to collaborate on and support this effort, including by providing relevant data on situations of internal displacement and financial resources; 18. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by regional organizations, such as the African Union, the Organization of American States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Economic Community of West African States, to address the protection, assistance and development needs of internally displaced persons, and encourages them and other regional organizations to strengthen their activities and their cooperation with the Representative of the Secretary-General; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to provide his Representative, from within existing resources, with all necessary assistance to carry out his mandate effectively, and encourages the Representative to continue to seek the contributions of States, relevant organizations and institutions in order to create a more stable basis for his work; 20. Requests the Representative of the Secretary-General to prepare, for consideration by the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 60/169 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II), para. 102)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkey and Uruguay. 60/169. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Recalling its resolution 59/194 of 20 December 2004, taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/47 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling its resolution 40/144 of 13 December 1985, by which it adopted the Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live, Considering that every State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. must ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the Covenant, and that every State party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. has undertaken to guarantee the exercise of all rights enunciated in that Covenant without discrimination of any kind, including, in particular, on the basis of national origin, Reaffirming the provisions concerning migrants adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit for Social DevelopmentSee Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Reaffirming also the provisions on the human rights of migrants contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and expressing its satisfaction at the important recommendations made for the development of international and national strategies for the protection of migrants and for the design of migration policies that fully respect the human rights of migrants, Recalling the renewed commitment made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and at the 2005 World SummitSee resolution 60/1. to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony, tolerance and respect in all societies, Taking note of advisory opinion OC-16/99 of 1 October 1999 on the Right to Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law and advisory opinion OC-18/03 of 17 September 2003 on the Juridical Condition and Rights of the Undocumented Migrants, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Taking note also of the Judgment of the International Court of Justice of 31 March 2004 in the case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 4 (A/59/4), chap. V, sect. A.23. and recalling the obligations of States reaffirmed therein, Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in the effective and full protection of the human rights of all migrants, and underlining the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, Aware of the increasing number of migrants worldwide, and bearing in mind the situation of vulnerability in which migrants and their accompanying families can find themselves when outside their States of origin owing, inter alia, to the difficulties they encounter because of discrimination in society, differences of language, custom and culture, as well as the economic and social difficulties and obstacles to the return of migrants to their States of origin, especially those who are undocumented or in an irregular migratory situation, Emphasizing the global character of the migratory phenomenon, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and dialogue in this regard, as appropriate, and the need to protect the human rights of migrants, particularly at a time in which migration flows have increased in the globalized economy and take place in a context of new security concerns, Bearing in mind that policies and initiatives on the issue of migration, including those that refer to the orderly management of migration, should promote holistic approaches that take into account the causes and consequences of the phenomenon, as well as the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, Concerned at the large and growing number of migrants, especially women and children, who place themselves in a vulnerable situation by attempting to cross international borders without the required travel documents, and underlining the obligation of States to respect the human rights of those migrants, Deeply concerned at the manifestations of violence, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance and inhuman and degrading treatment against migrants, especially women and children, in different parts of the world, Concerned that the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance has indicated the appearance of new forms of discrimination targeting migrants, among other groups, Noting the strong concern expressed by the special rapporteurs, special representatives, independent experts and chairpersons of working groups of the special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights and of the advisory services programme regarding the continued deterioration in the situation and the denial of the human rights of migrants, in particular current attempts to institutionalize discrimination against and exclusion of migrants, in the joint statement made at their eleventh annual meeting,E/CN.4/2005/5, annex I, sect. C. Highlighting the importance of creating conditions that favour greater harmony, tolerance and respect between migrants and the rest of society in countries of transit or destination in order to eliminate manifestations of racism and xenophobia against migrants, including members of their families, Recognizing the positive and diverse contributions that migrants make to host societies and societies of origin and the efforts that some host countries and countries of origin undertake to integrate and reintegrate migrants, Recognizing also the increasing participation of women in international migration movements, Acknowledging the work of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Acknowledging also the work done by the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration in addressing migration issues, Resolved to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, 1. Strongly condemns the manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them, and urges States to apply the existing laws when xenophobic or intolerant acts, manifestations or expressions against migrants occur, in order to eradicate impunity for those who commit xenophobic and racist acts, and calls upon States to implement fully the commitments and recommendations relating to the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of ActionSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. through, inter alia, the adoption of national plans of action, as recommended by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; 2. Strongly condemns also all forms of racial discrimination and xenophobia related to access to employment, vocational training, housing, schooling, health services and social services, as well as services intended for use by the public; 3. Welcomes the active role played by governmental and non-governmental organizations in combating racism and xenophobia and in assisting victims of racist acts, including migrant victims; 4. Calls upon all States to consider reviewing and, where necessary, revising immigration policies with a view to eliminating all discriminatory practices against migrants and their families and adopting effective action to create conditions that foster greater harmony, tolerance and respect within societies, and to provide specialized training for government policymaking, law enforcement, migration and other concerned officials, including in cooperation with non-governmental organizations and civil society; 5. Requests States effectively to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their immigration status, especially those of women and children, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the international instruments to which they are party, which may include the International Covenants on Human Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2220, No. 39481. and other relevant human rights instruments; 6. Requests all States, international organizations and relevant stakeholders to take into account in their policies and initiatives on migration issues the global character of the migratory phenomenon and to give due consideration to international, regional and bilateral cooperation in this field, with a view to addressing, in a comprehensive manner, its causes and consequences and granting priority to the protection of the human rights of migrants; 7. Welcomes the increasing number of signatures and ratifications or accessions to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, and calls upon States that have not done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority; 8. Urges States parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and supplementing protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III. to implement them fully, and calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying them as a matter of priority; 9. Reaffirms emphatically the duty of States parties to ensure full respect for and observance of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 596, No. 8638. in particular with regard to the right of all foreign nationals, regardless of their immigration status, to communicate with a consular official of the sending State in the case of arrest, imprisonment, custody or detention, and the obligation of the receiving State to inform without delay the foreign national of his or her rights under the Convention; 10. Expresses concern about the legislation and the measures adopted by some States that restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants; 11. Welcomes immigration programmes, adopted by some countries, that allow migrants to integrate fully into the host countries, facilitate family reunification and promote a harmonious, tolerant and respectful environment, and encourages States to consider the possibility of adopting these types of programmes; 12. Calls upon States to facilitate family reunification in an expeditious and effective manner, with due regard to applicable laws, as such reunification has a positive effect on the integration of migrants; 13. Encourages all States to integrate a gender and age perspective in developing and implementing international migration policies and programmes in order to adopt the necessary measures to better protect women and children against possible dangers and abuse associated with migration and to foster opportunities for their contribution to their societies of origin and destination; 14. Calls upon States to promote and protect all human rights of migrant children, given their vulnerability, in particular unaccompanied migrant children, ensuring that the best interests of the children are a primary consideration, underlines the importance of reuniting them with their parents, when possible, and encourages the relevant United Nations bodies, within the framework of their respective mandates, to pay special attention to the conditions of migrant children in all States and, where necessary, to put forward recommendations for strengthening their protection, especially against sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking, the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, including coercion into begging and drug dealing, in particular by national or transnational organized crime groups; 15. Encourages States of origin to promote and protect the human rights of those families of migrant workers that remain in the countries of origin, paying particular attention to children and adolescents whose parents have emigrated, and encourages international organizations to consider supporting States in this regard; 16. Requests all States, in conformity with national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party, to enforce labour law effectively, including by addressing violations of such law, with regard to migrant workers' labour relations and working conditions, inter alia, those related to their remuneration and conditions of health, safety at work and the right to freedom of association; 17. Encourages all States to remove obstacles that may prevent the safe, unrestricted and expeditious transfer of earnings, assets and pensions of migrants to their country of origin or to any other countries, in conformity with applicable legislation, and to consider, as appropriate, measures to solve other problems that may impede such transfers; 18. Calls upon States to observe national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party when enacting national security measures in order to respect the human rights of migrants; 19. Urges all States to adopt effective measures to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of migrants and to take action to prevent and punish any form of illegal deprivation of liberty of migrants by individuals or groups; 20. Also urges all States to employ duly authorized and trained government officials to enforce their immigration laws and border controls and to take appropriate and effective measures to deter and prevent private persons or groups from violating criminal and immigration laws relating to border enforcement and from wrongfully undertaking actions reserved to government officials, including by prosecuting those violations of the law that may result from such actions; 21. Requests States to adopt concrete measures to prevent the violation of the human rights of migrants while in transit, including in ports and airports and at borders and migration checkpoints, to train public officials who work in those facilities and in border areas to treat migrants respectfully and in accordance with the law, and to prosecute, in conformity with applicable law, any act of violation of the human rights of migrants, inter alia, arbitrary detention, torture and violations of the right to life, including extrajudicial executions, during their transit from their country of origin to the country of destination and vice versa, including their transit through national borders; 22. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to enact domestic legislation and to take further effective measures to combat and prosecute international trafficking in and smuggling of migrants, recognizing that these crimes may endanger the lives of migrants or subject them to harm, servitude or exploitation, which may include debt bondage, slavery and sexual exploitation or forced labour, and urges States to strengthen international cooperation to combat such trafficking and smuggling and to protect the victims of trafficking; 23. Encourages States, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, to undertake information campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration, so as to enable everyone, in particular women, to make informed decisions and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking and utilizing dangerous means of access to countries of transit and destination that put their lives and physical integrity at risk; 24. Also encourages States to consider participating in international and regional dialogues on migration that include countries of origin and destination, as well as countries of transit, and invites them to consider negotiating bilateral and regional agreements on migrant workers within the framework of applicable human rights law and designing and implementing programmes with States of other regions to protect the rights of migrants; 25. Requests Member States, the United Nations system, international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders, especially the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office, as well as the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants, to ensure that the perspective of the human rights of migrants is included among the priority issues in the ongoing discussions on migration and development within the United Nations system, including, in particular, at the high-level dialogue on international migration and development that will be held in 2006, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 58/208 of 23 December 2003; 26. Invites States, the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to observe, on 18 December of each year, International Migrants Day, proclaimed by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/93. through, inter alia, the dissemination of information on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants and on their economic, social and cultural contributions to their host and home countries, the sharing of experience and the adoption of measures to ensure their protection, and to promote greater harmony, tolerance and respect between migrants and the societies in which they live; 27. Welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the human rights of migrants for a period of three years and the appointment of the new Special Rapporteur, and takes note with interest of the interim report submitted by him to the General Assembly,See A/60/357. including the proposed methods of work for the fulfilment of his mandate; 28. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated, to furnish all information requested and to respond appropriately and expeditiously to his urgent appeals and to give serious consideration to his requests to visit their countries, and welcomes in this regard the standing invitations extended by some Member States to all special procedures, including the Special Rapporteur; 29. Requests all relevant mechanisms to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to give the Special Rapporteur all the human and financial assistance necessary for the fulfilment of his mandate; 31. Takes note of the report of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on its second session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 48 (A/60/48). and requests the Secretary-General to arrange, within existing resources, two sessions for the Committee in 2006, in spring and autumn, respectively, each of a duration of one week; 32. Takes note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the protection of migrants,A/60/272. and calls upon Member States and all relevant stakeholders to consider the implementation of the recommendations contained therein; 33. Decides to examine the question further at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Human rights questions". RESOLUTION 60/16 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 14 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.17 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Canada, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malawi, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United States of America 60/16. Eight hundred years of Mongolian statehood The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, Reaffirming that civilizational achievements constitute the collective heritage of mankind, providing a source of inspiration and progress for humanity at large, Emphasizing the need to achieve an objective understanding of all civilizations and enhance constructive interaction and cooperative engagement among civilizations, Recognizing the richness of nomadic civilization and its important contribution to promoting dialogue and interaction among all forms of civilization, Recognizing also that nomadic civilization influenced, inter alia, societies across Asia and Europe and, in turn, absorbed influences from both East and West in a true interchange of human values, Recognizing further the important role played by a strong and persistent nomadic culture in the development of extensive trade networks and the creation of large administrative, cultural, religious and commercial centres, Mindful of the ever-increasing significance and relevance of a culture of living in harmony with nature, which is inherent in nomadic civilization, in today's world, 1. Welcomes the efforts of Member States, including Mongolia, to preserve and develop nomadic culture and traditions in modern societies; 2. Also welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Government of Mongolia to celebrate the eight hundredth anniversary of Mongolian statehood in 2006; 3. Invites Member States, the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, regional organizations and foundations, and academia, to take part actively in the events to be organized by Mongolia in celebration of this anniversary. RESOLUTION 60/170 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.3 and Corr.1, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 102 to 3, with 67 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Egypt, Rwanda, Uganda Abstaining: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen 60/170. Situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the duty to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various instruments in this field, Noting that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a party to several international and regional human rights instruments and to several instruments pertaining to international humanitarian law, Underlining the importance of elections as the foundation for the longer-term restoration of peace and stability, national reconciliation, the rule of law and lasting promotion and protection of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Recalling its previous resolutions, as well as those of the Commission on Human Rights and the Security Council, on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1. Welcomes: (a) The report of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of 29 September 2005,See A/60/395. as well as his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in August 2005; (b) The strengthened mandate of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo regarding the protection of civilians in accordance with Security Council resolution 1592 (2005) of 30 March 2005, and expresses its support for the continued work of the Mission and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (c) The work accomplished by the human rights field office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and encourages the office to pursue and enhance its cooperation with the relevant agencies of the United Nations and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the fulfilment of its mandate; (d) The measures taken in 2005 by the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to arrest and detain leaders of militia groups suspected of committing killings and other serious crimes against civilians; (e) The substantial progress made by the transitional national Government and the Independent Electoral Commission, with the welcome assistance of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, towards the holding of elections before June 2006 as specified in the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, in particular the registration of voters and the enthusiasm shown by the Congolese people to embrace a democratic future; 2. Takes note of the continuing investigation by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, based upon the referral of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, into crimes allegedly committed in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. on 1 July 2002; 3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure that consultations continue between the field office of the Office of the High Commissioner in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Secretary-General concerning the ways in which to assist the transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in tackling the problem of impunity, and looks forward to the report of the High Commissioner to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session on those consultations and on possible options for putting an end to the impunity of the perpetrators of crimes committed before 1 July 2002; 4. Condemns: (a) The ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, particularly in North Kivu and South Kivu, northern Katanga and other areas in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including armed violence and reprisals against the civilian population and the recourse to sexual violence against women and children, including in situations where such practices are being used as a weapon of war; (b) The killing of United Nations peacekeeping troops by militia groups in Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, in February 2005 and in June 2005; (c) The killing of Pascal Kabungulu Kibembi, Executive Secretary of the human rights non-governmental organization Héritiers de la Justice on 31 July 2005 and the harassment of human rights defenders across the country, but particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; (d) The continued illegal exploitation of natural resources in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and killings and other serious crimes against civilians committed by groups linked to the mining and trading of those resources, as well as the linkage between the illegal exploitation of natural resources, illicit trade in such resources and the proliferation and trafficking of arms as one of the factors fuelling and exacerbating conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 5. Urges all the parties, including non-signatories of the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on the Transition, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To respect and further implement the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement and to cease immediately any action which impedes the consolidation of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (b) To support the transitional Government and its institutions in order to allow for the re-establishment of political and economic stability and for the gradual reinforcement of State structures over the entire territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in accordance with their obligations under the transitional Constitution and as per the text of the Constitution submitted for referendum in December 2005; (c) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers, which is contrary to international law and to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,Human Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, vol. II: Regional Instruments (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.XIV.1), sect. C, No. 39. with the understanding that, under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocol thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict,Ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. and in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) of 22 April 2004 and 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on children and armed conflict, persons under the age of 18 are entitled to special protection, and to develop and implement without delay the action plans called for in Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005); (d) To take special measures to protect women and children from the appalling violence, including sexual violence, which continues to be prevalent throughout the country, in particular in the eastern part of the country, and to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice as soon as possible, and condemns in particular the widespread use of sexual violence as a means of warfare; (e) To respect international humanitarian law, in particular on the protection of civilians, and to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of all civilians and United Nations and associated personnel, and the unhindered access of humanitarian personnel to all of the affected population throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000; (f) To promote the full enjoyment of all human rights and to protect the safety, security and freedom of movement of all human rights defenders; 6. Calls upon the Government of National Unity and Transition to take specific measures: (a) To complete the objectives of the transitional period as laid down in the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement, in particular the holding of free and transparent elections at all levels within the specified timetable, enabling the establishment of a democratic constitutional regime, and the formation of a restructured and fully integrated national army, and also the formation of an integrated and adequately resourced national police force, while ensuring that government institutions, including the army and police, are trained in human rights aspects of their work; and ensuring that both light and heavy weapons are being surrendered in the disarmament process; (b) To strengthen the transitional institutions, in particular to set up effectively the Independent Electoral Commission, and to make more effective the institutions for the strengthening of democracy, namely, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Human Rights Monitoring Centre and the Haute Autorité des Médias, and to re-establish stability and the rule of law over the entire territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, thereby returning peace and progress to its people; (c) To comply fully with its obligations under international human rights instruments and, accordingly, to continue to cooperate with United Nations mechanisms for the protection of human rights and further strengthen its cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (d) To put an end to impunity and to ensure, as it is duty-bound to do, that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice in accordance with applicable international procedural standards, and to carry out urgently a comprehensive reform of the judicial and prison system; (e) To promote the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and children and to meet the special needs of women and girls in post-conflict reconstruction, as well as to ensure the full participation of women in all aspects of conflict resolution and peace processes, including peacekeeping, conflict management and peacebuilding, as a matter of priority, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security; (f) To continue to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court and with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, by ensuring that they have all necessary means with which to accomplish their tasks; (g) To continue to uphold its commitment to abolishing the death penalty and not to impose it on juvenile offenders in line with its obligations assumed under the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments; (h) To prevent the use of the media to incite hatred or tensions among communities, while respecting freedom of expression and of the press, particularly during the electoral campaign; (i) To ensure that human rights defenders are protected from abuses, threats and harassment; (j) To accelerate its programme to demobilize, disarm and reintegrate former combatants, taking into account the special needs of women and children, including girls, associated with those combatants; (k) To ensure the rights and well-being of internally displaced persons; (l) To increase its efforts to eliminate corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which contributes to a general climate of impunity, and to take steps towards the setting up of an arrangement to strengthen support for good governance and transparent economic management, with the support of the International Committee in Support of the Transition, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, international financial institutions and donors; 7. Calls upon the Governments of countries in the region, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo: (a) To contribute to preventing armed groups operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo from perpetrating killings and other serious crimes by tackling the illicit trade by those armed groups in illegally extracted natural resources as well as the linkage between the illegal exploitation of natural resources, illicit trade in such resources and the proliferation and trafficking of arms, including by preventing support for such armed groups, while fully respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (b) To work with the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to take urgent steps towards the disarmament and resettlement or repatriation of foreign armed groups, which remain a threat to regional peace and perpetrate killings and serious crimes against the civilian population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; (c) To support the transitional process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adhere fully to the Principles on Good-neighbourly Relations and Cooperation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, signed in New York on 25 September 2003,A/58/428-S/2003/983, annex. to continue to work towards the successful implementation of the Joint Verification Mechanism, to work through the Tripartite Commission Plus One and to respect the principles of the Dar es Salaam Declaration of 20 November 2004, and welcomes steps taken in this regard to date; (d) To peacefully repatriate members of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda returning to Rwanda, in accordance with the applicable norms of international law and with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to ensure the rights and well-being of returnees and refugee populations; (e) To continue to cooperate with the International Criminal Court and with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and, specifically in the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to make swift progress towards passing legislation necessary for the International Criminal Court's investigations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to proceed smoothly; 8. Urges the Secretary-General to continue his work aimed at eliminating sexual exploitation and abuse committed by personnel serving the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 9. Encourages the international community: (a) To continue to support the transitional process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its institutions and, in particular, to support the electoral process and to provide further assistance for the reform of the justice system; (b) To observe the arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of the Congo established by Security Council resolution 1493 (2003) of 28 July 2003 and expanded by Council resolution 1596 (2005) of 18 April 2005, and to enforce the sanctions measures against individuals identified by the Council in line with its resolution 1596 (2005) and its resolution 1616 (2005) of 29 July 2005; (c) To continue to exert political pressure on concerned States and members of armed groups based in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to limit their capacity for continued fund-raising, which contributes to ongoing killings and other serious crimes; 10. Decides to continue to examine the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requests the independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/171 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.3 and Corr.1, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 75 to 50, with 43 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Singapore, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia 60/171. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 59/205 of 20 December 2004, and recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/17 of 20 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting the statements made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on strengthening respect for human rights in the country and promoting the rule of law, 1. Welcomes: (a) The open invitation extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to all human rights thematic monitoring mechanisms in April 2002 and the cooperation extended to the special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights during their visits; (b) The visit of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and consequences to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 29 January to 6 February 2005; (c) The visit of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 19 to 30 July 2005; (d) The recommendation by the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to judges in December 2002 that they choose alternative punishment in cases where the sentence of stoning would otherwise be imposed; (e) The announcement by the head of the judiciary in April 2004 of the ban on torture and the subsequent passage of related legislation by the parliament, which was approved by the Guardian Council in May 2004; (f) The compliance by the Islamic Republic of Iran with its obligation, as a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. to deliver its presentation to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in January 2005; (g) The human rights dialogues between the Islamic Republic of Iran and a number of countries, while regretting that a number of these have not been held at regular intervals lately; (h) The cooperation with United Nations agencies in developing programmes in the field of human rights, good governance and the rule of law; 2. Expresses its serious concern at: (a) The continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, political opponents, religious dissenters, political reformists, journalists, parliamentarians, students, clerics, academics and webloggers, including through undue restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, opinion and expression, the use of arbitrary arrest, targeted at both individuals and their family members, and the unjustified closure of newspapers and blocking of Internet sites, as well as the absence of many conditions necessary for free and fair elections, including by the arbitrary disqualification of large numbers of prospective candidates, including all women, during the presidential elections of June 2005; (b) The persistent failure to comply fully with international standards in the administration of justice and, in particular, the absence of due process of law, the refusal to provide fair and public hearings, the denial of the right to counsel and access to counsel by those detained, the use of national security laws to deny human rights, the harassment, intimidation and persecution of defence lawyers and legal defenders, the lack of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, inter alia, with respect to persons belonging to religious, ethnic or national minorities, officially recognized or otherwise, the application of arbitrary prison sentences, and the violation of the rights of detainees, including the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary confinement, the failure to provide proper medical care to those imprisoned and the arbitrary denial of contact between detainees and their family members; (c) The continuing use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment such as flogging and amputations; (d) The continuing of public executions, including multiple public executions, and, on a large scale, other executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and, in particular, deplores the execution of persons who were under the age of 18 at the time their offence was committed, contrary to the obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and in spite of the announcement of a moratorium on juvenile executions; (e) The continuing violence and discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice, despite some minor legislative improvements, and the refusal of the Guardian Council to take steps to address this systemic discrimination, noting in this context its rejection, in August 2003, of the proposal of the elected parliament to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. (f) The continuing discrimination, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, recognized or otherwise, including Arabs, Kurds, Baluchis, Christians, Jews and Sunni Muslims, the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Baha'i, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits and recent violent crackdowns on Kurds; 3. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: (a) To ensure full respect for the rights to freedom of assembly, opinion and expression, and the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs in accordance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, in particular, to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views; (b) To ensure full respect for the right to due process of law, including the right to counsel and access to counsel by those detained, in criminal justice proceedings and, in particular, to ensure a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to end harassment, intimidation and persecution of defence lawyers and legal defenders and to ensure equality before the law and the equal protection of the law without any discrimination in all instances, including for members of religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minority groups, officially recognized or otherwise; (c) To eliminate, in law and in practice, the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, such as amputations and flogging, to end impunity for violations of human rights that constitute crimes by bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards and, as proposed by the elected Iranian parliament, to accede to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;Ibid., vol. 1465, No. 24841. (d) To abolish public executions and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, in particular, as called for by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its report of January 2005,See CRC/C/146. executions of persons who, at the time of their offence, were under the age of 18, and to uphold the moratorium on executions by stoning and to introduce this moratorium as law as a first step towards the abolition of this punishment; (e) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, and, as proposed by the elected Iranian parliament, to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; (f) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to minorities, including Arabs, Kurds, Baluchis, Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims and the Baha'i, and to address this matter in an open manner, with the full participation of the minorities themselves, to otherwise ensure full respect for the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief of all persons, and to implement the 1996 report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on religious intolerance,See E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.2. which recommended ways in which the Islamic Republic of Iran could emancipate the Baha'i community; 4. Encourages the thematic mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, inter alia, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, to visit or otherwise continue their work to improve the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate with these special mechanisms and to illustrate how their subsequent recommendations have been addressed, including recommendations of special procedures that have visited the country in the past twelve months; 5. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Human rights questions", in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights. RESOLUTION 60/172 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.3 and Corr.1, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 71 to 35, with 60 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Gambia, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia 60/172. Situation of human rights in Turkmenistan The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have the obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Recalling its resolutions 58/194 of 22 December 2003 and 59/206 of 20 December 2004, and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/11 of 16 April 2003See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2004/12 of 15 April 2004,Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting the conclusion of the first needs-assessment mission of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Turkmenistan in March 2004 and the ongoing consultations to finalize a possible technical cooperation project, Noting with appreciation that the Government of Turkmenistan has received the Chairman-in-Office and the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 20 September 2005,A/60/367. which concludes that, while the Government of Turkmenistan has made some progress in addressing human rights issues and has shown readiness to cooperate with the international community, there was a lack of overall improvement in addressing serious human rights violations, Reaffirming that improving security and the fight against terrorism should be conducted in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, and democratic principles, 1. Welcomes: (a) The fact that additional minority religious groups have been allowed to worship for the first time as a result of the removal of a legal impediment to the full realization of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, but notes that serious violations of these freedoms continue; (b) The release in April 2005 of four Jehovah's Witnesses who had made conscientious objections to undertaking military service; (c) The lifting of criminal penalties for the activities of non-registered non-governmental organizations in November 2004, while nevertheless noting that difficulties in the registration process for non-governmental organizations and private organizations continue and that other significant restrictions continue to hinder their activities; (d) The submission, within the past year, of the national report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationResolution 2106 A (XX), annex. to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as well as the reports due under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. while encouraging the Government of Turkmenistan to comply with its outstanding reporting obligations to the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Committee against Torture; (e) The demonstrated readiness of the Government of Turkmenistan to discuss human rights matters with interested third parties on an ad hoc basis and to agree on the desirability of continuing dialogue and practical cooperation; (f) The statements made by the President of Turkmenistan in April 2005 on democratic reforms, and urges that those reforms be truly democratic, in line with established international norms; (g) The accession by Turkmenistan to the following United Nations protocols and conventions, and urges the Government of Turkmenistan to implement its obligations under these instruments: (i) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict;Ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. (ii) The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography;Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. (iii) The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and its Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air;Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III. (h) The public statements of the President of Turkmenistan recommending the abolition of the practice of removing children from school for the cotton harvest and reprimanding a local governor for the use of child labour in the fields, as well as a law passed on 1 February 2005 prohibiting the employment of minors under the age of 15 and stipulating that no form of child labour should interfere with a child's education, and calls upon the Government of Turkmenistan to ensure that the law is fully implemented; (i) The decision of the Government of Turkmenistan to grant citizenship or permanent resident status to more than sixteen thousand refugees, including a significant number of Tajik refugees, who had fled Tajikistan between 1992 and 1999 and whose naturalization under the Turkmen Nationality Law had been advocated for many years by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; (j) The abolition of exit visas as a requirement for leaving the country; 2. Expresses its grave concern at the continuing and serious human rights violations occurring in Turkmenistan, in particular: (a) The persistence of a governmental policy based on the repression of all political opposition activities; (b) The continuing abuse of the legal system through arbitrary detentions, imprisonment and surveillance of persons who try to exercise their freedom of expression, assembly and association, and harassment of their families; (c) The poor conditions in prisons in Turkmenistan and credible reports of ongoing torture and mistreatment of detainees; (d) The failure of the Government of Turkmenistan to grant access to detainees to the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to the usual terms of the Committee, as well as to international monitors; (e) The complete control of the media by the Government of Turkmenistan, its censorship of all newspapers and access to the Internet and intolerance of independent criticism of government policy, as well as further restrictions on the freedom of expression and opinion, including shutting down of the last remaining Russian-language radio station, Radio Mayak, even if satellite television is permitted and widely used, harassing of local correspondents and collaborators of Radio Liberty and prohibition of all contact between local journalists and foreigners without the express consent of the Government; (f) Continuing restrictions on the exercise of the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including the use of registration procedures as a means to limit the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion of members of certain religious communities; (g) Continuing discrimination by the Government of Turkmenistan against ethnic Russian, Uzbek and other minorities, inter alia, in the fields of education and employment and access to media, despite assurances by the Government that it will stop this discrimination, taking note in this regard of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of August 2005;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/60/18), chap. III. (h) Forced displacement of its citizens, including a disproportionate displacement of ethnic minorities; (i) Continuing restrictions on the exercise of the right of peaceful assembly, including increased constraints faced by civil society organizations, such as the slow progress in the registration of non-governmental organizations under the procedures set out in the law of 2003 on public associations; (j) The continuing failure of the Government of Turkmenistan to respond to the criticisms identified in the report of the Rapporteur of the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe with regard to the investigation, trial and detention procedures following the reported assassination attempt against the President of Turkmenistan in November 2002, as well as the failure of the Turkmen authorities to allow appropriate independent bodies, family members and lawyers access to those convicted, or to provide any kind of evidence to dispel rumours that some of those convicted have died in detention; (k) Arbitrary or unlawful interference with individuals' privacy, family, home or correspondence and violations of the freedom to leave one's country; (l) Reported instances of hate speech against national and ethnic minorities, including statements attributed to high-ranking government officials and public figures supporting an approach to Turkmen ethnic purity, as noted in the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of August 2005; 3. Urges the Government of Turkmenistan: (a) To ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard, to implement fully the measures set out in General Assembly resolutions 58/194 and 59/206 and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/11 and 2004/12; (b) To work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with regard to the areas of concern and to cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular to consider favourably requests made by a number of special rapporteurs of the Commission to visit the country, as recalled in the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/367. and with all the relevant United Nations treaty bodies; (c) To implement fully the recommendations outlined in the report of the Rapporteur of the Moscow Mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and to work constructively with the various institutions of the Organization, and to facilitate further visits of the Organization's Chairman-in-Office as well as his Personal Envoy for participating States in Central Asia, and of the Organization's High Commissioner on National Minorities; (d) To follow through on the presentation of the Government of Turkmenistan to the Commission on Human Rights in April 2004 and the meetings of the Government of Turkmenistan with the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2005 by finalizing an agreement allowing the Committee to visit Turkmen prisons with full and repeated access to all places of detention in accordance with the usual modalities for that organization, and by providing international monitors, lawyers and relatives with full and repeated access to all those in detention, including those convicted of involvement in the coup attempt of 25 November 2002; (e) To respect the right of everyone to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, whether a member of a religious group or not, and to cease the harassment, detention and persecution of members of religious minorities, whether registered or unregistered; (f) To bring laws and practices governing registration of public associations, including non-governmental organizations, into line with the standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and to enable non-governmental organizations, particularly human rights organizations, and other civil society actors, including independent media, to carry out their activities without hindrance; (g) To submit reports to the United Nations treaty bodies to which it has assumed a reporting obligation and to give due regard to the recommendations and concluding observations of those treaty bodies, the most recent being the recommendations and concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; (h) To fulfil its responsibility to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are brought to justice; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/173 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.3 and Corr.1, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 88 to 21, with 60 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Belarus, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia 60/173. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea The General Assembly, Reaffirming that States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments, Mindful that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/10 of 16 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/13 of 15 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/11 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling in particular that, in its resolution 2005/11, the Commission on Human Rights urged the General Assembly to take up the question of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea if the Government did not extend cooperation to the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and if no improvement of the situation of human rights in the country was observed, Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/60/306. 1. Expresses its serious concern at: (a) The refusal of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to recognize the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or to extend cooperation to him; (b) Continuing reports of systemic, widespread and grave violations of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including: (i) Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, public executions, extrajudicial and arbitrary detention, the absence of due process and the rule of law, the imposition of the death penalty for political reasons, the existence of a large number of prison camps and the extensive use of forced labour; (ii) Sanctions imposed on citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea who have been repatriated from abroad, such as treating their departure as treason, leading to punishments of internment, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or the death penalty; (iii) All-pervasive and severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, and on equal access to information and limitations imposed on every person who wishes to move freely within the country and travel abroad; (iv) Continuing violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, in particular the trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution or forced marriage, forced abortions, and infanticide of children of repatriated mothers, including in police detention centres and camps; (v) Unresolved questions relating to the abduction of foreigners in the form of an enforced disappearance; 2. Expresses its concern that the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has not engaged in technical cooperation activities with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office, despite efforts by the High Commissioner to engage in a dialogue with the authorities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in this regard; 3. Expresses its deep concern at the precarious humanitarian situation in the country, in particular the prevalence of infant malnutrition, which still affects the physical and mental development of a significant proportion of children; 4. Urges the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in this regard, to ensure that humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations and United Nations organizations, in particular the World Food Programme, have full, free, safe and unimpeded access to all parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea so that they may ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered impartially on the basis of need in accordance with humanitarian principles, this concern having been aggravated by the announcement by the authorities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of their intention not to accept humanitarian assistance from January 2006; 5. Also urges the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard, to implement fully the measures set out in the above-mentioned resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular full cooperation with the Special Rapporteur. RESOLUTION 60/174 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.3 and Corr.1, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. by a recorded vote of 74 to 39, with 56 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu Against: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia 60/174. Situation of human rights in Uzbekistan The General Assembly, Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the duty to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that Uzbekistan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Deeply concerned by the events that occurred in Andijan in May 2005 and the subsequent response of the Uzbek authorities, 1. Welcomes: (a) The high-level talks of the Government of Uzbekistan with the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and with the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, and hopes that a real, constructive dialogue on human rights issues will be held soon; (b) The steps, albeit limited, taken to date to implement the National Action Plan on Torture and the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including the definition of torture by the Supreme Court in accordance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. and the amendment of the Criminal Code to include torture as a punishable crime; (c) The statement made by the President of Uzbekistan on 28 January 2005 in which he expressed, inter alia, the intention to provide for true independence of the judiciary, and calls upon the Government of Uzbekistan to take steps to allow for its practical independence, as outlined by the President; (d) The decree of the President of Uzbekistan on 1 August 2005 that the death penalty shall be abolished in Uzbekistan as from 1 January 2008;A/59/890, annex. 2. Expresses its grave concern at the continuing and serious human rights violations occurring in Uzbekistan, in particular: (a) Eyewitness reports of indiscriminate and disproportionate force used by government troops to quell demonstrations in Andijan in May 2005 resulting in the death of many civilians; (b) The pressure applied to prevent citizens of Uzbekistan with refugee status granted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from travelling to a third country; (c) Reports of arbitrary arrest and detention, including of eyewitnesses to the events in Andijan; (d) Prevention of the functioning of independent media and the intolerance of any form of dissent expressed therein, and increasing restrictions on freedom of expression, particularly harassment, beatings, arrests and threats made against journalists and civil society activists attempting to document and publicize information on the events in Andijan; (e) Continuing refusal to permit the registration of opposition political parties, and their consequent inability to participate in the electoral process; (f) A continuing pattern of discrimination, harassment and prosecution with regard to the exercise of freedom of thought, conscience and religion; (g) Serious constraints on, and harassment and detention of, the members of non-governmental organizations and civil society, including human rights defenders; 3. Deeply regrets the decision of the Government of Uzbekistan to reject both the repeated calls of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into the events that occurred in Andijan on 13 May 2005 and the request of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to visit Uzbekistan soon afterwards; 4. Strongly calls upon the Government of Uzbekistan: (a) To implement fully without any delay the recommendations contained in the report of the mission of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Kyrgyzstan from 13 to 21 June 2005,E/CN.4/2006/119. most notably with respect to granting permission for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into the events in Andijan; (b) To accede to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and its 1967 Protocol;Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. (c) To put an end to the harassment and detention of eyewitnesses to the events in Andijan; (d) To ensure readily accessible and fair trials; (e) To ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard, to implement fully the recommendations of the independent expert on the situation of human rights in Uzbekistan appointed under the confidential 1503 procedure at the sixtieth session of the Commission on Human Rights and to extend full cooperation to the newly appointed independent expert; (f) To permit the full freedom of practising religion; (g) To implement fully the recommendations contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture on his visit to Uzbekistan from 24 November to 6 December 2002;E/CN.4/2003/68/Add.2, annex. (h) To work closely with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with regard to the areas of concern and to cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights and all the relevant United Nations treaty bodies; (i) To allow the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross unimpeded access to persons detained, in accordance with its working procedures; (j) To implement fully the commitments undertaken within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and to cooperate with the institutions of the Organization; (k) To register independent opposition political parties and allow them to participate in the electoral process; (l) To lift restrictions on the activities of civil society, including non-governmental organizations; (m) To protect journalists, including those who write articles opposing government policy, in line with past appeals by the President for journalists to be more critical, and the functioning of independent media outlets, including, as the case may be, licensing and accreditation; (n) To take legislative, judicial, administrative and other appropriate measures to actively protect human rights defenders against any violence, threats and other forms of harassment, and to withdraw all measures that restrict their freedom of action, assembly and speech or that hinder them in carrying out their legitimate activities according to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;Resolution 53/144, annex. (o) To place no restrictions on diplomats and representatives of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international bodies in respect of their travel to Uzbekistan; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/175 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/510 and Corr.1, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Zambia. 60/175. Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action annexed to that resolution, Recalling also its resolution 59/159 of 20 December 2004 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, Bearing in mind the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. as well as the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first CenturyResolution 55/59, annex. and its plans of action,Resolution 56/261, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to combat transnational crime, undertaken by Heads of State and Government during the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly, held in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005,See resolution 60/1. Emphasizing the role of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality, more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice, respect for human rights and the rule of law and promotion of the highest standards of fairness, humanity and professional conduct, Recognizing that action against global crime is a common and shared responsibility, and stressing the need to work collectively to combat transnational crime, Convinced of the need for closer coordination and cooperation among States in combating crime in all its forms and manifestations, including criminal activities carried out for the purpose of furthering terrorism, inter alia, through the development by the General Assembly of a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy, and bearing in mind the role that is played by both the United Nations and regional organizations in this respect, Reaffirming, according to its resolution 60/177 of 16 December 2005, the commitment of the Member States to implement the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, adopted at the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Bangkok from 18 to 25 April 2005, Recognizing existing efforts at the regional level that complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in combating corruption, the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, especially women and children, noting in this context the ongoing work of the Bali and Puebla Processes,Including the ninth meeting of the Regional Conference on Migration, held in Panama City on 20 and 21 May 2004 as part of the Puebla Process, and the Senior Officials' Meeting of the Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, held in Brisbane, Australia, on 7 and 8 June 2004 as part of the Bali Process. and recalling the major United Nations conferences and the pledge to encourage and support frameworks initiated at the regional level, such as the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. and similar efforts in other regions, Welcoming the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. which was opened for signature in Merida, Mexico, in December 2003, Bearing in mind all its relevant resolutions, in particular those related to the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation and technical assistance in promoting and facilitating the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretoResolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, as well as the universal instruments against terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism adopted by the General Assembly on 13 April 2005,Resolution 59/290, annex. Bearing in mind also all relevant Economic and Social Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 2005/14, 2005/15, 2005/16, 2005/17, 2005/18 and 2005/19 of 22 July 2005 and all those relating to the strengthening of international cooperation as well as the technical assistance and advisory services of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, promotion and reinforcement of the rule of law and reform of criminal justice institutions, including in the context of post-conflict reconstruction, and on the implementation of technical assistance in Africa, Acknowledging the role of United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and their development, as reflected in Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/28 of 21 July 2004, Aware of the continued increase in requests for technical assistance forwarded to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by least developed countries, developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including in the context of post-conflict reconstruction, and recognizing the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the Office between all priorities identified by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, Expressing its appreciation for the resources provided by certain Member States, which in recent years have permitted the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant bodies to enhance their capacity to execute an increased number of projects in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 59/159;A/60/131. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, in responding to the needs of the international community in the face of both national and transnational criminality and in assisting Member States in achieving the goals of preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime; 3. Reiterates its appreciation of the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to coordinate international cooperation efforts, and requests that a gender perspective continue to be integrated into all programmes and activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 4. Reaffirms the importance of the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the fulfilment of its mandate in crime prevention and criminal justice, including coordinating with and complementing the work of all relevant and competent United Nations bodies, including the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (the Counter-Terrorism Committee) and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate; 5. Also reaffirms the role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in providing to Member States, upon request and as a matter of high priority, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in the areas of prevention and control of transnational organized crime, trafficking in human beings, in all its aspects, smuggling of migrants and corruption, as well as in the area of reconstruction of national criminal justice systems, and stresses the need to enhance, in accordance with its existing mandates, its operational activities to assist, in particular, least developed countries, developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including in the context of post-conflict reconstruction; 6. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to continue its efforts to provide Member States with technical assistance, upon request, to strengthen international cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism through the facilitation of the ratification and implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,Resolution 59/290, annex. in particular through training in the judicial and prosecutorial fields in their proper implementation, taking into account, in its programmes, the elements necessary for building national capacity in order to strengthen fair and effective criminal justice systems and the rule of law as an integral component of any strategy to counter terrorism; 7. Expresses its grave concern at the negative effects of transnational crime, including trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and trafficking in illicit drugs, on development, peace and security and human rights, and at the increasing vulnerability of States to such crime; 8. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the global programmes addressing trafficking in human beings, including support and protection of victims, corruption, organized crime, money-laundering and terrorism, and calls upon the Secretary-General to enhance further the effectiveness of these programmes and to strengthen the focus of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on these priority programmes in crime prevention and criminal justice; 9. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandates, in conformity with its high priorities; 10. Invites all States to increase their support to the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund or through voluntary contributions in direct support of such activities, including for the provision of technical assistance for the implementation of the plans of action of the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice: Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first CenturyResolution 56/261, annex. as well as of the commitments undertaken at the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the measures outlined in the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice;Resolution 60/177, annex. 11. Also invites all States to support, through voluntary contributions, the activities carried out by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant bodies; 12. Urges States and relevant international organizations to develop national, regional and international strategies and other necessary measures to complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in addressing effectively transnational organized crime, including trafficking in persons and related criminal activities such as kidnapping and the smuggling of migrants, as well as corruption and terrorism; 13. Urges States and funding agencies to review, as appropriate, their funding policies for development assistance and to include a crime prevention and criminal justice component in such assistance; 14. Encourages relevant entities of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and invites the international financial institutions, in particular the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and regional and national funding agencies to further increase their support to and their interaction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in order to benefit from synergies and avoid duplication of effort, and to ensure that, as appropriate, activities on crime prevention and criminal justice, including activities related to the prevention of corruption and the promotion of the rule of law are considered in their sustainable development agenda and that the expertise of the Office is fully utilized; 15. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to exercise more vigorously its mandated function of resource mobilization, and calls upon the Commission to strengthen further its activities in this direction; 16. Also welcomes the outcome of the round-table meeting on the theme "Crime and drugs as impediments to security and development in Africa", hosted by the Government of Nigeria in Abuja on 5 and 6 September 2005, pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2004/32 of 21 July 2004, in the form of a comprehensive programme of action, 2006-2010, to strengthen the rule of law and the criminal justice systems in Africa,Available from www.unodc.org/art/en/ppaa.html. in which all African States, regional and subregional institutions, financial institutions and development partners are invited to integrate the issues of crime and drugs into their development strategies and into official development assistance for Africa; 17. Expresses its appreciation to non-governmental organizations and other relevant sectors of civil society for their support to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with adequate resources to enable it to promote in an effective manner and, as appropriate, under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the implementation of the Convention and the Protocols theretoResolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. and to discharge its functions as the secretariat of the said Conference of the Parties, in accordance with its mandate, and also requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the General Assembly the reports of the said Conference of the Parties; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to provide adequate support to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the principal policymaking body in this field, in performing its activities, including cooperation and coordination with the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network and other relevant bodies; 20. Urges all States and competent regional economic integration organizations that have not yet done so to sign, ratify or accede to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and the Protocols thereto, as well as the United Nations Convention against CorruptionResolution 58/4, annex. and the international conventions and protocols related to terrorism, including the newly adopted International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; 21. Welcomes the voluntary contributions already made, and encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto, through the United Nations funding mechanism specifically designed for that purpose in the Convention or in direct support of implementation activities and initiatives; 22. Encourages Member States to take into account the Model Bilateral Agreement on the Sharing of Confiscated Proceeds of Crime or Property annexed to Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/14 of 22 July 2005, as a useful model for those States interested in negotiating and concluding bilateral agreements to facilitate the sharing of proceeds of crime, resulting in greater international cooperation in that area, such cooperation being one of the principal objectives of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; 23. Encourages States to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions for the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which entered into force on 14 December 2005, through the Global Programme against Corruption of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime or in direct support of implementation activities and initiatives; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/176 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/510 and Corr.1, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Namibia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 60/176. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/158 of 20 December 2004 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/123. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 4. Urges the States members of the Institute to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 5. Calls upon all Member States and non-governmental organizations to adopt concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and to implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to work closely with the Institute; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to make concrete proposals, including the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/177 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/510 and Corr.1, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/177. Follow-up to the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, in which it emphasized that the United Nations system had an important responsibility to assist Governments to stay fully engaged in the follow-up to and implementation of agreements and commitments reached at the major United Nations conferences and summits and invited its intergovernmental bodies to further promote the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, Recalling also its resolution 59/151 of 20 December 2004, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure proper follow-up to the resolution and to report thereon, through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session, Having considered the report of the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticeEleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Bangkok, 18-25 April 2005: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.IV.7). and the related recommendations made by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 10 (E/2005/30). Bearing in mind its resolution 60/175 of 16 December 2005 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, and the role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the implementation of the measures outlined in the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, 1. Endorses the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as contained in the annex to the present resolution, which was adopted by the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and approved by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session and subsequently by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2005/15 of 22 July 2005; 2. Invites Governments to implement the Bangkok Declaration and the recommendations adopted by the Eleventh Congress in formulating legislation and policy directives, taking into account the economic, social, legal and cultural specificities of their respective States; 3. Reaffirms the readiness of Member States, in a spirit of common and shared responsibility, as acknowledged in the Bangkok Declaration, to seek to improve international cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism, at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels, in areas including, among others, extradition and mutual legal assistance; 4. Invites Member States to identify areas covered in the Bangkok Declaration in which further tools and training manuals based on international standards and best practices are needed, and to submit that information to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice so that it may take it into account when considering potential areas of future activity by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to distribute the report of the Eleventh Congress,Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Bangkok, 18-25 April 2005: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.IV.7). including the Bangkok Declaration, to Member States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, so as to ensure that its recommendations are disseminated as widely as possible, and to seek proposals by Member States for ways and means of ensuring appropriate follow-up to the Bangkok Declaration for consideration and action by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fifteenth session; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, including a chapter on the Bangkok Declaration, the recommendations adopted by the Eleventh Congress and the implementation of the present resolution. Annex REPHRASED Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice We, the States Members of the United Nations, Having assembled at the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Bangkok from 18 to 25 April 2005, to decide to take more effective concerted action, in a spirit of cooperation, to combat crime and seek justice, Convinced that the United Nations congresses on crime prevention and criminal justice, which constitute a major intergovernmental forum, have contributed to national policies and practices by facilitating the exchange of views and experience, mobilizing public opinion and recommending policy options at the national, regional and international levels, thus making a significant contribution to progress and the promotion of international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, Recalling the work of the ten previous United Nations congresses, Reaffirming the responsibility vested in the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme to work, together with Member States and regional and international organizations, in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice, Greatly concerned by the expansion and dimensions of transnational organized crime, including illicit drug trafficking, money-laundering, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, illegal arms trafficking and terrorism, and any existing links among them, and by the increasing sophistication and diversification of the activities of organized criminal groups, Emphasizing that enhancing dialogue among civilizations, promoting tolerance, preventing the indiscriminate targeting of different religions and cultures and addressing development issues and unresolved conflicts will contribute to international cooperation, which is among the most important elements to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and reaffirming that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstance, Reaffirming that States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all of their obligations under international law and that they should adopt such measures in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Alarmed by the rapid growth, geographical extent and effects of new economic and financial crimes, which have emerged as significant threats to national economies and the international financial system, Highlighting the need for an integrated and systemic approach to combating corruption and money-laundering, within existing frameworks and instruments, in particular those under the aegis of the United Nations, since those crimes can be conducive to the perpetration of other criminal activities, Noting with appreciation the work of the regional preparatory meetings for the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,A/CONF.203/RPM.1/1, A/CONF.203/RPM.2/1, A/CONF.203/RPM.3/1 and Corr.1 and A/CONF.203/RPM.4/1. Declare as follows: 1. We proclaim our political will and commitment to achieve the aspirations and objectives as set out in the present Declaration. 2. We reaffirm our continued support for and commitment to the United Nations and to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, especially the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute and the institutes of the Programme network, and resolve to strengthen the Programme further through sustained funding, as appropriate. 3. In a spirit of common and shared responsibility, we reaffirm our readiness to seek to improve international cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism, at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels, in areas including, among others, extradition and mutual legal assistance. We seek to ensure our national capacity and, where appropriate, the coherence of our international capacity, through the United Nations and other relevant global and regional organizations, to engage in international cooperation, in particular in the prevention, investigation, prosecution and adjudication of transnational organized crime and terrorism and in the discovery of any existing links among them. 4. We welcome the entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and two of its Protocols.Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III. We call upon all States that have not yet done so to seek to ratify or accede to and implement the provisions of that Convention and its Protocols, as well as the provisions of the United Nations Convention against CorruptionResolution 58/4, annex. and the international instruments against terrorism. In implementing the provisions of those instruments, we commit ourselves to full compliance with our obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law. We support every effort to facilitate the implementation of those instruments. 5. We call upon donor States and financial institutions to continue to make adequate voluntary contributions on a regular basis for the provision of technical assistance to developing countries and to countries with economies in transition, in order to help build their capacity to prevent and tackle crime in all its forms and apply the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice and, in particular, to facilitate their becoming parties to and implementing the international instruments against terrorism and the relevant international instruments against crime, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto, the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the international drug control conventions. 6. We support a more integrated approach within the United Nations in relation to the provision of assistance for building capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, and in cooperation in criminal matters of a transnational character, as a contribution to the establishment and strengthening of the rule of law. 7. We seek to improve our responses to crime and terrorism nationally and internationally, inter alia, by collecting and sharing information on crime and terrorism and on effective countermeasures, in accordance with national legislation. We welcome the important work done by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network in the area of trends in crime and justice. 8. We are convinced that upholding the rule of law and good governance and proper management of public affairs and public property at the local, national and international levels are prerequisites for creating and sustaining an environment for successfully preventing and combating crime. We are committed to the development and maintenance of fair and efficient criminal justice institutions, including the humane treatment of all those in pretrial and correctional facilities, in accordance with applicable international standards. 9. We recognize the role of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in contributing to the prevention of and the fight against crime and terrorism. We encourage the adoption of measures to strengthen this role within the rule of law. 10. We recognize that comprehensive and effective crime prevention strategies can significantly reduce crime and victimization. We urge that such strategies address the root causes and risk factors of crime and victimization and that they be further developed and implemented at the local, national and international levels, taking into account, inter alia, the Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime.Economic and Social Council resolution 2002/13, annex. 11. We note that countries emerging from conflict are particularly vulnerable to crime, in particular organized crime and corruption, and therefore recommend that Member States, regional organizations and international entities such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in coordination with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat and other relevant entities, provide more effective responses to these problems, in order to re-establish, strengthen or sustain the rule of law and deliver justice in post-conflict situations. 12. With regard to the increased involvement of organized criminal groups in the theft of and trafficking in cultural property and illicit trafficking in protected species of wild flora and fauna, we recognize the importance of combating these forms of crime and, bearing in mind the relevant international legal instruments, such as the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 823, No. 11806. the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and FloraIbid., vol. 993, No. 14537. and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. we call upon Member States to take effective measures to strengthen international cooperation. 13. We note with concern the rise in kidnapping and trafficking in persons, which constitute serious, profitable and inhumane forms of organized crime, often committed with the objective of funding criminal organizations and, in some cases, terrorist activities, and hence recommend that measures be devised to combat these crimes and that attention be given to the creation of practical mechanisms for countering them. We recognize the need to implement measures intended to provide adequate assistance and protection to victims of kidnapping and trafficking in persons and their families. 14. Mindful of General Assembly resolution 59/156 of 20 December 2004 on preventing, combating and punishing trafficking in human organs, we note the serious concerns raised about the illicit removal of and trafficking in human organs and will examine with interest the report of the Secretary-General requested in that resolution. 15. We reaffirm the fundamental importance of the implementation of existing instruments and the further development of national measures and international cooperation in relation to criminal matters, such as consideration of strengthening and augmenting measures, in particular against cybercrime, money-laundering and trafficking in cultural property, as well as extradition, mutual legal assistance and the confiscation, recovery and return of proceeds of crime. 16. We note that, in the current period of globalization, information technology and the rapid development of new telecommunication and computer network systems have been accompanied by the abuse of those technologies for criminal purposes. We therefore welcome efforts to enhance and supplement existing cooperation to prevent, investigate and prosecute high-technology and computer-related crime, including through the development of partnerships with the private sector. We recognize the important contribution of the United Nations to regional and other international forums in the fight against cybercrime and invite the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, taking into account that experience, to examine the feasibility of providing further assistance in that area under the aegis of the United Nations, in partnership with other similarly focused organizations. 17. We recognize the importance of giving special attention to the need to protect witnesses and victims of crime and terrorism, and we commit ourselves to strengthening, where needed, the legal and financial framework for providing support to such victims, taking into account, inter alia, the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.Resolution 40/34, annex. 18. We call upon Member States to take steps, in accordance with their domestic laws, to promote access to justice, to consider the provision of legal aid to those who need it and to enable the effective assertion of their rights in the criminal justice system. 19. We note with concern the problem of trafficking in illicit drugs and the serious socio-economic consequences it entails, and therefore call for the strengthening of international cooperation in combating that form of organized crime. 20. We will strengthen international cooperation in order to create an environment that is conducive to the fight against crime, including by promoting growth and sustainable development and eradicating poverty and unemployment by means of effective and balanced development strategies and crime prevention policies. 21. We call upon States that have not yet done so to become parties to and implement the universal instruments against terrorism. In order to enhance the capacity of States to become parties to and implement those instruments and to comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions against terrorism, we express our support for the continuing efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, within its mandate and in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate of the Security Council, to assist States in their efforts to ratify and implement those instruments, through the provision of technical assistance upon request. This might include assistance to criminal justice systems to facilitate the effective implementation of those instruments. 22. We express the hope that the ongoing negotiation of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism will be concluded as soon as possible. In this context, we recognize that arriving at a possible definition of terrorism is one of the key issues to be resolved. We call upon Member States to consider signing and ratifying the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.Resolution 59/290, annex. 23. We are convinced that the expeditious entry into force and subsequent implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption are central to the efforts made at the international level to fight corruption and therefore accord high priority to supporting efforts to that end and call upon all States that have not yet done so to seek to sign, ratify or accede to the Convention. 24. We are also convinced that the proper management of public affairs and public property and the rule of law are essential to the prevention and control of corruption, including, inter alia, through effective measures for its investigation and prosecution. Furthermore, we recognize that, in order to curb corruption, it is necessary to promote a culture of integrity and accountability in both the public and the private sector. 25. We are convinced that asset recovery is one of the essential components of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and, for that reason, we emphasize the need to adopt measures to facilitate asset recovery that are consistent with the principles of that Convention. 26. We are conscious of the challenge of investigating and prosecuting complex cases involving economic and financial crimes, including money-laundering. We call upon Member States to strengthen policies, measures and institutions for national action and international cooperation in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes, including money-laundering, and such crimes conducted by means of, or facilitated by, information technologies, in particular in connection with the financing of terrorism and trafficking in illicit drugs. 27. We are conscious of the crucial importance of tackling document and identity fraud in order to curb organized crime and terrorism. We seek to improve international cooperation, including through technical assistance, to combat document and identity fraud, in particular the fraudulent use of travel documents, through improved security measures, and encourage the adoption of appropriate national legislation. 28. We recommend that voluntary contributions and appropriate technical assistance be made available to developing countries to strengthen their capacity in order to support their efforts to fight effectively economic and financial crimes. 29. As appropriate, we endeavour to use and apply the United Nations standards and norms in our national programmes for crime prevention and criminal justice reform and to undertake, as needed, efforts to ensure their wider dissemination. We endeavour to facilitate appropriate training for law enforcement officials, including prison officials, prosecutors, the judiciary and other relevant professional groups, taking into account those norms and standards and best practices at the international level. 30. We recommend that the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice give consideration to reviewing the adequacy of standards and norms in relation to prison management and prisoners. 31. We note with concern that the physical and social conditions associated with imprisonment may facilitate the spread of HIV/AIDS in pretrial and correctional facilities and thus in society, thereby presenting a critical prison management problem; we call upon States to develop and adopt measures and guidelines, where appropriate and in accordance with national legislation, to ensure that the particular problems of HIV/AIDS are adequately addressed in such facilities. 32. To promote the interests of victims and the rehabilitation of offenders, we recognize the importance of further developing restorative justice policies, procedures and programmes that include alternatives to prosecution, thereby avoiding possible adverse effects of imprisonment, helping to decrease the caseload of criminal courts and promoting the incorporation of restorative justice approaches into criminal justice systems, as appropriate. 33. We affirm our determination to pay particular attention to juvenile justice. We will consider ways to ensure the provision of services to children who are victims of crime and children in conflict with the law, in particular those deprived of their liberty, and to ensure that those services take into account their gender, social circumstances and developmental needs and the relevant United Nations standards and norms, as appropriate. 34. We stress the need to consider measures to prevent the expansion of urban crime, including by improving international cooperation and capacity-building for law enforcement and the judiciary in that area and by promoting the involvement of local authorities and civil society. 35. We express our profound gratitude to the people and the Government of Thailand for their warm and generous hospitality towards the participants and for the excellent facilities provided for the Eleventh Congress. RESOLUTION 60/178 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/511, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/178. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. its resolution 59/163 of 20 December 2004 and its other previous resolutions, Welcoming the unwavering determination and commitment of Heads of State and Government gathered at the 2005 World Summit, held in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005, as set out in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. to overcome the world drug problem through international cooperation and national strategies to eliminate both the illicit supply of and demand for illicit drugs, and taking note of the resolve they expressed to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, within its existing mandates, to provide assistance to States in those tasks upon request, Reaffirming the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special sessionResolution S-20/2, annex. and the importance of meeting the objectives targeted for 2008, the joint ministerial statement adopted at the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C; see also A/58/124, sect. II.A. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development,Resolution S-20/4 E. Aware that significant progress continues to be made by Member States in meeting the goals set for 2008 at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, as reflected in the biennial reports of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,E/CN.7/2001/2 and Add.1-3, E/CN.7/2001/16 and E/CN.7/2003/2 and Add.1-6. taking note of the fact that the third biennial reportE/CN.7/2005/2 and Add.1-6. drew attention to areas requiring further efforts by the international community, and recognizing that the drug problem is still a global challenge that constitutes a serious threat to public health and safety and the well-being of humankind, in particular children and young people, and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development, including efforts to reduce poverty, and is linked to violence and crime, including in urban areas, Concerned by the serious challenges and threats posed by the continuing links between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism and other national and transnational criminal activities, inter alia, trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, money-laundering, corruption, trafficking in arms and trafficking in chemical precursors, and reaffirming that strong and effective international cooperation is needed to counter these threats, Concerned also that risk-taking behaviour, which can be increased by continued drug use, including injecting drug use and sharing of needles, is a significant route for the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, Acknowledging that community capacity-building is an essential component of effective drug policies and programmes, Taking note of the adoption on 16 December 2005 of its resolution 60/179 entitled "Providing support to Afghanistan with a view to ensuring effective implementation of its Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan", welcoming the ongoing efforts of Afghanistan in the fight against drug trafficking, and calling upon the Government of Afghanistan to intensify those efforts, Bearing in mind that international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, and expressing its appreciation for the initiatives in this regard, I Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and other provisions of international law in countering the world drug problem 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility that must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requires an integrated and balanced approach and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and other provisions of international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 2. Urges all States to ratify or accede to, and States parties to implement all the provisions of, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988;Ibid., vol. 1582, No. 27627. 3. Invites all States, as a matter of priority, to sign, ratify or accede to, and States parties to fully implement, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretoResolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. and the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. in order to counter comprehensively the transnational criminal activities that are related to illicit drug trafficking; II International cooperation to counter the world drug problem and follow-up to the twentieth special session 1. Emphasizes that the world drug problem must be addressed in multilateral, regional, bilateral and national settings and that, in order to succeed, action to counter it has to involve all Member States, that action must be supported by strong international and development cooperation and must be further included in national development priorities, and that it requires a balance between supply reduction and demand reduction, as well as a comprehensive strategy that combines alternative development, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, eradication, interdiction, law enforcement, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation as well as education; 2. Calls upon all States to strengthen their efforts in the fight against the world drug problem, in order to achieve the objectives targeted for 2008 in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,Resolution S-20/2, annex. and calls upon all relevant actors to promote and implement the outcome of the special session, as well as the outcome of the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C; see also A/58/124, sect. II.A. 3. Urges Member States to fulfil their reporting obligations on the follow-up action to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem and to report fully on all measures agreed upon at the special session; 4. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the round-table meeting on the theme "Crime and drugs as impediments to security and development in Africa", held in Abuja on 5 and 6 September 2005, in the form of a comprehensive programme of action, 2006-2010;Available from www.unodc.org/art/en/ppaa.html. Data collection and research 5. Stresses that data collection, analysis and evaluation of the results of ongoing national and international policies are essential tools for further developing sound, evidence-based drug control strategies, and therefore encourages Member States to further develop and institutionalize monitoring and evaluation tools and to utilize existing available data to exchange and share information at all levels; 6. Calls upon Member States to consider providing additional reporting and analysis on women-specific data relating to the use of illicit substances and access to appropriate treatment services; Community capacity-building 7. Encourages all States to support community capacity-building through the development and dissemination of information on drug abuse trends and to provide training and encourage the formation of community networks at all levels, with a view to drawing on best practices and sharing experience; Demand reduction 8. Urges all Member States to implement the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs in their population, in particular among children and young people; 9. Calls upon States and organizations with expertise in community capacity-building to provide, as needed, access to treatment, health care and social services for drug users, in particular those living with HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, and to extend support to States requiring such expertise, consistent with the international drug control treaties; 10. Urges States, in order to achieve a significant and measurable reduction of drug abuse by 2008: (a) To further implement comprehensive demand reduction policies and programmes, including research, covering all the drugs under international control, in order to raise public awareness of the drug problem, paying special attention to prevention and education and providing, especially to young people and others at risk, information on developing life skills, making healthy choices and engaging in drug-free activities; (b) To further develop and implement comprehensive demand reduction policies, including risk reduction activities, under the supervision of competent health authorities, that are in line with sound medical practice and the international drug control treaties and that reduce the adverse health and social consequences of drug abuse, and to provide a wide range of comprehensive services for the treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug abusers, with appropriate resources being devoted to such services, since social exclusion constitutes an important risk factor for drug abuse; (c) To enhance early intervention programmes that dissuade children and young people from using illicit drugs, including, inter alia, polydrug use and the recreational use of substances such as cannabis and synthetic drugs, especially amphetamine-type stimulants, and to encourage the active participation of the younger generation and their families in campaigns against drug abuse; (d) To consider strengthening and implementing broadly based prevention and treatment programmes and to ensure that such programmes adequately address the gender-specific barriers that limit access for young girls and women, taking into account all attendant circumstances, including social and clinical histories, in the context of education, the family and the community, as appropriate; Illicit synthetic drugs 11. Urges States to renew their efforts, at the national, regional and international levels, to implement the comprehensive measures covered in the Action Plan against Illicit Manufacture, Trafficking and Abuse of Amphetamine-type Stimulants and Their Precursors,See resolution S-20/4 A. to make special efforts to counter the abuse and recreational use of amphetamine-type stimulants, especially by young people, and to disseminate information on the adverse health, social and economic consequences of such abuse; 12. Calls upon Member States to transmit voluntarily information on emerging substances of abuse to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime so that it may quickly share the knowledge available about those substances, indications of their abuse and other health hazards, if known, as well as synthesis techniques, diversion channels and trafficking patterns; Control of substances 13. Encourages States to establish or strengthen mechanisms and procedures to ensure strict control of substances used to manufacture illicit drugs, to support international operations aimed at preventing their diversion, including through coordination and cooperation between regulatory and enforcement services involved in precursor control, in cooperation with the International Narcotics Control Board, and to counter smuggling networks effectively, particularly in source and transit countries, by conducting, inter alia, backtracking law enforcement investigations; 14. Urges all States and relevant international organizations to cooperate closely with the International Narcotics Control Board, in particular in Operation Purple, Operation Topaz and Project Prism, in order to enhance the success of those international initiatives and to initiate, where appropriate, investigations by their law enforcement authorities into seizures and cases involving the diversion or smuggling of precursors and essential equipment, with a view to tracking them back to the source of diversion in order to prevent continuing illicit activity; Judicial cooperation 15. Calls upon all States to strengthen international cooperation among judicial and law enforcement authorities at all levels in order to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking and to share and promote best operational practices in order to interdict illicit drug trafficking, including by establishing and strengthening regional mechanisms, providing technical assistance and establishing effective methods for cooperation, in particular in the areas of air, maritime, port and border control and in the implementation of extradition treaties; 16. Acknowledges the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the field of international cooperation, in particular through the provision of legal advisory assistance and the development of best practice guidance, and encourages States to make use of those services and tools in the enhancement of national laws and practice; 17. Urges Member States, consistent with their legal systems, to cooperate with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement action in relation to the use of the Internet to combat drug-related crime; Countering money-laundering 18. Urges States to strengthen action, in particular international cooperation and technical assistance aimed at preventing and combating the laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking and related criminal activities, with the support of the United Nations system, international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as regional development banks and, where appropriate, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and similarly styled regional bodies, to develop and strengthen comprehensive international regimes to combat money-laundering and its possible links with organized crime and the financing of terrorism and to improve information-sharing among financial institutions and agencies in charge of preventing and detecting the laundering of those proceeds; 19. Calls upon States to consider including provisions in their national drug control plans for the establishment of national networks to enhance their respective capabilities to prevent, monitor, control and suppress serious offences connected with money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, to counter in general all acts of transnational organized crime and to supplement existing regional and international networks dealing with money-laundering; International cooperation in illicit crop eradication and alternative development 20. Recognizes the efforts made by States to implement innovative alternative programmes, inter alia, in reforestation, agriculture and small and medium enterprises, and stresses the importance of the United Nations system and the international community contributing to the economic and social development of the communities that benefit from such programmes; 21. Calls for a comprehensive approach integrating alternative development programmes, including, where appropriate, preventive alternative development, into wider economic and social development programmes; 22. Calls upon States, where appropriate: (a) To enhance support, including, where appropriate, through the provision of new and additional resources, for alternative development; security and rule of law, as necessary; environmental protection and eradication programmes undertaken by countries affected by the illicit cultivation of cannabis, especially in Africa, of opium poppy and of coca bush, in particular national programmes that seek to reduce social marginalization and promote sustainable economic development; (b) To enhance joint strategies, through international and regional cooperation, to strengthen, including by training, education and providing technical assistance, alternative development, eradication and interdiction capacity, with the aim of eliminating illicit crop cultivation and fostering economic and social development; (c) To encourage international cooperation, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, to prevent illicit crop cultivation from emerging in or being relocated to other areas; (d) To provide, in accordance with the principle of shared responsibility, greater access to their markets for products of alternative development programmes, which are necessary for the creation of employment and the eradication of poverty; (e) To establish or reinforce, where appropriate, national mechanisms to monitor and verify illicit crops; (f) To continue to contribute to the maintenance of a balance between the licit supply of and demand for opiate raw materials used for medical and scientific purposes and to cooperate in preventing the proliferation of sources of production of opiate raw materials; (g) To share and disseminate their experience with alternative development, including, as appropriate, preventive alternative development, and with illicit crop eradication, and to involve both the benefiting communities and academic and research institutions in that process, with a view to deepening the knowledge base; 23. Calls upon Member States and national and international development organizations to increase their efforts to empower local communities and authorities in project areas and to enhance their participation in the decision-making process in order to increase their ownership of the development measures undertaken in accordance with national legislation and the sustainability of those measures and to create law-abiding and prosperous rural society; 24. Calls upon Member States and international organizations to strengthen their partnerships with the private sector and civil society, in accordance with national legislation, in order to support social and licit economic development in areas in which illicit drugs are produced, taking into account the role of the private sector and civil society in promoting social responsibility and in the production and marketing of products of alternative development programmes; III Action by the United Nations system 1. Emphasizes that the multidimensional nature of the world drug problem calls for the promotion of integration and coordination of drug control activities throughout the United Nations system, including in the follow-up to major United Nations conferences, as well as in other relevant multilateral institutions and organizations; 2. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/30 of 28 July 1999 and the measures taken and recommendations adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs since its forty-fourth session, aimed at the enhancement of its functioning; 3. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as the global coordinating body in international drug control and as the governing body of the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 4. Notes that the International Narcotics Control Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, including those that will enable it to perform effectively its task within the framework of Operation Purple, Operation Topaz and Project Prism, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and calls for enhanced cooperation and understanding between Member States and the Board in order to enable it to implement all its mandates under the international drug control conventions; 5. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to implement its mandate, and requests the Office to continue: (a) To strengthen dialogue with Member States and also to ensure continued improvement in management, so as to contribute to enhanced and sustainable programme delivery and further encourage the Executive Director to maximize the effectiveness of the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, inter alia, through the full implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolutions, in particular the recommendations contained therein; (b) To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, upon request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly; (c) To increase its assistance, within the available voluntary resources, to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes, and to explore new and innovative funding mechanisms; (d) To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction,Resolution S-20/3, annex. and support countries, upon their request, to further develop and implement drug demand reduction policies; (e) To develop action-oriented strategies to assist Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration; (f) To strengthen dialogue and cooperation with multilateral development banks and with international financial institutions so that they may undertake lending and programming activities related to drug control in interested and affected countries to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session, and to keep the Commission on Narcotic Drugs informed of further progress made in this area; (g) To take into account the outcome of the twentieth special session, to include in its report on the illicit traffic in drugs an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to address all aspects of the drug problem; (h) To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all the official languages; (i) To provide technical assistance, from available voluntary contributions for that purpose, to those States identified by relevant international bodies as the most affected by the transit of drugs, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support; (j) To provide assistance, at the request of States and respecting fully their sovereignty and territorial integrity, in monitoring illicit crop cultivation and in detecting on time its emergence or relocation; 6. Welcomes also the follow-up, led by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to the 2003 Paris Conference on Drug Routes from Central Asia to Europe (the Paris Pact),See S/2003/641. encourages the Office and other relevant international institutions to continue their efforts, and encourages the Office to develop similar strategies in other regions for countries affected by the transit of illicit drugs through their territory; 7. Takes note of the outcome of the "Thematic debate on drug abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation: (a) Community capacity-building; (b) Preventing HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases in the context of drug abuse prevention", held by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-eighth session;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 8 (E/2005/28/Rev.1), chap. II. 8. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of resources and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs guidelines for the use of general-purpose funds,Ibid., 2001, Supplement No. 8 (E/2001/28/Rev.1), part two, chap. I, resolution 44/20, annex. together with international financial institutions and the organizations involved in preventing and suppressing money-laundering and drug trafficking, to facilitate the provision of training and advice through technical cooperation in States, when requested, taking into account, inter alia, the recommendations on money-laundering and the financing of terrorism formulated by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and its regional groups; 9. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities, and recommends that a sufficient share of the regular budget of the United Nations be allocated to the Office to enable it to carry out its mandates and to work towards securing assured and predictable funding; 10. Encourages the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly and of the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C; see also A/58/124, sect. II.A. 11. Calls upon the relevant United Nations agencies and entities, other international organizations and international financial institutions, including regional development banks, to mainstream drug control issues into their programmes, and calls upon the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to maintain its leading role by providing relevant information and technical assistance; 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/130. and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution with a focus on transit countries. RESOLUTION 60/179 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 16 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/511, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 60/179. Providing support to Afghanistan with a view to ensuring effective implementation of its Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan The General Assembly, Noting with concern the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled "Afghanistan: Opium Survey 2004", which emphasizes that the cultivation of opium poppy in Afghanistan has increased to an unprecedented level, and stresses the threats to the security and stability of that country, neighbouring regions and the entire world that have emanated from the increased illicit cultivation of opium poppy and production of and trafficking in illicit drugs, Recognizing the political will and continued commitment of Afghanistan to eliminate opium poppy cultivation by 2013, and welcoming in this context the Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan of Afghanistan, launched in February 2005, which formalized the establishment of the new counter-narcotics ministry, Taking note of the Constitution of Afghanistan, in article 7 of which the Government of Afghanistan expresses its strong resolve to fight against the illicit cultivation of opium poppy and the production of and trafficking in opium and other illicit narcotic drugs, Encouraging the Government of Afghanistan to intensify its efforts to achieve an effective legislative counter-narcotics framework, Welcoming the establishment by the Government of Afghanistan of a counter-narcotics police force in support of its counter-narcotics campaign, in the context of strengthening the law enforcement regime, Noting with appreciation the achievements of the Government of Afghanistan during 2004 in implementing law enforcement measures leading to the elimination of thousands of acres of opium poppy cultivation, the interdiction of drug traffickers, the seizure of substantial amounts of illicit drugs, precursors and small arms and munitions and the dismantling of hundreds of clandestine laboratories used for illicit drug production, and noting the commitment of the Government to increasing its efforts substantially in those areas, Noting the priority given by the Government of Afghanistan to ensuring a credible, targeted and reinforced illicit crop eradication campaign and to working with international partners through the national development budget and the newly established counter-narcotics trust fund in order to facilitate the provision of sustainable alternative livelihoods in targeted areas, Bearing in mind that the fight against the illicit cultivation of opium poppy and the production of and trafficking in illicit narcotic drugs is a common and shared responsibility to be addressed through international efforts, as recognized by Member States in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,Resolution S-20/2, annex. Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and the goals contained therein, which focused on economic development, peace and security and the establishment of the required framework for international cooperation to achieve those goals, Recalling also various other United Nations resolutions and recommendations, including General Assembly resolution 59/161 of 20 December 2004 and the recommendations of the International Narcotics Control Board in its report for 2004,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.XI.3. requesting the international community to support the Government of Afghanistan in its fight against the illicit cultivation of opium poppy and trafficking in illicit narcotic drugs, 1. Notes with appreciation the bilateral and multilateral support being provided to Afghanistan by the international community through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other international entities; 2. Commends the Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan of Afghanistan, which comprises an eight-point strategy that includes: (a) Building counter-narcotics institutions and provincial structures; (b) Increasing the awareness of the Afghan population about the problems and threats emanating from the illicit cultivation of opium poppy and the production of and trafficking in illicit narcotic drugs; (c) Provision of alternative livelihoods and creation of the national development budget and the counter-narcotics trust fund to provide financial support; (d) Interdiction and elimination of heroin-manufacturing laboratories through the national counter-narcotics police force; (e) Strengthening legal and judicial institutions; (f) A credible, targeted and verified eradication campaign; (g) Demand reduction and treatment of addicts; (h) Regional cooperation with neighbouring countries aimed at strengthening security belts in the region and countering the threat posed by the illicit cultivation of opium poppy and the production of and trafficking in illicit narcotic drugs; 3. Calls upon the international community to provide the necessary support to the counter-narcotics objectives of the Government of Afghanistan, by continued technical assistance and financial commitment, in particular, to all eight pillars of the Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan; 4. Encourages all stakeholders to strengthen measures for global demand reduction, thereby enhancing efforts to combat illicit drug production and trafficking; 5. Urges Afghanistan to maintain illicit drug control among its highest priorities, as stipulated in its Constitution and the Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan, with a view to enhancing its efforts to combat the illicit cultivation of opium poppy, the production of illicit drugs and trafficking in illicit drugs and precursors; 6. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to strengthen its efforts to ensure that multilateral support is provided to Afghanistan in line and in coordination with the Counter-Narcotics Implementation Plan. RESOLUTION 60/17 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/540, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/17. Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'IvoireA/60/364. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/420. Recalling Security Council resolution 1528 (2004) of 27 February 2004, by which the Council established the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire for an initial period of twelve months as from 4 April 2004, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Operation, the latest of which was resolution 1609 (2005) of 24 June 2005, Recalling also its resolution 58/310 of 18 June 2004 on the financing of the Operation and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 59/16 B of 22 June 2005, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Operation with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 59/296 of 22 June 2005, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire as at 30 September 2005, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 153.8 million United States dollars, representing some 22 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only twenty-seven Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Operation in full; 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Operation; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/420. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolution 59/296; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Operation is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Operation against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Operation; Revised budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 13. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire the amount of 51,276,000 dollars for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, in addition to the amount of 386,892,500 dollars already appropriated for the same period under the terms of its resolution 59/16 B; Financing of the appropriation 14. Also decides, taking into account the amount of 386,892,500 dollars previously apportioned for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 under the terms of its resolution 59/16 B, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 28,946,129 dollars for the period from 1 July 2005 to 24 January 2006, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005 and 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 15. Further decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be added to the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 14 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 4,064 dollars, representing the estimated decrease in staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 1 July 2005 to 24 January 2006; 16. Decides to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 22,329,871 dollars at a monthly rate of 4,273,000 dollars for the period from 25 January to 30 June 2006, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 14 above, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006 as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Operation; 17. Also decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be added to the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 3,136 dollars, representing the estimated decrease in staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 25 January to 30 June 2006; 18. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 19. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Operation, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 20. Invites voluntary contributions to the Operation in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 21. Decides to keep under review during its sixtieth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire". RESOLUTION 60/180 Adopted at the 66th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.40, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 60/180. The Peacebuilding Commission The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling, in particular, paragraphs 97 to 105 of the World Summit Outcome, Recognizing that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, Emphasizing the need for a coordinated, coherent and integrated approach to post-conflict peacebuilding and reconciliation with a view to achieving sustainable peace, Recognizing the need for a dedicated institutional mechanism to address the special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery, reintegration and reconstruction and to assist them in laying the foundation for sustainable development, Recognizing also the vital role of the United Nations in preventing conflicts, assisting parties to conflicts to end hostilities and emerge towards recovery, reconstruction and development and in mobilizing sustained international attention and assistance, Reaffirming the respective responsibilities and functions of the organs of the United Nations as defined in the Charter and the need to enhance coordination among them, Affirming the primary responsibility of national and transitional Governments and authorities of countries emerging from conflict or at risk of relapsing into conflict, where they are established, in identifying their priorities and strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding, with a view to ensuring national ownership, Emphasizing, in that regard, the importance of supporting national efforts to establish, redevelop or reform institutions for the effective administration of countries emerging from conflict, including capacity-building efforts, Recognizing the important role of regional and subregional organizations in carrying out post-conflict peacebuilding activities in their regions, and stressing the need for sustained international support for their efforts and capacity-building to that end, Recognizing also that countries that have experienced recent post-conflict recovery would make valuable contributions to the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, Recognizing further the role of Member States supporting the peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts of the United Nations through financial, troop and civilian police contributions, Recognizing the important contribution of civil society and non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations, to peacebuilding efforts, Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, and stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding, 1. Decides, acting concurrently with the Security Council, in accordance with Articles 7, 22 and 29 of the Charter of the United Nations, with a view to operationalizing the decision by the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. to establish the Peacebuilding Commission as an intergovernmental advisory body; 2. Also decides that the following shall be the main purposes of the Commission: (a) To bring together all relevant actors to marshal resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery; (b) To focus attention on the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict and to support the development of integrated strategies in order to lay the foundation for sustainable development; (c) To provide recommendations and information to improve the coordination of all relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, to develop best practices, to help to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and to extend the period of attention given by the international community to post-conflict recovery; 3. Further decides that the Commission shall meet in various configurations; 4. Decides that the Commission shall have a standing Organizational Committee, responsible for developing its own rules of procedure and working methods, comprising: (a) Seven members of the Security Council, including permanent members, selected according to rules and procedures decided by the Council; (b) Seven members of the Economic and Social Council, elected from regional groups according to rules and procedures decided by the Council, giving due consideration to those countries that have experienced post-conflict recovery; (c) Five top providers of assessed contributions to United Nations budgets and of voluntary contributions to United Nations funds, programmes and agencies, including a standing peacebuilding fund, that are not among those selected in (a) or (b) above, selected by and from among the ten top providers, giving due consideration to the size of their contributions, according to a list provided by the Secretary-General, based on the average annual contributions in the previous three calendar years for which statistical data are available; (d) Five top providers of military personnel and civilian police to United Nations missions that are not among those selected in (a), (b) or (c) above, selected by and from among the ten top providers, giving due consideration to the size of their contributions, according to a list provided by the Secretary-General, based on the average monthly contributions in the previous three calendar years for which statistical data are available; (e) Giving due consideration to representation from all regional groups in the overall composition of the Committee and to representation from countries that have experienced post-conflict recovery, seven additional members shall be elected according to rules and procedures decided by the General Assembly; 5. Emphasizes that a Member State can only be selected from one category set out in paragraph 4 above at any one time; 6. Decides that members of the Organizational Committee shall serve for renewable terms of two years, as applicable; 7. Also decides that country-specific meetings of the Commission, upon invitation of the Organizational Committee referred to in paragraph 4 above, shall include as members, in addition to members of the Committee, representatives from: (a) The country under consideration; (b) Countries in the region engaged in the post-conflict process and other countries that are involved in relief efforts and/or political dialogue, as well as relevant regional and subregional organizations; (c) The major financial, troop and civilian police contributors involved in the recovery effort; (d) The senior United Nations representative in the field and other relevant United Nations representatives; (e) Such regional and international financial institutions as may be relevant; 8. Further decides that a representative of the Secretary-General shall be invited to participate in all meetings of the Commission; 9. Decides that representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other institutional donors shall be invited to participate in all meetings of the Commission in a manner suitable to their governing arrangements; 10. Emphasizes that the Commission shall work in cooperation with national or transitional authorities, where possible, in the country under consideration with a view to ensuring national ownership of the peacebuilding process; 11. Also emphasizes that the Commission shall, where appropriate, work in close consultation with regional and subregional organizations to ensure their involvement in the peacebuilding process in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter; 12. Decides that the Organizational Committee shall, giving due consideration to maintaining a balance in addressing situations in countries in different regions in accordance with the main purposes of the Commission as stipulated above, establish the agenda of the Commission based on the following: (a) Requests for advice from the Security Council; (b) Requests for advice from the Economic and Social Council or the General Assembly with the consent of a concerned Member State in exceptional circumstances on the verge of lapsing or relapsing into conflict and with which the Security Council is not seized in accordance with Article 12 of the Charter; (c) Requests for advice from Member States in exceptional circumstances on the verge of lapsing or relapsing into conflict and which are not on the agenda of the Security Council; (d) Requests for advice from the Secretary-General; 13. Also decides that the Commission shall make the outcome of its discussions and recommendations publicly available as United Nations documents to all relevant bodies and actors, including the international financial institutions; 14. Invites all relevant United Nations bodies and other bodies and actors, including the international financial institutions, to take action on the advice of the Commission, as appropriate and in accordance with their respective mandates; 15. Decides that the Commission shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and that the Assembly shall hold an annual debate to review the report; 16. Underlines that in post-conflict situations on the agenda of the Security Council with which it is actively seized, in particular when there is a United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission on the ground or under way and given the primary responsibility of the Council for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter, the main purpose of the Commission will be to provide advice to the Council at its request; 17. Also underlines that the advice of the Commission to provide sustained attention as countries move from transitional recovery towards development will be of particular relevance to the Economic and Social Council, bearing in mind its role as a principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on issues of economic and social development; 18. Decides that the Commission shall act in all matters on the basis of consensus of its members; 19. Notes the importance of participation of regional and local actors, and stresses the importance of adopting flexible working methods, including use of videoconferencing, meetings outside of New York and other modalities, in order to provide for the active participation of those most relevant to the deliberations of the Commission; 20. Calls upon the Commission to integrate a gender perspective into all of its work; 21. Encourages the Commission to consult with civil society, non-governmental organizations, including women's organizations, and the private sector engaged in peacebuilding activities, as appropriate; 22. Recommends that the Commission terminate its consideration of a country-specific situation when foundations for sustainable peace and development are established or upon the request of national authorities of the country under consideration; 23. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to establish, within the Secretariat, from within existing resources, a small peacebuilding support office staffed by qualified experts to assist and support the Commission, and recognizes in that regard that such support could include gathering and analysing information relating to the availability of financial resources, relevant United Nations in-country planning activities, progress towards meeting short and medium-term recovery goals and best practices with respect to cross-cutting peacebuilding issues; 24. Also reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to establish a multi-year standing peacebuilding fund for post-conflict peacebuilding, funded by voluntary contributions and taking due account of existing instruments, with the objective of ensuring the immediate release of resources needed to launch peacebuilding activities and the availability of appropriate financing for recovery; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the arrangements for establishing the peacebuilding fund during its sixtieth session; 26. Calls upon relevant bodies and Member States referred to in paragraph 4 above to communicate the names of members of the Organizational Committee to the Secretary-General to enable him to convene the first constituting meeting of the Committee as soon as possible following the adoption of the present resolution; 27. Decides that the arrangements set out above will be reviewed five years after the adoption of the present resolution to ensure that they are appropriate to fulfil the agreed functions of the Commission and that such a review and any changes as a result thereof will be decided following the same procedure as set out in paragraph 1 above; 28. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session an item titled "Report of the Peacebuilding Commission". RESOLUTION 60/181 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Credentials Committee (A/60/595) 60/181. Credentials of representatives to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Credentials CommitteeA/60/595. and the recommendation contained therein, Approves the report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 60/182 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 20 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.42 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 60/182. The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts The General Assembly, Recognizing that the trade in conflict diamonds is a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fuelling of armed conflict, the activities of rebel movements aimed at undermining or overthrowing legitimate Governments and the illicit traffic in and proliferation of armaments, especially small arms and light weapons, Recognizing also the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts, Noting the negative impact of such conflicts on regional stability and the obligations placed upon States by the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, Recognizing, therefore, that continued action to curb the trade in conflict diamonds is imperative, Recognizing also the positive benefits of the legitimate diamond trade to producing countries, and underlining the need for continued international action to prevent the problem of conflict diamonds from negatively affecting the trade in legitimate diamonds, which makes a critical contribution to the economies of many of the producing, exporting and importing States, especially developing States, Noting that the vast majority of rough diamonds produced in the world are from legitimate sources, Recalling the Charter and all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council related to conflict diamonds, and determined to contribute to and support the implementation of the measures provided for in those resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1459 (2003) of 28 January 2003, in which the Council strongly supported the Kimberley Process Certification SchemeSee A/57/489. as a valuable contribution against trafficking in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the important contribution of the Kimberley Process, which was initiated by African diamond-producing countries, Believing that the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme should substantially reduce the opportunity for conflict diamonds to play a role in fuelling armed conflict and should help to protect legitimate trade and ensure the effective implementation of the relevant resolutions on trade in conflict diamonds, Recalling its resolutions 55/56 of 1 December 2000, 56/263 of 13 March 2002, 57/302 of 15 April 2003, 58/290 of 14 April 2004 and 59/144 of 15 December 2004, in which it called for the development and implementation of proposals for a simple, effective and pragmatic international certification scheme for rough diamonds, Welcoming, in this regard, the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in such a way that it does not impede the legitimate trade in diamonds or impose an undue burden on Governments or industry, particularly smaller producers, and does not hinder the development of the diamond industry, Welcoming also the decision of countries and one regional economic integration organization to address the problem of conflict diamonds by participating in the Kimberley Process and to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, Welcoming further the important contribution made by the diamond industry, in particular the World Diamond Council, as well as civil society, to assist international efforts to stop the trade in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the voluntary self-regulation initiatives for the diamond industry announced by the World Diamond Council, and recognizing that a system of such voluntary self-regulation will contribute, as described in the Interlaken Declaration of 5 November 2002 on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds,Ibid., annex 2. to ensuring the effectiveness of national systems of internal control for rough diamonds, Noting with appreciation that the Kimberley Process has pursued its deliberations on an inclusive basis, involving concerned stakeholders, including producing, exporting and importing States, the diamond industry and civil society, Recognizing that State sovereignty should be fully respected and that the principles of equality, mutual benefits and consensus should be adhered to, Recognizing also that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which came into effect on 1 January 2003, will be credible only if all participants have established internal systems of control designed to eliminate the presence of conflict diamonds in the chain of producing, exporting and importing rough diamonds within their own territories, while taking into account that differences in production methods and trading practices, as well as differences in institutional controls thereof, may require different approaches to meet minimum standards, 1. Reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme;See A/57/489. 2. Recognizes that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme can help to ensure the effective implementation of relevant resolutions of the Security Council containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds, and calls for the full implementation of existing Council measures targeting the illicit trade in rough diamonds that play a role in fuelling conflict; 3. Also recognizes the important contributions that the international efforts to address the problem of conflict diamonds, including the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, have made to the settlement of conflicts in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and the ongoing value of the Certification Scheme as a mechanism for the prevention of future conflicts; 4. Stresses that the widest possible participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is essential and should be encouraged, and urges all Member States to participate actively in the Certification Scheme by complying with its undertakings; 5. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Chair of the Kimberley Process submitted pursuant to resolution 59/144,A/60/589 and Corr.1, annex. and congratulates the Governments, regional economic integration organization representatives, the organized diamond industry and civil society participating in the Kimberley Process for contributing to the development and implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; 6. Notes the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 15 May 2003 granting a waiver with respect to the measures taken to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, effective from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006;See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/518. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 7. Welcomes the adoption by the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process, held in Moscow from 15 to 17 November 2005, of a resolution on the subject of illicit diamond production in Côte d'Ivoire that outlines a series of measures to prevent the introduction of conflict diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire into legitimate trade, including a detailed assessment of the volume of rough diamonds produced in and exported from Côte d'Ivoire, to be carried out in cooperation with the United Nations, and encourages cooperation between the Kimberley Process and the United Nations, particularly the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire; 8. Also welcomes the adoption by the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process of a declaration on improving internal controls over alluvial diamond production, which sets out recommendations for effective internal controls over alluvial diamond mining and encourages potential donors to provide capacity-building assistance to further the effective implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; 9. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the Kimberley Process and of its Chair to the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia, including the submission of a report on the results of the Kimberley Process expert mission to Liberia; 10. Welcomes the agreement reached at the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process on terms of reference for the three-year review of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; 11. Also welcomes the important progress made in the implementation of the peer review mechanism in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and encourages all remaining participants to receive voluntary review visits; 12. Further welcomes the progress made towards the collection and submission of statistical reports on the production and trade in rough diamonds, and encourages all the Kimberley Process participants to enhance the quality of data, with a view to ensuring effective implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; 13. Acknowledges with great appreciation the important contribution that the Russian Federation, as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2005, has made to the efforts to curb the trade in conflict diamonds, and welcomes the succession of Botswana as Chair and the European Community as Vice-Chair of the Process for 2006; 14. Requests the Chair of the Kimberley Process to submit a report on the implementation of the Process to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict". RESOLUTION 60/183 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/484, para. 14),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 6, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu 60/183. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/251 of 22 December 2004, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/51 of 27 July 2005, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Recalling, in this regard, the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan, Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling further its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its concern also at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the uprooting of a vast number of fruit-bearing trees, Aware of the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, and of the dire economic and social consequences in this regard, Aware also of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect on the natural resources and economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people, Reaffirming the need for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, the principle of land for peace and the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,See S/2003/529, annex. as endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, Acknowledging the importance of the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and of the dismantlement of settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Taking note with appreciation of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan,A/60/65-E/2005/13. 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, damage, cause loss or depletion of, or endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion, or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from illegal measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 4. Stresses that the wall being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, is contrary to international law and is seriously depriving the Palestinian people of their natural resources, and calls in this regard for full compliance with the legal obligations mentioned in the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of JusticeA/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and in resolution ES-10/15; 5. Welcomes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map; 6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease the dumping of all kinds of waste materials in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, which gravely threaten their natural resources, namely the water and land resources, and pose an environmental hazard and health threat to the civilian populations; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 60/184 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/486/Add.1, para. 12),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 121 to 1, with 51 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60/184. International trade and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/178 of 21 December 2001, 57/235 of 20 December 2002, 58/197 of 23 December 2003 and 59/221 of 22 December 2004 on international trade and development, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. pertaining to trade and related development issues, as well as the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. Recalling further the Ministerial Declaration and decisions adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Doha from 9 to 14 November 2001,A/C.2/56/7, annex. the decision of 1 August 2004 of the General Council of the World Trade OrganizationWorld Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the full commitment of all members of the World Trade Organization to give effect to them, and the importance of the successful conclusion of the Doha work programme,A/C.2/56/7, annex. Recalling that trade is in many cases the single most important external source of development financing, and in this context reiterating the important role that enhanced market access, balanced rules, appropriate adjustment facility and well-targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes can play in the economic development of developing countries, especially the least developed countries, Bearing in mind the special needs of the least developed countries, the small island developing States and the landlocked developing countries, within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, as identified, respectively, in the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. the Barbados Programme of ActionReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. Stressing the need to address adequately the vulnerabilities faced by developing countries, as a result of external shocks, particularly natural disasters, which can damage the social and economic infrastructure and have long-term consequences, especially hampering the achievement of their sustainable development, Recalling its resolutions 57/250 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, in which it invited the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, as well as the Trade and Development Board, to contribute, within its mandate, to the implementation and the review of the progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits and invited the President of the Trade and Development Board to present the outcomes of such reviews to the Economic and Social Council, Recalling also the São Paulo Consensus, adopted at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004,TD/412, part II. and reaffirming its commitment to its full and effective implementation, Taking note of the review undertaken by the Trade and Development Board at its fifty-second sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 15 (A/60/15), part four, chap. II. C. of developments and issues in the post-Doha work programme of particular concern to developing countries, and its contribution to an understanding of the actions required to forge consensus and help developing countries integrate, in a beneficial and meaningful manner, into the multilateral trading system and the global economy and to achieve a balanced, development-oriented and successful conclusion of the Doha negotiations, Reaffirming the urgency, subject to national legislation, of recognizing the rights of local and indigenous communities that are holders of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices and, with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices, of developing and implementing benefit-sharing mechanisms on mutually agreed terms for the use of such knowledge, innovations and practices, Reaffirming also the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development as reaffirmed by the São Paulo Consensus, Noting the significant contribution of the multilateral trading system to economic growth, development and employment and the importance of maintaining the process of reform and liberalization of trade policies, as well as the importance of rejecting the use of protectionism, so that the system plays its full part in promoting recovery, growth and development, in particular of developing countries, bearing in mind paragraph 10 of its resolution 55/182 of 20 December 2000, Taking note of the report of the Trade and Development BoardIbid., Supplement No. 15 (A/60/15). and its statement, as well as the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/225. 1. Reaffirms the value of multilateralism to the global trading system and the commitment to achieving a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that contributes to growth, development and employment generation, and emphasizes that bilateral and regional trading arrangements should contribute to the multilateral trading system; 2. Underlines the fact that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, that is, the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations, that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space and that it is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments; 3. Stresses the importance of open, transparent, inclusive democratic and more orderly processes and procedures for the effective functioning of the multilateral trading system, including in the decision-making process, so as to enable developing countries to have their vital interests duly reflected in the outcome of trade negotiations; 4. Reiterates that development concerns form an integral part of the Doha Ministerial Declaration,A/C.2/56/7, annex. and reaffirms the commitments made in the decision of 1 August 2004 of the General Council of the World Trade OrganizationWorld Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to fulfil the development dimension of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs and interests of developing countries, especially the least developed among them, at the heart of the Doha work programme;A/C.2/56/7, annex. 5. Expresses its concern over the lack of progress in areas of negotiations of particular concern to developing countries, which led to missing deadlines provided in the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization; 6. Welcomes the recent "aid for trade" initiative to address the adjustment challenges as well as to build the supply and trade capacities, infrastructure and institutions of developing countries, and stresses the need for the effective operationalization with sufficient and additional funding of the initiative to the benefit of the recipient countries; 7. Reaffirms that all countries have a shared interest in the success of the Doha work programme, which aims both at further increasing trading opportunities for developing countries and at making the trading system more conducive to development, and underscores the need for the major developed countries to make ambitious proposals in line with their commitments to make progress in all areas of negotiations, particularly in agriculture, non-agricultural market access, services, the trade-related intellectual property system and rules as well as operational and meaningful special and differential treatment for developing countries, and to adopt practical and concrete solutions to the outstanding implementation-related issues and concerns raised by developing countries; 8. Calls for the successful and timely conclusion of the negotiations on the Doha work programme in order to maximize the contribution of the trading system to raising standards of living, eradicating hunger and poverty, generating employment and achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and, in that context, underscores the fact that enhanced market access for goods and services of export interest to developing countries as well as strong, special and differential treatment in the outcome of negotiations in all areas, balanced rules and well-targeted sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for developing countries are needed for the realization of the development dimension highlighted in the Doha work programme, and stresses that the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, to be held in Hong Kong, China, from 13 to 18 December 2005, should constitute an important milestone to this end, and particularly for finalizing the negotiating modalities for successful conclusion of the Doha round by 2006; 9. Recognizes the need to ensure that the comparative advantage of developing countries is not undermined by any form of protectionism, including the arbitrary and abusive use of non-tariff measures, non-trade barriers and other standards to unfairly restrict the access of developing countries' products to developed countries' markets, reaffirms, in this regard, that developing countries should play an increasing role in the formulation of, inter alia, safety, environment and health standards, and recognizes the need to facilitate the increased and meaningful participation of the developing countries in the work of relevant international standard-setting organizations; 10. Calls for accelerating the negotiations on the development-related mandate concerning the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsSee Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, especially the amendments of the Agreement, in order for intellectual property rules fully to support the objectives of the Convention on Biological DiversityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. as well as for trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights and public health to address the problems afflicting many developing countries, including the least developed countries, especially those resulting from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics; 11. Expresses its concern about the adoption of a number of unilateral actions that are not consistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization, harm the exports of all countries, in particular those of developing countries, and have a considerable bearing on the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations and on the achievement and further enhancement of the development dimension of the trade negotiations; 12. Emphasizes the need for further work to foster greater coherence between the multilateral trading system and the financial system, and urges the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in fulfilment of its mandate, to undertake the relevant policy analysis in those areas and to operationalize such work, including through its technical assistance activities; 13. Reaffirms the commitments made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade OrganizationA/C.2/56/7, annex. and at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001,See A/CONF.191/13. calls, in this regard upon developed countries that have not already done so to provide immediate bound duty-free, quota-free market access to all products originating from all least developed countries, calls upon developing countries that are in a position to do so to extend duty-free and quota-free market access to exports of these countries, and in this context reaffirms the need to consider additional measures for progressive improvement in market access for least developed countries; 14. Also reaffirms the commitment to actively pursue the work programme of the World Trade Organization with respect to addressing the trade-related issues and concerns affecting the fuller integration of countries with small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system in a manner commensurate with their special circumstances and in support of their efforts towards sustainable development, in accordance with paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration; 15. Recognizes the special problems and needs of the landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, calls, in this regard, for the full and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and stresses the need for the implementation of the São Paulo Consensus,TD/412, part II. in particular paragraphs 66 and 84 thereof, by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach; 16. Takes note with satisfaction of the launch of the third round of negotiations on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries and the progress achieved so far in these negotiations with the aim of concluding the third round by November 2006; 17. Recognizes the importance of addressing seriously the concerns of commodity-dependent developing countries, owing to the continuing volatility of world commodity prices and other factors, and of supporting the efforts of such countries to restructure, diversify and strengthen the competitiveness of their commodity sectors, and in this regard notes the formation of an international task force on commodities by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 18. Stresses the importance of facilitating the accession of all developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, that apply for membership in the World Trade Organization, consistent with its criteria, bearing in mind paragraph 21 of resolution 55/182 and subsequent developments, and calls for the effective and faithful application of the World Trade Organization guidelines on accession by the least developed countries; 19. Emphasizes the importance of developing human, institutional, regulatory, research, trade policy and development capacities and infrastructures aimed at enhanced supply-side capacity and competitiveness, as well as ensuring a conducive international environment for the full and effective integration of developing countries into the international trading system; 20. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandate, to monitor and assess the evolution of the international trading system and of trends in international trade from a development perspective, and, in particular, to analyse issues of concern to developing countries, supporting them in building capacities to establish their own negotiating priorities and negotiate trade agreements, including under the Doha work programme; 21. Urges donors, in this regard, to provide the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development with the increased resources necessary to deliver effective and demand-driven assistance to developing countries, as well as to enhance their contributions to the trust funds of the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries and the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme; 22. Welcomes the generous offer by the Government of Ghana to host the twelfth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 2008, and expresses its gratitude to the African Union for its support for Ghana in this connection; 23. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and on developments in the multilateral trading system, under the sub-item entitled "International trade and development" of the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions." RESOLUTION 60/185 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/486/Add.1, para. 12),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 120 to 1, with 50 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60/185. Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. which states, inter alia, that no State may use or encourage the use of unilateral economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Bearing in mind the general principles governing the international trading system and trade policies for development contained in relevant resolutions, rules and provisions of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, Recalling its resolutions 44/215 of 22 December 1989, 46/210 of 20 December 1991, 48/168 of 21 December 1993, 50/96 of 20 December 1995, 52/181 of 18 December 1997, 54/200 of 22 December 1999, 56/179 of 21 December 2001 and 58/198 of 23 December 2003, Gravely concerned that the use of unilateral coercive economic measures adversely affects the economy and development efforts of developing countries in particular and has a general negative impact on international economic cooperation and on worldwide efforts to move towards a non-discriminatory and open multilateral trading system, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/226. 2. Urges the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries that are not authorized by relevant organs of the United Nations or are inconsistent with the principles of international law as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and that contravene the basic principles of the multilateral trading system; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the imposition of measures of this nature and to study the impact of such measures on the affected countries, including the impact on trade and development; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/186 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/486/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/186. International financial system and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/186 of 20 December 2000 and 56/181 of 21 December 2001, both entitled "Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity", as well as its resolutions 57/241 of 20 December 2002, 58/202 of 23 December 2003 and 59/222 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Emphasizing that the international financial system should further sustain economic growth and support sustainable development and hunger and poverty eradication, while allowing for the coherent mobilization of all sources of financing for development, including the mobilization of domestic resources, international investment flows, official development assistance, external debt relief and an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory global trading system, Stressing the importance of commitment to sound domestic financial sectors, which make a vital contribution to national development efforts, as an important component of an international financial architecture that is supportive of development, Stressing also that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving sustainable development, in this regard reiterating the importance of promoting global economic governance by addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, and reiterating also that, to this effect, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, finding a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market access of developing countries, Reaffirming the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, and to that end stressing the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, noting that enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions remains a continuous concern, Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the coherence, governance and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems and the importance of ensuring their openness, fairness and inclusiveness in order to complement national development efforts to ensure sustained economic growth and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Emphasizing the need for additional stable and predictable financing to help developing countries undertake investment plans to achieve internationally agreed development goals, Recognizing, in this regard, the value of developing innovative sources of financing from various sources on a public, private, domestic and external basis to increase and supplement traditional sources of financing, Reiterating the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/163. 2. Notes that global economic growth and a stable international financial system, inter alia, can support the ability of developing countries to achieve internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and stresses the importance of cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to cope with the risks of financial instability; 3. Emphasizes that economic growth should be further strengthened and sustained, noting that global economic growth depends on national economic growth and that implementation of sound macroeconomic policies could significantly contribute to a revitalization of economic growth; 4. Invites the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the regional development banks and other relevant institutions to further integrate development dimensions into their strategies and policies, consistent with their respective mandates; 5. Notes that developing countries as a whole continue to experience a net outflow of financial resources, and requests the Secretary-General, in continuing collaboration with international financial institutions and other relevant bodies, to analyse the range of reasons for this in his report under this item; 6. Underlines the importance of promoting international financial stability and sustainable growth, and welcomes the efforts undertaken to this end by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Forum, as well as the consideration by the International Monetary and Financial Committee of ways to sharpen tools designed to promote international financial stability and enhance crisis prevention, inter alia, through an even-handed implementation of surveillance, including at the regional level, and a sharpening of surveillance of capital markets and systemically and regionally important countries, with a view, inter alia, to the early identification of problems and risks, integrating debt sustainability analysis, the fostering of appropriate policy responses, the possible provision of financing and other instruments designed to prevent the emergence or spread of financial crises and further improvements in the transparency of macroeconomic data and statistical information on international capital flows; 7. Also underlines the importance of efforts at the national level to increase resilience to financial risk, stresses in this regard the importance of better assessment of a country's debt burden and its ability to service that debt in both crisis prevention and resolution, and welcomes the ongoing work of the International Monetary Fund on assessing debt sustainability; 8. Invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized economies, to take into account the effect of their macroeconomic policies on international growth and development; 9. Recognizes the need for multilateral surveillance to remain at the centre of crisis prevention efforts and that surveillance should focus not only on crisis-prone countries but on the stability of the system as a whole; 10. Reiterates that measures to mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows and to improve transparency of and information about financial flows are important and must be considered; 11. Notes the impact of financial crises or risk contagion in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, regardless of their size, and in this regard welcomes the efforts of the international financial institutions, in their support to countries, to continuously adapt their array of financial facilities and resources, drawing on a full range of policies, taking into account the effects of economic cycles, as and where appropriate, having due regard to sound fiscal management and the specific circumstances of each case, so as to prevent and respond to such crises in a timely and appropriate way; 12. Underscores the importance of competitive and inclusive private and public financial markets in mobilizing and allocating savings towards productive investment and thus making a vital contribution to national development efforts and to an international financial architecture that is supportive of development; 13. Invites the international financial and banking institutions to consider enhancing the transparency of risk-rating mechanisms, noting that sovereign risk assessments made by the private sector should maximize the use of strict, objective and transparent parameters, which can be facilitated by high-quality data and analysis, and encourages relevant development institutions, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to continue their work on this issue, including its potential impact on the development prospects of developing countries; 14. Stresses the importance of strong domestic institutions in promoting business activities and financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors, and also stresses that international cooperation initiatives in those areas should encourage flows of capital to developing countries; 15. Underlines the fact that the issue of enhancing the voice of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions is of vital importance, stresses the importance of enhancing ongoing work in this regard, taking into account progress in the context of the International Monetary Fund quota review, and invites the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to continue to provide information on this issue, using existing cooperation forums, including those involving Member States; 16. Emphasizes that it is essential to ensure the effective and equitable participation of developing countries in the formulation of financial standards and codes, underscores the need to ensure their implementation, on a voluntary and progressive basis, as a contribution to reducing vulnerability to financial crisis and contagion, and notes that more than one hundred countries have participated in or agreed to participate in the joint World Bank-International Monetary Fund financial sector assessment programme;See A/59/218 and Corr.1, para. 15. 17. Notes the proposal to use special drawing rights allocations for development purposes, and considers that any assessment of special drawing rights allocations must respect the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund and the established rules of procedure of the Fund, which requires taking into account the global need for liquidity at the international level; 18. Invites the multilateral and regional development banks and development funds to continue to play a vital role in serving the development needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including through coordinated action, as appropriate, and stresses that strengthened regional development banks and subregional financial institutions add flexible financial support to national and regional development efforts, thus enhancing their ownership and overall efficiency, and are an essential source of knowledge and expertise for their developing-country members; 19. Calls for the continued effort of the multilateral financial institutions, in providing policy advice, technical assistance and financial support to member countries, to work on the basis of nationally owned reform and development strategies, to pay due regard to the special needs and implementing capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and to minimize the negative impacts of the adjustment programmes on the vulnerable segments of society, while taking into account the importance of gender-sensitive employment and hunger and poverty eradication policies and strategies; 20. Stresses the need to continuously improve standards of corporate and public sector governance, including accounting, auditing and measures to ensure transparency, noting the disruptive effects of inadequate policies; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "International financial system and development". RESOLUTION 60/187 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/486/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/187. External debt crisis and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/203 of 23 December 2003 and 59/223 of 22 December 2004 on external debt crisis and development, Reaffirming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which recognizes sustainable debt financing as an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, Welcoming the fact that total debt service for developing countries decreased in the period from 2003 to 2004, leading to improvements in several traditional debt indicators,See A/60/139, paras. 2 and 6. but concerned that some low- and middle-income developing countries that are not eligible for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative are still facing difficulties in finding a durable solution in meeting their external debt-servicing obligations, which could adversely affect their sustainable development, Welcoming also the fact that the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative has enabled heavily indebted poor countries to markedly increase their expenditures on health, education and other social services consistent with national priorities and development plans, emphasizing in this regard the need to ensure that debt relief does not replace other sources of financing, stressing the importance of addressing the challenges of those heavily indebted poor countries that are facing difficulties in reaching the completion point under the Initiative, and expressing concern that some heavily indebted poor countries continue to face substantial debt burdens and need to avoid rebuilding unsustainable debt burdens after reaching the completion point under the Initiative, Welcoming further the recent proposal of the Group of Eight, as endorsed by the Bretton Woods institutions at their 2005 annual meetings, to cancel 100 per cent of the outstanding debt of eligible heavily indebted poor countries owed to the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association and the African Development Fund and to provide additional resources to ensure that the financing capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced, Emphasizing that debt sustainability is essential for underpinning growth, and underlining the importance of debt sustainability to the efforts to achieve national development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and that countries should direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt reduction and cancellation, towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Convinced that enhanced market access for goods and services of export interest to developing countries contributes significantly to debt sustainability in those countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/139. 2. Emphasizes the special importance of a timely, effective, comprehensive and durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries, since debt financing and relief can be an important source of capital for economic growth and development; 3. Stresses the importance of promoting responsible borrowing and lending; 4. Emphasizes that creditors and debtors must share responsibility for preventing unsustainable debt situations; 5. Underlines the fact that the long-term sustainability of debt depends, inter alia, on the economic growth, mobilization of domestic resources and export prospects of debtor countries and, hence, on the creation of an enabling environment conducive to development, progress in following sound macroeconomic policies, transparent and effective regulatory frameworks and success in overcoming structural development problems; 6. Reiterates its call upon developed countries, as expressed in the Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to complete the enhanced programme of debt relief for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and to ensure that it is fully financed, and in this regard underscores the importance of full participation by creditors in contributing their share to implementing the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; 7. Recognizes and encourages the efforts of the heavily indebted poor countries, calls upon them to continue to improve their domestic policies and economic management, inter alia, through poverty reduction strategies, and to create a domestic environment conducive to private-sector development, economic growth and poverty reduction, including a stable macroeconomic framework, transparent and accountable systems of public finance, a sound business climate and a predictable investment climate, and in this regard invites all creditors, both private and public, to encourage those efforts, for example, through further participation in the delivery of debt relief in the framework of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and continued provision of adequate and sufficiently concessional financing by international financing institutions and the donor community; 8. Stresses that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 9. Reiterates that debt sustainability depends on a confluence of many factors at the international and national levels, emphasizes that country-specific circumstances and the impact of external shocks should be taken into account in debt sustainability analyses, underscores the fact that no single indicator should be used to make definitive judgements about debt sustainability, and in this regard, while acknowledging the need to use transparent and comparable indicators, invites the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in their assessment of debt sustainability, to take into account fundamental changes caused by, inter alia, natural disasters, conflicts, changes in global growth prospects or in the terms of trade, especially for commodity-dependent developing countries, and to continue to provide information on this issue using existing cooperation forums, including those involving Member States; 10. Reiterates also its invitation to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to keep the overall implications of the debt sustainability framework for low-income countries under review, calls for transparency in the computation of the country policy and institutional assessments, and welcomes the intention to disclose the country performance ratings of the International Development Association that form part of the framework; 11. Welcomes the Gleneagles proposal by the Group of Eight, as endorsed by the Bretton Woods institutions at their 2005 annual meetings, to cancel 100 per cent of the debt owed by heavily indebted poor countries to the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association and the African Development Fund and their emphasis that it should be expeditiously implemented by the concerned multilateral financial institutions, also welcomes their efforts to proceed with steps to ensure all necessary arrangements to implement the proposal and ensure that the funds for this process are fully additional to existing aid commitments to the International Development Association and the African Development Fund, looks forward to the remaining heavily indebted poor countries with unsustainable debt burdens, including countries that may enter the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative process based on their debt burdens at the end of 2004, becoming eligible for such treatment as they reach the completion point, emphasizes that the key element of the proposal is that debt relief will be fully financed by donors to ensure that the financing capacity of international financial institutions is not reduced, and in particular that the financial integrity and capacity of the International Development Association and the African Development Bank to assist developing countries in the future is maintained, and also emphasizes the importance of eligible countries maintaining sound economic policies and performance; 12. Notes with concern that, in spite of the progress achieved, some countries that have reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative have not been able to achieve lasting debt sustainability, stresses the importance of promoting responsible borrowing and lending and the need to help those countries to manage their borrowing and to avoid a build-up of unsustainable debt, including through the use of grants, and in this regard welcomes the ongoing work by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop a forward-looking debt sustainability framework for heavily indebted poor countries and low-income countries; 13. Welcomes the continued flexibility with regard to the application of eligibility criteria for the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, in particular for low-income developing countries emerging from conflicts and/or affected by natural disasters, and on the computational procedures and assumptions underlying debt sustainability analysis, and in this regard takes note of the work on identifying low-income countries with unsustainable debt as of the end of 2004, with a view to finalization, by early 2006, of the list of countries potentially eligible for assistance under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; 14. Emphasizes that the Evian approach of the Paris Club, decided upon by creditors in October 2003, deals with the bilateral debt of non-heavily indebted poor countries and low- and middle-income countries, taking into account not only the financing gaps but also the medium-term debt sustainability of these countries, and welcomes the fact that its objective is to tailor debt restructuring to the financial needs of the country concerned and to ensure long-lasting debt sustainability for countries that have adopted policies that will secure an exit from Paris Club debt reschedulings; 15. Calls upon creditor countries, in this regard, to continue to ensure that a tailored response to debt restructuring is granted only in a case of imminent default and is not considered by debtor countries as an alternative to more expensive sources of finance, and takes into account country-specific circumstances, financial vulnerabilities and the objective of enhancing long-lasting debt sustainability, while emphasizing that creditors and debtors must share responsibility for preventing and resolving unsustainable debt situations in a timely and efficient manner; 16. Acknowledges the ongoing work towards a more comprehensive approach to sovereign debt restructuring, supports the increasing inclusion of collective action clauses in international bond issuing, takes note of the work on issues related to international arbitration and mediation mechanisms, and welcomes the efforts by borrowing countries and private-sector creditors to broaden the consensus on the Principles for Stable Capital Flows and Fair Debt Restructuring in Emerging Markets, which could contribute to strengthening crisis prevention and enhancing predictability of crisis management, bearing in mind the need not to preclude emergency financing in times of crisis, to promote fair burden-sharing and to minimize moral hazard; 17. Stresses the need to find a solution for the debt problems of low- and middle-income developing countries with unsustainable debt burdens that are not eligible for assistance under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and in this regard invites creditors and debtors to continue to use, where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis, mechanisms such as debt swaps for alleviating their debt burden, and also stresses that this should be achieved in a fashion that does not detract from official development assistance resources, while maintaining the financial integrity of the multilateral financial institutions; 18. Takes note of the recent discussions and assessment by the Paris Club of the proposal for "Debt for Equity in Millennium Development Goal Projects"; 19. Invites donor countries, taking into account country-specific debt sustainability analyses, to continue their efforts to increase bilateral grants to developing countries, which could contribute to debt sustainability in the medium to long term, and recognizes the need for countries to be able to invest, inter alia, in health and education while maintaining debt sustainability; 20. Welcomes the efforts of the international community to provide flexibility, and stresses the need to continue those efforts in helping post-conflict developing countries, especially those that are heavily indebted and poor, to achieve initial reconstruction for economic and social development; 21. Welcomes also the efforts by creditors to provide flexibility to developing countries affected by natural disasters on a case-by-case basis so as to allow them to address their debt concerns; 22. Welcomes further the efforts of, and further calls upon, the international community to support institutional capacity-building in developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the management of financial assets and liabilities and to enhance sustainable debt management as an integral part of national development strategies; 23. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in cooperation with the regional commissions, development banks and other relevant multilateral financial institutions, to continue cooperation in respect of capacity-building activities in developing countries in the area of debt management; 24. Calls upon all Member States and the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions as well as the private sector, to take appropriate measures and actions for the implementation of the commitments, agreements and decisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits, in particular those related to the question of the external debt problems of developing countries; 25. Takes note of the contribution provided by the multi-stakeholder dialogues on sovereign debt organized by the Financing for Development Office of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the external debt and debt-servicing problems of developing countries; 27. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "External debt crisis and development". RESOLUTION 60/188 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/487, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/188. Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development The General Assembly, Recalling the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and its resolutions 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, 57/250 of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 57/272 and 57/273 of 20 December 2002, 58/230 of 23 December 2003 and 59/225 of 22 December 2004, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/34 of 26 July 2002, 2003/47 of 24 July 2003 and 2004/64 of 16 September 2004, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development, prepared in collaboration with the major institutional stakeholders,A/59/822 and A/60/289. Taking note also of other relevant reports of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development,A/59/800, A/59/855 and A/60/289/Add.1. Having considered the World Economic and Social Survey 2005: Financing for Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.C.1. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Having considered the summary by the President of the Economic and Social Council of the special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in New York on 18 April 2005,A/59/823-E/2005/69. Welcoming the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development held in New York on 27 and 28 June 2005 and the separate meeting on financing for development held within the framework of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on 14 September 2005, Having considered the summary by the President of the General Assembly of the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development,A/60/219. Reaffirming the commitment to the global partnership for development set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome, Reaffirming also that each country must take primary responsibility for its own development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized for the achievement of sustainable development, and recognizing that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty, Recognizing the ongoing international efforts, contributions and discussions, such as the Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative, aimed at identifying and developing possible innovative and additional sources of financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and external, to increase and supplement traditional sources of financing within the context of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, recognizing that some of the sources and their use fall within the realm of sovereign action, Underlining that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, that is, the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations; that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space; and that it is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments, Reiterating the need to implement fully and build further on the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development, and recognizing the strong link between financing for development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming the recent decisions, commitments and proposals made in this regard to implement and build on the commitments made and agreements reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development, 1. Underlines, in accordance with the Monterrey Consensus:Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. (a) The importance of the implementation of the commitment to sound policies, good governance at all levels and the rule of law; (b) The importance of the implementation of the commitment to create an enabling environment for mobilizing domestic resources and the importance of sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure as a basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; (c) The importance, in order to complement national development efforts, of the implementation of the commitment to enhance the coherence and consistency of international monetary, financial and trading systems; 2. Welcomes the efforts by developing countries to adopt and implement national development strategies to achieve their national development priorities as well as the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals; reaffirms the resolve, for those countries that have not yet done so, to adopt such strategies by 2006 and implement them; and also reaffirms the resolve to support these efforts as set out in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. including through increased resources; 3. Stresses the importance of a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, that can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development; in that regard reaffirms its commitment to trade liberalization and to ensuring that trade plays its full part in promoting economic growth, employment and development for all; thus welcomes the decisions of the World Trade Organization to place the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of its work programme and commits itself to their implementation; and in this regard emphasizes the importance of fulfilling the development dimension of the Doha work programmeSee A/C.2/56/7, annex. and the successful completion of the Doha round as soon as possible; 4. Notes that, while foreign direct investment is a major source of financing development, the flow of such funds to developing countries and countries with economies in transition remains uneven, and in this regard calls upon developed countries to continue to devise source-country measures to encourage and facilitate the flow of foreign direct investment, inter alia, through the provision of export credits and other lending instruments, risk guarantees and business development services, and calls upon developing countries and countries with economies in transition to continue their efforts to create a conducive domestic environment for attracting investments by, inter alia, achieving a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate with proper contract enforcement and respect for property rights; 5. Reaffirms the Monterrey Consensus and recognizes that mobilizing financial resources for development and the effective use of those resources in developing countries and countries with economies in transition are central to a global partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard: (a) Welcomes the increased resources that will become available as a result of the establishment of timetables by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2015 and to reach at least 0.5 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2010, as well as, pursuant to the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent for the least developed countries by no later than 2010, and urges those developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard in accordance with their commitments; (b) Recognizes the importance of official development assistance as a major source of financing development for many developing countries; stresses the need to translate increases in official development assistance into real increases in resources for national development strategies to achieve the national development priorities of developing countries as well as the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals, taking into account the need for resource predictability, including budget support mechanisms where appropriate; welcomes recent efforts and initiatives to enhance the quality of aid and increase its impact, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness; resolves to take concrete, effective and timely action to implement all agreed commitments on aid effectiveness, with clear monitoring and deadlines, including through further aligning assistance with countries' strategies, building institutional capacities, reducing transaction costs and eliminating bureaucratic procedures, making progress on untying aid, enhancing the absorptive capacity and financial management of recipient countries and strengthening the focus of development results; and encourages the broadest possible participation of developing countries in future work on aid effectiveness; (c) Recognizes the importance of developing innovative sources of financing for development, provided that such sources do not unduly burden developing countries; notes that some countries will launch the International Financial Facility, some countries have launched the Facility's immunization pilot and some countries, utilizing their national authorities, will implement in the near future a contribution on airline tickets as a "solidarity contribution" to enable financing for development projects; and notes that other countries are considering whether and to what extent they will participate in those initiatives; (d) Recognizes the progress achieved in this regard, and decides to give further consideration to the subject of innovative development financing from all sources, public and private, domestic and external; (e) Emphasizes the importance of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty; highlights that the observance of the International Year of Microcredit 2005 has provided a significant opportunity to raise awareness, share best practices and further enhance financial sectors that support sustainable pro-poor financial services in all countries; in this regard urges member countries to put best practices into action; and invites the international community, including the United Nations system, to build on the momentum created by the Year; (f) Acknowledges the vital role that the private sector can play in generating new investments, employment and financing for development; 6. Stresses the importance of investments in basic economic and social infrastructure, as set out in the Monterrey Consensus; notes that scaling up investment in infrastructure, alongside strong programmes for health and education, is a key element for faster growth and progress in reducing poverty; in this regard, calls for continued deepening and scaling up of support for infrastructure service delivery and removal of impediments in order to respond to the needs of developing countries, consistent with national development strategies; welcomes the progress made by the World Bank Group to strengthen public-private partnerships to leverage investment and maximize impact, including in the framework of the newly established Africa Infrastructure Consortium; and acknowledges the work of the World Bank in this area, including plans for a progress report to the Development Committee on the impact of fiscal space on growth and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; 7. Emphasizes the great importance of a timely, effective, comprehensive and durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries since debt financing and relief can be an important source of capital for economic growth and development, and also emphasizes that creditors and debtors must share responsibilities for preventing unsustainable debt situations; 8. Welcomes, in this regard, the recent proposal of the Group of Eight as endorsed by the Bretton Woods institutions at their 2005 annual meetings to cancel 100 per cent of the outstanding debt of eligible heavily indebted poor countries owed to the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association and the African Development Fund, and to provide additional resources to ensure that the financing capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced; 9. Emphasizes that corruption at all levels is a serious barrier to development and to effective resource mobilization and allocation; reaffirms the commitment expressed in the Monterrey Consensus to make the fight against corruption at all levels a priority; in this regard welcomes the entry into force on 14 December 2005 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Resolution 58/4, annex. and reiterates its invitation to all Member States and competent regional economic integration organizations, within the limits of their competence, to ratify or accede to and fully implement the Convention as soon as possible; 10. Recognizes the work of the Financing for Development Office of the Secretariat in organizing, within its mandate, workshops, multi-stakeholder consultations, panel discussions and other activities aimed at better enabling member countries to implement their commitments as agreed in the Monterrey Consensus, and requests the Office, in collaboration with experts from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society, to continue its work in this area; 11. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to consult with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization in order to expand existing cooperation between the two organizations on issues related to financing for development and to build on the ad hoc modalities of interaction between the United Nations and the World Trade Organization that were undertaken in the preparations for the International Conference on Financing for Development held in 2002 by making better use of the possibilities offered by the existing framework of cooperation; 12. Decides in accordance with paragraph 73 of the Monterrey Consensus to hold a follow-up international conference on financing for development to review the implementation of the Consensus at a time between 2008 and 2009; 13. Welcomes the offer of the Government of Qatar to host the conference; 14. Decides that, in line with General Assembly resolution 57/270 B, the review conference should assess progress made; reaffirm goals and commitments; share best practices and lessons learned; and identify obstacles and constraints encountered, actions and initiatives to overcome them and important measures for further implementation, as well as new challenges and emerging issues; 15. Also decides to commence the preparatory process, including a decision on the exact date of the conference, at its sixty-first session; 16. Resolves to continue to make full use of the existing institutional arrangements for reviewing the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, as set out in paragraph 69 of the Consensus and in line with resolution 57/270 B, including the high-level dialogues convened by the General Assembly and the spring meetings of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 17. Stresses the importance of the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus at all levels, and also stresses the importance of their full participation in the Monterrey follow-up process, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, in particular the accreditation procedures and modalities of participation utilized at the Conference and in its preparatory process; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development", and requests the Secretary-General to submit under that item an annual analytical assessment of the state of implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and of the present resolution, to be prepared in full collaboration with the major institutional stakeholders. RESOLUTION 60/189 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/189. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-third session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, 53/242 of 28 July 1999, 56/193 of 21 December 2001, 57/251 of 20 December 2002, 58/209 of 23 December 2003 and 59/226 of 22 December 2004, Taking into account Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Environment Programme as the principal body within the United Nations system in the field of environment, which should take into account, within its mandate, the sustainable development needs of developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, Reaffirming also that capacity-building and technology support to developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in environment-related fields are important components of the work of the United Nations Environment Programme, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme at its twenty-third sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 25 and addendum (A/60/25 and Add.1). and the decisions contained therein; 2. Notes that the Governing Council, at its twenty-third session, discussed all components of the recommendations on international environmental governance as contained in its decision SS.VII/1,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25), annex I. and notes also that reporting on international environmental governance is included in the agenda of its ninth special session; 3. Welcomes the adoption of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building,UNEP/GC.23/6/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex. calls for the intensification of ongoing efforts to implement the Plan with regard both to mobilizing adequate resources, from all sources, as well as the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations Environment Programme and other stakeholders, based on their comparative advantages, and invites Governments and other stakeholders in a position to do so to provide the necessary funding and technical assistance for its full implementation; 4. Also welcomes the continued efforts by the United Nations Environment Programme through the joint United Nations Environment Programme/Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Environment Unit, taking into account the respective mandates of relevant United Nations entities towards the strengthening of environmental emergency response and disaster prevention, preparedness and early warning systems; 5. Emphasizes the need for the United Nations Environment Programme, within its mandate, to further contribute to sustainable development programmes, the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. at all levels and to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, bearing in mind the mandate of the Commission; 6. Recognizes the need to strengthen the scientific base of the United Nations Environment Programme, as recommended by the intergovernmental consultation on strengthening the scientific base of the Programme, including the reinforcement of the scientific capacity of developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, including through the provision of adequate financial resources; 7. Recalls the resolve of Member States to promote the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, aiming to achieve that by 2020 chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment using transparent and science-based risk assessment and risk management procedure, by adopting and implementing a voluntary strategic approach to international management of chemicals, and to support developing countries in strengthening their capacity for the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes by providing technical and financial assistance, as appropriate; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Environment Programme to continue within its mandate its activities related to small island developing States, in pursuance of the outcome of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, held in Port Louis from 10 to 14 January 2005;Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. 9. Emphasizes the need to further enhance coordination and cooperation among the relevant United Nations organizations in the promotion of the environmental dimension of sustainable development, and welcomes the continued active participation of the United Nations Environment Programme in the United Nations Development Group; 10. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the provisions of section III.B. of the appendix to decision SS.VII/1 of the Governing Council on strengthening the role and financial situation of the United Nations Environment Programme, including the significant broadening of the donor base and increasing total contributions to the Environment Fund, and in this regard notes that the Governing Council will review the implementation of those provisions at its twenty-fourth session; 11. Reiterates the need for stable, adequate and predictable financial resources for the United Nations Environment Programme, and, in accordance with resolution 2997 (XXVII), underlines the need to consider the adequate reflection of all administrative and management costs of the Programme in the context of the United Nations regular budget; 12. Emphasizes the importance of the Nairobi headquarters location of the United Nations Environment Programme, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to the Programme and to the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its ninth special session". RESOLUTION 60/18 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/541, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/18. Financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in HaitiA/60/176 and Corr.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/386. Recalling Security Council resolution 1529 (2004) of 29 February 2004, by which the Council declared its readiness to establish a United Nations stabilization force to support continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process and the maintenance of a secure and stable environment in Haiti, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1542 (2004) of 30 April 2004, by which the Council decided to establish the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti for an initial period of six months, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1608 (2005) of 22 June 2005, by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission until 15 February 2006 and authorized an increase for a temporary period in the military and civilian police components of the Mission, Recalling further its resolution 58/311 of 18 June 2004 on the financing of the Mission and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 59/17 B of 22 June 2005, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 59/296 of 22 June 2005, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti as at 31 August 2005, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 190 million United States dollars, representing some 34 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only twenty Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/386. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 10. Decides not to endorse paragraph 22 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/60/386. 11. Decides to reduce the overall level of operational costs by 2,340,000 dollars, taking into account the reductions proposed in paragraphs 18 and 21 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/60/386. 12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of relevant provisions of its resolution 59/296; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 14. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Revised budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 15. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti the amount of 46,414,900 dollars for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006, in addition to the amount of 494,887,000 dollars already appropriated for the same period under the terms of its resolution 59/17 B; Financing of the appropriation 16. Also decides, taking into account the amount of 494,887,000 dollars previously apportioned at a monthly rate of 41,240,583 dollars for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 under the terms of its resolution 59/17 B, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 29,147,500 dollars for the period from 1 July 2005 to 15 February 2006, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003 and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005 and 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 17. Further decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the additional amount of 104,100 dollars approved for the Mission for the period from 1 July 2005 to 15 February 2006; 18. Decides to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 17,267,400 dollars for the period from 16 February to 30 June 2006 at a monthly rate of 3,867,900 dollars, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 58/256 and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission; 19. Also decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 18 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the additional amount of 61,600 dollars approved for the Mission; 20. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 21. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 22. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 23. Decides to keep under review during its sixtieth session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti". RESOLUTION 60/190 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/190. Global Code of Ethics for Tourism The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/212 of 21 December 2001 and its decision 58/573 of 13 September 2004, Recalling also its resolution 58/232 of 23 December 2003, by which it approved the Agreement between the United Nations and the World Tourism Organization, Recalling further the Manila Declaration on World Tourism of 10 October 1980,A/36/236, annex, appendix I. the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. and Agenda 21Ibid., annex II. of 14 June 1992, the Amman Declaration on Peace through Tourism of 11 November 2000,See A/55/640. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Ibid., resolution 2, annex. the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. and the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. Recognizing the important dimension and role of tourism as a positive instrument towards the eradication of poverty and the improvement of the quality of life for all people, its potential to make a contribution to economic and social development, especially of the developing countries, and its emergence as a vital force for the promotion of international understanding, peace and prosperity, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report by the World Tourism Organization on the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism;A/60/167. 2. Notes with interest the establishment of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics as adopted by the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization in 2001; 3. Notes the approval by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics of the Procedures for Consultation and Conciliation for the Settlement of Disputes concerning the Application of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism; 4. Reiterates the invitation to Member States and other stakeholders to consider introducing, as appropriate, the contents of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism in their relevant laws, regulations and professional practices, and, in this regard, recognizes with appreciation those Member States that have already done so; 5. Recognizes the need to promote sustainable tourism development, including non-consumptive tourism and ecotourism, taking into account the spirit of the International Year of Ecotourism, 2002, the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, 2002, the World Ecotourism Summit, 2002, and the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism,A/57/343, annex. and the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism as adopted by the World Tourism Organization in 1999,See E/2001/61, annex. in order to increase the benefits from tourism resources for the population in host communities while maintaining the cultural and environmental integrity of the host communities and enhancing the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and natural heritages and to promote sustainable tourism development and capacity-building in order to contribute to the strengthening of rural and local communities; 6. Invites Member States and other stakeholders to give support to the activities undertaken by the World Tourism Organization in favour of sustainable tourism in developing countries for the eradication of poverty; 7. Emphasizes the need for the promotion of responsible and sustainable tourism for the protection and safeguarding of natural and cultural heritage that could be beneficial to all sectors of society and the natural environment towards the achievement of sustainable development; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session on the developments related to the implementation of the present resolution on the basis of the reports of the World Tourism Organization. RESOLUTION 60/191 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/191. International Year of the Potato, 2008 The General Assembly, Noting that the potato is a staple food in the diet of the world's population, Recalling resolution 4/2005 of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, adopted on 25 November 2005,See Report of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Thirty-third Session, Rome, 19-26 November 2005 (C 2005/REP). Affirming the need to focus world attention on the role that the potato can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty in support of achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, 1. Decides to declare 2008 the International Year of the Potato; 2. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to facilitate the implementation of the International Year of the Potato, in collaboration with Governments, the United Nations Development Programme, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research centres and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system, as well as relevant non-governmental organizations. RESOLUTION 60/192 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.1, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/192. International Year of Planet Earth, 2008 The General Assembly, Reaffirming Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). Noting that the wealth of scientific information available on planet Earth remains largely untapped and hardly known to the public or to policymakers and decision makers, Convinced that education in Earth sciences provides humankind with tools for the sustainable use of natural resources and for building the scientific infrastructure essential for sustainable development, Welcoming the decision of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to support the declaration of 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth with a view to highlighting the importance of Earth sciences, Taking into account the crucial role the Year could play, inter alia, in raising public awareness of the importance for sustainable development of the Earth's processes and resources; disaster prevention, reduction and mitigation; and capacity-building for the sustainable management of resources; and its important contribution to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, 1. Decides to declare 2008 the International Year of Planet Earth; 2. Designates the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the lead agency and the focal point for the Year to organize activities to be undertaken during the Year, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme and other relevant entities of the United Nations system, as well as the International Union of Geological Sciences and other Earth science societies and groups throughout the world, and in this regard agrees that the activities of the International Year of Planet Earth will be funded from voluntary contributions, including, inter alia, from industry and major foundations mobilized by a consortium of international organizations, led by the International Union of Geological Sciences; 3. Encourages all Member States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Year to increase awareness of the importance of Earth sciences for the achievement of sustainable development and to promote action at the local, national, regional and international levels; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the progress of the preparations for the International Year of Planet Earth. RESOLUTION 60/193 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.1, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/193. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 23 June 2003, respectively, and its resolutions 58/218 of 23 December 2003 and 59/227 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and reaffirmed in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome, Reaffirming the decisions taken at the eleventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, Reaffirming also the continuing need to ensure a balance among economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, Reiterating that the Commission is the high-level body responsible for sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as a forum for consideration of issues related to integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, Reaffirming that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development, Recognizing that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development, Recognizing also that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, particularly for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of other United Nations conferences and the Millennium Declaration, Recalling the decision taken by the Commission at its thirteenth sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 13/1. to devote one day of its review sessions to the review of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. focusing on that year's thematic cluster, as well as on any new developments regarding the sustainable development efforts of small island developing States using existing modalities, Recalling also the decision of the Commission to request its secretariat to update the policy options and practical measures contained in the Chairman's summary of the interactive discussions held at the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting, on a regular basis, so as to make it a living document, and to develop web-based tools to disseminate information on implementation and best practices,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 13/1. Looking forward to the upcoming cycles of the work programme of the Commission as adopted at its eleventh session and their contributions to the further implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities undertaken in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development;A/60/261 and Corr.1. 2. Notes that the Commission on Sustainable Development at its thirteenth session adopted policy decisions on options and practical measures aimed at accelerating progress in implementation in the areas of water, sanitation and human settlements;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 13/1. 3. Reiterates that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 4. Calls upon Governments, all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations funds and programmes, the regional commissions and the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as major groups, to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and encourages them to report on concrete progress in that regard; 5. Calls for the effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and for the fulfilment of the provisions relating to the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 6. Encourages Governments to participate at the appropriate level with representatives, including ministers, from the relevant departments and organizations working in the areas of energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change, as well as finance, in the fourteenth session of the Commission; 7. Recalls the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session to invite the regional commissions, in collaboration with the secretariat of the Commission, to consider organizing regional implementation meetings in order to contribute to the work of the Commission,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I, para. 3 (a). and, in this regard, welcomes the activities undertaken by the regional commissions and the secretariat of the Commission to organize the regional implementation meetings in preparation for the fourteenth session of the Commission, and looks forward to their contributions, based on the discussions in the intergovernmental regional implementation meetings, to the preparation of the fourteenth session; 8. Also recalls the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that activities during Commission meetings should provide for the balanced involvement of participants from all regions, as well as for gender balance;Ibid., para. 2 (j). 9. Invites donor countries to consider supporting the participation of experts from the developing countries in the areas of energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change in the fourteenth session of the Commission; 10. Reaffirms the objective of strengthening the implementation of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. including through the mobilization of financial and technological resources, as well as capacity-building programmes, particularly for developing countries; 11. Also reaffirms the objective of enhancing the participation and effective involvement of civil society and other relevant stakeholders in the implementation of Agenda 21, as well as to promote transparency and broad public participation; 12. Further reaffirms the need to promote corporate responsibility and accountability as envisaged by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 13. Reaffirms the need to promote the development of microenterprises and small- and medium-sized enterprises, including by means of training, education and skill enhancement, with a special focus on agro-industry as a provider of livelihoods for rural communities; 14. Requests the secretariat of the Commission to make arrangements to facilitate the balanced representation of major groups from developed and developing countries in the sessions of the Commission; 15. Also requests the secretariat of the Commission to coordinate the participation of the relevant major groups in the discussions at the fourteenth session of the Commission; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the Commission at its fourteenth session on the state of the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21Resolution S-19/2, annex. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, on the basis of appropriate inputs from all levels, to submit thematic reports on the thematic cluster of issues for the fourteenth session of the Commission, in accordance with the decisions taken by the Commission at its eleventh session; 17. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Commission, at its review session, on progress and obstacles in respect of sustainable development in small island developing States, including recommendations on how to enhance the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. focusing on that year's thematic cluster; 18. Encourages Governments and organizations at all levels, as well as major groups, including the scientific community and educators, to undertake results-oriented initiatives and activities to support the work of the Commission and to promote and facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including through voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives; 19. Notes the convening of the Second International Expert Meeting on the Ten-year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production in San José, Costa Rica, from 5 to 8 September 2005; 20. Also notes the work in inter-agency cooperation and coordination undertaken in the follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and requests the Secretary-General to report, at its sixty-first session, on action taken by the United Nations system in the thematic areas being addressed by the Commission in its current two-year cycle, with a view to facilitating an in-depth consideration of system-wide inter-agency cooperation and coordination in the relevant thematic areas, in accordance with the mandates agreed upon in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development", and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/194 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/194. Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. adopted by the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and recalling its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference, Reaffirming also the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States ("Mauritius Strategy for Implementation"),Ibid., annex II. adopted by the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States on 14 January 2005, and recalling its resolution 59/311 of 14 July 2005, in which it endorsed the outcomes of the International Meeting, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Welcoming the decision taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its thirteenth sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 13/1. to devote one day of its review sessions to the review of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, focusing on that year's thematic cluster, as well as on any new developments in the sustainable development efforts of small island developing States using existing modalities, and to request the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Commission at its review session on progress in and obstacles to sustainable development in small island developing States, including recommendations to enhance the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, Recognizing that it is crucial to mobilize resources from all sources for the effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/401. 2. Welcomes the renewed commitment of the international community to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;Ibid., annex II. 3. Urges Governments and all relevant international and regional organizations, United Nations funds, programmes, specialized agencies and regional commissions, international financial institutions and the Global Environment Facility, as well as other intergovernmental organizations and major groups, to take timely action for the effective implementation of and follow-up to the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation,Ibid., annex II. including the further development and operationalization of concrete projects and programmes; 4. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and targets adopted at the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States and, to this end, for the fulfilment of the provisions for the means of implementation, as contained in the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, and encourages small island developing States and their development partners to continue to consult widely in order to develop further concrete projects and programmes for the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation; 5. Encourages the implementation of partnership initiatives, within the framework of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, in support of the sustainable development of small island developing States; 6. Notes with interest the convening by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, pursuant to resolution 59/311, of regional meetings of small island developing States, held in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa and Seychelles, as well as the interregional meeting of small island developing States, held in Rome in November 2005, and requests the Secretary-General to transmit the reports of the regional and interregional meetings to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its fourteenth session; 7. Notes the recent efforts to strengthen the Small Island Developing States Unit in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and urges the Secretary-General to ensure that the Unit is sufficiently and sustainably staffed to undertake its broad range of mandated functions with a view to ensuring the full and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, within existing resources, including by redeploying resources; 8. Requests the relevant agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to mainstream, as appropriate, the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation in their work programmes and to establish a focal point for matters related to small island developing States within their respective secretariats; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States". RESOLUTION 60/195 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.3, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/195. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, 49/22 B of 20 December 1994, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/219 of 22 December 1999, 56/195 of 21 December 2001, 57/256 of 20 December 2002, 58/214 of 23 December 2003 and 59/231 of 22 December 2004, and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2001/35 of 26 July 2001, and taking into due consideration its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries, Reiterating that, although natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, the long-term consequences of natural disasters are especially severe for developing countries and hamper the achievement of their sustainable development, Recognizing that disaster risk reduction is a cross-cutting issue in the context of sustainable development, Recognizing also the clear relationship between development, disaster risk reduction, disaster response and disaster recovery and the need to deploy efforts in all these areas, Recognizing further the urgent need to further develop and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to build resilience to natural disasters, and emphasizing the need for developing countries to have access to technology so as to tackle natural disasters effectively, Emphasizing that disaster risk reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Stressing the importance of advancing the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and its relevant provisions on vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, Expressing its profound gratitude to the Government and the people of Japan for the excellent arrangements made for hosting the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held at Kobe, Hyogo, from 18 to 22 January 2005, for the hospitality extended to the participants and for the facilities, staff and services placed at their disposal, as well as for all the voluntary contributions made to facilitate the participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular those from the least developed countries, Welcoming the Hyogo Declaration,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. and the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Recognizing that the Hyogo Framework for Action complements the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action,A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. Taking note that the scope of the Hyogo Framework for Action encompasses disasters caused by hazards of natural origin and related environmental and technological hazards and risks and thus reflects a holistic and multi-hazard approach to disaster risk management and the relationship between them, which can have a significant impact on social, economic, cultural and environmental systems, as stressed in the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capability to cope with disaster risks, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;A/60/180. 2. Endorses the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held at Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, and recalls the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future;A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II. 3. Calls for a more effective integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies, planning and programming; for the development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards and for a systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into the implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes; 4. Invites Member States, the United Nations system, including international financial institutions, regional bodies and other international organizations, as well as relevant civil society organizations, to support, implement and follow up the Hyogo Framework for Action; 5. Calls upon the United Nations system, including international financial institutions and international organizations, to integrate the goals of and take into full account the Hyogo Framework for Action in their strategies and programmes, making use of existing coordination mechanisms, and to assist developing countries with those mechanisms to design disaster risk reduction measures with a sense of urgency; 6. Calls upon the international community to fully implement the commitments of the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action; 7. Recalls that the commitments of the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action include the provision of assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 8. Calls upon the United Nations system, including the international financial institutions as well as regional banks and other regional and international organizations to support, in a timely and sustained manner, the efforts led by disaster-stricken countries for disaster risk reduction, in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes; 9. Takes note of all the regional and subregional initiatives developed in order to achieve disaster risk reduction, reiterates the need to develop regional initiatives and risk reduction capacities of regional mechanisms and to strengthen them, wherever they exist, and encourages the use and sharing of all the existing tools; 10. Notes the importance of developing international mechanisms for the implementation of the actions established in the Hyogo Framework for Action, such as, for example, the International Recovery Platform launched to ensure the reduction of vulnerability during the post-disaster recovery phase; 11. Recognizes that each State has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and for taking effective measures to reduce disaster risk, including for the protection of people on its territory, infrastructure and other national assets from the impact of disasters, including the implementation of and follow-up to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and stresses the importance of international cooperation and partnerships to support those national efforts; 12. Also recognizes the need to strengthen the sharing of good practices, knowledge and technical support among all relevant stakeholders; 13. Calls upon the international community to support the development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels, in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilience to hazards; 14. Stresses the importance of further strengthening the capacity of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction system in order to provide a solid basis for action as mandated by the Hyogo Framework for Action, and requests the Secretary-General to include this issue in his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 15. Recognizes the importance of integrating a gender perspective as well as engaging women in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster management, particularly at the disaster risk reduction stage; 16. Expresses its appreciation to those countries that have provided financial support for the activities of the Strategy by making voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; 17. Encourages the international community to provide adequate voluntary financial contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction, in the effort to ensure the adequate support for the follow-up activities to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and to review the current usage and feasibility for the expansion of the Fund, inter alia, to assist disaster-prone developing countries to set up national strategies for disaster risk reduction; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate adequate financial and administrative resources, within existing resources, for the activities and effective functioning of the Inter-Agency Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; 19. Invites Governments and relevant international organizations to consider disaster risk assessment as an integral component of development plans and poverty eradication programmes; 20. Stresses the importance of identifying, assessing and managing risks prior to the occurrence of disasters, for which it is necessary to combine the efforts at all levels from the development, humanitarian, scientific and environmental communities as well as the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction, as appropriate, into development plans and poverty eradication programmes; 21. Also stresses the need to foster better understanding and knowledge of the causes of disasters, as well as to build and strengthen coping capacities through, inter alia, the transfer and exchange of experiences and technical knowledge, access to relevant data and information and the strengthening of institutional arrangements, including community-based organizations; 22. Recognizes the importance of early warning as an essential element of disaster risk reduction and looks forward to the results of the Third International Conference on Early Warning, to be held from 27 to 29 March 2006, in Bonn, Germany; 23. Requests, in this context, the Inter-Agency Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction to complete the preparation of the global survey on early warning capacities and gaps, including an account of available technologies for early warning, and invites Member States to provide inputs that may assist the Inter-Agency Secretariat for the Strategy in preparing this survey; 24. Reiterates its call upon Governments to establish national platforms or focal points for disaster reduction and to strengthen them, wherever they exist, encourages the platforms to share relevant information on standards and practices, urges the United Nations system, in this regard, to provide appropriate support for those mechanisms, and invites the Secretary-General to strengthen the regional outreach of the Inter-Agency Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in order to ensure such support; 25. Stresses that continued cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, other organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, are considered essential to address effectively the impact of natural disasters; 26. Recognizes the importance of linking disaster risk management to regional frameworks, as appropriate, such as the African Regional Strategy for Disaster Reduction developed within the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. to address issues of poverty eradication and sustainable development; 27. Emphasizes the need for the international community to maintain its focus beyond emergency relief and to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction, and stresses the importance of implementing programmes related to the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and disaster risk reduction management in the most vulnerable regions, particularly in developing countries prone to natural disasters; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 60/196 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.3, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/196. Natural disasters and vulnerability The General Assembly, Recalling its decision 57/547 of 20 December 2002 and its resolutions 58/215 of 23 December 2003 and 59/233 of 22 December 2004, Reaffirming the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Ibid., resolution 2, annex. adopted by the World Summit, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, Reaffirming also the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held at Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Taking note that the scope of the Hyogo Framework for Action encompasses disasters caused by hazards of natural origin and related environmental and technological hazards and risks and thus reflects a holistic and multi-hazard approach to disaster risk management and the relationship between them, which can have a significant impact on social, economic, cultural and environmental systems, as stressed in the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action,A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, the underlying risk factors, as identified in the Hyogo Framework for Action, including socio-economic factors, that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural hazards, to build and further strengthen community capacity to cope with disaster risks and to enhance resilience against hazards associated with disasters, while also recognizing the negative impact of natural disasters on economic growth and sustainable development, in particular in developing countries and disaster-prone countries, Noting that the global environment continues to suffer degradation, adding to economic and social vulnerabilities, in particular in developing countries, Taking into account the various ways and forms in which all countries, in particular the more vulnerable countries, are affected by severe natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and volcanic eruptions and extreme weather events such as heat waves, severe droughts, floods and storms, and the El Niño/La Niña events which have global reach, Expressing deep concern at the recent increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and associated natural disasters in some regions of the world and their substantial economic, social and environmental impacts, in particular upon developing countries in those regions, Taking into account that geological and hydro-meteorological hazards and their associated natural disasters and their reduction must be addressed in a coherent and effective manner, Noting the need for international and regional cooperation to increase the capacity of countries to respond to the negative impacts of all natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and volcanic eruptions and extreme weather events such as heat waves, severe droughts and floods, and associated natural disasters, in particular in developing countries and disaster-prone countries, Bearing in mind the importance of addressing disaster risks related to changing social, economic, environmental conditions and land use, and the impact of hazards associated with geological events, weather, water, climate variability and climate change, in sector development planning and programmes as well as in post-disaster situations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,A/60/180. in particular section II, entitled "Disasters associated with natural hazards and vulnerability: a development challenge"; 2. Recognizes that each State has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and for taking effective measures to reduce disaster risk, including for the protection of people on its territory, infrastructure and other national assets from the impact of disasters, including the implementation of and follow-up to the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. and stresses the importance of international cooperation and partnerships to support those national efforts; 3. Urges the international community to continue to address ways and means, including through cooperation and technical assistance, to reduce the adverse effects of natural disasters, including those caused by extreme weather events, in particular in vulnerable developing countries, including least developed countries and in Africa, through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, including the Hyogo Framework for Action, and encourages the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction to continue its work in this regard; 4. Stresses the importance of the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action and the priorities for action that States, regional and international organizations and international financial institutions as well as other concerned actors should take into consideration in their approach to disaster risk reduction and implement, as appropriate, according to their own circumstances and capacities, bearing in mind the vital importance of promoting a culture of prevention in the area of natural disasters, including through the mobilization of adequate resources for disaster risk reduction, and of addressing disaster risk reduction, including disaster preparedness, and the adverse effects of natural disasters in efforts to implement national development plans and poverty reduction strategies with a view to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Encourages Governments, through their respective International Strategy for Disaster Reduction national platforms and national focal points for disaster risk reduction, in cooperation with the United Nations system and other stakeholders, to strengthen capacity-building in the most vulnerable regions, to enable them to address the socio-economic factors that increase vulnerability, and to develop measures that will enable them to prepare for and cope with natural disasters, including those associated with earthquakes and extreme weather events, and encourages the international community to provide effective assistance to developing countries in this regard; 6. Emphasizes, in order to build resilience, particularly in developing countries, especially those vulnerable among them, the importance of addressing the underlying risk factors identified in the Hyogo Framework for Action and the importance of promoting the integration of risk reduction associated with geological and hydrometeorological hazards in disaster risk reduction programmes; 7. Encourages the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction to continue, within its mandate, particularly the Hyogo Framework for Action, to enhance the coordination of activities to promote disaster risk reduction and to make available to the relevant United Nations entities information on options for natural disaster risk reduction, including severe natural hazards and extreme weather-related disasters and vulnerabilities; 8. Stresses the importance of close cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations as well as non-governmental organizations and other partners such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as appropriate, taking into account the need for the development of disaster management strategies, including the effective establishment of early warning systems that are, inter alia, people-centred, while taking advantage of all available resources and expertise for that purpose; 9. Encourages the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. and the parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. to continue to address the adverse effects of climate change, especially in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, and also encourages the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to continue to assess the adverse effects of climate change on the socio-economic and natural disaster reduction systems of developing countries; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to consider the issue of natural disasters and vulnerability at that session, under the sub-item entitled "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction" of the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 60/197 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.4, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 60/197. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/222 of 22 December 1999, its decision 55/443 of 20 December 2000 and its resolutions 56/199 of 21 December 2001, 57/257 of 20 December 2002, 58/243 of 23 December 2003 and 59/234 of 22 December 2004 and other resolutions relating to the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. including the acknowledgement that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions, Recalling further the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session, held in New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002,FCCC/CP/2002/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.8. the outcome of the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties held in Milan, Italy, from 1 to 12 December 2003,FCCC/CP/2003/6/Add.1 and 2. and the outcome of the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties, held in Buenos Aires from 6 to 18 December 2004,FCCC/CP/2004/10/Add.1 and 2. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. Remaining deeply concerned that all countries, in particular developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, face increased risks from the negative effects of climate change, and stressing the need to address adaptation needs relating to such effects, Noting that one hundred and eighty-nine States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified the Convention, Noting also that, to date, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. has attracted one hundred and fifty-six ratifications, including from parties mentioned in annex I to the Convention, which account for 61.6 per cent of emissions, Noting further the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the need to build and enhance scientific and technological capabilities, inter alia, through continuing support to the Panel for the exchange of scientific data and information, especially in developing countries, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and to embark on the required reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases,Ibid., para. 23. Reaffirming its commitment to the ultimate objective of the Convention, namely, to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, Taking note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on the work of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention,A/60/171, sect. I. 1. Calls upon States to work cooperatively towards achieving the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 2. Notes that States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. welcome the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol on 16 February 2005 and strongly urge States that have not yet done so to ratify it in a timely manner; 3. Notes with interest the activities undertaken under the flexible mechanisms established by the Kyoto Protocol; 4. Takes note of the decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its tenth session,FCCC/CP/2004/10/Add.1 and 2. and calls for their implementation; 5. Notes the importance of the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, held in Montreal, Canada, from 28 November to 9 December 2005; 6. Also notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in AfricaUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and encourages cooperation to promote complementarities among the three secretariats while respecting their independent legal status; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to make provisions for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its subsidiary bodies in his proposal for the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 8. Invites the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the work of the Conference of the Parties; 9. Invites the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind". RESOLUTION 60/198 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.5, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/198. Sustainable mountain development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/24 of 10 November 1998, by which it proclaimed 2002 the International Year of Mountains, Recalling also its resolutions 55/189 of 20 December 2000, 57/245 of 20 December 2002 and 58/216 of 23 December 2003, Recalling further its resolution 59/238 of 22 December 2004 on rendering assistance to poor mountain countries to overcome obstacles in socio-economic and ecological areas, Recognizing chapter 13 of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and all relevant paragraphs of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular paragraph 42 thereof, as the overall policy frameworks for sustainable development in mountain regions, Noting the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions ("Mountain Partnership"), launched during the World Summit on Sustainable Development, with benefits from the committed support of forty-four countries, fourteen intergovernmental organizations and sixty-eight organizations from major groups, as an important approach to addressing the various interrelated dimensions of sustainable development in mountain regions, Noting also the Bishkek Mountain Platform,A/C.2/57/7, annex. the outcome document of the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit, held at Bishkek from 28 October to 1 November 2002, which was the concluding event of the International Year of Mountains, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Sustainable mountain development";A/60/309. 2. Notes with appreciation that a growing network of Governments, organizations, major groups and individuals around the world recognize the importance of sustainable development of mountain regions for poverty eradication, as well as the global importance of mountains as the source of most of the Earth's freshwater, as repositories of rich biological diversity, as popular destinations for recreation and tourism and as areas of important cultural diversity, knowledge and heritage; 3. Notes with concern that there remain key challenges to achieving sustainable development, eradicating poverty in mountain regions and protecting mountain ecosystems, and that populations in mountain regions are frequently among the poorest of a given country; 4. Notes that the growing demand for natural resources, including water, the consequences of erosion, deforestation and other forms of watershed degradation, the occurrence of natural disasters, as well as increasing outmigration, the pressures of industry, transport, tourism, mining, agriculture and the consequences of global climate change are some of the key challenges in fragile mountain ecosystems to implementing sustainable development and eradicating poverty in mountains, consistent with the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in mountain regions, especially those in developing countries; 6. Underlines the fact that action at the national level is a key factor in achieving progress in sustainable mountain development, welcomes its steady increase in recent years with a multitude of events, activities and initiatives, and invites the international community to support the efforts of developing countries to develop and implement strategies and programmes, including, where required, enabling policies and laws for the sustainable development of mountains, within the framework of national development plans; 7. Encourages the further establishment of committees or similar multi-stakeholder institutional arrangements and mechanisms at the national level to enhance intersectoral coordination and collaboration for sustainable development in mountain regions; 8. Also encourages increased involvement of relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, in the development and implementation of programmes and activities related to sustainable development in mountains; 9. Underlines the need for improved access to resources for women in mountain regions as well as the need to strengthen the role of women in mountain regions in decision-making processes that affect their communities, cultures and environments; 10. Stresses that indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge, including in the field of medicine, are to be fully considered, respected and promoted in development policy and planning in mountain regions, and underlines the importance of promoting full participation and involvement of mountain communities in decisions that affect them and of integrating indigenous knowledge, heritage and values in all development initiatives; 11. Recognizes that many developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition need to be assisted in the formulation and implementation of national strategies and programmes for sustainable mountain development, through bilateral, multilateral and South-South cooperation, as well as through other forms of collaborative approaches; 12. Notes that funding for sustainable mountain development has become increasingly important, especially in view of the greater recognition of the global importance of mountains and the high level of extreme poverty, food insecurity and hardship facing mountain communities; 13. Invites Governments, the United Nations system, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility, all relevant United Nations conventions and their funding mechanisms, within their respective mandates, and all relevant stakeholders from civil society and the private sector to consider providing support, including through voluntary financial contributions, to local, national and international programmes and projects for sustainable development in mountain regions; 14. Underlines the importance for sustainable development in mountains of exploring a wide range of funding sources, such as public-private partnerships, increased opportunities for microfinance, including microinsurance, small housing loans, savings, education and health accounts, and support for entrepreneurs seeking to develop small and medium-sized businesses and, where appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, debt for sustainable development swaps; 15. Underlines also the importance of enhancing the sustainability of ecosystems that provide essential resources and services for human well-being and economic activity and developing innovative means of financing for their protection; 16. Notes with satisfaction the recent adoption by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. of the programme of work on mountain biological diversity, the overall purpose of which is the significant reduction of the loss of mountain biological diversity by 2010 at the global, regional and national levels, and its implementation, which aims at making a significant contribution to poverty eradication in mountain regions; 17. Recognizes that mountain ranges are usually shared among several countries, and in this context encourages transboundary cooperation approaches, where the States concerned agree, to the sustainable development of mountain ranges and information-sharing in this regard; 18. Notes with appreciation in this context the Convention on the Protection of the Alps,Ibid., vol. 1917, No. 32724. which promotes constructive new approaches to integrated, sustainable development of the Alps, including through its thematic protocols on spatial planning, mountain farming, conservation of nature and landscape, mountain forests, population and culture, tourism, soil protection, energy and transport, and welcomes the recent membership of the Convention in the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions; 19. Also notes with appreciation the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians,Available from www.carpathianconvention.org/text.htm. adopted and signed by the seven countries of the region to provide a framework for cooperation and multisectoral policy coordination, a platform for joint strategies for sustainable development and a forum for dialogue between all involved stakeholders; 20. Stresses the importance of capacity-building, institutional strengthening and educational programmes in order to foster sustainable mountain development at all levels and to enhance awareness of good practices in sustainable development in mountain regions and of the nature of relationships between highland and lowland areas; 21. Encourages the development and implementation of global, regional and national communication programmes to build on the awareness and momentum for change created by the International Year of Mountains and the opportunity provided annually by International Mountain Day on 11 December; 22. Also encourages Member States to collect and produce information and to establish databases devoted to mountains so as to capitalize on knowledge to support interdisciplinary research, programmes and projects and to improve decision-making and planning; 23. Further encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to further enhance their constructive efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to achieve more effective implementation of relevant chapters of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. including chapter 13 and paragraph 42 and other relevant paragraphs of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. taking into account the inter-agency group on mountains and the need for the further involvement of the United Nations system, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations University, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, as well as international financial institutions and other relevant international organizations; 24. Recognizes the efforts of the Mountain Partnership implemented in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003, invites the international community and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to consider joining the Mountain Partnership, and invites the Partnership Secretariat to report on its activities and achievements to the fourteenth meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development in 2006, including in regard to the thematic cluster issues of energy, climate change, air pollution and atmosphere and industrial development; 25. Notes with appreciation in this context the efforts of the Mountain Partnership to cooperate with existing multilateral instruments relevant to mountains, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,Ibid., vol. 1771, No. 30822. the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and mountain-related regional instruments such as the Convention on the Protection of the Alps and the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians; 26. Takes note of the conclusions of the second global meeting of the members of the Mountain Partnership, held in Cusco, Peru, on 28 and 29 October 2004, at the invitation of the Government of Peru; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, under a sub-item entitled "Sustainable mountain development" of the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 60/199 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.6, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/199. Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/7 of 16 October 1998, 54/215 of 22 December 1999, 55/205 of 20 December 2000, 56/200 of 21 December 2001 and 58/210 of 23 December 2003 on the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Noting that the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 made a contribution to raising awareness of the increased role that new and renewable sources of energy can play in the global energy supply, Recalling the recommendations and conclusions contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. concerning energy for sustainable development, Welcoming initiatives that aim to improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services for sustainable development in order to contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Emphasizing that the increased use and promotion of all forms of new and renewable energy for sustainable development, including solar-thermal, photovoltaic, biomass, wind, hydro, tidal, ocean and geothermal forms, could make a significant contribution towards the achievement of sustainable development and the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming efforts by Governments and institutions that have embarked on policies and programmes that seek to expand the use of new and renewable energy for sustainable development, and recognizing the contributions of regional initiatives as well as of institutions in supporting the efforts of countries, in particular developing countries, in this respect, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/154. 2. Reaffirms that the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. is the intergovernmental framework for energy for sustainable development agreed to at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and calls for its full implementation; 3. Emphasizes the need to intensify research and development in support of energy for sustainable development, which will require increased commitment on the part of all stakeholders, including Governments and the private sector, to deploy financial and human resources for accelerating research efforts; 4. Calls upon Governments, as well as relevant regional and international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to combine, as appropriate, the increased use of renewable energy resources, more efficient use of energy, greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including advanced and cleaner fossil fuel technologies, and the sustainable use of traditional energy resources, which could meet the growing need for energy services in the longer term to achieve sustainable development; 5. Encourages national and regional initiatives on new and renewable energies to promote access to energy, including new and renewable sources of energy, for the poorest and to improve energy efficiency and conservation by resorting to a mix of available technologies, taking into full account he provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation concerning energy for sustainable development; 6. Calls upon Governments to take further action to mobilize the provision of financial resources, technology transfer, capacity-building and the diffusion of environmentally sound technologies, as set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 7. Welcomes the holding of the Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference 2005, organized by the Government of the People's Republic of China and supported by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, on 7 and 8 November 2005, in follow-up to the International Conference for Renewable Energies held in Bonn from 1 to 4 June 2004; 8. Takes note of ongoing activities related to the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy within the United Nations system; 9. Encourages the United Nations system to continue to raise awareness of the importance of energy for sustainable development, including the need for the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy and of the increased role they can play in the global energy supply, particularly in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in his report on energy to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its fourteenth session, to present an overview of the implementation of the World Solar Programme 1996-2005; 11. Stresses that the wider use of available renewable sources of energy requires technology transfer and diffusion on a global scale, including through North-South and South-South cooperation; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy". RESOLUTION 60/19 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/514, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law. 60/19. United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law The General Assembly, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International LawA/60/441. and the guidelines and recommendations on future implementation of the Programme which were adopted by the Advisory Committee on the Programme and are contained in section III of the report, Considering that international law should occupy an appropriate place in the teaching of legal disciplines at all universities, Noting with appreciation the efforts made by States at the bilateral level to provide assistance in the teaching and study of international law, Convinced, nevertheless, that States and international organizations and institutions should be encouraged to give further support to the Programme and increase their activities to promote the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, in particular those activities which are of special benefit to persons from developing countries, Reaffirming its resolutions 2464 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968, 2550 (XXIV) of 12 December 1969, 2838 (XXVI) of 18 December 1971, 3106 (XXVIII) of 12 December 1973, 3502 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, 32/146 of 16 December 1977, 36/108 of 10 December 1981 and 38/129 of 19 December 1983, in which it stated or recalled that in the conduct of the Programme it was desirable to use as far as possible the resources and facilities made available by Member States, international organizations and others, as well as its resolutions 34/144 of 17 December 1979, 40/66 of 11 December 1985, 42/148 of 7 December 1987, 44/28 of 4 December 1989, 46/50 of 9 December 1991, 48/29 of 9 December 1993, 50/43 of 11 December 1995, 52/152 of 15 December 1997, 54/102 of 9 December 1999, 56/77 of 12 December 2001 and 58/73 of 9 December 2003, in which, in addition, it expressed or reaffirmed the hope that, in appointing lecturers for the seminars to be held within the framework of the fellowship programme in international law, account would be taken of the need to secure the representation of major legal systems and balance among various geographical regions, 1. Approves the guidelines and recommendations contained in section III of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/441. and adopted by the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, in particular those designed to achieve the best possible results in the administration of the Programme within a policy of maximum financial restraint; 2. Authorizes the Secretary-General to carry out in 2006 and 2007 the activities specified in his report, including the provision of: (a) A number of international law fellowships in both 2006 and 2007, to be determined in the light of the overall resources for the Programme and to be awarded at the request of Governments of developing countries; (b) A minimum of one scholarship in both 2006 and 2007 under the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, subject to the availability of new voluntary contributions made specifically to the fellowship fund; (c) Subject to the overall resources for the Programme, assistance in the form of a travel grant for one participant from each developing country, who would be invited to possible regional courses to be organized in 2006 and 2007; and to finance the above activities from provisions in the regular budget, when appropriate, as well as from voluntary financial contributions earmarked for each of the activities concerned, which would be received as a result of the requests set out in paragraphs 12 to 14 below; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his constructive efforts to promote training and assistance in international law within the framework of the Programme in 2004 and 2005, in particular for the organization of the fortiethSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/59/10), chap. XI, sect. E. and forty-firstIbid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/60/10), chap. XII, sect. E. sessions of the International Law Seminar, held at Geneva in 2004 and 2005, respectively, and for the activities of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat related to the fellowship programme in international law and to the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, carried out, respectively, through its Codification Division and its Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider the possibility of admitting, for participation in the various components of the Programme, candidates from countries willing to bear the entire cost of such participation; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider the relative advantages of using available resources and voluntary contributions for regional, subregional or national courses, as against courses organized within the United Nations system; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary resources to the programme budget for the Programme for the next and the future bienniums with a view to maintaining the effectiveness of the Programme; 7. Recognizes the importance of the United Nations recurrent legal publications listed in the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/441, sect. II.5. and strongly encourages their continued publication; 8. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Office of Legal Affairs to bring up to date the United Nations Treaty Series and the United Nations Juridical Yearbook, as well as efforts made to place on the Internet the Treaty Series and other legal information; 9. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research for its participation in the Programme through the activities described in the report of the Secretary-General; 10. Also expresses its appreciation to The Hague Academy of International Law for the valuable contribution it continues to make to the Programme, which has enabled candidates under the fellowship programme in international law to attend and participate in the Programme in conjunction with the Academy courses; 11. Notes with appreciation the contributions of The Hague Academy to the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, and calls upon Member States and interested organizations to give favourable consideration to the appeal of the Academy for a continuation of support and a possible increase in their financial contributions, to enable the Academy to carry out its activities, particularly those relating to the summer courses, regional courses and programmes of the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to publicize the Programme and periodically to invite Member States, universities, philanthropic foundations and other interested national and international institutions and organizations, as well as individuals, to make voluntary contributions towards the financing of the Programme or otherwise to assist in its implementation and possible expansion; 13. Reiterates its request to Member States and to interested organizations and individuals to make voluntary contributions, inter alia, for the International Law Seminar, the fellowship programme in international law, the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Audiovisual Library in International Law, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, institutions and individuals that have made voluntary contributions for this purpose; 14. Urges in particular all Governments to make voluntary contributions for the organization of regional refresher courses in international law by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, especially with a view to covering the amount needed for the financing of the daily subsistence allowance for up to twenty-five participants in each regional course, thus alleviating the burden on prospective host countries and making it possible for the Institute to continue to organize the regional courses; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the Programme during 2006 and 2007 and, following consultations with the Advisory Committee on the Programme, to submit recommendations regarding the execution of the Programme in subsequent years; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law". RESOLUTION 60/1 Adopted at the 8th plenary meeting, on 16 September 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.1, referred to the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session 60/1. 2005 World Summit Outcome The General Assembly Adopts the following 2005 World Summit Outcome: 2005 World Summit Outcome I. Values and principles 1. We, Heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005. 2. We reaffirm our faith in the United Nations and our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which are indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world, and reiterate our determination to foster strict respect for them. 3. We reaffirm the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which we adopted at the dawn of the twenty-first century. We recognize the valuable role of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, including the Millennium Summit, in mobilizing the international community at the local, national, regional and global levels and in guiding the work of the United Nations. 4. We reaffirm that our common fundamental values, including freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for all human rights, respect for nature and shared responsibility, are essential to international relations. 5. We are determined to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter. We rededicate ourselves to support all efforts to uphold the sovereign equality of all States, respect their territorial integrity and political independence, to refrain in our international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, to uphold resolution of disputes by peaceful means and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, the right to self-determination of peoples which remain under colonial domination and foreign occupation, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for the equal rights of all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and the fulfilment in good faith of the obligations assumed in accordance with the Charter. 6. We reaffirm the vital importance of an effective multilateral system, in accordance with international law, in order to better address the multifaceted and interconnected challenges and threats confronting our world and to achieve progress in the areas of peace and security, development and human rights, underlining the central role of the United Nations, and commit ourselves to promoting and strengthening the effectiveness of the Organization through the implementation of its decisions and resolutions. 7. We believe that today, more than ever before, we live in a global and interdependent world. No State can stand wholly alone. We acknowledge that collective security depends on effective cooperation, in accordance with international law, against transnational threats. 8. We recognize that current developments and circumstances require that we urgently build consensus on major threats and challenges. We commit ourselves to translating that consensus into concrete action, including addressing the root causes of those threats and challenges with resolve and determination. 9. We acknowledge that peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of the United Nations system and the foundations for collective security and well-being. We recognize that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. 10. We reaffirm that development is a central goal in itself and that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects constitutes a key element of the overarching framework of United Nations activities. 11. We acknowledge that good governance and the rule of law at the national and international levels are essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger. 12. We reaffirm that gender equality and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all are essential to advance development and peace and security. We are committed to creating a world fit for future generations, which takes into account the best interests of the child. 13. We reaffirm the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights. 14. Acknowledging the diversity of the world, we recognize that all cultures and civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind. We acknowledge the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world. In order to promote international peace and security, we commit ourselves to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encouraging tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples. 15. We pledge to enhance the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and credibility of the United Nations system. This is our shared responsibility and interest. 16. We therefore resolve to create a more peaceful, prosperous and democratic world and to undertake concrete measures to continue finding ways to implement the outcome of the Millennium Summit and the other major United Nations conferences and summits so as to provide multilateral solutions to problems in the four following areas: • Development • Peace and collective security • Human rights and the rule of law • Strengthening of the United Nations II. Development 17. We strongly reiterate our determination to ensure the timely and full realization of the development goals and objectives agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including those agreed at the Millennium Summit that are described as the Millennium Development Goals, which have helped to galvanize efforts towards poverty eradication. 18. We emphasize the vital role played by the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields in shaping a broad development vision and in identifying commonly agreed objectives, which have contributed to improving human life in different parts of the world. 19. We reaffirm our commitment to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all. We are encouraged by reductions in poverty in some countries in the recent past and are determined to reinforce and extend this trend to benefit people worldwide. We remain concerned, however, about the slow and uneven progress towards poverty eradication and the realization of other development goals in some regions. We commit ourselves to promoting the development of the productive sectors in developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit from the process of globalization. We underline the need for urgent action on all sides, including more ambitious national development strategies and efforts backed by increased international support. Global partnership for development 20. We reaffirm our commitment to the global partnership for development set out in the Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey ConsensusMonterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development (Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex). and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II. A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex). 21. We further reaffirm our commitment to sound policies, good governance at all levels and the rule of law, and to mobilize domestic resources, attract international flows, promote international trade as an engine for development and increase international financial and technical cooperation for development, sustainable debt financing and external debt relief and to enhance the coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems. 22. We reaffirm that each country must take primary responsibility for its own development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development. We also recognize that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty. To this end, we resolve: (a) To adopt, by 2006, and implement comprehensive national development strategies to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals; (b) To manage public finances effectively to achieve and maintain macroeconomic stability and long-term growth and to make effective and transparent use of public funds and ensure that development assistance is used to build national capacities; (c) To support efforts by developing countries to adopt and implement national development policies and strategies through increased development assistance, the promotion of international trade as an engine for development, the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms, increased investment flows and wider and deeper debt relief, and to support developing countries by providing a substantial increase in aid of sufficient quality and arriving in a timely manner to assist them in achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; (d) That the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, that is, the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations. It is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space. It is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments; (e) To enhance the contribution of non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in national development efforts, as well as in the promotion of the global partnership for development; (f) To ensure that the United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies support the efforts of developing countries through the common country assessment and United Nations Development Assistance Framework process, enhancing their support for capacity-building; (g) To protect our natural resource base in support of development. Financing for development 23. We reaffirm the Monterrey ConsensusMonterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development (Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex). and recognize that mobilizing financial resources for development and the effective use of those resources in developing countries and countries with economies in transition are central to a global partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard: (a) We are encouraged by recent commitments to substantial increases in official development assistance and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimate that official development assistance to all developing countries will now increase by around 50 billion United States dollars a year by 2010, while recognizing that a substantial increase in such assistance is required to achieve the internationally agreed goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, within their respective time frames; (b) We welcome the increased resources that will become available as a result of the establishment of timetables by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2015 and to reach at least 0.5 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2010 as well as, pursuant to the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent for the least developed countries no later than 2010, and urge those developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard in accordance with their commitments; (c) We further welcome recent efforts and initiatives to enhance the quality of aid and to increase its impact, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, and resolve to take concrete, effective and timely action in implementing all agreed commitments on aid effectiveness, with clear monitoring and deadlines, including through further aligning assistance with countries' strategies, building institutional capacities, reducing transaction costs and eliminating bureaucratic procedures, making progress on untying aid, enhancing the absorptive capacity and financial management of recipient countries and strengthening the focus on development results; (d) We recognize the value of developing innovative sources of financing, provided those sources do not unduly burden developing countries. In that regard, we take note with interest of the international efforts, contributions and discussions, such as the Action against Hunger and Poverty, aimed at identifying innovative and additional sources of financing for development on a public, private, domestic or external basis to increase and supplement traditional sources of financing. Some countries will implement the International Finance Facility. Some countries have launched the International Finance Facility for immunization. Some countries will implement in the near future, utilizing their national authorities, a contribution on airline tickets to enable the financing of development projects, in particular in the health sector, directly or through financing of the International Finance Facility. Other countries are considering whether and to what extent they will participate in these initiatives; (e) We acknowledge the vital role the private sector can play in generating new investments, employment and financing for development; (f) We resolve to address the development needs of low-income developing countries by working in competent multilateral and international forums, to help them meet, inter alia, their financial, technical and technological requirements; (g) We resolve to continue to support the development efforts of middle-income developing countries by working, in competent multilateral and international forums and also through bilateral arrangements, on measures to help them meet, inter alia, their financial, technical and technological requirements; (h) We resolve to operationalize the World Solidarity Fund established by the General Assembly and invite those countries in a position to do so to make voluntary contributions to the Fund; (i) We recognize the need for access to financial services, in particular for the poor, including through microfinance and microcredit. Domestic resource mobilization 24. In our common pursuit of growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, a critical challenge is to ensure the necessary internal conditions for mobilizing domestic savings, both public and private, sustaining adequate levels of productive investment, increasing human capacity, reducing capital flight, curbing the illicit transfer of funds and enhancing international cooperation for creating an enabling domestic environment. We undertake to support the efforts of developing countries to create a domestic enabling environment for mobilizing domestic resources. To this end, we therefore resolve: (a) To pursue good governance and sound macroeconomic policies at all levels and support developing countries in their efforts to put in place the policies and investments to drive sustained economic growth, promote small and medium-sized enterprises, promote employment generation and stimulate the private sector; (b) To reaffirm that good governance is essential for sustainable development; that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, the rule of law, gender equality and market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; (c) To make the fight against corruption a priority at all levels and we welcome all actions taken in this regard at the national and international levels, including the adoption of policies that emphasize accountability, transparent public sector management and corporate responsibility and accountability, including efforts to return assets transferred through corruption, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption.Resolution 58/4, annex. We urge all States that have not done so to consider signing, ratifying and implementing the Convention; (d) To channel private capabilities and resources into stimulating the private sector in developing countries through actions in the public, public/private and private spheres to create an enabling environment for partnership and innovation that contributes to accelerated economic development and hunger and poverty eradication; (e) To support efforts to reduce capital flight and measures to curb the illicit transfer of funds. Investment 25. We resolve to encourage greater direct investment, including foreign investment, in developing countries and countries with economies in transition to support their development activities and to enhance the benefits they can derive from such investments. In this regard: (a) We continue to support efforts by developing countries and countries with economies in transition to create a domestic environment conducive to attracting investments through, inter alia, achieving a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate with proper contract enforcement and respect for property rights and the rule of law and pursuing appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks that encourage business formation; (b) We will put into place policies to ensure adequate investment in a sustainable manner in health, clean water and sanitation, housing and education and in the provision of public goods and social safety nets to protect vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors of society; (c) We invite national Governments seeking to develop infrastructure projects and generate foreign direct investment to pursue strategies with the involvement of both the public and private sectors and, where appropriate, international donors; (d) We call upon international financial and banking institutions to consider enhancing the transparency of risk rating mechanisms. Sovereign risk assessments, made by the private sector should maximize the use of strict, objective and transparent parameters, which can be facilitated by high-quality data and analysis; (e) We underscore the need to sustain sufficient and stable private financial flows to developing countries and countries with economies in transition. It is important to promote measures in source and destination countries to improve transparency and the information about financial flows to developing countries, particularly countries in Africa, the least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries. Measures that mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows are important and must be considered. Debt 26. We emphasize the high importance of a timely, effective, comprehensive and durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries, since debt financing and relief can be an important source of capital for development. To this end: (a) We welcome the recent proposals of the Group of Eight to cancel 100 per cent of the outstanding debt of eligible heavily indebted poor countries owed to the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association and African Development Fund and to provide additional resources to ensure that the financing capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced; (b) We emphasize that debt sustainability is essential for underpinning growth and underline the importance of debt sustainability to the efforts to achieve national development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, recognizing the key role that debt relief can play in liberating resources that can be directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development; (c) We further stress the need to consider additional measures and initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term debt sustainability through increased grant-based financing, cancellation of 100 per cent of the official multilateral and bilateral debt of heavily indebted poor countries and, where appropriate, and on a case-by-case basis, to consider significant debt relief or restructuring for low- and middle-income developing countries with an unsustainable debt burden that are not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, as well as the exploration of mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problems of those countries. Such mechanisms may include debt for sustainable development swaps or multicreditor debt swap arrangements, as appropriate. These initiatives could include further efforts by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop the debt sustainability framework for low-income countries. This should be achieved in a fashion that does not detract from official development assistance resources, while maintaining the financial integrity of the multilateral financial institutions. Trade 27. A universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development. In that regard, we reaffirm our commitment to trade liberalization and to ensure that trade plays its full part in promoting economic growth, employment and development for all. 28. We are committed to efforts designed to ensure that developing countries, especially the least-developed countries, participate fully in the world trading system in order to meet their economic development needs, and reaffirm our commitment to enhanced and predictable market access for the exports of developing countries. 29. We will work towards the objective, in accordance with the Brussels Programme of Action,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. of duty-free and quota-free market access for all least developed countries' products to the markets of developed countries, as well as to the markets of developing countries in a position to do so, and support their efforts to overcome their supply-side constraints. 30. We are committed to supporting and promoting increased aid to build productive and trade capacities of developing countries and to taking further steps in that regard, while welcoming the substantial support already provided. 31. We will work to accelerate and facilitate the accession of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to the World Trade Organization consistent with its criteria, recognizing the importance of universal integration in the rules-based global trading system. 32. We will work expeditiously towards implementing the development dimensions of the Doha work programme.See A/C.2/56/7, annex. Commodities 33. We emphasize the need to address the impact of weak and volatile commodity prices and support the efforts of commodity-dependent countries to restructure, diversify and strengthen the competitiveness of their commodity sectors. Quick-impact initiatives 34. Given the need to accelerate progress immediately in countries where current trends make the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals unlikely, we resolve to urgently identify and implement country-led initiatives with adequate international support, consistent with long-term national development strategies, that promise immediate and durable improvements in the lives of people and renewed hope for the achievement of the development goals. In this regard, we will take such actions as the distribution of malaria bed nets, including free distribution, where appropriate, and effective anti-malarial treatments, the expansion of local school meal programmes, using home-grown foods where possible, and the elimination of user fees for primary education and, where appropriate, health-care services. Systemic issues and global economic decision-making 35. We reaffirm the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, and to that end stress the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, noting that enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions remains a continuous concern. 36. We reaffirm our commitment to governance, equity and transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems. We are also committed to open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial systems. 37. We also underscore our commitment to sound domestic financial sectors, which make a vital contribution to national development efforts, as an important component of an international financial architecture that is supportive of development. 38. We further reaffirm the need for the United Nations to play a fundamental role in the promotion of international cooperation for development and the coherence, coordination and implementation of development goals and actions agreed upon by the international community, and we resolve to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system in close cooperation with all other multilateral financial, trade and development institutions in order to support sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development. 39. Good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving sustainable development. In order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance through addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries. To this effect, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market access of developing countries. South-South cooperation 40. We recognize the achievements and great potential of South-South cooperation and encourage the promotion of such cooperation, which complements North-South cooperation as an effective contribution to development and as a means to share best practices and provide enhanced technical cooperation. In this context, we note the recent decision of the leaders of the South, adopted at the Second South Summit and contained in the Doha DeclarationA/60/111, annex I. and the Doha Plan of Action,Ibid., annex II. to intensify their efforts at South-South cooperation, including through the establishment of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership and other regional cooperation mechanisms, and encourage the international community, including the international financial institutions, to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through triangular cooperation. We also take note with appreciation of the launching of the third round of negotiations on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries as an important instrument to stimulate South-South cooperation. 41. We welcome the work of the United Nations High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation and invite countries to consider supporting the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation within the United Nations Development Programme in order to respond effectively to the development needs of developing countries. 42. We recognize the considerable contribution of arrangements such as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund initiated by a group of developing countries, as well as the potential contribution of the South Fund for Development and Humanitarian Assistance, to development activities in developing countries. Education 43. We emphasize the critical role of both formal and informal education in the achievement of poverty eradication and other development goals as envisaged in the Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular basic education and training for eradicating illiteracy, and strive for expanded secondary and higher education as well as vocational education and technical training, especially for girls and women, the creation of human resources and infrastructure capabilities and the empowerment of those living in poverty. In this context, we reaffirm the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum in 2000See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and recognize the importance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization strategy for the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, in supporting the Education for All programmes as a tool to achieve the millennium development goal of universal primary education by 2015. 44. We reaffirm our commitment to support developing country efforts to ensure that all children have access to and complete free and compulsory primary education of good quality, to eliminate gender inequality and imbalance and to renew efforts to improve girls' education. We also commit ourselves to continuing to support the efforts of developing countries in the implementation of the Education for All initiative, including with enhanced resources of all types through the Education for All fast-track initiative in support of country-led national education plans. 45. We commit ourselves to promoting education for peace and human development. Rural and agricultural development 46. We reaffirm that food security and rural and agricultural development must be adequately and urgently addressed in the context of national development and response strategies and, in this context, will enhance the contributions of indigenous and local communities, as appropriate. We are convinced that the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, particularly as they affect children, is crucial for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Rural and agricultural development should be an integral part of national and international development policies. We deem it necessary to increase productive investment in rural and agricultural development to achieve food security. We commit ourselves to increasing support for agricultural development and trade capacity-building in the agricultural sector in developing countries. Support for commodity development projects, especially market-based projects, and for their preparation under the Second Account of the Common Fund for Commodities should be encouraged. Employment 47. We strongly support fair globalization and resolve to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and young people, a central objective of our relevant national and international policies as well as our national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, as part of our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. These measures should also encompass the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, as defined in International Labour Organization Convention No. 182, and forced labour. We also resolve to ensure full respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work. Sustainable development: managing and protecting our common environment 48. We reaffirm our commitment to achieve the goal of sustainable development, including through the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II. A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex). To this end, we commit ourselves to undertaking concrete actions and measures at all levels and to enhancing international cooperation, taking into account the Rio principles.Ibid., annex I. These efforts will also promote the integration of the three components of sustainable development - economic development, social development and environmental protection - as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars. Poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development. 49. We will promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and all countries benefiting from the process, as called for in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. In that context, we support developing countries in their efforts to promote a recycling economy. 50. We face serious and multiple challenges in tackling climate change, promoting clean energy, meeting energy needs and achieving sustainable development, and we will act with resolve and urgency in this regard. 51. We recognize that climate change is a serious and long-term challenge that has the potential to affect every part of the globe. We emphasize the need to meet all the commitments and obligations we have undertaken in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. and other relevant international agreements, including, for many of us, the Kyoto Protocol.FCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. The Convention is the appropriate framework for addressing future action on climate change at the global level. 52. We reaffirm our commitment to the ultimate objective of the Convention: to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. 53. We acknowledge that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation and participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with the principles of the Convention. We are committed to moving forward the global discussion on long-term cooperative action to address climate change, in accordance with these principles. We stress the importance of the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, to be held in Montreal in November 2005. 54. We acknowledge various partnerships that are under way to advance action on clean energy and climate change, including bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives. 55. We are committed to taking further action through practical international cooperation, inter alia: (a) To promote innovation, clean energy and energy efficiency and conservation; improve policy, regulatory and financing frameworks; and accelerate the deployment of cleaner technologies; (b) To enhance private investment, transfer of technologies and capacity-building to developing countries, as called for in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, taking into account their own energy needs and priorities; (c) To assist developing countries to improve their resilience and integrate adaptation goals into their sustainable development strategies, given that adaptation to the effects of climate change due to both natural and human factors is a high priority for all nations, particularly those most vulnerable, namely, those referred to in article 4.8 of the Convention; (d) To continue to assist developing countries, in particular small island developing States, least developed countries and African countries, including those that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, in addressing their adaptation needs relating to the adverse effects of climate change. 56. In pursuance of our commitment to achieve sustainable development, we further resolve: (a) To promote the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life"; (b) To support and strengthen the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. to address causes of desertification and land degradation, as well as poverty resulting from land degradation, through, inter alia, the mobilization of adequate and predictable financial resources, the transfer of technology and capacity-building at all levels; (c) That the States parties to the Convention on Biological DiversityIbid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and the Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetyUNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. should support the implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, as well as other biodiversity-related agreements and the Johannesburg commitment for a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010. The States parties will continue to negotiate within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, bearing in mind the Bonn Guidelines,UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I, decision VI/24A. an international regime to promote and safeguard the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. All States will fulfil commitments and significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 and continue ongoing efforts towards elaborating and negotiating an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing; (d) To recognize that the sustainable development of indigenous peoples and their communities is crucial in our fight against hunger and poverty; (e) To reaffirm our commitment, subject to national legislation, to respect, preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization; (f) To work expeditiously towards the establishment of a worldwide early warning system for all natural hazards with regional nodes, building on existing national and regional capacity such as the newly established Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System; (g) To fully implement the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, in particular those commitments related to assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; (h) To assist developing countries' efforts to prepare integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans as part of their national development strategies and to provide access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in accordance with the Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II. A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex). including halving by 2015 the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and who do not have access to basic sanitation; (i) To accelerate the development and dissemination of affordable and cleaner energy efficiency and energy conservation technologies, as well as the transfer of such technologies, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, bearing in mind that access to energy facilitates the eradication of poverty; (j) To strengthen the conservation, sustainable management and development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations, including through enhanced international cooperation, so that trees and forests may contribute fully to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, taking full account of the linkages between the forest sector and other sectors. We look forward to the discussions at the sixth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests; (k) To promote the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, aiming to achieve that by 2020 chemicals are used and produced in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the environment using transparent and science-based risk assessment and risk management procedures, by adopting and implementing a voluntary strategic approach to international management of chemicals, and to support developing countries in strengthening their capacity for the sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes by providing technical and financial assistance, as appropriate; (l) To improve cooperation and coordination at all levels in order to address issues related to oceans and seas in an integrated manner and promote integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas; (m) To achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020, recognizing the urgent need for the provision of increased resources for affordable housing and housing-related infrastructure, prioritizing slum prevention and slum upgrading, and to encourage support for the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation and its Slum Upgrading Facility; (n) To acknowledge the invaluable role of the Global Environment Facility in facilitating cooperation with developing countries; we look forward to a successful replenishment this year along with the successful conclusion of all outstanding commitments from the third replenishment; (o) To note that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through the regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small island developing States and some other countries and recognize the right of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. States should maintain dialogue and consultation, in particular under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of improved mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials. States involved in the transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with small island developing States and other States to address their concerns. These concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability, security and compensation in relation to such transport. HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other health issues 57. We recognize that HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases pose severe risks for the entire world and serious challenges to the achievement of development goals. We acknowledge the substantial efforts and financial contributions made by the international community, while recognizing that these diseases and other emerging health challenges require a sustained international response. To this end, we commit ourselves to: (a) Increasing investment, building on existing mechanisms and through partnership, to improve health systems in developing countries and those with economies in transition with the aim of providing sufficient health workers, infrastructure, management systems and supplies to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015; (b) Implementing measures to increase the capacity of adults and adolescents to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection; (c) Fully implementing all commitments established by the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDSResolution S-26/2, annex. through stronger leadership, the scaling up of a comprehensive response to achieve broad multisectoral coverage for prevention, care, treatment and support, the mobilization of additional resources from national, bilateral, multilateral and private sources and the substantial funding of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as of the HIV/AIDS component of the work programmes of the United Nations system agencies and programmes engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS; (d) Developing and implementing a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access to treatment by 2010 for all those who need it, including through increased resources, and working towards the elimination of stigma and discrimination, enhanced access to affordable medicines and the reduction of vulnerability of persons affected by HIV/AIDS and other health issues, in particular orphaned and vulnerable children and older persons; (e) Ensuring the full implementation of our obligations under the International Health Regulations adopted by the fifty-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2005,World Health Organization, Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 16-25 May 2005, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA58/2005/REC/1), resolution WHA 58.3. including the need to support the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network of the World Health Organization; (f) Working actively to implement the "Three Ones" principles in all countries, including by ensuring that multiple institutions and international partners all work under one agreed HIV/AIDS framework that provides the basis for coordinating the work of all partners, with one national AIDS coordinating authority having a broad-based multisectoral mandate, and under one agreed country-level monitoring and evaluation system. We welcome and support the important recommendations of the Global Task Team on Improving AIDS Coordination among Multilateral Institutions and International Donors; (g) Achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015, as set out at the International Conference on Population and Development, integrating this goal in strategies to attain the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, aimed at reducing maternal mortality, improving maternal health, reducing child mortality, promoting gender equality, combating HIV/AIDS and eradicating poverty; (h) Promoting long-term funding, including public-private partnerships where appropriate, for academic and industrial research as well as for the development of new vaccines and microbicides, diagnostic kits, drugs and treatments to address major pandemics, tropical diseases and other diseases, such as avian flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome, and taking forward work on market incentives, where appropriate through such mechanisms as advance purchase commitments; (i) Stressing the need to urgently address malaria and tuberculosis, in particular in the most affected countries, and welcoming the scaling up, in this regard, of bilateral and multilateral initiatives. Gender equality and empowerment of women 58. We remain convinced that progress for women is progress for all. We reaffirm that the full and effective implementation of the goals and objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly is an essential contribution to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and we resolve to promote gender equality and eliminate pervasive gender discrimination by: (a) Eliminating gender inequalities in primary and secondary education by the earliest possible date and at all educational levels by 2015; (b) Guaranteeing the free and equal right of women to own and inherit property and ensuring secure tenure of property and housing by women; (c) Ensuring equal access to reproductive health; (d) Promoting women's equal access to labour markets, sustainable employment and adequate labour protection; (e) Ensuring equal access of women to productive assets and resources, including land, credit and technology; (f) Eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and the girl child, including by ending impunity and by ensuring the protection of civilians, in particular women and the girl child, during and after armed conflicts in accordance with the obligations of States under international humanitarian law and international human rights law; (g) Promoting increased representation of women in Government decision-making bodies, including through ensuring their equal opportunity to participate fully in the political process. 59. We recognize the importance of gender mainstreaming as a tool for achieving gender equality. To that end, we undertake to actively promote the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, and further undertake to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations system in the area of gender. Science and technology for development 60. We recognize that science and technology, including information and communication technology, are vital for the achievement of the development goals and that international support can help developing countries to benefit from technological advancements and enhance their productive capacity. We therefore commit ourselves to: (a) Strengthening and enhancing existing mechanisms and supporting initiatives for research and development, including through voluntary partnerships between the public and private sectors, to address the special needs of developing countries in the areas of health, agriculture, conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental management, energy, forestry and the impact of climate change; (b) Promoting and facilitating, as appropriate, access to and the development, transfer and diffusion of technologies, including environmentally sound technologies and corresponding know-how, to developing countries; (c) Assisting developing countries in their efforts to promote and develop national strategies for human resources and science and technology, which are primary drivers of national capacity-building for development; (d) Promoting and supporting greater efforts to develop renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal; (e) Implementing policies at the national and international levels to attract both public and private investment, domestic and foreign, that enhances knowledge, transfers technology on mutually agreed terms and raises productivity; (f) Supporting the efforts of developing countries, individually and collectively, to harness new agricultural technologies in order to increase agricultural productivity through environmentally sustainable means; (g) Building a people-centred and inclusive information society so as to enhance digital opportunities for all people in order to help bridge the digital divide, putting the potential of information and communication technologies at the service of development and addressing new challenges of the information society by implementing the outcomes of the Geneva phase of the World Summit on the Information Society and ensuring the success of the second phase of the Summit, to be held in Tunis in November 2005; in this regard, we welcome the establishment of the Digital Solidarity Fund and encourage voluntary contributions to its financing. Migration and development 61. We acknowledge the important nexus between international migration and development and the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that migration presents to countries of origin, destination and transit. We recognize that international migration brings benefits as well as challenges to the global community. We look forward to the high-level dialogue of the General Assembly on international migration and development to be held in 2006, which will offer an opportunity to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize their development benefits and minimize their negative impacts. 62. We reaffirm our resolve to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and members of their families. 63. We reaffirm the need to adopt policies and undertake measures to reduce the cost of transferring migrant remittances to developing countries and welcome efforts by Governments and stakeholders in this regard. Countries with special needs 64. We reaffirm our commitment to address the special needs of the least developed countries and urge all countries and all relevant organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, to make concerted efforts and adopt speedy measures for meeting in a timely manner the goals and targets of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. 65. We recognize the special needs of and challenges faced by landlocked developing countries and therefore reaffirm our commitment to urgently address those needs and challenges through the full, timely and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing CountriesReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and the São Paulo Consensus adopted at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.TD/412, part II. We encourage the work undertaken by United Nations regional commissions and organizations towards establishing a time-cost methodology for indicators to measure the progress in implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action. We also recognize the special difficulties and concerns of landlocked developing countries in their efforts to integrate their economies into the multilateral trading system. In this regard, priority should be given to the full and timely implementation of the Almaty DeclarationReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex II. and the Almaty Programme of Action.Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. 66. We recognize the special needs and vulnerabilities of small island developing States and reaffirm our commitment to take urgent and concrete action to address those needs and vulnerabilities through the full and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy adopted by the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Barbados Programme of ActionReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly.Resolution S-22/2, annex. We further undertake to promote greater international cooperation and partnership for the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy through, inter alia, the mobilization of domestic and international resources, the promotion of international trade as an engine for development and increased international financial and technical cooperation. 67. We emphasize the need for continued, coordinated and effective international support for achieving the development goals in countries emerging from conflict and in those recovering from natural disasters. Meeting the special needs of Africa 68. We welcome the substantial progress made by the African countries in fulfilling their commitments and emphasize the need to carry forward the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. to promote sustainable growth and development and deepen democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic management and gender equality and encourage African countries, with the participation of civil society and the private sector, to continue their efforts in this regard by developing and strengthening institutions for governance and the development of the region, and also welcome the recent decisions taken by Africa's partners, including the Group of Eight and the European Union, in support of Africa's development efforts, including commitments that will lead to an increase in official development assistance to Africa of 25 billion dollars per year by 2010. We reaffirm our commitment to address the special needs of Africa, which is the only continent not on track to meet any of the goals of the Millennium Declaration by 2015, to enable it to enter the mainstream of the world economy, and resolve: (a) To strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership for Africa's Development by providing coherent support for the programmes drawn up by African leaders within that framework, including by mobilizing internal and external financial resources and facilitating approval of such programmes by the multilateral financial institutions; (b) To support the African commitment to ensure that by 2015 all children have access to complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality, as well as to basic health care; (c) To support the building of an international infrastructure consortium involving the African Union, the World Bank and the African Development Bank, with the New Partnership for Africa's Development as the main framework, to facilitate public and private infrastructure investment in Africa; (d) To promote a comprehensive and durable solution to the external debt problems of African countries, including through the cancellation of 100 per cent of multilateral debt consistent with the recent Group of Eight proposal for the heavily indebted poor countries, and, on a case-by-case basis, where appropriate, significant debt relief, including, inter alia, cancellation or restructuring for heavily indebted African countries not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative that have unsustainable debt burdens; (e) To make efforts to fully integrate African countries in the international trading system, including through targeted trade capacity-building programmes; (f) To support the efforts of commodity-dependent African countries to restructure, diversify and strengthen the competitiveness of their commodity sectors and decide to work towards market-based arrangements with the participation of the private sector for commodity price-risk management; (g) To supplement the efforts of African countries, individually and collectively, to increase agricultural productivity, in a sustainable way, as set out in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme of the New Partnership for Africa's Development as part of an African "Green Revolution"; (h) To encourage and support the initiatives of the African Union and subregional organizations to prevent, mediate and resolve conflicts with the assistance of the United Nations, and in this regard welcomes the proposals from the Group of Eight countries to provide support for African peacekeeping; (i) To provide, with the aim of an AIDS-, malaria- and tuberculosis-free generation in Africa, assistance for prevention and care and to come as close as possible to achieving the goal of universal access by 2010 to HIV/AIDS treatment in African countries, to encourage pharmaceutical companies to make drugs, including antiretroviral drugs, affordable and accessible in Africa and to ensure increased bilateral and multilateral assistance, where possible on a grant basis, to combat malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in Africa through the strengthening of health systems. III. Peace and collective security 69. We recognize that we are facing a whole range of threats that require our urgent, collective and more determined response. 70. We also recognize that, in accordance with the Charter, addressing such threats requires cooperation among all the principal organs of the United Nations within their respective mandates. 71. We acknowledge that we are living in an interdependent and global world and that many of today's threats recognize no national boundaries, are interlinked and must be tackled at the global, regional and national levels in accordance with the Charter and international law. 72. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to work towards a security consensus based on the recognition that many threats are interlinked, that development, peace, security and human rights are mutually reinforcing, that no State can best protect itself by acting entirely alone and that all States need an effective and efficient collective security system pursuant to the purposes and principles of the Charter. Pacific settlement of disputes 73. We emphasize the obligation of States to settle their disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter, including, when appropriate, by the use of the International Court of Justice. All States should act in accordance with the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. 74. We stress the importance of prevention of armed conflict in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and solemnly renew our commitment to promote a culture of prevention of armed conflict as a means of effectively addressing the interconnected security and development challenges faced by peoples throughout the world, as well as to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations for the prevention of armed conflict. 75. We further stress the importance of a coherent and integrated approach to the prevention of armed conflicts and the settlement of disputes and the need for the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Secretary-General to coordinate their activities within their respective Charter mandates. 76. Recognizing the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General, including in the mediation of disputes, we support the Secretary-General's efforts to strengthen his capacity in this area. Use of force under the Charter of the United Nations 77. We reiterate the obligation of all Member States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the Charter. We reaffirm that the purposes and principles guiding the United Nations are, inter alia, to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, and to that end we are determined to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, the adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations that might lead to a breach of the peace. 78. We reiterate the importance of promoting and strengthening the multilateral process and of addressing international challenges and problems by strictly abiding by the Charter and the principles of international law, and further stress our commitment to multilateralism. 79. We reaffirm that the relevant provisions of the Charter are sufficient to address the full range of threats to international peace and security. We further reaffirm the authority of the Security Council to mandate coercive action to maintain and restore international peace and security. We stress the importance of acting in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter. 80. We also reaffirm that the Security Council has primary responsibility in the maintenance of international peace and security. We also note the role of the General Assembly relating to the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter. Terrorism 81. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, as it constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. 82. We welcome the Secretary-General's identification of elements of a counter-terrorism strategy. These elements should be developed by the General Assembly without delay with a view to adopting and implementing a strategy to promote comprehensive, coordinated and consistent responses, at the national, regional and international levels, to counter terrorism, which also takes into account the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. In this context, we commend the various initiatives to promote dialogue, tolerance and understanding among civilizations. 83. We stress the need to make every effort to reach an agreement on and conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. 84. We acknowledge that the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate an international response to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations could be considered. 85. We recognize that international cooperation to fight terrorism must be conducted in conformity with international law, including the Charter and relevant international conventions and protocols. States must ensure that any measures taken to combat terrorism comply with their obligations under international law, in particular human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law. 86. We reiterate our call upon States to refrain from organizing, financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities and to take appropriate measures to ensure that their territories are not used for such activities. 87. We acknowledge the important role played by the United Nations in combating terrorism and also stress the vital contribution of regional and bilateral cooperation, particularly at the practical level of law enforcement cooperation and technical exchange. 88. We urge the international community, including the United Nations, to assist States in building national and regional capacity to combat terrorism. We invite the Secretary-General to submit proposals to the General Assembly and the Security Council, within their respective mandates, to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations system to assist States in combating terrorism and to enhance the coordination of United Nations activities in this regard. 89. We stress the importance of assisting victims of terrorism and of providing them and their families with support to cope with their loss and their grief. 90. We encourage the Security Council to consider ways to strengthen its monitoring and enforcement role in counter-terrorism, including by consolidating State reporting requirements, taking into account and respecting the different mandates of its counter-terrorism subsidiary bodies. We are committed to cooperating fully with the three competent subsidiary bodies in the fulfilment of their tasks, recognizing that many States continue to require assistance in implementing relevant Security Council resolutions. 91. We support efforts for the early entry into force of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear TerrorismResolution 59/290, annex. and strongly encourage States to consider becoming parties to it expeditiously and acceding without delay to the twelve other international conventions and protocols against terrorism and implementing them. Peacekeeping 92. Recognizing that United Nations peacekeeping plays a vital role in helping parties to conflict end hostilities and commending the contribution of United Nations peacekeepers in that regard, noting improvements made in recent years in United Nations peacekeeping, including the deployment of integrated missions in complex situations, and stressing the need to mount operations with adequate capacity to counter hostilities and fulfil effectively their mandates, we urge further development of proposals for enhanced rapidly deployable capacities to reinforce peacekeeping operations in crises. We endorse the creation of an initial operating capability for a standing police capacity to provide coherent, effective and responsive start-up capability for the policing component of the United Nations peacekeeping missions and to assist existing missions through the provision of advice and expertise. 93. Recognizing the important contribution to peace and security by regional organizations as provided for under Chapter VIII of the Charter and the importance of forging predictable partnerships and arrangements between the United Nations and regional organizations, and noting in particular, given the special needs of Africa, the importance of a strong African Union: (a) We support the efforts of the European Union and other regional entities to develop capacities such as for rapid deployment, standby and bridging arrangements; (b) We support the development and implementation of a ten-year plan for capacity-building with the African Union. 94. We support implementation of the 2001 Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 95. We urge States parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban ConventionConvention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597). and Amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional WeaponsAmended Protocol II to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B). to fully implement their respective obligations. We call upon States in a position to do so to provide greater technical assistance to mine-affected States. 96. We underscore the importance of the recommendations of the Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Peacekeeping Personnel,A/59/710, paras. 68-93. and urge that those measures adopted in the relevant General Assembly resolutions based upon the recommendations be fully implemented without delay. Peacebuilding 97. Emphasizing the need for a coordinated, coherent and integrated approach to post-conflict peacebuilding and reconciliation with a view to achieving sustainable peace, recognizing the need for a dedicated institutional mechanism to address the special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery, reintegration and reconstruction and to assist them in laying the foundation for sustainable development, and recognizing the vital role of the United Nations in that regard, we decide to establish a Peacebuilding Commission as an intergovernmental advisory body. 98. The main purpose of the Peacebuilding Commission is to bring together all relevant actors to marshal resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery. The Commission should focus attention on the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict and support the development of integrated strategies in order to lay the foundation for sustainable development. In addition, it should provide recommendations and information to improve the coordination of all relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, develop best practices, help to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and extend the period of attention by the international community to post-conflict recovery. The Commission should act in all matters on the basis of consensus of its members. 99. The Peacebuilding Commission should make the outcome of its discussions and recommendations publicly available as United Nations documents to all relevant bodies and actors, including the international financial institutions. The Peacebuilding Commission should submit an annual report to the General Assembly. 100. The Peacebuilding Commission should meet in various configurations. Country-specific meetings of the Commission, upon invitation of the Organizational Committee referred to in paragraph 101 below, should include as members, in addition to members of the Organizational Committee, representatives from: (a) The country under consideration; (b) Countries in the region engaged in the post-conflict process and other countries that are involved in relief efforts and/or political dialogue, as well as relevant regional and subregional organizations; (c) The major financial, troop and civilian police contributors involved in the recovery effort; (d) The senior United Nations representative in the field and other relevant United Nations representatives; (e) Such regional and international financial institutions as may be relevant. 101. The Peacebuilding Commission should have a standing Organizational Committee, responsible for developing its procedures and organizational matters, comprising: (a) Members of the Security Council, including permanent members; (b) Members of the Economic and Social Council, elected from regional groups, giving due consideration to those countries that have experienced post-conflict recovery; (c) Top providers of assessed contributions to the United Nations budgets and voluntary contributions to the United Nations funds, programmes and agencies, including the standing Peacebuilding Fund, that are not among those selected in (a) or (b) above; (d) Top providers of military personnel and civilian police to United Nations missions that are not among those selected in (a), (b) or (c) above. 102. Representatives from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other institutional donors should be invited to participate in all meetings of the Peacebuilding Commission in a manner suitable to their governing arrangements, in addition to a representative of the Secretary-General. 103. We request the Secretary-General to establish a multi-year standing Peacebuilding Fund for post-conflict peacebuilding, funded by voluntary contributions and taking due account of existing instruments. The objectives of the Peacebuilding Fund will include ensuring the immediate release of resources needed to launch peacebuilding activities and the availability of appropriate financing for recovery. 104. We also request the Secretary-General to establish, within the Secretariat and from within existing resources, a small peacebuilding support office staffed by qualified experts to assist and support the Peacebuilding Commission. The office should draw on the best expertise available. 105. The Peacebuilding Commission should begin its work no later than 31 December 2005. Sanctions 106. We underscore that sanctions remain an important tool under the Charter in our efforts to maintain international peace and security without recourse to the use of force, and resolve to ensure that sanctions are carefully targeted in support of clear objectives, to comply with sanctions established by the Security Council and to ensure that sanctions are implemented in ways that balance effectiveness to achieve the desired results against the possible adverse consequences, including socio-economic and humanitarian consequences, for populations and third States. 107. Sanctions should be implemented and monitored effectively with clear benchmarks and should be periodically reviewed, as appropriate, and remain for as limited a period as necessary to achieve their objectives and should be terminated once the objectives have been achieved. 108. We call upon the Security Council, with the support of the Secretary-General, to improve its monitoring of the implementation and effects of sanctions, to ensure that sanctions are implemented in an accountable manner, to review regularly the results of such monitoring and to develop a mechanism to address special economic problems arising from the application of sanctions in accordance with the Charter. 109. We also call upon the Security Council, with the support of the Secretary-General, to ensure that fair and clear procedures exist for placing individuals and entities on sanctions lists and for removing them, as well as for granting humanitarian exemptions. 110. We support efforts through the United Nations to strengthen State capacity to implement sanctions provisions. Transnational crime 111. We express our grave concern at the negative effects on development, peace and security and human rights posed by transnational crime, including the smuggling of and trafficking in human beings, the world narcotic drug problem and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, and at the increasing vulnerability of States to such crime. We reaffirm the need to work collectively to combat transnational crime. 112. We recognize that trafficking in persons continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity and requires a concerted international response. To that end, we urge all States to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in persons to counter the demand for trafficked victims and to protect the victims. 113. We urge all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the relevant international conventions on organized crime and corruption and, following their entry into force, to implement them effectively, including by incorporating the provisions of those conventions into national legislation and by strengthening criminal justice systems. 114. We reaffirm our unwavering determination and commitment to overcome the world narcotic drug problem through international cooperation and national strategies to eliminate both the illicit supply of and demand for illicit drugs. 115. We resolve to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, within its existing mandates, to provide assistance to Member States in those tasks upon request. Women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts 116. We stress the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding. We reaffirm our commitment to the full and effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security. We also underline the importance of integrating a gender perspective and of women having the opportunity for equal participation and full involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security, as well as the need to increase their role in decision-making at all levels. We strongly condemn all violations of the human rights of women and girls in situations of armed conflict and the use of sexual exploitation, violence and abuse, and we commit ourselves to elaborating and implementing strategies to report on, prevent and punish gender-based violence. Protecting children in situations of armed conflict 117. We reaffirm our commitment to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in armed conflicts. We welcome the significant advances and innovations that have been achieved over the past several years. We welcome in particular the adoption of Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005. We call upon States to consider ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.Ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. We also call upon States to take effective measures, as appropriate, to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, contrary to international law, by armed forces and groups, and to prohibit and criminalize such practices. 118. We therefore call upon all States concerned to take concrete measures to ensure accountability and compliance by those responsible for grave abuses against children. We also reaffirm our commitment to ensure that children in armed conflicts receive timely and effective humanitarian assistance, including education, for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. IV. Human rights and the rule of law 119. We recommit ourselves to actively protecting and promoting all human rights, the rule of law and democracy and recognize that they are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations, and call upon all parts of the United Nations to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with their mandates. 120. We reaffirm the solemn commitment of our States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for and the observance and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other instruments relating to human rights and international law. The universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond question. Human rights 121. We reaffirm that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that all human rights must be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis. While the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, all States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, have the duty to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms. 122. We emphasize the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter, to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. 123. We resolve further to strengthen the United Nations human rights machinery with the aim of ensuring effective enjoyment by all of all human rights and civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development. 124. We resolve to strengthen the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, taking note of the High Commissioner's plan of action, to enable it to effectively carry out its mandate to respond to the broad range of human rights challenges facing the international community, particularly in the areas of technical assistance and capacity-building, through the doubling of its regular budget resources over the next five years with a view to progressively setting a balance between regular budget and voluntary contributions to its resources, keeping in mind other priority programmes for developing countries and the recruitment of highly competent staff on a broad geographical basis and with gender balance, under the regular budget, and we support its closer cooperation with all relevant United Nations bodies, including the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council. 125. We resolve to improve the effectiveness of the human rights treaty bodies, including through more timely reporting, improved and streamlined reporting procedures and technical assistance to States to enhance their reporting capacities and further enhance the implementation of their recommendations. 126. We resolve to integrate the promotion and protection of human rights into national policies and to support the further mainstreaming of human rights throughout the United Nations system, as well as closer cooperation between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and all relevant United Nations bodies. 127. We reaffirm our commitment to continue making progress in the advancement of the human rights of the world's indigenous peoples at the local, national, regional and international levels, including through consultation and collaboration with them, and to present for adoption a final draft United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples as soon as possible. 128. We recognize the need to pay special attention to the human rights of women and children and undertake to advance them in every possible way, including by bringing gender and child-protection perspectives into the human rights agenda. 129. We recognize the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed full enjoyment of their rights without discrimination. We also affirm the need to finalize a comprehensive draft convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. 130. We note that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society. 131. We support the promotion of human rights education and learning at all levels, including through the implementation of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, as appropriate, and encourage all States to develop initiatives in this regard. Internally displaced persons 132. We recognize the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons and resolve to take effective measures to increase the protection of internally displaced persons. Refugee protection and assistance 133. We commit ourselves to safeguarding the principle of refugee protection and to upholding our responsibility in resolving the plight of refugees, including through the support of efforts aimed at addressing the causes of refugee movement, bringing about the safe and sustainable return of those populations, finding durable solutions for refugees in protracted situations and preventing refugee movement from becoming a source of tension among States. We reaffirm the principle of solidarity and burden-sharing and resolve to support nations in assisting refugee populations and their host communities. Rule of law 134. Recognizing the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels, we: (a) Reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to an international order based on the rule of law and international law, which is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States; (b) Support the annual treaty event; (c) Encourage States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to all treaties that relate to the protection of civilians; (d) Call upon States to continue their efforts to eradicate policies and practices that discriminate against women and to adopt laws and promote practices that protect the rights of women and promote gender equality; (e) Support the idea of establishing a rule of law assistance unit within the Secretariat, in accordance with existing relevant procedures, subject to a report by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly, so as to strengthen United Nations activities to promote the rule of law, including through technical assistance and capacity-building; (f) Recognize the important role of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, in adjudicating disputes among States and the value of its work, call upon States that have not yet done so to consider accepting the jurisdiction of the Court in accordance with its Statute and consider means of strengthening the Court's work, including by supporting the Secretary-General's Trust Fund to Assist States in the Settlement of Disputes through the International Court of Justice on a voluntary basis. Democracy 135. We reaffirm that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives. We also reaffirm that while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy, that it does not belong to any country or region, and reaffirm the necessity of due respect for sovereignty and the right of self-determination. We stress that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. 136. We renew our commitment to support democracy by strengthening countries' capacity to implement the principles and practices of democracy and resolve to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to assist Member States upon their request. We welcome the establishment of a Democracy Fund at the United Nations. We note that the advisory board to be established should reflect diverse geographical representation. We invite the Secretary-General to help to ensure that practical arrangements for the Democracy Fund take proper account of existing United Nations activity in this field. 137. We invite interested Member States to give serious consideration to contributing to the Fund. Responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity 138. Each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. This responsibility entails the prevention of such crimes, including their incitement, through appropriate and necessary means. We accept that responsibility and will act in accordance with it. The international community should, as appropriate, encourage and help States to exercise this responsibility and support the United Nations in establishing an early warning capability. 139. The international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means, in accordance with Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter, to help to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. In this context, we are prepared to take collective action, in a timely and decisive manner, through the Security Council, in accordance with the Charter, including Chapter VII, on a case-by-case basis and in cooperation with relevant regional organizations as appropriate, should peaceful means be inadequate and national authorities are manifestly failing to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. We stress the need for the General Assembly to continue consideration of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and its implications, bearing in mind the principles of the Charter and international law. We also intend to commit ourselves, as necessary and appropriate, to helping States build capacity to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and to assisting those which are under stress before crises and conflicts break out. 140. We fully support the mission of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. Children's rights 141. We express dismay at the increasing number of children involved in and affected by armed conflict, as well as all other forms of violence, including domestic violence, sexual abuse and exploitation and trafficking. We support cooperation policies aimed at strengthening national capacities to improve the situation of those children and to assist in their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. 142. We commit ourselves to respecting and ensuring the rights of each child without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status of the child or his or her parent(s) or legal guardian(s). We call upon States to consider as a priority becoming a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Human security 143. We stress the right of people to live in freedom and dignity, free from poverty and despair. We recognize that all individuals, in particular vulnerable people, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their human potential. To this end, we commit ourselves to discussing and defining the notion of human security in the General Assembly. Culture of peace and initiatives on dialogue among cultures, civilizations and religions 144. We reaffirm the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of PeaceResolutions 53/243 A and B. as well as the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations and its Programme of ActionSee resolution 56/6. adopted by the General Assembly and the value of different initiatives on dialogue among cultures and civilizations, including the dialogue on interfaith cooperation. We commit ourselves to taking action to promote a culture of peace and dialogue at the local, national, regional and international levels and request the Secretary-General to explore enhancing implementation mechanisms and to follow up on those initiatives. In this regard, we also welcome the Alliance of Civilizations initiative announced by the Secretary-General on 14 July 2005. 145. We underline that sports can foster peace and development and can contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding, and we encourage discussions in the General Assembly for proposals leading to a plan of action on sport and development. V. Strengthening the United Nations 146. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthen the United Nations with a view to enhancing its authority and efficiency, as well as its capacity to address effectively, and in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter, the full range of challenges of our time. We are determined to reinvigorate the intergovernmental organs of the United Nations and to adapt them to the needs of the twenty-first century. 147. We stress that, in order to efficiently perform their respective mandates as provided under the Charter, United Nations bodies should develop good cooperation and coordination in the common endeavour of building a more effective United Nations. 148. We emphasize the need to provide the United Nations with adequate and timely resources with a view to enabling it to carry out its mandates. A reformed United Nations must be responsive to the entire membership, faithful to its founding principles and adapted to carrying out its mandate. General Assembly 149. We reaffirm the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, as well as the role of the Assembly in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law. 150. We welcome the measures adopted by the General Assembly with a view to strengthening its role and authority and the role and leadership of the President of the Assembly and, to that end, we call for their full and speedy implementation. 151. We call for strengthening the relationship between the General Assembly and the other principal organs to ensure better coordination on topical issues that require coordinated action by the United Nations, in accordance with their respective mandates. Security Council 152. We reaffirm that Member States have conferred on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, acting on their behalf, as provided for by the Charter. 153. We support early reform of the Security Council - an essential element of our overall effort to reform the United Nations - in order to make it more broadly representative, efficient and transparent and thus to further enhance its effectiveness and the legitimacy and implementation of its decisions. We commit ourselves to continuing our efforts to achieve a decision to this end and request the General Assembly to review progress on the reform set out above by the end of 2005. 154. We recommend that the Security Council continue to adapt its working methods so as to increase the involvement of States not members of the Council in its work, as appropriate, enhance its accountability to the membership and increase the transparency of its work. Economic and Social Council 155. We reaffirm the role that the Charter and the General Assembly have vested in the Economic and Social Council and recognize the need for a more effective Economic and Social Council as a principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on issues of economic and social development, as well as for implementation of the international development goals agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Development Goals. To achieve these objectives, the Council should: (a) Promote global dialogue and partnership on global policies and trends in the economic, social, environmental and humanitarian fields. For this purpose, the Council should serve as a quality platform for high-level engagement among Member States and with the international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society on emerging global trends, policies and action and develop its ability to respond better and more rapidly to developments in the international economic, environmental and social fields; (b) Hold a biennial high-level Development Cooperation Forum to review trends in international development cooperation, including strategies, policies and financing, promote greater coherence among the development activities of different development partners and strengthen the links between the normative and operational work of the United Nations; (c) Ensure follow-up of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the internationally agreed development goals, and hold annual ministerial-level substantive reviews to assess progress, drawing on its functional and regional commissions and other international institutions, in accordance with their respective mandates; (d) Support and complement international efforts aimed at addressing humanitarian emergencies, including natural disasters, in order to promote an improved, coordinated response from the United Nations; (e) Play a major role in the overall coordination of funds, programmes and agencies, ensuring coherence among them and avoiding duplication of mandates and activities. 156. We stress that in order to fully perform the above functions, the organization of work, the agenda and the current methods of work of the Economic and Social Council should be adapted. Human Rights Council 157. Pursuant to our commitment to further strengthen the United Nations human rights machinery, we resolve to create a Human Rights Council. 158. The Council will be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner. 159. The Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon. It should also promote effective coordination and the mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system. 160. We request the President of the General Assembly to conduct open, transparent and inclusive negotiations, to be completed as soon as possible during the sixtieth session, with the aim of establishing the mandate, modalities, functions, size, composition, membership, working methods and procedures of the Council. Secretariat and management reform 161. We recognize that in order to effectively comply with the principles and objectives of the Charter, we need an efficient, effective and accountable Secretariat. Its staff shall act in accordance with Article 100 of the Charter, in a culture of organizational accountability, transparency and integrity. Consequently we: (a) Recognize the ongoing reform measures carried out by the Secretary-General to strengthen accountability and oversight, improve management performance and transparency and reinforce ethical conduct, and invite him to report to the General Assembly on the progress made in their implementation; (b) Emphasize the importance of establishing effective and efficient mechanisms for responsibility and accountability of the Secretariat; (c) Urge the Secretary-General to ensure that the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity shall be the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff, with due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in accordance with Article 101 of the Charter; (d) Welcome the Secretary-General's efforts to ensure ethical conduct, more extensive financial disclosure for United Nations officials and enhanced protection for those who reveal wrongdoing within the Organization. We urge the Secretary-General to scrupulously apply the existing standards of conduct and develop a system-wide code of ethics for all United Nations personnel. In this regard, we request the Secretary-General to submit details on an ethics office with independent status, which he intends to create, to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; (e) Pledge to provide the United Nations with adequate resources, on a timely basis, to enable the Organization to implement its mandates and achieve its objectives, having regard to the priorities agreed by the General Assembly and the need to respect budget discipline. We stress that all Member States should meet their obligations with regard to the expenses of the Organization; (f) Strongly urge the Secretary-General to make the best and most efficient use of resources in accordance with clear rules and procedures agreed by the General Assembly, in the interest of all Member States, by adopting the best management practices, including effective use of information and communication technologies, with a view to increasing efficiency and enhancing organizational capacity, concentrating on those tasks that reflect the agreed priorities of the Organization. 162. We reaffirm the role of the Secretary-General as the chief administrative officer of the Organization, in accordance with Article 97 of the Charter. We request the Secretary-General to make proposals to the General Assembly for its consideration on the conditions and measures necessary for him to carry out his managerial responsibilities effectively. 163. We commend the Secretary-General's previous and ongoing efforts to enhance the effective management of the United Nations and his commitment to update the Organization. Bearing in mind our responsibility as Member States, we emphasize the need to decide on additional reforms in order to make more efficient use of the financial and human resources available to the Organization and thus better comply with its principles, objectives and mandates. We call on the Secretary-General to submit proposals for implementing management reforms to the General Assembly for consideration and decision in the first quarter of 2006, which will include the following elements: (a) We will ensure that the United Nations budgetary, financial and human resource policies, regulations and rules respond to the current needs of the Organization and enable the efficient and effective conduct of its work, and request the Secretary-General to provide an assessment and recommendations to the General Assembly for decision during the first quarter of 2006. The assessment and recommendations of the Secretary-General should take account of the measures already under way for the reform of human resources management and the budget process; (b) We resolve to strengthen and update the programme of work of the United Nations so that it responds to the contemporary requirements of Member States. To this end, the General Assembly and other relevant organs will review all mandates older than five years originating from resolutions of the General Assembly and other organs, which would be complementary to the existing periodic reviews of activities. The General Assembly and the other organs should complete and take the necessary decisions arising from this review during 2006. We request the Secretary-General to facilitate this review with analysis and recommendations, including on the opportunities for programmatic shifts that could be considered for early General Assembly consideration; (c) A detailed proposal on the framework for a one-time staff buyout to improve personnel structure and quality, including an indication of costs involved and mechanisms to ensure that it achieves its intended purpose. 164. We recognize the urgent need to substantially improve the United Nations oversight and management processes. We emphasize the importance of ensuring the operational independence of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. Therefore: (a) The expertise, capacity and resources of the Office of Internal Oversight Services in respect of audit and investigations will be significantly strengthened as a matter of urgency; (b) We request the Secretary-General to submit an independent external evaluation of the auditing and oversight system of the United Nations, including the specialized agencies, including the roles and responsibilities of management, with due regard to the nature of the auditing and oversight bodies in question. This evaluation will take place within the context of the comprehensive review of the governance arrangements. We ask the General Assembly to adopt measures during its sixtieth session at the earliest possible stage, based on the consideration of recommendations of the evaluation and those made by the Secretary-General; (c) We recognize that additional measures are needed to enhance the independence of the oversight structures. We therefore request the Secretary-General to submit detailed proposals to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session for its early consideration on the creation of an independent oversight advisory committee, including its mandate, composition, selection process and qualification of experts; (d) We authorize the Office of Internal Oversight Services to examine the feasibility of expanding its services to provide internal oversight to United Nations agencies that request such services in such a way as to ensure that the provision of internal oversight services to the Secretariat will not be compromised. 165. We insist on the highest standards of behaviour from all United Nations personnel and support the considerable efforts under way with respect to the implementation of the Secretary-General's policy of zero tolerance regarding sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel, both at Headquarters and in the field. We encourage the Secretary-General to submit proposals to the General Assembly leading to a comprehensive approach to victims' assistance by 31 December 2005. 166. We encourage the Secretary-General and all decision-making bodies to take further steps in mainstreaming a gender perspective in the policies and decisions of the Organization. 167. We strongly condemn all attacks against the safety and security of personnel engaged in United Nations activities. We call upon States to consider becoming parties to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated PersonnelUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457. and stress the need to conclude negotiations on a protocol expanding the scope of legal protection during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. System-wide coherence 168. We recognize that the United Nations brings together a unique wealth of expertise and resources on global issues. We commend the extensive experience and expertise of the various development-related organizations, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system in their diverse and complementary fields of activity and their important contributions to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the other development objectives established by various United Nations conferences. 169. We support stronger system-wide coherence by implementing the following measures: Policy • Strengthening linkages between the normative work of the United Nations system and its operational activities • Coordinating our representation on the governing boards of the various development and humanitarian agencies so as to ensure that they pursue a coherent policy in assigning mandates and allocating resources throughout the system • Ensuring that the main horizontal policy themes, such as sustainable development, human rights and gender, are taken into account in decision-making throughout the United Nations Operational activities • Implementing current reforms aimed at a more effective, efficient, coherent, coordinated and better-performing United Nations country presence with a strengthened role for the senior resident official, whether special representative, resident coordinator or humanitarian coordinator, including appropriate authority, resources and accountability, and a common management, programming and monitoring framework • Inviting the Secretary-General to launch work to further strengthen the management and coordination of United Nations operational activities so that they can make an even more effective contribution to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, including proposals for consideration by Member States for more tightly managed entities in the fields of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment Humanitarian assistance • Upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence and ensuring that humanitarian actors have safe and unhindered access to populations in need in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws • Supporting the efforts of countries, in particular developing countries, to strengthen their capacities at all levels in order to prepare for and respond rapidly to natural disasters and mitigate their impact • Strengthening the effectiveness of the United Nations humanitarian response, inter alia, by improving the timeliness and predictability of humanitarian funding, in part by improving the Central Emergency Revolving Fund • Further developing and improving, as required, mechanisms for the use of emergency standby capacities, under the auspices of the United Nations, for a timely response to humanitarian emergencies Environmental activities • Recognizing the need for more efficient environmental activities in the United Nations system, with enhanced coordination, improved policy advice and guidance, strengthened scientific knowledge, assessment and cooperation, better treaty compliance, while respecting the legal autonomy of the treaties, and better integration of environmental activities in the broader sustainable development framework at the operational level, including through capacity-building, we agree to explore the possibility of a more coherent institutional framework to address this need, including a more integrated structure, building on existing institutions and internationally agreed instruments, as well as the treaty bodies and the specialized agencies Regional organizations 170. We support a stronger relationship between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, pursuant to Chapter VIII of the Charter, and therefore resolve: (a) To expand consultation and cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations through formalized agreements between the respective secretariats and, as appropriate, involvement of regional organizations in the work of the Security Council; (b) To ensure that regional organizations that have a capacity for the prevention of armed conflict or peacekeeping consider the option of placing such capacity in the framework of the United Nations Standby Arrangements System; (c) To strengthen cooperation in the economic, social and cultural fields. Cooperation between the United Nations and parliaments 171. We call for strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and national and regional parliaments, in particular through the Inter-Parliamentary Union, with a view to furthering all aspects of the Millennium Declaration in all fields of the work of the United Nations and ensuring the effective implementation of United Nations reform. Participation of local authorities, the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations 172. We welcome the positive contributions of the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion and implementation of development and human rights programmes and stress the importance of their continued engagement with Governments, the United Nations and other international organizations in these key areas. 173. We welcome the dialogue between those organizations and Member States, as reflected in the first informal interactive hearings of the General Assembly with representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector. 174. We underline the important role of local authorities in contributing to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. 175. We encourage responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the Global Compact. Charter of the United Nations 176. Considering that the Trusteeship Council no longer meets and has no remaining functions, we should delete Chapter XIII of the Charter and references to the Council in Chapter XII. 177. Taking into account General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995 and recalling the related discussions conducted in the General Assembly, bearing in mind the profound cause for the founding of the United Nations and looking to our common future, we resolve to delete references to "enemy States" in Articles 53, 77 and 107 of the Charter. 178. We request the Security Council to consider the composition, mandate and working methods of the Military Staff Committee. RESOLUTION 60/200 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.7, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 120 to 1, with 47 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Syrian Arab Republic Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 60/200. International Year of Deserts and Desertification, 2006 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/211 of 23 December 2003, in which it declared 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, Taking note of the decision of the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, held in Nairobi from 17 to 28 October 2005, on the celebration of the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, 2006,See ICCD/COP(7)/13, paras. 4-7. Deeply concerned by the exacerbation of desertification in all regions of the world, particularly in Africa, and its far-reaching implications for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular on poverty eradication, Deeply concerned also at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the uprooting of a vast number of fruit-bearing trees, Conscious of the need to raise public awareness and to protect the biological diversity of deserts as well as indigenous and local communities and the traditional knowledge of those affected by this phenomenon, Welcoming the decision of the Government of Algeria to convene and host an international conference with the participation of Heads of State and Government, dedicated to the protection of deserts and to combating desertification, in October 2006, Welcoming also the decision of the Government of Israel to host, in cooperation with other stakeholders, an international conference entitled "Deserts and Desertification: Challenges and Opportunities" in Be'er Sheva, Israel, in November 2006, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of preparations for the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, 2006,A/60/169. 1. Welcomes the nomination of United Nations honorary spokespersons for the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, and encourages the Secretary-General to nominate additional personalities in that respect so as to promote a successful celebration of the Year worldwide; 2. Reiterates its call upon Member States and all relevant international organizations to support the activities related to desertification, including land degradation, to be organized by affected countries, in particular African countries and the least developed countries; 3. Encourages countries to contribute, as they are able, to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in AfricaUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and to undertake special initiatives in observance of the Year with the goal of enhancing the implementation of the Convention; 4. Invites Member States to make voluntary contributions to the Special Fund of the Convention in order to achieve the objectives of resolution 58/211 entitled "International Year of Deserts and Desertification, 2006"; 5. Invites Governments and all relevant stakeholders that have not yet done so to inform the secretariat for the Convention of activities envisaged for the observance of the Year; 6. Requests the Executive Secretary of the Convention to make available to the parties to the Convention and to observers a consolidated list of all activities reported, including lessons learned and best practices, in order to coordinate information and avoid overlapping of activities; 7. Notes with interest the decision of the Council of the Global Environment Facility to support, within its mandate, activities undertaken by affected developing countries parties to the Convention within the framework of the Year; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the celebration of the Year. RESOLUTION 60/201 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.7, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 60/201. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/235 of 22 December 2004 and other resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Reaffirming the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling its resolution 58/211 of 23 December 2003, in which it declared 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the universal membership of the Convention, and acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension in that they affect all regions of the world, Noting that timely and effective implementation of the Convention would help to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and encouraging affected country parties to include, as appropriate, in their national development strategies measures to combat desertification, Stressing the need for further diversification of funding sources to address land degradation, in accordance with articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, Expressing its deep appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Kenya for hosting the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in Nairobi from 17 to 28 October 2005, Welcoming the offer made by the Government of Spain to host the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in the autumn of 2007, Welcoming also the offer made by the Government of Argentina to host the fifth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention in September 2006, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/171, sect. II. on the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. 2. Resolves to support and strengthen the implementation of the Convention to address causes of desertification and land degradation, as well as poverty resulting from land degradation, through, inter alia, the mobilization of adequate and predictable financial resources, the transfer of technology and capacity-building at all levels; 3. Notes with interest the decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention at its seventh session on the outcomes of the third and fourth sessions of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention;See ICCD/COP(7)/16/Add.1. 4. Invites the donor community to increase its support to the implementation of the Convention with a view to bringing greater international attention to bear on the issue of land degradation and desertification, which will contribute to the improvement of the sustainable development of drylands and the global environment; 5. Welcomes the decision of the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session to conclude with the Council of the Global Environment Facility and to adopt the memorandum of understanding on enhanced collaboration between the Convention and the Facility;Ibid., decision 6/COP.7 and annex. 6. Invites the Global Environment Facility to strengthen the focal area of land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation; 7. Also invites the Global Environment Facility to continue to make resources available for capacity-building activities in affected country parties implementing the Convention; 8. Takes note with interest of ongoing efforts to diversify the availability of financial resources to support activities aimed at combating desertification and poverty; 9. Calls upon Governments, where appropriate, in collaboration with relevant multilateral organizations, including the Global Environment Facility implementation agencies, to integrate desertification into their plans and strategies for sustainable development; 10. Stresses the importance of the implementation of all decisions of the Conference of the Parties, in particular the decisions taken at its seventh session on strengthening of the Committee on Science and Technology and on the follow-up to the report of the Joint Inspection Unit,See ICCD/COP(7)/16/Add.1. and supports the development of a ten-year strategy to foster the implementation of the Convention; 11. Notes steps taken by the Conference of the Parties at it seventh session to introduce the euro as the budget and accounting currency as from the biennium 2008-2009;Ibid., decision 23/COP.7. 12. Recalls the request of the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session that the Executive Secretary notify parties of their contributions for 2006 by 21 November 2005 and for 2007 by 1 October 2006 to encourage early payment,Ibid., decision 23/COP.7. and urges all parties that have not yet paid their contributions for 1999 and/or the bienniums 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 to do so as soon as possible; 13. Recognizes the need to provide the secretariat of the Convention with stable, adequate and predictable resources in order to enable it to continue to discharge its responsibilities in an efficient and timely manner, and further recognizes the provision in section A on budget reform in the decision of the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session on the programme and budget for the biennium 2006-2007, including the request that the Executive Secretary take additional measures necessary to address those recommendations, ensure that the financial rules are fully respected in the future and report on this matter to the meeting of the Bureau and in the performance report for the biennium 2006-2007;Ibid., decision 23/COP.7. 14. Calls upon Governments, and invites multilateral financial institutions, regional development banks, regional economic integration organizations and all other interested organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to contribute generously to the Supplementary Fund and the Special Fund, in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of the financial rules of the Conference of the Parties,ICCD/COP(1)/11/Add.1 and Corr.1, decision 2/COP.1, annex, paras. 7-11. and welcomes the financial support already provided by some countries; 15. Takes note of the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 16. Approves the continuation of the current institutional linkage and related administrative arrangements between the Convention secretariat and the United Nations Secretariat for a further five-year period, to be reviewed by both the General Assembly and the Conference of the Parties no later than 31 December 2011, as decided by the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session;ICCD/COP(7)/16/Add.1, decision 26/COP.7. 17. Decides to include in the calendar of conferences and meetings for the biennium 2006-2007 the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies envisaged for the biennium; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to make provision for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies, including the eighth ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties and the meetings of its subsidiary bodies, in his proposal for the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa"; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/202 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/488/Add.8, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/202. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/201 of 20 Dec ember 2000, 56/197 of 21 December 2001, 57/253 and 57/260 of 20 December 2002, 58/212 of 23 December 2003 and 59/236 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reiterating that the Convention on Biological DiversityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. is the key international instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, Taking note of the reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,Available from http://millenniumassessment.org. Recalling the commitments of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to pursue a more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity, which will require action at all levels, including the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Malaysia for hosting the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held in Kuala Lumpur from 9 to 20 and on 27 February, and from 23 to 27 February 2004, respectively, Expressing its deep appreciation also to the Government of Brazil for its offer to host the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to be held in Curitiba from 20 to 31 March, and from 13 to 17 March 2006, respectively, 1. Takes note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session;A/60/171, sect. III. 2. Notes the recent progress made with respect to the achievement of the three objectives set out in the Convention on Biological Diversity;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. 3. Urges all Member States to fulfil their commitments to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010, and emphasizes that this will require an appropriate focus on the loss of biodiversity in their relevant policies and programmes and the continued provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, including through the Global Environmental Facility; 4. Reiterates the commitment of States parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetySee UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. to support the implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, as well as other biodiversity-related agreements and the Johannesburg commitment for a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010, and to continue to negotiate within the framework of the Convention, bearing in mind the Bonn Guidelines,UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I, decision VI/24A. an international regime to promote and safeguard the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources; and reiterates also the resolve of all States to fulfil commitments and significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 and to continue ongoing efforts towards elaborating and negotiating an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing; 5. Reaffirms the commitment, subject to national legislation, to respect, preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization; 6. Notes the holding of the tenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as the meetings of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing and the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Protected Areas; 7. Notes also the progress made at the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the continuing efforts made towards the implementation of the Protocol, and stresses that this will require the full support of parties and of relevant international organizations, in particular with regard to the provision of assistance to developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition in capacity-building for biosafety; 8. Invites the countries that have not yet done so to ratify or to accede to the Convention; 9. Invites the parties to the Convention that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to consider doing so; 10. Invites countries to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Conference of FAO, Thirty-first Session, Rome, 2-13 November 2001 (C 2001/REP), appendix D. 11. Encourages developed countries parties to the Convention to contribute to the relevant trust funds of the Convention, in particular so as to enhance the full participation of the developing countries parties in all of its activities; 12. Urges parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to facilitate the transfer of technology for the effective implementation of the Convention in accordance with its provisions; 13. Takes note of the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 14. Stresses the importance of reducing duplicative reporting requirements of the biodiversity-related conventions while respecting their independent legal status and their independent mandates; 15. Invites the States parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to provide the new Executive Secretary of the Convention with full support for the fulfilment of his mandate and towards promoting the implementation of the Convention; 16. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to continue reporting to the General Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention, including its Cartagena Protocol; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 60/203 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/489, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/203. Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3327 (XXIX) of 16 December 1974, 32/162 of 19 December 1977, 34/115 of 14 December 1979, 56/205 and 56/206 of 21 December 2001, 57/275 of 20 December 2002, 58/226 and 58/227 of 23 December 2003 and 59/239 of 22 December 2004, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/38 of 26 July 2002 and 2003/62 of 25 July 2003 and Council decisions 2004/300 of 23 July 2004 and 2005/298 of 26 July 2005, Recalling the goal contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020 and the goal contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Recalling also the Habitat Agenda,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling the decisions of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its thirteenth session related to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and human settlements,Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), chap. I, sect. C. Recognizing that the overall thrust and strategic vision of UN-Habitat and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially for guiding international cooperation in respect of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, Conscious of the unique opportunity provided by the Cities Without Slums Initiative mentioned in the Millennium Declaration for realizing economies of scale and substantial multiplier effects in helping to attain the other Millennium Development Goals, Acknowledging the significance of the urban dimension of poverty eradication and the need to integrate water and sanitation issues within a broad-based approach to human settlements, Expressing its appreciation to the regular Assembly of Ministers and High-level Authorities of the Housing and Urban Development Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean and its recent plan of action on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, Expressing its appreciation also to the African Union, UN-Habitat and the Government of South Africa for convening and hosting the first African conference of housing and urban development ministers in Durban from 31 January to 4 February 2005, which established the African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development to promote sustainable human settlements in Africa, Expressing its appreciation further to the Government of Canada and the city of Vancouver for their willingness to host the third session of the World Urban Forum in June 2006 and to the Government of China and the city of Nanjing for their willingness to host the fourth session of the World Urban Forum in 2008, Taking note of the reports entitled The State of the World's Cities 2004-2005: Globalization and Urban CultureUnited Nations publication, Sales No. 04.III.Q.2. and Global Report on Human Settlements 2005: Financing Urban Shelter,United Nations publication, Sales No. 05.III.Q.1. Noting the efforts by UN-Habitat to strengthen its collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other international organizations and its participation in the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, Recognizing the continued urgent need for increased and predictable financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation to ensure timely, effective and concrete global implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, and the relevant decisions of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its thirteenth session, 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme on the work of its twentieth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/60/8). the report of the Secretary-General on the coordinated implementation of the Habitat AgendaE/2005/60. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat);A/60/168. 2. Encourages Governments to consider an enhanced approach to achieving the Cities Without Slums Initiative mentioned in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. by upgrading existing slums and creating policies and programmes, according to national circumstances, to forestall the growth of future slums, and in this regard invites the international donor community and multilateral and regional development banks to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through increased voluntary financial assistance; 3. Recognizes that Governments have the primary responsibility for the sound and effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New MillenniumResolution S-25/2, annex. and the Millennium Declaration, and stresses the need for the international community to fully implement commitments to support Governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their efforts, through the provision of the requisite resources, capacity-building, the transfer of technology and the creation of an international enabling environment; 4. Calls for continued financial support to UN-Habitat through increased voluntary contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, and invites Governments to provide multi-year funding to support programme implementation; 5. Also calls for increased, non-earmarked contributions to the Foundation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat under review so as to enhance its effectiveness in supporting national policies, strategies and plans in attaining the poverty eradication, gender equality, water and sanitation and slum upgrading targets of the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 7. Emphasizes the need for UN-Habitat to develop a results-based and less fragmented budget structure with a view to securing maximum efficiency, accountability and transparency in programme delivery regardless of funding source; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to UN-Habitat and the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 9. Invites the international donor community and financial institutions to contribute generously to the Water and Sanitation Trust Fund, the Slum Upgrading Facility and the technical cooperation trust funds to enable UN-Habitat to assist developing countries to mobilize public investment and private capital for slum upgrading, shelter and basic services; 10. Acknowledges contributions of the regional consultative initiatives, including conferences of ministers in the area of human settlements, for implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, and invites the international community to support such efforts; 11. Stresses the importance of publishing the financial rules and regulations of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation in time for their adoption no later than the end of 2005; 12. Requests UN-Habitat to intensify coordination in the framework of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the common country assessment and to continue to work with the World Bank, regional development banks, other development banks, regional organizations and other relevant partners to field-test innovative policies, practices and pilot projects in order to mobilize resources to increase the supply of affordable credit for slum upgrading and other pro-poor human settlements development in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 13. Invites all Governments to participate actively in the third session of the World Urban Forum, and invites donor countries to support the participation of representatives from developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, including women and youth, in the Forum; 14. Encourages Governments to establish local, national and regional urban observatories and to provide financial and substantive support to UN-Habitat for the further development of methodologies for data collection, analysis and dissemination; 15. Recognizes the important role and contribution of UN-Habitat in supporting the efforts of countries affected by natural disasters and complex emergencies to develop prevention, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes for the transition from relief to development, and in this regard requests UN-Habitat, within its mandate, to continue to work closely with other relevant agencies in the United Nations system, and invites the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to consider including UN-Habitat in its membership; 16. Requests UN-Habitat, through its involvement in the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and through contacts with relevant United Nations agencies and partners in the field, to promote the early involvement of human settlements experts in the assessment and development of prevention, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes to support the efforts of developing countries affected by natural disasters and other complex humanitarian emergencies; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)". RESOLUTION 60/204 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/490/Add.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/204. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998, 54/231 of 22 December 1999, 55/212 of 20 December 2000, 56/209 of 21 December 2001, 57/274 of 20 December 2002, 58/225 of 23 December 2003 and 59/240 of 22 December 2004 on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Reaffirming the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, Recognizing that globalization and interdependence have opened new opportunities for the growth of the world economy and development, that globalization offers new perspectives for the integration of developing countries into the world economy and that it can improve the overall performance of the economies of developing countries by opening up market opportunities for their exports, by promoting the transfer of information, skills and technology and by increasing the financial resources available for investment in physical and intangible assets, acknowledging that globalization has also brought new challenges for growth and sustainable development and that developing countries have been facing special difficulties in responding to them, recognizing that some countries have successfully adapted to the changes and benefited from globalization but that many others, especially the least developed countries, have remained marginalized in the globalizing world economy, and recognizing also that, as stated in the Millennium Declaration, the benefits are very unevenly shared, while the costs are unevenly distributed, Recognizing also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recognizing further that an enabling economic environment should, inter alia, foster a dynamic and well-functioning business sector and include efforts to further promote good corporate and public-sector governance, to combat corruption in the public and private sectors and to promote the strengthening of and respect for the rule of law, Noting that particular attention must be given, in the context of globalization, to the objective of protecting, promoting and enhancing the rights and welfare of women and girls, as stated in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Noting also that an overall commitment to multiculturalism helps to provide an environment for preventing and combating discrimination and promoting solidarity and tolerance in our societies, Noting further the ongoing work on cultural diversity in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Reaffirming the commitment to eradicate poverty and hunger and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all and to promote the development of the productive sectors in developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit from the process of globalization, Reaffirming also its strong support for fair globalization and its resolve to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people, a central objective of relevant national and international policies as well as national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, as part of the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and that these measures should also encompass the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, as defined in International Labour Organization Convention No. 182, and forced labour, and resolving to ensure full respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work, Reaffirming further the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, and to that end stressing the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, and noting that enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions is a continuing concern, Reaffirming its commitment to governance, equity and transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and its commitment to open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial systems, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/322. 2. Reaffirms the need for the United Nations to play a fundamental role in the promotion of international cooperation for development and the coherence, coordination and implementation of development goals and actions agreed upon by the international community, and resolves to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system in close cooperation with all other multilateral financial, trade and development institutions in order to support sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development; 3. Reaffirms also that good governance is essential for sustainable development; that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, and the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; 4. Reaffirms further that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving sustainable development, that, in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance through addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries, and that to this effect the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market access of developing countries; 5. Reaffirms that each country has primary responsibility for its own development, that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development and that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty; 6. Recognizes, at the same time, that domestic economies are now interwoven with the global economic system and that, inter alia, the effective use of trade and investment opportunities can help countries to fight poverty; 7. Stresses that, in the increasingly globalizing interdependent world economy, a holistic approach to the interconnected national, international and systemic challenges of financing for development, namely, sustainable, gender-sensitive and people-centred development, is essential and that such an approach must open up opportunities for all and help to ensure that resources are created and used effectively and that solid and accountable institutions are established at all levels; 8. Stresses also that development strategies have to be formulated with a view to minimizing the negative social impact of globalization and maximizing its positive impact, while striving to ensure that all groups of the population, in particular the poorest, benefit from it, and that at the international level, efforts should focus on the means to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 9. Stresses further that, in the common pursuit of growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, a critical challenge is to ensure the necessary internal conditions for mobilizing domestic savings, both public and private, sustaining adequate levels of productive investment and increasing human capacity, while a crucial task is to enhance the efficacy, coherence and consistency of macroeconomic policies and an enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector and attracting and making effective use of international investment and assistance, and in this regard stresses also that efforts to create such an environment should be supported by the international community; 10. Stresses the special importance of creating an enabling international economic environment through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to promote equitable economic development in a world economy that benefits all people; 11. Invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized economies, to take into account the effect of their macroeconomic policies on international growth and development; 12. Underlines the fact that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, i.e., the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations, that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space and that it is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments; 13. Underlines also the fact that in addressing the linkages between globalization and sustainable development, particular focus should be placed on identifying and implementing mutually reinforcing policies and practices that promote sustained economic growth, social development and environmental protection and that this requires efforts at both the national and international levels; 14. Underlines further the fact that the issue of enhancing the voice of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions is of vital importance, stresses the importance of advancing ongoing work in this regard, taking into account progress in the context of the International Monetary Fund quota review, and invites the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to continue to provide information on this issue, using existing cooperation forums, including those involving Member States; 15. Reaffirms the commitments made in the Doha Ministerial DeclarationA/C.2/56/7, annex. and the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to fulfil the development dimensions of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs and interests of developing and least developed countries at the heart of the Doha work programme,A/C.2/56/7, annex. and calls for the successful and timely completion of the Doha round of trade negotiations with the fullest realization of the development dimensions of the Doha work programme, and looks to the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, to be held in Hong Kong, China, from 13 to 18 December 2005, to constitute an important milestone to this end; 16. Stresses the importance of building a people-centred and inclusive information society so as to enhance digital opportunities for all people in order to help bridge the digital divide, putting the potential of information and communication technologies at the service of development and addressing the new challenges of the information society, and in this regard calls for the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society;See A/C.2/59/3 and A/60/687. 17. Reaffirms that development is a central goal in itself and that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects constitutes a key element of the overarching framework of United Nations activities, stresses the importance of continuing efforts in this regard, and invites the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the regional development banks and other relevant institutions to further integrate development dimensions into their strategies and policies, consistent with their respective mandates; 18. Reaffirms also that gender equality is of fundamental importance for achieving sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and United Nations conferences, and that investing in the development of women and girls has a multiplier effect, in particular on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth, in all sectors of economy, especially in key areas such as agriculture, industry and services; 19. Invites relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant multilateral bodies to provide information to the Secretary-General on their activities to promote an inclusive and equitable globalization; 20. Stresses the importance of migration as a phenomenon accompanying increased globalization, including its impact on economies, and underlines further the need for greater coordination and cooperation among countries as well as relevant regional and international organizations; 21. Recognizes that science and technology, including information and communication technologies, are vital for the achievement of development goals and that international support can help developing countries to benefit from technological advancements and enhance their productive capacity, and in this regard reaffirms the commitment to promoting and facilitating, as appropriate, access to and the development, transfer and diffusion of technologies, including environmentally sound technologies and corresponding know-how, to developing countries; 22. Recognizes also the special needs of the least developed countries, the small island developing States, and the landlocked developing countries, within the new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, as contained in the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and reaffirms continued support and assistance for their endeavours, particularly in their efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the Almaty Programme of Action; 23. Emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the specific concerns of countries with economies in transition so as to help them to benefit from globalization, with a view to their full integration into the world economy; 24. Recognizes that the contribution of non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in national development efforts, as well as in the promotion of the global partnership for development, should be enhanced; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 60/205 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/490/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/205. Science and technology for development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/200 of 23 December 2003 and 59/220 of 22 December 2004, Recognizing the vital role that science and technology can play in development and in facilitating efforts to eradicate poverty, achieve food security, fight diseases, improve education, protect the environment, accelerate the pace of economic diversification and transformation and improve productivity and competitiveness, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing that international support can help developing countries to benefit from technological advances and can enhance their productive capacity, Underscoring the role that traditional knowledge can play in technological development and in the sustainable management and use of natural resources, Recognizing the catalysing role of information and communication technologies in promoting and facilitating the achievement of all development goals, and in this regard stressing the importance of the contribution of the World Summit on the Information Society process to the building of a people-centred, balanced and inclusive information society so as to enhance digital opportunities for all people in order to help bridge the digital divide, Welcoming the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society of the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society,See A/60/687. and recalling the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Geneva Plan of Action of the first phase of the Summit,See A/C.2/59/3, annex, chap. I. Acknowledging with appreciation the role played by the International Telecommunication Union in the organization of the two phases of the World Summit, Welcoming the adoption of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building of the United Nations Environment Programme,UNEP/GC.23/6/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex. Noting with appreciation the hosting of the second World Information Technology Forum by Botswana from 31 August to 2 September 2005 in Gaborone, Acknowledging the urgent need to bridge the digital divide and to assist developing countries to benefit from the potential of information and communication technologies, Noting with appreciation the work of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development during its intersessional period 2004-2005 on the theme "Science and technology promotion, advice and application for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration", in particular, the recommendation to facilitate the establishment of a network of centres of excellence in developing countriesSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 11 (E/2005/31), chap. I, sect. A. with a view to allowing scientists and engineers to interact with each other and make use of state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities offered by those centres, Taking note of the selection by the Commission on Science and Technology for Development of the substantive theme "Bridging the technology gap between and within nations" for its work during the intersessional period 2005-2006,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 11 (E/2005/31), chap. I, sect. A. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on science and technology for development,A/60/184. Taking note further of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development publication entitled The Digital Divide: ICT Development Indices 2004,UNCTAD/ITE/IPC/2005/4. Reaffirming the need to enhance the science and technology programmes of the relevant entities of the United Nations system, Taking note with interest of the establishment of the inter-agency cooperation network on biotechnology, UN-Biotech, as described in the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/184. 1. Affirms its commitment to: (a) Strengthen and enhance existing mechanisms and to support initiatives for research and development, including through voluntary partnerships between the public and private sectors, to address the special needs of developing countries in the areas of health, agriculture, conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental management, energy, forestry and the impact of climate change; (b) Promote and facilitate, as appropriate, access to, and development, transfer and diffusion of, technologies, including environmentally sound technologies and the corresponding know-how, to developing countries; (c) Assist developing countries in their efforts to promote and develop national strategies for human resources and science and technology, which are primary drivers of national capacity-building for development; (d) Promote and support greater efforts to develop renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal energy; (e) Implement policies at the national and international levels to attract both public and private investment, domestic and foreign, that enhances knowledge, transfers technology on mutually agreed terms and raises productivity; (f) Support the efforts of developing countries, individually and collectively, to harness new agricultural technologies in order to increase agricultural productivity through environmentally sustainable means; 2. Requests the Commission on Science and Technology for Development to provide a forum to address within its mandate the special needs of developing countries in areas such as agriculture, rural development, information and communication technologies and environmental management; 3. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant organizations to assist developing countries in their efforts to integrate science, technology and innovation policies in national development strategies; 4. Recognizes the contribution of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and its affiliated centres as well as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in the area of biotechnology, and encourages those and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system engaged in biotechnology to collaborate with a view to enhancing effectiveness in the implementation of programmes designed to assist developing countries in building capacity in all areas of biotechnology, including for industry and agriculture, as well as for risk assessment and management of biosafety; 5. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General of the World Summit on the Information Society to transmit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session the report of the Summit; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/206 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/490/Add.3, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay. 60/206. Facilitation and reduction of the cost of transfer of migrant remittances The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/208 of 23 December 2003 and 59/241 of 22 December 2004, Acknowledging the important nexus between international migration and development and the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that migration presents to countries of origin, destination and transit, and recognizing that migration brings benefits as well as challenges to the global community, Recognizing that remittance flows constitute sources of private capital and that remittances have increased over time, complement domestic savings and are instrumental in improving the well-being of recipients, Recognizing also that remittance flows constitute one of the important aspects of international migration and that they particularly benefit the households of migrants and could impact the economies of recipient countries, Recognizing further that there is a need to address and to promote conditions for cheaper, faster and safer transfers of remittances in both source and recipient countries, and the need to facilitate the potential of their productive use in recipient countries by beneficiaries that are willing and able to do so, Noting that, despite some recent initiatives to facilitate and to reduce the costs of remittance transfers, the costs incurred by migrants remain high and could be reduced, Noting also the fact that many migrants without access to regular financial services may resort to informal means of transferring remittances, 1. Reaffirms the importance of reducing the transfer costs of migrant remittances, facilitating their flow and, as appropriate, encouraging opportunities for development-oriented investment in recipient countries by beneficiaries that are willing and able to do so; 2. Encourages Governments and other relevant stakeholders to consider adopting measures, in accordance with national legislation, that facilitate migrant remittance flows to recipient countries, including through, inter alia: (a) Simplifying procedures and facilitating access to formal means of remittance transfers; (b) Promoting access to, and awareness of the availability and use of, financial services for migrants; 3. Invites development partners and relevant international organizations to support developing countries in their capacity-building efforts to facilitate the flows of migrant remittances; 4. Looks forward to the High-level Dialogue of the General Assembly on International Migration and Development to be held in 2006, which will offer an opportunity to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts; 5. Invites interested countries to voluntarily convey to the Secretary-General information on their practices, initiatives and proposals in regard to the facilitation and the reduction of the cost of migrant remittances, in the context of the preparation of the Secretary-General's comprehensive overview for the High-level Dialogue. RESOLUTION 60/207 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/490/Add.4, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/207. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/205 of 22 December 1999, 56/186 of 21 December 2001 and 57/244 of 20 December 2002, and recalling also its resolutions 58/205 of 23 December 2003 and 59/242 of 22 December 2004 on preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets to the countries of origin, Recalling also the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which underlined that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority, and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Emphasizing the need for solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and the need to improve the efficiency, transparency and accountability of domestic administration and public spending and the rule of law, to ensure full respect for human rights, including the right to development, and to eradicate corruption and build sound economic and social institutions, Recognizing that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority and that corruption is a serious barrier to effective resource mobilization and allocation and diverts resources away from activities that are vital for poverty eradication, the fight against hunger, and economic and sustainable development, Noting the particular concern of developing countries and countries with economies in transition regarding the return of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption to the countries from which they originated, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. in particular chapter V, in view of the importance that such assets can have to their sustainable development, Recognizing the concern about the transfer and/or transaction of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption, and stressing the need to address this concern consistent with the principles of chapter V of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Recognizing also that the illicit acquisition of wealth can be particularly damaging to democratic institutions, national economies and the rule of law, Convinced that a stable and transparent environment for national and international commercial transactions in all countries is essential for the mobilization of investment, finance, technology, skills and other important resources, and recognizing that effective efforts at all levels to prevent and combat corruption in all its forms in all countries are essential elements of an improved national and international business environment, Concerned about the links between corruption in all its forms, including bribery, corruption-related money-laundering and the transfer of assets of illicit origin, and other forms of crime, in particular organized crime and economic crime, Reiterating its concern about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and the values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law, in particular when an inadequate national and international response leads to impunity, Welcoming the initiatives taken by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Group of Eight with regard to fighting corruption and improving transparency, including the initiative of the Group of Eight to support with bilateral technical assistance those countries committed to a partnership to increase transparency, good governance and the rule of law, and welcoming also the efforts of those Member States that have entered into "Compacts to Promote Transparency and Combat Corruption" with the Group of Eight, 1. Condemns corruption in all its forms, including bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of assets of illicit origin; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/157. 3. Welcomes the entry into force on 14 December 2005 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Resolution 58/4, annex. 4. Reiterates its invitation to all Member States and competent regional economic integration organizations within the limits of their competence to ratify or accede to and fully implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption as soon as possible; 5. Reaffirms the commitment to make the fight against corruption a priority at all levels, and welcomes all actions taken in this regard at the national and international levels, including the adoption of policies that emphasize accountability, transparent public sector management and corporate responsibility and accountability, including efforts to return assets transferred through corruption, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 6. Welcomes the efforts of Member States that have enacted laws and taken other positive measures in the fight against corruption in all its forms including, inter alia, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and in this regard encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact such laws and to implement effective measures at the national level and, in accordance with domestic law and policies, at the local level, to prevent and combat corruption; 7. Encourages all Governments to prevent, combat and penalize corruption in all its forms, including bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of illicitly acquired assets, and to work for the prompt return of such assets through asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V; 8. Further encourages subregional and regional cooperation, where appropriate, in the efforts to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin as well as for asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V; 9. Calls for further international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in support of national, subregional and regional efforts to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin, as well as for asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V; 10. Encourages Member States to provide adequate financial and human resources to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including for the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and further encourages the Office to give high priority to technical cooperation, upon request, inter alia, to promote and facilitate the ratification, acceptance, approval of or accession to and the implementation of the Convention; 11. Notes the imminent finalization by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in cooperation with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, of the legislative guide for the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 12. Reiterates its request to the international community to provide, inter alia, technical assistance to support national efforts to strengthen human and institutional capacity aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin as well as for asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V, and formulating strategies for mainstreaming and promoting transparency and integrity in both the public and private sectors; 13. Urges all Member States, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to abide by the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and to foster a culture of transparency, accountability and rejection of corruption; 14. Welcomes the actions by the private sector, at both the international and the national levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, to remain fully engaged in the fight against corruption, calls upon the private sector to continue to make efforts in this regard, takes note with appreciation of the work undertaken by the Global Compact in its consideration of its tenth principle, on anti-corruption, and emphasizes the need for all relevant stakeholders to continue to promote corporate responsibility and accountability; 15. Encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to require financial institutions to properly implement comprehensive due diligence and vigilance programmes, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other applicable instruments, that could facilitate transparency and prevent the placement of illicitly acquired funds; 16. Also encourages Member States, relevant international organizations and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to give prominence to 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, as established by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003; 17. Expresses concern about the magnitude of corruption at all levels, including the scale of the transfer of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption, and in this regard reiterates its commitment to preventing and combating corrupt practices at all levels; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to elaborate further on the magnitude of corruption at all levels, including the scale of the transfer of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption and the impact of corruption and such transfers on economic growth and sustainable development, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence", a sub-item entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption". RESOLUTION 60/208 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/491/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 60/208. Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/180 of 21 December 2001, 57/242 of 20 December 2002, 58/201 of 23 December 2003 and 59/245 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing that the lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by remoteness from world markets, and prohibitive transit costs and risks impose serious constraints on export earnings, private capital inflow and domestic resource mobilization of landlocked developing countries and therefore adversely affect their overall growth and socio-economic development, Recognizing also that landlocked developing countries, with their small and vulnerable economies, are among the poorest of developing countries, and noting that, of the thirty-one landlocked developing countries, sixteen are also classified by the United Nations as least developed countries, Recalling the Almaty DeclarationReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex II. and the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries,Ibid., annex I. Recalling also the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. an initiative for accelerating regional economic cooperation and development as most landlocked and transit developing countries are located in Africa, Noting with interest the Meeting of the Ministers of Landlocked Developing Countries Responsible for Trade, held in Asunción, on 9 and 10 August 2005, which adopted the Asunción Platform for the Doha Development Round,A/60/308, annex. Taking note of the Communiqué of the Sixth Annual Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries, held at United Nations Headquarters on 19 September 2005,A/C.2/60/2, annex. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries;A/60/287 and Corr.1. 2. Recognizes the special needs and challenges faced by landlocked developing countries, and therefore reaffirms the commitment to urgently address those needs and challenges through the full, timely and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action;Ibid., annex I. 3. Reaffirms the right of access of landlocked countries to and from the sea and freedom of transit through the territory of transit countries by all means of transport, in accordance with the applicable rules of international law; 4. Also reaffirms that transit countries, in the exercise of their full sovereignty over their territory, have the right to take all measures necessary to ensure that the rights and facilities provided for landlocked countries in no way infringe their legitimate interests; 5. Invites Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and multilateral financial and development institutions to implement the specific actions in the five priorities agreed upon in the Almaty Programme of Action; 6. Invites donor countries and multilateral and regional financial and development institutions, in particular the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, to provide landlocked and transit developing countries with appropriate financial and technical assistance in the form of grants or concessionary loans for the construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities, including alternative routes and improved communications, to promote subregional, regional and interregional projects and programmes; 7. Recognizes that most transit countries are themselves developing countries often of broadly similar economic structure and beset by similar scarcity of resources, including the lack of adequate transit transport infrastructure; 8. Emphasizes that assistance for the improvement of transit transport facilities and services should be integrated into the overall economic development strategies of the landlocked and transit developing countries and that donor countries should consequently take into account the requirements for the long-term restructuring of the economies of the landlocked developing countries; 9. Stresses the need for the implementation of the São Paulo Consensus,TD/412, part II. adopted at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, in particular paragraphs 66 and 84 thereof, by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach; 10. Encourages Member States to support the special needs of landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, as contained in the Almaty Programme of Action, with respect to trade facilitation, consistent with the decision adopted by the General Council of the World Trade Organization on 1 August 2004,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. according to their individual needs; 11. Invites the relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, including the regional commissions, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Bank, the World Customs Organization, the World Trade Organization and the International Maritime Organization, to integrate the Almaty Programme of Action into their relevant programmes of work, encourages them to continue their support to the landlocked and transit developing countries, inter alia, through well-coordinated and coherent technical assistance programmes in transit transport, and in this regard takes note of the joint communiqué adopted at the High-level Meeting on the Role of International, Regional and Subregional Organizations in the Implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action,A/60/75, annex II. convened by the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States of the Secretariat and hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan in Almaty from 29 to 31 March 2005; 12. Requests the United Nations system organizations, particularly the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States and regional commissions, to continue their efforts to establish effective indicators to measure progress in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action; 13. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in particular the Division for Services Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency and the Special Programme on the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, to continue its technical assistance activities and analytical work related to transit transport cooperation between landlocked and transit developing countries; 14. Requests the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, in accordance with the mandate given by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/227 of 24 December 2001 and in the Almaty Programme of Action and the Almaty Declaration,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex II. to continue its cooperation and coordination with organizations within the United Nations system, particularly those engaged in operational activities on the ground in landlocked and transit developing countries, to ensure effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action in line with Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, and also requests the Office to continue to carry out advocacy work to mobilize international awareness and focus attention on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action; 15. Requests, in this regard, the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures, within existing resources, including through reprioritization, to provide the Office with adequate resources so as to allow it to effectively carry out its added mandate as stipulated in the Almaty Programme of Action; 16. Invites donor countries and the international financial and development institutions to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General to support the activities related to the follow-up to the implementation of the outcome of the Almaty International Ministerial Conference; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation"; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on progress made in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/209 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/492/Add.1, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 60/209. Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/196 of 22 December 1992, 48/183 of 21 December 1993, 50/107 of 20 December 1995, 56/207 of 21 December 2001, 57/265 and 57/266 of 20 December 2002, 58/222 of 23 December 2003 and 59/247 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by Heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. and their commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Underlining the priority and urgency given by the Heads of State and Government to the eradication of poverty, as expressed in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in economic and social fields, Bearing in mind the outcomes of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Expressing its deep concern that the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected groups, in particular in the least developed countries and in sub-Saharan Africa, Encouraged by reductions in poverty in some countries in the recent past and determined to reinforce and extend this trend to benefit people worldwide, Acknowledging the contribution of full and productive employment to poverty eradication and to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing that microcredit and microfinance programmes can generate productive self-employment and assist people in eradicating poverty and reducing their social and economic vulnerability, Expressing deep concern that the number of women and girls living in poverty has increased disproportionately to the number of men, particularly in developing countries, and that the majority live in rural areas where their livelihoods are dependent on subsistence agriculture, Aware that, to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development, women and men must participate fully and equally in the formulation of macroeconomic and social policies and strategies for the eradication of poverty, Recognizing that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty and that the implementation of special measures aimed at empowering women can help to achieve this, Recognizing also that improving women's economic status also improves the economic status of their families and their communities and thereby creates a multiplier effect for economic growth, Recognizing further that mobilizing financial resources for development at the national and international levels and the effective use of those resources are central to a global partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing the ongoing international efforts, contributions and discussions, such as the Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative, aimed at identifying and developing possible innovative and additional sources of financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and external, to increase and supplement traditional sources of financing within the context of the follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, and recognizing that some of the sources and their use fall within the realm of sovereign action, Noting with interest the International Conference on Poverty Alleviation and Development, to be hosted by the Government of Mauritius in 2006, Reiterating the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/314. 2. Reiterates that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries; 3. Underlines the fact that each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication, that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and that concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development; 4. Acknowledges that sustained economic growth, supported by rising productivity and a favourable environment, including for private investment and entrepreneurship, is necessary to eradicate poverty, achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and realize a rise in living standards; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the contributions and assistance made by developing countries to the other developing countries in the context of South-South cooperation in order to achieve development and eradicate poverty; 6. Recognizes that, for developing countries to reach the targets set in the context of national development strategies for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the goal on the eradication of poverty, and for such poverty eradication strategies to be effective, it is imperative that developing countries be integrated into the world economy and share equitably in the benefits of globalization; 7. Reaffirms that, within the context of overall action for the eradication of poverty, special attention should be given to the multidimensional nature of poverty and the national and international conditions and policies that are conducive to its eradication, fostering, inter alia, the social and economic integration of people living in poverty and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including the right to development; Global response for the eradication of poverty 8. Stresses the importance of the follow-up to the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and calls for the full and effective implementation of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. as well as the outcomes of other major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields; 9. Reaffirms that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving poverty eradication and sustainable development; also reaffirms that, in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance through addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries; to that end, reiterates that the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform and a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing market access for developing countries; and also reaffirms that a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system, as well as meaningful trade liberalization, can substantially stimulate development worldwide, benefiting countries at all stages of development; 10. Also reaffirms the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, and to that end stresses the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, noting that enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions remains a continuous concern; 11. Further reaffirms that good governance at the national level is essential for poverty eradication and sustainable development; that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, and the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; 12. Welcomes the outcomes of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, and the adoption of The Spirit of São Paulo,TD/412, part I. and the São Paulo Consensus;Ibid., part II. 13. Reaffirms the need for the United Nations to play a fundamental role in the promotion of international cooperation for development and the coherence, coordination and implementation of development goals and actions agreed upon by the international community, and also reaffirms the need to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system in close cooperation with all other multilateral financial, trade and development institutions in order to support sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development; 14. Stresses that together with coherent and consistent domestic policies, international cooperation is essential in supplementing and supporting the efforts of developing countries to utilize their domestic resources for development and poverty eradication and in ensuring that they will be able to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 15. Recalls that Member States redirected and recommitted themselves to fulfilling the development dimensions of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the Doha work programme,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. and recognizes the major role that trade plays as an engine of growth and development and in eradicating poverty; 16. Recognizes that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority and that corruption is a serious barrier to effective resource mobilization and allocation and diverts resources from activities that are vital for poverty eradication, the fight against hunger and economic and sustainable development; 17. Reaffirms the Monterrey Consensus, and recognizes that mobilizing financial resources for development and the effective use of those resources in developing countries and countries with economies in transition are central to a global partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and in this regard: (a) Welcomes the increased resources that will become available as a result of the establishment of timetables by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2015 and to reach at least 0.5 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2010 as well as, pursuant to the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent for the least developed countries no later than 2010, and urges those developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard in accordance with their commitments; (b) Recognizes the importance of official development assistance as an important source of financing development for many developing countries, and stresses the need to translate increases in official development assistance into real increases in resources for national development strategies, to achieve their national development priorities as well as the internationally agreed development goals and objectives including the Millennium Development Goals, taking into account the need for resource predictability including budget support mechanisms where appropriate; also, welcomes recent efforts and initiatives to enhance the quality of aid and increase its impact, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, and resolves to take concrete, effective and timely action in implementing all agreed commitments on aid effectiveness, with clear monitoring and deadlines, including through further aligning assistance with countries' strategies, building institutional capacities, reducing transaction costs and eliminating bureaucratic procedures, making progress on untying aid, enhancing the absorptive capacity and financial management of recipient countries and strengthening the focus of development results; also encourages the broadest possible participation of developing countries in future work on aid effectiveness; (c) Recognizes the importance of developing innovative sources of financing for development, provided that such sources do not unduly burden developing countries, notes that some countries will launch the International Financial Facility, have launched its immunization pilot, and that some countries, utilizing their national authorities, will implement in the near future a contribution on airline tickets as a "solidarity contribution" to enable financing for development projects, and notes that other countries are considering whether and to what extent they will participate in those initiatives; (d) Emphasizes the importance of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty and highlights that the observance of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005 has provided a significant opportunity to raise awareness, to share best practices and to further enhance financial sectors that support sustainable pro-poor financial services in all countries, in this regard urges member countries to put best practices into action, and invites the international community, including the United Nations system, to build on the momentum created by the Year; (e) Acknowledges the vital role the private sector can play in generating new investments, employment and financing for development; 18. Resolves to continue to support the development efforts of middle-income developing countries by working, in competent multilateral and international forums and also through bilateral arrangements, on measures to help them meet, inter alia, their financial, technical and technological requirements; 19. Also resolves to address the development needs of low-income developing countries by working in competent multilateral and international forums, to help them meet, inter alia, their financial, technical and technological requirements; 20. Recognizes that an enabling domestic environment is vital for mobilizing domestic resources, increasing productivity, reducing capital flight, encouraging the private sector and attracting and making effective use of international investment and assistance, and that efforts to create such an environment should be supported by the international community; 21. Emphasizes that creditors and debtors must share responsibility for preventing unsustainable debt situations, and stresses that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and, in this regard, urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards these objectives; 22. Calls upon the developed countries, by means of intensified and effective cooperation with developing countries, to promote capacity-building and facilitate access to and transfer of technologies and corresponding knowledge, in particular to developing countries, on favourable terms, including concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights, as well as the special needs of developing countries; 23. Recognizes the crucial role that microcredit and microfinance could play in the eradication of poverty, the promotion of gender equality, the empowerment of vulnerable groups and the development of rural communities, encourages Governments to undertake policies to facilitate the expansion of microcredit and microfinance institutions in order to service the large unmet demand among poor people for financial services, including the identification and development of mechanisms to promote sustainable access to financial services, the removal of institutional and regulatory obstacles and the provision of incentives to microfinance institutions that meet established standards for delivering such financial services to the poor; 24. Also recognizes the potential of information and communication technologies to serve as a powerful tool for development and poverty eradication and to help the international community to maximize the benefits of globalization, and, in this regard, welcomes the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society adopted by the World Summit on the Information Society at its Tunis phase,See A/60/687. and recalls the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Geneva Plan of Action adopted by the Summit at its Geneva phase;See A/C.2/59/3, annex, chap. I. Policies for the eradication of poverty 25. Reaffirms that the eradication of poverty should be addressed in a multisectoral and integrated way, as set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, taking into account the importance of the need for the empowerment of women and sectoral strategies in such areas as education, the development of human resources, health, human settlements, rural, local and community development, productive employment, population, environment and natural resources, water and sanitation, agriculture, food security, energy and migration and the specific needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in such a way as to increase opportunities and choices for people living in poverty and to enable them to build and to strengthen their assets so as to achieve development, security and stability, and, in that regard, encourages countries to develop their national poverty reduction policies in accordance with their national priorities, including, where appropriate, through poverty reduction strategy papers; 26. Underlines, in this context, the importance of further integration of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in the national development strategies and plans, including the poverty reduction strategy papers where they exist, and calls upon the international community to continue to support developing countries in the implementation of those development strategies and plans; 27. Strongly supports fair globalization, and resolves to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and young people, a central objective of the relevant national and international policies, as well as national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, as part of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, resolves that these measures should also encompass the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, as defined in International Labour Organization Convention No. 182, and forced labour; and also resolves to ensure full respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work; 28. Recognizes the importance of disseminating best practices for the reduction of poverty in its various dimensions, taking into account the need to adapt those best practices to suit the social, economic, cultural and historical conditions of each country; 29. Reaffirms that all Governments and the United Nations system should promote an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes aimed at the eradication of poverty, at both the national and international levels, and encourages the use of gender analysis as a tool for the integration of a gender dimension into planning the implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for the eradication of poverty; 30. Also reaffirms that all Governments and the United Nations system should emphasize the importance and encourage the mainstreaming of poverty eradication in all policies, at both the national and international levels; 31. Further reaffirms that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development; 32. Emphasizes the critical role of both formal and non-formal education, in particular basic education and training, especially for girls, in empowering those living in poverty, reaffirms in that context the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and recognizes the importance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization strategy for the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, in supporting the Education for All programmes as a tool with which to achieve the Millennium Development Goal on universal primary education by 2015; 33. Recognizes the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious and contagious diseases on human development, economic growth, food security and poverty reduction efforts in all regions, in particular sub-Saharan Africa, and urges Governments and the international community to give urgent priority to combating those diseases; 34. Also recognizes that armed conflict results in the loss of human lives and the destruction of economic resources, and that countries emerging from conflict are faced with damaged physical and social infrastructure, scarce employment opportunities, reduced foreign investment and increased capital flight, and, in this regard, stresses that strategies, programmes and international assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation should, inter alia, create employment and eradicate poverty; 35. Emphasizes the link between poverty eradication and improving access to safe drinking water, and stresses in that regard the objective to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who are unable to reach or to afford safe drinking water and the proportion of people who do not have access to basic sanitation, as reaffirmed in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 36. Recognizes that the lack of adequate housing remains a pressing challenge in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty, particularly in the urban areas in developing countries, expresses its concern at the rapid growth in the number of slum-dwellers in the urban areas of developing countries, particularly in Africa, stresses that, unless urgent and effective measures and actions are taken at the national and international levels, the number of slum-dwellers, who constitute one third of the world's urban population, will continue to increase, and emphasizes the need for increased efforts, with a view to significantly improving the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020; 37. Also recognizes that the eradication of rural poverty and hunger is crucial for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and that rural development should be an integral part of national and international development policies; 38. Further recognizes that access to microcredit and microfinance can contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the goals relating to poverty eradication, gender equality and the empowerment of women; 39. Emphasizes the important contribution the observance of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005, has made in raising awareness of the importance of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty, in sharing good practices and in enhancing financial sectors that support sustainable financial services for the poor, and calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and other international organizations to consolidate and further build on the momentum created by the Year with a view to providing microcredit and microfinance services to the poor; 40. Recognizes the important contribution that the observance of the International Year of Rice, 2004, has made in drawing world attention to the role that rice can play in providing food security and eradicating poverty in the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; Specific initiatives in the fight against poverty 41. Also recognizes the important potential contribution of the World Solidarity Fund to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the objective to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people living on less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger; 42. Resolves to operationalize the World Solidarity Fund established by the General Assembly, and invites Member States, international organizations, the private sector, relevant institutions, foundations and individuals in a position to do so to make voluntary contributions to the Fund; 43. Recalls that, in the Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Heads of State and Government, inter alia, identified solidarity as one of the fundamental and universal values that should underlie relations between peoples in the twenty-first century, and in that regard decides to proclaim 20 December of each year International Human Solidarity Day; 44. Invites Governments and relevant stakeholders to utilize entrepreneurship, taking fully into account national interests, priorities and development strategies, to contribute to poverty eradication; 45. Recognizes that natural disasters remain a major impediment to sustainable development and poverty eradication, and, in this regard, invites Member States, the United Nations system, including international financial institutions, regional bodies and international organizations, as well as relevant civil society organizations, to support, implement and follow up the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,See A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2. adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005; Africa, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States 46. Stresses, as recognized in the Millennium Declaration and reiterated in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. the importance of meeting the special needs of Africa, where poverty remains a major challenge and where most countries have not benefited fully from the opportunities of globalization, which has further exacerbated the continent's marginalization; 47. Reaffirms its support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. encourages further efforts in the implementation of the commitments contained therein in the political, economic and social fields, and calls upon Member States and the international community, and invites the United Nations system, to continue to support the implementation of the Partnership, the primary objective of which is to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development on the basis of African ownership and leadership and enhanced partnerships with the international community, in accordance with the principles, objectives and priorities of the Partnership; 48. Notes the continuing role of the International Labour Organization in assisting African countries in implementing the Plan of Action for Promotion of Employment and Poverty Alleviation in Africa adopted at the extraordinary summit of the African Union on employment and poverty alleviation, held in Ouagadougou from 3 to 9 September 2004;African Union, document EXT/ASSEMBLY/AU/4(III)Rev.4. 49. Resolves to promote a comprehensive and durable solution to the external debt problems of African countries, including through the cancellation of 100 per cent of multilateral debt consistent with the recent Group of Eight proposal for the heavily indebted poor countries, and, on a case-by-case basis, where appropriate, significant debt relief, including, inter alia, cancellation or restructuring for heavily indebted African countries not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative that have unsustainable debt burdens; 50. Calls upon the Governments of the least developed countries and their development partners to implement fully the commitments contained in the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Brussels from 14 to 20 May 2001; 51. Recognizes the special needs and vulnerabilities of small island developing States, reaffirms the commitment to take urgent and concrete action to address those needs and vulnerabilities through the full and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-22/2, annex. and undertakes to promote greater international cooperation and partnership for the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy through, inter alia, the mobilization of domestic and international resources, the promotion of international trade as an engine for development and increased international financial and technical cooperation; 52. Also recognizes the special needs of and challenges faced by landlocked developing countries, and therefore reaffirms the commitment to urgently address those needs and challenges through the full, timely and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing CountriesReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and the São Paulo Consensus, encourages the work undertaken by the regional commissions and United Nations organizations towards establishing a time-cost methodology for indicators to measure the progress made in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action, and recognizes the special difficulties and concerns of landlocked developing countries in their efforts to integrate their economies into the multilateral trading system and that, in this regard, priority should be given to the full and timely implementation of the Almaty DeclarationIbid., annex II. and Almaty Programme of Action; The United Nations and the fight against poverty 53. Calls for the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, which provides a comprehensive basis for the follow-up to the outcomes of those conferences and summits and contributes to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the eradication of poverty and hunger; 54. Reaffirms the role of United Nations funds and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme and its associated funds, in assisting the national efforts of developing countries, inter alia, in the eradication of poverty, and the need for their funding in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 55. Welcomes the observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992 in order to raise public awareness to promote the eradication of poverty and extreme poverty in all countries, and in this regard recognizes the useful role the observance of the Day continues to play in raising public awareness and mobilizing all stakeholders in the fight against poverty, and requests the Secretary-General to undertake a review of the observance of the Day in order to identify lessons learned and ways to promote the mobilization of all stakeholders in the fight against poverty; 56. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 60/20 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/515, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 60/20. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-eighth session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its belief that the progressive modernization and harmonization of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity and common interest and to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to the well-being of all peoples, Having considered the report of the Commission on the work of its thirty-eighth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/60/17). Reiterating its concern that activities undertaken by other bodies in the field of international trade law without adequate coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, Reaffirming the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field, in particular to avoid duplication of efforts, including among organizations formulating rules of international trade, and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law, and to continue, through its secretariat, to maintain close cooperation with other international organs and organizations, including regional organizations, active in the field of international trade law, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-eighth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/60/17). 2. Commends the Commission for the finalization and approval of a draft convention on the use of electronic communications in international contracts;Ibid., chap. III and annex I. 3. Also commends the Commission for the progress made in its work on a revision of its Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services,Ibid., Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/49/17 and Corr.1), annex I. on model legislative provisions on interim measures in international commercial arbitration, on a draft instrument on transport law and on a draft legislative guide on secured transactions; 4. Endorses the efforts and initiatives of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, aimed at increasing coordination of and cooperation on legal activities of international and regional organizations active in the field of international trade law, and in this regard appeals to relevant international and regional organizations to coordinate their legal activities with those of the Commission, to avoid duplication of efforts and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law; 5. Reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with technical assistance in the field of international trade law reform and development, and in this connection: (a) Welcomes the initiatives of the Commission towards expanding, through its secretariat, its technical assistance programme; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for carrying out technical assistance activities in Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Ethiopia (for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, South Africa (for the Association of Law Reform Agencies of Eastern and Southern Africa) and Thailand; (c) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the seminars and briefing missions to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in carrying out technical assistance activities, in particular in developing countries; (d) Reiterates its appeal to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the World Bank and regional development banks, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission; 6. Takes note with regret that, since the thirty-sixth session of the Commission, no contributions have been made to the trust fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General,Resolution 48/32, para. 5. stresses the need for contributions to the trust fund in order to increase expert representation from developing countries at sessions of the Commission and its working groups, and reiterates its appeal to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund; 7. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 8. Recalls that the responsibility for the work of the Commission lies with the meetings of the Commission and its intergovernmental working groups, and stresses in this regard that information should be provided regarding meetings of experts, which bring an essential contribution to the work of the Commission; 9. Also recalls its resolutions on partnerships between the United Nations and non-State actors, in particular the private sector,Resolutions 55/215, 56/76 and 58/129. and in this regard encourages the Commission to further explore different approaches to the use of partnerships with non-State actors in the implementation of its mandate, in particular in the area of technical assistance, in accordance with the applicable principles and guidelines and in cooperation and coordination with other relevant offices of the Secretariat, including the Global Compact Office; 10. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in conformity with the General Assembly resolutions on documentation-related matters,Resolutions 52/214, sect. B, 57/283 B, sect. III, and 58/250, sect. III. which, in particular, emphasize that any reduction in the length of documents should not adversely affect either the quality of the presentation or the substance of the documents, to bear in mind the particular characteristics of the mandate and work of the Commission in implementing page limits with respect to the documentation of the Commission; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue providing summary records of the Commission's meetings relating to the formulation of normative texts; 12. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and, to this end, urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions; 13. Takes note with appreciation of the preparation of digests of case law relating to the texts of the Commission, in particular a digest of case law relating to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of GoodsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1489, No. 25567. and a digest of case law relating to the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/40/17), annex I. which will assist in dissemination of information on those texts and promote their use, enactment and uniform interpretation; 14. Welcomes the decision of the Commission to hold, in the context of its fortieth session in 2007, a congress on international trade law in Vienna, with a view to reviewing the results of the past work of the Commission as well as related work of other organizations active in the field of international trade law, assessing current work programmes and considering topics and areas for future work, and acknowledges the importance of holding such a congress for the coordination and promotion of activities aimed at the modernization and harmonization of international trade law; 15. Notes that 2006 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption by the Commission of the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.77.V.6. used worldwide in the settlement of disputes concerning international trade and investment, and in this regard welcomes initiatives being undertaken to organize conferences and other similar events to provide a forum for assessing the experience with the Rules, as well as discussing their possible revision; 16. Recalls its resolutions affirming the importance of high-quality, user-friendly and cost-effective United Nations websites and the need for their multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment,Resolutions 52/214, sect. C, para. 3, 55/222, sect. III, para. 12, 56/64 B, sect. X, 57/130 B, sect. X, 58/101 B, sect. V, paras. 61-76, and 59/126 B, sect. V, paras. 76-95. commends the Commission's restructured website in the six official languages of the United Nations, and welcomes the continuous efforts of the Commission to maintain and improve its website in accordance with the applicable guidelines. RESOLUTION 60/210 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/492/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 60/210. Women in development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/195 of 18 December 1997, 54/210 of 22 December 1999, 56/188 of 21 December 2001, 58/206 of 23 December 2003 and 59/248 of 22 December 2004 and all its other resolutions on the integration of women in development, and the relevant resolutions and agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, including the Declaration adopted at its forty-ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A. Reaffirming the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and recalling the outcomes of all other relevant major United Nations conferences and summits, Reaffirming also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which affirms that the equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured, and calls for, inter alia, the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women as being effective and essential to eradicating poverty and hunger, in combating diseases and in stimulating development that is truly sustainable, Recognizing that access to basic affordable health care, preventive health information and the highest standard of health, including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, is critical to women's economic advancement, that lack of economic empowerment and independence increases women's vulnerability to a range of negative consequences, including the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, and that the neglect of the full enjoyment of human rights by women severely limits their opportunities in public and private life, including the opportunity for education and economic and political empowerment, Reaffirming that gender equality is of fundamental importance for achieving sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and United Nations conferences, and that investing in the development of women and girls has a multiplier effect, in particular on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth, in all sectors of the economy, especially in key areas such as agriculture, industry and services, Reaffirming also the significant contribution that women make to the economy, that women are key contributors to the economy and to combating poverty through both remunerated and unremunerated work at home, in the community and in the workplace and that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty, Recognizing that the difficult socio-economic conditions that exist in many developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, have resulted in the acceleration of the feminization of poverty, Recognizing also that population and development issues, education and training, health, nutrition, the environment, water supply, sanitation, housing, communications, science and technology, and employment opportunities are important elements for effective poverty eradication and the advancement and empowerment of women, Recognizing further, in this context, the importance of respect for all human rights, including the right to development, and of a national and international environment that promotes, inter alia, justice, gender equality, equity, civil and political participation and civil, political and fundamental freedoms for the advancement and empowerment of women, Reaffirming the need to eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education by the earliest possible date and at all levels by 2015 and that equal access to education and training at all levels, in particular, inter alia, in business, trade, administration, information and communication technologies and other new technologies, as well as the need to eliminate gender inequalities at all levels, are essential for gender equality, the empowerment of women and poverty eradication and to allow women's full and equal contribution to, and equal opportunity to benefit from, development, Recognizing that poverty eradication and the achievement and preservation of peace are mutually reinforcing, and recognizing also that peace is inextricably linked to equality between women and men and to development, Aware that, while globalization and liberalization processes have created employment opportunities for women in many countries, they have also made women, especially in developing countries and in particular in the least developed countries, more vulnerable to problems caused by increased economic volatility, including in the agricultural sector, and that special support, particularly for women who are small-scale farmers, and empowerment are necessary to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities of agricultural market liberalization, Recognizing that enhanced trade opportunities for developing countries, including through trade liberalization, will improve the economic condition of those societies, including women, which is of particular importance in rural communities, Expressing its concern that, while women represent an important and growing proportion of business owners, their contribution to economic and social development is constrained by, inter alia, the denial and lack of equal rights and access of women to education, training, information, support services and credit facilities, and control over land, capital, technology and other areas of production, Also expressing its concern about the underrepresentation of women in political and economic decision-making, and stressing the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of all policies and programmes, Noting the importance of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular its funds and programmes, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women, in facilitating the advancement of women in development, and noting the work done by the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/162 and Corr.1. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "World Survey on the role of women in development: women and international migration",A/59/287/Add.1. and recommends that it be considered within the context of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, to be held in 2006; 3. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates, all sectors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as all women and men to fully commit themselves and to intensify their contributions to the implementation of the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 4. Stresses the importance of creating a favourable and conducive national and international environment in all fields of life for the effective integration of women in development; 5. Urges all Governments to develop and promote strategies to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and implementation of economic and development policies, including in budgetary policies and processes at all levels, and in the monitoring and evaluation of related programmes of action; 6. Acknowledges that the gender segmentation of the labour market creates an additional challenge for women in the economy, restricting opportunities for them in sectors traditionally dominated by men, and calls upon Governments and all other stakeholders, where appropriate, to make further efforts to address the gender wage gaps and gender segmentation of the labour market and to improve the conditions and security of women's employment in all sectors of the economy; 7. Calls upon all Governments to incorporate a gender perspective in all policies on international migration, including, inter alia, for the protection of women migrants from violence, discrimination, trafficking, exploitation and abuse; 8. Requests Governments to ensure the full and equal participation of women in decision-making and in policy formulation and implementation at all levels so that their priorities, skills and potentials can be adequately reflected in national policies; 9. Recognizes the mutually reinforcing links between gender equality and poverty eradication, as well as the need to elaborate and implement, where appropriate, in consultation with civil society, comprehensive gender-sensitive poverty eradication strategies that address social, structural and macroeconomic issues; 10. Recognizes also that violence against women and girls is one of the obstacles to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace and the implications of violence against women and girls for the social and economic development of communities and States, and calls upon States to elaborate and implement, at all appropriate levels, plans of action to eliminate violence against women and girls; 11. Recognizes further the need to strengthen the capacity of Governments to incorporate a gender perspective in policies and decision-making, and encourages all Governments, international organizations, including the United Nations system, and other relevant stakeholders to assist and support developing countries in integrating a gender perspective in all aspects of policymaking, including through the provision of technical assistance and financial resources; 12. Stresses the importance of developing national strategies for the promotion of sustainable and productive entrepreneurial activities that will generate income among disadvantaged women and women living in poverty; 13. Urges all Governments to ensure women's equal rights with men and their full and equal access to education, training, employment, technology and economic and financial resources, including credit, in particular for rural women and women in the informal sector, and to facilitate, where appropriate, the transition of women from the informal to the formal sector; 14. Encourages Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other actors of civil society to promote and protect the rights of women workers, to take action to remove structural and legal barriers as well as stereotypical attitudes to gender equality at work and to initiate positive steps to promote equal pay for equal work or work of equal value; 15. Urges all Governments to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women with regard to their access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit, giving special attention to poor, uneducated women, and to support women's access to legal assistance; 16. Calls upon Governments and entrepreneurial associations to facilitate the access of women, including young women and women entrepreneurs, to education and training in business, administration and information and communication technologies; 17. Recognizes the role of microfinance, including microcredit, in the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of women and the generation of employment, notes in this regard the importance of sound national financial systems, and encourages the strengthening of existing and emerging microcredit institutions and their capacities, including through the support of international financial institutions; 18. Stresses the need for assistance to enable women in developing countries, particularly grass-roots women's groups, to have full access to and use of new technologies, including information technologies, for their empowerment; 19. Urges States to design and revise laws that ensure that women are accorded full and equal rights to own land and other property, including through inheritance, and to undertake administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital and appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; 20. Calls upon Governments to encourage the financial sector to mainstream gender perspectives in its policies and programmes; 21. Also calls upon Governments to promote, inter alia, through legislation and family-friendly and gender-sensitive work environments, the facilitation of breastfeeding for working mothers and the provision of the necessary care for working women's children and other dependants and to consider promoting policies and programmes, as appropriate, to enable men and women to reconcile their work, social and family responsibilities; 22. Recognizes the need to empower women economically and politically, particularly poor women, and in this regard encourages Governments, with the support of their development partners, to invest in appropriate infrastructure and other projects, as well as to create opportunities for economic empowerment, in order to alleviate for women and girls the burden of time-consuming everyday tasks; 23. Expresses its concern that the HIV/AIDS pandemic reinforces gender inequalities, that women and girls bear a disproportionate share of the burden imposed by the HIV/AIDS crisis, that they are more easily infected, that they play a key role in care and that they have become more vulnerable to poverty as a result of the HIV/AIDS crisis; 24. Reaffirms the commitment to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015, as set out at the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18). integrating this goal in strategies to attain the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. aimed at reducing maternal mortality, improving maternal health, reducing child mortality, promoting gender equality, combating HIV/AIDS and eradicating poverty; 25. Calls upon the international community to make efforts to mitigate the effects of excess volatility and economic disruption, which have a disproportionately negative impact on women, and to enhance trade opportunities for developing countries in order to improve the economic situation of women; 26. Urges the international community, the United Nations system and relevant organizations to give priority to assisting the efforts of developing countries to ensure the full and effective participation of women in deciding and implementing development strategies and integrating gender concerns into national programmes, including by providing adequate resources to operational activities for development in support of the efforts of Governments to ensure full and equal access of women to health care, capital, education, training and technology, as well as full and equal participation in all decision-making; 27. Recognizes that a substantial increase in official development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and that in order to build support for official development assistance, cooperation will be needed in further improving policies and development strategies, both nationally and internationally, to enhance aid effectiveness; 28. Encourages the international community, the United Nations system, the private sector and civil society to continue to provide the necessary financial resources to assist national Governments in their efforts to meet the development targets and benchmarks agreed upon at the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the International Conference on Population and Development, the Millennium Summit, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the twenty-third and twenty-fourth special sessions of the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations conferences and summits; 29. Encourages the United Nations system and international and regional organizations, as appropriate, to assist Governments, at their request, in building institutional capacity and developing national action plans or further implementing existing action plans for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; 30. Urges Governments to create and maintain a non-discriminatory and gender-sensitive legal environment by reviewing legislation, with a view to striving to remove discriminatory provisions as soon as possible and eliminating legislative gaps that leave women and girls without protection of their rights and without effective recourse against gender-based discrimination, and encourages assistance to countries in achieving this aim; 31. Urges multilateral donors, and invites international financial institutions, within their respective mandates, and regional development banks to review and implement policies to support national efforts to ensure that a higher proportion of resources reach women, in particular in rural and remote areas; 32. Encourages Governments, international organizations, including the United Nations system, the private sector and civil society to fully incorporate a gender perspective into the implementation of and follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the International Conference on Financing for Development and to implement the specific recommendations on microfinance and microcredit for women and gender budget policies; 33. Stresses the importance of collecting and exchanging all relevant information needed on the role of women in development, including data on international migration, as well as the need to develop statistics disaggregated by sex, and in that regard encourages developed countries and relevant entities of the United Nations to provide support and assistance to developing countries, upon their request, with respect to establishing, developing and strengthening their databases and information systems; 34. Calls upon all organizations of the United Nations system, within their organizational mandates, to mainstream a gender perspective and to pursue gender equality in their country programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes and to articulate specific country-level goals and targets in this field in accordance with the national development strategies; 35. Calls upon the United Nations system to integrate gender mainstreaming into all its programmes and policies, including in the integrated follow-up to United Nations conferences, in accordance with agreed conclusions 1997/2 on gender mainstreaming adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1997;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV.A, para. 4. 36. Encourages all relevant United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, in accordance with their respective mandates, to assist Governments, at their request, in strengthening their capacity to promote and support the economic advancement of women through, inter alia, employment and entrepreneurship practices and programmes that affirm and empower women; 37. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to update the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development for the consideration of the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, noting that the survey should continue to focus on selective emerging development themes that have an impact on the role of women in the economy at the national, regional and international levels; 38. Decides that the theme for the next survey will be "Women's control over economic resources and access to financial resources, including microfinance"; 39. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, including women's increased participation in government decision-making bodies and its impact on the eradication of poverty; 40. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Women in development". RESOLUTION 60/211 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/492/Add.3, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 60/211. Human resources development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/196 of 18 December 1997, 54/211 of 22 December 1999, 56/189 of 21 December 2001 and 58/207 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Stressing that human resources development is key to the efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and to expand opportunities for people, in particular for the most vulnerable groups of the population, Recognizing that globalization and the evolution of information and communication technologies can make the challenge of human resources development more complex for developing countries, and recognizing also the increasing development gap between developed and developing countries, including the gap in knowledge and in access to information and communication technologies, and the disparity of income within and among nations and its adverse impact on human resources development in developing countries, Noting the impact of the movement of highly skilled people and those with an advanced education on human resources development and sustainable development in developing countries, and stressing the need for a global and comprehensive approach to maximize the positive impact of skilled labour mobility on human resources development, Stressing that Governments have the primary responsibility for defining and implementing appropriate policies for human resources development and the need for greater support from the international community for the national efforts of developing countries, Stressing also that health and education are at the core of human resources development and the need to ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and will have equal access to all levels of education, Emphasizing the continuing need for coordination and collaboration among the organizations of the United Nations system, within their mandates, in assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in fostering their human resources development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/318. 2. Recognizes the importance of human resources development in promoting sustainable development, and encourages Governments to integrate human resources development policies in their national development strategies; 3. Stresses that investment in human resources development should be an integral part of national development policies and strategies, and in this regard calls for the adoption of policies to facilitate investment focused on infrastructure and capacity development, including, inter alia, education, health and science and technology, including information and communication technologies; 4. States the importance of ensuring adequate resources for education as a fundamental aspect of eradicating poverty and promoting development with a view to achieving sustainable economic growth and human development, and, in this regard, encourages Governments to manage resources assigned to education in a responsible, accurate and transparent way and to ensure accountability; 5. Calls for enhanced cooperation among all development partners, including those within the United Nations system, other international organizations, donors and private sector and non-governmental organizations, to support the human resources development efforts of developing countries as articulated in national development strategies; 6. Also calls for steps to integrate gender perspectives in human resources development, including through policies, strategies and targeted actions aimed at promoting women's capacities and access to productive activities, and in this regard emphasizes the need to ensure the full participation of women in the formulation and implementation of such policies, strategies and actions; 7. Urges the adoption of cross-sectoral approaches to human resources development, which combine, among other factors, economic growth, poverty eradication, the provision of basic social services, sustainable livelihoods, the empowerment of women, the involvement of young people, the needs of vulnerable groups of society and of local indigenous communities, political freedom, popular participation and respect for human rights, justice and equity, all of which are essential for enhancing human capacity in order to meet the challenge of development; 8. Encourages the strategic and innovative use of information and communication technologies in national development policies and programmes to facilitate education, training, knowledge-sharing, recruitment and job creation, stresses the importance of implementing the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, adopted during the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held at Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005,See A/60/687. as step towards addressing these challenges, and calls upon the international community to support the efforts of developing countries in this regard; 9. Calls upon the relevant entities of the United Nations system to give priority to the objectives of human resources development through, inter alia, integrating in their development programmes explicit support for building science and technology capacities compatible with local needs, resources, culture and practices; 10. Calls upon the international community, including the entities of the United Nations system, to support the efforts of developing countries to address the adverse effects of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases on their human resources; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution with a focus on the role of science and technology in promoting human resources development; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Human resources development". RESOLUTION 60/212 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/493/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/212. South-South cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/220 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 59/250 of 22 December 2004, which, inter alia, called on organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to mainstream, in their programmes and through their country-level activities and country offices, modalities to support South-South cooperation, 1. Welcomes the report of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation at its fourteenth sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 39 (A/60/39). and the decisions taken at that session;Ibid., chap. I. 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the state of South-South cooperation;A/60/257. 3. Stresses that South-South cooperation, as an important element of international cooperation for development, offers viable opportunities for developing countries in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 4. Recognizes that developing countries have the primary responsibility for promoting and implementing South-South cooperation, not as a substitute for but rather as a complement to North-South cooperation, and in this context reiterates the need for the international community to support the efforts of the developing countries to expand South-South cooperation; 5. Encourages the international community, including the international financial institutions, to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through triangular cooperation; 6. Recognizes that regional integration initiatives between developing countries constitute an important and valuable form of South-South cooperation and that regional integration is a step towards beneficial integration into the world economy; 7. Welcomes the initiatives and partnerships being undertaken at the subregional, regional, interregional and global levels towards establishing public-private partnership mechanisms aiming to enhance and expand South-South cooperation in trade and investment; 8. Takes note with appreciation of the launching of the third round of negotiations on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries as an important instrument to stimulate South-South cooperation; 9. Recognizes the considerable contribution of South-South cooperation arrangements, which promote development activities in developing countries; 10. Also recognizes the importance of initiatives and arrangements, including public-private mechanisms, in the undertaking of efforts to enhance cooperation between developing countries, including, inter alia, in the areas of information and communication technologies, science and technology, culture, health and education; 11. Welcomes the contributions made by developing countries in the context of South-South cooperation to countries and peoples stricken by natural disasters, including through the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation within the framework for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster and through the South Fund for Development and Humanitarian Assistance; 12. Urges all relevant United Nations organizations and multilateral institutions to intensify their efforts to effectively mainstream the use of South-South cooperation in the design, formulation and implementation of their regular programmes and to consider increasing allocations of human, technical and financial resources for supporting South-South cooperation initiatives, and in this regard takes note of the initiatives contained in the Havana Programme of Action adopted by the first South Summit,A/55/74, annex II. the Marrakesh Framework for the Implementation of South-South Cooperation and the Doha Plan of Action;A/60/111, annex II. 13. Recognizes the need to mobilize additional resources for enhancing South-South cooperation, reiterates in this context its decision, in its resolution 57/263 of 20 December 2002, to include the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation in the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities, as long as it exists, recalls the decision to include the Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries in the same Pledging Conference, and invites all countries, in particular developed countries, to support South-South and triangular cooperation through, inter alia, these funds, bearing in mind the need for these funds to continue to use such resources in an effective manner; 14. Invites the United Nations Development Programme to rename the Voluntary Trust Fund for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation, which was established in accordance with General Assembly resolution 50/119 of 20 December 1995, as the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation, while maintaining its mandate and voluntary nature, and to designate it as the main United Nations trust fund for promoting and supporting South-South and triangular initiatives; 15. Invites the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme Executive Board, as appropriate, to consider measures to strengthen further the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation within the United Nations Development Programme as a separate entity and a focal point for South-South cooperation in the United Nations system, so as to enable it to carry out its full responsibilities, in particular through the mobilization of resources for the advancement of South-South cooperation, including through triangular cooperation; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session a sub-item entitled "South-South cooperation for development", and requests the Secretary-General to submit at that session a comprehensive report on the state of South-South cooperation and on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/213 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/494/Add.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 60/213. United Nations Institute for Training and Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/188 of 16 December 1996, 52/206 of 18 December 1997, 53/195 of 15 December 1998, 54/229 of 22 December 1999, 55/208 of 20 December 2000, 56/208 of 21 December 2001, 57/268 of 20 December 2002, 58/223 of 23 December 2003 and 59/252 of 22 December 2004, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/304. Acknowledging the work of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research on the functioning of the Institute, Noting the continued progress made by the Institute in its various programmes and activities, including the strengthened cooperation with other organizations of the United Nations system and with regional and national institutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Governments and private institutions that have made or pledged financial and other contributions to the Institute, Noting the slight improvement in the financial situation of the Institute, and expressing its appreciation to those who have contributed to this improvement, Noting also, however, that the bulk of the resources contributed to the Institute are directed to the Special Purpose Grants Fund rather than to the General Fund, stressing the need to address that unbalanced situation, and also noting that the participation of the developed countries in training programmes in New York and Geneva is increasing, Noting further that the Institute is funded from voluntary contributions and that it delivers, free of charge, training courses to diplomats and delegates accredited to United Nations Headquarters in New York and to the United Nations offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, Noting the various ongoing training programmes of the Institute, including those in the field of sustainable development, Reiterating that training activities should be accorded a more visible and larger role in support of the management of international affairs and in the execution of the economic and social development programmes of the United Nations system, 1. Reaffirms the importance of a coordinated United Nations system-wide approach to research and training, based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of work among the relevant institutions and bodies; 2. Also reaffirms the relevance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, in view of the growing importance of training within the United Nations and the training requirements of States and local authorities, and the relevance of the training-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 3. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training programmes, and in this context underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of those partnerships, in particular at the country level; 4. Requests the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue to ensure fair and equitable geographical distribution and transparency in the preparation of the programmes and in the employment of experts, and in this regard stresses that the courses of the Institute should focus primarily on development issues and the management of international affairs; 5. Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed countries, and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or otherwise to the Institute to give it their generous financial and other support, and urges the States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider resuming them in view of the successful restructuring and revitalization of the Institute; 6. Encourages the Board of Trustees to consider diversifying further the venues of the events organized by the Institute and to include among those venues the cities hosting regional commissions, in order to promote greater participation and reduce costs; 7. Stresses the need for the expeditious resolution of the issues related to the Institute's rent, rental rates and maintenance costs, taking into account its financial situation, as recommended in the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/304. 8. Encourages the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue its efforts to resolve the critical financial situation of the Institute, in particular with a view to broadening its donor base and further increasing the contributions to the General Fund; 9. Urges the Board of Trustees of the Institute to complete expeditiously the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors made in respect of the biennium 2002-2003; See A/60/113, annex, sect. IV.G. 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including details on the status of contributions to and the financial situation of the Institute; 11. Invites the Secretary-General, after consultation with the Board of Trustees of the Institute, in accordance with article XI of the statute of the Institute, to consider the desirability of reformulating article V, paragraph 2 (j), of the statute so that the report of the Secretary-General may be submitted to the Economic and Social Council rather than to the General Assembly, and include the findings in his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 60/214 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/494/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 60/214. United Nations System Staff College in Turin, Italy The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/228 of 22 December 1999, 55/207 of 20 December 2000, 55/258 of 14 June 2001 and 58/224 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also its resolution 55/278 of 12 July 2001, by which it approved the statute of the United Nations System Staff College, Reaffirming the role of the Staff College as an institution for system-wide knowledge management, training and continuous learning for the staff of the United Nations system, in particular in the areas of economic and social development, peace and security and internal management, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the note by the Secretary-General and the accompanying report;A/60/328. 2. Welcomes the progress made by the United Nations System Staff College since the entry into force of its statute on 1 January 2002 in pursuing the objectives set forth therein; 3. Calls upon all organizations of the United Nations system to make full and effective use of the facilities of the Staff College; 4. Invites the Staff College to strengthen further its engagement in knowledge-sharing and staff training and learning that can serve to advance the capacity of the United Nations system to contribute to the follow-up to the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits, as well as to support the timely and full realization of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, with the aim of helping to provide multilateral solutions to problems in the areas of development, peace and collective security and reinforcing system-wide coherence; 5. Encourages the Staff College to continue to provide strategic leadership in order to increase operational effectiveness, promote inter-agency collaboration and strengthen management culture by its own example, including the development of new systems of performance management, flexible and collaborative work structures and cost-effective means of delivering services to clients and beneficiaries; 6. Calls upon relevant institutions of the United Nations, including the United Nations University, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Staff College, to collaborate closely to those ends; 7. Welcomes the financial and other support extended by Member States to the work of the Staff College, and invites the international community to strengthen its support to the College through voluntary contributions, in accordance with article VII of its statute, to enable the College to consolidate its distinctive contribution to fostering a cohesive management culture across the United Nations system that is responsive to the requirements of Member States; 8. Decides that article IV, paragraph 5, of the statute of the Staff College should be amended so that the biennial reports on the activities of the College are submitted to the Economic and Social Council rather than to the General Assembly. RESOLUTION 60/215 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/495 and Corr.1, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 60/215. Towards global partnerships The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/215 of 21 December 2000, 56/76 of 11 December 2001 and 58/129 of 19 December 2003, Reaffirming the vital role of the United Nations, including the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, in the promotion of partnerships in the context of globalization, Underlining the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations, and recalling the central role and responsibility of Governments in national and international policymaking, Reaffirming its resolve to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to sustainable development and the elimination of poverty, Recalling the objectives formulated in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. notably the Millennium Development Goals, and the reaffirmation they have received in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. particularly in regard to developing partnerships through the provision of greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general so as to enable them to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the Organization, in particular in the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty, Underlining the fact that cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, including the private sector, shall serve the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and can make concrete contributions to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and the other goals contained in the Millennium Declaration, as well as in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits and their reviews, in particular in the area of development and the eradication of poverty, and shall be undertaken in a manner that maintains the integrity, impartiality and independence of the Organization, Underlining also the importance of the contribution of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general to the implementation of the outcomes of United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related fields, Welcoming, in this regard, the participation of civil society and private-sector entities in the multi-stakeholder consultations on development finance issues, whose findings were presented at the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development held in New York on 27 and 28 June 2005, Emphasizing that all relevant partners, including the private sector, can contribute in several ways to addressing the obstacles confronted by developing countries in mobilizing the resources needed to finance their sustainable development and to the realization of the development goals of the United Nations through, inter alia, financial resources, access to technology, management expertise and support for programmes, including through the reduced pricing of drugs, where appropriate, for the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases, Welcoming the efforts and encouraging further efforts by all relevant partners, including the private sector, to engage as reliable and consistent partners in the development process and to take into account not only the economic and financial, but also the developmental, social, human rights, gender and environmental implications of their undertakings and, in general, towards accepting and implementing the principle of good corporate citizenship, that is, bringing social values and responsibilities to bear on a conduct and policy premised on profit incentives, in conformity with national laws and regulations, Noting that, in line with Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003, the secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable Development is continuing its efforts to promote partnerships for sustainable development, inter alia, through the establishment of an interactive online database, the preparation of a report on partnerships for sustainable development to the Commission at its twelfth session, in 2004, the holding of a partnership fair at its twelfth and thirteenth sessions, in 2004 and 2005, respectively, and prospectively at its fourteenth session, in 2006, in line with the determination by the Council that partnerships for sustainable development, as voluntary multi-stakeholder initiatives, contribute to the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Welcoming the implementation and expansion of the database of the Commission on Sustainable Development and its increasing use as a platform to provide access to information on partnerships and facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices, Taking note of the progress achieved in the work of the United Nations on partnerships, notably in the framework of various United Nations organizations, agencies, funds, programmes, task forces, commissions and initiatives, such as the Global Compact, launched by the Secretary-General, the Information and Communication Technologies Task Force and the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, and welcoming the establishment of a multitude of partnerships at the field level, entered into by various United Nations agencies, non-public partners and Member States, such as the United Nations Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector;A/60/214. 2. Stresses that partnerships are voluntary and collaborative relationships between various parties, both public and non-public, in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and, as mutually agreed, to share risks and responsibilities, resources and benefits; 3. Also stresses the importance of the contribution of voluntary partnerships to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, while reiterating that they are a complement to, but not intended to substitute for, the commitments made by Governments with a view to achieving these goals; 4. Further stresses that partnerships should be consistent with national laws and national development strategies and plans, as well as the priorities of countries where their implementation takes place, bearing in mind the relevant guidance provided by Governments; 5. Recalls that the 2005 World Summit welcomed the positive contributions of the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion and implementation of development and human rights programmes and also welcomed the dialogue between those organizations and Member States, as reflected in the first informal interactive hearings of the General Assembly with representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector; 6. Also recalls that the 2005 World Summit resolved to enhance the contribution of non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in national development efforts, as well as in the promotion of the global partnership for development, and encouraged public-private partnerships in the following areas: the generation of new investments and employment, financing for development, health, agriculture, conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental management, energy, forestry and the impact of climate change; 7. Encourages the United Nations system to continue to develop, for those partnerships in which it participates, a common and systemic approach which places greater emphasis on impact, transparency, accountability and sustainability, without imposing undue rigidity in partnership agreements, and with due consideration being given to the following partnership principles: common purpose, transparency, bestowing no unfair advantages upon any partner of the United Nations, mutual benefit and mutual respect, accountability, respect for the modalities of the United Nations, striving for balanced representation of relevant partners from developed and developing countries and countries with economies in transition, sectoral and geographic balance, and not compromising the independence and neutrality of the United Nations system in general and the agencies in particular; 8. Also encourages responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the Global Compact; 9. Further encourages the Global Compact Office to promote the sharing of best practices and positive action through learning, dialogue and partnerships; 10. Encourages the relevant United Nations organizations and agencies, as well as the Global Compact Office, to share relevant lessons learned and positive experiences from partnerships, including with the business community, as a contribution to the development of more effective United Nations partnerships; 11. Takes note with appreciation of the appointment by the Secretary-General of a Special Adviser on the Global Compact; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to take further appropriate action to enhance partnership management through the promotion of: adequate training at all concerned levels; institutional capacity in country offices; strategic focus and local ownership; the sharing of best practices; the improvement of partner selection processes; and the streamlining of United Nations guidelines for partnerships between the United Nations and all relevant partners, including the private sector, and further requests the Secretary-General to report on these actions in the context of his report under the item entitled "Towards global partnerships"; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States, to promote, within existing resources, impact-assessment mechanisms, taking into account best tools available, in order to enable effective management, ensure accountability and facilitate effective learning from both successes and failures; 14. Welcomes innovative approaches to use partnerships as a means to better implement goals and programmes, in particular in the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty, and encourages relevant United Nations bodies and agencies and invites the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization to further explore such possibilities, bearing in mind their different mandates, modes of operation and objectives, as well as the particular roles of the non-public partners involved; 15. Recommends, in this context, that partnerships should also foster the elimination of all forms of discrimination, including on gender grounds, in respect of employment and occupation; 16. Reiterates its call upon: (a) All bodies within the United Nations system that engage in partnerships to ensure the integrity and independence of the Organization and to include information on partnerships in their regular reporting, as appropriate, on their websites and through other means; (b) Partners to provide to and exchange relevant information with Governments, other stakeholders and the relevant United Nations agencies and bodies and other international organizations with which they engage, in an appropriate way, including through reports, with particular attention to the importance of sharing among partnerships information on their practical experience; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/216 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/496 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia. 60/216. International cooperation and coordination for the human and ecological rehabilitation and economic development of the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/169 M of 16 December 1997, 53/1 H of 16 November 1998, 55/44 of 27 November 2000 and 57/101 of 25 November 2002, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/302. Recognizing that the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground, inherited by Kazakhstan and closed in 1991, remains a matter of serious concern for the people and Government of Kazakhstan with regard to the long-term nature of its consequences for the lives and health of the people, especially children and other vulnerable groups, as well as for the environment of the region, Taking into consideration the results of the international conference on the problems of the Semipalatinsk region, held in Tokyo in 1999, which have promoted the effectiveness of the assistance provided to the population of the region, Recognizing the important role of national development policies and strategies in the rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region, and taking note with satisfaction of the elaboration of the Kazakhstan national programme entitled "Complex solution of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site problems for 2005-2007", Recognizing also the contribution of different organizations of the United Nations system, donor States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to humanitarian assistance and to the implementation of the projects aimed at the rehabilitation of the region and the role of the Government of Kazakhstan in this regard, Recognizing further the challenges Kazakhstan faces in the rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region, in particular in the context of the efforts by the Government of Kazakhstan to ensure an effective and timely achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Taking note of the need for know-how in minimizing and mitigating radiological, health, socio-economic, psychological and environmental problems in the Semipalatinsk region, Taking into account the fact that many international programmes in the Semipalatinsk region have been completed whereas serious social, economic and ecological problems continue to exist, Conscious that the international community should continue to pay due attention to the issue of the human, ecological and socio-economic dimensions of the situation in the Semipalatinsk region, Emphasizing the importance of support by donor States and international development organizations for the efforts by Kazakhstan to improve the social, economic and environmental situation in the Semipalatinsk region, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/302. and the information contained therein on measures taken to solve the health, ecological, economic and humanitarian problems and to meet the needs of the Semipalatinsk region; 2. Welcomes and recognizes the important role of the Government of Kazakhstan in providing domestic resources to help meet the needs of the Semipalatinsk region, including for the implementation of the Kazakhstan national programme entitled "Complex solution of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site problems for 2005-2007"; 3. Calls upon the international community, including all Member States, in particular donor States, and United Nations institutions to continue to support Kazakhstan in addressing the challenges of the rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region and its population, taking additional action, including by facilitating the implementation of the Kazakhstan national programme on addressing the problems of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground in a comprehensive manner, and stresses the importance of regional cooperation in this regard; 4. Urges the international community to provide assistance to Kazakhstan in the formulation and implementation of special programmes and projects of treatment and care for the affected population as well as in the efforts to ensure economic growth and sustainable development in the Semipalatinsk region; 5. Calls upon all States, relevant multilateral financial organizations and other entities of the international community, including non-governmental organizations, to share their knowledge and experience in order to contribute to the human and ecological rehabilitation and economic development of the Semipalatinsk region; 6. Invites the Secretary-General to pursue a consultative process, with the participation of interested States and relevant United Nations agencies, on modalities for mobilizing the necessary support to seek appropriate solutions to the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region, including those prioritized in the report of the Secretary-General; 7. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to enhance world public awareness of the problems and needs of the Semipalatinsk region; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, under a separate sub-item, on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/217 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/496 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia. 60/217. Economic assistance for the reconstruction and development of Djibouti The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/116 of 17 December 2003 and its previous resolutions on economic assistance to Djibouti, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries on 20 May 2001, as well as the mutual commitments undertaken on that occasion and the importance attached to the follow-up to and implementation of the Programme of Action, Aware that Djibouti is included in the list of the least developed countries and that it is ranked one hundred fiftieth out of the one hundred seventy-seven countries studied in the Human Development Report 2005,Available from http://hdr.undp.org. Noting that the economic and social development efforts of Djibouti are constrained by the extreme local climate conditions, in particular severe droughts and flash floods, and that the implementation of reconstruction and development programmes requires the deployment of substantial resources which exceed the limited capacity of the country, Noting also that the situation in Djibouti has been made worse by the disastrous drought situation prevailing in the Horn of Africa and by the absence of natural resources, which continue to place serious constraints on the fragile economic, budgetary, social and administrative infrastructure of the country, Expressing its concern at the severe shortage of drinkable water and the severe food crisis, as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/302. Noting that the Government of Djibouti has implemented a reform programme, including the approval of a poverty reduction strategy paper with the Bretton Woods institutions, Noting with gratitude the support provided by various countries, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to meet the humanitarian needs of the country, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/302. 2. Declares its solidarity with the Government and the people of Djibouti, who continue to face critical developmental and humanitarian challenges owing to the scarcity of natural resources, coupled with harsh climatic conditions, including the acute issue of water supply and the severe food crisis impacting on the development aspirations of the country; 3. Encourages the Government of Djibouti, despite difficult economic and regional realities, to continue its important efforts towards the consolidation of democracy, the promotion of good governance, accountability and the eradication of poverty; 4. Notes the implementation of a reform programme and the adoption and endorsement of a poverty reduction strategy paper by Djibouti, encourages the Government of Djibouti to continue to work towards the attainment of the goals outlined in the poverty reduction strategy paper, and, in that context, appeals to all Governments, international financial institutions, the specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to respond adequately to the financial and material needs of the country in line with the poverty reduction strategy; 5. Expresses its gratitude to the intergovernmental organizations and the specialized agencies of the United Nations for their contributions to the national rehabilitation of Djibouti, and encourages them to continue their efforts; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to make the international community aware of the difficulties faced by Djibouti, and welcomes his coordinated response to the financial and technical needs of Djibouti and the process of aligning the United Nations Development Assistance Framework to the Djibouti poverty reduction strategy through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework midterm review of 2003-2007; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, in close cooperation with the Government of Djibouti, his efforts to mobilize the resources necessary for an effective programme of financial, technical and material assistance to Djibouti; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/218 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/496 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/218. Humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for Ethiopia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/24 of 5 December 2003 on emergency humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia and 59/217 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also the initiatives of the Secretary-General to improve food security, including the appointment of the Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa, Concerned by the recurrent drought, which still affects millions owing to the serious crop failures in drought-prone parts of the country and the pastoralist areas that have weak infrastructures and low development capacities, Bearing in mind the joint 2005 appeal of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, to respond to the food and non-food requirements of households in need so as to prevent the worsening of the current humanitarian crisis, Noting with serious concern the significant and persistent humanitarian needs in such areas as health, water and acute malnutrition that still exist in parts of the country, Noting with serious concern also the dire humanitarian situation and its long-term socio-economic and environmental impacts, Recognizing that the persistent problem of food insecurity is linked to inadequate progress in achieving and sustaining rural growth at levels required to build household and community assets needed to manage through the various shocks that induce food crises, Welcoming the launch of the Productive Safety Nets Programme in 2005, Emphasizing the need to address the crisis, bearing in mind the importance of the transition from relief to development, and acknowledging the underlying structural causes of recurrent drought in Ethiopia, Recognizing that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating conditions for long-term development lies with the Government of Ethiopia, while bearing in mind the important role played by the international community, Emphasizing the importance of establishing a strong early warning system for both food and non-food needs in order to better predict and respond as early as possible to disasters and to minimize their consequences, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/302. 2. Welcomes the coordinated and collaborative efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, the donor community, non-governmental organizations and other entities, and their timely and generous response to the joint 2005 appeal so far, and, in this regard, encourages the international community to strengthen its response to non-food assistance; 3. Also welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, the international community and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to strengthen mechanisms already in place to respond to such emergency situations, expresses appreciation of their endeavours to increase the availability of food through the procurement of local produce and to ensure access of households in need to food, health and water facilities, sanitation, seeds and veterinary services, and strongly encourages the Government of Ethiopia to continue such efforts; 4. Stresses the need to address the underlying causes of food insecurity, and issues of recovery, asset protection and the sustainable development of the affected areas, welcomes in this regard the programme prepared by the Coalition for Food Security in Ethiopia, and encourages the international community to support the Coalition in realizing its main objective, namely, breaking the cycle of food aid dependency within the next three to five years, thereby enabling fifteen million vulnerable people to engage in sustainable productive activities; 5. Welcomes the Group of Eight action plan on ending the cycle of famine in the Horn of Africa, and looks forward to its full implementation; 6. Encourages the Government of Ethiopia to continue to strengthen its efforts to address the underlying structural causes of recurrent threats of drought as part of its overall economic development programme; 7. Calls upon all development partners, in cooperation with the Government of Ethiopia, to integrate relief efforts with recovery, asset protection and long-term development, including the structural and productive options needed to stimulate accelerated rural growth, and to address the underlying causes of recurrent drought in Ethiopia in a way that is, inter alia, in line with the poverty reduction strategy paper and the rural development strategy, bearing in mind the need to prevent such crises in the future and to improve the resilience of the population; 8. Welcomes the launch of the Productive Safety Nets Programme at the beginning of 2005, and emphasizes the importance of its effective implementation and its complementarity and coordination with activities undertaken in the context of the joint 2005 appeal of the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia for emergency assistance for Ethiopia as well as with other food security operations; 9. Welcomes the initiative taken by the Secretary-General in appointing the Special Envoy for the Humanitarian Crisis in the Horn of Africa, with the objective of mobilizing resources to address the root causes of food insecurity as well as the sustainable development of the affected areas; 10. Invites the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to continue its efforts to coordinate and develop a strategic response to recurrent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and to consider ways to enhance the mobilization of emergency relief assistance in order to cover the remaining humanitarian needs in Ethiopia; 11. Takes note of the report on evaluation of the response to the 2002-2003 emergency in Ethiopia prepared jointly by the Government of Ethiopia and humanitarian partners, and urges the Government of Ethiopia, donors and all other stakeholders to continue to implement the recommendations contained therein; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/219 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/496 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/219. Assistance for humanitarian relief and the economic and social rehabilitation of Somalia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 47/160 of 18 December 1992 and subsequent relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 56/106 of 14 December 2001, 57/154 of 16 December 2002, 58/115 of 17 December 2003 and 59/218 of 22 December 2004, Noting with serious concern the effects of the civil war in Somalia and in particular the destruction of the physical, economic and social infrastructure of Somalia, Underlining the urgent need for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the infrastructure, Also underlining the urgency in rebuilding State institutions and in strengthening the capacity of those institutions, Welcoming the continued efforts of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development towards the successful conclusion of the peace process for Somalia, Deeply concerned that the collateral effects of the ongoing drought continue to worsen, as evidenced by the high levels of malnutrition ranging from 19 to 22 per cent, Noting with grave concern the effects of the 2004 tsunami, which threaten the livelihoods and environment of the coastal population and have had a negative impact on the Somali economy, Underlining the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and continued relief, reconstruction and livelihood assistance, as well as equitable resource allocation to vulnerable communities, such as destitute pastoralists and internally displaced persons, Concerned that shipments of illegal nuclear and toxic waste dumped along the coastline of Somalia and stirred up by the tsunami, as reported by the United Nations Environment Programme Asian Tsunami Disaster Task Force, have caused health and environmental problems and can cause serious long-term effects on human health, that they pose a very serious environmental hazard, not only in Somalia but in the eastern Africa subregion, and that they are contrary to international law, infringing on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, Recognizing the negative effects of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons on the humanitarian situation and on development in Somalia, and in this regard condemning the significant increase in the flow of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia, Noting the intrinsic link between the search for peace and reconciliation and the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, and in this regard underlining that a stable and secure environment in Somalia is essential to the future success of the national reconciliation process and that the improvement of the humanitarian situation is an essential component of support for the peace and reconciliation process, Welcoming the continued focus of the United Nations, in partnership with the newly established Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Recalling the statements by the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2001S/PRST/2001/30; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. and 28 March 2002,S/PRST/2002/8; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. by which the Council condemned attacks on humanitarian personnel and called upon all parties in Somalia to respect fully the security and safety of personnel of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organizations, and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and access throughout Somalia, Re-emphasizing the crucial importance of the further implementation of its resolutions 47/160, 56/106, 57/154, 58/115 and 59/218 to rehabilitate basic social and economic services throughout the country, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General,A/58/133, S/2003/231, S/2003/636, S/2003/987, S/2004/115 and Corr.1, S/2004/469, S/2004/804, S/2005/89 and S/2005/392. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued and tireless efforts to mobilize assistance for the Somali people, and welcomes the steps being taken to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, as well as the appointment of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General; 2. Welcomes with great satisfaction the formation of the transitional federal institutions and their relocation to Somalia, urges further progress, and calls upon the Somali leaders to continue to work towards establishing effective national governance through inclusive dialogue and consensus-building within the framework of those institutions, in accordance with the transitional federal charter of the Somali Republic adopted in February 2004; 3. Urges, in that regard, the Somali leaders to make every effort to create conditions to help to increase the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance by, inter alia, improving the security situation on the ground; 4. Urges, in that regard, donor countries and regional and subregional organizations to continue to contribute to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Somalia, which is of fundamental importance, in particular through the mechanism of the rapid assistance programme and efforts coordinated by the United Nations; 5. Urges the United Nations to continue the implementation of the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes for Somalia in line with the priorities established by the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia; 6. Commends the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the funds and programmes of the United Nations as well as other humanitarian organizations for their response, especially in the wake of the 2004 tsunami, and underlines the urgent need to put into place practical measures aimed at alleviating the consequences of the drought in the most affected areas in Somalia; 7. Urges all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to continue to implement further its resolutions 47/160, 56/106, 57/154, 58/115 and 59/218 in order to assist the transitional federal institutions in embarking on the rehabilitation of basic social and economic services, as well as institution-building aimed at the restoration of structures of civil governance at all levels in all parts of the country; 8. Calls upon the international community to assist in conducting critical assessments of the environmental impacts of the tsunami-affected areas, drought and flood-affected areas and of toxic and other wastes, and in putting into place aggressive programmes focusing on short-, medium- and long-term measures in the areas of institutional development, development of policy and legislation, land use and soil management, marine and coastal ecosystem management and disaster management (prevention, preparedness, assessment, response and mitigation); 9. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to mobilize rapid international financial assistance as well as humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction relief for the Somali people and to help build capacity within the transitional federal institutions in support of a consensus agreement; 10. Urges the Somali parties to respect the security and safety of the personnel of the United Nations, the specialized agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental organizations, as well as all other humanitarian personnel, and to guarantee their complete freedom of movement and safe access throughout Somalia; 11. Urges the international community to support the need for peacebuilding measures and the speedy implementation of programmes for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militias throughout Somalia in order to stabilize the entire country and thereby ensure the effectiveness of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia; 12. Calls upon the international community to provide, as a matter of urgency, humanitarian assistance and relief to the transitional federal institutions and the Somali people to alleviate in particular the consequences of the civil war and the prevailing drought; 13. Also calls upon the international community to provide continuing and increased assistance in response to the United Nations 2004 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance for Somalia; 14. Commends the Secretary-General for the establishment of the Trust Fund for Peacebuilding in Somalia, welcomes the contributions made thus far to the Fund, and appeals to Member States to contribute to it; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation in Somalia, to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/21 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/515, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/21. United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Considering that problems created by uncertainties as to the legal value of electronic communications exchanged in the context of international contracts constitute an obstacle to international trade, Convinced that the adoption of uniform rules to remove obstacles to the use of electronic communications in international contracts, including obstacles that might result from the operation of existing international trade law instruments, would enhance legal certainty and commercial predictability for international contracts and may help States gain access to modern trade routes, Recalling that, at its thirty-fourth session, in 2001, the Commission decided to prepare an international instrument dealing with issues of electronic contracting, which should also aim at removing obstacles to electronic commerce in existing uniform law conventions and trade agreements, and entrusted its Working Group IV (Electronic Commerce) with the preparation of a draft,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/56/17 and Corr.3), paras. 291-295. Noting that the Working Group devoted six sessions, from 2002 to 2004, to the preparation of the draft Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts, and that the Commission considered the draft Convention at its thirty-eighth session in 2005,Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/60/17), chap. III. Being aware that all States and interested international organizations were invited to participate in the preparation of the draft Convention at all the sessions of the Working Group and at the thirty-eighth session of the Commission, either as members or as observers, with a full opportunity to speak and make proposals, Noting with satisfaction that the text of the draft Convention was circulated for comments before the thirty-eighth session of the Commission to all Governments and international organizations invited to attend the meetings of the Commission and the Working Group as observers, and that the comments received were before the Commission at its thirty-eighth session,A/CN.9/578 and Add.1-17. Taking note with satisfaction of the decision of the Commission at its thirty-eighth session to submit the draft Convention to the General Assembly for its consideration,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/60/17), para. 167. Taking note of the draft Convention approved by the Commission,Ibid., annex I. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for preparing the draft Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts;Ibid., annex I. 2. Adopts the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts, which is contained in the annex to the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to open it for signature; 3. Calls upon all Governments to consider becoming party to the Convention. Annex United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts The States Parties to this Convention, Reaffirming their belief that international trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit is an important element in promoting friendly relations among States, Noting that the increased use of electronic communications improves the efficiency of commercial activities, enhances trade connections and allows new access opportunities for previously remote parties and markets, thus playing a fundamental role in promoting trade and economic development, both domestically and internationally, Considering that problems created by uncertainty as to the legal value of the use of electronic communications in international contracts constitute an obstacle to international trade, Convinced that the adoption of uniform rules to remove obstacles to the use of electronic communications in international contracts, including obstacles that might result from the operation of existing international trade law instruments, would enhance legal certainty and commercial predictability for international contracts and help States gain access to modern trade routes, Being of the opinion that uniform rules should respect the freedom of parties to choose appropriate media and technologies, taking account of the principles of technological neutrality and functional equivalence, to the extent that the means chosen by the parties comply with the purpose of the relevant rules of law, Desiring to provide a common solution to remove legal obstacles to the use of electronic communications in a manner acceptable to States with different legal, social and economic systems, Have agreed as follows: Chapter I Sphere of application Article 1 Scope of application 1. This Convention applies to the use of electronic communications in connection with the formation or performance of a contract between parties whose places of business are in different States. 2. The fact that the parties have their places of business in different States is to be disregarded whenever this fact does not appear either from the contract or from any dealings between the parties or from information disclosed by the parties at any time before or at the conclusion of the contract. 3. Neither the nationality of the parties nor the civil or commercial character of the parties or of the contract is to be taken into consideration in determining the application of this Convention. Article 2 Exclusions 1. This Convention does not apply to electronic communications relating to any of the following: (a) Contracts concluded for personal, family or household purposes; (b) (i) Transactions on a regulated exchange; (ii) foreign exchange transactions; (iii) inter-bank payment systems, inter-bank payment agreements or clearance and settlement systems relating to securities or other financial assets or instruments; (iv) the transfer of security rights in sale, loan or holding of or agreement to repurchase securities or other financial assets or instruments held with an intermediary. 2. This Convention does not apply to bills of exchange, promissory notes, consignment notes, bills of lading, warehouse receipts or any transferable document or instrument that entitles the bearer or beneficiary to claim the delivery of goods or the payment of a sum of money. Article 3 Party autonomy The parties may exclude the application of this Convention or derogate from or vary the effect of any of its provisions. Chapter II General provisions Article 4 Definitions For the purposes of this Convention: (a) "Communication" means any statement, declaration, demand, notice or request, including an offer and the acceptance of an offer, that the parties are required to make or choose to make in connection with the formation or performance of a contract; (b) "Electronic communication" means any communication that the parties make by means of data messages; (c) "Data message" means information generated, sent, received or stored by electronic, magnetic, optical or similar means, including, but not limited to, electronic data interchange, electronic mail, telegram, telex or telecopy; (d) "Originator" of an electronic communication means a party by whom, or on whose behalf, the electronic communication has been sent or generated prior to storage, if any, but it does not include a party acting as an intermediary with respect to that electronic communication; (e) "Addressee" of an electronic communication means a party who is intended by the originator to receive the electronic communication, but does not include a party acting as an intermediary with respect to that electronic communication; (f) "Information system" means a system for generating, sending, receiving, storing or otherwise processing data messages; (g) "Automated message system" means a computer program or an electronic or other automated means used to initiate an action or respond to data messages or performances in whole or in part, without review or intervention by a natural person each time an action is initiated or a response is generated by the system; (h) "Place of business" means any place where a party maintains a non-transitory establishment to pursue an economic activity other than the temporary provision of goods or services out of a specific location. Article 5 Interpretation 1. In the interpretation of this Convention, regard is to be had to its international character and to the need to promote uniformity in its application and the observance of good faith in international trade. 2. Questions concerning matters governed by this Convention which are not expressly settled in it are to be settled in conformity with the general principles on which it is based or, in the absence of such principles, in conformity with the law applicable by virtue of the rules of private international law. Article 6 Location of the parties 1. For the purposes of this Convention, a party's place of business is presumed to be the location indicated by that party, unless another party demonstrates that the party making the indication does not have a place of business at that location. 2. If a party has not indicated a place of business and has more than one place of business, then the place of business for the purposes of this Convention is that which has the closest relationship to the relevant contract, having regard to the circumstances known to or contemplated by the parties at any time before or at the conclusion of the contract. 3. If a natural person does not have a place of business, reference is to be made to the person's habitual residence. 4. A location is not a place of business merely because that is: (a) where equipment and technology supporting an information system used by a party in connection with the formation of a contract are located; or (b) where the information system may be accessed by other parties. 5. The sole fact that a party makes use of a domain name or electronic mail address connected to a specific country does not create a presumption that its place of business is located in that country. Article 7 Information requirements Nothing in this Convention affects the application of any rule of law that may require the parties to disclose their identities, places of business or other information, or relieves a party from the legal consequences of making inaccurate, incomplete or false statements in that regard. Chapter III Use of electronic communications in international contracts Article 8 Legal recognition of electronic communications 1. A communication or a contract shall not be denied validity or enforceability on the sole ground that it is in the form of an electronic communication. 2. Nothing in this Convention requires a party to use or accept electronic communications, but a party's agreement to do so may be inferred from the party's conduct. Article 9 Form requirements 1. Nothing in this Convention requires a communication or a contract to be made or evidenced in any particular form. 2. Where the law requires that a communication or a contract should be in writing, or provides consequences for the absence of a writing, that requirement is met by an electronic communication if the information contained therein is accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference. 3. Where the law requires that a communication or a contract should be signed by a party, or provides consequences for the absence of a signature, that requirement is met in relation to an electronic communication if: (a) A method is used to identify the party and to indicate that party's intention in respect of the information contained in the electronic communication; and (b) The method used is either: (i) As reliable as appropriate for the purpose for which the electronic communication was generated or communicated, in the light of all the circumstances, including any relevant agreement; or (ii) Proven in fact to have fulfilled the functions described in subparagraph (a) above, by itself or together with further evidence. 4. Where the law requires that a communication or a contract should be made available or retained in its original form, or provides consequences for the absence of an original, that requirement is met in relation to an electronic communication if: (a) There exists a reliable assurance as to the integrity of the information it contains from the time when it was first generated in its final form, as an electronic communication or otherwise; and (b) Where it is required that the information it contains be made available, that information is capable of being displayed to the person to whom it is to be made available. 5. For the purposes of paragraph 4 (a): (a) The criteria for assessing integrity shall be whether the information has remained complete and unaltered, apart from the addition of any endorsement and any change that arises in the normal course of communication, storage and display; and (b) The standard of reliability required shall be assessed in the light of the purpose for which the information was generated and in the light of all the relevant circumstances. Article 10 Time and place of dispatch and receipt of electronic communications 1. The time of dispatch of an electronic communication is the time when it leaves an information system under the control of the originator or of the party who sent it on behalf of the originator or, if the electronic communication has not left an information system under the control of the originator or of the party who sent it on behalf of the originator, the time when the electronic communication is received. 2. The time of receipt of an electronic communication is the time when it becomes capable of being retrieved by the addressee at an electronic address designated by the addressee. The time of receipt of an electronic communication at another electronic address of the addressee is the time when it becomes capable of being retrieved by the addressee at that address and the addressee becomes aware that the electronic communication has been sent to that address. An electronic communication is presumed to be capable of being retrieved by the addressee when it reaches the addressee's electronic address. 3. An electronic communication is deemed to be dispatched at the place where the originator has its place of business and is deemed to be received at the place where the addressee has its place of business, as determined in accordance with article 6. 4. Paragraph 2 of this article applies notwithstanding that the place where the information system supporting an electronic address is located may be different from the place where the electronic communication is deemed to be received under paragraph 3 of this article. Article 11 Invitations to make offers A proposal to conclude a contract made through one or more electronic communications which is not addressed to one or more specific parties, but is generally accessible to parties making use of information systems, including proposals that make use of interactive applications for the placement of orders through such information systems, is to be considered as an invitation to make offers, unless it clearly indicates the intention of the party making the proposal to be bound in case of acceptance. Article 12 Use of automated message systems for contract formation A contract formed by the interaction of an automated message system and a natural person, or by the interaction of automated message systems, shall not be denied validity or enforceability on the sole ground that no natural person reviewed or intervened in each of the individual actions carried out by the automated message systems or the resulting contract. Article 13 Availability of contract terms Nothing in this Convention affects the application of any rule of law that may require a party that negotiates some or all of the terms of a contract through the exchange of electronic communications to make available to the other party those electronic communications which contain the contractual terms in a particular manner, or relieves a party from the legal consequences of its failure to do so. Article 14 Error in electronic communications 1. Where a natural person makes an input error in an electronic communication exchanged with the automated message system of another party and the automated message system does not provide the person with an opportunity to correct the error, that person, or the party on whose behalf that person was acting, has the right to withdraw the portion of the electronic communication in which the input error was made if: (a) The person, or the party on whose behalf that person was acting, notifies the other party of the error as soon as possible after having learned of the error and indicates that he or she made an error in the electronic communication; and (b) The person, or the party on whose behalf that person was acting, has not used or received any material benefit or value from the goods or services, if any, received from the other party. 2. Nothing in this article affects the application of any rule of law that may govern the consequences of any error other than as provided for in paragraph 1. Chapter IV Final provisions Article 15 Depositary The Secretary-General of the United Nations is hereby designated as the depositary for this Convention. Article 16 Signature, ratification, acceptance or approval 1. This Convention is open for signature by all States at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 16 January 2006 to 16 January 2008. 2. This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the signatory States. 3. This Convention is open for accession by all States that are not signatory States as from the date it is open for signature. 4. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval and accession are to be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 17 Participation by regional economic integration organizations 1. A regional economic integration organization that is constituted by sovereign States and has competence over certain matters governed by this Convention may similarly sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to this Convention. The regional economic integration organization shall in that case have the rights and obligations of a Contracting State, to the extent that that organization has competence over matters governed by this Convention. Where the number of Contracting States is relevant in this Convention, the regional economic integration organization shall not count as a Contracting State in addition to its member States that are Contracting States. 2. The regional economic integration organization shall, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, make a declaration to the depositary specifying the matters governed by this Convention in respect of which competence has been transferred to that organization by its member States. The regional economic integration organization shall promptly notify the depositary of any changes to the distribution of competence, including new transfers of competence, specified in the declaration under this paragraph. 3. Any reference to a "Contracting State" or "Contracting States" in this Convention applies equally to a regional economic integration organization where the context so requires. 4. This Convention shall not prevail over any conflicting rules of any regional economic integration organization as applicable to parties whose respective places of business are located in States members of any such organization, as set out by declaration made in accordance with article 21. Article 18 Effect in domestic territorial units 1. If a Contracting State has two or more territorial units in which different systems of law are applicable in relation to the matters dealt with in this Convention, it may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, declare that this Convention is to extend to all its territorial units or only to one or more of them, and may amend its declaration by submitting another declaration at any time. 2. These declarations are to be notified to the depositary and are to state expressly the territorial units to which the Convention extends. 3. If, by virtue of a declaration under this article, this Convention extends to one or more but not all of the territorial units of a Contracting State, and if the place of business of a party is located in that State, this place of business, for the purposes of this Convention, is considered not to be in a Contracting State, unless it is in a territorial unit to which the Convention extends. 4. If a Contracting State makes no declaration under paragraph 1 of this article, the Convention is to extend to all territorial units of that State. Article 19 Declarations on the scope of application 1. Any Contracting State may declare, in accordance with article 21, that it will apply this Convention only: (a) When the States referred to in article 1, paragraph 1, are Contracting States to this Convention; or (b) When the parties have agreed that it applies. 2. Any Contracting State may exclude from the scope of application of this Convention the matters it specifies in a declaration made in accordance with article 21. Article 20 Communications exchanged under other international conventions 1. The provisions of this Convention apply to the use of electronic communications in connection with the formation or performance of a contract to which any of the following international conventions, to which a Contracting State to this Convention is or may become a Contracting State, apply: Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York, 10 June 1958); Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods (New York, 14 June 1974) and Protocol thereto (Vienna, 11 April 1980); United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna, 11 April 1980); United Nations Convention on the Liability of Operators of Transport Terminals in International Trade (Vienna, 19 April 1991); United Nations Convention on Independent Guarantees and Stand-by Letters of Credit (New York, 11 December 1995); United Nations Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade (New York, 12 December 2001). 2. The provisions of this Convention apply further to electronic communications in connection with the formation or performance of a contract to which another international convention, treaty or agreement not specifically referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, and to which a Contracting State to this Convention is or may become a Contracting State, applies, unless the State has declared, in accordance with article 21, that it will not be bound by this paragraph. 3. A State that makes a declaration pursuant to paragraph 2 of this article may also declare that it will nevertheless apply the provisions of this Convention to the use of electronic communications in connection with the formation or performance of any contract to which a specified international convention, treaty or agreement applies to which the State is or may become a Contracting State. 4. Any State may declare that it will not apply the provisions of this Convention to the use of electronic communications in connection with the formation or performance of a contract to which any international convention, treaty or agreement specified in that State's declaration, to which the State is or may become a Contracting State, applies, including any of the conventions referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, even if such State has not excluded the application of paragraph 2 of this article by a declaration made in accordance with article 21. Article 21 Procedure and effects of declarations 1. Declarations under article 17, paragraph 4, article 19, paragraphs 1 and 2, and article 20, paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, may be made at any time. Declarations made at the time of signature are subject to confirmation upon ratification, acceptance or approval. 2. Declarations and their confirmations are to be in writing and to be formally notified to the depositary. 3. A declaration takes effect simultaneously with the entry into force of this Convention in respect of the State concerned. However, a declaration of which the depositary receives formal notification after such entry into force takes effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months after the date of its receipt by the depositary. 4. Any State that makes a declaration under this Convention may modify or withdraw it at any time by a formal notification in writing addressed to the depositary. The modification or withdrawal is to take effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months after the date of the receipt of the notification by the depositary. Article 22 Reservations No reservations may be made under this Convention. Article 23 Entry into force 1. This Convention enters into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months after the date of deposit of the third instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. 2. When a State ratifies, accepts, approves or accedes to this Convention after the deposit of the third instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, this Convention enters into force in respect of that State on the first day of the month following the expiration of six months after the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Article 24 Time of application This Convention and any declaration apply only to electronic communications that are made after the date when the Convention or the declaration enters into force or takes effect in respect of each Contracting State. Article 25 Denunciations 1. A Contracting State may denounce this Convention by a formal notification in writing addressed to the depositary. 2. The denunciation takes effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of twelve months after the notification is received by the depositary. Where a longer period for the denunciation to take effect is specified in the notification, the denunciation takes effect upon the expiration of such longer period after the notification is received by the depositary. DONE at New York, this […] day of […] 2005, in a single original, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention. RESOLUTION 60/220 Adopted at the 68th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/496 and Corr.1 and 2, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/220. Humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for El Salvador and Guatemala The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/1 B of 5 October 1998, 53/1 C of 2 November 1998, 54/96 E of 15 December 1999, 58/117 of 17 December 2003, 59/212 of 20 December 2004, and 59/231 and 59/233 of 22 December 2004, Reiterating the need for the United Nations system to respond to requests for assistance by Member States and for humanitarian assistance to be provided in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality, Deeply regretting the loss of human lives and the scores of victims in the wake of Tropical Storm Stan, aggravated by other natural events, in El Salvador and Guatemala, from 3 to 12 October 2005, Conscious of the huge material losses sustained to crops, homes, basic infrastructure and tourist and other areas, Acknowledging the efforts of the Governments of El Salvador and Guatemala to protect the lives of their nationals and rapidly to assist the affected population, in particular the indigenous communities, Conscious that the Central American countries are vulnerable to cyclical weather patterns and prone to natural hazards based on their geographical location and features, which impose additional challenges on their ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Noting the enormous effort that will be required to rebuild the affected areas and to alleviate the grave situation wreaked by these natural hazards, Aware that the work of reconstruction requires the fullest coordinated support as well as the unwavering solidarity of the international community, 1. Expresses its solidarity and support to the Governments and the peoples of El Salvador and Guatemala; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the members of the international community that have offered their support to the rescue efforts and emergency assistance for the affected population; 3. Appeals to all Member States and all organs and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as international financial institutions and development agencies, to provide speedy support to the relief, rehabilitation and assistance effort for the affected countries; 4. Calls upon the international community to provide assistance in response to the flash appeal for Guatemala and to the joint United Nations agency appeal in El Salv ador; 5. Acknowledges the efforts and progress made by El Salvador and Guatemala in strengthening their disaster-preparedness capacity, emphasizes the importance of investing in disaster risk reduction, and encourages the international community to cooperate with the Governments of El Salvador and Guatemala towards this end; 6. Requests the Secretary-General and all organs and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as international financial institutions and development agencies, to assist El Salvador and Guatemala, whenever possible, through continued effective humanitarian, technical and financial assistance that contributes to overcoming the emergency and achieving the rehabilitation and recovery of the economy and the affected population in the short, medium and long term, in conformity with the priorities identified at the national level; 7. Requests the relevant organs and organizations of the United Nations system and other multilateral organizations to increase their support and assistance for strengthening the disaster-preparedness capacity of the countries concerned; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, at the humanitarian affairs segment of its substantive session of 2006, on the implementation of the present resolution and on the progress made in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the affected countries. RESOLUTION 60/221 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.44 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Angola, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Mali, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe 60/221. 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling that the period 2001-2010 has been proclaimed the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/284. and that combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases is included in the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling also its resolutions 49/135 of 19 December 1994, 50/128 of 20 December 1995, 55/284 of 7 September 2001, 57/294 of 20 December 2002, 58/237 of 23 December 2003 and 59/256 of 23 December 2004 concerning the struggle against malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council relating to the struggle against malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, in particular resolution 1998/36 of 30 July 1998, Taking note of the declarations and decisions on health issues adopted by the Organization of African Unity, in particular the declaration and plan of action on the "Roll Back Malaria" initiative adopted at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Abuja on 24 and 25 April 2000,See A/55/240/Add.1. as well as decision AHG/Dec.155 (XXXVI) concerning the implementation of that declaration and plan of action, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex II. Also taking note of the Maputo Declaration on Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases, adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its second ordinary session, held in Maputo from 10 to 12 July 2003,A/58/626, annex I, Assembly/AU/Decl.6 (II). Recognizing the linkages in efforts being made to reach the targets set at the Abuja Summit as necessary and important for the attainment of the "Roll Back Malaria" goal and the targets of the Millennium Declaration by 2010 and 2015, respectively, Also recognizing that malaria-related ill health and deaths throughout the world can be substantially eliminated with political commitment and commensurate resources if the public is educated and sensitized about malaria and appropriate health services are made available, particularly in countries where the disease is endemic, Emphasizing the importance of implementing the Millennium Declaration, and welcoming in this connection the commitment of Member States to respond to the specific needs of Africa, Commending the efforts of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other partners to fight malaria over the years, including the launching of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in 1998, Recalling resolution 58.2 adopted by the World Health Assembly on 23 May 2005See World Health Organization, Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 16-25 May 2005, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA58/2005/REC/1). urging a broad range of national and international actions to scale up malaria control programmes, Taking note of the Roll Back Malaria Global Strategic Plan 2005-2015 developed by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the World Health Organization,A/60/208. and calls for support for the recommendations contained therein; 2. Welcomes the increased funding for malaria interventions and for research and development of preventative and control tools from the international community, including from the Group of Eight, the United States of America, the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as the European Commission and other sources of bilateral funding; 3. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the "Roll Back Malaria" partner organizations, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, as vital complementary sources of support for the efforts of malaria-endemic countries to combat the disease; 4. Appeals to the international community to work towards increased and sustained bilateral and multilateral assistance to combat malaria, including support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in order to assist States, in particular malaria-endemic countries, to implement sound national plans to control malaria in a sustained and equitable way that, inter alia, contributes to health system development; 5. Urges malaria-endemic countries to work towards financial sustainability, to increase, to the extent possible, domestic resource allocation to malaria control and to create favourable conditions for working with the private sector in order to improve access to good-quality malaria services; 6. Calls upon Member States, in particular malaria-endemic countries, to establish and/or strengthen national policies and operational plans, aspiring to ensure that at least 80 per cent of those at risk of or suffering from malaria may benefit from major preventive and curative interventions by 2010, in accordance with the technical recommendations of the World Health Organization, so as to ensure a reduction in the burden of malaria by at least 50 per cent by 2010 and 75 per cent by 2015; 7. Urges Member States to assess and respond to the needs for integrated human resources at all levels of the health system, in order to achieve the targets of the Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in AfricaA/55/240/Add.1, annex. and the internationally agreed development goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and to take actions, as appropriate, to effectively govern the recruitment, training and retention of health personnel; 8. Calls upon the international community, inter alia, by helping to meet the financial needs of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and through country-led initiatives with adequate international support, to create conditions for full access to insecticide-treated mosquito nets, insecticides for indoor residual spraying for malaria control and effective antimalarial combination treatments, including through the free distribution of such nets where appropriate; 9. Requests relevant international organizations, in particular the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to assist efforts of national Governments to establish universal protection of young children and pregnant women in malaria-endemic countries, particularly in Africa, with insecticide-treated nets as rapidly as possible, with due regard to ensuring sustainability through full community participation and implementation through the health system; 10. Encourages all African countries that have not yet done so to implement the recommendations of the Abuja SummitSee A/55/240/Add.1. to reduce or waive taxes and tariffs for nets and other products needed for malaria control, both to reduce the price of nets to consumers and to stimulate free trade in insecticide-treated nets; 11. Expresses its concern about the increase in resistant strains of malaria in several regions of the world; 12. Encourages all Member States experiencing resistance to conventional monotherapies to replace them with combination therapies, as recommended by the World Health Organization, in a timely manner; 13. Recognizes the importance of the development of effective vaccines and new medicines to prevent and treat malaria and the need for further and accelerated research, including by providing support to the United Nations Children's Fund/United Nations Development Programme/World Bank/World Health Organization Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and through effective global partnerships such as the various malaria vaccine initiatives and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, where necessary stimulated by new incentives to secure their development; 14. Calls upon the international community to support investment in the development of new medicines to prevent and treat malaria, especially for children and pregnant women, sensitive and specific diagnostic tests, effective vaccines, and new insecticides and delivery modes in order to enhance effectiveness and delay the onset of resistance, including through existing partnerships; 15. Also calls upon the international community to support ways to expand access to artemisinin-based combination therapy for populations at risk of exposure to resistant strains of falciparum malaria in Africa, including the commitment of new funds, innovative mechanisms for the financing and national procurement of artemisinin-based combination therapy and the scaling up of artemisinin production to meet the increased need; 16. Applauds the increased level of public-private partnerships for malaria control and prevention, including the financial and in kind contributions of companies operating in Africa, as well as increased engagement of non-governmental service providers; 17. Calls upon malaria-endemic countries to encourage regional and intersectoral collaboration, both public and private, at all levels, especially in education, agriculture, economic development and the environment, to advance malaria control objectives; 18. Calls upon the international community to support increased interventions, in line with the recommendations of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, in order to ensure their rapid, efficient and effective implementation, to strengthen health systems, to monitor for counterfeit anti-malarial medicines and prevent the distribution and use of them, and to support coordinated efforts, inter alia, by providing technical assistance to improve surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems and their alignment with national plans and systems so as to better track and report changes in coverage and the need for scaling up recommended interventions and subsequent reductions in the burden of malaria; 19. Urges Member States, the international community and all relevant actors, including the private sector, to promote the coordinated implementation and enhance the quality of malaria-related activities, including via the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, in accordance with national policies and operational plans that are consistent with the technical recommendations of the World Health Organization and recent efforts and initiatives, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution under the agenda item entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 60/222 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.16/Rev.1 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Angola, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Djibouti, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Japan, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60/222. New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002 on the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Recalling also its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and resolutions 58/233 of 23 December 2003 and 59/254 of 23 December 2004 entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. including the recognition of the need to meet the special needs of Africa, Bearing in mind that African countries have primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and also the need for their development efforts to be supported by an enabling international economic environment, and in this regard recalling the support given by the International Conference on Financing for Development to the New Partnership,See Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General's Advisory Panel on International Support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development entitled "From rhetoric to action: mobilizing international support to unleash Africa's potential",See A/60/85. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: third consolidated report on progress in implementation and international support",A/60/178. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/178. 2. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 3. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the New Partnership as well as regional and international support for the New Partnership, while acknowledging that much needs to be done in the implementation of the New Partnership; 4. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted at the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly on 27 June 2001;Resolution S-26/2, annex. I Actions by African countries and organizations 5. Welcomes the progress made by the African countries in fulfilling their commitments in the implementation of the New Partnership to deepen democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic management, and encourages African countries, with the participation of stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to intensify their efforts in this regard by developing and strengthening institutions for governance, creating an environment conducive to attracting foreign direct investment for the development of the region; 6. Welcomes and appreciates the continuing and increasing efforts of African countries to mainstream a gender perspective and the empowerment of women in the implementation of the New Partnership; 7. Welcomes the good progress that has been achieved in implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism, in particular the completion of the self-assessment in some countries, the hosting of country support missions and the launching of the national preparatory process for the Peer Review in others, and urges African States as a matter of priority to join the Mechanism as soon as possible and to strengthen the Mechanism process for its efficient performance; 8. Stresses that conflict prevention, management and resolution and post-conflict consolidation are essential for the achievement of the objectives of the New Partnership, and in this regard welcomes the cooperation and support granted by the United Nations and development partners to the African regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of the New Partnership; 9. Welcomes the efforts made by African countries and regional and subregional organizations, including the African Union, in developing sectoral policy frameworks and implementing specific programmes of the New Partnership; 10. Emphasizes the importance for African countries to continue to coordinate, on the basis of national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance, including that provided by multilateral organizations, in order to integrate effectively such assistance into their development processes; 11. Encourages the further integration of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership into the programmes of the regional structures and organizations, and programmes for the African least developed countries; 12. Recalls that the African Union and the regional economic communities have a critical role to play in the implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard encourages African countries, with the assistance of their development partners, to increase their support to enhance the capacities of these institutions; 13. Emphasizes that progress in the implementation of the New Partnership depends also on a favourable national and international environment for Africa's growth and development, including measures to promote a policy environment conducive to private sector development and entrepreneurship; II Response of the international community 14. Welcomes the efforts by development partners to strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership; 15. Acknowledges the various important initiatives of Africa's development partners in recent years, including those of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Group of Eight Africa Action Plan, the European Union, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, the report of the Commission for Africa entitled Our Common Interest,Available from www.commissionforafrica.org. and the Africa Partnership Forum, and in this regard emphasizes the importance of coordination in such initiatives on Africa; 16. Welcomes the contribution made by Member States to the implementation of the New Partnership in the context of South-South cooperation, and in this regard encourages the international community, including the international financial institutions, to support the efforts of African countries, including through triangular cooperation; 17. Acknowledges the important role of the Africa Partnership Forum, as set out in the revised terms of reference dated 5 October 2005, which include catalysing action on the measures taken to meet the commitments that Africa and its development partners have made and coordinating support behind African priorities and the New Partnership, and encourages the Africa Partnership Forum to strengthen its efforts in this regard; 18. Welcomes the commitment of resources by some development partners for various New Partnership programmes, and in this regard notes with satisfaction that some developed countries have committed resources for the infrastructure project preparation facility and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, and invites similar support to be extended to Africa in water and sanitation and in housing and urban development and other priority sectors specified in the New Partnership Programme of Action aiming at the achievement of sustainable development in the region; 19. Urges continuing support of measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa, including, as appropriate, debt relief, improved market access, support for the private sector and entrepreneurship, enhanced official development assistance and increased flows of foreign direct investment, and transfer of technology; 20. Reiterates the need for all countries and relevant multilateral institutions to continue efforts to enhance coherence in their trade policies towards African countries, and acknowledges the importance of efforts to fully integrate African countries into the international trading system through initiatives such as building Africa's trade capacity to compete and the provision of assistance to address the adjustment challenges of trade liberalization; 21. Welcomes the recent proposal of the Group of Eight, as endorsed by the Bretton Woods institutions at their 2005 annual meetings, to cancel 100 per cent of the outstanding debt of eligible heavily indebted poor countries owed to the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association and the African Development Fund and to provide additional resources to ensure that the financing capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced; 22. Recognizes the importance of a comprehensive and durable solution to the external debt problems of African countries, including through the cancellation of 100 per cent of multilateral debt, consistent with the recent Group of Eight proposal for the heavily indebted poor countries and, on a case-by-case basis, where appropriate, significant debt relief, including cancellation or restructuring for heavily indebted African countries not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative that have unsustainable debt burdens, and welcomes the ongoing work undertaken by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop the debt sustainability framework for low-income countries, bearing in mind the importance of debt sustainability and sound budget management in the efforts to achieve national development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 23. Welcomes the recent increase in official development assistance pledged by many of the development partners, including the commitments of the Group of Eight and the European Union, that will lead to an increase in official development assistance to Africa of 25 billion dollars per year by 2010, and encourages all development partners to ensure aid effectiveness through the implementation of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness: Ownership, Harmonization, Alignment, Results and Mutual Accountability, adopted at the High-level Forum on the question of "Joint Progress toward Enhanced Aid Effectiveness: Harmonization, Alignment, Results", held in Paris from 28 February to 2 March 2005; 24. Recognizes the need for national Governments and the international community to make continued efforts to increase the flow of new and additional resources for financing for development, from all sources, public and private, domestic and foreign, to support the development of African countries; 25. Welcomes the efforts by development partners to align their financial and technical support to Africa more closely to the priorities of the New Partnership, as reflected in national poverty reduction strategies or in similar strategies, and encourages development partners to increase their efforts in this regard; 26. Acknowledges the activities of the Bretton Woods institutions and the African Development Bank in African countries, and invites those institutions to continue their support for the implementation of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership; 27. Requests the United Nations system to continue to provide assistance to the African Union and New Partnership secretariats and to African countries in developing projects and programmes within the scope of the priorities of the New Partnership; 28. Invites the Secretary-General, as a follow-up to the 2005 World Summit, to urge the United Nations development system to assist African countries in implementing quick-impact initiatives, based on their national development priorities and strategies, to enable them to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and in this respect acknowledges recent commitments by some donor countries; 29. Notes that the entities of the United Nations system have been actively using the regional consultation mechanism as a vehicle for fostering collaboration and coordination at the regional level, and encourages them to intensify their efforts in developing and implementing joint programmes in support of the New Partnership at the regional level; 30. Encourages the United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies to continue to strengthen further their existing coordination and programming mechanisms, and the simplification and harmonization of planning, disbursement and reporting procedures, as a means of enhancing support for African countries in the implementation of the New Partnership; 31. Notes the growing collaboration among the entities of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, and requests the Secretary-General to promote greater coherence in the work of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, on the basis of the agreed clusters; 32. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General's Advisory Panel on International Support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development,See A/60/85. and looks forward to its supplementary report, including recommendations on the actions to be taken to enhance support for the implementation of the New Partnership; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take measures to strengthen the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa in order to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate, including monitoring and reporting on progress related to meeting the special needs of Africa; 34. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the basis of inputs from Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other stakeholders in the New Partnership, such as the private sector and civil society. RESOLUTION 60/223 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.45 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Canada, Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Rwanda, Ukraine 60/223. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45). and its resolutions 53/92 of 7 December 1998, 54/234 of 22 December 1999, 55/217 of 21 December 2000, 56/37 of 4 December 2001, 57/296 of 20 December 2002, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, 58/235 of 23 December 2003 and 59/255 of 23 December 2004, as well as resolution 59/213 of 20 December 2004 on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, Recalling also, in this context, Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, 1366 (2001) of 30 August 2001 on the role of the Council in the prevention of armed conflicts, and 1625 (2005) of 14 September 2005 on strengthening the effectiveness of the Council's role in conflict prevention, especially in Africa, Recalling further the creation by the Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 2002/1 of 15 July 2002, of ad hoc advisory groups on African countries emerging from conflict, Having considered the progress report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/182. on the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. through which world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the special needs of Africa, Recognizing that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, Noting that conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace would benefit from the coordinated, sustained and integrated efforts of the United Nations system and Member States, and regional and subregional organizations, as well as international and regional financial institutions, Reaffirming that the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa must remain a priority in the agenda of the United Nations system and for Member States, Stressing that the responsibility for peace and security in Africa, including the capacity to address the root causes of conflict and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, lies primarily with African countries, while recognizing the need for support from the international community, Underlining the need to address the negative implications of the illegal exploitation of natural resources in all its aspects on peace, security and development in Africa, noting, in this context, the relevant recommendations contained in the progress report of the Secretary-General, Underscoring the need to further strengthen political will so as to ensure the financial and technical support required for the effective implementation of the recommendations included in the reports of the Secretary-General, Reaffirming the need to strengthen the synergies between Africa's economic and social development programmes and its peace and security agenda, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the progress report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/182. on the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. including recent efforts in peacemaking and peacekeeping operations and the need for special attention to post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding; 2. Welcomes the continuing progress in the reduction of major conflicts on the continent and the sustained efforts in recent times by the African Union, as well as by African regional and subregional organizations, to mediate and resolve conflicts, and notes that despite the positive trends and advances in Africa, the conditions required for sustained peace and development have yet to be consolidated throughout the continent; 3. Notes with concern the continuation on the continent, of many situations characterized by various forms of civil strife, including those caused by ethnic, religious and economic factors, and the role of illegal exploitation of natural resources in fuelling conflicts in Africa; 4. Supports Africa's goal of achieving a conflict-free Africa by 2010; 5. Welcomes the commitments in the areas of peace and stability made by the Group of Eight countries in the context of the Gleneagles communiqué adopted at their annual summit, held at Gleneagles, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, from 6 to 8 July 2005, and looks forward to the early implementation of these commitments; 6. Also welcomes the determination of the African Union to strengthen its peacekeeping capacity and to take the lead in peacekeeping in the continent, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and in close coordination with the United Nations, through the Peace and Security Council, as well as ongoing efforts to develop a continental early warning system, enhanced mediation capacity, including through the establishment of the Panel of the Wise, and an African standby force; 7. Urges African countries, the United Nations system and the international community to increase, coordinate and sustain their efforts aimed at addressing the full range of causes of conflict in Africa by strengthening conflict prevention and resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding measures and activities, including the strengthening of African peacekeeping capacity; 8. Urges the United Nations and other relevant partners to support the establishment of the African Union continental early warning system as a matter of priority; 9. Urges the United Nations and invites other development partners to increase their support for the African Union in order to enhance its capacity and effectiveness in the planning, deployment and management of peacekeeping operations and the provision of advanced training to African peacekeepers, recognizes the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General in Africa, and encourages the Secretary-General to use mediation as often as possible to help to solve conflicts peacefully, taking due consideration of the work performed by the African Union and other subregional organizations in that regard; 10. Welcomes the use of the African Peace Facility of the European Union, and initiatives by members of the Group of Eight to build African peacekeeping capacity, such as the Global Peace Operations Initiative of the United States of America and the Reinforcement of African Peacekeeping Capacities programme of France, as well as efforts by other international partners to support the implementation of peace initiatives undertaken by the African Union and African subregional organizations; 11. Also welcomes the decision taken in the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1, para. 97. to establish a Peacebuilding Commission as an intergovernmental advisory body to address the special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery, reintegration and reconstruction and to assist them in laying the foundation for sustainable development, and notes that the Commission should begin its work no later than 31 December 2005; 12. Invites the Commission of the African Union, the secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the United Nations Secretariat to coordinate their actions with a view to implementing an African-led agenda, deriving from the strategic policy framework for post-conflict reconstruction being developed by the African Union to tackle post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction, addressing the linkages among security, development and humanitarian dimensions of peace in Africa; 13. Calls upon the United Nations system and invites Member States to assist African countries emerging from conflict in their efforts to restore security, provide for the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees, promote and monitor human rights and increase income-generating activities, especially for youth and demobilized ex-combatants; 14. Stresses the critical importance of a regional approach to conflict prevention, particularly regarding cross-border issues such as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, prevention of illegal exploitation and trafficking of natural resources and high-value commodities, and emphasizes the potential role of the African Union and subregional organizations in addressing the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects; 15. Notes with concern the tragic plight of children in conflict situations in Africa, particularly the growing phenomenon of child soldiers, and reiterates the need for post-conflict counselling, rehabilitation and education; 16. Also notes with concern that violence against women continues and often increases, even as armed conflicts draw to an end, and urges further progress in the implementation of policies and guidelines relating to protection of and assistance for women in conflict and post-conflict situations; 17. Calls for the enhancement of the role of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and post-conflict peacebuilding and for expanding gender mainstreaming in the work of United Nations organizations involved in peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction; 18. Decides to continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa; 19. Stresses the importance of enabling the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa to better fulfil its role as the focal point within the Secretariat for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General referred to in paragraph 18 above; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/224 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.43, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 60/224. Preparations for and organization of the 2006 follow-up meeting on the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001 entitled "Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS", and recalling its undertaking to devote sufficient time and at least one full day of the annual session of the General Assembly to review a report of the Secretary-General and make recommendations on action needed to achieve further progress, Reaffirming the importance of the follow-up process prescribed in the Declaration of Commitment, which included the setting of specific time-bound targets, which fall due in 2005 and 2010, and noting in this regard the holding on 2 June 2005 of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly to review progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted at the meeting held from 14 to 16 September 2005,See resolution 60/1. including the commitment to full implementation of the Declaration of Commitment, Recognizing that progress has been made in containing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in a small but growing number of countries, but remaining deeply concerned by the overall expansion and feminization of the epidemic, Recognizing also the primary role and responsibility of Governments in responding to HIV/AIDS and the essential need for the efforts and engagement of all sectors of society to generate an effective response, Recognizing further the important role of the international community and international cooperation in order to assist Member States, particularly developing countries, and to complement national efforts for generating an effective response to HIV/AIDS, Recognizing the essential role played in the response to AIDS by civil society, including national and international non-governmental organizations and organizations and networks representing people living with HIV/AIDS, women, men, young persons, girls and boys, orphans, community and faith-based organizations, families and the private sector, 1. Decides to undertake on 31 May and 1 June 2006 a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the targets set out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and to convene on 2 June 2006 a high-level meeting aimed at continuing the engagement of world leaders in a comprehensive global response to HIV/AIDS; 2. Invites Member States and observers to be represented at the high-level meeting at the highest level; 3. Decides that the organizational arrangements for the comprehensive review should be as follows: (a) The review meeting will comprise plenary meetings, an informal interactive hearing with civil society, panel discussions and round tables; (b) The opening plenary meeting will feature statements by the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and a representative of civil society; (c) An informal interactive civil society hearing will be chaired by the President of the General Assembly or his representative and organized with the active participation of people living with HIV/AIDS and broader civil society, and will be attended by representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, invited civil society organizations, the private sector, Member States and observers; (d) In order to promote interactive and substantive discussions, participation in each round table will be limited to a maximum of forty to forty-five participants, including Member States, observers, representatives of entities of the United Nations system, civil society organizations and other invitees, and their participation will be limited to one round table; every effort will be made to ensure equitable geographical representation, taking into account the importance of ensuring a mix of countries in terms of size, HIV prevalence rates and levels of development; a representative of each of the regional groups will chair each round table with support from the co-sponsoring agencies of the Joint Programme; and between five and ten representatives of accredited and invited civil society organizations will participate in each round table, with due regard to equitable geographical representation after accommodation of all Member States; (e) The chairpersons of the round tables and the informal interactive civil society hearing will present summaries of the discussions to the plenary meeting scheduled for 1 June 2006; 4. Decides also that the organizational arrangements for the comprehensive review and the high-level meeting, including the identification of the civil society representative to speak at the opening plenary meeting, the identification of themes for the round tables, the assignment of participants to round tables, the finalization of the panel discussions, the identification of chairpersons for the round tables and the format of the informal interactive hearing, will be finalized by the President of the General Assembly, with support from the Joint Programme and in consultation with Member States; 5. Encourages Member States and observers to include in their national delegations to the meetings representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and organizations and networks representing people living with HIV/AIDS, women, young persons, orphans, community organizations, faith-based organizations and the private sector; 6. Invites heads of entities of the United Nations system, including programmes, funds, specialized agencies and regional commissions, as well as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Special Envoys of the Secretary-General on HIV/AIDS, to participate in the review and the high-level meeting, as appropriate; 7. Invites intergovernmental organizations and entities that have observer status with the General Assembly, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and non-governmental members of the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint Programme to participate in the review and the high-level meeting, including round tables and panel discussions as appropriate; 8. Requests the President of the General Assembly, following appropriate consultations with Member States, to draw up, not later than 15 February 2006, a list of other relevant civil society representatives, in particular associations of people living with HIV/AIDS, non-governmental organizations, including organizations of women and young people, girls and boys and men, faith-based organizations and the private sector, especially pharmaceutical companies and representatives of labour, including on the basis of the recommendations of the Joint Programme and taking into account the principle of equitable geographical representation, and to submit the list to Member States for consideration on a no-objection basis for a final decision by the Assembly on participation in the review and the high-level meeting, including round tables and panel discussions; 9. Decides that the arrangements outlined in paragraph 8 above shall not be considered a precedent for other similar events; 10. Encourages the timely submission of national reports by all Member States on their implementation of the Declaration of Commitment, noting the request for those submissions by 31 December 2005 as inputs to the report of the Secretary-General; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive and analytical report at least six weeks prior to its consideration by the General Assembly on progress achieved and challenges remaining in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment, in particular those set for 2005; 12. Requests that the secretariat of the Joint Programme and its co-sponsors assist in facilitating inclusive, country-driven processes, including consultations with relevant stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector, within existing national AIDS strategies, for scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access to treatment by 2010 for all those who need it, including through increased resources, and working towards the elimination of stigma and discrimination, enhanced access to affordable medicines and the reduction of vulnerability of persons affected by HIV/AIDS and other health issues, in particular orphaned and vulnerable children and older persons; also requests, consistent with the timetable for the submission of the report of the Secretary-General, that the Joint Programme submit for the consideration of the review and the high-level meeting an assessment of these processes, based on inputs received from Member States, including an analysis of common obstacles to scaling up and recommendations for addressing such obstacles, as well as accelerated and expanded action; 13. Invites Member States to consider the adoption of a short declaration aimed at reaffirming and expressing recommitment to the full implementation of the Declaration of Commitment, including by giving due consideration to, inter alia, the assessment referred to in paragraph 12 above and the report of the Secretary-General. RESOLUTION 60/225 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.34 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Croatia, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Rwanda, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia 60/225. Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. particularly its recognition that all individuals, in particular vulnerable people, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their human potential, Recalling also its resolution 59/137 of 10 December 2004, in which it requested the Secretary-General to encourage relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to continue to work with the Government of Rwanda to develop and implement programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable groups that continue to suffer from the effects of the 1994 genocide, Recalling further the findings and recommendations of the independent inquiry commissioned by the Secretary-General, with the approval of the Security Council, into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,See S/1999/1257. Recalling the report containing the findings and recommendations of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities commissioned by the Organization of African Unity to investigate the genocide in Rwanda and the surrounding events, entitled "Rwanda: The Preventable Genocide", Recalling also its resolution 58/234 of 23 December 2003, by which it declared 7 April 2004 the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, Recognizing the numerous difficulties faced by survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly the orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence, who are poorer and more vulnerable as a result of the genocide, especially the many victims of sexual violence who have contracted HIV and have since either died or become seriously ill with AIDS, Firmly convinced of the necessity to restore the dignity of the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which would help to promote reconciliation and healing in Rwanda, Commending the tremendous efforts of the Government and people of Rwanda and civil society organizations, as well as international efforts, to provide support for restoring the dignity of the survivors, including the allocation by the Government of Rwanda of 5 per cent of its national budget every year to support genocide survivors, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to encourage the relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to implement resolution 59/137 expeditiously; 2. Encourages all Member States to provide assistance to genocide survivors and other vulnerable groups in Rwanda in support of the present resolution; 3. Expresses its appreciation for development assistance and support for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, and calls upon Member States to continue to support the development of Rwanda, inter alia, through programmes under the poverty reduction strategy; 4. Urges Member States to develop educational programmes that will inculcate future generations with the lessons of the genocide in Rwanda in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a programme of outreach entitled "The Rwanda Genocide and the United Nations" as well as measures to mobilize civil society for Rwanda genocide victim remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide, and to report to the General Assembly on the establishment of the programme within six months from the date of the adoption of the present resolution; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation of the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence, to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 7. Requests the General Committee to consider including in the provisional agenda of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session an additional item entitled "Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence". RESOLUTION 60/226 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 99 to none, with 22 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia Against: None Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, China, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 60/226. Transparency in armaments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 47/52 L of 15 December 1992, 48/75 E of 16 December 1993, 49/75 C of 15 December 1994, 50/70 D of 12 December 1995, 51/45 H of 10 December 1996, 52/38 R of 9 December 1997, 53/77 V of 4 December 1998, 54/54 O of 1 December 1999, 55/33 U of 20 November 2000, 56/24 Q of 29 November 2001, 57/75 of 22 November 2002 and 58/54 of 8 December 2003 entitled "Transparency in armaments", Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional ArmsSee resolution 46/36 L. constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters, Welcoming the consolidated report of the Secretary-General on the Register,A/60/160 and Corr.1 and Add.1. which includes the returns of Member States for 2004, Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available background information regarding their military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies, Welcoming further the inclusion by some Member States of their transfers of small arms and light weapons in their annual report to the Register as part of their additional background information, Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure a Register that is capable of attracting the widest possible participation, 1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,See resolution 46/36 L. as provided for in paragraphs 7 to 10 of resolution 46/36 L; 2. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General, by 31 May annually, with the requested data and information for the Register, including nil reports if appropriate, on the basis of resolutions 46/36 L and 47/52 L, the recommendations contained in paragraph 64 of the 1997 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development,A/52/316 and Corr.2. the recommendations contained in paragraph 94 of the 2000 report of the Secretary-General and the appendices and annexes theretoA/55/281. and the recommendations contained in paragraphs 112 to 114 of the 2003 report of the Secretary-General;A/58/274. 3. Invites Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement through national production and military holdings and to make use of the "Remarks" column in the standardized reporting form to provide additional information such as types or models and to include transfers of small arms and light weapons, using definitions and reporting measures they deem appropriate, as part of their additional background information; 4. Reaffirms its decision, with a view to further development of the Register, to keep the scope of and participation in the Register under review and, to that end: (a) Recalls its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction; (b) Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 2006, within available resources, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, taking into account the work of the Conference on Disarmament, the views expressed by Member States and the reports of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, with a view to taking a decision at its sixty-first session; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the recommendations contained in his 2000 and 2003 reports on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work undertaken in the field of transparency in armaments; 7. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooperate at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion, with a view to enhancing and coordinating international efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on progress made in implementing the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Transparency in armaments". RESOLUTION 60/227 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/490/Add.3, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/227. International migration and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/208 of 23 December 2003 and 59/241 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/205. 1. Decides that the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development will be held in New York on 14 and 15 September 2006, and also decides that the High-level Dialogue will discuss the overall theme of the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts; 2. Invites Member States to participate in the High-level Dialogue at the ministerial level or highest level possible; 3. Decides that the Holy See, in its capacity as Observer State, and Palestine, in its capacity as observer, shall participate in the High-level Dialogue; 4. Invites those intergovernmental organizations and entities that have observer status with the General Assembly to participate in the High-level Dialogue; 5. Invites relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the International Organization for Migration, to contribute to the preparation of, and participate in, the High-level Dialogue; 6. Decides that the participants in the High-level Dialogue will participate in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 7. Also decides that the High-level Dialogue will consist of four plenary meetings and four interactive round tables, within existing resources; 8. Further decides that the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council and the Secretary-General will make introductory statements at the opening of the High-level Dialogue; 9. Decides that the round tables will be open to all Member States, the Holy See, in its capacity as Observer State, and Palestine, in its capacity as observer, and representatives of relevant entities of the United Nations system, including its relevant special rapporteurs, and the International Organization for Migration, as well as to other relevant regional and international intergovernmental organizations that have observer status, and also decides that the round tables will be organized as follows: (a) The first set of two interactive round tables will be held concurrently in the afternoon of the first day of the High-level Dialogue; (b) The second set of two interactive round tables will be held concurrently in the morning of the second day of the High-level Dialogue; (c) Summaries of the deliberations of the four round-table sessions will be presented orally by the chairpersons of the round-table sessions during the concluding plenary meeting of the High-level Dialogue; 10. Also decides that the themes for each of the four round tables will be the following: (a) Round table 1 will focus on the effects of international migration on economic and social development; (b) Round table 2 will focus on measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of all migrants, and to prevent and combat smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons; (c) Round table 3 will focus on the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development, including remittances; (d) Round table 4 will focus on promoting the building of partnerships and capacity-building and the sharing of best practices at all levels, including the bilateral and regional levels, for the benefit of countries and migrants alike; 11. Further decides to hold, within existing resources, one-day informal interactive hearings in 2006 with representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector, to be presided over by the President of the General Assembly, and requests the President of the Assembly to prepare a summary of the hearings prior to the High-level Dialogue in September 2006; 12. Decides that the President of the General Assembly will determine the list of invited participants and the exact format and organization of the hearings, in consultation with Member States and representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, civil society organizations and the private sector; 13. Also decides that representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, civil society organizations and the private sector, one from each grouping being selected during the informal interactive hearings, may also participate in each of the round tables of the High-level Dialogue, and that the President of the General Assembly will determine the list of such representatives, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical representation, in consultation with Member States; 14. Further decides that arrangements concerning the participation of non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector in the High-level Dialogue will in no way create a precedent for other meetings of the General Assembly; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to prepare a comprehensive overview of studies and analyses on the multidimensional aspects of migration and development, including the effects of migration on economic and social development in developed and developing countries, and on the effects of the movements of highly skilled migrant workers and those with advanced education; 16. Invites the Secretary-General to address also in his comprehensive overview in consultation with relevant United Nations organizations, short-term and seasonal workers within the issue of labour movements; 17. Invites the regional commissions to contribute to and coordinate dialogue at the regional level in preparation for the High-level Dialogue; 18. Invites the President of the General Assembly, within existing resources, in consultation with Member States, and with the assistance of the Secretariat, to organize prior to the High-level Dialogue up to two panel discussions with a focus on its overall theme; 19. Notes that the Commission on Population and Development, the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on the Status of Women will have considered the issue of international migration within their respective mandates by the time of the High-level Dialogue, and invites their inputs through the Economic and Social Council; 20. Also notes that the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families will have considered the issue of protecting the rights of all migrant workers as a tool to enhance development, within its mandate, by the time of the High-level Dialogue, and invites the Secretary-General to make available for the High-level Dialogue the summary of the discussion in the Committee; 21. Invites appropriate regional consultative processes and other major initiatives undertaken by Member States in the field of international migration to contribute to the High-level Dialogue; 22. Takes note of the report of the Global Commission on International Migration, and notes its contribution to the debate on international migration and development, and also takes note of the report as an input for consideration at the High-level Dialogue; 23. Reiterates that the outcome of the High-level Dialogue will be a Chairperson's summary, which will be widely distributed to Member States, observers, United Nations agencies and other appropriate organizations; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a note on the organization of work of the High-level Dialogue; 25. Recalls its request to the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of resolution 59/241; 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the sub-item entitled "International migration and development". RESOLUTION 60/228 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/491/Add.1, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). 60/228. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries: high-level meeting on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/279 of 12 July 2001, in which it endorsed the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. and its resolutions 57/276 of 20 December 2002, 58/228 of 23 December 2003 and 59/244 of 22 December 2004 on the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, Recalling also its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Reaffirming its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, by which it adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, in particular paragraph 15 thereof, in which the Heads of State and Government undertook to address the special needs of the least developed countries, Recognizing the importance of the review of the progress achieved towards meeting the goals and targets contained in the Programme of Action, as well as other internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, as they address the special needs of the least developed countries, Taking note of the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the 2004 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council on the theme "Resources mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication in the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/59/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 49. Recalling paragraph 5 of its resolution 59/244, in which it decided to hold the midterm comprehensive global review of the Programme of Action in 2006 during its sixty-first session, in accordance with paragraph 114 of the Programme of Action, and recalling also paragraph 6 of the same resolution, in which it decided to consider at its sixtieth session the modalities for conducting such a midterm comprehensive review, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/44 of 27 July 2005 on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Taking note of the annual progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/60/81-E/2005/68. 1. Reaffirms the commitment to address the special needs of the least developed countries, and urges all countries and all relevant organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions, to make concerted efforts and adopt speedy measures for meeting in a timely manner the goals and targets of the Brussels Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010;Ibid., chap. II. 2. Expresses its deep concern over the insufficient implementation of the Programme of Action, and stresses the need to address the areas of weakness in its implementation; 3. Stresses that progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action will require effective implementation of national policies and priorities for the economic growth and sustainable development of the least developed countries, as well as strong and committed partnership between those countries and their development partners; 4. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure at the secretariat level the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system to facilitate coordinated implementation as well as coherence in the follow-up to the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to engage the United Nations Development Group, consistent with the respective mandates of its members, in the coordinated implementation of the Programme of Action; 5. Decides to convene a high-level meeting on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, in New York on 19 and 20 September 2006, to be chaired by the President of the General Assembly; 6. Decides also to convene a three-day preparatory meeting of experts during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, preferably on 4, 5 and 6 September 2006, for the midterm comprehensive global review in order to propose, as appropriate, measures to advance the process of the implementation of the Programme of Action; 7. Stresses that the midterm comprehensive global review should assess the progress made in the implementation of commitments and provide the occasion to reaffirm the goals and objectives agreed upon at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, to share best practices and lessons learned, and to identify obstacles and constraints encountered, actions and initiatives to overcome them and important measures for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, as well as new challenges and emerging issues; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, for consideration by Member States, a note on the organizational aspects of the high-level meeting; 9. Requests the regional commissions to assist the least developed countries in undertaking regional reviews of the implementation of the Programme of Action in their respective regions in preparation for the midterm comprehensive global review in 2006 by the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 10. Emphasizes that the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action is of particular significance as it will provide an opportunity for the international community, in particular the least developed countries and their development partners, to discuss the implementation of the Programme of Action with a view to ensuring support for the least developed countries in all areas, in order to ensure the timely, effective and full implementation of the Programme of Action during the remainder of the decade; 11. Requests the organs, organizations, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to undertake sectoral appraisals in their respective fields of competence on the implementation of the Programme of Action, with special emphasis on areas where implementation has remained insufficient, and to make proposals for new measures as necessary, as further inputs to the preparation for the midterm comprehensive global review, and in this regard affirms that appropriate inter-agency meetings should be convened to ensure the full mobilization and coordination of the entire United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions; 12. Recognizes the importance of the contribution of civil society actors in the preparatory process, and in this regard requests the President of the General Assembly to organize, within existing resources, one-day informal interactive hearings in New York with representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector, as an input to the midterm comprehensive global review; 13. Calls upon all Member States to take a positive interest in the preparation of the midterm comprehensive global review and to be represented at a high level in the plenary meeting of the review, with a view to reaching a successful outcome; 14. Emphasizes the importance of country-level preparations as a critical input to the preparatory process for the midterm comprehensive global review and to the implementation of and follow-up to its outcome, and in this context calls upon the least developed countries to undertake their national reviews on the implementation of the Programme of Action, with a particular focus on progress, obstacles, constraints, actions and measures necessary to further its implementation; 15. Requests the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations Development Group, to ensure the full involvement of the United Nations resident coordinators and country teams in the least developed countries in the preparations for the midterm comprehensive global review, in particular at the country level, including in the preparation of national reports; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, in a timely manner, a comprehensive report for the midterm comprehensive global review; 17. Reiterates the critical importance of the full and effective participation of the least developed countries in the midterm comprehensive global review of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and global levels, stresses that adequate resources should be provided, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to mobilize extrabudgetary resources in order to cover the cost of participation of two government representatives from each least developed country in the process of the high-level meeting on the midterm comprehensive global review; 18. Welcomes the pledges already made by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to support the preparatory process, and calls upon Member States and invites other multilateral development partners, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General in accordance with resolution 59/244; 19. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of concerned organizations and bodies of the United Nations, including the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to take the necessary measures to intensify their public information efforts and other relevant initiatives to enhance public awareness in favour of the midterm comprehensive global review; 20. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/229 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/503, para. 48),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Greece, Italy, Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Mexico and Spain. by a recorded vote of 95 to 10, with 25 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estoni a, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine 60/229. Future operation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on the situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, in particular resolutions 55/219 of 23 December 2000, 56/125 of 19 December 2001, 57/175 of 18 December 2002, 58/244 of 23 December 2003 and 59/260 of 23 December 2004, Reaffirming its resolution 57/311 of 18 June 2003 on the financial situation of the Institute, Welcoming the contributions of the Institute to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-23/3, annex. Taking note with appreciation of the progress report on the Institute by its Director with respect to the implementation of the programme of work for the period from October 2004 to May 2005,INSTRAW/EB/2005/R.2/Rev.1. which measures progress through the utilization of indicators of achievement as established in the workplan for 2005, Taking note of the letter dated 7 November 2005 from the Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations, in his capacity as President of the Executive Board of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, addressed to the President of the General Assembly,A/C.3/60/11. Welcoming the approval by the Executive Board of the Institute of the proposed workplan for 2006 and its endorsement of the operational budget for 2006,INSTRAW/EB/2005/R.3/Rev.1. Recognizing the contributions of the Institute in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in the areas of security, international migration, in particular remittances and development, and governance and political participation, Bearing in mind the importance of the medium- and long-term stability of the Institute, in order to strengthen the initiatives to be developed in the context of the fund-raising strategy and the consolidation of the revitalization of the Institute, Reaffirming the importance of seeking medium-term sustainable financial resources for the Institute, Welcoming the decision of the Executive Board to actively promote a fund-raising strategy for the Institute, Bearing in mind the recommendation made by the Executive Board at its second session, held on 1 June 2005, that the report of the Director of the Institute, the proposed operational budget for 2006 and other relevant documents should be submitted to the General Assembly, Recognizing that the implementation of the programme of work and strategic plan for the Institute will contribute to a comprehensive discussion on international migration and development from a gender perspective, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/372. 2. Requests the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, in accordance with its mandate, to coordinate further its activities and to develop its programme of work in collaboration with other relevant United Nations entities, such as the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and calls upon those entities to continue their collaborative efforts; 3. Also requests the Institute, in accordance with its mandate, to collaborate with the United Nations system, national machinery, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in promoting international cooperation to foster women's empowerment and gender equality, including through, inter alia, the promotion of better access to education for women and girls, and the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in all policies and programmes; 4. Further requests the Institute, in accordance with its mandate and in close coordination with the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and other relevant United Nations programmes and funds, to actively participate in and contribute to discussions on issues related to international migration and development, in particular in the preparations for and during the high-level dialogue thereon to be held in September 2006, during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Institute, in accordance with its mandate and in close coordination with the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children's Fund and the other relevant United Nations programmes and funds, to actively participate in and contribute to the examination of the special theme for the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on Population and Development in 2006, "International migration and development"; 6. Encourages the Institute to continue, in close cooperation with other relevant United Nations bodies, to promote and undertake research and training programmes on gender mainstreaming, in the context of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. as well as the commitments made at the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly; 7. Requests the Institute, within its mandate, to continue to assist countries in promoting and supporting the political participation and economic and social advancement of women through training programmes; 8. Stresses the critical importance of voluntary financial contributions by Member States to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women to enable it to carry out its mandate; 9. Invites Member States to make voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund, particularly during this critical transitional period; 10. Decides to provide its full support to the current efforts to revitalize the Institute and, in this regard, to provide it with the requisite funds to enable it to carry out its core functions for the biennium 2006-2007; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/22 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/516, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Jordan on behalf of the Bureau. 60/22. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-seventh session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-seventh session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/60/10). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the codification and progressive development of international law as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to enhance further their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Stressing the usefulness of focusing and structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report and for discussions on specific topics, Wishing to enhance further, in the context of the revitalization of the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two bodies, Welcoming initiatives to hold interactive debates, panel discussions and question time in the Sixth Committee, as envisaged in resolution 58/316 of 1 July 2004 on further measures for the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, 1. Takes note of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-seventh session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/60/10). and recommends that the Commission continue its work on the topics in its current programme, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether submitted in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the work accomplished at its fifty-seventh session, and encourages the Commission to complete its work on those topics that are near completion during its fifty-eighth session, taking into account the views expressed by Governments during the debates of the Sixth Committee, and any written comments that may be submitted by Governments; 3. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the following, which were adopted by the Commission at its fifty-sixth session: (a) The draft articles and commentary on diplomatic protection;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/59/10), para. 59. (b) The draft principles on the allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities;Ibid., para. 175. 4. Invites Governments to provide information to the International Law Commission, as requested in chapter III of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/60/10), paras. 24-29. regarding: (a) Shared natural resources; (b) Effects of armed conflicts on treaties; (c) Responsibility of international organizations; (d) Expulsion of aliens; (e) Unilateral acts of States; (f) Reservations to treaties; 5. Endorses the decision of the International Law Commission to include the topic "The obligation to extradite or prosecute (aut dedere aut judicare)" in its programme of work; 6. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity; 7. Encourages the International Law Commission to continue taking cost-saving measures at its future sessions without prejudice to the efficiency of its work; 8. Takes note of paragraph 502 of the report of the International Law Commission, and decides that the next session of the Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1 May to 9 June and from 3 July to 11 August 2006; 9. Welcomes the enhanced dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the two bodies, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the continued practice of informal consultations in the form of discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and the members of the Commission attending the sixty-first session of the Assembly; 10. Encourages delegations, during the debate on the report of the International Law Commission to adhere as far as possible to the structured work programme agreed to by the Sixth Committee and to consider presenting concise and focused statements; 11. Encourages Member States to consider being represented at the level of legal adviser during the first week in which the report of the International Law Commission is discussed in the Sixth Committee (International Law Week) to enable high-level discussions on issues of international law; 12. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 13. Takes note of paragraphs 503 to 509 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cooperation with other bodies, and encourages the Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation; 14. Notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 15. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the indispensable role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission; 16. Approves the conclusions reached by the International Law Commission in paragraph 498 of its report, and reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the documentation and summary records of the Commission;See resolutions 32/151, para. 10, and 37/111, para. 5, and all subsequent resolutions on the annual reports of the International Law Commission to the General Assembly. 17. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 20. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session, chapter III containing the specific issues on which the views of Governments would be of particular interest to the Commission and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 21. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the sixty-first session of the General Assembly commence on 23 October 2006. RESOLUTION 60/230 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/503, para. 48),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 127 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 60/230. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/145 of 22 December 2003 and its previous resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles 1 and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind, including distinction as to sex, Reiterating the need to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women throughout the world, Affirming that women and men should participate equally in social, economic and political development, should contribute equally to such development and should share equally in improved conditions of life, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the human rights of women and the girl child were an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, Acknowledging the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, which includes the integration of the human rights of women into the mainstream of United Nations activities system-wide, Reaffirming the commitments made in the political declarationResolution S-23/2, annex. and the outcome documentResolution S-23/3, annex. of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century", in particular paragraphs 68 (c) and (d) concerning the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. Welcoming the declaration of the Commission on the Status of Women on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. in which the Commission recognizes that the implementation of the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the fulfilment of the obligations under the Convention are mutually reinforcing in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, Recalling that, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Heads of State and Government resolved to implement the Convention, Recognizing that the equal enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms will promote the realization of the rights of the child, bearing in mind the special needs of girls, and acknowledging the mutual reinforcement of the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. Noting that 18 December 2004 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption by the General Assembly of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and welcoming the statement of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to commemorate the occasion,CEDAW/C/2005/I/4, annex III. Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Committee that national reports should contain information on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, in accordance with paragraph 323 of the Platform, Having considered the reports of the Committee on its thirtieth and thirty-firstOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/59/38). and thirty-second and thirty-thirdIbid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/60/38). sessions, Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue (one hundred and eighty-seven), in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;A/60/206. 2. Also welcomes the growing number of States parties to the Convention,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. which now stands at one hundred and eighty, while expressing disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention was not achieved by 2000, and urges all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so; 3. Further welcomes the rapidly growing number of States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. which now stands at seventy-four, and urges other States parties to the Convention to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 4. Urges States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto and to take into consideration the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; 5. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, as well as Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, in particular women's organizations, as appropriate, to strengthen assistance to States parties, upon their request, in implementing the Convention; 6. Notes that some States parties have modified their reservations, expresses satisfaction that some reservations have been withdrawn, and urges States parties to limit the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, to review their reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention; 7. Welcomes the adoption by the Committee of revised reporting guidelines,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/57/38), part two, annex. and urges States parties to adhere to the revised guidelines, in particular with regard to the content and length of reports; 8. Recalls the great number of overdue reports, in particular initial reports, and urges States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on the implementation of the Convention in a timely manner, in accordance with article 18 thereof; 9. Also recalls its resolution 50/202 of 22 December 1995, in which it took note with approval of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention, which has yet to enter into force; 10. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible and the amendment can enter into force; 11. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the Committee to improve the efficiency of its working methods, in particular the measures introduced following the informal meeting held in Utrecht, the Netherlands, from 5 to 7 May 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/59/38). and encourages the Committee to enhance its activities in this regard, bearing in mind the need to increase the effectiveness of the work of the Committee; 12. Notes decision 33/I of the Committee,Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/60/38). in which it requests an extension of its meeting time; 13. Also notes that in the three years since the holding of the exceptional session, in August 2002, a new backlog of reports of States parties has accumulated; 14. Decides to authorize the Committee to hold three annual sessions of three weeks each, with a one-week pre-sessional working group for each session, effective from January 2006 as a temporary measure, and to continue to authorize two annual sessions of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol to the Convention; 15. Also decides to authorize the Committee to meet on an exceptional and temporary basis in 2006 and 2007 for up to seven days in parallel working groups during its third (July/August) annual session in 2006 and its first (January) and third (July/August) annual sessions in 2007, taking due account of equitable geographical distribution, for the purpose of considering reports of States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention; 16. Urges the Committee to evaluate progress, and decides to assess the situation with regard to the Committee's meeting time after two years, also taking into account the wider context of treaty body reform; 17. Encourages the Secretariat to extend further technical assistance to States parties, upon their request, to strengthen their capacity in the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports, and invites Governments to contribute to those efforts; 18. Invites States parties to make use of the technical assistance provided by the Secretariat to facilitate the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports; 19. Encourages the continued participation of members of the Committee in inter-committee meetings and meetings of persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies, including those on methods of work relating to the State reporting system; 20. Encourages the Committee, within its mandate, to continue to contribute to the efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the treaty bodies; 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/4 of 6 October 1999, to provide the resources, including staff and facilities, necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, taking into account in particular the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention; 22. Urges Governments, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 23. Encourages States parties to disseminate the concluding comments adopted in relation to the consideration of their reports, as well as the general recommendations of the Committee; 24. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system to continue to build women's knowledge and understanding of and capacity to utilize human rights instruments, in particular the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 25. Urges the specialized agencies, at the invitation of the Committee, to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities; 26. Welcomes the contribution of non-governmental organizations to the work of the Committee; 27. Invites the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to address the General Assembly at its sixty-first and sixty-second sessions under the item on the advancement of women; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/231 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/505 and Corr.1, para. 46),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 130 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 60/231. Rights of the child The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the rights of the child, the most recent of which is resolution 59/261 of 23 December 2004, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/44 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing that the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and bearing in mind the importance of the Optional Protocols to the Convention,Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. as well as other human rights instruments, Reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and the outcome document of the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, entitled "Global Crisis - Global Action",Resolution S-26/2, annex. Taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on progress made towards achieving the commitments set out in the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General AssemblyA/60/207. and on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the issues raised in Assembly resolution 59/261,A/60/175 and Corr.1. as well as the reports of the Chairman of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed ConflictA/60/335 and Corr.1. and the Independent Expert for the United Nations study on violence against children,A/60/282. Reaffirming that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children, Recognizing the importance of incorporating a child-protection perspective across the human rights agenda, as highlighted in the outcome of the 2005 World Summit, Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical, in an increasingly globalized environment, as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions, pandemics, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, environmental damage, natural disasters, armed conflict, displacement, violence, abuse, exploitation, trafficking in children and their organs, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism, neglect, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, gender inequality, disability and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Underlining the need for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes relating to children, and recognizing the child as a rights holder in all policies and programmes relating to children, I Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocols thereto 1. Reaffirms that the general principles of, inter alia, the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, participation and survival and development provide the framework for all actions concerning children, including adolescents; 2. Urges States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocols theretoIbid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. as a matter of priority and to implement them fully by, inter alia, putting in place effective national legislation and policies; 3. Urges States parties to withdraw reservations that are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention or the Optional Protocols thereto and to consider reviewing other reservations with a view to withdrawing them; 4. Welcomes the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and calls upon all States to strengthen their cooperation with the Committee, to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocols thereto, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee, and to take into account its recommendations on implementation of the Convention; 5. Requests all relevant organs of the United Nations system and United Nations mechanisms regularly and systematically to incorporate a strong child rights perspective throughout all activities in the fulfilment of their mandates, as well as to ensure that their staff are trained in child rights matters, and calls upon States to continue to cooperate closely with all these mechanisms, in particular the special rapporteurs and special representatives of the United Nations system; 6. Encourages States to strengthen their national statistical capacities and to use statistics disaggregated, inter alia, by age, gender and other relevant factors that may lead to disparities and other statistical indicators at the national, subregional, regional and international levels to develop and assess social policies and programmes so that economic and social resources are used efficiently and effectively for the full realization of the rights of the child; II Promotion and protection of the rights of the child Registration, family relations and adoption 7. Once again urges all States to intensify their efforts to comply with their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. to preserve the child's identity, including nationality and family relations, as recognized by law, to allow for the registration of the child immediately after birth, to ensure that registration procedures are simple, expeditious and effective and provided at minimal cost and to raise awareness of the importance of birth registration at the national, regional and local levels; 8. Encourages States to adopt and enforce laws and improve the implementation of policies and programmes to protect children growing up without parents or caregivers, recognizing that, where alternative care is necessary, family- and community-based care should be promoted over placement in institutions; 9. Calls upon States to guarantee, to the extent consistent with the obligations of each State, the right of a child whose parents reside in different States to maintain, on a regular basis, save in exceptional circumstances, personal relations and direct contact with both parents by providing means of access and visitation in both States and by respecting the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of their children; 10. Also calls upon States to address and pay particular attention to cases of international parental or familial child abduction, and encourages States to engage in multilateral and bilateral cooperation to resolve these cases, preferably by accession to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1343, No. 22514. and to facilitate, inter alia, the return of the child to the country in which he or she resided immediately before the removal or retention; 11. Further calls upon States to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat illegal adoptions and all adoptions that are not in the best interests of the child; Economic and social well-being of children 12. Calls upon States and the international community to create an environment in which the well-being of the child is ensured, inter alia, by: (a) Cooperating, supporting and participating in global efforts for poverty eradication at the global, regional and country levels, recognizing that strengthened availability and effective allocation of resources are required at all these levels, in order to ensure that all the internationally agreed development and poverty eradication goals, including those set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. are realized within their time framework, reaffirming that investments in children and the realization of their rights are among the most effective ways to eradicate poverty; (b) Taking all necessary measures to ensure the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and developing sustainable health systems and social services, ensuring access to such systems and services without discrimination, paying particular attention to adequate food and nutrition and assigning priority to activities and programmes aimed at preventing addictions, in particular addiction to alcohol and tobacco, and the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants and by, inter alia, securing appropriate prenatal and post-natal care for mothers; (c) Recognizing the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination by making primary education compulsory and available free to all children, ensuring that all children have access to education of good quality, as well as making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular through the progressive introduction of free education, bearing in mind that special measures to ensure equal access, including affirmative action, contribute to achieving equal opportunity and combating exclusion; (d) Designing and implementing programmes to provide social services and support to pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers, in particular by enabling them to continue and complete their education; Violence against children 13. Condemns all forms of violence against children, including physical, mental and sexual violence, torture, child abuse and exploitation, hostage-taking, domestic violence, trafficking in or sale of children and their organs, paedophilia, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism as well as the increasing phenomenon of gang-related violence; 14. Also condemns the abduction of children, in particular extortive abduction and abduction of children in situations of armed conflict, including for the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts, and urges States to take all appropriate measures to secure their unconditional release, rehabilitation, reintegration and reunification with their families; 15. Urges States: (a) To strengthen efforts to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence through a comprehensive approach; (b) To end impunity for perpetrators of crimes against children, investigate and prosecute all acts of violence and impose appropriate penalties; (c) To protect children from abuse by government officials such as the police, law enforcement authorities and employees and officials in detention centres or welfare institutions; (d) To take measures to protect children from violence or abuse in schools, including sexual abuse and intimidation, maltreatment and bullying, to establish complaint mechanisms that are age- and gender-appropriate and accessible to children and to take measures to eliminate the use of corporal punishment in schools; (e) To strengthen international cooperation and mutual assistance to end impunity for crimes against children; 16. Recognizes the contribution of the International Criminal Court in ending impunity for the most serious crimes against children, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and calls upon States not to grant amnesties for such crimes; Non-discrimination 17. Calls upon all States to ensure the enjoyment by children of all their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination of any kind; 18. Notes with concern the large number of children who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, stresses the need to incorporate special measures, in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child and respect for his or her views, in programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and calls upon States to provide special support and ensure equal access to services for all children; 19. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures, including legal reforms where appropriate, to eliminate all forms of discrimination against girls and all forms of violence, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, rape, sexual abuse and harmful traditional or customary practices, including female genital mutilation, marriage without the free and full consent of the intending spouses, early marriage and forced sterilization, by enacting and enforcing legislation and by formulating, where appropriate, comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to protect girls; 20. Also calls upon States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with disabilities in both the public and the private spheres, including access to good quality education and health care and protection from violence, abuse and neglect, and to develop and, where it already exists, to enforce legislation to prohibit discrimination against them in order to ensure their inherent dignity, promote their self-reliance and facilitate their active participation and integration in the community, taking into account the particularly difficult situation of children with disabilities living in poverty; Promoting and protecting the rights of children, including children in particularly difficult situations 21. Calls upon all States to prevent violations of the rights of children working and/or living on the street, including discrimination, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions, torture, and all kinds of violence and exploitation, and to bring the perpetrators to justice, to adopt and implement policies for the protection, social and psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration of those children and to adopt economic, social and educational strategies to address the problems of children working and/or living on the street; 22. Also calls upon all States to protect refugee, asylum-seeking and internally displaced children, in particular those who are unaccompanied, who are particularly exposed to risks in connection with armed conflict, such as recruitment, sexual violence and exploitation, stressing the need for States as well as the international community to continue to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to the special assistance, protection and development needs of those children through, inter alia, programmes aimed at rehabilitation and physical and psychological recovery, and to programmes for voluntary repatriation and, wherever possible, local integration and resettlement, to give priority to family tracing and family reunification and, where appropriate, to cooperate with international humanitarian and refugee organizations, including by facilitating their work; 23. Further calls upon all States to ensure, for children belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups, including migrant children and indigenous children, the enjoyment of all human rights as well as access to health care, social services and education on an equal basis with others and to ensure that all such children, in particular victims of violence and exploitation, receive special protection and assistance; 24. Calls upon all States to protect the inheritance and property rights of orphans in law and in practice, with particular attention to underlying gender-based discrimination, which may interfere with the fulfilment of these rights; 25. Also calls upon all States to translate into concrete action their commitment to the progressive and effective elimination of child labour that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, to eliminate immediately the worst forms of child labour, to promote education as a key strategy in this regard, including the creation of vocational training and apprenticeship programmes and the integration of working children into the formal education system and to examine and devise economic policies, where necessary, in cooperation with the international community, that address factors contributing to these forms of child labour; 26. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182) of the International Labour Organization; 27. Calls upon all States, in particular those States in which the death penalty has not been abolished: (a) To abolish by law, as soon as possible, the death penalty for those below the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offence; (b) To comply with their obligations as assumed under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. (c) To keep in mind the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty and the guarantees set out in United Nations safeguards adopted by the Economic and Social Council; 28. Also calls upon all States to ensure that no child in detention is sentenced to forced labour or corporal punishment or deprived of access to and provision of health-care services, hygiene and environmental sanitation, education, basic instruction and vocational training; 29. Encourages States to promote actions, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance, for the social reintegration of children in difficult situations, considering, inter alia, views, skills and capacities that those children have developed in the conditions in which they lived and, where appropriate, with their meaningful participation; Prevention and eradication of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 30. Calls upon all States: (a) To criminalize and penalize effectively all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, including all acts of paedophilia, including within the family or for commercial purposes, child pornography and child prostitution, child sex tourism, trafficking in children, the sale of children and their organs and the use of the Internet for these purposes, and to take effective measures against the criminalization of children who are victims of exploitation; (b) To ensure the prosecution of offenders, whether local or foreign, by the competent national authorities, either in the country in which the crime was committed, in the country of which the offender is a national or resident, in the country of which the victim is a national or on any other basis permitted under domestic law, and for these purposes to afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with investigations or criminal or extradition proceedings; (c) To increase cooperation at all levels to prevent and dismantle networks trafficking or selling children and their organs and, for those States that have not yet done so, to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;Resolution 55/25, annex II. (d) In cases of trafficking in children, the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to address effectively the needs of victims, including their safety and protection, physical and psychological recovery and full reintegration into society, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance; (e) To combat the existence of a market that encourages such criminal practices against children, including through the adoption, effective application and enforcement of preventive, rehabilitative and punitive measures targeting customers or individuals who sexually exploit or sexually abuse children, as well as by ensuring public awareness; (f) To contribute to the elimination of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography by adopting a holistic approach, addressing the contributing factors, including underdevelopment, poverty, economic disparities, inequitable socio-economic structures, dysfunctional families, lack of education, urban-rural migration, gender discrimination, criminal or irresponsible adult sexual behaviour, child sex tourism, organized crime, harmful traditional practices, armed conflicts and trafficking in children; Children affected by armed conflict 31. Strongly condemns any recruitment or use of children in armed conflict contrary to international law, as well as other violations and abuses committed against children affected by armed conflict, and urges all States and other parties to armed conflict that are engaged in such practices to end them; 32. Reaffirms the essential roles of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children, including children affected by armed conflict, and notes the increasing role played by the Security Council in ensuring protection for children affected by armed conflict; 33. Calls upon States: (a) When ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2173, No. 27531. to raise the minimum age for voluntary recruitment of persons into the national armed forces from that set out in article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention, bearing in mind that under the Convention persons under 18 years of age are entitled to special protection, and to adopt safeguards to ensure that such recruitment is not forced or coerced; (b) To take all feasible measures to ensure the demobilization and effective disarmament of children used in armed conflicts and to implement effective measures for their rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society, in particular through educational measures, taking into account the rights and the specific needs and capacities of girls; (c) To protect children affected by armed conflict, in particular from violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law and to ensure that they receive timely, effective humanitarian assistance, in accordance with international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and calls upon the international community to hold those responsible for violations accountable, inter alia, through the International Criminal Court; (d) To take all necessary measures, in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law, as a matter of priority, to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as distinct from the armed forces of a State, including the adoption of policies that do not tolerate the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, and legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalize such practices; 34. Notes with appreciation the adoption of Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on the protection of children affected by armed conflict and the efforts of the Secretary-General to implement the monitoring and reporting mechanism called for in that resolution, with the participation of and in cooperation with national Governments and relevant United Nations and civil society actors, including at the country level; 35. Recognizes the progress achieved since the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in paragraphs 35 to 37 of General Assembly resolution 51/77 of 12 December 1996, and, bearing in mind the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations system-wide response to children and armed conflict,A/59/331. recommends that the Secretary-General extend the mandate of the Special Representative for a further period of three years; 36. Recalls the recommendation contained in resolution 51/77 that the Special Representative foster international cooperation to ensure respect for children's rights in situations of armed conflict and contribute to the coordination of efforts by Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, as well as the request to Governments and relevant United Nations bodies to cooperate with the Special Representative; III Children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS 37. Acknowledges that prevention, care, support, including psychosocial support, and treatment for those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, including children, are mutually reinforcing elements of an effective response and must be integrated in a comprehensive approach to combat the pandemic, reaffirms that the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in the global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and reaffirms also the importance of the elimination of all forms of discrimination against people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS, especially those most vulnerable; 38. Calls upon States: (a) To ensure universal access to comprehensive information related to HIV/AIDS prevention by 2010 through education, life skills training for adolescents and the use of child-targeted media and to ensure that this information is relevant, gender- and age-appropriate and timely, engaging the meaningful participation of children and their parents or caregivers in its development and recognizing children as agents of change, to enable them to protect themselves from HIV infection; (b) To support adolescents to be able to deal positively and responsibly with their sexuality in order to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS infection and to implement measures to increase their capacity to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, through, inter alia, the provision of health care, including for sexual and reproductive health, and through prevention education that promotes gender equality; (c) To put in place strategies, policies and programmes that identify and address those factors that make individuals particularly vulnerable to HIV infection in order to complement prevention programmes that address activities that place individuals at risk of HIV infection, such as risky and unsafe sexual behaviour and injecting drug use; (d) To ensure that, in preventing and addressing HIV/AIDS, particular attention is paid to girls, deeply concerned that the global HIV/AIDS pandemic disproportionately affects women and girls, that the majority of new HIV infections occur among young people and that unequal legal, economic and social status, negative or judgemental attitudes that limit the ability of girls to take preventive measures and violence against girls increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS; (e) To take measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, including the provision of essential drugs, appropriate antenatal, delivery and post-partum care, voluntary and confidential counselling and testing services for pregnant women and their partners and support for mothers, such as counselling on infant feeding options and access to treatment, including antiretroviral treatment; 39. Also calls upon States: (a) To ensure full and equal access for children to voluntary, free and confidential counselling, testing and care, including affordable and effective medication for the treatment of HIV and AIDS and associated opportunistic infections, recognizing the need for youth-friendly services, and urges States to work with the pharmaceutical industry and other stakeholders to ensure the development and universal availability of child-suitable medication and treatments; (b) To strengthen partnerships and international cooperation at the national, regional and international levels in order to offer infected and affected children medicines and related technology which are affordable, easy to use and readily available, in supporting developing countries that may not have the financial or human resources capacity to mount an effective response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic; (c) To integrate all aspects of HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support into all health-care programmes and services; 40. Further calls upon States to take effective measures to eliminate stigmatization and discrimination on the basis of the HIV or AIDS status, actual or presumed, of the child or parent and to ensure that HIV or AIDS status does not stand in the way of the enjoyment by the child of all human rights; 41. Calls upon States to make suitable provision for children affected by HIV/AIDS who can no longer live with their parents to retain links with their wider family and community, urges all States to implement the United Nations Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS and its key strategies, inter alia, by adopting and implementing, as an integral part of their comprehensive national planning and budgeting processes, national action plans for the protection and care of orphans and vulnerable children, and requests donors, the United Nations system and civil society to support their efforts; 42. Urges donors: (a) To ensure, by 2007, a complete and successful replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as the HIV/AIDS component of the work programmes of the agencies and programmes of the United Nations system engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and notes that a major part of the international HIV and AIDS financing gap relates to children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS; (b) To improve the effectiveness of their programmes through better alignment and elimination of duplication, and calls upon donors and the United Nations system to take forward the recommendations of the Global Task Team on Improving AIDS Coordination among Multilateral Institutions and International Donors; Follow-up 43. Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the rights of the child, containing information on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the issues contained in the present resolution; (b) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to continue to submit reports to the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights; (c) To request the Independent Expert for the United Nations study on violence against children to present his final report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; (d) To reiterate its invitation to the Chairman of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to present an oral report on the work of the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session as a way to enhance communication between the General Assembly and the Committee; (e) To pay particular attention to the rights of children infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS at its special session on HIV and AIDS in 2006; (f) To continue its consideration of this question at its sixty-first session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children", focusing section III on "Children and poverty". RESOLUTION 60/232 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part I), para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/232. Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development, Recalling also its resolution 59/198 of 20 December 2004, as well as relevant resolutions of the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination, Convinced of the contribution that a convention will make in this regard, and encouraged by the increased support of the international community for such a convention, Welcoming with satisfaction the progress achieved so far in the negotiations on a draft convention, Stressing the importance of the active participation of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and their valuable contribution to the promotion of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, Underlining the importance of the participation of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, Recognizing the important contributions made thus far to the Ad Hoc Committee by all stakeholders, 1. Welcomes the reports of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities on its fifthA/AC.265/2005/2. and sixthSee A/60/266. sessions; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the reports of the Ad Hoc Committee to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fourth session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session, and requests both Commissions to continue to contribute to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 3. Invites Member States and observers to continue to participate actively and constructively in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee with the aim of concluding a draft text of a convention and submitting it to the General Assembly, as a matter of priority, for its adoption, preferably at the sixty-first session; 4. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall hold, within existing resources, prior to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, two sessions in 2006, one of fifteen working days, from 16 January to 3 February, in order to achieve a complete reading of the draft text of a convention prepared by the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, and one of ten working days, from 7 to 18 August; 5. Underlines the importance of further strengthening the cooperation and coordination between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat in order to provide technical support to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, and invites them to provide, in advance of the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee, background documentation to assist Member States and observers in the negotiation of a draft convention, and to organize, in close connection and timing with the dates and venue of the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee, meetings of experts and seminars in relation to the draft convention, within existing resources; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the facilities necessary for the performance of its work, and in this context invites the Secretary-General to reallocate resources to the United Nations Programme on Disability so as to provide support to the negotiations on a draft convention; 7. Stresses the need for additional efforts to ensure accessibility at the United Nations, with reasonable accommodation regarding facilities and documentation, for all persons with disabilities, in accordance with General Assembly decision 56/474 of 23 July 2002; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to explore and implement innovative measures, within existing resources and in consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities and the Bureau of the Ad Hoc Committee, for the provision of selected documents of the Ad Hoc Committee in formats accessible to participants with visual and hearing disabilities; 9. Encourages Member States to continue to include in their delegations to the Ad Hoc Committee persons with disabilities and/or other experts in the field; 10. Urges Member States, observers, civil society, international organizations, financial institutions and the private sector to contribute to the voluntary fund established pursuant to its resolution 57/229 of 18 December 2002 to support the participation of non-governmental organizations and experts from developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to disseminate widely to non-governmental organizations all available information on accreditation procedures, modalities and supportive measures for their participation in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, as well as the criteria for the financial assistance that is available through the voluntary fund; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to transmit a comprehensive report of the Ad Hoc Committee and to report on the implementation of paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/233 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/509/Add.3 and Corr.1, para. 70)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 60/233. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and recalling the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Reaffirming also its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the most recent of which is resolution 59/263 of 23 December 2004, those of the Commission on Human Rights, the most recent of which is resolution 2005/10 of 14 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and the conclusions of the International Labour Conference of 4 June 2005, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on children in armed conflict, and the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict,A/59/695-S/2005/72. Recognizing that good governance, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights are essential to achieving sustainable development and economic growth, and affirming that the establishment of a genuine democratic government in Myanmar is essential for the realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Affirming that the will of the people is the basis of the authority of government and that the will of the people of Myanmar was clearly expressed in the elections held in 1990, 1. Welcomes: (a) The reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in MyanmarE/CN.4/2005/36 and A/60/221. and the reports of the Secretary-General;E/CN.4/2005/130 and A/60/422 and Corr.1. (b) The personal engagement and statements of the Secretary-General with regard to the situation of Myanmar; (c) The efforts of the United Nations and other international humanitarian organizations to deliver urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Myanmar; (d) The release by the Government of Myanmar of two hundred and forty-nine political prisoners on 6 July 2005, while noting that over one thousand, one hundred political prisoners remain incarcerated; (e) The establishment by the Government of a committee for the prevention of military recruitment of underage soldiers and the adoption in November 2004 of an outline plan of action to address the issues of underage recruitment and child soldiers; (f) The ratification by Myanmar on 30 March 2004 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and two of the Protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III. and the enactment by Myanmar on 13 September 2005 of an Anti-trafficking in Persons Law drawn up in accordance with the Convention; 2. Expresses grave concern at: (a) The ongoing systematic violation of the human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, of the people of Myanmar, including violations of the right to an adequate standard of living, discrimination and violations suffered by persons belonging to ethnic nationalities, women and children, especially in non-ceasefire areas, including but not limited to extrajudicial killings, rape and other forms of sexual violence persistently carried out by members of the armed forces, continuing use of torture, deaths in custody, political arrests and continuing imprisonment and other detentions; forced relocation; forced labour, including child labour; trafficking in persons; denial of freedom of assembly, association, expression and movement; wide disrespect for the rule of law, continuing recruitment and use of child soldiers, use of landmines, and the confiscation of arable land, crops, livestock and other possessions; (b) The extension of the house arrest of the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her deputy, Tin Oo, and the persistent denial of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of movement and association, as well as the continuing detention, particularly incommunicado detention, of other senior leaders of the League and of the leadership of other political parties or ethnic nationalities, particularly the detention of Khun Htun Oo and Sai Nyunt Lwin, Chairman and General Secretary, respectively, of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, and Sao Hso Ten, Chairman of the Shan State Peace Council; (c) The consistent harassment of members of the National League for Democracy and other politicians, and the fact that no full and independent inquiry, with international cooperation, into the attack perpetrated near Depayin on 30 May 2003 has been initiated, despite the decision taken thereon by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/247 of 23 December 2003; (d) The absence of a substantive and structured dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, and some representative ethnic groups, that facilitates national reconciliation, coupled with continuing restrictions placed on the League and other political parties, which have prevented them from participating in the National Convention, including the continued closure of the regional offices of the League; (e) The renewed attacks by military forces on ceasefire groups in violation of ceasefire agreements, and the subsequent and continuing violations of human rights, and the deterioration of the enjoyment of human rights by the affected populations; (f) The continuing denial of the freedom of human rights defenders to pursue their legitimate activities; (g) The situation of the large number of internally displaced persons and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries, and recalls in this context the obligations of Myanmar under international law; (h) The fact that the Government of Myanmar, as noted by the 2005 International Labour Conference, has still not implemented the recommendations of the International Labour Organization Commission of Inquiry, has yet to demonstrate its stated determination to eliminate forced labour and take the necessary measures to comply with the International Labour Organization Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, 1930 (Convention No. 29), and has yet to demonstrate commitment at the highest level to a substantive policy dialogue that can address the forced labour problem; (i) The fact that the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar and the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Myanmar have been unable to visit the country for almost two years, despite repeated requests; (j) The imposition of various travel restrictions on United Nations and other international organizations undertaking to enable access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Myanmar, and notes the related withdrawal of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; 3. Strongly calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To end the systematic violations of human rights in Myanmar and to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms; (b) To end impunity and to investigate and bring to justice any perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military and other government agents in all circumstances; (c) To consider as a matter of high priority becoming a party to all instruments of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and to ensure that existing legal obligations are implemented; (d) To promote the full enjoyment of all human rights and allow human rights defenders to pursue their activities unhindered and to ensure their safety, security and freedom of movement in that pursuit; (e) To put an immediate end to the recruitment and use of child soldiers and to extend full cooperation to relevant international organizations in order to ensure the demobilization of child soldiers, their return home and their rehabilitation in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1539 (2004) of 22 April 2004 and 1612 (2005), and stresses the need for the Government of Myanmar to maintain close dialogue with the United Nations Children's Fund and to cooperate with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in accordance with Council resolutions 1539 (2004) and 1612 (2005); (f) To end widespread rape and other forms of sexual violence persistently carried out by members of the armed forces, in particular against women belonging to ethnic nationalities, and to investigate and bring to justice any perpetrators in order to end impunity for those acts; (g) To end the systematic forced displacement of persons and other causes of refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to provide the necessary protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, in cooperation with the international community, and to respect the right of refugees to voluntary, safe and dignified return monitored by appropriate international agencies in accordance with international law, including applicable international humanitarian law; (h) To release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, including National League for Democracy leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy leader Khun Htun Oo and other Shan leaders, and to allow their full participation in an inclusive and credible process of national reconciliation; (i) To lift all restraints on peaceful political activity of all persons, including former political prisoners, by, inter alia, guaranteeing freedom of association and freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, and to ensure unhindered access to information for the people of Myanmar and to desist from arresting and punishing persons for their peaceful political activities; (j) To urgently resolve the serious issues identified by the very High-level Team and the International Labour Conference, including to give clear assurances that no action will be taken against persons lodging complaints of forced labour, to resolve outstanding allegations of forced labour, to issue the necessary visas to allow a strengthening of the International Labour Organization presence in Myanmar, and to respect the freedom of movement of the Liaison Officer ad interim; (k) To cooperate fully with the Special Envoy and the Special Rapporteur in order to bring Myanmar towards a transition to civilian rule, and to ensure that they are both granted full, free and unimpeded access to Myanmar and that no person cooperating with the Special Envoy, the Special Rapporteur or any international organization is subjected to any form of intimidation, harassment or punishment, and to review as a matter of urgency the cases of those currently undergoing punishment in this regard; (l) Without further delay, to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur to facilitate an independent international investigation of continuing reports of sexual violence and other abuse of civilians carried out by members of the armed forces in Shan, Karen, Mon and other states; (m) To ensure immediately safe and unhindered access to all parts of Myanmar for the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations and to cooperate fully with those organizations so as to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered in accordance with humanitarian principles and reaches the most vulnerable groups of the population in accordance with international law, including applicable international humanitarian law; (n) To ensure that discipline in prisons does not constitute torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and that conditions of detention otherwise meet international standards, and to include the possibility of visiting any detainee, including Aung San Suu Kyi; (o) To ensure that government forces do not engage in food and land requisition or the destruction of villages; (p) To continue to take action to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic; 4. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To ensure that the remainder of the National Convention, in particular the subsequent constitution-drafting exercise, becomes genuinely inclusive, through the unhindered participation of all political parties and representatives of ethnic nationalities; (b) To ensure that the proposals tabled at the National Convention for the chapters of the draft constitution are consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other human rights instruments; (c) To create the conditions for the free operation of existing and new political parties, in advance of the referendum and elections envisaged under the seven-step road map, and to ensure that all eligible citizens are registered to vote in any future referendum and elections and that these are conducted according to international standards with the full participation of all political parties; (d) To pursue through dialogue and peaceful means the immediate suspension and permanent end of conflict with all ethnic groups in Myanmar, including by ensuring that the constitution-drafting process responds to the concerns of the ethnic nationalities, including the ceasefire groups attending the National Convention, and respects their rights, so as to increase the likelihood that the ceasefires will lead to lasting political settlements and peace; (e) To fulfil its obligations to restore the independence of the judiciary and due process of law, and to take further steps to reform the system of the administration of justice; 5. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to provide his good offices and to pursue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and the people of Myanmar, including all relevant parties to the national reconciliation process in Myanmar, and to offer technical assistance to the Government in this regard; (b) To give all necessary assistance to enable his Special Envoy and the Special Rapporteur to discharge their mandate fully and effectively; (c) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session and to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-second session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/234 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/561, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/234. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 59/264 A of 23 December 2004 and 59/264 B of 22 June 2005, Having considered the audited financial statements and the report of the Board of Auditors on the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the year ended 31 December 2004, Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/60/5/Add.5). the note by the Secretary-General transmitting to the General Assembly the letter dated 1 July 2005 from the Chairman of the Board of Auditors transmitting the report of the Board on implementation of its recommendations relating to the biennium 2002-2003,A/60/113. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/387. Recognizing the difficult conditions under which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees does its work, 1. Accepts the financial report and audited financial statements and the report and audit opinion of the Board of Auditors regarding the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2004;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/60/5/Add.5). 2. Endorses the recommendations of the Board of Auditors contained in its report;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/60/5/Add.5), chap. II. 3. Also endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/387. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 4. Takes note of paragraph 18 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, and invites the Advisory Committee, in its future consideration of the report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, to provide further advice on this proposal; 5. Commends the Board of Auditors for the quality of its report and the streamlined format thereof; 6. Recognizes the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in implementing the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, and requests the High Commissioner to intensify his efforts to continue to implement the recommendations of the Board and to report regularly to the relevant governing bodies on progress made in this regard; 7. Notes the concerns of the Board of Auditors about the general financial situation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including the further depletion of the reserves of the Office, and encourages Member States to respond in a timely manner to the appeal of the Office for resources; 8. Recalls paragraph 7 of its resolution 58/249 A of 23 December 2003, by which the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to report to it on the full extent of unfunded staff termination and post-service liabilities in the United Nations and its funds and programmes and to propose measures that would ensure progress towards fully funding such liabilities; 9. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting to the General Assembly the letter dated 1 July 2005 from the Chairman of the Board of Auditors transmitting the report of the Board on implementation of its recommendations relating to the biennium 2002-2003;A/60/113. 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraph 6 of its resolution 59/264 A, to take the necessary measures to ensure that the editing and translation of the reports of the Board of Auditors are completed in a manner that would ensure that they are submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with the six-week rule and thereby enable Member States to have adequate time to consider the large volume of reports prior to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly; 11. Requests the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to include in future reports on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors information on the setting of time frames, the identification of office holders and priorities for the implementation of the recommendations of the Board; 12. Emphasizes that the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors is essential to ensuring efficient operations and effective internal controls, and decides to monitor closely these efforts. RESOLUTION 60/235 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/609, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/235. Report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the inspection of programme and administrative management of the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/218 B of 29 July 1994, 54/244 of 23 December 1999 and 59/272 of 23 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the inspection of programme and administrative management of the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa,A/60/120. 1. Recalls its resolution 59/287 of 13 April 2005 and its decision that the development of Africa shall be among the priorities of the Organization for the biennium 2006-2007; 2. Recalls also its resolutions 57/2 of 16 September 2002 and 57/7 of 4 November 2002, and stresses the important role played by the Economic Commission for Africa in coordinating the activities of the United Nations system at the regional level in support of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 3. Takes note of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the inspection of programme and administrative management of the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa,A/60/120. and welcomes the initial steps that the Commission has taken to implement the recommendations of the Office; 4. Urges the full and expeditious implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and requests the Secretary-General to support the efforts of the Economic Commission for Africa and its subregional offices to implement the recommendations of the Office; 5. Also urges, in particular, the appropriate integration of the subregional offices into the strategy for the Economic Commission for Africa to ensure increased coordination and the most effective management of resources and implementation of mandates; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the information and communications technology capacity and strategy of the Economic Commission for Africa and its subregional offices are fully integrated with the information and communications technology strategy of the Organization and that it is used to its full capacity to disseminate information by electronic means; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to fill vacancies in the subregional offices, inter alia, by recruiting staff with the appropriate operational skills and expertise that match the development priorities of the respective subregions; 8. Takes note with concern of the finding that the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa have a restricted ability to act as the operational arm of the Commission throughout the countries of their respective subregions owing to the lack of adequate resources for core functions, the insufficient level of guidance and support from the headquarters of the Commission and the lack of a clear understanding as to the role of the subregional offices; 9. Stresses the important contribution that the Economic Commission for Africa and its subregional offices are making towards supporting the efforts of the regional economic communities of Africa to implement the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and recognizes the need to strengthen the subregional offices; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to develop separate subprogrammes for the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to enhance interaction between the regional advisers and subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa to ensure a closer link with subregional needs; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a comprehensive plan of action to strengthen the subregional offices, based on the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, with timelines and clear lines of managerial accountability and, in the context of the plan of action, to ensure that adequate resources are provided to the Economic Commission for Africa and its subregional offices to continue their support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the regional economic communities for Africa, as well as to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. RESOLUTION 60/236 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/601, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/236. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Reaffirming its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 54/248 of 23 December 1999, 55/222 of 23 December 2000, 56/242 of 24 December 2001, 56/254 D of 27 March 2002, 56/262 of 15 February 2002, 56/287 of 27 June 2002, 57/283 A of 20 December 2002, 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, 58/250 of 23 December 2003 and 59/265 of 23 December 2004, Reaffirming also its resolution 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the equal treatment of the official languages of the United Nations, Having considered the report of the Committee on ConferencesOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/60/32). and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/60/93 and Corr.1 and A/60/112. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/433. 1. Approves the draft calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2006 and 2007, as submitted by the Committee on Conferences,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/60/32), annex. taking into account the observations of the Committee; 2. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make any adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2006 and 2007 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 3. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretariat has taken into account the arrangements referred to in General Assembly resolutions 53/208 A of 18 December 1998, 54/248, 55/222, 56/242, 57/283 B, 58/250 and 59/265 concerning Orthodox Good Friday and the official holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and requests all intergovernmental bodies to observe those decisions when planning their meetings; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that any modification to the calendar of conferences and meetings is implemented strictly in accordance with the mandate of the Committee on Conferences and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 5. Decides to continue consideration of the item during the first part of its resumed sixtieth session; 6. Also decides to resume consideration of the reports of the Secretary-General on the pattern of conferencesA/60/93 and Corr.1. and on reform of the Department for General Assembly and Conference ManagementA/60/112. in order to take action on them. RESOLUTION 60/237 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/602, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/237. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/237 C of 23 December 1999, 57/4 B of 20 December 2002, 59/1 A of 11 October 2004, 59/1 B of 23 December 2004 and 59/312 of 14 July 2005, Recalling also rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Contributions on the work of its sixty-fifth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/60/11). Having also considered the letter dated 12 October 2005 from the President of the General Assembly addressed to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee,A/C.5/60/2. Having further considered the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plans,A/60/66. Reaffirming the obligation of all Member States under Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations to bear the expenses of the Organization as apportioned by the General Assembly, A 1. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms its resolution 54/237 C; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of Member States the deadline specified in resolution 54/237 C, including through an early announcement in the Journal of the United Nations and through direct communication; 4. Urges all Member States requesting exemption under Article 19 of the Charter to submit as much information as possible in support of their requests and to consider submitting such information in advance of the deadline specified in resolution 54/237 C to enable the collation of any additional detailed information that may be necessary; 5. Agrees that the failure of the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia and Tajikistan to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control; 6. Decides that the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until the end of its sixtieth session; 7. Takes note of the information provided by the representatives of Liberia, the Niger and Sao Tome and Principe; 8. Concludes that the failure of Liberia, the Niger and Sao Tome and Principe to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control, and invites Liberia, the Niger and Sao Tome and Principe to submit appropriate information to the Committee on Contributions if similar circumstances prevail in the future; 9. Decides that Liberia, the Niger and Sao Tome and Principe should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until the end of its sixtieth session; 10. Decides also that future exemptions under Article 19 of the Charter shall generally be granted through the end of the session of the General Assembly at which related requests are considered; B 11. Reaffirms paragraph 1 of its resolution 57/4 B; 12. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on Contributions concerning multi-year payment plans, as contained in paragraphs 63 to 65 of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/60/11). and encourages Member States with arrears to consider submitting such a plan; 13. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plans;A/60/66. 14. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing conditions; C 15. Takes note of the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on Contributions on measures to encourage the payment of arrears, as contained in paragraphs 68 to 70 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/60/11). D 16. Decides to consider further at the first part of its resumed sixtieth session the methodology to be used in the preparation of the scale of assessments for the period 2007-2009, with a view to giving guidance to the Committee on Contributions on the matter. RESOLUTION 60/238 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/603, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 60/238. Human resources management The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 8, 97, 100 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling also its resolutions 49/222 A and B of 23 December 1994 and 20 July 1995, 51/226 of 3 April 1997, 52/219 of 22 December 1997, 52/252 of 8 September 1998, 53/221 of 7 April 1999, 55/258 of 14 June 2001, 56/280 of 27 March 2002, 57/305 of 15 April 2003, 58/296 of 18 June 2004 and 59/266 of 23 December 2004, as well as its other relevant resolutions and decisions, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/716, A/59/724, A/C.5/59/L.34, A/60/174, A/60/262, A/60/310, A/60/365 and A/C.5/60/L.2. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/786. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the availability in local labour markets of the skills for which international recruitment for posts in the General Service category takes placeSee A/59/388. and the report of the Joint Inspection Unit entitled "Review of headquarters agreements concluded by the organizations of the United Nations system: human resources issues affecting staff"See A/59/526. and the comments of the Secretary-General and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon,See A/59/526/Add.1. I Composition of the Secretariat 1. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity serve as the paramount consideration in the employment of staff, with due regard for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Notes that key human resources management targets are not being met by many departments; 3. Also notes the establishment of the Management Performance Board to replace the Accountability Panel as well as the functions and composition of the Board;See ST/SGB/2005/13. 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-first session a report on the activities of the Management Performance Board since its inception, including how it has met the request of the General Assembly, contained in section I, paragraph 10, of its resolution 59/266, that the internal system of accountability with respect to human resources policies and objectives be strengthened in order to hold programme managers accountable for their performance in achieving the objectives contained in human resources action plans; 5. Notes that, owing to projected retirements, many Member States may become unrepresented and underrepresented during the period 2005-2009, and requests the Secretary-General to urgently take steps to address this matter; 6. Recalls section IV, paragraph 8, of its resolution 59/266, and reiterates its request that the Secretary-General include an analysis of the level of underrepresentation in his report on the composition of the Secretariat; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session an assessment of recruitment to P-2 and P-3 posts, including the effect of the national competitive examinations and, if relevant, recommendations on how to improve this method of recruitment; II Amendments to the Staff Regulations and Rules 1. Approves the amendments to the Staff Regulations of the United NationsSee A/60/365. contained in the annex to the present resolution; 2. Takes note of the amendments to the Staff Rules;See A/60/174. III Other matters 1. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the practice of United Nations staff members having to renounce permanent residence status in a country outside the country of their nationality, including cases where staff members have been exceptionally authorized to retain permanent residence status in accordance with section 5.7 of the administrative instruction entitled "Visa status of non-United States staff members serving in the United States, members of their household and their household employees, and staff members seeking or holding permanent resident status in the United States",ST/AI/2000/19. and the criteria used in making such exceptions; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the regulations governing the status, basic rights and duties of officials other than Secretariat officials and experts on mission, adopted in its resolution 56/280. Annex Amendments to the Staff Regulations Regulation 1.2 Conflict of interest For paragraph (n), substitute (n) All staff members at the D-1 or L-6 level and above shall be required to file financial disclosure statements on appointment and at intervals thereafter as prescribed by the Secretary-General, in respect of themselves, their spouses and their dependent children, and to assist the Secretary-General in verifying the accuracy of the information submitted when so requested. The financial disclosure statements shall include certification that the assets and economic activities of the staff members, their spouses and their dependent children do not pose a conflict of interest with their official duties or the interests of the United Nations. The financial disclosure statements will remain confidential and will only be used, as prescribed by the Secretary-General, in making determinations pursuant to staff regulation 1.2 (m). The Secretary-General may require other staff to file financial disclosure statements as he deems necessary in the interest of the Organization. Regulation 10.2 For the existing text, substitute The Secretary-General may impose disciplinary measures on staff members whose conduct is unsatisfactory. Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse constitute serious misconduct. The Secretary-General may summarily dismiss a member of the staff for serious misconduct. RESOLUTION 60/239 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/604, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/239. Implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its management audit of the regional commissions The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/271 of 23 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its management audit of the regional commissions,A/60/378. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its management audit of the regional commissions.A/60/378. RESOLUTION 60/23 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/517, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 60/23. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/59/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling also that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Taking note of the ongoing debate on the revised working papers on the working methods of the Special Committee, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/60/124. Taking note further of paragraphs 106 to 110, 176 and 177 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Mindful of the decision of the Special Committee, in which it expressed its readiness to engage, as appropriate, in the implementation of any decisions that may be taken at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly in September 2005 that concern the Charter and any amendments thereto,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/60/33), para. 77. Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999, 55/157 of 12 December 2000, 56/87 of 12 December 2001, 57/25 of 19 November 2002, 58/80 of 9 December 2003 and 59/45 of 2 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution 59/44 of 2 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/60/33). Noting with appreciation the work done by the Special Committee to encourage States to focus on the need to prevent and to settle peacefully their disputes which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/60/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 3 to 13 April 2006; 3. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2006, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2006; (b) To continue to consider, on a priority basis and in an appropriate substantive manner and framework, the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter based on all of the related reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303, A/57/165 and Add.1, A/58/346, A/59/334 and A/60/320. and the proposals submitted on the question; (c) To keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States; (d) To consider, as appropriate, any proposal referred to it by the General Assembly in the implementation of the decisions of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the Assembly in September 2005 that concern the Charter and any amendments thereto; (e) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 4. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2006 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations; 5. Notes the readiness of the Special Committee to provide, within its mandate, such assistance as may be sought at the request of other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly in relation to any issues before them; 6. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 7. Recognizes the important role of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, in adjudicating disputes among States and the value of its work, as well as the importance of having recourse to the Court in the peaceful settlement of disputes; 8. Stresses the desirability of finding practical ways and means to strengthen the Court, taking into consideration, in particular, the needs resulting from its workload; 9. Takes note of the progress made in the preparation of studies of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and their posting on the Internet in three languages, as well as the progress made towards updating the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council and posting advance versions of individual chapters on the Internet; 10. Welcomes the establishment of the trust fund to eliminate the backlog of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, and encourages States to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund and to bring the question of funding for the Repertory to the attention of private institutions and individuals that may wish to assist in that regard, as well as to consider the sponsoring, on a voluntary basis, and with no cost to the United Nations, of associate experts to assist in the preparation of the studies; 11. Encourages the enhanced cooperation with academic institutions and the use of the internship programme for the preparation of studies; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts, within the level of the currently approved budget, towards making available electronically all versions of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs as early as possible; 13. Endorses the efforts of the Secretary-General to eliminate the backlog in the publication of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 14. Encourages contributions to the trust fund for the updating of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on both the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization"; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 60/240 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/605, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/240. Second performance report for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Having considered the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/60/573. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/60/591. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 58/253 of 23 December 2003 and 59/273 of 23 December 2004, 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/60/573. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/60/591. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/60/591. 3. Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005, the amount of 255,909,500 United States dollars gross (231,506,500 dollars net) approved in its resolution 59/273 for the budget of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda shall be adjusted by the amount of 3,307,300 dollars gross (3,875,900 dollars net) for a total amount of 252,602,200 dollars gross (227,630,600 dollars net). RESOLUTION 60/241 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/605, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/241. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2006-2007 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994,A/60/265. on staff retention and legacy issuesSee A/60/436. and on the revised estimates arising from changes in rates of exchange and inflation,See A/60/600. Having also considered the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/60/591; and A/60/7/Add.32 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A). Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 58/253 of 23 December 2003 and 59/273 of 23 December 2004, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2006-2007 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994,A/60/265. on staff retention and legacy issuesSee A/60/436. and on the revised estimates arising from changes in rates of exchange and inflation;See A/60/600. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/60/591; and A/60/7/Add.32 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A). 3. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994, a total amount of 269,758,400 United States dollars gross (246,890,000 dollars net) for the biennium 2006-2007, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 4. Decides also that the total assessment for 2006 under the Special Account would amount to 134,879,200 dollars gross, being half of the estimated appropriation for the biennium 2006-2007; 5. Decides further to apportion the amount of 67,439,600 dollars gross (61,722,500 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 6. Decides to apportion the amount of 67,439,600 dollars gross (61,722,500 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2006; 7. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 5 and 6 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 11,434,200 dollars approved for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for 2006; 8. Decides further that the provisions for the application of credits under regulations 3.2 (d), 5.3 and 5.4 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United NationsST/SGB/2003/7. shall be suspended in respect of the amount of 3,307,300 dollars gross (3,875,900 dollars net), which otherwise would have to be surrendered pursuant to those provisions; 9. Welcomes the continued efforts of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, in accordance with its statute, to assist the Government of Rwanda in strengthening its judiciary, and requests the Tribunal to increase its capacity-building efforts for the judiciary of Rwanda, including through recruitment, training and attachment programmes for Rwandan jurists, advocates and human rights practitioners, in view of the intention to transfer cases for prosecution to Rwanda; 10. Reiterates the importance of carrying out an effective outreach programme within the overall mandate of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and its completion strategy, and requests the Tribunal, in accordance with its mandate and in consultation with the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, to develop and implement outreach programmes that are proactive, utilizing available resources optimally, and that contribute to the reconciliation process by effectively developing an increased understanding of its work among Rwandans. Annex Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 60/242 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/606, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/242. Second performance report for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Having considered the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/60/575. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/60/591. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 58/255 of 23 December 2003 and 59/274 of 23 December 2004, 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2004-2005 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/60/575. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/60/591. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/60/591. 3. Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005, the amount of 329,317,900 United States dollars gross (298,437,000 dollars net) approved in its resolution 59/274 for the budget of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia shall be adjusted by the amount of 21,012,700 dollars gross (21,962,900 dollars net) for a total amount of 308,305,200 dollars gross (276,474,100 dollars net). RESOLUTION 60/243 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/606, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/243. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2006-2007 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991,A/60/264. on staff retention and legacy issuesSee A/60/436. and on the revised estimates arising from changes in rates of exchange and inflation,See A/60/600. Having also considered the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/60/591; and A/60/7/Add.32 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A). Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 58/255 of 23 December 2003 and 59/274 of 23 December 2004, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing for the biennium 2006-2007 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991,A/60/264. on staff retention and legacy issuesSee A/60/436. and on the revised estimates arising from changes in rates of exchange and inflation;See A/60/600. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/60/591; and A/60/7/Add.32 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A). 3. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, a total amount of 305,137,300 United States dollars gross (278,559,400 dollars net) for the biennium 2006-2007, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 4. Decides also that the total assessment for 2006 under the Special Account would amount to 152,443,900 dollars, being half of the estimated appropriation approved for the biennium 2006-2007 after taking into account 124,750 dollars, which is half of the estimated income for the biennium 2006-2007 of 249,500 dollars; 5. Decides further to apportion the amount of 76,221,950 dollars gross (69,577,475 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2006, as set out in General Assembly resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 6. Decides to apportion the amount of 76,221,950 dollars gross (69,577,475 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2006; 7. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 5 and 6 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 13,288,950 dollars approved for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for 2006; 8. Decides further that the provisions for the application of credits under regulations 3.2 (d), 5.3 and 5.4 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United NationsST/SGB/2003/7. shall be suspended in respect of the amount of 21,012,700 dollars gross (21,962,900 dollars net), which otherwise would have to be surrendered pursuant to those provisions; 9. Encourages the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to continue its efforts to refer cases involving intermediate and lower-ranking accused to competent national jurisdictions in the former Yugoslavia pursuant to rule 11 bis of its Rules of Procedure and Evidence. Annex Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 60/244 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/593, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/244. Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council: United Nations Office in Timor-Leste The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security CouncilA/60/425. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.10. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/425. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/60/7/Add.10. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee contained in its report, subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Decides to approve the position of Chief of Staff at the D-1 level; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure appropriate coordination of gender mainstreaming activities; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to achieve savings in operational costs, taking into account the recommendations of the Advisory Committee; 6. Approves the budget for the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste in the amount of 23,782,100 United States dollars gross (21,939,900 dollars net) for the period from 21 May to 31 December 2005; 7. Notes that requirements for the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste, after taking into account the utilization of savings of 6,301,700 dollars under the United Nations Advance Mission in the Sudan, amount to 17,480,400 dollars gross (15,638,200 dollars net); 8. Decides to appropriate, under the procedure provided for in paragraph 11 of annex I to General Assembly resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, an amount of 15,638,200 dollars under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, for the United Nations Office in Timor-Leste; 9. Also decides to appropriate an amount of 1,842,200 dollars under section 34, Staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005, to be offset by a corresponding amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment. RESOLUTIONS 60/245 A and B Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/593/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/245. Programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 A Final budget appropriations for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005A/60/572 and Add.1-4. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions concerning the financial performance for the biennium 2004-2005;A/60/597. 2. Notes that paragraph 3 of the report of the Advisory Committee indicates that an additional cost of 257,200 United States dollars is required for the implementation of General Assembly decision 60/539 of 16 December 2005, partially offsetting the decrease of 81,965,400 dollars reflected under expenditure sections in the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005; 3. Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005: (a) The amount of 3,737,508,800 dollars appropriated by it in its resolutions 59/277 A of 23 December 2004, 59/282 of 13 April 2005, 59/294 of 22 June 2005 and 60/244 of 23 December 2005 shall be decreased by 81,708,200 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED (b) The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget, with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee; (c) In addition to the appropriations approved under subparagraph (a) above, an amount of 125,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2004-2005 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the Library at the Palais des Nations as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment. B Final income estimates for the biennium 2004-2005 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2004-2005: (a) The estimates of income of 450,202,500 United States dollars approved by it in its resolutions 59/277 B of 23 December 2004, 59/282 of 13 April 2005, 59/294 of 22 June 2005 and 60/244 of 23 December 2005 shall be increased by 20,456,600 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED (b) The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; (c) Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, catering and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications, not provided for under the budget appropriations, shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. RESOLUTION 60/246 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/608 and Corr.1, para. 56)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/246. Questions relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 42/211 of 21 December 1987, 45/248 B, section VI, of 21 December 1990, 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 58/269 and 58/270 of 23 December 2003 and 59/275, 59/276 and 59/278 of 23 December 2004, and paragraphs 161 to 167 of its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, Reaffirming the respective mandates of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in the consideration of the proposed programme budget, Having considered the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007,A/60/6 (Introduction), (Sects. 1-35), (Sect. 13)/Add.1, (Income sects. 1-3) and A/60/6/Corr.1-3. as well as other reportsA/59/397, A/60/303, A/60/363 and A/60/537. and statements of programme budget implicationsA/60/360, A/60/396, A/60/532, A/C.5/60/12, A/C.5/60/14, A/C.5/60/15, A/C.5/60/16, A/C.5/60/17, A/C.5/60/20, A/C.5/60/21, A/C.5/60/23, A/C.5/60/24; and Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Fifth Committee, 35th meeting (A/C.5/60/SR.35), and corrigendum. submitted by the Secretary-General and the relevant reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/60/7 and Corr.1); A/60/7/Add.1-5, 13 and Corr.1 and 2, Add.14, 15, 16 and Corr.1, Add.17-21, 22 and Corr.1 and Add.26-30 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A); and Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Fifth Committee, 35th meeting (A/C.5/60/SR.35), and corrigendum. and the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/60/16 and Corr.1). thereon, 1. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 2. Also reaffirms rule 153 of its rules of procedure; 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination as contained in paragraphs 61, 67 and 106 to 122 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/60/16 and Corr.1). 4. Notes that consideration of the programme narratives contained in the revised estimatesA/60/537. will follow consideration thereof by the Committee for Programme and Coordination no later than September 2006; 5. Endorses, subject to the provisions of the present resolution and without establishing a precedent, the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions concerning posts and non-post resources as contained in chapter II of its first report on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/60/7 and Corr.1). and the resource recommendations contained in its reports on revised estimates, including those on the 2005 World Summit Outcome,A/60/7/Add.5, 13 and Corr.1 and 2, Add.15, 17-20 and 25-32. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. and on statements of programme budget implications relating to decisions taken by the Main Committees of the General Assembly; 6. Decides that the staffing table for the biennium 2006-2007 shall be as set out in the annex to the present resolution; 7. Also decides to extend for the biennium 2006-2007 the experiment approved under paragraph 14 of General Assembly resolution 58/270, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the experiment; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to utilize the arrangements referred to in paragraph 7 above to identify available posts to provide for the new post requests referred to in paragraphs IV.2, IV.28 and IV.29 of the first report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/60/7 and Corr.1). as well as in paragraph 5 of the second report of the Advisory Committee on the proposed programme budget;A/60/7/Add.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 9. Recalls its decision in paragraph 3 (b) of its resolution 59/313 of 12 September 2005 entitled "A strengthened and revitalized General Assembly", and endorses the proposals contained in paragraph 3 of the statement of the Secretary-General on the programme budget implications;A/C.5/59/35/Rev.1. 10. Decides to provide resources at the level sought by the Secretary-General in his statement of programme budget implications arising in respect of the draft resolution relating to Rwanda outreach and the amendment thereto;A/C.5/60/20. 11. Recognizes the need for limited discretion in budgetary implementation for the Secretary-General within defined parameters to be agreed by the General Assembly along with clear accountability mechanisms to the Assembly for its use, on the basis of recommendations of the Secretary-General to be provided to the Assembly at its resumed sixtieth session; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to achieve further efficiencies in non-post resources, and therefore decides to adjust non-post provisions covered in paragraph 5 above by a pro rata reduction of 1.75 per cent to be applied to all sections of the programme budget; 13. Recognizes that amendments to the provisions of the present resolution would stem from any decisions by the General Assembly in accordance with established procedures in response to proposals of the Secretary-General relating to paragraphs 161 to 167 of its resolution 60/1; 14. Decides that the Development Account shall be recosted for the biennium 2006-2007, and in this context requests the Secretary-General to pursue the relevant proposals contained in his reportA/59/397. and to provide to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session recommendations on how additional resources in the region of 5 million dollars could be added to the Development Account. Annex Staffing table for the biennium 2006-2007 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTIONS 60/247 A to C Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/608 and Corr.1, para. 56)The draft resolutions recommended in the report were submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/247. Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 A Budget appropriations for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007: 1. Appropriations totalling 3,798,912,500 United States dollars are hereby approved for the following purposes: TABLE REMOVED 2. The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 3. The budget for the biennium 2006-2007 amounts to 3,799 million dollars. Expected expenditure in the course of 2006 is 1,899 million dollars. The two-year budget will permit a full assessment on all Member States for 2006, in accordance with Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Secretary-General, while adhering to the existing procedures regarding the annual assessment on Member States, is authorized to enter into expenditure of a first tranche, limited to 950 million dollars, as an exceptional measure. The General Assembly, in order to ensure the availability of resources for programme delivery, will act in response to a request from the Secretary-General, at an appropriate time, for expenditure of the remaining funds; 4. The total net provision made under the various sections of the budget for contractual printing shall be administered as a unit under the direction of the United Nations Publications Board; 5. In addition to the appropriations approved under paragraph 1 above, an amount of 75,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2006-2007 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the library at the Palais des Nations in Geneva as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment. B Income estimates for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007: 1. Estimates of income other than assessments on Member States totalling 427,355,200 United States dollars are approved as follows: TABLE REMOVED 2. The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; 3. Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, the sale of statistical products, catering operations and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications not provided for under the budget appropriations shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. C Financing of appropriations for the year 2006 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the year 2006: 1. Budget appropriations consisting of 1,899,456,250 United States dollars, being half of the appropriation of 3,798,912,500 dollars approved for the biennium 2006-2007 by the General Assembly in paragraph 1 of resolution A above, plus 47,626,700 dollars, being the increase in revised appropriations for the biennium 2004-2005 approved by the Assembly in its resolutions 59/282 of 13 April 2005, 59/294 of 22 June 2005 and 60/244 of and 60/245 A of 23 December 2005, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 3.1 and 3.2 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. as follows: (a) 22,242,700 dollars, consisting of 12,810,200 dollars, being the net of half of the estimated income other than staff assessment approved for the biennium 2006-2007 under resolution B above, plus 9,432,500 dollars, being the increase in income other than staff assessment for the biennium 2004-2005; (b) 1,924,840,250 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 218,242,100 dollars, consisting of: (a) 200,867,400 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the biennium 2006-2007 in resolution B above; (b) 17,374,700 dollars, being the increase in income from staff assessment for the biennium 2004-2005 approved by the Assembly in its resolutions 59/282 of 13 April 2005, 59/294 of 22 June 2005 and 60/244 and 60/245 B of 23 December 2005. RESOLUTION 60/248 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/608 and Corr.1, para. 56)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/248. Special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly, I International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO Having considered the programme budget proposals for the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO for the biennium 2006-2007A/60/6 (Sect. 13) and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.16 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Decides to approve resources in the amount of 26,732,000 United States dollars (at the exchange rate of 1.27 Swiss francs to 1 dollar) proposed for the biennium 2006-2007 under section 13, International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007;A/60/6 (Sect. 13) and Add.1. II Capital master plan Recalling its resolutions 54/249 of 23 December 1999, 55/238 of 23 December 2000, 56/234 and 56/236 of 24 December 2001 and 56/286 of 27 June 2002, section II of its resolution 57/292 of 20 December 2002 and resolution 59/295 of 22 June 2005 and its decision 58/566 of 8 April 2004, Having considered the third annual progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the capital master planA/60/550 and Corr.1 and 2 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.12. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Having also considered the reports of the Board of AuditorsOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/60/5 (Vol. V)). and the Office of Internal Oversight Services for the period from August 2004 to July 2005,A/60/288. 1. Recognizes the urgent need to continue the implementation of the design and pre-construction phases of the capital master plan; 2. Authorizes the Secretary-General to proceed with design work, related project management and management of pre-construction services to the extent that those activities can be implemented without prejudice to the decision to be taken by the General Assembly at a later stage regarding its selection of the strategy for implementation of the capital master plan; 3. Decides to convert 8,198,000 dollars of the existing commitment authority into an appropriation with assessment for the year 2006 so as to provide for the continuation of design work and related project management and management of the pre-construction phase, including swing space requirements, as a minimum amount that would be required for capital master plan implementation during the first four months of 2006, irrespective of the strategy for the capital master plan to be endorsed by the General Assembly at a later stage; 4. Also decides to revert, as a matter of priority, to the issue of the capital master plan at the first part of its resumed sixtieth session, in March 2006; III Administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Having considered the report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,A/60/183. the report of the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the Standing CommitteeA/C.5/60/18. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.7 and 22 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Concurs with the recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension FundA/60/7/Add.7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. and on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board;A/60/7/Add.22 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Approves expenses, chargeable directly to the Fund, totalling 91,722,700 dollars net for the biennium 2006-2007 and a revised estimate of 89,563,100 dollars net for the biennium 2004-2005 for the administration of the Fund; 3. Also approves an additional amount of 1,079,000 dollars above the level of resources set out in section 1, Overall policymaking, direction and coordination, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007A/60/6 (Sect. 1). as the United Nations share of the cost of the administrative expenses of the central secretariat of the Fund; 4. Authorizes the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board to supplement the voluntary contributions to the Emergency Fund for the biennium 2006-2007 by an amount not exceeding 200,000 dollars; IV Request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Recalling its resolution 59/276 of 23 December 2004, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General on the request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research resulting from the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Institute on the work programme of the Institute for 2006-2007A/C.5/60/3. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/60/7/Add.8. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Endorses the proposal that the request for a subvention to the Institute be submitted for review and approval by the General Assembly on a biennial basis in the context of its consideration of the proposed programme budget for the related biennium; 3. Approves the request for a subvention to the Institute of 468,100 dollars for the biennium 2006-2007 from the regular budget of the United Nations, on the understanding that no additional provision would be required under section 4, Disarmament, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007;A/60/6 (Sect. 4). V Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its resumed organizational and first substantive sessions of 2005 Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/396. and endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/60/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. VI Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/585 and Corr.1. and endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/60/7/Add.24. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Approves for the 26 missions dealt with in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/585 and Corr.1. the charge of 100 million dollars against the provision for special political missions requested under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007;A/60/6 (Sect. 3). 3. Decides to resume at the first part of its resumed sixtieth session its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council; 4. Notes that an unallocated balance of 255,949,300 dollars would remain against the provision of 355,949,300 dollars for special political missions under section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; VII Construction of additional office facilities at the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/532. and endorses the related recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/60/7/Add.21. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. VIII Possibility of operating guided tours, bookstores and gift shops at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and the cost implications thereof Recalling its resolution 58/263 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/59/793. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/60/7 and Corr.1), paras. VIII.72 and VIII.73. Requests the Secretary-General to organize, effective 1 January 2006, a guided tour operation at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and in this context also requests him to report the actual income and expenditures of the guided tour operation at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in the budget performance reports for the biennium 2006-2007 under income section 3, Services to the public;A/60/6 (Income sect. 3). IX Efforts of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in rationalization of monitoring and evaluation 1. Welcomes the efforts of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in rationalization of monitoring and evaluation in accordance with General Assembly resolution 58/269 of 23 December 2003, especially in carrying out self-evaluation activities in a systematic and comprehensive manner; 2. Requests the Commission, in this regard, to report on its activities in that area in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; X Workplan on reform of the Economic Commission for Europe Welcomes the workplan on reform of the Economic Commission for Europe adopted by the Commission in its decision of 2 December 2005,E/ECE/1434/Rev.1. decides that the Commission should implement the adopted measures outlined in its decision, and to that end requests the Secretary-General to allocate the requisite resources within section 19, Economic development in Europe, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007;A/60/6 (Sect. 19). XI Administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2005 Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/421 and Corr.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.3. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Decides to approve, with effect from 1 January 2006, the new scale of staff assessment recommended by the International Civil Service Commission in its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1), annex VI. 2. Also decides to revert to the other issues contained in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/421 and Corr.1. at the first part of its resumed sixtieth session; XII Financial viability of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research Recalling its resolution 59/252 of 22 December 2004 and section X of its resolution 59/276 of 23 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/360. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.4. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/360. and of the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/60/7/Add.4. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Decides to provide the United Nations Institute for Training and Research with the amount of 242,400 dollars, being the equivalent of the amount of rental, maintenance and other administrative costs associated with conducting the core training programme for the biennium 2006-2007; 3. Reiterates that, in order to ensure stability of the funding for the General Fund and the viability of repaying the United Nations its debt, the Institute should systematically charge 13 per cent of programme support costs to special purpose grants whenever possible; XIII Ethics office; comprehensive review of the governance arrangements, including an independent external evaluation of the auditing and oversight system; and the independent audit advisory committee Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/568 and Corr.1 and 2. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.23. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/568 and Corr.1 and 2. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/60/7/Add.23. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Recalls its resolution 60/246 of 23 December 2005; 3. Notes that the approved resources would provide for the establishment of an ethics office and the undertaking of the evaluation study called for pursuant to paragraph 164 (b) of General Assembly resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005; 4. Decides to establish the Independent Audit Advisory Committee to assist the General Assembly in discharging its oversight responsibilities, and requests the Secretary-General to propose its terms of reference, ensure coherence with the outcome of the ongoing review of oversight and report to the Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixtieth session on related resource requirements; XIV Contingency fund Notes that a balance of 4,966,000 dollars remains in the contingency fund; XV Effects of changes in rates of exchange and inflation Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from the effect of changes in rates of exchange and inflationA/60/599. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/7/Add.32. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7A. Takes note of the revised estimates arising from recosting due to the effects of changes in the rates of exchange and inflation; XVI Joint Inspection Unit Approves the gross budget for the Joint Inspection Unit for the biennium 2006-2007 in the amount of 10,511,100 dollars; XVII International Civil Service Commission Approves the gross budget for the International Civil Service Commission for the biennium 2006-2007 in the amount of 16,211,300 dollars; XVIII Jointly financed gross budget of the Department of Safety and Security Approves the gross budget for the Department of Safety and Security for the biennium 2006-2007 in the amount of 225,682,400 dollars, broken down as follows: (a) Field security operations: 201,423,900 dollars; (b) Security and safety services at the United Nations Office at Vienna: 24,258,500 dollars. RESOLUTION 60/249 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/608 and Corr.1, para. 56)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/249. Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly 1. Authorizes the Secretary-General, with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and subject to the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United NationsST/SGB/2003/7. and the provisions of paragraph 3 below, to enter into commitments in the biennium 2006-2007 to meet unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising either during or subsequent to the biennium, provided that the concurrence of the Advisory Committee shall not be necessary for: (a) Such commitments not exceeding a total of 8 million United States dollars in any one year of the biennium 2006-2007 as the Secretary-General certifies relate to the maintenance of peace and security; (b) Such commitments as the President of the International Court of Justice certifies relate to expenses occasioned by: (i) The designation of ad hoc judges (Statute of the International Court of Justice, Article 31), not exceeding a total of 200,000 dollars; (ii) The calling of witnesses and the appointment of experts (Statute, Article 50) and the appointment of assessors (Statute, Article 30), not exceeding a total of 50,000 dollars; (iii) The maintenance in office for the completion of cases of judges who have not been re-elected (Statute, Article 13, paragraph 3), not exceeding a total of 40,000 dollars; (iv) The payment of pensions and travel and removal expenses of retiring judges and travel and removal expenses and installation grant of members of the Court (Statute, Article 32, paragraph 7), not exceeding a total of 410,000 dollars; (v) The work of the Court or its Chambers away from The Hague (Statute, Article 22), not exceeding a total of 25,000 dollars; (c) Such commitments not exceeding a total of 1 million dollars in the biennium 2006-2007 as the Secretary-General certifies are required for security measures pursuant to section XI, paragraph 6, of General Assembly resolution 59/276 of 23 December 2004; 2. Resolves that the Secretary-General shall report to the Advisory Committee and to the General Assembly at its sixty-first and sixty-second sessions all commitments made under the provisions of the present resolution, together with the circumstances relating thereto, and shall submit supplementary estimates to the Assembly in respect of such commitments; 3. Decides that for the biennium 2006-2007, if a decision of the Security Council results in the need for the Secretary-General to enter into commitments relating to the maintenance of peace and security in an amount exceeding 10 million dollars in respect of the decision, that matter shall be brought to the General Assembly, or, if the Assembly is suspended or not in session, a resumed or special session of the Assembly shall be convened by the Secretary-General to consider the matter. RESOLUTION 60/24 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/520, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire and Cyprus. 60/24. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/60/26). Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 72 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/60/26). 2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is an issue of great importance, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to solve, through negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; 3. Notes that the Committee will continue to review the implementation of the Parking Programme for Diplomatic Vehicles,A/AC.154/355, annex. with a view to addressing the problems experienced by some permanent missions in that respect and continuously ensuring its proper implementation in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, effective and therefore consistent with international law and that it shall remain seized of the matter; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 5. Notes that during the reporting period some travel restrictions previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities were removed, and requests the host country to consider removing the remaining travel restrictions, and in this regard notes the positions of affected States, as reflected in the report of the Committee, and the positions of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 6. Notes also that the Committee anticipates that the host country will enhance its efforts to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,See resolution 169 (II). for travel to New York on United Nations business, and notes that the Committee anticipates that the host country will enhance efforts, including visa issuance, to facilitate the participation of representatives of Member States in other United Nations meetings as appropriate; 7. Notes further that a number of delegations have requested a shortening of the time frame applied by the host country for the issuance of entry visas to representatives of Member States, since the time frame poses difficulties for the full-fledged participation of Member States in United Nations meetings; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 9. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 60/250 Adopted at the 69th plenary meeting, on 23 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/608 and Corr.1, para. 56)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/250. Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly Resolves that: 1. The Working Capital Fund shall be established for the biennium 2006-2007 in the amount of 100 million United States dollars; 2. Member States shall make advances to the Working Capital Fund in accordance with the scale of assessments adopted by the General Assembly for contributions of Member States to the budget for the year 2006; 3. There shall be set off against this allocation of advances: (a) Credits to Member States resulting from transfers made in 1959 and 1960 from the surplus account to the Working Capital Fund in an adjusted amount of 1,025,092 dollars; (b) Cash advances paid by Member States to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2004-2005 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 58/274 of 23 December 2003; 4. Should the credits and advances paid by any Member State to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2004-2005 exceed the amount of that Member State's advance under the provisions of paragraph 2 above, the excess shall be set off against the amount of the contributions payable by the Member State in respect of the biennium 2006-2007; 5. The Secretary-General is authorized to advance from the Working Capital Fund: (a) Such sums as may be necessary to finance budgetary appropriations pending the receipt of contributions; sums so advanced shall be reimbursed as soon as receipts from contributions are available for that purpose; (b) Such sums as may be necessary to finance commitments that may be duly authorized under the provisions of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, in particular resolution 60/249 of 23 December 2005 relating to unforeseen and extraordinary expenses; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates for reimbursing the Working Capital Fund; (c) Such sums as may be necessary to continue the revolving fund to finance miscellaneous self-liquidating purchases and activities, which, together with net sums outstanding for the same purpose, do not exceed 200,000 dollars; advances in excess of 200,000 dollars may be made with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; (d) With the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee, such sums as may be required to finance payments of advance insurance premiums where the period of insurance extends beyond the end of the biennium in which payment is made; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates of each biennium, during the life of the related policies, to cover the charges applicable to each biennium; (e) Such sums as may be necessary to enable the Tax Equalization Fund to meet current commitments pending the accumulation of credits; such advances shall be repaid as soon as credits are available in the Tax Equalization Fund; 6. Should the provision in paragraph 1 above prove inadequate to meet the purposes normally related to the Working Capital Fund, the Secretary-General is authorized to utilize, in the biennium 2006-2007, cash from special funds and accounts in his custody, under the conditions approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 1341 (XIII) of 13 December 1958, or the proceeds of loans authorized by the Assembly. RESOLUTION 60/25 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/521, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 60/25. Observer status for the Latin American Integration Association in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Latin American Integration Association, 1. Decides to invite the Latin American Integration Association to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/26 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/522, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sudan, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United Republic of Tanzania. 60/26. Observer status for the Common Fund for Commodities in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Common Fund for Commodities, 1. Decides to invite the Common Fund for Commodities to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/27 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/533, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/27. Observer status for the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Hague Conference on Private International Law, 1. Decides to invite the Hague Conference on Private International Law to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/28 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/534, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 60/28. Observer status for the Ibero-American Conference in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Ibero-American Conference, 1. Decides to invite the Ibero-American Conference to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/29 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 23 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.25 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay 60/29. Report of the International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/33 of 25 November 1992, 48/31 of 9 December 1993, 49/53 of 9 December 1994, 50/46 of 11 December 1995, 51/207 of 17 December 1996, 52/160 of 15 December 1997, 53/105 of 8 December 1998, 54/105 of 9 December 1999, 55/155 of 12 December 2000, 56/85 of 12 December 2001, 57/23 of 19 November 2002, 58/79 of 9 December 2003, 58/318 of 13 September 2004 and 59/43 of 2 December 2004, Noting that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. was adopted on 17 July 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 2002, Recalling that the Rome Statute reaffirms the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting the substantial progress that has been achieved so far in making the International Criminal Court fully operational, and also noting important milestones such as the decisions by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open investigations into the situation in Uganda and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the referral by the Security Council of the situation in Darfur since 1 July 2002 to the ProsecutorSee Security Council resolution 1593 (2005). and the opening of an investigation into the situation in Darfur by the Prosecutor, as well as the issuance of arrest warrants for five leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army by the Court, Recognizing the role of the International Criminal Court in a multilateral system that aims to end impunity, establish the rule of law and promote and encourage respect for human rights in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter, Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing effective and efficient assistance in the establishment of the International Criminal Court, Acknowledging the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court ("Relationship Agreement")See A/58/874 and Add.1. as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/318, including paragraph 3 of the resolution with respect to the payment in full of expenses accruing to the United Nations as a result of the implementation of the Relationship Agreement,Articles 10 and 13 of the Relationship Agreement. which entered into force on 4 October 2004 and which provides a framework for continued cooperation between the Court and the United Nations, which could include the facilitation by the United Nations of the Court's field activities, and encouraging the conclusion of supplementary arrangements and agreements, as necessary, Having received the report of the International Criminal Court,See A/60/177. Reiterating the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1. Calls upon all States from all regions of the world that are not yet parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtOfficial Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June-17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A. to consider ratifying or acceding to it without delay; 2. Welcomes the one-hundredth ratification of the Rome Statute, by Mexico on 28 October 2005; 3. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court;Official Records of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, First session, New York, 3-10 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.V.2 and corrigendum), part II.E. 4. Encourages States parties to the Rome Statute that have not yet done so to adopt national legislation to implement obligations emanating from the Rome Statute and to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in the exercise of its functions, and recalls the provision of technical assistance by States parties in this respect; 5. Recalls that, by virtue of article 12, paragraph 3, of the Rome Statute, a State which is not a party to the Statute may, by declaration lodged with the Registrar of the International Criminal Court, accept the exercise of jurisdiction by the Court with respect to specific crimes that are mentioned in paragraph 2 of that article; 6. Looks forward to the fourth session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to be held in The Hague from 28 November to 3 December 2005, as well as the resumed fourth session to be held in New York on 26 and 27 January 2006; 7. Recalls the establishment of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression by the Assembly of States Parties, open to all States on an equal footing, and encourages all States to consider participating actively in the Working Group with a view to elaborating proposals for a provision on the crime of aggression; 8. Encourages States to contribute to the Trust Fund established for the benefit of victims of crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and of the families of such victims, as well as to the Trust Fund for the participation of least developed countries, and acknowledges contributions made to both trust funds so far; 9. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 1 (A/60/1). in which reference is made to the important role of the International Criminal Court in advancing the cause of justice and the rule of law; 10. Recalls the referral by the Security Council of the situation in Darfur since 1 July 2002 to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,See Security Council resolution 1593 (2005). and also recalls article 13 (b) of the Rome Statute; 11. Notes the significance of the conclusion and implementation of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court,See A/58/874 and Add.1. which forms a framework for close cooperation between the two organizations and for consultation on matters of mutual interest pursuant to the provisions of that Agreement and in conformity with the respective provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Rome Statute; 12. Welcomes the report of the International Criminal Court for 2004,See A/60/177. and invites the Court to submit, in accordance with article 6 of the Relationship Agreement, annual reports on its activities to the General Assembly; 13. Recalls that, pursuant to article 4, paragraph 2, of the Relationship Agreement, the International Criminal Court may attend and participate in the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Report of the International Criminal Court", which shall continue to be considered directly in plenary meeting, and under which shall be considered the annual report of the Court, the Court being invited to attend and to participate in these proceedings. RESOLUTION 60/2 Adopted at the 28th plenary meeting, on 6 October 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.2 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay 60/2. Policies and programmes involving youth The General Assembly 1. Reaffirms the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond;Resolution 50/81, annex. 2. Recognizes that the implementation of the World Programme of Action and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, in particular those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. require the full and effective participation of young people and youth organizations and other civil society organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels; 3. Calls upon Governments, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to develop strong partnerships to scale up investments in youth and to encourage youth-led contributions to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, in particular those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 4. Urges Governments, in consultation with youth organizations, to develop holistic and integrated youth policies based on the World Programme of Action and to evaluate them regularly as part of the follow-up action on and implementation of the Programme of Action; 5. Requests the United Nations regional commissions to organize, within their existing resources, regional consultations with Member States and youth organizations in order to evaluate the implementation of the World Programme of Action; 6. Calls upon the organizations, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to enhance inter-agency arrangements on youth policies and programmes with a view to improving coordination and enhancing synergies among relevant system activities in this regard; 7. Welcomes the commitment contained in the outcome document of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General AssemblySee resolution 60/1. to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for young people a central objective of relevant national and international policies as well as national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, through, inter alia, the development of national action plans on youth employment, as well as by prioritizing therein the necessary resources for the implementation of these plans, and in this regard encourages relevant stakeholders to continue to assist and support, upon request, the efforts of Governments in the elaboration and implementation of national reviews and action plans; 8. Stresses the importance of the work of the Youth Employment Network as a peer exchange, support and review mechanism, and encourages Member States, the United Nations and partner organizations to strengthen and expand the Network at the national, regional and international levels; 9. Welcomes the participation of youth representatives in national delegations, and urges Member States to consider being represented by youth representatives on a continuing basis during relevant discussions in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions, bearing in mind the principle of gender balance; 10. Invites all Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute, inter alia, to the United Nations Youth Fund for the participation of youth representatives in national delegations, in particular from developing countries; 11. Welcomes the decision to convene the informal, interactive round-table discussion, which created an opportunity for youth organizations to engage with Member States, and encourages the consideration of similar events in the future; 12. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system, youth organizations and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen efforts aimed at the implementation of the ten priority areas contained in the World Programme of Action; 13. Decides to add the following as additional priority areas for the implementation of the World Programme of Action: the mixed impact of globalization on young women and men; the use of and access to information and communication technologies; the dramatic increase in the incidence of HIV infection among young people and the impact of the epidemic on their lives; the active involvement of young people in armed conflict, both as victims and as perpetrators; and the increased importance of addressing intergenerational issues in an ageing society; 14. Requests the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fifth session to elaborate the five priority areas mentioned above and to make recommendations on a supplement to the World Programme of Action to the General Assembly, to be adopted at its sixty-second session, taking into consideration other emerging issues of particular relevance to youth; 15. Requests the Secretariat, in collaboration with other relevant United Nations programmes and agencies, to establish a broad set of indicators related to youth, which Governments and other actors may choose to use to measure progress towards the implementation of the World Programme of Action; 16. Takes note of the three clusters presented in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "World Youth Report 2005",A/60/61-E/2005/7. namely, youth in the global economy, youth in civil society, and youth and their well-being, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fifth session, with a comprehensive report on the implementation of the World Programme of Action, including the definition of goals and targets, in one of the three clusters mentioned above. RESOLUTION 60/30 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2005, by a recorded vote of 141 to 1, with 4 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.22 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen Against: Turkey Abstaining: Colombia, Ecuador, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 60/30. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33 of 24 November 1999, 57/141 of 12 December 2002, 58/240 of 23 December 2003, 59/24 of 17 November 2004 and other relevant resolutions concerning the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/63. the addendum theretoA/60/63/Add.2. and also the reports on the sixth meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea ("the Consultative Process"),A/60/99. the second International Workshop on the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects,A/60/91. and the fifteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention,SPLOS/135. Emphasizing the pre-eminent contribution provided by the Convention to the strengthening of peace, security, cooperation and friendly relations among all nations in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and to the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as for the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Emphasizing also the universal and unified character of the Convention, and reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, and reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at national, regional and global levels, in accordance with the Convention, to support and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention, and the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reiterating the essential need for cooperation, including through capacity-building and transfer of marine technology, to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their resources, Recalling that marine science is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world's marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, by improving knowledge, through sustained research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, Recalling also its decision, in resolutions 57/141 and 58/240, to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, as recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 36 (b). and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end, Reiterating its concern at the adverse impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including corals, of human activities, such as overutilization of living marine resources, the use of destructive practices, physical impacts by ships, the introduction of alien invasive species and marine pollution from all sources, including from land-based sources and vessels, in particular through the illegal discharge of oil and other harmful substances, the loss or release of fishing gear and the dumping of hazardous waste such as radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, Recognizing that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and the economics of the global shipping industry, and recognizing also in this regard that the move towards electronic charting not only provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, Noting with concern the continuing problem of transnational organized crime and threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea and smuggling, and noting the deplorable loss of life and adverse impact on international trade resulting from such activities, Noting the important role of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission") in assisting States parties in the implementation of Part VI of the Convention, through the examination of information submitted by coastal States regarding the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, and also noting the need to ensure the effective functioning of the Commission during a period of rapidly increasing workload, and noting in particular the need to ensure participation of the members of the Commission in its subcommissions, Recognizing the importance and the contribution of the work over the past six years of the Consultative Process established by resolution 54/33 to facilitate the annual review of developments in ocean affairs by the General Assembly and extended for three years by resolution 57/141, Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and in this context the increase in activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat ("the Division"), in particular in view of the growing number of requests to the Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings, the increasing capacity-building activities and assistance to the Commission, and the role of the Division in inter-agency coordination and cooperation, Emphasizing that underwater archaeological, cultural and historical heritage, including shipwrecks and watercrafts, holds essential information on the history of humankind and that such heritage is a resource that needs to be protected and preserved, I Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Reaffirms its resolutions 49/28, 52/26, 54/33, 57/141, 58/240, 59/24 and other relevant resolutions concerning the Convention;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 2. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement");United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364. 3. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Fish Stocks Agreement");Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924. 4. Reaffirms the unified character of the Convention and the need to preserve its integrity; 5. Once again calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention and, where applicable, relevant agreements and instruments, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention do not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State concerned and to withdraw any such declarations or statements; 6. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts or lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 7. Urges all States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in taking measures to protect and preserve objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea, in conformity with the Convention, and calls upon States to work together on such diverse challenges and opportunities as the appropriate relationship between salvage law and scientific management and conservation of underwater cultural heritage, increasing technological abilities to discover and reach underwater sites, looting and growing underwater tourism; 8. Notes the effort made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with respect to the preservation of underwater cultural heritage, and notes in particular the rules annexed to the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural HeritageUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, resolution 24, annex. that address the relationship between salvage law and scientific principles of management, conservation and protection of underwater cultural heritage among parties, their nationals and vessels flying their flag; II Capacity-building 9. Calls upon donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the objectives of the present resolution, as well as the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the interests and needs of landlocked developing States; 10. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to improve hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including electronic charts, as well as the mobilization of resources and building of capacity with support from international financial institutions and the donor community; 11. Calls upon States and international financial institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and technical partnerships, to continue to strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training the necessary skilled personnel, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 12. Recognizes the need to build the capacity of developing States to raise awareness of, and support implementation of, improved waste management practices, noting the particular vulnerability of small island developing States to the impact of marine pollution from land-based sources and marine debris; 13. Also recognizes the importance of assisting developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in implementing the Convention, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in resolution 57/141, established for this purpose; 14. Encourages States to use the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;See Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, document IOC/INF-1203. 15. Also encourages States to assist developing States, and especially the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, on a bilateral and, where appropriate, regional level, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, including the assessment of the nature and extent of the continental shelf of a coastal State through a desktop study, and the delineation of the outer limits of its continental shelf; 16. Commends with satisfaction the Division upon the completion of the training manual, notes with appreciation the successful conduct of two regional training courses, and welcomes the intention to conduct two additional training courses before mid-2006, the purpose of which is to train technical staff of coastal developing States on the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and on the preparation of submissions to the Commission; 17. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with States and relevant international organizations and institutions, to continue making such training courses available at the regional and also the subregional and national levels, as appropriate; 18. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to support the capacity-building activities of the Division, including, in particular, the training activities to assist developing States in the preparation of their submissions to the Commission, and invites Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the new trust fund established by the Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat to support the promotion of international law; 19. Recognizes the importance of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Programme on the Law of the Sea, urges Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Fellowship Programme, and takes note with satisfaction of the ongoing implementation of the United Nations and the Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme, focusing on human resources development for developing coastal States parties and non-parties to the Convention in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea or related disciplines; III Meeting of States Parties 20. Welcomes the report of the fifteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/135. 21. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the sixteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York from 19 to 23 June 2006 and to provide the services required; IV Peaceful settlement of disputes 22. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement; 23. Notes that States parties to an international agreement related to the purposes of the Convention may submit to, inter alia, the Tribunal or the International Court of Justice any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that agreement which is submitted to it in accordance with that agreement, and notes also the possibility, provided for in the statutes of the Tribunal and the Court, to submit disputes to a chamber; 24. Equally pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 25. Encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement; V The Area 26. Notes with satisfaction the progress of the discussions on issues relating to the regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area, and reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration by the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority"), pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and the prevention of damage to its flora and fauna from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; 27. Takes note of the decision of the Council of the AuthorityISBA/11/C/10. to approve a plan of work for exploration of polymetallic nodules submitted by a new contractor, which is an important step towards the utilization of the resources in the Area; 28. Also takes note of the importance of the responsibilities entrusted to the Authority by articles 143 and 145 of the Convention, which refer to marine scientific research and protection of the marine environment respectively; VI Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 29. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and to the Tribunal in full and on time; 30. Encourages all States parties to the Convention to attend the sessions of the Authority, and calls upon the Authority to pursue all options, including the issue of dates, in order to improve attendance in Kingston and ensure global participation; 31. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalSPLOS/25. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;ISBA/4/A/8, annex. VII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 32. Encourages States parties to the Convention that are in a position to do so to make every effort to submit information to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, in conformity with article 76 of the Convention and article 4 of annex II to the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/72. 33. Notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission,CLCS/44 and CLCS/48 and Corr.1. that it is giving current consideration to three new submissions that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, and that a number of States have advised of their intention to make submissions in the near future; 34. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the seventeenth session of the Commission in New York from 20 March to 21 April 2006, and of the eighteenth session of the Commission in New York from 21 August to 15 September 2006, on the understanding that the following periods will be used for the technical examination of submissions at the Geographic Information System laboratories and other technical facilities of the Division: 20 to 31 March 2006; 10 to 21 April 2006; 23 August to 5 September 2006; and 11 to 15 September 2006; 35. Takes note of the steps undertaken by the Secretariat to improve the facilities for the use by the Commission, as well as of the additional requirements of the Commission,A/60/63/Add.2. and urges the Secretary-General to continue taking all necessary actions to ensure that the Commission can fulfil the functions entrusted to it under the Convention in light of its rapidly increasing workload; 36. Encourages States to make additional contributions to the voluntary trust funds established by resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000, in its paragraphs 18 and 20, for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention, and for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission; 37. Expresses its firm conviction about the importance of the work of the Commission, carried out in accordance with the Convention, including with respect to the participation of the coastal State in relevant proceedings concerning its submission; 38. Takes note of the amendment to annex 3 to the rules of procedure of the Commission that allows for enhanced interaction between submitting States and the Commission; 39. Encourages States to continue exchanging views in order to increase understanding of issues, including expenditures involved, arising from the application of article 76 of the Convention, thus facilitating preparation of submissions by States, in particular developing States, to the Commission; 40. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Member States, to continue supporting and organizing workshops or symposiums on scientific and technical aspects of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, taking into account the deadline for submission; VIII Maritime safety and security and flag State implementation 41. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the safety and security of navigation and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 42. Also encourages States to draw up plans and to establish procedures to implement the Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance;International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.949(23). 43. Welcomes the convening of the ninety-fourth (Maritime) session of the International Labour Conference, from 7 to 23 February 2006, to adopt the consolidated maritime labour convention; 44. Also welcomes the efforts undertaken by the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization to develop guidelines on fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident, as a way of enhancing the protection of the basic human rights of seafarers detained in connection with maritime accidents; 45. Notes the progress in the implementation of the Action Plan for the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2004,See www-ns.iaea.org/meetings/rw-summaries/vienna-transport-safety-2003.htm. and encourages States concerned to continue their efforts in the implementation of all areas of the Action Plan; 46. Also notes that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through the regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small island developing States and some other countries, and recognizes the right of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. States should maintain dialogue and consultation, in particular under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of improved mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials. States involved in the transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with small island developing States and other States to address their concerns. These concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability, security and compensation in relation to such transport;Resolution 60/1, para. 56 (o). 47. Once again urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with, and implementation and enforcement of, their responsibilities under international law and, until such action is undertaken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels; 48. Welcomes the progress made by the International Maritime Organization on the establishment of a voluntary International Maritime Organization member State audit scheme, and looks forward to its further development within the International Maritime Organization; 49. Looks forward to the results of the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization in cooperation with other competent international organizations, following the invitation extended to it in resolution 58/240 and resolution 58/14 of 24 November 2003, to examine and clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels, and the potential consequences of non-compliance with duties and obligations of flag States described in relevant international instruments; 50. Encourages States to cooperate to address threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, through bilateral and multilateral instruments and mechanisms aimed at monitoring, preventing and responding to such threats; 51. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting and investigation of incidents, bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 52. Urges States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,International Maritime Organization publication, Sales No. 462.88.12.E. takes note of the adoption of the 2005 Protocols amending those instruments on 14 October 2005,International Maritime Organization, documents LEG/CONF.15/21 and LEG/CONF.15/22. and also urges States parties to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments, through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate; 53. Calls upon States to effectively implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and related amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,International Maritime Organization, documents SOLAS/CONF.5/32 and 34. and to work with the International Maritime Organization to promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation; 54. Also calls upon States to ensure freedom of navigation and the rights of transit passage and innocent passage in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention; 55. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization relating to the protection of shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance, and in particular in enhancing the safety, security and environmental protection in straits used for international navigation, and calls upon the International Maritime Organization, States bordering straits and user States to continue their cooperation efforts to keep such straits safe and open to international navigation at all times, consistent with international law, in particular the Convention; 56. Calls upon user States and States bordering straits for international navigation to cooperate by agreement on matters relating to navigational safety, including safety aids for navigation, and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from ships; 57. Welcomes the progress in regional cooperation in some geographical areas, through the Jakarta Statement on Enhancement of Safety, Security and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, adopted on 8 September 2005,A/60/529, annex II. and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, adopted on 11 November 2004 in Tokyo, and urges States to give urgent attention to adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level in high-risk areas; 58. Urges States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex III. and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective implementation; 59. Calls upon States to cooperate to ensure that persons are rescued at sea and delivered to a place of safety, and urges States to take all necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the amendments to the International Convention on Maritime Search and RescueInternational Maritime Organization, document MSC/78/26/Add.1, annex 5, resolution MSC.155(78). and to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaIbid., annex 3, resolution MSC.153(78). relating to the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety, upon their entry into force, as well as of the associated Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea;Ibid., annex 34, resolution MSC.167(78). 60. Welcomes the adoption by the International Hydrographic Organization of the "World Hydrography Day", to be celebrated annually on 21 June, with the aim of giving suitable publicity to its work at all levels and of increasing the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis, and urges all States to work with that organization to promote safe navigation, especially in the areas of international navigation, ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas; IX Marine environment, marine resources, marine biodiversity and the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems 61. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 62. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, as well as agreements that provide for compensation for damage resulting from marine pollution, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 63. Also encourages States to ratify or accede to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972,IMO/LC.2/Circ.380. in order to ensure the timely entry into force of the Protocol; 64. Further encourages States, in accordance with the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity; 65. Notes the lack of information and data on marine debris, encourages relevant national and international organizations to undertake further studies on the extent and nature of the problem, also encourages States to develop partnerships with industry and civil society to raise awareness of the extent of the impact of marine debris on the health and productivity of the marine environment and consequent economic loss; 66. Urges States to integrate the issue of marine debris into national strategies dealing with waste management in the coastal zone, ports and maritime industries, including recycling, reuse, reduction and disposal, and to encourage the development of appropriate economic incentives to address this issue, including the development of cost recovery systems that provide an incentive to use port reception facilities and discourage ships from discharging marine debris at sea, and encourages States to cooperate regionally and subregionally to develop and implement joint prevention and recovery programmes for marine debris; 67. Invites the International Maritime Organization, in consultation with relevant organizations and bodies, to review annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, and to assess its effectiveness in addressing sea-based sources of marine debris; 68. Welcomes the continued work of the International Maritime Organization relating to port waste reception facilities, and notes the work done to identify problem areas and to develop an action plan addressing the inadequacy of such facilities; 69. Calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to control, reduce and minimize, to the fullest extent possible, marine pollution from land-based sources as part of their national sustainable development strategies and programmes, in an integrated and inclusive manner, and to advance the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based ActivitiesA/51/116, annex II. and the Montreal Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;See A/57/57, annex I.B. 70. Welcomes the convening in Beijing of the Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, from 16 to 20 October 2006, as an opportunity to discuss marine debris in relation to the source categories of the Global Programme of Action, and urges broad high-level participation; 71. Also welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between freshwater, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and of the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular the target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 72. Notes the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity,See A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10. and the Convention on Biological Diversity elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity;UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex, decision VII/5, annex I. 73. Reaffirms the need for States and competent international organizations to urgently consider ways to integrate and improve, based on the best available scientific information and in accordance with the Convention and related agreements and instruments, the management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water corals, hydrothermal vents and certain other underwater features; 74. Also reaffirms the need for States to continue their efforts to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on the best scientific information available, and the development of representative networks of any such marine protected areas by 2012; 75. Notes the work of States, relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the assessment of scientific information on, and compilation of ecological criteria for the identification of, marine areas that require protection, in light of the objective of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools such as the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012; 76. Also notes the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis reports and the urgent need to protect the marine biodiversity expressed therein; 77. Calls upon States and international organizations to urgently take action to address, in accordance with international law, destructive practices that have adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals; 78. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction,A/60/63/Add.1. prepared and released in response to the request in paragraph 74 of resolution 59/24; 79. Decides that the meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group established in paragraph 73 of resolution 59/24 shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations and all parties to the Convention, with others invited as observers in accordance with past practice of the United Nations, and noting that the meeting may be conducted in closed sessions, as appropriate; 80. Decides also that the meeting of the Working Group shall be coordinated by two co-chairpersons, who will be appointed by the President of the General Assembly in consultation with Member States and taking into account the need for representation from developed and developing countries; 81. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, takes note of the International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting, held in Mahe, Seychelles, from 25 to 27 April 2005, supports the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity and the elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity related to coral reefs, and notes the progress that the International Coral Reef Initiative and other relevant bodies have made to incorporate cold water coral ecosystems into their programmes and activities and to promote the conservation and sustainable use of all coral reef resources; 82. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems; 83. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management and integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international financial institutions and the donor community; 84. Encourages further studies and consideration of the impacts of ocean noise on marine living resources; X Marine science 85. Calls upon States, individually, or in collaboration with each other or with relevant international organizations and bodies, to improve understanding and knowledge of the deep sea, including, in particular, the extent and vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing their marine scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention; 86. Notes the contribution of the Census of Marine Life to marine biodiversity research, and encourages participation in this initiative; 87. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on the practice of States members of the Commission in the application of Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention, and notes the recommendations endorsed by the Commission as a result of this work; 88. Welcomes the adoption by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the procedure for the application of article 247 of the Convention by the Commission;See resolution XXIII-8, adopted at the twenty-third session of the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. XI Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects 89. Endorses the conclusions of the second International Workshop on the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects ("the regular process");A/60/91, annex. 90. Decides to launch the start-up phase, the "assessment of assessments", to be completed within two years, as a preparatory stage towards the establishment of the regular process; 91. Decides also to establish an organizational arrangement that includes an ad hoc steering group to oversee the execution of the "assessment of assessments", two United Nations agencies to co-lead the process, and a group of experts; 92. Establishes the Ad Hoc Steering Group with the following composition: (a) One representative from each Member State to be appointed by the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with Member States and regional groups, ensuring an adequate range of expertise, and on an equitable geographical basis as follows: five Member States from the African Group, five Member States from the Asian Group, two Member States from the Eastern European Group, three Member States from the Latin American and Caribbean Group, and three Member States from the Western European and other States Group, with the understanding that agency funding support for such experts is subject to availability of funds; (b) One representative from each of the following United Nations bodies and related international organizations: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme, as well as the International Seabed Authority; 93. Sets forth the following functions to be performed by the Ad Hoc Steering Group: (a) To approve the composition of the group of experts to be proposed by the lead agencies and communicate this composition to the States Members of the United Nations; (b) To decide on a work programme for the "assessment of assessments", to be proposed by the group of experts through the lead agencies, and to distribute it to the States Members of the United Nations; (c) To provide for an open-ended mid-term review of the work and progress made so far, in order to give all States Members of the United Nations an opportunity to comment on and contribute to the development of the ongoing work carried out under the "assessment of assessments"; (d) To give guidance, consistent with the conclusions of the second International Workshop, to the lead agencies and the group of experts, if required; 94. Determines that the lead agencies shall undertake the following actions, under the guidance of the Ad Hoc Steering Group, in addition to contributing to the work in accordance with their own mandate: (a) To provide secretariat services to the Ad Hoc Steering Group; (b) To coordinate the work in collaboration with relevant United Nations bodies, organizations and programmes and related international organizations; (c) To establish a group of experts, upon approval by the Ad Hoc Steering Group, to undertake the actual work of assessing the various assessments, taking into account the importance of adequate participation of experts from developing countries within this group; (d) To prepare a report on the results of the "assessment of assessments" for the General Assembly; 95. Invites the United Nations Environment Programme and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to jointly undertake the role of lead agencies, under the guidance of the Ad Hoc Steering Group; 96. Decides that the execution of the "assessment of assessments", including the activities of the Ad Hoc Steering Group and the group of experts, shall be financed through voluntary contributions and other resources available to participating organizations and bodies, and invites Member States in a position to do so to make contributions; XII Regional cooperation 97. Notes that there have been a number of initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention, takes note in this context of the Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, takes note once again of the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes, established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these funds; 98. Takes note of the second Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting, held on 16 and 17 September 2005 in Bali, Indonesia, in particular the Joint Ministerial Statement and the Bali Plan of Action, which recognize the important contribution provided by the oceans and their resources to the sustainable economic growth and the well-being of the Asia-Pacific region; XIII Open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea 99. Reaffirms its decision to undertake an annual review and evaluation of the implementation of the Convention and other developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, welcomes the work of the Consultative Process over the past six years, notes the contribution of the Consultative Process to strengthening the annual debate of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of the sea, and decides to continue with the Consultative Process for the next three years, in accordance with resolution 54/33, with a further review of its effectiveness and utility by the Assembly at its sixty-third session; 100. Recognizes the need to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Consultative Process, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations and programmes to provide guidance to the co-chairpersons to this effect, particularly before and during the preparatory meeting for the Consultative Process; 101. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the seventh meeting of the Consultative Process, in New York, from 12 to 16 June 2006, to provide it with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work and to arrange for support to be provided by the Division, in cooperation with other relevant parts of the Secretariat, as appropriate; 102. Encourages States to make additional contributions to the voluntary trust fund, established pursuant to resolution 55/7, for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing States, in attending the meetings of the Consultative Process; 103. Recommends that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea at its meeting, the Consultative Process should focus its discussions on the following topic/s: "Ecosystem approaches and oceans"; XIV Coordination and cooperation 104. Encourages States to work closely with and through international organizations, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and relevant international conventions to identify emerging areas of focus for improved coordination and cooperation and how best to address these issues; 105. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as funding institutions, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 106. Welcomes the work done by the secretariats of relevant United Nations specialized agencies, programmes, funds and bodies and the secretariats of related organizations and conventions to enhance inter-agency coordination and cooperation on ocean issues, including through UN-Oceans, the inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system; 107. Encourages continued updates to Member States by UN-Oceans regarding its priorities and initiatives, in particular with respect to the proposed participation in UN-Oceans; XV Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 108. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, prepared by the Division, as well as for the other activities of the Division, which reflect the high standard of assistance provided to Member States by the Division; 109. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities and functions entrusted to him in the Convention and by the related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure the allocation of appropriate resources to the Division for the performance of its activities under the approved budget for the Organization; XVI Sixty-first session of the General Assembly 110. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report, in its current comprehensive format and in accordance with established practice, for the consideration of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, on developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including the implementation of the present resolution, in accordance with resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and to make the report available at least six weeks in advance of the meeting of the Consultative Process; 111. Emphasizes the critical role of the annual comprehensive report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review; 112. Notes that the report referred to in paragraph 110 above will also be presented to States parties pursuant to article 319 of the Convention regarding issues of a general nature that have arisen with respect to the Convention; 113. Also notes the desire to further improve the efficiency of, and effective participation of delegations in, the informal consultations concerning the annual General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the sea and the resolution on sustainable fisheries, decides to limit the period of the informal consultations on both resolutions to a maximum of four weeks in total and to ensure that the consultations are scheduled in such a way as to avoid overlap with the period during which the Sixth Committee is meeting and that the Division has sufficient time to produce the report referred to in paragraph 110 above; 114. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". RESOLUTION 60/31 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 29 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.23 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Madagascar, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay 60/31. Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 and 49/118 of 19 December 1994, 50/25 of 5 December 1995 and 57/142 of 12 December 2002, as well as other resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments, its resolutions 56/13 of 28 November 2001 and 57/143 of 12 December 2002 on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37924. and its resolutions 58/14 of 24 November 2003 and 59/25 of 17 November 2004, Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),Ibid., vol. 1833, No. 31363. and bearing in mind the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement, Recognizing that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement sets forth provisions concerning the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including provisions on compliance and enforcement by the flag State and subregional and regional cooperation in enforcement, binding dispute settlement and the rights and obligations of States in authorizing the use of vessels flying their flags for fishing on the high seas, and specific provisions to address the requirements of developing States in relation to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and the development of fisheries for such stocks, Noting that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ("the Code")International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. and its associated international plans of action set out principles and global standards of behaviour for responsible practices for the conservation of fisheries resources and the management and development of fisheries, Noting with concern that effective management of marine capture fisheries has been made difficult in some areas by unreliable information and data caused by unreported and misreported fish catch and fishing effort and the contribution this lack of data makes to continued overfishing in some areas, Noting with satisfaction the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries, recently adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, FAO Fisheries Report No. 702 (FIPL/R702(En)), appendix H. and recognizing that the long-term improvement of the knowledge and understanding of fishery status and trends is a fundamental basis for fisheries policy and management for implementing the Code, Recognizing the need to implement, as a matter of priority, the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in relation to achieving sustainable fisheries, including the objective to maintain or restore stocks to levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield with the aim of achieving these goals for depleted stocks on an urgent basis and where possible not later than 2015, Recognizing also the significant contribution of sustainable fisheries to food security, income and wealth for present and future generations, Deploring the fact that fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to sparsely regulated and heavy fishing efforts, as a result of, inter alia, unauthorized fishing, inadequate flag State control and enforcement, including monitoring, control and surveillance measures, inadequate regulatory measures, harmful fisheries subsidies and overcapacity, Concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing threatens seriously to deplete certain fish stocks and to significantly damage marine habitats and ecosystems, to the detriment of sustainable fisheries as well as the food security and the economies of many States, particularly developing States, Welcoming the outcomes of the twenty-sixth session of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held from 7 to 11 March 2005,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-sixth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 7-11 March 2005, FAO Fisheries Report No. 780 (FIPL/R780(En)). Welcoming also the 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 12 March 2005,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Outcome of the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, Rome, 12 March 2005 (CL 128/INF/11), appendix B. which renewed the resolve of the international community to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Welcoming further the 2005 Rome Declaration on Fisheries and the Tsunami, adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on 12 March 2005,Ibid., appendix A. which addressed the issue of rehabilitation in relation to the tsunami disaster, Noting the efforts of the International Labour Organization in relation to work in the fishing sector, Recognizing that the interrelationship between ocean activities, such as shipping and fishing, and environmental issues needs further consideration, Concerned that marine pollution from all sources, including vessels and, in particular, land-based sources, constitutes a serious threat to human health and safety, endangers fish stocks, marine biodiversity and marine habitats and has significant costs to local and national economies, Recognizing that marine debris is a global transboundary pollution problem and that, due to the many different types and sources of marine debris, different approaches to its prevention and removal are necessary, Recognizing also the need for appropriate measures to address lost or abandoned gear, including catches by derelict fishing gear, which adversely affects, inter alia, fish stocks and habitats, Noting that the contribution of sustainable aquaculture to global fish supplies continues to respond to opportunities in developing countries to enhance local food security and poverty alleviation and, together with efforts of other aquaculture producing countries, will make a significant contribution to meeting future demands in fish consumption, bearing in mind article 9 of the Code, Calling attention to the circumstances affecting fisheries in many developing States, in particular African States and small island developing States, and recognizing the urgent need for capacity-building, including the transfer of marine technology, to assist such States in meeting their obligations and exercising their rights under international instruments, in order to realize the benefits from fisheries resources, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and recognizing the importance of coordination and cooperation at the global, regional, subregional as well as national levels in the areas, inter alia, of data collection, information-sharing, capacity-building and training for the conservation, management and sustainable development of marine living resources, Recognizing the duty provided in the Convention, the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas ("the Compliance Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. the Agreement and the Code for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag and vessels flying their flag which provide support to such vessels, and to ensure that the activities of such vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Recognizing also the urgent need for action at all levels to ensure the long-term sustainable use and management of fisheries resources through the wide application of a precautionary approach, and through appropriate measures to reduce waste, discards and other factors which adversely affect fish stocks, Recognizing further the economic and cultural importance of sharks in many countries, the biological importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem, the vulnerability of certain shark species to over-exploitation and the need for measures to promote the long-term sustainability of shark populations and fisheries, and the relevance of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1999, in providing development guidance of such measures, Reaffirming its support for the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements on the conservation and management of sharks, while noting with concern that only a small number of countries have implemented the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, Welcoming the Ministerial Declaration of the "Conference on the Governance of High Seas Fisheries and the United Nations Fish Agreement - Moving from Words to Action", held in St. John's, Canada, from 1 to 5 May 2005, acknowledging that it is an initiative to improve high seas fisheries governance, including effective implementation of the Agreement, Noting with satisfaction the outcomes of the fourth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, held in New York from 31 May to 3 June 2005, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/189. in particular its useful role in gathering and disseminating information on or relating to the sustainable development of the world's marine living resources, Expressing concern that the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources, although the incidence of this practice has continued to be low in most regions of the world's oceans and seas, Emphasizing that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift nets that contravene the resolution, Expressing concern over reports of continued losses of seabirds, particularly albatrosses and petrels, as well as other marine species, including sharks, fin-fish species and marine turtles, as a result of incidental mortality in fishing operations, particularly longline fishing, and other activities, while recognizing considerable efforts to reduce by-catch in longline fishing through various regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, Recognizing the endorsement of the Guidelines to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing OperationsFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Technical Consultation on Sea Turtles Conservation and Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand, 29 November-2 December 2004, FAO Fisheries Report No. 765 (FIRM/R765(En)), appendix E. by the Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-sixth session, Welcoming the fact that a growing number of States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, have taken measures, as appropriate, towards the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, I Achieving sustainable fisheries 1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the Convention,Ibid., vol. 1833, No. 31363. in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in Part V and Part VII, section 2, of the Convention, and where applicable, the Agreement;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37924. 2. Emphasizes the obligations of flag States to discharge their responsibilities, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to ensure compliance by vessels flying their flag with the conservation and management measures adopted and in force with respect to fisheries resources on the high seas; 3. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement; 4. Calls upon all States, directly or through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to apply, in accordance with international law, the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach widely to the conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, and also calls upon States parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the Agreement as a matter of priority; 5. Welcomes and encourages the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its Committee on Fisheries, in particular the recent call to effectively implement the various instruments already developed to ensure responsible fisheries; 6. Urges States to eliminate barriers to trade, including tariff peaks, high tariffs and non-tariff barriers and measures which are not consistent with their obligations under the World Trade Organization agreements, taking into account the importance of the trade of fisheries products, particularly for developing countries; 7. Welcomes the 2005 International Guidelines for the Ecolabelling of Fish and Fishery Products from Marine Capture Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, acknowledges the role of certification and ecolabelling schemes, which are to be consistent with international law, including relevant World Trade Organization agreements, and notes ongoing discussions in the World Trade Organization on such schemes; 8. Urges States and relevant international and national organizations to provide for participation of small-scale fishery stakeholders in related policy development and fisheries management strategies in order to achieve long-term sustainability for such fisheries, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of fisheries resources; II Implementation of the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 9. Calls upon all States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, that have not done so to ratify or accede to the Agreement and in the interim to consider applying it provisionally; 10. Calls upon States parties to the Agreement to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Agreement, and to ensure that the provisions of the Agreement are effectively implemented into regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements of which they are a member; 11. Emphasizes the importance of those provisions of the Agreement relating to bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation in enforcement, and urges continued efforts in this regard; 12. Encourages States, as appropriate, to recognize that the general principles of the Agreement should also apply to discrete fish stocks in the high seas; 13. Calls upon all States to ensure that their vessels comply with the conservation and management measures that have been adopted by subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention and of the Agreement; 14. Urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, thereof to inform, either directly or through the relevant regional or subregional fisheries management organization or arrangement, all States whose vessels fish on the high seas in the same region or subregion of the form of identification issued by those States parties to officials duly authorized to carry out boarding and inspection functions in accordance with articles 21 and 22 of the Agreement; 15. Also urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, to designate an appropriate authority to receive notifications pursuant to article 21 and to give due publicity to such designation through the relevant subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement; 16. Invites States and international financial institutions and organizations of the United Nations system to provide assistance according to Part VII of the Agreement, including, if appropriate, the development of special financial mechanisms or instruments to assist developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to enable them to develop their national capacity to exploit fishery resources, including developing their domestically flagged fishing fleet, value-added processing and the expansion of their economic base in the fishing industry, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of fishery resources; 17. Notes with satisfaction that the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement has begun to operate and consider applications for assistance by developing States parties to the Agreement, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make voluntary financial contributions to the Fund; 18. Welcomes the inaugural meeting at Windhoek, from 28 to 30 September 2005 of the Scientific Committee of the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organization and its Commission's subsequent adoption of new conservation measures for the resources that fall under its responsibility within the area of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean, and urges signatory States and other States whose vessels fish in that Convention area for fishery resources covered by that Convention to become parties to that Convention as a matter of priority and, in the interim, to apply it and the measures adopted thereunder provisionally, to ensure that vessels entitled to fly their flags apply such measures; 19. Also welcomes the inaugural meeting in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, on 9 and 10 December 2004 of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and further encourages relevant States to become parties to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and, in the interim, to apply that Convention and the measures adopted thereunder to vessels entitled to fly their flags; 20. Reaffirms paragraph 16 of resolution 59/25 concerning the convening by the Secretary-General, pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement, of a review conference ("the review conference"), to be held in New York from 22 to 26 May 2006; 21. Takes note of the report of the fourth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, requests that the Secretary-General, in preparing, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the comprehensive report referred to in paragraph 17 of resolution 59/25, take into account the specific guidance proposed by the fourth round of informal consultations regarding the comprehensive report, and also requests that an advance unedited version of such a report be made available in accordance with past practice via the website of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat ("the Division") as of 16 January 2006; 22. Invites States parties, as well as States and entities entitled to become parties, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to submit information and views to the review conference on matters relevant to the mandate of the conference and which would inform its work; 23. Recalls paragraph 6 of resolution 56/13, and requests the Secretary-General to convene in March 2006 a fifth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, to serve as preparation for the review conference; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a draft provisional agenda and draft rules of procedure for the review conference, and to circulate them at the same time as the provisional agenda, proposed by the fourth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, for the fifth round of informal consultations, sixty days in advance of these consultations; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, which are not parties to the Agreement, to participate fully in the fifth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement on an equal footing with those States parties, except without voting rights, and reaffirms that, in accordance with past practice, every effort will be made to adopt recommendations on the basis of consensus; 26. Further requests the Secretary-General to invite the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant international financial institutions, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, other fisheries bodies, other relevant inter-governmental bodies and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the fifth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement as observers; 27. Encourages wide participation in the review conference, in accordance with article 36 of the Agreement, and calls upon those States that are able to do so to become parties to the Agreement prior to the conference; III Related fisheries instruments 28. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of the provisions of the Compliance Agreement,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. and urges continued efforts in this regard; 29. Calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article X, paragraph 1, of the Compliance Agreement that have not yet become parties to that Agreement to do so as a matter of priority and, in the interim, to consider applying it provisionally; 30. Urges States and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement and promote the application of the CodeInternational Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. within their areas of competence; 31. Urges States to develop and implement, as a matter of priority, national and, as appropriate, regional plans of action to put into effect the international plans of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 32. Welcomes the adoption of the Code of Safety for Fishermen and Fishing Vessels as revised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Labour Organization and the International Maritime Organization and encourages its effective application, and urges States to become parties to the 1993 Protocol to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels; IV Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing 33. Emphasizes once again its serious concern that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems and continues to have serious and major implications for the conservation and management of ocean resources, and renews its call upon States to comply fully with all existing obligations and to combat such fishing and urgently to take all necessary steps to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 34. Calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas or in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, unless duly authorized by the authorities of the States concerned and in accordance with the conditions set out in the authorization, without having effective control over their activities, and to take specific measures, including deterring the reflagging of vessels by their nationals, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, to control fishing operations by vessels flying their flag; 35. Affirms the need to strengthen, where necessary, the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation, in particular at the regional and subregional levels, in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in a manner consistent with international law, and for States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to collaborate in efforts to address these types of fishing activities, including, inter alia, the development and implementation of vessel monitoring systems and the listing of vessels in order to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities and, where appropriate and consistent with international law, trade monitoring schemes, including to collect global catch data, through subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 36. Calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; 37. Urges States to exercise effective control over their nationals and vessels flying their flag in order to prevent and deter them from engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; 38. Recalls the request to the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the study undertaken by the International Maritime Organization, in cooperation with other competent international organizations, following the invitation extended to it in resolution 58/14 and resolution 58/240 of 23 December 2003, to examine and clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels, and the potential consequences of non-compliance with the duties and obligations of flag States prescribed in the relevant international instruments; 39. Reaffirms the appeal made by the Ministers of Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in their 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Outcome of the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, Rome, 12 March 2005 (CL 128/INF/11), appendix B. including for further international action to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by vessels flying "flags of convenience" as well as to require that a "genuine link" be established between States and fishing vessels flying their flags, and calls upon States to implement the Declaration as a matter of priority; 40. Requests States and relevant international bodies to develop, in accordance with international law, more effective measures to trace fish and fishery products to enable importing States to identify fish or fishery products caught in a manner that undermines international conservation and management measures agreed in accordance with international law, and at the same time to recognize the importance of market access, in accordance with provisions 11.2.4, 11.2.5 and 11.2.6 of the Code, for fish and fishery products caught in a manner that is in conformity with such international measures; 41. Encourages further work by competent international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to develop guidelines on flag State control of fishing vessels; 42. Recognizes the need for enhanced port State controls to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, urges States to cooperate, in particular at the regional level and through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and encourages States to apply the model scheme on port State measures endorsed by the Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-sixth session in March 2005See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-sixth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 7-11 March 2005, FAO Fisheries Report No. 780 (FIPL/R780(En)). at the national and regional levels, to promote its application through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and bodies, and to consider, when appropriate, the possibility of developing a legally binding instrument; 43. Calls upon all States to ensure that vessels flying their flag do not engage in trans-shipments of fish caught by fishing vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and, individually or through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to develop more effective enforcement and compliance measures to prevent and suppress such trans-shipments in accordance with international law; 44. Urges States, individually and through relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to establish mandatory vessel monitoring, control and surveillance systems for fishing vessels, including the sharing of information on fisheries enforcement matters, to join the existing voluntary International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network for Fisheries-Related Activities and to consider the possibility, when appropriate, of transforming the Network, in accordance with international law, into an international unit with dedicated resources that can assist fisheries enforcement agencies; 45. Encourages and supports the development of a comprehensive global record within the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations of fishing vessels, including refrigerated transport vessels and supply vessels, that incorporates available information on beneficial ownership, subject to confidentiality requirements in accordance with national law, and urges flag States to require that all their large-scale fishing vessels operating on the high seas be fitted with vessel monitoring systems no later than December 2008, or earlier if so decided by the flag State or any relevant regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, as called for in the 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; 46. Urges States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to adopt and implement internationally agreed market-related measures in accordance with international law, including principles, rights and obligations established in World Trade Organization agreements, as called for in the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; V Fishing overcapacity 47. Calls upon States and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, as a matter of priority, to take effective measures to improve the management of fishing capacity and to implement the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, taking into account the need, through these actions, to avoid the transfer of fishing capacity to other fisheries or areas including, but not limited to, those areas where fish stocks are overexploited or in a depleted condition; 48. Reaffirms the 2005 Rome Declaration on Fisheries and the Tsunami,Ibid., appendix A. which emphasized, inter alia, the need for fisheries and aquaculture rehabilitation in the affected areas to be in line with the principles of the Code and stressed that rehabilitation efforts, including transfer of vessels, must proceed under the leadership and control of the affected nations and must ensure that the fishing capacity that is being rebuilt is commensurate with the productive capacity of the fisheries resources and their sustainable utilization; 49. Urges States to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to fishing overcapacity, while completing the efforts undertaken at the World Trade Organization in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public HealthSee World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to clarify and improve its disciplines on fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector, including small-scale and artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, to developing countries; VI Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing 50. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to continued compliance with its resolution 46/215 and other subsequent resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, and urges States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions; VII Fisheries by-catch and discards 51. Urges States, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant international organizations that have not done so to take action to reduce or eliminate by-catch, catch by lost or abandoned gear, fish discards and post-harvest losses, including juvenile fish, consistent with international law and relevant international instruments, including the Code, and in particular to consider measures including, as appropriate, technical measures related to fish size, mesh size or gear, discards, closed seasons and areas and zones reserved for selected fisheries, particularly artisanal fisheries, the establishment of mechanisms for communicating information on areas of high concentration of juvenile fish, taking into account the importance of ensuring confidentiality of such information, and support for studies and research that will reduce or eliminate by-catch of juvenile fish; 52. Encourages States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to give due consideration to participation, as appropriate, in regional and subregional instruments and organizations with mandates to conserve non-target species taken incidentally in fishing operations; 53. Requests States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to urgently implement, as appropriate, the measures recommended in the Guidelines to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing OperationsFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Technical Consultation on Sea Turtles Conservation and Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand, 29 November-2 December 2004, FAO Fisheries Report No. 765 (FIRM/R765(En)), appendix E. and the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries in order to prevent the decline of sea turtles and seabird populations by reducing by-catch and increasing post-release survival in their fisheries, including through research and development of gear and bait alternatives, promoting the use of available by-catch mitigation technology, and promotion and strengthening of data collection programmes to obtain standardized information to develop reliable estimates of the by-catch of those species; VIII Subregional and regional cooperation 54. Urges coastal States and States fishing on the high seas, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to ensure the effective conservation and management of such stocks; 55. Urges States fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, where a subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement has the competence to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to give effect to their duty to cooperate by becoming members of such an organization or participants in such an arrangement, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such an organization or arrangement; 56. Invites, in this regard, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that all States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement; 57. Encourages relevant coastal States and States fishing on the high seas for a straddling fish stock or a highly migratory fish stock, where there is no subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to cooperate to establish such an organization or enter into another appropriate arrangement to ensure the conservation and management of such stocks, and to participate in the work of the organization or arrangement; 58. Welcomes and urges further efforts by regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, as a matter of priority, to strengthen and modernize their mandates to include an ecosystem approach to fisheries management and biodiversity considerations, where those aspects are lacking, to ensure that they effectively contribute to long-term conservation and management of marine living resources; 59. Urges regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that their decision-making processes rely on the best scientific information available, incorporate the precautionary approach, develop criteria for allocation which reflects, where appropriate, the relevant provisions of the Agreement, and strengthen integration, coordination and cooperation with other relevant fisheries organizations, regional seas arrangements and other relevant international organizations; 60. Encourages States, through their participation in regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to initiate processes for their performance review, and welcomes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the development of general objective criteria for such reviews; 61. Calls upon States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to strengthen or establish, consistent with national and international law, positive or negative lists of vessels fishing within the areas covered by relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in order to verify compliance with conservation and management measures and identify products from illegal, unreported and unregulated catches, including, where possible, establishing tracking and verification mechanisms to do so, and encourages improved coordination among all parties and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to share and use this information; 62. Encourages the establishment of regional guidelines for States to use in establishing sanctions, for non-compliance by vessels flying their flag and by their nationals, that are adequate in severity to effectively secure compliance, deter further violations and deprive offenders of the benefits deriving from their illegal activities; IX Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem 63. Encourages States to apply by 2010 the ecosystem approach, notes the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine EcosystemE/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. and decision VII/11See UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex. and other relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, notes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations related to guidelines for the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, and also notes the importance to this approach of relevant provisions of the Agreement and the Code; 64. Encourages enhanced science for conservation and management measures that incorporate and strengthen, in accordance with international law, the precautionary approach and consideration of ecosystem approaches to fisheries management, including through implementation of the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, FAO Fisheries Report No. 702 (FIPL/R702(En)), appendix H. and a greater reliance on scientific advice in adopting such measures; 65. Calls upon States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to collect and, where appropriate, report to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations more timely and comprehensive catch and effort data, including for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks within and beyond areas under national jurisdiction, discrete high seas stocks and by-catch and discards; 66. Encourages States, individually or through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant international organizations, to work to ensure that fisheries and other ecosystem data collection is performed in a coordinated and integrated manner, facilitating incorporation into global observation initiatives, where appropriate; 67. Also encourages States to increase scientific research in accordance with international law on the marine ecosystem; 68. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies of the United Nations, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, where appropriate, and other appropriate intergovernmental bodies, to cooperate in achieving sustainable aquaculture, including through information exchange, developing equivalent standards on such issues as aquatic animal health and human health and safety concerns, assessing the potential positive and negative impacts of aquaculture, including socio-economics, on the marine and coastal environment, including biodiversity, and adopting relevant methods and techniques to minimize and mitigate adverse effects; 69. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to paragraphs 66 to 71 of resolution 59/25 concerning the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems, and urges accelerated progress by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements on implementing these elements of the resolution; 70. Requests regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements with the competence to regulate bottom fisheries to adopt, in accordance with paragraph 67 of resolution 59/25, and implement appropriate conservation and management measures, including spatial and temporal measures, to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems as a matter of urgency; 71. Welcomes progress made in the implementation of paragraphs 68 and 69 of resolution 59/25 calling for the expansion, where appropriate, of the competence of existing regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to regulate bottom fisheries and the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems or for the establishment of new regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements with such competence to cover areas of the high seas where no such organization or arrangement currently exists; 72. Calls upon States urgently to accelerate their cooperation in establishing interim targeted protection mechanisms for vulnerable marine ecosystems in regions where they have an interest in the conservation and management of marine living resources; 73. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to give effect to paragraphs 66 to 69 of resolution 59/25, in order to facilitate the review referred to in paragraph 71 of the resolution of progress on action taken, with a view to further recommendations, where necessary, in areas where arrangements are inadequate, and further requests that an advance unedited version of the report be made available in accordance with past practice via the website of the Division as of 15 July 2006; 74. Requests States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to submit detailed information to the Secretary-General in a timely manner on actions taken pursuant to paragraphs 66 to 69 of resolution 59/25 to facilitate a comprehensive review of such actions; 75. Encourages progress to establish criteria on the objectives and management of marine protected areas for fisheries purposes, and in this regard welcomes the proposed work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop technical guidelines in accordance with the Convention on the design, implementation and testing of marine protected areas for such purposes, and urges coordination and cooperation among all relevant international organizations and bodies; 76. Notes that 2005 marks the ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities,A/51/116, annex II. and urges all States to implement the Global Programme of Action and to accelerate activity to safeguard the marine ecosystem, including fish stocks, against pollution and physical degradation; 77. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, in particular its Regional Seas programme, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations that have not yet done so to take action to address the issue of lost or abandoned fishing gear and related marine debris, including through the collection of data on gear loss, economic costs to fisheries and other sectors, and the impact on marine ecosystems; 78. Encourages close cooperation and coordination, as appropriate, between States, relevant intergovernmental organizations, United Nations programmes and other bodies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Programme of Action, and Regional Seas arrangements, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and relevant stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, to address the issue of lost and discarded fishing gear and related marine debris, through initiatives such as analysis of the implementation and effectiveness of the existing measures relevant to the control and management of derelict fishing gear and related marine debris, the development and implementation of targeted studies to determine the socio-economic, technical and other factors that influence the accidental loss and deliberate disposal of fishing gear at sea, the assessment and implementation of preventive measures, incentives and/or disincentives relating to the loss and disposal of fishing gear at sea, and the development of best management practices; 79. Encourages States, directly and through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and in close cooperation and coordination with relevant stakeholders, to address the issue of lost and discarded fishing gear and related marine debris, through initiatives including developing and implementing joint prevention and recovery programmes, establishing a clearing-house mechanism to facilitate the sharing of information between States on fishing net types and other fishing gear, the regular, long-term collection, collation and dissemination of information on derelict fishing gear, and national inventories of net types and other fishing gear, as appropriate; 80. Encourages States, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Programme of Action, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant intergovernmental organizations and programmes to consider the outcomes of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Education and Outreach Seminar on Derelict Fishing Gear and Related Marine Debris, held in January 2004, and how they may be implemented; 81. Encourages States to raise awareness within their fishing sector and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements of the issue of derelict fishing gear and related marine debris and to identify options for action; 82. Encourages the Committee on Fisheries to consider the issue of derelict fishing gear and related marine debris at its next meeting in 2007, and in particular the implementation of relevant provisions of the Code; X Capacity-building 83. Reiterates the crucial importance of cooperation by States directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional and subregional organizations, and by other international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through its FishCode programme, including through financial and/or technical assistance, in accordance with the Agreement, the Compliance Agreement, the Code and the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, to increase the capacity of developing States to achieve the goals and implement the actions called for in the present resolution; 84. Welcomes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in developing guidance on the strategies and measures required for the creation of an enabling environment for small-scale fisheries, including the development of a code of conduct and guidelines for enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security that include adequate provisions with regard to financial measures and capacity-building, including transfer of technology, and encourages studies for creating possible alternative livelihoods for coastal communities; 85. Encourages increased capacity-building and technical assistance by States, international financial institutions and relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies for fishers, in particular small-scale fishers, in developing countries, and in particular small island developing States, consistent with environmental sustainability; 86. Encourages the international community to enhance the opportunities for sustainable development in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, small island developing States and coastal African States, by encouraging greater participation of those States in authorized fisheries activities being undertaken within areas under their national jurisdiction, in accordance with the Convention, by distant-water fishing nations in order to achieve better economic returns for developing countries from their fisheries resources within areas under their national jurisdiction and an enhanced role in regional fisheries management, as well as by enhancing the ability of developing countries to develop their own fisheries, as well as to participate in high seas fisheries, including access to such fisheries, in conformity with international law, in particular the Convention and the Agreement; 87. Requests distant-water fishing nations, when negotiating access agreements and arrangements with developing coastal States, to do so on an equitable and sustainable basis, including by giving greater attention to fish processing, including fish processing facilities, within the national jurisdiction of the developing coastal State to assist the realization of the benefits from the development of fisheries resources; 88. Encourages greater assistance for developing States in designing, establishing and implementing relevant agreements, instruments and tools for the conservation and sustainable management of fish stocks, including the enhancement of research and scientific capabilities through existing funds, such as the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement, bilateral assistance, regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements assistance funds, the FishCode programme, the World Bank's global programme on fisheries and the Global Environment Facility; XI Cooperation within the United Nations system 89. Requests the relevant parts of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and donor agencies to support increased enforcement and compliance capabilities for regional fisheries management organizations and their member States; 90. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its cooperative arrangements with United Nations agencies on the implementation of the international plans of action and to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his annual report on sustainable fisheries, on priorities for cooperation and coordination in this work; 91. Invites the Division, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system to consult and cooperate in the preparation of questionnaires designed to collect information on sustainable fisheries, in order to avoid duplication; XII Sixty-first session of the General Assembly 92. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and to invite them to provide the Secretary-General with information relevant to the implementation of the present resolution; 93. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments", taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and consisting, inter alia, of elements provided in relevant paragraphs in the present resolution; 94. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", the sub-item entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments". RESOLUTIONS 60/32 A and B Adopted at the 58th plenary meeting, on 30 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.27 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yemen 60/32. The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security and emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan A The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/112 A of 8 December 2004 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular the most recent resolutions 1589 (2005) of 24 March 2005 and 1623 (2005) of 13 September 2005, as well as the statement by the President of the Council of 23 August 2005,S/PRST/2005/40; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2005-31 July 2006. Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Applauding the holding of parliamentary and provincial council elections on 18 September 2005, leading to the completion of the Bonn process, Emphasizing the importance of the Government being representative of the ethnic, cultural and geographical diversity of the country, Recalling Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, and applauding the substantive progress achieved in the empowerment of women in Afghan politics as historic milestones in the political process, which will help to consolidate durable peace and national stability in Afghanistan, Recognizing the urgent need to tackle the remaining challenges in Afghanistan, including terrorist threats, the fight against narcotics, the lack of security in certain areas, the comprehensive nationwide disbandment of illegal armed groups and the reintegration of the Afghan Military Forces, the development of Afghan Government institutions, including at the subnational level, the strengthening of the rule of law, the acceleration of justice sector reform, the promotion of national reconciliation and an Afghan-led transitional justice process, the safe and orderly return of Afghan refugees, the promotion and protection of human rights, and economic and social development, Reaffirming in this context its continued support for the spirit and the provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). and of the Berlin Declaration, including the annexes thereto, of 1 April 2004,Available from www.unama-afg.org. and pledging its continued support, after the successful completion of the political transition, to the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of a constitutional democracy and resume their rightful place in the community of nations, Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the central and impartial role that the Secretary-General and his Special Representative continue to play for the consolidation of peace and stability in Afghanistan, and welcoming consultations initiated by the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations on the post-Bonn process, Expressing in this context its deep concern over attacks against both Afghan and foreign nationals committed to supporting the consolidation of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, in particular United Nations and diplomatic staff, national and international humanitarian and development personnel, the International Security Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, Noting that, despite improvements in building the security sector, increased terrorist attacks caused by Al-Qaida operatives, the Taliban and other extremist groups, particularly in the south and in parts of the east of Afghanistan over the past months, and the lack of security caused by criminal activity and the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs, still remain a serious challenge, threatening the democratic process as well as reconstruction and economic development, Noting also that the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout the country resides with the Government of Afghanistan supported by the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, recognizing the progress achieved in this respect, and stressing the importance of further extending central government authority to all parts of Afghanistan, Commending the Afghan national army and police, the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition for their contributions in improving security conditions, including for the electoral process, in Afghanistan, Deeply concerned about the continued cultivation, production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, which is undermining stability and security as well as the political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and which has dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, and commending in that context the reaffirmed commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to rid the country of this pernicious production and trade, including by decisive law enforcement measures and by combating corruption, which have led to a decrease in opium cultivation in 2005, Recognizing that the social and economic development of Afghanistan, specifically the development of alternative gainful and sustainable livelihoods in the formal productive sector, is an important element of the successful implementation of the comprehensive Afghan national drug control strategy and depends to a large extent on enhanced international cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/224-S/2005/525. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Congratulates the people of Afghanistan on the parliamentary and provincial council elections on 18 September 2005, which have demonstrated the broad commitment of Afghan voters towards a democratic future for their country; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and of the international community, including from countries neighbouring Afghanistan, which facilitated the holding of parliamentary and provincial council elections through providing security assistance, funds, election personnel and observers; 4. Recognizes the upcoming completion of the political transition according to the Bonn process, with the establishment of the National Assembly of Afghanistan, as well as the challenges lying ahead, and calls upon the international community to continue to provide sustained support; 5. Endorses the key principles for cooperation between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community during the post-Bonn process as set out in the report of the Secretary-General,Ibid., para. 77. including the leadership role of Afghanistan in the reconstruction process, the just allocation of domestic and international reconstruction resources across the country, regional cooperation, lasting capacity- and institution-building, combating corruption and the promotion of transparency and accountability, public information and participation, and the continued central role of the United Nations in the post-Bonn process, which should also include fields in which the United Nations offers the best expertise available;See A/59/744-S/2005/183, para. 68. 6. Welcomes the readiness of the Government of Afghanistan to prepare an interim national development strategy, which is to be considered at a conference in London planned for January 2006, where a new engagement between the international community and the Government of Afghanistan is also due to be concluded, and urges the international community actively to support this process by, where possible, aligning their support behind this strategy; 7. Stresses the importance of the provision of sufficient security in the post-Bonn process, and to that end calls upon Member States to continue contributing personnel, equipment and other resources to the International Security Assistance Force and to further develop the provincial reconstruction teams in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and the Assistance Mission; 8. Welcomes the progress made since the commencement of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process in October 2003, in particular the completion of the disarmament and demobilization of the Afghan Military Forces, and stresses the need to reintegrate former combatants for the success of the programme; 9. Stresses the importance of advancing the disbandment of illegal armed groups throughout the country, while ensuring further coordination and coherence with other relevant efforts regarding security sector reform and community development; 10. Welcomes the development of the new professional Afghan national army and Afghan national police and the progress made in the creation of a fair and effective justice system as important steps towards the goal of strengthening the Government of Afghanistan, providing security, ensuring the rule of law and eliminating corruption throughout the country, and urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in these areas in a coordinated manner; 11. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, including through the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and the Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by Al-Qaida operatives, the Taliban and other terrorist or extremist groups as well as by criminal violence, in particular violence involving the drug trade; 12. Calls for full respect for human rights and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan and, with the assistance of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and of the Assistance Mission, full implementation of the human rights provisions of the new Afghan Constitution, including those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights, and commends the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan in this respect; 13. Welcomes the efforts to date of the Afghan authorities to carry out their comprehensive counter-narcotics implementation plan presented on 16 February 2005, and urges the Government of Afghanistan to take decisive action, in particular to stop the processing of and trade in drugs, by pursuing the concrete steps set out in the work plan of the Government of Afghanistan, presented at the International Conference on Afghanistan, held in Berlin on 31 March and 1 April 2004;Berlin Declaration, annex 1. Available from www.unama-afg.org. 14. Calls upon the international community to assist the Government of Afghanistan in carrying out its comprehensive counter-narcotics implementation plan, aimed at eliminating illicit poppy cultivation, including through support for increased law enforcement, interdiction, demand reduction, eradication of illicit crops, crop substitution and other alternative livelihood and development programmes, increasing public awareness and building the capacity of drug control institutions, and encourages the channelling of increased counter-narcotics funding through the Government of Afghanistan's counter-narcotics trust fund; 15. Supports the fight against the illicit trafficking in drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including increased cooperation among them to strengthen anti-narcotic controls to curb the drug flow, and welcomes, in this context, the signing on 1 April 2004 of the Berlin Declaration on Counter-Narcotics within the framework of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002;Berlin Declaration, annex 3. Available from www.unama-afg.org. 16. Commends the continuing efforts of the signatories of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly RelationsS/2002/1416, annex. to implement their commitments under the Declaration, including, within that framework, those under the Declaration on Encouraging Closer Trade, Transit and Investment Cooperation of 22 September 2003, and calls upon all other States to respect and support the implementation of those provisions and to promote regional stability; 17. Appreciates the efforts of the members of the Tripartite Commission, namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States of America, to continue to address cross-border activities in accordance with its mandate; 18. Calls for the provision of continued international assistance to the vast number of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their safe and orderly return and sustainable reintegration into society so as to contribute to the stability of the entire country; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every six months during its sixtieth session on developments in Afghanistan, including on parliamentary and provincial elections and on consultations on the post-Bonn process as well as on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session an item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan". B Emergency international assistance for peace, normalcy and reconstruction of war-stricken Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/112 B of 8 December 2004 and its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also the agreement reached among various Afghan groups in Bonn, Germany, on 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan, held in Tokyo on 21 and 22 January 2002, and the International Conference on Afghanistan held in Berlin on 31 March and 1 April 2004, and reminding donors to fulfil their commitments in this regard, Welcoming the continuing and growing ownership of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts by the Government of Afghanistan through the National Development Framework, the "Securing Afghanistan's future" exercise and the national budget, and emphasizing the crucial need to achieve ownership in all fields of governance and to improve institutional capabilities in order to use aid more effectively, Recognizing progress that has been made towards the Afghanistan national development strategy, and welcoming in this regard the adoption of the first report on the Millennium Development Goals by the Government of Afghanistan as well as its further efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming, in this regard, the guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans in the new Constitution as a significant step towards an improved situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for women and children, Noting with concern, at the same time, reports of violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law and violent or discriminatory practices in parts of the country, Noting with concern also that the lack of security in certain areas has caused some organizations to cease or curtail humanitarian and development operations in some parts of Afghanistan because limited access and inadequate security conditions for the delivery of aid continue to hamper their work substantially, Welcoming the continuous return of refugees and internally displaced persons, while noting with concern that the conditions in parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive to safe and sustainable returns to places of origin, Remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of war, which constitute a great danger for the population and a major obstacle for the resumption of economic activities and for recovery and reconstruction efforts, Aware of the high vulnerability of Afghanistan to natural disasters, in particular drought or flooding, and emphasizing the need to prepare the population for extreme climate conditions through, for example, winterization measures, Underlining the coordinating role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in ensuring a seamless transition, under Afghan leadership, from humanitarian relief to recovery and reconstruction, Expressing its appreciation for the work of the executive steering committee of the provincial reconstruction teams, which provides guidance on management and coordination of provincial reconstruction teams and on the interaction of civilian and military actors, Recognizing the need for a continued strong international commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programmes, under the ownership of the Government of Afghanistan, of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and expressing, at the same time, its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations whose international and local staff continue to respond positively to the humanitarian, transition and development needs of Afghanistan, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/60/224-S/2005/525. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to take all possible steps to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel, as well as their safe and unhindered access to all affected populations, and to protect the property of the United Nations and of development or humanitarian organizations, including non-governmental organizations; 3. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation directed against development and humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, regrets the loss of life and physical harm, and urges the Government of Afghanistan to make every effort to identify and to bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks; 4. Welcomes the completion of the disarmament and demobilization of child soldiers in the Afghan Military Forces, stresses the importance of the reintegration of child soldiers and of care for other war-affected children, commends the Government of Afghanistan for its efforts in this regard, and encourages continued efforts in cooperation with the United Nations; 5. Expresses its concern about the recruitment and use of child soldiers by illegal armed groups in Afghanistan, reiterates the importance of ending the use of children contrary to international law, and welcomes the accession by Afghanistan to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the two optional protocols thereto;Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173. No. 27531. 6. Reiterates the necessity of providing Afghan children with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, recognizing the special needs of girls, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, to expand those facilities and to promote full and equal access to them by all members of Afghan society; 7. Welcomes the initiative of the Government of Afghanistan to formulate a national plan of action on combating child trafficking, encourages the Government to formulate the plan of action guided by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. and stresses the importance of considering becoming a party to the Protocol; 8. Calls for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan Constitution and international law; 9. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of thought, conscience or belief; 10. Continues to emphasize the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, including violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women and girls, of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law; 11. Reiterates the important role of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and stresses the need to expand its range of operation in all parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan Constitution; welcomes the adoption by the Government of Afghanistan of key elements of the transitional justice action plan, and stresses the importance of judicial accountability of human rights offenders in accordance with international law; 12. Stresses once again the need for further progress on judicial reform in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to devote resources also to the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in order to improve respect for the rule of law and for human rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health risks to inmates; 13. Recalls Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, commends the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to mainstream gender issues and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men as guaranteed, inter alia, by virtue of its ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and by the Afghan Constitution, welcomes the level of participation of Afghan women in the recent parliamentary and provincial council elections, including the election of female candidates to these bodies, and reiterates the continued importance of the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of Afghan life; 14. Strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and violence against women and girls, welcomes the significant efforts by the Government of Afghanistan to counter discrimination, urges the Government to actively involve all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction programmes, and encourages the collection and use of statistical data on a sex-disaggregated basis to accurately track the progress of the full integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan; 15. Notes with concern that opium poppy cultivation and the related drug production and trafficking pose a serious threat to security, the rule of law and development in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan, supported by the international community, to work to mainstream counter-narcotics throughout all the national programmes; welcomes, in this context, the decrease in opium cultivation, commends the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard, and further urges it to increase its efforts against opium cultivation; 16. Urges in particular the Government of Afghanistan, in cooperation with the international community, to implement its comprehensive counter-narcotics implementation plan, aimed at eliminating illicit poppy cultivation, supporting increased law enforcement, interdiction, demand reduction, eradication of illicit crops, crop substitution and other alternative livelihood and development programmes, increasing public awareness and building the capacity of drug control institutions, and to promote the development of sustainable livelihoods in the formal production sector as well as other sectors, thus improving substantially the lives, health and security of the people, particularly in rural areas; 17. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, acknowledging the huge burden they have so far shouldered in this regard, and reminds them of their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees, the principle of voluntary return and the right to seek asylum and to allow international access for their protection and care; 18. Urges the Government of Afghanistan, acting with the support of the international community, to continue and strengthen its efforts to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons; 19. Calls for the provision of continued international assistance to the large numbers of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their voluntary, safe and orderly return; 20. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,Ibid., vol. 2056, No. 35597. to cooperate fully with the mine action programme coordinated by the United Nations, and to execute the destruction of all existing stocks of anti-personnel landmines; 21. Endorses the key principles for cooperation between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community during the post-Bonn process as set out in the report of the Secretary-General,Ibid., para. 77. including the leadership role of Afghanistan in the reconstruction process, the just allocation of domestic and international reconstruction resources across the country, regional cooperation, lasting capacity- and institution-building, combating corruption and the promotion of transparency and accountability, public information and participation, and the continued central role of the United Nations in the post-Bonn process, which should also include fields in which the United Nations offers the best expertise available;See A/59/744-S/2005/183, para. 68. 22. Invites all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations providing assistance to Afghanistan to focus on capacity-building and institution-building and to ensure that such work complements and contributes to the development of an economy characterized by sound macroeconomic policies, the development of a financial sector that provides services, inter alia, to microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and households, transparent business regulations and accountability; 23. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to continue to effectively reform the public administration sector in order to implement the rule of law, to ensure good governance and accountability at both national and local levels and to lead the fight against corruption; 24. Also urges the Government of Afghanistan to address, with the assistance of the international community, the question of claims for land property through a comprehensive land titling programme, including formal registration of all property and improved security for property rights, and welcomes the steps already taken by the Government of Afghanistan in this regard; 25. Urges the international community to channel assistance through the national budget, including by contributing to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and the Law and Order Trust Fund, and to generously support the national priority programmes of the Government of Afghanistan in order to strengthen ownership, transparency and the functioning of basic State institutions; 26. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and in accordance with its national development strategy, all possible and necessary humanitarian, recovery, reconstruction, financial, technical and material assistance for Afghanistan; 27. Emphasizes the need to maintain, strengthen and review civil-military relations among international actors, as appropriate, at all levels in order to ensure complementarity of action based on the different mandates and comparative advantages of the humanitarian, development, law enforcement and military actors present in Afghanistan; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every six months during its sixtieth session on developments in Afghanistan, including on parliamentary and provincial elections and on consultations on the post-Bonn process as well as on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 29. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session an item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan". RESOLUTION 60/33 Adopted at the 58th plenary meeting, on 30 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.21, sponsored by Jamaica (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China) 60/33. Deferral of the smooth transition period for the graduation of Maldives from the list of least developed countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 59/209 and 59/210 of 20 December 2004, Reaffirming its commitment to the process for graduation from the list of least developed countries and to the smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from that list, Giving due consideration to the unique destruction and damage caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 to the social and economic infrastructure of Maldives, the homes of thousands of individuals and their livelihoods, the setback to the economy of the country and the disruption of its development plans, Inviting the international community to provide comprehensive support for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts being undertaken by the Government of Maldives, 1. Expresses its deep concern at the consequences of the Indian Ocean tsunami on Maldives; 2. Decides to defer, in the case of Maldives, for a period of three years until 1 January 2008, the commencement of the three-year smooth transition period for graduation from the list of least developed countries; 3. Underlines the unique nature of this decision, taken in the context of the unprecedented natural disaster caused by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. RESOLUTION 60/34 Adopted at the 58th plenary meeting, on 30 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.24 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belize, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Viet Nam 60/34. Public administration and development The General Assembly, Recalling all pertinent resolutions, in particular its resolution 59/55 of 2 December 2004 on public administration and development, Acknowledging the tenth anniversary of the resumed fiftieth session of the General Assembly, on public administration and development, held in April 1996, Recognizing the important role played by public administration with respect to the planning and provision of public services and the positive contribution it can make to the creation of an enabling environment to promote sustainable development, Emphasizing the need to improve the efficiency, transparency and accountability of public administration, Reiterating that efficient, accountable, effective and transparent public administration, at both the national and international levels, has a key role to play in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Noting that the capacities of public institutions and human resources will play a vital role in the ability of Member States to effectively achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Acknowledging, further, that measures that increase participatory and transparent governance will help Member States to build and strengthen state capacity to address development and other challenges, Stressing the importance of participatory public administration responsive to the needs of the people, and good governance, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/114. 2. Emphasizes that good governance and transparent and accountable public administration at the national and international levels will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; 3. Recognizes the importance of the efforts of Governments to foster public participation in governance and development processes through cooperating with all stakeholders in their societies, including the private sector, civil society and non-governmental organizations; 4. Stresses that national efforts to improve governance, public administration and institutional and managerial capacities are essential to enable Member States to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and encourages Member States to increase their efforts in this regard; 5. Encourages the international community to increase support for national efforts, including those of developing countries, in public administration, including through North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation and public-private partnership to, inter alia, provide financial, educational, material and technical support and cooperation as appropriate; 6. Requests all Member States to abide by the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and foster a culture of transparency, accountability and rejection of corruption at all levels and in all its forms, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. and in that regard urges Member States that have not yet done so to consider enacting laws to accomplish those ends; 7. Agrees that the United Nations should promote innovation in government and public administration, and stresses the importance of making more effective use of United Nations Public Service Day and the United Nations Public Service Awards in the process of revitalizing public administration by building a culture of innovation, partnership and responsiveness; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to facilitate, through the United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance, the dissemination of information, knowledge and valuable practices in public administration; 9. Stresses the valuable contribution that the Global Forum on Reinventing Government has made to the exchange of lessons learned in public administration reform; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the Seoul Declaration on Participatory and Transparent Governance, which was adopted by the participants in the sixth Global Forum on Reinventing Government, held in Seoul from 24 to 27 May 2005;A/60/391, annex. 11. Expresses its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea for hosting the sixth Global Forum on Reinventing Government; 12. Emphasizes the importance of the seventh Global Forum on Reinventing Government, to be hosted by the United Nations in 2007, which will highlight the importance of improving public administration in order to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 13. Urges the United Nations to maximize the effectiveness of its activities in the field of public administration and development by strengthening partnerships with other international and regional organizations, as appropriate, and by promoting the use of information and communications technology as a tool for development; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the present resolution and the result of the seventh Global Forum on Reinventing Government, to be held in 2007. RESOLUTION 60/35 Adopted at the 58th plenary meeting, on 30 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.26 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 60/35. Enhancing capacity-building in global public health The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. adopted at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, and the development goals contained therein, in particular the health-related development goals, and its resolutions 58/3 of 27 October 2003 and 59/27 of 23 November 2004, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. adopted by Heads of State and Government at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, held in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005, including the commitments on HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other health issues, Recognizing that health is central to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including all those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and that such goals create an opportunity to position health as a core part of the development agenda and to raise political commitment and financial resources for the sector, Noting with concern the deleterious impact on humankind of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other major infectious diseases and epidemics, and the heavy disease burden borne by poor people, especially in developing countries, including the least developed countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, and in this regard noting with appreciation the work of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, its co-sponsoring agencies and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Also noting with concern the serious damage and loss of life caused by natural disasters and their negative impact on public health and health systems, Bearing in mind the fact that the fight against new and re-emerging diseases, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome and a human influenza pandemic arising from avian influenza, is far from over, and in this regard welcoming the efforts of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organization for Animal Health in developing international strategies and collaboration, as well as the recent appointment by the Secretary-General of a Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, Emphasizing that Member States have primary responsibility for strengthening their capacity-building in public health to detect and respond rapidly to outbreaks of major infectious diseases, through the establishment and improvement of effective public health mechanisms, while recognizing that the magnitude of the necessary response may be beyond the capabilities of many countries, in particular developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, Convinced that strengthening public health systems is critical to the development of all Member States and that economic and social development are enhanced through measures that strengthen capacity-building in public health, including strategies for training, recruitment and retention of sufficient public health personnel, and systems of prevention and of immunization against infectious diseases, Acknowledging that rapid progress will require political commitment and a scaling-up of more efficient and effective strategies and actions, greater investment of financial resources, adequately staffed and effective health systems, capacity-building in the public and private sectors, a clear focus on equity in access and outcomes, and collective action within and between countries, Recognizing the need to strengthen national health and social infrastructures to reinforce measures to eliminate discrimination in access to public health, information and education for all people, especially for the most underserved and vulnerable groups, Recognizing also the need for greater international and regional cooperation to meet new and existing challenges to public health, in particular in promoting effective measures such as safe, affordable and accessible vaccines, as well as assisting developing countries in securing vaccines against preventable infectious diseases and supporting the development of new vaccines, Welcoming the Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights and Public Health, adopted on 14 November 2001,See World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and noting the decision of the World Trade Organization General Council of 30 August 2003 on the implementation of paragraph 6 of the Declaration,See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/540. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. Recognizing the expertise of the World Health Organization and its role in, inter alia, coordinating actions with Member States in the areas of information exchange, personnel training, technical support, resource utilization, the improvement of global public health preparedness and response mechanisms and stimulating and advancing work on the prevention, control and eradication of epidemic, endemic and other diseases, as well as the work of the World Health Organization office dedicated to communicable disease surveillance and response, Welcoming the efforts of the World Health Organization, in cooperation with Member States, the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods institutions, the private sector and civil society, in enhancing capacity-building in global public health and in promoting public health at the country level, Underscoring the importance of the International Health Regulations (2005), adopted by the World Health Assembly in its resolution 58.3 of 23 May 2005,See World Health Organization, Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 16-25 May 2005, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA58/2005/REC/1). as an instrument for ensuring the maximum possible protection against the international spread of diseases with minimum interference in international traffic, l. Urges Member States to further integrate public health into their national economic and social development strategies, including through the establishment and improvement of effective public health mechanisms, in particular networks of disease surveillance, response, control, prevention, treatment and information exchange and the recruitment and training of national public health personnel; 2. Urges Member States and the international community to increase investment, building on existing mechanisms and through partnership, to improve health systems in developing countries and countries with economies in transition with the aim of providing sufficient health workers, infrastructures, management systems and supplies to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals by 2015; 3. Calls upon Member States and the international community to take action, as appropriate, to address shortages of human resources for health by, inter alia, developing, financing and implementing policies, within national development strategies, to improve training and management and effectively govern the recruitment, retention and deployment of health workers; 4. Also calls upon Member States and the international community to raise awareness of good public health practices, including through education and the mass media; 5. Emphasizes the importance of active international cooperation in the control of infectious diseases, based on the principles of mutual respect and equality, with a view to strengthening capacity-building in public health, especially in developing countries, including through the exchange of information and the sharing of experience, as well as research and training programmes focusing on surveillance, prevention, control, response, and care and treatment in respect of infectious diseases, and vaccines against them; 6. Calls for the improvement of the global public health preparedness and response systems, including systems of prevention and monitoring of infectious diseases, to better cope with major diseases, in particular a human influenza pandemic arising from avian influenza; 7. Recognizes World Health Assembly resolution 58.5 of 23 May 2005 on strengthening pandemic-influenza preparedness and response,See World Health Organization, Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 16-25 May 2005, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA58/2005/REC/1). and in this regard calls upon Member States to develop, implement and strengthen their national response plans, welcomes the ongoing collaboration across multiple forums to address issues to further national efforts and international cooperation on preparedness, contingency planning and response and containment of avian and pandemic influenza, and takes note with interest of the initiative of the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza and its core principles;See A/60/530, annex. 8. Calls upon Member States to take all appropriate measures for furthering the purpose and eventual implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005), adopted by the World Health Assembly in its resolution 58.3 of 23 May 2005,See World Health Organization, Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 16-25 May 2005, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA58/2005/REC/1). pending their entry into force, including development of the necessary public health capacities and of legal and administrative provisions, and encourages them to implement the Regulations as early as possible and to support the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network of the World Health Organization; 9. Encourages Member States to participate actively in the verification and validation of surveillance data and information concerning public health emergencies of international concern and, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization, to exchange information and experience in a timely and open manner on epidemics and the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that pose a risk to global public health; 10. Urges Member States and the international community to promote long-term funding, including public-private partnerships, where appropriate, for academic and industrial research as well as for the development of new vaccines and microbicides, diagnostic kits, drugs and treatments to address major pandemics, tropical diseases and other diseases, such as avian influenza and the severe acute respiratory syndrome, and to take forward work on market incentives, where appropriate, through such mechanisms as advance purchase commitments; 11. Stresses the importance of enhancing international cooperation in the area of public health in the aftermath of natural disasters to support national efforts to cope in all phases of the response, and urges Member States and the international community to strengthen their cooperation programmes, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery in this regard; 12. Invites the regional commissions of the Economic and Social Council, as appropriate, to cooperate closely with Member States, the private sector and civil society, when requested, in their capacity-building in public health, as well as in regional cooperation to diminish and eliminate the deleterious impact of major infectious diseases; 13. Encourages Member States, as well as United Nations agencies, bodies, funds and programmes, in accordance with their respective mandates, to continue to address public health concerns in their development activities and programmes, and to actively support capacity-building in global public health and health-care institutions, such as through the provision of technical and other relevant assistance to the developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/36 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2005, by a recorded vote of 106 to 8, with 59 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.28 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 60/36. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its emergency special sessions and resolution 59/28 of 1 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/60/35). Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/60/35). including the conclusions and recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session and thereafter; 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to involve additional civil society organizations in its work; 5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 60/37 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2005, by a recorded vote of 105 to 8, with 59 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.29 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 60/37. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/60/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 59/29 of 1 December 2004, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 59/29; 2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the organization of meetings and conferences in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and the provision of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks; 6. Requests the Committee and the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity. RESOLUTION 60/38 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2005, by a recorded vote of 160 to 7, with 6 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.30 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 60/38. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 59/30 of 1 December 2004, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Taking note of the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 59/30; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2006-2007, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard, in particular the prospects for peace; (c) To expand its collection of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine and to continue the production and preservation of such material and the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists initiated in 1995. RESOLUTION 60/39 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2005, by a recorded vote of 156 to 6, with 9 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.31 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 60/39. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at the tenth emergency special session, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting with concern that it has been fifty-eight years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-eight years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 59/31 of 1 December 2004,A/60/539-S/2005/701. Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the territory occupied since 1967 and of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the agreements concluded between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, Welcoming the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet, Welcoming also the convening of international donor meetings, as well as the establishment of international mechanisms to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Expressing its concern over the tragic events that have occurred in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people and the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and infrastructure, Expressing its grave concern over the repeated military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings, the extrajudicial executions and the excessive use of force, Acknowledging the importance of the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement, including by the Quartet, to support both parties in revitalizing the peace process towards the resumption and acceleration of direct negotiations between the parties for the achievement of a final peace settlement, in accordance with the road map, Welcoming the initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161. 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end; 2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet; 3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 4. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in implementation of the road mapS/2003/529, annex. by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism including all members of the Quartet; 5. Welcomes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map; 6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Emphasizes the need for the parties, with the help of the international community, speedily and fully to resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip, including a durable arrangement for the border crossings, the airport, the construction of the seaport, the removal of the rubble and the establishment of a permanent physical link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and welcomes the positive role being played in this regard by the Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement; 8. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 9. Also stresses the need for the immediate implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings; 10. Calls upon the parties, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and to facilitate a speedy resumption of the peace process and the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement; 11. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinionSee A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and as demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and, inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion; 12. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders; 13. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 14. Stresses the need for: (a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; (b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; 15. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 16. Welcomes the recent agreement on movement and access between the two sides, and stresses the need to ensure that the commitments made therein are fully implemented in accordance with the timeline set out in the agreement; 17. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, rebuild the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter. RESOLUTION 60/3 Adopted at the 36th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.5 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia 60/3. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially the dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed", Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and resolutions 56/5 of 5 November 2001, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, 58/11 of 10 November 2003 and 59/143 of 15 December 2004, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that the effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which calls for the active promotion of a culture of peace, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000, entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/56/349. including paragraph 28 thereof, which indicates that each of the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme related to the Programme of Action, Noting the relevance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, as well as the need to implement, as appropriate, the relevant decisions agreed upon therein, Recognizing that all efforts made by the United Nations system in general and the international community at large for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, the prevention of conflicts, disarmament, sustainable development, the promotion of human dignity and human rights, democracy, the rule of law, good governance and gender equality at the national and international levels contribute greatly to the culture of peace, Noting that its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 on the prevention of armed conflict could contribute to the further promotion of a culture of peace, Taking into account the "Manifesto 2000" initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over seventy-five million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of resolution 59/143,See A/60/279. Taking note of the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly,See resolution 60/1. 1. Reiterates that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, is to strengthen further the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Invites Member States to continue to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels; 3. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognizing the promotion of a culture of peace as the expression of its fundamental mandate, and encourages it, as the lead agency for the Decade, to strengthen further the activities it has undertaken for promoting a culture of peace, including the dissemination of the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace and related materials in various languages across the world; 4. Also commends the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the University for Peace, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including the promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, and encourages them to continue and further strengthen and expand their efforts; 5. Encourages the appropriate authorities to provide education, in children's schools, that includes lessons in mutual understanding, tolerance, active citizenship, human rights and the promotion of a culture of peace; 6. Commends civil society, including non-governmental organizations and young people, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including through their campaign to raise awareness on a culture of peace, and takes note of the progress achieved by more than seven hundred organizations in more than one hundred countries; 7. Encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to further strengthen its efforts in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade, inter alia, by adopting its own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations; 8. Encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; 9. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue the communication and networking arrangements established during the International Year for providing an instant update of developments related to the observance of the Decade; 10. Invites Member States to observe 21 September each year as the International Day of Peace, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, in accordance with resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001; 11. Invites Member States, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue providing information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 12. Appreciates the participation of Member States in the day of plenary meetings to review progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace and the observance of the Decade at its midpoint; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to explore enhancing mechanisms for the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;See resolution 60/1, para. 144. 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 60/40 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2005, by a recorded vote of 106 to 6, with 62 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.32 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 60/40. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/258. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/41 Adopted at the 60th plenary meeting, on 1 December 2005, by a recorded vote of 153 to 7, with 12 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.33 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Costa Rica, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Cameroon, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 60/41. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all subsequent resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling further Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" and called upon those States which had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Expressing its grave concern at any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions, Expressing its grave concern in particular about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of illegal settlement activities and its construction of the wall in and around East Jerusalem, and the further isolation of the city from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is having a detrimental effect on the lives of Palestinians and could prejudge a final status agreement on Jerusalem, Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and the protection of the unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/258. 1. Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever; 2. Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980), and calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 60/42 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/518, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and of the Working Group, on behalf of the Bureau. 60/42. Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/47 of 2 December 2004 on the scope of legal protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, Recalling also its resolution 49/59 of 9 December 1994, by which it adopted the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel ("the Convention"), Noting that the Convention, which entered into force on 15 January 1999, has been ratified or acceded to by seventy-nine States as at the date of the present resolution, Reaffirming, in the context of the Convention and its Optional Protocol, the importance of maintaining the integrity of international humanitarian law, Reaffirming also the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Deeply concerned by the increasing dangers and security risks faced by United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, and mindful of the need to provide the fullest possible protection for their security, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Scope of Legal Protection under the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 52 (A/60/52). established pursuant to resolution 56/89 of 12 December 2001, and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee,A/C.6/60/L.4. Recalling paragraph 167 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. which stressed the need to conclude negotiations on a protocol expanding the scope of legal protection of United Nations and associated personnel during the sixtieth session of the General Assembly, Underlining the need to promote the universality of the Convention and thereby strengthen the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel, Encouraging States to enact national legislation, as necessary, in order to enable the implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, 1. Adopts, therefore, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, which is contained in the annex to the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General as depositary to open it for signature; 2. Invites States to become parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. Annex Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel The States Parties to this Protocol, Recalling the terms of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, done at New York on 9 December 1994, Deeply concerned over the continuing pattern of attacks against United Nations and associated personnel, Recognizing that United Nations operations conducted for the purposes of delivering humanitarian, political or development assistance in peacebuilding and of delivering emergency humanitarian assistance which entail particular risks for United Nations and associated personnel require the extension of the scope of legal protection under the Convention to such personnel, Convinced of the need to have in place an effective regime to ensure that the perpetrators of attacks against United Nations and associated personnel engaged in United Nations operations are brought to justice, Have agreed as follows: Article I Relationship This Protocol supplements the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, done at New York on 9 December 1994 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"), and as between the Parties to this Protocol, the Convention and the Protocol shall be read and interpreted together as a single instrument. Article II Application of the Convention to United Nations operations 1. The Parties to this Protocol shall, in addition to those operations as defined in article 1 (c) of the Convention, apply the Convention in respect of all other United Nations operations established by a competent organ of the United Nations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and conducted under United Nations authority and control for the purposes of: (a) Delivering humanitarian, political or development assistance in peacebuilding, or (b) Delivering emergency humanitarian assistance. 2. Paragraph 1 does not apply to any permanent United Nations office, such as headquarters of the Organization or its specialized agencies established under an agreement with the United Nations. 3. A host State may make a declaration to the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it shall not apply the provisions of this Protocol with respect to an operation under article II (1) (b) which is conducted for the sole purpose of responding to a natural disaster. Such a declaration shall be made prior to the deployment of the operation. Article III Duty of a State Party with respect to article 8 of the Convention The duty of a State Party to this Protocol with respect to the application of article 8 of the Convention to United Nations operations defined in article II of this Protocol shall be without prejudice to its right to take action in the exercise of its national jurisdiction over any United Nations or associated personnel who violates the laws and regulations of that State, provided that such action is not in violation of any other international law obligation of the State Party. Article IV Signature This Protocol shall be open for signature by all States at United Nations Headquarters for twelve months, from 16 January 2006 to 16 January 2007. Article V Consent to be bound 1. This Protocol shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the signatory States. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. This Protocol shall, after 16 January 2007, be open for accession by any non-signatory State. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 3. Any State that is not a State Party to the Convention may ratify, accept, approve or accede to this Protocol if at the same time it ratifies, accepts, approves or accedes to the Convention in accordance with articles 25 and 26 thereof. Article VI Entry into force 1. This Protocol shall enter into force thirty days after twenty-two instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession have been deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. For each State ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the twenty-second instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Article VII Denunciation 1. A State Party may denounce this Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. Denunciation shall take effect one year following the date on which notification is received by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article VIII Authentic texts The original of this Protocol, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall send certified copies thereof to all States. Done at New York this ... (day) ... (month) ... (year). RESOLUTION 60/43 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/519, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the representative of Poland on behalf of the Bureau. 60/43. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome, and reaffirming in particular the section on terrorism,See resolution 60/1. Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996, Recalling also all General Assembly resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, and Security Council resolutions on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage, including those which prompted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, as well as Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001, and those that have occurred since the adoption of the latter resolution, Recalling the strong condemnation of the atrocious and deliberate attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 in General Assembly resolution 57/338 of 15 September 2003 and Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003, Affirming that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with all their obligations under international law and adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation among States and among international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and the relevant international conventions, Noting the role of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism in monitoring the implementation of that resolution, including the taking of the necessary financial, legal and technical measures by States and the ratification or acceptance of the relevant international conventions and protocols, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Mindful also of the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of States to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Reiterating its call upon States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there is a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Emphasizing that tolerance and dialogue among civilizations, and enhancing interfaith and intercultural understanding, are among the most important elements in promoting cooperation and success in combating terrorism, and welcoming the various initiatives to this end, Reaffirming that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstances, Recalling Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) of 14 September 2005, and bearing in mind that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Taking note of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, adopted in Kuala Lumpur on 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed the previous initiative of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as other relevant initiatives, Bearing in mind the recent developments and initiatives at the international, regional and subregional levels to prevent and suppress international terrorism, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Recalling its decision in resolutions 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000, 56/88 of 12 December 2001, 57/27 of 19 November 2002, 58/81 of 9 December 2003 and 59/46 of 2 December 2004 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 should address, and keep on its agenda, the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Aware of its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002, 58/187 of 22 December 2003 and 59/191 of 20 December 2004, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/228 and Add.1; see also A/60/164. the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by resolution 51/210Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/60/37). and the report of the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to resolution 59/46,A/C.6/60/L.6. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 3. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 4. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 5. Reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 6. Urges States to ensure that their nationals or other persons and entities within their territory that wilfully provide or collect funds for the benefit of persons or entities who commit, or attempt to commit, facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts are punished by penalties consistent with the grave nature of such acts; 7. Reminds States of their obligations under relevant international conventions and protocols and Security Council resolutions, including Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), to ensure that perpetrators of terrorist acts are brought to justice; 8. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 9. Welcomes the adoption and opening for signature of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,Resolution 59/290, annex. and notes the adoption of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,Adopted on 8 July 2005 by the Conference to Consider Proposed Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. the Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime NavigationAdopted on 14 October 2005 by the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the SUA Treaties (LEG/CONF.15/21). and the Protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,Adopted on 14 October 2005 by the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the SUA Treaties (LEG/CONF.15/22). and urges all States to consider, as a matter of priority, becoming parties to these instruments; 10. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority, and in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001), and 1566 (2004) of 8 October 2004, becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings,Resolution 52/164, annex. the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of TerrorismResolution 54/109, annex. and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, the domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 11. Urges States to cooperate with the Secretary-General and with one another, as well as with interested intergovernmental organizations, with a view to ensuring, where appropriate within existing mandates, that technical and other expert advice is provided to those States requiring and requesting assistance in becoming parties to and implementing the conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 10 above; 12. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, consistent with the call contained in paragraph 9 of resolution 59/46, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to therein, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions; 13. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, and calls upon all States to implement them; 14. Calls upon all States to cooperate to prevent and suppress terrorist acts; 15. Urges all States and the Secretary-General, in their efforts to prevent international terrorism, to make the best use of the existing institutions of the United Nations; 16. Requests the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna to continue its efforts to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism, and recognizes, in the context of Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), its role in assisting States in becoming parties to and implementing the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and in strengthening international cooperation mechanisms in criminal matters related to terrorism, including through national capacity-building; 17. Welcomes the publication by the Secretariat, as part of the United Nations Legislative Series, of the second volume of National Laws and Regulations on the Prevention and Suppression of International Terrorism,ST/LEG/SER.B/23 and 24. prepared by the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat pursuant to paragraph 10 (b) of the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism; 18. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism, as well as on intergovernmental meetings held by those organizations; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations system to assist States in combating terrorism and enhance coordination of United Nations activities in this regard; 20. Notes the progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Working Group of the Sixth Committee established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 59/46, and welcomes continuing efforts to that end; 21. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall, on an expedited basis, continue to elaborate the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, and shall continue to discuss the item included in its agenda by General Assembly resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations; 22. Decides also that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 27 February to 3 March 2006 in order to fulfil the mandate referred to in paragraph 21 above; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 24. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism; 25. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 26. Welcomes any update by the Secretary-General of the comprehensive inventory of the response of the Secretariat to terrorism as part of his report on measures to eliminate international terrorism; 27. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". RESOLUTION 60/44 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/451, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 60/44. Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/72 of 4 December 1998, 54/43 of 1 December 1999, 56/14 of 29 November 2001 and 58/28 of 8 December 2003 on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures, Also recalling its resolution 35/142 B of 12 December 1980, which introduced the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, and its resolutions 48/62 of 16 December 1993, 49/66 of 15 December 1994, 51/38 of 10 December 1996 and 52/32 of 9 December 1997, calling upon all Member States to participate in it, and its resolution 47/54 B of 9 December 1992, endorsing the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters and inviting Member States to provide the Secretary-General with relevant information regarding their implementation, Noting that since then, national reports on military expenditures and on the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters have been submitted by a number of Member States belonging to different geographic regions, Convinced that the improvement of international relations forms a sound basis for promoting further openness and transparency in all military matters, Also convinced that transparency in military matters is an essential element for building a climate of trust and confidence between States worldwide and that a better flow of objective information on military matters can help to relieve international tension and is therefore an important contribution to conflict prevention, Noting the role of the standardized reporting system, as instituted through its resolution 35/142 B, as an important instrument to enhance transparency in military matters, Conscious that the value of the standardized reporting system would be enhanced by a broader participation of Member States, Welcoming, therefore, the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/54/298. on ways and means to implement the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters, including, in particular, how to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, Recalling that the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters recommended certain areas for further consideration, such as the improvement of the standardized reporting system, Noting the efforts of several regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures, including standardized annual exchanges of relevant information among their member States, 1. Calls upon Member States to report annually, by 30 April, to the Secretary-General their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data are available, using, preferably and to the extent possible, the reporting instrument as recommended in its resolution 35/142 B or, as appropriate, any other format developed in conjunction with similar reporting on military expenditures to other international or regional organizations, and, in the same context, encourages Member States to submit nil returns, if appropriate; 2. Recommends the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Member States for implementation, fully taking into account specific political, military and other conditions prevailing in a region, on the basis of initiatives and with the agreement of the States of the region concerned; 3. Encourages relevant international bodies and regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to enhance complementarity among reporting systems, taking into account the particular characteristics of each region, and to consider the possibility of an exchange of information with the United Nations; 4. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures;A/58/202 and Add.1-3, A/59/192 and Add.1 and A/60/159 and Add.1. 5. Requests the Secretary-General, within available resources: (a) To continue the practice of sending an annual note verbale to Member States requesting the submission of data to the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, together with the reporting format and related instructions, and to publish in a timely fashion in appropriate United Nations media the due date for transmitting data on military expenditures; (b) To circulate annually the reports on military expenditures as received from Member States; (c) To continue consultations with relevant international bodies, with a view to ascertaining requirements for adjusting the present instrument, with a view to encouraging wider participation, and to make recommendations, based on the outcome of those consultations and taking into account the views of Member States, on necessary changes to the content and structure of the standardized reporting system; (d) To encourage relevant international bodies and organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to consult with those bodies and organizations with emphasis on examining possibilities for enhancing complementarity among international and regional reporting systems and for exchanging related information between those bodies and the United Nations; (e) To encourage the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament in Africa, in Asia and the Pacific, and in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist Member States in their regions in enhancing their knowledge of the standardized reporting system; (f) To promote international and regional/subregional symposiums and training seminars to explain the purpose of the standardized reporting system and to give relevant technical instructions; (g) To report on experiences gained during such symposiums and training seminars; 6. Encourages Member States: (a) To inform the Secretary-General about possible problems with the standardized reporting system and their reasons for not submitting the requested data; (b) To continue to provide the Secretary-General, in time for deliberation by the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, with their views and suggestions on ways and means to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, including necessary changes to its content and structure; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures". RESOLUTION 60/45 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/452, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation. by a recorded vote of 177 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 60/45. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001, 57/53 of 22 November 2002, 58/32 of 8 December 2003, and 59/61 of 3 December 2004, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of humankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling, in this connection, the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held in Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations that it made,See A/51/261, annex. Bearing in mind also the results of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003,See A/C.2/59/3. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing its concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70, 54/49, 55/28, 56/19, 57/53, 58/32 and 59/61, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213, A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1, A/56/164 and Add.1, A/57/166 and Add.1, A/58/373, A/59/116 and Add.1 and A/60/95 and Add.1. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts in Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, Bearing in mind that the Secretary-General, in fulfilment of resolution 58/32, established in 2004 a group of governmental experts, which, in accordance with its mandate, considered existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them and conducted a study on relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, prepared on the basis of the results of the Group's work,A/60/202. 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field, consistent with the need to preserve the free flow of information; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Efforts taken at the national level to strengthen information security and promote international cooperation in this field; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 above; (d) Possible measures that could be taken by the international community to strengthen information security at the global level; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts, to be established in 2009 on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to continue to study existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them, as well as the concepts referred to in paragraph 2 above, and to submit a report on the results of this study to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 60/46 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/453, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Central African Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 180 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel 60/46. Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling also its resolutions 51/37 of 10 December 1996, 54/44 of 1 December 1999 and 57/50 of 22 November 2002 relating to the prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons, Recalling further paragraph 77 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Determined to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction that have characteristics comparable in destructive effect to those of weapons of mass destruction identified in the definition of weapons of mass destruction adopted by the United Nations in 1948,The definition was adopted by the Commission for Conventional Armaments (see S/C.3/32/Rev.1). Noting the desirability of keeping the matter under review, as appropriate, 1. Reaffirms that effective measures should be taken to prevent the emergence of new types of weapons of mass destruction; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament, without prejudice to further overview of its agenda, to keep the matter under review, as appropriate, with a view to making, when necessary, recommendations on undertaking specific negotiations on identified types of such weapons; 3. Calls upon all States, immediately following any recommendations of the Conference on Disarmament, to give favourable consideration to those recommendations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this item by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session; 5. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report the results of any consideration of the matter in its annual reports to the General Assembly; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Prohibition of the development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons: report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 60/47 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/454, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 60/47. Question of Antarctica The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/51 of 22 November 2002, in which it requested the Secretary-General to submit a report consisting of the information provided by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties on their consultative meetings, on their activities in Antarctica and on developments in relation to Antarctica, Taking into account the debates on the question of Antarctica held since its thirty-eighth session, Conscious of the particular significance of Antarctica to the international community, including for international peace and security, the global and regional environment, its effects on global and regional climate conditions, and scientific research, Reaffirming that the management and use of Antarctica should be conducted in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and of promoting international cooperation for the benefit of mankind as a whole, Recognizing that the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. which provides, inter alia, for the demilitarization of the continent, the prohibition of nuclear explosions and the disposal of nuclear wastes, the freedom of scientific research and the free exchange of scientific information, is in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic TreatyInternational Legal Materials, vol. XXX, No. 6, p. 1461. on 14 January 1998, under which Antarctica has been designated as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science, and the provisions contained in the Protocol regarding the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, including the need for environmental impact assessment in the planning and conduct of all relevant activities in Antarctica, Welcoming the continuing cooperation among countries undertaking scientific research activities in Antarctica, which may help to minimize human impact on the Antarctic environment, Welcoming also the increasing awareness of and interest in Antarctica shown by the international community, and convinced of the advantages to the whole of mankind of a better knowledge of Antarctica, Welcoming further the secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty, established in Buenos Aires, which became operational as of 1 September 2004, Reaffirming its conviction that, in the interest of all mankind, Antarctica should continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and that it should not become the scene or object of international discord, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the question of AntarcticaA/60/222. and the role accorded by the Secretary-General to the United Nations Environment Programme in preparing his report, and also of the Twenty-sixth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held in Madrid from 9 to 20 June 2003, the Twenty-seventh Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 24 May to 4 June 2004, and the Twenty-eighth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held in Stockholm from 6 to 17 June 2005; 2. Recalls the statement under chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, that States carrying out research activities in Antarctica should, as provided for in article III of the Antarctic Treaty, continue: (a) To ensure that data and information resulting from such research are freely available to the international community; (b) To enhance the access of the international scientific community and the specialized agencies of the United Nations system to such data and information, including the encouragement of periodic seminars and symposiums; 3. Welcomes the invitations to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to attend Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings in order to assist such meetings in their substantive work, and urges the parties to continue to do so for future consultative meetings; 4. Welcomes also the practice whereby the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties regularly provide the Secretary-General with information on their consultative meetings and on their activities in Antarctica, and encourages the parties to continue to provide the Secretary-General and interested States with information on those meetings, activities and developments in relation to Antarctica; 5. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 60/48 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/455, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 132 to 3, with 46 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey 60/48. Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, contained in its resolution 2832 (XXVI) of 16 December 1971, and recalling also its resolutions 54/47 of 1 December 1999, 56/16 of 29 November 2001 and 58/29 of 8 December 2003 and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the report of the Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland States of the Indian Ocean held in July 1979,Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 45 and corrigendum (A/34/45 and Corr.1). Recalling further paragraph 102 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur, from 20 to 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. in which it was noted, inter alia, that the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean would continue his informal consultations on the future work of the Committee, Emphasizing the need to foster consensual approaches that are conducive to the pursuit of such endeavours, Noting the initiatives taken by countries of the region to promote cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, in the Indian Ocean area and the possible contribution of such initiatives to overall objectives of a zone of peace, Convinced that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would assist the progress of a mutually beneficial dialogue to develop conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Considering that greater efforts and more time are required to develop a focused discussion on practical measures to ensure conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/60/29). 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/60/29). 2. Reiterates its conviction that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region; 3. Requests the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee to continue his informal consultations with the members of the Committee and to report through the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render, within existing resources, all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Committee, including the provision of summary records; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace". RESOLUTION 60/49 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/456, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Bangladesh, and Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 60/49. African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/53 of 10 December 1996 and 56/17 of 29 November 2001 and all its other relevant resolutions, as well as those of the Organization of African Unity, Recalling also the signing of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. at Cairo on 11 April 1996, Recalling further the Cairo Declaration adopted on that occasion,A/51/113-S/1996/276, annex. which emphasized that nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in regions of tension, such as the Middle East, enhance global and regional peace and security, Taking note of the statement made by the President of the Security Council on behalf of the members of the Council on 12 April 1996,S/PRST/1996/17; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1996. affirming that the signature of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty constituted an important contribution by the African countries to the maintenance of international peace and security, Considering that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in the Middle East, would enhance the security of Africa and the viability of the African nuclear-weapon-free zone, 1. Calls upon African States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. as soon as possible so that it may enter into force without delay; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the nuclear-weapon States that have signed the Protocols that concern them, and calls upon those that have not yet ratified the Protocols concerning them to do so as soon as possible; 3. Calls upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to the Treaty that have not yet done so to take all necessary measures to ensure the speedy application of the Treaty to territories for which they are, de jure or de facto, internationally responsible and that lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Treaty; 4. Calls upon the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that have not yet done so to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency pursuant to the Treaty, thereby satisfying the requirements of article 9 (b) of and annex II to the Treaty of Pelindaba when it enters into force, and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency on 15 May 1997;International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). 5. Expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General, the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the diligence with which they have rendered effective assistance to the signatories to the Treaty; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty". RESOLUTION 60/4 Adopted at the 36th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.6 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen 60/4. Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/22 of 4 November 1998, 54/113 of 10 December 1999 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 entitled "United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations" and its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001 entitled "Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations", Reaffirming the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. which considers, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, and neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly,See resolution 60/1. which considers, inter alia, that all cultures and civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind, acknowledges the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world and underlines the commitment of Member States to taking action to promote a culture of peace and dialogue at the local, national, regional and international levels, Underlining the fact that all civilizations celebrate the unity and diversity of humankind and are enriched and have evolved through dialogue with other civilizations and that positive and mutually beneficial interaction among civilizations has continued throughout human history despite impediments arising from intolerance, disputes and wars, Emphasizing that all peoples have the right of self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Underlining the fact that the Global Agenda for Dialogue among CivilizationsSee resolution 56/6. has been a key initiative in the promotion of greater understanding among civilizations and people around the world, Reaffirming the objectives and principles of dialogue among civilizations, as elaborated in the Global Agenda, Reiterating that dialogue among civilizations is a process between and within civilizations, founded on inclusion, and a collective desire to learn, uncover and examine assumptions, unfold shared meanings and core values, and integrate multiple perspectives through dialogue, Emphasizing that the hearts and minds of the next generation are the real object of the dialogue among civilizations, Welcoming the numerous initiatives and efforts to further promote dialogue among civilizations undertaken by States, the United Nations system, including the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, and other international and regional organizations and civil society and non-governmental organizations, and the value of different initiatives on dialogue among cultures and civilizations, including the dialogue on interfaith cooperation and the initiative of the Alliance of Civilizations, Commending the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its contribution to implementing the Global Agenda by including it in its medium-term strategy for 2002-2007 with a view to achieving its strategic objective of safeguarding cultural diversity and encouraging dialogue among cultures and civilizations, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session in accordance with resolution 56/6;A/60/259. 2. Expresses its firm determination to further facilitate and promote dialogue among civilizations; 3. Affirms that, taking into account the Programme of Action of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations,Resolution 56/6, sect. B. concrete and sustained activities should be designed and implemented in all regions by the widest possible range of partners and stakeholders; 4. Reaffirms that Member States have committed themselves to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, and to encouraging tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples; 5. Also reaffirms that tolerance and respect for diversity and universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive, and recognizes that tolerance and respect for diversity effectively promote and are supported by, inter alia, the empowerment of women; 6. Invites States, international and regional organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to develop appropriate ways and means at the local, national, regional and international levels to further promote dialogue and mutual understanding among civilizations and to report on their activities to the Secretary-General; 7. Invites the United Nations system to continue to encourage and facilitate dialogue among civilizations and formulate ways and means to promote dialogue among civilizations in the activities of the United Nations in various fields; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to explore enhancing implementation mechanisms for the Global Agenda and for the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session. RESOLUTION 60/50 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/457, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 60/50. Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) The General Assembly, Recalling that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. was opened for signature at Mexico City on 14 February 1967, Recalling also that, in its preamble, the Treaty of Tlatelolco states that military denuclearized zones are not an end in themselves but rather a means for achieving general and complete disarmament at a later stage, Recalling further that, in its resolution 2286 (XXII) of 5 December 1967, it welcomed with special satisfaction the Treaty of Tlatelolco as an event of historic significance in the efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security, Recalling that in 1990, 1991 and 1992 the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean approved and opened for signature a set of amendmentsA/47/467, annex. to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, with the aim of enabling the full entry into force of that instrument, Highlighting that the Treaty of Tlatelolco is now in force for thirty-three sovereign States of the region, thereby consolidating the first nuclear-weapon-free zone established in a densely populated region, Noting with satisfaction the leadership of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in the convening of the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005,A/60/121, annexes. Reaffirming the importance of strengthening the Agency as the appropriate legal and political forum for ensuring cooperation with the agencies of other nuclear-weapon-free zones, 1. Welcomes the fact that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. is now in force for the sovereign States of the region, and that this fact was officially acknowledged by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean at its eighteenth session, held at Havana on 5 and 6 November 2003, and takes note of the results of the aforementioned session of the General Conference, including the adoption of the Havana Declaration;See resolution CG/Res.457 of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. Available from www.opanal.org. 2. Urges the countries of the region that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification of the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference of the Agency in its resolutions 267 (E-V), 268 (XII) and 290 (E-VII); 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)". RESOLUTION 60/51 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/459, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 110 to 53, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Russian Federation, Samoa, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 60/51. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapons systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing its concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. it was again noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persisted, Emphasizing that internationally negotiated guidelines for the transfer of high technology with military applications should take into account the legitimate defence requirements of all States and the requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, while ensuring that access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful purposes is not denied, 1. Affirms that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted; 2. Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States; 3. Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications; 4. Encourages United Nations bodies to contribute, within existing mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful purposes; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament". RESOLUTION 60/52 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/460, para. 7) The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Djibouti and Egypt. 60/52. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000, 56/21 of 29 November 2001, 57/55 of 22 November 2002, 58/34 of 8 December 2003 and 59/63 of 3 December 2004 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 59/63,A/60/126 (Part I). 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(49)/RES/15, adopted on 30 September 2005 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-ninth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-ninth Regular Session, 26-30 September 2005 (GC(49)/RES/DEC(2005)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/126 (Part I). 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his report of 10 October 1990A/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTION 60/53 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/461, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 120 to none, with 59 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 60/53. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect. III.C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III.F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III.F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para. 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 55/31 of 20 November 2000, 56/22 of 29 November 2001, 57/56 of 22 November 2002, 58/35 of 8 December 2003 and 59/64 of 3 December 2004, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be explored further in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Also recommends that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 60/54 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/462, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 180 to 2, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: None 60/54. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space does not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during its 2006 session; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTION 60/55 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 163 to none, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Barbados, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Russian Federation, South Africa, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 60/55. Compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/86 of 22 November 2002 and other relevant resolutions on the question, Recognizing the abiding concern of all Member States for maintaining respect for the rights and obligations arising from treaties to which they are parties and other sources of international law, Convinced that observance by Member States of the Charter of the United Nations and compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements to which they are parties and with other agreed obligations are essential for regional and global peace, security and stability, Stressing that failure by States parties to comply with such agreements and other agreed obligations not only adversely affects the security of States parties but can also create security risks for other States relying on the constraints and commitments stipulated in those agreements, Stressing also that the viability and effectiveness of non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other agreed obligations require that those agreements be fully complied with, Concerned by non-compliance by some States with their respective obligations, Noting that verification and compliance, and enforcement in a manner consistent with the Charter, are integrally related, Recognizing that full compliance by States with their respective non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other agreed obligations contributes to efforts to prevent the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their technologies and means of delivery contrary to international obligations, and to efforts to deny non-State actors access to such capabilities, 1. Underscores the contribution that compliance with non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other agreed obligations makes to enhancing confidence and strengthening security and stability; 2. Urges all States to implement and to comply fully with their respective obligations; 3. Urges those States not currently in compliance with their respective obligations to make the strategic decision to come back into compliance with those obligations; 4. Calls upon all Member States to take concerted action in a manner consistent with relevant international law to encourage, through bilateral and multilateral means, the compliance by all States with their respective non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament agreements and other agreed obligations and to hold those not in compliance with such agreements accountable for their non-compliance in a manner consistent with the Charter of the United Nations; 5. Encourages efforts by all States parties, the United Nations and other international organizations, pursuant to their mandates, to take action, consistent with the Charter, to prevent serious damage to international security and stability arising from non-compliance by States with their existing non-proliferation, arms limitation and disarmament obligations; 6. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 60/56 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Guyana, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Timor-Leste and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 153 to 5, with 20 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, India, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Belarus, Bhutan, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Pakistan, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 60/56. Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/51 of 8 December 2003 and 59/75 of 3 December 2004, Also recalling the decisions and resolution on the Middle East of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. Regretting the lack of any substantive outcome of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as the inability of the General Assembly, at its 2005 World Summit, to reach agreement on matters relating to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, Bearing in mind that 2005 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and that humankind should never again be exposed to such horrific devastation, Expressing its grave concern at the danger to humanity posed by the possibility that nuclear weapons could be used, Noting the growing concern at the lack of implementation of binding obligations and agreed steps towards nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes requiring urgent irreversible progress on both fronts, Recalling the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, in accordance with commitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Underlining the importance of the Treaty and its universality to achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, 1. Reaffirms that the outcome of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons sets out the framework for systematic and progressive efforts towards nuclear disarmament;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. 2. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to accelerate the implementation of the practical steps towards nuclear disarmament that were agreed upon at the 2000 Review Conference, thereby contributing to a safer world for all; 3. Calls upon all States to comply fully with commitments made regarding nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and not to act in any way that may be detrimental to either cause or that may lead to a new nuclear arms race; 4. Calls upon all States parties to spare no efforts to achieve the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and urges India, Israel and Pakistan, which are not yet parties to the Treaty, to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without conditions; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments" and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. RESOLUTION 60/57 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94 )The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Bangladesh, and Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 60/57. Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes The General Assembly, Bearing in mind resolutions CM/Res.1153 (XLVIII) of 1988See A/43/398, annex I. and CM/Res.1225 (L) of 1989,See A/44/603, annex I. adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, concerning the dumping of nuclear and industrial wastes in Africa, Welcoming resolution GC(XXXIV)/RES/530 establishing a Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste, adopted on 21 September 1990 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its thirty-fourth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Thirty-fourth Regular Session, 17-21 September 1990 (GC(XXXIV)/RESOLUTIONS (1990)). Taking note of the commitment by the participants in the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, held in Moscow on 19 and 20 April 1996, to ban the dumping at sea of radioactive wastes,A/51/131, annex I, para. 20. Considering its resolution 2602 C (XXIV) of 16 December 1969, in which it requested the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament,The Conference of the Committee on Disarmament became the Committee on Disarmament as from the tenth special session of the General Assembly. The Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. inter alia, to consider effective methods of control against the use of radiological methods of warfare, Aware of the potential hazards underlying any use of radioactive wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and its implications for regional and international security, in particular for the security of developing countries, Recalling all its resolutions on the matter since its forty-third session in 1988, including its resolution 51/45 J of 10 December 1996, Also recalling resolution GC(45)/RES/10 adopted by consensus on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fifth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17-21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). in which States shipping radioactive materials are invited to provide, as appropriate, assurances to concerned States, upon their request, that the national regulations of the shipping State take into account the Agency's transport regulations and to provide them with relevant information relating to the shipment of such materials; the information provided should in no case be contradictory to the measures of physical security and safety, Welcoming the adoption at Vienna, on 5 September 1997, of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2153, No. 37605. as recommended by the participants at the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, Noting with satisfaction that the Joint Convention entered into force on 18 June 2001, Noting that the first Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was convened in Vienna from 3 to 14 November 2003, Desirous of promoting the implementation of paragraph 76 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, 1. Takes note of the part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to a future convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/54/27), chap. III, sect. E. 2. Expresses grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States; 3. Calls upon all States to take appropriate measures with a view to preventing any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States; 4. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to take into account, in the negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons, radioactive wastes as part of the scope of such a convention; 5. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify efforts towards an early conclusion of such a convention and to include in its report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session the progress recorded in the negotiations on this subject; 6. Takes note of resolution CM/Res.1356 (LIV) of 1991, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity,See A/46/390, annex I. on the Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa; 7. Expresses the hope that the effective implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste will enhance the protection of all States from the dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories; 8. Appeals to all Member States that have not yet taken the necessary steps to become party to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2153, No. 37605. to do so as soon as possible; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes". RESOLUTION 60/58 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Liberia, Mexico, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 167 to 3, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, India, Israel, Marshall Islands, Pakistan, Palau, Russian Federation, Spain 60/58. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, 55/33 I of 20 November 2000, 56/24 G of 29 November 2001, 57/73 of 22 November 2002, 58/49 of 8 December 2003 and 59/85 of 3 December 2004, Recalling also the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Noting, in this context, that the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones was held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005,See A/60/121. on the eve of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Also welcomes the ratification by all original parties of the Treaty of Rarotonga, and calls upon eligible States to adhere to the treaty and the protocols thereto; 3. Further welcomes the efforts towards the completion of the ratification process of the Treaty of Pelindaba, and calls upon the States of the region that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the treaty, with the aim of its early entry into force; 4. Calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet done so; 5. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 6. Also welcomes the ongoing efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia; 7. Affirms its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 8. Welcomes the progress made on increased collaboration within and between zones at the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, at which States reaffirmed their need to cooperate in order to achieve their common objectives; 9. Congratulates the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, as well as Mongolia, for their efforts to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, and calls upon them to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 10. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of these goals; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of ts sixty-first session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". RESOLUTION 60/59 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 122 to 8, with 50 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, France, Israel, Latvia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, Vanuatu 60/59. Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation The General Assembly, Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 56/24 T of 29 November 2001 on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism and other relevant resolutions, as well as its resolutions 57/63 of 22 November 2002, 58/44 of 8 December 2003 and 59/69 of 3 December 2004 on promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, Recalling also the purpose of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security and, to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, as enshrined in the Charter, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which states, inter alia, that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role, Convinced that, in the globalization era and with the information revolution, arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament problems are more than ever the concern of all countries in the world, which are affected in one way or another by these problems and, therefore, should have the possibility to participate in the negotiations that arise to tackle them, Bearing in mind the existence of a broad structure of disarmament and arms regulation agreements resulting from non-discriminatory and transparent multilateral negotiations with the participation of a large number of countries, regardless of their size and power, Aware of the need to advance further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory and transparent negotiations with the goal of reaching general and complete disarmament under strict international control, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament, Recognizing also that the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are among the most immediate threats to international peace and security which need to be dealt with, with the highest priority, Considering that the multilateral disarmament agreements provide the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of, the provisions of the agreements and that such consultations and cooperation may also be undertaken through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the Charter, Stressing that international cooperation, the peaceful settlement of disputes, dialogue and confidence-building measures would contribute essentially to the creation of multilateral and bilateral friendly relations among peoples and nations, Being concerned at the continuous erosion of multilateralism in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and recognizing that a resort to unilateral actions by Member States in resolving their security concerns would jeopardize international peace and security and undermine confidence in the international security system as well as the foundations of the United Nations itself, Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations, 1. Reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope; 2. Also reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in resolving disarmament and non-proliferation concerns; 3. Urges the participation of all interested States in multilateral negotiations on arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner; 4. Underlines the importance of preserving the existing agreements on arms regulation and disarmament, which constitute an expression of the results of international cooperation and multilateral negotiations in response to the challenges facing mankind; 5. Calls once again upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursuing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation; 6. Requests the States parties to the relevant instruments on weapons of mass destruction to consult and cooperate among themselves in resolving their concerns with regard to cases of non-compliance as well as on implementation, in accordance with the procedures defined in those instruments, and to refrain from resorting or threatening to resort to unilateral actions or directing unverified non-compliance accusations against one another to resolve their concerns; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies of Member States on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, submitted pursuant to resolution 59/69;A/60/98 and Add.1. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the issue of the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation". RESOLUTION 60/5 Adopted at the 38th plenary meeting, on 26 October 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.8 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Fiji, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia 60/5. Improving global road safety The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 57/309 of 22 May 2003, 58/9 of 5 November 2003 and 58/289 of 14 April 2004 on improving global road safety, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the global road safety crisis,A/60/181 and Corr.1. Commending the World Health Organization for its role in implementing the mandate conferred upon it by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/289 to act, working in close cooperation with the United Nations regional commissions, as a coordinator on road safety issues within the United Nations system, Also commending the United Nations regional commissions and their subsidiary bodies for having responded to the above-mentioned resolutions and to the report of the Secretary-General by accelerating or expanding their road safety activities, Noting with satisfaction the progress made by the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration as described in the report of the Secretary-General,Ibid., para. 32. as well as the road safety initiatives undertaken by relevant United Nations agencies and international partners, Underlining the importance for Member States to continue using the World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention as a framework for road safety efforts and implementing its recommendations by paying particular attention to the five risk factors identified, namely, the non-use of safety belts and child restraints; alcohol; the non-use of helmets; inappropriate and excessive speed; and the lack of infrastructure,Ibid., para. 37 (f) and (g). Welcoming the proposal of the Economic Commission for Europe to host the first United Nations Global Road Safety Week, in Geneva in April 2007, targeted at young road users, including young drivers, Also welcoming the proposal to designate the third Sunday in November as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, in recognition of road traffic victims and their families' loss and suffering,Ibid., para. 37 (i). Convinced that responsibility for road safety rests at the local, municipal and national levels, Recognizing that many developing countries and countries with economies in transition have limited capacities to address these issues, and underlining, in this context, the importance of international cooperation towards further supporting the efforts of developing countries, in particular, to build capacities in the field of road safety and of providing the financial and technical support associated with such efforts, 1. Expresses its concern at the continued increase, in particular in developing countries, in traffic fatalities and injuries worldwide; 2. Reaffirms the importance of addressing global road safety issues and the need for the further strengthening of international cooperation, taking into account the needs of developing countries, by building capacities in the field of road safety, and providing financial and technical support for their efforts; 3. Encourages Member States and the international community, including international and regional financial institutions, to lend financial, technical and political support, as appropriate, to the United Nations regional commissions, the World Health Organization and other relevant United Nations agencies for their efforts to improve road safety; 4. Invites the United Nations regional commissions, relevant United Nations agencies and international partners to continue the existing road safety initiatives, and encourages them to take up new ones; 5. Encourages Member States to adhere to the 1949 Convention on Road TrafficUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 125, No. 1671. and the 1968 Convention on Road TrafficIbid., vol. 1042, No. 15705. and Convention on Road Signs and Signals,Ibid., vol. 1091, No. 16743. in order to ensure a high level of road safety in their countries, and also encourages them to strive to reduce road traffic injuries and mortality in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals; 6. Stresses the importance of the improvement in the international legal road traffic safety norms, and welcomes in this regard the work of the Working Party on Road Traffic Safety of the Inland Transport Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe in the elaboration of a substantial package of amendments to the 1968 Conventions on Road Traffic and Road Signs and Signals; 7. Invites Member States to implement the recommendations of the World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention, including those related to the five main risk factors, namely, the non-use of safety belts and child restraints; the non-use of helmets; drinking and driving; inappropriate and excessive speed; as well as the lack of appropriate infrastructure; 8. Also invites Member States to establish a lead agency, on a national level, on road safety and to develop a national action plan to reduce road traffic injuries, by passing and enforcing legislation, conducting necessary awareness-raising campaigns and putting in place appropriate methods to monitor and evaluate interventions that are implemented; 9. Invites the United Nations regional commissions and the World Health Organization to organize jointly, within their resources as well as with voluntary financial assistance from concerned stakeholders from government, civil society and the private sector, the first United Nations Global Road Safety Week to serve as a platform for global and regional, but mainly national and local, activities to raise awareness about road safety issues and to stimulate and advance responses as appropriate for these settings, and to convene a second road safety stakeholders' forum in Geneva as part of the Global Road Safety Week to continue work begun at the first forum held at United Nations Headquarters in 2004; 10. Invites Member States and the international community to recognize the third Sunday in November of every year as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims as the appropriate acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the progress made in improving global road safety; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Global road safety crisis". RESOLUTION 60/60 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 176 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel, Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 60/60. Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, 55/33 K of 20 November 2000, 56/24 F of 29 November 2001, 57/64 of 22 November 2002, 58/45 of 8 December 2003 and 59/68 of 3 December 2004, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/97 and Add.1. Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress within the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;A/60/97 and Add.1. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing this information to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". RESOLUTION 60/61 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 177 to 1, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel 60/61. Relationship between disarmament and development The General Assembly, Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations envisages the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, Recalling also the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly concerning the relationship between disarmament and development,See resolution S-10/2. as well as the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 December 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998, 54/54 T of 1 December 1999, 55/33 L of 20 November 2000, 56/24 E of 29 November 2001, 57/65 of 22 November 2002 and 59/78 of 3 December 2004, and its decision 58/520 of 8 December 2003, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. and the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Mindful of the changes in international relations that have taken place since the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, including the development agenda that has emerged over the past decade, Bearing in mind the new challenges for the international community in the field of development, poverty eradication and the elimination of the diseases that afflict humanity, Stressing the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the important role of security in this connection, and concerned at increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs, 1. Welcomes the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and developmentSee A/59/119. and its reappraisal of this significant issue in the current international context; 2. Stresses the central role of the United Nations in the disarmament-development relationship, and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen further the role of the Organization in this field, in particular the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development, in order to assure continued and effective coordination and close cooperation between the relevant United Nations departments, agencies and sub-agencies; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. 4. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries; 5. Encourages the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to make reference to the contribution that disarmament could provide in meeting them when it reviews its progress towards this purpose in 2006, as well as to make greater efforts to integrate disarmament, humanitarian and development activities; 6. Encourages the relevant regional and subregional organizations and institutions, non-governmental organizations and research institutes to incorporate issues related to the relationship between disarmament and development in their agendas and, in this regard, to take into account the report of the Group of Governmental Experts; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development". RESOLUTION 60/62 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 158 to 1, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Iran (Islamic Republic of) Abstaining: Algeria, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic 60/62. The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation The General Assembly, Concerned about the increasing regional and global security challenges caused, inter alia, by the ongoing proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its role and responsibility in the field of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Emphasizing the significance of regional and international efforts to prevent and curb comprehensively the proliferation of ballistic missile systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, as a contribution to international peace and security, Welcoming the adoption of the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation on 25 November 2002 at The Hague,A/57/724, enclosure. and convinced that the Code of Conduct will contribute to enhancing transparency and confidence among States, Recalling its resolution 59/91 of 3 December 2004 entitled "The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation", Confirming its commitment to the Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for the Benefit and in the Interest of All States, Taking into Particular Account the Needs of Developing Countries, as contained in the annex to its resolution 51/122 of 13 December 1996, Recognizing that States should not be excluded from utilizing the benefits of space for peaceful purposes, but that in reaping such benefits and in conducting related cooperation they must not contribute to the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction, Mindful of the need to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, 1. Notes with satisfaction that one hundred and twenty-three States have already subscribed to the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile ProliferationA/57/724, enclosure. as a practical step against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Invites all States that have not yet subscribed to the Code of Conduct to do so; 3. Encourages the exploration of further ways and means to deal effectively with the problem of the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation". RESOLUTION 60/63 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. 60/63. Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999, 55/33 O of 20 November 2000, 56/24 H of 29 November 2001, 57/76 of 22 November 2002, 58/38 of 8 December 2003 and 59/89 of 3 December 2004 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". RESOLUTION 60/64 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Pakistan and Ukraine. 60/64. Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 59/87 of 3 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003, entitled "Prevention of armed conflict", in which it called upon Member States to settle their disputes by peaceful means, as set out in Chapter VI of the Charter, inter alia, by any procedures adopted by the parties, Recalling further the resolutions and guidelines adopted by consensus by the General Assembly and the Disarmament Commission relating to confidence-building measures and their implementation at the global, regional and subregional levels, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the agreement of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability, Convinced that resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recognizing the need for meaningful dialogue among States concerned to avert conflict, Welcoming the peace processes already initiated by States concerned to resolve their disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through mediation, inter alia, by third parties, regional organizations or the United Nations, Recognizing that States in some regions have already taken steps towards confidence-building measures at the bilateral, subregional and regional levels in the political and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, and noting that such confidence-building measures have improved peace and security in those regions and contributed to progress in the socio-economic conditions of their people, Concerned that the continuation of disputes among States, particularly in the absence of an effective mechanism to resolve them through peaceful means, may contribute to the arms race and endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and the efforts of the international community to promote arms control and disarmament, 1. Calls upon Member States to refrain from the use or threat of use of force, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the Charter, in particular Article 33, which provides for a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means chosen by the parties; 3. Reaffirms the ways and means regarding confidence- and security-building measures set out in the report of the Disarmament Commission on its 1993 session;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II, sect. III.A. 4. Calls upon Member States to pursue those ways and means through sustained consultations and dialogue, while at the same time avoiding actions which may hinder or impair such a dialogue; 5. Urges States to comply strictly with all bilateral, regional and international agreements, including arms control and disarmament agreements, to which they are party; 6. Emphasizes that the objective of confidence-building measures should be to help to strengthen international peace and security and be consistent with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armament; 7. Encourages the promotion of bilateral and regional confidence-building measures, with the consent and participation of the parties concerned, to avoid conflict and prevent the unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session containing the views of Member States on confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context". RESOLUTION 60/65 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Germany, Guatemala, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 168 to 2, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Israel, Myanmar, Pakistan 60/65. Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling, on the sixtieth anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, the need for all States to take further practical steps and effective measures towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, with a view to achieving a peaceful and safe world free of nuclear weapons, and renewing the determination to do so, Noting that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling its resolution 59/76 of 3 December 2004, Convinced that every effort should be made to avoid nuclear war and nuclear terrorism, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and expressing regret over the lack of agreement on substantive issues at the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as over the elimination of references to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling the decisions and the resolution of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament are mutually reinforcing, Reaffirming that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and thereby ensuring international peace and security, Expressing deep concern regarding the growing dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, inter alia, nuclear weapons, including that caused by proliferation networks, Welcoming the Final Declaration of the fourth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, convened in New York in September 2005,CTBT-Art. XIV/2005/6, annex. 1. Reaffirms the importance of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. complying with their obligations under all the articles of the Treaty, and stresses the importance of an effective Treaty review process; 2. Also reaffirms the importance of the universality of the Treaty, and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions, and pending their accession to refrain from acts that would defeat the objective and purpose of the Treaty as well as to take practical steps in support of the Treaty; 3. Encourages further steps leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty, including deeper reductions in all types of nuclear weapons, and emphasizes the importance of applying irreversibility and verifiability, as well as increased transparency in a way that promotes international stability and undiminished security for all, in the process of working towards the elimination of nuclear weapons; 4. Encourages the Russian Federation and the United States of America to implement fully the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions,See CD/1674. which should serve as a step for further nuclear disarmament, and to undertake nuclear arms reductions beyond those provided for by the Treaty, while welcoming the progress made by nuclear-weapon States, including the Russian Federation and the United States, on nuclear arms reductions; 5. Encourages States to continue to pursue efforts, within the framework of international cooperation, contributing to the reduction of nuclear-weapons-related materials; 6. Calls for the nuclear-weapon States to further reduce the operational status of nuclear weapons systems in ways that promote international stability and security; 7. Stresses the necessity of a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination, in a way that promotes international stability and based on the principle of undiminished security for all; 8. Urges all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. at the earliest opportunity with a view to its early entry into force, stresses the importance of maintaining existing moratoriums on nuclear-weapon test explosions pending the entry into force of the Treaty, and reaffirms the importance of the continued development of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty verification regime, including the international monitoring system, which will be required to provide assurance of compliance with the Treaty; 9. Emphasizes the importance of the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty and its early conclusion, and calls upon all nuclear-weapon States and States not parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to declare moratoriums on the production of fissile material for any nuclear weapons pending the entry into force of the Treaty; 10. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 11. Stresses the importance of further efforts for non-proliferation, including the universalization of the International Atomic Energy Agency comprehensive safeguards agreements and Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 15 May 1997,International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004; 12. Encourages all States to undertake concrete activities to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session,A/57/124. and to voluntarily share information on efforts they have been undertaking to that end; 13. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. RESOLUTION 60/66 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Russian Federation. by a recorded vote of 178 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel 60/66. Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities The General Assembly, Reaffirming that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger to international peace and security, Conscious that further measures should be examined in the search for agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions which, inter alia, emphasize the need for increased transparency and confirm the importance of confidence-building measures as a conducive means of ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Recalling also the report of the Secretary-General to its forty-eighth session, the annex to which contains the study by governmental experts on the application of confidence-building measures in outer space,A/48/305 and Corr.1. 1. Invites all Member States to inform the Secretary-General before its sixty-first session of their views on the advisability of further developing international outer space transparency and confidence-building measures in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation and the prevention of an arms race in outer space; 2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session an item entitled "Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities". RESOLUTION 60/67 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Poland. 60/67. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 59/72 of 3 December 2004, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that, since the adoption of resolution 59/72, seven additional States have ratified the Convention or acceded to it, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and seventy-four, Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including the Political Declaration,See Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, document RC-1/3. in which the States parties reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the objective and purpose of the Convention, and the final report,Ibid., document RC-1/5. which addressed all aspects of the Convention and made important recommendations on its continued implementation, 1. Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. is fundamental to the achievement of its objective and purpose and acknowledges progress made in the implementation of the action plan for the universality of the Convention, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 2. Underlines that the Convention and its implementation contribute to enhancing international peace and security, and emphasizes that its full, universal and effective implementation will contribute further to that purpose by excluding completely, for the sake of all humankind, the possibility of the use of chemical weapons; 3. Stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention, including those on national implementation (article VII) and assistance and protection against chemical weapons (article X), constitutes an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 4. Also stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 5. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties; 6. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 7. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 8. Welcomes progress made in the implementation of the action plan on the implementation of article VII obligations and commends the States parties and the Technical Secretariat for assisting other States parties, on request, with the implementation of their article VII obligations, and urges States parties that have not fulfilled their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in accordance with their constitutional processes; 9. Reaffirms the importance of article XI provisions relating to the economic and technological development of States parties and recalls that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of those provisions contributes to universality, and also reaffirms the undertaking of the States parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole; 10. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties, and also notes with appreciation the substantial contribution of the Technical Secretariat and the Director-General to the continued development and success of the Organization; 11. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 60/68 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 177 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 60/68. Addressing the negative humanitarian and development impact of the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation The General Assembly, Reaffirming its respect for and commitment to international law and the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recognizing that, as stated in the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation have a wide range of humanitarian and socio-economic consequences and pose a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels, Concerned by the implications that poverty and underdevelopment may have for the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, and determined to reduce the human suffering caused by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to enhance the respect for life and the dignity of the human person through the promotion of a culture of peace, Reaffirming the urgent necessity for international cooperation and assistance, including financial and technical assistance, as appropriate, to support and facilitate efforts at the local, national, regional and global levels to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, Recalling the second biennial meeting of States to consider the implementation of the Programme of Action at which States, while welcoming the significant progress made in that regard, recognized that further action was required to fulfil the commitments undertaken in the Programme of Action,A/CONF.192/BMS/2005/1, para. 17. Recognizing that, in 2005, world leaders expressed grave concern at the negative effects on development, peace and security, and human rights posed by, inter alia, the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons, and that they committed themselves to supporting the implementation of the Programme of Action,See resolution 60/1. Noting, in that regard, that the 2006 review conference on the Programme of Action represents an opportunity to address interconnected peace and security and development challenges, which are relevant to the agenda of the conference, Placing particular emphasis on the regions of the world where conflicts have come to an end and where serious problems with the excessive and destabilizing accumulation of small arms and light weapons have to be dealt with urgently, Calls upon States, when addressing the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, explore ways, as appropriate, to more effectively address the humanitarian and development impact of the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation, in particular in conflict or post-conflict situations, including by: (a) Developing, where appropriate, comprehensive armed violence prevention programmes integrated into national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies; (b) Building on the commitment by States and appropriate international and regional organizations in a position to do so to, upon the request of the relevant authorities, seriously consider rendering assistance, including technical and financial assistance where needed, such as small arms funds, in order to support the implementation of measures to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, as contained in the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. (c) Encouraging United Nations peacekeeping operations to address the safe storage and disposal of small arms and light weapons as an integral part of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes; (d) Systematically including national measures to regulate small arms and light weapons in longer term post-conflict peacebuilding strategies and programmes; (e) Ensuring, where appropriate, that the activities mentioned in subparagraphs (c) and (d) above take full account of the roles that women and women's organizations could play in small arms disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes; the requirement that the needs of women and girl combatants and dependants be addressed in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes; and the commitment to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in armed conflicts. RESOLUTION 60/69 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Netherlands. 60/69. National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology The General Assembly, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Recalling that effective national control of the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, including those transfers that could contribute to proliferation activities, is an important tool for achieving those objectives, Recalling also that the States parties to the international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties have undertaken to facilitate the fullest possible exchange of materials, equipment and technological information for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the provisions of those treaties, Considering that the exchange of national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, Convinced that such an exchange would be beneficial to Member States that are in the process of developing such legislation, Reaffirming the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Invites Member States that are in a position to do so, without prejudice to the provisions contained in Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, to enact or improve national legislation, regulations and procedures to exercise effective control over the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, while ensuring that such legislation, regulations and procedures are consistent with the obligations of States parties under international treaties; 2. Encourages Member States to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to the Secretary-General on their national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, as well as the changes therein, and requests the Secretary-General to make this information accessible to Member States; 3. Decides to remain attentive to the matter. RESOLUTION 60/6 Adopted at the 41st plenary meeting, on 31 October 2005, by a recorded vote of 137 to 1, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.13 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Zambia * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Abstaining: None 60/6. Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency The General Assembly, Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2004,International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2004 (GC(49)/5); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/60/204). Taking note of the statement of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Plenary Meetings, 40th meeting (A/60/PV.40), and corrigendum. in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 2005, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency, Recognizing also the cooperation between the United Nations and the Agency and the Agreement governing the relationship between the United Nations and the Agency as approved by the General Conference of the Agency on 23 October 1957 and by the General Assembly in the annex to its resolution 1145 (XII) of 14 November 1957, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2004 (GC(49)/5); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/60/204). 2. Takes note of resolutions GC(49)/RES/9A on measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management, GC(49)/RES/9B on transport safety, GC(49)/RES/10A on progress on measures to protect against nuclear and radiological terrorism, GC(49)/RES/10B on amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, GC(49)/RES/11 on strengthening of the Agency's technical cooperation activities, GC(49)/RES/12A on strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, GC(49)/RES/12B on the use of isotope hydrology for water resources management, GC(49)/RES/12C on the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy, GC(49)/RES/12D on support to the African Union's Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign, GC(49)/RES/12E on the plan for producing potable water economically using small and medium-sized nuclear reactors, GC(49)/RES/12F on Agency activities in the development of innovative nuclear technology, GC(49)/RES/12G on approaches to supporting nuclear power infrastructure development, GC(49)/RES/13 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and application of the Model Additional Protocol, GC(49)/RES/14 on the implementation of the Agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, GC(49)/RES/15 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East, GC(49)/RES/16A on staffing of the Agency's secretariat, and GC(49)/RES/16B on women in the secretariat, and decisions GC(49)/DEC/11 on Israeli nuclear capabilities and threat, GC(49)/DEC/12 on the amendment to article VI of the Statute, and GC(49)/DEC/13 on the amendment to article XIV.A of the Statute, adopted on 30 September 2005 by the General Conference of the Agency at its forty-ninth regular session;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-ninth Regular Session, 26-30 September 2005 (GC(49)/RES/DEC(2005)). 3. Reaffirms its strong support for the indispensable role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security; 4. Welcomes resolution GC(49)/RES/2 approving the appointment of Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei as Director General of the Agency until 30 November 2009; 5. Also welcomes the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2005 to the Agency and its Director General, Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei, for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way; 6. Appeals to Member States to continue to support the activities of the Agency; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency. RESOLUTION 60/70 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 113 to 45, with 20 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mauritius, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Sweden, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 60/70. Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000, 56/24 R of 29 November 2001, 57/79 of 22 November 2002, 58/56 of 8 December 2003 and 59/77 of 3 December 2004 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Reaffirming the conviction of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, the decision on the extension of the Treaty and the resolution on the Middle East, adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. Stressing the importance of the thirteen steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as agreed to by the States parties in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in New York from 24 April to 19 May 2000,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Noting with appreciation the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Also noting with appreciation the entry into force of the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty")See CD/1674. as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals, Further noting with appreciation the unilateral measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 74 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament and to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Recalling paragraph 61 of the Final Document of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, Also recalling paragraph 19 of the declaration of the special meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Doha on 13 June 2005,A/59/880, annex. Reaffirming the specific mandate conferred by the General Assembly in its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998 upon the Disarmament Commission to discuss the subject of nuclear disarmament as one of its main substantive agenda items, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or the threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in international relations, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that, in view of recent political developments, the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to achieving the elimination of these weapons; 2. Reaffirms that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing, that the two processes must go hand in hand and that there is a genuine need for a systematic and progressive process of nuclear disarmament; 3. Welcomes and encourages the efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in different parts of the world on the basis of agreements or arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned, which is an effective measure for limiting the further spread of nuclear weapons geographically and contributes to the cause of nuclear disarmament; 4. Recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 5. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 6. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear-weapon systems; 7. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weapons; 8. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 9. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 10. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 11. Underscores the importance of the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;Ibid., section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 2. 12. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the thirteen steps for nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. 13. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; 14. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 15. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work which includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 16. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 17. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 18. Expresses its regret that the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was unable to achieve any substantive result and that the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. failed to make any reference to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation; 19. Also expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament at its 2005 session, as called for in resolution 59/104 of 3 December 2004; 20. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2006 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons; 21. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". RESOLUTION 60/71 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Economic Community of West African States), Malta, Mauritania, Mozambique, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 60/71. Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/74 of 3 December 2004 on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them, Deeply concerned by the magnitude of human casualty and suffering, especially among children, caused by the illicit proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons, Concerned by the negative impact that the illicit proliferation and use of those weapons continue to have on the efforts of States in the Sahelo-Saharan subregion in the areas of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the maintenance of peace, security and stability, Taking note of the latest report of the Secretary-General on assistance to States for curbing illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,A/60/161. in which he states, inter alia, that continued efforts are being made to provide assistance to countries in need of addressing the proliferation of illicit weapons in their territories, Welcoming the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African States to strengthen the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community at Abuja on 31 October 1998,See A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. by upgrading it to a legally binding instrument, Welcoming also, in that regard, the decision of the European Union to significantly support the initiative of the Economic Community to strengthen the moratorium, Welcoming further the decision taken by the Economic Community to establish a Small Arms Unit and to adopt a new Small Arms Control Programme, Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted at Bamako on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. Recalling the report of the Secretary-General entitled "In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all",A/59/2005. in which he emphasized that States must strive just as hard to eliminate the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons as they do to eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction, Taking note of the report of the second biennial meeting of States to consider the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects at the national, regional and global levels, held in New York from 11 to 15 July 2005,A/CONF.192/BMS/2005/1. Welcoming the expression of support in the 2005 World Summit Outcome for the implementation of the Programme of Action,See resolution 60/1, para. 94. Taking note of the draft International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, concluded in June 2005,A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex. Recognizing the important role that the organizations of civil society play in raising public awareness in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons, 1. Commends the United Nations, international, regional and other organizations for their assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 2. Encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his efforts in the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions, aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons and collecting them in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the African Union; 3. Encourages the international community to support the implementation of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa,See A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. and to extend further assistance in transforming the moratorium into a legally binding instrument; 4. Encourages the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion to facilitate the effective functioning of national commissions to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and, in that regard, invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible; 5. Encourages the collaboration of organizations and associations of civil society in the efforts of the national commissions to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 6. Also encourages cooperation among State organs, international organizations and civil society in supporting programmes and projects aimed at combating the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 7. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to take action to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; 8. Invites the Secretary-General and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to continue to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the matter and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session an item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them". RESOLUTION 60/72 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Iran (Islamic Republic of) and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 87 to 56, with 26 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru 60/72. Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its various resolutions in the field of nuclear disarmament, including its most recent, resolutions 59/77, 59/83 and 59/102 of 3 December 2004, Bearing in mind its resolution 2373 (XXII) of 12 June 1968, the annex to which contains the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See also United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Noting the provisions of article VIII, paragraph 3, of the Treaty regarding the convening of review conferences at five-year intervals, Recalling its resolution 50/70 Q of 12 December 1995, in which the General Assembly noted that the States parties to the Treaty affirmed the need to continue to move with determination towards the full realization and effective implementation of the provisions of the Treaty, and accordingly adopted a set of principles and objectives, Recalling also that, on 11 May 1995, the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons adopted three decisions on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and extension of the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. Reaffirming the resolution on the Middle East adopted on 11 May 1995 by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and placement of nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/33 D of 20 November 2000, in which the General Assembly welcomed the adoption by consensus on 19 May 2000 of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). including, in particular, the documents entitled "Review of the operation of the Treaty, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference" and "Improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty",Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty, Gravely concerned over the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty to reach any substantive agreement on the follow-up to the nuclear disarmament obligations, 1. Determines to pursue practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee also United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty;See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 2. Calls for practical steps, as agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, to be taken by all nuclear-weapon States that would lead to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability and, based upon the principle of undiminished security for all, for: (a) Further efforts to be made by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (b) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as a voluntary confidence-building measure to support further progress in nuclear disarmament; (c) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (d) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (e) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies so as to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (f) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; 3. Notes that the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty agreed that legally binding security assurances by the five nuclear-weapon States to the non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime; 4. Urges the States parties to the Treaty to follow up on the implementation of the nuclear disarmament obligations under the Treaty agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty within the framework of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty and its preparatory committee; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session an item entitled "Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 60/73 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/73. Preventing the risk of radiological terrorism The General Assembly, Recognizing the essential contribution of radioactive materials and sources to social and economic development, and the benefits drawn from their use for all States, Recognizing also the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evident in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the threat of terrorism and the risk that terrorists may acquire, traffic in or use radioactive materials or sources in radiological dispersion devices, Recalling the importance of international conventions aimed at preventing and suppressing such a risk, in particular the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, adopted on 13 April 2005,Resolution 59/290, annex. Noting that actions of the international community to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and prevent access by non-State actors to weapons of mass destruction and related material, notably Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, constitute contributions to the protection against nuclear and radiological terrorism, Stressing the importance of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in promoting and reinforcing the safety and security of radioactive materials and sources, in particular by supporting the improvement of national legal and regulatory infrastructure, Taking note of the importance of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2153, No. 37605. with respect to the safety of the end of life of radioactive sources, Taking note also of the importance of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive SourcesInternational Atomic Energy Agency, Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources (IAEA/CODEOC/2004). as a valuable instrument for enhancing the safety and security of radioactive sources, while recognizing that the Code is not a legally binding instrument, and of the International Atomic Energy Agency Revised Action Plan for the Safety and Security of Radioactive SourcesGOV/2001/29-GC(45)/12, attachment. and its Nuclear Security Plan for 2006-2009,See GC(49)/17. Taking note further of resolutions GC(49)/RES/9 and GC(49)/RES/10, adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-ninth regular session, which address measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management and measures to protect against nuclear and radiological terrorism,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-ninth Regular Session, 26-30 September 2005 (GC(49)/RES/DEC(2005)). Welcoming the ongoing individual and collective efforts of Member States to take into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the lack or insufficiency of control over radioactive materials and sources, and recognizing the need for States to take more effective measures to strengthen those controls in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, Welcoming also the fact that Member States have undertaken multilateral actions to address this issue, as reflected in General Assembly resolution 57/9 of 11 November 2002, Welcoming further the contribution of the International Atomic Energy Agency International Conference on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources: Towards a Global System for the Continuous Control of Sources throughout Their Life Cycle, held in Bordeaux, France, from 27 June to 1 July 2005, to the activities of the Agency on these issues, Mindful of the need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, this rising concern for international security, 1. Calls upon Member States to support international efforts to prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources, and, if necessary, suppress such acts, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law; 2. Urges Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources as well as terrorist attacks on nuclear plants and facilities which would result in radioactive releases, and, if necessary, suppress such acts, in particular by taking effective measures to account for, secure and physically protect such high-risk materials in accordance with their international obligations; 3. Invites all Member States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism;Resolution 59/290, annex. 4. Invites Member States to support and endorse the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to enhance the safety and security of radioactive sources, as described in the Agency's Nuclear Security Plan for 2006-2009,See GC(49)/17. urges all States to work towards following the guidance contained in the Agency Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources,International Atomic Energy Agency, Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources (IAEA/CODEOC/2004). including, as appropriate, the guidance on the import and export of radioactive sources, noting that the guidance is complementary to the Code, and encourages Member States to notify the Director General of the Agency of their intention to do so pursuant to resolution GC(48)/RES/10 of the General Conference of the Agency,Ibid., Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)). recognizes the value of information exchange on national approaches to controlling radioactive sources, and encourages consultations by the secretariat of the Agency with its member States with a view to establishing a formalized process for a periodic exchange of information and lessons learned and for the evaluation of progress made by States towards implementing the provisions of the Code; 5. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and through relevant international and, where appropriate, regional organizations for strengthening national capacities in this regard; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session an item entitled "Preventing the risk of radiological terrorism". RESOLUTION 60/74 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/74. Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus The General Assembly, Mindful of contributing to the process initiated within the framework of the United Nations reform to make the Organization more effective in maintaining peace and security by giving it the resources and tools it needs for conflict prevention, peaceful resolution of disputes, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction, Underlining the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to disarmament through the development of practical measures, Taking note of the report of the Group of Experts on the problem of ammunition and explosives,See A/54/155. Recalling the recommendation contained in paragraph 27 of the report submitted by the Chairman of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons,A/60/88 and Corr.2. namely, to address the issue of small arms and light weapons ammunition in a comprehensive manner as part of a separate process conducted within the framework of the United Nations, Noting with satisfaction the work and measures pursued at the regional and subregional levels with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition, Recalling its decision 59/515 of 3 December 2004, by which it decided to include the question of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus in the agenda of its sixtieth session, 1. Encourages all interested States to assess, on a voluntary basis, whether, in conformity with their legitimate security needs, parts of their stockpiles of conventional ammunition should be considered to be in surplus, and recognizes that the security of such stockpiles must be taken into consideration and that appropriate controls with regard to the security and safety of stockpiles of conventional ammunition are indispensable at the national level in order to eliminate the risk of explosion, pollution or diversion; 2. Appeals to all interested States to determine the size and nature of their surplus stockpiles of conventional ammunition, whether they represent a security risk, if appropriate, their means of destruction, and whether external assistance is needed to eliminate this risk; 3. Encourages States in a position to do so to assist interested States within a bilateral framework or through international or regional organizations, on a voluntary and transparent basis, in elaborating and implementing programmes to eliminate surplus stockpiles or to improve their management; 4. Encourages all Member States to examine the possibility of developing and implementing, within a national, regional or subregional framework, measures to address accordingly the illicit trafficking related to the accumulation of such stockpiles; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States regarding the risks arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus and regarding national ways of strengthening controls on conventional ammunition, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 6. Decides to include this issue in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 60/75 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 174 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstaining: Bhutan 60/75. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002, 58/39 of 8 December 2003 and 59/88 of 3 December 2004, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts, since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". RESOLUTION 60/76 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 126 to 29, with 24 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uzbekistan 60/76. Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999, 55/33 X of 20 November 2000, 56/24 S of 29 November 2001, 57/85 of 22 November 2002, 58/46 of 8 December 2003 and 59/83 of 3 December 2004, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear-arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Emphasizing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, adopted at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,Ibid., vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Stressing the importance of strengthening all existing nuclear-related disarmament and arms control and reduction measures, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference during its 2005 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Expressing its regret over the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach agreement on any substantive issues, Expressing its deep concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of the thirteen steps to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports, 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the implementation of resolution 59/83,A/60/122. 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its sixty-first session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 60/77 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 60/77. Prevention of the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/42 and 58/54 of 8 December 2003, 58/241 of 23 December 2003 and 59/90 of 3 December 2004, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Acknowledging the authorized trade in man-portable air defence systems between Governments and the legitimate right of Governments to possess such weapons in the interests of their national security, Recognizing the threat to civil aviation, peacekeeping, crisis management and security posed by the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems, Taking into account the fact that man-portable air defence systems are easily carried, concealed, fired and, in certain circumstances, obtained, Recognizing that effective control over man-portable air defence systems acquires special importance in the context of the intensified international fight against global terrorism, Convinced of the importance of effective national control of transfers of man-portable air defence systems and their training and instruction materials and of the safe and effective management of stockpiles of such weapons, Acknowledging the role of the unauthorized transfer of relevant materials and information in assisting the unauthorized manufacture and illicit transfer of man-portable air defence systems and related components, Welcoming the ongoing efforts of, and noting declarations by, various international and regional forums to enhance transport security and to strengthen management of man-portable air defence systems stockpiles in order to prevent the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons, Noting the importance of information exchange and transparency in the trade in man-portable air defence systems to build confidence and security among States and to prevent the illicit trade in and unauthorized access to such weapons, Acknowledging the considerable efforts of some Member States to collect, secure and destroy voluntarily those man-portable air defence systems declared to be surplus by the competent national authority, 1. Emphasizes the importance of the full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 2. Urges Member States to support current international, regional and national efforts to combat and prevent the illicit transfer of man-portable air defence systems and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons; 3. Stresses the importance of effective and comprehensive national controls on the production, stockpiling, transfer and brokering of man-portable air defence systems to prevent the illicit trade in and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons, their components and training and instruction materials; 4. Encourages Member States to enact or improve legislation, regulations, procedures and stockpile management practices and to assist other States, at their request, to exercise effective control over access to and transfer of man-portable air defence systems so as to prevent the illicit brokering and transfer of and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons; 5. Also encourages Member States to enact or improve legislation, regulations and procedures to ban the transfer of man-portable air defence systems to non-State end-users and to ensure that such weapons are exported only to Governments or agents authorized by a Government; 6. Encourages initiatives to exchange information and to mobilize resources and technical expertise to assist States, at their request, in enhancing national controls and stockpile management practices to prevent unauthorized access to and use and transfer of man-portable air defence systems and to destroy excess or obsolete stockpiles of such weapons, as appropriate; 7. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 60/78 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 60/78. Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/80 of 3 December 2004, Recognizing the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evidenced in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and in particular by the fact that terrorists may seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, Cognizant of the steps taken by States to implement Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, adopted on 28 April 2004, Welcoming the adoption, by consensus, of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism on 13 April 2005,Resolution 59/290, annex. Welcoming also the adoption, by consensus, of amendments to strengthen the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear MaterialUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1456, No. 24631. by the International Atomic Energy Agency on 8 July 2005, Noting the support expressed in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003,A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. and in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, for measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, Noting also that the Group of Eight, the European Union, the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others have taken into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, and the need for international cooperation in combating it, Acknowledging the consideration of issues relating to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,See A/59/361. Taking note of resolution GC(49)/RES/10, adopted on 30 September 2005 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-ninth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-ninth Regular Session, 26-30 September 2005 (GC(49)/RES/DEC(2005)). Taking note also of the report of the Policy Working Group on the United Nations and Terrorism,A/57/273-S/2002/875, annex. Taking note further of the report of the Secretary-General, submitted pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 59/80,A/60/185 and Add.1. Mindful of the urgent need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, this threat to humanity, Emphasizing that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help to maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism, 1. Calls upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Invites all Member States to consider signing and ratifying the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear TerrorismResolution 59/290, annex. in order to bring about its early entry into force; 3. Urges all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture, and invites them to inform the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, of the measures taken in this regard; 4. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and relevant regional and international organizations for strengthening national capacities in this regard; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a report on measures already taken by international organizations on issues relating to the linkage between the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to seek the views of Member States on additional relevant measures for tackling the global threat posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". RESOLUTION 60/79 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cuba, Fiji, Haiti, India, Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Sudan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 115 to 49, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 60/79. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the imperative need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to detargeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that the reduction of tensions brought about by a change in nuclear doctrines would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling that in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear WeaponsA/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. it is stated that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 59/79 of 3 December 2004;A/60/122. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war,See A/56/400, para. 3. and also to continue to encourage Member States to endeavour to create conditions that would allow the emergence of an international consensus to hold an international conference as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". RESOLUTION 60/7 Adopted at the 42nd plenary meeting, on 1 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.12 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 60/7. Holocaust remembrance The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which proclaims that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, religion or other status, Recalling article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person, Recalling also article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. which state that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Bearing in mind that the founding principle of the Charter of the United Nations, "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war", is testimony to the indelible link between the United Nations and the unique tragedy of the Second World War, Recalling the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,Resolution 260 A (III), annex. which was adopted in order to avoid repetition of genocides such as those committed by the Nazi regime, Recalling also the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, Taking note of the fact that the sixtieth session of the General Assembly is taking place during the sixtieth year of the defeat of the Nazi regime, Recalling the twenty-eighth special session of the General Assembly, a unique event, held in commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, Honouring the courage and dedication shown by the soldiers who liberated the concentration camps, Reaffirming that the Holocaust, which resulted in the murder of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities, will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice, 1. Resolves that the United Nations will designate 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust; 2. Urges Member States to develop educational programmes that will inculcate future generations with the lessons of the Holocaust in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide, and in this context commends the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research; 3. Rejects any denial of the Holocaust as an historical event, either in full or part; 4. Commends those States which have actively engaged in preserving those sites that served as Nazi death camps, concentration camps, forced labour camps and prisons during the Holocaust; 5. Condemns without reserve all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, wherever they occur; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a programme of outreach on the subject of the "Holocaust and the United Nations" as well as measures to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide; to report to the General Assembly on the establishment of this programme within six months from the date of the adoption of the present resolution; and to report thereafter on the implementation of the programme at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 60/80 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 158 to none, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palau, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 60/80. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002, 58/53 of 8 December 2003 and 59/84 of 3 December 2004, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Welcoming the entry into force, on 1 March 1999, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem, Recalling the first to fifth meetings of the States parties to the Convention held in Maputo (1999),See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1. Geneva (2000),See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1. Managua (2001),See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1. Geneva (2002)See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1. and Bangkok (2003),See APLC/MSP.5/2003/5. Recalling also the First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, held in Nairobi from 29 November to 3 December 2004, at which the international community renewed its unwavering commitment to achieving the goal of a world free of anti-personnel mines and witnessed the adoption by the States parties to the Convention of the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009See APLC/CONF/2004/5 and Corr.1. to achieve major progress towards ending, for all people and for all time, the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. wherein Heads of State and Government, inter alia, urged the States parties to the Convention to fully implement their obligations, Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and forty-seven, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but have not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention, including through the swift implementation of the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009;See APLC/CONF/2004/5 and Corr.1. 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes and the removal and destruction of anti-personnel mines placed or stockpiled throughout the world; 7. Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate in the sixth meeting of the States parties to the Convention, to be held in Zagreb from 28 November to 2 December 2005, and in the intersessional work programme established at the first meeting of the States parties, and further developed at subsequent meetings of the States parties; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the next meeting of the States parties, pending a decision to be taken at the sixth meeting of the States parties, and on behalf of the States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the seventh meeting of the States parties as observers; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 60/81 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Zambia. 60/81. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, 57/72 of 22 November 2002, 58/241 of 23 December 2003 and 59/86 of 3 December 2004, Emphasizing the importance of the early and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. Welcoming the efforts by Member States to submit, on a voluntary basis, national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action, Noting with satisfaction regional and subregional efforts being undertaken in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, and commending the progress that has already been made in this regard, including tackling both supply and demand factors that are relevant to addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, Recognizing the efforts undertaken by non-governmental organizations in the provision of assistance to States for the implementation of the Programme of Action, Taking into account the relevant paragraphs on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Welcoming the report of the Second Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 11 to 15 July 2005,A/CONF.192/BMS/2005/1. and expressing its appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Chair of the Meeting, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons,A/60/88 and Corr.2. Recognizing that illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons is a serious problem that the international community should address urgently, and, in this regard, welcoming the broad-based consultations held by the Secretary-General with all Member States and interested regional and subregional organizations on further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 59/86,A/60/161. Conscious of its decision to convene in New York the United Nations conference to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects for a period of two weeks, from 26 June to 7 July 2006, and its preparatory committee for two weeks, from 9 to 20 January 2006, followed, if necessary, by a subsequent session of up to two weeks in duration, which is especially relevant in order to set the agenda for activities of the international community for continuing to tackle problems in this field beyond 2006, 1. Encourages all initiatives, including those of the United Nations, other international organizations, regional and subregional organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society, for the successful conclusion of the United Nations conference to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its AspectsSee Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. in order to set the agenda for tackling problems in the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons by the international community beyond 2006, and calls upon all Member States to continue to contribute towards the preparation of the conference and to make every effort to fully implement the Programme of Action; 2. Calls upon all States to implement the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons;A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex. 3. Decides to establish a group of governmental experts, appointed by the Secretary-General on the basis of equitable geographical representation, commencing after the review conference and no later than 2007, to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons in three sessions of one week's duration each, and to submit the report on the outcome of its study to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the group of governmental experts with any assistance and services that may be required for the discharge of its tasks; 5. Continues to encourage all initiatives, including regional and subregional ones, to mobilize resources and expertise to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action and to provide assistance to States in its implementation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to collate and circulate data and information provided by States on a voluntary basis, including national reports, on their implementation of the Programme of Action, and encourages Member States to submit such reports; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 60/82 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/463, para. 94)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/82. Information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Bearing in mind the contribution of confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms, adopted on the initiative and with the agreement of the States concerned, to the improvement of the overall international peace and security situation, Convinced that the relationship between the development of confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms and the international security environment can also be mutually reinforcing, Considering the important role that confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms can also play in creating favourable conditions for progress in the field of disarmament, Recognizing that the exchange of information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, 1. Welcomes all confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms already undertaken by Member States as well as the information on such measures voluntarily provided; 2. Encourages Member States to continue to adopt confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms and to provide information in that regard; 3. Also encourages Member States to continue the dialogue on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to establish, with the financial support of States in a position to do so, an electronic database containing information provided by Member States and to assist them, at their request, in the organization of seminars, courses and workshops aimed at enhancing the knowledge of new developments in this field; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms". RESOLUTION 60/83 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/464, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Antigua and Barbuda, and Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 60/83. United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/98 of 3 December 2004 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/60/153. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/60/152. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/60/132. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament, and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 146 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the decision adopted by the General Assembly on maintaining and revitalizing the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security and that are aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their activities and initiatives; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the activities of the regional branch of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". RESOLUTION 60/84 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/464, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Argentina (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States). 60/84. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, 54/55 F of 1 December 1999, 55/34 E of 20 November 2000, 56/25 E of 29 November 2001, 57/89 of 22 November 2002, 58/60 of 8 December 2003 and 59/99 of 3 December 2004, Underlining the revitalization of the Regional Centre, the efforts made by the Government of Peru and other countries to that end, as well as the important work done by the Director of the Centre, Recognizing that the Regional Centre has continued to act as an instrument for the implementation of regional initiatives and has intensified its contribution to the coordination of United Nations efforts towards peace and security, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/132. which concludes that the Regional Centre has continued to provide assistance to States in the Latin American and Caribbean region in the implementation of regional initiatives in the areas of peace, disarmament and development and that during the period under review, such assistance was provided in the form of, inter alia, weapons destruction and stockpile management, training courses for the law enforcement community, members of Parliament and their advisers and representatives of non-governmental organizations, guidance on reporting in connection with weapons-related instruments and the development of methodologies for future confidence-building measures among States, Recalling the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development,See A/59/119. referred to in General Assembly resolution 59/78 of 3 December 2004, which is of utmost interest with regard to the role that the Regional Centre plays in promoting the issue in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament, Noting that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Welcoming the support provided by the Regional Centre to strengthening the nuclear-weapon-free zone established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. as well as to promoting and assisting the ratification and implementation of existing multilateral agreements related to weapons of mass destruction and to promoting peace and disarmament education projects during the period under review, Bearing in mind the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Bearing in mind also the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources and cooperation for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction and congratulates the Regional Centre for the expansion of the vast range of activities carried out in the last year in the fields of peace, disarmament and development, and requests the Centre to take into account the proposals to be submitted by the countries of the region in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, transparency, disarmament and development at the regional level; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Invites all States of the region to continue to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its programme and making greater and better use of the potential of the Centre to meet the current challenges facing the international community with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the fields of peace, disarmament and development; 5. Recognizes that the Regional Centre has an important role in the promotion and development of regional initiatives agreed upon by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as the relationship between disarmament and development; 6. Encourages the Regional Centre to further develop activities in the important area of disarmament and development; 7. Highlights the conclusion contained in the report of the Secretary-General that, through its activities, the Regional Centre has demonstrated its role as a viable regional actor in assisting States in the region to advance the cause of peace, disarmament and development in Latin America and the Caribbean;See A/60/132, para. 54. 8. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make and to increase voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support, within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". RESOLUTION 60/85 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/464, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. 60/85. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/152. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre has been a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation for peace and disarmament in the region, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as "the Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of meetings and conferences in the region, held in Sapporo, Japan, from 26 to 29 July 2004, in Nadi, Fiji, from 18 to 20 August 2004, on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 6 to 8 December 2004, in Beijing from 19 to 21 April 2005 and in Kanazawa, Japan, on 13 and 14 June 2005, Welcoming the idea of the possible creation of an educational and training programme for peace and disarmament in Asia and the Pacific for young people with different backgrounds, to be financed from voluntary contributions, Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, including its continued assistance in finalizing a treaty related to the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, as well as to Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status, Appreciating highly the overall support that Nepal has extended as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and voluntary financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Urges the Secretary-General to ensure the physical operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu within six months of the date of signature of the host country agreement and to enable the Centre to function effectively; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTION 60/86 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/464, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 60/86. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998, 54/55 B of 1 December 1999, 55/34 D of 20 November 2000, 56/25 D of 29 November 2001, 57/91 of 22 November 2002, 58/61 of 8 December 2003 and 59/101 of 3 December 2004, Aware of the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/153. in which it was stated that the Regional Centre continued to carry out its mandate under very strenuous financial and operational difficulties, Concerned that the activities and staffing of the Regional Centre have been reduced in view of the limited resources at its disposal, Deeply concerned that, as noted in the report of the Secretary-General, the future of the Regional Centre looks bleak owing to the lack of a reliable source of funding that would ensure the sustainability of its operations, Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken to mobilize the necessary resources for the operational costs of the Regional Centre, Conscious of the need to review the mandate and programmes of the Regional Centre in the light of developments in the field of peace and security in Africa since its establishment, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, in particular its institutions in the field of peace, disarmament and security, as well as with relevant United Nations bodies and programmes in Africa for greater effectiveness, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to establish, within existing resources, a consultative mechanism of interested States, in particular African States, for the reorganization of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 2. Appeals once again to all States, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the African Union, in particular in the areas of peace, security and development, and to continue to provide assistance towards stabilizing the financial situation of the Centre; 5. Appeals in particular to the Regional Centre, in cooperation with the African Union, regional and subregional organizations and the African States, to take steps to promote the consistent implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". RESOLUTION 60/87 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/464, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and Gabon. 60/87. Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December 1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992, 48/76 A of 16 December 1993, 49/76 C of 15 December 1994, 50/71 B of 12 December 1995, 51/46 C of 10 December 1996, 52/39 B of 9 December 1997, 53/78 A of 4 December 1998, 54/55 A of 1 December 1999, 55/34 B of 20 November 2000, 56/25 A of 29 November 2001, 57/88 of 22 November 2002, 58/65 of 8 December 2003 and 59/96 of 3 December 2004, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recalling the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central AfricaA/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, Recalling the decision of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in favour of establishing, under the auspices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé, Noting with satisfaction the efforts being made by the countries members of the Economic Community of Central African States to promote peace and security in their subregion, including the visit to Kinshasa, on 24 June 2005, of the President of the Republic of the Congo and current Chairman of the Economic Community of Central African States, as well as the convening in Kinshasa, on 16 July 2005, of a quadripartite summit of the Heads of State of Angola, the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon, held within the framework of the mandate entrusted to the current Chairman at the twelfth session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of Central African States, Noting with satisfaction also the improvement in the situation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, particularly the encouraging results of the meetings of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Rwanda-Uganda Tripartite Commission on security in that part of the Great Lakes region, Taking note of the successful completion of electoral processes in the Central African Republic and Burundi, Recognizing the importance of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes in strengthening peace, political stability and reconstruction, especially in post-conflict situations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on regional confidence-building measures, which deals with the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in the period since the adoption by the General Assembly of its resolution 59/96;A/60/166. 2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further sustainable peace, stability and development in the subregion; 3. Encourages the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States to pursue their efforts to promote peace and security in their subregion; 4. Encourages the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to pursue their efforts to strengthen their bilateral relations; 5. Strongly appeals to the international community to provide all necessary support for the smooth functioning of the electoral process currently under way in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 6. Appeals to the international community to support the efforts undertaken by the States concerned to implement disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes; 7. Reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held at Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 8. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing its programme of work for the period 2004-2005;See A/59/769-S/2005/212, annex. 9. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 10. Welcomes the creation of a mechanism for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, known as the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa, by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the countries members of the Economic Community of Central African States, held at Yaoundé on 25 February 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to give his full support to the effective realization of that important mechanism; 11. Emphasizes the need to make the early warning mechanism in Central Africa operational so that it will serve, on the one hand, as an instrument for analysing and monitoring political situations in the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with a view to preventing the outbreak of future armed conflicts and, on the other hand, as a technical body through which the member States will carry out the programme of work of the Committee, adopted at its organizational meeting held at Yaoundé in 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to provide it with the assistance necessary for it to function properly; 12. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide their full assistance for the proper functioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the implementation and smooth functioning of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa and the early warning mechanism; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a network of parliamentarians with a view to the creation of a subregional parliament in Central Africa; 15. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to provide increased assistance to the countries of Central Africa for coping with the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories; 16. Thanks the Secretary-General for having established the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 17. Appeals to Member States and to governmental and non-governmental organizations to make additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the implementation of the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee; 18. Thanks the Secretary-General for sending a multidisciplinary mission from 8 to 22 June 2003 for the purpose of undertaking an assessment of the priority needs of the region and challenges confronting it in the areas of peace, security, economic development, human rights and HIV/AIDS, and in the humanitarian field; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with assistance to ensure that they are able to carry on their efforts; 20. Calls upon the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". RESOLUTION 60/88 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/464, para. 22),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Sudan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 111 to 49, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 60/88. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that, in paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-10/2. it is stated that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2005 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 59/102 of 3 December 2004, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. RESOLUTION 60/89 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/465, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Central African Republic, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 60/89. Twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 34/83 M of 11 December 1979, in which it requested the Secretary-General to establish the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research on the basis of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/34/589. Reaffirming its resolution 39/148 H of 17 December 1984, in which it approved the statute of the Institute, renewed the invitation to Governments to consider making voluntary contributions to the Institute and requested the Secretary-General to continue to give the Institute administrative and other support, Recalling its resolution 45/62 G of 4 December 1990 on the tenth anniversary of the Institute and its resolution 55/35 A of 20 November 2000 on the twentieth anniversary of the Institute, Considering the continuing need for the international community to have access to independent and in-depth research on security issues and prospects for disarmament and non-proliferation, Underlining the particularly relevant contribution of the Institute to thinking and analysis on international security issues in the current context, Taking note of the audit report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the Institute, which makes a positive assessment of the impact of the work of the Institute and recommends that the Institute should seek adequate funding from the regular budget to better meet the costs of its core staff and that the Institute, in consultation with its Board of Trustees, should establish specific posts for the core functions of the Institute, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,A/60/285. in which, after considering the audit report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, the Board recommended that the costs of the core staff of the Institute should be funded from the regular budget of the United Nations, 1. Welcomes the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research; 2. Recognizes the importance, the timeliness and the high quality of the work of the Institute; 3. Reiterates its conviction that the Institute should continue to conduct independent research on problems relating to disarmament and security and to undertake specialized research requiring a high degree of expertise; 4. Appeals to all Member States to continue to make financial contributions to the Institute in order to ensure its viability and the quality of its work over the long term; 5. Recommends that the Secretary-General implement the relevant recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the decisions of the Board of Trustees of the Institute and continue to seek ways to increase the funding of the Institute, within existing resources. RESOLUTION 60/8 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 3 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.15 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 60/8. Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/75 of 11 December 2001, in which it decided to consider the item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" every two years in advance of each Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Recalling also its resolution 58/6 of 3 November 2003, in which it decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixtieth session the sub-item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" and to consider this sub-item before the XX Olympic Winter Games, Bearing in mind its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, which, inter alia, revived the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria or "Olympic Truce" calling for a truce during the Games that would encourage a peaceful environment and ensuring the safe passage and participation of athletes and others at the Games and, thereby, mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace, Taking into account the inclusion in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce now and in the future and support for the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal, Recalling its resolution 58/5 of 3 November 2003, in which it decided to proclaim 2005 the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, Recognizing that the goal of the Olympic movement is to build a peaceful and better world by educating the youth of the world through sport, practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which is based on mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play, Welcoming the joint endeavours of the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations system in fields such as human development and poverty alleviation, humanitarian assistance, health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention, combating malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, basic education, gender equality and environmental protection, Recognizing the important role of sport in achieving internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and reaffirming the commitments undertaken in this regard by the Heads of State and Government gathered at the World Summit of the General Assembly, held in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005, Noting with satisfaction the flying of the United Nations flag at the Olympic Games, 1. Urges Member States to observe, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Olympic Truce, individually or collectively, during the XX Olympic Winter Games, to be held in Turin, Italy, from 10 to 26 February 2006, and the following Paralympic Winter Games, to be held also in Turin, from 10 to 19 March 2006, by ensuring the safe passage and participation of athletes at the Games; 2. Welcomes the decision of the International Olympic Committee to mobilize international sports organizations and the National Olympic Committees of the Member States to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce and to cooperate with the national committees of the International Year for Sport and Physical Education; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the observance of the Olympic Truce among Member States, drawing the attention of world public opinion to the contribution such a truce would make to the promotion of international understanding, peace and goodwill, and to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee in the realization of this objective; 4. Calls upon Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee and all concerned agencies and programmes of the United Nations in their efforts to use the Olympic Truce as an instrument to promote peace, during and beyond the Olympic Games period, and to implement projects using sport as a tool for development; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" and to consider this sub-item before the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, to be held in Beijing in 2008. RESOLUTION 60/90 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/465, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Bangladesh and Peru. 60/90. Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/60/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete issues, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, Taking note of active discussions held on the programme of work during the 2005 session of the Conference, as duly reflected in the report and the records of the plenary meetings, Taking note also of significant contributions made during the 2005 session to promote substantive discussions on issues on the agenda, as well as of discussions held on other issues that could also be relevant to the current international security environment, Stressing the urgent need for the Conference to commence its substantive work at the beginning of its 2006 session, Recognizing the addresses of Ministers for Foreign Affairs as expressions of support for the endeavours of the Conference and its role as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Calls upon the Conference to intensify consultations and explore possibilities with a view to reaching an agreement on a programme of work; 3. Takes note of the strong collective interest of the Conference in commencing substantive work as soon as possible during its 2006 session; 4. Welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its current President and the incoming President to conduct consultations during the intersessional period and, if possible, to make recommendations, taking into account all relevant proposals, including those submitted as the documents of the Conference, views presented and discussions held, and to endeavour to keep the membership of the Conference informed, as appropriate, of their consultations, as expressed in paragraph 38 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/60/27). 5. Requests all States members of the Conference to cooperate with the current President and successive Presidents in their efforts to guide the Conference to the early commencement of substantive work in its 2006 session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 7. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 60/91 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/465, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Sierra Leone. 60/91. Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/60/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, 55/35 C of 20 November 2000, 56/26 A of 29 November 2001, 57/95 of 22 November 2002, 58/67 of 8 December 2003 and 59/105 of 3 December 2004, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, Bearing in mind its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/60/42). 2. Reaffirms the mandate of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 3. Reaffirms also the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee of the General Assembly, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 4. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items on its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission";A/CN.10/137. 5. Welcomes the efforts made by the Disarmament Commission during its organizational meeting in July 2005 towards achieving its objectives, and recommends that the Commission intensify consultations on those efforts with a view to reaching definitive agreements before the start of its substantive session in 2006; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2006, from 10 to 28 April, and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/60/27). together with all the official records of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". RESOLUTION 60/92 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/466, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. by a recorded vote of 164 to 5, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, India, Tonga 60/92. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(49)/RES/15 adopted on 30 September 2005,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-ninth Regular Session, 26-30 September 2005 (GC(49)/RES/DEC(2005)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article IX". Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and seventy-six States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 60/93 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/467, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 60/93. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/107 of 3 December 2004, Recalling with satisfaction the adoption and the entry into force of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and its amended article 1,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and its amended version,CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III)See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),Ibid., annex A. Recalling the decision of the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects to establish an open-ended group of governmental experts with two separate coordinators on explosive remnants of war and on mines other than anti-personnel mines,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Recalling also the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and welcoming the particular efforts of various international, non-governmental and other organizations in raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of explosive remnants of war, 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsSee The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII. and the Protocols thereto, as amended, with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to these instruments at an early date, and so as to ultimately achieve their universality; 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention and the amendment extending the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character; 3. Welcomes with satisfaction the adoption of the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V)See CCW/MSP/2003/3, appendix II. at the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention held in Geneva on 27 and 28 November 2003, and calls upon the States parties to express their consent to be bound by the Protocol and to notify the depositary at an early date of their consent; 4. Notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Working Group on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines would continue its work in 2005 with the mandate to consider all proposals on mines other than anti-personnel mines put forward since the establishment of the Group of Governmental Experts, and to conduct meetings of military experts to provide advice, with the aim of elaborating appropriate recommendations on this issue for submission to the next Meeting of the States Parties;See CCW/MSP/2004/2 and Corr.1, para. 26. 5. Also notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Working Group on Explosive Remnants of War would continue its work in 2005 with the mandate to continue to consider, including through participation of legal experts, the implementation of existing principles of international humanitarian law and to further study, on an open-ended basis, with particular emphasis on meetings of military and technical experts, possible preventive measures aimed at improving the design of certain specific types of munitions, including sub-munitions, with a view to minimizing the humanitarian risk of these munitions becoming explosive remnants of war;Ibid., para. 25. 6. Further notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Chairperson-designate should continue to undertake consultations during the intersessional period on possible options with respect to promoting compliance with the Convention and the Protocols thereto, taking into account proposals put forward;Ibid., para. 27. 7. Expresses support for the work conducted by the Group of Governmental Experts, and encourages the Chairperson-designate and the Group to conduct work, in accordance with the mandate for 2005, with the aim of elaborating appropriate recommendations on mines other than anti-personnel mines, for submission to the Meeting of the States Parties on 24 and 25 November 2005, and to report on the work done on compliance, as well as on the implementation of existing principles of international humanitarian law and on possible preventive technical measures to minimize the risk of munitions becoming explosive remnants of war; 8. Recalls the decision of the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects to convene a further conference not later than 2006,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. requests that the conference be held in November 2006 in Geneva and be preceded by as many preparatory meetings as deemed necessary by the States parties,In accordance with the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007: part II, Political affairs (sect. 4, Disarmament) (A/60/6 (sect. 4)), para. 4.25 (a) (iii) a. and also requests the Meeting of the States Parties on 24 and 25 November 2005 to take a final decision on these matters; 9. Notes that, in conformity with article 8 of the Convention, the Third Review Conference may consider any proposal for amendments to the Convention or the Protocols thereto as well as any proposal for additional protocols relating to other categories of conventional weapons not covered by existing protocols to the Convention; 10. Requests that the Third Review Conference and its preparatory meetings exert maximum effort to promote universalization of the Convention, as amended, and of all Protocols thereto, including through the holding of regional conferences and seminars; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Meeting of the States Parties on 24 and 25 November 2005, as well as for any possible continuation of work after the Meeting, should the States parties deem it appropriate, and for the Third Review Conference and its preparatory meetings;In accordance with the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007: part II, Political affairs (sect. 4, Disarmament) (A/60/6 (sect. 4)), para. 4.25 (a) (iii) a. 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically, by electronic means, of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention, its amended article 1,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and the Protocols thereto; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects". RESOLUTION 60/94 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/468, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 60/94. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 59/108 of 3 December 2004, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/118. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region, and recognizes the role of the United Nations in promoting regional and international peace and security; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 60/95 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/469, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 172 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Colombia, India, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic 60/95. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measure, and convinced that this is a meaningful step in the realization of a systematic process to achieve nuclear disarmament, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and seventy-six States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of one hundred and twenty-five States, including thirty-three of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, among which there are three nuclear-weapon States, Recalling its resolution 59/109 of 3 December 2004, Welcoming the Final Declaration of the fourth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in New York from 21 to 23 September 2005,CTBT-Art.XIV/2005/6, annex. pursuant to article XIV of the Treaty, 1. Stresses the importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions, to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular its efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Underlines the need to maintain momentum towards completion of the verification regime; 4. Urges all States to maintain their moratoriums on nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty; 5. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible; 6. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to their earliest successful conclusion; 7. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to prepare a report on the efforts of States that have ratified the Treaty towards its universalization and possibilities for providing assistance on ratification procedures to States that so request it, and to submit such a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". RESOLUTION 60/96 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/470, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Hungary. 60/96. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the complete and effective prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and to their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that there are one hundred and fifty-five States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. including all of the permanent members of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conferences, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. and to provide such information and data in conformity with standardized procedure to the Secretary-General on an annual basis and no later than 15 April, Welcoming the reaffirmation made in the Final Declaration of the Fourth Review ConferenceBWC/CONF.IV/9, part II. that under all circumstances the use of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and their development, production and stockpiling are effectively prohibited under article I of the Convention, Recalling the decision reached at the Fifth Review Conference to hold three annual meetings of the States parties of one week's duration each year commencing in 2003 until the Sixth Review Conference and to hold a two-week meeting of experts to prepare for each meeting of the States parties,See BWC/CONF.V/17, para. 18. Recalling also the decision reached at the Fifth Review Conference that the Sixth Review Conference would be held in Geneva in 2006 and would be preceded by a preparatory committee,Ibid., para. 20. 1. Notes with satisfaction the increase in the number of States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. reaffirms the call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay, and calls upon those States that have not signed the Convention to become parties thereto at an early date, thus contributing to the achievement of universal adherence to the Convention; 2. Welcomes the information and data provided to date, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention;BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. 3. Recalls the decision reached at the Fifth Review ConferenceSee BWC/CONF.V/17, para. 18. to discuss and promote common understanding and effective action in 2003 on the two topics of the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention, including the enactment of penal legislation, and national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins; in 2004 on the two topics of enhancing international capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease, and strengthening and broadening national and international institutional efforts and existing mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals and plants; and in 2005 on the topic of the content, promulgation and adoption of codes of conduct for scientists; and calls upon the States parties to the Convention to participate in its implementation; 4. Welcomes the significant participation of the States parties at the meetings of States parties and meetings of experts to date and the constructive and useful exchange of information achieved, and welcomes also the discussion and the promotion of common understanding and effective action on agreed topics; 5. Notes that, in accordance with the decision reached at the Fifth Review Conference,Ibid., para. 20. the Sixth Review Conference will be held in Geneva in 2006 and the dates will be formally agreed by the preparatory committee for that Conference, which will be open to all States parties to the Convention and which will meet in Geneva during the week beginning 24 April 2006; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention and to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences, including all necessary assistance to the annual meetings of the States parties and the meetings of experts, and to render the necessary assistance and provide such services as may be required for the Sixth Review Conference and the preparations for it; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-first session the item entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 60/97 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/473, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/97. Assistance in mine actionAs referred to in previous resolutions of the General Assembly on assistance in mine clearance and on assistance in mine action. The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/127 of 19 December 2003 and all its previous resolutions on assistance in mine clearance and mine action, all adopted without a vote, Recalling all relevant treaties and conventionsThese include the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, 1997; the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, as amended in 1996 (Protocol II to the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects); the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War, 2003 (Protocol V to the 1980 Convention) (not in force as at 27 October 2005); and the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 1977. and their review processes, Reaffirming its deep concern at the tremendous humanitarian and development problems caused by the presence of mines and explosive remnants of warAs defined by Protocol V to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects. that have serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the populations of countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war, Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and explosive remnants of war pose to the safety, health and lives of local civilian populations, as well as of personnel participating in humanitarian, peacekeeping and rehabilitation programmes and operations, Deeply alarmed by the number of mines that continue to be laid each year, as well as the presence of a decreasing but still very large number of, and area of square kilometres infested by, mines and explosive remnants of war as a result of armed conflicts, and therefore remaining convinced of the necessity and urgency of strengthening mine-action efforts by the international community with a view to eliminating the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war to civilians as soon as possible, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has a significant role to play in the field of assistance in mine action, and considering mine action to be an important and integrated component of United Nations humanitarian and development activities, as well as noting the inclusion of mine action in several United Nations peacekeeping operations, Stressing the need to convince mine-affected States to halt new deployments of anti-personnel mines in order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of mine-clearance operations, Stressing also the pressing need to urge non-State actors to halt immediately and unconditionally new deployments of mines and other associated explosive devices, 1. Calls, in particular, for the continuation of the efforts of States, with the assistance of the United Nations and relevant organizations involved in mine action, as appropriate, to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries in which mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local civilian population or an impediment to social and economic development efforts at the national and local levels; 2. Urges all States, in particular those that have the capacity to do so, as well as the United Nations system and relevant organizations and institutions involved in mine action, as appropriate, to provide: (a) Assistance to countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war for the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities; (b) Support for national programmes, where appropriate, in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations system and relevant regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations, to reduce the risks posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war, including to women and children; (c) Reliable, predictable and timely contributions for mine-action activities, including through national mine-action efforts and humanitarian mine-action programmes of non-governmental organizations, including those relating to victim assistance and mine risk education, especially at the local level, as well as through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action and relevant regional trust funds for assistance in mine action; (d) Necessary information and technical, financial and material assistance to locate, remove, destroy and otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines, booby traps, other devices and explosive remnants of war, in accordance with international law, as soon as possible; (e) Technological assistance to countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war; and to promote user-oriented scientific research on and development of mine-action techniques and technology, within reasonable time frames; 3. Encourages efforts to conduct all mine-action activities in accordance with accepted national standards and with the International Mine Action Standards, where applicable, and emphasizes the importance of using an information management system, such as the Information Management System for Mine Action, to help facilitate mine-action activities; 4. Encourages all relevant multilateral, regional and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine action, including mine clearance, in their humanitarian, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development assistance activities, where appropriate, bearing in mind the need to ensure national and local ownership, sustainability and capacity-building, as well as to include a gender and age-appropriate perspective in all aspects of such activities; 5. Stresses the importance of cooperation and coordination in mine action, and emphasizes the primary responsibility of national authorities in that regard, also stresses the supporting role of the United Nations and other relevant organizations in that regard, and underlines the need for continuous assessment of the role of the United Nations in mine action; 6. Notes the potential that mine action can have as a peace and confidence-building measure in post-conflict situations among parties concerned; 7. Declares that 4 April of each year shall be officially proclaimed and observed as International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and on follow-up to previous resolutions on assistance in mine clearance and assistance in mine action, including on relevant United Nations policies and activities; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Assistance in mine action". RESOLUTION 60/98 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/474, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 60/98. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 59/114 of 10 December 2004, in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee, Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its sixtieth session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Noting with satisfaction that some Member States have expressed particular interest in becoming members of the Scientific Committee, and expressing its intention to consider the issue further at its next session, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past fifty years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee; 3. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources, and invites the Scientific Committee to submit its programme of work to the General Assembly; 4. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for its future activities of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly; 5. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 6. Emphasizes the need for the Scientific Committee to hold regular sessions on an annual basis so that its report can reflect the latest developments and findings in the field of ionizing radiation and thereby provide updated information for dissemination among all States; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 8. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports, and requests the Secretariat to facilitate such consultations; 9. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 10. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly; 11. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 12. Urges the United Nations Environment Programme to review and strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee, pursuant to paragraph 6 of resolution 59/114, so that the Committee can discharge the responsibilities and mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly. RESOLUTION 60/99 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 8 December 2005, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/60/475, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 60/99. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996, 54/68 of 6 December 1999, 59/2 of 20 October 2004 and 59/116 of 10 December 2004, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, especially for developing countries, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further developing the legal framework to strengthen international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and the need to promote the use of space technology towards implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the actions already taken as well as those to be embarked upon to further implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, as reflected in resolution 59/2 and the Plan of Action of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,A/59/174, chap. VI.B. Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education, disaster management and environmental protection as well as other Earth observation applications contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, inter alia, poverty eradication, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-eighth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/60/20 and Corr.1). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-eighth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/60/20 and Corr.1). 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties as well as incorporating them in their national legislation; 3. Notes that, at its forty-fourth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 59/116;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/60/20 and Corr.1), chap. II.D. 4. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to: a. The definition and delimitation of outer space; b. The character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) Examination and review of the developments concerning the draft protocol on matters specific to space assets to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment; (c) Consider the practice of States and international organizations in registering space objects in accordance with the workplan adopted by the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 199. 5. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-sixth session, in 2007; 6. Also notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (ii) above, the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, will reconvene its Working Group and review the need to extend the mandate of the Working Group beyond that session of the Subcommittee; 7. Further notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (iv) a. above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; 8. Agrees that, in the context of paragraph 4 (c) above, the Legal Subcommittee should reconvene its Working Group in accordance with the workplan adopted by the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 199. 9. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Sub-committee, at its forty-second session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 59/116;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/60/20 and Corr.1), chap. II.C. 10. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-third session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications; (iii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (iv) Matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the workplans adopted by the Committee:See A/AC.105/848, annex II, para. 6, for item (i); ibid., annex III, para. 8, for item (ii); Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 138, for item (iii); A/AC.105/848, annex I, para. 20, for item (iv); A/AC.105/823, annex II, para. 15 and A/AC.105/848, annex I, para. 21, for item (v) and A/AC.105/848, annex I, para. 22, for item (vi). (i) Space debris; (ii) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (iii) Space-system-based telemedicine; (iv) Near-Earth objects; (v) Space-system-based disaster management support; (vi) International Heliophysical Year 2007; (c) Consider the following single issue/item for discussion: examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; 11. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Sub-committee, at its forty-third session, will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the forty-fourth session of the Subcommittee, in 2007; 12. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the symposium to strengthen the partnership with industry should be organized during the first week of the forty-third session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and should address synthetic aperture radar missions and their applications; 13. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 10 (a) (ii) and (iii) and 11 above, the Scientific and Technical Sub-committee, at its forty-third session, should reconvene the Working Group of the Whole; 14. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 10 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-third session, should reconvene its Working Group on Space Debris to consider issues arising from its workplan and, in particular, the draft of the space debris mitigation document of the Subcommittee and that the Working Group should continue its intersessional work as required to expedite agreement on the document;See A/AC.105/848, annex II, para. 6. 15. Further agrees that, in the context of paragraph 10 (b) (ii) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-third session, should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space and that the Working Group should continue its intersessional work on the topics described in the multi-year workplan as amended by the Subcommittee at its forty-second session;Ibid., annex III, para. 8. 16. Agrees that a joint technical workshop on the objectives, scope and general attributes of a potential technical safety standard for nuclear power sources in outer space should be organized together with the International Atomic Energy Agency and held during the forty-third session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee; 17. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2006, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications and endorsed by the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/60/20 and Corr.1), paras. 88 and 94; see also A/AC.105/840, sects. II and III and annex III. 18. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria, respectively, as well as the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific and the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, entered into an affiliation agreement with the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat and have continued their education programmes in 2005; 19. Agrees that the regional centres referred to in paragraph 18 above should continue to report to the Committee on their activities on an annual basis; 20. Notes with satisfaction that the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2005; 21. Also notes with satisfaction the contribution being made by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the efforts of Member States and the Office for Outer Space Affairs to promote and support the activities being organized within the framework of the International Heliophysical Year 2007; 22. Further notes with satisfaction that the Government of Ecuador will be hosting the Fifth Space Conference of the Americas in Quito in July 2006 and that the Government of Chile will organize a preparatory meeting for the Conference, with the support of the Government of Colombia, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, during the International Air and Space Fair, to be held in Santiago in March 2006; 23. Notes with satisfaction that the Pro Tempore Secretariat of the Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, in accordance with paragraph 21 of resolution 59/116, informed the Committee of its activities to implement the Declaration of Cartagena de Indias and the Plan of Action of the Conference;See A/AC.105/L.261. 24. Also notes with satisfaction that the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Governments of Algeria and South Africa, hosted the first African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development from 23 to 25 November 2005 and that the Conference provided, under the theme "Space: an indispensable tool for Africa's development", a forum to exchange information on global space activities for societal development and African needs, including capacity-building, to benefit from the applications of space science and technology and to consider how to strengthen the participation of Africa in the work of the Committee and its Subcommittees; 25. Further notes with satisfaction that the Islamic Republic of Iran, in cooperation with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, hosted the eleventh session of the Intergovernmental Consultative Committee on the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development in September 2005; 26. Recommends that more attention be paid and political support be provided to all matters relating to the protection and the preservation of the outer space environment, especially those potentially affecting the Earth's environment; 27. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 28. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 29. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 30. Notes that space science and technology and their applications could make important contributions to economic, social and cultural development and welfare, as indicated in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development";See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. 31. Reiterates that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention, in particular, of the major United Nations conferences and summits for economic, social and cultural development and related fields and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and summits and for implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 32. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, through the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, a report on the inclusion of the issue of the use of space technology in the reports submitted by the Secretary-General to those conferences and summits, and its inclusion in the outcomes and commitments of those conferences and summits; 33. Notes with satisfaction the increased efforts of the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to promote the use of space science and technology and their applications in carrying out actions recommended in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 34. Urges entities of the United Nations system, particularly those participating in the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, to examine, in cooperation with the Committee, how space science and technology and their applications could contribute to implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly in the areas relating to, inter alia, food security and increasing opportunities for education; 35. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to continue to contribute to the work of the Committee and to report to the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the work conducted at its annual sessions; 36. Notes with satisfaction that the open informal meetings, held in conjunction with the annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities and in which representatives of member States and observers in the Committee participate, provide a constructive mechanism for an active dialogue between the entities of the United Nations system and member States and observers in the Committee; 37. Encourages entities of the United Nations system to participate fully in the work of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities; 38. Notes that space technology could play a central role in disaster reduction and that both the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee could contribute to the implementation of the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held at Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005;A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolutions 1 and 2. 39. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, and agrees that during its consideration of the matter, the Committee could continue to consider ways to promote regional and interregional cooperation based on experiences stemming from the Space Conference of the Americas and the role space technology could play in the implementation of recommendations of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 40. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee would be establishing a closer link between its work to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development by contributing to the thematic areas that will be addressed by the Commission; 41. Agrees that the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat should be invited to participate in the sessions of the Committee to inform it how it could best contribute to the work of the Commission; 42. Also agrees that the Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs should participate in the sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development to raise awareness and promote the benefits of space science and technology for sustainable development; 43. Notes with satisfaction the progress made, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 59/2, by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and augmentation system providers to establish an international committee on GNSS and by the ad hoc expert group established to study the possibility of creating an international entity to provide for coordination and the means of realistically optimizing the effectiveness of space-based services for use in disaster management; 44. Welcomes the fact that the Office for Outer Space Affairs could integrate into its programme of work a number of actions identified for implementation by the Office in the Plan of Action of the Committee for the further implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III;See A/AC.105/L.262. 45. Notes that some actions identified for implementation by the Office in the Plan of Action could only be integrated into its programme of work if additional staff and financial resources were provided;Ibid., para. 6. 46. Urges all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to enhance the capacity of the Office to provide technical and legal advisory services and initiate pilot projects in accordance with the Plan of Action of the Committee, while maintaining the priority thematic areas agreed by the Committee; 47. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider a report on the activities of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue as a part of its consideration of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee", and invites Member States to report on their activities regarding the System; 48. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-ninth session, its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 49. Also requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its forty-ninth session, under its agenda item entitled "Space and society", the special theme for the focus of discussions for the period 2004-2006 "Space and education", in accordance with the workplan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 239. 50. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider, at its forty-ninth session, its agenda item entitled "Space and water"; 51. Also agrees that a new item entitled "Recommendations of the World Summit on the Information Society" should be included in the agenda of the Committee at its forty-ninth session, with a view to contributing to their implementation; 52. Further agrees that a symposium on space and forests should be held during the forty-ninth session of the Committee; 53. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee agreed to consider, at its forty-ninth session, under its agenda item "Other matters", the evolution of space activities and how to develop a long-term plan to strengthen the role of the Committee in international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 20 and corrigendum (A/60/20 and Corr.1), paras. 316 and 317. 54. Notes that in accordance with the agreement reached by the Committee at its forty-sixth session on the measures relating to the future composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), annex II, paras. 4-9. on the basis of the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), annex II, appendix III. the Group of African States, the Group of Eastern European States, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Group of Western European and Other States nominated their candidates for the offices of Second Vice-Chair/Rapporteur of the Committee, First Vice-Chair of the Committee, Chair of the Legal Subcommittee and Chair of the Committee, respectively, for the period 2006-2007; 55. Urges the Group of Asian States to nominate its candidate for the office of Chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee for the period 2006-2007 in time for the Subcommittee to begin its work at its forty-third session as scheduled; 56. Agrees that, upon the nomination of the candidate of the Group of Asian States for the Chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, the two Subcommittees should elect their officers; 57. Notes that the Committee, at its forty-ninth session, would endorse the election of the officers of its Subcommittees and would elect its officers for the period 2006-2007; 58. Also notes that the Group of Western European and Other States nominated its candidate for the office of Second Vice-Chair/Rapporteur of the Committee, for the period 2008-2009, at the forty-eighth session of the Committee, for its consideration; 59. Further notes that each of the regional groups has the responsibility to actively promote the participation in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies of the member States of the Committee that are also members of the respective regional groups, and agrees that the regional groups should consider this Committee-related matter among their members; 60. Endorses the decision of the Committee to grant permanent observer status to the European Space Policy Institute; 61. Urges the Committee to expand the scope of international cooperation relating to the social, economic, ethical and human dimensions in space science and technology applications; 62. Requests entities of the United Nations system and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, to enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with reports on the issues dealt with in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies. RESOLUTION 60/9 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 3 November 2005, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/60/L.7 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, France, Gabon, Gambia, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Viet Nam, Zambia 60/9. Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/5 of 3 November 2003 and 59/10 of 27 October 2004, and its decision to proclaim 2005 the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, Recalling also its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, in which it underlined that sport could foster peace and development and could contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding, Acknowledging the major role of the United Nations, its funds and programmes, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other specialized agencies, in promoting human development through sport and physical education, through its country programmes, Recalling the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. stressing that education shall be directed to the development of children's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential, Acknowledging with concern the dangers faced by sportsmen and sportswomen, in particular young athletes, including child labour, violence, doping, early specialization, over-training and exploitative forms of commercialization, as well as less visible threats and deprivations, such as the premature severance of family bonds and the loss of sporting, social and cultural ties, Considering the contribution of sport and physical education towards achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the broader aims of development and peace, Noting that sport and physical education is a lifelong activity and constitutes a major tool for health and physical development and for acquiring values necessary for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, Acknowledging that sport and physical education can present opportunities for solidarity and cooperation in order to promote tolerance, a culture of peace, social and gender equality, adequate responses to the special needs of persons with disabilities, dialogue and harmony, Acknowledging also the contribution of the Olympic Games to understanding, peace and tolerance among and between peoples and civilizations, Recognizing the need for greater coordination of efforts at the international level to facilitate a more effective fight against doping, Noting the need for the development of a common framework within the United Nations to promote sport for education, health, development and peace, Recognizing the need to maintain the momentum generated by the commemoration of the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, through, inter alia, increased voluntary contributions and well-targeted communications-based activities, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Sport for peace and development: International Year of Sport and Physical Education";A/60/217. 2. Welcomes the widespread commitment demonstrated by Member States, sport-related organizations and the private sector for the successful commemoration of the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, through the organization of activities and events at national, regional and international levels, including: (a) The holding of international conferences emphasizing the role of sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace; (b) The setting up of a network of national focal points virtually in every region; (c) The organization of youth leadership summits that highlight the use of sport an as entry point towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; (d) The strengthening of cooperation with the International Olympic Committee, sport-related associations and other partners; (e) The appointment of sport celebrities as spokespersons for the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, as a means to promote education, health, development and peace; 3. Notes the elaboration of a business plan by the Working Group on Sport for Development and Peace of the United Nations Communications Group, as a common framework to foster coordination and cooperation for a more systematic and coherent use of sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, and requests the Secretary-General to disseminate the business plan as widely as possible among Member States, the United Nations system and sport-related organizations; 4. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To elaborate an action plan that will expand and strengthen United Nations partnerships with Governments, sport-related organizations and the private sector, on the basis, inter alia, of an assessment of progress achieved, steps taken and difficulties encountered in realizing the potential of sport as a tool for development and peace; (b) To strengthen advocacy and social mobilization, especially at the national, regional and international levels, through well-targeted communications-based activities, and stresses the contribution of the United Nations Sport Bulletin as well as websites in this regard; 5. Invites Member States to provide voluntary contributions to ensure adequate execution of and follow-up to the activities being implemented by the Office of Sport for Development and Peace; 6. Invites Member States, the United Nations system, international sports bodies and sport-related organizations to promote further sport and physical education, including assistance for the building and restoration of sports infrastructures, the implementation of partnership initiatives and development projects, as a contribution towards achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and the broader aims of development and peace; 7. Invites Governments and international sports bodies to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in their capacity-building efforts in sport and physical education, by providing financial, technical and logistic resources for the development of sports programmes; 8. Welcomes the adoption of the International Convention against Doping in Sport by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-third session,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-third Session, Paris, 3-21 October 2005, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 14. and invites Member States to consider adhering to this Convention as early as possible; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution and on the events organized at the national, regional and international levels to celebrate the International Year in 2005, under the item entitled "Sport for peace and development". RESOLUTION 61/100 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/398, para. 8) The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 61/100. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/93 of 8 December 2005, Recalling with satisfaction the adoption and the entry into force of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. and its amended article 1,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. and its amended version,CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. and the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),Ibid., annex A. Recalling the decision of the Second Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects to establish an open-ended group of governmental experts with two separate coordinators on explosive remnants of war and on mines other than anti-personnel mines,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. Recalling also the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and welcoming the particular efforts of various international, non-governmental and other organizations in raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of explosive remnants of war, 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. and the Protocols thereto, as amended, with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to these instruments at an early date, and so as to ultimately achieve their universality; 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention and the amendment extending the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character; 3. Welcomes with satisfaction the adoption of the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V)See CCW/MSP/2003/3, annex V, appendix II. at the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention held in Geneva on 27 and 28 November 2003 and its entry into force on 12 November 2006, and calls upon the States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol as soon as possible; 4. Notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Working Group on Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines would continue its work in 2006 with the mandate to consider all proposals on mines other than anti-personnel mines put forward since the establishment of the Group of Governmental Experts, and to conduct meetings of military experts to provide advice, with the aim of elaborating appropriate recommendations on this issue for submission to the Third Review Conference in 2006;See CCW/MSP/2005/2 and Corr.1. 5. Also notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the Working Group on Explosive Remnants of War would continue its work in 2006 with the mandate to continue to consider, including through participation of legal experts, the implementation of existing principles of international humanitarian law and to further study, on an open-ended basis, with particular emphasis on meetings of military and technical experts, possible preventive measures aimed at improving the design of certain specific types of munitions, including sub-munitions, with a view to minimizing the humanitarian risk of these munitions becoming explosive remnants of war, and to report on the work done to the Third Review Conference in 2006;See CCW/MSP/2005/2 and Corr.1. 6. Further notes the decision of the Meeting of the States Parties that the President-designate should continue to undertake consultations during the intersessional period on possible options with respect to promoting compliance with the Convention and the Protocols thereto, taking into account proposals put forward, and report on the work done to the Third Review Conference in 2006;See CCW/MSP/2005/2 and Corr.1. 7. Expresses support for the work conducted by the Group of Governmental Experts, and encourages the President-designate and the Coordinators of the Group to continue their work in preparation for the Third Review Conference, in accordance with the mandates and decisions for 2006, with the aim of achieving a successful Third Review Conference from 7 to 17 November 2006; 8. Expresses support for conducting a thorough review at the Third Review Conference of the scope, operation, status and implementation of the Convention and of the Protocols thereto as amended; 9. Expresses support for the decisions of the Group of Governmental Experts to recommend to the Third Review Conference a plan of action to promote universality of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, a declaration on the entry into force of Protocol V on explosive remnants of war, as well as a sponsorship programme; 10. Notes that, in conformity with article 8 of the Convention, the Review Conference may consider any proposal for amendments to the Convention or the Protocols thereto as well as any proposal for additional protocols relating to other categories of conventional weapons not covered by existing Protocols to the Convention; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Eighth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention on 6 November 2006 and for the Third Review Conference, and for any possible continuation of work after the Conference, should the States parties deem it appropriate;In accordance with the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007: part II, Political affairs (sect. 4, Disarmament) (A/60/6 (sect. 4)), para. 4.25 (a) (iii) a. 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically, by electronic means, of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention, its amended article 1,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and the Protocols thereto; 13. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 61/101 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/399, para. 7) The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/101. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 60/94 of 8 December 2005, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Welcoming the efforts deployed by the Euro-Mediterranean countries to strengthen their cooperation in combating terrorism, in particular by the adoption of the Euro-Mediterranean Code of Conduct on Countering Terrorism by the Euro-Mediterranean Summit, held in Barcelona, Spain, on 27 and 28 November 2005, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/123. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region, and recognizes the role of the United Nations in promoting regional and international peace and security; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the possible resort by terrorists to weapons of mass destruction, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 61/102 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/401, para. 8 )The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Hungary. 61/102. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the complete and effective prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and to their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that there are one hundred and fifty-five States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. including all of the permanent members of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conferences, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention,BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. and to provide such information and data in conformity with standardized procedure to the Secretary-General on an annual basis and no later than 15 April, Welcoming the reaffirmation made in the Final Declaration of the Fourth Review ConferenceBWC/CONF.IV/9, part II. that under all circumstances the use of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and their development, production and stockpiling are effectively prohibited under article I of the Convention, 1. Reaffirms the call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their DestructionResolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. to do so without delay, and calls upon those States that have not signed the Convention to become parties thereto at an early date, thus contributing to the achievement of universal adherence to the Convention; 2. Welcomes the information and data provided to date, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention;BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. 3. Appreciates the significant participation of the States parties at the meetings of States parties and meetings of experts to date and the constructive and useful exchange of information achieved; 4. Welcomes the discussion and the promotion of common understanding and effective action on topics agreed upon at the Fifth Review Conference:See BWC/CONF.V/17. the adoption of necessary national measures to implement the prohibitions set forth in the Convention, including the enactment of penal legislation, and national mechanisms to establish and maintain the security and oversight of pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins in 2003; enhancing international capabilities for responding to, investigating and mitigating the effects of cases of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons or suspicious outbreaks of disease and strengthening and broadening national and international institutional efforts and existing mechanisms for the surveillance, detection, diagnosis and combating of infectious diseases affecting humans, animals and plants in 2004; and the content, promulgation and adoption of codes of conduct for scientists in 2005; 5. Recalls that the Sixth Review Conference was mandated to consider issues identified in the review of the operation of the Convention as provided for in article XII thereof and any possible consensus follow-up action; 6. Welcomes the convening of the Sixth Review Conference in Geneva from 20 November to 8 December 2006, pursuant to the decision reached by the Preparatory Committee of the States Parties to the Convention;See BWC/CONF.VI/PC/2, para. 17. 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention and to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, also in view of the outcome of the Sixth Review Conference, the item entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 61/103 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/397, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 166 to 5, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, India, Tonga 61/103. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(50)/RES/16, adopted on 22 September 2006,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fiftieth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2006 (GC(50)/RES/DEC(2006)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article IX". Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and seventy-six States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 61/104 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/400, para. 9),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 172 to 2, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea, United States of America Abstaining: Colombia, India, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic 61/104. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measure, and convinced that this is a meaningful step in the realization of a systematic process to achieve nuclear disarmament, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and that after ten years, its entry into force is more urgent than ever before, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and seventy-six States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of one hundred and twenty-five States, including thirty-four of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, among which there are three nuclear-weapon States, Recalling its resolution 60/95 of 8 December 2005, Welcoming the Final Declaration of the fourth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in New York from 21 to 23 September 2005,CTBT-Art.XIV/2005/6, annex. pursuant to article XIV of the Treaty, and the Ministerial Meeting of States Parties, held in New York on 20 September 2006, 1. Stresses the vital importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions, to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular its efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Underlines the need to maintain momentum towards completion of the verification regime; 4. Urges all States to maintain their moratoriums on nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty, while stressing that these measures do not have the same permanent and legally binding effect as the entry into force of the Treaty; 5. Condemns the nuclear test proclaimed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 9 October 2006, and demands that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea not conduct any further nuclear tests; 6. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible; 7. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to ensuring their earliest successful conclusion; 8. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Treaty through bilateral and joint outreach, seminars and other means; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to prepare a report on the efforts of States that have ratified the Treaty towards its universalization and possibilities for providing assistance on ratification procedures to States that so request it, and to submit such a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". RESOLUTION 61/105 Adopted at the 71st plenary meeting, on 8 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.38 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United States of America, Vanuatu 61/105. Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 and 49/118 of 19 December 1994, 50/25 of 5 December 1995 and 57/142 of 12 December 2002, as well as other resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, unauthorized fishing in zones of national jurisdiction and on the high seas, fisheries by-catch and discards, and other developments, its resolutions 56/13 of 28 November 2001 and 57/143 of 12 December 2002 on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37924. and its resolutions 58/14 of 24 November 2003, 59/25 of 17 November 2004 and 60/31 of 29 November 2005 on sustainable fisheries, including through the Agreement and related instruments, Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),Ibid., vol. 1833, No. 31363. and bearing in mind the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement, Recognizing that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement sets forth provisions concerning the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including provisions on compliance and enforcement by the flag State and subregional and regional cooperation in enforcement, binding dispute settlement and the rights and obligations of States in authorizing the use of vessels flying their flags for fishing on the high seas, and specific provisions to address the requirements of developing States in relation to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and the development of fisheries for such stocks, Welcoming the fact that a growing number of States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, have taken measures, as appropriate, towards the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, Welcoming also the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its Committee on Fisheries and the 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 12 March 2005,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Outcome of the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, Rome, 12 March 2005 (CL 128/INF/11), appendix B. which calls for effective implementation of the various instruments already developed to ensure responsible fisheries, and recognizing that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ("the Code")International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. and its associated international plans of action set out principles and global standards of behaviour for responsible practices for conservation of fisheries resources and the management and development of fisheries, Noting with concern that effective management of marine capture fisheries has been made difficult in some areas by unreliable information and data caused by unreported and misreported fish catch and fishing effort and this lack of accurate data contributes to overfishing in some areas, and therefore welcoming the adoption of the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture FisheriesFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, FAO Fisheries Report No. 702 (FIPL/R702(En)), appendix H. and the development of the Fishery Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to improve knowledge and understanding of fishery status and trends, Recognizing the significant contribution of sustainable fisheries to food security, income and wealth for present and future generations, Recognizing also the urgent need for action at all levels to ensure the long-term sustainable use and management of fisheries resources through the wide application of the precautionary approach, Deploring the fact that fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to sparsely regulated and heavy fishing efforts, as a result of, inter alia, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, inadequate flag State control and enforcement, including monitoring, control and surveillance measures, inadequate regulatory measures, harmful fisheries subsidies and overcapacity, Particularly concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing constitutes a serious threat to fish stocks and marine habitats and ecosystems, to the detriment of sustainable fisheries as well as the food security and the economies of many States, particularly developing States, Recognizing the duty provided in the Convention, the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas ("the Compliance Agreement"),International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. the Agreement and the Code for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag, and vessels flying their flag which provide support to fishing vessels, to ensure that the activities of such fishing and support vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of living marine resources, and recognizing the importance of coordination and cooperation at the global, regional, subregional as well as national levels in the areas, inter alia, of data collection, information-sharing, capacity-building and training for the conservation, management and sustainable development of marine living resources, Noting with appreciation the report of the Review Conference on the Agreement ("the Review Conference"), held in New York from 22 to 26 May 2006,A/CONF.210/2006/15. and welcoming the adoption of the recommendations therein, which assessed the effectiveness of the Agreement in securing the conservation and management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks by reviewing and assessing the adequacy of its provisions and proposed means of strengthening the substance and methods of implementation of those provisions in order better to address any continuing problems in the conservation and management of those stocks, and also noting that the Conference agreed that there is a compelling need for all States and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks, Noting with satisfaction that the Review Conference agreed to continue the informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement and to keep the Agreement under review through the resumption of the Conference at a date not later than 2011, to be agreed at a future informal consultation of States parties to the Agreement, Calling attention to the need for more work to develop port State measures and schemes, and the critical need for cooperation with developing States to build their capacity in this regard, Concerned that marine pollution from all sources, including vessels and, in particular, land-based sources, constitutes a serious threat to human health and safety, endangers fish stocks, marine biodiversity and marine habitats and has significant costs to local and national economies, Recognizing that marine debris is a global transboundary pollution problem and that, due to the many different types and sources of marine debris, different approaches to their prevention and removal are necessary, Noting that the contribution of sustainable aquaculture to global fish supplies continues to respond to opportunities in developing countries to enhance local food security and poverty alleviation and, together with efforts of other aquaculture producing countries, will make a significant contribution to meeting future demands in fish consumption, bearing in mind article 9 of the Code, Calling attention to the circumstances affecting fisheries in many developing States, in particular African States and small island developing States, and recognizing the urgent need for capacity-building, including the transfer of marine technology and in particular fisheries-related technology, to enhance the ability of such States to meet their obligations and exercise their rights under international instruments, in order to realize the benefits from fisheries resources, Recognizing the need for appropriate measures to minimize waste, discards, loss of fishing gear and other factors, which adversely affect fish stocks, Recognizing also the importance of applying ecosystem approaches to oceans management and the need to integrate such approaches into fisheries conservation and management, and in this regard welcoming the report of the seventh meeting of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea,See A/61/156. held in New York from 12 to 16 June 2006, Recognizing further the economic and cultural importance of sharks in many countries, the biological importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem, the vulnerability of certain shark species to overexploitation, some of which are threatened with extinction, and the need for measures to promote the long-term sustainability of shark populations and fisheries, and the relevance of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1999, in providing development guidance of such measures, Reaffirming its support for the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements on the conservation and management of sharks, while noting with concern that only a small number of countries have implemented the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems: actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to give effect to paragraphs 66 to 69 of General Assembly resolution 59/25 on sustainable fisheries, regarding the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems,A/61/154. in particular its useful role in gathering and disseminating information on this issue, Expressing concern that the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources, although the incidence of this practice has continued to be low in most regions of the world's oceans and seas, Emphasizing that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift nets that contravene the resolution, Expressing concern over reports of continued losses of seabirds, particularly albatrosses and petrels, as well as other marine species, including sharks, fin-fish species and marine turtles, as a result of incidental mortality in fishing operations, particularly longline fishing, and other activities, while recognizing considerable efforts to reduce by-catch in longline fishing by States and through various regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, I Achieving sustainable fisheries 1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the Convention,Ibid., vol. 1833, No. 31363. in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in Part V and Part VII, section 2, of the Convention, and where applicable, the Agreement;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37924. 2. Encourages States to give due priority to the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in relation to achieving sustainable fisheries; 3. Emphasizes the obligations of flag States to discharge their responsibilities, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to ensure compliance by vessels flying their flag with the conservation and management measures adopted and in force with respect to fisheries resources on the high seas; 4. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement; 5. Calls upon all States, directly or through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to apply widely, in accordance with international law and the Code,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach to the conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks, highly migratory fish stocks and discrete high seas fish stocks, and also calls upon States parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the Agreement as a matter of priority; 6. Encourages States to increase their reliance on scientific advice in developing, adopting and implementing conservation and management measures, and to increase their efforts to promote science for conservation and management measures that apply, in accordance with international law, the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, enhancing understanding of ecosystem approaches, in order to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources, and in this regard encourages the implementation of the international Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, FAO Fisheries Report No. 702 (FIPL/R702(En)), appendix H. as a framework for the improvement and understanding of fishery status and trends; 7. Also encourages States to apply the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach in adopting and implementing conservation and management measures addressing, inter alia, by-catch, pollution, overfishing, and protecting habitats of specific concern, taking into account existing guidelines developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 8. Calls upon States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to collect and, where appropriate, report to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations required catch and effort data, and fishery-related information, in a complete, accurate and timely way, including for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks within and beyond areas under national jurisdiction, discrete high seas fish stocks, and by-catch and discards; and where they do not exist, to establish processes to strengthen data collection and reporting by members of regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, including through regular reviews of member compliance with such obligations, and when such obligations are not met, require the member concerned to rectify the problem, including through the preparation of plans of action with timelines; 9. Invites States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to cooperate with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the implementation and further development of the Fishery Resources Monitoring System (FIRMS) initiative; 10. Urges States, including those working through subregional or regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to implement fully the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, notably through the collection of scientific data regarding shark catches and the adoption of conservation and management measures, particularly where shark catches from directed and non-directed fisheries have a significant impact on vulnerable or threatened shark stocks, in order to ensure the conservation and management of sharks and their long-term sustainable use, including by banning directed shark fisheries conducted solely for the purpose of harvesting shark fins and by taking measures for other fisheries to minimize waste and discards from shark catches, and to encourage the full use of dead sharks; 11. Urges States to eliminate barriers to trade in fish and fisheries products which are not consistent with their rights and obligations under the World Trade Organization agreements, taking into account the importance of the trade in fish and fisheries products, particularly for developing countries; 12. Urges States and relevant international and national organizations to provide for participation of small-scale fishery stakeholders in related policy development and fisheries management strategies in order to achieve long-term sustainability for such fisheries, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of fisheries resources; II Implementation of the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 13. Calls upon all States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, that have not done so to ratify or accede to the Agreement and in the interim to consider applying it provisionally; 14. Calls upon States parties to the Agreement to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Agreement, and to ensure that the provisions of the Agreement are effectively implemented into regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements of which they are a member; 15. Emphasizes the importance of those provisions of the Agreement relating to bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation in enforcement, and urges continued efforts in this regard; 16. Calls upon all States to ensure that their vessels comply with the conservation and management measures that have been adopted by regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention and of the Agreement; 17. Urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, thereof to inform, either directly or through the relevant regional or subregional fisheries management organization or arrangement, all States whose vessels fish on the high seas in the same region or subregion of the form of identification issued by those States parties to officials duly authorized to carry out boarding and inspection functions in accordance with articles 21 and 22 of the Agreement; 18. Also urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, to designate an appropriate authority to receive notifications pursuant to article 21 and to give due publicity to such designation through the relevant subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement; 19. Calls upon States individually and, as appropriate, through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements with competence over discrete high seas fish stocks, to adopt the necessary measures to ensure the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of such stocks in accordance with the Convention and consistent with the general principles set forth in the Agreement; 20. Invites States and international financial institutions and organizations of the United Nations system to provide assistance according to Part VII of the Agreement, including, if appropriate, the development of special financial mechanisms or instruments to assist developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to enable them to develop their national capacity to exploit fishery resources, including developing their domestically flagged fishing fleet, value-added processing and the expansion of their economic base in the fishing industry, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of fisheries resources; 21. Invites States to assist developing States in enhancing their participation in regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, including by facilitating access to fisheries for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in accordance with article 25, paragraph 1 (b), of the Agreement, taking into account the need to ensure that such access benefits the developing States concerned and their nationals; 22. Notes with satisfaction that the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement has begun to operate and consider applications for assistance by developing States parties to the Agreement, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, national institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial contributions to the Assistance Fund; 23. Requests that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat further publicize the availability of assistance through the Assistance Fund, and solicit views from developing States parties to the Agreement regarding the application and award procedures of the Fund, and consider changes where necessary to improve the process; 24. Encourages States, individually and, as appropriate, through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to implement the recommendations of the Review Conference;A/CONF.210/2006/15. 25. Recalls paragraph 6 of resolution 56/13, and requests the Secretary-General to convene in 2007, in accordance with past practice, a sixth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, for the purposes and objectives of considering the national, regional, subregional and global implementation of the Agreement, as well as considering initial preparatory steps for the resumption of the Review Conference convened by the Secretary-General pursuant to article 36 of the Agreement, and making any appropriate recommendation to the General Assembly; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to invite States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, not party to the Agreement, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant international financial institutions, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, other fisheries bodies, other relevant intergovernmental bodies and relevant non-governmental organizations, in accordance with past practice, to attend the sixth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement as observers; 27. Requests the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to initiate arrangements with States for the collection and dissemination of data on fishing in the high seas by vessels flying their flag at the subregional and regional levels where none exist; 28. Also requests the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to revise its global fisheries statistics database to provide information on straddling fish stocks, highly migratory fish stocks and discrete high seas fish stocks on the basis of where the catch is taken; III Related fisheries instruments 29. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of the provisions of the Compliance Agreement,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. II. and urges continued efforts in this regard; 30. Calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article X, paragraph 1, of the Compliance Agreement that have not yet become parties to that Agreement to do so as a matter of priority and, in the interim, to consider applying it provisionally; 31. Urges States and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement and promote the application of the Code within their areas of competence; 32. Urges States to develop and implement, as a matter of priority, national and, as appropriate, regional plans of action to put into effect the international plans of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; IV Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing 33. Emphasizes once again its serious concern that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems and continues to have serious and major implications for the conservation and management of ocean resources, and renews its call upon States to comply fully with all existing obligations and to combat such fishing and urgently to take all necessary steps to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 34. Urges States to exercise effective control over their nationals, including beneficial owners, and vessels flying their flag in order to prevent and deter them from engaging in or supporting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, and to facilitate mutual assistance to ensure that such actions can be investigated and proper sanctions imposed; 35. Also urges States to take effective measures, at the national, regional and global levels, to deter the activities, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, of any vessel which undermines conservation and management measures that have been adopted by regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with international law; 36. Calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas or in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, unless duly authorized by the authorities of the States concerned and in accordance with the conditions set out in the authorization, and to take specific measures, including deterring the reflagging of vessels by their nationals, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, to control fishing operations by vessels flying their flag; 37. Reaffirms the need to strengthen, where necessary, the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation, in particular at the subregional and regional levels, in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in a manner consistent with international law, and for States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to collaborate in efforts to address these types of fishing activities, including, inter alia, the development and implementation of vessel monitoring systems and the listing of vessels in order to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities and, where appropriate and consistent with international law, trade monitoring schemes, including to collect global catch data, through subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 38. Calls upon States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, such as developing measures consistent with national law to prohibit vessels flying their flag from supporting vessels engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, including those listed by regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements; 39. Also calls upon States to take all necessary measures consistent with international law, without prejudice to reasons of force majeure or distress, including the prohibition of vessels from accessing their ports followed by a report to the flag State concerned, when there is clear evidence that they are or have been engaged in or have supported illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, or when they refuse to give information either on the origin of the catch or on the authorization under which the catch has been made; 40. Urges further international action to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by vessels flying "flags of convenience" as well as to require that a "genuine link" be established between States and fishing vessels flying their flags, and calls upon States to implement the 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated FishingFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Outcome of the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, Rome, 12 March 2005 (CL 128/INF/11), appendix B. as a matter of priority; 41. Urges States individually and collectively through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to cooperate to clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag and to develop appropriate processes to assess performance of States with respect to implementing the obligations regarding fishing vessels flying their flag set out in relevant international instruments; 42. Recognizes the need for enhanced port State controls to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and urges States to cooperate, in particular at the regional level and through subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to adopt all necessary port measures, consistent with international law taking into account article 23 of the Agreement, particularly those identified in the Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2005, and to promote the development and application of minimum standards at the regional level; 43. Encourages States to initiate, as soon as possible, a process within the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop, as appropriate, a legally binding instrument on minimum standards for port State measures, building on the Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; 44. Encourages States, with respect to vessels flying their flag, and port States, to make every effort to share data on landings and catch quotas, and in this regard encourages regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to consider developing open databases containing such data for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of fisheries management; 45. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure that vessels flying their flag do not engage in trans-shipment of fish caught by fishing vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 46. Urges States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to adopt and implement internationally agreed market-related measures in accordance with international law, including principles, rights and obligations established in World Trade Organization agreements, as called for in the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; V Monitoring, control and surveillance and compliance and enforcement 47. Calls upon States in accordance with international law to strengthen implementation of or, where they do not exist, adopt comprehensive monitoring, control and surveillance measures and compliance and enforcement schemes individually and within those regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in which they participate in order to provide an appropriate framework for promoting compliance with agreed conservation and management measures, and further urges enhanced coordination among all relevant States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in these efforts; 48. Encourages further work by competent international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to develop guidelines on flag State control of fishing vessels; 49. Urges States, individually and through relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to establish mandatory vessel monitoring, control and surveillance systems, in particular to require that vessel monitoring systems be carried by all vessels fishing on the high seas as soon as practicable, and in the case of large-scale fishing vessels no later than December 2008, and share information on fisheries enforcement matters; 50. Calls upon States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to strengthen or establish, consistent with national and international law, positive or negative lists of vessels fishing within the areas covered by relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in order to verify compliance with conservation and management measures and identify products from illegal, unreported and unregulated catches, and encourages improved coordination among all parties and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in sharing and using this information, taking into account the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement; 51. Requests States and relevant international bodies to develop, in accordance with international law, more effective measures to trace fish and fishery products to enable importing States to identify fish or fishery products caught in a manner that undermines international conservation and management measures agreed in accordance with international law, taking into account the special requirements of developing States and the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement, and at the same time to recognize the importance of market access, in accordance with provisions 11.2.4, 11.2.5 and 11.2.6 of the Code, for fish and fishery products caught in a manner that is in conformity with such international measures; 52. Encourages States to establish and undertake cooperative surveillance and enforcement activities in accordance with international law to strengthen and enhance efforts to ensure compliance with conservation and management measures, and prevent and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 53. Urges States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to develop and adopt effective measures to regulate trans-shipment, in particular at-sea trans-shipment, in order to, inter alia, monitor compliance, collect and verify fisheries data, and to prevent and suppress illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities in accordance with international law; and, in parallel, encourage and support the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in studying the current practices of trans-shipment as it relates to fishing operations for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and produce a set of guidelines for this purpose; 54. Encourages States to join and actively participate in the existing voluntary International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network for Fisheries-Related Activities and to consider supporting, when appropriate, transformation of the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network in accordance with international law into an international unit with dedicated resources to further assist Network members, taking into account the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement; 55. Notes with satisfaction the completion of the first Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur from 18 to 22 July 2005 and hosted by the Government of Malaysia in cooperation with the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network and the FishCode programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and encourages widespread participation in the upcoming Second Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Conference, to be held in Trondheim, Norway, in August 2008 and sponsored by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries in conjunction with the Network; 56. Encourages States to cooperate in the development of a comprehensive global record within the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations of fishing vessels, including refrigerated transport vessels and supply vessels, that incorporates available information on beneficial ownership, subject to confidentiality requirements in accordance with national law, as called for in the 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; VI Fishing overcapacity 57. Calls upon States to commit to urgently reducing the capacity of the world's fishing fleets to levels commensurate with the sustainability of fish stocks, through the establishment of target levels and plans or other appropriate mechanisms for ongoing capacity assessment, while avoiding the transfer of fishing capacity to other fisheries or areas in a manner that undermines the sustainable management of fish stocks, including, inter alia, those areas where fish stocks are overexploited or in a depleted condition, and recognizing in this context the legitimate rights of developing States to develop their fisheries for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks consistent with article 25 of the Agreement, article 5 of the Code, and paragraph 10 of the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity; 58. Urges States to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to fishing overcapacity, while completing the efforts undertaken at the World Trade Organization in accordance with the Doha DeclarationWorld Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to clarify and improve its disciplines on fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector, including small-scale and artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, to developing countries; VII Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing 59. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to continued compliance with its resolution 46/215 and other subsequent resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, and urges States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions; VIII Fisheries by-catch and discards 60. Urges States, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant international organizations that have not done so to take action to reduce or eliminate by-catch, catch by lost or abandoned gear, fish discards and post-harvest losses, including juvenile fish, consistent with international law and relevant international instruments, including the Code, and in particular to consider measures including, as appropriate, technical measures related to fish size, mesh size or gear, discards, closed seasons and areas and zones reserved for selected fisheries, particularly artisanal fisheries, the establishment of mechanisms for communicating information on areas of high concentration of juvenile fish, taking into account the importance of ensuring confidentiality of such information, and support for studies and research that will reduce or eliminate by-catch of juvenile fish; 61. Encourages States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to give due consideration to participation, as appropriate, in regional and subregional instruments and organizations with mandates to conserve non-target species taken incidentally in fishing operations; 62. Requests States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to urgently implement, as appropriate, the measures recommended in the Guidelines to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing OperationsFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Technical Consultation on Sea Turtles Conservation and Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand, 29 November-2 December 2004, FAO Fisheries Report No. 765 (FIRM/R765(En)), appendix E. and the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to prevent the decline of sea turtles and seabird populations by reducing by-catch and increasing post-release survival in their fisheries, including through research and development of gear and bait alternatives, promoting the use of available by-catch mitigation technology, and promotion and strengthening of data-collection programmes to obtain standardized information to develop reliable estimates of the by-catch of these species; IX Subregional and regional cooperation 63. Urges coastal States and States fishing on the high seas, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to ensure the effective conservation and management of such stocks; 64. Urges States fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, where a subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement has the competence to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to give effect to their duty to cooperate by becoming members of such an organization or participants in such an arrangement, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such an organization or arrangement, or to otherwise ensure that no vessel flying their flag is authorized to access the fisheries resources to which regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements or conservation and management measures established by such organizations or arrangements apply; 65. Invites, in this regard, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that all States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement; 66. Encourages relevant coastal States and States fishing on the high seas for a straddling fish stock or a highly migratory fish stock, where there is no subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to cooperate to establish such an organization or enter into another appropriate arrangement to ensure the conservation and management of such stocks, and to participate in the work of the organization or arrangement; 67. Welcomes the adoption of conservation measures by the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organization at its third annual meeting, held in Windhoek on 4 October 2006, including an interim prohibition of fishing activities in ten marine areas with prominent seamounts, and urges all signatory States and other States whose vessels fish within the area of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean for fishery resources covered by that Convention to become parties to that Convention as a matter of priority and, in the interim, to ensure that vessels flying their flags fully comply with the measures adopted; 68. Also welcomes the adoption of the South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement in Rome on 7 July 2006, encourages signatory States and States having a real interest to become parties to that Agreement, and urges those States to agree on and implement interim measures to ensure the conservation and management of the fisheries resources and their marine ecosystems and habitats in the area to which that Agreement applies until such time as that Agreement enters into force; 69. Further welcomes the initiation and progress of negotiations to establish regional and subregional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in several fisheries, in particular in the South Pacific and North-West Pacific, encourages States having a real interest to participate in such negotiations, urges participants to expedite those negotiations and to apply provisions of the Convention and the Agreement to their work, and further urges participants to agree on and implement interim conservation and management measures until such regional and subregional fisheries management organizations or arrangements are established; 70. Urges further efforts by regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, as a matter of priority, in accordance with international law, to strengthen and modernize their mandates and the measures adopted by such organizations or arrangements, to implement modern approaches to fisheries management as reflected in the Agreement and other relevant international instruments relying on the best scientific information available and application of the precautionary approach, and incorporating an ecosystem approach to fisheries management and biodiversity considerations, where these aspects are lacking, to ensure that they effectively contribute to long-term conservation and management and sustainable use of marine living resources; 71. Urges States to strengthen and enhance cooperation among existing and developing regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in which they participate, including increased communication and further coordination of measures, and in this regard encourages wide participation in the joint tuna regional fisheries management organization and arrangement meeting that will be hosted by the Government of Japan in 2007, and encourages members of other existing regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements and participants in establishing new regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to hold similar consultations; 72. Urges regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to improve transparency and to ensure that their decision-making processes are fair and transparent, rely on best scientific information available, incorporate the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, address participatory rights, including through, inter alia, the development of transparent criteria for allocating fishing opportunities which reflects, where appropriate, the relevant provisions of the Agreement, taking due account, inter alia, of the status of the relevant stocks and the respective interests in the fishery, and strengthen integration, coordination and cooperation with other relevant fisheries organizations, regional seas arrangements and other relevant international organizations; 73. Urges States, through their participation in regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to undertake, on an urgent basis, performance reviews of those regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, initiated either by the organization or arrangement itself or with external partners, including in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, using transparent criteria based on the provisions of the Agreement and other relevant instruments, including the best practices of regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements; and further encourages that such performance reviews include some element of independent evaluation and that the results be made publicly available, noting that the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission has completed a performance review; 74. Also urges States to cooperate to develop best practice guidelines for regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and to apply, to the extent possible, those guidelines to organizations and arrangements in which they participate; 75. Encourages the development of regional guidelines for States to use in establishing sanctions, for non-compliance by vessels flying their flag and by their nationals, to be applied in accordance with national law, that are adequate in severity for effectively securing compliance, deterring further violations and depriving offenders of the benefits deriving from their illegal activities, as well as in evaluating their systems of sanctions to ensure that they are effective in securing compliance and deterring violations; X Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem 76. Encourages States to apply by 2010 the ecosystem approach, notes the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine EcosystemE/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. and decision VII/11See UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex. and other relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, notes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations related to guidelines for the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, and also notes the importance to this approach of relevant provisions of the Agreement and the Code; 77. Also encourages States, individually or through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant international organizations, to work to ensure that fisheries and other ecosystem data collection is performed in a coordinated and integrated manner, facilitating incorporation into global observation initiatives, where appropriate; 78. Further encourages States to increase scientific research in accordance with international law on the marine ecosystem; 79. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies of the United Nations, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, where appropriate, and other appropriate intergovernmental bodies, to cooperate in achieving sustainable aquaculture, including through information exchange, developing equivalent standards on such issues as aquatic animal health and human health and safety concerns, assessing the potential positive and negative impacts of aquaculture, including socio-economics, on the marine and coastal environment, including biodiversity, and adopting relevant methods and techniques to minimize and mitigate adverse effects; 80. Calls upon States to take action immediately, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and consistent with the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, to sustainably manage fish stocks and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals, from destructive fishing practices, recognizing the immense importance and value of deep sea ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain; 81. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to paragraphs 66 to 69 of its resolution 59/25 concerning the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems; 82. Welcomes the important progress made by States and regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements with the competence to regulate bottom fisheries to give effect to paragraphs 66 to 69 of its resolution 59/25 to address the impacts of fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including by initiating negotiations to establish new regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, but on the basis of the review called for in paragraph 71 of that resolution, recognizes that additional actions are urgently needed; 83. Calls upon regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements with the competence to regulate bottom fisheries to adopt and implement measures, in accordance with the precautionary approach, ecosystem approaches and international law, for their respective regulatory areas as a matter of priority, but not later than 31 December 2008: (a) To assess, on the basis of the best available scientific information, whether individual bottom fishing activities would have significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems, and to ensure that if it is assessed that these activities would have significant adverse impacts, they are managed to prevent such impacts, or not authorized to proceed; (b) To identify vulnerable marine ecosystems and determine whether bottom fishing activities would cause significant adverse impacts to such ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of deep sea fish stocks, inter alia, by improving scientific research and data collection and sharing, and through new and exploratory fisheries; (c) In respect of areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals, are known to occur or are likely to occur based on the best available scientific information, to close such areas to bottom fishing and ensure that such activities do not proceed unless conservation and management measures have been established to prevent significant adverse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems; (d) To require members of the regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to require vessels flying their flag to cease bottom fishing activities in areas where, in the course of fishing operations, vulnerable marine ecosystems are encountered, and to report the encounter so that appropriate measures can be adopted in respect of the relevant site; 84. Also calls upon regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements with the competence to regulate bottom fisheries to make the measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 83 of the present resolution publicly available; 85. Calls upon those States participating in negotiations to establish a regional fisheries management organization or arrangement competent to regulate bottom fisheries to expedite such negotiations and, by no later than 31 December 2007, to adopt and implement interim measures consistent with paragraph 83 of the present resolution and make these measures publicly available; 86. Calls upon flag States to either adopt and implement measures in accordance with paragraph 83 of the present resolution, mutatis mutandis, or cease to authorize fishing vessels flying their flag to conduct bottom fisheries in areas beyond national jurisdiction where there is no regional fisheries management organization or arrangement with the competence to regulate such fisheries or interim measures in accordance with paragraph 85 of the present resolution, until measures are taken in accordance with paragraph 83 or 85 of the present resolution; 87. Further calls upon States to make publicly available through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations a list of those vessels flying their flag authorized to conduct bottom fisheries in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and the measures they have adopted pursuant to paragraph 86 of the present resolution; 88. Emphasizes the critical role played by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in providing expert technical advice, in assisting with international fisheries policy development and management standards, and in collection and dissemination of information on fisheries-related issues, including the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems from the impacts of fishing; 89. Commends the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its work on the management of deep sea fisheries in the high seas, including the expert consultation held from 21 to 23 November 2006 in Bangkok, and further invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to establish at its next Committee on Fisheries meeting a time frame of relevant work with respect to the management of deep sea fisheries in the high seas, including enhancing data collection and dissemination, promoting information exchange and increased knowledge on deep sea fishing activities, such as by convening a meeting of States engaged in such fisheries, developing standards and criteria for use by States and regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in identifying vulnerable marine ecosystems and the impacts of fishing on such ecosystems, and establishing standards for the management of deep sea fisheries, such as through the development of an international plan of action; 90. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to consider creating a global database of information on vulnerable marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction to assist States in assessing any impacts of bottom fisheries on vulnerable marine ecosystems, and invites States and regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to submit information to any such database on all vulnerable marine ecosystems identified in accordance with paragraph 83 of the present resolution; 91. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to include in his report concerning fisheries to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a section on the actions taken by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in response to paragraphs 83 to 90 of the present resolution, and decides to conduct a further review of such actions at that session in 2009, with a view to further recommendations, where necessary; 92. Encourages accelerated progress to establish criteria on the objectives and management of marine protected areas for fisheries purposes, and in this regard welcomes the proposed work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop technical guidelines in accordance with the Convention on the design, implementation and testing of marine protected areas for such purposes, and urges coordination and cooperation among all relevant international organizations and bodies; 93. Notes that the Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities was held from 16 to 20 October 2006 in Beijing, and urges all States to implement the Global Programme of Action and to accelerate activity to safeguard the marine ecosystem, including fish stocks, against pollution and physical degradation; 94. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to paragraphs 77 to 81 of its resolution 60/31 concerning the issue of lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear and related marine debris and the adverse impacts such debris and derelict fishing gear have on, inter alia, fish stocks, habitats and other marine species, and urges accelerated progress by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in implementing those paragraphs of the resolution; 95. Further encourages the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to consider the issue of derelict fishing gear and related marine debris at its next meeting in 2007, and in particular the implementation of relevant provisions of the Code; XI Capacity-building 96. Reiterates the crucial importance of cooperation by States directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional and subregional organizations, and by other international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through its FishCode programme, including through financial and/or technical assistance, in accordance with the Agreement, the Compliance Agreement, the Code, the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, and the Guidelines to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing Operations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to increase the capacity of developing States to achieve the goals and implement the actions called for in the present resolution; 97. Welcomes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in developing guidance on the strategies and measures required for the creation of an enabling environment for small-scale fisheries, including the development of a code of conduct and guidelines for enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security that include adequate provisions with regard to financial measures and capacity-building, including transfer of technology, and encourages studies for creating possible alternative livelihoods for coastal communities; 98. Encourages increased capacity-building and technical assistance by States, international financial institutions and relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies for fishers, in particular small-scale fishers, in developing countries, and in particular small island developing States, consistent with environmental sustainability; 99. Encourages the international community to enhance the opportunities for sustainable development in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, small island developing States and coastal African States, by encouraging greater participation of those States in authorized fisheries activities being undertaken within areas under their national jurisdiction, in accordance with the Convention, by distant-water fishing nations in order to achieve better economic returns for developing countries from their fisheries resources within areas under their national jurisdiction and an enhanced role in regional fisheries management, as well as by enhancing the ability of developing countries to develop their own fisheries, as well as to participate in high seas fisheries, including access to such fisheries, in conformity with international law, in particular the Convention and the Agreement; 100. Requests distant-water fishing nations, when negotiating access agreements and arrangements with developing coastal States, to do so on an equitable and sustainable basis, including by giving greater attention to fish processing, including fish processing facilities, within the national jurisdiction of the developing coastal State to assist the realization of the benefits from the development of fisheries resources, and also including, inter alia, the transfer of technology and assistance for monitoring, control and surveillance and compliance and enforcement within areas under the national jurisdiction of the developing coastal State providing fisheries access, taking into account the forms of cooperation set out in article 25 of the Agreement; 101. Encourages States individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to provide greater assistance and to promote coherence in such assistance for developing States in designing, establishing and implementing relevant agreements, instruments and tools for the conservation and sustainable management of fish stocks, including in designing and strengthening their domestic regulatory fisheries policies and those of regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in their regions, and the enhancement of research and scientific capabilities through existing funds, such as the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement, bilateral assistance, regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements assistance funds, the FishCode programme, the World Bank's global programme on fisheries and the Global Environment Facility; 102. Calls upon States to promote, through continuing dialogue and the assistance and cooperation provided in accordance with articles 24 to 26 of the Agreement, further ratification of or accession to the Agreement by seeking to address, inter alia, the issue of lack of capacity and resources that might stand in the way of developing States becoming parties; XII Cooperation within the United Nations system 103. Requests the relevant parts of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and donor agencies to support increased enforcement and compliance capabilities for regional fisheries management organizations and their member States; 104. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its cooperative arrangements with United Nations agencies on the implementation of the international plans of action and to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his annual report on sustainable fisheries, on priorities for cooperation and coordination in this work; 105. Invites the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system to consult and cooperate in the preparation of questionnaires designed to collect information on sustainable fisheries, in order to avoid duplication; XIII Sixty-second session of the General Assembly 106. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and to invite them to provide the Secretary-General with information relevant to the implementation of the present resolution; 107. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments", taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and consisting, inter alia, of elements provided in relevant paragraphs in the present resolution; 108. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", the sub-item entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments". RESOLUTION 61/106 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 13 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities (A/61/611, para.7) 61/106. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/168 of 19 December 2001, by which it decided to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to the participation of all Member States and observers to the United Nations, to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, based on a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination and taking into account the recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission for Social Development, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 60/232 of 23 December 2005, as well as relevant resolutions of the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on Human Rights, Welcoming the valuable contributions made by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions to the work of the Ad Hoc Committee, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Ad Hoc Committee for having concluded the elaboration of the draft Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the draft Optional Protocol to the Convention; 2. Adopts the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol to the Convention annexed to the present resolution, which shall be open for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York as of 30 March 2007; 3. Calls upon States to consider signing and ratifying the Convention and the Optional Protocol as a matter of priority, and expresses the hope that they will enter into force at an early date; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the staff and facilities necessary for the effective performance of the functions of the Conference of States Parties and the Committee under the Convention and the Optional Protocol after the entry into force of the Convention, as well as for the dissemination of information on the Convention and the Optional Protocol; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to implement progressively standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services of the United Nations system, taking into account relevant provisions of the Convention, in particular when undertaking renovations; 6. Requests United Nations agencies and organizations, and invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to undertake efforts to disseminate information on the Convention and the Optional Protocol and to promote their understanding; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the status of the Convention and the Optional Protocol and the implementation of the present resolution, under a sub-item entitled "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities". Annex I Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Preamble The States Parties to the present Convention, (a) Recalling the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations which recognize the inherent dignity and worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, (b) Recognizing that the United Nations, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants on Human Rights, has proclaimed and agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, (c) Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination, (d) Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, (e) Recognizing that disability is an evolving concept and that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others, (f) Recognizing the importance of the principles and policy guidelines contained in the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and in the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in influencing the promotion, formulation and evaluation of the policies, plans, programmes and actions at the national, regional and international levels to further equalize opportunities for persons with disabilities, (g) Emphasizing the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as an integral part of relevant strategies of sustainable development, (h) Recognizing also that discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is a violation of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person, (i) Recognizing further the diversity of persons with disabilities, (j) Recognizing the need to promote and protect the human rights of all persons with disabilities, including those who require more intensive support, (k) Concerned that, despite these various instruments and undertakings, persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in their participation as equal members of society and violations of their human rights in all parts of the world, (l) Recognizing the importance of international cooperation for improving the living conditions of persons with disabilities in every country, particularly in developing countries, (m) Recognizing the valued existing and potential contributions made by persons with disabilities to the overall well-being and diversity of their communities, and that the promotion of the full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of their human rights and fundamental freedoms and of full participation by persons with disabilities will result in their enhanced sense of belonging and in significant advances in the human, social and economic development of society and the eradication of poverty, (n) Recognizing the importance for persons with disabilities of their individual autonomy and independence, including the freedom to make their own choices, (o) Considering that persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to be actively involved in decision-making processes about policies and programmes, including those directly concerning them, (p) Concerned about the difficult conditions faced by persons with disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status, (q) Recognizing that women and girls with disabilities are often at greater risk, both within and outside the home, of violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, (r) Recognizing that children with disabilities should have full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, and recalling obligations to that end undertaken by States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, (s) Emphasizing the need to incorporate a gender perspective in all efforts to promote the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, (t) Highlighting the fact that the majority of persons with disabilities live in conditions of poverty, and in this regard recognizing the critical need to address the negative impact of poverty on persons with disabilities, (u) Bearing in mind that conditions of peace and security based on full respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations and observance of applicable human rights instruments are indispensable for the full protection of persons with disabilities, in particular during armed conflicts and foreign occupation, (v) Recognizing the importance of accessibility to the physical, social, economic and cultural environment, to health and education and to information and communication, in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms, (w) Realizing that the individual, having duties to other individuals and to the community to which he or she belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognized in the International Bill of Human Rights, (x) Convinced that the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State, and that persons with disabilities and their family members should receive the necessary protection and assistance to enable families to contribute towards the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities, (y) Convinced that a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities will make a significant contribution to redressing the profound social disadvantage of persons with disabilities and promote their participation in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres with equal opportunities, in both developing and developed countries, Have agreed as follows: Article 1 Purpose The purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Article 2 Definitions For the purposes of the present Convention: "Communication" includes languages, display of text, Braille, tactile communication, large print, accessible multimedia as well as written, audio, plain-language, human-reader and augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, including accessible information and communication technology; "Language" includes spoken and signed languages and other forms of non-spoken languages; "Discrimination on the basis of disability" means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability which has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. It includes all forms of discrimination, including denial of reasonable accommodation; "Reasonable accommodation" means necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms; "Universal design" means the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. "Universal design" shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed. Article 3 General principles The principles of the present Convention shall be: (a) Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons; (b) Non-discrimination; (c) Full and effective participation and inclusion in society; (d) Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity; (e) Equality of opportunity; (f) Accessibility; (g) Equality between men and women; (h) Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities. Article 4 General obligations 1. States Parties undertake to ensure and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. To this end, States Parties undertake: (a) To adopt all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognized in the present Convention; (b) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities; (c) To take into account the protection and promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programmes; (d) To refrain from engaging in any act or practice that is inconsistent with the present Convention and to ensure that public authorities and institutions act in conformity with the present Convention; (e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise; (f) To undertake or promote research and development of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, which should require the minimum possible adaptation and the least cost to meet the specific needs of a person with disabilities, to promote their availability and use, and to promote universal design in the development of standards and guidelines; (g) To undertake or promote research and development of, and to promote the availability and use of new technologies, including information and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to technologies at an affordable cost; (h) To provide accessible information to persons with disabilities about mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, including new technologies, as well as other forms of assistance, support services and facilities; (i) To promote the training of professionals and staff working with persons with disabilities in the rights recognized in the present Convention so as to better provide the assistance and services guaranteed by those rights. 2. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, each State Party undertakes to take measures to the maximum of its available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international cooperation, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of these rights, without prejudice to those obligations contained in the present Convention that are immediately applicable according to international law. 3. In the development and implementation of legislation and policies to implement the present Convention, and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities, States Parties shall closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organizations. 4. Nothing in the present Convention shall affect any provisions which are more conducive to the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and which may be contained in the law of a State Party or international law in force for that State. There shall be no restriction upon or derogation from any of the human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized or existing in any State Party to the present Convention pursuant to law, conventions, regulation or custom on the pretext that the present Convention does not recognize such rights or freedoms or that it recognizes them to a lesser extent. 5. The provisions of the present Convention shall extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions. Article 5 Equality and non-discrimination 1. States Parties recognize that all persons are equal before and under the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law. 2. States Parties shall prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds. 3. In order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination, States Parties shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided. 4. Specific measures which are necessary to accelerate or achieve de facto equality of persons with disabilities shall not be considered discrimination under the terms of the present Convention. Article 6 Women with disabilities 1. States Parties recognize that women and girls with disabilities are subject to multiple discrimination, and in this regard shall take measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment by them of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. 2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the present Convention. Article 7 Children with disabilities 1. States Parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure the full enjoyment by children with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children. 2. In all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. 3. States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have the right to express their views freely on all matters affecting them, their views being given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity, on an equal basis with other children, and to be provided with disability and age-appropriate assistance to realize that right. Article 8 Awareness-raising 1. States Parties undertake to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures: (a) To raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities; (b) To combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life; (c) To promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities. 2. Measures to this end include: (a) Initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns designed: (i) To nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities; (ii) To promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards persons with disabilities; (iii) To promote recognition of the skills, merits and abilities of persons with disabilities, and of their contributions to the workplace and the labour market; (b) Fostering at all levels of the education system, including in all children from an early age, an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities; (c) Encouraging all organs of the media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of the present Convention; (d) Promoting awareness-training programmes regarding persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with disabilities. Article 9 Accessibility 1. To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas. These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia: (a) Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces; (b) Information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services. 2. States Parties shall also take appropriate measures: (a) To develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public; (b) To ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities; (c) To provide training for stakeholders on accessibility issues facing persons with disabilities; (d) To provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms; (e) To provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public; (f) To promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information; (g) To promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet; (h) To promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost. Article 10 Right to life States Parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. Article 11 Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies States Parties shall take, in accordance with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters. Article 12 Equal recognition before the law 1. States Parties reaffirm that persons with disabilities have the right to recognition everywhere as persons before the law. 2. States Parties shall recognize that persons with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life. 3. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to provide access by persons with disabilities to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity. 4. States Parties shall ensure that all measures that relate to the exercise of legal capacity provide for appropriate and effective safeguards to prevent abuse in accordance with international human rights law. Such safeguards shall ensure that measures relating to the exercise of legal capacity respect the rights, will and preferences of the person, are free of conflict of interest and undue influence, are proportional and tailored to the person's circumstances, apply for the shortest time possible and are subject to regular review by a competent, independent and impartial authority or judicial body. The safeguards shall be proportional to the degree to which such measures affect the person's rights and interests. 5. Subject to the provisions of this article, States Parties shall take all appropriate and effective measures to ensure the equal right of persons with disabilities to own or inherit property, to control their own financial affairs and to have equal access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit, and shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not arbitrarily deprived of their property. Article 13 Access to justice 1. States Parties shall ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others, including through the provision of procedural and age-appropriate accommodations, in order to facilitate their effective role as direct and indirect participants, including as witnesses, in all legal proceedings, including at investigative and other preliminary stages. 2. In order to help to ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, States Parties shall promote appropriate training for those working in the field of administration of justice, including police and prison staff. Article 14 Liberty and security of person 1. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others: (a) Enjoy the right to liberty and security of person; (b) Are not deprived of their liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily, and that any deprivation of liberty is in conformity with the law, and that the existence of a disability shall in no case justify a deprivation of liberty. 2. States Parties shall ensure that if persons with disabilities are deprived of their liberty through any process, they are, on an equal basis with others, entitled to guarantees in accordance with international human rights law and shall be treated in compliance with the objectives and principles of the present Convention, including by provision of reasonable accommodation. Article 15 Freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment 1. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his or her free consent to medical or scientific experimentation. 2. States Parties shall take all effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, from being subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 16 Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse 1. States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, educational and other measures to protect persons with disabilities, both within and outside the home, from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, including their gender-based aspects. 2. States Parties shall also take all appropriate measures to prevent all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse by ensuring, inter alia, appropriate forms of gender- and age-sensitive assistance and support for persons with disabilities and their families and caregivers, including through the provision of information and education on how to avoid, recognize and report instances of exploitation, violence and abuse. States Parties shall ensure that protection services are age-, gender- and disability-sensitive. 3. In order to prevent the occurrence of all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse, States Parties shall ensure that all facilities and programmes designed to serve persons with disabilities are effectively monitored by independent authorities. 4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote the physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons with disabilities who become victims of any form of exploitation, violence or abuse, including through the provision of protection services. Such recovery and reintegration shall take place in an environment that fosters the health, welfare, self-respect, dignity and autonomy of the person and takes into account gender- and age-specific needs. 5. States Parties shall put in place effective legislation and policies, including women- and child-focused legislation and policies, to ensure that instances of exploitation, violence and abuse against persons with disabilities are identified, investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted. Article 17 Protecting the integrity of the person Every person with disabilities has a right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity on an equal basis with others. Article 18 Liberty of movement and nationality 1. States Parties shall recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to liberty of movement, to freedom to choose their residence and to a nationality, on an equal basis with others, including by ensuring that persons with disabilities: (a) Have the right to acquire and change a nationality and are not deprived of their nationality arbitrarily or on the basis of disability; (b) Are not deprived, on the basis of disability, of their ability to obtain, possess and utilize documentation of their nationality or other documentation of identification, or to utilize relevant processes such as immigration proceedings, that may be needed to facilitate exercise of the right to liberty of movement; (c) Are free to leave any country, including their own; (d) Are not deprived, arbitrarily or on the basis of disability, of the right to enter their own country. 2. Children with disabilities shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by their parents. Article 19 Living independently and being included in the community States Parties to the present Convention recognize the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of this right and their full inclusion and participation in the community, including by ensuring that: (a) Persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their place of residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with others and are not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement; (b) Persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community; (c) Community services and facilities for the general population are available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and are responsive to their needs. Article 20 Personal mobility States Parties shall take effective measures to ensure personal mobility with the greatest possible independence for persons with disabilities, including by: (a) Facilitating the personal mobility of persons with disabilities in the manner and at the time of their choice, and at affordable cost; (b) Facilitating access by persons with disabilities to quality mobility aids, devices, assistive technologies and forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including by making them available at affordable cost; (c) Providing training in mobility skills to persons with disabilities and to specialist staff working with persons with disabilities; (d) Encouraging entities that produce mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies to take into account all aspects of mobility for persons with disabilities. Article 21 Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention, including by: (a) Providing information intended for the general public to persons with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost; (b) Accepting and facilitating the use of sign languages, Braille, augmentative and alternative communication, and all other accessible means, modes and formats of communication of their choice by persons with disabilities in official interactions; (c) Urging private entities that provide services to the general public, including through the Internet, to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities; (d) Encouraging the mass media, including providers of information through the Internet, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities; (e) Recognizing and promoting the use of sign languages. Article 22 Respect for privacy 1. No person with disabilities, regardless of place of residence or living arrangements, shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence or other types of communication or to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation. Persons with disabilities have the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks. 2. States Parties shall protect the privacy of personal, health and rehabilitation information of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. Article 23 Respect for home and the family 1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to marriage, family, parenthood and relationships, on an equal basis with others, so as to ensure that: (a) The right of all persons with disabilities who are of marriageable age to marry and to found a family on the basis of free and full consent of the intending spouses is recognized; (b) The rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to age-appropriate information, reproductive and family planning education are recognized, and the means necessary to enable them to exercise these rights are provided; (c) Persons with disabilities, including children, retain their fertility on an equal basis with others. 2. States Parties shall ensure the rights and responsibilities of persons with disabilities, with regard to guardianship, wardship, trusteeship, adoption of children or similar institutions, where these concepts exist in national legislation; in all cases the best interests of the child shall be paramount. States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to persons with disabilities in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities. 3. States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have equal rights with respect to family life. With a view to realizing these rights, and to prevent concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of children with disabilities, States Parties shall undertake to provide early and comprehensive information, services and support to children with disabilities and their families. 4. States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child. In no case shall a child be separated from parents on the basis of a disability of either the child or one or both of the parents. 5. States Parties shall, where the immediate family is unable to care for a child with disabilities, undertake every effort to provide alternative care within the wider family, and failing that, within the community in a family setting. Article 24 Education 1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning directed to: (a) The full development of human potential and sense of dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity; (b) The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential; (c) Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society. 2. In realizing this right, States Parties shall ensure that: (a) Persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of disability, and that children with disabilities are not excluded from free and compulsory primary education, or from secondary education, on the basis of disability; (b) Persons with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live; (c) Reasonable accommodation of the individual's requirements is provided; (d) Persons with disabilities receive the support required, within the general education system, to facilitate their effective education; (e) Effective individualized support measures are provided in environments that maximize academic and social development, consistent with the goal of full inclusion. 3. States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including: (a) Facilitating the learning of Braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication and orientation and mobility skills, and facilitating peer support and mentoring; (b) Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community; (c) Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximize academic and social development. 4. In order to help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and/or Braille, and to train professionals and staff who work at all levels of education. Such training shall incorporate disability awareness and the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, educational techniques and materials to support persons with disabilities. 5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities. Article 25 Health States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health services that are gender-sensitive, including health-related rehabilitation. In particular, States Parties shall: (a) Provide persons with disabilities with the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programmes as provided to other persons, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and population-based public health programmes; (b) Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimize and prevent further disabilities, including among children and older persons; (c) Provide these health services as close as possible to people's own communities, including in rural areas; (d) Require health professionals to provide care of the same quality to persons with disabilities as to others, including on the basis of free and informed consent by, inter alia, raising awareness of the human rights, dignity, autonomy and needs of persons with disabilities through training and the promulgation of ethical standards for public and private health care; (e) Prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in the provision of health insurance, and life insurance where such insurance is permitted by national law, which shall be provided in a fair and reasonable manner; (f) Prevent discriminatory denial of health care or health services or food and fluids on the basis of disability. Article 26 Habilitation and rehabilitation 1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures, including through peer support, to enable persons with disabilities to attain and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability, and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life. To that end, States Parties shall organize, strengthen and extend comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation services and programmes, particularly in the areas of health, employment, education and social services, in such a way that these services and programmes: (a) Begin at the earliest possible stage, and are based on the multidisciplinary assessment of individual needs and strengths; (b) Support participation and inclusion in the community and all aspects of society, are voluntary, and are available to persons with disabilities as close as possible to their own communities, including in rural areas. 2. States Parties shall promote the development of initial and continuing training for professionals and staff working in habilitation and rehabilitation services. 3. States Parties shall promote the availability, knowledge and use of assistive devices and technologies, designed for persons with disabilities, as they relate to habilitation and rehabilitation. Article 27 Work and employment 1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. States Parties shall safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work, including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment, by taking appropriate steps, including through legislation, to, inter alia: (a) Prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions; (b) Protect the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, to just and favourable conditions of work, including equal opportunities and equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy working conditions, including protection from harassment, and the redress of grievances; (c) Ensure that persons with disabilities are able to exercise their labour and trade union rights on an equal basis with others; (d) Enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and vocational and continuing training; (e) Promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining and returning to employment; (f) Promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the development of cooperatives and starting one's own business; (g) Employ persons with disabilities in the public sector; (h) Promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector through appropriate policies and measures, which may include affirmative action programmes, incentives and other measures; (i) Ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities in the workplace; (j) Promote the acquisition by persons with disabilities of work experience in the open labour market; (k) Promote vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities. 2. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are not held in slavery or in servitude, and are protected, on an equal basis with others, from forced or compulsory labour. Article 28 Adequate standard of living and social protection 1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability. 2. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to social protection and to the enjoyment of that right without discrimination on the basis of disability, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right, including measures: (a) To ensure equal access by persons with disabilities to clean water services, and to ensure access to appropriate and affordable services, devices and other assistance for disability-related needs; (b) To ensure access by persons with disabilities, in particular women and girls with disabilities and older persons with disabilities, to social protection programmes and poverty reduction programmes; (c) To ensure access by persons with disabilities and their families living in situations of poverty to assistance from the State with disability-related expenses, including adequate training, counselling, financial assistance and respite care; (d) To ensure access by persons with disabilities to public housing programmes; (e) To ensure equal access by persons with disabilities to retirement benefits and programmes. Article 29 Participation in political and public life States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall undertake: (a) To ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected, inter alia, by: (i) Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use; (ii) Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation, and to stand for elections, to effectively hold office and perform all public functions at all levels of government, facilitating the use of assistive and new technologies where appropriate; (iii) Guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with disabilities as electors and to this end, where necessary, at their request, allowing assistance in voting by a person of their own choice; (b) To promote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs, including: (i) Participation in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country, and in the activities and administration of political parties; (ii) Forming and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at international, national, regional and local levels. Article 30 Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport 1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to take part on an equal basis with others in cultural life, and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities: (a) Enjoy access to cultural materials in accessible formats; (b) Enjoy access to television programmes, films, theatre and other cultural activities, in accessible formats; (c) Enjoy access to places for cultural performances or services, such as theatres, museums, cinemas, libraries and tourism services, and, as far as possible, enjoy access to monuments and sites of national cultural importance. 2. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their own benefit, but also for the enrichment of society. 3. States Parties shall take all appropriate steps, in accordance with international law, to ensure that laws protecting intellectual property rights do not constitute an unreasonable or discriminatory barrier to access by persons with disabilities to cultural materials. 4. Persons with disabilities shall be entitled, on an equal basis with others, to recognition and support of their specific cultural and linguistic identity, including sign languages and deaf culture. 5. With a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States Parties shall take appropriate measures: (a) To encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all levels; (b) To ensure that persons with disabilities have an opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities and, to this end, encourage the provision, on an equal basis with others, of appropriate instruction, training and resources; (c) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to sporting, recreational and tourism venues; (d) To ensure that children with disabilities have equal access with other children to participation in play, recreation and leisure and sporting activities, including those activities in the school system; (e) To ensure that persons with disabilities have access to services from those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and sporting activities. Article 31 Statistics and data collection 1. States Parties undertake to collect appropriate information, including statistical and research data, to enable them to formulate and implement policies to give effect to the present Convention. The process of collecting and maintaining this information shall: (a) Comply with legally established safeguards, including legislation on data protection, to ensure confidentiality and respect for the privacy of persons with disabilities; (b) Comply with internationally accepted norms to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and ethical principles in the collection and use of statistics. 2. The information collected in accordance with this article shall be disaggregated, as appropriate, and used to help assess the implementation of States Parties' obligations under the present Convention and to identify and address the barriers faced by persons with disabilities in exercising their rights. 3. States Parties shall assume responsibility for the dissemination of these statistics and ensure their accessibility to persons with disabilities and others. Article 32 International cooperation 1. States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities. Such measures could include, inter alia: (a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities; (b) Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through the exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programmes and best practices; (c) Facilitating cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical knowledge; (d) Providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including by facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, and through the transfer of technologies. 2. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the obligations of each State Party to fulfil its obligations under the present Convention. Article 33 National implementation and monitoring 1. States Parties, in accordance with their system of organization, shall designate one or more focal points within government for matters relating to the implementation of the present Convention, and shall give due consideration to the establishment or designation of a coordination mechanism within government to facilitate related action in different sectors and at different levels. 2. States Parties shall, in accordance with their legal and administrative systems, maintain, strengthen, designate or establish within the State Party, a framework, including one or more independent mechanisms, as appropriate, to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the present Convention. When designating or establishing such a mechanism, States Parties shall take into account the principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions for protection and promotion of human rights. 3. Civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, shall be involved and participate fully in the monitoring process. Article 34 Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 1. There shall be established a Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereafter referred to as "the Committee"), which shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided. 2. The Committee shall consist, at the time of entry into force of the present Convention, of twelve experts. After an additional sixty ratifications or accessions to the Convention, the membership of the Committee shall increase by six members, attaining a maximum number of eighteen members. 3. The members of the Committee shall serve in their personal capacity and shall be of high moral standing and recognized competence and experience in the field covered by the present Convention. When nominating their candidates, States Parties are invited to give due consideration to the provision set out in article 4, paragraph 3, of the present Convention. 4. The members of the Committee shall be elected by States Parties, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution, representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems, balanced gender representation and participation of experts with disabilities. 5. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by the States Parties from among their nationals at meetings of the Conference of States Parties. At those meetings, for which two thirds of States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting. 6. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of entry into force of the present Convention. At least four months before the date of each election, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit the nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall subsequently prepare a list in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the State Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties to the present Convention. 7. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election once. However, the term of six of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election, the names of these six members shall be chosen by lot by the chairperson of the meeting referred to in paragraph 5 of this article. 8. The election of the six additional members of the Committee shall be held on the occasion of regular elections, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this article. 9. If a member of the Committee dies or resigns or declares that for any other cause she or he can no longer perform her or his duties, the State Party which nominated the member shall appoint another expert possessing the qualifications and meeting the requirements set out in the relevant provisions of this article, to serve for the remainder of the term. 10. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure. 11. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee under the present Convention, and shall convene its initial meeting. 12. With the approval of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the members of the Committee established under the present Convention shall receive emoluments from United Nations resources on such terms and conditions as the Assembly may decide, having regard to the importance of the Committee's responsibilities. 13. The members of the Committee shall be entitled to the facilities, privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations as laid down in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. Article 35 Reports by States Parties 1. Each State Party shall submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a comprehensive report on measures taken to give effect to its obligations under the present Convention and on the progress made in that regard, within two years after the entry into force of the present Convention for the State Party concerned. 2. Thereafter, States Parties shall submit subsequent reports at least every four years and further whenever the Committee so requests. 3. The Committee shall decide any guidelines applicable to the content of the reports. 4. A State Party which has submitted a comprehensive initial report to the Committee need not, in its subsequent reports, repeat information previously provided. When preparing reports to the Committee, States Parties are invited to consider doing so in an open and transparent process and to give due consideration to the provision set out in article 4, paragraph 3, of the present Convention. 5. Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree of fulfilment of obligations under the present Convention. Article 36 Consideration of reports 1. Each report shall be considered by the Committee, which shall make such suggestions and general recommendations on the report as it may consider appropriate and shall forward these to the State Party concerned. The State Party may respond with any information it chooses to the Committee. The Committee may request further information from States Parties relevant to the implementation of the present Convention. 2. If a State Party is significantly overdue in the submission of a report, the Committee may notify the State Party concerned of the need to examine the implementation of the present Convention in that State Party, on the basis of reliable information available to the Committee, if the relevant report is not submitted within three months following the notification. The Committee shall invite the State Party concerned to participate in such examination. Should the State Party respond by submitting the relevant report, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article will apply. 3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall make available the reports to all States Parties. 4. States Parties shall make their reports widely available to the public in their own countries and facilitate access to the suggestions and general recommendations relating to these reports. 5. The Committee shall transmit, as it may consider appropriate, to the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations, and other competent bodies, reports from States Parties in order to address a request or indication of a need for technical advice or assistance contained therein, along with the Committee's observations and recommendations, if any, on these requests or indications. Article 37 Cooperation between States Parties and the Committee 1. Each State Party shall cooperate with the Committee and assist its members in the fulfilment of their mandate. 2. In its relationship with States Parties, the Committee shall give due consideration to ways and means of enhancing national capacities for the implementation of the present Convention, including through international cooperation. Article 38 Relationship of the Committee with other bodies In order to foster the effective implementation of the present Convention and to encourage international cooperation in the field covered by the present Convention: (a) The specialized agencies and other United Nations organs shall be entitled to be represented at the consideration of the implementation of such provisions of the present Convention as fall within the scope of their mandate. The Committee may invite the specialized agencies and other competent bodies as it may consider appropriate to provide expert advice on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their respective mandates. The Committee may invite specialized agencies and other United Nations organs to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities; (b) The Committee, as it discharges its mandate, shall consult, as appropriate, other relevant bodies instituted by international human rights treaties, with a view to ensuring the consistency of their respective reporting guidelines, suggestions and general recommendations, and avoiding duplication and overlap in the performance of their functions. Article 39 Report of the Committee The Committee shall report every two years to the General Assembly and to the Economic and Social Council on its activities, and may make suggestions and general recommendations based on the examination of reports and information received from the States Parties. Such suggestions and general recommendations shall be included in the report of the Committee together with comments, if any, from States Parties. Article 40 Conference of States Parties 1. The States Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties in order to consider any matter with regard to the implementation of the present Convention. 2. No later than six months after the entry into force of the present Convention, the Conference of States Parties shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The subsequent meetings shall be convened by the Secretary-General biennially or upon the decision of the Conference of States Parties. Article 41 Depositary The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the depositary of the present Convention. Article 42 Signature The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States and by regional integration organizations at United Nations Headquarters in New York as of 30 March 2007. Article 43 Consent to be bound The present Convention shall be subject to ratification by signatory States and to formal confirmation by signatory regional integration organizations. It shall be open for accession by any State or regional integration organization which has not signed the Convention. Article 44 Regional integration organizations 1. "Regional integration organization" shall mean an organization constituted by sovereign States of a given region, to which its member States have transferred competence in respect of matters governed by the present Convention. Such organizations shall declare, in their instruments of formal confirmation or accession, the extent of their competence with respect to matters governed by the present Convention. Subsequently, they shall inform the depositary of any substantial modification in the extent of their competence. 2. References to "States Parties" in the present Convention shall apply to such organizations within the limits of their competence. 3. For the purposes of article 45, paragraph 1, and article 47, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the present Convention, any instrument deposited by a regional integration organization shall not be counted. 4. Regional integration organizations, in matters within their competence, may exercise their right to vote in the Conference of States Parties, with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to the present Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its member States exercises its right, and vice versa. Article 45 Entry into force 1. The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession. 2. For each State or regional integration organization ratifying, formally confirming or acceding to the present Convention after the deposit of the twentieth such instrument, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of its own such instrument. Article 46 Reservations 1. Reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the present Convention shall not be permitted. 2. Reservations may be withdrawn at any time. Article 47 Amendments 1. Any State Party may propose an amendment to the present Convention and submit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall communicate any proposed amendments to States Parties, with a request to be notified whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and deciding upon the proposals. In the event that, within four months from the date of such communication, at least one third of the States Parties favour such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of two thirds of the States Parties present and voting shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval and thereafter to all States Parties for acceptance. 2. An amendment adopted and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the number of instruments of acceptance deposited reaches two thirds of the number of States Parties at the date of adoption of the amendment. Thereafter, the amendment shall enter into force for any State Party on the thirtieth day following the deposit of its own instrument of acceptance. An amendment shall be binding only on those States Parties which have accepted it. 3. If so decided by the Conference of States Parties by consensus, an amendment adopted and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article which relates exclusively to articles 34, 38, 39 and 40 shall enter into force for all States Parties on the thirtieth day after the number of instruments of acceptance deposited reaches two thirds of the number of States Parties at the date of adoption of the amendment. Article 48 Denunciation A State Party may denounce the present Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. Article 49 Accessible format The text of the present Convention shall be made available in accessible formats. Article 50 Authentic texts The Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of the present Convention shall be equally authentic. IN WITNESS THEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present Convention. Annex II Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The States Parties to the present Protocol have agreed as follows: Article 1 1. A State Party to the present Protocol ("State Party") recognizes the competence of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ("the Committee") to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals subject to its jurisdiction who claim to be victims of a violation by that State Party of the provisions of the Convention. 2. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State Party to the Convention that is not a party to the present Protocol. Article 2 The Committee shall consider a communication inadmissible when: (a) The communication is anonymous; (b) The communication constitutes an abuse of the right of submission of such communications or is incompatible with the provisions of the Convention; (c) The same matter has already been examined by the Committee or has been or is being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement; (d) All available domestic remedies have not been exhausted. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged or unlikely to bring effective relief; (e) It is manifestly ill-founded or not sufficiently substantiated; or when (f) The facts that are the subject of the communication occurred prior to the entry into force of the present Protocol for the State Party concerned unless those facts continued after that date. Article 3 Subject to the provisions of article 2 of the present Protocol, the Committee shall bring any communications submitted to it confidentially to the attention of the State Party. Within six months, the receiving State shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements clarifying the matter and the remedy, if any, that may have been taken by that State. Article 4 1. At any time after the receipt of a communication and before a determination on the merits has been reached, the Committee may transmit to the State Party concerned for its urgent consideration a request that the State Party take such interim measures as may be necessary to avoid possible irreparable damage to the victim or victims of the alleged violation. 2. Where the Committee exercises its discretion under paragraph 1 of this article, this does not imply a determination on admissibility or on the merits of the communication. Article 5 The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under the present Protocol. After examining a communication, the Committee shall forward its suggestions and recommendations, if any, to the State Party concerned and to the petitioner. Article 6 1. If the Committee receives reliable information indicating grave or systematic violations by a State Party of rights set forth in the Convention, the Committee shall invite that State Party to cooperate in the examination of the information and to this end submit observations with regard to the information concerned. 2. Taking into account any observations that may have been submitted by the State Party concerned as well as any other reliable information available to it, the Committee may designate one or more of its members to conduct an inquiry and to report urgently to the Committee. Where warranted and with the consent of the State Party, the inquiry may include a visit to its territory. 3. After examining the findings of such an inquiry, the Committee shall transmit these findings to the State Party concerned together with any comments and recommendations. 4. The State Party concerned shall, within six months of receiving the findings, comments and recommendations transmitted by the Committee, submit its observations to the Committee. 5. Such an inquiry shall be conducted confidentially and the cooperation of the State Party shall be sought at all stages of the proceedings. Article 7 1. The Committee may invite the State Party concerned to include in its report under article 35 of the Convention details of any measures taken in response to an inquiry conducted under article 6 of the present Protocol. 2. The Committee may, if necessary, after the end of the period of six months referred to in article 6, paragraph 4, invite the State Party concerned to inform it of the measures taken in response to such an inquiry. Article 8 Each State Party may, at the time of signature or ratification of the present Protocol or accession thereto, declare that it does not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for in articles 6 and 7. Article 9 The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the depositary of the present Protocol. Article 10 The present Protocol shall be open for signature by signatory States and regional integration organizations of the Convention at United Nations Headquarters in New York as of 30 March 2007. Article 11 The present Protocol shall be subject to ratification by signatory States of the present Protocol which have ratified or acceded to the Convention. It shall be subject to formal confirmation by signatory regional integration organizations of the present Protocol which have formally confirmed or acceded to the Convention. It shall be open for accession by any State or regional integration organization which has ratified, formally confirmed or acceded to the Convention and which has not signed the Protocol. Article 12 1. "Regional integration organization" shall mean an organization constituted by sovereign States of a given region, to which its member States have transferred competence in respect of matters governed by the Convention and the present Protocol. Such organizations shall declare, in their instruments of formal confirmation or accession, the extent of their competence with respect to matters governed by the Convention and the present Protocol. Subsequently, they shall inform the depositary of any substantial modification in the extent of their competence. 2. References to "States Parties" in the present Protocol shall apply to such organizations within the limits of their competence. 3. For the purposes of article 13, paragraph 1, and article 15, paragraph 2, of the present Protocol, any instrument deposited by a regional integration organization shall not be counted. 4. Regional integration organizations, in matters within their competence, may exercise their right to vote in the meeting of States Parties, with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to the present Protocol. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if any of its member States exercises its right, and vice versa. Article 13 1. Subject to the entry into force of the Convention, the present Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession. 2. For each State or regional integration organization ratifying, formally confirming or acceding to the present Protocol after the deposit of the tenth such instrument, the Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the deposit of its own such instrument. Article 14 1. Reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the present Protocol shall not be permitted. 2. Reservations may be withdrawn at any time. Article 15 1. Any State Party may propose an amendment to the present Protocol and submit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall communicate any proposed amendments to States Parties, with a request to be notified whether they favour a meeting of States Parties for the purpose of considering and deciding upon the proposals. In the event that, within four months from the date of such communication, at least one third of the States Parties favour such a meeting, the Secretary-General shall convene the meeting under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of two thirds of the States Parties present and voting shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly of the United Nations for approval and thereafter to all States Parties for acceptance. 2. An amendment adopted and approved in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the number of instruments of acceptance deposited reaches two thirds of the number of States Parties at the date of adoption of the amendment. Thereafter, the amendment shall enter into force for any State Party on the thirtieth day following the deposit of its own instrument of acceptance. An amendment shall be binding only on those States Parties which have accepted it. Article 16 A State Party may denounce the present Protocol by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. Article 17 The text of the present Protocol shall be made available in accessible formats. Article 18 The Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of the present Protocol shall be equally authentic. IN WITNESS THEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present Protocol. RESOLUTION 61/107 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.48/Rev.1, sponsored by: Croatia, Grenada, Malaysia, Malta, Niger 61/107. Tribute to Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations The General Assembly, Welcoming Security Council resolution 1715 (2006) of 9 October 2006, Recalling its resolution 61/3 of 13 October 2006 by which it appointed the Secretary-General, Acknowledging with deep gratitude the indefatigable efforts and dedicated service provided to the Organization during the past ten years by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Recognizing the high professional and personal qualities he brought to the performance of his duties and responsibilities, Placing on special record his many bold initiatives - political, diplomatic and organizational - and his important achievements, in particular with respect to the Millennium Development Goals, peace and security issues, environmental issues and United Nations reform, 1. Pays warm tribute to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his exceptional contribution to international peace and security, as well as his outstanding efforts to strengthen the United Nations system and to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in the interest of a better world; 2. Expresses its deep gratitude to Secretary-General Kofi Annan for having undertaken reforms and advanced numerous proposals with a view to enhancing the Organization's capacity to meet the major challenges of our time. RESOLUTION 61/108 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/404, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russian Federation and Uruguay. 61/108. University for Peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/12 of 10 November 2003, in which it recalled that, in its resolution 34/111 of 14 December 1979, it had approved the idea of establishing the University for Peace as a specialized international centre for higher education, research and the dissemination of knowledge relative to peace and its universal promotion within the United Nations system, and in which it also recalled its resolution 35/55 of 5 December 1980, in which it had approved the establishment of the University, as well as all preceding resolutions on this item, Noting with appreciation the vigorous actions taken by the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and with the encouragement and support of the Government of Costa Rica, to revitalize the University,See A/54/312, para. 2. Recognizing the significant progress made in the implementation of the five-year revitalization programme, leading to the achievement of the targets established by the Council of the University for Peace, by building high-quality programmes on subjects related to peace and security and extending them to different regions of the world through networks of partner academic and research institutions, Noting with appreciation that the future development strategy of the University focuses on consolidating the progress already made in developing and conducting innovative academic and training programmes and at the same time strengthening its collaborative arrangement in different regions of the world and promoting the sharing knowledge for peace programme, including distance learning and dissemination of toolkits for teaching, with a view to strengthening education for peace, Noting with satisfaction the activities directed towards expanding the University's educational and research programmes to Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Central Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, Also noting with satisfaction the progress made in the development of teaching programmes at the master's level, short courses, programmes to disseminate course materials and distance education and the establishment of a digital library on peace-related issues, Noting that the University has placed special emphasis on the areas of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and the peaceful settlement of disputes, and that it has launched academic and training programmes in the areas of democratic consensus-building and the techniques of peaceful settlement of conflicts, Noting also that the University has launched a broad programme for building a culture of peace worldwide in the context of the efforts being made by the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the development and promotion of a culture of peace, Noting with appreciation the intensifying collaboration between the University and organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations University, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Department of Political Affairs and the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and others, Considering the importance of promoting education that fosters peaceful coexistence among people, including respect for the life, dignity and integrity of human beings, irrespective of their nationality, race, sex, religion or culture, as well as friendship and solidarity among peoples, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General outlining the progress made in revitalizing the University for Peace, especially in regard to implementation of the five-year programme of expansion and revitalization;A/61/285. 2. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the important work of the University and its potential role in developing new concepts and approaches to security through research, training and dialogue in order to respond effectively to emerging threats to peace, to consider ways to further strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the University, and invites the University to consider ways to further strengthen its programmes and activities for cooperation with and capacity-building for Member States in the areas of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue using the services of the University as part of his conflict-resolution and peacebuilding efforts, in providing training to staff in building their capacities in this area and in the promotion of the Declaration and the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace;Resolutions 53/243 A and B. 4. Encourages Member States, intergovernmental bodies, non-governmental organizations and interested individuals to contribute to the programmes and core budget of the University to enable it to continue to perform its valuable work; 5. Invites Member States to accede to the International Agreement for the Establishment of the University for Peace,See resolution 35/55, annex. thereby demonstrating their support for an educational institution devoted to the promotion of a universal culture of peace; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "University for Peace", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at that session a report on the work of the University. RESOLUTION 61/109 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/405, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 61/109. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 60/98 of 8 December 2005, in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee, and of the release of its report on its fifty-fourth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 46 and corrigendum (A/61/46 and Corr.1). Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its sixty-first session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Noting that some Member States have expressed particular interest in becoming members of the Scientific Committee, and expressing its intention to consider the issue further at its next session, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past fifty-one years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee and of the release of its extensive report to the General Assembly, with scientific annexes, which provides the scientific and world community with the Committee's latest evaluations of the effects of ionizing radiation on human beings; 4. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources; 5. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for completing its present programme of work of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly, and requests the Scientific Committee to submit plans for its future programme of work to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 6. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 7. Emphasizes the need for the Scientific Committee to hold regular sessions on an annual basis so that its report can reflect the latest developments and findings in the field of ionizing radiation and thereby provide updated information for dissemination among all States; 8. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 9. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports, and requests the Secretariat to facilitate such consultations; 10. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Scientific Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 11. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly; 12. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 13. Urges the United Nations Environment Programme to review and strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee, pursuant to paragraph 11 of resolution 60/98, and to continue to seek out and consider alternative funding mechanisms to complement existing ones, so that the Committee can discharge the responsibilities and mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly; 14. Invites those Member States that desire to join the Scientific Committee to inform the President of the General Assembly, before 28 February 2007, of their interest, and decides to further consider the question of membership of the Scientific Committee in all its aspects, including financial implications, at the next session. RESOLUTION 61/10 Adopted at the 48th plenary meeting, on 3 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.12 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia 61/10. Sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/5 of 3 November 2003, 59/10 of 27 October 2004 and 60/9 of 3 November 2005, its decision to proclaim 2005 the International Year for Sport and Physical Education to strengthen sport as a means to promote education, health, development and peace, and its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, in which it underlined that sport could foster development and peace and could contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/373. which includes the Action Plan that serves as an initial road map for a three-year period to expand and strengthen partnerships, sport for development and peace programmes and projects and advocacy and communications activities, Acknowledging the major role of the Member States and the United Nations system in promoting human development through sport and physical education, through the country programmes, Acknowledging also that sport and physical education can present opportunities for solidarity and cooperation in order to promote tolerance, a culture of peace, social and gender equality, adequate responses to the special needs of persons with disabilities, intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and harmony, Recognizing the need for greater coordination of efforts at the international level to facilitate a more effective fight against doping, Noting the need to further develop a common framework within the United Nations to promote sport for education, health, development and peace, thereby broadening the mission of the Working Group on Sport for Development and Peace of the United Nations Communications Group to establish a policy and communications platform that will define common strategies, policy and programmes to increase coherence and synergies, while simultaneously raising awareness within the United Nations system and among external partners, Recalling the "Call to Action", which was adopted on 6 December 2005 in Magglingen, Switzerland, at the culminating conference of the International Year for Sport and Physical Education, to promote sport for development and peace among Governments, the United Nations system and international sports organizations, Taking note with appreciation of the organization in 2006 of the Global Youth Leadership Summit that highlighted the use of the convening power of sport as an entry point towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, 1. Appreciates the appointment of sports celebrities as spokespersons and Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations, representing the positive values of sport; 2. Encourages the strengthening of cooperation with the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, sports organizations and other partners of the world of sport; 3. Invites Member States, the United Nations system, including the governing bodies of the United Nations agencies, sport-related organizations, the media, civil society and the private sector to collaborate to promote greater awareness and action to foster peace and accelerate the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals through sport-based initiatives and to promote the integration of sport for development and peace in the development agenda, by working along the following points, adapted from the Action Plan included in the report of the Secretary-General:A/61/373. (a) Further develop a global framework to strengthen a common vision, define priorities and further raise awareness to promote and mainstream sport for development and peace policies that are easily replicable; (b) Promote and support the integration and mainstreaming of sport for development and peace in development programmes and policies; (c) Promote innovative funding mechanisms and multi-stakeholder arrangements on all levels, on a voluntary basis, including the engagement of sports organizations, civil society, athletes and the private sector; (d) Promote common evaluation and monitoring tools, indicators and benchmarks based on commonly agreed standards; 4. Invites Member States to initiate sports programmes to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women; 5. Invites Governments and international sports organizations to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in their capacity-building efforts in sport and physical education, by providing national experiences and best practices, as well as financial, technical and logistic resources for the development of sports programmes; 6. Encourages Member States to ratify the International Convention Against Doping in Sport;United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-third Session, Paris, 3-21 October 2005, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 14. 7. Encourages the Secretary-General to maintain the mandate of Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace and to provide guidance on the institutional future of sport for development and peace within the United Nations system; 8. Invites Member States to provide voluntary contributions to ensure adequate execution of and follow-up to the activities being implemented by the Office of Sport for Development and Peace in Geneva and in New York; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution and on progress at the national, regional and international levels to encourage policies and best practices related to sport for development and peace, under the item entitled "Sport for peace and development". RESOLUTION 61/110 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/406, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of France (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 61/110. United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/68 of 6 December 1999, 59/2 of 20 October 2004 and 59/116 of 10 December 2004, Seriously concerned about the devastating impact of disasters,The term "disasters" refers to natural or technological disasters. causing the loss of lives and property, displacing people from their homes and destroying their livelihoods, and causing tremendous damage to societies around the world, Equally concerned that disasters reverse, as well as affect and hinder, current and future development efforts in all parts of the world, in particular in developing countries, Deeply convinced of the urgent need for enhanced coordination efforts at the global level to reduce the impact of disasters, Recognizing, in that regard, that unnecessary loss of life and property could be avoided if better information were available regarding the risk and onset of disasters, through improved risk assessment, early warning and monitoring of disasters, Convinced that the use of existing space technology, such as Earth observation and meteorological satellites, communications satellites and satellite navigation and positioning systems, and their applications, can play a vital role in supporting disaster management by providing accurate and timely information for decision-making and re-establishing communication in case of disasters, Desirous of enhancing international coordination at the global level in disaster management and emergency response through greater access to and use of space-based services for all countries and facilitating capacity-building and institutional strengthening for disaster management, in particular in developing countries, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-ninth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20). 1. Recognizes that disasters affect many areas of the Earth and that coordinated international efforts are required to reduce their impacts, and that space technology and its application can play a vital role in supporting disaster relief operations by providing accurate and timely information and communication support; 2. Also recognizes the important role that coordinated applications of space technology can play in the implementation of the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held at Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005;A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolutions 1 and 2. 3. Further recognizes that different international initiatives aimed at utilizing space-based disaster information and services exist, such as the Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership, the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, the Charter on Cooperation to Achieve the Coordinated Use of Space Facilities in the Event of Natural or Technological Disasters and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and that the availability of such services should be promoted among developing countries; 4. Notes with concern that unless a global, integrated and coordinated approach is undertaken, building upon the experiences of existing international initiatives, the utilization of space assets in support of disaster management will continue to lag significantly in most parts of the world and that a considerable gap will exist and is likely to remain in all areas of space technology applications to disaster management; 5. Takes note with appreciation of the study of the ad hoc expert group established by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the possibility of creating an international entity to provide for coordination and the means of realistically optimizing the effectiveness of space-based services for use in disaster management;A/AC.105/873. 6. Decides to establish a programme within the United Nations to provide universal access to all countries and all relevant international and regional organizations to all types of space-based information and services relevant to disaster management to support the full disaster management cycle by being a gateway to space information for disaster management support, serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space communities and being a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening, in particular for developing countries; 7. Agrees that the programme would be supported through voluntary contributions and through a rearrangement of priorities within the framework of the United Nations reform process and, if necessary, a rearrangement of priorities of the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat and that the additional activities would not, as far as possible, have a negative impact on the current programme activities of the Office and should not result in an increase in the total regular budget of the United Nations; 8. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space that the programme have an office in Beijing and an office in Bonn, Germany, and that the activities of the programme be carried out within the proposed implementation framework presented to the Committee; 9. Notes that due consideration would be given to the possibility that the programme could have a liaison office in Geneva that would contribute to disseminating and integrating the work of the programme within the disaster reduction and humanitarian response communities; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the commitments of support for the establishment of the programme made by Austria, China, Germany and India and the offers of support once it is established made by Algeria, Argentina, Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Romania, the Russian Federation, Switzerland and Turkey; 11. Agrees that the programme should work closely with regional and national centres of expertise in the use of space technology in disaster management to form a network of regional support offices for implementing the activities of the programme in their respective regions in a coordinated manner and to take advantage of the important experience and capabilities being offered, and to be offered, by Member States, particularly by developing countries; 12. Requests that the programme also work closely with the international initiatives noted in paragraph 3 above in order to avoid duplication of efforts; 13. Requests the Office for Outer Space Affairs to develop a detailed workplan for the programme for 2007 and for the biennium 2008-2009 to be considered during the forty-fourth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, taking into consideration the commitments received, and in consultation with the representatives of countries that have provided or would be providing commitments, as well as with the representatives of other countries that have indicated their interest in contributing to the development of the workplan; 14. Agrees that the partners implementing the programme should endeavour to initiate activities in January 2007 or as soon as it is practicable, in order to enable the programme to begin providing support for disaster management at the earliest possible time; 15. Also agrees that the programme should be named the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (SPIDER), and that it should be implemented as a programme of the Office for Outer Space Affairs under the Director of the Office, as an open network of providers of disaster management support, and that the Director of the Office would be responsible for the overall supervision of the programme; 16. Further agrees that the programme should report to and receive guidance from the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space through the Office for Outer Space Affairs. RESOLUTION 61/111 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/406, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of France (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 61/111. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996, 54/68 of 6 December 1999, 59/2 of 20 October 2004 and 60/99 of 8 December 2005, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, especially for developing countries, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further developing the legal framework to strengthen international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999, See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and the need to promote the use of space technology towards implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Taking note of the actions already taken as well as those to be embarked upon to further implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III, as reflected in resolution 59/2 and the Plan of Action of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space,A/59/174, chap. VI.B. Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education, disaster management and environmental protection as well as other Earth observation applications contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, inter alia, poverty eradication, Taking note, in that regard, that the 2005 World Summit recognized the important role that science and technology play in promoting sustainable development,See resolution 60/1, para. 60. Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-ninth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its forty-ninth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20). 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 2222 (XXI), annex); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 2345 (XXII), annex); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (resolution 2777 (XXVI), annex); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (resolution 3235 (XXIX), annex); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (resolution 34/68, annex). to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties as well as incorporating them in their national legislation; 3. Notes that, at its forty-fifth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work, as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 60/99;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20), chap. II.D. 4. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-sixth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to: a. The definition and delimitation of outer space; b. The character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) Examination and review of the developments concerning the draft protocol on matters specific to space assets to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment; (c) Consider the practice of States and international organizations in registering space objects in accordance with the workplan adopted by the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 199. 5. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-sixth session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-seventh session, in 2008; 6. Also notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (ii) above, the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-sixth session, will reconvene its Working Group and review the need to extend the mandate of the Working Group beyond that session of the Subcommittee; 7. Further notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (iv) a. above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group on the item only to consider matters relating to the definition and delimitation of outer space; 8. Notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (c) above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group; 9. Also notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-third session, continued its work as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 60/99;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20), chap. II.C. 10. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications; (iii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (iv) Matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the workplans adopted by the Committee:See A/AC.105/848, annex II, para. 6, for item (i); ibid., annex III, para. 8, for item (ii); ibid., annex I, para. 20, and A/AC.105/869, annex I, para. 22, for item (iii); A/AC.105/823, annex II, para. 15, and A/AC.105/848, annex I, para. 21, for item (iv); and A/AC.105/848, annex I, para. 22, for item (v). (i) Space debris; (ii) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (iii) Near-Earth objects; (iv) Space-system-based disaster management support; (v) International Heliophysical Year 2007; (c) Consider the following single issue/item for discussion: examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; 11. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the forty-fifth session of the Subcommittee, in 2008; 12. Endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation, in liaison with member States, be invited to arrange a symposium to address the theme "The use of the equatorial orbit for space applications: challenges and opportunities", with as wide participation as possible, to be held during the first week of the forty-fourth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee; 13. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 10 (a) (ii) and (iii) and 11 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, should reconvene the Working Group of the Whole; 14. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 10 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee could, at any time during its forty-fourth session, reconvene its Working Group on Space Debris to consider comments resulting from the referral of the guidelines to the national level and any further developments, particularly the relationship between the revised draft of the space debris mitigation guidelines and nuclear power sources in outer space;See A/AC.105/869, para. 101, and annex II, para. 8. 15. Further agrees that, in the context of paragraph 10 (b) (ii) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space and that the Working Group should continue its intersessional work on the topics described in the multi-year workplan as amended by the Subcommittee at its forty-second session and as agreed by the Subcommittee at its forty-third session and the Committee at its forty-ninth session;See A/AC.105/848, annex III, para. 8; A/AC.105/869, annex III; and Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20), paras. 139-141. 16. Agrees that, in the context of paragraph 10 (b) (iii) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, should establish, for one year, a working group on near-Earth objects, in accordance with the workplan under this item;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20), para. 178. 17. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2007, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications and endorsed by the Committee;Ibid., paras. 81 and 87; see also A/AC.105/861, sects. II and III and annex III. 18. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria, respectively, as well as the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific and the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, entered into an affiliation agreement with the Office for Outer Space Affairs and have continued their education programmes in 2006; 19. Agrees that the regional centres referred to in paragraph 18 above should continue to report to the Committee on their activities on an annual basis; 20. Notes with satisfaction the contribution being made by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the efforts of Member States and the Office for Outer Space Affairs to promote and support the activities being organized within the framework of the International Heliophysical Year 2007; 21. Also notes with satisfaction that the African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, the first of which was hosted by the Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the Governments of Algeria and South Africa from 23 to 25 November 2005, will be held on a biennial basis; 22. Notes with appreciation that the Fifth Space Conference of the Americas was held in Quito from 24 to 28 July 2006 under the auspices of the Office for Outer Space Affairs, the European Space Agency and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and that the Government of Chile held a preparatory meeting for that Conference on 28 and 29 March 2006, with support from the Government of Colombia; notes that the theme of the Fifth Conference was "Regional space cooperation for security and human development" and that its results were set out in the Declaration of San Francisco de Quito and in the Plan of Action of the Conference; notes also that Ecuador will serve as secretariat pro tempore of the Conference for a period of three years, during which it will be responsible for the implementation of the recommended activities and programmes, for which purpose it will work in cooperation with the international group of experts; and notes further that the Sixth Space Conference of the Americas will be held in Guatemala in 2009; 23. Notes with satisfaction that the Convention on the Establishment of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization was opened for signature in Beijing on 28 October 2005, that as at 1 June 2006 the Convention had been signed by nine States and that once the Convention has been ratified by five States, it will enter into force, thereby establishing the organization, with its headquarters in Beijing; 24. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 25. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 26. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 27. Notes that space science and technology and their applications could make important contributions to economic, social and cultural development and welfare, as indicated in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development";See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. 28. Reiterates that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention, in particular, of the major United Nations conferences and summits for economic, social and cultural development and related fields and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and summits and for implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 29. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the inclusion of the issue of the use of space technology in the reports submitted by the Secretary-General to major United Nations conferences and summits for economic, social and cultural development, and its inclusion in the outcomes and commitments of those conferences and summits;A/61/495. 30. Notes with satisfaction the increased efforts of the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to promote the use of space science and technology and their applications in carrying out actions recommended in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 31. Urges entities of the United Nations system, particularly those participating in the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, to examine, in cooperation with the Committee, how space science and technology and their applications could contribute to implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly in the areas relating to, inter alia, food security and increasing opportunities for education; 32. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to continue to contribute to the work of the Committee and to report to the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the work conducted at its annual sessions; 33. Notes with satisfaction that the open informal meetings, held in conjunction with the annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities and in which representatives of member States and observers in the Committee participate, provide a constructive mechanism for an active dialogue between the entities of the United Nations system and member States and observers in the Committee; 34. Encourages entities of the United Nations system to participate fully in the work of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities; 35. Notes that space technology could play a central role in disaster reduction; 36. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, and agrees that during its consideration of the matter, the Committee could continue to consider ways to promote regional and interregional cooperation based on experiences stemming from the Space Conference of the Americas, the African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and the role space technology could play in the implementation of recommendations of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 37. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee established a closer link between its work to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development by contributing to the thematic areas that are addressed by the Commission; 38. Agrees that the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat should be invited to participate in the sessions of the Committee to inform it how it could best contribute to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development and that the Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs should participate in the sessions of the Commission to raise awareness and promote the benefits of space science and technology for sustainable development; 39. Notes with appreciation that the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems was established on a voluntary basis as an informal body to promote cooperation, as appropriate, on matters of mutual interest related to civil satellite-based positioning, navigation, timing and value-added services, as well as the compatibility and interoperability of global navigation satellite systems, while increasing their use to support sustainable development, particularly in developing countries; 40. Notes the fact that the Office for Outer Space Affairs could integrate into its programme of work a number of actions identified for implementation by the Office in the Plan of Action of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for the further implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE IIISee A/AC.105/L.262. and that some of those actions could be integrated into its programme of work only if additional staff and financial resources were provided;Ibid., annex, para. 6. 41. Urges all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to enhance the capacity of the Office for Outer Space Affairs to provide technical and legal advisory services and initiate pilot projects in accordance with the Plan of Action of the Committee, while maintaining the priority thematic areas agreed by the Committee; 42. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider a report on the activities of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue as a part of its consideration of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee" and invites Member States to report on their activities regarding the System; 43. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its fiftieth session, its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 44. Also requests the Committee, in view of the importance of space and education, to continue to consider, at its fiftieth session, under its agenda item entitled "Space and society", the special theme for the focus of discussions for the period 2004-2006 "Space and education", in accordance with the workplan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 239; and ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20), paras. 245 and 260. 45. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider, at its fiftieth session, its agenda item entitled "Space and water"; 46. Also agrees that a symposium on space and water should be held during the fiftieth session of the Committee; 47. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee agreed to consider, at its fiftieth session, under its agenda item entitled "Other matters", the issue of the future role and activities of the Committee and noted that the Chairman of the Committee could conduct intersessional, open-ended informal consultations with a view to presenting to the Committee a list of elements that could be taken into consideration at its next session; 48. Agrees to include in the agenda of the fiftieth session of the Committee a new item, entitled "International cooperation in promoting the use of space-derived geospatial data for sustainable development", under a multi-year workplan;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20), paras. 301-303. 49. Also agrees that a panel on space exploration activities, including the participation of the private sector, should be convened during the fiftieth session of the Committee; 50. Notes with satisfaction that in accordance with the agreement reached by the Committee at its forty-sixth session on the measures relating to the future composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Ibid., Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), annex II, paras. 4-9. on the basis of the measures relating to the working methods of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies,Ibid., Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/52/20), annex I; see also Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), appendix III. the Group of African States, the Group of Asian States, the Group of Eastern European States, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Group of Western European and Other States have nominated their candidates for the offices of Chair of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, First Vice-Chair of the Committee, Chair of the Legal Subcommittee, Chair of the Committee and Second Vice-Chairman/Rapporteur of the Committee, respectively, for the period 2008-2009; 51. Endorses the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the period 2008-2009, as reflected in paragraph 50 above, and agrees that the Committee and its Subcommittees should elect their officers at their respective sessions in 2008 in accordance with that composition; 52. Notes that each of the regional groups has the responsibility to actively promote the participation in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies of the member States of the Committee that are also members of the respective regional groups, and agrees that the regional groups should consider this Committee-related matter among their members; 53. Requests entities of the United Nations system and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, to enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with reports on the issues dealt with in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies. RESOLUTION 61/112 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/407, para. 19),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 173 to 1, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Cameroon, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu 61/112. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 60/100 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware of the fact that, for more than five decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for more than fifty-six years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees in the fields of education, health and relief and social services, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/61/13). Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and living conditions, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the important role to be played in the peace process by the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected, that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern and that the Palestine refugees continue to require assistance to meet basic health, education and living needs; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and reiterates its request to the Conciliation Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2007; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its unimpeded operation and its provision of services for the well-being of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including with regard to increased expenditures arising from the deteriorating socio-economic and humanitarian situation in the region, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and those mentioned in recent emergency appeals. RESOLUTION 61/113 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/407, para. 19),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 170 to 6, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/113. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 60/101 of 8 December 2005,A/61/358. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/61/13). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been complied with, and stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its sixty-second session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/114 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/407, para. 19),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 169 to 6, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/114. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolution 60/102 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2005,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/61/13). Taking note of the letter dated 28 September 2006 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Ibid., p. viii. Deeply concerned about the critical financial situation of the Agency, as well as about the rising expenditures of the Agency resulting from the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions in the region and their significant negative impact on the provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency-related and development programmes, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457. Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, Gravely concerned about the extremely difficult living conditions being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, resulting, inter alia, from the loss of life and injury, the extensive destruction of their shelters, properties and vital infrastructure and the displacement of the Palestine refugees, Aware of the extraordinary efforts being undertaken by the Agency for the repair or rebuilding of thousands of damaged or destroyed refugee shelters and for the provision of shelter for those refugee families internally displaced as a result of recent Israeli military actions, Aware also of the valuable work done by the refugee affairs officers of the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the endangerment of the safety of the Agency's staff and about the damage caused to the facilities of the Agency as a result of Israeli military operations during the reporting period, Deploring the killing of fourteen Agency staff members by the Israeli occupying forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since September 2000 and of one Agency staff member by the Israeli air force in Lebanon in August 2006, Deploring also the killing and wounding of refugee children, including in the Agency's schools, by the Israeli occupying forces, Expressing deep concern about the policies of closure and severe restrictions that continue to be imposed on the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as the continued construction of the wall, contrary to international law, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, which have had a grave impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees and have greatly contributed to the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people, Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement of the Agency's staff, vehicles and goods, and the harassment and intimidation of the Agency's staff, which undermine and obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide its essential basic and emergency services, Recalling the signing, on 13 September 1993, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. Recalling the Geneva Conference convened by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation on 7 and 8 June 2004 to increase support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the difficult conditions during the past year; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near EastA/61/347. and the efforts of the Working Group to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work; 4. Commends the continuing efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in the Agency's programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 13 A (A/60/13/Add.1). 5. Also commends the organizational reform measures taken by the Agency to modernize and strengthen its management aimed at enhancing its ability to address the needs of the Palestine refugees; 6. Endorses, meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are internally displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of recent incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and hostilities in Lebanon; 7. Acknowledges the important support provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 8. Encourages the Agency's further consideration of the needs and rights of children in its operations in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 9. Expresses concern about the temporary relocation of the international staff of the Agency from its headquarters in Gaza City and the disruption of operations at the headquarters; 10. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. 11. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 12. Urges the Government of Israel to speedily compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side and to expeditiously reimburse the Agency for port and related charges, including storage, demurrage and transit charges, incurred by the Agency and other financial losses sustained by the Agency as a result of delays and restrictions on movement and access imposed by Israel; 13. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which affect the Agency's operations detrimentally; 14. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 15. Affirms that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all the fields of operation; 16. Notes the success of the Agency's microfinance and microenterprise programmes, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute to the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees in all the fields of operation; 17. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency through the Palestine Refugee Records Project, and to indicate progress in her report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 18. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the Agency and to contribute to the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; 19. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground that has resulted in rising expenditures, in particular with regard to emergency services, and to support the Agency's valuable and necessary work in assisting the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation. RESOLUTION 61/115 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/407, para. 19),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 170 to 6, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Fiji, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/115. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 60/103 of 8 December 2005,A/61/278. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006,See A/61/172. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and a file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the work done to preserve and modernize the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission and the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III), Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/116 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/408, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 90 to 9, with 81 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 61/116. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 60/104 of 8 December 2005, and the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Taking into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling in this regard General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuing detrimental impact of the events that have taken place since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, the widespread destruction of property and vital infrastructure and the internal displacement of civilians, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/61/500. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/61/327-331. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Welcoming the free and democratic Palestinian Legislative Council elections that took place on 25 January 2006 and welcoming also the efforts to form a national unity government working towards a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements concluded between the two sides, Expressing the hope that the Israeli occupation will be brought to an early and complete end and that therefore the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, and recalling in this regard its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate, in line with its obligations as a State Member of the United Nations, with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period;See A/61/500. 4. Expresses grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns all Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the wall, as well as the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, including extrajudicial executions; 5. Welcomes the free and democratic Palestinian Legislative Council elections that took place on 25 January 2006 and welcomes also the efforts to form a national unity government working towards a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements concluded between the two sides; 6. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 7. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 8. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of the thousands of prisoners and detainees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 9. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 7 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 61/117 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/408, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 165 to 7, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Angola, Australia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/117. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including its resolution 60/105 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol I,Ibid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/61/500. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/61/327-331. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and also recalling General Assembly resolution ES-10/15, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that Israel is in breach of several of the provisions of the Convention, Noting the convening, on 15 July 1999, of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, and stressing the importance of the Declaration adopted by the reconvened Conference on 5 December 2001 and the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration, Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva ConventionsIbid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and as mentioned in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth emergency special session, including resolution ES-10/15, with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/118 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/408, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 162 to 8, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/118. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 60/106 of 8 December 2005, as well as those resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Considering that the transfer by the occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a breach of the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol IIbid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Noting that the International Court of Justice concluded that "the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law",Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 120. Taking note of the recent report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,See A/61/470. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and noting specifically its call for a freeze on all settlement activity, Aware that Israeli settlement activities involve, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the exploitation of natural resources and other illegal actions against the Palestinian civilian population, Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of settlement activities, including in and around East Jerusalem, in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, and concerned in particular about the construction and expansion of the settlements in Jabal Abu-Ghneim and Ras Al-Amud in and around Occupied East Jerusalem and Israel's intentions to proceed with the so-called E-1 plan, aimed at connecting its illegal settlements around and further isolating Occupied East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern also about the continuing unlawful construction by Israel of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressing its concern in particular about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, which could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement and which is causing serious humanitarian hardship and a serious decline of socio-economic conditions for the Palestinian people, Deeply concerned that the wall's route has been traced in such a way as to include the great majority of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Reiterating its opposition to settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan and to any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons and the de facto annexation of land, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Gravely concerned about the dangerous situation resulting from actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Taking note of the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/61/327-331 and A/61/500. 1. Reaffirms that Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map;S/2003/529, annex. 4. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 5. Emphasizes the need for the parties to speedily resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip, including the removal of rubble; 6. Reiterates its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council; 7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice;See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 8. Stresses the need for full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions regarding the Israeli settlements, including Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 9. Reiterates its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence by Israeli settlers, especially against Palestinian civilians and properties, particularly in the light of recent developments; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/119 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/408, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 157 to 9, with 14 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States of America Abstaining: Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Honduras, Malawi, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/119. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 60/107 of 8 December 2005, as well as those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories[1] See A/61/500. and the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/329. Taking note of the recent reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967,See E/CN.4/2006/29 and A/61/470. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, and recalling in this regard its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva ConventionIbid., vol. 75, No. 973. under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Reaffirming that all States have the right and the duty to take actions in conformity with international law and international humanitarian law to counter deadly acts of violence against their civilian population in order to protect the lives of their citizens, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, including the Sharm El-Sheikh understandings, and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Stressing also the need for the full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of 15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian population within and into and out of the Gaza Strip, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Expressing grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that arising from the excessive use of force, the use of collective punishment, the reoccupation and closure of areas, the confiscation of land, the establishment and expansion of settlements, the construction of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, the destruction of property and infrastructure, and all other actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the military actions that have been carried out since 28 September 2000 and that have led to thousands of deaths among Palestinian civilians, including hundreds of children, and tens of thousands of injuries, Expressing deep concern about the recent deterioration in the humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip, including that resulting from the bombardment against civilian areas, air raids and sonic booms, and the firing of rockets into Israel, and in particular from the military actions carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, that endanger the Palestinian civilian population, and especially deploring the killing of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, that took place in Beit Hanoun on 8 November 2006, Expressing deep concern also about the vast destruction caused by the Israeli occupying forces, including of religious, cultural and historical sites, of vital infrastructure and institutions of the Palestinian Authority, and of agricultural land throughout Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, and expressing deep concern about the short- and long-term detrimental impact of such destruction on the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian civilian population, Expressing deep concern further about the Israeli policy of closure and the severe restrictions, including curfews and the permit regime, that continue to be imposed on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, Concerned about the continued establishment of Israeli checkpoints in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the transformation of several of these checkpoints into structures akin to permanent border crossings inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are severely impairing the territorial contiguity of the Territory and severely undermining efforts to rehabilitate and develop the Palestinian economy, Expressing deep concern that thousands of Palestinians, including children and women, continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres under harsh conditions that impair their well-being, and expressing concern about the ill treatment and harassment of any of the Palestinian prisoners and all reports of torture, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting the Palestinian civilian population and to help the parties implement the agreements reached and, in this regard, recalling the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Welcoming the Palestinian truce initiative and its acceptance by Israel that came into effect on 26 November 2006, and urging both parties to maintain this truce, which could pave the way for genuine negotiations towards a just resolution of the conflict, Stressing the necessity for the full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions, 1. Reiterates that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation and in breach of the Convention, including all of its settlement activities and the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, as well as the extrajudicial executions; 3. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life and vast numbers of injuries, including among children, massive destruction of homes, properties, agricultural lands and vital infrastructure, and the internal displacement of civilians; 4. Expresses grave concern at the use of suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians resulting in extensive loss of life and injury; 5. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map;S/2003/529, annex. 6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people, and that it respect human rights law and comply with its legal obligations in this regard; 8. Urges Member States to continue to provide emergency assistance to the Palestinian people to alleviate the financial crisis and the dire socio-economic and humanitarian situation being faced by the Palestinian people; 9. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to release the tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the Paris Economic Protocol of 1994, and to ease the severe closures and restrictions on movement; 10. Acknowledges the role the temporary international mechanism plays in assisting directly the Palestinian people, and encourages interested donors to make use of the mechanism; 11. Emphasizes the need to preserve the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure for the provision of vital public services to the Palestinian civilian population and the promotion of Palestinian civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights; 12. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of JusticeSee A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and as demanded in resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, and that it immediately cease the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, dismantle forthwith the structure situated therein, repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto, and make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall, which has gravely impacted the human rights and the socio-economic living conditions of the Palestinian people; 13. Stresses the need for respect for the unity and territorial integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and for guarantees of the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including the removal of restrictions on movement into and from East Jerusalem, and the freedom of movement to and from the outside world; 14. Also stresses the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Sharm El-Sheikh understandings and the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/11 Adopted at the 50th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2006, by a recorded vote of 183 to 4, with 1 abstention,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.10, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 61/11. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the Heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned at the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of measures of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999, 55/20 of 9 November 2000, 56/9 of 27 November 2001, 57/11 of 12 November 2002, 58/7 of 4 November 2003, 59/11 of 28 October 2004 and 60/12 of 8 November 2005, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21, 55/20, 56/9, 57/11, 58/7, 59/11 and 60/12, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also at the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 60/12;A/61/132. 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution, in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 61/120 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/408, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 163 to 2, with 16 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Tuvalu Abstaining: Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Haiti, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, United States of America, Vanuatu 61/120. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,See A/61/500. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 60/108 of 8 December 2005, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 60/108,A/61/327. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening at Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 61/121 A and B Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/410, para. 9)The draft resolutions recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee were submitted by the Committee on Information. 61/121. Questions relating to information A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 21 and addendum (A/61/21 and Add.1). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/61/216 and Corr.1. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting tele-communication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of Communication of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September-28 October 1980, vol. l, Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. which should support both public and private media. B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Emphasizing the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Reaffirming its resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, establishing the Department, which states in paragraph 2 of annex I that "the activities of the Department should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world", Emphasizing that the contents of public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations and that a culture of communications and transparency should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create broad-based global support for the United Nations, Stressing that the primary mission of the Department of Public Information is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive, timely and relevant information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, Recalling the comprehensive review of the work of the Department of Public Information, requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, as well as the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change",A/57/387 and Corr.1. and Assembly resolutions 57/300 of 20 December 2002 and 60/109 B of 8 December 2005, which provided an opportunity to take due steps to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department and to maximize the use of its resources, Expressing its concern that the gap in information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that vast segments of the population in developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and communication technologies and, in this regard, underlining the necessity of rectifying the imbalances in the present development of information and communication technologies in order to make it more just, equitable and effective, Recognizing that developments in the information and communication technologies open vast new opportunities for economic growth and social development and can play an important role in the eradication of poverty in developing countries, and, at the same time, emphasizing that the development of these technologies poses challenges and risks and could lead to the further widening of disparities between and within countries, Recalling its resolution 59/309 of 22 June 2005 on multilingualism, and emphasizing the importance of making appropriate use of the official languages of the United Nations in the activities of the Department of Public Information, with the aim of eliminating the disparity between the use of English and the five other official languages, Welcoming Austria to membership in the Committee on Information, I Introduction 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I), in which it established the Department of Public Information, and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly related to the activities of the Department, and requests the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of its resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms that the United Nations remains the indispensable foundation of a peaceful and just world and that its voice must be heard in a clear and effective manner, and emphasizes the essential role of the Department of Public Information in this context, the activities of which should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world; 3. Stresses the importance of the clear and timely provision of information by the Secretariat to Member States, upon their request, within the framework of existing mandates and procedures; 4. Reaffirms the central role of the Committee on Information in United Nations public information policies and activities, including the prioritization of those activities, and decides that recommendations relating to the programme of the Department of Public Information shall originate, to the extent possible, in the Committee and shall be considered by the Committee; 5. Requests the Department of Public Information, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly in its resolution 59/275 of 23 December 2004, and guided by the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the needs of the African continent; 6. Also requests the Department of Public Information to pay particular attention to progress in implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the outcomes of the major related United Nations summits and conferences in carrying out its activities; 7. Reaffirms the need to enhance the technological infrastructure of the Department of Public Information on a continuous basis in order to widen its outreach and improve the United Nations website; 8. Recognizes the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues, and encourages continued collaboration between the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of culture and in the fields of education and communication, bridging the existing gap between the developed and the developing countries; II General activities of the Department of Public Information 9. Notes the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Department of Public InformationA/AC.198/2006/5. and requests the Secretary-General to continue reporting to the Committee on Information on the activities of the Department at successive sessions; 10. Acknowledges that the Department of Public Information has concluded its collaborative project with the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the systematic evaluation of public information products and activities, and notes with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the final outcome of this three-year project;A/AC.198/2006/4 and Corr.1. 11. Requests the Department of Public Information, while acknowledging its commitment to a culture of evaluation, to continue to evaluate its products and activities with the objective of improving their effectiveness, including through interdepartmental consultations; 12. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the focal point for information policies of the United Nations and the primary news centre for information about the United Nations, its activities and those of the Secretary-General; 13. Also reaffirms the importance of more effective coordination between the Department of Public Information and the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure consistency in the messages of the Organization; 14. Further reaffirms that the Department of Public Information must prioritize its work programme while respecting existing mandates and in line with regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. to focus its message and better concentrate its efforts and, as a function of performance management, to match its programmes with the needs of its target audiences, on the basis of improved feedback and evaluation mechanisms; 15. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the Department of Public Information to continue to publicize the work and decisions of the General Assembly, requests the Department to continue to enhance its working relationship with the Office of the President of the General Assembly and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations website and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 17. Requests the Department of Public Information to ensure that United Nations publications are produced in a cost-effective manner and to continue to coordinate closely with all other entities, including all other departments of the Secretariat and funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in order to avoid duplication, within their respective mandates, in the issuance of United Nations publications; 18. Emphasizes that the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, and that the activities of the Department should contribute to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 19. Also emphasizes that the Secretary-General should continue to strengthen the coordination between the Department of Public Information and all other entities, including all other departments of the Secretariat and funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in the context of the client-oriented approach of the Department, which should identify target audiences and develop information programmes and media strategies for priority issues, and emphasizes that public information capacities and activities in other departments should function under the guidance of the Department; 20. Notes with appreciation the continued efforts of the Department of Public Information in issuing daily press releases, and requests the Department to continue providing this service to both Member States and representatives of the media, while considering possible means of improving their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States; 21. Also notes with appreciation the efforts of the Department of Public Information to work at the local level with other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to enhance the coordination of their communication activities, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session on progress achieved in this regard and on the activities of the United Nations Communications Group; 22. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to examine its policies and activities regarding the durable preservation of its radio, television and photographic archives, to take action, within existing resources, to ensure that such archives are preserved and are accessible and to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session; Multilingualism and public information 23. Emphasizes the importance of making appropriate use of all the official languages of the United Nations in all the activities of the Department of Public Information, including in presentations to the Committee on Information, with the aim of eliminating the disparity between the use of English and the five other official languages; 24. Also emphasizes the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all the activities of the Department of Public Information and, in this regard, reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department has appropriate staffing capacity in all the official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities; 25. Stresses the importance of fully implementing its resolution 52/214 of 22 December 1997, in section C of which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents in all six official languages and information materials of the United Nations are made available daily through the United Nations website and are accessible to Member States without delay; 26. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to enhance multilingualism in its activities, and requests the Department to continue its endeavours in this regard; 27. Reiterates paragraph 4 of section C of its resolution 52/214, and requests the Secretary-General to continue towards completion of the task of uploading all important older United Nations documents on the United Nations website in all six official languages on a priority basis, so that these archives are also available to Member States through that medium; 28. Reaffirms that it is important that the Secretary-General include in future programme budget proposals for the Department of Public Information the importance of using all six official languages in its activities; 29. Welcomes the work done by the network of United Nations information centres in favour of the publication of United Nations information materials and the translation of important documents in languages other than the United Nations official languages, with a view to reaching the widest possible spectrum of audiences and extending the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization; Bridging the digital divide 30. Recalls with satisfaction General Assembly resolution 60/252 of 27 March 2006, in which it endorsed the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information SocietySee A/60/687. and proclaimed 17 May annual World Information Society Day, and also recalls the adoption of the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of ActionSee A/C.2/59/3. at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, and in this regard requests the Department of Public Information to contribute to the celebration of this event and to play a role in raising awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide; 31. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to contribute to raising the awareness of the international community of the importance of the implementation of the outcome documents of the World Summit on the Information Society; Network of United Nations information centres 32. Emphasizes the importance of the network of United Nations information centres in enhancing the public image of the United Nations and in disseminating messages on the United Nations to local populations, especially in developing countries; 33. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the further rationalization of the network of United Nations information centres,A/AC.198/2005/3. and, in this regard, recognizes the constraints of further regionalization as described in paragraph 25 of the report; 34. Stresses the importance of rationalizing the network of United Nations information centres, and, in this regard, requests the Secretary-General to continue to make proposals in this direction, including through the redeployment of resources where necessary, and to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session; 35. Reaffirms that rationalization of United Nations information centres must be carried out on a case-by-case basis in consultation with all concerned Member States in which existing information centres are located, the countries served by those information centres and other interested countries in the region, taking into consideration the distinctive characteristics of each region; 36. Recognizes that the network of United Nations information centres, especially in developing countries, should continue to enhance its impact and activities, including through strategic communications support, and calls upon the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of this approach to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session; 37. Stresses the importance of taking into account the special needs and requirements of developing countries in the field of information and communications technology for the effective flow of information in those countries; 38. Also stresses that the Department of Public Information, through the network of United Nations information centres, should continue to promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in local languages has the strongest impact on local populations; 39. Further stresses the importance of efforts to strengthen the outreach activities of the United Nations to those Member States remaining outside the network of United Nations information centres, and encourages the Secretary-General, within the context of rationalization, to extend the services of the network of United Nations information centres to those Member States; 40. Stresses that the Department of Public Information should continue to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to the United Nations information centres in developing countries, emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries; 41. Encourages the network of United Nations information centres to continue to develop web pages in local languages, also encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to those information centres whose web pages are not yet operational, and further encourages host countries to respond to the needs of the information centres; 42. Takes note of the proposal by the Secretary-General to work closely with the Governments concerned to explore the possibility of identifying rent-free premises, while taking into account the economic condition of the host countries and bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial resources for the information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 43. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the discussion regarding the creation of a United Nations information centre in LuandaIbid., para. 40. to address the special needs of Portuguese-speaking African countries, welcomes the offer made by the Government of Angola to host the centre as part of the network of United Nations information centres by providing rent-free premises, and encourages the Secretary-General, within the context of rationalization, to take all necessary measures to accommodate those needs; III Strategic communications services 44. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Department of Public InformationA/AC.198/2006/5. and, in this context, reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the principal department responsible for the implementation of information strategies, as mandated; 45. Reaffirms the role of the strategic communications services in devising and disseminating United Nations messages by developing communications strategies, in close collaboration with the substantive departments, United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, in full compliance with the legislative mandates; Promotional campaigns 46. Recognizes that promotional campaigns aimed at supporting special sessions and international conferences of the United Nations are part of the core responsibility of the Department of Public Information, welcomes the efforts of the Department to examine creative ways in which it can organize and implement these campaigns in partnership with the substantive departments concerned, using the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. as its guide, and requests the Department to pay particular attention to progress in implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the outcomes of the major related United Nations summits and conferences in carrying out its activities; 47. Appreciates the work of the Department of Public Information in promoting, through its campaigns, issues of importance to the international community, such as United Nations reform, the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, disarmament, decolonization, human rights, including the rights of women and children and of persons with disabilities, strategic coordination in humanitarian relief, especially in natural disasters and other crises, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases, the needs of the African continent, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as dialogue among civilizations, the culture of peace and tolerance and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and requests the Department, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of these and other important global issues; 48. Invites the Department of Public Information to continue to work within the United Nations Communications Group to coordinate the preparation and implementation of communication strategies with the heads of information of the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session on the activities of the Group; 49. Stresses the need to continue the renewed emphasis in support of Africa's development, in particular by the Department of Public Information, in order to promote awareness in the international community of the nature of the critical economic and social situation in Africa and of the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. Role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping 50. Requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department of Public Information from the planning stage of future peacekeeping operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 51. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role, in close cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in the selection process of public information staff for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and, in this regard, invites the Department of Public Information to second public information staff who have the necessary skills to fulfil the tasks of the operations or missions, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution in accordance with Chapter XV, Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and to consider views expressed, especially by host countries, when appropriate, in this regard; 52. Emphasizes the importance of the peacekeeping gateway on the United Nations website, and requests the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts in supporting the peacekeeping missions to further develop their websites; 53. Requests the Department of Public Information and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to continue their cooperation in raising awareness of the new realities, successes and challenges faced by peacekeeping operations, especially multidimensional and complex ones, and of the recent surge in United Nations peacekeeping activities, and welcomes efforts by the two Departments to develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy on current challenges facing United Nations peacekeeping; 54. Also requests the Department of Public Information and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to continue to cooperate in implementing an effective outreach programme to explain the policy of the Organization against sexual exploitation and abuse; 55. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping operations; Role of the Department of Public Information in strengthening dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace as means of enhancing understanding among nations 56. Recalls its resolutionsResolutions 53/22 of 4 November 1998 and 55/23 of 13 November 2000 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, 52/15 of 20 November 1997, by which it proclaimed 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, 53/25 of 10 November 1998, by which it proclaimed the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, and 59/142 of 15 December 2004 on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation. on dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace and requests the Department of Public Information, while ensuring the pertinence and relevance of subjects for promotional campaigns under this issue, to continue to provide the necessary support for the dissemination of information pertaining to dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace, as well as the initiative on the Alliance of Civilizations and to take due steps in fostering the culture of dialogue among civilizations and promoting religious and cultural understanding via all mass media, such as the Internet, print, radio and television, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report in this regard to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions; IV News services 57. Stresses that the central objective of the news services implemented by the Department of Public Information is the timely delivery of accurate, objective and balanced news and information emanating from the United Nations system in all four mass media - print, radio, television and Internet - to the media and other audiences worldwide, with the overall emphasis on multilingualism, and reiterates its request to the Department to ensure that all news-breaking stories and news alerts are accurate, impartial and free of bias; 58. Emphasizes the importance of the Department of Public Information continuing to draw the attention of world media to stories that do not obtain prominent coverage, through the initiative entitled "Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About"; Traditional means of communication 59. Stresses that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, including development and peacekeeping, with a view to achieving a broad client base around the world; 60. Notes that the international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations is an integral part of the activities of the Department of Public Information, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure its success and to report on its activities to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session; 61. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to make every effort to achieve parity in the six official languages in United Nations radio production; 62. Notes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages, with the addition of Portuguese, as well as in other languages where possible; 63. Welcomes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to produce and disseminate television news video and feature material to broadcasters around the world through satellite distribution and web delivery; 64. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue building partnerships with local, national and regional broadcasters to extend the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in an accurate and impartial way, and also requests the Radio and Television Service of the Department to continue to take full advantage of the technological infrastructure made available in recent years; United Nations website 65. Reaffirms that the United Nations website is an essential tool for the media, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, Member States and the general public, and, in this regard, reiterates the continued need for efforts by the Department of Public Information to maintain and improve it; 66. Recognizes the efforts made by the Department of Public Information to implement the basic accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities to the United Nations website, calls upon the Department to continue to work towards compliance with all levels of accessibility requirements on all pages of the website with the aim of ensuring its accessibility by persons with different kinds of disabilities, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session on progress made in this regard; 67. Reaffirms the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on United Nations websites while noting with satisfaction that progress is being made to narrow the gap among different official languages on United Nations websites; 68. Takes note of the fact that the multilingual development and enrichment of the United Nations website has improved, although at a slower rate than expected owing to several constraints that need to be addressed, and, in this regard, requests the Department of Public Information, in coordination with content-providing offices, to improve the actions taken to achieve parity among the six official languages on the United Nations website; 69. Welcomes the cooperative arrangements undertaken by the Department of Public Information with academic institutions to increase the number of web pages available in some official languages, and requests the Secretary-General to explore additional cost-neutral ways to further extend these cooperative arrangements to include all the official languages of the United Nations; 70. Reaffirms section IX, paragraph 2, of its resolution 59/276 of 23 December 2004 on proposals to strengthen the United Nations website; 71. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure, while maintaining an up-to-date and accurate website, the adequate distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the United Nations website among all official languages, taking into consideration the specificity of each official language on a continuous basis; 72. Recalls paragraph 74 of its resolution 60/109 B and, in this regard, reiterates that all content-providing offices in the Secretariat should continue their efforts to translate into all official languages all English language materials and databases posted on the United Nations website in the most practical, efficient and cost-effective manner; 73. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the expeditious dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by the General Assembly in its resolutions and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 74. Recognizes that some official languages use non-Latin and bidirectional scripts and that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations are based on Latin script, which leads to difficulties in processing non-Latin and bidirectional scripts, and requests the Department of Public Information, in cooperation with the Information Technology Services Division of the Department of Management, to continue its efforts to ensure that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations fully support Latin, non-Latin and bidirectional scripts in order to enhance the equality of all official languages on the United Nations website; 75. Notes with satisfaction that United Nations webcast services provide live video of United Nations meetings and events, which is also available in the original language in which it is delivered; 76. Welcomes the electronic mail-based United Nations News Service, distributed worldwide in the English and French languages through e-mail by the Department of Public Information, and requests the Department as a matter of priority to continue to examine ways to provide this service in all official languages; 77. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to work within the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and other appropriate inter-agency bodies to establish a United Nations gateway, an inter-agency search facility in which all entities of the United Nations system should be encouraged to participate, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the activities of the High-level Committee on Management in this regard; V Library services 78. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Modernization and integrated management of United Nations libraries: update on new strategic directions";A/AC.198/2006/2. 79. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to lead the Steering Committee for the Modernization and Integrated Management of United Nations Libraries, and requests the member libraries of the Steering Committee to continue to coordinate closely in the implementation of its programme of work; 80. Takes note of the steps taken by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the other member libraries of the Steering Committee to align their activities, services and outputs more closely with the goals, objectives and operational priorities of the Organization; 81. Reiterates the need to enable the provision of hard copies of library materials to Member States, and notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to enrich, on a multilingual basis, the stock of books and journals in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, in order to ensure that the Library is enriched and continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 82. Recognizes the importance of the depository libraries in disseminating information and knowledge about United Nations activities, and, in this connection, urges the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in its capacity as the focal point, to continue to take the initiatives necessary to strengthen such libraries by providing regional training and other assistance and by improving their role with the aim of strengthening their support to users in developing countries; 83. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session on the activities of the Steering Committee and the work of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, including on the application of measures to enhance the effectiveness of the libraries within existing legislative mandates; 84. Acknowledges the role of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, as part of the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information, in enhancing knowledge-sharing and networking activities to ensure access to the vast store of United Nations knowledge by delegates, permanent missions of Member States, the Secretariat, researchers and depository libraries worldwide, and takes note of the proposal to rename the library the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and Knowledge-Sharing Centre, reflecting its new direction; 85. Notes the new approaches taken by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in particular the Personal Knowledge Management initiative, to assist representatives of Member States and Secretariat staff in the use of information products and tools as a complement to the traditional training programmes; 86. Recalls paragraph 44 of its resolution 56/64 B of 24 December 2001, in which it welcomed the role of the Department of Public Information in fostering increased collaboration among libraries of the United Nations system; VI Outreach services 87. Acknowledges that the outreach services provided by the Department of Public Information continue to work towards promoting awareness of the role and work of the United Nations on priority issues; 88. Notes the importance of the continued implementation by the Department of Public Information of the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, as mandated by the General Assembly, and requests the Department to consider how best to maximize the benefits derived from the programme by reviewing, inter alia, its duration and the number of its participants; 89. Welcomes the movement towards educational outreach and the orientation of the UN Chronicle, both print and online editions, and, to this end, encourages the UN Chronicle to continue to develop co-publishing partnerships, collaborative educational activities and events, including the "Unlearning Intolerance" seminar series, with civil society organizations and institutions of higher learning; 90. Reaffirms the important role that guided tours play as a means of reaching out to the general public, including children and students at all levels; 91. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Department of Public Information in organizing exhibitions on important United Nations-related issues within existing mandates at United Nations Headquarters and at other United Nations offices as a useful tool for reaching out to the general public; 92. Requests the Department of Public Information to strengthen its role as a focal point for two-way interaction with civil society relating to the priorities and concerns of the Organization; 93. Commends the United Nations Correspondents Association for its ongoing activities and for its Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Scholarship Fund, which sponsors journalists from developing countries to come to the United Nations Headquarters and report on the activities during the General Assembly, and urges donors to extend financial support to the Fund so that it may increase the number of such scholarships to journalists in this context; 94. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts and contribution of United Nations Messengers of Peace, Goodwill Ambassadors and other advocates to promote the work of the United Nations and to enhance international public awareness of its priorities and concerns, and calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to involve them in its communications and media strategies and outreach activities; 95. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its next session on the activities being carried out by the Department of Public Information to enhance the public image of the Organization, especially where there is a component of the network of United Nations information centres; VII Final remarks 96. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all reports requested by the Committee on Information are submitted and issued in accordance with the legislative mandate; 97. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its twenty-ninth session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 98. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 99. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 61/122 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/411, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 179 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: France, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 61/122. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 60/110 of 8 December 2005, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/70. 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned in accordance with their Charter obligations to transmit or continue to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic, social and educational conditions in the Territories for which they are respectively responsible, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, including the constitution, legislative act or executive order providing for the government of the Territory and the constitutional relationship of the Territory to the administering Power, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. RESOLUTION 61/123 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/412, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 179 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/123. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. V. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the Assembly, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Reaffirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Reiterates that the damaging exploitation and plundering of the marine and other natural resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, are a threat to the integrity and prosperity of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and also appeals to the media to disseminate information about the developments in this regard; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/124 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/414, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 61/124. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/113 of 8 December 2005, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/61/66. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/66. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/125 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/415, para. 29),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Botswana, Cuba, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 70 to none, with 91 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Chad, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Yemen 61/125. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 60/114 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also all resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the question of Western Sahara, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Council approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara,See S/21360 and S/22464 and Corr.1. Recalling Security Council resolutions 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001 and 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002, as well as 1495 (2003) of 31 July 2003, in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western SaharaS/2003/565 and Corr.1, annex II. as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties, and resolutions 1541 (2004) of 29 April 2004, 1570 (2004) of 28 October 2004, 1598 (2005) of 28 April 2005, 1634 (2005) of 28 October 2005 and 1675 (2006) of 28 April 2006, Taking note of the responses of the parties and neighbouring States to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General concerning the peace plan contained in the report of the Secretary-General of 23 May 2003,S/2003/565 and Corr.1. Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, Noting with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in accordance with the proposal made by the Secretary-General, and stressing the importance it attaches to the maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan, Underlining, in this regard, the validity of the settlement plan, while noting the fundamental differences between the parties in its implementation, Stressing that the lack of progress in the settlement of the dispute on Western Sahara continues to cause suffering to the people of Western Sahara, remains a source of potential instability in the region and obstructs the economic development of the Maghreb region and that, in view of this, the search for a political solution is critically needed, Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in search of a mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. VIII. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/121. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/121. 2. Underlines Security Council resolution 1495 (2003), in which the Council expressed its support of the peace plan for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara as an optimum political solution on the basis of agreement between the two parties; 3. Underlines also that the parties reacted differently to this plan; 4. Continues to support strongly the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute over Western Sahara; 5. Commends the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for their outstanding efforts and the two parties for the spirit of cooperation they have shown in the support they provide for those efforts; 6. Calls upon all the parties and the States of the region to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy; 7. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara; 8. Calls upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross in its efforts to solve the problem of the fate of the people unaccounted for, and calls upon the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release without further delay all those held since the start of the conflict; 9. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 10. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/126 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/415, para. 29)The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 61/126. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. VIII. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia since the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 by the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and also those provisions of the Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment; 4. Takes note of the concerns expressed by a group of indigenous people in New Caledonia regarding their underrepresentation in the Territory's governmental and social structures; 5. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, according to their regulations; 6. Also notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 7. Welcomes the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 8. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to transmit to the Secretary-General information as required under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations; 9. Invites all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all sectors of the population, according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 10. Welcomes the intention expressed by the French authorities to resolve in the coming years the question of voter registration; 11. Also welcomes the measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 12. Further welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 13. Notes the increase by the Government of France in financial assistance to the Territory, amounting to 910 million euros in 2005 for health, education, payment of public-service salaries and funding development schemes; 14. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous Kanak culture of New Caledonia; 15. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia; 16. Welcomes the establishment of a new form of cooperation among Australia, France and New Zealand in terms of surveillance of fishing zones, in accordance with the wishes expressed by France during the France-Oceania Summit in July 2003; 17. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 18. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia to the status of observer in the Pacific Islands Forum, continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum, and notes with satisfaction the request by New Caledonia, with the approval and support of the French authorities, to obtain associate member status in the Pacific Islands Forum; 19. Welcomes also the cooperative attitude of other States and Territories in the region towards New Caledonia, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 20. Welcomes further the endorsement of the report of the Forum Ministerial Committee on New Caledonia by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum at its 36th Summit, in October 2005 in Papua New Guinea, and the continuing role of the Forum Ministerial Committee in monitoring developments in the Territory and encouraging closer regional engagements; 21. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 22. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue the examination of the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/127 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/415, para. 29)The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 61/127. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Tokelau,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. X. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular General Assembly resolution 60/116 of 8 December 2005, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Also noting with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Recalling the inauguration in 1999 of a national legislative body, the General Fono, based on village elections by universal adult suffrage and the assumption by that body in June 2003 of full responsibility for the Tokelau budget, Recalling also the report of the United Nations mission dispatched in August 2002 to Tokelau at the invitation of the Government of New Zealand and the representatives of Tokelau,A/AC.109/2002/31. Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and that, as a case study pointing to successful cooperation for decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, Recalling that New Zealand and Tokelau signed in November 2003 a document entitled "Joint statement of the principles of partnership", which sets out in writing, for the first time, the rights and obligations of the two partner countries, Bearing in mind the decision of the General Fono at its meeting in November 2003, following extensive consultations undertaken in all three villages, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association and its decision in August 2005 to hold a referendum on self-government on the basis of a draft constitution for Tokelau and a treaty of free association with New Zealand, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of its capacity for self-government and to an act of self-determination that would result in Tokelau assuming a status in accordance with the options on future status for Non-Self-Governing Territories contained in principle VI of the annex to General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960; 2. Welcomes the substantial progress made towards the devolution of power to the three taupulega (village councils), in particular the delegation of the Administrator's powers to the three taupulega with effect from 1 July 2004 and the assumption by each taupulega from that date of full responsibility for the management of all its public services; 3. Recalls the decision of the General Fono in November 2003, following extensive consultations in all three villages and a meeting of the Special Committee on the Constitution of Tokelau, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association, and the discussions subsequently held between Tokelau and New Zealand pursuant to the General Fono decision; 4. Recalls also the decision of the General Fono in August 2005 to hold a referendum on self-government on the basis of a draft constitution for Tokelau and a treaty of free association with New Zealand, and notes the enactment by the General Fono of rules for the referendum; 5. Welcomes the invitation extended to the United Nations by Tokelau and New Zealand to monitor Tokelau's act of self-determination; 6. Acknowledges Tokelau's initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2002-2005, and notes that a strategic plan for the period 2006-2009 is now being developed in consultation with New Zealand; 7. Also acknowledges the continuing assistance that New Zealand has committed to promoting Tokelau's welfare, as well as the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme, including the relief and recovery assistance provided in the aftermath of Cyclone Percy in 2005; 8. Further acknowledges Tokelau's need for continued support, given the adjustments that are taking place with the strengthening of its capacity for self-government, and the ongoing responsibility of Tokelau's external partners to assist Tokelau in balancing its desire to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible with its need for external assistance; 9. Welcomes the establishment of the Tokelau International Trust Fund to support the future development needs of Tokelau and the offer of a donor round table by the United Nations Development Programme, and calls upon Member States and international and regional agencies to announce contributions to the Fund and thereby lend practical support to assist this emerging country in overcoming the problems of smallness, isolation and lack of resources; 10. Also welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 11. Further welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and territories in the region towards Tokelau, and their support for its economic and political aspirations and increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 12. Welcomes the associate membership of Tokelau in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and its recent accession to membership in the Forum Fisheries Agency, observer status at the Pacific Islands Forum and associate membership in the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission; 13. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops its economy and governance structures; 14. Welcomes the actions taken by the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of Tokelau to the Secretary-General; 15. Notes with satisfaction the successful visit to Tokelau in October 2004 by the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 16. Notes the considerable progress made towards the adoption of a Constitution and of national symbols by Tokelau, the steps taken by Tokelau and New Zealand to agree to a draft treaty of free association as a basis for an act of self-determination and the support expressed by Tokelauan communities in New Zealand for the move by Tokelau towards self-determination; 17. Commends the professional and transparent conduct of the referendum to determine the future status of Tokelau, which was held from 11 to 15 February 2006 and monitored by the United Nations; 18. Notes that the referendum failed by a narrow margin to produce the two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast required by the General Fono to change Tokelau's status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the administration of New Zealand; 19. Welcomes the agreement of New Zealand to the request by the Tokelau Council of Ongoing Government to maintain the referendum package of a draft Constitution and draft Treaty of Free Association as a possible basis for a future act of self-determination by Tokelau; 20. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTIONS 61/128 A and B Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/415, para. 29),The draft resolutions recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee were submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 173 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Equatorial Guinea, Israel, Samoa, United States of America 61/128. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. IX. Recalling all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and other resolutions of the Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1541 (XV), containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing concern that more than forty-five years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Resolution 1514 (XV). there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Taking note of the stated positions of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the stated position of the Government of the United States of America on the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration, Taking note also of the stated positions of the representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories before the Special Committee and in its regional seminars, Noting the constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories affecting the internal structure of governance about which the Special Committee has received information, Aware of the importance both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, under the supervision of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained, Aware of the importance of the international financial services for the economies of some of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the local and regional levels, including participation in the work of regional organizations, Mindful that United Nations visiting and special missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, and considering the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers, Mindful also that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to ensure that the appropriate bodies of the United Nations embark actively on a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining an understanding of the options of self-determination, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that the 2006 Pacific regional seminar, originally scheduled to be held in Timor-Leste from 23 to 25 May 2006, is to be rescheduled to a later date in 2006, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, and, in this connection, bearing in mind the applicability to the Territories of the programmes of action of all United Nations world conferencesSee Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum); Report of the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, Yokohama, Japan, 23-27 May 1994 (A/CONF.172/9), chap. I; Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I; Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex; Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II; Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex; Report of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Durban, 31 August-8 September 2001 (A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1), chap. I. and special sessions of the General Assembly in the economic and social sphere, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific, Aware that the Human Rights Committee, as part of its mandate under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. reviews the status of the self-determination process of small island Territories under examination by the Special Committee, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, Recognizing that the annual background working papers prepared by the Secretariat on developments in each of the small Territories,See A/AC.109/2006/3-8, 11 and 12, 13 and 13/Corr.1, 15 and 16. as well as the substantive documentation and information furnished by independent experts, scholars, non-governmental organizations and other independent sources, have provided important inputs in updating the present resolution, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Also reaffirms that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions; 3. Further reaffirms that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection reiterates its long-standing call for the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments and appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education programmes for the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV); 4. Requests the administering Powers to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter; 5. Stresses the importance of the Special Committee being apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their respective administering Powers; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to follow closely the developments in legislation in the area of international financial services and their impact on the economy in some of the Territories; 8. Requests the Territories and the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories against any degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in the Territories; 9. Welcomes the participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in regional activities, including the work of regional organizations; 10. Stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. in particular by expediting the application of the work programme for the decolonization of each Non-Self-Governing Territory, on a case-by-case basis, and by completing the periodic analyses of the progress and extent of the implementation of the Declaration in each Territory; 11. Calls upon the administering Powers to participate in and cooperate fully with the work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration, and in order to advise the Special Committee on the implementation of provisions under Article 73 b of the Charter on efforts to promote self-government in the Territories; 12. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 13. Notes that a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by some administering Powers, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, of amending or enacting legislation for application to the Territories, either through Orders in Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power, or through unilateral application of laws and regulations; 14. Takes note of the constitutional reviews in the Territories administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and led by the territorial Governments, designed to address the internal constitutional structure within the present territorial arrangement; 15. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the midterm review of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/60/71 and Add.1. and reiterates its long-standing request that the Secretary-General report to the General Assembly at its next session on the implementation of decolonization resolutions adopted since the declaration of the First and Second International Decades; 16. Reiterates its request that the Human Rights Committee collaborate with the Special Committee, within the framework of its mandate on the right to self-determination as contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. with the aim of exchanging information, given that the Committee reviews political and constitutional developments in many of the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are under review by the Special Committee; 17. Requests the Special Committee to collaborate with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, within the framework of their respective mandates, with the aim of exchanging information on developments in those Non-Self-Governing Territories which are reviewed by these bodies; 18. Also requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session and on the implementation of the present resolution. B Individual Territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on American SamoaA/AC.109/2006/7. and other relevant information, Taking note also of the position of the administering Power and the statements made by representatives of American Samoa in the regional seminars expressing satisfaction with the Territory's present relationship with the United States of America, Noting that the Territory's non-voting delegate to the Congress of the United States of America has formally requested that the administering Power declare its official position on the status of American Samoa before the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Noting with satisfaction the establishment of the Future Political Status Study Commission, which began its work in June 2006, to study alternative forms of future political status open to American Samoa and to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each, Recalling the negative economic impacts of Cyclone Heta in 2004 and Cyclone Olaf in 2005 on the agricultural sector, noting the importance to the economy of remittances and tourism, and bearing in mind the request of the territorial Government to the administering Power to continue to extend favourable tax benefits with regard to its exports, 1. Notes that the Department of the Interior of the United States of America provides that the Secretary of the Interior has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa;Pursuant to Secretary's Order 2657, Department of the Interior, United States of America. 2. Also notes that American Samoa continues to be the only United States Territory to receive financial assistance from the administering Power for the operations of the territorial Government, and calls upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the diversification of its economy; 3. Welcomes the invitation extended to the Special Committee by the Governor of American Samoa and reiterated, most recently at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, to send a visiting mission to the Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission, and requests the Chairman of the Special Committee to take all the necessary steps to that end; 4. Takes note of the statement of the representative of the Governor of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar in 2005 requesting the Special Committee to provide information on the process of self-governance, which could be provided within the context of a visiting mission, or by other acceptable means; 5. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating the work of the newly established Future Political Status Study Commission, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; II Anguilla Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on AnguillaA/AC.109/2006/4. and other relevant information, Taking note also of the constitutional review process resumed by the territorial Government in 2006, Recalling the holding of the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, the first time that the seminar had been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, and the desire of the territorial Government and the people of Anguilla for a visiting mission by the Special Committee, Noting the appointment by the administering Power of a new Governor who maintains reserved powers in the Territory, Aware that the Government has placed a halt on all new and major foreign investment tourism-related projects in order to carefully manage the development of the island's economy to achieve long-term sustainability, 1. Welcomes the establishment of a new Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission in 2006, with the aim of making recommendations to the administering Power on proposed changes to the Constitution in place in the Territory; 2. Notes that changes in the visa requirements for Anguillan passport holders entering nearby French Saint Martin could make it more difficult for them to enter the French overseas department, the closest neighbour to the Territory; 3. Welcomes the participation of the Territory as an associate member in the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; III Bermuda Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on BermudaA/AC.109/2006/6. and other relevant information, Conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties on the future status of the Territory, Noting the statement of the Premier of Bermuda in his Founder's Day address that there could never be a true democracy as long as the country remains a colony or an overseas dependent Territory, and that only with independence can national unity be forged and pride in being Bermudian fully developed, Bearing in mind the conclusions in the report of the United Nations special mission to Bermuda, which visited the Territory in March and May 2005,A/AC.109/2005/19. 1. Welcomes the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to Bermuda at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and on the experiences of other small States that have achieved a full measure of self-government; 2. Also welcomes the 2005 report of the Bermuda Independence Commission, which provides a thorough and meticulous examination of the facts surrounding independence, and takes note of the plans for public meetings and the presentation of a Green Paper to the House of Assembly followed by a White Paper outlining the policy proposals for an independent Bermuda; 3. Decides to follow closely the public consultations on the future political status of Bermuda under way in the Territory, and requests the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; IV British Virgin Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the British Virgin IslandsA/AC.109/2006/12. and other relevant information, Recalling the 1993 report of the Constitutional Commissioners, appointed by the administering Power to review the existing Constitution, and its recommendation to assess the costs, obligations and liabilities of independence, and the 1996 debate on the report in the Legislative Council, Welcoming the establishment of the Constitutional Commission in 2004 and the completion of its report in 2005 providing recommendations on constitutional modernization, and noting that the Legislative Council of the Territory debated the report in 2005, Noting the appointment by the administering Power of a new Governor who maintains reserved powers in the Territory, Also noting that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, 1. Takes note of the statement made by the representative of the Legislative Council of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, who presented an analysis of the internal constitutional review process; 2. Welcomes the 2005 report of the Constitutional Commission, which contains a series of recommendations on constitutional advancement, including the scaling back of the powers of the appointed Governor, and also welcomes the discussions which commenced in 2006 between the elected Government and the administering Power on constitutional advancement and devolution of power; 3. Further welcomes the ongoing work of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands as a mechanism for functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories; V Cayman Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Cayman IslandsA/AC.109/2006/16. and other relevant information, Noting the 2002 report of the Constitutional Modernization Review Commission, which contained a draft constitution for the consideration of the people of the Territory, the 2003 draft constitution offered by the administering Power and the subsequent discussions between the Territory and the administering Power in 2003, Also noting the 2003 visit to the Territory by the Chairman of the Special Committee at the invitation of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, 1. Takes note of the decision by the new territorial Government to reopen discussions with the administering Power in 2006 on constitutional modernization with the aim of ascertaining the views of the people by way of referendum; 2. Also takes note of the statement made by the representative of the Non-Governmental Organizations Constitutional Working Group of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, which called for a comprehensive educational programme, to be defined by the Special Committee, on the issue of self-determination, as well as a visiting mission to the Territory; VI Guam Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on GuamA/AC.109/2006/8. and other relevant information, Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established the process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Aware of concerns expressed by many residents regarding the potential social and other impacts of the impending transfer of additional military personnel of the administering Power to the Territory, Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, Recalling the dispatch in 1979 of a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory, and noting the recommendation of the 1996 Pacific regional seminar for sending a visiting mission to Guam, Also recalling the invitation made in 2000 by the Governor and legislature of the Territory to hold the Pacific regional seminar in the Territory and the opposition to the invitation expressed by the administering Power, 1. Calls once again upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 2. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory, to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 4. Further requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 5. Takes note of the request by the elected Governor to the administering Power to lift restrictions to allow for foreign airlines to transport passengers between Guam and the United States of America to provide for a more competitive market and increased visitor arrivals; VII Montserrat Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on MontserratA/AC.109/2006/13 and Corr.1. and other relevant information, Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information on the political and economic situation in Montserrat provided by the Chief Minister of the Territory to the Caribbean regional seminar, held at The Valley, Anguilla, from 20 to 22 May 2003, Noting with concern the continued consequences of the volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory's population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, which continues to have enduring consequences for the economy of the island, Welcoming the continued assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the continuing efforts of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption, 1. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; 2. Recalls the 2002 report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which contains a series of recommendations on constitutional advancement, including the devolution of power from the appointed Governor to the elected Government, and the call in favour of a free-association arrangement; 3. Welcomes the convening of a committee of the House of Assembly in 2005 to review the report, and the subsequent discussions between the elected Government and the administering Power on constitutional advancement and devolution of power; VIII Pitcairn Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on PitcairnA/AC.109/2006/5. and other relevant information, Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Noting the position of the representative of the elected Government, as expressed at the 2004 Pacific regional seminar, that the people of the Territory did not fully understand all the possibilities or the significance of the various self-determination options that might be available to them, and that the review of the Constitution was deferred to after 2006, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; 2. Takes note of the position of the representative of the elected Government of the Territory favouring discussions on self-determination in advance of a constitutional review, and notes that a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory would heighten the awareness of the people of their political future; IX Saint Helena Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Saint HelenaA/AC.109/2006/3. and other relevant information, Taking into account the unique character of Saint Helena, its population and its natural resources, Taking note of the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government and the consultative poll with regard to a new Constitution held in Saint Helena on 25 May 2005, Aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of Saint Helena, in particular in the sphere of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, Noting the importance of improving the infrastructure and accessibility of Saint Helena, Noting also the importance of the right to nationality for Saint Helenians and their request that it, in principle, be included in the new Constitution, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process and the recent consultative poll led by the Government of Saint Helena in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Also welcomes the decision by the administering Power to provide funding for the construction of an international airport on Saint Helena to become operational in 2010, including all required infrastructure; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the limited transport and communications problems, as well as to support the additional infrastructure required for the airport project; 4. Calls upon the administering Power to take into account the concerns of Saint Helenians with regard to the right to nationality; X Turks and Caicos Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Turks and Caicos IslandsA/AC.109/2006/15. and other relevant information, Recalling the 2002 report of the Constitutional Modernization Review Body, which examined the existing Constitution and made recommendations on the internal structure of government and devolution of power from the appointed Governor to the elected Government, Welcoming the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2006, at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and on the experiences of other small States that have achieved a full measure of self-government, Taking note of the conclusions of the report of the United Nations special mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands,A/AC.109/2006/19. 1. Recalls the statement made by the Chief Minister of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, that his Government was in favour of a reasonable period of full internal self-government before moving to independence; 2. Takes note of the announcement made by the Chief Minister in 2006 of the conclusion of discussions between the territorial Government and the administering Power resulting in an agreement for an advance constitution, which would be circulated to the Government and the opposition for comment and to the general public for information, with the consultative process concluding with a debate in the Legislative Council; 3. Also takes note of the significant and steady period of economic expansion, in particular over the last decade, fuelled by the emergence of high-end tourism, and the need for attention to be paid to the enhancement of social cohesion in the Territory; XI United States Virgin Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the United States Virgin IslandsA/AC.109/2006/11. and other relevant information, Taking note with interest of the statements made and the information provided by the representative of the Governor of the Territory at the Caribbean regional seminar held in Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 17 to 19 May 2005, Noting the continuing interest of the territorial Government in seeking associate membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and observer status in the Caribbean Community and the pending request by the Territory to the administering Power for the delegation of authority to proceed, as well as the 2003 resolution of the territorial legislature in support of that request, Noting also the expressed interest of the territorial Government in being included in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme and in the records and archives management programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Recalling that the Territory has not received a United Nations visiting mission since 1977, and bearing in mind the formal request of the Territory for such a mission in 1993 to assist the Territory in its political education process and to observe the Territory's only referendum on political status options in its history, Noting the ongoing cooperation between the territorial Government and Denmark on the repatriation of artefacts and archives, Also noting that the convening of a fifth Constitutional Convention to review the existing Revised Organic Act, which organizes the internal governance arrangement, has been postponed to 2007, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 2. Once again requests the administering Power to facilitate the participation of the Territory, as appropriate, in various organizations, in particular the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States; 3. Calls for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories; 4. Welcomes the establishment of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands as a mechanism of functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories; 5. Notes the position of the territorial Government supporting the ownership and control of the natural resources of the Territory, including marine resources, and its calls for the return of those marine resources to its jurisdiction; 6. Welcomes the cooperation agreements existing between the Territory and Denmark, the former colonial Power of the Territory, on the exchange of artefacts and the repatriation of archival material. RESOLUTION 61/129 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/415, para. 29),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 176 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: France 61/129. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. III. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular Assembly resolution 60/118 of 8 December 2005, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Also recognizing the role of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, through its United Nations information centres, in the dissemination of information at the regional level on the activities of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 60/112 of 8 December 2005, in which it requested the Department, in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and the Special Committee, to prepare an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to disseminate it widely in them, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 2. Considers it important to continue and expand its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options of self-determination available for the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to this end, requests the Department of Public Information, including through the United Nations information centres in the relevant regions, to disseminate material to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to further enhance the information provided on the United Nations decolonization website by including the statements and scholarly papers presented at the regional seminars, as well as the full series of reports of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 4. Requests the Department of Public Information to implement the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 60/112 on the preparation of an information leaflet on the assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 5. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to implement the recommendations of the Special Committee to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To develop procedures to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To develop a programme of collaboration with the appropriate regional and intergovernmental organizations, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, by holding periodic expert briefings and exchanging information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To encourage the involvement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (f) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to accelerate the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine this question and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/12 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 13 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.8 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan 61/12. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 48/2 of 13 October 1993, by which it granted observer status to the Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization, in which it invited various specialized agencies as well as other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system and relevant international financial institutions to join in the efforts to implement the economic programmes and projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Appreciating the technical and financial assistance extended by the United Nations system and the relevant international and regional organizations to the Economic Cooperation Organization for its economic programmes and projects, and encouraging them to continue their support, Welcoming the endeavours of the Economic Cooperation Organization to consolidate its ties with the United Nations system and the relevant international and regional organizations for the development and promotion of projects in all priority areas, Expressing its support for the relevant plans and programmes as well as the institutional changes in the Economic Cooperation Organization made with a view to achieving internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Expressing its grave concern and sympathy over the human casualties caused by the worst natural disasters and their devastating impact on the socio-economic situation in the Economic Cooperation Organization region, which is prone to disasters such as earthquakes, floods and drought, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 59/4 of 22 October 2004,See A/61/256, part two, sect. XV. and expresses satisfaction at the mutually beneficial interaction between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization; 2. Takes note of the Baku Declaration, adopted at the ninth Economic Cooperation Organization summit, held in Baku on 5 May 2006, which provides guidelines to the Organization in areas such as trade, transportation, energy, agriculture, industry, health and the environment; 3. Welcomes the adoption by the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization at its fifteenth meeting of "ECO Vision 2015" as the basic reference document of the Economic Cooperation Organization, in line with the Millennium Development Goals, inter alia, in which the establishment of a free trade area in the region, facilitation of trade and investment information networking, transportation, the promotion of small- and medium-sized enterprises and utilization of new and renewable technologies are highlighted; 4. Calls for the strengthening of technical assistance of the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other trade-related United Nations bodies, such as the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, to States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization, taking into account the fact that the member States are developing countries and countries with economies in transition, some of which are in the process of becoming members of the World Trade Organization and that their access to world markets and increasing intraregional and interregional trade through the implementation of regional trade agreements will boost their efforts to achieve their development goals; 5. Notes with satisfaction the implementation of the Programme of Action of the Economic Cooperation Organization Decade of Transport and Communications (1998-2007), which is supported by technical assistance from the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, especially for the elimination of non-physical barriers on main transit-transport routes of the region; 6. Welcomes the signing by most States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network, which has been launched under the auspices of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and calls upon the member States concerned to contribute to the operationalization of the project by identifying their priority investment projects; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization in developing a regional energy trade with the cooperation and active participation of subregional and international organizations such as the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank; 8. Appreciates that the Regional Programme for Food Security of the Economic Cooperation Organization has been formulated with the technical and financial assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and contributions of the Islamic Development Bank, invites the relevant United Nations bodies, other international organizations and donor agencies to assist the Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the efficient implementation of the Regional Programme, which contains eleven regional projects and several national projects, and, in this framework, expresses its appreciation for the signing and launching in early 2006 of the Technical Cooperation Programme for Strengthening Seed Supply in the Economic Cooperation Organization Region of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization; 9. Notes with satisfaction the enhancement of cooperation between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization, especially in such areas as industrial cooperation strategy, the transfer of technology, plans of action for small- and medium-sized enterprises and standardization, and invites the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue contributing to relevant activities and projects of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 10. Expresses its satisfaction at the identification of new fields of cooperation within the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization and at establishing a new directorate of human resource and sustainable development to enhance cooperation on such important issues as health, the alleviation of poverty and human and sustainable development, and recommends that all relevant United Nations bodies, including the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Programme and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, extend technical and financial support to the Economic Cooperation Organization in its endeavour to enhance cooperation in the above-mentioned areas; 11. Welcomes the signing of memorandums of understanding between the Economic Cooperation Organization and the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, and calls for the effective implementation of the memorandums; 12. Takes note of the contribution made by the Drug Coordination Control Unit of the Economic Cooperation Organization in compiling and disseminating drug-related data and in organizing training programmes/courses in the field of drug control for the experts of the member States, with the technical and financial assistance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Union, and invites the donor agencies to assist the Economic Cooperation Organization in funding the projects jointly prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization; 13. Welcomes efforts of the Economic Cooperation Organization towards enabling conditions for Afghanistan to assume a more active role in the region in order to benefit from increased trade and export opportunities, and, while taking note of the valuable contribution of the Economic Cooperation Organization in improving the extent and scope of the reintegration of Afghanistan into regional cooperation schemes, appreciates the operationalization of the Special Fund of the Economic Cooperation Organization to finance some priority projects in Afghanistan, and invites the relevant United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, to cooperate with the Secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization for the successful implementation of its current programmes and projects and the Plan of Action for the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Afghanistan, and of a new plan after its expiry in 2007; 14. Invites the United Nations system, its relevant bodies and the international community to continue to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to the States members of the Economic Cooperation Organization in developing and enhancing their early warning systems, preparedness, capacity for timely response and rehabilitation, with a view to reducing human casualties and mitigating the socio-economic impact of natural disasters and infectious diseases; 15. Takes note with appreciation of the strides made by the Economic Cooperation Organization in the sphere of external relations, and expresses its desire for the strengthening of the Organization's relations with other international/regional organizations through the establishment of a mechanism to accord it the status of observer/dialogue partner and through the activation of contact groups in the relevant international forums; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 61/130 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/415, para. 29),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 176 to 3, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Belgium, France 61/130. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23). Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, the most recent of which was resolution 60/119 of 8 December 2005, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Welcoming the Plan of Implementation of the Decolonization Mandate 2006-2007,A/60/853-E/2006/75, annex. which organizes the actions of the decolonization mandate to be carried out by the wider United Nations system, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the United Nations and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism by 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the formal participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with interest the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, and encouraging the others also to do so, Taking note that the Pacific regional seminar, originally scheduled to convene from 23 to 25 May 2006 in Timor-Leste, is to be rescheduled to a later date in 2006, 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to finalize before the end of 2007 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 6. Commends the professional, open and transparent referendum to determine the future status of Tokelau, held under United Nations supervision from 11 to 15 February 2006; 7. Notes that the referendum did not produce the two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast required by the General Fono to change the status of Tokelau as a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the administration of New Zealand; 8. Welcomes the agreement of New Zealand and the Tokelau Council of Ongoing Government to maintain the referendum package of a draft constitution and draft treaty of free association as a possible future basis for an act of self-determination by Tokelau; 9. Also welcomes the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands, at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options, as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, and on the experiences of other small States which have achieved a full measure of self-government; 10. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To finalize before the end of 2007 a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting missions to the Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 54/91. 11. Recognizes that the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. the case-by-case process of assessment of the attainment of self-government in each Territory, and the Plan of Implementation of the Decolonization Mandate 2006-2007A/60/853-E/2006/75, annex. represent an important legislative authority for the attainment of self-government by the end of 2010; 12. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 13. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the economic activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 14. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, including land, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 15. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests the administering Powers to take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 16. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 17. Calls upon the administering Powers that have not participated formally in the work of the Special Committee to do so at its session in 2007; 18. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 19. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2006, including the programme of work envisaged for 2007; Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23). 20. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 61/131 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.42 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Belarus, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zambia 61/131. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, as well as all its resolutions on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development, and recalling the resolutions of the humanitarian segments of the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Reiterating that independence means the autonomy of humanitarian objectives as distinct from the political, economic, military or other objectives that may be pursued by any actor with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented, Welcoming the Hyogo Declaration,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. and the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness, response and mitigation efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, while recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of affected countries which may have limited capacities in this regard, Noting the critical role played by local resources, and by existing in-country capacities, in natural disaster management and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, and of strengthening the response capacity of countries affected by disaster, Noting with appreciation the important role played by Member States, including developing countries, that have granted necessary and continued generous assistance to countries and peoples stricken by natural disasters, Recognizing the significant role played by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Emphasizing the importance of addressing vulnerability and integrating risk reduction into all phases of natural disaster management, post-natural disaster recovery and development planning, Welcoming the work carried out by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the setting up of regional tsunami early warning systems, in the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean and the north-east Atlantic, and noting with appreciation the convening of the Third International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 27 to 29 March 2006, Recognizing that efforts to achieve economic growth, sustainable development and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be adversely affected by natural disasters, and noting the positive contribution that those efforts can make in strengthening the resilience of populations to such disasters, Emphasizing, in this context, the important role of development organizations in supporting national efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General entitled "International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development";A/61/314. "Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations";A/61/85-E/2006/81. "Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, recovery and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster";A/61/87-E/2006/77. and "Central Emergency Response Fund";A/61/85/Add.1-E/2006/81/Add.1. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disasters; 3. Calls upon States to fully implement the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. in particular those commitments related to assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and for disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 4. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively, necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and integrate disaster risk-reduction strategies into development planning, and in this regard requests the international community to continue to assist developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition; 5. Welcomes the effective cooperation among the affected States, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, donor countries, regional and international financial institutions and other relevant organizations, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and civil society, in the coordination and delivery of emergency relief, and stresses the need to continue such cooperation and delivery throughout relief operations and medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in a manner that reduces vulnerability to future natural hazards; 6. Reiterates the commitment to support the efforts of countries, in particular developing countries, to strengthen their capacities at all levels in order to prepare for and respond rapidly to natural disasters and mitigate their impact; 7. Stresses that, to increase further the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, particular international cooperation efforts should be undertaken to enhance and broaden further the utilization of national and local capacities and, where appropriate, of regional and subregional capacities of developing countries for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, and more efficiently and at lower cost; 8. Also stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation, particularly through the effective use of multilateral mechanisms, in the timely provision of humanitarian assistance through all phases of a disaster, from relief and mitigation to development, including the provision of adequate resources; 9. Welcomes the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for the promotion and coordination of disaster response among United Nations humanitarian organizations and other humanitarian partners; 10. Also welcomes, so as to increase further the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, the incorporation of experts from developing countries that are prone to natural disasters into the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination system, and the work of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group in assisting such countries in strengthening urban search and rescue capacities and establishing mechanisms for improving their coordination of national and international response in the field, and recalls in this regard its resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 entitled "Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance"; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with States and relevant organizations, to continue to explore ways to strengthen the rapid response capacities of the international community to provide immediate humanitarian relief, building on existing arrangements and ongoing initiatives; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to develop more systematic links with Member States offering military assets for natural disaster response in order to identify the availability of such assets; 13. Notes that the Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities, including the Directory of Advanced Technologies for Disaster Response, has the potential to support planning preparedness and response activities, and requests the Secretary-General to propose options to enhance its relevance; 14. Encourages donors to consider the importance of ensuring that assistance in the case of higher-profile natural disasters does not come at the expense of those natural disasters that may be relatively lower-profile, bearing in mind that the allocation of resources should be driven by needs; 15. Recognizes that information and telecommunication technology can play an important role in disaster response, encourages Member States to develop emergency response telecommunication capacities, and encourages the international community to assist the efforts of developing countries in this area, where needed; 16. Encourages States that have not acceded to or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, which entered into force on 8 January 2005,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2296, No. 40906. to consider doing so; 17. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies, as well as the sharing of geographical data, for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 18. Encourages Member States, relevant United Nations organizations and international financial institutions to enhance the global capacity for sustainable post-disaster recovery in areas such as coordination with traditional and non-traditional partners, identification and dissemination of lessons learned, development of common tools and mechanisms for recovery needs assessment, strategy development and programming, and incorporation of risk reduction into all recovery processes, and welcomes the ongoing efforts to this end; 19. Requests the United Nations system to improve its coordination of disaster recovery efforts, from relief to development, inter alia, by strengthening institutional, coordination and strategic planning efforts in disaster recovery, in support of national authorities; 20. Stresses the importance of rapid access to funds to ensure a more predictable and timely United Nations response to humanitarian emergencies, and welcomes in this regard the establishment of the Central Emergency Response Fund in its resolution 60/124 of 15 December 2005; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve the international response to natural disasters, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/132 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.44 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 61/132. Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 57/152 of 16 December 2002, 57/256 of 20 December 2002, 58/25 of 5 December 2003, 58/214 and 58/215 of 23 December 2003, 59/212 of 20 December 2004, 59/231 and 59/233 of 22 December 2004, 59/279 of 19 January 2005 and 60/15 of 14 November 2005, Noting the Declaration on Action to Strengthen Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Prevention in the Aftermath of the Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004, adopted at the special meeting of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held in Jakarta on 6 January 2005,A/59/669, annex. Recalling the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). as well as the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster,Common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II). adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/87-E/2006/77. Taking note with appreciation of the convening of the Global Consortium for Tsunami-Affected Countries by the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery in April 2006, which brought together national Governments, United Nations agencies, other intergovernmental organizations, the international financial institutions, consortia of non-governmental organizations and donor Governments with the aim of identifying common priorities and implementing actions towards achieving community-driven development, meeting funding gaps, fostering accountability and transparency, integrating disaster risk reduction, disaster resilience and an effective early warning system that is, inter alia, people-centred into national development plans, building social and physical infrastructure and supporting microfinance activities, Welcoming the convening of the final meeting of the Global Consortium for Tsunami-Affected Countries in New York on 15 November 2006, chaired by Mr. William Jefferson Clinton, former President of the United States of America, in his capacity as Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, which aimed to review the progress made and to identify key recovery and reconstruction goals, Noting with appreciation the convening of the Third International Conference on Early Warning, in Bonn, Germany, from 27 to 29 March 2006, Stressing the need to develop and implement risk reduction strategies and to integrate them, where appropriate, into national development plans, in particular through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, so as to enhance the resilience of populations in disasters and reduce the risks to them, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, and stressing also the need for Governments to develop and implement effective national plans for hazard warning systems with a disaster risk reduction approach, Emphasizing that disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Welcoming the role of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the establishment and implementation of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, given the importance of strengthening regional and subregional cooperation and coordination, which is essential for effective early warning system arrangements for tsunamis, Noting the communiqué relating to support for tsunami and multi-hazard warning systems within the context of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, which supports the interoperability of systems and free and open real-time data exchange, adopted at the third Earth Observation Summit, in Brussels, on 16 February 2005, Welcoming the establishment of the Multi-Donor Voluntary Trust Fund on Tsunami Early Warning Arrangements in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, and inviting Governments, donor countries, relevant international organizations, international and regional financial institutions, the private sector and civil society to consider contributing to the Trust Fund through financial contributions and technical cooperation to support the establishment of the tsunami early warning system in accordance with the needs of the countries of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia so that the Trust Fund contributes to the development of an integrated early warning system based on adequate resources and comprising a network of collaborative centres connected to the global system, Stressing the need for continued commitment to assist the affected countries and their peoples, particularly the most vulnerable groups, to fully recover from the catastrophic and traumatic effects of the disaster, including in their medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and welcoming Government and international assistance measures in this regard, 1. Notes with appreciation the efforts by the Governments of affected countries to undertake the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, as well as in enhancing financial transparency and accountability, with respect to the channelling and utilization of resources, including, as appropriate, through the involvement of international public auditors; 2. Commends the prompt response, continued support, generous assistance and contributions of the international community, donor Governments, civil society, the private sector and individuals, in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, which reflect the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation to address the disaster; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the continued work of Mr. William Jefferson Clinton, former President of the United States of America, the United Nations Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery, and his various initiatives, and encourages his efforts to continue sustaining the political will and to promote the identification of priorities and integration of efforts of the international community, particularly regional and international financial institutions, civil society and the private sector, to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts led by the Governments of affected countries; 4. Encourages donor communities and international and regional financial institutions, as well as the private sector and civil society, to strengthen partnerships and to continue to support the medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the affected countries; 5. Encourages the continued effective coordination among the Governments of affected countries, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, international organizations, donor countries, regional and international financial institutions, civil society, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and private sectors involved in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in order to ensure the effective implementation of existing joint programmes and to prevent unnecessary duplication and reduce vulnerability to future natural hazards, as well as to adequately respond to the remaining humanitarian needs, where needed; 6. Stresses the need for the development of stronger institutions, mechanisms and capacities at the regional, national and local levels, as affirmed in the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). and the promotion of public education, awareness and community participation, in order to systematically build resilience to hazards and disasters, as well as reduce the risks and the vulnerability of populations to disasters, including an effective and sustained tsunami warning system, particularly in tsunami-prone countries; 7. Calls upon States to fully implement the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, in particular those commitments related to assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and for disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable, physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 8. Stresses the importance of and the need for regular updating of recovery assessment by the Governments of affected countries, the United Nations system and international and regional financial institutions, based on the affected countries' national data and utilizing a consistent methodology, in order to reassess progress and identify gaps and priorities, with the participation of the local community during the recovery and reconstruction phase in order to build back better; 9. Emphasizes the need to promote transparency and accountability among donors and recipient countries by means of, inter alia, a unified financial and sectoral information online tracking system, and highlights the importance of timely and accurate information on assessed needs and the sources and uses of funds, and the continued support of donors, where needed, for further development of online tracking systems in the affected countries; 10. Stresses the need for relevant bodies of the United Nations system, international organizations, regional and international financial institutions, civil society and the private sector to implement programmes according to assessed needs and agreed priorities of the Governments of tsunami-affected countries and to ensure full transparency and accountability for their programme activities; 11. Notes with appreciation the efforts of international agencies, donor countries and relevant civil society organizations in supporting the Governments of affected countries to develop national capacity for tsunami warning and response so as to increase public awareness and provide community-based support for disaster risk reduction; 12. Encourages international agencies and Governments to enhance and accelerate their support for the development, implementation and maintenance of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, as the appropriate vehicle for the rapid and timely exchange of alerts and related information required to deliver effective tsunami warnings at the national level; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore ways to strengthen the rapid response capacities of the international community to provide immediate humanitarian relief, building on existing arrangements and ongoing initiatives; 14. Encourages the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue his efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance, and calls upon relevant United Nations organizations and other humanitarian and relevant development actors to work with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to enhance the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance; 15. Urges Governments and the United Nations system, in planning for disaster preparedness and responding to natural disasters, and in implementing recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, to integrate a gender perspective and to ensure that women take an active and equal role in all phases of disaster management; 16. Stresses the importance of a coordinated process of assessing lessons learned in the international response to a given humanitarian emergency, and notes the efforts of Governments of the affected countries, donor Governments and international organizations in providing reports on evaluations of and lessons learned from the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster;Reports include: "The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster: Evaluation of UNICEF's Response (Emergency and Initial Recovery Phase)"; "Survivors of the Tsunami: One Year Later - UNDP Assisting Communities to Build Back Better"; "Towards a United Nations humanitarian assistance programme for disaster response and reduction: Lessons learned from the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster"; "Building a land of hope: one year report"; "Joint evaluation of the international response to the Indian Ocean tsunami: synthesis report". 17. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2007. RESOLUTION 61/133 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.45 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay 61/133. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling all relevant resolutions on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, including its resolution 60/123 of 15 December 2005, as well as Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003 and relevant statements by the President of the Council, Recalling also all Security Council resolutions and presidential statements and reports of the Secretary-General to the Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Recalling further all relevant provisions of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as all relevant treaties,They include, notably, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of 9 December 1994, the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 8 June 1977, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996 to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980. Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter of the United Nations or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, Welcoming the fact that the number of States parties to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. which entered into force on 15 January 1999, has continued to rise, the number now having reached eighty-one, and mindful of the need to promote universality of the Convention, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, as they operate in increasingly complex contexts, as well as the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international law, in particular international humanitarian law, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part in humanitarian operations, often at great personal risk, especially locally recruited staff, Expressing profound regret at the deaths of and violent acts against international and national humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, and strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among such personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Strongly condemning acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault and all forms of violence committed in particular against women and children, and intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of property, Expressing deep concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the provision of assistance and protection to populations in need, Affirming the need for States to ensure that perpetrators of attacks committed on their territory against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel do not operate with impunity, and that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice as provided for by national law and obligations under international law, Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. and noting the role that the Court could play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Reaffirming the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and associated humanitarian personnel, which constitutes an underlying duty of the Organization, and mindful of the need to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the United Nations and a culture of accountability at all levels, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/463. 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Strongly urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and delivery of supplies and equipment in order to allow those personnel to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 5. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments; 6. Also calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. 7. Takes note with appreciation of the adoption of the Optional ProtocolResolution 60/42, annex. to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. which expands the scope of legal protection under the Convention, and calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol as soon as possible so as to ensure its rapid entry into force, and urges States parties to put in place appropriate national legislation, as necessary, to enable its effective implementation; 8. Expresses deep concern that, over the past decade, threats and attacks against the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel have escalated dramatically and that perpetrators of acts of violence seemingly operate with impunity; 9. Strongly condemns all threats and acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, reaffirms the need to hold accountable those responsible for such acts, strongly urges all States to take stronger action to ensure that any such acts committed on their territory are investigated fully and to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice in accordance with international law and national law, and urges States to end impunity for such acts; 10. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of the arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations and associated personnel, so as to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of those who have been arrested or detained in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 11. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts to refrain from abducting humanitarian personnel or United Nations and associated personnel or detaining them in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm or requirement of concession, any abductee or detainee; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, and also requests the Secretary-General to seek the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarters and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized AgenciesResolution 179 (II). and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 13. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, among others, those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission, host country agreements and other related agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 14. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to observe and respect the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 15. Stresses the importance of ensuring that humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel remain sensitive to national and local customs and traditions in their countries of assignment and communicate clearly their purpose and objectives to local populations; 16. Welcomes ongoing efforts to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures in this regard, including by further developing and implementing a unified security management system, as well as by disseminating and ensuring the implementation of the security procedures and regulations and by ensuring accountability at all levels, and also welcomes the creation and the work of the Department of Safety and Security of the Secretariat; 17. Emphasizes the importance of paying special attention to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations; 18. Also emphasizes the need to pay particular attention to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who are particularly vulnerable to attacks and who account for the majority of casualties, and calls upon humanitarian organizations to ensure that their staff are adequately informed about and trained in their respective organization's relevant security measures, plans and initiatives, which should be in line with applicable national law and international law; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about and operate in conformity with the minimum operating security standards and relevant codes of conduct and are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called upon to operate and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant national and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights law and international humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 20. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General and stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training, including training to enhance cultural awareness, prior to their deployment to the field, as well as the need to attach a high priority to stress management training and related counselling services for United Nations staff throughout the system; 21. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations;A/61/531. 22. Emphasizes the importance of information on the range and scope of security incidents involving humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, including attacks against them, to clarify their operating environment; 23. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to further enhance the security management system of the United Nations, and in this regard invites the United Nations and, as appropriate, other humanitarian organizations, working closely with host States, to further strengthen the analysis of threats to their safety and security in order to manage security risks by facilitating informed decisions on the maintenance of an effective presence in the field, inter alia, to fulfil their humanitarian mandate; 24. Stresses that the effective functioning at the country level of security operations requires a unified capacity for policy, standards, coordination, communication, compliance and threat and risk assessment, and notes the benefits thereof to United Nations and associated personnel, including those achieved by the Department of Safety and Security since its establishment; 25. Recognizes the need to continue efforts to achieve a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, both at the headquarters and the field levels, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures to that end; 26. Requests the Secretary-General, inter alia, through the Inter-Agency Security Management Network, to continue to promote increased cooperation and collaboration among United Nations departments, organizations, funds and programmes and affiliated international organizations, including between their headquarters and field offices, in the planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security, training and awareness, and calls upon all relevant United Nations departments, organizations, funds and programmes and affiliated international organizations to support those efforts; 27. Recognizes the steps taken by the Secretary-General thus far, as well as the need for continued efforts to enhance coordination and cooperation, both at the headquarters and the field levels, between the United Nations and other humanitarian and non-governmental organizations on matters relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, with a view to addressing mutual security concerns in the field, and encourages collaborative initiatives to address security training needs; 28. Underlines the need to allocate adequate and predictable resources to the safety and security of United Nations personnel, including through the consolidated appeals process, and encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System, inter alia, with a view to reinforcing the efforts of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security for the safety and security of personnel working in emergency and humanitarian operations; 29. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, calls upon States to consider acceding to or ratifying the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998, which entered into force on 8 January 2005,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2296, No. 40906. and urges them to facilitate and expedite, consistent with their national laws and international obligations applicable to them, the use of communications equipment in such operations, inter alia, through limiting and, whenever possible, expeditiously lifting the restrictions placed on the use of communications equipment by United Nations and associated personnel; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a comprehensive and updated report on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/134 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.46 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zimbabwe 61/134. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations,A/61/85-E/2006/81. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the Central Emergency Response Fund,A/61/85/Add.1-E/2006/81/Add.1. Reaffirming the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Noting with grave concern the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, and reaffirming the need for sustainable measures at all levels to reduce the vulnerability of societies to natural hazards using an integrated, multi-hazard approach, and the importance of including disaster risk reduction as part of long-term and sustainable development strategies, taking into account the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. Noting also with grave concern that violence, including gender-based violence and violence against children, continues to be deliberately directed against civilian populations in many emergency situations, Emphasizing the need to mobilize adequate resources for humanitarian assistance and with a view to ensuring more equitable distribution across humanitarian emergencies as well as fuller coverage of the needs in all sectors, Noting with appreciation the efforts made by the United Nations to improve humanitarian response, including by strengthening humanitarian response capacities, by improving humanitarian coordination, and by enhancing predictable and adequate funding, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the ninth humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council, held during its substantive session of 2006; 2. Requests the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue his efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance, and calls upon relevant United Nations and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, as well as other humanitarian and relevant development actors, to continue to work with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to enhance the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance; 3. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system and, as appropriate, other relevant humanitarian actors, to pursue efforts to improve the humanitarian response to natural and man-made disasters and complex emergencies by further strengthening the humanitarian response capacities at all levels, by continuing to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance at the field level, including with national authorities of the affected State, as appropriate, and by further enhancing transparency, performance and accountability; 4. Encourages States to create an enabling environment for the capacity-building of local authorities and local and national non-governmental and community-based organizations in providing humanitarian assistance; 5. Emphasizes the fundamentally civilian character of humanitarian assistance, reaffirms the leading role of civilian organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance, particularly in areas affected by conflicts, and affirms the need, in situations where military capacity and assets are used to support the implementation of humanitarian assistance, for their use to be in conformity with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to develop more systematic links with Member States offering military assets for natural disaster response in order to identify the availability of such assets; 7. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with States and relevant organizations, to further develop and improve, as required, mechanisms for the use of emergency standby capacities, including, where appropriate, regional humanitarian capacities, under the auspices of the United Nations, inter alia, through formal agreements with appropriate regional organizations; 8. Recognizes the benefits of engagement of and coordination with relevant humanitarian actors to the effectiveness of humanitarian response, and encourages the United Nations to pursue recent efforts to strengthen partnerships at the global level with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, relevant humanitarian non-governmental organizations and other participants of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee; 9. Reiterates the need for a more effective, efficient, coherent, coordinated and better-performing United Nations country presence, with a strengthened role for the senior United Nations resident official responsible for the coordination of United Nations humanitarian assistance, including appropriate authority, resources and accountability; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the support provided to United Nations resident/humanitarian coordinators and to United Nations country teams, including through the provision of necessary training, the identification of resources, and improving the identification and selection of United Nations resident/humanitarian coordinators; 11. Calls upon relevant United Nations organizations to support the improvements of the consolidated appeals process, inter alia, by engaging in the preparation of needs analysis and common action plans, in order to further development of the process as an instrument for United Nations strategic planning and prioritization, and by involving other relevant humanitarian organizations in the process, while reiterating that consolidated appeals are prepared in consultation with affected States; 12. Calls upon United Nations humanitarian organizations to further develop common mechanisms to improve their transparency and the reliability of their humanitarian needs assessments, to assess their performance in assistance, and to ensure the most effective use of humanitarian resources by these organizations; 13. Calls upon donors to provide adequate, predictable and flexible resources based on and in proportion to assessed needs, and to encourage efforts to implement the principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship; 14. Welcomes the establishment of the Central Emergency Response Fund as set out in resolution 60/124 of 15 December 2005 and the fact that fifty-four donors have pledged 297.9 million United States dollars in the first year of operations, notes the assessment of the Secretary-General on its initial functioning, as reflected in his report on the Fund,A/61/85/Add.1-E/2006/81/Add.1. and looks forward to the independent review in 2008; 15. Also welcomes the Secretary-General's efforts to set up appropriate reporting and accountability mechanisms for the Fund, and stresses the importance of ensuring that the resources are allocated and used in the most efficient, effective and transparent manner possible; 16. Urges all Member States and invites the private sector and all concerned individuals and institutions to consider making voluntary contributions to the Fund, reaffirms the target of 500 million dollars by 2008, and emphasizes that contributions should be additional to current commitments to humanitarian programming and not to the detriment of resources made available for international cooperation for development; 17. Reiterates that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs should benefit from adequate and more predictable funding; 18. Urges all Member States to take effective measures to address gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies, and to make all possible efforts to ensure that their laws and institutions are adequate to prevent, promptly investigate and prosecute acts of gender-based violence; 19. Calls upon all Member States and encourages the relevant organizations of the United Nations to strengthen support services, including psychosocial support, to victims of gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies; 20. Calls upon all States and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel as well as delivery of supplies and equipment in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 21. Reaffirms the obligation of all States and parties to an armed conflict to protect civilians in armed conflicts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and invites States to promote a culture of protection, taking into account the particular needs of women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities; 22. Calls upon States to adopt preventive measures and effective responses to acts of violence committed against civilian populations in armed conflicts as well as to ensure that those responsible are promptly brought to justice, as provided for by national law and obligations under international law; 23. Recognizes the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, and encourages Member States and humanitarian agencies to continue to work together in endeavours to provide a more predictable response to the needs of internally displaced persons, and in this regard calls for international support, upon request, to capacity-building efforts of States; 24. Re-emphasizes the importance of the discussion of humanitarian policies and activities in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and that these discussions should be continuously revitalized by Member States with a view to enhancing their relevance, efficiency and impact; 25. Encourages Member States to continue to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on humanitarian issues, based on their respective mandates and taking into account comparative advantages and existing complementarities of the two bodies; 26. Decides, in order to have a more focused and consolidated discussion on humanitarian issues, that the sub-items of its agenda related to the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations currently considered by the Second Committee shall be reallocated to its plenary as of its sixty-second session; 27. Recalls the request to the Secretary-General, in the ninth humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council, to include in his report lessons learned and best practices in the implementation of the pilot projects using the cluster approach, in consultation with affected countries and with the active involvement of relevant United Nations humanitarian entities;See Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/5, para. 26. 28. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2007, on progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations and to submit a report to the Assembly through the Council on the detailed use of the Central Emergency Response Fund. RESOLUTION 61/135 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 14 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 159 to none, with 7 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.47 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Fiji, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America 61/135. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/126 of 15 December 2005, as well as previous resolutions on the question, Recalling also the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements concluded by the two sides, Recalling further the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Gravely concerned at the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people, in particular children, throughout the occupied territory, which constitutes a mounting humanitarian crisis, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all children in the whole Middle East region, Deeply concerned about the negative impact, including the health and psychological consequences, of violence on the present and future well-being of children in the region, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat and the establishment of the Consultative Group, as well as all follow-up meetings and international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Welcoming also the results of the "Stockholm International Donor Conference on the Humanitarian Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories" of 1 September 2006, Welcoming further the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Stressing the continued importance of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in the coordination of assistance to the Palestinian people, Stressing also the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, and welcoming in this regard the support provided to the Palestinian Authority by the Task Force on Palestinian Reform, established by the Quartet in 2002, Noting, in this regard, the active participation of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in the activities of the Special Envoys of the Quartet, Welcoming the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, of the performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank as a step towards implementation of the road map, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/90-E/2005/80. Expressing grave concern at the continuation of the recent tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, including among children, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/90-E/2005/80. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Personal Humanitarian Envoy of the Secretary-General on the humanitarian conditions and needs of the Palestinian people;Available from http://domino.un.org/bertini_rpt.htm. 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Also expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 5. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 6. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 7. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with priorities set forth by the Palestinian side; 8. Calls upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis being faced by Palestinian children and their families and to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions; 9. Welcomes the role that the temporary international mechanism plays in assisting directly the Palestinian people under the current circumstances, and encourages interested donors to make use of the mechanism; 10. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 11. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 12. Stresses, in this context, the importance of ensuring the free passage of aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 13. Also stresses the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian population within and into and out of the Gaza Strip; 14. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible emergency economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people to counter the impact of the current crisis; 15. Stresses the need to implement the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. in particular with regard to the full and prompt clearance of Palestinian indirect tax revenues; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTION 61/136 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/436, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Costa Rica and Estonia. 61/136. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decision 2006/237 of 26 July 2006 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the requests regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the letter dated 8 March 2006 from the Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-GeneralE/2006/3. and the letter dated 30 May 2006 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2006/82. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from seventy to seventy-two States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session for 2007. RESOLUTION 61/137 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/436, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay and Zambia. 61/137. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/61/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-seventh sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/61/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its previous annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the High Commissioner since its establishment by the General Assembly, Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner, commending the staff and implementing partners of the Office of the High Commissioner for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, and underlining its strong condemnation of all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel are increasingly exposed, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-seventh session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/61/12/Add.1). 2. Welcomes the important work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and its Executive Committee in the course of the year, and notes in this context the adoption of the conclusion on women and girls at risk and the conclusion on identification, prevention and reduction of statelessness and protection of stateless persons,Ibid., chap. III, sects. A and B. which are aimed at strengthening the international protection regime, consistent with the Agenda for Protection,Ibid., Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/57/12/Add.1), annex IV. and at assisting Governments in meeting their protection responsibilities in today's changing international environment, including by promoting the progressive implementation of mechanisms and standards through relevant national public policies supported by the international community; 3. Reaffirms the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as the foundation of the international refugee protection regime, recognizes the importance of their full and effective application by States parties and the values they embody, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty-six States are now parties to one instrument or to both, encourages States not parties to consider acceding to those instruments, underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and recognizes that a number of States not parties to the international refugee instruments have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees; 4. Notes that sixty-two States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsIbid., vol. 360, No. 5158. and that thirty-three States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. encourages States that have not done so to give consideration to acceding to these instruments, notes the work of the High Commissioner in regard to identifying stateless persons, preventing and reducing statelessness, and protecting stateless persons, and urges the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to work in this area in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and Executive Committee conclusions; 5. Takes note of the current activities of the Office of the High Commissioner related to protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including in the context of inter-agency arrangements in this field, emphasizes that such activities should be consistent with relevant General Assembly resolutions and should not undermine the mandate of the Office for refugees and the institution of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his dialogue with States on the role of his Office in this regard; 6. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions, and strongly emphasizes, in this context, the importance of active international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing; 7. Emphasizes that prevention and reduction of statelessness are primarily the responsibility of States, in appropriate cooperation with the international community; 8. Also emphasizes that protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons are primarily the responsibility of States, in appropriate cooperation with the international community; 9. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to enhancing the capacity of and reducing the heavy burden borne by host countries, in particular those that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon the Office to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition; 10. Strongly condemns attacks on refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons as well as acts that pose a threat to their personal security and well-being, and calls upon all concerned States and, where applicable, parties involved in an armed conflict to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for human rights and international humanitarian law; 11. Deplores the refoulement and unlawful expulsion of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon all concerned States to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and human rights; 12. Emphasizes that international protection of refugees is a dynamic and action-oriented function that is at the core of the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and that it includes, in cooperation with States and other partners, the promotion and facilitation of, inter alia, the admission, reception and treatment of refugees in accordance with internationally agreed standards and the ensuring of durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups and paying special attention to those with specific needs, and notes in this context that the delivery of international protection is a staff-intensive service that requires adequate staff with the appropriate expertise, especially at the field level; 13. Affirms the importance of mainstreaming the protection needs of women and children to ensure their participation in the planning and implementation of programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and State policies and the importance of according priority to addressing the problem of sexual and gender-based violence; 14. Acknowledges that forcibly displaced women and girls can be exposed to particular protection problems related to their gender, their cultural and socio-economic position, and their legal status, that they may be less likely than men and boys to be able to exercise their rights, and that, therefore, specific action in favour of women and girls may be necessary to ensure that they can enjoy protection and assistance on an equal basis with men and boys, and notes the important guidance provided in the Executive Committee conclusion on women and girls at risk to address issues of identification of those individuals and action to be taken in prevention and response; 15. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to refugee problems, and recalls that those solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, while reaffirming that voluntary repatriation, supported by necessary rehabilitation and development assistance to facilitate sustainable reintegration, remains the preferred solution; 16. Expresses concern about the particular difficulties faced by the millions of refugees in protracted situations, and emphasizes the need to redouble international efforts and cooperation to find practical and comprehensive approaches to resolving their plight and to realize durable solutions for them, consistent with relevant General Assembly resolutions and international law; 17. Recalls the important role of effective partnerships and coordination in meeting the needs of refugees and in finding durable solutions to their situations, welcomes the efforts under way, in cooperation with countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, including their respective local communities, United Nations agencies and other development actors, to promote a framework for durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, which includes the "4Rs" approach (repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction) to sustainable return, and encourages States, in cooperation with United Nations agencies and other development actors, to support, inter alia, through the allocation of funds, the development and implementation of the 4Rs and other programming tools to facilitate the transition from relief to development; 18. Welcomes the progress that has been achieved in increasing the number of refugees resettled and the number of States offering opportunities for resettlement, notes that the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on ResettlementAvailable from www.unhcr.org. sets out the strategic use of resettlement as part of a comprehensive approach to refugee situations aimed at improving access to durable solutions for a greater number of refugees, and invites interested States, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant partners to make use of the Multilateral Framework, where appropriate and feasible; 19. Notes the progress that is being made by interested States and the Office of the High Commissioner to take forward elements outlined in the Mexico Plan of Action to Strengthen International Protection of Refugees in Latin America, adopted on 16 November 2004,Available from www.unhcr.org. and expresses its support for the efforts to promote its implementation with the cooperation and assistance of the international community, as appropriate, including in the area of resettlement, as well as in supporting host communities that receive large numbers of persons who require international protection; 20. Also notes that some progress is being made by interested States and the Office of the High Commissioner within the context of the European-Asian Programme on Forced Displacement and Migration on issues related to asylum and forced displacement, consistent with the mandate of the Office; 21. Further notes the importance of States and the Office of the High Commissioner discussing and clarifying the role of the Office in mixed migratory flows, in order to better address protection needs in the context of mixed migratory flows, including by safeguarding access to asylum for those in need of international protection, and notes the readiness of the High Commissioner, consistent with his mandate, to assist States in fulfilling their protection responsibilities in this regard; 22. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 23. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to improve its management systems and to ensure effective and transparent use of its resources, recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential for the Office to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it through its statuteResolution 428 (V), annex. and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions on refugees and other persons of concern, recalls its resolutions 58/153 of 22 December 2003, 58/270 of 23 December 2003, 59/170 of 20 December 2004 and 60/129 of 16 December 2005 concerning, inter alia, the implementation of paragraph 20 of the statute of the Office, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to annual and supplementary appeals issued by the Office for requirements under its programmes; 24. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to widen its donor base, so as to achieve greater burden-sharing by reinforcing cooperation with traditional governmental donors, non-traditional donors and the private sector; 25. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his activities to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/138 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/436, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. 61/138. New international humanitarian order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/171 of 20 December 2004, all previous resolutions concerning the promotion of a new international humanitarian orderResolutions 36/136, 37/201, 38/125, 40/126, 42/120, 42/121, 43/129, 43/130, 45/101, 45/102, 47/106, 49/170, 51/74, 53/124, 55/73 and 57/184. and all relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, on the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, and the annex thereto, Noting with appreciation the continuing efforts of the United Nations system to increase its capacity and that of its Member States to provide assistance to victims of humanitarian emergencies, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/224. 1. Recognizes the need for the further strengthening of national, regional and international efforts to address humanitarian emergencies; 2. Invites Member States, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, relevant entities of the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including the Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues, to reinforce activities and cooperation so as to continue to develop an agenda for humanitarian action; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen efforts in the humanitarian field and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 61/139 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/436, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Namibia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 61/139. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,Ibid., vol. 189, No. 2545. together with the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/301. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/61/12). 2. Notes the need for African States to address resolutely the root causes of all forms of forced displacement in Africa and to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent so as to forestall refugee flows; 3. Notes with great concern that, despite all of the efforts made so far by the United Nations, the African Union and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, and calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa; 4. Welcomes decision EX.CL/Dec.284 (IX) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa, adopted by the Executive Council of the African Union at its ninth ordinary session, held at Banjul on 28 and 29 June 2006;See African Union, document EX.CL/Dec.278-314 (IX). 5. Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and commends the Office for its ongoing efforts, with the support of the international community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 6. Recognizes that, among refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons, women and children are the majority of the population affected by conflict, and in this context notes the conclusion on women and girls at risk adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-seventh session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/61/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. A. 7. Notes the conclusion on identification, prevention and reduction of statelessness and protection of stateless persons adopted by the Executive Committee at its fifty-seventh session,Ibid., sect. B. which is aimed at enhancing the protection of stateless persons as well as the prevention and reduction of statelessness; 8. Reiterates the importance of the full and effective implementation of standards and procedures, including the monitoring and reporting mechanism outlined in Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005, to better address the specific protection needs of refugee children and adolescents and to safeguard rights and, in particular, to ensure adequate attention to unaccompanied and separated children and children affected by armed conflict, including former child soldiers in refugee settings, as well as in the context of voluntary repatriation and reintegration measures; 9. Recognizes the importance of early registration and effective registration systems and censuses as a tool of protection and as a means to the quantification and assessment of needs for the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance and to implement appropriate durable solutions; 10. Recalls the conclusion on registration of refugees and asylum-seekers adopted by the Executive Committee at its fifty-second session,Ibid., Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/56/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. B. notes the many forms of harassment faced by refugees and asylum-seekers who remain without any form of documentation attesting to their status, recalls the responsibility of States to register refugees on their territories, and, as appropriate, the responsibility of the Office of the High Commissioner or mandated international bodies to do so, reiterates in this context the central role which early and effective registration and documentation can play, guided by protection considerations, in enhancing protection and supporting efforts to find durable solutions, and calls upon the Office, as appropriate, to help States to conduct this procedure should they be unable to register refugees on their territory; 11. Calls upon the international community, including States and the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant United Nations organizations, within their respective mandates, to take concrete action to meet the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons and to contribute generously to projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight and facilitating durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons; 12. Reaffirms the importance of timely and adequate assistance and protection for refugees, also reaffirms that assistance and protection are mutually reinforcing and that inadequate material assistance and food shortages undermine protection, notes the importance of a rights- and community-based approach in engaging constructively with individual refugees and their communities to achieve fair and equitable access to food and other forms of material assistance, and expresses concern in regard to situations in which minimum standards of assistance are not met, including those in which adequate needs assessments have yet to be undertaken; 13. Also reaffirms that respect by States for their protection responsibilities towards refugees is strengthened by international solidarity involving all members of the international community and that the refugee protection regime is enhanced through committed international cooperation in a spirit of solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing among all States; 14. Further reaffirms that host States have the primary responsibility to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements or used for purposes that are incompatible with their civilian character, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue efforts, in consultation with States and other relevant actors, to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of camps; 15. Condemns all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, and calls upon States of refuge, in cooperation with international organizations, where appropriate, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the humane treatment of asylum-seekers; 16. Deplores the continuing violence and insecurity which constitute an ongoing threat to the safety and security of staff members of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian organizations and an obstacle to the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Office and the ability of its implementing partners and other humanitarian personnel to discharge their respective humanitarian functions, urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and ensure the safety and security of the personnel and property of the Office and that of all humanitarian organizations discharging functions mandated by the Office, and calls upon States to investigate fully any crime committed against humanitarian personnel and bring to justice the persons responsible for such crimes; 17. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the African Union, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the international refugee protection system; 18. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities; 19. Reaffirms the right of return and the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, where appropriate and feasible, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home; 20. Also reaffirms that voluntary repatriation should not necessarily be conditioned on the accomplishment of political solutions in the country of origin in order not to impede the exercise of the refugees' right to return, recognizes that the voluntary repatriation and reintegration process is normally guided by the conditions in the country of origin, in particular that voluntary repatriation can be accomplished in conditions of safety and dignity, and urges the High Commissioner to promote sustainable return through the development of durable and lasting solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations; 21. Calls upon the international donor community to provide financial and material assistance that allows for the implementation of community-based development programmes that benefit both refugees and host communities, as appropriate, in agreement with host countries and consistent with humanitarian objectives; 22. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to the third-country resettlement needs of African refugees, notes in this regard the importance of using resettlement strategically, as part of situation-specific comprehensive responses to refugee situations, and to this end encourages interested States, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant partners to make full use of the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on Resettlement,Available from www.unhcr.org. where appropriate; 23. Calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 24. Urges the international community, in the spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, inter alia, as a result of repatriation possibilities, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 25. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and interested States to identify protracted refugee situations which might lend themselves to resolution through the development of specific, multilateral, comprehensive and practical approaches to resolving such refugee situations, including improvement of international burden- and responsibility-sharing and realization of durable solutions, within a multilateral context; 26. Expresses grave concern at the increasing numbers of internally displaced persons in Africa, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in this regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. takes note of the current activities of the Office of the High Commissioner related to protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including in the context of inter-agency arrangements in this field, emphasizes that such activities should be consistent with relevant General Assembly resolutions and should not undermine the mandate of the Office and the institution of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his dialogue with States on the role of his Office in this regard; 27. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions". RESOLUTION 61/13 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 13 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.14 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/13. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the Agreement between the Council of Europe and the Secretariat of the United Nations signed on 15 December 1951 and the Arrangement on Cooperation and Liaison between the Secretariats of the United Nations and the Council of Europe of 19 November 1971, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome, approved at the United Nations summit held in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005, including the section on regional organizations,Resolution 60/1, para. 170. which provides an incentive to reinforce links between the United Nations and regional organizations such as the Council of Europe, Welcoming the outcome of the Third Summit of the Council of Europe, held in Warsaw on 16 and 17 May 2005, and the fact that on this occasion the Heads of State and Government encouraged cooperation with the United Nations and the specialized agencies, and committed themselves to achieving the Millennium Developments Goals in Europe, including environmental development, Welcoming also the increasingly close relations between the United Nations and the Council of Europe, Welcoming further the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe,A/61/256, part one, sect. VI. 1. Considers that cooperation with the Council of Europe regarding the protection of human rights, the fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the fight against trafficking in human beings and violence against women, as well as the protection and promotion of the rights of the child should be reinforced; 2. Takes note of the important role of the European Court of Human Rights, and invites the Human Rights Council and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to work closely with the Council of Europe, and in particular its Commissioner for Human Rights, in promoting respect for human rights; 3. Notes the contribution of the Council of Europe to the protection and strengthening of democracy, inter alia, through the Forum for the Future of Democracy, and welcomes fruitful cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe in the area of democracy, good governance and education for democratic citizenship and human rights, in particular through the strengthening of links between the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the Council of Europe Project on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights; 4. Encourages the development of cooperation, where appropriate, between the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission and the Council of Europe, with a view to promoting post-conflict re-establishment and consolidation of peace in Europe, with full respect for human rights and the rule of law; 5. Commends the ongoing cooperation between the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate and the Council of Europe, as well as the contribution of the Council of Europe to the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1624 (2005) of 14 September 2005, and calls for the deepening of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, while protecting human rights; 6. Encourages cooperation between the two organizations regarding the fight against transnational organized crime, cybercrime, corruption and money-laundering, as well as concerning the promotion of human rights and the rule of law in the information society; 7. Reiterates its support for cooperation between the two organizations in the social field, in particular concerning the protection and promotion of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, combating poverty and social exclusion and ensuring equal access to social rights for all; 8. Welcomes the joint initiatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Council of Europe for the promotion of intercultural dialogue, especially the creation of the Faro Platform of inter-institutional cooperation in 2005, and encourages the continuation of such cooperation, in particular through the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity of the Council of Europe, and also as regards the promotion of cultural diversity; 9. Notes the constructive interest of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in the reform process of the United Nations, and welcomes its proposals for a closer involvement of parliamentarians in the work of the United Nations; 10. Requests the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the Council of Europe to combine their efforts in seeking answers to global challenges, within their respective mandates, and calls upon all relevant United Nations bodies to support the enhancement of cooperation with the Council of Europe in the areas mentioned above; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe", and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe in implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/140 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/437 and Corr.1, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. 61/140. United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/116 of 19 December 2001, by which it proclaimed the ten-year period beginning on 1 January 2003 the United Nations Literacy Decade, its resolution 57/166 of 18 December 2002, in which it welcomed the International Plan of Action for the United Nations Literacy Decade, and its resolution 59/149 of 20 December 2004, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved to ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and that girls and boys will have equal access to all levels of education, which requires a renewed commitment to promote literacy for all, Reaffirming the emphasis placed by the 2005 World Summit on the critical role of both formal and informal education in the achievement of poverty eradication and other development goals as envisaged in the Millennium Declaration, in particular basic education and training for eradicating illiteracy, and the need to strive for expanded secondary and higher education as well as vocational education and technical training, especially for girls and women, the creation of human resources and infrastructure capabilities and the empowerment of those living in poverty, Reaffirming also that a basic education is crucial to nation-building, that literacy for all is at the heart of basic education for all and that creating literate environments and societies is essential for achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy, Convinced that literacy is crucial to the acquisition by every child, youth and adult of the essential life skills that will enable them to address the challenges that they can face in life and represents an essential step in basic education, which is an indispensable means for effective participation in the societies and economies of the twenty-first century, Affirming that the realization of the right to education, especially for girls, contributes to the promotion of gender equality and the eradication of poverty, Welcoming the considerable efforts that have been made to address the objectives of the Decade at various levels, Noting with deep concern that 771 million adults over the age of 15 lack basic literacy skills worldwide and about 100 million children of primary school age are still not enrolled in primary schools, that the issue of illiteracy may not be sufficiently high on national agendas to generate the kind of political and economic support required to address global illiteracy challenges and that the world is unlikely to meet those challenges if the present trends continue, Deeply concerned about the persistence of the gender gap in education, which is reflected by the fact that nearly two thirds of the world's adult illiterates are women, 1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of the International Plan of Action for the United Nations Literacy Decade;See A/61/151. 2. Welcomes the efforts made so far by Member States and the international community in implementing the International Plan of Action; 3. Appeals to all Governments to develop reliable literacy data and information and to further reinforce political will, mobilize adequate national resources, develop more inclusive policymaking environments and devise innovative strategies for reaching the poorest and most marginalized groups and for seeking alternative formal and non-formal approaches to learning with a view to achieving the goals of the Decade; 4. Urges all Governments to take the lead in coordinating the activities of the Decade at the national level, bringing all relevant national actors together in a sustained dialogue and collaborative action on policy formulation, implementation and evaluation of literacy efforts; 5. Appeals to all Governments and professional organizations to strengthen national and professional educational institutions in their countries with a view to expanding their capacity and promoting the quality of education, with particular focus on literacy; 6. Appeals to all Governments and to economic and financial organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend greater financial and material support to the efforts to increase literacy and achieve the goals of Education for All and those of the Decade, through, inter alia, the 20/20 initiative,See Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II, para. 88 (c). as appropriate; 7. Invites Member States, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to intensify their efforts to implement effectively the International Plan of Action and to integrate substantially those efforts in the Education for All process and other initiatives and activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and within the framework of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 8. Requests the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to reinforce its lead role in coordinating and catalysing the activities of the Decade at the regional and international levels, prepare and conduct the mid-Decade review in collaboration with all Decade partners during 2007 and 2008 and submit its results to the General Assembly; 9. Invites Member States and the relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to take an active part in the preparation and organization of high-level regional conferences, scheduled to be held in 2007-2008 in Qatar, Azerbaijan, Mali, Costa Rica and in Asia and the Pacific, aimed at marshalling high political commitment, building an effective partnership among all the stakeholders and mobilizing resources needed for achieving the goals of the Decade and the International Plan of Action; 10. Requests all relevant entities of the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in cooperation with national Governments, to take immediate, concrete steps to address the needs of countries with high illiteracy rates and/or with large populations of illiterate adults, with particular regard to women, including through programmes that promote low-cost and effective literacy provisions; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to seek the views of Member States on the progress achieved in implementing their national programmes and plans of action for the Decade and to submit the next progress report on the implementation of the International Plan of Action to the General Assembly in 2008; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Social development", the sub-item entitled "United Nations Literacy Decade: education for all". RESOLUTION 61/141 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/437 and Corr.1, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 61/141. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session,Resolution S-24/2, annex. as well as a continued global dialogue on social development issues, constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the development goals contained therein, as well as the commitments made at major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, including the commitments made at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 60/209 of 22 December 2005 on the implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Emphasizing the need to enhance the role of the Commission for Social Development in the follow-up and review of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/99. 2. Welcomes the reaffirmation by Governments of their will and commitment to continue implementing the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. in particular to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all; 3. Recognizes that the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments and the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, are mutually reinforcing and that the Copenhagen commitments are crucial to a coherent people-centred approach to development; 4. Reaffirms that the Commission for Social Development continues to have the primary responsibility for the follow-up and review of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly and that it serves as the main United Nations forum for an intensified global dialogue on social development issues, and calls upon Member States, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to enhance their support for its work; 5. Recognizes that the broad concept of social development affirmed by the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly has been weakened in national and international policymaking and that, while poverty eradication is a central part of development policy and discourse, further attention should be given to the other commitments agreed to at the Summit, in particular those concerning employment and social integration, which have also suffered from a general disconnect between economic and social policymaking; 6. Acknowledges that the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), launched after the World Summit for Social Development, has provided the long-term vision for sustained and concerted efforts at the national and international levels to eradicate poverty, and recognizes that the implementation of the commitments made by Governments during the Decade has fallen short of expectations; 7. Emphasizes that the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit and the 2005 World Summit, have reinforced the priority and urgency of poverty eradication within the United Nations development agenda; 8. Also emphasizes that poverty eradication policies should attack poverty by addressing its root and structural causes and manifestations, and that equity and the reduction of inequalities need to be incorporated in those policies; 9. Stresses that an enabling environment is a critical precondition for achieving equity and social development and that, while economic growth is essential, entrenched inequality and marginalization are an obstacle to the broad-based and sustained growth required for sustainable, inclusive people-centred development, and recognizes the need to balance and ensure complementarity between measures to achieve growth and measures to achieve economic and social equity in order for there to be an impact on overall poverty levels; 10. Also stresses that policies and programmes designed to achieve poverty eradication should include specific measures to foster social integration, including by providing marginalized socio-economic sectors and groups with equal access to opportunities and social protection; 11. Reaffirms that social integration policies should seek to reduce inequalities, promote access to basic social services, education for all and health care, increase the participation and integration of social groups, particularly youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, and address the challenges posed by globalization and market-driven reforms to social development in order for all people in all countries to benefit from globalization; 12. Recognizes the need to promote respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to address the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, including through the design and development of appropriate mechanisms to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions and governance; 13. Reaffirms the commitment to the empowerment of women and gender equality and to strengthening policies and programmes that improve, ensure and broaden the full participation of women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life, as equal partners, and to improving their access to all resources needed for the full exercise of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms by removing persistent barriers; 14. Welcomes the ministerial declaration, adopted at the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2006 of the Economic and Social Council, on "Creating an environment at the national and international levels conducive to generating full and productive employment and decent work for all, and its impact on sustainable development";See A/61/3, chap. III, para. 50. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 3. 15. Reaffirms that there is an urgent need to create an environment at the national and international levels that is conducive to the attainment of full and productive employment and decent work for all as a foundation for sustainable development and that an environment that supports investment, growth and entrepreneurship is essential to the creation of new job opportunities, and also reaffirms that opportunities for men and women to obtain productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity are essential to ensuring the eradication of hunger and poverty, the improvement of economic and social well-being for all, the achievement of sustained economic growth and sustainable development of all nations and a fully inclusive and equitable globalization; 16. Also reaffirms the commitment to employment policies that promote full and productive employment and decent work for all under conditions of equity, equality, security and dignity, and further reaffirms that employment creation should be incorporated into macroeconomic policies; 17. Further reaffirms the commitments made in respect of "Meeting the special needs of Africa" at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1, para. 68. underlines the call of the Economic and Social Council for enhanced coordination within the United Nations system and the ongoing efforts to harmonize the current initiatives on Africa, and requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to give due prominence in its work to the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 18. Reaffirms that each country has the primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and underlines the importance of adopting effective measures, including new financial mechanisms, as appropriate, to support the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable development, poverty eradication and the strengthening of their democratic systems; 19. Also reaffirms, in this context, that international cooperation has an essential role in assisting developing countries, including the least developed countries, in strengthening their human, institutional and technological capacity; 20. Stresses that the international community shall enhance its efforts to create an enabling environment for social development and poverty eradication through increasing market access for developing countries, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, financial aid and a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem; 21. Acknowledges that good governance and the rule of law at the national and international levels are essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger; 22. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so in accordance with their commitments, to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help meet development goals and targets; 23. Welcomes the contribution to the mobilization of resources for social development by the initiatives on a voluntary basis taken by groups of Member States based on innovative financing mechanisms, including those that aim to provide further drug access at affordable prices to developing countries on a sustainable and predictable basis, such as the International Drug Purchase Facility, UNITAID, as well as other initiatives, such as the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, and notes the New York Declaration of 20 September 2004, which launched the Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative and called for further attention to raise funds urgently needed to help meet the Millennium Development Goals and to complement and ensure long-term stability and predictability to foreign aid; 24. Reaffirms that social development requires the active involvement of all actors in the development process, including civil society organizations, corporations and small businesses, and that partnerships among all relevant actors are increasingly becoming part of national and international cooperation for social development, and also reaffirms that, within countries, partnerships among the Government, civil society and the private sector can contribute effectively to the achievement of social development goals; 25. Underlines the responsibility of the private sector, at both the national and the international levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, regarding not only the economic and financial but also the development, social, gender and environmental implications of their activities, their obligations towards their workers and their contributions to achieving sustainable development, including social development, and emphasizes the need to take concrete actions on corporate responsibility and accountability, including through the participation of all relevant stakeholders, inter alia, for the prevention or prosecution of corruption; 26. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the regional commissions, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to continue to integrate into their work programmes and give priority attention to the Copenhagen commitments and the Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 6 (E/2005/26), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/234. to continue to be actively involved in their follow-up and to monitor the achievement of those commitments and undertakings; 27. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the question to the Assembly at that session. RESOLUTION 61/142 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/437 and Corr.1, para. 22)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 61/142. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/167 of 18 December 2002, in which it endorsed the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. as well as its resolution 58/134 of 22 December 2003, in which it took note, inter alia, of the road map for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, and its resolutions 59/150 of 20 December 2004 and 60/135 of 16 December 2005, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/14 of 21 July 2003, in which the Council invited Governments, the United Nations system and civil society to participate in a "bottom-up" approach to the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, Recalling further Commission for Social Development resolution 42/1 of 13 February 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 6 (E/2004/26), chap. I, sect. E. in which the Commission decided to undertake the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action every five years, Mindful that, in its resolution 44/1 of 17 February 2006,Ibid., 2006, Supplement No. 6 (E/2006/26), chap. I, sect. C. the Commission for Social Development endorsed the calendar and the global theme for the first review and appraisal of the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, "Addressing the challenges and opportunities of ageing", and decided to start the first global cycle of review and appraisal in 2007 at its forty-fifth session and to conclude it in 2008 at its forty-sixth session, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/167. 1. Encourages Governments to pay greater attention to building capacity to eradicate poverty among older persons, particularly older women, by mainstreaming ageing issues into poverty eradication strategies and national development plans, and by encouraging greater consultation with older persons in the course of developing, implementing and monitoring poverty eradication plans; 2. Invites Governments to conduct their ageing-related policies through inclusive consultations with relevant stakeholders and social development partners, in the interest of creating national policy ownership and consensus-building; 3. Encourages the international community to support national efforts to forge stronger partnerships with civil society, including organizations of older persons, academia, research foundations, community-based organizations, including caregivers, and the private sector, in an effort to help to build capacity on ageing issues; 4. Invites Governments that have not done so to designate focal points for handling follow-up of national plans of action on ageing; 5. Calls upon Governments to promote a bottom-up participatory approach throughout the entire implementation process; 6. Encourages the international community to support national efforts to provide funding for research and data-collection initiatives on ageing in order to better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by population ageing and provide policymakers with more accurate and more specific information on gender and ageing; 7. Stresses the need for additional capacity-building at the national level in order to promote and facilitate implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and in this connection encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request; 8. Recommends that ongoing efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. take into account the situation of older persons; 9. Takes note of Commission for Social Development resolution 44/1,Ibid., 2006, Supplement No. 6 (E/2006/26), chap. I, sect. C. in this context invites Member States to undertake an initial identification of actions they have taken since the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002 as well as policy recommendations for the further implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, and encourages regional commissions to identify modalities for conducting the regional review and appraisal, including best practices, with the aim of presenting this information to the Commission at its forty-fifth session in 2007; 10. Recommends to the Economic and Social Council the integration of ageing into the monitoring, review and appraisal exercises of other major international development initiatives and policy frameworks, including the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentIbid., annex II. and the Beijing Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and their follow-up processes; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, including information on the commemoration of the five-year review and appraisal of the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action in 2007. RESOLUTION 61/143 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/438, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/143. Intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and reaffirming also that discrimination on the basis of sex is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and other international human rights instruments, and that its elimination is an integral part of efforts towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women, Reaffirming also the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the declaration adopted at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. Reaffirming further the international commitments in the field of social development and to gender equality and the advancement of women made at the World Conference on Human Rights, the International Conference on Population and Development, the World Summit for Social Development and the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, as well as those made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and at the 2005 World Summit, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the elimination of violence against women and on the in-depth study on all forms of violence against women, and Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/41 of 19 April 2005 on the elimination of violence against women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling further the inclusion of gender-related crimes and crimes of sexual violence in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. Recognizing that violence against women is rooted in historically unequal power relations between men and women and that all forms of violence against women seriously violate and impair or nullify the enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and constitute a major impediment to the ability of women to make use of their capabilities, Recognizing also that women's poverty and lack of empowerment, as well as their marginalization resulting from their exclusion from social policies and from the benefits of sustainable development, can place them at increased risk of violence, Recognizing further that violence against women impedes the social and economic development of communities and States, as well as the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing the serious immediate and long-term implications for health, including sexual and reproductive health, as well as an increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and the negative impact on psychological, social and economic development that violence against women represents for individuals, families, communities and States, Deeply concerned about the pervasiveness of violence against women and girls in all its forms and manifestations worldwide, and reiterating the need to intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls throughout the world, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the in-depth study on all forms of violence against women,A/61/122 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. and having considered with interest the recommendations contained therein, 1. Recognizes that violence against women and girls persists in every country in the world as a pervasive violation of the enjoyment of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality, development and peace; 2. Welcomes the efforts and important contributions at the local, national, regional and international levels to eliminate all forms of violence against women, and takes note with appreciation of the work done by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences; 3. Stresses that "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life; 4. Strongly condemns all acts of violence against women and girls, whether these acts are perpetrated by the State, by private persons or by non-State actors, calls for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence in the family, within the general community and where perpetrated or condoned by the State, and stresses the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls as a criminal offence, punishable by law; 5. Stresses that it is important that States strongly condemn violence against women and refrain from invoking any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to its elimination as set out in the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women;See resolution 48/104. 6. Stresses also that challenges and obstacles remain in the implementation of international standards and norms to address the inequality between men and women and violence against women in particular, and pledges to intensify action to ensure their full and accelerated implementation; 7. Stresses further that States have the obligation to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls and must exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls and to provide protection to the victims, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Urges States to take action to eliminate all forms of violence against women by means of a more systematic, comprehensive, multisectoral and sustained approach, adequately supported and facilitated by strong institutional mechanisms and financing, through national action plans, including those supported by international cooperation and, where appropriate, national development plans, including poverty eradication strategies and programme-based and sector-wide approaches, and to this end: (a) To ensure that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected and protected; (b) To consider ratifying or acceding to all human rights treaties, including, as a particular matter of priority, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol thereto,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2131, No. 20378. limit the extent of any reservations that they lodge and regularly review such reservations with a view to withdrawing them so as to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty; (c) To review and, where appropriate, revise, amend or abolish all laws, regulations, policies, practices and customs that discriminate against women or have a discriminatory impact on women, and ensure that provisions of multiple legal systems, where they exist, comply with international human rights obligations, commitments and principles, including the principle of non-discrimination; (d) To exercise leadership to end all forms of violence against women and support advocacy in this regard at all levels, including at the local, national, regional and international levels, and by all sectors, especially by political and community leaders, as well as the public and private sectors, the media and civil society; (e) To empower women, particularly poor women, through, inter alia, social and economic policies that guarantee them full and equal access to all levels of quality education and training and to affordable and adequate public and social services, as well as full and equal rights to own land and other property, and to take further appropriate measures to address the increasing rate of homelessness or inadequate housing for women in order to reduce their vulnerability to violence; (f) To take positive measures to address structural causes of violence against women and to strengthen prevention efforts that address discriminatory practices and social norms, including with regard to women who need special attention in the development of policies to address violence, such as women belonging to minority groups, including those based on nationality, ethnicity, religion or language, indigenous women, migrant women, stateless women, women living in underdeveloped, rural or remote communities, homeless women, women in institutions or in detention, women with disabilities, elderly women, widows and women who are otherwise discriminated against; (g) To ensure that diverse strategies that take into account the intersection of gender with other factors are developed in order to eradicate all forms of violence against women; (h) To exercise due diligence to prevent all acts of violence against women, including by improving the safety of public environments; (i) To end impunity for violence against women, by prosecuting and punishing all perpetrators, by ensuring that women have equal protection of the law and equal access to justice and by holding up to public scrutiny and eliminating those attitudes that foster, justify or tolerate violence; (j) To strengthen national health and social infrastructure to reinforce measures to promote women's equal access to public health and address the health consequences of violence against women, including by providing support to victims; (k) To recognize that gender inequalities and all forms of violence against women and girls increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and ensure that women can exercise their right to have control over, and decide freely and responsibly on, matters related to their sexuality in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection, including their sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence; (l) To ensure that men and women and boys and girls have access to education and literacy programmes and are educated on gender equality and human rights, particularly women's rights and their responsibility to respect the rights of others, inter alia, by integrating women's rights into all appropriate curricula and by developing gender-sensitive teaching materials and classroom practices, especially for early childhood education; (m) To provide training and capacity-building on gender equality and women's rights for, inter alia, health workers, teachers, law enforcement personnel, military personnel, social workers, the judiciary, community leaders and the media; (n) To promote awareness and information campaigns on women's rights and the responsibility to respect them, including in rural areas, and encourage men and boys to speak out strongly against violence against women; (o) To protect women and girls in situations of armed conflict, post-conflict settings and refugee and internally displaced persons settings, where women are at greater risk of being targeted for violence and where their ability to seek and receive redress is often restricted, bearing in mind that peace is inextricably linked with equality between women and men and development, that armed and other types of conflicts and terrorism and hostage-taking still persist in many parts of the world and that aggression, foreign occupation and ethnic and other types of conflicts are an ongoing reality affecting women and men in nearly every region, undertake efforts to eliminate impunity for all gender-based violence in situations of armed conflict, bearing in mind relevant General Assembly resolutions and Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, and adopt, consistent with their obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesIbid., vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. international human rights norms and relevant conclusions of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and General Assembly resolutions, a gender-sensitive approach to the consideration of claims for the granting of asylum and refugee status; (p) To integrate a gender perspective into national plans of action and establish or strengthen specific national plans of action on the elimination of violence against women, supported by the necessary human, financial and technical resources, including, where appropriate, time-bound measurable targets, to promote the protection of women against any form of violence, and accelerate the implementation of existing national action plans that are regularly monitored and updated by Governments, taking into account inputs by civil society, in particular women's organizations, networks and other stakeholders; (q) To allocate adequate resources to promote the empowerment of women and gender equality and to prevent and redress all forms and manifestations of violence against women; 9. Calls upon the international community, including the United Nations system and, as appropriate, regional and subregional organizations, to support national efforts to promote the empowerment of women and gender equality in order to enhance national efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls, including, upon request, in the development and implementation of national action plans on the elimination of violence against women and girls, through, inter alia, and taking into account national priorities, official development assistance and other appropriate assistance, such as facilitating the sharing of guidelines, methodologies and best practices; 10. Urges States to integrate gender perspectives into the comprehensive national development plans and poverty eradication strategies that address social, structural and macroeconomic issues, and to ensure that such strategies address violence against women and girls, and urges the United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies and invites the Bretton Woods institutions to support national efforts in this regard; 11. Also urges States to ensure the systematic collection and analysis of data on violence against women, including with the involvement of national statistical offices and, where appropriate, in partnership with other actors, taking note of the World Health Organization multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence against women and its recommendation to enhance capacity and establish systems for data collection to monitor violence against women; 12. Urges the United Nations bodies, entities, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions, in accordance with their mandates, to support, upon request and within existing resources, the strengthening of national capacities and efforts on the collection, processing and dissemination of data, including data disaggregated by sex, age and other relevant information, for their possible use for legislative, policy and programme development and in the national plans of action against all forms of violence against women; 13. Notes the work carried out for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by relevant United Nations bodies, entities, funds and programmes and relevant specialized agencies, including those responsible for the promotion of gender equality and women's rights, and urges them and invites the Bretton Woods institutions: (a) To enhance the coordination of and intensify their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in a more systematic, comprehensive and sustained way, inter alia, through the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality supported by the newly established Task Force on Violence against Women, in close collaboration with relevant civil society, including non-governmental organizations; (b) To enhance coordination in a more systematic, comprehensive and sustained way of their assistance to States in their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including in the development or implementation of national action plans and, where appropriate, national development plans, including poverty reduction strategies where they exist, and programme-based and sector-wide approaches and in close collaboration with relevant civil society, including non-governmental organizations; 14. Calls upon the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality to consider ways and means to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women as a system-wide funding mechanism for preventing and redressing all forms of violence against women and girls; 15. Strongly encourages States to increase significantly their voluntary financial support for activities related to preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women, the empowerment of women and gender equality carried out by the specialized agencies and the United Nations funds and programmes, including the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women; 16. Stresses that within the United Nations system adequate resources should be assigned to those bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes responsible for the promotion of gender equality and women's rights and to efforts throughout the United Nations system to eliminate violence against women and girls; 17. Invites the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council and other relevant United Nations bodies to discuss, by 2008, within their respective mandates, the question of violence against women in all its forms and manifestations, bearing in mind the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the in-depth study on all forms of violence against women,A/61/122 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. and to set priorities for addressing this issue in their future efforts and work programmes and to transmit the outcome of those discussions to the Secretary-General for his annual report to the General Assembly; 18. Requests the Statistical Commission to develop and propose, in consultation with the Commission on the Status of Women, and building on the work of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, a set of possible indicators on violence against women in order to assist States in assessing the scope, prevalence and incidence of violence against women; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a coordinated database, containing data provided by States, in particular national statistical offices, including, where appropriate, through relevant United Nations entities and other relevant regional intergovernmental organizations, disaggregated by sex, age and other relevant information, on the extent, nature and consequences of all forms of violence against women, and on the impact and effectiveness of policies and programmes for, including best practices in, combating such violence; 20. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the implementation of the present resolution, addressing the question of violence against women, and requests that the report include: (a) At the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, information provided by the United Nations bodies, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies on their follow-up activities to implement the resolution; (b) At the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, information provided by States on their follow-up activities to implement the resolution; 21. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Advancement of women". RESOLUTION 61/144 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/438, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam. 61/144. Trafficking in women and girls The General Assembly, Recalling all international conventions that deal specifically with the problem of trafficking in women and girls, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocol thereto on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others,Ibid., vol. 96, No. 1342. the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto, in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeIbid., annex II. and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex III. as well as previous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Human Rights on the issue, Reaffirming the provisions pertaining to trafficking in women and girls contained in the outcome documents of relevant international conferences and summits, in particular the strategic objective on the issue of trafficking contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Reaffirming also the commitment made by world leaders at the Millennium Summit and the 2005 World Summit to devise, enforce and strengthen effective measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in persons to counter the demand for trafficked victims and to protect the victims, Recalling the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, as well as the information that deals with trafficking in women and girls contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the in-depth study on all forms of violence against women,A/61/122 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. Recalling also the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled "Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns", and the attention paid in it to the situation of trafficked women and girls, Acknowledging the inclusion of gender-related crimes in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. which entered into force on 1 July 2002, Bearing in mind that all States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish perpetrators of trafficking in persons, to rescue victims as well as provide for their protection and that not doing so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the victims, Recognizing the need for a stronger gender- and age-sensitive approach in all efforts to fight trafficking and protect its victims, taking into account that women and girls are particularly vulnerable to trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, as well as for forced labour or services, Recognizing also the need to address the impact of globalization on the particular problem of trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, Recognizing further the challenges to combating trafficking in women and girls owing to the lack of adequate legislation and implementation of existing legislation, the lack of availability of reliable sex-disaggregated data and statistics, as well as the lack of resources, Seriously concerned that an increasing number of women and girls from developing countries and from some countries with economies in transition are being trafficked to developed countries, as well as within and between regions and States, and that men and boys are also victims of trafficking, including for sexual exploitation, Concerned about the use of new information technologies, including the Internet, for purposes of exploitation of the prostitution of others, for trafficking in women as brides, for sex tourism exploiting women and children and for child pornography, paedophilia and any other forms of sexual exploitation of children, Concerned also about the increasing activities of transnational criminal organizations and others that profit from international trafficking in persons, especially women and children, without regard to dangerous and inhuman conditions and in flagrant violation of domestic laws and international standards, Recognizing that victims of trafficking are particularly exposed to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and that women and girl victims are often subject to multiple forms of discrimination and violence, including on the grounds of their gender, age, ethnicity, culture and religion, as well as their origins, and that these forms of discrimination themselves may fuel trafficking in persons, Noting that some of the demand for prostitution and forced labour is met by trafficking in persons in some parts of the world, Acknowledging that women and girl victims of trafficking, on account of their gender, are further disadvantaged and marginalized by a general lack of information or awareness and recognition of their human rights and by the stigmatization often associated with trafficking, as well as by the obstacles they meet in gaining access to information and recourse mechanisms in cases of violation of their rights, and that special measures are required for their protection and to increase their awareness, Recognizing the importance of bilateral, subregional, regional and international cooperation mechanisms and initiatives, including information exchanges on best practices, of Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to address the problem of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Recognizing also that global efforts, including international cooperation and technical assistance programmes, to eradicate trafficking in persons, especially women and children, demand the strong political commitment, shared responsibility and active cooperation of all Governments of countries of origin, transit and destination, Recognizing further that policies and programmes for prevention, rehabilitation, repatriation and reintegration should be developed through a gender- and age-sensitive, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach, with concern for the security of the victims and respect for the full enjoyment of their human rights and with the involvement of all actors in countries of origin, transit and destination, Convinced of the need to protect and assist all victims of trafficking, with full respect for the victims' human rights, 1. Welcomes the efforts of Governments, United Nations bodies and agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to address the particular problem of trafficking in women and girls, and encourages them to continue doing so and to share their knowledge and best practices as widely as possible; 2. Calls upon Governments to eliminate the demand for trafficked women and girls for all forms of exploitation; 3. Also calls upon Governments to take appropriate measures to address the factors that increase vulnerability to being trafficked, including poverty and gender inequality, as well as other factors that encourage the particular problem of trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and other forms of commercialized sex, forced marriage and forced labour, in order to eliminate such trafficking, including by strengthening existing legislation with a view to providing better protection of the rights of women and girls and to punishing perpetrators, through both criminal and civil measures; 4. Urges Governments to devise, enforce and strengthen effective gender- and age-sensitive measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in women and girls, including for sexual and economic exploitation, as part of a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy that integrates a human rights perspective and takes into account the situation of trafficked victims, and to draw up, as appropriate, national action plans in this regard; 5. Also urges Governments to consider signing and ratifying and States parties to implement relevant United Nations legal instruments, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocols thereto, in particular the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenIbid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. as well as the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, 1930 (Convention No. 29), the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation, 1958 (Convention No. 111) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182), of the International Labour Organization; 6. Encourages Member States to conclude bilateral, subregional, regional and international agreements, as well as to undertake initiatives, including regional initiatives,Such as the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking, the Action Plan for the Asia-Pacific region of the Asian Regional Initiative against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (see A/C.3/55/3, annex), the initiatives of the European Union on a comprehensive European policy and programmes on trafficking in human beings, as expressed most recently in the European Union plan on best practices, standards and procedures for combating and preventing trafficking in human beings, adopted in December 2005, the activities of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, the Organization of American States Meeting of National Authorities on Trafficking in Persons, and the activities of the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration in this field. to address the problem of trafficking in persons, and to ensure that such agreements and initiatives pay particular attention to the problem of trafficking in women and girls; 7. Calls upon all Governments to criminalize all forms of trafficking in persons, recognizing its increasing occurrence for purposes of sexual exploitation and sex tourism, and to condemn and penalize all those offenders involved, including intermediaries, whether local or foreign, through the competent national authorities, either in the country of origin of the offender or in the country in which the abuse occurs, in accordance with due process of law, as well as to penalize persons in authority found guilty of sexually assaulting victims of trafficking in their custody; 8. Urges Governments to take all appropriate measures to ensure that victims of trafficking are not penalized for being trafficked and that they do not suffer from revictimization as a result of actions taken by government authorities, and encourages Governments to prevent, within their legal framework and in accordance with national policies, victims of trafficking in persons from being prosecuted for their illegal entry or residence; 9. Recognizes the urgent need for broad and concerted cooperation among all relevant actors, including States, intergovernmental organizations and civil society, to counter effectively the threat of trafficking in persons, particularly women and girls; 10. Invites Governments to strengthen bilateral, regional and international cooperation aimed at preventing and combating corruption and the laundering of proceeds derived from trafficking, including for purposes of commercialized sexual exploitation; 11. Also invites Governments to consider setting up or strengthening a national coordinating mechanism, for example, a national rapporteur or an inter-agency body, with the participation of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to encourage the exchange of information and to report on data, root causes, factors and trends in violence against women, in particular trafficking; 12. Encourages Governments and relevant United Nations bodies, within existing resources, to take appropriate measures to raise public awareness of the issue of trafficking in persons, particularly in women and girls; to discourage, with a view to eliminating, the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation, including sexual exploitation and forced labour; to publicize the laws, regulations and penalties relating to this issue; and to emphasize that trafficking is a serious crime; 13. Encourages Governments to take appropriate measures to eliminate sex tourism demand, especially of children, through all possible preventive actions; 14. Urges concerned Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to support and allocate resources for programmes to strengthen preventive action, in particular education for women and men, as well as for boys and girls, on gender equality, self-respect and mutual respect, and campaigns to increase public awareness of the issue at the national and grass-roots levels; 15. Calls upon concerned Governments to allocate resources, as appropriate, to provide comprehensive programmes for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of trafficking, including through job training, legal assistance, including in a language that they can understand, and health care, including for HIV/AIDS, and by taking measures to cooperate with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide for the social, medical and psychological care of the victims; 16. Encourages Governments, in cooperation with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to undertake or strengthen campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration, as well as information on the risks of irregular migration and the ways and means used by traffickers so as to enable women to make informed decisions and to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking; 17. Also encourages Governments to intensify collaboration with non-governmental organizations to develop and implement gender- and age-sensitive programmes for effective counselling, training and reintegration into society of victims of trafficking and programmes that provide shelter and helplines to victims or potential victims; 18. Calls upon Governments to take steps to ensure that the treatment of victims of trafficking, as well as all measures taken against trafficking in persons, in particular those that affect the victims of such trafficking, pay particular attention to the needs of women and girls, are applied with full respect for the human rights of those victims and are consistent with internationally recognized principles of non-discrimination, including the prohibition of racial discrimination and the availability of appropriate legal redress, which may include measures that offer victims the possibility of obtaining compensation for damage suffered; 19. Invites Governments to take steps to ensure that criminal justice procedures and witness protection programmes are sensitive to the particular situation of trafficked women and girls and that they are supported and assisted, as appropriate, in making complaints to the police or other authorities, without fear, and being available when required by the criminal justice system, and to ensure that during this time they have access to protection and social, medical, financial and legal assistance, as appropriate; 20. Also invites Governments to encourage media providers, including Internet service providers, to adopt or strengthen self-regulatory measures to promote the responsible use of media, particularly the Internet, with a view to eliminating the exploitation of women and children, in particular girls, which could foster trafficking; 21. Invites the business sector, in particular the tourism and telecommunications industries, including mass media organizations, to cooperate with Governments in eliminating trafficking in women and children, in particular girls, including through the dissemination by the media of information regarding the dangers of trafficking, the rights of trafficked persons and the services available to victims of trafficking; 22. Stresses the need for the systematic collection of sex- and age-disaggregated data and comprehensive studies at both the national and the international levels and the development of common methodologies and internationally defined indicators to make it possible to develop relevant and comparable figures, and encourages Governments to enhance information-sharing and data-collection capacity as a way of promoting cooperation to combat the trafficking problem; 23. Urges Governments to strengthen national programmes to combat trafficking in persons, especially women and girls, through increased bilateral, regional and international cooperation, taking into account innovative approaches and best practices, and invites Governments, United Nations bodies and organizations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to undertake collaborative and joint research and studies on trafficking in women and girls that can serve as a basis for policy formulation or change; 24. Invites Governments, with the support of the United Nations, when necessary, and other intergovernmental organizations, taking into account best practices, to formulate training manuals and other informational materials and provide training for law enforcement, judicial and other relevant officers, and medical and support personnel, with a view to sensitizing them to the special needs of women and girl victims; 25. Urges Governments to provide or strengthen training for law enforcement, judicial, immigration and other relevant officials in the prevention and combating of trafficking in persons, including the sexual exploitation of women and girls, which should focus on methods used in preventing such trafficking, prosecuting the traffickers and protecting the rights of victims, including protecting the victims from traffickers, to ensure that the training includes human rights and gender- and age-sensitive perspectives, and to encourage cooperation with non-governmental organizations, other relevant organizations and other elements of civil society; 26. Encourages Governments, relevant intergovernmental bodies and international organizations to ensure that military, peacekeeping and humanitarian personnel deployed in conflict, post-conflict and other emergency situations are provided training on conduct that does not promote, facilitate or exploit trafficking in women and girls, including for sexual exploitation, and to raise the awareness of such personnel of the potential risks to victims of conflict and other emergency situations, including natural disasters, of being trafficked; 27. Invites States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. to include information and statistics on trafficking in women and girls as part of their national reports to their respective committees and to work towards developing a common methodology and statistics to obtain comparable data; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report that compiles successful interventions and strategies, as well as challenges, in addressing the gender dimensions of the problem of trafficking in persons, that identifies gender-related aspects of anti-trafficking efforts that remain unaddressed or inadequately addressed, and that evaluates the measures taken through appropriate indicators; and invites the Secretary-General to take into account in his report the work of Governments, relevant United Nations agencies and mechanisms and other international organizations. RESOLUTION 61/145 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/438, para. 27)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 61/145. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 60/140 of 16 December 2005, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. are important contributions to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women, and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, Reaffirming the commitments to gender equality and the advancement of women made at the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. the 2005 World SummitSee resolution 60/1. and other major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, and reaffirming also that their full, effective and accelerated implementation are integral to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming progress made towards achieving gender equality, but stressing that challenges and obstacles remain in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for full, effective and accelerated implementation, Reaffirming that gender mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting the empowerment of women and achieving gender equality by transforming structures of inequality, and reaffirming also the commitment to actively promote the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, as well as the commitment to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations system in the area of gender equality, Bearing in mind the challenges and obstacles to changing discriminatory attitudes and gender stereotypes, and stressing that challenges and obstacles remain in the implementation of international standards and norms to address the inequality between men and women, Expressing serious concern that the urgent goal of 50/50 gender balance in the United Nations system, especially at senior and policymaking levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, remains unmet, and that the representation of women in the United Nations system has remained almost static, with negligible improvement in some parts of the system, and in some cases has even decreased, as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General on the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system,A/61/318. Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, Reaffirming also the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDSResolution S-26/2, annex. and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted at the High-level Meeting on AIDS, held from 31 May to 2 June 2006,Resolution 60/262, annex. which, inter alia, acknowledged the feminization of the pandemic, Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations system-wide policy and strategy on gender mainstreaming,E/2006/83. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the measures taken and progress achieved in follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;A/61/174. 2. Reaffirms the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the declaration adopted on the occasion of the ten-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. and also reaffirms its commitment to their full, effective and accelerated implementation; 3. Recognizes that the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the fulfilment of the obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. are mutually reinforcing in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, and in this regard welcomes the contributions of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to promoting the implementation of the Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and invites States parties to the Convention to include information on measures taken to enhance implementation at the national level in their reports to the Committee under article 18 of the Convention; 4. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, and all sectors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as all women and men, to fully commit themselves and to intensify their contributions to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 5. Calls upon States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. and to take into consideration the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee, urges States parties to consider limiting the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible, and to regularly review such reservations with a view to withdrawing them so as to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, also urges all Member States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to consider doing so, and calls upon those Member States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 6. Encourages all actors, inter alia, Governments, the United Nations system, other international organizations and civil society, to continue to support the work of the Commission on the Status of Women in fulfilling its central role in the follow-up to and review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and, as applicable, to carry out its recommendations, and welcomes, in this regard, the revised programme and methods of work of the Commission adopted at its fiftieth session,See Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/9. which give particular attention to the sharing of experiences, lessons learned and good practices in overcoming challenges to full implementation at the national and international levels as well as to the evaluation of progress in the implementation of priority themes; 7. Calls upon Governments, and the relevant funds and programmes, organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and invites the international financial institutions and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to intensify action to achieve the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, through, inter alia: (a) Sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels to take further action, inter alia, through the mainstreaming of gender perspectives, including through the development and use of gender equality indicators, as applicable, in all policies and programmes and the promotion of full and equal participation and empowerment of women, and enhanced international cooperation; (b) Promotion and protection of, and respect for, the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by women and girls, including through the full implementation by States of their obligations under all human rights instruments, especially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; (c) Ensuring full representation and full and equal participation of women in political, social and economic decision-making as an essential condition for gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls as a critical factor in the eradication of poverty; (d) Respect for the rule of law, including legislation, and continued efforts to repeal laws and eradicate policies and practices that discriminate against women and girls, and to adopt laws and promote practices that protect their rights; (e) Strengthening the role of national institutional mechanisms for gender equality and the advancement of women, including through financial and other appropriate assistance, to increase their direct impact on women; (f) Undertaking socio-economic policies that promote sustainable development and ensure poverty eradication programmes, especially for women and girls, and strengthening the provision of and ensuring equal access to adequate, affordable and accessible public and social services, including education and training at all levels, as well as to all types of permanent and sustainable social protection/social security systems for women throughout their life cycle, and supporting national efforts in this regard; (g) Taking further steps to ensure that the educational system and the media, to the extent consistent with freedom of expression, support the use of non-stereotypic, balanced and diverse images of women presenting them as key actors of the process of development as well as promoting non-discriminatory roles of women and men in their private and public life; (h) Incorporating gender perspectives and human rights in health-sector policies and programmes, paying attention to women's specific needs and priorities, ensuring women's right to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health and their access to affordable and adequate health-care services, including sexual, reproductive and maternal health care and lifesaving obstetric care, in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and recognizing that the lack of economic empowerment and independence has increased women's vulnerability to a range of negative consequences, involving the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other poverty-related diseases; (i) Eliminating gender inequalities, gender-based abuse and violence; increasing the capacity of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, principally through the provision of health care and services, including, inter alia, sexual and reproductive health, and the provision of full access to comprehensive information and education; ensuring that women can exercise their right to have control over, and decide freely and responsibly on, matters related to their sexuality in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection, including their sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence; and taking all necessary measures to create an enabling environment for the empowerment of women and to strengthen their economic independence, while, in this context, reiterating the importance of the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality; (j) Strengthening national health and social infrastructures to reinforce measures to promote women's access to public health and taking action at the national level to address shortages of human resources for health, by, inter alia, developing, financing and implementing policies, within national development strategies, to improve training and management and effectively govern the recruitment, retention and deployment of health workers, including through international cooperation in this area; (k) Adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, including the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources; (l) Increased partnerships among Governments, civil society and the private sector; (m) Encouraging joint responsibility of men and boys with women and girls in the promotion of gender equality, based on the conviction that this is essential to the achievement of the goals of gender equality, development and peace; (n) Removing structural and legal barriers, as well as eliminating stereotypic attitudes, to gender equality at work, promoting equal pay for equal work, and promoting the recognition of the value of women's unremunerated work, as well as developing and promoting policies that facilitate the reconciliation of employment and family responsibilities; 8. Reaffirms that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent violence against women and girls, provide protection to the victims and investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and calls upon Governments to eliminate violence against women and girls and to elaborate and implement strategies in this regard; 9. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 10. Resolves to intensify the efforts of its Main Committees and subsidiary bodies to fully mainstream a gender perspective in their work, as well as in all United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions and in their follow-up processes; 11. Requests that reports of the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies systematically address gender perspectives through qualitative gender analysis and, where available, quantitative data, in particular through concrete conclusions and recommendations for further action on gender equality and the advancement of women, in order to facilitate gender-sensitive policy development; 12. Urges Governments and all entities of the United Nations system, including United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and all relevant actors of civil society, to ensure the integration of gender perspectives in the implementation of and follow-up to all United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions and to give attention to gender perspectives in preparation for such events, including the upcoming special session on children; 13. Reaffirms its call to recently established subsidiary bodies, namely, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council, to integrate attention to gender perspectives into their consideration of all issues in their respective agendas, including the development of their methods of work; 14. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to continue its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of its work and that of its subsidiary bodies, through, inter alia, implementation of its agreed conclusions 1997/2 of 18 July 1997See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and its resolution 2004/4 of 7 July 2004; 15. Welcomes the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2006 of the Economic and Social Council,See A/61/3, chap. III, para. 50. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 3. which, inter alia, underlined the need for the consistent use of a gender mainstreaming strategy for the creation of an enabling environment for women's participation in development, and calls upon all stakeholders to work to ensure the full incorporation of gender perspectives in the implementation of the declaration; 16. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that programmes, plans and budgets visibly mainstream gender perspectives; 17. Reaffirms the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as well as the central role of the Commission on the Status of Women, in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality; 18. Also reaffirms the commitment made at the 2005 World Summit to the full and effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, while noting the sixth anniversary of its adoption and the open debates in the Council on women and peace and security; 19. Urges Governments and the United Nations system to take further steps to ensure the integration of a gender perspective and the full and equal participation of women in all efforts to promote peace and security, as well as to increase their role in decision-making at all levels, including through the development of national action plans and strategies; 20. Calls upon all parts of the United Nations system to continue to play an active role in ensuring the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, through, inter alia, the work of the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Division for the Advancement of Women and the maintenance of gender specialists in all entities of the United Nations system, as well as by ensuring that all personnel, especially in the field, receive training and appropriate follow-up, including tools, guidance and support, for accelerated gender mainstreaming, and reaffirms the need to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations system in the area of gender; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to review and redouble his efforts to make progress towards achieving the goal of 50/50 gender balance at all levels in the Secretariat and throughout the United Nations system, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, considering in particular women from developing and least developed countries, from countries with economies in transition and from unrepresented or largely underrepresented Member States, and to ensure managerial and departmental accountability with respect to gender balance targets, and strongly encourages Member States to identify and regularly submit more women candidates for appointment to positions in the United Nations system, especially at more senior and policymaking levels; 22. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to report annually to the General Assembly, under the item entitled "Advancement of women", as well as to the Commission on the Status of Women and the Economic and Social Council, on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, with an assessment of progress in gender mainstreaming, including information on key achievements, lessons learned and good practices, and recommendations on further measures to enhance implementation. RESOLUTION 61/146 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/439 and Corr.1, para. 20),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 185 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 61/146. Rights of the child The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the rights of the child, the most recent of which is resolution 60/231 of 23 December 2005, and its resolution 60/141 of 16 December 2005, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/44 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing that the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and bearing in mind the importance of the Optional Protocols to the Convention,Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. as well as other human rights instruments, Reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and recalling the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). the Declaration on Social Progress and Development,See resolution 2542 (XXIV). the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and MalnutritionReport of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. and the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. Recognizing the importance of the integration of child rights issues into the follow-up of the outcome documents of all major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits, Taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on progress made towards achieving the commitments set out in the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General AssemblyA/61/270. and on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the issues raised in Assembly resolution 60/231,A/61/207. as well as the report of the Chairman of the Committee on the Rights of the Child,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Third Committee, 15th meeting (A/C.3/61/SR.15), and corrigendum. Reaffirming that the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children, Recognizing the importance of incorporating a child-protection perspective across the human rights agenda, as highlighted in the outcome of the 2005 World Summit, Taking note with appreciation of the attention paid to children in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesResolution 61/106, annex I. and in the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,Resolution 61/177, annex. Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical, in an increasingly globalized environment, as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions, pandemics, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, environmental damage, natural disasters, armed conflict, foreign occupation, displacement, violence, terrorism, abuse, exploitation, trafficking in children and their organs, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism, neglect, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, gender inequality, disability and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Reaffirming the need for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes relating to children, and recognizing the child as a rights holder in all policies and programmes relating to children, I Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocols thereto 1. Reaffirms that the general principles of, inter alia, the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, participation and survival and development provide the framework for all actions concerning children, including adolescents; 2. Urges States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocols theretoIbid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. as a matter of priority and to implement them fully by, inter alia, putting in place effective national legislation, policies and action plans, strengthening relevant governmental structures for children and ensuring adequate and systematic training in the rights of the child for professional groups working with and for children; 3. Urges States parties to withdraw reservations that are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention or the Optional Protocols thereto and to consider reviewing other reservations with a view to withdrawing them; 4. Welcomes the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and calls upon all States to strengthen their cooperation with the Committee, to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocols thereto, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee, and to take into account its recommendations on implementation of the Convention; 5. Requests all relevant organs and mechanisms of the United Nations system regularly and systematically to incorporate a strong child rights perspective throughout all activities in the fulfilment of their mandates, as well as to ensure that their staff are trained in child rights matters, and calls upon States to continue to cooperate closely with all those organs and mechanisms, in particular the special rapporteurs and special representatives of the United Nations system; 6. Encourages States to strengthen their national statistical capacities and to use statistics disaggregated, inter alia, by age, gender and other relevant factors that may lead to disparities and other statistical indicators at the national, subregional, regional and international levels to develop and assess social policies and programmes so that economic and social resources are used efficiently and effectively for the full realization of the rights of the child; II Promotion and protection of the rights of the child Registration, family relations and adoption or other forms of alternative care 7. Once again urges all States parties to intensify their efforts to comply with their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. to preserve the child's identity, including nationality, name and family relations, as recognized by law, to allow for the registration of the child immediately after birth, to ensure that registration procedures are simple, expeditious and effective and provided at minimal or no cost and to raise awareness of the importance of birth registration at the national, regional and local levels; 8. Encourages States to adopt and enforce laws and improve the implementation of policies and programmes to protect children growing up without parents or caregivers, recognizing that, where alternative care is necessary, family- and community-based care should be promoted over placement in institutions; 9. Calls upon States to guarantee, to the extent consistent with the obligations of each State, the right of a child whose parents reside in different States to maintain, on a regular basis, save in exceptional circumstances, personal relations and direct contact with both parents by providing enforceable means of access and visitation in both States and by respecting the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of their children; 10. Also calls upon States to address and pay particular attention to cases of international parental or familial child abduction, and encourages States to engage in multilateral and bilateral cooperation to resolve these cases, preferably by accession to or ratification of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1343, No. 22514. and therefore to be in full compliance with the Convention, and to facilitate, inter alia, the return of the child to the country in which he or she resided immediately before the removal or retention; 11. Further calls upon States to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat illegal adoptions and all adoptions that are not in the best interests of the child; Economic and social well-being of children 12. Calls upon States and the international community to create an environment in which the well-being of the child is ensured, inter alia, by: (a) Cooperating, supporting and participating in the global efforts for poverty eradication at the global, regional and country levels, recognizing that strengthened availability and effective allocation of resources are required at all these levels, in order to ensure that all the internationally agreed development and poverty eradication goals, including those set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. are realized within their time framework, and reaffirming that investments in children and the realization of their rights are among the most effective ways to eradicate poverty; (b) Recognizing the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination by making primary education compulsory and available free to all children, ensuring that all children have access to education of good quality, as well as making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular through the progressive introduction of free education, bearing in mind that special measures to ensure equal access, including affirmative action, contribute to achieving equal opportunity and combating exclusion, and ensuring school attendance, in particular for girls and children from low-income families; (c) Taking all necessary measures to ensure the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and developing sustainable health systems and social services, ensuring access to such systems and services without discrimination, paying special attention to adequate food and nutrition, to the special needs of adolescents and to reproductive and sexual health, and securing appropriate prenatal and post-natal care for mothers, including measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; (d) Assigning priority to developing and implementing activities and programmes aimed at treating and preventing addictions, in particular addiction to alcohol and tobacco, and the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants; (e) Supporting adolescents to be able to deal positively and responsibly with their sexuality in order to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS infection and implementing measures to increase their capacity to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS through, inter alia, the provision of health care, including for sexual and reproductive health, and through preventive education that promotes gender equality; (f) Putting in place strategies, policies and programmes that identify and address those factors that make individuals particularly vulnerable to HIV infection in order to complement prevention programmes that address activities that place individuals at risk for HIV infection, such as risky and unsafe behaviour and injecting drug use; (g) Designing and implementing programmes to provide social services and support to pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers, in particular by enabling them to continue and complete their education; Violence against children 13. Welcomes the United Nations study on violence against children, led by the independent expert for the study,See A/61/299. takes fully into account its recommendations, and encourages Member States and requests United Nations entities, regional organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to widely disseminate and follow up on the study; 14. Commends the independent expert for the participatory process through which the report was prepared in close collaboration with Member States, United Nations bodies and organizations, other relevant intergovernmental organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and in particular for the unprecedented level and quality of participation by children; 15. Condemns all forms of violence against children, and urges States to take effective legislative and other measures to prevent and eliminate all such violence, including physical, mental, psychological and sexual violence, torture, child abuse and exploitation, hostage-taking, domestic violence, trafficking in or sale of children and their organs, paedophilia, child prostitution, child pornography, child sex tourism, gang-related violence and harmful traditional practices in all settings; 16. Also condemns the abduction of children, in particular extortive abduction and abduction of children in situations of armed conflict, including for the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts, and urges States to take all appropriate measures to secure their unconditional release, rehabilitation, reintegration and reunification with their families; 17. Urges States: (a) To strengthen efforts to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence through a comprehensive approach and to develop a multifaceted and systematic framework to respond to violence against children, including by giving priority attention to prevention and addressing its underlying causes, which is integrated into national planning processes; (b) To strive to change attitudes that condone or normalize any form of violence against children; (c) To end impunity for perpetrators of crimes against children, investigate and prosecute such acts of violence and impose appropriate penalties; (d) To protect children from all forms of violence or abuse by government officials, such as the police, law enforcement authorities and employees and officials in detention centres or welfare institutions; (e) To take measures to protect children from all forms of physical and mental violence and abuse in schools, including by using non-violent teaching and learning strategies and adopting classroom management and disciplinary measures that are not based on any form of cruel or degrading punishment, and to establish complaint mechanisms that are age- and gender-appropriate and accessible to children, taking into account children's evolving capacities and the importance of respecting their views; (f) To take measures to promote constructive and positive forms of discipline and child development approaches in all settings, including the home, schools and other educational settings and throughout care and justice systems; (g) To take measures to ensure that all those who work with and for children protect children from bullying and implement preventive and anti-bullying policies; (h) To address the gender dimension of all forms of violence against children and incorporate a gender perspective in all policies adopted and actions taken to protect children against all forms of violence; (i) To ensure national research and documentation to identify vulnerable groups of children, inform policy and programmes at all levels and track progress and best practices towards preventing all forms of violence against children; (j) To strengthen international cooperation and mutual assistance to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence and to end impunity for crimes against children; 18. Recognizes the contribution of the International Criminal Court in ending impunity for the most serious crimes against children, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and calls upon States not to grant amnesties for such crimes; 19. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Secretariat, to explore ways and means, within their respective mandates, by which they can contribute more effectively to addressing the need to prevent and to respond to all forms of violence against children; Non-discrimination 20. Calls upon all States to ensure the enjoyment by children of all their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights without discrimination of any kind; 21. Notes with concern the large number of children who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, stresses the need to incorporate special measures, in accordance with the principle of the best interests of the child and respect for his or her views, in programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and calls upon States to provide special support and ensure equal access to services for all children; 22. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures, including legal reforms where appropriate, to eliminate all forms of discrimination against girls and all forms of violence, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, rape, sexual abuse and harmful traditional or customary practices, including female genital mutilation, marriage without the free and full consent of the intending spouses, early marriage and forced sterilization, by enacting and enforcing legislation and by formulating, where appropriate, comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to protect girls; 23. Also calls upon States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with disabilities in both the public and the private spheres, including access to good quality education and health care and protection from violence, abuse and neglect, and to develop and, where it already exists, to enforce legislation to prohibit discrimination against them in order to ensure their inherent dignity, promote their self-reliance and facilitate their active participation and integration in the community, taking into account the particularly difficult situation of children with disabilities living in poverty; Promoting and protecting the rights of children, including children in particularly difficult situations 24. Calls upon all States to prevent violations of the rights of children working and/or living on the street, including discrimination, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions, torture and all kinds of violence and exploitation, and to bring the perpetrators to justice, to adopt and implement policies for the protection, social and psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration of those children and to adopt economic, social and educational strategies to address the problems of children working and/or living on the street; 25. Also calls upon all States to protect refugee, asylum-seeking and internally displaced children, in particular those who are unaccompanied, who are particularly exposed to violence and risks in connection with armed conflict, such as recruitment, sexual violence and exploitation, stressing the need for States as well as the international community to continue to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to the special assistance, protection and development needs of those children through, inter alia, programmes aimed at rehabilitation and physical and psychological recovery, and to programmes for voluntary repatriation and, wherever possible, local integration and resettlement, to give priority to family tracing and family reunification and, where appropriate, to cooperate with international humanitarian and refugee organizations, including by facilitating their work; 26. Further calls upon all States to ensure, for children belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups, including migrant children and indigenous children, the enjoyment of all human rights as well as access to health care, social services and education on an equal basis with others and to ensure that all such children, in particular victims of violence and exploitation, receive special protection and assistance; 27. Calls upon all States to address, as a matter of priority, the vulnerabilities faced by children affected by and living with HIV, by providing support and rehabilitation to those children and their families, women and the elderly, particularly in their role as caregivers, promoting child-oriented HIV/AIDS policies and programmes and increased protection for children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS, ensuring access to treatment and intensifying efforts to develop new treatments for children, and building, where needed, and supporting the social security systems that protect them; 28. Also calls upon all States to protect, in law and in practice, the inheritance and property rights of orphans, with particular attention to underlying gender-based discrimination, which may interfere with the fulfilment of these rights; 29. Further calls upon all States to translate into concrete action their commitment to the progressive and effective elimination of child labour that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, to eliminate immediately the worst forms of child labour, to promote education as a key strategy in this regard, including the creation of vocational training and apprenticeship programmes and the integration of working children into the formal education system, and to examine and devise economic policies, where necessary, in cooperation with the international community, that address factors contributing to these forms of child labour; 30. Urges all States that have not yet signed and ratified or acceded to the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182) of the International Labour Organization to consider doing so; 31. Calls upon all States, in particular those States in which the death penalty has not been abolished: (a) To abolish by law, as soon as possible, the death penalty and life imprisonment without possibility of release for those under the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offence; (b) To comply with their obligations as assumed under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. (c) To keep in mind the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty and the guarantees set out in United Nations safeguards adopted by the Economic and Social Council; 32. Also calls upon all States to ensure that no child in detention is sentenced to forced labour or any form of cruel or degrading punishment, or deprived of access to and provision of health-care services, hygiene and environmental sanitation, education, basic instruction and vocational training; 33. Encourages States to promote actions, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance, for the social reintegration of children in difficult situations, considering, inter alia, views, skills and capacities that those children have developed in the conditions in which they lived and, where appropriate, with their meaningful participation; Prevention and eradication of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 34. Calls upon all States: (a) To criminalize and penalize effectively all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, including all acts of paedophilia, including within the family or for commercial purposes, child pornography and child prostitution, child sex tourism, trafficking in children, the sale of children and the use of the Internet for these purposes, and to take effective measures against the criminalization of children who are victims of exploitation; (b) To ensure the prosecution of offenders, whether local or foreign, by the competent national authorities, either in the country in which the crime was committed, in the country of which the offender is a national or resident, in the country of which the victim is a national, or on any other basis permitted under domestic law, and for these purposes to afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with investigations or criminal or extradition proceedings; (c) To criminalize and penalize effectively the sale of children, including for the purposes of transfer of organs of the child for profit, to increase cooperation at all levels to prevent and dismantle networks trafficking or selling children and their organs and, for those States that have not yet done so, to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;Resolution 55/25, annex II. (d) In cases of trafficking in children, the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, to address effectively the needs of victims, including their safety and protection, physical and psychological recovery and full reintegration into society, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance; (e) To combat the existence of a market that encourages such criminal practices against children, including through the adoption, effective application and enforcement of preventive, rehabilitative and punitive measures targeting customers or individuals who sexually exploit or sexually abuse children, as well as by ensuring public awareness; (f) To contribute to the elimination of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography by adopting a holistic approach, addressing the contributing factors, including underdevelopment, poverty, economic disparities, inequitable socio-economic structures, dysfunctional families, lack of education, urban-rural migration, gender discrimination, criminal or irresponsible adult sexual behaviour, child sex tourism, organized crime, harmful traditional practices, armed conflicts and trafficking in children; Children affected by armed conflict 35. Strongly condemns any recruitment or use of children in armed conflict contrary to international law, as well as other violations and abuses committed against children affected by armed conflict, and urges all States and other parties to armed conflict that are engaged in such practices to end them; 36. Calls upon States: (a) When ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2173, No. 27531. to raise the minimum age for voluntary recruitment of persons into the national armed forces from that set out in article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention, bearing in mind that under the Convention persons under 18 years of age are entitled to special protection, and to adopt safeguards to ensure that such recruitment is not forced or coerced; (b) To take all feasible measures to ensure the demobilization and effective disarmament of children used in armed conflicts and to implement effective measures for their rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society, in particular through educational measures, taking into account the rights and the specific needs and capacities of girls; (c) To ensure timely and adequate funding for rehabilitation and reintegration efforts for all children associated with armed forces and groups, particularly in support of national initiatives, to secure the long-term sustainability of such efforts; (d) To encourage the involvement of young people in activities concerning the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including programmes for reconciliation, peace consolidation, peacebuilding and children-to-children networks; (e) To protect children affected by armed conflict, in particular from violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law and to ensure that they receive timely, effective humanitarian assistance, in accordance with international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and calls upon the international community to hold those responsible for violations accountable, inter alia, through the International Criminal Court; (f) To take all necessary measures, in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law, as a matter of priority, to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as distinct from the armed forces of a State, including the adoption of policies that do not tolerate the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, and legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalize such practices; 37. Welcomes the valuable work of the United Nations Children's Fund, and looks forward to the results of updating the Cape Town principles on child soldiers; 38. Reaffirms the essential roles of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Council for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children, including children affected by armed conflict, and notes the increasing role played by the Security Council in ensuring protection for children affected by armed conflict; 39. Notes with appreciation the steps taken regarding Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 and the efforts of the Secretary-General to implement the monitoring and reporting mechanism on children and armed conflict in accordance with that resolution, with the participation of and in cooperation with national Governments and relevant United Nations and civil society actors, including at the country level, as well as the work carried out by United Nations child protection advisers in peacekeeping operations; 40. Welcomes the appointment of Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 51/77 of 12 December 1996 and 60/231, and recognizes the progress achieved since the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative, as extended by resolution 60/231; 41. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Representative;A/61/275 and Corr.1. III Children and poverty 42. Reiterates that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and recognizes that chronic poverty remains the single biggest obstacle to meeting the needs and protecting and promoting the rights of children, and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate it; 43. Recognizes that the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected groups, in particular in the least developed countries and in sub-Saharan Africa; 44. Also recognizes that growing inequality within countries is a major challenge to poverty eradication, particularly affecting those living in middle-income countries, and stresses the need to support the development efforts of those countries; 45. Reaffirms that democracy, development, peace and security, and the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty; 46. Recognizes that children living in poverty are deprived of nutrition, water and sanitation facilities, access to basic health-care services, shelter, education, participation and protection, and that while a severe lack of goods and services hurts every human being, it is most threatening and harmful to children, leaving them unable to enjoy their rights, to reach their full potential and to participate as full members of society; 47. Emphasizes the critical role of education, both formal and non-formal, in particular basic education and training, especially for girls, in empowering those living in poverty, and in this regard reaffirms the importance of Education for All programmes and the need to bridge the divide between formal and non-formal education, taking into account the need to ensure the good quality of educational services; 48. Recognizes the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious and contagious diseases on human development, economic growth, food security and poverty eradication efforts in all regions, in particular in the least developed countries and in sub-Saharan Africa, and urges Governments and the international community to give urgent priority to preventing and combating those diseases; 49. Also recognizes that countries struggle to develop when their children grow up malnourished, poorly educated or ravaged by disease, as these factors can perpetuate the generational cycle of poverty; 50. Reaffirms that the primary responsibility for ensuring an enabling environment for securing the well-being of children, in which the rights of each and every child are promoted and respected, rests with each individual State; 51. Calls upon all States and the international community to mobilize all necessary resources, support and efforts to eradicate poverty, according to national plans and strategies and in consultation with national Governments, including through an integrated and multifaceted approach based on the rights and well-being of children; 52. Also calls upon all States, and the international community, where appropriate: (a) To integrate the international obligations related to the rights and well-being of the child and the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in national development strategies and plans, including poverty reduction strategy papers where they exist, and calls upon the international community to continue to support developing countries in the implementation of those development strategies and plans; (b) To ensure a continuum of care from pregnancy through childhood, recognizing that maternal, newborn and child health are inseparable and interdependent, and that the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals must be based on a strong commitment to the rights of women, children and adolescents; (c) To work for a solid effort of national and international action to enhance children's health, to promote prenatal care and to lower infant and child mortality in all countries and among all peoples; (d) To develop a national strategy of prevention and treatment to effectively address the condition of obstetric fistula and to further develop a multisectoral, comprehensive and integrated approach to bring about lasting solutions and a meaningful response to the problem of obstetric fistula and related morbidities; (e) To promote the provision of clean water in all communities for all their children, as well as universal access to sanitation; (f) To take all necessary measures to eradicate hunger, malnutrition and famine; (g) To mobilize the necessary additional resources from all sources of financing for development, including domestic resources, international investment flows, official development assistance and external debt relief, and to commit themselves to a universal, open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory global trading system in order to stimulate development worldwide to ensure the well-being of the most vulnerable sectors of populations, in particular children; Follow-up 53. Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the rights of the child, containing information on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the issues contained in the present resolution; (b) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to continue to submit reports to the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council on the progress achieved and the remaining challenges on the children and armed conflict agenda; (c) To invite the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children, in cooperation with Member States, relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organization, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Human Rights Council, and regional organizations, national institutions and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to promote the wide dissemination of the United Nations study on violence against children,See A/61/299. to give support to the first year of effective follow-up to its recommendations with an integrated approach that bridges the dimensions of public health, education, child protection and human rights, to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on progress made in the initial phase of the follow-up and to anticipate the necessary strategy for follow-up to the implementation of the study; (d) To reiterate its invitation to the Chairman of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to present an oral report on the work of the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session as a way to enhance communication between the Assembly and the Committee; (e) To pay particular attention to the protection of and the rights of children living in poverty at the commemorative plenary meeting to be held in 2007 devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly; (f) To continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children", focusing section III of the resolution on the rights of the child on "Violence against children". RESOLUTION 61/147 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/441, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, Benin, Central African Republic, Cuba, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 121 to 4, with 60 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Japan, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu 61/147. Inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. and other relevant human rights instruments, Recalling the provisions of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2004/16 of 16 April 2004See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/5 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. as well as General Assembly resolution 60/143 of 16 December 2005 on this issue and Assembly resolution 60/144 of 16 December 2005 entitled "Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action", Recalling also the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Judgement of the Tribunal, which recognized the Waffen SS organization and all its integral parts as criminal and declared it responsible for many war crimes and crimes against humanity, Recalling further the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 2 of the Declaration and paragraph 86 of the Programme of Action, Recalling equally the study undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,E/CN.4/2005/18 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1 and Add.2-6. and taking note of his report,See A/61/335. Alarmed, in this regard, at the spread in many parts of the world of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, 1. Reaffirms the provision of the Durban DeclarationSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in which States condemned the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial and national prejudice and stated that those phenomena could never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances; 2. Expresses deep concern over the glorification of the Nazi movement and former members of the Waffen SS organization, including by erecting monuments and memorials as well as holding public demonstrations in the name of the glorification of the Nazi past, the Nazi movement and neo-Nazism; 3. Notes with concern the increase in the number of racist incidents in several countries and the rise of skinhead groups, which have been responsible for many of these incidents, as observed by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 4. Reaffirms that such acts may be qualified to fall within the scope of activities described in article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. and that they represent a clear and manifest abuse of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as well as the rights to freedom of opinion and expression within the meaning of those rights as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; 5. Stresses that the practices described above do injustice to the memory of the countless victims of crimes against humanity committed in the Second World War, in particular those committed by the SS organization, and poison the minds of young people, and that those practices are incompatible with the obligations of States Members of the United Nations under its Charter and are incompatible with the goals and principles of the Organization; 6. Also stresses that such practices fuel contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the spread and multiplication of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups; 7. Emphasizes the need to take the necessary measures to put an end to the practices described above, and calls upon States to take more effective measures to combat those phenomena and the extremist movements, which pose a real threat to democratic values; 8. Reaffirms that, according to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, States parties to that instrument are, inter alia, under the obligation: (a) To condemn all propaganda and all organizations that are based on ideas of racial superiority or that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form; (b) To undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention; (c) To declare as an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof; (d) To declare illegal and prohibit organizations and organized and all other propaganda activities that promote and incite racial discrimination and to recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law; (e) To prohibit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, from promoting or inciting racial discrimination; 9. Calls upon those States that have made reservations to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to give serious consideration to withdrawing such reservations as a matter of priority; 10. Recalls the request of the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/5Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. that the Special Rapporteur continue to reflect on this issue, make relevant recommendations in his future reports and seek and take into account in this regard the views of Governments and non-governmental organizations; 11. Invites Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the exercise of the aforementioned task; 12. Decides to remain seized of the issue. RESOLUTION 61/148 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/441, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/148. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. most recently resolution 59/176 of 20 December 2004, Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in particular section II.B of the Declaration, relating to equality, dignity and tolerance, Reiterating the need to intensify the struggle to eliminate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance throughout the world, Reiterating also the importance of the Convention, which is one of the most widely accepted human rights instruments adopted under the auspices of the United Nations, Reaffirming that universal adherence to and full implementation of the Convention are of paramount importance for promoting equality and non-discrimination in the world, as stated in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Mindful of the importance of the contributions of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to the effective implementation of the Convention and to the efforts of the United Nations to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Emphasizing the obligation of all States parties to the Convention to take legislative, judicial and other measures in order to secure full implementation of the provisions of the Convention, Recalling its resolution 47/111 of 16 December 1992, in which it welcomed the decision, taken on 15 January 1992 by the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to amend paragraph 6 of article 8 of the Convention and to add a new paragraph, as paragraph 7 of article 8, with a view to providing for the financing of the Committee from the regular budget of the United Nations,See CERD/SP/45, annex. and reiterating its deep concern that the amendment to the Convention has not yet entered into force, Stressing the importance of enabling the Committee to function smoothly and to have all necessary facilities for the effective performance of its functions under the Convention, I Reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 1. Takes note of the reports of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its sixty-sixth and sixty-seventhOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/60/18). and its sixty-eighth and sixty-ninthIbid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/61/18). sessions; 2. Commends the Committee for its contributions to the effective implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. especially through the examination of reports under article 9 of the Convention, action on communications under article 14 of the Convention and thematic discussions, which contribute to the prevention and elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 3. Calls upon States parties to fulfil their obligation, under article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to submit their periodic reports on measures taken to implement the Convention in due time; 4. Expresses its concern at the fact that a great number of reports are overdue and continue to be overdue, in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention; 5. Encourages States parties to the Convention whose reports are seriously overdue to avail themselves of the advisory services and technical assistance that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights can provide, upon their request, for the preparation of the reports; 6. Encourages the Committee to continue to cooperate and exchange information with United Nations bodies and mechanisms, in particular with the Human Rights Council, the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and with intergovernmental organizations, as well as with non-governmental organizations; 7. Encourages States parties to the Convention to continue to include a gender perspective in their reports to the Committee, and invites the Committee to take into account a gender perspective in the implementation of its mandate; 8. Notes with appreciation the engagement of the Committee in the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 9. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made so far by the Committee to improve the efficiency of its working methods, and encourages the Committee to continue its activities in this regard; 10. Welcomes, in this regard, measures taken by the Committee to follow up on its concluding observations and recommendations, such as the decision to appoint a follow-up coordinatorIbid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/60/18), annex IV. and to adopt guidelines on the follow-up;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/61/18), annex VI. 11. Encourages the continued participation of members of the Committee in the annual inter-committee meetings and meetings of chairpersons of the human rights treaty bodies, especially with a view to a more coordinated approach to the activities of the treaty body system and standardized reporting; II Financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 12. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination;A/61/186. 13. Expresses its profound concern at the fact that a number of States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. have still not fulfilled their financial obligations, as shown in the report of the Secretary-General, and strongly appeals to all States parties that are in arrears to fulfil their outstanding financial obligations under article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention; 14. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to accelerate their domestic ratification procedures with regard to the amendment to the Convention concerning the financing of the Committee and to notify the Secretary-General expeditiously in writing of their agreement to the amendment, as decided upon at the Fourteenth Meeting of States Parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 15 January 1992,See CERD/SP/45, annex. endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/111 and further reiterated at the Sixteenth Meeting of States Parties on 16 January 1996; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure adequate financial arrangements and to provide the necessary support, including an adequate level of Secretariat assistance, in order to ensure the functioning of the Committee and to enable it to cope with its increasing amount of work; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite those States parties to the Convention that are in arrears to pay the amounts in arrears, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; III Status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 17. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;A/61/260. 18. Expresses its satisfaction at the number of States that have ratified or acceded to the Convention, which now stands at one hundred and seventy-three; 19. Urges States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention and to take into consideration the concluding observations and general recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; 20. Reaffirms its conviction that ratification of or accession to the Convention on a universal basis and the implementation of its provisions are necessary for the effectiveness of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and for the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and expresses its disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention was not achieved by the targeted date of 2005; 21. Urges all States that have not yet become parties to the Convention to ratify or accede to it as a matter of urgency; 22. Urges States to limit the extent of any reservation they lodge to the Convention and to formulate any reservation as precisely and as narrowly as possible in order to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, to review their reservations on a regular basis with a view to withdrawing them, and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention; 23. Notes that the number of States parties to the Convention that have made the declaration provided for in article 14 of the Convention now stands at forty-nine, and requests the States parties that have not yet done so to consider making that declaration; 24. Invites the Chairman of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to present an oral report on the work of the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination"; 25. Decides to consider, at its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination", the reports of the Committee on its seventieth and seventy-first and its seventy-second and seventy-third sessions, the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the Committee and the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention. RESOLUTION 61/149 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/441, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, and South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 179 to 2, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Marshall Islands, Palau 61/149. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/144 of 16 December 2005, in which it reiterated its firm commitment to continue its global efforts towards the total elimination of the scourges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and towards the effective and comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Recalling also its resolution 59/177 of 20 December 2004, in which it firmly consolidated the global drive for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and recognized the absolute necessity and the imperative nature of the political will for the achievement of the commitments undertaken in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Recalling further its resolution 58/160 of 22 December 2003, in which it decided to place emphasis on the concrete implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as a solid foundation for a broad-based consensus for further action and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Recalling its resolution 57/195 of 18 December 2002, in which it outlined the important roles and responsibilities of the various organs of the United Nations and other stakeholders at the international, regional and national levels, including, in particular, the Commission on Human Rights, and its resolution 56/266 of 27 March 2002, in which it endorsed the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as constituting a solid foundation for further action and initiatives towards the total elimination of the scourge of racism, Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance manifest themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and may be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights, and recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination, Taking note of Human Rights Council resolution 1/5 of 30 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. A. Taking note also of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/68 of 25 April 2002,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2003/30 of 23 April 2003,Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/88 of 22 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/64 of 20 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. by which the international community put into effect mechanisms for the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Underlining the primacy of political will, international cooperation and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels for the successful implementation of the Durban Programme of Action, Alarmed at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, inter alia, as a result of the resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Welcoming the determination of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to profile and increase the visibility of the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and her intention to make this a cross-cutting issue in the activities and programmes of her Office, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/337. the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intoleranceSee A/61/335. and Human Rights Council decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. B. I Basic general principles 1. Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments; 2. Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form; 3. Expresses deep concern at recent attempts to establish hierarchies among emerging and resurgent forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and urges States to adopt measures to address these scourges with the same emphasis and vigour with a view to preventing this practice and protecting victims; 4. Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling; 5. Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 6. Also recognizes that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds, such as sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, property, birth or other status; 7. Reaffirms that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law; 8. Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law; 9. Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments; 10. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred, and calls upon States to take all necessary measures to combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they have undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 11. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for all cultures, civilizations, religions, peoples and countries; 12. Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men; II International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 13. Reaffirms that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. are of paramount importance for the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination, and for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world; 14. Reiterates the call made by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in paragraph 75 of the Durban Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. to achieve universal ratification of the Convention by 2005 and for all States to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 of the Convention, and endorses the grave concern expressed by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/64Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. to the effect that, with one hundred and seventy-three ratifications and only forty-nine declarations, the deadline for universal ratification decided by the World Conference has, regrettably, not been realized; 15. Urges, in the above context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain and issue regular updates on its website of a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention and to encourage such countries to ratify it at the earliest; 16. Expresses its concern at the serious delays in the submission of overdue reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which impedes the effectiveness of the Committee, makes a strong appeal to all States parties to the Convention to comply with their treaty obligations, and reaffirms the importance of the provision of technical assistance to the requesting countries in the preparation of their reports to the Committee; 17. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention on the financing of the Committee, and calls for adequate additional resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully; 18. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and article 5 of the Convention; 19. Welcomes the work of the Committee in applying the Convention to the new and contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination; 20. Recalls that the Committee holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention; 21. Welcomes the emphasis placed by the Committee on the importance of follow-up to the World Conference and the measures recommended to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18), chap. XI, sect. E. III Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 22. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing with the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 23. Also acknowledges that the World Conference, which was the third world conference against racism, was significantly different from the previous two conferences, as evidenced by the inclusion in its title of two important components relating to contemporary forms of racism, namely, xenophobia and related intolerance; 24. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 25. Also emphasizes the fundamental and complementary role of national human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working jointly with States towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 26. Welcomes the steps taken by numerous Governments, in particular the elaboration and implementation of national action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and steps taken by national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, towards the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and affirms this trend as a demonstration of commitment for the elimination of all scourges of racism at the national level; 27. Calls upon all States that have not yet elaborated their national action plans on combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to comply with their commitments undertaken at the World Conference; 28. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay, at the national, regional and international levels, policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; 29. Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies or centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such bodies in all regions where they do not exist; 30. Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in assisting States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation; 31. Decides that the General Assembly, through its role in policy formulation, the Economic and Social Council, through its role in overall guidance and coordination, in accordance with their respective roles under the Charter of the United Nations and Assembly resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and the Human Rights Council shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 32. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters related to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter, including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 33. Decides to convene in 2009 a review conference on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to be conducted within the framework of the General Assembly, and, to this end, requests the Human Rights Council to undertake preparations for this event, making use of the three existing and ongoing follow-up mechanisms, and to formulate a concrete plan and provide updates and reports on this issue on an annual basis starting in 2007; 34. Reaffirms that the Human Rights Council shall have a central role in the monitoring of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action within the United Nations system and in advising the General Assembly thereon; 35. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing work in follow-up to the World Conference undertaken by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; 36. Welcomes the conclusions and recommendations agreed upon by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at its fourth session,E/CN.4/2006/18, sect. VI. and welcomes in particular the identification and/or consideration of substantive and procedural gaps, as well as the request for the nomination of five highly qualified experts to further study the content and scope of those gaps, including but not limited to the areas identified in the conclusions of the Chair of the high-level seminar, and, in consultation with human rights treaty bodies, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and other relevant mandate-holders, to produce a base document that contains concrete recommendations on the means or avenues to bridge those gaps, including but not limited to the drafting of a new protocol to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination or the adoption of new instruments, and for the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to conduct further study on possible measures to strengthen the implementation of the Convention and its proposals regarding the assessment and evaluation of the implementation of existing international human rights instruments by States parties, and to this end encourages the Intergovernmental Working Group to continue its work related to the preparation of complementary international standards in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 37. Acknowledges the centrality of resource mobilization, effective global partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158 of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of commitments undertaken at the World Conference, and to this end emphasizes the importance of the mandate of the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, especially in mobilizing the necessary political will required for the successful implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 39. Expresses its concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some governing bodies of the various sporting codes to combat racism, and in this regard invites all international sporting bodies to promote, through their national, regional and international federations, a world of sport free from racism and racial discrimination; 40. Invites, in this context, the Fédération internationale de football association, in connection with the 2010 soccer World Cup tournament to be held in South Africa, to consider introducing a visible theme on non-racism in football, requests the Secretary-General to bring this invitation to the attention of the Fédération and to bring the issue of racism in sport to the attention of other relevant international sporting bodies, and, in this regard, appreciates the joint efforts of the Government of Germany, the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance during the 2006 World Cup; IV Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits 41. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages its continuation; 42. Reiterates its call to all Member States, inter-governmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, and calls upon States to consider responding favourably to his requests for visits so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 43. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as all religious communities, communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent, communities of indigenous people and other communities; 44. Encourages closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the Anti-Discrimination Unit; 45. Urges the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur; 46. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 47. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the interim report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/61/335. and urges Member States and other relevant stakeholders to consider implementing those recommendations; 48. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue giving particular attention to the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights by national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, immigrant populations, asylum-seekers and refugees; 49. Invites Member States to demonstrate greater commitment to fighting racism in sport by conducting educational and awareness-raising activities and by strongly condemning the perpetrators of racist incidents, in cooperation with national and international sports organizations; V General 50. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 51. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Elimination of racism and racial discrimination". RESOLUTION 61/14 Adopted at the 52nd plenary meeting, on 13 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.17 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Cambodia, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 61/14. Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/61/256 and Add.1. Recalling article 3 of the Pact of the League of Arab States,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 70, No. 241. which entrusts the Council of the League with the function of determining the means whereby the League will collaborate with the international organizations which may be created in the future to guarantee peace and security and organize economic and social relations, Noting the desire of both organizations to consolidate, develop and enhance further the ties existing between them in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, technical and administrative fields, Taking into account the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",A/47/277-S/24111. in particular section VII concerning cooperation with regional arrangements and organizations, and the "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace",A/50/60-S/1995/1. Convinced of the need for more efficient and coordinated utilization of available economic and financial resources in order to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, Recognizing the need for the further strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations for the realization of the common goals and objectives of the two organizations, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/256 and Add.1. 2. Commends the continued efforts of the League of Arab States to promote multilateral cooperation among Arab States, and requests the United Nations system to continue to lend its support; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the follow-up action taken by him to implement the proposals adopted at the meetings between representatives of the Secretariat of the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, including the sectoral meeting in 2005 on the theme "Achieving and financing the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development in the Arab region" and the general meeting on cooperation held in 2006; 4. Requests the Secretariat of the United Nations and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, within their respective fields of competence, to intensify further their cooperation for the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, the strengthening of international peace and security, economic and social development, disarmament, decolonization, self-determination and the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in order to enhance their capacity to serve the mutual interests and objectives of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and administrative fields; 6. Calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system: (a) To continue to cooperate with the Secretary-General and among themselves, as well as with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations, in the follow-up of multilateral proposals aimed at strengthening and expanding cooperation in all fields between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; (b) To strengthen the capacity of the League of Arab States and of its institutions and specialized organizations to benefit from globalization and information technology and to meet the development challenges of the new millennium; (c) To step up cooperation and coordination with the specialized organizations of the League of Arab States in the organization of seminars and training courses and in the preparation of studies; (d) To maintain and increase contacts and improve the mechanism of consultation with the counterpart programmes, organizations and agencies concerned regarding projects and programmes in order to facilitate their implementation; (e) To participate whenever possible with organizations and institutions of the League of Arab States in the execution and implementation of development projects in the Arab region; (f) To inform the Secretary-General of the progress made in their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations and, in particular, of the follow-up action taken on the multilateral and bilateral proposals adopted at the previous meetings between the two organizations; 7. Also calls upon the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to increase their cooperation with the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations in the priority sectors of energy, rural development, desertification and green belts, training and vocational education, technology, environment, information and documentation, trade and finance, water resources, development of the agricultural sector, empowerment of women, transport, communications and information, promotion of the role of the private sector and capacity-building; 8. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to encourage periodic consultation between representatives of the Secretariat of the United Nations and of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in order to review and strengthen coordination mechanisms with a view to accelerating implementation of, and follow-up action on, the multilateral projects, proposals and recommendations adopted at the meetings between the two organizations; 9. Recommends that the United Nations and all organizations of the United Nations system make the greatest possible use of Arab institutions and technical expertise in projects undertaken in the Arab region; 10. Reaffirms that, in order to enhance cooperation and for the purpose of the review and appraisal of progress, a general meeting between representatives of the United Nations system and the League of Arab States should be held once every two years and that joint inter-agency sectoral meetings should also be convened on a biennial basis to address priority areas of major importance to the development of Arab States, on the basis of agreement between the United Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; 11. Also reaffirms the importance of holding the sectoral meeting between the United Nations and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations during 2007 and also of holding the general meeting on cooperation between representatives of the secretariats of the organizations of the United Nations system and the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations during 2008; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States". RESOLUTION 61/150 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/442, para. 21)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. 61/150. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-firstSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 60/145 of 16 December 2005, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, containing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, and recalling its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, containing the 2005 World Summit Outcome, which, inter alia, upheld the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination and foreign occupation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/333. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhumane methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Human Rights Council to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the question to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 61/151 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/442, para. 21),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 127 to 51, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Fiji, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Switzerland, Tonga, Vanuatu 61/151. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 59/178 of 20 December 2004, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/2 of 7 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions, in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit and use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Organization of African Unity Convention for the elimination of mercenarism in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1490, No. 25573. as well as the African Union,On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Extremely alarmed and concerned about recent mercenary activities in Africa and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of all human rights by peoples, 1. Takes note of the report of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;See A/61/341. 2. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 4. Urges once again all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Requests all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against any kind of recruitment, training, hiring or financing of mercenaries by private companies offering international military consultancy and security services, as well as to impose a specific ban on such companies intervening in armed conflicts or actions to destabilize constitutional regimes; 6. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the necessary action to accede to or ratify the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2163, No. 37789. 7. Welcomes the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 8. Condemns recent mercenary activities in Africa, and commends the African Governments on their collaboration in thwarting those illegal actions, which posed a threat to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries and the exercise of the right of their peoples to self-determination; 9. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with domestic law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 10. Condemns any form of impunity granted to perpetrators of mercenary activities and to those responsible for the use, recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries, and urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to bring them, without distinction, to justice; 11. Calls upon Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to cooperate with and assist the judicial prosecution of those accused of mercenary activities in transparent, open and fair trials; 12. Requests the Working Group to continue the work already done by the previous Special Rapporteurs on the strengthening of the international legal framework for the prevention and sanction of the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries, taking into account the proposal for a new legal definition of a mercenary drafted by the Special Rapporteur in his report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session;See E/CN.4/2004/15, para. 47. 13. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by those activities; 14. Expresses its appreciation to the Office of the High Commissioner for convening the third meeting of experts on traditional and new forms of mercenary activities as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, and takes note of the report of the meeting;See E/CN.4/2005/23. 15. Requests the Working Group to continue to take into account, in the discharge of its mandate, the fact that mercenary activities continue to occur in many parts of the world and are taking on new forms, manifestations and modalities, and, in this regard, requests its members to continue to pay particular attention to the impact of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the international market on the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; 16. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Working Group in the fulfilment of its mandate; 17. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Working Group with all the necessary assistance and support for the fulfilment of its mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Working Group and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary-related activities, in order to meet the demands of its current and future activities; 18. Requests the Working Group to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session its findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the enjoyment of all human rights and to impede the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; 19. Decides to consider at its sixty-second session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 61/152 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/442, para. 21),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 176 to 5, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Central African Republic, Nauru, Vanuatu 61/152. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling, in this regard, its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 entitled "Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations", Bearing in mind the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and noting in particular the reply of the Court, including on the right of peoples to self-determination, which is a right erga omnes,Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 88. Recalling the conclusion of the Court, in its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004, that the construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, along with measures previously taken, severely impedes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,Ibid., para. 122. Expressing the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling its resolution 60/146 of 16 December 2005, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine; 2. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination. RESOLUTION 61/153 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 61/153. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Reaffirming that no one shall be subjected to torture or to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Recalling that freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of international or internal armed conflict or disturbance, and that the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is affirmed in relevant international instruments, Recalling also that a number of international, regional and domestic courts, including the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, have recognized that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law and have held that the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is customary international law, Recalling further the definition of torture contained in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. Noting that under the Geneva Conventions of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. torture and inhuman treatment are a grave breach and that under the statutes of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtIbid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. acts of torture constitute war crimes and can constitute crimes against humanity, Commending the persistent efforts by non-governmental organizations, including the considerable network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, 1. Condemns all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be justified, and calls upon all States to implement fully the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 2. Emphasizes that States must take persistent, determined and effective measures to prevent and combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including their gender-based manifestations, and stresses that all acts of torture must be made offences under domestic criminal law; 3. Also emphasizes the importance of States ensuring proper follow-up to the recommendations and conclusions of the relevant treaty bodies and mechanisms, including the Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 4. Condemns any action or attempt by States or public officials to legalize, authorize or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions; 5. Stresses that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment must be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention where the prohibited act is found to have been committed, and takes note in this respect of the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Principles)Resolution 55/89, annex. as a useful tool in efforts to combat torture and of the updated set of principles for the protection of human rights through action to combat impunity;See E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1. 6. Emphasizes that acts of torture are serious violations of international humanitarian law and in this regard constitute war crimes and can constitute crimes against humanity, and that the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished; 7. Urges States to ensure that any statement that is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made; 8. Stresses that States must not punish personnel who are involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment or any other form of deprivation of liberty for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 9. Urges States not to expel, return ("refouler"), extradite or in any other way transfer a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture, and recognizes that diplomatic assurances, where used, do not release States from their obligations under international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, in particular the principle of non-refoulement; 10. Stresses that national legal systems must ensure that victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment obtain redress, are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation, urges States to take effective measures to this end, and in this regard encourages the development of rehabilitation centres; 11. Recalls its resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988 on the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, and in this context stresses that ensuring that any individual arrested or detained is promptly brought before a judge or other independent judicial officer in person and permitting prompt and regular medical care and legal counsel as well as visits by family members and independent monitoring mechanisms are effective measures for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment; 12. Reminds all States that prolonged incommunicado detention or detention in secret places may facilitate the perpetration of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and can in itself constitute a form of such treatment, and urges all States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and dignity of the person; 13. Calls upon all States to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export and use of equipment that is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; 14. Urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. as a matter of priority; 15. Invites all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to make the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention concerning inter-State and individual communications, to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20 of the Convention and to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention as soon as possible; 16. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including, in view of the high number of reports not submitted in time, their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19 of the Convention, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles and persons with disabilities when submitting reports to the Committee against Torture; 17. Acknowledges with appreciation the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 57/199, annex. and calls upon States parties to give early consideration to signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol, which provides further measures for use in the fight against and prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 18. Welcomes the work of the Committee against Torture and its report submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/61/44). and recommends that the Committee continue to include information on the follow-up by States to its recommendations; 19. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with her mandate established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of States, advisory services for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including for the preparation of national reports to the Committee against Torture and for the establishment and operation of national preventive mechanisms, as well as technical assistance for the development, production and distribution of teaching material for this purpose; 20. Notes with appreciation the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,See A/61/259. and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including its gender-based manifestations; 21. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his report information on the follow-up by States to his recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered, and on other official contacts; 22. Calls upon all States to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his task, to supply all necessary information requested by the Special Rapporteur, to fully and expeditiously respond to and follow up his urgent appeals, to give serious consideration to responding favourably to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries and to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on requested visits to their countries as well as with respect to the follow-up to his recommendations; 23. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views among the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 24. Recognizes the global need for international assistance to victims of torture, stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, and appeals to all States and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably with a substantial increase in the level of contributions; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to transmit to all States the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Fund and to include the Fund on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 26. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure, within the overall budgetary framework of the United Nations, the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in preventing and combating torture and assisting victims of torture commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for preventing and combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 27. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the status of the Convention and a report on the operations of the Fund; 28. Calls upon all States, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 29. Decides to consider at its sixty-second session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. RESOLUTION 61/154 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference), Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries) and Qatar (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Arab States). by a recorded vote of 112 to 7, with 64 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 61/154. The human rights situation arising from the recent Israeli military operations in Lebanon The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and other human rights instruments, Guided by relevant human rights instruments and international humanitarian law, in particular the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907 respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). which prohibit attacks on and bombardment of civilian populations and objects and lay down obligations for general protection against dangers arising from military operations against civilian objects, hospitals, relief materials and means of transportation, Recalling the commitments of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Recalling also the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for Implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children in the 1990s adopted by the World Summit for Children, held in New York on 29 and 30 September 1990,A/45/625, annex. Stressing that the right to life constitutes the most fundamental of all human rights, Emphasizing that human rights law and international humanitarian law are complementary and mutually reinforcing, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006 and the statement by the President of the Council of 30 July 2006,S/PRST/2006/35; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2005-31 July 2006. Bearing in mind also Human Rights Council resolution S-2/1 entitled "The grave situation of human rights in Lebanon caused by Israeli military operations", adopted by the Council at its second special session on 11 August 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part three, chap. I. 1. Condemns all acts of violence against civilians, including the bombardment by Israeli military forces of Lebanese civilians causing extensive loss of life and injuries, including among children, immense destruction of homes, properties, agricultural lands and vital civilian infrastructure, and the displacement of up to one million Lebanese civilians and outflows of refugees fleeing heavy shelling and bombardment directed against the civilian population, thus exacerbating the magnitude of human suffering in Lebanon; 2. Emphasizes the importance of the safety and well-being of all children; 3. Expresses deep concern about the negative consequences, including the mental and psychological impact, of the Israeli military operations for the well-being of Lebanese children; 4. Emphasizes that attacks against civilians, wherever they may occur, are contrary to international humanitarian law and constitute flagrant violations of human rights, condemns the killing of children, women, the elderly and other civilians in Lebanon, underlines that there should be no impunity for such acts, and calls particularly upon Israel to abide scrupulously by its obligations under human rights law, in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and international humanitarian law; 5. Deplores the death of more than 1,100 civilians, one third being children, as a result of the Israeli military operations in Lebanon; 6. Strongly condemns the deliberate use by Israel of cluster munitions in Lebanon, most of which had been used in the seventy-two hours directly preceding the cessation of hostilities and after the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), which left over one million unexploded cluster bomblets, threatening the lives of children and civilians and adversely affecting recovery and rebuilding efforts; 7. Deplores the environmental degradation caused by Israeli air strikes against power plants in Lebanon and their adverse impact on the health and well-being of children and other civilians; 8. Calls upon the international community to urgently provide the Government of Lebanon with financial assistance in support of the national early recovery, reconstruction and enhancing the national economy, including the rehabilitation of victims, return of displaced persons and restoration of the essential infrastructure, and expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the people and Government of Lebanon. RESOLUTION 61/155 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Moldova, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 61/155. Missing persons The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes, principles and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by the principles and norms of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling all previous relevant resolutions on missing persons adopted by the General Assembly, as well as the resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights, Noting with deep concern that armed conflicts are continuing in various parts of the world, often resulting in serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, Bearing in mind the effective search for and identification of missing persons through traditional forensic methods, and recognizing that great technological progress has been achieved in the field of DNA forensic sciences, which could significantly assist efforts to identify missing persons, Noting that the issue of persons reported missing in connection with international armed conflicts, in particular those who are victims of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, continues to have a negative impact on efforts to put an end to those conflicts and causes suffering to the families of missing persons, and stressing in this regard the need to address the issue from a humanitarian perspective, among others, Recalling the observations and recommendations to address the problems of missing persons and of their families that were adopted at the International Conference of Governmental and Non-Governmental Experts on "The missing: action to resolve the problem of people unaccounted for as a result of armed conflict or internal violence and to assist their families", held in Geneva from 19 to 21 February 2003, Recalling also the Agenda for Humanitarian Action, in particular its general objective 1, to "respect and restore the dignity of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts or other situations of armed violence and of their families", adopted at the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held in Geneva from 2 to 6 December 2003, Taking note with appreciation of the ongoing regional efforts to address the question of missing persons, 1. Urges States strictly to observe and respect and ensure respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and, where applicable, in the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 2. Calls upon States that are parties to an armed conflict to take all appropriate measures to prevent persons from going missing in connection with armed conflict and account for persons reported missing as a result of such a situation; 3. Reaffirms the right of families to know the fate of their relatives reported missing in connection with armed conflicts; 4. Also reaffirms that each party to an armed conflict, as soon as circumstances permit and, at the latest, from the end of active hostilities, shall search for the persons who have been reported missing by an adverse party; 5. Calls upon States that are parties to an armed conflict to take all necessary measures, in a timely manner, to determine the identity and fate of persons reported missing in connection with the armed conflict and, to the greatest possible extent, to provide their family members, through appropriate channels, with all relevant information they have on their fate; 6. Recognizes, in this regard, the need for the collection, protection and management of data on missing persons according to international and national legal norms and standards, and urges States to cooperate with each other and with other concerned actors working in this area, inter alia, by providing all relevant and appropriate information related to missing persons; 7. Requests States to pay the utmost attention to cases of children reported missing in connection with armed conflicts and to take appropriate measures to search for and identify those children; 8. Invites States that are parties to an armed conflict to cooperate fully with the International Committee of the Red Cross in establishing the fate of missing persons and to adopt a comprehensive approach to this issue, including all practical and coordination mechanisms as may be necessary, based on humanitarian considerations only; 9. Urges States and encourages intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to take all necessary measures at the national, regional and international levels to address the problem of persons reported missing in connection with armed conflicts and to provide appropriate assistance as requested by the concerned States, and welcomes, in this regard, the establishment and efforts of commissions and working groups on missing persons; 10. Calls upon States, without prejudice to their efforts to determine the fate of persons missing in connection with armed conflicts, to take appropriate steps with regard to the legal situation of the missing persons and that of their family members, in fields such as social welfare, financial matters, family law and property rights; 11. Invites relevant human rights mechanisms and procedures, as appropriate, to address the problem of persons reported missing in connection with armed conflicts in their forthcoming reports to the General Assembly; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian organizations; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution, including relevant recommendations, to the Human Rights Council at its relevant session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 14. Decides to consider the question at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 61/156 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 130 to 54, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Brazil, Chile, Singapore 61/156. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing, in particular, the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, respectively, Recalling also its resolution 60/152 of 16 December 2005, Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/17 of 14 April 2005 on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, inter alia, in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process, but that it also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions, which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Reaffirming the commitment contained in paragraphs 19 and 47 of the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. to promote fair globalization and the development of the productive sectors in developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit from the process of globalization, Realizing the need to undertake a thorough, independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and cultural impact of globalization on societies, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, and aware that the risk of a global monoculture poses more of a threat if the developing world remains poor and marginalized, Recognizing also that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Emphasizing the global character of the migratory phenomenon, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and the need to protect the human rights of migrants, particularly at a time in which migration flows have increased in the globalized economy, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Recognizing that globalization should be guided by the fundamental principles that underpin the corpus of human rights, such as equity, participation, accountability, non-discrimination at both the national and the international levels, respect for diversity, tolerance and international cooperation and solidarity, Emphasizing that the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights; its immediate alleviation and eventual elimination must remain a high priority for the international community, Strongly reiterating the determination to ensure the timely and full realization of the development goals and objectives agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including those agreed at the Millennium Summit that are described as the Millennium Development Goals, which have helped to galvanize efforts towards poverty eradication, Deeply concerned at the inadequacy of measures to narrow the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, which has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Emphasizes that development should be at the centre of the international economic agenda and that coherence between national development strategies and international obligations and commitments is imperative for an enabling environment for development and an inclusive and equitable globalization; 3. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 4. Reaffirms also the commitment to create an environment at both the national and the global levels that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 5. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, the fact that its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed represents an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 6. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,E/CN.4/2002/54. which focuses on the liberalization of agricultural trade and its impact on the realization of the right to development, including the right to food, and takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 7. Calls upon Member States, relevant agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to promote equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth for managing globalization so that poverty is systematically reduced and the international development targets are achieved; 8. Recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 9. Underlines the urgent need to establish an equitable, transparent and democratic international system to strengthen and broaden the participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 10. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 11. Affirms also that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 12. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 13. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/281. and requests him to seek further the views of Member States and relevant agencies of the United Nations system and to submit a substantive report on the subject to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/157 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/157. Human rights and extreme poverty The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationIbid., vol. 660, No. 9464. and other human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, by which it declared 17 October the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and its resolution 50/107 of 20 December 1995, by which it proclaimed the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), as well as its resolution 59/186 of 20 December 2004 and its previous resolutions on human rights and extreme poverty, in which it reaffirmed that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them, Recalling also its resolution 52/134 of 12 December 1997, in which it recognized that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights was essential for the understanding, promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Deeply concerned that extreme poverty persists in all countries of the world, regardless of their economic, social and cultural situation, and that its extent and manifestations, such as hunger, trafficking in human beings, disease, lack of adequate shelter, illiteracy and hopelessness, are particularly severe in developing countries, while acknowledging the significant progress made in several parts of the world in combating extreme poverty, Deeply concerned also that gender inequality, violence and discrimination exacerbate extreme poverty, disproportionally impacting women and girls, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/16 of 14 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. as well as resolution 2005/9 of 8 August 2005 of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,See E/CN.4/2006/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2005/44, chap. II, sect. A. Welcoming the Summit of World Leaders for Action against Hunger and Poverty of 20 September 2004, convened in New York by the Presidents of Brazil, Chile and France and the Prime Minister of Spain with the support of the Secretary-General, Recognizing that the eradication of extreme poverty is a major challenge within the process of globalization and requires coordinated and continued policies through decisive national action and international cooperation, Stressing the necessity of better understanding the causes and consequences of extreme poverty, Reaffirming that, since the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and might, in some situations, constitute a threat to the right to life, its immediate alleviation and eventual eradication must remain a high priority for the international community, Reaffirming also that democracy, development and the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty, Recalling Human Rights Council decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. B. 1. Reaffirms that extreme poverty and exclusion from society constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them; 2. Reaffirms also that it is essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the decision-making process in the societies in which they live, in the promotion of human rights and in efforts to combat extreme poverty, and that it is essential for people living in poverty and vulnerable groups to be empowered to organize themselves and to participate in all aspects of political, economic and social life, in particular the planning and implementation of policies that affect them, thus enabling them to become genuine partners in development; 3. Emphasizes that extreme poverty is a major issue to be addressed by Governments, civil society and the United Nations system, including international financial institutions, and in this context reaffirms that political commitment is a prerequisite for the eradication of poverty; 4. Reaffirms that the existence of widespread absolute poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and renders democracy and popular participation fragile; 5. Recognizes the need to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to address the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, including through the design and development of appropriate mechanisms to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions and governance; 6. Reaffirms the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the commitments to spare no effort to fight against extreme poverty and to achieve development and poverty eradication, including the commitment to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one United States dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger; 7. Reaffirms also the commitment made at the 2005 World Summit to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all, including women and girls;See resolution 60/1. 8. Reaffirms further the critical role of both formal and informal education in the achievement of poverty eradication and other development goals as envisaged in the Millennium Declaration, in particular basic education and training for eradicating illiteracy, and efforts towards expanded secondary and higher education as well as vocational education and technical training, especially for girls and women, the creation of human resources and infrastructure capabilities and the empowerment of those living in poverty, and in this context reaffirms the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum in 2000See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). and recognizes the importance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization strategy for the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, in supporting the Education for All programmes as a tool to achieve the millennium development goal of universal primary education by 2015; 9. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to give high priority to the question of the relationship between extreme poverty and human rights, and also invites her to further pursue the work in this area; 10. Calls upon States, United Nations bodies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to continue to give appropriate attention to the links between human rights and extreme poverty, and encourages the private sector and the international financial institutions to proceed likewise; 11. Welcomes the efforts of entities throughout the United Nations system to incorporate the Millennium Declaration and the internationally agreed development goals set out therein into their work; 12. Takes note of the reports of the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme povertyE/CN.4/2005/49 and E/CN.4/2006/43 and Add.1. submitted to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-first and sixty-second sessions and presented to the Human Rights Council at its second session; 13. Decides to consider the question further at its sixty-third session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 61/158 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania. 61/158. Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/105 of 4 December 2000 concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also its resolutions 55/34 B of 20 November 2000 and 55/233 of 23 December 2000, section III of its resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000, and its resolutions 58/176 of 22 December 2003, 59/183 of 20 December 2004 and 60/151 of 16 December 2005 on the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, Recalling further that the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that more resources be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling the report of the High Commissioner,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 36, addendum (A/56/36/Add.1). Taking note of the holding of the twenty-third and twenty-fourth ministerial meetings of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in Brazzaville from 29 August to 2 September 2006 and in Kigali from 25 to 29 September 2006, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/352. Welcoming the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. in particular the decision confirmed therein to double the regular budget of the Office of the High Commissioner over the next five years, 1. Welcomes the activities of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé; 2. Notes with satisfaction the support provided for the establishment of the Centre by the host country; 3. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide additional funds and human resources within the existing Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to enable the Centre to respond positively and effectively to the growing needs in the promotion and protection of human rights and in developing a culture of democracy and the rule of law in the Central African subregion; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/159 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 118 to 7, with 55 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu 61/159. Composition of the staff of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights The General Assembly, Recalling paragraph 5 (g) of its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, in which it decided that the Human Rights Council should assume the role and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights relating to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as decided by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, Taking note of all relevant resolutions on this issue adopted by the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, Taking note also of the relevant reports of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsE/CN.4/2006/103. and the Joint Inspection Unit,JIU/REP/2006/3. Bearing in mind that the imbalance in the actual composition of the staff could result in diminishing the effectiveness of the work of the Office of the High Commissioner if it is perceived to be culturally biased and unrepresentative of the United Nations as a whole, Regretting that efforts to address the imbalance regarding the regional geographical diversity of the staff have not resulted in a significant improvement, and noting the low representation from the United Nations regional groups of African, Asian, Eastern European, and Latin American and Caribbean States in the staff of the Office of the High Commissioner, Reaffirming that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters, 1. Decides, while considering the report of the Joint Inspection Unit:JIU/REP/2006/3. (a) To provide concrete support and guidance to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in her ongoing efforts to overcome the status quo; (b) To allow, in the effort to redress the specific geographical imbalance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the establishment of a temporary mechanism whereby recruitment of staff in the Office at the P-2 level would not be restricted to successful candidates from the national competitive examination; (c) To re-evaluate the financing of human rights activities, as noted in the report of the Joint Inspection Unit, with a view to increasing the support from core resources; 2. Encourages participation from a broader range of Member States in the associate experts programme, and, in this respect, urges participants to increase sponsorship of associate experts from developing countries; 3. Requests the Joint Inspection Unit to assist the Human Rights Council to monitor systematically the implementation of the present resolution, inter alia, by submitting to the Human Rights Council in May 2009 a follow-up comprehensive report on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Inspection Unit pending their fulfilment; 4. Requests the High Commissioner: (a) To take further measures for the full and effective implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Inspection Unit; (b) To submit a comprehensive and updated report on the basis of paragraph 26 (e) of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/72 of 20 April 2005See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 5. Requests the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session to bring those recommendations to the attention of the Fifth Committee, as soon as possible, for its consideration. RESOLUTION 61/15 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.21 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia 61/15. Report of the International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/29 of 23 November 2005 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. reaffirms the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Emphasizing that justice, especially transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies, is a fundamental building block of sustainable peace, Noting with satisfaction the fact that the International Criminal Court is fully operational and has achieved considerable progress in its analyses, investigations and judicial proceedings in various situations and cases which were referred to it by States parties to the Rome Statute and by the Security Council, in accordance with the Rome Statute, Recalling that effective cooperation and assistance by States, the United Nations and other international and regional organizations remains essential for the International Criminal Court to carry out its activities, Welcoming the continuous support given by civil society to the International Criminal Court, Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing effective and efficient assistance to the International Criminal Court in accordance with the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court ("Relationship Agreement"),See A/58/874 and Add.1. Acknowledging the Relationship Agreement as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/318 of 13 September 2004, including paragraph 3 of the resolution with respect to the payment in full of expenses accruing to the United Nations as a result of the implementation of the Relationship Agreement,Articles 10 and 13 of the Relationship Agreement. which provides a framework for continued cooperation between the Court and the United Nations, which could include the facilitation by the United Nations of the Court's field activities, and encouraging the conclusion of supplementary arrangements and agreements, as necessary, Recognizing the role of the International Criminal Court in a multilateral system that aims to end impunity, establish the rule of law, promote and encourage respect for human rights and achieve sustainable peace, in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter, Expressing its appreciation to the International Criminal Court for providing assistance to the Special Court for Sierra Leone and for granting a leave of absence to its Deputy Prosecutor for Investigations to enable him to work for the International Independent Investigation Commission, Reiterating the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute, 1. Welcomes the report of the International Criminal Court for 2005-2006;See A/61/217. 2. Welcomes the States that have become parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. in the past year, and calls upon all States from all regions of the world that are not yet parties to the Rome Statute to consider ratifying or acceding to it without delay; 3. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court;Official Records of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, First session, New York, 3-10 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.V.2 and corrigendum), part II.E. 4. Encourages States parties to the Rome Statute that have not yet done so to adopt national legislation to implement obligations emanating from the Rome Statute and to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in the exercise of its functions, and recalls the provision of technical assistance by States parties in this respect; 5. Welcomes the effective cooperation and assistance provided to the International Criminal Court by States, the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, and calls upon them to continue providing such cooperation and assistance in the future; 6. Encourages States to contribute to the Trust Fund established for the benefit of victims of crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and of the families of such victims, as well as to the Trust Fund for the participation of least developed countries, and acknowledges with appreciation contributions made to both trust funds so far; 7. Emphasizes the importance of the full implementation of the Relationship Agreement,See A/58/874 and Add.1. which forms a framework for close cooperation between the two organizations and for consultation on matters of mutual interest pursuant to the provisions of that Agreement and in conformity with the respective provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Rome Statute, as well as the need for comprehensive information from the Secretary-General with respect to steps taken in the implementation of the Agreement; 8. Notes the establishment and operationalization of the International Criminal Court liaison office to United Nations Headquarters, and encourages the Secretary-General to work closely with that office; 9. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 1 and corrigendum (A/61/1 and Corr.1). in which reference is made to the important role of the International Criminal Court in advancing the cause of justice and the rule of law; 10. Recalls that, by virtue of article 12, paragraph 3, of the Rome Statute, a State which is not a party to the Statute may, by declaration lodged with the Registrar of the International Criminal Court, accept the exercise of jurisdiction by the Court with respect to specific crimes that are mentioned in paragraph 2 of that article; 11. Notes the work of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression, which is open to all States on an equal footing, and encourages all States to consider participating actively in the Working Group with a view to elaborating proposals for a provision on the crime of aggression; 12. Looks forward to the fifth session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to be held in The Hague from 23 November to 1 December 2006, as well as the resumed fifth session to be held in New York from 29 to 31 January 2007, and encourages the widest possible participation of States in these proceedings; 13. Takes note of the decision of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute at its fourth session, while recalling that according to article 112, paragraph 6, of the Rome Statute, the Assembly of States Parties shall meet at the seat of the International Criminal Court or at United Nations Headquarters, to hold its sixth session in New York in 2007, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and facilities in accordance with the Relationship Agreement and resolution 58/318; 14. Invites the International Criminal Court to submit, in accordance with article 6 of the Relationship Agreement, a report on its activities for 2006-2007, for consideration by the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/160 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 124 to 56, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Mexico, Peru 61/160. Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, including resolution 59/193 of 20 December 2004, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/57 of 20 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, other instruments relating to human rights and international law, Affirming that the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of all human rights should continue to be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law as set forth in Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter and, inter alia, with full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, Recalling the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Reaffirming also the determination expressed in the Preamble to the Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, to practice tolerance and good-neighbourliness, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples for an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Considering also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Emphasizing that democracy is not only a political concept but that it also has economic and social dimensions, Recognizing that democracy, respect for all human rights, including the right to development, transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society, and effective participation by civil society are an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realization of social and people-centred sustainable development, Noting with concern that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may be aggravated by, inter alia, inequitable distribution of wealth, marginalization and social exclusion, Underlining the fact that it is imperative for the international community to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, and that only through broad and sustained efforts, based on common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable, Stressing that efforts to make globalization fully inclusive and equitable must include policies and measures, at the global level, that correspond to the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and are formulated and implemented with their effective participation, Having listened to the peoples of the world, and recognizing their aspirations to justice, to equality of opportunity for all, to the enjoyment of their human rights, including the right to development, to live in peace and freedom and to equal participation without discrimination in economic, social, cultural, civil and political life, Resolved to take all measures within its power to secure a democratic and equitable international order, 1. Affirms that everyone is entitled to a democratic and equitable international order; 2. Also affirms that a democratic and equitable international order fosters the full realization of all human rights for all; 3. Calls upon all Member States to fulfil their commitment expressed in Durban, South Africa, during the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance to maximize the benefits of globalization through, inter alia, the strengthening and enhancement of international cooperation to increase equality of opportunities for trade, economic growth and sustainable development, global communications through the use of new technologies, and increased intercultural exchange through the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and reiterates that only through broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future based upon our common humanity and all its diversity can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable; 4. Affirms that a democratic and equitable international order requires, inter alia, the realization of the following: (a) The right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; (b) The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources; (c) The right of every human person and all peoples to development; (d) The right of all peoples to peace; (e) The right to an international economic order based on equal participation in the decision-making process, interdependence, mutual interest, solidarity and cooperation among all States; (f) Solidarity, as a fundamental value, by virtue of which global challenges must be managed in a way that distributes costs and burdens fairly, in accordance with basic principles of equity and social justice, and ensures that those who suffer or benefit the least receive help from those who benefit the most; (g) The promotion and consolidation of transparent, democratic, just and accountable international institutions in all areas of cooperation, in particular through the implementation of the principles of full and equal participation in their respective decision-making mechanisms; (h) The right to equitable participation of all, without any discrimination, in domestic and global decision-making; (i) The principle of equitable regional and gender-balanced representation in the composition of the staff of the United Nations system; (j) The promotion of a free, just, effective and balanced international information and communications order, based on international cooperation for the establishment of a new equilibrium and greater reciprocity in the international flow of information, in particular correcting the inequalities in the flow of information to and from developing countries; (k) Respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all, since this enhances cultural pluralism, contributes to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural backgrounds, advances the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights across the world and fosters stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; (l) The right of every person and all peoples to a healthy environment; (m) The promotion of equitable access to benefits from the international distribution of wealth through enhanced international cooperation, in particular in economic, commercial and financial international relations; (n) The enjoyment by everyone of ownership of the common heritage of mankind; (o) The shared responsibility of the nations of the world for managing worldwide economic and social development as well as threats to international peace and security that should be exercised multilaterally; 5. Stresses the importance of preserving the rich and diverse nature of the international community of nations and peoples, as well as respect for national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights; 6. Also stresses that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 8. Reaffirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, should do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of the developing countries; 9. Recalls the proclamation by the General Assembly of its determination to work urgently for the establishment of an international economic order based on equity, sovereign equality, interdependence, common interest and cooperation among all States, irrespective of their economic and social systems, which shall correct inequalities and redress existing injustices, make it possible to eliminate the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and ensure steadily accelerating economic and social development and peace and justice for present and future generations;See resolution 3201 (S-VI). 10. Reaffirms that the international community should devise ways and means to remove the current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world; 11. Urges States to continue their efforts, through enhanced international cooperation, towards the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 12. Requests the Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty bodies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the special mechanisms extended by the Human Rights Council and the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights or its successor expert advice mechanism to pay due attention, within their respective mandates, to the present resolution and to make contributions towards its implementation; 13. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to build upon the issue of the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs, bodies and components, intergovernmental organizations, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it on the widest possible basis; 15. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 61/161 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Uruguay. 61/161. Elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Recalling also article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other relevant human rights provisions, Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights upon all Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal systems to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief, including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22. Reaffirming also the recognition by the World Conference on Human Rights that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recalling General Assembly resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, in which the Assembly recognized the valuable contribution that dialogue among civilizations could make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Acknowledging that in order to be effective, such a dialogue should be based on respect for the dignity of adherents of religions and beliefs, as well as respect for diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights, Considering that religion or belief, for those who profess either, is one of the fundamental elements in their conception of life and that freedom of religion or belief should be fully respected and guaranteed, Considering also that the disregard for and infringement of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, have brought, directly or indirectly, wars and great suffering to humankind, Recognizing the importance of promoting dialogue among civilizations in order to enhance mutual understanding and knowledge among different social groups, cultures and civilizations in various areas, including culture, religion, education, information, science and technology, and in order to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/40 of 19 April 2005 on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Seriously concerned at all attacks upon religious places, sites and shrines, including any deliberate destruction of relics and monuments, Seriously concerned also at the misuse of registration procedures as a means to limit the right to freedom of religion or belief of members of certain religious communities and at the limitations placed on religious publications, Recognizing the important work carried out by the Human Rights Committee in providing guidance with respect to the scope of the freedom of religion or belief, Convinced of the need to address, for instance, in the context of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among CivilizationsSee resolution 56/6. and the Alliance of Civilizations the rise in all parts of the world of religious extremism affecting the rights of individuals and groups based on religion or belief, the situations of violence and discrimination that affect many women as a result of religion or belief and the abuse of religion or belief for ends inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant instruments of the United Nations, Resolved to adopt all necessary and appropriate measures for the speedy elimination of such intolerance based on religion or belief in all its forms and manifestations and prevent and combat discrimination based on religion or belief, Noting that a formal or legal distinction at the national level between different kinds of religions or faith-based communities may, in some cases, constitute discrimination and may impinge on the enjoyment of the freedom of religion or belief, Underlining the importance of education in the promotion of tolerance, which involves the acceptance by the public of, and its respect for, diversity, including with regard to religious expressions, and underlining also the fact that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Recalling the importance of the International Consultative Conference on School Education in relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, held in Madrid from 23 to 25 November 2001, and continuing to invite Governments to give consideration to the Final Document adopted at the Conference,E/CN.4/2002/73, appendix. Emphasizing that States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance, respect and freedom of religion or belief, Recognizing the importance of interreligious and intrareligious dialogue and the role of religious and other non-governmental organizations in promoting tolerance in matters relating to religion or belief, Believing that further intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and to eliminate all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as also noted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, 1. Welcomes the work and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on freedom of religion or belief;See A/61/340. 2. Condemns all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief; 3. Encourages the efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to coordinate in the field of human rights the activities of relevant United Nations organs, bodies and mechanisms dealing with all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief; 4. Urges States: (a) To ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, or the right to practise freely one's religion, including the right to change one's religion or belief, is violated; (b) To exert the utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights law, to ensure that religious places, sites, shrines and symbols are fully respected and protected and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction; (c) To review, whenever relevant, existing registration practices in order to ensure the right of all persons to manifest their religion or belief, alone or in community with others and in public or in private; (d) To ensure, in particular, the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for these purposes and the right of all persons to write, issue and disseminate relevant publications in these areas; (e) To ensure that, in accordance with appropriate national legislation and in conformity with international human rights law, the freedom of all persons and members of groups to establish and maintain religious, charitable or humanitarian institutions is fully respected and protected; (f) To ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life, liberty or security of person because of religion or belief and that no one is subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention on that account and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; (g) To ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, and that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 5. Recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many religious and other communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and Christianophobia; 6. Expresses concern over the persistence of institutionalized social intolerance and discrimination practised against many in the name of religion or belief; 7. Condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audio-visual and electronic media or any other means; 8. Stresses the need to strengthen dialogue, inter alia, through the Global Agenda for Dialogue among CivilizationsSee resolution 56/6. and the Alliance of Civilizations; 9. Invites States, the Special Rapporteur, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant entities of the United Nations system, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other international and regional organizations and civil society to consider promoting dialogue among civilizations in order to contribute to the elimination of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, inter alia, by addressing the following issues within the framework of international standards of human rights: (a) The rise of religious extremism affecting religions in all parts of the world; (b) The situations of violence and discrimination that affect many women as a result of religion or belief; (c) The use of religion or belief for ends inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations and other relevant instruments of the United Nations; 10. Urges States to step up their efforts to eliminate intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, notably by: (a) Taking all necessary and appropriate action, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to religious minorities, and devoting particular attention to practices that violate the human rights of women and discriminate against women, including in the exercise of their right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; (b) Promoting and encouraging, through education and other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in all matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; (c) Undertaking all appropriate efforts to encourage those engaged in teaching to cultivate respect for all religions or beliefs, thereby promoting mutual understanding and tolerance; 11. Invites Governments, religious bodies and civil society to continue to undertake dialogue at all levels to promote greater tolerance, respect and understanding; 12. Emphasizes the importance of a continued and strengthened dialogue among and within religions or beliefs, including as encompassed in the dialogue among civilizations, to promote greater tolerance, respect and mutual understanding; 13. Also emphasizes that equating any religion with terrorism should be avoided, as this may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned; 14. Further emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if limitations are prescribed by law, are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 15. Encourages the continuing efforts in all parts of the world of the Special Rapporteur to examine incidents and governmental actions that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or BeliefSee resolution 36/55. and to recommend remedial measures, as appropriate; 16. Stresses the need for the Special Rapporteur to continue to apply a gender perspective, inter alia, through the identification of gender-specific abuses, in the reporting process, including in information collection and in recommendations; 17. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of all actors in society, including non-governmental organizations and bodies and groups based on religion or belief, to promote the implementation of the Declaration, and further encourages their work in promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 18. Recommends that the United Nations and other actors, in their efforts to promote freedom of religion or belief, ensure the widest possible dissemination of the text of the Declaration in as many different languages as possible by United Nations information centres and by other interested bodies; 19. Decides to continue its consideration of measures to implement the Declaration; 20. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur, and urges all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur and to respond favourably to her requests to visit their countries and to provide her with all necessary information so as to enable her to fulfil her mandate even more effectively; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary resources to enable her to discharge her mandate fully; 22. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 23. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 61/162 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bolivia, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Jamaica, Nigeria, Sudan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 122 to 4, with 58 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/162. Respect for the right to universal freedom of travel and the vital importance of family reunification The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/203 of 20 December 2004, Reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Recalling the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Stressing that, as stated in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. family reunification of documented migrants is an important factor in international migration and that remittances by documented migrants to their countries of origin often constitute a very important source of foreign exchange and are instrumental in improving the well-being of relatives left behind, Noting with great concern that, while some positive developments have occurred during the past few years in the accomplishment of the objectives highlighted in resolutions 57/227 of 18 December 2002 and 59/203, in particular relating to facilitating the flow of remittances across international borders to help families, in certain cases it has been reported that measures have been adopted that increased the restrictions imposed on documented migrants in relation to family reunification and the possibility of sending remittances to their relatives in the country of origin, Recalling that the family is the basic unit of society and, as such, should be strengthened, and that it is entitled to receive comprehensive protection and support, 1. Once again calls upon all States to guarantee the universally recognized freedom of travel to all foreign nationals legally residing in their territory; 2. Reaffirms that all Governments, in particular those of receiving countries, must recognize the vital importance of family reunification and promote its incorporation into national legislation in order to ensure protection of the unity of families of documented migrants; 3. Calls upon all States to allow, in conformity with international legislation, the free flow of financial remittances by foreign nationals residing in their territory to relatives in the country of origin; 4. Also calls upon all States to refrain from enacting, and to repeal if it already exists, legislation intended as a coercive measure that discriminates against individuals or groups of legal migrants by adversely affecting family reunification and the right to send financial remittances to relatives in the country of origin; 5. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 61/163 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 185 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 61/163. The right to food The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the issue of the right to food, in particular resolution 60/165 of 16 December 2005, as well as all resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights in this regard, Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for her or his health and well-being, including food, the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and MalnutritionReport of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. in which the fundamental right of every person to be free from hunger is recognized, Bearing in mind the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of ActionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, adopted in Rome on 13 June 2002,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. Reaffirming the concrete recommendations contained in the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, adopted by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in November 2004,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Session, Rome, 22-27 November 2004 (CL 127/REP), appendix D; see also E/CN.4/2005/131, annex. Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Reaffirming further that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment, at both the national and the international levels, is the essential foundation that will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication, Reiterating, as in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, that food should not be used as an instrument of political or economic pressure, and reaffirming in this regard the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security, Convinced that each State must adopt a strategy consistent with its resources and capacities to achieve its individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action and, at the same time, cooperate regionally and internationally in order to organize collective solutions to global issues of food security in a world of increasingly interlinked institutions, societies and economies where coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities are essential, Recognizing that the problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and that they are likely to persist and even to increase dramatically in some regions unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world's population and the stress on natural resources, Noting that the global environment continues to suffer degradation, causing a negative impact on the realization of the right to food, in particular in developing countries, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters, diseases and pests and their increasing impact in recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and livelihood and threatened agricultural production and food security, in particular in developing countries, Stressing the importance of reversing the continuing decline of official development assistance devoted to agriculture, both in real terms and as a share of total official development assistance, 1. Reaffirms that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity and therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures at the national, regional and international levels for its elimination; 2. Also reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities; 3. Considers it intolerable that every five seconds a child under the age of 5 dies from hunger or hunger-related diseases somewhere in the world, that there are about 854 million undernourished people in the world and that, while the prevalence of hunger has diminished, the absolute number of undernourished people has been increasing in recent years when, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the planet could produce enough food to feed 12 billion people, twice the world's present population; 4. Expresses its concern that women and girls are disproportionately affected by hunger, food insecurity and poverty, in part as a result of gender inequality and discrimination, that in many countries, girls are twice as likely as boys to die from malnutrition and preventable childhood diseases, and that it is estimated that almost twice as many women as men suffer from malnutrition; 5. Encourages all States to take action to address gender inequality and discrimination against women, in particular where it contributes to the malnutrition of women and girls, including measures to ensure the full and equal realization of the right to food and ensuring that women have equal access to resources, including income, land and water, to enable them to feed themselves and their families; 6. Encourages the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the right to food to continue mainstreaming a gender perspective in the fulfilment of his mandate, and encourages the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and all other United Nations bodies and mechanisms addressing the right to food and food insecurity to integrate a gender perspective into their relevant policies, programmes and activities; 7. Encourages all States to take steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right to food, including steps to promote the conditions for everyone to be free from hunger and, as soon as possible, to enjoy fully the right to food, and to create and adopt national plans to combat hunger; 8. Stresses that improving access to productive resources and public investment in rural development is essential for eradicating hunger and poverty, in particular in developing countries, including through the promotion of investments in appropriate, small-scale irrigation and water management technologies in order to reduce vulnerability to droughts; 9. Stresses also the importance of fighting hunger in rural areas, including through national efforts supported by international partnerships to stop desertification and land degradation and through investments and public policies that are specifically appropriate to the risk of drylands, and, in this regard, calls for the full implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. 10. Acknowledges that many indigenous organizations and representatives of indigenous communities have expressed in different forums their deep concerns over the obstacles and challenges they face for the full enjoyment of the right to food, and calls upon States to take special actions to combat the root causes of the disproportionately high level of hunger and malnutrition among indigenous peoples and the continuous discrimination against them; 11. Requests all States and private actors, as well as international organizations within their respective mandates, to take fully into account the need to promote the effective realization of the right to food for all, including in the ongoing negotiations in different fields; 12. Stresses the need to make efforts to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, and to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies; 13. Recognizes the need for a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round negotiations of the World Trade Organization as a contribution for creating international conditions that permit the realization of the right to food; 14. Recalls the importance of the New York Declaration on Action against Hunger and Poverty, and recommends the continuation of efforts aimed at identifying additional sources of financing for the fight against hunger and poverty; 15. Recognizes that the promises made at the World Food Summit in 1996 to halve the number of persons who are undernourished are not being fulfilled, and invites once again all international financial and development institutions, as well as the relevant United Nations agencies and funds, to give priority to and provide the necessary funding to realize the aim of halving by 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, as well as the right to food as set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food SecurityFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 16. Reaffirms that integrating food and nutritional support, with the goal that all people at all times will have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, is part of a comprehensive response to the spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases; 17. Urges States to give adequate priority in their development strategies and expenditures to the realization of the right to food; 18. Stresses the importance of international development cooperation and assistance, in particular in activities related to disaster risk reduction and in emergency situations such as natural and man-made disasters, diseases and pests, for the realization of the right to food and the achievement of sustainable food security, while recognizing that each country has the primary responsibility for ensuring the implementation of national programmes and strategies in this regard; 19. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders to support national efforts aimed at responding rapidly to the food crises currently occurring across Africa; 20. Invites all relevant international organizations, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to promote policies and projects that have a positive impact on the right to food, to ensure that partners respect the right to food in the implementation of common projects, to support strategies of Member States aimed at the fulfilment of the right to food and to avoid any actions that could have a negative impact on the realization of the right to food; 21. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food,See A/61/306. and also takes note of his valuable work in the promotion of the right to food; 22. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as extended by the Human Rights Council in its decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. B. 23. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 24. Welcomes the work already done by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in promoting the right to adequate food, in particular its General Comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food (article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights),See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex V. in which the Committee affirmed, inter alia, that the right to adequate food is indivisibly linked to the inherent dignity of the human person and is indispensable for the fulfilment of other human rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and is also inseparable from social justice, requiring the adoption of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, at both the national and the international levels, oriented to the eradication of poverty and the fulfilment of all human rights for all; 25. Recalls General Comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on the right to water (articles 11 and 12 of the Covenant),Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 2 (E/2003/22), annex IV. in which the Committee noted, inter alia, the importance of ensuring sustainable water resources for human consumption and agriculture in realization of the right to adequate food; 26. Reaffirms that the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, adopted by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in November 2004,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Session, Rome, 22-27 November 2004 (CL 127/REP), appendix D; see also E/CN.4/2005/131, annex. represent a practical tool to promote the realization of the right to food for all, contribute to the achievement of food security and thus provide an additional instrument in the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 27. Welcomes the continued cooperation of the High Commissioner, the Committee and the Special Rapporteur, and encourages them to continue their cooperation in this regard; 28. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in his task, to supply all necessary information requested by him and to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries to enable him to fulfil his mandate more effectively; 29. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 30. Invites Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies and civil society actors, including non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate, inter alia, through the submission of comments and suggestions on ways and means of realizing the right to food; 31. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 61/164 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Azerbaijan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference), Belarus, Cameroon and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 111 to 54, with 18 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Bolivia, Botswana, Cape Verde, Colombia, Fiji, Haiti, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu 61/164. Combating defamation of religions The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights in this regard, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. welcoming the resolve expressed in the Millennium Declaration to take measures to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies, and looking forward to its effective implementation at all levels, including in the context of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Recalling the proclamation of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations,See resolution 56/6. and inviting States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, within existing resources, other international and regional organizations and civil societies to contribute to the implementation of the Programme of Action contained in the Global Agenda, Welcoming the launch of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, intended to respond to the need for a committed effort by the international community, in order to promote mutual respect and understanding among different cultures and societies, Welcoming also the progress achieved in the follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Underlining the importance of increasing contacts at all levels in order to deepen dialogue and reinforce understanding among different cultures, religions and civilizations, and noting with regret, in this regard, the cancellation of the meeting on "Civilization and harmony: values and mechanisms of the global order", which was to be held in Turkey in 2004 as a follow-up to the Organization of the Islamic Conference-European Union Joint Forum on the theme "Civilization and harmony: the political dimension", held in Turkey in 2002, Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Convinced that respect for cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of the different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing the valuable contributions of all religions to modern civilization and the contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of the common values shared by all humankind, Reaffirming the need for all States to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, cultures and religions, and emphasizing that States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance, respect for and freedom of religion and belief, Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of cultural and religious tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Alarmed at the continuing negative impact of the events of 11 September 2001 on Muslim minorities and communities in some non-Muslim countries, the negative projection of Islam in the media and the introduction and enforcement of laws that specifically discriminate against and target Muslims, Alarmed also at the serious instances of intolerance, discrimination and acts of violence based on religion or belief, intimidation and coercion motivated by extremism, religious or otherwise, occurring in many parts of the world and threatening the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Noting with concern that defamation of religions is among the causes of social disharmony and leads to violations of human rights, Deeply alarmed at the rising trends towards discrimination based on religion and faith, including in some national policies and laws that stigmatize groups of people belonging to certain religions and faiths under a variety of pretexts relating to security and illegal immigration, and noting that the increased intellectual and media discourse is among the factors exacerbating such discrimination, Noting with deep concern the increasing trend in recent years of statements attacking religions, Islam and Muslims in particular, especially in human rights forums, 1. Expresses its deep concern about the negative stereotyping of religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief still in evidence in some regions of the world; 2. Strongly deplores physical attacks and assaults on businesses, cultural centres and places of worship of all religions as well as targeting of religious symbols; 3. Notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001; 4. Expresses its deep concern that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism; 5. Also expresses its deep concern about programmes and agendas pursued by extremist organizations and groups aimed at the defamation of religions, in particular when supported by Governments; 6. Deplores the use of the print, audio-visual and electronic media, including the Internet, and any other means to incite acts of violence, xenophobia or related intolerance and discrimination against Islam or any other religion; 7. Recognizes that, in the context of the fight against terrorism and the reaction to counter-terrorism measures, defamation of religions becomes an aggravating factor that contributes to the denial of fundamental rights and freedoms of target groups, as well as their economic and social exclusion; 8. Stresses the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions, Islam and Muslims in particular, especially in human rights forums; 9. Emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which should be exercised with responsibility and may therefore be subject to limitations as provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, public health or morals and respect for religions and beliefs; 10. Urges States to take resolute action to prohibit the dissemination of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence; 11. Also urges States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and their value systems and to complement legal systems with intellectual and moral strategies to combat religious hatred and intolerance; 12. Urges all States to ensure that all public officials, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military, civil servants and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 13. Underscores the need to combat defamation of religions by strategizing and harmonizing actions at the local, national, regional and international levels through education and awareness-raising; 14. Urges States to ensure equal access to education for all, in law and in practice, including access to free primary education for all children, both girls and boys, and access for adults to lifelong learning and education based on respect for human rights, diversity and tolerance, without discrimination of any kind, and to refrain from any legal or other measures leading to racial segregation in access to schooling; 15. Calls upon the international community to initiate a global dialogue to promote a culture of tolerance and peace based on respect for human rights and religious diversity, and urges States, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the print and electronic media to support and promote such a dialogue; 16. Affirms that the Human Rights Council shall promote universal respect for all religious and cultural values and address instances of intolerance, discrimination and incitement of hatred against any community or adherents of any religion; 17. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and include human rights aspects in the dialogue among civilizations, inter alia, through: (a) Integrating them into topical seminars and special debates on the positive contributions of cultures, as well as religious and cultural diversity, including through educational programmes, particularly the World Programme for Human Rights Education proclaimed on 10 December 2004;See resolutions 59/113 A and B. (b) Collaboration by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with other relevant international organizations in holding joint conferences designed to encourage this dialogue and promote understanding of the universality of human rights and their implementation at various levels; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including on the possible correlation between defamation of religions and the upsurge in incitement, intolerance and hatred in many parts of the world, to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/165 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Togo and Uruguay. 61/165. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the protection of migrants, the most recent of which is resolution 60/169 of 16 December 2005, and recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/47 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Reaffirming also that everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State, and to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country, Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationIbid., vol. 660, No. 9464. and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Ibid., vol. 2220, No. 39481. Recalling also the provisions concerning migrants contained in the outcomes of all major United Nations conferences and summits, Welcoming the establishment of the Human Rights Council, which is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner, Welcoming also the convening of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, held in New York on 14 and 15 September 2006 for the purpose of discussing the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development, which recognized the relationship between international migration, development and human rights, Bearing in mind that policies and initiatives on the issue of migration, including those that refer to the orderly management of migration, should promote holistic approaches that take into account the causes and consequences of the phenomenon, as well as the full respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, Noting that many migrant women are employed in the informal economy and in less skilled work compared with that of men, which puts those women at greater risk of abuse and exploitation, Concerned about the large and growing number of migrants, especially women and children, who place themselves in a vulnerable situation by attempting to cross international borders without the required travel documents, and underlining the obligation of States to respect the human rights of those migrants, Underlining the importance for States, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, to undertake information campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration, so as to enable everyone to make informed decisions and to prevent them from utilizing dangerous means to cross international borders, Emphasizing the global character of the migratory phenomenon, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and dialogue in this regard, as appropriate, and the need to protect the human rights of migrants, particularly at a time in which migration flows have increased in the globalized economy and take place in a context of new security concerns, 1. Requests States effectively to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their immigration status, especially those of women and children; 2. Takes note with interest of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the human rights of migrants;See A/61/324. 3. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesIbid., vol. 2220, No. 39481. as a matter of priority, and requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to raise awareness and promote the Convention; 4. Urges States parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and supplementing protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and AirIbid., annex III. and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Ibid., annex II. to implement them fully, and calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying them as a matter of priority; 5. Takes note of the report of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on its third and fourth sessions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 48 (A/61/48). 6. Requests all States, international organizations and relevant stakeholders to take into account in their policies and initiatives on migration issues the global character of the migratory phenomenon and to give due consideration to international, regional and bilateral cooperation in this field, including by undertaking dialogues on migration that include countries of origin, destination and transit, as well as civil society, including migrants, with a view to addressing, in a comprehensive manner, inter alia, its causes and consequences and the challenge of undocumented or irregular migration, granting priority to the protection of the human rights of migrants; 7. Expresses concern about legislation and measures adopted by some States that may restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, and reaffirms that, when exercising their sovereign right to enact and implement migratory and border security measures, States have the duty to comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law, in order to ensure full respect for the human rights of migrants; 8. Requests States to adopt concrete measures to prevent the violation of the human rights of migrants while in transit, including in ports and airports and at borders and migration checkpoints, to train public officials who work in those facilities and in border areas to treat migrants respectfully and in accordance with the law, and to prosecute, in conformity with applicable law, any act of violation of the human rights of migrants, inter alia, arbitrary detention, torture and violations of the right to life, including extrajudicial executions, during their transit from their country of origin to the country of destination and vice versa, including their transit through national borders; 9. Calls upon States to address international migration through international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of countries of origin, transit and destination in promoting and protecting the human rights of migrants and avoiding approaches that may aggravate their vulnerability; 10. Strongly condemns the manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them, including on the basis of religion or belief, and urges States to apply the existing laws when xenophobic or intolerant acts, manifestations or expressions against migrants occur, in order to eradicate impunity for those who commit xenophobic and racist acts; 11. Requests all States, in conformity with national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party, to enforce labour law effectively, including by addressing violations of such law, with regard to migrant workers' labour relations and working conditions, inter alia, those related to their remuneration and conditions of health, safety at work and the right to freedom of association; 12. Encourages all States to remove obstacles that may prevent the safe, unrestricted and expeditious transfer of remittances of migrants to their country of origin or to any other countries, in conformity with applicable legislation, and to consider, as appropriate, measures to solve other problems that may impede such transfers; 13. Welcomes immigration programmes, adopted by some countries, that allow migrants to integrate fully into the host countries, facilitate family reunification and promote a harmonious, tolerant and respectful environment, and encourages States to consider the possibility of adopting these types of programmes; 14. Requests Member States, the United Nations system, international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders, especially the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, to ensure that the perspective of the human rights of migrants is included among the priority issues in the ongoing discussions on international migration and development within the United Nations system, bearing in mind the discussions of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development held pursuant to General Assembly resolution 58/208 of 23 December 2003; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution at its sixty-second session and decides to examine the question further under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 61/166 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Belarus, Benin, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Russian Federation, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 86 to 64, with 26 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay Abstaining: Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Burundi, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu 61/166. Promotion of equitable and mutually respectful dialogue on human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, Stressing the importance of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and achieving international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, Emphasizing the responsibilities of all States, in conformity with the Charter, to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language or religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 entitled "Human Rights Council", in particular the decision of the Assembly that the Council should undertake a universal periodic review, in a manner that ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all States, and the decision of the Council on the establishment of an intersessional open-ended intergovernmental working group to develop the modalities of the universal periodic review mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue as well as on objective and reliable information,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. B, decision 1/103. Recalling that the General Assembly shall make recommendations for the purpose of promoting international cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, education and health fields, and of assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recognizing that politically motivated and biased country-specific resolutions on the situation of human rights severely undermine the principles of objectivity and non-selectivity in the consideration of human rights issues and are counterproductive to the cause of promoting human rights, 1. Urges Member States to further strengthen international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights in order to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, cultures and religions; 2. Calls upon Member States to base their approaches towards development of international dialogue on human rights on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. and other relevant international human rights instruments and to refrain from approaches that are inconsistent with that international framework; 3. Reaffirms that the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, and the development of international dialogue on human rights should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political purposes; 4. Stresses the need to avoid politically motivated and biased country-specific resolutions on the situation of human rights, confrontational approaches, exploitation of human rights for political purposes, selective targeting of individual countries for extraneous considerations and double standards in the work of the United Nations on human rights issues; 5. Affirms that respect for political, economic and cultural diversity for all contributes to the development of stable and friendly relations among countries and equitable and mutually respectful international dialogue on human rights; 6. Stresses the continuing need for unbiased and objective information on the situation of human rights in all countries and the need to present this information in an impartial manner, including through the reports of the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups; 7. Decides to consider the matter at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 61/167 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United Republic of Tanzania. 61/167. Regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 32/127 of 16 December 1977 and its subsequent resolutions concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 1993/51 of 9 March 1993See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/1993/23 and Corr.2, 4 and 5), chap. II, sect. A. and its subsequent resolutions in this regard, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Commission concerning advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights, including its most recent on that subject, resolution 2004/81 of 21 April 2004,Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Bearing in mind also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which reiterates, inter alia, the need to consider the possibility of establishing regional and subregional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights where they do not already exist, Recalling that the World Conference recommended that more resources should be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Reaffirming that regional arrangements play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights and should reinforce universal human rights standards, as contained in international human rights instruments, Welcoming the fact that the Office of the High Commissioner has been systematically pursuing a regional and subregional approach through a variety of complementary means and methods, in order to maximize the impact of the activities of the United Nations at the national level, and that the Office intends to establish new regional offices, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/513. 2. Welcomes the continuing cooperation and assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the further strengthening of the existing regional arrangements and regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights, in particular through technical cooperation aimed at national capacity-building, public information and education, with a view to exchanging information and experience in the field of human rights; 3. Also welcomes, in that respect, the close cooperation of the Office of the High Commissioner in the organization of regional and subregional training courses and workshops in the field of human rights, high-level governmental expert meetings and regional conferences of national human rights institutions, aimed at creating greater understanding in the regions of issues concerning the promotion and protection of human rights, improving procedures and examining the various systems for the promotion and protection of universally accepted human rights standards and identifying obstacles to ratification of the principal international human rights treaties and strategies to overcome them; 4. Recognizes, therefore, that progress in promoting and protecting all human rights depends primarily on efforts made at the national and local levels, and that the regional approach should imply intensive cooperation and coordination with all partners involved, while bearing in mind the importance of international cooperation; 5. Stresses the importance of the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights, renews its appeal to all Governments to consider making use of the possibilities offered by the United Nations under the programme of organizing information or training courses at the national level for government personnel on the application of international human rights standards and the experience of relevant international bodies, and notes with satisfaction, in that respect, the establishment of technical cooperation projects with Governments of all regions; 6. Welcomes the growing exchanges between the United Nations and the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, on the one hand, and regional organizations and institutions, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, the Council of Europe, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the International Organization of la Francophonie, the League of Arab States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other regional institutions, on the other; 7. Also welcomes the placement by the Office of the High Commissioner of regional representatives in subregions and in regional commissions, in particular the deployment to Bishkek of a regional representative for Central Asia; 8. Further welcomes the progress achieved in the establishment of regional and subregional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, and, in this regard, notes with interest: (a) The increasing cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and African organizations and suborganizations, in particular the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community; (b) The support provided by the Office of the High Commissioner to the African Union for the strengthening of the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, and welcomes in this regard the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights; (c) The increased, valuable sharing of concrete national experiences at the thirteenth Workshop on Regional Cooperation for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region, held in Beijing from 30 August to 2 September 2005, regarding the implementation of the Regional Framework for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region, which contributes to the enhancement of the promotion and protection of human rights in the region, and welcomes in this regard the establishment in Suva of an office of the High Commissioner for the Pacific region and the steps undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner to set up a United Nations human rights training and documentation centre for South-West Asia and the Arab region, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/153 of 16 December 2005; (d) The ongoing consultations among Governments aimed at the possible establishment of regional human rights arrangements held in the context of the Regional Framework, with the support and advice of national human rights institutions and civil society organizations of the Asia-Pacific region; (e) Activities undertaken within the framework of the regional project of the Office of the High Commissioner for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Latin American and Caribbean region and the strengthening of the cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Organization of American States; (f) Activities undertaken within the framework of cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner and the League of Arab States; (g) The continued cooperation towards the realization of universal standards between the Office of the High Commissioner and regional organizations in Europe and Central Asia, namely, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in particular for activities at the country level; 9. Invites States in areas in which regional arrangements in the field of human rights do not yet exist to consider, with the support and advice of national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, concluding agreements with a view to establishing, within their respective regions, suitable regional machinery for the promotion and protection of human rights; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen exchanges between the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organizations dealing with human rights and to make available adequate resources from within the regular budget of technical cooperation to the activities of the Office of the High Commissioner to promote regional arrangements; 11. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to pay special attention to the most appropriate ways of assisting countries of the various regions, at their request, under the programme of technical cooperation and to make, where necessary, relevant recommendations, and in this regard welcomes the decision of the Office to strengthen national protection systems in accordance with action 2 of the reform programme of the Secretary-General;See A/57/387 and Corr.1. 12. Invites the Secretary-General to provide, in the report that he will submit to the Human Rights Council at its fourth session, information on progress made since the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. on reinforcing the exchange of information and extending collaboration between the organs of the United Nations dealing with human rights and regional organizations in the field of the promotion and protection of human rights; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the state of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, formulating concrete proposals and recommendations on ways and means to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements in the field of human rights, and to include therein the results of action taken in pursuance of the present resolution; 14. Decides to consider the question further at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 61/168 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 61/168. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recalling its adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its resolution 60/156 of 16 December 2005, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/54 of 20 April 2005 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Recognizing also that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based on the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening the capacity of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit of all human beings, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all the activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 2000/22 of 18 August 2000, on the promotion of dialogue on human rights issues, by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-second session,See E/CN.4/2001/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/46, chap. II, sect. A. 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Recognizes that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their individual societies, States have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level; 3. Reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard the holding of conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on dialogue among civilizations; 4. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 6. Considers that international cooperation in the field of human rights, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 8. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 9. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on ways and means to enhance international cooperation and dialogue in the United Nations human rights machinery; 11. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/169 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 134 to 53, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 61/169. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling also the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling further that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, and that the individual is the central subject and beneficiary of development, Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming also the universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness, interdependence and mutually reinforcing nature of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, including the right to development, Expressing concern over the suspension of the trade negotiations of the World Trade Organization, and stressing the need for a successful outcome of the Doha Development Round in key areas such as agriculture, market access for non-agricultural products, trade facilitation, development and services, Recalling the outcome of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, on the theme "Enhancing the coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, particularly of developing countries",See TD/412. Recalling also all its previous resolutions, Human Rights Council resolution 1/4 of 30 June 2006See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. A. and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the urgent need to make further progress towards the realization of the right to development as set out in the Declaration on the Right to Development, Welcoming the outcome of the seventh session of the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, held in Geneva from 9 to 13 January 2006, as contained in the report of the Working Group,E/CN.4/2006/26. Recalling the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006, the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 29 and 30 May 2006, and the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, Reiterating its continuing support for the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as a development framework for Africa, Recognizing that poverty is an affront to human dignity, Recognizing also that extreme poverty and hunger are a global threat that requires the collective commitment of the international community for its eradication, pursuant to millennium development goal 1, and therefore calling upon the international community, including the Human Rights Council, to contribute towards achieving that goal, Recognizing further that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparity, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries, Stressing that poverty eradication is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development and that poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted and integrated approach in addressing economic, political, social, environmental and institutional dimensions at all levels, especially in the context of the millennium development goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations adopted by consensus by the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights at its seventh session,E/CN.4/2006/26. and calls for their immediate, full and effective implementation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant actors; 2. Recognizes the relevance of the decisions contained in Human Rights Council resolution 1/4See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. A. to renew the mandate of the Working Group and to request the Working Group to meet in the first three months of 2007; 3. Also recognizes the relevance of the request of the Human Rights Council to the high-level task force on the right to development to meet before the end of 2006 with a view to implementing the relevant recommendations contained in the report on the seventh session of the Working Group; 4. Emphasizes the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 establishing the Human Rights Council, and, in this regard, calls upon the Council: (a) To promote and advance sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; (b) To agree on a programme that will lead to the elevation of the right to development to the same level, in order that it may be on a par with them, as all other human rights and fundamental freedoms elaborated in the human rights instruments; 5. Notes with appreciation that the high-level task force, at its second meeting, examined millennium development goal 8, on developing a global partnership for development, and suggested criteria for its periodic evaluation with the aim of improving the effectiveness of global partnership with regard to the realization of the right to development;See E/CN.4/2005/WG.18/TF/3. 6. Stresses the importance of the core principles contained in the conclusions of the Working Group at its third session,E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. congruent with the purpose of international human rights instruments, such as equality, non-discrimination, accountability, participation and international cooperation, as critical to mainstreaming the right to development at the national and international levels, and underlines the importance of the principles of equity and transparency; 7. Also stresses that it is important that the high-level task force and the Working Group, in the discharge of their mandates, take into account the need: (a) To promote the democratization of the system of international governance in order to increase the effective participation of developing countries in international decision-making; (b) To also promote effective partnerships such as the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. and other similar initiatives with the developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, for the purpose of the realization of their right to development, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; (c) To strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international level, while urging all States to undertake at the national level the necessary policy formulation and to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human right, and also urging all States to expand and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development in the context of promoting effective international cooperation for the realization of the right to development, bearing in mind that lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level; (d) To consider ways and means to ensure the operationalization of the right to development as a priority, including through further consideration of the elaboration of a convention on the right to development; (e) To mainstream the right to development in the policies and operational activities of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, programmes and funds, as well as in policies and strategies of the international financial and multilateral trading system, taking into account in this regard that the core principles of the international economic, commercial and financial spheres, such as equity, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, participation and international cooperation, including effective partnerships for development, are indispensable in achieving the right to development and preventing discriminatory treatment arising out of political or other non-economic considerations, in addressing the issues of concern to the developing countries; 8. Recognizes the relevance of the request to the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights or its successor expert advice mechanism to pursue its ongoing work on the right to development, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights resolutions, and in compliance with decisions to be taken by the Human Rights Council, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress in this regard to the Assembly at its sixty-second session; 9. Invites Member States and all other stakeholders to participate actively in future sessions of the Social Forum, while recognizing the strong support extended to the Forum at its previous three sessions by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights; 10. Reaffirms the commitment to implement the goals and targets set out in all the outcome documents of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their review processes, in particular those relating to the realization of the right to development, recognizing that the realization of the right to development is critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in those outcome documents; 11. Also reaffirms that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 12. Stresses that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 13. Reaffirms the primary responsibility of States to create national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development, as well as their commitment to cooperate with each other to that end; 14. Also reaffirms the need for an international environment that is conducive to the realization of the right to development; 15. Stresses the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international and national levels, and calls upon States to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human right; 16. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and the international levels; 17. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of integrating all countries into a globalized world, and stresses the need for policies and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and equitable; 18. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the international community, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide, that developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 19. Underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting the target set in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015, reaffirms the commitment made to meet that target, and emphasizes the principle of international cooperation, including partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries towards achieving the goal; 20. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets; 21. Recognizes the need to address market access for developing countries, including in agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those of interest to developing countries; 22. Calls for the implementation of a desirable pace of meaningful trade liberalization, including in areas under negotiation; implementation of commitments on implementation-related issues and concerns; review of special and differential-treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational; avoidance of new forms of protectionism; and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing countries as important issues in making progress towards the effective implementation of the right to development; 23. Recognizes the important link between the international economic, commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development, stresses, in this regard, the need for good governance and broadening the base of decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and the need to fill organizational gaps, as well as strengthen the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 24. Also recognizes that good governance and the rule of law at the national level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance; 25. Further recognizes the important role and the rights of women and the application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship between women's education and their equal participation in the civil, cultural, economic, political and social activities of the community and the promotion of the right to development; 26. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, girls and boys alike, in all policies and programmes, and for ensuring the promotion and protection of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the full development of their capacities; 27. Welcomes the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted at the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on 2 June 2006,Resolution 60/262, annex. stresses that further and additional measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts and programmes, and reiterates the need for international assistance in this regard; 28. Recognizes the need for strong partnerships with civil society organizations and the private sector in pursuit of poverty eradication and development, as well as for corporate social responsibility; 29. Emphasizes the urgent need for taking concrete and effective measures to prevent, combat and criminalize all forms of corruption at all levels, to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. particularly chapter V thereof, stresses the importance of a genuine political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal framework, and in this context urges States to sign and ratify as soon as possible, and States parties to implement effectively, the Convention; 30. Also emphasizes the need to strengthen further the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and realization of the right to development, including ensuring effective use of the financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, and calls upon the Secretary-General to provide the Office of the High Commissioner with the necessary resources; 31. Reaffirms the request to the High Commissioner, in mainstreaming the right to development, to undertake effectively activities aimed at strengthening the global partnership for development between Member States, development agencies and the international development, financial and trade institutions, and to reflect those activities in detail in her next report to the Human Rights Council; 32. Calls upon the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies, to mainstream the right to development in their operational programmes and objectives, and stresses the need for the international financial and multilateral trading systems to mainstream the right to development in their policies and objectives; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations; 34. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session and an interim report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and realization of the right to development, and invites the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Right to Development to present a verbal update to the Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/16 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.24, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 61/16. Strengthening of the Economic and Social Council The General Assembly, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolutions 45/264 of 13 May 1991, 50/227 of 24 May 1996, 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 59/250 of 22 December 2004 and 60/265 of 30 June 2006, Recalling further its resolution 60/180 of 20 December 2005 and Security Council resolution 1645 (2005) of 20 December 2005, Reaffirming the role that the Charter of the United Nations and the General Assembly have vested in the Economic and Social Council, and recognizing the need for a more effective Council as a principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on issues of economic and social development, as well as for implementation of the international development goals agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Development Goals, Reaffirming also the commitments to and emphasizing the need to fully implement the global partnership for development set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and to enhance the momentum generated by the 2005 World Summit in order to operationalize and implement, at all levels, the commitments set out in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the 2005 World Summit, in the economic, social and related fields, Reiterating that the Economic and Social Council should continue to strengthen its role as the central mechanism for system-wide coordination and thus promote the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with the Charter and relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular resolutions 50/227 and 57/270 B, Resolving to accelerate the implementation of the measures and mechanisms defined in its resolution 57/270 B on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Welcoming Economic and Social Council decision 2006/206 of 10 February 2006, entitled "Adapting the work of the Economic and Social Council", Recalling that the Economic and Social Council should increase its role in overseeing system-wide coordination and the balanced integration of economic, social and environmental aspects of United Nations policies and programmes aimed at promoting sustainable development, and reaffirming that the Commission on Sustainable Development should continue to be the high-level commission on sustainable development within the United Nations system and serve as a forum for consideration of issues related to integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, In pursuance of paragraphs 155 and 156 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome, 1. Decides to maintain the current segment structure of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council; 2. Also decides that the Economic and Social Council should continue to promote global dialogue, inter alia, through strengthening existing arrangements, including: (a) The special high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; (b) An annual high-level policy dialogue with international financial and trade institutions held in the framework of a strengthened high-level segment of the annual substantive session of the Council; (c) A thematic discussion on a theme from economic, social and related fields to be decided by the Council and informed by a report of the Secretary-General; 3. Further decides that the biennial high-level Development Cooperation Forum will be held within the framework of the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council, while stressing the need to preserve the distinct identity of the Forum so as to facilitate high-level participation, with a view to enhancing the implementation of international development cooperation issues affecting the realization of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and to promote dialogue to find effective ways to support it; 4. Decides that the biennial Development Cooperation Forum will be held in alternate years in the framework of the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council and that it should: (a) Review trends and progress in international development cooperation and give policy guidance and recommendations to promote more effective international development cooperation; (b) Identify gaps and obstacles with a view to making recommendations on practical measures and policy options to enhance coherence and effectiveness and to promote development cooperation for the realization of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; (c) Provide a platform for Member States to exchange lessons learned and share experiences in formulating, supporting and implementing national development strategies; (d) In accordance with the rules of procedure, be open to participation by all stakeholders, including the organizations of the United Nations, the international financial and trade institutions, the regional organizations, civil society and private sector representatives; 5. Requests the Economic and Social Council to consider launching the Development Cooperation Forum during the high-level segment of its substantive session of 2007 and thereafter meeting in New York, starting in 2008; 6. Decides that the Economic and Social Council should undertake a regular and periodic review and assessment of international economic and development policies and their impact on development; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare an analytical background report for consideration by the Development Cooperation Forum; 8. Decides that the Economic and Social Council should hold annual ministerial-level substantive reviews as part of its high-level segment, and also decides that such reviews should be conducted by means of a cross-sectoral approach focusing on thematic issues common to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, including the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, review progress made in the implementation of the outcomes of those conferences and summits and their follow-up processes and assess its impact on the achievement of the goals and targets of the conferences and summits, and in this regard: (a) Recommends that such reviews provide an opportunity for countries to make voluntary national presentations; (b) Requests the Council to urge the functional commissions and other relevant subsidiary bodies and follow-up mechanisms, as appropriate, to contribute, in accordance with their mandates and taking into account their specificity, to the assessment; (c) Recommends that the Council establish a multi-year programme of work for the ministerial-level substantive reviews; (d) Invites the organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization, to contribute within their respective mandates to the consideration by the Council; 9. Requests the Economic and Social Council to urge the United Nations regional commissions, in collaboration with other regional and subregional organizations and processes, as appropriate, to contribute, within their mandates, to the review of progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields and to provide input to the discussions of the Council in accordance with its rules of procedure; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, when submitting his reports for the high-level segment, to include a concise, analytical section providing an assessment of progress, identifying gaps and obstacles in implementation and making recommendations to overcome those gaps and obstacles for consideration by Member States; 11. Decides that the outcome of the high-level segment should be one ministerial declaration; 12. Also decides that the Economic and Social Council should support and complement international efforts aimed at addressing humanitarian emergencies, including natural disasters, in order to promote an improved, coordinated response by the United Nations; 13. Stresses the importance of the humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council in strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of United Nations humanitarian assistance; 14. Emphasizes that in addition to the humanitarian affairs segment, the Economic and Social Council should convene ad hoc meetings, in accordance with its rules of procedure, on specific humanitarian emergencies on the request of the affected Member State and following a recommendation of the Bureau, and that such ad hoc meetings should raise awareness and promote the engagement of all stakeholders in support of international relief efforts aimed at addressing those emergencies; 15. Reaffirms the role of the Economic and Social Council in providing overall coordination and guidance for operational development programmes and funds on a system-wide basis, including objectives, priorities and strategies in the implementation of the policies formulated by the General Assembly, as well as in concentrating on cross-cutting and coordination issues related to operational activities, in accordance with relevant Assembly resolutions; 16. Also reaffirms the importance of the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities, through which the General Assembly establishes key system-wide policy orientations for the development cooperation and country-level modalities of the United Nations system; 17. Recalls the role of the Economic and Social Council in providing coordination and guidance to the United Nations system to ensure that those policy orientations are implemented on a system-wide basis in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993, 50/227 and 57/270 B; 18. Expresses concern that insufficient provision of conference services and substantive support to the meetings of the Economic and Social Council has at times impeded its ability to fulfil its mandate despite its status as a Charter body, and in this regard decides to ensure provision of full and substantive support and conference services to the Council for all meetings necessary to enable it to fulfil its strengthened mandate; 19. Recognizes that the Economic and Social Council, as a Charter body, is entitled to convene meetings as and when needed, with full substantive support and conference services, and in this regard decides that the Council, beginning with its 2007 session, is entitled to convene additional meetings, of up to two weeks, in order to facilitate the fulfilment of its newly assigned responsibilities for organizing the annual ministerial reviews and the Development Cooperation Forum, as well as to hold ad hoc meetings, in order to effectively fulfil its mandate under the Charter; 20. Recalls its resolution 60/180 on the Peacebuilding Commission that addresses the special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery, reintegration and reconstruction and assists them in laying the foundation for sustainable development, and in this regard reaffirms the importance of interaction between the Economic and Social Council and the Commission; 21. Underlines the experience of the Economic and Social Council in the area of post-conflict peacebuilding and the success of its ad hoc advisory groups on countries emerging from conflict, and invites the Peacebuilding Commission to benefit from it; 22. Reiterates that the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission will be based on, inter alia, requests for advice from the Economic and Social Council with the consent of a concerned Member State in exceptional circumstances on the verge of lapsing or relapsing into conflict and of which the Security Council is not seized in accordance with Article 12 of the Charter; 23. Reiterates its request to the Peacebuilding Commission to make the outcomes of its discussions, recommendations and other reports available as United Nations documents to, inter alia, the Economic and Social Council; 24. Decides to review the implementation of the present resolution at its sixty-fifth session. RESOLUTION 61/170 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 131 to 54, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 61/170. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on this subject, the most recent of which was resolution 60/155 of 16 December 2005, and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/14 of 14 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,E/CN.4/2000/46 and Add.1. submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 52/120 of 12 December 1997A/53/293 and Add.1. and 55/110 of 4 December 2000,A/56/207 and Add.1. Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and, in this regard, reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, called upon States to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. I, para. 31. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing its grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women and children, including adolescents, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly and recent major United Nations conferences, and contrary to general international law and the Charter, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Noting the continuing efforts of the open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Commission on Human Rights, and reaffirming in particular its criteria, according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. 1. Urges all States to refrain from adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Also urges all States to take steps to avoid and to refrain from adopting any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for their health and well-being and their right to food, medical care and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 3. Invites all States to consider adopting administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 4. Rejects unilateral coercive measures with all their extraterritorial effects as tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, because of their negative effects on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 5. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest possible time; 6. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 7. Urges the Human Rights Council to take fully into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, including the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 8. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, while reiterating once again the need to highlight the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 10. Decides to examine the question on a priority basis at its sixty-second session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 61/171 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 61/171. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental importance, including in response to terrorism and the fear of terrorism, of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, Recalling its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002, 58/187 of 22 December 2003, 59/191 of 20 December 2004 and 60/158 of 16 December 2005, Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/68 of 25 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/87 of 21 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/80 of 21 April 2005Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming that States are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, Reiterating the important contribution of measures taken at all levels against terrorism, consistent with international law, in particular international human rights law and refugee and humanitarian law, to the functioning of democratic institutions and the maintenance of peace and security and thereby to the full enjoyment of human rights, as well as the need to continue this fight, including through international cooperation and the strengthening of the role of the United Nations in this respect, Deeply deploring the occurrence of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of the fight against terrorism, as well as violations of international refugee law and international humanitarian law, Recalling the establishment by the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 2005/80, of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Recalling also its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993 and, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment of all human rights, Welcoming the establishment of the Human Rights Council, which is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner, Recognizing the importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. and reaffirming its relevant clauses on the measures to ensure respect for human rights for all, international humanitarian law and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for the fight against terrorism, Reaffirming that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism,See sect. I, para. 17, of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993 (A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III). Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Reaffirming that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, Recognizing that the respect for all human rights, the respect for democracy and the respect for the rule of law are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, Noting the declarations, statements and recommendations of a number of human rights treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures on the question of the compatibility of counter-terrorism measures with human rights obligations, Recalling Human Rights Council decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. B. 1. Reaffirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 2. Deplores the suffering caused by terrorism to the victims and their families, and expresses its profound solidarity with them; 3. Reaffirms the obligation of States, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. to respect certain rights as non-derogable in any circumstances, recalls, in regard to all other Covenant rights, that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlines the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations;See, for example, General Comment No. 29 on states of emergency adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001. 4. Calls upon States to raise awareness about the importance of these obligations among national authorities involved in combating terrorism; 5. Reaffirms that counter-terrorism measures should be implemented in full consideration of minority rights and must not be discriminatory on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin; 6. Urges States to fully respect non-refoulement obligations under international refugee and human rights law and, at the same time, to review, with full respect for these obligations and other legal safeguards, the validity of a refugee status decision in an individual case if credible and relevant evidence comes to light that indicates that the person in question has committed any criminal acts, including terrorist acts, falling under the exclusion clauses under international refugee law; 7. Also urges States, while countering terrorism, to ensure due process guarantees, consistent with all relevant provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Geneva Conventions of 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. in their respective fields of applicability; 8. Opposes any form of deprivation of liberty that amounts to placing a detained person outside the protection of the law, and urges States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and dignity of the person and to treat all prisoners in all places of detention in accordance with international law, including human rights law and international humanitarian law; 9. Reaffirms that it is imperative that all States work to uphold and protect the dignity of individuals and their fundamental freedoms, as well as democratic practices and the rule of law, while countering terrorism; 10. Encourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to give due consideration to the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies; 11. Takes note with interest of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 60/158;A/61/353. 12. Welcomes the ongoing dialogue established in the context of the fight against terrorism between the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee and the relevant bodies for the promotion and protection of human rights, and encourages the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee to strengthen the links and to continue to develop cooperation with relevant human rights bodies, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism and other relevant special procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, giving due regard to the promotion and protection of human rights in the ongoing work pursuant to relevant Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism; 13. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/80;See A/61/267. 14. Acknowledges with appreciation the cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and all relevant procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council as well as the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, and urges them to continue their cooperation, in accordance with their mandates, and to coordinate their efforts, where appropriate, in order to promote a consistent approach on this subject; 15. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated, including by reacting promptly to the urgent appeals of the Special Rapporteur and providing the information requested; 16. Welcomes the work done by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement the mandate given to her in resolution 60/158, and requests the High Commissioner to continue her efforts in this regard; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 18. Decides to consider at its sixty-second session the report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. RESOLUTION 61/172 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan 61/172. Hostage-taking The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which guarantees, inter alia, the right to life, liberty and security of person, freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, freedom of movement and protection from arbitrary detention, Recalling also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted on 25 June 1993 by the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Taking into account the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 34/146 of 17 December 1979, which recognizes that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and considers the taking of hostages to be an offence of grave concern to the international community, as well as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, adopted by the Assembly in its resolution 3166 (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973, Bearing in mind the relevant Security Council resolutions condemning all cases of terrorism, including those of hostage-taking, in particular resolution 1440 (2002) of 24 October 2002, Mindful of the fact that hostage-taking constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. and is also a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the protection of victims of war,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Reaffirming its relevant resolutions, including the most recent, resolution 57/220 of 18 December 2002, Recalling all relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, including its most recent, resolution 2005/31 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. in which it condemned the taking of any person as a hostage, as well as the statement by the President of the Human Rights Council of 30 June 2006 on the same subject,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. C. Concerned that, despite the efforts of the international community, acts of hostage-taking in different forms and manifestations, including, inter alia, those committed by terrorists and armed groups, continue to take place and have even increased in many regions of the world, Appealing for the humanitarian action of humanitarian organizations, in particular the International Committee of the Red Cross and its delegates, to be respected, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Recognizing that hostage-taking calls for resolute, firm and concerted efforts on the part of the international community in order, in strict conformity with international human rights standards, to bring such abhorrent practices to an end, 1. Reaffirms that hostage-taking, wherever and by whomever committed, is a serious crime aimed at the destruction of human rights and is, under any circumstances, unjustifiable; 2. Condemns all acts of hostage-taking, anywhere in the world; 3. Demands that all hostages be released immediately and without any preconditions, and expresses its solidarity with the victims of hostage-taking; 4. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures, in accordance with relevant provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights standards, to prevent, combat and punish acts of hostage-taking, including by strengthening international cooperation in this field; 5. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 61/173 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.2 and Corr.1, para. 123),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 137 to none, with 43 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Viet Nam, Yemen 61/173. Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which guarantees the right to life, liberty and security of person, the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant human rights conventions, Having regard to the legal framework of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Welcoming the universal ratification of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. which alongside human rights law provide an important framework of accountability in relation to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions during armed conflict, Mindful of all its resolutions on the subject of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, Noting with deep concern that impunity continues to be a major cause of the perpetuation of violations of human rights, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Acknowledging that international human rights law and international humanitarian law are complementary and not mutually exclusive, Noting with deep concern the growing number of civilians and persons hors de combat killed in situations of armed conflict and internal strife, Acknowledging that extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions may under certain circumstances amount to genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as defined in international law, including in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. Affirming the obligation of States to prevent the abuse of persons deprived of their liberty and to investigate and respond to deaths in custody, Convinced of the need for effective action to prevent, combat and eliminate the abhorrent practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which represent a flagrant violation of the right to life, 1. Strongly condemns once again all the extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that continue to occur throughout the world; 2. Demands that all States ensure that the practice of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions is brought to an end and that they take effective action to prevent, combat and eliminate the phenomenon in all its forms; 3. Reiterates the obligation of all States to conduct exhaustive and impartial investigations into all suspected cases of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, to identify and bring to justice those responsible, while ensuring the right of every person to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to grant adequate compensation within a reasonable time to the victims or their families, and to adopt all necessary measures, including legal and judicial measures, to put an end to impunity and to prevent the further occurrence of such executions, as recommended in the Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extralegal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions;Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/65, annex. 4. Calls upon all States in which the death penalty has not been abolished to comply with their obligations under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including in particular articles 6, 7 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. bearing in mind the safeguards and guarantees set out in Economic and Social Council resolutions 1984/50 of 25 May 1984 and 1989/64 of 24 May 1989; 5. Urges all States: (a) To take all necessary and possible measures, in conformity with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, to prevent loss of life, in particular that of children, during public demonstrations, internal and communal violence, civil unrest, public emergencies or armed conflicts, and to ensure that the police, law enforcement agents, armed forces and other agents acting on behalf of or with the consent or acquiescence of the State act with restraint and in conformity with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the principles of proportionality and necessity, and in this regard to ensure that police and law enforcement officials are guided by the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement OfficialsResolution 34/169, annex. and the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials;See Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, 27 August-7 September 1990: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.91.IV.2), chap. I, sect. B. (b) To ensure the effective protection of the right to life of all persons under their jurisdiction and to investigate promptly and thoroughly all killings, including those targeted at specific groups of persons, such as racially motivated violence leading to the death of the victim, killings of members of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities, of refugees, internally displaced persons, migrants, street children or members of indigenous communities, killings of persons for reasons related to their activities as human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists or demonstrators, killings committed in the name of passion or in the name of honour, all killings committed for any discriminatory reason, including sexual orientation, as well as all other cases where a person's right to life has been violated, and to bring those responsible to justice before a competent, independent and impartial judiciary at the national or, where appropriate, international level, and to ensure that such killings, including those committed by security forces, police and law enforcement agents, paramilitary groups or private forces, are neither condoned nor sanctioned by State officials or personnel; 6. Also urges all States to ensure that persons deprived of their liberty are treated humanely and with full respect for their human rights and to ensure that their treatment, including judicial guarantees, and conditions conform to the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of PrisonersHuman Rights: A Compilation of International Instruments, Volume I (First Part): Universal Instruments (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.XIV.4 (Vol. I, Part 1)), sect. J, No. 34. and, where applicable, to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto of 8 June 1977United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. in relation to all persons detained in armed conflict, as well as to other pertinent international instruments; 7. Welcomes the International Criminal Court as an important contribution to ending impunity concerning extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the fact that one hundred and four States have already ratified or acceded to and a further forty-one States have signed the Rome Statute of the Court,Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. and calls upon all those States that have not ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute to consider doing so; 8. Encourages Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to organize training programmes and to support projects with a view to training or educating military forces, law enforcement officers and government officials in human rights and humanitarian law issues connected with their work and to include a gender and child rights perspective in such training, and appeals to the international community and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support endeavours to that end; 9. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to the General Assembly;See A/61/311. 10. Commends the important role that the Special Rapporteur plays towards the elimination of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue, within his mandate, to collect information from all concerned, to respond effectively to reliable information that comes before him, to follow up on communications and country visits and to seek the views and comments of Governments and to reflect them, as appropriate, in his reports; 11. Acknowledges the important role of the Special Rapporteur in identifying cases where extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions could amount to genocide and crimes against humanity or war crimes, and urges him to collaborate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and, as appropriate, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, in addressing situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions that are of particularly serious concern or in which early action might prevent further deterioration; 12. Welcomes the cooperation established between the Special Rapporteur and other United Nations mechanisms and procedures in the field of human rights, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue efforts in that regard; 13. Urges all States, in particular those that have not done so, to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur so that his mandate can be carried out effectively, including by favourably and rapidly responding to requests for visits, mindful that country visits are one of the tools for the fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, and by responding in a timely manner to communications and other requests transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur; 14. Expresses its appreciation to those States that have received the Special Rapporteur and asks them to examine his recommendations carefully, invites them to inform him of the actions taken on those recommendations, and requests other States to cooperate in a similar way; 15. Again requests the Secretary-General to continue to use his best endeavours in cases where the minimum standards of legal safeguards provided for in articles 6, 9, 14 and 15 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights appear not to have been respected; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with adequate human, financial and material resources to enable him to carry out his mandate effectively, including through country visits; 17. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue, in close collaboration with the High Commissioner, in conformity with the mandate of the High Commissioner established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to ensure that personnel specialized in human rights and humanitarian law issues form part of United Nations missions, where appropriate, in order to deal with serious violations of human rights, such as extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; 18. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the situation worldwide in regard to extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and his recommendations for more effective action to combat this phenomenon. RESOLUTION 61/174 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.3, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Tuvalu, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 99 to 21 with 56 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu Against: Algeria, Belarus, China, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Qatar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia 61/174. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea The General Assembly, Reaffirming that States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments, Mindful that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. Noting the submission by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of its second periodic report concerning the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,E/1990/6/Add.35. its second periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildCRC/C/65/Add.24. and its initial report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,CEDAW/C/PRK/1. as a sign of engagement in international cooperative efforts in the field of human rights, Taking note of the concluding observations of the treaty monitoring bodies under the four treaties, the most recent of which were given by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in July 2005,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/60/38), part two, paras. 26-76. Recalling its resolution 60/173 of 16 December 2005 and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/10 of 16 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/13 of 15 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/11 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and mindful of the need for the international community to strengthen its coordinated efforts aimed at urging the implementation of those resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,See A/61/349. including the specific concerns relating to women's rights, the rights of the child, the rights of the elderly, the rights of persons with disabilities and refugee rights addressed therein, 1. Expresses its very serious concern at: (a) The continued refusal of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to recognize the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or to extend cooperation to him; (b) Continuing reports of systemic, widespread and grave violations of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including: (i) Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, public executions, extrajudicial and arbitrary detention, the absence of due process and the rule of law, the imposition of the death penalty for political reasons, the existence of a large number of prison camps and the extensive use of forced labour; (ii) The situation of refugees expelled or returned to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and sanctions imposed on citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea who have been repatriated from abroad, such as treating their departure as treason, leading to punishments of internment, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or the death penalty, and urges all States to ensure respect for the fundamental principle of non-refoulement; (iii) All-pervasive and severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, and on equal access to information and limitations imposed on every person who wishes to move freely within the country and travel abroad; (iv) Continuing violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, in particular the trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution or forced marriage, forced abortions, and infanticide of children of repatriated mothers, including in police detention centres and camps; (v) Unresolved questions of international concern relating to the abduction of foreigners in the form of enforced disappearance, which violates the human rights of the nationals of other sovereign countries; (vi) The violations of economic, social and cultural rights, which have led to severe malnutrition and hardship for the population in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; (vii) Continuing reports of violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, especially on the use of collective camps and of coercive measures that target the rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children; 2. Expresses its strong concern that the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has not engaged in technical cooperation activities with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office, despite efforts by the High Commissioner to engage in a dialogue with the authorities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in this regard; 3. Expresses its very deep concern at the precarious humanitarian situation in the country, compounded by the mismanagement on the part of the authorities, in particular the prevalence of infant malnutrition, which, despite recent progress, continues to affect the physical and mental development of a significant proportion of children, and urges the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in this regard, to facilitate the continued presence of humanitarian organizations to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered impartially to all parts of the country on the basis of need in accordance with humanitarian principles; 4. Strongly urges the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard, to implement fully the measures set out in the above-mentioned resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, and the recommendations addressed to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the United Nations special procedures and treaty bodies, and to extend its full cooperation to the Special Rapporteur, including by granting him full, free and unimpeded access to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and to other United Nations human rights mechanisms; 5. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at its sixty-second session, and to this end requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Special Rapporteur to report his findings and recommendations. RESOLUTION 61/175 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.3, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 72 to 32, with 69 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu Against: Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia 61/175. Situation of human rights in Belarus The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil their international obligations, Mindful that Belarus is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Optional Protocols thereto,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Ibid., vol. 1465, No. 24841. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenIbid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocol thereto on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531. Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/14 of 17 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/14 of 15 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/13 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. and Human Rights Council decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. B. Concerned that the presidential election of 19 March 2006 was severely flawed and fell significantly short of the commitments of Belarus to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to hold a free and fair election, and that the situation of human rights in Belarus in 2005 was steadily deteriorating, as documented in the final report of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and in the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus,E/CN.4/2006/36. Noting that the Belarusian authorities have decided to hold local elections on 14 January 2007, and expressing its hope that those will be free and fair, in full respect of international electoral standards, 1. Expresses deep concern: (a) About the failure of the Government of Belarus to cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, in particular with the special rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Belarus, while noting the serious concern relating to the deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus expressed by seven independent human rights experts of the United Nations in a statement issued on 29 March 2006; (b) That in spite of detailed recommendations by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and dialogue between the Government and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe following previous elections, Belarus again failed to meet its commitments to hold free and fair elections, including through the arbitrary use of State power against opposition candidates, routine harassment, the detention and arrest of political and civil society activists, the obstruction of the access of opposition candidates to State media, the negative portrayal in the State media of opposition candidates and activists, including human rights defenders, and the serious shortcomings of the vote count, which lacked minimum transparency; (c) About continuing reports of harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention of up to one thousand persons, including opposition candidates, before and after the election of 19 March 2006; (d) About the continuing and expanding criminal prosecutions, lack of due process and closed political trials of leading opposition figures and human rights defenders; (e) About the continuing harassment and detention of Belarusian journalists covering local opposition demonstrations, and that senior officials of the Government of Belarus were implicated in the enforced disappearance and/or summary execution of three political opponents of the incumbent authorities in 1999 and of a journalist in 2000 and in the continuing investigatory cover-up, as documented in the report adopted in resolution 1371 (2004) of 28 April 2004 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe;See Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, document 10062. (f) About the decision of the Belarusian authorities to revoke the teaching licence of the European Humanities University in Minsk and to terminate the lease of its buildings, forcing the University in Belarus to close down; (g) About persistent reports of harassment and closure of non-governmental organizations, national minority organizations, independent media outlets, religious groups, opposition political parties, independent trade unions and independent youth and student organizations, and the harassment and prosecution of individuals, including students engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and democracy; 2. Urges the Government of Belarus: (a) To bring the electoral process and legislative framework into line with international standards, especially those of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, demonstrate such commitment through the upcoming local elections in January 2007 and rectify the shortcomings of the electoral process, identified by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in its report of 7 June 2006, including, inter alia, election laws and practices that restrict campaigning opportunities for de facto opposition candidates, arbitrary application of electoral laws, including on registration of candidates, obstruction of the right of access to the media, biased presentation of the issues by the State media and falsification of vote counts; (b) To cease politically motivated prosecution, harassment and intimidation of political opponents, pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, students, independent media, religious organizations, educational institutions and civil society actors; and to cease the harassment of students and to create the conditions whereby they can continue their studies in Belarus; (c) To respect the rights to freedom of speech, assembly and association and to release immediately all political prisoners and other individuals detained for exercising those rights; (d) To suspend from their duties officials implicated in any case of enforced disappearance, summary execution and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, pending investigation of those cases, and to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to investigate fully and impartially such cases and to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice before an independent tribunal, and, if found guilty, to ensure that they are punished in accordance with the international human rights obligations of Belarus; (e) To investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the mistreatment and detention of domestic and foreign journalists in connection with the election of 19 March 2006 and post-election demonstrations; (f) To uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief, including the ability to maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion and belief at the national and international levels; (g) To investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the mistreatment, arbitrary arrest and incarceration of civic and political activists leading up to and following the presidential election of March 2006 and to release immediately and unconditionally all political prisoners; (h) To carry out all other steps called for by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/13;Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 3. Insists that the Government of Belarus cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, in particular with the Special Rapporteur appointed pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/14Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and whose mandate was extended in Commission resolution 2005/13, as well as with the Representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on freedom of the media. RESOLUTION 61/176 Adopted at the 81st plenary meeting, on 19 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.3, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 72 to 50, with 55 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia 61/176. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, the most recent of which is resolution 60/171 of 16 December 2005, and recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/17 of 20 April 2001,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. Noting the submission by the Islamic Republic of Iran of voluntary pledges and commitments on human rights in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006,A/60/770/Add.1, annex. Noting also the statements made by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on strengthening respect for human rights in the country and promoting the rule of law, and noting further the relevant provisions of its Constitution, 1. Welcomes: (a) The standing invitation extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to all human rights thematic monitoring mechanisms in April 2002 and the cooperation extended to the special procedures during their visits, while regretting that no special procedure has been able to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran since July 2005 and expressing its hope that special procedures of the Human Rights Council will be able to visit in the near future; (b) The report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences on her visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 29 January to 6 February 2005;E/CN.4/2006/61/Add.3. (c) The report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living on his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from 19 to 31 July 2005;E/CN.4/2006/41/Add.2. (d) The statement by the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran in October 2006 in which he expressed his hope that judges will choose alternative punishments for minors instead of long jail terms for some offences; (e) The announcement by the head of the judiciary in April 2004 of the ban on torture and the subsequent passage of related legislation by the parliament, which was approved by the Guardian Council in May 2004; (f) The human rights dialogues between the Islamic Republic of Iran and a number of countries, while urging the Islamic Republic of Iran to intensify those dialogues and ensure that they are held regularly; (g) The release of some prisoners held without due process of law; (h) The cooperation with United Nations agencies in developing programmes in the fields of human rights, good governance and the rule of law; 2. Expresses its serious concern at: (a) The continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, political opponents, religious dissenters, political reformists, journalists, parliamentarians, students, clerics, academics, webloggers, union members and labour organizers, including through undue restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, conscience, opinion and expression, the threat and use of arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention, targeted at both individuals and their family members, the ongoing unjustified closure of newspapers and blocking of Internet sites and restrictions on the activities of unions and other non-governmental organizations, as well as the absence of many conditions necessary for free and fair elections; (b) The persistent failure to comply fully with international standards in the administration of justice and, in particular, the absence of due process of law, the refusal to provide fair and public hearings, the denial of the right to counsel and access to counsel by those detained, the use of national security laws to deny human rights, the prevalent atmosphere of impunity for officials who commit human rights abuses, the harassment, intimidation and persecution of defence lawyers and legal defenders, the adulteration of judicial files, the lack of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, inter alia, with respect to persons belonging to religious, ethnic or national minorities, officially recognized or otherwise, the application of arbitrary prison sentences and the violation of the rights of detainees, including the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary confinement, the failure to provide proper medical care to those imprisoned, the arbitrary denial of contact between detainees and their family members, and the death of detainees in unclear circumstances or resulting from general mistreatment while in custody; (c) The continuing use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment such as flogging and amputations; (d) The continuing of public executions, including multiple public executions, and, on a large scale, of other executions, in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, and the issuing of sentences of stoning; and, in particular, deplores the execution of persons who were under the age of 18 at the time their offence was committed, contrary to the obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and in spite of the announcement of a moratorium on juvenile executions; (e) The continuing violence and discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice, the refusal of the Guardian Council to take steps to address this systemic discrimination and recent arrests of and violent crackdowns on women exercising their right of assembly; (f) The increasing discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, recognized or otherwise, including Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims; the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against members of the Baha'i faith, including reports of plans by the State to identify and monitor Baha'is, as noted by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention; the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs; the disregard for property rights, including through de facto expropriation, as noted in the report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living; the destruction of sites of religious importance; the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits; and recent violent crackdowns on Arabs, Azeris, Baha'is, Kurds and Sufis; 3. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: (a) To ensure full respect for the rights to freedom of assembly, opinion and expression and for the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, in accordance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and, in particular, to end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views; and to increase actions to promote and facilitate human rights education at all levels and to ensure that all those responsible for training lawyers, law enforcement officers, the personnel of the armed forces and public officials include appropriate elements of human rights teaching in their training programme; (b) To ensure full respect for the right to due process of law, including the right to counsel and access to counsel by those detained, in criminal justice proceedings and, in particular, to ensure a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, to end harassment, intimidation and persecution of defence lawyers and legal defenders and to ensure equality before the law and the equal protection of the law without any discrimination in all instances, including for members of religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minority groups, officially recognized or otherwise; (c) To eliminate, in law and in practice, the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, such as amputations and flogging and, as previously proposed by the elected Iranian parliament, to accede to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. and to end impunity for violations of human rights that constitute crimes by bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards, noting in this regard, inter alia, the updated set of principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity;See E/CN.4/2005/102 and Add.1. (d) To abolish, in law and in practice, public executions and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards, in particular, as called for by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its report of January 2005,See CRC/C/146. executions of persons who at the time of their offence were under the age of 18, and to uphold the moratoriums on juvenile executions and executions by stoning and to introduce these moratoriums as law in order to completely abolish this punishment; (e) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls and, as previously proposed by the elected Iranian parliament, to accede to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. (f) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds and other human rights violations against persons belonging to minorities, including Arabs, Azeris, Baha'is, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims, to refrain from monitoring individuals on the basis of their religious beliefs, to ensure that minorities' access to education is on a par with that of all Iranians and to address these matters in an open manner, with the full participation of the minorities themselves, to otherwise ensure full respect for the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief of all persons, and to implement the 1996 report of the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance,See E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.2. which recommended ways in which the Islamic Republic of Iran could emancipate the Baha'i community; 4. Encourages the thematic procedures of the Human Rights Council, inter alia, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, to visit or otherwise continue their work to improve the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to live up to the commitment it made when it issued a standing invitation to special procedures by cooperating with them, and to illustrate how their subsequent recommendations have been addressed, including the recommendations of special procedures that have previously visited the country; 5. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at its sixty-second session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 61/177 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/448 and Corr.2 and 3, para. 28)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 61/177. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance The General Assembly, Taking note of Human Rights Council resolution 1/1 of 29 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. A. by which the Council adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, 1. Acknowledges the adoption by the Human Rights Council of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; 2. Adopts and opens for signature, ratification and accession the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution; 3. Recommends that the Convention be opened for signature at a signing ceremony in Paris. Annex International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Preamble The States Parties to this Convention, Considering the obligation of States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms, Having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the other relevant international instruments in the fields of human rights, humanitarian law and international criminal law, Also recalling the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 47/133 of 18 December 1992, Aware of the extreme seriousness of enforced disappearance, which constitutes a crime and, in certain circumstances defined in international law, a crime against humanity, Determined to prevent enforced disappearances and to combat impunity for the crime of enforced disappearance, Considering the right of any person not to be subjected to enforced disappearance, the right of victims to justice and to reparation, Affirming the right of any victim to know the truth about the circumstances of an enforced disappearance and the fate of the disappeared person, and the right to freedom to seek, receive and impart information to this end, Have agreed on the following articles: Part I Article 1 1. No one shall be subjected to enforced disappearance. 2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification for enforced disappearance. Article 2 For the purposes of this Convention, "enforced disappearance" is considered to be the arrest, detention, abduction or any other form of deprivation of liberty by agents of the State or by persons or groups of persons acting with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, which place such a person outside the protection of the law. Article 3 Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to investigate acts defined in article 2 committed by persons or groups of persons acting without the authorization, support or acquiescence of the State and to bring those responsible to justice. Article 4 Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to ensure that enforced disappearance constitutes an offence under its criminal law. Article 5 The widespread or systematic practice of enforced disappearance constitutes a crime against humanity as defined in applicable international law and shall attract the consequences provided for under such applicable international law. Article 6 1. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to hold criminally responsible at least: (a) Any person who commits, orders, solicits or induces the commission of, attempts to commit, is an accomplice to or participates in an enforced disappearance; (b) A superior who: (i) Knew, or consciously disregarded information which clearly indicated, that subordinates under his or her effective authority and control were committing or about to commit a crime of enforced disappearance; (ii) Exercised effective responsibility for and control over activities which were concerned with the crime of enforced disappearance; and (iii) Failed to take all necessary and reasonable measures within his or her power to prevent or repress the commission of an enforced disappearance or to submit the matter to the competent authorities for investigation and prosecution; (c) Subparagraph (b) above is without prejudice to the higher standards of responsibility applicable under relevant international law to a military commander or to a person effectively acting as a military commander. 2. No order or instruction from any public authority, civilian, military or other, may be invoked to justify an offence of enforced disappearance. Article 7 1. Each State Party shall make the offence of enforced disappearance punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account its extreme seriousness. 2. Each State Party may establish: (a) Mitigating circumstances, in particular for persons who, having been implicated in the commission of an enforced disappearance, effectively contribute to bringing the disappeared person forward alive or make it possible to clarify cases of enforced disappearance or to identify the perpetrators of an enforced disappearance; (b) Without prejudice to other criminal procedures, aggravating circumstances, in particular in the event of the death of the disappeared person or the commission of an enforced disappearance in respect of pregnant women, minors, persons with disabilities or other particularly vulnerable persons. Article 8 Without prejudice to article 5, 1. A State Party which applies a statute of limitations in respect of enforced disappearance shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the term of limitation for criminal proceedings: (a) Is of long duration and is proportionate to the extreme seriousness of this offence; (b) Commences from the moment when the offence of enforced disappearance ceases, taking into account its continuous nature. 2. Each State Party shall guarantee the right of victims of enforced disappearance to an effective remedy during the term of limitation. Article 9 1. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to establish its competence to exercise jurisdiction over the offence of enforced disappearance: (a) When the offence is committed in any territory under its jurisdiction or on board a ship or aircraft registered in that State; (b) When the alleged offender is one of its nationals; (c) When the disappeared person is one of its nationals and the State Party considers it appropriate. 2. Each State Party shall likewise take such measures as may be necessary to establish its competence to exercise jurisdiction over the offence of enforced disappearance when the alleged offender is present in any territory under its jurisdiction, unless it extradites or surrenders him or her to another State in accordance with its international obligations or surrenders him or her to an international criminal tribunal whose jurisdiction it has recognized. 3. This Convention does not exclude any additional criminal jurisdiction exercised in accordance with national law. Article 10 1. Upon being satisfied, after an examination of the information available to it, that the circumstances so warrant, any State Party in whose territory a person suspected of having committed an offence of enforced disappearance is present shall take him or her into custody or take such other legal measures as are necessary to ensure his or her presence. The custody and other legal measures shall be as provided for in the law of that State Party but may be maintained only for such time as is necessary to ensure the person's presence at criminal, surrender or extradition proceedings. 2. A State Party which has taken the measures referred to in paragraph 1 of this article shall immediately carry out a preliminary inquiry or investigations to establish the facts. It shall notify the States Parties referred to in article 9, paragraph 1, of the measures it has taken in pursuance of paragraph 1 of this article, including detention and the circumstances warranting detention, and of the findings of its preliminary inquiry or its investigations, indicating whether it intends to exercise its jurisdiction. 3. Any person in custody pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article may communicate immediately with the nearest appropriate representative of the State of which he or she is a national, or, if he or she is a stateless person, with the representative of the State where he or she usually resides. Article 11 1. The State Party in the territory under whose jurisdiction a person alleged to have committed an offence of enforced disappearance is found shall, if it does not extradite that person or surrender him or her to another State in accordance with its international obligations or surrender him or her to an international criminal tribunal whose jurisdiction it has recognized, submit the case to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution. 2. These authorities shall take their decision in the same manner as in the case of any ordinary offence of a serious nature under the law of that State Party. In the cases referred to in article 9, paragraph 2, the standards of evidence required for prosecution and conviction shall in no way be less stringent than those which apply in the cases referred to in article 9, paragraph 1. 3. Any person against whom proceedings are brought in connection with an offence of enforced disappearance shall be guaranteed fair treatment at all stages of the proceedings. Any person tried for an offence of enforced disappearance shall benefit from a fair trial before a competent, independent and impartial court or tribunal established by law. Article 12 1. Each State Party shall ensure that any individual who alleges that a person has been subjected to enforced disappearance has the right to report the facts to the competent authorities, which shall examine the allegation promptly and impartially and, where necessary, undertake without delay a thorough and impartial investigation. Appropriate steps shall be taken, where necessary, to ensure that the complainant, witnesses, relatives of the disappeared person and their defence counsel, as well as persons participating in the investigation, are protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of the complaint or any evidence given. 2. Where there are reasonable grounds for believing that a person has been subjected to enforced disappearance, the authorities referred to in paragraph 1 of this article shall undertake an investigation, even if there has been no formal complaint. 3. Each State Party shall ensure that the authorities referred to in paragraph 1 of this article: (a) Have the necessary powers and resources to conduct the investigation effectively, including access to the documentation and other information relevant to their investigation; (b) Have access, if necessary with the prior authorization of a judicial authority, which shall rule promptly on the matter, to any place of detention or any other place where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the disappeared person may be present. 4. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to prevent and sanction acts that hinder the conduct of an investigation. It shall ensure in particular that persons suspected of having committed an offence of enforced disappearance are not in a position to influence the progress of an investigation by means of pressure or acts of intimidation or reprisal aimed at the complainant, witnesses, relatives of the disappeared person or their defence counsel, or at persons participating in the investigation. Article 13 1. For the purposes of extradition between States Parties, the offence of enforced disappearance shall not be regarded as a political offence or as an offence connected with a political offence or as an offence inspired by political motives. Accordingly, a request for extradition based on such an offence may not be refused on these grounds alone. 2. The offence of enforced disappearance shall be deemed to be included as an extraditable offence in any extradition treaty existing between States Parties before the entry into force of this Convention. 3. States Parties undertake to include the offence of enforced disappearance as an extraditable offence in any extradition treaty subsequently to be concluded between them. 4. If a State Party which makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty receives a request for extradition from another State Party with which it has no extradition treaty, it may consider this Convention as the necessary legal basis for extradition in respect of the offence of enforced disappearance. 5. States Parties which do not make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall recognize the offence of enforced disappearance as an extraditable offence between themselves. 6. Extradition shall, in all cases, be subject to the conditions provided for by the law of the requested State Party or by applicable extradition treaties, including, in particular, conditions relating to the minimum penalty requirement for extradition and the grounds upon which the requested State Party may refuse extradition or make it subject to certain conditions. 7. Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as imposing an obligation to extradite if the requested State Party has substantial grounds for believing that the request has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing a person on account of that person's sex, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political opinions or membership of a particular social group, or that compliance with the request would cause harm to that person for any one of these reasons. Article 14 1. States Parties shall afford one another the greatest measure of mutual legal assistance in connection with criminal proceedings brought in respect of an offence of enforced disappearance, including the supply of all evidence at their disposal that is necessary for the proceedings. 2. Such mutual legal assistance shall be subject to the conditions provided for by the domestic law of the requested State Party or by applicable treaties on mutual legal assistance, including, in particular, the conditions in relation to the grounds upon which the requested State Party may refuse to grant mutual legal assistance or may make it subject to conditions. Article 15 States Parties shall cooperate with each other and shall afford one another the greatest measure of mutual assistance with a view to assisting victims of enforced disappearance, and in searching for, locating and releasing disappeared persons and, in the event of death, in exhuming and identifying them and returning their remains. Article 16 1. No State Party shall expel, return ("refouler"), surrender or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he or she would be in danger of being subjected to enforced disappearance. 2. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations, including, where applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights or of serious violations of international humanitarian law. Article 17 1. No one shall be held in secret detention. 2. Without prejudice to other international obligations of the State Party with regard to the deprivation of liberty, each State Party shall, in its legislation: (a) Establish the conditions under which orders of deprivation of liberty may be given; (b) Indicate those authorities authorized to order the deprivation of liberty; (c) Guarantee that any person deprived of liberty shall be held solely in officially recognized and supervised places of deprivation of liberty; (d) Guarantee that any person deprived of liberty shall be authorized to communicate with and be visited by his or her family, counsel or any other person of his or her choice, subject only to the conditions established by law, or, if he or she is a foreigner, to communicate with his or her consular authorities, in accordance with applicable international law; (e) Guarantee access by the competent and legally authorized authorities and institutions to the places where persons are deprived of liberty, if necessary with prior authorization from a judicial authority; (f) Guarantee that any person deprived of liberty or, in the case of a suspected enforced disappearance, since the person deprived of liberty is not able to exercise this right, any persons with a legitimate interest, such as relatives of the person deprived of liberty, their representatives or their counsel, shall, in all circumstances, be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that the court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of the deprivation of liberty and order the person's release if such deprivation of liberty is not lawful. 3. Each State Party shall assure the compilation and maintenance of one or more up-to-date official registers and/or records of persons deprived of liberty, which shall be made promptly available, upon request, to any judicial or other competent authority or institution authorized for that purpose by the law of the State Party concerned or any relevant international legal instrument to which the State concerned is a party. The information contained therein shall include, as a minimum: (a) The identity of the person deprived of liberty; (b) The date, time and place where the person was deprived of liberty and the identity of the authority that deprived the person of liberty; (c) The authority that ordered the deprivation of liberty and the grounds for the deprivation of liberty; (d) The authority responsible for supervising the deprivation of liberty; (e) The place of deprivation of liberty, the date and time of admission to the place of deprivation of liberty and the authority responsible for the place of deprivation of liberty; (f) Elements relating to the state of health of the person deprived of liberty; (g) In the event of death during the deprivation of liberty, the circumstances and cause of death and the destination of the remains; (h) The date and time of release or transfer to another place of detention, the destination and the authority responsible for the transfer. Article 18 1. Subject to articles 19 and 20, each State Party shall guarantee to any person with a legitimate interest in this information, such as relatives of the person deprived of liberty, their representatives or their counsel, access to at least the following information: (a) The authority that ordered the deprivation of liberty; (b) The date, time and place where the person was deprived of liberty and admitted to the place of deprivation of liberty; (c) The authority responsible for supervising the deprivation of liberty; (d) The whereabouts of the person deprived of liberty, including, in the event of a transfer to another place of deprivation of liberty, the destination and the authority responsible for the transfer; (e) The date, time and place of release; (f) Elements relating to the state of health of the person deprived of liberty; (g) In the event of death during the deprivation of liberty, the circumstances and cause of death and the destination of the remains. 2. Appropriate measures shall be taken, where necessary, to protect the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, as well as persons participating in the investigation, from any ill-treatment, intimidation or sanction as a result of the search for information concerning a person deprived of liberty. Article 19 1. Personal information, including medical and genetic data, which is collected and/or transmitted within the framework of the search for a disappeared person shall not be used or made available for purposes other than the search for the disappeared person. This is without prejudice to the use of such information in criminal proceedings relating to an offence of enforced disappearance or the exercise of the right to obtain reparation. 2. The collection, processing, use and storage of personal information, including medical and genetic data, shall not infringe or have the effect of infringing the human rights, fundamental freedoms or human dignity of an individual. Article 20 1. Only where a person is under the protection of the law and the deprivation of liberty is subject to judicial control may the right to information referred to in article 18 be restricted, on an exceptional basis, where strictly necessary and where provided for by law, and if the transmission of the information would adversely affect the privacy or safety of the person, hinder a criminal investigation, or for other equivalent reasons in accordance with the law, and in conformity with applicable international law and with the objectives of this Convention. In no case shall there be restrictions on the right to information referred to in article 18 that could constitute conduct defined in article 2 or be in violation of article 17, paragraph 1. 2. Without prejudice to consideration of the lawfulness of the deprivation of a person's liberty, States Parties shall guarantee to the persons referred to in article 18, paragraph 1, the right to a prompt and effective judicial remedy as a means of obtaining without delay the information referred to in article 18, paragraph 1. This right to a remedy may not be suspended or restricted in any circumstances. Article 21 Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to ensure that persons deprived of liberty are released in a manner permitting reliable verification that they have actually been released. Each State Party shall also take the necessary measures to assure the physical integrity of such persons and their ability to exercise fully their rights at the time of release, without prejudice to any obligations to which such persons may be subject under national law. Article 22 Without prejudice to article 6, each State Party shall take the necessary measures to prevent and impose sanctions for the following conduct: (a) Delaying or obstructing the remedies referred to in article 17, paragraph 2 (f), and article 20, paragraph 2; (b) Failure to record the deprivation of liberty of any person, or the recording of any information which the official responsible for the official register knew or should have known to be inaccurate; (c) Refusal to provide information on the deprivation of liberty of a person, or the provision of inaccurate information, even though the legal requirements for providing such information have been met. Article 23 1. Each State Party shall ensure that the training of law enforcement personnel, civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other persons who may be involved in the custody or treatment of any person deprived of liberty includes the necessary education and information regarding the relevant provisions of this Convention, in order to: (a) Prevent the involvement of such officials in enforced disappearances; (b) Emphasize the importance of prevention and investigations in relation to enforced disappearances; (c) Ensure that the urgent need to resolve cases of enforced disappearance is recognized. 2. Each State Party shall ensure that orders or instructions prescribing, authorizing or encouraging enforced disappearance are prohibited. Each State Party shall guarantee that a person who refuses to obey such an order will not be punished. 3. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article who have reason to believe that an enforced disappearance has occurred or is planned report the matter to their superiors and, where necessary, to the appropriate authorities or bodies vested with powers of review or remedy. Article 24 1. For the purposes of this Convention, "victim" means the disappeared person and any individual who has suffered harm as the direct result of an enforced disappearance. 2. Each victim has the right to know the truth regarding the circumstances of the enforced disappearance, the progress and results of the investigation and the fate of the disappeared person. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures in this regard. 3. Each State Party shall take all appropriate measures to search for, locate and release disappeared persons and, in the event of death, to locate, respect and return their remains. 4. Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victims of enforced disappearance have the right to obtain reparation and prompt, fair and adequate compensation. 5. The right to obtain reparation referred to in paragraph 4 of this article covers material and moral damages and, where appropriate, other forms of reparation such as: (a) Restitution; (b) Rehabilitation; (c) Satisfaction, including restoration of dignity and reputation; (d) Guarantees of non-repetition. 6. Without prejudice to the obligation to continue the investigation until the fate of the disappeared person has been clarified, each State Party shall take the appropriate steps with regard to the legal situation of disappeared persons whose fate has not been clarified and that of their relatives, in fields such as social welfare, financial matters, family law and property rights. 7. Each State Party shall guarantee the right to form and participate freely in organizations and associations concerned with attempting to establish the circumstances of enforced disappearances and the fate of disappeared persons, and to assist victims of enforced disappearance. Article 25 1. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to prevent and punish under its criminal law: (a) The wrongful removal of children who are subjected to enforced disappearance, children whose father, mother or legal guardian is subjected to enforced disappearance or children born during the captivity of a mother subjected to enforced disappearance; (b) The falsification, concealment or destruction of documents attesting to the true identity of the children referred to in subparagraph (a) above. 2. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures to search for and identify the children referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of this article and to return them to their families of origin, in accordance with legal procedures and applicable international agreements. 3. States Parties shall assist one another in searching for, identifying and locating the children referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of this article. 4. Given the need to protect the best interests of the children referred to in paragraph 1 (a) of this article and their right to preserve, or to have re-established, their identity, including their nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law, States Parties which recognize a system of adoption or other form of placement of children shall have legal procedures in place to review the adoption or placement procedure, and, where appropriate, to annul any adoption or placement of children that originated in an enforced disappearance. 5. In all cases, and in particular in all matters relating to this article, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration, and a child who is capable of forming his or her own views shall have the right to express those views freely, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. Part II Article 26 1. A Committee on Enforced Disappearances (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee") shall be established to carry out the functions provided for under this Convention. The Committee shall consist of ten experts of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, who shall serve in their personal capacity and be independent and impartial. The members of the Committee shall be elected by the States Parties according to equitable geographical distribution. Due account shall be taken of the usefulness of the participation in the work of the Committee of persons having relevant legal experience and of balanced gender representation. 2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by States Parties from among their nationals, at biennial meetings of the States Parties convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations for this purpose. At those meetings, for which two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting. 3. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of entry into force of this Convention. Four months before the date of each election, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit nominations within three months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the State Party which nominated each candidate, and shall submit this list to all States Parties. 4. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election once. However, the term of five of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election, the names of these five members shall be chosen by lot by the chairman of the meeting referred to in paragraph 2 of this article. 5. If a member of the Committee dies or resigns or for any other reason can no longer perform his or her Committee duties, the State Party which nominated him or her shall, in accordance with the criteria set out in paragraph 1 of this article, appoint another candidate from among its nationals to serve out his or her term, subject to the approval of the majority of the States Parties. Such approval shall be considered to have been obtained unless half or more of the States Parties respond negatively within six weeks of having been informed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the proposed appointment. 6. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure. 7. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the Committee with the necessary means, staff and facilities for the effective performance of its functions. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial meeting of the Committee. 8. The members of the Committee shall be entitled to the facilities, privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations, as laid down in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. 9. Each State Party shall cooperate with the Committee and assist its members in the fulfilment of their mandate, to the extent of the Committee's functions that the State Party has accepted. Article 27 A Conference of the States Parties will take place at the earliest four years and at the latest six years following the entry into force of this Convention to evaluate the functioning of the Committee and to decide, in accordance with the procedure described in article 44, paragraph 2, whether it is appropriate to transfer to another body - without excluding any possibility - the monitoring of this Convention, in accordance with the functions defined in articles 28 to 36. Article 28 1. In the framework of the competencies granted by this Convention, the Committee shall cooperate with all relevant organs, offices and specialized agencies and funds of the United Nations, with the treaty bodies instituted by international instruments, with the special procedures of the United Nations and with the relevant regional intergovernmental organizations or bodies, as well as with all relevant State institutions, agencies or offices working towards the protection of all persons against enforced disappearances. 2. As it discharges its mandate, the Committee shall consult other treaty bodies instituted by relevant international human rights instruments, in particular the Human Rights Committee instituted by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with a view to ensuring the consistency of their respective observations and recommendations. Article 29 1. Each State Party shall submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a report on the measures taken to give effect to its obligations under this Convention, within two years after the entry into force of this Convention for the State Party concerned. 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall make this report available to all States Parties. 3. Each report shall be considered by the Committee, which shall issue such comments, observations or recommendations as it may deem appropriate. The comments, observations or recommendations shall be communicated to the State Party concerned, which may respond to them, on its own initiative or at the request of the Committee. 4. The Committee may also request States Parties to provide additional information on the implementation of this Convention. Article 30 1. A request that a disappeared person should be sought and found may be submitted to the Committee, as a matter of urgency, by relatives of the disappeared person or their legal representatives, their counsel or any person authorized by them, as well as by any other person having a legitimate interest. 2. If the Committee considers that a request for urgent action submitted in pursuance of paragraph 1 of this article: (a) Is not manifestly unfounded; (b) Does not constitute an abuse of the right of submission of such requests; (c) Has already been duly presented to the competent bodies of the State Party concerned, such as those authorized to undertake investigations, where such a possibility exists; (d) Is not incompatible with the provisions of this Convention; and (e) The same matter is not being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement of the same nature; it shall request the State Party concerned to provide it with information on the situation of the persons sought, within a time limit set by the Committee. 3. In the light of the information provided by the State Party concerned in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article, the Committee may transmit recommendations to the State Party, including a request that the State Party should take all the necessary measures, including interim measures, to locate and protect the person concerned in accordance with this Convention and to inform the Committee, within a specified period of time, of measures taken, taking into account the urgency of the situation. The Committee shall inform the person submitting the urgent action request of its recommendations and of the information provided to it by the State as it becomes available. 4. The Committee shall continue its efforts to work with the State Party concerned for as long as the fate of the person sought remains unresolved. The person presenting the request shall be kept informed. Article 31 1. A State Party may at the time of ratification of this Convention or at any time afterwards declare that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals subject to its jurisdiction claiming to be victims of a violation by this State Party of provisions of this Convention. The Committee shall not admit any communication concerning a State Party which has not made such a declaration. 2. The Committee shall consider a communication inadmissible where: (a) The communication is anonymous; (b) The communication constitutes an abuse of the right of submission of such communications or is incompatible with the provisions of this Convention; (c) The same matter is being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement of the same nature; or where (d) All effective available domestic remedies have not been exhausted. This rule shall not apply where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged. 3. If the Committee considers that the communication meets the requirements set out in paragraph 2 of this article, it shall transmit the communication to the State Party concerned, requesting it to provide observations and comments within a time limit set by the Committee. 4. At any time after the receipt of a communication and before a determination on the merits has been reached, the Committee may transmit to the State Party concerned for its urgent consideration a request that the State Party will take such interim measures as may be necessary to avoid possible irreparable damage to the victims of the alleged violation. Where the Committee exercises its discretion, this does not imply a determination on admissibility or on the merits of the communication. 5. The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under the present article. It shall inform the author of a communication of the responses provided by the State Party concerned. When the Committee decides to finalize the procedure, it shall communicate its views to the State Party and to the author of the communication. Article 32 A State Party to this Convention may at any time declare that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications in which a State Party claims that another State Party is not fulfilling its obligations under this Convention. The Committee shall not receive communications concerning a State Party which has not made such a declaration, nor communications from a State Party which has not made such a declaration. Article 33 1. If the Committee receives reliable information indicating that a State Party is seriously violating the provisions of this Convention, it may, after consultation with the State Party concerned, request one or more of its members to undertake a visit and report back to it without delay. 2. The Committee shall notify the State Party concerned, in writing, of its intention to organize a visit, indicating the composition of the delegation and the purpose of the visit. The State Party shall answer the Committee within a reasonable time. 3. Upon a substantiated request by the State Party, the Committee may decide to postpone or cancel its visit. 4. If the State Party agrees to the visit, the Committee and the State Party concerned shall work together to define the modalities of the visit and the State Party shall provide the Committee with all the facilities needed for the successful completion of the visit. 5. Following its visit, the Committee shall communicate to the State Party concerned its observations and recommendations. Article 34 If the Committee receives information which appears to it to contain well-founded indications that enforced disappearance is being practised on a widespread or systematic basis in the territory under the jurisdiction of a State Party, it may, after seeking from the State Party concerned all relevant information on the situation, urgently bring the matter to the attention of the General Assembly of the United Nations, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 35 1. The Committee shall have competence solely in respect of enforced disappearances which commenced after the entry into force of this Convention. 2. If a State becomes a party to this Convention after its entry into force, the obligations of that State vis-à-vis the Committee shall relate only to enforced disappearances which commenced after the entry into force of this Convention for the State concerned. Article 36 1. The Committee shall submit an annual report on its activities under this Convention to the States Parties and to the General Assembly of the United Nations. 2. Before an observation on a State Party is published in the annual report, the State Party concerned shall be informed in advance and shall be given reasonable time to answer. This State Party may request the publication of its comments or observations in the report. Part III Article 37 Nothing in this Convention shall affect any provisions which are more conducive to the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance and which may be contained in: (a) The law of a State Party; (b) International law in force for that State. Article 38 1. This Convention is open for signature by all Member States of the United Nations. 2. This Convention is subject to ratification by all Member States of the United Nations. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 3. This Convention is open to accession by all Member States of the United Nations. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General. Article 39 1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession. 2. For each State ratifying or acceding to this Convention after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession, this Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of that State's instrument of ratification or accession. Article 40 The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall notify all States Members of the United Nations and all States which have signed or acceded to this Convention of the following: (a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under article 38; (b) The date of entry into force of this Convention under article 39. Article 41 The provisions of this Convention shall apply to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions. Article 42 1. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention which cannot be settled through negotiation or by the procedures expressly provided for in this Convention shall, at the request of one of them, be submitted to arbitration. If within six months from the date of the request for arbitration the Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in conformity with the Statute of the Court. 2. A State may, at the time of signature or ratification of this Convention or accession thereto, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 1 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 1 of this article with respect to any State Party having made such a declaration. 3. Any State Party having made a declaration in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdraw this declaration by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Article 43 This Convention is without prejudice to the provisions of international humanitarian law, including the obligations of the High Contracting Parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the two Additional Protocols thereto of 8 June 1977, or to the opportunity available to any State Party to authorize the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit places of detention in situations not covered by international humanitarian law. Article 44 1. Any State Party to this Convention may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties to this Convention with a request that they indicate whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposal. In the event that within four months from the date of such communication at least one third of the States Parties favour such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. 2. Any amendment adopted by a majority of two thirds of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to all the States Parties for acceptance. 3. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force when two thirds of the States Parties to this Convention have accepted it in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. 4. When amendments enter into force, they shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted them, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of this Convention and any earlier amendment which they have accepted. Article 45 1. This Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of this Convention to all States referred to in article 38. RESOLUTION 61/178 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/448 and Corr.2 and 3, para. 28),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 85 to none, with 89 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay 61/178. Working group of the Commission on Human Rights to elaborate a draft declaration in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994 The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the principles of self-determination of peoples, respect for the territorial integrity of States and good faith regarding the fulfilment of the obligations assumed by States in accordance with the Charter, Taking note of the recommendation of the Human Rights Council contained in its resolution 1/2 of 29 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. A. by which the Council adopted the text of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Recognizing that the situation of indigenous peoples varies from country to country and from region to region, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Working Group of the Commission on Human Rights for the work done in the elaboration of a draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples; 2. Decides to defer consideration of and action on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to allow time for further consultations thereon; 3. Also decides to conclude its consideration of the Declaration, as contained in the annex to the present resolution, before the end of its sixty-first session. Annex United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples The Human Rights Council, Affirming that indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples, while recognizing the right of all peoples to be different, to consider themselves different, and to be respected as such, Affirming also that all peoples contribute to the diversity and richness of civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common heritage of humankind, Affirming further that all doctrines, policies and practices based on or advocating superiority of peoples or individuals on the basis of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust, Reaffirming that indigenous peoples, in the exercise of their rights, should be free from discrimination of any kind, Concerned that indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests, Recognizing the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of indigenous peoples which derive from their political, economic and social structures and from their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands, territories and resources, Recognizing also the urgent need to respect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements with States, Welcoming the fact that indigenous peoples are organizing themselves for political, economic, social and cultural enhancement and in order to bring to an end all forms of discrimination and oppression wherever they occur, Convinced that control by indigenous peoples over developments affecting them and their lands, territories and resources will enable them to maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and traditions, and to promote their development in accordance with their aspirations and needs, Recognizing that respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment, Emphasizing the contribution of the demilitarization of the lands and territories of indigenous peoples to peace, economic and social progress and development, understanding and friendly relations among nations and peoples of the world, Recognizing in particular the right of indigenous families and communities to retain shared responsibility for the upbringing, training, education and well-being of their children, consistent with the rights of the child, Recognizing that indigenous peoples have the right freely to determine their relationships with States in a spirit of coexistence, mutual benefit and full respect, Considering that the rights affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements between States and indigenous peoples are, in some situations, matters of international concern, interest, responsibility and character, Considering also that treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements, and the relationship they represent, are the basis for a strengthened partnership between indigenous peoples and States, Acknowledging that the Charter of the United Nations, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. affirm the fundamental importance of the right to self-determination of all peoples, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Bearing in mind that nothing in this Declaration may be used to deny any peoples their right to self-determination, exercised in conformity with international law, Convinced that the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples in this Declaration will enhance harmonious and cooperative relations between the State and indigenous peoples, based on principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, non-discrimination and good faith, Encouraging States to comply with and effectively implement all their obligations as they apply to indigenous peoples under international instruments, in particular those related to human rights, in consultation and cooperation with the peoples concerned, Emphasizing that the United Nations has an important and continuing role to play in promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, Believing that this Declaration is a further important step forward for the recognition, promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples and in the development of relevant activities of the United Nations system in this field, Recognizing and reaffirming that indigenous individuals are entitled without discrimination to all human rights recognized in international law, and that indigenous peoples possess collective rights which are indispensable for their existence, well-being and integral development as peoples, Solemnly proclaims the following United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a standard of achievement to be pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect: Article 1 Indigenous peoples have the right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as individuals, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and international human rights law. Article 2 Indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity. Article 3 Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. Article 4 Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions. Article 5 Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State. Article 6 Every indigenous individual has the right to a nationality. Article 7 1. Indigenous individuals have the rights to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security of person. 2. Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in freedom, peace and security as distinct peoples and shall not be subjected to any act of genocide or any other act of violence, including forcibly removing children of the group to another group. Article 8 1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture. 2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for: (a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities; (b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources; (c) Any form of forced population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights; (d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration by other cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or other measures; (e) Any form of propaganda designed to promote or incite racial or ethnic discrimination directed against them. Article 9 Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right to belong to an indigenous community or nation, in accordance with the traditions and customs of the community or nation concerned. No discrimination of any kind may arise from the exercise of such a right. Article 10 Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible, with the option of return. Article 11 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to practise and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature. 2. States shall provide redress through effective mechanisms, which may include restitution, developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples, with respect to their cultural, intellectual, religious and spiritual property taken without their free, prior and informed consent or in violation of their laws, traditions and customs. Article 12 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practise, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the right to maintain, protect and have access in privacy to their religious and cultural sites; the right to the use and control of their ceremonial objects; and the right to the repatriation of their human remains. 2. States shall seek to enable the access and/or repatriation of ceremonial objects and human remains in their possession through fair, transparent and effective mechanisms developed in conjunction with indigenous peoples concerned. Article 13 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to revitalize, use, develop and transmit to future generations their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems and literatures, and to designate and retain their own names for communities, places and persons. 2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that this right is protected and also to ensure that indigenous peoples can understand and be understood in political, legal and administrative proceedings, where necessary through the provision of interpretation or by other appropriate means. Article 14 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning. 2. Indigenous individuals, particularly children, have the right to all levels and forms of education of the State without discrimination. 3. States shall, in conjunction with indigenous peoples, take effective measures, in order for indigenous individuals, particularly children, including those living outside their communities, to have access, when possible, to an education in their own culture and provided in their own language. Article 15 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations which shall be appropriately reflected in education and public information. 2. States shall take effective measures, in consultation and cooperation with the indigenous peoples concerned, to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination and to promote tolerance, understanding and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society. Article 16 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to establish their own media in their own languages and to have access to all forms of non-indigenous media without discrimination. 2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that State-owned media duly reflect indigenous cultural diversity. States, without prejudice to ensuring full freedom of expression, should encourage privately owned media to adequately reflect indigenous cultural diversity. Article 17 1. Indigenous individuals and peoples have the right to enjoy fully all rights established under applicable international and domestic labour law. 2. States shall, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, take specific measures to protect indigenous children from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, taking into account their special vulnerability and the importance of education for their empowerment. 3. Indigenous individuals have the right not to be subjected to any discriminatory conditions of labour and, inter alia, employment or salary. Article 18 Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous decision-making institutions. Article 19 States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them. Article 20 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and develop their political, economic and social systems or institutions, to be secure in the enjoyment of their own means of subsistence and development, and to engage freely in all their traditional and other economic activities. 2. Indigenous peoples deprived of their means of subsistence and development are entitled to just and fair redress. Article 21 1. Indigenous peoples have the right, without discrimination, to the improvement of their economic and social conditions, including, inter alia, in the areas of education, employment, vocational training and retraining, housing, sanitation, health and social security. 2. States shall take effective measures and, where appropriate, special measures to ensure continuing improvement of their economic and social conditions. Particular attention shall be paid to the rights and special needs of indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities. Article 22 1. Particular attention shall be paid to the rights and special needs of indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities in the implementation of this Declaration. 2. States shall take measures, in conjunction with indigenous peoples, to ensure that indigenous women and children enjoy the full protection and guarantees against all forms of violence and discrimination. Article 23 Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In particular, indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing and other economic and social programmes affecting them and, as far as possible, to administer such programmes through their own institutions. Article 24 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to their traditional medicines and to maintain their health practices, including the conservation of their vital medicinal plants, animals and minerals. Indigenous individuals also have the right to access, without any discrimination, to all social and health services. 2. Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of this right. Article 25 Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard. Article 26 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired. 2. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired. 3. States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources. Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned. Article 27 States shall establish and implement, in conjunction with indigenous peoples concerned, a fair, independent, impartial, open and transparent process, giving due recognition to indigenous peoples' laws, traditions, customs and land tenure systems, to recognize and adjudicate the rights of indigenous peoples pertaining to their lands, territories and resources, including those which were traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used. Indigenous peoples shall have the right to participate in this process. Article 28 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to redress, by means that can include restitution or, when this is not possible, just, fair and equitable compensation, for the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used, and which have been confiscated, taken, occupied, used or damaged without their free, prior and informed consent. 2. Unless otherwise freely agreed upon by the peoples concerned, compensation shall take the form of lands, territories and resources equal in quality, size and legal status or of monetary compensation or other appropriate redress. Article 29 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources. States shall establish and implement assistance programmes for indigenous peoples for such conservation and protection, without discrimination. 2. States shall take effective measures to ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent. 3. States shall also take effective measures to ensure, as needed, that programmes for monitoring, maintaining and restoring the health of indigenous peoples, as developed and implemented by the peoples affected by such materials, are duly implemented. Article 30 1. Military activities shall not take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples, unless justified by a significant threat to relevant public interest or otherwise freely agreed with or requested by the indigenous peoples concerned. 2. States shall undertake effective consultations with the indigenous peoples concerned, through appropriate procedures and in particular through their representative institutions, prior to using their lands or territories for military activities. Article 31 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. 2. In conjunction with indigenous peoples, States shall take effective measures to recognize and protect the exercise of these rights. Article 32 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of their lands or territories and other resources. 2. States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories and other resources, particularly in connection with the development, utilization or exploitation of their mineral, water or other resources. 3. States shall provide effective mechanisms for just and fair redress for any such activities, and appropriate measures shall be taken to mitigate adverse environmental, economic, social, cultural or spiritual impact. Article 33 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own identity or membership in accordance with their customs and traditions. This does not impair the right of indigenous individuals to obtain citizenship of the States in which they live. 2. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine the structures and to select the membership of their institutions in accordance with their own procedures. Article 34 Indigenous peoples have the right to promote, develop and maintain their institutional structures and their distinctive customs, spirituality, traditions, procedures, practices and, in the cases where they exist, juridical systems or customs, in accordance with international human rights standards. Article 35 Indigenous peoples have the right to determine the responsibilities of individuals to their communities. Article 36 1. Indigenous peoples, in particular those divided by international borders, have the right to maintain and develop contacts, relations and cooperation, including activities for spiritual, cultural, political, economic and social purposes, with their own members as well as other peoples across borders. 2. States, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, shall take effective measures to facilitate the exercise and ensure the implementation of this right. Article 37 1. Indigenous peoples have the right to the recognition, observance and enforcement of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements concluded with States or their successors and to have States honour and respect such treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements. 2. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as diminishing or eliminating the rights of indigenous peoples contained in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements. Article 38 States, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, shall take the appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to achieve the ends of this Declaration. Article 39 Indigenous peoples have the right to have access to financial and technical assistance from States and through international cooperation, for the enjoyment of the rights contained in this Declaration. Article 40 Indigenous peoples have the right to access to and prompt decision through just and fair procedures for the resolution of conflicts and disputes with States or other parties, as well as to effective remedies for all infringements of their individual and collective rights. Such a decision shall give due consideration to the customs, traditions, rules and legal systems of the indigenous peoples concerned and international human rights. Article 41 The organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations shall contribute to the full realization of the provisions of this Declaration through the mobilization, inter alia, of financial cooperation and technical assistance. Ways and means of ensuring participation of indigenous peoples on issues affecting them shall be established. Article 42 The United Nations, its bodies, including the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and specialized agencies, including at the country level, and States shall promote respect for and full application of the provisions of this Declaration and follow up the effectiveness of this Declaration. Article 43 The rights recognized herein constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world. Article 44 All the rights and freedoms recognized herein are equally guaranteed to male and female indigenous individuals. Article 45 Nothing in this Declaration may be construed as diminishing or extinguishing the rights indigenous peoples have now or may acquire in the future. Article 46 1. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, people, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act contrary to the Charter of the United Nations. 2. In the exercise of the rights enunciated in the present Declaration, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all shall be respected. The exercise of the rights set forth in this Declaration shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law, in accordance with international human rights obligations. Any such limitations shall be non-discriminatory and strictly necessary solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for meeting the just and most compelling requirements of a democratic society. 3. The provisions set forth in this Declaration shall be interpreted in accordance with the principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, equality, non-discrimination, good governance and good faith. RESOLUTION 61/179 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/444, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Committee was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 61/179. International cooperation in the prevention, combating and elimination of kidnapping and in providing assistance to victims The General Assembly, Concerned at the increase in the offence of kidnapping in various countries of the world and at the harmful effects of that crime on victims and their families, and determined to support measures to assist and protect them and to promote their recovery, Reiterating that the kidnapping of persons under any circumstances and for any purpose constitutes a serious crime and a violation of individual freedom that undermines human rights, Concerned at the growing tendency of organized criminal groups and also of terrorist groups in certain circumstances to resort to kidnapping, especially for the purpose of extortion, as a method of accumulating capital with a view to consolidating their criminal operations and undertaking other illegal activities, regardless of their purposes, such as trafficking in firearms and drugs and money-laundering, Convinced that any linkage of various illegal activities involving kidnapping poses an additional threat to quality of life and hinders economic and social development, Convinced also that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. provides a legal framework when necessary for international cooperation with a view to preventing, combating and eradicating kidnapping, Recalling its resolution 59/154 of 20 December 2004 entitled "International cooperation in the prevention, combating and elimination of kidnapping and in providing assistance to victims", in which it requested the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to prepare a manual, for use by competent authorities, of proven and promising practices in the fight against kidnapping, Acknowledging the financial and technical contributions made by Member States to the preparation of the manual, 1. Vigorously condemns and rejects once again the offence of kidnapping, under any circumstances and for any purpose; 2. Notes with satisfaction the publication of the operational manual against kidnapping prepared pursuant to its resolution 59/154, and expresses its appreciation to the intergovernmental group of experts entrusted with the preparation of the manual; 3. Encourages Member States to continue to foster international cooperation, especially extradition, mutual legal assistance, collaboration between law enforcement authorities and exchange of information, with a view to preventing, combating and eradicating kidnapping; 4. Calls upon Member States that have not yet done so, in furtherance of the fight against kidnapping, to strengthen their measures against money-laundering and to engage in international cooperation and mutual legal assistance in, inter alia, the tracing, detection, freezing and confiscation of proceeds of kidnapping; 5. Calls upon Member States to take measures intended to provide adequate assistance and protection to victims of kidnapping and their families; 6. Invites Member States, once they have considered the operational manual, to consider the possibility of using it in their national efforts to combat kidnapping, and requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, within available extrabudgetary resources, not excluding the use of existing resources from the regular budget of the Office,This language does not provide a basis for an increase in the regular budget or requests for supplemental increases. to provide to Member States, upon request, technical assistance and advice in implementing the provisions of the manual; 7. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its sixteenth session on the implementation of the present resolution, and thereafter, to share its report with the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. RESOLUTION 61/17 Adopted at the 56th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.22 and Add.1, sponsored by: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Rwanda 61/17. International Year of Reconciliation, 2009 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and in particular those of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, bringing about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, and practising tolerance and living together in peace with one another as good neighbours, thus developing friendly relations among nations and promoting international cooperation to resolve international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues, Recognizing that reconciliation processes are particularly necessary and urgent in countries and regions of the world which have suffered or are suffering situations of conflict that have affected and divided societies in their various internal, national and international facets, Recognizing also that many of the activities of the United Nations system in general and the international community as a whole to support peacekeeping and peacebuilding, conflict prevention, disarmament, sustainable development, the promotion and protection of human rights and dignity, democracy, the rule of law and governance, inter alia, lead to the initiation and development of reconciliation processes, Aware that dialogue among opponents from positions of respect and tolerance is an essential element of peace and reconciliation, Aware also that truth and justice are indispensable elements for the attainment of reconciliation and lasting peace, Bearing in mind the role of the media in reporting on reconciliation processes, Convinced that the declaration of an international year of reconciliation at the end of the first decade of the new millennium will provide the international community with the opportunity to pursue, with the active involvement of all stakeholders, efforts to develop reconciliation processes, which are necessary to and a condition for the establishment of firm and lasting peace, 1. Expresses its steadfast determination to pursue reconciliation processes in those societies that are affected and/or divided by conflicts; 2. Decides to proclaim 2009 the International Year of Reconciliation; 3. Invites concerned Governments and international and non-governmental organizations to support reconciliation processes among affected and/or divided societies and to plan and implement adequate cultural, educational and social programmes to promote the concept of reconciliation, including by holding conferences and seminars and disseminating information about the issue. RESOLUTION 61/180 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/444, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Belarus, Benin, Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam. 61/180. Improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/25 of 15 November 2000, 58/137 of 22 December 2003, 59/166 of 20 December 2004 and other relevant General Assembly resolutions on trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/27 of 27 July 2006 on strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and protecting victims of such trafficking, and previous Council resolutions on trafficking in persons that have emerged from the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Recalling further the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and, in particular, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornographyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2171, No. 27531. and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery,Ibid., vol. 266, No. 3822. Welcoming the progress achieved by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in accordance with article 32 of the Convention, and by the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery in accordance with Economic and Social Council decisions 16 (LVI) and 17 (LVI) of 17 May 1974 and 1980/127 of 2 May 1980, Recognizing that contemporary forms of slavery violate human rights and that trafficking in persons impairs the enjoyment of human rights, continues to pose a serious challenge to humanity and requires a concerted international response, Recognizing also that Member States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent trafficking in persons, to investigate this crime and to ensure that perpetrators do not enjoy impunity, Recognizing further that Member States have an obligation to provide protection for the victims, and acknowledging the necessity for Member States to adopt, in accordance with their international obligations, measures for prosecuting traffickers, preventing trafficking in persons and protecting and assisting its victims, Welcoming international cooperation in order to promote and protect the human rights of persons exploited through trafficking and other contemporary forms of slavery and to advocate for their liberation and for economic, educational and other means of support to victims of trafficking and other contemporary forms of slavery, Welcoming also the efforts of Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in preventing and combating trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery and enhancing the protection of and assistance to victims of trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery, Taking note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights aspects of the victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children,E/CN.4/2006/62 and Add.1-3. and of the Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery on its thirty-first session,A/HRC/Sub.1/58/25. Underlining the need to continue to work towards a comprehensive, coordinated and holistic approach to the problem of trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery, including devising, enforcing and strengthening effective measures to prosecute traffickers, prevent trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery and protect their victims, 1. Recognizes that broad international cooperation between Member States and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations is essential for effectively countering the threat of trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery, and invites them to foster a global partnership against trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery, with a view to eliminating all contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking in persons and protecting and assisting their victims; 2. Underlines the importance of bilateral, subregional and regional partnerships, initiatives and actions, and encourages their development; 3. Urges Member States that have not yet done so to consider taking measures to ratify or accede to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex I. and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. and to implement fully all aspects of these instruments; 4. Also urges Member States that have not yet done so to consider taking measures to ratify or accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2171, No. 27531. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery,Ibid., vol. 266, No. 3822. and to implement fully all aspects of these instruments; 5. Recognizes the need to arrive at a better understanding of what constitutes demand and how to combat it, decides to strengthen efforts to counter the demand for victims of trafficking in persons, and encourages Member States to consider adopting legislative or other measures, such as educational, social or cultural measures, to discourage and reduce the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, and that thus promotes trafficking; 6. Also recognizes the need to address the factors that make persons, especially women and children, vulnerable to trafficking, including poverty, underdevelopment and lack of equal opportunities, lack of equal access to education and lack of equal access to the labour market, and encourages Member States to adopt measures, including through bilateral or multilateral cooperation, to counter those factors; 7. Invites Member States to give necessary guidelines and provide training and adequate resources to law enforcement bodies and other relevant authorities to combat trafficking in persons, to care for the rights and needs of the victims and to consider establishing coordination and cooperation mechanisms at the national and international levels on extradition, mutual legal assistance and sharing police intelligence information, as appropriate, taking into account the information and communication tools offered by Interpol; 8. Also invites Member States to improve and promote the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics and indicators on trafficking in persons, including by strengthening bilateral, regional and international cooperation and coordination; 9. Further invites Member States to take all appropriate measures to promote the physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, rehabilitation and social integration of human beings who have become victims of exploitation, violence and abuse as a result of trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of slavery; 10. Encourages Member States to initiate and develop working-level contacts among countries of origin, transit and destination, especially among police, prosecutors and social authorities; 11. Welcomes the holding, in Tokyo on 26 and 27 September 2006, of a meeting of United Nations offices, funds and programmes with other international organizations to enhance cooperation on trafficking in persons, as requested by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2006/27, and encourages continued collaboration to eliminate gaps and overlaps in the activities of the concerned bodies; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to improve upon the fledgling inter-agency coordination group on trafficking in persons in order to enhance cooperation and coordination and facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach by the international community to the problem of trafficking in persons; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with coordinating the activities of the inter-agency coordination group, which should be based in Vienna, bearing in mind the availability of extrabudgetary resources; 14. Encourages the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to cooperate with relevant international organizations outside of the United Nations system and to invite such organizations and interested Member States to participate, when appropriate, in the meetings of the inter-agency coordination group and to keep Member States informed of the schedule of the inter-agency coordination group and progress made by the group; 15. Invites the inter-agency coordination group, drawing on the comparative advantages of the respective agencies, to promote effective and efficient use of existing resources, using, to the extent possible, mechanisms already in place at the regional and national levels, and to share information, experiences and good practices on anti-trafficking activities of the partner agencies with Governments, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other relevant bodies; 16. Invites Member States to provide voluntary contributions to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in order to facilitate optimum implementation of its coordination functions; 17. Welcomes the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled "Trafficking in persons: global patterns", requests the Office to continue to prepare such periodic reports, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, and invites the inter-agency coordination group to provide information to the Office and contribute to the elaboration of the periodic comprehensive reports, database and website on trafficking in persons, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources; 18. Invites Member States to consider the advisability of a United Nations strategy or plan of action on preventing trafficking in persons, prosecuting traffickers and protecting and assisting victims of trafficking; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and the proposals on strengthening the capacities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the efficient implementation of its coordination functions. RESOLUTION 61/181 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/444, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/181. Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action annexed thereto, its resolution 60/175 of 16 December 2005 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005 on the 2005 World Summit Outcome, in particular the sections on terrorism and transnational crime, and its resolutions relating to the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation and technical assistance in promoting and facilitating the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. the United Nations Convention against CorruptionResolution 58/4, annex. and the international conventions and protocols against terrorism, Recognizing the importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. in which Member States resolved to take urgent action to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including enhancing cooperation and technical assistance among Member States, United Nations bodies dealing with counter-terrorism, relevant specialized agencies, relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and the donor community, and in particular encouraged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including its Terrorism Prevention Branch, to enhance, in close consultation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, its provision of technical assistance to States, upon request, to facilitate the implementation of the international conventions and protocols related to the prevention and suppression of terrorism and relevant United Nations resolutions, Bearing in mind all relevant Economic and Social Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 2006/19, 2006/20, 2006/21, 2006/22, 2006/23, 2006/24, 2006/25, 2006/26, 2006/27, 2006/28 and 2006/29 of 27 July 2006 and all those relating to the strengthening of international cooperation as well as the technical assistance and advisory services of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, promotion and reinforcement of the rule of law and reform of criminal justice institutions, including with regard to the implementation of technical assistance, in particular in Africa, Recognizing that action against global crime is a common and shared responsibility, and stressing the need to work collectively to prevent and combat transnational crime, Recognizing also the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime between all relevant priorities identified by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, Recalling the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,Resolution 60/177, annex. Bearing in mind the efforts for the revitalization of the General Assembly,See resolution 60/286, in particular cluster III, Working methods, of the annex. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 60/175;A/61/179. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as of the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the fulfilment of its mandate in crime prevention and criminal justice, including providing to Member States, upon request and as a matter of high priority, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance, and coordinating with and complementing the work of all relevant and competent United Nations bodies and offices; 3. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the global programmes addressing trafficking in human beings, including the support and protection of victims, corruption, organized crime, money-laundering and terrorism, and calls upon the Secretary-General to enhance further the effectiveness of these global programmes and to strengthen the focus of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on these global programmes in crime prevention and criminal justice, taking into account also the elements necessary for building national capacity in order to strengthen fair and effective criminal justice systems and the rule of law; 4. Urges States and relevant international organizations to develop national and regional strategies, as appropriate, and other necessary measures to complement the work of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in addressing effectively transnational organized crime, including trafficking in persons and related criminal activities such as kidnapping and the smuggling of migrants, as well as corruption and terrorism; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and its regional offices in building capacity at the local level in the fight against transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, and urges the Office to consider regional vulnerabilities, projects and impact in the fight against transnational organized crime, in particular in developing countries, when deciding to close and allocate offices, with a view to maintaining an effective level of support to national and regional efforts in those areas; 6. Urges all States and competent regional economic integration organizations that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and the Protocols thereto,Resolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. the United Nations Convention against CorruptionResolution 58/4, annex. and the international conventions and protocols related to terrorism, and encourages States parties to continue to provide full support to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandates, in conformity with its high priorities, and to provide adequate support to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; 8. Invites all States to increase their support to the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund or through voluntary contributions in direct support of such activities; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the mandates of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, reflecting also emerging policy issues and possible responses, for the purpose of contributing to a comprehensive discussion on the subject. RESOLUTION 61/182 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/444, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 61/182. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/176 of 16 December 2005 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/135. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Bearing in mind also the Programme of Action, 2006-2010, endorsed by the Round Table for Africa, held in Abuja on 5 and 6 September 2005,Available from www.unodc.org/art/en/ppaa.html. Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 4. Urges the States members of the Institute to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 5. Calls upon all Member States and non-governmental organizations to continue adopting concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and to implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 8. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to work closely with the Institute; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue making concrete proposals, including the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/183 Adopted at the 82nd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/445, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/183. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the provisions of the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. addressing the world drug problem, its resolution 60/178 of 16 December 2005 and its other previous resolutions, Reaffirming the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special sessionResolution S-20/2, annex. and the importance of meeting the objectives targeted for 2008, Reaffirming also the joint ministerial statement adopted at the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C; see also A/58/124, sect. II.A. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development,Resolution S-20/4 E. Gravely concerned that, despite continued increased efforts by States, relevant organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, the drug problem continues to constitute a serious threat to public health and safety and the well-being of humanity, in particular children and young people, and to the national security and sovereignty of States, and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development, Concerned by the serious challenges and threats posed by the continuing links between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism and other national and transnational criminal activities and transnational criminal networks, inter alia, trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, money-laundering, financing of terrorism, corruption, trafficking in arms and trafficking in chemical precursors, and reaffirming that strong and effective international cooperation is needed to counter these threats, Bearing in mind that the ten-year assessment of the implementation by Member States of the goals and targets of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly is scheduled for 2008, and looking forward to its outcome, Taking note with concern of the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled "Afghanistan Opium Survey 2006", which emphasized that the cultivation and production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs had significantly increased and threatened the security and stability of that country and had negative regional and international implications, taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/32 of 27 July 2006 entitled "Support for the National Drug Control Strategy of the Government of Afghanistan", welcoming the ongoing efforts of Afghanistan in the fight against narcotics, and calling upon the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to intensify those efforts within the framework of the Afghanistan Compact,S/2006/90, annex. Recognizing that international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, and expressing its appreciation for the initiatives in this regard, Bearing in mind the important role that civil society, including non-governmental organizations, plays in combating the drug problem, Taking note of the thematic debate on alternative development as an important drug control strategy and establishing alternative development as a cross-cutting issue, held by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its forty-ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2006, Supplement No. 8 (E/2006/28), chap. II. 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility that must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requires an integrated and balanced approach and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and other provisions of international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 2. Also reaffirms that there shall be a balanced approach between demand reduction and supply reduction, each reinforcing the other, in an integrated approach to solving the drug problem; 3. Urges States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to, and States parties to implement all the provisions of, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988;Ibid., vol. 1582, No. 27627. 4. Invites all States, as a matter of priority, to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to, and States parties to fully implement, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretoResolution 55/25, annexes I-III, and resolution 55/255, annex. and the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. in order to counter comprehensively the transnational criminal activities that are related to illicit drug trafficking; 5. Urges all States to promote and implement the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, as well as the outcome of the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, to implement the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs in their population; 6. Calls upon States and other relevant actors to evaluate progress made since 1998 towards meeting, in their respective areas of concern, the goals and targets set at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly; 7. Calls upon all States to strengthen their efforts to achieve the goals set for 2008 at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, by: (a) Promoting international initiatives to eliminate or reduce significantly the manufacture and marketing of and trafficking in illicit drugs and other illicit psychotropic substances, including synthetic drugs, the diversion of precursors and money-laundering; (b) Achieving significant and measurable results in the field of demand reduction, including through prevention and treatment strategies and programmes to reduce drug use; 8. Urges Member States to fulfil their reporting obligations on the follow-up action to implement the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem and to report fully on all measures agreed upon at the special session; 9. Encourages States to consider consulting and working with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in developing, implementing and evaluating policies and programmes, in particular those related to demand reduction and prevention of drug abuse, and to consider cooperating with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in alternative development programmes; 10. Urges all Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs in their population, in particular among children and young people; 11. Calls upon States and organizations with expertise in community capacity-building to provide, as needed, access to treatment, health care and social services for drug users, in particular those living with HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, and to extend support to States requiring such expertise, consistent with the international drug control treaties; 12. Urges States, in order to achieve a significant and measurable reduction of drug abuse by 2008: (a) To further implement comprehensive demand reduction policies and programmes, including research, covering all the drugs under international control, in order to raise public awareness of the drug problem, paying special attention to prevention and education and providing, especially to young people and others at risk, information on developing life skills, making healthy choices and engaging in drug-free activities; (b) To further develop and implement comprehensive demand reduction policies, including risk reduction activities, under the supervision of competent health authorities, that are in line with sound medical practice and the international drug control treaties and that reduce the adverse health and social consequences of drug abuse, and to provide a wide range of comprehensive services for the treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of drug abusers, with appropriate resources being devoted to such services, since social exclusion constitutes an important risk factor for drug abuse; (c) To enhance early intervention programmes that dissuade children and young people from using illicit drugs, including, inter alia, polydrug use and the recreational use of substances such as cannabis and synthetic drugs, especially amphetamine-type stimulants, and to encourage the active participation of the younger generation and their families in campaigns against drug abuse; (d) To consider strengthening and implementing broadly based prevention and treatment programmes and to ensure that such programmes adequately address the gender-specific barriers that limit access for young girls and women, taking into account all attendant circumstances, including social and clinical histories, in the context of education, the family and the community, as appropriate; 13. Reaffirms the need for a comprehensive approach to the elimination of illicit narcotic crops in line with the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development, adopted at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly;Resolution S-20/4 E. 14. Invites States to continue to strengthen their efforts to implement innovative alternative programmes, inter alia, in reforestation, agriculture and small and medium enterprises, and stresses the importance of the United Nations system and the international community's contributing to the economic and social development of the communities that benefit from such programmes; 15. Calls for a comprehensive approach integrating alternative development programmes, including, where appropriate, preventive alternative development, into wider economic and social development programmes, with the support of deeper international cooperation and the participation of the private sector, as appropriate; 16. Invites States to consider adjusting their drug control strategies, taking into account, inter alia, the results of the annual surveys by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime of illicit crop cultivation; 17. Calls upon Member States and national and international development organizations to increase their efforts to empower local communities and authorities in project areas and to enhance their participation in the decision-making process in order to increase their ownership of the development measures taken in accordance with national legislation and the sustainability of those measures and to create a law-abiding and prosperous rural society; 18. Encourages States to establish or strengthen mechanisms and procedures to ensure strict control of substances used to manufacture illicit drugs, to support international operations aimed at preventing their diversion, including through coordination and cooperation between regulatory and enforcement services involved in precursor control, in cooperation with the International Narcotics Control Board, and to counter smuggling networks effectively, particularly in source and transit countries, by conducting, inter alia, backtracking law enforcement investigations; 19. Urges all States and relevant international organizations to cooperate closely with the International Narcotics Control Board, in particular in Project Cohesion and Project Prism, in order to enhance the success of those international initiatives and to initiate, where appropriate, investigations by their law enforcement authorities into seizures and cases involving the diversion or smuggling of precursors and essential equipment, with a view to tracking them back to the source of diversion in order to prevent continuing illicit activity; 20. Reaffirms that preventing the diversion of precursors from legitimate commerce to illicit drug manufacture is an essential component of the comprehensive strategy against drug abuse and trafficking, which requires the effective cooperation of exporting, importing and transit States, and calls upon all States to adopt and implement measures to prevent the diversion of precursors to illicit drug manufacture, in cooperation with competent international and regional bodies, in particular the International Narcotics Control Board, and, if necessary and to the extent possible, with the private sector of each State, in accordance with the objectives targeted for 2008 in the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special sessionResolution S-20/2, annex. and the resolution on the control of precursors also adopted at the special session;Resolution S-20/4 B. 21. Emphasizes the need to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place, where necessary and to the extent possible, to prevent the diversion of preparations containing substances listed in tables I and II of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, pertaining to illicit drug manufacture, in particular those containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, that could easily be used or recovered by readily applicable means; 22. Stresses that international cooperation on domestic precursor policies and practices would assist in complementing existing law enforcement cooperative initiatives, and encourages States to cooperate at the regional level on measures to prevent and control the domestic diversion of precursors, drawing on best practices and sharing experiences; 23. Invites Member States to continue to share information on illicit synthetic drugs and other emerging substances of abuse with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Narcotics Control Board; 24. Calls upon Member States to strengthen international cooperation among judicial and law enforcement authorities, at all levels, in order to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking and to share and promote best operational practices in order to interdict illicit drug trafficking, including by establishing and strengthening regional mechanisms, providing technical assistance and establishing effective methods for cooperation, in particular in the areas of air, maritime, port and border control and in the implementation of extradition treaties, while respecting international human rights obligations; 25. Urges Member States, consistent with their legal systems, to cooperate with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement action in relation to the use of the Internet to combat drug-related crime; 26. Stresses that data collection, analysis and evaluation of the results of ongoing national and international policies and programmes aimed at eliminating and reducing demand and supply are essential tools for further developing sound, evidence-based drug control strategies, and therefore encourages Member States to further develop and institutionalize monitoring and evaluation tools and to utilize existing available data, including from drug testing laboratories, research centres and other sources, as appropriate, and to exchange and share information, to the extent possible, at all levels; 27. Urges States to strengthen action, in particular international cooperation and technical assistance aimed at preventing and combating the laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking and related criminal activities, with the support of the United Nations system, international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as regional development banks and, where appropriate, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and similarly styled regional bodies, to develop and strengthen comprehensive international regimes to combat money-laundering and its possible links with organized crime and the financing of terrorism, and to improve information-sharing among financial institutions and agencies in charge of preventing and detecting the laundering of those proceeds; 28. Calls upon States to consider including provisions in their national drug control plans for the establishment of national networks to enhance their respective capabilities to prevent, monitor, control and suppress serious offences connected with money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, to counter in general all acts of transnational organized crime and to supplement existing regional and international networks dealing with money-laundering; 29. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to strengthen the United Nations machinery for international drug control, in particular the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Narcotics Control Board, in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates; 30. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as the global coordinating body in international drug control and as the governing body of the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 31. Notes that the International Narcotics Control Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, including those that will enable it to perform effectively its task within the framework of Project Cohesion and Project Prism, and therefore urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and calls for enhanced cooperation and understanding between Member States and the Board to enable it to implement all its mandates under the international drug control conventions; 32. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and its regional offices in building capacity at the local level in the fight against transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, and urges the Office to consider regional vulnerabilities, projects and impact in the fight against drug trafficking, in particular in developing countries, when deciding to close or allocate offices, with a view to maintaining an effective level of support to national and regional efforts in combating the world drug problem; 33. Welcomes the work carried out by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in implementing its mandate, and requests the Office to continue: (a) To strengthen a constructive and effective dialogue with Member States and also to ensure continued improvement in management, so as to contribute to enhanced and sustainable programme delivery and further encourage the Executive Director to maximize the effectiveness of the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, inter alia, through the full implementation of Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolutions, in particular the recommendations contained therein; (b) To strengthen cooperation with Member States and with United Nations programmes, funds and relevant agencies, as well as relevant regional organizations and agencies and non-governmental organizations, and to provide, upon request, assistance in implementing the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly; (c) To increase its assistance, within the available voluntary resources, to countries that are deploying efforts to reduce illicit crop cultivation by, in particular, adopting alternative development programmes and incorporating them into wider economic and social development programmes, and to explore new and innovative funding mechanisms; (d) To allocate, while keeping the balance between supply and demand reduction programmes, adequate resources to allow it to fulfil its role in the implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, and to support countries, upon their request, in further continuing to develop and implement drug demand reduction policies; (e) To take into account the outcome of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly, to include in its report on illicit drug trafficking an updated, objective and comprehensive assessment of worldwide trends in illicit traffic and transit in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including methods and routes used, and to recommend ways and means of improving the capacity of States along those routes to address all aspects of the drug problem; (f) To engage, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, with national and regional experts from all geographical regions, as well as experts from relevant international organizations in the field of drug control, on the collection and use of complementary drug-related data and expertise to support the global assessment by Member States of the implementation of the declarations and measures adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session; (g) To publish the World Drug Report, with comprehensive and balanced information about the world drug problem, and to seek additional extrabudgetary resources for its publication in all the official languages; (h) To provide technical assistance, from available voluntary contributions for that purpose, to those States identified by relevant international bodies as the most affected by the transit of drugs, in particular developing countries in need of such assistance and support; (i) To provide assistance to Member States requesting support in establishing or strengthening scientific and forensic capabilities, and to promote the integration of scientific support to national, regional and international drug control frameworks, legislation and practices; (j) To provide legal advisory services to Member States, upon request, in support of their implementation of the international drug control conventions; (k) To share information with Member States on the work carried out towards the assessment of the implementation of the goals and targets of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly; (l) To report annually to the General Assembly on the work of the Office in connection with the areas mentioned in the present paragraph; 34. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general-purpose contributions, so as to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities, within its mandates, and recommends that a sufficient share of the regular budget of the United Nations be allocated to the Office to enable it to carry out its mandates and to work towards securing assured and predictable funding; 35. Encourages the meetings of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation; 36. Welcomes the outcome of the Second Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan, organized by the Government of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and held in Moscow from 26 to 28 June 2006,See A/61/208-S/2006/598, annex. in continuance of the Paris Pact initiative, and calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the threat to the international community posed by the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs originating in Afghanistan and continue to take concerted measures within the framework of the Paris Pact;See S/2003/641. 37. Calls upon the relevant United Nations agencies and entities and other international organizations, and invites international financial institutions, including regional development banks, to mainstream drug control issues into their programmes, and calls upon the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to maintain its leading role by providing relevant information and technical assistance; 38. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/221. and, taking into account the promotion of integrated reporting, requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/184 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/418, para. 15),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 164 to 6, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/184. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/183 of 22 December 2005, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/43 of 27 July 2006, Recalling also its resolutions 59/251 of 22 December 2004 and 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Recalling, in this regard, the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan, Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling further its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its grave concern at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the uprooting of a vast number of fruit-bearing trees, Expressing its concern at the widespread destruction caused by Israel, the occupying Power, to vital infrastructure, including water pipelines and sewage networks, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which, inter alia, pollutes the environment and negatively affects the natural resources of the Palestinian people, Aware of the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, and of the dire economic and social consequences in this regard, Aware also of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect on the natural resources and economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people, Reaffirming the need for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, the principle of land for peace and the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,See S/2003/529, annex. as endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, and for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Taking note with appreciation of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan,A/61/67-E/2006/13. 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, damage, cause loss or depletion of, or endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion, or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from illegal measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 4. Stresses that the wall being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, is contrary to international law and is seriously depriving the Palestinian people of their natural resources, and calls in this regard for full compliance with the legal obligations mentioned in the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of JusticeA/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and in resolution ES-10/15; 5. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map; 6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease the dumping of all kinds of waste materials in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, which gravely threaten their natural resources, namely the water and land resources, and pose an environmental hazard and health threat to the civilian populations; 8. Further calls upon Israel to cease its destruction of vital infrastructure, including water pipelines and sewage networks, which, inter alia, has a negative impact on the natural resources of the Palestinian people; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 61/185 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/432, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 61/185. Proclamation of international years The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/199 of 15 December 1998 on the proclamation of international years and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries and the guidelines contained in the annex thereto, adopted by the General Assembly in its decision 35/424 of 5 December 1980, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to draw the attention of the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to the guidelines for future international years contained in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67, and to make those guidelines available; 2. Stresses the need to take into account and apply the criteria and procedures contained in the guidelines in considering future proposals for international years. RESOLUTION 61/186 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/420/Add.1, para. 6),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 129 to 2, with 52 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Moldova, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/186. International trade and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/178 of 21 December 2001, 57/235 of 20 December 2002, 58/197 of 23 December 2003, 59/221 of 22 December 2004 and 60/184 of 22 December 2005 on international trade and development, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. pertaining to trade and related development issues, as well as the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, Reaffirming the value of multilateralism to the global trading system and the commitment to achieving a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that contributes to growth, sustainable development and employment generation in all sectors, and emphasizing that bilateral and regional trading arrangements should contribute to the goals of the multilateral trading system, Stressing the importance of open, transparent, inclusive, democratic and more orderly processes and procedures for the effective functioning of the multilateral trading system, including in the decision-making process, so as to enable developing countries to have their vital interests duly reflected in the outcome of trade negotiations, Reiterating that development concerns form an integral part of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs and interests of developing and least developed countries at the heart of the Doha Work Programme,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. Noting that agriculture lags behind the manufacturing sector in the process of establishment of multilateral disciplines and in the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers, and that, since most of the world's poor make their living from agriculture, the livelihood and standards of living of many of them are seriously jeopardized by the serious distortions in production and trade in agricultural products caused by the high levels of export subsidies, trade-distorting domestic support and protectionism by many developed countries, Taking note of the report of the Trade and Development BoardA/61/15 (Parts I-IV). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 15. as well as the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/272. 1. Expresses serious concern at the indefinite suspension of the trade negotiations of the World Trade Organization and considers it a serious setback for the Doha Round, which places development at the heart of the multilateral trading system, and calls upon the developed countries to demonstrate the flexibility and political will necessary to break the current impasse in the negotiations, and also calls for an early resumption of negotiations adhering to the development imperatives and commitments of the Doha Ministerial Declaration,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration;World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(05)/DEC. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 2. Stresses that in order for the Doha Round to be concluded satisfactorily, the negotiations should result in the establishment of rules and disciplines in the area of agriculture, adhering to the development imperatives and commitments of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004 and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 3. Also stresses the need for negotiations of the World Trade Organization in non-agricultural market access to live up to the development imperatives and commitments of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004 and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 4. Underlines the fact that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, that is, the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations, that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space, and that it is particularly important for developing countries that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments; 5. Expresses its deep concern at the imposition of laws and other forms of coercive economic measures, including unilateral sanctions against developing countries, which undermine international law and the rules of the World Trade Organization and also severely threaten the freedom of trade and investment; 6. Reaffirms the commitments made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade OrganizationSee A/C.2/56/7, annex. and at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries,See A/CONF.191/13. in this regard calls upon developed countries that have not already done so to provide immediate, predictable, duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis to all products originating from all least developed countries, also calls upon developing countries that are in a position to do so to extend duty-free and quota-free market access to exports of these countries, and in this context reaffirms the need to consider additional measures for progressive improvement in market access for least developed countries; 7. Also reaffirms the commitment to actively pursue the work programme of the World Trade Organization with respect to addressing the trade-related issues and concerns affecting the fuller integration of countries with small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system in a manner commensurate with their special circumstances and in support of their efforts towards sustainable development, in accordance with paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 8. Recognizes the special problems and needs of the landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, calls in this regard for the full and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and stresses the need for the implementation of the São Paulo Consensus,TD/412, part II. in particular paragraphs 66 and 84 thereof, by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach; 9. Also recognizes the need to ensure that the comparative advantage of developing countries is not undermined by any form of protectionism, including the arbitrary and abusive use of non-tariff measures, non-trade barriers and other standards to unfairly restrict the access of developing countries' products to developed countries' markets, reaffirms in this regard that developing countries should play an increasing role in the formulation of, inter alia, safety, environment and health standards, and recognizes the need to facilitate the increased and meaningful participation of the developing countries in the work of relevant international standard-setting organizations; 10. Further recognizes that South-South trade should be enhanced and that further market access should continue to stimulate South-South trade; 11. Recognizes the role that a successful conclusion of the ongoing third round of negotiations on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries can play in South-South trade; 12. Calls for accelerating the work on the development-related mandate concerning the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsSee Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, especially on issues of making intellectual property rules fully support the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. 13. Also calls for facilitating the accession of all developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries emerging from conflict that apply for membership in the World Trade Organization, bearing in mind paragraph 21 of resolution 55/182 of 20 December 2000 and subsequent developments, and calls for the effective and faithful application of the World Trade Organization guidelines on accession by the least developed countries; 14. Emphasizes the need for further work to foster greater coherence between the multilateral trading system and the international financial system, and invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in fulfilment of its mandate, to undertake the relevant policy analysis in those areas and to operationalize such work, including through its technical assistance activities; 15. Invites donors and beneficiary countries to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Aid for Trade established by the Director- General of the World Trade Organization, which aims to support developing and least developed countries to build their supply and export capacities, including infrastructure and institutions development, and the need to increase their exports, and stresses in this regard the urgent need for its effective operationalization with sufficient additional, non-conditional and predictable funding; 16. Welcomes the effort being made for operationalization of the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries with increased additional, non-conditional and predictable financial resources to enhance the export and supply capacities of the least developed countries, and urges the development partners to increase their contributions to the Integrated Framework Trust Fund on a multi-year basis; 17. Reiterates the important role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as the focal point within the United Nations system for the integrated treatment of trade and development and interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, and calls upon the international community to work towards the strengthening of the Conference, to enable it to enhance its contribution in its three major pillars, namely, consensus-building, research and policy analysis, and technical assistance, especially through increased core resources of the Conference; 18. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandate, to monitor and assess the evolution of the international trading system and of trends in international trade from a development perspective, and, in particular, to analyse issues of concern to developing countries, supporting them in building capacities to establish their own negotiating priorities and negotiate trade agreements, including under the Doha Work Programme;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 19. Reaffirms the fundamental role that competition law and policy can play for sound economic development and the validity of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices,A/C.2/35/6, annex. as well as the important and useful role that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development plays in this field, and decides to convene in 2010, under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, a sixth United Nations conference to review all aspects of the Set; 20. Urges donors to provide the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development with the increased resources necessary to deliver effective and demand-driven assistance to developing countries, as well as to enhance their contributions to the trust funds of the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries and the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme; 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and on developments in the multilateral trading system, under the sub-item entitled "International trade and development" of the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions". RESOLUTION 61/187 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/420/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 61/187. International financial system and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/186 of 20 December 2000 and 56/181 of 21 December 2001, both entitled "Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity", as well as its resolutions 57/241 of 20 December 2002, 58/202 of 23 December 2003, 59/222 of 22 December 2004 and 60/186 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Emphasizing that the international financial system should further sustain economic growth and support sustainable development and hunger and poverty eradication, while allowing for the coherent mobilization of all sources of financing for development, including the mobilization of domestic resources, international investment flows, official development assistance, external debt relief and an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory global trading system, Stressing the importance of commitment to sound domestic financial sectors, which make a vital contribution to national development efforts, as an important component of an international financial architecture that is supportive of development, Stressing also that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving sustainable development, in this regard reiterating the importance of promoting global economic governance by addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, and reiterating also that, to this effect, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, finding a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market access of developing countries, Reaffirming the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, stressing to that end the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, and acknowledging the need for continued discussion on the issue of voting power of developing countries in the Bretton Woods institutions, which remains a concern, Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the coherence, governance and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems and the importance of ensuring their openness, fairness and inclusiveness in order to complement national development efforts to ensure sustained economic growth and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Emphasizing the need for additional stable and predictable financing to help developing countries undertake investment plans to achieve internationally agreed development goals, Recognizing, in this regard, the value of developing innovative sources of financing from various sources on a public, private, domestic and external basis to increase and supplement traditional sources of financing, Welcoming the contribution to the mobilization of resources for development through innovative financing initiatives taken by groups of Member States,Including the International Drug Purchase Facility-UNITAID and the International Finance Facility for Immunization, and noting the commitment to launch a pilot project within the Advance Market Commitment initiative in 2006. Reiterating the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/136. 2. Notes that global economic growth and a stable international financial system, inter alia, can support the ability of developing countries to achieve internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and stresses the importance of cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to cope with the risks of financial instability; 3. Emphasizes that economic growth should be further strengthened and sustained, noting that global economic growth depends on national economic growth and that implementation of sound macroeconomic policies at all levels could significantly contribute to a revitalization of economic growth; 4. Invites the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the regional development banks and other relevant institutions to further integrate development dimensions into their strategies and policies, consistent with their respective mandates, and to fully implement the principles stated in those strategies and policies, in particular the objectives of pro-poor growth and poverty reduction; 5. Notes that developing countries as a whole continue to experience a net outflow of financial resources, and requests the Secretary-General, in continuing collaboration with international financial institutions and other relevant bodies, to analyse the range of reasons and consequences for this in his report under this item; 6. Also notes that some developing countries have net inflows of financial resources, and requests the Secretary-General, in continuing collaboration with international financial institutions and other relevant bodies, to analyse the range of reasons and consequences for this in his report under this item; 7. Underlines the importance of promoting international financial stability and sustainable growth, and welcomes the efforts undertaken to this end by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Forum, as well as the consideration by the International Monetary and Financial Committee of ways to sharpen tools designed to promote international financial stability and enhance crisis prevention, inter alia, through an even-handed implementation of surveillance, including at the regional level, and a sharpening of surveillance of capital markets and systemically and regionally important countries, with a view, inter alia, to the early identification of problems and risks, integrating debt sustainability analysis, the fostering of appropriate policy responses, the possible provision of financing and other instruments designed to prevent the emergence or spread of financial crises and further improvements in the transparency of macroeconomic data and statistical information on international capital flows; 8. Also underlines the importance of efforts at the national level to increase resilience to financial risk, and in this regard welcomes progress that has been made in recent years, stresses the importance of better assessment of a country's debt burden and its ability to service that debt in both crisis prevention and resolution, and welcomes the ongoing work of the International Monetary Fund on assessing debt sustainability; 9. Recognizes the need for multilateral surveillance to remain at the centre of crisis prevention efforts and that surveillance should focus not only on crisis-prone countries but also on the stability of the system as a whole; 10. Reiterates that measures to mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows and to improve transparency of and information about financial flows are important and must be considered; 11. Notes the impact of financial crises or risk contagion in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, regardless of their size, and in this regard welcomes the efforts of the international financial institutions, in their support to countries, to continuously adapt their array of financial facilities and resources, drawing on a full range of policies, taking into account the effects of economic cycles, as and where appropriate, having due regard to sound fiscal management and the specific circumstances of each case, so as to prevent and respond to such crises in a timely and appropriate way; 12. Underscores the importance of competitive and inclusive private and public financial markets in mobilizing and allocating savings towards productive investment and thus making a vital contribution to national development efforts and to an international financial architecture that is supportive of development; 13. Invites the international financial and banking institutions to consider enhancing the transparency of risk-rating mechanisms, noting that sovereign risk assessments made by the private sector should maximize the use of strict, objective and transparent parameters, which can be facilitated by high-quality data and analysis, and encourages relevant development institutions, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to continue their work on this issue, including its potential impact on the development prospects of developing countries; 14. Stresses the importance of strong domestic institutions in promoting business activities and financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors, and also stresses that international cooperation initiatives in those areas should encourage flows of capital to developing countries; 15. Notes the holding of the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund, in September 2006, stresses the importance of early agreement on a credible and time-bound package of quota and voice reforms in the Fund, reiterates the need to effectively address the issue of enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries in the Bretton Woods institutions, encourages the Bretton Woods institutions to take further and effective measures, and invites the World Bank and the Fund to continue to provide information on this issue, using existing cooperation forums, including those involving Member States; 16. Emphasizes that it is essential to ensure the effective and equitable participation of developing countries in the formulation of financial standards and codes, underscores the need to ensure their implementation, on a voluntary and progressive basis, as a contribution to reducing vulnerability to financial crisis and contagion, and notes that more than one hundred countries have participated in or agreed to participate in the joint World Bank-International Monetary Fund financial sector assessment programme;See A/59/218 and Corr.1, para. 15. 17. Notes the proposal to use special drawing rights allocations for development purposes, and considers that any assessment of special drawing rights allocations must respect the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund and the established rules of procedure of the Fund, which requires taking into account the global need for liquidity at the international level; 18. Also notes the initial discussion in the International Monetary Fund on a new liquidity instrument that would enable high-access financial support to developing countries that have market access and strong economic policies but nonetheless remain vulnerable to shocks; 19. Invites the multilateral and regional development banks and development funds to continue to play a vital role in serving the development needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including through coordinated action, as appropriate, and stresses that strengthened regional development banks and subregional financial institutions add flexible financial support to national and regional development efforts, thus enhancing their ownership and overall efficiency, and are an essential source of knowledge and expertise for their developing country members; 20. Calls for the continued effort of the multilateral financial institutions, in providing policy advice, technical assistance and financial support to member countries, to work on the basis of nationally owned reform and development strategies, to pay due regard to the special needs and implementing capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and to minimize the negative impacts of the adjustment programmes on the vulnerable segments of society, while taking into account the importance of gender-sensitive employment and hunger and poverty eradication policies and strategies; 21. Stresses the need to continuously improve standards of corporate and public sector governance, including accounting, auditing and measures to ensure transparency, noting the disruptive effects of inadequate policies; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "International financial system and development". RESOLUTION 61/188 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/420/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 61/188. External debt crisis and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/203 of 23 December 2003, 59/223 of 22 December 2004 and 60/187 of 22 December 2005 on external debt crisis and development, Recalling also the International Conference on Financing for Development and its outcome,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which recognizes sustainable debt financing as an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, Noting with satisfaction the improvement in the external debt situation of developing countries as a group in the course of the past year, but concerned that there remains a number of low- and middle-income developing countries that are still facing difficulties in finding a durable solution to their external debt problems, which could adversely affect their sustainable development, Welcoming the fact that the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative has enabled heavily indebted poor countries to markedly increase their expenditures on health, education and other social services consistent with national priorities, development plans, and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming also the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative,Debt relief under the two initiatives is expected to reduce the debt stocks of the 29 heavily indebted poor countries that have reached the decision point by almost 90 per cent. "Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) - Status of Implementation", prepared by the staffs of the International Development Association and the International Monetary Fund (August 2006). which will enable a marked increase in expenditures on health, education and other social services consistent with national priorities and development plans by heavily indebted poor countries, Stressing the importance of addressing the challenges of those heavily indebted poor countries that are facing difficulties in reaching the completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and expressing concern that some heavily indebted poor countries continue to face substantial debt burdens and need to avoid rebuilding unsustainable debt burdens after reaching the completion point under the Initiative, Emphasizing that debt sustainability is essential for underpinning growth, and underlining the importance of debt sustainability to the efforts to achieve national development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and that countries should direct those financial resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt reduction and cancellation, towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Convinced that enhanced market access for goods and services of export interest to developing countries contributes significantly to debt sustainability in those countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/152. 2. Emphasizes the special importance of a timely, effective, comprehensive and durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries, since debt financing and relief can be an important source of capital for economic growth and development; 3. Also emphasizes that creditors and debtors must share responsibility for preventing unsustainable debt situations; 4. Reiterates that debt sustainability depends on a confluence of many factors at the international and national levels, emphasizes that country-specific circumstances and the impact of external shocks should be taken into account in debt sustainability analyses, underscores the fact that no single indicator should be used to make definitive judgements about debt sustainability, and, in this regard, while acknowledging the need to use transparent and comparable indicators, invites the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in their assessment of debt sustainability, to take into account fundamental changes caused by, inter alia, natural disasters, conflicts and changes in global growth prospects or in the terms of trade, especially for commodity-dependent developing countries, and to continue to provide information on this issue using existing cooperation forums, including those involving Member States; 5. Underlines the fact that the long-term sustainability of debt depends, inter alia, on the economic growth, mobilization of domestic resources and export prospects of debtor countries and, hence, on the creation of an enabling international environment conducive to development, progress in following sound macroeconomic policies, transparent and effective regulatory frameworks and success in overcoming structural development problems; 6. Welcomes the introduction of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative,Debt relief under the two initiatives is expected to reduce the debt stocks of the 29 heavily indebted poor countries that have reached the decision point by almost 90 per cent. "Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) - Status of Implementation", prepared by the staffs of the International Development Association and the International Monetary Fund (August 2006). and calls for its full and timely implementation and the provision of additional resources to ensure that the financial capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced; 7. Emphasizes in this regard that debt relief does not replace other sources of financing; 8. Urges donors to ensure that their commitments to the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative be additional to existing aid flows, and underlines that full compensation by donors on the basis of fair burden-sharing for the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative costs of relevant financial institutions is essential; 9. Notes with concern that, in spite of the progress achieved, some countries that have reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative have not been able to achieve lasting debt sustainability, stresses the importance of promoting responsible borrowing and lending and the need to help those countries to manage their borrowing and to avoid a build-up of unsustainable debt, including through the use of grants and concessional loans, underscores the importance of the joint Debt Sustainability Framework of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for low-income countries in helping to ensure that new borrowing in post-Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative countries does not undermine their long-term debt sustainability, looks forward to the review of the Framework, and encourages the application of the improved Framework in lending and borrowing decisions; 10. Welcomes and encourages the efforts of the heavily indebted poor countries, calls upon them to continue to improve their domestic policies and economic management, inter alia, through poverty reduction strategies, and to create a domestic environment conducive to private-sector development, economic growth and poverty reduction, including a stable macroeconomic framework, transparent and accountable systems of public finance, a sound business climate and a predictable investment climate, and in this regard invites creditors, both private and public, who are not yet fully participating in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative to substantially increase their participation in the delivery of debt relief, and invites the international financing institutions and the donor community to continue to provide adequate and sufficiently concessional financing; 11. Stresses that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards those objectives; 12. Calls for the consideration of additional measures and initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term debt sustainability through increased grant-based financing, cancellation of 100 per cent of the official multilateral and bilateral debt of heavily indebted poor countries and, where appropriate, and on a case-by-case basis, significant debt relief or restructuring for low- and middle-income developing countries with an unsustainable debt burden that are not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, as well as the exploration of mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problems of those countries; 13. Encourages the Paris Club, in dealing with the debt of low- and middle-income debtor countries that are not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, to take into account their medium-term debt sustainability in addition to their financing gaps, and takes note with appreciation of the Evian approach of the Paris Club in providing terms of debt relief tailored to the specific needs of debtor countries while preserving debt cancellation for heavily indebted poor countries; 14. Stresses the need to significantly address debt problems of middle-income developing countries, and in this regard stresses the importance of the Evian approach of the Paris Club as a practical means to address this issue; 15. Invites creditors and debtors to continue to use, where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis, mechanisms such as debt swaps for alleviating the debt burden of low- and middle-income developing countries with an unsustainable debt burden that are not eligible for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and takes note of the discussions and assessment by the Paris Club of the proposal for "Debt for Equity in Millennium Development Goal Projects"; 16. Stresses the need to continue to take effective measures, preferably within the existing frameworks, to address the debt problems of the least developed countries, including through cancellation of the multilateral and bilateral debt owed by least developed countries to creditors, both public and private; 17. Reiterates its invitation to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to keep the overall implications of the debt sustainability framework for low-income countries under review, calls for transparency in the computation of the country policy and institutional assessments, and takes note of the disclosure of the country performance ratings of the International Development Association that form part of the framework; 18. Notes that credit rating agencies play an important role in determining countries' access to international capital markets and the cost of such borrowing, and, in this regard, calls upon the international financial and banking institutions to consider enhancing the transparency of risk rating mechanisms, and notes that sovereign risk assessments made by the private sector should maximize the use of strict, objective and transparent parameters, which can be facilitated by high-quality data and analysis; 19. Invites donor countries, taking into account country-specific debt sustainability analyses, to continue their efforts to increase bilateral grants to developing countries, which could contribute to debt sustainability in the medium to long term, and recognizes the need for countries to be able to invest, inter alia, in health and education while maintaining debt sustainability; 20. Welcomes the efforts of, and calls upon, the international community to provide flexibility, and stresses the need to continue those efforts in helping post-conflict developing countries, especially those that are heavily indebted and poor, to achieve initial reconstruction for economic and social development; 21. Welcomes also the efforts of, and invites, creditors to provide flexibility to developing countries affected by natural disasters on a case-by-case basis so as to allow them to address their debt concerns; 22. Welcomes further the efforts of, and calls upon, the international community to support institutional capacity-building in developing countries for the management of financial assets and liabilities and to enhance sustainable debt management as an integral part of national development strategies; 23. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in cooperation with the regional commissions, development banks and other relevant multilateral financial institutions and stakeholders, to continue cooperation in respect of capacity-building activities in developing countries in the area of debt management; 24. Calls upon all Member States and the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions and the private sector, to take appropriate measures and actions for the implementation of the commitments, agreements and decisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits, in particular those related to the question of the external debt problems of developing countries; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the external debt situation and debt-servicing problems of developing countries; 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "External debt crisis and development". RESOLUTION 61/189 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/420/Add.4, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 61/189. International Year of Natural Fibres, 2009 The General Assembly, Noting resolution 3/2005 of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, adopted on 25 November 2005,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Conference of FAO, Thirty-third Session, Rome, 19-26 November 2005 (C 2005/REP). Noting also that the diverse range of natural fibres produced in many countries provides an important source of income for farmers, and thus can play an important role in contributing to food security and in eradicating poverty and hence in contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, 1. Decides to declare 2009 the International Year of Natural Fibres; 2. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to facilitate the observance of the Year, in collaboration with Governments, regional and international organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and relevant organizations of the United Nations system, and also invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to keep the General Assembly informed of progress made in this regard; 3. Calls upon Governments and relevant regional and international organizations to make voluntary contributions and to lend other forms of support to the Year; 4. Invites non-governmental organizations and the private sector to make voluntary contributions to and to support the Year; 5. Encourages all Governments, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Year in order to increase awareness of the importance of these natural products. RESOLUTION 61/18 Adopted at the 58th plenary meeting, on 28 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.25 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yemen 61/18. The situation in Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 60/32 A and B of 30 November 2005 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular the most recent resolutions 1659 (2006) of 15 February 2006, 1662 (2006) of 23 March 2006 and 1707 (2006) of 12 September 2006, as well as the statement by the President of the Council on 26 July 2006, Expressing its strong commitment to the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the annexes thereto,S/2006/90, annex. launched at the London Conference on Afghanistan held on 31 January and 1 February 2006, which provide the framework for the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community, Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Recognizing the urgent need to tackle the challenges in Afghanistan, including terrorist threats, the fight against narcotics, the lack of security, in particular in the south and east, the comprehensive nationwide disbandment of illegal armed groups and the development of Afghan Government institutions, including at the subnational level, the strengthening of the rule of law, the acceleration of justice sector reform, the promotion of national reconciliation, without prejudice to the fulfilment of the measures introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999 and other relevant resolutions, and an Afghan-led transitional justice process, the safe and orderly return of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons, the promotion and protection of human rights and the advancement of economic and social development, Expressing in this context its deep concern over attacks against both Afghan and foreign nationals committed to supporting the consolidation of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, in particular United Nations and diplomatic staff, national and international humanitarian and development personnel, Afghan National Security Forces, the International Security Assistance Force, as well as the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, and noting with concern that the lack of security is causing some organizations to cease or curtail their humanitarian and development work in some parts of Afghanistan, Recognizing the progress achieved, while nonetheless remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of war, which constitute a great danger for the population and a major obstacle for the resumption of economic activities and for recovery and reconstruction efforts, Noting that, despite improvements in building the security sector, increased terrorist attacks caused by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups, in particular in the south and east of Afghanistan over the past months, and the lack of security caused by criminal activity and the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs, remain a serious challenge, threatening the democratic process as well as reconstruction and economic development, Noting also that the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout the country resides with the Government of Afghanistan supported by the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, recognizing the institutional progress achieved in this respect, deeply concerned about the recent increase in violence, and stressing the importance of further extending central government authority to all parts of Afghanistan, Commending the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition for their efforts to improve security conditions in Afghanistan, Acknowledging, in this context, that the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police require additional support to enhance their capability, including through the provision of more modern equipment, Stressing that regional cooperation constitutes an effective means to promote security and development in Afghanistan, Reaffirming in this context its continued support for the spirit and the provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). of the Berlin Declaration, including the annexes thereto, of 1 April 2004Available from www.unama-afg.org. and of the Afghanistan Compact of 31 January 2006, and pledging its continued support, after the successful completion of the political transition, to the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of a constitutional democracy and resume their rightful place in the community of nations, Applauding the inauguration of the Afghan National Assembly on 19 December 2005, which completes the Bonn process, as well as the constitution of the provincial councils, Welcoming the constitution of the national Government, and noting the importance of it being representative of the ethnic diversity of the country and ensuring also the adequate participation of women, Welcoming also the finalization of the ten-year strategy for justice reform in Afghanistan, and expressing its appreciation for the appointment and confirmation of a highly qualified Supreme Court, Welcoming further, in this regard, the guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans in the new Constitution as a significant step towards an improved situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for women and children, Recalling Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, and applauding the progress achieved in the empowerment of women in Afghan politics as historic milestones in the political process, which will help to consolidate durable peace and national stability in Afghanistan, while noting the need to promote the empowerment of women also at the provincial level, Noting at the same time with concern reports of continued violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law and violent or discriminatory practices, in particular against women and girls, in certain parts of the country, and stressing the need for adherence to international standards of tolerance and religious freedom, Welcoming the presentation of the interim Afghanistan National Development StrategyS/2006/105, annex. and the adoption of the first report on the Millennium Development Goals by the Government of Afghanistan as well as the further efforts of the Government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming also the continuing and growing ownership of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, and emphasizing the crucial need to achieve ownership in all fields of governance and to improve institutional capabilities, including at the provincial level, in order to use aid more effectively, Expressing its appreciation for the humanitarian assistance work of the international community in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, recognizing the necessity of further addressing the slow pace of change in the living conditions of the Afghan people, and noting the need to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to deliver basic services and to promote development, Welcoming the continuous return of refugees and internally displaced persons, while noting with concern that conditions in parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive to safe and sustainable returns to some places of origin and that the high concentration of returns to major urban areas has placed an extreme burden on limited urban resources, Aware of the high vulnerability of Afghanistan to natural disasters and harsh climate conditions, in particular drought or flooding, Expressing its appreciation for the work of the provincial reconstruction teams and of the executive steering committee, Recognizing that the social and economic development of Afghanistan, specifically the development of alternative gainful and sustainable livelihoods in the formal productive sector, is an important element of the successful implementation of the comprehensive Afghan national drug control strategy and depends to a large extent on enhanced international cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, Welcoming the launching on 31 January 2006 of the updated National Drug Control Strategy at the London Conference on Afghanistan,S/2006/106, annex. Deeply concerned about the increased cultivation, production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, which is undermining stability and security as well as the political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and has dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, and commending in this context the publication of the updated National Drug Control Strategy and the reaffirmed commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to rid the country of this pernicious production and trade, including by decisive law enforcement measures, Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the central and impartial role that the Secretary-General and his Special Representative continue to play in the consolidation of peace and stability in Afghanistan, and underlining the coordinating role of the United Nations in continuing to ensure a seamless transition, under Afghan leadership, from humanitarian relief to recovery and reconstruction, Welcoming, in this context, the establishment of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board pursuant to the Afghanistan Compact as an instrument to further improve coordination between the Government of Afghanistan and its international partners and to monitor the implementation of all benchmarks, Recognizing the need for a continued strong international commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programmes, under the ownership of the Government of Afghanistan, of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and expressing, at the same time, its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations whose international and local staff continue to respond positively to the humanitarian, transition and development needs of Afghanistan despite increasing security concerns and difficulties of access in certain areas, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/326-S/2006/727. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Strongly condemns the upsurge of violence throughout Afghanistan, in particular in the southern and eastern parts, owing to the increased violent and terrorist activity by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other extremist groups and those involved in the narcotics trade, which has resulted in increased casualties among Afghan civilians, Afghan National Security Forces, the International Security Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, as well as among the personnel of Afghan and international aid agencies and all other humanitarian workers; 3. Stresses the importance of the provision of sufficient security, welcomes the expansion of the presence of the Assistance Force in southern and eastern Afghanistan, and calls upon Member States to continue contributing personnel, equipment and other resources to the Assistance Force and to further develop the provincial reconstruction teams in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the work of the Assistance Mission, and welcomes the extension of its presence in additional provinces, which thus ensures that the United Nations fulfils its essential coordinating role, and encourages the Assistance Mission to continue expansion of its presence throughout the country; 5. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, including through the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and the Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups as well as by criminal violence, in particular violence involving the drug trade; 6. Urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to take all possible steps to ensure the safe and unhindered access of United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel to all affected populations; 7. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation, in particular that directed against development and humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel as well as against Afghan civilians, including women activists, regrets the loss of life and physical harm, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to make every effort, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/123 of 15 December 2005, to bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks, to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel and to protect the property of the United Nations and of development or humanitarian organizations; 8. Welcomes the successful completion of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former Afghan combatants, which started in October 2003; 9. Also welcomes the launching of the programme of disbandment of illegal armed groups, and stresses the importance of advancing its full implementation throughout the country under Afghan ownership, while ensuring further coordination and coherence with other relevant efforts regarding security sector reform and community development; 10. Further welcomes, in this context, the commitment of the President of Afghanistan to stand firm on the disbandment of illegal armed groups, at the Second Tokyo Conference on Consolidation of Peace in Afghanistan on 5 July 2006, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to work actively at national, provincial and local levels to advance this commitment; 11. Welcomes the development of the new professional Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, calls for accelerated efforts to modernize and strengthen both institutions, welcomes the progress made in the creation of a fair and effective justice system as important steps towards the goal of strengthening the Government of Afghanistan, providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country, and urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in these areas in a coordinated manner; 12. Also welcomes the completion of the disarmament and demobilization of child soldiers in the Afghan Military Forces, stresses the importance of the reintegration of child soldiers and of care for other children affected by war, commends the Government of Afghanistan for its efforts in this regard, and encourages it to continue efforts in cooperation with the United Nations; 13. Expresses its concern about the recruitment and use of child soldiers by illegal armed groups in Afghanistan, reiterates the importance of ending the use of children contrary to international law, and welcomes the accession by Afghanistan to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the two optional protocols thereto;Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. 14. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,Ibid., vol. 2056, No. 35597. to cooperate fully with the mine action programme coordinated by the United Nations, and to eliminate all existing stocks of anti-personnel landmines; 15. Recognizes the completion of the establishment of democratic institutions according to the Bonn process, notes the challenges lying ahead identified in the Afghanistan Compact,S/2006/90, annex. and calls upon the international community to continue to provide sustained support; 16. Notes with concern the negative impact of the security situation on the enjoyment of human rights, and calls for all parties to fully respect human rights and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan and, with the assistance of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and of the Assistance Mission, to fully implement the human rights provisions of the new Afghan Constitution, and commends the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan in this respect; 17. Calls for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan Constitution and international law; 18. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of thought, conscience or belief; 19. Continues to emphasize the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, including violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women and girls, of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law; 20. Reiterates the important role of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, stresses the need to expand its range of operation in all parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan Constitution, welcomes the adoption by the Government of Afghanistan of the Action Plan on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation, and stresses the importance of judicial accountability of human rights offenders in accordance with national and international law; 21. Recalls Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, commends the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to mainstream gender issues and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men as guaranteed, inter alia, by virtue of its ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. and by the Afghan Constitution, welcomes the level of participation of Afghan women in the parliamentary and provincial council elections, including the election of female candidates to these bodies, and reiterates the continued importance of the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of Afghan life; 22. Welcomes the presentation of the interim national action plan for women in Afghanistan currently under consultation and the significant efforts by the Government of Afghanistan to counter discrimination, urges the Government to actively involve all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction programmes, and encourages the collection and use of statistical data on a sex-disaggregated basis to provide information on gender-based violence and accurately track the progress of the full integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan; 23. Recognizes the significant progress achieved on gender equality in Afghanistan in recent years, and strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and violence against women in Afghanistan, wherever they occur; 24. Welcomes the initiative of the Government of Afghanistan to formulate a national plan of action on combating child trafficking, encourages the Government to formulate the plan of action guided by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Resolution 55/25, annex II. and stresses the importance of considering becoming a party to the Protocol; 25. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to continue to effectively reform the public administration sector in order to implement the rule of law and to ensure good governance and accountability at both national and local levels, and stresses the importance of meeting the respective benchmarks of the Afghanistan Compact, with the support of the international community; 26. Encourages the Government of Afghanistan to vigorously pursue its efforts to establish a more effective, accountable and transparent administration at all levels of Government leading the fight against corruption in accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, and notes with concern the effects of administrative corruption with regard to security, good governance and combating the narcotics industry; 27. Stresses once again the need for further progress on a comprehensive judicial reform in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to devote resources also to the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in order to improve respect for the rule of law and human rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health risks to inmates; 28. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to address, with the assistance of the international community, the question of claims for land property through a comprehensive land titling programme, including formal registration of all property and improved security of property rights, and welcomes the steps already taken by the Government in this regard; 29. Welcomes the presentation of the interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy at the London Conference on Afghanistan,S/2006/105, annex. underlines the need to finalize the Strategy as soon as possible, and urges the international community actively to support this process; 30. Reiterates the necessity of providing Afghan children with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, recognizing the special needs of girls, strongly condemns terrorist attacks on education facilities, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, to expand these facilities, to train professional staff and to promote full and equal access to them by all members of Afghan society, including in remote areas; 31. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, acknowledging the huge burden they have so far shouldered in this regard, and reminds them of their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees, the principle of voluntary return and the right to seek asylum and to allow international access for their protection and care; 32. Urges the Government of Afghanistan, acting with the support of the international community, to continue and strengthen its efforts to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons; 33. Calls for the provision of continued international assistance to the large numbers of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their voluntary, safe and orderly return and sustainable reintegration into society so as to contribute to the stability of the entire country; 34. Welcomes the efforts to date of the Afghan authorities to carry out the updated National Drug Control Strategy presented at the London Conference on Afghanistan on 31 January 2006,S/2006/106, annex. and urges the Government of Afghanistan to take decisive action, in particular to stop the processing of and trade in drugs, by pursuing the concrete steps set out in the Strategy and in the Afghanistan Compact; 35. Calls upon the international community to assist the Government of Afghanistan in carrying out its National Drug Control Strategy, aimed at eliminating the cultivation, production, trafficking in and consumption of illicit drugs, including through increased support for Afghan law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, rural development, demand reduction, the elimination of illicit crops, increasing public awareness and building the capacity of drug control institutions; 36. Expresses concern about the recent increase in the cultivation of opium, notes that opium cultivation, and the related drug production and trafficking, pose a serious threat to security, the rule of law and development in Afghanistan, urges the Government of Afghanistan, supported by the international community, to work to mainstream counter-narcotics throughout all the national programmes, commends the efforts of the Government in this regard, and urges it to increase its efforts against opium cultivation; 37. Encourages the international community to increasingly channel counter-narcotics funding through the Government of Afghanistan's counter-narcotics trust fund; 38. Urges the Government of Afghanistan, while carrying out its National Drug Control Strategy, to promote the development of sustainable livelihoods in the formal production sector as well as other sectors, thus improving substantially the lives, health and security of the people, particularly in rural areas, and calls upon the international community, in cooperation with the Government, to continue to assist it in this regard; 39. Supports the fight against the illicit trafficking in drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including increased cooperation among them to strengthen anti-narcotic controls to curb the drug flow; 40. Welcomes the outcome of the Second Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan, organized by the Government of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held in Moscow from 26 to 28 June 2006,See A/61/208-S/2006/598, annex. within the framework of the Paris Pact initiative, and therefore calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the threat to the international community posed by the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs; 41. Also welcomes the establishment of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board for the implementation of the political commitments of the Afghanistan Compact, and expresses its appreciation for the support to the Assistance Mission and the Government of Afghanistan by the international members of the Board; 42. Endorses the key principles for cooperation between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community as referred to in the Afghanistan Compact: respect for the pluralistic culture, values and history of Afghanistan, based on Islam; partnership between the Government of Afghanistan, with its sovereign responsibilities, and the international community, with a central and impartial coordinating role for the United Nations; further engagement of participation and aspiration to ownership of the Afghan people; pursuit of fiscal, institutional and environmental sustainability; building of lasting Afghan capacity and effective State and civil society institutions; ensuring balanced and fair allocation of domestic and international resources throughout the country; recognition of equal rights and responsibilities of men and women in all policies; promotion of regional cooperation; and fight against corruption, and ensuring public transparency and accountability; 43. Commends the continuing efforts of the signatories of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002S/2002/1416, annex. to implement their commitments under the Declaration, including, within that framework, those under the Kabul Declaration of 5 December 2005, adopted at the first Regional Economic Cooperation Conference, and furthermore calls upon all other States to respect and support the implementation of those provisions and to promote regional stability; 44. Welcomes efforts by the Governments of Afghanistan and its neighbouring partners to foster trust and cooperation with each other, and looks forward, where appropriate, to increasing cooperation between Afghanistan and all its neighbouring and regional partners against the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups and in promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, in the region and beyond; 45. Appreciates the efforts of the members of the Tripartite Commission, namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States of America, to continue to address cross-border activities and to broaden its cooperation, welcomes the participation of the Assistance Force, and calls upon the international community to support those efforts; 46. Invites all States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations providing assistance to Afghanistan to focus on institution-building in a coordinated manner and to ensure that such work complements and contributes to the development of an economy characterized by sound macroeconomic policies, the development of a financial sector that provides services, inter alia, to microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and households, transparent business regulations and accountability; 47. Encourages the international community, including all donor nations, to assist the Government of Afghanistan in making capacity-building and human resources development a cross-cutting priority; 48. Urges the international community, in accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, to increase the proportion of donor assistance channelled directly to the core budget, as agreed bilaterally between the Government of Afghanistan and each donor, as well as through other more predictable core budget funding modalities in which the Government participates, such as the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, the Law and Order Trust Fund and the Counter-Narcotics Trust Fund; 49. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and in accordance with its national development strategy, all possible and necessary humanitarian, recovery, reconstruction, financial, technical and material assistance for Afghanistan; 50. Emphasizes the need to maintain, strengthen and review civil-military relations among international actors, as appropriate, at all levels in order to ensure complementarity of action based on the different mandates and comparative advantages of the humanitarian, development, law enforcement and military actors present in Afghanistan, bearing in mind the central and impartial coordinating role of the United Nations; 51. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every six months during its sixty-first session on developments in Afghanistan, as well as on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 52. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan". RESOLUTION 61/190 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/420/Add.4, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 61/190. Commodities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/224 of 22 December 2004, and stressing the urgent need to ensure its full implementation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted on 16 September 2005See resolution 60/1. and its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals, and the other internationally agreed development goals, Recalling further the International Conference on Financing for Development and its outcome,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recalling the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling also the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. and the outcome of the high-level meeting of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010, held in New York on 18 and 19 September 2006,See resolution 61/1. and taking note of the Least Developed Countries Report, 2004,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.II.D.27. Taking note of the Arusha Declaration and Plan of Action on African Commodities adopted at the African Union Conference of Ministers of Trade on Commodities, held in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 21 to 23 November 2005,African Union, document AU/Min/Com/Decl.Rev.1. and endorsed by the Executive Council of the African Union at its eighth ordinary session, held in Khartoum from 16 to 21 January 2006,See A/60/693, annex II, decision EX.CL/Dec.253 (VIII). Taking note also of the reports of the Trade and Development Board on its fifty-third session, held in Geneva from 27 September to 2 October and on 10 October 2006,A/61/15 (Part IV). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 15. and its twenty-third special session, held in Geneva from 8 to 11 May, from 12 to 15 June and from 3 to 10 October 2006,A/61/15 (Part III). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 15. Recognizing that many developing countries are highly dependent on primary commodities as their principal source of export revenues, employment, income-generation and domestic savings, and as the driving force of investment, economic growth and social development, Deeply concerned that, despite the recent increase in some commodity prices, the causes underlying the declining price trend in other commodities have not been addressed, including supply capacity problems, difficulties with effective participation in value chains and lack of diversification of their production and export base, all of which prevent many developing countries from obtaining full benefits from the current positive conditions, Recognizing that trade in commodities is a fundamental component of international trade, Taking note of the targets set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Plan of Action of the World Food SummitFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the outcome document of the World Food Summit: five years later,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. which reaffirms the pledge to end hunger and poverty, 1. Reiterates the importance of maximizing the contribution of the commodity sector to sustained economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing with diversification efforts in commodity-dependent developing countries; 2. Recalls the potential of regional integration and cooperation to improve the effectiveness of traditional commodity sectors and support diversification efforts; 3. Recognizes that developed countries account for two thirds of non-fuel commodity imports, and expresses the urgent need for supportive international policies and measures to improve the functioning of the commodity markets through efficient and transparent mechanisms, including commodity exchanges; 4. Reiterates the importance of expanded South-South trade and investment in commodities; 5. Emphasizes the need for efforts by the developing countries that are heavily dependent on primary commodities to continue to promote a domestic policy and an institutional environment that encourage diversification and liberalization of the trade and export sectors and enhance competitiveness; 6. Reaffirms that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development, and recognizes that an effective enabling environment at the national and international levels entails, inter alia, a sound macroeconomic framework, competitive markets, clearly defined property rights, an attractive investment climate, good governance, the absence of corruption and well-designed regulatory policies that protect the public interest and generate public confidence in market operations; 7. Also reaffirms the commitments made in the Doha Ministerial Declaration,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. the Hong Kong Ministerial DeclarationWorld Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(05)/DEC. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to meaningfully integrate the developing and the least developed countries into the multilateral trading system, and calls for the successful and timely completion of the Doha round of trade negotiations with the full realization of the development dimensions of the Doha Work Programme; 8. Expresses concern over the suspension of the Doha Round of trade negotiations, and calls for their early resumption and successful development-oriented outcome adhering fully to the agreed mandate in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the Framework adopted by the General Council of the World Trade Organization in its decision of 1 August 2004 and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 9. Calls upon developed countries and developing countries declaring themselves in a position to do so to provide duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all products originating from all least developed countries, consistent with the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 10. Encourages developing countries, with the necessary support of donor countries and the international community, to formulate specific commodity policies so as to contribute to the facilitation of trade expansion, the reduction of vulnerability and the improvement of livelihood and food security, by: (a) Creating an enabling environment that encourages the participation of rural producers and small farmers; (b) Continuing the diversification of the commodity sector and enhancing its competitiveness in developing countries that are heavily dependent on commodities; (c) Increasing technology development and improving information systems, institutions and human resources; 11. Stresses that the adoption or enforcement of any measures necessary to protect human, animal and plant life or health should not be applied in a manner that would constitute arbitrary or unjustifiable use of non-tariff measures, non-trade barriers or other standards to unfairly restrict access of developing countries' products, reaffirms in this regard that developing countries should play an increasing role in the formulation of, inter alia, safety, environmental and health standards, and recognizes the need to facilitate the increased and meaningful participation of developing countries in the work of relevant international standard-setting organizations; 12. Calls for capacity-building support by the relevant international organizations and by developed countries, encourages the private sector, in the context of corporate responsibility and accountability as well as responsible business practices, to enable developing countries to put in place measures that are appropriate and necessary for meeting market requirements and standards, inter alia, quality control standards, and invites the relevant intergovernmental organizations to establish procedures for elaborating product and process standards that take into account the interests and capabilities of developing countries without jeopardizing the legitimate objective for developed as well as developing countries of protecting human, animal and plant life or health consistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the relevant agreements of the World Trade Organization; 13. Invites international financial organizations, other donors and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to revisit the operational modalities of international commodity, as well as to consider finance and risk management facilities and programmes; 14. Stresses that technical assistance and capacity-building aimed at improving the competitiveness of commodity producers is particularly important, and urges the donor community to increase resources for commodity-specific, financial and technical assistance, in particular for human and institutional capacity-building, as well as infrastructure development of developing countries, with a view to reducing their institutional bottlenecks and transaction costs and enhancing their commodity trade and development in accordance with national development plans; 15. Emphasizes the importance of official development assistance for agriculture and rural development, and in this regard calls upon the donor community to reinforce its assistance in those sectors, and to increase its financial and technical support for activities aimed at addressing commodity issues, in particular the needs and problems of commodity-dependent developing countries; 16. Invites developing countries, in cooperation with developed countries and relevant international organizations, to establish medium- and long-term commodity development programmes geared towards enhancing research for product diversification and improving the production, productivity, value addition and competitiveness of developing countries' commodities; 17. Underlines the need to strengthen the Common Fund for Commodities, and encourages it, in cooperation with the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant bodies, to continue to strengthen the activities covered by its Second Account in developing countries with its supply chain concept of improving access to markets and reliability of supply, enhancing diversification and addition of value, improving the competitiveness of commodities, strengthening the market chain, improving market structures, broadening the export base and ensuring the effective participation of all stakeholders; 18. Calls upon developed countries, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant international organizations to support training and awareness-building programmes on the functioning of commodity exchanges and their use, in a development-oriented manner, in supporting and enabling small farmers and in supporting capacity-building programmes in developing countries in accordance with national development plans; 19. Reiterates the role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in addressing commodities issues in a comprehensive way in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and the provisions of the São Paulo Consensus, adopted by the Conference at its eleventh session,TD/412, part II. and in this regard calls upon the donor community to provide the resources required to enable the Conference to undertake these activities; 20. Expresses concern that the International Task Force on Commodities launched at the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has not yet entered into force, and calls upon interested stakeholders to provide voluntary financial support for the timely establishment of the Task Force; 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to submit a report with recommendations on the implementation of the present resolution and to report on world commodity trends and prospects to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "Commodities". RESOLUTION 61/191 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/421, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 61/191. Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development The General Assembly, Recalling the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and its resolutions 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, 57/250 of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 57/272 and 57/273 of 20 December 2002, 58/230 of 23 December 2003, 59/225 of 22 December 2004 and 60/188 of 22 December 2005, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/34 of 26 July 2002, 2003/47 of 24 July 2003, 2004/64 of 16 September 2004 and 2006/45 of 28 July 2006, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/253. Having considered the summary by the President of the Economic and Social Council of the special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in New York on 24 April 2006,A/61/81-E/2006/73. Welcoming with appreciation the offer of the Government of Qatar to host the follow-up international conference to review the implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development, in accordance with paragraph 73 of the Monterrey ConsensusReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and resolution 60/188, 1. Decides that the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus will be held in Doha in the second half of 2008, at a date to be determined by the General Assembly in consultation with the host country, taking into due consideration the regular schedule of meetings of the United Nations; 2. Decides also, in accordance with resolution 60/188, to commence the preparatory process for the review conference during the present session of the Assembly, and to this end requests the President of the Assembly to hold, starting in 2007, direct intergovernmental consultations of the whole with the participation of all Member States and the major institutional stakeholders involved in the financing for development process, on all issues related to the review conference, and in this regard decides that these consultations must be open, inclusive and transparent; 3. Reiterates that the review conference should assess progress made, reaffirm goals and commitments, share best practices and lessons learned, and identify obstacles and constraints encountered, actions and initiatives to overcome them and important measures for further implementation, as well as new challenges and emerging issues; 4. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to make full use of the existing institutional arrangements for reviewing the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. as set out in paragraph 69 of the Consensus and in line with resolution 57/270 B, including the high-level dialogues convened by the Assembly and the spring meetings of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, bearing in mind the need to enhance the effectiveness of the follow-up process of the Monterrey Consensus; 5. Stresses the importance of the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus at all levels, and also stresses the importance of their full participation in the Monterrey follow-up process, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, in particular the accreditation procedures and modalities of participation utilized at the Conference and in its preparatory process; 6. Decides to hold the 2007 High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development in the fourth quarter of 2007, at a specific date to be determined by the President of the General Assembly in consultation with Member States; 7. Decides also that the modalities for holding the 2007 High-level Dialogue will be the same as those used in the 2005 High-level Dialogue, as described in General Assembly resolution 59/293 of 27 May 2005; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a note on the organization of work of the High-level Dialogue; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development"; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of commitments agreed at the International Conference on Financing for Development under that item, to be prepared in full collaboration with the major institutional stakeholders, as an input to the High-level Dialogue. RESOLUTION 61/192 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Peru, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/192. International Year of Sanitation, 2008 The General Assembly, Recalling the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the need to assist the efforts of developing countries to prepare integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans as part of their national development strategies and to provide access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in accordance with the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including halving by 2015 the proportion of people who are unable to reach or afford safe drinking water and who do not have access to basic sanitation, Also reaffirming the necessity to take into account sanitation in complementarity with water, in conjunction with the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", 2005-2015, Appreciating the ongoing work in the United Nations system and the work of other intergovernmental organizations on sanitation, Taking note with appreciation of the contribution made by the Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation and its work on the Hashimoto Action Plan, a compendium of water-related actions which relevant actors should consider, as appropriate, Deeply concerned by the slow and insufficient progress in providing access to basic sanitation services, and conscious of the impact of the lack of sanitation on people's health, poverty reduction and economic and social development, and on the environment, in particular water resources, Convinced that progress can be achieved through active commitment and action by all States, including at the national and local levels, as well as United Nations agencies, regional and international organizations, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders, 1. Decides to declare 2008 the International Year of Sanitation; 2. Requests the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to serve as the focal point for the Year and to develop, in a timely manner, relevant proposals on possible activities at all levels, including possible sources of funding; 3. Calls upon States as well as subregional, regional and international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to make voluntary contributions; 4. Encourages all States, as well as the United Nations system and all other relevant stakeholders, to take advantage of the Year to increase awareness of the importance of sanitation and to promote action at all levels, taking into account, inter alia, the policy recommendations adopted by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its thirteenth session as well as, where appropriate, the relevant recommendations made in the Hashimoto Action Plan; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/193 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/193. International Year of Forests, 2011 The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to the Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All Types of ForestsReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex III. and Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. adopted at the Millennium Summit in 2000, the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,Ibid., resolution 2, annex. adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, Recalling the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,Ibid., vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and other relevant conventions dealing with the complexity of forest issues, Recognizing that forests and sustainable forest management can contribute significantly to sustainable development, poverty eradication and the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recalling Economic and Social Council decision 2006/230 of 24 July 2006, Emphasizing the need for sustainable management of all types of forests, including fragile forest ecosystems, Convinced that concerted efforts should focus on raising awareness at all levels to strengthen the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations, 1. Decides to declare 2011 the International Year of Forests; 2. Requests the secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, to serve as the focal point for the implementation of the Year, in collaboration with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and international, regional and subregional organizations and processes as well as relevant major groups; 3. Invites, in particular, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as the Chair of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, within its mandate, to support the implementation of the Year; 4. Calls upon Governments, relevant regional and international organizations, and major groups to support activities related to the Year, inter alia, through voluntary contributions, and to link their relevant activities to the Year; 5. Encourages voluntary partnerships among Member States, international organizations and major groups to facilitate and promote activities related to the Year at the local and national levels, including by creating national committees or designating focal points in their respective countries; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the state of preparations for the Year. RESOLUTION 61/194 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Cyprus, France, Greece, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China) and Spain. by a recorded vote of 170 to 6, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: None 61/194. Oil slick on Lebanese shores The General Assembly, Reaffirming the outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, especially principle 7 of the Declaration of the Conference,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972 (A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1), part one, chap, I. which requested States to take all possible steps to prevent pollution of the seas, Emphasizing the need to protect and preserve the marine environment in accordance with international law, Taking into account the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. especially principle 16, which stipulates that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, and taking into account also chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. Noting with great concern the environmental disaster caused by the destruction by the Israeli Air Force on 15 July 2006 of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the El-Jiyeh electric power plant in Lebanon, causing an oil slick that covered the entirety of the Lebanese coastline and extended beyond, Noting with appreciation the assistance offered by donor countries and international organizations for the early recovery and reconstruction of Lebanon through bilateral and multilateral channels, including the Stockholm Conference for Lebanon's Early Recovery, held on 31 August 2006, 1. Expresses its deep concern over the adverse implications of the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Lebanese El-Jiyeh electric power plant for the achievement of sustainable development in Lebanon; 2. Considers that the oil slick has heavily polluted the shores of Lebanon and consequently has serious implications for human health, biodiversity, fisheries and tourism, all four of which in turn have serious implications for livelihoods and the economy of Lebanon; 3. Calls upon the Government of Israel to assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to the Government of Lebanon for the costs of repairing the environmental damage caused by the destruction, including the restoration of the marine environment; 4. Encourages Member States, regional and international organizations, regional and international financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations and the private sector to provide financial and technical assistance to the Government of Lebanon in support of its efforts to clean up the polluted shores and sea of Lebanon with a view to preserving its ecosystem; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 61/195 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/195. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 23 June 2003, respectively, and its resolutions 58/218 of 23 December 2003, 59/227 of 22 December 2004 and 60/193 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the decisions taken at the eleventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, Reiterating that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, and reaffirming the continuing need to ensure a balance among economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, Reaffirming that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development, Recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of other United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recognizing also that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development, Recalling that the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation designated the Commission to serve as the focal point for discussion on partnerships that promote sustainable development and contribute to the implementation of intergovernmental commitments in Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Recalling also the decision of the Commission at its eleventh sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I, para. 23 (e). that the Commission, during review years, should discuss the contribution of partnerships towards supporting the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation with a view to sharing lessons learned and best practices, identifying and addressing problems, gaps and constraints, and providing further guidance, including on reporting, during policy years, as necessary, Looking forward to the upcoming cycles of the work programme of the Commission as adopted at its eleventh sessionIbid., draft resolution I. and their contributions to the further implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Recalling the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session,Ibid., para. 2 (h). endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003, that the Commission, at its policy sessions, to be held in April/May of the second year of the cycle, would take policy decisions on practical measures and options to expedite implementation in the selected thematic cluster of issues, taking account of the discussions of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting, the reports of the Secretary-General and other relevant inputs, Recalling also the decision of the Commission at its eleventh sessionIbid., para. 2 (g). that the discussions of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting would be based on the outcome of the review session and reports of the Secretary-General, as well as other relevant inputs, and that, on the basis of those discussions, the Chair would prepare a draft negotiating document for consideration at the policy session, Recognizing the importance of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting to discuss policy options and possible actions to address the constraints and obstacles in the process of implementation identified during the review year, Noting with satisfaction that the Commission at its fourteenth session undertook an in-depth evaluation of progress in implementing Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, focusing on the thematic cluster of issues on energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change, and identified best practices, constraints and obstacles in the process of implementation,Ibid., 2006, Supplement No. 9 (E/2006/29), chap. II. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities undertaken in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development;A/61/258. 2. Reiterates that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and those contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 3. Calls upon Governments, all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations funds and programmes, the regional commissions and the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as major groups, to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and encourages them to report on concrete progress in that regard; 4. Calls for the effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and for the fulfilment of the provisions relating to the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 5. Reiterates that the Commission on Sustainable Development is the high-level body responsible for sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as a forum for the consideration of issues related to the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, and calls upon Governments to support the work of the Commission; 6. Encourages Governments to participate at the appropriate level with representatives, including ministers, from the relevant departments and organizations working in the areas of energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change, as well as finance, in the fifteenth session of the Commission and its Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting; 7. Recalls the decision of the Commission at its eleventh sessionOfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I, para. 2 (j). that activities during Commission meetings should provide for the balanced involvement of participants from all regions, as well as for gender balance; 8. Invites donor countries to consider supporting the participation of representatives from the developing countries in the areas of energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change in the fifteenth session of the Commission and its Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting; 9. Reaffirms the objective of strengthening the implementation of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. including through the mobilization of financial and technological resources, as well as capacity-building programmes, in particular for developing countries; 10. Also reaffirms the objective of enhancing the participation and effective involvement of civil society and other relevant stakeholders in the implementation of Agenda 21, as well as promoting transparency and broad public participation; 11. Further reaffirms the need to promote corporate responsibility and accountability as envisaged by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 12. Reaffirms the need to promote the development of microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, including by means of training, education and skill enhancement, with a special focus on agro-industry as a provider of livelihoods for rural communities; 13. Requests the secretariat of the Commission to make arrangements to facilitate the balanced representation of major groups from developed and developing countries in the sessions of the Commission; 14. Also requests the secretariat of the Commission to coordinate the participation of the relevant major groups in the discussions at the fifteenth session of the Commission, including the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting; 15. Reiterates its invitation to the relevant United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, the Global Environment Facility and international and regional financial and trade institutions, within their mandates, to participate actively in the work of the Commission; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the Commission at its fifteenth session, on the basis of appropriate inputs from all levels, to submit thematic reports on each of the four issues contained in the thematic cluster of issues on energy for sustainable development, industrial development, air pollution/atmosphere and climate change, taking into account their interlinkages, while addressing the cross-cutting issues, including means of implementation identified by the Commission at its eleventh session, and taking into account also the relevant provisions of paragraphs 10, 14 and 15 of draft resolution I adopted by the Commission at its eleventh session;Ibid., chap. I, sect. A. 17. Encourages Governments and organizations at all levels, as well as major groups, including the scientific community and educators, to undertake results-oriented initiatives and activities to support the work of the Commission and to promote and facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21Resolution S-19/2, annex. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including through voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives; 18. Underlines the importance of setting aside adequate time for all envisaged activities in the policy session, including for negotiations on policy options and possible actions, at the fifteenth session of the Commission, and in this regard notes the importance of having all required documents, including the Chair's draft negotiating document, made available for consideration prior to the beginning of the session; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development", and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/196 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.2, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/196. Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. adopted by the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and recalling its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference, Reaffirming also the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States ("Mauritius Strategy for Implementation"),Ibid., annex II. adopted by the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States on 14 January 2005, and recalling its resolutions 59/311 of 14 July 2005 and 60/194 of 22 December 2005, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Welcoming the decision taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its thirteenth sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), resolution 13/1. to devote one day of its review sessions to the review of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, focusing on that year's thematic cluster, as well as on any new developments in the sustainable development efforts of small island developing States using existing modalities, and to request the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Commission at its review session on progress in and obstacles to sustainable development in small island developing States, including recommendations to enhance the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, Recognizing the urgent need to mobilize resources from all sources for the effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/277. 2. Welcomes the renewed commitment of the international community to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;Ibid., annex II. 3. Urges Governments and all relevant international and regional organizations, United Nations funds, programmes, specialized agencies and regional commissions, international financial institutions and the Global Environment Facility, as well as other intergovernmental organizations and major groups, to take timely action for the effective implementation of and follow-up to the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation,Ibid., annex II. including the further development and operationalization of concrete projects and programmes; 4. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and targets adopted at the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States and, to this end, for the fulfilment of the provisions for the means of implementation, as contained in the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, and encourages small island developing States and their development partners to continue to consult widely in order to develop further concrete projects and programmes for the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation; 5. Invites the Commission on Sustainable Development to devote one half day of its Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting to discussing policy options for addressing the barriers and constraints facing small island developing States in the four thematic areas of the session, taking into account the review of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation conducted during the fourteenth session of the Commission; 6. Encourages the implementation of partnership initiatives, within the framework of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, in support of the sustainable development of small island developing States; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to strengthen the Small Island Developing States Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, as called for in its resolutions 57/262 of 20 December 2002, 58/213 A of 23 December 2003, 59/229 of 22 December 2004, 59/311 and 60/194, and urges the Secretary-General to ensure that the Unit is sufficiently and sustainably staffed without delay to undertake its broad range of mandated functions with a view to facilitating the full and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, within existing resources, including by redeploying resources; 8. Calls for the provision of new and additional voluntary resources for the revitalization of the Small Island Developing States Information Network; 9. Requests the relevant agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to mainstream the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation in their work programmes and to establish a focal point for matters related to small island developing States within their respective secretariats; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States". RESOLUTION 61/197 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.2, para. 15)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/197. Towards the sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea for present and future generations The General Assembly, Reaffirming the principles and commitments enshrined in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales. No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. the principles embodied in the Declaration of Barbados,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as other relevant declarations and international instruments, Recalling the Declaration and review document adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-second special session,See resolution S-22/2, annex. Taking into account all other relevant General Assembly resolutions, including resolutions 54/225 of 22 December 1999, 55/203 of 20 December 2000, 57/261 of 20 December 2002 and 59/230 of 22 December 2004, Taking into account also the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, signed at Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 24 March 1983,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1506, No. 25974. and its protocols, which contain the definition of the wider Caribbean region of which the Caribbean Sea is part, Reaffirming the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,See The Law of the Sea: Official Texts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and of the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 with Index and Excerpts from the Final Act of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10). which provides the overall legal framework for ocean activities, and emphasizing its fundamental character, conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Emphasizing the importance of national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector as recognized by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. 1, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. Recalling the relevant work done by the International Maritime Organization, Considering that the Caribbean Sea area includes a large number of States, countries and territories, most of which are developing countries and small island developing States that are ecologically fragile, structurally weak and economically vulnerable and are also affected, inter alia, by their limited capacity, narrow resource base, need for financial resources, high levels of poverty and the resulting social problems and the challenges and opportunities of globalization and trade liberalization, Recognizing that the Caribbean Sea has a unique biodiversity and highly fragile ecosystem, Emphasizing that the Caribbean countries have a high degree of vulnerability occasioned by climate change, climate variability and associated phenomena, such as the rise in sea level, the El Niño phenomenon and the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters caused by hurricanes, floods and droughts, and that they are also subject to natural disasters, such as those caused by volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes, Bearing in mind the heavy reliance of most of the Caribbean economies on their coastal areas, as well as on the marine environment in general, to achieve their sustainable development needs and goals, Acknowledging that the intensive use of the Caribbean Sea for maritime transport, as well as the considerable number and interlocking character of the maritime areas under national jurisdiction where Caribbean countries exercise their rights and duties under international law, present a challenge for the effective management of the resources, Noting the problem of marine pollution caused, inter alia, by land-based sources and the continuing threat of pollution from ship-generated waste and sewage, as well as from the accidental release of hazardous and noxious substances in the Caribbean Sea area, Taking note of the relevant resolutions of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on safety of transport of radioactive materials, Mindful of the diversity and dynamic interaction and competition among socio-economic activities for the use of the coastal areas and the marine environment and their resources, Mindful also of the efforts of the Caribbean countries to address in a more holistic manner the sectoral issues relating to the management of the Caribbean Sea area and, in so doing, to promote an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, through a regional cooperative effort among Caribbean countries, Welcoming the continued efforts of the States members of the Association of Caribbean States to develop and implement regional initiatives to promote the sustainable conservation and management of coastal and marine resources, and noting in this regard the commitment by Heads of State and Government of the Association of Caribbean States to further develop their concept of the Caribbean Sea as a special area within the context of sustainable development, as referenced in paragraph 31 of the Mauritius Strategy, and without prejudice to relevant international law, Cognizant of the importance of the Caribbean Sea to present and future generations and to the heritage and the continuing economic well-being and sustenance of people living in the area, and the urgent need for the countries of the region to take appropriate steps for its preservation and protection, with the support of the international community, 1. Recognizes that the unique biodiversity and highly fragile ecosystem of the Caribbean Sea require that Caribbean States and relevant regional and international development partners work together to develop and implement regional initiatives to promote the sustainable conservation and management of coastal and marine resources including, inter alia, the further development of their concept of the designation of the Caribbean Sea as a special area in the context of sustainable development, without prejudice to relevant international law; 2. Takes note with interest of the creation by the Association of Caribbean States of the Commission on the Caribbean Sea; 3. Takes note of the efforts of the Caribbean States to further develop their concept of the Caribbean Sea as a special area in the context of sustainable development, without prejudice to relevant international law, and invites the international community to recognize such efforts; 4. Recognizes the efforts of Caribbean countries to create conditions leading to sustainable development aimed at combating poverty and inequality, and in this regard notes with interest the initiatives of the Association of Caribbean States in the focal areas of sustainable tourism, trade, transport and natural disasters; 5. Calls upon the United Nations system and the international community to assist, as appropriate, Caribbean countries and their regional organizations in their efforts to ensure the protection of the Caribbean Sea from degradation as a result of pollution from ships, in particular through the illegal release of oil and other harmful substances, and from illegal dumping or accidental release of hazardous waste, including radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, in violation of relevant international rules and standards, as well as pollution from land-based activities; 6. Invites the Association to submit a report on its progress in the implementation of the present resolution to the Secretary-General for consideration during the sixty-third session of the General Assembly; 7. Calls upon all States to become contracting parties to relevant international agreements to enhance maritime safety and promote the protection of the marine environment of the Caribbean Sea from pollution, damage and degradation from ships and ship-generated waste; 8. Supports the efforts of Caribbean countries to implement sustainable fisheries management programmes; 9. Calls upon States, taking into consideration the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. to develop national, regional and international programmes to halt the loss of marine biodiversity in the Caribbean Sea, in particular fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs; 10. Invites Member States and intergovernmental organizations within the United Nations system to continue their efforts to assist Caribbean countries in becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols concerning the management, protection and sustainable utilization of Caribbean Sea resources and in implementing them effectively; 11. Calls upon the international community, the United Nations system and the multilateral financial institutions, and invites the Global Environment Facility, within its mandate, to support actively the national and regional activities of the Caribbean States towards the promotion of the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources; 12. Urges the United Nations system and the international community to continue to provide aid and assistance to the countries of the Caribbean region in the implementation of their long-term programmes of disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation, management, relief and recovery, based on their development priorities, through the integration of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction into a comprehensive approach to sustainable development; 13. Calls upon Member States to improve as a matter of priority their emergency response capabilities and the containment of environmental damage, particularly in the Caribbean Sea, in the event of natural disasters or of an accident or incident relating to maritime navigation; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session, under the sub-item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States" of the item entitled "Sustainable development", on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account the views expressed by relevant regional organizations. RESOLUTION 61/198 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.3, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/198. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, 49/22 B of 20 December 1994, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/219 of 22 December 1999, 56/195 of 21 December 2001, 57/256 of 20 December 2002, 58/214 of 23 December 2003, 59/231 of 22 December 2004 and 60/195 of 22 December 2005 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2001/35 of 26 July 2001, and taking into due consideration its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the Hyogo Declaration,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. and the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Recognizing that the Hyogo Framework for Action complements the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action,A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. Reaffirming its role of providing policy guidance on the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, Recalling that the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction has been serving as the main forum within the United Nations system for devising strategies and policies for disaster reduction and ensuring complementarity of action by agencies involved in disaster reduction, mitigation and preparedness, Expressing its appreciation for the work the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction has been carrying out in its mandated functions, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in developing countries, Reiterating that, although natural disasters damage the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, the long-term consequences of natural disasters are especially severe for developing countries and hamper the achievement of their sustainable development, Recognizing that disaster risk reduction is a cross-cutting issue in the context of sustainable development, Recognizing also the clear relationship between development, disaster risk reduction, disaster response and disaster recovery and the need to continue to deploy efforts in all these areas, Recognizing further the urgent need to further develop and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to build resilience to natural disasters, and emphasizing the need for developing countries to have access to appropriate, advanced, environmentally sound, cost-effective and easy-to-use technologies so as to seek more comprehensive solutions to disaster risk reduction and to effectively and efficiently strengthen their capabilities to cope with disaster risks, Emphasizing that disaster risk reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Stressing the importance of advancing the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and its relevant provisions on vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capability to cope with disaster risks, Noting with appreciation the convening of the Third International Conference on Early Warning, held in Bonn, Germany, from 27 to 29 March 2006, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;A/61/229 and Corr.1. 2. Recalls that the commitments of the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. include the provision of assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 3. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and stresses the need for a more effective integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies, planning and programming; for the development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards; and for a systematic incorporation of risk-reduction approaches into the implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes; 4. Calls upon the international community to fully implement the commitments of the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action; 5. Invites Member States, the United Nations system, international financial institutions, regional bodies and other international organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as relevant civil society organizations, to support, implement and follow up the Hyogo Framework for Action; 6. Calls upon the United Nations system, international financial institutions and international organizations to integrate the goals of and take into full account the Hyogo Framework for Action in their strategies and programmes, making use of existing coordination mechanisms, and to assist developing countries with those mechanisms to design and implement, as appropriate, disaster risk-reduction measures with a sense of urgency; 7. Also calls upon the United Nations system, the international financial institutions and regional banks and other regional and international organizations to support, in a timely and sustained manner, the efforts led by disaster-stricken countries for disaster risk reduction, in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes; 8. Recognizes that each State has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and for taking effective measures to reduce disaster risk, including for the protection of people on its territory, infrastructure and other national assets from the impact of disasters, including the implementation of and follow-up to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and stresses the importance of international cooperation and partnerships to support those national efforts; 9. Also recognizes the efforts made by Member States to develop national and local capacities to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action, including through the establishment of national platforms for disaster reduction, and encourages Member States that have not done so to develop such capacities; 10. Invites Governments and relevant international organizations to consider disaster risk assessment as an integral component of development plans and poverty eradication programmes; 11. Stresses that continued cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, other organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, are considered essential to address effectively the impact of natural disasters; 12. Notes all the regional and subregional initiatives developed in order to achieve disaster risk reduction, and reiterates the need to further develop regional initiatives and risk-reduction capacities of regional mechanisms where they exist and to strengthen them and encourage the use and sharing of all existing tools; 13. Recognizes the importance of linking disaster risk management to regional frameworks, as appropriate, such as the African Regional Strategy for Disaster Reduction developed within the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. to address issues of poverty eradication and sustainable development; 14. Calls upon the international community to support the development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels, in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilience to hazards; 15. Notes the proposed establishment of a Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as the successor mechanism of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, and, taking into account the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, decides that the Global Platform shall have the same mandate as the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, and requests the Secretary-General to include information on the Global Platform, for consideration by the General Assembly, in his next report; 16. Decides that the proposed establishment of the Global Platform should continue to be carried out in an inclusive and transparent manner and be open to all Member States; 17. Recognizes the importance of integrating a gender perspective as well as engaging women in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster management, particularly at the disaster risk-reduction stage; 18. Expresses its appreciation to those countries that have provided financial support for the activities of the Strategy by making voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction; 19. Encourages the international community to provide adequate voluntary financial contributions to the Trust Fund, in the effort to ensure adequate support for the follow-up activities to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and to review the current usage and feasibility for the expansion of the Fund, inter alia, to assist disaster-prone developing countries to set up national strategies for disaster risk reduction; 20. Encourages Governments, multilateral organizations, international and regional organizations, international and regional financial institutions, the private sector and civil society to systematically invest in disaster risk reduction with a view to implementing the objectives of the Strategy; 21. Recognizes the need for adequate financial and administrative resources for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction secretariat, requests the Secretary-General to allocate such resources, within existing resources, for the activities and effective functioning of the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and also requests the Secretary-General to report on this as appropriate; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the result of the Global Survey of Early Warning Systems, including his recommendations on how to address associated technical, financial and organizational gaps and needs; 23. Stresses the need to foster better understanding and knowledge of the causes of disasters, as well as to build and strengthen coping capacities through, inter alia, the transfer and exchange of experiences and technical knowledge, educational and training programmes for natural disaster risk reduction, access to relevant data and information and the strengthening of institutional arrangements, including community-based organizations; 24. Emphasizes the need for the international community to maintain its focus beyond emergency relief and to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction, and stresses the importance of implementing programmes related to the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and disaster risk-reduction management in the most vulnerable regions, particularly in developing countries prone to natural disasters; 25. Stresses the need to address risk reduction of and vulnerabilities to all natural hazards, including geological and hydrometeorological hazards, in a comprehensive manner; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 61/199 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.3, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/199. International cooperation to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/200 of 18 December 1997, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/220 of 22 December 1999, 55/197 of 20 December 2000, 56/194 of 21 December 2001, 57/255 of 20 December 2002 and 59/232 of 22 December 2004 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/46 of 28 July 1999, 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2000/33 of 28 July 2000, Noting that the El Niño phenomenon has a recurring character and that it can lead to extensive natural hazards with the potential to seriously affect humankind, Reaffirming the importance of developing strategies at the national, subregional, regional and international levels that aim to prevent, mitigate and repair the damage caused by natural disasters that result from the El Niño phenomenon, Noting that technological developments and international cooperation have enhanced the capabilities for the prediction of the El Niño phenomenon and thereby the potential for the preventive actions that may be taken to reduce its negative impacts, Taking into account the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. in particular paragraph 37 (i) thereof, Reaffirming the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. 1. Recognizes the ongoing efforts made by the Government of Ecuador, the World Meteorological Organization and the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction which have led to the establishment of the International Centre for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon at Guayaquil, Ecuador, and encourages them to continue their support for the advancement of the Centre; 2. Also recognizes the technical and scientific support of the World Meteorological Organization to produce regionally coordinated monthly seasonal forecasts; 3. Encourages, in this regard, the World Meteorological Organization to strengthen the exchange of information with the relevant institutions; 4. Welcomes the activities undertaken so far to strengthen the International Centre for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon, through collaboration with international monitoring centres, including the national oceanographic institutions, and efforts to enhance regional and international recognition and support for the Centre and to develop tools for decision-makers and Government authorities to reduce the impact of the El Niño phenomenon; 5. Calls upon the Secretary-General and the relevant United Nations organs, funds and programmes, in particular those taking part in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and the international community to adopt, as appropriate, the necessary measures to strengthen the International Centre for the Study of the El Niño Phenomenon, and invites the international community to provide scientific, technical and financial assistance and cooperation for this purpose, as well as to strengthen, as appropriate, other centres devoted to the study of the El Niño phenomenon; 6. Welcomes the decision made by the Government of Spain and the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific to become new permanent members of the International Board of the Centre, as well as their commitment to provide economic and technical support; 7. Underscores the importance of maintaining the El Niño/Southern Oscillation observation system, continuing research into extreme weather events, improving forecasting skills and developing appropriate policies for reducing the impact of the El Niño phenomenon and other extreme weather events, and emphasizes the need to further develop and strengthen these institutional capacities in all countries, in particular in developing countries; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to include a section on the implementation of the present resolution in his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. RESOLUTION 61/19 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 28 November 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.28 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 61/19. Commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). which proclaimed that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude and that slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms, Recalling that the transatlantic slave trade, which operated between the fifteenth and late nineteenth centuries, involved the forced transportation of millions of Africans as slaves, mostly from West Africa to the Americas, thereby enriching the imperial powers of the time, Honouring the memory of those who died as a result of slavery, including through exposure to the horrors of the middle passage and in revolt against and resistance to enslavement, Recognizing that the slave trade and slavery are among the worst violations of human rights in the history of humanity, bearing in mind particularly their scale and duration, Deeply concerned that it has taken the international community almost two hundred years to acknowledge that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so, Recalling that slavery and the slave trade were declared a crime against humanity by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Acknowledging that the slave trade and the legacy of slavery are at the heart of situations of profound social and economic inequality, hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice, which continue to affect people of African descent today, Recalling paragraphs 98 to 106 of the Durban Declaration,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. and emphasizing, in particular, the importance of the "provision of effective remedies, recourse, redress, and compensatory and other measures at the national, regional and international levels", aimed at countering the continued impact of slavery and the slave trade, Recognizing the knowledge gap that exists with regard to the consequences created by the slave trade and slavery, and on the interactions, past and present, generated among the peoples of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, including the Caribbean, Welcoming the work of the International Scientific Committee for the Slave Route Project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which aims to correct this knowledge gap, and looks forward to its report in due course, Recalling resolution 28 adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, proclaiming 2004 the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, chap. V. and recalling also that 23 August is that Organization's International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, Noting that 2007 will mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, which contributed significantly to the abolition of slavery, 1. Decides to designate 25 March 2007 as the International Day for the Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade; 2. Urges Member States that have not already done so to develop educational programmes, including through school curricula, designed to educate and inculcate in future generations an understanding of the lessons, history and consequences of slavery and the slave trade; 3. Decides to convene, on 26 March 2007, a special commemorative meeting of the General Assembly on the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a programme of outreach, with the involvement of Member States and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to appropriately commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a special report on initiatives taken by States to implement paragraphs 101 and 102 of the Durban Declaration aimed at countering the legacy of slavery and contributing to the restoration of the dignity of the victims of slavery and the slave trade.See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. RESOLUTION 61/1 Adopted at the 9th plenary meeting, on 19 September 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.2, sponsored by Norway (as Chair of the preparatory meeting of experts for the high-level meeting on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010) 61/1. Declaration of the high-level meeting of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the preparatory meeting of experts on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/61/323. held in New York from 5 to 7 September 2006, Noting with appreciation the contribution made by the least developed countries and their development partners, the organizations of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, to the process of the midterm review of the Programme of Action,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. Adopts the following Declaration: Declaration of the high-level meeting of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 We, Heads of State and Government and heads of delegations participating in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap. II. held on 18 and 19 September 2006: 1. Recommit ourselves to meeting the special needs of the least developed countries by making progress towards the goals of poverty eradication, peace and development through the improvement of the quality of lives of people in the least developed countries and the strengthening of their abilities to build a better future for themselves and develop their countries, as committed to in the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010; 2. Reaffirm that the Programme of Action constitutes a fundamental framework for a strong global partnership whose goal is to accelerate sustained economic growth, sustainable development and poverty eradication in the least developed countries; 3. Also reaffirm that the primary responsibility for development in the least developed countries rests with those countries themselves, but that their efforts need to be given concrete and substantial international support from Governments and international organizations in a spirit of shared responsibility through genuine partnerships, including with civil society and the private sector; 4. Support the smooth transition strategy developed for the graduation of countries from the list of least developed countries and, in this regard, affirm the need for the international community to render necessary support to the graduation of the least developed countries with a view to averting the disruption of their development projects and programmes and allowing them to continue developing; 5. Stress that the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be effectively achieved in the least developed countries through, in particular, the timely fulfilment of the seven commitments of the Programme of Action; 6. Note that, while the Programme of Action has, since its adoption, registered some progress in its implementation, at the same time the overall socio-economic situation in the least developed countries continues to be precarious; 7. Stress that, given current trends, many least developed countries are unlikely to achieve the goals and objectives set out in the Programme of Action; 8. Emphasize, however, that many least developed countries, with the support of their development partners, have, despite many difficulties, produced notable achievements through wide-ranging and far-reaching reforms; 9. Acknowledge the significant efforts by development partners in the implementation of the Programme of Action, also acknowledge that there is more to be done to implement the Programme of Action, in particular in the area of poverty eradication, and recognize that the situation in the least developed countries requires continued attention; 10. Recognize that it is important to achieve the goals and targets of the Programme of Action in a timely manner and, in this regard, welcome the elaboration of the Cotonou Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/61/117, annex I. as an initiative owned and led by least developed countries; 11. Welcome the measures taken by developed and developing countries, as well as by multilateral organizations, to promote South-South cooperation and call upon them to continue to enhance their resources and efforts for capacity-building and development in the least developed countries, including the sharing of best practices in the sustainable development of the least developed countries; 12. Call upon the international community and the United Nations system and its agencies to continue to assist in the implementation of the Programme of Action, taking into account the conclusions of the midterm comprehensive global review; 13. Invite the Economic and Social Council to continue to ensure the annual review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, taking into account the concrete and quantifiable achievements produced in the realization of the agreed objectives. RESOLUTION 61/200 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.3, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/200. Natural disasters and vulnerability The General Assembly, Recalling its decision 57/547 of 20 December 2002 and its resolutions 58/215 of 23 December 2003, 59/233 of 22 December 2004 and 60/196 of 22 December 2005, Reaffirming the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming also the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, the underlying risk factors, as identified in the Hyogo Framework for Action, including socio-economic factors, that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural hazards, to build and further strengthen the capacity at all levels to cope with disaster risks and to enhance resilience against hazards associated with disasters, while also recognizing the negative impact of disasters on economic growth and sustainable development, in particular in developing countries and disaster-prone countries, Recognizing also the need to integrate a gender perspective in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster risk reduction management, with a view to reducing vulnerability, Noting that the global environment continues to suffer degradation, adding to economic and social vulnerabilities, in particular in developing countries, Taking into account the various ways and forms in which all countries, in particular the more vulnerable countries, are affected by severe natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and volcanic eruptions and extreme weather events such as heat waves, severe droughts, floods and storms, and the El Niño/La Niña events which have global reach, Expressing deep concern at the recent increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and associated natural disasters in some regions of the world and their substantial economic, social and environmental impacts, in particular upon developing countries in those regions, Taking into account that geological and hydro-meteorological hazards and their associated natural disasters and their reduction must be addressed in a coherent and effective manner, Noting the need for international and regional cooperation to increase the capacity of countries to respond to the negative impacts of all natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and volcanic eruptions and extreme weather events such as heat waves, severe droughts and floods, and associated natural disasters, in particular in developing countries and disaster-prone countries, Bearing in mind the importance of addressing disaster risks related to changing social, economic, environmental conditions and land use, and the impact of hazards associated with geological events, weather, water, climate variability and climate change, in sector development planning and programmes as well as in post-disaster situations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of its resolution 60/196 of 22 December 2005;A/61/229 and Corr.1. 2. Urges the international community to continue to address ways and means, including through cooperation and technical assistance, to reduce the adverse effects of natural disasters, including those caused by extreme weather events, in particular in vulnerable developing countries, including least developed countries and in Africa, through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, including the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. and encourages the institutional arrangement for the International Strategy to continue its work in this regard; 3. Recognizes that each State has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and for taking effective measures to reduce disaster risk, including for the protection of people on its territory, infrastructure and other national assets from the impact of disaster, including the implementation and follow-up of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and stresses the importance of international cooperation and partnerships to support those national efforts; 4. Stresses the importance of the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action and the priorities for action that States, regional and international organizations and international financial institutions as well as other concerned actors should take into consideration in their approach to disaster risk reduction and implement, as appropriate, according to their own circumstances and capacities, bearing in mind the vital importance of promoting a culture of prevention in the area of natural disasters, including through the mobilization of adequate resources for disaster risk reduction, and of addressing disaster risk reduction, including disaster preparedness at the community level, and the adverse effects of natural disasters on efforts to implement national development plans and poverty reduction strategies with a view to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Encourages Governments, through their respective International Strategy for Disaster Reduction national platforms and national focal points for disaster risk reduction, in cooperation with the United Nations system, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other stakeholders, to strengthen capacity-building in the most vulnerable regions, to enable them to address the social, economic and environmental factors that increase vulnerability, and to develop measures that will enable them to prepare for and cope with natural disasters, including those associated with earthquakes and extreme weather events, and encourages the international community to provide effective assistance to developing countries in this regard; 6. Emphasizes, in order to build resilience, particularly in developing countries, especially those vulnerable among them, the importance of addressing the underlying risk factors identified in the Hyogo Framework for Action and the importance of promoting the integration of risk reduction associated with geological and hydrometeorological hazards in disaster risk reduction programmes; 7. Stresses that, in order to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards, risk assessments should be integrated into disaster risk reduction programmes at national and local levels; 8. Encourages the institutional arrangement for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction to continue, within its mandate, particularly the Hyogo Framework for Action, to enhance the coordination of activities to promote natural disaster risk reduction and to make available to the relevant United Nations entities information on options for natural disaster risk reduction, including severe natural hazards and extreme weather-related disasters and vulnerabilities; 9. Stresses the importance of close cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, and other international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and other partners such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as appropriate, taking into account the need for the development of disaster management strategies, including the effective establishment of early warning systems that are, inter alia, people-centred, while taking advantage of all available resources and expertise for that purpose; 10. Also stresses that, to reduce vulnerability to all natural hazards, including geological and hydrometeorological events and associated natural disasters, closer and more systematic cooperation, and information-sharing on disaster preparedness between the scientific community and disaster managers at all levels should be strengthened; 11. Encourages the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. and the parties to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. to continue to address the adverse effects of climate change, especially in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, and also encourages the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to continue to assess the adverse effects of climate change on the socio-economic and natural disaster reduction systems of developing countries; 12. Stresses the need to address risk reduction of and vulnerabilities to all natural hazards including geological and hydrometeorological hazards; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to consider the issue of natural disasters and vulnerability at that session, under the sub-item entitled "International Strategy for Disaster Reduction" of the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 61/201 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.4, para. 10),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 137 to none, with 47 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/201. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/222 of 22 December 1999, its decision 55/443 of 20 December 2000 and its resolutions 56/199 of 21 December 2001, 57/257 of 20 December 2002, 58/243 of 23 December 2003, 59/234 of 22 December 2004 and 60/197 of 22 December 2005 and other resolutions relating to the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. including the acknowledgement that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and to embark on the required reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases,Ibid., para. 23. Recalling the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session, held in New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002,FCCC/CP/2002/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.8. the outcome of the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties, held in Milan, Italy, from 1 to 12 December 2003,FCCC/CP/2003/6/Add.1 and 2. the outcome of the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties, held in Buenos Aires from 6 to 18 December 2004,FCCC/CP/2004/10/Add.1 and 2. and the outcome of the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, held in Montreal, Canada, from 28 November to 10 December 2005,FCCC/CP/2005/5/Add.1. Reaffirming the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Remaining deeply concerned that all countries, in particular developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, face increased risks from the negative effects of climate change, and stressing the need to address adaptation needs relating to such effects, Noting that one hundred and eighty-nine States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified the Convention, Noting also that, to date, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. has attracted one hundred and sixty-six ratifications, including from parties mentioned in annex I to the Convention, which account for 61.6 per cent of emissions, Noting further the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the need to build and enhance scientific and technological capabilities, inter alia, through continuing support to the Panel for the exchange of scientific data and information, especially in developing countries, and noting the pending release of the fourth assessment report, Reaffirming its commitment to the ultimate objective of the Convention, namely, to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, Taking note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on the work of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention,A/61/225. 1. Calls upon States to work cooperatively towards achieving the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. 2. Notes the commitments, initiatives and processes undertaken within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the Kyoto Protocol theretoFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. for those which are parties to it, to meet the ultimate objective of the Convention; 3. Also notes that States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol welcome the entry into force of the Protocol on 16 February 2005 and strongly urge States that have not yet done so to ratify it in a timely manner; 4. Stresses that the seriousness of climate change argues for the implementation of the provisions of the Framework Convention; 5. Notes with interest the activities undertaken under the flexible mechanisms established by the Kyoto Protocol; 6. Takes note of the outcome of the eleventhFCCC/CP/2005/5/Add.1. and twelfth sessionsFCCC/CP/2006/4-FCCC/KP/CMP/2006/8. of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention and the firstFCCC/CP/2005/5/Add.1. and secondFCCC/CP/2006/4-FCCC/KP/CMP/2006/8. sessions of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol; 7. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the fourth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund, including the pledges made by the international community to the Trust Fund at the third Global Environment Facility Assembly, held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 and 30 August 2006, and stresses the importance of the fulfilment of the commitments; 8. Also takes note with appreciation of the hosting by the Government of Kenya of the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention and the second session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, held in Nairobi from 6 to 17 November 2006, and further takes note with appreciation of the offer of the Government of Indonesia to host the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties and the third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, to be held in Bali from 3 to 14 December 2007; 9. Notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the Framework Convention, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and encourages cooperation to promote complementarities among the three secretariats while respecting their independent legal status; 10. Endorses the continuation of the institutional linkage of the secretariat of the Framework Convention to the United Nations until such time as a review is deemed necessary by the Conference of the Parties or the General Assembly; 11. Invites the secretariat of the Framework Convention to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the work of the Conference of the Parties; 12. Invites the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind". RESOLUTION 61/202 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.5, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/202. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/201 of 22 December 2005 and other resolutions relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Reaffirming the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. which recognizes the Convention as one of the tools for poverty eradication, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the universal membership of the Convention, and acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension in that they affect all regions in the world, Noting that the timely and effective implementation of the Convention would help to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and encouraging affected country parties to include, as appropriate, in their national development strategies measures to combat desertification, Recognizing the need for the provision of adequate resources for Global Environment Facility focal areas, including a focus on land degradation, primarily desertification and deforestation, Stressing the need for further diversification of funding sources to address land degradation, in accordance with articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, Noting the decision of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention at its seventh session to establish an ad hoc intergovernmental intersessional working group with the mandate to review the report of the Joint Inspection Unit in full and, building on the results of that review and other inputs, to develop a draft ten-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention,ICCD/COP(7)/16/Add.1, decision 3/COP.7. Recognizing the need to provide the secretariat of the Convention with stable, adequate and predictable resources in order to enable it to continue to discharge its responsibilities in an efficient and timely manner, and further recognizing the provision in section A on budget reform in the decision of the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session on the programme and budget for the biennium 2006-2007,Ibid., decision 23/COP.7. including the request that the Executive Secretary take additional measures necessary to address the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit,See JIU/REP/2005/5. ensure that the financial rules are fully respected in the future and report on this matter to the meeting of the Bureau and in the performance report for the biennium 2006-2007, Noting the decision of the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session to introduce the euro as the budget and accounting currency from 2008-2009, Ibid., decision 23/COP.7. Recalling its resolution 58/211 of 23 December 2003, in which it declared 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, Noting the activities undertaken within the framework of the celebration of the Year, Underlining the importance of the issue of desertification in the process of the Commission on Sustainable Development, in particular in the context of its sixteenth and seventeenth sessions dealing with thematic clusters on agriculture, rural development, land, drought and desertification, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/225, sect. II. 2. Reaffirms its resolve to support and strengthen the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in AfricaUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. to address causes of desertification and land degradation, as well as poverty resulting from land degradation, through, inter alia, the mobilization of adequate and predictable financial resources, the transfer of technology and capacity-building at all levels; 3. Reiterates its call upon Governments, where appropriate, in collaboration with relevant multilateral organizations, including the Global Environment Facility implementation agencies, to integrate desertification into their plans and strategies for sustainable development; 4. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the fourth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund,Global Environment Facility, document GEF/A.3/6. Available from www.gefweb.org. including the pledges made by the international community to the Trust Fund at the third Global Environment Facility Assembly, held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 and 30 August 2006, and stresses the importance of the fulfilment of the commitments; 5. Invites the Global Environment Facility to continue to make resources available for capacity-building activities in affected country parties implementing the Convention; 6. Welcomes the establishment of the ad hoc intergovernmental intersessional working group with the mandate to review the report of the Joint Inspection Unit in full and, building on the results of that review and other inputs, to develop a draft ten-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention, for submission to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention at its eighth session, and invites parties to the Convention, as well as other stakeholders, to submit views and comments to the working group in order to assist it in its work; 7. Invites parties to contribute on a voluntary basis either to the Supplementary Fund or in kind to cover the cost of the activities of the intergovernmental intersessional working group in order to allow it to fulfil its mandate; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, taking into account the institutional linkage and related administrative arrangements between the Convention secretariat and the United Nations Secretariat, to facilitate the implementation of decision 23 of the Conference of the Parties at its seventh session pertaining to the introduction of the euro as the budget and accounting currency of the Convention; Ibid., decision 23/COP.7. 9. Invites Member States to be represented at the highest appropriate level at the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention; 10. Expresses its appreciation for the financial contributions made by countries and other relevant stakeholders to carry out activities in the context of the celebration of the International Year of Deserts and Desertification; 11. Requests the secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable Development to work closely with the secretariat of the Convention in the preparations for the sixteenth and seventeenth sessions of the Commission in the areas relevant to the Convention; 12. Takes note of the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa"; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/203 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.6, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Croatia, Cyprus, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Palau, Portugal, San Marino, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Switzerland and Turkey. 61/203. International Year of Biodiversity, 2010 The General Assembly, Recalling chapter 15 of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. on the conservation of biological diversity adopted by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Recalling also the Convention on Biological Diversity,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. which was ratified by one hundred and eighty-eight States and one regional economic integration organization, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity,See UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. Recalling the commitment of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to a more effective and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention, and the target to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biodiversity, Recalling also the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling the need to expedite the implementation of the Global Initiative on Communication, Education and Public Awareness of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Concerned by the continued loss of biological diversity, and acknowledging that an unprecedented effort would be needed to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biological diversity, Deeply concerned by the social, economic, environmental and cultural implications of the loss of biodiversity, including negative impacts on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, and stressing the necessity to adopt concrete measures in order to reverse it, Taking note of the reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,Available from http://millenniumassessment.org. Conscious of the need for effective education to raise public awareness for achieving the threefold objective of the Convention and the 2010 biodiversity target, 1. Declares 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity; 2. Designates the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity as the focal point for the International Year of Biodiversity, and invites the secretariat to cooperate with other relevant United Nations bodies, multilateral environmental agreements, international organizations and other stakeholders, with a view to bringing greater international attention to bear on the issue of the continued loss of biodiversity; 3. Invites Member States to consider establishing national committees for the International Year of Biodiversity; 4. Encourages Member States and other stakeholders to take advantage of the International Year of Biodiversity to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity by promoting actions at the local, regional and international levels; 5. Invites Member States and relevant international organizations to support the activities to be organized by developing countries, especially least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, and countries with economies in transition; 6. Invites relevant international organizations as well as relevant global and regional environmental conventions to communicate to the focal point for the International Year of Biodiversity efforts made towards the successful implementation of the objective of the Year; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/204 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.6, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/204. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/201 of 20 December 2000, 56/197 of 21 December 2001, 57/253 and 57/260 of 20 December 2002, 58/212 of 23 December 2003, 59/236 of 22 December 2004 and 60/202 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reiterating that the Convention on Biological DiversityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. is the key international instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, Noting that one hundred eighty-eight States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified the Convention, Recalling the commitments of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to pursue a more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity, which will require action at all levels, including the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, Concerned by the continued loss of biological diversity, and acknowledging that an unprecedented effort would be needed to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biological diversity, Acknowledging the contribution that the ongoing work of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, of the World Intellectual Property Organization, can make in enhancing the effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Noting the contribution that South-South cooperation can make in the area of biological diversity, Taking note of the reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,Available from http://millenniumassessment.org. Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Brazil for hosting the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held in Curitiba from 20 to 31 March, and from 13 to 17 March 2006, respectively, Expressing its deep appreciation also to the Government of Germany for its offer to host the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in 2008, 1. Takes note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, transmitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session;A/61/225, sect. III. 2. Notes the outcome of the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity;UNEP/CBD/COP/8/31. 3. Notes also the outcome of the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety;UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/3/15. 4. Notes further the progress made with respect to the achievement of the three objectives set out in the Convention on Biological Diversity;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. 5. Urges all Member States to fulfil their commitments to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010, and emphasizes that this will require an appropriate focus on the loss of biodiversity in their relevant policies and programmes and the continued provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, including through the Global Environment Facility; 6. Reiterates the commitment of States parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetySee UNEP/CBD/ExCOP/1/3 and Corr.1, part two, annex. to support the implementation of the Convention and the Protocol, as well as other biodiversity-related agreements and the Johannesburg commitment to a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010, and to continue to negotiate within the framework of the Convention, bearing in mind the Bonn Guidelines,UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I, decision VI/24A. an international regime to promote and safeguard the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, and urges all States to commit to significantly reducing the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 and to continue ongoing efforts to elaborate and negotiate an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing; 7. Notes the progress made in the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing towards elaborating and negotiating the international regime, as well as the decision of the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to complete the work of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group at the earliest possible time, before the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to be held in 2010,UNEP/CBD/COP/8/31, annex I, decision VIII/4A. and urges parties to make every effort to complete the work within the established time frame; 8. Reaffirms the commitment, subject to national legislation, to respect, preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization; 9. Notes the progress made in the thematic programmes of work of the Convention on Biological Diversity; 10. Notes also the progress made at the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the continuing efforts made towards the implementation of the Protocol, and stresses that this will require the full support of parties and of relevant international organizations, in particular with regard to the provision of assistance to developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in capacity-building for biosafety; 11. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the fourth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility,Global Environment Facility, document GEF/A.3/6. Available from www.gefweb.org. including the pledges made by the international community to the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund, at the third Global Environment Facility Assembly, held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 and 30 August 2006, and stresses the importance of fulfilment of the commitments; 12. Invites the countries that have not yet done so to ratify or to accede to the Convention; 13. Invites the parties to the Convention that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to consider doing so; 14. Invites countries to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Conference of FAO, Thirty-first Session, Rome, 2-13 November 2001 (C 2001/REP), appendix D. 15. Encourages developed countries parties to the Convention to contribute to the relevant trust funds of the Convention, in particular so as to enhance the full participation of the developing countries parties in all of its activities; 16. Urges parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to facilitate the transfer of technology for the effective implementation of the Convention in accordance with its provisions; 17. Takes note of the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 18. Stresses the importance of reducing duplicative reporting requirements of the biodiversity-related conventions, while respecting their independent legal status and their independent mandates; 19. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity to continue reporting to the General Assembly on the ongoing work regarding the Convention, including its Cartagena Protocol; 20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 61/205 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/422/Add.7, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/205. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its ninth special session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, 53/242 of 28 July 1999, 56/193 of 21 December 2001, 57/251 of 20 December 2002, 58/209 of 23 December 2003, 59/226 of 22 December 2004 and 60/189 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing the need for more efficient environmental activities in the United Nations system, and noting the need to consider possible options to address this need, Taking into account Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Environment Programme as the principal body within the United Nations system in the field of environment, which should take into account, within its mandate, the sustainable development needs of developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, Emphasizing that capacity-building and technology support for developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in environment-related fields are important components of the work of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recognizing the need to accelerate implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building of the United Nations Environment Programme,UNEP/GC.23/6/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex. 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme at its ninth special sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/61/25). and the decision contained therein;Ibid., annex I. 2. Takes note also of the report of the Secretary-General on universal membership of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme;A/61/322. 3. Notes that the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme at its ninth special session discussed all components of the recommendations on international environmental governance as contained in its decision SS.VII/1,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/57/25), annex I. and also notes the continued discussions scheduled for the twenty-fourth session of the Governing Council; 4. Emphasizes the need to further advance and fully implement the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building,UNEP/GC.23/6/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex. and, in this regard, calls upon Governments as well as other stakeholders that are in a position to do so to provide the necessary funding and technical assistance for its full implementation, and also calls upon the United Nations Environment Programme to continue its efforts to fully implement the Bali Strategic Plan through strengthened cooperation with other stakeholders, based on their comparative advantages; 5. Welcomes the endorsement of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals ManagementIbid., annex I. by the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme at its ninth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/61/25). and invites Governments, regional economic integration organizations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to engage actively and cooperate closely to support the Strategic Approach implementation activities of the United Nations Environment Programme, including the Strategic Approach Quick Start Programme,See SAICM/ICCM.1/7, annex IV. including through providing adequate resources, as appropriate; 6. Emphasizes the need to further enhance coordination and cooperation among the relevant United Nations organizations in the promotion of the environmental dimension of sustainable development, and welcomes the continued active participation of the United Nations Environment Programme in the United Nations Development Group and the Environment Management Group; 7. Also emphasizes the need for the United Nations Environment Programme, within its mandate, to further contribute to sustainable development programmes, the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. at all levels, and to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, bearing in mind the mandate of the Commission; 8. Recognizes the need to strengthen the scientific base of the United Nations Environment Programme, as recommended by the intergovernmental consultation on strengthening the scientific base of the Programme, including the reinforcement of the scientific capacity of developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, including through the provision of adequate financial resources; 9. Reiterates the need for stable, adequate and predictable financial resources for the United Nations Environment Programme, and, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII), underlines the need to consider the adequate reflection of all administrative and management costs of the Programme in the context of the United Nations regular budget; 10. Invites Governments that are in a position to do so to increase their contributions to the Environment Fund; 11. Emphasizes the importance of the Nairobi headquarters location of the United Nations Environment Programme, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to the Programme and to the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 12. Decides to consider, if necessary, the issue of universal membership of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of the United Nations Environment Programme at its sixty-fourth session, while noting the differences in views expressed so far on this important but complex issue; 13. Decides also to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-fourth session". RESOLUTION 61/206 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/423, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/206. Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3327 (XXIX) of 16 December 1974, 32/162 of 19 December 1977, 34/115 of 14 December 1979, 56/205 and 56/206 of 21 December 2001, 57/275 of 20 December 2002, 58/226 and 58/227 of 23 December 2003, 59/239 of 22 December 2004 and 60/203 of 22 December 2005, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/38 of 26 July 2002 and 2003/62 of 25 July 2003 and Council decisions 2004/300 of 23 July 2004, 2005/298 of 26 July 2005 and 2006/247 of 27 July 2006, Recalling the goal contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020 and the goal contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Recalling also the Habitat Agenda,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing that the overall thrust and strategic vision of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and its emphasis on the two global campaigns on secure tenure and urban governance are strategic points of entry for the effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda, especially for guiding international cooperation in respect of adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlements development, Conscious of the unique opportunity provided by the Cities Without Slums Initiative mentioned in the Millennium Declaration for realizing economies of scale and substantial multiplier effects in helping to attain the other Millennium Development Goals, Acknowledging the significance of the urban dimension of poverty eradication and the need to integrate water and sanitation issues within a broad-based approach to human settlements, Noting with appreciation the convening by the Government of Pakistan of the second South Asian Conference on Sanitation, held in Islamabad on 20 and 21 September 2006, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Kenya, the African Union and UN-Habitat for hosting the second African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development and the Africities Summit in Nairobi on 3 and 4 April 2006 and from 18 to 24 September 2006, respectively, Expressing its appreciation also to the Government of Canada and the city of Vancouver for hosting the third session of the World Urban Forum from 19 to 23 June 2006 and to the Government of China and the city of Nanjing for their willingness to host the fourth session of the World Urban Forum in 2008, Expressing its appreciation further to the Government of India for its offer to host the first Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Human Settlements in New Delhi in December 2006, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of Uruguay for hosting the fifteenth regular Assembly of Ministers and High-level Authorities of the Housing and Urban Development Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, held from 4 to 6 October 2006 in Montevideo, Taking note of the report entitled State of the World's Cities 2006/7: the Millennium Development Goals and Urban Sustainability - 30 Years of Shaping the Habitat Agenda,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.06.III.Q.3. Recognizing the need for UN-Habitat to sharpen its focus on all areas within its mandate, Recognizing also the continued urgent need for increased and predictable financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation to ensure timely, effective and concrete global implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, Noting the efforts by UN-Habitat to strengthen its collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other international organizations and its participation in the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the coordinated implementation of the Habitat AgendaE/2006/71. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat),A/61/262. Taking note also of the special annex for the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements FoundationST/SGB/2006/8. appended by the Secretary-General to the financial regulations and rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. 1. Requests the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to address, in a comprehensive manner, any issues relating to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation at its twenty-first session, bearing in mind the need to effectively mobilize resources for the Foundation; 2. Encourages Governments to consider an enhanced approach to achieving the Cities Without Slums Initiative mentioned in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. by upgrading existing slums and creating policies and programmes, according to national circumstances, to forestall the growth of future slums, and in this regard invites the international donor community and multilateral and regional development banks to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through increased voluntary financial assistance; 3. Recognizes that Governments have the primary responsibility for the sound and effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New MillenniumResolution S-25/2, annex. and the Millennium Declaration, and stresses the need for the international community to fully implement commitments to support Governments of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their efforts, through the provision of the requisite resources, capacity-building, the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms and the creation of an international enabling environment; 4. Calls for continued financial support to UN-Habitat through increased voluntary contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation, and invites Governments to provide predictable multi-year funding to support programme implementation; 5. Also calls for increased, non-earmarked contributions to the Foundation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat under review so as to enhance its effectiveness in supporting national policies, strategies and plans in attaining the poverty eradication, gender equality, water and sanitation and slum upgrading targets of the Millennium Declaration, the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome;See resolution 60/1. 7. Emphasizes the importance of the Nairobi headquarters location of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to UN-Habitat and the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 8. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of UN-Habitat to develop a results-based and less fragmented budget structure with a view to securing maximum efficiency, accountability and transparency in programme delivery regardless of funding source; 9. Invites the international donor community and financial institutions to contribute generously to the Water and Sanitation Trust Fund, the Slum Upgrading Facility and the technical cooperation trust funds to enable UN-Habitat to assist developing countries to mobilize public investment and private capital for slum upgrading, shelter and basic services; 10. Acknowledges contributions of the regional consultative initiatives, including conferences of ministers in the area of human settlements, for implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, and invites the international community to support such efforts; 11. Calls upon UN-Habitat to strengthen its regional approach to the coordination and implementation of its normative and operational activities, and invites all countries in a position to do so to support the activities of UN-Habitat in this regard; 12. Requests UN-Habitat to intensify coordination in the framework of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the common country assessment and to continue to work with the World Bank, regional development banks, other development banks, regional organizations and other relevant partners to field-test innovative policies, practices and pilot projects in order to mobilize resources to increase the supply of affordable credit for slum upgrading and other pro-poor human settlements development in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 13. Invites all Governments to participate actively in the fourth session of the World Urban Forum, and invites donor countries to support the participation of representatives from developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition, including women and youth, in the Forum; 14. Recognizes the important role and contribution of UN-Habitat in supporting the efforts of countries affected by natural disasters and complex emergencies to develop prevention, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes for the transition from relief to development, and in this regard requests UN-Habitat, within its mandate, to continue to work closely with other relevant agencies in the United Nations system, and strongly reiterates its invitation to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to consider including UN-Habitat in its membership; 15. Requests UN-Habitat, through its involvement in the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and through contacts with relevant United Nations agencies and partners in the field, to promote the early involvement of human settlements experts in the assessment and development of prevention, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes to support the efforts of developing countries affected by natural disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)". RESOLUTION 61/207 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/424/Add.1, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/207. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998, 54/231 of 22 December 1999, 55/212 of 20 December 2000, 56/209 of 21 December 2001, 57/274 of 20 December 2002, 58/225 of 23 December 2003, 59/240 of 22 December 2004 and 60/204 of 22 December 2005 on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. and all relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular those that have built upon the 2005 World Summit Outcome, in the economic, social and related fields, including General Assembly resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Emphasizing the need to fully implement the global partnership for development and enhance the momentum generated by the 2005 World Summit in order to operationalize and implement the commitments made in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the 2005 World Summit, in the economic, social and related fields, Reaffirming the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Noting that particular attention must be given, in the context of globalization, to the objective of protecting, promoting and enhancing the rights and welfare of women and girls, as stated in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Reaffirming the commitment to eradicate poverty and hunger and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all and to promote the development of the productive sectors in developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit from the process of globalization, Reaffirming also its strong support for fair globalization and its resolve to achieve the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, and in this regard recalling the ministerial declaration adopted on 5 July 2006 by the high-level segment of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council on the theme "Creating an environment at the national and international levels conducive to generating full and productive employment and decent work for all, and its impact on sustainable development",A/61/3, chap III, para. 50. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 3. Reaffirming further the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, and to that end stressing the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, and acknowledging the need for continued discussion on the issue of the voting power of developing countries in the Bretton Woods institutions, which remains a concern, Reaffirming its commitment to governance, equity and transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and its commitment to open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial systems, Recognizing that countries diverge greatly in terms of their abilities to access, diffuse and use scientific and technological knowledge, most of which is generated in developed countries, Recognizing also that developing countries have varying capacities to translate scientific and technological knowledge into goods and services and to invest in human resources and entrepreneurial capacity-building, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/286. 2. Recognizes that some countries have successfully adapted to the changes and benefited from globalization but many others, especially the least developed countries, have remained marginalized in the globalizing world economy, and recognizes also that, as stated in the Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the benefits are very unevenly shared, while the costs are unevenly distributed; 3. Reaffirms the need for the United Nations to play a fundamental role in the promotion of international cooperation for development and the coherence, coordination and implementation of development goals and actions agreed upon by the international community, and resolves to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system in close cooperation with all other multilateral financial, trade and development institutions in order to support sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development; 4. Underlines that in addressing the linkages between globalization and sustainable development, particular focus should be placed on identifying and implementing mutually reinforcing policies and practices that promote sustained economic growth, social development and environmental protection and that this requires efforts at both the national and international levels; 5. Reaffirms that good governance is essential for sustainable development; that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation; and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, and the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; 6. Reaffirms also that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving sustainable development, that, in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance through addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries and that to this end the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market access of developing countries; 7. Underlines the fact that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, i.e., the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines and commitments and global market considerations, that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space and that it is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments; 8. Reaffirms that each country has primary responsibility for its own development, that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development and that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty; 9. Stresses the special importance of creating an enabling international economic environment through strong cooperative efforts by all countries and institutions to promote equitable economic development in a world economy that benefits all people; 10. Invites developed countries, in particular major industrialized economies, to take into account the effect of their macroeconomic policies on international growth and development; 11. Recognizes, at the same time, that domestic economies are now interwoven with the global economic system and that, inter alia, the effective use of trade and investment opportunities can help countries to fight poverty; 12. Stresses that, in the increasingly globalizing interdependent world economy, a holistic approach to the interconnected national, international and systemic challenges of financing for development, namely, sustainable, gender-sensitive and people-centred development, is essential and that such an approach must open up opportunities for all and help to ensure that resources are created and used effectively and that solid and accountable institutions are established at all levels; 13. Recognizes that the gap in technology and scientific capabilities between developed and developing countries, especially the least developed countries, is a continuing concern, as it impedes the capacity of many developing countries to participate fully in the global economy; 14. Recognizes also that science and technology are vital for sharing the benefits of globalization, and stresses that the technology gap between developed and developing countries constitutes a major challenge for developing countries in their efforts to achieve development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 15. Recognizes further that making globalization a positive force for all can be accomplished through the involvement, cooperation and partnership of Governments and other stakeholders and that promoting international cooperation for development and promoting policy coherence on global development issues are indispensable to that end; 16. Urges the international community to continue to work towards facilitating an adequate diffusion of scientific and technical knowledge and transfer of, access to and acquisition of technology for developing countries; 17. Stresses the need to promote and facilitate access to the development, transfer and diffusion of technologies for the developing countries through the articulation of policies and measures to foster an enabling environment to facilitate the acquisition and development of technology and to enhance innovation capacity, on the basis of the mandates contained in the Doha Ministerial Declaration;A/C.2/56/7, annex. 18. Calls for technical and financial assistance to developing countries in their efforts to build the human and institutional capacity needed to pursue policies that strengthen their national innovation systems and that encourage investments in science and technology education not only for the generation of new technologies but also for the acquisition of the capacities to adapt science and technology developed elsewhere to local conditions; 19. Recognizes that science and technology, including information and communication technologies, are vital for the achievement of development goals and that international support can help developing countries to benefit from technological advancements and enhance their productive capacity, and in this regard reaffirms the commitment to promoting and facilitating, as appropriate, access to and the development, transfer and diffusion of technologies, including environmentally sound technologies and corresponding know-how, for developing countries; 20. Welcomes existing mechanisms and initiatives which assist developing countries in accessing technologies, encourages the strengthening and enhancement of existing mechanisms and the consideration of initiatives, including the creation of international databases on knowledge and research information, so as to assist developing countries in accessing technologies and know-how for creating technology-based enterprises and upgrading existing industries, and also encourages the strengthening of assistance to developing countries to enhance digital opportunities for all people, putting the potential of information and communication technologies to work in accessing technologies and know-how; 21. Encourages existing arrangements and the further promotion of regional, subregional and interregional joint research and development projects by, where feasible, mobilizing existing scientific and research and development resources and by networking sophisticated scientific facilities and research equipment; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on globalization and interdependence on the theme "Impact that, inter alia, international commitments, policies and processes can have on the scope and the implementation of national development strategies" under the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 61/208 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/424/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/208. International migration and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/127 of 19 December 1994, 50/123 of 20 December 1995, 52/189 of 18 December 1997, 54/212 of 22 December 1999, 56/203 of 21 December 2001, 58/208 of 23 December 2003, 59/241 of 22 December 2004 and 60/227 of 23 December 2005 on international migration and development, and 60/206 of 22 December 2005 on the facilitation and reduction of the cost of transfer of migrant remittances, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and recalling the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenIbid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Ibid., vol. 2220, No. 39481. Recalling also Commission on Population and Development resolution 2006/2 of 10 May 2006,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2006, Supplement No. 5 (E/2006/25), chap. I, sect. B. Acknowledging the important nexus between international migration and development and the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that migration presents to countries of origin, transit and destination, and recognizing that migration brings benefits as well as challenges to the global community, Acknowledging also the important contribution provided by migrants and migration to development, as well as the complex interrelationship between migration and development, Reaffirming the resolve expressed by Heads of State and Government to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers and members of their families,See resolutions 55/2 and 60/1. Noting the efforts of Member States, relevant United Nations bodies, organizations, funds and programmes and international and intergovernmental organizations, including the International Organization for Migration, in respect of convening events at the national, regional and international levels with a view to advancing the dialogue on the issue of international migration and development, Noting with interest the offer of the Government of Belgium to convene a state-led initiative, the Global Forum on Migration and Development, in 2007, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/60/871. 2. Welcomes the convening of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development in New York on 14 and 15 September 2006, and the high level and broad participation that provided an opportunity to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development; 3. Takes note of the summary of the High-level Dialogue by the President of the General Assembly;A/61/515. 4. Welcomes the heightened awareness achieved by the High-level Dialogue on the issue, and decides to consider, at its sixty-third session, possible options for appropriate follow-up to the High-level Dialogue; 5. Also welcomes the ongoing efforts of Governments in the area of regional and interregional cooperation and regional consultative processes, where they exist, on migration, and encourages consideration of development dimensions in such processes, towards facilitating the dialogue and the exchange of information and experiences, fostering coordination at the regional and national levels, building common understanding, promoting cooperation, contributing to capacity-building and strengthening partnerships among countries of origin, transit and destination; 6. Takes note with interest of the establishment of the Global Migration Group; 7. Calls upon all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations, within their respective mandates, to continue to address the issue of international migration and development, with a view to integrating migration issues, including a gender perspective and cultural diversity, in a more coherent way within the broader context of the implementation of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals and respect for human rights; 8. Recalls its resolution 55/93 of 4 December 2000, by which it proclaimed 18 December International Day of the Migrant, and invites Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to include in the observance of International Day of the Migrant the developmental dimension of international migration, as highlighted by the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development held in New York, by sharing experiences and best practices on, inter alia, how to maximize the benefits of international migration and reduce its negative impacts; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "International migration and development". RESOLUTION 61/209 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/424/Add.4, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/209. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/205 of 22 December 1999, 56/186 of 21 December 2001 and 57/244 of 20 December 2002, and recalling also its resolutions 58/205 of 23 December 2003, 59/242 of 22 December 2004 and 60/207 of 22 December 2005, Welcoming the entry into force on 14 December 2005 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,Resolution 58/4, annex. Welcoming also the convening of the first session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in Jordan, from 10 to 14 December 2006, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/177. 2. Also takes note of the generous offer of the Government of Indonesia to host the second session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 3. Urges all Member States and competent regional economic integration organizations, within the limits of their competence, to consider ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against CorruptionResolution 58/4, annex. as a matter of priority, and calls upon all States parties to fully implement the Convention as soon as possible; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report, completed within existing resources, on the implementation of previous resolutions that would elaborate further on the magnitude of corruption at all levels and on any scale, and on the scale of the transfer of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption and the impact of corruption and such transfers on economic growth and sustainable development, taking into account the outcome of, and also transmitting the report on, the first session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence", the sub-item entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption". RESOLUTION 61/20 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 28 November 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/427, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/20. Commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the operations of the United Nations Children's Fund The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 57 (I) of 11 December 1946, by which it established the International Children's Emergency Fund, 417 (V) of 1 December 1950, by which it affirmed the Fund's decision to devote a greater share of its resources to programmes outside Europe, 802 (VIII) of 6 October 1953, by which it changed the name of the organization to the United Nations Children's Fund and removed the time limits from its mandate, 1391 (XIV) of 20 November 1959, in which it saw aid provided by the Fund as a practical way to carry out the aims proclaimed in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child,See resolution 1386 (XIV). and 2057 (XX) of 16 December 1965, in which it applauded the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 1965 to the United Nations Children's Fund, Recalling also its resolutions 2855 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971, in which it commended the Fund for its very substantial and significant achievements during its twenty-five years of operation, and 51/192 of 16 December 1996, in which it recognized the important contribution of the Fund in promoting the survival, development and protection of children during its first fifty years of operation, Recalling further its resolutions 33/83 of 15 December 1978 on the International Year of the Child, 44/25 of 20 November 1989 on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 45/217 of 21 December 1990 on the World Summit for Children and S-27/2 of 10 May 2002 in which it adopted the document entitled "A world fit for children", annexed to that resolution, 1. Congratulates the United Nations Children's Fund on the occasion of its sixtieth anniversary; 2. Commends the United Nations Children's Fund for the substantial assistance it has provided to programme countries in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and other agreed development goals in the interest of children; 3. Commends the staff of the United Nations Children's Fund and the National Committees and other partners for their contributions to the substantial achievements of the Fund; 4. Commends Member States, civil society organizations and the private sector for the generous financial support of the activities of the United Nations Children's Fund, and invites them to consider increasing their support to the work of the Fund; 5. Requests the President of the General Assembly to convene, in December 2006, a special commemorative meeting of the Assembly devoted to the sixtieth anniversary of the operations of the United Nations Children's Fund. RESOLUTION 61/210 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/424/Add.5, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America and Uzbekistan. 61/210. Integration of the economies in transition into the world economy The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/187 of 22 December 1992, 48/181 of 21 December 1993, 49/106 of 19 December 1994, 51/175 of 6 December 1996, 53/179 of 15 December 1998, 55/191 of 20 December 2000, 57/247 of 20 December 2002 and 59/243 of 22 December 2004, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. and relevant General Assembly resolutions adopted at the sixtieth session which contain provisions on addressing the special needs of the countries with economies in transition, Reaffirming the need for the full integration of the countries with economies in transition into the world economy, and in this regard stressing the importance of ensuring a conducive national and international environment, Noting that some of those countries have evolved from the status of economies in transition into functioning market economies, Noting also that in some economies in transition this progress has been slower, resulting in lower aggregate development levels and lower per capita income, Taking into account the fact that, despite some progress in the fight against poverty, its level is still high in many countries with economies in transition, particularly in the rural areas, Stressing the importance of continued international assistance to countries with economies in transition to support their efforts towards market-oriented reforms, institution-building, infrastructure development and achieving macroeconomic and financial stability and economic growth, and to ensure that they are fully integrated into the world economy, Recognizing, in particular, the need to enhance the capacity of those countries to utilize effectively the benefits of globalization, including those in the field of information and communication technologies, and to respond more adequately to its challenges, Recognizing also the role that the private sector plays in the socio-economic development of those countries and their integration into the world economy, and stressing the importance of continuing efforts to create a favourable environment for private investment and entrepreneurship, Recognizing further the continuing need for favourable conditions for market access of exports from countries with economies in transition, in accordance with multilateral trade agreements, Recognizing the important role that foreign direct investment can play in those countries, and stressing the need to create an enabling environment, both domestically and internationally, to attract more foreign direct investment to those countries, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/269. 1. Welcomes the measures taken by the organizations of the United Nations system to implement General Assembly resolutions on the integration of the economies in transition into the world economy; 2. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations system, including the regional commissions, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions, in collaboration with relevant non-United Nations multilateral and regional institutions, to continue to conduct analytical activities and provide policy advice and targeted and substantial technical assistance to the Governments of the countries with economies in transition aimed at strengthening the social, legal and political framework for completing market-oriented reforms, supporting national development priorities with a view to sustaining the positive trends and reversing any declines in the economic and social development of those countries; 3. Emphasizes in this regard the importance of the further integration of the countries with economies in transition into the world economy, taking into account, inter alia, the relevant provisions of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 4. Stresses the need to focus international assistance, while supporting and complementing domestic efforts and resources, on those countries with economies in transition facing particular difficulties in socio-economic development, implementing market-oriented reforms and meeting internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Welcomes the efforts and progress made by countries with economies in transition in implementing policies that promote sustained economic growth and sustainable development, including, inter alia, by promoting competition, regulatory reform, good governance and the rule of law, the fight against corruption, respect for property rights and expeditious contract enforcement, and calls upon the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions, to highlight the successful models as good practices; 6. Also welcomes, in this regard, efforts made by countries with economies in transition to improve governance and institutional capabilities, which contribute to using aid more effectively; 7. Encourages the countries with economies in transition to continue implementing and, where appropriate, to improve measures to sustain and advance the positive trends mentioned above; 8. Welcomes the aspiration of the countries with economies in transition to the further development of regional, subregional and interregional cooperation, and invites the United Nations system to enhance dialogue with and increase support to the regional and subregional cooperation organizations whose membership includes countries with economies in transition and whose efforts include assisting their members to fully integrate into the world economy; 9. Reaffirms the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, and to that end stresses the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture; 10. Recognizes the importance of infrastructure development for diversifying the economies of the countries with economies in transition, and for enhancing their competitiveness and increasing their gains from trade, and encourages Member States, the United Nations and other relevant stakeholders to support such infrastructure development efforts in this regard; 11. Reaffirms the commitment to work to accelerate and facilitate the accession of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to the World Trade Organization, consistent with its criteria, recognizing the importance of universal integration in the rules-based global trading system; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, in close consultation with the countries with economies in transition, a report on the implementation of the present resolution containing, inter alia, substantial recommendations, including on the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations system and those countries, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 61/211 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/425/Add.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/211. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries The General Assembly, Recalling the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 15 thereof, in which the Heads of State and Government undertook to address the special needs of the least developed countries, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 60/228 of 23 December 2005, Recalling further its resolution 61/1 of 19 September 2006, Reaffirming its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the 2004 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council on the theme "Resources mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication in the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010",A/59/3, chap. III, para. 49. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 3. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/82-E/2006/74 and Corr.1. 2. Welcomes the contributions made in the lead-up to the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. including the elaboration of the Cotonou Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/61/117, annex I. as an initiative owned and led by the least developed countries; 3. Reaffirms its commitment to the DeclarationSee resolution 61/1. adopted by Heads of State and Government and heads of delegations participating in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, in which they recommitted themselves to addressing the special needs of the least developed countries by making progress towards the goals of poverty eradication, peace and development; 4. Acknowledges the findings of the midterm comprehensive global review, which stressed that despite some progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action, the overall socio-economic situation in the least developed countries continues to be precarious and requires attention and that, given current trends, many least developed countries are unlikely to achieve the goals and objectives set out in the Programme of Action; 5. Stresses that the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be effectively achieved in the least developed countries through, in particular, the timely fulfilment of the seven commitments of the Programme of Action; 6. Reaffirms that the Programme of Action constitutes a fundamental framework for a strong global partnership, whose goal is to accelerate sustained economic growth, sustainable development and poverty eradication in the least developed countries; 7. Also reaffirms that progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action will require effective implementation of national policies and priorities for the sustained economic growth and sustainable development of the least developed countries, as well as strong and committed partnership between those countries and their development partners; 8. Underscores the fact that for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, the least developed countries and their development partners must be guided by an integrated approach, a broader genuine partnership, country ownership, market considerations and results-oriented actions; 9. Urges the least developed countries to strengthen the implementation of the Programme of Action through their respective national development framework, including, where they exist, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework; 10. Urges development partners to exercise individual best efforts to continue to increase their financial and technical support for the implementation of the Programme of Action; 11. Encourages the United Nations Resident Coordinator system to assist the least developed countries in translating goals and targets of the Programme of Action into concrete actions in the light of their national development priorities; 12. Encourages the Resident Coordinator system and country teams, as well as country-level representatives of the Bretton Woods institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors and other development partners, to collaborate with and provide support to, as appropriate, the relevant development forums and follow-up mechanisms; 13. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system and other multilateral organizations that have not yet done so to mainstream the implementation of the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action within their programmes of work as well as in their intergovernmental processes and to undertake within their respective mandates multi-year programming of actions in favour of the least developed countries; 14. Stresses, within the context of the annual global reviews, as envisaged in the Programme of Action, the need to assess the implementation of the Programme of Action sector by sector, and in this regard invites the United Nations system and all relevant international organizations, consistent with their respective mandates, to report on the progress made in its implementation using quantifiable criteria and indicators to be measured against the goals and targets of the Programme of Action and to participate fully in reviews of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels; 15. Also stresses the crucial importance of integrated and coordinated follow-up, monitoring and reporting for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure, at the Secretariat level, the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system to facilitate coordinated implementation as well as coherence in the follow-up to and monitoring and review of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels, including through such coordination mechanisms as the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, the United Nations Development Group, the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs and the Inter-agency Expert Group on the Millennium Development Goals Indicators; 17. Reiterates its invitation to the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, and other relevant multilateral organizations, to provide full support to and cooperation with the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to elaborate and submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a detailed and clearly defined advocacy strategy aimed at raising awareness about the objectives, goals and commitments of the Programme of Action with a view to facilitating its effective and timely implementation; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit an annual analytical and results-oriented progress report on the further implementation of the Programme of Action and to make available adequate resources, within existing resources, for the preparation of such a report. RESOLUTION 61/212 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/425/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/212. Groups of countries in special situations: specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/201 of 23 December 2003 and 60/208 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Taking note of the Declaration of the Heads of State or Government of Landlocked Developing Countries,A/C.2/61/3, annex. Recalling the Asunción Platform for the Doha Development Round,A/60/308, annex. Recognizing that the lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by remoteness from world markets, and prohibitive transit costs and risks continue to impose serious constraints on export earnings, private capital inflow and domestic resource mobilization of landlocked developing countries and therefore adversely affect their overall growth and socio-economic development, Expressing support to those landlocked developing countries that are emerging from conflict, with a view to enabling them to rehabilitate and reconstruct, as appropriate, political, social and economic infrastructure and to assisting them in achieving their development priorities in accordance with the goals and targets of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. Recalling the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. an initiative for accelerating regional economic cooperation and development, as many landlocked and transit developing countries are located in Africa, Welcoming the convening of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Ministerial Conference on Transport, held in Busan, Republic of Korea, on 10 and 11 November 2006, which adopted the Busan Declaration on Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific,E/ESCAP/MCT/Rep. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries;A/61/302. 2. Reaffirms the right of access of landlocked countries to and from the sea and freedom of transit through the territory of transit countries by all means of transport, in accordance with the applicable rules of international law; 3. Also reaffirms that transit countries, in the exercise of their full sovereignty over their territory, have the right to take all measures necessary to ensure that the rights and facilities provided for landlocked countries in no way infringe their legitimate interests; 4. Encourages donor countries and multilateral and regional financial and development institutions, in particular the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, to provide landlocked and transit developing countries with appropriate technical and financial assistance in the form of grants or concessionary loans for the implementation of the five priorities outlined in the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. in particular for the construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities, including alternative routes and improved communications, to promote subregional, regional and interregional projects and programmes; 5. Reaffirms the importance of trade and trade facilitation as one of the priorities of the Almaty Programme of Action, and calls for the early resumption and successful development-oriented outcome of the Doha Round of trade negotiations, adhering fully to the agreed mandate in the Doha Ministerial Declaration,A/C.2/56/7, annex. the framework adopted by the General Council of the World Trade Organization in its decision of 1 August 2004World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration;World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(05)/DEC. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 6. Emphasizes that assistance for the improvement of transit transport facilities and services should be integrated into the overall economic development strategies of the landlocked and transit developing countries and that donor countries should consequently take into account the requirements for the long-term restructuring of the economies of the landlocked developing countries; 7. Recalls that landlocked and transit developing countries have the primary responsibility for implementing the Almaty Programme of Action, as envisaged in its paragraphs 38 and 38 bis; 8. Emphasizes that South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation with the involvement of donors should be further promoted, as well as cooperation among subregional and regional organizations; 9. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, including the regional commissions, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Bank, the World Customs Organization, the World Trade Organization and the International Maritime Organization, to integrate the Almaty Programme of Action into their relevant programmes of work, and encourages them to continue their support to the landlocked and transit developing countries, inter alia, through well-coordinated and coherent technical assistance programmes in transit transport; 10. Requests the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, in accordance with the mandate given by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/227 of 24 December 2001 and in the Almaty Programme of Action and the Almaty Declaration,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex II. to continue its cooperation and coordination with organizations within the United Nations system, particularly those engaged in operational activities on the ground in landlocked and transit developing countries, to ensure effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action in line with Assembly resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, and also requests the Office to intensify the efforts to establish effective indicators to measure the progress in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action, in close cooperation with relevant organizations; 11. Decides to hold a midterm review meeting of the Almaty Programme of Action in 2008, in accordance with paragraph 49 of the Almaty Programme of Action; the review should be preceded, where necessary, by national, subregional, regional and substantive preparations in a most effective, well-structured and broad participatory manner and should be organized within existing resources; intergovernmental mechanisms at the global and regional levels, including those of United Nations regional commissions, as well as relevant substantive material and statistical data, should be effectively utilized in the review process; also in accordance with paragraph 49, the Office of the High Representative should coordinate the preparatory process and United Nations system organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the regional commissions and relevant international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates, should provide necessary support to the review process; 12. Encourages donor countries and the international financial and development institutions as well as private entities to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General to support the activities related to the follow-up to the implementation of the outcome of the Almaty International Ministerial Conference; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation"; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on progress made in the preparation for the midterm review meeting. RESOLUTION 61/213 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/426/Add.1, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/213. Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/196 of 22 December 1992, 48/183 of 21 December 1993, 50/107 of 20 December 1995, 56/207 of 21 December 2001, 57/265 and 57/266 of 20 December 2002, 58/222 of 23 December 2003, 59/247 of 22 December 2004 and 60/209 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by Heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. and their commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Recalling also its resolution 61/16 of 20 November 2006 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, Recalling further the outcomes of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Expressing its deep concern that, even after the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, the number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected groups, in particular in the least developed countries and in sub-Saharan Africa, Encouraged by reductions in poverty in some countries in the recent past, and determined to reinforce and extend this trend to benefit people worldwide, Recognizing that mobilizing financial resources for development at the national and international levels and the effective use of those resources are central to a global partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Acknowledging that sustained economic growth, supported by rising productivity and a favourable environment, including private investment and entrepreneurship, is necessary to eradicate poverty, achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and realize a rise in living standards, Underlining the priority and urgency given by the Heads of State and Government to the eradication of poverty, as expressed in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, 1. Recognizes the contribution that the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) has made to poverty eradication, and notes the interest expressed for the proclamation of a second United Nations decade for the eradication of poverty; 2. Also recognizes that during the implementation of the Decade the international community adopted, inter alia, the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. all of which are mechanisms to focus national, regional and international efforts towards achieving poverty eradication; 3. Reiterates that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries; 4. Urges all Governments, the international community, including the United Nations system, and all other actors to continue to pursue seriously the objective of the eradication of poverty; 5. Reiterates the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting international cooperation for development, critical for the eradication of poverty; 6. Welcomes the observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the International Human Solidarity Day in order to raise public awareness to promote the eradication of poverty and extreme poverty in all countries, in this regard recognizes the useful role the observance of the days continues to play in raising public awareness and mobilizing all stakeholders in the fight against poverty, and encourages a participatory approach to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty; 7. Stresses the importance of ensuring, at the intergovernmental and inter-agency levels, coherent, comprehensive and integrated activities for the eradication of poverty in accordance with the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; 8. Calls upon donor countries to continue to give priority to the eradication of poverty in their assistance programmes and budgets, on either a bilateral or a multilateral basis; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a comprehensive report evaluating the implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, including recommendations on maintaining the momentum generated by the implementation of the Decade; 10. Recognizes the useful role the observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty continues to play in raising public awareness and mobilizing all stakeholders in the fight against poverty, and requests the Secretary-General to take into account his report on the observance of the Day,A/61/308. as well as all other relevant reports concerning poverty eradication, in preparing his comprehensive report on the implementation of the Decade; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006)". RESOLUTION 61/214 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/426/Add.1, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/214. Role of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/193 and 52/194 of 18 December 1997, 53/197 of 15 December 1998, 58/221 of 23 December 2003 and 59/246 of 22 December 2004, Recognizing the need for access to financial services, in particular for the poor, including access to microcredit and microfinance, Recognizing also that microfinance, including microcredit programmes, has succeeded in generating productive self-employment and proved to be an effective tool in assisting people in overcoming poverty and reducing their vulnerability to crisis, and has led to their growing participation, in particular the participation of women, in the mainstream economic and political processes of society, Recognizing further that the majority of the world's poor still do not have access to financial services and that microcredit and microfinance are the subject of significant demand worldwide, Bearing in mind the importance of microfinance instruments, such as credit, savings and other financial products and services, in providing access to capital for people living in poverty, Bearing in mind also that microcredit programmes have especially benefited women and have resulted in the achievement of their empowerment, Noting with appreciation the establishment of the United Nations Advisers Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors to promote the building of inclusive financial sectors to meet the needs and demands of poor people everywhere, building on the creation of the "Blue Book"Building Inclusive Financial Sectors for Development (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.06.II.A.3). as a tool for policymakers seeking to build more inclusive financial sectors, Noting events organized for the promotion of inclusive financial sectors, including the convening of the Global Microcredit Summit in Halifax, Canada, from 12 to 15 November 2006, Welcoming the efforts made in the field of property rights, and noting that an enabling environment at all levels, including transparent regulatory systems and competitive markets, fosters the mobilization of resources and access to finance for people living in poverty, Noting with appreciation the contribution of awards and prizes to increasing the visibility and awareness of the role of microfinance, including microcredit, in the eradication of poverty, most notably the awarding of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the observance of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005, and on the role of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty;A/61/307. 2. Welcomes the successful observance of the International Year of Microcredit, 2005, which constituted a special occasion to raise awareness and share best practices and lessons learned on microcredit and microfinance; 3. Recognizes that access to microcredit and microfinance can contribute to the achievement of the goals and targets of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular the goals relating to poverty eradication, gender equality and the empowerment of women; 4. Notes the lack of relevant statistical data on inclusive financial sectors, in particular microcredit and microfinance programmes, in particular at the national and regional levels, and in this regard invites the international community, in particular the donor community, to support developing countries in collecting and preserving necessary statistical data and information on this issue, specifically on defining and measuring access to financial services and products at the country level and measuring the type, quality and usage of such services and products over time; 5. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders to fully maximize the role of microfinance tools, including microcredit for poverty eradication and especially for the empowerment of women, and to ensure that best practices in the microfinance sector are widely disseminated; 6. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods institutions and other relevant stakeholders to support, in a coordinated manner, the efforts of developing countries in capacity-building for microcredit and microfinance institutions, including by improving their policy and regulatory framework; 7. Invites Member States to consider adopting policies to facilitate the expansion of microcredit and microfinance institutions in order to service the large unmet demand among poor people for financial services, including the identification and development of mechanisms to promote access to sustainable financial services, the removal of institutional and regulatory obstacles and the provision of incentives to microfinance institutions that meet national standards for delivering such financial services to the poor; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Eradication of poverty and other development issues". RESOLUTION 61/215 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/426/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. 61/215. Industrial development cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/151 of 18 December 1991, 49/108 of 19 December 1994, 51/170 of 16 December 1996, 53/177 of 15 December 1998, 55/187 of 20 December 2000, 57/243 of 20 December 2002 and 59/249 of 22 December 2004 on industrial development cooperation, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for DevelopmentReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Noting that the reform of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization has enabled it to become more focused, effective and efficient and more capable of delivering concrete outcomes and providing valuable contributions to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Noting also the attention given by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to poverty eradication through its priorities, Noting further the prevailing industrial gap and disparities between developed and developing countries, Recognizing the role of the business community, including the private sector, in enhancing the dynamic process of the development of the industrial sector, and underlining the importance of the benefits of foreign direct investment in that process, Recognizing also the importance of the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms to the developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition as an effective means of international cooperation in the pursuit of poverty eradication and sustainable development, Noting that the Commission on Sustainable Development at its fourteenth session discussed, inter alia, industrial development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization;See A/61/305. 2. Reaffirms that industrialization is an essential factor in the sustained economic growth, sustainable development and eradication of poverty of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, and in the creation of productive employment, income generation and the facilitation of social integration, including the integration of women into the development process; 3. Stresses the critical role of productive capacity-building and industrial development for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 4. Takes note of the comprehensive review of the activities of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization conducted in line with its corporate strategy, which has enabled it to become a more focused, effective and efficient organization, especially for developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, capable of delivering concrete outcomes and providing valuable contributions to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Emphasizes the necessity of favourable national and international measures for the industrialization of developing countries, and urges all Governments to adopt and to implement development policies and strategies to unleash the productivity growth potential through private-sector development, the diffusion of environmentally sound and emerging technologies, investment promotion, enhanced access to markets and the effective use of official development assistance to enable developing countries to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and to make this process sustainable; 6. Stresses the importance of strengthening North-South industrial development cooperation and trade, underlines the importance of a positive investment and business climate, and emphasizes furthermore the importance of North-South trade-related technology diffusion, which has a positive impact on productivity in high-technology industries and on technology-intensive manufacturing activities in developing countries, in promoting the expansion, diversification and modernization of productive capacities; 7. Recognizes the importance of South-South cooperation in the area of industrial development, and in this regard encourages the international community, including the international financial institutions, to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through triangular cooperation; 8. Confirms the contribution of industry to social development, especially in the context of the linkages between industry and agriculture, and notes that, within the totality of these interlinkages, industry serves as a powerful source of the employment generation, income creation and social integration required for the eradication of poverty; 9. Calls for the continuing use of official development assistance for industrial development in the developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, calls upon donor countries and recipient countries to continue to cooperate in their efforts to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness of the official development assistance resources devoted to industrial development cooperation and to support the efforts of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition to promote industrial development cooperation among themselves, and underlines the importance of mobilizing funds for industrial development at the country level, including private funding and funds from relevant development finance institutions; 10. Also calls for the continuing use of all other resources, including private and public, foreign and domestic resources, for industrial development in the developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition; 11. Reiterates the importance of cooperation and coordination within the United Nations system in providing effective support for the sustainable industrial development of developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, and calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to carry out its central role in the field of industrial development according to its mandate; 12. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to enhance its effectiveness, relevance and development impact by, inter alia, strengthening its cooperation with other institutions of the United Nations system at all levels; 13. Calls upon the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to participate actively in coordination at the field level through the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework processes and sector-wide approaches; 14. Emphasizes the need to promote the development of microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, including by means of training, education and skills enhancement, with a special focus on agro-industry as a provider of livelihoods for rural communities; 15. Stresses the need for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to promote, within its mandate, the development of competitive industries in developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, especially in least developed countries and landlocked developing countries; 16. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to increase its contributions to achieve the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. with a view to further strengthening the industrialization process in Africa; 17. Invites the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to continue to build and strengthen its partnership with other United Nations organizations with complementary mandates and activities with a view to achieving greater effectiveness and development impact and promoting increased coherence within the United Nations system; 18. Recognizes the importance of information in the replication of best practices in processing, design and marketing, and also recognizes the importance of and encourages South-South cooperation in this respect; 19. Takes note of the important role played by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in the fields of private- and public-sector industrial development, productivity growth, trade capacity-building, corporate social responsibility, environmental protection, energy efficiency and the promotion of renewable energies; 20. Encourages the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to develop further its global forum capacity according to its mandate, with the aim of enhancing, in the context of the globalization process, a common understanding of global and regional industrial sector issues and their impact on poverty eradication and sustainable development, and calls for further strengthening of the demand-driven integrated programme approach at the field level; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/216 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/428/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/216. United Nations University The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the United Nations University, including resolution 59/253 of 22 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Council of the United Nations University,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 31 (A/61/31). 1. Takes note of the continuing efforts of the United Nations University and its research and training centres and programmes to generate and share knowledge to address the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare as set out in the Charter of the University, and encourages the University to intensify those efforts; 2. Expresses its deep gratitude and appreciation for the dedication and commitment, as well as the accomplishments, of Professor Hans van Ginkel during his tenure as Under-Secretary-General and Rector of the United Nations University, allowing the University to significantly grow and progress as an institution in the past ten years; 3. Expresses its deep appreciation to Japan and the other host countries of the University and its research and training centres and programmes, and to public and private entities, for the financial, intellectual and other contributions to enhancing the work of the University; 4. Encourages the University to intensify its communication and dialogue with Member States, including in particular its host countries, as well as joint activities with other relevant international organizations and educational networks to increase their awareness and understanding of its work, which is essential for strengthening the relevance and outreach of the University, and in this regard takes note with appreciation of the increased level of communication and cooperation between the University and the Permanent Missions to the United Nations, the Secretariat, non-governmental organizations and civil society entities in New York, and requests that such activities be continued and further strengthened; 5. Notes with particular appreciation the University's support of scholars and academic institutions in developing countries and the countries with economies in transition, including in particular young scholars, through its research and capacity and network development activities, highly appreciates the efforts of the University and its research and training centres and programmes in expanding their cooperative networks of institutions, academic associations and individual scholars worldwide and in developing innovative interdisciplinary programmes that produce concrete outcomes, and encourages the University to further expand those efforts; 6. Welcomes the diversification of the University's budgetary sources, and encourages the international community to provide voluntary contributions in order to ensure a sound funding base for the activities of the University; 7. Notes with interest the signing of the agreement to establish a new research and training centre, the United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, in Kuala Lumpur, and encourages the University to continue its efforts to expand and strengthen its network of research and training centres and programmes in furtherance of the needs of developing countries; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to encourage other bodies of the United Nations system to utilize more fully the capacity of the University for mobilizing a worldwide network of researchers to assist the United Nations, through research and capacity development programmes, in resolving pressing global problems, and to keep Member States informed of the progress; 9. Requests the University to make renewed efforts to identify the critical areas where University research is most needed by other United Nations organizations and to carry out research that yields effective outcomes contributing to policymaking in the United Nations system, and encourages the University to disseminate the outcome of its research more widely and to make it available in a readily accessible form; 10. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts made by the University to streamline and improve the administrative management at its headquarters in Japan, requests that such reform measures be continued to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the University's operations, and encourages the renewed efforts of the University to implement its projects in an efficient and cost-effective manner in order to make the best use of the resources placed at the disposal of the University; 11. Takes note of the full integration of activities of the United Nations University-Institute for New Technologies with the Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology of Maastricht University and the subsequent renaming of the Institute as the United Nations University-Maastricht Economic and Social Research and Training Centre on Innovation and Technology; 12. Takes note, in particular, of the progress made by the University in forging cooperative links with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat related to the Water Virtual Learning Centre and with the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat in relation to the research of the United Nations University-Programme for Comparative Regional Integration Studies on comparative regional integration; 13. Takes note with appreciation of the University's contributions to the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005 and to the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005; 14. Welcomes the planned external evaluation of the University after its thirtieth year of operation in the framework of its quality assurance procedures, and requests that the evaluation, which is to commence early in 2007, be undertaken to thoroughly review how and to what extent the University and its activities have met the original mission assigned to the University and be used as a means to strengthen the University's capacity development activities and its role as a think tank for the United Nations system; 15. Decides that, instead of being submitted in 2008, the report of the Council of the United Nations University and other reports on the work of the University shall be submitted biennially to the Economic and Social Council, rather than to the General Assembly for its consideration, beginning in 2009. RESOLUTION 61/217 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/429/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Croatia, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam. 61/217. Special economic assistance for the Philippines The General Assembly, Concerned about the oil spill from the oil tanker that sank thirteen nautical miles off the south-western coast of the Province of Guimaras in the central Philippines on 11 August 2006, resulting in that country's unprecedented maritime ecological disaster, Aware that the geographical features and location of the Philippines make it prone to natural and man-made disasters, Acknowledging with appreciation the timely assistance extended by the international donor community, in particular the Governments of Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan and the United States of America, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, Noting the immediate response by the Government of the Philippines to this ecological disaster, which is straining its limited resources in the needed massive clean-up operations, and its request for international support, 1. Expresses its solidarity and support to the Government and people of the Philippines; 2. Invites Member States and concerned United Nations bodies, as well as international financial institutions and development agencies, to provide additional economic and technical assistance in the post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes; 3. Invites the international community and the United Nations system and other international organizations to increase their support for the strengthening of the disaster risk management and disaster preparedness capacity of the Philippines; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, as part of his consolidated report submitted under the sub-item entitled "Special economic assistance to individual countries or regions", on the collaborative effort extended to the Philippines and the progress made in the relief, rehabilitation and clean-up efforts in the affected communities. RESOLUTION 61/218 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/429/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Finland, France, Ghana, Guyana, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/218. Humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of Liberia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/232 of 21 December 1990, 46/147 of 17 December 1991, 47/154 of 18 December 1992, 48/197 of 21 December 1993, 49/21 E of 20 December 1994, 50/58 A of 12 December 1995, 51/30 B of 5 December 1996, 52/169 E of 16 December 1997, 53/1 I of 16 November 1998, 55/176 of 19 December 2000, 57/151 of 16 December 2002 and 59/219 of 22 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for selected countries and regions,A/61/209. Commending the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, the International Contact Group on the Mano River Basin, the United Nations system and its specialized agencies, donor countries and institutions, and governmental and non-governmental organizations for their continued support for the peacebuilding process and the development of Liberia, Commending also the United Nations Mission in Liberia for its important role in the maintenance of peace and stability in the country, Noting with appreciation the holding of democratic elections in October and November 2005, which culminated in the inauguration in January 2006 of the first democratically elected woman president in Africa, Noting the progress made in a number of areas, including the consolidation of governmental authority throughout the country, evidenced by the national development agenda, which encompasses four benchmarks: security, good governance and the rule of law, economic revitalization and infrastructure, and basic services, which are also important elements for sustainable economic growth and development, Realizing that, in spite of the positive gains of the recent past, the situation in Liberia remains fragile and still constitutes a threat to international peace and security in the subregion, 1. Expresses its gratitude to the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union, donor countries and institutions, the United Nations system and its specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations for their valuable support in their adoption of a comprehensive approach to peacebuilding in Liberia and the subregion; 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his continued efforts in mobilizing the international community, the United Nations system and other organizations to provide assistance to Liberia; 3. Invites all States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide assistance to Liberia to facilitate the continued creation of an enabling environment for the promotion of peace, socio-economic development and regional security, including by emphasizing capacity-building, institution-building and employment generation in their work and ensuring that such work complements and contributes to the development of an economy characterized by a predictable investment climate conducive to entrepreneurship, good governance and the rule of law; 4. Invites the international community to provide financial and technical assistance to support the Government's national reconstruction and development agenda, including the poverty reduction strategy process and the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Notes with appreciation the round-table conference of donors for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia planned for early 2007, and invites the participation of the United Nations system and its specialized agencies in close collaboration with the Government of Liberia and its development partners;See S/2006/743, para. 52. 6. Urges the Government to continue to create an environment conducive to the promotion of socio-economic development, peace and security in the country, to the reintegration of internally displaced persons and to its commitment to ensure the upholding of human rights, the rule of law and national reconciliation; 7. Appeals to the international community and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to provide adequate assistance to programmes and projects identified in the present report of the Secretary-General;A/61/209. 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue his efforts in coordinating the work of the United Nations system and to mobilize financial, technical and other assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia; (b) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to consider at its sixty-third session the status of international assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Liberia. RESOLUTION 61/219 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/429/Add.1 and Corr.1, para. 19)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Portugal, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/219. International assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola The General Assembly, Recalling all previous resolutions in which it called upon the international community to continue to render material, technical and financial assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola, including resolution 59/216, adopted by consensus on 22 December 2004, Recalling also that the Security Council, in its resolution 922 (1994) of 31 May 1994 and subsequent resolutions adopted as from 2001, the President of the Security Council, in statements on Angola, and the General Assembly, in all of its resolutions on international assistance for the economic rehabilitation of Angola, have, inter alia, called upon the international community to provide economic assistance to Angola, Bearing in mind that the main responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation and creating the conditions for long-term development and poverty reduction in Angola lies with the Government of Angola, together with, where appropriate, the participation of the international community, Noting the importance of international engagement for the consolidation of peace in Angola, Noting with satisfaction the successful implementation of and effective compliance with the provisions of the Lusaka Protocol,S/1994/1441, annex. Noting that an economically revived and democratic Angola will contribute to regional stability, Noting with satisfaction the recent election of Angola as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Recalling the first Round-Table Conference of Donors, held in Brussels from 25 to 27 September 1995, Welcoming the efforts made by donors and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to provide humanitarian, economic and financial assistance to Angola, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for selected countries and regions;A/61/209. 2. Recognizes the primary responsibility of the Government of Angola for the welfare of its citizens, including returning refugees and internally displaced persons, together with the support of the international community; 3. Recognizes also the efforts undertaken by the Government of Angola towards ensuring the maintenance of the peace and national security so necessary for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and economic stabilization of the country, and in this context encourages the Government, with the support of the international community, to continue its efforts for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, including, inter alia, social reintegration, mine action, rural development and food security, gender mainstreaming, education and the rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructures; 4. Welcomes the continued commitment of the Government of Angola to improve governance, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, including natural resources, encourages the Government of Angola to continue its efforts to that end, and calls upon international organizations and others in a position to do so to assist the Government of Angola in this endeavour, including through the promotion of responsible business practices; 5. Recognizes the role that South-South cooperation is playing in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the economy of Angola; 6. Welcomes the commitment of the Government of Angola to the development and strengthening of its democratic institutions, encourages the Government of Angola, with the necessary support of the international community, to continue its efforts with a view to holding legislative and presidential elections, as both would accelerate and consolidate the democratic development of the country, and in this regard welcomes the beginning of the voter registration process on 15 November 2006 as part of the road map for the holding of legislative and presidential elections; 7. Commends the Government of Angola for its leadership, coordination and successful implementation of the programme for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and for ensuring the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need, all of which contribute to placing the country on the path to sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 8. Expresses its appreciation to the international community, the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and the governmental and non-governmental organizations that are participating in humanitarian assistance programmes in Angola, including mine-action activities, and appeals for their continued contribution to humanitarian mine-action activities in a manner complementary to that of the Government; 9. Expresses its gratitude to donors and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes for the assistance provided to Angola in support of initiatives and programmes for the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis and poverty eradication. RESOLUTION 61/21 Adopted at the 59th plenary meeting, on 28 November 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/592, para. 7) 61/21. Renovation of the residence of the Secretary-General The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Renovation of the residence of the Secretary-General: revised estimates to the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007"A/61/377. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/523. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/377. 2. Endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/61/523. 3. Regrets that the proposal to renovate the residence of the Secretary-General was not submitted as part of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 4. Approves the renovation of the residence of the Secretary-General; 5. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments up to an amount of 4,490,400 United States dollars under the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, comprising 202,500 dollars under section 1, Overall policymaking, direction and coordination, and 4,287,900 dollars under section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance, and to report on expenditures in the context of the second performance report for the biennium 2006-2007; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure, to the extent possible, that activities approved under section 32 of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 are completed within the envisaged time schedule; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that procurement processes related to the project are conducted in a transparent manner and in full compliance with its relevant resolutions on procurement reform; 8. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that targeted mitigation measures are put in place pursuant to established minimum operating security standards; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to expedite the action referred to in paragraph 2 of the report of the Advisory Committee. RESOLUTION 61/220 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/429/Add.2, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam. 61/220. Participation of volunteers, "White Helmets", in the activities of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/19 of 28 November 1995, 52/171 of 16 December 1997, 54/98 of 8 December 1999, 56/102 of 14 December 2001 and 58/118 of 17 December 2003, Reaffirming also its resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 47/168 of 22 December 1992, 48/57 of 14 December 1993, 49/139 A and B of 20 December 1994, 50/57 of 12 December 1995 and 51/194 of 17 December 1996 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1995/56 of 28 July 1995 and 1996/33 of 25 July 1996, Emphasizing the need for coordination between relief and development activities in the context of humanitarian emergencies, taking into account the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recognizing that the international community, in addressing the growing magnitude and complexity of man-made and natural disasters and chronic situations characterized by hunger, malnutrition and poverty, must rely not only on the formulation of a well-coordinated global response within the framework of the United Nations but also on the promotion of a smooth transition from relief to rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, Recalling once again that prevention, preparedness and contingency planning for emergencies on a global level depend, for the most part, on the strengthening of local and national response capacities, on the availability of financial resources, both domestic and international, and on the effective use of those resources, Recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster management, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/313. prepared in pursuance of its resolution 58/118 on the participation of volunteers, "White Helmets", in the activities of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and technical cooperation for development, especially in the three main areas on which action has been focused, namely dissemination of the concept of volunteerism, support to Latin American and Caribbean countries and response to requests for emergency assistance; 2. Recognizes the effort being made by the White Helmets initiative to strengthen national and regional agreements aimed at facilitating coordination between the United Nations system and trained standby national volunteer corps, in accordance with accepted United Nations procedures, through the United Nations Volunteers and other agencies of the system; 3. Notes the emphasis placed on the development of mechanisms to facilitate the local management of humanitarian emergencies, through the organization and participatory involvement and empowerment of affected communities and the training of the members of local volunteer corps; 4. Recognizes the effort of the White Helmets model in helping to involve stricken populations or those at risk in the tasks of planning, training, mobilizing and providing immediate response in disaster situations; 5. Notes the importance of international efforts being made by the White Helmets initiative to strengthen the comprehensive regional mechanisms for managing prevention and response activities in emergency and disaster situations, in particular its model for setting up regional networks of focal points, with a view to linkage with other international structures; 6. Encourages Member States to identify their respective national focal points for the White Helmets in order to continue to provide the United Nations system with an accessible global network of rapid response facilities in the event of humanitarian emergencies; 7. Takes note of the efforts made by the World Food Programme and the White Helmets to coordinate integration mechanisms that allow for joint action in the framework of food security, on the basis of their general agreements of 1998; 8. Encourages operational partners of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Volunteers and the World Health Organization, in providing psychosocial support to the disaster-affected population in emergency and disaster situations, to draw, as appropriate, upon the voluntary expertise of the White Helmets, which has been successfully tested, as indicated by the Secretary-General in his report; 9. Recognizes that the White Helmets initiative can play an important role in the promotion, diffusion and implementation of the decisions adopted in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and invites Member States in a position to do so to consider means to ensure the integration of the White Helmets initiative into their programme activities and to make financial resources available to the Special Voluntary Fund of the United Nations Volunteers; 10. Invites the Secretary-General, on the basis of the extensive international work experience acquired by the White Helmets, as recognized by the General Assembly since the adoption of its resolution 49/139 B, the first resolution on the White Helmets initiative, and in view of the success of coordinated actions carried out with, inter alia, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Volunteers, to suggest measures to enhance the integration of the White Helmets initiative with the work of the United Nations system, and to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-fourth session in a separate section of the annual report on strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations. RESOLUTION 61/221 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.11/Rev.2 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sudan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan 61/221. Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Recalling its resolutions 56/6 of 9 November 2001, on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, concerning the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, on the prevention of armed conflict, 58/128 of 19 December 2003, on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, 59/23 of 11 November 2004, on the promotion of interreligious dialogue, 59/143 of 15 December 2004, on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, and 59/199 of 20 December 2004, on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, Underlining the importance of promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, and recalling that all States have pledged themselves under the Charter to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Taking note of the adoption of the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. in which the Heads of State and Government acknowledged the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity, reaffirmed the value of the dialogue on interfaith cooperation and committed themselves to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encouraging and promoting tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation at the local, national, regional and international levels and among different cultures, civilizations and peoples in order to promote international peace and security, Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, are on the increase in many parts of the world and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Emphasizing the need, at all levels of society and among nations, for strengthening freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, respect for diversity of culture and religion or belief, dialogue and understanding, which are important elements for peace, and convinced that the guiding principles of democratic society need to be actively promoted by the international community, Reaffirming that freedom of expression, media pluralism, multilingualism, equal access to art and to scientific and technological knowledge, including in digital form, and the possibility for all cultures to have access to the means of expression and dissemination are the guarantees of cultural diversity, and that in ensuring the free flow of ideas by word and image, care should be exercised that all cultures can express themselves and make themselves known, Affirming the need for all States to continue international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, in an effort to prevent the targeting of different religions and cultures,As recognized also in Security Council resolution 1624 (2005). contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes and reduce the potential for animosity, clashes and even violence, Considering that tolerance for cultural, ethnic, and religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions may generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing the richness of nomadic civilization and its important contribution to promoting dialogue and interaction among all forms of civilization, Taking note of the valuable contribution of various initiatives at the national, regional and international levels, such as the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, the Bali Declaration on Building Interfaith Harmony within the International Community,A/60/254, annex. the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures, Enlightened Moderation, the Informal Meeting of Leaders on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace,See A/60/383. the Islam-Christianity Dialogue, the Moscow World Summit of Religious Leaders and the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, which are all mutually inclusive, reinforcing and interrelated, Mindful that those initiatives identify areas for practical action in all sectors and levels of society for the promotion of interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue, understanding and cooperation, Recognizing the commitment of all religions to peace, 1. Affirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on interreligious dialogue in the context of its efforts to promote dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, as well as activities related to a culture of peace, and welcomes its focus on concrete action at the global, regional and subregional levels and its flagship project on the promotion of interfaith dialogue; 3. Recognizes that respect for religious and cultural diversity in an increasingly globalizing world contributes to international cooperation, promotes enhanced dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations and helps to create an environment conducive to the exchange of human experience; 4. Also recognizes that, despite intolerance and conflicts that are creating a divide across countries and regions and constitute a growing threat to peaceful relations among nations, all cultures, religions and civilizations share a common set of universal values and can all contribute to the enrichment of humankind; 5. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other instruments relating to human rights and international law; the universal nature of these rights and freedoms is beyond question; 6. Urges States, in compliance with their international obligations, to take all necessary action to combat incitement to or acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by hatred and intolerance based on culture, religion or belief, which may cause discord and disharmony within and among societies; 7. Also urges States to take effective measures to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief in the recognition, exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields of civil, economic, political, social and cultural life and to make all efforts to enact or rescind legislation, where necessary, in order to prohibit any such discrimination, and to take all appropriate measures to combat intolerance on the grounds of religion or belief; 8. Reaffirms that the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities contribute to political and social stability and peace and enrich the cultural diversity and heritage of society as a whole in the States in which such persons live, and urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic and political institutions, organizations and practices so that they are more fully participatory and avoid the marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 9. Encourages Governments to promote, including through education, as well as the development of progressive curricula and textbooks, understanding, tolerance and friendship among human beings in all their diversity of religion, belief, culture and language, which will address the cultural, social, economic, political and religious sources of intolerance, and to apply a gender perspective while doing so, in order to promote understanding, tolerance, peace and friendly relations among nations and all racial and religious groups, recognizing that education at all levels is one of the principal means to build a culture of peace; 10. Recognizes the contribution of the media to developing a better understanding among all religions, beliefs, cultures and peoples and to facilitating a dialogue among societies, as well as to creating an environment conducive to the exchange of human experience; 11. Supports practical initiatives at the regional and national levels by all parties concerned, including the media representatives themselves, to encourage the media to enhance its capacity in promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding and cooperation for peace, development and human dignity; 12. Encourages the promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations, emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and reaffirms that the exercise of this right carries with it special duties and responsibilities and may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals; 13. Affirms that the relevant United Nations bodies, including the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, shall endeavour to undertake coordinated measures to promote universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief and cultural diversity and to prevent instances of intolerance, discrimination and incitement of hatred against members of any community or adherents of any religion or belief; 14. Decides to convene in 2007 a high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief and cultural diversity, in coordination with other similar initiatives in this area; 15. Decides also to consider declaring one of the coming years as the Year of Dialogue among Religions and Cultures; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the systematic and organizational follow-up of all interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational matters within the United Nations system and overall coordination and coherence in its interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue and cooperation efforts, inter alia, through the designation of a focal unit in the Secretariat to handle these matters; 17. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/222 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 157 to 1, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.30 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United States of America, Vanuatu * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Turkey Abstaining: Colombia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 61/222. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33 of 24 November 1999, 57/141 of 12 December 2002, 58/240 of 23 December 2003, 59/24 of 17 November 2004, 60/30 of 29 November 2005 and other relevant resolutions concerning the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/63. the addendum thereto,A/61/63/Add.1. the report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdictionA/61/65. and also the reports on the work of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea ("the Consultative Process") at its seventh meetingA/61/156. and on the sixteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention,SPLOS/148. Emphasizing the pre-eminent contribution provided by the Convention to the strengthening of peace, security, cooperation and friendly relations among all nations in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and to the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as for the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Emphasizing also the universal and unified character of the Convention, and reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. Recognizing the important contribution of sustainable development and management of the resources and uses of the oceans and seas to the achievement of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, and reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at the national, regional and global levels, in accordance with the Convention, to support and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention, and the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reiterating the essential need for cooperation, including through capacity-building and transfer of marine technology, to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their resources, Recalling that marine science is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world's marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, by improving knowledge, through sustained research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, Recalling also its decision, in resolutions 57/141 and 58/240, to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, as recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end, Reiterating its concern at the adverse impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including corals, of human activities, such as overutilization of living marine resources, the use of destructive practices, physical impacts by ships, the introduction of alien invasive species and marine pollution from all sources, including from land-based sources and vessels, in particular through the illegal discharge of oil and other harmful substances, the loss or release of fishing gear and the dumping of hazardous waste such as radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, Expressing its concern over the projected adverse effects of anthropogenic and natural climate change and ocean acidification on the marine environment and marine biodiversity, Recognizing that there is a need for a more integrated approach and to further study and promote measures for enhanced cooperation and coordination relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, Recognizing also that the realization of the benefits of the Convention could be enhanced by international cooperation, technical assistance and advanced scientific knowledge, as well as by funding and capacity-building, Recognizing further that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and the economics of the global shipping industry, and recognizing in this regard that the move towards electronic charting not only provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, Noting with concern the continuing problem of transnational organized crime and threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, and noting the deplorable loss of life and adverse impact on international trade, energy security and the global economy resulting from such activities, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission") for coastal States and the international community as a whole, Noting the important role of the Commission in assisting States parties in the implementation of Part VI of the Convention, through the examination of information submitted by coastal States regarding the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, Recognizing the importance and the contribution of the work over the past seven years of the Consultative Process established by resolution 54/33 to facilitate the annual review of developments in ocean affairs by the General Assembly and extended by resolutions 57/141 and 60/30, Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and in this context the increase in activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat ("the Division"), in particular in view of the growing number of requests to the Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings, the increasing capacity-building activities and assistance to the Commission, and the role of the Division in inter-agency coordination and cooperation, Emphasizing that underwater archaeological, cultural and historical heritage, including shipwrecks and watercrafts, holds essential information on the history of humankind and that such heritage is a resource that needs to be protected and preserved, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority") in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364. I Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Reaffirms its resolutions 49/28, 52/26, 54/33, 57/141, 58/240, 59/24, 60/30 and other relevant resolutions concerning the Convention;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 2. Also reaffirms the unified character of the Convention and the vital importance of preserving its integrity; 3. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention and the Agreement;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364. 4. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Fish Stocks Agreement");Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924. 5. Calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention and, where applicable, relevant agreements and instruments, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention do not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State concerned and to withdraw any such declarations or statements; 6. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts or lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 7. Urges all States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in taking measures to protect and preserve objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea, in conformity with the Convention, and calls upon States to work together on such diverse challenges and opportunities as the appropriate relationship between salvage law and scientific management and conservation of underwater cultural heritage, increasing technological abilities to discover and reach underwater sites, looting and growing underwater tourism; 8. Notes the effort made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with respect to the preservation of underwater cultural heritage, and notes in particular the rules annexed to the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural HeritageUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, resolution 24, annex. that address the relationship between salvage law and scientific principles of management, conservation and protection of underwater cultural heritage among parties, their nationals and vessels flying their flag; II Capacity-building 9. Calls upon donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the objectives of the present resolution, as well as the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the interests and needs of landlocked developing States; 10. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to improve hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including electronic charts, as well as the mobilization of resources and building of capacity with support from international financial institutions and the donor community; 11. Calls upon States and international financial institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and technical partnerships, to continue to strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training personnel to develop and enhance relevant expertise, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 12. Recognizes the need to build the capacity of developing States to raise awareness of, and support implementation of, improved waste management practices, noting the particular vulnerability of small island developing States to the impact of marine pollution from land-based sources and marine debris; 13. Also recognizes the importance of assisting developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, in implementing the Convention, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in resolution 57/141, established for this purpose; 14. Encourages States to use the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, document IOC/INF-1203. and recalls the important role of the secretariat of the International Oceanographic Commission in the implementation and promotion of those Criteria and Guidelines; 15. Also encourages States to assist developing States, and especially the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, at the bilateral and, where appropriate, multilateral level, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, including the assessment of the nature and extent of the continental shelf of a coastal State through a desktop study, and the delineation of the outer limits of its continental shelf; 16. Notes with appreciation the successful conduct by the Division of regional training courses, most recently in Accra from 5 to 9 December 2005 and in Buenos Aires from 8 to 12 May 2006, the purpose of which was to train technical staff of coastal developing States in the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and in the preparation of submissions to the Commission, and requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with States and relevant international organizations and institutions, to continue making such training courses available; 17. Also notes with appreciation the first regional workshop of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal"), held in Dakar from 31 October to 2 November 2006 on the role of the Tribunal in the settlement of disputes relating to the law of the sea in West Africa; 18. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to support the capacity-building activities of the Division, including, in particular, the training activities to assist developing States in the preparation of their submissions to the Commission, and invites Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat to support the promotion of international law; 19. Recognizes the importance of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, advises the Secretary-General to continue to finance the Fellowship from resources made available through an appropriate Office of Legal Affairs trust fund, and urges Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Fellowship; 20. Takes note with satisfaction of the ongoing implementation of the United Nations and the Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme, focusing on human resources development for developing coastal States parties and non-parties to the Convention in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea or related disciplines; III Meeting of States Parties 21. Welcomes the report of the sixteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/148. 22. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the seventeenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in New York on 14 and from 18 to 22 June 2007, bearing in mind that the current term of office of the members of the Commission expires on 15 June 2007, and to provide the services required; 23. Calls upon States parties to transmit to the Secretariat the credentials of representatives attending the Meeting as far in advance as is practicable, and no later than 13 June 2007; IV Peaceful settlement of disputes 24. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the Tribunal to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement; 25. Equally pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 26. Notes that States parties to an international agreement related to the purposes of the Convention may submit to, inter alia, the Tribunal or the International Court of Justice any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that agreement submitted in accordance with that agreement, and notes also the possibility, provided for in the statutes of the Tribunal and the Court, to submit disputes to a chamber; 27. Encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, bearing in mind the comprehensive character of the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in Part XV of the Convention; V The Area 28. Notes the progress of the discussions on issues relating to the regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area, and reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration by the Authority, pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and the prevention of damage to its flora and fauna from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; 29. Takes note with satisfaction of the contract signed on 19 July 2006 between Germany and the Authority regarding the exploration of polymetallic nodules in an area in the Pacific Ocean; 30. Notes the importance of the responsibilities entrusted to the Authority by articles 143 and 145 of the Convention, which refer to marine scientific research and protection of the marine environment respectively; VI Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 31. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and to the Tribunal in full and on time, and also appeals to States parties in arrears with their contributions to fulfil their obligations without delay; 32. Urges all States parties to the Convention to attend the sessions of the Authority, and calls upon the Authority to continue to pursue all options, including the issue of dates, in order to improve attendance in Kingston and to ensure global participation; 33. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalSPLOS/25. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;ISBA/4/A/8, annex. 34. Emphasizes the importance of the Tribunal's rules and staff regulations promoting the recruitment of a geographically representative staff in the Professional and higher categories, and calls for wider dissemination of vacancy announcements to achieve that goal; VII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 35. Encourages States parties to the Convention that are in a position to do so to make every effort to submit information to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, in conformity with article 76 of the Convention and article 4 of annex II to the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/72. 36. Notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission,CLCS/50 and CLCS/52. that it is giving current consideration to five submissions that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and that a number of States have advised of their intention to make submissions in the near future; 37. Notes that the anticipated heavy workload of the Commission, owing to an increasing number of submissions, places additional demands on its members and the Division, and in that regard emphasizes the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise; 38. Emphasizes the need to maintain, to the extent possible given the term of office of the members of the Commission, continuity in the composition of subcommissions throughout the consideration of a submission; 39. Takes note of the decision of the sixteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to address, as a matter of priority, issues related to the workload of the Commission and funding for its members attending the sessions of the Commission and the meetings of the subcommissions;See SPLOS/144. 40. Calls upon States whose experts are serving on the Commission to do their utmost to ensure the full participation of those experts in the work of the Commission, including the meetings of subcommissions, in accordance with the Convention; 41. Endorses the call by the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to strengthen the Division, serving as the secretariat of the Commission, for the purpose of enhancing its technical support for the Commission; 42. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary actions to ensure that the Commission can fulfil the functions entrusted to it under the Convention; 43. Encourages States to make additional contributions to the voluntary trust fund established by resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention; 44. Expresses its concern regarding the resources available in the voluntary trust fund established by resolution 55/7 for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission, and urges States to make additional contributions to the trust fund; 45. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the nineteenth and twentieth sessions of the Commission in New York from 5 March to 13 April 2007 and from 20 August to 7 September 2007, respectively, on the understanding that the following periods will be used for the technical examination of submissions at the Geographic Information System laboratories and other technical facilities of the Division: 5 to 23 March 2007; 9 to 13 April 2007; 20 to 24 August 2007; and 4 to 7 September 2007; 46. Expresses its firm conviction about the importance of the work of the Commission, carried out in accordance with the Convention, including with respect to the participation of the coastal State in relevant proceedings concerning its submission; 47. Notes with satisfaction the amendments to rule 52 of and annex III to the rules of procedure of the Commission,See CLCS/50, paras. 36 and 43. and recognizes the continued need for active interaction between submitting States and the Commission; 48. Encourages States to continue exchanging views in order to increase understanding of issues, including expenditures involved, arising from the application of article 76 of the Convention, thus facilitating preparation of submissions by States, in particular developing States, to the Commission; 49. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Member States, to continue supporting and organizing workshops or symposiums on scientific and technical aspects of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, taking into account the deadline for submissions, and welcomes initiatives of States in coordination with the United Nations, such as the international symposium held in Tokyo on 6 and 7 March 2006; VIII Maritime safety and security and flag State implementation 50. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the safety and security of navigation and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 51. Welcomes the adoption of the consolidated Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, by the International Labour Conference on 23 February 2006, and encourages States to become parties to that Convention; 52. Also welcomes the adoption and continuing review by the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization of Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident,Adopted by the International Maritime Organization Legal Committee on 27 April 2006 as resolution LEG.3(91), and by the International Labour Organization Governing Body on 12 June 2006 at its 296th session. and encourages States to implement the Guidelines; 53. Calls upon States to consider becoming members of the International Hydrographic Organization, and urges all States to work with that Organization to increase the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis to enhance capacity-building and technical assistance and to promote safe navigation, especially in areas used for international navigation, ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas; 54. Encourages States to draw up plans and to establish procedures to implement the Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance;International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.949(23). 55. Notes the progress in the implementation of the Action Plan for the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2004,Available from www-ns.iaea.org. and encourages States concerned to continue their efforts in the implementation of all areas of the Action Plan; 56. Also notes that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through the regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small island developing States and some other countries, and recognizes the right of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law; that States should maintain dialogue and consultation, in particular under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of improved mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials; that States involved in the transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with small island developing States and other States to address their concerns; and that these concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability, security and compensation in relation to such transport;Resolution 60/1, para. 56 (o). 57. Encourages States to cooperate to address threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, through bilateral and multilateral instruments and mechanisms aimed at monitoring, preventing and responding to such threats; 58. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting and investigation of incidents, bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 59. Calls upon States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1678, No. 29004. invites States to consider becoming parties to the 2005 Protocols amending those instruments,International Maritime Organization, documents LEG/CONF.15/21 and LEG/CONF.15/22. and also urges States parties to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments, through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate; 60. Also calls upon States to effectively implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and related amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,International Maritime Organization, documents SOLAS/CONF.5/32 and 34. and to work with the International Maritime Organization to promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation; 61. Takes note of the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea introducing the long-range identification and tracking of ships system;International Maritime Organization, document MSC 81/25/Add.1, annex 2, resolution MSC.202(81). 62. Notes the work of the International Maritime Organization with regard to the preparation of the wreck removal convention for the prompt and effective removal of wrecks which may pose a hazard to navigation or the marine environment; 63. Requests States to take appropriate measures with regard to ships flying their flag or of their registry to address hazards that may be caused by wrecks and drifting or sunken cargo to navigation or the marine environment; 64. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to improve the protection of offshore installations by adopting measures related to the prevention, reporting and investigation of acts of violence against installations, in accordance with international law, and by implementing such measures through national legislation to ensure proper and adequate enforcement; 65. Calls upon States to ensure freedom of navigation and the rights of transit passage and innocent passage in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention; 66. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization relating to the protection of shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance, and in particular in enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in straits used for international navigation, and calls upon the International Maritime Organization, States bordering straits and user States to continue their cooperation efforts to keep such straits safe and open to international navigation at all times, consistent with international law, in particular the Convention; 67. Calls upon user States and States bordering straits for international navigation to cooperate by agreement on matters relating to navigational safety, including safety aids for navigation, and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from ships; 68. Welcomes the progress in regional cooperation, including the Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur Statements on Enhancement of Safety, Security and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, adopted on 8 September 2005A/60/529, annex II. and 20 September 2006,A/61/584, annex. respectively, the progress made in establishing a cooperative mechanism on safety of navigation and environmental protection to promote dialogue and facilitate close cooperation between the littoral States, user States, shipping industry and other stakeholders and in implementing the Marine Electronic Highway Demonstration Project for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the entry into force of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia on 4 September 2006, by which the Information Sharing Centre was launched and established in Singapore in November 2006, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level; 69. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeResolution 55/25, annex III. and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., annex II. and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective implementation; 70. Calls upon States to ensure that masters on ships flying their flag take the steps required by relevant instrumentsThe International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, as amended, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, and the International Convention on Salvage, 1989. to provide assistance to persons in distress at sea, and urges States to cooperate and to take all necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the amendments to the International Convention on Maritime Search and RescueInternational Maritime Organization, document MSC/78/26/Add.1, annex 5, resolution MSC.155(78). and to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaIbid., annex 3, resolution MSC.153(78). relating to the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety, as well as of the associated Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea;Ibid., annex 34, resolution MSC.167(78). 71. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with, and implementation and enforcement of, their responsibilities under international law and, until such action is taken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels; 72. Welcomes the adoption by the International Maritime Organization of the resolutions on the establishment of the Voluntary International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme,International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.974(24). the Code for the implementation of mandatory International Maritime Organization instrumentsInternational Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.973(24). and the future development of the Voluntary Audit Scheme,International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.975(24). and encourages all flag States to volunteer to be audited; 73. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Consultative Meeting of senior representatives of international organizations on the "genuine link" held by the International Maritime Organization in July 2005 in response to the invitation extended to the Organization and other relevant competent international organizations in resolutions 58/14 of 24 November 2003 and 58/240 to examine and clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of flag States to exercise effective control over ships flying their flag, including fishing vessels, and the potential consequences of non-compliance with duties and obligations of flag States described in relevant international instruments;See A/61/160, annex. IX Marine environment and marine resources 74. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures consistent with the Convention, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 75. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment and its living marine resources against the introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens and marine pollution from all sources, and other forms of physical degradation, as well as agreements that provide for compensation for damage resulting from marine pollution, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 76. Welcomes the entry into force on 24 March 2006 of the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972,IMO/LC.2/Circ.380. and on 14 June 2007 of the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000,HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1, attachment 1. and encourages States that have not done so to become parties to those Protocols; 77. Encourages States, in accordance with the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity; 78. Welcomes the activities of the United Nations Environment Programme relating to marine debris carried out in cooperation with relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, and encourages States to further develop partnerships with industry and civil society to raise awareness of the extent of the impact of marine debris on the health and productivity of the marine environment and consequent economic loss; 79. Urges States to integrate the issue of marine debris into national strategies dealing with waste management in the coastal zone, ports and maritime industries, including recycling, reuse, reduction and disposal, and to encourage the development of appropriate economic incentives to address this issue, including the development of cost recovery systems that provide an incentive to use port reception facilities and discourage ships from discharging marine debris at sea, and encourages States to cooperate regionally and subregionally to develop and implement joint prevention and recovery programmes for marine debris; 80. Welcomes the decision of the International Maritime Organization to review annex V to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1340, No. 22484. to assess its effectiveness in addressing sea-based sources of marine debris, and encourages all relevant organizations and bodies to assist in that process; 81. Encourages States that have not done so to become parties to the Protocol of 1997 (Annex VI-Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, and furthermore to ratify or accede to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001,International Maritime Organization, document AFS/CONF/26, annex. as well as the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004,International Maritime Organization, document BWM/CONF/36, annex. thereby facilitating their early entry into force; 82. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization in accordance with its resolution on International Maritime Organization policies and practices related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from shipsInternational Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.963(23). and the work plan to identify and develop the mechanisms needed to achieve the limitation or reduction of CO2 emissions from international shipping agreed by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization at its fifty-fifth session from 9 to 13 October 2006,International Maritime Organization, document MEPC 55/23, annex 9. and welcomes ongoing efforts of that Organization in that regard; 83. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the International Maritime Organization in developing and approving an action plan to address the inadequacy of port waste reception facilities, and urges States to cooperate in correcting the shortfall in such facilities in accordance with the action plan; 84. Welcomes the outcomes of the Second Intergovernmental Review Meeting of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, convened in Beijing from 16 to 20 October 2006, and calls upon States to take all appropriate measures to fulfil the commitments of the international community embodied in the Beijing Declaration on Furthering the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action; 85. Also welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between freshwater, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and of the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular the target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 86. Invites States, in particular those States with advanced technology and marine capabilities, to explore prospects for improving cooperation with, and assistance to, developing States, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, with a view to better integrating into national policies and programmes sustainable and effective development in the marine sector; 87. Encourages the competent international organizations, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other funding agencies to consider expanding their programmes within their respective fields of competence for assistance to developing countries and to coordinate their efforts, including in the allocation and application of Global Environment Facility funding; 88. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a study, in cooperation with and based on information provided by States and competent international organizations and global and regional funding agencies, on the assistance available to and measures that may be taken by developing States, in particular the least developed States and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to realize the benefits of sustainable and effective development of marine resources and uses of the oceans within the limits of national jurisdiction, and further requests the Secretary-General to present the study to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session and to report to the Assembly at its sixty-second session on progress in the preparation of the study; X Marine biodiversity 89. Reaffirms its role relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, notes the work of States and relevant complementary intergovernmental organizations and bodies on those issues, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and invites them to contribute to its consideration of these issues within the areas of their respective competence; 90. Welcomes the meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group, established by paragraph 73 of resolution 59/24 to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, held in New York from 13 to 17 February 2006, and takes note of the possible options, approaches and timely follow-up process discussed by the Working Group;A/61/65. 91. Takes note of the report of the Working Group,A/61/65. and requests the Secretary-General to convene, in accordance with paragraph 73 of resolution 59/24, and with full conference services, a meeting of the Working Group in 2008, to consider: (a) The environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities on marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction; (b) Coordination and cooperation among States as well as relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies for the conservation and management of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction; (c) The role of area-based management tools; (d) Genetic resources beyond areas of national jurisdiction; (e) Whether there is a governance or regulatory gap, and if so, how it should be addressed; 92. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the issues referred to in paragraph 91 above in the context of his report on oceans and the law of the sea to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, in order to assist the Working Group in preparing its agenda, in consultation with all relevant international bodies, and to arrange for support for the performance of its work to be provided by the Division; 93. Encourages States to include relevant experts in their delegations attending the meeting of the Working Group; 94. Recognizes the importance of making the outcomes of the Working Group widely available; 95. Notes the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological DiversitySee A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10. and the Convention on Biological Diversity elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity,UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex, decision VII/5, annex I. as well as the relevant decisions adopted at the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Curitiba, Brazil, from 20 to 31 March 2006;UNEP/CBD/COP/8/31, annex I. 96. Reaffirms the need for States and competent international organizations to urgently consider ways to integrate and improve, based on the best available scientific information and in accordance with the Convention and related agreements and instruments, the management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water corals, hydrothermal vents and certain other underwater features; 97. Also reaffirms the need for States to continue their efforts to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on the best scientific information available, and the development of representative networks of any such marine protected areas by 2012; 98. Notes the work of States, relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the assessment of scientific information on, and compilation of ecological criteria for the identification of, marine areas that require protection, in light of the objective of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools such as the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012;See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 99. Also notes the report of the Scientific Experts' Workshop on Criteria for Identifying Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, held in Ottawa from 6 to 8 December 2005,A/AC.259/16, annex. and encourages experts to participate in follow-up workshops; 100. Further notes the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment synthesis reports and the urgent need to protect the marine biodiversity expressed therein; 101. Calls upon States and international organizations to urgently take action to address, in accordance with international law, destructive practices that have adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals; 102. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, takes note of the International Coral Reef Initiative General Meetings, held in Koror from 31 October to 2 November 2005, and in Cozumel, Mexico, on 22 and 23 October 2006, supports the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity and the elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity related to coral reefs, and notes the progress that the International Coral Reef Initiative and other relevant bodies have made to incorporate cold water coral ecosystems into their programmes and activities and to promote the conservation and sustainable use of all coral reef resources; 103. Expresses its concern that coral bleaching has become more frequent and severe throughout tropical seas over the last two decades, and highlights the need for improved monitoring to predict and identify bleaching events to support and strengthen action during such events and improve strategies to support the natural resilience of reefs; 104. Welcomes the publication of the Status of Coral Reefs in Tsunami Affected Countries: 2005 by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network; 105. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems; 106. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management and integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international financial institutions and the donor community; 107. Encourages further studies and consideration of the impacts of ocean noise on marine living resources, and requests the Division to compile the peer-reviewed scientific studies it receives from Member States and to make them available on its website; XI Marine science 108. Calls upon States, individually or in collaboration with each other or with relevant international organizations and bodies, to improve understanding and knowledge of the oceans and the deep sea, including, in particular, the extent and vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing their marine scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention; 109. Notes the contribution of the Census of Marine Life to marine biodiversity research, and encourages participation in the initiative; 110. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on the development of procedures for the implementation of Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention and on the development of a consensual text on the legal framework for the collection of oceanographic data within the context of the Convention; 111. Stresses the importance of increasing the scientific understanding of the oceans/atmosphere interface, including through participation in ocean observing programmes and geographic information systems, such as the Global Ocean Observing System, a programme of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, particularly considering their role in monitoring climate variability and in the establishment of tsunami warning systems; 112. Recognizes the significant progress made by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Member States towards the establishment of regional tsunami warning and mitigation systems, welcomes the continued collaboration of the World Meteorological Organization and other United Nations and intergovernmental organizations in this effort, and encourages Member States to establish and sustain their national warning and mitigation systems, within a global, ocean-related multi-hazard approach, as necessary, to reduce loss of life and damage to national economies and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to natural disasters; XII Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects 113. Recalls that the Ad Hoc Steering Group was established by resolution 60/30; 114. Takes note of the report of the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Steering Group for the "assessment of assessments" launched as a preparatory stage towards the establishment of the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, held in New York from 7 to 9 June 2006,United Nations Environment Programme, document A/61/GRAME/AHSG/1. and urges Member States from the African and Asian regional groups to propose the remaining representatives to the Chairmen of their regional groups so that the appointment to the Ad Hoc Steering Group of those representatives can be made by the President of the General Assembly without further delay; 115. Urges the Ad Hoc Steering Group to complete the "assessment of assessments" within two years, as provided for in resolution 60/30; 116. Welcomes with appreciation the support of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission for the "assessment of assessments" in providing secretariat services to the Ad Hoc Steering Group and establishing the group of experts, as approved by the Ad Hoc Steering Group; 117. Invites Member States, the Global Environment Facility and other interested parties to contribute financially to the "assessment of assessments", taking into account the workplan and budget approved by the Ad Hoc Steering Group, in order to complete the "assessment of assessments" within the specified period; XIII Regional cooperation 118. Notes that there have been a number of initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention, takes note in that context of the Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, takes note once again of the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes, established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these funds; XIV Open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea 119. Welcomes the report on the work of the Consultative Process at its seventh meeting,A/61/156. and invites States to consider the agreed consensual elements relating to ecosystem approaches and oceans, as suggested by the Consultative Process, as set out in part A of the report, in particular the proposed elements of an ecosystem approach, means to achieve implementation of an ecosystem approach and requirements for improved application of an ecosystem approach and also: (a) Notes that continued environmental degradation in many parts of the world and increasing competing demands require an urgent response and the setting of priorities for management interventions aimed at conserving ecosystem integrity; (b) Notes that ecosystem approaches to ocean management should be focused on managing human activities in order to maintain and, where needed, restore ecosystem health to sustain goods and environmental services, provide social and economic benefits for food security, sustain livelihoods in support of international development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and conserve marine biodiversity; (c) Recalls that States should be guided in the application of ecosystem approaches by a number of existing instruments, in particular the Convention, which sets out the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, and its implementing Agreements, as well as other commitments, such as those contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Summit on Sustainable Development call for the application of an ecosystem approach by 2010; (d) Encourages States to cooperate and coordinate their efforts and take, individually or jointly, as appropriate, all measures, in conformity with international law, including the Convention and other applicable instruments, to address impacts on marine ecosystems in areas within and beyond national jurisdiction, taking into account the integrity of the ecosystems concerned; 120. Requests the Secretary-General to convene the eighth meeting of the Consultative Process, in New York, from 25 to 29 June 2007, to provide it with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work and to arrange for support to be provided by the Division, in cooperation with other relevant parts of the Secretariat, as appropriate; 121. Recalls the need to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Consultative Process, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations and programmes to provide guidance to the co-chairpersons to this effect, particularly before and during the preparatory meeting for the Consultative Process; 122. Expresses its concern regarding the insufficient resources available in the voluntary trust fund established by resolution 55/7 for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing States, in attending the meetings of the Consultative Process by covering the costs of travel and daily subsistence allowance, and urges States to make additional contributions to the trust fund; 123. Decides that, in its deliberations on the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea at its forthcoming meetings in 2007 and 2008, the Consultative Process will focus its discussions on the topics "Marine genetic resources" in 2007 and "Maritime security and safety" in 2008; XV Coordination and cooperation 124. Encourages States to work closely with and through international organizations, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and relevant international conventions, to identify emerging areas of focus for improved coordination and cooperation and how best to address these issues; 125. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as funding institutions, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 126. Welcomes the work done by the secretariats of relevant United Nations specialized agencies, programmes, funds and bodies and the secretariats of related organizations and conventions to enhance inter-agency coordination and cooperation on ocean issues, including through UN-Oceans, the inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system; 127. Encourages continued updates to Member States by UN-Oceans regarding its priorities and initiatives, in particular with respect to the proposed participation in UN-Oceans; XVI Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 128. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, prepared by the Division, as well as for the other activities of the Division, which reflect the high standard of assistance provided to Member States by the Division; 129. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities and functions entrusted to him in the Convention and by the related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure the allocation of appropriate resources to the Division for the performance of its activities under the approved budget for the Organization; XVII Sixty-second session of the General Assembly 130. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report, in its current comprehensive format and in accordance with established practice, for the consideration of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, on developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including the implementation of the present resolution, in accordance with resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and to make the report available at least six weeks in advance of the meeting of the Consultative Process; 131. Emphasizes the critical role of the annual comprehensive report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review; 132. Notes that the report referred to in paragraph 130 above will also be presented to States parties pursuant to article 319 of the Convention regarding issues of a general nature that have arisen with respect to the Convention; 133. Also notes the desire to further improve the efficiency of, and effective participation of delegations in, the informal consultations concerning the annual General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the sea and the resolution on sustainable fisheries, and decides to limit the period of the informal consultations on both resolutions to a maximum of four weeks in total and to ensure that the consultations are scheduled in such a way as to avoid overlap with the period during which the Sixth Committee is meeting and that the Division has sufficient time to produce the report referred to in paragraph 130 above; 134. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". RESOLUTION 61/223 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.43 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Chile, Czech Republic, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Zambia 61/223. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/10 of 26 October 1999, by which it granted observer status to the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and considered it mutually advantageous to provide for cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, and its resolution 59/21 of 8 November 2004, in which it invited the Secretary-General of the United Nations to undertake consultations with the Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, and requested the specialized agencies and other bodies and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate to that end with the Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary, Recalling also the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Considering that the activities of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries complement and support the work of the United Nations, Welcoming the participation of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries in the seventh high-level meeting between the United Nations and regional and other intergovernmental organizations, held in New York on 22 September 2006, Recalling the celebration by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, for the first time, of the Portuguese language day on 5 May 2006, 1. Notes with appreciation the progress achieved in cooperation between the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and the specialized agencies and other bodies and programmes of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Labour Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 2. Welcomes the signature of the agreement between the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries on 9 November 2006 regarding consultation, exchange of information and technical cooperation on their respective activities in the field of human rights; 3. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to continue to undertake consultations with the Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries with a view to promoting cooperation between the secretariats of the two bodies, in particular by encouraging meetings that enable their representatives to consult one another on projects, measures and procedures that will facilitate and expand their mutual cooperation and coordination; 4. Invites the Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary to start consultations with a view to considering the establishment of a formal cooperation agreement; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries". RESOLUTION 61/224 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.49 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan 61/224. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/7 of 22 October 2004 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Having received the annual report for 2004 and the draft report for 2005 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,See A/61/185. 1. Takes note of the annual report for 2004 and the draft report for 2005 of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons submitted on its behalf by its Director-General;See A/61/185. 2. Welcomes the announcement of the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. and of the establishment, on 29 April 1997, of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which will be celebrated on 9 May 2007 in The Hague, and calls upon Member States to arrange for representation at the appropriate political level; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons". RESOLUTION 61/225 Adopted at the 83rd plenary meeting, on 20 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.39/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Armenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Ukraine 61/225. World Diabetes Day The General Assembly, Recalling the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. as well as the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, in particular the health-related development goals set out therein, and its resolutions 58/3 of 27 October 2003, 60/35 of 30 November 2005 and 60/265 of 30 June 2006, Recognizing that strengthening public-health and health-care delivery systems is critical to achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing also that diabetes is a chronic, debilitating and costly disease associated with severe complications, which poses severe risks for families, Member States and the entire world and serious challenges to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recalling World Health Assembly resolutions WHA42.36 of 19 May 1989 on the prevention and control of diabetes mellitusSee World Health Organization, Forty-second World Health Assembly, Geneva, 8-19 May 1989, Resolutions and Decisions, Annexes (WHA42/1989/REC/1). and WHA57.17 of 22 May 2004 on a global strategy on diet, physical activity and health,Ibid., Fifty-seventh World Health Assembly, Geneva, 17-22 May 2004, Resolutions and Decisions, Annexes (WHA57/2004/REC/1). Welcoming the fact that the International Diabetes Federation has been observing 14 November as World Diabetes Day at a global level since 1991, with co-sponsorship of the World Health Organization, Recognizing the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to promote and improve human health, and provide access to treatment and health-care education, 1. Decides to designate 14 November, the current World Diabetes Day, as a United Nations Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2007; 2. Invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Diabetes Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of diabetes and related complications, as well as its prevention and care, including through education and the mass media; 3. Encourages Member States to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their health-care systems, taking into account the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States and organizations of the United Nations system. RESOLUTION 61/226 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.51 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay 61/226. Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/30 of 7 December 1994, 50/133 of 20 December 1995, 51/31 of 6 December 1996, 52/18 of 21 November 1997, 53/31 of 23 November 1998, 54/36 of 29 November 1999, 55/43 of 27 November 2000, 56/96 of 14 December 2001, 56/269 of 27 March 2002, 58/13 of 17 November 2003, 58/281 of 9 February 2004 and 60/253 of 2 May 2006, Bearing in mind the indissoluble links between the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the foundations of any democratic society, Recognizing that human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraphs 6 and 24 thereof, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also the declarations and plans of action of the six international conferences of new or restored democracies adopted in Manila in 1988, Managua in 1994, Bucharest in 1997, Cotonou in 2000, Ulaanbaatar in 2003 and Doha in 2006, Reaffirming that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Reaffirming also that, while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region, and reaffirming further the necessity of due respect for sovereignty and the right to self-determination and territorial integrity, Stressing that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, Recognizing that a large number of States are now participating in the international conferences of new or restored democracies and are working together with a host of parliamentarians and international organizations and a large number of non-governmental organizations active in the field of democracy from around the world, Recognizing also that the international conferences of new or restored democracies over the past eighteen years, since 1988, have strengthened international cooperation among new and restored democracies with a view to consolidating the integration of democracy, peace and development, Underlining its commitment to, faith in and support for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which are indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world, and reiterating its determination to foster strict respect for them, and in this regard commending the Secretary-General and the United Nations system for their continuous efforts to consolidate democracy,See the Doha Declaration adopted by the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies (A/61/581, annex). Bearing in mind that the activities of the United Nations carried out in support of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the Charter and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned, Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Qatar for the successful organization of the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, Recalling that the Sixth International Conference focused on building capacity, democracy and social progress, Taking note with satisfaction of the deliberations of the Sixth International Conference, which confirmed the commendable efforts of a considerable number of societies that have undertaken concrete actions to achieve better standards of living and solidarity, good governance practices, economic reforms and sustainable development, the rule of law, justice and equality, 1. Welcomes the outcome of the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, hosted by Qatar and convened in Doha from 29 October to 1 November 2006;See the Doha Declaration adopted by the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies (A/61/581, annex). 2. Also welcomes the special attention given by the Sixth International Conference to the need for the systematic implementation of the recommendations of the international conferences of new or restored democracies, and urges Qatar, as the Chair of the Sixth International Conference, to proceed with the implementation process and to keep the General Assembly informed, as appropriate, of the progress achieved; 3. Recognizes the interactions between Governments, parliaments and civil society organizations at all levels in promoting democracy, freedom, equality, participation, respect for human rights and the rule of law; 4. Welcomes the tripartite character (Governments, parliaments, civil society) of the Sixth International Conference, which allowed for greater interaction and cooperation in the common effort of promoting democracy; 5. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the Organization to respond effectively to the requests of Member States by providing adequate support for their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization, including through the activities of the Democracy Fund at the United Nations; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to play an active role in facilitating international cooperation within the framework of the follow-up to the Sixth International Conference, with the support of other parts of the United Nations system providing democracy assistance or advice, including, as appropriate, the Democracy Fund; 7. Encourages Governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy, including through increased bilateral, regional and international cooperation, taking into account innovative approaches and best practices; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies", a summary of the results of the Sixth International Conference. RESOLUTION 61/227 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Credentials Committee (A/61/648) 61/227. Credentials of representatives to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Credentials CommitteeA/61/648. and the recommendation contained therein, Approves the report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 61/228 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.50 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Angola, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe 61/228. 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling that the period 2001-2010 has been proclaimed the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/284. and that combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases is included in the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling also its resolution 60/221 of 23 December 2005 and all previous resolutions concerning the struggle against malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council relating to the struggle against malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, in particular resolution 1998/36 of 30 July 1998, Taking note of the declarations and decisions on health issues adopted by the Organization of African Unity, in particular the declaration and plan of action on the "Roll Back Malaria" initiative adopted at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Abuja on 24 and 25 April 2000,See A/55/240/Add.1. as well as decision AHG/Dec.155 (XXXVI) concerning the implementation of that declaration and plan of action, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex II. Also taking note of the Maputo Declaration on Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases, adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its second ordinary session, held in Maputo from 10 to 12 July 2003,A/58/626, annex I, Assembly/AU/Decl.6 (II). and the Abuja call for accelerated action towards universal access to HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria services in Africa, issued by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the special summit of the African Union on HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, held in Abuja from 2 to 4 May 2006, Recognizing the linkages in efforts being made to reach the targets set at the Abuja Summit in 2000 as necessary and important for the attainment of the "Roll Back Malaria" goal and the targets of the Millennium Declaration by 2010 and 2015, respectively, Also recognizing that malaria-related ill health and deaths throughout the world can be substantially eliminated with political commitment and commensurate resources if the public is educated and sensitized about malaria and appropriate health services are made available, particularly in countries where the disease is endemic, Emphasizing the importance of implementing the Millennium Declaration, and welcoming in this connection the commitment of Member States to respond to the specific needs of Africa, Commending the efforts of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other partners to fight malaria over the years, including the launching of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in 1998, Recalling resolution 58.2 adopted by the World Health Assembly on 23 May 2005See World Health Organization, Fifty-eighth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 16-25 May 2005, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA58/2005/REC/1). urging a broad range of national and international actions to scale up malaria control programmes, Taking note of the Roll Back Malaria Global Strategic Plan 2005-2015 developed by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the World Health Organization,A/61/218 and Corr.1. and calls for support for the recommendations contained therein; 2. Welcomes the increased funding for malaria interventions and for research and development of preventative and control tools from the international community, through targeted funding from multilateral and bilateral sources and from the private sector; 3. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the "Roll Back Malaria" partner organizations, including the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the United Nations Children's Fund, as vital complementary sources of support for the efforts of malaria-endemic countries to combat the disease; 4. Appeals to the international community to work towards increased and sustained bilateral and multilateral assistance to combat malaria, including support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in order to assist States, in particular malaria-endemic countries, to implement sound national plans to control malaria in a sustained and equitable way that, inter alia, contributes to health system development; 5. Welcomes the contribution to the mobilization of resources for development by voluntary innovative financing initiatives taken by groups of Member States, and in this regard notes the International Drug Purchase Facility, UNITAID, the International Finance Facility for Immunization and the commitment to launch a pilot project in 2006 within the advance market commitment initiatives; 6. Urges malaria-endemic countries to work towards financial sustainability, to increase, to the extent possible, domestic resource allocation to malaria control and to create favourable conditions for working with the private sector in order to improve access to good-quality malaria services; 7. Calls upon Member States, in particular malaria-endemic countries, to establish and/or strengthen national policies and operational plans, aspiring to ensure that at least 80 per cent of those at risk of or suffering from malaria may benefit from major preventive and curative interventions by 2010, in accordance with the technical recommendations of the World Health Organization, so as to ensure a reduction in the burden of malaria by at least 50 per cent by 2010 and 75 per cent by 2015; 8. Urges Member States to assess and respond to the needs for integrated human resources at all levels of the health system, in order to achieve the targets of the Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in AfricaA/55/240/Add.1, annex. and the internationally agreed development goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to take actions, as appropriate, to effectively govern the recruitment, training and retention of skilled health personnel, and to give particular focus to the availability of skilled personnel at all levels to meet technical and operational needs as increased funding for malaria control programmes becomes available; 9. Calls upon the international community, inter alia, by helping to meet the financial needs of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and through country-led initiatives with adequate international support, to intensify access to affordable, safe and effective antimalarial combination treatments, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancies, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, including through the free distribution of such nets where appropriate, and insecticides for indoor residual spraying for malaria control, taking into account relevant international rules, standards and guidelines; 10. Requests relevant international organizations, in particular the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to assist efforts of national Governments to establish universal protection of young children and pregnant women in malaria-endemic countries, particularly in Africa, with insecticide-treated nets as rapidly as possible, with due regard to ensuring sustainability through full community participation and implementation through the health system; 11. Encourages all African countries that have not yet done so to implement the recommendations of the Abuja Summit in 2000See A/55/240/Add.1. to reduce or waive taxes and tariffs for nets and other products needed for malaria control, both to reduce the price of the products to consumers and to stimulate free trade in those products; 12. Expresses its concern about the increase in resistant strains of malaria in several regions of the world, and calls upon Member States, with support from the World Health Organization, to strengthen surveillance systems for drug and insecticide resistance; 13. Urges all Member States experiencing resistance to conventional monotherapies to replace them with combination therapies, as recommended by the World Health Organization, and to develop the necessary financial, legislative and regulatory mechanisms in order to introduce artemisinin combination therapies at affordable prices and to prohibit the marketing of oral artemisinin monotherapies, in a timely manner; 14. Recognizes the importance of the development of safe and cost-effective vaccines and new medicines to prevent and treat malaria and the need for further and accelerated research, including into safe, effective and high-quality traditional therapies, using rigorous standards, including by providing support to the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical DiseasesA joint programme of the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the World Health Organization. and through effective global partnerships such as the various malaria vaccine initiatives and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, where necessary stimulated by new incentives to secure their development; 15. Calls upon the international community, including through existing partnerships, to increase investment in and efforts towards the research and development of new, safe and affordable malaria-related medicines, products and technologies, such as vaccines, rapid diagnostic tests, insecticides and delivery modes, to prevent and treat malaria, especially for at-risk children and pregnant women, in order to enhance effectiveness and delay the onset of resistance; 16. Reaffirms the right to use, to the fullest extent, the provisions contained in the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement),See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health,World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. the decision of the World Trade Organization's General Council of 30 August 2003See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/540 and Corr.1. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and amendments to article 31 of the Agreement,See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/641. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. which provide flexibilities for the protection of public health, and in particular to promote access to medicines for all, including the production, under compulsory licensing, of generic drugs in the prevention and treatment of malaria; 17. Resolves to assist developing countries to employ the flexibilities outlined in the TRIPS Agreement in the fight against malaria and to strengthen their capacities for this purpose; 18. Calls upon the international community to support ways to expand access to and the affordability of key products, such as vector control measures, including indoor residual spraying, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and artemisinin-based combination therapy for populations at risk of exposure to resistant strains of falciparum malaria in malaria-endemic countries, particularly in Africa, including the commitment of new funds, innovative mechanisms for the financing and national procurement of artemisinin-based combination therapy, and the scaling up of artemisinin production to meet the increased need; 19. Applauds the increased level of public-private partnerships for malaria control and prevention, including the financial and in kind contributions of private sector partners and companies operating in Africa, as well as increased engagement of non-governmental service providers; 20. Encourages the producers of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to accelerate technology transfer to developing countries, and encourages malaria- endemic countries, including with the support of the International Finance Corporation, to explore and pursue possible opportunities to scale up production of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets; 21. Calls upon the international community and malaria-endemic countries, in accordance with existing guidelines and recommendations from the World Health Organization and the requirements of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic PollutantsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2256, No. 40214. to increase capacity for the safe, effective and judicious use of indoor residual spraying and other forms of vector control; 22. Urges the international community to become fully knowledgeable about World Health Organization technical policies and strategies, including for indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated nets and case management, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women and monitoring of in vivo resistance studies to artemisinin-based combination therapy treatment, so that projects support those policies and strategies; 23. Requests the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and donor agencies to provide support to those countries which choose to use DDT for indoor residual spraying so as to ensure that it is implemented in accordance with international rules, standards and guidelines, and to provide all possible support to malaria-endemic countries to manage the intervention effectively and prevent the contamination of agricultural products with DDT and other insecticides used for indoor residual spraying; 24. Calls upon malaria-endemic countries to encourage regional and intersectoral collaboration, both public and private, at all levels, especially in education, agriculture, economic development and the environment, to advance malaria control objectives; 25. Calls upon the international community to support increased interventions, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, in order to ensure their rapid, efficient and effective implementation, to strengthen health systems, to monitor and fight against the trade in counterfeit antimalarial medicines and prevent the distribution and use of them, and to support coordinated efforts, inter alia, by providing technical assistance to improve surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems and their alignment with national plans and systems so as to better track and report changes in coverage, the need for scaling up recommended interventions and the subsequent reductions in the burden of malaria; 26. Urges Member States, the international community and all relevant actors, including the private sector, to promote the coordinated implementation and enhance the quality of malaria-related activities, including via the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, in accordance with national policies and operational plans that are consistent with the technical recommendations of the World Health Organization and recent efforts and initiatives, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution under the agenda item entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 61/229 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.23/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/229. New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002 on the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Recalling also its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and resolutions 58/233 of 23 December 2003, 59/254 of 23 December 2004 and 60/222 of 23 December 2005 entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. including the recognition of the need to meet the special needs of Africa, Bearing in mind that African countries have primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and also the need for their development efforts to be supported by an enabling international economic environment, and in this regard recalling the support given by the International Conference on Financing for Development to the New Partnership,See Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Stressing the need to implement various commitments by the international community regarding the economic and social development of Africa, 1. Welcomes the fourth consolidated report of the Secretary-General;A/61/212. 2. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 3. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the New Partnership as well as regional and international support for the New Partnership, while acknowledging that much needs to be done in its implementation; 4. Reaffirms the resolve to provide assistance for prevention and care, with the aim of ensuring an AIDS-, malaria- and tuberculosis-free generation in Africa, and of achieving as closely as possible the goal of universal access by 2010 to HIV/AIDS treatment in African countries, to encourage pharmaceutical companies to make drugs, including antiretroviral drugs, that are affordable and accessible in Africa and to ensure increased bilateral and multilateral assistance, where possible on a grant basis, to combat malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in Africa through the strengthening of health systems; 5. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted at the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly on 27 June 2001,Resolution S-26/2, annex. and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the Assembly on 2 June 2006;Resolution 60/262, annex. I Actions by African countries and organizations 6. Welcomes the progress made by the African countries in fulfilling their commitments in the implementation of the New Partnership to deepen democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic management, and encourages African countries, with the participation of stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to intensify their efforts in this regard by developing and strengthening institutions for governance, creating an environment conducive to involving the private sector, including small and medium-size firms, in the New Partnership implementation process and to attracting foreign direct investment for the development of the region; 7. Also welcomes the good progress that has been achieved in implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism, in particular the completion of the peer review process in some countries, further welcomes the progress in implementing the recommendations of those reviews, and in this regard urges African States to consider joining the Mechanism process as soon as possible and to strengthen the Mechanism process for its efficient performance; 8. Further welcomes and appreciates the continuing and increasing efforts of African countries to mainstream a gender perspective and the empowerment of women in the implementation of the New Partnership; 9. Stresses that conflict prevention, management and resolution and post-conflict consolidation are essential for the achievement of the objectives of the New Partnership, and welcomes in this regard the cooperation and support granted by the United Nations and development partners to the African regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of the New Partnership; 10. Welcomes the efforts by African countries to achieve food and nutrition security by adopting appropriate strategies inspired by the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme and by debates at various summits, such as at the New Partnership's Fish for All Summit, held in Abuja from 22 to 25 August 2005, and the Africa Fertilizer Summit, endorsed by the African Union on 29 August 2005 and held from 9 to 13 June 2006, and the New Partnership's Food Security Summit, held in Abuja from 4 to 7 December 2006; 11. Emphasizes the importance for African countries to continue to coordinate, on the basis of national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance in order to integrate effectively such assistance into their development processes; 12. Recognizes the important role that African regional economic communities can play in the implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard encourages African countries and the international community to give regional economic communities the necessary support to strengthen their capacity; 13. Supports the ongoing efforts by the African Union to improve the coordination between the New Partnership secretariat, the African Union Commission, the regional economic communities and African States; 14. Encourages the establishment of national institutional mechanisms for further domestication and integration of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership in national policies and programmes; II Response of the international community 15. Welcomes the efforts by development partners to strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership; 16. Also welcomes the various important initiatives of Africa's development partners in recent years, and emphasizes in this regard the importance of coordination in such initiatives on Africa; 17. Recognizes the important role that South-South cooperation can play in supporting Africa's development efforts, including implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard welcomes the convening of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation on 4 and 5 November 2006 and the Africa-Latin America Summit, held in Abuja on 30 November and 1 December 2006; 18. Welcomes the ongoing initiatives on the follow-up to the second Asia-Africa summit, held in Jakarta on 22 and 23 April 2005, aimed at promoting greater partnership and cooperation between Africa and other regions; 19. Urges continued support of measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa including, as appropriate, debt relief, improved market access, support for the private sector and entrepreneurship, enhanced official development assistance and increased flows of foreign direct investment, and transfer of technology; 20. Reiterates the need for all countries and relevant multilateral institutions to continue efforts to enhance coherence in their trade policies towards African countries, and acknowledges the importance of efforts to fully integrate African countries into the international trading system through initiatives such as building Africa's capacity to compete and the provision of assistance to address the adjustment challenges of trade liberalization; 21. Calls for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the external debt problems of African countries, including cancellation or restructuring for heavily indebted African countries not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative that have unsustainable debt burdens, and emphasizes the importance of debt sustainability; 22. Welcomes the recent pledges by the Group of Eight countries to double by 2010 official development assistance to Africa, looks forward to the realization of those pledges, and urges donors to continue to improve the quality of aid in accordance with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness: Ownership, Harmonization, Alignment, Results and Mutual Accountability, adopted at the High-level Forum on the question of "Joint Progress towards Enhanced Aid Effectiveness: Harmonization, Alignment, Results", held in Paris from 28 February to 2 March 2005, and to ensure that the increase in official development assistance translates into the actual flow of financial resources to developing countries; 23. Recognizes the need for national Governments and the international community to make continued efforts to increase the flow of new and additional resources for financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and foreign, to support the development of African countries; 24. Welcomes the efforts by development partners to align their financial and technical support to Africa more closely to the priorities of the New Partnership, as reflected in national poverty reduction strategies or in similar strategies, and encourages development partners to increase their efforts in this regard; 25. Invites developed countries to promote investment by their private sectors in Africa, to help African countries attract investments and promote policies conducive to attracting domestic and foreign investment, such as encouraging private financial flows and promoting and maintaining macroeconomic stability, to encourage and facilitate the transfer of the technology needed to African countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, and to assist in strengthening human and institutional capacities for the implementation of the New Partnership, consistent with its priorities and objectives and with a view to furthering Africa's development at all levels; 26. Requests the United Nations system to continue to provide assistance to the African Union and the New Partnership secretariat and to African countries in developing projects and programmes within the scope of the priorities of the New Partnership; 27. Invites the Secretary-General, as a follow-up to the 2005 World Summit, to urge the United Nations development system to assist African countries in implementing quick-impact initiatives through, inter alia, the Millennium Villages Project; 28. Decides to hold within existing resources a high-level meeting on "Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward" during its sixty-third session, the focus and modalities of which will be decided upon at its sixty-second session; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to promote greater coherence in the work of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, on the basis of the agreed clusters; 30. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to take measures to strengthen the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa in order to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate, including monitoring and reporting on progress related to meeting the special needs of Africa; 31. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the basis of inputs from Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other stakeholders in the New Partnership, such as the private sector and civil society. RESOLUTION 61/22 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 1 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 101 to 7, with 62 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.31 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 61/22. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its emergency special sessions and resolution 60/36 of 1 December 2005, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/61/35). Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/61/35). including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session and thereafter; 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during this critical period of humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, and to continue to involve additional civil society organizations in its work; 5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 61/230 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.41/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine 61/230. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45). and its resolutions 53/92 of 7 December 1998, 54/234 of 22 December 1999, 55/217 of 21 December 2000, 56/37 of 4 December 2001, 57/296 of 20 December 2002, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, 58/235 of 23 December 2003, 59/255 of 23 December 2004 and 60/223 of 23 December 2005, as well as resolution 59/213 of 20 December 2004 on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, Recalling also, in this context, Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, 1366 (2001) of 30 August 2001 on the role of the Council in the prevention of armed conflicts, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on the plight of children in armed conflict, 1625 (2005) of 14 September 2005 on strengthening the effectiveness of the Council's role in conflict prevention, particularly in Africa, and 1631 (2005) of 17 October 2005 on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. through which world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the special needs of Africa, Recalling the creation by the Economic and Social Council, by its resolution 2002/1 of 15 July 2002, of ad hoc advisory groups on African countries emerging from conflict, Recognizing that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, Stressing that the responsibility for peace and security in Africa, including the capacity to address the root causes of conflict and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, lies primarily with African countries, while recognizing the need for support from the international community, Recognizing, in particular, the importance of strengthening the capacity of African regional and subregional organizations to address the causes of conflict in Africa, Noting that despite the positive trends and advances in Africa, the conditions required for sustained peace and development have yet to be consolidated throughout the continent, Noting also that conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace would benefit from the coordinated, sustained and integrated efforts of the United Nations system and Member States, and regional and subregional organizations, as well as international and regional financial institutions, Reaffirming the need to strengthen the synergy between Africa's economic and social development programmes and its peace and security agenda, Recognizing the importance of the Peacebuilding Commission as a dedicated mechanism to address the special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery, reintegration and reconstruction and to assist them in laying the foundation for peace and sustainable development, Underlining the need to address the negative implications of the illegal exploitation of natural resources in all its aspects on peace, security and development in Africa, and underlining also that the illicit trade in natural resources is a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fuelling of armed conflicts and the illicit trade in and proliferation of arms, especially small arms and light weapons, 1. Takes note of the progress report of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/213. on the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. including recent efforts in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding undertaken by African countries, African regional organizations and the United Nations system; 2. Welcomes the progress made in the prevention, management and resolution of conflict and in post-conflict peacebuilding in a number of African countries; 3. Also welcomes the determination of the African Union to strengthen its peacekeeping capacity and to take the lead in peacekeeping operations in the continent, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and in close coordination with the United Nations, through the Peace and Security Council, as well as ongoing efforts to develop a continental early warning system, enhanced mediation capacity, including through the establishment of the Panel of the Wise, and the African Standby Force; 4. Urges the United Nations and invites other development partners to increase their support for the African Union in order to enhance its capacity and effectiveness in the planning, deployment and management of peacekeeping operations and the advanced training to African peacekeepers, and urges the donor community to replenish the Peace Fund of the African Union; 5. Welcomes the commitment of international partners to support and strengthen African capabilities in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa, including through financial and technical support for further development of the African Peace and Security Architecture, in this regard welcomes the continued support of the European Union to the African Peace Facility, initiatives by members of the Group of Eight, such as the Reinforcement of African Peacekeeping Capacities programme of France, the new initiative for consolidating peace in Africa under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development framework by Japan and the Global Peace Operations Initiative of the United States of America, and also welcomes the successful convening of the first Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which resulted in the adoption of the Declaration of the Beijing Summit and the Beijing Action Plan;See A/61/580-S/2006/897, annex. 6. Encourages further contributions by the partners, including through the existing forums of cooperation with Africa, to the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa by strengthening the capacity of African regional and subregional organizations to address the causes of conflict in Africa and the capacity for the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts, peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding; 7. Calls for a holistic and coordinated approach at the national, regional and international levels to identify causes of each conflict situation as a means to improve the effectiveness of conflict prevention and resolution, crisis management, peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding efforts in Africa; 8. Stresses the critical importance of a regional approach to conflict prevention, particularly with respect to cross-border issues such as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, the prevention of illegal exploitation of natural resources and trafficking in high-value commodities and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, and emphasizes the central role of the African Union and subregional organizations in addressing such issues; 9. Welcomes efforts to enhance practical cooperation, within the framework of an effective partnership, between the United Nations and the African Union in the realm of conflict prevention and resolution, crisis management, peacemaking, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding in Africa, and in this context urges the United Nations system and the international community to increase, coordinate and sustain their efforts aimed at assisting African countries in addressing the full range of causes of conflict in Africa; 10. Stresses the importance of effectively addressing challenges which continue to hamper the achievement of peace and stability on the continent, inter alia, youth unemployment, the devastating social, economic and political impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the illegal exploitation of natural resources and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; 11. Notes with concern that violence against women everywhere continues and often increases, even as armed conflicts draw to an end, and urges further progress in the implementation of policies and guidelines relating to protection of and assistance to women in conflict and post-conflict situations; 12. Calls for the enhancement of the role of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding; 13. Notes with concern the tragic plight of children in conflict situations in Africa, particularly the phenomenon of child soldiers, and stresses the need for the protection of children in armed conflicts, post-conflict counselling, rehabilitation and education; 14. Recognizes the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General in Africa, and encourages the Secretary-General to use mediation as often as possible to help to solve conflicts peacefully, taking due consideration of the work performed by the African Union and other subregional organizations in that regard; 15. Welcomes the strengthening of the United Nations peacemaking support capacity through the establishment of the Mediation Support Unit within the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat as well as the launch of United Nations Peacemaker, a Web-based knowledge-sharing and operational tool; 16. Invites the United Nations and the donor community to increase efforts to support ongoing regional efforts to build African mediation and negotiation capacity; 17. Welcomes African-led initiatives to strengthen political, economic and corporate governance, such as the African Peer Review Mechanism, encourages more African countries to join this Mechanism process as soon as possible, and calls upon the United Nations system and Member States to assist African Member States and regional and subregional organizations in their efforts to improve good governance, including the rule of law and the holding of free and fair elections; 18. Recognizes the role that the Peacebuilding Commission can perform to ensure the national ownership of the peacebuilding process in countries emerging from conflict and that nationally evolved priorities are at the core of international and regional efforts in addressing the root causes of the conflicts in the countries under consideration, and calls for the full engagement and commitment of all relevant actors to the work of the Peacebuilding Commission with a view to addressing identified critical peacebuilding priorities and issues through a coherent, holistic and inclusive peacebuilding process; 19. Calls upon the United Nations system and invites Member States to assist African countries emerging from conflict in their efforts to build national capacities of governance, including the rehabilitation of the security sector, disarmament, demobilization and the reintegration of ex-combatants, provision for the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees, the launch of income-generation activities, particularly for youth and women, and the delivery of basic public services; 20. Stresses the importance of creating an environment conducive to national reconciliation and social and economic recovery in countries emerging from conflict; 21. Takes note of the conclusions of the Expert Group Meeting on "Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa: Transforming a Peace Liability into a Peace Asset", held in Cairo from 17 to 19 June 2006,Available from www.un.org/africa/osaa/. calls upon African Member States and regional and subregional organizations to assist African countries emerging from conflict in devising national natural resources and public revenue management structures, and urges the international community to assist in this process by providing adequate financial and technical assistance, as well as by renewing commitment to efforts aimed at combating the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of those countries; 22. Notes the positive role the media can play in conflict prevention and resolution, welcomes decision EX.CL/Dec.215 (VII) of the seventh ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union, held from 28 June to 2 July 2005, as adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, to establish the Pan-African Television Channel as a vehicle to mitigate the sociocultural causes of conflict in Africa,See African Union, document EX.CL/Dec.192-235 (VII). and calls upon the international community to increase efforts to support the establishment of such a channel and to discourage hate media and promote responsible journalism; 23. Decides to continue to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a progress report on the implementation of the present resolution; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to include in the aforementioned progress report concrete proposals for possible United Nations actions and plans in support of the goal of achieving a conflict-free Africa by 2010. RESOLUTION 61/231 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/413, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 100 to 1, with 52 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/231. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/62. and the report of the Economic and Social CouncilE/2006/47. on the item, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/61/23), chap. VI. Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 2005/49 of 27 July 2005, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the current participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded programmes of assistance for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations resolutions and decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/112 of 8 December 2005 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/62. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in which they are members to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 4. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) The illegal exploitation of the marine resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Welcomes the adoption by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of its resolution 574 (XXVII) of 16 May 1998See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 21 (E/1998/41), sect. III.G. calling for the creation of mechanisms for the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of the Commission to participate in the special sessions of the General Assembly, subject to the rules of procedure of the Assembly, to review and assess the implementation of the plans of action of those United Nations world conferences in which the Territories originally participated in the capacity of observer, and in the work of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies, and takes note of Commission resolution 598 (XXX) of 2 July 2004 on the issue;Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 20 (E/2004/40), sect. IV.D. 13. Takes note of resolution 62 (XXI) of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee, adopted on 17 January 2006, in which the Committee expressed support for the implementation of Commission resolution 598 (XXX) and requested the Commission to disseminate a background note on the matter;See LC/CAR/L.86, part III. 14. Requests the Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to maintain close contact on these matters with the President of the Economic and Social Council; 15. Requests the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and the Special Committee, to prepare an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to disseminate it widely in them; 16. Welcomes the continuing initiative exercised by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 17. Encourages the Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies; 18. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 19. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 21. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for the coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 22. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 24. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 61/232 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/443/Add.3, para. 70),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 82 to 25, with 45 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia 61/232. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and recalling the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Reaffirming also its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the most recent of which is resolution 60/233 of 23 December 2005, those of the Commission on Human Rights, and the conclusions of the International Labour Conference of June 2006, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, resolutions 1265 (1999) of 17 September 1999 and 1296 (2000) of 19 April 2000 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on children and armed conflict, the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflictA/61/529-S/2006/826 and Corr.1. and the Security Council discussion on the situation in Myanmar held on 29 September 2006, Recognizing that respect for human rights, the rule of law, democracy and good governance are essential to achieving sustainable development and economic growth, and affirming that the establishment of a genuine democratic government in Myanmar is essential for the realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Affirming that the will of the people is the basis of the authority of government and that the will of the people of Myanmar was clearly expressed in the elections held in 1990, 1. Welcomes: (a) The reports of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in MyanmarE/CN.4/2006/34 and A/61/369 and Corr.1. and his oral presentations, and the reports of the Secretary-General;E/CN.4/2006/117 and A/61/504. (b) The personal engagement and statements of the Secretary-General with regard to the situation in Myanmar; (c) The visits of the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs to Myanmar in May and November 2006 at the invitation of the Government of Myanmar, and his meetings with senior government officials as well as leaders of the National League for Democracy, including Aung San Suu Kyi; (d) The efforts of the United Nations and other international humanitarian organizations to deliver urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Myanmar; (e) The establishment by the Government of Myanmar of a committee for the prevention of military recruitment of underage soldiers and the adoption in November 2004 of an outline plan of action to address the issues of underage recruitment and child soldiers, and the declared willingness of the Government to cooperate with the United Nations and other international organizations to address these issues; (f) The recent submission by the Government of Myanmar of replies to a number of official communications by the United Nations special procedures on human rights; (g) The initial measures to combat impunity concerning forced labour, including the six-month moratorium on arrests of individuals who report forced labour and the release of two prominent detainees; (h) The launching of the Three-Disease Fund with the aim of tackling the severe problems of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Myanmar; 2. Expresses grave concern at: (a) The ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Myanmar, as described in resolution 60/233 and previous resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Commission on Human Rights, as well as the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and of the International Labour Organization, including discrimination and violations suffered by persons belonging to ethnic nationalities of Myanmar, including extrajudicial killings, rape and other forms of sexual violence persistently carried out by members of the armed forces; the continuing use of torture, deaths in custody, political arrests and continuing imprisonment and other detention; the continuing recruitment and use of child soldiers and the use of landmines; forced labour, including child labour; trafficking in persons; the denial of freedom of assembly, association, expression and movement; wide disrespect for the rule of law; the confiscation of arable land, crops, livestock and other possessions; and the prevailing culture of impunity; (b) The attacks by military forces on villages in Karen State and other ethnic States in Myanmar, leading to extensive forced displacements and serious violations of the human rights of the affected populations; (c) The continuing restrictions on activities of the National League for Democracy and other political parties, and the consistent harassment of their members, as well as of persons belonging to ethnic nationalities and of student leaders, including the extension of the house arrest of the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her deputy, Tin Oo; (d) The absence of progress towards genuine democratic reform, including the measures hindering representatives of the National League for Democracy and other political parties from participating in an effective and meaningful manner in the National Convention; (e) The fact that the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and the former Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Myanmar have been unable to visit the country for almost three years, despite repeated requests; (f) The continuing denial of the freedom of human rights defenders to pursue their activities; 3. Strongly calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To end the systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Myanmar, to fully implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur, the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights, the International Labour Organization and other United Nations bodies aimed at ensuring full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms in Myanmar, and to allow human rights defenders to pursue their activities unhindered and to ensure their safety, security and freedom of movement in that pursuit; (b) To take urgent measures to put an end to the military operations targeting civilians in the ethnic areas, and the associated violations of human rights and humanitarian law against persons belonging to ethnic nationalities, including widespread rape and other forms of sexual violence persistently carried out by members of the armed forces, and to facilitate a fact-finding mission comprising representatives of relevant United Nations agencies to help to identify measures to alleviate the humanitarian and human rights consequences of the conflict in Karen State and other ethnic States in Myanmar; (c) To put an immediate end to the continuing recruitment and use of child soldiers, to intensify measures to ensure the protection of children affected by armed conflict, to fully implement the 2004 plan of action, including by intensifying cooperation with the United Nations agencies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, and to consider as a matter of high priority signing and ratifying the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. (d) To end the systematic forced displacement of large numbers of persons and other causes of refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to provide the necessary protection and assistance to internally displaced persons, in cooperation with the international community, and to respect the right of refugees to voluntary, safe and dignified return monitored by appropriate international agencies in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law; (e) To end impunity, and to this end: (i) To investigate and bring to justice any perpetrators of human rights violations, including members of the military and other government agents in all circumstances; (ii) To facilitate a genuinely independent investigation of continuing reports of sexual violence, in particular against women belonging to ethnic nationalities, and other abuse of civilians carried out by members of the armed forces in Shan, Karen, Mon and other States; (iii) To facilitate a genuinely independent investigation into the attack perpetrated near Depayin on 30 May 2003; (f) To release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, including National League for Democracy leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy leader Khun Htun Oo and other Shan leaders, as well as former student leaders Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe, Min Zeya and Pyone Cho; to desist from arresting and punishing persons for their peaceful political activities, and to ensure that discipline in prisons does not amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and that conditions of detention otherwise meet international standards, and include the possibility of visiting any detainee, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and to investigate cases of death in custody; (g) To lift all restraints on peaceful political activity of all persons, including former political prisoners, by, inter alia, guaranteeing freedom of association and freedom of expression, including for free and independent media, and to ensure unhindered access to information for the people of Myanmar; (h) To urgently resolve the serious issues identified by the International Labour Organization concerning compliance with international labour standards, including to give clear assurances that no action will be taken against persons lodging complaints of forced labour, to resolve outstanding allegations of forced labour, to establish a credible mechanism for dealing with individual complaints of forced labour, to respect the International Labour Organization presence in Myanmar and strengthen it when necessary and ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of the International Labour Organization liaison officer; (i) To cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, including by granting him full, free and unimpeded access to Myanmar, and with other United Nations human rights mechanisms, and to ensure that no person cooperating with the Special Rapporteur or any international organization is subjected to any form of intimidation, harassment or punishment; (j) To ensure immediately safe and unhindered access to all parts of Myanmar for the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations and to cooperate fully with those organizations so as to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered in accordance with humanitarian principles and reaches the most vulnerable groups of the population in accordance with international law, including applicable international humanitarian law; (k) To continue to take action to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic, tuberculosis and malaria; 4. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To permit all political representatives and representatives of ethnic nationalities to participate fully in the political transition process without restrictions, and, to this end, to resume, without further delay, dialogue with all political actors, including the National League for Democracy and representatives of ethnic nationalities, to complete the drafting of the Constitution and to ensure that the drafting process responds to the concerns of the ethnic nationalities and to set a clear timetable for the transition to democracy; (b) To pursue through dialogue and peaceful means the immediate suspension and permanent end of conflict with all ethnic nationalities in Myanmar, and to allow the full participation of representatives of all political parties and representatives of ethnic nationalities in an inclusive and credible process of national reconciliation; (c) To fulfil its obligations to restore the independence of the judiciary and due process of law, and to take further steps to reform the system of administration of justice; 5. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to provide his good offices and to pursue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and the people of Myanmar, including all relevant parties to the national reconciliation process in Myanmar, and to offer technical assistance to the Government in this regard; (b) To give all necessary assistance to enable his Special Envoy, once appointed, and the Special Rapporteur to discharge their mandates fully and effectively; (c) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixty-second session, on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur. RESOLUTION 61/233 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/631, para. 7) 61/233. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 50/222 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 E of 17 June 1997, 52/212 B of 31 March 1998, 53/204 of 18 December 1998, 53/221, section VIII, of 7 April 1999, 54/13 B of 23 December 1999, 55/220 A of 23 December 2000, 55/220 B and C of 12 April and 14 June 2001, 57/278 A of 20 December 2002 and 60/234 A of 23 December 2005 and 60/234 B of 30 June 2006, Having considered, for the period ended 31 December 2005, the financial reports and audited financial statements and the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors on the United Nations,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/61/5), vol. I. the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO,Ibid., vol. III. the United Nations University,Ibid., vol. IV. the United Nations Development Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5A (A/61/5/Add.1). the United Nations Children's Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5B (A/61/5/Add.2). the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East,Ibid., Supplement No. 5C (A/61/5/Add.3). the United Nations Institute for Training and Research,Ibid., Supplement No. 5D (A/61/5/Add.4). the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,Ibid., Supplement No. 5E (A/61/5/Add.5). the Fund of the United Nations Environment Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5F (A/61/5/Add.6). the United Nations Population Fund,Ibid., Supplement No. 5G (A/61/5/Add.7). the United Nations Human Settlements Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5H (A/61/5/Add.8). the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme,Ibid., Supplement No. 5I (A/61/5/Add.9). the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994Ibid., Supplement No. 5K and corrigendum (A/61/5/Add.11 and Corr.1). and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991,Ibid., Supplement No. 5L and corrigendum (A/61/5/Add.12 and Corr.1). the concise summary of principal findings and conclusions contained in the reports prepared by the Board of Auditors,See A/61/182. the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations as well as on the implementation of its recommendations on the financial statements of the funds and programmes of the United Nations for the financial period ended 31 December 2005,A/61/214 and Add.1. and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/350. 1. Accepts the financial reports and audited financial statements and the reports and audit opinions of the Board of Auditors for the above-mentioned organizations; 2. Approves the recommendations and conclusions contained in the reports of the Board of Auditors; 3. Endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/350. 4. Recalls the relevant provisions of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations;ST/SGB/2003/7. 5. Notes that the opinion expressed in paragraph 28 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions does not constitute another request by the Advisory Committee for certain specific examinations; 6. Emphasizes that the Board of Auditors shall be completely independent and solely responsible for the conduct of the audit; 7. Decides to consider further the reports of the Board of Auditors on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia under the respective agenda items relating to the Tribunals; 8. Expresses concern that the United Nations Office for Project Services was unable to submit its financial statements to the Board of Auditors and thereby prevented the Board from expressing an opinion on the financial statements, and requests the Office to ensure that this situation is not repeated in future; 9. Notes that the report of the Board of Auditors on the financial statements of the United Nations Office for Project Services will be submitted to the General Assembly at the first part of its resumed sixty-first session; 10. Commends the Board of Auditors for the superior quality of its reports, in particular with respect to its comments on the management of resources and improving the presentation of financial statements; 11. Recalls section VI, paragraph 12, of its resolution 57/292 of 20 December 2002 and paragraph 1 of its resolution 58/267 A of 23 December 2003; 12. Encourages the Secretary-General to take into account the relevant experience of the funds and programmes of the United Nations in the process of replacing the Integrated Management Information System with a next-generation enterprise resource planning system or other comparable system, with a view to properly assessing and taking into account the risks and challenges involved in implementing and maintaining such a system; 13. Recalls section II, paragraph 5, of its resolution 60/283 of 7 July 2006, and requests the Secretary-General to include information on the measures taken to ensure that the United Nations benefits from the experience gained by its funds and programmes in the implementation of a next-generation enterprise resource planning system or other comparable system, as well as proposals to address any potential problem areas; 14. Welcomes the information contained in the report of the Board of Auditors and its focus on the implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards in the United Nations system, and emphasizes the importance of appropriate audit coverage on this issue in its future reports; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to include, in his report to be submitted to it at the first part of its resumed sixty-first session, information on its decision on the accounting task force and its interaction with other entities that will be affected by the implementation of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, as well as the status of implementation and outstanding requirements; 16. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations as well as on the implementation of its recommendations on the financial statements of the funds and programmes of the United Nations for the financial period ended 31 December 2005;A/61/214 and Add.1. 17. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to ensure full implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors and the related recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in a prompt and timely manner and to hold programme managers accountable for non-implementation of the recommendations; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide in his reports on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations as well as on the financial statements of its funds and programmes a full explanation for the delays in the implementation of the recommendations of the Board, in particular those recommendations not yet fully implemented which are two or more years old; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to indicate in future reports an expected time frame for the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, as well as the priorities for their implementation and the office holders to be held accountable; 20. Emphasizes that the forthcoming change of management should not hinder the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors; 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with paragraph 6 of its resolution 59/264 A of 23 December 2004, to take the necessary measures to make certain that the editing and translation of the reports of the Board of Auditors are completed in a manner that would ensure that they are submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with the six-week rule and thereby enable Member States to have adequate time to consider the large volume of reports prior to the sixty-third session of the Assembly. RESOLUTION 61/234 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/652, para. 7) 61/234. Enhancing the role of the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/235 of 23 December 2005, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on enhancing the role of the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for AfricaA/61/471. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/544. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/471. and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/544. 2. Recalls its resolution 59/275 of 23 December 2004, in which it decided that the development of Africa should be among the priorities of the Organization for the period 2006-2007; 3. Recalls also its resolutions 57/2 of 16 September 2002 and 57/7 of 4 November 2002, and stresses the important role played by the Economic Commission for Africa in coordinating the activities of the United Nations system at the regional level in support of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 4. Recalls further its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005 and its commitment to address the special needs of Africa; 5. Welcomes the efforts by the Economic Commission for Africa to conduct a comprehensive review aimed at repositioning it to better respond to the challenges facing Africa and to implement the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat; 6. Recalls its request to the Secretary-General in paragraph 12 of its resolution 60/235 to submit a comprehensive plan of action to strengthen the subregional offices, and notes with appreciation the steps taken to define the role and mission of the subregional offices so as to address the recommendations made by the Office of Internal Oversight Services;A/60/120, sect. IX. 7. Recalls paragraphs 9 and 12 of its resolution 60/235 and its request to the Secretary-General, in the context of the plan of action, to ensure that adequate resources are provided to the Economic Commission for Africa and its subregional offices to continue their support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the regional economic communities of Africa, as well as to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 8. Recalls also its concern expressed in paragraph 8 of its resolution 60/235, and notes that the repositioning exercise and implementation of the recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services will be addressed through a redeployment of post and non-post resource requirements in the biennium 2006-2007 and that the Secretary-General will address remaining proposals for resources and reorganization in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in the context of his report on the comprehensive information and communication technology strategy of the Organization, to be submitted to the General Assembly at the first part of its resumed sixty-first session, to include detailed information on the implementation of paragraph 6 of its resolution 60/235. RESOLUTION 61/235 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/653, para. 8) 61/235. Programme planning The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/234 of 21 December 1982, 38/227 A of 20 December 1983, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 55/234 of 23 December 2000, 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 57/282 of 20 December 2002, 58/268 and 58/269 of 23 December 2003, 59/275 of 23 December 2004 and 60/257 of 8 May 2006, Recalling also the terms of reference of the Committee for Programme and Coordination, as outlined in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX) of 14 May 1976, Having considered the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-sixth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/61/16 and Corr.1). the proposed strategic framework for the period 2008-2009: part one: plan outlineA/61/6 (Part One). and part two: biennial programme plan,A/61/6 (Prog. 1-13, 14/Rev.1 and 15-27). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/61/6/Rev.1). the proposed revisions to the biennial programme plan and priorities for the period 2006-2007,A/61/125. the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 2004-2005A/61/64. and the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on strengthening the role of evaluation and the application of evaluation findings in programme design, delivery and policy directives,See A/61/83 and Corr.1. 1. Re-emphasizes the role of the plenary and the Main Committees of the General Assembly in reviewing and taking action on the appropriate recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination relevant to their work, in accordance with regulation 4.10 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation;ST/SGB/2000/8. 2. Requests the General Committee to take fully into account resolutions 56/253, 57/282, 59/275 and 60/257 in the allocation of agenda items to the Main Committees; Proposed strategic framework for the period 2008-2009 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the proposed biennial programme plan for the period 2008-2009 contained in the report of the Committee on the work of its forty-sixth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/61/16 and Corr.1). subject to the provisions of the present resolution and the additional modifications contained in the annex hereto; 4. Decides not to take a decision on the content of part one: plan outline of the proposed strategic framework for the period 2008-2009;A/61/6 (Part One). 5. Decides that the priorities for the period 2008-2009 shall be the following: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 6. Stresses that setting the priorities of the United Nations is the prerogative of the Member States, as reflected in legislative mandates; 7. Also stresses the need for Member States to participate fully in the budget preparation process, from its early stages and throughout the process; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 on the basis of the above priorities and the biennial programme plan as adopted in the present resolution; Programme performance report 9. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the programme performance of the United Nations for the biennium 2004-2005;A/61/64. 10. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination regarding the report of the Secretary-General, contained in chapter II, section A, of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/61/16 and Corr.1). 11. Stresses that, while future reports on programme performance will be more aligned with the objectives, expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement, information on the outputs shall continue to be provided in the reports; 12. Recognizes the role of the Committee for Programme and Coordination in monitoring and evaluation, and encourages the Committee, in reviewing performance and evaluation reports, to provide, inter alia, action-oriented recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and impact of the activities of the Organization; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that future programme performance reports provide more detailed information on the reasons for the less-than-full implementation of programmed outputs or the postponement or termination thereof; Evaluation 14. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on evaluation, contained in chapter II, section C, of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/61/16 and Corr.1). 15. Recalls paragraphs 9 and 10 of its resolution 60/257, and encourages intergovernmental bodies to make use of the findings set out in the programme performance reports of the Secretary-General and evaluation reports in planning and policymaking; 16. Also recalls paragraphs 14 and 15 of its resolution 60/257, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session to improve the links between monitoring, evaluation, programme planning and budgeting; Coordination questions 18. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2005-2006, contained in chapter III, section A, of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/61/16 and Corr.1). and on the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the report of the Joint Inspection Unit, contained in chapter III, section B;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 16 and corrigendum (A/61/16 and Corr.1). 19. Invites the Economic and Social Council to utilize the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination when considering related reports of the Chief Executives Board; Improving the working methods and procedures of the Committee for Programme and Coordination within the framework of its mandate 20. Recalls its resolutions 58/269, 59/275 and 60/257; 21. Recognizes the efforts of the Committee for Programme and Coordination during its forty-sixth session to improve its working methods and procedures; 22. Invites the Committee for Programme and Coordination, at its forty-seventh session, within the framework of its mandate, to continue its consideration of the agenda item on improving the working methods and procedures of the Committee for Programme and Coordination within the framework of its mandate. Annex Additional modifications to the proposed biennial programme plan for the period 2008-2009 Programme 10 Trade and development Subprogramme 2 Investment, enterprise and technology Expected accomplishment (c) should read as follows: "Improved opportunities for enterprises in developing countries and countries with economies in transition to enhance their competitiveness through deepened linkages between domestic and foreign firms and better understanding of emerging issues in accounting and reporting standards, corporate responsibility, transparency and good corporate practices". Indicator of achievement (c) should read as follows: "Increased percentage of countries indicating that policy advice and technical assistance provided by UNCTAD were useful in the design of policies aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of their enterprises". Strategy Paragraph 10.9 should read as follows: "This subprogramme is implemented under the responsibility of the Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development. To achieve the objective of the subprogramme, the Division will aim to improve the understanding of issues and policy choices in international investment, enterprise development and technology transfer and will continue to strengthen its role as the major source of comprehensive information and analysis of international investment. It will focus on the development dimension of international investment and technology flows, the interface of global processes and national policymaking and the integration of investment, technology and enterprise-development policies. The Division will also aim to strengthen the capacity of developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, at their request, to formulate and implement integrated policies and to participate in discussions relating to international investment, to support efforts by developing countries to build productive capacities and to respond to technological and scientific changes through science and technology reviews and to promote the transfer of technology and innovation." Subprogramme 3 International trade Indicator of achievement (c) should read as follows: "Increased number of countries in which improvements have been achieved in integrating commodity production, processing and trade into development in line with UNCTAD research and analyses, and policy deliberations and technical assistance". Programme 24 Management and support services Overall orientation Paragraph 24.3 should read as follows: "The programme is oriented principally towards fully meeting management reform measures, including those approved by the General Assembly, with the support of a communication strategy that ensures that Member States, managers and staff are fully informed of and engaged in the efforts to ensure a more effective and results-oriented Organization." A. Headquarters Subprogramme 1 Management services, administration of justice and services to the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly and to the Committee for Programme and Coordination (a) Management services Add a new expected accomplishment as follows: "(c) Improved business processes". Add new indicators of achievement as follows: "(c) (i) An improvement in the timeliness of business processes (reduction in the number of months, weeks or days required) "(ii) Amount of efficiency gains resulting from business process improvements". Subprogramme 3 Human resources management (a) Operational services The objective of the Organization should read as follows: "to support the sound management of human resources in the Organization and, with respect to staffing, to pay due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations". Under indicator of achievement (a) (ii), add a new indicator as follows: "(iii) Increased number of nationals from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States, in particular developing countries, in the Secretariat" Paragraph 24.18 should read as follows: "The Management Performance Board now monitors the manner in which senior managers exercise all aspects of the authority that has been delegated to them, including their performance in achieving the objectives contained in human resources action plans. Under the current staff selection system, the head of department/office, having been delegated the authority to select staff, is responsible for the progress made towards achieving the targets for geography and gender balance, which will be presented under executive direction and management, and detailed in that context in the programme budget." RESOLUTION 61/236 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/597, para. 7) 61/236. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 51/211 A to E of 18 December 1996, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 53/208 A to E of 18 December 1998, 54/248 of 23 December 1999, 55/222 of 23 December 2000, 56/242 of 24 December 2001, 56/254 D of 27 March 2002, 56/262 of 15 February 2002, 56/287 of 27 June 2002, 57/283 A of 20 December 2002, 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, 58/250 of 23 December 2003, 59/265 of 23 December 2004, 60/236 A of 23 December 2005 and 60/236 B of 8 May 2006, Reaffirming its resolution 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the equal treatment of the official languages of the United Nations, Having considered the report of the Committee on Conferences for 2006Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/61/32). and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/61/129 and Add.1 and A/61/300. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/499. Reaffirming the provisions relevant to conference services of its resolutions on multilingualism, I Calendar of conferences and meetings 1. Welcomes the report of the Committee on Conferences for 2006;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/61/32). 2. Approves the draft revised calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2007, as submitted by the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/61/32), annex II. taking into account the observations of the Committee and subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make any adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2007 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its sixty-first session; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretariat has taken into account the arrangements referred to in General Assembly resolutions 53/208 A, 54/248, 55/222, 56/242, 57/283 B, 58/250, 59/265 and 60/236 A concerning Orthodox Good Friday and the official holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and requests all intergovernmental bodies to observe those decisions when planning their meetings; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that any modification to the calendar of conferences and meetings is implemented strictly in accordance with the mandate of the Committee on Conferences and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; II A. Utilization of conference-servicing resources 1. Reaffirms the practice that, in the use of conference rooms, priority must be given to the meetings of Member States; 2. Notes with satisfaction that the overall utilization factor at the four main duty stations increased to 85 per cent in 2005 from 83 per cent in 2004; 3. Welcomes the steps taken by those bodies that have adjusted their programmes of work in order to achieve the optimum utilization of conference-servicing resources, and requests the Committee on Conferences to continue consultations with the secretariats and bureaux of bodies that underutilize their conference-servicing resources; 4. Recognizes the importance of meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States for the smooth functioning of the sessions of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, as far as possible, all requests for conference services for the meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States are met; 5. Notes with concern the difficulties experienced by Member States owing to the lack of conference services for some meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States; 6. Also notes with concern that, although the percentage of meetings held by regional and other major groupings of Member States that were provided with interpretation services in the four main duty stations in 2005 increased to 87 per cent, as compared with 85 per cent in 2004, the figure is still below the 98 per cent provided with services from May 2001 to April 2002, 92 per cent from May 2002 to April 2003 and 90 per cent from May 2003 to April 2004; 7. Recalls that meetings held by regional and other major groupings of Member States have so far been provided with interpretation services on an ad hoc basis, in accordance with established practice, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore innovative ways to address this problem and to report to the General Assembly through the Committee on Conferences; 8. Once again urges intergovernmental bodies to spare no effort at the planning stage to take into account the meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States, to make provision for such meetings in their programmes of work and to notify conference services, well in advance, of any cancellations so that unutilized conference-servicing resources may, to the extent possible, be reassigned to meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States; 9. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with several General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 60/236 B, section II.A, paragraph 10, in conformity with the headquarters rule, all meetings of Nairobi-based United Nations bodies took place in Nairobi in 2005, but reiterates the need for vigilance in this respect, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-second session through the Committee on Conferences; 10. Welcomes the fact that international and local corporations and academic institutions are being allowed to host events at the conference centre of the Economic Commission for Africa after screening, on a case-by-case basis, by the United Nations Security and Safety Service to ensure compliance with the headquarters minimum operating security standards, which is likely to contribute to increasing the utilization of the centre; 11. Also welcomes the efforts undertaken to increase utilization of the conference facilities at the Economic Commission for Africa and to align the methodology used to compile utilization statistics with that of Conference Services at the four main duty stations, including building on the cooperative agreement the Commission established with the Division of Conference Services at the United Nations Office at Nairobi; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue efforts to ensure that the Economic Commission for Africa strengthens linkages with other centres and bodies; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore means to increase the utilization of the conference centre of the Economic Commission for Africa, bearing in mind the headquarters minimum operating security standards, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session through the Committee on Conferences; B. Impact of the capital master plan (strategy IV (phased approach)) on meetings held at Headquarters during its implementation 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the impact of the capital master plan on meetings to be held at Headquarters during its implementation;A/61/300. 2. Requests bodies having their meetings listed in the calendar of conferences and meetings, when planning their meetings, especially major or high-level conferences, summits and special meetings, organs created under the Charter of the United Nations, their subsidiary bodies and other intergovernmental organizations and treaty bodies that normally meet at Headquarters to take into consideration the limitations and inflexibility of the entire conference facilities at Headquarters throughout the renovation period; 3. Notes in particular that there will be noise during the construction, which will be carried out in the evenings and at weekends; 4. Requests all meeting requesters and organizers to liaise closely with the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the Secretariat on all matters related to the scheduling of meetings to allow maximum predictability in coordinating activities at Headquarters during the construction period; 5. Requests the Committee on Conferences to keep the matter under constant review, and requests the Secretary-General to report regularly to the Committee on matters pertaining to the calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations during the construction period; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that implementation of the capital master plan will not compromise the quality of conference services provided to Member States and the equal treatment of the language services, which should be provided with equally favourable working conditions and resources, with a view to receiving maximum quality of services; III Integrated global management 1. Notes with appreciation the progress achieved across duty stations in integrating information technology into meetings management and documentation-processing systems and the global approach to sharing standards, good practices and technological achievements among conference services at all duty stations; 2. Welcomes the establishment of a regular budget technology post at the United Nations Office at Nairobi and other efforts there to share best practices, which are essential for the successful achievement of integrated global management; 3. Reaffirms that the major goals of the reform of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management are to provide high-quality documents in a timely manner in all official languages, as well as high-quality conference services to Member States at all duty stations, and to achieve those aims as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the compatibility of technologies used in all duty stations and to ensure that they are user-friendly in all official languages; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to complete the task of uploading all important older United Nations documents onto the United Nations website in all six official languages on a priority basis, so that these archives are also available to Member States through that medium; 6. Recalls section II.B, paragraph 4, of its resolution 60/236 B, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that measures taken by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management to seek the evaluation by Member States of the quality of the conference services provided to them as a key performance indicator of the Department provide equal opportunities to Member States to present their evaluation in the six official languages of the United Nations and are in full compliance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Assembly, through the Committee on Conferences, on progress made in this regard; 7. Also recalls section II.B, paragraph 6, of its resolution 60/236 B, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Committee on Conferences, on both the results of the work of the task forces and the outcome of the ongoing consultations among duty stations on a follow-up to the recommendations of the task forces; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly apprised of progress made in integrated global management; IV Documentation and publication-related matters 1. Emphasizes the paramount importance of the equality of the six official languages of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 3. Stresses that matters related to conference management, including documentation, fall within the purview of the Fifth Committee; 4. Notes with concern the continued high level of late submissions of documentation by author departments, which, in turn, have a negative impact on the functioning of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly, at its sixty-second session, through the Committee on Conferences, on impediments, if any, to achieving full compliance with the ten-week and six-week rules for the issuance of pre-session documents, including, where appropriate, proposed measures to address such impediments; 5. Welcomes the new accountability mechanism set up in the Secretariat for the submission, processing and issuance of documentation, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Conferences for its further consideration and analysis, in order to provide concrete recommendations to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the rules concerning the simultaneous distribution of documents in all official languages are followed with respect to both the distribution of printed copies and the posting of parliamentary documentation on the Official Document System and the United Nations website, in keeping with section III, paragraph 5, of its resolution 55/222; 7. Reaffirms its decision in section III, paragraph 9, of its resolution 59/265, that the issuance of documents on planning, budgetary and administrative matters requiring urgent consideration by the General Assembly shall be accorded priority; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to direct all departments of the Secretariat to include the following elements in their reports: (a) Summary of the report; (b) Consolidated conclusions, recommendations and other proposed actions; (c) Relevant background information; 9. Encourages intergovernmental and expert bodies to include the above-mentioned elements, where appropriate, in their reports to the General Assembly; 10. Reiterates its request that all documents submitted to legislative organs by the Secretariat, intergovernmental and expert bodies for consideration and action have conclusions and recommendations in bold print; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take steps to improve the quality and accuracy of meeting records in all six official languages through full reliance in the preparation and translation of those records on sound recordings and written texts of statements as they were delivered in the original languages; 12. Notes the efforts of the Secretariat to clear the backlog in the issuance of summary records, while noting with concern that some delays in issuance still occur; 13. Also notes the options enumerated in paragraphs 76 to 80 of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/129. V Translation and interpretation-related matters 1. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to ensure the highest quality of interpretation and translation services in all official languages; 2. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make sure that terminology used in translation and interpretation services reflects the latest linguistic norms and terminology of the official languages in order to ensure the highest quality; 3. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, when recruiting temporary assistance in the language services, to ensure that all language services are given equal treatment and are provided with equally favourable working conditions and resources, with a view to achieving maximum quality of their services, with full respect for the specificities of each of the six official languages and taking into account their respective workloads; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve the accuracy of translation of documents into the official languages, giving particular significance to the quality of translation; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to seek evaluation by Member States of the quality of the conference services provided to them, including through the language-specific informational meetings held twice a year, and to ensure that such measures provide equal opportunities to Member States to present their evaluation in the six official languages of the United Nations and are in full compliance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 6. Notes the efforts made so far to improve the rates of self-revision, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to address the question of the appropriate level of self-revision that is consistent with quality in all official languages and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 7. Also notes the proposal on workload standards to develop a comprehensive methodology for performance measurement and management from a full-system perspective,Ibid., para. 69. and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly periodically, starting at its sixty-second session, on the specific indicators proposed under the headings of timeliness, quality, financial performance and organizational learning and growth; 8. Expresses continued concern at the high vacancy rate in the interpretation and translation services at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, especially the chronic difficulty in staffing the Arabic Interpretation Unit, and requests the Secretary-General to address this as a matter of priority through, inter alia, assistance from Member States in advertising and facilitating the conduct of competitive examinations to fill these language vacancies; 9. Notes with concern the high reliance on freelance interpretation at the United Nations Office at Vienna, and requests the Secretary-General to report on any inconsistency in quality of interpretation services related thereto, including at other duty stations, and on measures to address that issue, if needed, to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session through the Committee on Conferences; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to provide at all duty stations the adequate staff and grade level with a view to ensuring appropriate quality control for external translations; 11. Notes the Secretary-General's plans to address the issue of succession planning by enhancing internal and external training programmes, developing staff exchange programmes between organizations and participating in outreach activities to institutions that train language staff for international organizations; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to hold competitive examinations for the recruitment of language staff sufficiently in advance so as to fill current and future vacancies in language services in a timely manner, bearing in mind the persistent situation at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and to inform the General Assembly at its sixty-second session of efforts in this regard. RESOLUTION 61/237 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/512/Add.1, para. 6) 61/237. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions and decisions on the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations, including its resolutions 43/223 B of 21 December 1988, 46/221 B of 20 December 1991, 55/5 B, C and D of 23 December 2000, 57/4 B of 20 December 2002 and 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, Recalling in particular its resolution 55/5 B, in which it decided to fix the elements of the scale of assessments for two successive scale periods until 2006, subject to the provisions of its resolution 55/5 C, Recalling paragraphs 5 and 6 of its resolution 58/1 B, Noting that the application of the current methodology has led to substantial increases in the rate of assessment of some Member States, including developing countries, Having considered the report of the Committee on Contributions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 11 and corrigendum (A/61/11 and Corr.1). 1. Affirms that the determination of the scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations shall remain the prerogative of the General Assembly; 2. Reaffirms the obligation of all Member States to bear the expenses of the United Nations, as apportioned by the General Assembly, in conformity with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Also reaffirms the fundamental principle that the expenses of the Organization shall be apportioned broadly according to capacity to pay; 4. Further reaffirms that the Committee on Contributions as a technical body is required to prepare the scale of assessments strictly on the basis of reliable, verifiable and comparable data; 5. Decides that the scale of assessments for the period 2007-2009 shall be based on the following elements and criteria: (a) Estimates of gross national income; (b) Average statistical base periods of three and six years; (c) Conversion rates based on market exchange rates, except where that would cause excessive fluctuations and distortions in the income of some Member States, when price-adjusted rates of exchange or other appropriate conversion rates should be employed, taking due account of its resolution 46/221 B; (d) The debt-burden approach employed in the scale of assessments for the period 2004-2006; (e) A low per capita income adjustment of 80 per cent, with a threshold per capita income limit of the average per capita gross national income of all Member States for the statistical base periods; (f) A minimum assessment rate of 0.001 per cent; (g) A maximum assessment rate for the least developed countries of 0.01 per cent; (h) A maximum assessment rate of 22 per cent; 6. Resolves that the scale of assessments for the contributions of Member States to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2007, 2008 and 2009 shall be as follows: TABLE REMOVED 7. Requests the Committee on Contributions, in accordance with its mandate and the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, to review the elements of the methodology of the scale of assessments in order to reflect the capacity of Member States to pay and to report thereon to the Assembly by the main part of its sixty-third session; 8. Resolves that: (a) Notwithstanding the terms of financial regulation 3.9,See ST/SGB/2003/7. the Secretary-General shall be empowered to accept, at his discretion and after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Contributions, a portion of the contributions of Member States for the calendar years 2007, 2008 and 2009 in currencies other than the United States dollar; (b) In accordance with financial regulation 3.8,See ST/SGB/2003/7. the Holy See, which is not a member of the United Nations but which participates in certain of its activities, shall be called upon to contribute towards the expenses of the Organization for 2007, 2008 and 2009 on the basis of a notional assessment rate of 0.001 per cent, which represents the basis for the calculation of the flat annual fees to be charged to the Holy See in accordance with its resolution 44/197 B of 21 December 1989; 9. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee on Contributions contained in paragraph 132 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 11 and corrigendum (A/61/11 and Corr.1). 10. Decides that the rate of assessment for Montenegro, admitted to membership in the United Nations on 28 June 2006, shall be 0.001 per cent for 2006; 11. Also decides that Montenegro shall contribute at the rate of one twelfth of this percentage for each full month of membership in 2006; 12. Further decides that the contributions of Montenegro for 2006 shall be applied to the same basis of assessment as for other Member States, except that, in the case of appropriations or apportionments approved by the General Assembly for the financing of peacekeeping operations, the contributions of Montenegro, as determined by the level of contributions for peacekeeping operations to which it is assigned in 2006, pursuant to the provisions of Assembly resolution 55/235 of 23 December 2000, shall be calculated in proportion to the calendar year; 13. Decides that the assessments of Montenegro for 2006 shall be deducted from those of the former Serbia and Montenegro for that year; 14. Also decides that, in accordance with financial regulation 3.7,See ST/SGB/2003/7. the advance of Montenegro to the Working Capital Fund shall be calculated by the application of its rate of assessment for 2006 to the authorized level of the Fund and should be added to the Fund, pending its incorporation in a 100 per cent scale for the Fund for 2006-2007, pursuant to the related provisions of General Assembly resolution 60/283 of 7 July 2006; 15. Notes that, pursuant to its resolution 47/217 of 23 December 1992, the assessment of Montenegro for the Peacekeeping Reserve Fund will be calculated by the application of its first rate of assessment for peacekeeping operations to the authorized level of the Fund; 16. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on multi-year payment plansA/61/68. and of the related conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on Contributions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 11 and corrigendum (A/61/11 and Corr.1), paras. 75-78. 17. Reaffirms paragraph 1 of its resolution 57/4 B; 18. Urges all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full, on time and without imposing conditions; 19. Encourages Member States in arrears with their assessed contributions to the United Nations to consider submitting multi-year payment plans. RESOLUTION 61/238 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/654, para. 6) 61/238. Joint Inspection Unit The General Assembly, I Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Joint Inspection Unit, in particular resolutions 31/192 of 22 December 1976, 50/233 of 7 June 1996, 54/16 of 29 October 1999, 55/230 of 23 December 2000, 56/245 of 24 December 2001, 57/284 A and B of 20 December 2002, 58/286 of 8 April 2004, 59/267 of 23 December 2004 and 60/258 of 8 May 2006, Having considered the report of the Unit on its activities for 2005 and its programme of work for 2006,Ibid., Supplement No. 34 (A/61/34). Noting the ongoing internal reform process of the Unit aimed at further improving its effectiveness, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2005 and its programme of work for 2006;Ibid., Supplement No. 34 (A/61/34). 2. Welcomes the ongoing efforts made by the Unit to improve the implementation of its reform process, as indicated in paragraphs 1 to 6 of its report; 3. Reaffirms section I, paragraph 6, of its resolution 60/258, and requests the Unit to continue to submit an advance version of its programme of work to the General Assembly at the first part of its resumed sessions; 4. Welcomes the increasing focus of the programme of work of the Unit on issues of system-wide relevance, and urges the Unit, as the only system-wide external oversight body, to continue to focus its work and reports, whenever possible, on issues of system-wide interest, value and relevance to the efficient and effective functioning of all organizations to which the Unit provides services; 5. Encourages the Unit to increase its efforts to help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the respective secretariats in achieving the legislative mandates and to ensure that the mission objectives established for the organizations are carried out in the most economical manner and that optimum use is made of resources available for carrying out those activities; 6. Welcomes the information presented in paragraphs 27 to 30 of the report of the Unit, bearing in mind that the methodology is still at the early stage of implementation, and requests that future reports, to the extent possible, also include information on estimated savings, actual savings achieved, acceptance rate of recommendations and implementation status by impact category, particularly regarding system-wide or multi-agency recommendations; 7. Looks forward to receiving an analysis of the eight categories of impact as described in paragraphs 29 to 31 of the report, as applied to the actual impact of its recommendations; 8. Notes the ongoing efforts of the Unit to improve its working methods, and invites the Unit to undergo external peer reviews as necessary; II Having considered the note by the President of the General Assembly on the procedures for the appointment of inspectors of the Joint Inspection Unit,A/60/659. Bearing in mind paragraphs 8 and 9 of General Assembly resolution 59/267 and article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute of the Unit,Resolution 31/192, annex. 1. Takes note of the note by the President of the General Assembly on the procedures for the appointment of inspectors of the Joint Inspection Unit;A/60/659. 2. Confirms the existing procedure for the appointment of the inspectors in accordance with article 3 of the statute of the Unit;Resolution 31/192, annex. 3. Decides that, beginning on 1 January 2008, the President of the General Assembly, when drawing up a list of countries that will be requested to propose candidates, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Unit, will invite Member States to submit the names of the countries and their respective candidates simultaneously, on the understanding that the candidates submitted are the candidates that the respective Member States intend to propose, to the extent possible, for appointment by the General Assembly, in accordance with article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute; 4. Invites the President of the General Assembly to submit to the Assembly, for consideration at its sixty-fourth session, a report on the effective application of the above-mentioned selection procedures in enhancing efficiency in implementing article 3, paragraph 2, of the statute. RESOLUTION 61/239 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/663, para. 8) 61/239. United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/198 of 21 December 1989, 51/216 of 18 December 1996, 52/216 of 22 December 1997, 53/209 of 18 December 1998, 55/223 of 23 December 2000, 56/244 of 24 December 2001, 57/285 of 20 December 2002, 58/251 of 23 December 2003, 59/268 of 23 December 2004 and 60/248 of 23 December 2005, Having considered the reports of the International Civil Service Commission for the years 2004,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/59/30), vols. I and II. 2005Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). and 2006,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). the note by the Secretariat transmitting the report of the Panel on the Strengthening of the International Civil ServiceA/59/153. and the note by the Secretary-General on the findings and recommendations of the Panel,A/59/399. Having also considered the notes by the Secretary-General on the Senior Management NetworkA/60/209. and the mobility and hardship allowance,A/60/723. Reaffirming its commitment to a single, unified United Nations common system as the cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Convinced that the common system constitutes the best instrument through which to secure staff with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for the international civil service, as stipulated in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the statute of the CommissionResolution 3357 (XXIX), annex. and the central role of the Commission and the General Assembly in the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, 1. Takes note of the reports of the International Civil Service Commission for 2005Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). and 2006;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). 2. Invites the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to urge the heads of the organizations of the United Nations common system to fully support the work of the Commission, including by providing the latter with relevant information in a timely manner for studies that it conducts under its statutory responsibilities for the common system; I Conditions of service applicable to both categories of staff A. Review of the pay and benefits system Recalling section I.E, paragraph 1, of its resolution 44/198, section VI of its resolution 51/216, section I.C of its resolution 55/223, section II.A, paragraph 7, of its resolution 57/285, section I.C of its resolution 59/268 and section XVII of its resolution 60/248, A1 Pilot study of broad-banding/pay-for-performance 1. Takes note of the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraph 42 of its 2005 reportIbid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). and paragraph 43 of its 2006 report;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). 2. Notes with concern that a project manager has yet to be selected in accordance with the terms of reference of the pilot project as outlined in paragraph 86 (a) of the 2003 report of the CommissionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/58/30). and of which note was taken by the General Assembly in section I.A, paragraph 2, of its resolution 58/251; 3. Requests the Commission to ensure the dedicated project leadership required for the successful completion of the pilot study; A2 Spouse benefits Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 63 of its 2005 report;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). A3 Mobility and hardship allowance 1. Commends the Working Group for developing the proposed changes in the mobility and hardship scheme; 2. Approves the definitions of hardship and mobility as outlined in paragraphs 76 and 77 of the 2005 report of the Commission;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). 3. Also approves the proposed arrangements for mobility, hardship, non-removal and assignment grants as set out in annex II to the 2005 report of the Commission;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). 4. Decides to implement the new system with effect from 1 January 2007; A4 Education grant: review of the methodology for determining the level of the grant 1. Takes note of the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 110 of its 2005 report;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). 2. Approves, with effect from the school year in progress on 1 January 2007, the recommendation of the Commission in paragraph 63 of its 2006 reportIbid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). modifying the eligibility period for the education grant; A5 Education grant: review of the level Approves, with effect from the school year in progress on 1 January 2007, the recommendations of the Commission contained in paragraph 62 of its 2006 reportIbid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). and annex II thereto; B. Contractual arrangements Recalling section I.A, paragraph 4, of its resolution 57/285, section IX of its resolution 59/266 of 23 December 2004 and section I.B of its resolution 59/268, 1. Notes the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraph 129 of its 2005 report;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). 2. Notes with appreciation the work of the Commission on the framework for contractual arrangements contained in annex IV to its 2005 report;Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). C. Hazard pay: review of the level Recalling sections I.D of its resolutions 57/285, 58/251, and 59/268, Notes the decisions of the Commission contained in paragraph 147 of its 2005 reportIbid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). and annex III thereto for implementation as of 1 January 2007; D. Entitlements of internationally recruited staff serving in non-family duty stations Recalling section X, paragraphs 5 and 6, of its resolution 59/266, Decides to revert to consideration of the entitlements of internationally recruited staff serving in non-family duty stations at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session following receipt of the report of the Commission on this issue; E. Other Requests the Commission to consider the effectiveness and impact of measures designed to promote recruitment and retention, especially in difficult duty stations, and to report thereon to it at its sixty-third session; II Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories A. Evolution of the margin Recalling section I.B of its resolution 51/216 and the standing mandate from the General Assembly, in which the Commission is requested to continue its review of the relationship between the net remuneration of the United Nations staff in the Professional and higher categories in New York and that of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service) employees in comparable positions in Washington, D.C. (referred to as "the margin"), 1. Notes that the margin between net remuneration of the United Nations staff in grades P-1 to D-2 in New York and that of officials in comparable positions in the United States federal civil service in Washington, D.C., for the period 1 January to 31 December 2006, is 114.3; 2. Reaffirms that the range of 110 to 120 for the margin between the net remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories of the United Nations in New York and the officials in comparable positions in the comparator civil service should continue to apply, on the understanding that the margin would be maintained at a level around the desirable midpoint of 115 over a period of time; B. Base/floor salary scale Recalling its resolution 44/198, by which it established a floor net salary level for staff in the Professional and higher categories by reference to the corresponding base net salary levels of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service), Approves, with effect from 1 January 2007, as recommended by the Commission in paragraph 94 (a) of its 2006 report, Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30).the revised base/floor scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories contained in annex IV to the report; C. Senior Management Network 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General on the Senior Management Network;A/60/209. 2. Endorses the decision of the Commission contained in paragraph 211 of its 2006 report;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). 3. Requests the Commission to continue to monitor the project regarding the improvement of management capacity and performance among senior staff by the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and to advise and make recommendations to the General Assembly as appropriate; D. Gender balance 1. Takes note of the findings of the Commission contained in its 2006 report;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). 2. Notes with disappointment the insufficient progress made with regard to the representation of women in the organizations of the United Nations common system, and in particular their significant underrepresentation at senior levels; 3. Notes with concern the findings of the Commission in paragraph 108 of its 2006 report;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). 4. Urges the Commission to continue to make recommendations on practical steps that should be taken to improve the representation of women in the organizations of the United Nations common system; E. Children's and secondary dependants' allowances: review of the level Approves the revised amounts of children's and secondary dependants' allowances as outlined in paragraph 126 of the 2006 report of the CommissionIbid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). and annex V thereto; F. Identification of the highest paid national civil service Takes note of the decision of the Commission to conclude its current total compensation study and to retain the current comparator; G. Common scale of staff assessment Takes note of the decisions of the Commission in paragraph 70 of its 2006 report;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). III Strengthening of the international civil service Reaffirming that the staff of the United Nations is an invaluable asset of the Organization, and commending its contribution to furthering the purposes and principles of the United Nations, 1. Emphasizes that the capacity of the Commission as a source of technical expertise and policy advice should be further strengthened; 2. Stresses that the work of the Commission shall be given the importance and attention it deserves by the governing bodies of the organizations of the common system; 3. Decides to institute a limit of two full terms for the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair of the Commission; 4. Also decides that the provision of paragraph 3 directly above shall apply to Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Commission appointed after 1 January 2008; 5. Encourages Member States to achieve a greater gender balance in the selection of members for the Commission; 6. Urges Member States when proposing candidates for membership in the Commission to take into account the qualifications and experience outlined in article 3 of its statute;Resolution 3357 (XXIX), annex. 7. Stresses the importance of ensuring that candidates have managerial, leadership or executive experience, which should include knowledge of at least one of the following fields: (a) Human resources management principles and practices; (b) Organizational design and change management concepts and practices; (c) Leadership and strategic planning concepts and practices; (d) International and global issues: political, social and economic; 8. Encourages the Commission to continue to consider its working methods in consultation, where appropriate, with representatives of the staff and the organizations of the common system. RESOLUTION 61/23 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 1 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 101 to 7, with 62 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.32, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 61/23. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/61/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 60/37 of 1 December 2005, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 60/37; 2. Considers that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution by assisting the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the implementation of its mandate; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the organization of international meetings and conferences in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, liaison and cooperation with civil society, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and the provision of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks; 6. Requests the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize, under the guidance of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity. RESOLUTION 61/240 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/664, para. 9) 61/240. United Nations pension system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/224 of 23 December 2000, 57/286 of 20 December 2002 and 59/269 of 23 December 2004 and section III of its resolution 60/248 of 23 December 2005, Having considered the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on its fifty-third session to the General Assembly and to the member organizations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the FundA/C.5/61/2. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/545. I Actuarial matters Recalling its resolutions 57/286, section I, and 59/269, section I, Having considered the results of the valuation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, which revealed a fifth consecutive actuarial surplus as at 31 December 2005, and the observations thereon by the consulting actuary of the Fund, the Committee of Actuaries and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, 1. Takes note of the results of the actuarial valuation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, which went from an actuarial surplus of 0.36 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1997 to an actuarial surplus of 4.25 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 1999, to an actuarial surplus of 2.92 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 2001, to an actuarial surplus of 1.14 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 2003 and to an actuarial surplus of 1.29 per cent of pensionable remuneration as at 31 December 2005 and, in particular, of the opinions provided by the consulting actuary and the Committee of Actuaries, as reproduced in annexes VII and VIII, respectively, to the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board;Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). 2. Notes that the Committee of Actuaries expressed the view that, based on the continuation of the surplus, a portion of the surplus disclosed in 2005 could be made available at the present time to improve benefits, but that prudence would dictate that most of the surplus should be retained; 3. Recalls that the Assembly had already approved in 2002, in principle, the change in the benefit provisions of the Regulations of the Fund that would eliminate the limitation on the right to restoration based on the length of prior service; 4. Approves the change in the benefit provisions of the Regulations of the Fund, as set out in annex XVII to the report of the Board, to eliminate the limitation on the right to restoration for existing and future participants based on the length of prior contributory service; 5. Takes note of the decision of the Board to amend the rules of procedure of the Fund to provide for the appointment of ad hoc members to the Committee of Actuaries as well as to the Investments Committee; 6. Concurs, in accordance with article 13 of the Regulations of the Fund and with a view to securing continuity of pension rights, with the following: (a) The revised Agreement on the transfer of pension rights of participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and of participants in the World Bank Group Staff Retirement Plan, as approved by the Board and set out in section A of annex IX to the report of the Board,Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). which will take effect from 1 January 2007; (b) The new Agreement on the transfer of pension rights of participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and of participants in the Coordinated Organizations, as set out in section B of annex IX to the report of the Board,Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). which will take effect from 1 January 2007; 7. Decides, upon the affirmative recommendation of the Board, that the International Organization for Migration shall be admitted as a new member organization of the Fund, effective 1 January 2007; II Pension adjustment system Recalling its resolutions 57/286, section II, and 59/269, section II, Having considered the reviews carried out by the consulting actuary, the Committee of Actuaries and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, as set out in the report of the Board,Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). of various aspects of the pension adjustment system, 1. Takes note of the recommendation of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board that as from 1 April 2007, the current reduction in the first consumer price index adjustments due under the pension adjustment system of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund to benefits in award should be lowered from 1.0 per cent to 0.5 per cent and that a 0.5 per cent increase should be applied on the occasion of the next adjustment to benefits being paid to existing retirees and beneficiaries who have already had the 1.0 per cent reduction applied to their benefits; 2. Approves, accordingly, with effect from 1 April 2007, the changes in the pension adjustment system, as set out in annex XVIII to the report of the Board;Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). 3. Recalls its decision in section II of its resolution 59/269 to invite the Board to provide information on the special situation of pensioners living in countries having undergone dollarization and on possible proposals to attenuate the adverse consequences arising therefrom, and notes that the Board did not agree on a recommendation to attenuate the adverse consequences of pensioners living in countries having undergone dollarization; 4. Takes into account that the Board reached consensus on the fact that dollarization has had adverse effects on the purchasing power of some retirees and beneficiaries living in Ecuador, and requested the Secretary/Chief Executive Officer to visit the Fund's retirees living there; 5. Invites the Board to present in 2007 a viable ad hoc measure to adequately attenuate the adverse consequences arising from dollarization in Ecuador after consulting with the Committee of Actuaries; III Financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and report of the Board of Auditors Having considered the financial statements of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 2005, the audit opinion and report of the Board of Auditors thereon, the information provided on the internal audits of the Fund and the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). Notes that the report of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund for the biennium ended 31 December 2005 indicated that the financial statements were in compliance with accepted standard accounting principles and that the transactions of the Pension Fund were, in all significant respects, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and legislative authority;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9), annex X. IV Administrative arrangements and revised budget of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Recalling section IV of its resolution 57/286, section X of its resolution 58/272 of 23 December 2003, section IV of its resolution 59/269 and section III of its resolution 60/248 concerning the administrative arrangements and expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, Having considered chapter VII of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardIbid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). on the administrative arrangements of the Fund, 1. Takes note of the information set out in paragraphs 132 and 133 of the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on the revised budget estimates for the biennium 2006-2007;Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). 2. Approves the increase in total additional resources for the biennium 2006-2007 from 108,262,500 United States dollars to 110,665,500 dollars for the following: (a) Reclassification of two information technology posts in the Fund secretariat; (b) Travel expenses related to the newly established Audit Committee; (c) Enhancement of the Investment Management Service through the addition of five new posts, indexed management costs, including the costs of transition management services, and consultant costs; (d) Enhancement of the external audit functions of the Fund and expansion of the Fund's internal audit coverage; (e) Administrative costs to implement the approved modifications in the benefit provisions; 3. Notes that the Board requested the Fund to continue its efforts to consolidate the information technology services of the secretariat of the Fund and those of the Investment Management Service; 4. Also notes that the Board agreed that its expenses would continue to be shared and charged to the member organizations of the Fund under the current methodology until 1 January 2008, at which time all Board expenses would be included in the Fund's budget and charged as administrative expenses; V Survivors' benefits Recalling its resolutions 55/224, section V, 57/286, section V, and 59/269, section VI, 1. Notes that the Board requested the Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer to present to the Board in 2007 a comprehensive study on the benefit provisions related to family members of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund participants and retirees; 2. Also notes that the Board agreed that the Fund would record, for the purposes of eventually determining entitlements to pension benefits under articles 34 and 35 of the Regulations of the Fund, the personal status of a participant as recognized and reported to the Fund by the participant's employing organization; VI Size and composition of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and its Standing Committee Stressing the importance of fair representation of participating organizations in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board and its Standing Committee, 1. Takes note of the information set out in the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardIbid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). on the review of the size and composition of the Board and its Standing Committee, in particular the decision of the Board not to recommend any change in its size and composition; 2. Notes, in this regard, that the Board recognized that its decision to retain its current size, and its composition and allocation of seats did not fully respond to General Assembly resolution 57/286 regarding the size and composition of the Board to achieve fairer representation; 3. Also notes that the Board agreed to review its size and composition after it had had adequate time to assess the results of its other decisions under this item, which focused primarily on improving efficiency; 4. Notes with satisfaction the recommendations adopted by the Board with a view to improving the efficiency of its work and its intention to consider a policy paper in 2007 on membership and attendance at meetings of the Board and its Standing Committee; 5. Takes note of the decision of the Board to amend the rules of procedure of the Fund in order to make formal provision for the additional alternate representative of the General Assembly to attend the meetings of the Standing Committee, as approved provisionally by the Board in 2004; 6. Also takes note of the decision of the Board that the costs related to two retiree representatives attending the sessions of the Board and one retiree representative attending the sessions of the Standing Committee would be shared as an expense of the Board on a provisional basis until its session in 2008, at which time the Board would consider means for duly electing the representatives for the retirees; 7. Notes that the Board also decided to revert to annual sessions as from 2007 with the aim of completing its work within five working days; the focus of the Board during the odd-numbered years will be on the budget of the Fund; VII Other matters 1. Takes note of the decision of the Board to establish an Audit Committee to provide an enhanced communications channel for the internal auditors, the external auditors and the Pension Board, with the consequent revision in the rules of procedure of the Fund and, in this regard, endorses the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions that the Audit Committee be composed of members with relevant expertise in accounting, financial management, including risk management, and audit;A/61/545, para. 21. 2. Notes that the Board endorsed the Fund's enterprise-wide risk management policy; 3. Takes note of the observations of the Board, as set out in its report,Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). on the review and conclusions reached by the International Civil Service Commission on the changes in average tax rates at the headquarters duty stations, which formed the basis for the development of the current common scale of staff assessment for pensionable remuneration; 4. Notes that the Board considered a detailed report of the medical consultant covering the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2005; 5. Also notes that the Board intends to review the current provisions for special adjustments for small pensions and the current arrangements regarding the periodicity of cost-of-living adjustments at its sessions in 2007 and 2008, respectively; 6. Requests the Pension Board to consider, during its review of small pensions, the negative impact of administrative expenses, transaction fees or bank commissions regarding the benefits in order to remedy such impact and to report to it thereon at its sixty-third session as part of the review by the Board, and invites the Board to explore the possibility of further diversifying banking transactions; 7. Notes that the Board intends to keep the possible provision for the purchase of additional years of contributory service under periodic review; 8. Also notes that the Board decided to maintain both the current system for establishing benefits in respect of locally recruited staff in the Professional category and the methodology currently used in the determination of final average remuneration for staff in the General Service category; both issues will continue to be monitored by the Fund secretariat; 9. Takes note of the other matters dealt with in the report of the Board; 10. Calls upon the Investment Management Service to expeditiously implement the recommendations of the Board of Auditors with regard to the determination of the level of tolerance for risk, improvement in internal review of performance and the trade order management system; 11. Requests that all vacant Professional posts, including the five new posts in the Investment Management Service endorsed by the present resolution, be expeditiously filled; VIII Investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension FundA/C.5/61/2. and the observations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board, as set out in its report;Ibid., Sixty-first session, Supplement No. 9 (A/61/9). 2. Notes the increase in the market value of the assets of the Fund and the positive returns achieved during the biennium and, in particular, the 4.3 per cent annualized real rate of return over the 46-year period ending on 31 March 2006; 3. Stresses the need for a comprehensive asset-liability management study, including assessment of financial risks and recommendations on asset allocation, and a study of the Fund's governance, with special regard to the relationship between the Fund secretariat and the Investment Management Service, the results thereof to be provided to the Board for consideration; 4. Notes that the Board endorsed the intention of the representative of the Secretary-General for the investments of the fund to manage the North American equities portfolio in the passive mode using the current benchmark indices; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to fully adhere to the Financial Rules and Regulations of the United NationsST/SGB/2003/7. and General Assembly resolutions on procurement when procuring services for the passive management and report to the Board thereon at its next session; 6. Notes that the Board encouraged the Investment Management Service of the Fund to adhere to the principles of the Global Compact to the extent possible without compromising the four established investment criteria of safety, profitability, liquidity and convertibility, and urged the Investment Management Service to continue its efforts to collect tax refunds from several Member States; IX Diversification Recalling its resolutions 36/119 A to C of 10 December 1981 and 59/269, 1. Takes note with concern of the modest increases in investments of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in developing countries, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on further steps and efforts undertaken to increase, to the maximum extent possible, investments in developing countries; 2. Reaffirms the policy of diversification of the investments of the Fund across geographical areas, wherever this serves the interests of the participants and beneficiaries of the Fund, in accordance with the four criteria of safety, profitability, liquidity and convertibility. RESOLUTION 61/241 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/655, para. 6) 61/241. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General, namely, his first performance report for the biennium 2006-2007 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/61/586. and his report on financial and any other implications resulting from the introduction of a staff retention bonus at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia,A/61/522. Having also considered the report of the Board of Auditors on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the recommendations contained therein,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5K and corrigendum (A/61/5/Add.11 and Corr.1), chap. II. Having further considered the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/61/591 and A/61/633. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 60/240 and 60/241 of 23 December 2005, 1. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2006-2007 on the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/61/586. and his report on the financial and any other implications resulting from the introduction of a staff retention bonus at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia;A/61/522. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/61/591 and A/61/633. 3. Emphasizes the importance of implementing the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Board in the context of the proposed budget of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2008-2009; 4. Also emphasizes the importance of the timely submission of the performance reports on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in order to facilitate the proper consideration thereof by the General Assembly; 5. Recalls paragraph 9 of its resolution 60/241, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon in the context of the proposed budget of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2008-2009; 6. Decides on a revised appropriation to the Special Account for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 of a total amount of 277,127,700 United States dollars gross (254,757,400 dollars net) for the biennium 2006-2007; 7. Also decides, for the year 2007, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for the year, the amount of 71,124,250 dollars gross (65,656,200 dollars net), including 3,684,650 dollars gross (3,933,700 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 8. Further decides, for the year 2007, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for the year, the amount of 71,124,250 dollars gross (65,656,200 dollars net), including 3,684,650 dollars gross (3,933,700 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 9. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 7 and 8 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 10,936,100 dollars, including 498,100 dollars, being the decrease in the estimated staff assessment income approved for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2006-2007. Annex Financing for the biennium 2006-2007 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 61/242 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/656, para. 6) 61/242. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General, namely, his first performance report for the biennium 2006-2007 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/61/585. and his report on financial and any other implications resulting from the introduction of a staff retention bonus at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia,A/61/522. Having also considered the report of the Board of Auditors on the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the recommendations contained therein,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5L and corrigendum (A/61/5/Add.12 and Corr.1), chap. II. Having further considered the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/61/591 and A/61/633. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 60/242 and 60/243 of 23 December 2005, 1. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General for the biennium 2006-2007 on the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/61/585. and his report on financial and any other implications resulting from the introduction of a staff retention bonus at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia;A/61/522. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/61/591 and A/61/633. 3. Emphasizes the importance of implementing the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Board in the context of the proposed budget of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2008-2009; 4. Also emphasizes the importance of the timely submission of the performance reports on the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in order to facilitate the proper consideration thereof by the General Assembly; 5. Decides on a revised appropriation to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 of a total amount of 326,573,900 United States dollars gross (297,146,300 dollars net) for the biennium 2006-2007; 6. Decides also, for the year 2007, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for the year, the amount of 86,940,250 dollars gross (78,995,675 dollars net), including 10,718,300 dollars gross (9,418,200 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 7. Decides further, for the year 2007, to apportion among Member States, in accordance with the rates of assessment applicable to peacekeeping operations for the year, the amount of 86,940,250 dollars gross (78,995,675 dollars net), including 10,718,300 dollars gross (9,418,200 dollars net), being the increase in assessments; 8. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 6 and 7 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the amount of 15,889,150 dollars, including 2,600,200 dollars, being the increase in the estimated staff assessment income approved for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2006-2007. Annex Financing for the biennium 2006-2007 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 61/243 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/665, para. 6) 61/243. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/235 and 55/236 of 23 December 2000 and 58/256 of 23 December 2003, Recalling also its request to the Secretary-General in paragraph 15 of resolution 55/235 to update the composition of the levels of contribution of Member States for peacekeeping operations described in the resolution on a triennial basis, in conjunction with the regular budget scale of assessment reviews, in accordance with the criteria established in the resolution, and to report thereon to the General Assembly, Recalling further its request to the Secretary-General in paragraph 3 of resolution 58/256 to report to it at its sixty-first session on the updating of the composition of levels of contribution for peacekeeping operations for the period from 2007 to 2009, in accordance with the provisions of resolution 55/235, Recalling its decision, in paragraph 16 of resolution 55/235, to review the structure of levels of contribution for peacekeeping operations after nine years, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 55/235 and 55/236,A/61/139 and Corr.1. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/139 and Corr.1. 2. Endorses the updated composition of levels to be applied in adjusting regular budget scale rates to establish Member States' rates of assessment for peacekeeping operations for the period from 2007 to 2009;Ibid., annex II. 3. Decides that Montenegro and Serbia should both be assigned to level I for 2006; 4. Also decides to review the structure of levels of contribution for peacekeeping operations at its sixty-fourth session; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the updating of the composition of levels of contribution for peacekeeping operations for the period from 2010 to 2012 in the light of the decision of the Assembly to review the structure of levels. RESOLUTION 61/244 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/659, para. 6) 61/244. Human resources management The General Assembly, Recalling Articles 8, 97, 100 and 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling also its resolutions 49/222 A and B of 23 December 1994 and 20 July 1995, 51/226 of 3 April 1997, 52/219 of 22 December 1997, 52/252 of 8 September 1998, 53/221 of 7 April 1999, 55/258 of 14 June 2001, 57/305 of 15 April 2003, 58/296 of 18 June 2004, 59/266 of 23 December 2004, 60/1 of 16 September 2005 and 60/260 of 8 May 2006, as well as its other relevant resolutions and decisions, Having considered the relevant reports on human resources management questions submitted to the General Assembly for its considerationA/59/388, A/59/526 and Add.1, A/59/716, A/59/724, A/59/786, A/60/262, A/60/310, A/60/861, A/61/201, A/61/228 and Corr.1, A/61/255 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1, A/61/257 and Corr.1 and Add.1-3 and Add.1/Corr.1, A/61/274 and A/61/319. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/537. Reaffirming that the staff of the United Nations is an invaluable asset of the Organization, and commending its contribution to furthering the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Paying tribute to the memory of all staff members who have lost their lives in the service of the Organization, I Human resources management reform 1. Expresses concern over the fact that staff representatives from New York did not participate in the consultation process, stresses the importance of a meaningful dialogue on human resources management issues between staff and management, and calls upon both parties to intensify efforts to overcome differences and to resume the consultative process; 2. Notes the Secretary-General's proposals on the new human resources framework, and emphasizes that it shall be based on clear ethical standards, simplicity, clarity and transparency, recruitment based on the highest standards of efficiency, integrity and professionalism, career development, compliance with geographical distribution and gender balance mandates, accountability of managers and staff, and operational needs at Headquarters and in the field; 3. Emphasizes the importance of the participation of staff representatives in the work of the central review bodies, and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General and its invitation to staff representatives to engage in the consultative process; 4. Notes that minimizing the occurrence of high rates of job turnover in Professional categories in the United Nations is essential to its smooth functioning; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it in the context of the biennial human resources management report on the yearly rate of turnover in Professional categories, classified by grade level, in the United Nations Secretariat and in field missions; II Recruitment and staffing 1. Reiterates that the Secretary-General has to ensure that the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity serve as the paramount consideration in the employment of staff, with due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Also reiterates section V, paragraph 2, of its resolution 53/221, which states that recruitment, appointment and promotion of staff shall be made without distinction as to race, sex or religion, in accordance with the principles of the Charter and the provisions of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to report on measures being used to verify the application of the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity as the paramount consideration in the employment of staff, with due regard to the recruitment of staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible, in accordance with the provisions of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the proper functioning and membership of the central review bodies in order to ensure their effective role in the staff selection system and, to that end, to develop an induction and training programme for the members, and to report to it thereon at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 5. Further requests the Secretary-General to undertake a review of the staff selection system with a particular emphasis on enhancing the performance of the United Nations Secretariat, which would include a survey of opinions of managers relating, inter alia, to the possibilities offered by that system to choose the best-qualified candidate for the job and to improve geographical representation and gender balance, and to report thereon to it at its sixty-third session, in the context of his regular human resources report; 6. Reaffirms the provisions of regulation 4.4 of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, and decides to retain the criterion of geographical status in the staff selection system as one of the key elements to ensure geographical balance at each level for posts subject to geographical distribution; 7. Recognizes the importance of speeding up the recruitment and staffing process, in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter, which will ensure that staff are diverse, multi-skilled and versatile; 8. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with Member States, to explore ways to further increase awareness of job opportunities in the United Nations system, including through more extensive outreach, the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, the United Nations information centres and United Nations country offices, with a view to achieving more balanced geographical and gender representation in the Organization; 9. Recognizes that pre-screened rosters can considerably expedite the recruitment process in the United Nations; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the full utilization of existing rosters for recruitment and to further elaborate the use of pre-screened rosters, based on the organizational needs identified through strategic workforce planning, taking into account the need for transparency, support for the provisions of Article 101 of the Charter and administrative and resource implications, as well as geographical and gender mandates, and to report to it thereon at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 11. Notes the intention of the Secretary-General to establish a recruitment and staffing centre to support managers in the selection of staff and to enhance the consistency of recruitment across the Secretariat, and invites the Secretary-General to submit proposals in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that use of the envisaged expedited recruitment process is confined to surge needs, with established procedures for recruitment being waived only in exceptional cases, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to it on the use of this mechanism, including the criteria for defining such exceptions, in the context of its consideration of human resources management; 13. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to reduce the period required to fill vacancies by addressing the factors contributing to delays in the process of selection, recruitment and placement and to report to it thereon at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 14. Decides to maintain the limitations established by the General Assembly for the assignment of General Service staff to field missions; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue in future years the innovation set out in his report on the composition of the SecretariatA/61/257 and Corr.1. to provide information on all staff under contract with the Secretariat, thus providing a more comprehensive picture of staff by nationality, category and gender; 16. Reaffirms the need to respect the equality of each of the two working languages of the Secretariat, also reaffirms the use of additional working languages in specific duty stations as mandated, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to ensure that vacancy announcements specify the need for either of the working languages of the Secretariat unless the functions of the post require a specific working language; 17. Acknowledges that the interaction of the United Nations with the local population in the field is essential and that language skills constitute an important element of the selection and training processes, and therefore affirms that good command of the official language(s) spoken in the country of residence should be taken into account as an additional asset during those processes; III National competitive examinations 1. Reaffirms that national competitive examinations are the source of recruitment for P-2 posts subject to geographical distribution in order to reduce non-representation and underrepresentation of Member States in the Secretariat, and in this connection requests the Secretary-General to fully use this opportunity and, in particular, to accelerate the recruitment of candidates who have passed national competitive examinations; 2. Notes with concern that a large number of candidates who have passed national competitive examinations remain on the roster for years; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the expeditious placement of successful candidates from national competitive examinations; 4. Welcomes the enhanced efforts of the Secretary-General to centrally manage the placement of successful candidates from national competitive examinations, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the outcome of those efforts to it at its sixty-third session; IV Mobility 1. Reaffirms section VIII of its resolution 59/266; 2. Stresses that the purpose of enhancing mobility is to improve the effectiveness of the Organization and to foster the skills and capacity of staff; 3. Notes the current work of the Secretary-General on mobility policies, and encourages him to continue to make progress in this field in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions; 4. Reaffirms that the implementation of mobility policies, while recognizing their anticipated positive effects, may also give rise to problems and challenges that should be addressed; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, to report to it at the main part of its sixty-second session on clear indicators, benchmarks, number of staff, timelines and criteria for the implementation of mobility policies, taking into account the needs of the Organization and ways to protect the rights of staff in the context of the system of administration of justice; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session on the implemented phases of the mobility policy, along with projections for the envisaged remaining phases and an assessment of the relevant administrative and management issues; 7. Further requests the Secretary-General to provide an analysis of the managed mobility programme, including information on financial implications and on its usefulness in improving organizational efficiency and addressing, inter alia, high vacancy rates, and to report to it thereon at its sixty-third session; 8. Decides, in the light of the experience of managed mobility, to review the enforcement of post-occupancy limits at its sixty-third session; 9. Also decides to approve the establishment of three new temporary positions - two P-4 and one General Service - to provide support for the work of the Secretary-General in this area; 10. Further decides to approve an additional appropriation under the regular budget in the amount of 331,000 United States dollars; 11. Decides to approve an additional appropriation in the amount of 35,400 dollars under section 35, Staff assessment, to be offset by an equivalent amount of income under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 12. Notes that the Secretary-General will submit a request for resources in the context of the support account budget for 2007-2008; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consult with staff, including staff representatives, in the development of mobility policies; 14. Requests the International Civil Service Commission, within its mandate, to continue to keep under review the question of mobility in the United Nations common system, including its implications for career development, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly, as appropriate, in the context of its annual reports; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to take the steps necessary to ensure that mobility is not used as an instrument of coercion against staff and to ensure that appropriate monitoring and accountability measures are in place; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session on specific measures taken to facilitate mobility between the United Nations Secretariat and the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, and on results achieved; 17. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the use of incentives with a view to encouraging staff to move to duty stations with chronically high vacancy rates; 18. Acknowledges that mobility needs to be supported through greater efforts to improve conditions of life and work at the various duty stations; 19. Invites host countries, as appropriate, to review their policies for granting work permits to spouses of United Nations staff; 20. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to explore ways of assisting spouses to find employment opportunities, in consultation with host Governments where necessary, including by taking measures to expedite the issuance of work permits; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide career counselling and job-search assistance; to explore telecommuting options for spouses; to give spouses priority consideration for consulting opportunities, where appropriate; to give priority to the relocation of spouses within the managed mobility programme, subject to the availability of suitable posts and satisfactory performance; and to support the creation of inter-agency spouse support networks at all duty stations; 22. Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to provide staff with more specific training opportunities, with a view to preparing staff for diverse responsibilities, working in different departments, offices, duty stations or peacekeeping missions and moving across occupational groups; V Career development and support 1. Encourages the Secretary-General to enhance career progress within the Secretariat by facilitating career development; 2. Emphasizes the importance of defining the target and strategy of training and career development; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session on staff development policy and the priority of staff development, taking into account the impact of the retirement of many senior staff in the near future; 4. Notes that training is important for the staff and the Organization, also notes, recalling section II, paragraph 57, of its resolution 57/305, that the Secretariat should fully use existing resources, and decides to appropriate an additional 3 million dollars specifically devoted to leadership and management development, information technology training, upgrading of substantive skills and expansion of languages and communication; 5. Decides to revert to the subject of appropriation for training resources in the context of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate the resources for training on the basis of needs and in an equitable manner, throughout the Secretariat, including for duty stations and regional commissions, and in this context stresses that equal training opportunities should be available for all staff, in accordance with their functions and categories; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that programme managers prepare calendars of training of staff working under their supervision on a periodic basis; 8. Stresses that workshops, seminars and training courses should take advantage of the diverse sources of training opportunities available throughout the regions of the world; VI Contractual arrangements 1. Notes that the existing system of contractual arrangements does not fully comply with the proposed International Civil Service Commission framework;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1), annex IV. 2. Requests the International Civil Service Commission to consider the proposals of the Secretary-General, in particular the proposal to introduce one United Nations staff contract under one set of staff rules, and to report to it thereon at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 3. Stresses the need for rationalization of the current United Nations system of contractual arrangements, which lacks transparency and is complex to administer; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to address the conclusions and recommendations contained in paragraphs 49 to 56 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administration and Budgetary Questions;A/61/537. 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to present a detailed road map on the implementation of the proposed contractual arrangements, including on eligibility criteria, at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 6. Decides to continue to suspend until 30 June 2007 the application of the four-year limit for appointments of limited duration under the 300 series of the Staff Rules in peacekeeping operations; 7. Authorizes the Secretary-General, bearing in mind paragraph 6 above, to reappoint under the 100 series of the Staff Rules those mission staff whose service under 300-series contracts has reached the four-year limit by 30 June 2007, provided that their functions have been reviewed and found necessary and their performance has been confirmed as fully satisfactory, and requests the Secretary-General to report to it thereon at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; VII Harmonization of conditions of service 1. Recalls section X, paragraph 5, of its resolution 59/266, in which it requested the International Civil Service Commission to present to it an analysis of the desirability and feasibility of harmonizing conditions of service in the field; 2. Notes that the International Civil Service Commission has established a working group to review conditions of service of internationally recruited staff serving in non-family duty stations, and requests the Commission to submit a report thereon to it at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 3. Requests the Secretary-General in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination to invite the executive heads to support the work of the International Civil Service Commission by ensuring full and timely compliance with the requests of the Commission for information; 4. Takes note of the proposals of the Secretary-General on harmonization of conditions of service for non-family duty stations, and decides to revert to the issue at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session, following issuance of the report of the International Civil Service Commission; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report to it on the issue, including possible financial implications, if any, at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; VIII Reform of the field service Notes the proposal of the Secretary-General to provide for peacekeeping staffing on an ongoing basis and to enhance professionalism and the ability of the United Nations to respond quickly to peacekeeping needs by designating a cadre of continuing civilian positions from within existing capacity, and requests him to submit to it at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session proposals for the operation of the proposed cadre, taking into account the views and observations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in paragraphs 70 to 77 of its report;A/61/537. IX Building leadership and management capacity 1. Encourages a more rigorous and systematic approach to selection at the Under-Secretary-General, Assistant Secretary-General and Director levels, in order to incorporate skilful leadership and management, with due regard to geographical representation and gender balance in the selection of candidates for those positions; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session on the findings and outcomes of this rigorous and systematic approach, as well as on concrete measures to recruit and appoint nationals from unrepresented and underrepresented States, in particular developing countries, including at such senior levels as Under-Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General; 3. Emphasizes that training should not only improve the managerial skills of senior officers but should also serve to update and complement their substantive knowledge on various United Nations core mandates; X Measures to improve equitable geographical distribution 1. Notes the progress made since 1994 in reducing the number of countries that are unrepresented and underrepresented; 2. Also notes that the number of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States has increased since 2002; 3. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General to improve the situation of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States and of those in danger of becoming underrepresented under the system of desirable ranges; 4. Notes with concern that the total number of staff from underrepresented Member States and their proportion to the total number of staff in posts subject to geographical distribution decreased in the period between 2002 and 2006, as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General on the composition of the Secretariat;A/61/257 and Corr.1. 5. Welcomes the analysis of the level of underrepresentation in the report of the Secretary-General on the composition of the Secretariat;A/61/257 and Corr.1. 6. Regrets the current insufficient accountability of heads of departments in achieving equitable geographical distribution in the Secretariat; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his ongoing efforts to attain equitable geographical distribution in the Secretariat and to ensure as wide a geographical distribution of staff as possible in all departments and offices of the Secretariat; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to post information regarding the human resources action plans on the United Nations website and to report to it thereon in the context of the Management Performance Board report; 9. Recalls section II, paragraph 38, of its resolution 57/305 and section IV, paragraph 5, of its resolution 59/266, takes note of the information contained in table 5 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/257 and Corr.1. and expresses concern over the decline in the number of nationals from developing countries at the senior and policymaking levels, as well as the imbalance in different departments of the Secretariat; 10. Notes that the system of geographic ranges was designed to apply to countries rather than to regions or groups; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure, through the Management Performance Board, the monitoring of the implementation of human resources action plans, including the principle of equitable geographical distribution in the Secretariat at all levels as set out in relevant General Assembly resolutions, and the verification of the effective application of measures of transparency and accountability, including in the selection, recruitment and placement processes; 12. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to increase recruitment from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States and to undertake outreach efforts designed to prevent countries from falling under those categories, urges the Secretary-General, to the extent possible, to take the necessary steps to reduce the number of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States in the Secretariat by 20 per cent by 2008 and by 30 per cent by 2010, compared to the level in 2006, and requests the Secretary-General to report to it thereon on a regular basis beginning with its sixty-third session, as appropriate; 13. Recalls section IV, paragraph 9, of its resolution 59/266, decides to continue the fast-track roster for an additional two-year period, and requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session on the effectiveness of the roster; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures to ensure, at the senior and policymaking levels of the Secretariat, equitable representation of Member States, especially those with inadequate representation at those levels, and to continue to include relevant information thereon in all future reports on the composition of the Secretariat; 15. Regrets that the Secretary-General has not succeeded in complying with the provisions of its resolutions 41/206 B of 11 December 1986, 53/221, 55/258, 57/305 and 59/266, in which it declared that no post should be considered the exclusive preserve of any Member State or group of States, including at the highest levels, reiterates its request that the Secretary-General ensure that, as a general rule, no national of a Member State succeeds a national of that State in a senior post and that there is no monopoly on senior posts by nationals of any State or group of States, and requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session thereon; 16. Takes note of the report of the Secretary General on a comprehensive assessment of the system of geographical distribution and assessment of the issues relating to possible changes in the number of posts subject to that system;A/59/724. 17. Reiterates its requests to the Secretary-General to present proposals to effectively increase the representation of developing countries in the Secretariat, and decides to revert to this issue at its sixty-third session; 18. Reaffirms that the system of desirable ranges is the mechanism for recruitment of staff in posts subject to geographical distribution, in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations; 19. Considers that encouragement of recruitment from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States shall not disallow other qualified candidates from competing; 20. Affirms that measures on meeting organizational mandates, accountability targets and indicators of achievement, with respect to geographical distribution of staff, contained in human resources action plans and recruitment procedures, including selection decisions, shall fully correspond to the provisions contained in Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as in relevant General Assembly mandates; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to review the designation of posts in the radio and website management sections of the Department of Public Information to consider whether they should be treated as language posts and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session for its consideration, including on the possible human resources, administrative and financial implications; XI Gender representation 1. Reaffirms the goal of 50/50 gender distribution in all categories of posts within the United Nations system, especially at the senior and policymaking levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101 of the Charter, and regrets that progress towards attaining this goal has been slow; 2. Expresses concern at the continuing low proportion of women in the Secretariat, in particular the low proportion among them of women from developing countries, especially at the senior levels, and stresses that the continuing lack of representation or underrepresentation of women from certain countries, in particular from developing countries, should be taken into account and that those women should be accorded equal opportunities in the recruitment process, in full conformity with relevant resolutions; 3. Notes with concern that, in posts subject to the system of desirable ranges, only 25 women from developing countries were recruited between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006 among the 83 women appointed during that period; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to increase his efforts to attain and monitor the goal of gender parity in the Secretariat, in particular at senior levels, and in this context to ensure that women, especially those from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, are appropriately represented within the Secretariat, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General, in the context of attaining this goal, to develop and implement recruitment targets, time frames for meeting those targets and accountability measures; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to clarify the role of departmental focal points, including in the context of the staff selection system, and their participation in the development and monitoring of the departmental human resource action plans; 7. Encourages Member States to support the efforts of the Secretary-General by identifying more women candidates and encouraging them to apply for appointment to positions in the Secretariat and by creating awareness among their nationals, in particular women, of vacancies in the Secretariat; XII Accountability 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Ethics Office;A/61/274. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Management Performance Board;A/61/319. 3. Reiterates the importance of strengthened accountability in the Organization and of ensuring greater accountability of the Secretary-General to Member States, inter alia, for the effective and efficient implementation of legislative mandates and the use of human and financial resources; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen his efforts to achieve greater transparency at all levels; 5. Recognizes the role of the Office of Human Resources Management in supporting the Secretary-General in holding programme managers accountable, and requests the continuing strengthening of that role; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to present proposals for enforcing the implementation of human resources policies and action plan objectives and to report to it thereon at its sixty-third session; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to it for consideration at its sixty-third session a proposal for the use of incentives and sanctions as an integral part of the personnel management system, bearing in mind the relevant work of the International Civil Service Commission; 8. Welcomes the establishment of the Management Performance Board to strengthen the accountability framework of senior managers so as to ensure that they are properly undertaking the responsibilities that have been entrusted to them, including their performance in achieving the objectives contained in human resources action plans; 9. Stresses that a fair, transparent and effective administration of justice system is an essential feature of proper accountability; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to improve accountability and responsibility in the reform of human resources management as well as the monitoring and control mechanisms and procedures and to report to it at its sixty-third session on action taken in this regard; XIII Human resources information technology 1. Notes the proposals of the Secretary-General on investing in information and communication technology; 2. Endorses paragraph 68 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/537. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the new information technology infrastructure is compatible with the new system approved in section II of General Assembly resolution 60/283 of 7 July 2006; 3. Notes the efforts made by the Secretary-General to make the human resources information technology system available in both working languages of the Secretariat, and invites the Secretary-General to continue those efforts; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the human resources information technology system; XIV Staff buyout Takes note of paragraph 64 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/537. and decides not to pursue the proposal of the Secretary-General on the staff buyout; XV Consultants and individual contractors 1. Reaffirms section XI of its resolution 59/266; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on consultants and individual contractors;A/61/257/Add.3. 3. Endorses the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraphs 88 to 90 of its report;A/61/537. 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on comprehensive policy guidelines for consultants in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;A/61/201. XVI Employment of retired former staff 1. Notes with concern the continuous trend of hiring staff retirees for extended periods of time; 2. Endorses paragraph 84 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/537. XVII Other matters 1. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, contained in its resolution 60/238 of 23 December 2005, to report to it at its sixty-first session on the implementation of the regulations governing the status, basic rights and duties of officials other than Secretariat officials and experts on mission; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to present to it at the first part of its resumed sixty-first session, in consultation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, proposals to address the imbalance in the geographical distribution of the staff in that Office; 3. Decides to revert to this issue at the first part of its resumed sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 61/245 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/658, para. 8) 61/245. Comprehensive review of governance and oversight within the United Nations and its funds, programmes and specialized agencies The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the comprehensive review of governance and oversight within the United Nations and its funds, programmes and specialized agenciesA/60/883 and Add.1 and 2. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/605. the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on oversight lacunae in the United Nations systemSee A/60/860. and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon,A/60/860/Add.1. the comments of the Joint Inspection Unit on the report of the Steering Committee on the Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight within the United Nations and Its Funds, Programmes and Specialized Agencies,A/60/1004. the report of the Secretary-General on accountabilityA/60/846/Add.6. and the related report of the Advisory Committee,A/60/909. the report of the Secretary-General on accountability measures,A/61/546. the report of the Secretary-General on updated terms of reference for the Independent Audit Advisory CommitteeA/60/846/Add.7. and the interim report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon,A/60/903. and the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on proposals for strengthening the Office,A/60/901. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the comprehensive review of governance and oversight within the United Nations and its funds, programmes and specialized agencies,A/60/883 and Add.1 and 2. the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on oversight lacunae in the United Nations systemSee A/60/860. and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon,A/60/860/Add.1. the comments of the Joint Inspection Unit on the report of the Steering Committee on the Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight within the United Nations and Its Funds, Programmes and Specialized Agencies,A/60/1004. the report of the Secretary-General on accountabilityA/60/846/Add.6. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/909. the report of the Secretary-General on accountability measures,A/61/546. the report of the Secretary-General on updated terms of reference for the Independent Audit Advisory CommitteeA/60/846/Add.7. and the interim report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions thereon;A/60/903. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the comprehensive review of governance and oversight within the United Nations and its funds, programmes and specialized agencies;A/61/605. 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly for consideration at the first part of its resumed sixty-first session reports on the following: (a) Revised terms of reference for the Independent Audit Advisory Committee; (b) Strengthening of the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly for consideration at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session if possible, but no later than by the end of its sixty-first session, reports on the following: (a) Enterprise risk management and internal control framework; (b) Results-based management; (c) Accountability framework. RESOLUTION 61/246 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/658, para. 8) 61/246. Procurement reform The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/14 of 29 October 1999, 55/247 of 12 April 2001, 57/279 of 20 December 2002, 58/276 and 58/277 of 23 December 2003, 59/288 and 59/289 of 13 April 2005, 60/1 of 16 September 2005, 60/260 of 8 May 2006, 60/266 of 30 June 2006 and 60/283 of 7 July 2006, Having considered the addendum to the detailed report of the Secretary-General on investing in the United Nations for a stronger Organization worldwide entitled "Procurement reform",A/60/846/Add.5 and Corr.1. the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on procurement practices within the United Nations systemSee A/59/721. and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereonA/59/721/Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/904. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/846/Add.5 and Corr.1. the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on procurement practices within the United Nations systemSee A/59/721. and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon;A/59/721/Add.1. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/904. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Stresses the importance of strengthened accountability in the Organization and of ensuring greater accountability of the Secretary-General to Member States, inter alia, for the effective and efficient implementation of legislative mandates on procurement and the related use of financial and human resources, as well as the provision of necessary information on procurement-related matters to enable Member States to make well-informed decisions; 4. Recognizes that procurement reform is an ongoing process and should focus, inter alia, on ensuring the efficiency, transparency and cost-effectiveness of United Nations procurement as well as strengthened internal controls, greater accountability to Member States and full implementation of General Assembly resolutions on procurement reform; 5. Recalls its resolutions on procurement reform, and notes that the report of the Secretary-General focused mainly on strengthening of internal controls and optimization of acquisition and procurement management, with emphasis on urgent internal control issues, and that other procurement reform measures will be presented in forthcoming reports; 6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to submit proposals to effectively increase procurement opportunities for and the participation of vendors from developing countries; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a comprehensive report on all aspects of procurement reform, including the outstanding reports referred to in paragraph 4 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/60/904. as well as measures taken to implement its resolutions on procurement reform and the status of implementation of recommendations of the oversight bodies; Staff 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all staff in the Secretariat involved in procurement activities, including at the senior levels, file financial disclosure statements annually; 9. Regrets that the Secretary-General has not submitted proposals related to the issue of conflict of interest requested by the General Assembly in section V, paragraph 9, of its resolution 60/266 at the main part of its sixty-first session, and requests him to do so no later than at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 10. Stresses the importance of developing and implementing an ethics and integrity programme for the procurement staff, and requests the Secretary-General to complete and issue ethics guidelines no later than June 2007 for all staff involved in the procurement process; 11. Welcomes the initiatives of the Secretary-General in undertaking training programmes for United Nations procurement staff, including in the field, and requests the Secretary-General to evaluate their impact and monitor their implementation and to submit proposals on making any further improvements necessary in the training of staff in procurement processes; Internal controls 12. Requests the Secretary-General to further enhance transparency in the procurement decision-making process through, inter alia, the establishment of an independent bid protest system outside of the reporting hierarchy of the Procurement Division of the Department of Management of the Secretariat in order to furnish vendors participating in tenders with a means of disputing procurement-related decisions; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the specific modalities of the bid protest system and related procedures, including possible legal and financial implications; 14. Further requests the Secretary-General to include information, as appropriate, on the bid protest system on the website of the Procurement Division; 15. Notes the promotion by the Procurement Division of the voluntary principles of the corporate social responsibility initiative, the Global Compact, within the United Nations procurement framework, and requests the Secretary-General, as appropriate, to report to the General Assembly for further consideration; 16. Notes with appreciation that the Supplier Code of Conduct has been promulgated and posted on the website of the Procurement Division with a view to achieving the goal of safeguarding the integrity of the United Nations in procurement activities; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to simplify and streamline the vendor registration process, to share responsibilities among the various United Nations organizations and to take into account the different circumstances and varying levels of Internet access in countries and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, in the context of the comprehensive report, on the results achieved; Governance 18. Notes with concern the possible weaknesses in the control environment with regard to procurement activities owing, inter alia, to the splitting of responsibilities between the Department of Management and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, as referred to in paragraph 14 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/60/904. 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session a comprehensive report on the following elements: (a) The management arrangements for procurement, including clear lines of accountability and delegation of authority; (b) The findings of the working group established to examine ways in which the organizational structure could be changed to better align responsibility with authority and to improve the overall control environment for procurement for peacekeeping operations; (c) The respective responsibilities of the Department of Management and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; (d) Streamlined procurement procedures for peacekeeping operations in the field, including specific information on mechanisms for strengthened monitoring, oversight and accountability; (e) The functioning of the Headquarters Contracts Committee and the local committees on contracts; Procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition 20. Also requests the Secretary-General to explore additional ways to improve procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition both at Headquarters and in the field and to report thereon to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 21. Recalls section VII, paragraph 2, of its resolution 60/266, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that information on procurement opportunities at Headquarters and in peacekeeping operations is made available to business communities in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, through, inter alia, continued cooperation between the Department of Public Information and the Procurement Division of the Department of Management, utilizing the United Nations information centres and offices; 22. Recognizes the efforts by the Procurement Division to increase the number of business seminars in developing countries, and requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to encourage the organizations of the United Nations system to facilitate, in cooperation with Member States, the organization of business seminars in developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to invite the Inter-Agency Procurement Working Group to continue to study ways and means and recommend concrete proposals to diversify the sourcing of goods and services, in particular from developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 24. Also requests the Secretary-General to encourage the organizations of the United Nations system, consistent with their respective mandates, to take further steps to increase procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition; Procurement management 25. Recalls that the General Assembly has not yet taken a decision on the lead agency concept, and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to include in his report an assessment of the internal controls of the United Nations organizations and how they differ from those of the Procurement Division; 26. Recognizes that the lead agency concept is being developed and that extensive consultations are under way within the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-second session on proposals for the lead agency concept and the status of consultations, including on clear lines of accountability, the applicability of resolutions and decisions of the Assembly, the impact on efforts to improve the diversification of the origin of vendors, possible efficiency gains and cost savings and distribution of resources within the United Nations system, enabling proposed designated buyers to manage larger procurement activities; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to encourage all the organizations of the United Nations system, consistent with their respective mandates, to further improve their procurement practices, inter alia, by participating in the United Nations Global Marketplace with a view to creating one common United Nations global procurement website; 28. Stresses the need to ensure transparency in procurement throughout the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the United Nations Global Marketplace website is fully accessible to Member States no later than 1 June 2007; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the United Nations Global Marketplace website, inter alia, features lists of companies that register through the Global Marketplace as vendors of United Nations system entities, as well as statistics on contract awards, acquisition plans and procurement notices; 30. Encourages the Secretary-General to extend participation and improve the level of collaboration, coordination and information-sharing among the organizations of the United Nations system with respect to procurement activities in order to achieve economies of scale and eliminate duplication of work; 31. Notes the activities of the Inter-Agency Procurement Working Group and of the Common Services Procurement Working Group on enhancing the transparency and increasing the harmonization of procurement practices, and requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the executive heads of the United Nations funds and programmes, to continue work in this regard; 32. Recalls section A, paragraph 10, of its resolution 59/288, and, noting paragraphs 65 and 66 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/60/846/Add.5 and Corr.1. requests the Secretary-General to report comprehensively to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the principle of best value for money and its implementation in United Nations procurement, including, inter alia, its possible effect on the diversification of vendors and suppliers and on efforts to improve procurement for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to develop clear guidelines for the implementation of the best value for money methodology in United Nations procurement and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; Other issues 34. Also requests the Secretary-General to implement measures to reduce the timeline associated with the payment of invoices; 35. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that a monthly update of contract award statistics is posted on the website of the Procurement Division; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve the website of the Procurement Division and make it more user-friendly; 37. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly, in the context of the comprehensive report, on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution; Resources 38. Decides to approve the conversion of twenty positions funded under general temporary assistance to established posts under the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period ending 30 June 2007, as follows: (a) Procurement Division, Department of Management: eleven posts (one P-5, three P-4, four P-3, one General Service (Principal level) and two General Service (Other level)); (b) Office of Mission Support, Department of Peacekeeping Operations: two posts (one P-5 and one P-4); (c) Headquarters Committee on Contracts, Department of Management: three posts (one D-1, one P-4 and one General Service (Other level)); (d) General Legal Division, Office of Legal Affairs: four posts (two P-5, one P-4 and one General Service (Other level)); 39. Also decides to approve the conversion of the six positions (one D-1, four P-4 and one P-3) for the Procurement Division funded under general temporary assistance to established posts and an amount of 706,500 United States dollars, representing the balance of the resource requirements for the six posts under the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period ending 30 June 2007; 40. Further decides that three of the posts established above (one P-4, one P-3 and one General Service (Other level)) will be designated to the Vendor Registration and Management Team with a view to, inter alia, promoting the diversification of the origin of vendors among all Member States, including developing countries and countries with economies in transition, simplifying vendor registration, managing the vendor database and liaising with vendors; 41. Approves the resource requirements of 1,050,000 dollars proposed in the report of the Secretary-General for the Procurement Division under the support account for peacekeeping operations for the rest of the fiscal year ending 30 June 2007, as follows: (a) 200,000 dollars for consultants to review industry practices and procurement models in specific industries relevant to United Nations requirements; (b) 800,000 dollars for training of both Headquarters and peacekeeping mission procurement staff (640,000 dollars for consultants to organize training, 150,000 dollars for travel of staff for procurement training and 10,000 dollars for training-related supplies and materials); (c) 50,000 dollars for travel in relation to business seminars; 42. Also approves the reclassification of the Chief of Procurement post from the D-1 to the D-2 level; 43. Requests the Secretary-General to comprehensively review the post and non-post requirements of the Procurement Division, taking into account General Assembly resolutions on procurement reform, including the present one, and to submit proposals based on identified requirements in the context of the budget for the support account for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 and the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009. RESOLUTION 61/247 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/621, para. 6) 61/247. Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'IvoireA/61/468. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/551. Recalling Security Council resolution 1528 (2004) of 27 February 2004, by which the Council established the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire for an initial period of twelve months as from 4 April 2004, the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Operation, the latest of which was resolution 1652 (2006) of 24 January 2006, and resolution 1682 (2006) of 2 June 2006, in which the Council authorized an increase in the strength of the Operation of up to 1,500 additional personnel, by a maximum of 1,025 military and 475 civilian police personnel, Recalling also its resolution 58/310 of 18 June 2004 on the financing of the Operation and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 60/17 B of 30 June 2006, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in its resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Operation with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of its resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire as at 30 September 2006, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 186.6 million United States dollars, representing some 17 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Operation in full; 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Operation; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/551. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 10. Reaffirms its resolution 59/296, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of its relevant provisions and the relevant provisions of its resolution 60/266; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Operation is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Operation against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Operation; Revised budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 13. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire the amount of 52,714,100 dollars for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, in addition to the amount of 438,366,800 dollars already appropriated for the same period under the terms of its resolution 60/17 B; Financing of the appropriation 14. Decides also, taking into account the amount of 438,366,800 dollars previously apportioned for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 under the terms of its resolution 60/17 B, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 24,089,777 dollars for the period from 1 July to 15 December 2006, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003; 15. Decides further that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 14 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 63,842 dollars, representing the estimated increase in staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 1 July to 15 December 2006; 16. Decides to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 28,624,323 dollars at a monthly rate of 4,403,742 dollars for the period from 16 December 2006 to 30 June 2007, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolutions 58/256 of 23 December 2003 and 61/243 of 22 December 2006, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B, and the scale of assessments for 2007, as set out in its resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Operation; 17. Decides also that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 75,858 dollars, representing the estimated increase in staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 16 December 2006 to 30 June 2007; 18. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 19. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Operation, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 20. Invites voluntary contributions to the Operation in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 21. Decides to keep under review during its sixty-first session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire". RESOLUTION 61/248 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/617, para. 6) 61/248. Financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and EritreaA/61/521 and Corr.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/575. Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1312 (2000) of 31 July 2000, by which the Council established the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Mission, the latest of which was resolution 1710 (2006) of 29 September 2006, Recalling its resolution 55/237 of 23 December 2000 on the financing of the Mission and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 60/272 of 30 June 2006, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Mission, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea as at 30 September 2006, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 49.2 million United States dollars, representing some 4.4 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-nine Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Mission in full; 4. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 5. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 6. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 7. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 8. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/575. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 10. Reaffirms its resolution 59/296, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of its relevant provisions and the relevant provisions of its resolution 60/266; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 13. Further requests the Secretary-General, in view of the recent reconfiguration and reduction in the strength of the Mission, to rejustify all posts and to report thereon to the General Assembly in the context of the budget of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008; Revised budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 14. Decides to reduce the appropriation of 174,679,200 dollars authorized for the maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 under the terms of its resolution 60/272 by the amount of 37,294,100 dollars, to 137,385,100 dollars; 15. Also decides to reduce the amount of staff assessment income for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 from 3,563,700 dollars to 2,751,000 dollars; Financing of the appropriation 16. Further decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 53,824,800 dollars, inclusive of the amount of 3,121,550 dollars for the support account for peacekeeping operations and 657,750 dollars for the United Nations Logistics Base, at a monthly rate of 8,970,800 dollars for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2007, in addition to the amount of 91,118,900 dollars already apportioned for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2006, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolutions 58/256 of 23 December 2003 and 61/243 of 22 December 2006, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2007, as set out in Assembly resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006; 17. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 16 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 1,370,050 dollars for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2007, comprising the estimated staff assessment income of 969,150 dollars approved for the Mission, the prorated share of 351,100 dollars approved for the support account and the prorated share of 49,800 dollars approved for the United Nations Logistics Base; 18. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 19. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in peacekeeping operations, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 20. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 21. Decides to continue its consideration of this question at its resumed sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 61/249 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/644, para. 9) 61/249. Financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-LesteA/61/519. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/567. Recalling Security Council resolution 1704 (2006) of 25 August 2006, by which the Council decided to establish a follow-on mission in Timor-Leste, the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, for an initial period of six months, with the intention to renew it for further periods, Recognizing that the costs of the Mission are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the financial resources necessary to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 3. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 4. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 5. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 6. Recalls its resolution 60/266, section VI, paragraph 1, and emphasizes the importance of ensuring coordination and collaboration of efforts with the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and the implementation of a unified workplan, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on measures taken and progress made and to provide clear descriptions of respective roles and responsibilities in future budget submissions; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 8. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/567. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 9. Notes the additional information provided by the Secretary-General on the ability to finance twenty-two general temporary assistance positions for the backstopping of the Mission at United Nations Headquarters in the amount of 2,307,500 United States dollars from the resources approved for the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Fifth Committee, 34th meeting (A/C.5/61/SR.34), and corrigendum. 10. Authorizes the Secretary-General to finance up to twenty-two general temporary assistance positions at United Nations Headquarters to provide support for the deployment of the Mission from the resources approved for the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, to be reported to the General Assembly in the context of the performance report on the support account for the period; 11. Reaffirms its resolution 59/296, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of its relevant provisions and the relevant provisions of its resolution 60/266; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; 14. Further requests the Secretary-General to make greater use of national staff; Budget estimates for the period from 25 August 2006 to 31 March 2007 15. Authorizes the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste for the purpose of accounting for the income received and expenditure incurred in respect of the Mission; 16. Also authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the Mission for the period from 25 August 2006 to 31 March 2007 in a total amount not exceeding 170,221,100 dollars, inclusive of the amount of 49,961,500 dollars previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994; Financing of the commitment authority 17. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 143,140,420 dollars for the period from 25 August 2006 to 25 February 2007, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolutions 58/256 of 23 December 2003 and 61/243 of 22 December 2006, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, and the scale of assessments for 2007, as set out in its resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006; 18. Also decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 17 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 2,046,840 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 25 August 2006 to 25 February 2007; 19. Further decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 27,080,680 dollars for the period from 26 February to 31 March 2007 at the monthly rate of 23,556,753 dollars, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 61/243, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2007, as set out in its resolution 61/237, subject to a decision of the Security Council to extend the mandate of the Mission; 20. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 19 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 387,360 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 26 February to 31 March 2007; 21. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 22. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 23. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 24. Decides to keep under review during its sixty-first session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste". RESOLUTION 61/24 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 1 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 157 to 7, with 9 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.33, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Canada, Fiji, Malawi, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/24. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 60/38 of 1 December 2005, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 60/38; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2006-2007, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the recent developments in that regard, in particular the efforts for peace; (c) To expand its collection of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine and to continue the production and preservation of such material and the updating of the exhibit in the Secretariat; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the annual training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists. RESOLUTION 61/250 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/657, para. 9),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by South Africa (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 145 to 3, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia 61/250. Financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,A/61/588. the letter dated 17 August 2006 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General AssemblyA/60/986. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/616. Recalling Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 regarding the establishment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Force, the latest of which was resolution 1701 (2006) of 11 August 2006, by which the Council extended the mandate of the Force until 31 August 2007 and authorized an increase in the strength of the Force to a maximum of 15,000 troops, Recalling also its resolution S-8/2 of 21 April 1978 on the financing of the Force and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 60/278 of 30 June 2006, Reaffirming its resolutions 51/233 of 13 June 1997, 52/237 of 26 June 1998, 53/227 of 8 June 1999, 54/267 of 15 June 2000, 55/180 A of 19 December 2000, 55/180 B of 14 June 2001, 56/214 A of 21 December 2001, 56/214 B of 27 June 2002, 57/325 of 18 June 2003, 58/307 of 18 June 2004, 59/307 of 22 June 2005 and 60/278, Reaffirming also the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Noting with appreciation that voluntary contributions have been made to the Force, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Force with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005 and 60/266 of 30 June 2006, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Takes note of the status of contributions to the Force as at 31 October 2006, including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 67.9 million United States dollars, representing some 2 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only thirty-eight Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Force in full; 4. Expresses deep concern that Israel did not comply with General Assembly resolutions 51/233, 52/237, 53/227, 54/267, 55/180 A, 55/180 B, 56/214 A, 56/214 B, 57/325, 58/307, 59/307 and 60/278; 5. Stresses once again that Israel should strictly abide by General Assembly resolutions 51/233, 52/237, 53/227, 54/267, 55/180 A, 55/180 B, 56/214 A, 56/214 B, 57/325, 58/307, 59/307 and 60/278; 6. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 7. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 8. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 9. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 10. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Force; 11. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/616. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation, subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 12. Takes note of the proposal for the establishment of the Office of Political and Civil Affairs, as contained in paragraph 19 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/588. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure, in reviewing the organizational structure of the Force, that it is in conformity with the mandate of the Force; 13. Notes the measures being undertaken by the Secretary-General, as set out in his letter;A/60/986. 14. Requests the Secretary-General to further elaborate the rationale for and status of those measures implemented in the context of his next budget submission, during the first part of the resumed sixty-first session; 15. Emphasizes that the approval of commitment authority in no way implies approval of the establishment of posts or the creation of new functions; 16. Recalls section VIII of its resolution 60/266, and, mindful of the significantly increased size and the increased area of operation of the Force, decides to authorize the provision of 500,000 dollars for quick-impact projects; 17. Decides to authorize, without setting a precedent, the utilization of an amount not exceeding 750,000 dollars for temporary fuel assistance for the Force to assist the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon; 18. Reaffirms its resolution 59/296, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of its relevant provisions and the relevant provisions of its resolution 60/266; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Force is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 20. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Force against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Force; 21. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure the full implementation of paragraph 8 of its resolution 51/233, paragraph 5 of its resolution 52/237, paragraph 11 of its resolution 53/227, paragraph 14 of its resolution 54/267, paragraph 14 of its resolution 55/180 A, paragraph 15 of its resolution 55/180 B, paragraph 13 of its resolution 56/214 A, paragraph 13 of its resolution 56/214 B, paragraph 14 of its resolution 57/325, paragraph 13 of its resolution 58/307, paragraph 13 of its resolution 59/307 and paragraph 17 of its resolution 60/278, stresses once again that Israel shall pay the amount of 1,117,005 dollars resulting from the incident at Qana on 18 April 1996, and requests the Secretary-General to report on this matter to the General Assembly at its current session; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2006 to 31 March 2007 22. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the Force for the period from 1 July 2006 to 31 March 2007 in a total amount not exceeding 257,340,400 dollars, inclusive of the amount of 50 million dollars previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994 and in addition to the amount of 97,579,600 dollars already appropriated for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 under the terms of its resolution 60/278; 23. Also authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into commitments for the period from 1 July 2006 to 31 March 2007 in a total amount not exceeding 2,486,900 dollars for the support account for peacekeeping operations and in respect of the backstopping of the Force at Headquarters; Financing of the commitment authority 24. Decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 257,340,400 dollars for the period from 1 July 2006 to 31 March 2007 for the expansion of the Force, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolutions 58/256 of 23 December 2003 and 61/243 of 22 December 2006, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, and the scale of assessments for 2007, as set out in its resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006; 25. Also decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 24 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 2,305,800 dollars of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Force; 26. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 27. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Force; 28. Invites voluntary contributions to the Force in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 29. Decides to keep under review during its sixty-first session, under the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East", the sub-item entitled "United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon". RESOLUTION 61/251 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/592/Add.1, para. 6) 61/251. Capital master plan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/249 of 23 December 1999, 55/238 of 23 December 2000, 56/234 and 56/236 of 24 December 2001 and 56/286 of 27 June 2002, section II of its resolution 57/292 of 20 December 2002, its resolution 59/295 of 22 June 2005, section II of its resolution 60/248 of 23 December 2005, its resolutions 60/256 of 8 May 2006 and 60/282 of 30 June 2006 and section II.B of its resolution 61/236 of 22 December 2006 and its decision 58/566 of 8 April 2004, Having considered the fourth annual progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the capital master plan,A/61/549. the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/556 and A/61/595. the reports of the Secretary-General on the viable options for ensuring sufficient parking space at United Nations HeadquartersA/58/712. and the plans for three additional conference rooms and viable solutions for allowing natural light into the rooms,A/58/556. the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the United Nations capital master plan for the periods from August 2003 through July 2004See A/59/420. and from August 2004 to July 2005,A/60/288. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its activities for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006A/61/264 (Part I) and Add.1. and the comments of the Secretary-General thereonSee A/61/264 (Part I)/Add.2. and the reports of the Board of Auditors on the capital master plan for the biennium ended 31 December 2003See A/59/161. and for the years ended 31 December 2004Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/60/5), vol. V. and 31 December 2005,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/61/5), vol. V. Reaffirming that the costs of the capital master plan are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Reiterates its serious concern at the hazards, risks and deficiencies of the current condition of the United Nations Headquarters Building, which endanger the safety, health and well-being of staff, delegations, visitors and tourists; 2. Stresses the special role of the host country Government with regard to support for United Nations Headquarters in New York; 3. Recalls the current practices of host Governments with regard to support for United Nations headquarters and United Nations bodies located in their territories; 4. Takes note of the fourth annual progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the capital master plan,A/61/549. the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/59/556 and A/61/595. the reports of the Secretary-General on the viable options for ensuring sufficient parking space at United Nations HeadquartersA/58/712. and the plans for three additional conference rooms and viable solutions for allowing natural light into the rooms,A/58/556. the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the United Nations capital master plan for the periods from August 2003 through July 2004See A/59/420. and from August 2004 to July 2005,A/60/288. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its activities for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006A/61/264 (Part I) and Add.1. and the comments of the Secretary-General thereonSee A/61/264 (Part I)/Add.2. and the reports of the Board of Auditors on the capital master plan for the biennium ended 31 December 2003See A/59/161. and for the years ended 31 December 2004Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/60/5), vol. V. and 31 December 2005;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/61/5), vol. V. 5. Also takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 6. Reaffirms section VI of its resolution 55/222 of 23 December 2000; 7. Also reaffirms paragraph 6 of its resolution 60/256, and calls upon the Secretary-General to explore the possibility of private donor funding for the capital master plan and to continue efforts to secure financial resources from the public and private sectors for upgrading facilities and equipment, including the participation of private companies in infrastructural improvements where such participation has no financial implications for the Organization; 8. Recalls that the acceptance of any donation should conform to the international and intergovernmental character of the Organization and should be in full compliance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations;ST/SGB/2003/7. 9. Stresses the need for establishing sufficient cash flow for the purpose of the capital master plan, based on a practical and predictable assessment plan; 10. Decides to approve the capital master plan, including the recommended scope options, to be completed from 2006 to 2014, at a total revised project budget not to exceed 1,876.7 million United States dollars (exclusive of any credit facility fees); 11. Notes that forward pricing escalation is already included in the approved budget contained in the fourth annual progress report of the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to avoid budget increases through sound project management practices and to ensure that the capital master plan is completed within the approved budget and the envisaged time schedule; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly for its consideration possible options on how to remain within the approved budget of 1,876.7 million dollars in the unlikely event that it becomes evident that the costs will exceed the approved budget; 13. Decides that in the unlikely event of cost escalations beyond the approved budget of 1,876.7 million dollars, all Member States will be subject to a further assessment to meet the revised financial requirements as approved by the General Assembly; 14. Approves the funding of the capital master plan, based on a mix of one-time and equal multi-year assessments; 15. Decides that under the mixed assessment option of one-time and multi-year assessment, all assessments will be based on the regular budget scale of assessments applicable for 2007;See resolution 61/237. 16. Also decides that, notwithstanding financial regulation 3.4, assessments for the capital master plan shall be issued on the same day of the first working week of January and shall be considered due and payable in full within one hundred and twenty days of that date; 17. Agrees, in this context, that in 2007 Member States will be allowed a period of sixty days, beginning on 5 January, within the period of one hundred and twenty days referred to in paragraph 16 above, to select the option of one-time or multi-year payment of their assessment on a fixed scale, as referred to in paragraph 15 above; 18. Decides, on an exceptional and ad hoc basis, unless notified otherwise by a Member State within sixty days of the issuance of the notification by the Secretary-General, to place Member States on the multi-year assessment plan for the full period of the capital master plan; 19. Also decides that once a Member State selects the option of one-time payment, that selection shall be irrevocable, unless otherwise notified to the Secretary-General by the end of the period of one hundred and twenty days referred to in paragraph 16 above; 20. Further decides to apportion, on the same day of the first working week of January for the period from 2007 to 2011, the amounts applicable, based on each Member State's assessment option of either a one-time payment, based on its share of 1,716.7 million dollars, or equal multi-year payments over five years, in accordance with the regular budget rates of assessment applicable for 2007 for all assessments for the capital master plan, using the scale of assessments for the period 2007-2009; 21. Decides to appropriate 42 million dollars for 2007 for the design and pre-construction phases of the capital master plan, including swing-space requirements; 22. Approves the establishment of a working capital reserve of 45 million dollars under the capital master plan account, to be operated under the terms of financial regulations 3.5, 4.2 and 4.3; 23. Resolves that Member States shall make advances to the working capital reserve in accordance with the regular budget rates of assessment applicable for 2007 in the scale of assessments for the period 2007-2009; 24. Approves the establishment of a letter of credit facility as outlined in paragraphs 35 to 38 of the fourth annual progress report of the Secretary-General, pursuant to a bidding process conducted in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 25. Stresses that any drawdown on the letter of credit should be a last resort and solely for the purpose of funding the capital master plan; 26. Requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, to ensure that the best possible terms and conditions that preserve the interests of the Organization are negotiated with the construction manager in respect of the internationally syndicated letter of credit; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to enter into consultations with the host country Government regarding the possibility of facilitating the establishment of the letter of credit without the imposition of fees or charges to the United Nations; 28. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on the results of the negotiations and consultations and the status of the establishment of the letter of credit, in the context of his annual report on the capital master plan; 29. Notes that the establishment of the letter of credit could incur a fee of between 0.05 and 0.5 per cent of the value of the credit facility at the start of each year, and agrees that Member States will be assessed their share of the fees at the beginning of each calendar year on the basis of the regular budget scale of assessments for 2007; 30. Approves any necessary drawdown on the letter of credit, and requests the Secretary-General to advise Member States, as a matter of urgency, if a drawdown on the letter of credit is likely, preferably ninety days in advance; 31. Recalls paragraph 18 of its resolution 60/282, and decides that, notwithstanding financial regulation 3.1, any charges arising from a drawdown on the letter of credit would not be a charge on Member States that have paid in full their capital master plan assessments for the applicable period within the one hundred and twenty days of the issuance of the letters of assessment; 32. Authorizes the Secretary-General to apportion annually those charges arising from a drawdown on the letter of credit among Member States that did not pay their assessed contributions to the capital master plan in full, within the period of one hundred and twenty days specified in paragraph 16 above, based on a monthly calculation using the total charges levied during each month and the prorated share of each Member State concerned of the average total assessed contributions that are outstanding for the capital master plan during that month; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly annually on the financial aspects of the capital master plan, in particular on any outstanding contributions and on the amount of the charges specified in paragraph 32 above and the apportionment among Member States; 34. Reaffirms that the charges to be apportioned in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 32 above are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations; 35. Stresses the importance of oversight with respect to the implementation of the capital master plan, and requests the Board of Auditors and all other relevant oversight bodies to continue to report to the General Assembly annually on the capital master plan; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that amendments to contracts are in line with the United Nations Procurement Manual, and emphasizes that contracts should stipulate that the United Nations will not be responsible for any delays, damage or loss on the part of the contractor; 37. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to continue to explore ways to increase procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition and to take the provisions of its resolutions 54/14 of 29 October 1999, 55/247 of 12 April 2001, 57/279 of 20 December 2002, 59/288 of 13 April 2005 and 60/1 of 16 September 2005 on procurement reform fully into consideration in the implementation of the capital master plan; 38. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that procurement processes are conducted in a transparent manner and in full compliance with relevant General Assembly resolutions; 39. Emphasizes to the Secretary-General the importance of effectively managing the multiple staff relocations under the approved phasing plan in order to keep the project on schedule; 40. Urges the Secretary-General to expedite the process of setting up the advisory board, reflecting wide geographical representation, so that it can begin its work as soon as possible, as provided for in section II of General Assembly resolution 57/292; 41. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that works of art, masterpieces and other gifts are appropriately handled during all the stages of the renovation work and that all associated costs are foreseen; 42. Also requests the Secretary-General to cooperate with those Member States that wish to take care of their gifts of works of art, masterpieces and other items during the renovation period; 43. Decides that, owing to the unique and exceptional circumstances arising from the capital master plan, the decisions set out in the present resolution shall under no circumstances constitute a precedent or imply any changes to the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations. RESOLUTION 61/252 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/592/Add.2, para. 37) 61/252. Questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly, I Construction of additional conference facilities at the Vienna International Centre Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/166. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/361. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts by the Government of Austria, as host country, to construct conference facilities at the Vienna International Centre; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/166. and endorses the related observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/61/361. II Construction of additional office facilities at the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/158. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/362. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, as host country, in facilitating the construction of additional office facilities at the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/158. and endorses the related observations and recommendations |of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/61/362. III Contingent liability reserve for the United Nations Postal Administration Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on a contingent liability reserve for the United Nations Postal AdministrationA/61/295. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/480. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/61/295. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/480. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit, at the second part of its resumed sixty-first session, a comprehensive report setting out: (a) Options for reducing the risk posed to the United Nations Postal Administration by the use of its services for commercial and bulk mail; (b) Options other than the establishment of the contingent liability reserve for the United Nations Postal Administration; (c) The status of the negotiations between the United Nations Postal Administration and postal authorities where the United Nations Postal Administration operates; (d) Further elaboration of the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary-General; IV Identification of additional resources for the Development Account Recalling its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 52/220 and 52/221 A of 22 December 1997, 52/235 of 26 June 1998, 53/220 A of 7 April 1999, 53/220 B of 8 June 1999, 54/15 of 29 October 1999, 56/237 of 24 December 2001 and 60/246 of 23 December 2005, Reaffirming its resolution 56/237, whereby it requested the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to enhance efficiency measures that might result in sustainable savings, with a view to augmenting the Development Account, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 54/15, Noting with concern that since the establishment of the Development Account in 1997, no savings from possible reductions in administration and other overhead costs have been identified for transfer to the Development Account, notwithstanding the decisions of the General Assembly, including its resolution 52/12 B, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the identification of additional resources for the Development AccountA/61/282. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/479. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/282. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/479. 3. Recalls paragraph 14 of its resolution 60/246, and regrets that the Secretary-General has not been able to provide recommendations to the General Assembly on how additional resources in the region of 5 million United States dollars could be added to the Development Account; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its sixty-second session a comprehensive report setting out recommendations on how additional resources, without using surpluses, could be identified for transfer to the Development Account, including: (a) A review of the modalities and rationale for the funding of the Development Account as contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the Account submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-second sessionA/52/1009. and subsequent reports of the Secretary-General and resolutions of the Assembly, in the light of experience; (b) A definition of procedures to identify efficiency or other gains, including but not limited to any potential savings that might be identified by Member States for transfer to the Development Account in the context of intergovernmental processes, as well as their practical measures of implementation; 5. Decides to appropriate under section 34, Development Account, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 the amount of 2.5 million dollars as an immediate exceptional measure towards addressing the lack of transfer of resources to the Account since its inception; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to provide recommendations to the General Assembly on identifying a further 2.5 million dollars in the context of his report to be submitted in accordance with paragraph 4 (b) above; 7. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare an assessment of the impact of the Development Account in terms of its aims and purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; V Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its first, resumed second, and third sessions and its first, second and third special sessions in 2006 Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council at its first, resumed second, and third sessions and its first, second and third special sessions in 2006,A/61/530 and Add.1. and endorses the related oral report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Fifth Committee, 34th meeting (A/C.5/61/SR.34), and corrigendum. VI Administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the reports of the International Civil Service Commission for 2005 and 2006 Recalling its resolution 61/239 of 22 December 2006, entitled "United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission", Takes note of the statement submitted by the Secretary-GeneralA/61/381. on the administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the reports of the International Civil Service Commission for 2005Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/60/30 and Corr.1). and 2006Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 30 (A/61/30). and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/484. VII Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council Recalling its resolutions 60/247 A and 60/248 of 23 December 2005, 60/255 of 8 May 2006 and 60/281 of 30 June 2006, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security CouncilA/61/525 and Add.1-5 and Add.3/Corr.1. and the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the management of special political missions by the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat,A/61/357. as well as the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/640 and Corr.1. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General;A/61/525 and Add.1-5 and Add.3/Corr.1. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/640 and Corr.1. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services,A/61/357. and decides to revert to the consideration of this report during its consideration of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 4. Notes with appreciation the efforts made to include information on actual and potential synergies and complementarities for each individual mission, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to develop and improve the presentation of information in this regard; 5. Underlines the continued importance of the Secretary-General's ensuring, when appointing his Special Representatives and Envoys, the highest standards of integrity, competency, impartiality and professionalism; 6. Recalls that in paragraph 9 of its resolution 55/231 of 23 December 2000, it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that, in presenting the programme budget, expected accomplishments and, where possible, indicators of achievement were included to measure achievements in the implementation of the programmes of the Organization and not those of individual Member States; 7. Notes the concerns expressed by Member StatesSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Fifth Committee, 34th meeting (A/C.5/61/SR.34), and corrigendum. and requests the Secretary-General to review the logical frameworks for all special political missions in order to ensure that their programmatic aspects and resource requirements are consistent with mandates of the General Assembly and the Security Council, and to report thereon to the Assembly no later than the early part of the second part of its resumed sixty-first session; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit his future budget proposals in full compliance with its resolution 55/231; 9. Approves a charge of 326,500,000 dollars for the budgets of special political missions for the year 2007; 10. Takes note of the estimated unencumbered balance of 95,883,600 dollars; 11. Decides to appropriate, after taking into account the estimated unencumbered balance of 95,883,600 dollars, under the procedures provided for in paragraph 11 of annex I to resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, an amount of 230,616,400 dollars under section 3, Political affairs, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 12. Also decides to appropriate an amount of 22,383,900 dollars under section 35, Staff assessment, to be offset by a corresponding amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; VIII First performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Having considered the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007A/61/593 and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/635. Recalling its resolutions 60/247 A and B of 23 December 2005, 60/281 of 30 June 2006 and 60/283 of 7 July 2006, 1. Reaffirms the budgetary process as approved in its resolution 41/213 and as reaffirmed in subsequent resolutions; 2. Takes note of the first performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 and the addendum on the utilization of the subvention for the Special Court for Sierra LeoneA/61/593 and Add.1. and endorses the observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report; A/61/635. 3. Recalls paragraph 14 of its resolution 58/270 of 23 December 2003 and section III, paragraph 12, of its resolution 60/283 and, noting with concern that within the context of the fifty posts experiment, no available posts were provided for the new post requests referred to in paragraphs IV.2, IV.28 and IV.29 of the first report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/60/7 and Corr.1). reiterates once again its request to the Secretary-General to expeditiously implement paragraph 8 of its resolution 60/246 of 23 December 2005 and to report thereon in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 4. Also recalls section III, paragraph 6, of its resolution 60/283, and requests the Secretary-General to implement its provisions and to report thereon in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; 5. Emphasizes that the performance report should be submitted in a timely manner in order to allow Member States to analyse it and to facilitate budget preparation; 6. Approves a net increase of 81,246,800 dollars in the appropriation approved for the biennium 2006-2007 and a net increase of 28,857,800 dollars in the estimates of income for the biennium, to be apportioned among expenditure and income sections as indicated in the report of the Secretary-General; IX Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2006 Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2006A/61/370 and Corr.1. and endorses the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/498. X Administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension BoardA/61/577. and the related oral report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Fifth Committee, 27th meeting (A/C.5/61/SR.27), and corrigendum. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board;A/61/577. 2. Requests the Secretary-General to report on any additional requirements arising from the recommendations of the Board in the context of the second performance report on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007; XI Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the role of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice as its governing body Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991, in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, according to which the United Nations Trust Fund for Social DefenceSee Economic and Social Council resolution 1086 B (XXXIX). was renamed the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund and became an integral part of the Programme, Recalling also its resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, in which it decided that, until the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime decided otherwise, the account referred to in article 30 of the ConventionResolution 55/25, annex I. would be operated within the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, Recalling further its resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003, in which it decided that, until the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption decided otherwise, the account referred to in article 62 of the ConventionResolution 58/4, annex. would be operated within the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, Taking note of the Secretary-General's bulletin on the organization of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,ST/SGB/2004/6. by which the Secretary-General decided that the Office would be established to implement the Organization's drug programme and crime programme in an integrated manner and that the Executive Director would be responsible for all the activities of the Office, as well as its administration, Considering that, starting from the biennium 2004-2005, a consolidated budget for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has been prepared, including budgets for its drug and crime programmes, Considering also that the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, in accordance with the procedures established by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/213 and relevant subsequent resolutions, already provides its views and guidance on the proposed biennial programme plan and on the crime programme, which forms the basis for the formulation of the proposed programme budget for the following biennium and whose narrative part is subsequently considered by the Commission, Noting the delegation of authority for the management of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund from the Secretary-General to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Considering that it would be opportune to grant the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice the same powers with respect to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs has with respect to the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, Having considered the letter dated 19 October 2006 from the Chairman of the Third Committee addressed to the Chairman of the Fifth CommitteeA/C.5/61/9. transmitting a draft resolution entitled "Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the role of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice as its governing body", the relevant note by the Secretary-General,A/C.5/61/10. and the related oral report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Fifth Committee, 27th meeting (A/C.5/61/SR.27), and corrigendum. 1. Authorizes the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the principal United Nations policymaking body on crime prevention and criminal justice issues, to approve, on the basis of the proposals of the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, bearing in mind the comments and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, the budget of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, including its administrative and programme support costs budget, other than expenditures borne by the regular budget of the United Nations, without prejudice to the powers of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as provided for in that Convention,Resolution 55/25, annex I. and to the powers of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, as provided for in that Convention;Resolution 58/4, annex. 2. Requests the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions to submit its comments and recommendations on the biennial consolidated budget for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; 3. Requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the ways in which it plans to carry out the administrative and financial functions; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to promulgate financial rules for the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. it being understood that the references in the said financial rules to the role and functions of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice shall be consistent with the role of the Commission given in paragraph 1 above; 5. Decides that, notwithstanding regulations 6.1 and 6.5 of the Financial Regulations of the United Nations, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime shall maintain the accounts of the Fund and shall be responsible for submitting the said accounts and related financial statements, no later than 31 March following the end of the financial period, to the Board of Auditors and for submitting financial reports to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and to the General Assembly; XII Contingency fund Notes that a balance of 637,300 dollars remains in the contingency fund. RESOLUTIONS 61/253 A to C Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/592/Add.2, para. 37) 61/253. Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 A Revised budget appropriations for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007, the amount of 3,829,916,200 United States dollars appropriated by it in its resolutions 60/247 A of 23 December 2005, 60/281 of 30 June 2006, and 60/283 of 7 July 2006 shall be adjusted by 343,979,700 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED B Revised income estimates for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007, the estimates of income of 434,860,100 United States dollars approved by it in its resolutions 60/247 B of 23 December 2005, 60/281 of 30 June 2006, and 60/283 of 7 July 2006 shall be increased by 51,509,800 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED C Financing of the appropriations for the year 2007 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the year 2007: 1. Budget appropriations totalling 2,274,439,650 United States dollars, and consisting of 1,899,456,250 dollars, being half of the appropriation initially approved for the biennium 2006-2007 in its resolution 60/247 A of 23 December 2005, 26,443,300 dollars, being the additional appropriation approved for the biennium in its resolution 60/281 of 30 June 2006, 4,560,400 dollars, being the additional appropriation approved for the biennium in its resolution 60/283 of 7 July 2006, and 343,979,700 dollars, being the increase approved in resolution A above, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 3.1 and 3.2 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,Ibid. as follows: (a) 32,772,200 dollars, consisting of: (i) 12,810,200 dollars, being half of the estimated income other than staff assessment approved for the biennium in its resolution 60/247 B of 23 December 2005; (ii) 19,962,000 dollars, being the increase in income other than staff assessment approved for the biennium in resolution B above; (b) 2,241,667,450 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 240,912,700 dollars, consisting of: (a) 200,867,400 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved by the Assembly in its resolution 60/247 B; (b) 7,377,600 dollars, being the estimated increase in income from staff assessment approved by the Assembly in its resolution 60/281; (c) 127,300 dollars, being the estimated increase in income from staff assessment approved by the Assembly in its resolution 60/283; (d) 31,547,800 dollars, being the estimated increase in income from staff assessment approved by the Assembly in resolution B above; (e) 992,600 dollars, being the increase in income from staff assessment for the biennium 2004-2005 compared with the revised estimates approved by the Assembly in its resolution 60/245 B of 23 December 2005. RESOLUTION 61/254 Adopted at the 84th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/667, para. 8) 61/254. Proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2008-2009 The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 41/213 of 19 December 1986, in which it requested the Secretary-General to submit in off-budget years an outline of the proposed programme budget for the following biennium, Reaffirming also section VI of its resolution 45/248 B of 21 December 1990, Reaffirming further rule 153 of its rules of procedure, Recalling its resolution 58/269 of 23 December 2003, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the proposed programme budget outline for the biennium 2008-2009A/61/576. and the recommendations contained in the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/615. 1. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 2. Endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/615. 3. Reaffirms that the proposed programme budget outline shall contain an indication of the following: (a) A preliminary estimate of resources needed to accommodate the proposed programme of activities during the biennium; (b) Priorities, reflecting general trends of a broad sectoral nature; (c) Real growth, positive or negative, compared with the previous budget; (d) Size of the contingency fund expressed as a percentage of the overall level of resources; 4. Also reaffirms that the budget outline should provide a greater level of predictability of resources required for the following biennium and promote greater involvement of Member States in the budgetary process, thereby facilitating the broadest possible agreement on the programme budget; 5. Further reaffirms that the budget proposals of the Secretary-General should reflect resource levels commensurate with mandates for their full, efficient and effective implementation; 6. Notes that the budget outline is a preliminary estimate of resources; 7. Invites the Secretary-General to prepare his proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 on the basis of a preliminary estimate of 4,194,726,800 United States dollars at revised 2006-2007 rates; 8. Decides that the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 shall contain provisions for recosting on the basis of the existing methodology; 9. Decides also that the priorities for the biennium 2008-2009 shall be the following: (a) Maintenance of international peace and security; (b) Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent United Nations conferences; (c) Development of Africa; (d) Promotion of human rights; (e) Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; (f) Promotion of justice and international law; (g) Disarmament; (h) Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of his preliminary indicative estimates contained in the proposed budget outline, to reflect the priorities outlined in paragraph 9 above when presenting the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 11. Decides that the contingency fund shall be set at the level of 0.75 per cent of the preliminary estimate, namely at 31,460,500 dollars, that this amount shall be in addition to the overall level of the preliminary estimate and that it shall be used in accordance with the procedures for the use and operation of the contingency fund; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to review the experience of the utilization of the contingency fund and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 13. Takes note of the observation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in paragraph 9 of its reportA/61/615. on the experiment for a limited discretion for budgetary implementation; 14. Recalls section III of its resolution 60/283 of 7 July 2006, and stresses that the experiment for a limited discretion for budgetary implementation shall not imply any changes to the provisions guiding the use of the contingency fund. RESOLUTION 61/25 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 1 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 157 to 7, with 10 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.34, as orally revised, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Malawi, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/25. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted by its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting with concern that it has been fifty-nine years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and thirty-nine years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 60/39 of 1 December 2005,A/61/355-S/2006/748. Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, Reaffirming also the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the status of the city and the territory as a whole, Reaffirming further that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law, Expressing deep concern about the Israeli policy of closure and the severe restrictions, including curfews and the permit regime, that continue to be imposed on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, Concerned about the continued establishment of Israeli checkpoints in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the transformation of several of these checkpoints into structures akin to permanent border crossings inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are severely impairing the territorial contiguity of the Territory and severely undermining efforts to rehabilitate and develop the Palestinian economy, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the agreements concluded between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Welcoming the efforts of the Arab Foreign Ministers, demonstrated in the meeting of the Security Council on 21 September 2006, who called for, among other things, a solution to the conflict on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially from the Security Council, the Arab Peace Initiative and the road map, Welcoming also the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet, Welcoming further the "Stockholm Donor Conference on the Humanitarian Situation in the Palestinian Territories" of 1 September 2006 and encouraging further donor meetings, as well as the establishment of international mechanisms, and in this regard acknowledging the Temporary International Mechanism, to provide assistance to the Palestinian people to alleviate the financial crisis and the dire socio-economic and humanitarian situation being faced by the Palestinian people, Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, and emphasizing the need to preserve the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure, Expressing its concern over the tragic events that have occurred in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians, and the serious deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people, Expressing its grave concern over the repeated military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, Welcoming the Palestinian truce initiative and its acceptance by Israel that came into effect on 26 November 2006, and urging both sides to maintain this truce, which could pave the way for genuine negotiations towards a just resolution to the conflict, and extend it to the West Bank, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, including the suicide bombings, the extrajudicial executions and the excessive use of force, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement, including by the Quartet, to support both parties in revitalizing the peace process towards the resumption and acceleration of direct negotiations between the parties for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement, in accordance with the road map, Welcoming the initiatives and efforts undertaken by civil society in pursuit of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161. 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end; 2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet; 3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002;A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. 4. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and to immediately resume direct peace negotiations towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially from the Security Council, the Arab Peace Initiative, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference and the road map;S/2003/529, annex. 5. Calls upon the Quartet, together with the international community, to take immediate steps, including confidence-building measures between the parties, aimed at stabilizing the situation and restarting the peace process; 6. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 7. Also stresses the need for the immediate implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings; 8. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in respect of the implementation of the road map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard, and stresses the importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism, including all members of the Quartet; 9. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map; 10. Emphasizes the need for the parties, with the help of the international community, speedily and fully to resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip, including a durable arrangement for the border crossings, the airport, the construction of the seaport, the removal of the rubble and the establishment of a permanent physical link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and stresses also the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005; 11. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and that it cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the character and status of the Territory, including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations; 12. Demands accordingly that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinionSee A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and as demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and, inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion; 13. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 14. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders; 15. Stresses the need for: (a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967; (b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; 16. Also stresses the need for resolving the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 17. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and support the rebuilding, restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter. RESOLUTION 61/26 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 1 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 157 to 6, with 10 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.35 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Malawi, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu 61/26. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all subsequent resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling further the Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" on Jerusalem, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Expressing its grave concern about any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions, Expressing its grave concern in particular about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of illegal settlement activities, including the so-called E-1 plan, and its construction of the wall in and around East Jerusalem, and the further isolation of the city from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is having a detrimental effect on the lives of Palestinians and could prejudge a final status agreement on Jerusalem, Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and the protection of the unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/298. 1. Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to cease all such illegal and unilateral measures; 2. Welcomes the decision of those States that had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw their missions from the city, in compliance with Security Council resolution 478 (1980); 3. Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/27 Adopted at the 63rd plenary meeting, on 1 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 107 to 6, with 60 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.36, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia Against: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 61/27. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,Ibid. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/28 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.27 and Add.1, sponsored by: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mauritius, Moldova, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe 61/28. The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts The General Assembly, Recognizing that the trade in conflict diamonds continues to be a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fuelling of armed conflict, the activities of rebel movements aimed at undermining or overthrowing legitimate Governments and the illicit traffic in and proliferation of armaments, especially small arms and light weapons, Recognizing also the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts, Noting the negative impact of such conflicts on regional stability and the obligations placed upon States by the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, Recognizing, therefore, that continued action to curb the trade in conflict diamonds is imperative, Recalling that the elimination of illicit diamonds from legitimate trade is the primary objective of the Kimberley Process, Bearing in mind the positive benefits of the legitimate diamond trade to producing countries, and underlining the need for continued international action to prevent the problem of conflict diamonds from negatively affecting the trade in legitimate diamonds, which makes a critical contribution to the economies of many of the producing, exporting and importing States, especially developing States, Noting that the vast majority of rough diamonds produced in the world are from legitimate sources, Recalling the Charter and all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council related to conflict diamonds, and determined to contribute to and support the implementation of the measures provided for in those resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1459 (2003) of 28 January 2003, in which the Council strongly supported the Kimberley Process Certification SchemeSee A/57/489. as a valuable contribution against trafficking in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the important contribution of the Kimberley Process, which was initiated by African diamond-producing countries, Noting with satisfaction that the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme continues to have a positive impact in reducing the opportunity for conflict diamonds to play a role in fuelling armed conflict and would help to protect legitimate trade and ensure the effective implementation of the relevant resolutions on trade in conflict diamonds, Recalling its resolutions 55/56 of 1 December 2000, 56/263 of 13 March 2002, 57/302 of 15 April 2003, 58/290 of 14 April 2004, 59/144 of 15 December 2004 and 60/182 of 20 December 2005, in which it called for the development and implementation as well as a periodic review of proposals for a simple, effective and pragmatic international certification scheme for rough diamonds, Welcoming, in this regard, the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in such a way as not to impede the legitimate trade in diamonds or impose an undue burden on Governments or industry, particularly smaller producers, nor hinder the development of the diamond industry, Welcoming also the decision of forty-seven Kimberley Process participants, representing seventy-one countries, including the twenty-five members of the European Union represented by the European Commission, to address the problem of conflict diamonds by participating in the Process and implementing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, Welcoming further the important contributions made and that continue to be made by the diamond industry, in particular the World Diamond Council, as well as civil society, to assist international efforts to stop the trade in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the voluntary self-regulation initiatives for the diamond industry announced by the World Diamond Council, and recognizing that a system of such voluntary self-regulation will contribute, as described in the Interlaken Declaration of 5 November 2002 on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds,Ibid., annex 2. to ensuring the effectiveness of national systems of internal control for rough diamonds, Appreciating in this regard the decision taken by the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process, held in Gaborone from 6 to 9 November 2006, based on calls from participants, civil society and the World Diamond Council urging stronger internal control standards for participants, together with measures offering clearer guidance on implementing effective controls from mine to export, stronger government oversight of the diamond industry, and spot checks of industry compliance, Noting with appreciation that the Kimberley Process has pursued its deliberations on an inclusive basis, involving concerned stakeholders, including producing, exporting and importing States, the diamond industry and civil society, as well as applicants, Recognizing that State sovereignty should be fully respected and that the principles of equality, mutual benefits and consensus should be adhered to, Recognizing also that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which came into effect on 1 January 2003, will be credible only if all participants have requisite national legislation coupled with effective and credible internal systems of control designed to eliminate the presence of conflict diamonds in the chain of producing, exporting and importing rough diamonds within their own territories, while taking into account that differences in production methods and trading practices, as well as differences in institutional controls thereof, may require different approaches to meeting minimum standards, 1. Reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process Certification SchemeSee A/57/489. and the Kimberley Process as a whole; 2. Recognizes that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme can help to ensure the effective implementation of relevant resolutions of the Security Council containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds and act as a mechanism for the prevention of future conflicts, and calls for the full implementation of existing Council measures targeting the illicit trade in rough diamonds, particularly conflict diamonds which play a role in fuelling conflict; 3. Also recognizes the important contributions that the international efforts to address the problem of conflict diamonds, including the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, have made to the settlement of conflicts and the consolidation of peace in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone; 4. Takes note of Security Council resolution 1643 (2005) of 15 December 2005 which calls upon the States in the West Africa region that are not participants in the Kimberley Process to intensify their efforts to join the Process, stresses that the widest possible participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is essential, and encourages all Member States to contribute to the work of the Process by seeking membership, participating actively in the Certification Scheme and complying with its undertakings; 5. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Chair of the Kimberley Process submitted pursuant to resolution 60/182,A/61/589, annex. and congratulates the Governments, the regional economic integration organization, the diamond industry and civil society participating in the Process for contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; 6. Notes the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 15 May 2003 granting a waiver with respect to the measures taken to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, effective from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/518. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the decision of the General Council of 17 November 2006 granting an extension of the waiver until 31 December 2012;World Trade Organization, document G/C/W/559/Rev.1. Available from http://docsonline. wto.org. 7. Notes with satisfaction that in line with paragraph 7 of its resolution 60/182, the preliminary development of "footprints" that characterize diamond production from Côte d'Ivoire has been undertaken, and encourages expeditious commencement of further work to develop similar footprints for other diamond producers; 8. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the Kimberley Process in preparing a detailed assessment of the volume of rough diamonds produced in and exported from Côte d'Ivoire as requested by Security Council resolution 1643 (2005) and, recognizing the cooperation between the Process and the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire, calls for the full implementation of the resolution on the subject of illicit diamond production in Côte d'Ivoire adopted by the plenary meeting of the Process held in Moscow from 15 to 17 November 2005, and encourages continued cooperation between the Process and the United Nations in tackling this issue; 9. Also notes with appreciation the action taken by the Kimberley Process to address concerns raised in the context of the report of the Group of Experts on Côte d'Ivoire submitted to the Security Council involving allegations that Ivorian diamonds were entering legitimate trade through third countries;See S/2006/735. 10. Welcomes the establishment of a new Working Group of the Kimberley Process on Artisanal Alluvial Production under the chairmanship of Angola, which will address issues of particular concern to artisanal alluvial producers and further contribute to the implementation of the existing declaration on improving internal controls over alluvial diamond production, and encourages potential donors to provide capacity-building assistance to further the effective implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme; 11. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the Kimberley Process and of its Chair to the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia, including the submission of a report on the results of the Kimberley Process expert mission to Liberia, as well as the progress made by Liberia towards putting in place the necessary internal controls and other requirements in order to satisfy the minimum requirements of the Process pursuant to Council resolution 1521 (2003), welcomes the contributions of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, the United States of America and other donors to these efforts, and encourages all those in a position to assist Liberia, to do so; 12. Also notes with appreciation the conclusions of the three-year review of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the recommendations adopted by the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process held in Gaborone and notes that the timely implementation of these recommendations will strengthen and consolidate the Process, and therefore encourages the timely implementation of those recommendations; 13. Recognizes that the peer review mechanism and the collection and submission of statistical data are critical monitoring tools, essential for effective implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and in this respect: (a) Welcomes the important progress made in the implementation of the peer review mechanism in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, encourages all remaining participants to receive voluntary review visits, and notes with appreciation the intention of the Kimberley Process to commence a second round of review visits in 2007; (b) Also welcomes the progress made towards the collection and submission of statistical reports on the production of and trade in rough diamonds, encourages all of the Kimberley Process participants to enhance the quality of data, and to this end applauds the decision of the plenary meeting held in Gaborone to release Kimberley Process summary data on trade and production, by value and volume, and certificate counts for 2004 and 2005 data; 14. Notes with appreciation the assistance and capacity-building efforts extended by various donors, and encourages other donors to provide financial and technical expertise to Kimberley Process participants to help them to develop tighter monitoring and control measures; 15. Acknowledges with great appreciation the important contribution that Botswana, as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2006, has made to the efforts to curb the trade in conflict diamonds, and welcomes the succession of the European Community as Chair and India as Vice-Chair of the Process for 2007; 16. Requests the Chair of the Kimberley Process to submit a report on the implementation of the Process to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict". RESOLUTION 61/29 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/450, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Liechtenstein on behalf of the Bureau. 61/29. Criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/281 of 29 March 2005, in which it endorsed the recommendation in paragraph 56 of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping OperationsSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/59/19/Rev.1), part one, chap. III, sect. D. that the Secretary-General make available to the United Nations membership a comprehensive report on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations, Noting that the Secretary-General, on 24 March 2005, transmitted to the President of the General Assembly a report of his Adviser concerning sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel,See A/59/710. Recalling its resolution 59/300 of 22 June 2005 endorsing the recommendation of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping OperationsSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifth-ninth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/59/19/Rev.1), part two, chap. II, sect. N. that a group of legal experts be established to provide advice on the best way to proceed so as to ensure that the original intent of the Charter of the United Nations can be achieved, namely that United Nations staff and experts on mission would never be effectively exempt from the consequences of criminal acts committed at their duty station, nor unjustly penalized, in accordance with due process, Noting the report of the Group of Legal Experts established by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 59/300,See A/60/980. Convinced of the need for the United Nations to take strong and effective steps in this regard, 1. Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Committee, open to all States Members of the United Nations or members of specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency, for the purpose of considering the report of the Group of Legal Experts, in particular its legal aspects; 2. Decides also that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet from 9 to 13 April 2007; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 4. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission". RESOLUTION 61/2 Adopted at the 28th plenary meeting, on 12 October 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/512, para. 6) 61/2. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations: requests under Article 19 of the Charter The General Assembly, Having considered chapter V of the report of the Committee on Contributions on its sixty-sixth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 11 and corrigendum (A/61/11 and Corr.1). Reaffirming the obligation of Member States under Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations to bear the expenses of the Organization as apportioned by the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms its resolution 54/237 C of 23 December 1999; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to bring to the attention of Member States the deadline specified in resolution 54/237 C, including through an early announcement in the Journal of the United Nations and through direct communication; 4. Urges all Member States requesting exemption under Article 19 of the Charter to submit as much information as possible in support of their requests and to consider submitting such information in advance of the deadline specified in resolution 54/237 C so as to enable the collation of any additional detailed information that may be necessary; 5. Agrees that the failure of the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, the Niger, Somalia and Tajikistan to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control; 6. Decides that the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, the Niger, Somalia and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until the end of its sixty-first session; 7. Takes note of the information provided by the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Sao Tome and Principe to the United Nations with regard to a request for exemption under Article 19 of the Charter;See A/C.5/61/3, annex. 8. Invites the Government of Sao Tome and Principe to submit appropriate information to the Committee on Contributions if similar circumstances prevail in the future; 9. Agrees that the failure of Sao Tome and Principe to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond its control; 10. Decides that Sao Tome and Principe should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until the end of its sixty-first session. RESOLUTION 61/30 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/451, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and Uruguay. 61/30. Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 32/44 of 8 December 1977, 34/51 of 23 November 1979, 37/116 of 16 December 1982, 39/77 of 13 December 1984, 41/72 of 3 December 1986, 43/161 of 9 December 1988, 45/38 of 28 November 1990, 47/30 of 25 November 1992, 49/48 of 9 December 1994, 51/155 of 16 December 1996, 53/96 of 8 December 1998, 55/148 of 12 December 2000, 57/14 of 19 November 2002 and 59/36 of 2 December 2004, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/222 and Add.1. Thanking Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their contribution to the report of the Secretary-General, Reaffirming the continuing value of established humanitarian rules relating to armed conflicts and the need to respect and ensure respect for those rules in all circumstances within the scope of the relevant international instruments, pending the earliest possible termination of such conflicts, Stressing the possibility of making use of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission in relation to an armed conflict, pursuant to article 90 of Protocol IUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the Geneva Conventions of 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Stressing also the possibility for the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission to facilitate, through its good offices, the restoration of an attitude of respect for the Geneva Conventions and Protocol I, Stressing further the need to consolidate the existing body of international humanitarian law through its universal acceptance and the need for wide dissemination and full implementation of such law at the national level, and expressing concern about all violations of the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. Noting with satisfaction the increasing number of national commissions and other bodies involved in advising authorities at the national level on the implementation, dissemination and development of international humanitarian law, Noting with appreciation the meetings of representatives of those bodies organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate the sharing of concrete experience and the exchange of views on their roles and on the challenges they face, Mindful of the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in offering protection to the victims of armed conflicts, Noting with appreciation the continuing efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross to promote and disseminate knowledge of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols, Recalling that the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent stressed the need to reinforce the implementation of and respect for international humanitarian law, Welcoming the entry into force of the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Protocol V),See CCW/MSP/2003/3, annex V, appendix II. Noting the adoption, on 8 December 2005, of the Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem (Protocol III), Welcoming the significant debate generated by the recent publication of the study on Customary International Humanitarian Law by the International Committee of the Red Cross, and looking forward to further constructive discussion on the subject, Calling upon Member States to disseminate knowledge of international humanitarian law as widely as possible, and calling upon all parties to armed conflict to apply international humanitarian law, Recalling the entry into force, on 9 March 2004, of the second ProtocolUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2253, No. 3511. to the 1954 Hague Convention, and appreciating the ratifications received so far, Acknowledging the fact that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. which entered into force on 1 July 2002, includes the most serious crimes of international concern under international humanitarian law, and that the Statute, while recalling that it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for such crimes, shows the determination of the international community to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes and thus to contribute to their prevention, Acknowledging also the usefulness of discussing in the General Assembly the status of instruments of international humanitarian law relevant to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, 1. Welcomes the universal acceptance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and notes the trend towards a similarly wide acceptance of the two Additional Protocols of 1977;Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Geneva Conventions that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Additional Protocols at the earliest possible date; 3. Calls upon all States that are already parties to Protocol I,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. or those States not parties, on becoming parties to Protocol I, to make the declaration provided for under article 90 of that Protocol and to consider making use, where appropriate, of the services of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission in accordance with the provisions of article 90 of Protocol I; 4. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed ConflictIbid., vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, and to other relevant treaties on international humanitarian law relating to the protection of victims of armed conflict; 5. Calls upon all States parties to the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions to ensure their wide dissemination and full implementation; 6. Notes with appreciation the Declaration and Agenda for Humanitarian Action adopted by the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which noted that all States must take national measures to implement international humanitarian law, including training of the armed forces and making this law known among the general public, as well as the adoption of legislation to punish war crimes in accordance with their international obligations; 7. Affirms the necessity of making the implementation of international humanitarian law more effective; 8. Welcomes the advisory service activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in supporting efforts made by Member States to take legislative and administrative action to implement international humanitarian law and in promoting the exchange of information on those efforts between Governments; 9. Also welcomes the increasing number of national commissions or committees for the implementation of international humanitarian law and for promoting the incorporation of treaties on international humanitarian law into national law and disseminating the rules of international humanitarian law; 10. Calls upon States to consider becoming parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict;Ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531. 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the status of the Additional Protocols relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts, as well as on measures taken to strengthen the existing body of international humanitarian law, inter alia, with respect to its dissemination and full implementation at the national level, based on information received from Member States and the International Committee of the Red Cross; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts". RESOLUTION 61/31 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/452, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 61/31. Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/119 and Add.1 and 2. Conscious of the need to develop and strengthen friendly relations and cooperation among States, Convinced that respect for the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations is a basic prerequisite for the normal conduct of relations among States and for the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Alarmed by the recent acts of violence against diplomatic and consular representatives, as well as against representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, which have endangered or taken innocent lives and seriously impeded the normal work of such representatives and officials, Expressing sympathy for the victims of such illegal acts, Concerned at the failure to respect the inviolability of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, Recalling that, without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State, Recalling also that diplomatic and consular premises must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of diplomatic and consular missions, Emphasizing the duty of States to take all appropriate measures as required by international law, including measures of a preventive nature, and to bring offenders to justice, Welcoming measures already taken by States to this end in conformity with their international obligations, Convinced that the role of the United Nations, which includes the reporting procedures established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 35/168 of 15 December 1980 and further elaborated in subsequent Assembly resolutions, is important in promoting efforts to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/119 and Add.1 and 2. 2. Strongly condemns acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives of international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and emphasizes that such acts can never be justified; 3. Urges States to strictly observe, implement and enforce the applicable principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations, including during a period of armed conflict, and, in particular, to ensure, in conformity with their international obligations, the protection, security and safety of the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above officially present in territories under their jurisdiction, including practical measures to prohibit in their territories illegal activities of persons, groups and organizations that encourage, instigate, organize or engage in the perpetration of acts against the security and safety of such missions, representatives and officials; 4. Also urges States to take all appropriate measures at the national and international levels to prevent any acts of violence against the missions, representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above, including during a period of armed conflict, and to ensure, with the participation of the United Nations where appropriate, that such acts are fully investigated with a view to bringing offenders to justice; 5. Recommends that States cooperate closely through, inter alia, contacts between the diplomatic and consular missions and the receiving State with regard to practical measures designed to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives and with regard to the exchange of information on the circumstances of all serious violations thereof; 6. Urges States to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with international law, at the national and international levels, to prevent any abuse of diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities, in particular serious abuses, including those involving acts of violence; 7. Recommends that States cooperate closely with the State in whose territory abuses of diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities may have occurred, including by exchanging information and providing assistance to its juridical authorities in order to bring offenders to justice; 8. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the instruments relevant to the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives; 9. Calls upon States, in cases where a dispute arises in connection with a violation of their international obligations concerning the protection of the missions or the security of the representatives and officials mentioned in paragraph 2 above, to make use of the means available for peaceful settlement of disputes, including the good offices of the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General, when he deems it appropriate, to offer his good offices to the States directly concerned; 10. Requests: (a) All States to report to the Secretary-General as promptly as possible serious violations of the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives as well as missions and representatives with diplomatic status to international intergovernmental organizations; (b) The State in which the violation took place - and, to the extent possible, the State where the alleged offender is present - to report to the Secretary-General as promptly as possible on measures taken to bring the offender to justice and eventually to communicate, in accordance with its laws, the final outcome of the proceedings against the offender, and to report on measures adopted with a view to preventing a repetition of such violations; (c) The States so reporting to consider using or taking into account the guidelines prepared by the Secretary-General;A/42/485, annex. 11. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To send, without delay, a circular note to all States reminding them of the request contained in paragraph 10 above; (b) To circulate to all States, upon receipt, the reports received by him pursuant to paragraph 10 above, unless the reporting State requests otherwise; (c) To draw the attention, when appropriate, of the States directly concerned to the reporting procedures provided for in paragraph 10 above, when a serious violation has been reported pursuant to subparagraph 10 (a) above; (d) To address reminders to States where such violations have occurred if reports pursuant to subparagraph 10 (a) above or follow-up reports pursuant to subparagraph 10 (b) above have not been made within a reasonable period of time; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General to invite States, in the circular note referred to in paragraph 11 (a) above, to inform him of their views with respect to any measures needed or already taken to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives as well as missions and representatives with diplomatic status to international intergovernmental organizations; 13. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report containing: (a) Information on the state of ratification of, and accessions to, the instruments referred to in paragraph 8 above; (b) A summary of the reports received and views expressed pursuant to paragraphs 10 and 12 above; 14. Invites the Secretary-General to include in his report to the General Assembly any views he may wish to express on the matters referred to in paragraph 13 above; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives". RESOLUTION 61/32 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/453, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 61/32. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-ninth session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its belief that the progressive modernization and harmonization of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity and common interest and to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to the well-being of all peoples, Having considered the report of the Commission on the work of its thirty-ninth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/61/17). Reiterating its concern that activities undertaken by other bodies in the field of international trade law without adequate coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, Reaffirming the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field, in particular to avoid duplication of efforts, including among organizations formulating rules of international trade, and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law, and to continue, through its secretariat, to maintain close cooperation with other international organs and organizations, including regional organizations, active in the field of international trade law, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-ninth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/61/17). 2. Commends the Commission for the finalization and adoption of revised articlesIbid., chap. IV, para. 181, and annex I. of the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade LawIbid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/40/17), annex I. on the form of the arbitration agreement and interim measures, and of the recommendation regarding the interpretation of article II, paragraph 2, and article VII, paragraph 1,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/61/17), chap. IV, para. 181, and annex II. of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York, 10 June 1958;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 330, No. 4739. 3. Also commends the Commission for the approval of the substance of the recommendations of the draft legislative guide on secured transactions, which has been designed to facilitate secured financing, thus promoting increased access to low-cost credit and enhancing national and international trade; 4. Welcomes the progress made by the Commission in its work on a revision of its Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/49/17 and Corr.1), annex I. and on a draft instrument on transport law, and endorses the decision of the Commission to take up new topics in the areas of arbitration and insolvency law; 5. Endorses the efforts and initiatives of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, aimed at increasing coordination of and cooperation on legal activities of international and regional organizations active in the field of international trade law, as well as promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels in this field, and in this regard appeals to relevant international and regional organizations to coordinate their legal activities with those of the Commission, to avoid duplication of efforts and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law; 6. Reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with technical assistance and cooperation in the field of international trade law reform and development, and in this connection: (a) Welcomes the initiatives of the Commission towards expanding, through its secretariat, its technical assistance and cooperation programme; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for carrying out technical assistance and cooperation activities in Belarus, Benin (for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development/World Trade Organization International Trade Centre seminar), Colombia, Egypt, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovakia and Switzerland (for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development/World Trade Organization International Trade Centre symposium on multilateral trade treaties and developing countries) and for providing assistance with legislative drafting in the field of international trade law to China, Georgia, Greece, Malaysia, Peru, Rwanda (through the joint project with the International Law Institute), Serbia, Slovenia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and to the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation; (c) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the technical assistance and cooperation activities to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in carrying out technical assistance activities, in particular in developing countries; (d) Reiterates its appeal to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the World Bank and regional development banks, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission, in the light of the relevance and importance of the work and programmes of the Commission to the implementation of the United Nations development agenda, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; 7. Takes note with regret that, since the thirty-sixth session of the Commission, no contributions have been made to the trust fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General,Resolution 48/32, para. 5. stresses the need for contributions to the trust fund in order to increase expert representation from developing countries at sessions of the Commission and its working groups, necessary to build local expertise and capacities in the field of international trade law in those countries to facilitate the development of international trade and the promotion of foreign investment, and reiterates its appeal to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund; 8. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 9. Recalls that the responsibility for the work of the Commission lies with the meetings of the Commission and its intergovernmental working groups, and stresses in this regard that information should be provided regarding meetings of experts, which bring an essential contribution to the work of the Commission; 10. Recalls its resolutions on partnerships between the United Nations and non-State actors, in particular the private sector,Resolutions 55/215, 56/76, 58/129 and 60/215. and in this regard encourages the Commission to further explore different approaches to the use of partnerships with non-State actors in the implementation of its mandate, in particular in the area of technical assistance, in accordance with the applicable principles and guidelines and in cooperation and coordination with other relevant offices of the Secretariat, including the Global Compact Office; 11. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in conformity with the General Assembly resolutions on documentation-related matters,Resolutions 52/214, sect. B, 57/283 B, sect. III, and 58/250, sect. III. which, in particular, emphasize that any reduction in the length of documents should not adversely affect either the quality of the presentation or the substance of the documents, to bear in mind the particular characteristics of the mandate and work of the Commission in implementing page limits with respect to the documentation of the Commission; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue providing summary records of the meetings of the Commission relating to the formulation of normative texts; 13. Recalls its resolution approving the establishment of the Yearbook of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, with the aim of making the work of the Commission more widely known and readily available,Resolution 2502 (XXIV), para. 7. expresses its concern regarding the timeliness of the publication of the Yearbook, and requests the Secretary-General to explore options to facilitate the timely publication of the Yearbook; 14. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and to this end urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions; 15. Welcomes the preparation of digests of case law relating to the texts of the Commission, such as a digest of case law relating to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of GoodsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1489, No. 25567. and a digest of case law relating to the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law,Ibid., Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/40/17), annex I. with the aim of assisting in dissemination of information on those texts and promoting their use, enactment and uniform interpretation; 16. Welcomes also the decision of the Commission to hold, in the context of its fortieth session in 2007, a congress on international trade law in Vienna, with a view to reviewing the results of the past work of the Commission as well as related work of other organizations active in the field of international trade law, assessing current work programmes and considering topics and areas for future work, and acknowledges the importance of holding such a congress for the coordination and promotion of activities aimed at the modernization and harmonization of international trade law; 17. Recalls its resolutions affirming the importance of high-quality, user-friendly and cost-effective United Nations websites and the need for their multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment,Resolutions 52/214, sect. C, para. 3; 55/222, sect. III, para. 12; 56/64 B, sect. X; 57/130 B, sect. X; 58/101 B, sect. V, paras. 61-76; 59/126 B, sect. V, paras. 76-95; and 60/109 B, sect. IV, paras. 66-80. commends the restructured website of the Commission in the six official languages of the United Nations, and welcomes the continuous efforts of the Commission to maintain and improve its website in accordance with the applicable guidelines. RESOLUTION 61/33 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/453, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Malaysia on behalf of the Bureau. 61/33. Revised articles of the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, and the recommendation regarding the interpretation of article II, paragraph 2, and article VII, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York, 10 June 1958 The General Assembly, Recognizing the value of arbitration as a method of settling disputes arising in the context of international commercial relations, Recalling its resolution 40/72 of 11 December 1985 regarding the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/40/17), annex I. Recognizing the need for provisions in the Model Law to conform to current practices in international trade and modern means of contracting with regard to the form of the arbitration agreement and the granting of interim measures, Believing that revised articles of the Model Law on the form of the arbitration agreement and interim measures reflecting those current practices will significantly enhance the operation of the Model Law, Noting that the preparation of the revised articles of the Model Law on the form of the arbitration agreement and interim measures was the subject of due deliberation and extensive consultations with Governments and interested circles and would contribute significantly to the establishment of a harmonized legal framework for a fair and efficient settlement of international commercial disputes, Believing that, in connection with the modernization of articles of the Model Law, the promotion of a uniform interpretation and application of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York, 10 June 1958,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 330, No. 4739. is particularly timely, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for formulating and adopting the revised articles of its Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration on the form of the arbitration agreement and interim measures, the text of which is contained in annex I to the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-ninth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/61/17). and recommends that all States give favourable consideration to the enactment of the revised articles of the Model Law, or the revised Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, when they enact or revise their laws, in view of the desirability of uniformity of the law of arbitral procedures and the specific needs of international commercial arbitration practice; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law for formulating and adopting the recommendation regarding the interpretation of article II, paragraph 2, and article VII, paragraph 1, of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York, 10 June 1958,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 330, No. 4739. the text of which is contained in annex II to the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its thirty-ninth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/61/17). 3. Requests the Secretary-General to make all efforts to ensure that the revised articles of the Model Law and the recommendation become generally known and available. RESOLUTION 61/34 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/454, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Romania on behalf of the Bureau. 61/34. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-eighth session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-eighth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the codification and progressive development of international law as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to enhance further their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Stressing the usefulness of focusing and structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report and for discussions on specific topics, Wishing to enhance further, in the context of the revitalization of the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two bodies, Welcoming initiatives to hold interactive debates, panel discussions and question time in the Sixth Committee, as envisaged in resolution 58/316 of 1 July 2004 on further measures for the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, 1. Takes note of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-eighth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10). and recommends that the Commission continue its work on the topics in its current programme, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether submitted in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the work accomplished at its fifty-eighth session, in particular for the following accomplishments: (a) The completion of the second reading of the draft articles on diplomatic protection; (b) The completion of the second reading of the draft principles on the allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities under the topic "International liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law (International liability in case of loss for transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities)"; (c) The completion of the first reading of the draft articles on the law of transboundary aquifers under the topic "Shared natural resources"; (d) The completion of the work on "Unilateral acts of States" by the adoption of the Guiding Principles applicable to unilateral declarations of States capable of creating legal obligations; (e) The completion by its Study Group of the report and the conclusions on the topic "Fragmentation of international law: difficulties arising from diversification and expansion of international law"; 3. Takes note of the Guiding Principles applicable to unilateral declarations of States capable of creating legal obligations under the topic "Unilateral acts of States", contained in paragraph 176 of the report of the International Law CommissionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10). and commends their dissemination; 4. Also takes note of the forty-two conclusions of the Commission's Study Group on the topic "Fragmentation of international law: difficulties arising from diversification and expansion of international law", contained in paragraph 251 of the report of the International Law Commission, together with the analytical studyA/CN.4/L.682 and Corr.1 and Add.1. on which they were based; 5. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission identified in chapter III of its report, including in particular on the draft articles and commentaries on the law of transboundary aquifers;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10), paras. 75 and 76. 6. Invites Governments to provide to the International Law Commission, as requested in chapter III of its report,Ibid., paras. 26-33. information on legislation and practice regarding the topic "The obligation to extradite or prosecute (aut dedere aut judicare)"; 7. Takes note of the decision of the International Law Commission to include five topicsImmunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction; Jurisdictional immunity of international organizations; Protection of persons in the event of disasters; Protection of personal data in the transborder flow of information; and Extraterritorial jurisdiction. in its long-term programme of work; 8. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity and to consider making proposals to that end; 9. Encourages the International Law Commission to continue taking cost-saving measures at its future sessions without prejudice to the efficiency of its work; 10. Takes note of paragraph 270 of the report of the International Law Commission, and decides that the next session of the Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 7 May to 8 June and from 9 July to 10 August 2007; 11. Welcomes the enhanced dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee at the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the two bodies, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the continued practice of informal consultations in the form of discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and the members of the Commission attending the sixty-second session of the Assembly; 12. Encourages delegations, during the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, to adhere as far as possible to the structured work programme agreed to by the Sixth Committee and to consider presenting concise and focused statements; 13. Encourages Member States to consider being represented at the level of legal adviser during the first week in which the report of the International Law Commission is discussed in the Sixth Committee (International Law Week) to enable high-level discussions on issues of international law; 14. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 15. Takes note of paragraphs 271 to 274 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cooperation with other bodies, and encourages the Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation; 16. Notes that the International Law Commission, in accordance with article 25, paragraph 1, of its statute, envisages a meeting during its fifty-ninth session with United Nations experts in the field of human rights, including representatives from human rights treaty bodies, in order to hold a discussion on issues relating to human rights treaties; 17. Also notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 18. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the indispensable role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission; 19. Approves the conclusions reached by the International Law Commission in paragraphs 262 to 267 of its report, and reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the documentation and summary records of the Commission;See resolutions 32/151, para. 10, and 37/111, para. 5, and all subsequent resolutions on the annual reports of the International Law Commission to the General Assembly. 20. Notes with appreciation the expansion of the website of the International Law Commissionwww.un.org/law/ilc. to include all its documentation, and welcomes the continuous efforts of the Codification Division to maintain and improve the website; 21. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 23. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 24. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session, chapter III containing the specific issues on which the views of Governments would be of particular interest to the Commission and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 25. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the sixty-second session of the General Assembly commence on 29 October 2007. RESOLUTION 61/35 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/454, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Romania on behalf of the Bureau. 61/35. Diplomatic protection The General Assembly, Having considered chapter IV of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-eighth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10). which contains the draft articles on diplomatic protection,Ibid., para. 49. Noting that the Commission decided to recommend to the General Assembly the elaboration of a convention on the basis of the draft articles on diplomatic protection,Ibid., para. 46. Emphasizing the continuing importance of the codification and progressive development of international law, as referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the subject of diplomatic protection is of major importance in the relations of States, Taking into account views and comments expressed in the Sixth Committee on chapter IV on diplomatic protection of the report of the Commission,Ibid., para. 50. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for its continuing contribution to the codification and progressive development of international law; 2. Takes note of the draft articles on diplomatic protection, presented by the Commission,Ibid., para. 49. and invites Governments to submit comments concerning the recommendation by the Commission to elaborate a convention on the basis of these articles;Ibid., para. 46. 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session an item entitled "Diplomatic protection". RESOLUTION 61/36 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/454, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Romania on behalf of the Bureau. 61/36. Allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities The General Assembly, Recalling that the International Law Commission at its fifty-third sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/56/10 and Corr.1), paras. 91, 94 and 97. completed the draft articles on prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and recommended to the General Assembly the elaboration of a convention on the basis of the draft articles, Recalling also its resolution 56/82 of 12 Dec ember 2001, Having considered chapter V of the report of the Commission on the work of its fifty-eighth session,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10). which contains the draft principles on the allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities, Noting that the Commission decided to recommend to the General Assembly that it endorse the draft principles by a resolution and urge States to take national and international action to implement them,Ibid., para. 63. Emphasizing the continuing importance of the codification and progressive development of international law, as referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the questions of prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and allocation of loss in the case of such harm are of major importance in the relations of States, Taking into account views and comments expressed in the Sixth Committee on chapter V of the report of the Commission on the work of its fifty-eighth session, on international liability in case of loss from transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities,Ibid., para. 63. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for its continuing contribution to the codification and progressive development of international law; 2. Takes note of the principles on the allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities, presented by the Commission, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution, and commends them to the attention of Governments; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session an item entitled "Consideration of prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and allocation of loss in the case of such harm". Annex Principles on the allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities The General Assembly, Reaffirming Principles 13 and 16 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Recalling the draft articles on the Prevention of Transboundary Harm from Hazardous Activities, Aware that incidents involving hazardous activities may occur despite compliance by the relevant State with its obligations concerning prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities, Noting that as a result of such incidents other States and/or their nationals may suffer harm and serious loss, Emphasizing that appropriate and effective measures should be in place to ensure that those natural and legal persons, including States, that incur harm and loss as a result of such incidents are able to obtain prompt and adequate compensation, Concerned that prompt and effective response measures should be taken to minimize the harm and loss which may result from such incidents, Noting that States are responsible for infringements of their obligations of prevention under international law, Recalling the significance of existing international agreements covering specific categories of hazardous activities and stressing the importance of the conclusion of further such agreements, Desiring to contribute to the development of international law in this field, … Principle 1 Scope of application The present draft principles apply to transboundary damage caused by hazardous activities not prohibited by international law. Principle 2 Use of terms For the purposes of the present draft principles: (a) "damage" means significant damage caused to persons, property or the environment; and includes: (i) loss of life or personal injury; (ii) loss of, or damage to, property, including property which forms part of the cultural heritage; (iii) loss or damage by impairment of the environment; (iv) the costs of reasonable measures of reinstatement of the property, or environment, including natural resources; (v) the costs of reasonable response measures; (b) "environment" includes natural resources, both abiotic and biotic, such as air, water, soil, fauna and flora and the interaction between the same factors, and the characteristic aspects of the landscape; (c) "hazardous activity" means an activity which involves a risk of causing significant harm; (d) "State of origin" means the State in the territory or otherwise under the jurisdiction or control of which the hazardous activity is carried out; (e) "transboundary damage" means damage caused to persons, property or the environment in the territory or in other places under the jurisdiction or control of a State other than the State of origin; (f) "victim" means any natural or legal person or State that suffers damage; (g) "operator" means any person in command or control of the activity at the time the incident causing transboundary damage occurs. Principle 3 Purposes The purposes of the present draft principles are: (a) to ensure prompt and adequate compensation to victims of transboundary damage; and (b) to preserve and protect the environment in the event of transboundary damage, especially with respect to mitigation of damage to the environment and its restoration or reinstatement. Principle 4 Prompt and adequate compensation 1. Each State should take all necessary measures to ensure that prompt and adequate compensation is available for victims of transboundary damage caused by hazardous activities located within its territory or otherwise under its jurisdiction or control. 2. These measures should include the imposition of liability on the operator or, where appropriate, other person or entity. Such liability should not require proof of fault. Any conditions, limitations or exceptions to such liability shall be consistent with draft principle 3. 3. These measures should also include the requirement on the operator or, where appropriate, other person or entity, to establish and maintain financial security such as insurance, bonds or other financial guarantees to cover claims of compensation. 4. In appropriate cases, these measures should include the requirement for the establishment of industry-wide funds at the national level. 5. In the event that the measures under the preceding paragraphs are insufficient to provide adequate compensation, the State of origin should also ensure that additional financial resources are made available. Principle 5 Response measures Upon the occurrence of an incident involving a hazardous activity which results or is likely to result in transboundary damage: (a) the State of origin shall promptly notify all States affected or likely to be affected of the incident and the possible effects of the transboundary damage; (b) the State of origin, with the appropriate involvement of the operator, shall ensure that appropriate response measures are taken and should, for this purpose, rely upon the best available scientific data and technology; (c) the State of origin, as appropriate, should also consult with and seek the cooperation of all States affected or likely to be affected to mitigate the effects of transboundary damage and if possible eliminate them; (d) the States affected or likely to be affected by the transboundary damage shall take all feasible measures to mitigate and if possible to eliminate the effects of such damage; (e) the States concerned should, where appropriate, seek the assistance of competent international organizations and other States on mutually acceptable terms and conditions. Principle 6 International and domestic remedies 1. States shall provide their domestic judicial and administrative bodies with the necessary jurisdiction and competence and ensure that these bodies have prompt, adequate and effective remedies available in the event of transboundary damage caused by hazardous activities located within their territory or otherwise under their jurisdiction or control. 2. Victims of transboundary damage should have access to remedies in the State of origin that are no less prompt, adequate and effective than those available to victims that suffer damage, from the same incident, within the territory of that State. 3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 are without prejudice to the right of the victims to seek remedies other than those available in the State of origin. 4. States may provide for recourse to international claims settlement procedures that are expeditious and involve minimal expenses. 5. States should guarantee appropriate access to information relevant for the pursuance of remedies, including claims for compensation. Principle 7 Development of specific international regimes 1. Where, in respect of particular categories of hazardous activities, specific global, regional or bilateral agreements would provide effective arrangements concerning compensation, response measures and international and domestic remedies, all efforts should be made to conclude such specific agreements. 2. Such agreements should, as appropriate, include arrangements for industry and/or State funds to provide supplementary compensation in the event that the financial resources of the operator, including financial security measures, are insufficient to cover the damage suffered as a result of an incident. Any such funds may be designed to supplement or replace national industry-based funds. Principle 8 Implementation 1. Each State should adopt the necessary legislative, regulatory and administrative measures to implement the present draft principles. 2. The present draft principles and the measures adopted to implement them shall be applied without any discrimination such as that based on nationality, domicile or residence. 3. States should cooperate with each other to implement the present draft principles. RESOLUTION 61/37 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/455, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Bureau. 61/37. Commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the International Court of Justice The General Assembly, Mindful that, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, all Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered, Bearing in mind the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United NationsResolution 2625 (XXV), annex. and the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes,Resolution 37/10, annex. Recognizing the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels, Recalling that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Noting that 2006 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the inaugural sitting of the International Court of Justice, Noting with appreciation the special commemorative event held at The Hague in April 2006 to celebrate the anniversary, 1. Solemnly commends the International Court of Justice for the important role that it has played as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations over the past sixty years in adjudicating disputes among States, and recognizes the value of its work; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Court for the measures adopted to operate an increased workload with maximum efficiency; 3. Stresses the desirability of finding practical ways and means to strengthen the Court, taking into consideration, in particular, the needs resulting from its workload; 4. Encourages States to continue considering recourse to the Court by means available under its Statute, and calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider accepting the jurisdiction of the Court in accordance with its Statute; 5. Calls upon States to consider means of strengthening the Court's work, including by supporting the Secretary-General's Trust Fund to Assist States in the Settlement of Disputes through the International Court of Justice on a voluntary basis, in order to enable the Fund to carry on and to strengthen its support to the countries which submit their disputes to the Court; 6. Stresses the importance of promoting the work of the International Court of Justice, and urges that efforts be continued through available means to encourage public awareness by the teaching, study and wider dissemination of the activities of the Court in the peaceful settlement of disputes, in view of both its judiciary and advisory functions. RESOLUTION 61/38 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/455, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Bureau. 61/38. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/60/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling also that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Noting the adoption of the revised working papers on the working methods of the Special Committee, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/61/153. Taking note also of paragraphs 106 to 110, 176 and 177 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Mindful of the decision of the Special Committee, in which it expressed its readiness to engage, as appropriate, in the implementation of any decisions that may be taken at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly in September 2005 that concern the Charter and any amendments thereto,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/60/33), para. 77. Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999, 55/157 of 12 December 2000, 56/87 of 12 December 2001, 57/25 of 19 November 2002, 58/80 of 9 December 2003 and 59/45 of 2 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution 60/23 of 23 November 2005, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2006,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/61/33). Noting with appreciation the work done by the Special Committee to encourage States to focus on the need to prevent and to settle peacefully their disputes which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/61/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 7 to 14 and 16 February 2007; 3. Notes with appreciation the adoption, as a decision, of the working methods of the Special Committee, contained in paragraph 72 of its 2006 report;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/61/33). 4. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2007, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations, and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2007; (b) To continue to consider, on a priority basis and in an appropriate substantive manner and framework, the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter based on all of the related reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303, A/57/165 and Add.1, A/58/346, A/59/334 and A/60/320. and the proposals submitted on the question; (c) To keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States; (d) To consider, as appropriate, any proposal referred to it by the General Assembly in the implementation of the decisions of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the Assembly in September 2005 that concern the Charter and any amendments thereto; (e) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 5. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2007 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations; 6. Notes the readiness of the Special Committee to provide, within its mandate, such assistance as may be sought at the request of other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly in relation to any issues before them; 7. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 8. Recognizes the important role of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, in adjudicating disputes among States and the value of its work, as well as the importance of having recourse to the Court in the peaceful settlement of disputes, and requests the Secretary-General to distribute, in due course, the advisory opinions requested by the principal organs of the United Nations as official documents of the United Nations; 9. Commends the Secretary-General for the progress made in the preparation of studies of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, including the increased use of the internship programme of the United Nations and the wider cooperation with academic institutions for this purpose, as well as the progress made towards updating the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue his efforts towards updating the two publications; 11. Reiterates the responsibility of the Secretary-General for the quality of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council and, in particular, with regard to the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, requests the Secretary-General to continue to follow the modalities outlined in paragraphs 102 to 106 of his report of 18 September 1952;A/2170. 12. Recognizes the desirability of making available electronically the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council in all their respective language versions; 13. Reiterates its call for voluntary contributions to the trust fund for the updating of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, as well as the trust fund for the elimination of the backlog in the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, and the sponsoring, on a voluntary basis, and at no cost to the United Nations, of associate experts to assist in the updating of the two publications; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on both the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Special Committee for its consideration the information referred to in paragraph 12 of his report on implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions,A/61/304. on modalities, technical procedures and guidelines on coordination of technical assistance available to third States affected by the implementation of sanctions, as well as a possible methodology for assessing the adverse consequences actually incurred by third States, in the report mentioned in paragraph 16 below; 16. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, under the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization"; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 61/39 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/456, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee. 61/39. The rule of law at the national and international levels The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which are indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world, and reiterating its determination to foster strict respect for them and to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world, Reaffirming also that human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations, Reaffirming further the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels and its solemn commitment to an international order based on the rule of law and international law, which together with the principles of justice, is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States, Convinced that the advancement of the rule of law at the national and international levels is essential for the realization of sustained economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger and the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and acknowledging that collective security depends on effective cooperation, in accordance with the Charter and international law, against transnational threats, Reaffirming the duty of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations and to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered, and calling upon States that have not yet done so to consider accepting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in accordance with its Statute, Convinced that the promotion of and respect for the rule of law at the national and international levels, as well as justice and good governance, should guide the activities of the United Nations and of its Member States, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on matters pertaining to the issues addressed in the present resolution and to submit a report thereon at its sixty-second session; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare an inventory of the current activities of the various organs, bodies, offices, departments, funds and programmes within the United Nations system devoted to the promotion of the rule of law at the national and international levels for submission at its sixty-third session, and to submit an interim report thereon to the General Assembly for its consideration at its sixty-second session; 3. Further requests the Secretary-General, after having sought the views of Member States, to prepare and submit, at its sixty-third session, a report identifying ways and means for strengthening and coordinating the activities listed in the inventory to be prepared pursuant to paragraph 2 above, with special regard to the effectiveness of assistance that may be requested by States in building capacity for the promotion of the rule of law at the national and international levels; 4. Urges the Secretary-General, as a matter of priority, to submit the report on the establishment of a rule of law assistance unit within the Secretariat, in conformity with paragraph 134 (e) of the 2005 World Summit Outcome;See resolution 60/1. 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "The rule of law at the national and international levels", and recommends that, as from the sixty-second session and after consultations among Member States, the Sixth Committee annually choose one or two sub-topics to facilitate a focused discussion for the subsequent session, without prejudice to the consideration of the item as a whole. RESOLUTION 61/3 Adopted at the 31st plenary meeting, on 13 October 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.3, sponsored by: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Gambia, Japan, Liechtenstein 61/3. Appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the recommendation contained in Security Council resolution 1715 (2006) of 9 October 2006, Appoints Mr. Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations for a term of office beginning on 1 January 2007 and ending on 31 December 2011. RESOLUTION 61/40 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/457, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Canada on behalf of the Bureau. 61/40. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in all its aspects adopted on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. enhancing the overall framework for the efforts of the international community to effectively counter the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. and reaffirming in particular the section on terrorism, Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996, Recalling also all General Assembly resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, and Security Council resolutions on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage, including those which prompted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, as well as Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001, and those that have occurred since the adoption of the latter resolution, Recalling the strong condemnation of the atrocious and deliberate attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 in General Assembly resolution 57/338 of 15 September 2003 and Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003, Affirming that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with all their obligations under international law and adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation among States and among international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and the relevant international conventions, Noting the role of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism in monitoring the implementation of that resolution, including the taking of the necessary financial, legal and technical measures by States and the ratification or acceptance of the relevant international conventions and protocols, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Mindful also of the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of States to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Reiterating its call upon States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there is a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Emphasizing that tolerance and dialogue among civilizations, and enhancing interfaith and intercultural understanding, are among the most important elements in promoting cooperation and success in combating terrorism, and welcoming the various initiatives to this end, Reaffirming that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstances, Recalling Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) of 14 September 2005, and bearing in mind that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Taking note of the recent developments and initiatives at the international, regional and subregional levels to prevent and suppress international terrorism, including those of, inter alia, the African Union, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Bali Counter-Terrorism Process, the Central American Integration System, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Council of Europe, the Economic Community of West African States, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the European Free Trade Association, the European Union, the Group of Eight, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the League of Arab States, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of American States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Southern African Development Community and the World Customs Organization, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Recalling its decision in resolutions 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000, 56/88 of 12 December 2001, 57/27 of 19 November 2002, 58/81 of 9 December 2003, 59/46 of 2 December 2004 and 60/43 of 8 December 2005 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 should address, and keep on its agenda, the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recalling also the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, adopted in Havana on 16 September 2006, which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed its previous initiativeSee A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as other relevant initiatives, Aware of its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002, 58/187 of 22 December 2003, 59/191 of 20 December 2004 and 60/158 of 16 December 2005, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/210 and Add.1 and 2. See also A/61/178. the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by resolution 51/210Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/61/37). and the oral report presented by the Chairman of the Working Group established by the Sixth Committee during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Sixth Committee, 10th meeting (A/C.6/61/SR.10), and corrigendum. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Calls upon all Member States, the United Nations and other appropriate international, regional and subregional organizations to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism StrategyResolution 60/288. in all its aspects at the international, regional, subregional and national levels without delay, including through mobilizing resources and expertise; 3. Recalls the pivotal role of the General Assembly in following up the implementation and updating of the Strategy, and in this regard also recalls its invitation to the Secretary-General to contribute to the future deliberations of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General when doing so to provide information on relevant activities within the Secretariat to ensure overall coordination and coherence in the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system; 4. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 5. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 6. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 7. Reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 8. Urges States to ensure that their nationals or other persons and entities within their territory that wilfully provide or collect funds for the benefit of persons or entities who commit, or attempt to commit, facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts are punished by penalties consistent with the grave nature of such acts; 9. Reminds States of their obligations under relevant international conventions and protocols and Security Council resolutions, including Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), to ensure that perpetrators of terrorist acts are brought to justice; 10. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 11. Recalls the adoption of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,Resolution 59/290, annex. the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,Adopted on 8 July 2005 by the Conference to Consider Proposed Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. the Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime NavigationAdopted on 14 October 2005 by the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the SUA Treaties (LEG/CONF.15/21). and the Protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,Adopted on 14 October 2005 by the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the SUA Treaties (LEG/CONF.15/22). and urges all States to consider, as a matter of priority, becoming parties to these instruments; 12. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider, as a matter of priority, and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), and Council resolution 1566 (2004) of 8 October 2004, becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2149, No. 37517. the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,Ibid., vol. 2178, No. 38349. the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, the domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 13. Urges States to cooperate with the Secretary-General and with one another, as well as with interested intergovernmental organizations, with a view to ensuring, where appropriate within existing mandates, that technical and other expert advice is provided to those States requiring and requesting assistance in becoming parties to and implementing the conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 12 above; 14. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, consistent with the call contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 60/43, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to therein, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions; 15. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, and calls upon all States to implement them; 16. Calls upon all States to cooperate to prevent and suppress terrorist acts; 17. Urges all States and the Secretary-General, in their efforts to prevent international terrorism, to make the best use of the existing institutions of the United Nations; 18. Requests the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna to continue its efforts to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism, and recognizes, in the context of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), its role in assisting States in becoming parties to and implementing the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the most recent among them, and in strengthening international cooperation mechanisms in criminal matters related to terrorism, including through national capacity-building; 19. Welcomes the publication by the Secretariat of the second edition of International Instruments related to the Prevention and Suppression of International Terrorism,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.V.9. prepared by the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat pursuant to paragraph 10 (a) of the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, in English and French, and considers it useful to examine the possibility of having future editions issued in all official languages; 20. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism, as well as on intergovernmental meetings held by those organizations; 21. Notes the progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996 and the Working Group established by the Sixth Committee during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, and welcomes continuing efforts to that end; 22. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall, on an expedited basis, continue to elaborate the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, and shall continue to discuss the item included in its agenda by General Assembly resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations; 23. Decides also that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet on 5, 6 and 15 February 2007 in order to fulfil the mandate referred to in paragraph 22 above; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 25. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism; 26. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 27. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". RESOLUTION 61/41 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/461, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire and Cyprus. 61/41. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/61/26). Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 86 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 26 (A/61/26). 2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is an issue of great importance, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to solve, through negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; and urges the host country to continue to take appropriate action, such as training of police, security, customs and border control officers, with a view to maintaining respect for diplomatic privileges and immunities and if violations occur to ensure that such cases are properly investigated and remedied, in accordance with applicable law; 3. Notes the problems experienced by some permanent missions in connection with the implementation of the Parking Programme for Diplomatic VehiclesA/AC.154/355, annex. and shall remain seized of the matter, with a view to continuing to maintain the proper implementation of the Parking Programme in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, effective and therefore consistent with international law, and also notes the decision of the Committee to conduct another review of the implementation of the Programme during the sixty-first session of the General Assembly and, subject to its outcome, will proceed accordingly; 4. Requests the host country to consider removing the remaining travel restrictions, notes that during the reporting period some travel restrictions previously imposed by the host country on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities were removed, and, in this regard, notes the positions of affected States as reflected in the report of the Committee, of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 5. Notes that the Committee anticipates that the host country will enhance its efforts to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). to travel to New York on United Nations business; and notes that the Committee anticipates that the host country will enhance efforts to facilitate participation, including visa issuance, of representatives of Member States in other United Nations meetings as appropriate; 6. Notes also that a number of delegations have requested shortening the time frame applied by the host country for issuance of entry visas to representatives of Member States, since this time frame poses difficulties for the full-fledged participation of Member States in United Nations meetings; 7. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 8. Affirms the importance of the Committee being in a position to fulfil its mandate and meet on short notice to deal with urgent and important matters concerning the relations between the United Nations and the host country, and in that connection requests the Secretariat and the Committee on Conferences to accord priority to requests from the Committee on Relations with the Host Country for conference-servicing facilities for meetings of that Committee that must be held while the General Assembly and its Main Committees are meeting, without prejudice to the requirements of those bodies and on an "as available" basis; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 10. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 61/42 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/462, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Yemen. 61/42. Observer status for the OPEC Fund for International Development in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the OPEC Fund for International Development, 1. Decides to invite the OPEC Fund for International Development to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/43 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/462, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Barbados, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, France, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Ireland, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Nauru, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka and Swaziland. 61/43. Observer status for the Indian Ocean Commission in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Indian Ocean Commission, 1. Decides to invite the Indian Ocean Commission to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/44 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/462, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Viet Nam. 61/44. Observer status for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 1. Decides to invite the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/45 Adopted at the 64th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.16 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 61/45. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially the dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed", Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and resolutions 56/5 of 5 November 2001, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, 58/11 of 10 November 2003, 59/143 of 15 December 2004 and 60/3 of 20 October 2005, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that the effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which calls for the active promotion of a culture of peace, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000 entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/56/349. including paragraph 28 thereof, which indicates that each of the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme related to the Programme of Action, Noting the relevance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, as well as the need to implement, as appropriate, the relevant decisions agreed upon therein, Recognizing that all efforts made by the United Nations system in general and the international community at large for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, the prevention of conflicts, disarmament, sustainable development, the promotion of human dignity and human rights, democracy, the rule of law, good governance and gender equality at the national and international levels contribute greatly to the culture of peace, Noting that its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 on the prevention of armed conflict could contribute to the further promotion of a culture of peace, Taking into account the "Manifesto 2000" initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over seventy-five million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of resolution 60/3,See A/61/175. Taking note of the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted on 16 September 2005 at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly,See resolution 60/1. Welcoming the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission, 1. Reiterates that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, is to strengthen further the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Invites Member States to continue to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels; 3. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognizing the promotion of a culture of peace as the expression of its fundamental mandate, and encourages it, as the lead agency for the Decade, to strengthen further the activities it has undertaken for promoting a culture of peace, including the dissemination of the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace and related materials in various languages across the world; 4. Also commends the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the University for Peace, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including the promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action, and encourages them to continue and further strengthen and expand their efforts; 5. Encourages the Peacebuilding Commission to promote a culture of peace and non-violence for children in its activities; 6. Encourages the appropriate authorities to provide education, in children's schools, that includes lessons in mutual understanding, tolerance, active citizenship, human rights and the promotion of a culture of peace; 7. Commends civil society, including non-governmental organizations and young people, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including through their campaign to raise awareness on a culture of peace, and notes the progress achieved by more than seven hundred organizations in more than one hundred countries; 8. Encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to further strengthen its efforts in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade, inter alia, by adopting its own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations; 9. Encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; 10. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue the communication and networking arrangements established during the International Year for providing an instant update of developments related to the observance of the Decade; 11. Invites Member States to observe 21 September of each year as the International Day of Peace, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, in accordance with resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001; 12. Invites Member States, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue providing information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 13. Appreciates the participation of Member States in the day of plenary meetings to review progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action and the observance of the Decade at its midpoint; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to explore enhancing mechanisms for the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 61/46 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.13 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia 61/46. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the aims and purposes of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as enshrined in the Bangkok Declaration of 8 August 1967,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1331, No. 22341. in particular the maintenance of close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organizations with similar aims and purposes, Recalling its resolution 59/5 of 22 October 2004 on cooperation between the United Nations and the Association, Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Association,See A/61/256, part one, sect. III. Noting with satisfaction that the activities of the Association are consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the ongoing efforts that strengthen the cooperation between the United Nations system and the Association, Welcoming also the participation of the Association in the high-level meetings between the United Nations and regional organizations, as well as the collaboration between the Association and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to promote dialogue and cooperation among regional organizations in Asia and the Pacific, 1. Welcomes the holding of the Second Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations Summit at United Nations Headquarters on 13 September 2005, chaired jointly by Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia, the rotating Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Standing Committee and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and attended by the leaders of the Association, as well as the heads of various United Nations agencies, funds and programmes; 2. Acknowledges the commitment of the leaders of the Association and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to further broaden cooperation between the Association and the United Nations, in the areas mentioned in the joint communiqué of the Second Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations Summit;A/61/517, annex. 3. Continues to encourage both the United Nations and the Association to further strengthen and expand their areas of cooperation; 4. Welcomes the Association as an observer in the General Assembly; 5. Encourages the United Nations and the Association to convene Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United Nations summits regularly; 6. Commends the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Association for their efforts to hold regular meetings, on an annual basis, with the presence of the Secretary-General of the Association, during the regular session of the Assembly, with a view to further strengthening the cooperation between the United Nations and the Association; 7. Takes note of the efforts of the Association to hold meetings with other regional organizations at the fringes of the sessions of the General Assembly to promote cooperation in support of multilateralism; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations". RESOLUTION 61/47 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, by a recorded vote of 133 to 1, with no abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.18 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland * In favour: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 61/47. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization The General Assembly, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,See A/61/256, part four. Taking note also of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization,See A/61/184. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization". RESOLUTION 61/48 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.20/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, Comoros, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 61/48. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/1 of 17 October 1994 and 59/20 of 8 November 2004, Welcoming the ongoing efforts towards closer cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum and its associated institutions, Bearing in mind that the Pacific Islands Forum, established in 1971, promotes regional cooperation and integration among its members through trade, investment, economic development and political and international affairs, to achieve their shared goals of economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security, Recalling the importance of the internationally agreed development goals set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States ("Mauritius Strategy for Implementation"),Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. Taking note of the special circumstances pertaining to the continued presence of radioactive contaminants in certain Pacific Islands Forum nations,See A/61/558, annex. Recalling that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in addressing international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, Reaffirming the commitment of leaders at the 2005 World Summit, and bearing in mind the call thereat for a stronger relationship between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, Affirming the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between entities of the United Nations system and the Pacific Islands Forum in the areas of peace and security, sustainable development, environmental protection and good governance, Noting that many Pacific Islands Forum nations depend upon the continued existence of sustainable marine ecosystems, Welcoming the support and assistance given by the United Nations towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Pacific Islands Forum region, Taking note of the Communiqué of the Thirty-seventh Pacific Islands Forum, held at Nadi, Fiji, on 24 and 25 October 2006,See A/61/558, annex. Mindful of the need for coordinated and effective utilization of available resources in pursuing the common objectives of the two organizations, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/61/256 and Add.1. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/256 and Add.1. in particular part one, section XII, on cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum, and encourages further such cooperation; 2. Notes with satisfaction that regular consultations continue at all levels between the United Nations and the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum, including participation at the annual consultations between the Secretary-General and heads of regional organizations; 3. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to take the necessary measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the two secretariats in order to increase the capacity of the organizations to attain their common objectives; 4. Welcomes the ongoing work of various international organizations and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in advancing knowledge in the key strategic areas related to governance, security, economic growth, trade and sustainable development, as well as in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in the Pacific island countries; 5. Recognizes the challenges that Pacific island countries are facing in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and in this regard urges the international community, including the United Nations system, to support Pacific island countries in their efforts to implement the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on 2 June 2006,Resolution 60/262, annex. including the commitment to set, in 2006, ambitious national targets that reflected the urgent need to scale up significantly towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010; 6. Urges Governments and all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, United Nations funds, programmes and regional economic commissions, specialized agencies, international financial institutions and the Global Environment Facility, as well as other intergovernmental organizations and major groups, to take timely actions to support Pacific island countries in their efforts to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation;Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. 7. Notes the importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. and in this regard calls for the support of the United Nations system and other international partners in assisting Pacific island countries in their efforts to implement it; 8. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum to promote, primarily through the Regional Security Committee, law enforcement cooperation, the rule of law and regional peace and security, including combating all types of terrorism, in implementing the core United Nations treaties on anti-terrorism, anti-money-laundering, transnational crime and the financing of terrorism; 9. Requests, in this regard, that the United Nations continue to assist the Pacific Islands Forum in facilitating among its members the timely implementation of relevant United Nations mandates, and invites States to contribute to the Biketawa Trust Fund, which is administered by the Pacific Islands Forum for confidence-building measures and conflict prevention; 10. Welcomes the significant efforts of the Pacific Islands Forum in enhancing peace and security in the region, including through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands; 11. Notes with appreciation the role of the United Nations in the Bougainville peace process in Papua New Guinea and the steady progress being made by the parties; 12. Welcomes the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund, and calls upon the Secretary-General and other relevant actors to give consideration to using these and other mechanisms to support post-conflict peacebuilding activities, reconstruction and institution-building efforts in Pacific island countries, particularly on the island of Bougainville and in Solomon Islands; 13. Requests that the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme, in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum, promote joint cooperative needs assessment missions in the region to determine additional support to enhance peacebuilding and reconciliation processes and to complement the activities of regional missions and mechanisms; 14. Calls upon the international community to provide, where appropriate, technical and financial support to Pacific island countries in combating the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons through, inter alia, the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 15. Notes the importance of the United Nations field presence in Pacific island countries for enhancing the cooperation with the United Nations system and its development agencies needed to implement the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation; 16. Welcomes, in this regard, the endorsement by the Secretary-General of the establishment of an expanded and joint in-country presence of the United Nations in Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; 17. Expresses, in this regard, its appreciation for the support and cooperation of the Pacific Islands Forum members in fulfilling host-country obligations and other operational modalities; 18. Notes the efforts of the United Nations, in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum, in respect of considering ways to assist Nauru, and in this regard calls upon the United Nations system to support implementation of the Republic of Nauru preparatory assistance project of the United Nations Development Programme as well as that country's national sustainable development strategy; 19. Also notes the participation of Pacific leaders at the special session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific held in Jakarta on 10 April 2006, and takes note of the project "Enhancing Pacific connectivity";See A/61/256, para. 89. 20. Welcomes the adoption of the Pacific Plan by Pacific Islands Forum leaders at the Thirty-sixth Pacific Islands Forum, in Madang, Papua New Guinea, during the leaders' Forum Retreat on 26 October 2005, which is aimed at enhancing regional integration and cooperation among its members and cooperation with the international community, including the United Nations system; 21. Also welcomes the leadership role of the Pacific Islands Forum in furthering the implementation of the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37924. particularly in the convening of the negotiations for, and the adoption of, the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean; 22. Further welcomes the decision to convene the Pacific regional seminar on decolonization in Nadi, Fiji, from 28 to 30 November 2006; 23. Urges the United Nations to support Pacific island countries in pursuing initiatives for enhancing South-South cooperation among themselves and also with other developing countries; 24. Takes note of the steps taken by the Pacific Islands Forum to solidify its partnership with non-State actors in the region in promoting governance and sustainable development issues; 25. Recognizes the burden placed on small States by growing international reporting requirements, and encourages the investigation of innovative reporting modalities, including regional reporting, where appropriate; 26. Calls upon the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide technical support to Pacific Islands Forum members to contribute to the regional efforts in promoting awareness and knowledge of all international human rights treaties and instruments; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 28. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum". RESOLUTION 61/49 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.26 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen 61/49. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/4 of 22 October 1982, 38/4 of 28 October 1983, 39/7 of 8 November 1984, 40/4 of 25 October 1985, 41/3 of 16 October 1986, 42/4 of 15 October 1987, 43/2 of 17 October 1988, 44/8 of 18 October 1989, 45/9 of 25 October 1990, 46/13 of 28 October 1991, 47/18 of 23 November 1992, 48/24 of 24 November 1993, 49/15 of 15 November 1994, 50/17 of 20 November 1995, 51/18 of 14 November 1996, 52/4 of 22 October 1997, 53/16 of 29 October 1998, 54/7 of 25 October 1999, 55/9 of 30 October 2000, 56/47 of 7 December 2001, 57/42 of 21 November 2002 and 59/8 of 22 October 2004, Recalling also its resolution 3369 (XXX) of 10 October 1975, by which it decided to invite the Organization of the Islamic Conference to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs in the capacity of observer, Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in strengthening the role of the Organization in conflict prevention, confidence-building, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation in member States as well as in conflict situations involving Muslim communities, Noting the adoption by the third extraordinary session of the Islamic Summit Conference, held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on 7 and 8 December 2005, of the Ten-Year Programme of Action,A/60/633-S/2005/826, annex III. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/61/256 and Add.1. Taking into account the desire of the two organizations to continue to cooperate closely in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and scientific fields and in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, the promotion of a culture of peace through dialogue and cooperation, decolonization, fundamental human rights and economic and social development, Recalling the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations, its funds and programmes and the specialized agencies and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, its subsidiary organs and its specialized and affiliated institutions, Noting also the encouraging progress made in the ten priority areas of cooperation between the two organizations and their respective agencies and institutions, as well as in the identification of other areas of cooperation between them, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its organs and institutions contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Welcoming the results of the general meeting of the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions, held in Rabat from 11 to 13 July 2006, and the fact that these meetings are now being held every two years, with the next one scheduled for 2008, and also welcoming the memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in the field of human rights between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Organization of the Islamic Conference signed at the Rabat meeting, Welcoming also the issuance of a joint statement in Doha on 25 February 2006 by the Secretaries-General of the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of Arab States, together with the representatives of Qatar, Spain and Turkey, in the context of the Alliance of Civilizations, committing themselves to formulate a joint strategy to promote tolerance and mutual respect, Welcoming further the close and multifaceted cooperation between the organizations and specialized institutions of the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference with a view to strengthening the capacities of the two organizations in addressing challenges to development and social progress, Noting with appreciation the determination of the two organizations to strengthen further the existing cooperation by developing specific proposals in the designated priority areas of cooperation, as well as in the political field, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/256 and Add.1. 2. Urges the United Nations system to cooperate with the Organization of the Islamic Conference in areas of mutual interest, as appropriate; 3. Notes with satisfaction the active participation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the work of the United Nations towards the realization of the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations; 4. Requests the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to cooperate in their common search for solutions to global problems, such as questions relating to international peace and security, disarmament, self-determination, promotion of a culture of peace through dialogue and cooperation, decolonization, human rights and fundamental freedoms, terrorism, emergency relief and rehabilitation, social and economic development and technical cooperation; 5. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to continue to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common concern and to review and explore innovative ways and means of enhancing the mechanisms of such cooperation; 6. Welcomes with appreciation the continuing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the fields of peacemaking, preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and notes the close cooperation between the two organizations in reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sierra Leone; 7. Welcomes the efforts of the secretariats of the two organizations to strengthen information exchange, coordination and cooperation between them in areas of mutual interest in the political field and to develop practical modalities of such cooperation; 8. Also welcomes the periodic high-level meetings between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as between senior secretariat officials of the two organizations, and encourages their participation in important meetings of the two organizations; 9. Encourages the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to continue to expand their cooperation with the subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in particular by negotiating cooperation agreements, and through necessary contacts and meetings of the respective focal points for cooperation in priority areas of interest to the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 10. Urges the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system, especially the lead agencies, to provide increased technical and other forms of assistance to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions in order to enhance cooperation; 11. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social, cultural, humanitarian and scientific fields; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the state of cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference". RESOLUTION 61/4 Adopted at the 39th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.4 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/4. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 54/5 of 8 October 1999, by which it granted observer status to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, as well as its resolutions 55/211 of 20 December 2000, 57/34 of 21 November 2002 and 59/259 of 23 December 2004, on cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social or humanitarian nature, Recalling further the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling its Declaration on the Enhancement of Cooperation between the United Nations and Regional Arrangements or Agencies in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security of 9 December 1994,Resolution 49/57, annex. Recognizing that any dispute or conflict in the region impedes cooperation, and stressing the need to solve such a dispute or conflict on the basis of the norms and principles of international law, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 59/259,A/61/256, part two, sect. XIV. 1. Encourages efforts within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to consider ways and means of enhancing the contribution of the Organization to security and stability in the region; 2. Welcomes the signing in Athens on 3 December 2004 of the Additional Protocol on Combating Terrorism to the Agreement among the Governments of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Participating States on Cooperation in Combating Crime, in Particular in its Organized Forms; 3. Also welcomes the activities of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in various fields, such as energy, transport, institutional reform and good governance, trade and economic development, banking and finance, communications, agriculture and agro-industry, health care and pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, tourism, science and technology, exchange of statistical data and economic information, collaboration among Customs services, and combating organized crime and illicit trafficking in drugs, weapons and radioactive material, acts of terrorism and illegal migration, or in any other related area; 4. Encourages the activities of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization aimed at the elaboration and realization of specific joint regional projects, particularly in the field of transport and energy infrastructure, focused on security of supply of respective services to the economies of the region; 5. Welcomes the operationalization and financing of projects by the Project Development Fund of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to the benefit of the sustainable development of the Black Sea region; 6. Takes note of the positive contributions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, the Business Council, the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and the International Centre for Black Sea Studies to the strengthening of multifaceted regional cooperation in the Black Sea area; 7. Appeals for greater cooperation between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and international financial institutions in co-financing feasibility and pre-feasibility studies of the projects in the Black Sea area; 8. Takes note of the cooperation between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and the World Bank and the World Trade Organization and the working contacts with the World Tourism Organization, aimed at promoting the sustainable development of the Black Sea region; 9. Also takes note of the importance attached by the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to the strengthening of relations with the European Union, and supports the efforts of the Organization to take concrete steps to advance this cooperation in line with the provisions of the Komotini statement of 23 April 2005, as reinforced by the Chisinau Declaration of 28 October 2005 and the Bucharest statement of 26 April 2006, issued by the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization; 10. Further takes note of the cooperation established between the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and other regional organizations and initiatives; 11. Invites the Secretary-General to strengthen dialogue with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization with a view to promoting cooperation and coordination between the two secretariats; 12. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization in order to continue programmes with the Organization and its associated institutions for the achievement of their objectives; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization". RESOLUTION 61/50 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.29 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Chile, Comoros, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Suriname, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Zambia, Zimbabwe 61/50. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/8 of 16 October 1991, 49/141 of 20 December 1994, 51/16 of 11 November 1996, 53/17 of 29 October 1998, 55/17 of 7 November 2000, 57/41 of 21 November 2002 and 59/138 of 10 December 2004, Bearing in mind the provisions of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action and other activities consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Bearing in mind also the assistance given by the United Nations towards the maintenance of peace and security in the Caribbean region, Recalling the signing, on 27 May 1997, by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community of a cooperation agreement between the secretariats of the two organizations, Bearing in mind that, in its resolutions 54/225 of 22 December 1999, 55/203 of 20 December 2000, 57/261 of 20 December 2002 and 59/230 of 22 December 2004, it recognized the importance of adopting an integrated management approach to the Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development, Bearing in mind also that in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, Heads of State and Government resolved to address the special needs of small island developing States by implementing the Barbados Programme of ActionProgramme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II). and the outcome of the twenty-second special session of the General AssemblySee resolution S-22/2. rapidly and in full, Noting that the World Summit on Sustainable Development considered the specific issues and problems facing small island developing States,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum). taking note in this regard of the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and noting the outcome of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,See Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum). Noting also that the Caribbean region is the second most hazard-prone region in the world and is frequently exposed to devastating hazards including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, Noting further that the Caribbean region has been hard hit, and in some cases devastated, by hurricanes in the recent past, and concerned that their frequency, intensity and destructive power continue to pose a challenge to the development of the region, Noting that the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly in resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001 recognized the Caribbean region as having the second-highest rate of infection after sub-Saharan Africa and that the region therefore needs special attention and assistance from the international community, Noting also the commitment undertaken by the international community in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS on 2 June 2006, to assist low- and middle-income countries in achieving universal access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010,See resolution 60/262, annex. Affirming the need to strengthen the cooperation that already exists between entities of the United Nations system and the Caribbean Community in the areas of economic and social development, as well as the areas of political and humanitarian affairs, Convinced of the need for the coordinated utilization of available resources to promote the common objectives of the two organizations, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations,A/61/256 and Add.1. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/256 and Add.1. in particular part one, section IV, on the Caribbean Community, as well as efforts to strengthen cooperation; 2. Calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in association with the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, as well as the relevant regional organizations, to continue to assist in furthering the development and maintenance of peace and security within the Caribbean region; 3. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to promote and expand cooperation and coordination between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community in order to increase the capacity of the two organizations to attain their objectives; 4. Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community in order to initiate, maintain and increase consultations and programmes with the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions in the attainment of their objectives, with special attention to the areas and issues identified at the third general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system, held in New York on 12 and 13 April 2004, as set out in the report of the Secretary-General, as well as in resolutions 54/225, 55/2, 55/203 and S-26/2 and the decisions of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum). and the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,See Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum). as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 5. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system as well as Member States to increase financial and other assistance to the countries of the Caribbean Community to help to implement the priorities of the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS, which sets out realistic targets for reducing the rate of new infections, raising the quality and coverage of care, treatment and support and building institutional capacity, and to cope with the problems and the burden caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic; 6. Invites the Secretary-General to consider utilizing a strategic programming framework modality to strengthen the coordination and cooperation between the two secretariats as well as between the United Nations field offices and the Caribbean Community; 7. Calls upon the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other organizations and programmes of the United Nations system to assist the countries of the Caribbean in addressing the social and economic consequences of the vulnerability of Caribbean economies and the challenges that this poses for achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the goal of sustainable development; 8. Reaffirms the objective of strengthening the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,See Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum). including through the mobilization of financial and technological resources, as well as capacity-building programmes; 9. Welcomes the initiatives of Member States in assisting in the cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community, and encourages their continuing efforts; 10. Recommends that the fourth general meeting between representatives of the Caribbean Community and its associated institutions and of the United Nations system be held in the Caribbean in early 2007 in order to review and appraise progress in the implementation of the agreed areas and issues and to hold consultations on such additional measures and procedures as may be required to facilitate and strengthen cooperation between the two organizations; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Caribbean Community". RESOLUTION 61/51 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.37 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Belgium, Botswana, Cape Verde, Comoros, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras, Japan, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 61/51. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 37/248 of 21 December 1982 and all other relevant General Assembly resolutions and decisions on the promotion of cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community, including resolutions 57/44 of 21 November 2002 and 59/140 of 15 December 2004 and decision 56/443 of 21 December 2001, Recalling also its resolution 59/49 of 2 December 2004, in which it decided to invite the Community to participate in its sessions and its work in the capacity of observer, Recognizing that cooperation between the Community and the United Nations system has continued to deepen, Commending States members of the Community for demonstrating continued commitment to deeper and more formal arrangements for cooperation among themselves towards regional integration, Welcoming the continued commitment made by the States members of the Community to deepen democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic management, Expressing satisfaction over continued efforts to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, launched by the Community in collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations and other entities, and recognizing that the recent elections undertaken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to end the current transition period by the establishment of elected institutions at all levels are an essential element of the peace process, Noting with concern that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has reached crisis proportions in the region, and that other communicable diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis, are having far-reaching social and economic consequences, Expressing concern over the persistent natural disasters in countries of the region, Welcoming the efforts of the Community to make southern Africa a landmine-free zone, Recognizing the important role that women play in the development of the region, Recognizing also the important role of civil society and the private sector in the development of the region, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations;A/61/256 and Add.1. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations funds and programmes as well as the international community for the assistance given to the Southern African Development Community; 3. Welcomes the decision of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community at the summit held in Maseru on 17 and 18 August 2006 to convene a conference on poverty and development, to which the international community will be invited; 4. Also welcomes the progress made by the Community on gender and development towards achieving the target of 30 per cent representation of women in decision-making, and its commitment to the new target of 50 per cent; 5. Notes with satisfaction the commitment of States members of the Community to scale up the implementation of regional economic integration through, inter alia, the launching of a free trade area by 2008 and the preparations for a custom union by 2010; 6. Expresses its support for the economic reforms being implemented by States members of the Community, in pursuance of their shared vision of creating a strengthened regional economic community through deeper economic integration; 7. Calls upon the international community to strengthen support for the measures taken by the Community in fighting HIV and AIDS, as well as other communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, including commitments on the follow-up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly, and the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS;Resolution S-26/2, annex. 8. Recognizes the vulnerability of the Community subregion to natural disasters, and in this regard calls upon the international community to provide the required assistance to strengthen the Community's disaster preparedness and early-warning capacity; 9. Urges the United Nations, its related bodies and the international community to continue to support the Community in building its capacity in negotiations on trade; 10. Appeals to the international community and to relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to continue providing financial, technical and material assistance to the Community to support its efforts to fully implement the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as well as towards the achievement of other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 11. Appeals to the United Nations, its related bodies and the international community to continue to assist and support the Community in its demining activities, and welcomes the progress made so far by its member States; 12. Calls upon the international community, in particular the United Nations system, to continue to contribute to the promotion of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to assist in the rehabilitation and economic reconstruction of that country; 13. Also calls upon the international community to continue to assist the Democratic Republic of the Congo through the provision of humanitarian, financial and material assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Congolese people, in particular the children, women and the elderly, and calls upon the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to implement economic and social policies and programmes that will improve the lives of the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 14. Urges the United Nations funds and programmes and the international community to continue to provide technical assistance to national vulnerability assessment committees that have been established in the States members of the Community; 15. Calls upon the international community to support the efforts of the Community in capacity-building and in addressing the new challenges, opportunities and consequences presented to the economies in the region arising from the process of globalization and liberalization; 16. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Executive Secretary of the Community, to enhance contacts aimed at promoting and harmonizing further cooperation between the United Nations and the Community; 17. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community. RESOLUTION 61/52 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 4 December 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.15/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Ukraine, Yemen 61/52. Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin The General Assembly, Reaffirming the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 3026 A (XXVII) of 18 December 1972, 3148 (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973, 3187 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973, 3391 (XXX) of 19 November 1975, 31/40 of 30 November 1976, 32/18 of 11 November 1977, 33/50 of 14 December 1978, 34/64 of 29 November 1979, 35/127 and 35/128 of 11 December 1980, 36/64 of 27 November 1981, 38/34 of 25 November 1983, 40/19 of 21 November 1985, 42/7 of 22 October 1987, 44/18 of 6 November 1989, 46/10 of 22 October 1991, 48/15 of 2 November 1993, 50/56 of 11 December 1995, 52/24 of 25 November 1997, 54/190 of 17 December 1999, 56/97 of 14 December 2001 and 58/17 of 3 December 2003, Recalling also its resolution 56/8 of 21 November 2001, in which it proclaimed 2002 the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, Recalling further the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, adopted at The Hague on 14 May 1954,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and the two Protocols thereto, adopted in 1954 and 1999, Recalling the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, adopted on 14 November 1970 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,Ibid., vol. 823, No. 11806. Recalling also the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted on 16 November 1972 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,Ibid., vol. 1037, No. 15511. Recalling further the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, adopted in Rome on 24 June 1995 by the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law,Available from www.unidroit.org. Taking note of the adoption of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions. Noting the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 17 October 2003Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Paris, 29 September-17 October 2003, vol. 1: Resolutions. and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 20 October 2005,Ibid., Thirty-third Session, Paris, 3-21 October 2005, vol. 1: Resolutions. Noting also the adoption of the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property on 2 December 2004,Resolution 59/38, annex. as it might apply to cultural property, Recalling the Medellin Declaration for Cultural Diversity and Tolerance and the Plan of Action on Cultural Cooperation, adopted at the first Meeting of the Ministers of Culture of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Medellin, Colombia, on 4 and 5 September 1997,A/52/432, annexes I and II. Noting the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and the Action Plan for its implementation, adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 2 November 2001,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions. Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General submitted in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See A/61/176. Aware of the importance attached by some countries of origin to the return of cultural property that is of fundamental spiritual and cultural value to them, so that they may constitute collections representative of their cultural heritage, Expressing concern about the illicit traffic in cultural property and its damage to the cultural heritage of nations, Expressing concern also about the loss, destruction, removal, theft, pillage, illicit movement or misappropriation of and any acts of vandalism or damage directed against cultural property, in particular in areas of armed conflict, including territories that are occupied, whether such conflicts are international or internal, Recalling Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), adopted on 22 May 2003, in particular paragraph 7 relating to the restitution of the cultural property of Iraq, 1. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation on the work they have accomplished, in particular through the promotion of bilateral negotiations, for the return or restitution of cultural property, the preparation of inventories of movable cultural property and the implementation of the Object-ID standard related thereto, as well as for the reduction of illicit traffic in cultural property and the dissemination of information to the public; 2. Calls upon all relevant bodies, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations to work in coordination with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, within their mandates and in cooperation with Member States, in order to continue to address the issue of return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin and to provide appropriate support accordingly; 3. Welcomes the adoption by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 17 October 2003 of the Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage;Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Paris, 29 September-17 October 2003, vol. 1: Resolutions. 4. Reaffirms the importance of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property,Ibid., vol. 823, No. 11806. as well as the Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law,Available from www.unidroit.org. and of their implementation, and invites Member States that have not already done so to consider becoming parties to these Conventions; 5. Recognizes the importance of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural HeritageSee United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions. and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions,Ibid., Thirty-third Session, Paris, 3-21 October 2005, vol. 1: Resolutions. notes that these Conventions have still not entered into force, and invites Member States that have not already done so to consider becoming parties to these Conventions; 6. Also recognizes the importance of the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property,Resolution 59/38, annex. notes that this Convention has still not entered into force, and invites Member States that have not already done so to consider becoming parties to the Convention; 7. Reaffirms the importance of the principles and provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 249, No. 3511. and of their implementation, and invites Member States that have not already done so to become parties to the Convention; 8. Also reaffirms the importance of the Second Protocol to the Convention, adopted at The Hague on 26 March 1999, and of its implementation, and invites all States parties to the Convention that have not already done so to consider becoming parties to the Second Protocol; 9. Welcomes the most recent efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for the protection of the cultural heritage of countries in conflict, including the safe return to those countries of cultural property and other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific and religious importance that have been illegally removed, and calls upon the international community to contribute to these efforts; 10. Urges Member States to introduce effective national and international measures to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, including special training for police, customs and border services; 11. Invites Member States, in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to continue to draw up systematic inventories of their cultural property, as well as to work towards the creation of a database of their national cultural legislation, in particular in electronic format; 12. Welcomes the launch of the Cultural Heritage Laws Database of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2005, and invites Member States to provide their legislation in electronic format for inclusion in the database, to provide regular updates to the database and to promote it; 13. Reaffirms the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to promote the use of identification systems, in particular the application of the Object-ID standard, and to encourage the linking of identification systems and existing databases, including the one developed by Interpol, to allow for the electronic transmission of information in order to reduce illicit trafficking in cultural property, and encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to make further efforts in this regard in cooperation with Member States, where appropriate; 14. Recognizes the revision of the Statutes of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation to include mediation and conciliation processes, and invites Member States to consider the possibility of using such processes as appropriate; 15. Welcomes the development of the model export certificate for cultural objects by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Customs Organization as a tool to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, and invites Member States to consider adopting the model export certificate as their national export certificate, in accordance with domestic law and procedures; 16. Notes the decision taken in resolution 45, adopted on 20 October 2005 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-third session, that the subject of cultural objects displaced in connection with the Second World War should be the subject of a non-binding standard-setting instrument;Ibid., Thirty-third Session, Paris, 3-21 October 2005, vol. 1: Resolutions. 17. Recognizes the public awareness and increased mobilization and action in favour of heritage values that was achieved in 2002, the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, and calls upon the international community and the United Nations to continue to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the basis of that work; 18. Welcomes the endorsement of the International Code of Ethics for Dealers in Cultural Property by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 16 November 1999,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirtieth Session, Paris, 26 October-17 November 1999, vol. 1: Resolutions. which was adopted in January 1999 by the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation, and invites those who deal with trade in cultural property and their associations, where they exist, to encourage the implementation of the Code; 19. Recognizes the importance of the creation, by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, of the International Fund for the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation, launched in November 2000, and encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue to promote the Fund and render it operational; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its efforts to bring about the attainment of the objectives of the present resolution; 21. Also requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin". RESOLUTION 61/53 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/387, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 61/53. Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe The General Assembly, Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, signed in Helsinki on 1 August 1975, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 59/59 of 3 December 2004, Welcoming with appreciation the continuing cooperation among countries in the region of South-Eastern Europe on issues related to security, economy, trade, transport, energy, cross-border cooperation, human rights and justice and home affairs, Welcoming the Republic of Montenegro as the one hundred and ninety-second State Member of the United Nations, Reiterating the importance of the South-East European Cooperation Process for further enhancing regional cooperation and stability, which constitutes one of the main elements of the Stabilization and Association Process, and welcoming the positive results of the South-East European Cooperation Process summit meeting, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 4 May 2006, Recalling the conclusions reached at the Summit of the European Council, held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 19 and 20 June 2003, the decisions of the European Council on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the European Partnerships with all countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and the outcome of the meeting held in Salzburg, Austria, of Ministers for Foreign Affairs on the European Union Stabilization and Association Process, confirming that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union, Noting the progress made by the countries of the region, including those of the Stabilization and Association Process, in fulfilling the criteria for membership in the European Union and, in this context, the start of the accession negotiations of Croatia and Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia becoming a candidate country for membership in the European Union, the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Albania and the opening of the negotiations for a stabilization and association agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, as well as resuming stabilization and association agreement negotiations with Serbia, pending full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, Stressing the role and responsibility of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union, and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its Kosovo Force for further promotion of stability in the region, and noting the Council of the European Union's joint action establishing a European Union planning team, Reaffirming the validity of the Agreement for the delineation of the borderline between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, signed in Skopje on 23 February 2001,A/56/60-S/2001/234, annex. and encouraging the parties to the Agreement and inviting all the parties involved in the process of settlement of the future status of Kosovo to respect the Agreement, to cooperate fully and to prepare for its timely implementation, Emphasizing the crucial importance of strengthening regional efforts in South-Eastern Europe on arms control, demining, disarmament and confidence-building measures and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and noting that, in spite of ongoing efforts, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects persists in some parts of the region, Reaffirming its support for all regional initiatives on combating the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, including the activities undertaken at the national level for their collection and destruction, Mindful of the importance of national, regional and international activities aimed at the creation of peace, security, stability, democracy, cooperation and economic development and the observance of human rights and good-neighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe, Reaffirming its determination that all nations should live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, 1. Reaffirms the need for full observance of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Calls upon all States, the relevant international organizations and the appropriate organs of the United Nations to respect and support all the principles of the Charter and the commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and through further development of regional arrangements, as appropriate, to eliminate threats to international peace and security and to help to prevent conflicts in South-Eastern Europe, which can lead to the violent disintegration of States; 3. Acknowledges the positive results achieved so far by the countries of the region, urges them to invest further efforts in consolidating South-Eastern Europe as a region of peace, security, stability, democracy, the rule of law, cooperation and economic development and for the promotion of good-neighbourliness and the observance of human rights, thus contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security and enhancing the prospects for sustained development and prosperity for all peoples in the region as an integral part of Europe, and recognizes the role of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union in successfully promoting regional disarmament; 4. Supports the countries of the region in their determination to gradually take over ownership and responsibility for regional cooperation by a phased evolution of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe into a more regionally owned, streamlined and effective regional cooperation framework as set out at the Stability Pact's Regional Table meeting on 30 May 2006 in Belgrade; 5. Stresses that every effort should be made to achieve a negotiated settlement in line with Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 and the contact group guiding principles; emphasizes the importance of the implementation of the standards for Kosovo; and fully supports the work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and his team on the Kosovo status talks; 6. Rejects the use of violence in pursuit of political aims, and stresses that only peaceful political solutions can assure a stable and democratic future for South-Eastern Europe; 7. Stresses the importance of good-neighbourliness and the development of friendly relations among States, and calls upon all States to resolve their disputes with other States by peaceful means, in accordance with the Charter; 8. Urges the strengthening of relations among the States of South-Eastern Europe on the basis of respect for international law and agreements, in accordance with the principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect; 9. Recognizes the efforts of the international community, and in particular those of the European Union, the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and other contributors, as well as of the South-East European Cooperation Process as an authentic voice of the region, in promoting the long-term process of democratic and economic development of the region; 10. Calls upon all States to intensify cooperation with and render all necessary assistance to the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 to bring all at-large indictees to surrender to the Tribunal in line with Security Council resolutions 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003 and 1534 (2004) of 26 March 2004; 11. Stresses the importance of enhanced regional cooperation for the development of the South-Eastern European States in the priority areas of infrastructure, transport, trade, energy and environment, as well as in other areas of common interest, and welcomes the Treaty establishing the Energy Community, the establishment of the Regional Cooperation Council and the negotiations for the simultaneous enlargement and amendment of the Central European Free Trade Agreement; 12. Also stresses that the further rapprochement of the South-Eastern European States with the Euro-Atlantic institutions will favourably influence the security, political and economic situation in the region, as well as good-neighbourly relations among the States; 13. Emphasizes the importance of continuous regional efforts and intensified dialogue in South-Eastern Europe aimed at arms control, disarmament and confidence-building measures, as well as strengthening cooperation and undertaking appropriate measures at the national, subregional and regional levels against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to prevent all acts of terrorism; 14. Recognizes the seriousness of the problem of anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war in some parts of South-Eastern Europe, welcomes in this context the efforts of the countries in the region and of the international community in support of mine action, and encourages States to join and support these efforts; 15. Urges all States to take effective measures against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to help programmes and projects aimed at the collection and safe destruction of surplus stocks of small arms and light weapons, and stresses the importance of closer cooperation among States, inter alia, in crime prevention and combating terrorism, trafficking in human beings, organized crime and corruption, drug trafficking and money-laundering; 16. Calls upon all States and the relevant international organizations to communicate to the Secretary-General their views on the subject of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Maintenance of international security - good-neighbourliness, stability and development in South-Eastern Europe". RESOLUTION 61/54 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/389, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Belarus, Chile, China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. by a recorded vote of 176 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 61/54. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001, 57/53 of 22 November 2002, 58/32 of 8 December 2003, 59/61 of 3 December 2004 and 60/45 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of humankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling, in this connection, the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held in Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations that it made,See A/51/261, annex. Bearing in mind also the results of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 (first phase) and in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005 (second phase),See A/C.2/59/3 and A/60/687. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing its concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70, 54/49, 55/28, 56/19, 57/53, 58/32, 59/61 and 60/45, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213, A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1, A/56/164 and Add.1, A/57/166 and Add.1, A/58/373, A/59/116 and Add.1, A/60/95 and Add.1 and A/61/161. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts in Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, Bearing in mind that the Secretary-General, in fulfilment of resolution 58/32, established in 2004 a group of governmental experts, which, in accordance with its mandate, considered existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them and conducted a study on relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, prepared on the basis of the results of the Group's work,A/60/202. 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field, consistent with the need to preserve the free flow of information; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Efforts taken at the national level to strengthen information security and promote international cooperation in this field; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 above; (d) Possible measures that could be taken by the international community to strengthen information security at the global level; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts, to be established in 2009 on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to continue to study existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them, as well as the concepts referred to in paragraph 2 above, and to submit a report on the results of this study to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 61/55 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/390, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 108 to 54, with 16 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tonga, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu 61/55. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapons systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing its concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the final document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. it was again noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persisted, Emphasizing that internationally negotiated guidelines for the transfer of high technology with military applications should take into account the legitimate defence requirements of all States and the requirements for the maintenance of international peace and security, while ensuring that access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful purposes is not denied, 1. Affirms that scientific and technological progress should be used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes should be promoted; 2. Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make disarmament-related technologies available to interested States; 3. Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications; 4. Encourages United Nations bodies to contribute, within existing mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful purposes; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament". RESOLUTION 61/56 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/391, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 61/56. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000, 56/21 of 29 November 2001, 57/55 of 22 November 2002, 58/34 of 8 December 2003, 59/63 of 3 December 2004 and 60/52 of 8 December 2005 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 60/52,A/61/140 (Part I). 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(50)/RES/16, adopted on 22 September 2006 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its fiftieth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fiftieth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2006 (GC(50)/RES/DEC(2006)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/140 (Part I). 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to the report of the Secretary-General of 10 October 1990A/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTION 61/57 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/392, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the Committee was sponsored by: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 119 to 1, with 59 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/57. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect. III.C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III.F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III.F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para. 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. which was reiterated at the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,See A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 55/3l of 20 November 2000, 56/22 of 29 November 2001, 57/56 of 22 November 2002, 58/35 of 8 December 2003, 59/64 of 3 December 2004 and 60/53 of 8 December 2005, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be explored further in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Also recommends that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international agreements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 61/58 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/393, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the Committee was sponsored by: Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 178 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel 61/58. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, Noting with satisfaction the constructive, structured and focused debate on the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament in 2006, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space does not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during its 2007 session; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTION 61/59 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Islamic Republic of Iran. by a recorded vote of 115 to 7, with 54 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 61/59. Missiles The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 F of 1 December 1999, 55/33 A of 20 November 2000, 56/24 B of 29 November 2001, 57/71 of 22 November 2002, 58/37 of 8 December 2003 and 59/67 of 3 December 2004 and its decision 60/515 of 8 December 2005, Reaffirming the role of the United Nations in the field of arms regulation and disarmament and the commitment of Member States to take concrete steps to strengthen that role, Realizing the need to promote regional and international peace and security in a world free from the scourge of war and the burden of armaments, Convinced of the need for a comprehensive approach towards missiles, in a balanced and non-discriminatory manner, as a contribution to international peace and security, Bearing in mind that the security concerns of Member States at the international and regional levels should be taken into consideration in addressing the issue of missiles, Underlining the complexities involved in considering the issue of missiles in the conventional context, Expressing its support for the international efforts against the development and proliferation of all weapons of mass destruction, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the issue of missiles in all its aspects, submitted pursuant to resolution 59/67;A/61/168. 2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Missiles". RESOLUTION 61/5 Adopted at the 39th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.5 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Central African Republic, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda 61/5. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 36/38 of 18 November 1981, 37/8 of 29 October 1982, 38/37 of 5 December 1983, 39/47 of 10 December 1984, 40/60 of 9 December 1985, 41/5 of 17 October 1986, 43/1 of 17 October 1988, 45/4 of 16 October 1990, 47/6 of 21 October 1992, 49/8 of 25 October 1994, 51/11 of 4 November 1996, 53/14 of 29 October 1998, 55/4 of 25 October 2000, 57/36 of 21 November 2002 and 59/3 of 22 October 2004, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization,A/61/256/Add.1, part five. Having heard the statement made by the Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization on the steps taken by the Consultative Organization to ensure continuing, close and effective cooperation between the two organizations,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Plenary Meetings, 39th meeting (A/61/PV.39), and corrigendum. Acknowledging in particular the close interaction between the Consultative Organization and the Sixth Committee, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/256/Add.1, part five. 2. Recognizes the continuing efforts of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization towards strengthening the role and function of the United Nations and its various organs in enhancing the rule of law and wider adherence to related international instruments; 3. Notes with satisfaction the commendable progress achieved towards enhancing cooperation between the United Nations, its agencies, other international organizations and the Consultative Organization; 4. Notes with appreciation the work of the Consultative Organization aimed at strengthening the efforts of the United Nations in respect of issues such as combating corruption, international terrorism and trafficking in women and children, as well as human rights issues; 5. Also notes with appreciation the initiative and efforts the Consultative Organization has undertaken to promote the objectives and principles set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. including wider acceptance of treaties deposited with the Secretary-General; 6. Recommends that, with a view to promoting close interaction between the Consultative Organization and the Sixth Committee, the consideration of the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization" should be scheduled to coincide with the deliberations of the Committee on the work of the International Law Commission; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on cooperation between the United Nations and the Consultative Organization; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization". RESOLUTION 61/60 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 175 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 61/60. Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 I of 15 December 1994, 50/70 F of 12 December 1995, 51/45 C of 10 December 1996, 52/38 F of 9 December 1997, 53/77 AA of 4 December 1998, 54/54 U of 1 December 1999, 55/33 M of 20 November 2000, 56/24 D of 29 November 2001, 57/61 of 22 November 2002 and 59/71 of 3 December 2004, as well as its decisions 58/521 of 8 December 2003, 60/518 of 8 December 2005 and 60/559 of 6 June 2006, Recalling also that, there being a consensus to do so in each case, three special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament were held in 1978, 1982 and 1988 respectively, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, adopted by consensus at the first special session devoted to disarmament,Resolution S-10/2. Bearing in mind also the ultimate objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Taking note of paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. which supported the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, which would offer an opportunity to review, from a perspective more in tune with the current international situation, the most critical aspects of the process of disarmament and to mobilize the international community and public opinion in favour of the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and of the control and reduction of conventional weapons, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the Heads of State and Government during the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, held in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which they resolved "to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers", Reiterating its conviction that a special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament can set the future course of action in the fields of disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and related international security matters, Emphasizing the importance of multilateralism in the process of disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and related international security matters, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament,A/57/848. 1. Decides to establish an open-ended working group, working on the basis of consensus, to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, taking note of the paper presented by the Chairman of Working Group II during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament CommissionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex II. and the written proposals and views submitted by Member States as contained in the working papers presented during the three substantive sessions of the Open-ended Working Group in 2003See A/AC.268/2003/WP.2. as well as the reports of the Secretary-General regarding the views of Member States on the objectives, agenda and timing of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament;A/55/130 and Add.1, A/56/166 and A/57/120. 2. Requests the Open-ended Working Group to hold an organizational session in order to set the date for its substantive sessions in 2007 and to submit a report on its work, including possible substantive recommendations, before the end of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to provide the Open-ended Working Group with the necessary assistance and services as may be required to discharge its tasks; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament". RESOLUTION 61/61 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 173 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America 61/61. Measures to uphold the authority of the 1925 Geneva Protocol The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 59/70 of 3 December 2004, Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling the long-standing determination of the international community to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical and biological weapons as well as the continuing support for measures to uphold the authority of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. as expressed by consensus in many previous resolutions, Emphasizing the necessity of easing international tension and strengthening trust and confidence between States, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General;A/61/116. 2. Renews its previous call to all States to observe strictly the principles and objectives of the Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare,League of Nations, Treaty Series, vol. XCIV (1929), No. 2138. and reaffirms the vital necessity of upholding its provisions; 3. Calls upon those States that continue to maintain reservations to the 1925 Geneva Protocol to withdraw them; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 61/62 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 120 to 7, with 51 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Andorra, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, Vanuatu 61/62. Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation The General Assembly, Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 56/24 T of 29 November 2001 on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism and other relevant resolutions, as well as its resolutions 57/63 of 22 November 2002, 58/44 of 8 December 2003, 59/69 of 3 December 2004 and 60/59 of 8 December 2005 on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, Recalling also the purpose of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security and, to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, as enshrined in the Charter, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which states, inter alia, that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role, Convinced that, in the globalization era and with the information revolution, arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament problems are more than ever the concern of all countries in the world, which are affected in one way or another by these problems and, therefore, should have the possibility to participate in the negotiations that arise to tackle them, Bearing in mind the existence of a broad structure of disarmament and arms regulation agreements resulting from non-discriminatory and transparent multilateral negotiations with the participation of a large number of countries, regardless of their size and power, Aware of the need to advance further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory and transparent negotiations with the goal of reaching general and complete disarmament under strict international control, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament, Recognizing also that the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are among the most immediate threats to international peace and security which need to be dealt with, with the highest priority, Considering that the multilateral disarmament agreements provide the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of, the provisions of the agreements and that such consultations and cooperation may also be undertaken through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the Charter, Stressing that international cooperation, the peaceful settlement of disputes, dialogue and confidence-building measures would contribute essentially to the creation of multilateral and bilateral friendly relations among peoples and nations, Being concerned at the continuous erosion of multilateralism in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and recognizing that a resort to unilateral actions by Member States in resolving their security concerns would jeopardize international peace and security and undermine confidence in the international security system as well as the foundations of the United Nations itself, Noting that the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006, welcomed the adoption of General Assembly resolution 60/59 on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, and underlined the fact that multilateralism and multilaterally agreed solutions, in accordance with the Charter, provide the only sustainable method of addressing disarmament and international security issues, Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations, 1. Reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope; 2. Also reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in resolving disarmament and non-proliferation concerns; 3. Urges the participation of all interested States in multilateral negotiations on arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner; 4. Underlines the importance of preserving the existing agreements on arms regulation and disarmament, which constitute an expression of the results of international cooperation and multilateral negotiations in response to the challenges facing mankind; 5. Calls once again upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursuing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation; 6. Requests the States parties to the relevant instruments on weapons of mass destruction to consult and cooperate among themselves in resolving their concerns with regard to cases of non-compliance as well as on implementation, in accordance with the procedures defined in those instruments, and to refrain from resorting or threatening to resort to unilateral actions or directing unverified non-compliance accusations against one another to resolve their concerns; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies of Member States on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, submitted pursuant to resolution 60/59;A/61/114. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the issue of the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation". RESOLUTION 61/63 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 175 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel, Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/63. Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, 55/33 K of 20 November 2000, 56/24 F of 29 November 2001, 57/64 of 22 November 2002, 58/45 of 8 December 2003, 59/68 of 3 December 2004 and 60/60 of 8 December 2005, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 60/60,A/61/113. Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress within the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;A/61/113. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing this information to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". RESOLUTION 61/64 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries) and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 178 to 1, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel 61/64. Relationship between disarmament and development The General Assembly, Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations envisages the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, Recalling also the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly concerning the relationship between disarmament and development,See resolution S-10/2. as well as the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 December 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998, 54/54 T of 1 December 1999, 55/33 L of 20 November 2000, 56/24 E of 29 November 2001, 57/65 of 22 November 2002, 59/78 of 3 December 2004 and 60/61 of 8 December 2005, and its decision 58/520 of 8 December 2003, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. and the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Mindful of the changes in international relations that have taken place since the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, including the development agenda that has emerged over the past decade, Bearing in mind the new challenges for the international community in the field of development, poverty eradication and the elimination of the diseases that afflict humanity, Stressing the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the important role of security in this connection, and concerned at increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs, Recalling the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and developmentSee A/59/119. and its reappraisal of this significant issue in the current international context, 1. Stresses the central role of the United Nations in the disarmament-development relationship, and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen further the role of the Organization in this field, in particular the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development, in order to assure continued and effective coordination and close cooperation between the relevant United Nations departments, agencies and sub-agencies; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. 3. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries; 4. Encourages the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to make reference to the contribution that disarmament could provide in meeting them when it reviews its progress towards this purpose in 2006, as well as to make greater efforts to integrate disarmament, humanitarian and development activities; 5. Encourages the relevant regional and subregional organizations and institutions, non-governmental organizations and research institutes to incorporate issues related to the relationship between disarmament and development in their agendas and, in this regard, to take into account the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development;See A/59/119. 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development". RESOLUTION 61/65 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guyana, Iraq, Ireland, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Sweden and Timor-Leste. by a recorded vote of 157 to 7, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Belarus, Bhutan, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia 61/65. Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/56 of 8 December 2005, Expressing its grave concern at the danger to humanity posed by the possibility that nuclear weapons could be used, Reaffirming that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes requiring urgent irreversible progress on both fronts, Mindful of the contribution of the final report of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission,Weapons of Terror: Freeing the World of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Arms (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.06.I.17). Recalling the decisions and the resolution on the Middle East of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). Recalling also the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, in accordance with commitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Urging States parties to exert all possible efforts to ensure a successful and productive preparatory process for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 1. Continues to emphasize the central role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and its universality in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and calls upon all States parties to respect their obligations; 2. Reaffirms that the outcome of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons sets out the agreed process for systematic and progressive efforts towards nuclear disarmament;2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). 3. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to accelerate the implementation of the practical steps towards nuclear disarmament that were agreed upon at the 2000 Review Conference, thereby contributing to a safer world for all; 4. Calls upon all States to comply fully with all commitments made regarding nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and not to act in any way that may compromise either cause or that may lead to a new nuclear arms race; 5. Again calls upon all States parties to spare no effort to achieve the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and urges India, Israel and Pakistan, which are not yet parties to the Treaty, to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without conditions; 6. Condemns the announced nuclear-weapon test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 9 October 2006, all nuclear-weapon tests by States that are not yet parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and any further nuclear-weapon test by any State whatsoever, and urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to rescind its announced withdrawal from the Treaty; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments" and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. RESOLUTION 61/66 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gambia, Guatemala, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 176 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 61/66. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, 57/72 of 22 November 2002, 58/241 of 23 December 2003, 59/86 of 3 December 2004 and 60/81 of 8 December 2005, Emphasizing the importance of the continued and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. Welcoming the efforts by Member States to submit, on a voluntary basis, national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action, Noting with satisfaction regional and subregional efforts being undertaken in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, and commending the progress that has already been made in this regard, including tackling both supply and demand factors that are relevant to addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, Recognizing the efforts undertaken by non-governmental organizations in the provision of assistance to States for the implementation of the Programme of Action, Recalling that, as part of the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, it was agreed that meetings of States should be convened on a biennial basis to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action,Ibid., sect. IV, para. 1 (b). Reiterating the significance of the adoption of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons,A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex; see also decision 60/519. Recognizing that illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons is a serious problem that the international community should address urgently, and in this regard welcoming the decision of the General Assembly to establish a group of governmental experts to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 60/81,See A/61/288. Welcoming the fact that the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See A/CONF.192/2006/RC/9. held from 26 June to 7 July 2006, highlighted the importance of implementing the Programme of Action in the activities of the international community to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, beyond 2006, 1. Encourages all initiatives, including those of the United Nations, other international organizations, regional and subregional organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society, for the successful implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. and calls upon all Member States to contribute towards the continued implementation of the Programme of Action; 2. Regrets the fact that the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action was not able to conclude an outcome document;See A/CONF.192/2006/RC/9. 3. Calls upon all States to implement the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons,A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex; see also decision 60/519. among others, through the provision of information to the Secretary-General on the name and contact information of the national points of contact and on national marking practices related to markings used to indicate country of manufacture and/or country of import, as applicable; 4. Decides that, as stipulated in the Programme of Action, the next biennial meeting of States to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action shall be held no later than in 2008, in New York; 5. Also decides that the meeting of States to consider the implementation of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, shall be held within the framework of the biennial meeting of States; 6. Recalls that the group of governmental experts, established to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons is to submit a report on the outcome of its study to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 7. Emphasizes the fact that initiatives by the international community with respect to international cooperation and assistance remain essential and complementary to national implementation efforts, as well as to those at the regional and global levels; 8. Continues to encourage all such initiatives, including regional and subregional ones, to mobilize resources and expertise to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action and to provide assistance to States in its implementation; 9. Encourages States to submit national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action and to include in such reports information on their implementation of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in accordance with these instruments, and requests the Secretary-General to collate and circulate such data and information provided by States; 10. Also encourages States to share information on national experiences relating to best practices in the implementation of the Programme of Action; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 61/67 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Sierra Leone. by a recorded vote of 123 to 1, with 52 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 61/67. Declaration of a fourth disarmament decade The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, in particular those relating to its declaration of the First, Second and Third Disarmament Decades,Resolutions 2602 E (XXIV), 35/46 and 45/62 A. Reaffirming the validity of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Recalling the conclusion of the Secretary-General in his latest report to the General Assembly on the work of the Organization, inter alia, that if ever there was a time to break the deadlock in multilateral negotiations and bring disarmament back into the limelight of the international agenda, it is now,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 1 and corrigendum (A/61/1 and Corr.1), para. 95. Seriously concerned at the current disarmament, non-proliferation and international security climate, Recognizing the urgent need to mobilize concerted and more intensive global efforts to reverse the current trend in the field of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, including, where appropriate, indicative targets for accelerating attainment of the objectives of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Conscious of the role that a fourth disarmament decade could play in the mobilization of such global efforts to meet current and emerging challenges in the area of arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation and international security, Directs the Disarmament Commission, at its 2009 substantive session, to prepare elements of a draft declaration of the 2010s as the fourth disarmament decade and to submit them for consideration by the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. RESOLUTION 61/68 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Poland. 61/68. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 60/67 of 8 December 2005, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that, since the adoption of resolution 60/67, six additional States have ratified the Convention or acceded to it, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and eighty, Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including the Political Declaration,See Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, document RC-1/3. in which the States parties reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the objective and purpose of the Convention, and the final report,Ibid., document RC-1/5. which addressed all aspects of the Convention and made important recommendations on its continued implementation, 1. Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. is fundamental to the achievement of its objective and purpose and acknowledges progress made in the implementation of the action plan for the universality of the Convention, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 2. Underlines the fact that the Convention and its implementation contribute to enhancing international peace and security, and emphasizes that its full, universal and effective implementation will contribute further to that purpose by excluding completely, for the sake of all humankind, the possibility of the use of chemical weapons; 3. Stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention, including those on national implementation (article VII) and assistance and protection against chemical weapons (article X), constitutes an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 4. Also stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 5. Reaffirms the obligation of the States parties to the Convention to destroy chemical weapons and to destroy or convert chemical weapons production facilities within the time limits provided for by the Convention; 6. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties; 7. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 8. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 9. Welcomes progress made in the national implementation of the plan of action on the implementation of article VII obligations and commends the States parties and the Technical Secretariat for assisting other States parties, on request, with the implementation of the follow-up to the plan of action regarding article VII obligations, and urges States parties that have not fulfilled their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in accordance with their constitutional processes; 10. Reaffirms the importance of article XI provisions relating to the economic and technological development of States parties and recalls that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of those provisions contributes to universality, and also reaffirms the undertaking of the States parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole; 11. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties, and also notes with appreciation the substantial contribution of the Technical Secretariat and the Director-General to the continued development and success of the Organization; 12. Welcomes the decision of the Conference of the States Parties at its tenth session approving the appointment of Mr. Rogelio Pfirter as the Director-General of the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons;Ibid., document C-10/DEC.7. 13. Also welcomes the beginning of preparatory work by the States parties on the substance of the Second Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention; 14. Draws attention to the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention, on 29 April 2007, which provides a special occasion to publicly renew commitment to the multilateral treaty system and to the objective and purpose of the Convention, and takes note of the unveiling in The Hague on 9 May 2007 of a permanent memorial to all victims of chemical weapons; 15. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 61/69 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Liberia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 167 to 3, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, India, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Pakistan, Palau, Russian Federation, Spain 61/69. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, 55/33 I of 20 November 2000, 56/24 G of 29 November 2001, 57/73 of 22 November 2002, 58/49 of 8 December 2003, 59/85 of 3 December 2004 and 60/58 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Noting the adoption of the Declaration of Santiago de Chile by the Governments of the States members of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean and the States parties to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, during the nineteenth regular session of the General Conference of the Agency, held in Santiago on 7 and 8 November 2005,See A/60/678. Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Also welcomes the ratification by all original parties of the Treaty of Rarotonga, and calls upon eligible States to adhere to the Treaty and the protocols thereto; 3. Further welcomes the efforts towards the completion of the ratification process of the Treaty of Pelindaba, and calls upon the States of the region that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty, with the aim of its early entry into force; 4. Calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet adhered to them; 5. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 6. Also welcomes the signing of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, on 8 September 2006; 7. Affirms its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 8. Welcomes the progress made on increased collaboration within and between zones at the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005, at which States reaffirmed their need to cooperate in order to achieve their common objectives; 9. Congratulates the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, as well as Mongolia, for their efforts to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, and calls upon them to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 10. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of the goals; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". RESOLUTION 61/6 Adopted at the 39th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.6 and Add.1, as orally revised, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia 61/6. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 16 August 2006, which takes stock of the broad and substantive cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union over the past two years,See A/61/256, part three. Taking note of the resolutions adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and circulated in the General Assembly and the many activities undertaken by the organization in support of the United Nations, Welcoming the annual parliamentary hearings at the United Nations as a regular feature of the programme of events held at United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of the sessions of the General Assembly, as well as other specialized parliamentary meetings organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in cooperation with the United Nations in the context of major United Nations conferences and events, Taking into consideration the Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union of 1996,A/51/402, annex. which laid the foundation for cooperation between the two organizations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to strengthen further cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments through their world organization, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in all fields of work of the United Nations and for the effective implementation of United Nations reform, Also recalling its resolution 57/32 of 19 November 2002, in which the Inter-Parliamentary Union was invited to participate in the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer, as well as resolutions 57/47 of 21 November 2002 and 59/19 of 8 November 2004, Taking note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society RelationsSee A/58/817 and Corr.1. in regard to engaging parliamentarians more systematically in the work of the United Nations, 1. Welcomes the efforts made by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to provide for a greater parliamentary contribution and enhanced support to the United Nations; 2. Takes note of the conclusions of the second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament,See A/60/398, annex. held at United Nations Headquarters from 7 to 9 September 2005 in conjunction with the 2005 World Summit; 3. Encourages the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to continue to cooperate closely in various fields, in particular peace and security, economic and social development, international law, human rights, and democracy and gender issues, bearing in mind the significant benefits of cooperation between the two organizations, to which the report of the Secretary-General attests;See A/61/256, part three. 4. Encourages the Inter-Parliamentary Union to strengthen further its contribution to the work of the General Assembly, including its revitalization, as envisaged in resolution 60/286 of 8 September 2006, and in relation to the newly established bodies such as the Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission; 5. Also encourages the Inter-Parliamentary Union to play an active role in support of the Economic and Social Council, particularly in the implementation of the new functions devolved to the Council by the 2005 World Summit; 6. Welcomes the partnership agreement concluded recently between the United Nations Democracy Fund and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and looks forward to growing cooperation in the realm of democracy and good governance; 7. Calls for the further development of the annual parliamentary hearing at the United Nations and other specialized parliamentary meetings in the context of major United Nations meetings as joint United Nations-Inter-Parliamentary Union events; 8. Also calls for closer involvement, as appropriate, of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in the elaboration of system-wide strategies for consideration by the United Nations system and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, with a view to ensuring greater and more coherent support by parliaments to the work of the United Nations; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union". RESOLUTION 61/70 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Brazil. by a recorded vote of 175 to none, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: India, Israel, Pakistan 61/70. 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its Preparatory Committee The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2373 (XXII) of 12 June 1968, the annex to which contains the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See also United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Noting the provisions of article VIII, paragraph 3, of the Treaty regarding the convening of review conferences at five-year intervals, Recalling the outcomes of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2). and of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). Recalling also the decision of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty,Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II), part I. which reaffirmed the provisions in the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 1. Recalling further that the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, held from 2 to 27 May 2005,See NPT/CONF.2005/DC/1. was unable to produce a consensus substantive outcome on the review of the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty, Noting the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, in which it was agreed that review conferences should continue to be held every five years, and noting that, accordingly, the next review conference should be held in 2010, Recalling the decision of the 2000 Review Conference that three sessions of the Preparatory Committee should be held in the years prior to the review conference,Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II), part I. 1. Takes note of the decision of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See also United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. following appropriate consultations, to hold the first session of the Preparatory Committee in Vienna from 30 April to 11 May 2007; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and its Preparatory Committee. RESOLUTION 61/71 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Economic Community of West African States), Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zambia. 61/71. Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/71 of 8 December 2005 on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them, Deeply concerned by the magnitude of human casualty and suffering, especially among children, caused by the illicit proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons, Concerned by the negative impact that the illicit proliferation and use of those weapons continue to have on the efforts of States in the Sahelo-Saharan subregion in the areas of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the maintenance of peace, security and stability, Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted at Bamako on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. Recalling the report of the Secretary-General entitled "In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all",A/59/2005. in which he emphasized that States must strive just as hard to eliminate the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons as they do to eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction, Taking note of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted in 2005,A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex; see also decision 60/519. Welcoming the expression of support in the 2005 World Summit Outcome for the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects,See resolution 60/1, para. 94. Welcoming also the adoption, at the thirtieth ordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States, held in Abuja in June 2006, of the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials, in replacement of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa,A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex. Welcoming further the decision taken by the Economic Community to establish a Small Arms Unit responsible for advocating appropriate policies and developing and implementing programmes, as well as the establishment of the Economic Community's Small Arms Control Programme, launched on 16 June 2006 in Bamako, in replacement of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, Taking note of the latest report of the Secretary-General on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,A/61/288. Welcoming, in that regard, the decision of the European Union to significantly support the Economic Community in its efforts to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, Recognizing the important role that civil society organizations play, in raising public awareness, in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons, Taking note of the report of the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 26 June to 7 July 2006,A/CONF.192/2006/RC/9. 1. Commends the United Nations and international, regional and other organizations for their assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 2. Encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his efforts in the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions, aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons and collecting them in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the African Union; 3. Encourages the international community to support the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials; 4. Encourages the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion to facilitate the effective functioning of national commissions to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and, in that regard, invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible; 5. Encourages the collaboration of civil society organizations and associations of in the efforts of the national commissions to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 6. Also encourages cooperation among State organs, international organizations and civil society in supporting programmes and projects aimed at combating the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 7. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to take action to help to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; 8. Invites the Secretary-General and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to continue to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the matter and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them". RESOLUTION 61/72 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United Republic of Tanzania. by a recorded vote of 175 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Japan 61/72. Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus The General Assembly, Mindful of contributing to the process initiated within the framework of the United Nations reform to make the Organization more effective in maintaining peace and security by giving it the resources and tools it needs for conflict prevention, peaceful resolution of disputes, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction, Underlining the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to disarmament through the development of practical measures, Taking note of the report of the Group of Experts on the problem of ammunition and explosives,See A/54/155. Recalling the recommendation contained in paragraph 27 of the report submitted by the Chairman of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, namely, to address the issue of small arms and light weapons ammunition in a comprehensive manner as part of a separate process conducted within the framework of the United Nations,A/60/88 and Corr.2. Noting with satisfaction the work and measures pursued at the regional and subregional levels with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition, Recalling its decision 59/515 of 3 December 2004 and its resolution 60/74 of 8 December 2005, by which it decided to include the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus in the agenda of its sixty-first session, 1. Encourages all interested States to assess, on a voluntary basis, whether, in conformity with their legitimate security needs, parts of their stockpiles of conventional ammunition should be considered to be in surplus, and recognizes that the security of such stockpiles must be taken into consideration and that appropriate controls with regard to the security and safety of stockpiles of conventional ammunition are indispensable at the national level in order to eliminate the risk of explosion, pollution or diversion; 2. Appeals to all interested States to determine the size and nature of their surplus stockpiles of conventional ammunition, whether they represent a security risk, if appropriate, their means of destruction, and whether external assistance is needed to eliminate this risk; 3. Encourages States in a position to do so to assist interested States within a bilateral framework or through international or regional organizations, on a voluntary and transparent basis, in elaborating and implementing programmes to eliminate surplus stockpiles or to improve their management; 4. Encourages all Member States to examine the possibility of developing and implementing, within a national, regional or subregional framework, measures to address accordingly the illicit trafficking related to the accumulation of such stockpiles; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States regarding the risks arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus and regarding national ways of strengthening controls on conventional ammunition, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 6. Decides to address the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus in a comprehensive manner; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a group of governmental experts to consider, commencing no later than 2008, further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus, and to transmit the report of the group of experts to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-third session; 8. Decides to include this issue in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 61/73 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey. 61/73. United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/33 E of 20 November 2000, 57/60 of 22 November 2002 and 59/93 of 3 December 2004, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/61/169 and Add.1. in which the Secretary-General reported on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/57/124. Emphasizing that the Secretary-General concludes in his report that efforts need to be continued to implement the recommendations of the study and follow the good examples of how they are being implemented to stimulate even further long-term results, Desirous of stressing the urgency of promoting concerted international efforts at disarmament and non-proliferation, in particular in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, with a view to strengthening international security and enhancing sustainable economic and social development, Conscious of the need to combat the negative effects of cultures of violence and complacency in the face of current dangers in this field through long-term programmes of education and training, Remaining convinced that the need for disarmament and non-proliferation education has never been greater, especially on the subject of weapons of mass destruction, but also in the field of small arms and light weapons, terrorism and other challenges to international security and the process of disarmament, as well as on the relevance of implementing the recommendations contained in the United Nations study, Recognizing the importance of the role of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation education, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Member States, the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, which, within their purview, implemented the recommendations made in the United Nations study,A/57/124. as discussed in the report of the Secretary-General reviewing the implementation of the recommendations,A/61/169 and Add.1. and encourages them once again to continue applying those recommendations and reporting to the Secretary-General on steps taken to implement them; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report reviewing the results of the implementation of the recommendations and possible new opportunities for promoting disarmament and non-proliferation education, and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to utilize electronic means to the fullest extent possible in the dissemination, in as many official languages as feasible, of information related to that report and any other information that the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat gathers on an ongoing basis in regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Disarmament and non-proliferation education". RESOLUTION 61/74 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine and United Republic of Tanzania. by a recorded vote of 167 to 4, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Pakistan, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Myanmar 61/74. Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling the need for all States to take further practical steps and effective measures towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, with a view to achieving a peaceful and safe world free of nuclear weapons, and renewing the determination to do so, Noting that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling its resolution 60/65 of 8 December 2005, Convinced that every effort should be made to avoid nuclear war and nuclear terrorism, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and expressing regret over the lack of agreement on substantive issues at the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as over the elimination of references to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in the World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. in 2005, the year of the sixtieth anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, Recalling the decisions and the resolution of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament are mutually reinforcing, Reaffirming that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and thereby ensuring international peace and security, Expressing deep concern regarding the growing dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, inter alia, nuclear weapons, including that caused by proliferation networks, Condemning the nuclear test proclaimed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 9 October 2006, 1. Reaffirms the importance of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. complying with their obligations under all the articles of the Treaty; 2. Stresses the importance of an effective Treaty review process, and calls upon all States parties to the Treaty to work together to ensure that the first session of the Preparatory Committee in 2007 is held constructively, in order to facilitate the successful outcome of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 3. Reaffirms the importance of the universality of the Treaty, and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions, and pending their accession to refrain from acts that would defeat the objective and purpose of the Treaty as well as to take practical steps in support of the Treaty; 4. Encourages further steps leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty, including deeper reductions in all types of nuclear weapons, and emphasizes the importance of applying irreversibility and verifiability, as well as increased transparency in a way that promotes international stability and undiminished security for all, in the process of working towards the elimination of nuclear weapons; 5. Encourages the Russian Federation and the United States of America to implement fully the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions,See CD/1674. which should serve as a step for further nuclear disarmament, and to undertake nuclear arms reductions beyond those provided for by the Treaty, while welcoming the progress made by nuclear-weapon States, including the Russian Federation and the United States, on nuclear arms reductions; 6. Encourages States to continue to pursue efforts, within the framework of international cooperation, contributing to the reduction of nuclear-weapons-related materials; 7. Calls for the nuclear-weapon States to further reduce the operational status of nuclear weapons systems in ways that promote international stability and security; 8. Stresses the necessity of a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination, in a way that promotes international stability and based on the principle of undiminished security for all; 9. Urges all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. at the earliest opportunity with a view to its early entry into force, stresses the importance of maintaining existing moratoriums on nuclear-weapon test explosions pending the entry into force of the Treaty, and reaffirms the importance of the continued development of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty verification regime, including the international monitoring system, which will be required to provide assurance of compliance with the Treaty; 10. Calls upon the Conference on Disarmament to immediately resume its substantive work to its fullest, considering the developments of this year in the Conference; 11. Emphasizes the importance of the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty and its early conclusion, and calls upon all nuclear-weapon States and States not parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to declare moratoriums on the production of fissile material for any nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices pending the entry into force of the Treaty; 12. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 13. Stresses the importance of further efforts for non-proliferation, including the universalization of the International Atomic Energy Agency comprehensive safeguards agreements and Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 15 May 1997International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). and the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004; 14. Encourages all States to undertake concrete activities to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session,A/57/124. and to voluntarily share information on efforts they have been undertaking to that end; 15. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. RESOLUTION 61/75 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 178 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel 61/75. Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/66 of 8 December 2005, Reaffirming that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger to international peace and security, Conscious that further measures should be examined in the search for agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, including resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990 and 48/74 B of 16 December 1993, which, inter alia, emphasize the need for increased transparency and confirm the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Recalling also the report of the Secretary-General of 15 October 1993 to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session, the annex to which contains the study by governmental experts on the application of confidence-building measures in outer space,A/48/305 and Corr.1. Noting the constructive debate which the Conference on Disarmament held on this subject in 2006, 1. Invites all Member States to submit to the Secretary-General before its sixty-second session concrete proposals on international outer space transparency and confidence-building measures in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation and the prevention of an arms race in outer space; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report with an annex containing concrete proposals from Member States on international outer space transparency and confidence-building measures; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities". RESOLUTION 61/76 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 179 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 61/76. Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 52/38 G of 9 December 1997, 53/77 M of 4 December 1998, 54/54 H of 1 December 1999, 55/33 G of 20 November 2000, 56/24 P of 29 November 2001 and 57/81 of 22 November 2002, its decision 58/519 of 8 December 2003 and its resolution 59/82 of 3 December 2004 entitled "Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures", Convinced that a comprehensive and integrated approach towards certain practical disarmament measures often is a prerequisite to maintaining and consolidating peace and security and thus provides a basis for effective post-conflict peacebuilding; such measures include collection and responsible disposal, preferably through destruction, of weapons obtained through illicit trafficking or illicit manufacture as well as of weapons and ammunition declared by competent national authorities to be surplus to requirements, particularly with regard to small arms and light weapons, unless another form of disposition or use has been officially authorized and provided that such weapons have been duly marked and registered; confidence-building measures; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; demining; and conversion, Noting with satisfaction that the international community is more than ever aware of the importance of such practical disarmament measures, especially with regard to the growing problems arising from the excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition, which pose a threat to peace and security and reduce the prospects for economic development in many regions, particularly in post-conflict situations, Stressing that further efforts are needed in order to develop and effectively implement programmes of practical disarmament in affected areas as part of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration measures so as to complement, on a case-by-case basis, peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on prevention of armed conflict,A/55/985-S/2001/574 and Corr.1. which, inter alia, refers to the role which the proliferation and the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons play in the context of the build-up and sustaining of conflicts, Taking note of the statement by the President of the Security Council of 31 August 2001S/PRST/2001/21; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 January 2001-31 July 2002. underlining the importance of practical disarmament measures in the context of armed conflicts, and, with regard to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, emphasizing the importance of measures to contain the security risks stemming from the use of illicit small arms and light weapons, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small ArmsA/61/288. and, in particular, the recommendations contained therein, as an important contribution to the consolidation of the peace process through practical disarmament measures, Welcoming the work of the Coordinating Action on Small Arms, which was established by the Secretary-General to bring about a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to this complex and multifaceted global problem and to cooperate with non-governmental organizations in the implementation of practical disarmament measures, Welcoming also the reports of the First and Second Biennial Meetings of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 7 to 11 July 2003A/CONF.192/BMS/2003/1. and from 11 to 15 July 2005,A/CONF.192/BMS/2005/1. respectively, as well as the report of the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons,A/60/88 and Corr.2. 1. Stresses the particular relevance of the "Guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with particular emphasis on consolidation of peace in the context of General Assembly resolution 51/45 N", adopted by the Disarmament Commission by consensus at its 1999 substantive session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex III. 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures, submitted pursuant to resolution 59/82,A/61/288. and once again encourages Member States as well as regional arrangements and agencies to lend their support to the implementation of recommendations contained therein; 3. Emphasizes the importance of including in United Nations-mandated peacekeeping missions, as appropriate and with the consent of the host State, practical disarmament measures aimed at addressing the problem of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in conjunction with disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes aimed at former combatants, with a view to promoting an integrated comprehensive and effective weapons management strategy that would contribute to a sustainable peacebuilding process; 4. Welcomes the activities undertaken by the Group of Interested States, and invites the Group to continue to promote, on the basis of lessons learned from previous disarmament and peacebuilding projects, new practical disarmament measures to consolidate peace, especially as undertaken or designed by affected States themselves, regional and subregional organizations as well as United Nations agencies; 5. Encourages Member States, including the Group of Interested States, to continue to lend their support to the Secretary-General, relevant international, regional and subregional organizations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations in responding to requests by Member States to collect and destroy small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition, in post-conflict situations; 6. Welcomes the synergies within the multi-stakeholder process, including Governments, the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and institutions as well as non-governmental organizations in support of practical disarmament measures and the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. in particular, inter alia, through the Coordinating Action on Small Arms; 7. Thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of resolution 59/82,A/61/288. taking into consideration the activities of the Group of Interested States in this regard; 8. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/61/169 and Add.1. as well as his report on the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme;A/61/215. 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of practical disarmament measures, taking into consideration the activities of the Group of Interested States in this regard; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Consolidation of peace through practical disarmament measures". RESOLUTION 61/77 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 158 to none, with 21 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen 61/77. Transparency in armaments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 47/52 L of 15 December 1992, 48/75 E of 16 December 1993, 49/75 C of 15 December 1994, 50/70 D of 12 December 1995, 51/45 H of 10 December 1996, 52/38 R of 9 December 1997, 53/77 V of 4 December 1998, 54/54 O of 1 December 1999, 55/33 U of 20 November 2000, 56/24 Q of 29 November 2001, 57/75 of 22 November 2002, 58/54 of 8 December 2003 and 60/226 of 23 December 2005 entitled "Transparency in armaments", Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the United Nations Register of Conventional ArmsSee resolution 46/36 L. constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters, Welcoming the consolidated report of the Secretary-General on the Register,A/61/159 and Corr.1 and 2 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. which includes the returns of Member States for 2005, Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available background information regarding their military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies, Welcoming further the inclusion by some Member States of their transfers of small arms and light weapons in their annual report to the Register as part of their additional background information, Noting the focused discussion on transparency in armaments that took place in the Conference on Disarmament in 2006, Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure a Register that is capable of attracting the widest possible participation, 1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,See resolution 46/36 L. as provided for in paragraphs 7 to 10 of resolution 46/36 L; 2. Endorses the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development,A/61/261. and the recommendations ensuing from the consensus report of the 2006 group of governmental experts contained therein; 3. Decides to adapt the scope of the Register in conformity with the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development; 4. Calls upon Member States, with a view to achieving universal participation, to provide the Secretary-General, by 31 May annually, with the requested data and information for the Register, including nil reports if appropriate, on the basis of resolutions 46/36 L and 47/52 L, the recommendations contained in paragraph 64 of the 1997 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development,A/52/316 and Corr.2. the recommendations contained in paragraph 94 of the 2000 report of the Secretary-General and the appendices and annexes thereto,A/55/281. the recommendations contained in paragraphs 112 to 114 of the 2003 report of the Secretary-GeneralA/58/274. and the recommendations contained in paragraphs 123 to 127 of the 2006 report of the Secretary-General;A/61/261. 5. Invites Member States in a position to do so, pending further development of the Register, to provide additional information on procurement through national production and military holdings and to make use of the "Remarks" column in the standardized reporting form to provide additional information such as types or models; 6. Also invites Member States in a position to do so to provide additional background information on transfers of small arms and light weapons on the basis of the optional standardized reporting form, as adopted by the 2006 group of governmental experts,A/61/261, annex I. or by any other methods they deem appropriate; 7. Reaffirms its decision, with a view to further development of the Register, to keep the scope of and participation in the Register under review and, to that end: (a) Recalls its request to Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction; (b) Requests the Secretary-General, with a view to the three-year cycle regarding review of the Register, to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for a group of governmental experts to be convened in 2009 to review the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, taking into account the work of the Conference on Disarmament, the views expressed by Member States and the reports of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the recommendations contained in his 2000, 2003 and 2006 reports on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register; 9. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing its work undertaken in the field of transparency in armaments; 10. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooperate at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion, with a view to enhancing and coordinating international efforts aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on progress made in implementing the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Transparency in armaments". RESOLUTION 61/78 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 115 to 48, with 18 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cape Verde, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mauritius, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan 61/78. Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000, 56/24 R of 29 November 2001, 57/79 of 22 November 2002, 58/56 of 8 December 2003, 59/77 of 3 December 2004 and 60/70 of 8 December 2005 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Reaffirming the conviction of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, the decision on the extension of the Treaty and the resolution on the Middle East, adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. Stressing the importance of the thirteen steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as agreed to by the States parties in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Noting with appreciation the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Noting with appreciation also the entry into force of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty") between the United States of America and the Russian FederationSee CD/1674. as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals, Noting with appreciation further the unilateral measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 64 of the Final Document of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 29 and 30 May 2006,A/60/1002-S/2006/718, annex I. Recalling paragraph 70 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament and to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified time framework, Reaffirming the specific mandate conferred upon the Disarmament Commission by the General Assembly, in its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, to discuss the subject of nuclear disarmament as one of its main substantive agenda items, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in international relations, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that, in view of recent political developments, the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to achieving the elimination of these weapons; 2. Reaffirms that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing, that the two processes must go hand in hand and that there is a genuine need for a systematic and progressive process of nuclear disarmament; 3. Welcomes and encourages the efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in different parts of the world on the basis of agreements or arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned, which is an effective measure for limiting the further spread of nuclear weapons geographically and contributes to the cause of nuclear disarmament; 4. Recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 5. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 6. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear-weapon systems; 7. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weapons; 8. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 9. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 10. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, and nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 11. Underscores the importance of the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;Ibid., section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 2. 12. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the thirteen steps for nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. 13. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; 14. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 15. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 16. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 17. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 18. Expresses its regret that the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was unable to achieve any substantive result and that the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted by the General AssemblySee resolution 60/1. failed to make any reference to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation; 19. Also expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament at its 2006 session, as called for in General Assembly resolution 60/70; 20. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2007 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons; 21. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". RESOLUTION 61/79 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay and Zimbabwe. 61/79. Information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Bearing in mind the contribution of confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms, adopted on the initiative and with the agreement of the States concerned, to the improvement of the overall international peace and security situation, Convinced that the relationship between the development of confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms and the international security environment can also be mutually reinforcing, Considering the important role that confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms can also play in creating favourable conditions for progress in the field of disarmament, Recognizing that the exchange of information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, 1. Welcomes all confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms already undertaken by Member States as well as the information on such measures voluntarily provided; 2. Encourages Member States to continue to adopt confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms and to provide information in that regard; 3. Also encourages Member States to continue the dialogue on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms; 4. Welcomes the establishment of the electronic database containing information provided by Member States, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the database updated and to assist Member States, at their request, in the organization of seminars, courses and workshops aimed at enhancing the knowledge of new developments in this field; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Information on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms". RESOLUTION 61/7 Adopted at the 39th plenary meeting, on 20 October 2006, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.7 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, Viet Nam 61/7. Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 33/18 of 10 November 1978, 50/3 of 16 October 1995, 52/2 of 17 October 1997, 54/25 of 15 November 1999, 56/45 of 7 December 2001, 57/43 of 21 November 2002 and 59/22 of 8 November 2004, as well as its decision 53/453 of 18 December 1998, Considering that the International Organization of la Francophonie brings together a considerable number of States Members of the United Nations, among which it promotes multilateral cooperation in areas of interest to the United Nations, Bearing in mind the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations which encourage the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations through regional cooperation, Bearing in mind also that, according to the Charter of la Francophonie adopted on 23 November 2005 at the Ministerial Conference of la Francophonie, held in Antananarivo, the objectives of the International Organization of la Francophonie are to assist in the establishment and development of democracy, the prevention, management and settlement of conflicts and support for the rule of law and for human rights, the intensification of dialogue between cultures and civilizations, the establishment of closer ties among peoples through mutual knowledge and strengthening of their solidarity through multilateral cooperation activities with a view to promoting the growth of their economies, and the promotion of education and training, Welcoming the steps taken by the International Organization of la Francophonie to strengthen its ties with the organizations of the United Nations system and with international and regional organizations with a view to attaining its objectives, Noting with satisfaction the commitment to multilateral cooperation for sustainable development, in particular through education and information technologies, for the purpose of meeting the Millennium Development Goals, undertaken by the Heads of State and Government of countries using French as a common language, at their eleventh summit, held in Bucharest on 28 and 29 September 2006, and their determination to extend the scope of francophone collaboration and cooperation in order to narrow the digital divide, fight poverty and contribute to the emergence of a more equitable form of globalization that will bring progress, peace, democracy and human rights, in full respect for cultural and linguistic diversity, in the interests of the most vulnerable populations and the development of all countries, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 59/22,See A/61/256, part one, sect. XI. Noting with satisfaction the substantial progress achieved in cooperation between the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies and programmes and the International Organization of la Francophonie, Convinced that strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie serves the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting the desire of the two organizations to consolidate, develop and strengthen the ties that exist between them in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, 1. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General,See A/61/256, part one, sect. XI. and welcomes the increasingly close and productive cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie; 2. Notes with satisfaction that the International Organization of la Francophonie participates actively in the work of the United Nations, to which it makes a valuable contribution; 3. Notes with great satisfaction the initiatives taken by the International Organization of la Francophonie in the areas of conflict prevention, the promotion of peace and support for democracy, the rule of law and human rights, in accordance with the commitments reaffirmed at the Ministerial Conference of la Francophonie on Conflict Prevention and Human Security, held on 13 and 14 May 2006 in Saint Boniface, Canada, and commends it on the genuine contribution it makes, in cooperation with the United Nations, in Haiti, the Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic; 4. Welcomes the initiation of cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie, with the participation of other regional and subregional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, in the fields of early warning and conflict prevention, and encourages the pursuit of this initiative with a view to formulating practical recommendations to facilitate the establishment of relevant operational mechanisms, where necessary; 5. Expresses its gratitude to the International Organization of la Francophonie for the steps it has taken in recent years to promote cultural and linguistic diversity and dialogue between cultures and civilizations; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie for their sustained efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two organizations, thereby serving their mutual interests in the political, economic, social and cultural fields; 7. Welcomes the initiation of cooperation between the International Organization of la Francophonie and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat with a view to increasing the number of French-speaking personnel in United Nations peacekeeping operations; 8. Also welcomes the fact that the eleventh summit of la Francophonie was devoted to the use of new technologies in the service of education, and calls upon the specialized agencies and the funds and programmes of the United Nations system to enhance their cooperation with the International Organization of la Francophonie in the area of sustainable development; 9. Further welcomes the involvement of the countries that use French as a common language, particularly through the International Organization of la Francophonie, in the preparation for, conduct of and follow-up to international conferences organized under United Nations auspices; 10. Commends the high-level meetings held periodically between the United Nations Secretariat and the Secretariat of the International Organization of la Francophonie, and advocates the participation of those Secretariats in major meetings of the two organizations; 11. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for including the International Organization of la Francophonie in the periodic meetings he holds with heads of regional organizations, and invites him to continue doing so, taking into account the role played by the International Organization of la Francophonie in conflict prevention and support for democracy and the rule of law; 12. Notes with satisfaction the continued collaboration between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie in the area of electoral monitoring and assistance, and advocates the strengthening of cooperation between the two organizations in that area; 13. Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to encourage the holding of periodic meetings between representatives of the United Nations Secretariat and representatives of the Secretariat of the International Organization of la Francophonie in order to promote the exchange of information, coordination of activities and identification of new areas of cooperation; 14. Welcomes the participation of the International Organization of la Francophonie in the Peacebuilding Commission's work on Burundi, and strongly encourages the International Organization of la Francophonie and the Peacebuilding Commission to continue to cooperate actively; 15. Invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to take the necessary steps, in consultation with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie, to continue to promote cooperation between the two organizations; 16. Invites the specialized agencies and the funds and programmes of the United Nations system, as well as the regional commissions, including the Economic Commission for Africa, to collaborate to this end with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of la Francophonie by identifying new synergies in favour of development, in particular in the areas of poverty elimination, energy, sustainable development, education, training and the development of new information technologies; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie". RESOLUTION 61/80 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. 61/80. Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999, 55/33 O of 20 November 2000, 56/24 H of 29 November 2001, 57/76 of 22 November 2002, 58/38 of 8 December 2003, 59/89 of 3 December 2004 and 60/63 of 8 December 2005 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". RESOLUTION 61/81 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan and Ukraine. 61/81. Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 58/43 of 8 December 2003, 59/87 of 3 December 2004 and 60/64 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 entitled "Prevention of armed conflict", in which it calls upon Member States to settle their disputes by peaceful means, as set out in Chapter VI of the Charter, inter alia, by any procedures adopted by the parties, Recalling further the resolutions and guidelines adopted by consensus by the General Assembly and the Disarmament Commission relating to confidence-building measures and their implantation at the global, regional and subregional levels, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the agreement of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability, Convinced that resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recognizing the need for meaningful dialogue among States concerned to avert conflict, Welcoming the peace processes already initiated by States concerned to resolve their disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through mediation, inter alia, by third parties, regional organizations or the United Nations, Recognizing that States in some regions have already taken steps towards confidence-building measures at the bilateral, subregional and regional levels in the political and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, and noting that such confidence-building measures have improved peace and security in those regions and contributed to progress in the socio-economic conditions of their people, Concerned that the continuation of disputes among States, particularly in the absence of an effective mechanism to resolve them through peaceful means, may contribute to the arms race and endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and the efforts of the international community to promote arms control and disarmament, 1. Calls upon Member States to refrain from the use or threat of use of force in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the Charter, in particular Article 33, which provides for a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means chosen by the parties; 3. Reaffirms the ways and means regarding confidence- and security-building measures set out in the report of the Disarmament Commission on its 1993 session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II, sect. III.A. 4. Calls upon Member States to pursue these ways and means through sustained consultations and dialogue, while at the same time avoiding actions which may hinder or impair such a dialogue; 5. Urges States to comply strictly with all bilateral, regional and international agreements, including arms control and disarmament agreements, to which they are party; 6. Emphasizes that the objective of confidence-building measures should be to help strengthen international peace and security and be consistent with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments; 7. Encourages the promotion of bilateral and regional confidence-building measures, with the consent and participation of the parties concerned, to avoid conflict and prevent the unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session containing the views of Member States on confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context". RESOLUTION 61/82 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Liberia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 177 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstaining: Bhutan 61/82. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002, 58/39 of 8 December 2003, 59/88 of 3 December 2004 and 60/75 of 8 December 2005, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". RESOLUTION 61/83 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Uruguay and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 125 to 27, with 29 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Montenegro, Nauru, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 61/83. Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999, 55/33 X of 20 November 2000, 56/24 S of 29 November 2001, 57/85 of 22 November 2002, 58/46 of 8 December 2003, 59/83 of 3 December 2004 and 60/76 of 8 December 2005, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear-arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Emphasizing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, adopted at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,Ibid., vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. Bangkok,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. PelindabaA/50/426, annex. and Semipalatinsk,Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. as well as Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status, are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Stressing the importance of strengthening all existing nuclear-related disarmament and arms control and reduction measures, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference during its 2006 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Expressing its regret over the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach agreement on any substantive issues, Expressing its deep concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of the thirteen steps to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the implementation of resolution 60/76,A/61/127 and Add.1. 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its sixty-second session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 61/84 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 161 to none, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 61/84. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002, 58/53 of 8 December 2003, 59/84 of 3 December 2004 and 60/80 of 8 December 2005, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians, including children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Welcoming the entry into force, on 1 March 1999, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. and noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards addressing the global landmine problem, Recalling the first to sixth meetings of the States parties to the Convention held in Maputo (1999),See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1. Geneva (2000),See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1. Managua (2001),See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1. Geneva (2002),See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1. Bangkok (2003)See APLC/MSP.5/2003/5. and Zagreb (2005),See APLC/MSP.6/2005/5. and the First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Nairobi (2004),See APLC/CONF/2004/5 and Corr.1. Recalling also the seventh meeting of the States parties to the Convention, held in Geneva from 18 to 22 September 2006, at which the international community monitored progress and supported continued application of the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009Ibid., part III. and established priorities to achieve further progress towards ending, for all people and for all time, the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines, Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and fifty-one, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but have not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention, including through the continued implementation of the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009;Ibid., part III. 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes and the removal and destruction of anti-personnel mines placed or stockpiled throughout the world; 7. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Convention through bilateral, subregional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach, seminars and other means; 8. Invites and encourages all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate in the eighth meeting of the States parties to the Convention, to be held in Jordan from 18 to 22 November 2007, and in the intersessional work programme established at the first meeting of the States parties and further developed at subsequent meetings of the States parties; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the next meeting of the States parties and, on behalf of the States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the eighth meeting of the States parties as observers; 10. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 61/85 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Chile, Cuba, Haiti, India, Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Sudan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 118 to 52, with 13 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan 61/85. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the imperative need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to de-alerting and de-targeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in the security policies of nuclear-weapon States would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling that in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. it is stated that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons, including through de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 60/79 of 8 December 2005;A/61/127 and Add.1. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war,See A/56/400, para. 3. and also to continue to encourage Member States to endeavour to create conditions that would allow the emergence of an international consensus to hold an international conference as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". RESOLUTION 61/86 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Zambia. 61/86. Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/78 of 8 December 2005, Recognizing the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evidenced in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and in particular by the fact that terrorists may seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, Cognizant of the steps taken by States to implement Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, adopted on 28 April 2004, Welcoming the adoption, by consensus, of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism on 13 April 2005,Resolution 59/290, annex. Welcoming also the adoption, by consensus, of amendments to strengthen the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear MaterialUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1456, No. 24631. by the International Atomic Energy Agency on 8 July 2005, Noting the support expressed in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. for measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, Noting also that the Group of Eight, the European Union, the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others have taken into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, and the need for international cooperation in combating it, Acknowledging the consideration of issues relating to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,See A/59/361. Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its fiftieth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fiftieth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2006 (GC(50)/RES/DEC(2006)). Taking note also of the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted on 16 September 2005 at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General AssemblySee resolution 60/1. and the adoption of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. Taking note further of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 5 of resolution 60/78,A/61/171 and Add.1. Mindful of the urgent need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, this threat to humanity, Emphasizing that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to help to maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism, 1. Calls upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Appeals to all Member States to consider signing and ratifying the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear TerrorismResolution 59/290, annex. in order to bring about its early entry into force; 3. Urges all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture, and invites them to inform the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, of the measures taken in this regard; 4. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and relevant regional and international organizations for strengthening national capacities in this regard; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a report on measures already taken by international organizations on issues relating to the linkage between the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to seek the views of Member States on additional relevant measures for tackling the global threat posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". RESOLUTION 61/87 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: France, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Morocco and United States of America. 61/87. Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status- The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/77 D of 4 December 1998, 55/33 S of 20 November 2000, 57/67 of 22 November 2002 and 59/73 of 3 December 2004, Recalling also the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Bearing in mind its resolution 49/31 of 9 December 1994 on the protection and security of small States, Proceeding from the fact that nuclear-weapon-free status is one of the means of ensuring the national security of States, Convinced that the internationally recognized status of Mongolia will contribute to enhancing stability and confidence-building in the region as well as promote Mongolia's security by strengthening its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders and the preservation of its ecological balance, Taking note of the adoption by the Mongolian parliament of legislation defining and regulating Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free statusSee A/55/56-S/2000/160. as a concrete step towards promoting the aims of nuclear non-proliferation, Bearing in mind the joint statement of the five nuclear-weapon States on security assurances to Mongolia in connection with its nuclear-weapon-free statusA/55/530-S/2000/1052, annex. as a contribution to implementing resolution 53/77 D as well as their commitment to Mongolia to cooperate in the implementation of the resolution, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, Noting that the joint statement has been transmitted to the Security Council by the five nuclear-weapon States, Mindful of the support expressed for Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status by the Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Countries at the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2003See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. and the Fourteenth Conference, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,See A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. Noting that the States parties and signatories to the Treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. and the State of Mongolia expressed their recognition and full support of Mongolia's international nuclear-weapon-free status at the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005,See A/60/121, annex III. Noting also other measures taken to implement resolution 59/73 at the national and international levels, Welcoming Mongolia's active and positive role in developing peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the States of the region and other States, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status,A/61/164. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 59/73;A/61/164. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the efforts to implement resolution 59/73;Ibid., sect. III. 3. Endorses and supports Mongolia's good-neighbourly and balanced relationship with its neighbours as an important element of strengthening regional peace, security and stability; 4. Welcomes the efforts made by Member States to cooperate with Mongolia in implementing resolution 59/73, as well as the progress made in consolidating Mongolia's international security; 5. Invites Member States to continue to cooperate with Mongolia in taking the necessary measures to consolidate and strengthen Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders, its independent foreign policy, its economic security and its ecological balance, as well as its nuclear-weapon-free status; 6. Appeals to the Member States of the Asia and Pacific region to support Mongolia's efforts to join the relevant regional security and economic arrangements; 7. Requests the Secretary-General and relevant United Nations bodies to continue to provide assistance to Mongolia in taking the necessary measures mentioned in paragraph 5 above; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Mongolia's international security and nuclear-weapon-free status". RESOLUTION 61/88 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. by a recorded vote of 141 to 3, with 37 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey 61/88. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/38 S of 9 December 1997, 53/77 A of 4 December 1998, 55/33 W of 20 November 2000 and 57/69 of 22 November 2002, and its decisions 54/417 of 1 December 1999, 56/412 of 29 November 2001, 58/518 of 8 December 2003, 59/513 of 3 December 2004 and 60/516 of 8 December 2005, Convinced that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones contributes to the achievement of general and complete disarmament, and emphasizing the importance of internationally recognized treaties on the establishment of such zones in different regions of the world in the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime, Considering that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regionKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. constitutes an important step towards strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and in the environmental rehabilitation of territories affected by radioactive contamination, and enhancing regional and international peace and security, Considering also the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia as an effective contribution to combating international terrorism and preventing nuclear materials and technologies from falling into the hands of non-State actors, primarily terrorists, Reaffirming the universally recognized role of the United Nations in the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, 1. Welcomes the signing of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, on 8 September 2006; 2. Notes the readiness of the Central Asian countries to continue consultations with the nuclear-weapon States on a number of provisions of the Treaty; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia". RESOLUTION 61/89 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/394, para. 108), The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 153 to 1, with 24 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia Against: United States of America Abstaining: Bahrain, Belarus, China, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Marshall Islands, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe 61/89. Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming its respect for and commitment to international law, Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 56/24 V of 24 December 2001 and 60/69 and 60/82 of 8 December 2005, Recognizing that arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Reaffirming the inherent right of all States to individual or collective self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter, Acknowledging the right of all States to manufacture, import, export, transfer and retain conventional arms for self-defence and security needs, and in order to participate in peace support operations, Recalling the obligations of all States to fully comply with arms embargoes decided by the Security Council in accordance with the Charter, Reaffirming its respect for international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and the Charter, Taking note of and encouraging relevant initiatives, undertaken at the international, regional and subregional levels between States, including those of the United Nations, and of the role played by non-governmental organizations and civil society, to enhance cooperation, improve information exchange and transparency and implement confidence-building measures in the field of responsible arms trade, Recognizing that the absence of common international standards on the import, export and transfer of conventional arms is a contributory factor to conflict, the displacement of people, crime and terrorism, thereby undermining peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development, Acknowledging the growing support across all regions for concluding a legally binding instrument negotiated on a non-discriminatory, transparent and multilateral basis, to establish common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the feasibility, scope and draft parameters for a comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, and to submit a report on the subject to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General to establish a group of governmental experts, on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, informed by the report of the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, to examine, commencing in 2008, the feasibility, scope and draft parameters for a comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms, and to transmit the report of the group of experts to the Assembly for consideration at its sixty-third session; 3. Further requests the Secretary-General to provide the group of governmental experts with any assistance and services that may be required for the discharge of its tasks; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session an item entitled "Towards an arms trade treaty: establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms". RESOLUTION 61/8 Adopted at the 43rd plenary meeting, on 30 October 2006, by a recorded vote of 114 to 1, with 1 abstention,* on the basis of draft resolution A/61/L.9 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay * In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Abstaining: Zambia 61/8. Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency The General Assembly, Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2005,International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2005 (GC(50)/4); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/61/266). Taking note of the statement by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Plenary Meetings, 42nd meeting (A/61/PV.42), and corrigendum. in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 2006, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency, Recognizing also the cooperation between the United Nations and the Agency and the Agreement governing the relationship between the United Nations and the Agency as approved by the General Conference of the Agency on 23 October 1957 and by the General Assembly in the annex to its resolution 1145 (XII) of 14 November 1957, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2005 (GC(50)/4); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/61/266). 2. Takes note of resolutions GC(50)/RES/10A on measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management; GC(50)/RES/10B on transport safety; GC(50)/RES/11 on progress on measures to protect against nuclear and radiological terrorism; GC(50)/RES/12 on strengthening of the Agency's technical cooperation activities; GC(50)/RES/13 on strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, comprising GC(50)/RES/13A on non-power nuclear applications, GC(50)/RES/13B on nuclear power applications and GC(50)/RES/13C on nuclear knowledge; GC(50)/RES/14 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and application of the Model Additional Protocol; GC(50)/RES/15 on the implementation of the Agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; GC(50)/RES/16 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East; and decisions GC(50)/DEC/11 on the amendment to article XIV.A of the Statute and GC(50)/DEC/12 on the amendment to article VI of the Statute, adopted on 22 September 2006 by the General Conference of the Agency at its fiftieth regular session;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fiftieth Regular Session, 18-22 September 2006 (GC(50)/RES/DEC(2006)). 3. Reaffirms its strong support for the indispensable role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security; 4. Appeals to Member States to continue to support the activities of the Agency; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency. RESOLUTION 61/90 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 61/90. United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/83 of 8 December 2005 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/61/137. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/61/163. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/61/157. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament, and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 146 of the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the decision adopted by the General Assembly on maintaining and revitalizing the three regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo,See A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security and that are aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their activities and initiatives; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the activities of the regional branch of the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". RESOLUTION 61/91 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/91. United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/130 and Corr.1. Recalling its decision, contained in paragraph 108 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, to establish a programme of fellowships on disarmament, as well as its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General Assembly,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. the second special session devoted to disarmament, in which it decided, inter alia, to continue the programme, Noting that the programme continues to contribute significantly to developing greater awareness of the importance and benefits of disarmament and a better understanding of the concerns of the international community in the field of disarmament and security, as well as to enhancing the knowledge and skills of fellows, allowing them to participate more effectively in efforts in the field of disarmament at all levels, Noting with satisfaction that the programme has trained a large number of officials from Member States throughout its twenty-eight years of existence, many of whom hold positions of responsibility in the field of disarmament within their own Governments, Recognizing the need for Member States to take into account gender equality when nominating candidates to the programme, Recalling all the annual resolutions on the matter since the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly, in 1982, including resolution 50/71 A of 12 December 1995, Believing that the forms of assistance available to Member States, in particular to developing countries, under the programme will enhance the capabilities of their officials to follow ongoing deliberations and negotiations on disarmament, both bilateral and multilateral, 1. Reaffirms its decisions contained in annex IV to the Concluding Document of the Twelfth Special Session of the General AssemblyOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Annexes, agenda items 9-13, document A/S-12/32. and the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/33/305. approved by the Assembly in its resolution 33/71 E of 14 December 1978; 2. Expresses its appreciation to all Member States and organizations that have consistently supported the programme throughout the years, thereby contributing to its success, in particular to the Governments of Germany and Japan for the continuation of extensive and highly educative study visits for the participants in the programme, and to the Government of the People's Republic of China for organizing a study visit for the fellows in the area of disarmament; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the Monterey Institute of International Studies for having organized specific study programmes in the field of disarmament in their respective areas of competence, thereby contributing to the objectives of the programme; 4. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with which the programme has continued to be carried out; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement annually the Geneva-based programme within existing resources and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "United Nations disarmament fellowship, training and advisory services". RESOLUTION 61/92 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Ecuador (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States) and Senegal. 61/92. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, 54/55 F of 1 December 1999, 55/34 E of 20 November 2000, 56/25 E of 29 November 2001, 57/89 of 22 November 2002, 58/60 of 8 December 2003, 59/99 of 3 December 2004 and 60/84 of 8 December 2005, Recognizing that the Regional Centre has continued to provide substantive support for the implementation of regional and subregional initiatives and has intensified its contribution to the coordination of United Nations efforts towards peace, disarmament and the promotion of economic and social development, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/157. which, inter alia, concludes that the Regional Centre has continued to provide assistance to States in the Latin American and Caribbean region in the implementation of regional initiatives in the areas of peace, disarmament and development and that during the period under review such assistance was provided in the area of practical disarmament, such as weapons destruction and training courses; the preparation of national reports on weapons-related instruments; the creation of mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of disarmament treaties; and the provision of forums for discussion among States to facilitate their reaching common positions on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, and welcoming also the Centre's initiation of the process of transferring to the African region its knowledge and best practices in the area of training courses for the law enforcement community on the prevention of illicit firearms trafficking, Recalling the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development,See A/59/119. referred to in General Assembly resolution 59/78 of 3 December 2004, which is of utmost interest with regard to the role that the Regional Centre plays in promoting the issue in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament, Noting that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Welcoming the support provided by the Regional Centre to strengthening the nuclear-weapon-free zone established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. as well as to promoting and assisting the ratification and implementation of existing multilateral agreements related to weapons of mass destruction and to promoting peace and disarmament education projects during the period under review, Bearing in mind the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Bearing in mind also the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources and cooperation for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction and congratulates the Regional Centre for the activities carried out in the last year in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, and requests the Centre to take into account the proposals to be submitted by the countries of the region in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, transparency, disarmament and development at the regional level; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Latin American and Caribbean region, and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to make and to increase voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 5. Invites all States of the region to continue to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its programme of activities and making greater and better use of the potential of the Centre to meet the current challenges facing the international community with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the areas of peace, disarmament and development; 6. Recognizes that the Regional Centre has an important role in the promotion and development of regional initiatives agreed upon by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as in the relationship between disarmament and development; 7. Encourages the Regional Centre to further develop activities in the important area of disarmament and development; 8. Highlights the conclusion contained in the report of the Secretary-General that, through its activities, the Regional Centre has demonstrated its role as a viable regional actor in assisting States in the region to advance the cause of peace, disarmament and development in Latin America and the Caribbean;See A/61/157, para. 49. 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support, within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". RESOLUTION 61/93 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Barbados, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 61/93. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998, 54/55 B of 1 December 1999, 55/34 D of 20 November 2000, 56/25 D of 29 November 2001, 57/91 of 22 November 2002, 58/61 of 8 December 2003, 59/101 of 3 December 2004 and 60/86 of 8 December 2005, Aware of the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/137. in which he stated that the Regional Centre continued to operate under enormous uncertainty owing to a persistent decline in voluntary contributions in support of its activities, Concerned that the activities and staffing of the Regional Centre have been reduced in view of the limited resources at its disposal, Deeply concerned that, as noted in the report of the Secretary-General, the future of the Regional Centre looks bleak, as there is no foreseeable reliable source of funding that would ensure its operational sustainability, Bearing in mind the efforts undertaken to mobilize the necessary resources for the operational costs of the Regional Centre, Conscious of the need to review the mandate and programmes of the Regional Centre in the light of developments in the field of peace and security in Africa since its establishment, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, in particular its institutions in the field of peace, disarmament and security, as well as with relevant United Nations bodies and programmes in Africa for greater effectiveness, Recalling that the General Assembly, in its resolution 60/86, requested the Secretary-General to establish, within existing resources, a consultative mechanism of interested States, in particular African States, for the reorganization of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-first session, 1. Notes that the year 2006 commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa in Lomé; 2. Notes with satisfaction the establishment by the Secretary-General of the Consultative Mechanism for the Reorganization of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and its work aimed at enabling the Centre to effectively fulfil its mandate in responding to the demands and needs of Africa in the field of peace and disarmament; 3. Requests the Consultative Mechanism to continue its work, including reviewing the mandate and programmes of the Regional Centre in the light of developments in the field of peace and security in Africa since its establishment, with a view to identifying concrete measures to revitalize the Centre; 4. Urges all States, as well as international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the African Union, in particular in the areas of peace, security and development, and to continue to provide assistance towards stabilizing the financial situation of the Centre; 7. Appeals in particular to the Regional Centre, in cooperation with the African Union, regional and subregional organizations and the African States, to take steps to promote the consistent implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". RESOLUTION 61/94 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. 61/94. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/163. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre has been a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation for peace and disarmament in the region, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as "the Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of meetings, conferences and workshops in the region, held in Kyoto, Japan, from 17 to 19 August 2005; Busan, Republic of Korea, from 1 to 3 December 2005; Bali, Indonesia, on 21 and 22 December 2005; Bangkok, Thailand, from 17 to 19 May 2006; and Beijing, People's Republic of China, on 12 and 13 July 2006, Welcoming the activities of the Regional Centre in the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation education in the Asia-Pacific region, as recommended in the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/57/124. Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, Appreciating highly the overall support that Nepal has extended as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and voluntary financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Urges the Secretary-General to complete, without any further delay, the internal procedure for finalizing the host country agreement and the related memorandum of understanding and to ensure the physical operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu within six months of the date of signature of the host country agreement and to enable the Centre to function effectively; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTION 61/95 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Uruguay. 61/95. United Nations Disarmament Information Programme The General Assembly, Recalling its decision taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, the second special session devoted to disarmament, by which the World Disarmament Campaign was launched,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolution 47/53 D of 9 December 1992, in which it decided, inter alia, that the World Disarmament Campaign should be known thereafter as the "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme" and the World Disarmament Campaign Voluntary Trust Fund as the "Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme", Recalling its resolutions 51/46 A of 10 December 1996, 53/78 E of 4 December 1998, 55/34 A of 20 November 2000, 57/90 of 22 November 2002 and 59/103 of 3 December 2004, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/215. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/215. in which he underlines that the website of the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme has grown exponentially in content and specialization and is being used by a greater number of Member States and other users; 2. Commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to make effective use of the limited resources available to him in disseminating as widely as possible, including by electronic means, information on arms limitation and disarmament to Governments, the media, non-governmental organizations, educational communities and research institutes, and in carrying out a seminar and conference programme; 3. Stresses the importance of the Programme as a significant instrument in enabling all Member States to participate fully in the deliberations and negotiations on disarmament in the various United Nations bodies, in assisting them in complying with treaties, as required, and in contributing to agreed mechanisms for transparency; 4. Commends with satisfaction the launch of the first online version of The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, the 2004 edition, by the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, together with the 2002 and 2003 archival editions; 5. Notes with appreciation the cooperation of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and its information centres in pursuit of the objectives of the Programme; 6. Recommends that the Programme continue to inform, educate and generate public understanding of the importance of multilateral action and support for it, including action by the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament, in the field of arms limitation and disarmament, in a factual, balanced and objective manner, and that it focus its efforts: (a) To continue to publish in all official languages The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, the flagship publication of the Department for Disarmament Affairs; (b) To continue to maintain the disarmament website as a part of the United Nations website and to produce versions of the site in as many official languages as feasible; (c) To continue to intensify United Nations interaction with the public, principally non-governmental organizations and research institutes, to help further an informed debate on topical issues of arms limitation, disarmament and security; (d) To continue to organize discussions on topics of interest in the field of arms limitation and disarmament with a view to broadening understanding and facilitating an exchange of views and information among Member States and civil society; 7. Recognizes the important support received from some Governments for the Voluntary Trust Fund for the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, and invites once again all Member States to make further contributions to the Fund with a view to sustaining a strong outreach programme; 8. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General,A/61/169 and Add.1. which reviews the implementation of the recommendations made in the 2002 study on disarmament and non-proliferation education;A/57/124. 9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report covering both the implementation of the activities of the Programme by the United Nations system during the previous two years and the activities of the Programme contemplated by the system for the following two years; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "United Nations Disarmament Information Programme". RESOLUTION 61/96 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principe. 61/96. Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the purposes and principles of the United Nations and its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H and 43/85 of 7 December 1988, 44/21 of 15 November 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990, 46/37 B of 6 December 1991, 47/53 F of 15 December 1992, 48/76 A of 16 December 1993, 49/76 C of 15 December 1994, 50/71 B of 12 December 1995, 51/46 C of 10 December 1996, 52/39 B of 9 December 1997, 53/78 A of 4 December 1998, 54/55 A of 1 December 1999, 55/34 B of 20 November 2000, 56/25 A of 29 November 2001, 57/88 of 22 November 2002, 58/65 of 8 December 2003, 59/96 of 3 December 2004 and 60/87 of 8 December 2005, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recalling the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central AfricaA/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, Recalling the decision of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee in favour of establishing, under the auspices of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a subregional centre for human rights and democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé, Noting with satisfaction the efforts being made by the countries members of the Economic Community of Central African States to promote peace and security in their subregion, including the convening in N'Djamena, at the initiative of the current Chairman of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, of two extraordinary sessions of the Conference of Heads of State of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, for the purpose of considering the risk of destabilization in Chad, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration of 2 September 2005 on the situation between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda,A/60/393-S/2005/616, annex. Taking note of the successful completion of electoral processes in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe, Recognizing the importance of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes in strengthening peace, political stability and reconstruction, especially in post-conflict situations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on regional confidence-building measures, which deals with the activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa in the period since the adoption by the General Assembly of its resolution 60/87;A/61/365. 2. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further sustainable peace, stability and development in the subregion; 3. Encourages the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States to pursue their efforts to promote peace and security in their subregion; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are pursuing their efforts to strengthen their bilateral relations; 5. Strongly appeals to the international community to provide all necessary support for the smooth functioning of the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 6. Appeals to the international community to support the efforts undertaken by the States concerned to implement disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes; 7. Reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held at Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 8. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing its programme of work for the period 2005-2006;A/61/365. 9. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 10. Welcomes the creation of a mechanism for the promotion, maintenance and consolidation of peace and security in Central Africa, known as the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa, by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the countries members of the Economic Community of Central African States, held at Yaoundé on 25 February 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to give his full support to the effective realization of that important mechanism; 11. Emphasizes the need to make the early warning mechanism in Central Africa operational so that it will serve, on the one hand, as an instrument for analysing and monitoring political situations in the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with a view to preventing the outbreak of future armed conflicts and, on the other hand, as a technical body through which the member States will carry out the programme of work of the Committee, adopted at its organizational meeting held at Yaoundé in 1992, and requests the Secretary-General to provide it with the assistance necessary for it to function properly; 12. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide their full assistance for the proper functioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; 13. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the implementation and smooth functioning of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to support the establishment of a network of parliamentarians with a view to the creation of a subregional parliament in Central Africa; 15. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue to provide increased assistance to the countries of Central Africa for coping with the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories; 16. Thanks the Secretary-General for having established the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 17. Appeals to Member States and to governmental and non-governmental organizations to make additional voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the implementation of the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee; 18. Thanks the Secretary-General for sending a multidisciplinary mission from 8 to 22 June 2003 for the purpose of undertaking an assessment of the priority needs of the region and challenges confronting it in the areas of peace, security, economic development, human rights and HIV/AIDS, and in the humanitarian field; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with assistance to ensure that they are able to carry on their efforts; 20. Calls upon the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". RESOLUTION 61/97 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/395, para. 26),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Egypt, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Philippines, Sudan, Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 119 to 52, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan 61/97. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblySee resolution S-10/2. states that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2006 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 60/88 of 8 December 2005, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. RESOLUTION 61/98 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/396, para. 9) The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Jamaica, and the Republic of Korea (on behalf of the members of the extended Bureau of the Disarmament Commission). 61/98. Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/61/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, 55/35 C of 20 November 2000, 56/26 A of 29 November 2001, 57/95 of 22 November 2002, 58/67 of 8 December 2003, 59/105 of 3 December 2004 and 60/91 of 8 December 2005, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/61/42). 2. Reaffirms the validity of its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, concerning the efficient functioning of the Disarmament Commission; 3. Decides to adopt the following additional measures for improving the effectiveness of the Disarmament Commission's methods of work: (a) The Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies should be elected at an organizational session of the Commission, if possible at least three months before the beginning of the substantive session; the regional groups should, accordingly, present their candidates as soon as possible to ensure that such elections take place within that time frame; (b) Member States are encouraged to adopt the draft agenda of the substantive session of the Commission as early as possible at the organizational meetings of the Commission; (c) Member States are encouraged to present their national working documents to the Commission as early as possible before the beginning of the substantive session to facilitate deliberation in the meetings ahead; (d) The Commission should make efforts to strengthen dialogue with other bodies of the disarmament machinery of the United Nations, that is, the First Committee of the General Assembly and the Conference on Disarmament; (e) The Commission is encouraged to invite, as appropriate, experts on disarmament, including those at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, for discussions at its plenary meetings; (f) The Secretariat is requested to improve the Commission section of the United Nations website to provide better communication and up-to-date information about the work of the Commission, and in particular to make available in a timely manner the information and documentation relevant to the Commission's deliberations; 4. Reaffirms the mandate of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 5. Also reaffirms the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation between the First Committee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items on its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission";A/CN.10/137. 7. Recommends that the Disarmament Commission continue the consideration of the following items at its 2007 substantive session: (a) Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; (b) Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons; 8. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2007, namely from 9 to 27 April, and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/61/27). together with all the official records of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". RESOLUTION 61/99 Adopted at the 67th plenary meeting, on 6 December 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/396, para. 9) The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal and Slovakia. 61/99. Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/61/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete issues, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, Taking note of active discussions held on the programme of work during the 2006 session of the Conference, as duly reflected in the report and the records of the plenary meetings, Taking note also of increased deliberations of the Conference due to the constructive contribution of its member States, focused structured debates on all agenda items including with the participation of experts from capitals, and cooperation between all six Presidents of the Conference in the 2006 session, Taking note further of significant contributions made during the 2006 session to promote substantive discussions on issues on the agenda, as well as of discussions held on other issues that could also be relevant to the current international security environment, Stressing the urgent need for the Conference to commence its substantive work at the beginning of its 2007 session, Recognizing the address of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as the addresses of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and other high-level officials, as expressions of support for the endeavours of the Conference and its role as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, Bearing in mind the importance of efforts towards revitalization of the disarmament machinery, including the Conference, Recognizing the importance of continuing consultations on the question of the expansion of the Conference membership, 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Calls upon the Conference to further intensify consultations and explore possibilities with a view to reaching an agreement on a programme of work; 3. Takes note of the strong collective interest of the Conference in commencing substantive work as soon as possible during its 2007 session; 4. Welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its current President and the incoming President to conduct consultations during the intersessional period and, if possible, to make recommendations, taking into account all relevant proposals, including those submitted as documents of the Conference, views presented and discussions held, and to endeavour to keep the membership of the Conference informed, as appropriate, of their consultations, as contained in paragraph 28 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/61/27). 5. Requests all States members of the Conference to cooperate with the current President and successive Presidents in their efforts to guide the Conference to the early commencement of substantive work in its 2007 session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 7. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 61/9 Adopted at the 44th plenary meeting, on 31 October 2006, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/61/547, para. 8) 61/9. Financing of the United Nations Operation in Burundi The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Operation in BurundiA/60/612 and A/61/309. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/485. Recalling Security Council resolution 1545 (2004) of 21 May 2004, by which the Council authorized, for an initial period of six months as from 1 June 2004, with the intention to renew it for further periods, the deployment of a peacekeeping operation called the United Nations Operation in Burundi, and the subsequent resolutions by which the Council extended the mandate of the Operation, the latest of which was resolution 1692 (2006) of 30 June 2006, by which the Council extended the mandate of the Operation until 31 December 2006, Recalling also its resolution 58/312 of 18 June 2004 on the financing of the Operation and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which was resolution 60/269 of 30 June 2006, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Operation with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, 1. Takes note of the status of contributions to the United Nations Operation in Burundi as at 30 June 2006,ST/ADM/SER.B/695, annex XXXIX. including the contributions outstanding in the amount of 31.1 million United States dollars, representing some 5 per cent of the total assessed contributions, notes with concern that only forty-nine Member States have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States, in particular those in arrears, to ensure payment of their outstanding assessed contributions; 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States which have paid their assessed contributions in full, and urges all other Member States to make every possible effort to ensure payment of their assessed contributions to the Operation in full; 3. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 4. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 5. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 6. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Operation; 8. Welcomes the use of the installation at Entebbe, Uganda, to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of its logistical support operations for peacekeeping missions in the region; 9. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/485. and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation, subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 10. Takes note of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 21, 25 and 27 of the report of the Advisory Committee; 11. Decides to establish two National Officer posts for the Human Rights Office and one National Officer post for the Office of the Chief of Administrative Services through redeployment of posts; 12. Also decides to establish four general temporary assistance positions (one P-4, one P-2 and two national staff, including one National Officer) for the Conduct and Discipline Team; 13. Re-emphasizes the need to refine budgetary assumptions through closer scrutiny of expenditure patterns of the Operation; 14. Reaffirms its resolution 59/296 of 22 June 2005, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of its relevant provisions and the relevant provisions of its resolution 60/266 of 30 June 2006; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Operation is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Operation against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Operation; 17. Welcomes the efforts of the Operation and its personnel, and looks forward to the successful completion of the mandate of the Operation; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure an orderly transition, including the transfer of assets, to the planned follow-on mission - the United Nations Integrated Office in Burundi - and the efficient liquidation of the Operation's assets in accordance with the Operation's exit strategy and liquidation timetables; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to encourage strong coordination between the Operation, the planned follow-on mission and the United Nations country team with a view to ensuring a smooth transition to the planned follow-on mission and to reducing the potential duplication of activities among members of the United Nations country team; 20. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the lessons learned from other peacekeeping missions are applied during the Operation's drawdown, liquidation and transition to the planned follow-on mission; 21. Notes the additional information on projected expenditure for the Operation for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, amounting to 128,536,700 dollars, provided by the Secretary-General;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Fifth Committee, 12th meeting (A/C.5/61/SR.12), and corrigendum. Financial performance report for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 22. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the financial performance of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005;A/60/612. Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 23. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Operation in Burundi the amount of 128,536,700 dollars for the maintenance and administrative liquidation of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, inclusive of the amount of 78,959,200 dollars previously authorized by the General Assembly under the terms of its resolution 60/269 for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2006, and in addition to the amount of 3,426,800 dollars already appropriated under the terms of the same resolution for the support account for peacekeeping operations and the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007; Financing of the appropriation for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 24. Also decides, taking into account the amount of 40 million dollars already apportioned under the terms of its resolution 60/269 for the maintenance of the Operation for the period from 1 July to 31 October 2006, to apportion among Member States the additional amount of 88,536,700 dollars for the maintenance and administrative liquidation of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256 of 23 December 2003, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2006, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B of 23 December 2003, and the scale of assessments for 2007;See resolution 61/237. 25. Further decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 24 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the amount of 1,774,600 dollars, representing the estimated additional staff assessment income approved for the Operation for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007; 26. Decides that, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Operation, there shall be set off against their apportionment, as provided for in paragraph 24 above, their respective share of the additional unencumbered balance in the amount of 115,500 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2004, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B; 27. Also decides that, for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Operation, there shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their respective share of the additional unencumbered balance in the amount of 115,500 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2004, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 26 above; 28. Further decides that, for Member States that have fulfilled their financial obligations to the Operation, there shall be set off against their apportionment, as provided for in paragraph 24 above, their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the total amount of 31,523,100 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2005, in accordance with the levels updated in its resolution 58/256, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2005, as set out in its resolution 58/1 B; 29. Decides that, for Member States that have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the Operation, there shall be set off against their outstanding obligations their respective share of the unencumbered balance and other income in the total amount of 31,523,100 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2005, in accordance with the scheme set out in paragraph 28 above; 30. Also decides that the decrease in the estimated staff assessment income in the amount of 583,800 dollars in respect of the financial period ended 30 June 2005 shall be set off against the credits from the amount of 31,523,100 dollars referred to in paragraphs 28 and 29 above; 31. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 32. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Operation, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 33. Invites voluntary contributions to the Operation in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 34. Decides to keep under review during its sixty-first session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Operation in Burundi". RESOLUTION 62/100 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/402, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/100. Effects of atomic radiation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 913 (X) of 3 December 1955, by which it established the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and its subsequent resolutions on the subject, including resolution 61/109 of 14 December 2006, in which, inter alia, it requested the Scientific Committee to continue its work, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the Scientific Committee, and of the release of its report on its fifty-fifth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 46 (A/62/46). Reaffirming the desirability of the Scientific Committee continuing its work, Concerned about the potentially harmful effects on present and future generations resulting from the levels of radiation to which mankind and the environment are exposed, Noting the views expressed by Member States at its sixty-second session with regard to the work of the Scientific Committee, Noting also the deep concern of the Scientific Committee that reliance on a single post at the Professional level in its secretariat has left the Committee seriously vulnerable and has hampered the efficient implementation of its approved programme of work, Conscious of the continuing need to examine and compile information about atomic and ionizing radiation and to analyse its effects on mankind and the environment, 1. Commends the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for the valuable contribution it has been making in the course of the past fifty-two years, since its inception, to wider knowledge and understanding of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation, and for fulfilling its original mandate with scientific authority and independence of judgement; 2. Reaffirms the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee; 3. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue its work, including its important activities to increase knowledge of the levels, effects and risks of ionizing radiation from all sources; 4. Endorses the intentions and plans of the Scientific Committee for completing its present programme of work of scientific review and assessment on behalf of the General Assembly and for developing a longer-term strategic plan for its work, and requests the Committee to submit plans for its future programme of work to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 5. Requests the Scientific Committee to continue at its next session the review of the important problems in the field of ionizing radiation and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 6. Recalls the intention of the Scientific Committee, expressed in paragraph 5 of its report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 46 and corrigendum (A/61/46 and Corr.1). to clarify further the assessment of potential harm owing to chronic low-level exposures among large populations and also the attributability of health effects, and encourages the Committee to submit a report on that issue at its earliest convenience; 7. Emphasizes the need for the Scientific Committee to hold regular sessions on an annual basis so that its report can reflect the latest developments and findings in the field of ionizing radiation and thereby provide updated information for dissemination among all States, and endorses, on an exceptional basis, the intention of the Committee to convene its fifty-sixth session for seven days in order to finalize its next substantive report; 8. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance rendered to the Scientific Committee by Member States, the specialized agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency and non-governmental organizations, and invites them to increase their cooperation in this field; 9. Invites the Scientific Committee to continue its consultations with scientists and experts from interested Member States in the process of preparing its future scientific reports, and requests the Secretariat to facilitate such consultations; 10. Welcomes, in this context, the readiness of Member States to provide the Scientific Committee with relevant information on the effects of ionizing radiation in affected areas, and invites the Committee to analyse and give due consideration to such information, particularly in the light of its own findings; 11. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations concerned to provide further relevant data about doses, effects and risks from various sources of radiation, which would greatly help in the preparation of future reports of the Scientific Committee to the General Assembly; 12. Requests the United Nations Environment Programme to continue providing support for the effective conduct of the work of the Scientific Committee and for the dissemination of its findings to the General Assembly, the scientific community and the public; 13. Appeals to the Secretary-General to take appropriate administrative measures so that the secretariat can adequately service the Scientific Committee in a predictable and sustainable manner and effectively facilitate the use of the invaluable expertise offered to the Committee by its members in order that the Committee may discharge the responsibilities and mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly; 14. Urges the United Nations Environment Programme to review and strengthen the present funding of the Scientific Committee, pursuant to paragraph 13 of resolution 61/109, and to continue to seek out and consider temporary funding mechanisms to complement existing ones, and, in that context, takes note of the establishment by the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme of a general trust fund to receive and manage voluntary contributions to support the work of the Scientific Committee, and encourages Member States to consider making voluntary contributions to the trust fund; 15. Welcomes that Belarus, Finland, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Spain and Ukraine have informed the President of the General Assembly before 28 February 2007, in accordance with paragraph 14 of resolution 61/109, of their desire to become members of the Scientific Committee, and invites each of those six Member States to designate one scientist to attend, as observers, the fifty-sixth session of the Committee; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to provide a comprehensive and consolidated report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, to be prepared in consultation with the Scientific Committee as appropriate, addressing the financial and administrative implications of increased Committee membership, staffing of the professional secretariat and methods to ensure sufficient, assured and predictable funding. RESOLUTION 62/101 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/403, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of France (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 62/101. Recommendations on enhancing the practice of States and international intergovernmental organizations in registering space objects The General Assembly, Recalling the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial BodiesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. (Outer Space Treaty), in particular articles VIII and XI, Recalling also the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space,Ibid., vol. 1023, No. 15020. Recalling further its resolution 1721 B (XVI) of 20 December 1961, Recalling its resolution 41/66 of 3 December 1986, Taking note of the relevant parts of the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on its fiftieth sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), paras. 209-215. and the report of the Legal Subcommittee on its forty-sixth session, in particular the conclusions of the Working Group on the Practice of States and International Organizations in Registering Space Objects, annexed to the report of the Legal Subcommittee,See A/AC.105/891, annex III, appendix. Noting that nothing in the conclusions of the Working Group or in the present resolution constitutes an authoritative interpretation of or a proposed amendment to the Registration Convention, Bearing in mind the benefits for States of becoming parties to the Registration Convention and that, by acceding to, implementing and observing the provisions of the Registration Convention, States: (a) Enhance the utility of the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space established under article III of the Registration Convention, in which information furnished by States and international intergovernmental organizations conducting space activities that have declared their acceptance of the rights and obligations under the Registration Convention is recorded, (b) Benefit from additional means and procedures that assist in the identification of space objects, including, in particular, in accordance with article VI of the Registration Convention, Noting that States parties to the Registration Convention and international intergovernmental organizations conducting space activities, having declared their acceptance of the rights and obligations under the Convention, shall furnish information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the Convention and shall establish an appropriate registry and inform the Secretary-General of the establishment of such a registry in accordance with the Convention, Considering that universal accession to and acceptance, implementation and observance of the provisions of the Registration Convention: (a) Lead to increased establishment of appropriate registries, (b) Contribute to the development of procedures and mechanisms for the maintenance of appropriate registries and the provision of information to the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space, (c) Contribute to common procedures, at the national and international levels, for registering space objects with the Register, (d) Contribute to uniformity with regard to the information to be furnished and recorded in the Register concerning space objects listed in the appropriate registries, (e) Contribute to the receipt of and recording in the Register of additional information concerning space objects on the appropriate registries and information on objects that are no longer in Earth orbit, Noting that changes in space activities since the Registration Convention entered into force include the continuous development of new technologies, an increase in the number of States carrying out space activities, an increase in international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and an increase in activities carried out by non-governmental entities, as well as partnerships formed by non-governmental entities from more than one country, Desirous of achieving the most complete registration of space objects, Desirous also of enhancing adherence to the Registration Convention, 1. Recommends, with regard to adherence to the Registration Convention,Ibid., vol. 1023, No. 15020. that: (a) States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Registration Convention should become parties to it in accordance with their domestic law and, until they become parties, furnish information in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1721 B (XVI); (b) International intergovernmental organizations conducting space activities that have not yet declared their acceptance of the rights and obligations under the Registration Convention should do so in accordance with article VII of the Convention; 2. Also recommends, with regard to the harmonization of practices, that: (a) Consideration should be given to achieving uniformity in the type of information to be provided to the Secretary-General on the registration of space objects, and such information could include, inter alia: (i) The Committee on Space Research international designator, where appropriate; (ii) Coordinated Universal Time as the time reference for the date of launch; (iii) Kilometres, minutes and degrees as the standard units for basic orbital parameters; (iv) Any useful information relating to the function of the space object in addition to the general function requested by the Registration Convention; (b) Consideration should be given to the furnishing of additional appropriate information to the Secretary-General on the following areas: (i) The geostationary orbit location, where appropriate; (ii) Any change of status in operations (inter alia, when a space object is no longer functional); (iii) The approximate date of decay or re-entry, if States are capable of verifying that information; (iv) The date and physical conditions of moving a space object to a disposal orbit; (v) Web links to official information on space objects; (c) States conducting space activities and international intergovernmental organizations that have declared their acceptance of the rights and obligations under the Registration Convention should, when they have designated focal points for their appropriate registries, provide the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat with the contact details of those focal points; 3. Further recommends, in order to achieve the most complete registration of space objects, that: (a) Due to the complexity of the responsibility structure in international intergovernmental organizations conducting space activities, a solution should be sought in cases where an international intergovernmental organization conducting space activities has not yet declared its acceptance of the rights and obligations under the Registration Convention, and a general backup solution should be provided for registration by international intergovernmental organizations conducting space activities in cases where there is no consensus on registration among the States members of such organizations; (b) The State from whose territory or facility a space object has been launched should, in the absence of prior agreement, contact States or international intergovernmental organizations that could qualify as "launching States" to jointly determine which State or entity should register the space object; (c) In cases of joint launches of space objects, each space object should be registered separately and, without prejudice to the rights and obligations of States, space objects should be included, in accordance with international law, including the relevant United Nations treaties on outer space, in the appropriate registry of the State responsible for the operation of the space object under article VI of the Outer Space Treaty;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. (d) States should encourage launch service providers under their jurisdiction to advise the owner and/or operator of the space object to address the appropriate States on the registration of that space object; 4. Recommends that, following the change in supervision of a space object in orbit: (a) The State of registry, in cooperation with the appropriate State according to article VI of the Outer Space Treaty, could furnish to the Secretary-General additional information, such as: (i) The date of change in supervision; (ii) The identification of the new owner or operator; (iii) Any change of orbital position; (iv) Any change of function of the space object; (b) If there is no State of registry, the appropriate State according to article VI of the Outer Space Treaty could furnish the above information to the Secretary-General; 5. Requests the Office for Outer Space Affairs: (a) To make available to all States and international intergovernmental organizations a model registration form reflecting the information to be provided to the Office for Outer Space Affairs, to assist them in their submission of registration information; (b) To make public, through its website, the contact details of the focal points; (c) To establish web links on its website to the appropriate registries that are available on the Internet; 6. Recommends that States and international intergovernmental organizations should report to the Office for Outer Space Affairs on new developments relating to their practice in registering space objects. RESOLUTION 62/102 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/404, para. 15),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 171 to 2, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Nauru Abstaining: Cameroon, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America, Vanuatu 62/102. Assistance to Palestine refugees The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, including resolution 61/112 of 14 December 2006, Recalling also its resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949, by which, inter alia, it established the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, Aware of the fact that, for nearly six decades, the Palestine refugees have suffered from the loss of their homes, lands and means of livelihood, Affirming the imperative of resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees for the achievement of justice and for the achievement of lasting peace in the region, Acknowledging the essential role that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has played for more than fifty-seven years since its establishment in ameliorating the plight of the Palestine refugees through its provision of education, health, relief and social services and emergency assistance, Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2006,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/62/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/62/13/Add.1). Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout all the fields of operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Expressing grave concern at the especially difficult situation of the Palestine refugees under occupation, including with regard to their safety, well-being and socio-economic living conditions, Expressing grave concern in particular at the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and underlining the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance, Noting the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the important role to be played in the peace process by the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East peace process, 1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), has not yet been effected, and that, therefore, the situation of the Palestine refugees continues to be a matter of grave concern and the Palestine refugees continue to require assistance to meet basic health, education and living needs; 2. Also notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and reiterates its request to the Conciliation Commission to continue exerting efforts towards the implementation of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later than 1 September 2008; 3. Affirms the necessity for the continuation of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the importance of its unimpeded operation and its provision of services for the well-being and human development of the Palestine refugees and for the stability of the region, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees; 4. Calls upon all donors to continue to make the most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency, including with regard to increased expenditures arising from the continuing deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian situation in the region, particularly in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and those mentioned in recent emergency appeals; 5. Decides to extend the mandate of the Agency until 30 June 2011, without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III). RESOLUTION 62/103 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/404, para. 15),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 171 to 6, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Canada, Vanuatu 62/103. Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4 July 1967, 2341 B (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and all subsequent related resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27 September 1968, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 61/113 of 14 December 2006,A/62/282. Taking note also of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2006,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/62/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/62/13/Add.1). Concerned about the continuing human suffering resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Taking note of the relevant provisions of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. with regard to the modalities for the admission of persons displaced in 1967, and concerned that the process agreed upon has not yet been effected, 1. Reaffirms the right of all persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities to return to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Expresses deep concern that the mechanism agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. on the return of displaced persons has not been complied with, and stresses the necessity for an accelerated return of displaced persons; 3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are currently displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; 4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to organizations and individuals to contribute generously to the Agency and to the other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned for the above-mentioned purposes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with the Commissioner-General, to report to the General Assembly before its sixty-third session on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/104 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/404, para. 15),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 170 to 6, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Vanuatu 62/104. Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent related resolutions, including its resolution 61/114 of 14 December 2006, Recalling also the relevant Security Council resolutions, Having considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2006,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/62/13); and ibid., Supplement No. 13A (A/62/13/Add.1). Taking note of the letter dated 17 June 2007 from the Chairperson of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to the Commissioner-General,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/62/13), p. ix. Deeply concerned about the critical financial situation of the Agency, as well as about the rising expenditures of the Agency resulting from the deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions in the region and their significant negative impact on the provision of necessary Agency services to the Palestine refugees, including its emergency-related and development programmes, Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). Recalling also the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2051, No. 35457. Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the other fields of operation, namely Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, Gravely concerned about the extremely difficult living conditions being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, resulting, inter alia, from the loss of life and injury, the extensive destruction of their shelters, properties and vital infrastructure, the displacement of the Palestine refugees, the prolonged closures and socio-economic decline, Aware of the extraordinary efforts being undertaken by the Agency for the repair or rebuilding of thousands of damaged or destroyed refugee shelters and for the provision of shelter and emergency aid for those refugee families internally displaced as a result of Israeli military actions, as well as for those refugees affected and displaced by the recent crisis in the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon, Aware also of the valuable work done by the Agency in providing protection to the Palestinian people, in particular Palestine refugees, Gravely concerned about the endangerment of the safety of the Agency's staff and about the damage caused to the facilities of the Agency as a result of Israeli military operations during the reporting period, Deploring the killing of fourteen Agency staff members by the Israeli occupying forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since September 2000 and of one Agency staff member by the Israeli air force in Lebanon in August 2006, Also deploring the killing and wounding of refugee children, including in the Agency's schools, by the Israeli occupying forces, Expressing deep concern about the policies of closure and severe restrictions that continue to be imposed on the movement of persons and goods and the continued construction of the wall, contrary to international law, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, which have gravely impacted the socio-economic situation of the Palestine refugees and have greatly contributed to the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people, Deeply concerned about the continuing imposition of restrictions on the freedom of movement and access of the Agency's staff, vehicles and goods, and the harassment and intimidation of the Agency's staff, which undermine and obstruct the work of the Agency, including its ability to provide its essential basic and emergency services, Recalling the signing, on 13 September 1993, of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation OrganizationA/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements, Aware of the agreement between the Agency and the Government of Israel, Taking note of the agreement reached on 24 June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 13 (A/49/13), annex I. 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, as well as to all of the staff of the Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable work, particularly in the light of the difficult conditions during the past year; 2. Also expresses its appreciation to the Advisory Commission of the Agency, and requests it to continue its efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed of its activities; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Financing of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near EastA/62/361. and its efforts to assist in ensuring the financial security of the Agency, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and assistance to the Working Group for the conduct of its work; 4. Commends the continuing efforts of the Commissioner-General to increase the budgetary transparency and efficiency of the Agency, as reflected in the Agency's programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 13A (A/62/13/Add.1). and the organizational reform measures being undertaken to modernize and strengthen the Agency's management and its ability to address the needs of the Palestine refugees; 5. Endorses, meanwhile, the efforts of the Commissioner-General to continue to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as practicable, on an emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to persons in the area who are internally displaced and in serious need of continued assistance as a result of recent incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and hostilities in Lebanon; 6. Acknowledges the important support provided by the host Governments to the Agency in the discharge of its duties; 7. Encourages the Agency to make further progress in addressing the needs and rights of children in its operations in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 8. Also encourages the Agency to also make further progress in addressing the needs and rights of women in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. 9. Expresses concern about the temporary relocation of the international staff of the Agency from its headquarters in Gaza City and the disruption of operations at the headquarters due to the deterioration and instability of the situation on the ground; 10. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply fully with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. 11. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United NationsResolution 22 A (I). in order to ensure the safety of the personnel of the Agency, the protection of its institutions and the safeguarding of the security of its facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 12. Urges the Government of Israel to speedily compensate the Agency for damage to its property and facilities resulting from actions by the Israeli side and to expeditiously reimburse the Agency for all transit charges incurred and other financial losses sustained by the Agency as a result of delays and restrictions on movement and access imposed by Israel; 13. Calls upon Israel particularly to cease obstructing the movement and access of the staff, vehicles and supplies of the Agency and to cease the levying of extra fees and charges, which affect the Agency's operations detrimentally; 14. Requests the Commissioner-General to proceed with the issuance of identification cards for Palestine refugees and their descendants in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; 15. Affirms that the functioning of the Agency remains essential in all the fields of operation; 16. Notes the success of the Agency's microfinance and microenterprise programmes, and calls upon the Agency, in close cooperation with the relevant agencies, to continue to contribute to the development of the economic and social stability of the Palestine refugees in all the fields of operation; 17. Reiterates its request to the Commissioner-General to proceed with the modernization of the archives of the Agency through the Palestine Refugee Records Project, and to indicate progress in her report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 18. Reiterates its previous appeals to all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to augment the special allocations for grants and scholarships for higher education to Palestine refugees in addition to their contributions to the regular budget of the Agency and to contribute to the establishment of vocational training centres for Palestine refugees, and requests the Agency to act as the recipient and trustee for the special allocations for grants and scholarships; 19. Urges all States, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations to continue and to increase their contributions to the Agency so as to ease the ongoing financial constraints, exacerbated by the current humanitarian situation on the ground that has resulted in rising expenditures, in particular with regard to emergency services, and to support the Agency's valuable and necessary work in assisting the Palestine refugees in all fields of operation. RESOLUTION 62/105 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/404, para. 15),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 170 to 6, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Vanuatu 62/105. Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11 December 1948 and 36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and all its subsequent resolutions on the question, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its resolution 61/115 of 14 December 2006,A/62/312. Taking note also of the report of the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine for the period from 1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007,See A/62/181. Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the principles of international law uphold the principle that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her property, Recalling in particular its resolution 394 (V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the protection of the rights, property and interests of the Palestine refugees, Noting the completion of the programme of identification and evaluation of Arab property, as announced by the Conciliation Commission in its twenty-second progress report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Nineteenth Session, Annexes, Annex No. 11, document A/5700. and the fact that the Land Office had a schedule of Arab owners and a file of documents defining the location, area and other particulars of Arab property, Expressing its appreciation for the preservation and modernization of the existing records, including the land records, of the Conciliation Commission and the importance of such records for a just resolution of the plight of the Palestine refugees in conformity with resolution 194 (III), Recalling that, in the framework of the Middle East peace process, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel agreed, in the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. to commence negotiations on permanent status issues, including the important issue of the refugees, 1. Reaffirms that the Palestine refugees are entitled to their property and to the income derived therefrom, in conformity with the principles of equity and justice; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take all appropriate steps, in consultation with the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, for the protection of Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel; 3. Calls once again upon Israel to render all facilities and assistance to the Secretary-General in the implementation of the present resolution; 4. Calls upon all the parties concerned to provide the Secretary-General with any pertinent information in their possession concerning Arab property, assets and property rights in Israel that would assist him in the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Urges the Palestinian and Israeli sides, as agreed between them, to deal with the important issue of Palestine refugees' properties and their revenues within the framework of the final status negotiations of the Middle East peace process; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/106 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/405, para. 16),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 93 to 8, with 74 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 62/106. Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guided also by international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. as well as international standards of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and the International Covenants on Human Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968 and 61/116 of 14 December 2006, and the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Taking into account the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling in this regard General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Gravely concerned about the continuing detrimental impact of the events that have taken place since 28 September 2000, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, the widespread destruction of property and vital infrastructure and the internal displacement of civilians, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/62/360. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/62/330-334. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Expressing the hope that the Israeli occupation will be brought to an early and complete end and that therefore the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people will cease, and recalling in this regard its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate, in accordance with its obligations as a State Member of the United Nations, with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period;See A/62/360. 4. Expresses grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns all illegal Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the wall, as well as the excessive and indiscriminate use of force against the civilian population, including extrajudicial executions; 5. Requests the Special Committee, pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; 6. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of the thousands of prisoners and detainees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 8. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To provide the Special Committee with all necessary facilities, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution; (b) To continue to make available such staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks; (c) To circulate regularly to Member States the periodic reports mentioned in paragraph 6 above; (d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available; (e) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories". RESOLUTION 62/107 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/405, para. 16),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 169 to 6, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire 62/107. Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including its resolution 61/117 of 14 December 2006, Recalling also its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Recalling the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol IIbid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/62/360. and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/62/330-334. Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and also recalling General Assembly resolution ES-10/15, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and that Israel is in breach of several of the provisions of the Convention, Noting the convening, on 15 July 1999, of a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure respect thereof in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, and stressing the importance of the Declaration adopted by the reconvened Conference on 5 December 2001 and the need for the parties to follow up the implementation of the Declaration, Welcoming and encouraging the initiatives by States parties to the Convention, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 common to the four Geneva Conventions, aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention, Stressing that Israel, the occupying Power, should comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, 1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. is applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 2. Demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and that it comply scrupulously with the provisions of the Convention; 3. Calls upon all High Contracting Parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 common to the four Geneva ConventionsIbid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and as mentioned in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. to continue to exert all efforts to ensure respect for its provisions by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; 4. Reiterates the need for speedy implementation of the relevant recommendations contained in the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth emergency special session, including resolution ES-10/15, with regard to ensuring respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the provisions of the Convention; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/108 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/405, para. 16),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 165 to 7, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Angola, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Tonga, Vanuatu 62/108. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 61/118 of 14 December 2006, as well as those resolutions adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981 and 904 (1994) of 18 March 1994, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan, Considering that the transfer by the occupying Power of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies constitutes a breach of the Fourth Geneva ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and relevant provisions of customary law, including those codified in Additional Protocol IIbid., vol. 1125, No. 17512. to the four Geneva Conventions,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Noting that the International Court of Justice concluded that "the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law",Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 120. Taking note of the recent report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,See A/62/275. Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and noting specifically its call for a freeze on all settlement activity, Aware that Israeli settlement activities involve, inter alia, the transfer of nationals of the occupying Power into the occupied territories, the confiscation of land, the exploitation of natural resources and other illegal actions against the Palestinian civilian population, Bearing in mind the detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities on efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in violation of international humanitarian law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the agreements reached between the parties, and concerned particularly about Israel's construction and expansion of settlements in and around Occupied East Jerusalem, including its so-called E-1 plan, aimed at connecting its illegal settlements around and further isolating Occupied East Jerusalem, and in the Jordan Valley, Expressing grave concern also about the continuing unlawful construction by Israel of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressing its concern in particular about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, which is causing serious humanitarian hardship and a serious decline of socio-economic conditions for the Palestinian people, is fragmenting the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian Territory and could prejudge future negotiations and make the two-State solution physically impossible to implement, Deeply concerned that the wall's route has been traced in such a way as to include the great majority of the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Reiterating its opposition to settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan and to any activities involving the confiscation of land, the disruption of the livelihood of protected persons and the de facto annexation of land, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Gravely concerned about the dangerous situation resulting from violent actions taken by the illegal armed Israeli settlers in the occupied territory, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Taking note of the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/62/330-334 and A/62/360. 1. Reaffirms that the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic and social development; 2. Calls upon Israel to accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and to the occupied Syrian Golan and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention, in particular article 49; 3. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road mapS/2003/529, annex. and the need for the parties to speedily resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip; 4. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 5. Reiterates its demand for the immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 465 (1980); 6. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice;See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. 7. Stresses the need for full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council regarding the Israeli settlements, including Security Council resolution 904 (1994), in which, among other things, the Council called upon Israel, the occupying Power, to continue to take and implement measures, including confiscation of arms, with the aim of preventing illegal acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and called for measures to be taken to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory; 8. Reiterates its calls for the prevention of all acts of violence and harassment by Israeli settlers, especially against Palestinian civilians and properties; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/109 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/405, para. 16),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 156 to 7, with 11 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, United States of America, Vanuatu 62/109. Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolution 61/119 of 14 December 2006, as well as those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, and stressing the need for their implementation, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied TerritoriesSee A/62/360. and the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/334. Taking note of the recent reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967,A/HRC/5/11 and A/62/275. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also General Assembly resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Noting in particular the Court's reply, including that the construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Aware of the responsibility of the international community to promote human rights and ensure respect for international law, and recalling in this regard its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Reaffirming further the obligation of the States parties to the Fourth Geneva ConventionIbid., vol. 75, No. 973. under articles 146, 147 and 148 with regard to penal sanctions, grave breaches and responsibilities of the High Contracting Parties, Reaffirming that all States have the right and the duty to take actions in conformity with international law and international humanitarian law to counter deadly acts of violence against their civilian population in order to protect the lives of their citizens, Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, including the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Stressing also the need for the full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of 15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian population within and into and out of the Gaza Strip, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Expressing grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that arising from the excessive use of force, the use of collective punishment, the reoccupation and closure of areas, the confiscation of land, the establishment and expansion of settlements, the construction of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949, the destruction of property and infrastructure, and all other actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the military actions that have been carried out since 28 September 2000 and that have led to thousands of deaths among Palestinian civilians, including hundreds of children, and tens of thousands of injuries, Expressing deep concern about the continuing deterioration in the humanitarian and security situation in the Gaza Strip, including that resulting from the Israeli military actions against civilian areas, air raids and the prolonged closure of crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip, as well as from the firing of rockets into Israel and the negative impact of the events of June 2007 leading to the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority institutions in the Gaza Strip, Expressing deep concern also about the vast destruction caused by the Israeli occupying forces, including of religious, cultural and historical sites, of vital infrastructure and institutions of the Palestinian Authority, and of agricultural land throughout Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, and expressing deep concern about the short- and long-term detrimental impact of such destruction on the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian civilian population, Expressing deep concern further about the Israeli policy of closures, severe restrictions, and a permit regime that obstruct the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and about the consequent violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people and negative impact on their socio-economic situation, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, Concerned in particular about the continued establishment of Israeli checkpoints in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the transformation of several of these checkpoints into structures akin to permanent border crossings inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are severely impairing the territorial contiguity of the Territory and severely undermining efforts and aid aimed at rehabilitating and developing the Palestinian economy, Expressing deep concern that thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of children and women, continue to be held in Israeli prisons or detention centres under harsh conditions that impair their well-being, and expressing concern about the ill treatment and harassment of any Palestinian prisoners and all reports of torture, Convinced of the need for an international presence to monitor the situation, to contribute to ending the violence and protecting the Palestinian civilian population and to help the parties implement the agreements reached and, in this regard, recalling the positive contribution of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, 1. Reiterates that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, are illegal and have no validity; 2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973. and cease immediately all measures and actions taken in violation and in breach of the Convention, including all of its settlement activities and the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem; 3. Condemns all acts of violence, including all acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, especially the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, which have caused extensive loss of life and vast numbers of injuries, including among children, massive destruction of homes, properties, agricultural lands and vital infrastructure, and internal displacement of civilians; 4. Expresses grave concern at the firing of rockets against Israeli civilian areas resulting in loss of life and injury; 5. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map;S/2003/529, annex. 6. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, in this regard, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 7. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people, including the extrajudicial executions, and that it respect human rights law and comply with its legal obligations in this regard; 8. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to release all remaining tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority, in accordance with the Paris Economic Protocol of 1994, to cease its imposition of closures and restrictions on movement, and, in this regard, to implement the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of 15 November 2005; 9. Acknowledges the role the Temporary International Mechanism has played in assisting the Palestinian people directly; 10. Urges Member States to continue to provide emergency assistance to the Palestinian people to alleviate the financial crisis and the dire socio-economic and humanitarian situation being faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip; 11. Emphasizes the need to preserve the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure for the provision of vital public services to the Palestinian civilian population and the promotion of Palestinian civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights; 12. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of JusticeSee A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and as demanded in resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, and that it immediately cease the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, dismantle forthwith the structure situated therein, repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto, and make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall, which has gravely impacted the human rights and the socio-economic living conditions of the Palestinian people; 13. Stresses the need for respect for the unity and territorial contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and for guarantees of the freedom of movement of persons and goods within the Palestinian territory, including movement into and from East Jerusalem, into and from the Gaza Strip, and to and from the outside world; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/10 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 26 November 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.15 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 62/10. World Day of Social Justice The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special sessionResolution S-24/2, annex. constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Recalling the commitment to promote national and global economic systems based on the principles of justice, equity, democracy, participation, transparency, accountability and inclusion, Reaffirming the commitment made in the 2005 World Summit Outcome to full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and young people, as a central objective of relevant national and international policies as well as national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, as part of the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,See resolution 60/1, para. 47. 1. Recognizes that social development and social justice are indispensable for the achievement and maintenance of peace and security within and among nations and that, in turn, social development and social justice cannot be attained in the absence of peace and security or in the absence of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Also recognizes that broad-based and sustained economic growth in the context of sustainable development is necessary to sustain social development and social justice; 3. Further recognizes that globalization and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy and the development and improvement of living standards around the world, while at the same time there remain serious challenges, including serious financial crises, insecurity, poverty, exclusion and inequality within and among societies and considerable obstacles to further integration and full participation in the global economy for developing countries as well as some countries with economies in transition; 4. Recognizes the need to consolidate further the efforts of the international community in poverty eradication and in promoting full employment and decent work, gender equality and access to social well-being and justice for all; 5. Decides to declare that, starting from the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, 20 February will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice; 6. Invites all Member States to devote this special day to the promotion, at the national level, of concrete activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly. RESOLUTION 62/110 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/405, para. 16),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 164 to 1, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tonga, United States of America, Vanuatu 62/110. The occupied Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories,See A/62/360. Deeply concerned that the Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, has been under continued Israeli military occupation, Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling also its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 61/120 of 14 December 2006, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 61/120,A/62/331. Recalling its previous relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories, Reaffirming once more the illegality of the decision of 14 December 1981 taken by Israel to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory, Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, Welcoming the convening at Madrid of the Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 aimed at the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and expressing grave concern about the stalling of the peace process on all tracks, 1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions on the occupied Syrian Golan, in particular Security Council resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its decision; 2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan and in particular to desist from the establishment of settlements; 3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. and have no legal effect; 4. Calls upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan; 5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949; 6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTIONS 62/111 A and B Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/407, para. 8)The draft resolutions recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee were submitted by the Committee on Information. 62/111. Questions relating to information A Information in the service of humanity The General Assembly, Taking note of the comprehensive and important report of the Committee on Information,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 21 (A/62/21). Also taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information,A/62/205. Urges all countries, organizations of the United Nations system as a whole and all others concerned, reaffirming their commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to the principles of freedom of the press and freedom of information, as well as to those of the independence, pluralism and diversity of the media, deeply concerned by the disparities existing between developed and developing countries and the consequences of every kind arising from those disparities that affect the capability of the public, private or other media and individuals in developing countries to disseminate information and communicate their views and their cultural and ethical values through endogenous cultural production, as well as to ensure the diversity of sources and their free access to information, and recognizing the call in this context for what in the United Nations and at various international forums has been termed "a new world information and communication order, seen as an evolving and continuous process": (a) To cooperate and interact with a view to reducing existing disparities in information flows at all levels by increasing assistance for the development of communication infrastructures and capabilities in developing countries, with due regard for their needs and the priorities attached to such areas by those countries, and in order to enable them and the public, private or other media in developing countries to develop their own information and communication policies freely and independently and increase the participation of media and individuals in the communication process, and to ensure a free flow of information at all levels; (b) To ensure for journalists the free and effective performance of their professional tasks and condemn resolutely all attacks against them; (c) To provide support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes for broadcasters and journalists from public, private and other media in developing countries; (d) To enhance regional efforts and cooperation among developing countries, as well as cooperation between developed and developing countries, to strengthen communication capacities and to improve the media infrastructure and communication technology in the developing countries, especially in the areas of training and dissemination of information; (e) To aim at, in addition to bilateral cooperation, providing all possible support and assistance to the developing countries and their media, public, private or other, with due regard to their interests and needs in the field of information and to action already adopted within the United Nations system, including: (i) The development of the human and technical resources that are indispensable for the improvement of information and communication systems in developing countries and support for the continuation and strengthening of practical training programmes, such as those already operating under both public and private auspices throughout the developing world; (ii) The creation of conditions that will enable developing countries and their media, public, private or other, to have, by using their national and regional resources, the communication technology suited to their national needs, as well as the necessary programme material, especially for radio and television broadcasting; (iii) Assistance in establishing and promoting telecommunication links at the subregional, regional and interregional levels, especially among developing countries; (iv) The facilitation, as appropriate, of access by the developing countries to advanced communication technology available on the open market; (f) To provide full support for the International Programme for the Development of Communication of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Twenty-first Session, Belgrade, 23 September-28 October 1980, vol. 1, Resolutions, sect. III.4, resolution 4/21. which should support both public and private media. B United Nations public information policies and activities The General Assembly, Emphasizing the role of the Committee on Information as its main subsidiary body mandated to make recommendations to it relating to the work of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, Reaffirming its resolution 13 (I) of 13 February 1946, establishing the Department, which states in paragraph 2 of annex I that "the activities of the Department should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world", Emphasizing that the contents of public information and communications should be placed at the heart of the strategic management of the United Nations and that a culture of communications and transparency should permeate all levels of the Organization, as a means of fully informing the peoples of the world of the aims and activities of the United Nations, in accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, in order to create broad-based global support for the United Nations, Stressing that the primary mission of the Department of Public Information is to provide, through its outreach activities, accurate, impartial, comprehensive, timely and relevant information to the public on the tasks and responsibilities of the United Nations in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization with the greatest transparency, Recalling the comprehensive review of the work of the Department of Public Information, requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/253 of 24 December 2001, as well as the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Strengthening of the United Nations: an agenda for further change",A/57/387 and Corr.1. and Assembly resolutions 57/300 of 20 December 2002 and 60/109 B of 8 December 2005, which provided an opportunity to take due steps to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department and to maximize the use of its resources, Expressing its concern that the gap in information and communication technologies between the developed and the developing countries has continued to widen and that vast segments of the population in developing countries are not benefiting from the present information and communication technologies, and in this regard underlining the necessity of rectifying the imbalances in the present development of information and communication technologies in order to make it more just, equitable and effective, Recognizing that developments in information and communication technologies open vast new opportunities for economic growth and social development and can play an important role in the eradication of poverty in developing countries, and at the same time emphasizing that the development of these technologies poses challenges and risks and could lead to the further widening of disparities between and within countries, Recalling its resolution 59/309 of 22 June 2005 on multilingualism, and emphasizing the importance of making appropriate use of the official languages of the United Nations in the activities of the Department of Public Information, with the aim of eliminating the disparity between the use of English and the five other official languages, Welcoming the Dominican Republic and Thailand to membership in the Committee on Information, I Introduction 1. Reaffirms its resolution 13 (I), in which it established the Department of Public Information, and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly related to the activities of the Department, and requests the Secretary-General, in respect of the public information policies and activities of the United Nations, to continue to implement fully the recommendations contained in paragraph 2 of its resolution 48/44 B of 10 December 1993 and other mandates as established by the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms that the United Nations remains the indispensable foundation of a peaceful and just world and that its voice must be heard in a clear and effective manner, and emphasizes the essential role of the Department of Public Information in this context, the activities of which should be so organized and directed as to promote to the greatest possible extent an informed understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations among the peoples of the world; 3. Stresses the importance of the clear and timely provision of information by the Secretariat to Member States, upon their request, within the framework of existing mandates and procedures; 4. Reaffirms the central role of the Committee on Information in United Nations public information policies and activities, including the prioritization of those activities, and decides that recommendations relating to the programme of the Department of Public Information shall originate, to the extent possible, in the Committee and shall be considered by the Committee; 5. Requests the Department of Public Information, following the priorities laid down by the General Assembly in its resolution 59/275 of 23 December 2004, and guided by the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to pay particular attention to such major issues as the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, human rights, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the needs of the African continent; 6. Also requests the Department of Public Information to pay particular attention to progress in implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the outcomes of the major related United Nations summits and conferences in carrying out its activities; 7. Reaffirms the need to enhance the technological infrastructure of the Department of Public Information on a continuous basis in order to widen its outreach and continue to improve the United Nations website; 8. Recognizes the important work carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its collaboration with news agencies and broadcasting organizations in developing countries in disseminating information on priority issues, and encourages continued collaboration between the Department of Public Information and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of culture and in the fields of education and communication, bridging the existing gap between the developed and the developing countries; II General activities of the Department of Public Information 9. Notes the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Department of Public Information,A/AC.198/2007/4 and Corr.1. and requests the Secretary-General to continue reporting to the Committee on Information on the activities of the Department at successive sessions; 10. Requests the Department of Public Information, while acknowledging its commitment to a culture of evaluation, to continue to evaluate its products and activities with the objective of improving their effectiveness, including through interdepartmental consultations, and to continue to cooperate and coordinate with Member States and the Office of Internal Oversight Services; 11. Reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the focal point for information policies of the United Nations and the primary news centre for information about the United Nations, its activities and those of the Secretary-General; 12. Also reaffirms the importance of more effective coordination between the Department of Public Information and the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure consistency in the messages of the Organization; 13. Further reaffirms that the Department of Public Information must prioritize its work programme while respecting existing mandates and in line with regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. to focus its message and better concentrate its efforts and to match its programmes with the needs of its target audiences, on the basis of improved feedback and evaluation mechanisms; 14. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the Department of Public Information to continue to publicize the work and decisions of the General Assembly, requests the Department to continue to enhance its working relationship with the Office of the President of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to exert all efforts to ensure that publications and other information services of the Secretariat, including the United Nations website and the United Nations News Service, contain comprehensive, objective and equitable information about the issues before the Organization and that they maintain editorial independence, impartiality, accuracy and full consistency with resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly; 16. Requests the Department of Public Information to ensure that United Nations publications are produced in a cost-effective manner and to continue to coordinate closely with all other entities, including all other departments of the Secretariat and funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in order to avoid duplication, within their respective mandates, in the issuance of United Nations publications; 17. Emphasizes that the Department of Public Information should maintain and improve its activities in the areas of special interest to developing countries and, where appropriate, other countries with special needs, and that the activities of the Department should contribute to bridging the existing gap between the developing and the developed countries in the crucial field of public information and communications; 18. Also emphasizes that the Secretary-General should continue to strengthen the coordination between the Department of Public Information and all other entities, including all other departments of the Secretariat and funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in the context of the client-oriented approach of the Department, which should identify target audiences and develop information programmes and media strategies for priority issues, and emphasizes that public information capacities and activities in other departments should function under the guidance of the Department; 19. Notes with appreciation the continued efforts of the Department of Public Information in issuing daily press releases, and requests the Department to continue providing this service to both Member States and representatives of the media, while continuing its efforts to improve their production process and streamlining their format, structure and length, keeping in mind the views of Member States; 20. Also notes with appreciation the efforts of the Department of Public Information to work at the local level with other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to enhance the coordination of their communication activities, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session on progress achieved in this regard and on the activities of the United Nations Communications Group; 21. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to examine its policies and activities regarding the durable preservation of its radio, television and photographic archives, to take action, within existing resources, to ensure that such archives are preserved and are accessible and to report to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session; Multilingualism and public information 22. Emphasizes the importance of making appropriate use of all the official languages of the United Nations in all the activities of the Department of Public Information, including in presentations to the Committee on Information, with the aim of eliminating the disparity between the use of English and the five other official languages; 23. Also emphasizes the importance of ensuring the full, equitable treatment of all the official languages of the United Nations in all the activities of the Department of Public Information, and in this regard reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the Department has appropriate staffing capacity in all the official languages of the United Nations to undertake all its activities; 24. Stresses the importance of fully implementing its resolution 52/214 of 22 December 1997, in section C of which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the texts of all new public documents in all six official languages and information materials of the United Nations are made available daily through the United Nations website and are accessible to Member States without delay; 25. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Department of Public Information to enhance multilingualism in its activities, and requests the Department to continue its endeavours in this regard; 26. Reiterates paragraph 4 of section C of its resolution 52/214, and requests the Secretary-General to continue towards completion of the task of uploading all important older United Nations documents on the United Nations website in all six official languages on a priority basis, so that these archives are also available to Member States through that medium; 27. Reaffirms that it is important that the Secretary-General include in future programme budget proposals for the Department of Public Information the importance of using all six official languages in its activities; 28. Welcomes the work done by the network of United Nations information centres in favour of the publication of United Nations information materials and the translation of important documents in languages other than the official languages of the United Nations, with a view to reaching the widest possible spectrum of audiences and extending the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization; Bridging the digital divide 29. Recalls with satisfaction General Assembly resolution 60/252 of 27 March 2006, in which it endorsed the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information SocietySee A/60/687. and proclaimed 17 May annual World Information Society Day, also recalls the adoption of the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of ActionSee A/C.2/59/3. at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003, and in this regard requests the Department of Public Information to contribute to the celebration of this event and to play a role in raising awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide; 30. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to contribute to raising the awareness of the international community of the importance of the implementation of the outcome documents of the World Summit on the Information Society; Network of United Nations information centres 31. Emphasizes the importance of the network of United Nations information centres in enhancing the public image of the United Nations and in disseminating messages on the United Nations to local populations, especially in developing countries; 32. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the further rationalization of the network of United Nations information centres,A/AC.198/2005/3. and in this regard recognizes the constraints of further regionalization as described in paragraph 25 of the report; 33. Stresses the importance of rationalizing the network of United Nations information centres, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to continue to make proposals in this direction, including through the redeployment of resources where necessary, and to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions; 34. Reaffirms that rationalization of United Nations information centres must be carried out on a case-by-case basis in consultation with all concerned Member States in which existing information centres are located, the countries served by those information centres and other interested countries in the region, taking into consideration the distinctive characteristics of each region; 35. Recognizes that the network of United Nations information centres, especially in developing countries, should continue to enhance its impact and activities, including through strategic communications support, and calls upon the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of this approach to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions; 36. Stresses the importance of taking into account the special needs and requirements of developing countries in the field of information and communications technology for the effective flow of information in those countries; 37. Also stresses that the Department of Public Information, through the network of United Nations information centres, should continue to promote public awareness of and mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level, bearing in mind that information in local languages has the strongest impact on local populations; 38. Further stresses the importance of efforts to strengthen the outreach activities of the United Nations to those Member States remaining outside the network of United Nations information centres, and encourages the Secretary-General, within the context of rationalization, to extend the services of the network of United Nations information centres to those Member States; 39. Stresses that the Department of Public Information should continue to review the allocation of both staff and financial resources to the United Nations information centres in developing countries, emphasizing the needs of the least developed countries; 40. Encourages the network of United Nations information centres to continue to develop web pages in local languages, also encourages the Department of Public Information to provide resources and technical facilities, in particular to those information centres whose web pages are not yet operational, and further encourages host countries to respond to the needs of the information centres; 41. Takes note of the proposal by the Secretary-General to work closely with the Governments concerned to explore the possibility of identifying rent-free premises, while taking into account the economic condition of the host countries and bearing in mind that such support should not be a substitute for the full allocation of financial resources for the information centres in the context of the programme budget of the United Nations; 42. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the discussion regarding the creation of a United Nations information centre in LuandaIbid., para. 40. to address the special needs of Portuguese-speaking African countries, welcomes the offer made by the Government of Angola to host the centre as part of the network of United Nations information centres by providing rent-free premises, and encourages the Secretary-General, within the context of rationalization, to take all necessary measures to accommodate those needs; III Strategic communications services 43. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Department of Public Information,A/AC.198/2007/4 and Corr.1. and in this context reaffirms that the Department of Public Information is the principal department responsible for the implementation of information strategies, as mandated; 44. Reaffirms the role of the strategic communications services in devising and disseminating United Nations messages by developing communications strategies, in close collaboration with the substantive departments, United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, in full compliance with the legislative mandates; Promotional campaigns 45. Recognizes that promotional campaigns aimed at supporting special sessions and international conferences of the United Nations are part of the core responsibility of the Department of Public Information, welcomes the efforts of the Department to examine creative ways in which it can organize and implement these campaigns in partnership with the substantive departments concerned, using the Millennium Declaration as its guide, and requests the Department to pay particular attention to progress in implementing the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and the outcomes of the major related United Nations summits and conferences in carrying out its activities; 46. Appreciates the work of the Department of Public Information in promoting, through its campaigns, issues of importance to the international community, such as United Nations reform, the eradication of poverty, conflict prevention, sustainable development, disarmament, decolonization, human rights, including the rights of women and children and of persons with disabilities, strategic coordination in humanitarian relief, especially in natural disasters and other crises, HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases, the needs of the African continent, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as dialogue among civilizations, the culture of peace and tolerance and the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and requests the Department, in cooperation with the countries concerned and with the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, to continue to take appropriate measures to enhance world public awareness of these and other important global issues; 47. Invites the Department of Public Information to continue to work within the United Nations Communications Group to coordinate the preparation and implementation of communication strategies with the heads of information of the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session on the activities of the Group; 48. Stresses the need to continue the renewed emphasis in support of Africa's development, in particular by the Department of Public Information, in order to promote awareness in the international community of the nature of the critical economic and social situation in Africa and of the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. Role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping operations 49. Requests the Secretariat to continue to ensure the involvement of the Department of Public Information from the planning stage of future peacekeeping operations through interdepartmental consultations and coordination with other departments of the Secretariat, in particular with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations; 50. Stresses the importance of enhancing the public information capacity of the Department of Public Information in the field of peacekeeping operations and its role, in close cooperation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in the selection process of public information staff for United Nations peacekeeping operations or missions, and in this regard invites the Department of Public Information to second public information staff who have the necessary skills to fulfil the tasks of the operations or missions, taking into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution in accordance with Chapter XV, Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, and to consider views expressed, particularly by host countries, when appropriate, in this regard; 51. Emphasizes the importance of the peacekeeping gateway on the United Nations website, and requests the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts in supporting the peacekeeping missions to further develop their websites; 52. Requests the Department of Public Information and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to continue their cooperation in raising awareness of the new realities, successes and challenges faced by peacekeeping operations, especially multidimensional and complex ones, and of the recent surge in United Nations peacekeeping activities, and welcomes efforts by the two Departments to develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy on current challenges facing United Nations peacekeeping; 53. Also requests the Department of Public Information and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to continue to cooperate in implementing an effective outreach programme to explain the policy of the Organization against sexual exploitation and abuse and to inform the public on the outcome of all such cases involving peacekeeping personnel, including cases where allegations are ultimately found to be legally unproven; 54. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the role of the Department of Public Information in United Nations peacekeeping operations; Role of the Department of Public Information in strengthening dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace as means of enhancing understanding among nations 55. Recalls its resolutions on dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace,Resolutions 53/22 and 55/23 on the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, 52/15, by which it proclaimed 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, 53/25, by which it proclaimed the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 56/6 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, and 59/142 on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation. and requests the Department of Public Information, while ensuring the pertinence and relevance of subjects for promotional campaigns under this issue, to continue to provide the necessary support for the dissemination of information pertaining to dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace, as well as the initiative on the Alliance of Civilizations and to take due steps in fostering the culture of dialogue among civilizations and promoting religious and cultural understanding via all mass media, such as the Internet, print, radio and television, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report in this regard to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions; IV News services 56. Stresses that the central objective of the news services implemented by the Department of Public Information is the timely delivery of accurate, objective and balanced news and information emanating from the United Nations system in all four mass media, namely, print, radio, television and the Internet, to the media and other audiences worldwide, with the overall emphasis on multilingualism, and reiterates its request to the Department to ensure that all news-breaking stories and news alerts are accurate, impartial and free of bias; 57. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his report to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session proposals, along with their financial implications, to improve the scope of press releases in addition to the existing languages in order to widen the United Nations message, assuring their comprehensiveness and up-to-date nature, bearing in mind budgetary constraints; 58. Emphasizes the importance of the Department of Public Information continuing to draw the attention of world media to stories that do not obtain prominent coverage, through the initiative entitled "Ten Stories the World Should Hear More About"; Traditional means of communication 59. Stresses that radio remains one of the most cost-effective and far-reaching traditional media available to the Department of Public Information and an important instrument in United Nations activities, including development and peacekeeping, with a view to achieving a broad client base around the world; 60. Notes that the international radio broadcasting capacity for the United Nations is an integral part of the activities of the Department of Public Information, and requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure its success and to report on its activities to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session; 61. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to make every effort to achieve parity in the six official languages in United Nations radio production; 62. Notes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to disseminate programmes directly to broadcasting stations all over the world in the six official languages, with the addition of Portuguese, as well as in other languages where possible; 63. Welcomes the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to produce and disseminate television news video and feature material to broadcasters around the world through satellite distribution and web delivery; 64. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue building partnerships with local, national and regional broadcasters to extend the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in an accurate and impartial way, and requests the Radio and Television Service of the Department to continue to take full advantage of the technological infrastructure made available in recent years; United Nations website 65. Reaffirms that the United Nations website is an essential tool for the media, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, Member States and the general public, and, in this regard, reiterates the continued need for efforts by the Department of Public Information to maintain and improve it; 66. Recognizes the efforts made by the Department of Public Information to implement the basic accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities with regard to the United Nations website, calls upon the Department to continue to work towards compliance with all levels of accessibility requirements on all pages of the website with the aim of ensuring its accessibility by persons with different kinds of disabilities, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session on progress made in this regard; 67. Reaffirms the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on United Nations websites, while noting with satisfaction that progress is being made to narrow the gap among different official languages on United Nations websites; 68. Takes note of the fact that the multilingual development and enrichment of the United Nations website has improved, and in this regard requests the Department of Public Information, in coordination with content-providing offices, to further improve the actions taken to achieve parity among the six official languages on the United Nations website; 69. Welcomes the cooperative arrangements undertaken by the Department of Public Information with academic institutions to increase the number of web pages available in some official languages, and requests the Secretary-General to explore additional cost-neutral ways to further extend these cooperative arrangements to include all the official languages of the United Nations; 70. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure, while maintaining an up-to-date and accurate website, the adequate distribution of financial and human resources within the Department of Public Information allocated to the United Nations website among all official languages, taking into consideration the specificity of each official language on a continuous basis; 71. Recalls paragraph 74 of its resolution 60/109 B, and in this regard reiterates that all content-providing offices in the Secretariat should continue their efforts to translate into all official languages all English language materials and databases posted on the United Nations website and to make them available on the respective language websites in the most practical, efficient and cost-effective manner; 72. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take full advantage of recent developments in information technology in order to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the expeditious dissemination of information on the United Nations, in accordance with the priorities established by the General Assembly in its resolutions and taking into account the linguistic diversity of the Organization; 73. Recognizes that some official languages use non-Latin and bidirectional scripts and that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations are based on Latin script, which leads to difficulties in processing non-Latin and bidirectional scripts, and requests the Department of Public Information, in cooperation with the Information Technology Services Division of the Department of Management, to continue its efforts to ensure that technological infrastructures and supportive applications in the United Nations fully support Latin, non-Latin and bidirectional scripts in order to enhance the equality of all official languages on the United Nations website; 74. Notes with satisfaction that United Nations webcast services provide live video of United Nations meetings and events, which is also available in the original language in which it is delivered; 75. Welcomes the electronic mail-based United Nations News Service, distributed worldwide in the English and French languages through e-mail by the Department of Public Information, and requests the Department as a matter of priority to continue to examine ways to provide this service in all official languages; 76. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to work within the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and other appropriate inter-agency bodies to establish a United Nations gateway, an inter-agency search facility in which all entities of the United Nations system should be encouraged to participate, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its successive sessions on the activities of the High-level Committee on Management in this regard; V Library services 77. Welcomes the progress made in implementing the programmes outlined in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Modernization and integrated management of United Nations libraries: update on new strategic directions";A/AC.198/2006/2. 78. Calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to lead the Steering Committee for the Modernization and Integrated Management of United Nations Libraries, and requests the member libraries of the Steering Committee to continue to coordinate closely in the implementation of its programme of work; 79. Takes note of the steps taken by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the other member libraries of the Steering Committee to align their activities, services and outputs more closely with the goals, objectives and operational priorities of the Organization; 80. Reiterates the need to maintain a multilingual collection of books, periodicals and other materials in hard copy, accessible to Member States, including publications on peace and security and development-related issues, ensuring that the Dag Hammarskjöld Library continues to be a broadly accessible resource for information about the United Nations and its activities; 81. Recognizes the importance of the depository libraries in disseminating information and knowledge about United Nations activities, and, in this connection, urges the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in its capacity as the focal point, to continue to take the initiatives necessary to strengthen such libraries by providing regional training and other assistance and by improving their role with the aim of strengthening their support to users in developing countries; 82. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session on the activities of the Steering Committee and the work of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, including on the application of measures to enhance the effectiveness of the libraries within existing legislative mandates; 83. Acknowledges the role of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, as part of the Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information, in enhancing knowledge-sharing and networking activities to ensure access to the vast store of United Nations knowledge by delegates, permanent missions of Member States, the Secretariat, researchers and depository libraries worldwide, and takes note of the proposal to rename the library the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and Knowledge-Sharing Centre (DHLink), reflecting its new direction; 84. Notes the new approaches taken by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in particular the Personal Knowledge Management initiative, to assist representatives of Member States and Secretariat staff in the use of information products and tools as a complement to the traditional training programmes; 85. Recalls paragraph 44 of its resolution 56/64 B of 24 December 2001, in which it welcomed the role of the Department of Public Information in fostering increased collaboration among libraries of the United Nations system; 86. Encourages the Secretariat to develop and implement cost-neutral measures to provide Member States with secure access to the information currently accessible only on the Intranet of the Secretariat (iSeek), taking note that Member States have access to iSeek through the facilities of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library; VI Outreach services 87. Acknowledges that the outreach services provided by the Department of Public Information continue to work towards promoting awareness of the role and work of the United Nations on priority issues; 88. Welcomes the educational outreach activities of the Department of Public Information to reach educators and young people worldwide via a range of multimedia platforms; 89. Notes the importance of the continued implementation by the Department of Public Information of the ongoing programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, as mandated by the General Assembly, and requests the Department to consider how best to maximize the benefits derived from the programme by reviewing, inter alia, its duration and the number of its participants; 90. Welcomes the movement towards educational outreach and the orientation of the UN Chronicle, both print and online editions, and to this end encourages the UN Chronicle to continue to develop co-publishing partnerships, collaborative educational activities and events, including the "Unlearning Intolerance" seminar series, with civil society organizations and institutions of higher learning; 91. Reaffirms the important role that guided tours play as a means of reaching out to the general public, including children and students at all levels; 92. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Department of Public Information in organizing exhibitions on important United Nations-related issues within existing mandates at United Nations Headquarters and at other United Nations offices as a useful tool for reaching out to the general public; 93. Requests the Department of Public Information to strengthen its role as a focal point for two-way interaction with civil society relating to the priorities and concerns of the Organization; 94. Commends the United Nations Correspondents Association for its ongoing activities and for its Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Scholarship Fund, which sponsors journalists from developing countries to come to the United Nations Headquarters and report on the activities during the General Assembly, and urges donors to extend financial support to the Fund so that it may increase the number of such scholarships to journalists in this context; 95. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts and contribution of United Nations Messengers of Peace, Goodwill Ambassadors and other advocates to promote the work of the United Nations and to enhance international public awareness of its priorities and concerns, and calls upon the Department of Public Information to continue to involve them in its communications and media strategies and outreach activities; 96. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its next session on the activities being carried out by the Department of Public Information to enhance the public image of the Organization, especially where there is a component of the network of United Nations information centres; VII Final remarks 97. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all reports requested by the Committee on Information are submitted and issued in accordance with the legislative mandate; 98. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the Committee on Information at its thirtieth session and to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the activities of the Department of Public Information and on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the present resolution; 99. Further requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to ensure that the level of services provided by the Department of Public Information is maintained throughout the period of the implementation of the capital master plan; 100. Requests the Committee on Information to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 101. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Questions relating to information". RESOLUTION 62/112 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/408, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 176 to none, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: France, Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 62/112. Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1970 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, in which it requested the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to study the information transmitted to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations and to take such information fully into account in examining the situation with regard to the implementation of the Declaration, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Recalling also its resolution 61/122 of 14 December 2006, in which it requested the Special Committee to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under resolution 1970 (XVIII), Stressing the importance of timely transmission by the administering Powers of adequate information under Article 73 e of the Charter, in particular in relation to the preparation by the Secretariat of the working papers on the Territories concerned, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/67. 1. Reaffirms that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly itself that a Non-Self-Governing Territory has attained a full measure of self-government in terms of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the administering Power concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73 e of the Charter with respect to that Territory; 2. Requests the administering Powers concerned, in accordance with their Charter obligations, to transmit or continue to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic, social and educational conditions in the Territories for which they are respectively responsible, as well as the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned, including the constitution, legislative act or executive order providing for the government of the Territory and the constitutional relationship of the Territory to the administering Power, within a maximum period of six months following the expiration of the administrative year in those Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that adequate information is drawn from all available published sources in connection with the preparation of the working papers relating to the Territories concerned; 4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to discharge the functions entrusted to it under General Assembly resolution 1970 (XVIII), in accordance with established procedures. RESOLUTION 62/113 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/409, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 176 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/113. Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories", Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23), chap. V. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as all other relevant resolutions of the Assembly, including, in particular, resolutions 46/181 of 19 December 1991 and 55/146 of 8 December 2000, Reaffirming the solemn obligation of the administering Powers under the Charter of the United Nations to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Territories under their administration and to protect the human and natural resources of those Territories against abuses, Reaffirming also that any economic or other activity that has a negative impact on the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the exercise of their right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) is contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming further that the natural resources are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, Aware of the special circumstances of the geographical location, size and economic conditions of each Territory, and bearing in mind the need to promote the economic stability, diversification and strengthening of the economy of each Territory, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the small Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, Conscious also that foreign economic investment, when undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes, could make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories and also to the exercise of their right to self-determination, Concerned about any activities aimed at exploiting the natural and human resources of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to the detriment of the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, 1. Reaffirms the right of peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, as well as their right to the enjoyment of their natural resources and their right to dispose of those resources in their best interest; 2. Affirms the value of foreign economic investment undertaken in collaboration with the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and in accordance with their wishes in order to make a valid contribution to the socio-economic development of the Territories; 3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and reaffirms the legitimate rights of their peoples over their natural resources; 4. Reaffirms its concern about any activities aimed at the exploitation of the natural resources that are the heritage of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the indigenous populations, in the Caribbean, the Pacific and other regions, and of their human resources, to the detriment of their interests, and in such a way as to deprive them of their right to dispose of those resources; 5. Reaffirms the need to avoid any economic and other activities that adversely affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 6. Calls once again upon all Governments that have not yet done so to take, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, legislative, administrative or other measures in respect of their nationals and the bodies corporate under their jurisdiction that own and operate enterprises in the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are detrimental to the interests of the inhabitants of those Territories, in order to put an end to such enterprises; 7. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that the exploitation of the marine and other natural resources in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration is not in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and does not adversely affect the interests of the peoples of those Territories; 8. Invites all Governments and organizations of the United Nations system to take all possible measures to ensure that the permanent sovereignty of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories over their natural resources is fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 9. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers concerned to ensure that no discriminatory working conditions prevail in the Territories under their administration and to promote in each Territory a fair system of wages applicable to all the inhabitants without any discrimination; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue, through all means at his disposal, to inform world public opinion of any activity that affects the exercise of the right of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to self-determination in conformity with the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV); 12. Appeals to trade unions and non-governmental organizations, as well as individuals, to continue their efforts to promote the economic well-being of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and also appeals to the media to disseminate information about the developments in this regard; 13. Decides to follow the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to ensure that all economic activities in those Territories are aimed at strengthening and diversifying their economies in the interest of their peoples, including the indigenous populations, and at promoting the economic and financial viability of those Territories; 14. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/114 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/410, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 124 to none, with 54 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 62/114. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations", Having also considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/65. and the report of the Economic and Social CouncilE/2007/47. on the item, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the item,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23), chap. VI. Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and the resolutions of the Special Committee, as well as other relevant resolutions and decisions, including in particular Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/37 of 27 July 2006, Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of the final documents of the successive Conferences of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries and of the resolutions adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Caribbean Community, Conscious of the need to facilitate the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), Noting that the large majority of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are small island Territories, Welcoming the assistance extended to Non-Self-Governing Territories by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Also welcoming the participation in the capacity of observers of those Non-Self-Governing Territories that are associate members of regional commissions in the world conferences in the economic and social sphere, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, including resolutions and decisions of the Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, Noting that only some specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system have been involved in providing assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories, Stressing that, because the development options of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories are limited, there are special challenges to planning for and implementing sustainable development and that those Territories will be constrained in meeting the challenges without the continuing cooperation and assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, Stressing also the importance of securing the necessary resources for funding expanded programmes of assistance for the peoples concerned and the need to enlist the support of all major funding institutions within the United Nations system in that regard, Reaffirming the mandates of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to take all appropriate measures, within their respective spheres of competence, to ensure the full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions, Expressing its appreciation to the African Union, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community and other regional organizations for the continued cooperation and assistance they have extended to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in this regard, Expressing its conviction that closer contacts and consultations between and among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and regional organizations help to facilitate the effective formulation of programmes of assistance to the peoples concerned, Mindful of the imperative need to keep under continuous review the activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in the implementation of the various United Nations resolutions and decisions relating to decolonization, Bearing in mind the extremely fragile economies of the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories and their vulnerability to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, cyclones and sea-level rise, and recalling the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/231 of 22 December 2006 on the implementation of the Declaration by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/65. 2. Recommends that all States intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in which they are members to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system should continue to be guided by the relevant resolutions of the United Nations in their efforts to contribute to the implementation of the Declaration and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 4. Reaffirms also that the recognition by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other United Nations organs of the legitimacy of the aspirations of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to exercise their right to self-determination entails, as a corollary, the extension of all appropriate assistance to those peoples; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have continued to cooperate with the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and requests all the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to implement the relevant provisions of those resolutions; 6. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and international and regional organizations to examine and review conditions in each Territory so as to take appropriate measures to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of the Territories; 7. Urges those specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system that have not yet provided assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories to do so as soon as possible; 8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system and regional organizations to strengthen existing measures of support and formulate appropriate programmes of assistance to the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, within the framework of their respective mandates, in order to accelerate progress in the economic and social sectors of those Territories; 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system concerned to provide information on: (a) Environmental problems facing the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) The impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, and other environmental problems, such as beach and coastal erosion and droughts, on those Territories; (c) Ways and means to assist the Territories to fight drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illegal and criminal activities; (d) Illegal exploitation of the marine and other natural resources of the Territories and the need to utilize those resources for the benefit of the peoples of the Territories; 10. Recommends that the executive heads of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system formulate, with the active cooperation of the regional organizations concerned, concrete proposals for the full implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and submit the proposals to their governing and legislative organs; 11. Also recommends that the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system continue to review at the regular meetings of their governing bodies the implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 12. Recalls the adoption by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean of its resolution 574 (XXVII) of 16 May 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 21 (E/1998/41), sect. III.G. calling for the necessary mechanisms for its associate members, including Non-Self-Governing Territories, to participate in the special sessions of the General Assembly, subject to the rules of procedure of the Assembly, to review and assess the implementation of the plans of action of those United Nations world conferences in which the Territories originally participated in the capacity of observer, and in the work of the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies; 13. Requests the Chairperson of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to maintain close contact on these matters with the President of the Economic and Social Council; 14. Welcomes the publication by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and the Special Committee, of an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests that it be disseminated widely; 15. Welcomes also the continuing efforts made by the United Nations Development Programme in maintaining close liaison among the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and in providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 16. Encourages the Non-Self-Governing Territories to take steps to establish and/or strengthen disaster preparedness and management institutions and policies, inter alia, with the assistance of the relevant specialized agencies; 17. Requests the administering Powers concerned to facilitate, when appropriate, the participation of appointed and elected representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the relevant meetings and conferences of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in accordance with relevant resolutions and decisions of the United Nations, including resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee on specific Territories, so that the Territories may benefit from the related activities of those agencies and organizations; 18. Recommends that all Governments intensify their efforts in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system of which they are members to accord priority to the question of providing assistance to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assist the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in working out appropriate measures for implementing the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and to prepare for submission to the relevant bodies, with the assistance of those agencies and organizations, a report on the action taken in implementation of the relevant resolutions, including the present resolution, since the circulation of his previous report; 20. Commends the Economic and Social Council for its debate and resolution on this question, and requests it to continue to consider, in consultation with the Special Committee, appropriate measures for the coordination of the policies and activities of the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system in implementing the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 21. Requests the specialized agencies to report periodically to the Secretary-General on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the governing bodies of the appropriate specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations so that those bodies may take the necessary measures to implement the resolution, and also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/115 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/411, para. 6)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Argentina, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and United Republic of Tanzania. 62/115. Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/124 of 14 December 2006, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories,A/62/68 and Add.1. prepared pursuant to its resolution 845 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Conscious of the importance of promoting the educational advancement of the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Strongly convinced that the continuation and expansion of offers of scholarships is essential in order to meet the increasing need of students from Non-Self-Governing Territories for educational and training assistance, and considering that students in those Territories should be encouraged to avail themselves of such offers, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/68 and Add.1. 2. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have made scholarships available to the inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Invites all States to make or continue to make generous offers of study and training facilities to the inhabitants of those Territories that have not yet attained self-government or independence and, wherever possible, to provide travel funds to prospective students; 4. Urges the administering Powers to take effective measures to ensure the widespread and continuous dissemination in the Territories under their administration of information relating to offers of study and training facilities made by States and to provide all the necessary facilities to enable students to avail themselves of such offers; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Draws the attention of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/116 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/412, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Fourth Committee. 62/116. Question of Western Sahara The General Assembly, Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the people concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and other resolutions of the General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/114 of 8 December 2005, Recalling also all resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the question of Western Sahara, Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990, 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001, 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002, 1495 (2003) of 31 July 2003, 1541 (2004) of 29 April 2004, 1570 (2004) of 28 October 2004, 1598 (2005) of 28 April 2005, 1634 (2005) of 28 October 2005, 1675 (2006) of 28 April 2006 and 1720 (2006) of 31 October 2006, Welcoming the adoption of Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) on 30 April 2007, Expressing its satisfaction that the parties have met on 18 and 19 June and on 10 and 11 August 2007 under the auspices of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General and in the presence of the neighbouring countries and that they have agreed to continue the negotiations, Calling upon all the parties and the States of the region to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy and with each other, Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people of Western Sahara, Welcoming in this regard the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in search of a mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23), chap. VIII. Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/128. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/128. 2. Supports strongly Security Council resolution 1754 (2007), by which the Council called upon the parties to enter into negotiations without preconditions in good faith, taking into account the developments of the last months, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara; 3. Welcomes the ongoing negotiations between the parties held on 18 and 19 June and on 10 and 11 August 2007 in the presence of the neighbouring countries under the auspices of the United Nations; 4. Commends the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) and encourages the parties to continue to show political will and a spirit of cooperation in supporting those efforts and to create a propitious atmosphere for dialogue and the success of the negotiations; 5. Calls upon the parties to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross and calls upon them to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law; 6. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 7. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/117 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/412, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 62/117. Question of New Caledonia The General Assembly, Having considered the question of New Caledonia, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23), chap. VIII. Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Noting the importance of the positive measures being pursued in New Caledonia by the French authorities, in cooperation with all sectors of the population, to promote political, economic and social development in the Territory, including measures in the area of environmental protection and action with respect to drug abuse and trafficking, in order to provide a framework for its peaceful progress to self-determination, Noting also, in this context, the importance of equitable economic and social development, as well as continued dialogue among the parties involved in New Caledonia in the preparation of the act of self-determination of New Caledonia, Noting with satisfaction the intensification of contacts between New Caledonia and neighbouring countries of the South Pacific region, 1. Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia since the signing of the Nouméa Accord of 5 May 1998 by the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;A/AC.109/2114, annex. 2. Urges all the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony; 3. Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and welcomes, in this context, the approval of the territorial Congress in January 2007 to establish the first Kanak Academy, which aims to preserve indigenous languages and dialects; 4. Acknowledges those provisions of the Nouméa Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment, and notes that unemployment remains high among Kanaks and that recruitment of foreign mine workers continues; 5. Notes the concerns expressed by a group of indigenous people in New Caledonia regarding their underrepresentation in the Territory's governmental and social structures; 6. Takes note of the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, according to their regulations; 7. Notes the agreement between the signatories of the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations; 8. Recalls the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region; 9. Welcomes the strengthening of ties between New Caledonia and the European Union, and notes the European Development Fund assistance in infrastructural, cultural and human resource developments, including vocational training programmes; 10. Calls upon the administering Power to continue to transmit to the Secretary-General information as required under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations; 11. Invites all the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all sectors of the population, according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny; 12. Notes the efforts of the French authorities to resolve the question of voter registration by adopting, in the French Congress of Parliament, on 19 February 2007, amendments to the French Constitution allowing New Caledonia to restrict eligibility to vote in local polls to those voters registered on the 1998 electoral rolls when the Nouméa Accord was signed, thus ensuring strong representation of the Kanak population; 13. Welcomes the measures that have been taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords; 14. Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia; 15. Notes the increase by the Government of France in financial assistance to the Territory, amounting to 910 million euros in 2005 for health, education, payment of public-service salaries and funding development schemes; 16. Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous Kanak culture of New Caledonia; 17. Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, notably the "Zonéco" operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia; 18. Welcomes the establishment of a new form of cooperation among Australia, France and New Zealand in terms of surveillance of fishing zones, in accordance with the wishes expressed by France during the France-Oceania Summits in July 2003 and June 2006; 19. Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 20. Welcomes, in this regard, the accession by New Caledonia in October 2006, at the 37th Summit of the Pacific Islands Forum, in Fiji, to the status of associate member of the Pacific Islands Forum, giving the Territory the right to participate in Forum discussions; 21. Also welcomes the continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum; 22. Further welcomes the cooperative attitude of other States and Territories in the region towards New Caledonia, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 23. Recalls the endorsement of the report of the Forum Ministerial Committee on New Caledonia by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum at its 36th Summit, in October 2005 in Papua New Guinea, and the continuing role of the Forum Ministerial Committee in monitoring developments in the Territory and encouraging closer regional engagements; 24. Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord; 25. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue the examination of the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTIONS 62/118 A and B Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/412, para. 24)The draft resolutions recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee were submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 62/118. Questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands A General The General Assembly, Having considered the questions of the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the Territories", Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23), chap. IX. Recalling all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to those Territories, including, in particular, the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its sixty-first session on the individual Territories covered by the present resolution, Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and other resolutions of the Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1541 (XV), containing the principles that should guide Member States in determining whether or not an obligation exists to transmit the information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Expressing concern that more than forty-six years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Resolution 1514 (XV). there still remain a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories, Conscious of the importance of continuing effective implementation of the Declaration, taking into account the target set by the United Nations to eradicate colonialism by 2010 and the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. Recognizing that the specific characteristics and the sentiments of the peoples of the Territories require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options of self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources, Noting the stated position of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the stated position of the Government of the United States of America on the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration, Noting also the stated positions of the representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories before the Special Committee and in its regional seminars, Noting further the constitutional developments in some Non-Self-Governing Territories affecting the internal structure of governance about which the Special Committee has received information, Aware of the importance both to the Territories and to the Special Committee of the participation of elected and appointed representatives of the Territories in the work of the Special Committee, Convinced that the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories should continue to guide the development of their future political status and that referendums, free and fair elections and other forms of popular consultation play an important role in ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the people, Convinced also that any negotiations to determine the status of a Territory must take place with the active involvement and participation of the people of that Territory, under the aegis of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis, and that the views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained, Noting that a number of Non-Self-Governing Territories have expressed concern at the procedure followed by some administering Powers, contrary to the wishes of the Territories themselves, of amending or enacting legislation for application to the Territories, either through Orders in Council, in order to apply to the Territories the international treaty obligations of the administering Power, or through the unilateral application of laws and regulations, Aware of the importance of the international financial services for the economies of some of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, Noting the continued cooperation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at the local and regional levels, including participation in the work of regional organizations, Mindful that United Nations visiting and special missions provide an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, that some Territories have not received a United Nations visiting mission for a long time and that no visiting missions have been sent to some of the Territories, and considering the possibility of sending further visiting missions to the Territories at an appropriate time and in consultation with the administering Powers, Mindful also that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the peoples of the Territories, Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to ensure that the appropriate bodies of the United Nations actively pursue a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining a better understanding of the options of self-determination, Mindful, in this connection, that the holding of regional seminars in the Caribbean and Pacific regions and at Headquarters and other venues, with the active participation of representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, provides a helpful means for the Special Committee to fulfil its mandate, and that the regional nature of the seminars, which alternate between the Caribbean and the Pacific, is a crucial element in the context of a United Nations programme for ascertaining the political status of the Territories, Mindful also that the 2006 Pacific regional seminar was held on Yanuca Island, Fiji, from 28 to 30 November, and that the 2007 Caribbean regional seminar was held in Saint George's, Grenada, from 22 to 24 May, Conscious of the particular vulnerability of the Territories to natural disasters and environmental degradation, and, in this connection, bearing in mind the applicability to the Territories of the programmes of action of all United Nations world conferencesSee Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum); Report of the World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, Yokohama, Japan, 23-27 May 1994 (A/CONF.172/9), chap. I; Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I; Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex; Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II; Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex; and Report of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, Durban 31 August-8 September 2001 (A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1), chap. I. and special sessions of the General Assembly in the economic and social sphere, Noting with appreciation the contribution to the development of some Territories by the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as regional institutions such as the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pacific Islands Forum and the agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific, Aware that the Human Rights Committee, as part of its mandate under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. reviews the status of the self-determination process, including in small island Territories under examination by the Special Committee, Recalling the ongoing efforts of the Special Committee in carrying out a critical review of its work with the aim of making appropriate and constructive recommendations and decisions to attain its objectives in accordance with its mandate, Recognizing that the annual background working papers prepared by the Secretariat on developments in each of the small Territories,A/AC.109/2007/2-8, 10 and 14-16. as well as the substantive documentation and information furnished by experts, scholars, non governmental organizations and other sources, have provided important inputs in updating the present resolution, 1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 2. Also reaffirms that, in the process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right, as recognized under the relevant human rights conventions; 3. Further reaffirms that it is ultimately for the peoples of the Territories themselves to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection reiterates its long-standing call for the administering Powers, in cooperation with the territorial Governments and appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education programmes for the Territories in order to foster an awareness among the people of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and other relevant resolutions and decisions; 4. Requests the administering Powers to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General information called for under Article 73 e of the Charter; 5. Stresses the importance of the Special Committee being apprised of the views and wishes of the peoples of the Territories and enhancing its understanding of their conditions, including the nature and scope of the existing political and constitutional arrangements between the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their respective administering Powers; 6. Reaffirms the responsibility of the administering Powers under the Charter to promote the economic and social development and to preserve the cultural identity of the Territories, and recommends that priority continue to be given, in consultation with the territorial Governments concerned, to the strengthening and diversification of their respective economies; 7. Requests the Territories and the administering Powers to take all necessary measures to protect and conserve the environment of the Territories against any degradation, and once again requests the specialized agencies concerned to continue to monitor environmental conditions in the Territories; 8. Welcomes the participation of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in regional activities, including the work of regional organizations; 9. Stresses the importance of implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. in particular by expediting the application of the work programme for the decolonization of each Non-Self-Governing Territory, on a case-by-case basis, as well as by ensuring that periodic analyses are undertaken of the progress and extent of the implementation of the Declaration in each Territory, and that the working papers prepared by the Secretariat on each Territory should fully reflect developments in those Territories; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to participate in and cooperate fully with the work of the Special Committee in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration, and in order to advise the Special Committee on the implementation of provisions under Article 73 b of the Charter on efforts to promote self-government in the Territories, and encourages the administering Powers to facilitate visiting and special missions to the Territories; 11. Urges Member States to contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to usher in a world free of colonialism within the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon them to continue to give their full support to the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that noble goal; 12. Stresses the importance of the constitutional reviews in the respective Territories administered by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, and led by the territorial Governments, designed to address internal constitutional structures within the present territorial arrangements; 13. Requests that the Secretary-General continue to report to the General Assembly on a regular basis on the implementation of decolonization resolutions adopted since the declaration of the First and Second International Decades for the Eradication of Colonialism; 14. Reiterates its request that the Human Rights Committee collaborate with the Special Committee, within the framework of its mandate on the right to self-determination as contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. with the aim of exchanging information, given that the Human Rights Committee is mandated to review the situation, including political and constitutional developments, in many of the Non-Self-Governing Territories that are within the purview of the Special Committee; 15. Requests the Special Committee to collaborate with the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, within the framework of their respective mandates, with the aim of exchanging information on developments in those Non-Self-Governing Territories which are reviewed by those bodies; 16. Also requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session and on the implementation of the present resolution. B Individual Territories The General Assembly, Referring to resolution A above, I American Samoa Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on American SamoaA/AC.109/2007/15. and other relevant information, Noting the position of the administering Power and the statements made by representatives of American Samoa in the regional seminars expressing satisfaction with the Territory's present relationship with the United States of America, Noting also that the Department of the Interior of the United States of America provides that the Secretary of the Interior has administrative jurisdiction over American Samoa,Pursuant to Secretary's Order 2657, Department of the Interior, United States of America. Noting further that American Samoa continues to be the only United States Territory to receive financial assistance from the administering Power for the operations of the territorial Government, and calling upon the administering Power to continue to assist the territorial Government in the diversification of its economy, Noting that the Territory's non-voting delegate to the Congress of the United States of America has formally requested that the administering Power declare its official position on the status of American Samoa before the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Noting also the statement of the representative of the Governor of the Territory at the Pacific regional seminar, held on Yanuca Island, Fiji, from 28 to 30 November 2006, requesting the Special Committee to review the Territory's status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, 1. Welcomes the establishment of the Future Political Status Study Commission, which began its work in June 2006 and prepared its report in January 2007, to study alternative forms of future political status open to American Samoa and to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each; 2. Stresses the importance of the invitation previously extended to the Special Committee by the Governor of American Samoa to send a visiting mission to the Territory, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission if the territorial Government so desires, and requests the Chairperson of the Special Committee to take all the necessary steps to that end; 3. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating its work concerning a public awareness programme recommended by the Future Political Status Study Commission in its 2007 report, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; II Anguilla Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on AnguillaA/AC.109/2007/8. and other relevant information, Recalling the holding of the 2003 Caribbean regional seminar in Anguilla, the first time that the seminar had been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory, Taking note of the constitutional review process resumed by the territorial Government in 2006, the work of the newly established Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission, which prepared its report in August 2006, and the holding of public and other consultative meetings in 2007 on proposed constitutional amendments to be presented to the administering Power, Aware that the Government intends to continue its commitment to high-end tourism and the implementation of various regulations in the financial services sector, Noting the participation of the Territory as an associate member in the Caribbean Community, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, 1. Welcomes the establishment of a new Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission, the issuance of its report in 2006 and the holding of public and other consultative meetings early in 2007, with the aim of making recommendations to the administering Power on proposed changes to the Constitution in place in the Territory; 2. Stresses the importance of the previously expressed desire of the territorial Government for a visiting mission by the Special Committee, calls upon the administering Power to facilitate such a mission, if the territorial Government so desires, and requests the Chairperson of the Special Committee to take all the necessary steps to that end; 3. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating its work concerning public consultative outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public consultative outreach efforts; III Bermuda Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on BermudaA/AC.109/2007/10. and other relevant information, Conscious of the different viewpoints of the political parties on the future status of the Territory, Recalling the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to Bermuda in 2005 at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and on the experiences of other small States that have achieved a full measure of self-government, 1. Stresses the importance of the 2005 report of the Bermuda Independence Commission, which provides a thorough and meticulous examination of the facts surrounding independence, and regrets that the plans for public meetings and the presentation of a Green Paper to the House of Assembly followed by a White Paper outlining the policy proposals for an independent Bermuda have so far not materialized; 2. Decides to follow closely the developments concerning the future political status of Bermuda under way in the Territory, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; IV British Virgin Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the British Virgin IslandsA/AC.109/2007/3. and other relevant information, Recalling the 1993 report of the Constitutional Commissioners, and the 1996 debate on the report in the Legislative Council of the Territory, the establishment of the Constitutional Review Commission in 2004 and the completion in 2005 of its report providing recommendations on constitutional modernization, and noting the debate on the report held in the Legislative Council in 2005, Noting the statement made at the Pacific regional seminar, held on Yanuca Island, Fiji, from 28 to 30 November 2006, by the representative of the territorial Government, who presented an analysis of the internal constitutional review process and urged the Special Committee to rethink and broaden the concept of self-determination for certain Territories, on a case-by-case basis, Noting also that the Territory continues to emerge as one of the world's leading offshore financial centres, with unprecedented growth in its financial and tourism services sectors, 1. Welcomes the negotiations on constitutional advancement and balance of authority between the administering Power and the territorial Government during 2006-2007 resulting in the draft constitution that was unanimously passed by the Legislative Council of the Territory in May 2007; 2. Also welcomes the efforts made by the territorial Government to focus the economic base of the Territory more on local ownership and on professional service industries other than financial services; 3. Further welcomes the ongoing work of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands as a mechanism for functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories; V Cayman Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Cayman IslandsA/AC.109/2007/2. and other relevant information, Taking note also of the 2002 report of the Constitutional Modernization Review Commission, which contained a draft constitution for the consideration of the people of the Territory, the 2003 draft constitution offered by the administering Power and the subsequent discussions between the Territory and the administering Power in 2003, Noting with interest the reopened discussions between the administering Power and the territorial Government in 2006 on constitutional modernization with the aim of ascertaining the views of the people by way of referendum, Noting that the Caribbean regional seminar, held in Saint George's, Grenada, from 22 to 24 May 2007, discussed the establishment of the Cayman Islands Constitutional Review Secretariat, which had begun its work in March 2007 to raise public awareness and disseminate information about the Territory's constitutional review process, Acknowledging the indication by the territorial Government that certain cost-of-living issues, such as inflation, are a cause for concern, 1. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating its work concerning public awareness outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public awareness outreach efforts; 2. Welcomes the announcement made by the territorial Government that it intends to address various cost-of-living issues in a systematic manner; VI Guam Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on GuamA/AC.109/2007/16. and other relevant information, Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory, Recalling also the requests by the elected representatives and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests, Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act are no longer continuing and that Guam has established a process for a self-determination vote by the eligible Chamorro voters, Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam, Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam, Aware of concerns expressed by many residents regarding the potential social and other impacts of the impending transfer of additional military personnel of the administering Power to the Territory, Aware also of the Government-wide austerity measures undertaken since February 2007, when the Governor declared a financial "state of emergency", Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros becoming a minority in their homeland, 1. Calls once again upon the administering Power to take into consideration the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the plebiscite of 1987 and as provided for in Guam law, encourages the administering Power and the territorial Government of Guam to enter into negotiations on the matter, and requests the administering Power to inform the Secretary-General of progress to that end; 2. Requests the administering Power to continue to assist the elected territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals; 3. Also requests the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government, to continue to transfer land to the original landowners of the Territory, to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam and to take all necessary measures to respond to the concerns of the territorial Government with regard to the question of immigration; 4. Further requests the administering Power to cooperate in establishing programmes specifically intended to promote the sustainable development of economic activities and enterprises, noting the special role of the Chamorro people in the development of Guam; 5. Recalls the request by the elected Governor to the administering Power to lift restrictions to allow for foreign airlines to transport passengers between Guam and the United States of America to provide for a more competitive market and increased visitor arrivals; 6. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating public outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in support of such efforts; VII Montserrat Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on MontserratA/AC.109/2007/4. and other relevant information, Recalling the 2002 report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which contains a series of recommendations on constitutional advancement, including the devolution of power from the appointed Governor to the elected Government, and the call in favour of a free-association arrangement, Recalling also the convening of a committee of the House of Assembly in 2005 to review the report, and the subsequent discussions between the elected Government and the administering Power on constitutional advancement and devolution of power, Noting that the development needs prevailing in Montserrat were discussed by the Caribbean regional seminar, held in Saint George's, Grenada, from 22 to 24 May 2007, Noting also the statements made by participants of the Caribbean regional seminar encouraging the administering Power to commit sufficient resources to meet the Territory's special needs, Noting with concern the continued consequences of the volcanic eruption, which led to the evacuation of three quarters of the Territory's population to safe areas of the island and to areas outside the Territory, which continues to have enduring consequences for the economy of the island, Acknowledging the continued assistance provided to the Territory by States members of the Caribbean Community, in particular Antigua and Barbuda, which has offered safe refuge and access to educational and health facilities, as well as employment for thousands who have left the Territory, Noting the continuing efforts of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with the consequences of the volcanic eruption, 1. Welcomes the intention of the territorial Government to negotiate improvements to the present Constitution so as to preserve its ability to move towards greater self-determination at a later stage, and to publish and discuss publicly the Constitution when a final draft, which was expected in the first quarter of 2007, is ready; 2. Requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating its work concerning public outreach efforts, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public outreach efforts; 3. Calls upon the administering Power, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as regional and other organizations, to continue to provide assistance to the Territory in alleviating the consequences of the volcanic eruption; VIII Pitcairn Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on PitcairnA/AC.109/2007/6. and other relevant information, Taking into account the unique nature of Pitcairn in terms of population and area, Noting the position of the representative of the elected Government, as expressed at the 2004 Pacific regional seminar, that the people of the Territory did not fully understand all the possibilities or the significance of the various self-determination options that might be available to them, and that the review of the Constitution was deferred, 1. Requests the administering Power to continue its assistance for the improvement of the economic, social, educational and other conditions of the population of the Territory and to continue its discussions with the representatives of Pitcairn on how best to support their economic security; 2. Notes the position of the representative of the elected Government of the Territory favouring discussions on self-determination in advance of a constitutional review, and considers that a United Nations visiting mission to the Territory would heighten the awareness of the people of their political future; IX Saint Helena Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Saint HelenaA/AC.109/2007/14. and other relevant information, Taking into account the unique character of Saint Helena, its population and its natural resources, Noting the constitutional review process led by the territorial Government and the consultative poll with regard to a new constitution, held in Saint Helena in May 2005, Aware of the efforts of the administering Power and the territorial authorities to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of Saint Helena, in particular in the sphere of food production, continuing high unemployment and limited transport and communications, Noting the importance of improving the infrastructure and accessibility of Saint Helena, Noting also the importance of the right to nationality for Saint Helenians and their request that it, in principle, be included in the new Constitution, Noting with concern the problem of unemployment on the island and the joint action of the administering Power and the territorial Government to deal with it, 1. Welcomes the continuing constitutional review process and the consultative poll led by the Government of Saint Helena in cooperation with the administering Power; 2. Also welcomes the decision by the administering Power to provide funding for the construction of an international airport on Saint Helena to become operational in 2011-2012, including all required infrastructure; 3. Requests the administering Power and relevant international organizations to continue to support the efforts of the territorial Government to address the socio-economic development challenges, including the high unemployment and the problems of limited transport and communications, as well as to support the additional infrastructure required for the airport project; 4. Calls upon the administering Power to take into account the concerns of Saint Helenians with regard to the right to nationality; X Turks and Caicos Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Turks and Caicos IslandsA/AC.109/2007/5. and other relevant information, Recalling the 2002 report of the Constitutional Modernization Review Body, which examined the existing Constitution and made recommendations on the internal structure of government and devolution of power from the appointed Governor to the elected Government, and acknowledging the new Constitution agreed between the administering Power and the territorial Government, its circulation within the Government and among the general public, and its entering into force in August 2006, Noting the support for the new Constitution of the Territory among the participants of the Caribbean regional seminar, held in Saint George's, Grenada, from 22 to 24 May 2007, Noting also that the new Constitution provides for a Governor, who would maintain reserved powers in the Territory, to be appointed by the administering Power, Recalling the dispatch of the United Nations special mission to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2006, at the request of the territorial Government and with the concurrence of the administering Power, which provided information to the people of the Territory on the role of the United Nations in the process of self-determination, on the legitimate political status options as clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and on the experiences of other small States that have achieved a full measure of self-government, Acknowledging the significant and steady period of economic expansion fuelled by the continuing growth of high-end tourism, 1. Welcomes the new Constitution of the Territory, which took effect in August 2006, and notes the emphasis placed by the re-elected territorial Government on economic development and modernization; 2. Also welcomes the ongoing efforts made by the Government addressing the need for attention to be paid to the enhancement of social cohesion across the Territory; XI United States Virgin Islands Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the United States Virgin IslandsA/AC.109/2007/7. and other relevant information, Acknowledging with interest the upcoming Constitutional Convention, the fifth attempt to review the existing Revised Organic Act, which organizes the internal governance arrangements, as well as the various related efforts in implementing a public education programme on the Constitution, as outlined in a statement by a participant from the Territory presented to the Caribbean regional seminar, held in Saint George's, Grenada, from 22 to 24 May 2007, 1. Requests the administering Power to assist the territorial Government in achieving its political, economic and social goals, in particular through the upcoming internal Constitutional Convention exercise; 2. Also requests the administering Power to assist the Territory in facilitating its work concerning a public education programme, consistent with Article 73 b of the Charter of the United Nations, and calls upon the relevant United Nations organizations to provide assistance to the Territory, if requested, in the context of its public education programme; 3. Reiterates its call for the inclusion of the Territory in regional programmes of the United Nations Development Programme, consistent with the participation of other Non-Self-Governing Territories; 4. Welcomes the ongoing work of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council between the elected Governments of the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands as a mechanism for functional cooperation between the two neighbouring Territories; 5. Notes the position of the territorial Government supporting the ownership and control of the natural resources of the Territory, including marine resources, and its calls for the return of those marine resources to its jurisdiction. RESOLUTION 62/119 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/412, para. 24),The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. by a recorded vote of 175 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Abstaining: France, United States of America 62/119. Dissemination of information on decolonization The General Assembly, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to the dissemination of information on decolonization and publicity for the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23), chap. III. Recalling General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and other resolutions and decisions of the United Nations concerning the dissemination of information on decolonization, in particular Assembly resolution 61/129 of 14 December 2006, Recognizing the need for flexible, practical and innovative approaches towards reviewing the options of self-determination for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories with a view to implementing the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. Reiterating the importance of dissemination of information as an instrument for furthering the aims of the Declaration, and mindful of the role of world public opinion in effectively assisting the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to achieve self-determination, Recognizing the role played by the administering Powers in transmitting information to the Secretary-General in accordance with the terms of Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations, Recognizing also the role of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, through the United Nations information centres, in the dissemination of information at the regional level on the activities of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 61/129, in which it requested the Department, in consultation with the United Nations Development Programme, the specialized agencies and the Special Committee, to prepare an information leaflet on assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to disseminate it widely in them, Aware of the role of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization, 1. Approves the activities in the field of dissemination of information on decolonization undertaken by the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, in particular the preparation, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 61/129, of the information leaflet entitled "What the UN Can Do to Assist Non-Self-Governing Territories", issued in March 2007; 2. Considers it important to continue and expand its efforts to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information on decolonization, with particular emphasis on the options of self-determination available for the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to this end, requests the Department of Public Information to empower the United Nations information centres in the relevant regions to disseminate material to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to further enhance the information provided on the United Nations decolonization website by including the full series of reports of the regional seminars on decolonization, the statements and scholarly papers presented at those seminars and links to the full series of reports of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; 4. Requests the Department of Public Information to continue its efforts to update web-based information on the assistance programmes available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories; 5. Requests the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information to implement the recommendations of the Special Committee and to continue their efforts to take measures through all the media available, including publications, radio and television, as well as the Internet, to give publicity to the work of the United Nations in the field of decolonization and, inter alia: (a) To develop procedures to collect, prepare and disseminate, particularly to the Territories, basic material on the issue of self-determination of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; (b) To seek the full cooperation of the administering Powers in the discharge of the tasks referred to above; (c) To explore the idea of a programme of collaboration with the decolonization focal points of territorial Governments, particularly in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, to help improve the exchange of information; (d) To encourage the involvement of non-governmental organizations in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (e) To encourage the involvement of Non-Self-Governing Territories in the dissemination of information on decolonization; (f) To report to the Special Committee on measures taken in the implementation of the present resolution; 6. Requests all States, including the administering Powers, to accelerate the dissemination of information referred to in paragraph 2 above; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine this question and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/11 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 26 November 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.16 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zimbabwe 62/11. The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts The General Assembly, Recognizing that the trade in conflict diamonds continues to be a matter of serious international concern, which can be directly linked to the fuelling of armed conflict, the activities of rebel movements aimed at undermining or overthrowing legitimate Governments and the illicit traffic in and proliferation of armaments, especially small arms and light weapons, Recognizing also the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety and security of people in affected countries, and the systematic and gross human rights violations that have been perpetrated in such conflicts, Noting the negative impact of such conflicts on regional stability and the obligations placed upon States by the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, Recognizing, therefore, that continued action to curb the trade in conflict diamonds is imperative, Recalling that the elimination of illicit diamonds from legitimate trade is the primary objective of the Kimberley Process, Bearing in mind the positive benefits of the legitimate diamond trade to producing countries, and underlining the need for continued international action to prevent the problem of conflict diamonds from negatively affecting the trade in legitimate diamonds, which makes a critical contribution to the economies of many of the producing, exporting and importing States, especially developing States, Noting that the vast majority of rough diamonds produced in the world are from legitimate sources, Recalling the Charter and all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council related to conflict diamonds, and determined to contribute to and support the implementation of the measures provided for in those resolutions, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1459 (2003) of 28 January 2003, in which the Council strongly supported the Kimberley Process Certification SchemeSee A/57/489. as a valuable contribution against trafficking in conflict diamonds, Welcoming the important contribution of the Kimberley Process, which was initiated by African diamond-producing countries, Acknowledging that lessons learned from the Kimberley Process are useful for the work of the Peacebuilding Commission in its consideration of the countries included in its agenda, as appropriate, Noting with satisfaction that the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme continues to have a positive impact in reducing the opportunity for conflict diamonds to play a role in fuelling armed conflict and would help to protect legitimate trade and ensure the effective implementation of the relevant resolutions on trade in conflict diamonds, Recalling its resolutions 55/56 of 1 December 2000, 56/263 of 13 March 2002, 57/302 of 15 April 2003, 58/290 of 14 April 2004, 59/144 of 15 December 2004, 60/182 of 20 December 2005 and 61/28 of 4 December 2006, in which it called for the development and implementation as well as a periodic review of proposals for a simple, effective and pragmatic international certification scheme for rough diamonds, Welcoming, in this regard, the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in such a way as not to impede the legitimate trade in diamonds or impose an undue burden on Governments or industry, particularly smaller producers, nor hinder the development of the diamond industry, Welcoming also the decision of forty-eight Kimberley Process Participants, representing seventy-four countries, including the twenty-seven members of the European Union represented by the European Commission, to address the problem of conflict diamonds by participating in the Process and implementing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, Welcoming further the desire of the Kimberley Process to systematize the current rules and procedures and the subsequent development of new rules and procedural norms regulating the activity of its working bodies, Participants and observers, Welcoming the successful consensual outcomes of the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process hosted by the European Commission in Brussels from 5 to 8 November 2007, Welcoming also the important contributions made and that continue to be made by civil society and the diamond industry, in particular the World Diamond Council which represents all aspects of the diamond industry, to assist international efforts to stop the trade in conflict diamonds, Welcoming further the voluntary self-regulation initiatives for the diamond industry announced by the World Diamond Council, and recognizing that a system of such voluntary self-regulation contributes, as described in the Interlaken Declaration of 5 November 2002 on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for Rough Diamonds,Ibid., annex 2. to ensuring the effectiveness of national systems of internal control for rough diamonds, Noting in this regard the Declaration on internal controls in diamond trading and manufacturing centres, endorsed by the Brussels plenary meeting, Noting with appreciation that the Kimberley Process has pursued its deliberations on an inclusive basis, involving concerned stakeholders, including producing, exporting and importing States, the diamond industry and civil society, as well as applicant States and international organizations, Recognizing that State sovereignty should be fully respected and that the principles of equality, mutual benefits and consensus should be adhered to, Recognizing also that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which came into effect on 1 January 2003, will be credible only if all Participants have requisite national legislation coupled with effective and credible internal systems of control designed to eliminate the presence of conflict diamonds in the chain of producing, exporting and importing rough diamonds within their own territories, while taking into account that differences in production methods and trading practices, as well as differences in institutional controls thereof, may require different approaches to meeting minimum standards, 1. Reaffirms its strong and continuing support for the Kimberley Process Certification SchemeSee A/57/489. and the Kimberley Process as a whole; 2. Recognizes that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme can help to ensure the effective implementation of relevant resolutions of the Security Council containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds and act as a mechanism for the prevention of future conflicts, and calls for the full implementation of existing Council measures targeting the illicit trade in rough diamonds, particularly conflict diamonds which play a role in fuelling conflict; 3. Also recognizes the important contributions that the international efforts to address the problem of conflict diamonds, including the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, have made to the settlement of conflicts and the consolidation of peace in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone; 4. Notes the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 15 May 2003 granting a waiver with respect to the measures taken to implement the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, effective from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2006,World Trade Organization, document WT/L/518. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the decision of the General Council of 17 November 2006 granting an extension of the waiver until 31 December 2012;World Trade Organization, document G/C/W/559/Rev.1. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. 5. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Chair of the Kimberley Process submitted pursuant to resolution 61/28,A/62/543, annex, and A/62/543/Add.1. and congratulates the participating Governments, the regional economic integration organization, the diamond industry and civil society organizations involved in the Process for contributing to the development, implementation and monitoring of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and recognizes, in particular, the progress made by Kimberley Process working groups, Participants and observers during 2007 in fulfilling the objectives set by the Chair to strengthen implementation of the peer review system, increase the transparency and accuracy of statistics, promote research into the traceability of diamonds, promote inclusiveness by broadening the level of involvement by both Governments and civil society in the Certification Scheme, foster a sense of ownership by Participants, improve information and communication flows and enhance the capacity of the Certification Scheme to respond to emerging challenges; 6. Stresses that the widest possible participation in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is essential, and encourages all Member States to contribute to the work of the Kimberley Process by seeking membership, participating actively in the Certification Scheme and complying with its undertakings; 7. Welcomes the admission in 2007 of Liberia, Turkey and the Congo, and recognizes the increased involvement of civil society organizations, in particular those from producer countries, in the Kimberley Process; 8. Also welcomes the initiative announced in Brussels to address the issue of rough diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire by engaging all relevant stakeholders, including Côte d'Ivoire, to enhance the control and monitoring of the trade in rough diamonds in their territories, enhancing regional cooperation to strengthen compliance with the Kimberley Process, and supporting applicant countries in the West Africa region in their efforts to join the Process as called for in Security Council resolution 1643 (2005) of 15 December 2005; 9. Notes with appreciation the cooperation of the Kimberley Process with the United Nations on the issue of diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire, including by assessing the volume of rough diamonds produced in and exported from Côte d'Ivoire as requested by Security Council resolution 1643 (2005), by sharing statistical data and other information with the Group of Experts on Côte d'Ivoire, and by taking action in line with paragraph 9 of resolution 61/28, in particular on the issues raised in reports of the Group of Experts,See S/2006/735 and S/2007/611. calls for the full implementation of the resolution on the subject of illicit diamond production in Côte d'Ivoire adopted by the plenary meeting of the Process held in Moscow from 15 to 17 November 2005, and encourages continued cooperation between the Process and the United Nations in tackling this issue; 10. Welcomes the considerable efforts of Ghana in 2007 to enhance the credibility of its internal controls by monitoring exports, licensing miners and producing accurate diamond production data, all with assistance from the European Commission, South Africa, the United States of America and the World Diamond Council, by way of follow-up to the administrative decision on Ghana, adopted by the plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process, held in Gabarone from 6 to 9 November 2006, and notes the decision adopted by the Brussels plenary meeting in 2007 to introduce a risk-based approach to the monitoring of Ghana's rough diamond exports; 11. Notes with satisfaction that in line with paragraph 7 of its resolution 60/182 and paragraph 7 of its resolution 61/28, the preliminary development of "footprints", size-frequency distribution diagrams, that characterize diamond production from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana has been undertaken, and encourages expeditious commencement of further work to develop similar footprints for other diamond producers, while thanking the European Commission for hosting a workshop on traceability techniques to identify the origin of diamonds through optical, physical and chemical analysis and encouraging all Participants to support further efforts to place diamond identification techniques on a sound scientific basis; 12. Welcomes the Declaration on internal controls in diamond trading and manufacturing centres endorsed by the Brussels plenary meeting, and encourages all such centres to carry out effective enforcement measures as part of their internal controls to ensure adequate government oversight over the trade in rough diamonds; 13. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the Working Group of the Kimberley Process of Artisanal Alluvial Producers, under the leadership of Angola, to analyse internal controls and the challenges faced by each country with respect to its artisanal alluvial diamond production, and plans to spread best practices and improve community involvement through a programme of field visits; 14. Welcomes the strengthening of the South American subgroup of Artisanal Alluvial Producers, and its intention to meet to discuss regional cooperation on the challenges faced in controlling diamond production and trade, and also welcomes the invitation extended by Venezuela for a visit led by the Chair of the Kimberley Process to take place during the first quarter of 2008; 15. Warmly welcomes the admission of Liberia as a Participant in the Kimberley Process in May 2007, following three separate Kimberley Process expert missions to advise and assess its system for controlling diamonds, notes with appreciation the considerable support and technical assistance provided by the Kimberley Process community prior to the decision by the Security Council to lift diamond sanctions, and continues to encourage all those in a position to do so to assist Liberia with implementation of Kimberley Process standards; 16. Notes with appreciation the considerable progress made in carrying out the recommendations arising out of the three-year review of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme adopted by the Gabarone plenary meeting in 2006, and notes that they should contribute to the strengthening and consolidation of the Process; 17. Recognizes that the peer review mechanism and the collection and submission of statistical data are critical monitoring tools, essential for effective implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, and in this respect: (a) Notes with satisfaction that virtually all Kimberley Process Participants, as well as several applicants, have received peer review visits, and that several countries and a regional economic integration organization have already invited a second review visit, and calls upon other Participants to invite further visits; (b) Welcomes the strengthening of the peer review mechanism by the adoption of a revised administrative decision on peer review; (c) Notes with satisfaction the publication of Kimberley Process trade and production data, welcomes the progress made towards the collection and submission of complete and accurate statistical reports on the production of and trade in rough diamonds, and encourages all of the Process Participants to continue to enhance the quality of data, and to respond promptly to Process analyses of these data; 18. Notes with satisfaction the systematization of the work of the Kimberley Process with respect to continuing to develop transparent and uniform rules and procedures and introducing a mechanism for consultation and coordination in the Process; 19. Notes with appreciation the assistance and capacity-building efforts extended by various donors, and encourages other donors to provide financial and technical expertise to Kimberley Process Participants to help them to develop tighter monitoring and control measures; 20. Acknowledges with great appreciation the important contribution that the European Community, as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2007, has made to the efforts to curb the trade in conflict diamonds, and welcomes the selection of India as Chair and Namibia as Vice-Chair of the Process for 2008; 21. Requests the Chair of the Kimberley Process to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the Process; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict". RESOLUTION 62/120 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/412, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was submitted by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. and as orally amended, by a recorded vote of 176 to 2, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Abstaining: France, United States of America 62/120. Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23). Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all its subsequent resolutions concerning the implementation of the Declaration, the most recent of which was resolution 61/130 of 14 December 2006, as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its resolution 55/146 of 8 December 2000, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and the need to examine ways to ascertain the wishes of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories on the basis of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization, Recognizing that the eradication of colonialism has been one of the priorities of the United Nations and continues to be one of its priorities for the decade that began in 2001, Reconfirming the need to take measures to eliminate colonialism by 2010, as called for in its resolution 55/146, Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, as well as racial discrimination and violations of basic human rights, Noting with satisfaction the achievements of the Special Committee in contributing to the effective and complete implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization, Stressing the importance of the formal participation of the administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, Noting with interest the cooperation and active participation of some administering Powers in the work of the Special Committee, and encouraging the others also to do so, Taking note that the Pacific regional seminar, originally scheduled to convene from 23 to 25 May 2006 in Timor-Leste, was held on Yanuca Island, Fiji, from 28 to 30 November 2006, and that the Caribbean regional seminar was held in Saint George's, Grenada, from 22 to 24 May 2007, 1. Reaffirms its resolution 1514 (XV) and all other resolutions and decisions on decolonization, including its resolution 55/146, by which it declared the period 2001-2010 the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, and calls upon the administering Powers, in accordance with those resolutions, to take all necessary steps to enable the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories concerned to exercise fully as soon as possible their right to self-determination, including independence; 2. Reaffirms once again that the existence of colonialism in any form or manifestation, including economic exploitation, is incompatible with the Charter of the United Nations, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;Resolution 217 A (III). 3. Reaffirms its determination to continue to take all steps necessary to bring about the complete and speedy eradication of colonialism and the faithful observance by all States of the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; 4. Affirms once again its support for the aspirations of the peoples under colonial rule to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations on decolonization; 5. Calls upon the administering Powers to cooperate fully with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to develop and finalize, before the end of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; 6. Commends the professional, open and transparent conduct of both the February 2006 and October 2007 referendums to determine the future status of Tokelau, monitored by the United Nations; 7. Requests the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of the Declaration and to carry out the actions approved by the General Assembly regarding the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in all Territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, including independence, and in particular: (a) To formulate specific proposals to bring about an end to colonialism and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; (b) To continue to examine the implementation by Member States of resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions on decolonization; (c) To continue to examine the political, economic and social situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and to recommend, as appropriate, to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be taken to enable the populations of those Territories to exercise their right to self-determination, including independence, in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (d) To develop and finalize, before the end of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and in cooperation with the administering Power and the Territory in question, a constructive programme of work on a case-by-case basis for the Non-Self-Governing Territories to facilitate the implementation of the mandate of the Special Committee and the relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (e) To continue to dispatch visiting and special missions to the Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with relevant resolutions on decolonization, including resolutions on specific Territories; (f) To conduct seminars, as appropriate, for the purpose of receiving and disseminating information on the work of the Special Committee, and to facilitate participation by the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in those seminars; (g) To take all necessary steps to enlist worldwide support among Governments, as well as national and international organizations, for the achievement of the objectives of the Declaration and the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; (h) To observe annually the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories;See resolution 54/91. 8. Recognizes that the plan of action for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,A/56/61, annex. represents an important legislative authority for the attainment of self-government by the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and that the case-by-case assessment of the attainment of self-government in each Territory can make an important contribution to this process; 9. Calls upon all States, in particular the administering Powers, as well as the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to give effect within their respective spheres of competence to the recommendations of the Special Committee for the implementation of the Declaration and other relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 10. Calls upon the administering Powers to ensure that economic and other activities in the Non-Self-Governing Territories under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the peoples but instead promote development, and to assist them in the exercise of their right to self-determination; 11. Urges the administering Powers concerned to take effective measures to safeguard and guarantee the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories to their natural resources, and to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources, and requests the administering Powers to take all necessary steps to protect the property rights of the peoples of those Territories; 12. Urges all States, directly and through their action in the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, to provide moral and material assistance as needed to the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and requests the administering Powers to take steps to enlist and make effective use of all possible assistance, on both a bilateral and a multilateral basis, in the strengthening of the economies of those Territories; 13. Reaffirms that the United Nations visiting missions to the Territories are an effective means of ascertaining the situation in the Territories, as well as the wishes and aspirations of their inhabitants, and calls upon the administering Powers to continue to cooperate with the Special Committee in the discharge of its mandate and to facilitate visiting missions to the Territories; 14. Calls upon all the administering Powers to cooperate fully in the work of the Special Committee and to participate formally in its future sessions; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to provide economic, social and other assistance to the Non-Self-Governing Territories and to continue to do so, as appropriate, after they exercise their right to self-determination, including independence; 16. Approves the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples covering its work during 2007,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23). including the programme of work envisaged for 2008; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with the facilities and services required for the implementation of the present resolution, as well as the other resolutions and decisions on decolonization adopted by the General Assembly and the Special Committee. RESOLUTION 62/121 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/412/Add.1, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report of the Fourth Committee was introduced by the Acting Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. 62/121. Question of Tokelau The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Tokelau, Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to Tokelau,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/62/23), chap. X. Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and all resolutions and decisions of the United Nations relating to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in particular General Assembly resolution 61/127 of 14 December 2006, Noting with appreciation the continuing exemplary cooperation of New Zealand as the administering Power with regard to the work of the Special Committee relating to Tokelau and its readiness to permit access by United Nations visiting missions to the Territory, Also noting with appreciation the collaborative contribution to the development of Tokelau by New Zealand and the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, Recalling the inauguration in 1996 of a national legislative body, the General Fono, based on village elections by universal adult suffrage and the assumption by that body in June 2003 of full responsibility for the Tokelau budget, Noting that, as a small island Territory, Tokelau exemplifies the situation of most remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and that, as a case study pointing to successful cooperation for decolonization, Tokelau has wider significance for the United Nations as it seeks to complete its work in decolonization, Recalling that New Zealand and Tokelau signed in November 2003 a document entitled "Joint statement of the principles of partnership", which sets out in writing, for the first time, the rights and obligations of the two partner countries, Bearing in mind the decision of the General Fono at its meeting in November 2003, following extensive consultations undertaken in all three villages, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association and its decision in August 2005 to hold a referendum on self-government on the basis of a draft constitution for Tokelau and a treaty of free association with New Zealand, 1. Notes that Tokelau remains firmly committed to the development of its capacity for self-government; 2. Welcomes the substantial progress made towards the devolution of power to the three taupulega (village councils), in particular the delegation of the Administrator's powers to the three taupulega with effect from 1 July 2004 and the assumption by each taupulega from that date of full responsibility for the management of all its public services; 3. Recalls the decision of the General Fono in November 2003, following extensive consultations in all three villages and a meeting of the Special Committee on the Constitution of Tokelau, to explore formally with New Zealand the option of self-government in free association, and the discussions subsequently held between Tokelau and New Zealand pursuant to the General Fono decision; 4. Recalls also the decision of the General Fono in August 2005 to hold a referendum on self-government on the basis of a draft constitution for Tokelau and a treaty of free association with New Zealand, and notes the enactment by the General Fono of rules for the referendum; 5. Acknowledges Tokelau's initiative in devising a strategic economic development plan for the period 2007-2010; 6. Also acknowledges the continuing assistance that New Zealand has committed to promoting Tokelau's welfare, as well as the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme; 7. Further acknowledges Tokelau's need for continued support from the international community; 8. Welcomes the establishment and operation of the Tokelau International Trust Fund to support the future development needs of Tokelau, and calls upon Member States and international and regional agencies to contribute to the Fund and thereby lend practical support to assist this emerging country in overcoming the problems of smallness, isolation and lack of resources; 9. Also welcomes the assurance of the Government of New Zealand that it will meet its obligations to the United Nations with respect to Tokelau and abide by the freely expressed wishes of the people of Tokelau with regard to their future status; 10. Further welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and territories in the region towards Tokelau, and their support for its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs; 11. Calls upon the administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops; 12. Welcomes the actions taken by the administering Power to transmit information regarding the political, economic and social situation of Tokelau to the Secretary-General; 13. Notes the considerable progress made towards the adoption of a Constitution and of national symbols by Tokelau, and the steps taken by Tokelau and New Zealand to agree to a draft treaty of free association as a basis for an act of self-determination; 14. Also notes that a referendum to determine the future status of Tokelau held in February 2006 failed to produce the two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast required by the General Fono to change Tokelau's status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the administration of New Zealand; 15. Further notes the decision of the General Fono to conduct a further referendum to determine the future status of Tokelau from 20 to 24 October 2007; 16. Commends the professional and transparent conduct of both the February 2006 and the October 2007 referendums, monitored by the United Nations; 17. Notes that the October 2007 referendum also failed to produce the two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast required by the General Fono to change Tokelau's status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the administration of New Zealand; 18. Welcomes the commitment of both Tokelau and New Zealand to continue to work together in the interests of Tokelau and its people, taking into account the principle of the right to self-determination; 19. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/122 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.32 and Add.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/122. Permanent memorial to and remembrance of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/19 of 28 November 2006, entitled "Commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade", Recalling also the designation of 25 March 2007 as the International Day for the Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/270. which focuses on initiatives undertaken by States to implement paragraphs 101 and 102 of the Durban Declaration of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance aimed at countering the legacy of slavery and contributing to the restoration of the dignity of the victims of slavery and the slave trade,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Recognizing how little is known about the four-hundred-year-long transatlantic slave trade and its lasting consequences, felt throughout the world, and welcoming the increased attention that the General Assembly commemoration brought to the issue, including the raising of its profile in many States, Recalling, in particular, paragraph 101 of the Durban Declaration which. inter alia, invited the international community and its members to honour the memory of the victims, 1. Welcomes the initiative of the States members of the Caribbean Community to erect in the halls of the United Nations a permanent memorial in acknowledgement of the tragedy and in consideration of the legacy of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade; 2. Notes the establishment of a voluntary fund for the erection of a permanent memorial, expresses sincere appreciation to those Member States that have already made contributions to the fund, and invites other interested parties to do likewise; 3. Decides to designate 25 March as an annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, beginning in 2008, as a complement to the existing International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with and building upon the work undertaken by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, including its Slave Route Project, to establish a programme of educational outreach to mobilize, inter alia, educational institutions and civil society on the subject of remembering the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, in order to inculcate future generations with the causes, consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave trade and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the establishment and implementation of the programme; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session an item entitled "Follow-up to the commemoration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade". RESOLUTION 62/123 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/431, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, Japan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Romania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 62/123. Enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Taking note of Economic and Social Council decision 2007/254 of 26 July 2007 concerning the enlargement of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Taking note also of the requests regarding the enlargement of the Executive Committee contained in the letter dated 29 November 2006 from the Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2006/92. the letter dated 8 January 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2007/11. the letter dated 28 June 2007 from the Permanent Representative of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-GeneralE/2007/85. and the note verbale dated 10 May 2007 from the Permanent Mission of Montenegro to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General,E/2007/86. 1. Decides to increase the number of members of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from seventy-two to seventy-six States; 2. Requests the Economic and Social Council to elect the additional members at its resumed organizational session for 2008. RESOLUTION 62/124 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/431, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay and Zambia. 62/124. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the activities of his OfficeOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/62/12). and the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-eighth sessionIbid., Supplement No. 12A (A/62/12/Add.1). and the conclusions and decisions contained therein, Recalling its previous annual resolutions on the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since its establishment by the General Assembly, Expressing its appreciation for the leadership shown by the High Commissioner, commending the staff and implementing partners of the Office of the High Commissioner for the competent, courageous and dedicated manner in which they discharge their responsibilities, and underlining its strong condemnation of all forms of violence to which humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel are increasingly exposed, 1. Endorses the report of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the work of its fifty-eighth session;Ibid., Supplement No. 12A (A/62/12/Add.1). 2. Welcomes the important work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and its Executive Committee in the course of the year, which is aimed at strengthening the international protection regime and at assisting Governments in meeting their protection responsibilities; 3. Notes with appreciation the important guidance provided in the Executive Committee conclusion on children at riskIbid., chap. III, sect. A. to address issues of identification of these individuals and action to be taken in prevention, response and solutions; 4. Reaffirms the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of RefugeesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545. and the 1967 Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as the foundation of the international refugee protection regime, recognizes the importance of their full and effective application by States parties and the values they embody, notes with satisfaction that one hundred and forty-seven States are now parties to one instrument or to both, encourages States not parties to consider acceding to those instruments, underlines in particular the importance of full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and recognizes that a number of States not parties to the international refugee instruments have shown a generous approach to hosting refugees; 5. Notes that sixty-two States are now parties to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless PersonsIbid., vol. 360, No. 5158. and that thirty-four States are parties to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness,Ibid., vol. 989, No. 14458. encourages States that have not done so to give consideration to acceding to those instruments, notes the work of the High Commissioner in regard to identifying stateless persons, preventing and reducing statelessness and protecting stateless persons, and urges the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to work in this area in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and Executive Committee conclusions; 6. Re-emphasizes that the protection of refugees is primarily the responsibility of States, whose full and effective cooperation, action and political resolve are required to enable the Office of the High Commissioner to fulfil its mandated functions, and strongly emphasizes, in this context, the importance of active international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing; 7. Also re-emphasizes that prevention and reduction of statelessness are primarily the responsibility of States, in appropriate cooperation with the international community; 8. Further re-emphasizes that protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons are primarily the responsibility of States, in appropriate cooperation with the international community; 9. Takes note of the current activities of the Office of the High Commissioner related to protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including in the context of inter-agency arrangements in this field, emphasizes that such activities should be consistent with relevant General Assembly resolutions and should not undermine the mandate of the Office for refugees and the institution of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his dialogue with States on the role of his Office in this regard; 10. Notes with appreciation the process of structural and management change being undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner, and encourages the Office to continue its pursuit of reforms, including the implementation of a results-based management framework and strategy, that would enable it to respond adequately and in a more efficient manner to the needs of its beneficiaries and ensure effective and transparent use of its resources; 11. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to pursue its efforts to strengthen its capacity to respond adequately to emergencies and thereby ensure a more predictable response to inter-agency commitments in case of emergency; 12. Strongly condemns attacks on refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons as well as acts that pose a threat to their personal security and well-being, and calls upon all concerned States and, where applicable, parties involved in an armed conflict to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for human rights and international humanitarian law; 13. Deplores the refoulement and unlawful expulsion of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon all concerned States to ensure respect for the relevant principles of refugee protection and human rights; 14. Emphasizes that international protection of refugees is a dynamic and action-oriented function that is at the core of the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner and that it includes, in cooperation with States and other partners, the promotion and facilitation of, inter alia, the admission, reception and treatment of refugees in accordance with internationally agreed standards and the ensuring of durable, protection-oriented solutions, bearing in mind the particular needs of vulnerable groups and paying special attention to those with specific needs, and notes in this context that the delivery of international protection is a staff-intensive service that requires adequate staff with the appropriate expertise, especially at the field level; 15. Affirms the importance of age, gender and diversity mainstreaming in analysing protection needs and in ensuring the participation of refugees and other persons of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner, as appropriate, in the planning and implementation of programmes of the Office and State policies, and also affirms the importance of according priority to addressing discrimination, gender inequality and the problem of sexual and gender-based violence, recognizing the importance of addressing the protection needs of women and children in particular; 16. Strongly reaffirms the fundamental importance and the purely humanitarian and non-political character of the function of the Office of the High Commissioner of providing international protection to refugees and seeking permanent solutions to refugee problems, and recalls that those solutions include voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement in a third country, while reaffirming that voluntary repatriation, supported, as necessary, by rehabilitation and development assistance to facilitate sustainable reintegration, remains the preferred solution; 17. Expresses concern about the particular difficulties faced by the millions of refugees in protracted situations, and emphasizes the need to redouble international efforts and cooperation to find practical and comprehensive approaches to resolving their plight and to realize durable solutions for them, consistent with international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions; 18. Recognizes the importance of achieving durable solutions to refugee problems and, in particular, the need to address in this process the root causes of refugee movements in order to avert new flows of refugees; 19. Recalls the important role of effective partnerships and coordination in meeting the needs of refugees and in finding durable solutions to their situations, welcomes the efforts under way, in cooperation with countries hosting refugees and countries of origin, including their respective local communities, relevant United Nations agencies, international and intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations, as appropriate, non-governmental organizations and development actors, to promote a framework for durable solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations, which includes an approach to sustainable and timely return which encompasses repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, and encourages States, in cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies, international and intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and development actors, to support, inter alia, through the allocation of funds, the implementation of such a framework to facilitate an effective transition from relief to development; 20. Recognizes that no solution to displacement can be durable unless it is sustainable, and therefore encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to support the sustainability of return and reintegration; 21. Welcomes the progress that has been achieved in increasing the number of refugees resettled and the number of States offering opportunities for resettlement, and the contribution that those States make to durable solutions to refugees, and invites interested States, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant partners to make use of the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on Resettlement,Available from www.unhcr.org. where appropriate and feasible; 22. Notes the progress that is being made by interested States and the Office of the High Commissioner to take forward elements outlined in the Mexico Plan of Action to Strengthen International Protection of Refugees in Latin America, adopted on 16 November 2004,Available from www.unhcr.org. and expresses its support for the efforts to promote its implementation with the cooperation and assistance of the international community, as appropriate, as well as by supporting host communities that receive large numbers of persons who require international protection; 23. Also notes that some progress is being made by interested States and the Office of the High Commissioner within the context of the European-Asian Programme on Forced Displacement and Migration on issues related to asylum and forced displacement, consistent with the mandate of the Office; 24. Further notes the importance of States and the Office of the High Commissioner discussing and clarifying the role of the Office in mixed migratory flows, in order to better address protection needs in the context of mixed migratory flows, including by safeguarding access to asylum for those in need of international protection, and notes the readiness of the High Commissioner, consistent with his mandate, to assist States in fulfilling their protection responsibilities in this regard; 25. Emphasizes the obligation of all States to accept the return of their nationals, calls upon States to facilitate the return of their nationals who have been determined not to be in need of international protection, and affirms the need for the return of persons to be undertaken in a safe and humane manner and with full respect for their human rights and dignity, irrespective of the status of the persons concerned; 26. Notes the increasing number of displaced in and from Iraq and the impact of those flows of persons on the social and economic situation of countries in the region, expresses its appreciation for the convening of an international conference in April 2007 at Geneva in order to sensitize the international community to the deteriorating plight of those persons inside Iraq and outside its borders, and calls upon the international community to act in a targeted and coordinated manner to provide protection and increased assistance to the persons displaced to enable the countries in the region to strengthen their capacity to respond to the needs in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner, other United Nations agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental organizations; 27. Urges all States and relevant non-governmental and other organizations, in conjunction with the Office of the High Commissioner, in a spirit of international solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to cooperate and to mobilize resources with a view to enhancing the capacity of and reducing the heavy burden borne by host countries, in particular those that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers, and calls upon the Office to continue to play its catalytic role in mobilizing assistance from the international community to address the root causes as well as the economic, environmental and social impact of large-scale refugee populations in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, and countries with economies in transition; 28. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner to further explore ways and means to broaden its donor base, so as to achieve greater burden-sharing by reinforcing cooperation with governmental donors, non-governmental donors and the private sector; 29. Recognizes that adequate and timely resources are essential for the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to fulfil the mandate conferred upon it through its statuteResolution 428 (V), annex. and by subsequent General Assembly resolutions on refugees and other persons of concern, recalls its resolutions 58/153 of 22 December 2003, 58/270 of 23 December 2003, 59/170 of 20 December 2004, 60/129 of 16 December 2005 and 61/137 of 19 December 2006 concerning, inter alia, the implementation of paragraph 20 of the statute of the Office, and urges Governments and other donors to respond promptly to annual and supplementary appeals issued by the Office for requirements under its programmes; 30. Requests the High Commissioner to report on his activities to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/125 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/431, para. 17)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey and United States of America. 62/125. Assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling the Organization of African Unity Convention governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa of 1969United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1001, No. 14691. and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights,Ibid., vol. 1520, No. 26363. Reaffirming that the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,Ibid., vol. 189, No. 2545. together with the 1967 Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791. as complemented by the Organization of African Unity Convention of 1969, remains the foundation of the international refugee protection regime in Africa, Recognizing the particular vulnerability of women and children among refugees and other persons of concern, including exposure to discrimination and sexual and physical abuse, Recognizing also that refugees, internally displaced persons and, in particular, women and children are at an increased risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases, 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/316. and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 12 (A/62/12). 2. Notes the need for African States to address resolutely root causes of all forms of forced displacement in Africa and to foster peace, stability and prosperity throughout the African continent so as to forestall refugee flows; 3. Notes with great concern that, despite all of the efforts made so far by the United Nations, the African Union and others, the situation of refugees and displaced persons in Africa remains precarious, and calls upon States and other parties to armed conflict to observe scrupulously the letter and spirit of international humanitarian law, bearing in mind that armed conflict is one of the principal causes of forced displacement in Africa; 4. Welcomes decision EX.CL/Dec.319 (X) on the situation of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa adopted by the Executive Council of the African Union at its tenth ordinary session, held in Addis Ababa on 25 and 26 January 2007;See African Union, document EX.CL/Dec.315-347 (X). 5. Expresses its appreciation for the leadership shown by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and commends the Office for its ongoing efforts, with the support of the international community, to assist African countries of asylum and to respond to the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa; 6. Notes the initiatives taken by the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, in particular the role of its Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa; 7. Also notes that the conclusion on children at risk, adopted by the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at its fifty-eighth session, held at Geneva from 1 to 5 October 2007,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/62/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. A. is aimed at enhancing the assistance and protection provided by the Office of the High Commissioner to children, as defined under article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. who are asylum-seekers, stateless, refugees, internally displaced or returnees; 8. Encourages the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to incorporate in their work the Executive Committee conclusion on children at risk; 9. Affirms that children, because of their age, social status and physical and mental development, are often more vulnerable than adults in situations of forced displacement, recognizes that forced displacement, return to post-conflict situations, integration in new societies, protracted situations of displacement and statelessness can increase the vulnerability of children generally, takes into account the particular vulnerability of refugee children to being forcibly exposed to the risks of physical and psychological injury, exploitation and death in connection with armed conflict, and acknowledges that wider environmental factors and individual risk factors, particularly when combined, can put children in situations of heightened risk; 10. Recognizes that no solution to displacement can be durable unless it is sustainable, and therefore encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to support the sustainability of return and reintegration; 11. Also recognizes the importance of early registration and effective registration systems and censuses as a tool of protection and as a means to the quantification and assessment of needs for the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance and to implement appropriate durable solutions; 12. Recalls the conclusion on registration of refugees and asylum-seekers adopted by the Executive Committee at its fifty-second session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 12A (A/56/12/Add.1), chap. III, sect. B. notes the many forms of harassment faced by refugees and asylum-seekers who remain without any form of documentation attesting to their status, recalls the responsibility of States to register refugees on their territories, and, as appropriate, the responsibility of the Office of the High Commissioner or mandated international bodies to do so, reiterates in this context the central role that early and effective registration and documentation can play, guided by protection considerations, in enhancing protection and supporting efforts to find durable solutions, and calls upon the Office, as appropriate, to help States to conduct this procedure should they be unable to register refugees on their territory; 13. Calls upon the international community, including States and the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant United Nations organizations, within their respective mandates, to take concrete action to meet the protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons and to contribute generously to projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight and facilitating durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons; 14. Reaffirms the importance of timely and adequate assistance and protection for refugees, returnees and displaced persons, also reaffirms that assistance and protection are mutually reinforcing and that inadequate material assistance and food shortages undermine protection, notes the importance of a rights- and community-based approach in engaging constructively with individual refugees, returnees and displaced persons and their communities so as to achieve fair and equitable access to food and other forms of material assistance, and expresses concern in regard to situations in which minimum standards of assistance are not met, including those in which adequate needs assessments have yet to be undertaken; 15. Also reaffirms that respect by States for their protection responsibilities towards refugees is strengthened by international solidarity involving all members of the international community and that the refugee protection regime is enhanced through committed international cooperation in a spirit of solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing among all States; 16. Further reaffirms that host States have the primary responsibility to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, calls upon States, in cooperation with international organizations, within their mandates, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection and, in particular, to ensure that the civilian and humanitarian nature of refugee camps is not compromised by the presence or the activities of armed elements or used for purposes that are incompatible with their civilian character, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue efforts, in consultation with States and other relevant actors, to ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of camps; 17. Condemns all acts that pose a threat to the personal security and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers, such as refoulement, unlawful expulsion and physical attacks, calls upon States of refuge, in cooperation with international organizations, where appropriate, to take all necessary measures to ensure respect for the principles of refugee protection, including the humane treatment of asylum-seekers, notes with interest that the High Commissioner has continued to take steps to encourage the development of measures to better ensure the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue those efforts, in consultation with States and other relevant actors; 18. Deplores the continuing violence and insecurity which constitute an ongoing threat to the safety and security of staff members of the Office of the High Commissioner and other humanitarian organizations and an obstacle to the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Office and the ability of its implementing partners and other humanitarian personnel to discharge their respective humanitarian functions, urges States, parties to conflict and all other relevant actors to take all necessary measures to protect activities related to humanitarian assistance, prevent attacks on and kidnapping of national and international humanitarian workers and ensure the safety and security of the personnel and property of the Office and that of all humanitarian organizations discharging functions mandated by the Office, and calls upon States to investigate fully any crime committed against humanitarian personnel and bring to justice the persons responsible for such crimes; 19. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the African Union, subregional organizations and all African States, in conjunction with agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the international community, to strengthen and revitalize existing partnerships and forge new ones in support of the protection system for refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons; 20. Calls upon the Office of the High Commissioner, the international community and other concerned entities to intensify their support to African Governments through appropriate capacity-building activities, including training of relevant officers, disseminating information about refugee instruments and principles, providing financial, technical and advisory services to accelerate the enactment or amendment and implementation of legislation relating to refugees, strengthening emergency response and enhancing capacities for the coordination of humanitarian activities, in particular those Governments that have received large numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers; 21. Reaffirms the right of return and the principle of voluntary repatriation, appeals to countries of origin and countries of asylum to create conditions that are conducive to voluntary repatriation, and recognizes that, while voluntary repatriation remains the pre-eminent solution, local integration and third-country resettlement, where appropriate and feasible, are also viable options for dealing with the situation of African refugees who, owing to prevailing circumstances in their respective countries of origin, are unable to return home; 22. Also reaffirms that voluntary repatriation should not necessarily be conditioned on the accomplishment of political solutions in the country of origin in order not to impede the exercise of the refugees' right to return, recognizes that the voluntary repatriation and reintegration process is normally guided by the conditions in the country of origin, in particular that voluntary repatriation can be accomplished in conditions of safety and dignity, and urges the High Commissioner to promote sustainable return through the development of durable and lasting solutions, particularly in protracted refugee situations; 23. Calls upon the international donor community to provide financial and material assistance that allows for the implementation of community-based development programmes that benefit both refugees and host communities, as appropriate, in agreement with host countries and consistent with humanitarian objectives; 24. Appeals to the international community to respond positively, in the spirit of solidarity and burden- and responsibility-sharing, to the third-country resettlement needs of African refugees, notes in this regard the importance of using resettlement strategically, as part of situation-specific comprehensive responses to refugee situations, and to this end encourages interested States, the Office of the High Commissioner and other relevant partners to make full use of the Multilateral Framework of Understandings on Resettlement,Available from www.unhcr.org. where appropriate; 25. Calls upon the international donor community to provide material and financial assistance for the implementation of programmes intended for the rehabilitation of the environment and infrastructure affected by refugees in countries of asylum; 26. Urges the international community, in the spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing, to continue to fund generously the refugee programmes of the Office of the High Commissioner and, taking into account the substantially increased needs of programmes in Africa, inter alia, as a result of repatriation possibilities, to ensure that Africa receives a fair and equitable share of the resources designated for refugees; 27. Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and interested States to identify protracted refugee situations which might lend themselves to resolution through the development of specific, multilateral, comprehensive and practical approaches to resolving such refugee situations, including improvement of international burden- and responsibility-sharing and realization of durable solutions, within a multilateral context; 28. Expresses grave concern about the plight of internally displaced persons in Africa, notes the efforts of African States in strengthening the regional mechanisms for protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, calls upon States to take concrete action to pre-empt internal displacement and to meet the protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons, recalls in that regard the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. takes note of the current activities of the Office of the High Commissioner related to protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, including in the context of inter-agency arrangements in this field, emphasizes that such activities should be consistent with relevant General Assembly resolutions and should not undermine the refugee mandate of the Office and the institution of asylum, and encourages the High Commissioner to continue his dialogue with States on the role of his Office in this regard; 29. Invites the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons to continue his ongoing dialogue with Member States and the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, in accordance with his mandate, and to include information thereon in his reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on assistance to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in Africa to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, taking fully into account the efforts expended by countries of asylum, under the item entitled "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions". RESOLUTION 62/126 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/432, para. 47)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Zambia. 62/126. Policies and programmes involving youth: youth in the global economy - promoting youth participation in social and economic development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, Recalling also its resolution 60/2 of 6 October 2005, in which it took note of the three clusters presented in the "World Youth Report 2005",A/60/61-E/2005/7. namely, youth in the global economy, youth in civil society, and youth and their well-being, and requested the Secretary-General to provide the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Commission for Social Development at its forty-fifth session, with a comprehensive report on the implementation of the World Programme of Action, including the definition of goals and targets, in one of the three clusters of the World Programme of Action, Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 2007/27 of 26 July 2007, by which the Council recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of the Supplement to the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, Recalling Commission for Social Development resolution 45/2 of 16 February 2007,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2007, Supplement No. 6 (E/2007/26), chap. I. sect. E. in which the Commission requested the Secretary-General, in consultation with organizations, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to identify goals and targets regarding the cluster on youth in the global economy and to submit an addendum to the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the World Programme of ActionA/62/61-E/2007/7. to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, Recognizing that the implementation of the World Programme of Action and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, require the full and effective participation of young people and youth-led organizations and other civil society organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels, Recognizing also the positive impact that youth participation in the global economy and in social and economic development can have on the eradication of poverty and hunger, Recognizing further Economic and Social Council resolution 2007/32 of 27 July 2007 on the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the decisions of the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS at its twentieth meeting, held at Geneva from 25 to 27 June 2007, in particular the reference to the need to scale up HIV prevention among injecting drug users, consistent with relevant international drug control treaties, 1. Reaffirms the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond;Resolution 50/81, annex. 2. Decides to adopt the Supplement to the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, annexed to the present resolution; 3. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the World Programme of ActionA/62/61-E/2007/7. and the addendum thereto entitled "Goals and targets for monitoring the progress of youth in the global economy";A/62/61/Add.1-E/2007/7/Add.1. 4. Emphasizes the importance of a fair globalization, and recalls the resolve, expressed at the 2005 World Summit, to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and young people, a central objective of relevant national and international policies as well as national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, as part of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals;See resolution 60/1, para. 47. 5. Reiterates that the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, particularly as they affect children and youth, is crucial for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, recalls the commitment to eradicate poverty and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all, and the need for urgent action on all sides, including more ambitious national development strategies and efforts backed by increased international support, and calls for the increased participation of youth and youth-led organizations in the development of such national development strategies; 6. Reiterates also the critical role of both formal and non-formal education in the achievement of poverty eradication and other development goals, as envisaged in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular basic education and training for eradicating illiteracy, and stresses the commitments to strive for expanded secondary and higher education, especially for girls and young women, and for the creation of human resources and infrastructure capabilities and the empowerment of those living in poverty; 7. Reiterates further the need to intensify efforts to implement effectively the International Plan of Action for the United Nations Literacy DecadeSee A/57/218 and Corr.1. and to integrate substantially those efforts in the Education for All process and other activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as well as other literacy initiatives within the framework of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 8. Recognizes that while youth today are better placed than ever before to participate in and benefit from global development, many young people remain marginalized, disconnected or excluded from the opportunities that globalization offers, and in this regard calls upon Member States, with the support of the international community, as appropriate: (a) To integrate and protect youth in the global economy, including those who live in poverty, through the provision of policies that give them everywhere a real opportunity to find full and productive employment and decent work, including policies that promote the transition to work on the basis of equality and non-discrimination; (b) To ensure that youth development, especially access of young people to food, water, health, shelter, education and employment, is specifically addressed in national policies and programmes, including poverty reduction strategy papers where they exist, and in other policy documents that aim to foster the participation of countries in the global economy; (c) To ensure adequate funding for formal and non-formal education, including programmes geared at fostering the acquisition of requisite skills by youth; (d) To improve the ability of young people, including those who live in poverty, to make a better transition into the world of work and enhance their access to the changing labour market through the promotion of policies that expand opportunities for youth to get quality education and training, the provision of skills development combined with other programmes that are targeted at the specific labour market needs of youth and that focus on the multiple needs of those most at risk of joblessness, and the incorporation of skills training into education planning at all stages; (e) To reinforce links between policies on education, training, social integration and mobility so as to improve the situation of young people in the labour market and to reduce significantly youth unemployment while also supporting policies that promote reconciliation of family life and working life, equal opportunities, solidarity between the generations, health and lifelong learning; (f) To encourage young people's entrepreneurship, including by promoting formal and non-formal education on entrepreneurship for young people, increasing their access to microfinancing and facilitating their participation in cooperatives and other forms of social, economic or financial enterprises; (g) To develop national strategies to overcome the digital divide in each country and ensure that young people are equipped with knowledge and skills to use information and communications technology appropriately, including the capacity to analyse and treat information in creative and innovative ways and to share their expertise, thus enabling them to overcome the barriers of distance and socio-economic disadvantage, while also promoting involvement of young people in creating, repairing, managing and maintaining information and communications technology and providing them access to information on a range of issues that directly affect them, including health, education and employment; (h) To ensure young women's equal access to education and vocational training at all levels in order to provide them with an equal opportunity to participate in the global economy; (i) To recognize the rights of young persons with disabilities to education without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, including by ensuring an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning, and to work, on an equal basis with others; (j) To consider expanding avenues for regular labour migration, taking into account labour market needs and demographic trends, recognizing the important nexus between migration and development and bearing in mind that young people account for a large number of those migrating; (k) To take all necessary measures to ensure the rights of young people to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and their access to sustainable health systems and social services, without discrimination, paying special attention to and raising awareness of nutrition, including eating disorders and obesity, and the effects of communicable diseases, and to sexual and reproductive health, including measures to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; (l) To ensure that national policies and programmes on youth development address the particular needs of young people who are in distressed circumstances or otherwise socially excluded or marginalized, including indigenous, migrant, refugee and displaced youth, young persons living in situations of armed conflict, terrorism, hostage-taking, aggression, foreign occupation, civil war or post-conflict settings, young people subjected to racism or xenophobia, street children, poor youth in urban or rural areas and youth affected by natural or man-made disasters; 9. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the efforts of Governments, together with civil society, including youth-led organizations, the private sector and other parts of society, to anticipate and offset the negative social and economic consequences of globalization and to maximize its benefits for young people; 10. Urges Member States to combat all forms of discrimination against young people, including that based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, and to promote equal opportunities for all; 11. Underlines the strategic importance of initiatives such as the Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-led Development initiative of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/62/8), annex I.B, resolution 21/6. which will provide resources to mobilize young people to strengthen youth-related policy formulation and to pilot and demonstrate new and innovative approaches to employment, good governance, water and sanitation, adequate shelter and secure tenure, and invites Member States to contribute to the Fund; 12. Urges Member States to involve young people and youth-led organizations in the development of national policies that affect them, where appropriate, including poverty reduction strategy papers where they exist, bearing in mind that girls, boys, young women and young men have the same rights; 13. Calls upon Member States to consider using the proposed goals and targets, as contained in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Goals and targets for monitoring the progress of youth in the global economy",A/62/61/Add.1-E/2007/7/Add.1. at the national level as a means of facilitating the monitoring of the progress of youth in the global economy and the implementation of the World Programme of Action; 14. Also calls upon Member States to ensure the full participation of young people and youth-led organizations in the development of policies designed to meet national youth goals and targets, taking into account the proposed goals and targets contained in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Goals and targets for monitoring the progress of youth in the global economy", and to collaborate with the United Nations system, young people, youth-led organizations, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders in all efforts to achieve such goals and targets; 15. Encourages Member States to collect, on a continuous basis, youth-specific data disaggregated by age and sex, whenever possible, in order to create comprehensive databases within youth ministries or similar offices to assist in measuring progress in implementing the priority areas of the World Programme of Action, and requests the Secretary-General to devise means to disseminate such data widely so as to ensure that the global interest in youth development is informed by sound and adequate data; 16. Takes note of the process of collaboration and consultation between Member States, the organizations, programmes, regional commissions and specialized agencies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations in identifying the proposed goals and targets for measuring youth and the global economy, and recommends continued collaboration, including in the form of high-level training cooperation, between those actors in the implementation of the World Programme of Action and the monitoring of the progress of such implementation; 17. Stresses that progress in achieving the internationally agreed target of full and productive employment and decent work for young people should be a central objective of national and international efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and requests the United Nations agencies, and invites the international community and civil society as well as the private sector, to promote the broader youth development agenda and to strengthen international cooperation in order to support Member States in their efforts to achieve such progress, taking into account that the primary responsibility for ensuring youth development lies with States; 18. Stresses also the importance of ensuring that young people are recognized as active agents in decision-making processes and for positive change and development in society, urges Member States, in this regard, to consider including youth representatives in their delegations to all relevant discussions in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and its functional commissions, bearing in mind the principles of gender balance and non-discrimination, and emphasizes that such youth representatives should be selected through a transparent process which ensures that they have a suitable mandate to represent young people in their countries; 19. Recognizes the positive contribution that youth representatives make to the General Assembly and other United Nations bodies and their role as an important channel of communication between young people and the United Nations, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to support adequately the United Nations Programme on Youth of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat so that it can continue to facilitate their effective participation in meetings; 20. Recognizes also the need for a greater geographical balance of youth representation, and encourages Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to contribute to the United Nations Youth Fund in order to facilitate the participation of youth representatives from developing countries; 21. Recognizes further that national youth councils or their equivalent bodies are effective channels of cooperation and information exchange between young people, their national Governments and other decision makers and that strong youth councils can provide opportunities for more young people to become active in decision-making and in shaping their societies, welcomes in this regard the political and financial support provided by Member States to their creation and sustained development, and invites all States to continue and to increase such support, where appropriate; 22. Requests the Commission for Social Development, at its forty-sixth session, to include youth employment in the discussions on its priority theme "Promoting full employment and decent work for all", taking into account, inter alia, the recommendations on youth employment contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the World Programme of Action,A/62/61-E/2007/7. and invites young people and youth-led organizations to contribute to those discussions; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, through the Commission for Social Development at its forty-seventh session, on the implementation of the World Programme of Action in the clusters on youth in civil society and youth and their well-being and to include in that report a comprehensive set of goals and targets for those clusters based on consultations with Member States as well as the organizations, programmes, regional commissions and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, young people, youth-led organizations and other non-governmental organizations. Annex Supplement to the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond I. Globalization 1. Globalization has opened new opportunities for sustained economic growth and the development of the world economy. Globalization has also permitted countries to share experiences and to learn from one another's achievements and difficulties and has promoted a cross-fertilization of ideas, cultural values and aspirations. Globalization has thus helped to connect youth not only to the rest of the world, but also with each other. 2. At the same time, the rapid processes of change and adjustment of globalization have been accompanied by intensified poverty, unemployment and social disintegration. Threats to human well-being, such as environmental risks, have also been globalized. Some countries have successfully adapted to the changes and benefited from globalization, but many others, especially least developed countries, have remained marginalized in the globalized world economy. The benefits are very unevenly shared, while the costs are unevenly distributed. Globalization should be fully inclusive and equitable. There is a strong need for appropriate policies and measures at the national and international levels to help countries to respond effectively to the challenges of globalization and the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. 3. Many young people, especially in developing countries, remain marginalized from the global economy and lack the capabilities to access the opportunities that globalization offers. Many are restricted by inadequate education, limited skills, unemployment and poverty or are outside the reach of basic information and communication and the goods and services that have become available with globalization. Proposals for action Managing the effects of globalization on youth 4. The international community should continue to support the efforts of Governments, together with civil society, including youth-led organizations, the private sector and other parts of society, to anticipate and offset the negative social and economic consequences of globalization and to maximize its benefits for young people. 5. Governments should ensure that access of youth to technical, secondary and higher education is improved and that curricula are adapted to meet the needs of a rapidly changing labour market associated with globalization. The transition from learning to work should also be facilitated. 6. Governments should foster the conditions that provide opportunities, jobs and social services for youth in their home countries. Efforts should be made to guarantee that young migrants enjoy full respect for their human rights, including fair and equal treatment with others and the protection of law against, inter alia, violence, exploitation and discrimination such as racism, ethnocentrism, xenophobia and cultural intolerance, and access to economic opportunities and social services, as appropriate. Promoting youth employment and skills development in the context of globalization 7. In order to overcome the mismatch between the skills that youth possess and the specialized demands of labour markets shaped by globalization, Governments, with appropriate support from the international community, should provide funding and opportunities in both formal and non-formal education for youth to acquire requisite skills, including through skills development programmes. 8. At the same time, Governments should promote access to work through integrated policies that enable the creation of new and quality jobs for young people and that facilitate access to those jobs. Establishing ways of monitoring systems to track the effects of globalization on youth 9. Governments should assess the extent to which the benefits of globalization are accessible to youth and should design and implement programmes to enable youth to better harness the benefits of globalization. II. Information and communications technology 10. Information and communications technology (ICT) and infrastructures are growing in importance as a part of everyday business and interaction. This process can be enhanced by removing barriers to universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable access to information, which hinder the bridging of the digital divide, particularly those that impede the full achievement of the economic, social and cultural development of countries and the welfare of their people, especially youth, in particular in developing countries. ICT has enormous potential to expand access to quality education, to boost literacy and universal primary education and to facilitate the learning process itself, thus laying the groundwork for the establishment of a fully inclusive and development-oriented information society and knowledge economy that respects cultural and linguistic diversity. 11. Youth have a particular interest and ability with regard to modern technology. ICT can empower youth by providing them with the opportunity to overcome the barriers of distance and socio-economic disadvantage. Through the Internet, for example, young people can have access to information on a range of issues that directly affect them, including health, education and employment. This information can be used to improve the quality of life of youth and their communities. This process can be facilitated if Governments, civil society, the private sector, families, youth-led organizations and other groups work together to open up avenues for a cultural and social exchange among young people. Governments can also capitalize on the interest of the young in ICT to alleviate poverty. For example, youth can become engaged not only in the use of ICT, but also in the development and engineering of locally relevant software design and hardware. 12. ICT offers new ways to address the needs of youth with disabilities who cannot access traditional sources of information and employment. Vulnerable groups of the population can capitalize on ICT to make a better connection with society and advance their education and employment opportunities. Proposals for action Making information and communications technology available to all youth 13. Governments, supported by the international community, as appropriate, should facilitate access to ICT for all youth, including those in difficult-to-reach areas, such as rural areas, and in indigenous communities. Governments should evaluate inequalities in access that exist between urban and rural youth and between young women and men and should develop national strategies to overcome the digital divide in each country, thus decreasing the proportion of youth who have no access to ICT. 14. Governments should develop domestic policies to ensure that ICT is fully and appropriately integrated into education and training at all levels, including in the development of curricula, teacher training and institutional administration and management, as well as in support of the concept of lifelong learning. 15. Governments, with the support of the international community, should promote and encourage local knowledge systems and locally produced content in media and communications, support the development of a wide range of ICT-based programmes in local languages, as appropriate, with content relevant to different groups of young persons, especially young women, and build the capacity of girls and women to develop ICT. Providing training to facilitate use of information and communications technology 16. Governments, in collaboration with relevant actors in the information society, should ensure that young people are equipped with knowledge and skills to use ICT appropriately, including the capacity to analyse and treat information in creative and innovative ways, to share their expertise and to participate fully in the information society. Efforts should be made to provide special training courses for in-school and out-of-school youth to enable them to become conversant with ICT and to facilitate their use of such technologies. Protecting youth from the harmful aspects of information and communications technology 17. Governments should strengthen action to protect youth from abuse and to defend their rights in the context of the use of ICT. In that context, the best interests of youth are a primary consideration. Governments should promote responsible behaviour and raise awareness of possible risks for young people arising from the harmful aspects of ICT in order that they may protect themselves from possible exploitation and injury. 18. Governments, in cooperation with relevant actors in the information society, should strengthen action to protect children and youth from abuse and the harmful impact of ICT, in particular through cybercrimes, including child pornography. Promoting the use of information and communications technology by persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups 19. Governments should facilitate the development of ICT capacity for youth, including indigenous youth, youth with disabilities and youth in remote and rural communities. 20. Governments should initiate the development and use of special technical and legal arrangements to make ICT accessible to all youth, including indigenous youth, youth with disabilities and youth in remote and rural communities. Empowering young people as key contributors to building an inclusive information society 21. Governments should actively engage youth in innovative ICT-based development programmes and should widen opportunities for youth involvement in e-strategy processes in a manner that encourages youth to assume leadership roles. The role of youth in creating, repairing, managing and maintaining ICT should also be recognized and encouraged. 22. Bearing in mind that literacy and numeracy are preconditions for access to and effective use of ICT, Governments should promote opportunities through formal and non-formal channels for young persons to acquire the appropriate knowledge. 23. ICT should also be used to enhance education, employment and youth participation in the decision-making process. ICT should be used to improve the quality of education and to better prepare youth for the demands of the information society. III. HIV/AIDS 24. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is increasingly a problem of youth, especially in parts of the developing world. Governments have noted with grave concern the fact that new HIV infections are heavily concentrated among youth and that there is a lack of information available to help youth to understand their sexuality, including their sexual and reproductive health, in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases and to prevent unwanted pregnancies. 25. Young people, especially young women in Africa, face especially high risks of HIV infection. Young people and women are particularly vulnerable to infection owing to their lack of economic and social power and their lack of the capability to decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infections. They often lack the tools and information required to avoid infection and cope with AIDS. In 2006, women and girls made up 57 per cent of all people infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, where a striking 76 per cent of young people (aged 15 to 24) living with HIV are female. 26. Although many children orphaned by AIDS have not yet entered the youth age groups, they are at great risk of becoming youth with severe vulnerabilities. They are subject to malnutrition, illness, abuse, child labour and sexual exploitation, and these factors increase their vulnerability to HIV infection. They also suffer the stigma and discrimination often associated with HIV/AIDS and may be denied education, work, housing and other basic needs as a result. 27. It is imperative that young people continue to have access to evidence- and skills-based youth-specific HIV education to enable them to avoid high-risk behaviour. In some regions youth, especially girls, play a key role in caring for HIV/AIDS patients or their orphans. To ensure that young caregivers stay in school, build their skills and have the chance to generate an income, Governments should provide economic and social support to families that rely on young caregivers as well as support for improving home- and community-based care. 28. Because youth often lack decision-making power and financial resources, they may be the last to receive treatment if they become infected. Programmes should scale up the provision of treatment as part of the promotion of the highest attainable standards of health. 29. It is essential for Governments to implement fully the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session on 27 June 2001,Resolution S-26/2, annex. and to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the goal to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. In addition, Governments should implement the commitments dealing with HIV/AIDS reached at all major United Nations conferences and summits, including the 2005 World SummitSee resolution 60/1. and the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS held on 2 June 2006,See resolution 60/262, annex. at which Member States committed themselves to scaling up responses directed towards achieving the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010 and towards achieving the goal of universal access to reproductive health by 2015, as set out at the International Conference on Population and Development. Proposals for action Raising awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment for youth 30. Governments should ensure that prevention of HIV infection is the mainstay of national, regional and international responses to the pandemic and should therefore commit themselves to intensifying efforts to ensure that a wide range of prevention programmes which take into account local circumstances, ethics and cultural values are available in all countries, in particular the most affected countries, including: information, education and communications, in languages most understood within communities and with respect for their cultures, aimed at reducing risk-taking behaviours and encouraging responsible sexual behaviour, including abstinence and fidelity; expanded access to essential commodities, including male and female condoms and sterile injecting equipment; harm-reduction efforts related to drug use; expanded access to voluntary and confidential counselling and testing; safe blood supplies; and early and effective treatment of sexually transmitted infections. 31. Governments should commit themselves to addressing the rising rates of HIV infection among young people in order to ensure that future generations may be free of HIV infection through the implementation of comprehensive evidence-based prevention strategies, responsible sexual behaviour, including the use of condoms, evidence- and skills-based youth-specific HIV education, mass media interventions and the provision of youth-friendly health services. 32. Governments should provide access to the highest attainable standards of affordable and youth-friendly health care in order to increase the capacities of young people to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, principally through the provision of health care and health services, including for sexual and reproductive health, in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. that integrate HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care and include confidential voluntary counselling and testing and involve young people in the planning, implementation and evaluation of those efforts. 33. Governments should promote initiatives aimed at reducing the prices of antiretroviral drugs, especially second-line drugs, available to young people, including initiatives undertaken on a voluntary basis by groups of Member States based on innovative financing mechanisms that contribute to the mobilization of resources for social development, including those that aim to provide further drug access at affordable prices to developing countries on a sustainable and predictable basis. 34. In recognition of the fact that HIV/AIDS is increasingly affecting youth in both developed and developing countries, all efforts should be made, in full partnership with young persons, parents, families, educators and health-care providers, to ensure that youth have access to accurate information, education, including peer education and youth-specific HIV education, and services necessary to develop the life skills required to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection. 35. Governments should involve young people, including youth living with HIV/AIDS, inter alia, through their respective youth organizations and, as appropriate, with the support of their families, in the decision-making, planning, implementation and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes. 36. Governments should ensure that prevention programmes include counselling for those who are infected with HIV in order to ensure that they take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and to help them to cope with the effects of living with HIV/AIDS. Supporting universal HIV/AIDS education, taking gender inequalities into account 37. Trafficking in women and girls for prostitution and sexual slavery increases the vulnerability of young women to HIV/AIDS infection and is linked to the widespread feminization of poverty, sex tourism, sweatshops and other detrimental consequences of globalization. Governments should devise, enforce and strengthen effective youth-sensitive measures to combat, eliminate and prosecute all forms of trafficking in women and girls, including for sexual and economic exploitation, as part of a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy within wider efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. 38. Governments should include appropriate information in school curricula and non-formal training programmes on the effects of high-risk behaviour, including intravenous drug use, on the transmission of HIV infection. 39. Governments should give special attention, in all programmes aimed at providing information about and preventing HIV/AIDS among youth, to aspects of gender and to the disproportionate vulnerability of girls and young women. Legislation and legal instruments to protect vulnerable youth 40. Governments should ensure non-discrimination and full and equal enjoyment of all human rights through the promotion of an active and visible policy of destigmatization of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. 41. Governments should strengthen legal, policy, administrative and other measures for the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights by youth, the protection of their dignity and the reduction of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS through the elimination of all forms of discrimination and all types of sexual exploitation of young girls and boys, including for commercial reasons, as well as all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful traditional and customary practices, abuse, rape and other forms of sexual violence, battering and trafficking in women and girls. 42. Governments should intensify efforts to enact, strengthen or enforce, as appropriate, legislation, regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by youth living with HIV, including policies to secure their access to education, inheritance, employment, health care, social and health services, prevention, support and treatment, information and legal protection, while respecting their privacy and confidentiality and developing strategies to combat the stigma and social exclusion connected with the epidemic. IV. Armed conflict 43. Development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. The scale of the violence perpetrated against civilians, including youth, in the past couple of decades is extremely worrisome. Armed conflicts have resulted in killings, the massive displacement of people, including youth, and the destruction of communities, which has impacted negatively on their development. 44. Youth are often among the main victims of armed conflict. Children and youth are killed or maimed, made orphans, abducted, taken hostage, forcibly displaced, deprived of education and health care and left with deep emotional scars and trauma. Children illegally recruited as child soldiers are often forced to commit serious abuses. Armed conflict destroys the safe environment provided by a house, a family, adequate nutrition, education and employment. During conflict, health risks increase among youth, especially young women. Young women and girls face additional risks, in particular those of sexual violence and exploitation. 45. During conflict, young men and women who are forced to take on "adult" roles miss out on opportunities for personal or professional development. When conflict ends, many of the young people who must make the transition to adulthood while dealing with the traumas of war are at the same time required to adapt quickly to their new roles, often as parents and caretakers of the victims of war. Without services to help them to deal with their situation, youth and young adults may fail to integrate into society. Proposals for action Protecting youth under age 18 from direct involvement in armed conflict 46. Governments should ensure that children benefit from an early age from education about values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life in order to enable them to resolve any dispute peacefully and in a spirit of respect for human dignity, with tolerance and non-discrimination. Governments should promote a culture of peace, tolerance and dialogue, including in both formal and non-formal education. 47. Governments should consider, as a matter of priority, the ratification and effective implementation of the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182) of the International Labour Organization. 48. Governments should take all feasible measures to ensure that members of their armed forces who have not attained the age of 18 years do not take direct part in hostilities and that those who have not attained the age of 18 years are not compulsorily recruited into their armed forces. 49. Governments should take all necessary measures, in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law, as a matter of priority, to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as distinct from the armed forces of a State, including the adoption of policies that do not tolerate the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, and the legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalize such practices. 50. Governments should protect young persons in situations of armed conflict, post-conflict settings and settings involving refugees and internally displaced persons, where youth are at risk of violence and where their ability to seek and receive redress is often restricted, bearing in mind that peace is inextricably linked with equality between young women and young men and development, that armed and other types of conflicts and terrorism and hostage-taking still persist in many parts of the world, and that aggression, foreign occupation and ethnic and other types of conflicts are an ongoing reality affecting young persons in nearly every region, from which they need to be protected. Providing for the reintegration of youth ex-combatants and protection of non-combatants 51. Governments should provide opportunities for all youth who have been engaged in active combat, whether voluntarily or by force, to demobilize and contribute to society's development if they seek to do so. In this regard, Governments should establish programmes to provide opportunities for youth ex-combatants to retool and retrain so as to facilitate their employment in economic activity and their reintegration into society, including family reunification. 52. Governments should take all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of children and young victims of armed conflicts, in particular by restoring access of those children and youth to health care and education, including through Education for All programmes, as well as to put in place effective youth employment strategies to help provide a decent living for young people and to facilitate their reintegration into society. Promoting active involvement of youth in maintaining peace and security 53. Governments should encourage the involvement of young people, where appropriate, in activities concerning the protection of children and youth affected by armed conflict, including programmes for reconciliation, peace consolidation and peacebuilding. V. Intergenerational issues 54. Many aspects of the demographic transition, global economic development and globalization have influenced opportunities for the intergenerational exchange of knowledge, ideas and resources. The increase in lifespan implies that many adults may be able to share knowledge and resources with younger generations over a longer period of time. In recent times, greater longevity has resulted in situations where many older people live for longer periods in some form of dependency on younger generations. On the other hand, trends in globalization and development have resulted in situations where many young people are cut off from their families. In many developing countries and countries with economies in transition, it is the ageing population that is dominant in rural areas owing to the exodus of young adults. Older persons may be left behind without the traditional support of families and even without adequate financial resources. While older persons lose opportunities to receive support from younger members of families, younger persons also lose opportunities to benefit from the knowledge and guidance of older members of their families. 55. At the family and community levels, intergenerational ties can be valuable for everyone. Individual and family choices, geographical mobility and the pressures of contemporary life can keep people apart, yet the great majority of people in all cultures maintain close relations with their families throughout their lives. These relationships work in both directions, with older persons often providing significant contributions financially, emotionally and in respect of the education and care of grandchildren and other kin, thereby making a crucial contribution to the stability of the family unit. 56. The weakening of intergenerational connections in the context of ageing societies implies that various needs of youth, children and older persons, which may have been supported through intricate and complex familial relationships, are increasingly not being met and are instead becoming the responsibility of the State or the private sector. 57. It is therefore incumbent on Governments and relevant sectors of society to develop programmes that renew or restore intergenerational solidarity. Where there has already been substantial erosion of the ability of communities to meet this objective, Governments should intervene to ensure that basic needs for protection are met. Proposals for action Strengthening families 58. While respecting individual preferences for living arrangements, all sectors of society, including Governments, should develop programmes to strengthen families and to foster intergenerational relations. Empowering young women 59. Governments should promote greater participation by young women in the labour force, including those living in rural and remote areas, by providing and developing the necessary skills to enable them to find employment, especially taking measures to eliminate male and female stereotypes, promoting role models and facilitating better reconciliation of work and family life. Strengthening intergenerational solidarity 60. Government and private sector businesses should capitalize on the opportunity to use the experience and skills of older workers to train younger and newer employees. 61. Governments should promote equality and solidarity between generations, including by offering young people full and effective participation in poverty eradication, employment creation and social integration programmes within their societies. 62. All sectors of society should be encouraged to develop reciprocity in learning, which provides older persons with opportunities to learn from younger generations. 63. Where traditional forms of social support have been reduced by migration, globalization and related situations, Governments should work with non-governmental organizations and the private sector to provide assistance and support to older caregivers, especially those providing care for HIV/AIDS orphans, in meeting the needs of their children and grandchildren. 64. Governments should take steps to strengthen solidarity among generations and intergenerational partnerships through the promotion of activities that support intergenerational communication and understanding, and should encourage mutually responsive relationships between generations. 65. The full and effective participation of young people and youth organizations at the local, national, regional and international levels is important for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, the promotion and implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, and the evaluation of the progress achieved and the obstacles encountered in its implementation, and for support of the activities of mechanisms that have been set up by young people and youth organizations. Governments should encourage their participation in actions and decisions and in strengthening efforts to implement the World Programme of Action, bearing in mind that girls, boys, young women and young men have the same rights, but different needs and strengths, and that they are active agents in decision-making processes and for positive change and development in society. RESOLUTION 62/127 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/432, para. 47)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 62/127. Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: realizing the Millennium Development Goals for persons with disabilities The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions concerning persons with disabilities, particularly resolution 60/131 of 16 December 2005, in which it recognized the important role of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled PersonsA/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, Recalling also its resolutions on the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities,Resolution 48/96, annex. Welcoming the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol theretoResolution 61/106, annexes I and II. on 13 December 2006, Recalling the 2005 World Summit, held from 14 to 16 September 2005, at which Heads of State and Government, inter alia, expressed their resolve to ensure the timely and full realization of development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals,See resolution 60/1, para. 17. and recognizing the importance of incorporating the perspective of persons with disabilities in the implementation of the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits, with a view to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Aware that there are at least 650 million persons with disabilities worldwide and that the majority of them live in conditions of poverty, and in this regard recognizing the critical need to address the negative impact of poverty on persons with disabilities, Convinced that addressing the profound social, cultural and economic disadvantage experienced by many persons with disabilities and that promoting the progressive removal of barriers to their full and effective participation in all aspects of development will further the equalization of opportunities and contribute to the realization of a "society for all" in the twenty-first century, Reaffirming the need to include the rights of persons with disabilities in the development efforts at the national, regional and international levels to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and in this regard stressing the need to improve the complementarity and synergy in the implementation of the three main United Nations mechanisms, namely, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, each of which constitutes an important building-block in the steps to achieve time-bound and quantifiable commitments set forth in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, Recognizing the importance of the principles and policy guidelines contained in the World Programme of Action, the Convention and the Standard Rules in influencing the promotion, formulation and evaluation of the policies, plans, programmes and actions at the national, regional and international levels to further equalize opportunities for persons with disabilities, Convinced that the forthcoming periodic reviews of global progress as well as obstacles encountered in implementing the outcome of the Millennium Summit require the inclusion of an evaluation of the measures taken to achieve the Millennium Development Goals as they impact on persons with disabilities, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/157. 2. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development; 3. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol theretoResolution 61/106, annexes I and II. as a matter of priority; 4. Expresses concern about the persistent gap between policy and practice regarding mainstreaming the perspective of persons with disabilities, including their rights and well-being, in the work of the United Nations in realizing the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Encourages States to involve persons with disabilities on an equal basis with other persons in the formulation of strategies and plans, in particular those pertaining to them; 6. Encourages States, in cooperation with, inter alia, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations as well as regional and international financial institutions, and the private sector, as appropriate, to be guided by the objectives of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled PersonsA/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV). as well as those of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with DisabilitiesResolution 48/96, annex. in their work and to examine and ensure that development strategies, policies and programmes aimed at implementing internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, are inclusive of issues concerning persons with disabilities and promote the equalization of opportunities for all by: (a) Ensuring accessibility, also through reasonable accommodation to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life and to participate as agents and beneficiaries of development; (b) Providing appropriate and accessible social services and safety nets for persons with disabilities to ensure improved well-being for all; (c) Ensuring an adequate standard of living and social protection for persons with disabilities, including through access to poverty and hunger eradication programmes, inclusive quality education, in particular free and compulsory primary education and secondary education, as well as the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care as provided to other persons, and the promotion of full employment and decent work for all; (d) Promoting and strengthening national capacities for participatory, democratic and accountable processes and mechanisms that further the equalization of opportunities for the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in civil and political, economic, social and cultural life; 7. Encourages States to collect and analyse appropriate information, including statistical and research data that are disaggregated by age and sex, on the situation of persons with disabilities, bearing in mind appropriate protection of personal data, for purposes of policy planning, analysis and evaluation that include the perspective of persons with disabilities, and in this regard invites States to avail themselves of the technical services of the Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat; 8. Urges relevant entities of the United Nations system, including agencies, funds and programmes, and invites international and regional development finance institutions to take concrete measures to incorporate the perspective of persons with disabilities, including accessibility requirements, in development cooperation and development finance activities; 9. Reaffirms the role of the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations, concerned non-governmental organizations and the private sector to continue to support the Fund with a view to strengthening its capacity to support catalytic and innovative activities to implement fully the development goals and objectives of the World Programme of Action, the Standard Rules and the Convention, including the work of the Special Rapporteur, and to facilitate international cooperation, including building national capacities, with emphasis on priorities for action identified in the present resolution; 10. Encourages all relevant parties to bear in mind the situation of persons with disabilities in the United Nations system-wide coherence discussions, without prejudice to the outcome of those discussions; 11. Calls upon States to include in country reports, in connection with the forthcoming periodic reviews of progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, a review and evaluation of the impact of development efforts on the rights, well-being and livelihood of persons with disabilities; 12. Reaffirms its commitment to respect and promote, without discrimination, the rights of indigenous persons with disabilities, and urges States to take effective measures to continue to improve their economic and social conditions; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to give higher priority to concerns and issues of persons with disabilities and their inclusion within the work programme of the United Nations system and within existing resources, and to strengthen the role of the United Nations and its development programmes and agencies in mainstreaming disability issues, taking into account the perspective of persons with disabilities within the work of the United Nations system by: (a) Promoting the inclusion of the perspective of persons with disabilities in the policies, programmes and projects of the Secretariat and the other United Nations bodies and agencies on a broader scale and with higher priority, on the basis of a holistic approach in the work done in the fields of social development, human rights and non-discrimination, and in this regard ensuring that the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses is inclusive of the perspective of persons with disabilities; (b) Further strengthening action in all countries and providing assistance to developing countries, in particular to least developed countries, with special attention to persons with disabilities in vulnerable circumstances; (c) Assisting Member States in formulating comprehensive and coherent policies and action plans, as well as projects, including pilot projects, that promote, inter alia, international cooperation and technical assistance, particularly to enhance the capacities of government agencies, as well as civil society, including organizations of persons with disabilities, to implement programmes on disability; 14. Decides that the fifth review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action, to be conducted by the General Assembly in 2008, shall direct special attention to the issues raised in the present resolution; 15. Also decides to rename the International Day of Disabled Persons, observed every year on 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities; 16. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To submit an analytical and policy-oriented report on the fifth review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session as a contribution to the forthcoming periodic reviews of the progress as well as obstacles encountered in implementing the goals of the Millennium Summit, particularly the Millennium Development Goals; (b) To present, as an annex to the report requested in subparagraph (a) above, proposed updates of the World Programme of Action, in accordance with paragraph 201 of the World Programme, bearing in mind the current situation of persons with disabilities around the world, as well as the developments in the global policy framework regarding persons with disabilities, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. RESOLUTION 62/128 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/432, para. 47)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Uganda and Zimbabwe. 62/128. Cooperatives in social development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/90 of 16 December 1992, 49/155 of 23 December 1994, 51/58 of 12 December 1996, 54/123 of 17 December 1999, 56/114 of 19 December 2001, 58/131 of 22 December 2003 and 60/132 of 16 December 2005 concerning cooperatives in social development, Recognizing that cooperatives, in their various forms, promote the fullest possible participation in economic and social development of all people, including women, youth, older people, people with disabilities and indigenous peoples, are becoming a major factor of economic and social development and contribute to the eradication of poverty, Recognizing also the important contribution and potential of all forms of cooperatives to the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), including their five-year reviews, the World Food Summit, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the 2005 World Summit, Noting with appreciation the potential role of cooperative development in the improvement of the social and economic conditions of the indigenous peoples and rural communities, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on cooperatives in social development;A/62/154. 2. Draws the attention of Member States to the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General for further action to promote the growth of cooperatives as business and social enterprises that can contribute to sustainable development, eradication of poverty and livelihoods in various economic sectors in urban and rural areas and provide support for the creation of cooperatives in new and emerging areas; 3. Encourages Governments to keep under review, as appropriate, the legal and administrative provisions governing the activities of cooperatives in order to enhance the growth and sustainability of cooperatives in a rapidly changing socio-economic environment by, inter alia, providing a level playing field for cooperatives vis-à-vis other business and social enterprises, including appropriate tax incentives and access to financial services and markets; 4. Urges Governments, relevant international organizations and the specialized agencies, in collaboration with national and international cooperative organizations, to give due consideration to the role and contribution of cooperatives in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), including their five-year reviews, the World Food Summit, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the 2005 World Summit by, inter alia: (a) Utilizing and developing fully the potential and contribution of cooperatives for the attainment of social development goals, in particular the eradication of poverty, the generation of full and productive employment and the enhancement of social integration; (b) Encouraging and facilitating the establishment and development of cooperatives, including taking measures aimed at enabling people living in poverty or belonging to vulnerable groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, older persons and indigenous peoples, to fully participate, on a voluntary basis, in cooperatives and to address their social service needs; (c) Taking appropriate measures aimed at creating a supportive and enabling environment for the development of cooperatives by, inter alia, developing an effective partnership between Governments and the cooperative movement through joint consultative councils and/or advisory bodies and by promoting and implementing better legislation, research, sharing of good practices, training, technical assistance and capacity-building of cooperatives, especially in the fields of management, auditing and marketing skills; (d) Raising public awareness of the contribution of cooperatives to employment generation and to socio-economic development and promoting comprehensive research and statistical data-gathering on the activities, employment and overall socio-economic impact of cooperatives at the national and international levels; 5. Invites Governments, in collaboration with the cooperative movement, to develop programmes aimed at enhancing capacity-building of cooperatives, including by strengthening the organizational, management and financial skills of their members, and to introduce and support programmes to improve the access of cooperatives to new technologies; 6. Invites Governments, relevant international organizations, the specialized agencies and local, national and international cooperative organizations to continue to observe the International Day of Cooperatives annually, on the first Saturday of July, as proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/90; 7. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the relevant United Nations and other international organizations and national, regional and international cooperative organizations, to continue rendering support to Member States, as appropriate, in their efforts to create a supportive environment for the development of cooperatives, providing assistance for human resources development, technical advice and training and promoting an exchange of experience and best practices through, inter alia, conferences, workshops and seminars at the national and regional levels; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and the relevant international organizations, to consider effective ways and means of raising public awareness of the overall socio-economic impact of cooperatives, including the desirability and the feasibility of proclaiming an International Year of Cooperatives, and to report thereon to the General Assembly; 9. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/129 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/432, para. 47)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Russian Federation, United States of America and Uzbekistan. 62/129. Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family and beyond The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/82 of 8 December 1989, 50/142 of 21 December 1995, 52/81 of 12 December 1997, 54/124 of 17 December 1999, 56/113 of 19 December 2001, 57/164 of 18 December 2002, 58/15 of 3 December 2003, 59/111 of 6 December 2004, 59/147 of 20 December 2004 and 60/133 of 16 December 2005 concerning the proclamation of the International Year of the Family and the preparations for, observance of and follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family, Noting that in paragraph 5 of its resolution 59/111 and paragraph 2 of its resolution 59/147, respectively, the General Assembly underlined the need to realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to develop concrete measures and approaches to address national priorities in dealing with family issues, Noting also that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development, Recognizing that the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2004 constituted an important opportunity to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of efforts at all levels to carry out specific programmes within the framework of the objectives of the Year, Aware that a major objective of the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family is to strengthen national institutions in formulating, implementing and monitoring policies in respect of families, Recognizing the need for additional capacity-building at the national and regional levels in order to promote and facilitate the implementation of the mandated objectives of the International Year of the Family, taking into account that national capacity development in the area of family policymaking continues to be a major concern for many countries, Convinced of the necessity of ensuring an action-oriented follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family beyond 2004, Recognizing the important catalytic and supportive role of United Nations bodies, the specialized agencies and the regional commissions in ensuring an action-oriented follow-up in the field of the family, Cognizant of the need for continued inter-agency cooperation on family issues in order to generate greater awareness of this subject among the governing bodies of the United Nations system, Convinced that civil society, including research and academic institutions, has a pivotal role in advocacy, promotion, research and policymaking in respect of family policy development and capacity-building, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/132 and Add.1. 1. Encourages Governments to continue to make every possible effort to realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family and to integrate a family perspective into national policymaking; 2. Commends the important contribution made by all Member States at all levels to realize the objectives of the International Year of the Family, and in this regard welcomes the efforts of Member States to pursue these objectives, including those of the Government of Qatar, which has established an International Institute for Family Studies and Development; 3. Urges Member States to create a conducive environment to strengthen and support all families, recognizing that equality between women and men and respect for all the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all family members are essential to family well-being and to society at large, noting the importance of reconciliation of work and family life and recognizing the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child; 4. Invites Governments to continue to develop strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening national capacities to address national priorities relating to family issues, and encourages the United Nations Programme on the Family, within its mandate, to assist Governments in this regard, including through the provision of technical assistance to build and develop national capacities in the area of formulating, implementing and monitoring family policies; 5. Encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund on Family Activities to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request; 6. Recommends that United Nations agencies and bodies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, research and academic institutions and the private sector play a supportive role in promoting the objectives of the International Year of the Family and contribute to developing strategies and programmes aimed at strengthening national capacities; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session; 8. Decides to consider the topic "Follow-up to the tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family" at its sixty-fourth session under the item entitled "Social development, including questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family". RESOLUTION 62/12 Adopted at the 57th plenary meeting, on 26 November 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.13 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia 62/12. Report of the International Criminal Court The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/15 of 20 November 2006 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also that the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. reaffirms the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reiterating the historic significance of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the tenth anniversary of which will be marked on 17 July 2008, Emphasizing that justice, especially transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies, is a fundamental building block of sustainable peace, Convinced that ending impunity is essential if a society in conflict or recovering from conflict is to come to terms with past abuses committed against civilians affected by armed conflict and to prevent future such abuses, Noting with satisfaction the fact that the International Criminal Court has achieved considerable progress in its analyses, investigations and judicial proceedings in various situations and cases which were referred to it by States parties to the Rome Statute and by the Security Council, in accordance with the Rome Statute, Recalling that effective and comprehensive cooperation and assistance in all aspects of its mandate by States, the United Nations and other international and regional organizations remains essential for the International Criminal Court to carry out its activities, Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General for providing effective and efficient assistance to the International Criminal Court in accordance with the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court ("Relationship Agreement"),See A/58/874 and Add.1. Acknowledging the Relationship Agreement as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/318 of 13 September 2004, including paragraph 3 of the resolution with respect to the payment in full of expenses accruing to the United Nations as a result of the implementation of the Relationship Agreement,Articles 10 and 13 of the Relationship Agreement. which provides a framework for continued cooperation between the International Criminal Court and the United Nations, which could include the facilitation by the United Nations of the Court's field activities, and encouraging the conclusion of supplementary arrangements and agreements, as necessary, Welcoming the continuous support given by civil society to the International Criminal Court, Recognizing the role of the International Criminal Court in a multilateral system that aims to end impunity, establish the rule of law, promote and encourage respect for human rights and achieve sustainable peace, in accordance with international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter, Expressing its appreciation to the International Criminal Court for providing assistance to the Special Court for Sierra Leone, 1. Welcomes the report of the International Criminal Court for 2006-2007;See A/62/314. 2. Welcomes the States that have become parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. in the past year, and calls upon all States in all regions of the world that are not yet parties to the Rome Statute to consider ratifying or acceding to it without delay; 3. Welcomes the States parties as well as States not parties to the Rome Statute that have become parties to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2271, No. 40446. and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Agreement; 4. Calls upon States parties to the Rome Statute that have not yet done so to adopt national legislation to implement obligations emanating from the Rome Statute and to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in the exercise of its functions, and recalls the provision of technical assistance by States parties in this respect; 5. Welcomes the cooperation and assistance provided thus far to the International Criminal Court by States parties as well as States not parties, the United Nations and other international and regional organizations, and calls upon those States that are under an obligation to cooperate to provide such cooperation and assistance in the future, in particular with regard to arrest and surrender, the provision of evidence, the protection and relocation of victims and witnesses and the enforcement of sentences; 6. Invites regional organizations to consider concluding cooperation agreements with the International Criminal Court; 7. Recalls that, by virtue of article 12, paragraph 3, of the Rome Statute, a State which is not a party to the Rome Statute may, by declaration lodged with the Registrar of the International Criminal Court, accept the exercise of jurisdiction by the Court with respect to specific crimes that are mentioned in paragraph 2 of that article; 8. Encourages all States parties to take the interests, needs for assistance and mandate of the International Criminal Court into account when relevant matters are being discussed in the United Nations; 9. Emphasizes the importance of the full implementation of the Relationship Agreement,See A/58/874 and Add.1. which forms a framework for close cooperation between the two organizations and for consultation on matters of mutual interest pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement and in conformity with the respective provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Rome Statute, as well as the need for the Secretary-General to inform the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the expenses incurred and reimbursements received by the United Nations in connection with assistance provided to the International Criminal Court; 10. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 1 (A/62/1). in which the Secretary-General states that he will continue the policy of assisting and supporting the International Criminal Court in its endeavours, in all respect for the independent character of the Court; 11. Notes the fact that the International Criminal Court liaison office to United Nations Headquarters is now fully operational, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue to work closely with that office; 12. Encourages States to contribute to the Trust Fund established for the benefit of victims of crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and of the families of such victims, and acknowledges with appreciation contributions made to the Trust Fund thus far; 13. Notes the work of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression, which is open to all States on an equal footing, and encourages all States to consider participating actively in the Working Group with a view to elaborating proposals for a provision on the crime of aggression, in accordance with article 123 of the Rome Statute; 14. Takes note of the decision of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute at its fourth session, while recalling that according to article 112, paragraph 6, of the Rome Statute, the Assembly of States Parties shall meet at the seat of the International Criminal Court or at United Nations Headquarters, to hold its sixth session in New York, looks forward to the sixth session of the Assembly of States Parties, which is to be held in New York from 30 November to 14 December 2007, as well as to the resumed sixth session, which is to be held in New York from 2 to 6 June 2008, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary services and facilities in accordance with the Relationship Agreement and resolution 58/318; 15. Encourages the widest possible participation of States in the Assemblies of States Parties, invites States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the participation of least developed countries, and acknowledges with appreciation contributions made to the Trust Fund thus far; 16. Invites the International Criminal Court to submit, in accordance with article 6 of the Relationship Agreement, a report on its activities for 2007-2008, for consideration by the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/130 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/432, para. 47)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uzbekistan. 62/130. Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/167 of 18 December 2002, in which it endorsed the Political DeclarationReport of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8-12 April 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002,Ibid., annex II. its resolution 58/134 of 22 December 2003, in which it took note, inter alia, of the road map for the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, and its resolutions 60/135 of 16 December 2005 and 61/142 of 19 December 2006, Recalling also Commission for Social Development resolution 42/1 of 13 February 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 6 (E/2004/26), chap. I, sect. E. in which the Commission decided to undertake the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action every five years, Mindful that, in its resolution 44/1 of 17 February 2006,Ibid., 2006, Supplement No. 6 (E/2006/26), chap. I, sect. C. the Commission decided to start the first global cycle of review and appraisal in 2007 at its forty-fifth session and to conclude it in 2008 at its forty-sixth session, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/131 and Corr.1. 1. Encourages Governments to pay greater attention to building capacity to eradicate poverty among older persons, particularly older women, by mainstreaming ageing issues into poverty eradication strategies and national development plans, and to include both ageing-specific policies and ageing-mainstreaming efforts in their review and appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002Ibid., annex II. and in their national strategies; 2. Stresses that, in order to complement national development efforts, enhanced international cooperation is essential to support developing countries in implementing the Madrid Plan of Action, while recognizing the importance of assistance and the provision of financial assistance; 3. Calls upon Member States to actively take part in the participatory bottom-up approach of the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, through, inter alia, sharing ideas, data collection and best practices and reporting on them to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-sixth session in 2008; 4. Encourages the United Nations regional commissions to consolidate the national findings of the review and appraisal by involving, inter alia, representatives of organizations of older persons from various regions that are directly involved in the participatory bottom-up review and appraisal exercise; 5. Invites Governments to conduct their ageing-related policies through inclusive consultations with relevant stakeholders and social development partners, in the interest of creating national policy ownership and consensus-building; 6. Encourages the international community to support national efforts to forge stronger partnerships with civil society, including organizations of older persons, academia, research foundations, community-based organizations, including caregivers, and the private sector, in an effort to help to build capacity on ageing issues; 7. Encourages the international community and the relevant agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to support national efforts to provide funding for research and data-collection initiatives on ageing in order to better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by population ageing and to provide policymakers with more accurate and more specific information on gender and ageing; 8. Encourages Member States to strengthen their efforts to develop national capacity to address their national implementation priorities identified during the review and appraisal exercise, and invites Member States that have not done so to consider a step-by-step approach to developing capacity that includes the setting of national priorities, the strengthening of institutional mechanisms, research, data collection and analysis and the training of necessary personnel in the field of ageing; 9. Stresses the need for additional capacity-building at the national level in order to promote and facilitate implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action, and in this connection encourages Governments to support the United Nations Trust Fund for Ageing to enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to provide expanded assistance to countries, upon their request; 10. Calls upon Governments to ensure, as appropriate, conditions that enable families and communities to provide care and protection to persons as they age and to evaluate improvement in the health status of older persons, including on a gender-specific basis, and to reduce disability and mortality; 11. Reiterates that ongoing efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. should take into account the situation of older persons; 12. Recommends to the Commission for Social Development to include in the deliberations of its forty-sixth session in 2008 the outcomes of the first cycle of the review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action, including identifying progress made and obstacles encountered during the first five years of the implementation process; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to submit to the Commission for Social Development at its forty-seventh session a report on the analysis of the conclusions of the first review and appraisal exercise, including a strategic implementation framework based on an analysis of national activities since 2002, in order to provide identification of policy priorities for the future and the identification of measures for international cooperation to support national implementation activities. RESOLUTION 62/131 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/432, para. 47)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/131. Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling the World Summit for Social Development, held at Copenhagen from 6 to 12 March 1995, and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly entitled "World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world", held at Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, Reaffirming that the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of ActionReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the further initiatives for social development adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth special session,Resolution S-24/2, annex. as well as a continued global dialogue on social development issues, constitute the basic framework for the promotion of social development for all at the national and international levels, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the development goals contained therein, as well as the commitments made at major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, including the commitments made at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 60/209 of 22 December 2005 on the implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Noting with appreciation the ministerial declaration adopted at the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2006 of the Economic and Social Council, on "Creating an environment at the national and international levels conducive to generating full and productive employment and decent work for all, and its impact on sustainable development",See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/61/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 50. Noting that the decent work agenda of the International Labour Organization, with its four strategic objectives, is an important instrument to achieve the objective of full and productive employment and decent work for all, Emphasizing the need to enhance the role of the Commission for Social Development in the follow-up and review of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly, Recognizing that a people-centred approach must be at the centre of economic and social development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/122. 2. Welcomes the reaffirmation by Governments of their will and commitment to continue implementing the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. in particular to eradicate poverty, promote full and productive employment and foster social integration to achieve stable, safe and just societies for all; 3. Recognizes that the implementation of the Copenhagen commitments and the attainment of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, are mutually reinforcing and that the Copenhagen commitments are crucial to a coherent people-centred approach to development; 4. Reaffirms that the Commission for Social Development continues to have the primary responsibility for the follow-up and review of the World Summit for Social Development and the outcome of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly and that it serves as the main United Nations forum for an intensified global dialogue on social development issues, and calls upon Member States, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and civil society to enhance their support for its work; 5. Recognizes that the broad concept of social development affirmed by the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly has been weakened in national and international policymaking and that, while poverty eradication is a central part of development policy and discourse, further attention should be given to the other commitments agreed to at the Summit, in particular those concerning employment and social integration, which have also suffered from a general disconnect between economic and social policymaking; 6. Acknowledges that the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), launched after the World Summit for Social Development, has provided the long-term vision for sustained and concerted efforts at the national and international levels to eradicate poverty, and recognizes that the implementation of the commitments made by Governments during the Decade has fallen short of expectations; 7. Emphasizes that the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit, the 2005 World Summit, as well as the International Conference on Financing for Development, in its Monterrey Consensus,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. have reinforced the priority and urgency of poverty eradication within the United Nations development agenda; 8. Also emphasizes that poverty eradication policies should attack poverty by addressing its root and structural causes and manifestations, and that equity and the reduction of inequalities need to be incorporated in those policies; 9. Stresses that an enabling environment is a critical precondition for achieving equity and social development and that, while economic growth is essential, entrenched inequality and marginalization are an obstacle to the broad-based and sustained growth required for sustainable, inclusive people-centred development, and recognizes the need to balance and ensure complementarity between measures to achieve growth and measures to achieve economic and social equity in order for there to be an impact on overall poverty levels; 10. Recognizes the need to promote respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to address the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, including through the design and development of appropriate mechanisms to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions and governance; 11. Reaffirms the commitment to the empowerment of women and gender equality, as well as to the mainstreaming of a gender perspective into all development efforts, recognizing that these are critical for achieving sustainable development and for efforts to combat hunger, poverty and disease and to strengthen policies and programmes that improve, ensure and broaden the full participation of women in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life, as equal partners, and to improve their access to all resources needed for the full exercise of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms by removing persistent barriers, including ensuring equal access to full and productive employment and decent work, as well as strengthening their economic independence; 12. Also reaffirms the commitment to employment strategies and macroeconomic policies that actively promote opportunities for full, freely chosen and productive employment, including for the most disadvantaged, as well as decent work for all, in order to deliver social justice combined with economic efficiency, with full respect for fundamental principles and rights at work under conditions of equity, equality, security and dignity, and further reaffirms that employment creation should be incorporated into macroeconomic policies, taking fully into account the social impact and dimension of globalization; 13. Further reaffirms that there is an urgent need to create an environment at the national and international levels that is conducive to the attainment of full and productive employment and decent work for all as a foundation for sustainable development and that an environment that supports investment, growth and entrepreneurship is essential to the creation of new job opportunities, and also reaffirms that opportunities for men and women to obtain productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity are essential to ensuring the eradication of hunger and poverty, the improvement of economic and social well-being for all, the achievement of sustained economic growth and sustainable development of all nations and a fully inclusive and equitable globalization; 14. Stresses the importance of removing obstacles to the realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, in particular of people living under colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, which adversely affect their social and economic development, including their exclusion from labour markets; 15. Reaffirms that violence, in its many manifestations, including domestic violence, especially against women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities, is a growing threat to the security of individuals, families and communities everywhere; total social breakdown is an all too real contemporary experience; organized crime, illegal drugs, the illicit arms trade, trafficking in women and children, ethnic and religious conflict, civil war, terrorism, all forms of extremist violence, xenophobia, and politically motivated killing and even genocide present fundamental threats to societies and the global social order; they also present compelling and urgent reasons for action by Governments individually and, as appropriate, jointly to foster social cohesion while recognizing, protecting and valuing diversity; 16. Recognizes that full and productive employment and decent work for all, which encompass social protection, fundamental principles and rights at work and social dialogue, are key elements of sustainable development for all countries and are therefore a priority objective of international cooperation; 17. Stresses that policies and programmes designed to achieve poverty eradication, full employment and decent work for all should include specific measures to foster social integration, including by providing marginalized socio-economic sectors and groups with equal access to opportunities and social protection; 18. Acknowledges the important nexus between international migration and social development, and stresses the importance of enforcing labour law effectively with regard to migrant workers' labour relations and working conditions, inter alia, those related to their remuneration and conditions of health, safety at work and the right to freedom of association; 19. Reaffirms that social integration policies should seek to reduce inequalities, promote access to basic social services, education for all and health care, increase the participation and integration of social groups, particularly youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, and address the challenges posed by globalization and market-driven reforms to social development in order for all people in all countries to benefit from globalization; 20. Also reaffirms the commitment to promote the rights of indigenous peoples in the areas of education, employment, housing, sanitation, health and social security, and also notes the attention paid to those areas in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;Resolution 61/295, annex. 21. Recognizes the need to formulate social development policies in an integral, articulated and participative manner, recognizing poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon, calls for interlinked public policies on this matter, and underlines the need for public policies to be included in a comprehensive development and well-being strategy; 22. Acknowledges the important role that the public sector can play as an employer and in developing an environment that enables the effective generation of full and productive employment and decent work for all; 23. Also acknowledges the vital role that the private sector can play in generating new investments, employment and financing for development and in advancing efforts towards full employment and decent work; 24. Recognizes that the majority of poor people live and work in rural areas, that priority should be given to agricultural and non-farm sectors and that steps should be taken to anticipate and offset the negative social and economic consequences of globalization and to maximize its benefits for poor people living and working in rural areas; 25. Reaffirms the commitments made in respect of "Meeting the special needs of Africa" at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1, para. 68. underlines the call of the Economic and Social Council for enhanced coordination within the United Nations system and the ongoing efforts to harmonize the current initiatives on Africa, and requests the Commission for Social Development to continue to give due prominence in its work to the social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 26. Also reaffirms that each country has the primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and underlines the importance of adopting effective measures, including new financial mechanisms, as appropriate, to support the efforts of developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth, sustainable development, poverty eradication and the strengthening of their democratic systems; 27. Further reaffirms, in this context, that international cooperation has an essential role in assisting developing countries, including the least developed countries, in strengthening their human, institutional and technological capacity; 28. Stresses that the international community shall enhance its efforts to create an enabling environment for social development and poverty eradication through increasing market access for developing countries, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, financial aid and a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem; 29. Acknowledges that good governance and the rule of law at the national and international levels are essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger; 30. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so in accordance with their commitments, to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets; 31. Welcomes the contribution to the mobilization of resources for social development by the initiatives on a voluntary basis taken by groups of Member States based on innovative financing mechanisms, including those that aim to provide further drug access at affordable prices to developing countries on a sustainable and predictable basis, such as the International Drug Purchase Facility, UNITAID, as well as other initiatives, such as the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, and notes the New York Declaration of 20 September 2004, which launched the Action against Hunger and Poverty initiative and called for further attention to raise funds urgently needed to help meet the Millennium Development Goals and to complement and ensure long-term stability and predictability to foreign aid; 32. Reaffirms that social development requires the active involvement of all actors in the development process, including civil society organizations, corporations and small businesses, and that partnerships among all relevant actors are increasingly becoming part of national and international cooperation for social development, and also reaffirms that, within countries, partnerships among the Government, civil society and the private sector can contribute effectively to the achievement of social development goals; 33. Underlines the responsibility of the private sector, at both the national and the international levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, regarding not only the economic and financial but also the development, social, gender and environmental implications of their activities, their obligations towards their workers and their contributions to achieving sustainable development, including social development, and emphasizes the need to take concrete actions on corporate responsibility and accountability, including through the participation of all relevant stakeholders, inter alia, for the prevention or prosecution of corruption; 34. Invites the Secretary-General, the Economic and Social Council, the regional commissions, the relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental forums, within their respective mandates, to continue to integrate into their work programmes and give priority attention to the Copenhagen commitments and the Declaration on the tenth anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 6 (E/2005/26), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/234. to continue to be actively involved in their follow-up and to monitor the achievement of those commitments and undertakings; 35. Invites the Commission for Social Development to emphasize in its review of the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action the increased exchange of national, regional and international experiences, the focused and interactive dialogues among experts and practitioners and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned; 36. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly", and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the question to the Assembly at that session. RESOLUTION 62/132 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/433 (Part II), para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Uganda, United States of America and Uruguay. 62/132. Violence against women migrant workers The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on violence against women migrant workers and those adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. Reaffirming the provisions concerning women migrant workers contained in the outcome documents of the World Conference on Human Rights,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Noting with appreciation the various activities initiated by entities of the United Nations system, such as the Regional Programme on Empowering Women Migrant Workers in Asia of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the high-level panel discussion on the gender dimensions of international migration held by the Commission on the Status of Women at its fiftieth session, and the discussions held by the Commission at its fifty-first session, during which it took note, inter alia, of the particular situation of girl migrants, and noting the contribution of the International Labour Organization through the development of a Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration, as well as other activities through which the plight of women migrant workers continues to be assessed and alleviated, Recalling the discussions during the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, held on 14 and 15 September 2006, which recognized, inter alia, the need for special protection for migrant women, Recognizing the increasing participation of women in international migration, driven in large part by socio-economic factors, and that this feminization of migration requires greater gender sensitivity in all policies and efforts related to the subject of international migration, Stressing the shared responsibility of all stakeholders, in particular countries of origin, transit and destination, relevant regional and international organizations, the private sector and civil society, in promoting an environment that prevents and addresses violence against women migrant workers, Acknowledging the contribution that women migrant workers make to development through the economic benefits that accrue to both the country of origin and the country of destination, Recognizing the particular vulnerability of women and their children at all stages of the migration process, extending from the moment of deciding to migrate, and including transit, engagement in formal and informal employment, and integration into the host society, as well as during their return to their countries of origin, Expressing deep concern at the continuing reports of grave abuses and violence committed against migrant women and girls, including gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence, trafficking, domestic and family violence, racist and xenophobic acts, abusive labour practices and exploitative conditions of work, Recognizing that the intersection of, inter alia, gender, age, class and ethnic discrimination and stereotypes can compound the discrimination faced by women migrant workers, Reaffirming the commitment to protect and promote the human rights of all women, including, without discrimination, indigenous women who migrate for work, and in this regard noting the attention paid in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous PeoplesResolution 61/295, annex. to the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against indigenous women, as appropriate, Noting with concern that many migrant women who are employed in the informal economy and in less skilled work are especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and underlining in this regard the obligation of States to protect the human rights of migrants so as to prevent abuse and exploitation, Emphasizing the need for objective, comprehensive and broad-based information, including sex- and age-disaggregated data and statistics, and gender-sensitive indicators for research and analysis, and a wide exchange of experience and lessons learned by individual Member States and civil society in the formulation of policies and concrete strategies to address the problem of violence against women migrant workers, Realizing that the movement of a significant number of women migrant workers may be facilitated and made possible by means of fraudulent or irregular documentation and sham marriages with the object of migration, that this may be facilitated through, among other things, the Internet, and that those women migrant workers are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, Recognizing the importance of joint and collaborative approaches and strategies at the bilateral, regional, interregional and international levels in protecting and promoting the human rights and welfare of women migrant workers, Recognizing also the importance of exploring the link between migration and trafficking in order to further efforts towards protecting women migrant workers from violence, discrimination, exploitation and abuse, Encouraged by some measures adopted by some countries of destination to alleviate the plight of women migrant workers residing in their areas of jurisdiction, such as the establishment of protection mechanisms for migrant workers, facilitating their access to mechanisms for reporting complaints, or providing assistance during legal proceedings, Underlining the important role of relevant United Nations treaty bodies in monitoring the implementation of human rights conventions and the relevant special procedures, within their respective mandates, in addressing the problem of violence against women migrant workers and in protecting and promoting their human rights and welfare, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/177. 2. Encourages Member States to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to relevant International Labour Organization conventions and to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2220, No. 39481. the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574. and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., vol. 2241, No. 39574. as well as all human rights treaties that contribute to the protection of the rights of women migrant workers; 3. Takes note of the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the human rights of migrantsA/HRC/4/24 and Add.1-3. and the Special Rapporteur of the Council on violence against women, its causes and consequences,A/HRC/4/34 and Add.1-4. with regard to violence against women migrant workers, and encourages all special rapporteurs whose mandates relate to the subject of violence against women migrant workers to address the issue of violence against women migrant workers and their human rights, in particular the problems of gender-based violence and discrimination, as well as trafficking in women; 4. Notes the findings contained in the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development, 2004: Women and International Migration,A/59/287 and Add.1; see also United Nations publication, Sales No. E.04.IV.4. including its recommendations for concrete actions aimed at helping to empower migrant women, including women migrant workers, and reducing their vulnerability to abuse; 5. Requests all Governments to continue to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteurs mentioned in paragraph 3 above in the performance of their tasks and mandated duties, including by making available to them requested information on violence against women migrant workers and by reacting promptly to their urgent appeals, and encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting them to visit their countries; 6. Calls upon all Governments to incorporate a human rights and gender perspective in legislation and policies on international migration and on labour and employment, inter alia, for the prevention and protection of migrant women from violence and discrimination, exploitation and abuse, and to take effective measures to ensure that these do not reinforce discrimination and bias against women; 7. Calls upon Governments to adopt or strengthen measures to protect the human rights of women migrant workers, regardless of their immigration status, including in policies that regulate the recruitment and deployment of women migrant workers, and to consider expanding dialogue among States on devising innovative methods to promote legal channels of migration, inter alia, in order to deter illegal migration; 8. Urges Governments to enhance bilateral, regional, interregional and international cooperation to address violence against women migrant workers, fully respecting international law, including international human rights law, as well as to strengthen efforts in reducing the vulnerability of women migrant workers, including by fostering sustainable development alternatives to migration in countries of origin; 9. Also urges Governments to adopt or strengthen measures to promote and protect the human rights of migrant girls, including unaccompanied girls, regardless of their immigration status, to prevent their labour and economic exploitation, discrimination, sexual harassment, violence and sexual abuse in the workplace, including domestic work; 10. Further urges Governments, in cooperation with international organizations, civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, to strengthen the focus on and funding support for the prevention of violence against women migrant workers, in particular by promoting the access of women to meaningful and gender-sensitive information and education on, inter alia, the costs and benefits of migration, rights and benefits to which they are entitled in the countries of origin and employment, overall conditions in countries of employment and procedures for legal migration, as well as to ensure that laws and policies governing recruiters, employers and intermediaries promote adherence to and respect for the human rights of migrant workers, particularly women; 11. Calls upon Governments, in cooperation with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and other stakeholders, to provide women migrant workers who are victims of violence with the full range of immediate assistance and protection, such as access to counselling, legal and consular assistance and temporary shelter, as well as mechanisms to allow the views and concerns of victims to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of proceedings, including other measures that will allow victims to be present during the judicial process, to the extent possible, as well as to establish reintegration and rehabilitation schemes for returning women migrant workers; 12. Also calls upon Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin and destination, to put in place penal and criminal sanctions to punish perpetrators and intermediaries of violence against women migrant workers, and redress and justice mechanisms that victims can access effectively, as well as to ensure that migrant women victims of violence do not suffer from re-victimization, including by authorities; 13. Urges all States to adopt effective measures to put an end to the arbitrary arrest and detention of women migrant workers and to take action to prevent and punish any form of illegal deprivation of the liberty of women migrant workers by individuals or groups; 14. Encourages Governments to formulate and implement training programmes for their law enforcers, immigration officers and border officials, prosecutors and service providers with a view to sensitizing those public-sector workers to the issue of violence against women migrant workers and imparting to them the necessary skills and attitude to ensure the delivery of proper, professional and gender-sensitive interventions; 15. Invites Governments, the United Nations system and other concerned intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to cooperate towards a better understanding of the issues concerning women and international migration, and to improve the collection, dissemination and analysis of sex- and age-disaggregated data and information in order to assist in the formulation of migration and labour policies that are, inter alia, gender-sensitive and that protect human rights, as well as to aid in policy assessment; 16. Encourages concerned Governments, in particular those of the countries of origin, transit and destination, to avail themselves of the expertise of the United Nations, including the Statistics Division of the Secretariat, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, to develop appropriate national data-collection and analysis methodologies that will generate comparable data and tracking and reporting systems on violence against women migrant workers; 17. Encourages the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to continue its work on a general recommendation on the situation of women migrant workers; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the problem of violence against women migrant workers and on the implementation of the present resolution, taking into account updated information from the organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as the reports of the Special Rapporteurs mentioned in paragraph 3 above, and other relevant sources, such as the International Organization for Migration, including non-governmental organizations. RESOLUTION 62/133 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/433 (Part II), para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 62/133. Intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/143 of 19 December 2006, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and reaffirming also that discrimination on the basis of sex is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and other international human rights instruments, and that its elimination is an integral part of efforts towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women, Reaffirming also the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,See resolution 48/104. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the declaration adopted at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. Reaffirming further the international commitments in the field of social development and to gender equality and the advancement of women made at the World Conference on Human Rights, the International Conference on Population and Development, the World Summit for Social Development and the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, as well as those made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and at the 2005 World Summit, and noting the attention paid to the elimination of all forms of violence against indigenous women in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/295 of 13 September 2007, Recognizing that women's poverty and lack of empowerment, as well as their marginalization resulting from their exclusion from social policies and from the benefits of sustainable development, can place them at increased risk of violence, and that violence against women impedes the social and economic development of communities and States, as well as the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Deeply concerned about the pervasiveness of violence against women and girls in all its different forms and manifestations worldwide, and reiterating the need to intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls throughout the world, Stressing that States have the obligation to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including women and girls, and must exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, to eliminate impunity and to provide protection to the victims, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Expressing its appreciation for the high number of activities undertaken by the United Nations bodies, entities, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies to eliminate all forms of violence against women, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, pursuant to resolution 61/143;A/62/201. 2. Welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General to spearhead a multi-year system-wide campaign to eliminate violence against women and girls through 2015, focusing on global advocacy, United Nations leadership and strengthened efforts and partnerships at the national and regional levels; 3. Calls upon the international community, including the United Nations system and, as appropriate, regional and subregional organizations, to support national efforts to promote the empowerment of women and gender equality in order to enhance national efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls, including, upon request, in the development and implementation of national action plans on the elimination of violence against women and girls, through, inter alia, and taking into account national priorities, official development assistance and other appropriate assistance, such as facilitating the sharing of guidelines, methodologies and best practices; 4. Calls upon all United Nations bodies, entities, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies and invites the Bretton Woods institutions to intensify their efforts at all levels to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls and to better coordinate their work, inter alia, through the Task Force on Violence against Women of the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality; 5. Calls upon the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality to intensify its consideration of ways and means to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women as a system-wide funding mechanism for preventing and redressing all forms of violence against women and girls; 6. Stresses that within the United Nations system adequate resources should be assigned to those bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes responsible for the promotion of gender equality and women's rights and to efforts throughout the United Nations system to eliminate violence against women and girls, supports the commitment of the Task Force on Violence against Women to undertake a resource flow analysis to assess the resources available for this work and elaborate recommendations for their most effective and efficient use, and calls upon the United Nations system to respond swiftly to those recommendations once issued; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to develop and propose a set of possible indicators on violence against women, building on the work undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, in order to assist States in assessing the scope, prevalence and incidence of violence against women, with a view to allowing its consideration by the Commission on the Status of Women at its fifty-second session and by the Statistical Commission at the earliest; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to present an oral report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its fifty-second session and thereafter to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session with information provided by the United Nations bodies, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies on recent follow-up activities to implement resolution 61/143 and the present resolution, including on the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women, and urges United Nations bodies, entities, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies to contribute promptly to the report. RESOLUTION 62/134 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/433 (Part II), para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Vanuatu. 62/134. Eliminating rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, including in conflict and related situations The General Assembly, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, and guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter, Reaffirming also that discrimination on the basis of sex is contrary to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and other international human rights instruments and that its elimination is an integral part of efforts towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women, Reaffirming further the obligations of States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. the Geneva Conventions of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Ibid., vol. 660, No. 9464. Reaffirming the goals, objectives and commitments of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and those contained in the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. with respect to sexual violence and to women in armed conflict, Recalling all previous General Assembly resolutions on violence against women and violence against children, including resolution 61/143 of 19 December 2006 on intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, and its other relevant resolutions, as well as Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on children affected by armed conflict and 1674 (2006) of 28 April 2006 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the resolutions of the Economic and Social Council on women and on the girl child, Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/41 of 19 April 2005 on the elimination of violence against womenSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. and resolution 2001/20 of 16 August 2001 of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on systematic rape, sexual slavery and slavery-like practices,See E/CN.4/2002/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/40, chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the inclusion of rape and other forms of gender-related crimes and crimes of sexual violence in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544. Recalling further the recognition by the ad hoc international criminal tribunals that rape can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a constitutive act with respect to genocide, Welcoming the United Nations inter-agency initiative "Stop Rape Now: United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict", Recognizing that violence against women is an offence against the dignity and integrity of the victim, which often inflicts serious physical and psychological harm, and that all forms of violence against women seriously violate and impair or nullify the enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and constitute a major impediment to the ability of women to make use of their capabilities, Recognizing also that violence against women is rooted in historically unequal power relations between men and women, Recognizing further that violence against women impedes the social and economic development of communities and States, as well as the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Expressing concern that civilians, particularly women and children, account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict, including as refugees and internally displaced persons, and increasingly are targeted by combatants and armed elements, and recognizing the consequent impact this has on durable peace and reconciliation, Recognizing that States bear primary responsibility to respect and ensure the human rights of their citizens, as well as all individuals within their territory as provided for by relevant international law, Stressing that States have the obligation to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, and must exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, and to provide protection to the victims, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the victims, Strongly condemning all acts of violence against women and girls, whether these acts are perpetrated by the State, by private persons or by non-State actors, calling for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence in the family, within the general community, and where perpetrated or condoned by the State, and stressing the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls as a criminal offence, punishable by law, Stressing that rape or other forms of sexual violence must not be used or condoned in any circumstance by any individual, State or non-State actor, Recognizing that rape or any other form of sexual violence is unlawful in all circumstances and in all places, regardless of the sex or age of the victim, including in detention and in jails, whether or not committed by State or non-State actors in the course of achieving political or military objectives, whether or not in the course of an international or non-international armed conflict, or in areas under foreign occupation, Deeply concerned at rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, which are typically committed against women and girls, and which often target victims associated with communities, ethnic groups or other groups regarded as antagonistic to or insufficiently supportive of the group or entity whose forces commit the crime, and are frequently calculated to humiliate, dominate, instil fear in, disperse and/or forcibly relocate members of such groups, including, but not limited to, the victims and their families, Affirming the need for States to ensure that perpetrators of rape or other forms of sexual violence committed on their territory do not operate with impunity and that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice as provided for by national law and obligations under international law, and also affirming the need to penalize persons in authority found guilty of sexually assaulting victims, Also affirming the need to provide all necessary assistance to victims, including children born as a result of rape, Determined to eliminate rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, including in conflict and related situations, 1. Urges States: (a) To take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, in particular rape and other forms of sexual violence; (b) To end impunity by ensuring that all rape victims, particularly women and girls, have equal protection under the law and equal access to justice and by investigating, prosecuting and punishing any person responsible for rape and other forms of sexual violence, whether or not committed by State or non-State actors in the course of achieving political or military objectives, wherever they occur, whether or not in the course of an international or non-international armed conflict, including in detention and in jails, and regardless of the sex or age of the victim; (c) To provide victims with access to appropriate health care, including sexual and reproductive health care, psychological care and trauma counselling, as well as to rehabilitation, social reintegration and, as appropriate, effective and sufficient compensation, in accordance with relevant international and national law; (d) To develop and implement at all levels, as required, a comprehensive and integrated strategy of prevention and prosecution of rape, and monitor the implementation of such a strategy, which should include the training of, inter alia, all relevant government and military personnel, in particular military commanders, law enforcement officials, judicial system personnel, health workers, teachers and social workers, as well as community leaders and the news media, in all appropriate aspects of the prevention and prosecution of rape and other forms of sexual violence and of protection and support for victims of such violence; (e) To promote human rights education, including on all aspects of rape and other forms of sexual violence, ensuring factual accounts of such violence, in an effort to encourage better understanding among all peoples, with a view to the prevention and elimination of rape and other forms of sexual violence; (f) To increase significantly their voluntary financial support for activities related to preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women, the empowerment of women and gender equality carried out by the specialized agencies and the United Nations funds and programmes, including the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women; (g) To consider ratifying or acceding to all human rights treaties, including, as a matter of priority, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol thereto;Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. 2. Calls upon States and the United Nations system: (a) To support all efforts to address rape, including through the regular collection, analysis and dissemination of data, to facilitate such efforts and, in particular, to work towards overcoming the difficulties and challenges of capacity-building and collecting information on the practice; (b) To integrate to the maximum extent possible the needs of all victims of sexual violence into United Nations humanitarian assistance programmes; (c) To assign adequate resources within the United Nations system to those bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes responsible for the promotion of gender equality and women's rights and to efforts throughout the United Nations system to eliminate violence against women and girls and design programmes to provide assistance to victims, including children born as a result; 3. Urges States, in cooperation with the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other civil society actors, as appropriate: (a) To conduct public education and awareness campaigns at the national and grass-roots levels in order to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of rape and other forms of sexual violence; (b) To establish reception centres and shelters for victims, take other appropriate measures to promote and protect women's rights, and provide protection, safe shelter, medical assistance, including sexual and reproductive health care, all necessary medications, including antiretroviral drugs and antibiotics, counselling for victims and their families, comprehensive information and education, legal aid, rehabilitation, and reintegration of victims and their offspring into society, in cooperation with State efforts towards protecting and supporting victims, in particular appropriate compensation that is effective and sufficient, maintaining due confidentiality and privacy of the victims and their families; (c) To support programmes to eliminate rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, and design programmes to provide assistance to all victims of rape; (d) To address the long-term consequences faced by victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence, including legal discrimination and social stigmatization, as well as the effects on children born as a result of rape; 4. Invites non-governmental organizations and other civil society actors: (a) To advocate at the local, national, regional and international levels against rape and other forms of sexual violence, inter alia, by building and strengthening networks among those who may be in a position to provide information on their occurrence, and to call attention to their adverse consequences; (b) To increase coordination and cooperation in addressing this problem and continue to present their observations and conclusions to Governments; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution on rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, including when they target victims associated with communities, ethnic groups or other groups regarded as antagonistic to or insufficiently supportive of the group or entity whose forces commit the crime, and are calculated to humiliate, instil fear in, disperse and/or forcibly relocate members of such groups, including, but not limited to, the victims and their families. RESOLUTION 62/135 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/433 (Part II), para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Zambia. 62/135. United Nations Development Fund for Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 39/125 of 14 December 1984, by which it established the United Nations Development Fund for Women as a separate and identifiable entity in autonomous association with the United Nations Development Programme, as well as its resolution 60/137 of 16 December 2005, Reaffirming the Beijing Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. which recognizes the special role of the Fund in the promotion of the economic and political empowerment of women, and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. Emphasizing that implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action is essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, Reaffirming the commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of women made at the Millennium Summit, the 2005 World Summit and other major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, Reaffirming also the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as well as the central role of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality, Reaffirming further all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, Recognizing the importance of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and noting that the number of States parties to the Convention is among the highest for human rights conventions, Welcoming the contributions that the Fund has made in supporting initiatives of Member States, United Nations organizations and non-governmental organizations to formulate and implement activities that promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, Recalling its resolution 59/250 of 22 December 2004 on the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and stressing the need for all organizations of the United Nations development system to implement their global, regional and country-level activities in accordance with their mandates, Recalling also Economic and Social Council agreed conclusions 1997/2 of 18 July 1997See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and subsequent Council resolutions on mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system,Economic and Social Council resolutions 2001/41, 2002/23, 2003/49, 2004/4, 2005/31, 2006/36 and 2007/33. Noting the importance of the work of the Consultative Committee on the United Nations Development Fund for Women in policy and programme directions, as stipulated in the annex to resolution 39/125, Noting also the ongoing intergovernmental consultation process on the recommendations of the High-level Panel on United Nations System-wide Coherence,See A/61/583. where issues of gender equality and women's empowerment are addressed, 1. Takes note with appreciation of decision 2007/35, adopted on 14 September 2007 by the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and of the United Nations Population Fund at its second regular session of 2007,See DP/2008/2. in which it took note of the strategic plan, 2008-2011, of the United Nations Development Fund for Women,DP/2007/45. endorsed its strategic priorities and results and authorized its implementation; 2. Welcomes the note by the Secretary-General on the activities of the Fund, containing the results-focused report of progress in implementing its multi-year funding framework, 2004-2007;A/62/188. 3. Commends the focus by the Fund, in accordance with its mandate as set out in the annex to resolution 39/125, on strategic programmes in its three key thematic areas of work, in line with its strategic plan, 2008-2011, namely, enhancing women's economic security and rights, ending violence against women and reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among women and achieving gender equality in democratic governance, as well as eradicating feminized poverty and supporting innovative programming in the context of the Beijing Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and commitments made at the twenty-third special session of the General AssemblyResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women;See E/CN.6/2005/2 and Corr.1. 4. Calls upon Member States, intergovernmental bodies and the United Nations system to intensify their efforts to enhance the coordination and ensure adequate status and resourcing of the gender entities of the United Nations to improve the support of the United Nations system for gender equality and the empowerment of women at the global, regional and national levels; 5. Notes with appreciation the coordination efforts between the Fund and other funds, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, and calls upon those entities to strengthen their collaborative efforts; 6. Urges all organizations of the United Nations system, within their mandates, to mainstream a gender perspective and to pursue gender equality and the empowerment of women in all their programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes, to articulate specific global, regional and country-level benchmarks, goals and targets in this field in accordance with national development strategies, and to ensure monitoring and evaluation of and reporting on the activities of the United Nations system in this regard, while also encouraging the participation of women in these processes, where appropriate; 7. Encourages the Fund to continue to contribute to the harmonization and coordination processes of United Nations reform through, inter alia, strengthened partnerships with other funds, programmes and organizations of the United Nations system and through the promotion of development, including technical cooperation, women's human rights and a gender-equality perspective in the policies, guidelines and tools developed by the United Nations Development Group; 8. Encourages the participation of the Fund in relevant high-level inter-agency coordination mechanisms, and calls upon the United Nations system to ensure participatory cooperation of units that deal with gender issues within organizations, agencies, funds and programmes across the system in order to achieve better coordination among United Nations bodies, taking into account their respective mandates, in strengthening gender mainstreaming and the empowerment of women; 9. Recognizes the efforts of the Fund and other United Nations funds and programmes to strengthen the gender-equality and women's empowerment perspective in formulation, implementation and evaluation processes related to national development plans and programmes aimed at eradicating poverty, including poverty reduction strategies, the Millennium Development Goals and the United Nations development assistance frameworks where they exist, and urges the Fund to support these processes; 10. Encourages the Fund to support strengthened and coordinated action on gender equality at the country level, including by designating Fund representatives, where the Fund already has a presence, with the authority to work with the concerned Governments to identify, formulate and execute programmes and projects, within the mandate of the Fund and in line with national priorities, and to enhance cooperation with, and active support for, resident coordinators for operational activities of the United Nations, on the understanding that this will not result in increased administrative expenditure for the Fund; 11. Recognizes the technical expertise of the Fund and other gender specialist resources of the United Nations system, and calls upon the United Nations development system to utilize this technical expertise, on the basis of their mandates, to support enhanced programming and policies on gender equality and the empowerment of women at all levels, while undertaking efforts to implement gender mainstreaming internally; 12. Encourages Member States and United Nations organizations to further explore with the Fund possible innovative representational arrangements, including through the use of seconded staff, project offices and other means; 13. Notes the activities undertaken by the Fund, in follow-up to resolution 60/137, to address the impact of armed conflict on women, including sexual and all other forms of violence against women and girls, to strengthen gender justice and to support the promotion of gender equality and full and effective participation of women in peace processes, peacebuilding, post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, and urges the Fund to increase its efforts and enhance its support to a coordinated approach of the United Nations system, including cooperation, as appropriate, with Member States, relevant United Nations entities, regional organizations and other United Nations partners in these fields; 14. Emphasizes the importance of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women, established by General Assembly resolution 50/166 of 22 December 1995, as an inter-agency mechanism to respond to the deep concern regarding the persistence of violence and crimes against women in all parts of the world expressed by the Assembly, which has urged the relevant United Nations bodies, entities, funds and programmes and specialized agencies to enhance the coordination of and intensify support to States in their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, and encourages all Governments, non-governmental organizations and the public and private sectors to consider contributing or increasing contributions to the Trust Fund; 15. Calls upon the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality to intensify its consideration of ways and means to enhance the effectiveness of the Trust Fund as a system-wide funding mechanism for preventing and redressing all forms of violence against women and girls; 16. Encourages the Fund to continue to support the gender-equality and women's empowerment goals and targets of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session,Resolution S-26/2, annex. and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted at the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS of the sixtieth session of the Assembly,Resolution 60/262, annex. by working closely with women who are affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS to develop their capacity to influence programmes and policies, building on its partnerships within the United Nations system, in particular with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); 17. Welcomes the strengthened partnership with the United Nations Development Programme to facilitate the participation of the Fund in the Joint Programme in order to avail its co-sponsors of the expertise of the Fund with respect to the gender dimensions of HIV/AIDS; 18. Encourages the Fund to respond to country requests for the development or strengthening of accountability mechanisms for gender equality, including by supporting United Nations country team coordination, through providing its specific expertise and capacities in these fields, in building the capacity of Governments to undertake gender-responsive budget analysis and to use sex-disaggregated data as a basis for gender-responsive public policy formulation; 19. Welcomes the role of the Fund in promoting the strategic importance of the empowerment of women in all of the regions in which it operates, and notes with appreciation the enhanced programme activities of the Fund in the African region; 20. Encourages the Fund to continue to assist Governments in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. in order to advance gender equality at all levels, including by reinforcing cooperation between Governments and civil society, especially women's organizations, and by supporting efforts to follow up, as appropriate, the concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; 21. Also encourages the Fund, within its mandate, to continue to assist Governments in implementing the rights of indigenous women, in accordance with international human rights obligations and taking into account, as appropriate, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;Resolution 61/295, annex. 22. Calls for further clarification of the lines of responsibility, especially between the United Nations Development Programme and the Fund, to ensure that the resident coordinator system and the United Nations country teams provide coherent support to countries on gender equality, and between the Fund and other member organizations of the United Nations Development Group, to ensure greater effectiveness in United Nations operational activities related to gender equality; 23. Recognizes with appreciation the increases in core and non-core contributions to the Fund made by Member States, private organizations and foundations, whose increased contributions demonstrate their commitment to the issues on which the Fund is working; 24. Invites, accordingly, Member States, non-governmental organizations and members of private organizations and foundations that have contributed to the Fund to continue to contribute and to consider increasing their financial contributions, and urges others that have not yet done so to consider contributing to the Fund to enable it to reach the targets for core resources in its strategic plan, which are essential for ensuring the predictability and effective planning of its activities. RESOLUTION 62/136 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/433 (Part II), para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 62/136. Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/129 of 19 December 2001, 58/146 of 22 December 2003 and 60/138 of 16 December 2005, Recalling also the importance attached to the problems of rural women in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, Nairobi, 15-26 July 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.85.IV.10), chap. I, sect. A. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on WomenReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. including the review and appraisal of the implementation of the outcomes, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States resolved, inter alia, to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. in which they also resolved to promote gender equality and eliminate pervasive gender discrimination by taking all the necessary resolute action, Welcoming the declaration adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session in the context of the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. Noting the attention paid to the improvement of the situation of indigenous women in rural areas in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,Resolution 61/295, annex. Recognizing the work of relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, especially the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in promoting education for all, giving particular attention to girls and women in rural areas, Welcoming the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. as well as the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. in which Governments were called upon to mainstream the gender perspective into development at all levels and in all sectors, Welcoming also the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2003 of the Economic and Social Council, adopted on 2 July 2003,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/58/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 35. which stressed the need for rural development to become an integral part of national and international development policies and of activities and programmes of the United Nations system and called for an enhanced role for rural women at all levels of rural development, including decision-making, Recalling the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005, as well as the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society adopted by the World Summit in 2005,See A/60/687, chap. I, sect. B. which reaffirmed the commitment to building capacity in information and communications technology for all and confidence in the use of information and communications technology by all, including women, indigenous peoples and remote and rural communities, Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty, Reiterating that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today, and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, while recognizing that rural areas of developing countries continue to be home to the vast majority of the world's poor people, Recognizing the contributions of older rural women to the family and the community, especially in cases where they are left behind by migrating adults or as a result of other socio-economic factors to assume childcare, household and agricultural responsibility, Reiterating the call for fair globalization and the need to translate growth into eradication of poverty, including for rural women, and in this regard applauding the resolve to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for rural women, a central objective of relevant national and international policies as well as national development strategies, including poverty eradication strategies, Recognizing the urgent need to take appropriate measures aimed at further improving the situation of women in rural areas, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/202. 2. Urges Member States, in collaboration with the organizations of the United Nations and civil society, as appropriate, to continue their efforts to implement the outcome of and to ensure an integrated and coordinated follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including their reviews, and to attach greater importance to the improvement of the situation of rural women, including indigenous women, in their national, regional and global development strategies by, inter alia: (a) Creating an enabling environment for improving the situation of rural women and ensuring systematic attention to their needs, priorities and contributions, including through enhanced cooperation and a gender perspective, and their full participation in the development, implementation and follow-up of macroeconomic policies, including development policies and programmes and poverty eradication strategies, including poverty reduction strategy papers where they exist, based on internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; (b) Pursuing the political and socio-economic empowerment of rural women and supporting their full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels, including through affirmative action, where appropriate, and support for women's organizations, labour unions or other associations and civil society groups promoting rural women's rights; (c) Promoting consultation with and the participation of rural women, including indigenous women and women with disabilities, through their organizations and networks, in the design, development and implementation of gender equality and rural development programmes and strategies; (d) Ensuring that the perspectives of rural women are taken into account and that they participate in the design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of policies and activities related to emergencies, including natural disasters, humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, and taking appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against rural women in this regard; (e) Integrating a gender perspective into the design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of development policies and programmes, including budget policies, paying increased attention to the needs of rural women so as to ensure that they benefit from policies and programmes adopted in all spheres and that the disproportionate number of rural women living in poverty is reduced; (f) Investing in and strengthening efforts to meet the basic needs of rural women through improved availability, access to and use of critical rural infrastructure, such as energy and transport, capacity-building and human resources development measures and the provision of a safe and reliable water supply and sanitation, nutritional programmes, affordable housing programmes, education and literacy programmes and health and social support measures, including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support; (g) Addressing the specific health needs of rural women and taking concrete measures to enhance and provide access to the highest attainable standards of health for women in rural areas, including in such areas of sexual and reproductive health as pre- and post-natal health care, emergency obstetric care, family planning information and increasing knowledge, awareness and support for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; (h) Designing and implementing national policies that promote and protect the enjoyment by rural women and girls of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and creating an environment that does not tolerate violations of their rights, including domestic violence, sexual violence and all other forms of gender-based violence; (i) Ensuring that the rights of older women in rural areas are taken into account with regard to their equal access to basic social services, appropriate social protection/social security measures, equal access to and control of economic resources, and empowerment of older women through access to financial and infrastructure services, with special focus on support to older women, including indigenous women, who often have access to few resources and are more vulnerable; (j) Developing specific assistance programmes and advisory services to promote economic skills of rural women in banking, modern trading and financial procedures and providing microcredit and other financial and business services to a greater number of women in rural areas, in particular female-headed households, for their economic empowerment; (k) Mobilizing resources, including at the national level and through official development assistance, for increasing women's access to existing savings and credit schemes, as well as targeted programmes that provide women with capital, knowledge and tools that enhance their economic capacities; (l) Integrating increased employment opportunities for rural women into all international and national development strategies and poverty eradication strategies, including by, inter alia, expanding non-agricultural employment opportunities, improving working conditions and increasing access to productive resources; (m) Taking steps towards ensuring that women's unpaid work and contributions to on-farm and off-farm production, including income generated in the informal sector, are recognized and supporting remunerative non-agricultural employment of rural women, improving working conditions and increasing access to productive resources; (n) Promoting programmes to enable rural women and men to reconcile their work and family responsibilities and to encourage men to share equally with women household and childcare responsibilities; (o) Considering the adoption, where appropriate, of national legislation to protect the knowledge, innovations and practices of women in indigenous and local communities relating to traditional medicines, biodiversity and indigenous technologies; (p) Addressing the lack of timely, reliable and sex-disaggregated data, including by intensifying efforts to include women's unpaid work in official statistics, and developing a systematic and comparative research base on rural women that will inform policy and programme decisions; (q) Designing and revising laws to ensure that, where private ownership of land and property exists, rural women are accorded full and equal rights to own land and other property, including through the right to inheritance, and undertaking administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital, appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; (r) Supporting a gender-sensitive education system that considers the specific needs of rural women in order to eliminate gender stereotypes and discriminatory tendencies affecting them; 3. Invites the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to pay due attention to the situation of rural women in the consideration of its priority themes; 4. Requests the relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular those dealing with issues of development, to address and support the empowerment of rural women and their specific needs in their programmes and strategies; 5. Stresses the need to identify the best practices for ensuring that rural women have access to and full participation in the area of information and communications technology, to address the priorities and needs of rural women and girls as active users of information and to ensure their participation in developing and implementing global, regional and national information and communications technology strategies; 6. Encourages Member States, the United Nations and relevant organizations of its system to ensure that the needs of rural women are mainstreamed into the integrated process of follow-up to the major conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, in particular the Millennium Summit, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, which is to be held in Doha in the second half of 2008, the 2005 review and appraisal of the progress achieved in implementing all the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General AssemblyResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the 2005 World Summit; 7. Calls upon Member States to take into consideration the concluding comments and recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concerning their reports to the Committee when formulating policies and designing programmes focused on the improvement of the situation of rural women, including those to be developed and implemented in cooperation with relevant international organizations; 8. Decides to declare that 15 October of each year shall be officially proclaimed and observed as the International Day of Rural Women; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/137 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/433 (Part II), para. 43)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairman of the Committee. 62/137. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 61/145 of 19 December 2006, Deeply convinced that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. are important contributions to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women, and must be translated into effective action by all States, the United Nations system and other organizations concerned, Reaffirming the commitments to gender equality and the advancement of women made at the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. the 2005 World SummitSee resolution 60/1. and other major United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions, and reaffirming also that their full, effective and accelerated implementation are integral to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming progress made towards achieving gender equality, but stressing that challenges and obstacles remain in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, Recognizing that the responsibility for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session rests primarily at the national level and that strengthened efforts are necessary in this respect, and reiterating that enhanced international cooperation is essential for full, effective and accelerated implementation, Reaffirming that gender mainstreaming is a globally accepted strategy for promoting the empowerment of women and achieving gender equality by transforming structures of inequality, and reaffirming also the commitment to actively promote the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and social spheres, as well as the commitment to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations system in the area of gender equality, Bearing in mind the challenges and obstacles to changing discriminatory attitudes and gender stereotypes, and stressing that challenges and obstacles remain in the implementation of international standards and norms to address the inequality between men and women, Expressing serious concern that the urgent goal of 50/50 gender balance in the United Nations system, especially at senior and policymaking levels, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, remains unmet, and that the representation of women in the United Nations system has remained almost static, with negligible improvement in some parts of the system, and in some cases has even decreased, as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General on the improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system,A/61/318. Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, Reaffirming also the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDSResolution S-26/2, annex. and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted at the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, held from 31 May to 2 June 2006,Resolution 60/262, annex. which, inter alia, acknowledged the feminization of the pandemic, Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes of the United Nations system,E/2007/64. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the measures taken and progress achieved in follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;A/62/178. 2. Reaffirms the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the declaration adopted on the occasion of the ten-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. and also reaffirms its commitment to their full, effective and accelerated implementation; 3. Recognizes that the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the fulfilment of the obligations of States parties under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. are mutually reinforcing in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, and in this regard welcomes the contributions of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to promoting the implementation of the Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and invites States parties to the Convention to include information on measures taken to enhance implementation at the national level in their reports to the Committee under article 18 of the Convention; 4. Calls upon Governments, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, and all sectors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as all women and men, to fully commit themselves and to intensify their contributions to the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 5. Calls upon States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Optional Protocol theretoIbid., vol. 2131, No. 20378 and to take into consideration the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee, urges States parties to consider limiting the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible, and to regularly review such reservations with a view to withdrawing them so as to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, also urges all Member States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to consider doing so, and calls upon those Member States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 6. Encourages all actors, inter alia, Governments, the United Nations system, other international organizations and civil society, to continue to support the work of the Commission on the Status of Women in fulfilling its central role in the follow-up to and review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, and, as applicable, to carry out its recommendations, and welcomes in this regard the revised programme and methods of work of the Commission adopted at its fiftieth session,See Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/9. which give particular attention to the sharing of experiences, lessons learned and good practices in overcoming challenges to full implementation at the national and international levels as well as to the evaluation of progress in the implementation of priority themes; 7. Calls upon Governments, and the relevant funds and programmes, organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and invites the international financial institutions and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to intensify action to achieve the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, through, inter alia: (a) Sustained political will and commitment at the national, regional and international levels to take further action, inter alia, through the mainstreaming of gender perspectives, including through the development and use of gender equality indicators, as applicable, in all policies and programmes and the promotion of full and equal participation and empowerment of women, and enhanced international cooperation; (b) Promotion and protection of, and respect for, the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by women and girls, including through the full implementation by States of their obligations under all human rights instruments, especially the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; (c) Ensuring full representation and full and equal participation of women in political, social and economic decision-making as an essential condition for gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls as a critical factor in the eradication of poverty; (d) Involving women actively in environmental decision-making at all levels, integrating gender concerns and perspectives in policies and programmes for sustainable development, and strengthening or establishing mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels to assess the impact of development and environmental policies on women; (e) Providing technical assistance to women, particularly in developing countries, to ensure the continuing promotion of human resources development and the development of environmentally sound technologies and of women's entrepreneurship; (f) Respect for the rule of law, including legislation, and continued efforts to repeal laws and eradicate policies and practices that discriminate against women and girls, and to adopt laws and promote practices that protect their rights; (g) Strengthening the role of national institutional mechanisms for gender equality and the advancement of women, including through financial and other appropriate assistance, to increase their direct impact on women; (h) Undertaking socio-economic policies that promote sustainable development and ensure poverty eradication programmes, especially for women and girls, and strengthening the provision of and ensuring equal access to adequate, affordable and accessible public and social services, including education and training at all levels, as well as to all types of permanent and sustainable social protection/social security systems for women throughout their life cycle, and supporting national efforts in this regard; (i) Taking further steps to ensure that the education system and the media, to the extent consistent with freedom of expression, support the use of non-stereotypic, balanced and diverse images of women presenting them as key actors of the process of development as well as promoting non-discriminatory roles of women and men in their private and public life; (j) Incorporating gender perspectives and human rights in health-sector policies, programmes and research activities, paying attention to women's and girls' specific needs and priorities, ensuring women's right to the highest attainable standards of health and their access to affordable and adequate health-care services, including sexual, reproductive and maternal health care and lifesaving obstetric care, in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and recognizing that the lack of economic empowerment and independence has increased women's vulnerability to a range of negative consequences, involving the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other poverty-related diseases; (k) Eliminating gender inequalities, gender-based abuse and violence; increasing the capacity of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, principally through the provision of health care and services, including sexual and reproductive health, and the provision of full access to comprehensive information and education; ensuring that women can exercise their right to have control over, and decide freely and responsibly on, matters related to their sexuality in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection, including their sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence; and taking all necessary measures to create an enabling environment for the empowerment of women and to strengthen their economic independence, while, in this context, reiterating the importance of the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality; (l) Strengthening national health and social infrastructures to reinforce measures to promote women's access to public health and taking action at the national level to address shortages of human resources for health, by, inter alia, developing, financing and implementing policies, within national development strategies, to improve training and management and effectively govern the recruitment, retention and deployment of health workers, including through international cooperation in this area; (m) Adequate mobilization of resources at the national and international levels, as well as new and additional resources for the developing countries, including the least developed countries and countries with economies in transition, from all available funding mechanisms, including multilateral, bilateral and private sources; (n) Increased partnerships among Governments, civil society and the private sector; (o) Encouraging joint responsibility of men and boys with women and girls in the promotion of gender equality, based on the conviction that this is essential to the achievement of the goals of gender equality, development and peace; (p) Removing structural and legal barriers, as well as eliminating stereotypic attitudes, to gender equality at work, promoting equal pay for equal work, and promoting the recognition of the value of women's unremunerated work, as well as developing and promoting policies that facilitate the reconciliation of employment and family responsibilities; 8. Reaffirms that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent violence against women and girls, provide protection to the victims and investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and calls upon Governments to elaborate and implement laws and strategies to eliminate violence against women and girls; 9. Strongly encourages Governments to continue to support the role and contribution of civil society, in particular non-governmental organizations and women's organizations, in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session; 10. Resolves to intensify the efforts of its Main Committees and subsidiary bodies to fully mainstream a gender perspective in their work, including by paying more attention to issues related to the status of women under their consideration and within their mandates, as well as in all United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions and in their follow-up processes; 11. Requests that reports of the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies systematically address gender perspectives through qualitative gender analysis and, where available, quantitative data, in particular through concrete conclusions and recommendations for further action on gender equality and the advancement of women, in order to facilitate gender-sensitive policy development; 12. Urges Governments and all entities of the United Nations system, including United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, and all relevant actors of civil society, to ensure the integration of gender perspectives in the implementation of and follow-up to all United Nations summits, conferences and special sessions and to give attention to gender perspectives in preparation for such events, including the commemorative high-level plenary meeting devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of the special session of the General Assembly on children in 2007, the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the third session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, in Bali, Indonesia, in 2007, the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterey Consensus in Doha in 2008, and the Third High-level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra in 2008; 13. Reaffirms its call to include a gender perspective in the consideration of all issues in the agenda and activities of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council; 14. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to continue its efforts to ensure that gender mainstreaming is an integral part of its work and that of its subsidiary bodies, through, inter alia, implementation of its agreed conclusions 1997/2 of 18 July 1997See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4. and its resolution 2004/4 of 7 July 2004; 15. Welcomes the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2007 of the Economic and Social Council,See A/62/3 and Corr.1, chap. III, sect. C, para. 90. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 3. which, inter alia, reaffirmed that gender equality and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all are essential to eradicating poverty and hunger and that all countries should promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and, as called for, inter alia, in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, identify and accelerate actions towards that end; 16. Requests all bodies that deal with programme and budgetary matters, including the Committee for Programme and Coordination, to ensure that programmes, plans and budgets visibly mainstream gender perspectives; 17. Reaffirms the primary and essential role of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, as well as the central role of the Commission on the Status of Women, in promoting the advancement of women and gender equality; 18. Requests the Economic and Social Council to continue to encourage its functional commissions to mainstream a gender perspective in their respective follow-up actions to major United Nations conferences and summits and to develop more effective means to ensure the implementation of outcomes on gender equality at the national level; 19. Underlines the catalytic role played by the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as the important role played by the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly, in promoting and monitoring gender mainstreaming within the United Nations system; 20. Requests that entities of the United Nations system systematically incorporate the outcomes of the Commission on the Status of Women into their work within their mandates; 21. Reaffirms the commitment made at the 2005 World Summit to the full and effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000, while noting the seventh anniversary of its adoption and the open debates in the Council on women and peace and security; 22. Urges Governments and the United Nations system to take further steps to ensure the integration of a gender perspective and the full and equal participation of women in all efforts to promote peace and security, including in peace negotiations, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and post-conflict situations, as well as to increase their role in decision-making at all levels, including through the development of national action plans and strategies; 23. Calls upon all parts of the United Nations system to continue to play an active role in ensuring the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, through, inter alia, the work of the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and the Division for the Advancement of Women and the maintenance of gender specialists in all entities of the United Nations system, as well as by ensuring that all personnel, especially in the field, receive training and appropriate follow-up, including tools, guidance and support, for accelerated gender mainstreaming, and reaffirms the need to strengthen the capabilities of the United Nations system in the area of gender; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to review and redouble his efforts to make progress towards achieving the goal of 50/50 gender balance at all levels in the Secretariat and throughout the United Nations system, with full respect for the principle of equitable geographical distribution, in conformity with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, considering, in particular, women from developing and least developed countries, from countries with economies in transition and from unrepresented or largely underrepresented Member States, and to ensure managerial and departmental accountability with respect to gender balance targets, and strongly encourages Member States to identify and regularly submit more women candidates for appointment to positions in the United Nations system, especially at more senior and policymaking levels; 25. Encourages the subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly to incorporate gender-equality perspectives systematically in their discussions and outcomes, including through effective use of the analysis, data and recommendations contained in reports of the Secretary-General, and to follow up on the outcomes; 26. Requests that reports of the Secretary-General submitted to the General Assembly facilitate gender-sensitive policy development by more systematically including qualitative gender analysis, data and recommendations for further action; 27. Calls upon the United Nations system to continue its efforts towards achieving the goal of gender balance, including with the active support of gender focal points, and requests the Secretary-General to provide an oral report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its fifty-second session, to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Advancement of women", and to include in his report on human resources management information on the status of women in the United Nations system, including on progress made and obstacles encountered in achieving gender balance, recommendations for accelerating progress, and up-to-date statistics, including the number and percentage of women and their functions and nationalities throughout the United Nations system, and information on the responsibility and accountability of the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat and the secretariat of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for promoting gender balance; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report annually to the General Assembly under the item entitled "Advancement of women", as well as to the Commission on the Status of Women and the Economic and Social Council, on the follow-up to and progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session, with an assessment of progress in gender mainstreaming, including information on key achievements, lessons learned and good practices, and recommendations on further measures to enhance implementation. RESOLUTION 62/138 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/435, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 62/138. Supporting efforts to end obstetric fistula The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and the declaration adopted at the forty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. Reaffirming also the international commitments in the field of social development and to gender equality and the advancement of women made at the World Conference on Human Rights, the International Conference on Population and Development, the World Summit for Social Development and the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, as well as those made in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming further the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and urging States that have not done so to consider, as a matter of priority, signing, ratifying or acceding to these Conventions and the Optional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378; and ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. Stressing the interlinkages between poverty, malnutrition, lack of or inadequate or inaccessible health services, early childbearing, early marriage of the girl child, violence against young women and girls and gender discrimination as root causes of obstetric fistula, and that poverty remains the main social risk factor, Recognizing that the difficult socio-economic conditions that exist in many developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, have resulted in the acceleration of the feminization of poverty, Recognizing also that early pregnancy and early childbearing entail complications during pregnancy and delivery and a much higher risk of maternal mortality and morbidity, and deeply concerned that early childbearing and limited access to the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual and reproductive health, including in the area of emergency obstetric care, cause high levels of obstetric fistula and other maternal morbidities as well as maternal mortality, Recognizing further the serious immediate and long-term implications for health, including sexual and reproductive health, as well as increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and the negative impact on psychological, social and economic development, that violence against the girl child and adolescent girls represents for individuals, families, communities and States, Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access by girls to education, nutrition and physical and mental health and in enjoyment by girls of fewer of the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence compared with boys and their often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual and economic exploitation and to violence and harmful practices, Welcoming the contribution by Member States, the international community and civil society to the global Campaign to End Fistula, bearing in mind that a people-centred approach to social and economic development is fundamental to protecting and empowering individuals and communities, 1. Recognizes the interlinkages between poverty, malnutrition, lack of or inadequate or inaccessible health services, early childbearing, early marriage of the girl child and gender discrimination as root causes of obstetric fistula, that poverty remains the main social risk factor, that the eradication of poverty is critical to meeting the needs and protecting and promoting the rights of girls and that continued urgent national and international action is required to eliminate it; 2. Stresses the need to address the social issues that contribute to the problem of obstetric fistula, such as early marriage of the girl child, early pregnancy, lack of access to sexual and reproductive health, lack of or inadequate education of girls, poverty and low status of women and girls; 3. Also stresses that States have the obligation to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, that they must exercise due diligence in order to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and girls and to provide protection to the victims, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms; 4. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure the right of women and girls to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual and reproductive health, and develop sustainable health systems and social services, with a view to ensuring access to such systems and services without discrimination, while paying special attention to adequate food and nutrition, family planning information, increasing knowledge and awareness and securing appropriate prenatal and post-natal care for the prevention of obstetric fistula; 5. Also calls upon States to ensure that girls have equal access to free and compulsory primary education of good quality and that they complete their education at that level, and to renew their efforts to improve and expand girls' and women's education at all levels, including at secondary and higher levels, as well as vocational education and technical training, in order to, inter alia, achieve gender equality, the empowerment of women and poverty eradication; 6. Urges States to enact and strictly enforce laws to ensure that marriage is entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses and, in addition, to enact and strictly enforce laws concerning the minimum legal age of consent and the minimum age for marriage, and to raise the minimum age for marriage where necessary; 7. Calls upon States and/or the relevant funds and programmes, organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, and invites the international financial institutions and all relevant actors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and the private sector: (a) To develop, implement and support national and international prevention, care and treatment strategies, as appropriate, to address effectively the condition of obstetric fistula and to develop further a multisectoral, multidisciplinary, comprehensive and integrated approach in order to bring about lasting solutions and put an end to obstetric fistula, maternal mortality and related morbidities, including through ensuring access to affordable, comprehensive, quality maternal health-care services, including skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care; (b) To strengthen the capacity of health systems to provide the essential services needed to prevent obstetric fistula and to treat those cases that do occur by providing the continuum of services, including family planning, prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care and post-partum care, to young women and girls, including those living in poverty and in underserved rural areas where obstetric fistula is most common; (c) To redouble their efforts to meet the internationally agreed goal of improving maternal health by increasing access to skilled attendance at birth and emergency obstetric care, and appropriate prenatal and post-natal care; (d) To provide essential health services, equipment and supplies and skills training and income-generating projects to young women and girls so that they can break out of a cycle of poverty; (e) To mobilize funding to provide free or subsidized fistula repairs, including through encouraging more networking among providers and the sharing of new treatment techniques and protocols; (f) To provide health education, rehabilitation and counselling, including medical counselling, as key components of post-operative care; (g) To bring obstetric fistula to the attention of policymakers and communities, thereby reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with it and helping women and girls suffering from obstetric fistula so that they can overcome abandonment and social exclusion together with the psychosocial implications thereof, inter alia, through support of social reintegration projects; (h) To educate individual women and men, girls and boys, communities, policymakers and health professionals about how obstetric fistula can be prevented and treated and increase awareness of the needs of pregnant women and girls, including their right to the highest attainable standard of health, through working with community and religious leaders, traditional birth attendants, media, radio stations, influential public figures and policymakers, support the training of doctors, nurses and other health workers in lifesaving obstetric care, and include training on fistula repair, treatment and care as a standard element of health professionals' training curricula; (i) To develop means of transportation and financing that enable women and girls to access obstetric care and treatment, and provide incentives and other means to secure the presence in rural areas of qualified health professionals who are able to perform interventions to prevent obstetric fistula; 8. Calls upon the international community to support the activities of the United Nations Population Fund and other partners in the global Campaign to End Fistula, including the World Health Organization, in establishing and financing regional fistula treatment and training centres through identifying and supporting health facilities that have the potential to serve as centres for treatment, training and convalescent care; 9. Encourages communication and networking among existing fistula centres to facilitate training, research, advocacy and fund-raising and the development and application of relevant standards, including Obstetric Fistula: Guiding Principles for Clinical Management and Programme Development, published by the World Health Organization, which provides background information along with principles for developing fistula prevention and treatment strategies and programmes; 10. Urges the international community to address the shortages of doctors, nurses and other health workers trained in lifesaving obstetric care, and of space and supplies, which limit the capacity of most of the fistula centres; 11. Urges multilateral donors, and invites international financial institutions, within their respective mandates, and regional development banks to review and implement policies to support national efforts to ensure that a higher proportion of resources reaches young women and girls, in particular in rural and remote areas; 12. Invites Member States to contribute to efforts to end obstetric fistula, including, in particular, the United Nations Population Fund global Campaign to End Fistula, with the goal of eliminating obstetric fistula by 2015, in line with the targets of the millennium development goal of improving maternal health; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Advancement of women". RESOLUTION 62/139 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/435, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam and Yemen. 62/139. World Autism Awareness Day The General Assembly, Recalling the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. as well as the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, Recalling also the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,Resolution 61/106, annex I. according to which children with disabilities should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child's active participation in the community, as well as the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, Affirming that ensuring and promoting the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities is critical to achieving internationally agreed development goals, Aware that autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life and results from a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, mostly affecting children in many countries irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status, and characterized by impairments in social interaction, problems with verbal and non-verbal communication and restricted, repetitive behaviour, interests and activities,See International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision (subcategories F84.0 and F84.1), endorsed by the forty-third World Health Assembly in May 1990. Deeply concerned by the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent development challenges to long-term health care, education, training and intervention programmes undertaken by Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, as well as its tremendous impact on children, their families, communities and societies, Recalling that early diagnosis and appropriate research and interventions are vital to the growth and development of the individual, 1. Decides to designate 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2008; 2. Invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Autism Awareness Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of autism; 3. Encourages Member States to take measures to raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding children with autism; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States and United Nations organizations. RESOLUTION 62/13 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/381, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 62/13. Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/72 of 4 December 1998, 54/43 of 1 December 1999, 56/14 of 29 November 2001, 58/28 of 8 December 2003 and 60/44 of 8 December 2005 on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures, Also recalling its resolution 35/142 B of 12 December 1980, which introduced the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, and its resolutions 48/62 of 16 December 1993, 49/66 of 15 December 1994, 51/38 of 10 December 1996 and 52/32 of 9 December 1997, calling upon all Member States to participate in it, and its resolution 47/54 B of 9 December 1992, endorsing the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters and inviting Member States to provide the Secretary-General with relevant information regarding their implementation, Noting that since then, national reports on military expenditures and on the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters have been submitted by a number of Member States belonging to different geographical regions, Convinced that the improvement of international relations forms a sound basis for promoting further openness and transparency in all military matters, Also convinced that transparency in military matters is an essential element for building a climate of trust and confidence between States worldwide and that a better flow of objective information on military matters can help to relieve international tension and is therefore an important contribution to conflict prevention, Noting the role of the standardized reporting system, as instituted through its resolution 35/142 B, as an important instrument to enhance transparency in military matters, Conscious that the value of the standardized reporting system would be enhanced by a broader participation of Member States, Noting that the continuing operation of the standardized reporting system should be reviewed with a view to improving its further development and to broadening participation in it, Welcoming, therefore, the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/54/298. on ways and means to implement the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters, including, in particular, how to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, Recalling that the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters recommended certain areas for further consideration, such as the improvement of the standardized reporting system, Noting the efforts of several regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures, including standardized annual exchanges of relevant information among their member States, 1. Calls upon Member States to report annually, by 30 April, to the Secretary-General their military expenditures for the latest fiscal year for which data are available, using, preferably and to the extent possible, the reporting instrument as recommended in its resolution 35/142 B or, as appropriate, any other format developed in conjunction with similar reporting on military expenditures to other international or regional organizations, and, in the same context, encourages Member States to submit nil returns, if appropriate; 2. Recommends the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters to all Member States for implementation, fully taking into account specific political, military and other conditions prevailing in a region, on the basis of initiatives and with the agreement of the States of the region concerned; 3. Encourages relevant international bodies and regional organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to enhance complementarity among reporting systems, taking into account the particular characteristics of each region, and to consider the possibility of an exchange of information with the United Nations; 4. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures;A/58/202 and Add.1-3, A/59/192 and Add.1, A/60/159 and Add.1-3, A/61/133 and Add.1-3 and A/62/158 and Add.1 and 2. 5. Requests the Secretary-General, within available resources: (a) To continue the practice of sending an annual note verbale to Member States requesting the submission of data to the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures, together with the reporting format and related instructions, and to publish in a timely fashion in appropriate United Nations media the due date for transmitting data on military expenditures; (b) To circulate annually the reports on military expenditures as received from Member States; (c) To establish a group of governmental experts, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to review the operation and further development of the Standardized Instrument for Reporting Military Expenditures, commencing in 2010, taking into account the views expressed by Member States on the subject and the reports of the Secretary-General on objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures, and to transmit the report of the group of experts to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-sixth session; (d) To continue consultations with relevant international bodies, with a view to ascertaining requirements for adjusting the present instrument, with a view to encouraging wider participation, and to make recommendations, based on the outcome of those consultations and taking into account the views of Member States, on necessary changes to the content and structure of the standardized reporting system; (e) To encourage relevant international bodies and organizations to promote transparency of military expenditures and to consult with those bodies and organizations with emphasis on examining possibilities for enhancing complementarity among international and regional reporting systems and for exchanging related information between those bodies and the United Nations; (f) To encourage the United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament in Africa, in Asia and the Pacific, and in Latin America and the Caribbean to assist Member States in their regions in enhancing their knowledge of the standardized reporting system; (g) To promote international and regional/subregional symposiums and training seminars to explain the purpose of the standardized reporting system and to give relevant technical instructions; (h) To report on experiences gained during such symposiums and training seminars; 6. Encourages Member States: (a) To inform the Secretary-General about possible problems with the standardized reporting system and their reasons for not submitting the requested data; (b) To continue to provide the Secretary-General, in time for deliberation by the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, with their views and suggestions on ways and means to strengthen and broaden participation in the standardized reporting system, including necessary changes to its content and structure; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Objective information on military matters, including transparency of military expenditures". RESOLUTION 62/140 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/435, para. 32)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. 62/140. The girl child The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/141 of 16 December 2005 and all relevant resolutions, including the agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women, in particular those relevant to the girl child, Reaffirming the equal rights of women and men as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling all human rights and other instruments relevant to the rights of the child, in particular the girl child, including the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenIbid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. Welcoming the opening for signature of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,Resolution 61/106, annex I. particularly as it explicitly recognizes the specific situation of girls with disabilities, Reaffirming the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, as well as the commitments relevant to the girl child made at the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming also the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted at the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, entitled "Global Crisis - Global Action",Resolution S-26/2, annex. and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS of 2006,Resolution 60/262, annex. Reaffirming further all other relevant outcomes of major United Nations summits and conferences relevant to the girl child, as well as their five- and ten-year reviews, including the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development,Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. and the declaration adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session in 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. Reaffirming the Dakar Framework for Action, adopted at the World Education Forum in 2000,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). Welcoming the study on violence against children by the independent expert appointed by the Secretary-GeneralSee A/61/299 and A/62/209. and the in-depth study of the Secretary-General on all forms of violence against women,A/61/122 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. and taking note of the recommendations contained therein, Recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and recognizing also that chronic poverty remains the single biggest obstacle to meeting the needs of and promoting and protecting the rights of children and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate it, Recognizing also that girl children are often at greater risk of being exposed to and encountering various forms of discrimination and violence, and reaffirming the need to achieve gender equality to ensure a just and equitable world for girls, including through partnering with men and boys, as an important strategy for advancing the rights of the girl child, Recognizing further that the empowerment of girls is key in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and in promoting and protecting the full and effective enjoyment of their human rights, and further recognizing that empowering girls requires the active support and engagement of their parents, legal guardians, families, boys and men, as well as the wider community, Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access for girls to education, nutrition and physical and mental health care, in girls enjoying fewer of the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence than boys, and in leaving them more vulnerable than boys to the consequences of unprotected and premature sexual relations and often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual and economic exploitation and to violence, abuse, rape, incest, honour-related crimes and harmful traditional practices, such as female infanticide, early marriage, forced marriage, prenatal sex selection and female genital mutilation, Deeply concerned also that female genital mutilation is an irreparable, irreversible harmful practice that affects more than 130 million women and girls alive today, and that each year a further 2 million girls are at risk of undergoing the harmful procedure, Deeply concerned further that, in situations of poverty, war and armed conflict, girl children are among those most affected and furthermore become the victims of sexual violence, abuse and exploitation and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, which have a serious impact on the quality of their lives and leave them open to further discrimination, violence and neglect, thus limiting their potential for full development, Emphasizing that increased access to education, including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, for young people, especially girls, dramatically lowers their vulnerability to preventable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS infection and sexually transmitted diseases, Concerned by the increasing number of child-headed households, in particular those headed by orphan girls, including those orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Deeply concerned that early childbearing and limited access to sexual and reproductive health care, including in the area of emergency obstetric care, causes high levels of obstetric fistula and maternal mortality and morbidity, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and can be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and limitation or denial of their human rights, Welcoming the holding of the commemorative high-level plenary meeting devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of the special session on children on 11 and 12 December 2007, 1. Stresses the need for full and urgent implementation of the rights of the girl child as provided to her under human rights instruments, and urges States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenIbid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. as a matter of priority; 2. Urges States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2131, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child;Ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. 3. Calls upon States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesResolution 61/106, annex I. and the Optional Protocol thereto;Resolution 61/106, annex II. 4. Urges all States that have not yet signed and ratified or acceded to the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182), of the International Labour Organization to consider doing so; 5. Urges all Governments and the United Nations system to strengthen efforts bilaterally and with international organizations and private sector donors in order to achieve the goals of the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). in particular that of eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, which have not been fully met, and to implement the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative as a means of reaching this goal, and calls for the implementation of and reaffirms the commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. particularly those related to education; 6. Calls upon States and the international community to recognize the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination by making primary education compulsory and available free to all children, ensuring that all children have access to education of good quality, as well as making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular through the progressive introduction of free education, bearing in mind that special measures to ensure equal access, including affirmative action, contribute to achieving equal opportunity and combating exclusion, and ensuring school attendance, in particular for girls and children from low-income families; 7. Calls upon all States to take measures to address the obstacles that continue to affect the achievement of the goals set forth in the Beijing Platform for Action,Ibid., annex II. as contained in paragraph 33 of the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Resolution S-23/3, annex. where appropriate, including the strengthening of national mechanisms to implement policies and programmes for the girl child and, in some cases, to enhance coordination among responsible institutions for the realization of the human rights of girls, as indicated in the further actions and initiatives; 8. Stresses the importance of a substantive assessment of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action with a life-cycle perspective so as to identify gaps and obstacles in the implementation process and to develop further actions for the achievement of the goals of the Platform for Action; 9. Calls upon all States and international and non-governmental organizations, individually and collectively, to implement further the Beijing Platform for Action, in particular the strategic objectives relating to the girl child, and the further actions and initiatives, and to mobilize all necessary resources and support in order to achieve the goals and strategic objectives and actions set out in the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for Action; 10. Urges States to improve the situation of girl children living in poverty, deprived of nutrition, water and sanitation facilities, with no access to basic health-care services, shelter, education, participation and protection, taking into account that, while a severe lack of goods and services hurts every human being, it is most threatening and harmful to the girl child, leaving her unable to enjoy her rights, to reach her full potential and to participate as a full member of society; 11. Also urges States to ensure that the applicable requirements of the International Labour Organization for the employment of girls and boys are respected and effectively enforced and that girls who are employed have equal access to decent work, and equal payment and remuneration, are protected from economic exploitation, discrimination, sexual harassment, violence and abuse in the workplace, are aware of their rights and have access to formal and non-formal education, skills development and vocational training, and further urges States to develop gender-sensitive measures, including national action plans where appropriate, to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including commercial sexual exploitation, slavery-like practices, forced and bonded labour, trafficking and hazardous forms of child labour; 12. Urges all States to promote gender equality and equal access to basic social services, such as education, nutrition, health care, including sexual and reproductive health, vaccinations and protection from diseases representing the major causes of mortality, and to mainstream a gender perspective in all development policies and programmes, including those relating to children as well as those specific to the girl child; 13. Also urges all States to enact and enforce legislation to protect girls from all forms of violence and exploitation, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, female genital mutilation, rape, domestic violence, incest, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child prostitution and child pornography, trafficking and forced migration, forced labour and early and forced marriage, and to develop age-appropriate safe and confidential programmes and medical, social and psychological support services to assist girls who are subjected to violence and discrimination; 14. Urges States to formulate comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, which should be widely disseminated and should provide targets and timetables for implementation, as well as effective domestic enforcement procedures through the establishment of monitoring mechanisms involving all parties concerned, including consultations with women's organizations, giving attention to the recommendations relating to the girl child of the Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council on violence against women, its causes and consequences and on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, of the Secretary-General in his in-depth study on all forms of violence against womenA/61/122 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. and of the independent expert in his study on violence against children;See A/61/299 and A/62/209. 15. Also urges States to ensure that the right of children to express themselves and participate in all matters affecting them, in accordance with their age and maturity, is fully and equally enjoyed by girls; 16. Further urges States to involve girls, including girls with special needs, and their representative organizations, in decision-making processes, as appropriate, and to include them as full and active partners in identifying their own needs and in developing, planning, implementing and assessing policies and programmes to meet those needs; 17. Recognizes that a considerable number of girl children are particularly vulnerable, including orphans, children living on the street, internally displaced and refugee children, children affected by trafficking and sexual and economic exploitation, children living with HIV and AIDS, and children who are incarcerated who live without parental support, and therefore urges States, with the support of the international community, where relevant, to take appropriate measures to address the needs of such children by implementing national policies and strategies to build and strengthen governmental, community and family capacities to provide a supportive environment for such children, including by providing appropriate counselling and psychosocial support, and ensuring their enrolment in school and access to shelter, good nutrition and health and social services on an equal basis with other children; 18. Encourages States to promote actions, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance, for the social reintegration of children in difficult situations, in particular girls, considering, inter alia, views, skills and capacities that those children have developed in the conditions in which they lived and, where appropriate, with their meaningful participation; 19. Urges all States and the international community to respect, promote and protect the rights of the girl child, taking into account the particular vulnerabilities of the girl child in pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict situations, and further urges States to take special measures for the protection of girls, in particular to protect them from sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, including rape, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, torture, abduction and forced labour, paying special attention to refugee and displaced girls, and to take into account their special needs in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation assistance and reintegration processes; 20. Deplores all cases of sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children, especially girls, in humanitarian crises, including those cases involving humanitarian workers and peacekeepers, and urges States to take effective measures to address gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies and to make all possible efforts to ensure that their laws and institutions are adequate to prevent, promptly investigate and prosecute acts of gender-based violence; 21. Deplores further all acts of sexual exploitation, abuse of and trafficking in women and children by military, police and civilian personnel involved in United Nations operations, welcomes the efforts undertaken by United Nations agencies and peacekeeping operations to implement a zero-tolerance policy in this regard, and requests the Secretary-General and personnel-contributing countries to continue to take all appropriate action necessary to combat these abuses by such personnel, including through the full implementation without delay of those measures adopted in the relevant General Assembly resolutions based on recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/59/19/Rev.1). 22. Calls upon Governments, civil society, including the media, and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights education and full respect for and the enjoyment of the human rights of the girl child, inter alia, through the translation, production and dissemination of age-appropriate and gender-sensitive information material on those rights to all sectors of society, in particular to children; 23. Requests the Secretary-General, as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to ensure that all organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, individually and collectively, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Labour Organization, take into account the rights and the particular needs of the girl child in country programmes of cooperation in accordance with national priorities, including through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework; 24. Requests all human rights treaty bodies and the human rights mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, including the special procedures, to adopt regularly and systematically a gender perspective in the implementation of their mandates and to include in their reports information on the qualitative analysis of violations of the human rights of women and girls, and encourages the strengthening of cooperation and coordination in that regard; 25. Requests States to ensure that, in all policies and programmes designed to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support, particular attention and support is given to the girl child at risk, infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, including pregnant girls and young and adolescent mothers, as part of the global effort to scale up significantly towards achieving the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010; 26. Invites States to promote initiatives aimed at reducing the prices of antiretroviral drugs, especially second-line drugs, available to the girl child, including bilateral and private sector initiatives as well as initiatives on a voluntary basis taken by groups of States, including those based on innovative financing mechanisms that contribute to the mobilization of resources for social development, including those that aim to provide further access to drugs at affordable prices to developing countries on a sustainable and predictable basis, and in this regard takes note of the International Drug Purchase Facility, UNITAID; 27. Calls upon all States to integrate food and nutritional support with the goal that children, especially girl children, have access at all times to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, for an active and healthy life, as part of a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases; 28. Urges States and the international community to increase resources at all levels, particularly in the education and health sectors, to enable young people, especially girls, to gain the knowledge, attitudes and skills that they need to prevent HIV/AIDS and early pregnancy and to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health; 29. Urges States, the international community, the relevant United Nations entities, civil society and international financial institutions to continue to actively support, through the allocation of increased financial resources, targeted innovative programmes that address ending female genital mutilation and developing and providing education programmes and sensitization workshops on the dire consequences of this harmful practice for the health of the girl and to provide for those who perform the harmful procedure training programmes so that they may adopt an alternative profession; 30. Calls upon States to strengthen the capacity of national health systems, and in this regard calls upon the international community to assist national efforts, including by allocation of adequate resources in order to provide essential services needed to prevent obstetric fistula and to treat those cases that occur by providing the continuum of services, including family planning, prenatal and post-natal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care and post-partum care, to adolescent girls, including those living in poverty and in underserved rural areas where obstetric fistula is most common; 31. Calls upon States and the international community to create an environment in which the well-being of the child is ensured, inter alia, by cooperating, supporting and participating in global efforts for poverty eradication at the global, regional and country levels, recognizing that strengthened availability and effective allocation of resources are required at all levels, in order to ensure that all the internationally agreed development and poverty eradication goals, including those set out in the Millennium Declaration, are realized within their time framework, and reaffirming that investments in children and the realization of their rights are among the most effective ways to eradicate poverty; 32. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution, including an emphasis on ending female genital mutilation, using information provided by Member States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, with a view to assessing the impact of the present resolution on the well-being of the girl child. RESOLUTION 62/141 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/435, para. 32),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 183 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 62/141. Rights of the child The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the rights of the child, the most recent of which is resolution 61/146 of 19 December 2006, and its resolution 60/141 of 16 December 2005, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/44 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Emphasizing that the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. must constitute the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, and bearing in mind the importance of the Optional Protocols to the Convention,Ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. as well as other human rights instruments, Reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. and recalling the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Dakar Framework for Action adopted at the World Education Forum,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Final Report of the World Education Forum, Dakar, Senegal, 26-28 April 2000 (Paris, 2000). the Declaration on Social Progress and Development,See resolution 2542 (XXIV). the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and MalnutritionReport of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. and the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. Recognizing the importance of the integration of child rights issues into the follow-up of the outcome documents of all major United Nations conferences, special sessions and summits, Taking note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on progress made towards achieving the commitments set out in the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General AssemblyA/62/259. and on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the issues raised in Assembly resolution 61/146,A/62/182. as well as the report of the Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Third Committee, 14th meeting (A/C.3/62/SR.14), and corrigendum. Recognizing the importance of incorporating a child-protection perspective across the human rights agenda, as highlighted in the outcome of the 2005 World Summit,See resolution 60/1, para. 128. Taking note with appreciation of the attention paid to children in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesResolution 61/106, annex I. and in the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,Resolution 61/177, annex. Noting with appreciation the attention paid to children in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,Resolution 61/295, annex. Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical, in an increasingly globalized environment, as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions, pandemics, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, environmental damage, natural disasters, armed conflict, foreign occupation, displacement, violence, terrorism, abuse, exploitation, trafficking in children and their organs, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism, neglect, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, gender inequality, disability and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Reiterating that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and recognizing that chronic poverty remains the single biggest obstacle to meeting the needs of and promoting and protecting the rights of children, and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate it, Reaffirming that democracy, development, peace and security, and the full and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty, Reaffirming also the need for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies and programmes relating to children, and recognizing the child as a rights holder in all policies and programmes relating to children, Welcoming the holding of a commemorative high-level plenary meeting on 11 and 12 December 2007 to evaluate progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and the Plan of Action contained in the document entitled "A world fit for children", recalling that particular attention must be paid to the protection and the rights of children living in poverty, and encouraging the inclusion of children and young people in delegations of Member States, I Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocols thereto 1. Reaffirms that the general principles of, inter alia, the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, participation and survival and development provide the framework for all actions concerning children, including adolescents; 2. Urges States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocols theretoIbid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. as a matter of priority and to implement them fully by, inter alia, putting in place effective national legislation, policies and action plans, strengthening relevant governmental structures for children and ensuring adequate and systematic training in the rights of the child for all those working with and for children, as well as ensuring child rights education for children themselves; 3. Urges States parties to withdraw reservations that are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention or the Optional Protocols thereto and to consider reviewing regularly other reservations with a view to withdrawing them in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action;A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 4. Calls upon States to establish or strengthen national bodies, such as independent ombudspersons for children, where appropriate, or other institutions for the promotion and protection of the rights of the child; 5. Welcomes the work of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and calls upon all States to strengthen their cooperation with the Committee, to comply in a timely manner with their reporting obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocols thereto, in accordance with the guidelines elaborated by the Committee, and to take into account its recommendations on implementation of the Convention; 6. Takes note with appreciation of the initiatives undertaken by the Committee aimed at promoting a better understanding of and fuller compliance with the rights enshrined in the Convention, namely, through the organization of days of general discussion and the adoption of general comments; 7. Requests all relevant organs and mechanisms of the United Nations system regularly and systematically to incorporate a strong child rights perspective throughout all activities in the fulfilment of their mandates, as well as to ensure that their staff are trained in child rights matters, and calls upon States to continue to cooperate closely with all those organs and mechanisms, in particular the special rapporteurs and special representatives of the United Nations system; 8. Encourages States to strengthen their national statistical capacities and to use statistics disaggregated, inter alia, by age, gender and other relevant factors that may lead to disparities and other statistical indicators at the national, subregional, regional and international levels to develop and assess social policies and programmes so that economic and social resources are used efficiently and effectively for the full realization of the rights of the child; II Promotion and protection of the rights of the child and non-discrimination against children Non-discrimination 9. Calls upon all States to ensure the enjoyment by children of all their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights without discrimination of any kind; 10. Notes with concern the large number of children who are victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, stresses the need to incorporate special measures, in accordance with the principles of, inter alia, non-discrimination, the best interests of the child, survival and development and respect for his or her views, in programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and calls upon States to provide special support and ensure equal access to services for all children; 11. Calls upon States to take all necessary and effective measures, including legal reforms where appropriate, to eliminate all forms of discrimination against girls and all forms of violence, including female infanticide and prenatal sex selection, rape, sexual abuse and harmful traditional or customary practices, including female genital mutilation, early marriage, marriage without the free and full consent of the intending spouses and forced sterilization, by enacting and enforcing legislation and, where appropriate, by formulating comprehensive, multidisciplinary and coordinated national plans, programmes or strategies to protect girls; 12. Also calls upon States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by children with disabilities in both the public and the private spheres, including access to good quality education and health care and protection from violence, abuse and neglect, and to develop and, where it already exists, to enforce legislation to prohibit discrimination against them in order to ensure their inherent dignity, promote their self-reliance and facilitate their active participation and integration in the community, taking into account the particularly difficult situation of children with disabilities living in poverty; 13. Urges all States to respect and promote the right of girls and boys to express themselves freely, to ensure that their views are given due weight, in accordance with their age and maturity, in all matters affecting them and to involve children, including children with special needs, in decision-making processes, taking into account the evolving capacities of children and the importance of involving children's organizations and child-led initiatives; 14. Also urges all States in particular to strengthen the participation of children and adolescents in planning and implementation relating to matters that affect them, such as health, environment, education, social and economic welfare and protection against violence, abuse and exploitation; Registration, family relations and adoption or other forms of alternative care 15. Once again urges all States parties to intensify their efforts to comply with their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. to preserve the child's identity, including nationality, name and family relations, as recognized by law, to allow for the registration of the child immediately after birth, to ensure that registration procedures are simple, expeditious and effective and provided at minimal or no cost and to raise awareness of the importance of birth registration at the national, regional and local levels; 16. Encourages States to adopt and enforce laws and improve the implementation of policies and programmes to protect children growing up without parents or caregivers, recognizing that, where alternative care is necessary, family-and community-based care should be promoted over placement in institutions, and in this context welcomes the ongoing process aimed at elaborating a set of United Nations guidelines for the appropriate use and conditions of alternative care for children, which are aimed at enhancing the implementation of the Convention and of other relevant legal international human rights instruments, regarding the protection and well-being of children who are in need of alternative care or who are at risk of becoming so; 17. Calls upon States to guarantee, to the extent consistent with the obligations of each State, the right of a child whose parents reside in different States to maintain, on a regular basis, save in exceptional circumstances, personal relations and direct contact with both parents by providing enforceable means of access and visitation in both States and by respecting the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of their children; 18. Also calls upon States to address and pay particular attention to cases of international parental or familial child abduction, and encourages States to engage in multilateral and bilateral cooperation to resolve these cases, preferably by accession to or ratification of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1343, No. 22514. and therefore to be in full compliance with the Convention, and to facilitate, inter alia, the return of the child to the country in which he or she resided immediately before the removal or retention; 19. Further calls upon States to take all necessary measures to prevent and combat illegal adoptions and all adoptions that are not in the best interests of the child; Economic and social well-being of children 20. Calls upon States and the international community to create an environment in which the well-being of the child is ensured, including by strengthening international cooperation in this field; Eradication of poverty 21. Calls upon States to cooperate, support and participate in the global efforts for poverty eradication at the global, regional and country levels, recognizing that strengthened availability and effective allocation of resources are required at all these levels, in order to ensure that all the internationally agreed development and poverty eradication goals, including those set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. are realized within their time framework, and reaffirms that investments in children and the realization of their rights are among the most effective ways to eradicate poverty; 22. Reaffirms that the primary responsibility for ensuring an enabling environment for securing the well-being of children, in which the rights of each and every child are promoted and respected, rests with each individual State; 23. Calls upon all States and the international community to mobilize all necessary resources, support and efforts to eradicate poverty, according to national plans and strategies and in consultation with national Governments, including through an integrated and multifaceted approach based on the rights and well-being of children, and to continue their efforts to realize the internationally agreed development and poverty eradication goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; Right to education 24. Recognizes the right to education on the basis of equal opportunity and non-discrimination by making primary education compulsory and available free to all children, ensuring that all children have access to education of good quality, as well as making secondary education generally available and accessible to all, in particular through the progressive introduction of free education, bearing in mind that special measures to ensure equal access, including affirmative action, contribute to achieving equal opportunity and combating exclusion, and ensuring school attendance, in particular for girls and children from low-income families in order to achieve the objectives of Education for All, with the aim of realizing millennium development goal 2; 25. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education,A/HRC/4/29 and Add.1-3. which is devoted to the right to inclusive education of persons with disabilities, and in this context calls upon States to consider carefully the recommendations contained therein, namely, to take steps towards ensuring an effective inclusive education system; Right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health 26. Calls upon States: (a) To take all necessary measures to ensure the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to develop sustainable health systems and social services, ensuring access to such systems and services without discrimination, paying special attention to adequate food and nutrition and combating disease and malnutrition, to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, to the special needs of male and female adolescents and to reproductive and sexual health, and securing appropriate prenatal and post-natal care for mothers, including measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and in this context to realize millennium development goals 4, 5 and 6; (b) To assign priority to developing and implementing activities and programmes aimed at treating and preventing addictions, in particular addiction to alcohol and tobacco, and the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and inhalants; (c) To support adolescents to be able to deal positively and responsibly with their sexuality in order to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS infection and to implement measures to increase their capacity to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS through, inter alia, the provision of health care, including for sexual and reproductive health, and through preventive education that promotes gender equality; (d) To develop and implement strategies, policies and programmes that identify and address those factors that make individuals particularly vulnerable to HIV infection in order to complement prevention programmes that address activities that place individuals at risk for HIV infection, such as risky and unsafe behaviour and injecting drug use; (e) To promote initiatives aimed at reducing the prices of antiretroviral drugs, especially second-line drugs, available to boys and girls, including bilateral and private sector initiatives, as well as initiatives on a voluntary basis taken by groups of States, including those based on innovative financing mechanisms that contribute to the mobilization of resources for social development, especially those that aim to provide further access to drugs at affordable prices to children in developing countries on a sustainable and predictable basis, and in this regard takes note of the International Drug Purchase Facility, UNITAID; (f) To design and implement programmes to provide social services and support to pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers, in particular by enabling them and also the adolescent fathers to continue and complete their education; Right to food 27. Calls upon all States to take immediate steps to eliminate child hunger, including through the adoption or strengthening of national programmes to address food security and adequate livelihoods, as well as nutritional security, especially regarding vitamin A, iron and iodine deficiencies, the promotion of breastfeeding, as well as programmes (for example, for school meals) that should ensure adequate nutrition for all children; Promoting and protecting the rights of children, including children in particularly difficult situations 28. Calls upon all States to prevent violations of the rights of children working and/or living on the street, including discrimination, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions, torture and all kinds of violence and exploitation, and to bring the perpetrators to justice, to adopt and implement policies for the protection, social and psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration of those children and to adopt economic, social and educational strategies to address the problems of children working and/or living on the street; 29. Also calls upon all States to protect refugee, asylum-seeking and internally displaced children, taking into account their gender-specific needs, in particular those who are unaccompanied, who are particularly exposed to violence and risks in connection with armed conflict, such as recruitment, sexual violence and exploitation, stressing the need for States as well as the international community to continue to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to the special assistance, protection and development needs of those children through, inter alia, programmes aimed at rehabilitation and physical and psychological recovery, and to programmes for voluntary repatriation and, where appropriate and feasible, local integration and resettlement, to give priority to family tracing and family reunification and, where appropriate, to cooperate with international humanitarian and refugee organizations, including by facilitating their work; 30. Further calls upon all States to ensure, for children belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups, including migrant children and indigenous children, the enjoyment of all human rights as well as access to health care, social services and education on an equal basis with others and to ensure that all such children, in particular victims of violence and exploitation, receive special protection and assistance; 31. Calls upon all States to address, as a matter of priority, the vulnerabilities faced by children affected by and living with HIV, by providing support and rehabilitation to those children and their families, women and the elderly, particularly in their role as caregivers, promoting child-oriented HIV/AIDS policies and programmes and increased protection for children orphaned and affected by HIV/AIDS, ensuring access to treatment and intensifying efforts to develop new treatments for children, and building, where needed, and supporting the social security systems that protect them; 32. Also calls upon all States to protect, in law and in practice, the inheritance and property rights of orphans, with particular attention to underlying gender-based discrimination, which may interfere with the fulfilment of these rights; 33. Encourages States to promote actions, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance, for the social reintegration of children in difficult situations, considering, inter alia, views, skills and capacities that those children have developed in the conditions in which they lived and, where appropriate, with their meaningful participation; Child labour 34. Calls upon all States to translate into concrete action their commitment to the progressive and effective elimination of child labour that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development, to eliminate immediately the worst forms of child labour, to promote education as a key strategy in this regard, including the creation of vocational training and apprenticeship programmes and the integration of working children into the formal education system, and to examine and devise economic policies, where necessary, in cooperation with the international community, that address factors contributing to these forms of child labour; 35. Urges all States that have not yet signed and ratified or acceded to the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (Convention No. 138) and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (Convention No. 182) of the International Labour Organization to consider doing so; Children alleged to have infringed or recognized as having infringed penal law 36. Calls upon all States, in particular those States in which the death penalty has not been abolished: (a) To abolish by law, as soon as possible, the death penalty and life imprisonment without possibility of release for those under the age of 18 years at the time of the commission of the offence; (b) To comply with their obligations as assumed under relevant provisions of international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. (c) To keep in mind the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty and the guarantees set out in United Nations safeguards adopted by the Economic and Social Council; 37. Also calls upon all States to ensure that no child in detention is sentenced to forced labour or any form of cruel or degrading punishment, or deprived of access to and provision of health-care services, hygiene and environmental sanitation, education, basic instruction and vocational training; Prevention and eradication of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography 38. Calls upon all States: (a) To criminalize and penalize effectively all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, including all acts of paedophilia, including within the family or for commercial purposes, child pornography and child prostitution, child sex tourism, trafficking in children, the sale of children and the use of the Internet and other information and communications technologies for these purposes, and to take effective measures against the criminalization of children who are victims of exploitation; (b) To ensure the prosecution and punishment of offenders, whether local or foreign, by the competent national authorities, either in the country in which the crime was committed, in the country of which the offender is a national or resident, in the country of which the victim is a national, or on any other basis permitted under domestic law, and for these purposes to afford one another the greatest measure of assistance and the necessary collaboration for prevention, detection, investigations or criminal or extradition proceedings; (c) To criminalize and penalize effectively the sale of children, including for the purposes of transfer of organs of the child for profit, to increase cooperation at all levels to prevent and dismantle networks trafficking in or selling children and their organs and, for those States that have not yet done so, to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2237, No. 39574. (d) To give due consideration to the recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights aspects of the victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in her last report,A/HRC/4/23 and Corr.1 and Add.1 and 2 and Add.2/Corr.1. which was devoted to the subject of forced marriage in the context of trafficking in persons; (e) In cases of trafficking in children, the sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography and child sex tourism, to address effectively the needs of victims, including their safety, legal assistance and protection, physical and psychological recovery and full reintegration into society, paying particular attention to their gender-specific needs, including through bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation and financial assistance; (f) To combat the existence of a market that encourages such criminal practices against children, including through the adoption, effective application and enforcement of preventive, rehabilitative and punitive measures targeting customers or individuals who sexually exploit or sexually abuse children, as well as by ensuring public awareness; (g) To give priority to the identification of norms and standards on the responsibilities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises, particularly those involved in information and communications technologies, related to respect for the rights of children, including the right to be protected from sexual abuse and exploitation, particularly in the virtual realm, as prohibited by the relevant legal instruments, and to outline basic measures to be taken for implementation; (h) To mobilize public awareness, involving families and communities, with the participation of children, concerning the protection of children against all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse; (i) To contribute to the prevention and elimination of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography by adopting a holistic approach, addressing the contributing factors, including underdevelopment, poverty, economic disparities, inequitable socio-economic structures, dysfunctional families, lack of education, urban-rural migration, gender discrimination, criminal or irresponsible adult sexual behaviour, child sex tourism, organized crime, harmful traditional practices, armed conflicts and trafficking in children; (j) To take measures to eliminate the demand that fosters all forms of exploitation that leads to trafficking, including sexual exploitation and the sex tourism demand; Children affected by armed conflict 39. Strongly condemns any recruitment or use of children in armed conflict contrary to international law, as well as other violations and abuses committed against children affected by armed conflict, and urges all States and other parties to armed conflict that are engaged in such practices to end them; 40. Recalls, in accordance with international humanitarian law, that indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including children, are prohibited and that they shall not be the object of attack, including by way of reprisal or excessive use of force, condemns these practices, and demands that all parties immediately put an end to them; 41. Calls upon States: (a) When ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2173, No. 27531. to raise the minimum age for voluntary recruitment of persons into the national armed forces from that set out in article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention, bearing in mind that under the Convention persons under 18 years of age are entitled to special protection, and to adopt safeguards to ensure that such recruitment is not forced or coerced; (b) To take all feasible measures to ensure the demobilization and effective disarmament of children used in armed conflicts and to implement effective measures for their rehabilitation, physical and psychological recovery and reintegration into society, in particular through educational measures, taking into account the rights and the specific needs and capacities of girls; (c) To ensure timely and adequate funding for rehabilitation and reintegration efforts for all children associated with armed forces and groups, particularly in support of national initiatives, to secure the long-term sustainability of such efforts; (d) To encourage the involvement of young people in activities concerning the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including programmes for reconciliation, peace consolidation, peacebuilding and children-to-children networks; (e) To protect children affected by armed conflict, in particular from violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to ensure that they receive timely, effective humanitarian assistance, in accordance with international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949,Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and calls upon the international community to hold those responsible for violations accountable, inter alia, through the International Criminal Court; (f) To take all feasible measures, in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights law, as a matter of priority, to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, as distinct from the armed forces of a State, including the adoption of policies that do not tolerate the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, and legal measures necessary to prohibit and criminalize such practices; 42. Takes note of the updating of the Cape Town Principles on child soldiers,See E/CN.4/1998/NGO/2. which led to the Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups (the Paris Principles),Available from www.unicef.org. encourages Member States to consider using the Principles and Guidelines to inform their work in protecting children from the effects of armed conflicts, and requests the relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, and invites civil society to assist Member States in this field; 43. Reaffirms the essential roles of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Council for the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children, including children affected by armed conflict, and notes the increasing role played by the Security Council in ensuring protection for children affected by armed conflict; 44. Notes with appreciation the steps taken regarding Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 and the efforts of the Secretary-General to implement the monitoring and reporting mechanism on children and armed conflict in accordance with that resolution, with the participation of and in cooperation with national Governments and relevant United Nations and civil society actors, including at the country level, as well as the work carried out by United Nations child protection advisers in peacekeeping operations; 45. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, recognizes the progress achieved since the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative, takes note of part one of her report to the General Assembly,A/62/228. and looks forward to the continuation of her work and activities in the future with due respect to resolution 60/231 of 23 December 2005; 46. Takes note of part two of the report of the Special Representative,A/62/228. on the strategic review of the 1996 study by Ms. Graça Machel entitled "Impact of armed conflict on children",See A/51/306 and Add.1. and of the significant developments and achievements in the protection of children in armed conflict at the national and international levels, calls upon Member States and observers, and invites relevant entities of the United Nations system as well as civil society, as appropriate, to carefully study its recommendations, recognizes the need for discussion on the issues raised therein, and stresses the need for the views of Member States to be fully taken into account in this regard; III Elimination of violence against children 47. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the independent expert for the United Nations study on violence against children,See A/62/209. and notes the very positive response to the study from Member States and the progress made in translating and disseminating widely the study, the complementary World Report on Violence against Children, prepared by the independent expert, and the innovative child-friendly version of the report and educational materials; 48. Encourages all States and requests United Nations entities, regional organizations and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue to widely disseminate and follow up on the study; 49. Urges all States to exercise leadership to end all forms of violence against children and support advocacy in this regard at all levels, including at the local, national, regional and international levels, and by all sectors, especially by political, community and religious leaders, as well as the public and private sectors, the media and civil society; 50. Requests the relevant organizations of the United Nations system, in particular the organizations that are members of the Inter-Agency Group on Violence against Children, to continue to explore ways and means, within their respective mandates, by which they can contribute more effectively to addressing the need to prevent and to respond to all forms of violence against children; 51. Invites all relevant international and regional human rights mechanisms, as appropriate, including relevant treaty bodies, in particular the Committee on the Rights of the Child and special procedures, to consider how to use most effectively their respective mandates to contribute to the elimination of violence against children; 52. Condemns all forms of violence against children, including physical, mental, psychological and sexual violence, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, child abuse and exploitation, hostage-taking, domestic violence, trafficking in or sale of children and their organs, paedophilia, child prostitution, child pornography, child sex tourism, gang-related violence, bullying and harmful traditional practices, and urges States to strengthen efforts to prevent and protect children from all such violence through a comprehensive approach and to develop a multifaceted and systematic framework, which is integrated into national planning processes, to respond to violence against children; 53. Also condemns all kinds of abduction of children, in particular extortive abduction and abduction of children in situations of armed conflict, including for the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts, and urges States to take all appropriate measures to secure their unconditional release, rehabilitation, reintegration and reunification with their families; 54. Urges all States to strengthen international cooperation and mutual assistance to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence and to end impunity for crimes against children; 55. Recognizes the contribution of the International Criminal Court in ending impunity for the most serious crimes against children, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, and calls upon States not to grant amnesties for such crimes; 56. Acknowledges the contributions of the international criminal tribunals and special courts in ending impunity for the most serious crimes against children, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; 57. Urges all States: (a) To take effective and appropriate legislative and other measures or, where they exist, strengthen legislation to prohibit and eliminate all forms of violence against children; (b) To consider taking appropriate measures to assert the right of children to respect for their human dignity and physical integrity and to prohibit and eliminate any emotional or physical violence or any other humiliating or degrading treatment; (c) To give priority attention to the prevention of all forms of violence against children and to addressing its underlying causes, through a systematic, comprehensive and multifaceted approach; (d) To protect children from all forms of violence or abuse by all those who work with and for children, including in educational settings, as well as by government officials, such as the police, law enforcement authorities and employees and officials in detention centres or welfare institutions; (e) To end impunity for perpetrators of crimes against children, investigate and prosecute such acts of violence and impose appropriate penalties; (f) To recognize that persons convicted of violent offences against and sexual abuse of children who continue to pose a risk of harm to children should be prevented from working with children; (g) To actively engage with children and respect their views in all aspects of prevention, response and monitoring of violence against them, taking into account article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. (h) To ensure national research and documentation to identify vulnerable groups of children, inform policy and programmes at all levels and track progress and best practices towards preventing all forms of violence against children; (i) To strive to change attitudes that condone or normalize any form of violence against children, including cruel, inhuman or degrading forms of discipline, harmful traditional practices and all forms of sexual violence; (j) To take measures to promote constructive and positive forms of discipline and child development approaches in all settings, including the home, schools and other educational settings and throughout care and justice systems; (k) To take measures to ensure that all those who work with and for children protect children from bullying and implement preventive and anti-bullying policies; (l) To establish and develop safe, well-publicized, confidential and accessible mechanisms to enable children, their representatives and others to report violence against children as well as to file complaints in cases of violence against children; (m) To address the gender dimension of all forms of violence against children and incorporate a gender perspective in all policies adopted and actions taken to protect children against all forms of violence, acknowledging that girls and boys face varying risks from different forms of violence at different ages and in different situations, and in this context recalls the agreed conclusions on the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its fifty-first session;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2007, Supplement No. 7 (E/2007/27), chap. I, sect. A. (n) To further develop the capacity of all those who work with and for children and families to contribute to the elimination of all forms of violence against children, by investing in systematic education and training programmes, both initial and in-service, on preventing, detecting and responding to violence against children; norms, such as guidelines or codes of conduct, incorporating the rejection of all forms of violence against children, should be formulated and implemented; (o) To ensure that all victims of violence have access to appropriate child-sensitive health and social services; special attention should be paid to the gender-specific needs of girls and boys who are victims of violence; 58. Requests the Secretary-General to appoint for a period of three years a Special Representative on violence against children, at the highest possible level, after which time the mandate should be evaluated, including with regard to its funding, and ensure that the necessary support is made available to the Special Representative for the effective and independent performance of his/her mandate, encourages the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization to cooperate with and provide support to the Special Representative, including financial support, and calls upon States and institutions concerned, and invites the private sector, to provide voluntary contributions for that purpose; 59. Recommends that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, taking care to avoid duplication with relevant United Nations mechanisms and treaty bodies: (a) Act as a high-profile and independent global advocate to promote the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children in all regions, acting as a catalyst to stimulate the engagement of Member States and civil society to prevent and respond to violence against children, keeping the issue high on the international agenda and maintaining the attention to the issue of violence against children achieved through the process of the United Nations study on violence against children; (b) Promote and support, in cooperation with Member States, the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations study on violence against children, where appropriate, recommending measures, ways and means at the national, regional and international levels to eliminate violence against children and its causes and to remedy its consequences, promoting and ensuring country ownership of national plans and programmes in this regard; (c) Identify and share good practices to prevent and respond to violence against children, between States and across regions, assist Member States in their efforts to develop more comprehensive and systematic data collection on violence against children, and ensure cross-fertilization of experiences between the various sectors addressing violence against children, including those focused on human rights, child protection, well-being, development, public health and education; (d) Work closely and cooperate fully with relevant United Nations treaty bodies and mechanisms, including, but not limited to, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, within their respective mandates, building upon existing inter-agency structures, and bearing in mind the ongoing process of the reviewing of mandates in the Human Rights Council; (e) Also work closely and cooperate with the United Nations system and the existing mandates of United Nations funds and programmes and specialized agencies that have responsibilities in the area of violence against children, in particular those that are members of the Inter-Agency Group on Violence against Children; (f) Establish a mutually supportive collaboration with civil society, including relevant non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and work to promote the increased involvement of children and young people in initiatives to prevent and respond to violence against children; 60. Urges Governments and requests the specialized agencies, relevant United Nations organs that work in the area of violence against children and regional, intergovernmental and civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations, as well as relevant United Nations mechanisms and treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child, to cooperate with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children and to provide information, where appropriate, on the measures adopted to ensure and respect the right of children to be protected from violence; 61. Requests the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children, upon his/her appointment, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to cooperate and coordinate their activities, bearing in mind their complementarity, and in this regard to ensure between them, within their respective mandates, that the situations of all children subject to or at risk of violence are addressed, including those of armed conflict, foreign occupation, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, terrorism or hostage-taking, or where peacekeeping operations are deployed, in order to ensure that no child is left uncovered; 62. Requests the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on violence against children to report annually to the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council and to ensure that this reporting contains relevant, accurate and objective information on violence against children, taking into account the views of Member States and observers, the outcome of the special sessions of the Assembly on children and the United Nations study on violence against children, bearing in mind existing mandates; IV Follow-up 63. Decides: (a) To request the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the rights of the child, containing information on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the issues addressed in the present resolution; (b) To request the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to continue to submit reports to the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council on the progress achieved and the remaining challenges on the children and armed conflict agenda; (c) To invite the Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child to present an oral report on the work of the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session as a way to enhance communication between the Assembly and the Committee; (d) To continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of the rights of children", focusing section III of the resolution on the rights of the child on "Child labour, with a special emphasis on its causes, including poverty and lack of education" in 2008 and on "The right of the child to express his/her views freely in all matters affecting him/her" in 2009. RESOLUTION 62/142 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/437, para. 26),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Cuba, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Namibia, Nigeria, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 130 to 2, with 53 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 62/142. Inadmissibility of certain practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. and other relevant human rights instruments, Recalling the provisions of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2004/16 of 16 April 2004See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/5 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. as well as General Assembly resolutions 60/143 of 16 December 2005 and 61/147 of 19 December 2006 on this issue and resolution 61/149 of 19 December 2006 entitled "Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action", Recalling also the Charter of the Nuremberg Tribunal and the Judgement of the Tribunal, which recognized, inter alia, the SS organization and all its integral parts, including the Waffen SS, as criminal and declared it responsible for many war crimes and crimes against humanity, Recalling further the relevant provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance on 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 2 of the Declaration and paragraph 86 of the Programme of Action, Recalling equally the study undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,E/CN.4/2006/16 and Add.1, Add.2 and Corr.1 and Add.3 and 4. and taking note of his report,See A/62/306. Alarmed, in this regard, at the spread in many parts of the world of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups, 1. Reaffirms the provision of the Durban DeclarationSee A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in which States condemned the persistence and resurgence of neo-Nazism, neo-Fascism and violent nationalist ideologies based on racial and national prejudice and stated that those phenomena could never be justified in any instance or in any circumstances; 2. Expresses deep concern about the glorification of the Nazi movement and former members of the Waffen SS organization, including by erecting monuments and memorials as well as holding public demonstrations in the name of the glorification of the Nazi past, the Nazi movement and neo-Nazism; 3. Expresses concern at recurring attempts to desecrate or demolish monuments erected in remembrance of those who fought against Nazism during the Second World War, as well as to unlawfully exhume or remove the remains of such persons, and urges States in this regard to fully comply with their relevant obligations, inter alia, under article 34 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1125, No. 17512. 4. Notes with concern the increase in the number of racist incidents in several countries and the rise of skinhead groups, which have been responsible for many of these incidents, as well as the resurgence of racist and xenophobic violence targeting members of ethnic, religious or cultural communities and national minorities, as observed by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in his latest report;See A/62/306. 5. Reaffirms that such acts may be qualified to fall within the scope of activities described in article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. and that they may represent a clear and manifest abuse of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association as well as the rights to freedom of opinion and expression within the meaning of those rights as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; 6. Stresses that the practices described above do injustice to the memory of the countless victims of crimes against humanity committed in the Second World War, in particular those committed by the SS organization, and poison the minds of young people, and that those practices are incompatible with the obligations of States Members of the United Nations under its Charter and are incompatible with the goals and principles of the Organization; 7. Also stresses that such practices fuel contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and contribute to the spread and multiplication of various extremist political parties, movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinhead groups; 8. Emphasizes the need to take the necessary measures to put an end to the practices described above, and calls upon States to take more effective measures in accordance with international human rights law to combat those phenomena and the extremist movements, which pose a real threat to democratic values; 9. Reaffirms that, according to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, States parties to that instrument are, inter alia, under the obligation: (a) To condemn all propaganda and all organizations that are based on ideas of racial superiority or that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred and discrimination in any form; (b) To undertake to adopt immediate and positive measures designed to eradicate all incitement to, or acts of, such discrimination with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention; (c) To declare as an offence punishable by law all dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or hatred, incitement to racial discrimination, as well as all acts of violence or incitement to such acts against any race or group of persons of another colour or ethnic origin, and also the provision of any assistance to racist activities, including the financing thereof; (d) To declare illegal and prohibit organizations and organized and all other propaganda activities that promote and incite racial discrimination and to recognize participation in such organizations or activities as an offence punishable by law; (e) To prohibit public authorities or public institutions, national or local, from promoting or inciting racial discrimination; 10. Encourages those States that have made reservations to article 4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to give serious consideration to withdrawing such reservations as a matter of priority; 11. Recalls the request of the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/5Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. that the Special Rapporteur continue to reflect on this issue, make relevant recommendations in his future reports and seek and take into account in this regard the views of Governments and non-governmental organizations; 12. Urges Governments and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the exercise of the aforementioned task; 13. Decides to remain seized of the issue. RESOLUTION 62/143 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/437, para. 26),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Cuba, Dominica, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lebanon and Norway. by a recorded vote of 177 to 3, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Norway 62/143. Report of the Human Rights Council on the preparations for the Durban Review Conference The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/149 of 19 December 2006 and Human Rights Council resolution 3/2 of 8 December 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. II, sect A. Recalling also Human Rights Council decision 6/105 of 28 September 2007,See A/HRC/6/L.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53). in which the Council invited the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference to submit its reports to the General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the modalities of the Review Conference have yet to be finalized, 1. Welcomes the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference on its first session,A/62/375. including the annexes and appendices thereto, in particular the decisions adopted by the Preparatory Committee at its organizational session;Ibid., annex I. 2. Endorses the decisions adopted by the Preparatory Committee at its organizational session. RESOLUTION 62/144 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/438, para. 23)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, China, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates. 62/144. Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied in the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence, Deeply concerned at the continuation of acts or threats of foreign military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have already suppressed, the right to self-determination of peoples and nations, Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for concerted international action to alleviate their condition, Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the Commission on Human Rights at its sixty-firstSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. and previous sessions, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination, including resolution 61/150 of 19 December 2006, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000, containing the United Nations Millennium Declaration, and recalling its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, containing the 2005 World Summit Outcome, which, inter alia, upheld the right to self-determination of peoples under colonial domination and foreign occupation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/184. 1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such rights; 2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world; 3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment, in particular the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the execution of those acts against the peoples concerned; 4. Deplores the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts, and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour; 5. Requests the Human Rights Council to continue to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the question to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 62/145 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/438, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Honduras, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 127 to 52, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Chile, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Switzerland, Tonga, Tunisia 62/145. Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination The General Assembly, Recalling all of its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 61/151 of 19 December 2006, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/2 of 7 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also all of its relevant resolutions in which, inter alia, it condemned any State that permitted or tolerated the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit and use of mercenaries with the objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Organization of African Unity, inter alia, the Organization of African Unity Convention for the elimination of mercenarism in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1490, No. 25573. as well as the African Union,On 8 July 2002, the Organization of African Unity ceased to exist and, in its place, the African Union came into force on 9 July 2002. Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or of the threat of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic jurisdiction of States, Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the right freely to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Extremely alarmed and concerned about recent mercenary activities in Africa and other places and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries, Concerned by the new modalities of mercenarism, and noting that the recruitment of former military personnel and ex-policemen by private military and private security companies to serve in their employ as "security guards" in zones of armed conflict seems to be continuing, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of all human rights by peoples, 1. Takes note of the report of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination;See A/62/301. 2. Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; 3. Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; 4. Urges once again all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; 5. Requests all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against any kind of recruitment, training, hiring or financing of mercenaries, including nationals, by private companies offering international military consultancy and security services, as well as to impose a specific ban on such companies intervening in armed conflicts or actions to destabilize constitutional regimes; 6. Encourages States that import the military assistance, consultancy and security services provided by private companies to establish regulatory national mechanisms for the registering and licensing of those companies in order to ensure that imported services provided by those private companies neither impede the enjoyment of human rights nor violate human rights in the recipient country; 7. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to consider taking the necessary action to accede to or ratify the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2163, No. 37789. 8. Welcomes the adoption by some States of national legislation that restricts the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries; 9. Condemns mercenary activities in Africa, and commends the Governments of Africa on their collaboration in thwarting those illegal actions, which have posed a threat to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries and the exercise of the right of their peoples to self-determination; 10. Calls upon States to investigate the possibility of mercenary involvement whenever and wherever criminal acts of a terrorist nature occur and to bring to trial those found responsible or to consider their extradition, if so requested, in accordance with domestic law and applicable bilateral or international treaties; 11. Condemns any form of impunity granted to perpetrators of mercenary activities and to those responsible for the use, recruitment, financing and training of mercenaries, and urges all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to bring them, without distinction, to justice; 12. Calls upon Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law, to cooperate with and assist the judicial prosecution of those accused of mercenary activities in transparent, open and fair trials; 13. Requests the Working Group to continue the work already done by the previous Special Rapporteurs on the strengthening of the international legal framework for the prevention and sanction of the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries, taking into account the proposal for a new legal definition of a mercenary drafted by the Special Rapporteur in his report to the Commission on Human Rights at its sixtieth session;See E/CN.4/2004/15, para. 47. 14. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as a matter of priority, to publicize the adverse effects of the activities of mercenaries on the right of peoples to self-determination and, when requested and where necessary, to render advisory services to States that are affected by those activities; 15. Expresses its appreciation to the Office of the High Commissioner for its support for convening in Panama the regional governmental consultation for Latin American and Caribbean States on traditional and new forms of mercenary activities as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, in particular regarding the effects of the activities of private military and security companies on the enjoyment of human rights, and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to convene other regional governmental consultations on this matter; 16. Requests the Working Group to continue to take into account, in the discharge of its mandate, the fact that mercenary activities continue to occur in many parts of the world and are taking on new forms, manifestations and modalities, and in this regard requests its members to continue to pay particular attention to the impact of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the international market on the enjoyment of human rights and the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; 17. Urges all States to cooperate fully with the Working Group in the fulfilment of its mandate; 18. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide the Working Group with all the necessary assistance and support for the fulfilment of its mandate, both professional and financial, including through the promotion of cooperation between the Working Group and other components of the United Nations system that deal with countering mercenary-related activities, in order to meet the demands of its current and future activities; 19. Requests the Working Group to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of the present resolution and to report, with specific recommendations, to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session its findings on the use of mercenaries to undermine the enjoyment of all human rights and to impede the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; 20. Decides to consider at its sixty-third session the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination under the item entitled "Right of peoples to self-determination". RESOLUTION 62/146 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/438, para. 23),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 176 to 5, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Nauru 62/146. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination The General Assembly, Aware that the development of friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, is among the purposes and principles of the United Nations, as defined in the Charter, Recalling, in this regard, its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 entitled "Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations", Bearing in mind the International Covenants on Human Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and PeoplesResolution 1514 (XV). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and noting in particular the reply of the Court, including on the right of peoples to self-determination, which is a right erga omnes,Ibid., advisory opinion, para. 88. Recalling the conclusion of the Court, in its advisory opinion of 9 July 2004, that the construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, along with measures previously taken, severely impedes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,Ibid., para. 122. Expressing the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process on its agreed basis and for the speedy achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Stressing the need for respect for and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Recalling its resolution 61/152 of 19 December 2006, Affirming the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine; 2. Urges all States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system to continue to support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination. RESOLUTION 62/147 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.1, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 62/147. International Covenants on Human Rights The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/149 of 16 December 2005 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/69 of 21 April 2004,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. Mindful that the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. constitute the first all-embracing and legally binding international treaties in the field of human rights and, together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). form the core of the International Bill of Human Rights, Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and reaffirming that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, that they should be treated in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that the promotion and protection of one category of rights should never exempt or excuse States from the promotion and protection of the other rights, Recognizing the important role of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in examining the progress made by States parties in fulfilling the obligations undertaken in the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. and in providing recommendations to States parties on their implementation, Considering that the effective functioning of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is indispensable for the full and effective implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, Noting the ongoing deliberations on the proposal to rectify the legal status of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Recognizing the importance of regional human rights instruments and monitoring mechanisms in complementing the universal system of promotion and protection of human rights, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as major components of international efforts to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 2. Strongly appeals to all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and to consider as a matter of priority acceding to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex, and resolution 44/128, annex. and making the declaration provided for in article 41 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and, while acknowledging that additional States have recently become parties to these instruments, requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the annual treaty event to this end; 3. Invites the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to intensify systematic efforts to encourage States to become parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights and, through the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights, to assist such States, at their request, in ratifying or acceding to the Covenants and to the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with a view to achieving universal adherence; 4. Calls for the strictest compliance by States parties with their obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and, where applicable, the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; 5. Emphasizes that States must ensure that any measure to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under relevant international law, including their obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights, and takes note with appreciation of the reports submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism;See A/60/370, A/61/267 and A/62/263; A/HRC/4/26 and Add.1-3; and E/CN.4/2006/98 and Add.1 and 2. 6. Stresses the importance of avoiding the erosion of human rights by derogation, and recalls that certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances, underlines the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, and that they must be in accordance with the conditions and procedures stipulated under article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, bearing in mind the need for States parties to provide the fullest possible information during states of emergency so that the justification for the appropriateness of measures taken in those circumstances can be assessed, and in this regard takes note of General Comment No. 29 adopted by the Human Rights Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI. 7. Encourages States parties to consider limiting the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to formulate any reservations as precisely and narrowly as possible and to regularly review such reservations with a view to withdrawing them so as to ensure that no reservation is incompatible with the object and purpose of the relevant treaty; 8. Welcomes the annual reports of the Human Rights Committee submitted to the General Assembly at its sixty-firstIbid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 40 and corrigendum (A/61/40 (Vols. I and II) and A/61/40 (Vol. I)/Corr.1). and sixty-secondIbid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/62/40). sessions, and takes note of the General Comments adopted by the Committee, including the most recent, General Comment No. 32 on the right to equality before courts and tribunals and to a fair trial;Ibid., vol. I, annex VI. 9. Also welcomes the reports of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth sessionsOfficial Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2006, Supplement No. 2 (E/2006/22). and on its thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh sessions,Ibid., 2007, Supplement No. 2 (E/2007/22). and takes note of the General Comments adopted by the Committee, including the most recent, General Comment No. 17 on the right of everyone to benefit from the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he or she is the author,Ibid., 2006, Supplement No. 2 (E/2006/22), annex IX. and General Comment No. 18 on the right to work;Ibid., annex X. 10. Expresses regret at the number of States parties that have failed to fulfil their reporting obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights, urges States parties to fulfil their reporting obligations on time, invites them to make use of the harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties, including guidelines on a common core document and treaty-specific documents,HRI/GEN/2/Rev.4, chap. I. when submitting reports, and urges States to attend and participate in the consideration of the reports by the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights when so requested; 11. Urges States parties to make use in their reports of sex-disaggregated data, and stresses the importance of integrating a gender perspective in the implementation of the International Covenants on Human Rights at the national level, including in the national reports of States parties and in the work of the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 12. Strongly encourages States parties that have not yet submitted core documents to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to do so, invites them to make use of the harmonized guidelines on reporting, and also invites all States parties regularly to review and update their core documents while bearing in mind the current discussion on the elaboration of an expanded core document; 13. Urges States parties to take duly into account, in implementing the provisions of the International Covenants on Human Rights, the recommendations and observations made during the consideration of their reports by the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the views adopted by the Human Rights Committee under the first Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 14. Urges all States to publish the texts of the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in as many local languages as possible and to distribute them and make them known as widely as possible to all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction; 15. Urges each State party to give particular attention to the dissemination at the national level of their reports submitted to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and, further, to translate, publish and make available as widely as possible to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction by appropriate means the full text of the recommendations and observations made by the Committees after the examination of those reports; 16. Reiterates that States parties should take into account, in their nomination of members to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, that the Committees shall be composed of persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights, consideration being given to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience, and to equal representation of women and men, and that members serve in their personal capacity, and also reiterates that, in the elections of the Committees, consideration shall be given to equitable geographical distribution of membership and to the representation of the different forms of civilization and of the principal legal systems; 17. Invites the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, when considering the reports of States parties, to continue to identify specific needs that might be addressed by United Nations departments, funds and programmes and the specialized agencies, including through the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 18. Stresses the need for improved coordination among relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies in supporting States parties, upon their request, in implementing the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and encourages continued efforts in this direction; 19. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made so far by the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to improve the efficiency of their working methods, encourages the Committees to pursue their efforts, welcomes in this regard the meetings held by the Committees and States parties to exchange ideas on how to render the working methods of the Committees more efficient, and encourages all States parties to continue to contribute to the dialogue with practical and concrete proposals and ideas on ways to improve the effective functioning of the Committees; 20. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Working Group on the Harmonization of Working Methods of Treaty Bodies,HRI/MC/2007/2 and Add.1. and looks forward to further deliberations in this regard; 21. Also takes note with appreciation of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on an optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its fourth session,A/HRC/6/8. and encourages all parties to participate actively in the fifth session; 22. Encourages the specialized agencies that have not yet done so to submit their reports on the progress made in achieving the observance of the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in accordance with article 18 of the Covenant, and expresses its appreciation to those that have done so; 23. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to assist States parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights in the timely preparation of their reports, including by convening seminars or workshops at the national level for the training of government officials engaged in the preparation of such reports and by exploring other possibilities at the request of States, such as the programme of advisory services and technical cooperation in the field of human rights; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights effectively assists the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the implementation of their respective mandates by providing, inter alia, adequate Secretariat staff resources and conference and other relevant support services; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly informed of the status of the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including all reservations and declarations, through the United Nations websites. RESOLUTION 62/148 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.1, para. 16)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 62/148. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment The General Assembly, Reaffirming that no one shall be subjected to torture or to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Recalling that freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a non-derogable right that must be protected under all circumstances, including in times of international or internal armed conflict or disturbance, and that the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is affirmed in relevant international instruments, Recalling also that a number of international, regional and domestic courts, including the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, have recognized that the prohibition of torture is a peremptory norm of international law and have held that the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is customary international law, Recalling further the definition of torture contained in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which contains or may contain provisions of wider application, Emphasizing the importance of properly interpreting and implementing the obligations of States with respect to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and of abiding strictly by the definition of torture contained in article 1 of the Convention, Noting that under the Geneva Conventions of 1949Ibid., vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. torture and inhuman treatment are a grave breach and that under the statutes of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtIbid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and, when committed in a situation of armed conflict, constitute war crimes, Welcoming the establishment of national mechanisms for the prevention of torture pursuant to the obligations of States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 57/199, annex. which entered into force on 22 June 2006, Acknowledging the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in its resolution 61/177 of 20 December 2006, and recognizing that the entry into force of the Convention, expected before the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, will be a significant event, Commending the persistent efforts of civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations and the considerable network of centres for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, to combat torture and to alleviate the suffering of victims of torture, Bearing in mind the special procedures review process being undertaken by the Human Rights Council, and its relevant resolutions, 1. Condemns all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including through intimidation, which are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever and can thus never be justified, and calls upon all States to implement fully the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 2. Emphasizes that States must take persistent, determined and effective measures to prevent and combat torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including their gender-based manifestations, and stresses that all acts of torture must be made offences under domestic criminal law; 3. Also emphasizes the importance of States ensuring proper follow-up to the recommendations and conclusions of the relevant treaty bodies and mechanisms, including the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 4. Condemns any action or attempt by States or public officials to legalize, authorize or acquiesce in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances, including on grounds of national security or through judicial decisions; 5. Stresses that all allegations of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment must be promptly and impartially examined by the competent national authority, and that those who encourage, order, tolerate or perpetrate acts of torture must be held responsible, brought to justice and severely punished, including the officials in charge of the place of detention where the prohibited act is found to have been committed; 6. Takes note in this respect of the Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Istanbul Principles)Resolution 55/89, annex. as a useful tool in efforts to prevent and combat torture and of the updated set of principles for the protection of human rights through action to combat impunity;See E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1. 7. Calls upon States parties to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. to fulfil their obligation to submit for prosecution or extradite those alleged to have committed acts of torture; 8. Encourages all States to ensure that persons convicted of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment have no subsequent involvement in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any person under arrest, detention, imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty; 9. Emphasizes that acts of torture in armed conflict are serious violations of international humanitarian law and in this regard constitute war crimes, that acts of torture can constitute crimes against humanity and that the perpetrators of all acts of torture must be prosecuted and punished; 10. Strongly urges States to ensure that any statement that is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made; 11. Stresses that States must not punish personnel who are involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment or any other form of deprivation of liberty for not obeying orders to commit or conceal acts amounting to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 12. Urges States not to expel, return ("refouler"), extradite or in any other way transfer a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture, and recognizes that diplomatic assurances, where used, do not release States from their obligations under international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, in particular the principle of non-refoulement; 13. Stresses that national legal systems must ensure that victims of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment obtain redress, are awarded fair and adequate compensation and receive appropriate social and medical rehabilitation, urges States to take effective measures to this end, and in this regard encourages the development of rehabilitation centres; 14. Recalls its resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988 on the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, and in this context stresses that ensuring that any individual arrested or detained is promptly brought before a judge or other independent judicial officer in person and permitting prompt and regular medical care and legal counsel as well as visits by family members and independent monitoring mechanisms are effective measures for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 15. Reminds all States that prolonged incommunicado detention or detention in secret places can facilitate the perpetration of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and can in itself constitute a form of such treatment, and urges all States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and dignity of the person; 16. Calls upon all States to take appropriate effective legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures to prevent and prohibit the production, trade, export and use of equipment that is specifically designed to inflict torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 17. Urges all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention as a matter of priority; 18. Invites all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to make the declarations provided for in articles 21 and 22 of the Convention concerning inter-State and individual communications, to consider the possibility of withdrawing their reservations to article 20 of the Convention and to notify the Secretary-General of their acceptance of the amendments to articles 17 and 18 of the Convention with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the Committee against Torture as soon as possible; 19. Urges States parties to comply strictly with their obligations under the Convention, including, in view of the high number of reports not submitted in time, their obligation to submit reports in accordance with article 19 of the Convention, and invites States parties to incorporate a gender perspective and information concerning children and juveniles and persons with disabilities when submitting reports to the Committee; 20. Calls upon States parties also to give early consideration to signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Resolution 57/199, annex. which provides further measures for use in the fight against and prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; 21. Welcomes the work of the Committee and its report submitted in accordance with article 24 of the Convention,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/62/44). recommends that the Committee continue to include information on the follow-up by States to its recommendations, and supports the Committee in its intention to further improve the effectiveness of its working sessions; 22. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conformity with her mandate established by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993, to continue to provide, at the request of States, advisory services for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including for the preparation of national reports to the Committee and for the establishment and operation of national preventive mechanisms, as well as technical assistance for the development, production and distribution of teaching material for this purpose; 23. Notes with appreciation the interim report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/62/221. and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to include in his recommendations proposals on the prevention and investigation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including its gender-based manifestations; 24. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to consider including in his report information on the follow-up by States to his recommendations, visits and communications, including progress made and problems encountered, and on other official contacts; 25. Calls upon all States to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in the performance of his task, to supply all necessary information requested by the Special Rapporteur, to fully and expeditiously respond to and follow up his urgent appeals, to give serious consideration to responding favourably to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries and to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on requested visits to their countries as well as with respect to the follow-up to his recommendations; 26. Stresses the need for the continued regular exchange of views among the Committee, the Subcommittee, the Special Rapporteur and other relevant United Nations mechanisms and bodies, as well as for the pursuance of cooperation with relevant United Nations programmes, notably the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, with regional organizations and mechanisms, as appropriate, and civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations, with a view to enhancing further their effectiveness and cooperation on issues relating to the prevention and eradication of torture, inter alia, by improving their coordination; 27. Recognizes the global need for international assistance to victims of torture, stresses the importance of the work of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, appeals to all States and organizations to contribute annually to the Fund, preferably with a substantial increase in the level of contributions, and encourages contributions to the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol to help finance the implementation of the recommendations made by the Subcommittee as well as education programmes of the national preventive mechanisms; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to transmit to all States the appeals of the General Assembly for contributions to the Funds and to include the Funds on an annual basis among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations Pledging Conference for Development Activities; 29. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the operations of the Funds; 30. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure, within the overall budgetary framework of the United Nations, the provision of adequate staff and facilities for the bodies and mechanisms involved in preventing and combating torture and assisting victims of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment commensurate with the strong support expressed by Member States for preventing and combating torture and assisting victims of torture; 31. Calls upon all States, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations bodies and agencies, as well as relevant intergovernmental and civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations, to commemorate, on 26 June, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; 32. Decides to consider at its sixty-third session the reports of the Secretary-General, including the report on the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture and the Special Fund established by the Optional Protocol, the report of the Committee against Torture and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. RESOLUTION 62/149 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 104 to 54, with 29 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Against: Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, China, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Grenada, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United States of America, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Belarus, Bhutan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Togo, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Zambia 62/149. Moratorium on the use of the death penalty The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling also the resolutions on the question of the death penalty adopted over the past decade by the Commission on Human Rights in all consecutive sessions, the last being resolution 2005/59 of 20 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission called upon States that still maintain the death penalty to abolish it completely and, in the meantime, to establish a moratorium on executions, Recalling further the important results accomplished by the former Commission on Human Rights on the question of the death penalty, and envisaging that the Human Rights Council could continue to work on this issue, Considering that the use of the death penalty undermines human dignity, and convinced that a moratorium on the use of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement and progressive development of human rights, that there is no conclusive evidence of the deterrent value of the death penalty and that any miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable, Welcoming the decisions taken by an increasing number of States to apply a moratorium on executions, followed in many cases by the abolition of the death penalty, 1. Expresses its deep concern about the continued application of the death penalty; 2. Calls upon all States that still maintain the death penalty: (a) To respect international standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, in particular the minimum standards, as set out in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25 May 1984; (b) To provide the Secretary-General with information relating to the use of capital punishment and the observance of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty; (c) To progressively restrict the use of the death penalty and reduce the number of offences for which it may be imposed; (d) To establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty; 3. Calls upon States which have abolished the death penalty not to reintroduce it; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to continue consideration of the matter at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/14 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/382, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 130 to 3, with 47 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 62/14. Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace The General Assembly, Recalling the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, contained in its resolution 2832 (XXVI) of 16 December 1971, and recalling also its resolutions 54/47 of 1 December 1999, 56/16 of 29 November 2001, 58/29 of 8 December 2003 and 60/48 of 8 December 2005 and other relevant resolutions, Recalling also the report of the Meeting of the Littoral and Hinterland States of the Indian Ocean held in July 1979,Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 45 and corrigendum (A/34/45 and Corr.1). Recalling further paragraph 102 of the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. in which it was noted, inter alia, that the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean would continue his informal consultations on the future work of the Committee, Emphasizing the need to foster consensual approaches that are conducive to the pursuit of such endeavours, Noting the initiatives taken by countries of the region to promote cooperation, in particular economic cooperation, in the Indian Ocean area and the possible contribution of such initiatives to overall objectives of a zone of peace, Convinced that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would assist the progress of a mutually beneficial dialogue to develop conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Considering that greater efforts and more time are required to develop a focused discussion on practical measures to ensure conditions of peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, Having considered the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/62/29). 1. Takes note of the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 29 (A/62/29). 2. Reiterates its conviction that the participation of all permanent members of the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean in the work of the Ad Hoc Committee is important and would greatly facilitate the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue to advance peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region; 3. Requests the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee to continue his informal consultations with the members of the Committee and to report through the Committee to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render, within existing resources, all necessary assistance to the Ad Hoc Committee, including the provision of summary records; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace". RESOLUTION 62/150 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 182 to none, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Swaziland 62/150. Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 60/162 of 16 December 2005, Reaffirming that United Nations electoral assistance and support for the promotion of democratization are provided only at the specific request of the Member State concerned, Noting with satisfaction that increasing numbers of Member States are using elections as a peaceful means of discerning the will of the people, which builds confidence in representational governance and contributes to greater national peace and stability, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the principle that the will of the people, as expressed through periodic and genuine elections, shall be the basis of government authority, as well as the right freely to choose representatives through periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures, Taking note with interest of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/30 of 19 April 2004 on enhancing the role of regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements in promoting and consolidating democracySee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and Commission resolution 2005/32 of 19 April 2005 on democracy and the rule of law,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing the need for strengthening democratic processes, electoral institutions and national capacity-building, including the capacity to administer fair elections, promote women's participation, increase citizen participation and provide civic education, in requesting countries in order to consolidate and regularize the achievements of previous elections and support subsequent elections, Welcoming the support provided by States to the electoral assistance activities of the United Nations, inter alia, through the provision of electoral experts, including electoral commission staff, and observers, as well as through contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Assistance, the Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund and the United Nations Democracy Fund, Welcoming also the contributions made by international and regional organizations and also by non-governmental organizations to enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/293. 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/293. 2. Commends the electoral assistance provided upon request to Member States by the United Nations, and requests that such assistance continue on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the evolving needs of requesting countries to develop, improve and refine their electoral institutions and processes, recognizing that the fundamental responsibility for organizing free and fair elections lies with Governments; 3. Requests the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in his role as United Nations focal point for electoral assistance matters, to continue to inform Member States regularly about the requests received and the nature of any assistance provided; 4. Requests that the United Nations continue its efforts to ensure, before undertaking to provide electoral assistance to a requesting State, that there is adequate time to organize and carry out an effective mission for providing such assistance, including the provision of long-term technical cooperation, that conditions exist to allow a free and fair election and that the results of the mission will be reported comprehensively and consistently; 5. Recommends that, throughout the time span of the entire electoral cycle, including before and after elections, as appropriate, based on a needs assessment, the United Nations continue to provide technical advice and other assistance to requesting States and electoral institutions in order to help to strengthen their democratic processes; 6. Notes with appreciation the additional efforts being made to enhance cooperation with other international, governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to facilitate more comprehensive and needs-specific responses to requests for electoral assistance, encourages those organizations to share knowledge and experience in order to promote best practices in the assistance they provide and in their reporting on electoral processes, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, regional organizations and non-governmental organizations that have provided observers or technical experts in support of United Nations electoral assistance efforts; 7. Recalls the establishment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Assistance, and, bearing in mind that the Fund is currently close to depletion, calls upon Member States to consider contributing to the Fund; 8. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the United Nations focal point for electoral assistance matters and with the support of the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, to continue responding to the evolving nature of requests for assistance and the growing need for specific types of medium-term expert assistance aimed at supporting and strengthening the existing capacity of the requesting Government, in particular by enhancing the capacity of national electoral institutions; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Electoral Assistance Division with adequate human and financial resources to allow it to carry out its mandate, including to enhance the accessibility and diversity of the roster of electoral experts and the Organization's electoral institutional memory, and to continue to ensure that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is able to respond, within its mandate and in close coordination with the Division, to the numerous and increasingly complex and comprehensive requests from Member States for advisory services; 10. Notes with satisfaction the comprehensive coordination, under the auspices of the United Nations focal point for electoral assistance matters, between the Electoral Assistance Division and the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support of the Secretariat, and encourages further engagement of the Office of the High Commissioner in this context; 11. Requests the United Nations Development Programme to continue its democratic governance assistance programmes in cooperation with other relevant organizations, in particular those that strengthen democratic institutions and linkages between civil society and Governments; 12. Reiterates the importance of reinforced coordination within and outside the United Nations system, and reaffirms the role of the United Nations focal point for electoral assistance in ensuring system-wide coherence and consistency and in strengthening the institutional memory and the development and dissemination of electoral policies; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution, in particular on the status of requests from Member States for electoral assistance, and on his efforts to enhance support by the Organization for the democratization process in Member States. RESOLUTION 62/151 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 129 to 54, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Brazil, Chile, Equatorial Guinea, Singapore 62/151. Globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and expressing, in particular, the need to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling also the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling further the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, Recalling the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and the outcome documents of the twenty-thirdResolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and twenty-fourthResolution S-24/2, annex. special sessions of the General Assembly, held in New York from 5 to 10 June 2000 and in Geneva from 26 June to 1 July 2000, respectively, Recalling also its resolution 61/156 of 19 December 2006, Recalling further Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/17 of 14 April 2005 on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Realizing that globalization affects all countries differently and makes them more exposed to external developments, positive as well as negative, inter alia, in the field of human rights, Realizing also that globalization is not merely an economic process, but that it also has social, political, environmental, cultural and legal dimensions, which have an impact on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Reaffirming the commitment contained in paragraphs 19 and 47 of the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. to promote fair globalization and the development of the productive sectors in developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit from the process of globalization, Realizing the need to undertake a thorough, independent and comprehensive assessment of the social, environmental and cultural impact of globalization on societies, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, and aware that the risk of a global monoculture poses more of a threat if the developing world remains poor and marginalized, Recognizing also that multilateral mechanisms have a unique role to play in meeting the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, Emphasizing the global character of the migratory phenomenon, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and the need to protect the human rights of migrants, particularly at a time in which migration flows have increased in the globalized economy, Expressing concern at the negative impact of international financial turbulence on social and economic development and on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Recognizing that globalization should be guided by the fundamental principles that underpin the corpus of human rights, such as equity, participation, accountability, non-discrimination at both the national and the international levels, respect for diversity, tolerance and international cooperation and solidarity, Emphasizing that the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of human rights, and that its immediate alleviation and eventual elimination must remain a high priority for the international community, Strongly reiterating the determination to ensure the timely and full realization of the development goals and objectives agreed at the major United Nations conferences and summits, including those agreed at the Millennium Summit that are described as the Millennium Development Goals, which have helped to galvanize efforts towards poverty eradication, Deeply concerned at the inadequacy of measures to narrow the widening gap between the developed and the developing countries, and within countries, which has contributed, inter alia, to deepening poverty and has adversely affected the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries, Noting that human beings strive for a world that is respectful of human rights and cultural diversity and that, in this regard, they work to ensure that all activities, including those affected by globalization, are consistent with those aims, 1. Recognizes that, while globalization, by its impact on, inter alia, the role of the State, may affect human rights, the promotion and protection of all human rights is first and foremost the responsibility of the State; 2. Emphasizes that development should be at the centre of the international economic agenda and that coherence between national development strategies and international obligations and commitments is imperative for an enabling environment for development and an inclusive and equitable globalization; 3. Reaffirms that narrowing the gap between rich and poor, both within and between countries, is an explicit goal at the national and international levels, as part of the effort to create an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 4. Also reaffirms the commitment to create an environment at both the national and the global levels that is conducive to development and to the elimination of poverty through, inter alia, good governance within each country and at the international level, transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and commitment to an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial system; 5. Recognizes that, while globalization offers great opportunities, the fact that its benefits are very unevenly shared and its costs unevenly distributed represents an aspect of the process that affects the full enjoyment of all human rights, in particular in developing countries; 6. Welcomes the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on globalization and its impact on the full enjoyment of human rights,E/CN.4/2002/54. which focuses on the liberalization of agricultural trade and its impact on the realization of the right to development, including the right to food, and takes note of the conclusions and recommendations contained therein; 7. Calls upon Member States, relevant agencies of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to promote equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth for managing globalization so that poverty is systematically reduced and the international development targets are achieved; 8. Recognizes that only through broad and sustained efforts, including policies and measures at the global level to create a shared future based upon our common humanity in all its diversity, can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable and have a human face, thus contributing to the full enjoyment of all human rights; 9. Underlines the urgent need to establish an equitable, transparent and democratic international system to strengthen and broaden the participation of developing countries in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 10. Affirms that globalization is a complex process of structural transformation, with numerous interdisciplinary aspects, which has an impact on the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; 11. Also affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 12. Underlines, therefore, the need to continue to analyse the consequences of globalization for the full enjoyment of all human rights; 13. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/222. and requests him to seek further the views of Member States and relevant agencies of the United Nations system and to submit a substantive report on the subject to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/152 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. 62/152. Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/144 of 9 December 1998, by which it adopted by consensus the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms annexed to that resolution, and reiterating the importance of the Declaration and its wide dissemination, Recalling also all previous resolutions on this subject, in particular its resolution 60/161 of 16 December 2005 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/67 of 20 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling further Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. IV, sect. A. Noting with deep concern that in many countries persons and organizations engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms are frequently facing threats, harassment and insecurity as a result of those activities, including through restrictions on freedom of association or expression or the right to peaceful assembly, or abuse of civil or criminal proceedings, Gravely concerned that, in some instances, national security and counter-terrorism legislation and other measures have been misused to target human rights defenders or have hindered their work and safety in a manner contrary to international law, Gravely concerned also by the continuing high level of human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world and by the fact that in many countries impunity for threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders persists and that this has a negative impact on their work and safety, Concerned by the considerable number of communications received by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders that, together with the reports submitted by some of the special procedure mechanisms, indicates the serious nature of the risks faced by human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, Emphasizing the important role that individuals, civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations, groups and organs of society, including independent national institutions, play in the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including in combating impunity, promoting access to justice, information and public participation in decision-making and promoting, strengthening and preserving democracy, as well as in fighting poverty and promoting the right to development, and recalling that they all have rights as well as responsibilities and duties within and towards the community, Recognizing the substantial role that human rights defenders can play in supporting efforts to strengthen peace and development, through dialogue, openness, participation and justice, including by monitoring, reporting on and contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling that, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. certain rights are recognized as non-derogable in any circumstances and that any measures derogating from other provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlining the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations, as stated in General Comment No. 29 on states of emergency adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 40 (A/56/40), vol. I, annex VI. Acknowledging the significant work conducted by the Special Representative, and encouraging strengthened cooperation between the Special Representative and other special procedures of the Human Rights Council as well as other relevant United Nations bodies, offices, departments and specialized agencies and personnel, both at Headquarters and at the country level, within their mandates, Welcoming regional initiatives for the promotion and protection of human rights and the cooperation between international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights defenders, and encouraging further development in this regard, Welcoming also the steps taken by some States towards adopting national policies or legislation for the protection of individuals, groups and organs of society engaged in promoting and defending human rights, Recalling that the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights rests with the State, reaffirming that national legislation consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and other international obligations of the State in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms is the juridical framework within which human rights defenders conduct their activities, and noting with deep concern that the activities of some non-State actors pose a major threat to the security of human rights defenders, Emphasizing the need for strong and effective measures for the protection of human rights defenders, 1. Calls upon all States to promote and give full effect to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Resolution 53/144, annex. including by taking, as appropriate, practical steps to that end; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defendersSee A/62/225. and her contribution to the effective promotion of the Declaration and the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders worldwide; 3. Condemns all human rights violations committed against persons engaged in promoting and defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, and urges States to take all appropriate action, consistent with the Declaration and all other relevant human rights instruments, to eliminate such human rights violations; 4. Calls upon all States to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders, at both the local and the national levels, including in times of armed conflict and peacebuilding; 5. Also calls upon all States to ensure, protect and respect the freedom of expression and association of human rights defenders and, where registration is required, to facilitate registration, including through the establishment of effective and transparent criteria and non-discriminatory, expeditious and inexpensive procedures in accordance with national legislation; 6. Urges States to ensure that any measures to combat terrorism and preserve national security comply with their obligations under international law, in particular under international human rights law, and do not hinder the work and safety of individuals, groups and organs of society engaged in promoting and defending human rights; 7. Also urges States to take appropriate measures to address the question of impunity for attacks, threats and acts of intimidation, including cases of gender-based violence, against human rights defenders and their relatives, including by ensuring that complaints from human rights defenders are promptly investigated and addressed in a transparent, independent and accountable manner; 8. Urges all States to cooperate with and assist the Special Representative in the performance of his/her mandate and to provide all information in a timely manner as well as to respond without undue delay to communications transmitted to them by the Special Representative; 9. Calls upon States to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Representative to visit their countries, and urges them to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Special Representative with respect to the follow-up to and implementation of his/her recommendations so as to enable the Special Representative to fulfil his/her mandate even more effectively; 10. Invites States to translate the Declaration into national languages and to take measures to improve its dissemination; 11. Encourages States to promote awareness and training in regard to the Declaration in order to enable officials, agencies, authorities and the judiciary to observe the provisions of the Declaration and thus to promote better understanding and respect for individuals, groups and organs of society engaged in promoting and defending human rights; 12. Encourages relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, within their respective mandates and working in cooperation with States, to give due consideration to the Declaration and to the reports of the Special Representative, and in this context requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to draw the attention of all relevant United Nations bodies, including at the country level, to the reports of the Special Representative; 13. Requests that the Office of the High Commissioner as well as other relevant United Nations bodies, offices, departments and specialized agencies, within their respective mandates, consider ways in which they can assist States in strengthening the role and security of human rights defenders, including in situations of armed conflict and peacebuilding; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Representative with human, material and financial resources in order to enable him/her to continue to carry out his/her mandate effectively, including through country visits; 15. Requests all concerned United Nations agencies and organizations, within their mandates, to provide all possible assistance and support to the Special Representative in the implementation of his/her programme of activities; 16. Requests the Special Representative to continue to report annually on his/her activities to the General Assembly and to the Human Rights Council in accordance with his/her mandate; 17. Decides to consider the question at its sixty-fourth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/153 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/153. Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons The General Assembly, Deeply disturbed by the alarmingly high numbers of internally displaced persons throughout the world, for reasons including armed conflict, violations of human rights and natural or human-made disasters, who receive inadequate protection and assistance, and conscious of the serious challenges that this is creating for the international community, Recognizing that natural disasters are a cause of displacement and that the consequences of hazards can be prevented or substantially mitigated by integrating disaster risk reduction strategies into national development policies and programmes, Conscious of the human rights and the humanitarian dimensions of the problem of internally displaced persons, including in long-term displacement situations, and the responsibilities of States and the international community to strengthen further their protection and assistance, Emphasizing that States have the primary responsibility to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons within their jurisdiction as well as to address the root causes of the displacement problem in appropriate cooperation with the international community, Noting the growing awareness of the international community of the issue of internally displaced persons worldwide and the urgency of addressing the root causes of their displacement and finding durable solutions, including voluntary return in safety and with dignity, or local integration, Recalling the relevant norms of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, and recognizing that the protection of internally displaced persons has been strengthened by identifying, reaffirming and consolidating specific standards for their protection, in particular through the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement,E/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. Welcoming the increasing dissemination, promotion and application of the Guiding Principles when dealing with situations of internal displacement, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/46 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. and recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. regarding the need to develop global strategies to address the problem of internal displacement, Deploring practices of forced displacement and their negative consequences for the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by large groups of populations, and recalling the relevant provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court that define the deportation or forcible transfer of population as a crime against humanity and the unlawful deportation or transfer, as well as ordering the displacement of, the civilian population as war crimes,Art. 7, paras. 1 (d) and 2 (d), and art. 8, paras. 2 (a) (vii) and 2 (e) (viii) (see United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544). Welcoming the cooperation established between the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons and the United Nations as well as other international and regional organizations, and encouraging further strengthening of his collaboration in order to promote better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, Acknowledging with appreciation the important and independent contribution of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other humanitarian agencies in protecting and assisting internally displaced persons, in cooperation with relevant international bodies, Recalling its resolution 60/168 of 16 December 2005, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced personsSee A/62/227. and of his conclusions and recommendations; 2. Commends the Representative of the Secretary-General for the activities undertaken so far, for the catalytic role that he plays in raising the level of awareness about the plight of internally displaced persons and for his ongoing efforts to address their development and other specific needs, including through the mainstreaming of the human rights of internally displaced persons into all relevant parts of the United Nations system; 3. Encourages the Representative of the Secretary-General, through continuous dialogue with Governments and all intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, to continue his analysis of the root causes of internal displacement, the needs and human rights of those displaced, the development of benchmarks for assessing when displacement ends, measures of prevention and ways to strengthen protection, assistance and durable solutions for internally displaced persons, taking into account specific situations; 4. Also encourages the Representative of the Secretary-General, through continuous dialogue with Governments and all intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, to continue his efforts to promote comprehensive strategies that focus on prevention of displacement, on better protection and assistance and on durable solutions for those displaced, taking into account in this regard the primary responsibility of the States within their jurisdiction; 5. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that have provided protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and have supported the work of the Representative of the Secretary-General; 6. Expresses particular concern at the grave problems faced by many internally displaced women and children, including violence and abuse, sexual exploitation, forced recruitment and abduction, and welcomes the commitment of the Representative of the Secretary-General to pay more systematic and in-depth attention to their particular assistance, protection and development needs, as well as to other groups with special needs, such as severely traumatized individuals, older persons and persons with disabilities, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and bearing in mind Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000; 7. Notes with appreciation the increasing role of national human rights institutions in assisting internally displaced persons and in promoting and protecting their human rights; 8. Notes the importance of taking the human rights and the specific protection and assistance needs of internally displaced persons into consideration, when appropriate, in peace processes, and emphasizes that durable solutions for internally displaced persons, including through voluntary return, sustainable reintegration and rehabilitation processes and their active participation, as appropriate, in the peacebuilding process, are necessary elements of effective peacebuilding; 9. Welcomes the role of the Peacebuilding Commission in this regard, and urges the Commission to intensify its efforts, within its mandate, in cooperation with national and transitional Governments and in consultation with the relevant United Nations entities, to incorporate the rights and the specific needs of internally displaced persons, including their voluntary return, reintegration and rehabilitation, as well as related land and property issues, when advising on or proposing country-specific peacebuilding strategies for post-conflict situations in cases under consideration, where applicable; 10. Recognizes the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, welcomes the fact that an increasing number of States, United Nations agencies and regional and non-governmental organizations are applying them as a standard, and encourages all relevant actors to make use of the Guiding Principles when dealing with situations of internal displacement; 11. Welcomes the fact that the Representative of the Secretary-General continues to use the Guiding Principles in his dialogue with Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other relevant actors, and requests him to continue his efforts to further the dissemination, promotion and application of the Guiding Principles and to provide support for efforts to promote capacity-building and the use of the Guiding Principles, as well as the development of domestic legislation and policies; 12. Encourages States to continue to develop and implement domestic legislation and policies dealing with all stages of displacement, including through the identification of a national focal point within the Government for issues of internal displacement and through the allocation of budget resources, and encourages the international community and national actors to provide financial support and cooperation to Governments, upon request, in this regard; 13. Urges all Governments to continue to facilitate the activities of the Representative of the Secretary-General, in particular Governments with situations of internal displacement, and to give serious consideration to inviting the Representative to visit their countries so as to enable him to continue and enhance dialogue with Governments in addressing situations of internal displacement, and thanks those Governments that have already done so; 14. Invites Governments to give serious consideration, in dialogue with the Representative of the Secretary-General, to the recommendations and suggestions addressed to them, in accordance with his mandate, and to inform him of measures taken thereon; 15. Calls upon Governments to provide protection and assistance, including reintegration and development assistance, to internally displaced persons, and to facilitate the efforts of relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations in these respects, including by further improving access to internally displaced persons; 16. Emphasizes the central role of the Emergency Relief Coordinator for the inter-agency coordination of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons, and welcomes continued initiatives taken in order to ensure better protection, assistance and development strategies for internally displaced persons, as well as better coordination of activities regarding them; 17. Takes note of the efforts currently under way by the United Nations humanitarian system, emphasizes the need to strengthen further inter-agency arrangements and the capacities of the United Nations agencies and other relevant actors to meet the immense humanitarian challenges of internal displacement, and underlines in this regard the importance of an effective, accountable and predictable collaborative approach; 18. Encourages all relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian assistance, human rights and development organizations to enhance their collaboration and coordination, through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and in countries with situations of internal displacement, and to provide all possible assistance and support to the Representative of the Secretary-General; 19. Notes with appreciation the increased attention paid to the issue of internally displaced persons in the consolidated inter-agency appeals process, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 20. Recognizes the relevance of the global database on internally displaced persons advocated by the Representative of the Secretary-General, and encourages the members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and Governments to continue to collaborate on and support this effort, including by providing relevant data on situations of internal displacement and financial resources; 21. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by regional organizations, such as the African Union, the Organization of American States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Council of Europe, the Commonwealth and the Economic Community of West African States, to address the protection, assistance and development needs of internally displaced persons, and encourages them and other regional organizations to strengthen their activities and their cooperation with the Representative of the Secretary-General; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to provide his Representative, from within existing resources, with all necessary assistance to carry out his mandate effectively, and encourages the Representative to continue to seek the contributions of States, relevant organizations and institutions in order to create a more stable basis for his work; 23. Requests the Representative of the Secretary-General to prepare, for the General Assembly at its sixty-third and sixty-fourth sessions, a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 24. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons at its sixty-fourth session. RESOLUTION 62/154 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference) and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 108 to 51, with 25 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, United Republic of Tanzania 62/154. Combating defamation of religions The General Assembly, Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights in this regard, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. welcoming the resolve expressed in the Millennium Declaration to take measures to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies and to promote greater harmony and tolerance in all societies, and looking forward to its effective implementation at all levels, including in the context of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. Recalling the proclamation of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations,See resolution 56/6. and inviting States, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, within existing resources, other international and regional organizations and civil societies to contribute to the implementation of the Programme of Action contained in the Global Agenda, Welcoming the launch of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, intended to respond to the need for a committed effort by the international community, in order to promote mutual respect and understanding among different cultures and societies, and the appointment in this regard of the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Welcoming also the progress achieved in the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, Underlining the importance of increasing contacts at all levels in order to deepen dialogue and reinforce understanding among different cultures, religions, beliefs and civilizations, and welcoming in this regard the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran on 3 and 4 September 2007,A/62/464, annex. Reaffirming that discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief constitutes a violation of human rights and a disavowal of the principles of the Charter, Convinced that respect for cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of the different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards people belonging to different cultures, religions and beliefs generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing the valuable contributions of all religions and beliefs to modern civilization and the contribution that dialogue among civilizations can make to an improved awareness and understanding of common values, Reaffirming the need for all States to continue their national and international efforts to enhance dialogue and broaden understanding among civilizations, cultures, religions and beliefs, and emphasizing that States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance, respect for and freedom of religion and belief, Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Deeply alarmed at the rising trends towards discrimination based on religion and faith, including in some national policies and laws that stigmatize groups of people belonging to certain religions and faiths under a variety of pretexts relating to security and illegal immigration, Alarmed at the serious instances of intolerance, discrimination and acts of violence based on religion or belief, intimidation and coercion motivated by extremism, religious or otherwise, occurring in many parts of the world, in addition to the negative projection of Islam in the media and the introduction and enforcement of laws that specifically discriminate against and target Muslims, particularly Muslim minorities following the events of 11 September 2001, and threatening the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Noting with concern that defamation of religions could lead to social disharmony and violations of human rights, Recalling its resolution 61/164 of 19 December 2006, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/288. and the conclusions contained therein; 2. Expresses its deep concern about the negative stereotyping of religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief still in evidence in the world; 3. Strongly deplores physical attacks and assaults on businesses, cultural centres and places of worship of all religions as well as targeting of religious symbols; 4. Expresses its deep concern about programmes and agendas pursued by extremist organizations and groups aimed at the defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred, in particular when condoned by Governments; 5. Also expresses its deep concern that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism; 6. Notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001; 7. Recognizes that, in the context of the fight against terrorism and the reaction to counter-terrorism measures, defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred becomes an aggravating factor that contributes to the denial of fundamental rights and freedoms of members of target groups, as well as their economic and social exclusion; 8. Deplores the use of the print, audio-visual and electronic media, including the Internet, and any other means to incite acts of violence, xenophobia or related intolerance and discrimination against Islam or any other religion, as well as targeting of religious symbols; 9. Stresses the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions and incitement to religious hatred, against Islam and Muslims in particular; 10. Emphasizes that everyone has the right to hold opinions without interference and the right to freedom of expression, and that the exercise of these rights carries with it special duties and responsibilities and may therefore be subject to limitations as are provided for by law and are necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, public health or morals and respect for religions and beliefs; 11. Urges States to take action to prohibit the advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence; 12. Also urges States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and beliefs and the understanding of their value systems and to complement legal systems with intellectual and moral strategies to combat religious hatred and intolerance; 13. Urges all States to ensure that all public officials, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military, civil servants and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect people regardless of their different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; 14. Underscores the need to combat defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred by strategizing and harmonizing actions at the local, national, regional and international levels through education and awareness-raising; 15. Urges States to ensure equal access to education for all, in law and in practice, including access to free primary education for all children, both girls and boys, and access for adults to lifelong learning and education based on respect for human rights, diversity and tolerance, without discrimination of any kind, and to refrain from any legal or other measures leading to racial segregation in access to schooling; 16. Calls upon the international community to foster a global dialogue to promote a culture of tolerance and peace based on respect for human rights and diversity of religion and belief, and urges States, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the print and electronic media to support and participate in such a dialogue; 17. Affirms that the Human Rights Council shall promote universal respect for all religious and cultural values and address instances of intolerance, discrimination and incitement of hatred against members of any community or adherents of any religion; 18. Takes note of the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and include human rights aspects in educational programmes, particularly the World Programme for Human Rights Education proclaimed by the General Assembly on 10 December 2004,See resolutions 59/113 A and B. and calls upon the High Commissioner: (a) To continue those efforts, focusing on the contributions of cultures, as well as religious and cultural diversity; (b) To collaborate with other relevant international organizations in holding joint conferences designed to encourage the dialogue among civilizations and promote understanding of the universality of human rights and their implementation at various levels, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and the unit within the Secretariat mandated to interact with various entities within the United Nations system and coordinate their contribution to the intergovernmental process; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including on the possible correlation between defamation of religions and the upsurge in incitement, intolerance and hatred in many parts of the world, to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/155 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam. 62/155. Human rights and cultural diversity The General Assembly, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. as well as other pertinent human rights instruments, Recalling also its resolutions 54/160 of 17 December 1999, 55/91 of 4 December 2000, 57/204 of 18 December 2002, 58/167 of 22 December 2003 and 60/167 of 16 December 2005, and recalling further its resolutions 54/113 of 10 December 1999, 55/23 of 13 November 2000 and 60/4 of 20 October 2005 concerning the United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations, Noting that numerous instruments within the United Nations system promote cultural diversity, as well as the conservation and development of culture, in particular the Declaration of the Principles of International Culture Cooperation proclaimed on 4 November 1966 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its fourteenth session,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Fourteenth Session, Paris, 1966, Resolutions. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/254. Recalling that, as stated in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, contained in the annex to its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, States have the duty to cooperate with one another, irrespective of the differences in their political, economic and social systems, in the various spheres of international relations, in the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and in the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination and all forms of religious intolerance, Welcoming the adoption of the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations by its resolution 56/6 of 9 November 2001, Welcoming also the contribution of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, to the promotion of respect for cultural diversity, Welcoming further the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, chap. V, resolution 25, annex I. together with its Action Plan,Ibid., annex II. adopted on 2 November 2001 by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-first session, in which member States invited the United Nations system and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned to cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in the promotion of the principles set forth in the Declaration and its Action Plan with a view to enhancing the synergy of actions in favour of cultural diversity, Taking note of the Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Tehran on 3 and 4 September 2007, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that a culture of peace actively fosters non-violence and respect for human rights and strengthens solidarity among peoples and nations and dialogue between cultures, Recognizing that all cultures and civilizations share a common set of universal values, Recognizing also that the promotion of the rights of indigenous people and their cultures and traditions will contribute to the respect for and observance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations, Considering that tolerance of cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversities, as well as dialogue among and within civilizations, is essential for peace, understanding and friendship among individuals and people of different cultures and nations of the world, while manifestations of cultural prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia towards different cultures and religions generate hatred and violence among peoples and nations throughout the world, Recognizing in each culture a dignity and value that deserve recognition, respect and preservation, and convinced that, in their rich variety and diversity, and in the reciprocal influences that they exert on one another, all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all humankind, Convinced that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance towards and dialogue among various cultures and civilizations would contribute to the efforts of all peoples and nations to enrich their cultures and traditions by engaging in a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and intellectual, moral and material achievements, Acknowledging the diversity of the world, recognizing that all cultures and civilizations contribute to the enrichment of humankind, acknowledging the importance of respect and understanding for religious and cultural diversity throughout the world, and, in order to promote international peace and security, committing itself to advancing human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as well as to encouraging tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples, 1. Affirms the importance for all peoples and nations to hold, develop and preserve their cultural heritage and traditions in a national and international atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual respect; 2. Welcomes the adoption on 8 September 2000 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Member States consider, inter alia, that tolerance is one of the fundamental values essential to international relations in the twenty-first century and that it should include the active promotion of a culture of peace and dialogue among civilizations, with human beings respecting one another in all their diversity of belief, culture and language, neither fearing nor repressing differences within and between societies but cherishing them as a precious asset of humanity; 3. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 4. Affirms that the international community should strive to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by globalization in a manner that ensures respect for the cultural diversity of all; 5. Expresses its determination to prevent and mitigate cultural homogenization in the context of globalization, through increased intercultural exchange guided by the promotion and protection of cultural diversity; 6. Affirms that intercultural dialogue essentially enriches the common understanding of human rights and that the benefits to be derived from the encouragement and development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields are important; 7. Welcomes the recognition at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance of the necessity of respecting and maximizing the benefits of diversity within and among all nations in working together to build a harmonious and productive future by putting into practice and promoting values and principles such as justice, equality and non-discrimination, democracy, fairness and friendship, tolerance and respect within and among communities and nations, in particular through public information and educational programmes to raise awareness and understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity, including programmes in which the public authorities work in partnership with international and non-governmental organizations and other sectors of civil society; 8. Recognizes that respect for cultural diversity and the cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of universally accepted human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 9. Emphasizes that the promotion of cultural pluralism and tolerance at the national, regional and international levels is important for enhancing respect for cultural rights and cultural diversity; 10. Also emphasizes that tolerance and respect for diversity facilitate the universal promotion and protection of human rights, including gender equality and the enjoyment of all human rights by all, and underlines the fact that tolerance and respect for cultural diversity and the universal promotion and protection of human rights are mutually supportive; 11. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 12. Urges States to ensure that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity within their societies and, where necessary, to improve democratic institutions so that they are more fully participatory and avoid marginalization and exclusion of, and discrimination against, specific sectors of society; 13. Calls upon States, international organizations and United Nations agencies, and invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to recognize and promote respect for cultural diversity for the purpose of advancing the objectives of peace, development and universally accepted human rights; 14. Stresses the necessity of freely using the media and new information and communications technologies to create the conditions for a renewed dialogue among cultures and civilizations; 15. Requests the Secretary-General, in the light of the present resolution, to prepare a report on human rights and cultural diversity, taking into account the views of Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as the considerations in the present resolution regarding the recognition and importance of cultural diversity among all peoples and nations in the world, and to submit the report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session; 16. Requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to bear in mind fully the issues raised in the present resolution in the course of its activities for the promotion and protection of human rights; 17. Decides to continue consideration of the question at its sixty-fourth session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 62/156 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uruguay. 62/156. Protection of migrants The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the protection of migrants, the most recent of which is resolution 61/165 of 19 December 2006, and recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/47 of 19 April 2005,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction of any kind, in particular as to race, colour or national origin, Reaffirming also that everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State, and to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country, Recalling the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,Ibid., vol. 660, No. 9464. the Vienna Convention on Consular RelationsIbid., vol. 596, No. 8638. and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,Ibid., vol. 2220, No. 39481. Recalling also the provisions concerning migrants contained in the outcomes of all major United Nations conferences and summits, Underlining the importance of the Human Rights Council in promoting respect for the protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, including migrants, Taking note of advisory opinion OC-16/99 of 1 October 1999 on the Right to Information on Consular Assistance in the Framework of the Guarantees of the Due Process of Law and advisory opinion OC-18/03 of 17 September 2003 on the Juridical Condition and Rights of Undocumented Migrants, issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Taking note also of the Judgment of the International Court of Justice of 31 March 2004 in the case concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 4 (A/59/4), chap. V, sect. A.23; see also Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 12. and recalling the obligations of States reaffirmed therein, Recalling the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, held in New York on 14 and 15 September 2006 for the purpose of discussing the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development, which recognized the relationship between international migration, development and human rights, and taking note of the first meeting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, organized and hosted by the Government of Belgium from 9 to 11 July 2007, Emphasizing the global character of the migratory phenomenon, the importance of international, regional and bilateral cooperation and dialogue in this regard, as appropriate, and the need to protect the human rights of migrants, particularly at a time in which migration flows have increased in the globalized economy and take place in a context of new security concerns, Bearing in mind that policies and initiatives on the issue of migration, including those that refer to the orderly management of migration, should promote holistic approaches that take into account the causes and consequences of the phenomenon, as well as the full respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, Noting that many migrant women are employed in the informal economy and in less skilled work compared with that of men, which puts those women at greater risk of abuse and exploitation, Concerned about the large and growing number of migrants, especially women and children, who place themselves in a vulnerable situation by attempting to cross international borders without the required travel documents, and underlining the obligation of States to respect the human rights of those migrants, Underlining the importance for States, in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, to undertake information campaigns aimed at clarifying opportunities, limitations and rights in the event of migration, so as to enable everyone to make informed decisions and to prevent them from utilizing dangerous means to cross international borders, 1. Calls upon States to promote and protect effectively the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, especially those of women and children, and to address international migration through international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of countries of origin, transit and destination in promoting and protecting the human rights of all migrants, and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their vulnerability; 2. Also calls upon States to ensure that their laws and policies, including in the areas of counter-terrorism and combating transnational organized crime such as trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, fully respect the human rights of migrants; 3. Takes note with interest of the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the human rights of migrants;A/HRC/4/24 and Add.1-3; see also A/62/218. 4. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their FamiliesIbid., vol. 2220, No. 39481. as a matter of priority, and requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to raise awareness of and promote the Convention; 5. Urges States parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2225, No. 39574. and supplementing protocols thereto, namely, the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and AirIbid., vol. 2241, No. 39574. and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574. to implement them fully, and calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to them as a matter of priority; 6. Takes note of the report of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families on its fifth and sixth sessions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 48 (A/62/48). 7. Requests all States, international organizations and relevant stakeholders to take into account in their policies and initiatives on migration issues the global character of the migratory phenomenon and to give due consideration to international, regional and bilateral cooperation in this field, including by undertaking dialogues on migration that include countries of origin, destination and transit, as well as civil society, including migrants, with a view to addressing, in a comprehensive manner, inter alia, its causes and consequences and the challenge of undocumented or irregular migration, granting priority to the protection of the human rights of migrants; 8. Expresses concern about legislation and measures adopted by some States that may restrict the human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants, and reaffirms that, when exercising their sovereign right to enact and implement migratory and border security measures, States have the duty to comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law, in order to ensure full respect for the human rights of migrants; 9. Requests States to adopt concrete measures to prevent the violation of the human rights of migrants while in transit, including in ports and airports and at borders and migration checkpoints, to train public officials who work in those facilities and in border areas to treat migrants respectfully and in accordance with the law, and to prosecute, in conformity with applicable law, any act of violation of the human rights of migrants, inter alia, arbitrary detention, torture and violations of the right to life, including extrajudicial executions, during their transit from their country of origin to the country of destination and vice versa, including their transit through national borders; 10. Urges States to ensure that repatriation mechanisms allow for the identification and special protection of persons in vulnerable situations and take into account, in conformity with their international obligations and commitments, the principle of the best interest of the child and family reunification; 11. Underlines the right of migrants to return to their country of citizenship; 12. Reaffirms emphatically the duty of States parties to ensure full respect for and observance of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,Ibid., vol. 596, No. 8638. in particular with regard to the right of all foreign nationals, regardless of their immigration status, to communicate with a consular official of the sending State in case of arrest, imprisonment, custody or detention, and the obligation of the receiving State to inform the foreign national without delay of his or her rights under the Convention; 13. Strongly condemns the manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them, including on the basis of religion or belief, and urges States to apply the existing laws when xenophobic or intolerant acts, manifestations or expressions against migrants occur, in order to eradicate impunity for those who commit xenophobic and racist acts; 14. Requests all States, in conformity with national legislation and applicable international legal instruments to which they are party, to enforce labour law effectively, including by addressing violations of such law, with regard to migrant workers' labour relations and working conditions, inter alia, those related to their remuneration and conditions of health, safety at work and the right to freedom of association; 15. Encourages all States to remove obstacles that may prevent the safe, unrestricted and expeditious transfer of remittances of migrants to their country of origin or to any other countries, in conformity with applicable legislation, and to consider, as appropriate, measures to solve other problems that may impede such transfers; 16. Welcomes immigration programmes, adopted by some countries, that allow migrants to integrate fully into the host countries, facilitate family reunification and promote a harmonious, tolerant and respectful environment, and encourages States to consider the possibility of adopting these types of programmes; 17. Requests Member States, the United Nations system, international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders, especially the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, to ensure that the perspective of the human rights of migrants is included among the priority issues in the ongoing discussions on international migration and development within the United Nations system, bearing in mind the discussions of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development held pursuant to General Assembly resolution 58/208 of 23 December 2003; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the resources necessary, from within existing resources of the United Nations, for the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families to meet for two separate sessions in 2008, the first session to be of two consecutive weeks' duration and the second session to be of one week's duration, for the purpose of meeting the demands of the workload arising from the increasing number of reports of States parties that have been submitted to the Committee, and invites the Committee to consider ways of further improving the effectiveness of its working sessions; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution at its sixty-third session and to include in that report an analysis of the ways and means to promote the human rights of migrants, including through the use of data and statistics on the contribution of migrants to recipient countries, taking into account the views of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, and decides to examine the question further under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/157 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173) The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Uruguay. 62/157. Elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by which it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Recalling also article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other relevant human rights provisions, Underlining the importance of education in the promotion of tolerance, which involves the acceptance by the public of, and its respect for, diversity, including with regard to religious expressions, and underlining also the fact that education, in particular at school, should contribute in a meaningful way to promoting tolerance and the elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief, Considering that religion or belief, for those who profess either, is one of the fundamental elements in their conception of life and that freedom of religion or belief should be fully respected and guaranteed, Concerned at attacks on religious places, sites and shrines, including any deliberate destruction of relics and monuments, Recognizing the important work carried out by the Human Rights Committee in providing guidance with respect to the scope of the freedom of religion or belief, Emphasizing that States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and the media have an important role to play in promoting tolerance, respect and freedom of religion or belief, Recognizing the importance of interreligious and intrareligious dialogue and the role of religious and other non-governmental organizations in promoting tolerance in matters relating to religion or belief, and in this regard welcoming the High-level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace, held by the General Assembly on 4 and 5 October 2007, Recalling its previous resolutions on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief, the most recent being resolution 61/161 of 19 December 2006, as well as Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. IV, sect. A. 1. Condemns all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief, as well as violations of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief; 2. Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion applies equally to all people, regardless of their religions or beliefs, and without any discrimination as to their equal protection by the law; 3. Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if limitations are prescribed by law, are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in a manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 4. Recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of intolerance and violence directed against members of many religious and other communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and Christianophobia and the slow progress in the implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief;See resolution 36/55. 5. Recognizes with concern the situation of persons in vulnerable situations, including refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons, as regards their ability freely to exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief; 6. Expresses concern over the persistence of institutionalized social intolerance and discrimination practised against many in the name of religion or belief; 7. Condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audio-visual and electronic media or any other means; 8. Emphasizes that freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing; 9. Takes note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on incitement to racial and religious hatred and the promotion of tolerance;A/HRC/2/3. 10. Urges States to step up their efforts to eliminate intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, and to this end: (a) To ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief to all without distinction, inter alia, by the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, or the right to practise freely one's religion, including the right to change one's religion or belief, is violated; (b) To ensure that no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life, liberty or security of person because of religion or belief and that no one is subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention on that account and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights; (c) To ensure, in particular, the right of all persons to worship or assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for these purposes and the right of all persons to write, issue and disseminate relevant publications in these areas; (d) To ensure that, in accordance with appropriate national legislation and in conformity with international human rights law, the freedom of all persons and members of groups to establish and maintain religious, charitable or humanitarian institutions is fully respected and protected; (e) To ensure that all public officials and civil servants, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, and that all necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; (f) To promote and encourage, through education and other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in all matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; 11. Emphasizes the importance of a continued and strengthened dialogue among and within religions or beliefs, including among communities and religious leaders, and with the participation of women and youth, to promote greater tolerance, respect and mutual understanding; 12. Also emphasizes that equating any religion with terrorism should be avoided, as this may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned; 13. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of all actors in society, including non-governmental organizations and bodies and groups based on religion or belief, to promote the implementation of the Declaration, and further encourages their work in promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution; 14. Welcomes the work and the report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief;See A/62/280 and Corr.1. 15. Urges all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, to respond favourably to requests of the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries and to provide all necessary information for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary resources to fully discharge the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 17. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 18. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/158 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 62/158. Human rights in the administration of justice The General Assembly, Calling attention to the numerous international standards in the field of the administration of justice, Mindful of the importance of ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights in the administration of justice, in particular in post-conflict situations, as a crucial contribution to building peace and justice and ending impunity, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2007/23 of 26 July 2007 entitled "Supporting national efforts for child justice reform, in particular through technical assistance and improved United Nations system-wide coordination", Recalling its resolution 60/159 of 16 December 2005, as well as Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/43 of 19 April 2004 on human rights in the administration of justice,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. in which the Commission requested the Secretary-General to submit to it at its sixty-third session a report on human rights in the administration of justice, in particular juvenile justice, 1. Invites States to make use of technical assistance offered by the relevant United Nations programmes in order to strengthen national capacities and infrastructures in the field of the administration of justice; 2. Invites the Human Rights Council and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to closely coordinate their activities relating to the administration of justice; 3. Invites the Human Rights Council to continue consideration of the question of human rights in the administration of justice, based on the report of the Secretary-General on human rights in the administration of justice, including juvenile justice;A/HRC/4/102. 4. Welcomes the increased attention paid to the issue of juvenile justice by the United Nations system, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, particularly through technical assistance activities; 5. Also welcomes the strengthening of the Interagency Panel on Juvenile Justice, and encourages the members of the Panel to further increase their cooperation, in order to enhance the capacity of the Panel to respond favourably to requests for technical assistance in the field of juvenile justice; 6. Invites Governments, relevant international and regional bodies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations to devote particular attention to the issue of women in prison, including the children of women in prison, with a view to identifying and addressing the gender-specific aspects and challenges related to this problem; 7. Decides to continue its consideration of the question of human rights in the administration of justice at its sixty-fourth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/159 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Uruguay. 62/159. Protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming also the fundamental importance, including in response to terrorism and the fear of terrorism, of respecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, Reaffirming further that States are under the obligation to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons, Reiterating the important contribution of measures taken at all levels against terrorism, consistent with international law, in particular international human rights law and refugee and humanitarian law, to the functioning of democratic institutions and the maintenance of peace and security and thereby to the full enjoyment of human rights, as well as the need to continue this fight, including through international cooperation and the strengthening of the role of the United Nations in this respect, Deeply deploring the occurrence of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of the fight against terrorism, as well as violations of international refugee law and international humanitarian law, Recognizing that respect for all human rights, respect for democracy and respect for the rule of law are interrelated and mutually reinforcing, Noting with concern measures that can undermine human rights and the rule of law, such as the detention of persons suspected of acts of terrorism in the absence of a legal basis for detention and due process guarantees, the deprivation of liberty that amounts to placing a detained person outside the protection of the law, the trial of suspects without fundamental judicial guarantees, the illegal deprivation of liberty and transfer of individuals suspected of terrorist activities, and the return of suspects to countries without individual assessment of the risk of there being substantial grounds for believing that they would be in danger of subjection to torture, and limitations to effective scrutiny of counter-terrorism measures, Stressing that measures used in the fight against terrorism, including the profiling of individuals and the use of diplomatic assurances, memorandums of understanding and other transfer agreements or arrangements, must be in compliance with the obligations of States under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, Reaffirming that acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening the territorial integrity and security of States and destabilizing legitimately constituted Governments, and that the international community should take the necessary steps to enhance cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism,See sect. I, para. 17, of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993 (A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III). Reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable, and renewing its commitment to strengthen international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism, Reaffirming that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, Noting the declarations, statements and recommendations of a number of human rights treaty monitoring bodies and special procedures on the question of the compatibility of counter-terrorism measures with human rights obligations, Acknowledging the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in its resolution 61/177 of 20 December 2006, and recognizing that the entry into force of the Convention, expected before the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, will be a significant event, Emphasizing the importance of properly interpreting and implementing the obligations of States with respect to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and of abiding strictly by the definition of torture contained in article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1465, No. 24841. in the fight against terrorism, Recalling its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002, 58/187 of 22 December 2003, 59/191 of 20 December 2004, 60/158 of 16 December 2005 and 61/171 of 19 December 2006, Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/68 of 25 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/87 of 21 April 2004 Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/80 of 21 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, including Council decision 2/112 of 27 November 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. I, sect. B. Recalling also the establishment by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/80 of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Recalling further its resolution 48/141 of 20 December 1993 and, inter alia, the responsibility of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote and protect the effective enjoyment of all human rights, Acknowledging the work of the Human Rights Council in promoting respect for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism, Bearing in mind the special procedures review process being undertaken by the Human Rights Council, Recognizing the importance of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. and reaffirming its relevant clauses on measures to ensure respect for human rights for all, international humanitarian law and the rule of law as the fundamental basis for the fight against terrorism, 1. Reaffirms that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law; 2. Deplores the suffering caused by terrorism to the victims and their families, expresses its profound solidarity with them, and stresses the need to consider providing them with assistance on a voluntary basis; 3. Reaffirms the obligation of States, in accordance with article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. to respect certain rights as non-derogable in any circumstances, recalls, in regard to all other Covenant rights, that any measures derogating from the provisions of the Covenant must be in accordance with that article in all cases, and underlines the exceptional and temporary nature of any such derogations;See, for example, General Comment No. 29 on states of emergency adopted by the Human Rights Committee on 24 July 2001. 4. Calls upon States to raise awareness about the importance of these obligations among national authorities involved in combating terrorism; 5. Reaffirms that counter-terrorism measures should be implemented in full consideration of the human rights of persons belonging to minorities and must not be discriminatory on grounds such as race, colour, sex, language, religion or social origin; 6. Urges States to fully respect non-refoulement obligations under international refugee and human rights law and, at the same time, to review, with full respect for these obligations and other legal safeguards, the validity of a refugee status decision in an individual case if credible and relevant evidence comes to light that indicates that the person in question has committed any criminal acts, including terrorist acts, falling under the exclusion clauses under international refugee law; 7. Calls upon States to refrain from returning persons, including in cases related to terrorism, to their countries of origin or to a third State whenever such transfer would be contrary to their obligations under international law, in particular human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law, including in cases where there are substantial grounds for believing that they would be in danger of subjection to torture, or where their life or freedom would be threatened in violation of international refugee law on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, bearing in mind obligations that States may have to prosecute individuals not returned; 8. Also calls upon States to ensure that guidelines and practices in all border control operations and other pre-entry mechanisms are clear and fully respect their obligations under international law, particularly refugee law and human rights law, towards persons seeking international protection; 9. Urges States, while countering terrorism, to ensure due process guarantees, consistent with all relevant provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Geneva Conventions of 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. in their respective fields of applicability; 10. Opposes any form of deprivation of liberty that amounts to placing a detained person outside the protection of the law, and urges States to respect the safeguards concerning the liberty, security and dignity of the person and to treat all prisoners in all places of detention in accordance with international law, including human rights law and international humanitarian law; 11. Reaffirms that it is imperative that all States work to uphold and protect the dignity of individuals and their fundamental freedoms, as well as democratic practices and the rule of law, while countering terrorism; 12. Encourages States, while countering terrorism, to take into account relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions on human rights, and encourages them to give due consideration to the recommendations of the special procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council and the relevant comments and views of United Nations human rights treaty bodies; 13. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/298. and the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorismSee A/62/263. submitted pursuant to resolution 61/171, and takes note of the recommendations and conclusions contained therein; 14. Welcomes the ongoing dialogue established in the context of the fight against terrorism between the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee and the relevant bodies for the promotion and protection of human rights, and encourages the Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism Committee to strengthen the links and to continue to develop cooperation with relevant human rights bodies, in particular with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism and other relevant special procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, giving due regard to the promotion and protection of human rights in the ongoing work pursuant to relevant Security Council resolutions relating to terrorism; 15. Calls upon States and other relevant actors, as appropriate, to continue to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy,Resolution 60/288. which, inter alia, reaffirms respect for human rights for all and the rule of law as the fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism; 16. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner and the Special Rapporteur to continue to contribute to the work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, including by raising awareness about the need to respect human rights while countering terrorism; 17. Acknowledges with appreciation the cooperation between the Special Rapporteur and all other relevant procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council as well as the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, and urges them to continue their cooperation, in accordance with their mandates, and to coordinate their efforts, where appropriate, in order to promote a consistent approach on this subject; 18. Requests all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the performance of the tasks and duties mandated, including by reacting promptly to the urgent appeals of the Special Rapporteur and providing the information requested, as well as to cooperate with other relevant procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council dealing with the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; 19. Calls upon States to give serious consideration to responding favourably to requests by the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries; 20. Welcomes the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement the mandate given to her in 2005, in resolution 60/158, and requests the High Commissioner to continue her efforts in this regard; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 22. Decides to consider at its sixty-third session the report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. RESOLUTION 62/15 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/383, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 62/15. African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/53 of 10 December 1996 and 56/17 of 29 November 2001 and all its other relevant resolutions, as well as those of the Organization of African Unity, Recalling also the signing of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. at Cairo on 11 April 1996, Recalling further the Cairo Declaration adopted on that occasion,A/51/113-S/1996/276, annex. which emphasized that nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in regions of tension, such as the Middle East, enhance global and regional peace and security, Taking note of the statement made by the President of the Security Council on behalf of the members of the Council on 12 April 1996,S/PRST/1996/17; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1996. affirming that the signature of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty constituted an important contribution by the African countries to the maintenance of international peace and security, Considering that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in the Middle East, would enhance the security of Africa and the viability of the African nuclear-weapon-free zone, 1. Calls upon African States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)See A/50/426, annex. as soon as possible so that it may enter into force without delay; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the nuclear-weapon States that have signed the Protocols that concern them, and calls upon those that have not yet ratified the Protocols concerning them to do so as soon as possible; 3. Calls upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to the Treaty that have not yet done so to take all necessary measures to ensure the speedy application of the Treaty to territories for which they are, de jure or de facto, internationally responsible and that lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Treaty; 4. Calls upon the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that have not yet done so to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency pursuant to the Treaty, thereby satisfying the requirements of article 9 (b) of and annex II to the Treaty of Pelindaba when it enters into force, and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency on 15 May 1997;International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). 5. Expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General, the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the diligence with which they have rendered effective assistance to the signatories to the Treaty; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty". RESOLUTION 62/160 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 62/160. Enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to promoting international cooperation, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Article 1, paragraph 3, as well as relevant provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. for enhancing genuine cooperation among Member States in the field of human rights, Recalling its adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration on 8 September 2000See resolution 55/2. and its resolution 61/168 of 19 December 2006, and taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/54 of 20 April 2005 on the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling also the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held at Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and its role in the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights, Recognizing that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, including the effective promotion and protection of all human rights, Recognizing also that the promotion and protection of human rights should be based on the principle of cooperation and genuine dialogue and aimed at strengthening the capacity of Member States to comply with their human rights obligations for the benefit of all human beings, Reaffirming that dialogue among religions, cultures and civilizations in the field of human rights could contribute greatly to the enhancement of international cooperation in this field, Emphasizing the need for further progress in the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation, Underlining the fact that mutual understanding, dialogue, cooperation, transparency and confidence-building are important elements in all activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling the adoption of resolution 2000/22 of 18 August 2000, on the promotion of dialogue on human rights issues, by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at its fifty-second session,See E/CN.4/2001/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/46, chap. II, sect. A. 1. Reaffirms that it is one of the purposes of the United Nations and the responsibility of all Member States to promote, protect and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through, inter alia, international cooperation; 2. Recognizes that, in addition to their separate responsibilities to their individual societies, States have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level; 3. Reaffirms that dialogue among cultures and civilizations facilitates the promotion of a culture of tolerance and respect for diversity, and welcomes in this regard the holding of conferences and meetings at the national, regional and international levels on dialogue among civilizations; 4. Urges all actors on the international scene to build an international order based on inclusion, justice, equality and equity, human dignity, mutual understanding and promotion of and respect for cultural diversity and universal human rights, and to reject all doctrines of exclusion based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 5. Reaffirms the importance of the enhancement of international cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights and for the achievement of the objectives of the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance; 6. Considers that international cooperation in the field of human rights, in conformity with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and international law, should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 7. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms should be guided by the principles of universality, non-selectivity, objectivity and transparency, in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles set out in the Charter; 8. Calls upon Member States, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations to continue to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations for the enhancement of understanding and the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 9. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to consult States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations on ways and means to enhance international cooperation and dialogue in the United Nations human rights machinery; 11. Decides to continue its consideration of the question at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/161 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: China, Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries), El Salvador, Grenada and Philippines. by a recorded vote of 136 to 53, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 62/161. The right to development The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular, the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. Recalling also the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling further that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who make up nations, and that the individual is the central subject and beneficiary of development, Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of ActionA/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary of development, Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the General Assembly on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Deeply concerned that the majority of indigenous peoples in the world live in conditions of poverty, and recognizing the critical need to address the negative impact of poverty and inequity on indigenous peoples by ensuring their full and effective inclusion in development and poverty eradication programmes, Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness, interdependence and mutually reinforcing nature of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, including the right to development, Expressing concern over the suspension of the trade negotiations of the World Trade Organization, and stressing the need for a successful outcome of the Doha Development Round in key areas such as agriculture, market access for non-agricultural products, trade facilitation, development and services, Recalling the outcome of the eleventh session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to 18 June 2004, on the theme "Enhancing the coherence between national development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth and development, particularly of developing countries",See TD/412. Recalling also all its previous resolutions, Human Rights Council resolution 4/4 of 30 March 2007,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. III, sect. A. previous resolutions of the Council and those of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A. on the urgent need to make further progress towards the realization of the right to development as set out in the Declaration on the Right to Development, Welcoming the outcome of the eighth session of the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council, held in Geneva from 26 February to 2 March 2007, as contained in the report of the Working Group,A/HRC/4/47. Recalling the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006, the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 29 and 30 May 2006, and the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, Reiterating its continuing support for the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. as a development framework for Africa, Recognizing that poverty is an affront to human dignity, Recognizing also that extreme poverty and hunger are the greatest global threat that requires the collective commitment of the international community for its eradication, pursuant to millennium development goal 1, and therefore calling upon the international community, including the Human Rights Council, to contribute towards achieving that goal, Recognizing further that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic disparity, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the world, in particular in developing countries, Stressing that poverty eradication is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development and that poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted and integrated approach in addressing economic, political, social, environmental and institutional dimensions at all levels, especially in the context of the millennium development goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations adopted by consensus by the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council at its eighth session,A/HRC/4/47. and calls for their immediate, full and effective implementation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other relevant actors; 2. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Working Group as renewed for a period of two years by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 4/4,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. III, sect. A. with the recognition that the Working Group will convene annual sessions of five working days and present its reports to the Council; 3. Also supports the realization of the mandate of the high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development, established within the framework of the Working Group, as renewed for a period of two years by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 4/4, with the further recognition that the task force will convene annual sessions of seven working days and present its reports to the Working Group; 4. Emphasizes the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 establishing the Human Rights Council, and in this regard calls upon the Council to implement the agreement: (a) To promote and advance sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; (b) To agree on a programme of work that will lead to raising the right to development, as set out in paragraphs 5 and 10 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. to the same level and on a par with all other human rights and fundamental freedoms; 5. Notes with appreciation that the high-level task force, at its second meeting, examined millennium development goal 8, on developing a global partnership for development, and suggested criteria for its periodic evaluation with the aim of improving the effectiveness of global partnership with regard to the realization of the right to development;See E/CN.4/2005/WG.18/TF/3. 6. Stresses the importance of endorsement of the road map outlined in paragraphs 52 to 54 of the report of the Working Group on its eighth session, which would ensure that the criteria for the periodic evaluation of global partnerships, as identified in millennium development goal 8, prepared by the high-level task force and being progressively developed and refined by the Working Group, are extended to other components of millennium development goal 8 no later than 2009; 7. Also stresses that the above criteria, as endorsed by the Working Group, should be used, as appropriate, in the elaboration of a comprehensive and coherent set of standards for the implementation of the right to development; 8. Emphasizes the importance that, upon completion of the above phases, the Working Group take appropriate steps for ensuring respect for and practical application of these standards, which could take various forms, including guidelines on the implementation of the right to development, and evolve into a basis for consideration of an international legal standard of a binding nature, through a collaborative process of engagement; 9. Stresses the importance of the core principles contained in the conclusions of the Working Group at its third session,E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A. congruent with the purpose of international human rights instruments, such as equality, non-discrimination, accountability, participation and international cooperation, as critical to mainstreaming the right to development at the national and international levels, and underlines the importance of the principles of equity and transparency; 10. Also stresses that it is important that the high-level task force and the Working Group, in the discharge of their mandates, take into account the need: (a) To promote the democratization of the system of international governance in order to increase the effective participation of developing countries in international decision-making; (b) To also promote effective partnerships such as the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. and other similar initiatives with the developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, for the purpose of the realization of their right to development, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; (c) To strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international level, while urging all States to undertake at the national level the necessary policy formulation and to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human right, and also urging all States to expand and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development in the context of promoting effective international cooperation for the realization of the right to development, bearing in mind that lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level; (d) To consider ways and means to continue to ensure the operationalization of the right to development as a priority, including through further consideration of the elaboration of a convention on the right to development; (e) To mainstream the right to development in the policies and operational activities of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, programmes and funds, as well as in policies and strategies of the international financial and multilateral trading systems, taking into account in this regard that the core principles of the international economic, commercial and financial spheres, such as equity, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, participation and international cooperation, including effective partnerships for development, are indispensable in achieving the right to development and preventing discriminatory treatment arising out of political or other non-economic considerations, in addressing the issues of concern to the developing countries; 11. Requests the Human Rights Council to ensure that its Advisory Committee pursues the ongoing work of the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on the right to development, in accordance with the relevant provisions of General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights resolutions, and in compliance with decisions to be taken by the Human Rights Council, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress in this regard to the Assembly at its sixty-third session; 12. Invites Member States and all other stakeholders to participate actively in future sessions of the Social Forum, while recognizing the strong support extended to the Forum at its previous four sessions by the Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights; 13. Reaffirms the commitment to implement the goals and targets set out in all the outcome documents of the major United Nations conferences and summits and their review processes, in particular those relating to the realization of the right to development, recognizing that the realization of the right to development is critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in those outcome documents; 14. Also reaffirms that the realization of the right to development is essential to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human rights; 15. Stresses that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized; 16. Reaffirms the primary responsibility of States to create national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development, as well as their commitment to cooperate with each other to that end; 17. Also reaffirms the need for an international environment that is conducive to the realization of the right to development; 18. Stresses the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the right to development at the international and national levels, and calls upon States to institute the measures required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human right; 19. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and the international levels; 20. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of integrating all countries into a globalized world, and stresses the need for policies and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and equitable; 21. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the international community, the gap between developed and developing countries remains unacceptably wide, that developing countries continue to face difficulties in participating in the globalization process and that many risk being marginalized and effectively excluded from its benefits; 22. Underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting the target set in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015, reaffirms the commitment made to meet that target, and emphasizes the principle of international cooperation, including partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries towards achieving the goal; 23. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets; 24. Recognizes the need to address market access for developing countries, including in agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those of interest to developing countries; 25. Calls for the implementation of a desirable pace of meaningful trade liberalization, including in areas under negotiation; implementation of commitments on implementation-related issues and concerns; review of special and differential-treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational; avoidance of new forms of protectionism; and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing countries as important issues in making progress towards the effective implementation of the right to development; 26. Recognizes the important link between the international economic, commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development, stresses, in this regard, the need for good governance and broadening the base of decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and the need to fill organizational gaps, as well as strengthen the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting; 27. Also recognizes that good governance and the rule of law at the national level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent, responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance; 28. Further recognizes the important role and the rights of women and the application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship between women's education and their equal participation in the civil, cultural, economic, political and social activities of the community and the promotion of the right to development; 29. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, girls and boys alike, in all policies and programmes, and for ensuring the promotion and protection of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the full development of their capacities; 30. Welcomes the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted at the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on 2 June 2006,Resolution 60/262, annex. stresses that further and additional measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts and programmes, and reiterates the need for international assistance in this regard; 31. Takes note with appreciation of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesResolution 61/106, annex I. on 13 December 2006, and notes that the Convention is open for signature; 32. Emphasizes its commitment to indigenous peoples in the process of realization of the right to development, and stresses the commitment to ensure their rights in the areas of education, employment, vocational training and retraining, housing, sanitation, health and social security recognized in international human rights obligations and highlighted in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/295 of 13 September 2007; 33. Recognizes the need for strong partnerships with civil society organizations and the private sector in pursuit of poverty eradication and development, as well as for corporate social responsibility; 34. Emphasizes the urgent need for taking concrete and effective measures to prevent, combat and criminalize all forms of corruption at all levels, to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2349, No. 42146. particularly chapter V thereof, stresses the importance of a genuine political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal framework, and in this context urges States to sign and ratify as soon as possible, and States parties to implement effectively, the Convention; 35. Also emphasizes the need to strengthen further the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and realization of the right to development, including ensuring effective use of the financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, and calls upon the Secretary-General to provide the Office of the High Commissioner with the necessary resources; 36. Reaffirms the request to the High Commissioner, in mainstreaming the right to development, to undertake effectively activities aimed at strengthening the global partnership for development between Member States, development agencies and the international development, financial and trade institutions, and to reflect those activities in detail in her next report to the Human Rights Council; 37. Calls upon the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies, to mainstream the right to development in their operational programmes and objectives, and stresses the need for the international financial and multilateral trading systems to mainstream the right to development in their policies and objectives; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, specialized agencies, funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations; 39. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session and an interim report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and realization of the right to development, and invites the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Right to Development to present a verbal update to the Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/162 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by China, and Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 132 to 54, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: None 62/162. Human rights and unilateral coercive measures The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on this subject, the most recent of which was resolution 61/170 of 19 December 2006, Human Rights Council resolution 6/7 of 28 September 2007See A/HRC/6/L.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53). and previous resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, Reaffirming the pertinent principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974, in particular article 32 thereof, in which it declared that no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/255. submitted pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1999/21 of 23 April 1999,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 3 (E/1999/23), chap. II, sect. A. and the reports of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 52/120 of 12 December 1997A/53/293 and Add.1. and 55/110 of 4 December 2000,A/56/207 and Add.1. Stressing that unilateral coercive measures and legislation are contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States, Recognizing the universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated character of all human rights, and in this regard reaffirming the right to development as an integral part of all human rights, Recalling the final document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. in which they agreed to oppose and condemn those measures or laws and their continued application, persevere with efforts to effectively reverse them and urge other States to do likewise, as called for by the General Assembly and other United Nations organs, and to request States applying those measures or laws to revoke them fully and immediately, Recalling also that at the World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, States were called upon to refrain from any unilateral coercive measure not in accordance with international law and the Charter that creates obstacles to trade relations among States and impedes the full realization of all human rights, and also severely threatens the freedom of trade,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Bearing in mind all the references to this question in the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development adopted by the World Summit for Social Development on 12 March 1995,Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women on 15 September 1995,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda adopted by the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) on 14 June 1996,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and their five-year reviews, Expressing its concern about the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international relations, trade, investment and cooperation, Expressing its grave concern that, in some countries, the situation of children is adversely affected by unilateral coercive measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that create obstacles to trade relations among States, impede the full realization of social and economic development and hinder the well-being of the population in the affected countries, with particular consequences for women and children, including adolescents, Deeply concerned that, despite the recommendations adopted on this question by the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Human Rights and recent major United Nations conferences, and contrary to general international law and the Charter, unilateral coercive measures continue to be promulgated and implemented with all their negative implications for the social-humanitarian activities and economic and social development of developing countries, including their extraterritorial effects, thereby creating additional obstacles to the full enjoyment of all human rights by peoples and individuals under the jurisdiction of other States, Bearing in mind all the extraterritorial effects of any unilateral legislative, administrative and economic measures, policies and practices of a coercive nature against the development process and the enhancement of human rights in developing countries, which create obstacles to the full realization of all human rights, Reaffirming that unilateral coercive measures are a major obstacle to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. Recalling article 1, paragraph 2, common to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. which provides, inter alia, that in no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence, Noting the continuing efforts of the open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council, and reaffirming in particular its criteria, according to which unilateral coercive measures are one of the obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development, 1. Urges all States to stop adopting or implementing any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States, in particular those of a coercive nature with all their extraterritorial effects, which create obstacles to trade relations among States, thus impeding the full realization of the rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other international human rights instruments, in particular the right of individuals and peoples to development; 2. Also urges all States not to adopt any unilateral measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter that impede the full achievement of economic and social development by the population of the affected countries, in particular children and women, that hinder their well-being and that create obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights, including the right of everyone to a standard of living adequate for his or her health and well-being and his or her right to food, medical care and the necessary social services, as well as to ensure that food and medicine are not used as tools for political pressure; 3. Strongly objects to the extraterritorial nature of those measures which, in addition, threaten the sovereignty of States, and in this context calls upon all Member States to neither recognize those measures nor to apply them, as well as to take administrative or legislative measures, as appropriate, to counteract the extraterritorial applications or effects of unilateral coercive measures; 4. Condemns the continued unilateral application and enforcement by certain Powers of unilateral coercive measures, and rejects those measures with all their extraterritorial effects as being tools for political or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, adopted with a view to preventing those countries from exercising their right to decide, of their own free will, their own political, economic and social systems, and because of the negative effects of those measures on the realization of all the human rights of vast sectors of their populations, in particular children, women and the elderly; 5. Reaffirms that essential goods such as food and medicines should not be used as tools for political coercion and that under no circumstances should people be deprived of their own means of subsistence and development; 6. Calls upon Member States that have initiated such measures to abide by the principles of international law, the Charter, the declarations of the United Nations and world conferences and relevant resolutions and to commit themselves to their obligations and responsibilities arising from the international human rights instruments to which they are party by revoking such measures at the earliest possible time; 7. Reaffirms, in this context, the right of all peoples to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development; 8. Recalls that, according to the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, and the relevant principles and provisions contained in the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States proclaimed by the Assembly in its resolution 3281 (XXIX), in particular article 32 thereof, no State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights and to secure from it advantages of any kind; 9. Rejects all attempts to introduce unilateral coercive measures, and urges the Human Rights Council to take fully into account the negative impact of those measures, including through the enactment of national laws and their extraterritorial application which are not in conformity with international law, in its task concerning the implementation of the right to development; 10. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in discharging her functions relating to the promotion, realization and protection of the right to development and bearing in mind the continuing impact of unilateral coercive measures on the population of developing countries, to give priority to the present resolution in her annual report to the General Assembly; 11. Underlines that unilateral coercive measures are one of the major obstacles to the implementation of the Declaration on the Right to Development,Resolution 41/128, annex. and in this regard calls upon all States to avoid the unilateral imposition of economic coercive measures and the extraterritorial application of domestic laws which run counter to the principles of free trade and hamper the development of developing countries, as recognized by the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on the Right to Development; 12. Recognizes that in the Declaration of Principles adopted at the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003,A/C.2/59/3, annex, chap. I, sect. A. States were strongly urged to avoid and refrain from any unilateral measure in building the information society; 13. Supports the invitation of the Human Rights Council to all special rapporteurs and existing thematic mechanisms of the Council in the field of economic, social and cultural rights to pay due attention, within the scope of their respective mandates, to the negative impact and consequences of unilateral coercive measures; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, to continue to collect their views and information on the implications and negative effects of unilateral coercive measures on their populations and to submit an analytical report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, while reiterating once again the need to highlight the practical and preventive measures in this respect; 15. Decides to examine the question on a priority basis at its sixty-third session under the sub-item entitled "Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". RESOLUTION 62/163 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 126 to 54, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Chile, Mexico, Samoa, Singapore 62/163. Promotion of peace as a vital requirement for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/163 of 16 December 2005, Recalling also Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/56 of 20 April 2005 entitled "Promotion of peace as a vital requirement for the full enjoyment of all human rights by all",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Recalling further its resolution 39/11 of 12 November 1984 entitled "Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace", and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Underlining, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, its full and active support for the United Nations and for the enhancement of its role and effectiveness in strengthening international peace, security and justice and in promoting the solution of international problems, as well as the development of friendly relations and cooperation among States, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, Emphasizing its objective of promoting better relations among all States and contributing to setting up conditions in which their people can live in true and lasting peace, free from any threat to or attempt against their security, Reaffirming the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming its commitment to peace, security and justice and the continuing development of friendly relations and cooperation among States, Rejecting the use of violence in pursuit of political aims, and stressing that only peaceful political solutions can ensure a stable and democratic future for all people around the world, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring respect for the principles of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter and international law, Reaffirming also that all peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing that peace and development are mutually reinforcing, including in the prevention of armed conflict, Affirming that human rights include social, economic and cultural rights and the right to peace, a healthy environment and development, and that development is in fact the realization of those rights, Underlining the fact that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental rights, is contrary to the Charter and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation, Recalling that everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). can be fully realized, Convinced of the aim of creating conditions of stability and well-being, which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, Convinced also that life without war is the primary international prerequisite for the material well-being, development and progress of countries and for the full implementation of the rights and fundamental human freedoms proclaimed by the United Nations, Convinced further that international cooperation in the field of human rights contributes to creating an international environment of peace and stability, 1. Stresses that peace is a vital requirement for the promotion and protection of all human rights for all; 2. Also stresses that the deep fault line that divides human society between the rich and the poor and the ever-increasing gap between the developed and developing worlds pose a major threat to global prosperity, peace and security and stability; 3. Solemnly declares that the peoples of our planet have a sacred right to peace and that the preservation and promotion of peace constitutes a fundamental obligation of each State; 4. Emphasizes that the preservation and promotion of peace demands that the policies of States be directed towards the elimination of the threat of war, particularly nuclear war, the renunciation of the use or threat of use of force in international relations and the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations; 5. Affirms that all States should promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and an international system based on respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter and the promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development and the right of peoples to self-determination; 6. Urges all States to respect and to put into practice the purposes and principles of the Charter in their relations with other States, irrespective of their political, economic or social system and of their size, geographical location or level of economic development; 7. Reaffirms the duty of all States, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, to use peaceful means to settle any dispute to which they are parties and the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, as a vital requirement for the promotion and protection of all human rights of everyone and all peoples; 8. Calls upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to carry out a constructive dialogue and consultations with Member States, the specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations on how the Human Rights Council could work for the promotion of an international environment conducive to the full realization of the right of peoples to peace, and encourages non-governmental organizations to contribute actively to this endeavour; 9. Invites States and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms and procedures to continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights; 10. Decides to continue consideration of the question of the promotion of the right of peoples to peace at its sixty-fourth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/164 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 186 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 62/164. The right to food The General Assembly, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the issue of the right to food, in particular resolution 61/163 of 19 December 2006, and Human Rights Council resolution 6/2 of 27 September 2007,See A/HRC/6/L.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53). as well as all resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights in this regard, Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). which provides that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for her or his health and well-being, including food, the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and MalnutritionReport of the World Food Conference, Rome, 5-16 November 1974 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.II.A.3), chap. I. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. in which the fundamental right of every person to be free from hunger is recognized, Bearing in mind the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of ActionFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, adopted in Rome on 13 June 2002,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit: five years later, 10-13 June 2002, part one, appendix; see also A/57/499, annex. Reaffirming the concrete recommendations contained in the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, adopted by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in November 2004,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Session, Rome, 22-27 November 2004 (CL 127/REP), appendix D; see also E/CN.4/2005/131, annex. Bearing in mind paragraph 6 of its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, Reaffirming that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and that they must be treated globally, in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Reaffirming also that a peaceful, stable and enabling political, social and economic environment, at both the national and the international levels, is the essential foundation that will enable States to give adequate priority to food security and poverty eradication, Reiterating, as in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the Declaration of the World Food Summit: five years later, that food should not be used as an instrument of political or economic pressure, and reaffirming in this regard the importance of international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the necessity of refraining from unilateral measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and that endanger food security, Convinced that each State must adopt a strategy consistent with its resources and capacities to achieve its individual goals in implementing the recommendations contained in the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action and, at the same time, cooperate regionally and internationally in order to organize collective solutions to global issues of food security in a world of increasingly interlinked institutions, societies and economies where coordinated efforts and shared responsibilities are essential, Recognizing that the problems of hunger and food insecurity have global dimensions and that there has been virtually no progress made on reducing hunger and that it could increase dramatically in some regions unless urgent, determined and concerted action is taken, given the anticipated increase in the world's population and the stress on natural resources,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2006 (Rome, 2006). Noting that environmental degradation, desertification and global climate change are exacerbating destitution and desperation, causing a negative impact on the realization of the right to food, in particular in developing countries, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters, diseases and pests and their increasing impact in recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and livelihood and threatened agricultural production and food security, in particular in developing countries, Stressing the importance of reversing the continuing decline of official development assistance devoted to agriculture, both in real terms and as a share of total official development assistance, Welcoming the theme "The right to food", chosen by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to mark World Food Day on 16 October 2007, Taking note of the final Declaration adopted at the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on 10 March 2006,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 7-10 March 2006 (C 2006/REP), appendix G. 1. Reaffirms that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity and therefore requires the adoption of urgent measures at the national, regional and international levels for its elimination; 2. Also reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, so as to be able to fully develop and maintain his or her physical and mental capacities; 3. Considers it intolerable that more than 6 million children still die every year from hunger-related illness before their fifth birthday, that there are about 854 million undernourished people in the world and that, while the prevalence of hunger has diminished, the absolute number of undernourished people has been increasing in recent years when, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the planet could produce enough food to feed 12 billion people, twice the world's present population; 4. Expresses its concern that women and girls are disproportionately affected by hunger, food insecurity and poverty, in part as a result of gender inequality and discrimination, that in many countries, girls are twice as likely as boys to die from malnutrition and preventable childhood diseases, and that it is estimated that almost twice as many women as men suffer from malnutrition; 5. Encourages all States to take action to address gender inequality and discrimination against women, in particular where it contributes to the malnutrition of women and girls, including measures to ensure the full and equal realization of the right to food and ensuring that women have equal access to resources, including income, land and water, to enable them to feed themselves and their families; 6. Encourages the Special Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on the right to food to continue mainstreaming a gender perspective in the fulfilment of his mandate, and encourages the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and all other United Nations bodies and mechanisms addressing the right to food and food insecurity to integrate a gender perspective into their relevant policies, programmes and activities; 7. Reaffirms the need to ensure that programmes delivering safe and nutritious food are inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities; 8. Encourages all States to take steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right to food, including steps to promote the conditions for everyone to be free from hunger and, as soon as possible, to enjoy fully the right to food, and to create and adopt national plans to combat hunger, and recognizes in this regard the great efforts and positive developments with respect to the right to food in some developing countries and regions, including those highlighted in the interim report of the Special Rapporteur;See A/62/289. 9. Stresses that improving access to productive resources and public investment in rural development is essential for eradicating hunger and poverty, in particular in developing countries, including through the promotion of investments in appropriate, small-scale irrigation and water management technologies in order to reduce vulnerability to droughts; 10. Recognizes that 80 per cent of hungry people live in rural areas and 50 per cent are small-scale farm-holders, and that these people are especially vulnerable to food insecurity, given the increasing cost of inputs and the fall in farm incomes; that access to land, water, seeds and other natural resources is an increasing challenge for poor producers; and that support by States for small farmers, fishing communities and local enterprises is an element key to food security and provision of the right to food; 11. Stresses the importance of fighting hunger in rural areas, including through national efforts supported by international partnerships to stop desertification and land degradation and through investments and public policies that are specifically appropriate to the risk of drylands, and in this regard calls for the full implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. 12. Stresses also its commitments to promote and protect, without discrimination, the economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous peoples, in accordance with international human rights obligations and taking into account, as appropriate, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,Resolution 61/295, annex. acknowledges that many indigenous organizations and representatives of indigenous communities have expressed in different forums their deep concerns over the obstacles and challenges they face for the full enjoyment of the right to food, and calls upon States to take special actions to combat the root causes of the disproportionately high level of hunger and malnutrition among indigenous peoples and the continuous discrimination against them; 13. Requests all States and private actors, as well as international organizations within their respective mandates, to take fully into account the need to promote the effective realization of the right to food for all, including in the ongoing negotiations in different fields; 14. Recognizes the need to strengthen national commitment as well as international assistance, upon request and in cooperation with affected countries, towards a better realization and protection of the right to food, and in particular to develop national protection mechanisms for people forced to leave their homes and land because of hunger or natural or man-made disasters affecting the enjoyment of the right to food; 15. Stresses the need to make efforts to mobilize and optimize the allocation and utilization of technical and financial resources from all sources, including external debt relief for developing countries, and to reinforce national actions to implement sustainable food security policies; 16. Recognizes the need for a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Round negotiations of the World Trade Organization as a contribution to creating international conditions that permit the realization of the right to food; 17. Stresses that all States should make all efforts to ensure that their international policies of a political and economic nature, including international trade agreements, do not have a negative impact on the right to food in other countries; 18. Recalls the importance of the New York Declaration on Action against Hunger and Poverty, and recommends the continuation of efforts aimed at identifying additional sources of financing for the fight against hunger and poverty; 19. Recognizes that the promises made at the World Food Summit in 1996 to halve the number of persons who are undernourished are not being fulfilled, and invites once again all international financial and development institutions, as well as the relevant United Nations agencies and funds, to give priority to and provide the necessary funding to realize the aim of halving by 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, as well as the right to food as set out in the Rome Declaration on World Food SecurityFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the World Food Summit, 13-17 November 1996 (WFS 96/REP), part one, appendix. and the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 20. Reaffirms that integrating food and nutritional support, with the goal that all people at all times will have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, is part of a comprehensive response to the spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases; 21. Urges States to give adequate priority in their development strategies and expenditures to the realization of the right to food; 22. Stresses the importance of international development cooperation and assistance, in particular in activities related to disaster risk reduction and in emergency situations such as natural and man-made disasters, diseases and pests, for the realization of the right to food and the achievement of sustainable food security, while recognizing that each country has the primary responsibility for ensuring the implementation of national programmes and strategies in this regard; 23. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders to support national efforts aimed at responding rapidly to the food crises currently occurring across Africa, and expresses its deep concern that funding shortfalls are forcing the World Food Programme to cut operations across different regions, including Southern Africa; 24. Invites all relevant international organizations, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to promote policies and projects that have a positive impact on the right to food, to ensure that partners respect the right to food in the implementation of common projects, to support strategies of Member States aimed at the fulfilment of the right to food and to avoid any actions that could have a negative impact on the realization of the right to food; 25. Takes note of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food,See A/62/289. and expresses its appreciation for the work and commitment of the first mandate-holder to achieving the realization of the right to food; 26. Supports the realization of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as extended for a period of three years by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 6/2;See A/HRC/6/L.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53). 27. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide all the necessary human and financial resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur; 28. Welcomes the work already done by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in promoting the right to adequate food, in particular its General Comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food (article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights),See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 2 and corrigendum (E/2000/22 and Corr.1), annex V. in which the Committee affirmed, inter alia, that the right to adequate food is indivisibly linked to the inherent dignity of the human person and is indispensable for the fulfilment of other human rights enshrined in the International Bill of Human Rights, and is also inseparable from social justice, requiring the adoption of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, at both the national and the international levels, oriented to the eradication of poverty and the fulfilment of all human rights for all; 29. Recalls General Comment No. 15 (2002) of the Committee on the right to water (articles 11 and 12 of the Covenant),Ibid., 2003, Supplement No. 2 (E/2003/22), annex IV. in which the Committee noted, inter alia, the importance of ensuring sustainable water resources for human consumption and agriculture in realization of the right to adequate food; 30. Reaffirms that the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security, adopted by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in November 2004,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Session, Rome, 22-27 November 2004 (CL 127/REP), appendix D; see also E/CN.4/2005/131, annex. represent a practical tool to promote the realization of the right to food for all, contribute to the achievement of food security and thus provide an additional instrument in the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration; 31. Welcomes the continued cooperation of the High Commissioner, the Committee and the Special Rapporteur, and encourages them to continue their cooperation in this regard; 32. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate with and assist the Special Rapporteur in his task, to supply all necessary information requested by him and to give serious consideration to responding favourably to the requests of the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries to enable him to fulfil his mandate more effectively; 33. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution and to continue his work, including by examining the emerging issues with regard to the realization of the right to food within his existing mandate; 34. Invites Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, treaty bodies and civil society actors, including non-governmental organizations, as well as the private sector, to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the fulfilment of his mandate, inter alia, through the submission of comments and suggestions on ways and means of realizing the right to food; 35. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/165 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. 62/165. Strengthening United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that among the purposes of the United Nations are those of developing friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples and taking other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace, as well as achieving international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Desirous of achieving further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Considering that such international cooperation should be based on the principles embodied in international law, especially the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant instruments, Deeply convinced that United Nations action in the field of human rights should be based not only on a profound understanding of the broad range of problems existing in all societies but also on full respect for the political, economic and social realities of each of them, in strict compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and for the basic purpose of promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms through international cooperation, Recalling its previous resolutions in this regard, Reaffirming the importance of ensuring the universality, objectivity and non-selectivity of the consideration of human rights issues, as affirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Affirming the importance of the objectivity, independence and discretion of the special rapporteurs and representatives on thematic issues and on countries, as well as of the members of the working groups, in carrying out their mandates, Underlining the obligation that Governments have to promote and protect human rights and to carry out the responsibilities that they have undertaken under international law, especially the Charter, as well as various international instruments in the field of human rights, 1. Reiterates that, by virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and that every State has the duty to respect that right within the provisions of the Charter, including respect for territorial integrity; 2. Reaffirms that it is a purpose of the United Nations and the task of all Member States, in cooperation with the Organization, to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and to remain vigilant with regard to violations of human rights wherever they occur; 3. Calls upon all Member States to base their activities for the promotion and protection of human rights, including the development of further international cooperation in this field, on the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant international instruments, and to refrain from activities that are inconsistent with that international framework; 4. Considers that international cooperation in this field should make an effective and practical contribution to the urgent task of preventing mass and flagrant violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and to the strengthening of international peace and security; 5. Reaffirms that the promotion, protection and full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as a legitimate concern of the world community, should be guided by the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity and should not be used for political ends; 6. Requests all human rights bodies within the United Nations system, as well as the special rapporteurs and representatives, independent experts and working groups, to take duly into account the contents of the present resolution in carrying out their mandates; 7. Expresses its conviction that an unbiased and fair approach to human rights issues contributes to the promotion of international cooperation as well as to the effective promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8. Stresses, in this context, the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 9. Invites Member States to consider adopting, as appropriate, within the framework of their respective legal systems and in accordance with their obligations under international law, especially the Charter, and international human rights instruments, the measures that they may deem appropriate to achieve further progress in international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 10. Requests the Human Rights Council to take duly into account the present resolution and to consider further proposals for the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation and the importance of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to invite Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to present further practical proposals and ideas that would contribute to the strengthening of United Nations action in the field of human rights through the promotion of international cooperation based on the principles of non-selectivity, impartiality and objectivity, and to submit a comprehensive report on the question to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session; 12. Decides to consider the matter at its sixty-fourth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/166 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 120 to 55, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Kazakhstan, Nauru, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, Uruguay 62/166. Respect for the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms and in solving international problems of a humanitarian character The General Assembly, Recalling that, in accordance with Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States have pledged themselves to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55, including universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, Recalling also the Preamble to the Charter, in particular the determination to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, Reaffirming that the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms must be considered a priority objective of the United Nations in accordance with its purposes and principles, in particular the purpose of international cooperation, and that, within the framework of these purposes and principles, the promotion and protection of all human rights is a legitimate concern of the international community, Considering the major changes taking place on the international scene and the aspirations of all peoples to an international order based on the principles enshrined in the Charter, including promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, peace, democracy, justice, equality, the rule of law, pluralism, development, better standards of living and solidarity, Recognizing that the international community should devise ways and means to remove current obstacles and meet the challenges to the full realization of all human rights and to prevent the continuation of human rights violations resulting therefrom throughout the world, and should continue to pay attention to the importance of mutual cooperation, understanding and dialogue in ensuring the promotion and protection of all human rights, Reaffirming that the enhancement of international cooperation in the field of human rights is essential for the full achievement of the purposes of the United Nations and that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, the promotion and protection of such rights and freedoms being the first responsibility of Governments, Reaffirming also that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, Reaffirming further the various Articles of the Charter setting out the respective powers and functions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, as the paramount framework for the achievement of the purposes of the United Nations, Reaffirming the commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations under other important instruments of international law, in particular those of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, Bearing in mind that, in accordance with Article 103 of the Charter, in the event of a conflict between the obligations of the Members of the United Nations under the Charter and their obligations under any other international agreement, their obligations under the Charter shall prevail, Recalling all its previous resolutions on the question, including resolution 59/204 of 20 December 2004, 1. Reiterates the solemn commitment of all States to enhance international cooperation in the field of human rights and in the solution to international problems of a humanitarian character in full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, inter alia, by the strict observance of all the purposes and principles set forth in Articles 1 and 2 thereof; 2. Stresses the vital role of the work of the United Nations and regional arrangements, acting consistently with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter, in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as in solving international problems of a humanitarian character, and affirms that all States, in these activities, must fully comply with the principles set forth in Article 2 of the Charter, in particular respecting the sovereign equality of all States and refraining from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or acting in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations; 3. Reaffirms that the United Nations shall promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion; 4. Also reaffirms that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, the promotion and protection of human rights and threats to international peace and security must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role; 5. Calls upon Member States to refrain from enacting or enforcing unilateral coercive measures as tools of political, military or economic pressure against any country, in particular against developing countries, which would prevent those countries from exercising their right to decide of their own free will their own political, economic and social systems; 6. Calls upon all States to cooperate fully, through constructive dialogue, to ensure the promotion and protection of all human rights for all and in promoting peaceful solutions to international problems of a humanitarian character and, in their actions towards that purpose, to comply strictly with the principles and norms of international law, inter alia, by fully respecting international human rights law and international humanitarian law; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of Member States, organs, bodies and other components of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and to disseminate it as widely as possible; 8. Decides to consider the question at its sixty-fourth session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights". RESOLUTION 62/167 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 101 to 22, with 59 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu Against: Algeria, Belarus, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Russian Federation, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia 62/167. Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea The General Assembly, Reaffirming that States Members of the United Nations have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations that they have undertaken under the various international instruments, Mindful that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. Noting the submission by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of its second periodic report concerning the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,E/1990/6/Add.35. its second periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildCRC/C/65/Add.24. and its initial report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,CEDAW/C/PRK/1. as a sign of engagement in international cooperative efforts in the field of human rights, Taking note of the concluding observations of the treaty monitoring bodies under the four treaties, the most recent of which were given by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in July 2005,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/60/38), part two, paras. 26-76. Noting with appreciation the collaboration established between the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization in order to improve the health situation in the country, and the collaboration established with the United Nations Children's Fund in order to improve the quality of education for children, Recalling its resolutions 60/173 of 16 December 2005 and 61/174 of 19 December 2006, Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/10 of 16 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/13 of 15 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/11 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. and Human Rights Council decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), chap. II, sect. B. and mindful of the need for the international community to strengthen its coordinated efforts aimed at achieving the implementation of those resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaSee A/62/264. and of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea submitted in accordance with resolution 61/174,A/62/318. Welcoming the inter-Korean summit held from 2 to 4 October 2007 and the Declaration on the Advancement of North-South Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity adopted on 4 October 2007 by the two leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, as well as the recent progress achieved in the six-party talks, and encouraging the improvement of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including through effective follow-up, 1. Expresses its very serious concern at: (a) The continued refusal of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to recognize the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or to extend cooperation to him; (b) The persistence of continuing reports of systematic, widespread and grave violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including: (i) Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including inhuman conditions of detention, public executions, extrajudicial and arbitrary detention; the absence of due process and the rule of law, including fair trial guarantees and an independent judiciary; the imposition of the death penalty for political and religious reasons; and the existence of a large number of prison camps and the extensive use of forced labour; (ii) The situation of refugees and asylum-seekers expelled or returned to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and sanctions imposed on citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea who have been repatriated from abroad, leading to punishments of internment, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or the death penalty, and in this regard urges all States to ensure respect for the fundamental principle of non-refoulement and to treat those who seek refuge humanely; (iii) All-pervasive and severe restrictions on the freedoms of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association, and on equal access to information, by such means as the persecution of individuals exercising their freedom of opinion and expression, and their families; (iv) Limitations imposed on every person who wishes to move freely within the country and travel abroad, including the punishment of those who leave or try to leave the country without permission, or their families; (v) The violations of economic, social and cultural rights, which have led to severe malnutrition, widespread health problems and other hardship for the population in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inter alia, women, children and the elderly; (vi) Continuing violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women, in particular the trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution or forced marriage and the subjection of women to human smuggling, forced abortions, gender-based discrimination and violence; (vii) Continuing reports of violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, especially on the use of collective camps and of coercive measures that target the rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children; (viii) Violations of workers' rights, including the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, the right to strike as defined by the obligations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the prohibition of the economic exploitation of children and of any harmful or hazardous work of children as defined by the obligations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the Convention on the Rights of the Child;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. 2. Reiterates its very serious concern at unresolved questions of international concern relating to the abduction of foreigners in the form of enforced disappearance, which violates the human rights of the nationals of other sovereign countries, and in this regard strongly calls upon the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea urgently to resolve these questions, including through existing channels, in a transparent manner, including by ensuring the immediate return of abductees; 3. Notes the prompt reaction of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the latest floods and the openness shown in seeking outside assistance, and expresses its very deep concern at the precarious humanitarian situation in the country, compounded by the misallocation of resources away from the satisfaction of basic needs and by frequent natural disasters, in particular the prevalence of maternal malnutrition and of infant malnutrition, which, despite recent progress, continues to affect the physical and mental development of a significant proportion of children, and urges the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in this regard, to take preventive and remedial action, to facilitate access to humanitarian aid and measures to allow humanitarian agencies to secure its impartial delivery to all parts of the country on the basis of need in accordance with humanitarian principles, and to ensure food security, including through sustainable agriculture; 4. Strongly urges the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to respect fully all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, in this regard: (a) To immediately put an end to the systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights mentioned above, inter alia, by implementing fully the measures set out in the above-mentioned resolutions of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights, and the recommendations addressed to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the United Nations special procedures and treaty bodies; (b) To tackle the root causes leading to refugee outflows and criminalize those who exploit refugees by human smuggling, trafficking and extortion, while not criminalizing the victims; (c) To extend its full cooperation to the Special Rapporteur, including by granting him full, free and unimpeded access to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and to other United Nations human rights mechanisms; (d) To engage in technical cooperation activities in the field of human rights with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and her Office, as pursued by the High Commissioner in recent years, with a view to improving the situation of human rights in the country; (e) To extend to United Nations agencies and other humanitarian actors all access necessary to allow them to carry out their mandates; 5. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at its sixty-third session, and to this end requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Special Rapporteur to continue to report his findings and recommendations. RESOLUTION 62/168 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 73 to 53, with 55 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Vanuatu Against: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia 62/168. Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other international human rights instruments, Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child,Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Recalling its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the most recent of which is resolution 61/176 of 19 December 2006, Regretting that no special procedure has been permitted to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran since July 2005, despite the standing invitation extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to all human rights thematic monitoring mechanisms in April 2002, 1. Expresses its deep concern at the ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as described in the above-mentioned resolutions, and at the failure of the Islamic Republic of Iran to implement the steps called for in those resolutions; 2. Expresses its very serious concern that, since the adoption of resolution 61/176, there have been, inter alia, confirmed instances of: (a) Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations; (b) Public executions, including multiple public executions, and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards; (c) Stoning as a method of execution, and the continued issuing of sentences of execution by stoning; (d) Execution of persons who were under the age of 18 at the time their offence was committed, contrary to the obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. (e) Arrests, violent repression and sentencing of women exercising their right to peaceful assembly, a campaign of intimidation against women's human rights defenders, and continuing discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice; (f) Increasing discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities, recognized or otherwise, including, inter alia, Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defenders, and, in particular, attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention; (g) Ongoing, systemic and serious restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression, including those imposed on the media and trade unions, and increasing harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders from all sectors of Iranian society, including arrests and violent repression of labour leaders, labour members peacefully assembling and students; (h) Persistent failure to uphold due process of law rights, and violation of the rights of detainees, including the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary confinement; 3. Calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect fully its human rights obligations and in this regard to implement fully the above-mentioned resolutions, and in particular: (a) To eliminate, in law and in practice, amputations, flogging and other forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (b) To abolish, in law and in practice, public executions and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards; (c) To abolish, in law and in practice, the use of stoning as a method of execution; (d) To abolish, as called for by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in its report of January 2005,See CRC/C/146. executions of persons who at the time of their offence were under the age of 18; (e) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against women and girls; (f) To eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic or other minorities, recognized or otherwise, to refrain from monitoring individuals on the basis of their religious beliefs, and to ensure that access of minorities to education and employment is on par with that of all Iranians; (g) To implement, inter alia, the 1996 report of the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance,See E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.2. which recommended ways in which the Islamic Republic of Iran could emancipate the Baha'i community; (h) To end the harassment, intimidation and persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political views; (i) To uphold due process of law rights and to end impunity for human rights violations; 4. Encourages the thematic special procedures of the Human Rights Council to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran and otherwise continue their work to improve the situation of human rights in the country, and urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to live up to the commitment it made when it issued a standing invitation to special procedures by cooperating with them, and to illustrate how their subsequent recommendations are being addressed; 5. Decides to continue its examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at its sixty-third session under the item entitled "Promotion and protection of human rights", and to this end requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at that session a comprehensive report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. RESOLUTION 62/169 Adopted at the 76th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 72 to 33, with 78 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu Against: Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia 62/169. Situation of human rights in Belarus The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil their international obligations, Mindful that Belarus is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the first Optional Protocol thereto,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,Ibid., vol. 1465, No. 24841. the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenIbid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildIbid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2003/14 of 17 April 2003,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 3 (E/2003/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2004/14 of 15 April 2004Ibid., 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. and 2005/13 of 14 April 2005,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. Human Rights Council decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/61/53), part one, chap. II, sect. B. and its resolution 61/175 of 19 December 2006, Concerned that the presidential election of 19 March 2006 was severely flawed due to arbitrary use of State power and fell significantly short of Belarus' commitments at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to hold a free and fair election, that the Government of Belarus did not take measures to ensure that the local elections of 14 January 2007 met international standards and that the situation of human rights in Belarus in 2007 continued to significantly deteriorate, as documented in the reports of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus,A/HRC/4/16. which found that systematic violations of human rights continue to take place in Belarus, Disappointed that the Belarusian authorities again failed to create conditions for the Belarusian people to freely express their will during local elections on 14 January 2007 by denying the basic rights of freedom of assembly and association, as well as with the lack of progress made by the Government of Belarus in addressing noted shortfalls, 1. Expresses deep concern: (a) About the continued use of the criminal justice system to silence political opposition and human rights defenders, including through arbitrary detention, lack of due process and closed political trials of leading opposition figures and human rights defenders; (b) About the failure of the Government of Belarus to cooperate fully with all the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, in particular with the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Belarus, while noting the serious concern relating to the continued and systematic violations of human rights in Belarus and the further erosion of the democratic process expressed by seven independent human rights experts of the United Nations in a statement issued on 29 March 2006; (c) That in spite of detailed recommendations by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and dialogue between the Government of Belarus and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe following previous elections, and despite calls from the General Assembly to adopt the recommendations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe following the flawed presidential election of 2006, Belarus again failed to meet its commitments to hold free and fair elections during municipal elections in January 2007, including by using intimidation and the arbitrary application of registration standards to exclude opposition candidates, by severely restricting the access of registered candidates to voters and the mass media, through routine harassment, the detention and arrest of political and civil society activists, and the negative portrayal in the State media of opposition candidates and activists, including human rights defenders, and by preventing access by independent local observers to polling stations; (d) About the continued use of the arbitrary application of registration standards to prevent non-governmental organizations from operating, including the use of the arbitrary denial of leases and evictions to prevent organizations from acquiring valid addresses; (e) About the continued harassment and detention of Belarusian journalists and the suspension and banning of independent media covering local opposition demonstrations, that senior officials of the Government of Belarus were implicated in the enforced disappearance and/or summary execution of three political opponents of the incumbent authorities in 1999 and of a journalist in 2000 and in the continuing investigatory cover-up, as documented in the report adopted in resolution 1371 (2004) of 28 April 2004 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,See Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, document 10062. and that the Government of Belarus has ignored calls of that body to account for their disappearance; (f) About the failure of the Belarusian authorities to heed calls to reinstate the teaching licence of the European Humanities University in Minsk and about the increasing harassment of its students while the university operates in exile; (g) About continued persistent reports of harassment and closure of non-governmental organizations, national minority organizations, independent media outlets, religious groups, opposition political parties, independent trade unions, and independent youth and student organizations, and the harassment and prosecution of individuals, including students and their relatives, engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and democracy, especially those students returning to Belarus; 2. Urges the Government of Belarus: (a) To release immediately and unconditionally all individuals detained for politically motivated reasons and other individuals detained for exercising or promoting human rights; (b) To cease politically motivated prosecution, harassment and intimidation of political opponents, pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders, independent media, national minority activists, religious organizations, educational institutions and civil society actors, and to cease the harassment of students and create the conditions whereby they can continue their studies in Belarus; (c) To bring the electoral process and legislative framework into line with international standards, especially those of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to demonstrate such commitment through the parliamentary elections due in 2008 and to rectify the shortcomings of the electoral process, identified by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in its report of 7 June 2006, including election laws and practices that restrict campaigning opportunities for de facto opposition candidates, the arbitrary application of electoral laws, including with regard to the registration of candidates, obstruction of the right of access to the media, biased presentation of the issues by the State media and the falsification of vote counts; (d) To respect the rights to freedom of speech, assembly and association; (e) To suspend from their duties officials implicated in any case of enforced disappearance, summary execution and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, pending investigation of those cases, and to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to investigate fully and impartially such cases and to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice before an independent tribunal, and, if found guilty, to ensure that they are punished in accordance with the international human rights obligations of Belarus; (f) To uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief, including the ability to maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion and belief at the national and international levels; (g) To investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the mistreatment, arbitrary arrest and incarceration of human rights defenders and members of the political opposition; (h) To carry out the recommendations of the International Labour Organization Commission with regard to respecting core labour rights of freedom of association for workers; (i) To carry out all other steps called for by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/13,Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. as well as General Assembly resolution 61/175; 3. Insists that the Government of Belarus cooperate fully with the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, as well as with all mechanisms of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. RESOLUTION 62/16 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/384, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 62/16. Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) The General Assembly, Recalling that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. was opened for signature at Mexico City on 14 February 1967, Recalling also that, in its preamble, the Treaty of Tlatelolco states that military denuclearized zones are not an end in themselves but rather a means for achieving general and complete disarmament at a later stage, Recalling further that, in its resolution 2286 (XXII) of 5 December 1967, it welcomed with special satisfaction the Treaty of Tlatelolco as an event of historic significance in the efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security, Recalling that in 1990, 1991 and 1992 the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean approved and opened for signature a set of amendmentsA/47/467, annex. to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, with the aim of enabling the full entry into force of that instrument, Noting with satisfaction the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, which was observed in Mexico City on 14 February 2007, Highlighting that the Treaty of Tlatelolco is now in force for thirty-three sovereign States of the region, thereby consolidating the first nuclear-weapon-free zone established in a densely populated region, Noting with satisfaction the leadership of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in the convening of the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005, Reaffirming the importance of strengthening the Agency as the appropriate legal and political forum for ensuring full compliance with and implementation of the Treaty of Tlatelolco, as well as cooperation with the agencies of other nuclear-weapon-free zones, 1. Welcomes the fact that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. is now in force for the sovereign States of the region; 2. Urges the countries of the region that have not yet done so to sign or deposit their instruments of ratification of the amendments to the Treaty of Tlatelolco approved by the General Conference of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in its resolutions 267 (E-V), 268 (XII) and 290 (E-VII); 3. Encourages States members of the Agency to continue activities and efforts with a view to implementing the Declaration adopted at the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones;A/60/121, annex III. 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session the item entitled "Consolidation of the regime established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)". RESOLUTION 62/170 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.5, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). 62/170. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto The General Assembly, Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent of which was resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006, as well as relevant resolutions of the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on Human Rights, 1. Welcomes the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesResolution 61/106, annex I. and the Optional Protocol theretoIbid., annex II. on 13 December 2006, and expresses the hope that they will enter into force at an early date; 2. Also welcomes the fact that since the opening for signature of the Convention and the Optional Protocol on 30 March 2007, one hundred and nineteen States have already signed and fourteen States have ratified the Convention and sixty-seven States have signed and three States have ratified the Optional Protocol, and calls upon those States which have not yet done so to consider signing and ratifying the Convention and the Optional Protocol as a matter of priority; 3. Invites the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to assist States to become parties to the Convention and the Optional Protocol, including by providing assistance with a view to achieving universal adherence; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the staff and facilities necessary to support the effective performance of the functions of the Conference of States Parties and also to foresee all the necessary requirements for the installation and functioning of the Committee established under the Convention and the Optional Protocol after the entry into force of the Convention, as well as for the dissemination of information on the Convention and the Optional Protocol; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue the progressive implementation of standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services of the United Nations system, taking into account relevant provisions of the Convention, in particular when undertaking renovations; 6. Requests United Nations agencies and organizations, and invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to continue undertaking efforts to disseminate accessible information on the Convention and the Optional Protocol, to promote their understanding, to prepare for their entry into force and to assist States parties in implementing their obligations under these instruments; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the status of the Convention and the Optional Protocol and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/171 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.6, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Barbados, Belize, Benin (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Panama, Qatar, Slovenia, Suriname, Thailand and Turkey. 62/171. International Year of Human Rights Learning The General Assembly, Recalling that the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations include promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, Reaffirming the central importance of human rights education in the Universal Declaration of Human RightsSee resolution 217 A (III). and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, paras. 78-82. Recalling its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, in which it decided that the Human Rights Council should, inter alia, promote human rights education and learning as well as advisory services, technical assistance and capacity-building, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome, in which Heads of State and Government expressed their support for the promotion of human rights education and learning at all levels, including through the implementation of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, as appropriate, and encouraged all States to develop initiatives in that regard,See resolution 60/1, para. 131. Noting the complementarities between the World Programme for Human Rights Education and the International Year of Human Rights Learning, Acknowledging the important role played by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in promoting and coordinating the Education for All programmes, Welcoming the adoption by the Human Rights Council on 28 September 2007 of resolution 6/9 entitled "Development of public information activities in the field of human rights, including the World Public Information Campaign on Human Rights", resolution 6/10 entitled "United Nations declaration on human rights education and training", and resolution 6/24 entitled "World Programme for Human Rights Education",See A/HRC/6/L.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53). Acknowledging that non-governmental organizations play an important role at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and protection of human rights through education and learning, Considering that the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2008 is a suitable occasion for the United Nations to increase its efforts to promote a human rights culture worldwide through education and learning, Convinced that every woman, man and child, in order to realize their full human potential, must be made aware of all their human rights and fundamental freedoms, Convinced also that human rights learning should contribute to the fulfilment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a way of life for people everywhere, 1. Decides that the year commencing on 10 December 2008 shall be proclaimed the International Year of Human Rights Learning, to be devoted to activities undertaken to broaden and deepen human rights learning on the basis of the principles of universality, indivisibility, interdependency, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development, bearing in mind the duty of the State, regardless of the political, economic and cultural system, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds; 2. Calls upon Member States to intensify their efforts, throughout the Year and beyond, to promote human rights learning and education at the local, national and international levels, and encourages cooperation at all levels and with all relevant stakeholders to this end; 3. Invites the Human Rights Council and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to develop with Member States, in cooperation with civil society organizations and appropriate specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, activities suitable for promoting human rights learning, as appropriate, at all levels of society; 4. Decides to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsSee resolution 217 A (III). at a plenary meeting to be held on 10 December 2008, and encourages the participation of Member States at the highest level possible; 5. Also decides to devote a special meeting at the end of the Year, during its sixty-fourth session, to reviewing activities undertaken by Member States, relevant United Nations agencies and civil society during the Year, and further decides to determine the format of the meeting at a later date; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/172 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/440, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 62/172. Technical assistance for implementing the international conventions and protocols related to terrorism The General Assembly, Recalling all General Assembly and Security Council resolutions related to technical assistance in countering terrorism, Stressing the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation to prevent and suppress effectively terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, whenever and for whatever purposes, in particular by enhancing the national capacity of Member States through the provision of technical assistance, Reaffirming all aspects of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 60/288 of 8 September 2006, Acknowledging that, in the Strategy, Member States resolved to implement all relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions related to terrorism, Stressing the importance of the institutionalization of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force within the Secretariat in order to ensure overall coordination and coherence of the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system, with the aim of providing technical assistance to Member States, Mindful that, in the Strategy, Member States encouraged the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including its Terrorism Prevention Branch, to enhance, in close consultation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, its provision of technical assistance to States, upon request, to facilitate the implementation of the international conventions and protocols related to the prevention and suppression of terrorism and relevant United Nations resolutions, Bearing in mind that, in the Strategy, Member States encouraged the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to enhance cooperation with States to help them to comply fully with international norms and obligations to combat money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, Bearing in mind also that, in the Strategy, Member States encouraged relevant regional and subregional organizations to create or strengthen counter-terrorism mechanisms or centres and encouraged, where consistent with its existing mandate, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, to facilitate the provision of cooperation and assistance to that end, Recalling its resolution 61/181 of 20 December 2006, in which it invited all States to increase their support to the operational activities of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme through voluntary contributions to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund or through voluntary contributions in direct support of such activities, Recalling also that the Security Council, in its resolution 1535 (2004) of 26 March 2004, recognized that visits by the Counter-Terrorism Committee to States, with the consent of the State concerned, to monitor the implementation of Council resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 should be conducted, when appropriate, in close cooperation with relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and other United Nations bodies, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in particular with its Terrorism Prevention Branch, taking special care of the assistance that might be available to address States' needs, Expressing its appreciation for the efforts recently undertaken by the Terrorism Prevention Branch to maximize the efficiency of its technical assistance by providing it in the official languages of the United Nations, Noting with appreciation initiatives to facilitate the implementation of the Strategy, such as the Symposium on Advancing the Implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, held in Vienna on 17 and 18 May 2007 and organized by the Government of Austria, in cooperation with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 1. Commends the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including its Terrorism Prevention Branch, for providing, in close consultation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, technical assistance to States, upon request, to facilitate the implementation of the international conventions and protocols related to the prevention and suppression of terrorism and relevant United Nations resolutions, and requests the Office, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to continue its efforts in that regard; 2. Urges Member States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties without delay to the existing international conventions and protocols related to terrorism, and requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to provide legislative assistance to Member States, upon request, and to facilitate the implementation of those instruments; 3. Urges Member States to strengthen international cooperation, to the greatest extent possible, in order to prevent and suppress terrorism, including, when necessary, by entering into bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance, within the framework of the international conventions and protocols related to terrorism and relevant United Nations resolutions, and in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and to ensure adequate training of all relevant personnel in executing international cooperation; and requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to provide assistance to Member States, upon request, to that end; 4. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to intensify its efforts to provide Member States with technical assistance, upon request, to strengthen international cooperation in preventing and suppressing terrorism by facilitating the implementation of the international conventions and protocols related to terrorism, in particular by training criminal justice officials on the implementation of those international instruments, for instance through specialized training sessions and specialized technical tools and publications, in close coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force; 5. Recognizes the importance of the development and maintenance of fair and effective criminal justice systems, including the humane treatment of all those in pretrial and correctional facilities, in accordance with applicable international law as a fundamental basis of any strategy to counter terrorism, and requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, whenever appropriate, to take into account in its technical assistance programme to counter terrorism the elements necessary for building national capacity in order to strengthen criminal justice systems and the rule of law; 6. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, to continue to work with international organizations and relevant entities of the United Nations system, as well as with regional and subregional organizations, in the delivery of technical assistance, whenever appropriate and within its mandate, specifically to enhance legal cooperation, good practices and legal training in the area of counter-terrorism; 7. Expresses its appreciation to all Member States that have supported the technical assistance activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including through financial contributions, and invites all Member States to consider making additional voluntary financial contributions, as well as providing in-kind support, especially in view of the need for enhanced and effective delivery of technical assistance to assist Member States with the implementation of relevant provisions of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy;Resolution 60/288. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with sufficient resources for its activities, including in the area of counter-terrorism, within its mandate, for assisting Member States in the implementation of the strategy for the period 2008-2011 for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime;See Economic and Social Council resolutions 2007/12 and 2007/19. 9. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to report on expenditure for terrorism prevention activities, in the context of the consolidated budget for the biennium 2008-2009 for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its reconvened eighteenth session; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a written report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/173 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/440, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 62/173. Follow-up to the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and preparations for the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice The General Assembly, Emphasizing the responsibility assumed by the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice in pursuance of Economic and Social Council resolution 155 C (VII) of 13 August 1948 and General Assembly resolution 415 (V) of 1 December 1950, Acknowledging that the United Nations congresses on crime prevention and criminal justice, as major intergovernmental forums, have influenced national policies and practices and promoted international cooperation by facilitating the exchange of views and experience, mobilizing public opinion and recommending policy options at the national, regional and international levels, Recalling its resolution 56/201 of 21 December 2001, on the triennial policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/3 of 11 July 2003, on the progress in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 56/201, in which the Council recommended that all organizations of the United Nations development system should consider lessons learned and their dissemination as a specific required component of their activities, emphasized the importance of evaluation of operational activities of the United Nations system in order to enhance their effectiveness and impact, and called upon the Secretary-General to integrate into future reports a stronger focus on lessons learned, results and outcome, Recalling also its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, in which it emphasized that the United Nations system had an important responsibility to assist Governments to stay fully engaged in the follow-up to and implementation of agreements and commitments reached at the major United Nations conferences and summits, Recalling further its resolution 60/177 of 16 December 2005, in which it endorsed the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, adopted at the high-level segment of the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and approved by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its fourteenth session and subsequently by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2005/15 of 22 July 2005, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/26 of 27 July 2006, in which the Council requested the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to convene an intergovernmental group of experts to discuss the Eleventh Congress and previous congresses in order to accumulate and consider lessons learned from prior congresses with a view to developing a methodology for capturing lessons learned for future congresses, and to submit a report on its work to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its sixteenth session for its consideration, and welcomed the offer of the Government of Thailand to act as host to the intergovernmental group of experts, Recalling also its resolution 56/119 of 19 December 2001 on the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, Considering that, pursuant to its resolutions 415 (V) and 46/152 of 18 December 1991, the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is to be held in 2010, 1. Takes note of the report of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Lessons Learned from United Nations Congresses on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on its meeting held in Bangkok from 15 to 18 August 2006,E/CN.15/2007/6. and endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts;Ibid., chap. IV, paras. 35-47. 2. Reiterates its invitation to Member States to implement the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticeResolution 60/177, annex. and the recommendations adopted by the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticeSee Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Bangkok, 18-25 April 2005: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.IV.7). in formulating legislation and policy directives, where appropriate; 3. Encourages Member States to consider utilizing the reporting checklist developed by the Government of Thailand on implementation of the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses, as a useful self-assessment tool in their reporting on the follow-up to the Eleventh Congress; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to facilitate the organization of regional preparatory meetings, including meetings of the least developed countries, for the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare, in cooperation with the institutes of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme network, a discussion guide for the regional preparatory meetings for the Twelfth Congress, for consideration and approval by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and invites Member States to be actively involved in that process; 6. Accepts with gratitude the offer of the Government of Brazil to act as host to the Twelfth Congress, and requests the Secretary-General to initiate consultations with the Government and to report on them to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its seventeenth session; 7. Decides that the duration of the Twelfth Congress should not exceed eight days, including pre-Congress consultations; 8. Invites Member States to be represented at the Twelfth Congress at the highest possible level, for example by Heads of State or Government, Government ministers or attorneys general, to make statements on the theme and topics of the Twelfth Congress and to participate in interactive round tables; 9. Encourages the relevant United Nations programmes, specialized agencies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as other professional organizations, to cooperate with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the preparations for the Twelfth Congress; 10. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with the necessary resources, from within the overall appropriations of the programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009, for the preparations for the Twelfth Congress and to ensure that adequate resources are provided in the programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011 to support the holding of the Congress; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to make available the necessary resources for the participation of the least developed countries in the regional preparatory meetings for the Twelfth Congress and in the Congress itself, in accordance with past practice; 12. Requests the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, at its seventeenth session, to finalize the programme for the Twelfth Congress and to make its final recommendations on the theme and on the organization of round tables and workshops to be held by panels of experts, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure proper follow-up to the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly through the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its seventeenth session. RESOLUTION 62/174 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/440, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Barbados, Belarus, Benin (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lebanon, Nicaragua and Panama. 62/174. United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/182 of 20 December 2006 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/127. Bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Bearing in mind also the Programme of Action, 2006-2010, endorsed by the Round Table for Africa, held in Abuja on 5 and 6 September 2005,Available from www.unodc.org/art/en/ppaa.html. Aware of the devastating impact of crime on the national economies of African States and of the fact that crime is a major obstacle to harmonious and sustainable development in Africa, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, 1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 2. Also commends the initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in strengthening its working relationship with the Institute by supporting and involving the Institute in the implementation of a number of activities, including those contained in the Programme of Action, 2006-2010, on strengthening the rule of law and the criminal justice systems in Africa; Available from www.unodc.org/art/en/ppaa.html. 3. Further commends the Secretary-General for his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to provide the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 4. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; 5. Notes a significant increase in the levels of payment of member States' financial contributions to the Institute; 6. Urges the States members of the Institute to continue to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; 7. Urges all Member States and non-governmental organizations and the international community to continue adopting concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and to implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; 8. Urges all States that have not already done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2225, No. 39574. 9. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfilment of its mandated obligations; 11. Calls upon the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to continue to work closely with the Institute; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; 13. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue making concrete proposals, including for the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/175 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/440, para. 24)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia. 62/175. Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, and its resolution 61/181 of 20 December 2006 on strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity, Recalling also its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005 on the 2005 World Summit Outcome, in particular the sections on transnational crime and terrorism, Taking note with appreciation of the adoption by the Economic and Social Council of the strategy for the period 2008-2011 for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,See Economic and Social Council resolutions 2007/12 and 2007/19. which aims, inter alia, to enhance its effectiveness and flexibility in providing technical assistance and policy services, Recalling section XI of its resolution 61/252 of 22 December 2006, entitled "Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the role of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice as its governing body", where the Commission, as the principal United Nations policymaking body on crime prevention and criminal justice issues, was given the authority to approve the budget of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, and looking forward to the outcome of the reconvened sixteenth session of the Commission, to be held on 29 and 30 November 2007, Recalling also its resolution 61/209 of 20 December 2006, entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption", Reaffirming its resolutions relating to the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation and technical assistance in promoting and facilitating the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,United Nations, Treaty Series, vols. 2225, 2237, 2241 and 2326, No. 39574. the United Nations Convention against CorruptionIbid., vol. 2349, No. 42146. and all the international conventions and protocols against terrorism, including those recently entered into force, Reaffirming also the commitments undertaken by Member States in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. Recalling its resolution 61/180 of 20 December 2006, on improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons and the coordinating role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in this respect, Welcoming the joint launch of the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Labour Office, the International Organization for Migration, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations Children's Fund, as well as the planned Vienna Forum, to be held from 13 to 15 February 2008, which aims to raise awareness and foster international cooperation and global partnerships to effectively address trafficking in persons, in accordance with decision 16/1 of 27 April 2007 of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2007, Supplement No. 10 (E/2007/30/Rev.1), Part One, chap. I, sect. D. Taking into consideration all relevant Economic and Social Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 2007/20, 2007/21, 2007/22, 2007/23 and 2007/24 of 26 July 2007, and all those relating to the strengthening of international cooperation as well as the technical assistance and advisory services of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, promotion and reinforcement of the rule of law and reform of criminal justice institutions, including with regard to the implementation of technical assistance, in particular in Africa, Emphasizing that its resolution 61/143 of 19 December 2006 on the intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women has considerable implications for the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and its activities, Recalling the Bangkok Declaration on Synergies and Responses: Strategic Alliances in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,Resolution 60/177, annex. Recognizing that actions against transnational organized crime and terrorism are a common and shared responsibility, and stressing the need to work collectively to prevent and combat transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recognizing also the need to maintain a balance in the technical cooperation capacity of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime between all relevant priorities identified by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 61/181;A/62/126. 2. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as of the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the fulfilment of its mandate in crime prevention and criminal justice, including providing to Member States, upon request and as a matter of high priority, technical cooperation, advisory services and other forms of assistance, and coordinating with and complementing the work of all relevant and competent United Nations bodies and offices; 3. Recognizes the progress made by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the delivery of advisory services and assistance to requesting Member States in the areas of corruption, organized crime, money-laundering, terrorism, kidnapping, trafficking in persons, including the support and protection of victims, and international cooperation, with special emphasis on extradition and mutual legal assistance, as well as efforts undertaken in implementing the Programme of Action, 2006-2010, on strengthening the rule of law and the criminal justice systems in Africa,Available from www.unodc.org/art/en/ppaa.html. in order to reduce the impact of crime and drugs as impediments to security and development in Africa; 4. Notes the importance of continuing to enable Member States to strengthen their capacity in developing abilities to combat kidnapping in accordance with the United Nations Counter-Kidnapping Manual, and requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to continue to provide technical assistance and cooperation in this area, upon request by interested Member States; 5. Invites Member States to identify, on a continuous basis, best practices in combating trafficking in persons and to share the outcome with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and, where appropriate, with the other partners in the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, to further assist them in their efforts to combat the global threat of human trafficking; 6. Urges the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to increase collaboration with intergovernmental, international and regional organizations that have mandates related to transnational organized crime, as appropriate, in order to share best practices and to take advantage of their unique and comparative advantage; 7. Notes with satisfaction Economic and Social Council decision 2007/253 of 26 July 2007, according to which the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, at its seventeenth session, in April 2008, would hold a thematic discussion on the aspects of violence against women that fall within its mandate, and encourages Member States to be appropriately represented and to participate actively in the thematic debate; 8. Draws attention to the emerging policy issues identified in the report of the Secretary-General, inter alia, urban crime, the sexual exploitation of children, fraud and identity theft, and international trafficking in forest products, including timber, wildlife and other forest biological resources, and invites the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to explore, within its mandate, ways and means of addressing these issues, bearing in mind Economic and Social Council resolutions 2007/12 of 25 July 2007 and 2007/19 of 26 July 2007 on the strategy for the period 2008-2011 for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 9. Urges Member States and relevant international organizations to develop national and regional strategies, as appropriate, and other necessary measures, in cooperation with the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, to address effectively transnational organized crime, including trafficking in persons, the smuggling of migrants and illicit manufacturing of and transnational trafficking in firearms, as well as corruption and terrorism; 10. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and its regional offices in building capacity at the local level in the fight against transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, and urges the Office to consider regional vulnerabilities, projects and impact in the fight against transnational organized crime, in particular in developing countries, when deciding to close and allocate offices, with a view to maintaining an effective level of support to national and regional efforts in those areas; 11. Urges all Member States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and the Protocols thereto,United Nations, Treaty Series, vols. 2225, 2237, 2241 and 2326, No. 39574. the United Nations Convention against Corruption (Merida Convention)Ibid., vol. 2349, No. 42146. and the international conventions and protocols related to terrorism, and encourages States parties to continue to provide full support to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, including providing information to the Conferences regarding compliance with the treaties; 12. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to enhance its technical assistance to Member States, upon request, to strengthen international cooperation in preventing and combating terrorism through the facilitation of the ratification and implementation of the universal conventions and protocols related to terrorism, in close consultation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate, as well as to contribute to the work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, and invites Member States to provide the Office with appropriate resources for its mandate; 13. Encourages Member States to take relevant measures, as appropriate to their national contexts, to ensure the use and application of the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, including the consideration and, where they deem it necessary, dissemination of existing manuals and handbooks developed and published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 14. Reiterates the importance of providing the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient, stable and predictable funding for the full implementation of its mandates, in conformity with the high priority accorded to it and in accordance with the increasing demand for its services, in particular with regard to the provision of increased assistance to developing countries, countries with economies in transition and those emerging from conflict, in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice reform; 15. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the full implementation of its mandates, in conformity with its high priorities, and to provide adequate support to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the mandates of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, reflecting also emerging policy issues and possible responses. RESOLUTION 62/176 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/441, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia. 62/176. International cooperation against the world drug problem The General Assembly, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the provisions of the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. addressing the world drug problem, its resolution 61/183 of 20 December 2006 and its other previous relevant resolutions, Reaffirming the Political Declaration adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special sessionResolution S-20/2, annex. and the importance of meeting the objectives targeted for 2008, Reaffirming also the joint ministerial statement adopted at the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C; see also A/58/124, sect. II.A. the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development, adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session,Resolution S-20/4 E. Gravely concerned that, despite continued increased efforts by States, relevant organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, the world drug problem continues to constitute a serious threat to public health and safety and the well-being of humanity, in particular children and young people and their families, and to the national security and sovereignty of States, and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development, Concerned by the serious challenges and threats posed by the continuing links between illicit drug trafficking and terrorism and other national and transnational criminal activities and transnational criminal networks, inter alia, trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, money-laundering, financing of terrorism, corruption, trafficking in arms and trafficking in chemical precursors, and reaffirming that strong and effective international cooperation is needed to counter these threats, Underlining the value of objective, scientific, balanced and transparent assessment by Member States of the global progress achieved and of the difficulties encountered in meeting the goals and targets set by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, Recognizing that international cooperation in countering drug abuse and illicit production and trafficking has shown that positive results can be achieved through sustained and collective efforts, and expressing its appreciation for the initiatives in this regard, Bearing in mind the important role that civil society, including non-governmental organizations, plays in combating the world drug problem, I International cooperation to counter the world drug problem and follow-up to the twentieth special session 1. Reaffirms that countering the world drug problem is a common and shared responsibility that must be addressed in a multilateral setting, requires an integrated and balanced approach and must be carried out in full conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and other provisions of international law, and in particular with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, for the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of States and for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and on the basis of the principles of equal rights and mutual respect; 2. Also reaffirms that there shall be a balanced approach between demand reduction and supply reduction, each reinforcing the other, in an integrated approach to solving the world drug problem; 3. Welcomes the decision by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to convene a high-level segment, during its fifty-second session, in order to allow time to assess the implementation of the declarations and measures adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2007, Supplement No. 8 (E/2007/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 50/12. 4. Also welcomes in this regard the decision by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to devote the thematic debate at its fifty-first session to a discussion by Member States on progress made in meeting the goals and targets set at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2007, Supplement No. 8 (E/2007/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 50/12. taking into account the presentation by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime of its final assessment report, as well as relevant supplementary information as set out in Commission resolutions 49/1 and 49/2;Ibid., 2006, Supplement No. 8 (E/2006/28), chap. I, sect. C. 5. Calls upon States and other relevant actors to evaluate progress made since 1998 towards meeting the goals and targets set at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly; 6. Urges all States to continue to promote and implement, including by allocating adequate resources and developing clear and consistent national policies, the outcomes of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly,Resolutions S-20/2, S-20/3 and S-20/4 A-E. as well as the outcome of the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C; see also A/58/124, sect. II.A. and to implement the Action PlanResolution 54/132, annex. for the Implementation of the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand ReductionResolution S-20/3, annex. and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs in their populations, taking into account, inter alia, the results of the assessment of the implementation of the declarations and measures adopted by the Assembly at its twentieth special session; 7. Urges States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to, and States parties to implement, as a matter of priority, all the provisions of, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 976, No. 14152. the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,Ibid., vol. 1019, No. 14956. the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988,Ibid., vol. 1582, No. 27627. the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretoIbid., vols. 2225, 2237, 2241 and 2326, No. 39574. and the United Nations Convention against Corruption;Ibid., vol. 2349, No. 42146. 8. Urges all States to strengthen their efforts to achieve the goals set for 2008 at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly by: (a) Promoting international initiatives in order to eliminate or reduce significantly the illicit manufacture of, trafficking in and marketing of drugs and other psychotropic substances, including synthetic drugs, and the diversion of precursors, other transnational criminal activities, including money-laundering and trafficking in arms, and corruption; (b) Achieving significant and measurable results in the field of demand reduction, including through prevention and treatment strategies and programmes to reduce drug use, with particular focus on children and young people; 9. Urges Member States to fulfil their reporting obligations on the follow-up action to implement the outcomes of the twentieth special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem and to report fully on all measures agreed upon at the special session, including by providing data that are reliable and internationally comparable; 10. Encourages States to consider prevention and treatment of drug use disorders as governmental health and social priorities, and to consider consulting and working with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in developing, implementing and evaluating policies and programmes, in particular those related to demand reduction and prevention of drug abuse, and cooperating with civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in alternative development programmes; 11. Calls upon States and organizations with expertise in community capacity-building to provide, as needed, access to treatment, health care and social services for drug users, in particular those living with HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases, and to extend support to States requiring such expertise, consistent with the international drug control treaties; 12. Urges all Member States to implement the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Declaration of the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction and to strengthen their national efforts to counter the abuse of illicit drugs in their populations, in particular among children and young people; 13. Encourages Member States to identify drug control priorities to be set for future concerted action and to consider making voluntary public commitments to tackle present challenges in drug trafficking; 14. Calls upon States to expand prevention, treatment and rehabilitation initiatives, while fully respecting the dignity of drug-addicted persons, and to take further action to improve data collection and evaluation capacity on the demand for illicit drugs, including the demand for synthetic drugs, and, where appropriate, abuse of and addiction to prescription drugs; 15. Urges States to continue working towards achieving a significant and measurable reduction of drug abuse by 2008; 16. Reaffirms the need for a comprehensive approach to the elimination of illicit narcotic crops in line with the Action Plan on International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development, adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session;Resolution S-20/4 E. 17. Calls for a comprehensive approach integrating alternative development programmes, including, where appropriate, preventive and innovative alternative development, into wider economic and social development programmes, with the support of a deeper international cooperation and the participation of the private sector, as appropriate; 18. Invites States to sustain and increase international cooperation and, where needed, technical assistance to countries implementing policies and programmes against drug production, including illicit crop eradication and alternative development programmes; 19. Stresses the importance of the contribution of the United Nations system and the international community to the economic and social development of the communities that benefit from innovative alternative programmes to eradicate illicit drug production, inter alia, in reforestation, agriculture and small and medium-sized enterprises; 20. Encourages States to establish comprehensive monitoring systems and to enhance regional, international and multisectoral cooperation, including with industry, on the manufacture of, trafficking in and abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants; 21. Calls upon States to consider ways to strengthen mechanisms for the collection and sharing of information on trafficking in precursors, in particular for making seizures, preventing diversions, detaining consignments, dismantling laboratories and assessing emerging trafficking and diversion trends, new manufacturing methods and the use of non-controlled substances, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the international control framework; 22. Emphasizes the need to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place, where necessary and to the extent possible, to prevent the diversion of preparations containing substances listed in tables I and II of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988, pertaining to illicit drug manufacture, which could easily be used or recovered by readily applicable means, in particular those containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine; 23. Urges all States and relevant international organizations to cooperate closely with the International Narcotics Control Board, in particular in Project Cohesion and Project Prism, in order to enhance the success of those international initiatives, and to initiate, where appropriate, investigations by their law enforcement authorities into seizures and cases involving the diversion or smuggling of precursors and essential equipment, with a view to tracking them back to the source of diversion in order to prevent continuing illicit activity; 24. Stresses that international cooperation on domestic precursor policies and practices would assist in complementing existing law enforcement cooperative initiatives, and encourages States to cooperate at the regional level on measures to prevent and control the domestic diversion of precursors, drawing on best practices and sharing experiences; 25. Recognizes that the illegal distribution of pharmaceutical products containing substances under international control via the Internet is an escalating problem and that the unsupervised use of such substances purchased through the Internet by the general public, in particular underage persons, constitutes a serious risk to global health; 26. Encourages Member States to notify the International Narcotics Control Board, in a regular and accurate manner, of seizures of pharmaceutical products or counterfeit drugs containing substances under international control ordered via the Internet and received by mail in order to conduct a detailed analysis of trafficking trends, and encourages the Board to continue its work with a view to raising awareness of and preventing the misuse of the Internet for the illegal supply, sale and distribution of internationally controlled licit substances; 27. Calls upon States to implement and strengthen, as appropriate, the measures to promote judicial cooperation adopted at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-20/4 C. in particular with regard to mutual legal assistance, exchange of information and joint operations, as appropriate, including with technical assistance from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; 28. Calls upon Member States to strengthen international cooperation among judicial and law enforcement authorities at all levels in order to prevent and combat illicit drug trafficking and to share and promote best operational practices in order to interdict illicit drug trafficking, including by establishing and strengthening regional mechanisms, providing technical assistance and establishing effective methods for cooperation, in particular in the areas of air, maritime, port and border control and in the implementation of extradition treaties, while respecting international human rights obligations; 29. Urges States to strengthen action, in particular international cooperation and technical assistance aimed at preventing and combating the laundering of proceeds derived from drug trafficking and related criminal activities, with the support of the United Nations system, international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as regional development banks and, where appropriate, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and similarly styled regional bodies, to develop and strengthen comprehensive international regimes to combat money-laundering and its possible links with organized crime and the financing of terrorism, and to improve information-sharing among financial institutions and agencies in charge of preventing and detecting the laundering of those proceeds; 30. Encourages States that have not done so to consider updating their legal and regulatory frameworks and establishing financial investigation units and, to that end, seek technical assistance, including from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in particular regarding the identification, freezing, seizing and confiscation of the proceeds of crime, in order to effectively prevent and combat money-laundering; II Action by the United Nations system 31. Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and its regional offices in building capacity at the local level in the fight against transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, and urges the Office to consider regional vulnerabilities, projects and impact in the fight against drug trafficking, in particular in developing countries, when deciding to close and allocate offices, with a view to maintaining an effective level of support to national and regional efforts in combating the world drug problem; 32. Welcomes the work carried out by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and requests the Office to continue to carry out its mandate in accordance with previous relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in close cooperation with other relevant United Nations organizations and programmes, such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; 33. Notes that the International Narcotics Control Board needs sufficient resources to carry out all its mandates, reaffirms the importance of its work, encourages it to continue to carry out its work in accordance with its mandate, urges Member States to commit themselves in a common effort to assigning adequate and sufficient budgetary resources to the Board, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/20 of 23 July 1996, emphasizes the need to maintain its capacity, inter alia, through the provision of appropriate means by the Secretary-General and adequate technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and calls for enhanced cooperation and understanding between Member States and the Board in order to enable it to implement all its mandates under the international drug control conventions; 34. Urges the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to increase collaboration with intergovernmental, international and regional organizations that have drug control mandates, as appropriate, in order to share best practices and to take advantage of their unique comparative advantage; 35. Takes note with appreciation of the adoption by the Economic and Social Council of the strategy for the period 2008-2011 for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime;See Economic and Social Council resolutions 2007/12 and 2007/19. 36. Requests the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to carry out, at the request of Member States, training programmes to support the adoption of sound methods and to harmonize indicators used for statistics on drug use, which have already been considered by the Statistical Commission, in order to collect and analyse comparable data on drug abuse; 37. Urges all Governments to provide the fullest possible financial and political support to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime by widening its donor base and increasing voluntary contributions, in particular general purpose contributions, so as to enable it to continue, expand and strengthen its operational and technical cooperation activities, within its mandates, and recommends that a sufficient share of the regular budget of the United Nations be allocated to the Office to enable it to carry out its mandates and to work towards securing assured and predictable funding; 38. Takes note of the World Drug Report 2007United Nations publication, Sales No. 07.XI.5. of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, regrets the surge in opium cultivation in certain areas noted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in its resolution 50/1,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2007, Supplement No. 8 (E/2007/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C. and calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the threat to the international community caused by the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs and to continue to take concerted measures such as the framework of the Paris Pact initiative;See S/2003/641, annex. 39. Encourages the meetings of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and of the Subcommission on Illicit Drug Traffic and Related Matters in the Near and Middle East of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to continue to contribute to the strengthening of regional and international cooperation, taking into account the outcomes of the twentieth special session of the General AssemblyResolutions S-20/2, S-20/3 and S-20/4 A-E. and the joint ministerial statement adopted at the ministerial segment of the forty-sixth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 8 (E/2003/28/Rev.1), chap. I, sect. C; see also A/58/124, sect. II.A. 40. Encourages the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, as the global coordinating body in international drug control and as the governing body of the drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Narcotics Control Board to continue their useful work on the control of precursors and other chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; 41. Calls upon the relevant United Nations agencies and entities, and other international organizations, and invites international financial institutions, including regional development banks, to mainstream drug control issues into their programmes, and calls upon the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to maintain its leading role by providing relevant information and technical assistance; 42. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/117. and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/177 Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, on 18 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.24 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Kenya, Latvia, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 62/177. Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 46/215 of 20 December 1991, 49/116 of 19 December 1994, and 50/24 and 50/25 of 5 December 1995, as well as its resolutions 56/13 of 28 November 2001, 58/14 of 24 November 2003, 59/25 of 17 November 2004, 60/31 of 29 November 2005 and 61/105 of 8 December 2006, and other relevant resolutions, Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. and bearing in mind the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Agreement"),Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924. Recognizing that, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement sets forth provisions concerning the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, including provisions on compliance and enforcement by the flag State and subregional and regional cooperation in enforcement, binding dispute settlement and the rights and obligations of States in authorizing the use of vessels flying their flags for fishing on the high seas, and specific provisions to address the requirements of developing States in relation to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and the development of fisheries for such stocks, Welcoming the fact that a growing number of States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, as well as regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, have taken measures, as appropriate, towards the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement, Welcoming also the recent ratifications of and accessions to the Agreement, Welcoming further the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its Committee on Fisheries and the 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted by the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 12 March 2005,Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Outcome of the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, Rome, 12 March 2005 (CL 128/INF/11), appendix B. which calls for effective implementation of the various instruments already developed to ensure responsible fisheries, and recognizing that the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ("the Code")International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. and its associated international plans of action set out principles and global standards of behaviour for responsible practices for conservation of fisheries resources and the management and development of fisheries, Welcoming the outcomes, including the decisions and recommendations, of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held from 5 to 9 March 2007,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 5-9 March 2007, FAO Fisheries Report No. 830 (FIEL/R830 (En)). Noting with concern that effective management of marine capture fisheries has been made difficult in some areas by unreliable information and data caused by unreported and misreported fish catch and fishing effort and that this lack of accurate data contributes to overfishing in some areas, and therefore welcoming the adoption of the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture FisheriesFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, FAO Fisheries Report No. 702 (FIPL/R702 (En)), appendix H. and the development of the Fishery Resources Monitoring System initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to improve knowledge and understanding of fishery status and trends, Recognizing the significant contribution of sustainable fisheries to food security, income, wealth and poverty alleviation for present and future generations, Recognizing also the urgent need for action at all levels to ensure the long-term sustainable use and management of fisheries resources through the wide application of the precautionary approach, Deploring the fact that fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in many parts of the world are overfished or subject to sparsely regulated and heavy fishing efforts, as a result of, inter alia, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, inadequate flag State control and enforcement, including monitoring, control and surveillance measures, inadequate regulatory measures, harmful fisheries subsidies and overcapacity, Noting the limited information available on measures taken by States to implement, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Particularly concerned that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing constitutes a serious threat to fish stocks and marine habitats and ecosystems, to the detriment of sustainable fisheries as well as the food security and the economies of many States, particularly developing States, Recognizing that effective deterrence and combating of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has significant financial and other resource implications, Recognizing also that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing may give rise to safety and security concerns for individuals on vessels engaged in such activities, and welcoming, in this regard, the adoption of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (Convention No. 188) at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, on 14 June 2007, Welcoming cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization and the outcomes of the second session of their Joint Ad Hoc Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and Related Matters, held in Rome from 16 to 18 July 2007, Recognizing the duty provided in the Convention, the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas ("the Compliance Agreement"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2221, No. 39486. the Agreement and the Code for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag, and vessels flying their flag which provide support to fishing vessels, to ensure that the activities of such fishing and support vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Noting the obligation of all States, pursuant to the provisions of the Convention, to cooperate in the conservation and management of living marine resources, and recognizing the importance of coordination and cooperation at the global, regional, subregional as well as national levels in the areas, inter alia, of data collection, information-sharing, capacity-building and training for the conservation, management and sustainable development of marine living resources, Welcoming recent developments regarding recommended best practices for regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements that may help to strengthen their governance and promote their improved performance, Calling attention to the need for States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to continue to develop and implement effective port State measures and schemes to combat overfishing and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the critical need for cooperation with developing States to build their capacity in this regard, taking note of the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop a legally binding instrument on minimum standards for port State measures, Concerned that marine pollution from all sources, including vessels and, in particular, land-based sources, constitutes a serious threat to human health and safety, endangers fish stocks, marine biodiversity and marine and coastal habitats and has significant costs to local and national economies, Welcoming the support by the Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-seventh session for a proposal that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations should undertake a scoping study to identify the key issues on climate change and fisheries, initiate a discussion on how the fishing industry can adapt to climate change and take a lead in informing fishers and policymakers about the likely consequences of climate change for fisheries,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 5-9 March 2007, FAO Fisheries Report No. 830 (FIEL/R830 (En)). Recognizing that marine debris is a global transboundary pollution problem and that, due to the many different types and sources of marine debris, different approaches to their prevention and removal are necessary, Noting that the contribution of sustainable aquaculture to global fish supplies continues to respond to opportunities in developing countries to enhance local food security and poverty alleviation and, together with efforts of other aquaculture producing countries, will make a significant contribution to meeting future demands in fish consumption, bearing in mind article 9 of the Code, Calling attention to the circumstances affecting fisheries in many developing States, in particular African States and small island developing States, and recognizing the urgent need for capacity-building, including the transfer of marine technology and in particular fisheries-related technology, to enhance the ability of such States to meet their obligations and exercise their rights under international instruments, in order to realize the benefits from fisheries resources, Recognizing the need for appropriate measures to minimize by-catch, waste, discards, loss of fishing gear and other factors, which adversely affect fish stocks and may also have undesirable effects on the economies and food security of small island developing States, other developing coastal States and subsistence fishing communities, Recognizing also the need to further integrate ecosystem approaches into fisheries conservation and management and, more generally, the importance of applying ecosystem approaches to the management of human activities in the ocean, Recognizing further the economic and cultural importance of sharks in many countries, the biological importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem as key predatory species, the vulnerability of certain shark species to overexploitation, the fact that some are threatened with extinction, the need for measures to promote the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of shark populations and fisheries, and the relevance of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1999, in providing guidance on the development of such measures, Reaffirming its support for the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements on the conservation and management of sharks, while noting with concern that basic data on shark stocks and harvests continue to be lacking, that only a small number of countries have implemented the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, and that not all regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements have adopted conservation and management measures for directed shark fisheries, Expressing concern that the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources, although the incidence of this practice has continued to be low in most regions of the world's oceans and seas, Emphasizing that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift nets that contravene the resolution, Expressing concern over reports of continued losses of seabirds, particularly albatrosses and petrels, as well as other marine species, including sharks, fin-fish species and marine turtles, as a result of incidental mortality in fishing operations, particularly longline fishing, and other activities, while recognizing considerable efforts to reduce by-catch in longline fishing by States and through various regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/260. in particular its useful role in gathering and disseminating information on or relating to the sustainable development of the world's living marine resources, I Achieving sustainable fisheries 1. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world's oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the Convention,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in Part V and Part VII, section 2, of the Convention, and where applicable, the Agreement;Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924. 2. Encourages States to give due priority to the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in relation to achieving sustainable fisheries; 3. Emphasizes the obligations of flag States to discharge their responsibilities, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to ensure compliance by vessels flying their flag with the conservation and management measures adopted and in force with respect to fisheries resources on the high seas; 4. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the Agreement; 5. Calls upon all States, directly or through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to apply widely, in accordance with international law and the Code,International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach to the conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks, including straddling fish stocks, highly migratory fish stocks and discrete high seas fish stocks, and also calls upon States parties to the Agreement to implement fully the provisions of article 6 of the Agreement as a matter of priority; 6. Encourages States to increase their reliance on scientific advice in developing, adopting and implementing conservation and management measures, and to increase their efforts to promote science for conservation and management measures that apply, in accordance with international law, the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, enhancing understanding of ecosystem approaches, in order to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources, and in this regard encourages the implementation of the Strategy for Improving Information on Status and Trends of Capture Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-fifth session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 24-28 February 2003, FAO Fisheries Report No. 702 (FIPL/R702 (En)), appendix H. as a framework for the improvement and understanding of fishery status and trends; 7. Also encourages States to apply the precautionary approach and an ecosystem approach in adopting and implementing conservation and management measures addressing, inter alia, by-catch, pollution, overfishing, and protecting habitats of specific concern, taking into account existing guidelines developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 8. Welcomes the development of observer programmes by some regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to improve data collection on, inter alia, target and by-catch species, and encourages States, both individually and collectively, where appropriate, to develop, fully implement, and, where necessary, continue to improve robust observer programmes, taking into account standards for such programmes developed by some regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement and article 5 of the Code; 9. Calls upon States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to collect and, where appropriate, report to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations required catch and effort data, and fishery-related information, in a complete, accurate and timely way, including for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks within and beyond areas under national jurisdiction, discrete high seas fish stocks, and by-catch and discards; and where they do not exist, to establish processes to strengthen data collection and reporting by members of regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, including through regular reviews of member compliance with such obligations, and when such obligations are not met, require the member concerned to rectify the problem, including through the preparation of plans of action with timelines; 10. Invites States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to cooperate with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the implementation and further development of the Fisheries Resources Monitoring System initiative; 11. Reaffirms paragraph 10 of resolution 61/105, and calls upon States, including through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to urgently adopt measures to fully implement the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks for directed and non-directed shark fisheries, based on the best available scientific information, through, inter alia, limits on catch or fishing effort, by requiring that vessels flying their flag collect and regularly report data on shark catches, including species-specific data, discards and landings, undertaking, including through international cooperation, comprehensive stock assessments of sharks, reducing shark by-catch and by-catch mortality, and, where scientific information is uncertain or inadequate, not increasing fishing effort in directed shark fisheries until measures have been established to ensure the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of shark stocks and to prevent further declines of vulnerable or threatened shark stocks; 12. Calls upon States to take immediate and concerted action to improve the implementation of and compliance with existing regional fisheries management organization or arrangement and national measures that regulate shark fisheries, in particular those measures which prohibit or restrict fisheries conducted solely for the purpose of harvesting shark fins, and, where necessary, to consider taking other measures, as appropriate, such as requiring that all sharks be landed with each fin naturally attached; 13. Requests the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to prepare a report containing a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, as well as progress in implementing paragraph 11 of the present resolution, for presentation to the Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-eighth session, in 2009; 14. Urges States to eliminate barriers to trade in fish and fisheries products which are not consistent with their rights and obligations under the World Trade Organization agreements, taking into account the importance of the trade in fish and fisheries products, particularly for developing countries; 15. Urges States and relevant international and national organizations to provide for participation of small-scale fishery stakeholders in related policy development and fisheries management strategies in order to achieve long-term sustainability for such fisheries, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of fisheries resources; II Implementation of the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 16. Calls upon all States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, that have not done so to ratify or accede to the Agreement and in the interim to consider applying it provisionally; 17. Calls upon States parties to the Agreement to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Agreement, and to ensure that the provisions of the Agreement are effectively implemented into regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements of which they are a member; 18. Emphasizes the importance of those provisions of the Agreement relating to bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation in enforcement, and urges continued efforts in this regard; 19. Calls upon all States to ensure that their vessels comply with the conservation and management measures that have been adopted by regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention and of the Agreement; 20. Urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, thereof to inform, either directly or through the relevant regional or subregional fisheries management organization or arrangement, all States whose vessels fish on the high seas in the same region or subregion of the form of identification issued by those States parties to officials duly authorized to carry out boarding and inspection functions in accordance with articles 21 and 22 of the Agreement; 21. Also urges States parties to the Agreement, in accordance with article 21, paragraph 4, to designate an appropriate authority to receive notifications pursuant to article 21 and to give due publicity to such designation through the relevant subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement; 22. Notes with satisfaction the adoption of procedures for high seas boarding and inspection that fully implement articles 21 and 22 of the Agreement by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission at its third annual meeting, held in Apia from 11 to 15 December 2006, and invites other regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that the procedures developed for high seas boarding and inspection are consistent with the aforementioned articles; 23. Calls upon States, individually and, as appropriate, through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements with competence over discrete high seas fish stocks, to adopt the necessary measures to ensure the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of such stocks in accordance with the Convention and consistent with the Code and the general principles set forth in the Agreement; 24. Invites States to assist developing States in enhancing their participation in regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, including by facilitating access to fisheries for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, in accordance with article 25, paragraph 1 (b), of the Agreement, taking into account the need to ensure that such access benefits the developing States concerned and their nationals; 25. Invites States and international financial institutions and organizations of the United Nations system to provide assistance according to Part VII of the Agreement, including, if appropriate, the development of special financial mechanisms or instruments to assist developing States, in particular the least developed among them and small island developing States, to enable them to develop their national capacity to exploit fishery resources, including developing their domestically flagged fishing fleet, value-added processing and the expansion of their economic base in the fishing industry, consistent with the duty to ensure the proper conservation and management of fisheries resources; 26. Notes with satisfaction that the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement has begun to operate and consider applications for assistance by developing States parties to the Agreement, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, national institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial contributions to the Assistance Fund; 27. Requests that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat further publicize the availability of assistance through the Assistance Fund, and solicit views from developing States parties to the Agreement regarding the application and award procedures of the Fund, and consider changes where necessary to improve the process; 28. Encourages States, individually and, as appropriate, through regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to implement the recommendations of the Review Conference on the Agreement, held in New York from 22 to 26 May 2006;See A/CONF.210/2006/15. 29. Recalls paragraph 6 of resolution 56/13, and requests the Secretary-General to convene in 2008, in accordance with past practice, a seventh round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, with the objective of discussing the implementation of the Agreement at the regional, subregional and global levels, taking into consideration the outcome of the Review Conference as regards proposed means of strengthening the implementation of the Agreement, promoting a wider participation in the Agreement and making any appropriate recommendations to be considered by the General Assembly; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to invite States, and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement, not party to the Agreement, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies, the Commission on Sustainable Development, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility and other relevant international financial institutions, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, other fisheries bodies, other relevant intergovernmental bodies and relevant non-governmental organizations, in accordance with past practice, to attend the seventh round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement as observers; 31. Reaffirms its request that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations initiate arrangements with States for the collection and dissemination of data on fishing in the high seas by vessels flying their flag at the subregional and regional levels where no such arrangements exist; 32. Also reaffirms its request that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations revise its global fisheries statistics database to provide information on straddling fish stocks, highly migratory fish stocks and discrete high seas fish stocks on the basis of where the catch is taken; III Related fisheries instruments 33. Emphasizes the importance of the effective implementation of the provisions of the Compliance Agreement,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2221, No. 39486. and urges continued efforts in this regard; 34. Calls upon all States and other entities referred to in article X, paragraph 1, of the Compliance Agreement that have not yet become parties to that Agreement to do so as a matter of priority and, in the interim, to consider applying it provisionally; 35. Urges States and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to implement and promote the application of the Code within their areas of competence; 36. Urges States to develop and implement, as a matter of priority, national and, as appropriate, regional plans of action to put into effect the international plans of action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; IV Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing 37. Emphasizes once again its serious concern that illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems and continues to have serious and major implications for the conservation and management of ocean resources, and renews its call upon States to comply fully with all existing obligations and to combat such fishing and urgently to take all necessary steps to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 38. Urges States to exercise effective control over their nationals, including beneficial owners, and vessels flying their flag, in order to prevent and deter them from engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities or supporting vessels engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, including those vessels listed by regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements as engaged in those activities, and to facilitate mutual assistance to ensure that such actions can be investigated and proper sanctions imposed; 39. Also urges States to take effective measures, at the national, regional and global levels, to deter the activities, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, of any vessel which undermines conservation and management measures that have been adopted by regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in accordance with international law; 40. Calls upon States not to permit vessels flying their flag to engage in fishing on the high seas or in areas under the national jurisdiction of other States, unless duly authorized by the authorities of the States concerned and in accordance with the conditions set out in the authorization, and to take specific measures, including deterring the reflagging of vessels by their nationals, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the Agreement and the Compliance Agreement, to control fishing operations by vessels flying their flag; 41. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as requested by the Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-seventh session, to further consider the possibility of convening an expert consultation to develop criteria for assessing the performance of flag States as well as to examine possible actions against vessels flying the flags of States not meeting such criteria,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 5-9 March 2007, FAO Fisheries Report No. 830 (FIEL/R830 (En)). and encourages States to support this important initiative, including through preparatory work and funding; 42. Urges States, individually and collectively through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to develop appropriate processes to assess the performance of States with respect to implementing the obligations regarding fishing vessels flying their flag set out in relevant international instruments; 43. Reaffirms the need to strengthen, where necessary, the international legal framework for intergovernmental cooperation, in particular at the subregional and regional levels, in the management of fish stocks and in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, in a manner consistent with international law, and for States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to collaborate in efforts to address these types of fishing activities, including, inter alia, the development and implementation of vessel monitoring systems and the listing of vessels in order to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities and, where appropriate and consistent with international law, trade monitoring schemes, including to collect global catch data, through subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 44. Encourages regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to further coordinate measures for combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, such as through the development of a common list of vessels identified as engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or the mutual recognition of the illegal, unreported and unregulated vessel lists established by each organization or arrangement; 45. Reaffirms its call upon States to take all necessary measures consistent with international law, without prejudice to a State's sovereignty over ports in its territory and to reasons of force majeure or distress, including the prohibition of vessels from accessing their ports followed by a report to the flag State concerned, when there is clear evidence that they are or have been engaged in or have supported illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, or when they refuse to give information either on the origin of the catch or on the authorization under which the catch has been made; 46. Urges further international action to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by vessels flying "flags of convenience" as well as to require that a "genuine link" be established between States and fishing vessels flying their flags, and calls upon States to implement the 2005 Rome Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated FishingFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Outcome of the Ministerial Meeting on Fisheries, Rome, 12 March 2005 (CL 128/INF/11), appendix B. as a matter of priority; 47. Welcomes the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level conference on the eradication of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, held in Lisbon on 29 October 2007, in relation to the need to reinforce fisheries control and surveillance measures and address the commercial dimension of the problem, so as to deprive all those involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing of any profits arising from such activities; 48. Urges States, individually and collectively through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to cooperate to clarify the role of the "genuine link" in relation to the duty of States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag; 49. Recognizes the need for enhanced port State measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and urges States to cooperate, in particular at the regional level and through subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to adopt all necessary port measures, consistent with international law taking into account article 23 of the Agreement, particularly those identified in the Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2005, and to promote the development and application of minimum standards at the regional level; 50. Welcomes, in this regard, the adoption of agreed port State measures by several regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, such as the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which include the denial of port access to vessels appearing in the lists of vessels identified as engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing established by these organizations; 51. Also welcomes the initiation of a process within the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop a legally binding instrument on minimum standards for port State measures, based on the Model Scheme on Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, notes the Organization's Expert Consultation on Port State Measures, held in Washington, D.C., from 4 to 8 September 2007, and encourages all relevant States to participate in the intergovernmental Technical Consultation, to be held in Rome from 23 to 28 June 2008, so that the finalized instrument may be presented to the Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-eighth session, in 2009; 52. Further welcomes the cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, and notes the outcomes, including the agreed priorities, of the second session of their Joint Ad Hoc Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and Related Matters, which are under consideration by those two organizations, and encourages ongoing collaboration between them to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, particularly in improving the implementation of flag State responsibilities and port State measures; 53. Encourages States, with respect to vessels flying their flag, and port States, to make every effort to share data on landings and catch quotas, and in this regard encourages regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements to consider developing open databases containing such data for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of fisheries management; 54. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure that vessels flying their flag do not engage in trans-shipment of fish caught by fishing vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 55. Urges States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to adopt and implement internationally agreed market-related measures in accordance with international law, including principles, rights and obligations established in World Trade Organization agreements, as called for in the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing; V Monitoring, control and surveillance and compliance and enforcement 56. Calls upon States in accordance with international law to strengthen implementation of or, where they do not exist, adopt comprehensive monitoring, control and surveillance measures and compliance and enforcement schemes individually and within those regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in which they participate in order to provide an appropriate framework for promoting compliance with agreed conservation and management measures, and further urges enhanced coordination among all relevant States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in these efforts; 57. Encourages further work by competent international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to develop guidelines on flag State control of fishing vessels; 58. Urges States, individually and through relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to establish mandatory vessel monitoring, control and surveillance systems, in particular to require that vessel monitoring systems be carried by all vessels fishing on the high seas as soon as practicable, and in the case of large-scale fishing vessels no later than December 2008, and share information on fisheries enforcement matters; 59. Calls upon States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to strengthen or establish, consistent with national and international law, positive or negative lists of vessels fishing within the areas covered by relevant regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in order to verify compliance with conservation and management measures and identify products from illegal, unreported and unregulated catches, and encourages improved coordination among all parties and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in sharing and using this information, taking into account the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement; 60. Requests States and relevant international bodies to develop, in accordance with international law, more effective measures to trace fish and fishery products to enable importing States to identify fish or fishery products caught in a manner that undermines international conservation and management measures agreed in accordance with international law, taking into account the special requirements of developing States and the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement, and at the same time to recognize the importance of market access, in accordance with provisions 11.2.4, 11.2.5 and 11.2.6 of the Code, for fish and fishery products caught in a manner that is in conformity with such international measures; 61. Encourages States to establish and undertake cooperative surveillance and enforcement activities in accordance with international law to strengthen and enhance efforts to ensure compliance with conservation and management measures, and prevent and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 62. Urges States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to develop and adopt effective measures to regulate trans-shipment, in particular at-sea trans-shipment, in order to, inter alia, monitor compliance, collect and verify fisheries data, and to prevent and suppress illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities in accordance with international law; and, in parallel, encourage and support the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in studying the current practices of trans-shipment as it relates to fishing operations for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks and produce a set of guidelines for this purpose; 63. Expresses its appreciation for financial contributions from States to improve the capacity of the existing voluntary International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network for Fisheries-Related Activities, and encourages States to join and actively participate in the Network and to consider supporting, when appropriate, its transformation in accordance with international law into an international unit with dedicated resources to further assist Network members, taking into account the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement; 64. Encourages widespread participation in the Second Global Fisheries Enforcement Training Workshop, to be held in Trondheim, Norway, from 7 to 11 August 2008, sponsored by Norway in conjunction with the International Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Network for Fisheries-Related Activities and the FishCode programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in order to share experiences and technologies, foster coordination and improve skills among enforcement officials; 65. Welcomes the support of the Committee on Fisheries for the convening of an expert consultation to further develop the concept of a comprehensive global record of fishing vessels, refrigerated transport vessels, supply vessels and beneficial ownership, as described in the feasibility study prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 66. Requests the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to consider establishing a system of unique and permanent fishing and support vessel identification, to assist monitoring, control and surveillance and to complement the concept of a comprehensive global record of fishing vessels, taking into account the forms of cooperation with developing States as set out in article 25 of the Agreement and article 5 of the Code, and to work with the International Maritime Organization in this regard, as recommended at the second session of the Joint Ad Hoc Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and Related Matters; VI Fishing overcapacity 67. Calls upon States to commit to urgently reducing the capacity of the world's fishing fleets to levels commensurate with the sustainability of fish stocks, through the establishment of target levels and plans or other appropriate mechanisms for ongoing capacity assessment, while avoiding the transfer of fishing capacity to other fisheries or areas in a manner that undermines the sustainable management of fish stocks, including, inter alia, those areas where fish stocks are overexploited or in a depleted condition, and recognizing in this context the legitimate rights of developing States to develop their fisheries for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks consistent with article 25 of the Agreement, article 5 of the Code, and paragraph 10 of the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity; 68. Also calls upon States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to ensure that the urgent actions required in the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity are undertaken expeditiously and that implementation of the Plan of Action is facilitated without delay, as agreed to by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 69. Requests the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to report on the state of progress in the implementation of the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, as provided for in paragraph 48 of the Plan of Action; 70. Encourages those States which are cooperating to establish subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to exercise voluntary restraint of fishing effort levels in those areas that will come under the regulation of the future organizations and arrangements until adequate regional conservation and management measures are adopted and implemented, taking into account the need to ensure the long-term conservation, management and sustainable use of the relevant fish stocks; 71. Urges States to eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to fishing overcapacity, while completing the efforts undertaken at the World Trade Organization in accordance with the Doha DeclarationWorld Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. to clarify and improve its disciplines on fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector, including small-scale and artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, to developing countries; VII Large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing 72. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to continued compliance with resolution 46/215 and other subsequent resolutions on large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing, and urges States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions in order to eliminate the use of large-scale pelagic drift nets; VIII Fisheries by-catch and discards 73. Urges States, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant international organizations that have not done so to take action to reduce or eliminate by-catch, catch by lost or abandoned gear, fish discards and post-harvest losses, including juvenile fish, consistent with international law and relevant international instruments, including the Code, and in particular to consider measures including, as appropriate, technical measures related to fish size, mesh size or gear, discards, closed seasons and areas and zones reserved for selected fisheries, particularly artisanal fisheries, the establishment of mechanisms for communicating information on areas of high concentration of juvenile fish, taking into account the importance of ensuring confidentiality of such information, and support for studies and research that will reduce or eliminate by-catch of juvenile fish; 74. Encourages States and entities referred to in the Convention and in article 1, paragraph 2 (b), of the Agreement to give due consideration to participation, as appropriate, in regional and subregional instruments and organizations with mandates to conserve non-target species taken incidentally in fishing operations; 75. Requests States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to urgently implement, as appropriate, the measures recommended in the Guidelines to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing OperationsFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Technical Consultation on Sea Turtles Conservation and Fisheries, Bangkok, 29 November-2 December 2004, FAO Fisheries Report No. 765 (FIRM/R765 (En)), appendix E. and the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to prevent the decline of sea turtles and seabird populations by reducing by-catch and increasing post-release survival in their fisheries, including through research and development of gear and bait alternatives, promoting the use of available by-catch mitigation technology, and promotion and strengthening of data-collection programmes to obtain standardized information to develop reliable estimates of the by-catch of these species; 76. Welcomes the recommendation of the Committee on Fisheries at its twenty-seventh session that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations should, in cooperation with relevant bodies, develop best practice guidelines to assist States and subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in implementing the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries and that the best practice guidelines should be extended to other relevant fishing gears;See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 5-9 March 2007, FAO Fisheries Report No. 830 (FIEL/R830 (En)). IX Subregional and regional cooperation 77. Urges coastal States and States fishing on the high seas, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement and other relevant instruments, to pursue cooperation in relation to straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, either directly or through appropriate subregional or regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, to ensure the effective conservation and management of such stocks; 78. Urges States fishing for straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks on the high seas, and relevant coastal States, where a subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement has the competence to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to give effect to their duty to cooperate by becoming members of such an organization or participants in such an arrangement, or by agreeing to apply the conservation and management measures established by such an organization or arrangement, or to otherwise ensure that no vessel flying their flag is authorized to access the fisheries resources to which regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements or conservation and management measures established by such organizations or arrangements apply; 79. Invites, in this regard, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to ensure that all States having a real interest in the fisheries concerned may become members of such organizations or participants in such arrangements, in accordance with the Convention, the Agreement and the Code; 80. Encourages relevant coastal States and States fishing on the high seas for a straddling fish stock or a highly migratory fish stock, where there is no subregional or regional fisheries management organization or arrangement to establish conservation and management measures for such stocks, to cooperate to establish such an organization or enter into another appropriate arrangement to ensure the conservation and management of such stocks, and to participate in the work of the organization or arrangement; 81. Urges all signatory States and other States whose vessels fish within the area of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic OceanUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2221, No. 39489. for fishery resources covered by that Convention to become parties to that Convention as a matter of priority and, in the interim, to ensure that vessels flying their flags fully comply with the measures adopted; 82. Encourages signatory States and States having a real interest to become parties to the South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement, and urges those States to agree on and implement interim measures, including measures in accordance with resolution 61/105, to ensure the conservation and management of the fisheries resources and their marine ecosystems and habitats in the area to which that Agreement applies until such time as that Agreement enters into force; 83. Takes note of recent efforts at the regional level to promote responsible fishing practices, including combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; 84. Notes with satisfaction the progress of negotiations to establish regional and subregional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in several fisheries, in particular in the South Pacific and North-West Pacific, encourages States having a real interest to participate in such negotiations, urges participants to expedite those negotiations and to apply provisions of the Convention and the Agreement to their work, and also notes with satisfaction the adoption by the participants in the South Pacific and North-West Pacific negotiations of interim conservation and management measures in accordance with resolution 61/105, and encourages those participants to implement the voluntary interim measures adopted; 85. Urges further efforts by regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, as a matter of priority, in accordance with international law, to strengthen and modernize their mandates and the measures adopted by such organizations or arrangements, to implement modern approaches to fisheries management as reflected in the Agreement and other relevant international instruments relying on the best scientific information available and application of the precautionary approach, and incorporating an ecosystem approach to fisheries management and biodiversity considerations, where these aspects are lacking, to ensure that they effectively contribute to long-term conservation and management and sustainable use of marine living resources, and in this regard welcomes the adoption of amendments to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic FisheriesIbid., vol. 1135, No. 17799. at the Twenty-ninth Annual Meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, held in Lisbon from 24 to 28 September 2007; 86. Welcomes the initiative taken by the members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to strengthen the functioning of the Commission so that it can more effectively discharge its mandate, and requests the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue to provide members of the Commission with the necessary assistance to this end; 87. Urges States to strengthen and enhance cooperation among existing and developing regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in which they participate, including increased communication and further coordination of measures, such as through the holding of joint consultations; 88. Welcomes the joint meeting of tuna regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, hosted by the Government of Japan in Kobe, from 22 to 26 January 2007, including the adoption at that meeting of the agreed Course of Actions, and the subsequent meeting of the Joint Tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization and Arrangement Technical Working Group on Trade and Catch Documentation Schemes, held in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America, on 22 and 23 July 2007; 89. Urges regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to improve transparency and to ensure that their decision-making processes are fair and transparent, rely on best scientific information available, incorporate the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, address participatory rights, including through, inter alia, the development of transparent criteria for allocating fishing opportunities which reflects, where appropriate, the relevant provisions of the Agreement, taking due account, inter alia, of the status of the relevant stocks and the respective interests in the fishery, and strengthen integration, coordination and cooperation with other relevant fisheries organizations, regional seas arrangements and other relevant international organizations; 90. Welcomes the progress made by some regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to initiate performance reviews, and the completion by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission of a performance review, and urges States, through their participation in regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements that have not done so, to undertake, on an urgent basis, performance reviews of those regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, initiated either by the organization or arrangement itself or with external partners, including in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, using transparent criteria based on the provisions of the Agreement and other relevant instruments, and taking into account the best practices of regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements and, as appropriate, any set of criteria developed by States or other regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements, and encourages that such performance reviews include some element of independent evaluation and propose means for improving the functioning of the regional fisheries management organization or arrangement, as appropriate, and that the results be made publicly available; 91. Urges States to cooperate to develop best practice guidelines for regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and to apply, to the extent possible, those guidelines to organizations and arrangements in which they participate; 92. Encourages the development of regional guidelines for States to use in establishing sanctions, for non-compliance by vessels flying their flag and by their nationals, to be applied in accordance with national law, that are adequate in severity for effectively securing compliance, deterring further violations and depriving offenders of the benefits deriving from their illegal activities, as well as in evaluating their systems of sanctions to ensure that they are effective in securing compliance and deterring violations; X Responsible fisheries in the marine ecosystem 93. Encourages States to apply by 2010 the ecosystem approach, notes the Reykjavik Declaration on Responsible Fisheries in the Marine EcosystemE/CN.17/2002/PC.2/3, annex. and decision VII/11See UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex. and other relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, notes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations related to guidelines for the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management, and also notes the importance to this approach of relevant provisions of the Agreement and the Code; 94. Also encourages States, individually or through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant international organizations, to work to ensure that fisheries and other ecosystem data collection is performed in a coordinated and integrated manner, facilitating incorporation into global observation initiatives, where appropriate; 95. Further encourages States to increase scientific research in accordance with international law on the marine ecosystem; 96. Calls upon States, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other specialized agencies of the United Nations, subregional and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, where appropriate, and other appropriate intergovernmental bodies, to cooperate in achieving sustainable aquaculture, including through information exchange, developing equivalent standards on such issues as aquatic animal health and human health and safety concerns, assessing the potential positive and negative impacts of aquaculture, including socio-economics, on the marine and coastal environment, including biodiversity, and adopting relevant methods and techniques to minimize and mitigate adverse effects; 97. Calls upon States to take action immediately, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, and consistent with the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches, to sustainably manage fish stocks and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals, from destructive fishing practices, recognizing the immense importance and value of deep sea ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain; 98. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to paragraphs 83 to 91 of resolution 61/105 addressing the impacts of bottom fishing on vulnerable marine ecosystems and the urgent actions called for in that resolution; 99. Welcomes the progress in regulating bottom fisheries in accordance with resolution 61/105 by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organization and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean; 100. Commends the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for its decision to develop international guidelines for the management of deep-sea fisheries in the high seas, as requested in paragraph 89 of resolution 61/105, to further develop standards and criteria for use by States and regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in identifying vulnerable marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction and the impacts of fishing on such ecosystems, and establishing standards for the management of deep-sea fisheries in order to facilitate the adoption and the implementation of conservation and management measures pursuant to paragraphs 83 and 86 of resolution 61/105, notes the Expert Consultation held from 11 to 14 September 2007 in Bangkok, and encourages all relevant States to participate in the intergovernmental Technical Consultation to be held in Rome from 4 to 8 February 2008; 101. Commends the Committee on Fisheries for its decision at its twenty-seventh session that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations should create a list of authorized vessels engaged in high seas deep-sea fisheries and create a global database on vulnerable marine ecosystems in areas beyond national jurisdiction, in cooperation with States and other relevant organizations,See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 5-9 March 2007, FAO Fisheries Report No. 830 (FIEL/R830 (En)). as requested in paragraphs 87 and 90 of resolution 61/105; 102. Encourages accelerated progress to establish criteria on the objectives and management of marine protected areas for fisheries purposes, and in this regard welcomes the proposed work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to develop technical guidelines in accordance with the Convention and the Code on the design, implementation and testing of marine protected areas for such purposes, and urges coordination and cooperation among all relevant international organizations and bodies; 103. Urges all States to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based ActivitiesA/51/116, annex II. and to accelerate activity to safeguard the marine ecosystem, including fish stocks, against pollution and physical degradation; 104. Reaffirms the importance it attaches to paragraphs 77 to 81 of resolution 60/31 concerning the issue of lost, abandoned or discarded fishing gear and related marine debris and the adverse impacts such debris and derelict fishing gear have on, inter alia, fish stocks, habitats and other marine species, and urges accelerated progress by States and regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in implementing those paragraphs of the resolution; 105. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee on Fisheries considered at its twenty-seventh session the issue of derelict fishing gear, agreed that it is particularly relevant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and requested that the Organization consult with the International Maritime Organization in its efforts related to marine debris;See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Committee on Fisheries, Rome, 5-9 March 2007, FAO Fisheries Report No. 830 (FIEL/R830 (En)). XI Capacity-building 106. Reiterates the crucial importance of cooperation by States directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant regional and subregional organizations, and by other international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through its FishCode programme, including through financial and/or technical assistance, in accordance with the Agreement, the Compliance Agreement, the Code, the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity, the International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries, and the Guidelines to Reduce Sea Turtle Mortality in Fishing Operations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to increase the capacity of developing States to achieve the goals and implement the actions called for in the present resolution; 107. Welcomes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in developing guidance on the strategies and measures required for the creation of an enabling environment for small-scale fisheries, including the development of a code of conduct and guidelines for enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation and food security that include adequate provisions with regard to financial measures and capacity-building, including transfer of technology, and encourages studies for creating possible alternative livelihoods for coastal communities; 108. Encourages increased capacity-building and technical assistance by States, international financial institutions and relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies for fishers, in particular small-scale fishers, in developing countries, and in particular small island developing States, consistent with environmental sustainability; 109. Encourages the international community to enhance the opportunities for sustainable development in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, small island developing States and coastal African States, by encouraging greater participation of those States in authorized fisheries activities being undertaken within areas under their national jurisdiction, in accordance with the Convention, by distant-water fishing nations in order to achieve better economic returns for developing countries from their fisheries resources within areas under their national jurisdiction and an enhanced role in regional fisheries management, as well as by enhancing the ability of developing countries to develop their own fisheries, as well as to participate in high seas fisheries, including access to such fisheries, in conformity with international law, in particular the Convention and the Agreement, and taking into account article 5 of the Code; 110. Requests distant-water fishing nations, when negotiating access agreements and arrangements with developing coastal States, to do so on an equitable and sustainable basis, including by giving greater attention to fish processing, including fish processing facilities, within the national jurisdiction of the developing coastal State to assist the realization of the benefits from the development of fisheries resources, and also including, inter alia, the transfer of technology and assistance for monitoring, control and surveillance and compliance and enforcement within areas under the national jurisdiction of the developing coastal State providing fisheries access, taking into account the forms of cooperation set out in article 25 of the Agreement and article 5 of the Code; 111. Encourages States, individually and through regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, to provide greater assistance and to promote coherence in such assistance for developing States in designing, establishing and implementing relevant agreements, instruments and tools for the conservation and sustainable management of fish stocks, including in designing and strengthening their domestic regulatory fisheries policies and those of regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements in their regions, and the enhancement of research and scientific capabilities through existing funds, such as the Assistance Fund under Part VII of the Agreement, bilateral assistance, regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements assistance funds, the FishCode programme, the World Bank's global programme on fisheries and the Global Environment Facility; 112. Calls upon States to promote, through continuing dialogue and the assistance and cooperation provided in accordance with articles 24 to 26 of the Agreement, further ratification of or accession to the Agreement by seeking to address, inter alia, the issue of lack of capacity and resources that might stand in the way of developing States becoming parties; 113. Encourages States, regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements and other relevant bodies to assist developing States in the implementation of the actions called for in paragraphs 83 to 91 of resolution 61/105; XII Cooperation within the United Nations system 114. Requests the relevant parts of the United Nations system, international financial institutions and donor agencies to support increased enforcement and compliance capabilities for regional fisheries management organizations and their member States; 115. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to continue its cooperative arrangements with United Nations agencies on the implementation of the international plans of action and to report to the Secretary-General, for inclusion in his annual report on sustainable fisheries, on priorities for cooperation and coordination in this work; 116. Invites the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system to consult and cooperate in the preparation of questionnaires designed to collect information on sustainable fisheries, in order to avoid duplication; XIII Sixty-third session of the General Assembly 117. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all members of the international community, relevant intergovernmental organizations, the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and to invite them to provide the Secretary-General with information relevant to the implementation of the present resolution; 118. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments", taking into account information provided by States, relevant specialized agencies, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other appropriate organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements for the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, as well as other relevant intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, and consisting, inter alia, of elements provided in relevant paragraphs in the present resolution; 119. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea", the sub-item entitled "Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments". RESOLUTION 62/178 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.40, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 62/178. Organization of the 2008 comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,Resolution S-26/2, annex. in which it decided, inter alia, to devote sufficient time and at least one full day of the annual session of the General Assembly to reviewing and debating a report of the Secretary-General, Reaffirming also its commitment to the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS,Resolution 60/262, annex. in which it decided, inter alia, to undertake comprehensive reviews in 2008 and 2011, within the annual reviews of the General Assembly, of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment and the Political Declaration, Recalling the HIV/AIDS-related goals and commitments contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the importance of the follow-up process prescribed in the Declaration of Commitment, including national periodic reviews, and noting in this regard the next round of national progress reports, due on 31 January 2008, 1. Decides to convene a high-level meeting on 10 and 11 June 2008, which will undertake a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDSResolution S-26/2, annex. and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS,Resolution 60/262, annex. as well as promote continued engagement of leaders in a comprehensive global response to AIDS; 2. Also decides that the organizational arrangements for the high-level meeting should be as follows: (a) The high-level meeting will comprise plenary meetings, five thematic panel discussions and an informal interactive hearing with civil society; (b) The opening plenary meeting will feature statements by the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, a person openly living with HIV and an eminent person actively engaged in the response to AIDS; (c) An informal interactive civil society hearing will be chaired by the President of the General Assembly or his representative and organized with the active participation of people living with HIV and broader civil society, and will be attended by representatives of Member States, the Observer State and observers, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, invited civil society organizations and the private sector; (d) The chairpersons of the panel discussions will present summaries of the discussions to the President of the General Assembly; 3. Encourages Member States to include in their national delegations to the high-level meeting parliamentarians, representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and organizations and networks representing people living with HIV, women, young persons, orphans, community organizations, faith-based organizations and the private sector; 4. Decides that the Holy See, in its capacity as Observer State, and Palestine, in its capacity as observer, shall participate in the high-level meeting; 5. Invites the United Nations system, including programmes, funds, specialized agencies and regional commissions, as well as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Special Envoys of the Secretary-General on HIV/AIDS and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Stop Tuberculosis, to participate in the high-level meeting, as appropriate; 6. Invites intergovernmental organizations and entities that have observer status with the General Assembly, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and non-governmental members of the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint Programme to participate in the high-level meeting, as appropriate; 7. Requests the President of the General Assembly, with support from the Joint Programme and in consultation with Member States, to finalize the organizational arrangements for the high-level meeting, including the identification of a person openly living with HIV and an eminent person actively engaged in the response to AIDS to speak at the opening plenary meeting, the identification of themes and finalization of the panel discussions, and the format of the informal interactive hearing with civil society; 8. Also requests the President of the General Assembly, following appropriate consultations with Member States, to draw up, no later than 31 March 2008, a list of other relevant civil society representatives, in particular associations of people living with HIV, non-governmental organizations, including organizations of women and young people, girls and boys and men, faith-based organizations and the private sector, especially pharmaceutical companies and representatives of labour, including on the basis of the recommendations of the Joint Programme and taking into account the principle of equitable geographical representation, and to submit the list to Member States for consideration on a no-objection basis for a final decision by the Assembly on participation in the high-level meeting, including panel discussions; 9. Decides that the arrangements outlined in paragraph 8 above shall not be considered a precedent for other similar events; 10. Encourages the timely submission of national reports by all Member States on their implementation of the Declaration of Commitment and the Political Declaration, noting the request for those submissions by 31 January 2008 as inputs to the report of the Secretary-General; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive and analytical report at least six weeks prior to its consideration by the General Assembly on progress achieved and challenges remaining in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment and the Political Declaration; 12. Decides that the President of the General Assembly will circulate a comprehensive summary after the conclusion of the high-level meeting, reflecting the views expressed during the discussions on the progress made, challenges remaining and sustainable ways to overcome them. RESOLUTION 62/179 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.10/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/179. New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 57/2 of 16 September 2002 on the United Nations Declaration on the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Recalling also its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002 on the final review and appraisal of the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s and support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and resolutions 58/233 of 23 December 2003, 59/254 of 23 December 2004, 60/222 of 23 December 2005 and 61/229 of 22 December 2006 entitled "New Partnership for Africa's Development: progress in implementation and international support", Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,Ibid. including the recognition of the need to meet the special needs of Africa, and recalling also its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006, Bearing in mind that African countries have primary responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, and also the need for their development efforts to be supported by an enabling international economic environment, and in this regard recalling the support given by the International Conference on Financing for Development to the New Partnership,See Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Emphasizing that a favourable national and international environment for Africa's growth and development is important for progress in the implementation of the New Partnership,A/57/304, annex. Stressing the need to implement all commitments by the international community regarding the economic and social development of Africa, 1. Welcomes the fifth consolidated report of the Secretary-General;A/62/203. 2. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 3. Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of the New Partnership as well as regional and international support for the New Partnership, while acknowledging that much needs to be done in its implementation; 4. Reaffirms the resolve to provide assistance for prevention and care, with the aim of ensuring an HIV/AIDS-, malaria- and tuberculosis-free Africa, by addressing the needs of all, in particular the needs of women, children and young people, and achieving as closely as possible the goal of universal access by 2010 to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, treatment, care and support in African countries, to accelerate and intensify efforts to expand access to affordable and quality medicines in Africa, including antiretroviral drugs, inter alia, by encouraging pharmaceutical companies to make drugs available, and to ensure increased bilateral and multilateral assistance, where possible on a grant basis, to combat malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in Africa through the strengthening of health systems; 5. Reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted at the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly on 27 June 2001,Resolution S-26/2, annex. and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the Assembly on 2 June 2006;Resolution 60/262, annex. I Actions by African countries and organizations 6. Welcomes the progress made by the African countries in fulfilling their commitments in the implementation of the New Partnership to deepen democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic management, and encourages African countries, with the participation of stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to continue their efforts in this regard by developing and strengthening institutions for governance, creating an environment conducive to involving the private sector, including small and medium-size firms, in the New Partnership implementation process and to attracting foreign direct investment for the development of the region; 7. Also welcomes the commendable progress that has been achieved in implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism, in particular the completion of the peer review process in a number of countries, further welcomes the progress in implementing the national programmes of action resulting from these reviews, and in this regard urges African States that have not done so to consider joining the Mechanism process as soon as possible and to strengthen the Mechanism process for its efficient performance; 8. Welcomes and appreciates the continuing and increasing efforts of African countries to mainstream a gender perspective and the empowerment of women in the implementation of the New Partnership; 9. Stresses that conflict prevention, management and resolution and post-conflict consolidation are essential for the achievement of the objectives of the New Partnership, and welcomes in this regard the cooperation and support granted by the United Nations and development partners to the African regional and subregional organizations in the implementation of the New Partnership; 10. Recognizes the need for African countries to continue to coordinate, in accordance with their respective national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance in order to integrate effectively such assistance into their development processes; 11. Encourages African countries to accelerate the achievement of the objective of food security in Africa, and in this regard reaffirms its support for the outcome of the post-Abuja meeting of the International Technical Committee of the Food Security Summit, held in Addis Ababa in May 2007; 12. Recognizes the important role that African regional economic communities can play in the implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard encourages African countries and the international community to give regional economic communities the necessary support to strengthen their capacity; 13. Supports the ongoing efforts by the African Union to improve the coordination between the New Partnership secretariat, the African Union Commission, the regional economic communities and African States; 14. Encourages the establishment of national institutional mechanisms for further domestication and integration of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership in national policies and programmes; 15. Encourages African countries to further enhance public awareness of and commitment to the New Partnership and its programmes through, inter alia, effective and comprehensive communication and outreach strategies; II Response of the international community 16. Welcomes the efforts by development partners to strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership; 17. Also welcomes the various important initiatives of Africa's development partners in recent years, such as, inter alia, the Africa Partnership Forum, the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership, China-Africa Partnership, the European Union-Africa Strategic Partnership, the Group of Eight, the Millennium Challenge Account, the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief of the President of the United States of America and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), and emphasizes in this regard the importance of coordination in such initiatives on Africa and the need for their effective implementation; 18. Recognizes the important role that South-South cooperation can play in supporting Africa's development efforts, including implementation of the New Partnership; 19. Urges continued support of measures to address the challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in Africa including, as appropriate, debt relief, improved market access, support for the private sector and entrepreneurship, enhanced official development assistance and increased flows of foreign direct investment, and transfer of technology; 20. Reiterates the need for all countries and relevant multilateral institutions to continue efforts to enhance coherence in their trade policies towards African countries, and acknowledges the importance of efforts to fully integrate African countries into the international trading system through initiatives such as building Africa's capacity to compete and the provision of assistance to address the adjustment challenges of trade liberalization; 21. Calls for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the external debt problems of African countries, including cancellation or restructuring, as appropriate, and on a case-by-case basis, for heavily indebted African countries not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative that have unsustainable debt burdens, and emphasizes the importance of debt sustainability; 22. Also calls for the fulfilment of pledges by the Group of Eight countries to double by 2010 official development assistance to Africa, and in this regard calls upon the international community, particularly the Group of Eight, to honour their commitments and to ensure that the increase in official development assistance translates into the actual flow of financial resources to developing countries; 23. Acknowledges efforts by developed countries to increase resources for development, including commitments by some developed countries to increase official development assistance, notes with concern the overall decline in official development assistance in 2006, and calls for the fulfilment of all official development assistance commitments, including the commitments by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance to developing countries by 2015 and to reach the level of at least 0.5 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance by 2010, as well as the target of 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of gross national income for least developed countries, and urges those developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard in accordance with their commitments; 24. Welcomes the efforts of some developed countries, which are on target to meet the commitments made in terms of increased official development assistance; 25. Also welcomes recent efforts and initiatives to enhance the quality of aid and to increase its impact, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, and the resolve to take concrete, effective and timely action in implementing all agreed commitments on aid effectiveness, with clear monitoring and deadlines, including by further aligning assistance with countries' strategies, building institutional capacities, reducing transaction costs and eliminating bureaucratic procedures, making progress on untying aid, enhancing the absorptive capacity and financial management of recipient countries and strengthening the focus on development results; 26. Recognizes the need for the international community to make continued efforts to increase the flow of new and additional resources for financing for development from all sources, public and private, domestic and foreign, to support the development of African countries; 27. Invites developed countries to promote investment by their private sectors in Africa, to help African countries attract investments and promote policies conducive to attracting domestic and foreign investment, such as encouraging private financial flows and promoting and maintaining macroeconomic stability, to encourage and facilitate the transfer of the technology needed to African countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, and to assist in strengthening human and institutional capacities for the implementation of the New Partnership, consistent with its priorities and objectives and with a view to furthering Africa's development at all levels; 28. Requests the United Nations system to continue to provide assistance to the African Union and the New Partnership secretariat and to African countries in developing projects and programmes within the scope of the priorities of the New Partnership and to place greater emphasis on monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of the effectiveness of its activities in support of the New Partnership; 29. Invites the Secretary-General, as a follow-up to the 2005 World Summit, to urge the United Nations development system to assist African countries in implementing quick-impact initiatives through, inter alia, the Millennium Villages Project, and also requests the Secretary-General to include in his report an assessment of those quick-impact initiatives; 30. Reaffirms its decision to hold within existing resources a high-level meeting on "Africa's development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward" during its sixty-third session; 31. Stresses the need for close consultation between the United Nations and the African Union in preparing for the high-level meeting; 32. Requests the Secretary-General to promote greater coherence in the work of the United Nations system in support of the New Partnership, on the basis of the agreed clusters; 33. Reiterates the call upon the United Nations system to continue to mainstream the special needs of Africa in all its normative and operational activities; 34. Requests the Secretary-General to take measures to strengthen the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa in order to enable it to effectively fulfil its mandate, including monitoring and reporting on progress related to meeting the special needs of Africa; 35. Takes note of the fact that the post of the Special Adviser on Africa is vacant, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to address this issue as soon as possible; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the basis of inputs from Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other stakeholders in the New Partnership. RESOLUTION 62/17 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/386, para. 8),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Belarus, Chile, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. by a recorded vote of 179 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 62/17. Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001, 57/53 of 22 November 2002, 58/32 of 8 December 2003, 59/61 of 3 December 2004, 60/45 of 8 December 2005 and 61/54 of 6 December 2006, Recalling also its resolutions on the role of science and technology in the context of international security, in which, inter alia, it recognized that scientific and technological developments could have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needed to be maintained and encouraged, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Affirming that it sees in this process the broadest positive opportunities for the further development of civilization, the expansion of opportunities for cooperation for the common good of all States, the enhancement of the creative potential of humankind and additional improvements in the circulation of information in the global community, Recalling, in this connection, the approaches and principles outlined at the Information Society and Development Conference, held in Midrand, South Africa, from 13 to 15 May 1996, Bearing in mind the results of the Ministerial Conference on Terrorism, held in Paris on 30 July 1996, and the recommendations that it made,See A/51/261, annex. Bearing in mind also the results of the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003 (first phase) and in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005 (second phase),See A/C.2/59/3 and A/60/687. Noting that the dissemination and use of information technologies and means affect the interests of the entire international community and that optimum effectiveness is enhanced by broad international cooperation, Expressing its concern that these technologies and means can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Noting the contribution of those Member States that have submitted their assessments on issues of information security to the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 3 of resolutions 53/70, 54/49, 55/28, 56/19, 57/53, 58/32, 59/61, 60/45 and 61/54, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General containing those assessments,A/54/213, A/55/140 and Corr.1 and Add.1, A/56/164 and Add.1, A/57/166 and Add.1, A/58/373, A/59/116 and Add.1, A/60/95 and Add.1, and A/61/161 and Add.1. Welcoming the initiative taken by the Secretariat and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in convening an international meeting of experts in Geneva in August 1999 on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, as well as its results, Considering that the assessments of the Member States contained in the reports of the Secretary-General and the international meeting of experts have contributed to a better understanding of the substance of issues of international information security and related notions, Bearing in mind that the Secretary-General, in fulfilment of resolution 58/32, established in 2004 a group of governmental experts, which, in accordance with its mandate, considered existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them and conducted a study on relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, prepared on the basis of the results of the Group's work,A/60/202. 1. Calls upon Member States to promote further at multilateral levels the consideration of existing and potential threats in the field of information security, as well as possible measures to limit the threats emerging in this field, consistent with the need to preserve the free flow of information; 2. Considers that the purpose of such measures could be served through the examination of relevant international concepts aimed at strengthening the security of global information and telecommunications systems; 3. Invites all Member States to continue to inform the Secretary-General of their views and assessments on the following questions: (a) General appreciation of the issues of information security; (b) Efforts taken at the national level to strengthen information security and promote international cooperation in this field; (c) The content of the concepts mentioned in paragraph 2 above; (d) Possible measures that could be taken by the international community to strengthen information security at the global level; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts, to be established in 2009 on the basis of equitable geographical distribution, to continue to study existing and potential threats in the sphere of information security and possible cooperative measures to address them, as well as the concepts referred to in paragraph 2 above, and to submit a report on the results of this study to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security". RESOLUTION 62/180 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.39 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Botswana (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Myanmar, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand 62/180. 2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling that the period 2001-2010 has been proclaimed the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa, by the General Assembly,See resolution 55/284. and that combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases is included in the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling also its resolution 61/228 of 22 December 2006 and all previous resolutions concerning the struggle against malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Bearing in mind the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council relating to the struggle against malaria and diarrhoeal diseases, in particular resolution 1998/36 of 30 July 1998, Taking note of the declarations and decisions on health issues adopted by the Organization of African Unity, in particular the declaration and plan of action on the "Roll Back Malaria" initiative adopted at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held in Abuja on 24 and 25 April 2000,See A/55/240/Add.1. as well as decision AHG/Dec.155 (XXXVI) concerning the implementation of that declaration and plan of action, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-sixth ordinary session, held in Lomé from 10 to 12 July 2000,See A/55/286, annex II. Also taking note of the Maputo Declaration on Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases, adopted by the Assembly of the African Union at its second ordinary session, held in Maputo from 10 to 12 July 2003,A/58/626, annex I, Assembly/AU/Decl.6 (II). and the Abuja call for accelerated action towards universal access to HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria services in Africa, issued by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the special summit of the African Union on HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, held in Abuja, from 2 to 4 May 2006, Recognizing the linkages in efforts being made to reach the targets set at the Abuja Summit in 2000 as necessary and important for the attainment of the "Roll Back Malaria" goal and the targets of the Millennium Declaration by 2010 and 2015, respectively, Also recognizing that malaria-related ill health and deaths throughout the world can be substantially eliminated with political commitment and commensurate resources if the public is educated and sensitized about malaria and appropriate health services are made available, particularly in countries where the disease is endemic, Emphasizing the importance of implementing the Millennium Declaration, and welcoming in this connection the commitment of Member States to respond to the specific needs of Africa, Commending the efforts of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and other partners to fight malaria over the years, including the launching of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in 1998, Recalling resolution 60.18, adopted by the World Health Assembly on 23 May 2007,See World Health Organization, Sixtieth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 14-23 May 2007, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA60/2007/REC/1). urging a broad range of national and international actions to scale up malaria control programmes, Taking note of the Roll Back Malaria Global Strategic Plan 2005-2015 developed by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the World Health Organization,A/62/321. and calls for support for the recommendations contained therein; 2. Welcomes the decision by the World Health Assembly to commemorate Malaria Day annually on 25 April, or on any such day or days as individual Member States may decide, in order to provide education and understanding of malaria as a global scourge that is preventable and a disease that is curable;See World Health Organization, Sixtieth World Health Assembly, Geneva, 14-23 May 2007, Resolutions and Decisions, Annex (WHA60/2007/REC/1). 3. Also welcomes the increased funding for malaria interventions and for research and development of preventive and control tools from the international community, through funding from multilateral and bilateral sources and from the private sector, as well as by making predictable financing available through appropriate and effective aid modalities and in-country health financing mechanisms aligned with national priorities, which are key to strengthening health systems and promoting universal and equitable access to high-quality malaria prevention and treatment services; 4. Calls upon the international community to continue to support the "Roll Back Malaria" partner organizations, including the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the United Nations Children's Fund, as vital complementary sources of support for the efforts of malaria-endemic countries to combat the disease; 5. Appeals to the international community to work in a spirit of cooperation towards effective, increased, harmonized and sustained bilateral and multilateral assistance to combat malaria, including support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in order to assist States, in particular malaria-endemic countries, to implement sound national plans, in particular health plans and sanitation plans, including malaria control strategies and integrated management of childhood illnesses, in a sustained and equitable way that, inter alia, contributes to health system development; 6. Welcomes the contribution to the mobilization of additional and predictable resources for development by voluntary innovative financing initiatives taken by groups of Member States, and in this regard notes the International Drug Purchase Facility, UNITAID, the International Finance Facility for Immunization and the advance market commitment initiatives; 7. Urges malaria-endemic countries to work towards financial sustainability, to increase, to the extent possible, domestic resource allocation to malaria control and to create favourable conditions for working with the private sector in order to improve access to good-quality malaria services; 8. Calls upon Member States, in particular malaria-endemic countries, to establish and/or strengthen national policies and operational plans, aspiring to ensure that at least 80 per cent of those at risk of or suffering from malaria may benefit from major preventive and curative interventions by 2010, in accordance with the technical recommendations of the World Health Organization, so as to ensure a reduction in the burden of malaria by at least 50 per cent by 2010 and 75 per cent by 2015; 9. Urges Member States to assess and respond to the needs for integrated human resources at all levels of the health system, in order to achieve the targets of the Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in AfricaA/55/240/Add.1, annex. and the internationally agreed development goals of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to take actions, as appropriate, to effectively govern the recruitment, training and retention of skilled health personnel, and to give particular focus to the availability of skilled personnel at all levels to meet technical and operational needs as increased funding for malaria control programmes becomes available; 10. Calls upon the international community, inter alia, by helping to meet the financial needs of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and through country-led initiatives with adequate international support, to intensify access to affordable, safe and effective antimalarial combination treatments, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancies, long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, including through the free distribution of such nets where appropriate, and insecticides for indoor residual spraying for malaria control, taking into account relevant international rules, standards and guidelines; 11. Requests relevant international organizations, in particular the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, to assist efforts of national Governments to establish universal protection of young children and pregnant women in malaria-endemic countries, particularly in Africa, with long-lasting insecticide-treated nets as rapidly as possible, with due regard to ensuring sustainability through full community participation and implementation through the health system; 12. Encourages all African countries that have not yet done so to implement the recommendations of the Abuja Summit in 2000See A/55/240/Add.1. to reduce or waive taxes and tariffs for nets and other products needed for malaria control, both to reduce the price of the products to consumers and to stimulate free trade in those products; 13. Expresses its concern about the increase in resistant strains of malaria in several regions of the world, and calls upon Member States, with support from the World Health Organization, to strengthen surveillance systems for drug and insecticide resistance and for the World Health Organization to coordinate a global network for the monitoring of drug and insecticide resistance; 14. Urges all Member States experiencing resistance to conventional monotherapies to replace them with combination therapies, as recommended by the World Health Organization, and to develop the necessary financial, legislative and regulatory mechanisms in order to introduce artemisinin combination therapies at affordable prices and to prohibit the marketing of oral artemisinin monotherapies, in a timely manner; 15. Recognizes the importance of the development of safe and cost-effective vaccines and new medicines to prevent and treat malaria and the need for further and accelerated research, including into safe, effective and high-quality traditional therapies, using rigorous standards, including by providing support to the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical DiseasesA joint programme of the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the World Health Organization. and through effective global partnerships, such as the various malaria vaccine initiatives and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, where necessary stimulated by new incentives to secure their development and through effective and timely support towards pre-qualification of new antimalarials and their combinations; 16. Calls upon the international community, including through existing partnerships, to increase investment in and efforts towards the research and development of new, safe and affordable malaria-related medicines, products and technologies, such as vaccines, rapid diagnostic tests, insecticides and delivery modes, to prevent and treat malaria, especially for at-risk children and pregnant women, in order to enhance effectiveness and delay the onset of resistance; 17. Reaffirms the right to use, to the fullest extent, the provisions contained in the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement),See Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health,World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(01)/DEC/2. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. the decision of the World Trade Organization's General Council of 30 August 2003See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/540 and Corr.1. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and amendments to article 31 of the Agreement,See World Trade Organization, document WT/L/641. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. which provide flexibilities for the protection of public health, and in particular to promote access to medicines for all, including the production, under compulsory licensing, of generic drugs in the prevention and treatment of malaria; 18. Resolves to assist developing countries to employ the flexibilities outlined in the TRIPS Agreement in the fight against malaria and to strengthen their capacities for this purpose; 19. Calls upon the international community to support ways to expand access to and the affordability of key products, such as vector control measures, including indoor residual spraying, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and artemisinin-based combination therapy for populations at risk of exposure to resistant strains of falciparum malaria in malaria-endemic countries, particularly in Africa, including through additional funds and innovative mechanisms, inter alia, for the financing and scaling up of artemisinin production and procurement, as appropriate, to meet the increased need; 20. Welcomes the increased level of public-private partnerships for malaria control and prevention, including the financial and in kind contributions of private sector partners and companies operating in Africa, as well as the increased engagement of non-governmental service providers; 21. Encourages the producers of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to accelerate technology transfer to developing countries, and the World Bank and regional development funds to consider supporting malaria-endemic countries to establish factories to scale up production of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets; 22. Calls upon the international community and malaria-endemic countries, in accordance with existing guidelines and recommendations from the World Health Organization and the requirements of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic PollutantsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2256, No. 40214. to increase capacity for the safe, effective and judicious use of indoor residual spraying and other forms of vector control; 23. Urges the international community to become fully knowledgeable about World Health Organization technical policies and strategies and the provisions in the Stockholm Convention related to the use of DDT, including for indoor residual spraying, long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and case management, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women and monitoring of in vivo resistance studies to artemisinin-based combination therapy treatment, so that projects support those policies, strategies and provisions; 24. Requests the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and donor agencies to provide support to those countries which choose to use DDT for indoor residual spraying so as to ensure that it is implemented in accordance with international rules, standards and guidelines, and to provide all possible support to malaria-endemic countries to manage the intervention effectively and prevent the contamination, in particular, of agricultural products with DDT and other insecticides used for indoor residual spraying; 25. Encourages the World Health Organization and its member States, with the support of the parties to the Stockholm Convention, to continue to explore possible alternatives to DDT as a vector control agent; 26. Calls upon malaria-endemic countries to encourage regional and intersectoral collaboration, both public and private, at all levels, especially in education, health, agriculture, economic development and the environment, to advance malaria control objectives; 27. Calls upon the international community to support increased interventions, in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, in order to ensure their rapid, efficient and effective implementation, to strengthen health systems and national pharmaceutical policies, to monitor and fight against the trade in counterfeit antimalarial medicines and prevent the distribution and use of them, and to support coordinated efforts, inter alia, by providing technical assistance to improve surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems and their alignment with national plans and systems so as to better track and report changes in coverage, the need for scaling up recommended interventions and the subsequent reductions in the burden of malaria; 28. Urges Member States, the international community and all relevant actors, including the private sector, to promote the coordinated implementation and enhance the quality of malaria-related activities, including via the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, in accordance with national policies and operational plans that are consistent with the technical recommendations of the World Health Organization and recent efforts and initiatives, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution under the agenda item entitled "2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa". RESOLUTION 62/181 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/415, para. 14),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen and Palestine. by a recorded vote of 166 to 7, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Nauru, Tonga, Vanuatu 62/181. Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/184 of 20 December 2006, and taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 2007/26 of 26 July 2007, Recalling also its resolutions 59/251 of 22 December 2004 and 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources, Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, affirming the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and recalling relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980 and 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Recalling, in this regard, the International Covenant on Civil and Political RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and affirming that these human rights instruments must be respected in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan, Recalling also the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling further its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Expressing its concern at the exploitation by Israel, the occupying Power, of the natural resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Expressing its grave concern at the extensive destruction by Israel, the occupying Power, of agricultural land and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the uprooting of a vast number of fruit-bearing trees, Expressing its concern at the widespread destruction caused by Israel, the occupying Power, to vital infrastructure, including water pipelines and sewage networks, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which, inter alia, pollutes the environment and negatively affects the natural resources of the Palestinian people, Aware of the detrimental impact of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian and other Arab natural resources, especially as a result of the confiscation of land and the forced diversion of water resources, and of the dire socio-economic consequences in this regard, Aware also of the detrimental impact on Palestinian natural resources being caused by the unlawful construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and of its grave effect on the natural resources and economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people, Reaffirming the need for the immediate resumption of negotiations within the Middle East peace process, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, the principle of land for peace, the Quartet performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,See S/2003/529, annex. as endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, and the Arab Peace InitiativeA/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. for the achievement of a final settlement on all tracks, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Stressing the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Recalling the need to end all acts of violence, including acts of terror, provocation, incitement and destruction, Taking note with appreciation of the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan,A/62/75-E/2007/13. 1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water; 2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, damage, cause loss or depletion of, or endanger the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; 3. Recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion, or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from illegal measures taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and expresses the hope that this issue will be dealt with in the framework of the final status negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides; 4. Stresses that the wall being constructed by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, is contrary to international law and is seriously depriving the Palestinian people of their natural resources, and calls in this regard for full compliance with the legal obligations mentioned in the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of JusticeA/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and in resolution ES-10/15; 5. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, with respect to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 6. Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease the dumping of all kinds of waste materials in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, which gravely threaten their natural resources, namely the water and land resources, and pose an environmental hazard and health threat to the civilian populations; 7. Further calls upon Israel to cease its destruction of vital infrastructure, including water pipelines and sewage networks, which, inter alia, has a negative impact on the natural resources of the Palestinian people; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution, and decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources". RESOLUTION 62/182 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/416, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/182. Information and communication technologies for development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/183 of 21 December 2001, 57/238 of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 59/220 of 22 December 2004 and 60/252 of 27 March 2006, Recalling also the Declaration of Principles and the Plan of Action adopted by the World Summit on the Information Society at its first phase, held in Geneva from 10 to 12 December 2003,See A/C.2/59/3, annex. as endorsed by the General Assembly,See resolution 59/220. and the Tunis Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society adopted by the Summit at its second phase, held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November 2005,See A/60/687. and endorsed by the General Assembly,See resolution 60/252. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. 1. Reaffirms the strong development orientation of the outcomes of both the GenevaSee A/C.2/59/3, annex. and the TunisSee A/60/687. phases of the World Summit on the Information Society, and urges their full implementation; 2. Also reaffirms its request to the Economic and Social Council to oversee the system-wide follow-up to the Geneva and Tunis outcomes of the Summit; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, through the Economic and Social Council, the report being prepared for the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, as mandated by the Council in its resolution 2006/46 of 28 July 2006, on the status of implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the Summit. RESOLUTION 62/183 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/417/Add.1, para. 12),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Belarus, and Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 128 to 2, with 51 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/183. Unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling the relevant principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. which states, inter alia, that no State may use or encourage the use of unilateral economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, Bearing in mind the general principles governing the international trading system and trade policies for development contained in relevant resolutions, rules and provisions of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, Recalling its resolutions 44/215 of 22 December 1989, 46/210 of 20 December 1991, 48/168 of 21 December 1993, 50/96 of 20 December 1995, 52/181 of 18 December 1997, 54/200 of 22 December 1999, 56/179 of 21 December 2001, 58/198 of 23 December 2003 and 60/185 of 22 December 2005, Gravely concerned that the use of unilateral coercive economic measures adversely affects the economy and development efforts of developing countries in particular and has a general negative impact on international economic cooperation and on worldwide efforts to move towards a non-discriminatory and open multilateral trading system, Recognizing that such measures constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of international law as set forth in the Charter, as well as the basic principles of the multilateral trading system, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/210. 2. Urges the international community to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries that are not authorized by relevant organs of the United Nations or are inconsistent with the principles of international law as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and that contravene the basic principles of the multilateral trading system; 3. Calls upon the international community to condemn and reject the imposition of the use of such measures as a means of political and economic coercion against developing countries; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the imposition of measures of this nature and to study the impact of such measures on the affected countries, including the impact on trade and development; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/184 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/417/Add.1, para. 12),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 126 to 48, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Marshall Islands, Mexico, Norway, Palau, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Serbia 62/184. International trade and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/178 of 21 December 2001, 57/235 of 20 December 2002, 58/197 of 23 December 2003, 59/221 of 22 December 2004, 60/184 of 22 December 2005 and 61/186 of 20 December 2006 on international trade and development, and recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. pertaining to trade and related development issues, as well as the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, Reaffirming the value of multilateralism to the global trading system and the commitment to achieving a universal, rule-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system that contributes to growth, sustainable development and employment generation in all sectors, and emphasizing that bilateral and regional trading arrangements should contribute to the goals of the multilateral trading system, Stressing the importance of open, transparent, inclusive, democratic and more orderly processes and procedures for the effective functioning of the multilateral trading system, including in the decision-making process, so as to enable developing countries to have their vital interests duly reflected in the outcome of trade negotiations, Reiterating that development concerns form an integral part of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs and interests of developing and least developed countries at the heart of the Doha Work Programme,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. Noting that agriculture lags behind the manufacturing sector in the process of establishment of multilateral disciplines and in the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers and that, since most of the world's poor make their living from agriculture, the livelihood and standards of living of many of them are seriously jeopardized by the serious distortions in production and trade in agricultural products caused by the high levels of export subsidies, trade-distorting domestic support and protectionism by many developed countries, Taking note of the report of the Trade and Development BoardA/62/15 (Parts I-IV) and corrigenda. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 15. as well as the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/266. 1. Expresses serious concern at the lack of substantial progress on the trade negotiations of the World Trade Organization and considers it a serious setback for the Doha Round, and calls upon the developed countries to demonstrate the flexibility and political will necessary for breaking the current impasse in the negotiations, and also calls upon all members of the World Trade Organization to adhere to the development mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration,See A/C.2/56/7, annex. the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004World Trade Organization, document WT/L/579. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration,World Trade Organization, document WT/MIN(05)/DEC. Available from http://docsonline.wto.org. which places development at the heart of the multilateral trading system; 2. Stresses that in order for the Doha Round to be concluded satisfactorily, the negotiations should result in the establishment of rules and disciplines in the area of agriculture, adhering to the development mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004 and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 3. Also stresses the need for negotiations of the World Trade Organization in non-agricultural market access to live up to the development mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004 and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 4. Further stresses the need for negotiations of the World Trade Organization to make substantial progress in all areas under the single undertaking such as services, rules and trade facilitation so as to ensure that the development concerns of developing countries are fully reflected in any outcome consistent with the development mandate of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the decision of the General Council of the World Trade Organization of 1 August 2004 and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 5. Underlines the fact that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, that is, the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations, that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space, and that it is particularly important for developing countries that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments; 6. Expresses its deep concern at the imposition of laws and other forms of coercive economic measures including unilateral sanctions against developing countries, which undermine international law and the rules of the World Trade Organization, and also severely threaten the freedom of trade and investment; 7. Reaffirms the commitments made at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade OrganizationSee A/C.2/56/7, annex. and at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries,See A/CONF.191/13. in this regard calls upon developed countries that have not already done so to provide immediate predictable, duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis to all products originating from all least developed countries by 2008, also calls upon developing countries that are in a position to do so to extend duty-free and quota-free market access to exports of these countries, and in this context reaffirms also the need to consider additional measures for progressive improvement in market access for least developed countries, and reaffirms further the need for members of the World Trade Organization to take additional measures to provide effective market access both at the border and otherwise, including simplified and transparent rules of origin so as to facilitate exports from least developed countries; 8. Also reaffirms the commitment to actively pursue the work programme of the World Trade Organization with respect to addressing the trade-related issues and concerns affecting the fuller integration of countries with small, vulnerable economies into the multilateral trading system in a manner commensurate with their special circumstances and in support of their efforts towards sustainable development, in accordance with paragraph 35 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration and paragraph 21 of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration; 9. Recognizes the special problems and needs of the landlocked developing countries within a new global framework for transit transport cooperation for landlocked and transit developing countries, calls, in this regard, for the full and effective implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and stresses the need for the implementation of the São Paulo Consensus,TD/412, part II. in particular paragraphs 66 and 84 thereof, by the relevant international organizations and donors in a multi-stakeholder approach; 10. Also recognizes the need to ensure that the comparative advantage of developing countries is not undermined by any form of protectionism, including the arbitrary and abusive use of non-tariff measures, non-trade barriers and other standards to unfairly restrict the access of products of developing countries particularly to developed countries' markets, reaffirms, in this regard, that developing countries should play an increasing role in the formulation of, inter alia, safety, environment and health standards, and recognizes the need to facilitate the increased and meaningful participation of the developing countries in the work of relevant international standard-setting organizations; 11. Further recognizes that South-South trade should be enhanced and further market access should continue to stimulate South-South trade; 12. Recognizes the role that a successful conclusion of the ongoing third round of negotiations on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries can play in South-South trade; 13. Calls for accelerating the work on the development-related mandate concerning the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsSee Legal Instruments Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 (GATT secretariat publication, Sales No. GATT/1994-7). in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, especially on issues of making intellectual property rules fully support the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. and the issues related to the Agreement and public health afflicting many developing countries, including the least developed countries, especially those issues arising from the HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to present in his report on the implementation of the present resolution the options available with respect to enhancing the role of the United Nations in accelerating the work on the development agenda of the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights; 15. Calls for facilitating the accession of all developing countries that apply for membership in the World Trade Organization, in particular the least developed countries, as well as countries emerging from conflict that are least developed countries, bearing in mind paragraph 21 of resolution 55/182 of 20 December 2000 and subsequent developments, and also calls for the effective and faithful application of the World Trade Organization guidelines on accession by the least developed countries; 16. Emphasizes the need for further work to foster greater coherence between the multilateral trading system and the international financial system, and invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in fulfilment of its mandate, to undertake the relevant policy analysis in those areas and to operationalize such work, including through its technical assistance activities; 17. Invites donors and beneficiary countries to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on the Aid for Trade Initiative established by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, which aims to support developing and least developed countries in building their supply and export capacities, including infrastructure and institutions development, and the need to increase their exports, and stresses in this regard the urgent need for its effective operationalization with sufficient additional, non-conditional and predictable funding; 18. Welcomes the effort being made for operationalization of the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries with increased additional, non-conditional and predictable financial resources to enhance the export and supply capacities of the least developed countries, and urges the development partners to increase their contributions to the Integrated Framework Trust Fund on a multi-year basis; 19. Reiterates the important role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development as the focal point within the United Nations system for the integrated treatment of trade and development and interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development, and calls upon the international community to work towards the strengthening of the Conference, to enable it to enhance its contribution in its three major pillars, namely, consensus-building, research and policy analysis, and technical assistance, especially through increased core resources of the Conference; 20. Welcomes the convening of the twelfth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Accra from 20 to 25 April 2008, and looks forward to the discussion aimed at addressing the opportunities and challenges of globalization for development, especially for developing countries; 21. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in accordance with its mandate, to monitor and assess the evolution of the international trading system and of trends in international trade from a development perspective, and, in particular, to analyse issues of concern to developing countries, supporting them in building capacities to establish their own negotiating priorities and negotiate trade agreements, including under the Doha Work Programme;See A/C.2/56/7, annex. 22. Reaffirms the fundamental role that competition law and policy can play for sound economic development and the validity of the Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices,A/C.2/35/6, annex. as well as the important and useful role that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development plays in this field, and decides to convene in 2010, under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, a sixth United Nations conference to review all aspects of the Set; 23. Urges donors to provide the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development with the increased resources necessary to deliver effective and demand-driven assistance to developing countries, as well as to enhance their contributions to the trust funds of the Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries and the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme; 24. Requests the Secretary-General, in collaboration with the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and on developments in the multilateral trading system, under the sub-item entitled "International trade and development" of the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions"; 25. Also requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization for circulation as an official document of the World Trade Organization. RESOLUTION 62/185 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/417/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/185. International financial system and development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/186 of 20 December 2000 and 56/181 of 21 December 2001, both entitled "Towards a strengthened and stable international financial architecture responsive to the priorities of growth and development, especially in developing countries, and to the promotion of economic and social equity", as well as its resolutions 57/241 of 20 December 2002, 58/202 of 23 December 2003, 59/222 of 22 December 2004, 60/186 of 22 December 2005 and 61/187 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. and its resolution 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, in which it endorsed the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, and its resolution 61/16 of 20 November 2006 on strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, Emphasizing that the international financial system should further sustain economic growth and support sustainable development and hunger and poverty eradication efforts, while allowing for the coherent mobilization of all sources of financing for development, including the mobilization of domestic resources, international investment flows, official development assistance, external debt relief and an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory global trading system, Stressing the importance of commitment to sound domestic financial sectors, which make a vital contribution to national development efforts, as an important component of an international financial architecture that is supportive of development, Stressing also that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving sustainable development, reiterating in this regard the importance of promoting global economic governance by addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, and reiterating also that, to this effect, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, finding a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market access of developing countries, Reaffirming the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, stressing to that end the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, and acknowledging the need for continued discussion on the issue of the voting power of developing countries in the Bretton Woods institutions, which remains a concern, Recognizing the urgent need to enhance the coherence, governance and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems and the importance of ensuring their openness, fairness and inclusiveness in order to complement national development efforts to ensure sustained economic growth and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Emphasizing the need for additional, stable and predictable financing to assist developing countries to undertake their investment plans and strategies to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing, in this regard, the value of developing innovative sources of financing from various sources, on a public, private, domestic and external basis, to increase and supplement traditional sources of financing, Welcoming the contribution to the mobilization of resources for development through innovative financing initiatives taken by groups of Member States,Including the International Drug Purchase Facility-UNITAID, the International Finance Facility for Immunization and a pilot project within the Advance Market Commitment Initiative. Reiterating the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/119. 2. Notes that global economic growth and a stable international financial system, inter alia, can support the ability of developing countries to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and stresses the importance of cooperative and coordinated efforts by all countries and institutions to cope with the risks of financial instability; 3. Emphasizes that economic growth should be further strengthened and sustained, noting that global economic growth depends on national economic growth and that the implementation of sound macroeconomic policies at all levels could significantly contribute to a revitalization of economic growth; 4. Stresses the importance of the United Nations playing a fundamental role in the promotion of international cooperation for development and in discussing international economic and development policies; 5. Notes the holding of the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund, in October 2007, stresses the importance of early agreement on a credible and time-bound package of quota and voice reforms in the Fund, reiterates the need to effectively address the issue of enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries in the Bretton Woods institutions, encourages the Bretton Woods institutions to take further and effective measures, and invites the World Bank and the Fund to continue to provide information on this issue, using existing cooperation forums, including those involving Member States; 6. Reiterates its invitation to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the regional development banks and other relevant institutions to further integrate development dimensions into their strategies and policies, consistent with their respective mandates, and to fully implement the principles stated in those strategies and policies, in particular the objectives of pro-poor growth and poverty reduction; 7. Notes that developing countries as a whole continue to experience a net outflow of financial resources, and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in continuing collaboration with international financial institutions and other relevant bodies, to analyse the range of reasons and consequences for this in his report under this item; 8. Also notes that some developing countries have net inflows of financial resources, and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in continuing collaboration with international financial institutions and other relevant bodies, to analyse the range of reasons and consequences for this in his report under this item; 9. Takes note of the efforts of central banks, regulatory bodies and financial institutions to mitigate the global economic impacts of financial volatility resulting from adjustable-rate mortgage losses and related imbalances in developed economies, and encourages those bodies to further continue such efforts; 10. Underlines the importance of promoting international financial stability and sustainable growth, and welcomes the efforts undertaken to this end by the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Forum, as well as the consideration by the International Monetary and Financial Committee of ways to sharpen tools designed to promote international financial stability and enhance crisis prevention, inter alia, through an even-handed implementation of surveillance, including at the regional level, and a sharpening of surveillance of capital markets and systemically and regionally important countries, with a view, inter alia, to the early identification of problems and risks, integrating debt sustainability analysis, the fostering of appropriate policy responses, the possible provision of financing and other instruments designed to prevent the emergence or spread of financial crises and further improvements in the transparency of macroeconomic data and statistical information on international capital flows; 11. Also underlines the importance of efforts at the national level to increase resilience to financial risk, stresses in this regard the importance of better assessment of a country's debt burden and its ability to service that debt in both crisis prevention and resolution, and welcomes the ongoing work of the International Monetary Fund in assessing debt sustainability; 12. Recognizes the need for multilateral surveillance to remain at the centre of crisis prevention efforts and that surveillance should focus not only on crisis-prone countries but also on the stability of the system as a whole; 13. Reiterates that measures to mitigate the impact of excessive volatility of short-term capital flows and to improve transparency of and information about financial flows are important and must be considered; 14. Notes the impact of financial crises or risk contagion in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, regardless of their size, and in this regard welcomes the efforts of the international financial institutions, in their support to countries, to continuously adapt their array of financial facilities and resources, drawing on a full range of policies, taking into account the effects of economic cycles, as and where appropriate, having due regard to sound fiscal management and the specific circumstances of each case, so as to prevent and respond to such crises in a timely and appropriate way; 15. Underlines the importance of competitive and inclusive private and public financial markets in mobilizing and allocating savings towards productive investment and thus making a vital contribution to national development efforts and to an international financial architecture that is supportive of development; 16. Encourages regional cooperation, including through the private sector and public-private partnerships, to intermediate between savings and demand for long-term investment in developing countries, including the development, where appropriate, of regional bond markets; 17. Welcomes the launching of initiatives, including South-South initiatives and triangular cooperation, to support and accelerate the sustained social and economic development of developing countries; 18. Invites the international financial and banking institutions to consider enhancing the transparency of risk-rating mechanisms, noting that sovereign risk assessments made by the private sector should maximize the use of strict, objective and transparent parameters, which can be facilitated by high-quality data and analysis, and encourages relevant development institutions, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to continue their work on this issue, including its potential impact on the development prospects of developing countries; 19. Stresses the importance of strong domestic institutions in promoting business activities and financial stability for the achievement of growth and development, inter alia, through sound macroeconomic policies and policies aimed at strengthening the regulatory systems of the corporate, financial and banking sectors, and also stresses that international cooperation initiatives in those areas should encourage flows of capital to developing countries; 20. Emphasizes that it is essential to ensure the effective and equitable participation of developing countries in the formulation of financial standards and codes, underlines the need to ensure their implementation, on a voluntary and progressive basis, as a contribution to reducing vulnerability to financial crisis and contagion, and notes that more than one hundred countries have participated in or agreed to participate in the joint World Bank-International Monetary Fund financial sector assessment programme;See A/59/218 and Corr.1, para. 15. and encourages countries that are not yet participating in the programme to consider doing so; 21. Notes the proposal to use special drawing rights allocations for development purposes, and considers that any assessment of special drawing rights allocations must respect the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund and the established rules of procedure of the Fund, which requires taking into account the global need for liquidity at the international level; 22. Invites the multilateral and regional development banks and development funds to continue to play a vital role in serving the development needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, including through coordinated action, as appropriate, and stresses that strengthened regional development banks and subregional financial institutions add flexible financial support to national and regional development efforts, thus enhancing their ownership and overall efficiency, and are an essential source of knowledge and expertise for their developing-country members; 23. Calls for the continued effort of the multilateral financial institutions, in providing policy advice, technical assistance and financial support to member countries, to work on the basis of nationally owned reform and development strategies, to pay due regard to the special needs and implementing capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and to minimize the negative impacts of the adjustment programmes on the vulnerable segments of society, while taking into account the importance of gender-sensitive employment and hunger and poverty eradication policies and strategies; 24. Stresses the need to continuously improve standards of corporate and public sector governance, including accounting, auditing and measures to ensure transparency, noting the disruptive effects of inadequate policies; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 26. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", the sub-item entitled "International financial system and development". RESOLUTION 62/186 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/417/Add.3, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/186. External debt and development: towards a durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/203 of 23 December 2003, 59/223 of 22 December 2004, 60/187 of 22 December 2005 and 61/188 of 20 December 2006 on external debt crisis and development, Recalling also the International Conference on Financing for Development and its outcome,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which recognizes sustainable debt financing as an important element for mobilizing resources for public and private investment, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, Reaffirming that each country must take primary responsibility for its own development and that the role of national policies and development strategies, including in the area of debt management, cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development, and recognizing that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty, Emphasizing that debt sustainability is essential for underpinning growth, and underlining the importance of debt sustainability and effective debt management to the efforts to achieve national development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and that countries should direct those financial resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt reduction and cancellation, towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Noting with appreciation that the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and bilateral donors have provided significant debt relief to twenty-two heavily indebted poor countries that have reached the completion point under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative,Debt relief under the two initiatives is expected to reduce the debt stocks of the 29 heavily indebted poor countries that have reached the decision point by almost 90 per cent. "Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) - Status of Implementation", prepared by the staff of the International Development Association and the International Monetary Fund (August 2006). Noting with satisfaction the improvement in the external debt situation of heavily indebted poor countries but concerned that there remains a number of low- and middle-income developing countries that are still facing difficulties in finding a durable solution to their external debt problems, which could adversely affect their sustainable development, Welcoming the fact that the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative have enabled heavily indebted poor countries to increase their expenditures on health, education and other social services consistent with national priorities, development plans and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Stressing the importance of addressing the challenges of those heavily indebted poor countries that are facing difficulties in reaching the completion point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and expressing concern that some heavily indebted poor countries continue to face substantial debt burdens and need to avoid rebuilding unsustainable debt burdens after reaching the completion point under the Initiative, Convinced that enhanced market access for goods and services of export interest to developing countries contributes significantly to debt sustainability in those countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/151. 2. Emphasizes the special importance of a timely, effective, comprehensive and durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries, since debt financing and relief can contribute to economic growth and development; 3. Also emphasizes that creditors and debtors must share responsibility for preventing unsustainable debt situations; 4. Reiterates that debt sustainability depends on a confluence of many factors at the international and national levels, emphasizes that country-specific circumstances and the impact of external shocks should continue to be taken into account in debt sustainability analyses, underlines the fact that no single indicator should be used to make definitive judgements about debt sustainability, and, in this regard, while acknowledging the need to use transparent and comparable indicators, invites the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in their assessment of debt sustainability, to take into account fundamental changes caused by, inter alia, natural disasters, conflicts and changes in global growth prospects or in the terms of trade, especially for commodity-dependent developing countries, as well as by the impact of developments in financial markets, and to continue to provide information on this issue using existing cooperation forums, including those involving Member States; 5. Underlines the fact that the long-term sustainability of debt depends, inter alia, on the economic growth, mobilization of domestic resources and export prospects of debtor countries and, hence, on the creation of an enabling international environment conducive to development, progress in following sound macroeconomic policies, transparent and effective regulatory frameworks and success in overcoming structural development problems; 6. Notes with appreciation the progress under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, calls for their full and timely implementation and the provision of additional resources to ensure that the financial capacity of the international financial institutions is not reduced, and stresses the need for all creditors to participate on an equitable basis, including non-Paris Club and commercial creditors; 7. Emphasizes in this regard that debt relief does not replace other sources of financing; 8. Urges donors to ensure that their commitments to the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative and the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative are additional to existing aid flows, emphasizes that full compensation by donors on the basis of fair burden-sharing for the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative costs of relevant financial institutions is essential, calls for continued support to countries to complete the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative process, and encourages all parties, both creditors and debtors, to fulfil their commitments as rapidly as possible in order to complete the debt relief process; 9. Notes with concern that, in spite of the progress achieved, some countries that have reached the completion point of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative have not been able to achieve lasting debt sustainability, stresses the importance of promoting responsible borrowing and lending and the need to help those countries to manage their borrowing and to avoid a build-up of unsustainable debt, including through capacity-building in the area of debt management and the use of grants and concessional loans, underlines the important role of the joint Debt Sustainability Framework of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for low-income countries in guiding borrowing and lending decisions, and encourages continued review of the Framework, with the full engagement of borrower Governments in an open and transparent manner; 10. Encourages further improving the mutual exchange of information, on a voluntary basis, on borrowing and lending among all creditors and borrowers; 11. Reiterates its invitation to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to keep the overall implications of the Debt Sustainability Framework for low-income countries under review, calls for transparency in the computation of the country policy and institutional assessments, and takes note of the disclosure of the country performance ratings of the International Development Association that form part of the Framework; 12. Welcomes and encourages the efforts of the heavily indebted poor countries, calls upon them to continue to strengthen their domestic policies and economic management, inter alia through poverty reduction strategies, and to create a domestic environment conducive to private-sector development, economic growth and poverty reduction, including a stable macroeconomic framework, transparent and accountable systems of public finance, a sound business climate and a predictable investment climate, and in this regard invites creditors, both private and public, that are not yet fully participating in debt relief initiatives to substantially increase their participation, including by providing comparable treatment to the extent possible to debtor countries that have concluded sustainable debt relief agreements with creditors, and invites the international financing institutions and the donor community to continue to provide adequate and sufficiently concessional financing; 13. Stresses that debt relief can play a key role in liberating resources that should be directed towards activities consistent with poverty eradication, sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and in this regard urges countries to direct those resources freed through debt relief, in particular through debt cancellation and reduction, towards those objectives; 14. Calls for the consideration of additional measures and initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term debt sustainability through increased grant-based financing, cancellation of 100 per cent of the eligible official multilateral and bilateral debt of heavily indebted poor countries and, where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis, significant debt relief or restructuring for low- and middle-income developing countries with an unsustainable debt burden that are not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, as well as the exploration of mechanisms to comprehensively address the debt problems of those countries; 15. Encourages the Paris Club, in dealing with the debt of low- and middle-income debtor countries that are not part of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative to take into account their medium-term debt sustainability in addition to their financing gaps, and takes note with appreciation of the Evian approach of the Paris Club in providing terms of debt relief tailored to the specific needs of debtor countries while preserving debt cancellation for heavily indebted poor countries; 16. Stresses the need to significantly address the debt problems of middle-income developing countries, and in this regard stresses the importance of the Evian approach of the Paris Club as a practical means to address this issue, and notes that the current debt sustainability framework used to analyse the debt situation of middle-income countries focuses mostly on medium-term debt dynamics; 17. Notes that several developing countries have been able to reduce their external public debt by issuing more domestic debt to pay off foreign currency liabilities, appreciates that, while this switch in debt structure substantially reduces the foreign exchange risk of public debt liabilities, the levels of domestic debt could create other challenges for macroeconomic management and public debt sustainability, and calls for a reinforcing capacity to manage the new levels of domestic debt in order to maintain the overall public debt sustainability; 18. Also notes that some low- and middle-income developing countries that are not included in existing debt relief initiatives also experience constraints in mobilizing the resources needed to achieve the internationally agreed development goals; 19. Invites creditors and debtors to continue to use, where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis, mechanisms such as debt swaps for alleviating the debt burden of low- and middle-income developing countries with an unsustainable debt burden that are not eligible for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and takes note of the discussions and assessment by the Paris Club of the proposal for "Debt for Equity in Millennium Development Goal Projects"; 20. Stresses the need to continue to take effective measures, preferably within the existing frameworks, to address the debt problems of the least developed countries, including through cancellation of the multilateral and bilateral debt owed by least developed countries to creditors, both public and private; 21. Invites donor countries, taking into account country-specific debt sustainability analyses, to continue their efforts to increase bilateral grants to developing countries, which could contribute to debt sustainability in the medium to long term, and recognizes the need for countries to be able to invest, inter alia, in health and education while maintaining debt sustainability; 22. Notes that credit-rating agencies play an important role in determining countries' access to international capital markets and the cost of such borrowing, and, in this regard, calls upon the international financial and banking institutions to consider enhancing the transparency of risk-rating mechanisms, and notes that sovereign risk assessments made by the private sector should maximize the use of strict, objective and transparent parameters, which can be facilitated by high-quality data and analysis; 23. Welcomes the efforts of and calls upon the international community to provide flexibility, and stresses the need to continue those efforts in helping post-conflict developing countries, especially those that are heavily indebted and poor, to achieve initial reconstruction for economic and social development; 24. Also welcomes the efforts of and invites creditors to provide flexibility to developing countries affected by natural disasters on a case-by-case basis so as to allow them to address their debt concerns; 25. Further welcomes the efforts of and calls upon the international community to support institutional capacity-building in developing countries for the management of financial assets and liabilities and to enhance sustainable debt management as an integral part of national development strategies; 26. Invites the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in cooperation with the regional commissions, development banks and other relevant multilateral financial institutions and stakeholders, to continue cooperation in respect of capacity-building activities in developing countries in the area of debt management and debt sustainability; 27. Invites the international community, including the United Nations system, to continue efforts to increase financial support in respect of capacity-building activities for developing countries in the area of debt management and debt sustainability, and encourages countries to create transparent and accountable debt management systems; 28. Calls upon all Member States and the United Nations system, and invites the Bretton Woods institutions and the private sector, to take appropriate measures and actions for the implementation of the commitments, agreements and decisions of the major United Nations conferences and summits, in particular those related to the question of the external debt problems of developing countries; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report a comprehensive and substantive analysis of the external debt situation and debt-servicing problems of developing countries and a review of debt management capacity-building efforts, particularly those of the United Nations system; 30. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Macroeconomic policy questions", a sub-item entitled "External debt and development: towards a durable solution to the debt problems of developing countries". RESOLUTION 62/187 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/418, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Chairperson of the Committee. 62/187. Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus The General Assembly, Recalling the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, and its resolutions 56/210 B of 9 July 2002, 57/250 of 20 December 2002, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 57/272 and 57/273 of 20 December 2002, 58/230 of 23 December 2003, 59/225 of 22 December 2004, 60/188 of 22 December 2005 and 61/191 of 20 December 2006, as well as Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/34 of 26 July 2002, 2003/47 of 24 July 2003, 2004/64 of 16 September 2004, 2006/45 of 28 July 2006 and 2007/30 of 27 July 2007, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, and its resolution 61/16 of 20 November 2006 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General,A/62/190 and A/62/217. Taking note also of the summary by the President of the General Assembly of the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development, held in New York from 23 to 25 October 2007,A/62/550. Taking note further of the summary by the President of the Economic and Social Council of the special high-level meeting of the Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in New York on 16 April 2007,A/62/76-E/2007/55 and Corr.1. Welcoming with appreciation the offer of the Government of Qatar to host the follow-up international conference to review the implementation of the outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development, in accordance with paragraph 73 of the Monterrey ConsensusReport of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and its resolutions 60/188 and 61/191, Noting the steps taken by the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session to initiate direct intergovernmental consultations of the whole, with the participation of all Member States and the major institutional stakeholders involved in the financing for development process, on all issues related to the review conference, 1. Decides that the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus: (a) Will be held in Doha from 29 November to 2 December 2008; (b) Will be held at the highest possible political level, including with the participation of Heads of State or Government, ministers, special representatives and other representatives, as appropriate; (c) Will include plenary meetings and six interactive multi-stakeholder round tables on the themes based on the six major thematic areas of the Monterrey Consensus;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. (d) Will result in an intergovernmentally agreed outcome; (e) Will also result in summaries of the plenary meetings and of the round-table discussions, to be included in the report of the conference; 2. Reiterates that the Review Conference should assess progress made, reaffirm goals and commitments, share best practices and lessons learned and identify obstacles and constraints encountered, actions and initiatives to overcome them and important measures for further implementation, as well as new challenges and emerging issues; 3. Reaffirms its resolve to continue to make full use of the existing institutional arrangements for reviewing the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, as set out in paragraph 69 of the Consensus and in line with resolution 57/270 B, including the high-level dialogues convened by the General Assembly and the spring meetings of the Economic and Social Council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, bearing in mind the need to enhance the effectiveness of the follow-up process of the Monterrey Consensus; 4. Stresses the importance of the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus at all levels, and also stresses the importance of their full participation in the follow-up process, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, in particular the accreditation procedures and modalities of participation utilized at the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, and in its preparatory process; 5. Invites non-governmental organizations and business sector entities to participate in the Review Conference and its preparatory process, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, in particular the accreditation procedures and modalities of participation utilized at the Monterrey Conference and in its preparatory process, and decides that: (a) Registration will be open to all non-governmental organizations that are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and to all non-governmental organizations and business sector entities accredited to the Monterrey Conference or to its follow-up process; (b) Interested non-governmental organizations and business sector entities that are not in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council or were not accredited to the Monterrey Conference shall apply to the General Assembly for accreditation following the accreditation procedures established during the Conference; (c) The above arrangements concerning participation of non-governmental organizations and business sector entities in the Review Conference and its preparatory process will in no way create a precedent for meetings of the General Assembly; 6. Reaffirms the special role that the international financial and trade institutions, in particular the major institutional stakeholders involved in the financing for development process, are invited to play in all aspects of the Review Conference, including their active involvement in its preparatory work, following the experience of the Monterrey Conference; 7. Calls upon the regional commissions, with the support of regional development banks and other relevant entities, to hold regional consultations, as appropriate, during the first half of 2008, which would serve to provide inputs to the preparations for the Review Conference; 8. Requests the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session to continue direct intergovernmental consultations of the whole with the participation of all States and the major institutional stakeholders involved in the financing for development process on all issues related to the Review Conference, and decides that those consultations must be scheduled in advance and must be open, inclusive and transparent; 9. Also requests the President of the General Assembly to provide a programme of work, from within existing resources, taking into account relevant meetings scheduled for 2008 and their outcomes, including six substantive informal review sessions of the whole on the six thematic areas of the Monterrey Consensus, of a maximum duration of eleven working days plus one working day for informal interactive hearings with representatives of civil society and the business sector during the period from January to June 2008, to be followed by informal consultations on the contents of the outcome document of the Review Conference, with the view to presenting the first draft outcome document by the end of July 2008, followed by informal consultations and drafting sessions, as required, in the period from September 2008 until the holding of the Review Conference; 10. Further requests the President of the General Assembly, with the support of the United Nations Secretariat to prepare informal summaries of the review sessions referred to in paragraph 9 above, as inputs to the preparations for the Review Conference; 11. Invites Governments and all relevant stakeholders, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme, regional development banks and all other relevant regional bodies, to provide substantive inputs to the preparatory process of the Review Conference, including the activities referred to in paragraph 9 above; 12. Invites donor Governments and other relevant stakeholders to continue to provide extrabudgetary resources, in particular through voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the Follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, in order to support the activities involved in the preparations for the Review Conference in 2008, and to support the travel and participation of representatives of developing countries, in particular least developed countries; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit by the end of July 2008 a report on the latest developments related to the review process on financing for development and the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to prepare a note on the organization of work of the Review Conference; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session an item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the outcome of the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development and the preparation of the 2008 Review Conference". RESOLUTION 62/188 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419 (Part II), para. 10),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China). by a recorded vote of 169 to 8, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire 62/188. Oil slick on Lebanese shores The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/194 of 20 December 2006 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores, Reaffirming the outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, especially principle 7 of the Declaration of the Conference,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972 (A/CONF.48/14/Rev.1), part one, chap. I. in which States were requested to take all possible steps to prevent pollution of the seas, Emphasizing the need to protect and preserve the marine environment in accordance with international law, Taking into account the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. especially principle 16, in which it was stipulated that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, and taking into account also chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. Noting again with great concern the environmental disaster caused by the destruction by the Israeli Air Force on 15 July 2006 of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of el Jiyeh electric power plant in Lebanon, resulting in an oil slick that covered the entirety of the Lebanese coastline and extended to the Syrian coastline, Noting again with appreciation the assistance offered by donor countries and international organizations for the early recovery and reconstruction of Lebanon through bilateral and multilateral channels, including the Athens Coordination Meeting on the response to the marine pollution incident in the Eastern Mediterranean, held on 17 August 2006, as well as the Stockholm Conference for Lebanon's Early Recovery, held on 31 August 2006, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 61/194 on the oil slick on Lebanese shores;A/62/343. 2. Reiterates the expression of its deep concern about the adverse implications of the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks in the direct vicinity of the Lebanese el Jiyeh electric power plant for the achievement of sustainable development in Lebanon; 3. Considers that the oil slick has heavily polluted the shores of Lebanon and partially polluted Syrian shores and consequently has had serious implications for livelihoods and the economy of Lebanon, owing to the adverse implications for natural resources, biodiversity, fisheries and tourism, and for human health, in the country; 4. Requests the Government of Israel to assume responsibility for prompt and adequate compensation to the Government of Lebanon and other countries directly affected by the oil slick for the costs of repairing the environmental damage caused by the destruction, including the restoration of the marine environment; 5. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Lebanon and those of the Member States, regional and international organizations, regional and international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in the initiation of clean-up and rehabilitation operations on the polluted shores, and encourages the Member States and above-mentioned entities to continue their financial and technical support to the Government of Lebanon towards achieving the completion of clean-up and rehabilitation operations, with the aim of preserving the ecosystem of Lebanon and that of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin; 6. Calls for the mobilization of international technical and financial assistance through donor support for the creation of an eastern Mediterranean oil spill restoration fund, based on voluntary contributions, to support the integrated environmentally sound management, from clean-up to safe disposal of oily waste, of this environmental disaster resulting from the destruction by the Israeli Air Force of the oil storage tanks at el Jiyeh electric power plant; 7. Recognizes the multidimensionality of the adverse impact of the oil slick, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 62/189 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.1, para. 13)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/189. Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/199 of 20 December 2000, 56/226 of 24 December 2001, 57/253 of 20 December 2002 and 57/270 A and B of 20 December 2002 and 23 June 2003, respectively, and its resolutions 58/218 of 23 December 2003, 59/227 of 22 December 2004, 60/193 of 22 December 2005 and 61/195 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the decisions taken at the eleventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I. Reiterating that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, and reaffirming the continuing need to ensure a balance among economic development, social development and environmental protection as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development, Noting that challenges remain in achieving the goals of the three pillars of sustainable development, Reaffirming that eradicating poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development, Recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of other United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Reaffirming the role of full and productive employment and decent work for all as one of the key elements in ensuring the eradication of poverty, the improvement of economic and social well-being for all, and the achievement of sustained economic growth and sustainable development for all nations, Recognizing that good governance within each country and at the international level is essential for sustainable development, Recalling that the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation designated the Commission to serve as the focal point for discussion on partnerships that promote sustainable development and contribute to the implementation of intergovernmental commitments in Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, Recalling also that the Economic and Social Council should increase its role in overseeing system-wide coordination and the balanced integration of economic, social and environmental aspects of United Nations policies and programmes aimed at promoting sustainable development, and reaffirming that the Commission on Sustainable Development should continue to be the high-level commission on sustainable development within the United Nations system and serve as a forum for consideration of issues related to integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, Recalling further the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that the Commission, during review years, should discuss the contribution of partnerships towards supporting the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation with a view to sharing lessons learned and best practices, identifying and addressing problems, gaps and constraints, and providing further guidance, including on reporting, during policy years, as necessary,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I, para. 23 (e). Recalling that agriculture, rural development, land, drought and desertification are interlinked and should be addressed in an integrated manner, taking into account economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, related sectoral policies and cross-cutting issues including means of implementation, as identified at the eleventh session of the Commission, Recognizing the problems and constraints that African countries are facing in the areas of agriculture, rural development, land, drought and desertification, and emphasizing that those problems and constraints should be adequately addressed during the sixteenth session of the Commission, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/262. 2. Reiterates that sustainable development is a key element of the overarching framework for United Nations activities, in particular for achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and those contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation;Ibid., resolution 2, annex. 3. Calls upon Governments, all relevant international and regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations funds and programmes, the regional commissions and the specialized agencies, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility and other intergovernmental organizations, in accordance with their respective mandates, as well as major groups, to take action to ensure the effective implementation of and follow-up to the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and encourages them to report on concrete progress in that regard; 4. Calls for the effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and time-bound targets adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and for the fulfilment of the provisions relating to the means of implementation, as contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 5. Reiterates that the Commission on Sustainable Development is the high-level body responsible for sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as a forum for the consideration of issues related to the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development; 6. Encourages countries to present, on a voluntary basis, in particular at the Commission's review sessions, national reports focusing on concrete progress in implementation, including achievements, constraints, challenges and opportunities; 7. Emphasizes the importance of a consensus outcome and action-oriented policy sessions; 8. Encourages Governments to participate at the appropriate level with representatives, including ministers, from the relevant departments and organizations working in the areas of agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification, and Africa, as well as finance, in the sixteenth session of the Commission; 9. Recalls the decision of the Commission at its eleventh session that activities during Commission meetings should provide for the balanced involvement of participants from all regions, as well as for gender balance;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I, para. 2 (j). 10. Invites donor countries to consider supporting the participation of representatives from the developing countries in the sixteenth session of the Commission; 11. Reaffirms the objective of strengthening the implementation of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. including through the mobilization of financial and technological resources, as well as capacity-building programmes, in particular for developing countries; 12. Also reaffirms the objective of enhancing the participation and effective involvement of civil society and other relevant stakeholders, as well as promoting transparency and broad public participation, in the implementation of Agenda 21; 13. Requests the secretariat of the Commission to coordinate the participation of the relevant major groups in the thematic discussions at the sixteenth session of the Commission and the reporting on the fulfilment of corporate accountability and responsibility with respect to the thematic cluster of issues, in accordance with the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 14. Reaffirms the need to promote corporate responsibility and accountability as envisaged by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 15. Also reaffirms the need to promote the development of microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, including by means of training, education and skill enhancement, with a special focus on agro-industry as a provider of livelihoods for rural communities; 16. Requests the secretariat of the Commission to make arrangements to facilitate the balanced representation of major groups from developed and developing countries in the sessions of the Commission; 17. Encourages contributions by the regional implementation meetings and other regional events to the Commission at its sixteenth session; 18. Invites the relevant specialized agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations funds and programmes, the Global Environment Facility and international and regional financial and trade institutions, as well as the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and other relevant bodies, to actively participate, within their mandates, in the work of the Commission; 19. Encourages Governments and organizations at all levels, as well as major groups, to undertake results-oriented initiatives and activities to support the work of the Commission and to promote and facilitate the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21Resolution S-19/2, annex. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including through voluntary multi-stakeholder partnership initiatives; 20. Underlines the importance of the review of the implementation of the decisions of the thirteenth session of the Commission on water and sanitation;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 13/1. 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting to the Commission at its sixteenth session, on the basis of appropriate inputs from all levels, to submit thematic reports on each of the six issues contained in the thematic cluster of issues on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa, taking into account their interlinkages, while addressing the cross-cutting issues, including means of implementation identified by the Commission at its eleventh session, and also takes into account the relevant provisions of paragraphs 10, 14 and 15 of draft resolution I of the eleventh session of the Commission;See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I. 22. Notes the convening of the Third International Expert Meeting on the Ten-year Framework of Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production under the Marrakech Process in Stockholm from 26 to 29 June 2007; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development", and requests the Secretary-General, at that session, to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/18 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/387, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Egypt. 62/18. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of 3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108 of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48 of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10 December 1996, 52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December 1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000, 56/21 of 29 November 2001, 57/55 of 22 November 2002, 58/34 of 8 December 2003, 59/63 of 3 December 2004, 60/52 of 8 December 2005 and 61/56 of 6 December 2006 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropriate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 61/56,A/62/95 (Part I) and Add.1. 1. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(51)/RES/17, adopted on 20 September 2007 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its fifty-first regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fifty-first Regular Session, 17-21 September 2007 (GC(51)/RES/DEC(2007)). 4. Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 5. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 6. Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 7. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 8. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/95 (Part I) and Add.1. 9. Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of the Middle East; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to the report of the Secretary-General of 10 October 1990A/45/435. or other relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". RESOLUTION 62/190 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.1, para. 13),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 147 to none, with 30 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam Against: None Abstaining: Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 62/190. Agricultural technology for development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/218 of 23 December 2003, 59/227 of 22 December 2004, 60/193 of 22 December 2005 and 61/195 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21,Resolution S-19/2, annex. the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. as well as the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Reaffirming the commitment to implement Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, including the time-bound goals and targets, and the other internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Reaffirming also the goals set in paragraph 19 of the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to halve poverty and hunger by 2015, Reaffirming further that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, particularly for developing countries, and that although each country has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and poverty eradication and the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, concerted and concrete measures are required at all levels to enable developing countries to achieve their sustainable development goals as related to the internationally agreed poverty-related targets and goals, including those contained in Agenda 21, the relevant outcomes of other United Nations conferences and the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006, Recognizing that the achievement of many of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, is currently off track in many countries, and emphasizing that vigorous implementation of all development commitments will be needed without delay if the Goals are to be achieved, Remaining concerned that Africa is the only continent currently not on track to achieve any of the goals of the Millennium Declaration by 2015, and in this regard emphasizing that concerted efforts and continued support are required to fulfil the commitments to address the special needs of Africa, Noting the preparatory work being carried out by the Commission on Sustainable Development for its next two-year cycle, with the thematic focus on agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa, Concerned by the relatively slow progress so far in achieving the above-mentioned goals, especially the hunger target and goals, and recognizing the need to redouble the efforts of the international community in its attempt to reach the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Reaffirming that agriculture plays a crucial role in addressing the needs of a growing global population and is inextricably linked to poverty eradication, especially in developing countries, and that enhancing the role of women at all levels and in all aspects of rural development, agriculture, nutrition and food security is imperative and that sustainable agriculture and rural development are essential to the implementation of an integrated approach to increasing food production and enhancing food security and food safety in an environmentally sustainable way, Considering the increasing need to innovate in agriculture and food production to adapt, inter alia, to climate change, urbanization and globalization, Cognizant that technological methods to advance these goals should be sustainable, accessible and of benefit to poor people, taking into account relevant international instruments and the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing that appropriate, affordable and sustainable agricultural technologies can play an important role in helping Member States alleviate poverty and eradicate hunger, 1. Calls upon Member States, especially those in a position to do so, and relevant United Nations organizations to make greater efforts to promote the development and transfer of appropriate technologies in and to developing countries under fair, transparent and mutually agreed terms, as well as to support national efforts to foster the effective utilization of local know-how and technology and promote agricultural research and technologies to enable poor rural men and women to increase agricultural productivity and enhanced food security; 2. Underlines the need for Member States to make their knowledge and know-how in the field of agricultural technology and agricultural innovation systems more accessible, in particular to poor people, subject to appropriate arrangements; 3. Reiterates that the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, in particular as they affect children, is crucial for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and that rural and agricultural development should be an integral part of national and international development policies, calls for increased productive investment in rural and agricultural development to achieve food security, in this regard calls for enhanced support for agricultural development and trade capacity-building in the agricultural sector in developing countries, including by the international community and the United Nations system, and encourages support for commodity development projects, especially market-based projects, and for their preparation under the Second Account of the Common Fund for Commodities; 4. Notes with satisfaction the contribution made by the Technology for Agriculture initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 5. Urges the relevant bodies of the United Nations system to support the efforts of Member States, in particular developing countries, to take full advantage of new knowledge in agricultural technology, agricultural innovation, research and development to achieve relevant Millennium Development Goals, specifically the eradication of poverty and hunger; 6. Calls upon public and private institutions to further develop improved varieties of crops that are appropriate for various regions, especially those challenged by environmental factors, including climate change, and to develop and manage these crops in a sustainable manner, and calls for further efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that improved crop varieties are made available and affordable to smallholder farmers in a manner consistent with national regulations and relevant international agreements; 7. Underscores the importance of support to agricultural research, and calls for continued support to international agricultural research systems, including the International Agricultural Research Centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, as well as other relevant international organizations; 8. Recognizes the importance of relevant institutions providing effective mechanisms for public-private agricultural advisory services as well as extension, financial and market services to farmers, in particular smallholder farmers, so that the benefits of new knowledge, agricultural innovation systems and improved technology may reach them and be used by them; 9. Invites Member States, especially those in a position to do so, and relevant regional and international organizations to allocate financial and technical resources to support the development of efficient, productive and environmentally sound technologies for sustainable agriculture in developing countries; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/191 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.2, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/191. Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States The General Assembly, Reaffirming the Declaration of BarbadosReport of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. adopted by the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and recalling its resolution 49/122 of 19 December 1994 on the Global Conference, Reaffirming also the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States ("Mauritius Strategy for Implementation"),Ibid., annex II. adopted by the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States on 14 January 2005, Recalling its resolutions 59/311 of 14 July 2005, 60/194 of 22 December 2005 and 61/196 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Welcoming the decision taken by the Commission on Sustainable Development at its thirteenth sessionSee Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 9 (E/2005/29), chap. I, sect. C, resolution 13/1. to devote one day of its review sessions to the review of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, focusing on that year's thematic cluster, as well as on any new developments in the sustainable development efforts of small island developing States using existing modalities, and to request the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Commission at its review session on progress in and obstacles to sustainable development in small island developing States, including recommendations to enhance the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, Welcoming also the convening of one half-day session of the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development at its fifteenth session, as called for by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/196, to discuss policy options for addressing the barriers and constraints facing small island developing States in the four thematic areas of the session, taking into account the review of the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation conducted during the fourteenth session of the Commission, Reaffirming that the adverse effects of climate change and sea-level rise present significant risks to the sustainable development of small island developing States, that the effects of climate change may threaten the very existence of some of those States and that, therefore, adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change and sea-level rise remains a major priority for small island developing States, Recognizing the urgent need to increase the level of resources provided to small island developing States for the effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/279. 2. Welcomes the renewed commitment of the international community to the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;Ibid., annex II. 3. Urges Governments and all relevant international and regional organizations, United Nations funds, programmes, specialized agencies and regional commissions, international financial institutions and the Global Environment Facility, as well as other intergovernmental organizations and major groups, to take timely action for the effective implementation of and follow-up to the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation,Ibid., annex II. including the further development and operationalization of concrete projects and programmes; 4. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the commitments, programmes and targets adopted at the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States and, to this end, for the fulfilment of the provisions for the means of implementation, as contained in the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, and encourages small island developing States and their development partners to continue to consult widely in order to develop further concrete projects and programmes for the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation; 5. Calls upon the international community to enhance support for the efforts of small island developing States to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, including through the provision of dedicated sources of financing, capacity-building and the transfer of appropriate technologies to address climate change; 6. Encourages the implementation of partnership initiatives, within the framework of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, in support of the sustainable development of small island developing States; 7. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to strengthen the Small Island Developing States Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, as called for in its resolutions 57/262 of 20 December 2002, 58/213 A of 23 December 2003, 59/229 of 22 December 2004, 59/311, 60/194 and 61/196, and urges the Secretary-General to ensure that the Unit is sufficiently and sustainably staffed without delay to undertake its broad range of mandated functions with a view to facilitating the full and effective implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation, within existing resources, including by redeploying resources; 8. Calls upon the Secretary-General to prepare a report during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly on actions taken to implement paragraph 7 of the present resolution; 9. Calls for the provision of new and additional voluntary resources for the revitalization of the Small Island Developing States Information Network; 10. Requests the relevant agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to intensify efforts aimed at mainstreaming the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation in their work programmes and to establish a focal point for matters related to small island developing States within their respective secretariats to support coordinated implementation of the programme of action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels; 11. Calls upon the international community to enhance its support for the implementation of the programme of work on island biodiversityUNEP/CBD/COP/8/31, annex I, decision VIII/1, annex. as a set of actions to address characteristics and problems that are specific to islands, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its eighth meeting, in 2006; 12. Decides to review progress made in addressing the vulnerabilities of small island developing States through the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation at the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States". RESOLUTION 62/192 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/192. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/236 of 22 December 1989, 49/22 A of 2 December 1994, 49/22 B of 20 December 1994, 53/185 of 15 December 1998, 54/219 of 22 December 1999, 56/195 of 21 December 2001, 57/256 of 20 December 2002, 58/214 of 23 December 2003, 59/231 of 22 December 2004, 60/195 of 22 December 2005 and 61/198 of 20 December 2006 and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1999/63 of 30 July 1999 and 2001/35 of 26 July 2001, and taking into due consideration its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reaffirming the Hyogo Declaration,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. and the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Reaffirming its role of providing policy guidance on the implementation of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, Recalling that the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction has been serving as the main forum within the United Nations system for devising strategies and policies for disaster reduction and ensuring complementarity of action by agencies involved in disaster reduction, mitigation and preparedness, Expressing its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world and hamper the achievement of their sustainable development, in particular in developing countries, Emphasizing that disaster risk reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important cross-cutting element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Recognizing the clear relationship between development, disaster risk reduction, disaster response and disaster recovery and the need to continue to deploy efforts in all these areas, Recognizing also the urgent need to further develop and make use of the existing scientific and technical knowledge to build resilience to natural disasters, and emphasizing the need for developing countries to have access to appropriate, advanced, environmentally sound, cost-effective and easy-to-use technologies so as to seek more comprehensive solutions to disaster risk reduction and to effectively and efficiently strengthen their capabilities to cope with disaster risks, Recognizing further that certain measures for disaster risk reduction in the context of the Hyogo Framework for Action can also support adaptation to climate change, and emphasizing the importance of strengthening the resilience of nations and communities to natural disasters through disaster risk-reduction programmes, Stressing the importance of advancing the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and its relevant provisions on vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management, Taking note with great interest and appreciation of the holding at Geneva, from 5 to 7 June 2007, of the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction,See Acting with Common Purpose: Proceedings of the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva, 5-7 June 2007 (ISDR/GP/2007/7). Recognizing the need to continue to develop an understanding of, and to address, socio-economic activities that exacerbate the vulnerability of societies to natural disasters and to build and further strengthen community capability to cope with disaster risks, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction;A/62/320. 2. Recalls that the commitments of the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. include the provision of assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 3. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and stresses the need for a more effective integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies, planning and programming; for the development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards; and for a systematic incorporation of risk-reduction approaches into the implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes; 4. Calls upon the international community to increase its efforts to fully implement the commitments of the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action; 5. Invites Member States, the United Nations system, international financial institutions, regional bodies and other international organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and volunteers, the private sector and the scientific community, to increase efforts to support, implement and follow up the Hyogo Framework for Action; 6. Calls upon the United Nations system, and invites international financial institutions and regional and international organizations, to integrate the goals of and take into full account the Hyogo Framework for Action in their strategies and programmes, making use of existing coordination mechanisms, and to assist developing countries with those mechanisms to design and implement, as appropriate, disaster risk-reduction measures with a sense of urgency; 7. Also calls upon the United Nations system, and invites the international financial institutions and regional banks and other regional and international organizations, to support, in a timely and sustained manner, the efforts led by disaster-stricken countries for disaster risk reduction in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes; 8. Recognizes that each State has the primary responsibility for its own sustainable development and for taking effective measures to reduce disaster risk, including for the protection of people on its territory, infrastructure and other national assets from the impact of disasters, including the implementation of and follow-up to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and stresses the importance of international cooperation and partnerships to support those national efforts; 9. Also recognizes the efforts made by Member States to develop national and local capacities to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action, including through the establishment of national platforms for disaster reduction, and encourages Member States that have not done so to develop such capacities; 10. Further recognizes the importance of coordinating climate change adaptation with relevant natural disaster risk-reduction measures, invites Governments and relevant international organizations to integrate these considerations in a comprehensive manner into, inter alia, development plans and poverty eradication programmes, and invites the international community to support the ongoing efforts of developing countries in this regard; 11. Stresses that continued cooperation and coordination among Governments, the United Nations system, other organizations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and other partners, as appropriate, are considered essential to address effectively the impact of natural disasters; 12. Welcomes the regional and subregional initiatives developed in order to achieve disaster risk reduction, and reiterates the need to further develop regional initiatives and risk-reduction capacities of regional mechanisms where they exist and to strengthen them and encourage the use and sharing of all existing tools; 13. Also welcomes the launch of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, a partnership of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction system managed by the World Bank on behalf of the participating donor partners and other partnering stakeholders, as a significant initiative to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; 14. Calls upon the international community to support the development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels, in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilience to hazards; 15. Takes note with great interest and appreciation of the holding at Geneva, from 5 to 7 June 2007, of the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction,See Acting with Common Purpose: Proceedings of the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva, 5-7 June 2007 (ISDR/GP/2007/7). the successor mechanism of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction, as a useful forum for Member States and other stakeholders to assess progress made in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, enhance awareness of disaster risk reduction, share experiences and learn from good practice, identify remaining gaps and identify actions to accelerate national and local implementation; 16. Encourages Member States to increase their commitment to the effective implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, making full use of the Strategy system's mechanisms, such as the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction; 17. Recognizes the importance of integrating a gender perspective and engaging women in the design and implementation of all phases of disaster management, particularly at the disaster risk-reduction stage; 18. Expresses its appreciation to those countries that have provided financial support for the activities of the Strategy by making voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction; 19. Encourages the international community to continue providing adequate voluntary financial contributions to the Trust Fund in the effort to ensure adequate support for the follow-up activities to the Hyogo Framework for Action; 20. Takes note of the conclusions of the review conducted at the request of Member States on the current usage and feasibility for the expansion of the Trust Fund, inter alia, to assist disaster-prone developing countries in setting up national strategies for disaster risk reduction, which indicated that the Trust Fund is an appropriate vehicle for expanded action of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction system, at the global and regional levels, in support of countries' implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; 21. Encourages Governments, multilateral organizations, international and regional organizations, international and regional financial institutions, the private sector and civil society to systematically invest in disaster risk reduction with a view to implementing the objectives of the Strategy; 22. Stresses the importance of disaster risk reduction and subsequent growing demands on the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the need to review the current methods of financing the secretariat, with a view to stabilizing its financial base, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a proposal for that purpose in his next report on this subject; 23. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the result of the Global Survey of Early Warning Systems,A/62/340. encourages Member States to integrate early warning systems into their national disaster risk-reduction strategies and plans, and invites the international community to support the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in its role in facilitating the development of early warning systems; 24. Stresses the need to foster better understanding and knowledge of the causes of disasters, as well as to build and strengthen coping capacities through, inter alia, the transfer and exchange of experiences and technical knowledge, educational and training programmes for natural disaster risk reduction, access to relevant data and information and the strengthening of institutional arrangements, including community-based organizations; 25. Emphasizes the need for the international community to maintain its focus beyond emergency relief and to support medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction, and stresses the importance of implementing programmes related to the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and disaster risk-reduction management in the most vulnerable regions, particularly in developing countries prone to natural disasters; 26. Stresses the need to address risk reduction of and vulnerabilities to all natural hazards, including geological and hydrometeorological hazards, in a comprehensive manner; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution, under the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 62/193 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.5, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/193. Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/211 of 23 December 2003, 61/202 of 20 December 2006 and other resolutions relating to the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Reasserting its commitment to promoting desertification control, eradicating extreme poverty, promoting sustainable development in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas and improving the livelihoods of people affected by drought and/or desertification, Determined to build upon the momentum and to boost the spirit of international solidarity generated by the designation of 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, Reaffirming the universal membership of the Convention, and acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of a global dimension in that they affect all regions in the world, Emphasizing that desertification seriously threatens the ability of developing countries to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and recognizing that the timely and effective implementation of the Convention would help to achieve these goals, Concerned about the negative impacts desertification, land degradation, loss of biological diversity and climate change have on each other, while emphasizing the potential benefits of complementarities in addressing these problems in a mutually supportive manner, Reaffirming the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. which recognizes the Convention as one of the tools for poverty eradication, Recognizing the need to provide the secretariat of the Convention with stable, adequate and predictable resources in order to enable it to continue to discharge its responsibilities in an efficient and timely manner, Welcoming the decision of the eleventh session of the Commission on Sustainable Development to consider, among others, the issue of desertification and drought during its sixteenth and seventeenth sessions,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2003, Supplement No. 9 (E/2003/29), chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution I. Expressing its deep appreciation to the Government of Spain for hosting the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in Madrid from 3 to 14 September 2007, Expressing also its deep appreciation to the Government of Argentina for hosting the fifth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention in Buenos Aires from 12 to 21 March 2007, Welcoming the offer made by the Government of Turkey to host the seventh session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention in conjunction with the special intersessional session of the Committee on Science and Technology, in Istanbul, from 20 to 29 October 2008, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa;A/62/276, annex II. 2. Reaffirms its resolve to support and strengthen the implementation of the ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. with a view to addressing causes of desertification and land degradation, as well as poverty resulting from land degradation, through, inter alia, the mobilization of adequate and predictable financial resources, the transfer of technology and capacity-building at all levels; 3. Welcomes the adoption by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention at its eighth session, in its decision 3/COP.8, of the ten-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008-2018),A/C.2/62/7, annex. invites all parties, the secretariat of the Convention and other institutions and supporting bodies to cooperate and coordinate their activities for a successful implementation of the strategy, and also invites all parties to report on the progress made in the implementation of the strategy; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the financial contributions made by Member States and other relevant stakeholders in support of the activities of the Intersessional Intergovernmental Working Group on the ten-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention; 5. Notes the request made for an assessment of the Global Mechanism by the Joint Inspection Unit of the United Nations, and looks forward to its findings;Ibid., sect. F, para. 27. 6. Reiterates its call upon Governments, where appropriate, in collaboration with relevant multilateral organizations, including the Global Environment Facility implementation agencies, to integrate desertification into their plans and strategies for sustainable development; 7. Invites developed countries parties to the Convention and other Governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and other relevant organizations to make resources available to affected developing countries for the implementation of the ten-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention; 8. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the Secretariat to continue its administrative renewal and reform and to streamline its functions in order to fully implement the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit and bring them into line with the ten-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention; 9. Invites the States parties to the Convention to provide the new Executive Secretary of the Convention with full support in the fulfilment of his mandate and in promoting the implementation of the Convention; 10. Notes the ongoing work of the Joint Liaison Group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. the Convention on Biological DiversityIbid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities in the work of the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 11. Also notes the decision of the Conference of the Parties at its eighth session to renew the mandate of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention as a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties;ICCD/COP(8)/16/Add.1, decision 7/COP.8. 12. Further notes the decision taken by the Council of the Global Environment Facility in December 2006 to invite the fourth Assembly of the Facility to amend the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global Environment Facility so as to list the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification among the conventions for which the Facility plays the role of financial mechanism;Global Environment Facility, document GEF/C.30/7. Available from www.gefweb.org. 13. Recalls the fourth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund,Global Environment Facility, document GEF/A.3/6. Available from www.gefweb.org. stresses the importance of the fulfilment of the commitments made, and emphasizes in this regard the need to continue to allocate adequate financial resources to the focal area of land degradation; 14. Welcomes the ongoing process of addressing the issue of adopting the euro as the budgetary and accounting currency of the Convention, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General, taking into account the institutional linkage and related administrative arrangements between the Convention secretariat and the United Nations Secretariat, to facilitate the implementation of decisions of the Conference of the Parties related to the protection of the Convention budget against negative effects of currency fluctuations; 15. Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention, in coordination with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, to actively prepare for and participate in the sixteenth and seventeenth sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development with a view to ensuring that the Convention core issues, in particular those relating to land degradation, drought and desertification, are duly considered in the context of sustainable development during the deliberations of the review session, with a view to ensuring a successful outcome from the entire cycle of the Commission; 16. Invites the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, when setting the dates of its meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to help ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to make provision for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies in his proposal for the programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa"; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including a report on the implementation of the Convention, to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/194 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.6, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/194. Convention on Biological Diversity The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/201 of 20 December 2000, 56/197 of 21 December 2001, 57/253 and 57/260 of 20 December 2002, 58/212 of 23 December 2003, 59/236 of 22 December 2004, 60/202 of 22 December 2005 and 61/204 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also its resolution 61/203 of 20 December 2006 on the International Year of Biodiversity, 2010, Reiterating that the Convention on Biological DiversityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. is the key international instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, Noting that one hundred and eighty-nine States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified the Convention and that one hundred and forty-two States and one regional economic integration organization have ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 2226, No. 30619. Recalling the commitments of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to pursue a more efficient and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention and the achievement by 2010 of a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biological diversity, which will require action at all levels, including the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and the provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, Concerned by the continued loss of biological diversity, and acknowledging that an unprecedented effort would be needed to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biological diversity, Noting the need for enhanced cooperation among the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeIbid., vol. 1771, No. 30822. (the "Rio Conventions"), while respecting their individual mandates, concerned by the negative impacts that loss of biodiversity, desertification, land degradation and climate change have on each other, and recognizing the potential benefits of complementarities in addressing these problems in a mutually supportive manner with a view to achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Acknowledging the contribution that the ongoing work of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, of the World Intellectual Property Organization, can make in enhancing the effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Noting the contribution that South-South cooperation can make in the area of biological diversity, Taking note of the reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,Available from http://millenniumassessment.org. 1. Takes note of the report of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity on the work of the Convention;A/62/276, annex III. 2. Encourages developed countries parties to the ConventionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. to contribute to the relevant trust funds of the Convention, in particular so as to enhance the full participation of the developing countries parties in all of its activities; 3. Urges all Member States to fulfil their commitments to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010, and emphasizes that this will require an appropriate focus on the loss of biodiversity in their relevant policies and programmes and the continued provision of new and additional financial and technical resources to developing countries, including through the Global Environment Facility; 4. Urges parties to the Convention to facilitate the transfer of technology for the effective implementation of the Convention in accordance with its provisions; 5. Notes the establishment of the Heads of Agencies Task Force on the 2010 Biodiversity Target, as well as the convening of the first meeting of the Chairpersons of the scientific advisory bodies of the biodiversity-related conventions and the Rio Conventions aimed at enhancing scientific and technical collaboration for achieving the 2010 biodiversity target; 6. Recognizes the importance of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,Ibid., vol. 2226, No. 30619. to be held in Bonn, Germany, from 12 to 16 May 2008, and the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, to be held in Bonn from 19 to 30 May 2008; 7. Notes the progress made in the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing towards elaborating and negotiating the international regime on access and benefit-sharing, stresses the importance of finalizing the negotiations on the international regime on access and benefit-sharing within the framework of the Convention, and urges parties to make every effort to complete negotiations at the earliest possible time, before the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to be held in 2010; 8. Takes note of the establishment by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention of seven thematic programmes of work, and welcomes the work initiated on cross-cutting issues; 9. Reaffirms the commitment, subject to national legislation, to respect, preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization; 10. Stresses the importance of private-sector engagement for the implementation of the objectives of the Convention and the achievement of the 2010 target, and invites businesses to align their policies and practices more explicitly with the objectives of the Convention, including, inter alia, through partnerships; 11. Takes note of initiatives for the enhanced implementation of the three objectives of the Convention, in particular those that are promoted by developing countries; 12. Invites parties to the Convention, other Governments, relevant international organizations and other relevant stakeholders to make preparations to celebrate in 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity; 13. Takes note of the ongoing work of the Joint Liaison Group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,Ibid., vol. 1771, No. 30822. the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,Ibid., vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and further encourages continuing cooperation in order to promote complementarities among the secretariats, while respecting their independent legal status; 14. Invites the countries that have not yet done so to ratify or to accede to the Convention; 15. Invites countries to consider ratifying or acceding to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture;Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Report of the Conference of FAO, Thirty-first Session, Rome, 2-13 November 2001 (C 2001/REP), appendix D. 16. Invites the parties to the Convention that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to consider doing so, reiterates the commitment of States parties to the Protocol to support its implementation, and stresses that this will require the full support of parties and of relevant international organizations, in particular with regard to the provision of assistance to developing countries in capacity-building for biosafety; 17. Invites the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to report, through the Secretary-General, to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the work of the Conference of the Parties; 18. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Convention on Biological Diversity". RESOLUTION 62/195 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.7 and Corr.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/195. Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-fourth session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, 53/242 of 28 July 1999, 56/193 of 21 December 2001, 57/251 of 20 December 2002, 58/209 of 23 December 2003, 59/226 of 22 December 2004, 60/189 of 22 December 2005 and 61/205 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recognizing the need for more efficient environmental activities in the United Nations system, and noting the need to consider possible options to address this need, including through the ongoing informal consultative process on the institutional framework for United Nations environmental activities, Taking into account Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Reaffirming the role of the United Nations Environment Programme as the principal body within the United Nations system in the field of environment, which should take into account, within its mandate, the sustainable development needs of developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, Emphasizing that capacity-building and technology support to developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in environment-related fields are important components of the work of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recognizing the need to accelerate implementation of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building,UNEP/GC.23/6/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex. including through the provision of additional financial resources for that purpose, Noting the proposal made by the Government of Egypt to establish an international centre for judicial capacity-building in environmental law in Cairo,See UNEP/GC/24/12, annex V. 1. Takes note of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its twenty-fourth sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/62/25). and the decisions contained therein;Ibid., annex I. 2. Notes the publication of the fourth Global Environment Outlook: Environment for Development by the United Nations Environment Programme;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.07.III.D.19. 3. Decides to declare the decade 2010-2020 as the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification, based on the recommendation of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme at its twenty-fourth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/62/25), annex I, decision 24/14; see also General Assembly resolution 61/185 and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67. 4. Notes that the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme at its twenty-fourth session discussed all components of the recommendations on international environmental governance as contained in its decision SS.VII/1, and also notes the continued discussions scheduled for the twenty-fifth session of the Governing Council; Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/62/25). 5. Stresses the need to further advance and fully implement the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building,UNEP/GC.23/6/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex. in this regard calls upon Governments and other stakeholders in a position to do so to provide the necessary funding and technical assistance, and also calls upon the United Nations Environment Programme to continue its efforts to fully implement the Bali Strategic Plan through strengthened cooperation with other stakeholders, based on their comparative advantages; 6. Recognizes the progress made so far in the implementation of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management,See the report of the International Conference on Chemicals Management on the work of its first session (SAICM/ICCM.1/7), annexes I-III. particularly through its Quick Start Programme,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/62/25), annex I, decision 24/3. and invites Governments, regional economic integration organizations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to engage actively and cooperate closely to support the Strategic Approach implementation activities of the United Nations Environment Programme, including the Quick Start Programme, including through providing adequate resources; 7. Also recognizes the global challenges posed by mercury, and, in this regard, notes the decision by the Governing Council to establish an ad hoc open-ended working group of Governments, regional economic integration organizations and stakeholder representatives to review and assess options for enhanced voluntary measures and new or existing international legal instruments,Ibid., decision 24/3, para. 28. taking into account the terms of reference and the priorities set out in that decision, and urges Governments and other stakeholders to continue and enhance their support of the United Nations Environment Programme mercury programme partnerships through the provision of technical and financial resources; 8. Emphasizes the need to further enhance coordination and cooperation among the relevant United Nations organizations in the promotion of the environmental dimension of sustainable development, and welcomes the continued active participation of the United Nations Environment Programme in the United Nations Development Group and the Environment Management Group; 9. Also emphasizes the need for the United Nations Environment Programme, within its mandate, to further contribute to sustainable development programmes, the implementation of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. at all levels, and to the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development, bearing in mind the mandate of the Commission; 10. Welcomes the continued efforts of the United Nations Environment Programme in shifting emphasis from delivery of outputs to achievement of results within its budget and programme of work, and also welcomes, in this regard, decision 24/9 of the Governing Council on the budget and programme of work of the United Nations Environment Programme;Ibid., Supplement No. 25 (A/62/25), annex I. 11. Notes the request by the Governing Council to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to prepare, in consultation with the Committee of Permanent Representatives, a medium-term strategy for the period 2010-2013;Ibid., decision 24/9, para. 13. 12. Recognizes the need to strengthen the scientific base of the United Nations Environment Programme, as recommended by the intergovernmental consultation on strengthening the scientific base of the Programme, including the reinforcement of the scientific capacity of developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in the area of protection of the environment, including through the provision of adequate financial resources; 13. Notes the ongoing consultations with a view to improving further the proposed Environment Watch strategy as an integral part of the wider strategic vision of the United Nations Environment Programme;Ibid., decision 24/1, sect. III. 14. Reiterates the need for stable, adequate and predictable financial resources for the United Nations Environment Programme, and, in accordance with Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII), underlines the need to consider the adequate reflection of all administrative and management costs of the Programme in the context of the United Nations regular budget; 15. Invites Governments that are in a position to do so to increase their contributions to the Environment Fund; 16. Emphasizes the importance of the Nairobi headquarters location of the United Nations Environment Programme, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of the Programme and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to the Programme and to the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", a sub-item entitled "Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its tenth special session". RESOLUTION 62/196 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.8, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam. 62/196. Sustainable mountain development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 53/24 of 10 November 1998, by which it proclaimed 2002 the International Year of Mountains, Recalling also its resolutions 55/189 of 20 December 2000, 57/245 of 20 December 2002, 58/216 of 23 December 2003 and 60/198 of 22 December 2005, Reaffirming chapter 13 of Agenda 21Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. and all relevant paragraphs of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular paragraph 42 thereof, as the overall policy frameworks for sustainable development in mountain regions, Noting the Bishkek Mountain Platform,A/C.2/57/7, annex. the outcome document of the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit, held in Bishkek from 28 October to 1 November 2002, which was the concluding event of the International Year of Mountains, Noting also the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions ("Mountain Partnership"), launched during the World Summit on Sustainable Development, with benefits from the committed support of forty-eight countries, fifteen intergovernmental organizations and eighty-three organizations from major groups, as an important approach to addressing the various interrelated dimensions of sustainable development in mountain regions, Noting further the conclusions of the global meetings of the members of the Mountain Partnership, held, respectively, in Merano, Italy, in October 2003 and in Cusco, Peru, in October 2004, and the first Andean Meeting of the Andean Initiative, held in San Miguel Tucuman, Argentina, in September 2007, Noting the outcome of the meeting of the Adelboden Group on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions, which met in Rome from 1 to 3 October 2007, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on sustainable mountain development;A/62/292. 2. Notes with appreciation that a growing network of Governments, organizations, major groups and individuals around the world recognize the importance of the sustainable development of mountain regions for poverty eradication, and recognizes the global importance of mountains as the source of most of the Earth's freshwater, as repositories of rich biological diversity and other natural resources, including timber and minerals, as providers of some sources of renewable energy, as popular destinations for recreation and tourism and as areas of important cultural diversity, knowledge and heritage, all of which generate positive, unaccounted economic benefits; 3. Recognizes that mountains provide indications of global climate change through phenomena such as modifications of biological diversity, the retreat of mountain glaciers and changes in seasonal runoff that may impact major sources of freshwater in the world, and stresses the need to undertake actions to minimize the negative effects of these phenomena; 4. Recognizes also that sustainable mountain development is a key component in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in many regions of the world; 5. Notes with concern that there remain key challenges to achieving sustainable development, eradicating poverty in mountain regions and protecting mountain ecosystems, and that populations in mountain regions are frequently among the poorest in a given country; 6. Encourages Governments to adopt a long-term vision and holistic approaches in their sustainable development strategies, and to promote integrated approaches to policies related to sustainable development in mountain regions; 7. Also encourages Governments to integrate mountain sustainable development in national, regional and global policymaking and development strategies, including through incorporating mountain-specific requirements in sustainable development policies or through specific mountain policies; 8. Notes that the growing demand for natural resources, including water, the consequences of erosion, deforestation and other forms of watershed degradation, the occurrence of natural disasters, as well as increasing out-migration, the pressures of industry, transport, tourism, mining, agriculture and the consequences of global climate change are some of the key challenges in fragile mountain ecosystems to implementing sustainable development and eradicating poverty in mountain regions, consistent with the Millennium Development Goals; 9. Underlines the importance of sustainable forest management, the avoidance of deforestation, as well as the restoration of lost and degraded forest ecosystems of mountains in order to enhance the role of mountains as natural carbon and water regulators; 10. Notes that sustainable agriculture in mountain regions is important for the protection of the mountain environment and the promotion of the regional economy; 11. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact in recent years, which have resulted in massive loss of life and long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences for vulnerable societies throughout the world, in particular in mountain regions, especially those in developing countries, and urges the international community to take concrete steps to support national and regional efforts to ensure the sustainable development of mountains; 12. Encourages Governments, the international community and other relevant stakeholders to improve the awareness, preparedness and infrastructure to cope with the increasing impact of disasters in mountain regions, such as flash floods, including glacial lake outburst floods, as well as landslides, debris flow and earthquakes; 13. Encourages Governments, with the collaboration of the scientific community, mountain communities and intergovernmental organizations, where appropriate, to study, with a view to promoting sustainable mountain development, the specific concerns of mountain communities, including the effects of global climate change on mountain environments and biological diversity, in order to elaborate sustainable adaptation strategies to cope with the adverse effects of climate change; 14. Underlines the fact that action at the national level is a key factor in achieving progress in sustainable mountain development, welcomes its steady increase in recent years with a multitude of events, activities and initiatives, and invites the international community to support the efforts of developing countries to develop and implement strategies and programmes, including, where required, enabling policies and laws for the sustainable development of mountains, within the framework of national development plans; 15. Encourages the further establishment of committees or similar multi-stakeholder institutional arrangements and mechanisms at the national and regional levels, where appropriate, to enhance intersectoral coordination and collaboration for sustainable development in mountain regions; 16. Also encourages the increased involvement of local authorities, as well as other relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, in the development and implementation of programmes, land-use planning and land tenure arrangements, and activities related to sustainable development in mountains; 17. Underlines the need for improved access to resources, including land, for women in mountain regions as well as the need to strengthen the role of women in mountain regions in decision-making processes that affect their communities, cultures and environments; 18. Encourages, in this regard, Governments and intergovernmental organizations to integrate the gender dimension, including, inter alia, gender disaggregated indicators, in mountain development activities, programmes and projects; 19. Stresses that indigenous cultures, traditions and knowledge, including in the field of medicine, are to be fully considered, respected and promoted in development policy and planning in mountain regions, and underlines the importance of promoting the full participation and involvement of mountain communities in decisions that affect them and of integrating indigenous knowledge, heritage and values in all development initiatives; 20. Underscores the need to take into account relevant articles of the Convention on Biological Diversity;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1760, No. 30619. 21. Recognizes that many developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition need to be assisted in the formulation and implementation of national strategies and programmes for sustainable mountain development, through bilateral, multilateral and South-South cooperation, as well as through other forms of collaborative approaches; 22. Notes that funding for sustainable mountain development has become increasingly important, especially in view of the greater recognition of the global importance of mountains and the high level of extreme poverty, food insecurity and hardship facing mountain communities; 23. Invites Governments, the United Nations system, the international financial institutions, the Global Environment Facility, all relevant United Nations conventions and their funding mechanisms, within their respective mandates, and all relevant stakeholders from civil society and the private sector to consider providing support, including through voluntary financial contributions, to local, national and international programmes and projects for sustainable development in mountain regions, particularly in developing countries; 24. Underlines the importance for sustainable development in mountains of exploring a wide range of funding sources, such as public-private partnerships, increased opportunities for microfinance, including microcredit and microinsurance, small housing loans, savings, education and health accounts, and support for entrepreneurs seeking to develop small- and medium-sized businesses and, where appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, debt for sustainable development swaps; 25. Notes that public awareness needs to be raised with respect to the positive and unaccounted economic benefits that mountains provide, and underlines the importance of enhancing the sustainability of ecosystems that provide essential resources and services for human well-being and economic activity and of developing innovative means of financing for their protection; 26. Recalls with satisfaction the adoption by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity of a programme of work on mountain biological diversity,UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, decision VII/27, annex. the overall purpose of which is the significant reduction of the loss of mountain biological diversity by 2010 at the global, regional and national levels, and its implementation, which aims at making a significant contribution to poverty eradication in mountain regions; 27. Recognizes that mountain ranges are usually shared among several countries, and in this context encourages transboundary cooperation approaches, where the States concerned agree, to the sustainable development of mountain ranges and information-sharing in this regard; 28. Notes with appreciation, in this context, that the Convention on the Protection of the AlpsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1917, No. 32724. promotes constructive new approaches to integrated, sustainable development of the Alps, including through its thematic protocols on spatial planning, mountain farming, conservation of nature and landscape, mountain forests, tourism, soil protection, energy and transport, as well as its Declaration on Population and Culture; 29. Also notes with appreciation the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians,Available from www.carpathianconvention.org/text.htm. adopted and signed by the seven countries of the region to provide a framework for cooperation and multisectoral policy coordination, a platform for joint strategies for sustainable development and a forum for dialogue between all involved stakeholders; 30. Further notes with appreciation the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, which promotes transboundary cooperation among eight regional member countries of the Himalaya Hindu Kush region to foster action and change for overcoming mountain peoples' economic, social and physical vulnerability; 31. Notes with appreciation the contribution of the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the statement of the Adelboden Group in promoting specific policies, appropriate institutions and processes for mountain regions, and the positive, unaccounted economic benefits they provide; 32. Stresses the importance of building capacity, strengthening institutions and promoting educational programmes in order to foster sustainable mountain development at all levels and to enhance awareness of challenges to and best practices in sustainable development in mountain regions and in the nature of relationships between highland and lowland areas; 33. Encourages the development and implementation of global, regional and national communication programmes to build on the awareness and momentum for change created by the International Year of Mountains in 2002 and the opportunity provided annually by International Mountain Day on 11 December; 34. Also encourages Member States to collect and produce information and to establish databases devoted to mountains so as to capitalize on knowledge to support interdisciplinary research, programmes and projects and to improve decision-making and planning; 35. Further encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, to further enhance their constructive efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to achieve more effective implementation of the relevant chapters of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. including chapter 13, and paragraph 42 and other relevant paragraphs of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. taking into account the efforts of the Inter-Agency Group on Mountains and the need for the further involvement of the United Nations system, in particular the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations University, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund, as well as international financial institutions and other relevant international organizations; 36. Recognizes the efforts of the Mountain Partnership implemented in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 2003/61 of 25 July 2003, invites the international community and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to consider participating actively in the Mountain Partnership to increase its value added, and invites the Partnership secretariat to report on its activities and achievements to the Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixteenth session in 2008, including in regard to the thematic issues of agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa; 37. Notes with appreciation in this context the efforts of the Mountain Partnership to cooperate with existing multilateral instruments relevant to mountains, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,Ibid., vol. 1771, No. 30822. the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and mountain-related regional instruments such as the Convention on the Protection of the Alps and the Framework Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians; 38. Takes note with appreciation of the offer of the Government of Kyrgyzstan to host a second Bishkek Global Mountain Summit in October 2009, and of the invitation to Member States, the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders to take part in such a summit; 39. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution, under a sub-item entitled "Sustainable mountain development" of the item entitled "Sustainable development". RESOLUTION 62/197 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.9, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/197. Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/7 of 16 October 1998, 54/215 of 22 December 1999 and 55/205 of 20 December 2000, and recalling also its resolutions 56/200 of 21 December 2001, 58/210 of 23 December 2003 and 60/199 of 22 December 2005, on the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, including the implementation of the World Solar Programme, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Noting that the World Solar Programme 1996-2005 made a contribution to raising awareness of the increased role that new and renewable sources of energy can play in the global energy supply, Reiterating the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. and of Agenda 21,Ibid., annex II. and recalling the recommendations and conclusions contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. concerning energy for sustainable development, Recalling the holding of the Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference on 7 and 8 November 2005, in follow-up to the International Conference for Renewable Energies, held in Bonn, Germany, from 1 to 4 June 2004, and noting the offer of the Government of the United States of America to convene the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference from 6 to 8 March 2008, Welcoming initiatives that aim to improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services for sustainable development in order to contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Emphasizing that the increased use and promotion of all forms of new and renewable energy for sustainable development, including solar-thermal, photovoltaic, biomass, wind, hydro, tidal, ocean and geothermal forms, could make a significant contribution towards the achievement of sustainable development and the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Acknowledging that increased use of new and renewable sources of energy could offer important options for the provision of energy for sustainable development and increased access to modern energy services, Noting that, in addition to increasing the efficiency of energy production and use, expanding the use of new and renewable sources of energy and advanced clean energy technology offers options that could improve global and local environmental conditions, Recognizing the contributions of new and renewable sources of energy to the reduction of greenhouse gases and addressing climate change, which poses serious risks and challenges, Noting that the global demand for energy continues to rise, while recognizing that the share of energy derived from new and renewable resources remains considerably below its significant potential, and underscoring in this regard the need to tap new and renewable sources of energy, Emphasizing the need to take further action to mobilize the provision of adequate financial resources, of sufficient quality and arriving in a timely manner, as well as the transfer of advanced technology to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for providing efficient and wider use of energy sources, in particular new and renewable sources of energy, Reaffirming that each country must take primary responsibility for its own development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development, and recognizing the need for the creation of an enabling environment at all levels for investment and sustained financing, Acknowledging that the Commission on Sustainable Development and the Economic and Social Council continue to play a pivotal role as forums for the discussion of new and renewable sources of energy and sustainable development, Welcoming efforts by Governments and institutions that have embarked on policies and programmes that seek to expand the use of new and renewable energy for sustainable development, and recognizing the contributions of regional initiatives, institutions and regional economic commissions in supporting the efforts of countries, in particular developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in this respect, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/208. 2. Reaffirms the need for the full implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. as the intergovernmental framework for energy for sustainable development; 3. Emphasizes the need to improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources for sustainable development, and takes into consideration the diversity of situations, national policies and specific needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition; 4. Also emphasizes the need to intensify research and development in support of energy for sustainable development, which will require increased commitment on the part of Governments and all other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, including the private sector, civil society and international organizations, to deploy financial and human resources for accelerating research efforts; 5. Calls upon Governments, as well as relevant international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to combine, as appropriate, the increased use of new and renewable energy resources, more efficient use of energy, greater reliance on advanced energy technologies, including cleaner fossil fuel technologies, and the sustainable use of traditional energy resources, which could meet the growing need for energy services in the longer term to achieve sustainable development; 6. Encourages global, regional and national initiatives on new and renewable energies to promote access to energy, including new and renewable sources of energy, for the poorest and to improve energy efficiency and conservation by resorting to a mix of available technologies, taking fully into account the provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation concerning energy for sustainable development; 7. Calls upon Governments to take further action to mobilize the provision of financial resources, technology transfer, capacity-building and the diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, as set out in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation; 8. Calls upon the international community to support the efforts of the African countries in promoting the development, production and use of new and renewable sources of energy, recognizing the special needs of Africa for reliable and affordable energy supplies and services; 9. Also calls upon the international community to support the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and the small island developing States in their efforts to develop and utilize energy resources, including new and renewable energy, inter alia, through financial and technical assistance; 10. Reiterates its call for all relevant funding institutions and bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as regional funding institutions and non-governmental organizations, to continue to support, as appropriate, efforts aimed at the development of the energy sector in developing countries and countries with economies in transition on the basis of environment-friendly new and renewable sources of energy of demonstrated viability, while taking fully into account the development structure of energy-based economies of developing countries, and to assist in the attainment of the levels of investment necessary to expand energy supplies, including beyond urban areas; 11. Notes and encourages ongoing activities related to the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy within the United Nations system; 12. Encourages the United Nations system to continue to raise awareness of the importance of energy for sustainable development, including the need for the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy and of the increased role they can play in the global energy supply, particularly in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; 13. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to promote the mobilization of financial resources, in a stable and predictable manner, and technical assistance, and to enhance the effectiveness and the full utilization of existing international funds for the effective implementation of national and regional high-priority projects in the area of new and renewable sources of energy; 14. Stresses that the wider use and exploration of available and additional new and renewable sources of energy require technology transfer and diffusion on a global scale, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session, under the item entitled "Sustainable development", the sub-item entitled "Promotion of new and renewable sources of energy". RESOLUTION 62/198 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/420, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/198. Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3327 (XXIX) of 16 December 1974, 32/162 of 19 December 1977, 34/115 of 14 December 1979, 56/205 and 56/206 of 21 December 2001, 57/275 of 20 December 2002, 58/226 and 58/227 of 23 December 2003, 59/239 of 22 December 2004, 60/203 of 22 December 2005 and 61/206 of 20 December 2006, Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolutions 2002/38 of 26 July 2002 and 2003/62 of 25 July 2003 and Council decisions 2004/300 of 23 July 2004, 2005/298 of 26 July 2005, 2006/247 of 27 July 2006 and 2007/249 of 26 July 2007, Recalling the goal contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020 and the goal contained in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation")Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people who lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Recalling also the Habitat Agenda,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium,Resolution S-25/2, annex. the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. which calls upon the States Members of the United Nations to achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dwellers by 2020, recognizing the urgent need for the provision of increased resources for affordable housing and housing-related infrastructure, prioritizing slum prevention and slum upgrading, and to encourage support for the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation and its Slum Upgrading Facility, Recognizing the significance of the urban dimension of poverty eradication and the need to integrate water and sanitation and other issues within a comprehensive framework for sustainable urbanization, Recognizing also the importance of decentralization policies for achieving sustainable human settlements development in line with the Habitat Agenda and the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Acknowledging the importance of the seminal findings on the scale and pace of the urbanization of poverty and deprivation contained in the report entitled State of the World's Cities 2006-2007: the Millennium Development Goals and Urban Sustainability - 30 Years of Shaping the Habitat AgendaUnited Nations publication, Sales No. E.06.III.Q.3. and the Global Report on Human Settlements 2007: Enhancing Urban Safety and Security,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.07.III.Q.1. Recognizing the negative impact of environmental degradation, including climate change, desertification and loss of biodiversity, on human settlements, Conscious of the unique opportunity provided by the Cities Without Slums Initiative mentioned in the Millennium Declaration for realizing economies of scale and substantial multiplier effects in helping to attain the other internationally agreed development goals, Welcoming the offer of the Government of China and the city of Nanjing to host the fourth session of the World Urban Forum from 13 to 17 October 2008, Recognizing the need for UN-Habitat to sharpen its focus on all areas within its mandate, Recognizing also the continued need for increased and predictable financial contributions to the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation to ensure timely, effective and concrete global implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New Millennium and the relevant internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration and the Johannesburg Declaration and Plan of Implementation, Acknowledging the ongoing efforts of UN-Habitat towards more sustainable post-disaster and post-conflict reconstruction and recovery through its participation in the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs, Noting the efforts of UN-Habitat in strengthening its collaboration with the World Bank, the regional development banks and domestic financial institutions, ensuring that its policy advisory and capacity-building activities leverage investment finance to improve water and sanitation as an entry point to the attainment of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the coordinated implementation of the Habitat AgendaE/2007/58. and the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat);A/62/219. 2. Encourages Governments to consider an enhanced approach to achieving the Cities Without Slums Initiative mentioned in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. by upgrading existing slums and creating policies and programmes, according to national circumstances, to forestall the growth of future slums, and in this regard invites the international donor community and multilateral and regional development banks to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through increased voluntary financial assistance; 3. Recognizes that Governments have the primary responsibility for the sound and effective implementation of the Habitat Agenda,Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June 1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Declaration on Cities and Other Human Settlements in the New MillenniumResolution S-25/2, annex. and the Millennium Declaration, and stresses the need for the international community to implement fully its commitment to support Governments of developing countries in their efforts to develop inclusive urban development and urban poverty reduction strategies, through the provision of the requisite resources, capacity-building, the transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms and the creation of an international enabling environment; 4. Welcomes the vision, sharpened thematic focus and emphasis on management excellence of the UN-Habitat medium-term strategic and institutional plan for the period 2008-2013,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/62/8), annex I.B, resolution 21/2. and encourages ongoing efforts towards its effective implementation, including through improvements in the internal operations and programme management of UN-Habitat; 5. Also welcomes the ongoing efforts of UN-Habitat to develop a results-based and less fragmented budget structure with a view to securing maximum efficiency, accountability and transparency in programme delivery regardless of funding source; 6. Takes note of the decision of the Governing Council of UN-Habitat to enable UN-Habitat to undertake from 2007 to 2011 a four-year phase of experimental reimbursable seeding operations and other innovative financing arrangements, as defined in Governing Council resolution 21/10,Ibid., annex I.B. bearing in mind the provisions of the special annex for the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation appended by the Secretary-General to the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2006/8. and taking into consideration the relevant elements of the operational procedures and guidelines; 7. Notes the approval by the Governing Council of UN-Habitat of the guidelines on decentralization and strengthening of local authorities,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 8 (A/62/8), annex I.B, resolution 21/3. and requests UN-Habitat to assist interested Governments in adapting the guidelines to their national contexts, where appropriate, and in further developing tools and indicators as part of its support for the application of the guidelines, bearing in mind that the guidelines do not constitute a uniform or rigid blueprint applicable to all States Members of the United Nations; 8. Encourages relevant United Nations bodies and other international and regional organizations to mainstream the guiding principles on access to basic services for all,Ibid., resolution 21/4. within the context of human settlements, in their development policies and programmes, and requests UN-Habitat to assist interested Governments in adapting the guiding principles and any guidelines adopted by the Governing Council to their national contexts, where appropriate; 9. Encourages Governments to promote the principles and practice of sustainable urbanization as a major contribution to mitigating the causes of climate change, adapting to the effects of climate change and reducing risks and vulnerabilities in a rapidly urbanizing world, including human settlements in fragile ecosystems, and invites the international donor community to support the efforts of developing countries in this regard; 10. Calls for continued financial support to UN-Habitat through increased voluntary contributions, and invites Governments in a position to do so to provide predictable multi-year funding and increased non-earmarked contributions to support programme implementation; 11. Invites the international donor community and financial institutions to contribute generously to the Water and Sanitation Trust Fund, the Slum Upgrading Facility and the technical cooperation trust funds to enable UN-Habitat to assist developing countries in mobilizing public investment and private capital for slum upgrading, shelter and basic services; 12. Also invites the international donor community and financial institutions to support the experimental reimbursable seeding operations trust fund of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat under review so as to enhance its effectiveness in supporting national policies, strategies and plans in attaining the poverty eradication, gender equality, water and sanitation and slum upgrading targets of the Millennium Declaration, the Johannesburg Plan of ImplementationReport of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome;See resolution 60/1. 14. Emphasizes the importance of the Nairobi headquarters location of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and requests the Secretary-General to keep the resource needs of UN-Habitat and the United Nations Office at Nairobi under review so as to permit the delivery, in an effective manner, of necessary services to UN-Habitat and the other United Nations organs and organizations in Nairobi; 15. Acknowledges contributions of the regional consultative initiatives, including conferences of ministers in the area of human settlements, for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, and invites the international community to continue to support such efforts and the implementation of the outcomes of those initiatives; 16. Calls upon UN-Habitat to strengthen efforts to coordinate and implement its normative and operational activities through the enhanced normative and operational framework elaborated in the medium-term strategic and institutional plan, reinforcing its normative activities, and invites all countries in a position to do so to support the activities of UN-Habitat in this regard; 17. Requests UN-Habitat to promote, in consultation with national Governments, urban poverty reduction within the framework of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the common country assessment and to align its policy advisory and capacity-building activities with the World Bank, regional development banks, other financial institutions, regional organizations and other relevant partners to field-test innovative policies, practices and pilot projects in order to mobilize resources to increase the supply of affordable credit for slum upgrading and other pro-poor human settlements development in developing countries; 18. Also requests UN-Habitat to encourage collaboration among all the Habitat Agenda partners on analytical policy work, including the preparation of its flagship reports and monitoring activities, and to identify opportunities for strengthening joint programmes of work on capacity-building for the reduction of urban poverty, including on "localizing the Millennium Development Goals"; 19. Reiterates its invitation to all Governments to participate actively in the fourth session of the World Urban Forum, and invites donor countries to support the participation of representatives from developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, including women and young people, in the Forum; 20. Requests UN-Habitat, through its involvement in the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and through contacts with relevant United Nations agencies and partners in the field, to promote the early involvement of human settlements experts in the assessment and development of prevention, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes to support the efforts of developing countries affected by natural disasters and complex humanitarian emergencies; 21. Also requests UN-Habitat, within its mandate, to continue to work closely with other relevant agencies of the United Nations system, and strongly reiterates its invitation to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee to consider including UN-Habitat in its membership, acknowledging the important role and contribution of UN-Habitat in supporting the efforts of countries affected by natural disasters and complex emergencies to develop prevention, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes for the transition from relief to development; 22. Encourages Member States to strengthen or establish, as appropriate, broad-based national Habitat committees with a view to mainstreaming sustainable urbanization and urban poverty reduction in their respective national development strategies; 23. Encourages the Economic and Social Council to include in its high-level discussions the issues of sustainable urbanization, urban poverty reduction and slum-upgrading, including access to basic services for all and further mainstreaming access by the poor to water and sanitation as a key contribution to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 25. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)". RESOLUTION 62/199 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/421/Add.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/199. Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 53/169 of 15 December 1998, 54/231 of 22 December 1999, 55/212 of 20 December 2000, 56/209 of 21 December 2001, 57/274 of 20 December 2002, 58/225 of 23 December 2003, 59/240 of 22 December 2004, 60/204 of 22 December 2005 and 61/207 of 20 December 2006 on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence, Recalling also its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. and all relevant General Assembly resolutions, in particular those that have built upon the 2005 World Summit Outcome, in the economic, social and related fields, including General Assembly resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Emphasizing the need to fully implement the global partnership for development and enhance the momentum generated by the 2005 World Summit in order to operationalize and implement the commitments made in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, including the 2005 World Summit, in the economic, social and related fields, Reaffirming that development is a central goal by itself and that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects constitutes a key element of the overarching framework of United Nations activities, Recognizing that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a central role in promoting international cooperation for development and in promoting policy coherence on global development issues, including in the context of globalization and interdependence, Reaffirming also the resolve expressed in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the world's people, Recognizing that globalization, driven largely by economic liberalization and technology, implies that the economic performance of a country is increasingly affected by factors outside its geographical borders and that maximizing in an equitable manner the benefits of globalization requires developing responses to globalization through a strengthened global partnership for development to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Reaffirming the commitment to eradicate poverty and hunger and promote sustained economic growth, sustainable development and global prosperity for all and to promote the development of the productive sectors in developing countries to enable them to participate more effectively in and benefit from the process of globalization, Reaffirming also its strong support for fair globalization and the need to translate growth into reduction of poverty and, in this regard, its resolve to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and young people, a central objective of relevant national and international policies as well as national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, as part of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Noting that particular attention must be given, in the context of globalization, to the objective of protecting, promoting and enhancing the rights and welfare of women and girls, as stated in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. Reaffirming its commitment to governance, equity and transparency in the financial, monetary and trading systems and its commitment to open, equitable, rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading and financial systems, Reaffirming the importance of migration as a phenomenon, among others, accompanying increased globalization, including its impact on economies, aware of the fact that all countries are impacted by international migration, and hence stressing the crucial importance of dialogue and cooperation so as to better understand the international migration phenomenon, including its gender perspective, and to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/303. 2. Recognizes that some countries have successfully adapted to the changes and benefited from globalization, but that many others, especially the least developed countries, have remained marginalized in the globalizing world economy, and also that, as stated in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the benefits are very unevenly shared while costs are unevenly distributed; 3. Also recognizes that domestic economies are now interwoven with the global economy and that globalization affects all countries in different ways, and that countries on the one hand have trade and investment opportunities to, inter alia, fight poverty, while on the other face constraints in the degree of flexibility they have in pursuing their national development strategies; 4. Further recognizes that, while all countries face such constraints, developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and African countries, have greater difficulties in balancing international obligations, processes and rules with their national development strategies; 5. Underlines the fact that, in addressing the linkages between globalization and sustainable development, particular focus should be placed on identifying and implementing mutually reinforcing policies and practices that promote sustained economic growth, social development and environmental protection and that this requires efforts at both the national and international levels; 6. Also underlines the fact that the increasing interdependence of national economies in a globalizing world and the emergence of rule-based regimes for international economic relations have meant that the space for national economic policy, that is, the scope for domestic policies, especially in the areas of trade, investment and industrial development, is now often framed by international disciplines, commitments and global market considerations, that it is for each Government to evaluate the trade-off between the benefits of accepting international rules and commitments and the constraints posed by the loss of policy space and that it is particularly important for developing countries, bearing in mind development goals and objectives, that all countries take into account the need for appropriate balance between national policy space and international disciplines and commitments, and in this regard notes with appreciation the work of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on the concept of policy space, as articulated in the São Paulo ConsensusTD/412, part II. and the World Summit Outcome;See resolution 60/1. 7. Reaffirms that good governance is essential for sustainable development, that sound economic policies, solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and improved infrastructure are the basis for sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and employment creation, and that freedom, peace and security, domestic stability, respect for human rights, including the right to development, and the rule of law, gender equality, market-oriented policies and an overall commitment to just and democratic societies are also essential and mutually reinforcing; 8. Also reaffirms that good governance at the international level is fundamental for achieving sustainable development, that, in order to ensure a dynamic and enabling international economic environment, it is important to promote global economic governance by addressing the international finance, trade, technology and investment patterns that have an impact on the development prospects of developing countries and that, to this end, the international community should take all necessary and appropriate measures, including ensuring support for structural and macroeconomic reform, a comprehensive solution to the external debt problem and increasing the market access of developing countries; 9. Further reaffirms that each country has primary responsibility for its own development, that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development and that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty; 10. Underlines the fact that, while recognizing the commitment of developing countries to their international duties and obligations, internationally agreed rules and disciplines should take into account lessons learned and current developments in implementation in the light of the special situation of developing countries, and in this regard reiterates the need for continuing flexibility and special provisions for developing countries as international financial and trade institutions formulate and implement rules and regulations to create an enabling international economic environment for sustained growth and broad-based development; 11. Stresses that all countries need to maintain their right to pursue policies based on their social, political, economic and environmental conditions and that, in this regard, countries, in particular developing countries, need flexibility and national policy space that are compatible with their specific development conditions, taking into account international obligations, processes and rules; 12. Acknowledges the need for continuing flexibility and special provisions for developing countries in the multilateral trading system; 13. Reaffirms the commitment to broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in international economic decision-making and norm-setting, stresses, to that end, the importance of continuing efforts to reform the international financial architecture, noting that enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the Bretton Woods institutions remains a continuous concern, and calls in this regard for further and effective progress; 14. Also reaffirms the need for the United Nations to play a fundamental role in the promotion of international cooperation for development and the coherence, coordination and implementation of development goals and actions agreed upon by the international community, and resolves to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system in close cooperation with all other multilateral financial, trade and development institutions in order to support sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development; 15. Calls upon the United Nations system to support the efforts of developing countries to enhance their capacities regarding the impact of international agreements on national development strategies; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, at its sixty-third session, a report on the theme "Impact of globalization on the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals" under the agenda item entitled "Globalization and interdependence"; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence", a sub-item entitled "Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence". RESOLUTION 62/19 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/388, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei Darussalam, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Myanmar, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 121 to 1, with 56 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/19. Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Welcoming the progress achieved in recent years in both nuclear and conventional disarmament, Noting that, despite recent progress in the field of nuclear disarmament, further efforts are necessary towards the achievement of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Determined to abide strictly by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force or threat of force, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, including the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures and arrangements to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures and arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can contribute positively to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and desirous of promoting the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Final Document, Recalling the relevant parts of the special report of the Committee on DisarmamentThe Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. submitted to the General Assembly at its twelfth special session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-12/2), sect. III.C. the second special session devoted to disarmament, and of the special report of the Conference on Disarmament submitted to the Assembly at its fifteenth special session,Ibid., Fifteenth Special Session, Supplement No. 2 (A/S-15/2), sect. III.F. the third special session devoted to disarmament, as well as the report of the Conference on its 1992 session,Ibid., Forty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), sect. III.F. Recalling also paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, inter alia, that all efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament urgently to negotiate with a view to reaching agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Conference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Effective International Arrangements to Assure Non-Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons,Ibid., Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/48/27), para. 39. with a view to reaching agreement on this question, Taking note of the proposals submitted under the item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note also of the relevant decision of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Kuala Lumpur on 24 and 25 February 2003,See A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I. which was reiterated at the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,See A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. as well as the relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Taking note further of the unilateral declarations made by all the nuclear-weapon States on their policies of non-use or non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against the non-nuclear-weapon States, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptable to all, Taking note of Security Council resolution 984 (1995) of 11 April 1995 and the views expressed on it, Recalling its relevant resolutions adopted in previous years, in particular resolutions 45/54 of 4 December 1990, 46/32 of 6 December 1991, 47/50 of 9 December 1992, 48/73 of 16 December 1993, 49/73 of 15 December 1994, 50/68 of 12 December 1995, 51/43 of 10 December 1996, 52/36 of 9 December 1997, 53/75 of 4 December 1998, 54/52 of 1 December 1999, 55/3l of 20 November 2000, 56/22 of 29 November 2001, 57/56 of 22 November 2002, 58/35 of 8 December 2003, 59/64 of 3 December 2004, 60/53 of 8 December 2005 and 61/57 of 6 December 2006, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach an early agreement on effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satisfaction that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principle, to the idea of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties with regard to evolving a common approach acceptable to all have also been pointed out; 3. Appeals to all States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to work actively towards an early agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula that could be included in an international instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative approaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Conference on Disarmament, be explored further in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Also recommends that the Conference on Disarmament actively continue intensive negotiations with a view to reaching early agreement and concluding effective international agreements to assure the non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". RESOLUTION 62/1 Adopted at the 25th plenary meeting, on 15 October 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/478, para. 6) 62/1. Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of the United Nations: requests under Article 19 of the Charter The General Assembly, Having considered chapter V of the report of the Committee on Contributions on its sixty-seventh session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 11 (A/62/11). Reaffirming the obligation of Member States under Article 17 of the Charter of the United Nations to bear the expenses of the Organization as apportioned by the General Assembly, 1. Reaffirms its role in accordance with the provisions of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations and the advisory role of the Committee on Contributions in accordance with rule 160 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly; 2. Also reaffirms its resolution 54/237 C of 23 December 1999; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to bring to the attention of Member States the deadline specified in resolution 54/237 C, including through an early announcement in the Journal of the United Nations and through direct communication; 4. Urges all Member States requesting exemption under Article 19 of the Charter to submit as much information as possible in support of their requests and to consider submitting such information in advance of the deadline specified in resolution 54/237 C so as to enable the collation of any additional detailed information that may be necessary; 5. Agrees that the failure of the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan to pay the full minimum amount necessary to avoid the application of Article 19 of the Charter was due to conditions beyond their control; 6. Decides that the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia and Tajikistan should be permitted to vote in the General Assembly until the end of its sixty-second session. RESOLUTION 62/200 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/421/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/200. International Year of Astronomy, 2009 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, Aware that astronomy is one of the oldest basic sciences and that it has contributed and still contributes fundamentally to the evolution of other sciences and applications in a wide range of fields, Recognizing that astronomical observations have profound implications for the development of science, philosophy, culture and the general conception of the universe, Noting that, although there is a general interest in astronomy, it is often difficult for the general public to gain access to information and knowledge on the subject, Conscious that each society has developed legends, myths and traditions concerning the sky, the planets and the stars which form part of its cultural heritage, Welcoming resolution 33 C/25 adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 19 October 2005United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, 33rd session, Paris, 3-21 October 2005, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap. V. to express its support for the declaration of 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy, with a view to highlighting the importance of astronomical sciences and their contribution to knowledge and development, Noting that the International Astronomical Union has been supporting the initiative since 2003 and that it will act to grant the project the widest impact, Convinced that the Year could play a crucial role, inter alia, in raising public awareness of the importance of astronomy and basic sciences for sustainable development, promoting access to the universal knowledge of fundamental science through the excitement generated by the subject of astronomy, supporting formal and informal science education in schools as well as through science centres and museums and other relevant means, stimulating a long-term increase in student enrolment in the fields of science and technology, and supporting scientific literacy, 1. Decides to declare 2009 the International Year of Astronomy; 2. Designates the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the lead agency and focal point for the Year, and invites it to organize, in this capacity, activities to be realized during the Year, in collaboration with other relevant entities of the United Nations system, the International Astronomical Union, the European Southern Observatory and astronomical societies and groups throughout the world, and, in this regard, notes that the activities of the Year will be funded from voluntary contributions, including from the private sector; 3. Encourages all Member States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Year to promote actions at all levels aimed at increasing awareness among the public of the importance of astronomical sciences and promoting widespread access to new knowledge and experiences of astronomical observation. RESOLUTION 62/201 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/421/Add.2, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/201. Science and technology for development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/200 of 23 December 2003, 59/220 of 22 December 2004 and 60/205 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also its resolution 61/207 of 20 December 2006 and its reference to science and technology, Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/46 of 28 July 2006, Recognizing the vital role that science and technology, including environmentally sound technologies, can play in development and in facilitating efforts to eradicate poverty, achieve food security, fight diseases, improve education, protect the environment, accelerate the pace of economic diversification and transformation and improve productivity and competitiveness, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society,See A/60/687 and A/C.2/59/3, annex, chap. I. Recognizing that international support can help developing countries to benefit from technological advances and can enhance their productive capacity, Underscoring the role that traditional knowledge can play in technological development, and in the sustainable management and use of natural resources, Acknowledging the urgent need to bridge the digital divide and to assist developing countries in accessing the potential benefits of information and communications technologies, Welcoming the adoption of the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building of the United Nations Environment Programme,UNEP/GC.23/6/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex. Reaffirming the need to enhance the science and technology programmes of the relevant entities of the United Nations system, Noting with appreciation the collaboration between the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in establishing a network of centres of excellence in science and technology for developing countries and in designing and carrying out science, technology and innovation policy reviews, Taking note with interest of the establishment of the inter-agency cooperation network on biotechnology, UN-Biotech, as described in the report of the Secretary-General on science and technology for development,A/62/136. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General, Encouraging the development of initiatives to promote private sector engagement in technology transfer and technological and scientific cooperation, 1. Reaffirms its commitment: (a) To strengthen and enhance existing mechanisms and to support initiatives for research and development, including through voluntary partnerships between the public and private sectors, to address the special needs of developing countries in the areas of health, agriculture, conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental management, energy, forestry and the impact of climate change; (b) To promote and facilitate, as appropriate, access to, and development, transfer and diffusion of, technologies, including environmentally sound technologies and the corresponding know-how, to developing countries; (c) To assist developing countries in their efforts to promote and develop national strategies for human resources and science and technology, which are primary drivers of national capacity-building for development; (d) To promote and support greater efforts to develop renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal energy; (e) To implement policies at the national and international levels to attract both public and private investment, domestic and foreign, that enhances knowledge, transfers technology on mutually agreed terms and raises productivity; (f) To support the efforts of developing countries, individually and collectively, to harness new agricultural technologies in order to increase agricultural productivity through environmentally sustainable means; 2. Recognizes that science and technology, including information and communications technologies, are vital for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and for the full participation of developing countries in the global economy; 3. Requests the Commission on Science and Technology for Development to provide a forum within which to continue to assist the Economic and Social Council as the focal point in the system-wide follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information SocietySee A/60/687 and A/C.2/59/3, annex, chap. I. and to address within its mandate, in accordance with Council resolution 2006/46, the special needs of developing countries in areas such as agriculture, rural development, information and communications technologies and environmental management; 4. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in collaboration with relevant partners, to continue to undertake science, technology and innovation policy reviews, with a view to assisting developing countries and countries with economies in transition in identifying the measures that are needed to integrate science, technology and innovation policies in their national development strategies; 5. Encourages the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other relevant organizations to assist developing countries in their efforts to integrate science, technology and innovation policies in national development strategies; 6. Encourages Governments to strengthen and foster investment in research and development for environmentally sound technologies and to promote the involvement of the business and financial sectors in the development of those technologies, and invites the international community to support those efforts; 7. Encourages existing arrangements and the further promotion of regional, subregional and interregional joint research and development projects by, where feasible, mobilizing existing scientific and research and development resources and by networking sophisticated scientific facilities and research equipment; 8. Encourages the international community to continue to facilitate, in view of the difference in level of development between countries, an adequate diffusion of scientific and technical knowledge and transfer of, access to, and acquisition of technology for developing countries, under fair, transparent and mutually agreed terms, in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare for the benefit of society; 9. Calls for continued collaboration between United Nations entities and other international organizations, civil society and the private sector in implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society, with a view to putting the potential of information and communications technologies at the service of development through policy research on the digital divide and on new challenges of the information society, as well as technical assistance activities, involving multi-stakeholder partnerships; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and recommendations for future follow-up, including lessons learned in integrating science, technology and innovation policies into national development strategies. RESOLUTION 62/202 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/421/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/202. Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/205 of 22 December 1999, 56/186 of 21 December 2001 and 57/244 of 20 December 2002, and recalling also its resolutions 58/205 of 23 December 2003, 59/242 of 22 December 2004, 60/207 of 22 December 2005 and 61/209 of 20 December 2006, Welcoming the entry into force on 14 December 2005 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2349, No. 42146. Welcoming also the convening of the first session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in Jordan, from 10 to 14 December 2006, and stressing the need for States parties to take steps to implement the outcome of that Conference, Bearing in mind the importance of the work carried out by the open-ended intergovernmental expert working groups on asset recovery, review of implementation and technical assistance, Recalling the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. which underlined that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority, and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. Convinced that a stable and transparent environment for national and international commercial transactions in all countries is essential for the mobilization of investment, finance, technology, skills and other important resources, and recognizing that effective efforts at all levels to prevent and combat corruption in all its forms in all countries are essential elements of an improved national and international business environment, Reiterating its concern about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and the values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law, in particular when an inadequate national and international response leads to impunity, Recognizing that fighting corruption at all levels is a priority and that corruption is a serious barrier to effective resource mobilization and allocation and diverts resources away from activities that are vital for poverty eradication, the fight against hunger, and economic and sustainable development, Emphasizing the need for solid democratic institutions responsive to the needs of the people and the need to improve the efficiency, transparency and accountability of domestic administration and public spending and the rule of law, to ensure full respect for human rights, including the right to development, and to eradicate corruption and build sound economic and social institutions, Recalling that the fight against all forms of corruption requires strong institutions at all levels, including at the local level, able to undertake efficient preventive and law enforcement measures consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in particular chapters II and III, Recognizing the concern about the laundering and the transfer and/or transaction of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption, and stressing the need to address this concern consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, Concerned about the links between corruption in all its forms, including bribery, corruption-related money-laundering and the transfer of assets of illicit origin, and other forms of crime, in particular organized crime and economic crime, Noting the particular concern of developing countries and countries with economies in transition regarding the return of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption, in particular to countries from which they originated, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in particular chapter V, in view of the importance that such assets can have to their sustainable development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/116. 2. Expresses concern about the magnitude of corruption at all levels, including the scale of the transfer of assets of illicit origin derived from corruption, and in this regard reiterates its commitment to preventing and combating corrupt practices at all levels, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2349, No. 42146. 3. Condemns corruption in all its forms, including bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of assets of illicit origin; 4. Encourages all Governments to prevent, combat and penalize corruption in all its forms, including bribery, money-laundering and the transfer of illicitly acquired assets, and to work for the prompt return of such assets through asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V; 5. Invites Member States to work on the identification and tracing of financial flows linked to corruption, the freezing or seizing of assets derived from corruption and the return of such assets, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and encourages the promotion of human and institutional capacity-building in this regard; 6. Stresses the importance of mutual legal assistance, and encourages Member States to enhance international cooperation, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 7. Welcomes the high number of Member States that have already ratified or acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and in this regard urges all Member States and competent regional economic integration organizations, within the limits of their competence, that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, and calls upon all States parties to fully implement the Convention as soon as possible; 8. Calls upon States parties, and encourages other Member States, to support the initiatives adopted at the first session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, in particular the work carried out by the open-ended intergovernmental expert working groups on asset recovery, review of implementation and technical assistance in order to facilitate the full implementation of the Convention, and the review thereof, and in this regard stresses the importance of the adoption of relevant legislation consistent with the Convention; 9. Encourages all States parties that have not yet done so to submit information through the self-assessment checklist as a follow-up mechanism to the first session of the Conference of the States Parties; 10. Welcomes the efforts of Member States that have enacted laws and taken other positive measures in the fight against corruption in all its forms, including in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and in this regard encourages Member States that have not yet done so to enact such laws and to implement effective measures at the national level and, in accordance with domestic law and policies, at the local level, to prevent and combat corruption; 11. Takes note of the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Bank, and welcomes the cooperation of the Office with relevant partners, including the International Centre for Asset Recovery; 12. Urges all Member States, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to abide by the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and to foster a culture of transparency, accountability and rejection of corruption; 13. Encourages Member States to provide adequate financial and human resources to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, including for the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and also encourages the Office to give high priority to technical cooperation, upon request, inter alia, to promote and facilitate the ratification, acceptance, approval of or accession to and the implementation of the Convention; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with the resources necessary to enable it to promote, in an effective manner, the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and to discharge its functions as the secretariat of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, in accordance with its mandate; 15. Calls for further international cooperation, inter alia, through the United Nations system, in support of national, subregional and regional efforts to prevent and combat corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 16. Reiterates its request to the international community to provide, inter alia, technical assistance to support national efforts to strengthen human and institutional capacity aimed at preventing and combating corrupt practices and the transfer of assets of illicit origin as well as for asset recovery consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, particularly chapter V, and to support national efforts in formulating strategies for mainstreaming and promoting transparency and integrity in both the public and private sectors; 17. Encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to require financial institutions to properly implement comprehensive due diligence and vigilance programmes, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and those of other relevant applicable instruments; 18. Calls upon the private sector, at both the international and the national levels, including small and large companies and transnational corporations, to remain fully engaged in the fight against corruption, welcomes the agreement to add anti-corruption as the tenth principle of the Global Compact, and emphasizes the need for all relevant stakeholders, including within the United Nations system, as appropriate, to continue to promote corporate responsibility and accountability; 19. Takes note of the generous offer of the Government of Indonesia to host the second session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption at Nusa Dua, Bali, from 28 January to 1 February 2008, and invites all States parties and signatories to take measures aimed at enhancing the full and effective implementation of the Convention; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, from within existing resources, a report on the implementation of the present resolution, also encompassing relevant reports from the second session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Globalization and interdependence", the sub-item entitled "Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption", bearing in mind the possibility of reviewing the future consideration of this sub-item. RESOLUTION 62/203 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/422/Add.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 62/203. Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries The General Assembly, Recalling the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraph 15 thereof, in which the Heads of State and Government undertook to address the special needs of the least developed countries, Recalling further its resolution 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 on the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also its resolutions 61/211 of 20 December 2006 and 61/1 of 19 September 2006, Reaffirming its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Taking note of the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2004 of the Economic and Social Council on the theme "Resources mobilization and enabling environment for poverty eradication in the context of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/59/3/Rev.1), chap. III, para. 49. Taking note also of the Istanbul Declaration on the Least Developed Countries: Time for Action,A/62/216, annex. adopted at the Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed Countries held in Istanbul on 9 and 10 July 2007 on the theme "Making globalization work for the least developed countries", Reaffirming that the Programme of Action constitutes a fundamental framework for a strong global partnership, whose goal is to accelerate sustained economic growth, sustainable development and poverty eradication in the least developed countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010;A/62/79-E/2007/63 and Corr.1. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the advocacy strategy on the effective and timely implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010;A/62/322. 3. Welcomes the contributions made in the lead-up to the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,Ibid., chap. II. including the elaboration of the Cotonou Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010A/61/117, annex I. as an initiative owned and led by the least developed countries; 4. Reaffirms its commitment to the DeclarationSee resolution 61/1. adopted by Heads of State and Government and heads of delegations participating in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the midterm comprehensive global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, in which they recommitted themselves to addressing the special needs of the least developed countries by making progress towards the goals of poverty eradication, peace and development; 5. Remains concerned about the insufficient and uneven progress achieved in the implementation of the Programme of Action, and stresses the need to address, within the time frame set by the Programme of Action, areas of weakness in its implementation and the continued precarious socio-economic situation in some least developed countries through a strong commitment to the objectives, goals and targets of the Programme of Action; 6. Welcomes the continued economic progress of many least developed countries, which has led to the fact that a number of countries are proceeding towards graduation from the list of least developed countries; 7. Stresses that the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be effectively achieved in the least developed countries through, in particular, the timely fulfilment of the seven commitments of the Programme of Action; 8. Reaffirms that progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action will require effective implementation of national policies and priorities for the sustained economic growth and sustainable development of the least developed countries, as well as strong and committed partnership between those countries and their development partners; 9. Underlines the fact that, for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, the least developed countries and their development partners must be guided by an integrated approach, a broader genuine partnership, country ownership, market considerations and results-oriented actions encompassing: (a) Fostering a people-centred policy framework; (b) Ensuring good governance at both the national and international levels as essential for the implementation of the commitments embodied in the Programme of Action; (c) Building human and institutional capacities; (d) Building productive capacities to make globalization work for the least developed countries; (e) Enhancing the role of trade in development; (f) Reducing vulnerability and protecting the environment; (g) Mobilizing financial resources; 10. Urges the least developed countries to strengthen the implementation of the Programme of Action through their respective national development framework, including, where they exist, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework; 11. Urges development partners to fully implement, in a timely manner, commitments in the Programme of Action and to exercise individual best efforts to continue to increase their financial and technical support for its implementation; 12. Also urges development partners to continue to support the efforts of countries graduating from the list of least developed countries in order to better promote their further integration into the world economy, to sustain their development process and to avoid any disruption therein, including within the framework of the smooth transition strategy; 13. Encourages the United Nations Resident Coordinator system, the Bretton Woods institutions, bilateral and multilateral donors and other development partners to assist the least developed countries in translating goals and targets of the Programme of Action into concrete actions in the light of their national development priorities; 14. Invites the organizations of the United Nations system and other multilateral organizations that have not yet done so to mainstream the implementation of the Brussels DeclarationA/CONF.191/13, chap. I. and the Programme of Action within their programmes of work as well as in their intergovernmental processes and to undertake within their respective mandates multi-year programming of actions in favour of the least developed countries; 15. Stresses, within the context of the annual global reviews, as envisaged in the Programme of Action, the need to assess the implementation of the Programme of Action sector by sector, and in this regard invites the United Nations system and all relevant international organizations, consistent with their respective mandates, to report on the progress made in its implementation using quantifiable criteria and indicators to be measured against the goals and targets of the Programme of Action and to participate fully in reviews of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels; 16. Also stresses the crucial importance of integrated and coordinated follow-up, monitoring and reporting for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels; 17. Requests, in this regard, the Secretary-General to ensure, at the Secretariat level, the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system to facilitate coordinated implementation as well as coherence in the follow-up to and monitoring and review of the Programme of Action at the national, subregional, regional and global levels, including through such coordination mechanisms as the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, the United Nations Development Group, the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs and the Inter-agency Expert Group on the Millennium Development Goals Indicators; 18. Reiterates its invitation to the organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, and other relevant multilateral organizations, to provide full support to and cooperate with the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; 19. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to include the least developed countries in all relevant reports in the economic, social and related fields in order to ensure the follow-up of their development in the broader context of the world economy and contribute to preventing their further marginalization; 20. Expresses its concern about the insufficiency of resources in the trust fund established for the participation of the least developed countries in the annual review of the implementation of the Programme of Action by the Economic and Social Council; 21. Reiterates the critical importance of the participation of Government representatives from the least developed countries in the annual review of the Programme of Action by the Economic and Social Council, expresses, in this regard, its deep appreciation to those countries that have made voluntary contributions to the special trust fund established for this purpose by the Secretary-General, invites donor countries to continue to support the participation of two representatives from each least developed country in the annual review of the implementation of the Programme of Action, including by contributing in an adequate and timely manner to the special trust fund, and requests the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to mobilize the necessary resources in order to ensure that the trust fund is adequately resourced; 22. Recalls paragraph 114 of the Programme of Action on holding a fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries towards the end of the current decade, requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, to prepare a note during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly outlining the modalities of such a conference, including its preparatory process, and also, in this regard, invites Member States to consider hosting that conference; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures for the implementation of the advocacy strategy,A/62/322. in coordination with all relevant stakeholders; 24. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit an annual analytical and results-oriented progress report on the further implementation of the Programme of Action and to make available adequate resources, within existing resources, for the preparation of such a report. RESOLUTION 62/204 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/422/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 62/204. Groups of countries in special situations: specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/201 of 23 December 2003, 60/208 of 22 December 2005 and 61/212 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further the Asunción Platform for the Doha Development Round,A/60/308, annex. Taking note of the Ulaanbaatar Declaration adopted at the Meeting of Trade Ministers of Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Ulaanbaatar on 28 and 29 August 2007,A/C.2/62/9, annex. Recalling resolution 63/5 of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of 23 May 2007,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2007, Supplement No. 19 (E/2007/39), chap. IV, sect. A. Recalling also the Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the 2007 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council, adopted on 10 July 2007,A/62/3 and Corr.1, chap. III, sect. C, para. 90. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 3. Recognizing that the lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by remoteness from world markets, and prohibitive transit costs and risks continue to impose serious constraints on export earnings, private capital inflow and domestic resource mobilization of landlocked developing countries and therefore adversely affect their overall growth and socio-economic development, Recognizing also that cooperation between transit countries and landlocked developing countries results in better transit transport systems, Expressing support to those landlocked developing countries that are emerging from conflict, with a view to enabling them to rehabilitate and reconstruct, as appropriate, political, social and economic infrastructure and assisting them in achieving their development priorities, in accordance with the goals and targets of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries,Report of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. Recalling the New Partnership for Africa's Development,A/57/304, annex. an initiative for accelerating regional economic cooperation and development, as many landlocked and transit developing countries are located in Africa, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the status of preparations for the midterm review of the Almaty Programme of Action;A/62/226. 2. Also takes note of the outcome documents of the Thematic Meeting on Transit Transport Infrastructure Development, held in Ouagadougou from 18 to 20 June 2007,A/62/256 and Corr.1, annexes I and II. and of the Thematic Meeting on International Trade and Trade Facilitation, held in Ulaanbaatar on 30 and 31 August 2007;A/C.2/62/4, annexes I and II. 3. Reaffirms the right of access of landlocked countries to and from the sea and freedom of transit through the territory of transit countries by all means of transport, in accordance with the applicable rules of international law; 4. Also reaffirms that transit countries, in the exercise of their full sovereignty over their territory, have the right to take all measures necessary to ensure that the rights and facilities provided for landlocked countries in no way infringe their legitimate interests; 5. Encourages donors and multilateral and regional financial and development institutions, in particular the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, to provide landlocked and transit developing countries with appropriate technical and financial assistance in the form of grants or concessionary loans for the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing CountriesReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. in particular for the construction, maintenance and improvement of their transport, storage and other transit-related facilities, including alternative routes and improved communications, to promote subregional, regional and interregional projects and programmes, and to also provide technical assistance in trade facilitation; 6. Emphasizes that the development and improvement of transit transport facilities and services should be integrated into the overall economic development strategies of the landlocked and transit developing countries and that donor countries should consequently take into account the requirements for the long-term restructuring of the economies of the landlocked developing countries; 7. Recalls that landlocked and transit developing countries have the primary responsibility for implementing the Almaty Programme of Action, as envisaged in its paragraphs 38 and 38 bis; 8. Emphasizes that South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation with the involvement of donors should be strengthened, as well as cooperation among subregional and regional organizations; 9. Decides to hold, from within existing resources, two days of high-level plenary meetings devoted to the midterm review of the Almaty Programme of Action during the sixty-third session of the General Assembly in New York, on 2 and 3 October 2008, to be chaired by the President of the Assembly; 10. Stresses that the midterm review should provide the international community with an opportunity to make the assessment of the progress made, lessons learned and constraints encountered in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action and agree on what needs to be done to further galvanize global partnerships to assist landlocked developing countries in strengthening their effective participation in international trade and the world economy; 11. Requests the President of the General Assembly to convene consultations during the sixty-second session of the Assembly to facilitate the preparation of an outcome for the midterm review and to finalize its organizational aspects, if necessary; 12. Requests the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, in close consultation with the relevant United Nations system organizations, to prepare a draft outline of the outcome document of the midterm review so as to facilitate the intergovernmental consultations, taking into account the outcomes of the thematic meetings, the regional meetings and the reports of the Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action; 13. Also requests the Office of the High Representative, in accordance with the mandate given by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/227 of 24 December 2001 and in the Almaty Programme of Action, to coordinate the preparatory process, further requests that United Nations system organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Development Programme and the regional commissions, and relevant international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates, provide necessary support and substantive inputs to the review process, and in this regard takes note of the organizational framework for the midterm review prepared by the Office of the High Representative in cooperation with the main stakeholders; 14. Encourages donors and the international financial and development institutions as well as private entities to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General to support the activities related to the follow-up to the implementation of the outcome of the Almaty International Ministerial Conference; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the progress made, lessons learned and constraints encountered in the implementation of the Almaty Programme of Action, including recommendations, with a view to the preparation for the midterm review meeting and the way forward; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of landlocked developing countries: outcome of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation". RESOLUTION 62/205 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/423/Add.1, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 62/205. Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 47/196 of 22 December 1992, 48/183 of 21 December 1993, 50/107 of 20 December 1995, 56/207 of 21 December 2001, 57/265 and 57/266 of 20 December 2002, 58/222 of 23 December 2003, 59/247 of 22 December 2004, 60/209 of 22 December 2005 and 61/213 of 20 December 2006, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by Heads of State and Government on the occasion of the Millennium Summit,See resolution 55/2. and their commitment to eradicate extreme poverty and to halve, by 2015, the proportion of the world's people whose income is less than one dollar a day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger, Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on the follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and the other internationally agreed development goals, Recalling also its resolution 61/16 of 20 November 2006 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council, Recalling further the outcomes of the World Summit for Social DevelopmentReport of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-24/2, annex. Expressing concern that, after the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), and midway to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals target date, while there has been progress in reducing poverty in some regions, this progress has been uneven and the number of people living in poverty in some countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority of the most affected groups, especially in the least developed countries and in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, Encouraged by reductions in poverty in some countries in the recent past, and determined to reinforce and extend this trend to benefit people worldwide, Recognizing that mobilizing financial resources for development at the national and international levels and the effective use of those resources are central to a global partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Acknowledging that sustained economic growth, supported by rising productivity and a favourable environment, including private investment and entrepreneurship, is necessary to eradicate poverty, achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and realize a rise in living standards, Underlining the priority and urgency given by the Heads of State and Government to the eradication of poverty, as expressed in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006);A/62/267. 2. Recognizes that during the implementation of the first Decade the international community adopted, inter alia, the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. which are mechanisms to focus national, regional and international efforts towards achieving poverty eradication; 3. Proclaims the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) in order to support, in an efficient and coordinated manner, the internationally agreed development goals related to poverty eradication, including the Millennium Development Goals; 4. Reiterates that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in particular for developing countries; 5. Urges all Governments, the international community, including the United Nations system, and all other actors to continue to pursue seriously the objective of the eradication of poverty; 6. Reaffirms that each country must take primary responsibility for its own development and that the role of national policies and strategies cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development, and recognizes that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty; 7. Reiterates the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations in promoting international cooperation for development, critical for the eradication of poverty; 8. Stresses the importance of ensuring, at the intergovernmental and inter-agency levels, coherent, comprehensive and integrated activities for the eradication of poverty in accordance with the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; 9. Calls upon donor countries to continue to give priority to the eradication of poverty in their assistance programmes and budgets, on either a bilateral or a multilateral basis; 10. Recognizes that sustained economic growth is essential for eradicating poverty and hunger, in particular in developing countries, and stresses that national efforts in this regard should be complemented by an enabling international environment; 11. Also recognizes that, for developing countries to reach the targets set in the context of national development strategies for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the goal on the eradication of poverty, and for such poverty eradication strategies to be effective, it is imperative that developing countries be integrated into the world economy and share equitably in the benefits of globalization; 12. Further recognizes the importance of official development assistance as a source of financing development for developing countries, calls for the fulfilment of all official development assistance commitments, including the commitments by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product for official development assistance by 2015, and urges those developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard in accordance with their commitments; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report containing recommendations on how to make the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) effective, in support of the poverty eradication-related internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session an item entitled "Implementation of the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017)". RESOLUTION 62/206 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/423/Add.2, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 62/206. Women in development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/195 of 18 December 1997, 54/210 of 22 December 1999, 56/188 of 21 December 2001, 58/206 of 23 December 2003, 59/248 of 22 December 2004 and 60/210 of 22 December 2005 and all its other resolutions on the integration of women in development, and the relevant resolutions and agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women, including the Declaration adopted at its forty-ninth session,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A. Reaffirming the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. and recalling the outcomes of all other relevant major United Nations conferences and summits, Reaffirming also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which affirms that the equal rights and opportunities of women and men must be assured, and calls for, inter alia, the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women as being effective and essential to eradicating poverty and hunger, in combating diseases and in stimulating development that is truly sustainable, Taking note with appreciation of the discussion on women in development in the Commission on the Status of Women at its fiftieth session, and recalling its agreed conclusions on "Enhanced participation of women in development: an enabling environment for achieving gender equality and the advancement of women, taking into account, inter alia, the fields of education, health and work",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2006, Supplement No. 7 and corrigenda (E/2006/27 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. I, sect. D. Recognizing that access to basic affordable health care, preventive health information and the highest standard of health, including in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, is critical to women's economic advancement, that lack of economic empowerment and independence increases women's vulnerability to a range of negative consequences, including the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, and that the neglect of the full enjoyment of human rights by women severely limits their opportunities in public and private life, including the opportunity for education and economic and political empowerment, Reaffirming that gender equality is of fundamental importance for achieving sustained economic growth, poverty eradication and sustainable development, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and United Nations conferences, and that investing in the development of women and girls has a multiplier effect, in particular on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth, in all sectors of the economy, especially in key areas such as agriculture, industry and services, Reaffirming also the significant contribution that women make to the economy, that women are key contributors to the economy and to combating poverty through both remunerated and unremunerated work at home, in the community and in the workplace and that the empowerment of women is a critical factor in the eradication of poverty, Recognizing that the difficult socio-economic conditions that exist in many developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, have resulted in the acceleration of the feminization of poverty, Noting that gender biases in labour markets and women's lack of control over their own labour and earned income are also major factors in women's vulnerability to poverty, and, together with women's disproportionate responsibilities for domestic work, result in a lack of economic autonomy and influence in economic decision-making within households and in society at all levels, Recognizing that population and development issues, education and training, health, nutrition, the environment, water supply, sanitation, housing, communications, science and technology, and employment opportunities are important elements for effective poverty eradication and the advancement and empowerment of women, Recognizing also, in this context, the importance of respect for all human rights, including the right to development, and of a national and international environment that promotes, inter alia, justice, gender equality, equity, civil and political participation and civil, political and fundamental freedoms for the advancement and empowerment of women, Reaffirming the need to eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education by the earliest possible date and at all levels by 2015, and reaffirming that equal access to education and training at all levels, in particular in business, trade, administration, information and communications technologies and other new technologies and the need to eliminate gender inequalities at all levels are essential for gender equality, the empowerment of women and poverty eradication and to allow women's full and equal contribution to, and equal opportunity to benefit from, development, Recognizing that poverty eradication and the achievement and preservation of peace are mutually reinforcing, and recognizing also that peace is inextricably linked to equality between women and men and to development, Aware that, while globalization and liberalization processes have created employment opportunities for women in many countries, they have also made some women, especially in developing countries and in particular in the least developed countries, more vulnerable to problems caused by increased economic volatility, including in the agricultural sector, and that special support, particularly for women who are small-scale farmers, and empowerment are necessary to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities of agricultural market liberalization, Recognizing that enhanced trade opportunities for developing countries, including through trade liberalization, will improve the economic condition of those societies, including women, which is of particular importance in rural communities, Expressing its concern that, while women represent an important and growing proportion of business owners, their contribution to economic and social development is constrained by, inter alia, the denial and lack of equal rights and lack of access of women to education, training, information, support services and credit facilities, salaries, and control over land, capital, technology and other areas of production, Also expressing its concern about the underrepresentation of women in political and economic decision-making, and stressing the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of all policies and programmes, Noting the importance of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular its funds and programmes, and the specialized agencies in facilitating the advancement of women in development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/187. 2. Calls upon Member States, the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, within their respective mandates, and all sectors of civil society, including non-governmental organizations, as well as all women and men to fully commit themselves and to intensify their contributions to the implementation of the Beijing DeclarationReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and Platform for ActionIbid., annex II. and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly;Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. 3. Recognizes the mutually reinforcing links between gender equality and poverty eradication, as well as the need to elaborate and implement, where appropriate, in consultation with civil society, comprehensive gender-sensitive poverty eradication strategies that address social, structural and macroeconomic issues; 4. Stresses the importance of creating a favourable and conducive national and international environment in all fields of life for the effective integration of women in development; 5. Urges Member States, non-governmental organizations and the United Nations system to accelerate further efforts to increase the number of women in decision-making and to build their capacity as agents of change, and to empower women to participate actively and effectively in the development, implementation and evaluation of national development and/or poverty eradication policies, strategies and programmes, including, where appropriate, programme-based approaches; 6. Urges Member States to incorporate a gender perspective, commensurate with gender equality goals, into the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of national development strategies, and in this regard calls upon the United Nations system to support national efforts to develop methodologies and tools and to promote capacity-building and evaluation; 7. Encourages Member States to ensure inclusive and more effective participation of national mechanisms for gender equality and women's empowerment in formulating national development strategies, including poverty eradication strategies, and calls upon the United Nations system to support national efforts in this regard; 8. Calls upon Member States to continue to increase women's representation and participation in government decision-making at all levels in development policy areas to ensure that the priorities, needs and contributions of women are taken into consideration by, inter alia, providing access to training; developing measures to reconcile family and professional responsibilities; and eliminating gender stereotyping in appointments and promotions; 9. Recognizes that violence against women and girls is one of the obstacles to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace and the implications of violence against women and girls for the social and economic development of communities and States, and calls upon States to elaborate and implement plans of action to eliminate violence against women and girls; 10. Also recognizes the need to strengthen the capacity of Governments to incorporate a gender perspective into policies and decision-making, and encourages all Governments, international organizations, including the United Nations system, and other relevant stakeholders to assist and support developing countries' efforts in integrating a gender perspective into all aspects of policymaking, including through the provision of technical assistance and financial resources; 11. Stresses the importance of developing national strategies for the promotion of sustainable and productive entrepreneurial activities that will generate income among disadvantaged women and women living in poverty; 12. Encourages Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other actors of civil society to promote and protect the rights of women workers, to take action to remove structural and legal barriers as well as stereotypical attitudes to gender equality at work and to initiate positive steps to promote equal pay for equal work or work of equal value; 13. Urges all Member States to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women with regard to their access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit, giving special attention to poor, uneducated women, and to support women's access to legal assistance; and to encourage the financial sector to mainstream gender perspectives in their policies and programmes; 14. Recognizes the role of microfinance, including microcredit, in the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of women and the generation of employment, notes in this regard the importance of sound national financial systems, and encourages the strengthening of existing and emerging microcredit institutions and their capacities, including through the support of international financial institutions; 15. Urges all Governments to ensure women's equal rights with men and their equal access to all levels of education; 16. Urges Member States to encourage women entrepreneurs, including through education and training of women in business, administration and information and communications technologies, and invites business associations to assist national efforts in this regard; 17. Calls upon Governments to promote, inter alia, through legislation and family-friendly and gender-sensitive work environments, the facilitation of breastfeeding for working mothers and the provision of the necessary care for working women's children and other dependants and to consider promoting policies and programmes, as appropriate, to enable men and women to reconcile their work, social and family responsibilities; 18. Urges Member States to design and revise laws that ensure that women are accorded full and equal rights to own land, housing and other property, including through inheritance, and to undertake administrative reforms and other necessary measures to give women the same right as men to credit, capital and appropriate technologies and access to markets and information; 19. Recognizes the need to empower women economically and politically, particularly poor women, and in this regard encourages Governments, with the support of their development partners, to invest in appropriate infrastructure and other projects, as well as to create opportunities for economic empowerment, in order to alleviate for women and girls the burden of time-consuming everyday tasks; 20. Expresses its concern at the overall expansion and feminization of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and that women and girls bear a disproportionate share of the burden imposed by the HIV/AIDS crisis, that they are more easily infected, that they play a key role in care and that they have become more vulnerable to violence, stigma and discrimination, poverty, and marginalization from their families and communities as a result of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and calls upon Governments and the international community to intensify efforts towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010; 21. Reaffirms the commitment to achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015, as set out at the International Conference on Population and Development,See Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18). integrating this goal into strategies to attain the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. aimed at reducing maternal mortality, improving maternal health, reducing child mortality, promoting gender equality, combating HIV/AIDS and eradicating poverty; 22. Recognizes that a substantial increase in official development assistance and other resources will be required if developing countries are to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals, and that, in order to build support for official development assistance, cooperation will be needed in further improving policies and development strategies, both nationally and internationally, to enhance aid effectiveness; 23. Encourages the international community, the United Nations system, the private sector and civil society to continue to provide the necessary financial resources to assist national Governments in their efforts to meet the development targets and benchmarks agreed upon at the World Summit for Social Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women, the International Conference on Population and Development, the Millennium Summit, the International Conference on Financing for Development, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Second World Assembly on Ageing, the twenty-third and twenty-fourth special sessions of the General Assembly and other relevant United Nations conferences and summits; 24. Urges multilateral donors, and invites international financial institutions, within their respective mandates, and regional development banks to review and implement policies to support national efforts to ensure that a higher proportion of resources reaches women, in particular in rural and remote areas; 25. Stresses the importance of collecting and exchanging all relevant information needed on the role of women in development, including data on international migration, as well as the need to develop statistics disaggregated by age and sex, and in that regard encourages developed countries and relevant entities of the United Nations to provide support and assistance to developing countries, upon their request, with respect to establishing, developing and strengthening their databases and information systems; 26. Calls upon all organizations of the United Nations system, within their organizational mandates, to mainstream a gender perspective and to pursue gender equality in their country programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes and to articulate specific country-level goals and targets in this field in accordance with the national development strategies; 27. Calls upon the United Nations system to integrate gender mainstreaming into all its programmes and policies, including in the integrated follow-up to United Nations conferences, in accordance with agreed conclusions 1997/2 on gender mainstreaming adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1997;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 and addendum (A/52/3/Rev.1 and Rev.1/Add.1), chap. IV, sect. A, para. 4. 28. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution, including on integrating a gender perspective into national development strategies; 29. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the sub-item entitled "Women in development". RESOLUTION 62/207 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/423/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 62/207. Human resources development The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 52/196 of 18 December 1997, 54/211 of 22 December 1999, 56/189 of 21 December 2001, 58/207 of 23 December 2003 and 60/211 of 22 December 2005, Recalling also the World Summit on the Information Society, Stressing that science and technology plays a critical role in facilitating human resources development, which can enhance opportunities for social and economic development, Stressing also that human resources development is key to the efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and to expand opportunities for people, in particular for the most vulnerable groups of the population, Acknowledging the urgent need to bridge the technological gap and to assist developing countries to access the potential benefits of science and technology for human resources development, Recognizing that globalization, connectivity and interdependence have accelerated the pace of technological innovation, which enhances the benefits for countries that develop the skills and knowledge needed to acquire, adapt and diffuse technological innovations, Recognizing also that developing countries often have limited capacity to acquire, adapt and diffuse technological knowledge and innovation, and emphasizing the importance, where appropriate, of financial and technical assistance and resources from the international community and, as relevant, the fostering of international partnerships to enhance private sector technology transfers, Stressing the importance of facilitating increased, cost-effective and equitable access to technological knowledge and learning, including through open trade and investment frameworks, Emphasizing that education in science and technology is fundamental for technological knowledge and innovation, recognizing the benefits to all countries of making this an educational priority, and noting the constraints faced by some developing countries in this regard, Recognizing the importance of science and technology in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women, Stressing the importance of the effective use of science and technology in promoting human resources development in the context of national strategies focused on technological knowledge and learning, assisted by an enabling domestic and international environment, Stressing also that Governments have the primary responsibility for defining and implementing appropriate policies for human resources development and the need for greater support from the international community for the national efforts of developing countries, Stressing further that health and education are at the core of human resources development and the need to ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling and will have equal access to all levels of education, Noting the impact of the movement of highly skilled people and those with an advanced education on human resources development and sustainable development in developing countries, and stressing the need for a global and comprehensive approach to maximize the positive impact of skilled labour mobility on human resources development, Stressing that, while the private sector plays an important role in the diffusion of applied science and technology, Governments have the primary responsibility for defining and implementing a national strategy to promote technological knowledge and learning, with the support of the international community, Emphasizing the continuing need for coordination and collaboration among the organizations of the United Nations system, within their mandates, in assisting developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, in fostering their human resources development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/308 2. Encourages Member States to make technological knowledge and learning a priority of their human resources development strategies at all levels of education, including formal and informal learning, emphasizes the importance of the capacity of educators in the technology learning process, and encourages the international community to continue to facilitate, in view of the difference in level of development between countries, an adequate diffusion of scientific and technical knowledge and transfer of, access to and acquisition of technology for developing countries, under fair, transparent and mutually agreed terms, in a manner conducive to human resources development; 3. Recognizes the importance of human resources development in promoting sustainable development, and encourages Governments to integrate human resources development policies into their national development strategies; 4. Calls for steps to integrate gender perspectives into human resources development, including through policies, strategies and targeted actions aimed at promoting women's capacities and access to productive activities, and in this regard emphasizes the need to ensure the full participation of women in the formulation and implementation of such policies, strategies and actions; 5. Urges the adoption of cross-sectoral approaches to human resources development, which combine, among other factors, economic growth, poverty eradication, the provision of basic social services, sustainable livelihoods, the empowerment of women, the involvement of young people, the needs of vulnerable groups of society and of local indigenous communities, political freedom, popular participation and respect for human rights, justice and equity, all of which are essential for enhancing human capacity in order to meet the challenge of development; 6. Calls upon the international community, including the entities of the United Nations system, to support the efforts of developing countries to address the adverse effects of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases on their human resources; 7. Encourages Member States to build information and communications technologies capacity to promote equitable access to and use of information and communications technologies in order to improve professional competencies and technical skills and to create an enabling environment for lifelong learning, and reiterates the crucial role of the international community in fulfilling its commitments in this regard; 8. Also encourages Member States to expand technical, vocational, craft and utilitarian science education to all sectors of society, especially to women and disadvantaged groups, and to promote their empowerment through the use of information and communications technologies to facilitate more equitable access to training and education on science and technology; 9. Stresses that investment in human resources development should be an integral part of national development policies and strategies, and in this regard calls for the adoption of policies to facilitate investment focused on infrastructure and capacity development, including, inter alia, education, health and science and technology, including information and communications technologies; 10. Also stresses the importance of investments in research and development in all countries, particularly in developing countries, to develop a technological base and create knowledge and innovation relevant to local needs, encourages Governments in this regard, where appropriate, to adopt trade, investment and regulatory regimes that promote private-public investment in research and development, and invites the provision of technical and financial assistance by the international community, including through collaborative research; 11. Further stresses the need to establish strong links between relevant stakeholders in education and industry so as to ensure that educational curricula and programmes meet national science and technological needs, and strongly encourages international support for science and technological education, including higher education in developing countries; 12. Stresses the importance of technical and vocational training in increasing technological learning and innovation and for promoting entrepreneurship for technological development; 13. Encourages partnerships with subregional, regional and international networks and research facilities and other relevant institutions, public and private, to optimize research efforts, facilitate cost-sharing and achieve mutual gains, and requests the United Nations system to assist in this regard; 14. Calls upon the relevant entities of the United Nations system to give priority to the objectives of human resources development through, inter alia, integrating into their development programmes explicit support for building science and technology capacities compatible with local needs, resources, culture and practices; 15. Urges the international community and the United Nations system, including through public-private partnerships, to continue to support the efforts of developing countries in formulating human resources development strategies that promote technological capability; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of human resources development strategies, in particular on lessons learned and the role of the international community and other entities, including the private sector, in assisting these efforts; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session, under the item entitled "Eradication of poverty and other development issues", the sub-item entitled "Human resources development". RESOLUTION 62/208 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/424/Add.2, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/208. Triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/211 of 22 December 1989, 47/199 of 22 December 1992, 50/120 of 20 December 1995, 52/203 of 18 December 1997, 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 53/192 of 15 December 1998, 56/201 of 21 December 2001 and 59/250 of 22 December 2004, Economic and Social Council resolutions 2005/7 of 20 July 2005 and 2006/14 of 26 July 2006 and other relevant resolutions, Reaffirming the importance of the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities, through which the General Assembly establishes key system-wide policy orientations for the development cooperation and country-level modalities of the United Nations system, Reaffirming also the need to strengthen the United Nations with a view to enhancing its authority and efficiency, as well as its capacity to address effectively, and in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the full range of development challenges of our time, Recalling the commitment of Member States to enhance the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and credibility of the United Nations system as a shared goal and interest, Recalling also the need to provide the United Nations system with adequate and timely resources with a view to enabling it to carry out its mandates, Reaffirming the need to ensure, in a coherent and timely manner, the full implementation of all the elements of its resolutions 44/211, 47/199, 50/120, 53/192, 56/201 and 59/250, and the parts of its resolution 52/12 B, relevant to operational activities for development, which should be considered as an integral part of the present resolution, Recalling the role of the Economic and Social Council in providing coordination and guidance to the United Nations system to ensure that those policy orientations are implemented on a system-wide basis in accordance with the present resolution and General Assembly resolutions 48/162 of 20 December 1993, 50/227 of 24 May 1996, 57/270 B of 23 June 2003 and 61/16 of 20 November 2006, Recalling also the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, such as the United Nations Millennium Declaration of 2000,See resolution 55/2. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development of 2002,Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation") of 2002,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. and its resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006 on follow-up to the development outcome of the 2005 World Summit, including the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, Recognizing the vital role played by these conferences and summits in shaping a broad development vision and in identifying commonly agreed objectives, which have contributed to our understanding of and actions to overcome the challenges to improving human life in different parts of the world, Reaffirming that each country must take primary responsibility for its own development and that the role of national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized in the achievement of sustainable development, and recognizing that national efforts should be complemented by supportive global programmes, measures and policies aimed at expanding the development opportunities of developing countries, while taking into account national conditions and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies and sovereignty, Recognizing that the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, offer a framework for planning, reviewing and assessing the activities of the United Nations for development, Recognizing also that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, and reaffirming that development is a central goal in itself and that it constitutes a key element of the overarching framework of the United Nations operational activities for development, Recognizing further that the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, can positively contribute to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and encouraging their further contribution in supporting national development efforts in accordance with national plans and priorities, Recognizing that new technologies, including information and communications technologies, present an opportunity to accelerate development, especially in developing countries, and noting that access to those technologies remains uneven and that a digital divide still prevails, Reiterating the importance of the development of national capacities to eradicate poverty and pursue sustained and equitable economic growth and sustainable development as a central goal of the development cooperation of the United Nations system, Recognizing that current trends in development assistance, including sector-wide approaches and budget support, pose challenges to the United Nations, and stressing that the United Nations can play a role in assisting developing countries to manage these aid modalities, Recognizing also the urgent and specific needs of the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, Recognizing further the special needs of Africa, I Introduction 1. Takes note with appreciation of the reports of the Secretary-General on the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations systemA/62/73-E/2007/52 and A/62/253. and on the comprehensive statistical analysis of the financing of operational activities for development of the United Nations system;A/62/74-E/2007/54 and A/62/326. 2. Notes the advances that the United Nations development system is making in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 59/250, and calls upon the United Nations system to accelerate its full implementation, taking into account the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Reaffirms that the fundamental characteristics of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system should be, inter alia, their universal, voluntary and grant nature, their neutrality and their multilateralism, as well as their ability to respond to the development needs of programme countries in a flexible manner, and that the operational activities are carried out for the benefit of programme countries, at the request of those countries and in accordance with their own policies and priorities for development; 4. Underscores that there is no "one size fits all" approach to development and that development assistance by the United Nations development system should be able to respond to the varying development needs of programme countries and should be in alignment with their national development plans and strategies in accordance with its mandates; 5. Recognizes that the strength of the United Nations operational system lies in its legitimacy, at the country level, as a neutral, objective and trusted partner for both programme countries and donor countries; 6. Stresses that national Governments have the primary responsibility for their countries' development and for coordinating, on the basis of national strategies and priorities, all types of external assistance, including that provided by multilateral organizations, in order to effectively integrate such assistance into their development processes; 7. Emphasizes that the operational activities for development of the United Nations system should be valued and assessed on the basis of their impact on the programme countries as contributions to enhance their capacity to pursue poverty eradication, sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 8. Decides that, with the agreement and consent of the host country, the United Nations development system should assist national Governments in creating an enabling environment in which the links and cooperation between national Governments, the United Nations development system, civil society, national non-governmental organizations and the private sector that are involved in the development process are strengthened, including, as appropriate, during the United Nations Development Assistance Framework preparation process, with a view to seeking new and innovative solutions to development problems in accordance with national policies and priorities; 9. Stresses that the purpose of reform is to make the United Nations development system more efficient and effective in its support to developing countries to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, on the basis of their national development strategies, and stresses also that reform efforts should enhance organizational efficiency and achieve concrete development results; 10. Requests the United Nations development system to continue its efforts to respond to national development plans, policies and priorities, which constitute the only viable frame of reference for programming operational activities at the country level, and to pursue full integration of operational activities for development at the country level with national planning and programming, under the leadership of national Governments, at all stages of the process, while ensuring the full involvement of all relevant stakeholders at the national level; 11. Recognizes that strengthening the role and capacity of the United Nations development system to assist countries in achieving their development goals requires continuing improvement in its effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact, along with a significant increase in resources and an expansion of its resource base on a continuous, more predictable and assured basis; 12. Encourages the Secretary-General, through the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and the United Nations Development Group, as appropriate, to make efforts to enhance the coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations development system; 13. Recognizes that the individual United Nations funds, programmes and agencies have specific experience and expertise, derived from, and in line with, their mandates and strategic plans, and stresses, in this regard, that improvement of coordination and coherence at the country level should be undertaken in a manner that recognizes the respective mandates and roles and enhances the effective utilization of resources and the unique expertise of all United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies; 14. Urges all Member States to pursue full implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and recognizes the positive contribution that these goals can make in providing direction to the operational activities for development of the United Nations system in accordance with national development efforts and priorities; 15. Recognizes that the transition from relief to development represents a complex challenge as regards the universal achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; 16. Also recognizes the importance of consistent, reliable and comprehensive statistical data and analysis about the United Nations operational activities in order to provide an understanding of evolutions and trends contributing to sound policy decisions; II Funding for operational activities of the United Nations development system 17. Acknowledges efforts by developed countries to increase resources for development, including commitments by some developed countries to increase official development assistance, notes with concern the overall decline in official development assistance in 2006, calls for the fulfilment of all official development assistance commitments, including the commitments by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance by 2015 and to reach at least 0.5 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance by 2010, as well as the target of 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent for least developed countries, and urges those developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard in accordance with their commitments; 18. Stresses that core resources, because of their untied nature, continue to be the bedrock of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, in this regard notes with concern that the share of core contributions to United Nations funds and programmes has declined in recent years, and recognizes the need for organizations to address, on a continuous basis, the imbalance between core and non-core resources; 19. Urges donor countries and other countries in a position to do so to substantially increase their voluntary contributions to the core/regular budgets of the United Nations development system, in particular its funds, programmes and specialized agencies, and to contribute on a multi-year basis, in a sustained and predictable manner; 20. Notes that non-core resources represent an important supplement to the regular resource base of the United Nations development system to support operational activities for development, thus contributing to an increase in total resources, while recognizing that non-core resources are not a substitute for core resources and that unearmarked contributions are vital for the coherence and harmonization of the operational activities for development; 21. Also notes, in this regard, that the increased use of restrictively earmarked non-core resources reduces the influence of the governing bodies and can lead to the fragmentation of operational activities for development of the United Nations system and can thus constrain their effectiveness; 22. Recognizes the establishment of thematic trust funds, multi-donor trust funds and other voluntary non-earmarked funding mechanisms linked to organization-specific funding frameworks and strategies established by the respective governing bodies as funding modalities complementary to regular budgets; 23. Requests the United Nations funds and programmes, and urges the specialized agencies to avoid using core/regular resources to cover costs related to the management of extrabudgetary funds and their programme activities; 24. Stresses that the mobilization and management of extrabudgetary resources should not adversely impact the quality of the delivery of the programme of work of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations development system; 25. Notes with concern that, based on assessed contributions, the regular budgets of many specialized agencies have been stagnating, and invites countries to consider increasing their contributions to the budgets of the specialized agencies in order to enable the United Nations development system to respond in a more comprehensive and effective manner to the demands of the United Nations development agenda; 26. Recognizes the urgent and specific needs of low-income countries, in particular the least developed countries, and stresses the need to continue to assist those countries, including through the existing institutions and funding mechanisms of the United Nations development system; 27. Also recognizes that middle-income developing countries still face significant challenges in the area of poverty eradication and that efforts to address those challenges should be supported in order to ensure that achievements made to date are sustained, including through support to the effective development of comprehensive cooperation policies; 28. Requests the Secretary-General, making use of existing capacities within the Secretariat and, if necessary, voluntary contributions: (a) To continue to broaden and improve the coverage, timeliness, reliability, quality and comparability of system-wide financial data, definitions and classifications for the financial reporting of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, in a coherent way; (b) To build a comprehensive, sustainable and consistent financial data and reporting system for the operational activities for development of all the relevant organizations and entities of the United Nations system; (c) To include, in this regard, in the report to be submitted to the Economic and Social Council in 2008 a concise assessment of progress made and a description of planned activities; (d) To invite Member States to contribute to the support of the work mentioned above; 29. Also requests the Secretary-General to undertake, in full consultation with Member States, measures: (a) To promote an adequate and expanding base of development assistance from the United Nations system, taking into account, inter alia, the development priorities of programme countries; (b) To promote the continuation of the upward trend in real contributions to operational activities for development to identify obstacles to the achievement of that goal and to make appropriate recommendations in this regard; (c) To promote the predictability and the multi-year pledging of funding for operational activities for development; (d) To promote an appropriate balance between core and non-core contributions; 30. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a report, pursuant to paragraph 29 above, to the sixty-third session of the General Assembly; 31. Calls upon developed countries to ensure that information on their efforts to increase the volume of official development assistance is made available to the relevant United Nations intergovernmental bodies; 32. Emphasizes that increasing financial contributions to the United Nations development system is key to achieving the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and in this regard recognizes the mutually reinforcing links between increased effectiveness, efficiency and coherence of the United Nations development system, achieving concrete results in assisting developing countries to eradicate poverty and achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development through operational activities for development and the overall resourcing of the United Nations development system; 33. Stresses the importance for the United Nations development system to improve strategic planning, while noting that results-based management, accountability and transparency of the United Nations development system are an integral part of sound management; 34. Emphasizes that funding of operational activities for development of the United Nations system should focus on long-term development challenges based on national development strategies; III Contribution of United Nations operational activities to national capacity development and development effectiveness A. Capacity-building and development 35. Recognizes that capacity development and ownership of national development strategies are essential for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, and calls upon United Nations organizations to provide further support to the efforts of developing countries to establish and/or maintain effective national institutions and to support the implementation and, as necessary, the devising of national strategies for capacity-building; 36. Stresses that capacity development is a core function of the United Nations development system, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States, to take measures to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach by the United Nations development system in its support to capacity development efforts of programme countries; 37. Calls upon the United Nations development system to further support capacity-building and capacity development of developing countries, upon their request, to effectively coordinate and evaluate the impact of external development assistance in line with national development plans and priorities; 38. Requests the United Nations development system to support the development of specific frameworks aimed at enabling programme countries, upon their request, to design, monitor and evaluate results in the development of their capacities to achieve national development goals and strategies; 39. Calls upon United Nations organizations to adopt measures that ensure sustainability in capacity-building activities, and reiterates that the United Nations development system should use, to the fullest extent possible, national execution and available national expertise and technologies as the norm in the implementation of operational activities by focusing on national structures and avoiding, wherever possible, the practice of establishing parallel implementation units outside of national and local institutions; 40. Calls upon the United Nations development system to continue to strengthen national execution bearing in mind the importance of building national capacity, simplifying procedures and aligning them with national procedures; 41. Requests the United Nations development system to strengthen its procurement systems, guided by best practices, and to progressively rely on national systems for procurement; 42. Also requests the United Nations development system, in consultation with Member States, to create and report on a specific, measurable, achievable and time-bound results framework to measure capacity-building initiatives and activities of the United Nations development system in developing countries; 43. Encourages the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations development system to intensify collaboration at the country and regional levels to achieve more effective use of their expertise, resources and actions towards strengthening national capacities, in accordance with national priorities and development plans, including through the common country assessment, when required, and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework; 44. Welcomes efforts and initiatives to enhance the quality of aid and to increase its impact, including the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, and calls for concrete, effective and timely action in implementing all agreed commitments on aid effectiveness, with clear monitoring and deadlines; 45. Stresses that programme countries, in order to meet the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. should have access to new and emerging technologies, which requires technology transfer, technical cooperation and the building and nurturing of scientific and technological capacity to participate in the development and adaptation of these technologies to local conditions, and in this regard urges Member States and the United Nations system to support the promotion and transfer of new and emerging technologies to programme countries; 46. Requests the United Nations development system to strengthen its role in facilitating access of developing countries to new and emerging technologies; 47. Urges all organizations of the United Nations development system to intensify inter-agency sharing of information at the system-wide level on good practices and experiences gained, results achieved, benchmarks and indicators and monitoring and evaluation criteria concerning their capacity-building and capacity development activities; B. South-South cooperation and development of national capacities 48. Reaffirms the increased importance of South-South cooperation, and in this regard encourages the funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other entities of the United Nations system involved to mainstream support to South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation to help developing countries, at their request and with their ownership and leadership, to develop capacities to maximize the benefits and impact of South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation in order to achieve their national goals, with special emphasis on internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 49. Calls upon donors and Member States in a position to do so to strengthen their support for South-South cooperation, including triangular cooperation, especially by mobilizing financial resources on a sustainable basis and by providing technical assistance; 50. Invites all Member States and the United Nations development system to actively participate in the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation; 51. Requests the United Nations development system to intensify its information-sharing and reporting on support to and results achieved through South-South cooperation, including triangular cooperation; 52. Stresses that further efforts are required to better understand the approaches and the potential of South-South cooperation to enhance development effectiveness, including through national capacity development; 53. Also stresses the importance of strengthening the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation within the United Nations Development Programme, and calls upon the United Nations development system to provide the Special Unit with further support to enable it to fulfil its mandate; 54. Welcomes the fact that the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation continues to facilitate the wide diffusion of and access to information relating to experiences, best practices and potential partners in South-South cooperation on the Web of Information for Development, its electronic databank; 55. Invites Member States and the United Nations development system to celebrate the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation in an appropriate manner; C. Gender equality and women's empowerment 56. Reiterates its call upon the organizations of the United Nations development system, within their organizational mandates, to mainstream a gender perspective and to pursue gender equality and the empowerment of women in their country programmes, planning instruments and sector-wide programmes and to articulate specific country-level goals and targets in this field in accordance with national development strategies; 57. Encourages the governing bodies of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to ensure that gender perspectives are integrated into all aspects of their monitoring functions in relation to policies and strategies, medium-term plans, multi-year funding frameworks and operational activities, including those relating to the implementation of the Millennium Declaration and the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields; 58. Takes note of the adoption by the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination of the United Nations system-wide policy on gender equality and the empowerment of women and strategy on gender mainstreaming,CEB/2006/2 and Corr.1, annex. and the efforts made by the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality; 59. Calls upon the United Nations development system to consider the role of men and boys in gender mainstreaming policies; 60. Requests the United Nations development system to further enhance the effectiveness of gender specialist resources, gender focal points and gender theme groups, inter alia, by establishing clear mandates, ensuring adequate training, access to information and to adequate and stable resources and by increasing the support and participation of senior staff; 61. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations development system, within their organizational mandates, to further improve their institutional accountability mechanisms and to include intergovernmentally agreed gender equality results and gender-sensitive indicators in their strategic frameworks; 62. Calls upon the United Nations development system to further improve qualitative and quantitative reporting on gender equality, including gender disaggregated data; 63. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the annual report of resident coordinators includes adequate and concise information on progress on the above; 64. Calls upon the United Nations development system to avail itself of the technical experience of the United Nations Development Fund for Women on gender issues; 65. Urges the organizations of the United Nations development system, in accordance with their respective mandates, to take a coherent and coordinated approach in their work on gender-related issues and to share good practices, tools and methodologies through appropriate means; 66. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations development system to continue efforts to achieve gender balance in appointments within the United Nations system at the central, regional and country levels for positions that affect operational activities for development, including appointments of resident coordinators and other high-level posts, with due regard to representation of women from programme countries, in particular developing countries, and keeping in mind the principle of equitable geographic representation; D. Transition from relief to development 67. Stresses the need for transitional activities to be undertaken under national ownership, and requests the United Nations development system to contribute in this regard to the development of national capacities at all levels to manage the transition process; 68. Recognizes that the United Nations development system has a vital role to play in situations of transition from relief to development; 69. Requests the United Nations development system, upon the request of affected countries, to respond to countries affected by disasters or conflicts in transition from relief to development in support of national priorities, while recognizing the differences in these situations; 70. Also requests the United Nations development system, in responding to countries in transition from relief to development, to tailor support to country-specific needs and to develop approaches in order to effectively provide support for early recovery, in accordance with national strategies, policies and requirements, while assisting in restoring or developing national capacity; 71. Requests the organizations of the United Nations development system to strengthen interdepartmental and inter-agency coordination in order to ensure an integrated, coherent and coordinated approach to assistance at the country level, which takes account of the complexity of challenges that countries in those circumstances face and the country-specific character of those challenges; 72. Also requests the organizations of the United Nations development system to support, at the request of national Governments of countries in transition from relief to development, national capacity-building efforts and to report on their initiatives and activities in annual reporting to their respective governing bodies; 73. Encourages the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions to continue their efforts to improve coordination with regard to the transition from relief to development, including, where relevant, the development of joint responses for post-disaster and post-conflict need assessments, programme planning, implementation and monitoring, including funding mechanisms, to deliver more effective support and to lower transaction costs for countries in the transition from relief to development; 74. Requests the United Nations development system to take measures, in line with guidance provided by Member States, that further strengthen the coherence, relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and timeliness of operational activities of the United Nations development system in countries in transition from relief to development; 75. Notes, in this regard, the need for the United Nations development system to consider ways to improve the effectiveness of its resource mobilization for transition from relief to development; 76. Recognizes, in this regard, the important role that the effective and responsive resident coordinator/humanitarian coordinator systems can play in situations of transition from relief to development; 77. Calls upon the relevant United Nations entities to further increase efforts, where appropriate, with due consideration of national data, to harmonize data collection and information management during the transition phase from relief to development and to make that information available to the Member State concerned; 78. Requests the United Nations development system to build its support capacity for early recovery in situations from relief to development, while noting the role that the United Nations Development Programme can play in this regard; 79. Recognizes that the exchange of expertise and experiences among countries of the South enables countries in situations of transition from relief to development to benefit from the experiences of other developing countries, and encourages the further development of South-South cooperation modalities, including triangular cooperation modalities, in this regard, while recognizing the need to adapt experiences to national contexts; 80. Invites the United Nations development system to take into account in its assistance to countries emerging from conflict that are on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission, the advisory role that the Commission can play in relation to peacebuilding and recovery strategies, with a view to helping countries lay the foundation for their economic and social recovery and development and ensuring national ownership of the peacebuilding process; 81. Urges United Nations agencies and the donor community, in coordination with the national authorities, to begin planning the transition to development and taking measures supportive of that transition, such as institutional and capacity-building measures, from the beginning of the relief phase; 82. Urges all donors and countries in a position to do so to consider more coordinated and flexible approaches to the funding of operational activities for development in situations of transition from relief to development, making use of multiple resource mobilization instruments, and stresses that contributions to humanitarian assistance should not be provided at the expense of development assistance and that sufficient resources for humanitarian assistance should be made available by the international community; 83. Stresses the need for adequate, predictable and timely funding of operational activities for development in countries in situations from relief to development, and calls upon donors and countries in a position to do so to provide timely, predictable and sustained financial contributions for the operational activities of the United Nations system for early recovery and long-term development for countries in transition from relief to development; 84. Requests the resident coordinator system and the United Nations country teams, at the request of national Governments and in coordination with them, to promote the inclusion of prevention strategies in national development plans, bearing in mind the importance of national ownership and capacity-building at all levels; 85. Encourages Member States and relevant United Nations organizations to integrate disaster risk reduction into their respective activities, including measures aimed at restoring and improving services and infrastructure as part of the early recovery and transition phase; IV Improved functioning of the United Nations development system A. Coherence, effectiveness and relevance 86. Underscores that the ownership, leadership and full participation of national authorities in the preparation and development of all planning and programming documents of the United Nations development system, including the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, are key to guaranteeing that they respond to the national development plans and strategies, and requests the United Nations development system to use the Framework and its results matrix, where applicable and with the agreement of the programme country, as the common programming tool for country-level contributions of the funds and programmes towards the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, to be fully endorsed and countersigned by the national authorities; 87. Recalls the potential of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and its results matrix as the collective, coherent and integrated programming and monitoring framework for the operations of the United Nations development system at the country level, bringing increased opportunities for joint initiatives, including joint programming, and urges the United Nations development system to fully utilize such opportunities in the interest of enhancing aid efficiency and aid effectiveness; 88. Emphasizes, in this regard, that planning and programming frameworks of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, including the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, need to be fully aligned with national development planning cycles, whenever possible, and that they should make use of and strengthen national capacities and mechanisms; 89. Underscores the fact that the resident coordinator system is owned by the United Nations development system as a whole, and that its functioning should be participatory, collegial and accountable; 90. Recognizes the central role of resident coordinators in making possible the coordination of United Nations operational activities for development at the country level to improve the effectiveness of their response to the national development priorities of programme countries, including through appropriate resources and accountability; 91. Reaffirms that the resident coordinator system, within the framework of national ownership, has a key role to play in the effective and efficient functioning of the United Nations system at the country level, including in the formulation of the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, and is a key instrument for the efficient and effective coordination of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system; 92. Urges the United Nations development system to provide further financial, technical and organizational support for the resident coordinator system, and requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the members of the United Nations Development Group, to ensure that resident coordinators have the necessary resources to fulfil their role effectively; 93. Notes that coordination activities, while beneficial, represent transaction costs that are borne by both programme countries and the organizations of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to report on an annual basis to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session on the functioning of the resident coordinator system, including costs and benefits; 94. Encourages efforts by the United Nations development system to improve the selection and training process of resident coordinators, and requests the Secretary-General to report on this subject to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session in 2009; 95. Also encourages the use of advanced information and communications technologies, including knowledge management, that will facilitate the contribution of United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, including non-resident agencies, to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and other planning frameworks and mechanisms, as well as overall information-sharing; 96. Underscores that the resident coordinator, supported by the United Nations country team, should report to national authorities on progress made against results agreed in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework; 97. Also underscores the importance of ensuring that the strategic plans of funds and programmes are consistent with and guided by the comprehensive policy review, which establishes the main intergovernmentally agreed parameters of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system; 98. Requests the Secretary-General, in this regard, to report to the General Assembly on the implications of aligning the strategic planning cycles of the United Nations funds and programmes with the comprehensive policy review and to provide recommendations on changing the comprehensive policy review from a three-year to a four-year cycle, in order for the Assembly to make a well-informed decision during its sixty-third session; 99. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations development system in the use of the common country assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the alignment of the Framework cycle with national planning processes and frameworks in an increasing number of countries, and notes the efforts made to improve coherence, coordination and harmonization in the United Nations development system, including at the country level; 100. Invites the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions to explore further ways to enhance cooperation, collaboration and coordination, including through the greater harmonization of strategic frameworks, instruments, modalities and partnership arrangements, in full accordance with the priorities of the recipient Governments, and in this regard emphasizes the importance of ensuring, under the leadership of national authorities, greater consistency between the strategic frameworks developed by the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and the Bretton Woods institutions, while maintaining the institutional integrity and organizational mandates of each organization and the national poverty reduction strategies, including poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist; 101. Emphasizes that programme countries should have access to and benefit from the full range of mandates and resources of the United Nations development system, whereby the national Governments should determine which resident and non-resident United Nations organizations will best respond to specific needs and priorities of the individual country, including in the case of non-resident agencies, through hosting arrangements with resident organizations, as appropriate; 102. Calls upon the Secretary-General to improve the transparency and competitiveness of the recruitment processes for senior high-level posts in the United Nations development system in order to find the best candidates both inside and outside the United Nations system, and in this regard calls upon the chief executives of the United Nations specialized agencies, funds and programmes to fully cooperate with the Secretary-General, through the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, in harmonizing recruitment processes for senior officials by 2009, making the selection criteria transparent and ensuring that, for candidates with equivalent competencies, gender and geographical balance are duly taken into account; 103. Encourages that the United Nations development system be invited to participate, ex officio, in current and new aid modalities and coordination mechanisms, at the request of the programme country, and invites the United Nations development system to enhance its participation in this regard; 104. Requests the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, in the exercise of responsibilities for the management of the resident coordinator system, which continues to be firmly anchored in the United Nations Development Programme: (a) To establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure that the cost of the resident coordinator system does not reduce resources that are destined for development programmes in programme countries; (b) To ensure, where possible, that cost savings, as a result of joint efforts and coordination, will accrue to development programmes; 105. Recalls the mandate of the United Nations Development Programme, within the existing programming arrangement, to appoint country directors to run its core activities, including fund-raising, so as to assure that resident coordinators are fully available for their tasks; B. Regional dimensions 106. Recognizes the contribution of interregional, regional and subregional cooperation to addressing development challenges related to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 107. Encourages, in this regard, the United Nations development system to strengthen collaboration with regional and subregional intergovernmental organizations and regional banks, as appropriate and consistent with their respective mandates; 108. Requests the United Nations regional commissions to further develop their analytical capacities to support country-level development initiatives at the request of the programme countries, and to support measures for more intensive inter-agency collaboration at the regional and subregional levels; 109. Recognizes, in regard to the functioning of the United Nations development system, the importance of aligning regional technical support structures and the regional bureaux to provide support to the United Nations country teams, including enhanced technical, programme and administrative support, increasing their collaboration at the regional level, including through co-location, where appropriate and consistent with the needs of the programme countries of the regions concerned, and identifying appropriate mechanisms at the subregional level, where appropriate and in close consultation with the programme countries concerned, to respond to specific challenges that cannot be adequately responded to at the regional hubs; 110. Requests the funds, programmes and specialized agencies and other entities of the United Nations development system at the regional level and the regional commissions to further strengthen cooperation and coordination among each other at the regional level and with their respective headquarters, inter alia, through closer cooperation within the resident coordinator system and in close consultation with Governments of the countries concerned and, where appropriate, to include the funds, programmes and specialized agencies that are not represented at the regional level; 111. Calls upon the organizations of the United Nations development system, its regional commissions and other regional and subregional entities, as appropriate and consistent with their mandates, to intensify their cooperation and to adopt more collaborative approaches to support country-level development initiatives at the request of recipient countries, in particular through closer collaboration within the resident coordinator system and by improving mechanisms for access to the technical capacities of the United Nations system at the regional and subregional levels; C. Transaction costs and efficiency 112. Requests the executive boards and governing bodies of the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to assess the progress achieved, including costs and benefits, in the area of simplification and harmonization of the United Nations development system at the global, regional and country levels, analyse the potential impacts on development programming and report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session on an annual basis; 113. Calls upon the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to continue to harmonize and simplify their rules and procedures, wherever this can lead to a significant reduction in the administrative and procedural burden on the organizations and national partners, bearing in mind the special circumstances of programme countries, and to enhance the efficiency, accountability and transparency of the United Nations development system; 114. Also calls upon the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to ensure, to the extent possible, that savings resulting from reductions in transaction and overhead costs accrue to development programmes in programme countries; 115. Recognizes that the growth of non-core/supplementary/extrabudgetary funding and of the number of associated projects increases transaction costs and is an important factor that can hinder efforts to maximize efficiency of the United Nations development system; 116. Requests the executive boards of the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to review the issue of cost recovery to ensure that core resources do not subsidize the projects undertaken through non-core/supplementary/ extrabudgetary funding; 117. Requests the United Nations development system to further standardize and harmonize the concepts, practices and cost classifications related to transaction cost and cost recovery, while maintaining the principle of full cost recovery in the administration of all non-core/supplementary/extrabudgetary contributions, including in joint programmes; 118. Encourages the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies, as appropriate and in consultation with programme countries, to further lower transaction costs, to conduct missions, analytical work and evaluations at the country level jointly, to provide their capacity development support through coordinated programmes consistent with the requests of programme countries and national priorities and to promote joint training and sharing of lessons learned; 119. Encourages the United Nations development system to make increased use of national public and private systems for support services, including for procurement, security, information technology, telecommunications, travel and banking, as well as, when appropriate, for planning, reporting and evaluation, and also encourages the United Nations development system to avoid and significantly reduce the number of its parallel project implementation units in programme countries as a means of strengthening national capacities and reducing transaction costs; 120. Encourages the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to step up their efforts, in consultation with national Governments of programme countries and in accordance with their development needs and priorities, to rationalize their country presence through common premises, co-location and, where appropriate, to implement the joint office model and expand common shared support services and business units, in order to reduce United Nations overhead and transaction costs for national Governments; 121. Encourages the continuing development of harmonized approaches such as the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, the standardization of audit definitions and ratings and the harmonized approach to cash transfers, calls upon the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies to further harmonize and simplify their business practices, and recognizes the importance of harmonizing human resources management, enterprise resource planning systems, finance, administration, procurement, security, information technology, telecommunications, travel and banking, and of making use of information and communications technologies to the fullest extent possible in order to reduce travel costs and other recurring communications costs; 122. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session in 2008, a programme of work for the full implementation of the above-mentioned actions, to be completed before the end of 2010, including a specific, measurable, achievable and time-bound results framework, benchmarks, responsibilities and provisions to phase out redundant rules and procedures, as well as a timetable to monitor the progress made towards meeting these targets; D. Country-level capacity of the United Nations development system 123. Reiterates the need for the range and level of skills and expertise assembled by the United Nations system at the country level to be commensurate with that needed to deliver on the priorities specified in each country's United Nations Development Assistance Framework or country programme documents, in line with the national development strategies and plans, including poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist, and to correspond to the technical backstopping and capacity-building needs and requirements of developing countries; 124. Encourages the organizations of the United Nations development system to take all necessary measures in their human resources policies to ensure that United Nations staff involved in operational activities at the country level have the skills and expertise required for effective management, policy advisory and other capacity development work, in line with national development priorities and plans; 125. Stresses the need for the United Nations development system to adopt comprehensive policies and strategies for human resources and workforce planning and development, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report identifying human resources challenges within the development system at the country level and formulating recommendations for improvements; 126. Requests the Secretary-General, through the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to continue and intensify efforts related to inter-agency staff mobility, re-profiling and redeployment of staff, as well as training and skills upgrading, notably at the United Nations System Staff College at Turin, Italy; 127. Underscores the importance of the use of national professional staff and national consultants, wherever feasible and to the advantage of the programme countries; 128. Encourages the United Nations development system to further promote, develop and support knowledge management systems, so that programme countries can avail themselves of knowledge and expertise that is not readily accessible at the country level, including resources readily available at the regional level and from non-resident agencies; E. Evaluation of operational activities for development 129. Emphasizes that programme countries should have greater ownership and leadership in the evaluation of all forms of assistance, including that provided by the United Nations development system, and requests the United Nations development system to pursue and intensify its efforts to strengthen evaluation capacities in programme countries; 130. Notes the endorsement in 2005 of the norms and standards for evaluation by the United Nations system through the United Nations Evaluation Group, constituting a contribution to strengthening evaluation as a United Nations system function; 131. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to assess the effectiveness of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, including, in particular, by assessing the effective use of all capacities available to provide a comprehensive and flexible response to the demand of developing countries for development support, and to report on the results of this assessment in the context of the next comprehensive policy review; 132. Recognizes the need to optimize the linking of evaluation to performance in the achievement of development goals, and encourages the United Nations development system to strengthen its evaluation activities, with particular focus on development results, including through the effective use of the results matrix of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, the systematic use of monitoring and evaluation approaches at the system-wide level and the promotion of collaborative approaches to evaluation, including joint evaluations; 133. Emphasizes the importance of the independence and impartiality of the evaluation function within the United Nations system; 134. Reaffirms that the effectiveness of operational activities should be assessed by their impact on the poverty eradication efforts, economic growth and sustainable development of programme countries; 135. Recalls the need for country-level evaluations of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework at the end of the programming cycle, based on the results matrix of the Framework, with the full participation and leadership of the recipient Government; 136. Requests the United Nations development system to further develop guidance and oversight mechanisms for the funding, planning and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation of United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks, with a view to assessing their contribution to national development and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 137. Encourages all United Nations organizations involved in operational activities for development that have not already done so to adopt, as appropriate, monitoring and evaluation policies that are in line with system-wide norms and standards and to make the necessary financial and institutional arrangements for the creation and/or strengthening of independent, credible and useful evaluation functions within each organization; 138. Encourages the United Nations development system to further strengthen evaluation, with the agreement of the governing bodies of the funds, programmes and agencies, and in this regard encourages the United Nations development system to continue efforts to strengthen evaluation across the system and to promote a culture of evaluation; 139. Notes the voluntary efforts to improve coherence, coordination and harmonization in the United Nations development system, including at the request of some "programme country pilot"; encourages the Secretary-General to support "programme country pilot" countries to evaluate and exchange their experiences, with the support of the United Nations Evaluation Group; and emphasizes, in addition, the need for an independent evaluation of lessons learned from such efforts, for consideration by Member States, without prejudice to a future intergovernmental decision; V Follow-up 140. Reaffirms that the governing bodies of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations development system should take appropriate actions for the full implementation of the present resolution, in line with paragraphs 91 and 92 of resolution 56/201; 141. Requests the Secretary-General, after consultation with the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, to submit a report to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive session of 2008, on an appropriate management process, containing clear guidelines, targets, benchmarks and time frames for the full implementation of the present resolution, that defines results to be achieved through the implementation of the present resolution in a format that will allow for adequate monitoring and evaluation of these results, and interdepartmental and inter-agency measures that need to be set in motion, for the implementation of the present resolution; 142. Also requests the Secretary-General, on the basis of information provided by the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations development system, to submit to the Economic and Social Council, at its substantive sessions of 2009 and 2010, detailed reports on results achieved and measures and processes implemented in follow-up to the present resolution on the triennial comprehensive policy review in order to evaluate the implementation of the resolution, with a view to ensuring its full implementation; 143. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session, through the Economic and Social Council, a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of the present resolution in the context of the triennial comprehensive policy review, inter alia, by making use of relevant documentation, and to make appropriate recommendations. RESOLUTION 62/209 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/424/Add.3, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/209. South-South cooperation The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 33/134 of 19 December 1978, in which it endorsed the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries,Report of the United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, Buenos Aires, 30 August-12 September 1978 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.II.A.11 and corrigendum), chap. I. Recalling its resolutions 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 60/212 of 22 December 2005 and other resolutions relevant to South-South cooperation, Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further its resolution 59/250 of 22 December 2004, in which it, inter alia, urged organizations and bodies of the United Nations system to mainstream, in their programmes and through their country-level activities and country offices, modalities to support South-South cooperation, Recalling its resolution 49/96 of 19 December 1994 on a United Nations conference on South-South cooperation, welcoming the support expressed for the convening of a United Nations conference on South-South cooperation, and recognizing the increased role undertaken by the United Nations to support activities in economic cooperation among developing countries, Taking note of the initiatives contained in the Havana Programme of Action adopted by the first South Summit,A/55/74, annex II. the Marrakesh Framework for the Implementation of South-South CooperationA/58/683, annex II. and the Doha Plan of Action,A/60/111, annex II. 1. Welcomes the report of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation on its fifteenth session and the decisions taken at that session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 39 (A/62/39). 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the state of South-South cooperation;A/62/295. 3. Stresses that South-South cooperation, as an important element of international cooperation for development, offers viable opportunities for developing countries in their individual and collective pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development; 4. Also stresses that South-South cooperation is not a substitute for, but rather a complement to, North-South cooperation; 5. Highlights the fact that, in spite of progress achieved in this area, further efforts are required to better understand the approaches and potential of South-South cooperation to enhance development effectiveness, including through national capacity development; 6. Encourages the international community, including the international financial institutions, to support the efforts of developing countries, inter alia, through triangular cooperation; 7. Encourages the initiatives and arrangements, including public-private mechanisms, undertaken in the efforts to enhance cooperation between developing countries, including, inter alia, in the areas of the fight against poverty and hunger, access to information and communications technologies, science and technology, environment, culture, health, education and human development; 8. Invites the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation and the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme and of the United Nations Population Fund, as appropriate, to consider measures to strengthen further the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation within the United Nations Development Programme as a separate entity and a focal point for South-South cooperation in the United Nations system, so as to enable it to carry out its full responsibilities, in particular through the mobilization of resources for the advancement of South-South cooperation, including through triangular cooperation; 9. Recognizes the need to further assess the progress made by the United Nations development system in its support to South-South cooperation, particularly through the provision of resources for South-South cooperation, and mobilization of technical and financial resources for triangular cooperation, as well as to mainstream South-South cooperation in the work of the United Nations funds and programmes and the specialized agencies in the field; 10. Also recognizes the need to mobilize additional resources for enhancing South-South cooperation, and in this context invites the donor community, including Member States, to contribute generously to the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation and the Pérez-Guerrero Trust Fund for Economic and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, in accordance with its resolution 57/263 of 20 December 2002; 11. Reaffirms that existing regular resources will continue to fund the activities of the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation, and encourages the Special Unit to explore and undertake intensive, innovative and additional resource mobilization initiatives to attract more resources, both financial and in kind, to supplement regular resources and other funds for activities involving South-South cooperation; 12. Encourages all Member States to deepen, intensify and enhance South-South cooperation, including through triangular cooperation, in all its aspects, as a continuing and vital process undertaken to help meet the challenges facing the countries of the South, especially least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and countries in post-conflict and crisis situations; 13. Recognizes the need to strengthen and further invigorate South-South cooperation, in that regard decides to convene a High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries,Report of the United Nations Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, Buenos Aires, 30 August-12 September 1978 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.II.A.11 and corrigendum), chap. I. no later than the first half of 2009, and requests that the President of the General Assembly entrust the President of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation with undertaking the necessary consultations with Member States in order to prepare for the proposed conference, with a view to the Assembly's taking a decision, during its sixty-second session, on the nature, date, objectives and modalities of the conference, making use of the existing coordination mechanisms of the United Nations system; 14. Welcomes the generous offer of the Government of Argentina to host the High-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation; 15. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the sub-item entitled "South-South cooperation for development", and requests the Secretary-General to submit at that session a comprehensive report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/20 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/389, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 178 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel 62/20. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming the will of all States that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes and shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, Reaffirming also the provisions of articles III and IV of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. Recalling the obligation of all States to observe the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the use or threat of use of force in their international relations, including in their space activities, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. in which it is stated that in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this issue, and taking note of the proposals submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session and at its regular sessions, and of the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament, Recognizing that prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Considering that wide participation in the legal regime applicable to outer space could contribute to enhancing its effectiveness, Noting that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment in 1985 and seeking to enhance its functioning in qualitative terms, continued the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.D (para. 5 of the quoted text). and that this contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, Noting also that there were no objections in principle in the Conference on Disarmament to the re-establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, subject to re-examination of the mandate contained in the decision of the Conference on Disarmament of 13 February 1992,CD/1125. Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, and hoping that concrete results will emerge from those efforts as soon as possible, Convinced that further measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Stressing that the growing use of outer space increases the need for greater transparency and better information on the part of the international community, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990, 47/51 of 9 December 1992 and 48/74 A of 16 December 1993, in which, inter alia, it reaffirmed the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Conscious of the benefits of confidence- and security-building measures in the military field, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Ad Hoc Committee and that the concrete proposals on confidence-building measures could form an integral part of such agreements, Noting with satisfaction the constructive, structured and focused debate on the prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament in 2007, 1. Reaffirms the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, in conformity with the provisions of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. 2. Reaffirms its recognition, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, that the legal regime applicable to outer space does not in and of itself guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that the regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race in that environment, that there is a need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and enhance its effectiveness and that it is important to comply strictly with existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to complete the examination and updating of the mandate contained in its decision of 13 February 1992CD/1125. and to establish an ad hoc committee as early as possible during its 2008 session; 7. Recognizes, in this respect, the growing convergence of views on the elaboration of measures designed to strengthen transparency, confidence and security in the peaceful uses of outer space; 8. Urges States conducting activities in outer space, as well as States interested in conducting such activities, to keep the Conference on Disarmament informed of the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations on the matter, if any, so as to facilitate its work; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". RESOLUTION 62/210 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/425, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Rapporteur of the Committee. 62/210. United Nations Institute for Training and Research The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/188 of 16 December 1996, 52/206 of 18 December 1997, 53/195 of 15 December 1998, 54/229 of 22 December 1999, 55/208 of 20 December 2000, 56/208 of 21 December 2001, 57/268 of 20 December 2002, 58/223 of 23 December 2003, 59/252 of 22 December 2004 and 60/213 of 22 December 2005 and its decision 61/542 of 20 December 2006, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/377. Acknowledging the work of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research on the functioning of the Institute, Expressing its deep gratitude for the dedication and commitment, as well as the accomplishments, of Mr. Marcel Boisard, Assistant Secretary-General and, for fifteen years, Executive Director of the Institute, Noting the continued progress made by the Institute in its various programmes and activities, including the strengthened cooperation with other organizations of the United Nations system and with regional and national institutions, Expressing its appreciation to the Governments and private institutions that have made or pledged financial and other contributions to the Institute, Noting that the activities of the Institute have thus far been funded entirely from voluntary contributions, Noting also that, despite the growing need for training and capacity development, voluntary contributions remain at a low level, putting at risk the Institute's core training courses that it delivers to diplomats and delegates accredited to United Nations Headquarters in New York and to the United Nations Offices at Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna, Reiterating that training and capacity-development activities should be accorded a more visible and larger role in support of the management of international affairs and in the execution of the economic and social development programmes of the United Nations system, 1. Notes the strategic reforms introduced by the new Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and endorsed by its Board of Trustees, for the Institute to be a centre of excellence; 2. Reaffirms the importance of a coordinated United Nations system-wide approach to research and training, based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of work among the relevant institutions and bodies; 3. Also reaffirms the relevance of the Institute, in view of the growing importance of training and capacity development within the United Nations and the training requirements of States and local authorities, and the relevance of capacity development-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 4. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other organizations and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training and capacity-development programmes, and in this context underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of those partnerships, in particular at the country level; 5. Requests the Board of Trustees to continue to ensure fair and equitable geographic distribution and transparency in the preparation of the programmes and in the employment of experts, and in this regard stresses that the courses of the Institute should focus primarily on development issues and the management of international affairs; 6. Reiterates the importance of using objective, impartial and scientific course materials, compatible with the objectives and priorities of the United Nations, and expects a better screening of the course materials utilized by the Institute; 7. Urges the Board of Trustees to complete expeditiously the implementation of the remaining recommendation made by the Board of Auditors in respect of the biennium 2002-2003, while appreciating the work done thus far;See A/60/113, annex, sect. IV.G. 8. Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed countries, and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or otherwise to the Institute to give it their generous financial and other support, and urges the States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider resuming them in view of the strategic reforms; 9. Encourages the Board of Trustees to continue its efforts to resolve the financial situation of the Institute, in particular with a view to broadening its donor base, and seeking more predictable and adequate support from Member States for its activities, in particular its core training activities; 10. Decides to streamline the reporting arrangements of the Institute through: (a) Consolidation of the reports of the Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the Institute; (b) Submission of the new consolidated report of the Secretary-General to the Economic and Social Council rather than to the General Assembly; (c) Establishment of a biennial reporting cycle starting from 2009; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2008 a report on the implementation of the present resolution, including details on its financial implications, and the status of contributions to and the financial situation of the Institute. RESOLUTION 62/211 Adopted at the 78th plenary meeting, on 19 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/426, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania and Uruguay. 62/211. Towards global partnerships The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/215 of 21 December 2000, 56/76 of 11 December 2001, 58/129 of 19 December 2003 and 60/215 of 22 December 2005, Reaffirming the vital role of the United Nations, including the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, in the promotion of partnerships in the context of globalization, Underlining the intergovernmental nature of the United Nations, and the central role and responsibility of Governments in national and international policymaking, Reaffirming its resolve to create an environment, at the national and global levels alike, that is conducive to sustainable economic growth, poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability, Taking note of the increasing number of public-private partnerships worldwide, Recalling the objectives formulated in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. notably the Millennium Development Goals, and the reaffirmation they have received in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. particularly in regard to developing partnerships through the provision of greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society in general so as to enable them to contribute to the realization of the goals and programmes of the Organization, in particular in the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty, Recalling also that the 2005 World Summit encouraged the pursuit of responsible business practices, Underlining the fact that cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, including the private sector, shall serve the purposes and principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations, can make concrete contributions to the realization of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, as well as the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits and their reviews, in particular in the area of development and the eradication of poverty, and shall be undertaken in a manner that maintains the integrity, impartiality and independence of the Organization, Underlining also the importance of the contribution of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and civil society to the implementation of the outcomes of United Nations conferences in the economic, social and related fields, Welcoming, in this regard, the participation of civil society and private-sector entities in the multi-stakeholder consultations on financing for development, whose findings were presented at the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development held in New York on 23 and 24 October 2007, Recognizing the need, where appropriate, to enhance the capacity of Member States to participate effectively in partnerships, at all levels, in accordance with national priorities and national legislation, and encouraging international support for such efforts in developing countries, Emphasizing that all relevant partners, including the private sector, can contribute in several ways to addressing the obstacles confronted by developing countries in mobilizing the resources needed to finance their sustainable development and to the realization of the development goals of the United Nations through, inter alia, financial resources, access to technology, management expertise and support for programmes, including through the reduced pricing of drugs, where appropriate, for the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases, Welcoming the efforts and encouraging further efforts by all relevant partners, including the private sector, to engage as reliable and consistent partners in the development process and to take into account not only the economic and financial, but also the developmental, social, human rights, gender and environmental implications of their undertakings and, in general, to accept and to implement corporate social and environmental responsibility, that is, bringing such values and responsibilities to bear on their conduct and policy premised on profit incentives, in conformity with national laws and regulations, Welcoming also the continuous efforts by the Commission on Sustainable Development through its secretariat to promote partnerships for sustainable development, inter alia, through the implementation and expansion of an interactive online database as a platform to provide access to information on partnerships and to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices and through the regular holding of partnership fairs at the sessions of the Commission, Taking note with appreciation of the progress achieved in the work of the United Nations on partnerships, notably in the framework of various United Nations organizations, agencies, funds, programmes, task forces, commissions and initiatives, such as the Global Compact, launched by the Secretary-General, the Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies and DevelopmentA/62/89-E/2007/76, annex. and the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, and welcoming the establishment of a multitude of partnerships at the field level, entered into by various United Nations agencies, non-public partners and Member States, such as the United Nations Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector;A/62/341. 2. Stresses that partnerships are voluntary and collaborative relationships between various parties, both public and non-public, in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and, as mutually agreed, to share risks and responsibilities, resources and benefits; 3. Also stresses the importance of the contribution of voluntary partnerships to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, while reiterating that they are a complement to, but not intended to substitute for, the commitment made by Governments with a view to achieving these goals; 4. Further stresses that partnerships should be consistent with national laws and national development strategies and plans, as well as the priorities of countries where their implementation takes place, bearing in mind the relevant guidance provided by Governments; 5. Recalls that the 2005 World Summit welcomed the positive contributions of the private sector and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, in the promotion and implementation of development and human rights programmes, and also recalls that the 2005 World Summit resolved to enhance the contribution of non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders in national development efforts, as well as in the promotion of the global partnership for development, and encouraged public-private partnerships in the following areas: the generation of new investments and employment, financing for development, health, agriculture, conservation, sustainable use of natural resources and environmental management, energy, forestry and the impact of climate change; 6. Recognizes the role that public-private partnerships can play in efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, also recognizes the need to ensure that their activities conform fully with the principle of national ownership of development strategies, and further recognizes the need for effective accountability and transparency in their implementation; 7. Calls upon the international community to continue to promote multi-stakeholder approaches in addressing the challenges of development in the context of globalization; 8. Encourages the United Nations system to continue to develop, for those partnerships in which it participates, a common and systemic approach, which places greater emphasis on impact, transparency, accountability and sustainability, without imposing undue rigidity in partnership agreements, and with due consideration being given to the following partnership principles: common purpose, transparency, bestowing no unfair advantages upon any partner of the United Nations, mutual benefit and mutual respect, accountability, respect for the modalities of the United Nations, striving for balanced representation of relevant partners from developed and developing countries and countries with economies in transition, sectoral and geographic balance, and not compromising the independence and neutrality of the United Nations; 9. Also encourages the activities of the United Nations Global Compact as an innovative public-private partnership to advance United Nations values and responsible business practices within the United Nations system and among the global business community, including through an increased number of local networks, acknowledges the special management, support, funding structure and position of the Global Compact within the United Nations system, which are specifically designed to reflect the diversity of its stakeholders, notes the activities of the Global Compact Office in this regard, and encourages it to continue its efforts, in particular in continuing to share relevant lessons learned and positive experiences from partnerships; 10. Takes note with interest of the second United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit, held at the United Nations Office at Geneva on 5 and 6 July 2007, and of the partnerships launched; 11. Acknowledges the ongoing work of the United Nations on partnerships, notably in the framework of various United Nations organizations, agencies, funds, programmes, task forces and commissions, within their respective mandates, and in this regard encourages the provision of adequate training, as appropriate; 12. Encourages the relevant United Nations organizations and agencies to share relevant lessons learned and positive experiences from partnerships, including with the business community, as a contribution to the development of more effective United Nations partnerships; 13. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Secretary-General to enhance partnership management through the promotion of adequate training at all concerned levels, institutional capacity in country offices, strategic focus and local ownership, the sharing of best practices, the improvement of partner selection processes and the streamlining of United Nations guidelines for partnerships between the United Nations and all relevant partners, including the private sector, and requests that such activities be continued, as appropriate; 14. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States, to promote, within existing resources, impact-assessment mechanisms of partnerships, taking into account best tools available, in order to enable effective management, ensure accountability and facilitate effective learning from both successes and failures; 15. Welcomes innovative approaches to use partnerships as a means to better implement goals and programmes, in particular in support of the pursuit of development and the eradication of poverty, and encourages relevant United Nations bodies and agencies and invites the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization to further explore such possibilities, bearing in mind their different mandates, modes of operation and objectives, as well as the particular roles of the non-public partners involved; 16. Recommends, in this context, that partnerships should also foster the elimination of all forms of discrimination, including on gender grounds, in respect of employment and occupation; 17. Reiterates its call upon: (a) All bodies within the United Nations system that engage in partnerships to ensure the integrity and independence of the Organization and to include information on partnerships in their regular reporting, as appropriate, on their websites and through other means; (b) Partners to provide to and exchange relevant information with Governments, other stakeholders and the relevant United Nations agencies and bodies and other international organizations with which they engage, in an appropriate way, including through reports, with particular attention to the importance of sharing among partnerships information on their practical experience; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/212 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Credentials Committee (A/62/596) 62/212. Report of the Credentials Committee The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Credentials CommitteeA/62/596. and the recommendation contained therein, Approves the report of the Credentials Committee. RESOLUTION 62/213 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.35/Rev.1, sponsored by: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zimbabwe 62/213. The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 55/48 of 29 November 2000 and 57/12 of 14 November 2002 on the role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order, Acknowledging that peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of the United Nations system and the foundations for collective security and well-being and that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, Reaffirming that development is a central goal by itself and that sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental aspects constitutes a key element of the overarching framework of United Nations activities, Recognizing that the well-being of people and the full development of their potential is pivotal to sustainable development, and convinced of the urgency of international cooperation towards that end, Deeply concerned about the disparities between rich and poor, both within and among countries, and about the adverse implications of these disparities for the promotion of human development throughout the world, Encouraged by reductions in poverty in some countries in the recent past, and determined to reinforce and extend this trend to benefit people worldwide, Recognizing the action already under way by all Member States, the United Nations system and other international, regional and national forums and organizations and the progress made to implement the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing also that the achievement of many of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in many countries is currently off track, and emphasizing that vigorous implementation of all development commitments will be needed without delay if the Goals are to be achieved, 1. Stresses the need for a broad-based consensus for action within a comprehensive and holistic framework towards the achievement of the goals of development and poverty eradication involving all actors, namely Governments, the United Nations system and other international organizations and relevant actors of civil society, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations; 2. Notes with interest the proposal regarding a new global human order; 3. Recognizes that the increased pace of globalization and growing interdependence have heightened the importance of international cooperation and multilateralism in meeting global challenges and solving common problems, including those that have arisen from the uneven impact of globalization on development and human well-being; 4. Underlines the need to foster national and international conditions conducive to the promotion of human well-being and the full realization of human potential, and in this regard urges countries to develop and adopt national strategies to achieve their national development priorities as well as the internationally agreed goals and objectives, including the Millennium Development Goals; 5. Reaffirms the commitment to sound policies, good governance at all levels and the rule of law, to mobilizing domestic resources, attracting international flows, assuring long-term investment in human capital and infrastructure, promoting international trade as an engine for economic growth and development and increasing international financial and technical cooperation for development, sustainable debt financing and external debt relief and to enhancing the coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems; 6. Recognizes that inequality within and among countries is a concern for all countries regardless of their level of development and that it represents a growing challenge with multiple implications for the realization of economic and social potential and the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to include in that report an assessment of the implications of inequality for development; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session the item entitled "The role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order". RESOLUTION 62/214 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 21 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of the report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (A/62/595) 62/214. United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which are indispensable for a more peaceful, prosperous and just world, and for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, Deeply concerned by and strongly condemning all acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by United Nations staff and related personnel, Reiterating its support to the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and recalling all relevant United Nations standards of conduct and regulations, including the Secretary-General's bulletin on the special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse,ST/SGB/2003/13. Also reiterating its support for the implementation of a comprehensive approach throughout the United Nations system to assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff and related personnel, which should be provided in an appropriate and reliable manner, Recalling the letter dated 24 March 2005 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly, which contains the report of the special adviser entitled "A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations",A/59/710. Recalling also that, in the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1, para. 165. the Secretary-General was requested to submit proposals to the General Assembly leading to a comprehensive approach to victims' assistance, Recalling further its resolutions 59/281 of 29 March 2005, 59/300 of 22 June 2005, 60/263 of 6 June 2006 and 61/291 of 24 July 2007, Taking note with appreciation of the letter dated 25 May 2006 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly,A/60/877. which contains a draft United Nations policy statement and a draft United Nations comprehensive strategy on assistance and support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff and related personnel, Mindful of the importance of assisting victims of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by United Nations staff and related personnel, 1. Adopts the United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel ("the Strategy"), annexed to the present resolution; 2. Calls upon relevant organizations of the United Nations system, and invites specialized agencies, to engage in an active and coordinated manner in the implementation of the Strategy, with the support of civil society, as appropriate, working closely with Member States; 3. Decides to examine, in two years, progress made in the implementation of the Strategy under the agenda item entitled "Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit"; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the Strategy and to submit a detailed report in this regard to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session, including lessons learned, best practices and recommendations. Annex United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel Purpose 1. The purpose of the Strategy is to ensure that victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff and related personnel receive appropriate assistance and support in a timely manner. It is imperative that the Organization respond quickly and effectively when sexual exploitation and abuse occur. 2. The Strategy also enables the United Nations system to facilitate, coordinate and provide, as appropriate, assistance and support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff and related personnel. 3. The Strategy shall in no way diminish or replace the individual responsibility for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse, which rests with the perpetrators. The Strategy is not intended as means for compensation. Scope of application 4. The Strategy should be implemented to assist and support complainants, victims and children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff and related personnel in a manner appropriate to the relevant circumstances of each location with due respect to host country legislation. Definitions 5. The following definitions are provided here to clarify the terms used in the Strategy: (a) Sexual abuse: The actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions; (b) Sexual exploitation: The actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another; (c) Complainants: Persons who allege, in accordance with established procedures, that they have been, or are alleged to have been, sexually exploited or abused by United Nations staff or related personnel, but whose claim has not yet been established through a United Nations administrative process or Member States' processes, as appropriate; (d) Victims: Persons whose claims that they have been sexually exploited or abused by United Nations staff or related personnel have been established through a United Nations administrative process or Member States' processes, as appropriate; (e) Children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse: Children who are found by a competent national authority to have been born as a result of acts of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff or related personnel; (f) United Nations staff and related personnel: United Nations staff members, consultants, individual contractors, United Nations Volunteers, experts on mission and contingent members; (g) Implementing partners: Entities or organizations that operate at country level, in accordance with established host country and United Nations procedures, to facilitate and provide the services outlined in the Strategy. Victim Support Facilitators are those selected implementing partners requested by the United Nations to facilitate the delivery of assistance and support to complainants, victims and children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse. Assistance and support 6. Complainants should receive basic assistance and support in accordance with their individual needs directly arising from the alleged sexual exploitation and abuse. This assistance and support will comprise medical care, legal services, support to deal with the psychological and social effects of the experience and immediate material care, such as food, clothing, emergency and safe shelter, as necessary. 7. Further to basic assistance, victims should receive additional assistance and support in accordance with their individual needs directly arising from sexual exploitation and abuse. This assistance and support will comprise medical care, legal services, support to deal with the psychological and social effects of the experience and immediate material care, as necessary. 8. Children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse should receive, in accordance with their individual needs, assistance and support addressing the medical, legal, psychological and social consequences directly arising from sexual exploitation and abuse, in the best interests of the child. The United Nations should also work with Member States to facilitate, within their competence, the pursuit of claims related to paternity and child support. Provision of assistance and support 9. All assistance and support should be provided in a manner that does not increase the trauma suffered by the complainants, victims and children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse, cause further stigmatization or exclude or discriminate against other victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. 10. Assistance and support should be provided through existing services, programmes and their networks. However, where necessary, the United Nations should consider supporting the development of new services, while not developing duplicative structures. 11. A United Nations focal point will be identified to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Strategy to ensure that the process of referring complainants, victims and children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse is simple, safe and respects the need for confidentiality, dignity and non-discrimination. 12. The United Nations should identify implementing partners to provide the services outlined in the present Strategy, and to act as Victim Support Facilitators, as necessary. 13. The duration of the provision of assistance and support should be set in accordance with individual needs directly arising from sexual exploitation and abuse. 14. The provision of any assistance and support by the United Nations in every case of complainants, victims and children born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse is not an acknowledgement of the validity of the claims or an indication of acceptance of responsibility by the alleged perpetrator. RESOLUTION 62/215 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, by a recorded vote of 146 to 2, with 3 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.27 and Add.1, sponsored by: Australia, Austria, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Philippines, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Benin, Turkey Abstaining: Colombia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 62/215. Oceans and the law of the sea The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/28 of 6 December 1994, 52/26 of 26 November 1997, 54/33 of 24 November 1999, 57/141 of 12 December 2002, 58/240 of 23 December 2003, 59/24 of 17 November 2004, 60/30 of 29 November 2005, 61/222 of 20 December 2006 and other relevant resolutions concerning the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("the Convention"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/66. the addendum thereto,A/62/66/Add.1. the report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction ("the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group")A/61/65. and also the reports on the work of the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea ("the Consultative Process") at its eighth meetingA/62/169. and on the seventeenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention,SPLOS/164 and Corr.1. Noting with satisfaction the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Convention, and emphasizing the pre-eminent contribution provided by the Convention to the strengthening of peace, security, cooperation and friendly relations among all nations in conformity with the principles of justice and equal rights and to the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples of the world, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as for the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Emphasizing the universal and unified character of the Convention, and reaffirming that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, as recognized also by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in chapter 17 of Agenda 21,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex II. Recognizing the important contribution of sustainable development and management of the resources and uses of the oceans and seas to the achievement of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, and reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at the national, regional and global levels, in accordance with the Convention, to support and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention, and the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Reiterating the essential need for cooperation, including through capacity-building and transfer of marine technology, to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their resources, Recalling that marine science is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world's marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, by improving knowledge, through sustained research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, Recalling also its decision, in resolutions 57/141 and 58/240, to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, as recommended by theWorld Summit on Sustainable Development,See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end, Reiterating its concern at the adverse impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including corals, of human activities, such as overutilization of living marine resources, the use of destructive practices, physical impacts by ships, the introduction of invasive alien species and marine pollution from all sources, including from land-based sources and vessels, in particular through the illegal discharge of oil and other harmful substances, the loss or release of fishing gear and the dumping of hazardous waste such as radioactive materials, nuclear waste and dangerous chemicals, Expressing its serious concern over the current and projected adverse effects of anthropogenic and natural climate change on the marine environment and marine biodiversity, Expressing its deep concern over the vulnerability of the environment and the fragile ecosystems of the polar regions, including the Arctic Ocean and the Arctic ice cap, particularly affected by the projected adverse effects of climate change, Encouraging States to continue to contribute to the specific efforts deployed within the framework of the International Polar Year with the goal of enhancing the knowledge of the polar regions by strengthening scientific cooperation, Recognizing that there is a need for a more integrated approach and to further study and promote measures for enhanced cooperation and coordination relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, Recognizing also that the realization of the benefits of the Convention could be enhanced by international cooperation, technical assistance and advanced scientific knowledge, as well as by funding and capacity-building, Recognizing further that hydrographic surveys and nautical charting are critical to the safety of navigation and life at sea, environmental protection, including the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and the economics of the global shipping industry, and recognizing in this regard that the move towards electronic charting not only provides significantly increased benefits for safe navigation and management of ship movement, but also provides data and information that can be used for sustainable fisheries activities and other sectoral uses of the marine environment, the delimitation of maritime boundaries and environmental protection, Noting with concern the continuing problem of transnational organized crime and threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, and noting the deplorable loss of life and adverse impact on international trade, energy security and the global economy resulting from such activities, Noting the importance of the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and that it is in the broader interest of the international community that States with a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles submit information on the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ("the Commission"), and noting in this regard that some States have already made submissions to the Commission, Noting also that some States may face particular challenges in relation to preparing submissions to the Commission, Noting further that financial and technical assistance may be sought by developing countries for activities in relation to preparing submissions to the Commission, including through the voluntary trust fund established by resolution 55/7 of 30 October 2000 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission for developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, and compliance with article 76 of the Convention, as well as other accessible international assistance, Recognizing the important role for developing countries of the trust funds established by resolution 55/7 for the activities of the Commission, and noting with appreciation the recent contributions made to them, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the Commission for coastal States and the international community as a whole, Noting the important role of the Commission in assisting States parties in the implementation of Part VI of the Convention, through the examination of information submitted by coastal States regarding the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, and acknowledging in this regard the anticipated workload of the Commission owing to an increasing number of submissions, placing additional demands on its members and on the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat ("the Division"), and the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions under the Convention effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise, Recognizing the importance and the contribution of the work over the past eight years of the Consultative Process established by resolution 54/33 to facilitate the annual review of developments in ocean affairs by the General Assembly and extended by resolutions 57/141 and 60/30, Noting the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the Convention and related resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and in this context the increase in activities of the Division, in particular in view of the growing number of requests to the Division for additional outputs and servicing of meetings, the increasing capacity-building activities, the need for enhanced support and assistance to the Commission and the role of the Division in inter-agency coordination and cooperation, Emphasizing that underwater archaeological, cultural and historical heritage, including shipwrecks and watercrafts, holds essential information on the history of humankind and that such heritage is a resource that needs to be protected and preserved, Reaffirming the importance of the work of the International Seabed Authority ("the Authority") in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 ("the Agreement"),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364. Reaffirming also the importance of the work of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ("the Tribunal") in accordance with the Convention, I Implementation of the Convention and related agreements and instruments 1. Reaffirms its resolutions 49/28, 52/26, 54/33, 57/141, 58/240, 59/24, 60/30, 61/222 and other relevant resolutions concerning the Convention;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 2. Also reaffirms the unified character of the Convention and the vital importance of preserving its integrity; 3. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention and the Agreement;United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1836, No. 31364. 4. Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal of universal participation, to become parties to the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks ("the Fish Stocks Agreement");Ibid., vol. 2167, No. 37924. 5. Calls upon States to harmonize, as a matter of priority, their national legislation with the provisions of the Convention and, where applicable, relevant agreements and instruments, to ensure the consistent application of those provisions and to ensure also that any declarations or statements that they have made or make when signing, ratifying or acceding to the Convention do not purport to exclude or to modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State concerned and to withdraw any such declarations or statements; 6. Calls upon States parties to the Convention to deposit with the Secretary-General charts or lists of geographical coordinates, as provided for in the Convention; 7. Urges all States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in taking measures to protect and preserve objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea, in conformity with the Convention, and calls upon States to work together on such diverse challenges and opportunities as the appropriate relationship between salvage law and scientific management and conservation of underwater cultural heritage, increasing technological abilities to discover and reach underwater sites, looting and growing underwater tourism; 8. Notes the effort made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization with respect to the preservation of underwater cultural heritage, and notes in particular the rules annexed to the 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural HeritageUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October-3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum: Resolutions, resolution 24, annex. that address the relationship between salvage law and scientific principles of management, conservation and protection of underwater cultural heritage among parties, their nationals and vessels flying their flag; 9. Welcomes the decision taken by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its thirty-fourth session to increase the resources available for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission for the next biennium,Ibid., Thirty-fourth Session, Paris, 16 October-2 November 2007, vol. 1: Resolutions, resolution 93. which will enable that Commission to increase its activities on an incremental basis and strengthen its capacity within the framework of the Organization; II Capacity-building 10. Calls upon donor agencies and international financial institutions to keep their programmes systematically under review to ensure the availability in all States, particularly in developing States, of the economic, legal, navigational, scientific and technical skills necessary for the full implementation of the Convention and the objectives of the present resolution, as well as the sustainable development of the oceans and seas nationally, regionally and globally, and in so doing to bear in mind the interests and needs of landlocked developing States; 11. Encourages intensified efforts to build capacity for developing countries, in particular for the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to improve hydrographic services and the production of nautical charts, including electronic charts, as well as the mobilization of resources and building of capacity with support from international financial institutions and the donor community; 12. Calls upon States and international financial institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and technical partnerships, to continue to strengthen capacity-building activities, in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research by, inter alia, training personnel to develop and enhance relevant expertise, providing the necessary equipment, facilities and vessels and transferring environmentally sound technologies; 13. Also calls upon States and international financial institutions, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and technical partnerships, to strengthen capacity-building activities in developing countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, to develop their maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to promote effective compliance with, and implementation and enforcement of, their responsibilities under international law; 14. Recognizes the need to build the capacity of developing States to raise awareness of, and support implementation of, improved waste management practices, noting the particular vulnerability of small island developing States to the impact of marine pollution from land-based sources and marine debris; 15. Also recognizes the importance of assisting developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, in implementing the Convention, and urges States, intergovernmental organizations and agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations and international financial institutions, as well as natural and juridical persons, to make voluntary financial or other contributions to the trust funds, as referred to in resolution 57/141, established for this purpose; 16. Encourages States to use the Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, adopted by the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,See Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, document IOC/INF-1203. and recalls the important role of the secretariat of that Commission in the implementation and promotion of the Criteria and Guidelines; 17. Calls upon States to assist developing States, and especially the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, at the bilateral and, where appropriate, multilateral level, in the preparation of submissions to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, including the assessment of the nature and extent of the continental shelf of a coastal State through a desktop study, and the delineation of the outer limits of its continental shelf; 18. Calls upon the Division to actively disseminate information on relevant procedures related to the trust fund established for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission and to continue its dialogue with potential beneficiaries with a view to providing financial support to developing countries for activities to facilitate timely submissions to the Commission, and welcomes in this regard the recent adoption of a new procedure to facilitate the access of developing countries to the trust fund; 19. Notes with appreciation the successful conduct by the Division of regional training courses in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean and the commencement of subregional workshops by the Division, most recently in Brunei Darussalam from 12 to 16 February 2007 and South Africa from 13 to 17 August 2007, the purpose of which was to train technical staff of coastal developing States in the delineation of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and in the preparation of submissions to the Commission, and requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with States and relevant international organizations and institutions, to continue making such training courses available; 20. Also notes with appreciation the development by the Division, in cooperation with other partners under the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme, of a training course on the development, implementation and management of marine protected areas and the successful delivery of the first regional training course, in Honiara from 15 to 20 January 2007; 21. Further notes with appreciation the regional workshops of the Tribunal, held in Libreville on 26 and 27 March 2007, Kingston from 16 to 18 April 2007 and Singapore from 29 to 31 May 2007, on the role of the Tribunal in the settlement of disputes relating to the law of the sea; 22. Invites Member States and others in a position to do so to support the capacity-building activities of the Division, including, in particular, the training activities to assist developing States in the preparation of their submissions to the Commission, and invites Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the trust fund established by the Secretary-General for the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat to support the promotion of international law; 23. Recognizes the importance of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, advises the Secretary-General to continue to finance the Fellowship from resources made available through an appropriate Office of Legal Affairs trust fund, and urges Member States and others in a position to do so to contribute to the further development of the Fellowship; 24. Takes note with satisfaction of the ongoing implementation of the United Nations and the Nippon Foundation Fellowship Programme, focusing on human resources development for developing coastal States parties and non-parties to the Convention in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea or related disciplines; III Meeting of States Parties 25. Welcomes the report of the seventeenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;SPLOS/164 and Corr.1. 26. Requests the Secretary-General to convene a special Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, in New York on 30 January 2008, to fill a vacancy that has occurred following the resignation of one of the members of the Tribunal and to convene the eighteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, in New York from 13 to 20 June 2008, and to provide the services required; 27. Calls upon States parties to transmit to the Secretariat the credentials of representatives attending the Meetings as far in advance as is practicable, and no later than 29 January and 12 June 2008, respectively; IV Peaceful settlement of disputes 28. Notes with satisfaction the continued and significant contribution of the Tribunal to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with Part XV of the Convention, and underlines the important role and authority of the Tribunal concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement; 29. Welcomes, in this regard, the establishment by the Tribunal of the Chamber for Maritime Delimitation Disputes; 30. Equally pays tribute to the important and long-standing role of the International Court of Justice with regard to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea; 31. Notes that States parties to an international agreement related to the purposes of the Convention may submit to, inter alia, the Tribunal or the International Court of Justice any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of that agreement submitted in accordance with that agreement, and notes also the possibility, provided for in the statutes of the Tribunal and the Court, to submit disputes to a chamber; 32. Encourages States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to consider making a written declaration choosing from the means set out in article 287 of the Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention and the Agreement, bearing in mind the comprehensive character of the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in Part XV of the Convention; V The Area 33. Notes the progress of the discussions on issues relating to the regulations for prospecting and exploration for polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts in the Area, and reiterates the importance of the ongoing elaboration by the Authority, pursuant to article 145 of the Convention, of rules, regulations and procedures to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the Area and the prevention of damage to its flora and fauna from harmful effects that may arise from activities in the Area; 34. Also notes the importance of the responsibilities entrusted to the Authority by articles 143 and 145 of the Convention, which refer to marine scientific research and protection of the marine environment, respectively; VI Effective functioning of the Authority and the Tribunal 35. Appeals to all States parties to the Convention to pay their assessed contributions to the Authority and to the Tribunal in full and on time, and also appeals to States parties in arrears with their contributions to fulfil their obligations without delay; 36. Urges all States parties to the Convention to attend the sessions of the Authority, and calls upon the Authority to continue to pursue all options, including making concrete recommendations on the issue of dates, in order to improve attendance in Kingston and to ensure global participation; 37. Calls upon States that have not done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the TribunalUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2167, No. 37925. and to the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the Authority;Ibid., vol. 2214, No. 39357. 38. Emphasizes the importance of the Tribunal's rules and staff regulations promoting the recruitment of a geographically representative staff in the Professional and higher categories, and welcomes the actions taken by the Tribunal in observance of those rules and regulations, as reported by its President to the seventeenth Meeting of States Parties;SPLOS/164 and Corr.1, para. 22. VII The continental shelf and the work of the Commission 39. Encourages States parties to the Convention that are in a position to do so to make every effort to submit information to the Commission regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, in conformity with article 76 of the Convention and article 4 of annex II to the Convention, taking into account the decision of the eleventh Meeting of States Parties to the ConventionSPLOS/72. and noting discussion of this issue at the seventeenth Meeting of States Parties;SPLOS/164 and Corr.1, paras. 56-78. 40. Notes with satisfaction the progress in the work of the Commission,See CLCS/54 and CLCS/56. that it is giving current consideration to a number of submissions that have been made regarding the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and that a number of States have advised of their intention to make submissions in the near future; 41. Notes that the anticipated heavy workload of the Commission, owing to an increasing number of submissions, places additional demands on its members and the Division, and in that regard emphasizes the need to ensure that the Commission can perform its functions efficiently and effectively and maintain its high level of quality and expertise; 42. Takes note of the decision of the Commission to maintain, to the extent possible given the term of office of the members of the Commission, continuity in the composition of subcommissions throughout the consideration of a submission;See CLCS/56, paras. 12-14. 43. Also takes note of the decision of the seventeenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to continue to address, as a matter of priority, issues related to the workload of the Commission, including funding for its members attending the sessions of the Commission and the meetings of the subcommissions;See SPLOS/162. 44. Calls upon States whose experts are serving on the Commission to do their utmost to ensure the full participation of those experts in the work of the Commission, including the meetings of subcommissions, in accordance with the Convention; 45. Takes note with concern of the information provided by the Division regarding the inadequacies in the current level of staffing as well as the hardware and software available to it which are required to support the Commission in the fulfilment of its functions, as reflected in paragraph 69 of the report of the seventeenth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention;See SPLOS/164 and Corr.1. 46. Endorses, in this regard, the request by the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention to the Secretary-General to take timely measures, before the twenty-first session of the Commission, to strengthen the capacity of the Division, serving as the secretariat of the Commission, within overall existing resource levels, in order to ensure enhanced support and assistance to the Commission and its subcommissions, in their consideration of submissions,SPLOS/162, para. 6. as required by paragraph 9 of annex III to the rules of procedure of the Commission;CLCS/40. 47. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary actions to ensure that the Commission can fulfil the functions entrusted to it under the Convention; 48. Encourages States to make additional contributions to the voluntary trust fund established by resolution 55/7 for the purpose of facilitating the preparation of submissions to the Commission and to the voluntary trust fund also established by that resolution for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Commission from developing States in the meetings of the Commission; 49. Approves the convening by the Secretary-General of the twenty-first and twenty-second sessions of the Commission, in New York, from 17 March to 18 April 2008 and from 11 August to 12 September 2008, respectively, on the understanding that the following periods will be used for the technical examination of submissions at the Geographic Information System laboratories and other technical facilities of the Division: 17 to 28 March 2008; 14 to 18 April 2008; 11 to 15 August 2008; and 2 to 12 September 2008; 50. Expresses its firm conviction about the importance of the work of the Commission, carried out in accordance with the Convention, including with respect to the participation of the coastal State in relevant proceedings concerning its submission, and recognizes the continued need for active interaction between submitting States and the Commission; 51. Encourages States to continue exchanging views in order to increase understanding of issues, including expenditures involved, arising from the application of article 76 of the Convention, thus facilitating preparation of submissions by States, in particular developing States, to the Commission; 52. Requests the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the Member States, to continue supporting and organizing workshops or symposiums on scientific and technical aspects of the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, taking into account the need to strengthen capacity-building for developing countries in preparing their submissions; VIII Maritime safety and security and flag State implementation 53. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the safety and security of navigation, as well as maritime labour, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention, aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 54. Welcomes the adoption of the Work in Fishing Convention (No. 188) and the related Recommendation (No. 199), 2007 by the International Labour Conference on 14 June 2007, and encourages States to become parties to that Convention; 55. Also welcomes the continuing review by the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization of Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident,Adopted by the International Maritime Organization Legal Committee on 27 April 2006 as resolution LEG.3(91), and by the International Labour Organization Governing Body on 12 June 2006, at its 296th session. and notes the decision of the International Maritime Organization to continue to monitor the implementation of the Guidelines; 56. Calls upon States to consider becoming members of the International Hydrographic Organization, and urges all States to work with that Organization to increase the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis to enhance capacity-building and technical assistance and to promote safe navigation, especially in areas used for international navigation, ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas; 57. Encourages States to draw up plans and to establish procedures to implement the Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance;International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.949(23). 58. Notes the progress in the implementation of the Action Plan for the Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material, approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in March 2004,Available from www-ns.iaea.org. and encourages States concerned to continue their efforts in the implementation of all areas of the Action Plan; 59. Also notes that cessation of the transport of radioactive materials through the regions of small island developing States is an ultimate desired goal of small island developing States and some other countries, and recognizes the right of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law; that States should maintain dialogue and consultation, in particular under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of improved mutual understanding, confidence-building and enhanced communication in relation to the safe maritime transport of radioactive materials; that States involved in the transport of such materials are urged to continue to engage in dialogue with small island developing States and other States to address their concerns; and that these concerns include the further development and strengthening, within the appropriate forums, of international regulatory regimes to enhance safety, disclosure, liability, security and compensation in relation to such transport;Resolution 60/1, para. 56 (o). 60. Further notes the decision taken at the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, aimed at reinforcing cooperation with the International Maritime Organization on regulations on the prevention of pollution from ships;UNEP/CHW.8/16, annex I, decision VIII/9. 61. Encourages States to cooperate to address threats to maritime safety and security, including piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling and terrorist acts against shipping, offshore installations and other maritime interests, through bilateral and multilateral instruments and mechanisms aimed at monitoring, preventing and responding to such threats; 62. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to actively combat piracy and armed robbery at sea by adopting measures, including those relating to assistance with capacity-building through training of seafarers, port staff and enforcement personnel in the prevention, reporting and investigation of incidents, bringing the alleged perpetrators to justice, in accordance with international law, and by adopting national legislation, as well as providing enforcement vessels and equipment and guarding against fraudulent ship registration; 63. Welcomes the significant decrease in the number of attacks by pirates and armed robbers in the Asian region through increased national action and regional cooperation; 64. Expresses deep concern about the continuous violent attacks on ships off the coast of Somalia, and welcomes the initiatives supported by the International Maritime Organization and the World Food Programme to strengthen cooperation among States to protect ships, in particular those transporting humanitarian aid, from acts of piracy and armed robbery in that region; 65. Notes the adoption of resolution A.1002(25) on 29 November 2007 by the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia, and encourages States to ensure its full implementation; 66. Also notes the initiatives taken by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, following up on resolution A.979(24) adopted by the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization on 23 November 2005, to engage the international community in efforts to combat acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships sailing the waters off the coast of Somalia; 67. Calls upon States to become parties to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1678, No. 29004. invites States to consider becoming parties to the 2005 Protocols amending those instruments,International Maritime Organization, documents LEG/CONF.15/21 and 22. and also urges States parties to take appropriate measures to ensure the effective implementation of those instruments, through the adoption of legislation, where appropriate; 68. Also calls upon States to effectively implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and the amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,International Maritime Organization, documents SOLAS/CONF.5/32 and 34, as well as resolution MSC.202(81) introducing the long-range identification and tracking of ships system. and to work with the International Maritime Organization to promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation; 69. Welcomes the adoption on 18 May 2007 of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007, under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, and invites States to note its opening for signature from 19 November 2007 to 18 November 2008; 70. Requests States to take appropriate measures with regard to ships flying their flag or of their registry to address hazards that may be caused by wrecks and drifting or sunken cargo to navigation or the marine environment; 71. Urges all States, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization, to improve the protection of offshore installations by adopting measures related to the prevention, reporting and investigation of acts of violence against installations, in accordance with international law, and by implementing such measures through national legislation to ensure proper and adequate enforcement; 72. Calls upon States to ensure freedom of navigation, the safety of navigation and the rights of transit passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage and innocent passage in accordance with international law, in particular the Convention; 73. Welcomes the work of the International Maritime Organization relating to the protection of shipping lanes of strategic importance and significance, and in particular in enhancing safety, security and environmental protection in straits used for international navigation, and calls upon the International Maritime Organization, States bordering straits and user States to continue their cooperation efforts to keep such straits safe, secure and environmentally protected and open to international navigation at all times, consistent with international law, in particular the Convention; 74. Calls upon user States and States bordering straits used for international navigation to cooperate by agreement on matters relating to navigational safety, including safety aids for navigation, and the prevention, reduction and control of pollution from ships, and welcomes developments in this regard; 75. Welcomes the progress in regional cooperation, including the Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Statements on Enhancement of Safety, Security and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, adopted on 8 September 2005,A/60/529, annex II. 20 September 2006A/61/584, annex. and 6 September 2007,A/62/518, annex. respectively, especially the formal establishment of the Cooperative Mechanism on safety of navigation and environmental protection to promote dialogue and facilitate close cooperation between the littoral States, user States, shipping industry and other stakeholders in line with article 43 of the Convention, and in implementing the Marine Electronic Highway Demonstration Project for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, notes with appreciation that the Information Sharing Centre of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia is already operational in Singapore, and calls upon States to give immediate attention to adopting, concluding and implementing cooperation agreements at the regional level; 76. Calls upon States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2241, No. 39574. and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574. and to take appropriate measures to ensure their effective implementation; 77. Calls upon States to ensure that masters on ships flying their flag take the steps required by relevant instrumentsThe International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, as amended, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, and the International Convention on Salvage, 1989. to provide assistance to persons in distress at sea, and urges States to cooperate and to take all necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the amendments to the International Convention on Maritime Search and RescueInternational Maritime Organization, document MSC/78/26/Add.1, annex 5, resolution MSC.155(78). and to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaIbid., annex 3, resolution MSC.153(78). relating to the delivery of persons rescued at sea to a place of safety, as well as of the associated Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea;International Maritime Organization, document MSC/78/26/Add.2, annex 34, resolution MSC.167(78). 78. Urges flag States without an effective maritime administration and appropriate legal frameworks to establish or enhance the necessary infrastructure, legislative and enforcement capabilities to ensure effective compliance with, and implementation and enforcement of, their responsibilities under international law and, until such action is taken, to consider declining the granting of the right to fly their flag to new vessels, suspending their registry or not opening a registry, and calls upon flag and port States to take all measures consistent with international law necessary to prevent the operation of substandard vessels; 79. Welcomes the audits that have been completed pursuant to the Voluntary International Maritime Organization Member State Audit SchemeInternational Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.974(24). and the Code for the implementation of mandatory International Maritime Organization instruments,International Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.973(24). and encourages all flag States to volunteer to be audited; IX Marine environment and marine resources 80. Emphasizes once again the importance of the implementation of Part XII of the Convention in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and its living marine resources against pollution and physical degradation, and calls upon all States to cooperate and take measures consistent with the Convention, directly or through competent international organizations, for the protection and preservation of the marine environment; 81. Notes the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including the finding that, while the effects of observed ocean acidification on the marine biosphere are as yet undocumented, the progressive acidification of oceans is expected to have negative impacts on marine shell-forming organisms and their dependent species, and in this regard encourages States to urgently pursue further research on ocean acidification, especially programmes of observation and measurement; 82. Encourages States, individually or in collaboration with relevant international organizations and bodies, to enhance their scientific activity to better understand the effects of climate change on the marine environment and marine biodiversity and develop ways and means of adaptation; 83. Calls upon States to enhance their efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, in accordance with the principles contained in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. in order to reduce and tackle projected adverse effects of climate change on the marine environment and marine biodiversity; 84. Encourages States to ratify or accede to international agreements addressing the protection and preservation of the marine environment and its living marine resources against the introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens and marine pollution from all sources, and other forms of physical degradation, as well as agreements that provide for compensation for damage resulting from marine pollution, and to adopt the necessary measures consistent with the Convention aimed at implementing and enforcing the rules contained in those agreements; 85. Encourages States that have not yet done so to become parties to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 ("the London Protocol")International Maritime Organization, document IMO/LC.2/Circ.380. and the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Cooperation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000;HNS-OPRC/CONF/11/Rev.1, attachment 1. 86. Welcomes the commencement of activities by the International Maritime Organization to investigate the development of international measures for minimizing the translocation of invasive aquatic species through biofouling of ships, and encourages States and relevant organizations and bodies to assist in that process; 87. Notes with appreciation the adoption of the Baltic Sea Action Plan, in Krakow, Poland, on 15 November 2007, by the Member States of the Helsinki Commission, the aim of which is to drastically reduce pollution in the Baltic Sea and restore it to a good ecological status by 2021; 88. Encourages States, in accordance with the Convention and other relevant instruments, either bilaterally or regionally, to jointly develop and promote contingency plans for responding to pollution incidents, as well as other incidents that are likely to have significant adverse effects on the marine environment and biodiversity; 89. Welcomes the activities of the United Nations Environment Programme relating to marine debris carried out in cooperation with relevant United Nations bodies and organizations, and encourages States to further develop partnerships with industry and civil society to raise awareness of the extent of the impact of marine debris on the health and productivity of the marine environment and consequent economic loss; 90. Urges States to integrate the issue of marine debris into national strategies dealing with waste management in the coastal zone, ports and maritime industries, including recycling, reuse, reduction and disposal, and to encourage the development of appropriate economic incentives to address this issue, including the development of cost recovery systems that provide an incentive to use port reception facilities and discourage ships from discharging marine debris at sea, and encourages States to cooperate regionally and subregionally to develop and implement joint prevention and recovery programmes for marine debris; 91. Encourages States that have not done so to become parties to the Protocol of 1997 (Annex VI-Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, and furthermore to ratify or accede to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004,International Maritime Organization, document BWM/CONF/36, annex. thereby facilitating its early entry into force; 92. Welcomes the forthcoming entry into force on 17 September 2008 of the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001;International Maritime Organization, document AFS/CONF/26, annex. 93. Notes the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization in accordance with its resolution on International Maritime Organization policies and practices related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from shipsInternational Maritime Organization, Assembly resolution A.963(23). and the workplan to identify and develop the mechanism or mechanisms needed to achieve the limitation or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, and welcomes ongoing efforts of the Organization in that regard; 94. Notes with appreciation the efforts of the International Maritime Organization in developing and approving an action plan to address the inadequacy of port waste reception facilities, and urges States to cooperate in correcting the shortfall in such facilities in accordance with the action plan; 95. Calls upon States to implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based ActivitiesA/51/116, annex II. and to take all appropriate measures to fulfil the commitments of the international community embodied in the Beijing Declaration on Furthering the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action; 96. Welcomes the continued work of States, the United Nations Environment Programme and regional organizations in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action, and encourages increased emphasis on the link between freshwater, the coastal zone and marine resources in the implementation of international development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. and of the time-bound targets in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. in particular the target on sanitation, and the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. 97. Also welcomes the decision of the twenty-ninth Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 ("the London Convention") and the second Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol, held from 5 to 9 November 2007, which endorsed the June 2007 "Statement of concern" of their Scientific Groups;See International Maritime Organization, document LC-LP.1/Circ.14. recognized that it was within the purview of each State to consider proposals on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the London Convention and Protocol; urged States to use the utmost caution when considering proposals for large-scale ocean fertilization operations; and took the view that, given the present state of knowledge regarding ocean fertilization, such large-scale operations were currently not justified;See International Maritime Organization, document LC 29/17. 98. Encourages States to support the further study and enhance understanding of ocean iron fertilization; 99. Reaffirms paragraph 119 of resolution 61/222 regarding ecosystem approaches and oceans, including the proposed elements of an ecosystem approach, means to achieve implementation of an ecosystem approach and requirements for improved application of an ecosystem approach, and in this regard: (a) Notes that continued environmental degradation in many parts of the world and increasing competing demands require an urgent response and the setting of priorities for management interventions aimed at conserving ecosystem integrity; (b) Notes that ecosystem approaches to ocean management should be focused on managing human activities in order to maintain and, where needed, restore ecosystem health to sustain goods and environmental services, provide social and economic benefits for food security, sustain livelihoods in support of international development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and conserve marine biodiversity; (c) Recalls that States should be guided in the application of ecosystem approaches by a number of existing instruments, in particular the Convention, which sets out the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, and its implementing Agreements, as well as other commitments, such as those contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Summit on Sustainable Development call for the application of an ecosystem approach by 2010; (d) Encourages States to cooperate and coordinate their efforts and take, individually or jointly, as appropriate, all measures, in conformity with international law, including the Convention and other applicable instruments, to address impacts on marine ecosystems within and beyond areas of national jurisdiction, taking into account the integrity of the ecosystems concerned; 100. Invites States, in particular those States with advanced technology and marine capabilities, to explore prospects for improving cooperation with, and assistance to, developing States, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, with a view to better integrating into national policies and programmes sustainable and effective development in the marine sector; 101. Encourages the competent international organizations, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and other funding agencies to consider expanding their programmes within their respective fields of competence for assistance to developing countries and to coordinate their efforts, including in the allocation and application of Global Environment Facility funding; 102. Notes the information provided by the Secretary-General relating to the study on the assistance available to and measures that may be taken by developing States, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, to realize the benefits of sustainable and effective development of marine resources and uses of the oceans within the limits of national jurisdiction, to be submitted to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session pursuant to paragraph 88 of resolution 61/222, urges States and competent international organizations and global and regional funding agencies to provide further information, and requests that the study be prepared in continuing cooperation with such States and organizations and based on information so provided or disseminated and otherwise available in the public domain; X Marine biodiversity 103. Reaffirms its role relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, notes the work of States and relevant complementary intergovernmental organizations and bodies on those issues, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and invites them to contribute to its consideration of these issues within the areas of their respective competence; 104. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, prepared and released in response to the request in paragraph 92 of resolution 61/222;A/62/66/Add.2. 105. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to convene a meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group in accordance with paragraph 91 of resolution 61/222 and paragraphs 79 and 80 of resolution 60/30, to take place in New York from 28 April to 2 May 2008, and to provide the services required; 106. Encourages States to include relevant experts in their delegations attending the meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group; 107. Recognizes the importance of making the outcomes of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group widely available; 108. Notes the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological DiversitySee A/51/312, annex II, decision II/10. and the Convention on Biological Diversity elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity,UNEP/CBD/COP/7/21, annex, decision VII/5, annex I. as well as the relevant decisions adopted at the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in Curitiba, Brazil, from 20 to 31 March 2006;UNEP/CBD/COP/8/31, annex I. 109. Reaffirms the need for States and competent international organizations to urgently consider ways to integrate and improve, based on the best available scientific information and in accordance with the Convention and related agreements and instruments, the management of risks to the marine biodiversity of seamounts, cold water corals, hydrothermal vents and certain other underwater features; 110. Calls upon States and international organizations to urgently take further action to address, in accordance with international law, destructive practices that have adverse impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems, including seamounts, hydrothermal vents and cold water corals; 111. Reaffirms the need for States to continue their efforts to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools for conserving and managing vulnerable marine ecosystems, including the possible establishment of marine protected areas, consistent with international law and based on the best scientific information available, and the development of representative networks of any such marine protected areas by 2012; 112. Notes the work of States, relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the assessment of scientific information on, and compilation of ecological criteria for the identification of, marine areas that require protection, in light of the objective of the World Summit on Sustainable Development to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools such as the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012;See Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 113. Acknowledges, in this regard, the Micronesia Challenge, the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape project and the Caribbean Challenge, which in particular seek to create and link domestic marine protected areas to better facilitate ecosystem approaches, and reaffirms the need for further international cooperation in support of such initiatives; 114. Notes the work of the scientific experts' workshops on ecological criteria and biogeographic classification systems for marine areas in need of protection, held in Azores, Portugal, from 2 to 4 October 2007,See UNEP/CBD/EWS.MPA/1/2. on biogeographic classification systems in open ocean and deep seabed areas beyond national jurisdiction, held in Mexico City from 22 to 24 January 2007, and on criteria for identifying ecologically or biologically significant areas beyond national jurisdiction, held in Ottawa from 6 to 8 December 2005;See A/AC.259/16, annex. 115. Also notes the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment synthesis reports and the urgent need to protect the marine biodiversity expressed therein; 116. Reiterates its support for the International Coral Reef Initiative, takes note of the International Coral Reef Initiative General Meeting, held in Tokyo from 22 to 24 April 2007, and the upcoming eleventh International Coral Reef Symposium, to be held in Fort Lauderdale, United States of America, in July 2008, supports the work under the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity and the elaborated programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity related to coral reefs, and notes that the International Coral Reef Initiative is sponsoring the International Year of the Reef 2008; 117. Expresses its concern that coral bleaching has become more frequent and severe throughout tropical seas over the last two decades, and highlights the need for improved monitoring to predict and identify bleaching events to support and strengthen action during such events and improve strategies to support the natural resilience of reefs; 118. Encourages States to cooperate, directly or through competent international bodies, in exchanging information in the event of accidents involving vessels on coral reefs and in promoting the development of economic assessment techniques for both restoration and non-use values of coral reef systems; 119. Emphasizes the need to mainstream sustainable coral reef management and integrated watershed management into national development strategies, as well as into the activities of relevant United Nations agencies and programmes, international financial institutions and the donor community; 120. Notes the peer-reviewed scientific studies received by the Division from Member States, pursuant to paragraph 107 of resolution 61/222, encourages further studies and consideration of the impacts of ocean noise on marine living resources, and requests the Division to continue to compile the peer-reviewed scientific studies it receives from Member States and, as appropriate, to make them, or references and links to them, available on its website; XI Marine science 121. Calls upon States, individually or in collaboration with each other or with relevant international organizations and bodies, to improve understanding and knowledge of the oceans and the deep sea, including, in particular, the extent and vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and ecosystems, by increasing their marine scientific research activities in accordance with the Convention; 122. Notes the contribution of the Census of Marine Life to marine biodiversity research, and encourages participation in the initiative; 123. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission on the development of procedures for the implementation of Parts XIII and XIV of the Convention and on the development of a consensual text on the legal framework for the collection of oceanographic data within the context of the Convention; 124. Stresses the importance of increasing the scientific understanding of the oceans/atmosphere interface, including through participation in ocean observing programmes and geographic information systems, such as the Global Ocean Observing System, a programme of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, particularly considering their role in monitoring and forecasting climate change and variability and in the establishment and operation of tsunami warning systems; 125. Recognizes the significant progress made by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Member States towards the establishment of regional tsunami warning and mitigation systems and the new effort to identify common requirements for regional centres, welcomes the continued collaboration of the World Meteorological Organization and other United Nations and intergovernmental organizations in this effort, and encourages Member States to establish and sustain their national warning and mitigation systems, within a global, ocean-related multi-hazard approach, as necessary, to reduce loss of life and damage to national economies and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to natural disasters; XII Regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects 126. Recalls that the Ad Hoc Steering Group was established by resolution 60/30; 127. Takes note of the report of the second meeting of the Ad Hoc Steering Group for the "assessment of assessments" launched as a preparatory stage towards the establishment of the regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, held in New York on 22 June 2007,United Nations Environment Programme, document UNGA 60/30-A of A-AHSG/2. and urges Member States from the African regional group to propose the remaining representative to the Chairman of the regional group so that the appointment to the Ad Hoc Steering Group of that representative can be made by the President of the General Assembly without further delay; 128. Also takes note of the overall working approach, the outline for the "assessment of assessments" report and the timeline and workplan for the "assessment of assessments", proposed by the Group of Experts established pursuant to resolution 60/30, at the first meeting, held in Paris from 28 to 30 March 2007,GRAME/GOE/1/7. and endorsed by the Ad Hoc Steering Group at its second meeting, subject to the availability of funding; 129. Welcomes with appreciation the support of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission for the "assessment of assessments" in providing secretariat services to the Ad Hoc Steering Group and the Group of Experts; 130. Invites Member States, the Global Environment Facility and other interested parties to contribute financially to the "assessment of assessments", taking into account the workplan and budget approved by the Ad Hoc Steering Group, in order to complete the "assessment of assessments" within the specified period; XIII Regional cooperation 131. Notes that there have been a number of initiatives at the regional level, in various regions, to further the implementation of the Convention, takes note in that context of the Caribbean-focused Assistance Fund, which is intended to facilitate, mainly through technical assistance, the voluntary undertaking of maritime delimitation negotiations between Caribbean States, takes note once again of the Fund for Peace: Peaceful Settlement of Territorial Disputes, established by the General Assembly of the Organization of American States in 2000 as a primary mechanism, given its broader regional scope, for the prevention and resolution of pending territorial, land border and maritime boundary disputes, and calls upon States and others in a position to do so to contribute to these funds; XIV Open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea 132. Takes note of the report and annex on the work of the Consultative Process at its eighth meeting,A/62/169. focused on the topic of marine genetic resources, and acknowledges the need to discuss the issue of marine genetic resources in the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group in accordance with paragraph 91 of resolution 61/222, taking into consideration the possible elements suggested by the co-chairpersons of the Consultative Process; 133. Notes the discussion on the relevant legal regime on marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction in accordance with the Convention, and calls upon States to further consider this issue in the context of the mandate of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group, with a view to making further progress on this issue; 134. Recognizes the abundance and diversity of marine genetic resources and their value in terms of benefits, goods and services they can provide; 135. Also recognizes the importance of research on marine genetic resources for the purpose of enhancing the scientific understanding, potential use and application, and enhanced management of marine ecosystems; 136. Encourages States and international organizations, including through bilateral, regional and global cooperation programmes and partnerships, to continue in a sustainable and comprehensive way to support, promote and strengthen capacity-building activities in particular in developing countries, in the field of marine scientific research, in particular, taking into account the need to create greater taxonomic capabilities; 137. Requests the Secretary-General to convene, in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 54/33, the ninth meeting of the Consultative Process, in New York from 23 to 27 June 2008, to provide it with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work and to arrange for support to be provided by the Division, in cooperation with other relevant parts of the Secretariat, as appropriate; 138. Recalls the need to strengthen and improve the efficiency of the Consultative Process, and encourages States, intergovernmental organizations and programmes to provide guidance to the co-chairpersons to this effect, particularly before and during the preparatory meeting for the Consultative Process, and in this regard notes its decision to further review the effectiveness and utility of the Consultative Process at its sixty-third session;Resolution 60/30, para. 99. 139. Expresses its serious concern regarding the insufficient resources available in the voluntary trust fund established by resolution 55/7 for the purpose of assisting developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing States, in attending the meetings of the Consultative Process, and urges States to make additional contributions to the trust fund; 140. Decides that those representatives from developing countries who are invited by the co-chairpersons to make presentations during the meetings of the Consultative Process shall receive priority consideration in the disbursement of funds from the voluntary trust fund established by resolution 55/7 in order to cover the costs of their travel, and shall also be eligible to receive daily subsistence allowance subject to the availability of funds after the travel costs of all other eligible representatives from those countries mentioned in paragraph 139 above have been covered; 141. Recalls its decision to focus its discussions on the topic "Maritime security and safety" at the ninth meeting of the Consultative Process; XV Coordination and cooperation 142. Encourages States to work closely with and through international organizations, funds and programmes, as well as the specialized agencies of the United Nations system and relevant international conventions, to identify emerging areas of focus for improved coordination and cooperation and how best to address these issues; 143. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of heads of intergovernmental organizations, the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations engaged in activities relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as funding institutions, and underlines the importance of their constructive and timely input for the report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea and of their participation in relevant meetings and processes; 144. Welcomes the work done by the secretariats of relevant United Nations specialized agencies, programmes, funds and bodies and the secretariats of related organizations and conventions to enhance inter-agency coordination and cooperation on ocean issues, including through UN-Oceans, the inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system; 145. Encourages continued updates to Member States by UN-Oceans regarding its priorities and initiatives, in particular with respect to the proposed participation in UN-Oceans; XVI Activities of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea 146. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the annual comprehensive report on oceans and the law of the sea, prepared by the Division, as well as for the other activities of the Division, which reflect the high standard of assistance provided to Member States by the Division; 147. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to carry out the responsibilities and functions entrusted to him in the Convention and by the related resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions 49/28 and 52/26, and to ensure the allocation of appropriate resources to the Division for the performance of its activities under the approved budget for the Organization; XVII Sixty-third session of the General Assembly 148. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a comprehensive report, in its current comprehensive format and in accordance with established practice, for the consideration of the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, on developments and issues relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including the implementation of the present resolution, in accordance with resolutions 49/28, 52/26 and 54/33, and to make the report available at least six weeks in advance of the meeting of the Consultative Process; 149. Emphasizes the critical role of the annual comprehensive report of the Secretary-General, which integrates information on developments relating to the implementation of the Convention and the work of the Organization, its specialized agencies and other institutions in the field of ocean affairs and the law of the sea at the global and regional levels, and as a result constitutes the basis for the annual consideration and review of developments relating to ocean affairs and the law of the sea by the General Assembly as the global institution having the competence to undertake such a review; 150. Notes that the report referred to in paragraph 148 above will also be submitted to States parties pursuant to article 319 of the Convention regarding issues of a general nature that have arisen with respect to the Convention; 151. Also notes the desire to further improve the efficiency of, and effective participation of delegations in, the informal consultations concerning the annual General Assembly resolution on oceans and the law of the sea and the resolution on sustainable fisheries, and decides to limit the period of the informal consultations on both resolutions to a maximum of four weeks in total and to ensure that the consultations are scheduled in such a way as to avoid overlap with the period during which the Sixth Committee is meeting and that the Division has sufficient time to produce the report referred to in paragraph 148 above, and invites States to submit text proposals for inclusion in the resolutions to the coordinators of the informal consultations at the earliest possible date; 152. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Oceans and the law of the sea". RESOLUTION 62/216 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/392, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Barbados, Dominica, and Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). by a recorded vote of 150 to none, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Australia, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 62/216. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa The General Assembly, Mindful of the provisions of Article 11, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations stipulating that a function of the General Assembly is to consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and arms limitation, Recalling its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 D of 3 December 1986, 42/39 J of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 D of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and its resolutions 46/36 F of 6 December 1991 and 47/52 G of 9 December 1992 on regional disarmament, including confidence-building measures, Recalling also its resolutions 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 51/46 E of 10 December 1996, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 C of 4 December 1998, 54/55 B of 1 December 1999, 55/34 D of 20 November 2000, 56/25 D of 29 November 2001, 57/91 of 22 November 2002, 58/61 of 8 December 2003, 59/101 of 3 December 2004, 60/86 of 8 December 2005 and 61/93 of 6 December 2006, Aware of the important role that the Regional Centre can play in promoting confidence-building and arms-limitation measures at the regional level, thereby promoting progress in the area of sustainable development, Taking into account the need to establish close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, in particular its institutions in the field of peace, disarmament and security, as well as with relevant United Nations bodies and programmes in Africa for greater effectiveness, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/140. in which he stated that the Regional Centre's ability to fulfil its mandate continued to be hampered by the lack of funding, in particular core funding, Deeply concerned that, as noted in the report of the Secretary-General, voluntary contributions continued to decline and remained insufficient for the Regional Centre to fulfil its mandate effectively and efficiently, and that there is no foreseeable reliable source of funding that would ensure its operational sustainability, Recalling that the General Assembly, in its resolution 60/86, requested the Secretary-General to establish, within existing resources, a Consultative Mechanism of interested States, in particular African States, for the reorganization of the Regional Centre, 1. Notes with satisfaction the conclusion of the work of the Consultative Mechanism for the Reorganization of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, which made concrete recommendations on the Centre's future work programme, as well as on its staffing and funding;See A/62/167. 2. Notes with appreciation the recommendations of the Consultative Mechanism on the Regional Centre's future work programme, as well as on its staffing and funding; 3. Invites the Regional Centre, taking into account the availability of financial resources, to focus its actions on the priorities identified in the recommendations of the Consultative Mechanism; 4. Recommends that three posts (one Professional at the P-3 level and two General Service (Other level)) be established and added to the structure of the Regional Centre, and funded from the regular budget, as recommended by the Consultative Mechanism; 5. Also recommends that the operating costs of the Regional Centre be funded from the regular budget; 6. Urges all States, as well as international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions in order to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Regional Centre and facilitate their implementation; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary support to the Regional Centre for better achievements and results; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to facilitate close cooperation between the Regional Centre and the African Union, in particular in the areas of peace, security and development, and to continue to provide assistance towards stabilizing the financial situation of the Centre; 9. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa". RESOLUTION 62/217 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/403, para. 14)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of France (on behalf of the Working Group of the Whole on International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space). 62/217. International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/122 of 13 December 1996, 54/68 of 6 December 1999, 59/2 of 20 October 2004 and 61/110 and 61/111 of 14 December 2006, Recognizing the remarkable convergence of anniversaries of space activities in 2007, which includes the fiftieth anniversary of the advent of the space age with the launch into outer space of the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik I, on 4 October 1957; the fortieth anniversary of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial BodiesUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843. (Outer Space Treaty), which entered into force on 10 October 1967; the fiftieth session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space; and the fiftieth anniversary of the International Geophysical Year, which is being commemorated by the proclamation of 2007 as International Heliophysical Year, Deeply convinced of the common interest of mankind in promoting and expanding the exploration and use of outer space, as the province of all mankind, for peaceful purposes and in continuing efforts to extend to all States the benefits derived therefrom, and also of the importance of international cooperation in this field, for which the United Nations should continue to provide a focal point, Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and of the widest possible adherence to international treaties that promote the peaceful uses of outer space in order to meet emerging new challenges, especially for developing countries, Seriously concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space, and bearing in mind the importance of article IV of the Outer Space Treaty, Recognizing that all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Considering that space debris is an issue of concern to all nations, Noting the progress achieved in the further development of peaceful space exploration and applications as well as in various national and cooperative space projects, which contributes to international cooperation, and the importance of further developing the legal framework to strengthen international cooperation in this field, Convinced of the importance of the recommendations in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development", adopted by the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), held at Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999,See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. and the need to promote the use of space technology towards implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Seriously concerned about the devastating impact of disasters,The term "disasters" refers to natural or technological disasters. which cause the loss of lives and property, displace people from their homes, destroy their livelihoods and cause tremendous damage to societies around the world, and deeply convinced of the urgent need for enhanced coordination efforts at the global level to reduce the impact of disasters, Convinced that the use of existing space technology, such as Earth observation and meteorological satellites, communications satellites and satellite navigation and positioning systems, and their applications, can play a vital role in supporting disaster management by providing accurate and timely information for decision-making and re-establishing communication in case of disasters, Desirous of enhancing international coordination at the global level in disaster management and emergency response through greater access to and use of space-based services for all countries and facilitating capacity-building and institutional strengthening for disaster management, in particular in developing countries, Convinced that the use of space science and technology and their applications in such areas as telemedicine, tele-education, disaster management, environmental protection and other Earth observation applications contribute to achieving the objectives of the global conferences of the United Nations that address various aspects of economic, social and cultural development, particularly poverty eradication, Taking note, in that regard, of the fact that the 2005 World Summit recognized the important role that science and technology play in promoting sustainable development,See resolution 60/1, para. 60. Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its fiftieth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20). 1. Endorses the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on the work of its fiftieth session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20). 2. Urges States that have not yet become parties to the international treaties governing the uses of outer spaceTreaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 610, No. 8843); Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 672, No. 9574); Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 961, No. 13810); Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1023, No. 15020); and Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1363, No. 23002). to give consideration to ratifying or acceding to those treaties in accordance with their domestic law, as well as incorporating them in their national legislation; 3. Notes that, at its forty-sixth session, the Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continued its work,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), chap. II.D. as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/111; 4. Endorses the recommendation of the CommitteeIbid., paras. 216-223. that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-seventh session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following as regular agenda items: (i) General exchange of views; (ii) Status and application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space; (iii) Information on the activities of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations relating to space law; (iv) Matters relating to: a. The definition and delimitation of outer space; b. The character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including consideration of ways and means to ensure the rational and equitable use of the geostationary orbit without prejudice to the role of the International Telecommunication Union; (b) Consider the following single issues/items for discussion: (i) Review and possible revision of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space;See resolution 47/68. (ii) Examination and review of the developments concerning the draft protocol on matters specific to space assets to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment; (iii) Capacity-building in space law; (c) Consider the general exchange of information on national legislation relevant to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space in accordance with the workplan adopted by the Committee; 5. Notes that the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-seventh session, will submit its proposals to the Committee for new items to be considered by the Subcommittee at its forty-eighth session, in 2009; 6. Also notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (ii) above, the Legal Subcommittee, at its forty-seventh session, will reconvene its Working Group on the Status and Application of the Five United Nations Treaties on Outer Space and will review the need to extend the mandate of the Working Group beyond that session of the Subcommittee; 7. Further notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (a) (iv) a. above, the Legal Subcommittee will reconvene its Working Group on Matters Relating to the Definition and Delimitation of Outer Space; 8. Notes that, in the context of paragraph 4 (c) above, the Legal Subcommittee will consider presentations by Member States of reports on their national legislation, according to the workplan; 9. Also notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fourth session, continued its workOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), chap. II.C. as mandated by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/111; 10. Endorses the recommendation of the CommitteeIbid., paras. 169-175. that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, taking into account the concerns of all countries, in particular those of developing countries: (a) Consider the following items: (i) General exchange of views and introduction to reports submitted on national activities; (ii) United Nations Programme on Space Applications; (iii) Implementation of the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); (iv) Matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring of the Earth's environment; (v) Space debris; (vi) Space-system-based disaster management support; (vii) Recent developments in global navigation satellite systems; (b) Consider the following items in accordance with the workplans adopted by the Committee:See A/AC.105/890, annex II, para. 7, for item (i); ibid., annex III, para. 7, for item (ii); and ibid., annex I, para. 22 and A/AC.105/848, annex I, para. 22, for item (iii). (i) Use of nuclear power sources in outer space; (ii) Near-Earth objects; (iii) International Heliophysical Year 2007; (c) Consider the following single issue/item for discussion: examination of the physical nature and technical attributes of the geostationary orbit and its utilization and applications, including in the field of space communications, as well as other questions relating to developments in space communications, taking particular account of the needs and interests of developing countries; 11. Notes that the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, will submit its proposal to the Committee for a draft provisional agenda for the forty-sixth session of the Subcommittee, in 2009; 12. Endorses the agreement of the Committee, at its fiftieth session, on a new approach to scheduling the symposium organized by the Committee on Space Research and the International Astronautical Federation and the industry symposium organized by the Office for Outer Space Affairs of the Secretariat aimed at strengthening the partnership with industry;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), para. 170; and A/AC.105/890, annex I, para. 24. and also endorses the recommendation of the Committee that the topic of the 2008 industry symposium should be "Space industry in emerging space nations", to be held during the first week of the forty-fifth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), para. 171; and A/AC.105/890, annex I, para. 25. 13. Agrees that, in the context of paragraphs 10 (a) (ii), (iii) and 11 above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, should reconvene the Working Group of the Whole; 14. Also agrees that, in the context of paragraph 10 (b) (i) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, should reconvene its Working Group on the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space and that the Working Group should continue its work on the topics described in the multi-year workplan as amended by the Subcommittee at its forty-second session and as agreed by the Subcommittee at its forty-fourth session and the Committee at its fiftieth session;See A/AC.105/848, annex III, para. 8; A/AC.105/890, annex II; and Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), paras. 129-135. 15. Further agrees that, in the context of paragraph 10 (b) (ii) above, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, at its forty-fifth session, should reconvene its Working Group on Near-Earth Objects, in accordance with the workplan under this item;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), para. 138; and A/AC.105/890, annex III. 16. Agrees that the Director of the secretariat of the Group on Earth Observations should be invited to report on a regular basis to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on progress made in the implementation of the ten-year implementation plan for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems and that the Chairman of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems should be invited to report on a regular basis to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the activities of the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), para. 295. 17. Endorses the United Nations Programme on Space Applications for 2008, as proposed to the Committee by the Expert on Space Applications and endorsed by the Committee;Ibid., paras. 75 and 84; and A/AC.105/874, sects. II and III and annex III. 18. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with paragraph 30 of General Assembly resolution 50/27 of 6 December 1995, the African regional centres for space science and technology education, in the French language and in the English language, located in Morocco and Nigeria, respectively, as well as the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific and the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean, entered into an affiliation agreement with the Office for Outer Space Affairs and have continued their education programmes in 2007; 19. Agrees that the regional centres referred to in paragraph 18 above should continue to report to the Committee on their activities on an annual basis; 20. Notes with satisfaction the contribution being made by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the efforts of Member States and the Office for Outer Space Affairs to promote and support the activities being organized within the framework of the International Heliophysical Year 2007; 21. Also notes with satisfaction that the second African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, the first of which was hosted by the Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the Governments of Algeria and South Africa in 2005, was hosted by the Government of South Africa from 2 to 5 October 2007 in Pretoria, and that the Conference will be held on a biennial basis; 22. Notes with appreciation that the Government of Ecuador hosted the Fifth Space Conference of the Americas in Quito from 24 to 28 July 2006, and that the pro tempore secretariat of the Fifth Space Conference, mandated to carry out the plan of action of the Conference, has been established by the Government of Ecuador and is being assisted by the Government of Colombia, which had hosted the Fourth Space Conference of the Americas, by the International Group of Experts of the Space Conferences of the Americas and by the Government of Guatemala, which will be the host of the Sixth Space Conference of the Americas, in 2009; 23. Also notes with appreciation the initiative of the Government of Chile, in cooperation with the Office for Outer Space Affairs, to hold a conference on space applications and climate change in Santiago on 1 and 2 April 2008, in the context of the International Air and Space Fair; 24. Notes with satisfaction the role played by these conferences in building regional and international partnerships among States; 25. Also notes with satisfaction that the Convention of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization entered into force on 12 October 2006, thereby establishing the Organization, with its headquarters in Beijing; 26. Endorses the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), paras. 117 and 118 and annex. 27. Agrees that the voluntary guidelines for the mitigation of space debris reflect the existing practices as developed by a number of national and international organizations, and invites Member States to implement those guidelines through relevant national mechanisms; 28. Considers that it is essential that Member States pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources, with space debris, and other aspects of space debris, calls for the continuation of national research on this question, for the development of improved technology for the monitoring of space debris and for the compilation and dissemination of data on space debris, also considers that, to the extent possible, information thereon should be provided to the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and agrees that international cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the impact of space debris on future space missions; 29. Urges all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes; 30. Emphasizes the need to increase the benefits of space technology and its applications and to contribute to an orderly growth of space activities favourable to sustained economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, including mitigation of the consequences of disasters, in particular in the developing countries; 31. Notes that space science and technology and their applications could make important contributions to economic, social and cultural development and welfare, as indicated in the resolution entitled "The Space Millennium: Vienna Declaration on Space and Human Development",See Report of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, 19-30 July 1999 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.I.3), chap. I, resolution 1. its resolution 59/2 of 20 October 2004 and the Plan of Action of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space;See A/59/174, sect. VI.B. 32. Also notes the conference "Global Development: Science and Policies for the Future", was held in Vienna on 14 and 15 November 2007, on the occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; 33. Reiterates that the benefits of space technology and its applications should be prominently brought to the attention, in particular, of the major United Nations conferences and summits for economic, social and cultural development and related fields and that the use of space technology should be promoted towards achieving the objectives of those conferences and summits and for implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration;See resolution 55/2. 34. Notes with satisfaction the increased efforts of the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as well as the Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to promote the use of space science and technology and their applications in carrying out actions recommended in the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation");Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex. 35. Urges entities of the United Nations system, particularly those participating in the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities, to examine, in cooperation with the Committee, how space science and technology and their applications could contribute to implementing the United Nations Millennium Declaration on the development agenda, particularly in the areas relating to, inter alia, food security and increasing opportunities for education; 36. Invites the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities to continue to contribute to the work of the Committee and to report to the Committee and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the work conducted at its annual sessions; 37. Notes with satisfaction that the open informal meetings, held in conjunction with the annual sessions of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities and in which representatives of member States and observers in the Committee participate, provide a constructive mechanism for an active dialogue between the entities of the United Nations system and member States and observers in the Committee; 38. Encourages entities of the United Nations system to participate fully in the work of the Inter-Agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities; 39. Also encourages the United Nations University, a think tank for the United Nations and several of the specialized agencies, to explore the possibilities of providing training and policy research at the crossroads of international law, climate change and outer space; 40. Notes with satisfaction the establishment of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (SPIDER)Resolution 61/110. as a programme within the United Nations to provide universal access to all countries and all relevant regional and international organizations to all types of space-based information and services relevant to disaster management to support the full disaster management cycle and its implementation, highlighting the benefits that such a programme would bring to developing countries, in particular to those countries that suffer frequent disasters and that would benefit from the access to, and from the use of, space-based solutions for disaster management; 41. Agrees that the acronym of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response shall be UN-SPIDER, for its easier recognition as a United Nations programme; 42. Endorses the UN-SPIDER plan of work for 2007, the platform programme for the period 2007-2009Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), para. 144. and the plan of work for the period 2008-2009,Ibid., para. 149; and A/AC.105/894. and requests the Secretary-General to implement those activities that are contained in the plan of work for the period 2008-2009; 43. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, and agrees that during its consideration of the matter, the Committee could continue to consider ways to promote regional and interregional cooperation based on experiences stemming from the Space Conference of the Americas, the African Leadership Conference on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and the role space technology could play in the implementation of recommendations of the World Summit on Sustainable Development; 44. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee established a closer link between its work to implement the recommendations of UNISPACE III and the work of the Commission on Sustainable Development by contributing to the thematic areas that are addressed by the Commission,See A/AC.105/872 and A/AC.105/892. and agrees that the Director of the Division for Sustainable Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat should be invited to participate in the sessions of the Committee to inform it how it could best contribute to the work of the Commission and that the Director of the Office for Outer Space Affairs should participate in the sessions of the Commission to raise awareness and promote the benefits of space science and technology for sustainable development; 45. Notes with appreciation that the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems was established on a voluntary basis as an informal body to promote cooperation, as appropriate, on matters of mutual interest related to civil satellite-based positioning, navigation, timing and value-added services, as well as the compatibility and interoperability of global navigation satellite systems, while increasing their use to support sustainable development, particularly in developing countries, and that it held its first meeting in Vienna, on 1 and 2 November 2006,See A/AC.105/879. and its second meeting in Bangalore, India, from 4 to 7 September 2007; 46. Notes with satisfaction that UN-SPIDER and the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems were established as concrete results of the implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE III; 47. Notes the fact that the Office for Outer Space Affairs could integrate into its programme of work a number of actions identified for implementation by the Office in the Plan of Action of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space for the further implementation of the recommendations of UNISPACE IIISee A/AC.105/L.262. and that some of those actions could be integrated into its programme of work only if additional staff and financial resources were to be provided;Ibid., annex, para. 6. 48. Urges all Member States to contribute to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Programme on Space Applications to enhance the capacity of the Office for Outer Space Affairs to provide technical and legal advisory services and initiate pilot projects in accordance with the Plan of Action of the Committee, while maintaining the priority thematic areas agreed by the Committee; 49. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider a report on the activities of the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue as a part of its consideration of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications under the agenda item entitled "Report of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee", and invites Member States to report on their activities regarding the System; 50. Requests the Committee to continue to consider, at its fifty-first session, its agenda item entitled "Spin-off benefits of space technology: review of current status"; 51. Also requests the Committee, in view of the importance of space and education, to continue to consider, at its fifty-first session, under its agenda item entitled "Space and society", the special theme for the focus of discussions "Space and education", in accordance with the workplan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/58/20), para. 239; and ibid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), paras. 234 and 253. 52. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider, at its fifty-first session, its agenda item entitled "Space and water"; 53. Notes with satisfaction that the Committee considered, at its fiftieth session, under its agenda item entitled "Other matters", the issue of the future role and activities of the Committee, and agrees that the consideration of the future role and activities of the Committee should be continued at the fifty-first session of the Committee, and in the margin of the forty-fifth session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and of the forty-seventh session of the Legal Subcommittee; 54. Agrees that the Committee should continue to consider, at its fifty-first session, its agenda item entitled "International cooperation in promoting the use of space-derived geospatial data for sustainable development", in accordance with the multi-year workplan adopted by the Committee;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/61/20), paras. 301-303; and ibid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), paras. 265 and 281. 55. Acknowledges the composition of the bureaux of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies for the period 2008-2009, as reflected in paragraph 50 of its resolution 61/111, and agrees that the Committee and its Subcommittees should elect their officers at their respective sessions in 2008 in accordance with that composition;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 20 (A/62/20), paras. 286 and 287. 56. Decides that Bolivia and Switzerland shall become members of the Committee; 57. Endorses the decision of the Committee to grant permanent observer status to the African Organization of Cartography and Remote Sensing; 58. Notes that each of the regional groups has the responsibility for actively promoting the participation in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies of the member States of the Committee that are also members of the respective regional groups, and agrees that the regional groups should consider this Committee-related matter among their members; 59. Requests entities of the United Nations system and other international organizations to continue and, where appropriate, to enhance their cooperation with the Committee and to provide it with reports on the issues dealt with in the work of the Committee and its subsidiary bodies. RESOLUTION 62/218 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/433 (Part II), para. 43),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 154 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 62/218. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/230 of 23 December 2005 and its previous resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against women, Bearing in mind that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as stated in Articles 1 and 55 of the Charter, is to promote universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind, including distinction as to sex, Reiterating the need to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women throughout the world, Affirming that women and men should participate equally in social, economic and political development, should contribute equally to such development and should share equally in improved conditions of life, Recalling the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. in which the Conference reaffirmed that the human rights of women and the girl child were an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights, Acknowledging the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to the promotion and protection of the human rights of women, which includes the integration of the human rights of women into the mainstream of United Nations activities system-wide, Reaffirming the Beijing Declaration and Platform for ActionReport of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II. and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century",Resolution S-23/2, annex, and resolution S-23/3, annex. in particular those paragraphs concerning the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against WomenUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. and the Optional Protocol thereto,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. Welcoming the declaration of the Commission on the Status of Women on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women,See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (E/2005/27 and Corr.1), chap. I, sect. A; see also Economic and Social Council decision 2005/232. in which the Commission recognized that the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the fulfilment of the obligations under the Convention are mutually reinforcing in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women, Recalling that, in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Heads of State and Government resolved to implement the Convention, and recalling also that the 2005 World Summit OutcomeSee resolution 60/1. reaffirmed that gender equality and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all are essential to advance development and peace and security, Recognizing that the equal enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms will promote the realization of the rights of the child, bearing in mind the special needs of girls, and acknowledging the mutual reinforcement of the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the Optional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. Noting that on 23 July 2007, at its 792nd meeting, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of its work, Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Committee that national reports should contain information on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, in accordance with paragraph 323 of the Platform, Having considered the reports of the Committee on its thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth and thirty-sixthOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/61/38). and thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth and thirty-ninthIbid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/62/38). sessions, Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue (two hundred and fifteen), in particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;A/62/290. 2. Also welcomes the growing number of States parties to the Convention,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. which now stands at one hundred and eighty-five, while expressing disappointment that universal ratification of the Convention was not achieved by 2000, and urges all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so; 3. Further welcomes the growing number of States parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention,Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378. which now stands at ninety, and urges other States parties to the Convention to consider signing and ratifying or acceding to the Optional Protocol; 4. Urges States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto and to take into consideration the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; 5. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system, within their mandates, as well as Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, in particular women's organizations, as appropriate, to strengthen assistance to States parties, upon their request, in implementing the Convention; 6. Notes that some States parties have modified their reservations, expresses satisfaction that some reservations have been withdrawn, and urges States parties to limit the extent of any reservations that they lodge to the Convention, to formulate any such reservations as precisely and as narrowly as possible, to ensure that no reservations are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention, to review their reservations regularly with a view to withdrawing them and to withdraw reservations that are contrary to the object and purpose of the Convention; 7. Welcomes the adoption by the Committee of revised reporting guidelines,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/57/38), part two, annex. and urges States parties to adhere to the revised guidelines, in particular with regard to the content and length of reports; 8. Recalls the great number of overdue reports, in particular initial reports, and urges States parties to the Convention to make every possible effort to submit their reports on the implementation of the Convention in a timely manner, in accordance with article 18 thereof; 9. Also recalls its resolution 50/202 of 22 December 1995, in which it took note with approval of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention, which has yet to enter into force; 10. Strongly urges States parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible and the amendment can enter into force; 11. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the Committee to improve the efficiency of its working methods, inter alia, pertaining to its meetings in parallel chambers, following its fifth informal meeting, held in Berlin from 2 to 4 May 2006,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/61/38), part two, chap. VI. and invites the Committee to consider further improvements to its working methods, especially with the aim of achieving timely and effective consideration of reports submitted by States parties; 12. Notes decision 39/I of the Committee,Ibid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/62/38), part three, chap. I. in which it requested the General Assembly to authorize an extension of its meeting time; 13. Also notes that a backlog of reports of thirty-four States parties to be considered by the Committee persists; 14. Decides to authorize the Committee to hold three annual sessions of three weeks each, with a one-week pre-sessional working group for each session, for an interim period effective from January 2010, pending the entry into force of the amendment to article 20, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and to authorize three annual sessions of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol to the Convention; 15. Also decides to authorize the Committee to meet on an exceptional and temporary basis in the biennium 2008-2009 in a total of five sessions, of which three would occur in parallel chambers, taking due account of equitable geographical distribution, for the purpose of considering reports of States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention; and further decides that two of the five sessions shall be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York; 16. Urges the Committee to evaluate progress, and decides to assess the situation with regard to the location of the sessions of the Committee after two years, also taking into account the wider context of treaty body reform; 17. Encourages the Secretariat to extend further technical assistance to States parties, upon their request, to strengthen their capacity in the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports, and invites Governments to contribute to those efforts; 18. Invites States parties to make use of the technical assistance provided by the Secretariat to facilitate the preparation of reports, in particular initial reports; 19. Encourages the continued participation of members of the Committee in inter-committee meetings and meetings of persons chairing the human rights treaty bodies, including those on methods of work relating to the State reporting system; 20. Encourages the Committee, within its mandate, to continue to contribute to the efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the treaty bodies; 21. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 54/4 of 6 October 1999, to provide the resources, including staff and facilities, necessary for the effective functioning of the Committee within its full mandate, taking into account in particular the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention; 22. Urges Governments, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to disseminate the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 23. Encourages States parties to disseminate the concluding comments adopted in relation to the consideration of their reports, as well as the general recommendations of the Committee; 24. Encourages all relevant entities of the United Nations system to continue to build women's knowledge and understanding of and capacity to utilize human rights instruments, in particular the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto; 25. Urges the specialized agencies, at the invitation of the Committee, to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities; 26. Welcomes the contribution of non-governmental organizations to the work of the Committee; 27. Invites the Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to address the General Assembly at its sixty-third and sixty-fourth sessions under the item on the advancement of women; 28. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/219 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/434, para. 16),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Cuba (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries), El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation, Switzerland and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 150 to 7, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Nauru 62/219. Report of the Human Rights Council The General Assembly, Taking note of Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1 entitled "Institution-building of the United Nations Human Rights Council" and 5/2 entitled "Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council", of 18 June 2007,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. IV, sect. A. Endorses the decision of the Human Rights Council to adopt resolutions 5/1 and 5/2, including the annexes and appendices thereto. RESOLUTION 62/21 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/390, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. 62/21. Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/60 of 3 December 2004, in which it requested the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a panel of government experts, to explore the question of verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification, Noting two previous reports of the Secretary-General on the subject submitted in 1990 and 1995,A/45/372 and Corr.1 and A/50/377 and Corr.1. Recalling its request to the Secretary-General, in resolution 59/60, to transmit to it the report of the Panel of Government Experts on verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification, and the intent of the Panel to produce a report that is forward-looking and discerning of new trends and requirements, 1. Takes note of the report of the Panel of Government Experts on verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification,A/61/1028. transmitted by the Secretary-General on 15 August 2007, acknowledges that the report was unanimously approved by the Panel of Government Experts, and commends the report to the attention of Member States; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to give the report the widest possible circulation; 3. Encourages Member States to consider the report, and invites Member States to offer additional views to the Secretary-General on the report; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a compilation of views received from Member States, relevant United Nations organs and international treaty organizations with respect to the report; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Verification in all its aspects, including the role of the United Nations in the field of verification". RESOLUTION 62/220 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/437, para. 26),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. by a recorded vote of 105 to 46, with 6 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland 62/220. Global efforts for the total elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997, in which it decided to convene the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, and its resolutions 56/266 of 27 March 2002, 57/195 of 18 December 2002, 58/160 of 22 December 2003, 59/177 of 20 December 2004 and 60/144 of 16 December 2005, which guided the comprehensive follow-up to and effective implementation of the World Conference, and in this regard underlining the importance of their full and effective implementation, Recalling also its resolution 61/149 of 19 December 2006, in which it decided to convene in 2009 a review conference on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. hereinafter referred to as the Durban Review Conference, to be conducted within the framework of the General Assembly, Noting, in the above context, the decisions adopted by the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference at its organizational session,A/62/375, annex I. including its decision PC.1/13 of 31 August 2007 on the objectives of the Durban Review Conference, Noting also all the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Commission on Human Rights and of the Human Rights Council on this subject, and calling for their implementation, Reiterating that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies, and that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races, Convinced that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance manifest themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and may be among the factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights, and recognizing the need to integrate a gender perspective into relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple forms of discrimination, Underlining the primacy of political will, international cooperation and adequate funding at the national, regional and international levels for the successful implementation of the Durban Programme of Action, Alarmed at the increase in racist violence and xenophobic ideas in many parts of the world, in political circles, in the sphere of public opinion and in society at large, inter alia, as a result of the resurgent activities of associations established on the basis of racist and xenophobic platforms and charters, and the persistent use of those platforms and charters to promote or incite racist ideologies, Underlining the importance of urgently eliminating continuing and violent trends involving racism and racial discrimination, and conscious that any form of impunity for crimes motivated by racist and xenophobic attitudes plays a role in weakening the rule of law and democracy, tends to encourage the recurrence of such crimes and requires resolute action and cooperation for its eradication, Welcoming the determination of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to profile and increase the visibility of the struggle against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and her intention to make this a cross-cutting issue in the activities and programmes of her Office, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/480. and the report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,See A/62/306. I General principles 1. Acknowledges that no derogation from the prohibition of racial discrimination, genocide, the crime of apartheid or slavery is permitted, as defined in the obligations under the relevant human rights instruments; 2. Expresses its profound concern about and its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racism and racial discrimination, including related acts of racially motivated violence, xenophobia and intolerance, as well as propaganda activities and organizations that attempt to justify or promote racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in any form; 3. Expresses deep concern at recent attempts to establish hierarchies among emerging and resurgent forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and urges States to adopt measures to address these scourges with the same emphasis and vigour with a view to preventing this practice and protecting victims; 4. Stresses that States and international organizations have a responsibility to ensure that measures taken in the struggle against terrorism do not discriminate in purpose or effect on grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, and urges all States to rescind or refrain from all forms of racial profiling; 5. Recognizes that States should implement and enforce appropriate and effective legislative, judicial, regulatory and administrative measures to prevent and protect against acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, thereby contributing to the prevention of human rights violations; 6. Also recognizes that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance occur on the grounds of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and that victims can suffer multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination based on other related grounds, such as sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, property, birth or other status; 7. Reaffirms that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law; 8. Emphasizes that it is the responsibility of States to adopt effective measures to combat criminal acts motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including measures to ensure that such motivations are considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, to prevent those crimes from going unpunished and to ensure the rule of law; 9. Urges all States to review and, where necessary, revise their immigration laws, policies and practices so that they are free of racial discrimination and compatible with their obligations under international human rights instruments; 10. Condemns the misuse of print, audio-visual and electronic media and new communication technologies, including the Internet, to incite violence motivated by racial hatred, and calls upon States to take all necessary measures to combat this form of racism in accordance with the commitments that they have undertaken under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. in particular paragraph 147 of the Programme of Action, in accordance with existing international and regional standards of freedom of expression and taking all necessary measures to guarantee the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 11. Encourages all States to include in their educational curricula and social programmes at all levels, as appropriate, knowledge of and tolerance and respect for all cultures, civilizations, religions, peoples and countries; 12. Stresses the responsibility of States to mainstream a gender perspective in the design and development of prevention, education and protection measures aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at all levels, to ensure that they effectively target the distinct situations of women and men; II International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 13. Reaffirms that universal adherence to and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial DiscriminationUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 660, No. 9464. are of paramount importance for the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination, and for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination in the world; 14. Reiterates the call made by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, in paragraph 75 of the Durban Programme of Action,See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. to achieve universal ratification of the Convention by 2005 and for all States to consider making the declaration envisaged under article 14 of the Convention, and endorses the grave concern expressed by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/64 of 20 April 2005See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda (E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A. to the effect that, with one hundred and seventy-three ratifications and only forty-nine declarations, the deadline for universal ratification decided by the World Conference has, regrettably, not been realized; 15. Urges, in the above context, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to maintain and issue regular updates on its website of a list of countries that have not yet ratified the Convention and to encourage such countries to ratify it at the earliest; 16. Expresses its concern at the serious delays in the submission of overdue reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which impedes the effectiveness of the Committee, makes a strong appeal to all States parties to the Convention to comply with their treaty obligations, and reaffirms the importance of the provision of technical assistance to the requesting countries in the preparation of their reports to the Committee; 17. Invites States parties to the Convention to ratify the amendment to article 8 of the Convention on the financing of the Committee, and calls for adequate additional resources from the regular budget of the United Nations to enable the Committee to discharge its mandate fully; 18. Urges all States parties to the Convention to intensify their efforts to implement the obligations that they have accepted under article 4 of the Convention, with due regard to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and article 5 of the Convention; 19. Welcomes the work of the Committee in applying the Convention to the new and contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination; 20. Recalls that the Committee holds that the prohibition of the dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression as outlined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in article 5 of the Convention; 21. Welcomes the emphasis placed by the Committee on the importance of follow-up to the World Conference and the measures recommended to strengthen the implementation of the Convention as well as the functioning of the Committee;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 18 (A/57/18), chap. XI, sect. E. III Comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action 22. Acknowledges that the outcome of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is on an equal footing with the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions in the human rights and social fields; 23. Also acknowledges that the World Conference, which was the third world conference against racism, was significantly different from the previous two conferences, as evidenced by the inclusion in its title of two important components relating to contemporary forms of racism, namely, xenophobia and related intolerance; 24. Emphasizes that the basic responsibility for effectively combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance lies with States, and to this end stresses that States have the primary responsibility to ensure full and effective implementation of all commitments and recommendations contained in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action;See A/CONF.189/12 and Corr.1, chap. I. 25. Reaffirms its commitment to eliminating all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of related intolerance against indigenous peoples, and in this regard notes the attention paid to the objectives of combating prejudice and eliminating discrimination and promoting tolerance, understanding and good relations among indigenous peoples and all other segments of society in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;Resolution 61/295, annex. 26. Emphasizes the fundamental and complementary role of national human rights institutions, regional bodies or centres and civil society, working jointly with States towards the achievement of the objectives of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 27. Welcomes the steps taken by numerous Governments, in particular the elaboration and implementation of national action plans to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and steps taken by national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations, towards the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and affirms this trend as a demonstration of commitment for the elimination of all scourges of racism at the national level; 28. Calls upon all States that have not yet elaborated their national action plans on combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to comply with their commitments undertaken at the World Conference; 29. Calls upon all States to formulate and implement without delay, at the national, regional and international levels, policies and plans of action to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including their gender-based manifestations; 30. Acknowledges and supports the initiative led by the States members of the Caribbean Community and other Member States for the establishment of a permanent memorial at the United Nations to the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as a contribution towards the fulfilment of paragraph 101 of the Durban Declaration, expresses its appreciation for contributions made to the voluntary fund established in this regard, and urges other countries to contribute to the fund; 31. Urges States to support the activities of existing regional bodies or centres that combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in their respective regions, and recommends the establishment of such bodies in all regions where they do not exist; 32. Recognizes the fundamental role of civil society in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, in particular in assisting States to develop regulations and strategies, in taking measures and action against such forms of discrimination and through follow-up implementation; 33. Decides that the General Assembly, through its role in policy formulation, the Economic and Social Council, through its role in overall guidance and coordination, in accordance with their respective roles under the Charter of the United Nations and Assembly resolution 50/227 of 24 May 1996, and the Human Rights Council shall constitute a three-tiered intergovernmental process for the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 34. Stresses and reaffirms its role as the highest intergovernmental mechanism for the formulation and appraisal of policy on matters relating to the economic, social and related fields, in accordance with Chapter IX of the Charter, including in the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the goals and targets set at all the major United Nations conferences, summits and special sessions; 35. Reaffirms that the Human Rights Council shall continue to have a central role in the monitoring of the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action within the United Nations system and in advising the General Assembly thereon; 36. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing work in follow-up to the World Conference undertaken by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; 37. Acknowledges the centrality of resource mobilization, effective global partnership and international cooperation in the context of paragraphs 157 and 158 of the Durban Programme of Action for the successful realization of commitments undertaken at the World Conference, and to this end emphasizes the importance of the mandate of the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, especially in mobilizing the necessary political will for the successful implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary resources for the effective fulfilment of the mandates of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent and the group of independent eminent experts on the implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action; 39. Expresses its concern at the increasing incidence of racism in various sporting events, while noting with appreciation the efforts made by some governing bodies of the various sporting codes to combat racism, and in this regard invites all international sporting bodies to promote, through their national, regional and international federations, a world of sport free from racism and racial discrimination; 40. Invites, in this context, the Fédération internationale de football association, in connection with the 2010 soccer World Cup tournament to be held in South Africa, to consider introducing a visible theme on non-racism in football, requests the Secretary-General to bring this invitation to the attention of the Fédération and to bring the issue of racism in sport to the attention of other relevant international sporting bodies, and in this regard appreciates the joint efforts of the Government of Germany, the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance during the 2006 World Cup; IV Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and follow-up to his visits 41. Expresses its full support and appreciation for the work of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and encourages its continuation, bearing in mind the special procedures review process being undertaken by the Human Rights Council; 42. Reiterates its call to all Member States, intergovernmental organizations, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur, and calls upon States to consider responding favourably to his requests for visits so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate fully and effectively; 43. Recognizes with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas directed against Arab, Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as all religious communities, communities of people of African descent, communities of people of Asian descent, communities of indigenous people and other communities; 44. Encourages closer collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in particular the Anti-Discrimination Unit; 45. Urges the High Commissioner to provide States, at their request, with advisory services and technical assistance to enable them to implement fully the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur; 46. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Rapporteur with all the necessary human and financial assistance to carry out his mandate efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and to enable him to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 47. Takes note of the recommendations contained in the report of the Special Rapporteur,See A/62/306. and urges Member States and other relevant stakeholders to consider implementing those recommendations; 48. Requests the Special Rapporteur to continue giving particular attention to the negative impact of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights by national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, immigrant populations, asylum-seekers and refugees; 49. Invites Member States to demonstrate greater commitment to fighting racism in sport by conducting educational and awareness-raising activities and by strongly condemning the perpetrators of racist incidents, in cooperation with national and international sports organizations; V Convening of the Durban Review Conference 50. Welcomes the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference on its organizational session,A/62/375. and underlines that the Preparatory Committee shall, at its first substantive session, in accordance with its decision PC.1/14 of 31 August 2007,A/62/375, annex I. discuss, inter alia, the organization of the work of the Conference and other matters, including the allocation of funding from the regular budget of the United Nations for the convening of the Conference in 2009; 51. Calls upon Member States that are in a position to do so to offer to host the regional preparatory conferences in their regions, consistent with the objectives of the Durban Review Conference, and to ensure the widest possible participation in those conferences, whose outcomes will contribute to the deliberations of the Preparatory Committee; 52. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate adequate funds from the regular budget of the United Nations for expenses not covered in Preparatory Committee decision PC.1/12 of 31 August 2007,A/62/375, annex I. to facilitate the participation of all the relevant special procedures and mechanisms of the Human Rights Council in the meetings of the Preparatory Committee and the regional preparatory conferences; VI General 53. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 54. Decides to remain seized of this important matter at its sixty-third session under an item entitled "Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance". RESOLUTION 62/221 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.2, para. 173)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Angola, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 62/221. Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/105 of 4 December 2000 concerning regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights, Recalling also its resolutions 55/34 B of 20 November 2000 and 55/233 of 23 December 2000, section III of its resolution 55/234 of 23 December 2000, and its resolutions 58/176 of 22 December 2003, 59/183 of 20 December 2004, 60/151 of 16 December 2005 and 61/158 of 19 December 2006 on the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa, Recalling further that the World Conference on Human Rights recommended that more resources be made available for the strengthening of regional arrangements for the promotion and protection of human rights under the programme of technical cooperation in the field of human rights of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,See A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. Recalling the report of the High Commissioner,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 36, addendum (A/56/36/Add.1). Taking note of the holding of the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth ministerial meetings of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, in Sao Tome from 14 to 18 May 2007 and in Yaoundé from 3 to 7 September 2007, Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/317. Welcoming the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. in particular the decision confirmed therein to double the regular budget of the Office of the High Commissioner over the next five years, 1. Welcomes the activities of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa at Yaoundé; 2. Notes with satisfaction the support provided for the establishment of the Centre by the host country; 3. Takes note of the adoption of the new three-year strategy for the Centre, which aims to reinforce its activities;See A/62/317, paras. 14-19. 4. Also takes note of the conclusions contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the need to ensure the full implementation of resolution 61/158;Ibid., para. 63. 5. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide additional funds and human resources within the existing resources of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to enable the Centre to respond positively and effectively to the growing needs in the promotion and protection of human rights and in developing a culture of democracy and the rule of law in the Central African subregion; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/222 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/439/Add.3, para. 49),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. by a recorded vote of 83 to 22, with 47 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay Against: Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zimbabwe Abstaining: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia 62/222. Situation of human rights in Myanmar The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). and recalling the International Covenants on Human RightsResolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and other relevant human rights instruments, Reaffirming that all Member States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the duty to fulfil the obligations they have undertaken under the various international instruments in this field, Reaffirming also its previous resolutions on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, the most recent of which is resolution 61/232 of 22 December 2006, those of the Commission on Human Rights and resolution S-5/1 of 2 October 2007, adopted by the Human Rights Council at its fifth special session,A/HRC/S-5/2, chap. I. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53). Welcoming the statement by the President of the Security Council issued on 11 October 2007,S/PRST/2007/37; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2007-31 July 2008. Recalling that everyone has the right to take part in the government of his or her country, directly or through freely chosen representatives, the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Deeply concerned at the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and in particular at the recent violent repression of peaceful demonstrations, including through beatings, killings, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances, 1. Strongly condemns the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators who were exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression and to peaceful assembly and association, and expresses its condolences to the victims and their families; 2. Expresses grave concern at: (a) The ongoing systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, of the people of Myanmar, as described in resolution 61/232 and in previous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council; (b) The arbitrary detentions, including the use of physical violence, in response to peaceful protests, and the extension, once again, of the house arrest of the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the continuing high number of political prisoners, including other political leaders, persons belonging to ethnic nationalities and human rights defenders; (c) The major and repeated violations of international humanitarian law committed against civilians, as denounced by the International Committee of the Red Cross in June 2007; (d) The discrimination and violations suffered by persons belonging to ethnic nationalities of Myanmar, particularly in border and conflict areas, and attacks by military forces and non-State armed groups on villages in Karen State and other ethnic States in Myanmar, leading to extensive forced displacements and serious violations and other abuses of the human rights of the affected populations; (e) The absence of effective and genuine participation of the representatives of the National League for Democracy and other political parties and some ethnic nationality groups in the National Convention and the slow pace of the democratic reform; (f) The continuous deterioration of the living conditions and the increase of poverty affecting a significant part of the population throughout the country, with serious consequences for the enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights; 3. Welcomes: (a) The reports of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in MyanmarSee A/62/223 and A/HRC/4/14. and his oral presentations, as well as the agreement of the Government of Myanmar to his visit in November 2007 after four years of his having been denied access; (b) The report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/498. and his designation of a Special Adviser on Myanmar to continue to pursue his mandate of good offices, and affirms its full support for his mission; (c) The visits of the Special Adviser to Myanmar in October and November 2007; (d) The conclusion between the International Labour Organization and the Government of Myanmar of an understanding designed to provide a mechanism to enable victims of forced labour to seek redress; (e) The visits to Myanmar of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator at the invitation of the Government of Myanmar, and the implementation of some of the measures agreed during those visits; (f) The progress reported on the work conducted by the Government of Myanmar and international humanitarian entities on HIV/AIDS and avian influenza; (g) The role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and of neighbouring countries in encouraging the Government of Myanmar to resume its efforts at national reconciliation with all parties concerned, and to work towards a peaceful transition to democracy, and the continuing efforts of the Association and of neighbouring countries for the promotion and protection of the human rights of the people of Myanmar; (h) The appointment by the Government of Myanmar of a minister for relations with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the two meetings held so far between the two, while stressing the need for this process to lead to a substantive dialogue, with concrete outcomes within an agreed time frame, between the Government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; 4. Strongly calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to end restrictions on those freedoms that are incompatible with the obligations of the Government under international human rights law, to protect inhabitants and to investigate and bring to justice perpetrators of violations of human rights; (b) To give serious consideration to the recommendations and proposals put forward by the Special Adviser during his visit to Myanmar in October 2007 and to fully implement the previous recommendations of the Special Rapporteur, the Special Adviser, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Human Rights, the International Labour Organization and other United Nations bodies; (c) To exercise utmost restraint and to desist from further arrests and violence against peaceful protesters and to release without delay those who have been arbitrarily arrested and detained, as well as all political prisoners, immediately and unconditionally, including the leaders of the National League for Democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo, the leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, Khun Htun Oo, and other Shan leaders, and the "88 Generation" students' group leaders Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi; (d) To lift all restraints on the peaceful political activity of all persons by, inter alia, guaranteeing freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of opinion and expression, including for free and independent media, and to ensure unhindered access to media information for the people of Myanmar; (e) To cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur in the context of the implementation of Human Rights Council resolution S-5/1A/HRC/S-5/2, chap. I. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/63/53). and to ensure that no person cooperating with the Special Rapporteur or any international organization is subjected to any form of intimidation, harassment or punishment; (f) To ensure immediately safe and unhindered access to all parts of Myanmar, including conflict and border areas, for the United Nations, international humanitarian organizations and their partners and to cooperate fully with those organizations in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance is delivered to all persons in need throughout the country; (g) To put an immediate end to the continuing recruitment and use of child soldiers, in violation of international law, by all parties, to intensify measures to ensure the protection of children from armed conflict and to pursue its collaboration with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; (h) To take urgent measures to put an end to the military operations targeting civilians in the ethnic areas, and to the associated violations of human rights and humanitarian law directed against persons belonging to ethnic nationalities, to end the systematic forced displacement of large numbers of persons and other causes of refugee flows to neighbouring countries and to respect existing ceasefire agreements; 5. Calls upon the Government of Myanmar: (a) To permit all political representatives and representatives of ethnic nationalities to participate fully in the political transition process without restrictions and, to that end, to resume without further delay a dialogue with all political actors, including the National League for Democracy and representatives of ethnic nationalities; (b) To pursue, through dialogue and peaceful means, the immediate suspension and permanent end of conflict with all ethnic nationalities in Myanmar and to allow the full participation of representatives of all political parties and representatives of ethnic nationalities in an inclusive and credible process of national reconciliation, democratization and the establishment of the rule of law; (c) To fulfil its obligations to restore the independence of the judiciary and due process of law, and to take further steps to reform the system of administration of justice, as well as to ensure that discipline in prisons does not amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and that conditions of detention otherwise meet international standards; (d) To cooperate fully with the Special Adviser in the fulfilment of his good offices, by agreeing to his visits to the country, allowing him unrestricted access to all relevant parties, including detained activists, ethnic minority representatives, student leaders and dissident monks, and by engaging with him in finding a peaceful solution aimed at achieving effective progress towards the restoration of democracy and the protection of human rights in Myanmar; (e) To engage in a dialogue with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with a view to ensuring full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms; (f) To continue its efforts with the International Labour Organization towards the effective implementation of the national mechanism established to receive complaints of forced labour; (g) To allow human rights defenders to pursue their activities unhindered and to ensure their safety, security and freedom of movement in that pursuit; (h) To refrain from imposing restrictions on access to and flow of information from the people of Myanmar, including through the openly available and accessible use of Internet and mobile phone services; (i) To allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to carry out its humanitarian activities for people in need, in particular by granting immediate access to persons detained and by providing the necessary information on persons unaccounted for in connection with recent events; 6. Requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to provide his good offices and to pursue his discussions on the situation of human rights and the restoration of democracy with the Government and the people of Myanmar, including all relevant parties to the national reconciliation process in Myanmar, and to offer technical assistance to the Government in this regard; (b) To closely monitor the developments with regard to the violent incidents that took place, with the aim of preventing the resumption of violence; (c) To give all necessary assistance to enable the Special Adviser and the Special Rapporteur to discharge their mandates fully and effectively and in a coordinated manner; (d) To report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session as well as to the Human Rights Council on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 7. Decides to continue the consideration of the question at its sixty-third session, on the basis of the report of the Secretary-General and the interim report of the Special Rapporteur. RESOLUTION 62/223 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/534, para. 7) 62/223. Financial reports and audited financial statements, and reports of the Board of Auditors The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/222 of 11 April 1996, 51/218 E of 17 June 1997, 52/212 B of 31 March 1998, 53/204 of 18 December 1998, 53/221, section VIII, of 7 April 1999, 54/13 B of 23 December 1999, 55/220 A, B and C of 23 December 2000 and 12 April and 14 June 2001, 57/278 A of 20 December 2002, 60/234 A and B of 23 December 2005 and 30 June 2006 and 61/233 A and B of 22 December 2006 and 29 June 2007, Having considered the audited financial statements and the report of the Board of Auditors on the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the year ended 31 December 2006,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/62/5/Add.5). the audited financial statements and the report of the Board of Auditors on the United Nations Office for Project Services for the biennium ended 31 December 2005,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5J (A/61/5/Add.10). the report of the Board of Auditors on the implementation of its recommendations relating to the biennium 2004-2005,See A/62/120. the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the financial statements of the United Nations Office for Project Services for the financial period ended 31 December 2005A/61/214/Add.2. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/355 and A/61/350/Add.1. Recalling paragraphs 8 and 9 of its resolution 61/233 A, 1. Accepts the financial report and audited financial statements and the report and audit opinion of the Board of Auditors on the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the year ended 31 December 2006Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/62/5/Add.5). and the audited financial statements and the report of the Board of Auditors on the United Nations Office for Project Services for the biennium ended 31 December 2005;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5J (A/61/5/Add.10). 2. Endorses the recommendations of the Board of Auditors contained in its reports on the voluntary funds administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the year ended 31 December 2006See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 5E (A/62/5/Add.5), chap. II. and on the United Nations Office for Project Services for the biennium ended 31 December 2005;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5J (A/61/5/Add.10), chap. II. 3. Also endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/355 and A/61/350/Add.1. 4. Commends the Board of Auditors for the superior quality and the streamlined format of its reports; 5. Notes the concerns of the Board of Auditors about the general financial situation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, including the level of the reserves of the Office, requests the Office to continue to implement the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, and encourages Member States to respond in a timely manner to the appeal of the Office for resources; 6. Also notes the concerns of the Board of Auditors about the financial report and audited financial statements of the United Nations Office for Project Services for the biennium ended 31 December 2005,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 5J (A/61/5/Add.10). welcomes the measures taken by the Office to address the seriousness of its financial problems, and encourages the Office to implement all the recommendations of the Board and to report to the relevant governing bodies on progress made in this regard; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the financial statements of the United Nations Office for Project Services for the financial period ended 31 December 2005A/61/214/Add.2. as well as the report of the Board of Auditors on the implementation of its recommendations relating to the biennium 2004-2005;See A/62/120. 8. Welcomes the efforts by the Secretary-General to carefully monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors; 9. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General and the executive heads of the funds and programmes of the United Nations to ensure full implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors and the related recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in a prompt and timely manner and to hold programme managers accountable for implementation of the recommendations; 10. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide in his reports on the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors on the accounts of the United Nations as well as on the financial statements of its funds and programmes a full explanation for delays in the implementation of the recommendations of the Board, in particular those recommendations not yet fully implemented which are two or more years old; 11. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to indicate in future reports an expected time frame for the implementation of the recommendations of the Board of Auditors, as well as the priorities for their implementation and the office holders to be held accountable. RESOLUTION 62/224 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/564, para. 8) 62/224. Programme planning The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 37/234 of 21 December 1982, 38/227 A of 20 December 1983, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 55/234 of 23 December 2000, 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 57/282 of 20 December 2002, 58/268 and 58/269 of 23 December 2003, 59/275 of 23 December 2004, 60/257 of 8 May 2006 and 61/235 of 22 December 2006, Recalling also the terms of reference of the Committee for Programme and Coordination, as outlined in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX) of 14 May 1976, Having considered the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the work of its forty-seventh sessionIbid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/62/16). and the report of the Secretary-General on experience gained in the planning and budgeting process,A/62/81. 1. Reaffirms the role of the Committee for Programme and Coordination as the main subsidiary organ of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council for planning, programming and coordination; 2. Re-emphasizes the role of the plenary and the Main Committees of the General Assembly in reviewing and taking action on the appropriate recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination relevant to their work, in accordance with regulation 4.10 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation;ST/SGB/2000/8. 3. Stresses that setting the priorities of the United Nations is the prerogative of the Member States, as reflected in legislative mandates; 4. Also stresses the need for Member States to participate fully in the budget preparation process, from its early stages and throughout the process; 5. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on the review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations, on programme planning, on evaluation, on the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2006/07, on United Nations system support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development and on improving the working methods and procedures of the Committee for Programme and Coordination within the framework of its mandate;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/62/16), chaps. II, III.A and C, IV.A and B and V. 6. Decides to discontinue preparation of the report under the agenda item entitled "Review of the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations", mandated in accordance with its resolution 45/254 A of 21 December 1990; 7. Stresses the urgent need to fill the position of Special Adviser on Africa in order to direct international efforts to ensure that African issues remain a priority on the global development agenda and also stresses the need to mobilize support for capacity and resources and to align funds, agencies and programmes to the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentA/57/304, annex. that underpin the consolidation of peace and democracy on the continent; 8. Emphasizes that, in full accordance with its mandate to assist the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly on coordination, the Committee for Programme and Coordination should enhance its coordination role through improved cooperation with the secretariat of the Chief Executives Board and the Joint Inspection Unit, in order to increase planning efficiency and effectiveness so as to continue to ensure the timeliness of the implementation of, and prevent duplication and redundancy in, the action of the Organization; 9. Welcomes the intention of the Committee for Programme and Coordination to enhance its dialogue on coordination issues with the Joint Inspection Unit and the secretariat of the Chief Executives Board; 10. Recalls regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. and reiterates that the Committee for Programme and Coordination shall continue to perform its role in reviewing the strategic framework and recommend any necessary changes to the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly; 11. Reaffirms the role of the Committee for Programme and Coordination in monitoring and evaluation, and encourages the Committee, in reviewing performance and evaluation reports, to provide, inter alia, action-oriented recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and impact of the activities of the Organization; 12. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session proposals to improve the links between monitoring, evaluation, programme planning and budgeting; 13. Invites the Economic and Social Council to utilize the relevant conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination when considering related reports of the Chief Executives Board; 14. Welcomes the decision by the Committee for Programme and Coordination to devote one or two meetings of its future sessions to a discussion, with high-level participation, of a specific issue in its programme of work related to coordination, and in this regard emphasizes the need for the presence of senior programme managers to assist the Committee in its deliberations; 15. Also welcomes the work done by the Committee for Programme and Coordination in improving its working methods and procedures within the framework of its mandate for further enhancing its effectiveness and efficiency, and looks forward to the implementation of the decisions of the Committee in order to continue improving its working methods and procedures. RESOLUTION 62/225 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/535, para. 7) 62/225. Pattern of conferences The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 40/243 of 18 December 1985, 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 43/222 A to E of 21 December 1988, 51/211 A to E of 18 December 1996, 52/214 of 22 December 1997, 53/208 A to E of 18 December 1998, 54/248 of 23 December 1999, 55/222 of 23 December 2000, 56/242 of 24 December 2001, 56/254 D of 27 March 2002, 56/262 of 15 February 2002, 56/287 of 27 June 2002, 57/283 A of 20 December 2002, 57/283 B of 15 April 2003, 58/250 of 23 December 2003, 59/265 of 23 December 2004, 60/236 A of 23 December 2005, 60/236 B of 8 May 2006 and 61/236 of 22 December 2006, Reaffirming its resolution 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, in which it requested the Secretary-General to ensure the equal treatment of the official languages of the United Nations, Having considered the report of the Committee on Conferences for 2007Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/62/32). and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General,A/62/161 and Corr.1 and 2 and Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1. Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/473. Reaffirming the provisions relevant to conference services of its resolutions on multilingualism, I Calendar of conferences and meetings 1. Welcomes the report of the Committee on Conferences for 2007;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/62/32). 2. Approves the draft biennial calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations for 2008 and 2009, as submitted by the Committee on Conferences,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 32 (A/62/32), annex II. taking into account the observations of the Committee and subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Authorizes the Committee on Conferences to make any adjustments to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2008 and 2009 that may become necessary as a result of actions and decisions taken by the General Assembly at its sixty-second session; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the Secretariat has taken into account the arrangements referred to in General Assembly resolutions 53/208 A, 54/248, 55/222, 56/242, 57/283 B, 58/250, 59/265, 60/236 A and 61/236 concerning Orthodox Good Friday and the official holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and requests all intergovernmental bodies to observe those decisions when planning their meetings; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that any modification to the calendar of conferences and meetings is implemented strictly in accordance with the mandate of the Committee on Conferences and other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; II A. Utilization of conference-servicing resources 1. Reaffirms the practice that, in the use of conference rooms, priority must be given to the meetings of Member States; 2. Notes that the overall utilization factor at the four main duty stations, while still above the established benchmark of 80 per cent, decreased from 85 per cent in 2005 to 83 per cent in 2006, although the planning accuracy factor improved by 5 per cent over the 2005 reporting period; 3. Welcomes the steps taken by those bodies that have adjusted their programmes of work in order to achieve the optimum utilization of conference-servicing resources, and requests the Committee on Conferences to continue consultations with the secretariats and bureaux of bodies that underutilize their conference-servicing resources; 4. Recognizes that late starts and unplanned early endings seriously affect the bodies' utilization factor owing to the amount of time lost, and invites the secretariats and bureaux of bodies to pay adequate attention to avoiding late starts and unplanned early endings; 5. Also recognizes the importance of meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States for the smooth functioning of the sessions of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that, as far as possible, all requests for conference services for the meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States are met; 6. Notes that the percentage of meetings held by regional and other major groupings of Member States that were provided with interpretation services in the four main duty stations in 2006 decreased to 76 per cent, as compared with 87 per cent in 2005, expresses its concern about the difficulties experienced by Member States owing to the lack of conference services for some meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore innovative ways to address this problem and to report thereon to the General Assembly through the Committee on Conferences; 7. Takes note with concern of the information provided in paragraph 38 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/161 and Corr.1 and 2. and requests the Secretary-General to take measures to improve the planning of conference resource allocations with a view to ensuring that the bodies entitled to meet "as required" receive adequate conference services; 8. Once again urges intergovernmental bodies to spare no effort at the planning stage to take into account the meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States, to make provision for such meetings in their programmes of work and to notify conference services, well in advance, of any cancellations so that unutilized conference-servicing resources may, to the extent possible, be reassigned to meetings of regional and other major groupings of Member States; 9. Notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with several General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 61/236, section II.A, paragraph 9, in conformity with the headquarters rule, all meetings of Nairobi-based United Nations bodies were held in Nairobi in 2006, but reiterates the need for vigilance in this respect, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-third session through the Committee on Conferences; 10. Welcomes the increased promotional activities undertaken by the management of the United Nations conference centre of the Economic Commission for Africa, which resulted in a utilization rate of 60.13 per cent in 2006, a marked increase over the 2005 rate of 42.23 per cent, which is an upward trend that is continuing, with a utilization rate of 75 per cent recorded as at 31 May 2007; 11. Also welcomes the cooperation agreement concluded by the Economic Commission for Africa with the Division of Conference Services at the United Nations Office at Nairobi with respect to the sharing of conference-servicing and information technology staff, as well as similar agreements reached with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the United Nations Office at Geneva and United Nations Headquarters in New York; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore means to increase the utilization of the conference centre of the Economic Commission for Africa, bearing in mind the headquarters minimum operating security standards, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; B. Impact of the capital master plan, strategy IV (phased approach), on meetings held at Headquarters during its implementation 1. Requests bodies whose meetings are listed in the calendar of conferences and meetings, when planning their meetings, especially major or high-level conferences, summits and special meetings, organs created under the Charter of the United Nations, their subsidiary bodies and other intergovernmental organizations and treaty bodies that normally meet at Headquarters to take into consideration the limitations and inflexibility of all conference facilities at Headquarters throughout the construction phase of the capital master plan; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the work of the Security Council during its night and weekend meetings is not affected by noise from construction taking place underneath the Council conference rooms during the second phase of the capital master plan; 3. Requests all meeting requesters and organizers to liaise closely with the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the Secretariat on all matters related to the scheduling of meetings to allow maximum predictability in coordinating activities at Headquarters during the construction period; 4. Requests the Committee on Conferences to keep the matter under constant review, and requests the Secretary-General to report regularly to the Committee on matters pertaining to the calendar of conferences and meetings of the United Nations during the construction period; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that implementation of the capital master plan, including the temporary relocation of conference-servicing staff to a swing space, will not compromise the quality of conference services provided to Member States and the equal treatment of the language services, which should be provided with equally favourable working conditions and resources, with a view to receiving maximum quality of services; 6. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide adequate information technology support for documentation services to ensure their seamless operation throughout the implementation of the capital master plan; 7. Notes that during the implementation of the capital master plan, a part of the conference-servicing staff and information technology resources of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management will be temporarily relocated to a swing space, and requests the Secretary-General to provide adequate support to ensure continued maintenance of the information technology facilities of the Department, implementation of the global information technology initiative and delivery of quality conference services; III Integrated global management 1. Notes with appreciation the progress achieved in the implementation of the global information technology project, aimed at integrating, across duty stations, information technology into meetings management and documentation-processing systems, and the global approach to harmonizing standards and information technology and sharing good practices and technological achievements among conference services at the four main duty stations; 2. Also notes with appreciation the initiatives undertaken in the context of integrated global management aimed at streamlining procedures, achieving economies of scale and improving the quality of conference services, and in this regard stresses the importance of ensuring equal treatment of conference-servicing staff as well as the principle of equal grade for equal work at the four main duty stations; 3. Reaffirms that the major goals of the reform of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management are to provide high-quality documents in a timely manner in all official languages, as well as high-quality conference services to Member States at all duty stations, and to achieve those aims as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all language services are given equal treatment and are provided with equally favourable working conditions and resources, with a view to achieving maximum quality of those services, with full respect for the specificities of the six official languages and taking into account their respective workloads; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the compatibility of technologies used in all duty stations and to ensure that they are user-friendly in all official languages; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to complete the task of uploading all important older United Nations documents onto the United Nations website in all six official languages on a priority basis, so that these archives are also available to Member States through that medium; 7. Reiterates that the satisfaction of Member States is a key performance indicator in conference management and conference services; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that measures taken by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management to seek the evaluation by Member States of the quality of the conference services provided to them, as a key performance indicator of the Department, provide equal opportunities to Member States to present their evaluations in the six official languages of the United Nations and are in full compliance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Assembly, through the Committee on Conferences, on progress made in this regard; 9. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore best practices and techniques in client satisfaction evaluations and to report on a regular basis to the General Assembly on the results achieved; 10. Welcomes the efforts made by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management to seek the evaluation by Member States of the quality of the conference services provided to them, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore innovative ways to systematically capture and analyse feedback from Member States and committee chairpersons and secretaries on the quality of conference services and to report thereon to the General Assembly through the Committee on Conferences; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the General Assembly apprised of progress made in integrated global management; 12. Takes note of the outcome of the work of the integrated global management task forces, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures of conference services developed on the basis of recommendations of the task forces are in full compliance with relevant General Assembly resolutions; IV Documentation and publication-related matters 1. Emphasizes the paramount importance of the equality of the six official languages of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 3. Stresses that matters related to conference management, including documentation, fall within the purview of the Fifth Committee; 4. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that the rules concerning the simultaneous distribution of documents in all official languages are followed with respect to both the distribution of printed copies and the posting of parliamentary documentation on the Official Document System and the United Nations website, in keeping with section III, paragraph 5, of its resolution 55/222; 5. Reaffirms its decision in section III, paragraph 9, of its resolution 59/265 that the issuance of documents on planning, budgetary and administrative matters requiring urgent consideration by the General Assembly shall be accorded priority; 6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to direct all departments of the Secretariat to include the following elements in their reports: (a) Summary of the report; (b) Consolidated conclusions, recommendations and other proposed actions; (c) Relevant background information; 7. Reiterates its request that all documents submitted to legislative organs by the Secretariat and intergovernmental and expert bodies for consideration and action have conclusions and recommendations in bold print; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take steps to improve the quality and accuracy of meeting records in all six official languages through full reliance in the preparation and translation of those records on sound recordings and written texts of statements as they were delivered in the original languages; 9. Notes with concern the continued high level of late submission of documentation by author departments, which, in turn, has a negative impact on the functioning of intergovernmental bodies, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, through the Committee on Conferences, on impediments, if any, to achieving full compliance with the ten-week and six-week rules for the issuance of pre-session documents, including, where appropriate, proposed measures to address such impediments; 10. Stresses the importance of the concordance principle in order to ensure equally valid texts of resolutions in all six official languages; V Translation and interpretation-related matters 1. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to ensure the highest quality of interpretation and translation services in all official languages; 2. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General make sure that the terminology used in the translation and interpretation services reflects the latest linguistic norms and terminology of the official languages in order to ensure the highest quality; 3. Reaffirms section IV, paragraph 3, of its resolution 59/265, section IV, paragraph 4, of its resolution 60/236 B and section V, paragraph 3, of its resolution 61/236, and reiterates its request that the Secretary-General, when recruiting temporary assistance in the language services, ensure that all language services are given equal treatment and are provided with equally favourable working conditions and resources, with a view to achieving maximum quality of their services, with full respect for the specificities of each of the six official languages and taking into account their respective workloads; 4. Requests the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing special arrangements governing the recruitment of temporary assistance staff in the language services at the four main duty stations, in particular as regards their compliance with relevant staff regulations and rules and General Assembly mandates in the field of human resources management, and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session through the Committee on Conferences; 5. Expresses continued concern at the high vacancy rate in the interpretation and translation services at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, especially the chronic difficulty in staffing the Arabic Interpretation Unit, and requests the Secretary-General to address this as a matter of priority through, inter alia, assistance from Member States in advertising and facilitating the conduct of competitive examinations to fill these language vacancies; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to hold competitive examinations for the recruitment of language staff sufficiently in advance so as to fill current and future vacancies in the language services in a timely manner, bearing in mind the persistent situation at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and to inform the General Assembly at its sixty-third session of efforts in this regard; 7. Notes with appreciation the measures taken by the Secretariat to fill current and future vacancies at the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and requests the Secretary-General to consider further measures aimed at decreasing the vacancy rates in Nairobi as an exceptional case and to inform the General Assembly at its sixty-third session of efforts in this regard; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to address the issue of succession planning by enhancing internal and external training programmes, developing staff exchange programmes among organizations and participating in outreach to institutions that train language staff for international organizations; 9. Takes note of the challenges presented by the demographic situation in the language services, as described in paragraphs 87 to 89 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/161 and Corr.1 and 2. requests the Secretary-General to take the measures necessary to avoid any negative impact on the quality of translation and interpretation and to report thereon, as appropriate; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to seek evaluation by Member States of the quality of the conference services provided to them, including through the language-specific informational meetings held twice a year, and to ensure that such measures provide equal opportunities to Member States to present their evaluations in the six official languages of the United Nations and are in full compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve the accuracy of translation of documents into the official languages, giving particular significance to the quality of translation; 12. Further requests the Secretary-General to take the steps necessary to enhance translation quality in all official languages, in particular for contractual translation, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 13. Takes note of the information contained in paragraphs 90 to 92 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/161 and Corr.1 and 2. and requests the Secretary-General to provide at all duty stations adequate staff at the appropriate grade level, with a view to ensuring appropriate quality control for external translation; 14. Notes the performance measurement matrix proposed by the Secretary-General in response to the request to develop a comprehensive methodology for performance measurement and management from a full-system perspective, and looks forward to receiving the indicators for all duty stations beginning in 2008; 15. Takes note of the information on the impact of freelance recruitment on the quality of interpretation at all duty stations, contained in paragraphs 99 and 100 of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/161 and Corr.1 and 2. welcomes the measures proposed in this regard, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the issue to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session through the Committee on Conferences; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the experience, lessons learned and best practices of the main duty stations in performing quality control of contractual translations, including on requirements relating to the number and appropriate level of the staff needed to carry out this function. RESOLUTION 62/226 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/536, para. 6) 62/226. Joint Inspection Unit The General Assembly, Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Joint Inspection Unit, in particular resolutions 31/192 of 22 December 1976, 50/233 of 7 June 1996, 54/16 of 29 October 1999, 55/230 of 23 December 2000, 56/245 of 24 December 2001, 57/284 A and B of 20 December 2002, 58/286 of 8 April 2004, 59/267 of 23 December 2004, 60/258 of 8 May 2006, 61/238 of 22 December 2006 and 61/260 of 4 April 2007, Having considered the annual report of the Joint Inspection Unit on its activities,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/62/34). 1. Recalls its resolution 61/260; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the annual report of the Joint Inspection Unit;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 34 (A/62/34). 3. Welcomes the change in the Unit's annual planning process, and notes with appreciation the positive impact that it has had on coordination with other United Nations oversight bodies; 4. Encourages the Unit, in the ongoing implementation of its mandate, to continue to coordinate with the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services to maximize the use of resources and share experiences, knowledge, best practices and lessons learned; 5. Looks forward to considering the report of the Unit for 2007 and its programme of work for 2008 at the first part of its resumed sixty-second session; 6. Emphasizes the importance of the full and timely implementation of oversight recommendations, requests the executive heads of the participating organizations to take the steps necessary to improve the rate of the implementation of the Unit's recommendations, and invites the legislative organs concerned to consider and take action in that regard; 7. Urges the Unit, as the only system-wide external oversight body, to continue to focus primarily its work and reports, whenever possible, on issues of system-wide interest, value and relevance to the efficient and effective functioning of all organizations to which the Unit provides services; 8. Notes with appreciation the information presented in the annual report concerning the expected savings as a result of the Unit's recommendations. RESOLUTION 62/227 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/565, para. 7) 62/227. United Nations common system: report of the International Civil Service Commission The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 44/198 of 21 December 1989, 51/216 of 18 December 1996, 52/216 of 22 December 1997, 53/209 of 18 December 1998, 55/223 of 23 December 2000, 56/244 of 24 December 2001, 57/285 of 20 December 2002, 58/251 of 23 December 2003, 59/268 of 23 December 2004, 60/248 of 23 December 2005 and 61/239 of 22 December 2006, Recalling also paragraph 8 of its resolution 61/274 of 29 June 2007, Having considered the report of the International Civil Service Commission for the year 2007,Ibid., Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/62/30 and Corr.1). Reaffirming its commitment to a single, unified United Nations common system as the cornerstone for the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, Reaffirming the statute of the CommissionResolution 3357 (XXIX), annex. and the central role of the Commission and the General Assembly in the regulation and coordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations common system, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the International Civil Service Commission; 2. Takes note of the report of the Commission for 2007,Ibid., Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/62/30 and Corr.1). and decides to consider the recommendations contained in paragraph 21 of the report under the agenda items on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 and the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991; 3. Reiterates its invitation to the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, to urge the heads of the organizations of the United Nations common system to fully support the work of the Commission, in conformity with its statute,Resolution 3357 (XXIX), annex. by providing it with relevant information in a timely manner for studies that it conducts under its statutory responsibilities for the common system, as well as by other possible means; I Recommendations of the International Civil Service Commission that call for decisions by the General Assembly A. Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories 1. Evolution of the margin Recalling section 1.B of its resolution 51/216 and the standing mandate from the General Assembly, in which the Commission is requested to continue its review of the relationship between the net remuneration of the United Nations staff in the Professional and higher categories in New York and that of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service) employees in comparable positions in Washington, D.C. (referred to as "the margin"), 1. Notes that the margin between net remuneration of the United Nations staff in grades P-1 to D-2 in New York and that of officials in comparable positions in the United States federal civil service in Washington, D.C., for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2007 is estimated at 114.0 and that the average margin level for the past five years (2003-2007) stands at 112.3; 2. Reaffirms that the range of 110 to 120 for the margin between the net remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories of the United Nations in New York and officials in comparable positions in the comparator civil service should continue to apply, on the understanding that the margin would be maintained at a level around the desirable midpoint of 115 over a period of time; 2. Base/floor salary scale Recalling its resolution 44/198, by which it established a floor net salary level for staff in the Professional and higher categories by reference to the corresponding base net salary levels of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service, Approves, with effect from 1 January 2008, as recommended by the Commission in paragraph 30 of its report,Ibid., Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/62/30 and Corr.1). the revised base/floor scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories contained in annex III to the report; B. Conditions of service applicable to both categories of staff: language incentive Takes note of the recommendations of the Commission contained in paragraph 65 of its report;Ibid., Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/62/30 and Corr.1). II Strengthening of the international civil service 1. Reaffirms that the staff of the United Nations is an invaluable asset of the Organization, and commends its contribution to furthering the purposes and principles of the United Nations; 2. Welcomes the steps taken by the Commission to strengthen its role and improve its functioning, as set out in paragraphs 68 to 72 of its report,Ibid., Supplement No. 30 and corrigendum (A/62/30 and Corr.1). and encourages the Commission to continue this process. RESOLUTION 62/228 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/597, para. 7) 62/228. Administration of justice at the United Nations The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 57/307 of 15 April 2003, 59/266 of 23 December 2004, 59/283 of 13 April 2005 and 61/261 of 4 April 2007, Emphasizing the importance for the United Nations to have an efficient and effective system of administration of justice so as to ensure that individuals and the Organization are held accountable for their actions in accordance with relevant resolutions and regulations, Reaffirming its decision in paragraph 4 of resolution 61/261 to establish a new, independent, transparent, professionalized, adequately resourced and decentralized system of administration of justice consistent with the relevant rules of international law and the principles of the rule of law and due process to ensure respect for the rights and obligations of staff members and the accountability of managers and staff members alike, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on revised estimates relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 and the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/261,A/61/891. on the administration of justice,A/62/294. on the outcome of the work of the Joint Appeals Board during 2005 and 2006 and statistics on the disposition of cases and work of the Panel of CounselA/62/179. and on the activities of the Ombudsman,A/62/311. the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/936; and A/62/7/Add.7 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A). and the letter dated 20 November 2007 from the President of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Fifth Committee,A/C.5/62/11. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on revised estimates relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 and the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 pursuant to General Assembly resolution 61/261,A/61/891. on the administration of justice,A/62/294. on the outcome of the work of the Joint Appeals Board during 2005 and 2006 and statistics on the disposition of cases and work of the Panel of CounselA/62/179. and on the activities of the OmbudsmanA/62/311. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/936; and A/62/7/Add.7 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A). 2. Recalls its decision 62/519 of 6 December 2007; 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; I New system of administration of justice 4. Stresses the importance of allocating adequate resources to establish the new system of administration of justice; 5. Acknowledges the evolving nature of the new system of administration of justice and the need to carefully monitor its implementation; 6. Stresses the importance of ensuring access for all staff members to the system of administration of justice, regardless of their duty station; A. Scope 7. Decides that individuals who have access to the current system of administration of justice shall have access to the new system; 8. Also decides to revert to the issue of the scope of the system of administration of justice at the second part of its resumed sixty-second session, and requests information in this regard from the Secretary-General; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the daily paid workers in peacekeeping missions are made aware of their rights and obligations and that they have access to suitable recourse procedures within the framework of the United Nations; B. Office of Administration of Justice 10. Decides to establish the Office of Administration of Justice, comprising the Office of the Executive Director and the Office of Staff Legal Assistance, as well as the Registries for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and the United Nations Appeals Tribunal; 11. Also decides that the Office of the Executive Director is to consist of one Executive Director (D-2), one Special Assistant (P-4) and one Administrative Assistant (General Service (Other level)), and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that these positions are filled as a matter of priority but no later than 1 July 2008; C. Office of Staff Legal Assistance 12. Stresses that professional legal assistance is critical for the effective and appropriate utilization of the available mechanisms within the system of administration of justice; 13. Recalls paragraph 23 of its resolution 61/261, reiterates its support for the strengthening of professional legal assistance for staff in order for staff to continue to receive legal assistance, and decides to establish the Office of Staff Legal Assistance to succeed the Panel of Counsel; 14. Decides that the Office of Staff Legal Assistance is to consist of one Chief of Unit (P-5), one Legal Officer (P-3), one Legal Officer (P-2) and three Legal Assistants (General Service (Other level)) in New York, and one Legal Officer (P-3) each in Addis Ababa, Beirut, Geneva and Nairobi; 15. Also decides that staff at all duty stations shall continue to have access to legal assistance; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to establish a code of conduct regulating the activity of internal and external individuals providing legal assistance to staff to ensure their independence and impartiality; 17. Reiterates paragraph 24 of its resolution 61/261, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the progress made to establish a staff-funded scheme in the Organization that would provide legal advice and support to staff; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to develop incentives for staff and management, including through training opportunities, to enable and encourage staff to continue to participate in the work of the Office of Staff Legal Assistance; 19. Decides to revert to the issue of the mandate of the Office of Staff Legal Assistance at its sixty-third session; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to report on possible measures to encourage responsible use of the system of administration of justice; 21. Recognizes that the Office of Staff Legal Assistance and the Ombudsman have two distinct functions; II Informal system 22. Recognizes that the informal resolution of conflict is a crucial element of the system of administration of justice, and emphasizes that all possible use should be made of the informal system in order to avoid unnecessary litigation; 23. Also recognizes that the strengthening of the informal system may reduce recourse to the formal system, thereby avoiding unnecessary litigation; 24. Stresses the pivotal role of mediation in reconciling differences; A. Office of the Ombudsman 25. Reiterates its decision to create a single integrated and decentralized Office of the Ombudsman for the United Nations Secretariat, funds and programmes, decides to establish the Office as from 1 January 2008, and urges the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman, the Office of the Joint Ombudsperson (United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Population Fund/United Nations Children's Fund/United Nations Office for Project Services) and the Office of the Mediator of the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to strengthen the ongoing efforts for coordination and harmonization of standards, operating guidelines, reporting categories and databases; 26. Decides to establish branch offices for the Office of the Ombudsman in Bangkok, Geneva, Nairobi, Santiago and Vienna, each with one Regional Ombudsman (P-5) and one Administrative Assistant (General Service (Other level/Local level)); 27. Takes note of paragraph 22 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 28. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that staff at all duty stations have access to the Ombudsman; 29. Endorses the process of nomination and appointment of the Ombudsman, as set out in paragraphs 47 to 49 of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/294. and recommended by the Redesign Panel on the United Nations system of administration of justice in its report;A/61/205. B. Mediation Division 30. Endorses paragraph 21 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. and decides to establish the Mediation Division as from 1 January 2008; C. Systemic issues 31. Notes section IV, on systemic issues, of the report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Ombudsman,A/62/311. and emphasizes that the role of the Ombudsman is to report on broad systemic issues that he or she identifies, as well as those that are brought to his or her attention, in order to promote greater harmony in the workplace; 32. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, in the context of human resources management, on specific measures taken to address systemic issues; III Formal system 33. Reaffirms paragraphs 19 to 24 of its resolution 61/261; 34. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring access for all staff to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, and requests the Secretary-General to make provisions for the travel and related costs of staff whose physical presence before the Tribunals is deemed necessary by the Tribunals and for judges to travel as necessary to hold sessions at duty stations other than New York, Geneva and Nairobi, in particular in Bangkok, Santiago and Vienna; A. Internal Justice Council 35. Stresses that the establishment of an internal justice council can help to ensure independence, professionalism and accountability in the system of administration of justice; 36. Decides to establish by 1 March 2008 a five-member Internal Justice Council consisting of a staff representative, a management representative and two distinguished external jurists, one nominated by the staff and one by management, and chaired by a distinguished jurist chosen by consensus by the four other members; 37. Also decides that the Internal Justice Council shall perform the following tasks: (a) Liaise with the Office of Human Resources Management on issues related to the search for suitable candidates for the positions of judges, including by conducting interviews as necessary; (b) Provide its views and recommendations to the General Assembly on two or three candidates for each vacancy in the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, with due regard to geographical distribution; (c) Draft a code of conduct for the judges, for consideration by the General Assembly; (d) Provide its views on the implementation of the system of administration of justice to the General Assembly; 38. Further decides that the Internal Justice Council shall be assisted, as appropriate, by the Office of Administration of Justice; B. United Nations Dispute Tribunal and United Nations Appeals Tribunal 39. Decides to establish a two-tier formal system of administration of justice, comprising a first instance United Nations Dispute Tribunal and an appellate instance United Nations Appeals Tribunal as from 1 January 2009; 40. Also decides that judges of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and the United Nations Appeals Tribunal shall be appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Internal Justice Council; 41. Further decides to endorse the qualifications of the judges as set out in paragraphs 58 and 67 of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/294. and as further described in its decision 62/519; 42. Decides that the United Nations Dispute Tribunal shall, initially, be composed of three full-time judges, to be located in New York, Geneva and Nairobi, and two half-time judges; 43. Also decides that further consideration should be given to cases before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal being decided by a panel of judges, depending on the nature of the cases, the workload of judges and the grounds for appeal, and requests the Secretary-General to present further proposals in this regard, including resource implications, to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixty-second session; 44. Further decides that the United Nations Appeals Tribunal shall be composed of seven members who will sit in panels of at least three; 45. Decides that judges shall serve only one non-renewable term of seven years on either the United Nations Dispute Tribunal or the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, with the exception of two of the initial judges of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and three of the initial judges of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, to be determined by drawing of lots, who shall serve three years and may consequently apply to the same Tribunal for a non-renewable term of seven years; C. Registries 46. Decides to establish a Registry for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal in New York, Geneva and Nairobi and a Registry for the United Nations Appeals Tribunal in New York; 47. Also decides that the Registries will consist of one D-1 Registrar who will oversee the Registries and, for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal in New York, one P-5 Registrar, one P-2 Legal Officer and two General Service (Other level) Administrative Assistants; for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal in Geneva, one P-5 Registrar, one P-3 Legal Research Officer and two General Service (Other level) Administrative Assistants; for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal in Nairobi, one P-5 Registrar, one P-3 Legal Research Officer and two General Service (Local level) Administrative Assistants; and for the United Nations Appeals Tribunal in New York, one P-5 Registrar, one P-3 Legal Officer and two General Service (Other level) Administrative Assistants; and further decides to approve, as general temporary assistance in New York, the equivalent of one P-4 Information Technology Officer, one General Service (Other level) Information Technology Assistant and Legal Research Officer positions equivalent to P-4 in both Geneva and Nairobi; 48. Requests the Secretary-General to provide to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session terms of reference for the Registries, taking into account the current working methods of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal; D. Disciplinary proceedings 49. Decides to endorse, in principle, the delegation of authority for disciplinary measures to heads of offices away from Headquarters and heads of missions/Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to present a report containing a detailed proposal regarding possible options for delegation of authority for disciplinary measures, including full delegation, as well as an assessment of possible implications for due process rights of staff members; E. Management evaluation 50. Emphasizes the need to have in place a process for management evaluation that is efficient, effective and impartial; 51. Reaffirms the importance of the general principle of exhausting administrative remedies before formal proceedings are instituted; 52. Decides to establish an independent Management Evaluation Unit in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management, with one Chief of Unit (P-5), two Legal Officers (P-4) and three Administrative Assistants (General Service (Other level)) and general temporary assistance equivalent to one P-4 Legal Officer position; 53. Takes note of paragraph 35 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 54. Emphasizes the importance of prompt decisions and responses to formal requests for management evaluation, and decides that such evaluation should be completed in a timely manner, as soon as possible and within a limit of thirty calendar days for Headquarters and forty-five calendar days for offices away from Headquarters after the submission of such a request; 55. Stresses the importance of establishing adequate accountability measures for managers to ensure their timely response to management evaluation requests; 56. Emphasizes the importance for the United Nations to have an efficient and effective system of administration of justice so as to ensure that individuals and the Organization are held accountable for their actions in accordance with relevant resolutions and regulations; IV Transitional measures 57. Recalls paragraph 31 of its resolution 61/261, and urges the Secretary-General to intensify the efforts needed to clear the existing backlog of cases before the Panel on Discrimination and Other Grievances, Joint Appeals Boards, Joint Disciplinary Committees, Disciplinary Boards, the Administrative Law Unit, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Administrative Tribunal; 58. Endorses paragraphs 73, 74, 76 and 80 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.7. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 59. Decides to revert to the issue of transitional arrangements at the second part of its resumed sixty-second session; 60. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the organizations which currently participate in the United Nations Administrative Tribunal with the aim of providing for an orderly transition to another system of their choosing, if they were not to join the new system of administration of justice; V Financial implications and cost-sharing arrangements 61. Underlines that the funding for administration of justice, based on cost-sharing arrangements, should be clear, predictable and secure; 62. Decides to approve the cost-sharing arrangement as outlined by the Secretary-General in paragraphs 161 and 162 of his report;A/62/294. 63. Urges the Secretary-General to conclude cost-sharing arrangements with the relevant funds and programmes by July 2008; 64. Requests the Secretary-General to review the arrangements for the provision of services of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the International Seabed Authority, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Court of Justice, the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; VI Further information 65. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixty-second session on the following: (a) Draft statute for the United Nations Dispute Tribunal; (b) Draft statute for the United Nations Appeals Tribunal that reflects the decisions contained in the present resolution and resolution 61/261; (c) Jurisdiction of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and the United Nations Appeals Tribunal; (d) Grounds of appeal before the United Nations Appeals Tribunal; (e) Conditions under which the United Nations Dispute Tribunal may refer cases pending before it to mediation, including the requirement of the consent of the parties and the issue of time frames; (f) A detailed proposal regarding the allocation of cases to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, taking into account geographical accessibility, the type of cases and the number of cases; (g) Compensation awarded by the tribunals and alternatives; (h) The role of staff associations vis-à-vis the formal system of justice; 66. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide further information and recommendations, as appropriate, to the General Assembly at the second part of its resumed sixty-second session, on the following: (a) The different categories of non-staff personnel performing personal services for the Organization, including experts on mission, United Nations officials other than staff members of the Secretariat and daily workers; (b) The types of dispute settlement mechanisms available to the different categories of non-staff personnel and their effectiveness; (c) The types of grievances the different categories of non-staff personnel have raised in the past and what bodies of law are relevant to such claims; (d) Any other mechanism that could be envisaged to provide effective and efficient dispute settlement to the different categories of non-staff personnel, taking into account the nature of their contractual relationship with the Organization; 67. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at the main part of its sixty-third session on the following: (a) The revised terms of reference for the Ombudsman, taking into account the changes in functions, presence and proposed locations; (b) The results of the negotiations between the United Nations and other participating entities on cost-sharing arrangements for the system of administration of justice; (c) Mechanisms for the formal removal of judges, definition of the "grounds of misconduct or incapacity" and the means for the establishment of such grounds in a specific case; (d) Viable options for programme support cost/trust funds to share the cost of the new internal justice system; VII Other issues 68. Invites the Sixth Committee to consider the legal aspects of the reports to be submitted by the Secretary-General, without prejudice to the role of the Fifth Committee as the Main Committee entrusted with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters; 69. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that information concerning the details of the new system of administration of justice, in particular options for recourse, is readily accessible by all staff covered under the new system; 70. Also requests the Secretary-General to develop a comprehensive approach to address privacy rights of staff, including their right to confidentiality, and the responsibility of the Organization for ensuring the due process rights of its staff under investigation; 71. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on how information and communications technology can improve the functioning of the system of administration of justice. RESOLUTION 62/229 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/598, para. 6) 62/229. Financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 The General Assembly, I Second performance report on the budget of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2006-2007 Having considered the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the budget, for the biennium 2006-2007, of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994,A/62/557. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/62/578. Recalling its resolution 49/251 of 20 July 1995 on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 60/241 of 23 December 2005 and 61/241 of 22 December 2006, 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the budget, for the biennium 2006-2007, of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994A/62/557. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/62/578. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in section IV.A of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 3. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States that have contributed to the Voluntary Fund to support the activities of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and invites Member States to continue making voluntary contributions to the Tribunal both in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General; 4. Notes with concern the high vacancy rate at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, especially in the Office of the Prosecutor and the Registry, and urges the Secretary-General to take appropriate measures to address this problem; 5. Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007, the amount of 277,127,700 United States dollars gross (254,757,400 dollars net) approved in its resolution 61/241 for the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda shall be adjusted by the amount of 2,384,700 dollars gross (2,357,200 dollars net), for a total amount of 279,512,400 dollars gross (257,114,600 dollars net); II Budget of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2008-2009 Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2008-2009,A/62/468. and on the revised estimates arising from the effects of changes in rates of exchange and inflation,A/62/586. Having also considered the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/62/578. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for the biennium 2008-2009,A/62/468. and on the revised estimates arising from the effects of changes in rates of exchange and inflation;A/62/586. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/62/578. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Recalls paragraph 4 of its resolution 61/241, and reaffirms the importance of the timely submission of reports on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in order to facilitate their proper consideration early in the session; 4. Takes note of section II.E of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/468. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to include information on specific parameters of the management of the funds to be appropriated to meet future requirements for pension benefits of the judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and eligible beneficiaries in the context of the first performance report for the biennium 2008-2009; 6. Decides to revert to the issue of funding the pension-related liabilities of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda at its sixty-fourth session, taking into account the report of the Secretary-General requested in paragraph 11 of its resolution 61/262 of 4 April 2007; 7. Also decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 a total amount of 267,356,200 dollars gross (247,466,600 dollars net) for the biennium 2008-2009, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 8. Further decides that the total assessment for 2008 under the Special Account amounting to 136,062,800 dollars, shall consist of: (a) 133,678,100 dollars, being half of the estimated appropriation approved for the biennium 2008-2009; (b) 2,384,700 dollars, being the increase in the final appropriation for the biennium 2006-2007 approved by the General Assembly in paragraph 5 of section I above; 9. Decides to apportion the amount of 68,031,400 dollars gross (63,045,250 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2008; 10. Also decides to apportion the amount of 68,031,400 dollars gross (63,045,250 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2008; 11. Further decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 9 and 10 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 9,972,300 dollars approved for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for 2008. Annex Financing for the biennium 2008-2009 of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 62/22 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Congo, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Economic Community of West African States), Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/22. Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/71 of 6 December 2006 on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them, Deeply concerned by the magnitude of human casualty and suffering, especially among children, caused by the illicit proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons, Concerned by the negative impact that the illicit proliferation and use of those weapons continue to have on the efforts of States in the Sahelo-Saharan subregion in the areas of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the maintenance of peace, security and stability, Bearing in mind the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted at Bamako on 1 December 2000,A/CONF.192/PC/23, annex. Recalling the report of the Secretary-General entitled "In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all",A/59/2005. in which he emphasized that States must strive just as hard to eliminate the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons as they do to eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction, Taking note of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted on 8 December 2005,A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex; see also decision 60/519. Welcoming the expression of support in the 2005 World Summit Outcome for the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See resolution 60/1, para. 94. Welcoming also the adoption, at the thirtieth ordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States, held in Abuja in June 2006, of the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials, in replacement of the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, Welcoming further the decision taken by the Economic Community to establish a Small Arms Unit responsible for advocating appropriate policies and developing and implementing programmes, as well as the establishment of the Economic Community's Small Arms Control Programme, launched on 6 June 2006 in Bamako, in replacement of the Programme for Coordination and Assistance for Security and Development, Taking note of the latest report of the Secretary-General on assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,A/62/162. Welcoming, in that regard, the decision of the European Union to significantly support the Economic Community in its efforts to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, Recognizing the important role that civil society organizations play, by raising public awareness, in efforts to curb the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons, Taking note of the report of the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held in New York from 26 June to 7 July 2006,A/CONF.192/2006/RC/9. 1. Commends the United Nations and international, regional and other organizations for their assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 2. Encourages the Secretary-General to pursue his efforts in the context of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 49/75 G of 15 December 1994 and the recommendations of the United Nations advisory missions aimed at curbing the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons and collecting them in the affected States that so request, with the support of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and in close cooperation with the African Union; 3. Encourages the international community to support the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials; 4. Encourages the countries of the Sahelo-Saharan subregion to facilitate the effective functioning of national commissions to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and, in that regard, invites the international community to lend its support wherever possible; 5. Encourages the collaboration of civil society organizations and associations in the efforts of the national commissions to combat the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 6. Also encourages cooperation among State organs, international organizations and civil society in supporting programmes and projects aimed at combating the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 7. Calls upon the international community to provide technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to take action to help to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; 8. Invites the Secretary-General and those States and organizations that are in a position to do so to continue to provide assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to consider the matter and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them". RESOLUTION 62/230 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/599, para. 6) 62/230. Financing of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 The General Assembly, I Second performance report on the budget of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2006-2007 Having considered the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the budget, for the biennium 2006-2007, of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/62/556. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/62/578. Recalling its resolution 47/235 of 14 September 1993 on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and its subsequent resolutions thereon, the latest of which were resolutions 60/243 of 23 December 2005 and 61/242 of 22 December 2006, 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the budget, for the biennium 2006-2007, of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991A/62/556. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;See A/62/578. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in section III.A of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 3. Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007, the amount of 326,573,900 United States dollars gross (297,130,500 dollars net) approved in its resolution 61/242 for the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia shall be adjusted by the amount of 22,405,400 dollars gross (19,062,200 dollars net), for a total amount of 348,979,300 dollars gross (316,458,000 dollars net); II Budget of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2008-2009 Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2008-2009A/62/374. and on the revised estimates arising from changes in rates of exchange and inflation,A/62/586. Having also considered the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/62/578. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the financing of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for the biennium 2008-2009A/62/374. and on the revised estimates arising from changes in rates of exchange and inflation;A/62/586. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,See A/62/578. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Recalls paragraph 4 of its resolution 61/241 of 22 December 2006, and reaffirms the importance of the timely submission of reports on the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in order to facilitate their proper consideration early in the session; 4. Takes note of section II.E of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/374. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to include information on specific parameters of the management of the funds to be appropriated to meet future requirements for pension benefits of the judges of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and eligible beneficiaries in the context of the first performance report for the biennium 2008-2009; 6. Decides to revert to the issue of funding of the pension-related liabilities of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at its sixty-fourth session, taking into account the report of the Secretary-General requested in paragraph 11 of its resolution 61/262 of 4 April 2007; 7. Also decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 a total amount of 347,566,900 dollars gross (316,472,100 dollars net) for the biennium 2008-2009, as detailed in the annex to the present resolution; 8. Further decides that the financing of the appropriation for the biennium 2008-2009 under the Special Account shall take into account the estimated income of 265,300 dollars for the biennium, which shall be set off against the aggregate amount of the appropriation; 9. Decides that the total assessment for 2008 under the Special Account, amounting to 196,100,900 dollars, shall consist of: (a) 173,650,800 dollars, being half of the estimated appropriation approved for the biennium 2008-2009, after taking into account 132,650 dollars, which is half of the estimated income for the biennium of 265,300 dollars; (b) 22,450,100 dollars, being the increase in the final appropriation for the biennium 2006-2007 approved by the General Assembly in paragraph 3 of section I above, after taking into account a decrease in income of 44,700 dollars for the biennium; 10. Also decides to apportion the amount of 98,050,450 dollars gross (88,605,150 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget of the United Nations for 2008; 11. Further decides to apportion the amount of 98,050,450 dollars gross (88,605,150 dollars net) among Member States in accordance with the scale of assessments applicable to peacekeeping operations for 2008; 12. Decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraphs 10 and 11 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of the estimated staff assessment income of 18,890,600 dollars approved for the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for 2008. Annex Financing for the biennium 2008-2009 of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTION 62/231 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/600, para. 6) 62/231. Transfer of buildings to the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy The General Assembly, Recalling its decision 58/557 of 23 December 2003, in which the it expressed its appreciation to the Government of Italy for offering five additional buildings to the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, and approved their transfer, Recalling also financial regulation 3.11 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the transfer of buildings to the United Nations Logistics Base,A/62/548. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/559. 1. Notes with appreciation the offer by the Government of Italy of six additional buildings and twelve open areas to the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy; 2. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General on the transfer of buildings to the United Nations Logistics Base;A/62/548. 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/559. 4. Approves the transfer of the six additional buildings and twelve open areas pledged by the Government of Italy to the United Nations Logistics Base. RESOLUTION 62/232 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/601, para. 6) 62/232. Financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 61/279 of 29 June 2007, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur,A/62/380. the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary QuestionsA/62/540. and the letter dated 2 October 2007 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly,A/62/379. and recognizing that the costs of the Operation are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling Security Council resolution 1769 (2007) of 31 July 2007, by which the Council established the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur for an initial period of twelve months as from 31 July 2007, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in its resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Operation with the necessary financial resources to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, Noting the hybrid nature of the Operation, and in that regard stressing the importance of ensuring full coordination of efforts between the African Union and the United Nations at the strategic level, unity of command at the operational level and clear delegation of authority and accountability lines, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005, 60/266 of 30 June 2006 and 61/276 of 29 June 2007, as well as other relevant resolutions; 2. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 3. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 4. Emphasizes the importance of interaction and coordination with troop-contributing countries; 5. Recalls section I, paragraph 6, of its resolution 55/238 of 23 December 2000 and paragraph 11 of its resolution 56/241 of 24 December 2001, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure the proper representation of troop-contributing countries in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, of the Secretariat, taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping; 6. Also recalls that the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur should have a predominantly African character and that the troops should, as far as possible, be sourced from African countries; 7. Reaffirms, in the context of all Security Council decisions on peacekeeping operations, the prerogatives of the General Assembly in issues related to administrative and budgetary matters; 8. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 9. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 10. Recalls the unique nature and mandate of each operation, and stresses that the resource requirements should be commensurate with the mandates and complexities of each operation; 11. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Operation; 12. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/540. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 13. Takes note of paragraphs 37, 40, 46, 48, 66, 68, 70 and 74 of the report of the Advisory Committee; 14. Decides to establish 13 posts for the Conduct and Discipline Team and 14 positions to be funded from general temporary assistance; 15. Recalls paragraph 35 of its resolution 61/279, and decides to approve 13 posts (4 P-5, 8 P-4 and 1 General Service) for the Integrated Operational Team in order to provide backstopping for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the United Nations Mission in the Sudan and the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, to be financed through the support account for peacekeeping operations, and requests the Secretary-General to report expenditures thereon for the financial period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 in the performance report for the period; 16. Looks forward to the finalizing of the exchange of letters between the United Nations and the African Union as set out in the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/380. 17. Notes with concern that the budget of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 was not submitted in a results-based-budgeting format, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the budget of the Operation for the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009 is submitted in full compliance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the preparation of budgets for peacekeeping missions; 18. Reaffirms its resolution 55/231 of 23 December 2000, and requests the Secretary-General to prepare the budgets of peacekeeping operations in full compliance with that resolution; 19. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to integrate operational, logistical and financial aspects fully in the planning phase of peacekeeping operations by linking results-based budgeting to the mandate implementation plans of peacekeeping operations; 20. Reaffirms the importance of ensuring that the work undertaken during the planning phase preceding the deployment of missions is as effective and accurate as possible, and emphasizes the importance of drawing on lessons learned; 21. Takes note of the large scope and number of extraordinary measures contained in the letter from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly;A/62/379. 22. Notes with concern the recurrent application of extraordinary measures in peacekeeping operations; 23. Stresses the need for effective management and mitigation of risks in all phases of United Nations peacekeeping missions; 24. Underlines the risks inherent in the use of extraordinary measures, and stresses the importance of adequate advance planning to avoid the application of such measures; 25. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the financial regulations and rules of the Organization are abided by and fully upheld in all phases of the Operation; 26. Reaffirms the need for the procurement system to be transparent, open, impartial and cost-effective, based on competitive bidding and fully reflecting the international character of the United Nations; 27. Notes with concern the decision of the Secretary-General to utilize a single-source contract without competitive bidding, and requests the Secretary-General to take immediate action to supply goods and services in compliance with the established procedures for procurement, based on international competitive bidding and the widest possible geographical base of procurement, so as to avoid a non-competitive extension of the present contract; 28. Recalls its resolution 54/14 of 29 October 1999 regarding the need to take steps to ensure that specifications are not deliberately tailored to predetermine the choice of supplier and that the principle of separation of responsibilities of the requisitioning and approving officers is maintained; 29. Encourages the use of procurement within the region for the requirements of missions, taking into account efficiency and cost-effectiveness; 30. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat to undertake a comprehensive review of the use of the extraordinary measures for the Operation contained in the letter from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly;A/62/379. 31. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure full respect for all legislative mandates, and notes with concern that the Secretary-General did not respond to its request contained in paragraphs 13 and 14 of its resolution 61/289 of 29 June 2007; 32. Further requests the Secretary-General to further explore, without prejudice to the distinct mandates, resources, roles and areas of operation of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, the scope for synergies and cooperation between the two missions, where possible, and to report thereon to the General Assembly in the context of the budgets of the missions for the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009; 33. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his 2008/09 budget submission details of the mechanisms that exist at Headquarters and in the field for ensuring coordination and collaboration among all United Nations actors active in the relevant mission area; 34. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that future budgets of the Operation contain sufficient information, explanation and justification of the proposed resource requirements relating to its operational costs in order to allow Member States to take well-informed decisions; 35. Further requests the Secretary-General to review the structure of the Operation and the allocation of posts and their grade levels as personnel are deployed and on the basis of actual workloads and experience gained, and to reflect that ongoing review in future budget submissions; 36. Underlines the need for the deployment of staff of the Operation to be phased in order to conform to its operational needs as it evolves and to its support capacity, and stresses in this regard that during its start-up phase the principal focus of the Operation should be to ensure that core capacity is quickly put in place; 37. Also underlines the need for the deployment of civilian staff to be phased in accordance with the deployment of military and police personnel; 38. Notes that the Secretary-General proposes to create 548 volunteer positions, of which only 4 would be for nationals of the Sudan, and requests the Secretary-General to explore ways of increasing to 48.the number of nationals of the Sudan; 39. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolutions 59/296, 60/266 and 61/276; 40. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Operation is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 41. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Operation against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Operation; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 42. Authorizes the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur for the purpose of accounting for the income received and expenditure incurred in respect of the Operation; 43. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur the amount of 1,275,653,700 United States dollars for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 for the establishment of the Operation; Financing of the appropriation 44. Also decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 1,275,653,700 dollars for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 61/243 of 22 December 2006, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2007 and 2008, as set out in its resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006; 45. Further decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 44 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 11,380,200 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Operation; 46. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 47. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Operation, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 48. Invites voluntary contributions to the Operation in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 49. Decides to keep under review during its sixty-second session the item entitled "Financing of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur". RESOLUTION 62/233 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/602, para. 6) 62/233. Financing of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financing of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and ChadA/62/544. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/572. Recalling Security Council resolution 1778 (2007) of 25 September 2007, by which the Council approved the establishment in Chad and the Central African Republic, in consultation with the authorities of Chad and the Central African Republic, of a multidimensional presence, and decided that the multidimensional presence should include, for a period of one year, a United Nations mission in the Central African Republic and Chad, Recognizing that the costs of the Mission are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the general principles underlying the financing of United Nations peacekeeping operations, as stated in General Assembly resolutions 1874 (S-IV) of 27 June 1963, 3101 (XXVIII) of 11 December 1973 and 55/235 of 23 December 2000, Mindful of the fact that it is essential to provide the Mission with the financial resources necessary to enable it to fulfil its responsibilities under the relevant resolution of the Security Council, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Head of Mission with the task of formulating future budget proposals, in full accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 59/296 of 22 June 2005, 60/266 of 30 June 2006 and 61/276 of 29 June 2007 and other relevant resolutions; 2. Expresses concern at the financial situation with regard to peacekeeping activities, in particular as regards the reimbursements to troop contributors that bear additional burdens owing to overdue payments by Member States of their assessments; 3. Also expresses concern at the delay experienced by the Secretary-General in deploying and providing adequate resources to some recent peacekeeping missions, in particular those in Africa; 4. Emphasizes that all future and existing peacekeeping missions shall be given equal and non-discriminatory treatment in respect of financial and administrative arrangements; 5. Also emphasizes that all peacekeeping missions shall be provided with adequate resources for the effective and efficient discharge of their respective mandates; 6. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make the fullest possible use of facilities and equipment at the United Nations Logistics Base at Brindisi, Italy, in order to minimize the costs of procurement for the Mission; 7. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/572. subject to the provisions of the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure their full implementation; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his 2008/09 budget submission details of the mechanisms that exist at Headquarters and in the field for ensuring coordination and collaboration among all the United Nations actors active in the relevant Mission area; 9. Notes that the Secretary-General did not propose an integrated mission, and recognizes the importance of coordination and collaboration among the Mission and the United Nations actors active in the Mission area; 10. Underlines the need for the deployment of staff to be phased in order to conform to the operational needs of the Mission as it evolves and to the support capacity of the Mission, and stresses in this regard that, during a mission's start-up phase, the principal focus of the mission should be to get core capacity in place quickly; 11. Also underlines the need for the deployment of civilian staff to be phased in accordance with the deployment of the European Union operation and the Mission's police personnel, as well as with adequate security provision on the ground; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that future budgets contain sufficient information, justification and explanation of the proposed resource requirements relating to the operational costs of the Mission to allow Member States to take well-informed decisions; 13. Notes with concern that the budget of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 was not submitted in a results-based-budgeting format, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the budget of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009 is submitted in full compliance with relevant resolutions of the General Assembly on the preparation of budgets for peacekeeping missions; 14. Reaffirms its resolution 55/231 of 23 December 2000, and requests the Secretary-General to prepare the budgets of peacekeeping operations in full compliance with that resolution; 15. Decides to establish 2 posts for the Conduct and Discipline Team and 2 positions to be funded from general temporary assistance; 16. Approves the utilization of general temporary assistance equivalent to 1 P-4 for the establishment of a Best Practices Officer position, pending consideration of the report requested in section V, paragraph 2, of its resolution 61/276; 17. Stresses the need for the best practices function to be performed from the start-up phase of the Mission, including the possibility of using the capacity of the Peacekeeping Best Practices Section at Headquarters; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the full implementation of the relevant provisions of its resolutions 59/296, 60/266 and 61/276; 19. Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Mission is administered with a maximum of efficiency and economy; 20. Further requests the Secretary-General, in order to reduce the cost of employing General Service staff, to continue efforts to recruit local staff for the Mission against General Service posts, commensurate with the requirements of the Mission; Expenditure report for the period from 1 March to 30 June 2007 21. Authorizes the Secretary-General to establish a special account for the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad for the purpose of accounting for the income received and expenditure incurred in respect of the Mission; 22. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad the amount of 1,114,100 United States dollars, previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for the establishment of the advance mission in Chad and the Central African Republic, for the period from 1 March to 30 June 2007, under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A of 23 December 1994; Financing of the appropriation for the period from 1 March to 30 June 2007 23. Also decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 1,114,100 dollars for the period from 1 March to 30 June 2007, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 61/243 of 22 December 2006, and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2007, as set out in its resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006; 24. Further decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 23 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 10,100 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the advance mission for the period from 1 March to 30 June 2007; Budget estimates for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 25. Decides to appropriate to the Special Account for the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad the amount of 182,444,000 dollars for the establishment and maintenance of the Mission for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008, inclusive of the amount of 45,828,200 dollars previously authorized by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for the advance mission in Chad and the Central African Republic under the terms of section IV of General Assembly resolution 49/233 A; Financing of the appropriation for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 26. Also decides to apportion among Member States the amount of 182,444,000 dollars for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008, in accordance with the levels updated in General Assembly resolution 61/243 and taking into account the scale of assessments for 2007 and 2008 as set out in its resolution 61/237; 27. Further decides that, in accordance with the provisions of its resolution 973 (X), there shall be set off against the apportionment among Member States, as provided for in paragraph 26 above, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund of 2,537,000 dollars, representing the estimated staff assessment income approved for the Mission for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008; 28. Emphasizes that no peacekeeping mission shall be financed by borrowing funds from other active peacekeeping missions; 29. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of all personnel under the auspices of the United Nations participating in the Mission, bearing in mind paragraphs 5 and 6 of Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003; 30. Invites voluntary contributions to the Mission in cash and in the form of services and supplies acceptable to the Secretary-General, to be administered, as appropriate, in accordance with the procedure and practices established by the General Assembly; 31. Decides to keep under review during its sixty-second session the item entitled "Financing of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad". RESOLUTION 62/234 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/605, para. 6) 62/234. Reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services and financing of the Procurement Task Force The General Assembly, Having considered the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its activitiesA/61/264 (Part I) and Add.1; and A/62/281 (Part I) and Add.1. and the related notes by the Secretary-General,A/61/264 (Part I)/Add.2; and A/62/281 (Part I)/Add.2. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the inspection of the programme and administrative management of the Economic and Social Commission for Western AsiaA/61/61. and the related note by the Secretary-General,A/61/61/Add.1 the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the activities of the United Nations Thessaloniki Centre for Public Service Professionalism,A/62/176. the report of the Secretary-General on the Procurement Task Force,A/61/603. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the activities of the Procurement Task ForceA/62/272. and the related note by the Secretary-General,A/62/272/Add.1. and the report of the Secretary-General on the resource requirements for procurement investigationsA/62/520. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.15. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its activitiesA/61/264 (Part I) and Add.1; and A/62/281 (Part I) and Add.1. and the related notes by the Secretary-General,A/61/264 (Part I)/Add.2; and A/62/281 (Part I)/Add.2. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the inspection of the programme and administrative management of the Economic and Social Commission for Western AsiaA/61/61. and the related note by the Secretary-General,A/61/61/Add.1 the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the activities of the United Nations Thessaloniki Centre for Public Service Professionalism,A/62/176. the report of the Secretary-General on the Procurement Task ForceA/61/603. and the report of the Secretary-General on the resource requirements for procurement investigations;A/62/520. 2. Regrets the piecemeal manner in which the investigations-related issues contained in these reports have been presented to the General Assembly for its consideration; 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.15. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 4. Decides to conduct an overall review of the capacity of the Investigations Division of the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat by 30 June 2008, and that the review will include, inter alia, the activities of the Procurement Task Force; 5. Notes the ad hoc nature of the Procurement Task Force and, in accordance with regulations 7.6 and 7.7 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. requests the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions to request the Board of Auditors to conduct an audit of the activities of the Task Force for the period from 1 January 2006 to 30 June 2007, including its compliance with established transparency and accountability measures of the Organization and the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and to report thereon separately to the General Assembly at the main part of its sixty-third session; 6. Decides to revert to the consideration of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the activities of the Procurement Task ForceA/62/272. and the related note by the Secretary-GeneralA/62/272/Add.1. at the first part of the resumed sixty-second session; 7. Recalls its resolutions 61/275 and 61/279 of 29 June 2007, and decides to revert to the consideration of the report on the overall review of the capacity of the Investigations Division of the Office of Internal Oversight Services at the first part of the resumed sixty-second session; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the report referred to in paragraph 7 above to the attention of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. RESOLUTIONS 62/235 A and B Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/603, para. 7) 62/235. Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 A Final budget appropriations for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly, 1. Takes note of the second performance report of the Secretary-General on the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007,A/62/575. and endorses the observations and recommendations contained in the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/589. 2. Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007: (a) The amount of 4,302,005,000 United States dollars appropriated by it in its resolutions 61/253 A of 22 December 2006, 61/258 of 26 March 2007 and 61/275 of 29 June 2007 shall be decreased by 113,232,600 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED (b) The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget, with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee; (c) In addition to the appropriations approved under subparagraph (a) above, an amount of 75,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2006-2007 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the Library at the Palais des Nations as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment; (d) To increase the provision under section 34, Development Account, by the amount of 5 million dollars. B Final income estimates for the biennium 2006-2007 The General Assembly, Resolves that, for the biennium 2006-2007: (a) The estimates of income of 492,248,800 United States dollars approved by it in its resolutions 61/253 B of 22 December 2006, 61/258 of 26 March 2007 and 61/275 of 29 June 2007 shall be increased by 12,930,700 dollars, as follows: TABLE REMOVED (b) The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; (c) Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, catering and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications not provided for under the budget appropriations shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. RESOLUTION 62/236 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/563/Add.1, para. 48), by a recorded vote of 142 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 62/236. Questions relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/253 of 24 December 2001, 58/270 of 23 December 2003 and 60/246 of 23 December 2005, Reaffirming its resolutions 41/213 of 19 December 1986, 42/211 of 21 December 1987, 45/248 B, section VI, of 21 December 1990, 55/231 of 23 December 2000, 58/269 of 23 December 2003, 60/247 A to C of 23 December 2005 and 61/254 of 22 December 2006, Reaffirming also the respective mandates of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Committee for Programme and Coordination in the consideration of the proposed programme budget, Reaffirming further the role of the General Assembly, through the Fifth Committee, in carrying out a thorough analysis and approval of posts and financial resources, as well as of human resources policies, Recognizing the detrimental effect of the withholding of assessed contributions on the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations, Having considered the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009,A/62/6 (Introduction) and Corr.1, (Sects. 1-3), (Sect. 4) and Corr.1, (Sects. 5-7), (Sect. 8) and Corr.1, (Sects. 9-11), (Sect. 12) and Corr.1, (Sect. 13) and Add.1, (Sects. 14-18), (Sect. 19) and Corr.1, (Sects. 20-22), (Sect. 23) and Corr.1, (Sect. 24) and Corr.1, (Sects. 25-27), (Sect. 28), (Sect. 28A) and Corr.1, (Sect. 28B) and Corr.1, (Sect. 28C) and Corr.1, (Sect. 28D), (Sect. 28E) and Corr.1 and 2, (Sects. 28F and G), (Sect. 29) and Corr.1, (Sects. 30-35), (Income sects. 1-3) and A/62/91. the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the experience of the utilization of the contingency fund,A/62/229. the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1); A/62/7/Add.1 and Corr.1 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A); and A/62/349. chapter III.B of the report of the Committee for Programme and CoordinationOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/62/16). and the report of the Secretary-General on the changes to the biennial programme plan as reflected in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009,A/62/80/Add.1. Stressing that the established procedures for the formulation, approval and implementation of the programme budget must be maintained and strictly followed, 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). subject to the provisions of the present resolution; Policy issues 2. Decides that the staffing table for the biennium 2008-2009 shall be as set out in the annex to the present resolution; 3. Reaffirms that the Fifth Committee is the appropriate Main Committee of the General Assembly entrusted with responsibility for administrative and budgetary matters; 4. Also reaffirms rule 153 of its rules of procedure; 5. Further reaffirms that no changes to the budget methodology, to established budgetary procedures and practices or to the financial regulations may be implemented without prior review and approval by the General Assembly, in accordance with established budgetary procedures; 6. Reaffirms the established budgetary procedures and methodology, based on its resolutions 41/213 and 42/211; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to strictly abide by the above-mentioned established budgetary procedures and methodology in future budget submissions; 8. Stresses that all Member States should fulfil their financial obligations as set out in the Charter of the United Nations on time, in full and without conditions; 9. Notes with concern the piecemeal approach to the budget process, and requests the Secretary-General, for all future proposed programme budgets, to take the necessary steps to avoid such a piecemeal approach to the budget process and ensure the fullest possible picture of the Organization's requirements for future bienniums; 10. Requests the Secretary-General, in preparing the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011, to ensure full compliance with the provisions of General Assembly resolutions 55/231 and 58/269 and with the relevant recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Committee for Programme and Coordination, bearing in mind the intergovernmental, multilateral and international character of the United Nations; 11. Emphasizes the importance of providing the information necessary to enable Member States to make well-informed decisions; 12. Reiterates the priorities of the Organization for the period 2008-2009 as outlined in its resolution 61/235 of 22 December 2006; 13. Also reiterates that the allocation of resources should reflect fully the priorities established in the biennial programme plan;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 6 (A/61/6/Rev.1). 14. Emphasizes that the resources proposed by the Secretary-General should be commensurate with all mandated programmes and activities in order to ensure their full, efficient and effective implementation; 15. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee for Programme and Coordination as contained in chapter III.B of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 16 (A/62/16). 16. Approves the changes to programme 4, Peacekeeping operations, of the biennial programme plan for the period 2008-2009, as reflected in the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/80/Add.1. 17. Also approves the changes to the programme narratives of section 6, Peaceful uses of outer space; section 9, Economic and social affairs; section 11, United Nations support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development; and section 23, Human rights, of the proposed programme budget, as reflected in the reports and statements of programme budget implications submitted by the Secretary-General;A/C.5/62/12, A/C.5/62/14, A/C.5/62/15, A/C.5/62/19, A/C.5/62/20, A/62/125 and A/62/515. 18. Emphasizes that programmes and activities mandated by the General Assembly must be respected and implemented fully in the most effective and efficient manner; 19. Takes note of the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions as contained in paragraph 40 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). 20. Reaffirms section II of its resolution 61/244 of 22 December 2006; 21. Also reaffirms paragraph 22 of its resolution 61/266 of 16 May 2007; Accountability 22. Recalls its resolutions 61/245 of 22 December 2006 and 61/279 of 29 June 2007, and reiterates its request that the Secretary-General specifically define accountability as well as clear accountability mechanisms, including to the General Assembly, and propose clear parameters for its application and the instruments for its rigorous enforcement, without exception, at all levels, during the sixty-second session; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen his efforts to achieve greater transparency at all levels; Extrabudgetary funding 24. Requests the Secretary-General, in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011, to submit estimates of the total amount of resources, from all sources of financing, that he should have at his disposal to be able to implement fully the mandated programmes and activities efficiently and effectively; 25. Encourages donors to continue, where appropriate, to increase their contributions to the core budgets of the departments of the Secretariat; Results-based budgeting 26. Reaffirms paragraph 28 of its resolution 55/231, stresses the importance of results-based budgeting and the need for adequate training to ensure its full implementation, and looks forward to its review at future sessions; Budget presentation 27. Requests the Secretary-General, in future budget submissions, to propose measures to offset budget increases, wherever possible, without undermining the implementation of mandated programmes and activities; 28. Decides that supplementary financial information being presented to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, including, inter alia, detailed explanations of requirements by component and source of funds and by object of expenditure, should also be made available to Member States, including through the Fifth Committee website; Vacancy rates and staffing 29. Expresses concern at the high vacancy rate, especially in the Professional category of posts, in certain areas of the Organization, particularly in some duty stations and regional commissions, emphasizes in this regard its negative impact on the effective delivery of mandated programmes and activities, and requests the Secretary-General to recruit staff expeditiously through proper planning and by streamlining personnel practices and procedures to undertake necessary measures to reduce the vacancy rates; 30. Reaffirms that the vacancy rate is a tool for budgetary calculations and should not be used to achieve budgetary savings; 31. Also reaffirms that deliberate management decisions to keep a certain number of posts vacant should not be taken, as this action makes the budget process less transparent and the management of human and financial resources less efficient; 32. Takes note of paragraph 21 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). 33. Notes the practice of incremental budgeting where only new requirements are justified, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that whenever new proposals lead to requests for additional resources, sufficient effort is made to meet the new requirements using existing resources; 34. Recalls its resolution 35/217 of 17 December 1980, reaffirms the role of the General Assembly with regard to the structure of the Secretariat, including the creation, conversion, suppression and redeployment of posts, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Assembly with comprehensive information on all decisions involving established and temporary high-level posts, including equivalent positions financed from the regular budget and from extrabudgetary resources; 35. Reiterates that any transfer of resources between posts and non-post objects of expenditures would require the approval of the General Assembly; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services of the Secretariat to include in its report on the evaluation of human resources management, as requested in its resolution 61/235, a comprehensive review of the implementation of the recruitment, promotion and mobility policies of United Nations staff over the past five years and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session in the context of human resources management; 37. Recalls paragraph VIII.85 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). and encourages the Secretary-General to ensure uniformity of performance targets in the Secretariat, taking into account the unique circumstances of each duty station and regional commission with regard to the filling of vacant posts, and to apply lessons learned as a means to improve performance in timely recruitment; 38. Notes the need for more justification to substantiate the creation of new posts or the reclassification of existing posts; 39. Recalls its decision to authorize the Secretary-General to have limited budgetary discretion for the bienniums 2006-2007 and 2008-2009, in accordance with section III of its resolution 60/283 of 7 July 2006; 40. Requests the Secretary-General to expedite recruitment for P-2 posts, in accordance with established procedures, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 41. Decides that a vacancy rate of 6.5 per cent for Professional staff, 3.5 per cent for General Service staff and 27.2 per cent for field security staff shall be used as a basis for the calculation of the budget for the biennium 2008-2009; Non-post costs 42. Decides to maintain the resources for travel of staff, contractual services and general operating expenses at the 2006-2007 level after recosting, and also decides that the relevant adjustments should not be applied to travel provisions of the regional commissions; 43. Also decides to reduce non-post resources by 2 per cent, other than for travel of staff, contractual services and general operating expenses; Consultants 44. Requests the Secretary-General to select consultants and experts, as well as staff charged against general temporary assistance, on as wide a geographical basis as possible, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of General Assembly resolution 53/221 of 7 April 1999; Information technology and conference servicing 45. Affirms the importance of compatibility of all information technology resources within and across duty stations, and stresses that the resources requested for this purpose in the current budget should be fully integrated in the future enterprise resource system; 46. Stresses that the information and communications technology strategy should be implemented in a manner that will benefit all Headquarters departments, field missions, duty stations and regional commissions and their subregional offices, bearing in mind the different operational needs and environments within which they function; 47. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring that there is no discriminatory treatment among the principal organs of the United Nations and the Main Committees and subsidiary bodies and that they are provided with adequate and quality conference servicing and support; Training 48. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate the approved resources for training on the basis of need and in an equitable manner, throughout the Secretariat, including for duty stations and regional commissions, and in this context stresses that equal training opportunities should be available for all staff, in accordance with their functions and categories; 49. Stresses that workshops, seminars and training courses should take advantage of the diverse sources of training opportunities available throughout the regions of the world; Part I Overall policymaking, direction and coordination Section 1 Overall policymaking, direction and coordination 50. Reaffirms Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations; 51. Stresses the importance of strengthened accountability in the Organization and of ensuring greater accountability of the Secretary-General to Member States, inter alia, for the effective and efficient implementation of legislative mandates and the use of human and financial resources; 52. Also stresses the importance of accountability and responsiveness of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly; 53. Emphasizes that the Executive Office of the Secretary-General should lead the entire Organization in the context of reflection of geographical distribution and gender balance, in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions and the efficient utilization of non-post resources; 54. Stresses that members of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions shall discharge their duties in full independence and in the sole interest of the Organization and its entire membership; 55. Recognizes the increase in the workload of, as well as the increased diversity and complexity of the questions examined by, the Advisory Committee without a commensurate increase in the staffing of the Committee secretariat; 56. Decides to approve one P-4 post to strengthen the staffing of the secretariat of the Advisory Committee, and requests the Secretary-General to review the functions of the post in the context of his next budget submission; Section 2 General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management 57. Requests the Secretary-General ensure that all duty stations are given equal treatment in respect of the application of modern technologies; 58. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all language services are given equal treatment and are provided with equally favourable working conditions and resources, with a view to achieving maximum quality of those services, with full respect for the specificities of the six official languages and taking into account their respective workloads; 59. Notes the critical importance of the services provided by the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management of the Secretariat, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to expedite the filling of all vacant posts in the Department in accordance with established procedures; 60. Takes note of paragraph I.25 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). 61. Decides to approve seven P-5 positions for Senior Revisers at United Nations Headquarters in New York; 62. Requests the Secretary-General to improve the on-time submission of documents and to institute measures for the accountability of the author departments for the late submission of the documents in the context of the report requested in its resolution 62/225 of 22 December 2007; 63. Decides not to approve a D-2 post proposed for the Director of the Central Planning and Coordination Division in New York; 64. Also decides to defer the establishment of a P-4 post proposed for the position of Deputy Chief of the Information Management and Technology Unit of the Central Planning and Coordination Division in New York until the start of the implementation of the information and communications technology reform plan; 65. Welcomes the efforts made in workload-sharing among the duty stations, and requests the Secretary-General actively to pursue efficiencies to be gained through possible workload-sharing in conference services among United Nations Headquarters and other duty stations; Part II Political affairs Section 3 Political affairs 66. Regrets the high vacancy rate in authorized posts for the United Nations Register of Damage caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and urges the Secretary-General to expedite the filling of these posts as a matter of priority; 67. Emphasizes the need for collaboration between the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, of the Secretariat, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure systemic cooperation so as to prevent duplication among the three departments; 68. Takes note of paragraph II.18 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). and decides to approve the positions referred to under general temporary assistance; 69. Decides that the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support shall be appointed by the Secretary-General following consultations with Member States, that for this purpose the Secretary-General shall appoint the Assistant Secretary-General with due regard for geographical rotation and that in so doing he shall be guided by the provisions of paragraph 3 (e) of General Assembly resolution 46/232 of 2 March 1992, in which the Assembly decided, in particular, that, as a general rule, no national of a Member State should succeed a national of that State in a senior post and that there should be no monopoly on senior posts by nationals of any State or group of States; 70. Also decides that the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support shall serve for one fixed term of five years without possibility of renewal; Section 5 Peacekeeping operations 71. Regrets the slow progress in recruitment for the posts approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/279 on strengthening the capacity of the United Nations to manage and sustain peacekeeping operations, and urges the Secretary-General to fill the vacant posts as a matter of priority; 72. Deeply regrets that the post of Under-Secretary-General for Field Support has not yet been filled, and requests the Secretary-General to expedite recruitment for this post, taking fully into account paragraph 2 of section IX of its resolution 61/244; Part IV International cooperation for development Section 9 Economic and social affairs 73. Recalls its resolution 60/1 of 16 September 2005, recognizes the need for strengthening of the development pillar of the United Nations Secretariat and the importance of strategic planning, and requests the Secretary-General to provide a comprehensive proposal at the first part of its resumed sixty-second session for its consideration with a view to improving the effective and efficient delivery of the mandates of the development-related activities of the Secretariat, including the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the regional commissions and the Development Account; 74. Requests the Secretary-General to fill one P-3 post for the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues expeditiously; Section 10 Least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States 75. Urges the Secretary-General to develop a concrete strategic action plan to achieve greater mobilization of resources to ensure that programme delivery can continue effectively; 76. Notes with concern the designation of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States as the focal point for the activities of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Liaison Office at United Nations Headquarters without the approval of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to restore the mandate of the New York Office of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; 77. Emphasizes the crucial importance of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, established as the follow-up mechanism to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010,A/CONF.191/13, chap II. the Almaty Programme of Action: Addressing the Special Needs of Landlocked Developing Countries within a New Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation for Landlocked and Transit Developing CountriesReport of the International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit Transport Cooperation, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 28 and 29 August 2003 (A/CONF.202/3), annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;Report of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. 78. Notes with concern a decrease of 61 per centSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1), para. IV.14. in estimated extrabudgetary resources for the biennium 2008-2009 as compared to the biennium 2006-2007 and its detrimental impact on the overall programme delivery of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and requests the Secretary-General to mobilize adequate resources from all sources to support the mandates related to this programme during the biennium 2008-2009; Section 11 United Nations support for the New Partnership for Africa's Development 79. Recalls that the development of Africa is an established priority of the United Nations, and reaffirms the commitment to address the special needs of Africa; 80. Also recalls General Assembly resolution 57/300 of 20 December 2002 and other resolutions calling for the strengthening of mechanisms to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development;A/57/304, annex. 81. Further recalls paragraph IV.18 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). 82. Notes with concern that extrabudgetary resources for the biennium 2008-2009 represent a significant drop when compared to the biennium 2006-2007, and requests the Secretary-General to make greater efforts to mobilize extrabudgetary resources for this programme and to ensure that the special needs for Africa are fully addressed; 83. Calls upon the Secretary-General to urgently fill the position of Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser for Africa as a matter of priority; Section 12 Trade and development 84. Takes note with serious concern of the decision of the Secretary-General to temporarily lend the post of Assistant Secretary-General from this programme to the United Nations Office at Geneva and its adverse implications for programme delivery, and requests the Secretary-General to restore the post to this programme and to undertake urgent measures to fill the post as a matter of priority; Section 15 Human settlements 85. Recalls paragraph 114 of its resolution 54/249 of 23 December 1999, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to make every effort to ensure stability and predictability in funding the activities of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, including through the provision of sufficient human and financial resources within the regular budget of the United Nations; Part V Regional cooperation for development 86. Emphasizes the important contribution that the regional commissions are making towards the implementation of the development agenda and other mandates given to them arising from the outcome of the Millennium SummitSee resolution 55/2. and other major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields; 87. Reiterates its requests to the Secretary-General to ensure a more balanced proportion of staff costs devoted to programme support in comparison with those devoted to the programme of work in all the regional commissions, in particular in the Economic Commission for Africa; Section 17 Economic and social development in Africa 88. Welcomes the Secretary-General's plan of action to enhance the role of the subregional offices of the Economic Commission for Africa; 89. Recognizes that the repositioning of the Economic Commission for Africa is a crucial element of reform shaping the work of the Commission for the biennium 2008-2009 and beyond, and notes that the repositioning will enhance the role of the Commission in strengthening coordination and collaboration among United Nations agencies and other agencies; 90. Emphasizes the key role of the Economic Commission for Africa in strengthening coordination and collaboration among United Nations agencies and other entities within the region; Section 17B Regional Commissions New York Office 91. Takes note of the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraph V.25 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). 92. Decides to establish one P-3 post for the Regional Commissions New York Office as from 2009 and to abolish one General Service (Principal level) post; Section 20 Economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean 93. Welcomes the efforts of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean for more productive utilization of the allocated resources and the policy of recruiting national officers; 94. Notes with concern the difficulties experienced by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in finalizing agreements for extrabudgetary funding of its projects with certain international financial institutions; Section 22 Regular programme of technical cooperation 95. Requests the Secretary-General to streamline, in accordance with budgetary guidelines, the use of long-term advisers in the execution of projects under the regular programme of technical cooperation and to report thereon in the next budget submission; 96. Welcomes the introduction of results-based budgeting at the subprogramme level; Part VI Human rights and humanitarian affairs Section 23 Human rights 97. Regrets the imbalance in the geographical distribution in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; 98. Recalls its resolution 61/244, and requests the Secretary-General to implement urgent measures to improve the balance in the geographical distribution in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including through recruitment for newly established posts, and to report on the results achieved at its sixty-third session under the relevant agenda item; 99. Notes the importance of having information on monitoring the utilization of extrabudgetary resources for the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 100. Recognizes that the overall amount appropriated for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the biennium 2006-2007 represents a 36.6 per cent increase over the revised appropriation for the biennium 2004-2005, and decides to use the revised estimates for the biennium 2004-2005 as the baseline for the agreed doubling of resources for the Office; 101. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services to undertake a comprehensive review of human resources management in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the efficiency of the implementation of its mandate and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 102. Notes with great concern the late submission of revised estimatesA/62/125. relating to Human Rights Council decision 3/104 of 8 December 2006See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53), chap. II.B. and the inclusion of additional funds to be charged against the contingency fund rather than their inclusion in the original budget proposals for the biennium 2008-2009; 103. Recalls paragraph 11 of its resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006; 104. Requests, in this regard, the Human Rights Council to exercise greater financial discipline with due regard for regulation 5.6 of the Regulations and Rules Governing Programme Planning, the Programme Aspects of the Budget, the Monitoring of Implementation and the Methods of Evaluation,ST/SGB/2000/8. through endeavours such as seeking the most cost-effective measures to implement its mandates; 105. Encourages Member States participating in the Junior Professional Officer programme to increase sponsorship of Junior Professional Officers from developing countries; 106. Requests the Secretary-General, in proposing posts for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to ensure their conformity with relevant legislative mandates, including those of the Human Rights Council; Section 25 Palestine refugees 107. Reaffirms its resolution 3331B (XXIX) of 17 December 1974, stating that expenses for salaries of international staff in the service of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which would otherwise be a charge on voluntary contributions, should be financed by the regular budget of the United Nations for the duration of the Agency's mandate; 108. Notes with concern the significant reduction in the total resources for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East over the past ten years while the overall workload and responsibilities of the programme have continued to increase; 109. Decides to approve the establishment of the following posts for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East: one D-2 for regional fund-raising, one P-5 for a Senior Protection and Policy Adviser, one P-4 for assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and one P-4 for a Gender Adviser, and requests the Secretary-General to present proposals for new posts in the context of his next budget submission; Part VII Public information Section 27 Public information 110. Stresses the importance of the status and image of the United Nations to enable effective implementation of its mandates, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the highest priority is given, in the context of the United Nations communication strategy, to the promotion and advocacy of the image of the United Nations in the face of frequent damaging reporting on United Nations activities; 111. Also stresses the importance of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat to address effectively and in a timely manner any allegations of misconduct against peacekeepers, as well as other allegations against the Secretariat, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 112. Further stresses the publication of United Nations information materials and the translation of important documents in languages other than United Nations official languages, with a view to reaching the widest possible spectrum of audiences and extending the United Nations message to all the corners of the world in order to strengthen international support for the activities of the Organization; 113. Requests the Secretary-General to promote public awareness of and to mobilize support for the work of the United Nations at the local level through all possible means of communication, including publications, the broadcasting of news and the network of United Nations information centres, bearing in mind that information in local languages has the strongest impact on local populations; 114. Recognizes the vital role of the United Nations information centres in promoting awareness about the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to make efforts to mobilize resources for the effective functioning of United Nations information centres in developing countries; 115. Notes the gap among the six official languages on the United Nations website; 116. Reaffirms the need to achieve full parity among the six official languages on the United Nations website; 117. Notes with concern that three out of four established posts are still vacant in the Arabic Language Unit of the United Nations Web Services Section, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to fill the three vacancies as a matter of priority and to inform the General Assembly through the Committee on Information at its 2008 session; 118. Notes the importance of the Graphic Design Unit in communicating the messages of the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to present proposals to enhance professional skills in this Unit in his next budget submission; 119. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to expand the scope of press releases in addition to the existing languages in order to widen the United Nations message, assuring their comprehensiveness and up-to-date nature; 120. Also requests the Secretary-General to undertake a review of the Secretariat's public information organizational framework, including a detailed explanation and analysis of its resources in all departments of the Secretariat at Headquarters, other duty stations and in field missions with a view to achieving increased coordination and efficiencies in the allocation of resources across the Secretariat; 121. Recalls paragraph VII.6 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). decides not to approve resources requested in paragraph 27.49 of the report of the Secretary-General,See A/62/6 (Sect. 27). and requests the Secretary-General to utilize the existing staff and resources of the Department of Public Information to support the special conferences while bearing in mind that the coverage of large-scale events may entail additional personnel, without prejudice to the source of funding; Part VIII Common support services Section 28C Office of Human Resources Management 122. Regrets that a P-5 post as requested for enhancing the outreach activities of the Office of Human Resources Management may not be sufficient to achieve the balance in recruitment as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/244; Section 28D Office of Central Support Services 123. Decides to reduce provisions under section 28D by 18 million United States dollars, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the impact of the reduction in the context of the performance report; Section 28G Administration, Nairobi 124. Recalls paragraph 101 of its resolution 52/220 of 22 December 1997; 125. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to continue to bring the financial arrangements of the United Nations Office at Nairobi in line with those of similar United Nations administrative offices; Part IX Internal oversight Section 29 Internal oversight 126. Takes note of paragraph IX.7 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7 and corrigendum (A/62/7 and Corr.1). 127. Decides to redeploy a P-5 post from subprogramme 1, Internal audit, to the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, for the function of a Special Assistant to the Under-Secretary-General at the P-5 level; 128. Reaffirms the central role of monitoring, inspection and evaluation in the programme planning process, and decides to continue the current arrangements under general temporary assistance for nine positions to strengthen subprogramme 2, Inspection and evaluation, one at the D-2 level, three at the P-3 level, four at the P-2 level and one General Service (Other level) post; Part X Jointly financed administrative activities and special expenses Section 30 Jointly financed administrative activities 129. Decides to establish one P-2 and one P-3 Research Officer post for the Inspections and Evaluations Group of the Joint Inspection Unit; 130. Also decides to abolish two General Service (Other level) posts for a Registry Clerk and a Research Assistant; Part XII Safety and security Section 33 Safety and security 131. Decides not to reclassify a D-2 post to the Assistant Secretary-General level for the Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security; 132. Also decides not to establish a P-2 post for the function of Internal Affairs Officer in the Department of Safety and Security of the Secretariat. Annex Staffing table for the biennium 2008-2009 TABLE REMOVED RESOLUTIONS 62/237 A to C Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/563/Add.1, para. 48) 62/237. Programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 A Budget appropriations for the biennium 2008-2009 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2008-2009: 1. Appropriations totalling 4,171,359,700 United States dollars are hereby approved for the following purposes: TABLE REMOVED 2. The Secretary-General shall be authorized to transfer credits between sections of the budget with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; 3. In addition to the appropriations approved under paragraph 1 above, an amount of 75,000 dollars is appropriated for each year of the biennium 2008-2009 from the accumulated income of the Library Endowment Fund for the purchase of books, periodicals, maps and library equipment and for such other expenses of the library at the Palais des Nations in Geneva as are in accordance with the objects and provisions of the endowment. B Income estimates for the biennium 2008-2009 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the biennium 2008-2009: 1. Estimates of income other than assessments on Member States totalling 515,460,600 United States dollars are approved as follows: TABLE REMOVED 2. The income from staff assessment shall be credited to the Tax Equalization Fund in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955; 3. Direct expenses of the United Nations Postal Administration, services to visitors, the sale of statistical products, catering operations and related services, garage operations, television services and the sale of publications not provided for under the budget appropriations shall be charged against the income derived from those activities. C Financing of appropriations for the year 2008 The General Assembly Resolves that, for the year 2008: 1. Budget appropriations consisting of 2,085,679,850 United States dollars, being half of the appropriation of 4,171,359,700 dollars approved for the biennium 2008-2009 by the General Assembly in paragraph 1 of resolution A above, plus 19,876,500 dollars, being the increase in revised appropriations for the biennium 2006-2007 approved by the Assembly in its resolutions 61/258 of 26 March 2007, 61/275 of 29 June 2007 and 62/235 A of 22 December 2007, shall be financed in accordance with regulations 3.1 and 3.2 of the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations,ST/SGB/2003/7. as follows: (a) 44,927,300 dollars, consisting of 24,840,100 dollars, being the net of half of the estimated income other than staff assessment approved for the biennium 2008-2009 under resolution B above, plus 20,087,200 dollars, being the increase in income other than staff assessment for the biennium 2006-2007; (b) 2,060,629,050 dollars, being the assessment on Member States in accordance with its resolution 61/237 of 22 December 2006; 2. There shall be set off against the assessment on Member States, in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 973 (X) of 15 December 1955, their respective share in the Tax Equalization Fund in the total amount of 231,612,600 dollars, consisting of: (a) 232,890,200 dollars, being half of the estimated staff assessment income approved for the biennium 2008-2009 in resolution B above; (b) Less 1,277,600 dollars, being the decrease in income from staff assessment for the biennium 2006-2007 approved by the Assembly in its resolutions 61/258 of 26 March 2007, 61/275 of 29 June 2007 and 62/235 B of 22 December 2007. RESOLUTION 62/238 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/563/Add.1, para. 48) 62/238. Special subjects relating to the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 The General Assembly, I International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO Having considered the programme budget proposals for the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO for the biennium 2008-2009A/62/6 (Sect. 13) and Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.10. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.10. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 2. Decides to approve resources in the amount of 28,099,800 United States dollars (at the exchange rate of 1.2 Swiss francs to 1 dollar) proposed for the biennium 2008-2009 under section 13, International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; II Administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Having considered the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,A/62/175. the report of the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the BoardA/C.5/62/2. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.3 and 13. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Approves expenses, chargeable directly to the Fund, totalling 131,996,500 dollars net for the biennium 2008-2009 and a revised estimate of 104,461,100 dollars net for the biennium 2006-2007 for the administration of the Fund; 2. Also approves an additional amount of 748,200 dollars above the level of resources set out in section 1, Overall policymaking, direction and coordination, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 as the United Nations share of the cost of the administrative expenses of the central secretariat of the Fund; III Request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Recalling section IV of its resolution 60/248 of 23 December 2005, Having considered the note by the Secretary-General on the request for a subvention to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research resulting from the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Institute on the work programme of the Institute for 2008-2009A/C.5/62/3. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the note by the Secretary-General;A/C.5/62/3. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.5. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 3. Approves the request for a subvention to the Institute of 485,500 dollars for the biennium 2008-2009 from the regular budget of the United Nations, on the understanding that no additional provision would be required under section 4, Disarmament, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; IV Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive and resumed substantive sessions of 2007 Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive and resumed substantive sessions of 2007A/62/515. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.16. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/515. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.16. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 3. Notes that provision for resource requirements for the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is considered in the report of the Fifth Committee to the General Assembly on the programme budget implications of draft resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;A/62/616. V Estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the estimates in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security CouncilA/62/512 and Add.1-3, Add.4 and Corr.1 and Add.5. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/512 and Add.1-3, Add.4 and Corr.1 and Add.5. 2. Regrets the recurrent late submission of the reports on the matter under consideration, which hinders their proper examination by the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General to present future budget proposals for the special political missions no later than the first week of November; 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 4. Notes the insufficient level of collaboration between the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support, of the Secretariat, with respect to special political missions, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure systemic cooperation so as to prevent duplication among the three departments; 5. Stresses the importance of clear reporting lines and accountability between special political missions and Headquarters; 6. Recalls its resolution 48/259 of 14 July 1994, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that functions and responsibilities of special envoys, special representatives and other special high-level positions are more clearly defined and streamlined, avoiding any possible duplication, and that the current financial regulations and budgetary procedures are fully complied with; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all special political missions are properly managed and all related post and non-post resources are fully and thoroughly justified; 8. Decides to revert to consideration of the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the audit of the management of special political missions by the Department of Political AffairsA/61/357. during its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates related to the strengthening of the Department of Political Affairs;A/62/521 and Corr.1. 9. Recalls section I, paragraph 8, of its resolution 61/276 of 29 June 2007, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to implement relevant provisions of that resolution for special political missions, where applicable; 10. Decides to upgrade the position of the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide to the Under-Secretary-General level, and to establish an additional P-3 and an additional General Service (Other level) position in his office; 11. Takes note of paragraph 25 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No 7A. and approves the establishment of one new P-3 position for a Political Affairs Officer in the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon; 12. Also takes note of the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in paragraph 16 of its report,A/62/7/Add.29. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No 7A. and approves the proposal of the Secretary-General to finance the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia as from 1 January 2008, without prejudice to the consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates related to the strengthening of the Department of Political Affairs;A/62/521 and Corr.1. 13. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations related to special political missions; 14. Reaffirms the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and associated humanitarian personnel; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a new, complete and detailed proposal for the construction of the United Nations integrated compound in Baghdad, under section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance, of the programme budget, for its consideration at the first part of its resumed sixty-second session; 16. Decides to reduce the overall provision for special political missions for the biennium 2008-2009 by 200,150,000 dollars; 17. Approves the budgets totalling 386,587,300 dollars for the 26 special political missions authorized by the General Assembly and/or the Security Council, which are presented in table 1 of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/512. 18. Also approves a charge totalling 386,587,300 dollars net against the provision for special political missions requested in section 3, Political affairs, of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; VI Revised estimates resulting from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates under sections 2, 23, 27, 28E and 35 and income section 1 of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 and the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 and a proposal related to unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising from the implementation of decisions of the Human Rights CouncilA/62/125. and the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.25. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.25. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Decides to establish five P-5 posts for Senior Revisers for conference management, Geneva; 3. Approves net additional resource requirements for the biennium 2008-2009 amounting to 765,100 dollars, representing: (a) A reduction of 307,400 dollars under section 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management; (b) An increase of 1,072,500 dollars under section 23, Human rights; (c) Additional resource requirements of 324,700 dollars under section 35, Staff assessment, to be offset by an equivalent amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment; VII Revised estimates under sections 17, 20, 21, 27, 28C, 28D, 28E, 28F and 28G of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 to ensure operational preparedness and business continuity in a protracted human influenza pandemic crisis Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on revised estimates under sections 17, 20, 21, 27, 28C, 28D, 28E, 28F and 28G of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009 to ensure operational preparedness and business continuity in a protracted human influenza pandemic crisisA/62/328. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.2 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/328. 2. Stresses the need for a comprehensive review of all business continuity measures, including human influenza pandemic and other kinds of emergency planning, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a comprehensive report on business continuity, including in the event of a pandemic, that is complementary to and compatible with the wider enterprise resource planning and information and communications technology reform, and to include information on the status of implementation of measures taken in that regard; VIII Development Account Recalling its resolutions 52/12 B of 19 December 1997, 52/220 and 52/221 A of 22 December 1997, 52/235 of 26 June 1998, 53/220 A of 7 April 1999, 53/220 B of 8 June 1999, 54/15 of 29 October 1999, 56/237 of 24 December 2001 and 60/246 of 23 December 2005 and section IV of its resolution 61/252 of 22 December 2006, Regretting the lack of allocation of sufficient resources for developing countries in order to enable them to better cope with developmental priorities, in particular the Millennium Development Goals and internationally agreed development goals, Recognizing the importance of building appropriate intellectual capacities in the developing countries to help them achieve the Millennium Development Goals and more broadly the internationally agreed development goals, which constitute additional financial and technical obligations, Stressing the failure of the prescribed modalities for identification of resources to finance the Development Account, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the Development Account,A/62/466. his fifth annual progress report on the implementation of projects financed from the Development AccountA/62/123. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.6. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Development AccountA/62/466. and his fifth annual progress report on the implementation of projects financed from the Development Account,A/62/123. and encourages him to work further towards identifying resources from possible reductions in administration and other overhead costs for transfer to the Development Account; 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.6. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 3. Reaffirms the role and prerogative of Member States in setting the priorities of the Organization, as reflected in legislative decisions; 4. Stresses that the Development Account is one of the appropriate tools to cope with the evolving needs of the global development agenda; 5. Notes with concern that the Secretary-General has not fulfilled the mandates contained in resolution 52/12 B and subsequent resolutions on the Development Account; 6. Recognizes that the current modalities for financing the Development Account, which is to be funded from savings achieved as a result of the efficiency measures that can be identified in the context of budget performance reports, have not proved successful; 7. Recalls paragraph 4 of section IV of its resolution 61/252; 8. Also recalls that the amount of 2.5 million dollars was appropriated under section 34, Development Account, of the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 as an immediate exceptional measure towards addressing the lack of transfer of resources to the Account since its inception; 9. Notes with deep concern that the Secretary-General has not been able to define a procedure to track and identify efficiency gains in the context of budget performance reports and that he has not been able to provide recommendations to the General Assembly on how additional resources in the region of 2.5 million dollars could be added to the Development Account; 10. Notes with concern the lack of options in the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/466. for tangible, predictable and sustainable funding for the Development Account; 11. Decides to appropriate an additional 2.5 million dollars for the Development Account; 12. Stresses that the appropriation referred to in paragraph 11 above is an exceptional measure towards addressing the lack of transfer of resources to the Account since its inception; 13. Recalls paragraph 5 of its resolution 52/235; 14. Requests the Secretary-General to fully comply with its resolution 52/12 B and subsequent resolutions on the Development Account; 15. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present section; IX Construction of additional office facilities at the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa Recalling section II of its resolution 61/252, Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/487. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia, as host country, in facilitating the construction of additional office facilities at the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/487. and endorses the related observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/62/7/Add.11. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. X Construction of additional conference facilities at the Vienna International Centre Recalling section I of its resolution 61/252, Having considered the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/358. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.9. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the Government of Austria, as host country, to construct conference facilities at the Vienna International Centre; 2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/358. and endorses the related observations and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions contained in its report;A/62/7/Add.9. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. XI Supplementary agreement between the United Nations and the Carnegie Foundation concerning the use of the Peace Palace at The Hague Recalling section VII of its resolution 52/222 of 22 December 1997, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the supplementary agreement between the United Nations and the Carnegie Foundation concerning the use of the Peace Palace at The HagueA/62/496. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.8. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/496. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.8. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 3. Approves the amendments to the supplementary agreement contained in the annex to the report of the Secretary-General; XII Financial situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women Recalling section II of its resolution 61/273 of 29 June 2007, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the financial situation of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of WomenA/62/509. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.12. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/509. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/7/Add.12. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. 3. Reiterates its appeal to Member States, as a matter of urgency, to contribute voluntary funds in support of the Institute and to honour existing pledges in a timely manner; 4. Expresses its appreciation to those Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that continue to contribute to and support the activities of the Institute; 5. Expresses its deep appreciation to the management and the Executive Board of the Institute for their efforts that have helped the Institute to secure sustainable financing; XIII Administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2007 Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on administrative and financial implications of the decisions and recommendations contained in the report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2007,A/62/336. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/353; and A/62/7/Add.1 and Corr.1 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A). 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/336. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/353; and A/62/7/Add.1 and Corr.1 (for the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A). XIV United Nations Postal Administration Recalling its resolutions 57/292 of 20 December 2002 and 61/233 A of 22 December 2006 and section III of its resolution 61/252 of 22 December 2006, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the contingent liability reserve for the United Nations Postal AdministrationA/61/900. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/350. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/61/900. 2. Notes the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/350. 3. Takes note of paragraphs 9 to 11 of the report of the Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to continue taking measures, alternative to the establishment of a contingent liability reserve, to eliminate risks posed to the United Nations Postal Administration by mass mailing and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the progress achieved; 4. Decides to consider at its sixty-third session the establishment of a contingent liability reserve for the United Nations Postal Administration as a solution to the issue of reducing the risk posed to the Postal Administration by the use of its services for commercial and bulk mail, on the basis of any future recommendations of the Board of Auditors and updated information provided by the Secretary-General on this issue; XV Standards of accommodation for air travel Recalling its resolution 42/214 of 21 December 1987, section IV, paragraph 14, of its resolution 53/214 of 18 December 1998 and section IV of its resolution 60/255 of 8 May 2006, Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on standards of accommodation for air travel and on the review of the standards of travel and entitlements for staff members, members of organs and subsidiary organs of the United Nations and entities of the United Nations system,A/61/188 and Corr.1 and A/61/801. the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the harmonization of the conditions of travel throughout the United Nations system,See A/60/78. the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereonA/60/78/Add.1. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/661. 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General;A/61/188 and Corr.1 and A/61/801. 2. Also takes note of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the harmonization of the conditions of travel throughout the United Nations systemSee A/60/78. and the note by the Secretary-General transmitting his comments and those of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination thereon;A/60/78/Add.1. 3. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/61/661 and A/62/351. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 4. Takes note of the recommendation in paragraph 7 of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/61/661. 5. Requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chairman of the Chief Executives Board, to report on the feasibility of harmonizing standards of travel for staff members, members of organs and subsidiary organs of the United Nations and organizations of the United Nations system, on the basis of a review and proposals by the Chief Executives Board, taking due consideration of the specificity of the work and mandates of the different entities of the system; XVI Contingency fund Notes that a balance of 12,191,000 dollars remains in the contingency fund;See A/C.5/62/22. XVII Effects of changes in rates of exchange and inflation Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the revised estimates resulting from the effects of changes in rates of exchange and inflationA/62/587. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.30. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. Takes note of the revised estimates arising from recosting due to the effects of changes in the rates of exchange and inflation; XVIII Joint Inspection Unit Approves the gross budget for the Joint Inspection Unit for the biennium 2008-2009 in the amount of 11,633,000 dollars; XIX International Civil Service Commission Approves the gross budget for the International Civil Service Commission for the biennium 2008-2009 in the amount of 17,777,000 dollars; XX Administration of justice Recalling its resolution 62/228 of 22 December 2007 on the administration of justice at the United Nations, 1. Decides to approve a total amount of 17,010,200 dollars under the programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009, reflecting an increase comprised of 11,860,400 dollars under section 1, Overall policymaking, direction and coordination, 1,737,300 dollars under section 2, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management, 41,300 dollars under section 17, Economic and social development in Africa, 92,700 dollars under section 18, Economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific, 98,100 dollars under section 20, Economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, 37,500 dollars under section 21, Economic and social development in Western Asia, 326,700 dollars under section 28A, Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management, 269,500 dollars under section 28C, Office of Human Resources Management, 1,297,600 dollars under section 28D, Office of Central Support Services, 167,800 dollars under section 28E, Administration, Geneva, 1,119,200 dollars under section 35, Staff assessment, to be offset by an equivalent amount under Income section 1, Income from staff assessment, partially offset by reductions of 23,800 dollars under section 28F, Administration, Vienna, and 14,100 dollars under section 28G, Administration, Nairobi, of the programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 2. Also decides that the amount of 305,300 dollars shall be financed from the resources approved for the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008, to be reported to the General Assembly in the context of the performance report on the support account for the period; XXI Use of 300-series and 100-series appointments 1. Recalls section XIV of its resolution 60/266 of 30 June 2006 and section VIII of its resolution 61/276 of 29 June 2007; 2. Decides to continue to suspend the application of the four-year maximum limit for appointments of limited duration until 30 June 2008; 3. Authorizes the Secretary-General, bearing in mind paragraph 2 above, to reappoint, under the 100 series of the Staff Rules, those mission staff whose service under 300-series contracts has reached the four-year limit by 30 June 2008, provided that their functions have been reviewed and found necessary and their performance has been confirmed as fully satisfactory, and requests the Secretary-General to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to continue the practice of using 300-series contracts as the primary instrument for the appointment of new staff; XXII United Nations Office for Partnerships Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Office for PartnershipsA/62/220. and the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/363. 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/220. 2. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions;A/62/363. XXIII Gross jointly financed budget of the Department of Safety and Security Approves the gross jointly financed budget of the Department of Safety and Security for the biennium 2008-2009 in the amount of 200,126,100 dollars, broken down as follows: (a) Field Security Operations: 172,417,700 dollars; (b) Security and Safety Services at the United Nations Office at Vienna: 27,708,400 dollars. RESOLUTION 62/239 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/563/Add.1, para. 48) 62/239. Unforeseen and extraordinary expenses for the biennium 2008-2009 The General Assembly 1. Authorizes the Secretary-General, with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and subject to the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United NationsST/SGB/2003/7. and the provisions of paragraph 3 below, to enter into commitments in the biennium 2008-2009 to meet unforeseen and extraordinary expenses arising either during or subsequent to the biennium, provided that the concurrence of the Advisory Committee shall not be necessary for: (a) Such commitments not exceeding a total of 8 million United States dollars in any one year of the biennium 2008-2009 as the Secretary-General certifies relate to the maintenance of peace and security; (b) Such commitments as the President of the International Court of Justice certifies relate to expenses occasioned by: (i) The designation of ad hoc judges (Statute of the International Court of Justice, Article 31), not exceeding a total of 200,000 dollars; (ii) The calling of witnesses and the appointment of experts (Statute, Article 50) and the appointment of assessors (Statute, Article 30), not exceeding a total of 50,000 dollars; (iii) The maintenance in office for the completion of cases of judges who have not been re-elected (Statute, Article 13, paragraph 3), not exceeding a total of 40,000 dollars; (iv) The payment of pensions and travel and removal expenses of retiring judges and travel and removal expenses and installation grants of members of the Court (Statute, Article 32, paragraph 7), not exceeding a total of 410,000 dollars; (v) The work of the Court or its Chambers away from The Hague (Statute, Article 22), not exceeding a total of 25,000 dollars; (c) Such commitments not exceeding a total of 1 million dollars in the biennium 2008-2009 as the Secretary-General certifies are required for security measures pursuant to section XI, paragraph 6, of General Assembly resolution 59/276 of 23 December 2004; 2. Resolves that the Secretary-General shall report to the Advisory Committee and to the General Assembly at its sixty-third and sixty-fourth sessions all commitments made under the provisions of the present resolution, together with the circumstances relating thereto, and shall submit supplementary estimates to the Assembly in respect of such commitments; 3. Decides that, for the biennium 2008-2009, if a decision of the Security Council results in the need for the Secretary-General to enter into commitments relating to the maintenance of peace and security in an amount exceeding 10 million dollars in respect of the decision, that matter shall be brought to the General Assembly, or, if the Assembly is suspended or not in session, a resumed or special session of the Assembly shall be convened by the Secretary-General to consider the matter. RESOLUTION 62/23 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Poland. 62/23. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject of chemical weapons, in particular resolution 61/68 of 6 December 2006, adopted without a vote, in which it noted with appreciation the ongoing work to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. Determined to achieve the effective prohibition of the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that, since the adoption of resolution 61/68, one additional State has acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States parties to the Convention to one hundred and eighty-two, Reaffirming the importance of the outcome of the First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including the Political Declaration,See Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, document RC-1/3. in which the States parties reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the objective and purpose of the Convention, and the final report,Ibid., document RC-1/5. which addressed all aspects of the Convention and made important recommendations on its continued implementation, 1. Emphasizes that the universality of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1974, No. 33757. is fundamental to the achievement of its objective and purpose, acknowledges progress made in the implementation of the action plan for the universality of the Convention, and calls upon all States that have not yet done so to become parties to the Convention without delay; 2. Underlines the fact that the Convention and its implementation contribute to enhancing international peace and security, and emphasizes that its full, universal and effective implementation will contribute further to that purpose by excluding completely, for the sake of all humankind, the possibility of the use of chemical weapons; 3. Stresses the importance to the Convention that all possessors of chemical weapons, chemical weapons production facilities or chemical weapons development facilities, including previously declared possessor States, should be among the States parties to the Convention, and welcomes progress to that end; 4. Reaffirms the obligation of the States parties to the Convention to destroy chemical weapons and to destroy or convert chemical weapons production facilities within the time limits provided for by the Convention; 5. Stresses that the full and effective implementation of all provisions of the Convention, including those on national implementation (article VII) and assistance and protection (article X), constitutes an important contribution to the efforts of the United Nations in the global fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations; 6. Notes that the effective application of the verification system builds confidence in compliance with the Convention by States parties; 7. Stresses the importance of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in verifying compliance with the provisions of the Convention as well as in promoting the timely and efficient accomplishment of all its objectives; 8. Urges all States parties to the Convention to meet in full and on time their obligations under the Convention and to support the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in its implementation activities; 9. Welcomes progress made in the national implementation of article VII obligations, commends the States parties and the Technical Secretariat for assisting other States parties, on request, with the implementation of the follow-up to the plan of action regarding article VII obligations, and urges States parties that have not fulfilled their obligations under article VII to do so without further delay, in accordance with their constitutional processes; 10. Reaffirms the importance of article XI provisions relating to the economic and technological development of States parties, recalls that the full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation of those provisions contributes to universality, and also reaffirms the undertaking of the States parties to foster international cooperation for peaceful purposes in the field of chemical activities of the States parties and the importance of that cooperation and its contribution to the promotion of the Convention as a whole; 11. Notes with appreciation the ongoing work of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to achieve the objective and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the full implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties, and also notes with appreciation the substantial contribution of the Technical Secretariat and the Director-General to the continued development and success of the Organization; 12. Welcomes the ongoing preparatory work by the States parties on the substance of the Second Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention; 13. Also welcomes all the national and international events conducted throughout 2007 devoted to the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention, in particular the unveiling in The Hague, on 9 May 2007, of the Permanent Memorial to All Victims of Chemical Weapons as testimony to the international community's commitment to peace and hope for the future; 14. Notes with satisfaction that the High-level Meeting on the Tenth Anniversary of the Entry into Force of the Convention, convened by Poland and the Netherlands at the United Nations in New York on 27 September 2007, provided a special occasion for the international community to remember all victims of chemical weapons and to reaffirm the commitment to multilateralism and to the object and purpose of the Convention; 15. Welcomes the cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons within the framework of the Relationship Agreement between the United Nations and the Organization, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 62/240 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/563/Add.1, para. 48) 62/240. Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2008-2009 The General Assembly Resolves that: 1. The Working Capital Fund shall be established for the biennium 2008-2009 in the amount of 150 million United States dollars; 2. Member States shall make advances to the Working Capital Fund in accordance with the scale of assessments adopted by the General Assembly for contributions of Member States to the budget for the year 2008; 3. There shall be set off against this allocation of advances: (a) Credits to Member States resulting from transfers made in 1959 and 1960 from the surplus account to the Working Capital Fund in an adjusted amount of 1,025,092 dollars; (b) Cash advances paid by Member States to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2006-2007 in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 60/250 of 23 December 2005 and 60/283 of 7 July 2006; 4. Should the credits and advances paid by any Member State to the Working Capital Fund for the biennium 2006-2007 exceed the amount of that Member State's advance under the provisions of paragraph 2 above, the excess shall be set off against the amount of the contributions payable by the Member State in respect of the biennium 2008-2009; 5. The Secretary-General is authorized to advance from the Working Capital Fund: (a) Such sums as may be necessary to finance budgetary appropriations pending the receipt of contributions; sums so advanced shall be reimbursed as soon as receipts from contributions are available for that purpose; (b) Such sums as may be necessary to finance commitments that may be duly authorized under the provisions of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, in particular resolution 62/239 of 22 December 2007 relating to unforeseen and extraordinary expenses; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates for reimbursing the Working Capital Fund; (c) Such sums as may be necessary to continue the revolving fund to finance miscellaneous self-liquidating purchases and activities which, together with net sums outstanding for the same purpose, do not exceed 200,000 dollars; advances in excess of 200,000 dollars may be made with the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions; (d) With the prior concurrence of the Advisory Committee, such sums as may be required to finance payments of advance insurance premiums where the period of insurance extends beyond the end of the biennium in which payment is made; the Secretary-General shall make provision in the budget estimates of each biennium, during the life of the related policies, to cover the charges applicable to each biennium; (e) Such sums as may be necessary to enable the Tax Equalization Fund to meet current commitments pending the accumulation of credits; such advances shall be repaid as soon as credits are available in the Tax Equalization Fund; 6. Should the provision in paragraph 1 above prove inadequate to meet the purposes normally related to the Working Capital Fund, the Secretary-General is authorized to utilize, in the biennium 2008-2009, cash from special funds and accounts in his custody, under the conditions approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 1341 (XIII) of 13 December 1958, or the proceeds of loans authorized by the Assembly. RESOLUTION 62/241 Adopted at the 79th plenary meeting, on 22 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/563/Add.2, para. 9), by a recorded vote of 140 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Canada 62/241. Questions related to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/208 of 11 December 1986 and 48/225 of 23 December 1993 and sections II and IV of its resolution 61/240 of 22 December 2006, Having considered the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund,A/62/175. the report of the Secretary-General on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the BoardA/C.5/62/2. and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.3 and 13. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A., 1. Concurs with the recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions on the administrative expenses of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund and on the administrative and financial implications arising from the report of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board,A/62/7/Add.3 and 13. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to undertake a comprehensive review of services provided by the Fund, funded through section 1, Overall, policymaking, direction and coordination, of the programme budget, and to report thereon in the context of the programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011; 3. Encourages the Fund, when submitting performance reports, to consider the feasibility of an extension of the reporting period for actual expenditures and a shortening, accordingly, of the reporting period for projected estimates; 4. Takes note of the information set out in annex V to the report of the BoardA/62/175. on the need for a more strategic approach to the human resources requirements of the Fund; 5. Concurs with the request made by the Board that the Chief Executive Officer of the Fund and the Representative of the Secretary-General for investments undertake an overall review of the staffing and organizational structure in their respective areas, including drawing on relevant industry benchmarks and best practice and report on the results of the review to the Board at its fifty-fifth session;A/62/175, annex V, para. 19. 6. Notes that all requests by the Fund for the establishment of new information technology posts have been deferred by the Board until its fifty-fifth session, when a full enterprise resource planning project strategy, including a budget and project plan, will be presented to and considered by the Board; 7. Urges the Fund administration to make every possible effort to fill the existing vacancies in the staffing table as soon as feasible; 8. Authorizes the Board to supplement the voluntary contributions to the Emergency Fund for the biennium 2008-2009 by an amount not exceeding 200,000 United States dollars; 9. Stresses the importance of securing the income replacement principle that is embodied in the regulations of the Fund and which has been consistently upheld by the International Civil Service Commission in its decisions and by the General Assembly in its resolutions; 10. Approves the ad hoc measure recommended by the Board to address adverse, unprecedented consequences of dollarization in Ecuador as an ad hoc, one-time, ex gratia, exceptional payment; 11. Emphasizes that this arrangement would not set a precedent for any future action by the Board. RESOLUTION 62/24 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Islamic Republic of Iran. by a recorded vote of 109 to 55, with 15 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa 62/24. Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its various resolutions in the field of nuclear disarmament, including its most recent, resolutions 60/72 of 8 December 2005, and 61/78, 61/83 and 61/97 of 6 December 2006, Bearing in mind its resolution 2373 (XXII) of 12 June 1968, the annex to which contains the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See also United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Noting the provisions of article VIII, paragraph 3, of the Treaty regarding the convening of review conferences at five-year intervals, Recalling its resolution 50/70 Q of 12 December 1995, in which the General Assembly noted that the States parties to the Treaty affirmed the need to continue to move with determination towards the full realization and effective implementation of the provisions of the Treaty, and accordingly adopted a set of principles and objectives, Recalling also that, on 11 May 1995, the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons adopted three decisions on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and extension of the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. Reaffirming the resolution on the Middle East adopted on 11 May 1995 by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and placement of nuclear facilities under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, Reaffirming also its resolution 55/33 D of 20 November 2000, in which the General Assembly welcomed the adoption by consensus on 19 May 2000 of the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). including, in particular, the documents entitled "Review of the operation of the Treaty, taking into account the decisions and the resolution adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference" and "Improving the effectiveness of the strengthened review process for the Treaty",Ibid., vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I. Taking into consideration the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty, Gravely concerned over the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty to reach any substantive agreement on the follow-up to the nuclear disarmament obligations, Noting that the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty held a successful first meeting in Vienna in April/May 2007, 1. Determines to pursue practical steps for systematic and progressive efforts to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee also United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and paragraphs 3 and 4 (c) of the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 2. Calls for practical steps, as agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to be taken by all nuclear-weapon States that would lead to nuclear disarmament in a way that promotes international stability and, based upon the principle of undiminished security for all, for: (a) Further efforts to be made by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear arsenals unilaterally; (b) Increased transparency by the nuclear-weapon States with regard to nuclear weapons capabilities and the implementation of agreements pursuant to article VI of the Treaty and as a voluntary confidence-building measure to support further progress in nuclear disarmament; (c) The further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; (d) Concrete agreed measures to reduce further the operational status of nuclear weapons systems; (e) A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies so as to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; (f) The engagement, as soon as appropriate, of all the nuclear-weapon States in the process leading to the total elimination of their nuclear weapons; 3. Notes that the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty agreed that legally binding security assurances by the five nuclear-weapon States to the non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the Treaty strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime; 4. Urges the States parties to the Treaty to follow up on the implementation of the nuclear disarmament obligations under the Treaty agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty within the framework of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty and its Preparatory Committee; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session an item entitled "Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations agreed to at the 1995 and 2000 Review Conferences of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 62/25 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Austria, Brazil, Costa Rica, Egypt, Guyana, Ireland, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden. by a recorded vote of 156 to 5, with 14 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea, France, India, Israel, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Australia, Bhutan, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Micronesia (Federated States of), Pakistan, Palau, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovenia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/25. Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/65 of 6 December 2006, Expressing its grave concern at the danger to humanity posed by the possibility that nuclear weapons could be used, Reaffirming that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes requiring urgent irreversible progress on both fronts, Recalling the decisions and the resolution on the Middle East of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). Recalling also the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to nuclear disarmament, in accordance with commitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Urging States parties to exert all possible efforts to ensure a successful and productive preparatory process for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, 1. Welcomes the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in Vienna from 30 April to 11 May 2007, and looks forward to a constructive and successful preparatory process leading to the 2010 Review Conference which should contribute to strengthening the Treaty and achieving its full implementation and universality; 2. Continues to emphasize the central role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and its universality in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and calls upon all States parties to respect their obligations; 3. Reaffirms that the outcome of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty sets out the agreed process for systematic and progressive efforts towards nuclear disarmament;2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). 4. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to accelerate the implementation of the practical steps towards nuclear disarmament that were agreed upon at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty, thereby contributing to a safer world for all; 5. Calls upon all States to comply fully with all commitments made regarding nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation and not to act in any way that may compromise either cause or that may lead to a new nuclear arms race; 6. Again calls upon all States parties to spare no effort to achieve the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and urges India, Israel and Pakistan, which are not yet parties to the Treaty, to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without conditions; 7. Urges the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to rescind its announced withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 8. Recognizes the vital importance of the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. to the achievement of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and takes note of the Final Declaration and Measures to promote its entry into force, adopted by consensus at the Fifth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in Vienna on 17 and 18 September 2007; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments" and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. RESOLUTION 62/26 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Netherlands. 62/26. National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology The General Assembly, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Recalling that effective national control of the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, including those transfers that could contribute to proliferation activities, is an important tool for achieving those objectives, Recalling also that the States parties to the international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties have undertaken to facilitate the fullest possible exchange of materials, equipment and technological information for peaceful purposes, in accordance with the provisions of those treaties, Considering that the exchange of national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology contributes to mutual understanding and confidence among Member States, Convinced that such an exchange would be beneficial to Member States that are in the process of developing such legislation, Welcoming the electronic database established by the Office for Disarmament Affairs,Available at http://disarmament.un.org/cab/NLDU%202007/nlduindex.html. in which all information exchanged pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 57/66 of 22 November 2002, 58/42 of 8 December 2003, 59/66 of 3 December 2004 and 60/69 of 3 December 2005, entitled "National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology", can be consulted, Reaffirming the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Invites Member States that are in a position to do so, without prejudice to the provisions contained in Security Council resolutions 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004 and 1673 (2006) of 27 April 2006, to enact or improve national legislation, regulations and procedures to exercise effective control over the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, while ensuring that such legislation, regulations and procedures are consistent with the obligations of States parties under international treaties; 2. Encourages Member States to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to the Secretary-General on their national legislation, regulations and procedures on the transfer of arms, military equipment and dual-use goods and technology, as well as the changes therein, and requests the Secretary-General to make that information accessible to Member States; 3. Decides to remain attentive to the matter. RESOLUTION 62/27 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 123 to 6, with 51 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 62/27. Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation The General Assembly, Determined to foster strict respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 56/24 T of 29 November 2001 on multilateral cooperation in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and global efforts against terrorism and other relevant resolutions, as well as its resolutions 57/63 of 22 November 2002, 58/44 of 8 December 2003, 59/69 of 3 December 2004, 60/59 of 8 December 2005 and 61/62 of 6 December 2006 on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, Recalling also the purpose of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security and, to that end, to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace, as enshrined in the Charter, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which states, inter alia, that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social development, as well as threats to international peace and security, must be shared among the nations of the world and should be exercised multilaterally and that, as the most universal and most representative organization in the world, the United Nations must play the central role, Convinced that, in the globalization era and with the information revolution, arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament problems are more than ever the concern of all countries in the world, which are affected in one way or another by these problems and, therefore, should have the possibility to participate in the negotiations that arise to tackle them, Bearing in mind the existence of a broad structure of disarmament and arms regulation agreements resulting from non-discriminatory and transparent multilateral negotiations with the participation of a large number of countries, regardless of their size and power, Aware of the need to advance further in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament on the basis of universal, multilateral, non-discriminatory and transparent negotiations with the goal of reaching general and complete disarmament under strict international control, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament, Recognizing also that the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are among the most immediate threats to international peace and security which need to be dealt with, with the highest priority, Considering that the multilateral disarmament agreements provide the mechanism for States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of, the provisions of the agreements and that such consultations and cooperation may also be undertaken through appropriate international procedures within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the Charter, Stressing that international cooperation, the peaceful settlement of disputes, dialogue and confidence-building measures would contribute essentially to the creation of multilateral and bilateral friendly relations among peoples and nations, Being concerned at the continuous erosion of multilateralism in the field of arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and recognizing that a resort to unilateral actions by Member States in resolving their security concerns would jeopardize international peace and security and undermine confidence in the international security system as well as the foundations of the United Nations itself, Noting that the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006, welcomed the adoption of General Assembly resolution 60/59, and underlined the fact that multilateralism and multilaterally agreed solutions, in accordance with the Charter, provide the only sustainable method of addressing disarmament and international security issues, Reaffirming the absolute validity of multilateral diplomacy in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, and determined to promote multilateralism as an essential way to develop arms regulation and disarmament negotiations, 1. Reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in negotiations in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation with a view to maintaining and strengthening universal norms and enlarging their scope; 2. Also reaffirms multilateralism as the core principle in resolving disarmament and non-proliferation concerns; 3. Urges the participation of all interested States in multilateral negotiations on arms regulation, non-proliferation and disarmament in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner; 4. Underlines the importance of preserving the existing agreements on arms regulation and disarmament, which constitute an expression of the results of international cooperation and multilateral negotiations in response to the challenges facing mankind; 5. Calls once again upon all Member States to renew and fulfil their individual and collective commitments to multilateral cooperation as an important means of pursuing and achieving their common objectives in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation; 6. Requests the States parties to the relevant instruments on weapons of mass destruction to consult and cooperate among themselves in resolving their concerns with regard to cases of non-compliance as well as on implementation, in accordance with the procedures defined in those instruments, and to refrain from resorting or threatening to resort to unilateral actions or directing unverified non-compliance accusations against one another to resolve their concerns; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the replies of Member States on the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation, submitted pursuant to resolution 61/62;A/62/133. 8. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the issue of the promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation and to submit a report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Promotion of multilateralism in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation". RESOLUTION 62/28 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 175 to 1, with 3 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel, Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/28. Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 50/70 M of 12 December 1995, 51/45 E of 10 December 1996, 52/38 E of 9 December 1997, 53/77 J of 4 December 1998, 54/54 S of 1 December 1999, 55/33 K of 20 November 2000, 56/24 F of 29 November 2001, 57/64 of 22 November 2002, 58/45 of 8 December 2003, 59/68 of 3 December 2004, 60/60 of 8 December 2005 and 61/63 of 6 December 2006, Emphasizing the importance of the observance of environmental norms in the preparation and implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements, Recognizing that it is necessary to take duly into account the agreements adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, as well as prior relevant agreements, in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms limitation, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to resolution 61/63,A/62/134. Mindful of the detrimental environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons, 1. Reaffirms that international disarmament forums should take fully into account the relevant environmental norms in negotiating treaties and agreements on disarmament and arms limitation and that all States, through their actions, should contribute fully to ensuring compliance with the aforementioned norms in the implementation of treaties and conventions to which they are parties; 2. Calls upon States to adopt unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures so as to contribute to ensuring the application of scientific and technological progress within the framework of international security, disarmament and other related spheres, without detriment to the environment or to its effective contribution to attaining sustainable development; 3. Welcomes the information provided by Member States on the implementation of the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution;A/62/134. 4. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted to promote the objectives envisaged in the present resolution, and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report containing that information to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Observance of environmental norms in the drafting and implementation of agreements on disarmament and arms control". RESOLUTION 62/29 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 179 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Nauru 62/29. Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 I of 15 December 1994, 50/70 F of 12 December 1995, 51/45 C of 10 December 1996, 52/38 F of 9 December 1997, 53/77 AA of 4 December 1998, 54/54 U of 1 December 1999, 55/33 M of 20 November 2000, 56/24 D of 29 November 2001, 57/61 of 22 November 2002, 59/71 of 3 December 2004 and 61/60 of 6 December 2006, as well as its decisions 58/521 of 8 December 2003, 60/518 of 8 December 2005 and 60/559 of 6 June 2006, Recalling also that, there being a consensus to do so in each case, three special sessions of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament were held in 1978, 1982 and 1988, respectively, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, adopted by consensus at the first special session devoted to disarmament,Resolution S-10/2. Bearing in mind also the ultimate objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Taking note of paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. which supported the convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, which would offer an opportunity to review, from a perspective more in tune with the current international situation, the most critical aspects of the process of disarmament and to mobilize the international community and public opinion in favour of the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and of the control and reduction of conventional weapons, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the Heads of State and Government during the Millennium Summit of the United Nations, held in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in which the Heads of State and Government resolved "to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers", Reiterating its conviction that a special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament can set the future course of action in the fields of disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and related international security matters, Emphasizing the importance of multilateralism in the process of disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation and related international security matters, Taking note of the paper presented by the Chairman of Working Group II during the 1999 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex II. and the written proposals and views submitted by Member States as contained in the working papers presented during the three substantive sessions of the Open-ended Working Group in 2003See A/AC.268/2003/WP.2. as well as the reports of the Secretary-General regarding the views of Member States on the objectives, agenda and timing of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament,A/55/130 and Add.1, A/56/166 and A/57/120. Taking note also of the reports of the Open-ended Working Group to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament,A/57/848 and A/AC.268/2007/2. 1. Decides to convene the Open-ended Working Group, working on the basis of consensus, to consider the objectives and agenda, including the possible establishment of the preparatory committee, for the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament; 2. Also decides that the Open-ended Working Group shall hold its organizational session as soon as possible for the purpose of setting a date for its substantive sessions in 2008, and submit a report on its work, including possible substantive recommendations, before the end of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to provide the Open-ended Working Group with the necessary assistance and services as may be required to discharge its tasks; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Convening of the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament". RESOLUTION 62/2 Adopted at the 37th plenary meeting, on 29 October 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.5 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay 62/2. Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency The General Assembly, Having received the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency for 2006,International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2006 (GC(51)/5); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/62/258). Taking note of the statement by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Plenary Meetings, 36th meeting (A/62/PV.36), and corrigendum. in which he provided additional information on the main developments in the activities of the Agency during 2007, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Agency, Recognizing also the cooperation between the United Nations and the Agency and the Agreement governing the relationship between the United Nations and the Agency as approved by the General Conference of the Agency on 23 October 1957 and by the General Assembly in the annex to its resolution 1145 (XII) of 14 November 1957, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency;International Atomic Energy Agency, The Annual Report for 2006 (GC(51)/5); transmitted to the members of the General Assembly by a note by the Secretary-General (A/62/258). 2. Takes note of resolutions GC(51)/RES/11A on measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management and GC(51)/RES/11B on transport safety; GC(51)/RES/12 on progress on measures to protect against nuclear and radiological terrorism; GC(51)/RES/13 on strengthening of the Agency's technical cooperation activities; GC(51)/RES/14 on strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications, comprising GC(51)/RES/14A on non-power nuclear applications and GC(51)/RES/14B on nuclear power applications; GC(51)/RES/15 on strengthening the effectiveness and improving the efficiency of the safeguards system and application of the Model Additional Protocol; GC(51)/RES/16 on the implementation of the Agreement between the Agency and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; GC(51)/RES/17 on the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East; GC(51)/RES/18 on personnel, comprising GC(51)/RES/18A on staffing of the Agency's secretariat and GC(51)/RES/18B on women in the secretariat; and decisions GC(51)/DEC/13 on the amendment to article VI of the Statute and GC(51)/DEC/14 on the amendment to article XIV.A of the Statute, adopted by the General Conference of the Agency at its fifty-first regular session, from 17 to 21 September 2007;See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fifty-first Regular Session, 17-21 September 2007 (GC(51)/RES/DEC(2007)). 3. Reaffirms its strong support for the indispensable role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technology transfer to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security; 4. Appeals to Member States to continue to support the activities of the Agency; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Director General of the Agency the records of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly relating to the activities of the Agency. RESOLUTION 62/30 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 136 to 5, with 36 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Czech Republic, Israel, Netherlands, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 62/30. Effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the rules of humanitarian international law, Determined to promote multilateralism as an essential means to carry forward negotiations on arms regulation and disarmament, Convinced that as humankind is more aware of the need to take immediate measures to protect the environment, any event that could jeopardize such efforts requires urgent attention to implement the required measures, Taking into consideration the potential harmful effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium on human health and the environment, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States and relevant international organizations on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium, and to submit a report on this subject to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session an item entitled "Effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium". RESOLUTION 62/31 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 174 to 1, with 5 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/31. Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty) The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/56 of 8 December 2005, entitled "Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments", and its resolution 61/69 of 6 December 2006, entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas", Welcoming the desire of the South-East Asian States to maintain peace and stability in the region in the spirit of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding and cooperation, Reaffirming its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calling upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons, Convinced that the establishment of a South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, as an essential component of the Declaration on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, signed in Kuala Lumpur on 27 November 1971, will contribute towards strengthening the security of States within the Zone and towards enhancing international peace and security as a whole, Noting the entry into force of the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone on 27 March 1997United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and the tenth anniversary of its entry into force in 2007, Welcoming the reaffirmation of South-East Asian States that the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone shall continue to play a pivotal role in the area of confidence-building measures, preventive diplomacy and the approaches to conflict resolution as enshrined in the Declaration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Concord II (Bali Concord II),A/58/548, annex I. Reaffirming the inalienable right of all the parties to the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. Recognizing that by signing and ratifying the relevant protocols to the treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, nuclear-weapon States undertake legally binding commitments to respect the status of such zones and not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against States parties to such treaties, Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of innocent passage, archipelagic sea lanes passage or transit passage of ships and aircraft, particularly those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,Ibid., vol. 1833, No. 31363. 1. Welcomes the commitment of the Commission for the Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone to further enhance and strengthen the implementation of the Bangkok TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. by adopting a Plan of Action for the period 2007-2012 in Manila on 29 July 2007; 2. Encourages States parties to the Treaty to work towards resuming direct consultations with the five nuclear-weapon States to resolve comprehensively, in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Treaty, existing outstanding issues on a number of provisions of the Treaty and the Protocol thereto; 3. Encourages nuclear-weapon States and States parties to the Treaty to continue to work constructively with a view to ensuring the early accession of the nuclear-weapon States to the Protocol to the Treaty; 4. Underlines the value of enhancing and implementing further ways and means of cooperation among nuclear-weapon-free zones; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session an item entitled "Treaty on the South-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (Bangkok Treaty)". RESOLUTION 62/32 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Samoa, Viet Nam and Zambia. by a recorded vote of 117 to 52, with 12 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan 62/32. Reducing nuclear danger The General Assembly, Bearing in mind that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Reaffirming that any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would constitute a violation of the Charter of the United Nations, Convinced that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects would seriously enhance the danger of nuclear war, Convinced also that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Considering that, until nuclear weapons cease to exist, it is imperative on the part of the nuclear-weapon States to adopt measures that assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering also that the hair-trigger alert of nuclear weapons carries unacceptable risks of unintentional or accidental use of nuclear weapons, which would have catastrophic consequences for all mankind, Emphasizing the need to adopt measures to avoid accidental, unauthorized or unexplained incidents arising from computer anomaly or other technical malfunctions, Conscious that limited steps relating to de-alerting and de-targeting have been taken by the nuclear-weapon States and that further practical, realistic and mutually reinforcing steps are necessary to contribute to the improvement in the international climate for negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons, Mindful that a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in the security policies of nuclear-weapon States would positively impact on international peace and security and improve the conditions for the further reduction and the elimination of nuclear weapons, Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblyResolution S-10/2. and by the international community, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear WeaponsA/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Recalling also the call in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. to seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction and the resolve to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, 1. Calls for a review of nuclear doctrines and, in this context, immediate and urgent steps to reduce the risks of unintentional and accidental use of nuclear weapons, including through de-alerting and de-targeting of nuclear weapons; 2. Requests the five nuclear-weapon States to take measures towards the implementation of paragraph 1 above; 3. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to promote nuclear disarmament, with the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons; 4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 61/85 of 6 December 2006;A/62/165 and Add.1. 5. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts and support initiatives that would contribute towards the full implementation of the seven recommendations identified in the report of the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters that would significantly reduce the risk of nuclear war,See A/56/400, para. 3. and also to continue to encourage Member States to consider the convening of an international conference as proposed in the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Reducing nuclear danger". RESOLUTION 62/33 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey, United States of America and Zambia. 62/33. Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/86 of 6 December 2006, Recognizing the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evidenced in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the growing risk of linkages between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and in particular by the fact that terrorists may seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction, Cognizant of the steps taken by States to implement Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, adopted on 28 April 2004, Welcoming the entry into force on 7 July 2007 of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,Resolution 59/290, annex. Welcoming also the adoption, by consensus, of amendments to strengthen the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear MaterialUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1456, No. 24631. by the International Atomic Energy Agency on 8 July 2005, Noting the support expressed in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. for measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, Noting also that the Group of Eight, the European Union, the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others have taken into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the likely acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction, and the need for international cooperation in combating it, Acknowledging the consideration of issues relating to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction by the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters,See A/59/361. Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its fifty-first regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fifty-first Regular Session, 17-21 September 2007 (GC(51)/RES/DEC(2007)). Taking note also of the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted on 16 September 2005 at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General AssemblySee resolution 60/1. and the adoption on 8 September 2006 of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy,Resolution 60/288. Taking note further of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 5 of resolution 61/86,A/62/156. Mindful of the urgent need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, this threat to humanity, Emphasizing that progress is urgently needed in the area of disarmament and non-proliferation in order to maintain international peace and security and to contribute to global efforts against terrorism, 1. Calls upon all Member States to support international efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 2. Appeals to Member States to consider early accession to and ratification of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism;Resolution 59/290, annex. 3. Urges all Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery and materials and technologies related to their manufacture, and invites them to inform the Secretary-General, on a voluntary basis, of the measures taken in this regard; 4. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and relevant regional and international organizations for strengthening national capacities in this regard; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a report on measures already taken by international organizations on issues relating to the linkage between the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and seek the views of Member States on additional relevant measures for tackling the global threat posed by the acquisition by terrorists of weapons of mass destruction and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction". RESOLUTION 62/34 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by the Dominican Republic, and Nigeria (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States). 62/34. Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes The General Assembly, Bearing in mind resolutions CM/Res.1153 (XLVIII) of 1988See A/43/398, annex I. and CM/Res.1225 (L) of 1989,See A/44/603, annex I. adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, concerning the dumping of nuclear and industrial wastes in Africa, Welcoming resolution GC(XXXIV)/RES/530 establishing a Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste, adopted on 21 September 1990 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its thirty-fourth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Thirty-fourth Regular Session, 17-21 September 1990 (GC(XXXIV)/RESOLUTIONS (1990)). Taking note of the commitment by the participants in the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, held in Moscow on 19 and 20 April 1996, to ban the dumping at sea of radioactive wastes,A/51/131, annex I, para. 20. Considering its resolution 2602 C (XXIV) of 16 December 1969, in which it requested the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament,The Conference of the Committee on Disarmament became the Committee on Disarmament as from the tenth special session of the General Assembly. The Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. inter alia, to consider effective methods of control against the use of radiological methods of warfare, Aware of the potential hazards underlying any use of radioactive wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and its implications for regional and international security, in particular for the security of developing countries, Recalling all its resolutions on the matter since its forty-third session in 1988, including its resolution 51/45 J of 10 December 1996, Also recalling resolution GC(45)/RES/10 adopted by consensus on 21 September 2001 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-fifth regular session,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Forty-fifth Regular Session, 17-21 September 2001 (GC(45)/RES/DEC(2001)). in which States shipping radioactive materials are invited to provide, as appropriate, assurances to concerned States, upon their request, that the national regulations of the shipping State take into account the Agency's transport regulations and to provide them with relevant information relating to the shipment of such materials; the information provided should in no case be contradictory to the measures of physical security and safety, Welcoming the adoption at Vienna, on 5 September 1997, of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2153, No. 37605. as recommended by the participants in the Summit on Nuclear Safety and Security, Noting with satisfaction that the Joint Convention entered into force on 18 June 2001, Noting that the first Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management was convened in Vienna from 3 to 14 November 2003, Desirous of promoting the implementation of paragraph 76 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, 1. Takes note of the part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to a future convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons;See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/54/27), chap. III, sect. E. 2. Expresses grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States; 3. Calls upon all States to take appropriate measures with a view to preventing any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States; 4. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to take into account, in the negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons, radioactive wastes as part of the scope of such a convention; 5. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify efforts towards an early conclusion of such a convention and to include in its report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session the progress recorded in the negotiations on this subject; 6. Takes note of resolution CM/Res.1356 (LIV) of 1991, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity,See A/46/390, annex I. on the Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa; 7. Expresses the hope that the effective implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste will enhance the protection of all States from the dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories; 8. Appeals to all Member States that have not yet taken the necessary steps to become party to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2153, No. 37605. to do so as soon as possible; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes". RESOLUTION 62/35 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Liberia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). by a recorded vote of 169 to 3, with 8 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, India, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Pakistan, Palau, Russian Federation 62/35. Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 B of 10 December 1996, 52/38 N of 9 December 1997, 53/77 Q of 4 December 1998, 54/54 L of 1 December 1999, 55/33 I of 20 November 2000, 56/24 G of 29 November 2001, 57/73 of 22 November 2002, 58/49 of 8 December 2003, 59/85 of 3 December 2004, 60/58 of 8 December 2005 and 61/69 of 6 December 2006, Recalling also the adoption by the Disarmament Commission at its 1999 substantive session of a text entitled "Establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned",Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/54/42), annex I. Determined to pursue the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Determined also to continue to contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects and to the process of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, in particular in the field of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, with a view to strengthening international peace and security, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the provisions on nuclear-weapon-free zones of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, Stressing the importance of the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, as well as the Antarctic Treaty,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. to, inter alia, achieve a world entirely free of nuclear weapons, Underlining the value of enhancing cooperation among the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaty members by means of mechanisms such as joint meetings of States parties, signatories and observers to those treaties, Noting the adoption of the Declaration of Santiago de Chile by the Governments of the States members of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean and the States parties to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, during the nineteenth regular session of the General Conference of the Agency, held in Santiago on 7 and 8 November 2005,See A/60/678. Recalling the applicable principles and rules of international law relating to the freedom of the high seas and the rights of passage through maritime space, including those of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1833, No. 31363. 1. Welcomes the continued contribution that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. BangkokUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. and PelindabaA/50/426, annex. are making towards freeing the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons; 2. Also welcomes the ratification by all original parties of the Treaty of Rarotonga, and calls upon eligible States to adhere to the Treaty and the protocols thereto; 3. Further welcomes the efforts towards the completion of the ratification process of the Treaty of Pelindaba, and calls upon the States of the region that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty, with the aim of its early entry into force; 4. Welcomes the signing of the Semipalatinsk Treaty on 8 September 2006,Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. and urges all relevant States to cooperate in resolving outstanding issues with a view to the full implementation of the Treaty; 5. Calls upon all concerned States to continue to work together in order to facilitate adherence to the protocols to nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties by all relevant States that have not yet adhered to them; 6. Welcomes the steps taken to conclude further nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and calls upon all States to consider all relevant proposals, including those reflected in its resolutions on the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and South Asia; 7. Affirms its conviction of the important role of nuclear-weapon-free zones in strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and in extending the areas of the world that are nuclear-weapon-free, and, with particular reference to the responsibilities of the nuclear-weapon States, calls upon all States to support the process of nuclear disarmament and to work for the total elimination of all nuclear weapons; 8. Welcomes the progress made on increased collaboration within and between zones at the first Conference of States Parties and Signatories to Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, held in Tlatelolco, Mexico, from 26 to 28 April 2005, at which States reaffirmed their need to cooperate in order to achieve their common objectives; 9. Congratulates the States parties and signatories to the treaties of Tlatelolco, Rarotonga, Bangkok and Pelindaba, as well as Mongolia, for their efforts to pursue the common goals envisaged in those treaties and to promote the nuclear-weapon-free status of the southern hemisphere and adjacent areas, and calls upon them to explore and implement further ways and means of cooperation among themselves and their treaty agencies; 10. Encourages the competent authorities of the nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaties to provide assistance to the States parties and signatories to those treaties so as to facilitate the accomplishment of the goals; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Nuclear-weapon-free southern hemisphere and adjacent areas". RESOLUTION 62/36 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Austria, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 139 to 3, with 36 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: France, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Palau, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine 62/36. Decreasing the operational readiness of nuclear weapons systems The General Assembly, Recalling that the maintenance of nuclear weapons on high alert was a feature of cold war nuclear postures, and welcoming the increased confidence and transparency since the cessation of the cold war, Concerned that, notwithstanding the end of the cold war, several thousand nuclear weapons remain on high alert, ready to be launched within minutes, Noting the increased engagement in multilateral disarmament forums in support of further reductions to the operational status of nuclear weapons systems, Recognizing that the maintenance of nuclear weapons systems at a high level of readiness increases the risk of the use of such weapons, including the unintentional or accidental use, which would have catastrophic consequences, Also recognizing that reductions in deployments and the lowering of operational status contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as to the process of nuclear disarmament, through the enhancement of confidence-building and transparency measures and a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies, Welcoming bilateral initiatives, such as the proposed United States/Russian Federation Joint Centre for the Exchange of Data from Early Warning Systems and Notification of Missile Launches, which can play a central role in operational status reduction processes, Also welcoming the steps taken by some States to reduce the operational status of their nuclear weapons systems, including de-targeting initiatives and increasing the amount of preparation time required for deployment, 1. Calls for further practical steps to be taken to decrease the operational readiness of nuclear weapons systems, with a view to ensuring that all nuclear weapons are removed from high alert status; 2. Urges States to update the General Assembly on progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 3. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 62/37 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Serbia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 170 to 3, with 9 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, United States of America Abstaining: Bhutan, China, Cuba, France, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan 62/37. Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons The General Assembly, Recalling the need for all States to take further practical steps and effective measures towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, with a view to achieving a peaceful and safe world free of nuclear weapons, and renewing the determination to do so, Noting that the ultimate objective of the efforts of States in the disarmament process is general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, Recalling its resolution 61/74 of 6 December 2006, Convinced that every effort should be made to avoid nuclear war and nuclear terrorism, Reaffirming the crucial importance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, and expressing regret over the lack of agreement on substantive issues at the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as over the elimination of references to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in the World Summit Outcome in 2005,See resolution 60/1. the year of the sixtieth anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, Recalling the decisions and the resolution of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsSee 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. and the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)). Recognizing that the enhancement of international peace and security and the promotion of nuclear disarmament are mutually reinforcing, Reaffirming that further advancement in nuclear disarmament will contribute to consolidating the international regime for nuclear non-proliferation and thereby ensuring international peace and security, Expressing deep concern regarding the growing dangers posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, inter alia, nuclear weapons, including that caused by proliferation networks, Recognizing the importance of implementing Security Council resolution 1718 (2006) of 14 October 2006 with regard to the nuclear test proclaimed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 9 October 2006, while welcoming the recent progress achieved by the Six-Party Talks, 1. Reaffirms the importance of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. complying with their obligations under all the articles of the Treaty; 2. Stresses the importance of an effective Treaty review process, welcoming a successful start of the 2010 review process with the first session of the Preparatory Committee in 2007, and calls upon all States parties to the Treaty to work together to ensure that the second session of the Preparatory Committee, in 2008, is held constructively, in order to facilitate the successful outcome of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 3. Reaffirms the importance of the universality of the Treaty, and calls upon States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it as non-nuclear-weapon States without delay and without conditions, and pending their accession to refrain from acts that would defeat the objective and purpose of the Treaty as well as to take practical steps in support of the Treaty; 4. Encourages further steps leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties to the Treaty are committed under article VI of the Treaty, including deeper reductions in all types of nuclear weapons, and emphasizes the importance of applying irreversibility and verifiability, as well as increased transparency in a way that promotes international stability and undiminished security for all, in the process of working towards the elimination of nuclear weapons; 5. Encourages the Russian Federation and the United States of America to implement fully the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions,See CD/1674. which should serve as a step for further nuclear disarmament, and to undertake nuclear arms reductions beyond those provided for by the Treaty, while welcoming the progress made by nuclear-weapon States, including the Russian Federation and the United States of America, on nuclear arms reductions; 6. Encourages States to continue to pursue efforts, within the framework of international cooperation, contributing to the reduction of nuclear-weapons-related materials; 7. Calls for the nuclear-weapon States to further reduce the operational status of nuclear weapons systems in ways that promote international stability and security; 8. Stresses the necessity of a diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination, in a way that promotes international stability and based on the principle of undiminished security for all; 9. Urges all States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban TreatySee resolution 50/245. at the earliest opportunity with a view to its early entry into force, stresses the importance of maintaining existing moratoriums on nuclear-weapon test explosions pending the entry into force of the Treaty, and reaffirms the importance of the continued development of the Treaty verification regime, including the international monitoring system, which will be required to provide assurance of compliance with the Treaty; 10. Calls upon the Conference on Disarmament to immediately resume its substantive work to its fullest, considering the developments of this year in the Conference; 11. Emphasizes the importance of the immediate commencement of negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty and its early conclusion, and calls upon all nuclear-weapon States and States not parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to declare moratoriums on the production of fissile material for any nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices pending the entry into force of the Treaty; 12. Calls upon all States to redouble their efforts to prevent and curb the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; 13. Stresses the importance of further efforts for non-proliferation, including the universalization of the International Atomic Energy Agency comprehensive safeguards agreements and Model Protocol Additional to the Agreement(s) between State(s) and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 15 May 1997International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected). and the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions including resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004; 14. Encourages all States to undertake concrete activities to implement, as appropriate, the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education, submitted to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session,A/57/124. and to voluntarily share information on efforts they have been undertaking to that end; 15. Encourages the constructive role played by civil society in promoting nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. RESOLUTION 62/38 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. 62/38. Regional disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36 I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992, 48/75 I of 16 December 1993, 49/75 N of 15 December 1994, 50/70 K of 12 December 1995, 51/45 K of 10 December 1996, 52/38 P of 9 December 1997, 53/77 O of 4 December 1998, 54/54 N of 1 December 1999, 55/33 O of 20 November 2000, 56/24 H of 29 November 2001, 57/76 of 22 November 2002, 58/38 of 8 December 2003, 59/89 of 3 December 2004, 60/63 of 8 December 2005 and 61/80 of 6 December 2006 on regional disarmament, Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits, Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations, Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,See resolution S-10/2. Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional approaches to disarmament within the context of global security adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II. Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers, Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament at the regional and subregional levels, Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security, Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of all States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts, 1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues; 2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security; 3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels; 4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at the regional and subregional levels; 5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at the regional and subregional levels; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Regional disarmament". RESOLUTION 62/39 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Benin, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Uruguay and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 127 to 27, with 27 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Montenegro, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan 62/39. Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/75 K of 15 December 1994, 51/45 M of 10 December 1996, 52/38 O of 9 December 1997, 53/77 W of 4 December 1998, 54/54 Q of 1 December 1999, 55/33 X of 20 November 2000, 56/24 S of 29 November 2001, 57/85 of 22 November 2002, 58/46 of 8 December 2003, 59/83 of 3 December 2004, 60/76 of 8 December 2005 and 61/83 of 6 December 2006, Convinced that the continuing existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to all humanity and that their use would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth, and recognizing that the only defence against a nuclear catastrophe is the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the certainty that they will never be produced again, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Mindful of the solemn obligations of States parties, undertaken in article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. particularly to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, Recalling the principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex, decision 2. Emphasizing the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, adopted at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. Recalling the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, and expressing its satisfaction at the increasing number of States that have signed and ratified the Treaty, Recognizing with satisfaction that the Antarctic TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778. and the treaties of Tlatelolco,Ibid., vol. 634, No. 9068. Rarotonga,See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. Bangkok,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. PelindabaA/50/426, annex. and Semipalatinsk,Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia. as well as Mongolia's nuclear-weapon-free status, are gradually freeing the entire southern hemisphere and adjacent areas covered by those treaties from nuclear weapons, Stressing the importance of strengthening all existing nuclear-related disarmament and arms control and reduction measures, Recognizing the need for a multilaterally negotiated and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the threat or use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming the central role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, and regretting the lack of progress in disarmament negotiations, particularly nuclear disarmament, in the Conference during its 2007 session, Emphasizing the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified framework of time, Expressing its regret over the failure of the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach agreement on any substantive issues, Expressing its deep concern at the lack of progress in the implementation of the thirteen steps to implement article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Desiring to achieve the objective of a legally binding prohibition of the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, threat or use of nuclear weapons and their destruction under effective international control, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Taking note of the relevant portions of the report of the Secretary-General relating to the implementation of resolution 61/83,A/62/165 and Add.1. 1. Underlines once again the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; 2. Calls once again upon all States immediately to fulfil that obligation by commencing multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons and providing for their elimination; 3. Requests all States to inform the Secretary-General of the efforts and measures they have taken on the implementation of the present resolution and nuclear disarmament, and requests the Secretary-General to apprise the General Assembly of that information at its sixty-third session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons". RESOLUTION 62/3 Adopted at the 38th plenary meeting, on 30 October 2007, by a recorded vote of 184 to 4, with 1 abstention,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.1, sponsored by Cuba * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Micronesia (Federated States of) 62/3. Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba The General Assembly, Determined to encourage strict compliance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming, among other principles, the sovereign equality of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal affairs and freedom of international trade and navigation, which are also enshrined in many international legal instruments, Recalling the statements of the Heads of State or Government at the Ibero-American Summits concerning the need to eliminate unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one State against another that affect the free flow of international trade, Concerned at the continued promulgation and application by Member States of laws and regulations, such as that promulgated on 12 March 1996 known as the "Helms-Burton Act", the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other States, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation, Taking note of declarations and resolutions of different intergovernmental forums, bodies and Governments that express the rejection by the international community and public opinion of the promulgation and application of measures of the kind referred to above, Recalling its resolutions 47/19 of 24 November 1992, 48/16 of 3 November 1993, 49/9 of 26 October 1994, 50/10 of 2 November 1995, 51/17 of 12 November 1996, 52/10 of 5 November 1997, 53/4 of 14 October 1998, 54/21 of 9 November 1999, 55/20 of 9 November 2000, 56/9 of 27 November 2001, 57/11 of 12 November 2002, 58/7 of 4 November 2003, 59/11 of 28 October 2004, 60/12 of 8 November 2005 and 61/11 of 8 November 2006, Concerned that, since the adoption of its resolutions 47/19, 48/16, 49/9, 50/10, 51/17, 52/10, 53/4, 54/21, 55/20, 56/9, 57/11, 58/7, 59/11, 60/12 and 61/11, further measures of that nature aimed at strengthening and extending the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba continue to be promulgated and applied, and concerned also at the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 61/11;A/62/92 and Add.1. 2. Reiterates its call upon all States to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind referred to in the preamble to the present resolution, in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which, inter alia, reaffirm the freedom of trade and navigation; 3. Once again urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take the necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations system, to prepare a report on the implementation of the present resolution in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and international law and to submit it to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". RESOLUTION 62/40 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/40. Prevention of the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 58/42 and 58/54 of 8 December 2003, 58/241 of 23 December 2003, 59/90 of 3 December 2004, 60/77 of 8 December 2005 and 60/288 of 8 September 2006, and its decision 60/519 of 8 December 2005, Recognizing that disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, Acknowledging the authorized trade in man-portable air defence systems between Governments, Acknowledging also the legitimate right of Governments to manufacture, import, export, transfer and possess man-portable air defence systems in the interests of their national security and self-defence, Recognizing the threat to civil aviation, peacekeeping, crisis management and security posed by the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems, Taking into account the fact that man-portable air defence systems are easily carried, concealed, fired and, in certain circumstances, obtained, Recognizing that effective control over man-portable air defence systems acquires special importance in the context of the intensified international fight against global terrorism, Convinced of the importance of effective national control of transfers of man-portable air defence systems and their training and instruction materials and of the safe and effective management of stockpiles of such weapons, Acknowledging the role of the unauthorized transfer of relevant materials and information in assisting the illicit manufacture and illicit transfer of man-portable air defence systems and related components, Welcoming the ongoing efforts of, and noting declarations by, various international and regional forums to enhance transport security and to strengthen management of man-portable air defence systems stockpiles in order to prevent the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons, Noting the importance of information exchange and transparency in the trade in man-portable air defence systems to build confidence and security among States and to prevent the illicit trade in and unauthorized access to such weapons, Acknowledging the considerable efforts of some Member States to collect, secure and destroy voluntarily those man-portable air defence systems declared to be surplus by the competent national authority, 1. Emphasizes the importance of the full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 2. Urges Member States to support current international, regional and national efforts to combat and prevent the illicit transfer of man-portable air defence systems and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons; 3. Stresses the importance of effective and comprehensive national controls on the production, stockpiling, transfer and brokering of man-portable air defence systems to prevent the illicit trade in and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons, their components and training and instruction materials; 4. Encourages Member States to enact or improve legislation, regulations, procedures and stockpile management practices and to assist other States, at their request, to exercise effective control over access to and transfer of man-portable air defence systems so as to prevent the illicit brokering and transfer of and unauthorized access to and use of such weapons; 5. Also encourages Member States, in accordance with their legal and constitutional processes, to enact or improve legislation, regulations and procedures to ban the transfer of man-portable air defence systems to non-State end-users and to ensure that such weapons are exported only to Governments or agents authorized by a Government; 6. Encourages initiatives to exchange information and to mobilize resources and technical expertise to assist States, at their request, in enhancing national controls and stockpile management practices to prevent unauthorized access to and use and transfer of man-portable air defence systems and to destroy excess or obsolete stockpiles of such weapons, as appropriate; 7. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 62/41 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Australia, Croatia and Jordan. by a recorded vote of 164 to none, with 18 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: None Abstaining: Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam 62/41. Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/54 B of 1 December 1999, 55/33 V of 20 November 2000, 56/24 M of 29 November 2001, 57/74 of 22 November 2002, 58/53 of 8 December 2003, 59/84 of 3 December 2004, 60/80 of 8 December 2005 and 61/84 of 6 December 2006, Reaffirming its determination to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, which kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians, including children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement, Believing it necessary to do the utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner to facing the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world and to assure their destruction, Wishing to do the utmost in ensuring assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration, of mine victims, Recalling that 2007 marks the tenth anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. and welcoming its entry into force on 1 March 1999, Noting with satisfaction the work undertaken to implement the Convention and the substantial progress made towards ending, for all people and for all time, the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines, as well as regular reporting of this progress, Recalling the first to seventh meetings of the States parties to the Convention held in Maputo (1999),See APLC/MSP.1/1999/1. Geneva (2000),See APLC/MSP.2/2000/1. Managua (2001),See APLC/MSP.3/2001/1. Geneva (2002),See APLC/MSP.4/2002/1. Bangkok (2003),See APLC/MSP.5/2003/5. Zagreb (2005)See APLC/MSP.6/2005/5. and Geneva (2006),See APLC/MSP.7/2006/5. and the First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention, held in Nairobi (2004),See APLC/CONF/2004/5 and Corr.1. Noting with satisfaction that additional States have ratified or acceded to the Convention, bringing the total number of States that have formally accepted the obligations of the Convention to one hundred and fifty-five, Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to the Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization, Noting with regret that anti-personnel mines continue to be used in conflicts around the world, causing human suffering and impeding post-conflict development, 1. Invites all States that have not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their DestructionUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597. to accede to it without delay; 2. Urges all States that have signed but have not ratified the Convention to ratify it without delay; 3. Stresses the importance of the full and effective implementation of and compliance with the Convention, including through the continued implementation of the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009;Ibid., part III. 4. Urges all States parties to provide the Secretary-General with complete and timely information as required under article 7 of the Convention in order to promote transparency and compliance with the Convention; 5. Invites all States that have not ratified the Convention or acceded to it to provide, on a voluntary basis, information to make global mine action efforts more effective; 6. Renews its call upon all States and other relevant parties to work together to promote, support and advance the care, rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of mine victims, mine risk education programmes and the removal and destruction of anti-personnel mines placed or stockpiled throughout the world; 7. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Convention through bilateral, subregional, regional and multilateral contacts, outreach, seminars and other means; 8. Reiterates its invitation and encouragement to all interested States, the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to participate in the eighth meeting of the States parties to the Convention, to be held in Jordan from 18 to 22 November 2007, and in the intersessional work programme established at the first meeting of the States parties and further developed at subsequent meetings of the States parties; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with article 11, paragraph 2, of the Convention, to undertake the preparations necessary to convene the next meeting of the States parties and, pending a decision to be taken at the eighth meeting of States parties, and on behalf of the States parties and in accordance with article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention, to invite States not parties to the Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations to attend the ninth meeting of the States parties as observers; 10. Decides to remain seized of the matter. RESOLUTION 62/42 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jordan, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. by a recorded vote of 117 to 47, with 17 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mauritius, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan 62/42. Nuclear disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 49/75 E of 15 December 1994 on a step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat, and its resolutions 50/70 P of 12 December 1995, 51/45 O of 10 December 1996, 52/38 L of 9 December 1997, 53/77 X of 4 December 1998, 54/54 P of 1 December 1999, 55/33 T of 20 November 2000, 56/24 R of 29 November 2001, 57/79 of 22 November 2002, 58/56 of 8 December 2003, 59/77 of 3 December 2004, 60/70 of 8 December 2005 and 61/78 of 6 December 2006 on nuclear disarmament, Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free world, Bearing in mind that the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1972United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1015, No. 14860. and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 1993Ibid., vol. 1974, No. 33757. have already established legal regimes on the complete prohibition of biological and chemical weapons, respectively, and determined to achieve a nuclear weapons convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, loan, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, and to conclude such an international convention at an early date, Recognizing that there now exist conditions for the establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons, and stressing the need to take concrete practical steps towards achieving this goal, Bearing in mind paragraph 50 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. the first special session devoted to disarmament, calling for the urgent negotiation of agreements for the cessation of the qualitative improvement and development of nuclear-weapon systems, and for a comprehensive and phased programme with agreed time frames, wherever feasible, for the progressive and balanced reduction of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, leading to their ultimate and complete elimination at the earliest possible time, Reaffirming the conviction of the States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. that the Treaty is a cornerstone of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament and the importance of the decision on strengthening the review process for the Treaty, the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, the decision on the extension of the Treaty and the resolution on the Middle East, adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. Stressing the importance of the thirteen steps for the systematic and progressive efforts to achieve the objective of nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons, as agreed to by the States parties in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. Reiterating the highest priority accorded to nuclear disarmament in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and by the international community, Reiterating its call for an early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. Noting with appreciation the entry into force of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I),The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 16: 1991 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.92.IX.1), appendix II. to which Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States of America are States parties, Noting with appreciation also the entry into force of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions ("the Moscow Treaty") between the United States of America and the Russian FederationSee CD/1674. as a significant step towards reducing their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while calling for further irreversible deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals, Noting with appreciation further the unilateral measures taken by the nuclear-weapon States for nuclear arms limitation, and encouraging them to take further such measures, while reiterating deep concern over the slow pace of progress towards nuclear disarmament and the lack of progress by the nuclear-weapon States towards accomplishing the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, Recognizing the complementarity of bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, and that bilateral negotiations can never replace multilateral negotiations in this respect, Noting the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elaboration of an international convention to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, and the multilateral efforts in the Conference on Disarmament to reach agreement on such an international convention at an early date, Recalling the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, issued on 8 July 1996,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. and welcoming the unanimous reaffirmation by all Judges of the Court that there exists an obligation for all States to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control, Mindful of paragraph 64 of the Final Document of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 29 and 30 May 2006,A/60/1002-S/2006/718, annex I. Recalling paragraph 70 and other relevant recommendations in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006,A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, as soon as possible and as the highest priority, an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament and to commence negotiations on a phased programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified time framework, Reaffirming the specific mandate conferred upon the Disarmament Commission by the General Assembly, in its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, to discuss the subject of nuclear disarmament as one of its main substantive agenda items, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to strive for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and to keep all options open for achieving this aim, including the possibility of convening an international conference to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers, Reaffirming that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, States should refrain from the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in settling their disputes in international relations, Seized of the danger of the use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons, in terrorist acts and the urgent need for concerted international efforts to control and overcome it, 1. Recognizes that the time is now opportune for all the nuclear-weapon States to take effective disarmament measures with a view to achieving the elimination of these weapons; 2. Reaffirms that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are substantively interrelated and mutually reinforcing, that the two processes must go hand in hand and that there is a genuine need for a systematic and progressive process of nuclear disarmament; 3. Welcomes and encourages the efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in different parts of the world on the basis of agreements or arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the regions concerned, which is an effective measure for limiting the further spread of nuclear weapons geographically and contributes to the cause of nuclear disarmament; 4. Recognizes that there is a genuine need to diminish the role of nuclear weapons in strategic doctrines and security policies to minimize the risk that these weapons will ever be used and to facilitate the process of their total elimination; 5. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to stop immediately the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems; 6. Also urges the nuclear-weapon States, as an interim measure, to de-alert and deactivate immediately their nuclear weapons and to take other concrete measures to reduce further the operational status of their nuclear-weapon systems; 7. Reiterates its call upon the nuclear-weapon States to undertake the step-by-step reduction of the nuclear threat and to carry out effective nuclear disarmament measures with a view to achieving the total elimination of these weapons; 8. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States, pending the achievement of the total elimination of nuclear weapons, to agree on an internationally and legally binding instrument on a joint undertaking not to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and calls upon all States to conclude an internationally and legally binding instrument on security assurances of non-use and non-threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States; 9. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to commence plurilateral negotiations among themselves at an appropriate stage on further deep reductions of nuclear weapons as an effective measure of nuclear disarmament; 10. Underlines the importance of applying the principle of irreversibility to the process of nuclear disarmament, and nuclear and other related arms control and reduction measures; 11. Underscores the importance of the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty,2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15:6. and the reaffirmation by the States parties that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;Ibid., section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 2. 12. Calls for the full and effective implementation of the thirteen steps for nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs", para. 15. 13. Urges the nuclear-weapon States to carry out further reductions of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction and disarmament process; 14. Calls for the immediate commencement of negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a non-discriminatory, multilateral and internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices on the basis of the report of the Special CoordinatorCD/1299. and the mandate contained therein; 15. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to agree on a programme of work that includes the immediate commencement of negotiations on such a treaty with a view to their conclusion within five years; 16. Calls for the conclusion of an international legal instrument or instruments on adequate security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; 17. Also calls for the early entry into force and strict observance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty;See resolution 50/245. 18. Expresses its regret that the 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was unable to achieve any substantive result and that the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted by the General AssemblySee resolution 60/1. failed to make any reference to nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation; 19. Also expresses its regret that the Conference on Disarmament was unable to establish an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2007, as called for by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/78; 20. Reiterates its call upon the Conference on Disarmament to establish, on a priority basis, an ad hoc committee to deal with nuclear disarmament early in 2008 and to commence negotiations on a phased programme of nuclear disarmament leading to the eventual total elimination of nuclear weapons; 21. Calls for the convening of an international conference on nuclear disarmament in all its aspects at an early date to identify and deal with concrete measures of nuclear disarmament; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Nuclear disarmament". RESOLUTION 62/43 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 179 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Israel 62/43. Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 60/66 of 8 December 2005 and 61/75 of 6 December 2006, Reaffirming that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger to international peace and security, Conscious that further measures should be examined in the search for agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space, including the weaponization of outer space, Recalling, in this context, its previous resolutions, including resolutions 45/55 B of 4 December 1990 and 48/74 B of 16 December 1993, which, inter alia, emphasize the need for increased transparency and confirm the importance of confidence-building measures as a means conducive to ensuring the attainment of the objective of the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Recalling also the report of the Secretary-General of 15 October 1993 to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session, the annex to which contains the study by governmental experts on the application of confidence-building measures in outer space,A/48/305 and Corr.1. Noting the constructive debate which the Conference on Disarmament held on this subject in 2007, Noting also the contribution of Member States which have submitted to the Secretary-General concrete proposals on international outer space transparency and confidence-building measures pursuant to paragraph 1 of resolution 61/75, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing concrete proposals from Member States on international outer space transparency and confidence-building measures;A/62/114 and Add.1. 2. Invites all Member States to continue to submit to the Secretary-General concrete proposals on international outer space transparency and confidence-building measures in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation and the prevention of an arms race in outer space; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report with an annex containing concrete proposals from Member States on international outer space transparency and confidence-building measures; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities". RESOLUTION 62/44 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Belarus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Liberia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Ukraine. by a recorded vote of 177 to 1, with 1 abstention, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: India Abstaining: Bhutan 62/44. Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 48/75 J of 16 December 1993, 49/75 O of 15 December 1994, 50/70 L of 12 December 1995, 51/45 Q of 10 December 1996, 52/38 Q of 9 December 1997, 53/77 P of 4 December 1998, 54/54 M of 1 December 1999, 55/33 P of 20 November 2000, 56/24 I of 29 November 2001, 57/77 of 22 November 2002, 58/39 of 8 December 2003, 59/88 of 3 December 2004, 60/75 of 8 December 2005 and 61/82 of 6 December 2006, Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control in promoting regional and international peace and security, Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly among States located in the same region or subregion, Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective of conventional arms control, Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and military forces, Noting with particular interest the initiatives taken in this regard in different regions of the world, in particular the commencement of consultations among a number of Latin American countries and the proposals for conventional arms control made in the context of South Asia, and recognizing, in the context of this subject, the relevance and value of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe,CD/1064. which is a cornerstone of European security, Believing that militarily significant States and States with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility in promoting such agreements for regional security, Believing also that an important objective of conventional arms control in regions of tension should be to prevent the possibility of military attack launched by surprise and to avoid aggression, 1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control, and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, in the meantime, to seek the views of Member States on the subject and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels". RESOLUTION 62/45 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Colombia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Syrian Arab Republic and Ukraine. 62/45. Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling its resolutions 58/43 of 8 December 2003, 59/87 of 3 December 2004, 60/64 of 8 December 2005 and 61/81 of 6 December 2006, Recalling also its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 entitled "Prevention of armed conflict", in which it calls upon Member States to settle their disputes by peaceful means, as set out in Chapter VI of the Charter, inter alia, by any procedures adopted by the parties, Recalling further the resolutions and guidelines adopted by consensus by the General Assembly and the Disarmament Commission relating to confidence-building measures and their implantation at the global, regional and subregional levels, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken at the initiative and with the agreement of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability, Convinced that resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Recognizing the need for meaningful dialogue among States concerned to avert conflict, Welcoming the peace processes already initiated by States concerned to resolve their disputes through peaceful means bilaterally or through mediation, inter alia, by third parties, regional organizations or the United Nations, Recognizing that States in some regions have already taken steps towards confidence-building measures at the bilateral, subregional and regional levels in the political and military fields, including arms control and disarmament, and noting that such confidence-building measures have improved peace and security in those regions and contributed to progress in the socio-economic conditions of their people, Concerned that the continuation of disputes among States, particularly in the absence of an effective mechanism to resolve them through peaceful means, may contribute to the arms race and endanger the maintenance of international peace and security and the efforts of the international community to promote arms control and disarmament, 1. Calls upon Member States to refrain from the use or threat of use of force in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; 2. Reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes under Chapter VI of the Charter, in particular Article 33, which provides for a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements or other peaceful means chosen by the parties; 3. Reaffirms the ways and means regarding confidence- and security-building measures set out in the report of the Disarmament Commission on its 1993 session;Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II, sect. III.A. 4. Calls upon Member States to pursue these ways and means through sustained consultations and dialogue, while at the same time avoiding actions that may hinder or impair such a dialogue; 5. Urges States to comply strictly with all bilateral, regional and international agreements, including arms control and disarmament agreements, to which they are party; 6. Emphasizes that the objective of confidence-building measures should be to help strengthen international peace and security and be consistent with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments; 7. Encourages the promotion of bilateral and regional confidence-building measures, with the consent and participation of the parties concerned, to avoid conflict and prevent the unintended and accidental outbreak of hostilities; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session containing the views of Member States on confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Confidence-building measures in the regional and subregional context". RESOLUTION 62/46 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/46. Preventing the acquisition by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources The General Assembly, Recognizing the essential contribution of radioactive materials and sources to social and economic development, and the benefits drawn from their use for all States, Recognizing also the determination of the international community to combat terrorism, as evident in relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, Deeply concerned by the threat of terrorism and the risk that terrorists may acquire, traffic in or use radioactive materials or sources in radiological dispersion devices, Recalling the importance of international conventions aimed at preventing and suppressing such a risk, in particular the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, adopted on 13 April 2005,Resolution 59/290, annex. and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, adopted on 26 October 1979,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1456, No. 24631. as well as its Amendment, adopted on 8 July 2005, Noting that actions of the international community to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and prevent access by non-State actors to weapons of mass destruction and related material, notably Security Council resolution 1540 (2004) of 28 April 2004, constitute contributions to the protection against nuclear and radiological terrorism, Stressing the importance of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in promoting and reinforcing the safety and security of radioactive materials and sources, in particular by supporting the improvement of national legal and regulatory infrastructure and by establishing technical guidance, Taking note of the importance of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste ManagementIbid., vol. 2153, No. 37605. with respect to the safety of the end of life of radioactive sources, Taking note also of the importance of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive SourcesInternational Atomic Energy Agency, Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources (IAEA/CODEOC/2004). as a valuable instrument for enhancing the safety and security of radioactive sources, while recognizing that the Code is not a legally binding instrument, and of the International Atomic Energy Agency Revised Action Plan for the Safety and Security of Radioactive SourcesGOV/2001/29-GC(45)/12, attachment. and its Nuclear Security Plan for 2006-2009,See GC(49)/17. Taking note further of resolutions GC(51)/RES/11 and GC(51)/RES/12, adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its fifty-first regular session, which address measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management and measures to protect against nuclear and radiological terrorism,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fifty-first Regular Session, 17-21 September 2007 (GC(51)/RES/DEC(2007)). Welcoming the ongoing individual and collective efforts of Member States to take into account in their deliberations the dangers posed by the lack or insufficiency of control over radioactive materials and sources, and recognizing the need for States to take more effective measures to strengthen those controls in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, Welcoming also the fact that Member States have taken multilateral actions to address this issue, as reflected in General Assembly resolution 61/8 of 30 October 2006, Welcoming further the contribution of the International Atomic Energy Agency International Conference on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources: Towards a Global System for the Continuous Control of Sources throughout Their Life Cycle, held in Bordeaux, France, from 27 June to 1 July 2005, to the activities of the Agency on these issues, Mindful of the responsibilities of every Member State, in accordance with international obligations, to maintain effective nuclear safety and security, asserting that responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with that State, and noting the important contribution of international cooperation in supporting the efforts of States to fulfil their responsibilities, Mindful also of the urgent need for addressing, within the United Nations framework and through international cooperation, this rising concern for international security, 1. Calls upon Member States to support international efforts to prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources, and, if necessary, suppress such acts, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law; 2. Urges Member States to take and strengthen national measures, as appropriate, to prevent the acquisition and use by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources, as well as terrorist attacks on nuclear plants and facilities which would result in radioactive releases, and, if necessary, suppress such acts, in particular by taking effective measures to account for, secure and physically protect such materials and sources in accordance with their international obligations; 3. Encourages Member States to enhance their national capacities with appropriate means of detection and related architecture or systems, including through international cooperation and assistance in conformity with international law and regulations, with a view to reflecting and preventing the illicit trafficking of radioactive materials and sources; 4. Welcomes the entry into force on 7 July 2007 of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,Resolution 59/290, annex. and invites all Member States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify this instrument as soon as possible, in accordance with their legal and constitutional processes; 5. Invites Member States, in particular those producing and distributing radioactive sources, to support and endorse the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to enhance the safety and security of radioactive sources, as described in General Conference resolution GC(51)/RES/11 and to enhance the security of radioactive sources as described in the Agency's Nuclear Security Plan for 2006-2009,See GC(49)/17. urges all States to work towards following the guidance contained in the Agency's Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources,International Atomic Energy Agency, Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources (IAEA/CODEOC/2004). including, as appropriate, the guidance on the import and export of radioactive sources, noting that the guidance is supplementary to the Code, and encourages Member States to notify the Director General of the Agency of their intention to do so pursuant to General Conference resolution GC(48)/RES/10;Ibid., Forty-eighth Regular Session, 20-24 September 2004 (GC(48)/RES/DEC(2004)). 6. Recognizes the value of information exchange on national approaches to controlling radioactive sources, and takes note of the endorsement by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency of a proposal for a formalized process for a voluntary periodic exchange on information and lessons learned and for the evaluation of progress made by States towards implementing the provisions of the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources; 7. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by Member States, including through international cooperation under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to search for, locate and secure unsecured and/or uncontrolled ("orphan") radioactive sources within their State jurisdiction or territory; 8. Encourages cooperation among and between Member States and through relevant international and, where appropriate, regional organizations aimed at strengthening national capacities in this regard; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session an item entitled "Preventing the acquisition by terrorists of radioactive materials and sources". RESOLUTION 62/47 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 179 to 1, with no abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: None 62/47. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, 57/72 of 22 November 2002, 58/241 of 23 December 2003, 59/86 of 3 December 2004, 60/81 of 8 December 2005 and 61/66 of 6 December 2006, Emphasizing the importance of the continued and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. Welcoming the efforts by Member States to submit, on a voluntary basis, national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action, Noting with satisfaction regional and subregional efforts being undertaken in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, and commending the progress that has already been made in this regard, including tackling both supply and demand factors that are relevant to addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, Recognizing the efforts undertaken by non-governmental organizations in the provision of assistance to States for the implementation of the Programme of Action, Recalling that, as part of the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, it was agreed that meetings of States should be convened on a biennial basis to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action,Ibid., sect. IV, para. 1 (b). Recognizing that illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons is a serious problem that the international community should address urgently, Bearing in mind the importance of regular national reporting, which could greatly facilitate the rendering of international cooperation and assistance to affected States, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 61/66,See A/62/162. Welcoming the fact that the United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, held from 26 June to 7 July 2006, highlighted the commitment of States to the Programme of Action as the main framework for measures within the activities of the international community to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, beyond 2006,See A/CONF.192/2006/RC/9. Taking note of the reports submitted to the General Assembly by the Secretary-General dealing with the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,A/62/162 and A/62/163. 1. Encourages all initiatives, including those of the United Nations, other international organizations, regional and subregional organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society, for the successful implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. and calls upon all Member States to contribute towards the continued implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and global levels; 2. Calls upon all States to implement the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons,A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex; see also decision 60/519. among others, through the provision of information to the Secretary-General on the name and contact information of the national points of contact and on national marking practices related to markings used to indicate country of manufacture and/or country of import, as applicable; 3. Takes note of the report submitted to the General Assembly by the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to resolution 60/81 to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons,See A/62/163. and encourages States to implement its recommendations; 4. Decides that, in conformity with the follow-up to the Programme of Action, the next biennial meeting of States to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action shall be held from 14 to 18 July 2008, in New York; 5. Recalls that the meeting of States to consider the implementation of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, shall be held within the framework of the biennial meeting of States; 6. Encourages States to submit, well in advance of the next biennial meeting of States, national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in accordance with these instruments, and requests the Secretary-General to collate and circulate such data and information provided by States; 7. Also encourages States to include in their national reports, on a voluntary basis, information on their efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, as well as on their actions aimed at enhancing international cooperation for this purpose; 8. Calls upon States, in considering the implementation of the Programme of Action, to take full advantage of the biennial meetings of States to identify priority issues or topics of relevance in the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to highlight their implementation challenges and opportunities; 9. Underlines the fact that the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects requires concerted efforts at the national, regional and international levels to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and that their uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world has a wide range of humanitarian and socio-economic consequences and poses a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels; 10. Emphasizes the need to facilitate the implementation at the national level of the Programme of Action through the strengthening of national coordination agencies or bodies and institutional infrastructure; 11. Also emphasizes the fact that initiatives by the international community with respect to international cooperation and assistance remain essential and complementary to national implementation efforts, as well as to those at the regional and global levels; 12. Recognizes the necessity for interested States to develop effective coordination mechanisms, where they do not exist, in order to match the needs of States with existing resources to enhance the implementation of the Programme of Action and to make international cooperation and assistance more effective; 13. Encourages States to consider, among other mechanisms, the coherent identification of needs, priorities, national plans and programmes that may require international cooperation and assistance from States and regional and international organizations in a position to do so; 14. Encourages civil society and relevant organizations to strengthen their cooperation and work with States at the respective national and regional levels to achieve the implementation of the Programme of Action; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects". RESOLUTION 62/48 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/391, para. 77),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). by a recorded vote of 179 to 1, with 2 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: France, Israel 62/48. Relationship between disarmament and development The General Assembly, Recalling that the Charter of the United Nations envisages the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, Recalling also the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly concerning the relationship between disarmament and development,See resolution S-10/2. as well as the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. Recalling further its resolutions 49/75 J of 15 December 1994, 50/70 G of 12 December 1995, 51/45 D of 10 December 1996, 52/38 D of 9 December 1997, 53/77 K of 4 December 1998, 54/54 T of 1 December 1999, 55/33 L of 20 November 2000, 56/24 E of 29 November 2001, 57/65 of 22 November 2002, 59/78 of 3 December 2004, 60/61 of 8 December 2005 and 61/64 of 6 December 2006, and its decision 58/520 of 8 December 2003, Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Twelfth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 29 August to 3 September 1998,A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I. and the Final Document of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Cartagena, Colombia, on 8 and 9 April 2000,A/54/917-S/2000/580, annex. Mindful of the changes in international relations that have taken place since the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, including the development agenda that has emerged over the past decade, Bearing in mind the new challenges for the international community in the field of development, poverty eradication and the elimination of the diseases that afflict humanity, Stressing the importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development and the important role of security in this connection, and concerned at increasing global military expenditure, which could otherwise be spent on development needs, Recalling the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and developmentSee A/59/119. and its reappraisal of this significant issue in the current international context, Taking note of the fact that 2007 marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption in 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development, Bearing in mind the importance of following up on the implementation of the action programme adopted at the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. 1. Stresses the central role of the United Nations in the disarmament-development relationship, and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen further the role of the Organization in this field, in particular the high-level Steering Group on Disarmament and Development, in order to ensure continued and effective coordination and close cooperation between the relevant United Nations departments, agencies and sub-agencies; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the 1987 International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8. 3. Urges the international community to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries; 4. Encourages the international community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to make reference to the contribution that disarmament could provide in meeting them when it reviews its progress towards this purpose in 2007, as well as to make greater efforts to integrate disarmament, humanitarian and development activities; 5. Encourages the relevant regional and subregional organizations and institutions, non-governmental organizations and research institutes to incorporate issues related to the relationship between disarmament and development in their agendas and, in this regard, to take into account the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development;See A/59/119. 6. Invites Member States to provide the Secretary-General with information regarding measures and efforts to devote part of the resources made available by the implementation of disarmament and arms limitation agreements to economic and social development, with a view to reducing the ever-widening gap between developed and developing countries; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution, including the information provided by Member States pursuant to paragraph 6 above; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development". RESOLUTION 62/49 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/392, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Peru (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States). 62/49. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 K of 30 November 1987 and 43/76 H of 7 December 1988 on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, with headquarters in Lima, Recalling also its resolutions 46/37 F of 9 December 1991, 48/76 E of 16 December 1993, 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, 50/71 C of 12 December 1995, 52/220 of 22 December 1997, 53/78 F of 4 December 1998, 54/55 F of 1 December 1999, 55/34 E of 20 November 2000, 56/25 E of 29 November 2001, 57/89 of 22 November 2002, 58/60 of 8 December 2003, 59/99 of 3 December 2004, 60/84 of 8 December 2005 and 61/92 of 6 December 2006, Welcoming the twentieth anniversary of the Regional Centre, Recognizing that the Regional Centre has continued to provide substantive support for the implementation of regional and subregional initiatives and has intensified its contribution to the coordination of United Nations efforts towards peace and disarmament and for the promotion of economic and social development, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/130. which, inter alia, concludes that the Regional Centre has continued to provide assistance to States in the Latin American and Caribbean region in the implementation of regional initiatives in the areas of peace and disarmament and development and that during the period under review such assistance was provided in the areas of practical disarmament measures, capacity-building and awareness-raising, in the preparation of national reports on weapons-related instruments and in the provision of forums for discussion among States to facilitate their reaching common positions on disarmament and non-proliferation issues, and welcoming also the Centre's initiation of the process of transferring to the African region its knowledge and best practices in the area of training courses for the law enforcement community on the prevention of illicit firearms trafficking, Recalling the report of the Group of Governmental Experts on the relationship between disarmament and development,See A/59/119. referred to in General Assembly resolution 59/78 of 3 December 2004, which is of utmost interest with regard to the role that the Regional Centre plays in promoting the issue in the region in pursuit of its mandate to promote economic and social development related to peace and disarmament, Noting that security and disarmament issues have always been recognized as significant topics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the first inhabited region in the world to be declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, Welcoming the support provided by the Regional Centre to strengthening the nuclear-weapon-free zone established by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. as well as to promoting and assisting the ratification and implementation of existing multilateral agreements related to weapons of mass destruction and to promoting peace and disarmament education projects during the period under review, Bearing in mind the important role of the Regional Centre in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, disarmament and development at the regional level, Bearing in mind also the importance of information, research, education and training for peace, disarmament and development in order to achieve understanding and cooperation among States, Recognizing the need to provide the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament with sufficient financial resources and cooperation for the planning and implementation of their programmes of activities, 1. Reiterates its strong support for the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in the promotion of United Nations activities at the regional level to strengthen peace, stability, security and development among its member States; 2. Expresses its satisfaction and congratulates the Regional Centre for the activities carried out in the last year in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, and requests the Centre to take into account the proposals to be submitted by the countries of the region in promoting confidence-building measures, arms control and limitation, transparency, disarmament and development at the regional level; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the political support and financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Latin American and Caribbean region, and to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations to make and to increase voluntary contributions to strengthen the Regional Centre, its programme of activities and the implementation thereof; 5. Invites all States of the region to continue to take part in the activities of the Regional Centre, proposing items for inclusion in its programme of activities and making greater and better use of the potential of the Centre to meet the current challenges facing the international community with a view to fulfilling the aims of the Charter of the United Nations in the areas of peace, disarmament and development; 6. Recognizes that the Regional Centre has an important role in the promotion and development of regional initiatives agreed upon by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in the field of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons, and conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as in the relationship between disarmament and development; 7. Encourages the Regional Centre to further develop activities in the important area of disarmament and development; 8. Highlights the conclusion contained in the report of the Secretary-General to the sixty-first session of the General Assembly, that, through its activities, the Regional Centre has demonstrated its role as a viable regional actor in assisting States in the region to advance the cause of peace, disarmament and development in Latin America and the Caribbean;See A/61/157, para. 49. 9. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Regional Centre with all necessary support, within existing resources, so that it may carry out its programme of activities in accordance with its mandate; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean". RESOLUTION 62/4 Adopted at the 40th plenary meeting, on 31 October 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.2 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 62/4. Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/8 of 3 November 2005, in which it decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the sub-item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal", and recalling also its prior decision to consider the item every two years in advance of each Summer and Winter Olympic Games, Recalling also its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, which, inter alia, revived the ancient Greek tradition of ekecheiria or "Olympic Truce" calling for a truce during the Games that would encourage a peaceful environment and ensure the safe passage and participation of athletes and relevant persons at the Games, thereby mobilizing the youth of the world to the cause of peace, Taking into account the inclusion in the United Nations Millennium DeclarationSee resolution 55/2. of an appeal for the observance of the Olympic Truce now and in the future and support for the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to promote peace and human understanding through sport and the Olympic ideal, Noting that the Games of the XXIX Olympiad will take place from 8 to 24 August 2008, and that the Paralympic Games will take place from 6 to 17 September 2008, in Beijing, Recognizing the increasingly important role of sport in the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and reaffirming the commitments undertaken in this regard by the Heads of State and Government gathered at the World Summit of the General Assembly, held in New York from 14 to 16 September 2005, Recognizing also the valuable contribution that the appeal launched by the International Olympic Committee for an Olympic Truce, with which the National Olympic Committees of the Member States are associated, could make towards advancing the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the three main concepts that are at the core of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, namely, "Green Olympics", "High-tech Olympics" and "People's Olympics", and their vision to achieve a harmonious development of society, Noting with satisfaction the flying of the United Nations flag at all competition sites of the Olympic Games, and the joint endeavours of the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations system in fields such as poverty alleviation, human and economic development, humanitarian assistance, education, health promotion and HIV/AIDS prevention, gender equality and environmental protection, 1. Urges Member States to observe, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Olympic Truce, individually and collectively, during the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, the vision of which is based on the slogan "One world, one dream", and the Paralympic Games which follow it; 2. Welcomes the decision of the International Olympic Committee to mobilize international sports organizations and the National Olympic Committees of the Member States to undertake concrete actions at the local, national, regional and world levels to promote and strengthen a culture of peace and harmony based on the spirit of the Olympic Truce; 3. Calls upon all Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to use sport as an instrument to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period; 4. Welcomes the increased implementation of projects for peace, development and human understanding through sport, and encourages Member States and all concerned agencies and programmes of the United Nations system to strengthen their work in this field, in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the observance of the Olympic Truce among Member States and support for human development initiatives through sport, and to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee and the sporting community in general in the realization of those objectives; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the sub-item entitled "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal" and to consider the sub-item before the XXI Olympic Winter Games, to be held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010. RESOLUTION 62/50 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/392, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Indonesia (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries). 62/50. United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 60/83 of 8 December 2005 and 61/90 of 6 December 2006 regarding the maintenance and revitalization of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament, Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa,A/62/140. the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the PacificA/62/153. and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,A/62/130. Reaffirming its decision, taken in 1982 at its twelfth special session, to establish the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme, the purpose of which is to inform, educate and generate public understanding and support for the objectives of the United Nations in the field of arms control and disarmament,See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twelfth Special Session, Plenary Meetings, 1st meeting, paras. 110 and 111. Bearing in mind its resolutions 40/151 G of 16 December 1985, 41/60 J of 3 December 1986, 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989 on the regional centres for peace and disarmament in Nepal, Peru and Togo, Recognizing that the changes that have taken place in the world have created new opportunities as well as posed new challenges for the pursuit of disarmament, and, in this regard, bearing in mind that the regional centres for peace and disarmament can contribute substantially to understanding and cooperation among States in each particular region in the areas of peace, disarmament and development, Noting that in paragraph 91 of the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana, on 15 and 16 September 2006, the Heads of State or Government emphasized the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament,See A/61/472-S/2006/780, annex I. 1. Reiterates the importance of the United Nations activities at the regional level to advancement in disarmament and to increase the stability and security of its Member States, which could be promoted in a substantive manner by the maintenance and revitalization of the three regional centres for peace and disarmament; 2. Reaffirms that, in order to achieve positive results, it is useful for the three regional centres to carry out dissemination and educational programmes that promote regional peace and security that are aimed at changing basic attitudes with respect to peace and security and disarmament so as to support the achievement of the purposes and principles of the United Nations; 3. Appeals to Member States in each region and those that are able to do so, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions to the regional centres in their respective regions to strengthen their activities and initiatives; 4. Emphasizes the importance of the activities of the regional disarmament branch of the Office for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to provide all necessary support, within existing resources, to the regional centres in carrying out their programmes of activities; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament". RESOLUTION 62/51 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/392, para. 25),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Philippines, Samoa and Viet Nam. by a recorded vote of 120 to 52, with 10 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan 62/51. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons The General Assembly, Convinced that the use of nuclear weapons poses the most serious threat to the survival of mankind, Bearing in mind the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons,A/51/218, annex; see also Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226. Convinced that a multilateral, universal and binding agreement prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would contribute to the elimination of the nuclear threat and to the climate for negotiations leading to the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons, thereby strengthening international peace and security, Conscious that some steps taken by the Russian Federation and the United States of America towards a reduction of their nuclear weapons and the improvement in the international climate can contribute towards the goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, Recalling that paragraph 58 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General AssemblySee resolution S-10/2. states that all States should actively participate in efforts to bring about conditions in international relations among States in which a code of peaceful conduct of nations in international affairs could be agreed upon and that would preclude the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Reaffirming that any use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and a crime against humanity, as declared in its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, 33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152 D of 12 December 1980 and 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, Determined to achieve an international convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons, leading to their ultimate destruction, Stressing that an international convention on the prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons would be an important step in a phased programme towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, with a specified framework of time, Noting with regret that the Conference on Disarmament, during its 2007 session, was unable to undertake negotiations on this subject as called for in General Assembly resolution 61/97 of 6 December 2006, 1. Reiterates its request to the Conference on Disarmament to commence negotiations in order to reach agreement on an international convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances; 2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report to the General Assembly on the results of those negotiations. RESOLUTION 62/52 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/392, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Barbados, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Maldives, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. 62/52. United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 42/39 D of 30 November 1987 and 44/117 F of 15 December 1989, by which it established the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and renamed it the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, with headquarters in Kathmandu and with the mandate of providing, on request, substantive support for the initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament, through appropriate utilization of available resources, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/153. in which he expresses his belief that the mandate of the Regional Centre remains valid and that the Centre has been a useful instrument for fostering a climate of cooperation for peace and disarmament in the region, Noting that trends in the post-cold-war era have emphasized the function of the Regional Centre in assisting Member States as they deal with new security concerns and disarmament issues emerging in the region, Commending the useful activities carried out by the Regional Centre in encouraging regional and subregional dialogue for the enhancement of openness, transparency and confidence-building, as well as the promotion of disarmament and security through the organization of regional meetings, which has come to be widely known within the Asia-Pacific region as "the Kathmandu process", Expressing its appreciation to the Regional Centre for its organization of meetings, conferences and workshops in the region, held in Yokohama, Japan, from 21 to 23 August 2006 and Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, from 13 to 15 December 2006, Welcoming the activities of the Regional Centre in the promotion of disarmament and non-proliferation education in the Asia-Pacific region, as recommended in the United Nations study on disarmament and non-proliferation education,A/57/124. Noting the important role of the Regional Centre in assisting region-specific initiatives of Member States, Appreciating highly the overall support that Nepal has extended as the host nation of the headquarters of the Regional Centre, 1. Reaffirms its strong support for the forthcoming operation and further strengthening of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; 2. Underlines the importance of the Kathmandu process as a powerful vehicle for the development of the practice of region-wide security and disarmament dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation for the continuing political support and voluntary financial contributions to the Regional Centre, which are essential for its continued operation; 4. Appeals to Member States, in particular those within the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to international governmental and non-governmental organizations and foundations, to make voluntary contributions, the only resources of the Regional Centre, to strengthen the programme of activities of the Centre and the implementation thereof; 5. Requests the Secretary-General, taking note of paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 49/76 D of 15 December 1994, to provide the Regional Centre with the necessary support, within existing resources, in carrying out its programme of activities; 6. Welcomes the signing of the host country agreement and the memorandum of understanding by the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs and the Permanent Representative of Nepal on 20 July 2007 for the relocation of the Centre to Kathmandu; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to expedite the necessary preparations with a view to ensuring physical operation of the Regional Centre from Kathmandu within six months to enable the Centre to function effectively; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific". RESOLUTION 62/53 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/392, para. 25)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Cameroon (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Economic Community of Central African States). 62/53. Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa The General Assembly, Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, in particular resolution 61/96 of 6 December 2006, Recalling also the guidelines for general and complete disarmament adopted at its tenth special session, the first special session devoted to disarmament, Bearing in mind the establishment by the Secretary-General on 28 May 1992 of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa, the purpose of which is to encourage arms limitation, disarmament, non-proliferation and development in the subregion, Convinced that the resources released by disarmament, including regional disarmament, can be devoted to economic and social development and to the protection of the environment for the benefit of all peoples, in particular those of the developing countries, Considering the importance and effectiveness of confidence-building measures taken on the initiative and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, since such measures can contribute to regional stability and to international peace and security, Convinced that development can be achieved only in a climate of peace, security and mutual confidence both within and among States, Recalling the Brazzaville Declaration on Cooperation for Peace and Security in Central Africa,A/50/474, annex I. the Bata Declaration for the Promotion of Lasting Democracy, Peace and Development in Central AfricaA/53/258-S/1998/763, annex II, appendix I. and the Yaoundé Declaration on Peace, Security and Stability in Central Africa,A/53/868-S/1999/303, annex II. Bearing in mind resolutions 1196 (1998) and 1197 (1998), adopted by the Security Council on 16 and 18 September 1998 respectively, following its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa,A/52/871-S/1998/318. Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity for conflict prevention and peacekeeping in Africa, 1. Reaffirms its support for efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at the regional and subregional levels in order to ease tensions and conflicts in Central Africa and to further peace, stability and sustainable development in the subregion; 2. Reaffirms the importance of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, and encourages the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission to support efforts for the political stabilization and reconstruction of post-conflict countries; 3. Notes with satisfaction the revitalization of the work of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa following the decision of the twenty-fourth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee, held at Kigali from 25 to 29 September 2006; 4. Welcomes the adoption by the twenty-fifth ministerial meeting of the Standing Advisory Committee, held at Sao Tome from 14 to 18 May 2007, of the "Sao Tome Initiative", which provides for the drafting of a legal instrument on the control of small arms and light weapons in Central Africa and of a code of conduct for defence and security forces in Central Africa, and encourages interested countries to provide their financial support for the development of these two projects; 5. Also welcomes the holding at Yaoundé, from 4 to 6 September 2007, of a special conference of the Standing Advisory Committee on cross-border security issues in Central Africa, and takes note of its recommendations, particularly the recommendation relating to the project for the establishment of an international school in Cameroon to train African gendarmes and police in peacekeeping operations; 6. Encourages the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States to continue their efforts to promote peace and security in their subregion; 7. Requests the Secretary-General, pursuant to Security Council resolution 1197 (1998), to provide the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the necessary support for the smooth functioning of the Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa; 8. Encourages the States members of the Economic Community of Central African States to pursue their efforts to render the early-warning mechanism for Central Africa fully operational as an instrument for analysing and monitoring the political situation in the subregion within the framework of the prevention of crises and armed conflicts, and requests the Secretary-General to provide the necessary assistance for its smooth functioning; 9. Reaffirms its support for the programme of work of the Standing Advisory Committee, adopted at the organizational meeting of the Committee, held in Yaoundé from 27 to 31 July 1992; 10. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by the Standing Advisory Committee in implementing its programme of work for the period 2006-2007;A/62/129. 11. Emphasizes the importance of providing the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee with the essential support they need to carry out the full programme of activities which they adopted at their ministerial meetings; 12. Appeals to the international community to support the efforts undertaken by the States concerned to implement disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes; 13. Requests the Secretary-General and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue their assistance to the countries of Central Africa in tackling the problems of refugees and displaced persons in their territories; 14. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to provide their full assistance for the proper functioning of the Subregional Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa; 15. Urges Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to support the activities of the Standing Advisory Committee effectively through voluntary contributions to the Trust Fund for the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa; 16. Encourages the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee to implement resolution 1540 (2004), adopted by the Security Council on 28 April 2004, which deals with combating the use of and trafficking in nuclear, biological or chemical weapons and their means of delivery by non-State actors; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide assistance to the States members of the Standing Advisory Committee to ensure the continuation of their efforts; 18. Calls upon the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Regional confidence-building measures: activities of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa". RESOLUTION 62/54 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/393, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Germany, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, and Uruguay (on behalf of the members of the extended Bureau of the Disarmament Commission). 62/54. Report of the Disarmament Commission The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Disarmament Commission,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/62/42). Recalling its resolutions 47/54 A of 9 December 1992, 47/54 G of 8 April 1993, 48/77 A of 16 December 1993, 49/77 A of 15 December 1994, 50/72 D of 12 December 1995, 51/47 B of 10 December 1996, 52/40 B of 9 December 1997, 53/79 A of 4 December 1998, 54/56 A of 1 December 1999, 55/35 C of 20 November 2000, 56/26 A of 29 November 2001, 57/95 of 22 November 2002, 58/67 of 8 December 2003, 59/105 of 3 December 2004, 60/91 of 8 December 2005 and 61/98 of 6 December 2006, Considering the role that the Disarmament Commission has been called upon to play and the contribution that it should make in examining and submitting recommendations on various problems in the field of disarmament and in the promotion of the implementation of the relevant decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session, 1. Takes note of the report of the Disarmament Commission;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/62/42). 2. Reaffirms the validity of its decision 52/492 of 8 September 1998, concerning the efficient functioning of the Disarmament Commission; 3. Recalls its resolution 61/98, by which it adopted additional measures for improving the effectiveness of the Commission's methods of work; 4. Reaffirms the mandate of the Disarmament Commission as the specialized, deliberative body within the United Nations multilateral disarmament machinery that allows for in-depth deliberations on specific disarmament issues, leading to the submission of concrete recommendations on those issues; 5. Also reaffirms the importance of further enhancing the dialogue and cooperation among the First Committee, the Disarmament Commission and the Conference on Disarmament; 6. Requests the Disarmament Commission to continue its work in accordance with its mandate, as set forth in paragraph 118 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,Resolution S-10/2. and with paragraph 3 of Assembly resolution 37/78 H of 9 December 1982, and to that end to make every effort to achieve specific recommendations on the items on its agenda, taking into account the adopted "Ways and means to enhance the functioning of the Disarmament Commission";A/CN.10/137. 7. Recommends that the Disarmament Commission continue the consideration of the following items at its 2008 substantive session: (a) Recommendations for achieving the objective of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons; (b) Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons; 8. Requests the Disarmament Commission to meet for a period not exceeding three weeks during 2008, namely from 7 to 24 April, and to submit a substantive report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Disarmament Commission the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/62/27). together with all the official records of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly relating to disarmament matters, and to render all assistance that the Commission may require for implementing the present resolution; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure full provision to the Disarmament Commission and its subsidiary bodies of interpretation and translation facilities in the official languages and to assign, as a matter of priority, all the necessary resources and services, including verbatim records, to that end; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Report of the Disarmament Commission". RESOLUTION 62/55 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/393, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and Syrian Arab Republic. 62/55. Report of the Conference on Disarmament The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Conference on Disarmament,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/62/27). Convinced that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, has the primary role in substantive negotiations on priority questions of disarmament, Recognizing the need to conduct multilateral negotiations with the aim of reaching agreement on concrete issues, Recalling, in this respect, that the Conference has a number of urgent and important issues for negotiation, Taking note of active discussions held on the programme of work during the 2007 session of the Conference, as duly reflected in the report and the records of the plenary meetings, Taking note also of the increased deliberations of the Conference due to the constructive contribution of its member States, the work done under the authority of the Presidents of the Conference for the 2007 session, including focused structured debates on all substantive agenda items and with the participation of experts from capitals, and the cooperation among all six Presidents of the Conference, Taking note further of significant contributions made during the 2007 session to promote substantive discussions on issues on the agenda, as well as of discussions held on other issues that could also be relevant to the current international security environment, Stressing the urgent need for the Conference to commence its substantive work at the beginning of its 2008 session, Recognizing the messages of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as the addresses of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and other high-level officials, as expressions of support for the endeavours of the Conference and its role as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, Bearing in mind the importance of efforts towards revitalization of the disarmament machinery, including the Conference, Recognizing the importance of continuing consultations on the question of the expansion of the Conference membership, 1. Reaffirms the role of the Conference on Disarmament as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community; 2. Calls upon the Conference to further intensify consultations and explore possibilities with a view to reaching an agreement on a programme of work; 3. Takes note of the strong collective interest of the Conference to build on the increased level and focus of its activities through 2007 and to commence substantive work as soon as possible during its 2008 session; 4. Welcomes the decision of the Conference to request its current President and the incoming President to conduct consultations during the intersessional period and, if possible, to make recommendations, taking into account all relevant proposals, past, present and future, including those submitted as documents of the Conference, views presented and discussions held, and to endeavour to keep the membership of the Conference informed, as appropriate, of their consultations, as contained in paragraph 57 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/62/27). 5. Requests all States members of the Conference to cooperate with the current President and successive Presidents in their efforts to guide the Conference to the early commencement of substantive work in its 2008 session; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure the provision to the Conference of adequate administrative, substantive and conference support services; 7. Requests the Conference to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Report of the Conference on Disarmament". RESOLUTION 62/56 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/394, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. by a recorded vote of 170 to 5, with 7 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Australia, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, India, Tonga 62/56. The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East The General Assembly, Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions, Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which is resolution GC(51)/RES/17, adopted on 20 September 2007,See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference, Fifty-first Regular Session, 17-21 September 2007 (GC(51)/RES/DEC(2007)). Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace and security, Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the Agency, Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference urged universal adherence to the TreatyUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. as an urgent priority and called upon all States not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Conference undertook to make determined efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty, called upon those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty,See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article IX". Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference on 11 May 1995,See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. in which the Conference noted with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards, Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that has not yet become party to the Treaty, Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region, Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures, in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate the global non-proliferation regime, Emphasizing the need for all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, inviting the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty and, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under Agency safeguards, Noting that one hundred and seventy-seven States have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,See resolution 50/245. including a number of States in the region, 1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled "Article VII and the security of non-nuclear-weapon States", para. 16. 2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear WeaponsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. and placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty in the Middle East; 3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty without further delay and not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope Agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East". RESOLUTION 62/57 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/395, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 62/57. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/100 of 6 December 2006, Recalling with satisfaction the adoption and the entry into force of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. and its amended article 1,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and the Protocol on Non-Detectable Fragments (Protocol I),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II)United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. and its amended version,CCW/CONF.I/16 (Part I), annex B. the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III),United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV),Ibid., annex A. and the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V),See CCW/MSP/2003/3, annex V, appendix II. Welcoming the results of the Third Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, and commending the efforts of the President of the Conference, Welcoming also the decision of the Third Review Conference to commission follow-up work under the oversight of the Chairman-designate of a meeting of States Parties to the Convention to be held from 7 to 13 November 2007 in Geneva,See CCW/CONF.III/11 (Part II). and the decision to convene, as a matter of urgency, an intersessional meeting of governmental experts to consider further the application and implementation of existing humanitarian law to specific munitions that may cause explosive remnants of war, with particular focus on cluster munitions, including the factors affecting their reliability and their technical and design characteristics, with a view to minimizing the humanitarian impact of the use of these munitions,See CCW/CONF.III/11 (Part II). Welcoming further the holding, on 18 June 2007, of the meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the First Conference of the States Parties to Protocol V to be held on 5 November 2007 in Geneva for the purpose of consultations and cooperation on all issues related to the operation of the Protocol, Recalling the role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the elaboration of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, and welcoming the particular efforts of various international, non-governmental and other organizations in raising awareness of the humanitarian consequences of explosive remnants of war, 1. Calls upon all States that have not yet done so to take all measures to become parties, as soon as possible, to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate EffectsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1342, No. 22495. and the Protocols thereto, as amended, with a view to achieving the widest possible adherence to these instruments at an early date, and so as to ultimately achieve their universality; 2. Calls upon all States parties to the Convention that have not yet done so to express their consent to be bound by the Protocols to the Convention and the amendment extending the scope of the Convention and the Protocols thereto to include armed conflicts of a non-international character; 3. Welcomes the adoption by the Third Review Conference of a Plan of Action to promote universality of the Convention and its annexed Protocols,Ibid., annex III. and expresses appreciation for the efforts of the Secretary-General, as depositary of the Convention and its annexed Protocols, and the President of the Third Review Conference, on behalf of the High Contracting Parties, to achieve the goal of universality; 4. Also welcomes the decision of the Third Review Conference to establish a Compliance Mechanism in order to promote compliance and the full implementation of the obligations contained in the Convention and its annexed Protocols;Ibid., annex II. 5. Further welcomes the decision of the Third Review Conference to establish a Sponsorship Programme within the framework of the Convention,Ibid., annex IV. and encourages States to contribute to the programme; 6. Welcomes the commitment by States parties to continue to address the humanitarian problems caused by certain specific types of munitions in all their aspects, including cluster munitions, with a view to minimizing the humanitarian impact of these munitions; 7. Expresses support for the work conducted by the Group of Governmental Experts and the decision of the Group, based on the substantive discussion on the application and implementation of existing humanitarian law at its intersessional meeting held in June 2007, without prejudice to the outcome, to recommend to the 2007 Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention to decide how best to address the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions as a matter of urgency, including the possibility of a new instrument;See CCW/GGE/2007/3, annex III. 8. Notes the decision of the Third Review Conference to dedicate up to two days at the next Meeting of the States Parties in 2007 to the issue of mines other than anti-personnel mines;See CCW/CONF.III/11 (Part II). 9. Emphasizes the importance of universalization of the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V), and welcomes the commitment of States parties to the Protocol to the effective and efficient implementation of the Protocol; 10. Notes that, in conformity with article 8 of the Convention, conferences may be convened to examine amendments to the Convention or to any of the Protocols thereto, to examine additional protocols concerning other categories of conventional weapons not covered by existing Protocols or to review the scope and application of the Convention and the Protocols thereto and to examine any proposed amendments or additional protocols; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the Ninth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Amended Protocol II to the Convention to be held on 6 November 2007, for the First Conference of the States Parties to Protocol V to be held on 5 November 2007, and for the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention to be held from 7 to 13 November 2007, as well as for any possible continuation of work after the Meetings, should the States parties deem it appropriate; 12. Also requests the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention and the Protocols thereto, to continue to inform the General Assembly periodically, by electronic means, of ratifications and acceptances of and accessions to the Convention, its amended article 1,See CCW/CONF.II/2 and Corr.1, part II. and the Protocols thereto; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects". RESOLUTION 62/58 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/396, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yemen and Zimbabwe. 62/58. Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including resolution 61/101 of 6 December 2006, Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region, Welcoming the efforts deployed by the Euro-Mediterranean countries to strengthen their cooperation in combating terrorism, in particular by the adoption of the Euro-Mediterranean Code of Conduct on Countering Terrorism by the Euro-Mediterranean Summit, held in Barcelona, Spain, on 27 and 28 November 2005, Bearing in mind all the previous declarations and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums concerning the question of the Mediterranean region, Recognizing the indivisible character of security in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability, peace and security in the region, Recognizing also the efforts made so far and the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic, social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region, Recognizing further that prospects for closer Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and in the Middle East, Reaffirming the responsibility of all States to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the provisions of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region, Expressing its concern at the persistent tension and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/111. 1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace and security; 2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination, and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference, non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; 3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity, encourages them to strengthen such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue among States of the region, and recognizes the role of the United Nations in promoting regional and international peace and security; 4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among Mediterranean countries through the existing forums; 5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening peace and cooperation in the region; 6. Encourages all States of the region to favour the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;See resolution 46/36 L. 7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the possible resort by terrorists to weapons of mass destruction, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking, which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States, hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic basis of pluralistic society; 8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Strengthening of security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region". RESOLUTION 62/59 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/397, para. 7),The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. by a recorded vote of 176 to 1, with 4 abstentions, as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: United States of America Abstaining: Colombia, India, Mauritius, Syrian Arab Republic 62/59. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The General Assembly, Reiterating that the cessation of nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions constitutes an effective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measure, and convinced that this is a meaningful step in the realization of a systematic process to achieve nuclear disarmament, Recalling that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, adopted by its resolution 50/245 of 10 September 1996, was opened for signature on 24 September 1996, Stressing that a universal and effectively verifiable Treaty constitutes a fundamental instrument in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and that after more than ten years, its entry into force is more urgent than ever before, Encouraged by the signing of the Treaty by one hundred and seventy-seven States, including forty-one of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, and welcoming the ratification of one hundred and forty States, including thirty-four of the forty-four needed for its entry into force, among which there are three nuclear-weapon States, Recalling its resolution 61/104 of 6 December 2006, Welcoming the Final Declaration of the Fifth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, held in Vienna on 17 and 18 September 2007,CTBT-Art.XIV/2007/6, annex. pursuant to article XIV of the Treaty, 1. Stresses the vital importance and urgency of signature and ratification, without delay and without conditions, to achieve the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty; 2. Welcomes the contributions by the States signatories to the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, in particular its efforts to ensure that the Treaty's verification regime will be capable of meeting the verification requirements of the Treaty upon its entry into force, in accordance with article IV of the Treaty; 3. Underlines the need to maintain momentum towards completion of all elements of the verification regime; 4. Urges all States not to carry out nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions, to maintain their moratoriums in this regard and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the Treaty, while stressing that these measures do not have the same permanent and legally binding effect as the entry into force of the Treaty; 5. Calls for a peaceful solution of the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula through successful implementation of the Joint Statement, and the initial and second-phase actions to implement it, agreed upon in the framework of the Six-Party Talks; 6. Urges all States that have not yet signed the Treaty to sign and ratify it as soon as possible; 7. Urges all States that have signed but not yet ratified the Treaty, in particular those whose ratification is needed for its entry into force, to accelerate their ratification processes with a view to ensuring their earliest successful conclusion; 8. Urges all States to remain seized of the issue at the highest political level and, where in a position to do so, to promote adherence to the Treaty through bilateral and joint outreach, seminars and other means; 9. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, to prepare a report on the efforts of States that have ratified the Treaty towards its universalization and possibilities for providing assistance on ratification procedures to States that so request it, and to submit such a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty". RESOLUTION 62/5 Adopted at the 41st plenary meeting, on 31 October 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.4, sponsored by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea 62/5. Peace, security and reunification on the Korean peninsula The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 55/11 of 31 October 2000, in which it welcomed and supported the inter-Korean summit and the joint declaration adopted on 15 June 2000 by the two leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the maintenance of international peace and security, Convinced that inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation are essential for consolidating peace and security on the Korean peninsula and also contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond, in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter, Recognizing that the summit meeting held in Pyongyang from 2 to 4 October 2007 between the two leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea and their Declaration on the Advancement of North-South Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity represent a major milestone in improving inter-Korean relations and in advancing peace and common prosperity on the Korean peninsula and in the wider region as well, Recalling the statements welcoming the inter-Korean summit made on 1 October 2007 by the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly, and recalling also the statement welcoming the adoption of the Declaration made on 4 October 2007 by the Secretary-General, 1. Welcomes and supports the inter-Korean summit held from 2 to 4 October 2007 and the Declaration on the Advancement of North-South Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity adopted on 4 October 2007 by the two leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea; 2. Encourages the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to implement the Declaration fully and in good faith, thereby consolidating peace on the Korean peninsula and laying a solid foundation for peaceful reunification; 3. Invites Member States to continue to support and assist, as appropriate, the process of inter-Korean dialogue, reconciliation and reunification so that it may contribute to peace and security not only on the Korean peninsula but also in north-east Asia and the world as a whole. RESOLUTION 62/60 Adopted at the 61st plenary meeting, on 5 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/398, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by Hungary. 62/60. Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions relating to the complete and effective prohibition of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and to their destruction, Noting with satisfaction that there are one hundred and fifty-nine States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1015, No. 14860. including all of the permanent members of the Security Council, Bearing in mind its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Conferences, including the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention,BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. and to provide such information and data in conformity with standardized procedure to the Secretary-General on an annual basis and no later than 15 April, Welcoming the reaffirmation made in the Final Declaration of the Fourth Review ConferenceBWC/CONF.IV/9, part II. that under all circumstances the use of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and their development, production and stockpiling are effectively prohibited under article I of the Convention, Welcoming also the successful outcome of the Sixth Review Conference, which adopted a Final DocumentBWC/CONF.VI/6. after a gap of ten years,The previous full review was conducted at the Fourth Review Conference in 1996. conducted a consensus article-by-article review of the operation of the Convention and reached decisions on the continuity of the intersessional meetings of experts and States parties, Recalling the decision reached at the Sixth Review Conference to hold four annual meetings of the States parties of one week's duration each year commencing in 2007, prior to the Seventh Review Conference, which is to be held not later than the end of 2011, and to hold a one-week meeting of experts to prepare for each meeting of the States parties,BWC/CONF.VI/6, part III, para. 7. 1. Notes with satisfaction the increase in the number of States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1015, No. 14860. reaffirms the call upon all signatory States that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so without delay, and calls upon those States that have not signed the Convention to become parties thereto at an early date, thus contributing to the achievement of universal adherence to the Convention; 2. Welcomes the information and data provided to date, and reiterates its call upon all States parties to the Convention to participate in the exchange of information and data agreed to in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention;BWC/CONF.III/23, part II. 3. Takes note of the decision of the Sixth Review Conference, taking into account the importance of providing administrative support to meetings agreed by the Review Conference as well as comprehensive implementation and universalization of the Convention and the exchange of confidence-building measures, to establish an Implementation Support Unit, funded by States parties, for the period from 2007-2011,Ibid., part III, paras. 5 and 6. within the framework defined by the Review Conference; 4. Notes with satisfaction that the Sixth Review Conference agreed on several measures to update the mechanism for the transmission of information in the framework of the confidence-building measures; 5. Recalls the decisions reached at the Sixth Review Conference,Ibid., part III, paras. 1 and 7. and calls upon States parties to the Convention to participate in their implementation; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to render the necessary assistance to the depositary Governments of the Convention and to provide such services as may be required for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the Review Conferences, including all assistance to the annual meetings of the States parties and the meetings of experts; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction". RESOLUTION 62/61 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/446, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Poland on behalf of the Bureau. 62/61. Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 56/83 of 12 December 2001, the annex to which contains the text of the articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts, and further recalling its resolution 59/35 of 2 December 2004 commending the articles to the attention of Governments, Emphasizing the continuing importance of the codification and progressive development of international law, as referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the subject of responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts is of major importance in relations between States, Noting with appreciation the compilation of decisions of international courts, tribunals and other bodies referring to the articles, prepared by the Secretary-General,A/62/62 and Corr.1 and Add.1. 1. Commends once again the articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts to the attention of Governments, without prejudice to the question of their future adoption or other appropriate action; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to invite Governments to submit their written comments on any future action regarding the articles; 3. Also requests the Secretary-General to update the compilation of decisions of international courts, tribunals and other bodies referring to the articles and to invite Governments to submit information on their practice in this regard, and further requests the Secretary-General to submit this material well in advance of its sixty-fifth session; 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session the item entitled "Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts" and to further examine, within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee, the question of a convention on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts or other appropriate action on the basis of the articles. RESOLUTION 62/62 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/447, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law. 62/62. United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law The General Assembly, Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law and to an international order based on the rule of law and international law, which is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States, Recalling its resolution 2099 (XX) of 20 December 1965, in which it established the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law to contribute towards a better knowledge of international law as a means of strengthening international peace and security and of promoting friendly relations and cooperation among States, Noting the significant contribution of the Programme of Assistance to a better knowledge of international law for more than four decades, as envisaged in the above-mentioned resolution, Considering, nevertheless, that much remains to be done in this field, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of AssistanceA/62/503. and the views of the Advisory Committee on the Programme of Assistance, which are contained in that report, Considering that international law should occupy an appropriate place in the teaching of legal disciplines at all universities, Noting with appreciation the efforts made by States at the bilateral level to provide assistance in the teaching and study of international law, Convinced, nevertheless, that States and international organizations and institutions should be encouraged to give further support to the Programme of Assistance and increase their activities to promote the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, in particular those activities which are of special benefit to persons from developing countries, Reaffirming that in the conduct of the Programme of Assistance it would be desirable to use as far as possible the resources and facilities made available by Member States, international organizations and others, Reaffirming also the hope that, in appointing lecturers for the seminars to be held within the framework of the fellowship programmes in international law, account would be taken of the need to secure the representation of major legal systems and balance among various geographical regions, 1. Approves the guidelines and recommendations contained in section III of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/503. in particular those designed to achieve the best possible results in the administration of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law within a policy of maximum financial restraint; 2. Authorizes the Secretary-General to carry out in 2008 and 2009 the activities specified in his report, including the provision of: (a) A number of international law fellowships in both 2008 and 2009, to be determined in the light of the overall resources for the Programme of Assistance and to be awarded at the request of Governments of developing countries; (b) A minimum of one scholarship in both 2008 and 2009 under the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, subject to the availability of new voluntary contributions made specifically to this fellowship fund; (c) Subject to the overall resources for the Programme of Assistance, assistance in the form of a travel grant for one participant from each developing country, who would be invited to possible regional courses to be organized in 2008 and 2009; and to finance the above activities from provisions in the regular budget, when appropriate, as well as from voluntary financial contributions earmarked for each of the activities concerned, which would be received as a result of the requests set out in paragraphs 18 to 20 below; 3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his constructive efforts to promote training and assistance in international law within the framework of the Programme of Assistance in 2006 and 2007, in particular for the organization of the forty-secondSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10), chap. XIII, sect. F. and forty-thirdIbid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/62/10), chap. X, sect. E. sessions of the International Law Seminar, held at Geneva in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and for the activities of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat related to the International Law Fellowship Programme and to the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, carried out, respectively, through its Codification Division and its Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider admitting, for participation in the various components of the Programme of Assistance, candidates from countries willing to bear the entire cost of such participation; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider the relative advantages of using available resources and voluntary contributions for regional, subregional or national courses, as against courses organized within the United Nations system; 6. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the necessary resources to the programme budget for the Programme of Assistance for the next and the future bienniums with a view to maintaining the effectiveness of the Programme of Assistance; 7. Recognizes the importance of the United Nations legal publications prepared by the Office of Legal Affairs, and strongly encourages their continued publication; 8. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Office of Legal Affairs to bring up to date the United Nations legal publications; 9. Also welcomes the placing on the Internet of the Reports of International Arbitral Awards,Available from www.un.org/law/riaa. the Summaries of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders of the International Court of JusticeAvailable from www.un.org/law/ICJsummaries. and other legal information, as well as the expansion of the website of the International Law Commissionwww.un.org/law/ilc. to include all its documentation; 10. Further welcomes the establishment of the website on the Programme of Assistance;www.un.org/law/programmeofassistance. 11. Notes the need to safeguard and preserve the audiovisual history of legal developments within the United Nations, which constitutes an invaluable resource for promoting a better knowledge of international law; 12. Notes with satisfaction the efforts made by the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs to revitalize, within available resources, the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law, and urges States to make voluntary contributions to enable the Codification Division to develop and maintain the Library; 13. Welcomes the training and technical assistance activities in international law undertaken by the Office of Legal Affairs in the framework of the Programme of Assistance, as described in the report of the Secretary-General, and encourages the continuation of such activities within available resources; 14. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research for its participation in the Programme of Assistance through the activities described in the report of the Secretary-General; 15. Also expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its participation in the Programme of Assistance through the activities described in the report of the Secretary-General; 16. Further expresses its appreciation to The Hague Academy of International Law for the valuable contribution it continues to make to the Programme of Assistance, which has enabled candidates under the International Law Fellowship Programme to attend and participate in the Fellowship Programme in conjunction with the Academy courses; 17. Notes with appreciation the contributions of The Hague Academy to the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, and calls upon Member States and interested organizations to give favourable consideration to the appeal of the Academy for a continuation of support and a possible increase in their financial contributions, to enable the Academy to carry out its activities, particularly those relating to the summer courses, regional courses and programmes of the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations; 18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to publicize the Programme of Assistance and periodically to invite Member States, universities, philanthropic foundations and other interested national and international institutions and organizations, as well as individuals, to make voluntary contributions towards the financing of the Programme of Assistance or otherwise to assist in its implementation and possible expansion; 19. Reiterates its request to Member States and to interested organizations and individuals to make voluntary contributions, inter alia, for the International Law Seminar, the International Law Fellowship Programme, the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, institutions and individuals that have made voluntary contributions for this purpose; 20. Urges in particular all Governments to make voluntary contributions for the organization of regional courses in international law by the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, especially with a view to covering the amount needed for the financing of the daily subsistence allowance for up to twenty-five participants in each regional course, thus alleviating the burden on prospective host countries and making it possible to continue to organize the regional courses; 21. Decides to appoint twenty-five Member States, six from Africa, five from Asia, three from Eastern Europe, five from Latin America and the Caribbean and six from Western European and other States, as members of the Advisory Committee on the Programme of Assistance for a period of four years beginning on 1 January 2008;The following States have been appointed members of the Advisory Committee on the Programme of Assistance: Canada, Colombia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sudan, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America and Uruguay. 22. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the Programme of Assistance during 2008 and 2009 and, following consultations with the Advisory Committee on the Programme of Assistance, to submit recommendations regarding the execution of the Programme of Assistance in subsequent years; 23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law". RESOLUTION 62/63 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/448, para. 12)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Greece on behalf of the Bureau. 62/63. Criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 59/281 of 29 March 2005, in which it endorsed the recommendation in paragraph 56 of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping OperationsSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/59/19/Rev.1), part one, chap. III, sect. D. that the Secretary-General make available to the United Nations membership a comprehensive report on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations, Noting that the Secretary-General, on 24 March 2005, transmitted to the President of the General Assembly a report of his Adviser concerning sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel,See A/59/710. Recalling its resolution 59/300 of 22 June 2005 endorsing the recommendation of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping OperationsSee Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/59/19/Rev.1), part two, chap. II, sect. N. that a group of legal experts be established to provide advice on the best way to proceed so as to ensure that the original intent of the Charter of the United Nations can be achieved, namely that United Nations staff and experts on mission would never be effectively exempt from the consequences of criminal acts committed at their duty station, nor unjustly penalized without due process, Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, Reaffirming also that the present resolution is without prejudice to the privileges and immunities of United Nations officials and experts on mission and the United Nations under international law, Reaffirming further the obligation of United Nations officials and experts on mission to respect the national laws of the host State, as well as the right of the host State to exercise, where applicable, its criminal jurisdiction, in accordance with the relevant rules of international law and agreements governing operations of United Nations missions, Deeply concerned by reports of criminal conduct, and conscious that such conduct, if not investigated and, as appropriate, prosecuted, would create the negative impression that United Nations officials and experts on mission operate with impunity, Conscious of the importance of protecting the rights of victims of criminal conduct, as well as ensuring adequate protection for witnesses, and noting the work of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Recalling its resolution 61/29 of 4 December 2006, establishing the Ad Hoc Committee on criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission, Noting that the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, in paragraph 75 of its report,A/61/19 (Part II). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 19. looked forward to the conclusions of the Ad Hoc Committee, Having considered the report of the Group of Legal Experts established by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 59/300See A/60/980. and the report of the Ad Hoc Committee,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 54 (A/62/54). as well as the note by the Secretariat on criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission,A/62/329. Convinced of the need for the United Nations and its Member States to urgently take strong and effective steps to ensure criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission, 1. Expresses its appreciation for the work done by the Ad Hoc Committee on criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission and the Working Group of the Sixth Committee on the same subject; 2. Strongly urges States to take all appropriate measures to ensure that crimes by United Nations officials and experts on mission do not go unpunished and that the perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice, without prejudice to the privileges and immunities of such persons and the United Nations under international law, and in accordance with international human rights standards, including due process; 3. Strongly urges all States to consider establishing to the extent that they have not yet done so jurisdiction, particularly over crimes of a serious nature, as known in their existing domestic criminal laws, committed by their nationals while serving as United Nations officials or experts on mission, at least where the conduct as defined in the law of the State establishing jurisdiction also constitutes a crime under the laws of the host State; 4. Encourages all States to cooperate with each other and with the United Nations in the exchange of information and in facilitating the conduct of investigations and, as appropriate, prosecution of United Nations officials and experts on mission who are alleged to have committed crimes of a serious nature, in accordance with their domestic laws and applicable United Nations rules and regulations, fully respecting due process rights, as well as to consider strengthening the capacities of their national authorities to investigate and prosecute such crimes; 5. Requests the Secretariat to ensure that requests to Member States seeking personnel to serve as experts on mission make States aware of the expectation that persons who serve in that capacity should meet high standards in their conduct and behaviour and are aware that certain conduct may amount to a crime for which they may be held accountable; 6. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to take such other practical measures as are within his authority to strengthen existing training on United Nations standards of conduct, including through predeployment and in-mission induction training for United Nations officials and experts on mission; 7. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee on criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission shall reconvene from 7 to 9 and on 11 April 2008 for the purpose of continuing the consideration of the report of the Group of Legal Experts, in particular its legal aspects, taking into account the views of Member States and the information contained in the note by the Secretariat, and that the work shall continue during the sixty-third session of the General Assembly within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee; 8. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to bring credible allegations that reveal that a crime may have been committed by United Nations officials and experts on mission to the attention of the States against whose nationals such allegations are made, and to request from those States an indication of the status of their efforts to investigate and, as appropriate, prosecute crimes of a serious nature, as well as the types of appropriate assistance States may wish to receive from the Secretariat for the purposes of such investigations and prosecutions; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution on the basis of information received from Governments, in particular with respect to paragraphs 3 and 9 above; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission". RESOLUTION 62/64 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/449, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Uruguay. 62/64. Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fortieth session The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966, by which it established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law with a mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade and in that respect to bear in mind the interests of all peoples, in particular those of developing countries, in the extensive development of international trade, Reaffirming its belief that the progressive modernization and harmonization of international trade law, in reducing or removing legal obstacles to the flow of international trade, especially those affecting the developing countries, would contribute significantly to universal economic cooperation among all States on a basis of equality, equity, common interest and respect for the rule of law, to the elimination of discrimination in international trade and, thereby, to peace, stability and the well-being of all peoples, Having considered the report of the Commission on the work of the first part of its fortieth session,A/62/17 (Part I). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 17. Reiterating its concern that activities undertaken by other bodies in the field of international trade law without adequate coordination with the Commission might lead to undesirable duplication of efforts and would not be in keeping with the aim of promoting efficiency, consistency and coherence in the unification and harmonization of international trade law, Reaffirming the mandate of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, to coordinate legal activities in this field, in particular to avoid duplication of efforts, including among organizations formulating rules of international trade, and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law, and to continue, through its secretariat, to maintain close cooperation with other international organs and organizations, including regional organizations, active in the field of international trade law, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of the first part of its fortieth session;A/62/17 (Part I). For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 17. 2. Commends the Commission for its work on the preparation of a legislative guide on secured transactions, which has been designed to facilitate secured financing, thus promoting increased access to low-cost credit and enhancing national and international trade, and notes with satisfaction that the Commission expects to complete that work in the nearest future; 3. Welcomes the progress made by the Commission in its work on a revision of its Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and ServicesOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 17 and corrigendum (A/49/17 and Corr.1), annex I. and of the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law,United Nations publication, Sales No. E.77.V.6. and on the preparation of a draft instrument on transport law and on future developments in insolvency law, and endorses the decision of the Commission to undertake further work in the area of security interests; 4. Endorses the efforts and initiatives of the Commission, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law, aimed at increasing coordination of and cooperation on legal activities of international and regional organizations active in the field of international trade law, as well as promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels in this field, and in this regard appeals to relevant international and regional organizations to coordinate their legal activities with those of the Commission, to avoid duplication of efforts and to promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law; 5. Reaffirms the importance, in particular for developing countries, of the work of the Commission concerned with technical assistance and cooperation in the field of international trade law reform and development, and in this connection: (a) Welcomes the initiatives of the Commission towards expanding, through its secretariat, its technical assistance and cooperation programme, and in that respect, encourages the Secretary-General to seek partnerships with State and non-State actors to increase awareness about the work of the Commission and facilitate the effective implementation of legal standards resulting from its work; (b) Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for carrying out technical assistance and cooperation activities, including at the country, subregional and regional levels, and for providing assistance with legislative drafting in the field of international trade law; (c) Expresses its appreciation to the Governments whose contributions enabled the technical assistance and cooperation activities to take place, and appeals to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Trust Fund for Symposia and, where appropriate, to the financing of special projects, and otherwise to assist the secretariat of the Commission in carrying out technical assistance activities, in particular in developing countries; (d) Reiterates its appeal to the United Nations Development Programme and other bodies responsible for development assistance, such as the World Bank and regional development banks, as well as to Governments in their bilateral aid programmes, to support the technical assistance programme of the Commission and to cooperate and coordinate their activities with those of the Commission, in the light of the relevance and importance of the work and programmes of the Commission for promotion of the rule of law at the national and international levels and for the implementation of the United Nations development agenda, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; 6. Takes note with regret that, since the thirty-sixth session of the Commission, no contributions have been made to the trust fund established to provide travel assistance to developing countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General,Resolution 48/32, para. 5. stresses the need for contributions to the trust fund in order to increase expert representation from developing countries at sessions of the Commission and its working groups, necessary to build local expertise and capacities in the field of international trade law in those countries to facilitate the development of international trade and the promotion of foreign investment, and reiterates its appeal to Governments, the relevant bodies of the United Nations system, organizations, institutions and individuals to make voluntary contributions to the trust fund; 7. Decides, in order to ensure full participation by all Member States in the sessions of the Commission and its working groups, to continue, in the competent Main Committee during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, its consideration of granting travel assistance to the least developed countries that are members of the Commission, at their request and in consultation with the Secretary-General; 8. Welcomes the decision by the Commission to hold a comprehensive review of its working methods, in particular in the light of the recent increase in membership of the Commission and the number of topics being dealt with by the Commission, which should ensure the high quality of the work of the Commission and international acceptability of its instruments, and in this regard recalls its previous resolutions related to this matter;See in particular resolutions 36/32, 37/106, 38/134, 39/82, 40/71, 41/77, 42/152, 43/166 and 57/20. 9. Recalls its resolutions on partnerships between the United Nations and non-State actors, in particular the private sector,Resolutions 55/215, 56/76, 58/129 and 60/215. and its resolutions in which it encouraged the Commission to further explore different approaches to the use of partnerships with non-State actors in the implementation of its mandate, in particular in the area of technical assistance, in accordance with the applicable principles and guidelines and in cooperation and coordination with other relevant offices of the Secretariat, including the Global Compact Office;Resolutions 59/39, 60/20 and 61/32. 10. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, in conformity with the General Assembly resolutions on documentation-related matters,Resolutions 52/214, sect. B, 57/283 B, sect. III, and 58/250, sect. III. which, in particular, emphasize that any reduction in the length of documents should not adversely affect either the quality of the presentation or the substance of the documents, to bear in mind the particular characteristics of the mandate and work of the Commission in implementing page limits with respect to the documentation of the Commission; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to continue providing summary records of the meetings of the Commission relating to the formulation of normative texts; 12. Recalls its resolution approving the establishment of the Yearbook of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, with the aim of making the work of the Commission more widely known and readily available,Resolution 2502 (XXIV), para. 7. expresses its concern regarding the timeliness of the publication of the Yearbook, and requests the Secretary-General to explore options to facilitate the timely publication of the Yearbook; 13. Stresses the importance of bringing into effect the conventions emanating from the work of the Commission for the global unification and harmonization of international trade law, and to this end urges States that have not yet done so to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions; 14. Welcomes the preparation of digests of case law relating to the texts of the Commission, such as a digest of case law relating to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of GoodsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1489, No. 25567. and a digest of case law relating to the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law,Official Records of the General Assembly, Fortieth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/40/17), annex I. with the aim of assisting in the dissemination of information on those texts and promoting their use, enactment and uniform interpretation; 15. Notes with satisfaction that the Congress "Modern Law for Global Commerce", held in Vienna from 9 to 12 July 2007 in the context of the fortieth session of the Commission, reviewed the results of the past work of the Commission as well as related work of other organizations active in the field of international trade law, assessed current work programmes and considered topics and areas for future work, and, acknowledging the importance of the results of the Congress for the coordination and promotion of activities aimed at the modernization and harmonization of international trade law, requests the Secretary-General to ensure the publication of the proceedings of the Congress to the extent permitted by available resources; 16. Recalls its resolutions affirming the importance of high-quality, user-friendly and cost-effective United Nations websites and the need for their multilingual development, maintenance and enrichment,Resolutions 52/214, sect. C, para. 3; 55/222, sect. III, para. 12; 56/64 B, sect. X; 57/130 B, sect. X; 58/101 B, sect. V, paras. 61-76; 59/126 B, sect. V, paras. 76-95; 60/109 B, sect. IV, paras. 66-80; and 61/121 B, sect. IV, paras. 65-77. commends the restructured website of the Commission in the six official languages of the United Nations, and welcomes the continuous efforts of the Commission to maintain and improve its website in accordance with the applicable guidelines. RESOLUTION 62/65 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/449, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Austria on behalf of the Bureau. 62/65. Fiftieth anniversary of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done at New York on 10 June 1958 The General Assembly, Recalling the adoption of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral AwardsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 330, No. 4739. on 10 June 1958 by the United Nations Conference on International Commercial Arbitration (New York, 20 May to 10 June 1958),E/CONF.26/8/Rev.1. Noting that one hundred and forty-two States have become parties to the Convention, making it one of the most successful treaties in the area of commercial law, Recognizing the value of arbitration as a method of settling disputes in international commercial relations, contributing to harmonious commercial relations, stimulating international trade and development and promoting the rule of law at the international and national levels, Convinced that the Convention, by establishing a fundamental legal framework for the use of arbitration and its effectiveness, has strengthened respect for binding commitments, inspired confidence in the rule of law and ensured fair treatment in the resolution of disputes arising over contractual rights and obligations, Noting that the Convention has served as a model for subsequent multilateral and bilateral treaties and other international legislative texts on arbitration, Taking note with appreciation of the work of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law relating to the promotion of the Convention and its uniform interpretation and effective implementation, Emphasizing the necessity for further national efforts and enhanced international cooperation to achieve universal adherence to the Convention and its uniform interpretation and effective implementation, with a view to fully realizing the objectives of the Convention, Expressing its hope that States that are not yet parties to the Convention will soon become parties thereto, which would ensure that the legal certainty afforded by the Convention is universally enjoyed, decreasing the level of risk and transactional costs associated with doing business and thus promoting international trade, 1. Welcomes the initiatives being undertaken by various organs and agencies within and outside the United Nations system to organize conferences and other similar events to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral AwardsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 330, No. 4739. and to provide a forum for an exchange of views on experiences worldwide with the implementation of the Convention; 2. Encourages the use of these events for the promotion of wider adherence to the Convention and greater understanding of its provisions and their uniform interpretation and effective implementation; 3. Invites all States that have not yet done so to consider becoming parties to the Convention; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to increase efforts to promote wider adherence to the Convention and its uniform interpretation and effective implementation. RESOLUTION 62/66 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/450, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Morocco on behalf of the Bureau. 62/66. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-ninth session The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-ninth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/62/10). Emphasizing the importance of furthering the progressive development of international law and its codification as a means of implementing the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. Recognizing the desirability of referring legal and drafting questions to the Sixth Committee, including topics that might be submitted to the International Law Commission for closer examination, and of enabling the Sixth Committee and the Commission to enhance further their contribution to the progressive development of international law and its codification, Recalling the need to keep under review those topics of international law which, given their new or renewed interest for the international community, may be suitable for the progressive development and codification of international law and therefore may be included in the future programme of work of the International Law Commission, Welcoming the holding of the International Law Seminar, and noting with appreciation the voluntary contributions made to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar, Acknowledging the importance of facilitating the timely publication of the Yearbook of the International Law Commission and eliminating the backlog, Stressing the usefulness of focusing and structuring the debate on the report of the International Law Commission in the Sixth Committee in such a manner that conditions are provided for concentrated attention to each of the main topics dealt with in the report and for discussions on specific topics, Wishing to enhance further, in the context of the revitalization of the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, the interaction between the Sixth Committee as a body of governmental representatives and the Commission as a body of independent legal experts, with a view to improving the dialogue between the two bodies, Welcoming initiatives to hold interactive debates, panel discussions and question time in the Sixth Committee, as envisaged in resolution 58/316 of 1 July 2004 on further measures for the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, 1. Takes note of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-ninth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/62/10). and recommends that the Commission continue its work on the topics in its current programme, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether submitted in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the work accomplished at its fifty-ninth session; 3. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/62/10), paras. 23-32. regarding: (a) Reservations to treaties; (b) Shared natural resources; (c) Expulsion of aliens; (d) Responsibility of international organizations; (e) The obligation to extradite or prosecute (aut dedere aut judicare); 4. Invites Governments, within the context of paragraph 3 above, to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding practice with regard to the topics "Expulsion of aliens" and "The obligation to extradite or prosecute (aut dedere aut judicare)"; 5. Reiterates its invitation to Governments, within the context of chapter III of the 2005 report of the International Law Commission, to provide information to the Commission regarding State practice, in particular more contemporary practice on the topic "Effects of armed conflicts on treaties";Ibid., Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/60/10), para. 25. 6. Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their comments and observations by 1 January 2008 on the draft articles and commentaries on the law of transboundary aquifers adopted on first reading by the Commission at its fifty-eighth session;Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10), paras. 75 and 76. 7. Takes note of the decision of the International Law Commission to include the topics "Protection of persons in the event of disasters" and "Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction" in its programme of work;Ibid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/62/10), paras. 375 and 376. 8. Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity and to consider making proposals to that end; 9. Encourages the International Law Commission to continue taking cost-saving measures at its future sessions without prejudice to the efficiency of its work; 10. Takes note of paragraph 399 of the report of the International Law Commission, and decides that the next session of the Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 5 May to 6 June and from 7 July to 8 August 2008; 11. Welcomes the enhanced dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee at the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the two bodies, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the continued practice of informal consultations in the form of discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and the members of the Commission attending the sixty-third session of the Assembly; 12. Encourages delegations, during the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, to adhere as far as possible to the structured work programme agreed to by the Sixth Committee and to consider presenting concise and focused statements; 13. Encourages Member States to consider being represented at the level of legal adviser during the first week in which the report of the International Law Commission is discussed in the Sixth Committee (International Law Week) to enable high-level discussions on issues of international law; 14. Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work; 15. Takes note of paragraphs 400 to 405 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cooperation with other bodies, and encourages the Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation; 16. Notes that the International Law Commission, in accordance with article 25, paragraph 1, of its statute, held a meeting during its fifty-ninth session with United Nations and other experts in the field of human rights, including representatives from human rights treaty bodies, and exchanged views on issues relating to reservations to human rights treaties; 17. Also notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations; 18. Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the indispensable role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission; 19. Approves the conclusions reached by the International Law Commission in paragraphs 387 to 395 of its report; 20. Also approves the conclusions reached by the International Law Commission in paragraphs 382 and 383 of its report, and reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the documentation and summary records of the Commission;See resolutions 32/151, para. 10, and 37/111, para. 5, and all subsequent resolutions on the annual reports of the International Law Commission to the General Assembly. 21. Takes note of paragraph 385 of the report of the International Law Commission and, without prejudice to the importance of ensuring necessary allocations in the regular budget, requests the Secretary-General to establish a trust fund to accept voluntary contributions so as to address the backlog relating to the Yearbook of the International Law Commission; 22. Also takes note of the Guidelines on the publication of documents of the International Law Commission, as endorsed by the Commission in paragraph 381 of its report; 23. Further takes note of paragraphs 396 and 397 of the report of the International Law Commission and encourages legal advisers to participate in the commemorative meeting envisaged for the sixtieth anniversary to be held in Geneva on 19 and 20 May 2008, and invites Member States, in association with existing regional organizations, professional associations, academic institutions and members of the Commission, to convene national or regional meetings, which would be dedicated to the work of the Commission; 24. Notes with appreciation the expansion of the website of the International Law Commissionwww.un.org/law/ilc. to include all its documentation, and welcomes the continuous efforts of the Codification Division to maintain and improve the website; 25. Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice; 28. Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session, chapter III containing the specific issues on which the views of Governments would be of particular interest to the Commission and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission; 29. Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the sixty-third session of the General Assembly commence on 27 October 2008. RESOLUTION 62/67 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/451, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Bureau. 62/67. Diplomatic protection The General Assembly, Having considered chapter IV of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-eighth session,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10). which contains the draft articles on diplomatic protection,Ibid., para. 49. Noting that the Commission decided to recommend to the General Assembly the elaboration of a convention on the basis of the draft articles on diplomatic protection,Ibid., para. 46. Emphasizing the continuing importance of the codification and progressive development of international law, as referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the subject of diplomatic protection is of major importance in the relations of States, Taking into account the comments and observations of GovernmentsA/62/118 and Add.1. and the discussion held in the Sixth Committee at the sixty-second session of the General Assembly on diplomatic protection, 1. Welcomes the conclusion of the work of the International Law Commission on diplomatic protection and its adoption of the draft articles and commentary on the topic;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10), paras. 43 and 44. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for its continuing contribution to the codification and progressive development of international law; 3. Commends the articles on diplomatic protection presented by the Commission, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution, to the attention of Governments, and invites them to submit in writing to the Secretary-General any further comments concerning the recommendation by the Commission to elaborate a convention on the basis of the articles;Ibid., para. 46. 4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session an item entitled "Diplomatic protection" and to further examine, within the framework of a working group of the Sixth Committee, in the light of the written comments of Governments, as well as views expressed in the debates held at the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, the question of a convention on diplomatic protection, or any other appropriate action, on the basis of the above-mentioned articles. Annex Diplomatic protection Part one General provisions Article 1 Definition and scope For the purposes of the present draft articles, diplomatic protection consists of the invocation by a State, through diplomatic action or other means of peaceful settlement, of the responsibility of another State for an injury caused by an internationally wrongful act of that State to a natural or legal person that is a national of the former State with a view to the implementation of such responsibility. Article 2 Right to exercise diplomatic protection A State has the right to exercise diplomatic protection in accordance with the present draft articles. Part two Nationality Chapter I General principles Article 3 Protection by the State of nationality 1. The State entitled to exercise diplomatic protection is the State of nationality. 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, diplomatic protection may be exercised by a State in respect of a person that is not its national in accordance with draft article 8. Chapter II Natural persons Article 4 State of nationality of a natural person For the purposes of the diplomatic protection of a natural person, a State of nationality means a State whose nationality that person has acquired, in accordance with the law of that State, by birth, descent, naturalization, succession of States or in any other manner, not inconsistent with international law. Article 5 Continuous nationality of a natural person 1. A State is entitled to exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a person who was a national of that State continuously from the date of injury to the date of the official presentation of the claim. Continuity is presumed if that nationality existed at both these dates. 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a State may exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a person who is its national at the date of the official presentation of the claim but was not a national at the date of injury, provided that the person had the nationality of a predecessor State or lost his or her previous nationality and acquired, for a reason unrelated to the bringing of the claim, the nationality of the former State in a manner not inconsistent with international law. 3. Diplomatic protection shall not be exercised by the present State of nationality in respect of a person against a former State of nationality of that person for an injury caused when that person was a national of the former State of nationality and not of the present State of nationality. 4. A State is no longer entitled to exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a person who acquires the nationality of the State against which the claim is brought after the date of the official presentation of the claim. Article 6 Multiple nationality and claim against a third State 1. Any State of which a dual or multiple national is a national may exercise diplomatic protection in respect of that national against a State of which that person is not a national. 2. Two or more States of nationality may jointly exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a dual or multiple national. Article 7 Multiple nationality and claim against a State of nationality A State of nationality may not exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a person against a State of which that person is also a national unless the nationality of the former State is predominant, both at the date of injury and at the date of the official presentation of the claim. Article 8 Stateless persons and refugees 1. A State may exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a stateless person who, at the date of injury and at the date of the official presentation of the claim, is lawfully and habitually resident in that State. 2. A State may exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a person who is recognized as a refugee by that State, in accordance with internationally accepted standards, when that person, at the date of injury and at the date of the official presentation of the claim, is lawfully and habitually resident in that State. 3. Paragraph 2 does not apply in respect of an injury caused by an internationally wrongful act of the State of nationality of the refugee. Chapter III Legal persons Article 9 State of nationality of a corporation For the purposes of the diplomatic protection of a corporation, the State of nationality means the State under whose law the corporation was incorporated. However, when the corporation is controlled by nationals of another State or States and has no substantial business activities in the State of incorporation, and the seat of management and the financial control of the corporation are both located in another State, that State shall be regarded as the State of nationality. Article 10 Continuous nationality of a corporation 1. A State is entitled to exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a corporation that was a national of that State, or its predecessor State, continuously from the date of injury to the date of the official presentation of the claim. Continuity is presumed if that nationality existed at both these dates. 2. A State is no longer entitled to exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a corporation that acquires the nationality of the State against which the claim is brought after the presentation of the claim. 3. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, a State continues to be entitled to exercise diplomatic protection in respect of a corporation which was its national at the date of injury and which, as the result of the injury, has ceased to exist according to the law of the State of incorporation. Article 11 Protection of shareholders A State of nationality of shareholders in a corporation shall not be entitled to exercise diplomatic protection in respect of such shareholders in the case of an injury to the corporation unless: (a) The corporation has ceased to exist according to the law of the State of incorporation for a reason unrelated to the injury; or (b) The corporation had, at the date of injury, the nationality of the State alleged to be responsible for causing the injury, and incorporation in that State was required by it as a precondition for doing business there. Article 12 Direct injury to shareholders To the extent that an internationally wrongful act of a State causes direct injury to the rights of shareholders as such, as distinct from those of the corporation itself, the State of nationality of any such shareholders is entitled to exercise diplomatic protection in respect of its nationals. Article 13 Other legal persons The principles contained in this chapter shall be applicable, as appropriate, to the diplomatic protection of legal persons other than corporations. Part three Local remedies Article 14 Exhaustion of local remedies 1. A State may not present an international claim in respect of an injury to a national or other person referred to in draft article 8 before the injured person has, subject to draft article 15, exhausted all local remedies. 2. "Local remedies" means legal remedies which are open to an injured person before the judicial or administrative courts or bodies, whether ordinary or special, of the State alleged to be responsible for causing the injury. 3. Local remedies shall be exhausted where an international claim, or request for a declaratory judgement related to the claim, is brought preponderantly on the basis of an injury to a national or other person referred to in draft article 8. Article 15 Exceptions to the local remedies rule Local remedies do not need to be exhausted where: (a) There are no reasonably available local remedies to provide effective redress, or the local remedies provide no reasonable possibility of such redress; (b) There is undue delay in the remedial process which is attributable to the State alleged to be responsible; (c) There was no relevant connection between the injured person and the State alleged to be responsible at the date of injury; (d) The injured person is manifestly precluded from pursuing local remedies; or (e) The State alleged to be responsible has waived the requirement that local remedies be exhausted. Part four Miscellaneous provisions Article 16 Actions or procedures other than diplomatic protection The rights of States, natural persons, legal persons or other entities to resort under international law to actions or procedures other than diplomatic protection to secure redress for injury suffered as a result of an internationally wrongful act, are not affected by the present draft articles. Article 17 Special rules of international law The present draft articles do not apply to the extent that they are inconsistent with special rules of international law, such as treaty provisions for the protection of investments. Article 18 Protection of ships' crews The right of the State of nationality of the members of the crew of a ship to exercise diplomatic protection is not affected by the right of the State of nationality of a ship to seek redress on behalf of such crew members, irrespective of their nationality, when they have been injured in connection with an injury to the vessel resulting from an internationally wrongful act. Article 19 Recommended practice A State entitled to exercise diplomatic protection according to the present draft articles, should: (a) Give due consideration to the possibility of exercising diplomatic protection, especially when a significant injury has occurred; (b) Take into account, wherever feasible, the views of injured persons with regard to resort to diplomatic protection and the reparation to be sought; and (c) Transfer to the injured person any compensation obtained for the injury from the responsible State subject to any reasonable deductions. RESOLUTION 62/68 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/452, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of New Zealand on behalf of the Bureau. 62/68. Consideration of prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and allocation of loss in the case of such harm The General Assembly, Recalling that the International Law Commission at its fifty-third sessionOfficial Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 and corrigendum (A/56/10 and Corr.1), paras. 91, 94 and 97. completed the draft articles on prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and recommended to the General Assembly the elaboration of a convention on the basis of the draft articles, Recalling also its resolution 56/82 of 12 December 2001, Noting that the Commission at its fifty-eighth session completed the draft principles on allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities and recommended to the General Assembly that it endorse the draft principles by a resolution and urge States to take national and international action to implement them,Ibid., Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/61/10), para. 63. Recalling its resolution 61/36 of 4 December 2006, the annex to which contains the text of the principles on allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities, Emphasizing the continuing importance of the codification and progressive development of international law, as referred to in Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, Noting that the questions of prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and allocation of loss in the case of such harm are of major importance in the relations of States, Taking into account the views and comments expressed in the Sixth Committee at the sixty-second session of the General Assembly on the prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and allocation of loss in the case of such harm, 1. Welcomes the conclusion of the work of the International Law Commission on prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and allocation of loss in the case of such harm and its adoption of the respective draft articles and draft principles and commentaries on the subjects; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Commission for its continuing contribution to the codification and progressive development of international law; 3. Commends the articles on prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities, presented by the Commission, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution, to the attention of Governments, without prejudice to any future action, as recommended by the Commission regarding the articles; 4. Commends once again the principles on the allocation of loss in the case of transboundary harm arising out of hazardous activities, presented by the Commission, the text of which was annexed to General Assembly resolution 61/36, to the attention of Governments, without prejudice to any future action, as recommended by the Commission regarding the principles; 5. Invites Governments to submit comments on any future action, in particular on the form of the respective articles and principles, bearing in mind the recommendations made by the Commission in that regard, including in relation to the elaboration of a convention on the basis of the draft articles, as well as on any practice in relation to the application of the articles and principles; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fifth session the item entitled "Consideration of prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and allocation of loss in the case of such harm". Annex Prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities The States Parties, Having in mind Article 13, paragraph 1 (a) of the Charter of the United Nations, which provides that the General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification, Bearing in mind the principle of permanent sovereignty of States over the natural resources within their territory or otherwise under their jurisdiction or control, Bearing in mind also that the freedom of States to carry on or permit activities in their territory or otherwise under their jurisdiction or control is not unlimited, Recalling the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 13 June 1992, Recognizing the importance of promoting international cooperation, Have agreed as follows: Article 1 Scope The present articles apply to activities not prohibited by international law which involve a risk of causing significant transboundary harm through their physical consequences. Article 2 Use of terms For the purposes of the present articles: (a) "Risk of causing significant transboundary harm" includes risks taking the form of a high probability of causing significant transboundary harm and a low probability of causing disastrous transboundary harm; (b) "Harm" means harm caused to persons, property or the environment; (c) "Transboundary harm" means harm caused in the territory of or in other places under the jurisdiction or control of a State other than the State of origin, whether or not the States concerned share a common border; (d) "State of origin" means the State in the territory or otherwise under the jurisdiction or control of which the activities referred to in article 1 are planned or are carried out; (e) "State likely to be affected" means the State or States in the territory of which there is the risk of significant transboundary harm or which have jurisdiction or control over any other place where there is such a risk; (f) "States concerned" means the State of origin and the State likely to be affected. Article 3 Prevention The State of origin shall take all appropriate measures to prevent significant transboundary harm or at any event to minimize the risk thereof. Article 4 Cooperation States concerned shall cooperate in good faith and, as necessary, seek the assistance of one or more competent international organizations in preventing significant transboundary harm or at any event in minimizing the risk thereof. Article 5 Implementation States concerned shall take the necessary legislative, administrative or other action including the establishment of suitable monitoring mechanisms to implement the provisions of the present articles. Article 6 Authorization 1. The State of origin shall require its prior authorization for: (a) Any activity within the scope of the present articles carried out in its territory or otherwise under its jurisdiction or control; (b) Any major change in an activity referred to in subparagraph (a); (c) Any plan to change an activity which may transform it into one falling within the scope of the present articles. 2. The requirement of authorization established by a State shall be made applicable in respect of all pre-existing activities within the scope of the present articles. Authorizations already issued by the State for pre-existing activities shall be reviewed in order to comply with the present articles. 3. In case of a failure to conform to the terms of the authorization, the State of origin shall take such actions as appropriate, including where necessary terminating the authorization. Article 7 Assessment of risk Any decision in respect of the authorization of an activity within the scope of the present articles shall, in particular, be based on an assessment of the possible transboundary harm caused by that activity, including any environmental impact assessment. Article 8 Notification and information 1. If the assessment referred to in article 7 indicates a risk of causing significant transboundary harm, the State of origin shall provide the State likely to be affected with timely notification of the risk and the assessment and shall transmit to it the available technical and all other relevant information on which the assessment is based. 2. The State of origin shall not take any decision on authorization of the activity pending the receipt, within a period not exceeding six months, of the response from the State likely to be affected. Article 9 Consultations on preventive measures 1. The States concerned shall enter into consultations, at the request of any of them, with a view to achieving acceptable solutions regarding measures to be adopted in order to prevent significant transboundary harm or at any event to minimize the risk thereof. The States concerned shall agree, at the commencement of such consultations, on a reasonable time frame for the consultations. 2. The States concerned shall seek solutions based on an equitable balance of interests in the light of article 10. 3. If the consultations referred to in paragraph 1 fail to produce an agreed solution, the State of origin shall nevertheless take into account the interests of the State likely to be affected in case it decides to authorize the activity to be pursued, without prejudice to the rights of any State likely to be affected. Article 10 Factors involved in an equitable balance of interests In order to achieve an equitable balance of interests as referred to in paragraph 2 of article 9, the States concerned shall take into account all relevant factors and circumstances, including: (a) The degree of risk of significant transboundary harm and of the availability of means of preventing such harm, or minimizing the risk thereof or repairing the harm; (b) The importance of the activity, taking into account its overall advantages of a social, economic and technical character for the State of origin in relation to the potential harm for the State likely to be affected; (c) The risk of significant harm to the environment and the availability of means of preventing such harm, or minimizing the risk thereof or restoring the environment; (d) The degree to which the State of origin and, as appropriate, the State likely to be affected are prepared to contribute to the costs of prevention; (e) The economic viability of the activity in relation to the costs of prevention and to the possibility of carrying out the activity elsewhere or by other means or replacing it with an alternative activity; (f) The standards of prevention which the State likely to be affected applies to the same or comparable activities and the standards applied in comparable regional or international practice. Article 11 Procedures in the absence of notification 1. If a State has reasonable grounds to believe that an activity planned or carried out in the State of origin may involve a risk of causing significant transboundary harm to it, it may request the State of origin to apply the provision of article 8. The request shall be accompanied by a documented explanation setting forth its grounds. 2. In the event that the State of origin nevertheless finds that it is not under an obligation to provide a notification under article 8, it shall so inform the requesting State within a reasonable time, providing a documented explanation setting forth the reasons for such finding. If this finding does not satisfy that State, at its request, the two States shall promptly enter into consultations in the manner indicated in article 9. 3. During the course of the consultations, the State of origin shall, if so requested by the other State, arrange to introduce appropriate and feasible measures to minimize the risk and, where appropriate, to suspend the activity in question for a reasonable period. Article 12 Exchange of information While the activity is being carried out, the States concerned shall exchange in a timely manner all available information concerning that activity relevant to preventing significant transboundary harm or at any event minimizing the risk thereof. Such an exchange of information shall continue until such time as the States concerned consider it appropriate even after the activity is terminated. Article 13 Information to the public States concerned shall, by such means as are appropriate, provide the public likely to be affected by an activity within the scope of the present articles with relevant information relating to that activity, the risk involved and the harm which might result and ascertain their views. Article 14 National security and industrial secrets Data and information vital to the national security of the State of origin or to the protection of industrial secrets or concerning intellectual property may be withheld, but the State of origin shall cooperate in good faith with the State likely to be affected in providing as much information as possible under the circumstances. Article 15 Non-discrimination Unless the States concerned have agreed otherwise for the protection of the interests of persons, natural or juridical, who may be or are exposed to the risk of significant transboundary harm as a result of an activity within the scope of the present articles, a State shall not discriminate on the basis of nationality or residence or place where the injury might occur, in granting to such persons, in accordance with its legal system, access to judicial or other procedures to seek protection or other appropriate redress. Article 16 Emergency preparedness The State of origin shall develop contingency plans for responding to emergencies, in cooperation, where appropriate, with the State likely to be affected and competent international organizations. Article 17 Notification of an emergency The State of origin shall, without delay and by the most expeditious means, at its disposal, notify the State likely to be affected of an emergency concerning an activity within the scope of the present articles and provide it with all relevant and available information. Article 18 Relationship to other rules of international law The present articles are without prejudice to any obligation incurred by States under relevant treaties or rules of customary international law. Article 19 Settlement of disputes 1. Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the present articles shall be settled expeditiously through peaceful means of settlement chosen by mutual agreement of the parties to the dispute, including negotiations, mediation, conciliation, arbitration or judicial settlement. 2. Failing an agreement on the means for the peaceful settlement of the dispute within a period of six months, the parties to the dispute shall, at the request of any of them, have recourse to the establishment of an impartial fact-finding commission. 3. The Fact-finding Commission shall be composed of one member nominated by each party to the dispute and in addition a member not having the nationality of any of the parties to the dispute chosen by the nominated members who shall serve as Chairperson. 4. If more than one State is involved on one side of the dispute and those States do not agree on a common member of the Commission and each of them nominates a member, the other party to the dispute has the right to nominate an equal number of members of the Commission. 5. If the members nominated by the parties to the dispute are unable to agree on a Chairperson within three months of the request for the establishment of the Commission, any party to the dispute may request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to appoint the Chairperson who shall not have the nationality of any of the parties to the dispute. If one of the parties to the dispute fails to nominate a member within three months of the initial request pursuant to paragraph 2, any other party to the dispute may request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to appoint a person who shall not have the nationality of any of the parties to the dispute. The person so appointed shall constitute a single-member Commission. 6. The Commission shall adopt its report by a majority vote, unless it is a single-member Commission, and shall submit that report to the parties to the dispute setting forth its findings and recommendations, which the parties to the dispute shall consider in good faith. RESOLUTION 62/69 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/453, para. 9)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Bureau. 62/69. Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3499 (XXX) of 15 December 1975, by which it established the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, and its relevant resolutions adopted at subsequent sessions, Recalling also its resolution 47/233 of 17 August 1993 on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, Recalling further its resolution 47/62 of 11 December 1992 on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, Taking note of the report of the Open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters related to the Security Council,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-first Session, Supplement No. 47 (A/61/47). Recalling the elements relevant to the work of the Special Committee contained in its resolution 47/120 B of 20 September 1993, Recalling also its resolution 51/241 of 31 July 1997 on the strengthening of the United Nations system and its resolution 51/242 of 15 September 1997, entitled "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace", by which it adopted the texts on coordination and the question of sanctions imposed by the United Nations, which are annexed to that resolution, Concerned about the special economic problems confronting certain States arising from the carrying out of preventive or enforcement measures taken by the Security Council against other States, and taking into account the obligation of Members of the United Nations under Article 49 of the Charter of the United Nations to join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided upon by the Council, Recalling the right of third States confronted with special economic problems of that nature to consult the Security Council with regard to a solution of those problems, in accordance with Article 50 of the Charter, Recalling also that the International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, and reaffirming its authority and independence, Mindful of the adoption of the revised working papers on the working methods of the Special Committee,Ibid., Supplement No. 33 (A/61/33), para. 72. Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council,A/62/124 and Corr.1. Taking note also of paragraphs 106 to 110, 176 and 177 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Mindful of the decision of the Special Committee, in which it expressed its readiness to engage, as appropriate, in the implementation of any decisions that might be taken at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the General Assembly in September 2005 that concerned the Charter and any amendments thereto,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixtieth Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/60/33), para. 77. Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 50/51 of 11 December 1995, 51/208 of 17 December 1996, 52/162 of 15 December 1997, 53/107 of 8 December 1998, 54/107 of 9 December 1999, 55/157 of 12 December 2000, 56/87 of 12 December 2001, 57/25 of 19 November 2002, 58/80 of 9 December 2003 and 59/45 of 2 December 2004, Recalling also its resolution 61/38 of 4 December 2006, Having considered the report of the Special Committee on the work of its session held in 2007,Ibid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/62/33). Noting with appreciation the work done by the Special Committee to encourage States to focus on the need to prevent and to settle peacefully their disputes which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, 1. Takes note of the report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization;Ibid., Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 33 (A/62/33). 2. Decides that the Special Committee shall hold its next session from 27 February to 5 March and on 7 March 2008; 3. Requests the Special Committee, at its session in 2008, in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 50/52 of 11 December 1995: (a) To continue its consideration of all proposals concerning the question of the maintenance of international peace and security in all its aspects in order to strengthen the role of the United Nations, and, in this context, to consider other proposals relating to the maintenance of international peace and security already submitted or which may be submitted to the Special Committee at its session in 2008; (b) To continue its consideration of the working document submitted by the Russian Federation, entitled "Basic conditions and standard criteria for introduction and implementation of sanctions", on a priority basis; (c) To continue to consider, on a priority basis and in an appropriate substantive manner and framework, the question of the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter based on all of the related reports of the Secretary-GeneralA/48/573-S/26705, A/49/356, A/50/60-S/1995/1, A/50/361, A/50/423, A/51/317, A/52/308, A/53/312, A/54/383 and Add.1, A/55/295 and Add.1, A/56/303, A/57/165 and Add.1, A/58/346, A/59/334, A/60/320, A/61/304 and A/62/206 and Corr.1. and the proposals submitted on the question; (d) To keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States; (e) To consider, as appropriate, any proposal referred to it by the General Assembly in the implementation of the decisions of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixtieth session of the Assembly in September 2005 that concern the Charter and any amendments thereto; (f) To continue to consider, on a priority basis, ways and means of improving its working methods and enhancing its efficiency with a view to identifying widely acceptable measures for future implementation; 4. Invites the Special Committee at its session in 2008 to continue to identify new subjects for consideration in its future work with a view to contributing to the revitalization of the work of the United Nations; 5. Notes the readiness of the Special Committee to provide, within its mandate, such assistance as may be sought at the request of other subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly in relation to any issues before them; 6. Requests the Special Committee to submit a report on its work to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 7. Recognizes the important role of the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, in adjudicating disputes among States and the value of its work, as well as the importance of having recourse to the Court in the peaceful settlement of disputes, takes note, consistent with Article 96 of the Charter, of the Court's advisory jurisdiction that may be requested by the General Assembly, the Security Council or other authorized organs of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, and requests the Secretary-General to distribute, in due course, the advisory opinions requested by the principal organs of the United Nations as official documents of the United Nations; 8. Commends the Secretary-General for the progress made in the preparation of studies of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs, including the increased use of the internship programme of the United Nations and further expanded cooperation with academic institutions for this purpose, as well as the progress made towards updating the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; 9. Notes with appreciation the contributions made by Member States to the trust fund for the updating of the Repertoire, as well as the trust fund for the elimination of the backlog in the Repertory; 10. Reiterates its call for voluntary contributions to the trust fund for the updating of the Repertoire, as well as the trust fund for the elimination of the backlog in the Repertory, and the sponsoring, on a voluntary basis, and with no cost to the United Nations, of associate experts to assist in the updating of the two publications; 11. Calls upon the Secretary-General to continue his efforts towards updating the two publications and making them available electronically in all their respective language versions; 12. Reiterates the responsibility of the Secretary-General for the quality of the Repertory and the Repertoire and, in particular, with regard to the Repertoire, calls upon the Secretary-General to continue to follow the modalities outlined in paragraphs 102 to 106 of his report of 18 September 1952;A/2170. 13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on both the Repertory and the Repertoire to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 14. Also requests the Secretary-General to brief the Special Committee at its next session on the information referred to in paragraph 13 of his report on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions,A/62/206 and Corr.1. on modalities, technical procedures and guidelines on coordination of technical assistance available to third States affected by the implementation of sanctions, as well as a possible methodology for assessing the adverse consequences actually incurred by third States, in the report mentioned in paragraph 15 below; 15. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations related to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, under the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization"; 16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization". RESOLUTION 62/6 Adopted at the 45th plenary meeting, on 5 November 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.7 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen 62/6. The situation in Afghanistan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/18 of 28 November 2006 and all its previous relevant resolutions, Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular resolutions 1659 (2006) of 15 February 2006, 1746 (2007) of 23 March 2007 and 1776 (2007) of 19 September 2007, as well as the statement by the President of the Council on 17 July 2007,S/PRST/2007/27; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2006-31 July 2007. Expressing its strong commitment to the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the annexes thereto,S/2006/90, annex. which provide the framework for the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community based on the desire of both for Afghanistan to progressively assume responsibility for its own development and security, and stressing the need for sustained international efforts to support Afghanistan to achieve that end, Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage, Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the challenges in Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, governance and development, as well as the cross-cutting theme of counter-narcotics, is mutually reinforcing, and welcoming the continuing efforts of the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to address these challenges in a coherent manner, Reiterating the urgent need to tackle the challenges in Afghanistan, in particular the increased violent criminal and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, illegal armed groups and those involved in the narcotics trade, in particular in the south and east, and the development of Afghan Government institutions, including at the subnational level, the strengthening of the rule of law, the acceleration of justice sector reform, the promotion of national reconciliation, without prejudice to the fulfilment of the measures introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999 and other relevant resolutions, and an Afghan-led transitional justice process, the safe and voluntary return of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons in an orderly and dignified manner, the promotion and protection of human rights and the advancement of economic and social development, Condemning, in this context, attacks against both Afghan and foreign nationals committed to supporting the consolidation of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, in particular United Nations and diplomatic staff, national and international humanitarian and development personnel, Afghan National Security Forces, the International Security Assistance Force, as well as the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, and noting with concern that the lack of security is causing some organizations to cease or curtail their humanitarian and development work in some parts of Afghanistan, Recognizing the progress achieved, while nonetheless remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of war, which constitute a great danger for the population and a major obstacle for the resumption of economic activities and for recovery and reconstruction efforts, Noting that, despite improvements in building the security sector, increased terrorist attacks caused by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups, in particular in the south and east of Afghanistan, the lack of security caused by criminal activity, terrorism and the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs, and the increasingly strong nexus between the drug trade and the terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups remain a serious challenge, threatening the democratic process as well as reconstruction and economic development, Noting also that the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout the country resides with the Government of Afghanistan supported by the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, recognizing the institutional progress achieved in this respect and the continued coordination between the Assistance Force and the coalition, deeply concerned about the recent increase in violence, and stressing the importance of further extending central government authority, including the presence of Afghan security forces, to all provinces of Afghanistan, Welcoming the completion of the Assistance Force expansion throughout Afghanistan, and noting, in the context of the comprehensive approach, the synergies in the objectives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and of the Assistance Force, Commending the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition for their efforts to improve security conditions in Afghanistan, Acknowledging, in this context, that the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police require additional support to enhance their capability and professionalism, including through the provision of increased training and more modern equipment, and welcoming in this regard the deployment of the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, Stressing that regional cooperation constitutes an effective means to promote security and development in Afghanistan, Welcoming, in this regard, recent initiatives to reinforce regional cooperation, including the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Afghanistan Contact Group, Welcoming also the entry of Afghanistan into the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation at the summit meeting of the Association, held in New Delhi on 3 and 4 April 2007, as an opportunity to further promote regional economic cooperation for development, Reaffirming its continued support for the spirit and the provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001,Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154). of the Berlin Declaration, including the annexes thereto, of 1 April 2004Available from www.unama-afg.org. and of the Afghanistan Compact of 31 January 2006, and pledging its continued support, after the successful completion of the political transition, to the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of a constitutional democracy and resume their rightful place in the community of nations, Noting the importance of the national Government being representative of the ethnic diversity of the country and ensuring also the full and equal participation of women, Welcoming recent steps to enhance Afghan and international commitment to justice sector reform as outlined at the Conference on the Rule of Law in Afghanistan, held in Rome on 2 and 3 July 2007, Recalling the guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans in the Constitution as a significant step towards an improved situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for women and children, and expressing its concern over the harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups on the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to guarantee the rule of law, Recalling also Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005 on children and armed conflict, Expressing its concern at all civilian casualties, and reiterating its call for all feasible steps to be taken to ensure the protection of civilian lives and for international humanitarian and human rights law to be upheld, Recalling Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, and applauding the progress achieved in the empowerment of women in Afghan politics as historic milestones in the political process, which will help to consolidate durable peace and national stability in Afghanistan, while noting the need to promote the empowerment of women also at the provincial level, Noting with concern reports of continued violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law and violent or discriminatory practices including "honour killings" in certain parts of the country, particularly targeting women and girls, and stressing the need for adherence to international standards of tolerance and religious freedom and for judicial investigation and prosecution of relevant cases, Condemning recent cases of the abduction and even killing of journalists and other civilians by terrorist and extremist groups, Encouraging the completion of the interim Afghanistan National Development StrategyS/2006/105, annex. by early 2008, as well as further efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Welcoming the outcome of the Regional Economic Cooperation Conferences, held in Kabul on 4 and 5 December 2005 and in New Delhi on 18 and 19 November 2006, as well as of the Enabling Environment Conference, held in Kabul on 4 and 5 June 2007, and of the seventeenth ministerial meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization held in Herat, Afghanistan, from 17 to 20 October 2007, and welcoming also Pakistan's offer to host the next Regional Economic Cooperation Conference in early 2008, Welcoming also the continuing and growing ownership of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, and emphasizing the crucial need to achieve ownership in all fields of governance and to improve institutional capabilities, including at the provincial level, in order to use aid more effectively, Expressing its appreciation for the humanitarian assistance work of the international community in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, recognizing the necessity of further addressing the slow pace of change in the living conditions of the Afghan people, and noting the need to strengthen and support the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to deliver basic social services, in particular education and public health services, and to promote development, Welcoming the continuous return of refugees and internally displaced persons, in a voluntary and sustainable manner, while noting with concern that conditions in parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive to safe and sustainable returns to some places of origin, Recognizing that underdevelopment and lack of capacity increase the vulnerability of Afghanistan to natural disasters and to harsh climate conditions, Expressing its appreciation for the work of the provincial reconstruction teams and of the executive steering committee, Deeply concerned about the increased cultivation and production of narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, as well as the drug trafficking and the increasingly strong nexus between the drug trade and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups, which are undermining stability and security as well as the political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and have dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, and commending the reaffirmed commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to rid the country of this pernicious production and trade, including by decisive law enforcement measures, Recalling the updated National Drug Control Strategy,S/2006/106, annex. and recognizing that the social and economic development of Afghanistan, specifically the development of alternative gainful and sustainable livelihoods in the formal productive sector, is an important element of the successful implementation of the Strategy and depends to a large extent on enhanced international cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the central and impartial role that the Secretary-General and his Special Representative continue to play in the consolidation of peace and stability in Afghanistan, stressing the central role of the Assistance Mission in promoting a more coherent international engagement to ensure a seamless transition, under Afghan leadership, from humanitarian relief to recovery and reconstruction, and also stressing the need for further sustained cooperation, coordination and mutual support between the international community and the Government of Afghanistan, Welcoming the work of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board established by the Afghanistan Compact as an instrument to further improve coordination between the Government of Afghanistan and its international partners and to monitor the implementation of all benchmarks, Recognizing the need for a continued strong international commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programmes, under the ownership of the Government of Afghanistan, of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and expressing, at the same time, its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations whose international and local staff continue to respond positively to the humanitarian, transition and development needs of Afghanistan despite increasing security concerns and difficulties of access in certain areas, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/345-S/2007/555. and the recommendations contained therein; 2. Strongly condemns the upsurge of violence, including the rising trend of suicide attacks, in Afghanistan, in particular in the southern and eastern parts, owing to the increased violent and terrorist activity by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, other extremist groups and those involved in the narcotics trade, which has resulted in increased casualties among Afghan civilians, Afghan National Security Forces, the International Security Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, as well as among the personnel of Afghan and international aid agencies and all other humanitarian workers; 3. Stresses the importance of the provision of sufficient security, welcomes the presence of the Assistance Force throughout Afghanistan, and calls upon Member States to continue contributing personnel, equipment and other resources to the Assistance Force and to further develop the provincial reconstruction teams in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan; 4. Expresses its appreciation for the work of the Assistance Mission as mandated by the Security Council in its resolution 1746 (2007) and stresses the continued importance of the central and impartial role played by the Assistance Mission in promoting and coordinating a more coherent international engagement, welcomes the extension of its presence in additional provinces, which thus ensures that the United Nations fulfils its essential coordinating role, and encourages the Assistance Mission to consolidate its presence and to continue its expansion throughout the country, in particular in the south, security conditions permitting; 5. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, including through the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and the Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups as well as by criminal violence, in particular violence involving the drug trade; 6. Urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to take all possible steps to ensure the safe and unhindered access of United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel to all affected populations; 7. Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation, regrets the loss of life and physical harm, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to make every effort, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/123 of 15 December 2005, to bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks, to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel and to protect the property of the United Nations and of development or humanitarian organizations; 8. Stresses the importance of advancing the full implementation of the programme of disbandment of illegal armed groups throughout the country under Afghan ownership, while ensuring coordination and coherence with other relevant efforts, including security sector reform, community development, counter-narcotics, district-level development and Afghan-led initiatives to ensure that entities and individuals do not illegally participate in the political process, in accordance with adopted laws and regulations in Afghanistan, and calls for adequate support in order for the Ministry of Interior to increasingly assume its leading role in implementing the programme of disbandment of illegal armed groups; 9. Welcomes the outcome of the Conference on Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups for the Stabilization of Afghanistan: Coordination with Police Reform, held in Tokyo on 21 June 2007;See A/61/993-S/2007/417. 10. Also welcomes, in this context, the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to stand firm on the disbandment of illegal armed groups and to work actively at national, provincial and local levels to advance this commitment; 11. Further welcomes the development of the new professional Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, calls for accelerated efforts to modernize and strengthen both institutions and related Government departments, and welcomes in this regard the deployment of the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan in 2007; 12. Welcomes the completion of the disarmament and demobilization of child soldiers in the Afghan Military Forces, stresses the importance of the reintegration of child soldiers and of care for other children affected by war, commends the Government of Afghanistan for its efforts in this regard, and encourages it to continue efforts in cooperation with the United Nations, including with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and with other international partners; 13. Expresses its concern about the ongoing recruitment and use of child soldiers by illegal armed and terrorist groups in Afghanistan, reiterates the importance of implementing Security Council resolution 1612 (2005) on children and armed conflict, and of ending the use of children contrary to international law, welcomes efforts by the Government of Afghanistan in this regard, and also welcomes the accession by Afghanistan to the Convention on the Rights of the ChildUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. and the two Optional Protocols thereto,Ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. as well as commitments made by the Government at the "Free Children from War" conference, held in Paris on 5 and 6 February 2007; 14. Welcomes the progress achieved through the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan, and supports the Government of Afghanistan in its efforts to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,Ibid., vol. 2056, No. 35597. in line with the Millennium Development Goals, to cooperate fully with the Mine Action Programme coordinated by the United Nations and to eliminate all known or new stocks of anti-personnel landmines; 15. Recognizes the challenges following secure and fair elections and the establishment of democratic institutions as identified in the Afghanistan Compact,S/2006/90, annex. and calls upon the international community to continue to provide sustained support; 16. Welcomes the steps taken by the Government of Afghanistan on justice sector reform, also welcomes the progress made in the creation of a fair and effective justice system as an important step towards the goal of strengthening the Government, providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country, and urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government in these areas in a coordinated manner, welcoming in this regard the outcome of the Conference on the Rule of Law in Afghanistan, held in Rome on 2 and 3 July 2007; 17. Encourages the Government of Afghanistan to finalize the national justice sector strategy and the national justice programme, and calls upon the international community to ensure the requisite support for justice sector reform, including honouring commitments made at the Rome Conference; 18. Stresses once again the need for further progress on a comprehensive judicial reform in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to devote resources also to the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in order to improve respect for the rule of law and human rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health risks to inmates; 19. Calls for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan Constitution and international law; 20. Continues to emphasize the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, including violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women and girls, of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law; 21. Stresses the need to ensure respect for the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of thought, conscience or belief, while noting with concern recent attempts to limit freedom of expression and to intimidate journalists; 22. Notes with concern the negative impact of the security situation, in particular terrorist and violent activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and extremist groups, on the enjoyment of human rights, and calls for all parties to fully respect human rights and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan and, with the assistance of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and of the Assistance Mission, to fully implement the human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution, including those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights, and commends the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan in this respect; 23. Reiterates the important role of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, stresses the need to expand its range of operation in all parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan Constitution, calls for the full implementation by the Government of Afghanistan of the Action Plan on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation, without prejudice to the implementation of measures introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) and other relevant resolutions, and stresses the importance of judicial accountability of human rights offenders in accordance with national and international law; 24. Recalls Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, commends the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to mainstream gender issues and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men as guaranteed, inter alia, by virtue of its ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378. and by the Afghan Constitution, and reiterates the continued importance of the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of Afghan life; 25. Welcomes the finalization of the National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan and the significant efforts by the Government of Afghanistan to counter discrimination, urges the Government to actively involve all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction programmes, and encourages the collection and use of statistical data on a sex-disaggregated basis to provide information on gender-based violence and accurately track the progress of the full integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan; 26. Recognizes the significant progress achieved on gender equality in Afghanistan in recent years, and strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and violence against women and girls, including women activists, in Afghanistan, wherever they occur; 27. Welcomes the adoption by the Government of Afghanistan of the National Plan of Action on Combating Child Trafficking, also welcomes initiatives to pass legislation on human trafficking, guided by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,Ibid., vol. 2237, No. 39574. and stresses the importance of considering becoming a party to the Protocol; 28. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to continue to effectively reform the public administration sector in order to implement the rule of law and to ensure good governance and accountability at both national and local levels, and stresses the importance of meeting the respective benchmarks of the Afghanistan Compact, with the support of the international community; 29. Welcomes the formal establishment of the Senior Appointments Panel and the finalization of the revised Public Administration Reform framework, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to ensure appointment of officials as required by the Afghanistan Compact; 30. Encourages the international community, including all donor nations, to assist the Government of Afghanistan in making capacity-building and human resources development a cross-cutting priority; 31. Encourages the Government of Afghanistan to vigorously pursue its efforts to establish a more effective, accountable and transparent administration at national, provincial and local levels of Government leading the fight against corruption in accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, and notes with concern the effects of corruption with regard to security, good governance, combating the narcotics industry and economic development; 32. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to address, with the assistance of the international community, the question of claims for land property through a comprehensive land titling programme, including formal registration of all property and improved security of property rights, and welcomes the steps already taken by the Government in this regard; 33. Notes the progress achieved in the elaboration of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy,S/2006/105, annex. underlines the need to finalize the Strategy by early 2008, and urges the international community actively to support this process; 34. Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and in accordance with its national development strategy, all possible and necessary humanitarian, recovery, reconstruction, financial, technical and material assistance for Afghanistan; 35. Urges the international community, in accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, to increase the proportion of donor assistance channelled directly to the core budget, as agreed bilaterally between the Government of Afghanistan and each donor, as well as through other more predictable core budget funding modalities in which the Government participates, such as the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, the Law and Order Trust Fund and the Counter-Narcotics Trust Fund; 36. Invites all States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations providing assistance to Afghanistan to focus on institution-building in a coordinated manner and to ensure that such work complements and contributes to the development of an economy characterized by sound macroeconomic policies, the development of a financial sector that provides services, inter alia, to microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and households, transparent business regulations and accountability; 37. Encourages the international community to support the local economy as a measure for long-term stability and countering narcotics and, in this respect, to explore possibilities for enhancing local procurement; 38. Calls for strengthening the process of regional economic cooperation, including measures to facilitate regional trade, to increase foreign investments and to develop infrastructure, noting Afghanistan's historic role as a land bridge in Asia; 39. Reiterates the necessity of providing Afghan children with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, welcomes progress achieved in the sector of public education, and recalls the National Education Strategic Plan as a promising basis for further achievements; 40. Recognizes the special needs of girls, strongly condemns terrorist attacks on education facilities, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, to expand these facilities, to train professional staff and to promote full and equal access to them by all members of Afghan society, including in remote areas; 41. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, acknowledging the huge burden they have so far shouldered in this regard, and reminds them of their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees, the principle of voluntary return and the right to seek asylum and to allow international access for their protection and care; 42. Urges the Government of Afghanistan, acting with the support of the international community, to continue and strengthen its efforts to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons; 43. Welcomes, in this regard, the tripartite agreements between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Government of Afghanistan and the Governments of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, respectively; 44. Calls for the provision of continued international assistance to the large numbers of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their voluntary, safe, dignified and orderly return and sustainable reintegration into society so as to contribute to the stability of the entire country; 45. Expresses concern about the second successive increase in the cultivation of opium, notes that opium cultivation, the related drug production and trafficking and the increasingly strong nexus between the drug trade and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups pose a serious threat to security, the rule of law and development in Afghanistan, urges the Government of Afghanistan, supported by the international community, to work to mainstream counter-narcotics throughout all the national programmes and ensure that counter-narcotics is a fundamental part of the comprehensive approach, commends the efforts of the Government in this regard, and urges it to increase its efforts against opium cultivation and drug trafficking, with the support of the international community; 46. Welcomes the efforts to date of the Government of Afghanistan to carry out the National Drug Control Strategy,S/2006/106, annex. and urges the Government and the international community to take decisive action, in particular to stop the processing of and trade in drugs, by pursuing the concrete steps set out in the Strategy and in the Afghanistan Compact and through initiatives such as the Good Performers Initiative established to provide incentives for governors to reduce cultivation in their provinces; 47. Calls upon the international community to assist the Government of Afghanistan in carrying out its National Drug Control Strategy, aimed at eliminating the cultivation, production, trafficking in and consumption of illicit drugs, including through increased support for Afghan law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, agricultural and rural development, demand reduction, the elimination of illicit crops, increasing public awareness, building the capacity of drug control institutions and creating alternative livelihoods for farmers; 48. Encourages the international community to increasingly channel counter-narcotics funding through the Government of Afghanistan's Counter-Narcotics Trust Fund; 49. Urges the Government of Afghanistan to promote the development of sustainable livelihoods in the formal production sector as well as other sectors, and to improve access to reasonable and sustainable credit and financing in rural areas, thus improving substantially the lives, health and security of the people, particularly in rural areas; 50. Supports the fight against the illicit trafficking in drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including increased cooperation among them to strengthen anti-narcotic controls to curb the drug flow; 51. Recalls the outcome of the Second Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan, organized by the Government of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held in Moscow from 26 to 28 June 2006,See A/61/208-S/2006/598, annex. within the framework of the Paris Pact initiative, and therefore calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the increasing threat to the international community posed by the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs; 52. Welcomes recent initiatives to promote border management cooperation in drug control between Afghanistan and its neighbours; 53. Stresses the central and impartial role of the United Nations in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the international community, and endorses the key principles for cooperation between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community as referred to in the Afghanistan Compact; 54. Acknowledges the central role played by the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board in facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact, stresses the role of the Board to support Afghanistan by, inter alia, coordinating international assistance and reconstruction programmes, and welcomes further efforts to provide appropriate high-level political guidance and promote a more coherent international engagement; 55. Commends the continuing efforts of the signatories of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002S/2002/1416, annex. to implement their commitments under the Declaration, and furthermore calls upon all other States to respect and support the implementation of those provisions and to promote regional stability; 56. Welcomes efforts by the Governments of Afghanistan and its neighbouring partners to foster trust and cooperation with each other, and looks forward, where appropriate, to increasing cooperation between Afghanistan and all its neighbouring and regional partners against the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups and in promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, in the region and beyond; 57. Also welcomes the holding of the Afghan-Pakistani Joint Peace Jirga in Kabul, from 9 to 12 August 2007, and the collective determination expressed at the Jirga to bring sustainable peace to the region, including by addressing the terrorist threat; 58. Further welcomes the Ankara Declaration issued following the trilateral summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey, held in Ankara on 29 and 30 April 2007,A/61/898-S/2007/266, annex. and expresses its support to the continuation of this process; 59. Welcomes the joint statement adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of Eight countries with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan and Pakistan at their meeting in Potsdam, Germany, on 30 May 2007 on the promotion of cooperation and assistance through mutual consultation and agreement, including follow-up projects in areas such as refugees repatriation and economic development; 60. Appreciates the efforts of the members of the Tripartite Commission, namely Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States of America and the Assistance Force, to continue to address cross-border activities and to broaden its cooperation, welcomes the participation of the Assistance Force, and calls upon the international community to support those efforts; 61. Emphasizes the need to maintain, strengthen and review civil-military relations among international actors, as appropriate, at all levels in order to ensure complementarity of action based on the different mandates and comparative advantages of the humanitarian, development, law enforcement and military actors present in Afghanistan, bearing in mind the central and impartial coordinating role of the United Nations; 62. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every six months during its sixty-second session on developments in Afghanistan, as well as on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution; 63. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "The situation in Afghanistan". RESOLUTION 62/70 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/454, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Liechtenstein on behalf of the Bureau. 62/70. The rule of law at the national and international levels The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/39 of 4 December 2006, Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, which are indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world, and reiterating its determination to foster strict respect for them and to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world, Reaffirming also that human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations, Reaffirming further the need for universal adherence to and implementation of the rule of law at both the national and international levels and its solemn commitment to an international order based on the rule of law and international law, which, together with the principles of justice, is essential for peaceful coexistence and cooperation among States, Convinced that the advancement of the rule of law at the national and international levels is essential for the realization of sustained economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger and the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and acknowledging that collective security depends on effective cooperation, in accordance with the Charter and international law, against transnational threats, Reaffirming the duty of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations and to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered, in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter, and calling upon States that have not yet done so to consider accepting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in accordance with its Statute, Convinced that the promotion of and respect for the rule of law at the national and international levels, as well as justice and good governance, should guide the activities of the United Nations and of its Member States, Recalling paragraph 134 (e) of the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. 1. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to prepare an inventory of the current activities of the various organs, bodies, offices, departments, funds and programmes within the United Nations system devoted to the promotion of the rule of law at the national and international levels for submission at its sixty-third session, and welcomes the interim report thereon submitted to the General Assembly at the sixty-second session;A/62/261. 2. Also reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to prepare and submit, after having sought the views of Member States, at its sixty-third session, a report identifying ways and means for strengthening and coordinating the activities listed in the inventory to be prepared pursuant to paragraph 1 above, with special regard to the effectiveness of assistance that may be requested by States in building capacity for the promotion of the rule of law at the national and international levels; 3. Invites the International Court of Justice, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and the International Law Commission to comment, in their respective reports to the General Assembly, on their current roles in promoting the rule of law; 4. Notes with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Uniting our strengths: enhancing United Nations support for the rule of law",A/61/636-S/2006/980 and Corr.1. supports the Rule of Law Coordination and Resource Group, supported by the rule of law unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary-General, and requests the Secretary-General to provide details on the staffing and other requirements for the unit without delay to the General Assembly for its consideration during the sixty-second session in accordance with existing relevant procedures; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "The rule of law at the national and international levels". RESOLUTION 62/71 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/455, para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was introduced in the Committee by the representative of Canada on behalf of the Bureau. and as orally amended 62/71. Measures to eliminate international terrorism The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in all its aspects adopted on 8 September 2006,Resolution 60/288. enhancing the overall framework for the efforts of the international community to effectively counter the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recalling the Declaration on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations,See resolution 50/6. Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. and reaffirming in particular the section on terrorism, Recalling the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 49/60 of 9 December 1994, and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, contained in the annex to resolution 51/210 of 17 December 1996, Recalling also all General Assembly resolutions on measures to eliminate international terrorism, and Security Council resolutions on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Convinced of the importance of the consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism by the General Assembly as the universal organ having competence to do so, Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, which have been carried out worldwide, Reaffirming its strong condemnation of the heinous acts of terrorism that have caused enormous loss of human life, destruction and damage, including those which prompted the adoption of General Assembly resolution 56/1 of 12 September 2001, as well as Security Council resolutions 1368 (2001) of 12 September 2001, 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 1377 (2001) of 12 November 2001, and those that have occurred since the adoption of the latter resolution, Recalling the strong condemnation of the atrocious and deliberate attack against the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 in General Assembly resolution 57/338 of 15 September 2003 and Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003, Affirming that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with all their obligations under international law and adopt such measures in accordance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Stressing the need to strengthen further international cooperation among States and among international organizations and agencies, regional organizations and arrangements and the United Nations in order to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, in accordance with the principles of the Charter, international law and the relevant international conventions, Noting the role of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism in monitoring the implementation of that resolution, including the taking of the necessary financial, legal and technical measures by States and the ratification or acceptance of the relevant international conventions and protocols, Mindful of the need to enhance the role of the United Nations and the relevant specialized agencies in combating international terrorism, and of the proposals of the Secretary-General to enhance the role of the Organization in this respect, Mindful also of the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of States to prevent and suppress effectively international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Reiterating its call upon States to review urgently the scope of the existing international legal provisions on the prevention, repression and elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, with the aim of ensuring that there is a comprehensive legal framework covering all aspects of the matter, Emphasizing that tolerance and dialogue among civilizations, and enhancing interfaith and intercultural understanding, are among the most important elements in promoting cooperation and success in combating terrorism, and welcoming the various initiatives to this end, Reaffirming that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstances, Recalling Security Council resolution 1624 (2005) of 14 September 2005, and bearing in mind that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, Taking note of the recent developments and initiatives at the international, regional and subregional levels to prevent and suppress international terrorism, including those of, inter alia, the African Union, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Bali Counter-Terrorism Process, the Central American Integration System, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Council of Europe, the East African Community, the Economic Community of West African States, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the European Free Trade Association, the European Union, the Group of Eight, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the League of Arab States, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Organization of American States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Southern African Development Community and the World Customs Organization, Noting regional efforts to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, including through the elaboration of and adherence to regional conventions, Recalling its decision in resolutions 54/110 of 9 December 1999, 55/158 of 12 December 2000, 56/88 of 12 December 2001, 57/27 of 19 November 2002, 58/81 of 9 December 2003, 59/46 of 2 December 2004, 60/43 of 8 December 2005 and 61/40 of 4 December 2006 that the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 should address, and keep on its agenda, the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Recalling also the Final Document of the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, adopted in Havana on 16 September 2006, which reiterated the collective position of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries on terrorism and reaffirmed its previous initiativeSee A/53/667-S/1998/1071, annex I, paras. 149-162. calling for an international summit conference under the auspices of the United Nations to formulate a joint organized response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as other relevant initiatives, Aware of its resolutions 57/219 of 18 December 2002, 58/187 of 22 December 2003, 59/191 of 20 December 2004, 60/158 of 16 December 2005 and 61/171 of 19 December 2006, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/160. the report of the Ad Hoc Committee established by resolution 51/210Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 37 (A/62/37). and the oral report of the Chairperson on the work of the Working Group established by the Sixth Committee during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly,Ibid., Sixty-second Session, Sixth Committee, 16th meeting (A/C.6/62/SR.16), and corrigendum. 1. Strongly condemns all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomsoever committed; 2. Calls upon all Member States, the United Nations and other appropriate international, regional and subregional organizations to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism StrategyResolution 60/288. in all its aspects at the international, regional, subregional and national levels without delay, including through mobilizing resources and expertise; 3. Recalls the pivotal role of the General Assembly in following up the implementation and updating of the Strategy, and in this regard also recalls its invitation to the Secretary-General to contribute to the future deliberations of the General Assembly, and requests the Secretary-General when doing so to provide information on relevant activities within the Secretariat to ensure overall coordination and coherence in the counter-terrorism efforts of the United Nations system; 4. Reiterates that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstances unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them; 5. Reiterates its call upon all States to adopt further measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant provisions of international law, including international standards of human rights, to prevent terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation in combating terrorism and, to that end, to consider in particular the implementation of the measures set out in paragraphs 3 (a) to (f) of resolution 51/210; 6. Also reiterates its call upon all States, with the aim of enhancing the efficient implementation of relevant legal instruments, to intensify, as and where appropriate, the exchange of information on facts related to terrorism and, in so doing, to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information; 7. Reiterates its call upon States to refrain from financing, encouraging, providing training for or otherwise supporting terrorist activities; 8. Urges States to ensure that their nationals or other persons and entities within their territory that wilfully provide or collect funds for the benefit of persons or entities who commit, or attempt to commit, facilitate or participate in the commission of terrorist acts are punished by penalties consistent with the grave nature of such acts; 9. Reminds States of their obligations under relevant international conventions and protocols and Security Council resolutions, including Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), to ensure that perpetrators of terrorist acts are brought to justice; 10. Reaffirms that international cooperation as well as actions by States to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of the Charter, international law and relevant international conventions; 11. Recalls the adoption of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism,Resolution 59/290, annex. the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material,Adopted on 8 July 2005 by the Conference to Consider Proposed Amendments to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. the Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime NavigationAdopted on 14 October 2005 by the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the SUA Treaties (LEG/CONF.15/21). and the Protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,Adopted on 14 October 2005 by the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of the SUA Treaties (LEG/CONF.15/22). and urges all States to consider, as a matter of priority, becoming parties to these instruments; 12. Urges all States that have not yet done so to consider as a matter of priority, and in accordance with Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), and Council resolution 1566 (2004) of 8 October 2004, becoming parties to the relevant conventions and protocols as referred to in paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 51/210, as well as the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2149, No. 37517. the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism,Ibid., vol. 2178, No. 38349. the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, and calls upon all States to enact, as appropriate, the domestic legislation necessary to implement the provisions of those conventions and protocols, to ensure that the jurisdiction of their courts enables them to bring to trial the perpetrators of terrorist acts, and to cooperate with and provide support and assistance to other States and relevant international and regional organizations to that end; 13. Urges States to cooperate with the Secretary-General and with one another, as well as with interested intergovernmental organizations, with a view to ensuring, where appropriate within existing mandates, that technical and other expert advice is provided to those States requiring and requesting assistance in becoming parties to and implementing the conventions and protocols referred to in paragraph 12 above; 14. Notes with appreciation and satisfaction that, consistent with the call contained in paragraphs 11 and 12 of resolution 61/40, a number of States became parties to the relevant conventions and protocols referred to therein, thereby realizing the objective of wider acceptance and implementation of those conventions, and, in this regard, welcomes in particular the entry into force on 7 July 2007 of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; 15. Reaffirms the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism and the Declaration to Supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, and calls upon all States to implement them; 16. Calls upon all States to cooperate to prevent and suppress terrorist acts; 17. Urges all States and the Secretary-General, in their efforts to prevent international terrorism, to make the best use of the existing institutions of the United Nations; 18. Requests the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna to continue its efforts to enhance, through its mandate, the capabilities of the United Nations in the prevention of terrorism, and recognizes, in the context of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Security Council resolution 1373 (2001), its role in assisting States in becoming parties to and implementing the relevant international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism, including the most recent among them, and in strengthening international cooperation mechanisms in criminal matters related to terrorism, including through national capacity-building; 19. Welcomes the current efforts by the Secretariat to prepare the third edition of the publication International Instruments related to the Prevention and Suppression of International Terrorism in all official languages; 20. Invites regional intergovernmental organizations to submit to the Secretary-General information on the measures they have adopted at the regional level to eliminate international terrorism, as well as on intergovernmental meetings held by those organizations; 21. Notes the progress attained in the elaboration of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism during the meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 and the Working Group established by the Sixth Committee during the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, and welcomes continuing efforts to that end; 22. Decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall, on an expedited basis, continue to elaborate the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, and shall continue to discuss the item included in its agenda by General Assembly resolution 54/110 concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations; 23. Also decides that the Ad Hoc Committee shall meet on 25 and 26 February and 6 March 2008 in order to fulfil the mandate referred to in paragraph 22 above; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Ad Hoc Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its work; 25. Requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session in the event of the completion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism; 26. Also requests the Ad Hoc Committee to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on progress made in the implementation of its mandate; 27. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Measures to eliminate international terrorism". RESOLUTION 62/72 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/459, para. 8)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire and Cyprus. 62/72. Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 26 and corrigendum (A/62/26 and Corr.1). Recalling Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). and the responsibilities of the host country, Recalling also that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI) of 15 December 1971, the Committee should consider, and advise the host country on, issues arising in connection with the implementation of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Recognizing that effective measures should continue to be taken by the competent authorities of the host country, in particular to prevent any acts violating the security of missions and the safety of their personnel, 1. Endorses the recommendations and conclusions of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country contained in paragraph 62 of its report;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 26 and corrigendum (A/62/26 and Corr.1). 2. Considers that the maintenance of appropriate conditions for the normal work of the delegations and the missions accredited to the United Nations and the observance of their privileges and immunities, which is an issue of great importance, are in the interest of the United Nations and all Member States, and requests the host country to continue to solve, through negotiations, problems that might arise and to take all measures necessary to prevent any interference with the functioning of missions; and urges the host country to continue to take appropriate action, such as training of police, security, customs and border control officers, with a view to maintaining respect for diplomatic privileges and immunities and if violations occur to ensure that such cases are properly investigated and remedied, in accordance with applicable law; 3. Notes the problems experienced by some permanent missions in connection with the implementation of the Parking Programme for Diplomatic VehiclesA/AC.154/355, annex. and shall remain seized of the matter, with a view to continuing to maintain the proper implementation of the Parking Programme in a manner that is fair, non-discriminatory, effective and therefore consistent with international law; 4. Welcomes the conduct of the second review of the implementation of the Parking Programme and notes the results thereof, as well as the positions of members of the Committee, and calls upon the host country to address the problems reported by permanent missions in the context of the review; 5. Requests the host country to consider removing the remaining travel restrictions imposed by it on staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities, and, in this regard, notes the positions of affected States as reflected in the report of the Committee, of the Secretary-General and of the host country; 6. Notes that the Committee anticipates that the host country will enhance its efforts to ensure the issuance, in a timely manner, of entry visas to representatives of Member States, pursuant to article IV, section 11, of the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United NationsSee resolution 169 (II). to travel to New York on United Nations business; and notes that the Committee anticipates that the host country will enhance efforts to facilitate participation, including visa issuance, of representatives of Member States in other United Nations meetings as appropriate; 7. Notes also that a number of delegations have requested shortening the time frame applied by the host country for issuance of entry visas to representatives of Member States, since this time frame poses difficulties for the full-fledged participation of Member States in United Nations meetings; 8. Welcomes the exercise by the Chairman of the Committee of his good offices in addressing concerns pertaining to safety and security at the Headquarters District through the reasonable application of fire protection regulations of the appropriate authorities of the host country, including fire protection standards and consistent local codes and fire regulations, in accordance with the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). in order to ensure the safety of all personnel in the Headquarters District, while respecting the status of the Organization; 9. Expresses its appreciation for the efforts made by the host country, and hopes that the issues raised at the meetings of the Committee will continue to be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and in accordance with international law; 10. Affirms the importance of the Committee being in a position to fulfil its mandate and meet on short notice to deal with urgent and important matters concerning the relations between the United Nations and the host country, and in that connection requests the Secretariat and the Committee on Conferences to accord priority to requests from the Committee on Relations with the Host Country for conference-servicing facilities for meetings of that Committee that must be held while the General Assembly and its Main Committees are meeting, without prejudice to the requirements of those bodies and on an "as available" basis; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to remain actively engaged in all aspects of the relations of the United Nations with the host country; 12. Requests the Committee to continue its work in conformity with General Assembly resolution 2819 (XXVI); 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country". RESOLUTION 62/73 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/460, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania. 62/73. Observer status for the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States, 1. Decides to invite the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/74 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/461, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. 62/74. Observer status for the Italian-Latin American Institute in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Italian-Latin American Institute, 1. Decides to invite the Italian-Latin American Institute to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/75 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/462, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Ireland, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/75. Observer status for the Energy Charter Conference in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Energy Charter Conference, 1. Decides to invite the Energy Charter Conference to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/76 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/463, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 62/76. Observer status for the Eurasian Development Bank in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Eurasian Development Bank, 1. Decides to invite the Eurasian Development Bank to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/77 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/522, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Chile, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mongolia, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America and Viet Nam. 62/77. Observer status for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia, 1. Decides to invite the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/78 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/523, para. 7)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Palestine. 62/78. Observer status for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf in the General Assembly The General Assembly, Wishing to promote cooperation between the United Nations and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, 1. Decides to invite the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly in the capacity of observer; 2. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary action to implement the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/79 Adopted at the 62nd plenary meeting, on 6 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.14 and Add.1, sponsored by: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Philippines, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 62/79. Cooperation between the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Community The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 58/84 of 9 December 2003, in which it granted the Eurasian Economic Community observer status in the General Assembly, Recalling also that one of the purposes of the United Nations is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature, Recalling further the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage activities through regional cooperation for the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Taking note of the fact that the membership of the Eurasian Economic Community includes countries with economies in transition, and recalling in this regard its resolution 61/210 of 20 December 2006, in which it invited the United Nations system to enhance dialogue with and increase support to the regional and subregional cooperation organizations whose membership includes countries with economies in transition and whose efforts include assisting their members to fully integrate into the world economy, Noting that the Treaty on the Establishment of the Eurasian Economic CommunityUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2212, No. 39321. reaffirms the commitment of the States members of the Community to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and also to the generally accepted principles and norms of international law, Convinced that the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system and the Eurasian Economic Community contributes to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, 1. Takes note of the activities of the Eurasian Economic Community in support of United Nations goals through the strengthening of regional cooperation in such areas as trade and economic development, the establishment of a customs union, energy, transport, agriculture and agro-industry, the regulation of migration, banking and finance, communications, education, health care and pharmaceuticals, environmental protection and natural disaster risk reduction; 2. Notes the importance of strengthening dialogue, cooperation and coordination between the United Nations system and the Eurasian Economic Community, and invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to conduct to this end regular consultations with the Secretary-General of the Eurasian Economic Community, within existing resources, using for this purpose the relevant inter-institutional forums and formats, including the annual consultations between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and heads of regional organizations; 3. Invites the specialized agencies and other organizations, programmes and funds of the United Nations system, as well as international financial institutions, to cooperate and develop direct contacts with the Eurasian Economic Community for the purpose of undertaking joint implementation of programmes to achieve their goals; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Cooperation between the United Nations and the Eurasian Economic Community". RESOLUTION 62/7 Adopted at the 46th plenary meeting, on 8 November 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.9 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Yemen 62/7. Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 49/30 of 7 December 1994, 50/133 of 20 December 1995, 51/31 of 6 December 1996, 52/18 of 21 November 1997, 53/31 of 23 November 1998, 54/36 of 29 November 1999, 55/43 of 27 November 2000, 56/96 of 14 December 2001, 56/269 of 27 March 2002, 58/13 of 17 November 2003, 58/281 of 9 February 2004, 60/253 of 2 May 2006 and 61/226 of 22 December 2006, Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000,See resolution 55/2. in particular paragraphs 6 and 24 thereof, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling further the declarations and plans of action of the six international conferences of new or restored democracies adopted in Manila in 1988, Managua in 1994, Bucharest in 1997, Cotonou in 2000, Ulaanbaatar in 2003 and Doha in 2006, Reaffirming the Charter of the United Nations, including the principles and purposes contained therein, and recognizing that human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations, Stressing that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, Reaffirming that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Reaffirming also that, while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region, and reaffirming further the necessity of due respect for sovereignty, the right to self-determination and territorial integrity, Bearing in mind that the activities of the United Nations carried out in support of efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the Charter and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned, Mindful of the central role of parliaments and the active involvement of civil society organizations and media and their interaction with Governments at all levels in promoting democracy, freedom, equality, participation, development, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and welcoming in this regard the expanded tripartite participation in the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, hosted by the Government of Qatar in Doha from 29 October to 1 November 2006, which focused on capacity-building, democracy and social progress, Noting the role of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in support of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies movement, Recognizing the work carried out by the Chair and the Advisory Board of the Sixth International Conference, particularly the efforts of the Chair to achieve systematic implementation of Conference recommendations in accordance with the Doha Declaration adopted at the Sixth International Conference,A/61/581, annex. Noting that 2008 marks the twentieth anniversary of the First International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, held in Manila from 3 to 6 June 1988, Convinced of the need to continue to encourage and promote democratization, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the importance of action-oriented follow-up to the Sixth International Conference, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-GeneralA/62/296. and the suggestions contained therein; 2. Also takes note of the outcomes of the first and second meetings of the Advisory Board of the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, particularly the formulation of a Conference programme of work for 2007-2009, and welcomes the proposal to designate an international day of democracy; 3. Encourages Governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy, including through increased bilateral, regional and international cooperation, taking into account innovative approaches and best practices; 4. Encourages regional and other intergovernmental organizations to share their experiences in the field of democracy promotion with each other and with the United Nations system where appropriate, and to actively participate in future meetings and activities of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies; 5. Recognizes that the commemoration in 2008 of the twentieth anniversary of the First International Conference of New or Restored Democracies offers a special opportunity to focus attention on the promotion and consolidation of democracy at all levels and reinforce international cooperation in this regard; 6. Decides, with effect from its sixty-second session, to observe on 15 September of each year the International Day of Democracy, which should be brought to the attention of all people for its celebration and observance; 7. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the International Day of Democracy in an appropriate manner that contributes to raising public awareness; 8. Invites Member States to continue to ensure that parliamentarians and civil society organizations are given appropriate opportunity to be involved in, and to contribute to, the celebration of the International Day of Democracy; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to recommend ways and means by which the United Nations system and the United Nations Secretariat could, within existing resources, assist Member States, upon request, in organizing activities to commemorate the International Day of Democracy; 10. Also requests the Secretary-General to take necessary measures, within existing resources, for the observance by the United Nations of the International Day of Democracy; 11. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the Organization to respond effectively to the requests of Member States by providing adequate support for their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization, including through the activities of the Democracy Fund at the United Nations; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies". RESOLUTION 62/80 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, by a recorded vote of 109 to 8, with 55 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.18 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Vanuatu 62/80. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted by the General Assembly at its emergency special sessions and resolution 61/22 of 1 December 2006, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/62/35). Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. endorsed by the Security Council in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, Recalling further the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, 1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/62/35). including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof; 2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session and thereafter; 3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate; 4. Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve additional civil society organizations in its work in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during this critical period of humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine; 5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal; 6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate; 8. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks. RESOLUTION 62/81 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, by a recorded vote of 110 to 8, with 54 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.19 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 62/81. Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/62/35). Taking note in particular of the relevant information contained in chapter V.B of that report, Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 61/23 of 1 December 2006, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 61/23; 2. Considers that, by assisting the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the implementation of its mandate, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a useful and constructive contribution to raising international awareness of the question of Palestine and generating international support for the rights of the Palestinian people and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine; 3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance, including, in particular, the monitoring of developments relevant to the question of Palestine, the organization of international meetings and conferences in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, liaison and cooperation with civil society, the further development and expansion of the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and the conduct of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority; 4. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine; 5. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks; 6. Requests the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize, under the guidance of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity. RESOLUTION 62/82 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, by a recorded vote of 161 to 8, with 5 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.20/Rev.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Malawi, Tonga, Vanuatu 62/82. Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,Ibid. Taking note in particular of the information contained in chapter VI of that report, Recalling its resolution 61/24 of 1 December 2006, Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides, Recalling also the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. Recalling further the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy, Expressing the hope that the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, in its upcoming programme for 2008-2009, will further examine ways of fostering and encouraging the contribution of media in support of the peace process between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, 1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information in compliance with resolution 61/24; 2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process; 3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2008-2009, in particular: (a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations; (b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the relevant recent developments in that regard, in particular the efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine; (c) To expand its collection of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine, to continue the production and preservation of such material and to update, on a periodic basis, the public exhibit on the question of Palestine displayed in the General Assembly building; (d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; (e) To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine and at enhancing dialogue and understanding between Palestinians and Israelis for the promotion of a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; (f) To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the annual training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists. RESOLUTION 62/83 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, by a recorded vote of 161 to 7, with 5 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.21/Rev.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Tonga, Vanuatu 62/83. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003 and 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004, Welcoming the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting with concern that it has been sixty years since the adoption of resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 61/25 of 1 December 2006,A/62/344-S/2007/553. Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Aware that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Affirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Reaffirming also the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the city and the territory as a whole, Reaffirming further that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law, Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian personnel and goods, via imposition of crossing closures as well as of checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a dire humanitarian crisis, Concerned about the continued establishment of Israeli checkpoints in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the transformation of several of these checkpoints into structures akin to permanent border crossings inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are severely impairing the territorial contiguity of the Territory and severely undermining efforts and aid aimed at rehabilitating and developing the Palestinian economy, Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,See A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the agreements concluded between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements, Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the urgent need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Welcoming the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. Welcoming also the convening of the international conference held at Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007, in particular the decision by the parties to launch meaningful, direct negotiations towards the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including in the framework of the activities of the Quartet, Welcoming the convening of the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship of Norway, on 24 September 2007, as well as the Paris donors' conference of 17 December 2007 to mobilize donors in follow-up to the Annapolis conference to provide financial support to the Palestinian Authority to enable it to build a prosperous and viable Palestinian State and, in the meantime, to also provide assistance to alleviate the socio-economic and humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, and acknowledging the contribution of the Temporary International Mechanism in this regard, Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, and emphasizing the need to preserve the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure, Expressing its concern over the negative developments that have continued to occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians and the serious deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people, Expressing its grave concern over repeated military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the importance of the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, Expressing concern over the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and calling for the restoration of the situation to that which existed prior to June 2007 to allow for the resumption of a dialogue for the restoration of Palestinian national unity, Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement, including by the Quartet, to support both parties in revitalizing the peace process towards the resumption and acceleration of direct negotiations between the parties for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative, Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Taking note of the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161. Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end; 2. Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, which began in Madrid, and the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet and of the League of Arab States; 3. Welcomes the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth sessionA/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221. and the follow-up steps being undertaken by the Ministerial Committee formed after reaffirmation of the Initiative by the Riyadh summit in March 2007; 4. Welcomes also the international conference convened at Annapolis, and encourages the parties to undertake immediate steps in follow-up to their joint understanding, including through active and serious resumed bilateral negotiations; 5. Welcomes further the appointment of the Quartet's Special Representative, Tony Blair, and his efforts to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian economic development and mobilize international donor support; 6. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000 and to sustain and accelerate direct peace negotiations towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the road mapS/2003/529, annex. and the Arab Peace Initiative; 7. Underscores the need for the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the international community, confidence-building measures aimed at improving the situation, promoting stability and fostering the peace process, recognizes in this respect recent developments such as the opening of a Gaza border crossing for agricultural goods and the release of some prisoners, and emphasizes the contribution of such measures to the overall environment between the two sides and the well-being of the Palestinian people in particular; 8. Calls upon both parties to fulfil their obligations in respect of the implementation of the road map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in this regard; 9. Stresses the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres, inter alia, by easing movement and access, including by the removal of checkpoints within the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 10. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 11. Notes the Israeli withdrawal from within the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation of the road map, and the need for the parties to resolve all remaining issues in the Gaza Strip; 12. Stresses the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, in specific, to allow for the opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies, movement and access as well as for commercial flows, which are essential for improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and ensuring the viability of the Palestinian economy; 13. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the character and status of the Territory, including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations; 14. Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinionSee A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and as demanded in resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15 and, inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion; 15. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 16. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders; 17. Stresses the need for: (a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem; (b) The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State; 18. Also stresses the need for justly resolving the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948; 19. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the rebuilding, restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter. RESOLUTION 62/84 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, by a recorded vote of 160 to 6, with 7 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.22 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Angola, Australia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu 62/84. Jerusalem The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all subsequent resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith, Recalling further the Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" on Jerusalem, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1. and recalling resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004, Expressing its grave concern about any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions, Expressing its grave concern in particular about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of illegal settlement activities, including the so-called E-1 plan, its construction of the wall in and around East Jerusalem, its restrictions on access to and residence in East Jerusalem, and the further isolation of the city from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is having a detrimental effect on the lives of Palestinians and could prejudge a final status agreement on Jerusalem, Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and the protection of the unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/327. 1. Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to cease all such illegal and unilateral measures; 2. Welcomes the decision of those States that had established diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to withdraw their missions from the city, in compliance with Security Council resolution 478 (1980); 3. Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/85 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, by a recorded vote of 111 to 6, with 56 abstentions,* on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.23 and Add.1, sponsored by: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine * In favour: Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe Against: Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America Abstaining: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tonga, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Vanuatu 62/85. The Syrian Golan The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East", Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/327. Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. to the occupied Syrian Golan, Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which has been under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Stressing the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967, Noting with satisfaction the convening in Madrid on 30 October 1991 of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the formula of land for peace, Expressing grave concern over the halt in the peace process on the Syrian track, and expressing the hope that peace talks will soon resume from the point they had reached, 1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981); 2. Also declares that the Israeli decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and has no validity whatsoever, as confirmed by the Security Council in its resolution 497 (1981), and calls upon Israel to rescind it; 3. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention of 1907,See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915). and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under those instruments in all circumstances; 4. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan and its de facto annexation constitute a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region; 5. Calls upon Israel to resume the talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks and to respect the commitments and undertakings reached during the previous talks; 6. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions; 7. Calls upon all the parties concerned, the co-sponsors of the peace process and the entire international community to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the resumption of the peace process and its success by implementing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); 8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/86 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419/Add.4, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee. 62/86. Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 43/53 of 6 December 1988 and 54/222 of 22 December 1999, its decision 55/443 of 20 December 2000 and its resolutions 56/199 of 21 December 2001, 57/257 of 20 December 2002, 58/243 of 23 December 2003, 59/234 of 22 December 2004, 60/197 of 22 December 2005 and 61/201 of 20 December 2006 and other resolutions relating to the protection of the global climate for present and future generations of mankind, Recalling also the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. including the acknowledgement that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions, Recalling further the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. in which Heads of State and Government resolved to make every effort to ensure the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and to embark on the required reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases,Ibid., para. 23. Recalling the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development,Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development ("Johannesburg Plan of Implementation"),Ibid., resolution 2, annex. the Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at its eighth session, held in New Delhi from 23 October to 1 November 2002,FCCC/CP/2002/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.8. the outcome of the ninth session of the Conference of the Parties, held in Milan, Italy, from 1 to 12 December 2003,FCCC/CP/2003/6/Add.1 and 2. the outcome of the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties, held in Buenos Aires from 6 to 18 December 2004,FCCC/CP/2004/10/Add.1 and 2. the outcome of the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, held in Montreal, Canada, from 28 November to 10 December 2005,FCCC/CP/2005/5/Add.1. and the outcome of the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties and the second session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, held in Nairobi from 6 to 17 November 2006,FCCC/CP/2006/5 and Add.1. Reaffirming the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Report of the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April-6 May 1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.94.I.18 and corrigenda), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II. the Mauritius DeclarationReport of the International Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, Port Louis, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.05.II.A.4 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. and the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States,Ibid., annex II. Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Remaining deeply concerned that all countries, in particular developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, face increased risks from the negative effects of climate change, and stressing the need to address adaptation needs relating to such effects, Noting that, to date, there are one hundred and ninety-two parties to the Convention, including one hundred and ninety-one States and one regional economic integration organization, Noting also that, currently, the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. has attracted one hundred and seventy-six ratifications, accessions, acceptances or approvals, including by thirty-eight parties included in annex I to the Convention, Noting further the amendment to annex B to the Kyoto Protocol,FCCC/KP/CMP/2006/10/Add.1, decision 10/CMP.2. Noting the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the need to build and enhance scientific and technological capabilities, inter alia, through continuing support to the Panel for the exchange of scientific data and information, especially in developing countries, Noting also the significance of the scientific findings of the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which contribute positively to the discussions under the Convention and the understanding of the phenomenon of climate change, including its impacts and risks, Noting with appreciation the initiative of the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, in having convened the informal thematic debate on "Climate change as a global challenge" from 31 July to 2 August 2007, Noting also with appreciation the initiative of the Secretary-General in having convened the informal high-level event entitled "The future in our hands: addressing the leadership challenge of climate change" on 24 September 2007, aimed at providing impetus and political support to the Convention and raising awareness of the global challenge of climate change, Reaffirming its commitment to the ultimate objective of the Convention, namely, to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system, Taking note of the note by the Secretary-GeneralA/62/276. transmitting the report of the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,Ibid., annex I. 1. Stresses the seriousness of climate change, and calls upon States to work cooperatively towards achieving the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822. through the implementation of its provisions; 2. Notes that States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeFCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. welcome the entry into force of the Protocol on 16 February 2005 and strongly urge States that have not yet done so to ratify it in a timely manner; 3. Takes note of the outcome of the eleventhFCCC/CP/2005/5/Add.1. and twelfthFCCC/CP/2006/5 and Add.1. sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention and the firstFCCC/CP/2005/5/Add.1. and secondFCCC/CP/2006/5 and Add.1. sessions of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol; 4. Takes note with appreciation of the offer of the Government of Indonesia to host the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties and the third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, to be held in Bali from 3 to 14 December 2007, and looks forward to a successful outcome, including the advancement of negotiations on the way forward; 5. Also takes note with appreciation of the offer of the Government of Poland to host the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties and the fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, to be held in Poznań from 1 to 12 December 2008; 6. Recognizes that climate change poses serious risks and challenges to all countries, particularly to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and countries in Africa, including those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, and calls upon States to take urgent global action to address climate change in accordance with the principles identified in the Framework Convention, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and, in this regard, urges all countries to fully implement their commitments under the Convention, to take effective and concrete actions and measures at all levels, and to enhance international cooperation in the framework of the Convention; 7. Also recognizes the need to provide financial and technical resources, as well as capacity-building and access to and transfer of technology, to assist those developing countries adversely affected by climate change; 8. Reaffirms that efforts to address climate change in a manner that enhances the sustainable development and sustained economic growth of the developing countries and the eradication of poverty should be carried out through promoting the integration of the three components of sustainable development, namely, economic development, social development and environmental protection, as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars, in an integrated, coordinated and balanced manner; 9. Calls upon the international community to fulfil the commitments made during the fourth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund; 10. Notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the relevant subsidiary bodies of the Framework Convention, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. and the Convention on Biological Diversity,Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. and encourages cooperation to promote complementarities among the three secretariats while respecting their independent legal status; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to make provisions for the sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention and its subsidiary bodies in his proposal for the programme budget for the biennium 2008-2009; 12. Invites the conferences of the parties to the multilateral environmental conventions, when setting the dates of their meetings, to take into consideration the schedule of meetings of the General Assembly and the Commission on Sustainable Development so as to ensure the adequate representation of developing countries at those meetings; 13. Invites the secretariat of the Framework Convention to report, through the Secretary-General, to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the work of the Conference of the Parties; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Protection of global climate for present and future generations of mankind". RESOLUTION 62/87 Adopted at the 65th plenary meeting, on 10 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/563, para. 7) 62/87. Capital master plan The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 54/249 of 23 December 1999, 55/238 of 23 December 2000, 56/234 and 56/236 of 24 December 2001 and 56/286 of 27 June 2002, section II of its resolution 57/292 of 20 December 2002, its resolution 59/295 of 22 June 2005, section II of its resolution 60/248 of 23 December 2005, its resolutions 60/256 of 8 May 2006 and 60/282 of 30 June 2006, section II.B of its resolution 61/236 of 22 December 2006, its resolutions 61/246 and 61/251 of the same date, its resolution 62/225 of 22 December 2007 and its decision 58/566 of 8 April 2004, Having considered the fifth annual progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the capital master plan,A/62/364 and Corr.1. the related report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.4 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its activities for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007A/62/281 (Part I), paras. 72-75. and the report of the Board of Auditors on the capital master plan for the year ended 31 December 2006,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/62/5), vol. V. Reaffirming that the costs of the capital master plan are expenses of the Organization to be borne by Member States in accordance with Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, 1. Reiterates its serious concern at the hazards, risks and deficiencies of the United Nations Headquarters Building in its current condition, which endanger the safety, health and well-being of staff, delegations, visitors and tourists; 2. Stresses the special role of the host country Government with regard to support for United Nations Headquarters, in New York; 3. Notes the benefits, including economic ones, accruing to host countries from the presence of the United Nations, and the costs incurred; 4. Recalls the current practices of host Governments with regard to support for United Nations Headquarters and United Nations bodies located in their territories; 5. Reaffirms its commitment to the safety, security, health and well-being of staff, delegations, visitors and tourists at the United Nations, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that concrete safeguards are in place to achieve these objectives and are part of the standard operating procedures throughout the implementation of the capital master plan; 6. Takes note of the fifth annual progress report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the capital master plan,A/62/364 and Corr.1. the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on its activities for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007A/62/281 (Part I), paras. 72-75. and the report of the Board of Auditors on the capital master plan for the year ended 31 December 2006;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/62/5), vol. V. 7. Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,A/62/7/Add.4 and Corr.1. For the final text, see Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 7A. subject to the provisions of the present resolution; 8. Regrets deeply the procedural difficulties in United Nations departments, delays in decision-making by Secretariat leadership and insufficient responsiveness to the needs of the project by United Nations management, resulting in projected cost escalation, as reported in paragraph 23 of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/364 and Corr.1. 9. Stresses the centrality of the leadership and oversight of the Secretary-General and senior management, as well as a commitment to the project from all departments during the completion of the capital master plan to avoid a recurrence of the mistakes and delays in the implementation of the project to date and their negative implications for the Organization; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure full accountability for the delays, lack of responsiveness of management to the needs of the capital master plan and other factors that have contributed to delays in the implementation of the capital master plan and the projected budget overrun, and to include this information in his sixth annual progress report; 11. Accepts the report of the Board of Auditors on the capital master plan for the year ended 31 December 2006;Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/62/5), vol. V. 12. Endorses the recommendations of the Board of Auditors contained in its report; 13. Notes with concern the findings of the Board of Auditors as contained in its report, and emphasizes the importance of the full implementation of its recommendations; 14. Reaffirms the importance of oversight with respect to the implementation of the capital master plan, and requests the Board of Auditors and all other relevant oversight bodies to continue to report to the General Assembly annually on the capital master plan; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to entrust the Office of Internal Oversight Services with a comprehensive review focusing, inter alia, on the structure of the Office of the Capital Master Plan, compliance with United Nations regulations and rules on procurement and contracting, adherence to the terms of contracts, internal controls and processes in place to properly manage the project and other high-risk areas, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session; 16. Requests the Office of Internal Oversight Services to ensure effective audit coverage of the capital master plan and to submit to the General Assembly all of its reports related to the implementation of the capital master plan; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to develop and implement a comprehensive internal control framework for the capital master plan to mitigate and effectively address all possible risks, to ensure full compliance and responsiveness on the part of management to the specific requirements of the project, to avoid any delays in the implementation of any aspect of the project and to ensure full compliance with United Nations rules and procedures and General Assembly resolutions governing procurement; 18. Reaffirms paragraphs 36 to 38 of its resolution 61/251 on the importance of transparency in the procurement process, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the construction manager takes them fully into account when subcontracting and to report, in the context of his sixth annual progress report, on the specific steps taken and progress achieved in the context of increasing procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries and countries with economies in transition in the implementation of the capital master plan; 19. Reaffirms once again paragraph 38 of its resolution 61/251, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that procurement activities conducted by the construction manager in the implementation of the capital master plan are in compliance with United Nations rules, regulations and procedures and General Assembly resolutions governing United Nations procurement activities as well as ethics policies, including post-employment restrictions,See ST/SGB/2006/15. and that the relevant provisions are taken fully into account by the construction manager when subcontracting; 20. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all expression of interest notices issued by the construction manager and all related contract awards are posted on the capital master plan website; 21. Recalls that, in accordance with article 5 of the United Nations general conditions of contract, the terms of any subcontract shall be subject to and conform to the provisions of the general conditions of contract; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to exercise his authority to undertake, in respect of the subcontractors directly involved in the provision of goods and services to the Organization on behalf of the capital master plan construction manager, a thorough review of their qualifications and the identities of the principals involved, and also requests the Secretary-General to provide prior written approval and clearance for the use of such subcontractors, as required in article 5 of the general conditions of contract, so as to ensure the integrity, fairness and transparency of the procurement process; 23. Also requests the Secretary-General to post and regularly update the list of subcontractors approved by the United Nations on the capital master plan website and to include information on the implementation of article 5 of the general conditions of contract, including the procedure for review and approval of subcontractors by the United Nations, in future progress reports on the implementation of the capital master plan; 24. Reaffirms section XV of its resolution 61/244 of 22 December 2006; 25. Regrets the delay in the appointment of the advisory board requested in its resolutions 57/292 and 61/251, and urges the Secretary-General to expedite the setting up of the advisory board, reflecting wide geographical representation, so that it can begin its work as a matter of priority; 26. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the advisory board provides, inter alia, the necessary level of technical supervision; 27. Also requests the Secretary-General to explore the experience of various international organizations that have established ad hoc expert committees to provide advice on technical aspects of their construction and/or building maintenance projects and to report to the General Assembly thereon in the context of the forthcoming sixth annual progress report; 28. Affirms that the General Assembly has the sole prerogative of deciding on any changes to the capital master plan project, budget and implementation strategy as approved in its resolutions; 29. Takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General on the accelerated strategy IV; 30. Authorizes the Secretary-General to enter into an additional swing space arrangement needed for a single-phase renovation of the Secretariat Building as a matter of urgency; 31. Approves the changes in the schedule of the renovation of the Secretariat Building proposed by the Secretary-General in paragraph 27 of his report,A/62/364 and Corr.1. subject to the availability of the additional swing space arrangement referred to in paragraph 30 above, and, if such arrangement is not entered into within one hundred and twenty days of the adoption of the present resolution, requests the Secretary-General to proceed without further delay with the phased approach to the renovation of the Secretariat Building as approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/251; 32. Also approves the changes in the schedule of the renovation of the Conference Building and the General Assembly Building as proposed by the Secretary-General in paragraph 28 of his report;A/62/364 and Corr.1. 33. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly comprehensive information on the availability and cost of and the movement of staff to the hired swing space and to ensure that such space will be available to the United Nations as long as it is required and will entail no additional cost or further staff dislocation, bearing in mind the unique nature of the capital master plan; 34. Reaffirms paragraph 39 of its resolution 61/251 and emphasizes to the Secretary-General the importance of effectively managing the multiple staff relocations and ensuring that the swing space meets the highest standards for the safety, security, health and well-being of the staff of the United Nations and that any disruption in the work of the United Nations as a result of such temporary relocation is minimized at every stage; 35. Recalls paragraphs 51 to 56 of the report of the Board of Auditors,Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 5 (A/62/5), vol. V. and requests the Secretary-General to expeditiously complete the geotechnical and other surveys and to provide updated information on the outstanding technical elements of the project that may have a considerable impact on the overall project, including design work for upgraded blast protection and geotechnical and other surveys, and to include this information in future progress reports; 36. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the changes approved in paragraphs 30 and 32 of the present resolution are implemented without prejudice to the objectives and quality of the project and to submit to the General Assembly a comprehensive report on the efficiency gains and cost absorption possible through the implementation of these changes; 37. Recalls paragraph 10 of its resolution 61/251, and decides that any scope options in addition to those already approved by the General Assembly shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly for its consideration and approval; 38. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure by all means that the project costs are brought back within the approved budget; 39. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to make every effort to avoid budget increases through sound project management practices and to ensure that the capital master plan is completed within the budget as approved in its resolution 61/251; 40. Notes that forward pricing escalation is already included in the approved budget contained in the fourth annual progress report of the Secretary-General,A/61/549. and requests the Secretary-General to avoid budget increases through sound project management practices and to keep the capital master plan within the approved budget, schedule of assessments and time schedule; 41. Takes note of the proposal of the Secretary-General to utilize value engineering as a tool to recover the projected cost overruns in the capital master plan budget approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/251, directed at improving performance, reliability, quality, safety and life-cycle costs, and requests the Secretary-General to expeditiously and clearly identify the areas of work where efficiency gains and cost reductions are possible and to report thereon in the context of his sixth annual progress report; 42. Requests the Secretary-General to include in his sixth annual progress report specific information on the guaranteed maximum price contracts and the activities of the external consultant that the United Nations has hired; 43. Expresses its concern that no specific information has been shared with Member States concerning associated costs, and requests the Secretary-General to include such information in his sixth annual progress report and to make every effort to absorb such costs within the approved budget of the capital master plan; 44. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to ensure that works of art, masterpieces and other gifts are appropriately handled during all the stages of the renovation work and that all associated costs are foreseen; 45. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that measures and procedures are put in place by the Office of the Capital Master Plan to appropriately handle the works of art, masterpieces and other gifts during all the stages of the renovation unless otherwise indicated by the Member States concerned and to report thereon in the context of the forthcoming sixth annual progress report; 46. Decides to appropriate 992,771,819 United States dollars for the biennium 2008-2009; 47. Reaffirms the mixed one-time and multi-year assessment option based on the scale of assessments applicable to the regular budget for 2007, as stipulated in paragraphs 14 to 20 of its resolution 61/251, and decides that there will be no change in the payment schedule for contributions of Member States to the capital master plan; 48. Requests the Secretary-General to improve coordination of the capital master plan with the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in the context of reporting on matters and progress relating to the capital master plan and to clarify the existing arrangements that are in place to avoid damage to the image of the United Nations with regard to all aspects of the capital master plan; 49. Also requests the Secretary-General to update the Member States through regular informal briefings, besides submitting annual progress reports, on all aspects of the implementation of the capital master plan, including the current status, significant activities carried out since the previous report and risk analysis information outlining any risks identified, action to be taken, status and trends, and to update the relevant information on its website on a regular basis; 50. Further requests the Secretary-General to include in his sixth annual progress report information on lessons learned in the implementation of the capital master plan and how they are being utilized to improve the current and future planning and implementation of the capital master plan. RESOLUTION 62/88 Adopted at the 73rd plenary meeting, on 13 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.31, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 62/88. Declaration of the commemorative high-level plenary meeting devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of the special session on children The General Assembly Adopts the following Declaration: Declaration of the commemorative high-level plenary meeting devoted to the follow-up to the outcome of the special session on children 1. We, the representatives of States gathered at the commemorative high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, are encouraged by the progress achieved since 2002 in creating a world fit for children. Fewer children under five are dying each year. More children are in school than ever before. More educational opportunities are being equally extended to girls and boys. More medicines are available for children, including those infected by HIV/AIDS. More laws, policies and plans are in place to protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation. Our present and future actions should build upon those important gains. 2. Yet many challenges persist. Eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge, as poverty poses difficulties to meeting the needs, protecting and promoting the rights of all children in the world. Despite encouraging achievements, the number of children dying before their fifth birthday remains unacceptably high. Malnutrition, pandemics, including HIV/AIDS, as well as malaria, tuberculosis and other preventable diseases continue to be a hindrance to a healthy life for millions of children. Lack of access to education remains a significant obstacle to their development. A large number of children are still subject to violence, exploitation and abuse, as well as to inequity and discrimination, in particular against the girl child. We will work to break the cycle of poverty, achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, create an environment that is conducive to the well-being of children and realize all the rights of the child. 3. We reaffirm our commitment to the full implementation of the Declaration and Plan of Action contained in the outcome document of the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled "A world fit for children",Resolution S-27/2, annex. recognizing that their implementation and the fulfilment of obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. the Optional Protocols theretoIbid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531. and other relevant international instruments are mutually reinforcing in protecting the rights and promoting the well-being of all children. In all our actions, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. 4. A scaled-up, cross-sectorial response by Governments, increased international cooperation and broader and more focused partnerships, including with the mass media and the private sector, and global, regional and national initiatives are critical to the achievement of the goals of the special session on children. We reaffirm our determination to pursue the agreed global targets and actions for mobilizing resources for children, in accordance with "A world fit for children". 5. As we welcome the voices and the views of children, including adolescents, heard at the commemorative plenary meeting, we strive to strengthen their participation in the decisions that affect them, in accordance with their age and maturity. 6. We renew our political will to intensify our efforts towards building a world fit for children. We are confident that our collective aspirations will be realized if all relevant actors, including civil society, are united for children. All our policies and programmes should promote the shared responsibility of parents, families, legal guardians and other caregivers and society as a whole in this regard, bearing in mind that a child should grow up in a safe and supportive family environment. By giving high priority to the rights of children, to their survival and to their protection and development, we serve the best interest of all humanity. In solidarity, we will pursue our common vision of ensuring the well-being of all children in all societies, with a collective sense of urgency. RESOLUTION 62/89 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.6 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe 62/89. International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010 The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Charter of the United Nations, including the purposes and principles contained therein, and especially the dedication to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, Recalling the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which states that, "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed", Recalling also its previous resolutions on a culture of peace, in particular resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 proclaiming 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace, resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998 proclaiming the period 2001-2010 the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, and resolutions 56/5 of 5 November 2001, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, 58/11 of 10 November 2003, 59/143 of 15 December 2004, 60/3 of 20 October 2005 and 61/45 of 4 December 2006, Reaffirming the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace, recognizing that they serve, inter alia, as the basis for the observance of the Decade, and convinced that the effective and successful observance of the Decade throughout the world will promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits humanity, in particular future generations, Recalling the United Nations Millennium Declaration,See resolution 55/2. which calls for the active promotion of a culture of peace, Taking note of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/66 of 26 April 2000 entitled "Towards a culture of peace",See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. Taking note also of the report of the Secretary-General on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World,A/56/349. including paragraph 28 thereof, which indicates that each of the ten years of the Decade will be marked with a different priority theme related to the Programme of Action, Noting the relevance of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002, the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Monterrey, Mexico, from 18 to 22 March 2002, the special session of the General Assembly on children, held in New York from 8 to 10 May 2002, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 8 September 2001, and the United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995-2004, for the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, as well as the need to implement, as appropriate, the relevant decisions agreed upon therein, Recognizing that all efforts made by the United Nations system in general and the international community at large for peacekeeping, peacebuilding, the prevention of conflicts, disarmament, sustainable development, the promotion of human dignity and human rights, democracy, the rule of law, good governance and gender equality at the national and international levels contribute greatly to the culture of peace, Noting that its resolution 57/337 of 3 July 2003 on the prevention of armed conflict could contribute to the further promotion of a culture of peace, Taking into account the "Manifesto 2000" initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization promoting a culture of peace, which has so far received over seventy-five million signatures of endorsement throughout the world, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the implementation of resolution 61/45,See A/62/97. Taking note of the 2005 World Summit Outcome adopted at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly,See resolution 60/1. Welcoming the designation of 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence,See resolution 61/271. Also welcoming the appointment by the Secretary-General of the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, 1. Reiterates that the objective of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, is to strengthen further the global movement for a culture of peace following the observance of the International Year for the Culture of Peace in 2000; 2. Invites Member States to continue to place greater emphasis on and expand their activities promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, in particular during the Decade, at the national, regional and international levels and to ensure that peace and non-violence are fostered at all levels; 3. Commends the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for recognizing the promotion of a culture of peace as the expression of its fundamental mandate, and encourages it, as the lead agency for the Decade, to strengthen further the activities it has undertaken for promoting a culture of peace, including the dissemination of the DeclarationResolution 53/243 A. and Programme of ActionResolution 53/243 B. on a Culture of Peace and related materials in various languages across the world; 4. Also commends the relevant United Nations bodies, in particular the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the University for Peace, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including the promotion of peace education and activities related to specific areas identified in the Programme of Action, and encourages them to continue and further strengthen and expand their efforts; 5. Encourages the Peacebuilding Commission to promote a culture of peace and non-violence for children in its activities; 6. Encourages the appropriate authorities to provide education, in children's schools, that includes lessons in mutual understanding, tolerance, active citizenship, human rights and the promotion of a culture of peace; 7. Commends civil society, including non-governmental organizations and young people, for their activities in further promoting a culture of peace and non-violence, including through their campaign to raise awareness on a culture of peace, and takes note of the progress achieved by more than seven hundred organizations in more than one hundred countries; 8. Encourages civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to further strengthen its efforts in furtherance of the objectives of the Decade, inter alia, by adopting its own programme of activities to complement the initiatives of Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations; 9. Encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; 10. Welcomes the efforts made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to continue the communication and networking arrangements established during the International Year for providing an instant update of developments related to the observance of the Decade; 11. Invites Member States to observe 21 September of each year as the International Day of Peace, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, in accordance with resolution 55/282 of 7 September 2001; 12. Invites Member States, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to continue providing information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 13. Appreciates the participation of Member States in the day of plenary meetings to review progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action and the observance of the Decade at its midpoint; 14. Also appreciates the participation of Member States in the high-level dialogue on interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief and cultural diversity, held on 4 and 5 October 2007, in accordance with resolution 61/221 of 20 December 2006; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to explore enhancing mechanisms for the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action; 16. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a report on the implementation of the present resolution; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the item entitled "Culture of peace". RESOLUTION 62/8 Adopted at the 53rd plenary meeting, on 19 November 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.11/Rev.1, submitted by the President of the General Assembly 62/8. Overview of United Nations activities relating to climate change The General Assembly, Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. Recalling also the views expressed by Member States during the general debate of the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on the suggested thematic issue "Responding to climate change", the Secretary-General's high-level event on climate change on 24 September 2007 and the informal thematic debate at its sixty-first session on "Climate change as a global challenge", Requests the Secretary-General, in this context, to submit, by 25 January 2008, a comprehensive report providing an overview of the activities of the United Nations system in relation to climate change. RESOLUTION 62/90 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.17/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan 62/90. Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace The General Assembly, Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). in particular the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Recalling its resolutions 56/6 of 9 November 2001, on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, 57/6 of 4 November 2002, concerning the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, 57/337 of 3 July 2003, on the prevention of armed conflict, 58/128 of 19 December 2003, on the promotion of religious and cultural understanding, harmony and cooperation, 59/23 of 11 November 2004, on the promotion of interreligious dialogue, 59/143 of 15 December 2004, on the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001-2010, 60/167 of 16 December 2005, on human rights and cultural diversity, and 61/161 of 19 December 2006, on the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief, Recalling also its resolution 61/221 of 20 December 2006, on the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, Recognizing that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind, Taking into account that in its resolution 46, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recommended that the General Assembly proclaim 2010 the international year for the rapprochement of cultures,See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference, Thirty-fourth Session, Paris, 16 October-2 November 2007, vol. 1: Resolutions, chap.V. Taking note of the valuable contribution of various initiatives at the national, regional and international levels to enhancing dialogue, understanding and cooperation among religions, cultures and civilizations, which are mutually reinforcing and interrelated, Taking note also of the High-level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace, with the overall theme of interreligious and intercultural cooperation for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and universal respect on matters of freedom of religion or belief and cultural diversity, held on 4 and 5 October 2007, Affirming the importance of sustaining the process of engaging all stakeholders in the interreligious, intercultural and intercivilizational dialogue within the appropriate initiatives at the various levels, Recognizing the commitment of all religions to peace, 1. Affirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and of the culture of peace; 2. Takes note with appreciation of the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on interreligious dialogue in the context of its efforts to promote dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, as well as activities related to a culture of peace, and welcomes its focus on concrete action at the global, regional and subregional levels and its flagship project on the promotion of interfaith dialogue; 3. Reaffirms the solemn commitment of all States to fulfil their obligations to promote universal respect for, and observance and protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human RightsResolution 217 A (III). and other instruments relating to human rights and international law, the universal nature of these rights and freedoms being beyond question; 4. Welcomes the designation of the Office for Economic and Social Council Support and Coordination in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat to play a focal point role,See A/62/337, para. 27. as requested in resolution 61/221, and pursuant thereto, to interact with United Nations system entities and to coordinate their contribution to the intergovernmental process, and looks forward to its effective functioning; 5. Encourages Member States to consider, as and where appropriate, initiatives that identify areas for practical action in all sectors and levels of society for the promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation, through, inter alia, the ideas suggested during the High-level Dialogue on Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding and Cooperation for Peace; 6. Emphasizes the need to sustain the momentum generated by the High-level Dialogue in subsequent discussions; 7. Encourages the promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations, emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and reaffirms that the exercise of this right carries with it special duties and responsibilities and may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall be only such as are provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals; 8. Decides to declare 2010 the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures, and recommends that, during the course of the year, appropriate events be organized on interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace, inter alia, a high-level dialogue and/or informal interactive hearings with civil society; 9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/91 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.30 and Add.1, sponsored by: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe 62/91. Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 46/182 of 19 December 1991, 57/152 of 16 December 2002, 57/256 of 20 December 2002, 58/25 of 5 December 2003, 58/214 and 58/215 of 23 December 2003, 59/212 of 20 December 2004, 59/231 and 59/233 of 22 December 2004, 59/279 of 19 January 2005, 60/15 of 14 November 2005 and 61/132 of 14 December 2006, Commending the prompt response, continued support, generous assistance and contributions of the international community, Governments, civil society, the private sector and individuals, in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, which reflect the spirit of international solidarity and cooperation to address the disaster, Noting the Declaration on Action to Strengthen Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Prevention in the Aftermath of the Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster of 26 December 2004, adopted at the special meeting of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held in Jakarta on 6 January 2005,A/59/669, annex. Recalling the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). as well as the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster,Common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II). adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/83-E/2007/67. Stressing the need to continue to develop and implement disaster risk reduction strategies and to integrate them, where appropriate, into national development plans, in particular through the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, so as to enhance the resilience of populations in disasters and reduce the risks to them, their livelihoods, the social and economic infrastructure and environmental resources, and stressing also the need for Governments to develop and implement effective national plans for hazard warning systems with a disaster risk reduction approach, Emphasizing that disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important element that contributes to the achievement of sustainable development, Emphasizing also the role of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in coordinating the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, given the importance of strengthening regional and subregional cooperation and coordination, which is essential for effective early warning system arrangements for tsunamis, Commending the operationalization of the Multi-Donor Voluntary Trust Fund on Tsunami Early Warning Arrangements in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, and inviting Governments, donor countries, relevant international organizations, international and regional financial institutions, the private sector and civil society to consider contributing to the Trust Fund through financial contributions and technical cooperation to support the establishment of the tsunami early warning system in accordance with the needs of the countries of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia so that the Trust Fund contributes to the development of an integrated early warning system based on adequate resources and comprising a network of collaborative centres connected to the global system, Stressing the need for continued commitment to assist the affected countries and their peoples, particularly the most vulnerable groups, to fully recover from the catastrophic and traumatic effects of the disaster, including in their medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and welcoming Government and international assistance measures in this regard, Noting that progress has been achieved in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts of tsunami-affected countries, and noting also that efforts and assistance are still required to re-establish the basis for long-term sustainable development, Welcoming the development or strengthening of disaster management institutions in some affected countries that provide leadership in comprehensive disaster risk reduction as well as strengthen emergency response at local and national levels, 1. Notes with appreciation the efforts by the Governments of affected countries to undertake the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, as well as in enhancing financial transparency and accountability, with respect to the channelling and utilization of resources, including, as appropriate, through the involvement of international public auditors; 2. Recognizes and encourages ongoing efforts to promote transparency and accountability among donors and recipient countries by means of, inter alia, a unified financial and sectoral information online tracking system, and highlights the importance of timely and accurate information on assessed needs and the sources and uses of funds, and the continued support of donors, where needed, for further development of online tracking systems in the affected countries; 3. Stresses the importance of a coordinated process of accessing lessons learned in the international response to a given humanitarian emergency and in this regard welcomes relevant efforts by Governments, international organizations and United Nations agencies and other multi-stakeholder efforts to identify and evaluate lessons learned from tsunami response and recovery operations in order to improve coordination and effectiveness of disaster response and post-disaster recovery,Reports include: "The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster: Evaluation of UNICEF's Response (Emergency and Initial Recovery Phase)"; "Survivors of the Tsunami: One Year Later - UNDP Assisting Communities to Build Back Better"; "Towards a United Nations humanitarian assistance programme for disaster response and reduction: lessons learned from the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster"; "Building a land of hope: one year report"; "Joint evaluation of the international response to the Indian Ocean tsunami: synthesis report". and encourages international and national efforts to continue to strengthen the capacity for adequate disaster response and post-disaster recovery based on lessons learned; 4. Encourages donor communities and international and regional financial institutions, as well as the private sector and civil society, to strengthen partnerships and to continue to support the medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs of the affected countries; 5. Urges Governments of the affected countries to identify their unmet needs in terms of financial and technical assistance in order to foster the ongoing efforts to enhance national capacity and create a reliable tsunami early warning system in the region in concert with the activities of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 6. Notes with appreciation the efforts of international agencies, donor countries and relevant civil society organizations in supporting the Governments of affected countries to develop national capacity for tsunami warning and response so as to increase public awareness and provide community-based support for disaster risk reduction; 7. Encourages the continued effective coordination among the Governments of affected countries, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, international organizations, donor countries, regional and international financial institutions, civil society, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and private sectors involved in rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in order to ensure the effective implementation of existing joint programmes and to prevent unnecessary duplication and reduce vulnerability to future natural hazards, as well as to adequately respond to the remaining humanitarian needs, where needed; 8. Emphasizes the need for the development of stronger institutions, mechanisms and capacities at the regional, national and local levels, as affirmed in the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015,Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2). and the promotion of public education, awareness and community participation, in order to systematically build resilience to hazards and disasters, as well as reduce the risks and the vulnerability of populations to disasters, including an effective and sustained tsunami warning system; 9. Stresses the need for relevant bodies of the United Nations system, international organizations, regional and international financial institutions, civil society and the private sector to implement programmes according to assessed needs and agreed priorities of the Governments of tsunami-affected countries and to ensure full transparency and accountability for their programme activities; 10. Calls upon States to fully implement the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, in particular those commitments related to assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and for disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable, physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 11. Stresses the importance of and the need for regular updating of recovery assessment by the Governments of affected countries, the United Nations system and international and regional financial institutions, based on the affected countries' national data and utilizing a consistent methodology, in order to reassess progress and identify gaps and priorities, with the participation of the local community during the recovery and reconstruction phase in order to build back better; 12. Recognizes that relevant activities in evaluating and strengthening the tsunami early warning systems have focused principally on establishing the system's governance structure, its technical implementation, increasing public awareness and preparedness, including training, and technical advice and that the Tsunami Recovery Impact Assessment and Monitoring System is a common analytical framework to assess and monitor the rate and direction of tsunami recovery; 13. Welcomes the establishment of Tsunami Warning Focal Points capable of receiving and disseminating tsunami advisories around the clock, and encourages the continuation of the efforts of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission supported by Member States, United Nations agencies and donors, including for developing national action plans for all countries participating in the Indian Ocean tsunami early warning system; 14. Takes note with appreciation of the efforts of the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in establishing partnership among relevant actors, and stresses the importance for countries to establish early warning systems that are people-centred; 15. Encourages the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue his efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance, and calls upon relevant United Nations organizations and other humanitarian and relevant development actors to work with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to enhance the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance; 16. Urges Governments and the United Nations system, in planning for disaster preparedness and responding to natural disasters, and in implementing recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, to integrate a gender perspective and provide every opportunity for women to take a full, active and equal role in all phases of disaster management; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to explore ways to strengthen the rapid response capacities of the international community to provide immediate humanitarian relief, building on existing arrangements and ongoing initiatives; 18. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution under the item entitled "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance", through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2008, with a view to reviewing the future consideration of this item. RESOLUTION 62/92 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.34 and Add.1, sponsored by: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 62/92. International cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991, the annex to which contains the guiding principles for the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations system, as well as all its resolutions on international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development, and recalling the resolutions of the humanitarian segments of the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council, Recognizing the importance of the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Welcoming the Hyogo Declaration,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to DisastersIbid., resolution 2. and the common statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, annex II. as adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, from 18 to 22 January 2005, Emphasizing that the affected State has the primary responsibility in the initiation, organization, coordination and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory and in the facilitation of the work of humanitarian organizations in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters, Emphasizing also the responsibility of all States to undertake disaster preparedness, response and early recovery efforts in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters, while recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of affected countries which may have limited capacities in this regard, Noting that local communities are the first responders in most disasters, and underlining the critical role played by in-country capacities in disaster risk reduction, including preparedness, response and recovery, Recognizing the importance of international cooperation in support of the efforts of the affected States in dealing with natural disasters in all their phases, in particular in preparedness, response and the early recovery phase, and of strengthening the response capacity of countries affected by disaster, Noting with appreciation the important role played by Member States, including developing countries, that have granted necessary and continued generous assistance to countries and peoples stricken by natural disasters, Recognizing the significant role played by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in disaster preparedness and risk reduction, disaster response, rehabilitation and development, Emphasizing the importance of addressing vulnerability and integrating risk reduction into all phases of natural disaster management, post-natural disaster recovery and development planning, Recognizing that efforts to achieve economic growth, sustainable development and internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, can be adversely affected by natural disasters, and noting the positive contribution that those efforts can make in strengthening the resilience of populations to such disasters, Emphasizing, in this context, the important role of development organizations in supporting national efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/323. 2. Expresses its deep concern at the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact, resulting in massive losses of life and property worldwide, in particular in vulnerable societies lacking adequate capacity to mitigate effectively the long-term negative social, economic and environmental consequences of natural disasters; 3. Calls upon States to fully implement the Hyogo DeclarationA/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 1. and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,Ibid., resolution 2. in particular those commitments related to assistance for developing countries that are prone to natural disasters and for disaster-stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery, for risk-reduction activities in post-disaster recovery and for rehabilitation processes; 4. Calls upon all States to adopt, where required, and to continue to implement effectively, necessary legislative and other appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters and integrate disaster risk reduction strategies into development planning, and in this regard requests the international community to continue to assist developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, as appropriate; 5. Welcomes the effective cooperation among the affected States, relevant bodies of the United Nations system, donor countries, regional and international financial institutions and other relevant organizations, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and civil society, in the coordination and delivery of emergency relief, and stresses the need to continue such cooperation and delivery throughout relief operations and medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, in a manner that reduces vulnerability to future natural hazards; 6. Reiterates the commitment to support the efforts of countries, in particular developing countries, to strengthen their capacities at all levels in order to prepare for and respond rapidly to natural disasters and mitigate their impact; 7. Stresses that, to increase further the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, particular international cooperation efforts should be undertaken to enhance and broaden further the utilization of national and local capacities and, where appropriate, of regional and subregional capacities of developing countries for disaster preparedness and response, which may be made available in closer proximity to the site of a disaster, and more efficiently and at lower cost; 8. Also stresses, in this context, the importance of strengthening international cooperation, particularly through the effective use of multilateral mechanisms, in the timely provision of humanitarian assistance through all phases of a disaster, from relief and recovery to development, including the provision of adequate resources; 9. Takes note that a review of the Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities, planned for 2008, is expected to assess its value added and user satisfaction, and requests the Secretary-General to report on its findings; 10. Reaffirms the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat as the focal point within the overall United Nations system for advocacy for and coordination of humanitarian assistance among United Nations humanitarian organizations and other humanitarian partners; 11. Welcomes, so as to increase further the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, the incorporation of experts from developing countries that are prone to natural disasters into the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination system, and the work of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group in assisting such countries in strengthening urban search and rescue capacities and establishing mechanisms for improving their coordination of national and international response in the field, and recalls in this regard its resolution 57/150 of 16 December 2002 entitled "Strengthening the effectiveness and coordination of international urban search and rescue assistance"; 12. Recognizes that information and telecommunication technology can play an important role in disaster response, encourages Member States to develop emergency response telecommunication capacities, and encourages the international community to assist the efforts of developing countries in this area, where needed, including in the recovery phase; 13. Encourages States that have not acceded to or ratified the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief OperationsUnited Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2296, No. 40906. to consider doing so; 14. Encourages the further use of space-based and ground-based remote-sensing technologies, as well as the sharing of geographical data, for the prevention, mitigation and management of natural disasters, where appropriate; 15. Reaffirms the request made by the Economic and Social Council to the Secretary-General to review and report, in consultation with Member States, on the use of military assets for natural disaster response with the aim of improving the predictability and use of these assets, based on humanitarian principles, while emphasizing the fundamentally civilian character of humanitarian assistance, and reaffirming the leading role of civilian organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance; 16. Encourages Member States, relevant United Nations organizations and international financial institutions to enhance the global capacity for sustainable post-disaster recovery in areas such as coordination with traditional and non-traditional partners, identification and dissemination of lessons learned, development of common tools and mechanisms for recovery needs assessment, strategy development and programming, and incorporation of risk reduction into all recovery processes, and welcomes the ongoing efforts to this end; 17. Encourages Member States and relevant regional and international organizations to identify and improve the dissemination of best practices for improving disaster preparedness, response and early recovery and to scale-up successful local initiatives, as appropriate; 18. Requests the United Nations system to improve its coordination of disaster recovery efforts, from relief to development, inter alia, by strengthening institutional, coordination and strategic planning efforts in disaster recovery, in support of national authorities; 19. Calls upon relevant United Nations humanitarian and development organizations, in consultation with Member States, to strengthen tools and mechanisms to ensure that early recovery needs and support are considered as part of the planning and implementation of humanitarian response and development cooperation activities, as appropriate; 20. Also calls upon relevant United Nations humanitarian and development organizations to continue efforts to ensure continuity and predictability in their response and to further improve coordination in recovery processes in support of the efforts of national authorities; 21. Stresses the importance of rapid access to funds to ensure a more predictable and timely United Nations response to humanitarian emergencies, and welcomes in this regard the establishment of the Central Emergency Response Fund and its contribution to the promotion and enhancement of early humanitarian response; 22. Emphasizes the need to mobilize adequate, flexible and sustainable resources for recovery activities; 23. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve the international response to natural disasters, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session. RESOLUTION 62/93 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.36 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/93. Assistance to the Palestinian people The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 61/135 of 14 December 2006, as well as previous resolutions on the question, Recalling also the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, by the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,A/48/486-S/26560, annex. and the subsequent implementation agreements concluded by the two sides, Recalling further the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsSee resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531. Gravely concerned at the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people, in particular children, throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, which constitutes a mounting humanitarian crisis, Conscious of the urgent need for improvement in the economic and social infrastructure of the occupied territory, Welcoming, in this context, the development of projects, notably on infrastructure, to revive the Palestinian economy and improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people, stressing the need to create the appropriate conditions to facilitate the implementation of these projects, and noting the contribution of partners in the region and the international community, Aware that development is difficult under occupation and is best promoted in circumstances of peace and stability, Noting the great economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people and their leadership, Emphasizing the importance of the safety and well-being of all people, in particular children, in the whole Middle East region, Deeply concerned about the negative impact, including the health and psychological consequences, of violence on the present and future well-being of children in the region, Conscious of the urgent necessity for international assistance to the Palestinian people, taking into account the Palestinian priorities, Expressing grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza following recent events, and underlining the importance of emergency and humanitarian assistance, Welcoming the results of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace, convened in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, the establishment of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians and the work being done by the World Bank as its secretariat and the establishment of the Consultative Group, as well as all follow-up meetings and international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, Welcoming also the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, held in New York on 24 September 2007, and underlining the importance of the Paris donors' conference of 17 December 2007 in mobilizing the donors, following on from the international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007, to provide financial and political support for the Palestinian Authority and, in the meantime, also to provide assistance to alleviate the socio-economic and humanitarian situation being faced by the Palestinian people, Welcoming further the work of the Joint Liaison Committee, which provides a forum in which economic policy and practical matters related to donor assistance are discussed with the Palestinian Authority, Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, and welcoming in this regard the support provided to the Palestinian Authority by the Task Force on Palestinian Reform, established by the Quartet in 2002, Welcoming the appointment of the Quartet's Special Representative, Tony Blair, charged with developing, with the Government of the Palestinian Authority, a multi-year agenda to strengthen institutions, promote economic development and mobilize international funds, Noting the active participation of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority in the activities of the Special Envoys of the Quartet, Welcoming the endorsement by the Security Council, in its resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, of the performance-based road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,S/2003/529, annex. and stressing the need for its implementation and compliance with its provisions, Noting the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank as a step towards implementation of the road map, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General,A/62/82-E/2007/66. Expressing grave concern about the continuation of the tragic and violent events that have led to many deaths and injuries, including among children, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/82-E/2007/66. 2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his rapid response and efforts regarding assistance to the Palestinian people; 3. Also expresses its appreciation to the Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organizations that have provided and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people; 4. Stresses the importance of the work of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority and of the steps taken under the auspices of the Secretary-General to ensure the achievement of a coordinated mechanism for United Nations activities throughout the occupied territories; 5. Urges Member States, international financial institutions of the United Nations system, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional and interregional organizations to extend, as rapidly and as generously as possible, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, in close cooperation with the Palestine Liberation Organization and through official Palestinian institutions; 6. Welcomes, in this regard, the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians and the perspective of the Paris donors' conference, and encourages donors, in this regard, to increase their direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority in accordance with its government programme in order to enable it to build a viable and prosperous Palestinian state; 7. Calls upon relevant organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to intensify their assistance in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people in accordance with priorities set forth by the Palestinian side; 8. Calls upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation being faced by Palestinian children and their families and to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions; 9. Stresses the role that the temporary international mechanism has been playing in assisting directly the Palestinian people, and welcomes its extension; 10. Urges Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules, and to implement fully existing trade and cooperation agreements; 11. Calls upon the international donor community to expedite the delivery of pledged assistance to the Palestinian people to meet their urgent needs; 12. Stresses, in this context, the importance of ensuring the free passage of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people and the free movement of persons and goods; 13. Also stresses the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian population within and into and out of the Gaza Strip; 14. Urges the international donor community, United Nations agencies and organizations and non-governmental organizations to extend as rapidly as possible to the Palestinian people emergency economic assistance and humanitarian assistance, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to counter the impact of the current crisis; 15. Stresses the need for the continued implementation of the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations of 29 April 1994, fifth annex to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995,A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex. including with regard to the full, prompt and regular transfer of Palestinian indirect tax revenues; 16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of the present resolution, containing: (a) An assessment of the assistance actually received by the Palestinian people; (b) An assessment of the needs still unmet and specific proposals for responding effectively to them; 17. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-third session the sub-item entitled "Assistance to the Palestinian people". RESOLUTION 62/94 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.37 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zambia 62/94. Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 and the guiding principles contained in the annex thereto, other relevant General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions and agreed conclusions of the Council, Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United NationsA/62/87-E/2007/70. and on the Central Emergency Response Fund,A/62/72-E/2007/73. Reaffirming the principles of neutrality, humanity, impartiality and independence for the provision of humanitarian assistance, Noting with grave concern the number and scale of natural disasters and their increasing impact within recent years, and reaffirming the importance of implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2. including by providing adequate resources for disaster risk reduction, including disaster preparedness, Recognizing that building national and local preparedness and response capacity is critical to a more predictable and effective response, Emphasizing the need to mobilize adequate, predictable, timely and flexible resources for humanitarian assistance based on and in proportion to assessed needs, with a view to ensuring fuller coverage of the needs in all sectors and across humanitarian emergencies, Noting with grave concern that violence, including gender-based violence and violence against children, continues to be deliberately directed against civilian populations in many emergency situations, Reiterating the need for Member States, relevant United Nations organizations and other relevant actors to mainstream a gender perspective into humanitarian assistance, including by addressing the specific needs of men, women, boys and girls in a comprehensive and consistent manner, Reaffirming the need for all humanitarian personnel, United Nations and associated personnel and non-governmental organizations to maintain transparency and to act in a manner that is in accordance with the principles for the provision of humanitarian assistance and with their obligations under relevant provisions of international law and national laws, and to remain sensitive to local customs and traditions in the countries of their assignment, Noting with appreciation the efforts made by the United Nations to improve humanitarian response, including by strengthening humanitarian response capacities, by improving humanitarian coordination and by enhancing predictable and adequate funding, Recognizing that in the improvement of the coordination of humanitarian assistance in the field, United Nations organizations should work in close coordination with national Governments, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the outcome of the tenth humanitarian affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2007; 2. Requests the Emergency Relief Coordinator to continue his efforts to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance, and calls upon relevant United Nations and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, as well as other humanitarian and relevant development actors, to continue to work with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to enhance the coordination, effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian assistance; 3. Recognizes the benefits of engagement of and coordination with relevant humanitarian actors to the effectiveness of humanitarian response, and encourages the United Nations to continue to pursue efforts to strengthen partnerships at the global level with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, relevant humanitarian non-governmental organizations and other participants of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee; 4. Calls upon the relevant organizations of the United Nations system and, as appropriate, other relevant humanitarian actors, to pursue efforts to improve the humanitarian response to natural and man-made disasters and complex emergencies by further strengthening the humanitarian response capacities at all levels, by continuing to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance at the field level, including with national authorities of the affected State, as appropriate, and by further enhancing transparency, performance and accountability; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the support provided to United Nations resident/humanitarian coordinators and to United Nations country teams, including through the provision of necessary training, the identification of resources and by improving the identification and selection of United Nations resident/humanitarian coordinators; 6. Emphasizes the fundamentally civilian character of humanitarian assistance, reaffirms the leading role of civilian organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance, particularly in areas affected by conflicts, and affirms the need, in situations where military capacity and assets are used to support the implementation of humanitarian assistance, for their use to be in conformity with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles; 7. Recalls the request made by the Economic and Social Council in paragraph 12 of its resolution 2007/3 of 17 July 2007 that the Secretary-General review and report on, in consultation with Member States, the use of military assets for disaster relief, with the aim of improving the predictability and use of these assets, based on humanitarian principles; 8. Encourages relevant United Nations organizations to strengthen the coordination and collaboration between development and humanitarian entities, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in integrating disaster risk reduction into their activities; 9. Reaffirms the importance of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,A/CONF.206/6 and Corr.1, chap. I, resolution 2. welcomes the first meeting, in June 2007, of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, and calls upon the international community to increase resources to reduce the risks of disasters associated with natural hazards, including by supporting early warning systems, as appropriate; 10. Encourages the international community to support efforts of Member States aimed at strengthening their capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters; 11. Encourages relevant United Nations organizations to support the efforts of Member States, as appropriate, to strengthen systems for identifying and monitoring disaster risk, including vulnerability and natural hazards; 12. Encourages States to create an enabling environment for the capacity-building of local authorities and national and local non-governmental and community-based organizations in providing humanitarian assistance; 13. Calls upon relevant United Nations organizations to support the improvements of the consolidated appeals process, inter alia, by engaging in the preparation of needs analysis and common action plans, in order to further the development of the process as an instrument for United Nations strategic planning and prioritization, and by involving other relevant humanitarian organizations in the process, while reiterating that consolidated appeals are prepared in consultation with affected States; 14. Calls upon United Nations humanitarian organizations, in consultation with Member States, as appropriate, to strengthen the evidence base for humanitarian assistance by further developing common mechanisms to improve the quality, transparency and reliability of humanitarian needs assessments, to assess their performance in assistance and to ensure the most effective use of humanitarian resources by these organizations; 15. Calls upon donors to provide adequate, timely, predictable and flexible resources based on and in proportion to assessed needs, including for under-funded emergencies, and encourages efforts to adhere to the principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship; 16. Welcomes the progress made by the Secretary-General in setting up appropriate monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms for the Central Emergency Response Fund, stresses the importance of continuing to ensure that the resources are allocated and used in the most efficient, effective and transparent manner possible, and looks forward to the independent review of the Fund in 2008; 17. Reaffirms the target of 500 million United States dollars by 2008, urges all Member States and invites the private sector and all concerned individuals and institutions to consider making voluntary contributions to the Central Emergency Response Fund, and emphasizes that contributions should be additional to current commitments to humanitarian programming and to resources made available for international development cooperation; 18. Reiterates that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs should benefit from adequate and more predictable funding; 19. Reaffirms the obligation of all States and parties to an armed conflict to protect civilians in armed conflicts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and invites States to promote a culture of protection, taking into account the particular needs of women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities; 20. Calls upon States to adopt preventive measures and effective responses to acts of violence committed against civilian populations in armed conflicts as well as to ensure that those responsible are promptly brought to justice, as provided for by national law and obligations under international law; 21. Urges all Member States to take effective measures to address gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies, and to make all possible efforts to ensure that their laws and institutions are adequate to prevent, promptly investigate and prosecute acts of gender-based violence; 22. Calls upon all Member States, and encourages the relevant organizations of the United Nations to strengthen support services, including psychosocial support, to victims of gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies; 23. Recognizes the Guiding Principles on Internal DisplacementE/CN.4/1998/53/Add.2, annex. as an important international framework for the protection of internally displaced persons, encourages Member States and humanitarian agencies to continue to work together in endeavours to provide a more predictable response to the needs of internally displaced persons, and in this regard calls for international support, upon request, to capacity-building efforts of States; 24. Calls upon all States and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflict and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel as well as delivery of supplies and equipment in order to allow them to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 25. Re-emphasizes the importance of the discussion of humanitarian policies and activities in the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and that these discussions should be continuously revitalized by Member States with a view to enhancing their relevance, efficiency and impact; 26. Encourages Member States to continue to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on humanitarian issues, based on their respective mandates and taking into account comparative advantages and existing complementarities of the two bodies; 27. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session, through the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2008, on progress made in strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations and to submit a report to the Assembly on the independent review of the Central Emergency Response Fund in 2008. RESOLUTION 62/95 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.38 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay 62/95. Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian emergency assistance of the United Nations, Recalling all relevant resolutions on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, including its resolution 61/133 of 14 December 2006, as well as Security Council resolution 1502 (2003) of 26 August 2003 and relevant statements by the President of the Council, Recalling also all Security Council resolutions and presidential statements and reports of the Secretary-General to the Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Recalling further all relevant provisions of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as all relevant treaties,They include, notably, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946, the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of 21 November 1947, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of 9 December 1994, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of 8 December 2005 (not yet in force), the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 8 June 1977, and Amended Protocol II of 3 May 1996 to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects of 10 October 1980. Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, Recalling that primary responsibility under international law for the security and protection of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel lies with the Government hosting a United Nations operation conducted under the Charter of the United Nations or its agreements with relevant organizations, Urging all parties involved in armed conflicts, in compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular their obligations under the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. and the obligations applicable to them under the Additional Protocols thereto, of 8 June 1977,Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. to ensure the security and protection of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, Welcoming the fact that the number of States parties to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. which entered into force on 15 January 1999, has continued to rise, the number now having reached eighty-two, and mindful of the need to promote universality of the Convention, Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel at the field level, as they operate in increasingly complex contexts, as well as the continuous erosion, in many cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international law, in particular international humanitarian law, Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part in humanitarian operations, often at great personal risk, especially locally recruited staff, Expressing profound regret at the deaths of and violent acts against international and national humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, and strongly deploring the rising toll of casualties among such personnel in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, Strongly condemning acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and sexual assault and all forms of violence committed in particular against women and children, and intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping, harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of property, Expressing deep concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel is a factor that increasingly restricts the provision of assistance and protection to populations in need, Affirming the need for States to ensure that perpetrators of attacks committed on their territory against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel do not operate with impunity, and that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice as provided for by national laws and obligations under international law, Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. and noting the role that the Court can play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, Reaffirming the need to ensure adequate levels of safety and security for United Nations personnel and associated humanitarian personnel, which constitutes an underlying duty of the Organization, and mindful of the need to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the United Nations and a culture of accountability at all levels, Noting the importance of maintaining close collaboration between the United Nations and the host country on contingency planning, information exchange and risk assessment in the context of good mutual cooperation on issues relating to security of United Nations and associated personnel, 1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General;A/62/324 and Corr.1. 2. Urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the full and effective implementation of the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law related to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations personnel; 3. Strongly urges all States to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel and to respect and ensure respect for the inviolability of United Nations premises, which are essential to the continuation and successful implementation of United Nations operations; 4. Calls upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations, in countries in which humanitarian personnel are operating, in conformity with the relevant provisions of international law and national laws, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to ensure the safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel and delivery of supplies and equipment, in order to allow those personnel to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons; 5. Calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to and to respect fully their obligations under the relevant international instruments; 6. Also calls upon all States to consider becoming parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;Ibid., vol. 2187, No. 38544. 7. Recalls with appreciation the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel,Resolution 60/42, annex. which expands the scope of legal protection under the Convention,Ibid., vol. 2051, No. 35457. and calls upon all States to consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol as soon as possible so as to ensure its rapid entry into force, and urges States parties to put in place appropriate national legislation, as necessary, to enable its effective implementation; 8. Expresses deep concern that, over the past decade, threats and attacks against the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel have escalated dramatically and that perpetrators of acts of violence seemingly operate with impunity; 9. Strongly condemns all threats and acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, reaffirms the need to hold accountable those responsible for such acts, strongly urges all States to take stronger action to ensure that any such acts committed on their territory are investigated fully and to ensure that the perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice in accordance with national law and obligations under international law, and urges States to end impunity for such acts; 10. Calls upon all States to provide adequate and prompt information in the event of the arrest or detention of humanitarian personnel or United Nations and associated personnel, so as to afford them the necessary medical assistance and to allow independent medical teams to visit and examine the health of those detained, and urges them to take the necessary measures to ensure the speedy release of those who have been arrested or detained in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law; 11. Calls upon all other parties involved in armed conflicts to refrain from abducting humanitarian personnel or United Nations and associated personnel or detaining them in violation of the relevant conventions referred to in the present resolution and applicable international humanitarian law, and speedily to release, without harm or requirement of concession, any abductee or detainee; 12. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to ensure full respect for the human rights, privileges and immunities of United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation, and also requests the Secretary-General to seek the inclusion, in negotiations of headquarters and other mission agreements concerning United Nations and associated personnel, of the applicable conditions contained in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,Resolution 22 A (I). the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized AgenciesResolution 179 (II). and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; 13. Recommends that the Secretary-General continue to seek the inclusion of, and that host countries include, key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, among others, those regarding the prevention of attacks against members of the operation, the establishment of such attacks as crimes punishable by law and the prosecution or extradition of offenders, in future as well as, if necessary, in existing status-of-forces, status-of-mission, host country agreements and other related agreements negotiated between the United Nations and those countries, mindful of the importance of the timely conclusion of such agreements, and encourages further efforts in this regard; 14. Reaffirms the obligation of all humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel to respect and, where required, observe the national laws of the country in which they are operating, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; 15. Stresses the importance of ensuring that humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel remain sensitive to national and local customs and traditions in their countries of assignment and communicate clearly their purpose and objectives to local populations; 16. Welcomes ongoing efforts to promote and enhance the security consciousness within the organizational culture of the United Nations system, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures in this regard, including by further developing and implementing a unified security management system, as well as by disseminating and ensuring the implementation of the security procedures and regulations and by ensuring accountability at all levels, and in this regard recognizes the important work of the Department of Safety and Security of the Secretariat; 17. Emphasizes the importance of paying special attention to the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel engaged in United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations; 18. Also emphasizes the need to pay particular attention to the safety and security of locally recruited humanitarian personnel, who are particularly vulnerable to attacks and who account for the majority of casualties, requests the Secretary-General to keep under review the relevant internal United Nations policy, operational and administrative arrangements that can contribute to providing locally recruited personnel with adequate safety and security, and calls upon humanitarian organizations to ensure that their staff are adequately informed about and trained in their respective organization's relevant security measures, plans and initiatives, which should be in line with applicable national law and international law; 19. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure that United Nations and other personnel carrying out activities in fulfilment of the mandate of a United Nations operation are properly informed about and operate in conformity with the minimum operating security standards and relevant codes of conduct and are properly informed about the conditions under which they are called upon to operate and the standards that they are required to meet, including those contained in relevant national and international law, and that adequate training in security, human rights law and international humanitarian law is provided so as to enhance their security and effectiveness in accomplishing their functions, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 20. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General and stresses the need to ensure that all United Nations staff members receive adequate security training, including training to enhance cultural awareness, prior to their deployment to the field, as well as the need to attach a high priority to stress management training and related counselling services for United Nations staff throughout the system, and reaffirms the necessity for all other humanitarian organizations to provide their personnel with similar support; 21. Emphasizes the importance of information on the range and scope of security incidents involving humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, including attacks against them, to clarify their operating environment; 22. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General to further enhance the security management system of the United Nations, and in this regard invites the United Nations and, as appropriate, other humanitarian organizations, working closely with host States, to further strengthen the analysis of threats to their safety and security in order to manage security risks by facilitating informed decisions on the maintenance of an effective presence in the field, inter alia, to fulfil their humanitarian mandate; 23. Stresses that the effective functioning at the country level of security operations requires a unified capacity for policy, standards, coordination, communication, compliance and threat and risk assessment, and notes the benefits thereof to United Nations and associated personnel, including those achieved by the Department of Safety and Security since its establishment; 24. Recognizes the need to continue efforts to achieve a strengthened and unified security management system for the United Nations, both at the headquarters and the field levels, and requests the United Nations system, as well as Member States, to take all appropriate measures to that end; 25. Requests the Secretary-General, inter alia, through the Inter-Agency Security Management Network, to continue to promote increased cooperation and collaboration among United Nations departments, organizations, funds and programmes and affiliated international organizations, including between their headquarters and field offices, in the planning and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security, training and awareness, and calls upon all relevant United Nations departments, organizations, funds and programmes and affiliated international organizations to support those efforts; 26. Recognizes the steps taken by the Secretary-General thus far, as well as the need for continued efforts to enhance coordination and cooperation, both at the headquarters and the field levels, between the United Nations and other humanitarian and non-governmental organizations on matters relating to the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, with a view to addressing mutual security concerns in the field, taking into account relevant national and local initiatives in this regard, encourages collaborative initiatives to address security training needs, invites Member States to consider increasing support to those initiatives, and requests the Secretary-General to report on steps taken in this regard; 27. Underlines the need to allocate adequate and predictable resources to the safety and security of United Nations personnel, including through the consolidated appeals process, and encourages all States to contribute to the Trust Fund for Security of Staff Members of the United Nations System, inter alia, with a view to reinforcing the efforts of the Department of Safety and Security for the safety and security of personnel working in emergency and humanitarian operations; 28. Recalls the essential role of telecommunication resources in facilitating the safety of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, calls upon States to consider acceding to or ratifying the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations of 18 June 1998, which entered into force on 8 January 2005,United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2296, No. 40906. and urges them to facilitate and expedite, consistent with their national laws and international obligations applicable to them, the use of communications equipment in such operations, inter alia, through limiting and, whenever possible, expeditiously lifting the restrictions placed on the use of communications equipment by United Nations and associated personnel; 29. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-third session a comprehensive and updated report on the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel and on the implementation of the present resolution. RESOLUTION 62/96 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.26/Rev.1 and Add.1, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Botswana (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of African States), Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America 62/96. Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence The General Assembly, Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,Resolution 217 A (III). Recalling the findings and recommendations of the independent inquiry commissioned by the Secretary-General, with the approval of the Security Council, into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,See S/1999/1257. Recalling also the 2005 World Summit Outcome,See resolution 60/1. particularly its recognition that all individuals, in particular vulnerable people, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy all their rights and fully develop their human potential, Recalling further its resolution 59/137 of 10 December 2004, in which it requested the Secretary-General to encourage relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to continue to work with the Government of Rwanda to develop and implement programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable groups that continue to suffer from the effects of the 1994 genocide, Recalling its resolution 60/225 of 23 December 2005, in which it urged Member States to develop educational programmes on the lessons of the genocide in Rwanda, and also requested the Secretary-General to establish a programme of outreach for Rwanda genocide victim remembrance and education, in order to prevent future acts of genocide, Recognizing the numerous difficulties faced by survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly the orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence, who are poorer and more vulnerable as a result of the genocide, especially the many victims of sexual violence who have contracted HIV and have since either died or become seriously ill with AIDS, Recognizing also Security Council resolution 1503 (2003) of 28 August 2003, in which the Council called upon the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to take all possible measures to complete trial activities in 2008 and all of its work in 2010, Firmly convinced of the necessity of restoring the dignity of the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which would help to promote reconciliation and healing in Rwanda, Commending the tremendous efforts of the Government and people of Rwanda and civil society organizations, as well as international efforts, to provide support for restoring the dignity of the survivors, including the allocation by the Government of Rwanda of 5 per cent of its national budget every year to support genocide survivors, 1. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to encourage the relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to implement resolution 59/137 expeditiously, inter alia, by providing assistance in the areas of education for orphans, medical care and treatment for victims of sexual violence, including HIV-positive victims, trauma and psychological counselling, and skills training and microcredit programmes aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and alleviating poverty; 2. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue the activities of the programme of outreach entitled "The Rwanda Genocide and the United Nations" aimed at Rwanda genocide victim remembrance and education, in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide; 3. Notes the importance of residual issues including witness protection and victim support, the archives of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and judicial issues and capacity-building for the Rwandan judiciary, and underlines the need for increased and sustained attention to these issues; 4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Government of Rwanda, to encourage the relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to take appropriate steps to support, in particular, efforts to enhance judicial capacity-building and victim support in Rwanda; 5. Also requests the Secretary-General, in view of the critical situation of the survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda completion strategy, to take all necessary and practicable measures for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Assistance to survivors of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly orphans, widows and victims of sexual violence". RESOLUTION 62/97 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.33, sponsored by: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Pakistan (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77 and China), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62/97. Graduation of Samoa The General Assembly, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2007/35 of 27 July 2007 on the report of the Committee for Development Policy on its eighth session, Taking into account its resolution 59/209 of 20 December 2004 on a smooth transition strategy for countries graduating from the list of least developed countries, Takes note of the decision of the Economic and Social Council to endorse the recommendation of the Committee for Development Policy that Samoa be graduated from the list of least developed countries.Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2006, Supplement No. 13 (E/2006/33), chap. I, sect. A, recommendation 2. RESOLUTION 62/98 Adopted at the 74th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/419 (Part I), para. 11)The draft resolution recommended in the report was submitted by the Economic and Social Council. 62/98. Non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests The General Assembly, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 2006/49 of 28 July 2006, in which the Council requested the United Nations Forum on Forests to conclude and adopt at its seventh session a non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests, 1. Decides to adopt the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests as contained in the annex to the present resolution; 2. Invites members of the governing bodies of the member organizations of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to support the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests, consistent with the mandates of those organizations, and, to that end, invites the United Nations Forum on Forests to provide guidance to the Partnership; 3. Invites donor Governments and other countries in a position to do so, financial institutions and other organizations to make voluntary financial contributions to the trust fund for the United Nations Forum on Forests so that the Forum may address, within the context of its multi-year programme of work, the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument and provide support for participants from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to attend its meetings; 4. Decides that the Forum will review the effectiveness of the non-legally binding instrument as part of the overall review of the effectiveness of the international arrangement on forests decided upon by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2006/49. Annex Non-legally binding instrument on all types of forests Member States, Recognizing that forests and trees outside forests provide multiple economic, social and environmental benefits, and emphasizing that sustainable forest management contributes significantly to sustainable development and poverty eradication, Recalling the Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of All Types of Forests (Forest Principles);Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex III. chapter 11 of Agenda 21;Ibid., annex II. the proposals for action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests/Intergovernmental Forum on Forests; resolutions and decisions of the United Nations Forum on Forests; the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development;Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 1, annex, and resolution 2, annex. the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development;Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development, Monterrey, Mexico, 18-22 March 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.II.A.7), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals; the 2005 World Summit Outcome;See resolution 60/1. and existing international legally binding instruments relevant to forests, Welcoming the accomplishments of the international arrangement on forests since its inception by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 2000/35 of 18 October 2000, and recalling the decision of the Council, in its resolution 2006/49 of 28 July 2006, to strengthen the international arrangement on forests, Reaffirming their commitment to the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. including that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, and to the common but differentiated responsibilities of countries, as set out in Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration, Recognizing that sustainable forest management, as a dynamic and evolving concept, is intended to maintain and enhance the economic, social and environmental value of all types of forests, for the benefit of present and future generations, Expressing their concern about continued deforestation and forest degradation, as well as the slow rate of afforestation and forest cover recovery and reforestation, and the resulting adverse impact on economies, the environment, including biological diversity, and the livelihoods of at least a billion people and their cultural heritage, and emphasizing the need for more effective implementation of sustainable forest management at all levels to address these critical challenges, Recognizing the impact of climate change on forests and sustainable forest management, as well as the contribution of forests to addressing climate change, Reaffirming the special needs and requirements of countries with fragile forest ecosystems, including those of low-forest-cover countries, Stressing the need to strengthen political commitment and collective efforts at all levels, to include forests in national and international development agendas, to enhance national policy coordination and international cooperation and to promote intersectoral coordination at all levels for the effective implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, Emphasizing that effective implementation of sustainable forest management is critically dependent upon adequate resources, including financing, capacity development and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, and recognizing in particular the need to mobilize increased financial resources, including from innovative sources, for developing countries, including least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition, Also emphasizing that implementation of sustainable forest management is also critically dependent upon good governance at all levels, Noting that the provisions of this instrument do not prejudice the rights and obligations of Member States under international law, Have committed themselves as follows: I. Purpose 1. The purpose of this instrument is: (a) To strengthen political commitment and action at all levels to implement effectively sustainable management of all types of forests and to achieve the shared global objectives on forests; (b) To enhance the contribution of forests to the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in particular with respect to poverty eradication and environmental sustainability; (c) To provide a framework for national action and international cooperation. II. Principles 2. Member States should respect the following principles, which build upon the Rio Declaration on Environment and DevelopmentReport of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex I. and the Rio Forest Principles:Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992, vol. I, Resolutions Adopted by the Conference (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.I.8 and corrigendum), resolution 1, annex III. (a) The instrument is voluntary and non-legally binding; (b) Each State is responsible for the sustainable management of its forests and for the enforcement of its forest-related laws; (c) Major groups as identified in Agenda 21,The major groups identified in Agenda 21 are women, children and youth, indigenous people and their communities, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, scientific and technological communities, and farmers. local communities, forest owners and other relevant stakeholders contribute to achieving sustainable forest management and should be involved in a transparent and participatory way in forest decision-making processes that affect them, as well as in implementing sustainable forest management, in accordance with national legislation; (d) Achieving sustainable forest management, in particular in developing countries as well as in countries with economies in transition, depends on significantly increased, new and additional financial resources from all sources; (e) Achieving sustainable forest management also depends on good governance at all levels; (f) International cooperation, including financial support, technology transfer, capacity-building and education, plays a crucial catalytic role in supporting the efforts of all countries, particularly developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, to achieve sustainable forest management. III. Scope 3. The present instrument applies to all types of forests. 4. Sustainable forest management, as a dynamic and evolving concept, aims to maintain and enhance the economic, social and environmental values of all types of forests, for the benefit of present and future generations. IV. Global objectives on forests 5. Member States reaffirm the following shared global objectives on forests and their commitment to work globally, regionally and nationally to achieve progress towards their achievement by 2015: Global objective 1 Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management, including protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation, and increase efforts to prevent forest degradation; Global objective 2 Enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental benefits, including by improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent people; Global objective 3 Increase significantly the area of protected forests worldwide and other areas of sustainably managed forests, as well as the proportion of forest products from sustainably managed forests; Global objective 4 Reverse the decline in official development assistance for sustainable forest management and mobilize significantly increased, new and additional financial resources from all sources for the implementation of sustainable forest management. V. National policies and measures 6. To achieve the purpose of the present instrument, and taking into account national policies, priorities, conditions and available resources, Member States should: (a) Develop, implement, publish and, as necessary, update national forest programmes or other strategies for sustainable forest management which identify actions needed and contain measures, policies or specific goals, taking into account the relevant proposals for action of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests/Intergovernmental Forum on Forests and resolutions of the United Nations Forum on Forests; (b) Consider the seven thematic elements of sustainable forest management,The elements are (i) extent of forest resources; (ii) forest biological diversity; (iii) forest health and vitality; (iv) productive functions of forest resources; (v) protective functions of forest resources; (vi) socio-economic functions of forests; and (vii) legal, policy and institutional framework. which are drawn from the criteria identified by existing criteria and indicators processes, as a reference framework for sustainable forest management and, in this context, identify, as appropriate, specific environmental and other forest-related aspects within those elements for consideration as criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management; (c) Promote the use of management tools to assess the impact on the environment of projects that may significantly affect forests, and promote good environmental practices for such projects; (d) Develop and implement policies that encourage the sustainable management of forests to provide a wide range of goods and services and that also contribute to poverty reduction and the development of rural communities; (e) Promote efficient production and processing of forest products, with a view, inter alia, to reducing waste and enhancing recycling; (f) Support the protection and use of traditional forest-related knowledge and practices in sustainable forest management with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, and promote fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their utilization, in accordance with national legislation and relevant international agreements; (g) Further develop and implement criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management that are consistent with national priorities and conditions; (h) Create enabling environments to encourage private-sector investment, as well as investment by and involvement of local and indigenous communities, other forest users and forest owners and other relevant stakeholders, in sustainable forest management, through a framework of policies, incentives and regulations; (i) Develop financing strategies that outline the short-, medium- and long-term financial planning for achieving sustainable forest management, taking into account domestic, private-sector and foreign funding sources; (j) Encourage recognition of the range of values derived from goods and services provided by all types of forests and trees outside forests, as well as ways to reflect such values in the marketplace, consistent with relevant national legislation and policies; (k) Identify and implement measures to enhance cooperation and cross-sectoral policy and programme coordination among sectors affecting and affected by forest policies and management, with a view to integrating the forest sector into national decision-making processes and promoting sustainable forest management, including by addressing the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation, and by promoting forest conservation; (l) Integrate national forest programmes, or other strategies for sustainable forest management, as referred to in paragraph 6 (a) above, into national strategies for sustainable development, relevant national action plans and poverty-reduction strategies; (m) Establish or strengthen partnerships, including public-private partnerships, and joint programmes with stakeholders to advance the implementation of sustainable forest management; (n) Review and, as needed, improve forest-related legislation, strengthen forest law enforcement and promote good governance at all levels in order to support sustainable forest management, to create an enabling environment for forest investment and to combat and eradicate illegal practices, in accordance with national legislation, in the forest and other related sectors; (o) Analyse the causes of, and address solutions to, threats to forest health and vitality from natural disasters and human activities, including threats from fire, pollution, pests, disease and invasive alien species; (p) Create, develop or expand, and maintain networks of protected forest areas, taking into account the importance of conserving representative forests, by means of a range of conservation mechanisms, applied within and outside protected forest areas; (q) Assess the conditions and management effectiveness of existing protected forest areas with a view to identifying improvements needed; (r) Strengthen the contribution of science and research in advancing sustainable forest management by incorporating scientific expertise into forest policies and programmes; (s) Promote the development and application of scientific and technological innovations, including those that can be used by forest owners and local and indigenous communities to advance sustainable forest management; (t) Promote and strengthen public understanding of the importance of and the benefits provided by forests and sustainable forest management, including through public awareness programmes and education; (u) Promote and encourage access to formal and informal education, extension and training programmes on the implementation of sustainable forest management; (v) Support education, training and extension programmes involving local and indigenous communities, forest workers and forest owners, in order to develop resource management approaches that will reduce the pressure on forests, particularly fragile ecosystems; (w) Promote active and effective participation by major groups, local communities, forest owners and other relevant stakeholders in the development, implementation and assessment of forest-related national policies, measures and programmes; (x) Encourage the private sector, civil society organizations and forest owners to develop, promote and implement in a transparent manner voluntary instruments, such as voluntary certification systems or other appropriate mechanisms, to develop and promote forest products from sustainably managed forests harvested in accordance with domestic legislation, and to improve market transparency; (y) Enhance access by households, small-scale forest owners, forest-dependent local and indigenous communities, living in and outside forest areas, to forest resources and relevant markets in order to support livelihoods and income diversification from forest management, consistent with sustainable forest management. VI. International cooperation and means of implementation 7. To achieve the purpose of the present instrument, Member States should: (a) Make concerted efforts to secure a sustained high-level political commitment to strengthen the means of implementation of sustainable forest management, including financial resources, to provide support, in particular for developing countries and countries with economies in transition, as well as to mobilize and provide significantly increased, new and additional financial resources from private, public, domestic and international sources to and within developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition; (b) Reverse the decline in official development assistance for sustainable forest management and mobilize significantly increased, new and additional financial resources from all sources for the implementation of sustainable forest management; (c) Take action to raise the priority of sustainable forest management in national development plans and other plans, including poverty-reduction strategies, in order to facilitate increased allocation of official development assistance and financial resources from other sources for sustainable forest management; (d) Develop and establish positive incentives, in particular for developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, to reduce the loss of forests, to promote reforestation, afforestation and rehabilitation of degraded forests, to implement sustainable forest management and to increase the area of protected forests; (e) Support the efforts of countries, particularly developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition, to develop and implement economically, socially and environmentally sound measures that act as incentives for the sustainable management of forests; (f) Strengthen the capacity of countries, in particular developing countries, to significantly increase the production of forest products from sustainably managed forests; (g) Enhance bilateral, regional and international cooperation with a view to promoting international trade in forest products from sustainably managed forests harvested according to domestic legislation; (h) Enhance bilateral, regional and international cooperation to address illicit international trafficking in forest products through the promotion of forest law enforcement and good governance at all levels; (i) Strengthen, through enhanced bilateral, regional and international cooperation, the capacity of countries to combat effectively illicit international trafficking in forest products, including timber, wildlife and other forest biological resources; (j) Strengthen the capacity of countries to address forest-related illegal practices, including wildlife poaching, in accordance with domestic legislation, through enhanced public awareness, education, institutional capacity-building, technological transfer and technical cooperation, law enforcement and information networks; (k) Enhance and facilitate access to and transfer of appropriate, environmentally sound and innovative technologies and corresponding know-how relevant to sustainable forest management and to efficient value-added processing of forest products, in particular to developing countries, for the benefit of local and indigenous communities; (l) Strengthen mechanisms that enhance sharing among countries and the use of best practices in sustainable forest management, including through freeware-based information and communications technology; (m) Strengthen national and local capacity in keeping with their conditions for the development and adaptation of forest-related technologies, including technologies for the use of fuelwood; (n) Promote international technical and scientific cooperation, including South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, in the field of sustainable forest management, through the appropriate international, regional and national institutions and processes; (o) Enhance the research and scientific forest-related capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, particularly the capacity of research organizations to generate and have access to forest-related data and information, and promote and support integrated and interdisciplinary research on forest-related issues, and disseminate research results; (p) Strengthen forestry research and development in all regions, particularly in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, through relevant organizations, institutions and centres of excellence, as well as through global, regional and subregional networks; (q) Strengthen cooperation and partnerships at the regional and subregional levels to promote sustainable forest management; (r) As members of the governing bodies of the organizations that form the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, help ensure that the forest-related priorities and programmes of members of the Partnership are integrated and mutually supportive, consistent with their mandates, taking into account relevant policy recommendations of the United Nations Forum on Forests; (s) Support the efforts of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to develop and implement joint initiatives. VII. Monitoring, assessment and reporting 8. Member States should monitor and assess progress towards achieving the purpose of the present instrument. 9. Member States should submit, on a voluntary basis, taking into account the availability of resources and the requirements and conditions for the preparation of reports for other bodies or instruments, national progress reports as part of their regular reporting to the Forum. VIII. Working modalities 10. The Forum should address, within the context of its multi-year programme of work, the implementation of the present instrument. RESOLUTION 62/99 Adopted at the 75th plenary meeting, on 17 December 2007, without a vote, on the recommendation of the Committee (A/62/401, para. 10)The draft resolution recommended in the report was sponsored in the Committee by: Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 62/99. Assistance in mine actionAs referred to in previous resolutions of the General Assembly on assistance in mine clearance and on assistance in mine action. The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 60/97 of 8 December 2005 and all its previous resolutions on assistance in mine clearance and on assistance in mine action, all adopted without a vote, Recalling also all relevant treaties and conventionsThese include the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, 1997; the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, as amended in 1996 (Protocol II to the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects); the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War, 2003 (Protocol V to the 1980 Convention); the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 1977; and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 (not yet in force). and their review processes, Taking special note of the tenth anniversary of the creation of the United Nations Mine Action Service within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, its designation as the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system, and its ongoing collaboration with and coordination of all mine-related activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,See resolution 53/26, para. 9. Noting with appreciation the extent to which the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action has been commemorated worldwide, Reaffirming its deep concern at the tremendous humanitarian and development problems caused by the presence of mines and explosive remnants of warAs defined by Protocol V to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects. that have serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the populations of countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war, Bearing in mind the serious threat that mines and explosive remnants of war pose to the safety, health and lives of local civilian populations, as well as of personnel participating in humanitarian, peacekeeping and rehabilitation programmes and operations, Deeply alarmed by the number of mines that continue to be laid each year as well as the presence of a decreasing but still very large number of, and area of square kilometres infested by, mines and explosive remnants of war as a result of armed conflicts, and therefore remaining convinced of the necessity and urgency of strengthening mine-action efforts by the international community with a view to eliminating the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war to civilians as soon as possible, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has a significant role to play in the field of assistance in mine action, and considering mine action to be an important and integrated component of United Nations humanitarian and development activities, as well as noting the integration of mine action in numerous United Nations peacekeeping operations, Stressing the need to convince mine-affected States to halt new deployments of anti-personnel mines in order to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of mine-clearance operations, Stressing also the pressing need to urge non-State actors to halt immediately and unconditionally new deployments of mines and other associated explosive devices, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on assistance in mine action;A/62/307 and Corr.3. 2. Calls, in particular, for the continuation of the efforts of States, with the assistance of the United Nations and relevant organizations involved in mine action, as appropriate, to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries in which mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local civilian population or an impediment to social and economic development efforts at the national and local levels; 3. Urges all States, in particular those that have the capacity to do so, as well as the United Nations system and relevant organizations and institutions involved in mine action, as appropriate, to provide: (a) Assistance to countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war for the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities; (b) Support for national programmes, where appropriate, in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations system and relevant regional, governmental and non-governmental organizations, to reduce the risks posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war, taking into consideration the differing impacts on women, men, girls and boys; (c) Reliable, predictable and timely contributions for mine-action activities, including through national mine-action efforts and mine-action programmes of non-governmental organizations, including those relating to victim assistance and mine risk education, especially at the local level, as well as through the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action and relevant regional trust funds for assistance in mine action; (d) Necessary information and technical, financial and material assistance to locate, remove, destroy and otherwise render ineffective minefields, mines, booby traps, other devices and explosive remnants of war, in accordance with international law, as soon as possible; (e) Technological assistance (i) to countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war; and (ii) to promote user-oriented scientific research on and development of mine-action techniques and technology that are effective, sustainable, appropriate and environmentally sound; 4. Encourages efforts to conduct all mine-action activities in accordance with the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) or IMAS-compliant national standards, and emphasizes the importance of using an information management system, such as the Information Management System for Mine Action, to help facilitate mine-action activities; 5. Urges all mine-affected States, pursuant to applicable international law, to identify all areas under their jurisdiction containing mines and other explosive remnants of war in the most efficient manner possible, including, where appropriate, through the use of area reduction; 6. Encourages affected States to proactively mainstream mine action and victim assistance requirements into development plans and processes to ensure that development priorities include mine action and that mine action is predictably funded; 7. Encourages all relevant multilateral, regional and national programmes and bodies to include, in coordination with the United Nations, activities related to mine action, including mine clearance, in their humanitarian, rehabilitation, reconstruction and development assistance activities, where appropriate, bearing in mind the need to ensure national and local ownership, sustainability and capacity-building, as well as to include a gender and age-appropriate perspective in all aspects of such activities; 8. Stresses the importance of cooperation and coordination in mine action, and emphasizes the primary responsibility of national authorities in that regard, also stresses the supporting role of the United Nations and other relevant organizations in that regard, and underlines the need for continuous assessment of the role of the United Nations in mine action; 9. Recognizes the importance of explicitly incorporating references to mine action, when appropriate, in ceasefire and peace agreements in light of the potential that mine action can have as a peace and confidence-building measure in post-conflict situations among parties concerned; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution and on follow-up to previous resolutions on assistance in mine clearance and on assistance in mine action, including on relevant United Nations policies and activities; 11. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled "Assistance in mine action". RESOLUTION 62/9 Adopted at the 55th plenary meeting, on 20 November 2007, without a vote, on the basis of draft resolution A/62/L.12 and Add.1, sponsored by: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Honduras, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine 62/9. Strengthening of international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster The General Assembly, Reaffirming its resolutions 45/190 of 21 December 1990, 46/150 of 18 December 1991, 47/165 of 18 December 1992, 48/206 of 21 December 1993, 50/134 of 20 December 1995, 52/172 of 16 December 1997, 54/97 of 8 December 1999, 56/109 of 14 December 2001, 58/119 of 17 December 2003 and 60/14 of 14 November 2005, as well as its resolution 55/171 of 14 December 2000 on closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and taking note of the decisions adopted by the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system in the implementation of those resolutions, Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 1990/50 of 13 July 1990, 1991/51 of 26 July 1991 and 1992/38 of 30 July 1992 and Council decision 1993/232 of 22 July 1993, Conscious of the long-term nature of the consequences of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which was a major technological catastrophe in terms of its scope and complexity and created humanitarian, environmental, social, economic and health consequences and problems of common concern, requiring for their solution wide and active international cooperation and coordination of efforts in this field at the international and national levels, Expressing profound concern at the ongoing effects of the consequences of the accident on the lives and health of people, in particular children, in the affected areas of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as in other affected countries, Noting the consensus reached among members of the Chernobyl ForumThe members of the Chernobyl Forum are drawn from the following organizations and bodies within the United Nations system: International Atomic Energy Agency, United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and World Bank, as well as representatives of the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. on the environmental, health and socio-economic effects of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular, the Forum's message of reassurance and practical advice to communities living in territories affected by the Chernobyl disaster, Acknowledging the importance of the national efforts being undertaken by the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Recognizing the contribution of civil society organizations, including the national Red Cross Societies of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in response to the Chernobyl disaster and in support of the efforts of the affected countries, Welcoming with appreciation the developmental approach to tackling the problems caused by the Chernobyl disaster aimed at normalizing the situation of the individuals and communities concerned in the medium and long term,See the United Nations report entitled "The Human Consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident: A Strategy for Recovery". Stressing the exceptional Chernobyl-related needs, in particular in the areas of health, environment and research, in the context of the transition from the emergency to the recovery phase of mitigation of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, Noting the completion in 2006 of the transfer of responsibility for the coordination of Chernobyl efforts from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to the United Nations Development Programme, Stressing the need for further coordination by the United Nations Development Programme and improved resource mobilization by the United Nations system to support activities aimed at the recovery of Chernobyl-affected territories, inter alia, community-based development projects, the promotion of investment and the creation of new jobs and small businesses, advocacy work and the provision of relevant policy advice on request and the widest possible dissemination of the findings of the Chernobyl Forum through the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General concerning the implementation of resolution 60/14,A/62/467. as well as relevant parts of the reports of the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, 1. Welcomes the contribution made by States and by organizations of the United Nations system to the development of cooperation to mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, the activities of regional and other organizations and those of non-governmental organizations, as well as bilateral activities; 2. Notes with appreciation the efforts undertaken by the agencies of the United Nations system and other international organizations that are members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl to continue implementing a developmental approach to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, in particular through the development of specific projects, and stresses the need for the Inter-Agency Task Force to continue its activities to that end, including through coordinating efforts in the field of resource mobilization; 3. Acknowledges the difficulties faced by the most affected countries in minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and invites States, in particular donor States and all relevant agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, to continue to provide support to the ongoing efforts of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, including through the allocation of adequate funds to support medical, social, economic and environmental programmes related to the disaster; 4. Reaffirms that the United Nations should continue to play an important catalytic and coordinating role in the strengthening of international cooperation to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster; 5. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, in his capacity as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and as Chairperson of the United Nations Development Group, to continue to take appropriate practical measures to strengthen coordination of the international efforts in that area; 6. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ukraine and the international donor community to complete construction of the Shelter facility and related nuclear safety projects at Chernobyl, in accordance with international standards, so as to transform the site into a stable and environmentally safe state, recognizes and welcomes the recent contract signatures under the Shelter Implementation Plan as important milestones, and urges all parties to ensure that a strong, long-standing, high-level commitment remains in place to ensure the successful completion of this vital work; 7. Also welcomes the recent appointment as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador of star tennis player, Maria Sharapova, who will serve as an advocate for post-Chernobyl recovery efforts, and praises her personal commitment in supporting a number of recovery projects that aid local communities in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine; 8. Notes with satisfaction the realization of the Cooperation for Rehabilitation Programme in Belarus and the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme in Ukraine, aimed at promoting better living conditions in and the sustainable development of the affected territories; 9. Also notes with satisfaction assistance rendered by the International Atomic Energy Agency to Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine on remediation of agricultural and urban environments, cost-effective agricultural countermeasures and the monitoring of human exposure in areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster; 10. Takes note with satisfaction of the progress made by the Governments of the affected countries in implementing national strategies to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, and calls upon United Nations agencies and multilateral and bilateral donors to continue to align their assistance with the priorities of the national strategies of the affected States, and stresses the importance of working together on their implementation in a common effort in the spirit of cooperation; 11. Notes the necessity of further measures to ensure the integration of the assessment by the Chernobyl Forum of the environmental, health and socio-economic consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident into the International Chernobyl Research and Information Network process through dissemination of the findings of the Forum, including by providing accurate information on the impact of radiation in accessible, non-technical language in the form of practical messages on healthy and productive lifestyles, to the populations affected by the accident in order to empower them to maximize social and economic recovery and sustainable development in all its aspects; 12. Proclaims the third decade after the Chernobyl disaster, 2006-2016, the Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Affected Regions, to be focused on achieving the goal of a return to normal life for the affected communities as far as is possible within that time frame; 13. Welcomes, in this regard, the proposal by the United Nations Development Programme to coordinate the drafting of a United Nations action plan for Chernobyl recovery up to 2016 in order to implement the Decade, in support of national strategies of the affected countries, with the aim of maximizing limited resources, avoiding duplication of effort and building on recognized agency mandates and competencies, and requests the United Nations Development Programme to present a draft plan for review by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Chernobyl by 26 April 2008, the twenty-second anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster; 14. Requests the United Nations Development Programme to coordinate, within existing resources, the efforts of the United Nations system and with other relevant actors on the implementation of the Decade; 15. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in the implementation of the relevant General Assembly resolutions and, through existing coordination mechanisms, in particular the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, to continue to maintain close cooperation with the agencies of the United Nations system, as well as with regional and other relevant organizations, while implementing specific Chernobyl-related programmes and projects; 16. Requests the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl to continue his work in organizing, in collaboration with the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, a further study of the health, environmental and socio-economic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, consistent with the recommendations of the Chernobyl Forum, and to improve the provision of information to local populations; 17. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session, under a separate sub-item, a report containing a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of all aspects of the present resolution.